The crimson light of the Darkest Day still wasn't enough.
Necrozma was a Pokémon capable of plunging the world into darkness. The more light it consumed, the more bottomless its hunger became—and the more violently it rampaged.
After draining light energy from its opponents, it could fire immensely powerful lasers from the prisms on its hands. Those beams could pierce through anything and slice everything in their path to pieces!
["Human... once again. I told you I would return! I will steal all the light from this world!"]
["Perish alongside Alola! Give me your light!"]
Dawn Wings Necrozma shrieked at Hikaru. The resulting sonic boom was so violent that everyone covered their ears. At the same time, they could all tell what state the creature was in.
"But this isn't Alola," Hikaru pointed out.
"What's going on?" Bea asked. "It's staring right at us. Master, does this Pokémon have some kind of grudge against you?"
"Mr. Hikaru, you just called it the Blinding One, didn't you?" Marnie asked. "Its power to bring about dawn is certainly impressive. It even dispelled Galar's legendary Darkest Day—but hasn't an even greater darkness appeared in its place? Can something like that really be called a god of light?"
"I crossed paths with it once, briefly, in space above Hoenn," Hikaru explained.
"Because I made a certain wish, it can no longer reach this world through conventional means. But if it uses one of the beasts of the sun and moon, then there's no stopping it."
"Have you ever heard of the Wishing Star of Seven Nights?"
Marnie and Bea both shook their heads.
Hikaru laughed. "I see. Well, it doesn't matter if you haven't."
A deep voice sounded behind the girls.
"The Millennium Comet... A colossal comet that returns once every thousand years, bringing the power of countless stars back from the depths of space. It pours its energy into this world and awakens the Pokémon that possesses true wish-granting power—a Pokémon that can only awaken once every thousand years."
"That wish is said to be capable of granting anything. However, meeting that Pokémon is no simple matter. One must be at the right place at the right time, and no one knows where it will appear."
"Your words remind me of the strange phenomena that recently spread across the world—the great wind that illuminated the planet and that emerald-green world."
"Could it be that you encountered the Wishing Star and made a wish? A wish meant to restrict this Pokémon, which possesses the powers of both light and the devouring of light?"
"C-Chairman Rose?!" Sonia exclaimed.
"What are you doing here after everything that's happened? No, wait—how are you even here?!"
The Chairman's words left everyone present equally stunned.
"A Pokémon capable of granting any wish?" Marnie asked. "Isn't that what a Wishing Star does?"
Chairman Rose lowered his head.
"Eternatus also possesses the power to make wishes come true, but that is because it holds an inexhaustible supply of energy. It can respond to the ideals and dreams within the human heart. The principle behind Dynamax is much the same. The Dynamax energy within humans and Pokémon resonates, producing a kind of harmony that triggers the Dynamax phenomenon."
"So long as someone thinks, 'Now is the time to Dynamax,' that thought can be channeled through a Dynamax Band, allowing the Pokémon to Dynamax immediately. When Professor Magnolia published that part of her research, all of Galar was shaken."
"However, Eternatus still falls far short of a true wish-granting Pokémon that awakens only once every thousand years."
"I learned of such a Pokémon long ago, but I never believed it truly existed."
"Not until legend after legend became reality before my very eyes."
Out on the battlefield, Calyrex switched steeds!
Glastrier was recalled—
And Spectrier took its place!
["Astral Barrage!"]
Countless spectral flames poured down like a raging storm, transforming into meteors as they streaked toward Dawn Wings Necrozma!
As the saying went, the sun god feared fire, while the moon god feared ghosts. Even after transforming into Dawn Wings Necrozma, that weakness remained unchanged!
Its Ability, Prism Armor, could reduce super-effective damage, but that still left it with an effective threefold weakness to Ghost-type attacks!
["I trained through battle after battle in the Eternal Battle Reverie! Now I remember my strongest move. If it lands, I can finish you!"]
Riding atop Spectrier, Calyrex hurled its astral projectiles forward. Dawn Wings Necrozma answered with a roar!
