A coral reef on the Dark Continent.
Akira's expression was grave as he watched the eerie thing emerging from the pool, sensing a sinister aura spreading outward.
When he got a clear look at the creature, his pupils contracted—he suddenly realized something.
That tentacle from earlier hadn't appeared because of the pool.
It was because of the creatures lurking inside it!
Several cobra-like beings surfaced, each about three to four meters tall, their bodies covered in black-green patterns.
Their faces bore insect-like compound eyes, densely packed, reflecting his image within them.
Behind their heads were frilled, lizard-like black adornments, while an aura akin to post-mortem Nen swirled around them.
Their mere presence seemed to drop the surrounding temperature by several degrees.
[Cursed Snake Demon]: Originally an ordinary snake, it was tainted by a wisp of aura from some eerie creature.
After mutation, it took on its current form, gaining the abilities to reshape its body, regenerate at an extraordinary rate, and curse living beings.
If one meets its gaze, they risk being turned into a Cursed Stone, their soul imprisoned within the rock.
...
Before him now stood the very culprit behind the Cursed Stones he had encountered earlier—the Cursed Snake Demon.
This also explained why the number of Cursed Stones increased the closer one got to the pond.
The Cursed Snake Demon lurked within these waters, so naturally, the stones became more densely clustered near it.
As the Cursed Snake Demon appeared, a new realization struck him.
He now understood what kind of Pokémon might be gestating within the cocoon.
Because this Cursed Snake Demon bore an uncanny resemblance to a certain Pokémon—or rather, to one of its forms.
That Pokémon was none other than one of the three legendary deities of the Kalos region!
Zygarde, known as the [Z Legend].
Zygarde was a legendary aura Pokémon, much like Kyogre and Groudon of the Hoenn region—both being top-tier legendary beings.
The term "aura Pokémon" collectively referred to the legendary trio: Xerneas, Yveltal, and Zygarde.
Xerneas, known as the [X Legend], possessed the power to bestow life. It could radiate a Fairy Aura that enhanced Fairy-type abilities.
Yveltal, known as the [Y Legend], wielded the power to take life. It could emit a Dark Aura that amplified Dark-type abilities.
Akira suspected that the Demon King's cocoon might contain Yveltal—but it could also be something else.
It seemed that in every region, or at least within every trio of legendary Pokémon, the same pattern held: two members stood in opposition to each other.
The remaining one was invariably the leader, stepping in to mediate when the other two clashed.
For example, Kyogre, the Sea God, often conflicted with Groudon, the Land God, prompting Rayquaza, the Sky God, to intervene.
Even among lesser legendary trios, like Tornadus and Thundurus, Landorus would step in as the leader to resolve their disputes.
The Kalos trio was no exception.
Zygarde typically remained deep within caves, silently monitoring the ecosystem.
Only when Xerneas and Yveltal awakened and clashed, threatening ecological collapse, would Zygarde emerge.
Precisely because these three embodied aura-related powers, they were classified as aura Pokémon.
Zygarde was unique—its smallest form could be a single cell, while its largest, complete form resembled a "Gundam."
Zygarde's various forms were created by the aggregation of two cellular-like components: "Cores" and "Cells."
Its appearance changed depending on how completely these cells assembled.
For instance, Zygarde Cell resembled a green flatworm.
Zygarde Core, which functioned like Zygarde's brain, controlled its main body and existed in limited numbers.
The 10% Forme of Zygarde took the shape of a Doberman, its eyes glowing white hexagons.
Its body bore green hexagonal patterns, and the green "scarf-like" structure around its neck resembled a gem-encrusted collar.
Meanwhile, the 50% Forme of Zygarde resembled a cobra.
Its eyes consisted of four green hexagons, resembling an insect's compound eyes.
Behind its head were black, frill-like adornments marked with green hexagons, and its tail split into five prongs.
The creature before him bore a striking resemblance to the [Cursed Snake Demon], which was why he was certain this gestation thread would lead to Zygarde.
He couldn't think of a more fitting candidate.
Moreover, judging by the Pokédex's descriptions, the Cursed Snake Demon matched many of Zygarde's traits—except for its ability to turn living beings into Cursed Stones.
Akira pondered this as his figure flickered, appearing far behind in an instant, as if teleporting.
The moment he moved, the spot he had just occupied was engulfed by a black mist emanating from the Cursed Snake Demons.
Seeing their attack fail, several of the Snake demons twisted their waists, slithering forward as the dark aura around them intensified.
These Cursed Snake Demons were no weaklings—each was ranked at SS-tier.
This was no ordinary threat.
Just the few before him already outnumbered all the SS-tier creatures he had encountered before.
Akira could sense that ever since entering the swamp forest, the things he faced had grown increasingly abnormal.
The creatures he would meet next would be even more terrifying, and the disasters he encountered would defy all reason.
From both Don's knowledge and his own understanding, the depths of the Dark Continent were anything but simple.
For instance, according to the Cursed Snake Demon's lore, they had been transformed into their current state after being tainted by a mere wisp of aura from something horrifying.
If just a trace of that aura could create such monsters, how powerful must the source itself be?
This suggested that the gestation thread leading to Zygarde likely wasn't tied to the Cursed Snake Demons.
If anything, it was probably connected to that unknown aura's origin!
As Akira contemplated this, several flashes of light appeared around him, summoning three Pokémon in quick succession.
From left to right: Nihilego, Diancie, and Landorus.
Facing these SS-tier Cursed Snake Demons, Akira intended to end the battle swiftly so he could study the details.
Diancie would handle debuffs, Landorus would engage head-on, and though Nihilego was the weakest of the three, its role was the most crucial.
Akira planned to have Nihilego seize control of these Cursed Snake Demons, turning them into his own subordinates.
