After that.
The three of them, once again led by Mormondo, walked toward the top floor of the "Earth Sword."
"I can't go any higher from here. It's up to you now."
Mormondo opened the staircase leading to the upper level, then stayed where he was.
The three didn't hesitate.
They climbed upward step by step.
Walking up the spiral staircase and through the hollow central space of the castle, they arrived at the very top of the "Earth Sword."
Here.
Was where the old King once overlooked the entire country, and it also represented the highest glory of the "Earth People."
Drado's body trembled slightly with excitement.
Lance walked to the balcony and gazed into the distance, taking in the entirety of Aindoak in one sweeping view.
Natsuhiko's attention, however, was drawn to the altar-like structure situated in the center of the top floor.
Four stone pillars stood around the altar, their patterns similar to the Seal on Victini, but on a much smaller scale.
His eyes flashed.
Psychic power spread out.
Natsuhiko sensed the fluctuation of energy.
"It's here, huh..."
"Ne-mi....."
Victini's mood seemed a bit low; it recalled the scenes and images from when the old King passed away.
Natsuhiko soothed it in a low voice, "Let the past stay in the past. Keep those who are gone in your heart. But this imprisonment that's lasted a thousand years—this needs to end."
"Ne-mi!"
Victini nodded heavily.
Then they saw Natsuhiko stride toward the steps of the altar.
"Wait! That is..."
Was he trying to destroy the altar?
Snapping back to his senses, Drado saw Natsuhiko walking up the steps and hurriedly spoke up, trying to stop him.
Natsuhiko kept his eyes straight ahead, staring firmly at the center of the altar.
As for Drado's attempt to stop him, he only said, emotionlessly, "Is locking away a little guy who helped your entire people survive, confining it forever in this tiny patch of space—what you 'Earth People' call glory?"
Drado's tone choked.
He had no idea how Natsuhiko knew about Victini being confined here.
After all, even among the current "Earth People," only a very small number knew of this matter.
He had only learned of Victini's story by chance while reading through Mayor Mormondo's collection of books.
Most "Earth People" only knew that the old King had borrowed Victini's power. They were grateful for Victini's Help, but they had no idea what Victini had paid for it.
As for the few who did know, they didn't dare tamper with the Barrier left by the old King, afraid that it would cause all of Aindoak to become barren again, just like the former "Land of Earth."
Watching Natsuhiko draw closer and closer to the altar, Drado's gaze flickered constantly.
He had read the ancient texts.
And during his travels, he had seen those tribes of "Earth People" who still could not bear to abandon their homeland, struggling to live in the barren "Land of Earth," and so a bold idea had taken root in his heart.
He wanted to replicate what the old King had done, to move the "Earth Sword" once more and bring the Dragon Vein back to the "Land of Earth."
To return to the "Earth People" a brand-new homeland.
Therefore.
He had to rely on the arrangements left by the old King, and on Victini's power.
So he could not allow Natsuhiko to destroy the altar.
"I'm sorry, but for the sake of my people..." Drado murmured in a voice only he could hear.
Then his eyes turned resolute.
To reshape our homeland—that is my true self!
Two Pokeballs appeared in his hand, and he threw them out together.
What appeared were Drado's Pokemon Reuniclus and Sigilyph.
"Stop him!" Drado said in a deep voice.
Reuniclus and Sigilyph stirred up Psychic power and lunged toward Natsuhiko.
"Ne-mi!"
Victini cried out in alarm.
Feeling the Psychic fluctuation and hearing Victini's voice, Natsuhiko frowned.
Two streaks of red light flashed at his waist.
"Zbee!"
"Hudi!"
Beedrill and Alakazam appeared.
Their sharp Long Needle arms, like sky-piercing Long Spears, swept horizontally and dispersed both Psychic attacks completely.
Alakazam's Spoons crossed, surging with Psychic power as it struck back at the two Pokemon.
"Natsuhiko!"
Lance, noticing the commotion, turned around in some shock.
He saw Natsuhiko staring coldly at Drado.
"Even knowing full well that doing this hurts a little guy who was willing to endure a thousand years of loneliness and give everything for you, you still choose this?"
Guilt and conflict flashed across Drado's face, but they were quickly replaced by determination.
"I know this is letting Victini down, but after I—after I complete our 'Earth People's' self-salvation, I'm willing to give everything of mine back to Victini!"
Hearing that, Natsuhiko couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.
He didn't say anything more.
Looking at things from one's own standpoint—that was human nature.
In Natsuhiko's eyes, Drado might be ridiculously foolish.
But in his own eyes, and in the eyes of some "Earth People," he might be a Hero.
Since everyone was standing on their own angle and position, there was no absolute right or wrong.
In the end, what mattered was their respective strength.
"Ne-mi!"
Victini revealed itself, its expression flustered and at a loss.
On one side was Natsuhiko, whom it acknowledged, and who was trying to free it.
On the other side was the representative of the "Earth People," the very people it had once been willing to give everything to save a thousand years ago. Even though the wait over this millennium had almost made Victini forget the beautiful memories this people had once given it, they were still a people it had once been the Guardian of.
"Victini!?"