Zygarde, the second First class Legendary Pokémon Akira obtained, maybe even surpassed Kyogre in strength.
If compared, Zygarde's status was on par with Rayquaza, the Sky High Pokémon.
Unfortunately, Akira realized that what he had obtained wasn't the complete Zygarde—or rather, only a part of it.
Zygarde was unique in that its smallest form could be divided into cells, capable of combining into countless configurations.
The black-and-green dog-like creature he had obtained now was Zygarde's 10% Forme.
The 10% Forme excelled in close combat, pouncing onto opponents and tearing into them with sharp fangs.
It would finish enemies with its razor-sharp teeth.
At full sprint, it could exceed speeds of 100 kilometers per hour.
During emergencies, it would act separately from its 50% Forme counterpart.
The 10% Forme's base stats totaled only 486, making it relatively weak, while the 50% Forme boasted 600.
One could say the 50% Forme rivaled standard Legendary Pokémon in power.
The 50% Forme dwelled deep within caves, monitoring the Pokémon ecosystem for abnormalities and serving as its guardian.
It ceaselessly observed those who disrupted the ecosystem.
Should the Kalos region's ecosystem collapse, it would emerge without mercy, annihilating all threats.
Despite its overwhelming strength, this was merely Zygarde with 50% of its cells gathered.
It still retained reserves of equal power.
Complete Forme Zygarde's base stats were staggering, reaching an astounding 708—few Pokémon surpassed it.
After all, even Arceus, the Alpha Pokémon, had only 720.
The Complete Forme was born when all of Zygarde's cells assembled, a battle-ready state to fulfill its duty of safeguarding the Pokémon ecosystem.
Its wings and tail each housed a "Core" that functioned as a brain, allowing independent judgment and fluid transformation.
From the maw on its chest, it could unleash devastating energy capable of obliterating anything, forcibly subduing ecosystem disruptors.
It wielded power enough to overwhelm even Xerneas and Yveltal.
Truly, Zygarde lived up to its title as the Order Pokémon—what it sought was order.
Any existence that defied order or ravaged nature would provoke its intervention, resolved with terrifying might.
A Pokémon embodiment of "persuasion by virtue."
As for why only the 10% Forme had manifested, the reason was simple.
Akira noticed that after encountering the Cursed Snake Demon, the incubation progress bar rapidly advanced before halting around 10%.
Then, Zygarde emerged.
This indicated that, like Kyogre, Zygarde appeared once the progress reached a certain threshold—not necessarily the end.
However, Zygarde was more peculiar, manifesting at just one-tenth completion, corresponding to its multiple formes.
Name: Zygarde (10% Forme)
Ability: Aura Break
Type: Dragon, Ground
Strength: B (Growing)
Moves: Core Enforcer, Thousand Waves, Thousand Arrows, Earth Force...
One can only say that Zygarde truly lives up to its reputation as a formidable Legendary Pokémon, with even its move names exuding an imposing aura.
As the most elite Legendary Pokémon of the Kalos region, Zygarde possesses a total of four signature moves.
[Core Enforcer] can nullify the opponent's Ability—a terrifying effect that outright removes it.
[Thousand Waves] stirs up dust to immobilize the opponent, functioning like an offensive version of [Mean Look].
[Thousand Arrows] has the effect of being able to strike airborne foes.
[Earth Force] is essentially a reskinned [Earth Power], albeit with a more impressive name.
Overall, among these four signature moves, [Core Enforcer] is the most useful, followed by [Thousand Waves].
But what's truly formidable is Zygarde's Ability!
[Power Construct]: If its HP drops below half, a non-Complete Forme Zygarde will actively transform into Zygarde.
In reality, this transformation occurs when Zygarde's HP falls below half or when it expends half of its internal energy.
The more original cells it has, the longer it can maintain this form.
What does this mean?
It means that even if Zygarde is currently in its 10% Forme, it can still transform into its Complete Forme at will.
That Complete Forme Zygarde, often referred to as the "Gundam."
Akira has no doubt that Complete Forme Zygarde could possess SSS- tier strength, or perhaps even higher.
Hmm?
Akira snapped out of his thoughts and turned his attention to the battlefield, noticing some peculiar changes.
The remaining Cursed Snake Demons began merging together, their bodies splitting apart as if self-destructing.
Then, five or six of the Cursed Snake Demons' eyes turned red, resembling robots entering berserk mode.
Their faces were filled with madness.
Intrigued, Akira signaled Landorus to hold back its iron fist, which was poised to strike the Cursed Snake Demons.
He was curious to see what kind of trump card the Cursed Snake Demons could unleash.
After all, three of them had already been captured by Nihilego, so even if the remaining ones were destroyed, he wouldn't mind.
Under Akira's watchful gaze, the Cursed Snake Demons' bodies writhed and intertwined.
It was as if several small lumps of clay were being molded into one large lump.
Finally, they formed a massive Cursed Snake Demon over ten meters tall, its aura causing the water below to churn violently.
The colossal Cursed Snake Demon fixed its eerie eyes on Akira, its sinister aura suddenly surging several times over.
What had once merely coiled around their bodies now sprang to life, expanding rapidly in an instant.
Like black flames, the aura engulfed the giant Cursed Snake Demon, towering into the sky.
These "flames" were an uncanny shade of ink, exuding an ominous feeling that induced discomfort at a mere glance.
The discomfort was spine-chilling, making one instinctively want to flee.
The fear of being tainted by even a trace of this aura was overwhelming.
In an instant, not just the water, but even the nearby coral reefs and the distant forest began to tremble violently.
At first glance, it seemed as if a monster were about to emerge from the ground.
Akira raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms as he stood firm, his heart devoid of fear.
