The place was still dark. Darkness covered every corner, and the entire world was silent. There was no sign of a future here.
The only city here barely held on by relying on the tiny bit of light coming from Megalo Tower.
"Can anyone really survive in a world like this?"
In the sky outside the city, Reshiram flew with its wings spread wide. Lillie pressed her lips together and stared at the endless darkness in the distance.
Without light, there was no life.
Without light, there was no future.
Was there really any hope left in this world? Could humans truly live in such an environment?
Beside Reshiram, Necrozma floated quietly. It stared at Megalo Tower with mixed feelings.
Before, when it had broken the seal, it had been driven mad by the pain of losing its light. It had only acted on instinct and searched for light, so it could not pay attention to its surroundings at all.
Because of that, it had not known that this world had ended up like this.
"Yeah. How could people live in a world like this? The foolish people of the past were too short-sighted. Now the whole world is paying for what they did."
Damian laughed softly. The way the people of Ultra Megalopolis had stolen Necrozma's light was no different from destroying the source of their own future.
They had personally ruined the future of this world.
Unfortunately, their descendants were the ones left to face that result.
Just like the Ultra Recon Squad. Although they had survived, their skin was a sickly pale blue because they had not seen sunlight for many years. They looked completely different from normal people.
"So? Necrozma, what do you think?"
Damian did not want to talk about it anymore and looked at Necrozma.
"This is their last city. If you want, you can destroy it with one attack. Their last place to live would disappear completely."
Damian spoke slowly to Necrozma.
Necrozma did not answer. The colored lights on its body stayed fixed on the dimly glowing Megalo Tower.
This tower had been built by the ancient people of Ultra Megalopolis to suppress and seal it after it had gone on a rampage.
And it had been sealed inside ever since, until now.
Thinking of those distant memories, Necrozma became violent again. It slowly raised a giant claw and pointed it at the city.
Specks of golden light flickered and gathered.
Photon Geyser!
If it wanted to, it could fire Photon Geyser at that tall tower at any moment and take away the last bit of light these people had.
But... would that really mean anything?
The golden light gradually shrank and dimmed. Necrozma looked down at the silent black city. The truth was already clear. Time had become the best punishment for them.
In this dead world, they would slowly disappear in despair.
Necrozma slowly moved back. A web-like Ultra Wormhole opened, and Necrozma entered it and disappeared.
Necrozma's choice was clear.
"Humans..."
Damian took one last look at the city of Ultra Megalopolis. He smiled and shook his head. Reshiram also entered the Ultra Wormhole and vanished.
In the endless darkness, did this lonely city still have a future?
Alola
Back in Alola, sunlight broke through the darkness.
It was still afternoon. Although Necrozma had absorbed the light of the entire Alola region, as long as Necrozma did not continue absorbing it, the sunlight would return quickly.
"I caught it. Necrozma."
On the artificial island of Aether Paradise, Damian gently spun the Poké Ball in his hand. A smile slowly appeared on his face.
Inside was indeed Necrozma.
Perhaps taking it to see the suffering of Ultra Megalopolis had allowed Necrozma to let go of its hatred. It did not resist much.
After Damian spoke to it directly, Necrozma quickly agreed and entered Damian's Poké Ball.
"That's great, Damian! This Pokémon is super strong."
Lillie felt very happy for Damian. Although she wasn't a Trainer, she could still feel its power clearly.
How could a Pokémon that made the entire Alola region fall into darkness be weak?
Not to mention that when Lunala saw Necrozma before, it was like a mouse seeing a cat.
"Yeah. Let's go, let's keep looking around."
"Mhm!"
This sudden darkness became one of Alola's unsolved mysteries, but that had nothing to do with Damian.
Half a month passed quickly.
The regional Conferences in various regions had started one after another. The Manalo Conference in the Alola region also officially began.
The Manalo Conference was held in Manalo Stadium. This stadium was fully funded and built by Lusamine.
It was a stadium specifically prepared for the Alola Conference.
Manalo Stadium was built on an island near Aether Paradise, so traveling back and forth was quite convenient.
When Damian, Caitlin, and Platinum arrived on the island riding Reshiram, they happened to run into an old acquaintance.
"Yo, yo, yo! Well, if it isn't Professor Kukui."
Damian smiled widely and waved at Kukui.
"Damian?!"
Kukui had originally been in a very good mood. This was the day of Alola's first-ever regional Conference.
However, he then heard that familiar voice.
Kukui turned his head to look. Sure enough, it was Damian, and Caitlin was still following behind him.
Kukui's expression darkened instantly.
"It's been a long time, Professor Kukui. I've really missed you."
Damian smiled at him in a very friendly way.
"It has indeed been a long time. Hahaha..."
Since Damian was being polite, Kukui forced out a smile.
Kukui had very mixed feelings about Damian.
After all, back then, to avoid going to war with Team Rocket, he had chosen to coexist with them. Later events proved that this had been the right choice.
He also didn't regret it the way Olivia had said he would.
