The intense light dimmed.
Amidst the ruins of the collapsing skyscraper, the gigantic stone Zygarde was on the brink of disintegration.
In the original plot, not even the complete form Zygarde's attack could be withstood, let alone the current clash of Divine Beasts and Phantom Beasts.
Even if it could block the attack, it wouldn't matter.
Baimu has survived so far relying on three things—ruthlessness, loyalty, and having many "brothers"!
If three aren't enough, then a few more! As many as needed!
But the fact showed that just with Mega Rayquaza, Unbound Hoopa, and the complete form Zygarde, it was enough to crush Fladari's false creation formed from himself fused with Zygarde cells.
"Move it! Quickly move it!"
Before everyone could approach the ruins, Fladari's roar erupted from within the fragmented gigantic stone Zygarde.
"Why! Why stop me!"
"Humans aren't worth your effort at all! Zygarde!"
"Look at this world! Will you remain indifferent as the Guardian of Order!?"
The roar was almost twisted.
What a pity.
These words failed to resonate with Zygarde, even the human-hostile and distrustful Z2 had no response to Fladari's nonsense at this moment.
Z1 intended to respond, but seeing Hoopa and Rayquaza silently charging for the next attack, it immediately lost interest.
Fladari kept trying to restore the gigantic stone Zygarde, but what awaited him were three beams of light symbolizing his utter defeat!
BOOM——!!
The deafening explosion's rolling impact wave and sweeping dust forced Baimu to squint, his feet vibrating at a high frequency, as if the ground would crack open at any moment.
"This is the Legendary Pokémon…"
The scene, akin to a natural disaster, deeply shook everyone's hearts.
Half a minute later.
The remnants of the building were completely quiet, the blood-red vines and bizarre statues faded away with the acrid smoke, leaving only an incomparably deep, colossal pit.
Occasionally, a shimmering light caught one's eye, yet the frequency was slow, and the brightness was dim.
"Fladari!"
Pachira screamed, running to the edge of the pit, gazing into the darkness below, shouting hysterically: "Fladari!!"
The only response was echoing silence.
"I, I'll go down and take a look!"
Ailan clenched his fists, his eyes filled with confusion, gloom, and regret.
Baimu and Liu Ge's actions were too swift, too overwhelming, unlike in the original plot, which gave him no time to hesitate and forced him to join the fight against Fladari.
Now, Ailan had only battled Ash Ketchum once, confirming through Fladari's actions that he had always been used.
Honestly, accepting this wasn't so simple.
He summoned Charizard, ready to descend to the bottom of the pit.
"Don't rush."
Baimu extended his hand to stop him, then turned to Unbound Hoopa and said, "Hoopa! Help us open a door to the bottom!"
"Hoopa is here~~ Open sesame!"
Unbound Hoopa flew behind them, one left arm flying out, the bright golden ring opening a portal.
Pachira rushed in first, followed by Ailan and Charizard.
"Ailan! Don't act impulsively!"
Da Wu worried that Fladari was not finished, furrowing his brows and eagerly following with Ash Ketchum.
Xijana showed little interest, merely gazing at the sky where Mega Rayquaza was circling, whispering, "I never thought you could gain its support."
"I am equally surprised," chuckled Baimu.
From what he knew about Alternate-colored Rayquaza, their relationship had not yet become particularly close; the latter likely viewed him as a friend capable of providing amusement.
The communication through the Divine Heart satisfied Alternate-colored Rayquaza's curiosity about humans.
As for when it might grow bored with him…
That remained unknown.
"If there's anywhere else needing my assistance, just call," Xijana said, retracting her gaze, then suddenly wincing in pain.
Baimu noticed the bleeding injury on her arm when she withdrew her hand, exclaiming, "Such a severe wound!"
"Just a scratch, I'll have the medical team bandage it up," Xijana waved him off, refusing his help, "Hurry on down, they might need you below."
"... Okay, thanks a lot this time," Baimu said softly.
Xijana was in Carlos for a month solely because of Baimu's one-sided request.
"Watching over the Legendary Giant Stone is our Meteor People's duty; even if you hadn't asked, I'd have come. Let's hope it doesn't fall into the hands of conspirators again…"
The short-haired girl left with Salamence.
"…"
Baimu paused a bit, then stepped into the golden ring.
Darkness gave way to a mild brightness again.
Charizard's tail flame lit up the surrounding darkness, accompanied by Pachira's call, capturing his attention.
Amidst a pile of boulders, he saw what seemed to be Fladari's half-exposed body, the rest buried beneath the stones, with several people gathered around.
Baimu quickly approached, finding Fladari's eyes still open but devoid of spirit, his chest barely rising, almost imperceptible to the naked eye.
The expressions of those like Da Wu varied around them.
To think he's still alive? What a tough life!
He clicked his tongue in secret, then glanced at the dimly glowing Legendary Giant Stone on the other side.
In the original plot, it disappeared directly with the Big Explosion, and having been the gigantic stone Zygarde for too long, it disrupted the earth veins, forcing Greninja to stay behind and cut the roots.