In the vast universe, having some things around was quite normal.
Look, nearby floated numerous small meteors that would explode like dandelions at the slightest touch or approach, leaving behind scattered hard meteor shells while their colorful cores took the opportunity to escape.
What interested Rayquaza were the meteor shells left behind by the small meteors—to Rayquaza, they were like little candies.
Just like how Tyranitar used to eat diamonds.
Gengar had also scooped up quite a few of these meteor shells.
But in the vast universe, there weren't many things that could make Rayquaza wary.
"Is it Deoxys? Or..."
[No.]
Rayquaza shook its head. Of course it would recognize Deoxys.
Moreover...
Rayquaza glanced not far away, where two Deoxys—one purple, one green—were watching from a distance. They were the helpers Johan had called.
"It can't possibly be Clefairy, right?" Johan's expression was strange.
Rayquaza looked back at Johan with an utterly speechless expression.
"Just kidding."
Patting Rayquaza's scales, Johan also began to think.
In the Pokémon world, there were actually quite a few Pokémon in space. Setting aside those never seen or registered, and excluding Clefairy which was somewhat of a joke, that left...
Deoxys, Minior, Beheeyem, Solrock, Lunatone...
And there were more.
If you really counted them.
Unova's Tao trio also came from space, Galar region's Eternatus likewise came from space, and there was also...
Suddenly.
Johan paused, seemingly remembering something. "The legendary space Pokémon?"
[?]
"Necrozma?"
This was originally just wild speculation, but when Johan said this name, Rayquaza fell silent, its expression becoming particularly serious.
Seeing this attitude, Johan's heart skipped a beat.
"It can't... really be Necrozma, right?"
That didn't make sense.
The Blinding One Necrozma should still be sleeping somewhere underground in the Alola region at this time, shouldn't it?
Could this be another one?
The Pokémon world was vast, with even multiple universes existing. The appearance of the same legendary Pokémon wasn't impossible.
Rayquaza came in black and green varieties too.
If it really was Necrozma, that would be big trouble.
Among the many legendary Pokémon in the Pokémon world, Rayquaza's strength was definitely among the more outstanding, and with its Mega Evolution ability, there weren't many opponents who could face it head-on.
Even Reshiram and Zekrom wouldn't work.
Perhaps Kyurem after fusing with Reshiram or Zekrom could, but that would count as two-on-one.
And the legendary "Blinding One," Ultra Necrozma, was one of the few beings capable of a direct confrontation with Mega Rayquaza.
His thoughts flashing, Johan lightly patted Rayquaza in comfort:
"It's okay, you're not alone."
He had called two Deoxys, plus Darkrai who came along.
Four against one—advantage was his.
[It's somewhat similar, but I'm... not certain.]
Rayquaza suddenly said.
Hearing this, Johan stumbled.
Somewhat similar?
Not certain?
Then why were you being so serious?
Rayquaza steadied itself, looking back at Johan with an inexplicable gleam in its eyes.
From the time Rayquaza had memories until now, this seemed... to be the first time someone told it "you're not alone."
This feeling was strange.
Even for a being as proud as Rayquaza, after being lonely for an incredibly long time with perhaps its greatest pleasure being beating up Groudon and Kyogre, it now actually felt a sense of... friendship?
An indescribable, subtle feeling.
"Forget it." Johan shook his head, his tone becoming resolute. "No matter what, this huge meteorite must be destroyed. As for what's on it... we'll deal with that after destroying the meteorite!"
[Good!]
Rayquaza also felt this way.
At worst... they'd just have a fight!
Buzz—
With Gengar and Darkrai supporting him, Johan flew off Rayquaza's back, while the two Deoxys in the distance also approached.
Riding Rayquaza to crash into the meteorite at this point?
Johan wasn't looking to shorten his lifespan.
"Long time no see."
Seeing the two Deoxys, Johan smiled and greeted them.
Buzz buzz buzz—
The signal lights on the green and purple Deoxys's faces flashed—this was them greeting Johan.
"These are gifts I brought for you."
