"The Prison Bottle!"
Baraz looked at the strange, ominous Prison Bottle. Only then did his tense expression finally relax a little. He did not truly know how strong Hoopa actually was…
But from Hoopa's displays a hundred years ago, Hoopa's power was definitely on an entirely different level from most Legendary Pokémon!
One against two, defeating Groudon and Kyogre.
One against three, defeating the White Dragon Reshiram, the Black Dragon Zekrom, and Cobalion the Leader of the Swords of Justice.
That alone already explained everything.
"Baraz, hurry hurry~ Let Hoopa go teach those bad guys a good lesson!"
Hoopa stared eagerly at the Prison Bottle, its cute, childish voice urging Baraz anxiously.
Its power was right there in front of it. Hoopa could barely hold itself back.
As long as it regained its power, it would definitely go teach those red-clothed bad guys a severe lesson.
To think they were despicable enough to threaten them using hostages, how utterly vile.
And that Yveltal as well… When they were coming out earlier, they just happened to witness Yveltal's revival. With that violent creature awake, it would definitely turn the entire Arche Valley into a disaster zone.
Hoopa really wanted to hurry and stop Yveltal.
"I know. I'll undo the seal for you right now."
Baraz didn't hesitate. He trusted Hoopa completely. Even if Hoopa restored its power, it absolutely wouldn't cause destruction again.
Using Arceus's power, Baraz dissolved the protective barrier around the Prison Bottle and reached for it.
But the moment his fingers touched the bottle, the pattern at its center began to glow with an eerie, sinister light. Baraz's entire body froze instantly.
"Baraz, what's wrong? Baraz?"
Hoopa tilted its head, puzzled, calling out. But Baraz didn't respond.
"Baraz? Why aren't you answering—Bar—"
Hoopa floated forward in slight irritation, drifting directly in front of Baraz. But the moment it saw Baraz's face, its words abruptly stopped. Fear flashed in its eyes.
Because those eyes…
What sort of eyes were those?
The blood-red pupils radiated a chilling, horrifying light of madness, evil, distortion, resentment…
Countless negative emotions churned inside them. That overwhelming level of malice and hatred was so intense that even Hoopa—once a top-tier Dark-type Legendary was shaken.
It used to be a terrifying force itself.
But after a hundred years of being sealed and enjoying a peaceful, farmland life, its heart had long "become a shut-in"…
"You're not…"
"Fool—…"
Hoopa subconsciously drifted backward. This person was absolutely not Baraz!
But before Hoopa could finish speaking, "Baraz" twisted his lips into a hideous grin. He lifted the Prison Bottle and aimed it straight at Hoopa.
The Prison Bottle opened!
BOOM!
Endless purple-black energy burst out instantly, engulfing Hoopa's small body in the blink of an eye.
This was Hoopa's original power and the energy poured rapidly into Hoopa's body.
But along with it also came the overwhelming hatred accumulated over a hundred years!
Hoopa's body swelled rapidly, expanding larger and larger. The entire roof of the cave was blasted open.
"Hoopa? That's… Hoopa Unboud?!"
As the hatred inside the Prison Bottle dispersed, Baraz's blood-red eyes faded. He clutched his head in pain, dizzy and disoriented.
But soon, he stared at the massive Pokémon before him in utter shock.
When did I open the Prison Bottle? Did I really open it? I don't remember…
Baraz looked at the opened bottle in his hand, confused. He had absolutely no memory of releasing it.
He didn't have time to dwell on the thought, however. The released Hoopa didn't even look at him. Its massive body slowly rose and floated out of the cave.
"Hoopa!"
Baraz quickly mounted the Braviary behind him and gave chase.
Outside was an endless yellow desert. The towering djinn-like figure hovered in the sky, letting out a deep, booming roar of exhilaration.
"So, this is Hoopa's true form…"
Leaving the cave, Baraz stared up with awe at the giant Pokémon.
Its overwhelming presence was nothing like the mischievous, adorable Hoopa he remembered.
Standing nearly seven meters tall, its massive body was similar in coloration to the Confined form—gray, muscular, imposing. Its long pink-violet hair was tied high, its face ferocious, and in the center of its chest was a huge gaping hole. On its sides were six massive severed arms, each inverted and embedded into its torso.
Hoopa Unbound.
"But…"
Baraz frowned. For some reason, something felt wrong about Hoopa.
At that moment, the floating Hoopa suddenly lowered its head, fixing its gaze directly toward Baraz. Baraz stiffened.
Because he saw it—
A faint flicker of blood-red light inside Hoopa's eyes.
"Disappear!"
Hoopa's red pupils flickered wildly. Its expression twisted, as if struggling against something.
Then the next second—
The horrifying red glow completely filled its eyes. Six gigantic severed arms materialized instantly.
A deep, demonic roar rumbled out. One of the arms clenched into a fist and shot straight toward Baraz!
Baraz's pupils shrank.
Why… why is this happening?!
…
The battlefield was devastation—cracked earth, scarlet-black roots spreading everywhere.
Yveltal and the enraged Zygarde were still fighting fiercely, but it was obvious that Yveltal was now being fully overpowered by Zygarde.
"Excellent, Lord Lysandre! Zygarde is almost done! It'll defeat Yveltal any moment now!"
Xerosic's voice trembled with excitement. The situation had become very clear.
