At the same time, a major battle was breaking out in the Grass-Bug Secret Realm.
Sylas's gaze settled on Dante, a flicker of unease crossing his eyes. The last time the two of them had crossed paths was a year and a half ago, also within the Grass-Bug Secret Realm.
Back then, however, Sylas had held overwhelming strength, more than enough to crush Dante outright. Dante hadn't even dared to fight him — he had fled before Sylas could reach the secret realm at all.
Now, a year and a half later, Dante had not only joined the God's Coffin Organization but had also grown strong enough to face him head-on.
"Dante…" Sylas studied him, his voice calm but deliberate. "With just one Tyranitar, you still can't beat me. Surrender now."
Dante's expression didn't waver. His face stayed cold as he turned the silver Yamask over in his hand, eyes fixed on Sylas. "Sylas, when you lied to me all those years ago, I doubt you ever imagined that one day I'd have the strength to stand here and speak to you as an equal."
His voice dropped, low and even, though there was no mistaking the edge beneath it. "When I handed you that Larvitar Egg myself, you personally promised me it would be my reward."
"And what happened? That Larvitar Egg went to the Qi Family instead, and all I got was a single Pokémon selection slot as compensation. I was foolish enough to believe you back then."
Sylas drew a slow breath, his expression hardening as he met Dante's stare. "Dante, you know that decision wasn't mine to make. Under Patrol Team regulations, any Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon egg discovered by a member has to be turned over to the Association, which then distributes it according to its own judgment."
"But you gave me your word that egg would be mine," Dante said, his tone icy.
Sylas looked at him, a trace of helplessness crossing his face. "Under normal circumstances — given your strength and your contributions to the Patrol Team at the time — it was almost certain you'd have received that Larvitar Egg."
"But I also told you, at the time, that it was a strong possibility, not a guarantee. When things went wrong, there was nothing more I could do."
"Dante!" Sylas's voice sharpened, anger creeping into his expression. "What happened back then was out of my hands. But there was no excuse for wiping out the entire Qi Family just to reclaim that egg."
"It's already come to this — there's no undoing it now." Dante gave a faint smile and shook his head slowly, his eyes glinting with something close to mockery as they settled on Sylas. "Perhaps you don't know this, Sylas. That day, I didn't only find the Larvitar Egg. There was something else."
Sylas's brow furrowed; he'd never heard of any such secret. He said nothing, waiting for Dante to continue.
Dante's mouth curved upward, his sharp gaze never leaving Sylas. "Along with the Larvitar Egg, there was something else lying nearby — an Arceus Plate. The Dread Plate."
Sylas's pupils contracted sharply, disbelief flashing across his face. "You…"
"The Dread Plate."
"Everything has a way of coming full circle."
"When I found the Dread Plate and the Larvitar Egg that day, I brought them both back to my dorm in secret, without telling a soul."
"The plate was easy enough to hide. The egg wasn't."
"On the very first day, my roommate found it." Dante's lips curved into a faint smile as he watched Sylas. "For a moment, I was terrified — afraid he'd report me to the Association for the credit. I even thought, just for an instant, about silencing him and running, living out the rest of my life as a fugitive."
"But I didn't. Looking at the person who'd fought beside me all that time, I couldn't bring myself to do it."
"And he didn't let me down either. He chose to look the other way and helped me keep it hidden." Dante smiled again. "Do you know who my roommate was, back then?"
"Rory."
Sylas's eyes widened in genuine shock. He'd known Rory and Dante had both served on the Patrol Team together, but he'd had no idea their connection ran that deep.
So that's why… Dante had wiped out every one of Rory and Asher's lead Pokémon, yet spared their lives.
...…
Dante didn't pause. He seemed almost lost in his own memories as he went on. "But eventually, someone else found the egg — during a patrol, while we were both away, one of the other team members discovered it in my room. I had no choice left but to report it to the Association myself."
"And you already know the rest. That Larvitar Egg was handed to the Qi Family. I wiped out their entire bloodline to take it back, and step by step, that's how I ended up standing here today."
"That egg was mine from the very start. The only reason things went this far is because you forced my hand." Dante exhaled slowly and looked Sylas dead in the eye. "Now that I've said my piece, it's time we settled your part in this."
"Sylas… you really must think I'm a fool, still trying to feed me lies even now." His gaze carried something close to pity, a thin, sarcastic smile tugging at his lips.
"Do you know what the Qi Family elder told me while I was tearing his family apart? He got down on his knees, begging me to spare him, sobbing that they'd only struck a deal with you — that they were nothing more than middlemen, and that the egg was meant to be handed straight to you the moment it arrived."
Sylas's face turned grim, but he didn't deny it. "What's the use in dwelling on all this now? Dante, it's still not too late to turn back."
"Turn back?" Dante's eyes bored into him. "There's no turning back for me. And I didn't come here today looking for a way back to you — I came to settle the score."
"Since I've already told you this much, you might as well die understanding why." His hand moved to a Poké Ball at his waist. "Sylas, tell me — if one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Southwest Region were to die, who do you suppose would take his place?"
"Go, Chien-Pao!" Dante hurled the Poké Ball as he spoke.
At the sound of his voice, Chien-Pao materialized in the clearing — its snow-white form, blade-like fangs, and the diamond patterns etched across its body radiating a bone-chilling presence.
In the same instant, a menacing aura burst outward from Chien-Pao's fangs, and the defenses of every Pokémon nearby dropped at once.
Sword of Ruin activated!
Without missing a beat, Dante turned to the Tyranitar beside him and gave the command: "Tyranitar — show him everything you've got. Judgment!"
...…