Because of the cataclysmic battle that had just taken place, the coastline near the reefs was now utterly unrecognizable.
If Haru had just dusted himself off and left the scene, the place would've been all over the news by tomorrow morning—followed inevitably by a flood of wild conspiracy theories.
So in the end, it was the ever-late Officer Jenny who had to send her team in to clean up the mess.
To Officer Jenny, Haru was the very definition of a headache.
No matter where he showed up, he somehow always managed to stir up new trouble.
It was like he carried an aura—a "Team Rocket–attraction buff"—that guaranteed chaos wherever he went.
Especially during his stay in Altomare, strange and inexplicable incidents seemed to occur around him every other day.
So whenever the Jennies caught sight of him, their heads would start throbbing in unison. They'd mutter to themselves that the "troublemaker" passive skill had once again been triggered.
Of course, that was just how they joked about him.
In truth, they were deeply grateful to Haru.
To exaggerate only slightly—every resident on this island practically owed him their lives.
Had it not been for his presence, during that Lugia attack on Altomare, the island would've been wiped clean off the map.
The hurricane-driven tsunami that struck back then was far more terrifying than most could ever imagine.
And even this time, it was the same story—if Haru hadn't been as powerful as he was, Altomare would've sunk again.
When the Jennies learned that a battle between Legendary Pokémon had just erupted here, cold sweat ran down their backs.
Without even realizing it, they had just survived another brush with death.
Some of them, still shaken, were already quietly planning to transfer to another region—to get as far from this cursed place as possible.
After bidding farewell to the overworked and despairing Officer Jenny squad, Haru and the others returned safely to the Grand Sanctuary.
Perhaps due to the special bond between Latias and her brother, Latios—just as Haru arrived near the sanctuary, a red, jet-like Pokémon came darting out.
With a series of excited chirps, she began circling him in tight, gleeful loops.
Maybe she was simply too thrilled—Latias, who usually stayed invisible to avoid human attention, was today boldly showing herself in broad daylight.
Naturally, this instantly drew the attention of everyone nearby.
As residents of a city long protected by Latios and Latias, they might never have seen the Eon Pokémon with their own eyes—but they certainly recognized them.
So Latias's sudden appearance immediately became the talk of the town, and Haru—by extension—became the center of attention.
"Wait... is that Latias?"
"It has to be! She looks exactly like the statue by the cathedral!"
"But if that's really Latias, then who's the man she's flying around? Don't tell me... she's got a Trainer now?"
"That can't be right! Latias is supposed to be our guardian spirit—how could she suddenly become someone's Pokémon?"
The crowd's emotions became complicated.
Many of them had grown up hearing the legends of the Eon Pokémon, dreaming one day of meeting—or even partnering with—them.
But now they were realizing that the Pokémon they'd long admired already had a Trainer.
Seeing the crowd start to surge toward him, Haru quickly spoke to Latias, not wanting to get mobbed.
"Let's talk inside. Things are settled for now—it's too public out here."
Without waiting for a reply, he grabbed her hand and hurried back into the sanctuary, telling Kanon to close the heavy doors behind them.
Outside, the Trainers naturally didn't take kindly to being shut out and began pounding on the doors.
But this was the Sanctuary of the Eon Pokémon—after a few impulsive knocks, others stepped in to stop them.
"Whether that's really Latias or not, and whether she has a Trainer now or not—we shouldn't disturb the Pokémon who's protected this city," they said.
Meanwhile, inside the sanctuary, Haru quickly noticed how things had changed since he'd left.
Lugia—whom he'd entrusted with "guard duty"—was still sitting in her spot, eyes wide open, as if she were vigilantly watching the hall.
Except... not quite.
A closer look revealed that her eyes were drawn on—and the real Lugia had long since dozed off, her ahoge drooping lifelessly to the side.
What's more, she'd even added radiant "light beams" around her fake eyes, perhaps thinking it made her look more alert.
The baby Lugia, at least, was dutifully sitting where she should, keeping watch until Haru's return.
Her combat power might've been questionable, but in case of an intruder, she could always wake her mother up—and let her handle things backyard brawl–style.
Aside from them—and poor, overworked Korrina—Professor Oak, who was supposed to remain at the sanctuary, was gone.
But since Haru had already learned from Korrina where Oak went, he wasn't particularly concerned.
He walked to the center of the hall, pulled out the Master Ball he'd recovered from Carmine, and tossed it lightly in his hand.
"This is the Latios that was taken," he said. "I had Mew heal him. Now—he's yours again."
