Chapter 640 - 637

"This time, instead of guarding the first floor, I’ve been assigned to the third. I’m still near the front, though..."

Geeta rubbed her temples. The moment she received the summons, she had handed her work over to Rika and hurried to sleep, eager to witness Galar’s full power.

No matter how busy she was, she had to see what the legendary king from the news was truly capable of. She had already seen Calyrex countless times in the Dream World, but that big-headed king’s performance could only be described as comic relief.

Hmm... Comic relief.

In other words, the kind of character who was secretly invincible?

"What sort of battle do you think we’ll see, Professor Sada?"

Not far from Geeta stood AI Sada, who had likewise entered during a rare break. For an AI professor, sleeping was effectively the same as shutting down or entering standby mode. With Area Zero currently undergoing reconstruction, she had only managed to spare a little time for this visit.

Naturally, she was here to collect valuable data. She had no intention of missing an opportunity to observe Legendary Pokémon that had survived since ancient times.

"Paldea and Galar may not interact particularly often, but Pokémon such as Calyrex, which possesses a fusion-riding ability, are exceedingly rare. Now that it has regained its power, we must investigate and document it."

"Besides, don’t you find this entire riding system rather strange?"

Professor Sada continued, "According to Hikaru’s descriptions of regional lifestyles and the information gathered during our investigations, Pokémon capable of being ridden also exist in places such as Alola and Oblivia. Their abilities simply aren’t as extraordinary as Calyrex’s. In Paldea, people were already riding Cyclizar ten thousand years ago, while Gogoat was domesticated five thousand years ago."

"If we can unravel the secret of the Reins of Unity, perhaps the riding system really could be applied to every Pokémon."

"However, that would most likely be impossible without immense psychic power. Calyrex’s maximum psychic output should be tested during this battle... although one battle may not be enough."

Geeta gave her an understanding look.

"So you really are considering developing that riding system after completing your research into Terastallization?"

"But researching Tera in the real world while studying riding in the Dream World... What else can I say? You really are an AI, Professor Sada. A human could never conduct research day and night like this."

"Even so..." Professor Sada’s eyes flickered. "As a copy of the real Sada, my cognitive abilities are identical to hers. In other words, anything Sada herself could not accomplish will not suddenly become possible simply because I can sleep a few more times."

"Humans still lack imagination when it comes to the AIs of the future. Otherwise, my processing power could have been much greater. However, greater processing power would have required sacrificing my emotions. Maintaining a human form also helps reinforce my sense of identity."

"At the upcoming academic conference, I will present all of Paldea’s findings that can safely be declassified. That will include research into changes caused by Tera and the Stellar type, though I will not mention anything as central as the time machine. I will merely discuss the condition of ancient Pokémon and how local environments can influence their types and forms."

"This portion relates to Hikaru’s Theory of Regional Influence. You have nothing to worry about."

"No, I never said I was worried..." Geeta studied her. "Professor Sada, you seem rather nervous. You claim that you came here to research the riding system, but did you actually come to distract yourself from your anxiety?"

Silence fell between them.

AI Sada quietly turned away, accompanied by the little turtle eagerly bouncing beside her.

"Terapagos and I will proceed to the higher floors. If we fail to encounter one another within two hours, I will disappear from whichever floor I am occupying. That would be unfortunate, but I still hope Calyrex can continue its triumphant advance and provide me with valuable data."

She and Terapagos vanished from the third floor, while Geeta composed herself.

The pounding of hooves broke through the first floor’s defenses and trampled over the guardians of the second.

Geeta had no idea which Pokémon had appeared on those floors, but surely they couldn’t have been as absurd as some of the opponents she had encountered.

"Ever since I started coming here, I’ve always been stationed on the first floor. It’s downright embarrassing for a Champion."

"Am I unlucky, or do I simply have a talent for running into ridiculously powerful Pokémon? Surely Regigigas won’t appear again this time."

"Just let me enjoy a proper battle. Humans defending a tower and acting as the challengers’ opponents... A miraculous event like a Champion gauntlet could only occur in a world created by a god!"

Geeta sent out Glimmora and prepared herself for battle.

[The first floor had two Bloodmoon Ursaluna... One of them was the enormous bear from the Timeless Woods that once challenged the king and lost.]

[Blood Moon certainly possesses tremendous power, but our combined assault of Behemoth Blade, Behemoth Bash, Eternabeam, Glacial Lance, Crush Grip, Dragon Energy, Thunderous Kick, Freezing Glare, and Wicked Blow proved just as formidable.]

Was that Calyrex’s voice?

Since this was a dream, Geeta could understand it without needing a living loudspeaker to translate.

But still...

"Wait! Isn’t this team over the limit? Why are there ten Pokémon?"

Calyrex, riding its white steed, proudly declared:

[Incorrect. There are twelve, counting my two beloved steeds!]

[Admittedly, twelve was something of a forced arrangement. However, my mounts and I may count as one Pokémon when necessary—or as three.]

"Wait. That’s clearly against the rules!"

[Not at all! Every hero present is my companion, and we can combine whenever necessary. Therefore, the registration lists us as a single Pokémon. I have truly come to challenge this tower alone!]

