Lucas gave a faint, knowing smile as he addressed Zacian. His gaze lingered on the legendary wolf, sweeping over its battered and heavily wounded body.
And as for the ice dragon...
Lucas lifted his head, eyes narrowing slightly as he studied the monstrous form of Black Kyurem. Although its injuries were not as severe as Zacian's, its condition was far from good. Its stamina was clearly wearing thin.
Hmm. Perhaps this was the perfect time to swoop in and take advantage.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend?
"I will never be your friend."
Zacian's voice rang out coldly in Lucas's mind. Even though its psychic speech carried a faint weakness due to its injuries, the hostility was still sharp as ever.
To become allies with Eternatus, that parasite that could only survive by devouring energy? Impossible. Absolutely impossible.
"Human," Zacian said solemnly, its tone grave and firm, "Eternatus's power may be alluring, but sooner or later, it will consume you entirely."
It did not know how Lucas had managed to subdue Eternatus, nor why it obeyed him—but what Zacian did know was that Eternatus was a creature that could never be separated from its insatiable hunger for energy. Such a parasite, no matter where it went, could bring only ruin.
And if Lucas stayed with it, the boy would only be dragged into the abyss sooner or later.
"How should I put this…? Forget it." Lucas raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a light smile. "Let's have this conversation later, Zacian. For now, we'd better focus on forcing Kyurem to retreat first."
As expected, even though Zacian still looked at Eternatus with fierce enmity, at least toward Lucas, its wariness was not nearly as strong.
That was already good news. As long as there was space for dialogue, there would be a chance to slowly reshape Zacian's impression of Eternatus. Lucas did not expect them to suddenly coexist peacefully, but at the very least, Zacian could not keep chasing it endlessly across the land, trying to kill it every time they met.
The last time, it had been Calyrex. Now it was Kyurem. But next time?
If Lucas happened to encounter Zacian in the wild again, it might be nearly impossible to escape unscathed.
"I do not need to join forces with you."
Zacian stared at Lucas for a long moment, its eyes cold and unyielding. Slowly, it rose to its feet despite its injuries, its voice still distant and aloof.
Even in this state, it was still the King of Swords!
Though unlike Calyrex it did not bear the literal title of "King," the honorific of Sword King was nonetheless its pride. It did not need allies—certainly not Eternatus.
"ROOAARRR!"
Lucas was about to reply when a sudden, thunderous roar shook the sky. Black Kyurem's eyes burned with ferocity; clearly, the so-called strongest ice dragon could no longer hold itself back.
"Whether it is one or two opponents, the outcome will not change!"
Its draconic eyes gleamed savagely, cold and cruel. Even if Eternatus and Zacian combined their strength, Kyurem felt no fear. Not in the slightest. After all, Zacian had already been grievously wounded by its claws.
With a roar, Black Kyurem surged forward, its jagged claws glowing faintly with a sharp, cold azure light.
"Zacian, can I trouble you to pin Kyurem down for just a moment?"
Lucas's tone was calm as he looked toward the charging dragon. His eyes flickered briefly as he weighed his options before asking the proud wolf.
Zacian was silent. Its heart resisted the idea of cooperation.
"Zacian," Lucas pressed quietly, "Kyurem's influence on the land is too great. If this meaningless battle continues unchecked, if Kyurem refuses to stop, then this entire region will be transformed completely by its frost."
His eyes swept over the snowfield. Already, the once-clear landscape had been consumed by biting winds and endless white. Even far beyond this plain, the snow was spreading. The world itself was being corrupted by Kyurem's endless cold.
Zacian's face grew tense. Its gaze swept across the endless white that surrounded them. What the human said was true—the dragon's freezing aura was poisoning the land. If it was not checked, then…
Zacian's heart grew heavy. Though cold and proud, it was a legend that had always acted for good. Its exterior might seem aloof, but deep down, Zacian was a benevolent spirit.
"…Fine."
The answer was short, but it was enough.
Though badly wounded, Zacian's explosive might was still terrifying.
"Then please—hold Kyurem down, just for a while." Lucas's handsome face lifted into a faint, cunning smile. Legends? Sorry—when it came to strategy, humankind had always been the masters.
Above them, Eternatus and Black Kyurem were already locked in fierce close-quarters combat. Though Eternatus's colossal form gave it an overwhelming size advantage, Kyurem's power was far from ordinary. Even wounded, their clash remained evenly matched.
Zacian lowered its body, muscles coiling, the decayed sword clenched tightly in its jaws. A brilliant, fierce light flared along its blade.
At just the right moment, Zacian leapt. Its form blurred into a streak of azure light, streaking directly toward Black Kyurem!
"ROAARR!"
A freezing beam shot from Kyurem's jaws, halting Eternatus's claws mid-swing, encasing them in frost. With its other hand, Kyurem slammed a savage dragon claw against Eternatus's neck, knocking the giant wyrm backward.
Kyurem let out an ecstatic roar, wild joy surging through its body.
Exhilarating! For the first time in countless millennia, it was fighting freely, without restraint, against foes worthy of its power. This, this was what it had always craved! Not rotting away in the frozen cavern, not sleeping in endless slumber—this was the battle it had been born for.
In that instant, a revelation struck it—its entire existence felt illuminated.
Yes! I am Kyurem, the Ice Dragon! I wield the unmatched power to suppress continents. Why should I have wasted all those years like some lazy dragon in a cave?
