"Zekrom, huh~! So cool."
Selene's big eyes glittered as she stared at the overwhelmingly oppressive Zekrom. Although she took part in the Suou Island battle, by the time she and Leaf and Blue arrived, Zekrom never actually appeared—it had stayed hidden in the storm clouds.
And after Lance lost, Zekrom left on its own.
So this was the first time Selene had ever seen Zekrom with her own eyes—especially appearing on the battlefield as her opponent.
As for how to deal with Zekrom…
Tactics flashed through her mind; she had already planned everything before the battle began.
"Zekrom's power is ridiculous, but Selene's Pokémon are still in great condition."
Alder still felt uneasy. From some of Selene's earlier battles, it was clear—
This girl's tactics were insanely unpredictable. She didn't fixate on beating opponents head-on.
"Trust N. Zekrom isn't something that can be taken down so easily."
Iris, on the other hand, had complete confidence in N and Zekrom—after all, it was Unova's last remaining dragon god!
On the field—
"Zekrom."
N called softly.
Zekrom's intimidating golden eyes locked onto Mega Gengar. Its massive body rose slowly, gold lightning crawling across its obsidian armor.
"Thunder!"
BOOM!!
A massive golden bolt crashed down toward Mega Gengar.
This was just a probe—N had seen some of Selene's matches. She looked harmless, but when she fought, she could be downright sinister.
And her Mega Gengar wasn't something to take lightly.
Mega Gengar quickly slipped underground, dodging the attack.
The thunder crashed into the arena, blowing sparks through the air.
"Gengar, Curse!" Selene called without hesitation.
Mega Gengar rose from a corner of the arena. A decayed gray nail materialized before it.
"Thunder!"
N's gaze sharpened.
Zekrom dove, electricity screaming through the air again.
Will it make it in time?
Everyone stared—could Zekrom stop the Curse?
If Curse landed on Zekrom, N would be doomed!
But at that moment, Selene suddenly smiled sweetly.
N caught that expression—and felt a terrible premonition.
"Hehehe~ got you. Gengar—Destiny Bond!"
"Geh-he-he!"
The gray nail vanished. Mega Gengar's eyes flared with eerie light.
Destiny Bond?!
N's pupils shrank. Not good!
"Zekrom!"
Zekrom tried to redirect the Thunder, but it was too late.
BOOM!!
The devastating bolt struck Mega Gengar. Thunder exploded outward, wind and static tearing through the field.
"Nice one, Selene! Mega Gengar won't tank that!"
Leaf brightened. Mega Gengar had already taken damage, and its defense wasn't great. Even without a type advantage, Thunder from Zekrom hurt like crazy.
Destiny Bond would activate!
"It's clever bait, but it might not take Zekrom down outright," Giovanni murmured.
"Huh?" Blue blinked. Destiny Bond should have forced a trade.
Could Zekrom really withstand it?
"Indeed. Legendary Pokémon have far higher resilience—especially a legend like Zekrom," Dylan said.
Reality wasn't like a game—moves weren't guaranteed to activate perfectly. Just like how Protect wasn't guaranteed in the anime, and a random Clefairy couldn't magically ignore a Rayquaza's Draco Meteor.
Likewise, you couldn't expect Curse or Destiny Bond to instantly drop a high-tier legend.
With Zekrom's legendary physiology and strength, bringing it down with Destiny Bond wasn't impossible—but Selene's Mega Gengar pulling it off? The odds weren't high.
"But Selene's Mega Gengar is strong. It's not impossible," Dylan added.
The dust cleared.
Mega Gengar lay fainted, no longer Mega-Evolved.
A gray aura drifted out of its body, shooting straight into Zekrom.
Gray light flashed on Zekrom's armor—its body shuddered violently, hunched over as if in painful resistance.
"Zekrom!"
N's expression changed.
Selene recalled Gengar, smiling in satisfaction.
So what if it was Zekrom? As Dylan's disciple, she could handle this—piece of cake!
But soon the effect wore off. Zekrom finally steadied itself, though clearly in terrible shape.
"Huh???"
Selene's eyes widened.
It didn't fall?!
Destiny Bond couldn't drop it? Was Zekrom cheating?!