Johan opened a portable pouch specially installed on his spacesuit by Devon, taking out two crystal Deoxys sculptures. Besides different poses, the two sculptures had green and purple diamonds embedded in their chests respectively.
Gifts?
The two Deoxys seemed very surprised, looking at each other before gazing at the two crystals... the angular features on both Deoxys seemed to soften.
Gifts...
We can have gifts too?
Moreover.
Obviously these gifts corresponded to each of them respectively.
He gave the crystal Deoxys with the green diamond to the purple-core Deoxys, and vice versa.
If their companion disappeared again in the future, at least they'd have something to remember them by.
"They're not very valuable things. I hope you like them." Johan said.
Zzz—zzz—
[Thank you.]
Deoxys's voice rang in his mind.
"Ready, Rayquaza!"
Johan looked at Rayquaza again, indicating it could begin.
"Roar—!!"
Rayquaza roared, its body beginning to emanate blazing, brilliant light.
Hoenn region, Mossdeep Space Center.
Steven, Wallace, Glacia, Drake and other high-ranking Hoenn League officials were all gathered here, assembled in Mossdeep Space Center's command center.
Everyone was watching Johan and Rayquaza's every move.
If the operation encountered any uncontrollable factors and failed, Devon's "Dimensional Transporter" could serve as a backup plan for emergency activation.
"Meteorite locked on!"
Mossdeep Space Center researchers reported the situation.
"Why did they stop?" Elite Four Drake looked at Rayquaza hovering in space, somewhat curious.
"After all, it's such a huge meteorite." Old Joseph Stone sighed.
Honestly.
When they learned the meteorite would impact Hoenn, they didn't have a clear concept of just how large this so-called "huge meteorite" was.
But seeing this scene, watching the comparison between the massive Rayquaza and that meteorite, they finally understood—if such a large meteorite crashed down, forget about Hoenn, even other regions would suffer extremely severe damage.
Even...
"Wonder if it can be successfully destroyed..." Elite Four Sidney said worriedly.
"Here it comes!" Steven said gravely, eyes fixed on the screen.
Although the image was somewhat blurry due to distance and unstable signal transmission, they could clearly see brilliant Mega Evolution light appearing around Rayquaza.
"Mega Rayquaza..."
Everyone in the control center had only serious expressions.
"Hm?"
Wallace suddenly noticed.
"Teacher Johan, he..."
Why did Teacher Johan also have Mega Evolution energy fluctuations?
"Key Stone?" Steven also noticed this.
The two looked at each other.
Wait.
Teacher Johan could help Rayquaza Mega Evolve?
Didn't Rayquaza autonomously Mega Evolve?
"As expected." Aster's eyes flickered.
Even though Teacher wasn't a so-called "inheritor," he could still do what "inheritors" could do, and even... much more easily than "inheritors"!
"This is Teacher..."
Under everyone's gaze, Mega Rayquaza became an incredibly sharp arrow, charging straight toward that huge meteorite.
In space.
Hm?
Watching Rayquaza prepare for Mega Evolution, Johan paused, feeling something strange about the Key Stone on his body.
Rayquaza?
Rayquaza seemed somewhat surprised by this as well.
Previously, only "Draconid" "inheritors" could assist its Mega Evolution, giving it stronger power, but now...
Gengar nearby seemed to understand something, remembering the seven-colored giant stone it had "taken."
With so many recent events, it hadn't had time to properly study it with Johan.
Johan took a deep breath.
Legendary Pokémon Mega Evolution—this wasn't his first time.
He immediately used aura and called out gravely:
"Rayquaza—"
"Mega Evolution!"
"Roar—!!"
Seven-colored rainbow light burst forth. Rayquaza's internal "Delta Symbol" or rather "Mikado Organ" scattered countless golden particles, forming ribbon-like bands extending from both sides of its face.
The patterns on Rayquaza's body also blazed with dazzling golden light, its skin gleaming like brilliant green emerald. What appeared before it wasn't the Mega Evolution symbol, but Rayquaza's exclusive "Delta Δ"!
Boom!!
Though this was airless space, with Rayquaza's transformation, Delta Stream spread outward from it as the center.
