"Groudon and Kyogre are far too dangerous. We cannot allow them to keep wantonly expanding their own territories unchecked."
"Zacian, I believe you are able to understand this, aren't you?"
Lucas spoke sincerely to Zacian—his expression sincere, his eyes sincere, and his tone sincere.
Anyone who did not know the truth might have thought Lucas had suddenly become an entirely different person.
Hearing these words, Zacian's eyes flickered, and it could not help but turn its gaze toward Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre.
Because there were no outsiders interfering at this moment, the two ancient legends had once again resumed their direct duel.
Strangely enough, whenever other Pokémon tried to intervene, "the one that could not fly" and "the fat-headed fish" would tacitly join forces to first eliminate the meddler.
Only once no one else was in their way would they return to tearing at each other with merciless ferocity.
"Even if it is me, I cannot possibly defeat them. My younger brother is not here," Zacian replied after a long silence, its cold and aloof telepathy echoing.
Yes—it had been moved by Lucas's persuasion.
Although its personality was calm and severe, Zacian was, in truth, a noble and kind-hearted legend with a sense of duty.
If Groudon and Kyogre were allowed to act without restraint, their threat, strictly speaking, would be no less than that of Eternatus.
And now that even Rayquaza had been beaten down by them, Zacian naturally could not stand by and do nothing.
If it truly waited until other legends arrived to stop them, it was likely that all life in Hoenn would already have suffered calamity.
But with Zamazenta absent, if Zacian alone were to challenge both Primal Kyogre and Primal Groudon, would that not simply be seeking its own doom?
"You do not need to defeat them—only delay them will be enough. Reinforcements are already on the way."
Lucas's lips curved slightly as he spoke.
He never expected Zacian's participation alone would be enough to overthrow Primal Groudon and Kyogre. After all, according to what Rayquaza had said, its two elders were already rushing toward this place.
"Then I shall take on Kyogre."
Zacian clenched the rusted sword within its fur between its jaws. In a flash of brilliance, its whole body shone with radiant light, transforming into the cold and majestic form of the Crowned Sword.
The Crowned Sword form carried the dual typing of Fairy and Steel—an attribute combination that left it restrained by Groudon.
Although its agility was more than sufficient to face Groudon, compared to that massive beast, Zacian much preferred to battle Primal Kyogre.
The reason? It simply did not enjoy fighting those thick-skinned, rough-bodied types.
"Many thanks, Zacian." Lucas smiled warmly and offered his gratitude to the Sword King.
"I am not helping you, nor Eternatus. I am helping the lives upon this land."
Zacian turned its head aside as it left behind those cool words, and then its figure became a streak of blue light, shooting directly toward Primal Kyogre.
"What a truly tsundere fellow."
Hearing this, Lucas's smile deepened.
The more he interacted with Zacian, the more he discovered that in truth it was an extremely reliable legendary Pokémon.
Only at the very beginning, because of its ingrained hostility toward Eternatus, had it placed itself firmly on the side of an enemy.
But now…
Well, now this tsundere wolf was turning out to be surprisingly fragrant.
"Lucas, what Pokémon is that?"
Seeing the Crowned Sword Zacian charge ahead, Zinnia asked in puzzlement, her eyes resting upon Lucas.
She did not recognize Zacian, but judging from its presence, it seemed to be extraordinarily powerful.
"That is Zacian, the Sword Hero—one of the two heroes from the legends of the Galar region. It is no weaker than Groudon or Kyogre."
Lucas briefly introduced this heroic figure from legend.
"Rayquaza, are you still able to fight?"
Then Lucas raised his head to look toward Rayquaza, smiling as he asked.
With Zacian carrying the burden of one of the ancient legends, the pressure was now considerably reduced.
"Of course! Human, do not underestimate the pride of the Rayquaza!"
Rayquaza responded with haughty telepathy. If nothing else, its endurance was top-tier!
Although it had just been badly beaten when Groudon seized its tail, after some time to breathe—and with Zinnia having sprayed it down with healing potion.
Its condition had already recovered at least somewhat.
"Then let's go hold Primal Groudon at bay."
Lucas shifted his gaze toward the massive Groudon. Compared to Kyogre, in fact, since the very start of their clash, Groudon had barely moved from its position.
Because throughout its duel with Kyogre, it had always been Kyogre that took the initiative to close the distance.
"ROOAAARRR~!"
Rayquaza let out an impatient dragon cry, soaring high before charging toward Groudon.
"Good grief, so it really is just a hard-headed child…"
Lucas blinked. It was one thing to charge, but did it have to be so brainless about it?
This Rayquaza clearly had a problem in the head.
"Let's go."
Shaking his head, Lucas patted Reshiram beneath him.
At the same moment, Zacian's Sword of Ruin glowed with blue brilliance, becoming a gigantic shining blade.
"Wuu~"
Primal Kyogre also noticed the unwelcome intruder, gathering cerulean light in its mouth before firing a colossal Hydro Pump.
Zacian did not flinch. The massive sword cleaved downward directly into the watery torrent.
Behemoth Blade!
The razor-sharp strike clashed against the surging water, and in moments Zacian had split the attack apart, rapidly closing in on Kyogre.
BOOM!
An explosion of golden energy waves erupted, engulfing Kyogre's body and sending it tumbling backward with a pained cry.
But Kyogre was not so easily overthrown. Its immense tail glowed with watery light, striking Zacian directly before it could recover.
Aquatail!
The blow landed squarely, forcing Zacian back a distance, its eyes growing colder.
Waves roared endlessly, and in the next instant, a colossal wall of water rose toward the sky.
Zacian immediately withdrew, cautious—after all, the sea was Kyogre's home turf.