The crowd erupted in shock.
"Zekrom, are you alright?" N asked, worried.
"I'll manage… barely."
Zekrom's voice was low and strained—clearly Destiny Bond had hit hard.
N still looked tense, but his gaze toward Selene changed.
This girl…
"Tch—legends really are something. But if Destiny Bond didn't work, I'll just try something else."
Selene didn't mind. Zekrom was badly hurt—that was proof Destiny Bond did something.
She pulled out another Poké Ball.
"Weezing!"
A Weezing floated out before her.
Weezing wasn't one of Selene's main lineup, but she liked using it occasionally.
It simply knew way too many useful tricks.
"Weezing… if I recall, it can also learn Destiny Bond."
N's face darkened.
With Zekrom this injured… another Destiny Bond could finish it.
"Weezing, Toxic!"
While N wavered, Selene didn't hesitate.
Weezing lunged straight at the legendary dragon, spitting a spray of deep purple venom.
Poison-type Toxic!
N inhaled sharply.
Damn it!
Curse, Destiny Bond, Toxic—
Could she use ANYTHING normal?!
"Thunder!"
Zekrom blasted the Toxic apart—and the bolt slammed into Weezing.
When Weezing floated up again, it was in awful condition.
"Weezing!"
Selene called again, and Weezing darted forward.
N's expression twisted. If he used Thunder again, he could definitely knock Weezing out—but what if it used Destiny Bond?!
But with Weezing already inches from Zekrom—
N made his decision.
"Zekrom! Thunder!"
Zekrom rose slightly. A golden bolt shot down.
N stared at Weezing—
"Destiny Bond!" Selene shouted.
As expected!
"Zekrom!"
But this time N was prepared.
Zekrom growled, shifting the lightning so it grazed past Weezing—avoiding the trigger window. The bolt flashed dangerously close.
"Selene, you're underestimating me."
N said lowly.
Destiny Bond couldn't be used consecutively.
Now was the perfect time to finish Weezing.
"Zekrom, Thunder!"
Lightning surged.
"Nope—totally not underestimating you."
Selene beamed.
"I wasn't planning to use Destiny Bond this time."
"Weezing! Explosion!"
N's eyes widened.
Weezing's face twisted into a crazed grin as its entire body ignited with blinding white light.
It became a miniature sun—
"Zekrom!!"
Zekrom tried to flee, but—
BOOOOOOM!!!
The sun detonated. A violent shockwave tore outward, shaking the stadium. The flash was so bright the audience couldn't open their eyes.
A mushroom cloud billowed upward.
Explosion.
"How is this happening?!"
N shielded his face. His blood ran cold.
A blow this huge—even a full-strength Zekrom would feel it.
But right now…
Could Zekrom withstand it?
He already suspected the answer.
"Insane! That Explosion was perfect!!"
Blue gasped.
"If Thunder hit—Destiny Bond. If Thunder avoided—Explosion. Selene thought of everything," Giovanni praised.
Time felt painfully slow.
Finally—
With a heavy crash, Zekrom fell from the sky, battered beyond recognition.
It heaved breath after breath, glaring weakly at the unconscious Weezing.
That thing!!
"It's still standing?!"
Selene recalled Weezing, stunned.
"Guess I'll need… another explosion. Not bad for the Dragon of Ideals~"
She grabbed another Poké Ball.
Zekrom, still with sharp hearing despite the pain, heard her…
…and immediately felt dizzy.
Thud—
"Zekrom and Weezing are both unable to battle!"
The referee peeked nervously—Zekrom wasn't showing the usual swirly eyes but… it was clearly out cold.
He absolutely did NOT dare poke Zekrom to check.
"All six of N's Pokémon are unable to battle. Selene wins—Selene advances!"
Cheers erupted.
"I win! What a fun match!"
Selene flashed a big bright grin at the cameras, making a playful victory sign.
Compared to her, N stared silently at Zekrom… then even more silently at Selene.
Fun?
Battles between trainers always offered something to learn.
So what did he gain from this?
Curse.
Destiny Bond.
Toxic.
Explosion…
N stared blankly.
He didn't feel the "fun" at all.
(End of chapter)