Staring at the Ice Dragon, who kept repeating the same sentence over and over, Lucas felt his patience snapping.
So, he had said all that—and this dragon hadn't listened to a single word?
Seriously, was this thing a broken recorder or what?!
Behind him, Green and Marnie exchanged looks, their expressions caught between confusion and laughter. This entire scene… was just absurdly funny.
"Release the White Dragon and that other one—"
"Alright, alright, Kyurem. What exactly will it take for you to follow me?" Lucas interrupted helplessly, rubbing his temples.
He had completely given up on reasoning with this hot-headed dragon. Talking sense into Kyurem was simply impossible.
"It's impossible. I will never follow a human," Kyurem said arrogantly, its sharp golden eyes glancing down at Lucas with utter disdain.
It was the mightiest of dragons! How could such a supreme being ever submit to a weak, fragile creature like a human?
And worse still—this human was the very one recognized by the White Dragon as the Hero of Truth!
Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
"There's nothing wrong with humans, Kyurem. The human world is far more vibrant and magnificent than you imagine," Lucas said patiently.
"I said it's impossible—and impossible means impossible. Human, if you don't release the White Dragon right now, I'll freeze you instead."
Kyurem's telepathic voice carried a dangerous edge, laced with irritation and warning. It wasn't like the foolish Black and White Dragons.
And it certainly had no interest in the human world.
Why would it waste time there when it could be napping comfortably here—surrounded by so many obedient little 'underlings'?
"The strongest dragon never goes back on its word, right?" Lucas raised an eyebrow, not surprised by the response, but instead asking calmly.
"What do you mean by that?"
Kyurem narrowed its eyes slightly. Of course, it would never go back on its word—the pride of the mightiest dragon wouldn't allow such disgrace.
Green and Marnie exchanged curious glances. What did Lucas mean? Did Kyurem promise him something before?
"Do you still remember what you agreed to before we parted ways last time?" Lucas asked with a faint smile.
Capturing Kyurem through normal means was near impossible. Its personality was arrogant, tyrannical, and fiercely proud. It held a deep hostility toward both the White and Black Dragons.
And since Lucas was recognized as the Hero of Truth by Reshiram, under ordinary circumstances, there was no way Kyurem would acknowledge him.
Even if it respected Lucas's strength deep down, its pride would never allow it to openly admit so.
Kyurem couldn't bring itself to bow its head.
"Last time…"
Kyurem tilted its massive head slightly, thinking back.
That defeat had been an unpleasant memory, one it didn't like to recall. But as it searched its mind, fragments began to surface.
'If I can defeat you, Kyurem, will you become my partner?'
'Hmph! If you can truly defeat me, then following you for a hundred years—so what?'
The words replayed vividly in its mind.
Yes—it had said that.
Although… at the time, it had been angry, humiliated, and irrational after being defeated. It had spoken in a moment of fiery emotion, not thinking clearly at all.
In other words, its brain had short-circuited back then.
But facts were facts—it did give its word.
"So, you remember it now, Kyurem," Lucas said with a brilliant smile. As long as the dragon admitted it, that was all that mattered.
"Hmph! So, what if I do? Human, do you really think you can defeat me?"
Kyurem's cold, thunderous telepathic growl rumbled through the air.
As a proud Dragon, it could not—would not deny its own words.
Especially not in front of the White Dragon and its Trainer.
But so, what? It was Kyurem, the Dragon God of Unova!
Besides, it remembered very clearly that Lucas's condition had been a one-on-one battle. Only if he defeated Kyurem in single combat would the promise count.
And Kyurem? Lose in a one-on-one battle?
Ridiculous! Impossible!
"Well, how would you know unless we try?" Lucas said, smiling confidently. "If I defeat you, then you'll come with me—leave this frozen valley behind."
He flicked a miniature Poké Ball between his fingers, its red surface gleaming faintly in the icy light.
Kyurem's draconic eyes locked onto him, and a twisted, humanoid grin crept across its face.
"Interesting… how interesting!"
"In that case, human—I'll play with you! I'll see just how you plan to defeat me!"
Its deep, booming telepathic voice echoed violently through the canyon. For the first time, Kyurem felt intrigued. It could punish this arrogant human itself.
"ROAARRR!!!"
Kyurem threw back its head and unleashed a thunderous roar that shook the heavens. The sound waves rippled through the air, rattling bones and eardrums alike as the entire glacier valley trembled under its power.
Green and Marnie both flinched, clapping their hands over their ears—the roar was nearly deafening.
Then, with a surge of frost and wind, Kyurem's massive wings unfurled.
Its body shot skyward like a missile of ice and rage.
"Come, human! Follow me into the sky!"
Hearing its challenge, Lucas chuckled softly and pulled out another Poké Ball—the one holding the White Dragon.
Reshiram released a mighty cry, its wings unfolding as it lifted Lucas and the others high into the sky, soaring out of the frozen canyon.
The Giant Chasm was vast, but not vast enough for what was about to happen.
Even Kyurem knew that much, hence why it changed locations.
