At the top of the Celestial Tower, N’s soul returned to his body. He smiled, accepting the outcome of the battle.

He had lost, but his heart felt liberated.

“What… just happened just now?”

Artist Mr. Vardo felt as though something tremendous had occurred in an instant. From his perspective, N had only stood still for about a minute.

And yet, after that silver-blue giant dragon appeared, everyone nearby had vanished.

“I just went to the world of souls for a battle. I lost.”

N lifted the brim of his cap and bowed deeply to Mr. Vardo.

“Thank you for watching our battle.”

“As the King of Team Plasma, I offer you my sincerest apologies for what has happened between you and Pokémon.”

“… I know an apology won’t undo what has been done.”

“But still, I have to say it… I’m sorry.”

Mr. Vardo was silent, knowing the green-haired young man before him was no ordinary person.

“Little Meng’s death had nothing to do with you. It was my fault.”

“I’m the one who decided to release Sawsbuck. I was a fool.”

N said quietly, “We used people’s empathy to create tragedy after tragedy. Such tragedies… will never happen again.”

“I will personally put a stop to them!”

“But there are still those with ambition—people whose ideas differ from ours. They will continue to harm humans and Pokémon alike.”

N had realized what he must do from now on—

To restrain those with such misguided thoughts among his ranks… and if necessary, to destroy them completely.

Of course, all of Team Plasma’s resources and power ultimately rested with his father, Ghetsis. N pondered whether he should return and try to convince him.

However, a voice deep in his soul warned him: Absolutely do not do this.

N bowed to Vardo once more, then glanced at the great bell of the Celestial Tower. He rang it again.

The chime echoed far and wide.

“This time, the bell has no hesitation in it—the tone is pure and clear.”

Vardo gave his assessment. Though not a Gym Leader, he could still recognize the emotions within the bell’s song.

It was a special skill of those from Mistralton City.

He turned back to his painting and added the final stroke, pouring all his gratitude, awe, wonder, and dreams into it.

The traveling stranger and the green-haired man who called himself king, along with the Pokémon at their side.

“Rood, let’s go.”

On the fourth floor, N found the old Sage in the middle of prayer. He patted the man’s shoulder, glancing around at the people within the Celestial Tower.

Their hearts were no longer under Team Plasma’s sway.

This useless, misguided religious group had been stopped before it could do further harm.

N led the remaining Team Plasma members down to the tower’s base, where they encountered three other Sages who had come from Mistralton City.

Ryoku, Asura, and Vio.

The first two wore serious expressions, worried that N might have won.

Vio, however, was ecstatic. “That was the legendary dragon, wasn’t it! My king, you have finally gained the acknowledgment of legend itself! Team Plasma will surely be glorious!”

“I lost,” N answered cheerfully. The three Sages all reacted with strange expressions.

Vio froze, ready to protest, but N continued, “That legendary dragon was not the founding dragon, nor did it acknowledge me.”

“It simply borrowed my strength to battle another hero. In truth, it was their matter. The dragon recognized someone else—I am merely a man who took the wrong path.”

“In that short time, my thoughts changed completely. Even though I lost, my heart is full of joy.”

“I’m leaving this place.”

N voiced his decision: “Tell Ghetsis I may leave the organization for a time. It may seem irresponsible, but it’s to find a real way to help Pokémon—and humans as well.”

“I will walk my own path.”

Vio was stunned. “What are you saying?!”

A curious, playful voice chimed in from the side. “My, my… what an extraordinary battle that was. So, where did that silver-blue dragon end up?”

Colress descended before N and the Sages, standing atop a strange flying device.

“You drew out a Pokémon’s power—but the opponent’s was greater. Truly magnificent.”

“Thanks to you and that hero, my research has gained another crucial piece. Through the connection of hearts, Pokémon can unleash immense power! The potential of the human heart is fascinating!”

“I have observed countless Trainers across Unova, studying their battles to see who can truly draw out a Pokémon’s potential.”

“So far, only a few can reach such heights.”

“Now, the test for heroes begins.”

N looked at him, puzzled. “What do you mean?”

Colress smiled. “Why, I’m going to find and test the heroes of the future, of course! Unova’s legendary dragons may not be limited to the ones we know—so for each dragon, there might be a hero. By that logic, anyone could become one.”

“My research will now focus on finding Trainers with the qualities of a hero. In fact, Ghetsis had considered this before, but it was mainly to draw out your potential.”

“Your battle showed me another possibility! I’ll still work within Team Plasma, but my research direction will change.”

N’s gaze hardened. “Colress, I don’t know you well, but if you ever do anything out of line, I will stop you.”

“I now know exactly what I must do.”

Colress shrugged. “It’s good for a king to have firm convictions. Just as you have your ideals, I, as a scientist, have mine—unlocking a Pokémon’s power is my life’s dream. I’ll do whatever it takes to achieve it.”

“From the finest research subjects, one can obtain results beyond all expectation.”

“Oh, before you leave the team, you should visit the Abyssal Ruins. Ghetsis might want you to obtain something from them. If you refuse… then he’ll have to go himself.”

N frowned—this sounded suspicious.

The power of the Abyssal Ruins?

Legend says Unova’s king sleeps there, but no one has ever found them.

Some claim they lie in the eastern seas near Undella Town.

But N no longer cared about becoming a king. One could achieve much without that title!

He still needed to travel and understand the world more—just as Sir Hikaru had spoken of distant lands. Yes… not only to suppress those within Team Plasma who held false ideas, but also to try something new.

