Knowing his time was running out, the elder resolved to use what remained of his strength to deter those forces eyeing Hualis.
Hualis was a prize everyone had their eyes on.
"Ah…"
He let out a long sigh, his face lined with quiet exhaustion. Looking up at the empty sky, he spoke softly:
"The task entrusted to me by that one… even if it costs me my life, I will see it through. I will continue to protect Hualis until he returns."
Cresselia frowned slightly.
"Protector… he may be incredibly powerful, but he said he would return soon. And yet, so much time has passed. I don't think he's coming back."
"You know how dangerous that place is. It's possible he…"
She trailed off. She didn't want him to keep living for someone else. Over the years, he had already endured far too much.
"Dreamy…"
Cough… cough…
The elder cut her off with a bout of coughing. After a moment, he lifted his head again and gazed into the distance.
"He won't die so easily… he'll come back."
His voice was weak, but his conviction never wavered.
"…Sigh."
Cresselia let out a soft sigh and fell silent.
Over the years, she had tried to persuade him countless times, but it had never worked. By now, she was used to it.
"Dreamy… what do you think of that boy, Aaron?"
He suddenly changed the subject.
She paused, thinking for a moment before replying:
"I can't read him."
"It feels like he's surrounded by something… something I can't grasp."
"And even Darkrai—so proud by nature—seems to accept him…"
"He's… an unusual child."
Her tone was calm, her assessment objective.
"Mm…"
"The moment I saw him, I was reminded of that one…"
"I think highly of him. One day, he may grow into someone just as remarkable."
A faint smile touched the elder's face.
"Hm!?"
"Protector… this is the first time I've ever heard you praise someone like this."
"You didn't even speak this highly of Drake—and now you're comparing him to… him?"
Surprise flickered in her eyes.
"Haha…"
The elder chuckled softly.
"That boy, Drake, does have potential—but at best, he might reach the level of someone who can command Legendary Pokémon."
"To reach that level… talent alone isn't enough."
"You need something more."
"Something greater."
She looked at him, puzzled.
"More?"
The elder nodded, then turned to her.
"Dreamy… if the day comes when I die…"
"I want you to protect that boy."
"Stay by his side until he grows strong enough to stand at the peak."
"This is my final request. Can you do that?"
A trace of sorrow passed through his eyes as he spoke gently.
"Protector… I will always be your Pokémon, even in death…"
"I can promise to protect him… but I won't belong to anyone else."
A tear slid down her cheek, but her voice remained firm.
"…I see."
"Then do as you wish."
The elder looked at her resolute expression and let out a quiet, helpless sigh.
...
At the same time, on a small island shrouded in dark clouds—the headquarters of the Symbiosis Society—a wounded man in black robes returned.
After entering a password and passing through multiple layers of security, he made his way into a laboratory filled with advanced equipment.
He hurried to the central console and began operating the system.
As he reviewed the data and experiment logs, a manic grin spread across his face.
"Hahaha…"
"I've been waiting for this…"
"Pokémon modification technology…"
"And the Artificial Legendary Pokémon Project…"
"All of it… is mine now—hahaha!"
He threw his head back and laughed wildly.
After witnessing Dr. Dov's death, he had slipped away unnoticed.
He knew all of Dr. Dov's research was stored here. He had coveted this place for a long time.
Not only was he a Champion-level cadre, he had also been Dr. Dov's sole research assistant—personally involved in developing Pokémon modification technology and the Artificial Legendary Pokémon Project.
Yet Dr. Dov had only ever granted him access to the surface-level work. The core technologies had always remained completely off-limits.
He had long craved those secrets, but Dr. Dov was far too powerful and rarely left the lab. There had never been a chance.
But now… Dr. Dov was dead.
Everything here belonged to him.
The man in black stared at the screen, his blood-red eyes burning with excitement and madness.
Mew Gene Unlock Progress: 99%...
A twisted smile spread across his face as he let out a frenzied laugh.
"Hahahaha!"
"Mew—the Legendary Pokémon said to contain the DNA of all Pokémon!"
"Just how powerful will a Legendary Pokémon created from its genes be?!"
"The world's first Artificial Legendary Pokémon… will be born by my hands!"
"Hahahaha!"
"I'll tear this world apart… destroy it… destroy it!"
The man in black clearly harbored deep hatred for the world.
And yet, this madman possessed the power to change it.
A bitter irony.