Chapter 168 — Heroes Gather, Distorted Space-Time

One month later.

In the Sinnoh region's Shirogane Town.

Led by a beautiful tour guide named "Alice," Ash, Brock, and Dawn arrived at this famous tourist town situated on a lake plateau.

"I can't believe Champion Lance lost..."

Ash brooded.

"I know, honestly, I never imagined Giovanni could become that powerful."

As the former Pewter City Gym Leader, Brock had encountered Giovanni a few times in the past.

Even though Giovanni was already known as "Kanto's strongest Gym Leader" back then, who could have imagined he'd become strong enough to defeat Lance.

"I hope the Kanto region will be okay."

Brock worried about his homeland.

"Everyone, would you like some cotton candy?"

At this moment, Alice pointed to a cotton candy stand ahead.

Dawn patted Ash's back reassuringly:

"Don't think too much about it. The League has more than just Champion Lance, everything will be fine. Let's enjoy the scenery here first."

Being the optimist he was, Ash heard this and showed a silly smile while nodding.

"Excuse me, I'd like four..."

"We'd like three cotton candies please."

Just as Ash was about to speak, someone else called out faster than him.

Ash and the others turned their heads.

They made eye contact with Serena, Hop, and Marnie who were standing nearby.

"You guys..."

"You guys..."

Both sides exclaimed in surprise simultaneously.

"Excuse me! One cotton candy please!"

At that moment, another energetic voice came from behind.

Both groups turned to look.

They saw a brown-haired girl with a bandana, around the same age as Ash and Serena, radiating with energy.

...

...

Ten minutes later.

A group of teenage boys and girls, averaging around sixteen years old, gathered together, each holding cotton candy while sharing their recent adventure stories.

"So May, you were also recommended by the professor to participate in the Lily of the Valley Conference?"

Serena asked in surprise.

After mutual introductions, Ash, Marnie and the others learned that this bandana-wearing girl was called "May."

Originally from Hoenn, but following Professor Shu's suggestion, she also started challenging the Lily of the Valley Conference.

"I never expected to meet Professor Shu's disciples here either."

May took a big bite of her cotton candy, showing a blissful expression, then continued with some confusion:

"But it's been a month since we parted ways in Canalave City, I didn't expect Professor Shu still hasn't returned to Sinnoh..."

Marnie coldly licked her cotton candy and said:

"He's probably having a great time with that vixen Lusamine."

At these words, all the 16-year-old girls in their springtime of youth instantly blushed.

"Marnie, what are you saying?!"

Hop lightly slapped Marnie's thigh, making a crisp "pa" sound.

What kind of vulgar words were those!?

Marnie puffed her cheeks and turned her face away.

"Miss Lusamine? How enviable..."

Brock recalled Lusamine's face from when he saw her in Viridian City.

To be with such a beautiful woman... waaah, why don't I have such opportunities?

"Someone recommended by Professor Shu... must be quite strong..."

After chatting for a while, Brock thought and analyzed briefly, then said quietly to Ash:

"Ash, you've got another powerful opponent."

Thinking of the trainers recommended by Professor Shu to participate in the Lily of the Valley Conference.

Marnie, Hop, and Serena needed no explanation.

Then there were Red and Green, who had already proven their champion-level strength at the Indigo Conference.

And now this newly met May couldn't be weak either.

"No problem! The more opponents we have, the more fighting spirit we'll have, right Pikachu?"

Ash shrugged his shoulders and asked.

"Pika pika!"

Pikachu nodded firmly.

"In that case, want to have a battle?"

May smiled and said:

"As a warm-up before the Lily of the Valley Conference."

"Sure, let's do it!"

Ash wouldn't refuse such a request.

Marnie and the others also showed interested expressions.

After all, since she was recommended by Professor Shu, May shouldn't be weak, right?

"I'm counting on you~ Blaziken!"

May called out her starter Pokémon.

The final evolution of one of Hoenn's three starters.

"A Blaziken? First time seeing one in person."

Ash shrugged his shoulders, "Then I'm counting on you, Pikachu."

"Pika!"

Pikachu jumped down in front of Blaziken.

...

...

Five minutes later.

Whoosh!

Blaziken's right leg ignited with blazing flames, landing a high kick on Pikachu, sending it flying.

"Pikachu is unable to battle, Blaziken wins!"

Brock, acting as referee, declared.

"That girl is really strong indeed."

Everyone thought unanimously.

While Brock became more worried.

Would Ash really end up in last place at the Lily of the Valley Conference?

Clap~ Clap~

At this moment, applause was heard.

"That was quite an impressive battle."

