Chapter 792: Kartana—The One Who Cuts Down All Foes!

March 8th, Saturday.

Aether Foundation, Space Research Institute.

Professor Burnet stood with her arms crossed, her eyes fixed on the fluctuating data displayed on the large screen.

“Professor Burnet…” Section Chief Wicke from Aether Paradise spoke softly, “Is there something unusual with the data?”

Burnet frowned.

“There are signs of spatial disturbances at multiple sites on Poni Island. Tiny Ultra Wormholes keep forming but then closing almost immediately.”

“Could this be due to Cosmog’s power?” Wicke speculated.

Burnet shook her head. “Ultra Wormholes opened by Cosmog are extremely stable. The phenomena on Poni Island are more like…”

“It’s like someone drew a tiny slit across white paper with a utility knife—look at the paper from another angle, and the slit vanishes.” Burnet offered the comparison.

“Could it be related to an Ultra Beast?” Wicke sounded anxious.

Burnet replied,

“I can’t draw conclusions just yet, but… didn’t the President create the Ultra Defense Team in partnership with the International Police? I suggest we have the defense squad investigate.”

Wicke’s eyes lit up and she slapped her fist to her palm. “That’s right, the members of the Ultra Defense Team—”

“Right now, Mr. Natsume is serving as the Captain of the defense squad!”

“Natsume…” Burnet sounded surprised. “The Battle Legend, and the teacher at Hau’oli City Trainer Academy?”

“Yes.” Wicke grinned, “If this really is an Ultra Beast, and strong enough to open Ultra Wormholes by itself, Natsume is bound to be interested!”

Burnet nodded.

“Then I’ll contact Natsume-sensei myself, and explain the situation in detail…”

……

Melemele Island, Kala’e Bay.

Sunlight bathed the seaside villa; a golden-haired beauty stood on the marble balcony, her sky-blue blouse nearly blending with the horizon, golden hair cascading like a waterfall. By her side stood Garchomp.

Cynthia turned around and called, “Hurry up, Natsume~ Today we’re heading out to the Altar of the Sunne to investigate Alola’s mythology!”

“Coming…”

Since Latias needed to keep up with Garchomp’s speed, their half-hour sprint left Natsume looking drained.

But, since today was basically a date with Cynthia, Natsume pulled himself together.

At the very least, he couldn’t let his knees buckle when they landed!

“Gengar~” Gengar had a backpack crammed with snacks, a hidden Togepi inside, all geared up for camping with delight.

Victini soared happily, nibbling macarons, little bubbles of bliss around its head, then vanished into the air once more.

Sylveon’s fur shone snowy white, its ribbons a delicate pink, its sapphire eyes sparkling with light.

Poni Island… This was the penultimate island.

I need to meet Poni Island’s guardian deity, and if they refuse my request, then I’ll just…

“Sylveon! (〝▼皿▼)”

Sylveon-sister’s eyes instantly sharpened!

The little ones shot into their Poké Balls as red light.

Cynthia cast a sidelong glance, her tone casual. “That Beast Ball you carry—what’s the story?”

“Lusamine gave it to me,” Natsume answered honestly.

Cynthia: ?

Her smile was gentle, golden hair dazzling as she tilted her head with an elegant hand to her chin.

Garchomp’s eyes burned crimson, as if bright flames danced within.

Natsume explained quickly—summarizing the whole three-way contest between the International Police, Aether Foundation, and Ultra Defense Team.

Cynthia rested her hand on her hip, her eyes thoughtful as she frowned.

“So… you’re serving in a major position among all three forces?”

“To counter the Ultra Beasts, every ounce of strength must be mobilized.” Natsume adopted a serious tone.

Cynthia glanced at him coolly, saying nothing as she walked towards Garchomp.

“My mistake,” Natsume followed, sounding earnest, “was not turning to you for help instead of the Aether Foundation.”

Cynthia paused, sighing softly. “The International Police always have their own duties.”

Even as a Battle Legend, to apprehend a criminal, one still needed evidence and procedure.

After all they’d been through, Cynthia didn’t truly mistrust Natsume—she just wished he’d told her everything from the start.

Glancing back at Natsume, Cynthia let out a soft sigh, folded her arms, then extended her slender wrist with a graceful turn.

“Um…” Natsume looked up, seeing Cynthia’s gray eyes as she grabbed at the corner of his mouth.

His expression was funny—almost cute. The edge of Cynthia’s lips curled.

“This is the last time.”

“We should get married,” Natsume suddenly declared.

“No changing the subject.”

“I mean it. I love you, Cynthia.”

Natsume said seriously, “I will never betray you—no more than AZ would abandon his eternal flower.”

“Even if you wandered for three thousand years?” Cynthia’s gray eyes twinkled.

“I’d love you for three thousand years,” Natsume replied.

The sound of Pikipek’s calls drifted on the wind, the waves rustled on Kala’e Bay, and a brilliant rainbow arched as if Ho-Oh had just flown past.

Cynthia smiled, gently pushed Natsume’s face aside, and turned toward Garchomp:

“Keep up! Garchomp, Swords Dance!”

“Garchomp!”

Garchomp shot forward like a jet, trailing a white vapor trail as its spinning tail tore through the air.

Natsume donned his goggles, shirt billowing as he climbed onto Latias.

