Under Reshiram's imposing presence, the eyes of Virizion, Terrakion, and Cobalion gradually began to clear. As three spheres of white fire washed over them, a massive amount of black smoke billowed from their pores.
The Swords of Justice were restored.
They walked up to Reshiram and dropped to one knee in reverence.
"Humans, I do not interfere in your internal feuds," Reshiram spoke, its voice echoing with divine authority. "But ordering Pokémon to attack me is an act of ultimate desecration. I shall revoke the blessings I bestowed upon you."
At that exact moment, agonized cries erupted from the members of the Second Elder's faction. Even the Second Elder himself began to convulse violently as a massive surge of Dragon Force bled out of their bodies, flowing directly into Reshiram.
"The Dragon Force was originally a power I granted to the Dragon Clan. Since you have forsaken your faith, you must accept your punishment."
Reshiram beat its wings and soared high into the sky.
With the Dragon Force completely drained from his body, the Second Elder instantly aged more than a decade. His legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, looking like an old man with one foot already in the grave. Panting heavily, he forced himself to stand, leaning heavily on his cane.
"To think that Reshiram had actually awakened... My defeat is not unearned."
The Second Elder's eyes resembled venomous serpents as he glared at Drayden and Vio. Finally, his gaze locked onto Feng Che.
"My sea of consciousness has been shattered. I can no longer use a single shred of Dragon Force," the Second Elder announced, his eyes sweeping across the crowd. "I declare that I am leaving the Dragon Clan. Surely you won't hunt down a broken man?"
Seeing the once-arrogant Second Elder reduced to a withered husk on the verge of death, Drayden and Vio felt their hearts soften. Just as they were about to tell the clan members to let him go, Feng Che spoke up.
"Hold on. You have committed so many atrocities, yet you expect us to just forgive you?"
Feng Che raised his voice, commanding the heavens. "Dragon God of the Unova region, Arbiter of Lightning, Ruler of the Highest Heavens—reveal your majestic form before everyone! Black Dragon God, Zekrom, appear!"
The sky instantly filled with dense, churning dark clouds. Countless bolts of pitch-black lightning rained down from above, culminating in a deafening thunderclap that shook the earth. As the lightning struck the ground, it materialized into the colossal, jet-black dragon, Zekrom.
"Is that... Zekrom?!"
"No way... How can Feng Che be this powerful? He actually summoned two Dragon Gods back-to-back!"
"Both the Black and White Dragon Gods have been summoned by Elite Four Feng Che!"
"If Elite Four Feng Che becomes our clan leader, unifying the entire Unova region will be just around the corner!"
Ignoring the crushing dragon pressure radiating from Zekrom, the members of the Dragon Clan erupted into a frenzy of hushed whispers.
"So that's why you wouldn't let me descend alongside Reshiram. You just wanted to build up your own hype later, didn't you?" Zekrom grumbled, giving Feng Che a thoroughly disgruntled look. It could clearly see the boundless faith radiating from the gathered Dragon Clan.
"Well, yes. I need to become the leader of the Dragon Clan as quickly as possible," Feng Che replied with a nod, making absolutely no effort to hide the fact that he was using Zekrom. "Displaying miracles by personally summoning the Dragon Gods in front of the clan members will push my prestige within the clan to its absolute peak."
"Let's wrap this up quickly," Feng Che added, breaking into a smirk.
Zekrom let out a resigned sigh and began to pool the electrical currents throughout its body.
Watching the terrifying thunderclouds gather overhead, ready to strike, the Second Elder fixed his sinister, calculating eyes on Feng Che.
"Wait! I demand a duel with you!" the Second Elder barked. "If I win, I will hand over all the treasures I have collected over the years, including the DNA Splicers that can fuse Kyurem into its higher forms. If I lose, my entire faction will be left at your mercy."
He then sneered, adding a threat, "Of course, you can choose to refuse. But I have buried a massive amount of explosives throughout this valley—more than enough to level the entire place to the ground."
"Mewtwo, have you detected where the Second Elder buried the explosives?" Feng Che asked, using telepathy to communicate with Mewtwo.
"I cleared those explosives out ages ago," Mewtwo replied, sounding a bit annoyed. "But as for the DNA Splicers he mentioned, I have no idea where they are."
"Knowing how shrewd the Second Elder is, the DNA Splicers definitely aren't here. They are a legendary treasure, and I intend to get my hands on them, so accepting this battle works perfectly for me. Besides, it gives me a chance to showcase my strength to everyone else. If I want to be the next clan leader, I have to show them what I'm truly capable of."
Feng Che had already calculated everything in his mind.
"Furthermore, the clan members don't know you've already removed the bombs. The Second Elder is using an open trap to force my hand. By facing him head-on, I'll prove my courage, and I can play the hero who turns the tide and saves the clan from disaster," Feng Che added smoothly.
"Fine. I accept your challenge," Feng Che said aloud, nodding his assent.
"To ensure fairness, you are not allowed to use Mythical Pokémon," the Second Elder said, his eyes dartting quickly as he added the condition.
"No problem. I won't use any Mythical Pokémon," Feng Che agreed easily. It was a minor detail to him; after all, he preferred keeping a low profile anyway.
According to the intel I gathered, Elite Four Feng Che is best at training Dragon-type and Flying-type Pokémon, the Second Elder plotted secretly in his mind. He doesn't have a single Pokémon that has broken through to the Champion rank. With my Champion-level Drampa, I can absolutely crush him. Once I escape from the Dragon Clan, I will immediately break the seal on Kyurem. When that time comes, I'll plunge the entire Unova region into absolute chaos.
"This old man is plotting to head straight to the icy mountains to unseal Kyurem the second he escapes from the clan," Mewtwo secretly reported, snitching on the old man's thoughts.
"It seems the Second Elder is very confident he can defeat me. His biggest mistake is assuming my best Pokémon are Dragon-types," Feng Che smiled, looking like a crafty little fox. "Most people think a Trainer can't raise that many high-level Pokémon, but the ones I show on the surface are just the tip of the iceberg."
"Feng Che, the Second Elder possesses Champion-level Pokémon!" Vio called out anxiously. "Don't let him trick you!"
"Don't worry, grandfather. I know exactly what I'm doing," Feng Che replied confidently. "Second Elder, I accept your challenge."
"In that case, go, Vanilluxe!" the Second Elder bellowed, releasing his Pokémon.
Vanilluxe resembled a large, double-scoop ice cream cone, with snow covering its body and ice chunks adhering to its sides. Much like Weezing, it possessed two distinct faces. A pipe-like vent on the left side of its head constantly exhaled freezing air. Its lower body was a light blue swirl that tapered into three downward-pointing icicles, with the central icicle being significantly larger than the ones flanking it.