Rumble rumble—
A violent explosion suddenly erupted from the depths of the forest, accompanied by harsh, ear-piercing shrieks and high-pitched cries that echoed across the sky!
Steven and Korrina's expressions both changed as they looked toward where the commotion originated. Due to the forest canopy blocking their view, they couldn't see clearly, only seeing black mist rising from below to the clouds at terrifying speed.
"What is that?" Steven frowned.
While Johan was also surprised by the sudden disturbance from the forest depths, he was more surprised by the small creature that had suddenly appeared on his shoulder.
Its appearance was somewhat like a green flatworm. If you didn't look carefully, you could even mistake it for a leaf or green bark.
But unlike a flatworm, it had a lively eye on its head, a red diamond-shaped spot on its abdomen that looked like a gem, and a small hook at its tail.
Squishy?
Johan unconsciously thought of this name.
Of course, "Squishy" wasn't its real name, but what Citron's sister Bonnie called it in the anime. Its real name should be—Zygarde!
The Order God, Zygarde!
If word got out that the legendary "Z God" Zygarde of the Kalos region was such a small thing, probably not many people would believe it.
Because Zygarde's form of existence was different from most Pokémon.
As the "Order God," Zygarde guarded the natural order and balance of the Kalos region, so normally, Zygarde's body would split into countless cells hidden throughout the Kalos region to monitor the entire region.
When situations arose, Zygarde would gather scattered cells and assemble them onto cores according to the severity of the situation, manifesting different forms.
Based on the number of assembled cells, the forms could be divided into 10% form, 50% form, and Complete form.
The one currently perched on his shoulder was one of the two cores among Zygarde's many cells!
The vast majority of Zygarde's cells had no self-awareness, only monitoring according to predetermined "programs." Only the two cores possessed independent thinking ability.
[Did you hear me speaking?]
Seeing Johan's lack of response, the Zygarde core tilted its head to look at him.
"Zygarde?" Johan established a telepathic connection with the Zygarde core using aura.
[You do recognize me.]
The Zygarde core wasn't surprised, just lifting its head slightly with some pride.
But it quickly crawled down and urged:
[Yveltal has awakened. Quickly go stop it!]
Johan: "..."
Stop Yveltal?
Me?
Rumble rumble!!
The trembling resumed.
Where the black mist had risen earlier, a pair of crimson eyes appeared faintly visible. At this moment, they were fully revealed—a massive bird black as ink with red stripes, spreading wings that blocked the sun, revealing a completely crimson underside as it screeched harshly!
The Death God, Yveltal!
"That is..." Korrina's eyes were full of shock.
"Yveltal!" Steven said heavily, his expression grave.
Screech—
A long cry rang out.
A bloody dark aura instantly spread, continuously expanding outward from the forest center.
Wherever it passed, all trees, branches, and grass turned to ash, leaving only dried, charred-looking trunks. Some wild Pokémon that couldn't escape in time were petrified by the dark aura's erosion, becoming stone statues.
"So powerful..." Steven frowned.
Just the spreading aura alone could cause such destruction...
More importantly.
All Pokémon touched by the aura were petrified, regardless of their strength. How could such a powerful being be dealt with?
Petrification.
This was much harder to handle than powerful moves or visible attacks.
Being touched meant petrification—you couldn't even make contact. The difficulty naturally skyrocketed.
[Aren't you Arceus's messenger?]
The Zygarde core glanced at the Wheel of Time on Johan's body.
Johan's mouth twitched.
Being Arceus's messenger didn't make him Ultraman who could transform, did it?
However.
He did need to go take a look.
Xerneas had just left. As the "Life God," Xerneas had more obligation than him to intervene after Yveltal's awakening.
With Xerneas present, the danger level would drop significantly.
Moreover.
Wasn't Zygarde here too?
Going against the fleeing wild Pokémon herds, Johan's group headed toward the forest center.
Orrans Forest, center.