He placed the Poké Ball gently into the hands of the now-human-shaped Latias.
"Be careful next time. If you get caught again, luck might not be on your side."
Then he turned to Korrina.
"As for your grandfather... I haven't found him yet, but once I interrogate Carmine, I'm sure I can pinpoint his location."
"Really? That's wonderful—thank you so much!"
Korrina, who had been tense all this time, finally relaxed.
She'd already been bracing for the worst, but things had turned out far better than expected.
With the culprit caught, her grandfather was likely safe as well.
She lowered her head, quietly wondering whether she should find some way to repay Haru.
Latias, on the other hand, was thinking about something else.
This time, her brother's capture hadn't been due to carelessness.
To stay safe, they usually remained invisible when moving through human territory—and sometimes even transformed into human form.
They had rarely revealed their true selves. In fact, the moment just now had been their first real appearance in years.
So in truth, they'd already been as cautious as could be.
They were captured simply because they weren't strong enough.
If they had been as powerful as Haru's Legendary Pokémon, would anyone have dared lay a hand on them?
Of course not.
Which meant... she needed to start thinking seriously about her own path forward.
She couldn't just drift along anymore.
Maybe—just maybe—she could ask that Trainer named Haru for help?
After all, he was the strongest human she knew.
And since he'd read the "manual" Mewtwo spoke of, he must have gained some insight into power as well.
Thus began the awakening of Latias's desire to grow stronger.
---
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Professor Oak was having a miserable time.
In order to meet Lugia's picky culinary demands, he had finally—after much trouble—found a restaurant willing to prepare the fish exactly as specified.
It had cost him six times the normal price.
Sure, Oak wasn't strapped for cash, but that didn't make it hurt any less.
Still, at least the task was outsourced now.
But just as the chef finished preparing the fish and was about to start cooking, a massive psychic shockwave rippled through the city—sweeping across Alto Mare like an incoming storm.
That, of course, included Oak's restaurant.
Necrozma had deliberately held back, so the "storm" didn't cause much real damage—but it did completely ruin the meal prep.
The neatly arranged fish were blown everywhere...
and a few juicy chunks even slapped right onto Professor Oak's face.
Which meant, if he still wanted to complete Lugia's "special order," he'd have to ask the chef to start all over again.
And given how meticulous Lugia's prep requirements were, that was no small task.
"Uh... sir, do you still want to continue?" the nervous chef asked, clutching his knife.
Though his own work had just been obliterated, he somehow felt that his customer's mental state might be even more fragile than his.
"Yes... continue," Oak sighed, his voice heavy with resignation. "I'll pay extra."
He had no choice.
If he failed to deliver, that Lugia might start thinking "humans can't be trusted."
And Oak couldn't allow that—no matter how much it cost him.
Besides... he couldn't very well let a Legendary Pokémon go hungry, could he?
…but if he were to find out that the "hungry little Lugia" he was so worried about had, in fact, already fallen fast asleep—well, Professor Oak would probably cough up blood in sheer frustration.
And just as he was about to find a quiet corner and start a game of PTCG with his Fearow deck, his Rotom Phone suddenly buzzed with a message—from an account he hadn't heard from in ages.
"Hmm? Galar?"
Oak's brows furrowed slightly as he stared at the incoming message.
This was… a bit beyond his expectations.
—----
Late at night—
The crystal chandelier cast fractured light across the marble floor; the frost-colored velvet curtains rippled gently from the central air conditioning.
A faint handprint remained on the silk bed runner. The deep purple satin shimmered with wave-like ripples under the ceiling light—traces of fabric once clenched tightly, then hastily released.
Click—
With the crisp sound of the bathroom door unlocking, a girl with healthy bronze skin stepped out, wrapped loosely in a bathrobe.
She sat down lazily on the chair before the vanity, letting the night breeze from the window comb through her still-damp hair.
"Phew… finally heading back to Galar. Hopefully, luck's on my side this time."
this was Nessa—sighed deeply, her tone carrying a tinge of unresolved worry.
The truth was, Nessa had been stranded in Altomare for several days after that incident.
Her body hadn't fully recovered yet, but she hadn't let that stop her from keeping up her Pokémon training.
Unfortunately, despite pushing herself to the limit these past few days, the actual gains in strength had been… meager at best.
And now, there was less than a month left before the Galar Championships.
She knew all too well that in such a short time, relying on pure hard work to reach the level of the World's Strongest Tournament's top 32—those on par with the Elite Four—was practically impossible.
