Goddamn it! What the hell is this woman doing?!
The idea that she'd ever go back to being "normal"—way too naive of me.
At this point... if she could act normal, then a freaking Garchomp could learn Dragon Dance, and the goddamn Toedscool King's Ability could be switched to Huge Power!
Before, sure, she was a neglectful mother, a little too obsessed with Ultra Beasts—but that was still barely within the realm of human understanding.
Now though... she's gone from an Ultra Beast fanatic straight to a full-blown pervert!
I mean, what sane person would stick their face in a Steelix mask and sniff it like that—and so intensely, too?
Lady, are you frickin' King Goujian and that thing is your "gall bladder" or something?!
Honestly... poor Gladion. The "cool guy" act? Absolutely shattered.
I bet even if he saw Guzma doing a cutesy idol cover of Ren'ai Circulation, he wouldn't be this shaken.
And yet... Lusamine was totally entranced.
Just now she'd been hyperventilating like an ice skater mid-routine, as if this method somehow let her savor all the subtle "notes" within it.
Haru's scent—utterly addictive—turned her into a complete Inhale-vore.
Naturally, this meant she hadn't even noticed Guzma's arrival.
By the time she snapped out of it, Gladion was already standing there.
So now she was facing... her doting simp and... her own son.
"..."
Lusamine glanced at the utterly bewildered Trainer, and very gingerly tucked the Steelix mask into a fancy velvet box.
Then—finally—she let out a long sigh.
Life is hard. Mom sighs.
"Gladion, you're finally back... does this mean you're willing to see me now?"
However... maybe because she'd just finished her storm-sniffing session, Gladion instinctively took several steps back—visibly repulsed.
Thankfully, Lusamine wasn't at all affected by this "hurtful" reaction. She simply placed the box down and continued:
"It's true—everything has been my fault all along. But it's good that you've come home now."
"From now on, let's live together again... just like before."
But this "heartwarming" line only made Gladion's expression grow even more grim.
"So... care to explain? Lillie told me you were getting better. Looks like she's been deceived."
Honestly... Gladion really could not figure this woman out anymore.
She was just too damn abstract!
And whose pants were those, anyway? Don't tell me they're... Haru's?
If Lillie ever found out... this is some seriously messed-up stuff.
At Lusamine's words, she couldn't help but lower her head and sigh again, a deep look of guilt on her elegant face:
"Lillie... sigh. I really have wronged her. It's all my fault."
"I've been letting her down for so long... even now, I'm still letting her down. I owe her too much."
At least in this moment, she was genuinely sincere about it.
As for the rest... well, sincerity counts for something, right?
Now then... what new game should she play with Haru next?
Suppressing her strange inner urges, Lusamine straightened up and continued with a serious tone:
"The truth is... there are deeper reasons behind all this. It's not something I can fully explain right now."
"I'm sorry, Gladion, that you had to witness something you shouldn't have seen. I only hope you won't tell Lillie."
"It would be better for everyone..."
"One day, I will tell Lillie everything. When that day comes, she'll be able to handle it with a clear mind."
"Yes, one day."
Lusamine spoke very slowly, as though each word took great effort to say.
Gladion simply stood there, staring at her, his expression shifting constantly.
This... was turning out to be even worse than he had imagined.
Poor guy couldn't help but feel sorry for his little sister.
"..."
Meanwhile, Guzma stood there completely ignored, stiff-faced like some disposable background goon.
He liked Lusamine. Yet here he was, forced to watch her aggressively sniffing another man's Steelix mask.
His mind was racing—but he had no idea what to say or do.
In the end... silence was his only option.
—
Malice. Terror. Rage. Hatred. Despair.
A tidal wave of negative emotions was battering Lana, as if a giant tsunami were slamming into the tiny ship of rationality inside her heart, trying to drown it entirely.
In her daze, it felt as though she could hear a voice—something sacred, exalted.
That voice echoed endlessly in her mind, guiding her, tempting her, drawing her deeper into the darkness.
"You understand the pain of loss. You know the despair of captivity."
"You crave infinite power."
"You seek your chance for revenge."
"You desire... release."
"..."
Faced with these questions from the depths of her soul, Lana remained silent.
But the voice's owner was like some kind of rap god, repeating the words again and again—as if it would never stop until Lana gave her answer.
Once.
Twice.
Three times... until the fifth repetition—finally, deep within, Lana's inner self and her outward self both revealed a faint smile.
"Ah, yes. This is exactly what I desire."
"So then... let's begin."
Inadvertently resonating with this unknown presence, Lana finally admitted her desires.
Yes—for her to do all the things she wanted, she needed overwhelming power.
And this mysterious entity she had "spoken to"... seemed very, very strong.
At that same moment, atop the Skyspike Tower of Ultra Megalopolis, Necrozma suddenly froze mid-motion.
With the aid of some unknown force, its fury and pain seemed to ease slightly.
It felt... as though something was guiding it—urging it to connect with a human.
But what kind of being could interfere with it—the "god" of Ultra Space?
Could there truly be a being stronger than itself?
No matter. With its rage slightly lessened, Necrozma began trying to peer through the connection—curious about the human on the other end.
What kind of person could possibly resonate with a god like it?
And then... it felt her.
It felt a soul burning with the same fury as its own.
This young girl's heart blazed with the agony of captivity, betrayal, and endless longing—soon to break free of her chains.
Exactly like itself! What a strange, wondrous thing!
Good, good—since this was the case, why not bestow her with some power to aid her vengeance?
Such an act could serve as a fine diversion!
And so, it heard the girl's final prayer:
"Let me beat Lusamine to her knees—and then, right in front of that XX, I'll viciously r*pe Haru until he collapses!"
"...?"
From deep within Ultra Space, the "god" Necrozma... was utterly bewildered.