"Now—Flare Blitz!"
At Aiden Flint's command, Bond Infernape erupted in blazing flames and shot forward like a meteor, charging straight toward Latias.
BOOM!
The terrifying impact slammed into her body, sending Latias flying backward through the air!
Even a Legendary couldn't help but cry out in pain after taking such a brutal blow.
But a Legendary was still a Legendary.
Despite the relentless assault, Latias's stamina remained astonishingly high.
Seeing his sister injured, Latios's expression tightened.
Yet just as Latias stabilized herself in midair and prepared to counterattack—
Flames suddenly burst across her body.
Her wings trembled.
And she plummeted straight down from the sky.
Latios's pupils shrank.
He instinctively moved to rush forward—
But James and Jessie had already ordered their Flygon to block his path.
"Hey, hey, hey—this is a fair battle!" James shouted. "Latias challenged our Boss first, you know!"
"If you insist on interfering," Jessie added coldly, "you'll have to get past us first!"
"That's right, meow!"
Latios clenched his teeth, unable to intervene.
As a Legendary, he followed his own code.
And as the guardian deity of the City of Water, he could not violate the rules of battle.
Latias's current state was the aftereffect of Bond Infernape's Flare Blitz—
She had been burned.
Watching this, Aiden silently marveled at Bond Infernape's ability.
The burn rate was absurdly high.
But this was still battle.
Defeating Latias, capturing her, and allowing Infernape to achieve the feat of slaying a Legendary—
That was the priority.
"Blast Burn!"
With Aiden's command, overwhelming flames swallowed Latias completely.
After continuous high-intensity combat, even a Legendary like Latias could no longer withstand Bond Infernape's assault.
Her body finally collapsed.
Aiden looked at Infernape and the three members of Team Sky with clear approval, then raised an Ultra Ball and hurled it at Latias.
The Ultra Ball burst open with a sharp pop, turning Latias into red light and pulling her inside.
It shook once.
Twice.
Three times.
Click.
Latias had been successfully captured.
…
After Latias was captured, Latios could no longer restrain himself.
He roared furiously at Aiden, demanding that his sister be released.
Meanwhile, Latias—now inside the system space—witnessed something that completely shattered her worldview.
A vast world-like space stretched endlessly before her.
And in the sky—
That terrifying emerald dragon staring straight at her—
Rayquaza.
Just its gaze alone made her nearly suffocate.
And far away…
Two other terrifying presences rivaling Rayquaza's aura quietly existed.
Latias swallowed hard.
For the first time, she felt a deep sense of helplessness.
"Ding! Latias's affinity has increased. Current affinity: 70."
Hearing the system prompt, Aiden lifted the Ultra Ball with psychic power and released Latias again.
She reappeared in front of Latios.
Even as a Legendary, her stamina had already recovered significantly in such a short time.
But after seeing Rayquaza, Groudon, and Kyogre inside the system space…
Latias had fallen completely silent.
"Brother," she said softly, "we're not his opponents."
Latios frowned, unwilling to accept it.
That Infernape was indeed powerful—
But compared to him, the gap should still be enormous.
"I heard you want to capture me," Latios said coldly. "Then fight me. If you lose, you must return my sister's freedom!"
Aiden's lips curved into a faint smile.
"First, my main target here was you. Latias was just a bonus. Second, she challenged me first, so capturing her was perfectly reasonable."
He paused slightly, then continued calmly:
"But I'm willing to give you a chance to fulfill your wish. If you lose, you'll become my Pokémon as well."
"Deal?"
Earlier, Latios's resistance had been driven mostly by anger and pride.
But now, after Latias had been captured, his challenge had become a matter of choice.
Only Pokémon captured through genuine battle could truly submit.
Of course, whether they were willing or not…
Once they met Rayquaza, everyone eventually became part of a harmonious family.
"…Fine."
Latios finally agreed.
Aiden raised three Master Balls, his gaze meaningful.
"You have divine authority, so you're stronger than ordinary Legendaries. Naturally, I won't send out just any Pokémon."
"I have three choices here. You can pick your opponent freely."
"But if you lose, don't break your promise."
Latios stared at the three Master Balls in silence.
He didn't fully understand where Aiden's confidence came from.
But for his and Latias's freedom—
He would fight with everything he had.
"I choose… the one in the middle."
Aiden's smile deepened with a trace of mischief.
"Sure?"
"No changing your mind later."
He raised his hand slightly.
"Come out—Rayquaza."
As his words fell—
A colossal emerald dragon emerged from the Master Ball, coiling through the sky.
Its gaze descended upon Latios.
Cold.
Indifferent.
Like a god looking down at an ant.
The moment Latios saw Rayquaza—
His entire body trembled.
Even as a Legendary with divine authority, he felt zero courage to resist the Sky Dragon.
At that moment—
He realized something terrifying.
This battle…
Didn't even need to happen.
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