However, Calyrex was now Psychic/Ghost—the exact same type combination as Dawn Wings Necrozma!
In other words—
It also possessed a fourfold weakness to Ghost.
And—
A fourfold weakness to Dark!
An aura of light surged around Dawn Wings Necrozma. After stealing Eternatus's crimson radiance, it unleashed an immensely powerful move.
Dark Pulse!
The exploding torrent of sinister energy tore Astral Barrage apart. Ghost types had very few weaknesses, but Dark was one of them!
["Mm! My beloved steed!"]
Spectrier was caught in the scattering Dark energy and let out a pained whinny. Without a Focus Sash, the black steed's defenses were hardly sturdy. It was built to be a swift attacker. Although it possessed a base Speed of 150—
["Space... It's space!"]
["This is Trick Room!"]
Invisible walls of light enclosed the world. Under Trick Room, the slower Pokémon would move first!
Dawn Wings Necrozma raised its wings and traced a circle through the air. Moonlike light spiraled inward, condensing into a brilliant nebula before erupting outward!
Moonlight shone—
Moongeist Beam!
It attacked its opponent with a peculiar ray of light, ignoring the target's Ability!
When a king came under attack, a hero had to step forward.
A sturdy red shield spread open like a fortress wall as Zamazenta appeared before Calyrex!
The true shield, reforged at last—
Avalon!
It resisted both Dark- and Ghost-type attacks. In other words, it now possessed a fourfold resistance to Dark and a twofold resistance to Ghost!
["Behemoth Bash!"]
Zamazenta sprang into the air and charged through Moongeist Beam, slamming straight into Dawn Wings Necrozma!
"The battle's getting intense!" Marnie exclaimed. "Shouldn't we fly up there and join the fight with Pokémon that can fly?!"
"I was thinking the same thing," Bea replied. "We caught Corviknight earlier, so this is the perfect time to use them! The Darkest Day has vanished, which means Corviknight can return to this world!"
"So long as Corviknight still exists in Galar, this region will never fall."
"The Darkest Day has ended. Yes... exactly as the legends foretold." Chairman Rose looked toward the sky. The sight of that terrifying eight-eyed bat made his heart pound violently. "I only came here to witness everything. Perhaps the Darkest Day truly can coexist with the people of Galar from now on."
"The times are always changing, and yet some things never change. As for me, I'll go to prison once this is over."
"So, faced with this cosmic invader that has come seeking revenge against you—a genuine invader from outer space—what will you do?"
"Are there any other legends?"
Hikaru took out his Rotom Phone.
"Of course. If the Blinding One is allowed to continue operating here, then look—the true night will descend."
"Weather: Overcast. The sky becomes covered in dark clouds, reducing visibility. The power of every move except Normal-type moves is reduced, and light-based recovery effects are weakened as well."
"Necrozma absorbs all surrounding light. As a result, it becomes the only thing that continues to shine while every other source of light is stolen. That's why ancient people called it the 'pillager of light.'"
"According to Alolan legend, a young Trainer and the guardian deities once used special stones to release light. They separated the beast of the sun or moon from the pillager of light and drove away the darkness shrouding Alola."
"We'll knock it back through the Ultra Wormhole. After that, it can go wherever it pleases."
"Unfortunately, there are no Sparkling Stones here, and we have no Z-Power."
"But do you know which type Ghost-type moves have no effect on?"
"Normal?" Marnie answered.
"Exactly. And there happens to be a Pokémon of that type in the Crown Tundra right now. Focus."
Two Poké Balls opened, releasing Armarouge and Iron Valiant onto the snowy plain!
"We're about to bring out the sun and seize control of the weather. After that, fire every light-related move you have—Electric, Fire, Psychic, Steel, and Grass—straight up there."
"Our weather setter has already been decided. Since it was worshiped as an ancient sun god, how about we let it cosplay as the beast of the sun for a while?"
Brilliant sunlight suddenly poured down. A blazing noonday sun, even fiercer than the light of dawn, erupted above the snowfield!
