Her face was flushed deep red, her whole body trembling slightly from sheer fury. It wasn't until Haru delivered the tenth palm strike that Lusamine finally retaliated with a high-powered move—Water Gun—to blast back at that despicable man.
And that wasn't all. After enduring the same move over and over for so long, Lusamine unexpectedly awakened a brand-new Adaptability ability, elevating herself to a dual-ability powerhouse on par with Calyrex. The effect of Fake Out finally wore off.
But the cost of that evolution was steep—she lay sprawled out, gasping for breath like she'd collapsed from exhaustion.
If this battle were taking place in Haru's original world, it could've easily been made into a theatrical release titled "Blazing-Speed Haru and Lusamine's Awakening."
These two… were on another level entirely.
"This ends here! Hehe, I have to win!"
After taking a moment to recover, Lusamine—now stacked with max speed from Weak Armor—finally launched her counterattack.
Her white armor was barely hanging on, tattered and frayed, but Haru hadn't torn it off completely. He allowed her to charge at him wearing that barely-functional protective gear.
Because Haru was a man of martial virtue—he would never fully disarm an opponent.
Besides, what thrill was there in stripping your opponent bare right from the start? It was far more exhilarating to clash with someone still armored up.
Lusamine led with a sweeping kick, then spun around and aimed a Giga Drain straight at Haru's vital points. It was clear she intended to steal his life force and use it to bounce back into the fight.
But Haru wasn't about to play along. He had to strike back immediately.
Only… with Lusamine's speed maxed out, she was now faster than him. As soon as she noticed Haru had begun using Growth—his body swelling with power—she responded with her next move right away.
Oh no no no—this time Lusamine had gone all-in with a high-damage move: Body Slam!
Seizing the initiative, she clearly intended to settle this match in one decisive exchange.
But Haru's own attack speed had also been pushed to its absolute limit. As a time-traveling outsider bearing the name of a cross-dimensional warrior, he had every reason never to lose.
Having just endured prolonged suppression, Haru had accumulated quite a bit of pent-up rage—and now he was going to unleash it all at once.
He roared into action with a move powered up to its most devastating state: Double-Edge!
This was no ordinary attack—it was the Asura path of destruction. Every strike injured its user as well. A move not to be used lightly.
But in that moment, Haru couldn't care less.
He rooted himself to the ground, bracing with Ingrain, and launched a barrage of Double-Edge strikes in succession. He called this sequence…
Ultimate Infinity!
"N-No more... I… can't…"
Despite having extremely low defenses but HP levels on par with the legendary Orochi from next door, even Lusamine couldn't hold out any longer under this onslaught.
Her regeneration was fast, yes—but no way could it outpace Haru's reckless, life-burning rampage.
Still, Haru's stamina had been greatly depleted. That frenzied assault had drained him to the point he couldn't keep up the offensive any longer.
Now, all that remained… was their final move. One last clash to decide everything.
Prismatic Laser vs Origin Pulse!
---
Meanwhile, in a quiet bedroom elsewhere, a golden-haired girl was lying peacefully, hugging a small pillow as she slept.
A gentle smile lingered on her lips. She seemed to be in a very good mood.
Suddenly, her brow furrowed as though caught in a nightmare—but shortly afterward, her expression softened again.
Like sleep-talking, she murmured faintly:
"Mom…"
Lillie hadn't actually fallen into a deep sleep—she'd napped too long during the day. And since Haru's room was right next door, she could vaguely hear some of Lusamine's voice.
Still groggy, she simply assumed it was part of a dream. A dream of her mother.
Never in her wildest thoughts did she realize her actual mother was next door… in a fierce "battle" with Haru.
In her dream, her mother had finally returned to normal—no longer obsessed with Ultra Beasts or the terrifying Pokémon from Ultra Space. She'd become kind and gentle again.
In that dream, Lillie had also reunited with her long-lost brother Gladion. The rift between him and their mother had been mended, and the family was whole again.
And most importantly…
She had accepted Mr. Haru's feelings, becoming the person closest to him.
Mr. Haru was so gentle. He took her across many regions, showing her all sorts of wonderful Pokémon.
And her deep-seated fear of Pokémon—something she'd carried since childhood—was gradually healed through time and Mr. Haru's patient care. In the end, she overcame it entirely.
Finally, the girl who had once only admired Pokémon from afar had gotten her very own: a sweet little Alolan Vulpix.
She named it Snowball.
Everything was just… perfect.
Two hours later, the dazed and dreamy-eyed girl finally opened her emerald-green eyes.
So… it really was just a dream, huh?
She glanced toward the window. The sky had yet to fully brighten, but the early rays of the sun were already casting golden hues over the distant sea. Dawn wasn't far off.
The girl quietly opened her door and stepped outside, hoping to get a better view of the beautiful scene.
But then… she noticed something strange.
The light in Mr. Haru's room was still on.
Did Mr. Haru wake up this early…? Or… has he not gone to sleep yet?
With that thought in her heart, Lillie gently made her way toward his door.