Johan watched Rayquaza's transformation—no, it should now be called Mega Rayquaza!
Sometimes being cool really was a lifetime thing...
"Rayquaza!"
Johan called out again, "Dragon Ascent!"
"Roar—!!"
Mega Rayquaza seemed to become a golden arrow, bathed in brilliant golden light, gathering all its power at one point as it charged straight toward that incredibly huge meteorite.
Golden light cut through the pitch-black universe.
Boom—
In an instant.
The entire world seemed to contain only one thin, bright line. The brief silence felt as long as a century.
The next second.
Boom!!
Mega Rayquaza burst through from the other side of the meteorite!
And the incredibly huge meteorite exploded at that moment!
An extremely powerful impact spread from the meteorite's explosion point, forming invisible shockwaves.
The two Deoxys and Darkrai shielded Johan, creating barriers that blocked the impact's aftershocks.
Countless large and small meteorites struck the barrier, ultimately turning to powder and scattering.
At Mossdeep Space Center, everyone felt like the huge meteorite had been cut in half, then the already blurry camera lost signal.
When signal was finally restored, only numerous meteorite fragments remained floating around.
"So incredible..."
After a long while, Wallace voiced everyone's thoughts.
It really was incredible.
Such a huge meteorite was just... pierced through and destroyed by Mega Rayquaza.
Was this Rayquaza's true power?
Whether human or ordinary Pokémon, they were truly... too small before such power.
But the next second, everyone in the control room instinctively closed their eyes.
Because this was uncontrollable—a natural reaction.
The blurry screen suddenly flashed with extremely blinding light.
Fortunately, because the light was too intense, Devon's special camera was destroyed!
"What's happening?!"
The people who finally recovered looked at the now signal-less screen, everyone confused and somewhat surprised.
Even the huge meteorite's explosion hadn't destroyed the camera, but the sudden blinding light actually destroyed it?
Then everyone's hearts tightened.
Oh no!
Teacher Johan wouldn't be in danger, would he?
In space.
Johan, as the closest eyewitness to what everyone in the control room saw, naturally witnessed it as well.
But compared to the control room's shock, he was slightly better off.
Because Rayquaza had given warning from the start, and because Deoxys and Darkrai had reacted in time.
Deoxys's psychic barriers, plus Darkrai and Gengar's black holes, prevented this intense light from harming Johan.
But...
"It can't really be the 'Blinding One' Necrozma, right?" Johan thought.
This level of intense light, besides Necrozma, probably only...
"Roar!!!"
A commotion came from within the shattered meteorite fragments.
There, a being emanating sun-like blazing light, shaped like an ordinary golden lion, stood on a relatively large meteorite fragment, its sharp eyes locked firmly on Mega Rayquaza!
"Solgaleo?"
Seeing that creature, even though Johan had some mental preparation, he still couldn't help being stunned.
The Sun God!
Or it could be called the "Emissary of the Sun," "Beast that Devours the Sun," the Sunne Pokémon, Solgaleo!
A legendary Pokémon from the Alola region, also called a "legendary space Pokémon."
Though it had the word "space," didn't this refer to the "space" from "other universes"?
But it really appeared in outer space?
However, this did explain why Rayquaza had vaguely sensed Necrozma's aura from the huge meteorite earlier.
Others might not know, but Johan was quite clear that the legendary space Pokémon Solgaleo and Lunala actually had extremely deep connections with the "Blinding One" Necrozma.
It's just...
Why would it appear here?
Buzz—
The dazzling light on Solgaleo gradually faded as it slowly changed from "Radiant Sun phase" back to its original appearance.
Resembling a giant lion, entirely white with azure blue eyes that seemed to contain brilliance, while the blue area on its forehead contained what looked like a starry sky with constantly changing stellar formations.
"Solgaleo!!"
Solgaleo roared, its body blazing with light again as it charged toward Mega Rayquaza like a meteor or comet!
Meteor Rush!
"Roar—!!"
Facing Solgaleo's direct attack without any words, Mega Rayquaza also didn't want to waste time talking, immediately becoming an arrow and charging straight out.