The six-winged seraph took flight, shining upon all the people who had suffered beneath the bitter cold!
Volcarona chirped happily. "Mera~!"
Appearing on a snow-covered mountain once again, it was obviously the answer to dispelling all darkness and cold!
"Such dazzling light?!" Bea exclaimed.
"Is that... Volcarona?!" Marnie asked.
"Volcarona..." Chairman Rose murmured. "In the ancient legends of other regions, it was revered as a god of the sun!"
"Then what about that one?"
The answer to the Chairman's question lay far in the distance!
Hikaru placed a call through his Rotom Phone.
"Hop? Throw that Wishing Star into the strange Pokémon Den in Giant's Bed. Once all five titans are gathered there and a Wishing Star is cast inside, the second king sleeping beneath the Crown Tundra will awaken."
"Although I don't know exactly where it will appear."
"According to legend, the way to awaken the colossal titan that once pulled the continents—the way to revive the ancient giant—is—"
A crimson beam shot into the heavens, drawing Dawn Wings Necrozma's attention.
Within that dazzling pillar of red light appeared a white giant that had no idea what was currently happening.
However, Eternatus had already been defeated, and the light of the Pokémon Dens had been stolen. As a result, the white giant failed to Dynamax when it awakened.
For this particular Pokémon, however, that might have been a blessing.
It rose to its feet with a rumble. Its consciousness did not seem to have fully returned, and it clearly had no idea what was happening. The dots forming its eyes flickered repeatedly.
["Gong?!"]
Dawn Wings Necrozma had noticed Volcarona's arrival, but it charged toward the Titan King first!
The red light erupting from that Pokémon Den was even greater!
"The way to revive the ancient giant..."
Hikaru turned toward Marnie.
"Throw this Poké Ball toward that giant!"
"This ball contains..." Marnie blinked. "Oh, it's the Weezing we encountered in the Slumbering Weald?"
A moment later, she realized why Hikaru wanted her to throw it.
"You want me to Dynamax it?!"
"Exactly. Chairman Rose doesn't have his Dynamax Band. We need the gas produced by this particular Dynamaxed Pokémon to fill the battlefield. The king might not have Dynamaxed, but that's actually the right outcome. Dynamaxing would be useless against Dawn Wings Necrozma. When we Dynamax, however, the range and influence of our moves and Abilities will increase."
"Besides, the heroes and the king don't need their Abilities right now."
Hikaru glanced at the Chairman, who spread his hands helplessly.
"I was already deeply conflicted about the matter. At my level—someone who never managed to become Champion—I could never control a rampaging Dynamaxed Pokémon."
"So I removed my band. A rather unfortunate oversight, wouldn't you say?"
"Then I'm the only one here who can Dynamax!" Marnie declared, gripping the Poké Ball. "This Dynamax Band belongs to my big brother!"
She drew back her arm and threw the ball with all her strength!
A young girl couldn't throw a ball very far, but the throw itself was merely a ritual. The important part was Dynamax!
"With a Dynamax Band, Pokémon can become enormous near any Power Spot. The research conducted by Macro Cosmos and Professor Magnolia truly did save Galar."
Hikaru nodded toward the Chairman.
Rose froze briefly, then released a long sigh.
"May Galar prosper forever."
A Dynamaxed Galarian Weezing appeared on the battlefield. This recently captured embodiment of capitalism puffed steam from its smokestacks.
It had absolutely no idea what was going on. It had watched this world-shaking disaster unfold from inside its Poké Ball.
Was its very first battle after being caught really going to be a match at this level?
It was feeling a little nervous.
"Weez?!"
I don't know whether my remaining surplus value can withstand this...!
Um, shouldn't we communicate a little more before doing something like this?!
"Weezing, fly toward the Titan King on the mountain!" Hikaru commanded.
"You don't need to use any moves!"
"Just get close to it!"
"Activate your Ability! The way to awaken the ancient giant is—"
"Neutralizing Gas!"
Galarian Weezing spewed out its capitalist smog.
This mysterious Fairy-type gas could suppress the Abilities of most Pokémon on the battlefield.
