Advent: Explorers of Boundaries

Chapter 57: Dialga's Fight to the Finish part 3: Aftershock

With hope lost and half of the group now nonexistent, Alex felt his hope completely wane. He refused to look at Darkrai and Primal Dialga.

"I failed..." Alex expressed, his voice hollow.

Chansey couldn't believe it as she witnessed the massacre unfold. She thought the planet was about to explode, and it would have if Primal Dialga hadn't directed Flash Cannon at the sky.

Cresselia was left speechless as Darkrai, with a tired tone, asked, "Is that all?" Mocking the remaining group.

"I gotta admit. You guys were... something. Yet, it wasn't enough and it won't ever be enough," Darkrai mocked, sounding almost bored.

Alex kept thinking about how he had failed everyone. His best friend gone for good, two respectable rescue teams, also gone...

"What a Savior I am... I can't even protect anyone...! The One was wrong! So wrong!" Alex whimpered, despair etched in his voice.

Darkrai moved towards Alex with a poker face. "Savior or whatever. Don't be so down on yourself. You couldn't do anything and that's okay. I mean, look at you. So pathetic and useless. You are nothing but a loser. Now relax. I will spare you from being erased. But I will send you to the afterlife," Darkrai responded as it readied its hand.

However, before Darkrai could react and strike down Alex, Cresselia, fueled by furious rage, made herself known. But before she could attack Darkrai, she was sent crashing down to the strained ground, defeated.

Darkrai turned its attention to Cresselia, yawning. "With Primal Dialga, I can't be defeated. I told you this, are you deaf?" Darkrai said, indifferent to the destruction it had wrought.

As Chansey quickly went to Cresselia's aid and healed her back to full health, Cresselia, still seething with anger, charged at Darkrai yet again. Only to be defeated once more by Primal Dialga's presence.

Chansey hurried to her aid again. Cresselia wasted no time in trying to attack Darkrai, fueled by rage, only to meet the same predicament.

As Chansey was busy healing Cresselia, Alex was still trying to cope with the madness surrounding him. "Failure... that's what I am...! I can't...!" Alex expressed, his voice filled with despair.

"YOOOU!" Cresselia roared as she went after Darkrai.

As usual, Cresselia was defeated, and Chansey, now annoyed, went to her aid once more.

"Nothing... I give up..." Alex said as he closed his eyes, overwhelmed by his perceived failure.

As Cresselia got healed, she didn't waste any moments and charged after Darkrai again, only to meet the same fate.

Darkrai smirked, finding the situation amusing. "Now this is comedy! Haha. I used to hate your presence, always screwing my plans. But now, this is priceless! You are so pathetic!" Darkrai mocked.

This cycle continued several times. Each moment, Cresselia became more feral and aggressive, while Chansey, exhausted from all the healing, panted heavily.

As Alex continued to drown in sorrow, it wasn't until Cresselia crashed down near him that he opened his eyes. He saw the defeated Cresselia and a very anxious and tired Chansey slowly making her way towards her. Despite the overwhelming odds, Chansey didn’t back down. Even with her energy nearly depleted, she still healed Cresselia, though only to half health.

Cresselia got up and went after Darkrai again, only to be defeated yet again as Chansey went after her to heal. In that moment, Alex saw something in Cresselia and Chansey.

"...Despite... the impossible task... they... still won't back down..." Alex murmured as he saw Cresselia's determination not wane, even as she was met with the same fate over and over again.

Darkrai mocked and laughed, enjoying the futile efforts of the group. Alex turned his sight towards Chansey, noting her unwavering dedication despite her exhaustion.

"Despite her energy... she still is doing what she was told... for a..." Alex thought, witnessing their relentless attempts. Just then, Alex remembered what The One had said, and those words lingered on his mind repeatedly.

"Never lose hope and trust... never lose them..." Alex slowly said as he got up. Looking at the planet and the halted time, Alex found some semblance of resolution and a feeling of determination as he clenched his paws.

"Never lose hope and trust!" Alex yelled as he joined Cresselia, and together they charged at Darkrai. Despite their combined efforts, they were defeated, as if they were battling a level 100 player while they themselves were at level 0.

As Chansey went to their aid, healing them to a bit more than a quarter of their health, she finally collapsed, exhausted. Darkrai, who had been smirking all the while, eventually had enough of this circus act and ordered Primal Dialga to erase Chansey. With a roar, Chansey was erased.

"Now, let's see how you two can replenish your health without that fatty!" Darkrai mocked.

Alex, now fueled by his rage to try harder, looked at Darkrai with newfound determination.

"Sticks and stones may break my bones... but words will never hurt or make me give up! Not only is this planet counting on me... but so is every universe of the Multiverse! I won't back down!" Alex yelled with determination as he struggled to get up.

Darkrai smiled a bit before laughing uncontrollably. "Ok. Whatever you say, Savior." Darkrai then commanded Primal Dialga to deplete their energies. After an unseen force swept through them, Cresselia and Alex were defeated, now with no one to heal them.

"What do you think this is? Some sort of story where some higher force will save you? Don’t make me laugh harder," Darkrai mocked, thoroughly enjoying the hopelessness of the situation.

As both Alex and Cresselia struggled to think, they were moments away from losing consciousness. Alex pondered on Darkrai's mocking words.

"Some sort of story where some higher force will save you?"

The phrase echoed in his mind. Then, as if a lightbulb had gone off, Alex remembered something—something crucial that could turn the tables. Kevin had used it! Alex had to use it too! It was their only hope.

"The Oath of the Savior!" Alex whispered with renewed vigor.

Cresselia, barely conscious, turned her gaze towards Alex, sensing his shift in determination. "The Oath...?" she managed to say.

"Yes," Alex replied, his voice gaining strength. "Chosen One Kevin used it. It's our only chance now."

Alex closed his eyes, concentrating on the ancient words of the Oath. As he began to recite it, a faint glow started to emanate from him. The glow grew stronger with each word, enveloping both Alex and Cresselia in a protective light.

Darkrai, who had been watching with a mixture of amusement and boredom, raised its interest. "What's this now? Another futile attempt?" It sneered.