Black mist intertwined with bloody crimson, continuously spreading like drawing an ever-expanding crimson circle in the vast forest.
Outside the circle was lush forest full of life; inside was withered earth and deathly silence.
As the circle continued expanding, more and more wild Pokémon were enveloped by the dark aura, petrified into sculptures.
But at the very center of this "hell," the core area covered by the dark aura, in a dim giant pit.
Beside the dark stagnant lake, a massive humanoid statue sat by the water's edge.
He held his head up slightly, holding what appeared to be a petrified root in his hand, his face showing relief and reminiscence, lifelike in detail.
At this moment, above the forest, in an invisible small airship, a father-daughter pair watched the scene before them with horror.
"Wh-what is that thing?"
Master thief Argus Steel gaped.
Just moments ago.
He had watched a pitch-black large cocoon slowly float up from the forest center's pit, thinking it might be some treasure. Who knew such a terrifying large bird would hatch from it.
His daughter Millis Steel had also lost her previous composure, piloting the airship while shouting:
"What else could it be—Yveltal!"
The father-daughter pair's original target was Diancie, but after an attempted approach, they were scared away by Regieleki.
Later they learned that Diancie was actually traveling with Teacher Johan!
As master thieves, they knew Teacher Johan's reputation all too well.
Powerful Pokémon hunter groups like Hunter J and pirate crews had all been captured by him.
Though they were master thieves rather than true Pokémon hunters, they... still counted as half, so naturally they didn't dare provoke Teacher Johan.
But Diancie was still their target.
So Argus's daughter Millis decided to wait until Diancie left Teacher Johan before making their move!
After all, they originally planned to wait until Diancie fully mastered her power and could condense real diamonds before acting. They might as well wait and see.
Besides, Teacher Johan hadn't used a Poké Ball to capture Diancie, so there was a high probability he hadn't captured her.
Since there was no capture, they would eventually separate.
They'd just wait until after the separation to act.
However.
The pair never expected that whether Diancie had mastered her power was unknown, but the sudden appearance of Yveltal completely disrupted their plans.
More importantly...
The Yveltal currently rampaging above the forest had set its sights on them!
Though their airship could turn invisible, when flying at high speed, the air currents it created couldn't escape Yveltal's detection.
Screech—!!
A clear, sharp cry.
Yveltal suddenly spread its wings, revealing the black "Y" pattern within the crimson of its abdomen. As its power activated, the "Y" burst with terrifying crimson, forming a beam of light shooting directly at their airship.
Couldn't dodge!
Making an instant decision.
"Jump!" Millis slammed the airship's control button. As the hatch opened, both jumped out simultaneously.
After they jumped, the crimson beam swept across the airship, instantly petrifying this airship that had cost who knows how much money to build. It finally crashed to the ground, splashing up large amounts of dirt.
The father-daughter pair who jumped from the airship relied on their Aegislash and Doublade's flying ability.
However, when the two frantically fled downward, they happened to encounter... the approaching Johan's group.
At the boundary between forest death and life, the hazy dark aura had thinned considerably due to expanded coverage but still existed.
The thinned aura wasn't as terrifying as before. As long as you were fast enough to avoid being entangled by the aura's energy, you wouldn't be instantly petrified.
This was best proven by the wild Pokémon running past them and breaking through the life-death boundary.
Of course, the closer to the forest center, the stronger the dark aura would be.
"Avoid this black-red mist." Steven warned.
"Ka-kaah?"
Compared to everyone's grave expressions, Gengar following beside Johan had somehow put on its Wise Glasses, sticking out its tongue with curiosity as it observed the black-red aura and spreading atmosphere.
Dark aura...
Just hearing it sounded like it matched its identity.
Moreover...
Black mist emanated from Gengar's body, centering on itself.
When its black mist contacted the outermost edge of the dark aura, instead of major collision, they directly merged together.
Seeing this, Gengar's eyes immediately lit up.
