Ash had successfully lured Shadow Hoopa away, drawing it straight to the Unova region's Eindoak Town.
Meanwhile, Bonnie's little Squishy, alongside Z1 and Z2—the two Zygarde 50% forms—had already begun their wild, earth-shaking clash!
As for Giovanni, he marched toward Anistar City, flanked by his Mega Beedrill and the ever-present Meowth.
From Lysandre, Giovanni had learned the secret: if Z2 in its 50% form were to make contact with Anistar's sundial, the very goal Lysandre once pursued—destroying the world to rebuild it anew—could be realized.
But Giovanni was no Lysandre. He was far more dangerous.
At the same time Shadow Hoopa summoned Legendary Pokémon across Kanto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Unova, Giovanni had ordered his Ancient Alakazam to activate its incredible long-range teleportation, instantly dispatching Rainbow Rocket's top Elites to their destined battlefields.
Yes—that very Ancient Alakazam. Remember the three Ancient Pokémon once mentioned in Johto and Kanto?
The Ancient Alakazam, the Ancient Jigglypuff, and the Ancient Gengar.
During his long period of lurking in the shadows, Giovanni had succeeded in bending all three to his will.
And that wasn't all.
The Colossal Dragonite from the Bill's lighthouse, the Towering Tentacruel that once terrorized the Porta Vista—both now belonged to Giovanni's hidden forces.
All of this, done in silence. So silent, in fact, that not even the Kanto or Johto Pokémon Leagues realized what was happening right under their noses!
Now Giovanni commanded not just Elite-level subordinates, but also Darkrai's Champion-tier—and beyond Champion-tier—squad of cloned Legendaries.
Add to that five gargantuan Pokémon of mythical proportions…
Had Giovanni chosen to strike Kanto or Johto instead of Kalos, neither League would have stood a chance.
His forces were immense: four Elite-level powerhouses, Tobias, and control over the remnants of Team Aqua, Team Magma, Team Galactic, Team Plasma, and most recently, Team Flare.
All he needed was for the executives of these underground groups to keep the Leagues' top trainers busy long enough.
In Kalos, Diantha, Malva, Wikstrom, Drasna, and Siebold had joined forces to stand against Giovanni, who rode upon the Ancient Alakazam.
And beside Giovanni hovered his terrifying partner—Mega Beedrill, a monster standing at the peak of Tier-3 Legendary power!
The Ancient Alakazam worked tirelessly, teleporting Giovanni's chosen warriors to their respective battlegrounds.
Meanwhile, Tobias had already arrived in Anistar City, ruthlessly sweeping aside the trainers there. His goal: ensure that nothing stopped Z2 from reaching the sundial, where destiny itself awaited.
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"Hoopa… I am Hoopa!"
Shadow Hoopa shrieked, tailing Ash and Little Hoopa relentlessly.
"Ash, Shadow Hoopa is so angry! Hoopa mustn't be swallowed by its rage—Hoopa must calm it down!"
Little Hoopa clung to Ash's shoulder, eyes wide as it looked back at its dark counterpart.
"Don't worry, Little Hoopa," Ash reassured firmly. "Once I capture Rayquaza, we'll have the ally we need to suppress that shadow!"
Mega Mewtwo Y warped through space, dragging Shadow Hoopa along as they appeared in Eindoak Town.
"Mewtwo, move everyone out of here—now!"
Mega Mewtwo Y nodded, raising a single finger. In an instant, the entire mountain city, along with every human and Pokémon nearby, was shifted elsewhere.
This battle could not afford collateral damage.
To Mega Mewtwo Y, relocating an entire city was no longer difficult.
With the battlefield cleared, it immediately blocked Shadow Hoopa's advance.
Its aura was unreadable—just like Arceus, its level was marked with nothing but question marks.
Truly, it was the embodiment of wrath, the super-demon itself.
"Come forth, Kyurem! Transform into White Kyurem—we'll face that sky lord once again!"
Kyurem obeyed, golden eyes blazing as its form morphed into White Kyurem.
Ash, using Little Hoopa's psychic link, allowed himself to stay within range of Kyurem and Rayquaza's impending clash.
"Use Icy Wind!"
"Rooooaaar!"
White Kyurem's maw gaped, unleashing a stream of white frost. The very air temperature plummeted in an instant, and the skies churned with the power of ice.
The current of frost struck at the heart of the Dragon's Line, warping the skies above.
"Skreeee—!"
A thunderous ancient dragon cry reverberated.
From the thick storm clouds above, a colossal black silhouette emerged, weaving in and out of sight.
"Rayquaza… we've come again! You can sense it, can't you? The chaos spreading across the world. Fight alongside White Kyurem—we need your power!"
"SKREEE—SKREEEEE!"
The black Rayquaza descended in full, its immense body unveiled.
Rayquaza: Human, if you wish for my aid, then defeat me first!
The other Legendaries' rampages meant little to it.
Though its might was unparalleled, Rayquaza bore no divine title.
Even without godhood, its innate talent shattered the limits of ordinary Legendaries.
And this Kyurem—this was different.
The last time they met, it had not been in its White Kyurem form. Nor had it reached this astonishing level of power.
Now, Kyurem stood equal to Rayquaza itself.
That fact alone intrigued the sky dragon.
The sheer pressure White Kyurem exuded pressed heavily on Rayquaza's chest.
Raising its mighty jaws toward the skies, Rayquaza's draconic eyes flashed—
Its Delta Organ activated!
In a blaze of radiant might, it mega evolved—Mega Shiny Rayquaza descended, ruling the skies with domineering majesty!
"Perfect! Then let's end this! White Kyurem—Frozen World!"
Ash's voice boomed through the power of the Aura of Overcoming, ensuring Kyurem understood his every word.
From the device-like structure on its back, White Kyurem unleashed a surge of pristine light.
The ice within its core erupted outward, forming a colossal field—
Frozen World!
Above, a vast deep-blue sphere of ice appeared, enclosing both White Kyurem and Mega Shiny Rayquaza within its frozen domain.