Marshal and Nemona arrived at the edge of Casseorya Lake, where Arven greeted them.

The lake was calm and sparkled like diamonds in the setting Sun of the evening. A gentle cool breeze added a gentle coolness to the air as it blew through the emerald green grass of the winding hills. However there was a distinct lack of wild Pokémon. Not even the ever aggressive Velzua were to be found in the deep blue waters of the lake. Clavell and Jacq scouted out the lack upon the edge of a cliff side as Nemona hugged Marshal goodbye, "Stay safe bro."

"I'll be OK," he assured, "Love you sis."

Nemona waved goodbye as she walked away, "Love you too bro."

With that Marshal went to greet Arven, "Hey bro what I miss."

Arven pat him on the back, "We aren't fully sure but whatever it is it's bad. The Pokémon are gone.

"What do you mean gone?" Marshal asked baffled as the duo walked up to Clavell and Jacq. Jacq handed Marshal a pair of binoculars.

Jacq explained, "There's nothing here, it's an ecological dead zone."

"By Arceus," Marshal replied, "What... happened?"

"I don't think they're dead," Clavell clarified, "At least not all of them but they seem to be hiding. Whatever Titan is here must be truly horrific if it's scared all these Pokémon away."

It was then Marshal noticed something, ripples on the surface of the water. He handed the binoculars to Arven, "Hey you seeing this?"

Arven looked for a second and then asked, "What am I looking for again?"

"There's ripples in the water," Marshal replied.

Arven looked closer and nodded, handing the binoculars back to Clavell, "He's right. There's something obscured by that small island."

Clavell nodded, "So there is. That's our best bet. We should take a closer look."

Jacq nodded, wondering aloud, "I wonder what Pokémon this could be..."

The quartet worked their way across the lake, each riding a different Pokémon. Arven was carried by Cloyster, Marshal rode atop a swimming paws, and Jacq and Clavell rode atop a water type Tarous. The lake was eerily silent, the only sounds the wind, their own voices, and the splashing of the water as they pushed through the lake's still waters.

Marshal finished recounting the events atop the mountain, "...and then after battling Tulip I rode here."

"Are you quite alright young man?" Clavell inquired with a gentle, concerned tone. "You know you can always talk to any of us right?"

"I mean I kinda said my piece already I told you guys how I talked to Nemona and Iono," Marshal sighed, "I guess if anything I'm a lot more scared. I don't... I don't feel safe anywhere. I guess I've always been in a lot of danger but it never set in."

Arven assured, "You're my brother, Marshal. I'll protect you if need be."

"Thanks," Marshal sighed looking down at the water, avoiding eye contact as he thought about the situation. He could die at Ubel's hands at any moment. He was horrified of that, and he tried not to show it. He felt like if he showed fear maybe Ubel would see it and capitalize upon it, like he did during their battle.

"Young man I request we speak after this job is done," Clavell requested, "I feel there is something we must discuss."

"Huh?" Marshal asked snapping back to attention, "Oh, yeah OK. Anyways Jacq you're a professor what do you think of all this from a scientific perspective?"

"I think whatever happened here either caused massed migration or an isolated extinction," Jacq replied, "I am already preparing a report to send to other professors such as Oak and Sycamore in hopes they can be of assistance in restoring the lake's ecosystem. However, to be blunt, this is messed up. I don't really have a better way to say it that wouldn't sound deeply unprofessional."

The group turned the corner of the isle that obscured their view to see a monster of a creature, while smaller than other titans it was an imposing figure that walked upon water as if it was a regular plain of grass. Its two long tails twitched with unease as the beast glared with its horrific eyes, as if looking for prey, or perhaps something else? Its movements were frantic, borderline panicked. Arven and Clavell prepared for battle before Marshal interjected. "Wait. Something isn't right. It's a little small and it looks... scared."

Marshal cautiously approached.

"Be careful!" Clavell demanded, "Get away from it!"

"Trust me," Marshal pleaded. "This one's different..."

The creature was blue and white with a large purple mane that flowed like silk in the wind. Each deep inhale of air met with a torrent outward as its breathing was loud and labored. It was exhausted. Marshal looked closer, and noticed it was suffering from signs of paralysis. It growled at Marshal as he neared.

"Easy big guy," he assured, "I'm not gonna hurt ya. Here. This will fix you right up."

