We returned to the base of the grand waterfall, behind the waterfall, where there was a wide open space.
"Is this the spot?"
Damian scanned the area, noting nothing particularly special about it—just dark and damp from years behind the waterfall.
"That's right, it's down below."
Shadow Lugia's deep telepathy transmitted.
Below?
Damian looked toward the ground, thinking, and released Shadow wtwo.
Shadow wtwo understood Damian's aning, flexed its paw, and slamd a heavy fist into the ground.
The ground trembled violently, a crack opening in the earth.
A slab shimring with a faint dark glow was jolted up from underground, slowly floating in the air.
"Dread Plate!"
Looking at this black slab, Damian's mouth lifted in a smile, a twinge of excitent rising in him.
This is the legendary Sono Mono Plate!
The Dread Plate itself looked like a plain, square stone slab, identical to the in‑ga depiction, completely unlike the prismatic crystal shapes seen in ani.
And upon seeing this Dread Plate, Shadow wtwo's eyes shimred with purple fla.
It could feel the imnse energy contained within the plate—an energy beyond imagination!
"Giratina, can I take it directly?"
Damian asked Giratina.
After all, Shadow Lugia was affected by the Dread Plate; Damian was still a bit worried that the Plate's dark energy might affect him too.
"As long as you don't trigger its special reaction, there won't be any effect; that Lugia must have a special reason." Giratina replied calmly.
The Plate is a sacred relic, not an evil artifact.
Although you can't absorb Plate energy recklessly, or you'll be repaid by the Plate's energy.
But re touching won't affect you.
"Then that's good."
Damian breathed a sigh of relief.
From his bag he pulled out a piece of cloth, wrapped the Dread Plate in it, and smugly tucked it away in his bag.
At least until the next ti he t Arceus, this Dread Plate would be his!
Nice! This is truly a super surprise jackpot.
Watching Shadow Lugia like this, the Dread Plate's power was terrifying, but Damian believed that as long as he didn't over‑absorb the energy of the Dread Plate, there wouldn't be any great surprises.
Otherwise Arceus wouldn't have entrusted the Plate to Damian.
"Okay, let's go out."
With the Dread Plate secured, Damian's mood was excellent.
He was already thinking about whom to hand the Dread Plate to; the safest bet would be Shadow wtwo, after all Shadow Lugia has a reactive response to the Dread Plate.
Let Shadow wtwo hold the Dread Plate; it would benefit it greatly.
Back on the water, Giratina reopened the Reverse World's main doors and left.
anwhile, Damian recalled Shadow Lugia with a Ultra Ball, then rode Reshiram back to the small island.
"Okay, perfect, solved."
Damian smiled at Caitlin and Dawn.
"Huh?"
Little Lugia whined anxiously at Damian.
"Your Dad has just regained consciousness; he needs to rest for a while, please be patient."
Damian patted Little Lugia's head warmly.
In fact, he had also asked Shadow Lugia whether to face Little Lugia directly, but Shadow Lugia said—
It's changed too much; not ready yet emotionally.
Damian thought Shadow Lugia was being a little lodramatic; Little Lugia is here with Caitlin; they're inseparable.
What's the point of running away like that?
But Shadow Lugia's stance was firm, so Damian let it be; in a few days it would probably co around.
It probably won't be able to accept its appearance for a while.
"Ugh…"
Little Lugia looked upset, slumping its shoulders.
"It's okay; in a couple of days it'll be fine," Damian comforted Little Lugia.
With Shadow Lugia through, Damian led the two girls back to Ecruteak City.
Yeah, continuing to enjoy the royal treatnt.
Ti once again flowed into night; Zuki dressed up again, even under her kimono wearing black stockings to better show off her charm.
Because apparently many n nowadays like that, Mr. Damian should like it too, right?
Tonight the eldest sister needs to rest to make up for last night's injuries, so tonight she'll be in the spotlight!
Zuki arrived at Damian's room with a faint smile, and then…
"Mmm… Dad… easy…"
Hearing the halting sounds from inside the room, Zuki's body stiffened as if struck by lightning.
Because she could tell whose voice it was…
It was Naoko, the fourth sister!!
Naoko!! How could you do this?!
And she even called… Mr. Damian that? You're really shaless!
Zuki blushed with anger, pacing in front of Damian's room—how infuriating! That little thief!
But to push the door open? Zuki's skin isn't that thick; she can't just say she's here to join, can she?
In the end, Zuki let out a snort and turned away.
Bastard! I'll rember this grudge!
Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and Damian enjoyed three full days in Ecruteak City.