Its draconic eyes blazed brighter. The world itself seemed larger, brighter, boundless before it.
But wait… why did this "light" feel so familiar?
The realization came too late.
It was Zacian—the damned wolf! And it was already far too close.
Kyurem roared with rage. "You treacherous dog! Attacking without honor!"
But Zacian ignored the outburst. Its great sword came down in a mighty arc.
Behemoth Blade!
Kyurem scrambled to respond, but it was too sudden. It could only raise its claw in defense—Dragon Claw meeting the radiant golden strike.
The energies clashed violently, light bursting in all directions. Kyurem gritted its teeth. At this rate, it would not be able to withstand the blade much longer.
"Eternatus, Eternabeam!"
Lucas's command rang out without hesitation.
"ROOAAAR!"
Eternatus's deep, reverberating cry shook the heavens. Its colossal body rose higher into the sky, crimson light flickering ominously across its scales.
Above, the clouds darkened, writhing as they twisted into a vast black vortex that covered the heavens.
The Darkest Day phenomenon had arrived.
An unseen weight fell upon the world—dark, suffocating, crushing.
"What… what is that?!"
Far in the distance, Nimbasa Gym Leader Elesa and Castelia's Burgh stared up in horror. Even artists like Burgh and scientists like Colress could only gape.
Even Marnie, who had once seen this with her own eyes, felt awe prickling in her gaze. This—this was the same calamity that had ravaged Galar three thousand years ago.
"We need to move back. Now!" Marnie shouted suddenly, tugging at her companions. The destructive force of Eternabeam was still vivid in her memory. Even though they were already far from the battlefield, it was nowhere near far enough.
Green and Colress exchanged startled glances. They didn't fully understand, but seeing Marnie already sprinting to safety, they quickly followed.
Better safe than sorry.
---------------------------------
"BOOM!"
Zacian's Behemoth Blade finally overpowered Kyurem's Dragon Claw, slamming mercilessly into the ice dragon's body. Kyurem roared in agony, pain lacing its furious cry.
But that was not all.
Zacian leapt back swiftly, its cold eyes narrowing as it glanced up at the crimson vortex swirling above.
It knew this scene all too well. It was because of this very phenomenon—the Darkest Day—that it and Zamazenta had once joined forces to defeat Eternatus.
And now, three millennia later, it found itself standing shoulder to shoulder with its old enemy. The irony was bitter, but undeniable.
From the vast, swirling vortex, a colossal, claw-shaped appendage stretched outward, aiming directly at Kyurem.
Eternabeam!
Crimson light. Blazing scarlet. A brilliance both dazzling and deadly.
For a moment, the world itself seemed to stop.
Six titanic beams of red energy tore through the sky, all converging upon Black Kyurem.
"ROOOAAR!"
Sensing the mortal danger, Kyurem bellowed, its tail turbine screaming to life, purple lightning flashing wildly.
Freeze Shock!
Though battered and drained, Kyurem still forced itself to summon its most powerful shield. Without it, those beams would annihilate it utterly.
A violet barrier erupted around its form—just in time for the six crimson lances to strike.
"BOOOOM!!!"
The world exploded.
The Eternabeam's impact engulfed Kyurem in a cataclysm of light and fire, slamming it into the snowy plains below. The ground shattered with a thunderclap that seemed to tear the heavens open.
The shockwave spread violently, scarlet light flooding the land. Even Reshiram, shielding Lucas, was blown backward by the storm.
Zacian had already retreated. Though the beam was a Dragon-type attack and should not directly harm it, the raw force of the explosion was another matter.
It hesitated, but when its eyes fell on Lucas and Reshiram being driven back, Zacian darted forward and placed itself behind them, absorbing the brunt of the gale.
"Hah… still too close. Thank you, Zacian."
Lucas exhaled in relief. The storm had been overwhelming. But at least they were safe.
Zacian flicked him a glance, then turned away again, cold and aloof as ever.
Lucas chuckled helplessly. "Tch. Still as frigid and proud as always."
The red light faded. The oppressive vortex dissolved. Slowly, Eternatus descended from the sky, exhaustion glimmering in its speckled eyes. It had not yet regained its prime, and summoning the Eternabeam in a pseudo-Dynamax state had cost it dearly.
Lucas's eyes shifted to the battlefield's center. A massive crater yawned in the snow. And within it lay Black Kyurem, its body ravaged and broken, struggling to rise.
It had tried—using Freeze Shock to defend itself—but the shield had been too rushed, too weak. The Eternabeam had torn through it, nearly unimpeded.
Kyurem staggered to its feet, breathing raggedly, eyes blazing with hatred as they locked onto Eternatus.
It had not expected Eternatus to still hold such a devastating weapon.
It was unwilling to admit defeat. If not for the injuries it had sustained fighting Zacian, it would never have been in such a pitiful state.
"You've lost, Kyurem," Lucas said evenly, his voice carrying across the snowfield. "Will you continue fighting?"
Kyurem's aura flared with fury, even as its body trembled. Its will was as violent as ever, as though it still longed to battle.
Yet deep inside, it knew the truth. It had been defeated.
"I will remember this, Eternatus," it snarled. "Next time, we will fight again!"
Leaving behind that bitter vow, the strongest dragon turned, wings beating weakly as it prepared to leave. Its pride as a conqueror could not bear the humiliation of lingering as a loser.
(End of Chapter)