Marshal offered the beast a lum berry as Jacq noticed something. The beast resembled suicune but twisted into some sort of primal form. This beast, this Walking Wake, ate the berry hesitantly from Marshal's hand and leapt back as it chowed down. It stretched out and laid on the water, relieved of its ailment as it came to a rest. However it kept one eye open, always watching for some sort of unseen threat.

"What's got you so riled up big guy?" Marshal asked. "Is it the Titan? Where is it?"

There were the sounds of panicked Staraptor in the distance followed by a sound like gears grinding. Walking Wake quickly grabbed the group in a flash and set them on the island before running away.

"What was that?" Clavell demanded, "Why did it move us here?"

Marshal looked down into the water, taking a closer look, before noticing the eyes. There were thousands of blank dead eyes starring at him. He vomited in horror as thousands of dead fish floated to the surface of the lake, the air reeked of the rot. Clavell hid his disgust while Arven covered his mouth in horror. Jacq chose not to look, taking his need for glasses as a blessing as he removed them.

"Don't go in the water," Clavell ordered. "It may be toxic."

"I don't think that's it," Arven corrected, "If it was we would already be dead."

Clavell went to check on Marshal, "Are you OK young man? Here, sit down." He handed Marshal a handkerchief to wipe his mouth off as Arven approached, not getting too close as not to overwhelm Marshal. Marshal's hands shook as he recalled the images of his sister's frozen corpse and Ubel as he approached with his Gallade. He began to panic and hyperventilate. He was going to die, they were all going to die, just like everything in the lake. Clavell took a reassuring but stern tone, "Marshal look at me. Look. At. Me." Marshal made eye contact as Clavell placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "Me and your family are here for you. We're going to stop whatever did this. It's going to be alright."

Marshal took slow deep breaths and nodded. Clavell helped the boy up and took charge of the situation, "Jacq, can you identify the cause of death?"

Jacq nodded and examined a dead Tasugiri that washed up at the edge of the isle, "Signs of charring... but a water type wouldn't go down to fire easily and the environment does appear burned in any way. It appears to be electrocution."

"Could it be Iron Hands?" Clavell inquired.

Arven shook his head, "No that can't be it. This was something larger. Iron hands can pack a punch but it couldn't cause a wide spread electrical shock like this. This is the work of something far more dangerous."

"There was an unidentified Paradox Pokémon that Florian encountered in Tera Raids," Jacq suggested, "Maybe it's that?"

"You mean that big thing walking on the water a moment ago?" Marshal inquired.

"Technically that does fit the criteria but no," Jacq shook his head, "There was another which resembled Virizion. I think that one was the other Titan that lost. Guess it shrunk down after it got beat up by the remaining Titan."

"I thought they were caught by a young gentleman known as Grant," Clavell reminded, "During an ordeal in Galar."

"He never caught Virizion during that series of incidents," Jacq corrected, "Instead it approached him to inform him of injustices taking place elsewhere and he captured it afterwards."

"Who?" Marshal inquired.

"A tale for another time right now we should focus on the matter at hand," Clavell replied. "Perhaps it is the unidentified Pokémon. The one of the future."

"But if so where is it?" Arven demanded, "I don't see any sign of it."

Then from the trees atop the isles dozens of red eyes flickered to life, and crimson blades of energy jolted at the ready as the gang was rushed down by a squadron of Iron Valiant which quickly separated them.

"Look out!" Clavell demanded pushing Marshal out of the way before each of them were isolated.

He heard Arven call, "We need to push back and regroup! Marshal! Are you OK?"

Marshal nodded, "Yeah I-"

Then there was a horrible cry, like a Virizion was screaming in agony through gears and wires as the entire lake flowed with an electrical current. A green metal Titan with red blades leapt across the water so quickly it could walk upon it, moving before the surface tension broke. The Terrain was electrified, activating its quark drive and boosting its attack power. Its blades surged to life as it towered over Marshal, standing over him at the edge of a cliff side which was raised above the water. This was the beast that had slaughtered the fish in the lake with a horrible shock.

The Titan Iron Leaves emerged!

Marshal was on his own, his allies overwhelmed by the ambush.

It was just him and the metallic beast of malformed false justice.

Marshal assumed it was likely an electric type and sent out Paws, his hands shook as images of Gallade's blades flashed in his mind. Paws looked back at him and gave a soft growl of solidarity.

