"Thank you, Aven."
"I feel… stronger than ever."
Azelf smiled at him, then turned its gaze toward Darkrai in the distance.
With a wave of its hand, seven-colored energy surged around its body, forming a radiant shield as it charged forward.
Darkrai met its advance, cloaking itself in black energy that twisted into a shadowy barrier. The two clashed violently in midair—
BOOM!
The seven-colored light and the darkness collided once more, splitting the sky into two halves—one of radiant color, the other of endless shadow.
But this time, unlike before, the darkness was being pushed back.
The brilliance of the seven colors was spreading rapidly, dispelling the night.
Darkrai was completely on the defensive!
As the battle raged, the Grand Sorcerer's expression turned ashen. The glow of the black crystal in his hand grew dimmer and dimmer, its energy draining away rapidly.
Up above, Darkrai gathered its strength once again, forming a swirling vortex of pure darkness—a black hole of nightmares—expanding outward to consume everything.
"This is... Darkrai's signature move Dark Void?!" Aven's eyes narrowed sharply. Then he shouted,
"Azelf! Do you know how to use Safeguard?"
Hearing Aven's voice, Azelf closed its eyes. Its consciousness immediately linked with his.
When it opened its eyes again, divine radiance blazed from within.
Light erupted from its body, spreading out in all directions.
BOOM!
A cataclysmic explosion filled the air.
Where the Dark Void once loomed, beams of seven-colored light pierced through, shattering the darkness into fragments.
With a cry, Azelf soared through the broken void, wrapped in its radiant barrier, charging straight at Darkrai.
Darkrai hovered in the air, surrounded by the essence of pure nightmare.
The God of Nightmares—its very presence spread dread and sleep, casting all living beings into terror-filled dreams.
But Azelf's sacred energy resisted that corruption completely.
Its seven-colored light washed over Darkrai, enveloping it entirely.
The black mist roiled and clashed violently with the holy brilliance—but the shadows were no match.
They were pushed back, overwhelmed, crushed beneath the weight of hope and will.
The seven-colored radiance continuously pressed down against the black mist, and as it finally came into contact with Darkrai's figure, the brilliant light surged straight into its body!
"Now's the time—Darkrai, wake up, please!"
Aven's eyes sharpened as he suddenly shouted. The seven-colored energy surrounding him pulsed violently, resonating faintly with the same multicolored glow that enveloped Darkrai's body!
Almost instantly, Darkrai's entire form began to tremble uncontrollably. The black mist around it surged outward, only to be repeatedly suppressed again and again, while the energy inside it went berserk!
In the distance, the Grand Sorcerer, whose entire body was shrouded in black aura, also changed expression. The black crystal in his hand began to tremble faintly, and within it emerged a surge of defiant power!
"Damn it! You dare defy me?" the Grand Sorcerer roared furiously. "Darkrai, remember I am the Lord of Shadows!"
Whether it was the crystal's power or his declaration that triggered it, Darkrai's trembling began to fade, and once again, the dark mist reappeared around its body.
"Hm? So, it didn't manage to break free?" Aven narrowed his eyes, shifting his gaze toward the black crystal in the Grand Sorcerer's hand.
Although Darkrai hadn't completely freed itself through Azelf's power, that momentary resistance had already made things clear—it wasn't acting of its own will. It was being controlled by that black crystal!
BOOM!
In that instant, the dark mist around Darkrai erupted outward completely.
The force that exploded from its body instantly pushed Azelf back.
Darkrai's body was now encircled by swirling shadow portals, and with a roar, it lunged straight toward Azelf!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The two Pokémon clashed once again in the skies above.
Yet even though Darkrai was now unleashing all its might, it still found itself falling behind!
"Lilligant, Solar Power!"
Aven's eyes flicked toward the battle overhead, then he called sharply to the Lilligant beside him.
"Lilli~!"
Startled for a moment, the elegant Pokémon quickly nodded, her expression turning serious.
The golden flower on her head began to emit a soft, milky-white glow as solar energy surged continuously around her.
At this point, Lilligant' mastery over solar energy had already reached an impressive level—she could now manipulate it freely and precisely.
"Good. Now, use Growth!"
Lilligant lifted her gaze slightly toward Azelf high in the sky.
