"Huh?! Wh-What's going on?!"
Before she could even react, Iono was already tackled and restrained by Haru.
Haru's face was twisted with savage intent—clearly, he meant to thoroughly punish the girl who had tried to run away.
Iono, of course, recognized that the person before her was Haru. But never in her wildest dreams did she expect Haru to lay hands on her…
No—perhaps that wasn't quite right. At this moment, she wasn't really Iono anymore, but rather a stand-in for that blue-haired woman!
She didn't know why this was happening, nor why the supposedly "captive" Haru—according to reliable intel—had suddenly become the hunter instead.
But one thing was clear… If she didn't explain herself fast, she was about to get thoroughly humiliated by Haru.
"Wait, I'm not—"
Before she could finish, Haru stuffed a round object right into her mouth.
Thanks to their earlier "training," Haru had gotten pretty good at this maneuver.
"Hmph, talk is cheap! Looks like someone hasn't been disciplined enough. This time, I'm gonna play with you until you're begging for mercy!"
Seeing Iono's panic-stricken face, Haru let out a cold laugh and leaned in with a savage grin as he made his declaration.
He wasn't even trying to hide his triumphant glee.
Hmph, so what if she had the power of the Glorious One? She still got caught, didn't she?
Even if she had a chance to run, could she really escape?
So stubborn and unrepentant—tonight, I'll make you fall completely, you fake Lana!
But as Haru's words reached her ears, Iono froze.
Wait... Is this really Haru?
Wasn't he supposed to be more of the gentle, herbivore-type? Could it be… that Lillie was right? Had he really been corrupted by the power of Pokémon?
Dear Arceus… What a filthy turn of events!
She still didn't understand what had driven Haru to become like this, but she had a sneaking suspicion that the one outside still battling Necrozma might... be about to suffer some serious brain damage.
I'm sorry, Lillie.
That was the thought that inexplicably popped into Iono's mind as she was dragged upstairs by Haru.
---
Outside Ultra Megalopolis...
Within the surreal Ultra Wormhole, Lillie had reached the far end of the tunnel.
Before her eyes, threads of light and shadow wove together like a flowing tapestry.
The entire passage shimmered with a pale blue glow, like frozen musical notes leaping along an invisible staff.
And facing her... was a blinding mass of light.
Though its form had yet to appear, both Lillie and Lunala knew exactly who it was.
Necrozma!
Of course, Lillie had noticed Iono's sudden disappearance.
At the exact moment she vanished, Lillie also saw a prismatic rift tear open nearby, blasted out by some unknown force.
And then—an all-too-familiar blue-haired girl came flying out of that rift, frantically fleeing in a particular direction.
No doubt about it—that was Lana!
The woman who had taken everything from her! The woman who filled her with unrelenting rage!
Lillie didn't know why she looked so disheveled, like she was being chased by ten thousand Whimsicott, Smeargle, and Amoonguss…
But that didn't matter. If it was Lana—then there was only one thing to do.
Battle.
The grudge between her and Lana could never be erased through ordinary means.
So the only option left was to fight. To fight for Haru's safety, for her own future and ideals, for the light of Alola, and to avenge the shame of the cuckolded bull, I, Lillie, will crush that damned Lana with my overwhelming brilliance!
Fight. Fight—FIGHT!
Today, Lillie would fight her final battle!
The determined girl stood tall, locking eyes on the blue figure in the distance.
"Lunala! For me—use Moongeist Beam on Lana!"
Perhaps sensing her conviction, Lunala finally got a little more serious.
"Mahina-pe'a!!!"
With a crystal-clear cry, it spread its wings wide. The deep-blue wings that once resembled the night sky now glimmered with silver, transforming Lunala into a radiant full moon.
This was its Full Moon Form, the shape it assumed when unleashing its ultimate power—whether it be a Z-Move or its signature attack, Moongeist Beam.
It's worth noting that like Necrozma, Lunala also drew in all surrounding light to fuel this devastating technique.
And in that instant, all the light in the Ultra Space converged upon Lunala, amplifying the move's power to... 100 million!
Holding nothing back, the blinding pillar of light burst forth like Haru's devastating jet of destruction.
Lunala and Lillie both firmly believed: if this move landed, nothing in existence could withstand it.
Nothing.
And Necrozma—no matter how powerful—was still a Psychic-type Pokémon, vulnerable to Ghost-type moves.
Take this head-on, and not even ten thousand lives would be enough.
But... was that really true?
The torrent of light engulfed the weakened "Lana," washing over her mercilessly, as though intending to melt her into nothing.
But as the brilliance and darkness faded, Lillie and Lunala were stunned to find that "Lana" was not only unscathed—she had multiplied!
Yes—Lana had awakened like a Mega Kangaskhan turned hell goddess, revealing her new Ability: Parental Lana Bond.
Then, from that direction, the blue-haired girl's voice rang out:
"Lillie. So today... you've come to wipe me out?"
"I warned you not to seek death until you were fully prepared. Looks like I was talking to the wrong person."
Lana sighed softly, her lips curling into a slightly more serious expression.
"Lillie, you've grown strong—strong enough to command a Legendary Pokémon."
"But so what? Lillie, you will never surpass me. You can't beat someone who has attained the ultimate fusion form."
"Fusion? Don't tell me you're about to start doing some weird yuri fusion thing in front of me—"
"Stubborn fool! If you won't realize your own situation, then witness this world-ending power for yourself!"
Lana could understand how Lillie felt. But she couldn't turn back anymore.
If Lillie needed to vent her fury, then so be it—Lana would face her.
And if Lillie could defeat her, then no matter what Lillie asked of her—Lana would give it everything she had.
Even if Lillie wanted the whole truth—she would no longer keep anything secret.
So...
Let them fight.
"Necrozma—Fusion Ascension! Dusk Mane Form!"