Ordinary Rayquaza were green in color, but the Rayquaza that had suddenly appeared now was unlike any other—it possessed a dragon's body that gleamed with an otherworldly black hue!
Its figure stretched over ten meters long, the elongated body accentuated by protruding wing-like fins along its sides that glowed with a faint crimson shimmer. From the edges of its jaws extended two long, golden ripples of light that trailed magnificently in the air.
Majestic. Overbearing. Awe-inspiring.
A Shiny Rayquaza!
"My goodness! A legendary like this… and it even has a shiny variant?"
Green's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the black Rayquaza descending from the heavens. Shock gripped her so tightly that for a moment, she couldn't even form words.
This wasn't just any Pokémon—it was a true legendary Pokémon!
The sovereign of the skies spoken of in the myths of Hoenn, the one said to guard the ozone layer, revered as the Dragon of the Sky—Rayquaza itself!
And yet here, before their very eyes, stood a Shiny one?
"This… this is beyond imagination. A Shiny legendary… this must be the first one to appear in countless years, perhaps even the first in history," Steven muttered, his own gaze fixated on the magnificent black Rayquaza, unable to mask his astonishment.
Shiny Pokémon, in truth, were properly called alternate-colored Pokémon.
The main distinction between these and normal Pokémon lay in the difference in their physical coloring. Just as humans had individual variations, so too did Pokémon.
In every species, there existed rare individuals whose genes mutated in such a way that their outer appearance shifted drastically in color.
That was the true origin of Shiny Pokémon.
However, even among ordinary Pokémon, the chance of such a phenomenon occurring was pathetically low. And because of their unusual, striking appearances, these Shiny individuals were always special.
In terms of raw power, Shiny Pokémon generally showed little to no difference compared to their normal counterparts. In fact, in the original second-generation games where Shiny Pokémon were first introduced, their stats were sometimes even slightly weaker.
But this world was different. Here, some Shiny Pokémon were weak, while others were incredibly powerful.
And regardless of their actual strength, every single Shiny Pokémon carried an astronomical price tag. Their rarity alone made them priceless to collectors and nobles, the most coveted treasures imaginable.
But now, before them, an alternate-colored legendary had truly appeared!
And not just any legendary—but a Shiny Rayquaza!
"The Rayquaza lineage is already incredibly unique… they're among the very few legendaries that even possess a tribe at all. But to think… to think there would even be such an outlier among them," Zekrom's dragon eyes flickered, staring with uncertainty at the black Mega Rayquaza. Its slender, domineering form, those golden ripples of light flowing across its obsidian body—it was almost unbearably dazzling.
The black dragon felt like he had just bitten into a lemon. Damn it. We're both black dragons, but why the hell do you get to look this damn handsome?
"The world truly favors the Rayquaza lineage, doesn't it…" Zekrom muttered in envy. And wasn't that the truth?
The Rayquaza clan were born overwhelmingly powerful. With Mega Evolution, they ascended directly into the ranks of top-tier legendaries.
Not only that—their Mega Evolution was unique. Unlike others, a Rayquaza required no Mega Stone. They could Mega Evolve freely, purely through their own power.
And as if that wasn't enough, despite being so powerful, they still existed as an actual clan. And now, even a Shiny Rayquaza had shown itself…
What the hell kind of shady deal did you flying green worms cut with Arceus? This isn't fair at all!
"Black Rayquaza…"
Riding atop Reshiram, Lucas's eyes glimmered with unprecedented heat as he looked at the black Rayquaza.
Truth be told, before the Pokémon XY anime, Rayquaza's popularity had never been especially high—not nearly at the level it later achieved.
But Rayquaza's meteoric rise in fame came from two things.
The first was the Giant Rock arc in XY, where a normal-colored Mega Rayquaza had demonstrated its awe-inspiring majesty as the true sovereign of the skies.
(TN: Not sure about the Arc.)
That breathtaking moment—Dragon Ascent—where it struck down both Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre, forcing them out of their Primal Reversion states in a single blow, was etched into history.
That Rayquaza had been so overwhelmingly powerful, it was almost ghost-like.
With one move, it had all but obliterated Groudon and Kyogre.
True, the two had already damaged one another beforehand, and Mega Rayquaza had weakened them further with Draco Meteor. But even so, Dragon Ascent had been far too stunning, a move that left the entire world reeling.