Dragon Ascent!
Meteor Rush VS Dragon Ascent!
A century collision Johan had never imagined.
Like a battle between meteors and comets.
Boom!!
Terrifying impact aftershocks swept out again.
"What is that thing?"
Darkrai, blocking the aftershocks, couldn't help glaring at Johan questioningly.
"Don't glare at me—I didn't bring it here."
Johan was also helpless about this.
This time really couldn't be blamed on him, right?
Who knew a Solgaleo would be sleeping on the huge meteorite?
Bang—
The two great legendary Pokémon separated after one clash.
The Mega Evolution energy around Mega Rayquaza faded as its chest heaved.
After all, it had just shattered such a large meteorite—even Rayquaza couldn't help feeling fatigued.
But even so, Solgaleo hadn't gained any advantage from Rayquaza.
[This one's not weak.]
Rayquaza's voice rang in Johan's mind.
[But that's all it amounts to!]
"Solgaleo!!"
In the vast universe, a mysterious power gradually gathered around Solgaleo, granting it stronger power.
Cosmic Power!
Solgaleo looked deeply at Rayquaza, but Johan suddenly felt its peripheral vision seemed to be watching him too.
But given the current situation...
"Rayquaza, don't use Dragon Ascent anymore—Fire Blast! This guy's weak to fire!"
The legendary "Sun God" being afraid of fire, the legendary "Moon God" being afraid of ghosts—if word got out, probably not many would believe it.
Rayquaza didn't believe it.
This guy had been like a sun earlier—how could it be afraid of fire?
But trusting Johan, despite his confusion, Rayquaza still spat out terrifying flames!
Even though Rayquaza wasn't a Fire-type Pokémon, its flames were extremely powerful.
At the same time.
Johan gave another command: "Gengar, Spectral Thief!"
Gengar, busy collecting meteorites, immediately dropped what it was doing upon hearing Johan's words, put on sunglasses to block the intense light, and grinned wickedly at Solgaleo.
"Ka-kaah~! ┏('_')ノ"
Give it here!
Solgaleo: ?
It felt the power it had accumulated was rapidly draining away.
No way.
How could an ordinary Pokémon steal power from it?
But sorry, their Gengar... was just this unreasonable.
Moreover, the Sun God Solgaleo was also afraid of "ghosts."
As everyone knows, the tougher the guy, the more afraid of ghosts (not really), this was very reasonable.
The sudden power loss caused Solgaleo to lose focus briefly. Rayquaza didn't waste such an opportunity—massive flames instantly engulfed Solgaleo.
Boom!!!
But soon.
Solgaleo emerged from the raging flames, cloaked in dazzling light and looking majestic.
Rayquaza immediately looked at Johan irritably.
This is what you called afraid of fire?
However, before Rayquaza could speak, the light around Solgaleo dimmed again as it staggered, nearly falling onto the meteorite fragments.
Rayquaza: ?
Wait, you really are afraid of fire?
Solgaleo didn't pay attention to Rayquaza. It tilted its head looking at Johan, its azure eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.
It didn't understand why this human... seemed to know it so well?
But its time was running out.
"Roar—!!"
Finding Solgaleo's weakness, Rayquaza excitedly roared.
"Wait, Rayquaza!" Johan quickly stopped it, halting its pursuit, while using aura to communicate with Solgaleo:
"Solgaleo, what do you want to do?"
Ride a meteorite to crash into the planet?
Or was it purely unintentional?
Or perhaps...
[I slept for a long time... I was hiding... I want to ask you for something...]
Fragmentary thoughts belonging to Solgaleo came back through aura.
Sleeping?
So the meteorite impact wasn't caused by Solgaleo?
As for hiding... Johan could probably guess who it was hiding from.
And the matter...
[Please... target... Altar of the Sunne...]
Buzz—
As these words ended, Solgaleo appeared before Johan at a speed that surprised everyone and every Pokémon.
"Ka-kaah!"
Gengar, Darkrai, and the two Deoxys were startled, almost simultaneously preparing to attack Solgaleo, but Johan raised his hand to stop them.
