Kyurem staggered from the impact, but quickly rose again.Its eyes flashed with excitement as it stared at the newly evolved Dragonite and let out a thunderous roar.
"The battle isn't over!"
With that declaration, Kyurem sprang upward, releasing a surge of overwhelming pressure.
Kyurem's true power.
Facing the Dragonair who had evolved into Dragonite, Kyurem finally unleashed its full strength.
Icy mist erupted around it, and freezing winds burst forth, cold enough to freeze the entire world.
"Evade! Then use Dragon Pulse!" Lucien shouted sharply.
Dragonite's speed ranked among the highest of all Pokémon.The moment the icy wind surged toward it, Dragonite rose sharply and banked upward, dodging the attack before firing a violet Dragon Pulse straight at Kyurem.
A direct hit.
But Kyurem retaliated instantly, firing a blazing Ice Beam.
Dragonite boosted its speed further, weaving frantically through the air.
But this time, Kyurem wasn't holding back.
It tilted its massive head, the Ice Beam curved mid-air, tracking Dragonite relentlessly.
Boom!
Lucien's heart tightened.
Dragonite was four times weak to Ice.
A single Ice Beam could deal catastrophic damage.
Dragonite froze on impact, its body encased in ice, crashing into the frozen arena with a deafening thud.
"Hmph."
Kyurem exhaled a frosty breath from its nostrils.
"It's over."
"So even this wasn't enough…" Terrakion murmured.
Cobalion and Virizion also weren't too disappointed. Training took time, and Dragonite had already grown far beyond what it once was.
But then they heard Lucien shouting...
"Dragonite! Don't give up! We haven't lost yet!"
The three Swords of Justice blinked in surprise.
Kyurem's gaze deepened. It let out a low, curious rumble, almost expectant.
Suddenly;
A crack formed in the ice around Dragonite.
"Crack…"
The entire shell shattered.
Dragonite burst into the sky once more.
"It held on?!" The Swords of Justice were stunned.
Lucien's expression sharpened.
'Their training in the icefall… it worked!'
Dragonite had developed resistance to cold and even Ice-type energy.
"Hmph." Kyurem snorted, but this time, there was unmistakable approval in its voice.
"In that case, let's continue!"
But Dragonite was at its limit.
Its body trembled, covered in wounds, its breath ragged. It was purely willpower keeping it aloft.
Lucien knew Dragonite would eventually lose.
So he made his decision.
"Dragonite," Lucien said softly.
Dragonite turned toward him.
"Outrage! Use everything you have! Show Kyurem our full power!"
"Wooooooh!"
Dragonite roared fiercely.
Red draconic energy exploded around its body, the terrifying, berserk aura of Outrage.
The red aura flared like burning fury, wrapping around Dragonite, seeping into its eyes, tinting them crimson.
With a roar that shook the cavern, Dragonite charged straight toward Kyurem.
Outrage, a full-force, all-in attack that concentrated every ounce of strength into one decisive blow.
Kyurem's gaze sharpened.
It didn't dodge.
Instead, it gathered its own energy.
Instantly, an ancient, primal aura erupted from its body, temperatures plummeting in a single breath.
Icy mist spiraled outward.
Kyurem roared and charged.
Glaciate. Its strongest technique.
The two dragons collided.
Dragonite's raging red aura clashed violently with Kyurem's freezing storm.
"Crack!!"
Frost spread at the point of impact. In an instant, half of Dragonite's arm froze solid.
But Dragonite roared, swung its claws, and shattered the ice.
Then, with a final surge of power, it slammed into Kyurem, knocking the Pokémon backward several meters.
But…
The freezing mist had already seeped deep into Dragonite's body.
Almost instantly, Dragonite froze again, still mid-Outrage stance, its expression locked in fierce determination.
Kyurem slowly straightened, its voice echoing through the cavern.
"You've lost."
Lucien felt no disappointment. He had already achieved what he came for.
Kyurem then looked at Dragonite, and a rare note of admiration colored its usually cold tone.
"It's a good dragon."
The battle had finally come to an end.
Lucien hurried over and summoned Larvesta, having it melt the thick ice encasing Dragonite's body. Then he fed Dragonite several potions, one for frostbite, one for healing wounds, and one to restore stamina.
Before long, Dragonite's eyes fluttered open, weak but conscious.
"Huh…?"
Lucien gently rubbed its soft, slightly chubby cheek and smiled.
"You worked hard, Dragonite. You did amazingly well. Rest now."
"Huuh~…"
With a relieved sigh, Dragonite closed its eyes and drifted into a peaceful sleep.
"Rumble…"
The surrounding ice walls sank slowly into the ground, Kyurem had dispersed the ice arena.
Standing atop the frozen lake, its massive figure dominating the cavern, Kyurem fixed its gaze on Lucien.
"Thank you, Kyurem," Lucien said with a sincere grin.
He fully understood Kyurem's intentions. The legendary dragon had been training them on purpose.
This trip had been far more fruitful than he had hoped. They had met the three Swords of Justice, who shared his beliefs.
Dragonair had evolved into Dragonite.
And even if Kyurem refused him in the end, Lucien already felt satisfied.
At that moment, Cobalion, Virizion, and Terrakion approached, standing quietly beside Lucien.
Kyurem looked at the group and spoke again, its ancient voice echoing through the cavern:
"To stand before me with such strength… Your courage is remarkable. Human, what you said earlier, was it true?"
Lucien raised his head, meeting Kyurem's gaze. He spoke slowly, but firmly:
"Reshiram and Zekrom have awakened. Their chosen humans have already become enemies. Soon, a war will sweep across this region."
"When that happens, countless humans and Pokémon will die.I don't want to see that future."
"My goal is to survive in that chaos…but also to protect the people who stand behind me."
"I want humans and Pokémon to coexist peacefully. To change this world, and create one where humans and Pokémon can truly live together."
"Hmm."
Silence fell across the Giant's Chasm.
Kyurem watched him quietly.
Only after a long, heavy pause did it finally speak, its voice solemn and resonant.
"I have sensed your conviction."
"In that case…Human, I shall entrust my power to you."
...
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