Paragon

Remnants of the Great War [40]

The 1 year anniversary for this fic totally crept up on me, honestly thought I'd have finished the first major arc by now! Thank you to all who have read this far!

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PARAGON

Remnants of the Great War Arc [40]

Chapter 49 : Sir Aaron Albrecht, King of the Aura Guardians

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Land of Rota - Tree of Beginning

Greninja's prone body smashed into the ground and rolled to a stop beside Lord Vandrick's feet, its tongue splayed across the grass unmoving.

"Tch," he said, before recalling it.

Blood dripped down his arm from an Ice Shard from Glaceon that his Sylveon hadn't managed to fully protect him from, and the moment he replaced Greninja's pokéball back on his belt, he clutched his arm painfully.

Garchomp's fin was still outstretched in front of him from delivering the final blow, and he growled with resolute satisfaction.

Cynthia stood behind him, sporting only a shallow red scratch on her forehead from one of Chesnaught's rogue thorns. Lapras had managed to almost completely block the attack, but minor injuries were inevitable against such a ruthless and powerful opponent. Though powerful as he may have been, being AZ's right hand, Greninja was now the fourth pokémon of his to fall to Garchomp. They'd been trading relatively evenly, but once Cynthia released Garchomp, it was like he'd hit a brick wall.

"I'd thought myself at least competitive with the Champions... This has been a sobering experience," Vandrick said grimly. "Then again, you aren't quite like the others, are you?"

"That remains to be seen," Cynthia said coldly.

Vandrick sighed and rested his hand on another one of his pokéballs, though he did not pull it from his belt. "Either way, I've failed in my mission. I've been stalled here for far too long. And given this sudden downpour and the chaos unfolding to the south, it seems my master has long since engaged Sir Aaron."

Garchomp took a threatening step forward. If the battle was over, then he intended to act on their victory. Vandrick eyed him, and his grip tightened around his pokéball.

"I hope you don't think I'm going to let you get away after everything you've done."

"Ah, but that's precisely what I'm lamenting. I haven't actually done anything."

"Hurting one of my precious subordinates is more than enough to incur my wrath." Cynthia's gaze was ice-cold, without a hint of amusement.

Vandrick nodded, as if accepting his fate. Over the course of the battle, his suit had become wrinkled and dirty, and his formerly pristine black hair was unkempt on his head. He looked defeated. "That would spare me from having to face my master, dishonored," he mused.

"If you're done fighting, then there is one thing I'd like to ask," Cynthia said. "I've been told the weapon your master used during the Great War has been fired again and is on its way here. How long do you think it will be until it arrives?"

The corners of Vandrick's mouth twitched, and for a moment it looked like he'd smiled, though his face conveyed no mirth. "Ah, so you already know about that. Well, pardon me, Lady Champion, but I must correct you. That weapon was never used during the Great War. It was fired for the first time today."

Cynthia's brows furrowed. "But the Calamity—"

"Not my master's doing. History is written by the victors, as it were. With a world torn asunder after the Calamity, humanity needed a villain to despise." He hesitated. "Personally, I'm not surprised the Guardians pinned such a disaster on my master. He certainly desired their annihilation either way, and still does. But to answer your question, I couldn't say how long it will take for that weapon's payload to reach Rota. It's never been tested, after all."