The sudden change came far too abruptly, so abrupt that for a moment, it was difficult for the mind to process.
Just a few seconds earlier, everything had been fine—Zekrom had successfully evaded Primal Kyogre's blizzard but now, Zekrom had already crashed down into the sea.
"The timing… it was simply too perfect."
After a long pause, Steven finally furrowed his brows tightly as he stared at that colossal magma blade, which was now slowly dissolving away.
Primal Groudon's strike had been timed with terrifying precision.
Because the skies had been completely sealed off by Primal Kyogre's blizzard, Zekrom had no choice but to lower its altitude and dive downward to evade.
But who could have predicted that the Primal Groudon, which had been standing motionless on the ground all this time, would suddenly launch an attack at that very moment?
That… was the very definition of lying in wait for prey.
"That attack was devastating… that move must be Primal Groudon's signature technique," Cynthia murmured as she bit her lip, her eyes tinged with worry.
They did not know what the move was called, but just witnessing it was enough to shake them to the core.
And Zekrom, completely caught off guard, had taken the strike head-on, without even the slightest preparation.
Its powerless plunge into the ocean said everything.
This was Zekrom, the legendary Dragon of Ideals itself, and yet even its endurance and vitality had been unable to withstand such a blow—it had fallen from the skies in defeat. That alone showed just how overwhelming the strike had been.
Still… surely it couldn't have been taken out in a single hit?
"They are simply too powerful. Steven, come with me to Sky Pillar."
Wallace's voice was solemn as he turned to his lifelong friend. In the end, it seemed it would still fall upon him, the Champion of Hoenn, to save the region!
"…Alright."
Steven was momentarily stunned, but when he saw Wallace's earnest, unwavering expression, he did not refuse.
He knew Wallace's character—he would never act recklessly without cause.
And so, after giving Cynthia a few brief instructions, Steven and Wallace mounted Skarmory and took off together, flying swiftly toward the direction of Sky Pillar.
Even Zekrom had fallen. They had to accelerate their plans.
"Pointless."
Glancing once at the retreating backs of Wallace and Steven, Lucas shook his head faintly.
Yes, Wallace, as a descendant of the people of Sootopolis, possessed the power to undo the seals of Sky Pillar—but Zinnia did as well.
As a Draconid, and the successor of this generation, she too could enter the Sky Pillar freely.
And just like Zinnia, neither Wallace nor Steven were Trainers that would be accepted by Rayquaza.
But that didn't matter. As long as Rayquaza could be summoned down, that was enough.
As for whether or not he himself could obtain Rayquaza's recognition… Lucas wasn't particularly confident either.
After all, top-tier legends could not be won over by strength alone.
One's will and ideals also had to resonate with them.
This wasn't like in the games, where you simply tossed a Master Ball and could capture anything with a one hundred percent guarantee.
What Rayquaza's standards truly were—who could say?
"But speaking of which… those two worked together surprisingly well."
Lucas rubbed his chin, looking somewhat amused as his gaze fell on the non-flyer and the big-headed fish.
Just now, the combination of those two had directly crippled Zekrom. The fish forced its positioning, and the non-flyer delivered the finishing blow.
The coordination was almost seamless.
As expected, who better to know each other's movements than eternal archrivals?
Lucas continued watching the spectacle with detached amusement.
But for N… it was completely different.
"Zekrom! Zekrom, are you alright?"
Riding on the back of his Archeops, N called out frantically through their telepathic bond, his expression filled with worry.
The anxious tone of his voice revealed just how deeply shaken he felt inside.
That magma blade had been too overwhelming, too visually devastating. To see such an attack land squarely on Zekrom—how could N possibly not be concerned?
"ROOAARR!"
"WOOOOHH~!"
With the nuisance out of the way, the eyes of Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre locked onto one another once more.
The very next second, a colossal pillar of scorching sunlight and a surging hydro cannon clashed violently in midair.
The collision of their signature moves detonated instantly, sending shockwaves and storms ripping outward in all directions.
Archeops flapped its wings desperately to maintain balance, struggling not to be swept away.
The ocean churned violently beneath them, waves surging higher and higher, and N's anxiety grew worse—for Zekrom still had not answered his call.
"I am fine. Do not worry, N."
At that moment, a faint and weakened but steady telepathic voice finally echoed in N's heart.
"Zekrom! Thank goodness…"
Relief washed over N as he let out a long breath. His heart had been tied in knots a moment ago.
And then, rising slowly from the waters below, came a colossal black shadow.
Zekrom emerged, drenched from head to toe, as it broke free of the sea's surface.
"I am truly sorry, N. To think I could be struck down so easily…"
The dragon's voice rumbled weakly within his mind. Taking the full brunt of Groudon's Precipice Blades had been a crushing blow.
Though it was not completely incapacitated, it had suffered grievous injuries.
"No. This isn't your fault—the enemy is simply far too strong."
N's voice was gentle as he comforted Zekrom, though his brows soon knit together as he cast his gaze upon the two ancient titans who had resumed their war once more.
