Chapter 208: The Stone Plate attacked Arceus

In the gap where Arceus wavered, the Legend Plate had not yet had time to further switch; after being interrupted by the Steel Beam, this plate had a slight lag!

Arceus's current type is Steel!

Giratina's gaze sharpened; it heard the echo of the soul. This moment was the opportunity to deal a heavy blow to its old father!

As Arceus attempted to move, Garchomp and Giratina locked eyes.

Earth Power · Fierce! Has a 40% chance to lower the target's Defense by 4 stages or remove their Defense boost status!

Fierce aura and firelight surged from the ground, and the surging Ground-type energy split the earth like a pillar of fire!

And it was this very moment!

A massive Aura Sphere condensed in Giratina's mouth, and the magnificent giant blue ball of light also slammed into Arceus at point-blank range!

Aura Sphere · Fierce!

【Well hit! Giratina!】

Arceus was struck by Earth Power, lowering its Defense, and then took the Aura Sphere. This blow dealt it immense damage, but Arceus was not angry at all; instead, it was filled with joy!

Being able to fight alongside its partner—this was the budding and beginning of a bond! One day, Giratina would also find a true bosom friend to walk with forever. That bond would transcend time, flow far and long, and accompany its life forward!

"Gaaah!"

(Please witness my power!)

Giratina listened to the trainers' commands! When the Steel-type radiance dissipated and the Legend Plate readjusted its type energy, Arceus would simultaneously become the blind-spot type for Fighting and Ground moves!

Flying + Ghost!

Garchomp, Stone Edge!

Giratina, Thunder!

Another wave of seamless coordination, and Arceus teetered, as if the dawn of victory were right before their eyes!

However.

Space suddenly twisted, and the "space" between Thunder and Stone Edge was slashed open. The moves bypassed Arceus's main body and blasted toward Giratina and Garchomp!

The Ground-type Garchomp would not be harmed by Thunder, but Giratina had to take a full-power Stone Edge head-on. The ruler of the Distortion World let out a roar. In an instant, Garchomp turned its head and saw the entire space squeezing in toward it!

No, that is!

Space suddenly shattered inch by inch, and hundreds upon thousands of cold lights struck its vitals simultaneously!

Spacial Rend! Tears the opponent and the surrounding space apart, dealing damage; high critical-hit ratio!

"That is... Spacial Rend."

What Xiang Guangtai spoke of was not the "Spacial Rend" that crushed Garchomp, but the strike Arceus had used earlier to slash through space!

That was clearly the move Palkia had used in the Special Arc!

At that time, Palkia had merely waved at space, as if cutting through a "manga scene," causing the moves aimed at it to be directly transferred outside the Sinjoh Ruins!

This was the true usage of Spacial Rend!

"Awoo—"

Garchomp was hit in a vital spot; the Dragon-type attack was super effective against it. At this moment, it suddenly realized what Arceus's "Spacial Rend" had been for!

It was to make Giratina temporarily leave the battle, so what followed was...

Boom! Roar of Time, which pierced the stars, blasted Garchomp head-on. Garchomp scrambled up and used "Protect" at the fastest speed possible!

However, the famous scene played out once more; the Protect move was fragile before such overwhelming power, and the green light screen shattered inch by inch!

Togekiss's voice came from the sky.

A strange light of psychic power emerged on the battlefield. Just an instant later, Garchomp disappeared, and in its place was Giratina!

Ally Switch! Use magical power to teleport instantly, swapping the positions of oneself and a partner!

"Gaaah!"

Although this "switch" was proposed by Giratina in an emergency, the feeling of taking a Roar of Time head-on was truly uncomfortable! If this had been fired by Dialga, it would have been passable, but this was fired by Arceus!

Power of this level... This guy must be carrying a "Spacetime Orb"!

But fortunately, its HP was high!

"Gaa!"

And the item Giratina was holding was... Leftovers (Golden Apple)!

It fiercely gobbled a bite of the golden leftovers, its life recovered rapidly, and both its stamina and energy were replenished and given a breather!

