Chapter 557: War Flare King

"Calm down."

Baimu spoke in a tone as gentle as possible so as not to agitate it, softly consoling: "The priority is to get to a safe place and check its condition. Talk of revenge can wait."

Z2 was far weaker than he had imagined, unable to properly respond even to its companion Z1's calls.

Clearly, in order to properly control this world-destroying core, Team Flare had subjected it to a great many terrible experiments it could barely endure.

And beyond sighing at this, All Baimu could do was hope that his Heart of Compassion, combined with the comfort offered by Z1, Ash, and the others, might soothe Z2's heart.

According to the original plot, Z2 truly had not lashed out at other humans because of Team Flare.

"……"

Z1 said nothing, seemingly in silent agreement.

Baimu pressed a nearby barrier switch, gathered the restrained Z2 into his arms, looked around, and slightly furrowed his brow. "Hm?"

Where was that spider-like mind system?

Wasn't it stored together with Z2?

"Porygon-II! Did you find it?" he called out loudly to the Porygon-II that had dived into cyberspace, but the usually invincible virtual Pokémon came up empty this time.

His phone screen suddenly lit up, and a still-shaken Porygon-II appeared.

I-I almost got locked...

"Locked?"

Some computer expert I couldn't even locate came sniffing around before I had time to look closely. Luckily my Substitute saved me—I fooled them with a decoy.

Even through the cold electronic voice, one could hear the lingering fear in Porygon-II.

The network's gone, they'll come after us... I'm sorry.

Is it one of those four scientists under Xerosic?

"It's fine, no big deal."

Baimu offered words of comfort.

If he wanted Porygon-II to defeat a human computer expert in electronic space, perhaps only by evolving further into Porygon-Z would it be possible...

No.

Given the bizarre vortex between the First Unit and Professor Akihabara, with each side accusing the other of being crazy, he truly didn't dare casually let Porygon-II evolve.

Professor Akihabara probably wouldn't agree either.

"I have a bad feeling—let's get out first."

Baimu said quietly to Z1. The research facility's internal network connection had failed, the external network had been blocked by people sent by Master Liu Ge, and this place, deeper than even an underground dungeon, couldn't be contacted by radio until a communication station was established...

At this stage, he was essentially cut off from the outside world.

Fortunately, before coming he had arranged with Hu Pa that if he didn't contact it, it would come pick him up again after fifteen minutes.

"Ruff!"

Z1 barked once in agreement.

It didn't want to spend another moment in this nauseating place.

Man and dog turned quickly and headed for the door, preparing to hide back in the warehouse and wait out the fifteen minutes.

Of course.

With Baimu's abilities plus the map, he might well be able to force his way out, but who knew what strange black tech Xerosic's research facility had—getting wrecked at that point wouldn't be great.

But even with all these precautions—

"Baimu, I hope you'll put down that Zygarde Core."

A tall figure blocked the corridor outside the door, cold gaze gathering a terrifying oppressive force.

It was none other than Xerosic, already in full combat gear.

Holy crap!

Worst possible luck!

Baimu drew a sharp breath.

What kind of nonsense is getting cornered by the big boss mid-mission? How on earth did you get from ten floors above ground down to fifteen floors underground so fast?

Did Florges fail?

That guy took on the decapitation mission full of confidence, and the result was—let alone hindering Xerosic, the latter had even put on his neural connection device!

That guy didn't kick the bucket, did he?

Secret passage!?

He scooped up Z1 in its dog form from the ground and shouted quickly:

"Teleport!"

"Useless."

Xerosic waved his hand, and the mechanical tentacles on his back immediately released strange electromagnetic waves, interfering with Porygon-II's attempt to use Teleport.

Does your neural connection device have too many functions or what?

Baimu clicked his tongue heavily.

The research room also had special radio waves that blocked Teleport, and he had specifically turned them off—yet he hadn't expected the device on Xerosic's back to be able to emit them.

Thorough thinking indeed.

No wonder they're the villainous organization closest to seeing their plan succeed.

"Put down the Zygarde Core, and I may spare you."

Xerosic's voice grew deeper.

"That won't do. Though being remembered by Xerosic himself is quite an honor, if I may speak frankly, your plan brings nothing but harm—no use to anyone except causing trouble for others."

Baimu replied loudly, beads of sweat rolling down his temple.

Fradari gave a cold snort.

"Hmph, what do you know? This world has far too much filth — I only wanted to clean up a part of it. Once, I too… hmm?"