In an instant, waves of grass energy rippled across her body. The solar energy poured into the energy for Growth, fusing together until the emerald light grew dazzlingly brilliant.
Once the accumulated energy reached its limit, Lilligant released it in a radiant burst that surged upward toward Azelf!
The sky was already filled with Azelf's multicolored radiance and Darkrai's darkness, and compared to those forces, Lilligant' energy appeared faint and dim.
However, the moment that green energy merged into Azelf's body, its multicolored light immediately became far more intense and vibrant!
That resplendent seven-colored brilliance flared once again, overpowering the darkness and pressing it back toward Darkrai!
Whoosh—whoosh—
Darkrai's eyes gleamed sharply, and another Shadow Ball blasted forth!
At the same time, Azelf countered with Water Pulse. Yet unlike before, the power behind this Water Pulse was immensely greater!
BOOM!
The two attacks collided midair.
Moments later, the Water Pulse overpowered the Shadow Ball, exploding against Darkrai and blasting it backward across the sky!
"This energy... feels wonderful."
Hovering in midair, Azelf felt the surge of newfound strength within itself, and a faint smile spread across its face.
"It worked. That's the Growth move enhanced by solar energy," Aven said with satisfaction. Growth could raise a Pokémon's Attack and Special Attack.
Right now, Lilligant possessed grass energy, solar energy, life energy, and natural energy.
Though her strength was still far inferior to the likes of Azelf and Darkrai, as a support ally, she was contributing tremendously to the battle!
Beside Aven, Lilligant unclenched her small fists and smiled with joy—happy that she could actually help Azelf in such a grand battle.
Watching Azelf and Darkrai's fight, all of Aven's other Pokémon felt a suffocating pressure. The power on display was so far beyond them that they couldn't possibly intervene.
Seeing Lilligant manage to join the fray successfully filled them with admiration—and envy.
But along with that envy came determination. Now that they had witnessed such overwhelming power, how could they not make it their goal?
"Lass..."
Froslass gently touched her stomach.
If she could fully master the power sealed within that yellow crystal, perhaps she truly could break through to the Monarch tier!
"Rooaar!"
Rhydon looked down at Lilligant, then back at its own hands.
It had already decided—no matter what it took, it would evolve. Aven had once said: "Through countless refinements, steel is forged."
Forget a hundred refinements—it was willing to endure a thousand, ten thousand, if that's what it took to evolve into Rhyperior!
"Kir~ Lia~"
Kirlia gazed up at Azelf with starry-eyed admiration.
As a Psychic-type Pokémon, she could feel an uncanny kinship between them.
Especially after witnessing how Azelf wielded its psychic and spatial powers, the instantaneous teleportation that had previously sent them from the northeastern domains to Aspiration City—she was utterly amazed!
"Garchomp!"
The fierce land shark Pokémon wore a similar expression of awe.
It had already reached the King level so naturally, the next step is to surpass King-level!
Perhaps... it could try Aven's special training method. To temper the strength of its wings and arms to the absolute limit, unleashing even greater power!
It didn't fully understand how that worked, but one thing was certain—if it followed Aven's guidance, it would surpass the King level and step into the realm of legends!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The battle in the sky raged on.
With Lilligant' Growth boost amplifying its power, Azelf's strength rose by more than a full tier!
Its Water Pulse now far outmatched Darkrai's Dark Void, and with the added boost from Safeguard, it repeatedly sent Darkrai flying back through the air.
"Damn it... The mission's failed!" the Grand Sorcerer snarled through clenched teeth.
He could tell that if the battle continued like this, Darkrai would inevitably be defeated.
Then his eyes flicked toward Aven in the distance, who was glowing faintly with multicolored light. A sense of unease crept into his heart.
Looking from Aven's confident smile to the black crystal in his own hand, he finally made his decision. "Darkrai, we're leaving!"
As his voice echoed out, Darkrai's body froze in midair before swiftly flying toward the Grand Sorcerer.
The sorcerer raised another crystal, this one a dark violet hue and energy began to surge from within it. High above, a rift to the Ghost World tore open in the air!
"Hmph! Leaving? It won't be that easy!"
"Azelf use Imprison!"
Hearing Aven's command, Azelf's eyes flashed with light.