【Actively letting a comrade use Ally Switch, using your own body to take my attack in place of a weary partner—Giratina, I really didn't expect such a spirit of self-sacrifice to appear in you. You have truly grown.】

【However... even after using Ally Switch, that Garchomp is no longer capable of fighting.】

Arceus glanced behind it.

Garchomp was panting; because it had lost too much life and stamina earlier, even with the powerful psychic power continuing to amplify it, its body had already reached its limit.

It could not fall yet.

Garchomp's eyes began to lose focus; the critical hit from Spacial Rend had dealt it a fatal blow. It staggered forward, a terrifying killing intent emerging from its body!

【...】Arceus did not look at that Garchomp again, but was gazing at Miss Zhu Lan, who was acting as the commander.

She also showed no sign of backing down. Due to the influence of the bond power, she and her Pokémon were now of one mind. And after being blessed by the artisan's psychic power, once her bonded Pokémon fell, she would also suffer equivalent psychic damage.

However, it would not lead to a psychic collapse; this was also the protection of that psychic energy.

If she did not let the artisan help, she would absolutely have no way to pass this trial.

But this trial itself was meant to see their bond. One person, two people, or three people—different people, different experiences, different lives and histories, intertwined and shining—the accumulated fruits were what it wanted to witness.

Therefore, fight with all one's might until the end! That was also the vow she and her Pokémon had made! Never betray each other!

【Trainers are the pillars of Pokémon's hearts and things, while Pokémon are the claws and fangs of trainers. People receive the lives of Pokémon and entrust their own lives, and Pokémon also respond to their friends.】

"Awoo!"

Garchomp's stamina was completely bottomed out. The terrifying Dragon killing intent did not take shape, and Dragon Rush did not form a "Dragon-type move"; it just "slammed over" like that!

But that was not an ordinary tackle either. An invisible, intangible force circled Garchomp, and all elemental power left it at this moment.

Precisely because it left it, it would not harm it!

Garchomp used "Struggle"!

This strike was very effective!

Arceus did not dodge, and a scorching smoke rose from its chest. And that Garchomp, after using its final "move," had a body that could no longer bear the burden, and its spirit also sank to the bottom.

The path it had to walk had already been completed.

"Ugh!" Because of the psychic link, when Garchomp fell, Miss Zhu Lan's face also turned pale instantly!

Weakness, fatigue, and pain were exactly as the god had said: emotions and will constitute life, and once humans and Pokémon forge a deep bond, it is like sharing life force. This is the "entrustment of life."

Xiang Guangtai: "Are you okay? How is your psychic state?"

Miss Zhu Lan: "It's okay, *huff*... just a little weak. The battle isn't over yet! There's still Giratina! I have entrusted my remaining life and spirit to it!"

【The final strike had no elemental power; it was a strike of pure life force. Therefore, it could deal effective damage to me. Precisely because it had no type, it transcended ordinary type restrictions, and there is no Pokémon or human in this world who could block that strike; it cannot be dodged.】

【This is the greater radiance that life blooms!】

Struggle: When all of a Pokémon's move PP are exhausted, it struggles to attack the opponent, and it will also take a little damage itself.

This is an attack with absolutely no blind spots or weaknesses in the true sense, and it is a guaranteed hit!

"Gaaah—" Giratina watched this scene in horror, but then this fear was dispelled. Giratina's eyes emitted a ghostly light, and a massive resentment descended upon Arceus!

Spite: Harboring resentment for the last move used by the opponent, reducing that move's PP by 4 points!

【A blockade of Spite, is it...】

*Whoosh*—Fairy fire poured down from the sky. That was "Mystical Fire," spinning and spewing scorching flames, which could lower the target's Special Attack by one stage!

Togekiss was quite anxious after witnessing Garchomp's defeat. Seeing victory almost in sight only to be reversed by the opponent made all the Pokémon's hearts very tense. And although Arceus had its Special Attack lowered, it still looked indifferent, and the Legend Plate had already switched types.

Water, resisting fire. At the same time, it switched again instantly!

If this were a normal hostile battle, one should say something like "you're next" at this time, but Arceus felt that expressing it this way was not very good, so it intended to express its attitude with actual actions!

Just repeat the technique used to defeat Miss Zhu Lan's Togekiss!

