"NECROO!"
Seeing its attack successfully strike Mega Rayquaza, Dawn Wings Necrozma let out a loud, resonant cry. Its two enormous wings spread wide to their full span as a deep bluish-violet glow gathered at the tips, condensing rapidly into a single massive beam that burst forth with devastating power.
Moongeist Beam!
"Rayquaza, Dragon Ascent!"
Lucas' eyes narrowed slightly. He hadn't expected that Necrozma would know to press its advantage; it seemed this creature wasn't entirely brainless after all.
"ROOAR!"
Mega Rayquaza bellowed. Its vast, dark crimson body twisted through the air with fluid grace as motes of emerald light shimmered and danced along its serpentine form.
While the draconic titan charged up Dragon Ascent, its movement was like a display of aerial artistry, an embodiment of its species' supremacy in the skies.
Its imposing body coiled and wove through the Moongeist Beam in intricate loops, the dazzling light streaking around it but never once managing to land a direct hit.
"The advantage of a serpentine Pokémon… its flexibility is truly astonishing," Lusamine murmured softly as she watched, both in awe and disbelief. Not only had Rayquaza completely avoided Necrozma's attack, it had continued charging energy during the evasive dance.
It wasn't so much dodging the beam as playing with it.
"ROOAAAR!"
The emerald glow around Rayquaza intensified, its eyes glinting with predatory brilliance. Then, with its body taut as a drawn bow, it straightened midair, transforming into a streak of living green lightning that tore toward Necrozma.
Dragon Ascent!
Necrozma gave a low growl, raising its massive claws high. Golden light erupted from its palms.
Photon Geyser!
The golden beam was unleashed with astonishing speed, but it was still slower than the living missile that was Rayquaza.
The legendary dragon's acceleration reached a blinding crescendo. For a brief instant, its form became nothing more than a flash of green that split the darkness apart.
A strike swifter than lightning itself—radiant and violent.
BOOM!
The Photon Geyser had barely left Necrozma's claws when a monstrous force slammed into its body head-on.
A horrifying pain tore through every inch of Necrozma's form, forcing a guttural, agonized roar from its throat. The next moment, it was sent flying backward by an irresistible force.
KRA-KA-THOOM!
Mega Rayquaza, driving Necrozma before it like a comet, smashed straight into a towering, pitch-black structure. The entire building shattered in two under the impact!
The upper half toppled in slow motion, collapsing toward the ground with a deafening crash.
"Dragon Pulse!"
Lucas didn't hesitate—he gave the next command immediately.
Necrozma wasn't the kind of opponent to go down that easily.
Mega Rayquaza pulled back slightly and released a concentrated burst of draconic energy from its maw. The cerulean beam slammed into the embedded Necrozma, detonating with a thunderous explosion.
"Breaking Swipe!"
Rayquaza's colossal tail glowed with dense energy and swung down again in a merciless arc.
"Three consecutive hits… good grief," Green muttered, clicking her tongue in amazement. "That's just the kind of brute-force dominance that makes Rayquaza so terrifying."
Indeed, Dragon Ascent was almost unfairly powerful. Its overwhelming speed and impact left almost no window for defense, unless one could predict it in advance and use Protect, dodging or countering it was nearly impossible.
And once an opponent was struck by Dragon Ascent, the ensuing impact would leave them stunned and disoriented, opening them up to further punishment in rapid succession.
"I wonder if Necrozma can even withstand that much," Marnie said, her sharp eyes fixed on the wreckage. From their vantage point, Rayquaza's bulk obscured the view, leaving them uncertain of Necrozma's current state.
"I doubt it," Green replied. "Mega Rayquaza's strength is on an entirely different level. After mega evolving, it's like it transcended every normal limit."
So far, Green had yet to see any legendary Pokémon that could truly rival it. Perhaps only that proud and powerful ice dragon from Unova, Kyurem could meet it head-on.
Lucas didn't answer. His attention was elsewhere—on Rayquaza, which had just been knocked backward.
Yes—knocked back.
Necrozma, unbelievably, had managed to retaliate. As Rayquaza's tail was descending, a golden pillar of light had erupted straight into its chest, forcing the dragon to retreat mid-strike.
"The durability increase is impressive too," Lucas murmured, resting his chin thoughtfully on one hand as he watched Necrozma rise from the ruins.
"Crooo!"
Necrozma's enraged roar echoed through the dark cityscape, its claws glowing with sinister violet light as it lunged forward once more.
"But still this reckless…" Lucas sighed, shaking his head. "It's strong, but it fights like a brute."
Even after taking such a beating, it still chose to charge in head-on. Its movements were slower now, its form clearly burdened by injuries.
"Breaking Swipe!"
Rayquaza's long tail slammed down from above. The counter came too fast for Necrozma to react—the blow connected squarely atop its head and sent it crashing into the street below.
"Follow it up with Earthquake!"
Rayquaza dove after it, its massive tail striking the ground again.
The entire city trembled violently. A pulse of invisible shockwaves rippled outward, shattering what little structure remained intact.
Necrozma's pained, distorted cry rang out.
And under that shattering earth, something remarkable happened—black crystals began falling off Lunala's body.