“Garchomp still can’t use Dragon Dance, huh…”

“Latias, Agility!”

“No.” Latias declared haughtily. “Unless, you ask me nicely…”

Natsume: “I’m begging you.”

“Still no~” Latias teased with a playful face.

……

Above Vast Poni Canyon.

During the flight, Natsume got a call from Professor Burnet on his Bluetooth headset.

After a short conversation, Natsume learned about the spatial disturbances on Poni Island.

After landing, Cynthia noticed the change in Natsume’s expression and asked,

“What’s wrong?”

“There are Ultra Wormholes appearing across Vast Poni Canyon, the Altar of the Sunne, and other areas.”

Natsume frowned, “Some Ultra Beast has made it to Alola on its own.”

“An Ultra Beast that can cross spacetime independently?” Cynthia sounded surprised.

“It’s not uncommon. Among Ultra Beasts we know of, Blacephalon can blast open spacetime, Guzzlord can devour even entire dimensions…”

Natsume paused, then added, “But among legends, Kartana can even cut through space and time itself.”

Cynthia propped her chin, her gray eyes flashing with excitement, lips rising in a smile.

“Sounds… interesting.”

“Do you still want to press on to the Altar of the Sunne?” Natsume asked.

“Of course.” Cynthia’s eyes sharpened. “Sending Ultra Beasts back to the void—that’s what you do as defense squad Captain, isn’t it?”

“That’s true and all…” Natsume muttered, “but the whole squad right now is just me.”

Ultra Beasts who can cross space-time on their own…

Even in the wild, their power was at Champion Level.

From what the show depicted, Ultra Beasts like Buzzwole, Pheromosa, and Kartana were easily the equal of a Champion’s main team.

Of course, lacking a Trainer’s commands, wild Pokémon posed less threat to Natsume-sensei.

“Even if Celesteela showed up—”

Natsume’s eyes grew sharp, “I’d just command Sirfetch’d to slash your warhead in half!”

His Premier Ball shook at his waist.

“Sirfetch’d! (′︿‵)” Sirfetch’d wept.

Please, brag about yourself, but don’t drag me into it!

……

Vast Poni Canyon, Altar of the Sunne.

A massive cross-shaped altar was cut into the cliff, with a round dial at its center, bathed in Ultimate Power.

At its base shimmered an endlessly full spring, with a stone platform in the aquatic center whose hollow just fit Nebby’s evolved form—Cosmoem.

This was the gateway to Ultra Megalopolis and the place where Solgaleo and Lunala first arrived in Alola.

It was not governed by the Poni Island guardian deity, Tapu Fini.

But Tapu Fini had sensed the anomaly at the Altar of the Sunne, and was now levitating above the canyon, scanning left and right.

The sky was serrated by one rift after another, filled with the aura of Ultra Wormholes.

Some Ultra Beast had sliced through space—and had opened not just one passage, but many.

Tapu Fini’s expression grew grave, its violet shell exuding a delicate mist that shrouded the Vast Poni Canyon.

Within the mist, Tapu Fini’s senses grew keener, able to pinpoint the subtle distortions in space.

CRACK, CRACK!

Tapu Fini started in alarm.

A blade of light split open the sky, forming a rainbow-colored Ultra Wormhole!

In that rainbow glow, a small, unassuming Ultra Beast pierced through, its sword-edges glinting as it unfolded!

It appeared to be folded from paper, its head tucked inside its torso, the center cut into a yellow four-pointed star. Its shoulders carried yellow sheath-shaped structures.

Its paper arms seemed like twin sharp blades, flickering with ethereal edge!

UB04: Blade, the Drawing Sword Pokémon—Kartana!

Tapu Fini’s gaze was solemn, and it communicated telepathically:

“Visitor from beyond, please leave the Altar of the Sunne.”

Kartana said nothing, simply moved its arms, swords pointed at Tapu Fini.

In an instant, the guardian’s senses were beset from all directions by killing intent as sharp as steel.

“An invading Ultra Beast, is it…”

Tapu Fini’s eyes grew cold, mist swirling and Island aura gathering around, erupting in a column of rainbow light—Nature’s Madness trembling the whole Vast Poni Canyon.

Whoosh—

Two sword-beams intertwined in an X.

Kartana swept past, calmly lowering its blades as it passed.

Tapu Fini looked down in disbelief at its violet shell—

In an instant, countless wounds had appeared, and all around—the light, the space and time, the aura—had all been severed by that single strike!

The swirling mist quickly healed Tapu Fini’s wounds.

Encased in the toxic fog, Kartana’s face was still, swinging its twin blades, completely unaffected.

Tapu Fini was skilled at status effects and healing, but facing the relentless offense of Kartana, even an island guardian found itself at a disadvantage!

In the distance.

Natsume and Cynthia gazed at the light pillar and those blade-like micro rifts in the sky.

Both mounted Latias and Garchomp, racing toward the Altar of the Sunne.

“Do you know which Ultra Beast that is?” Cynthia asked.

“That is…”

A sword’s light flashed in the sky. Tapu Fini, covered in wounds, struggled to stay aloft.

“A legendary swordsman who can cut down any foe—”

Natsume said gravely,

“The Ultra Beast, Kartana!”