Chapter 0769: Super Demon God: Champion Showdown (Part 1)（Four-in-One）

Rumble!

The heavens were close to collapse, massive fragments peeling away, exposing black holes as time and space shook violently.

Golden rings, like six different dimension portals, floated around the sky-filling figure of Hoopa. Slowly, they opened, revealing shapes of legendary Pokémon within each.

Two Champions looked upward, cold sweat silently covering their brows.

Two rows of three portals each.

On the left, dazzling blue, crimson, and dark gray light surged—symbols of Time, Space, and the Reverse World.

On the right, floods, hail, and fire raged down—symbols of the Primordial Sea, Glaciate, and Turboblaze.

The super demon god hovered with six sharp claws, each corresponding to a portal. With a snort and a wave, the outlines of the legendary Pokémon became even clearer!

Ash said, “That’s… Sinnoh mythology’s Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina!”

Steven’s blue hair blew in the wind as he spoke gravely:

“And on the right… there’s Hoenn mythology’s Primal Kyogre, and Unova mythology’s Kyurem and Reshiram!”

“These don’t look like fakes…”

The red-haired man’s cape fluttered, as he said, “They’re the real deal—deities!”

“What the heck… Natsume-sensei should have crushed these already!” Gold shouted.

Baraz gave a bitter smile: “The super demon god’s golden ring, also called the ‘Hyperspace Hole’, can summon legendary Pokémon from different dimension… The strength of these legendary Pokémon isn’t something illusions made by Unown could ever match—they possess true power!”

Steven’s mind was in turmoil.

This scene felt eerily familiar.

Back at the very top of Sky Pillar, Natsume had once summoned this world’s five Dragon Gods.

If only he were here now…

Steven shook his head lightly, saying, “Mr. Lance.”

“What is it?” Lance crossed his arms, his face stern.

Steven stared up at the heavens, the perfect blue-haired young noble, his gaze full of resolve:

“Let’s stop them—together!”

Lance paused and looked at the serious Steven Stone, then turned and shouted:

“Ash, Gold—stand guard here and wait for Natsume-sensei’s return!”

“Senior Lance!” Ash called.

Lance and Steven charged forward, hands raised as red light flickered—their figures leaping onto Dragonite and white Metagross.

The blue-haired man knelt on Metagross, deep eyes firm, his blue hair fluttering. “Looks like this is our first time teaming up, Mr. Lance.”

“Yeah, so let me show you what I can do—”

Staring into the sky at the legendary Pokémon, Lance’s pupils narrowed into slits, his authority on full display as he roared:

“The power of the dragon legion!!”

Bright light weaved around Lance, three Dragonair twining about him, white fog forming a broad ‘Safeguard’ shield over the monument square.

As the three Dragonair undulated through the sky, moisture in the air was manipulated by the orbs on their foreheads, gathering thunderclouds, rain, and howling winds.

Thunder roared overhead, rain slicing past Lance’s stern face.

Impossible to hold them back—but they had to fight.

After all, the greatest human Trainer is the League Champion!

Hoopa curled its lips, eyeing the pair with playful malice.

Thunder cracked overhead, harsh lightning illuminating its blue-skinned fangs. Hoopa laughed wildly:

“If you want to stop these guys, just try it!”

……

On the left, the three portals loosed forth diamond-bodied Dialga and pearl-embedded Palkia.

These two old rivals immediately began to battle.

The moment they appeared, Dialga raised a hoof, unleashing a ‘Roar of Time’ shockwave. Palkia shrieked and dodged to the side, cutting out a ‘Spacial Rend’ with a wave of its hand.

Time-shattering shock rattled the heavens, even more fragments peeled away; the blade sliced a skyscraper in two, its vanishing fragments drifting upward.

From the third portal on the left came a pair of crimson eyes. Shadows burst forth, weaving ghostlike, bounding between and knocking back both Dialga and Palkia.

Dialga and Palkia glared upward as one.

From beneath its platinum helmet, Giratina’s crimson gaze calmly looked down on the pair.

Palkia’s cry tore the night sky, splitting a brilliant blade toward Giratina.

Palkia raised its head and roared, freezing time around Giratina.

Boom!!

The blade exploded against Giratina’s platinum form. The shadowy dragon slipped into darkness, reappearing between Palkia and Dialga, a sharp crimson gaze glowing.

Palkia and Dialga glanced over, pupils constricting.