What can I say? Damian felt he was almost getting addicted to this gentle town.
But such days of leisure can't last too long, or else his edges will get dulled; the only drawback is these three sisters aren't fully on board yet, willing to challenge Damian the Great Demon King together.
But such matters can be taken slowly; ti is long.
Having said goodbye to the Five Sisters of Ecruteak, Damian finally left his loyal Ecruteak City and headed to the nearby Goldenrod City to catch a flight.
Yes, this rest has been long enough; now it's ti to get back to work.
...
Kalos Region, Lumiose City
Lumiose City is the Kalos Region's center, a tropolis that blends technology and art, also revered as the "City of Light."
According to statistics, excluding Unova's Castelia City and Paldea's Tabletop City, Lumiose City is the world's most populous city, far surpassing Galar's Wyndon and Unova's Nimbasa City.
That says it all.
Lumiose City airport; the three of them stepped out from the airport.
"Pretty spectacular, isn't it."
Damian took off his shades and gazed at the prism tower that symbolizes the city, praising it.
"The most populous city in the world, indeed very beautiful."
Dawn looked around curiously; as a tropolis fad across regions, Lumiose City indeed has a pretty cityscape.
"Co on, Paul and the others are waiting for us."
Damian checked his phone; Gladion and Paul had already arrived in Lumiose City.
That's the usual drill.
They arrived at a gleaming new luxury building in the central square.
"Lord Damian."
Gladion and Paul were waiting.
"Nice, this building looks new."
"Yes, indeed it's new; I happened to be here in ti and had it bought."
Gladion had co to the Kalos Region two days early to gather intel.
"Alright, let's go up."
They reached the top floor, the president's office; Damian leaned on the president's chair.
"Gladion, you've got Kalos' basic situation understood, right?"
"Yes."
Gladion pulled out a data report.
"Based on subordinates' investigations, boss, there isn't a particularly large evil team in the Kalos Region; mostly small bad groups like the Lumiose Gang mber."
Gladion reported what he had learned.
These so‑called Lumiose Gang mber are basically petty criminal organizations, not a serious threat.
"On the surface, that's how it looks."
Damian gave a light laugh, not too surprised; the Kalos Region, on the surface, didn't seem to have any major anti‑social evil team.
And this news would definitely be good for the Kalos League.
Because the Kalos League isn't that strong; among many Regions it sits above Unova's lackluster league.
Diantha's strength among the Champions is average; the Elite Four is about this level.
The absence of an evil team makes the Kalos League fairly relieved; although Kalos isn't strong, it isn't as chaotic as other regions, right?
"But there's one thing that's concerning: according to Paul's investigation from the Hunter Organization, Team Flare has had many interactions with the Hunter Organization."
Gladion emphasized this point.
"Team Flare?"
Dawn, hearing the na, felt this organization wasn't very reputable.
"Yes. Team Flare is the na of a Kalos-based conglorate; Team Flare has mastered advanced technology and has infiltrated Kalos far and wide, amassing a great deal of wealth."
Gladion nodded.
"I did a bit of digging into Team Flare. Its founder was Lysandre, who in his youth was a compassionate, decent guy, traveling Kalos with his Pokémon and often lending a hand to those suffering across the land, helping them."
"But up to now, Team Flare has grown bigger, and has long since stopped doing acts to help the weak; many people say Lysandre, once the conglorate grew, forgot his original purpose."
Gladion's assessnt of Lysandre was still sowhat positive; after all, the data clearly shows that Lysandre in his youth could be described as a great philanthropist.
"Huh?"
Dawn was a bit skeptical of those who said Lysandre forgot his original purpose.
Dawn herself is a kind girl, but she understands one thing: Lysandre isn't obliged to keep helping others.
"Don't doubt it; Team Flare today is definitely not a good thing."
Damian sneered, though not at Lysandre or Team Flare.
Rather, at the stupidity and shaless civilians.
In the end, Lysandre's descent into extre madness was purely driven by these people.
Team Flare was originally just a small Research Laboratory, and Lysandre had once used the profits from the Research Laboratory to help people, but such acts didn't earn any reward.
Of course Lysandre didn't expect a reward, but what he didn't anticipate was that those who accepted his aid would rely compete with each other and demand even more.
Lysandre despaired; he understood one thing.
Such stupidity and lazy lives would gnaw at the future, and the world would beco uglier and uglier.
And he would build a more beautiful, better world!
~~
Get early access to 160 advanced chapters on Patreon!
patreon/PokemonStoryWeaver
~~~
Every 100 Power Stones = 2 extra chapter
User Comments
0 comments from readers