A thunderous, domineering dragon roar tore through the sky as a massive gray tyrannical dragon crashed heavily onto the street before Lucas.
Its overwhelming divine presence and dragon might rippled through the air, pressing down on everyone's hearts.
The Ice Dragon—Kyurem!
"Kyurem, today's opponent isn't weak. I'm counting on you."
Lucas caught the rebounding Poké Ball and smiled at Kyurem.
After all, the opponent was Shadow Lugia. Some respect was due.
"Hmph, it's just a overcooked-colored Lugia. Leave it to me."
Kyurem lifted its head arrogantly, staring at the Shadow Lugia in the sky. Its dragon pupils glimmered with eagerness.
It had been confined inside its Poké Ball for too long—its whole body felt like it was rusting.
"Alright then, Kyurem—Black Form."
Seeing Kyurem's pride, Lucas's lips curved into a smile.
"ROOOOOAAAAR—!"
Kyurem unleashed a savage roar. A surge of lightning coursed from its tail across its body. In an instant, Black Kyurem took shape.
"Fusion Bolt!"
Crackling arcs of electricity burst from Black Kyurem's tail turbine, enveloping its entire body in a glowing electric arc.
Black Kyurem stomped the ground and launched itself upward at incredible speed, carrying terrifying momentum as it charged straight toward Shadow Lugia.
"SCREEEE—!"
Shadow Lugia, which had been preparing a Sucker Punch strike, suddenly sensed danger.
Its scarlet eyes snapped downward, releasing an ear-piercing shriek.
Fssss—!
Wind screamed as flying-type energy rapidly gathered in front of Shadow Lugia.
Aeroblast!
A white beam infused with slicing wind pressure burst forth, shooting directly toward the incoming Black Kyurem.
Aeroblast vs. Fusion Bolt!
The moment the two moves collided, a massive shockwave exploded outward. The violent gale forced even Lugia and Mother Lugia to retreat some distance to avoid being sucked into the maelstrom.
BOOM!
Energy burst open violently. Black Kyurem was knocked back by the blast, its fierce dragon eyes locking intensely onto Shadow Lugia.
That exchange had gained it no advantage.
Even though Fusion Bolt held a typing edge over the Flying-type Aeroblast…
Fusion Bolt was still an Electric move—and since Black Kyurem was the one using it, there was no STAB bonus.
…
Meanwhile, elsewhere—
"That… is that Unova's Legendary Ice Dragon, Kyurem?"
Zinnia finally noticed the abnormal sight in the sky. Her eyes lit with a strange gleam.
The Ice Dragon Kyurem!
No Dragon-type Trainer could ever be unfamiliar with it.
"Why would Kyurem appear here?"
Caitlin's elegant brows furrowed slightly.
The strongest dragon of Unova did not possess a pleasant reputation.
"Lucas is here as well."
N looked at Black Kyurem with a complicated expression. Even as Zekrom confronted Giant Dragonite, its eyes couldn't stop drifting back toward Black Kyurem.
The Tao Trio were siblings of the same origin.
Even though Kyurem had beaten Zekrom in the past, Zekrom's feelings toward Kyurem were still complicated.
And N—
N remembered the terror of Kyurem all too clearly.
Since Kyurem was present, that meant Lucas was nearby.
N finally exhaled in relief.
"Guys, please—stop staring at Kyurem! We're STILL fighting here!"
Blue's miserable shout snapped the three back to reality.
At that moment, Blue was suffering—truly suffering.
His Mega Blastoise was being relentlessly focused down by Lance's ace Dragonite, which had just landed a direct hit with Dragon Rush.
Only Mega Blastoise's bulk kept it standing.
And at this critical moment, his teammates decided to zone out?
Red's Mega Charizard X was tied down battling Lance's Dragonair and couldn't spare a second to help.
"Lance's strength is outrageous…"
Zinnia quickly sent out her Mega Salamence to intercept Dragonite. Her clear, bright eyes glanced at the ice-cold, grim Lance.
Worthy indeed of the former Indigo Champion and the No.1 Trainer of the World.
Even without Shadow Lugia, he was holding his own against all five of them!
His power was terrifying.
Blackthorn clan members were truly monsters.
"But he is still only one person."
Caitlin said calmly, her green psychic glow rising.
Psychic boost!
Her Mega Metagross's eyes glowed as well—Psychic!
Dragonite's swift movements stalled for a moment, giving Mega Salamence and Mega Blastoise the opening they needed.
Lance was undeniably strong—but still just one man.
Just like Giovanni being ganged up on in Saffron City.
In a multi-front battle, his focus would inevitably falter. Facing N, Red, Blue, and Zinnia at once, Lance would eventually falter.
One-on-one, or even one-vs-two, Lance likely would not lose.
But this was one vs FIVE.
Even a top-tier Champion could only effectively command three or four Pokémon simultaneously in an intense battle.
And now, Lance was beginning to feel the pressure.
He could not direct each of his Pokémon perfectly at the same time.
His ace Dragonite and Giant Dragonite were formidable, but Giant Dragonite had to keep Zekrom at bay—otherwise, once Zekrom entered the main battle, it would be over instantly.