Swish!!

The six platinum spikes along Giratina’s body shot out, piercing both at once!

Palkia and Dialga froze, jaws slack, crystalline shards spilling from their wounds.

In an instant they flashed apart, distance opening up as their injuries began to mend.

‘Roar of Time’ and ‘Spacial Rend’ erupted again, dazzling streaks lighting up the night!

In the monument square, Gold shouted:

“Those three big guys are fighting each other now!”

Clemont hammered at his computer, sweat running down his temples:

“Because of the space-time collapse, Sinnoh’s three deities are at it again!”

“W-What should we do…” Serena asked.

Gold fell silent a moment, then said, “Pokédex Holders, come battle with me… Class rep, Clemont, you two stay here and take care of everyone else.”

“But…” Crystal tried to object.

Gold put on his goggles and gave a thumbs up:

“Leave this little situation to me, class rep!”

Crystal froze, cheeks going red.

“Your legs are trembling,” Silver said dryly.

“Shut up,” Gold snapped back. “Don’t ruin my cool moment like that!”

The Sinnoh Three Gods battled fiercely as Ash shouted:

“More legendary Pokémon are coming!”

On the right, three portals unleashed pelting rain and hail together.

All three Dragonair tensed, bodies stiff with fear as they looked up at the massive forms under the heavens.

“Dragonair’s wind-rain-thunder strategy… fails,” Lance said.

“No need for regret, after all, that’s—Primordial Sea!” Steven replied.

Primal Kyogre swept its massive fins, drenching the area in torrential rain, hovering above the square so those below could only see the white spots on its belly, unable to glimpse its head.

Kyurem burst out of the portal as well.

The brutal Kyurem spat an Ice Beam straight at Hoopa, but the super demon god flicked it aside with a wave, redirecting the Ice Beam through a portal to freeze a skyscraper instantly!

Perfect white Reshiram hovered with flapping wings, still not understanding what was happening.

A unique portal dropped directly to the ground.

From it surged scorching magma, ‘hiss-hiss’ turning into steaming earth, rain hissing as it struck.

With bright crimson markings and the form of a gigantic beast, Primal Groudon’s body gushed heat, eyes wide, arms outstretched as it roared!

Boom!!!

The god of the earth—Primal Groudon!!

Kyurem and Reshiram fired Ice Beam and Flamethrower at the super demon god.

Hoopa opened a golden ring.

Ice and fire rushed through the portal, turning instead on Primal Groudon and exploding with a boom!

Primal Groudon reeled in pain, mouth gaped, releasing a surge of heat.

Reshiram swept its white wings aside, dodging, and a ‘Fire Blast’ knocked down a building in a burst of flame.

Primal Groudon advanced toward the city’s heart, head raised to glare at Reshiram in the sky, sweeping a jet of fire upward.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Chains of explosions rocked the city.

Thus, all six legendary Pokémon from the portals now appeared over the City of Wastes.

With Primal Groudon standing menacingly on the ground, eyes fierce.

Night hung low as desperate cries echoed from within the city, a scene forever burned into everyone’s souls.

It shook like a hurricane, the force of the vision leaving people numb, frozen, and terrified.

“I’ll head toward the city, to stop Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre.”

Steven shouted, “The square is yours, Mr. Lance!”

Lance nodded hard, voice grave: “Make sure to come back.”

Steven smiled kindly, his gaze hardening as he barked,

“Metagross—Agility!”

“Metagross!” Metagross streaked out like a comet, dashing for the heart of the city.

Lance breathed deeply.

The Sinnoh Three Gods clashed without end, while Hoopa handled the assault of Kyurem and Reshiram with ease.

“Dragonite, Dragon Pulse!” Lance bellowed.

“Dragonite!!” Dragonite spewed a purple dragon shadow with a boom, exploding into black smoke.

The super demon god barely turned its head, facing Lance with a smile that split nearly to the base of its tongue.

Completely unscathed!

Lance’s pupils trembled.

Even as the Dragon Master, facing this sky-swallowing super demon god filled his heart with fear.

But… Lance exhaled and lifted his fierce eyes.

Steven’s already committed. Why shouldn’t I be just as resolved?

“Kyurem, Reshiram!”

Both Dragon Gods turned back to the tiny human at the center of the battlefield.

The red-haired man, riding Dragonite, cape snapping in the wind, let the ‘Aura of Viridian’ flare brightly in his palm.