The second moment was the Hoopa movie, when the punished Hoopa had summoned forth a black Rayquaza.
After Mega Evolving, that black Rayquaza had fought against six top-tier legendaries all at once—Primal Groudon, Primal Kyogre, Kyurem, and even the Sinnoh Creation Trio.
It held its own and bought Ash and his allies the precious time they needed to restore and reseal the Prison Bottle.
It was precisely these two events that solidified Rayquaza's status as the undisputed Sovereign of the Sky, skyrocketing its popularity and creating an army of devoted Rayquaza fans.
And rightfully so. Its terrifying displays of power were unmatched. Up until now, with the exception of the broken being that was Hoopa Unbound, Rayquaza's feats were the most spectacular of any legendary.
"To think this world truly has a black Rayquaza…"
Lucas licked his lips, his mouth curling uncontrollably into a grin. For someone who loved dragons, the allure of a Shiny Rayquaza was simply irresistible.
So irresistible it defied imagination.
The sheer strength of the Sky Dragon was already mesmerizing, but to see it in such a magnificent black form? It was breathtaking.
Yet earning the recognition of a Rayquaza was no easy matter—let alone one as extraordinary as this black variant.
That would take time.
And now, with the arrival of two Mega Rayquaza, the situation on the battlefield had finally shifted entirely.
The Sword Hero Zacian had halted its movements, its body retreating slightly, cold eyes sweeping indifferently across the two dragons.
Now that the true sovereigns had appeared, it no longer had to intervene.
Primal Kyogre and Primal Groudon, however, were not so calm. They glared warily at the Rayquaza pair, their uneasy, violent growls echoing across the skies.
"Those two—the flightless lizard and the fat-headed fish—their mental state must be in shambles by now."
Lucas cast a pitying glance toward Groudon and Kyogre.
They had only just broken free, ready to cause chaos and even teach the immature young Rayquaza a lesson. But instead…
The kid had simply called in his two elders.
"Father…"
The younger Rayquaza flew behind the larger Mega Rayquaza, lowering its head and calling softly.
"Why didn't you notify us? Did you really think they were something you could handle?"
The mighty dragon's eyes swept over its child, its deep voice ringing directly in their minds with a scolding rebuke.
The moment it received the little one's message, it had rushed over from Kalos without hesitation.
Because it knew all too well—Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre were not opponents a young Rayquaza could ever hope to deal with.
And yet the first thing it saw upon arriving was Groudon holding its son by the tail like a jump rope.
Good grief, I nearly lost my temper on the spot.
"If only I had Mega Evolved—"
"Is not being able to Mega Evolve your excuse? You've lived several thousand years already, and you still haven't even learned Dragon Ascent! Do you even realize what kind of dragon you look like right now?!"
Mega Rayquaza cut its child off coldly, its fierce dragon eyes glaring so harshly that the younger Rayquaza trembled, head lowered, not daring to look up.
It was the very picture of a cowed chick.
There was no helping it. Its father truly was furious this time.
Never in the history of the Rayquaza clan had they ever been so humiliated. Not only had the little one failed to suppress Groudon and Kyogre, it had nearly been beaten half to death by them.
"Brother, let's just force them back first."
The black Rayquaza drifted closer, its sinuous form rising above them both. It spoke to the elder Mega Rayquaza, indirectly giving the little one some breathing space.
Yes, the young one had been shameful, but the dignity of the Rayquaza lineage could not be trampled.
And Groudon and Kyogre couldn't be allowed to remain free any longer.
They had been out for some time already, and their instincts had gone unchecked. The powers of Primordial Sea and Desolate Land were wreaking havoc across the ocean and the land.
"I'll deal with Groudon."
Mega Rayquaza's eyes turned toward Primal Groudon, a cold gleam flashing within them. This was the one who dared to bully my son.
"Heh~ then I'll take the fat fish."
The black Rayquaza's gaze shifted toward Primal Kyogre, its dragon eyes glinting with savage delight.
It had been drifting through outer space for so long—it had been ages since it last had a real fight.
"ROOOAAAR!"
"WOOOOOH!"
Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre had clearly sensed the killing intent directed their way. But to retreat quietly back into their caves and sleep once more? That was something they would never accept.