The space around Darkrai instantly solidified, freezing it in place!
Seven-colored light flowed from Azelf's body, surging outward to engulf Darkrai completely.
"Darkrai, break free with all your might!" the Grand Sorcerer bellowed.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The sealed space around Darkrai began to fracture.
But at that moment, the multicolored glow enveloped Darkrai once more, halting its struggle.
Again, Darkrai's body trembled—it was resisting, fighting against the black crystal's power!
The Grand Sorcerer gritted his teeth, pouring dark energy into the crystal in his grasp, once again suppressing Darkrai's will.
A smirk curled across his lips. With the black crystal in his hands, there was no way Darkrai could ever escape!
Then his gaze shifted toward Aven—and stopped.
He had noticed something in Aven's hand: a jet-black Berry.
Before he could react, that Berry was suddenly surrounded by multicolored light, lifted from Aven's hand, and shot straight toward Darkrai—striking it squarely!
"What—what is that?"
The thought had barely formed in his mind when Darkrai's figure suddenly dissolved into a streak of red light and was drawn straight into the Berry!
The Berry, now glowing, hovered in the seven-colored light, trembling violently.
At that moment, Aven, watching from afar, held his breath, nervously observing the trembling Poké Ball within the rainbow light.
Finally, as the red light on its surface dimmed and vanished, the Poké Ball stilled—quietly floating in the air.
"It—it worked!" Aven's heart leapt in joy and relief.
Azelf had used its own willpower to awaken Darkrai's consciousness, then telepathically convinced it not to resist the Poké Ball's power.
But until the moment Darkrai was fully captured, Aven hadn't dared to believe it would succeed. Now, as the trembling stopped, it was certain, Darkrai had been caught!
Across the battlefield, the Grand Sorcerer stood frozen in disbelief. He urged his black crystal desperately.
Though he could still sense a faint connection between the crystal and Darkrai, no matter how he commanded, Darkrai did not respond—it couldn't break free!
Clearly, Darkrai had been sealed by some unknown power, making escape impossible.
And just as he tried again—
A blinding beam of seven-colored light shot toward him!
Startled, he hastily summoned his dark aura to block it, then dove headfirst into the Ghost World rift.
BOOM!
A violent explosion followed—the rift shattered into fragments!
But the Grand Sorcerer was gone, fleeing into the Ghost World with the black crystal in hand.
"Damn it, escaped again..."
"This ability to open Ghost World portals at will is far too troublesome," Aven muttered, frowning. The image of Hoopa, the Super Magician, flickered through his mind.
"Aven... we did it."
Azelf floated down from the air, its seven-colored glow fading as it exhaled softly.
It then guided the Poké Ball through the air toward Aven, who took it gently into his hands, gazing at the sealed, mysterious black-and-red Berry in awe.
"Yes," Aven said with a warm smile, "we did it. Thank you for protecting Aspiration City."
"Hmm?"
Azelf shook its head lightly.
"No... I should be the one thanking you. You gave me strength."
"I'm so tired now. I'll return to my realm for a while. Remember your promise, okay? A world where humans and Pokémon live together in harmony... I really, really like that."
With a gentle smile on its face, Azelf's form slowly faded from the physical world, returning to its own pocket dimension to rest and recover.
"I'll remember, I promise," Aven murmured, looking down at the Poké Ball in his hand. "And you too, Darkrai... thank you for your trust."
(End of Chapter)
TN: New chapters? Sorry it took so long I'm just too lazy to upload here. I translated like three Pokemon novels in my patreon and one of them is so fucking good I translated like 60 chapters in two days. I suggest you guys go to my patreon and read it there since its on free post stuff till chap 30 or wait till I upload maybe next week?
Pokemon: Master System - this one is the peak reading to me right now, its set in the real world but I edited it heavily that you'll think its on another world.
Legend of James - mid, not good but not bad. All chapters free right now up to chapter 24. I'll upload six more tomorrow on it.
Pokémon Legendary Trainer who Farms - the one which is translated here already to chapter 78 here I think? I'm on chapter 24 too there on my patreon which I'll add six more tomorrow.
And guys, if I didn't update here for so long go to my patreon and bug me there to upload since I always drag my feet when it comes to uploading here since I don't really chase things here anymore and I just wanna read stuff.