A strange energy surged into Kyurem and Reshiram, powering them up.

The pair of Dragon Gods looked at the red-haired man in surprise.

Lance’s lips dripped blood, his eyes resolute as he clung to the ‘Aura of Viridian’, the faith of his dragon clan the only thing holding him up.

Even among deities, they are still… Dragon-type…

“You two!” the red-haired man shouted, “Help me resolve the super demon god crisis!!”

[Aura of Viridian?] Kyurem sneered. [You dare try to command Dragon Gods, too?]

Kyurem resisted the Aura of Viridian inside its body.

Lance coughed blood, cape soaking red, arm stretched out and trembling, his palm ever glowing white.

“I’ve made so many mistakes.”

With a cold, bitter smile, Lance said, “But this time, I will hold on to my justice.”

Kyurem paused, the savagery in its eyes fading just a little.

Reshiram’s ancient eyes looked quietly to the red-haired man.

[And your justice—what is it?] Reshiram asked.

Lance’s gaze glazed a little as his cape fluttered, before he finally said:

“What I do is justice!”

Reshiram’s gaze flickered.

Kyurem fell silent, then sighed softly, allowing the Aura of Viridian to flow through itself. Two purple beams shot out from its tail, enveloping Reshiram.

Reshiram transformed into a glowing sphere of white light, pouring into Kyurem’s body as evolutionary light blossomed in the sky above.

“Evolution’s light…”

The super demon god’s smile faded as it clicked its tongue sharply.

“Kyurem and Reshiram…fused?!” Meray exclaimed.

“T-That makes no scientific sense!” Clemont cried.

The glow faded.

A snow-white, majestic Dragon God—its white fur billowed, silver armor wrapped its body, metallic pipes ran from its tail streaming with energy.

All eyes quaked. Kyurem and Reshiram had fused—a new Dragon God was born!

“White Kyurem—!”

Just as he opened his mouth, Lance felt the Aura of Viridian and his life force rapidly drain away—this was the price for commanding a Deity.

Connected in spirit to the Dragon God, Lance’s voice was resolute and unyielding:

“Ice Burn!!”

White Kyurem’s tail engine flickered wildly, orange-red energy pouring through the tubes and swirling around its body. Drenched in fire, purple-red rings formed around White Kyurem as an arctic chill spread outward, purple-red beams radiating with ice!

“Rooooar!!!”

At the same instant, White Kyurem’s body, wrapped in orange firelight, charge forward—Dragon Rush!

There were too many beams for the Golden ring to redirect. Hoopa’s eyes flashed fiercely, a raging Shadow Ball churning in its chest-black hole.

The massive gravity twisted energy beams together as Shadow Ball shot out, detonating in a savage blast!

Boom!!

“Cough!” Lance spat blood.

White Kyurem ducked in and slammed hard, sending the super demon god stumbling back half a step with an annoyed click of its tongue.

“It worked! We landed a hit!” Clemont cried.

“But… it’s still nowhere near enough to beat Hoopa…” Meray worried.

Suddenly, a figure shot through the battlefield.

Hoopa lifted its arm to block an Air Slash, eyes flicking up to see a nimble, agile Togekiss.

“Come catch me, ugly!” Gold taunted, pulling a face.

“Togekiss~!” Togekiss stuck out its tongue along with its Trainer.

Hoopa’s face twisted savagely as it reached into the Golden ring, trying to crush the pest.

A portal burst open right beside Gold, and a hand came swinging out!

“Watch out!!” Silver shouted.

In a flash, Gold ducked down, pressing to Togekiss’s back, looking straight up as the massive hand hovered overhead, sweat streaming down.

The hand clenched and fell straight down!

Bang!!

Honchkrow crashed into Togekiss, protecting it from a fatal blow, and tumbled from the sky.

“Thanks, partners!” Gold waved to Silver.

Silver stood on the ground, summoning a Poké Ball’s red light: “Tell that to Honchkrow!”

“Senior Lance!!”

Ash looked up and shouted, “Palkia and Dialga are charging this way!”

Bloodshot, Lance turned to see Arche Valley’s sky—Sinnoh’s Three Gods were battling like mad, the chaos almost certain to spill over to the square and the City of Wastes.

But in commanding White Kyurem, he could barely go on!

“Hoopa—!” Hoopa’s Shadow Ball blasted White Kyurem back.

