Leon felt a powerful and very ominous premonition.
Dylan always wore a Poké Ball over his chest like a necklace.
But very few people actually knew what was inside it.
Leon was one of the few aware of its existence, because back then Wallace had asked about it out of curiosity.
Dylan answered them honestly—but at the time, the Poké Ball had been empty. Dylan said he simply hadn't found a Pokémon worthy of being captured with that ball.
But now…
"I've always been a trainer who respects his opponents."
Dylan took down the Master Ball from his chest—the Master Ball expanded in his hand.
"If my opponent uses their ace, then I must respond with my own."
Dylan smiled warmly.
Leon: (︵)
Leon's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
"A Master Ball…"
Giovanni watched with interest. He knew exactly what a Master Ball was.
He had been present when the president of Silph Co. personally handed it to Dylan, proudly calling it "the pinnacle of Poké Ball technology." Giovanni had always been curious what Dylan would eventually capture with it.
But now he was even more curious what Dylan had actually stored inside.
Everyone knew Dylan kept his legendary Pokémon in Luxury Balls—even legends like Necrozma and Kyurem.
So what Pokémon could possibly be worthy of a Master Ball?
"Leaf, Lillie—do you two know what's inside that ball?"
Giovanni couldn't contain his curiosity and asked.
Kieran, Ilene, and the others also looked over.
Lillie's delicate face froze with an odd mixture of hesitation and conflict.
"Umm… you'll find out in a moment."
Leaf finally answered. After all, Dylan was about to release it.
On the field—
"Dylan, I think Chien-Pao is fine."
Leon said as politely as he could. He wanted to keep fighting Chien-Pao!
Who knew what nightmare was inside that Master Ball?!
"Believe me, Leon—today will be the proudest day of your life. Your name will be remembered for centuries!"
Dylan smiled brightly.
Leon: "???"
"After all… you'll be the only trainer to ever face this on a battlefield."
"Because it's you, Leon, I want to use it."
Dylan said no more—he simply flicked his wrist and threw the ball.
"Arceus! It's your turn!"
The Master Ball opened midair, and a white Pokémon glowing faintly with gold light descended slowly. Its divine gaze made Charizard's entire body erupt with goosebumps.
A soft golden radiance clung to Arceus's body—an overwhelming, sacred aura that no one dared look at directly.
It was so strong it shook the soul.
Charizard swallowed hard and unconsciously stepped back.
What WAS this creature?!
Its body wasn't even large, yet it completely crushed Charizard's fighting spirit. Just the thought of attacking it felt like sacrilege.
Even though Charizard had faced Ultra Necrozma and felt true despair, this was something else entirely.
This wasn't "too strong to beat."
This was "too divine to even swing at."
"Arceus…?"
Leon stared at the majestic being. He could sense its extraordinary nature, but he didn't recognize it.
— Beep! Arceus. Normal-type. The Original PokémonAbility: MultitypeMoves: Judgment, Hyper Beam, Perish Song, Future Sight…Mythology says it existed before the universe itself.
Leaf, Kieran, and the others froze after reading the Pokédex entry. Cynthia's eyes widened in disbelief.
Arceus… Arceus!!
"Dylan actually… captured Arceus?!"
Cynthia trembled. In Sinnoh mythology, Arceus was the Creator.
The creator god! Was this a joke?!
More and more people scanned the entry; gasps of shock spread through the stadium as everyone stared at Arceus with awe and reverence.
"My goodness! Unbelievable! Champion Dylan is using Arceus—the mythical Pokémon said to have CREATED THE WORLD!"
The announcer nearly screamed.
After all, Arceus's Pokédex entry was too outrageous.
So outrageous people wondered if it could be real.
"You see? Now everyone understands who you are, Arceus," Dylan said cheerfully.
"…"
Arceus only sighed softly and gazed at the trembling Charizard with warm eyes.
"Dylan, you…"
Leon finally heard the announcer's voice clearly and stared at Arceus in shock.
The creator… god…?
"It's true. Arceus really is the creator. And by the way, Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina were all created by Arceus."
Dylan confirmed.
Leon's jaw dropped.
If Dylan said it, then—
It was real.