Instead, both bellowed furiously at the Rayquaza pair, their voices shaking the air.
Afraid?
No such thing! Even if they faced Rayquaza, the flightless lizard and the fat-headed fish would never bow!
"Disobedient."
Mega Rayquaza's gaze grew colder still. Its long body gleamed with emerald light, then in an instant it shot downward in a blinding dive straight at Primal Groudon.
"ROOOOAR!"
Meanwhile, the black Rayquaza reared its body high, its roar booming like thunder. A brilliant Draco Meteor surged upward, then exploded spectacularly in the sky.
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM!
Dozens of dragon meteors cascaded down from the heavens, each like a blazing meteorite, crashing mercilessly toward the earth.
Primal Groudon slammed its claws into the ground, magma erupting in jagged fissures.
Precipice Blades!
Blades of molten earth surged upward in front of Mega Rayquaza. But the sky dragon's unrivaled flight skills shone brilliantly—it twisted, swerved, and weaved through the attacks effortlessly.
The emerald glow around its body grew brighter and brighter, condensed to its peak.
Dragon Ascent!
Its entire body became a streak of green light, accelerating in an instant.
BOOOOM!
Dragon Ascent pierced directly through Primal Groudon's body. A roar of agony split the skies as the titan erupted in searing pain.
And it wasn't over.
With a mighty swing, Mega Rayquaza's long tail ripped the air itself apart, crashing down mercilessly onto Groudon's back.
CRAAAAACK!
The ground itself split open from the impact. Unable to withstand the force, Primal Groudon collapsed, crashing heavily into the earth.
On the other side, the scene was nearly identical.
The black Rayquaza had soared above Primal Kyogre, then dove like a thunderbolt. Its Dragon Ascent slammed down, forcing Kyogre backward, the sheer force carving a vacuum in the sea itself.
At the same time, more Draco Meteors rained down, battering both Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre relentlessly.
Unlike the earlier attempt by the young Rayquaza, which had been little more than scratching an itch, the black Rayquaza's meteors struck hard, inflicting real damage on the fat-headed fish.
"Tsk tsk… it's literally beating Groudon and Kyogre into the ground. Rayquaza, why the hell is the gap between you and them so wide?"
Lucas couldn't help but click his tongue at the brutal spectacle before him.
True, some of it was because Groudon and Kyogre had already been battling for too long and weren't at full strength.
But there was no denying that even at their peaks, in a two-on-two battle, the lizard and the fish would likely still be beaten down by the Rayquaza brothers.
The combat prowess of the Rayquaza clan was simply superior at the same level.
"My father and uncle… they're so old they don't even remember their own age anymore! I'm still young!"
The young Rayquaza bristled, refusing to accept the humiliation, trying stubbornly to find an excuse.
Yes! It was still young! How could anyone expect it to compare to those two ancient monsters?
"So what you're saying is… you're not even an adult yet?"
Lucas raised his brows, eyes flickering with curiosity as he looked at the dragon.
And it did make sense. After all, it hadn't even learned Dragon Ascent yet. Its level must not actually be very high.
Rayquaza froze, its dragon eyes flashing awkwardly as it turned its head away.
The truth was—it was already an adult.
But top-tier legendaries were a race beloved by the heavens. In terms of both lifespan and growth potential, they stood at the very peak of all living things.
For them, even breathing slowly made them stronger.
That was the innate advantage of their bloodline.
But precisely because they had no natural predators, such legendaries often passed endless years simply by sleeping.
And this young Rayquaza, well… it was lazy. So lazy that even after thousands of years, it hadn't learned Dragon Ascent.
Lucas understood immediately, a teasing remark ready on his lips—when suddenly, a great shadow fell over them.
"Young Greeny has been an adult for five hundred years already."
The deep voice of psychic communication cut into their conversation.
Lucas looked up. The black Rayquaza was studying him curiously, dragon eyes sharp.
"How interesting. A mere human, yet your body radiates such dense draconic aura. Just now—you fought alongside Young Greeny, didn't you?"
"Otherwise, with that little one's strength, it could never have lasted this long."
The black Rayquaza's long tail swayed lazily, its massive head leaning closer and closer to Lucas.
So close, in fact, that Lucas could feel the scorching heat of its breath washing over him.
(End of Chapter)