Lance’s arms shook as he leaned on Dragonite’s back, his gaze fading.

Time-space collapse, magma, floods, super demon god…

“I can’t handle all this…” The red-haired man gave a bitter smile.

Gold gritted his teeth and looked at the raging Sinnoh Three Gods.

In that case, I’ll hold those three off myself!

“Togebo, at Dialga, Palkia, Dialga—use Air Slash!” Gold shouted.

Togebo: “……”

Gold: “Hey, why aren’t you moving?”

Togebo rolled its eyes at Gold.

I’m not dumb. Also, your command skills are terrible.

Gold: ???

“Pikachu, Thunderbolt!” Ash called.

“Pikachu—chuuu!!”

Pikachu crouched low, bright Thunderbolt lighting up Dialga.

Giratina dove down and slammed Dialga aside—but caught a Spacial Rend to the back that erupted in black smoke.

Dialga crashed to the ground, gouging a massive crater, then glared at the square, gathering a ‘Roar of Time.’

The target: monument square.

If Roar of Time disrupted the square’s temporal coordinates, Celebi and Natsume might not make it back!

Lance fought in the sky but could barely command White Kyurem, never mind support.

Gold and the others went pale.

Baraz and Meray’s faces showed despair.

“Soar through the sky, Garchomp!!!”

The shout rang out from overhead. Everyone looked up to see a dazzling flash of gold.

A woman in black with golden hair crouched low on Garchomp’s back, hand on a shark fin, her beautiful gray eyes shining with resolve.

“Draco Meteor!!!”

“Garchomp!!!”

Garchomp gave a mighty roar, spitting a beam of radiant red light that split apart, turning into a rain of meteorites lit with fire, burning streaks painting the sky!

Boom, boom, boom!!

Like a meteor storm, Draco Meteor streaked across the night, hammering again and again into Dialga’s back.

Dialga’s Roar of Time choked in its throat!

“Champion Cynthia!!” Ash and the others exclaimed in shock.

Cynthia knelt on Garchomp’s back, black clothes and gold hair blowing in the wind, facing down Sinnoh’s mythic trio on her own, calm and poised.

The woman in black and gold smirked, gray eyes razor sharp:

“This is actually… making me excited.”

Three battlefields, three Champions!

Arche Valley, monument square, City of Wastes.

Cynthia, Lance, Steven!

Sinnoh’s Three Gods battled each other; Cynthia’s role was to keep their violence contained, making sure it didn’t spill over to the other battlefields.

Ash and the others finally felt a strange relief.

Champion Cynthia possessed that miraculous magic… as if led by fate, as if the word “defeat” didn’t exist in her dictionary.

“Garchomp, Swords Dance!” Cynthia called.

“Garchomp!!”

Garchomp streaked through the sky, twin scythes flashing crimson, slicing straight between Palkia and Dialga.

Both beasts locked eyes and turned, shifting focus from the square toward Arche Valley.

On the cliff at Arche Valley, Meowth’s hot air balloon hovered.

“What do we do, they’re looking over here!” James stammered nervously.

“Keep quiet, meow—you’ll attract them!” Meowth hissed.

Giratina ghosted through the sky, crimson gaze under its platinum helmet watching for any unusual movement, fixing on the trio.

Frozen in fear, the trio pressed tight to the cliff face, forcing a nervous laugh. “We’re just passing by, just passing by…”

Giratina’s razor-sharp claw gathered a pitch-black, wild Shadow Ball, hurling it with a thunderous roar!

Their faces turned white with dread.

“Wobbuffet, use Counter!!” Jessie shouted at the top of her voice.

All three huddled behind Wobbuffet, tense. “Please hang in there, Wobbuffet.”

“We’re counting on you, meow!”

Sweat was streaming down Wobbuffet’s forehead. “Wob… wobuffet…”

Bang!!

The Shadow Ball smashed into Wobbuffet’s body, its skin shining with a rainbow-like sheen as Wobbuffet strained with all its might:

“Wob… wobuffet!!”

Wobbuffet bounced the Shadow Ball right back toward Giratina!

Giratina recoiled in shock.

Boom!!

The Shadow Ball exploded on Giratina, sending dark smoke billowing!

“Garchomp, over there—”

Cynthia’s gaze was drawn to the scene, spotting the familiar figures and showing a hint of surprise.

