In front of Lusamine's mansion.
"Since we're all ready, let's go."
Dylan looked at the three people behind him—Lusamine, Lillie, and Leaf.
"Hurry up, hurry up! I can't wait!"
Leaf was practically bouncing with excitement. This was a parallel world, after all—she was beyond curious.
"Lunala."
With a small smile, Dylan enlarged a Poké Ball in his hand and released a majestic bat-like creature—Lunala.
As Lunala let out a high-pitched cry, a net-like Ultra Wormhole slowly formed above them.
This was an Ultra Wormhole—an unstable passage connecting the Pokémon world and Ultra Space.
While Cosmog couldn't open one stably, Lunala, Solgaleo, and Necrozma could freely tear them open.
At the sight of the Ultra Wormhole, the light faded from Lusamine's eyes again. That was it! That was the wormhole!
"White Dragon."
Dylan released another Poké Ball, summoning Reshiram.
The group of four—riding Lunala and Reshiram—entered the Ultra Wormhole. As their figures vanished, the portal slowly closed behind them.
In the middle of a vast desert, the Ultra Wormhole opened, and Reshiram and Lunala emerged.
"Ultra Desert, huh?"
Dylan, seated on Reshiram, scanned the horizon. All he could see was an endless sea of sand.
Stone pillars stood tall, caves dotted the terrain, and sky-blue crystals protruded from some of the rocks. This was one of the many Ultra Spaces—Ultra Desert.
"Whoa~ this desert is endless! I can't see where it ends at all."
Seated behind Dylan, Leaf clicked her tongue. So this was an alternate world? It was hard to imagine anyone surviving in a place like this.
"That's how Ultra Desert is. Let's look around. We didn't come all this way for nothing."
Dylan had already arranged with Lunala to visit Ultra Megalopolis last.
This time, just like in Zero Lab, his goal was to catch a few of each Ultra Beast—to avoid extra trips later. So much simpler that way.
"Okay."
Lunala and Reshiram flew low across Ultra Desert. The flight wasn't particularly fast, but thanks to the stone pillars, caves, and glowing crystals, the view wasn't boring.
And before long…
A striking creature atop a stone pillar came into view.
"What's that...?"
Leaf's eyes sparkled. To her, this Pokémon looked stunning—elegant and cool in equal measure.
Its humanoid form was slender and milky-white, crowned with a tiara-like headpiece, two long antennae, and flowing white hair that resembled a bridal veil.
Beep~ Pheromosa, Bug/Fighting type. Beauty Pokémon.
Ability: Beast Boost
Moves: Speed Swap, Bounce, Lunge, Stomp, Triple Kick, Feint, Low Sweep…
Entry: One of the Ultra Beasts. It may find all things in this world filthy, and thus refuses to touch anything with its hands.
Rotom Dex hovered beside them, dutifully reciting the Pokémon's data—though it was clearly trembling behind Dylan.
"UB02: Beauty. That's its code name. It's said to be a highly arrogant and conceited Ultra Beast."
Lusamine's gaze was burning with intensity. The Aether Foundation had been secretly collecting Ultra Beast data for years.
In Alola, there was no one more knowledgeable on Ultra Beasts than her.
"We're pretty lucky," Dylan said with a slight smile. "We just got here and already found a Pheromosa."
He had a feeling this Ultra Space trip was going to be very fruitful.
"Phero!"
The Pheromosa stared warily at Lunala and Reshiram in the air, its body tense with alertness.
Ultra Beasts were extreme in both ability and instinct—that's what made them dangerous.
Like Nihilego's parasitism, Guzzlord's gluttony, and Pheromosa's arrogance.
But this one was different. Its instincts screamed that the two flying Pokémon were terrifying.
"Reshiram, Flamethrower."
Dylan patted Reshiram's neck and gave a calm command.
A fierce crimson flame built in Reshiram's mouth, then surged forth—a Fire-type Flamethrower.
"Phero!"
Pheromosa leapt away in a flash, hopping to another stone pillar and shrieking in warning.
Its cry was answered by clouds of sand rising in the distance. As the dust cleared, several more Pheromosa appeared.
"One, two, three, four… seven Pheromosa. Not bad."
Dylan counted and nodded in satisfaction. This saved him from having to go search for them.
The seven Pheromosa glared at Dylan's group. Clearly, they weren't thrilled about the uninvited guests.
"No need to be angry. We'll be spending lots of time together from now on."
Dylan's voice was warm.
And then… they all got flattened.
They didn't stand a chance against Reshiram.
"You take this one. It's at Elite Four level now, but its potential is excellent."
Dylan picked one and handed the Poké Ball to Leaf.
"Hehe~ Are you sure I can take this?" Leaf's smile was dazzling. Her words were polite, but her hands said otherwise—she snatched the ball instantly.
It contained a Pheromosa, and she was absolutely delighted. Its appearance suited her tastes perfectly—beautiful, noble, and totally worthy of a cute girl like her.
"And this one is for you, President Lusamine."
Dylan selected another—slightly weaker, but with solid potential—and offered it to Lusamine.
"Thank you." Lusamine accepted the Poké Ball coolly, though her eyes gleamed with joy.
An Ultra Beast! She finally had one of her own!
"They're everywhere. No need to thank me." Dylan shrugged and casually caught two more before heading off to look for additional Pheromosa.
This Ultra Desert world didn't have much else—but it had plenty of Pheromosa.