There was potential here!
It had done similar "things" before—ghost energy covering the entire field. It was like a field-type move but not quite, more like weather but that didn't fit either. Johan had jokingly called it "dark water" or something.
Now it seemed...
Wasn't that totally a "Ghost Aura"?
As the Pokémon world's "Gengar Kakashi," the "copy Pokémon," Gengar had already "copied" many moves, like Darkrai's Dark Void, Marshadow's Spectral Thief, Mewtwo's Psychic, and now Yveltal's Dark Aura...
Shouldn't be too difficult, right?
While Gengar was tinkering with the Dark Aura, Johan's group resolutely charged into the decayed, withered forest, already able to clearly see Yveltal's form from a distance.
While carefully approaching, Johan wasn't idle, communicating with the Zygarde core.
"Can't you handle it yourself?"
The core was right here. Even if it was just one core that could at most manifest 50% form, if combined with Xerneas, restraining Yveltal shouldn't be a problem, right?
[I... I have some problems with my condition.]
The Zygarde core said stiffly.
Some problems?
Had Lysandre already captured the other core?
In the original story, Lysandre captured one of Zygarde's cores and controlled it, ultimately causing massive destruction.
Seeing Johan's confusion, the Zygarde core thought for a moment before explaining.
[My partner doesn't trust humans.]
Zygarde's two cores—one was the current "Squishy," which was relatively willing to trust humans, while the other core... believed humans were destroyers of order and should be avoided.
One trusted humans, one didn't—this was probably the "balance" of the Order God.
Johan frowned: "But what does trusting or not trusting humans have to do with this?"
The opponent was Yveltal, the deity of destruction and death. The affected wouldn't be just humans.
[It also places more emphasis on balance, complete balance and order.]
Since it had spoken up, the Zygarde core had nothing left to hide.
[The Life God has been awakened too long, with life energy too abundant. My partner believes it's time for the Death God to take away some of the overly abundant life energy.]
Johan understood Zygarde's meaning.
Life and death corresponded.
Xerneas brought abundant life energy—forests rapidly growing and expanding, Pokémon quickly reproducing and developing.
When life reached a certain abundance, there was too much life on the scales of life and death.
To achieve balance on the scales, the Death God needed to step in.
So Yveltal's awakening was inevitable, and it would fulfill its "duty."
Simply put.
The "Squishy" on Johan was a more emotionally sensitive existence, while the other Zygarde core was more rational—rational to the point of being like a machine executing predetermined programs, working to maintain balance.
Xerneas had awakened much earlier than Yveltal—this was why Zygarde's other core wouldn't act.
[I have been observing you for some time.]
Observing?
When?
The Zygarde core continued:
[You carry not only Arceus's aura but also bonds with numerous legendary Pokémon. I believe you have the ability to resolve this incident!]
Its tone showed more confidence in Johan than Johan had in himself.
But the problem was...
If Zygarde's other core wouldn't come, couldn't it still gather 50% form for battle?
Johan didn't ask this question.
Because he could already sense that if the Zygarde core could deploy fifty percent of its power, it would have already done so.
Most likely it couldn't, or wasn't allowed.
Was it due to "predetermined programming" set by Complete Zygarde?
Or was it... the "order" that must be followed as the "Order God"?
If Lysandre also captured Zygarde's other core in the future and could successfully control and drive it to destroy part of life, was it also related to the current excessive abundance of life energy?
Various thoughts flashed through his mind.
Boom!!
A roar came from above as a crimson beam swept out an airship, directly petrifying it.
Then two figures fell from the sky.
Master thieves Argus and Millis, father and daughter?
Seeing their attire, Johan remembered their identities, but at this time... they obviously weren't here for Diancie but to escape.
Screech—!!
A piercing cry split the air.
Yveltal would absolutely not allow any life to exist within its dark aura.
The massive blood-colored wings flapped again, crimson beams sweeping over.