The trio, soaked in cold sweat and having narrowly escaped disaster, hugged each other in relief.

Garchomp came to a stop by the cliff, Cynthia smiling as she said, “I know you three…”

The trio looked up in confusion.

“A talking Meowth… and the ice cream you make is really delicious!” Cynthia said with a cheerful smile.

“Not the best time for small talk, meow~” Meowth said with a wry smile.

James and Jessie huddled behind Wobbuffet in haste, shouting, “Three—three legendary Pokémon—they’re all coming this way!”

Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina formed an equilateral triangle in the sky, facing off with each other.

Cynthia rested her hand under her chin, her gray eyes flickering thoughtfully. “In this case, everything is falling into my plan…”

“What… plan?” the trio asked with trembling voices.

“Let’s work together,” Cynthia turned back, saying with a gentle smile, “If we can stop the Sinnoh Three Gods here, the City of Wastes will be safe.”

Team Rocket: ???

Why does she have to smile like that while saying something so terrifying!?

……

City of Wastes.

The canal split the city in two, and the cables of the large bridge stretched into the sky, the shadow of some massive creature falling slowly across the bridge deck.

The ancient and colossal creature fanned its wings, a long and vast whale song echoing out, as with each sweep sheets of rain poured down, the beast gliding toward the heart of the city.

“This way, everyone! To the underground shelters, quickly!”

Officer Jenny and Miss Joy were organizing the citizens into evacuation.

A little boy sat on the steps in the pouring rain, crying. Lightning flashed across the night, and a wild gust toppled a utility pole, sending it tumbling toward the child.

Crash!!

There was a burst of sparks as Metagross’s iron fist smashed the utility pole in two.

The boy stared up, stunned.

“A real man doesn’t cry,” came a gentle voice.

Beneath the rain, a blue-haired man in a suit was drenched head to toe, water dripping from his hair and coat.

Thunderstorms lit up the night so brightly it seemed as clear as day. His eyes were as deep as sapphires.

He knelt down and ruffled the boy’s hair with a gentle touch. “A real man hates to let those he loves shed tears, but sometimes things don’t work out as we hope.”

The boy stared up in puzzlement.

At that moment, a woman, disheveled and soaked, came running from afar, tears and rain streaked together. She dropped to her knees, gathering the boy in her arms. “You silly kid… my silly kid!”

But the boy kept looking up at the blue-haired man in the suit.

The man had already turned, gazing up at the night sky above the tall buildings, where the massive creature’s form appeared, twin fins waving as its endless whale call rang out.

“Protect your family well.”

Steven Stone stroked the boy’s head and smiled. “Men are meant to protect others, you know? Understand?”

The boy gaped, then his face lit up. He nodded fiercely: “Yeah!”

The wind howled and the rain beat down, lightning arcing through the skies.

Steven watched the mother and son head for the shelter, his shoes now submerged in the rising water, his eyes glowing faintly in the darkness of the city.

“Metagross.”

Steven gazed toward Primal Kyogre.

“Metagross?” The white Metagross looked back at Steven.

Steven’s eyes were sharp, his lips tugged up at the corner.

“I’ll show you—which one among us is the strongest!”

Bang!!

With a surge of air, Metagross took Steven soaring toward the city’s tallest skyscraper—a seven-star hotel.

Steven stood at the rooftop, looking out over the city divided by the canal. Steam billowed from Primal Groudon on the west bank, while on the east, Primal Kyogre hung in the air, rain pouring down relentlessly.

He looked at the three minimized Poké Balls in his palm, tightened his grip, and raised his sharp eyes. With a sweep of his suit’s hem, he threw them out.

The Regi trio formed a barrier, able to block Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre.

But there would be a price for this.

Dazzling light blossomed: Regice, Regirock, Registeel—

The Regi trio levitated before Steven, their crystal forms flickering as they raised their arms high.

Solid light swelled in their palms, forming a Light Screen barrier that covered the city center.

Under nightfall, a beautiful arc of white light shone, and Steven watched the barrier with a smile that was equal parts weary and resigned.

“I’m just a retired Champion, after all…”

Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre found themselves on opposite sides of the barrier, glaring at each other in rage.

Immediately, columns of fire and Hydro Pumps slammed against the Light Screen!

Steven’s expression remained calm. His sapphire eyes stared far into the distance, toward the monument square.

Just buying time like this is not nearly enough…

Someone must finish off Hoopa.