Yes, Necrozma's Dawn Wings form was forcibly undone!
The dark crystals disintegrated upon hitting the ground, reassembling moments later into Necrozma's normal form. The weakened creature lay sprawled on the cracked pavement, the only sign of life being the faint, flickering glow in the colorful crystal embedded in its head.
It was clearly in critical condition.
And beside it… lay Lunala.
The majestic bat Pokémon looked even worse—its breaths were so faint it was as though the next one might never come.
Its gemstone eyes, however, had regained consciousness.
"Looks like they've both calmed down… though…"
Descending gracefully atop his white dragon, Lucas dismounted from Reshiram and surveyed the two legendary Pokémon before him. Both were so injured they could barely move.
"Lucas… Lunala doesn't look right."
Marnie's soft voice carried a note of worry. No matter how one looked at it, the Moone Pokémon seemed on the verge of death—its body intact, yet its life force almost extinguished.
"Gardevoir, heal it."
Lucas's expression shifted slightly as he released another Poké Ball. He had nearly forgotten Lunala had been drained of a tremendous amount of its Ultra energy and light by Necrozma, and it had already been heavily injured before that.
No wonder the legendary Moone Pokémon looked one breath away from the afterlife.
With a flash, Gardevoir appeared and instantly teleported to Lunala's side.
Heal Pulse. Life Dew. Heal Pulse. Life Dew.
Alternating waves of restorative energy flowed from her hands, bathing Lunala in gentle light again and again until, finally, its fading aura stabilized.
At least now, it didn't look like it would die the next second.
"…Thank you… human…"
Lunala's voice, faint but audible, resonated telepathically. For a moment, it had truly seen Solgaleo's smiling face amid a field of white light—it had almost ascended right then and there.
Once, it had been gravely wounded by Reshiram before them. Then, Necrozma had drained away what little remained of its energy. And finally, it had been forced into a fusion, made to fight against Rayquaza while in a state of near death.
That so-called "Dawn Wings" form had consumed its own life force.
Necrozma had practically been fighting with Lunala's life as fuel.
And even after all that… it had lost. Beaten half to death on top of it.
If not for its legendary constitution, Lunala would already be nothing but a fading memory.
Thinking of this, fury welled within it.
It turned its head weakly toward Necrozma, lying nearby, just as broken. That wretched creature!
Dark-purple energy began to flicker faintly at the tip of its wing—just a small sphere, the size of a fingertip.
Fwoosh—
The tiny Shadow Ball floated forward and gently hit Necrozma… before promptly disintegrating into nothing.
Necrozma: "…"
Lucas: "…"
Green and Marnie: "…"
Lunala blinked, refusing to give up, and tried again to gather energy.
"Voirr!!"
Gardevoir quickly rushed over, waving her hands in protest. "No! Patients need rest! Move again and you'll keel over yourself!"
Lunala fell silent, clearly sulking.
"You two should behave. You're both too beat up to be this lively."
Lucas chuckled. The legendary moon bat really could hold a grudge.
"Human, you must seal it away," Lunala insisted weakly, its telepathic voice trembling. "You saw it just now—it's beyond reason, beyond control."
Indeed, no matter how one looked at it, being forcibly fused would leave anyone resentful.
And as if understanding Lunala's accusation, the colored crystal on Necrozma's head flickered again faintly.
That insolent bat…
"Necrozma is here because I released it. You're asking me to seal it again—do you think that's possible?" Lucas raised an eyebrow, his voice calm but teasing.
"Ah… that…"
Lunala faltered. From his tone, it sounded like this human was still interested in Necrozma.
"But, human—it cannot be captured! It's completely lost its reason!"
Lunala's telepathy was full of frustration. Now it understood why this man had been so confident earlier—his power was indeed extraordinary. But to attempt capturing Necrozma? That was madness.
"It's hopeless," Lunala warned. "Even if you manage to capture it, it will never obey you."
Lucas simply smiled. "I believe every Pokémon can be reasoned with. You are the most miraculous beings in this world."
Even the so-called most powerful and evil Pokémon, Eternatus, could be communicated with. So why not Necrozma?
The problem, of course, was that Necrozma's current condition was… unusual. Deprived of light, it had fallen into a perpetual frenzy.
And now, as it sensed Lucas's gaze, the colored core on its head flickered again, slightly brighter than before.
Its consciousness, though faint, was returning—perhaps due to the brutal beating it had just endured.
"I can help you recover. Will you speak with me properly?"
Lucas tilted his head, tone soft but steady, testing the response.
Lunala's eyes widened in alarm. If this human really managed to form a pact with Necrozma…
Then she was doomed!
A partnership between those two would mean her end for sure—because the fastest way for Necrozma to recover light… was to drain hers.
"Ne… croo…"
Necrozma's low, guttural voice resonated faintly.
"It's asking if you're telling the truth," Reshiram translated, its telepathic tone calm.
"Of course," Lucas said with a smile. "I have no reason to deceive you. I can help you regain your light—but you'll have to stay by my side."
His gaze shifted briefly toward Lunala. After all, wasn't there a perfect source of light standing right there?
(End of Chapter)