In far-off Hoenn, President Mr. Stone of the Devon Corporation had just received word of the Battle Company’s business proposal.

Under normal circumstances, he would’ve been thrilled. A request for collaboration with such a company meant another lucrative opportunity—especially since it was related to the powerful items his son had recently brought back. Plus, it was a chance to expand into the Unova market.

But right now, his mind wasn’t on business.

“Still no word from Steven…? Alright, I’ll begin the negotiations myself.”

President Stone wore a grave expression as he began discussions with President Shinnosuke of the Battle Company.

The cause of his unease? A massive meteorite recently detected by Mossdeep Space Center. It was rapidly approaching the planet, with an estimated impact site on Route 131—right in Hoenn.

If they couldn’t stop it… the world might end.

Well, maybe not the entire world—legendary Pokémon protected various regions—but Hoenn would definitely be the first to fall. No question.

To prevent catastrophe, the Devon Corporation prepared its ultimate weapon:

∞ Energy—the foundation of Devon’s technological empire, derived from a method developed in Kalos.

The plan was to launch a rocket from Mossdeep, powered by ∞ Energy, and use a device known as a Link Cable to open a wormhole. The meteor would be sent through this wormhole to some distant location, averting the collision.

Though Hoenn’s development was relatively rural, when it came to high-tech—Devon was second to none.

They didn’t realize that their dimensional transfer tech was already leading-edge—years ahead of its time. Not even the Aether Foundation or Colress had reached this level yet. If Aether saw it now, they’d scream, “You hand-built an Ultra Wormhole device?!”

Was a mid-tier company supposed to be able to do that?!

Of course, the project wasn’t stable. Devon had no experience with this kind of tech. The whole Hoenn government was on edge.

But after returning from Sinjoh, Steven had brought back news about Rayquaza—and the Draconids.

Everything changed.

Hoenn – Meteor Falls – Village of the Draconids

This was the secluded settlement of the Draconids, located in a region where many meteorites had once landed.

Before Zinnia, a girl of the tribe, could set out in search of Hoenn’s new Champion, Steven—current Champion—intercepted her at the village entrance.

“.When did Devon start infiltrating the Draconid village?”

Zinnia was wary and annoyed. She had planned to meet Hoenn’s young Champion—and a girl of equal strength.

She had once tried to awaken Rayquaza during Team Magma and Aqua’s disasters. But Rayquaza hadn’t chosen her—instead responding to those two young trainers.

The Dragon God had not made her its heir.

She was frustrated. And it was Wallace—the Watcher of the Awakened Shrine—who had opened the Sky Pillar. Wallace… the other Hoenn Champion.

So what, only Champions could be chosen by the Dragon God?

A divine selection?

Maybe she had been too reckless, too impulsive. Perhaps that’s why Rayquaza had ignored her.

Back then, people hadn’t even noticed the approaching meteor. Rayquaza probably thought stopping Groudon and Kyogre was the bigger threat.

Now that the meteor was visible, the world was in a frenzy. Zinnia had planned to seek out the strong trainers once again to summon Rayquaza.

But… after being awakened once, Rayquaza had vanished from the Sky Pillar.

She couldn’t find it.

“Rayquaza’s power to destroy the meteor isn’t exactly common knowledge,” Zinnia challenged. “Your friend might be of the Sea People, but they don’t have our full lore. How did you learn this?”

She glared at Steven. Beside her sat the Draconid Elder. One glance from the Elder silenced the fiery girl—though she still radiated suspicion.

“We didn’t plant any spies. Before learning of this village, I didn’t even know you still existed,” Steven replied honestly. “It took me a long time to find you.”

He’d always come to Meteor Falls to dig for stones, but had no clue an isolated people lived in these mountains.

A people who worshipped the sky dragon Rayquaza—the savior of Hoenn.

“Rayquaza is a god of salvation. The plan Devon is pursuing must be stopped,” the Elder said calmly.

“The dimensional transfer device is too risky,” she continued. “We can’t save our world by possibly dooming another.”

Zinnia scoffed, “So your device just sends the meteor… somewhere else? Then everyone here gets to live happily ever after?”

“Ahahaha! Wonderful! A paradise for us!”

“…But for others—a living hell.”

“And that ∞ Energy—created 3,000 years ago by humans—is an abomination. You would again use life energy to fuel that damned machine?”

“More importantly—how did you learn Rayquaza’s secret?! Who told you about the Draconids?”

Steven remained calm. “A friend. Not from Hoenn.”

“Kanto or Johto?” Zinnia pressed. “You were in both.”

Steven chuckled. “You know more about me than I do about you.”

“You outsiders and your vile technology always threaten the world with your inventions. If we don’t watch you, who knows what horror you’ll unleash next?”