Originally, his intention had been to stop them. But in truth… that had been far too idealistic.
The power of Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre was far greater than he had imagined.
It was simply unrealistic to think that Zekrom alone could halt them.
And now, in its current state, if Zekrom took even a few more hits, it might very well sink to the bottom of the ocean for good.
"Let's retreat for now, Zekrom."
After a moment's hesitation, a thought rose within N's heart, and he spoke it aloud.
"…Alright."
Zekrom was briefly stunned, then without pause, it soared upward, following behind Archeops.
Finally!
The dragon nearly wept inside. It had been far too miserable just now. That Precipice Blades had really, truly hurt.
"You've done well. Is Zekrom alright?"
From the island, seeing N return, Cynthia called out with concern.
Whatever the official reports from the Unova League said that N was the King of Team Plasma, an evil organization—her personal impression after meeting him was different.
He did not strike her as evil at all.
"Injured, but not beyond recovery." N shook his head.
Then, after a moment of deep thought, his gaze shifted toward Lucas, his clear eyes flickering with uncertainty.
He knew Lucas's power very well. Back outside Castelia City, Eternatus had performed brilliantly under his command.
He had even been able to contend with Kyurem for a time. If Lucas were willing to lend his strength, N believed that perhaps the two Primal titans could indeed be restrained for a while.
But…
"Lucas."
After a brief silence, N finally walked toward him.
Though they were both chosen heroes and should have stood on opposing sides, in matters of greater consequence, such opposition was irrelevant.
And N had always been someone able to separate private feelings from larger responsibilities.
"Now you understand what I meant? Zekrom cannot stand against them."
Lucas arched a brow and grinned at him with mocking amusement.
"I want to ask you to intervene. If it were you, you could do it."
N ignored the taunt, his tone serious and earnest.
At this, Cynthia looked silently at the two, while Green and Marnie exchanged slightly surprised glances.
This man…
Hadn't he been thoroughly beaten by Lucas back in Unova? And yet now, he was openly asking for his help?
"Oh? And why, exactly, should I help you?"
Lucas's smile deepened, his interest piqued.
"If we don't stop Groudon and Kyogre, the Hoenn region—"
"N, that's your perspective."
Lucas cut him off coldly, sarcasm dripping from his voice.
"Take a good look at this Pokémon of mine, N. I was chosen by Truth itself. For me, the nature of the world is reality."
He raised his hand, twirling the Poké Ball lightly, tilting his head with mocking disdain as he looked at N.
At such close distance, N, chosen by the Dragon of Ideals, could clearly sense it—the Pokémon within that ball was Reshiram. The embodiment of truth.
"Whatever disasters or calamities may come—they are but part of the reality of this world. I am no hero. Do you truly think this would compel me to act?"
"The world has its own form and its own flow. Why should I take the risk to interfere?"
Lucas's derision was obvious. What happened to Hoenn had nothing to do with him. He had never claimed to be anyone's savior.
In fact, Groudon's awakening had partly been his doing in the first place.
"Then what would it take for you to help us? Lucas, this matter carries your share of responsibility."
Cynthia's voice rang out firmly, her tone heavy. She could not comprehend, could not analyze what exactly Lucas was thinking.
"No matter what you say—if Groudon and Kyogre continue to rampage unchecked, do you truly not care about the weight of such guilt upon yourself?"
"Apologies, Miss Cynthia, but I truly do not."
Lucas merely shrugged. Guilt? He bore plenty already.
"If you are willing to act now to restrain them, I am prepared to offer you a Gible of extraordinary lineage."
Cynthia fell silent briefly, then spoke.
She was the Champion of Sinnoh, and yet here she was, forced to negotiate with a member of a villainous organization.
The irony was bitter.
Especially since… this entire disaster had his fingerprints all over it.
But in matters of such magnitude, personal grudges could not outweigh reason. Thus she made her offer.
The Gible she mentioned was the offspring of her own ace, Garchomp. Its potential was undoubtedly top-tier.
"No, no, no… such a price is far from sufficient."
Lucas arched a brow, then shook his head.
Tempting as it was, such a prize was not enough to make him risk facing down two Primeval legends.
Cynthia frowned slightly, knowing her offer was inadequate. Yet beyond that Gible, she had nothing else that could move him.
"N, you should by now understand what your true ideal really is."
Lucas shifted his gaze onto N.
"Yes. And I have you to thank for that."
N was taken aback for a moment, then nodded without hesitation.
After all that he had been through, he had come to clarity about his own existence.
To separate humans and Pokémon into black and white, divided and opposed?
He could hardly believe how naïve and foolish his former self had been.
"You are an extraordinary talent, N. I can assist you, and temporarily restrain Groudon and Kyogre. But… I will require a promise from you."
Lucas's smile was refined, his tone smooth as his eyes lingered on N's handsome face.
"???"
N frowned in puzzlement, uncertain.
But the expressions of everyone else around them shifted drastically in that instant.
"How about this—follow me, from now on."
(End of Chapter)