But the problem was…
You want me to FIGHT ARCEUS???
Leon glanced at the divine being before him, then at Charizard.
He fell silent.
He once believed Ultra Necrozma was the strongest opponent he'd ever face. Never did he imagine the creator of the world would stand across from him.
And in a stadium!!
"Of course, I said I'd use a pure Dark-type team today. Arceus is normally Normal-type, but that's easy to fix."
Dylan looked at Arceus.
Arceus's eyes glimmered. A flash of black light rippled across its body as it activated the Dread Plate.
In an instant, all its golden sections turned pitch black. Even its thousand arms glimmered with darkness.
Dark Arceus.
A suffocating wave of malice poured from its body. Charizard nearly collapsed under the pressure.
But it lasted only a moment—Arceus quickly withdrew its malice, its crimson eyes soft and warm again.
"Perfect. A Dark-type Arceus. Now my Dark team is complete."
Dylan nodded with satisfaction.
Leon fell into deep thought.
"Come, Leon! I'm ready. Let our aces battle in a fair, spectacular showdown!"
Dylan extended his hand sincerely.
"I…"
Leon almost choked. He looked at Dylan like he was insane.
Dylan—are you even HUMAN?!
"This chance only comes once in your entire life, Leon. Look at the Pokémon standing before you."
Dylan urged him patiently.
Leon froze.
"The opportunity to face the Creator itself doesn't come twice. And this is an official match. If you turn this down… won't you regret it forever?"
Dylan knew Leon had to get fired up. Surrendering right away wouldn't feel right.
"Once in a lifetime…"
Leon was wavering. Yes—it was utterly absurd.
But thinking differently…
What was he being defeated by?
Arceus.
He would be defeated by ARCEUS.
This was something to brag about for a lifetime.
"Charizard!!"
Leon's eyes brightened. Yes—there was nothing to fear. This was history.
Charizard: "…"
Leon was fired up, but Charizard still felt its legs shaking.
Especially knowing it had to breathe fire at Arceus. Charizard's throat felt like sandpaper.
"Excellent! I knew you were the right man, Leon!"
Dylan beamed.
"Come! Show Arceus the bond you share with Charizard!"
"That's right! Charizard! Show Arceus our TRUE POWER!"
Leon's passion burned. He lived for battles like this.
"Charizard! Blast Burn!"
He was so excited he forgot to Mega Evolve—but it hardly mattered.
Charizard trembled, staring at the black-and-white embodiment of divinity.
Was it really supposed to attack… THAT?
It tried to breathe fire—but nothing came out.
This wasn't life-or-death. This was a sparring match. Charizard's perspective was very different.
Arceus gave Charizard an encouraging look.
Come. Show me your strength.
Charizard suddenly felt a powerful surge rising inside.
"ROAR!!"
It soared upward, breathing a massive inferno down—
Blast Burn!
The blazing scarlet flame lit up the entire stadium.
A powerful Blast Burn indeed—expected of Leon's ace.
However—
A faint golden barrier appeared before Arceus.
Blast Burn exploded against it harmlessly.
"Judgment."
Dylan's command was almost gleeful.
Arceus lifted its head, forming a dark sphere of energy and launching it skyward.
BOOM—!
The energy burst overhead, releasing dozens of meteors trailing black fire.
Dark-type Judgment.
"Protect!" Leon shouted.
Charizard raised its barrier, but it didn't matter. Even though Arceus had suppressed its power, Protect still couldn't endure.
Meteor after meteor crashed down.
The shield broke.
Charizard was smashed into the ground by the blasts, unable to move.
Another Judgment struck.
When the smoke cleared—
Charizard was unconscious.
A complete one-hit destruction.
"Whew—!"
Leon exhaled deeply. Honestly, he wasn't surprised. Ultra Necrozma had done the same to him.
But this time—it didn't matter.
Because he had immunity from elimination, and how many people could claim THIS?
From now on, he could proudly tell anyone:
I once fought Origin Dialga… Ultra Necrozma… and Dark Arceus. Who are YOU to compare with me?
And as the only man to ever face Arceus in an official match—
Maybe his name really WOULD be remembered forever.
Thinking about it that way—
This was absolutely worth it.
(End of chapter)