Massive gravity dragged the two Pokémon in the sky down to the ground, and surging thunder and lightning struck down from between the stars!

King's Shield!

Aegislash's indestructible giant shield was raised once again, blocking the lightning blasting toward Togekiss, and Togekiss took the opportunity to fire off a blockade!

Encore!

The spotlight phantom locked Arceus's move onto Thunder!

Giratina's figure gradually appeared amidst the dust. It did not attack but was muttering to itself. At this moment, Arceus's body was suddenly shrouded in massive Ghost-type power!

Curse: The user reduces half of their maximum HP, causing the target to enter a Cursed state. A Pokémon in this state loses one-fourth of its maximum HP at the end of each turn!

The chance of winning in a head-on battle was slim; one couldn't keep using Struggle, so they had to find another way. The resonance in the hearts of the several trainers all acknowledged this point: Arceus with the Legend Plate was almost invincible!

Even if it was just a temporary phantom, it was enough to crush any Pokémon in this world!

Giratina still had the effect of Leftovers, and the remaining two Pokémon were also exerting their strength. However, Aegislash had fired Steel Beam, so its life was no longer sufficient. The sturdy sword body appeared aged; that was the damage after firing all its steel.

But Aegislash's mental state was still very good!

After all, being able to fight a Pokémon called a god—this kind of thing, if told to others, would be legendary, and one could brag to others without needing a draft!

Day and night of carving work, the meticulous mental sword edge, the tempering in the labyrinth of training, the battle with the phantom Entei, the advice sought from the Swords of Justice, the slashing with Walking Wake, the sword techniques canceled from the must-win learning—all of this would bloom and bear fruit today, and receive a perfect answer!

Encountering the God of Creation at the Sinjoh Ruins, nineteen plates invincible under heaven, fight with all one's might to defeat it!

Aegislash put away King's Shield, its sword body suddenly grew larger, flashing with a dark, sharp light!

Sacred Sword!

Arceus didn't say a word. Although the move was locked onto Thunder, Aegislash's resistance to the Electric type was normal!

Neither increased nor decreased!

The massive thundercloud blasted toward the incoming Sacred Sword. Under gravity, Thunder's accuracy was not a problem! But Togekiss, who was lying on the ground due to gravity, used psychic power again!

Ally Switch!

Arceus turned suddenly, and Giratina slammed directly into its body, and this guy... bit onto the Legend Plate!

And then, Ghost-type energy condensed in its mouth—Shadow Ball!

Because the Ghost-type move struck the Legend Plate first, the plate would instantly switch to a resisting type. What resists Ghost is...

Arceus's body turned pitch black, automatically switching to the "Dark" type!

The giant shadow dragon and the expanding Sacred Sword swapped instantly in the next moment!

The giant sword, with unparalleled momentum, stabbed directly into the body of Arceus's phantom!

After all, it was a body condensed by Unown; it was understandable that it wasn't sturdy, and this way, everyone had no burden when fighting!

"The Sacred Sword can sever giant trees, slice through steel, and cleave through Aura and flames, but I have truly never seen anyone use the Sacred Sword to pierce directly into a Pokémon's body."

In the special episodes, when Arceus of that world used the Unown to create the Time-Space Trio, it explicitly stated that the bodies of the three dragons were constructed of "energy," so things like blood do not exist; they are simply condensed from massive amounts of solid energy!

And this Arceus phantom is the same thing!

"Fighting-type deals double damage to Dark-type! Caught the opening, won!" Cogita spread his arms dramatically, letting out a wild laugh. Although his Togekiss was lacking in terms of output, well... so-called tactical coordination emphasizes the support role!

Facing something like Arceus, even if you have many high-power moves, if every attack launched is ineffective, then it is useless!

【The correct approach: hit with one strike, and the effect of this strike is super effective! But, what if I use an item?】

Aegislash: "???"

No, don't you already have a bunch of items on you!

The Encore status on Arceus suddenly lifted, and an inconspicuous blue-and-white herb gradually dimmed and drifted down!

【This is the first time I have used an item other than a Plate; it is worthy of praise!】

That is a "Mental Herb"!

【Copycat!】

Use the opponent's power to attack. The higher the attack of the opponent currently fighting you, the greater the damage!