After all, the gap between a Gym Leader and an Elite Four member could sometimes be even greater than that between an ordinary Trainer and a Gym Leader.
If she wanted a breakthrough, she'd have to find another path. Something extreme.
Something like… harnessing the power of a Legendary Pokémon.
Or, perhaps, forcing her Pokémon into some kind of special evolution.
But most of those "special power-ups" were notoriously difficult to master—some because of how complex they were, others because of how rare the catalysts were… and most because of both.
How could anyone possibly learn something like that in such a short time?
And even then, those "special" methods weren't omnipotent. The power boost they offered couldn't even begin to compare to that of a true Legendary Pokémon.
Which was why, once again, thoughts she had tried to bury deep inside began to resurface.
She remembered the offer Haru—no, Azuyu, as he was once called—had made to her the day he saved her life.
He had promised her an irresistible deal:
Capture the Pokémon he mentioned, and she could reach the power of an Elite Four member through sheer external force.
Even if the "Elite Four level" he spoke of referred to one of the weaker ones, it would still be far beyond her current strength.
But…
A Pokémon resembling Delibird, with Water and Ice dual typing, whose status rivaled that of a second-tier Legendary?
Did such a Pokémon even exist?
If it really did, then as a Water-type specialist, how had she never heard of it?
And even assuming it existed—why would Haru help her capture it?
Just imagining it was enough to tell her that if that Pokémon was truly that powerful, she probably wouldn't even stand a chance to subdue it, let alone catch it.
Besides, she and Haru barely knew each other. They weren't even close friends. He had no reason to help her.
If anything, she still owed him her life.
If not for him, she would've drowned that day.
That kind of debt… was one you could never truly repay.
Still—her desire to grow stronger burned hotter than ever.
In Galar, victory was everything. Nothing else mattered.
The higher your win rate, the stronger the opponents you could challenge—and the more successful you became.
As for things like Contests or "graceful performances"? Completely irrelevant.
Who cared about being pretty?
The way Dracovish snapped its jaws mid-attack was far more beautiful than any pageantry.
Every Galar Gym Leader was a celebrity, larger than life.
Nearly everyone in the region could name every Gym Leader and their signature Pokémon.
And those at the top—like Leon or the ever-energetic Mustard—were legends in their own right, practically the soul of Galar.
Their brilliance was so blinding that Leon himself was like a walking billboard—the shining star wherever he went.
So long as they never lost, that golden aura around them would never fade.
But now… Nessa could feel her own "aura" beginning to crack.
Information about the World's Strongest Tournament was spreading like wildfire, and the list of participants was already flooded with high-profile names.
Just the number of contestants confirmed to be at Elite Four or Champion level had already exceeded thirty-two.
And among the lesser-known names—if the organizers had invited them, then they couldn't be ordinary Trainers either.
One entry in particular caught her attention: a girl named Lillie.
Nessa noticed that her name had been highlighted in red, with a short but shocking note beneath it:
"Possesses a First-Class Legendary."
Just six words—but the impact was earth-shattering.
A First-Class Legendary.
Even in all her years, Nessa had only ever known one person to own such a Pokémon—Haru.
Anyone else owning a second-class Legendary was already a big deal.
So who was this Lillie, that she could command a First-Class Legendary?
Nessa had never even heard of her before!
At this point, it wasn't just about whether she could reach the top 32.
She wasn't even sure she'd survive the first round.
There were simply too many Trainers stronger than her.
She couldn't think of a single reliable way out.
And if she lost in the first round, she'd immediately lose her title as Gym Leader.
Even if she clawed her way back through the qualification tests, she'd never escape the stain of that humiliation.
It would be like… that infamous battle in Hefei—one hundred thousand versus eight hundred.
Everyone knew how that ended.
No matter what that person achieved afterward, that defeat was a scar etched into their legacy forever.
Sure, losing in the first round of the World's Strongest Tournament wasn't that embarrassing—but it wasn't far off, either.
There was no way she could accept such a fate.
As Galar's Water-type Gym Leader, she had every reason not to lose.
"But… what should I even do? Just… go beg him?"
"But I don't have any leverage. I can't possibly just… sell myself, right?"
Nessa rubbed her face, sighing bitterly.
And then—
A clear, unfamiliar girl's voice echoed through her room:
"Really? You think you have nothing? Or perhaps… you've forgotten something truly important?"
"Or maybe," the voice continued, "you're simply unwilling to pay the price—and so you've chosen to ignore it."
The voice was pure, crystalline—like a mountain spring, soft and lucid enough to make anyone like it instinctively.