A top-tier Champion could stand toe-to-toe with a high-tier legendary using his team—but in the current formation, if Lance focused solely on Zekrom and ignored Red, Blue, and Zinnia, he would be defeated instantly.
"Damn it!"
Lance's expression grew uglier by the second.
Being suppressed by these juniors filled him with frustration.
He knew it well: as time passed, the disadvantage would only worsen.
The numbers were against him.
"If only Shadow Lugia hadn't lost control!"
Bitter, burning unwillingness surged inside him.
He had stormed into Vermilion City seeking trouble—
Was he really going to retreat like a beaten dog?
Was he going to be forced to retreat by his juniors?
Impossible!
"Garchomp!"
Without hesitation, Lance threw another Poké Ball.
A powerful Garchomp appeared, its aura fierce.
This was his privately trained dragon—already near high-tier Champion level. Though not yet perfected, its combat strength was astonishing.
"Mega Evolution!"
Lance gripped the Key Stone, eyes dark.
Garchomp roared as the mega energy burst forth—
Mega Garchomp emerged.
Retreat like a loser before his juniors?
Impossible!
The mega light faded. Mega Garchomp raised its terrifying scythe-like arms and roared.
"Dragon Rush!"
Lance's eyes flashed coldly.
Mega Garchomp wreathed itself in draconic aura and charged straight at Mega Salamence.
…
With Black Kyurem holding off Shadow Lugia, Lugia and Mother Lugia finally relaxed.
They had no desire to battle their clan leader.
Even though Shadow Lugia was now different in form and essence…
It had once been their leader.
"Lucas, thank you."
Lugia and Mother Lugia landed on a tall building. Lugia expressed its gratitude.
"No need to be so polite. We'll be one family from now on."
Lucas smiled warmly, clearly in a very good mood.
Of course he was—he came to watch a spectacle and ended up obtaining an entire Lugia family of three.
How could he not be happy?
Lugia: "…"
Mother Lugia: "…"
They were speechless.
Humans truly were unbelievable.
But they didn't hate it.
After all, if Lucas really could awaken their clan leader…
Then following him wasn't unacceptable.
Besides—
Humans only lived about a century, didn't they?
A hundred years wasn't long for Lugias.
But saving their clan leader was far more important.
"Let's talk later. Right now, we need to handle this rampaging fellow first."
Lucas turned his gaze back to Shadow Lugia.
"Dragon Claw!"
He issued the mental command to Black Kyurem.
Black Kyurem roared and charged forward.
The Black Form specialized in physical close-quarters combat—closing the distance was necessary.
"SCREEEE—!"
Shadow Lugia's red eyes flared. Its wings spread wide as dark aura condensed instantly.
Dark Pulse!
But Black Kyurem didn't dodge—
It slashed straight into the Dark Pulse with Dragon Claw.
The dark energy shattered instantly.
Black Kyurem was now extremely close.
Shadow Lugia's emotions spiked violently at having its attack torn apart. The malice surrounding it thickened.
It lunged forward, draconic aura swirling around its body.
Dragon Rush!
"Fusion Bolt!"
Lucas didn't back down.
Black Kyurem's tail turbine flared with lightning.
Dragon Rush and Fusion Bolt collided mid-air.
BOOM!
Shockwaves and violent winds burst outward.
"…Physical attack that strong?"
Lucas raised a brow.
Shadow Lugia's Dragon Rush had actually held even against Black Kyurem.
Its special attack was already powerful, but Lucas hadn't expected its physical prowess to be this high as well.
"But if that's all, it's not enough."
"Kyurem!"
He called sharply.
"ROOOOAAR!"
Black Kyurem's roar shook the sky. Its lightning surged violently.
The sudden burst of power overwhelmed Shadow Lugia—shattering its Dragon Rush and knocking it flying with a deafening explosion.
Shadow Lugia shrieked in agony.
"Glaciate!"
Black Kyurem raised its head and roared, a cluster of flames quickly engulfing its entire body, revealing White Kyurem.
An overwhelming cold radiated outward, ice crystals forming in the air.
Temperature plummeted.
"SCREEE—!!"
Shadow Lugia stabilized itself with difficulty, dark energy swirling above it like a storm cloud.
Shadow Storm!
White Kyurem completed its charge, swinging a massive icy arc—
Glaciate!
Ice and darkness clashed violently, shaking the heavens.
Black clouds were torn apart.
The sky split into icy blue and pitch black.
Hurricanes roared wildly.
"What magnificent power…"
Lucas narrowed his eyes, watching as Glaciate and Shadow Storm collided fiercely.
Shadow Lugia's Shadow Storm was not weaker than Kyurem's Glaciate.
Glaciate might be weaker than Ice Burn, but it was still one of Kyurem's exclusive moves—not lacking in power at all.
"Physical and special attack both strong… and its endurance is high as well."
Lucas analyzed calmly.
From the exchanges so far, Shadow Lugia was completely different from normal Lugia.
Lugia specialized in defense—its offenses were mediocre.
But Shadow Lugia was an attacker—strong in both physical and special power.
Nothing like Lugia.
"…I'll take it down first, then see if I can awaken its consciousness."
After a moment of thought, Lucas made his decision.
He was also very curious what had turned the former Lugia clan leader into… this.
(End of Chapter)