Aegislash's current form is Blade Forme! And its defensive aspect is quite weak!

The giant sword was sent flying directly from Arceus's body, and the Dark-type energy formed a storm that swept across the entire field, taking Giratina, which had previously attacked Arceus, along with it. But just as it was about to fall, Giratina suddenly stood its ground!

Cynthia's voice rang out.

Do not flee, do not be cowardly; I am behind you, supporting you!

Arceus's power is not what it was either! It is being drained by the curse; just one more time, just one more time is enough!

It also saw this outcome, which is why it suddenly used an item! This is the final trial! How can one fall here?

Having already fled once, failed once, and finally obtained a chance for a true challenge, are we to lose here?

Our hearts have already drawn close and become one; you are by my side, and I am by your side, like this moment right now... I once dreamed that if only I could see the Pokémon from the Sinnoh myths, and now my dream has been realized. Not only that, I am fighting side-by-side with you.

Deep anticipation, constant wishing; in the end, one only needs to forge ahead.

As an avatar of the God of Creation, the pillar of the world... Giratina is thinking.

As long as it can suppress Arceus's Plates... Giratina gradually stopped thinking. It saw Togekiss attempt to save the situation, but it was struck by Thunder. Arceus defeated it, so there was no longer a support role capable of continuing to perform.

Does it seem that, in this way, the victory is secured?

Have I... lost?

Whoosh—

Inside the Celestic Ruins, a statue suddenly began to glow.

That is the statue of Arceus brought by Cynthia, and also one of the prerequisites for her and Cogita to engage in their duel. When these ruins were transformed into the Hall of Origin, all items within the original Celestic Ruins seemed to have vanished, with only this statue still lying quietly in the corner.

At this moment, it listened to Giratina's prayer and conviction.

The music of the ancient Celestic began to play; that sound, traversing a thousand years, was like the timbre of the Azure Flute, yet even more grand and distant. Giratina's eyes gradually began to emit light, and Ghost-type energy surged suddenly within its body!

And then, those eyes were filled with wonder and joy!

Whoosh—a strange, eerie wind swept through the Hall of Origin. Giratina's eyes erupted with powerful Ghost-type energy, and the Legend Plate was intending to switch types at this moment, but just then—

All the other Plates automatically emerged, controlled by the Ghost energy, and attacked Arceus!

"The Plates are attacking Arceus?!"

Cogita looked at the bizarre scene unfolding on the battlefield in disbelief!

And Cynthia smiled from the bottom of her heart.

A moment ago, a wondrous voice responded to her, and also responded to Giratina's wish!

"Ah, that move is... Poltergeist! I really didn't expect..."

Xiang Guangtai explained: "Manipulate the opponent's held item to attack. When the opponent is not holding an item, using this move will fail! No Pokémon in the world has learned this move yet!"

"And the items on Arceus are too numerous to count!"

Eighteen of the nineteen Plates attacked the Legend Plate, and Arceus briefly lost all its types!

"The opponent's 【Arceus】 was attacked by 【Arceus's items】!"

Poltergeist—no Pokémon can learn this move naturally through "leveling up"! It is a move created by human hands!

A god cannot be defeated by anyone; it can only be defeated by itself!

Just like the "Struggle" unleashed by Garchomp, having no type means having no blind spots, and having no blind spots means that all moves will take effect!

"Aegislash!" Xiang Guangtai connected with Aegislash's heart in his mind: "Can you still move! The time for the final blow has arrived; you assist Giratina in completing this strike!"

"Condense all the steel in your body... just as legendary warriors always use their ultimate technique at the end to secure victory!"

"Steel Beam!"

When this move is finished, there will only be one Pokémon left on the battlefield! And Aegislash will fall due to the move's recoil!

That Pokémon standing until the end...

Must be Giratina, which has the most HP!

The silver radiance of the Steel-type condensed into a giant beam cannon. Aegislash's entire shield began to crack, and the powerful beam shone forth, submerging Arceus within it, piercing the stars!

【The legendary warrior's beam secured the victory; that is somewhat interesting.】

【Then... congratulations on defeating this phantom. You have won this trial.】

(End of chapter)