Marshal took a deep breath and steadied himself, trying not to focus on the blades of the Iron Valiant or the Iron Leaves before him. He ordered Paws to charge forward with a Headlong Rush. Paws sprinted forward with all his might, the brute force of its hefty body ready to collide with the Titan, only for it to draw a blade and flick its head, the green Leaf Blade slashed through Paws like a hot knife through butter, leaving a massive cut across his face and fainting him instantly. Marshal returned Paws, and realized now that Iron Leaves was grass, but grass and what? He should have considered it was likely grass, but he didn't know what else it had up its sleeve.

Iron Leaves glared with its LED red eyes, as if looking into Marshal's soul with hellfire. The electrical current continued to charge the beast with power as its body clanked and skidded against the edge of the cliff, getting a closer look at Marshal.

Marshal, afraid as it grew closer, staggered back, almost losing his footing but catching himself. He scrambled for a Pokéball. He knew at least that it was a grass type, and decided Sparky would be a good option. He sent out Sparky, who stood her ground against the Titan, determined to protect her trainer, her family. "It's grass type!" Marshal ordered, "Give it all you got!"

Sparky roared and charged down the Titan, burning itself in a roaring flame that consumed her whole body before crashing hard into Iron Leaves with a powerful Flare Blitz. The impact and fire left her drained and battered. Iron Leaves roared and drew its blades, pink serrated edges charged with psychic power which cut Sparky to ribbons, leaving a huge gash on her front leg which brought her to her knees. She tried to limp back up on three legs before crying in pain and falling over.

The beast stared at Marshal. He could tell by the yelling behind him that his allies were struggling. No help was coming. However, Marshal now knew it was psychic type and could react accordingly. He had a plan now.

Marshal sent out Grips and ordered it to use Nobel Roar. It looked at him confused but it trusted him. The roar contained a horrific majesty, like that of the battle cry of a tyrant king, which startled Iron Leaves ruining its ability to strike at full strength due to being shaken. It continued all the same and struck down the primal beast with another Leaf Blade that sliced through its rotund body and sent it into the ground.

Marshal steadied his shaking hands. It was going to work. It had to. It was all he had left. He sent out Glitter who couldn't even move before being stabbed in the mouth by another Leaf Blade, it's massive teeth doing nothing to blunt the blow which knocked it flying back. Marshal returned her after she fainted and took a deep breath.

This was it. His Hail Mary play to defeat this beast. Marshal sent Wick into the fray. The hound howled and steadied his stance, digging into the dirt. From the tombstone atop his body a spectral power rose. This was it. Marshal's plan to defeat Iron Lead would now come to fruition. The power of his fallen friends empowered Wick. He was surrounded by a purple mist of spectral energy. He charged forward with a brutal Last Respects. Like a dragon spewing flames this energy flowed from his sharp maw, ready to rip the Titan limb from limb to protect Marshal.

With a powerful Last Respects, Wick chomped down hard onto the Titan at the neck, breaking apart its metal exterior of the Titan. The shattered bits of metal flew off its body and into the electrified waters below.

However it wasn't enough and despite screaming in agony Iron Leaves still stood tall. It drew one of its blades, which cut Wick along the length of his soft underbelly drawing a torrent of blood. The blow was a critical hit meaning the Noble Roar, Marshal's attempt of a fail safe was for naught.

Marshal had lost.

Iron Leaves prepared to strike with murderous intent, ready to cut Marshal to ribbons, only to be stopped by something, a beast of blue.

Walking Wake stood between Marshal and Iron Leaves. With a roar the beast called down the roaring sunlight, boosting its power. It looked back at Marshal, the only trainer to treat it not as a monster but as a friend. Their eyes met, and there was an unspoken understanding of their alliance against this shared enemy.

Marshal sent out Walking Wake!

Iron Leaves cried out in a frenzied rage, intent on striking down Walking Wake in a single blow with a powerful Psyblade. Marshal ordered, "Charge head on! Use your mane!"

Walking Wake was confused but trusted Marshal's orders, blocking the psychic powered slice with its thick mane. The blow caused a sharp pain for Walking Wake as it sliced through, but it was then Walking Wake understood.

Iron Leaves's blades were tangled in its mane, leaving it unable to escape. "Finish it! Now!" Marshal demanded.

Walking Wake obeyed, and with a blast of burning water fueled by the sunlight it struck true, shredding the metallic body of Iron Leaves with a Hydro Steam so power it could slice through steel.