"Watch out, Oblivion Wing!"
Johan shouted loudly.
However.
This time Yveltal's Oblivion Wing was clearly not mainly targeting them, but the escaping Argus and his daughter.
"Aegislash, King's Shield!"
Clang!!
Aegislash maintained shield form, using its incredibly hard shield to resist the Oblivion Wing beam's sweep.
However.
As an "invincible" move with similar effects to Protect that could resist all attacks, King's Shield had almost no effect against Oblivion Wing.
Crack crack crack—
Petrification rapidly spread from the shield's center as Aegislash turned to stone.
"Aegislash!"
Seeing this, Argus and Millis were shocked.
But Yveltal's Oblivion Wing didn't end there. As it flew and moved, the crimson beam passed over the petrified shield. Doublade, Honedge—Argus's Pokémon were successively petrified.
Bang!!
Argus forcefully pushed his daughter Millis away, sending her tumbling away from the beam's center, then turned to stone himself while watching her with worry.
"Dad!!" Millis, who had fallen to the ground, ignored her pain as tears instantly burst forth.
But it was too late.
All that remained for her was Argus's stone statue, still looking at her with worry.
"Look out!"
Korrina didn't know Argus and Millis's identities. Seeing Yveltal attacking again, she quickly moved to help the girl Millis, with Lucario close beside her.
"Metagross! Aggron!"
Steven threw two Poké Balls, his expression extremely grave.
The previous scene had happened too quickly, but he'd seen it all.
Even Aegislash's King's Shield couldn't resist Yveltal's Oblivion Wing—Protect would probably have the same result.
Contact meant petrification, regardless of state or ability!
This was the most troublesome attack he'd ever seen.
"Yveltal's Oblivion Wing absorbs life force to supplement itself. Don't make contact—use energy to block it." Johan had watched the father-daughter petrification scene and secretly sighed.
Still too soft-hearted.
"Gengar, Dark Void!"
"Ka-kaah!"
Swoosh—
A black shadow swept past from Johan's side, quickly appearing in front of Korrina and Millis. With arms spread and a grinning smile, a massive black hole instantly formed.
Boom!!!
The crimson beam disappeared without a trace the moment it contacted the black hole, as if swallowed.
Seeing this scene, Korrina immediately showed delight and shouted:
"Gengar's amazing!"
Steven was also somewhat surprised.
He hadn't expected that the petrifying Oblivion Wing from Yveltal could be blocked!
Johan and Gengar demonstrated to everyone what it meant to block with energy rather than body.
At the same time.
In the Distortion World, Giratina, who was holding a teacup and watching the show, tilted its head slightly. As a gap opened, thick death aura poured in, petrifying everything on the already devastated island.
Death?
Tch~
Giratina calmly turned back to continue watching shows, carefully sipping its tea.
Calm down.
It was already used to this.
But while Giratina was calm, Yveltal, who had fired the Oblivion Wing beam, wasn't so calm.
Its crimson eyes swept over and fell on Gengar.
Screech—!!
Wings flapped with a long cry.
Massive dark aura surged wildly from its body, as if even the air was about to be petrified.
"Ka-kaah~"
Gengar grinned with hands on its hips.
Death God, just this?
"Don't get careless. Yveltal just awakened. That attack... probably didn't even have thirty percent of its full power." Johan immediately warned.
When true death power descended, even black holes would be petrified under Oblivion Wing!
"Ka-kaah?"
Thirty percent?
Gengar looked down and counted on its fingers—one times three equals three, two times three equals six, three times three equals fifteen, four times three equals twelve...
It shook its head vigorously.
Forget counting.
Anyway, it was very powerful!
"Teacher."
Steven halted atop his shiny Metagross, bringing his massive Aggron to Johan's side.
"Try to dodge as much as possible. If you really can't dodge, use life or death-side energy to counter." Johan said seriously.
Life and death-side?
This was quite difficult for Steven.