And the most famous Ability it could suppress was—
Slow Start!
Regigigas's lifelong best friend—
Weezing!
The Titan King, attacked before it had even grasped the situation, was suddenly engulfed by Neutralizing Gas.
An incomparably powerful force began surging madly through its body!
Regigigas of Galar raised its head as its dotted eyes emitted strange electromagnetic signals.
Neutralizing Gas spread across the mountains. The Titan King dodged Dawn Wings Necrozma's attack, then retaliated, thrusting one enormous hand toward the creature's face!
Its failure to Dynamax had been the correct outcome. Regigigas needed to use one particular move. If it had Dynamaxed, all its moves would have become Max Moves, leaving it unable to break through the Ghost type's incorporeal body!
Bang!
"It grabbed a Ghost-type Pokémon?!" Marnie exclaimed. "What was that?"
"Foresight!" Hikaru answered.
Regigigas could no longer learn Foresight in Generation VIII, but that was only because the move had been removed. In every generation before Foresight's removal, Regigigas could relearn it by remembering forgotten moves.
However, from Generation VIII onward, every move with an effect like Foresight had been cut, making the strategy impossible to use.
"According to legend, Regigigas pulled the continents into place. Titan Kings lie sleeping in several different regions across the world."
"The land of Galar was pulled into place by the Titan King before us. If we want to force the Blinding One back through that wormhole using nothing but raw strength—"
This Regigigas was Level 100!
"It's about to use a move!"
["Gong?!"]
Dawn Wings Necrozma was trapped within Regigigas's grasp. An earth-shattering force erupted from those enormous fingers!
["I do not know who you are."]
["But I shall drive you out first!"]
The Titan King unleashed its strength.
Countless tiny cracks spread across Prism Armor. An immeasurable impact pierced through the body of the Blinding One!
Crush Grip!
"That giant..." Marnie stared in amazement. "It overpowered such an enormous force! It restrained a Legendary Pokémon in a single move!"
The strength displayed by the Titan King left everyone stunned. Even the heroes and kings looked at it in astonishment.
But this was the perfect opportunity!
["The Titan King has joined the battle! It has restrained the pitch-black god! Everyone, seize this opportunity and force that creature back through the wormhole!"]
["All knights, gather your flames, lightning, steel, fairy light, psychic power, and the radiance of this bountiful world!"]
["Let a hundred flowers bloom!"]
Calyrex raised one arm. While riding Spectrier, it scattered the power of abundance across the entire Crown Tundra!
Green light swept across the earth, bringing life to everything it touched. Verdant grass covered the snowy land!
This was Grassy Terrain taken to an absurd extreme.
Pokémon standing on the ground would continuously recover their health, while the power of their Grass-type moves would increase by thirty percent!
The harsh sunlight dispelled the dark clouds within its range, while the bountiful world created by Grassy Terrain strengthened Grass-type moves.
After all, Calyrex intended to use the same kind of move!
It gathered the brilliant sunlight into its hand, grasped the sun itself, and called forth the name of a miracle!
"Then let's begin!" Hikaru declared. "We'll pour radiance into Dawn Wings Necrozma's body and recreate the legend of Alola here in Galar."
"Raise the power of fire to its absolute limit. Gather the brilliance of steel at the center of your bodies. Let the stories of the fairies be carried onward. Scatter the light of abundance across the land."
"Spread the psychic power of blessings and healing—the psychic power representing the Crown Tundra's history and the power born from cherished memories—to every corner of this land."
"Calyrex represents the history of this place. Its psychic power can reach its full potential across a radius exceeding fifty kilometers. Even moves fired from here can be carried by Calyrex beyond the mountains."
Marnie and Bea both released their Corviknight. Steel-type energy began gathering around them!
Meanwhile, the Pokémon capable of wielding lightning and sunlight were—
"Okay! Morpeko, Thunder is ready!" Marnie called.
"Concentrate, Sirfetch'd!" Bea commanded. "Use Focus Energy and prepare Solar Blade!"
