As soon as Sam brought Reshiram onto the battlefield, Yveltal's attention snapped toward them.
The air shifted instantly, an apex predator recognizing another.
Diantha, Cynthia and Olympia finally let out breaths they didn't even know they were holding.
With Sam standing ahead of them, calm as ever, and two legendary Pokémon guarding their flank, the fear of being chased down by Yveltal faded like mist in sunlight.
Sam's presence alone gave them confidence.
But Sam with Reshiram beside him? That was overwhelming.
Diantha, still shaken from being rescued moments earlier, watched the battlefield with wide eyes.
Her chest rose and fell quickly, but her gaze never left Sam.
He stood centered in the chaos, posture relaxed, giving crisp commands like he'd done this a thousand times.
A whisper passed among the spectators.
"Alongside Rayquaza, the Lord of the Skies… Sam has also been recognized by Reshiram, the Dragon of Truth."
"To be acknowledged by two legends… in the entire Pokémon world, Sam might be the only one."
Carney's voice trembled in awe, her eyes sparkling with admiration she didn't bother to hide.
"Indeed," she added, swallowing, "Sam is the only trainer alive who's been chosen by two legendary dragons."
Cynthia crossed her arms, looking half proud and half annoyed, though even her envy couldn't hide the smile tugging at her lips.
Diantha leaned closer to her.
"By the way, Cynthia… didn't you say you were with Sam when he entered that tower in Unova? The Dragon Spiral Tower? How did he get Reshiram's approval back then?"
Her eyes gleamed with curiosity.
Of course she'd be interested.
Who wouldn't want to learn how a legend chooses its trainer?
Even if she didn't expect to tame one herself, knowing Sam's method could mean everything one day.
But Cynthia's expression drooped a little.
"…Yeah," she muttered.
"We entered the tower together."
She remembered it clearly. The holy, elegant white dragon.
The chamber glowing with ancient symbols. The intense energy in the air.
And how… from the beginning to the end… Reshiram never even looked at her.
It only looked at Sam.
"How do I put this…" Cynthia scratched her cheek, uncomfortable.
"Reshiram asked Sam a question. He answered. And then… Reshiram decided to follow him."
Diantha blinked. "That's it?"
"That's it."
"You're telling me Reshiram, a Legendary Pokémon, can be won over just by answering a question?"
Cynthia gave a helpless shrug.
"That's what happened."
Diantha stared at her like she couldn't decide whether to laugh or call her a liar.
If anyone else said this, she wouldn't believe a word.
But Cynthia was Cynthia.
"It's true," Cynthia insisted, sighing.
If she told Diantha the rest, that Sam actually hesitated before accepting Reshiram's offer, Diantha would probably faint on the spot.
Their attention snapped back to the battlefield as Reshiram roared, its body glowing with rising heat.
The confrontation reached a boiling point.
The white dragon's flames curled into a blazing pillar as it confronted Yveltal's spreading shadows.
To counter Reshiram's power, Yveltal had no choice but to unleash its own ultimate move. The air cracked open as Oblivion Wing gathered, dark energy spiraling like a storm.
But Sam's voice cut sharply through the chaos.
"Reshiram, Overclock. Don't hold back."
Reshiram responded immediately.
Heat expanded outward, rolling across the battlefield like waves from an erupting volcano.
Flames wrapped around its body as it drew more and more energy into its core.
A single Fusion Flare shot out, then another, then another.
Reshiram's power didn't even dip. Under Sam's command, it was like a living generator, pouring out flame without pause.
The entire battlefield transformed into a sea of fire.
The ground glowed red. Sparks danced through the air.
Even Diantha and Cynthia shielded their faces from the sudden spike in heat.
One of the Fusion Flares slammed into Yveltal with a thunderous explosion.
BOOM!
The Destruction Pokémon let out a sharp cry.
"Zhhh!!"
It reeled back, wings shaking, forced to divert its Oblivion Wing just to avoid being overwhelmed.
Sam didn't let up for a second.
He wasn't trying to destroy Yveltal, just like before, when he pacified rampaging Pokémon.
His aim was simple: overwhelm, stun, and then talk.
One hit landed.
Sam didn't miss a beat.
"Reshiram, Blue Flare."
"Roooaaar!"
Reshiram's cry echoed across the battlefield. Flames rolled in from every direction, wrapping around its body like living armor.
Then Reshiram pushed forward.
The pressure of its momentum shook the air.
Yveltal, already hit several times, couldn't dodge anymore.
It folded its wings and braced, but Reshiram slammed into it like a comet of fire.
BOOM!
The ground cracked open.
A massive crater formed as Yveltal was smashed deep into the earth.
Blue fire clung to its feathers. Some burned clean off.
"Skreee!!"
Yveltal struggled up, shaking off ash and flame.
It flapped hard and shot upward, trying to escape Reshiram's range.
But Sam wasn't giving it room.
Reshiram kept firing.Strike after strike.
Flames overlapped like waves crashing on stone.
Everyone watching knew why Reshiram could keep going.
Sam was feeding it energy, steady, endless, like a second heartbeat.
And to Yveltal…that energy was irresistible.
If it could absorb Sam's power even once, its wounds would vanish instantly.
Yveltal realized it too.
So instead of dodging, it suddenly veered.
A sharp turn. Wings slicing through flames.
And it fired an Oblivion Wing straight at Sam.
A dark red beam, cold and hungry, shot across the field.
The second it happened, Reshiram roared and cut back.
It threw itself between Sam and the attack.
A burst of flame shot forward and collided with the Oblivion Wing midair.
The impact cracked the air. A shockwave rolled across the ground.
Reshiram's cry changed. No calm melody now. Only rage.
Its eyes burned brighter, like blue fire.
"Yveltal… you attacked Sam?"
That was the emotion behind the roar.
Holy, elegant Reshiram, absolutely furious.
High above the sky, something stirred.
Rayquaza opened its eyes.
It had been resting in the ozone layer, but its awareness was always on Sam.
Yveltal was supposed to be Reshiram's problem.
Rayquaza didn't need to interfere.
But attacking Sam directly?
That crossed a line.
Rayquaza's massive body coiled. Then it dived.
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