But since its owner had broken into her room, Nessa had no intention of being charmed.
"Who's there!?" she shouted, instantly releasing her Drednaw, ready to fight.
But a moment later, she eased her stance.
Because she saw who it was.
A young girl in a white dress.
Her snowy hair cascaded down to her waist, the ends curled slightly and dusted with pale pink petals. She stood there barefoot, eyes gleaming with faint amusement.
Nessa had seen her before—and she knew who she was.
But… why was she here? And why say something like that?
Cautiously, Nessa decided to test the waters.
"Little Lugia… what are you doing in my room? Shouldn't you be with your mother tonight?"
"That woman? Hah! She's been asleep for hours. Empty-headed things like her fall asleep so easily."
"As for me—well, I got bored. I noticed you brooding all by yourself, so I figured I'd drop in."
The girl's tone softened, her voice almost teasing.
"Alright then, but next time, remember to knock before entering someone's room," Nessa sighed.
"If you walk in on someone doing… something private, that'd be awkward."
Yes—because in Nessa's eyes, this silver-haired girl was none other than Little Lugia, the daughter of the Legendary Pokémon Lugia.
After returning to the hotel, Haru had introduced Lugia and her daughter to Nessa, Lillie, and Cynthia.
Though Nessa had been curious about both Legendaries—and about how Haru had even caught such a creature—she'd never dared to approach them directly.
After all, she wasn't close to them. Her plan had simply been to wait until they got familiar, then maybe ask for some pointers later.
Even though Lugia wasn't technically a Water-type Pokémon, it was still deeply connected to the sea—and to the elements of water.
Perhaps she could learn something from it.
What she hadn't expected was that Little Lugia would come knocking the very first night—and act as though they were lifelong friends.
Still, she wasn't naïve enough to think this little Lugia had taken a liking to her.
On the contrary—Nessa became even more cautious.
Because no matter how cute she looked, this was still a First-Class Legendary.
Dangerous in every possible sense.
If she suddenly decided to go wild—say, perform a live "Hurricane Destroys Parking Lot"—Nessa honestly wouldn't know what to do.
Her only option would be to call Haru for divine intervention.
Thankfully, Little Lugia didn't seem intent on causing chaos.
She noticed Nessa's unease but waved it off with a smile.
"Relax~ I'm actually here to help you."
"I heard everything—you want power from Haru, don't you?"
"So what if I do?" Nessa replied cautiously.
She didn't believe Little Lugia could actually help her with that.
"I don't know why you want strength so badly," the girl said, voice lilting like laughter, "but the truth is—you do have something to offer."
"The only question is… are you willing to pay the price?"
"…Go on."
Even knowing she might be walking into a trap, Nessa couldn't help it—her heart skipped a beat.
Because what Little Lugia was offering… was power.
As long as she could grasp that power in her own hands, Nessa knew she'd have a real shot at breaking into the top thirty-two of the World Championships.
For that—so what if she had to pay a price?
After all, in this world, when had there ever been such a thing as power without sacrifice?
It didn't exist.
Seeing the shift in her expression, Little Lugia smiled faintly.
"Knew it. You're tempted."
"Good. To face your own desire without flinching—that's the first, and most crucial, step toward growth."
"So now, let me ask you something… What do you think Haru wants most?"
"What Haru wants most?"
Nessa repeated the question, confused.
To her, Haru didn't seem like someone who needed anything.
Money? Fame? Power?
Ha! As the owner of not just one but multiple Legendary and Mythical Pokémon, what could he possibly lack?
Half the time, even without trying, people would trip over themselves to offer him whatever he wanted—simply because that was the kind of authority strength brought in this world.
Especially in Galar, where strength was everything.
"Yes," Little Lugia continued with a mysterious lilt, fanning herself with some feathered prop she'd conjured out of nowhere. "The essence of any successful negotiation lies in knowing what the other side desires. Once you can name his price, the rest follows naturally."
"But that's impossible," Nessa countered. "I don't have anything that would ever make Haru tempted."
"Ah, that's where you're wrong."
The girl shook her head slowly, white hair swaying like snowdrifts in the breeze.
"There's no such thing as a man without desire. Even Haru is no exception."
"Don't forget—before he was a Pokémon Trainer, he was still human. A man."
"And the oldest, most primal desire of men has always been the same: to rest upon a beauty's lap when drunk, and to rule the world when awake."
"The latter, he can seize on his own—you have no place there. Which leaves only the former."
"So tell me… what's your plan?"