Iron Leaves cried out one last time and fell, fainted. Marshal felt his heart rate slow as the Titan had fallen, bested by the skin of his teeth. He laid down on his back under the burning sun summoned by Walking Wake as he processed the fear and pain he experienced mentally.

He was horrified, and it was agony. That fear of being afraid to merely live due to the evil of someone else was hell.

In a fit of agony, he screamed, for what else could he do? Like a teapot boiling over, the anger and terror had to get out somehow.

The Iron Valiant defeated Arven rushed over and demanded, "Marshal! Marshal you good?"

Marshal took a deep breath before crying slightly, "I hate my life man..."

Arven reassured him offering a hand to help him up, "It'll get better when this is over man. Come on. You're strong we can do this. Together."

Marshal accepted nodding in agreement, "Yeah it's just... it's hard man."

Clavell concurred, "The best things in life are never easy Marshal."

Jacq added, "Completing the Pokédex was a rough time for Florian, but he saw it through to the end."

Marshal nodded in agreement, "But I shouldn't have to deal with this. None of us should. Guess that's why we have to though. To make things better so this doesn't happen again."

Clavell agreed, "That's why I do what I do as well. To build a better future for those who come after me. My students are my treasure Marshal, for they will be the beautiful future of Paldea."

Marshal was still shacking and sat back down. Walking Wake laid down beside him supporting him upright. It nestled Marshal into its mane, the fur thick, soft, and warm. An attempt to comfort his new trainer and friend. Marshal scratched Walking Wake on the nose.

Clavell sat in front of him and explained, "If I may there is something else we have to speak about."

"What's up dad?" Marshal inquired not even realizing the slip.

"Exactly that actually," Clavell explained, "I have always wanted a son Marshal and, with you growing up basically in the academy with your sister you're like a son to me. I would be happy to be your legal guardian. Nemona mentioned you didn't have one and all."

Marshal didn't hesitate. He thought back to their conversation at the port. Of course Clavell was a father figure to him and he loved him as such. Marshal smiled happily, "That would be great dad."

Clavell offered a hug which Marshal accepted. It was a peaceful moment, Arven and Jacq didn't wish to interrupt what was clearly a father son moment and stayed silent. Afterwards Clavell tusseled Marshal's hair and chuckled, "I'll always be here for you kid. Now I do also have some bad news."

"What's that?" Marshal inquired.

"Oh wait you mentioned this to me earlier today," Arven interjected, "Yeah we're gonna need to go to Area Zero."

"I'm sorry back up a few steps why we doing that?" Marshal inquired.

"Ubel was..." Clavell sighed, "He assisted Arven's parents in the exhibition to Area Zero years ago. Area Zero may hold answers to his connection to the future Paradox Pokémon."

"So we what, go to Area Zero to see if we can find anything on Ubel's plans?" Marshal inquired. "I mean yeah, I guess that works. So when we going?"

"Sadly son I will be unable to accompany you and Arven," Clavell sighed, "We will be distracting Ubel to ensure he doesn't catch on to our intentions."

Clavell handed a gray metal key to Marshal, "This key will open a secret compartment, a hatch in the lab at the bottom of the lab at the bottom of Area Zero. It was Ubel's private study. If there's anything incriminating, it'll be there."

Marshal nodded, "Got it. I'll go right away."

Arven shook his head, "Yeah I'm not letting family go alone to Area Zero. I'm tagging along."

Marshal smiled, "Sounds great I could use the company anywho. We'll cya later? Also can you sign off on this paperwork? It's for a temporary job I'll be doing for fun."

Clavell nodded and the duo of Marshal and Arven began to leave before Clavell added, "Oh Marshal, one more thing. Both of you really. I just want you to know. You're my family and I have always been proud of you."

"Thanks dad," Arven smiled, "Love you."

"Love you dad," Marshal added.

"Stay safe kiddos," Clavell smiled with fatherly pride as the two left.

"You didn't mention Clavell was like found family to you," Marshal pointed out as they were out of earshot.

"It just never came up," Arven shrugged, "And he's more a dad to me than that AI ever was, so, yknow."

Marshal nodded in understanding before asking, "So Area Zero?"

"Are you sure you can handle it?" Arven inquired. "I'm worried about you man you don't seem to be doing great mentally."

Marshal nodded, "I got my family don't I?"

Arven gave a soft chuckle and pat Marshal on the back, "You sure do. Then let's go. Next stop, Area Zero..."