His aura sensed no malice from Solgaleo.
Solgaleo slowly lowered its body, its forehead flickering with stellar formations slowly approaching Johan.
Looking into it, Johan seemed to see a starry sky, a nebula dotted with countless stars.
[Please...]
Buzz—
Solgaleo's body suddenly became like a mirage, like a sand sculpture, quietly dispersing without leaving a trace.
"Ka-kaah?"
Gengar rubbed its eyes with its fists, mouth agape.
That move was so cool... can I learn it?
Johan opened his eyes.
"Strange, when did I close my eyes?"
He looked down at his hands, still wearing the thick dark red spacesuit.
"Just now... was that a dream? Or reality?"
He turned to look at Rayquaza, Deoxys, and Darkrai.
But none of them—whether Rayquaza, the Psychic-type Deoxys, or the nightmare god Darkrai—could give a definitive answer.
Such a huge golden lion, gone just like that.
And Johan, quite knowledgeable about dreams, couldn't give a definitive answer either.
Dream? Reality?
Regardless.
Besides adding some complications, everything went quite smoothly.
The meteorite was successfully destroyed!
"Teacher? Teacher! Can you hear me, Teacher? This is Steven!"
At this time.
Steven's voice came through the spacesuit.
"I hear you." Johan paused, then said.
"Whew—"
Steven clearly sighed in relief. "Teacher, you..."
"I'm fine." Johan slowly floated toward Rayquaza, standing on its head. "Meteorite crisis, resolved!"
After brief silence.
Enthusiastic cheers came through the communicator.
This was the release after facing consecutive disasters and intense pressure. Everyone in the control room, including Elite Four Drake, smiled from the heart.
Listening to the laughter in the communicator, Johan gazed at the distant planet, lost in thought.
[What's wrong?]
Rayquaza asked.
"Suddenly want to cause some trouble."
[What trouble?]
Rayquaza looked curious.
Darkrai nearby immediately became alert.
Oh no.
Without causing trouble, you already encounter this and that. If you actually cause trouble... are you planning to beat up Arceus again while your "power is at its peak"?
"Rayquaza, Deoxys, help me out." Johan's mouth unconsciously curved upward.
Since Giratina had "run away from home" on its own, he couldn't be blamed.
However.
The Distortion World was big enough anyway. Adding a few hundred million meteorites shouldn't matter much to it, right?
Since it didn't object, that meant it agreed.
The Groudon and Kyogre disaster ended!
The meteorite disaster ended!
The two mountains pressing down on the Hoenn region were finally moved aside one by one by Johan.
When he rode Rayquaza back to Mossdeep Space Center, numerous people had already gathered to welcome him.
This time.
The Hoenn League similarly didn't suppress the news.
Even.
The Hoenn League shared some footage captured by Mossdeep Space Center to networks and live streams.
Teacher Johan wanted to keep a low profile?
Not allowed!
Hoenn wouldn't allow anyone not to know Teacher Johan's contributions to all of Hoenn.
At the same time, it was telling those other regions with "ill intentions"—Teacher Johan was a Hoenn person!
But other League officials who understood Hoenn League's intentions scoffed at this.
As if Teacher Johan hadn't helped other regions.
As long as he hadn't become a Hoenn Elite Four member or Hoenn Champion for even one day, they all had opportunities!
Moreover, even if he did become one...
Who said a trainer could only serve in one region?
Teacher Johan belonged to everyone!
Regarding this kind of "turbulent" high-level maneuvering, Johan naturally didn't care nor had much mind to care. After bidding farewell to Rayquaza and Deoxys, he immediately called Cynthia to report his safety.
Then...
Then he went home to sleep.
So tired.
Riding Rayquaza at that speed was no joke—ordinary people's physical constitution absolutely couldn't handle it.
Moreover, he had inexplicably helped Rayquaza complete Mega Evolution.
But Johan wanted to sleep, yet some people wouldn't let him.
For example...