A beautiful woman wearing a black cape with waterfall-like golden hair reaching almost to her feet, along with another woman whose features were quite pretty but whose hairstyle was rather plain, walked up to them.

"Champion Cynthia? Miss Sina?"

Serena, who had briefly traveled with them before, exclaimed upon seeing the two.

Cynthia showed a gentle smile, "Long time no see, everyone."

...

...

Then, Cynthia and Sina also sat with the girls and started chatting.

Cynthia explained to the girls why she and Sina came here.

"I was the one who asked Champion Cynthia to come."

Tour guide Alice explained while showing a worried expression:

"Recently, strange things keep happening in this town. Sometimes the weather becomes very strange, sometimes the Pokémon become very restless... That's why I asked Champion Cynthia to come investigate."

Cynthia's smile also turned solemn and grave:

"Yes, Sina has also sensed it with her powers, this city is emanating very unusual energy waves."

Beside her, Sina nodded heavily, "I can vaguely sense a very angry presence. I tried to communicate with it, but the anger is too intense, I currently can't..."

The atmosphere became somewhat heavy, and Cynthia tried to change the subject:

"By the way, isn't Professor Shu with you?"

"He's probably doing it with Lusamine..."

Just as Marnie was about to repeat her vulgar words, Serena and Hop quickly reached out from both sides to cover her mouth.

Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough!?

Cynthia tilted her head, completely confused.

[Hoopa's still hungry~]

At this moment, Confined Hoopa threw the last cupcake into its mouth and tugged on Marnie's sleeve.

"Don't mess around, we're talking about serious matters."

Marnie hugged Confined Hoopa tightly.

Confined Hoopa puffed its cheeks in displeasure, suddenly showed a mischievous smile, and quietly took out the golden ring from its devil horn, reaching its small hand inside.

[Hoopa fishing~ come out come out~ donuts... eh?]

However, after fishing for a while, Confined Hoopa didn't get the usual feeling.

Turning to look at its small golden ring, it found that where there should have been a spatial portal in the center, the ring remained transparent.

The transfer portal hadn't opened.

[What, what's going on?]

Confined Hoopa opened its eyes wide in confusion.

"Everyone, doesn't the sky look a bit strange?"

At this moment, May noticed something unusual and said to everyone.

Cynthia and the others looked up at the sky, and their expressions changed dramatically the next second.

The previously cloudless sky now seemed like invisible waves, the air twisted together, forming a huge sphere-like object that enveloped all of Shirogane Town.

Inside the town, more and more residents and tourists noticed the anomaly.

"What, what is this thing?"

"We, we can't get out! The town's exit is blocked by something strange!"

"No phone signal? We can't contact the outside world!"

Soon people discovered that not just the sky, but the entire town seemed to be enclosed in a strange alternate space.

Naturally, they couldn't enter or leave.

[Marnie, Hoopa's fishing doesn't work~]

Confined Hoopa tugged on Marnie's sleeve again.

"What?"

Marnie slightly furrowed her brows.

[Space is distorted]

At this moment, Unbound Hoopa's deep and profound voice from the Poké Ball at Hop's waist echoed in all the girls' minds:

[The only one who could do this is...]

Before Unbound Hoopa could finish speaking.

In the sky above Shirogane Town, now wrapped in chaotic energy, a visible vortex began spinning rapidly.

The magnificent and terrifying pressure made all the town's citizens and tourists feel like they were about to suffocate.

Only powerful trainers like Cynthia and Marnie could barely manage to look up.

From that huge distorted vortex, a massive, majestic, and somewhat elegant divine shadow slowly revealed its true form.

"Palkia!?"

As the Sinnoh League Champion and part-time archaeologist, Cynthia naturally recognized this deity, one of Sinnoh's three creation dragons.

[So it was this guy after all!]

Unbound Hoopa raised an eyebrow from within the Poké Ball.

"Why would Palkia enclose the town..."

Cynthia was completely confused about the situation, why would Palkia trap Shirogane Town in an alternate space?

"Palkia! Please restore the town's space to normal!"

Sina clasped her hands in front of her chest, releasing her Bond Phenomenon power to try to communicate with Palkia.

"Ah!"

But the next second, intense pain in her head made Sina collapse, fortunately Cynthia was quick enough to steady her.

"No, it's no use, the anger is too intense, it won't listen to me at all..."

Sina said weakly.

"ROAR!!!"

Before anyone could react, another dragon's cry echoed through the sky.

On the other side of the sky, another vortex appeared out of nowhere, and a blue figure slowly emerged.

The Temporal Pokémon Dialga!