Steelix remained silent. Though it was not yet dead, surrounded by so many hostile and powerful enemies, survival was nearly impossible.
"Let's make a deal. I guarantee its survival, but from now on, you must follow my commands for eternity. How about it?" Lucius said calmly.
Compared to the Crystal Rampardos, Lucius could see that this Steelix had feelings for Gardevoir that went beyond mere loyalty.
"You want to capture me?"
"Hahaha, that's right," Lucius laughed.
Steelix hesitated for only a moment before nodding firmly.
"Very well, do not resist." Lucius immediately cast Mental Parasite.
Just like with the Crystal Onix, the implanted command was: "Obey me forever."
Steelix never expected that this human's method of capture was not through a Poké Ball, but rather a psychic ability. Instantly, its thoughts began a violent struggle.
Lucius could sense through the mental link that this peak-level Steelix had a much stronger will and mental fortitude than the Crystal Onix.
But Lucius did not threaten it further. He merely cast a glance at the unconscious Gardevoir. At that moment, Steelix immediately ceased resisting and allowed the Mental Parasite to take full effect.
For Lucius, capturing it with a Poké Ball was never an option. Steelix had only submitted to protect Gardevoir, but it could just as easily betray him later. There was no guarantee of its loyalty.
However, now that the Mental Parasite was complete, this Steelix had become even more obedient than Houndoom.
Now, onto Gardevoir…
For some reason, it seemed to be able to maintain its Mega Evolution indefinitely. That was not a bad thing for Lucius.
Although it was gravely injured, Lucius' virus could even make corpses move—let alone a still-living Pokémon.
Sure enough, as Gardevoir lay there unconscious, the virus began its unrestricted transformation of its body.
Previously, Lucius had suppressed the virus's mutation effects on Tyrantrum to ensure the ambush succeeded. But now, with Gardevoir, there was no need to hold back.
Soon, Gardevoir's body let out an unsettling crackling sound.
After an eerie transformation, its once bright green, mask-like short hair darkened into deep emerald, cascading into long flowing locks. The red chest fin on its torso became larger and sharper. Most strikingly, its grand white gown and glove-like arms turned pure black. The combination with its crimson chest fin made it resemble an elegant lady clad in a gothic black evening dress, complete with long, graceful gloves.
As expected of a King-class Pokémon, it had fused with the virus at an extraordinary level. Unlike other Pokémon that devolved into monstrous forms, this transformation granted it a mysterious, dark elegance. More importantly, its intelligence remained fully intact.
When Gardevoir regained consciousness, its eyes filled with horror.
"Human… what have you done to me?"
"You specialize in psychic power. Can you not sense the changes within yourself?" Lucius chuckled. He knew Gardevoir had already realized the mental bond and its new subordinate status.
"No…" Its usually gentle voice now trembled with despair.
Now transformed into a dark queen, Gardevoir struggled to accept what had happened, but Lucius gave it no time to dwell.
"Reverse their crystallization for me."
Earlier, Flora, Zeyan, and the others had been forced into revealing their mutant forms under Gardevoir's psychic pressure. Then, they were partially crystallized, leaving them in a bizarre half-monster, half-crystal state.
It was an eerie, grotesque fusion of artistic beauty and horror.
But they couldn't be taken outside looking like that.
From Gardevoir's memories, Lucius had learned that this incomplete crystallization could still be reversed.
Now fully infected, Gardevoir had no way to resist Lucius' command. Reluctantly, it activated the three Crystal Pillars, reversing their transformations.
"Phew… That was terrifying. I thought I was going to be a crystal statue forever," Flora sighed in relief, pressing her hands against her chest.
"Me too. That was horrifying. Thank goodness Lord Archer saved us," Maeva added, still shaken.
"Alright, Gardevoir, open the gate to the Crystal Lake," Lucius ordered, uninterested in their flattery. He had more pressing matters.
Gardevoir's expression flickered with emotions, but it ultimately obeyed. Once more, it channeled its immense psychic energy into the three Crystal Pillars.
A frequency too high for human ears to detect vibrated through the air. At the center of the triangular pillar formation, a point of infinite brightness emerged.
That point seemed to possess boundless mass. Not only did the air spiral toward it, but even the space itself collapsed inward.
As the energy surged, the collapsing point expanded rapidly, soon forming a spherical spatial gateway.
Incredible…
For the first time, Lucius witnessed the legendary "Teleportation Gate."
"Hahaha! So it was hidden like this. No wonder no one could ever find Azelf's Crystal Lake." Lucius recalled from Gardevoir's memories that many people had ventured into this cave searching for the lake. But they had all searched within the Crystal Cave—never realizing that while the cavern connected to the lake, the lake itself existed in another dimension.
"Lord Azelf may still be sleeping, but its defenses are strong. And if anything happens to Crystal Lake, Lord Uxie and Lord Mesprit will surely sense it," Gardevoir warned suddenly.
"That's not your concern," Lucius cast it a sidelong glance. "And remember, from now on, you have only one 'Master.'"
Gardevoir's body stiffened. Even though its power far surpassed this human's, the Emperor Strain's dominance was absolute and undeniable.
"Let's go. Follow me inside." Lucius tossed a Poké Ball, capturing the fallen Crystal Rampardos before recalling most of his Pokémon. Only Magneton remained, surrounding him with an electromagnetic field for protection as he led Gardevoir, Zeyan, and the others through the portal.
Thus, in the depths of the Crystal Cave, the only remnant of their conquest was the shattered remains of the Ancient Armaldo, its head obliterated by Gardevoir.
Every other Pokémon of Leader-class or above had now fallen under Lucius' command.
But to Lucius, the Crystal Cave held even greater secrets—secrets he was about to uncover.
After a moment of disorienting, gravity-defying distortion, Lucius and his team arrived before a breathtaking, azure lake.
Judging by their expressions, they all felt the same way.
The sky above was a brilliant blue, dotted with white clouds, and the sun hung high—meaning they were no longer underwater.
Lucius took a careful look around. Apart from the vast lake stretching out before him, dense forests surrounded them on all sides. The refreshing breeze confirmed they were somewhere on land. He glanced down at his communicator, but for some reason, its navigation function had completely failed.
-----
Want to read ahead of schedule?
Join here for advance chapters: patreon.com / madbot635