“Perhaps becoming a Pokémon Ranger would be a good answer,” N murmured with excitement.

The Ranger Union—a group that doesn’t use Poké Balls, but instead connects with Pokémon through Capture Stylers. N thought this might be his ideal role.

He decided to write them a letter.

Colress did not try to stop him; he had no such obligation.

“As for the traveler… Ghetsis thought, if he could be persuaded to join us, great; if not, then make him a hero and have you defeat him. Beating someone like that would win over Unova’s people.”

“When facing a threat, don’t eliminate it immediately—squeeze all its usefulness out first. Sadly, this time, the plan failed.”

“But failure happens often—no need to dwell on it.”

With that, Colress left on his odd flying device. One of the Shadow Triad followed N. N gave him a glance but said nothing.

Those three only obeyed Ghetsis. Even if N wanted to send them away, he couldn’t. On the other hand, their presence meant Ghetsis might feel more secure about him.

This was… surveillance.

“The Abyssal Ruins, my king! I’ve heard Ghetsis speak of them—please, you must go!” Vio urged.

N noticed Ryoku and Asura stayed silent. They seemed lost in thought, and earlier their looks toward him had been… different.

Ah, the look of people who had realized their own path and future?

N knew he wasn’t adept at understanding human emotions, but even he could tell these two Sages were not like Vio.

“If I don’t go to the Abyssal Ruins, will Ghetsis lose power? In that case, I’m quite the important chess piece.”

Vio stammered, “Uh… my king, why would you say such a thing?”

N felt his mind had never been so clear.

Reflecting on the days with Ghetsis, he now saw certain odd behaviors that made him suspicious.

After all, they were not truly father and son, only adoptive.

“If I don’t go, he won’t let it go, will he…? I’ll go, but first, I need to visit the Pokémon Center.”

He patted the Poké Balls at his waist.

The friends who had come to help needed treatment, and the Forces of Nature duo were fuming.

They had lost miserably, and failed to obtain the Grass Green Orb. That divine envoy was infuriating!

Hey, you’re the one who commanded poorly—this is all your fault!

They began blaming N, who could only smile bitterly.

All right, next time we’ll fight harder. And if we lose again, so be it—after all, even the dragon of the spirit world was defeated! Such a being’s envoy naturally had exceptional power.

But once they recovered, their cooperation would end, wouldn’t it?

The duo realized this.

What do you mean “next time”? There’s no next time!

Fine, forget it—maybe later we can still find the Grass Green Orb. But if we cause trouble again, Landorus will appear.

Speaking of which… hasn’t someone else used strange tools like these before? That little girl who chased us had something similar, didn’t she?

Meanwhile, Ryoku and Asura exchanged glances.

“Team Plasma…” Asura murmured.

Ryoku nodded.

The two elders were now kindred spirits—one look was enough to understand each other.

Team Plasma was heading toward an inevitable, major split.

Ghetsis, Vio, and the Shadow Triad would continue their old ambitions.

N and Rood would form another faction—given N’s intentions, perhaps to join the Pokémon Rangers?

Ryoku and Asura would start a secret anti-Plasma organization.

And Colress would pursue his testing and observation of Unova’s new Trainers, seeking the next generation of heroes.

…What had happened to Team Plasma?

“By the way… isn’t Sumra still in Twist Mountain? Aren’t we waiting for him?”

Ryoku muttered, then thought—if there truly was great power in that mountain… no, if Sumra met that traveler, his thoughts would change too. No need to wait.

After Team Plasma’s departure, atop the nearby mountains near Celestial Tower, the green, antelope-like legendary Sacred Sword Pokémon, Virizion, watched them vanish into the distance.

The Abyssal Ruins! Following Team Plasma’s trail, it had finally heard a vital clue!

“That human… not bad. As expected of the master of a Sacred Sword.”

In the Dream World—

The Dark Stone and the Light Stone also observed the battle’s conclusion.

The ruler of the spirit world had been defeated; the legendary dragon from another distant universe had left; and in the battle at Celestial Tower, the spirit and determination shown by both sides had satisfied the black and white dragons immensely.

After countless ages, heroes had finally emerged on this land—not just the divine envoy, but also the King of Team Plasma.

However, the latter had made mistakes. Though a candidate, he could not yet be called a true hero. Thus, the new candidates would be the two who had begun their journey from Nuvema Town.

Through the prophecy and link of the Entralink Tree, the twin dragons knew their destinies.

Perhaps it was history’s inevitable course—Team Plasma would not vanish so easily, and the original hero’s duel would escalate.

Once the King of Team Plasma attempted to betray the puppet master pulling the strings from the shadows, that master would surely react with even greater ferocity.

Will you entrust the coming disaster to two young people?

…As the divine envoy said, at the turning points of history, there will always be young people with unshakable convictions who step forward.

But I think, if he’s willing, making him a hero wouldn’t be bad either. After all, he fits the role perfectly.

When the last king challenges the Abyssal Ruins, there will be no need to speak of heroes anymore—heroes will be heroes, and kings will be kings.

And about that dragon from another world… even the Giant King had joined the fight—enough to make any dragon envious.

So then, the battles to come…

Aren’t there still two more dragons?

Perhaps it was finally time for them to appear!

Not to stand beside heroes—

But to return to the very beginning!

To stand beside a king, as they once did!

(End of Chapter)

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