Instead, under Damian's leadership, Team Rocket's reputation had improved. They were no longer an evil organization.
It felt very strange.
Because of Team Rocket's Arceus Entertainment City, the Alola region had even attracted many tourists.
"Why did you come to Alola?"
After a moment, Kukui composed himself and asked Damian curiously.
It was already the end of the year. Shouldn't Damian be back in the Kanto region?
"Because my girlfriend is participating in the Manalo Conference. Of course, I have to come and support her in person."
Damian grinned at Kukui.
Behind Damian, Caitlin and Platinum were also uneasy.
For Caitlin, Damian's official girlfriend was someone she had been thinking about constantly.
She had to get to know her properly this time!
Platinum felt much the same. Because of her future with Damian, she naturally had to consider Damian's girlfriend. If Damian's girlfriend didn't like her, Platinum would have to think carefully about what to do.
"Your girlfriend?" Kukui was stunned. Damian's girlfriend was participating in the Manalo Conference?
A girl who could become Damian's girlfriend had to be special.
Kukui thought this, and a bad feeling rose in his heart. It couldn't be... right?
"That's right. I'll introduce her to you later, Professor Kukui."
Damian's smile looked extremely sly.
"I have other things to handle later. Speaking of which, Damian, there is something I want to discuss with you."
"No need to be polite, Professor Kukui. Just say it."
Are we really that close?
Kukui couldn't help but complain internally about Damian's overly familiar attitude.
"Didn't you catch Tapu Fini before? Now, there's a promising girl on Poni Island, but Tapu Fini was taken away by you. You understand, right?"
"I see."
Damian nodded.
"So, I want to ask you to let Tapu Fini go back to Poni Island for a bit. We need to see if that child, Hapu, is suitable to become the Island Queen."
Kukui felt very helpless. He hadn't expected that one day the Alola region would have to ask an outsider for help just to choose an Island King or Queen.
Most importantly, out of the four Alola islands, the guardian deities of three islands had been caught...
Even Tapu Koko had run off with Selene!
Only Tapu Bulu was left. He couldn't exactly make Tapu Bulu run back and forth between all four islands, could he?
"Professor Kukui, I really have to say a few things to you."
Damian released Tapu Fini. As soon as Tapu Fini came out, under Kukui's strange gaze, it naturally reached into Damian's bag. It took out a bottle of juice, poked in a straw, and started drinking with a cold expression.
"?" Kukui was completely confused.
"I can definitely help with this. But when Caitlin and I aren't around, you have to learn how to be flexible."
"What do you mean?"
"If Tapu Fini isn't there, you can just have Tapu Bulu go to Poni Island to pick an Island Queen first. They are all island guardian deities anyway."
Damian said this as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Fi ni~"
Tapu Fini nodded in great agreement. That was right. It didn't mind at all if Bulu took over its work.
"See? Fini agrees too."
"Wait, Tapu Bulu is the guardian deity of Ula'ula Island..."
Kukui felt exhausted.
"This isn't a matter of taking over work. The people of Poni Island won't recognize Tapu Bulu."
The four islands each had their own guardian deity. It wasn't like a guardian deity could just replace another. The islanders wouldn't accept it.
"Then Fini, when you go back this time, tell the people of Poni Island. In the future, if there's trouble, they can find Tapu Bulu to help, including with choosing an Island King or Queen."
Damian spoke to Tapu Fini while Kukui opened his mouth, then closed it again.
"Fi~!"
Tapu Fini nodded. Then it turned around and flew toward the seaside. It tried to remember the way for a moment... but it didn't really remember it.
Forget it. It would just pick a direction and head over.
"This way, you can relax, Professor Kukui. In the future, even if we aren't here, you can just find Tapu Bulu to solve all kinds of problems."
Damian smiled at Kukui. Wasn't this good for everyone?
"Although Tapu Bulu might have more work to do, I'm sure it won't mind helping out its companions."
"Hahaha..."
Kukui laughed dryly. What else could he say? Whatever makes you happy.
"Since the matter is solved, I'll go take care of other things first."
Kukui didn't want to keep chatting with Damian anymore. He was really struggling to keep it together.
Just then...
"Honey!"
A clear, excited female voice suddenly came from nearby. After that, a girl wearing a straw hat with fresh flowers ran over quickly and threw herself into Damian's arms.
"Slow down, slow down. What if you fall?"
Damian quickly caught the girl and spoke to her with a helpless look.
"Hehe~ I only did it because I knew for sure you'd catch me."
The girl smiled happily. She lifted her face to look at her lover.
So, without paying the slightest attention to those around her, she kissed Damian.
"! Baby I missed you so much"
Her voice was sweet and full of affection.
Is this Mr. Damian's girlfriend?
Platinum looked at the girl in the straw hat and blinked. She felt the girl was... very passionate and bold.
Caitlin did not look happy. She felt like this woman was openly showing everyone that Damian was hers.
As for Kukui...
Kukui felt as if his mind had gone blank. "Selene?!"