The lion's mane, just about to lay out his entire scheme, paused slightly as a white figure suddenly flew up behind him.

"Kuo!"

A flash of azure light and a flash of pitch-black light — a cloud of smoke erupted between the two.

After the smoke and dust cleared.

A humanoid white weasel standing on one leg appeared before Fradari, while Dragapult awkwardly appeared not far away before vanishing once more.

"Sneaking around in the shadows — looks like you're the sort that has to be purged too."

The lion's mane's expression darkened completely at this sneak attack; he clearly no longer intended to expound on his past and grand ideals to All Baimu.

"Start by clearing out your own brain first. An organization led by a madman can never succeed no matter how many years pass — you really think you're some kind of overlord?"

With his delay-by-sneak-attack tactic having failed, All Baimu dropped the pretense of politeness and went straight to cold mockery.

"Sharp-tongued!"

Fradari raised his hand, and the mechanical tentacles on his back immediately fired a sinister red light at the two Zygarde Cores in his arms.

All Baimu rolled to dodge, tossed Z2 to Z1 in its dog form, and shouted while opening a Poké Ball: "Don't let that red light hit you — that thing can control your mind! Go grab that fat guy over there as a shield!"

Peng!

Bai Guang flickered.

Aggron landed.

"Ao!"

Z1 glanced at All Baimu and Aggron, barked an acknowledgment with Z2 in its mouth, and dashed toward Xerosic.

It actually would have preferred to escape through the ventilation ducts like last time, but since this human said so, it would trust him once.

The way Yurika trusted him — trust once.

"Meaningless!"

Fradari shouted, and the mechanical tentacles on his back turned toward the massive Aggron, pumping energy pulses mixed with a strange power into its body.

"Gu hou…"

Aggron took half a step back, its face pained.

All Baimu pulled out the Mega Stone hanging from his neck, looked at Fradari straight ahead, and said in a low voice: "If Ash and Greninja could do it, there's no reason we can't!"

"Come on! Aggron!"

He shouted, and the Aggron before him immediately let out a low roar, the pain vanishing from its face.

In its place was a look of resolve identical to All Baimu's behind it.

Our hearts are as one! We share every joy and sorrow!

An evolution beyond evolution—

"Mega Evolve!"

All Baimu's voice was like the war drum signaling the start of battle, instantly igniting the flame in Aggron's heart.

In an instant.

The red light Fradari fired was dispersed by an even more dazzling multicolored light, and the astonishing transformation on Aggron's exterior completed in a short time.

"Gu hou—!"

The silver-white land fortress roared at the utterly incredulous Fradari!

But after the roar ended.

Mega Aggron and All Baimu unconsciously felt a trace of weariness — a weariness of the mind; breaking free from the mind-control system was more taxing than imagined.

"Mind-control system failed…"

The lion's mane couldn't believe it — the mind-control system he'd tested again and again, which even Zygarde couldn't resist, had actually lost to a mere Mega Evolution.

"Kuo!"

A pained cry came from beside his ear again.

Fradari turned his head to look and saw that his mentor, the weasel, had actually been knocked out by that Dragapult with its shifty, evasive eyes, which seemed terrified out of its wits.

"How dare you… how dare you…"

He pulled out a Poké Ball, as if forgetting this was his important laboratory, wanting to send out a powerful Pokémon to settle the score with Mega Aggron.

"Fradari!"

A call from behind interrupted Fradari, who was on the verge of madness.

A city girl with peach-pink hair walked over, pressed his shoulder, and shook her head. "The die is cast — outside, we're losing on every front, and too many people have been captured.

"Even if you beat him, it won't change anything. Take the legendary giant stone and leave — there are plenty of Pokémon in the world that can be used."

"…"

Fradari turned to gaze at the old friend who had supported him for years; his fury gradually faded, and he nodded silently. "I'll leave this place to you, Malva."

"As you wish."

One of the Kalos Elite Four — the Fire-type Elite Four member Malva — smiled and nodded.

And at the very moment Fradari departed, All Baimu, who had finally caught his breath, gave an order.

"Night Shade!"

A ghastly pale round stone that had somehow rolled to their feet at some point revealed a terrifying ghost shadow that charged toward Malva and Fradari.

But just as it rose, two strange mechanical flying insects suddenly darted out from a corner and blocked in front of the two, forming a barrier that firmly held back the ghost shadow released by Corsola.