I’ll take my chances, and buy time for him and everyone else…

Because I trust my partners… my comrades-in-arms…

Because I trust Natsume-sensei.

……

Above the square.

White Kyurem’s silver armor was scorched all over, and as it looked down at its own chest, the glow of the ‘Aura of Viridian’ was fading.

[Is it over already?]

White Kyurem turned to look at the red-haired man atop Dragonite, its voice cold but tinged with compassion.

“Don’t say such foolish things.”

Lance’s pupils were vertical, as savage as an enraged dragon.

“This is just the beginning!”

“White Kyurem—use Ice Burn, cough!” the red-haired man barked, before coughing up a mouthful of blood.

These were the aftereffects of commanding a Legendary Pokémon—this was the price Lance paid to amplify White Kyurem with his own ‘Aura of Viridian.’

[There’s no need to use Ice Burn.]

White Kyurem said calmly, [There’s no stopping that one now.]

Lance’s heart jolted as he looked toward Hoopa.

The super demon god stood beneath the thunder-shattered heavens, blue-faced and fang-mouthed, grinning even as its wounds regenerated and its aura swelled to new heights!

[Human fear is the food of the super demon god. The more legendary Pokémon it summons, the greater the terror it sows, the stronger Hoopa grows.]

White Kyurem said:

[Even without any proper mantle, just representing human greed and darkness—it wields unbelievable strength… honestly, it’s self-inflicted.]

“You’re right… but just like Pokémon, humans have feelings, willpower, and bonds,”

Lance sat atop Dragonite, his cape tattered, voice calm. “That’s why I will keep fighting.”

“No matter if you help, or turn your back and fight for Hoopa—I will keep fighting.”

Lance’s red hair spiked, and he shouted in fury:

“Because I am a League Champion! Battle—that’s my justice!”

Arche Valley.

Ash clung to Cynthia’s pale face, now streaked with ashes, chin in her hand and gray eyes focused on the blue, red, and gray shapes in the sky.

“Garchomp…” Garchomp’s scarlet eyes burned as it gasped for breath, almost spent.

“Are you working on a battle strategy, meow?” Meowth asked, wringing his paws nervously.

“I’m thinking…” Cynthia said softly, “Maybe we can use our world’s Sinnoh Three Gods to fight the different dimension’s Sinnoh Three Gods.”

“But the time-space here is broken—Dialga can’t even get in!” James protested.

“Reverse World is intact.” Cynthia remained calm. “We could leverage the Reverse World for transport.”

But… Cynthia’s gray eyes flickered.

In this world, Giratina, Palkia, and Dialga had many conflicts.

To resolve things between them, to borrow the Reverse World power—a Trainer was needed…

Cynthia looked toward the monument square.

If it were you… what would you do…

Cynthia closed her eyes, exhaled softly, and declared with resolve:

“We can still fight, can’t we, Garchomp?”

“Garchomp!” Garchomp’s eyes snapped wide with fury as it howled up at the sky.

A faint smile curved Cynthia’s lips.

Garchomp and I have battled all this way—this is no place to stop.

Because… I still have unfulfilled promises.

I want to go to Alola, together with Natsume!

City of Wastes, at the emergency shelter.

Everyone’s face reflected terror, people huddled in blankets, shivering in panic.

A little boy clenched his mother’s chilly hand. For a moment the woman froze.

“I’ll protect you,” the boy said sincerely, “just like Metagross and Big Brother protected me.”

His mother blinked, then managed a weary smile, gathering her son into her embrace.

Crash—crash—

On the east bank, the torrential rain battered the Light Screen shield.

On the west, earthquake tremors shook the Light Screen.

Steven stood at the very top of the city, holding the Regi trio’s barrier with his own strength.

CRACK, CRACK!

The Light Screen split, Steven’s pupils constricting as he looked up.

The massive ancient beast, Primal Kyogre, pressed its head to the crack in the barrier, trying to worm its way inside, making the rift spread wider.

Crack! The Light Screen shattered! Primal Kyogre shoved itself through!

Wind and rain buffeted, thunder lit up the city like day as Steven’s face paled.

Primal Kyogre’s massive head wedged into the break, facing Steven, baring its sharp teeth in a sinister grin.

On the west, fire’s heat melted the Light Screen.

The red giant, Primal Groudon, burst through the barrier, sending waves of heat as it threw its head back and roared!

