"You really do know he exists."
Uxie's wisdom‑filled eyes are calm and deep as it stares at Damian.
This human… is different.
He's been blessed by nature.
Most importantly, Uxie can sense a whole lot of different auras on Damian.
Giratina?
Cynthia and Caitlin both turn that name over in their minds.
They've never heard of it.
Damian really is something else.
Cynthia's clear eyes flick briefly over him.
How could he not be?
Uxie's attitude toward him is that special.
It even said a whole string of cryptic things—and all of it directed at Damian.
"Yeah. So what? Giratina's only target is Arceus and Dialga/Palkia. That's got nothing to do with me."
Damian answers offhandedly.
He honestly finds Uxie a little funny.
Without question, Uxie's hinting Giratina might come to the real world next.
But what's that got to do with Damian?
Giratina wanting to rebel and challenge Arceus is literally spelled out in the plot.
And Giratina's existence really is extremely mysterious in the Pokémon world.
It got sent to the Distortion World by Arceus right from the start.
The only real records about Giratina are carved into the Plates' glyphs.
Zap Plate: "The third being raged, raining down bolts of anger."
Iron Plate: "That which fills the other side of the world can shape the rage and mold it."
Fist Plate: "The rift is born of disorder on the other side of this world."
Spooky Plate: "The other side of this world was given by the Original One to its raging third."
"Arceus's avatars"—that's the other title for Palkia, Dialga, and Giratina.
Arceus created the Pokémon of Myth to serve as the "matter" of the world.
But in practice, it only needed Dialga, Palkia, and the Lake Guardians to build the "front" side of the world.
"Soul" connected to "matter," and the world took shape.
Giratina, as "antimatter," got sent by Arceus to the backside of the world.
A Distortion World with no sky and no earth.
A place where time doesn't flow and space never stabilizes.
Giratina has stayed in that world behind the world ever since, quietly watching the original one.
And it's probably exactly because of that "unfair" treatment that Giratina wants to rebel.
Pokémon Legends made that clear: as the "Renegade Pokémon," Giratina's target of rebellion is Arceus itself.
After Arceus sent Akari to the Hisui era, Giratina moved too.
It chose Volo.
It gave Volo a Plate, then worked with him, using Giratina's power to drive Dialga and Palkia berserk, and using their clash to tear open a time‑space rift, trying to force its way into the realm Arceus inhabits.
Volo wanted to meet Arceus.
Giratina wanted to challenge Arceus.
Dialga and Palkia ended up as a very "surprising" tag‑team.
Yeah, well.
Once it turned on him and self‑destructed that partnership, let alone meeting Arceus, Volo and Giratina both couldn't even get past Akari, this Kanto girl.
What can you do?
Akari's just that busted.
But from that plot, you can see just how strong Giratina's rebellion against Arceus really is.
Strong enough that the moment Arceus chose Akari, Giratina sensed the chance immediately and picked Volo as its agent in the world.
And Volo really is excellent.
You could call him Hisui's strongest—just a shade behind Akari.
Speaking of which…
Damian falls into thought.
I'm not weaker than that bastard Volo, am I?
So why didn't Giratina pick me?
Is it because this world's Arceus hasn't chosen any human, so Giratina hasn't bothered either?
If Giratina did choose him, Damian would be thrilled.
Giratina's power really is absurd.
Easily one of the absolute top Legendary Pokémon.
Easily one of the absolute top Legendary Pokémon.
I mean, this thing can beat down its own "brothers" Dialga and Palkia, and it even dares to challenge Arceus.
Just on guts alone, Damian respects it.
That's all it has, though.
In front of Arceus, Giratina's just a spinning top waiting to get slapped around.
It doesn't have any real ability to resist.
Thinking that far, Damian's gaze turns oddly thoughtful and lands on Cynthia.
"What is it?"
Cynthia's been trying to figure out what this Pokémon Giratina actually is.
She instantly notices Damian's eyes on her and tilts her head in puzzlement.
"Cynthia, do you have an ancestor named Volo?"
"…I've never checked. I'll read through the family genealogy when I get a chance. Why ask all of a sudden?"
Cynthia is really confused.
"Nothing. I just thought of something."
Damian shakes his head.
Yeah.
In reality, the villain Volo in Pokémon Legends is very likely Cynthia's ancestor.
There's no other reason.
Volo and Cynthia look way, way too similar.
And Volo's lineup overlaps with Cynthia's to an insane degree.
Aside from a Hisui Arcanine, the other five are all Cynthia's main roster.
That, on top of how much their faces match, is a pretty blatant hint.
Then you look at Cynthia's own love of knowledge, myths, and exploring ruins—and her whole family's like that.
That's Volo all over again, isn't it?
Cynthia: "…"
"Human, if Giratina drives Dialga and Palkia into a frenzy, it'll endanger you as well."