"Lucas… are you sure about this?" Green asked anxiously, her brows furrowed as she looked toward the Ice Dragon hovering in the distance.
From her perspective, challenging Kyurem one-on-one was far too reckless.
With the number of legendary Pokémon Lucas now had at his command, he could easily defeat Kyurem through sheer advantage.
"Only by defeating it in battle will it truly yield," Lucas said without turning back, his eyes locked firmly on Kyurem, burning with anticipation.
The Ice Dragon Kyurem, he was going to make it his.
"Prepare for battle! Rayquaza!"
He threw the Poké Ball into the air, summoning his mightiest Pokémon.
"ROAARRR!"
A resonant, majestic roar split the sky as the dark-red serpentine form of Rayquaza glided out from the clouds, its long, coiled body gleaming in the sunlight.
An overwhelming aura of divine might and draconic dominance filled the air.
"ROAARRR!"
Kyurem responded with a furious roar of its own, showing not an ounce of fear.
The Sky Dragon Rayquaza? It wasn't afraid of that thing!
Rayquaza's crimson eyes glowed dangerously, fixing on the Ice Dragon.
This guy… was asking for it.
"Rayquaza—Mega Evolve!" Lucas commanded decisively.
Without hesitation, the evolution stone activated, and brilliant light enveloped Rayquaza.
Normally, Rayquaza was four times weak to Ice. And Kyurem—hailed as the "Strongest Dragon"—might be debatable in title, but as the mightiest Ice-type legendary, it was no exaggeration.
The radiant light surged, engulfing the skies.
In the next instant, the light burst apart—revealing Mega Rayquaza, its serpentine form cloaked in ominous crimson patterns, radiating destructive power.
Kyurem's golden pupils shrank slightly. For the first time, a flicker of seriousness passed through its heart.
That aura… was formidable.
"Draco Meteor!" Lucas's command echoed in his mind.
No need for words—their hearts were in perfect sync. Defeating Kyurem was all that mattered!
Mega Rayquaza raised its massive head, gathering a sphere of pure draconic energy that shot skyward at blinding speed.
When it reached its apex, it burst apart—
unleashing a storm of blazing dragon meteors that came crashing down like a celestial rain of destruction.
"ROAARRR!!"
Kyurem roared furiously, its body igniting with roaring white flames from tail to snout—
White Kyurem had emerged!
The air froze instantly as waves of terrifying cold radiated from its body, turning the sky into a storm of frost and light.
"Ice! Seal the world—Glaciate!"
Lucas instantly recognized the move.
Glaciate—the signature move of Kyurem.
He remembered vividly how, outside Castelia City, Zekrom had been frozen solid by this very move, unable to break free.
Even though Mega Rayquaza had lost its Flying-type weakness thanks to Delta Stream, Dragon-types were still weak to Ice!
"Reshiram, pull back!" Lucas ordered immediately.
Reshiram ascended higher, retreating from the frigid battlefield below.
Meanwhile, Mega Rayquaza's body gleamed with a brilliant aura as it prepared its next attack.
"ROAARRR!"
White Kyurem's furious cry split the heavens as it spread its wings wide.
A ring of icy-blue light erupted outward from its core, expanding in all directions like a freezing shockwave—
Glaciate!
The world itself seemed to freeze beneath its wrath.
The very air screamed as frost overtook everything in sight.
Mega Rayquaza unleashed a Dragon Pulse, colliding with one edge of the icy ring but the attack only disrupted a small section, allowing the rest of the freezing wave to surge outward wildly.
The surrounding landscape turned into a blizzard. Wherever the Glaciate passed, snowflakes and crystal shards scattered endlessly—
Even the sky began to snow.
"It's still as terrifying as ever…"
Reshiram climbed higher, narrowly avoiding the frozen ring's range.
Below them, Green gasped, hugging her arms tightly as a chill ran through her body.
Everything beneath them was now a vast, endless white.
The once-green forests, grassy plains, and rolling mountains—all of it had been buried beneath a thick layer of frost and snow.
It was an eerily familiar sight.
Yes—just like half a year ago, outside Castelia City.
Kyurem's uncontrolled fury had turned the entire region into a frozen wasteland, even affecting the city itself.
"This… is the Ice Dragon's true power!"
Lucas's eyes gleamed with exhilaration.
This power—he wanted it more than ever.
…
At the Unova Pokémon League Headquarters, Vertress City.
"Chairman, reports have just come in! A snowstorm anomaly has been detected near Lacunosa Town, it's almost identical to the phenomenon that occurred outside Castelia half a year ago!"
The Unova League Chairman frowned deeply.
Half a year ago, the Castelia snowstorm anomaly had been caused by none other than Kyurem itself!
Could it be… Kyurem had reappeared?
"Dispatch investigators immediately and contact Champion Alder," he ordered after a brief pause.
No need to panic.
Even if Kyurem had reemerged—so what?
Opelucid was currently filled with Champions and among them was none other than the Legendary Trainer, Lucas himself!
The League Chairman allowed himself a faint, calm smile.
There was nothing to fear.
(End of Chapter)