Chapter 823: A Key From the Second World
Zygarde is composed of Cores and Cells.
If Cells are lost, they are lost; they can regenerate and are not important.
But Cores are different.
Judging from its appearance in the anime.
Zygarde's Cores are extremely rare.
There are only two.
Z1 and Z2.
Among them, Z1.
Is the "Squishy" familiar to Pokémon fans, Bonnie's companion, who once showed its prowess in the Magearna movie.
Meeting Bonnie led Z1 to start believing in humans.
It believed humans have a good side, and their positive impact on the ecosystem outweighs the negative.
As for Z2.
Its appearance rate isn't high, but it assumes the role of the "ecosystem monitor."
Based on its observation of human actions, it believes humans are a cancer in this world, destroyers of the environment, disruptors of order, and should be purged.
Later on, of course, Z2 was persuaded.
After all, Pokémon is an anime aimed at children.
It naturally has to convey some positive messages; it can't be too realistic. Subtly mocking is fine, but being too direct will lead to censorship.
Moreover, because humans in the Pokémon world care for Pokémon, they also care for the environment, so what Z1 said was indeed true.
This world even birthed groups of extreme nature conservationists, so what else is there to say?
For example, the representatives of evil organizations in the Hoenn region, Team Magma and Team Aqua.
Fighting their whole lives.
Just to protect the land or the ocean, ensuring humans or Pokémon will always have a place to live.
Tears.
Team Magma and Team Aqua.
One red, one blue.
Coincidentally corresponding to the colors of Z1 and Z2.
Right now.
The one in AZ's hand is the blue core, Z2.
"Zygarde's Cores can sense each other. When one is in danger, the other will immediately rush to help. Since AZ has captured Z2, Z1 will inevitably come at the fastest speed. This is Zygarde's instinct; even if It has become a Demon God, It will still follow this underlying code."
Kazuya explained for AZ.
Making all the creatures present understand what was going on.
No wonder AZ was so certain Zygarde would come knocking.
It turned out that when he shattered Zygarde earlier, he took advantage of the chaos to snatch one of Its Cores.
"Why do we have to wait for Zygarde? With so many of us here, can't we try to break this barrier?"
Scizor asked, having Lucario translate for him.
Everyone except AZ.
Started considering the feasibility.
They didn't think it would be a big problem.
Although they lost the Master-level Cofagrigus, they gained a Greninja.
2 Masters, 5 Champions, plus Team Flare's array of tech guns.
Could combining all this power.
Still fall short of Zygarde's Core Enforcer?
"You truly don't understand what 'Core Enforcer' means."
AZ put his hands behind his back and shook his head.
He then began to explain this signature move of Zygarde.
The essence of Core Enforcer, as its name suggests, lies in destroying the target's core, launching an absolutely effective critical strike.
For Kazuya's group of Pokémon to attack together.
Would merely be using type energy to offset the natural energy stored within the Master.
If the former's energy was higher.
Then it could naturally dissolve the energy shield formed by the Master; this was fundamentally a process of energy canceling each other out.
But the natural energy within the Master had been stored for two thousand years.
Even if Kazuya and his group attacked for a whole day, they might not be able to deplete the natural energy within.
Core Enforcer is different.
It's equivalent to bypassing the energy shield and blowing up the Master—the container itself—with one shot.
Once the container is blown up, no matter how much is stored inside, it will leak out and can no longer form an energy shield.
However, this destruction is temporary.
Once the effect of Core Enforcer passes, the Master will naturally recover its storage function, but it will have to start over from scratch.
Hearing AZ's explanation, everyone finally understood.
"Is there no other way? Waiting for Zygarde to come will be quite dangerous for you guys."
Greninja glanced at AZ and the Team Flare members behind him.
When Zygarde arrives.
Once the fighting starts, they might not have the capacity to protect this group of humans.
"There's no other way. Without Floette by my side, this is the only option left."
AZ shook his head helplessly.
"How does Floette undo the Master's seal?"
Kazuya asked curiously.
His gaze fixed on the bases of the five flower pillars; each pillar had an identical small hole, looking very out of place.
"Accurately speaking, it relies on Floette's Eternal Flower. The stamen of the Eternal Flower can put the Master into a 'dormant' state, and the seal will undo itself."
The stamen of the Eternal Flower?
Hearing this, Kazuya was stunned for a moment, then reached out a hand: "...Is it this?"
Everyone stepped forward, craning their necks to take a look.
It was a small black flower.
[Stamen of the Eternal Flower]
From their friend in the second world, Floette.
In the end, Floette ran to AZ's side to face death with him. Before leaving, she left the Eternal Flower to Kazuya as a keepsake.
This little flower had been collecting dust in Kazuya's inventory.
He didn't know what special function it had.
He didn't expect it would come in handy now.
"The Eternal Flower?! How do you have this?!"
AZ's eyes practically popped out as he looked up at Kazuya, red blood vessels even surfacing in his eyeballs.