Not only would they be valuable assets, but they'd also make research far more convenient.
These Snake demons ought to consider themselves honored.
Aside from humans from the Six Continents, they were the first creatures fortunate enough to be enslaved by Nihilego.
Truth be told, Akira had encountered several other creatures worthy of control before.
For example, the sea beasts near the Dark Continent's borders—among them, the Azure Dragon Sea Beast was the strongest.
But Kyogre had casually obliterated them all into dust.
Then there was Jin, the ruler of the stone giants.
However, considering its remains would greatly benefit Steelix, and that only its death would allow Akira to win over the Diamond Spirits more easily, he chose not to spare it.
Next were the Hellbell Snakes in the swamps—their chimes were useful, capable of summoning phantom shadows of demon lords.
In the end, Kyogre reduced them to dust as well.
Hmm… Given that he already had a top-tier Legendary Pokémon like Kyogre, Akira didn't feel much about these losses.
What was gone was gone.
After all, sea beasts were a dime a dozen, and Meloetta could replicate the Hellbell Snakes' chimes.
So none of them were truly indispensable.
So up until now, the monsters Akira intended to have Nihilego control, apart from the recently stored [Illusion Terror Bug], were these [Cursed Snake Demons].
Landorus glared with wide eyes, arms crossed over its chest, floating in the air on the clouds beneath its lower body as it looked down upon several Cursed Snake Demons.
It simply couldn't comprehend—how dare these creatures have the audacity to attack Akira!
Landorus spread its arms, its muscular limbs surging with thick, earthy-yellow Aura.
The Aura rapidly gathered around its body, quickly forming a massive concentration that dyed the sky in a vivid yellow hue.
In the next instant, Landorus flashed before one of the Cursed Snake Demons, its powerful hand swinging straight toward the demon's face.
"BAM!!"
The palm, enveloped in overwhelming Aura, struck with terrifying force.
With just a momentary pause, the Cursed Snake Demon was sent flying by Landorus.
The massive demon shot through the air like a dark-green cannonball, crashing straight into the nearby cliff wall!
Its face caved in like putty, as if its shape could be molded at will.
Then, a strange black energy inexplicably appeared on Landorus' hand, rapidly spreading from its fingers toward its body.
Wherever it spread, the flesh gradually turned into ashen-white stone.
Diancie, standing nearby, had already prepared itself.
With a slight shake of its head, it extended a small hand and lightly tapped the air.
The round pink diamond on its head shimmered brilliantly, symbolizing its power.
The crown composed of four octahedral diamonds and two elongated diamond rods also radiated light.
In an instant, a thick pink glow burst from Diancie's fingertip, enveloping Landorus.
Countless traces of black energy and ashen-white material were stripped away, then crystallized into dazzling diamond formations within the storm.
Diancie's signature move—Diamond Storm.
Before the remaining Cursed Snake Demons could react, the devastating Diamond Storm surged toward them.
Diamonds of all sizes filled the sky, spinning at high speed in a mesmerizing pattern, each carrying intense fluctuations of energy.
The diamonds were dazzling on their own, but combined into a storm, they were utterly breathtaking.
This was one of Diancie's abilities.
Diancie could absorb light in perfect balance, and in legend, it was said to protect its companions from calamities and illnesses.
What had just transpired was a manifestation of that power—with Diancie present, no ally would ever suffer from negative conditions.
BOOM… BOOM…
The overwhelming Diamond Storm rampaged across the pond, charging straight at the Cursed Snake Demons.
Though the demons reacted swiftly, their agility unmatched, two were still caught in the storm.
Even with Diancie holding back slightly, the two demons were left battered and bruised, collapsing unconscious to the ground.
A jellyfish-like figure silently drifted toward the Cursed Snake Demon that Landorus had sent flying.
It was Nihilego.
With its tentacles serving as limbs, Nihilego appeared at first glance like a bashful maiden.
Its translucent body resembled crystal, faintly glowing, exuding an aura of purity.
The Cursed Snake Demon was already completely unconscious.
Faced with Landorus, whose strength reached SS-rank, this demon couldn't even withstand a single slap.
Or rather, the only reason it wasn't instantly killed was because Landorus had held back.
All so that Nihilego could successfully take control of it.
Otherwise, Landorus alone would have been enough to sweep through them all.
Nihilego floated in the air, its tentacles swaying unconsciously as if swimming through the ocean.
At the same time, the tips of Nihilego's tentacles split off into large, translucent segments that looked quite beautiful.
These large tentacle segments contained massive amounts of neurotoxins.
The stronger the creature it sought to control, the more toxins were required.
When combined with a portion of Nihilego's consciousness, these toxins allowed it to freely manipulate other organisms.
Under Nihilego's control, the nearly transparent tentacle segment merged directly into the Cursed Snake Demon's body.
As soon as the segment split off, Nihilego's tentacle tips immediately regrew, replenishing what had been expended.
Being a jellyfish Pokémon, Nihilego possessed considerable regenerative abilities.
Soon after, eerie lights began emanating from the Cursed Snake Demon's body as its wounds started healing.
This meant the Cursed Snake Demon had completely fallen under Nihilego's control!
"Ding!"
"Pokémon incubation complete!"
Just as Akira was observing the battlefield, an untimely notification sound suddenly appeared.
When Akira curiously checked which incubation bar had reached completion, he was shocked to find it was the least likely one—the incubation bar he had just recently obtained.
'But... how is this possible?'
'We only made contact recently, and the progress was moving so slowly before...'
Filled with confusion, Akira checked the newly incubated Pokémon.
What appeared in his mind was a black and green canine figure.
Zygarde.
The Aura Pokémon of legend.
One of the three guardian deities of the Kalos region!
The being known as [Z God]!
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