Time passed quickly.
In a pitch-black cave world, crystalline and coral-like formations lined the walls, creating a haunting undersea atmosphere.
This was Ultra Deep Sea—home to Nihilego.
"There's way too many of them!"
Leaf stared at the countless white jellyfish floating around in awe.
They stood in an open clearing, completely surrounded above and below by dozens of Nihilego.
Beep~ Nihilego, Rock/Poison type. Parasite Pokémon.
Ability: Beast Boost
Moves: Mirror Coat, Stealth Rock, Power Gem, Toxic Spikes, Venoshock, Guard Split…
Entry: One of the Ultra Beasts. It's unclear whether it possesses independent consciousness, though it sometimes displays gestures reminiscent of a young girl.
Rotom Dex chirped helpfully—albeit while trembling behind Dylan.
"Brother…"
Lillie pressed close to Dylan, eyes wide and scalp tingling.
"Nihilego really are sensitive to life energy. Then again, they're parasites. Stay alert—don't let them sneak up on you."
Dylan, calm and composed, studied the floating jellyfish with interest.
They resembled translucent bells, ringed with white hexagonal markings. Their gelatinous tendrils waved like eerie arms—almost feminine in motion.
Lusamine's eyes blazed. Nihilego! Her greatest obsession!
"Lunala, Psychic."
Dylan smiled slightly and gave the command.
Lunala's eyes gleamed blue. With a beat of its wings, a rainbow-hued wave of psychic force burst forth.
Psychic-type move: Psychic.
The surrounding Nihilego were blasted from the air like falling dumplings.
Psychic was super effective against Poison-types. These wild Nihilego didn't stand a chance.
Some remained conscious but were heavily injured.
But then—
"Mother!"
Lillie screamed in panic.
Dylan turned and saw it—a Nihilego had spread its bell over Lusamine's head.
"Mother!"
"Don't come any closer, Lillie!"
Though her face remained visible beneath the jellyfish's bell, Lusamine called out to stop her daughter.
Her features twisted in pain as the Nihilego's translucent bell began secreting black-purple poison. It slowly lifted her off the ground.
As a parasitic species, Nihilego was especially fond of attaching to humans.
"Brother!"
Lillie was frantic, looking to Dylan with pleading eyes.
"Don't worry. I'm here. Nothing's going to happen."
He calmly reassured her and turned his gaze to the Nihilego, his eyes narrowing.
Lusamine must've gotten too close—unable to resist her obsession—and approached one of the injured Nihilego. That's how it managed to latch onto her.
Dylan sighed. It wasn't like he wouldn't have given her one anyway.
Still… perhaps he should thank her.
Because now, the Nihilego clutching Lusamine was mutating—its body swelling and pulsating with eerie purple-black energy.
"Yiii~!"
With a guttural hiss, a transformed black Nihilego emerged.
"Wait… it can evolve?!"
Leaf stared in shock at the now-giant jellyfish.
Normal Nihilego were white, and they were everywhere down below. But this one was different.
It was massive—easily over 3.5 meters, at least twice the normal size. Its base color had turned black, and Lusamine's body was still visible inside its dome, her golden hair stained purple-black.
Even more disturbing were its tentacles—eight enormous limbs tipped with sharp spikes and… blinking eyes.
One eye on each tentacle, all glaring viciously at Dylan's group.
This was Parasitic Form: Nihilego.
"No, it's not evolution. More like a form change, right?"
Dylan observed it with fascination.
In the games, this form didn't have its own stats—it only appeared in story scenes. But in the anime, it fought directly, and was terrifyingly strong.
If not for Solgaleo's help, Ash and the others couldn't have handled it.
So rather than an evolution, it was a parasitic transformation.
"Lunala."
Dylan called.
Lunala floated closer, calmly facing the black Nihilego.
"I like you. If you can hold that form after battle, you'll be one of my mains."
Dylan took out a Premier Ball and looked up at the creature.
"But first, let her go."
"Yiiiii~!"
The black Nihilego shrieked. Its tentacles lashed forward, summoning massive purple boulders.
Rock Slide? But Nihilego shouldn't even learn that move…
"Psychic."
Dylan raised a brow.
Lunala swept its wings, sending another wave of rainbow psychic force. It shattered the falling boulders and smashed into the black Nihilego.
The creature screeched in pain, then was caught by Lunala's psychic control.
Lusamine was forcibly separated and lowered safely to the ground.
"Mother!"
Lillie rushed over, ignoring the toxic sludge, cradling Lusamine as she wept with joy. Her golden hair re-emerged beneath the dark slime.
"Lillie…"
Lusamine stirred and opened her eyes, gazing up at her daughter's tearful face.
"…Thank goodness. You're okay…"
Lillie sobbed with relief. She'd never been so scared in her life.
"Lillie…" Lusamine blinked, touched by her daughter's love, and gently cupped her cheek.
In that moment, their hearts reconnected.
Meanwhile…
With its host removed, the black Nihilego weakened. Still restrained by Lunala, it crashed to the ground.
"If I remember right, in the anime it didn't revert even after being defeated…"
Dylan approached the creature, studying it. Then he tossed the Premier Ball.
Compared to the regular Nihilego he'd caught earlier, this one was clearly on a different level—and far more intriguing.
None of the others were "Lillie," after all. But one black Nihilego? That was enough.
Yes—shiny Nihilego, also known as "Shiny Lillie."