Uxie waits for the two of them to finish, then speaks again, its icy‑cool Telepathy ringing out.
"Sorry, but you're barking up the wrong tree."
Damian lets out a cold little laugh.
Trying to stick that on him?
If they want his help, no problem.
But you don't show up empty‑handed and ask for a favor, then toss guilt on top.
Who taught you that's how you ask someone for help?
Damian thinks the Lake Guardians really are clueless.
Their strength is weak, whatever, but they've lived this long and still have zero social sense?
You represent "soul," and yet you're this bad at people?
Even Regigigas beats you on that front.
"So…"
Uxie slowly presses its hands together in front of its chest, making a praying pose toward Damian.
Mesprit and Azelf at its sides do the exact same.
"O human of rich Emotion—may your life be free of sorrow. May Arceus bless you, that you'll never be trapped by pain of the heart, and may you reap unending joy."
Mesprit's body lights with a faint red glow as it prays, its magnetic Telepathy echoing out.
Damian's just opened his mouth to speak when the words die in his throat.
"O human of unshakable Willpower—may your conviction stand forever. May Arceus bless you, that you'll never waver, and may courage always walk at your side."
Azelf's Telepathy sounds very different from its "siblings."
Its voice is clear and crisp, brimming with fearlessness.
"O human whose Knowledge is like the sea—may your wisdom shine high. May Arceus bless you, that you'll never be restless or rash, and may the light of Knowledge illuminate your path forward."
Uxie's chill Telepathy closes the set.
Once the prayer's done, the light around the Lake Guardians slowly fades.
All three pairs of eyes rest on Damian.
Damian falls silent.
The air suddenly goes very still.
"Giratina's nature is violent and brutal. A Pokémon like that should never come to the real world."
Damian's tone is very solemn.
"You three really have a good eye for people."
"As the man with the richest Emotion, the purest Willpower, and the most outstanding Knowledge in this world, of course I can't stand by and let that happen."
His voice is loud.
Very loud.
He remembers everything he just said about them being weak and stingy.
How are the Lake Guardians stingy?
The Lake Guardians gave humans their "soul."
They're so generous, selfless, and beautiful.
Team Galactic really does deserve to die.
They locked up such adorable Lake Guardians and drained their power on top of it.
Are those people even human?
Damian spits inwardly.
His Team Rocket couldn't even sink that low.
Yeah.
The Lake Guardians actually prayed over him.
Three of the "Six Spirits" themselves praying for him in person.
Even Damian feels a little overwhelmed by the treatment.
It feels way too good.
Cynthia: "…"
Cynthia is honestly having trouble keeping a straight face.
So this is the kind of thing Damian likes that much?
Caitlin: (°─°)
"Then we'll be counting on you, human."
Hearing that, Uxie's voice finally relaxes a little for the first time.
"You really are a wonderful human, Damian~"
Azelf's Telepathy is happy.
"Your Emotion will definitely be smooth and blessed, just the way you want it."
Mesprit blinks and gives Damian a secret little smile.
As the Legendary Pokémon that represents "Emotion," Mesprit thinks it has full authority on this topic.
"Thanks. I do have one tiny request, though. Could you help me with that too?"
Damian's grin is dazzling.
Getting this kind of praise from the Lake Guardians feels really, really good.
Too good.
Sure, these three are kinda weak in battle, but their divine rank is what it is—and they really know what they're doing.
"If it's something we can do, we'll try."
Uxie nods, its twin tails swaying lightly.
Its voice is still calm, but you can tell it's in a good mood.
"Once this is all over, can you do it again?"
"?"
Uxie tilts its head.
A question mark might as well be floating over it.
What's that supposed to mean?
"I mean the prayer you just did. Could you do that for me one more time?"
Damian's smile is all innocence.
"We can, but… why?"
Uxie is genuinely puzzled.
Wise as it is, it still can't quite guess what Damian's thinking.
"That's great."
Damian's grin gets even bigger.
"That scene just now was really special. I want to record it next time. When my kids see it in the future, they'll definitely be proud of me."
He sounds heartfelt.
What can he do?
This "big gift" from the Lake Guardians hits him right in the heart.
It's the kind of thing you want to replay over and over.
Lake Guardians: "…"
Mount Coronet, Spear Pillar.
An ancient temple ruin stands here; the temple itself was destroyed long ago, leaving only the remains.
The stone pillars that still stand look like lances stabbing at the sky.
Right now, Charon has brought a handful of Team Galactic members up to this place.
"Heh‑heh‑heh hahahaha"
Charon can't hold back.
He lifts both arms and bursts into crazed laughter.
It's happening.
His era is about to arrive.
As long as he summons Dialga and Palkia here, he'll become this world's god.
~~
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