Opelucid City.
It was once a city that harmonized the past and the future. Built upon ancient ruins, it preserved history while embracing nature with lush greenery.
It was a city of profound historical weight and vibrant life.
But now, that vitality was gone.
Smoke billowed into the sky. Large swaths of the city had been leveled.
The streets were scarred with craters from a fierce battle.
When Sam and the others arrived, their hearts sank.
The Opelucid Gym, the landmark of the city and a fortress of Dragon-type masters, had been completely reduced to rubble.
"Search and Rescue!" Alder shouted, his face livid with rage.
"Find the trapped staff! Now!"
Immediately, the group sprang into action.
Sabrina, Diantha, and Cynthia released their Pokémon to carefully lift the heavy debris.
With the help of over 300 Alliance support staff, they finally found him.
Buried deep beneath the main hall, a dusty, dying Drayden was lifted from the ruins.
"Medical team! Hurry!"
The Unova Alliance support team quickly released several Blissey.
"Use Heal Pulse! All of you!"
Pink waves of healing energy washed over the old Gym Leader.
Pokémon moves like Heal Pulse were miraculously effective on humans as well as Pokémon.
Under the continuous healing, the jagged wounds on Drayden's body slowly stopped bleeding.
His face, which had been pale and ashen, regained a faint rosy hue.
"Gym Leader Drayden!"
Alder rushed forward, kneeling in the dust to check on his old friend.
"How are you? Can you hear me?"
"Cough... Cough..."
Drayden coughed weakly, spitting out dust.
"I... I'm alive..."
"Thank goodness!" Alder grabbed Drayden's hand, relief washing over him. He turned to the medics.
"Take him to the hospital immediately!"
Just as the medics moved to lift the stretcher, Drayden's hand tightened.
"Wait..."
Drayden grabbed Alder's poncho with a trembling grip.
Seeing that Drayden had something urgent to say, Alder waved the medics back.
He leaned down, turning his ear close to Drayden's lips.
Drayden's lips quivered.
"G... Ghetsis..." Drayden whispered, his voice barely a rasp.
"He took... the Splicers... The DNA..."
"Gene, what?" Alder frowned.
"What is it?"
Alder was getting old, and his hearing wasn't what it used to be.
Combined with Drayden's weak whisper and the noise of the rescue operation, he couldn't make out the words.
Alder looked around at the others. "Did anyone hear what he said?"
The surrounding staff shook their heads.
But Alder saw the desperation in Drayden's eyes. This was critical information.
"Gym Leader Drayden," Alder urged. "
Please, try again. Speak clearly."
Drayden's lips moved, but no sound came out. He was too weak.
At this moment, Sam stepped forward.
"Let me."
Sam gently patted Alder's shoulder, signaling him to step back. He knelt beside Drayden, his expression calm and focused.
"Gym Leader Drayden," Sam said softly.
"I am Professor Samuel from the Celestic Laboratory. Don't try to speak. Listen to me. If I am right, blink twice."
Sam looked into the old dragon master's eyes.
"Did you just say... DNA Splicers?"
Under everyone's gaze, Drayden blinked slowly. Twice.
Through Drayden's verification, Sam confirmed the worst-case scenario.
"Okay, Gym Leader. I understand," Sam said reassuringly.
"We know what was taken. Rest now. Leave the rest to us."
Sam waved to the medical staff. They carefully lifted the stretcher and rushed Drayden to the emergency transport.
"Sam," Cynthia asked, stepping up beside him.
"What are the 'DNA Splicers'?"
All eyes turned to the Professor.
"Phew..."
Sam took a heavy breath, his eyes full of solemnity.
"I believe everyone is familiar with the legend of the Unova Region," Sam began, his voice grave.
"The Legend of the Original Dragon. Long ago, a single dragon helped two heroes build the region. But the heroes split over their beliefs: Truth versus Ideals."
"Because of this conflict, the Original Dragon split into two beings: Reshiram, who represents Truth, and Zekrom, who represents Ideals."
Sam paused.
"But what people often forget is the husk that was left behind. The empty shell that remained after the dragon split its spirit."
"That shell became the Ice Dragon, Kyurem."
"Together, they are known as the Dragon Trio."
Sam looked at the smoking ruins of the gym.
"As for the DNA Splicers... it is an ancient artifact Drayden was guarding. It has the power to forcibly recombine the dragons."
"It can fuse Kyurem with Zekrom, or Kyurem with Reshiram."
"Fuse?"
Hearing this rare word, everyone looked confused.
Alder spoke up quickly.
"Is it... like Magneton? Three Magnemites sticking together?"
Sam nodded. "Although it's not scientifically accurate, that understanding is correct enough. It merges two beings into a single, more powerful entity."
As soon as these words came out, Alder's face became serious.
"Team Plasma's King, N, already has Zekrom," Alder realized, connecting the dots.
"And now Ghetsis has snatched the DNA Splicers from Drayden."
"Does that mean..." Alder's eyes widened.
"Ghetsis intends to control the legendary Kyurem?"
"It's almost certain," Sam affirmed.
"Otherwise, they wouldn't risk attacking a Gym just for the Splicers."
"If they fuse Zekrom and Kyurem..."
Sam's voice dropped an octave.
"They will create Black Kyurem."
"Originally, Kyurem held the title of the Strongest Dragon in terms of raw physical potential. If it becomes Black Kyurem, its power will surpass anything we have seen."
"With that kind of power... Team Plasma will be able to freeze the entire region."
Sam looked at the dark clouds gathering on the horizon.
"A storm is coming to Unova."