Lysandre's face froze.
In truth, when he spoke those words, he had already conceded. His intention was to allow Aoki to provide him a way out, especially in front of so many subordinates. If Aoki exposed the truth openly, his authority would crumble.
But Aoki merely chuckled and said, "Forget it. Here is one million Pokecoins—that should cover your losses."
As he spoke, Aoki used his psychic powers to levitate a bank card toward Lysandre.
Lysandre's expression softened slightly.
However, Aoki's display of psychic abilities also revealed that he still held hidden strength.
"Now, tell me what kind of cooperation you wish to discuss. What can you offer us?" Lysandre asked.
Aoki remained silent for a moment.
Lysandre waited patiently, his composure unshaken, his demeanor controlled.
Aoki nodded subtly. "First, understand this—our cooperation does not revolve around you or your organization."
Lysandre frowned. "If not us, then who? You? Your strength is decent, but nothing extraordinary."
As he spoke, Lysandre retrieved another Poké Ball, suspicion creeping into his mind.
He felt as though he had been deceived.
His Pyroar was stronger than that Gengar, and he had even more powerful Pokémon in reserve. Yet, Aoki kept gaining the upper hand.
"Exactly! Our cooperation centers around me!" Aoki suddenly raised his voice, his tone laced with fervor and recklessness.
This declaration infuriated Lysandre. He hurled another Poké Ball, summoning his ace—a Shiny Gyarados!
ROAR!!!
The crimson-scaled beast emerged, its luster gleaming under the light.
Aoki ignored it.
Instead, he locked eyes with Lysandre and continued, "The world is broken. Humanity is broken. There are deranged Pokémon and ignorant humans. This world is polluted beyond simple solutions—like a body consumed by cancer. The corruption has spread too far. Cutting it out isn't enough.
The sickness is terminal.
Only drastic measures can cure it!"
His voice carried the zeal of a fanatic, as if he were ready to burn the world to ashes.
Lysandre's expression shifted, his earlier tension easing. Slowly, he lowered the battle equipment he had been preparing.
"Lysandre, the world cannot be saved by you alone. It's not enough! What you've done—it's insufficient!" Aoki pressed on, fully embracing his role.
As a fledgling manipulator, Aoki believed he was performing admirably.
The art of deception required commitment.
Mid-speech, Aoki retrieved a Poké Ball and hurled it forward.
A flash of red light—and a towering, algae-covered Pokémon materialized.
A Dragalge.
Once a force surpassing even Champion-level Pokémon.
"Drahhh—"
The Dragalge had struck a deal with Aoki. Now, it unleashed its full, unrestrained aura.
The surrounding Team Flare grunts recoiled in terror.
Nearby Pokémon collapsed under the pressure.
The sheer gap in power was overwhelming. As a Dragon-type, the Dragalge exuded an oppressive dominance.
Most crucially—after years imprisoned on the Dragon's Pillar, the Dragalge had lost only its toxic energy. Its draconic might remained intact.
Lysandre's eyes widened.
His Pyroar and Gyarados instinctively retreated, snarling but hesitant to strike.
The Pyroar, in particular, resembled a chastened beast before a greater predator.
"A Pokémon… beyond Champion level?" Lysandre muttered.
"Who are you?!" he demanded, voice sharp.
Aoki ignored the question.
"Don't resist. I'll show you something."
He gave a subtle nod to the Mismagius beside him.
"Mismagiii—"
The ghostly Pokémon hummed softly, its eyes glowing crimson. A faint energy enveloped Aoki and Lysandre.
Lysandre allowed it—Aoki had warned him.
When his vision cleared, he found himself floating midair alongside Aoki, gazing down upon a ruined town.
"Is this… a dream?" Lysandre asked.
Aoki remained silent.
Indeed, it was a dream—one crafted by the Mismagius, shaped by Aoki's will.
This was the Mismagius's expertise.
As a master of illusions, weaving dreams was second nature. Luring others into them was effortless.
Had this been the wild, encountering a Mismagius meant questioning reality itself—was this truth, or merely its trickery?
Here, however, the Mismagius followed Aoki's design, constructing the dream exactly as instructed. No embellishments, only precision.
A dream—yet real enough to deceive.
"Behold the world as it is," Aoki intoned.
Within the dream, Aoki held dominion. He could reshape it at will.
Yet the illusion was fragile. The slightest resistance from Lysandre would shatter it.
Hence Aoki's warning.
The scenery below blurred past—the Kalos region, or what remained of it.
The Tower of Mastery, the Prism Tower, the Parfum Palace…
Familiar landmarks, now reduced to rubble.
The entire region—no, the entire world—lay in ruins. Crumbling walls, smoldering wreckage.
And worse—corpses.
Piles of them. Human and Pokémon alike.
Everywhere.
Lysandre's chest tightened. Even knowing this was a dream, the sight sickened him.
"We've arrived," Aoki announced.
The vision halted over a desolate town.
"This is—?" Lysandre's breath caught as he recognized the central structure.
"The epicenter of the world's destruction," Aoki replied.
They descended.
As his feet touched ground, Lysandre stepped forward, drawn toward the town.
Aoki lingered behind, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
He had taken the bait.