Yveltal was no match for Zygarde.
Once Zygarde defeated Yveltal, they could recover Yveltal as well.
As for the tree that Xerneas had transformed into—it still showed no change. But that didn't matter.
So long as this WAS Xerneas's slumbering form, they could bring it back for research.
"Yes. You truly exceeded my expectations, Xerosic. This time, you've contributed greatly."
Lysandre nodded with satisfaction. Controlling Zygarde at all was thanks to Xerosic's research.
"Hehe~ It's all thanks to Lord Lysandre's support. Otherwise I—"
"What a wonderful scene. Mind if we join the fun?"
Xerosic froze mid-sentence. Lysandre and Malva turned sharply.
When they saw the newcomers, Lysandre frowned.
"Well, well. Didn't expect to meet again so soon, Director Lysandre."
Lucas greeted him with a mild smile.
"It is indeed surprising, Mr. Lucas. I didn't expect you to be here."
Lysandre's eyes narrowed. Bad news always came at the worst times. And running into Lucas, a dangerously powerful man, right now…
For Lysandre, this was nothing short of disastrous.
And then—
Lysandre cast a glance behind Lucas, spotting a young woman glaring at him with blazing anger—Meraz.
"I didn't expect you, Director Lysandre to be the true leader of Team Flare."
"And on top of that…"
Lucas sighed, glancing at the Zygarde currently suppressing Yveltal.
"To think you'd attack such a peaceful village. Director Lysandre, you had such a promising path ahead of you… A criminal organization is really not the right road."
Lucas spoke calmly. Putting aside Lysandre's extreme ideology, the man himself was undeniably capable.
Lysandre Labs was famous throughout Kalos. His status was high. Otherwise, could he casually chat with Champion Diantha?
Overhearing him, Giovanni and Sabrina remained expressionless.
Archer, however, twitched.
'We're right here… and you're bad-mouthing criminal organizations to our faces?!'
He felt personally attacked.
"A future is only a future. People should live to pursue their ideals."
"And speaking of ideals—Mr. Lucas, weren't you once a member of Team Rocket yourself?"
Lysandre replied lightly, already taking out two Poké Balls.
Judging from Lucas's tone, he clearly wasn't here to talk.
"Ah~ everyone has their own path. I can understand."
Lucas shrugged.
"But just because I understand doesn't mean the League will. And besides—I stayed here last night for free. I owe the people here a favor."
"So, Mr. Lucas, you intend to stop us and capture us?"
Lysandre's eyes hardened. He had always remained wary of Lucas. Being called a Legendary Trainer was not a joke.
The White Dragon Trainer.
The Chosen of Rayquaza.
Those titles spoke for themselves.
Even though the World Coronation Series Master Rank No.1 was Lance…
Those with true authority knew the truth, that Lucas was the most terrifying Trainer alive.
"If you're willing to surrender peacefully, Director Lysandre, I'd rather not fight."
Lucas smiled politely.
"That is impossible. My perfect world has never been closer than it is today."
Lysandre's voice sank.
Surrender?
What a joke.
His ideal world was within reach.
How could he possibly give up?
"Xerosic!"
"Yes!"
Xerosic instantly used his controller to command the enraged Zygarde, interrupting its pursuit of Yveltal.
Zygarde stopped attacking. Its eerie compound eyes turned toward Lucas.
Yveltal collapsed on the ground, covered in wounds, but its vicious eyes remained unchanged.
"Mr. Lucas, that's Zygarde! Please be extremely careful!"
Meraz warned nervously.
"Ah, I know. Marnie, take Meraz and fall back."
Lucas nodded and smiled gently.
Giovanni and the others stepped back. None of them could help against Zygarde—not even Giovanni.
"Garrr—"
A deep, raspy breath rumbled as Zygarde's massive body crawled toward Lucas.
Then suddenly—
Its entire body flared with a horrific crimson glow. The ground shook violently as red energy erupted from beneath the earth and surged toward Lucas.
Land's Wrath!
"How enthusiastic~"
Lucas raised an eyebrow. Since it was Zygarde…
"Necrozma, Lunala… prepare for battle."
He flicked two Poké Balls.
Twin flashes of white light erupted as Necrozma and Lunala appeared together.
"Photon Geyser!"
"CROOO~!"
The instant it materialized, Necrozma lifted its claws. Golden light ignited between them and instantly burst forth as a massive pillar of brilliant gold.
Photon Geyser!
BOOM!
Photon Geyser clashed head-on with Land's Wrath, exploding violently.
The attack halted Zygarde's assault momentarily. Necrozma turned its prismatic head toward Lunala.
Lunala glanced at Lucas and saw him smiling…
The beautiful bat resignedly closed its eyes.
It was tired.
It knew it.
This human only brought it and Necrozma out together when he wanted to use them like tools.
Life was… well, you know.
If you can't resist, you simply accept it.
Crack… crack…
Necrozma's body disassembled, each prism piece shifting and then fusing onto Lunala's body—
Until finally—
A giant bat clad in black armor emerged.
Necrozma, Dawn Wings Form!
"Now then… let me see it for myself."
Lucas's lips curved upward. He looked directly at the enraged Zygarde.
"The so-called guardian of order—let's see how you compare… to my Necrozma."
This was one of his major goals.
He had to personally test Zygarde's true strength.
(End of Chapter)