At this point, Nessa already had a guess where this was going.
But if her guess was right, then this was absolutely absurd.
Wasn't Little Lugia supposed to be an underage girl? How could she even understand these things?
And yet—her words, ridiculous as they sounded—felt disturbingly plausible.
Judging by what she'd seen, Haru did seem to have… certain appetites.
And Nessa herself, as a professional model, had no shortage of beauty or allure.
Her looks and figure could rival any celebrity's—and her athletic flexibility gave her a kind of sensual edge that no one else could quite match.
But still… how was she even supposed to go about this?
Little Lugia's smile widened.
"I have not one, but three plans for you."
"Go on," Nessa said flatly.
Little Lugia's phrasing was nonsense, but given her own desperation, Nessa decided to hear her out anyway.
"First," Little Lugia began, waving her feather fan like some mischievous strategist, "you can use your three-inch tongue to engage him in the battle of lips and words—then, when the moment's right, seize the 'staff of command' and make him yield."
"When Nessa's 'towering pillar' rests in your grasp, he'll have no choice but to obey."
"But mark this well—this plan only works if you bait him properly. Don't just give it all away at once. The secret lies in the chase."
"Wanting what he can't have—that is what men crave most."
"Only when the time is right should you move to the final phase—the 'capture.'"
She flapped the fan twice more, perfectly imitating the calm smugness of a legendary tactician.
"This is…"
Nessa fully understood what Little Lugia was implying now—and that only made her more dumbfounded.
Was this little Legendary bird actually advising her to seduce and kidnap Haru?
What kind of Pokémon was she?
Taking a deep breath, Nessa gathered her thoughts and muttered, "But if I did that, wouldn't Haru… retaliate?"
"Of course," Little Lugia said easily. "This would make him bend for a while, but not truly yield. It's not yet a proper 'exchange.' You'd be giving up little while gaining much—such imbalance naturally brings consequences."
"…"
Nessa didn't reply, but inwardly she grumbled—'Not giving up much'? Using her tongue and lips definitely counted as giving up a lot!
Little Lugia went on cheerfully, "So, if you want to make this perfect, you'll need to pair it with the other two plans."
"Only when all three are combined can it be called… the Supreme Stratagem."
"And what," Nessa asked cautiously, "are the other two?"
"The other two also revolve around the word 'tempt.' As for how exactly you should do it…"
"Lean closer—I'll tell you."
The girl stopped fanning herself, her smile blooming brighter.
Nessa hesitated briefly, but in the end, curiosity and desperation won out—she leaned in.
Two minutes later, the Water-type Gym Leader's expression became very complicated.
…It seemed she didn't understand men half as well as this Legendary Pokémon did.
---
That night, after a long day, Haru finally closed his notebook and stretched lazily.
The affairs in Altomare were finally coming to an end.
To prepare for the next phase of his plans—and to catch up on a few matters he'd been putting off—he'd decided to take a rare night off from battles.
He returned to his room alone, intending to get some real rest.
And to make sure certain people didn't "accidentally" barge in and disturb his peace of mind, he'd even announced his intentions over dinner, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Liko and Cynthia didn't seem thrilled about that.
But they ultimately said nothing—just accepted it calmly.
Of course, in their hearts, both women were plotting to make him pay for the deprivation later, to let him know just how much pent-up passion he'd caused them.
And to certain… imaginative individuals, Haru's "public declaration" that he'd be sleeping alone tonight sounded suspiciously like a signal.
Take Mew No. 2, for instance—she was convinced that Haru was subtly inviting her to his room.
Why else would he emphasize he'd be alone tonight—and even glance in her direction while saying it?
Just that one look was enough for her to read a hundred layers of meaning.
Clearly, her father was too proud to ask directly, so this was his way of hinting!
After all, no one understood her father's mind better than she did.
No one.
She wasn't the only one who thought so.
Somewhere else, a certain psychic girl also believed she'd received a summons.
Especially after Haru had tapped her on the head twice with his wooden fish mallet earlier that day—that had to be a sign.
It was obvious: she was meant to visit him at midnight.
Now she just had to wonder what awaited her if she did.
Would they "turn conflict into peace"… or "turn peace into pieces"?
The latter seemed far more likely.
And so, with a deeply conflicted heart, Miss Sabrina left the rooftop in silence.
Meanwhile, back in his room, Haru didn't go straight to sleep.
He first organized all his notes on Lugia and compiled them into a complete Pokédex entry.
