Paragon

Hisui Incursion [28]

Yeah I have to be honest. The chapter is late because I scrolled reels and shorts for hours instead of writing. I thought I was going to be busy last week, and I was, but I could've easily had it out last week :P

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PARAGON

Hisui Incursion Arc [28]

Chapter 80 : Voidestria

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Hisui Region - Temple of Sinnoh

Dark clouds simmered above, completely obscuring the sun, and red lightning cracked down in thin bolts, the rumble of thunder ever present. The rift above churned and whispered its latent malice through otherworldly hisses and screeches. Beyond its pitch black center lie the starry cosmos its victims had crossed to arrive in Hisui.

In a violet flash, three figures appeared on Mount Coronet's summit.

Ice crunched beneath his feet as Ash ascended the granite steps of the Temple of Sinnoh. Snow fluttered down incessantly, dark beneath the shadows of the rift. The pillars of white obsidian that held the temple aloft were banded in gold, and the statues of numerous pokémon guarding the ascent were too worn to make out, yet somehow still maintained their regal nobility.

Sabrina and Riley followed silently, their clothes whipping in the mountain winds.

As Ash crested the stairs' zenith, his eyes swept across the temple grounds. Unlike in the present day, Spear Pillar was still intact, but the runic markings carved into the ground were just as he remembered them. His eyes narrowed, and he stopped.

At the far end of the temple sat Volo, his back to them. He wore a dirty white shawl, but the platinum blonde of his hair glinted even in the shadows of the Temple.

"I knew you'd come," he said, his voice echoing off the towering pillars. "The hero would never allow evil to fester, would he?" He turned, and a flash of lightning illuminated his malicious grin for a moment. As he stood, the shawl fell off his body, revealing his bare chest and back.

Ash scowled.

His chest was still blackened and scorched where the Three Heavenly Bolts had landed, and dried blood clung to his skin like a fungus. But in spite of his filthy appearance, his eyes burned with a malevolent light.

"Volo," Ash spat.

"You were wise to teleport straight here. All the Alpha Pokémon I had prepared for you in the mountain have now gone to waste," Volo smirked, glancing at Sabrina. "I thought your teleportation abilities were untamed but it seems you're going to vex me to the very end. I should have made sure I killed you first."

"Probably," Sabrina said coldly. "But you didn't. And you won't. You can't."

Volo sneered. "We'll see about that."

"I don't believe for a second that the Alpha Pokémon are all you prepared for your ambush," Riley said. "Obviously you have other traps prepared."

Volo smirked, then shrugged. "We'll see. I have been watching you. Surely you realized that. Did you really think you could gallivant all across Hisui without my notice? I saw those beacons of yours too. And you, Ash..." He locked eyes with Ash. "I've seen your training with your Plate. I've felt it. I've already seen the most you're capable of."

"I almost beat you the first time we fought," Ash said. "If you've seen what I can do, then you should know I have the power to beat you."

Volo grinned, clearly amused by Ash's claim. "Last time, you fell to a single attack. I incapacitated Sabrina immediately and tied Riley up with a mere Alpha Avalugg. Now, you're on my battlefield again, and again, I've designed it to annihilate you."