That night, Paul held a Poké Ball in his hand, unable to calm himself for a long time.
Catching Rayquaza had never been an obsession of his.
Even when Mewtwo failed to subdue it and drag it before him, Paul never intended to return to Dahara City to trouble Hoopa again just to retrieve that same dragon.
But what he hadn't expected was that Mewtwo had instead brought back the very Deoxys it once defeated.
As expected of a Mythical Pokémon, Deoxys had grown considerably stronger in the time since.
According to Mewtwo's description, defeating an ordinary Rayquaza was no longer any challenge for it.
And yet, such a Pokémon entered his Poké Ball without the slightest hesitation, submitting itself to his command. Paul couldn't help but feel a faint stirring inside.
But once the feeling passed, he immediately opened the Poké Ball again and released Deoxys, instructing it to accompany Mewtwo in scouring Team Flare's bases.
It wasn't long before Mewtwo and Deoxys returned, carrying with them a massive green crystal-like device.
"This is the Ultimate Weapon being studied beneath the laboratory." Mewtwo explained. "It appears designed to absorb the life energy of Pokémon, and unleash devastating attacks. It's said that three thousand years ago, a man named AZ created this weapon in the Kalos region to end a great war."
"With it, AZ brought the war to an end—yet countless humans and Pokémon lost their lives. I've studied it briefly. The weapon contains technologies unseen in either of our worlds. If fully developed, it could trigger nothing less than an energy revolution."
Mewtwo, possessing a keen grasp of science, explained in concise terms—and there was even a note of respect in its voice.
"This Ultimate Weapon feeds on life energy from Pokémon? That sounds… evil." Akari frowned, speaking up.
Advancing technology was one thing, but not at the cost of Pokémon lives.
"The weapon doesn't draw solely on Pokémon." Mewtwo corrected. "It can also absorb life energy from nature itself. Used properly, it could become a clean and nearly limitless source of power."
Paul's thoughts drifted to Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, where Devon Corporation had inherited fragments of this very technology, eventually pioneering the transformation of life energy into Infinity Energy.
"I see… that's a little more acceptable then."
Akari let out a breath of relief. As long as it didn't depend exclusively on Pokémon, it was tolerable.
"But that still isn't the Ultimate Weapon's greatest capability." Paul added suddenly.
"It isn't?" Akari tilted her head. With its destructive potential and energy absorption, what more could it possibly do?
"Mewtwo, you should explain." Paul gestured toward it.
Mewtwo's expression grew solemn. "According to legend, AZ himself attained immortality through the energy released by this machine… and even resurrected his beloved Floette."
Immortality.
Of course, legend was legend. True eternal life was far more complicated.
For Legendary Pokémon and Mythicals, whose lifespans stretched endlessly already, such a thing mattered little. For long-lived species like Ninetales or Ghost-types, it wasn't remarkable either. But for humans, it was terrifying.
Even if not eternal, merely extending life by decades or centuries—would be priceless.
"Immortality… that's just a story, isn't it? It can't be that simple." Akari murmured.
"It really is that simple." Paul said evenly. "You should know by now, legends in this world are usually true."
Even before he had crossed into this world, Paul understood: here, 'immortality' was not difficult. With mastery of life energy, living hundreds or even thousands of years was not impossible.
And if one possessed the Ultimate Weapon, immortality became almost trivial.
He had once considered seeking it out for himself, once he grew strong enough to develop and utilize.
But after obtaining the Arc Phone, the thought faded.
He no longer needed the Ultimate Weapon, he already had ways to manipulate life energy.
"In theory," Paul said, "as long as life energy is sufficient, the Ultimate Weapon could grant every living being on this planet 'immortality'—or at least, prolong life until their souls wither."
He left the statement measured. After all, in the Pokémon world, concepts like the Spirit World, souls, and Ghost-types complicated the matter.
Life energy could preserve the body. But the spirit, the soul—those could not truly be made eternal. At best, their decay could be delayed.
"Uh… right… I see…" Akari nodded blankly, as if the world had just tilted. A path to immortality had landed at her feet.
"There's no rush." Paul said at last. "We'll develop it when there's time. Right now, the priority is still to grow stronger, and to win the World Coronation Series."
He withdrew his phone and stored the Ultimate Weapon within its dimensional storage.
There were many things he intended to do. But there had to be an order. For now: battle, victory, and strength. When all was settled and time was plentiful, then he would turn to research, governance, and exploring other worlds.
"These as well." Mewtwo said, handing Paul several USB drives. "They contain all of Team Flare's research data and results."
Though not as violent as it had been in its first encounter with Giovanni, Mewtwo had still acted decisively.
This blow left Team Flare crippled beyond recovery. Beyond their people and their money, they had lost everything.
"Good. And Z2?" Paul asked casually, tossing the drives into his phone.
"As you instructed, I released it in an uninhabited area."
"Fine. Let's rest, then. We move on tomorrow."
Paul nodded, returning both Mewtwo and Deoxys to their Poké Balls.
As for Zygarde, he had far less interest in the versions that existed in the anime or the "main world."
Those could barely maintain their forms: the 10% Dog, the 50% Serpent, the 100% Complete Forme—all unstable, of limited use.
If it were like the game version, able to remain steadily in its Complete Form, then Paul might consider it. But otherwise, his sights were fixed elsewhere.
When it came to Dragon-type Legendary Pokémon, Paul had preferences that set him apart from most.
The one that fascinated him most wasn't the awe-inspiring Rayquaza, nor the radiant godlike Necrozma, nor even the stat monster of the games, Eternatus.
Instead, it was the strongest dragon before Mega Evolution was even conceived—Kyurem. The dragon that could freely transform between its White Kyurem and Black Kyurem forms.