"We're not the main force against Yveltal—we're just buying time while it's newly awakened and weak, waiting for Xerneas to arrive."
Without Zygarde, only Xerneas could counter Yveltal.
But the problem was...
Where did that deer go?
They'd just been together. With Yveltal making such a commotion, it should have arrived by now, right?
"What... what should I do?" Diancie's eyes flickered as it clasped its hands to its chest, its voice trembling uncontrollably.
It didn't know what it could do or what it should do.
Earlier it had been immersed in the pain of being unable to save its kingdom and people. Now it had to face Yveltal.
Diancie, with no battle experience, was extremely panicked inside.
If not for Johan and the so-called "responsibility," it might have already run away.
"Run." Johan said flatly.
"Run... run?"
Diancie's face paled, hope appearing in its eyes, but its pride as a princess restrained the impulse to turn and flee.
"Johan..." Korrina wanted to speak.
Wasn't this a bit too hurtful, too damaging to self-esteem?
Even for her, Teacher Johan hadn't said to run...
But just as she was about to speak, Steven stopped her with his gaze.
Steven shook his head slightly.
Only one meaning.
Trust the teacher.
Indeed, just as Diancie was staggering and about to fall to the ground, Johan reached out to support it, his tone and expression gradually becoming gentle.
"If you can't do it..."
"Then believe in yourself."
"Believe in myself?" Diancie looked completely confused.
"Yes." Johan gently brushed away the dust that had settled on Diancie's pink diamonds, looking directly into its pink crystalline eyes with a magnetic voice:
"Believe in yourself. You are..."
"The Mythical Pokémon, Diancie!"
No need to be the Diamond Kingdom's princess, temporarily set aside the duty of saving the country and people, set aside the responsibility of fighting Yveltal, return to yourself, as a pure Pokémon—Diancie!
"I am... Diancie!"
Diancie's eyes burst with radiance.
Right.
I am Diancie, I am... a Mythical Pokémon!
Behold.
Diancie extended both hands, its gaze serious and determined. Facing Yveltal, which had gathered its dark aura and partially recovered its condition, facing the terrifying Oblivion Wing shooting toward them, brilliant light burst from its body.
A massive pink diamond instantly formed. When the Oblivion Wing beam struck it, it erupted with tremendous rumbling sounds.
Crack—
The enormous pink diamond shattered with a crash, and the Oblivion Wing beam dissipated as well. But Diancie showed no sign of discouragement.
I am Diancie, I am a Mythical Pokémon. I don't necessarily have to condense "Eternal Crystal"—as long as I can block Yveltal, that's success!
"Diancie's amazing." Korrina murmured.
She hadn't expected the usually gentle Diamond Kingdom Princess Diancie to possess such power.
"This is life-side power." Johan briefly explained to Steven.
Steven smiled helplessly.
Teacher, I can't do that.
"Ready?" Johan's expression became serious.
Steven also put away his helplessness and nodded firmly.
Every time he was with the teacher, he always faced this or that legendary power. He... was almost getting used to it.
Johan nodded approvingly.
Good. Get used to facing legendary Pokémon early—you'll need it when dealing with those fat fish later, Steven.
Steven had already taken out his pin, the key on it bursting with rainbow light.
"Metagross, Mega Evolution!"
"Gong—!!"
"Dragonite!"
Johan shouted, leaping up. A Poké Ball at his waist opened on its own as excited Dragonite appeared beneath him.
Smack!
He grabbed the protective gear.
Then he threw out another Poké Ball.
Ninetales and Tinkaton entered the field.
Facing the flying Yveltal with Dark and Flying-type attributes, Urshifu and Ceruledge would have difficulty performing.
"Cha!"
Seeing Yveltal, Tinkaton immediately felt filled with power, muscle definition appearing on its seemingly thin arms as it gripped its hammer handle tightly.
A big bird, hehe, it's a big bird!
This was much bigger than any Corviknight or Skarmory.