"You little brat really do love sneaking attacks — that's not a good habit, you know."

Malva looked at All Baimu inside the laboratory through her orange-red sunglasses, about to kick the round stone back, but the latter simply rolled far away on its own.

"Huh?"

She gave a soft sound of surprise, but her hands didn't stop moving as she pulled out a Poké Ball and opened it.

"Awooo—"

A demonic Houndoom dropped into the laboratory, and looking at the Mega Aggron that was countless times taller than itself, it showed no fear whatsoever—only excitement and savagery.

"Mega Evolve."

Xijiana lightly toyed with the pendant on her chest, and the colorful light of Mega Evolution instantly enveloped Houndoom.

The next second.

A streak of earthy-yellow light came rushing in!

"One Hundred Thousand Horsepower!"

All Baimu scooped up the Sunflora that rolled back, then hugged the Dragapult that was dragging his master Mienshao, and issued his command.

Houndoom's Mega Evolution had only just reached its halfway point when the Mega Aggron, transformed into an earthy-yellow comet, slammed straight into it, embedding it into the wall with a thunderous crash!

Boom—!

A ball of fire exploded outward, fragments of the wall and wreckage of research equipment flew everywhere, and quite a few researchers crouching nearby were blasted away outright, the entire underground laboratory shaking violently!

Xijiana at the doorway stared blankly at this scene.

This is…

The International Police's style of handling things?

As the foremost reporter and one of the Four Elite of the Kalos region, she had dealt with the International Police plenty, and knew very well that this lot cared most about rules, justice, and human rights.

Even if they were criminals, if they could avoid hurting them, they absolutely would.

But this savage Mega Aggron and this utterly reckless All Baimu were completely different from the International Police she had imagined!

All this research equipment is evidence!

The researchers are all witnesses!

Is it really okay for you to act so recklessly…?

At this very moment.

Xijiana couldn't help but begin to doubt who actually wanted humanity to become pure—was it Fladry, who had already reached this stage, or the unreasonable youth before her eyes.

"Big sis, if you keep spacing out any longer, your boss is going to get arrested."

All Baimu spoke up to complain, and the Mega Aggron also retreated out of the sunken wall, revealing inside it the already successfully Mega Evolved but covered in wounds Mega Houndoom.

A Four Elite's strength was still very formidable; if it had been an ordinary trainer's Pokémon, it most likely wouldn't have withstood that One Hundred Thousand Horsepower just now.

And in this kind of ruleless wild battle, there were far, far too many factors affecting one's strength; even a Four Elite, if ambushed or something, would find it very hard to turn defeat into victory.

Unless they were the type who constantly traveled the world, matching wits and courage against poachers.

That kind of "real combat" experience was especially strong.

Xijiana, a part-time reporter mingling in Kalos high society, was clearly not one of them.

"Surrender."

All Baimu glanced at the few injured researchers around him—to be honest, he didn't want to just destroy the laboratory like this—and said to Xijiana: "Like you said, the die is cast; Fladry can't possibly escape with the Legendary Titan."

The Legendary Titan's side was being handled by Miss Xijiana and Champion Dawu together; no matter how strong Fladry's neural connection device was, it couldn't possibly stand up to the two of them.

"Hmph, you can't be so sure about that."

Xijiana crossed her arms, seemingly seeing that All Baimu didn't intend to attack any further, and her tensed muscles gradually relaxed.

She patted the head of the Mega Houndoom in front of her and smiled: "I advise you not to underestimate Fladry; perhaps your surprise attack was very successful, but that man won't just give up like this."

"Whether he gives up or not, we'll find out once we catch him."

All Baimu glanced down at the time, then tossed a pair of handcuffs over to her. "Just don't make me do it, will you? You cooperate a little, and it'll be easier for me too."

Compared to the exceptionally stubborn Fladry, Xijiana, who admired the former, was far more indecisive.

She might have seen that Fladry's plan was merely the product of madness, and so in both the games and the anime, she chose to help the "protagonist."

In the manga she was utterly devoted to him, but ended up in an unknown state of life or death, carried off by Korrina.

And in the anime world where All Baimu resided.

Xijiana, having witnessed the battle between Alain and Ash, once again gained thoughts about the possibilities of humanity, and so when Fladry was destroying Lumiose City, she chose to turn against him.

After the incident ended, she even turned herself in to Officer Jenny.

With All Baimu cracking jokes and fooling around, he wondered whether she would still be able to find that touch of emotion.