At the same time, both girls issued orders to their Corviknight.
Although they had only recently captured the Pokémon, move tutoring allowed Corviknight to immediately learn the strongest Steel-type move!
Chairman Rose sighed, yet he also seemed relieved.
"Under these circumstances, I shall take the place of Sonia-kun, who possesses no combat strength. Copperajah, Klinklang, Ferrothorn—all three of you at once! Flash Cannon and Zap Cannon!"
"For Galar!"
["I see. Beam attacks! Then we shall use that move! The time has come! Let me serve as the starting point!"] Zamazenta declared.
["The ultimate Steel-type technique... O king's sword, use it alongside me,"] Zacian said.
["Naturally... We are fighting a monster from outer space. How could we possibly drive it away without using beams?!"] Aegislash replied.
Steel and metallic power gathered around the three Pokémon.
The brilliant iron light of Galar's three ancient kings illuminated the heavens.
["Steel Beam!"]
"Come to think of it, isn't this interesting?" Hikaru remarked. "The effects of Grassy Terrain apply to 'Pokémon on the ground.'"
"Volcarona doesn't have the Flying type, so even if it's hovering in the air, it still receives the boost. That means the move it fires under these conditions..."
"We obviously can't use Eruption in the Crown Tundra, so Solar Beam seems like a good choice, wouldn't you say?"
Raging Bolt summoned lightning and gathered the violent electrical radiance before its mouth. Fairy light shimmered along Iron Valiant's blades.
Flames surged around Victini. Its infinite power pushed the energy of fire to its absolute limit.
Three Grass-type Pokémon were then released, all preparing blades and beams of sunlight.
Ogerpon and Hisuian Lilligant prepared Solar Blade, while Torterra gathered energy for Solar Beam.
The sun god, Volcarona, flew high into the sky and concentrated a tremendous amount of sunlight within its six wings.
Finally, the red knight who had forged the shield and sword—Armarouge—raised both hands, and a spear of sunlight appeared between them.
Electricity, fire, abundance, fairy magic, and steel.
Since ancient times, legends of those powers had been passed down throughout Galar. To the people of Galar, these were all incredibly important attributes.
Steel and fire had forged the legendary weapons. Endless green fields had brought abundance to the earth. Fairies had created mysterious legends within the lakes.
And lightning...
That was the energy that had allowed Galar to survive until the present day—the power representing two hundred years of history!
["My friend! I have also learned that move!"] Calyrex declared.
["My training within the tower was not entirely without benefit. After all, abundance has always been my true calling."]
Calyrex looked toward the light gathering around the red knight, its voice echoing within Hikaru's mind.
["O you who commands kings! Even after losing the faith of Galar, I can still stand at your side!"]
["The faith that remains—this dazzling radiance—is the dream pursued and cherished by every warrior who has vanished upon the battlefield since time immemorial. It is the crystallized prayer known as 'glory'!"]
["Grant me the power of crystal!"]
"It seems your battle against Arceus did help you after all," Hikaru replied. "You intend to gather all your remaining faith into a single attack."
"Then you shall have what you desire."
The Tera Orb floated toward Calyrex under the power of telekinesis. The king raised its head and saw a familiar humanoid figure floating in the heavens.
The cosmic superhero.
["Deoxys! My companion from that great challenge! You have been watching over me in silence!"]
["I have carved the memory of my previous defeat into my heart!"]
["This time, I shall not fail!"]
["Indeed. No matter where an opponent comes from, there will always be a type and an ecological force capable of countering it. My friend can even call the creator deity an ally. A mere god from another planet is nothing to fear!"]
["Bear witness!"]
Deoxys nodded toward Calyrex.
In truth, after leaving Hoenn, Deoxys had originally intended to remain at Sky Pillar. However, it suspected that the Blinding One might appear somewhere else, so it had continued following Hikaru.
After all, it was the captain of the rescue team. Spending every day slacking off and doing nothing would have been rather difficult to justify.
["Here we go, Calyrex!"]
Deoxys hurled the Tera Orb.