He merely thought the Cursed Snake Demon's trump card was making quite a commotion.It didn't seem like simply charging up a big move, but more like some great terror was about to descend.
The current commotion bore some resemblance to when the Hellbell Snake summoned the phantom of the Demon King before.
Coincidentally, both the Hellbell Snake and the Cursed Snake Demon belonged to the Snake category.
Moreover, the description of the Cursed Snake Demon indicated they became this way after being tainted by a wisp of aura from some terrifying entity.
So then...
Could the Cursed Snake Demon have been born because of the Demon King?
And now, was the Demon King about to descend as well?
Thoughts raced through Akira's mind one after another, intensely curious about what would appear next.
BOOM!!
At some point, the originally clear sky had undergone a drastic change, with endless dark clouds now dominating the heavens.
The battlefield was instantly plunged into darkness, as if the entire world had sunk into gloom, creating an oppressive weight on everyone's hearts.
Lightning Snakes writhed within the clouds, and eerie white-red bolts continuously struck down, tearing through the sky.
The unceasing thunderclaps seemed intent on shattering heaven and earth.
Currently, the brightest thing around Akira was the massive Cursed Snake Demon, its body flickering with alternating black and red light.
"Akira..."
Diancie tugged at Akira's sleeve, feeling somewhat afraid.
The commotion caused by the Cursed Snake Demon was anything but small.
Akira patted Diancie's head, glanced at the thunderous sky, and softly reassured:
"Don't worry, everything will be fine."
This wasn't just empty boasting.
With Kyogre and Zygarde by his side, he truly didn't think anything could threaten him.
Not to mention he still had his ultimate invincibility cheat—Sturdy Shedinja.
Even in the worst-case scenario, he couldn't die.
Hearing this, the tension on Diancie's little face eased somewhat as she nodded.
As he spoke, a large black-and-green dog quietly appeared beside Akira.
Resembling a Doberman, the green "striped object" around its neck looked like a gem-encrusted scarf collar.
Its hexagonal eyes glowing white were fixed intently on the massive Cursed Snake Demon that was disrupting the natural order of the world.
Clear disgust was evident in its gaze.
What?
You want to destroy the ecological order?
Just see if I don't beat you to a pulp!
It had fought against both the Life God Xerneas and the Destruction God Yveltal without hesitation—what made you any different?
Before long, the light on the Cursed Snake Demon's body rapidly dimmed, and simultaneously, its body shriveled at an alarming rate.
Like a discarded costume, the enormous Cursed Snake Demon instantly became deflated, its remains falling directly into the pond.
Now, this Cursed Snake Demon had completely transformed.
The next moment, infinite pressure descended upon the area.
It was as if an aura from ancient, primordial lands had arrived!
The sky darkened even further. Akira slightly raised his head, his pupils involuntarily trembling as he stared blankly at the sky.
An enormous Snake's head, as large as a full moon, appeared in the air, its icy snake eyes locked onto Akira.
Countless crimson lightning bolts coiled around it, making the dark clouds seem insignificant in comparison.
Even its flickering tongue was unimaginably massive!
Beneath the colossal Snake's head was an equally enormous Snakeine body, coiled across the sky and occupying a vast expanse.
A single one of its eyes was larger than a skyscraper, and its entire body was so immense it defied imagination!
This was the largest creature Akira had ever seen—by far.
Even the sea beasts encountered back at Mobius Lake couldn't compare to this creature!
Jörmungandr.
Upon seeing this colossal Snake, Akira froze momentarily before this name involuntarily surfaced in his mind.
In Norse mythology, Jörmungandr was the enormous Snake that encircled the human world, belonging to the race of giants.
The second son of the trickster god Loki and the giantess Angrboða, sibling to Fenrir and Hel.
Deemed too dangerous to exist, Odin cast it into the bottomless depths of Midgard's oceans.
Jörmungandr was the mightiest among giants, thus earning the title "World Snake."
Its length could encircle the entire world—clearly an entity of unimaginable scale.
And now, the creature before him gave Akira the distinct impression of the legendary Jörmungandr.
Of course, it wasn't literally large enough to wrap around the Hunter World, but its size was undeniably extraordinary.
The giant Snake stared at Akira, its massive jaws slightly parting as deep, rumbling sounds emerged.
Though the noises were bizarre, they transformed into comprehensible words upon reaching Akira's ears.
"A pitiful wretch from that tiny lake-bound island, are you?"
"Gained a bit of strength and suddenly forgot your place—how pathetic."
"Only upon reaching this continent will you realize how laughable the power you once prided yourself on truly is."
The Snake's enormous eyes naturally exuded arrogance.
But perhaps remembering it was facing a mere "human"—a creature at the very bottom of the food chain—its interest waned, the disdain fading.
This pitiful insect before it was merely fortunate enough to possess strength exceeding the limits of that island's humans.
On this continent, such power might be respectable in the borderlands, but to the Snake, it was insignificant.
Akira narrowed his eyes, observing the massive Snake suspended high in the air, realizing it wasn't as formidable as he'd imagined.
Or rather, its true form might be terrifying.
But what stood before him now was merely a phantom.
He also confirmed this creature had no connection to the Demon King—it was another entity of fearsome power.
Indeed, the depths of the Dark Continent were home to many horrors.
The Snake repeatedly called him a "pitiful wretch," its words dripping with contempt even without deliberate emphasis.
Akira could understand this.
To the Snake, the difference between them was like a human staring at ants on the ground.
Who would ever respect a mere ant?
After a moment of silence, Akira chuckled softly.
"My strength might indeed be lacking."
"But I don't think you're all that impressive either!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Zygarde beside him erupted with radiant light, its body rapidly expanding.
Time seemed to freeze as an aura countless times more terrifying than the Snake's surged into the sky!