He seemed to have misunderstood something.
"There's more than one Eternal Flower in this world."
Kazuya said expressionlessly.
It was indeed impossible for a world to have only one Eternal Flower.
For example, he knew of at least two in the second world alone.
Of course.
They existed in two different eras.
Whether two could appear simultaneously in the same era was unknown.
"Oh, so that's how it is. You scared me."
AZ let out a sigh of relief, raised a hand to wipe the sweat that had seeped from his forehead, and took the Eternal Flower from Kazuya. "With this, there's no need for us to take risks."
A look of joy appeared on his face.
Being able to secure the Ultimate Weapon more safely was naturally the best outcome.
Right at this moment.
"Ulu-lu!"
Z2 inside the glass container suddenly stirred.
It looked up at the sky.
"Quick, undo the seal! Activate the Ultimate Weapon immediately! And protect that flower well!"
Kazuya shouted at AZ immediately, then turned to the three injured members. "Dragonite, you stay here with Mewtwo and Skitty and guard them."
With that said.
Kazuya handed Skitty and a few Heal Balls to Dragonite.
"Mm, you guys be careful."
Dragonite nodded and took Skitty.
Z2 reacting.
Everyone knew what had happened.
It meant Zygarde was already in position.
Just as Kazuya and the other four Pokémon prepared to head to the surface, the ground suddenly shook violently.
Crack crack——!
Dirt and mud constantly fell from the ceiling above.
It seemed the Azoth Palace was already under attack by Zygarde.
The attack was so fierce that even this underground world was severely affected. It was estimated that this place would collapse in less than a minute.
Without a word, Kazuya grabbed Z2 and returned to the surface with a Teleport.
When he appeared in the sky.
Zygarde, who was building up power to bombard the ground beneath It, immediately changed direction, targeting Kazuya in the air.
Looking around It.
Where was there any palace left?
Only a pile of stones and gears remained.
Even the large residential areas and various mechanical facilities surrounding it were all scrapped.
For these Legendary Pokémon.
Destroying a human city.
Was truly as easy as flipping a hand.
Faced with Zygarde's intimidating aim.
Kazuya wasn't panicked at all.
"Heh."
He raised the glass container in his hand, placing Z2 in front of him.
An intense sense of danger transmitted from Z2 to Z1, causing the latter to involuntarily halt Its attack.
This could also be considered an ability between Z1 and Z2.
No matter how far apart they are.
They can call out to each other, communicate, and even let the other sense their situation.
This ability happened to help Kazuya deal with Zygarde.
He wasn't confident in defeating Zygarde.
Even though Scizor, Lucario, and Greninja had all reached the surface by now, he still didn't have the confidence to obliterate Zygarde.
Zygarde's vitality was inherently terrifyingly tenacious.
Even gods of the same level found It hard to kill.
Not to mention the four of them.
"We still have to wait for AZ to activate the Ultimate Weapon..."
Kazuya said somewhat unconfidently.
Actually.
He wasn't that confident in the Ultimate Weapon of the first world.
Due to Kazuya being a variable, the Ultimate Weapons of the two worlds were not on the same level in terms of lethality.
The second world's weapon required the energy of both the God of Destruction and the God of Life to activate.
While the first world's only required the power of one god.
This was one manifestation of the gap.
But there was no other way right now.
If the Ultimate Weapon wasn't particularly effective against Zygarde either, they would have to prepare to run.
Facing a lone Zygarde, they still had a good chance of running away.
It wasn't as troublesome as Giratina.
Kazuya held Z2 in his hand.
Becoming Zygarde's primary target.
Ranged attacks wouldn't work.
Zygarde could only attempt to attack in close combat.
As long as It could snatch Z2 back and integrate it into Its body, not only would It have no lingering worries, but Its combat power would also be enhanced.
But Kazuya happened to be unafraid of close combat.
With Aura and psychic power as support, Kazuya was a god in the realm of close combat. Even if Zygarde was 8 levels higher than him, he was confident he could remain unscathed for a short period.
Coupled with the assistance of Scizor and the other two, stalling for time was even easier.
Fortunately, AZ's speed was also quite fast.
Plus, with the help of Dragonite and the other two Pokémon for transport.
They quickly brought the Ultimate Weapon and the Master to the surface.
Originally, AZ only intended to activate the Ultimate Weapon.
After all, without Floette, he couldn't control the Master, not to mention the original plan would have completely drained the Master's energy.
But now, with the Eternal Flower.
He could operate it a bit.
He prepared to use the natural energy within the Master to boost the Ultimate Weapon's power.
Thereby achieving a better result.
Boom—!!
A light beam more dazzling than a rainbow pierced the sky.
A scene similar to a week ago appeared once again.
Under this shot, Zygarde was directly scattered into a sky full of stars.
Only this time, the landing points of those Cells didn't seem to be purely the Kalos region or the nearby sea, but all over the world.
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