With Lucius fully merging with the meteorite, the psychic suppression from Gardevoir and Alakazam ceased.
In the original lore, this meteorite needed to absorb a specific energy frequency. Once charged sufficiently, it could reconstruct a body.
Now that the meteorite was in his possession, and the exact energy frequency was stored in Rhea's mind, all Lucius needed was a massive energy source to begin absorption. He wasn't about to wait a whole year like Ash Ketchum did before finally arriving in Hoenn.
Lucius paused for a few seconds—then an idea struck him.
"Let's go. Time to feed it energy."
By now it was nighttime. Lucius and Gardevoir teleported with the meteorite to Mauville City, located in central Hoenn.
Mauville was a highly developed, modern metropolis—one of the most technologically advanced cities in the entire Pokémon world. With extensive transportation networks and access to every part of the region, it was known not just for its infrastructure, but also for its famous Mauville Food Court, home to specialties like Village Sandwiches, Magnemite Balls, and Mauville Mixed Noodles. Even at night, the city gleamed with lights.
Due to Wattson's unique urban planning, Mauville had been transformed into an indoor city. The entire area was built within a giant square-shaped structure, with a park at its center. At the heart of that park stood a Prism Tower replica, modeled after Lumiose City in Kalos—symbolizing the partnership between the two cities.
From a design standpoint, Mauville was one of a kind in the Pokémon world.
But Lucius wasn't here for sightseeing.
According to Captain Stern's memories, all of Mauville's power came from New Mauville, a subterranean city-turned-power-plant developed by Greater Mauville Holdings. Originally intended for habitation, New Mauville was now used solely as a power facility since nobody wanted to live underground when Mauville aboveground was so comfortable.
It was late—only a night crew remained in New Mauville. Gardevoir teleported into the control room and knocked out the staff with a psychic burst.
As one of the world's top energy transformation facilities, New Mauville naturally had advanced laser frequency emitters. Using Rhea's memories, Lucius calibrated the frequency precisely and began charging the meteorite.
A soft green laser beam bathed the stone, and it began emitting an unusual wavelength.
Having infected the meteorite with his Emperor Strain, Lucius now experienced it like an extension of his own body. Through it, he could sense a matching signal coming from a faraway corner of the planet—weak and dormant.
Another Deoxys.
Three years ago, its body was destroyed by Rayquaza, and its meteorite had sunk beneath polar ice.
As the laser continued to charge, Lucius felt the energy building rapidly.
But it was still too slow.
He had been restraining the Emperor Strain's Heart of the Emperor ever since returning to the real world—trying to avoid detection by Lugia or even Giratina, which could breach into reality. But time was running out. He needed the ability to protect himself—now.
So, he cranked the power to maximum.
The laser beams narrowed and strengthened. Even through the glass, Lucius could feel the heat radiating from the meteorite.
All across Mauville, lights flickered. Devices sounded low power alerts. Fortunately, most people were asleep, and no one raised an alarm.
80%... 85%... 95%... 100%...
Lucius silently tracked the charge level. As the meteorite hit full capacity, it released a surge of green aurora that pierced the ceiling of New Mauville and lit up the skies above the city.
Mesmerizing. Every night owl in Mauville saw the radiant display.
At the same time, a massive green dragon—Rayquaza, circling the upper atmosphere—turned its gaze toward the phenomenon.
Lucius immediately transferred the Emperor Strain from Rhea to the meteorite. As the two fused, the immense energy within triggered a rapid viral growth. Vines of ink-dark flesh and sinew erupted from the meteorite, twisting into a monstrous shape—abstract, nightmarish, like something out of Lovecraftian horror.
The transformation was different this time.
Veronica had replaced the original cosmic virus, so the form was no longer the red-and-green we once knew.
Lucius activated Protean Morph. The tentacles and sinews squirmed, then twisted into a vaguely human shape.
But only vaguely.
The "body" had no skin—just writhing flesh-vines, disturbing to look at. Something straight out of a horror movie, the kind of creature that would send two minor characters screaming to their deaths upon entering the frame.
Embedded in its chest, like an arc reactor, glowed the green meteorite—now his energy core. With this new form, Lucius had fully acquired the powers of Deoxys from the original canon.
"Tch… a stone in the chest? I look like Iron Man."
Now that he had a body of his own, Lucius wouldn't need to keep relying on Gardevoir for everything.
Still… one Deoxys wasn't enough. It gave him defense—but Lugia and Ho-Oh would destroy him in a direct confrontation.
Lucius and Gardevoir teleported the unconscious Rhea back to LaRousse City, laying her gently in her apartment.
As she stared at the sight of Lucius now walking on his own, Gardevoir's gaze softened with quiet pride.
After making sure the scientist was safe, Lucius returned to the hotel—ready to reclaim his previous host: Volkner.
His writhing sinews slid like serpents toward the sleeping man, slithering into Volkner's nose and mouth. Even Gardevoir winced and shielded her eyes from the grotesque sight.
"Having a humanoid body really is convenient in this face-obsessed world," a familiar voice joked beside her.
She peeked through her fingers.
Sure enough, Volkner's handsome face was smiling back.
But as she stared at his remarkably human features, her mind involuntarily flashed back to the horrifying form she'd just seen.
"Don't picture me like that…"
(╥╯^╰╥)
"Do you really think I have the luxury of choosing not to think about it?" Gardevoir thought bitterly to herself.
Lucius turned to her with a sheepish smile. "Gardevoir, I really put you through a lot back then, didn't I?"
This time, he had used Teleport himself to travel from Mauville City in central Hoenn to LaRousse City in the east. Only then did he truly understand how exhausting and mentally taxing it was to travel this way.
Back when they were trying to intercept Anabel, Gardevoir had obeyed his command and performed long-range teleportation, crossing the sea from Kanto to Hoenn, all while carrying him—a heavy burden that made the feat exponentially harder.
Gardevoir didn't respond aloud, but Lucius could sense the unspoken frustration in her heart.
She was once a proud and powerful Pokémon, the Guardian of the Crystal Caves, a title worthy of reverence. And yet, ever since being infected by him, she had been forced into servitude—used like a slave. Bodyguard. Enforcer. Transportation. Even acting like a maid, serving him tea and cleaning up after him…
Lucius lowered his gaze and said softly, "Gardevoir… once this business with the Mythical Pokémon is over, I'll set you free."
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