Deep within the forest bordering the Dragon Clan's ancestral domain, four priests—wielding the powers of wind, fire, water, and earth—perched high in a massive canopy, keeping watch over every movement within the territory below.
"Wind, are you certain Feng Che is here?" the Fire Priest asked, brow furrowed in confusion. "This is the sanctuary of the Dragon Clan. We pulled his background—isn't he supposed to be an orphan?"
"The records say he's an orphan," the Wind Priest replied, his tone unwavering. "Yet no one knows which orphanage raised him, nor what he endured growing up. It's entirely possible he belongs to the Dragon Clan. Besides, the divine guidance of the Sky God never errs. Feng Che is inside."
As a fervent, near-fanatical worshipper of the Sky God, he brooked no doubt.
"Even so, I can sense an unusual divine aura lingering here," the Earth Priest murmured warily. "Could Reshiram and Zekrom—the Tao trio of Unova—have already awakened?"
"It's very likely," the Water Priest chimed in. "I received word through internal channels: N, the king of Team Plasma, once commanded a great white dragon to defeat the Unova Champion, Alder. Alder's Pokémon were severely injured, their strength plummeting below Champion rank. This is our best opportunity to strike Feng Che down, even if we must wear him down in a battle of attrition. If he claims the title of Unova Champion, killing him will become next to impossible."
"Do not fear the Sky God's backup plans," the Wind Priest reminded the other three firmly. "As long as we fight with everything we have, the Sky God will spare no effort in resurrecting us. We are merely merging temporarily with the great Sky God itself. Its seal is on the verge of shattering, and this time, no one can stop its advent."
During their last encounter, High Priest Shaka had been thoroughly outplayed by Feng Che. Using the power of Jirachi, the boy had managed to seal the Sky God once more, provoking its intense wrath. If the four priests failed to give their all now, none of them would escape retribution once divine punishment descended.
"Let us wait outside the Dragon Clan's territory for Feng Che to show himself," the Wind Priest said.
The Water Priest gave a playful smirk. "I just received fresh intelligence. Civil strife is brewing within the clan—their Second Elder is preparing to usurp power."
Beside her ear, a miniature Arbok flicked its tongue, hissing softly. She scooped the small serpent into her palm and pinned it into her hair like an ornate hairpin.
"Then we shall watch and wait," the Wind Priest decided on the spot. "Once the Dragon Clan is plunged into total chaos, we strike at Feng Che."
Elsewhere in the Unova region, at the Pokémon League headquarters.
Alder sat reviewing the reports sent back by the spy he had planted inside the Dragon Clan.
"I didn't expect the Second Elder to be so impatient—planning a coup already?" A cold smile spread across Alder's face. "What an exceptional opportunity."
Alder was not worried that Feng Che would arrive and usurp his position. Feng Che had neither a personal backing nor an established network here. Even if he had been transferred by the Grand Pokémon League, as long as Unova's major factions refused to recognize his authority, he would never sit securely in the Champion's seat.
What Alder truly feared was the Dragon Clan.
"The Dragon Clan has harbored Champion-tier strength for ages, and they've long schemed to replace me. A civil war right now couldn't be better. Once they fall into chaos, no one will threaten my throne. Let them tear each other apart—it would be even better if they shattered into splinter factions. And when their bloodshed reaches its peak, I will lead the League's forces in under the guise of reinforcement. Once the Dragon Clan is absorbed, and Team Plasma and their king, N, are crushed, I will become the true master of Unova!"
Alder's eyes glittered with ambition. His wild, unrestrained laughter echoed off the walls of the office. Wasting no time, he strode out into the corridor; every second counted, and his deployments had to be arranged immediately.
"Garchomp, use Sand Tomb!"
Whirling yellow sand coalesced into a raging desert behemoth, tearing across the arena.
Yet Dreepy had already slipped into the shadows long before the attack landed, refusing to show itself.
"That Dreepy is just hiding!"
"Well, obviously! Have you seen how terrifying that Garchomp is? If it doesn't hide, is it supposed to just stand there and take a beating?"
"Does that Dreepy even have a counterplay?"
While the spectators buzzed with chatter, Feng Che snapped his fingers.
From the heart of the gloom, a streak of draconic energy launched like an arrow. The golden Dragon Darts slammed squarely into Garchomp in the blink of an eye.
A sudden, sharp burst of agony flared through Garchomp's body, causing its movements to hitch for a split second. Yet in that fleeting heartbeat, Garchomp discovered it had lost control of the shifting sands. The colossal sand dragon it had conjured with its innate talent instantly collapsed into thin air, crashing down and burying the beast beneath a mountain of loose grit.
"What just happened? Why can't Garchomp control the sand anymore?"
"Did that Dragon Darts attack really pack that much destructive power?"
Murmurs of shock rippled through the crowd.
Right then, Garchomp erupted from the dirt, grit cascading off its scales. Pure fury burned in its eyes. It snapped its head toward Iris, and the bond between trainer and partner made its intent instantly clear.
"Ancient bloodline dormant within the azure dragon, I forge our covenant and serve you with the power of dragon taming!"
A surge of potent Dragon Force erupted from Iris, streaming incessantly into Garchomp's body.
A radiant Mega Evolution crest blazed in midair. As the light faded, Mega Garchomp emerged.
Taller and more imposing than before, its head and shoulders had narrowed into sharp, predatory angles. Five pairs of pale bone spikes jutted from the sides of its abdomen, matched by a pair of crimson spikes over its knees. Swelling with excess energy, its forearms and wings had melted and reforged into massive, scythe-like blades—deadly edges capable of tearing into foes and splitting the very earth asunder.
"Mega Garchomp, use Bulldoze!"
Mega Garchomp slammed its massive talons violently against the arena floor. In an instant, towering pillars of sand ruptured outward from the earth.
Hidden within the shadow realm, Dreepy found its pocket dimension unraveling at terrifying speed, eroded by the torrential Ground-type energy.
The shadow space is being devoured by the ground... It's collapsing way too fast!
What do I do?! Mega Garchomp just shattered my strongest defense!
Hearing Dreepy's panicked inner cries, Feng Che watched as the little dragon shot out of the collapsing shadow realm as if its tail were on fire.
At that exact moment, a blinding flash of white light slashed through the air.
Dreepy's body was cleaved cleanly in two.
Yet as the severed halves dissolved like mere sea foam, Iris's brow furrowed once more.