When he'd told Professor Oak he wanted to create a comprehensive Legendary Pokédex, he hadn't been bluffing—he genuinely intended to finish it.
Sure, his update speed was a bit on the slow side… but hey, progress was progress.
He then asked Oak to upload the new entry to both their linked accounts.
To prove its authenticity, he even attached a few photos he'd taken—beautiful shots of Lugia soaring across the ocean.
Of course, he didn't appear in any of them himself.
Soon after the upload, the internet was once again ablaze with debate over Lugia.
Compared to Solgaleo, which Haru had posted about earlier, Lugia was far more famous—every Trainer knew of the great silver bird, and its connection to Ho-Oh.
So the reaction wasn't as explosive as last time—at first.
But then they noticed just how detailed Haru's data was.
The information was too thorough, too precise—more complete even than his Solgaleo entry.
It was as if Haru had a Lugia right next to him, willingly participating in all kinds of research and testing.
Otherwise, how could he possibly have gathered such complete data?
…But could that really be true?
No matter how much of a "Legendary Magnet" Haru was, this was pushing it.
Lugia might be famous, but that didn't make it common.
All Legendaries were one-in-a-million beings; Lugia was no exception.
There was no way he could have caught one in such a short time.
And so, the skeptics came crawling out—accusing Haru of fabricating Legendary data for fame.
Unfortunately for them, the data had been simultaneously uploaded through Professor Oak's account as well.
So even if they wanted to call Haru a fraud, they didn't dare publicly contradict both him and Professor Oak.
Questioning Haru was one thing.
But questioning the Professor? That was career suicide.
As for Haru himself, he couldn't have cared less.
He'd only made the Legendary Pokédex because he enjoyed doing it.
What others thought of it wasn't his problem.
Whether they believed him or not—it didn't matter.
Time, and his future battles, would prove everything.
If it hadn't been for that coincidental encounter with the Lugia mother and daughter, Haru would never have obtained such detailed data. In that sense, it was perfectly understandable why those people had their doubts.
Once that matter was settled, Haru began planning his next steps.
With the incident in Altomare concluded, he could now return to Alola or Paldea to check in on the girls there—or head straight to Galar.
Going back to Alola meant reuniting with Lillie. In Paldea, he could visit Iono and perhaps take Liko down to the Zero Lab for a look around.
According to Liko, the pendant she carried—the one connected to Terapagos—had recently been reacting again. It might not be long before it fully awakened.
If Haru took her into the Zero Lab, where a second Terapagos was rumored to exist, perhaps they'd witness something extraordinary.
And to be honest, it had been so long since he'd seen Lillie, his official girlfriend, that he was starting to miss her quite a bit.
But the moment he pictured himself facing Lusamine and the others again… that thought vanished completely.
Yeah—on second thought, better to go to Galar first. Things were more urgent over there anyway.
Eternatus' condition still wasn't stable, and leaving that unattended just didn't sit right with him.
Besides, until he figured out how to properly "handle" Lusamine and company, returning to Alola would be nothing short of suicidal.
He'd have to go back eventually for the League Conference anyway—there'd be plenty of time then.
And then…
For some reason, Haru paused mid-thought, put down his pen, and pulled out his Rotom Phone.
Displayed on the screen was the contestant list for Galar's "World Monarch Tournament."
Half of the roster had already been announced—those invited directly, Gym Leaders, and members of the Elite Four—while the other half remained unknown.
Just from the current lineup, Haru already felt an impending headache.
Not because of any particularly formidable opponents, but because of how complicated some of their identities were.
There was the "Little Cucumber" he'd left in Galar, Iono from faraway Paldea, Nemona who was about to challenge the Elite Four, Alola's Lillie and Lana—and even Chloe, whom he'd met during his stay in Galar.
If not for unrelated contestants like "Lacey", this tournament would basically turn into an all-out civil war.
If those girls ever decided to team up…
Haru shivered at the mere thought.
Good thing his first match was against Lacey's father, Clay, and not one of those girls. Otherwise, things would get really messy.
He sighed inwardly at the thought.
To make matters worse, his own name had been printed in bold letters right on the front page—accompanied by a whole string of over-the-top titles he'd never even heard of before.
Things like "The Devourer of the Evil Dragon" and "The Psychic Magician Beyond Reality."
Haru strongly suspected whoever made this list had done it just to mess with him.
He'd even called up Macro Cosmos right after seeing it, demanding compensation for the embarrassment. To his surprise, they'd agreed immediately.
"Well, fine," he muttered. "I'll see how it goes first. If it turns out bad, I'll take it up with the organizers. And if that doesn't work… I'll just withdraw."