BOOM!!!

Hoopa folded its arms, mouth gaping wide with boredom. “Hoopa finds this all rather dull.”

The super demon god’s mouth split wider, baring its teeth in a chilling grin.

“So Hoopa will just fish out something even stronger!”

With a flick of the wrist, the Golden ring opened, surging with wild power.

The super demon god roared, “Hoopa—fetch!”

Rumble—

More fragments peeled from the sky. Two portals opened, blazing with different dimension’s Dark Aura.

Ash’s eyes trembled as he gazed up at the figures revealed, hardly believing:

“That’s… Lugia?!”

On the left, a colossal avian emerged, cloaked in black, eyes flickering red light, gigantic wings like black metal, radiating a dreadful aura.

“No…” Silver said gravely. “That’s not the wind god Lugia’s energy.”

“That’s a form of Pokémon we’ve never seen before… a special form of Lugia!” Crystal stammered.

A Pokémon from Generation III’s side series Pokémon: The Shadow Whirlwind—an artificial Pokémon.

Its Dark Aura rivaled even Yveltal’s—Shadow Lugia!!

The pitch-black giant bird hovered at the leftmost portal, eyes burning crimson.

“And on the right…” Ash said.

“I can’t even comprehend it—yet another different dimension creature?!” Clemont exclaimed.

The right portal revealed a terrifying form, humanoid but encased entirely in armor, cables running across it, levitating silently in midair.

Simply standing there, it exuded a sense of wrongness, as if its very existence defied reason.

“What is that?” Silver’s eyes narrowed.

“It looks like Mewtwo, but…”

Crystal said, “Why would it be wearing armor?!”

“Dedenne, I’m scared…” Bonnie whispered, clutching Dedenne close.

Two chilling, terrifying legendary Pokémon calmly hovered at Hoopa’s sides.

Black holes yawned in the sky as different dimension forms collided.

In the anime, Giovanni once created ‘Armored Mewtwo,’ but in this world, there was never such a plan!

Is this monster human or Pokémon? Just considering the gene question was enough to make your skin crawl!

“Different dimension can have such powerful Pokémon… even Hoopa is amazed!”

The super demon god grinned widely. “But all this only proves Hoopa is the strongest!”

With a wave, Shadow Lugia and Armored Mewtwo followed its command, flying off toward the city on the verge of collapse.

“Gold, Silver…”

In a haze, Lance rasped, “Go… Stop Lugia.”

Gold flew up to Togekiss’s side, hesitating, “But…”

“Hurry!” Lance shouted, “You’re Pokédex Holders—if anyone can do it, it’s you!”

Gold bit his lip, ordering Togekiss back to the square, picking up Silver as they both flew toward the city.

Despite the time and space turbulence, the coordinates over the square remained undisturbed.

The super demon god laughed uproariously, but a sudden, inexplicable anxiety made it frown, going silent as it stared at the square.

“What’s…?”

Meray and Baraz’s golden ring pendants rose into the air, both of them looking back in surprise.

A fissure in time split open, shining with brilliant light, capturing all eyes.

The battlefield fell into an eerie stillness, a calm before the storm.

Hoopa ground its teeth, glaring at the time rift.

“That voice…”

Ash and company stared in shock.

On the cliff over the Valley of the Chosen, the black-clad, golden-haired woman seemed to sense something, a subtle smile on her lips.

A black-haired young man stepped lazily from the time fissure, muttering,

“I’m back…”

So tired, just finished off the ancient super demon god—I just want to sleep now…

Hoopa dove out from behind the black-haired young man’s shoulder, snickering, “Hoopa’s back too!”

Everyone was silent.

“…Why are you all looking at me like that?” Natsume asked, slightly confused. “Is there something behind me?”

Ash and the others gulped, shook their heads, then nodded.

Sensing the strange mood, Natsume scratched his head awkwardly.

The black-haired young man turned around and froze, looking up at the sky.

There loomed the sky-covering Hoopa, its body even more immense than before, barring the way once again!

Natsume and the free Hoopa stared at each other in silence.

Free Hoopa: “…”

Natsume: “…”

Natsume-sensei, his expression unchanged, pulled out his journal and scribbled swiftly:

December 1st, overcast, City of Wastes.

Gold shattered the Prison Bottle, unleashing Hoopa.

This grudge, I, Natsume, will remember!