Officially transitioning into the role of a healer, Caleb shuttled back and forth among the six Pokémon, while Eternatus' hp steadily dwindled under the relentless assault...
Everything was proceeding in an orderly fashion.
Hayate watched the scene with disbelief, "It's going this smoothly?"
But before his words even finished echoing, the energy core in Eternatus' chest suddenly erupted with an intense light.
In the span of a second, the light condensed into a thick purple beam that swept horizontally across the ground, striking Lickitung, Magcargo, Pachirisu, and Sceptile before they could react.
The four Pokémon were instantly knocked unconscious.
In one move, the nearly defeated Eternatus had completely turned the tables!
Hayate hastily covered his mouth, "Sh*t! I'm never opening my mouth again!"
Setsuka gritted her teeth, veins popping on her forehead as she shouted to Talonflame in the air, "Use Flare Blitz!"
Flames burst from Talonflame's body as it abruptly accelerated midair, charging straight at Eternatus.
Eternatus coldly glanced at Talonflame, its massive form wreathed in purple flames as it crashed into the bird with brutal force, interrupting the Flare Blitz mid-execution.
Talonflame let out a pained cry as its body was sent flying like a broken kite.
"Talonflame!" Setsuka screamed.
Eternatus' sudden outburst had left all the Pokémon except Dragonite incapacitated.
"Dragonite! Dragon Rush!" Caleb frowned, giving the order before immediately turning to rush toward Luna's Pachirisu.
He activated the Viridian Power. Amid the green glow, Pachirisu slowly opened its eyes.
"Buy us some time." Caleb said.
Luna nodded gravely, then commanded Pachirisu, "Use Endure, then Follow Me!"
"Wuuu!"
In the air, Dragonite clenched its jaw, narrowly dodging multiple DynamaxCannons from Eternatus. The high-stakes battle had already drenched Dragonite's forehead in sweat.
Seeing all its attacks dodged, Eternatus flew into a rage. Its chest core flared with another intense purple light.
Dragonite was now cornered. Whether it flew up or down, it couldn't escape the Dynamax Cannon's range.
Just then, Pachirisu on the ground used Follow Me...
Eternatus' attention instantly shifted, and the Dynamax Cannon meant for Dragonite was redirected toward Pachirisu, piercing through its tiny body.
Caleb gave Luna a firm nod before rushing to Talonflame's side and used the ViridianPower to heal it.
Thanks to Endure, Pachirisu wasn't instantly KO'd by the attack. It panted heavily, weakly propping itself up with its tiny paws.
Seizing the opportunity, Dragonite launched another Dragon Rush at Eternatus.
After healing Talonflame, Caleb sat on the ground, his face slightly pale. He was completely drained.
"Are you okay?" Setsuka asked worriedly as she offered him some support.
"I can hold on. The Eternatus shouldn't have much hp left." Caleb shook his head, pulling his arm free from Setsuka's grip.
At that moment, a blinding white light erupted above them.
The next second, Dragonite plummeted from the sky, crashing heavily beside Caleb, its body skidding across the ground from the impact.
"Can you keep going?" Caleb reached out, wiping the sweat from Dragonite's forehead.
"Wuu!"
Dragonite's chest heaved as it panted, but it nodded firmly.
"Leave it to me." Setsuka's brows furrowed as she commanded, "Talonflame! Brave Bird!"
"Pachirisu, use Thunderbolt!" Luna also ordered from the side.
Now, only Pachirisu, Dragonite, and Talonflame remained standing on the battlefield.
From the corner, Riolu watched the scene with intense focus, its gaze locked on Caleb with its fists clenched.
Though Eternatus was also running low on hp, it was more than enough to handle these three exhausted fighters.
It opened its maw, enduring the Thunderbolt's damage, and fired a DynamaxCannon at Pachirisu on the ground, knocking it out instantly.
Then, with a swing of its massive body, it locked onto Talonflame in the air. In the next second, another Dynamax Cannon shot out, instantly blasting Talonflame out of the sky.
In the blink of an eye, Dragonite was the only Pokémon left standing.
Eternatus turned its head, its eyes locking onto Dragonite and Caleb on the ground. The energy core in its chest pulsed with another ominous purple light.
"We're done for!"
The others' faces instantly twisted with despair.
'Is this the power of Galar's strongest Legendary Pokémon?'
Caleb grabbed Dragonite's claw, trying to push it aside. But it was too late.
Eternatus' Dynamax Cannon had already charged. The blinding purple light rapidly filled Caleb's and Dragonite's vision...
Just then, a small blue-and-black figure shot forward at incredible speed from behind.
Riolu leaped past Caleb, fearlessly confronting the Dynamax Cannon head-on.
"Riolu!" Caleb reached out, trying to grab it.
At that moment, time seemed to slow.
Riolu turned its head slightly, casting one last reluctant glance at Caleb. Then, an overwhelming white light erupted from its body.
That was the light of evolution...
"It… it's evolving…" Hayate and the others stared dumbfounded.
When the light faded moments later, an incredibly cool Pokémon stood before them.
Lucario narrowed its eyes, locking onto Eternatus in the air. An Aura Sphere materialized in its paw before it hurled the attack straight at Eternatus.
*Boom!*
That single Aura Sphere drained the last of Eternatus' hp. Its massive body disintegrated into shimmering purple stardust, scattering into the air.
Caleb stared at Lucario, who stood protectively in front of him, framed by the dazzling spectacle above...
Nothing in this world could be cooler than Lucario's Aura Sphere.
Simultaneously, the quest completion panel appeared:
[Island Liberated!]
[Main Quest Complete! Rewards will be distributed upon Instance settlement!]
[Leave the Instance? If you choose not to, you may remain for up to three days!]
Caleb decisively selected
When he looked up again, Lucario had turned around, extending its paw toward him.
Caleb smiled in relief. He exhaled deeply before placing his hand in Lucario's paw and pulling himself up...