Rubbing his temples, Haru let out a long sigh.
He really couldn't understand—why did this stupid tournament have to hype him up of all people?
Couldn't they go market Leon instead? Spread a rumor or two about him, maybe?
Knock knock.
Just as Haru was mulling over his Galar plans, a light tapping sounded from the window.
"...?"
Who could it be at this hour?
And come to think of it… hadn't something like this happened before?
Didn't the last time start with a "break-in" and end with some kind of weird misunderstanding?
Recalling that previous incident back in Kanto, Haru gave a small shake of his head.
"…Whatever. Might as well see who it is."
Despite a strong sense of déjà vu, he rose from his chair and pulled open the curtain.
The sight that greeted him, however, wasn't what he'd expected.
It wasn't Cynthia standing outside his window—but a girl with long, pale blue hair.
His daughter—Mewtwo.
"Mewtwo? What are you doing here?"
Haru unlatched the window, allowing her to step into the room, then quietly asked the question.
Lately, "Mew No. 2" had been getting along with him much better than before. She still had her temper, of course, but whenever he mentioned, "If it were Mew, she'd definitely be able to xxx," Mewtwo would instantly shift gears and throw herself into her efforts with all her might.
Yet even so, her reaction tonight caught him off guard.
She took a step forward, eyes filled with urgency and almost pleading earnestness.
"Father," she said solemnly, "please—teach me!"
"…Huh?" Haru blinked.
He had no idea that when he'd casually said earlier, "I'll be sleeping alone tonight," Mewtwo had completely misread the context.
So now, faced with her sudden and intense plea, he was left completely bewildered.
"Aren't you the one who was hinting I should come find you tonight?" she asked earnestly. "I understood your signal."
"You deliberately showcased Necrozma's true power in front of me, didn't you? You were afraid I'd stop pushing myself after mastering Mega Evolution, so you sent her to remind me not to become complacent."
"Well, it worked. Necrozma's strength truly shook me. That's why I'm here now, just as you intended."
"But since I'm here, you have to take responsibility for guiding me."
"…"
Haru's brow twitched.
Was his daughter… seriously overthinking things again?
What did Necrozma have to do with any of this? And her personality—did she even need a reminder to be competitive?
Of course, he didn't voice any of those thoughts out loud; saying them would only get him killed.
Instead, he gestured for her to sit and spoke gently:
"You say you want to become stronger. But tell me—why are you so fixated on strength?"
"Don't you think you're already powerful enough? You're one of only two Legendary Pokémon capable of Mega Evolving."
"You've already felt that overwhelming power once, haven't you?"
"…I'm already strong?"
Mewtwo repeated his words like they were something incomprehensible, then shook her head sharply.
"No. Not nearly strong enough!"
"Even this level of strength wouldn't be enough to defeat that woman. And against Necrozma's ultimate form? Forget it."
"Then what do you expect?" Haru sighed helplessly. "You're not Necrozma—you can't fuse yourself stronger."
"And as for Mew, your difference isn't about power. In fact, after Mega Evolution, your raw strength surpasses hers."
"The real gap between you two lies in experience—and in how she controls and combines her moves."
"You've seen her battle style. Mew's the kind of Pokémon who can turn every single move into something creative."
"She knows more techniques than almost anyone else—aside from Smeargle, maybe."
"That's purely talent. You can't compare."
Haru couldn't help but sigh.
Mew wasn't even particularly interested in battles. She'd rather laze around, and the only "training" she ever did was, well… improvisational at best.
The reason she mastered so many moves was because she kept trying to repurpose them for "creative experiments."
She'd test, tweak, and repurpose techniques constantly—until somehow, almost by accident, she became a Pokémon with perfect move control.
A ridiculous, yet oddly fitting irony.
"I know that," Mewtwo replied, "and that's why I came."
"I could've continued training alone—but the 'manual' I took from Caitlin's room was stolen by that big bird, and I refuse to go ask that annoying woman for help."
"So you'll have to teach me yourself."
"You've read that manual, haven't you? You can definitely guide me through it."
"After all, Mew's skill must've come from you, right? You've never once taught me anything like that…"
Her tone grew tinged with resentment.
She had no idea how Mew had gotten so good—but in her mind, the credit had to belong to Haru.
And yet, ever since she'd joined him, he'd never personally trained her even once.
Clearly, he was playing favorites!
"Wait… the 'manual' from Caitlin's room?"
Her words deepened Haru's confusion.