“Team Magma, Team Aqua—they already tried and failed. And now you expect us to trust you?”

Steven nodded. “You’re not wrong. The Hoenn League does have shortcomings.”

The Elder asked gently, “You mentioned Johto. Do you… know of Shenhe?”

“Shenhe…?” Steven repeated. Could she mean Sinjoh?

“I’m not familiar with it.” The latest chapters are uploaded first on M|V|LE3MPYR.

He had indeed experienced much with Hikaru, but he didn’t know much of that region’s history.

Wait—didn’t Hikaru say there were ancient ruins in Johto’s high mountains? Cynthia would be investigating them soon. Could it be related?

“Sinjoh Ruins…?” he whispered, half to himself.

The Elder’s eyes lit up. “So… you were told by those people. Do any of them still live?”

“Do the people of Shenhe still walk this world?”

They remembered how unusual energy spikes in Johto had triggered reactions even in Hoenn—meteorites here had begun glowing faintly.

“If you’re seeking Rayquaza—then you must understand that your dimensional device must not be used. It is forbidden.”

“But if the world truly faces ruin…”

Steven cut in: “Then I will give my life.”

“As Devon’s heir, I know what powers the machine. I may not know where ∞ Energy comes from—but my father is not an evil man.”

“I was told of this by someone in Sinjoh. I’ve even started recovering strange memories… Maybe I’ve already died once in another world.”

“If that’s true—then I’ll give my life again, without hesitation.”

“Human life may be weak, but I believe my spirit is strong. And Hoenn doesn’t lack Champions.”

The Elder tilted her head. “You’ve changed… Zinnia said so too. Was it… time travel? Johto does have a Pokémon that can manipulate time.”

“There are Pokémon said to control time, space, and even create new worlds…”

“I’ve never heard of such things,” Zinnia muttered.

The Elder smiled kindly. “Not everything is for you to know, even as a Lorekeeper.”

“But I must know what Shenhe is!” Zinnia insisted. “I’m the successor!”

“This isn’t part of your inheritance,” the Elder said. “We know very little ourselves. Long ago, communication between regions was difficult.”

“Shenhe means: ‘Those who know all things.'”

Steven wanted to ask more—but just then, a message arrived from Mossdeep Space Center.

“It’s stopped. Ever since the Johto energy spike—it’s no longer approaching!”

“It just stopped in space! Could the meteor have a will of its own?!”

Dr. Solans’ report was filled with shock.

Despite Hoenn’s smaller economy, it had the region’s largest observatory and space center. Hoenn always learned of cosmic changes first.

“It stopped?!” Steven, Zinnia, and the Elder were stunned.

The doomsday meteorite—halted?!

“Astronomically speaking, this should be impossible… But just as Hikaru warned!”

“The meteorite… is actually a Pokémon!”

It stopped for only two possible reasons:

It’s waiting for the right moment.

Or it’s afraid of something.

“It’s afraid of the Dragon God!” Zinnia cried. “Two years ago, Rayquaza drove off Groudon and Kyogre. Even from space—that kind of power must be feared!”

The prophecy said only the Dragon God could destroy it.

“But how could it be a Pokémon?! What else do you know?” Zinnia demanded. “An entire meteor is a Pokémon?!”

Sure, there were Pokémon that fell with meteors—like Lunatone and Solrock. Even Clefairy was rumored to have come by spaceship.

But an entire meteor? Too much!

The Elder asked, “They told you this?”

Steven nodded. “Yes. He told me. He said it may even be looking for its kin.”

“Now that it’s stopped, perhaps we can communicate via signal waves…”

“But the danger isn’t over.”

“We must find Rayquaza! After it left the Sky Pillar—it vanished.”

Steven clenched his fists. “I propose this: We try to communicate, prepare the transfer device, and search for Rayquaza immediately!”

“I swear on my life and Devon’s honor—we will not activate the device unless absolutely necessary!”

“But time is short!”

“Wait!” Zinnia shouted. “The Dragon God is one—not every Rayquaza is the Dragon God!”

“Also—take me to the Mossdeep Space Center. I must see for myself what’s happening in the cosmos. I am Rayquaza’s successor!”

Yes. Perhaps the Dragon God had once answered others’ calls.

But now—with the world truly on the brink—her destiny must awaken.

She would climb Sky Pillar again. And once more, summon the Dragon God to save the planet.

—

Outer Space – Orbiting a Distant Planet

The enormous meteor now drifted silently—paused.

It no longer moved toward the Pokémon world.

And deep within the meteor, a Pokémon stirred.

It had sensed violent energy flaring from that great blue planet. A force similar to one it knew well—an ancient cosmic will.

It was… afraid.

Before impact, it chose to wait a little longer.

(End of Chapter)

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