"Regieleki!"
He'd originally planned to find time to take it back to the Galar region, but didn't expect it to have another chance to battle.
Electric versus Flying—they had the basis to stall.
In Orrans Forest.
Xerneas, accompanied by dancing Vivillon and following Aromatisse, suddenly stopped.
Its blue eyes with hidden "X" symbols contracted as it looked toward the forest depths.
[Yveltal awakened?]
Yveltal's awakening was inevitable—Xerneas understood this clearly, and it could sense that Yveltal's awakening would be within the next few years.
It just hadn't expected it to be so sudden. It was somewhat unexpected.
However, regardless of when, since Yveltal had awakened, it had to go stop its destruction and damage to life. This was its duty as the "Life God."
It looked around the vibrant forest with some reluctance, then resolutely leaped toward the forest center.
Geosenge Town, in the Team Flare secret base beneath the Ultimate Weapon stone pillars.
"Lord Lysandre!"
Xerosic, one of Team Flare's five researchers wearing an orange-red suit and being quite portly, quickly found Team Flare's leader, Lysandre.
He was breathing heavily but his face was full of excitement.
"We've detected extraordinary energy fluctuations erupting from the center of Orrans Forest!"
"Energy?" Lysandre sat behind his desk with hands clasped under his chin, lifting his eyelids slightly to glance at Xerosic.
"Life energy! Massive life energy!" Xerosic's words were full of excitement.
Their planned "Ultimate Weapon" required powerful life energy to activate.
Orrans Forest, as a forest where Xerneas and Yveltal had once clashed, how could Team Flare, which had researched Kalos region history, not pay attention?
However.
In such a vast forest, even Team Flare would find it very difficult to locate Xerneas within it.
Moreover, even if they found Xerneas, they lacked the ability to capture it.
"This means Yveltal should have awakened again." Ripples appeared on Lysandre's calm face.
The Life God Xerneas and Death God Yveltal—the two legendary Pokémon of Kalos region legend!
But.
Many people didn't know that actually, in the Kalos region, there was another deity above these two legendary Pokémon!
That was from "The Legend of XYZ," the legendary "Z God" representing balance—Zygarde!
"We can't intervene in the clash between Xerneas and Yveltal."
Lysandre slowly stood up.
"But according to legend, when death awakens, life will fall into slumber." Xerosic said.
When the Life God slumbered, their Team Flare might have a chance to extract some life energy from it!
Of course.
This wasn't the most important thing right now.
Most importantly...
"Begin the operation." Lysandre waved his hand, issuing the highest order.
"Yes! Lord Lysandre!"
Not many people in the entire Pokémon world knew of the "Order God" Zygarde's existence.
And their Team Flare was already prepared to move against Zygarde!
Moreover, they had been preparing for this for a long time, just waiting for the right moment.
The clash between life and death attracted most attention—this was the perfect opportunity!
In a cave located at the edge corner of the Kalos region.
Dozens of Team Flare elite, led by three executives, finally cornered the legendary Zygarde in 50% form at the cave's depths!
"Finally driven it to a dead end!"
"Lord Lysandre's order—begin capture!"
Roar—
In the glowing green water, Zygarde's form was half-exposed as it roared, creating water waves with just its angry cry.
Team Flare's elite, along with their Pokémon, couldn't approach under this momentum-filled roar.
Buzz buzz buzz—
Zygarde's eyes flashed as it looked deeply at these people, then disappeared completely in the rolling waves.
[Humans are indeed untrustworthy—destroyers of order!]
"It escaped?"
"Where could it run to?"
"Search!"
"Screech!!!"
Yveltal, recovering better and better, flapped its wings violently, stirring up terrible storms that swept across the entire area.
"Regi—!!"
Rumble—
Massive thunder crashed down.
At this moment.
A graceful deer arrived stepping on seven-colored light, brilliant moonbeams shining down.
[I've come to help you!]
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Powerstones?
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