Paul had always believed that, thanks to its typing, Kyurem might well be a match for even Mega Rayquaza.
After all, Delta Stream erased Flying's weaknesses, but Rayquaza's Dragon-type weakness remained. Ice still cut straight through it.
And beyond that, there was Eternatus—the source of Dynamax, who also intrigued him greatly.
But fascination was one thing. Paul wasn't about to start catching new Pokémon recklessly. Kyurem, if it was ever to be battled and captured, would be a challenge for the future.
"Still daydreaming?"
In the anime world, there wasn't much left to hold Paul's attention. He had just pulled out his phone to depart when he noticed Akari still staring blankly into space.
"Ah—r-right. Wait, no, not right."
Akari shook her head, snapping back to herself. "It's been some time since I left Hisui. I should return for a while. I'll come back to watch your final match."
"…Take this with you. We'll meet again."
Paul fell silent for two seconds, then drew the Origin Ball of Dialga from his pocket, and handing it to Akari. Activating his Arc Phone's space-time travel function, he vanished in a flash of golden light.
"Until next time…"
Akari stood quietly, smiling faintly as she watched him disappear. Only then did she put away the Origin Ball, activate her own travel function, and fade from this world.
They had appeared suddenly, startling the world. And then they left in silence, unnoticed, as if they had never been there.
Were it not for the images left behind as proof, the world might have believed no such visitors had ever come.
For now, their departure brought little change. People carried on as always—living, working, training side by side with their Pokémon in pursuit of a brighter tomorrow.
The one most affected, though, was the Paul of the anime world.
Not everyone realized it: this Paul was not that Paul. But those who had seen "Paul" command Dialga and Palkia against Ash, or Mewtwo against Mega Rayquaza, often mistook him for the same.
They begged him to release his Pokémon for a look, or challenged him outright to battles.
It caused him no end of trouble, but also planted a seed deep within him. A seed to keep pressing forward, climbing higher, and one day to conquer and capture Legendary Pokémon himself.
Perhaps, in time, this world's Paul too might become a true legend.
And when the two met again someday… who could know what that reunion would look like? Like twilight before the stars appear, the outcome was unknowable.
But such thoughts did not weigh on the Paul of the main world. Even back in his own world, his responsibilities were countless.
For example: climbing the ranks in preparation for the upcoming World Coronation Series, and reaching the threshold required to enter the Masters Eight Rotation.
Yet ever since achieving Ultra Ball tier, the process had slowed.
Every match now required formal application and took place in an official stadium. His climb in rank was steady, but far from rapid.
One day, just as his ranking touched twentieth place, the long-delayed Masters Eight Rotation finally began.
Because many current Masters were former regional Champions, and several of those Champions had already been defeated by rising stars—the old rules would have created endless loops. A change was needed.
The details of the new format weren't important. What mattered was this: the rotation had begun.
And for convenience, the matchups almost seemed tailored. The freshly crowned Unova Champion Trip faced his predecessor Iris. Sawyer faced former Hoenn Champion Steven Stone. Tierno faced the Dragon Master himself, Lance.
The results were self-evident. Each new Champion had once toppled their opponent to claim the title. This was simply a repeat.
But the battles still carried surprises.
Against Iris, whose team brimmed with non-Legendary Dragons, Trip deployed Haxorus, Lucario, and the Mythical Keldeo. One after another, they brought down her Dragonite, Haxorus, and Garchomp.
Against Steven's Shiny Metagross, Sawyer gave his all—sending forth Swampert, Houndoom, and even the Legendary Latios. Steven never had a chance.
And against Lance, whose Masters Eight ranking had once reached second in the world, Tierno showed no mercy. His Shiny Charizard, Azumarill, and the Legendary Raikou crushed the Flying-type master in a one-sided demolition.
Three battles, and the message was clear: the world moves on. The new generation will always surpass the last.
The livestreams shocked the globe. For Paul and Reggie, who sat watching from home, each match left them wide-eyed.
"I didn't expect this year's Championship to be this exciting even before the finals." Reggie said, sighing in awe as the third battle concluded. "Back then, we might go years without even glimpsing a Legendary Pokémon. But these new stars—you included, all seem to have them."
"I wonder if the upcoming rotations will be even more spectacular. I can't wait."
He glanced teasingly at Paul, curious for his reaction.
"With the strength they've shown, in another world—in an anime world, they might already be the strongest Trainers alive." Paul admitted.
"But here? It's not enough."
The truth was, while impressed, Paul wasn't shaken. He had seen too many storms to be fazed by even these fierce clashes.
If this group had been born in the anime world, they could flatten Leon, and crush Ash without mercy.
But in the main world, where even Ash was a "super-enhanced" version—battles carried far too many uncertainties.
"Still, even with Mewtwo by your side, you can't get arrogant." Reggie reminded him with a smile. "What they've shown might just be the tip of the iceberg."
"I'll give my all in every match." Paul replied simply.
And just as he spoke, the broadcast revealed the next matchups.
Kalos Champion Calem versus former Champion Diantha.
And Ash Ketchum, Champion of the Kanto League Conference, versus Blue Oak, the Viridian Gym Leader.
The first pairing surprised no one. The second stunned the world.
On paper, the titles were modest. But neither Trainer was ordinary. Blue, especially, was said to be second only to the strongest King—Red, in his prime.
Anticipation surged for both battles.
"You've grown this far already, Ash?"
Paul thought back to his earlier musings, only to find Ash himself appearing on screen in the very next instant.
In the anime, Ash's Masters Eight run had been abstract at best. But here, in the main world, he had truly reached this stage.
Paul felt a rare flicker of excitement.
(End of Chapter)
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