"Elite Four Drake, Elite Four Glacia, are you two planning to sleep at my place tonight?" Johan yawned deeply, looking at these two current pivotal figures in the Hoenn League's upper echelons.
"Johan."
Elite Four Drake was hot-tempered, so he got straight to the point:
"When will you challenge the Champion's Road?"
Johan: "!!"
"When did I say I'd challenge the Champion's Road?"
Glacia said: "Johan, you should know our Hoenn Champion position has been vacant for three years."
"Then find Steven. Steven's strength and ability—I think they're sufficient."
Current Steven would have some difficulty clearing the Champion's Road, but... nowadays, what decent person actually walked the Champion's Road?
Look at Lance.
Completely dominated by Lorelei.
"But you are Steven's teacher after all..." Glacia said again.
"What does being a teacher matter? 'Those who achieve come first'—have you heard this saying, Elite Four Glacia?"
After becoming Champion, how could he still file reimbursements?
File reimbursements for himself?
If word got out... people would think Teacher Johan was embezzling.
Moreover, don't think Johan couldn't see through this.
Current Hoenn, after experiencing the Groudon and Kyogre disaster, had many places needing attention. This was precisely when there was a pile of work—they were recruiting able bodies to their doorstep.
Even if he really wanted to do it... that would have to wait until after this period!
Mm!
Glacia and Elite Four Drake exchanged glances.
Finally, Glacia sighed.
"We have a mission..."
Johan immediately showed a wary expression.
Looking at the two Elite Four members, he asked: "Why do I feel like you two are scheming against me?"
First propose something difficult to accept to get a refusal, then present the real objective to achieve smooth success.
"You brat."
Drake was amused.
Weren't you very tired?
How could you still react so quickly?
Is this what studying psychology does?
"Don't worry, it's not a difficult mission. You, Steven, Wallace, even Norman all have one." Drake said.
So many people?
Johan relaxed his guard slightly.
Thinking carefully.
Hoenn region temporarily didn't seem to have any other particularly big troubles, right?
Not to mention Rayquaza and Deoxys—now even Groudon had a pretty good relationship with him. Team Magma and Team Aqua could hardly cause trouble anymore. At most, there was just one Kyogre...
"Really not difficult?"
"Of course." Drake kept a straight face, nodding solemnly.
"Alright, I..."
Johan sat up straight, just about to negotiate, when he saw Elite Four Drake and Elite Four Glacia both stand up simultaneously.
"Then it's decided." Drake said.
Johan: "???"
Wait.
He hadn't even finished speaking.
"This is part of the reward the League secured for you."
Elite Four Glacia tossed down a box and turned to leave.
As for Elite Four Drake... he was already outside preparing to ride Salamence.
"Wait, what exactly is the mission? At least tell me." Johan called out.
"You'll know in a while."
Elite Four Glacia's voice came from far away.
Running so fast?
"Why do I still feel like I got schemed?" Johan rubbed his chin lightly.
"Ka-kaah~"
Gengar nodded in agreement.
"So, did I just agree?" Johan looked at Gengar.
Gengar paused, then quickly shook its head.
"Right. I didn't agree."
"Ka-kaah~" Gengar crossed itself on its chest, then raised its hand to swear.
I didn't see those two people today.
"Exactly."
Opening the box Elite Four Glacia left behind.
An Ice-type Z-Crystal, a Flying-type Z-Crystal, a Rock-type Z-Crystal.
Johan's mouth twitched.
"I'm almost collecting a complete set..."
Besides the three Z-Crystals, there were also four "Rare Candies"!
Good heavens!
Had the Hoenn League's inventory been almost emptied?
"These are good stuff though..."
Johan happily put away the "Rare Candies."
"I'll make you candied fruit in a couple days."
Four "Rare Candies" weren't enough to share, but making them into food would solve the problem.
"Ka-kaah..."
Gengar immediately drooled.
That night.
Johan slept very deeply and had a very long dream.
In the dream.
Ultra Necrozma battled numerous deities, fighting until the sky was dark and the sun and moon lost their light...
Johan murmured in his sleep.
"Somehow seems like I set up a flag..."
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Powerstones?
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