From within the veil of water, a vast shadow loomed, and suddenly a violent blizzard surged outward to engulf Zacian.
But the Sword Hero's blade gleamed once again, slicing down heavily.
Sacred Sword!
The howling storm was split apart by a gaping wound. For Zacian, the best defense was always offense!
Its limbs moved swiftly, charging straight at Kyogre.
Meanwhile—
"Dragon Tail!" Lucas commanded sharply.
Eternatus soared above Groudon, its long tail whipping down with fierce force.
Rayquaza, at its flank, struck with its own Dragon Tail simultaneously.
"ROOAAAR!"
Groudon bellowed viciously, its claws blazing white.
Hammer Arm!
BOOM!
A violent shockwave blasted outward. Under the double impact, even the ground beneath Groudon cracked and shattered.
"Dragon Pulse!"
"Techno Blast!"
Reshiram's blazing dragon energy and the Shiny Genesect's beam of cutting-edge technology both struck Groudon in succession.
Direct hit!
Groudon roared in fury, gathering brilliant white energy in its maw.
Solar Beam!
The massive beam swept out. Eternatus and Rayquaza retreated rapidly, but not quickly enough—
The blazing energy engulfed them both in a deafening explosion.
"What a terrifying physique."
Lucas narrowed his eyes. He was not too worried for Eternatus—being Dragon/Poison, it resisted Grass quadruple-fold.
Even a full-powered Solar Beam dealt little true harm.
As for Rayquaza…
If it collapsed, it hardly mattered. But in truth, one Solar Beam was not enough to bring it down.
"ROOAAR!"
Having momentarily repelled its enemies, Groudon's body flared with red light as it slammed its arms into the ground.
Precipice Blades!
One after another, blades of molten magma erupted from the ground, lashing out toward Genesect.
But the insect was far too nimble, weaving between the rising spikes and then swiftly ascending skyward.
Yes—as long as it flew high enough, Groudon's blades could not reach it!
Groudon roared furiously, raising its claws again to strike—but at that moment, a colossal scarlet beam seared through the air.
Eternatus's Dynamax Cannon!
"ROAAR!"
Groudon whipped its claws down, dragging up dust and earth to form a barrier in front of itself.
Earth Power!
"Though its strength is overwhelming, its weaknesses are equally glaring. This is enough for us to handle."
Lucas chuckled lightly. Groudon's power was undeniable, but its size and inability to fly left it fatally limited.
When faced with group assaults, it could only defend clumsily in place.
To stall it until time passed would not be difficult.
"It looks like the situation is stabilizing."
On the island, N exhaled, watching the two battlefields divide into order.
"As expected of Lucas—he has steadied the crisis."
"But for now, it is only stable. To truly quell them, to force them back into slumber, will still be very difficult," Cynthia added with a thoughtful frown.
"Yes, Lucas will manage it," Green said breezily, waving her hand with absolute faith.
She had followed Lucas long enough to know—he never truly failed.
A big lizard and a big whale? Lucas would find a way.
The battles raged on—but suddenly—
Zekrom lifted its head sharply, staring at the skies.
"What is it, Zekrom? Hm? That is.."
N followed its gaze, and his expression froze.
From high above, a streak of green light shot downward, landing upon the sea.
"Rayquaza!" Zekrom's dragon eyes locked upon the light.
Its legendary vision pierced the glow, and it saw clearly—the creature within was indeed a Rayquaza!
Another Rayquaza had appeared!
"At last."
Lucas too noticed, a faint smile touching his lips.
That was a Mega Rayquaza!
"ROOAAR!"
At that moment, Groudon had just seized Rayquaza's tail, ready to once again smash it to the ground.
But sensing something, its savage eyes turned to the side.
"Roooaar! (Father, save me!)"
Rayquaza's eyes lit with joy, its voice ringing out.
Hearing its cry, the green light skimming over the sea accelerated even further.
Groudon hurled Rayquaza away, its whole body blazing red as it hammered the earth.
The ground split apart violently, magma surging upward as countless blades of lava rose and spread forward.
Precipice Blades!
But that emerald shadow cleaving through the waves came nearer and nearer, until in an instant—
A peerlessly dazzling streak of emerald brilliance split the heavens.
Mega Rayquaza's Dragon Ascent!
The emerald flash tore straight through the ranks of magma blades, and through Groudon's massive body itself!
Time seemed to fall utterly still.
When it moved again, Mega Rayquaza stood poised behind Groudon.
Rumble!
The earth shook with endless detonations. Every magma blade shattered at once, and in Groudon's eyes flashed an expression of utter disbelief.
A moment later, searing pain engulfed its body, and the titan collapsed to one knee.
"How terrifyingly strong…"
Lucas's eyes glittered with awe as he beheld the domineering, radiant Mega Rayquaza.
This was what the Dragon of the Sky was meant to be!
Not that pathetic little eel getting tossed around by its tail!
"ROOOOOAAAAR!"
Mega Rayquaza threw back its head, releasing a dragon cry that shook the very heavens.
Its dreadful pressure blanketed the world.
"That is Rayquaza… The gap between them is absurdly vast."
Green stared, shocked but also somewhat bemused.
Both were Rayquaza, yet the difference in majesty between the first and this Mega Rayquaza was like night and day.
"Indeed—the disparity is extreme," Wallace nodded gravely, his eyes never leaving the sky.
It was beyond ridiculous.
"ROOAAAR~!"
From the horizon came yet another resounding dragon's roar.
"No way—another one?" N and Cynthia were both dumbfounded.
Looking up, they saw a magnificent black Rayquaza soaring toward them.
"A… Shiny Rayquaza?"
(End of Chapter)