The stack of papers from Caitlin's room—wasn't that just a… magazine?
How had that suddenly become a secret technique manual?
Unless… he was the one misunderstanding here?
Maybe when she said "battle techniques," she didn't mean that kind of battle, but… the other kind?
But then why had she brought up Necrozma as an example? That ultimate form didn't exactly scream "training exercise."
Or… was she using Necrozma as a metaphor for something else entirely?
To be safe, Haru decided it was best to clarify before this went any further.
"If I'm not mistaken," he began carefully, "those papers from Caitlin's room were just… folk biology books, right? Why do you think they're some kind of secret manual?"
Mewtwo froze.
"Folk… biology books?"
For a moment, she tried to recall what that term meant—but then realization dawned, and her expression darkened.
Was he seriously mocking her?
When that white bird had grabbed those "manuals," she'd even confirmed their "contents" in front of everyone! The reactions alone had been proof that they contained some sort of great power.
Was that how one reacted to reading "folk biology" material?
And now, Haru was telling her it wasn't a manual at all?
She wasn't ignorant—just not well-versed in certain… human conventions. That didn't mean she was a fool!
"If you don't want to teach me, then just say so," she snapped. "No need to pretend."
"I'll just go to her instead. At worst, she'll only insult me a little."
With that, she abruptly stood from her chair, clearly ready to leave the way she'd come.
Seeing Mew No. 2's genuine frustration, Haru couldn't help wondering if maybe this time… the misunderstanding was actually his fault.
Haru couldn't help wondering for a moment —
Had he really missed something? Could that notebook actually not be just an ordinary notebook?
Whatever it was, that mystery could wait.
Right now, the most important thing was to stop Mewtwo before she left.
If he just let her go like this, she'd probably be sulking for days — again.
That was just how Mewtwo was: proud, stubborn, and impossible to read. He had no idea who she got that from.
With a resigned sigh, he called out to her retreating figure:
"Wait—if you really want to understand what's written on that paper, I can teach you."
He paused for emphasis. "But I'll say this first: I honestly can't promise that what I teach is what you're actually trying to learn. So if I get it wrong, don't blame me later."
"You'll really teach me?"
The girl froze mid-step. She turned her head, staring at Haru with wide, slightly doubtful eyes.
"Really, really. Just come back first," he said, gesturing. "I'll go over what the book says, step by step. Once you've mastered it, then we'll decide what comes next. Deal?"
Truth be told, Haru really didn't want to be the one leading Mewtwo down a questionable path — but what choice did he have?
If he didn't handle this himself, she might run straight to Mew and pick up all sorts of bizarre, chaotic ideas. It was better if he guided her personally; at least that way, things were less likely to spiral out of control.
"Alright!"
Seeing that Haru seemed genuinely serious, the earlier tension melted away from Mewtwo's face.
Of course — Haru did care about her after all.
Sure, he'd treated her like a fool just moments ago, which was infuriating… but maybe it really was just a misunderstanding.
Either way, she decided she'd listen to his "lesson" first.
And hopefully, that meant she wouldn't have to go back to that annoying woman.
Completely unaware of what kind of "lesson" she was about to walk into, Mewtwo nodded eagerly — and thus sealed her fate.
---
Galar Region…
The air was heavy and damp, mist clinging to skin like a cold breath. Each step sank softly into the sponge-like earth, soaked through with old rain.
Rotting leaves squelched beneath his boots, and moss crept up fallen logs, blooming in dark green tufts between cracks of withered bark.
In the distance, a Greedent darted across the undergrowth, clutching a berry tight in its little paws — as if something unseen were chasing it. It scrambled up a tall tree, vanishing into the mist.
Moments later, silence returned to the forest once more.
"It's strange," Haru murmured, standing at the entrance to Slumbering Weald. "It's only been a short while since I was last here, but it feels like ages have passed."
He exhaled softly.
He'd been here once before — back then, he'd encountered the phantom of Zacian, and even briefly crossed blades with it.
Would he see it again this time?
…Probably not.
Even though Haru somehow kept bumping into Legendary Pokémon, he knew those meetings were coincidences — no matter how many coincidences piled up.
Still, he couldn't help smiling at the thought.
Before coming to Galar, he'd contacted Chloe. According to her, she and Hop were visiting a new friend today, so they wouldn't be able to meet him right away.
But if Haru wanted, he could go find them directly after arriving.
The address Korrina had sent him pointed to Spikemuth.
If he remembered right, that was… the hometown of Team Yell — and of Marnie herself.