It had done the same thing the last time they fought in space.
That time, it had used the orb against an enemy. This time, it was using it to help a friend.
Grass-type Tera crystals embedded themselves in Calyrex's body, and powerful crystalline energy erupted around the King of Bountiful Harvests!
Grass-type Terastallization!
"With the same-type attack bonus..." Hikaru calculated. "The effective base power of that unique move will rise to three hundred!"
It was a unique Solar Beam—
The ultimate light born at the end of Generation VII.
Calyrex raised one hand. This time, it truly held a Holy Lance that shone at the end of the world.
The pure, violent radiance illuminated the heroic figure that stood against the darkness of a chaotic age—a darkness deeper than the night itself!
"Solar Beam!"
——————————
In the battle between the red dragon and the white dragon, Britain's red dragon would ultimately emerge victorious.
Under the leadership of a great king, Britain would unite its strength and drive back its invading enemy.
Hikaru raised one hand and narrowed his eyes as he looked toward the Ultra Wormhole.
"Long ago, Necrozma came to the ancient paradise known as Alola in search of light. There, it battled the guardian deities."
"The light that descended from the Ultra Wormhole in the sky became Z-Crystals and aura."
"That aura poured into Alola, then spread outward from Alola across the entire world. Thus, the land became filled with rainbow-colored light."
"With the aid of light and special stones, a young person from Alola joined forces with the guardian deities and drove away the pillager of light that had appeared in the sky."
"Perhaps it looked much like this."
The overwhelming radiance suppressed Dawn Wings Necrozma.
Necrozma had received more than enough light, but it still desired more.
More...
It wanted more!
["Graaah! Such powerful light! It still isn't enough! It's not enough!"]
["Even if you send me back again... I will return! No matter how many times I am driven away, I will appear in this world again!"]
["This world must contain even more light! Human, I will remember you! I will remember you forever!"]
["I understand now! You know the ancient legends! You are connected to the guardian deities!"]
["We shall meet again in Alola!"]
The pillar of light dispersed the dark clouds. The churning black sky vanished, and the Darkest Day disappeared completely.
"Terastallization..." Chairman Rose murmured. "What kind of system is that? A Pokémon covered in crystal, shining almost like a star..."
It seemed Dynamax was not the only battle system capable of leading the world into a new era.
The Chairman ran a hand through his hair and released a long sigh before looking at the young people around him.
"I, too, helped create an era. But the trains of a new age have no seats for those who belong to the old."
Thus, the long night passed.
The true sun rose from beyond the sea.
Flowers bloomed across the snowfield.
A blue sky stretched above the hills while clouds drifted slowly overhead, lingering in the heavens.
Dawn gave way to morning. The sunlight was warm, and the entire world was wrapped in golden radiance.
The white Titan King stood atop a mountain, seemingly lost in thought.
The heroes of sword and shield walked toward the gathered people.
The ancient kings were all here.
The Sword King.
The Shield King.
The Titan King.
The Great Red Dragon.
And the true king who had once ruled this land.
Legends had gathered in one place.
Riding atop Spectrier, Calyrex looked toward everyone.
["The objects that grant wishes have aided countless people. Now, let them be returned to the heavens—from the past, through the present, and onward into the future."]
["Let the source of the Darkest Day become a part of Galar, and let that foreign, cruel radiance depart from this land."]
["The ideal city of the past has grown so distant that it no longer exists, but a new sun has risen here."]
["From this day onward, Eternatus shall also become our companion. As for the Wishing Stars that appear in the future, choose those to whom they shall be given. Choose the people to whom you would entrust the future... Of course, it may be anyone."]
["So long as this land continues to exist."]
["So long as the hearts of its people remain filled with light."]
["To me, all of you have already become unforgettable heroes. May every road you walk be covered in the blessings of flowers."]
["Here, within this ancient and secret realm—this innocent land of pure white—may your histories and names be engraved for all eternity."]
["That is our homeland, where every wound and every hatred can be healed."]
["Here, within the Ever-Distant Utopia!"]
(End of Chapter)
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