[Such is the profundity of the riding system!]

[Champion of humanity, guardian of the Champion’s gate, I humbly request a battle! Witness the full power of Galar’s heroes of the Round Table—Rhongomyniad!]

A ferocious chill instantly froze Geeta’s Glimmora as a blizzard swept across the entire floor.

Glacial Lance!

Glimmora was frozen first, then shattered by the attack. Yet after her initial shock, Geeta immediately smiled as though her plan had succeeded.

"How many times has this happened by now? It may not accomplish much, but for the first time since I began battling in this tower, Glimmora’s Ability has finally activated!"

"Ability: Toxic Debris!"

"When Glimmora takes damage from a physical move, it scatters Toxic Spikes beneath the opposing side!"

Any Pokémon that stepped on those Toxic Spikes would be poisoned and continuously lose health. Even a Legendary Pokémon would...

Plenty of Pokémon could scatter entry hazards, but very few Trainers brought dedicated hazard removers. Rapid Spin aside, many bird Pokémon could use Defog to clear moves that affected Pokémon entering the battlefield. However, Defog had been a Hidden Machine in Sinnoh, and the number of Pokémon capable of learning it naturally was quite limited.

Unfortunately, Glimmora was knocked out immediately almost every time it entered battle, which made things difficult for Geeta. Placing it at the back of her team would be equivalent to deliberately going easy on her opponent, but even when she fought seriously in battles like this, it was still easily defeated in one blow.

Ultimately...

"Their stats are far too high! Glimmora isn’t even weak to Ice!"

Fortunately, Geeta also possessed a Pokémon that could accumulate overwhelming numerical advantages.

No matter what happened...

She had Supreme Overlord on her side now!

Surely they couldn’t keep breaking through her forever.

"My second Pokémon—Gogoat!"

"It may be common, but Gogoat and humanity have shared five thousand years of mutual understanding. It won’t be defeated so easily! Paldea didn’t even have a kingdom five thousand years ago!"

Boom!

Zacian, carrying a steel sword in its jaws, switched places with Calyrex.

"Is that Pokémon the King of the Sword from the news? Its suspected typing was Fairy and Steel, wasn’t it?!"

"Steel..." Geeta recalled a certain experience from the past.

Oh dear. That was a rather unfavorable type matchup!

[Correct! Steel-type Pokémon cannot be poisoned. Ms. Geeta, please bear witness to the sword wielded by Galar’s Fairy King! No matter what opponents stand before them, Galar’s heroes possess the strength to fight!]

[Intrepid Sword! Use Behemoth Blade!]

On the sixth floor, home of the Tao trio...

Ever since the three Legendary dragons occupied this floor, they had frequently waited here for challengers, attempting to select heroes who caught their interest.

Now, they had gained one more.

As for the challenger approaching them...

"I heard Calyrex has regained its true strength," Kyurem said. "Apparently, it intends to show every expert in the Dream Battle Tower what it can do. And there’s also... a prospective Elite Four member?"

"No matter what, we are also Pokémon capable of testing and choosing heroes," Reshiram replied. "We won’t be defeated so easily."

"The human Champion guarding the third floor is remarkably capable," Zekrom added. "She may lose frequently, but that is merely because she is unlucky."

Kyurem was not especially pleased.

"The riding system... That thing Calyrex boasts about every day is actually real? That doesn’t seem fair. If its riding system counts as a system, then why doesn’t my Fusion System count?"

The black and white dragons exchanged glances.

"But aren’t the Fusion System and riding system effectively the same thing?" Reshiram asked.

"Besides, Calyrex can ride any Pokémon," Zekrom said. "You can’t absorb just any Pokémon."

"Hmm..." Reshiram pondered the issue. "I was asleep inside the Light Stone for so long that I don’t know much about what happened outside."

"However, when we were previously in space, I saw a monster capable of stealing light. Supposedly, it represented the last of the four usable systems... and the Pokémon at the origin of that system could also fuse with specific Pokémon."

"I believe that was the case."

"That is precisely the brilliance of the Fusion System!" Kyurem declared.

"If distant lands contain other Pokémon capable of fusion, that proves the Fusion System has tremendous potential!"

Of course, Kyurem had no idea that it was actually correct.

The transformations of Calyrex and the Blinding One were both formally classified as fusion!

Zygarde also fell into that category.

Naturally, Zygarde was a fusion of five Cores and a large number of Cells. It had no need to borrow the power of other Pokémon.

That said...

Kyurem wasn’t Cell. It couldn’t simply absorb anyone it caught, so this fusion method remained limited to specific Pokémon.

Ultimately, whoever received the most promotion would be the greatest winner. Whether the official term became fusion or riding depended entirely on which one achieved greater popularity!

Unfortunately, an ice dragon notorious for eating children could hardly compete with Calyrex in that regard.

"And so... we’re leaving command to you today. Is that acceptable?"

Kyurem turned its head.

Eight powerful defenders had supposedly appeared today.

However, just as there were often five members in a group called the Elite Four, there was also a ninth person beyond those eight.

She was neither a Champion nor an Elite Four member—merely a girl who had barely reached the level of a newly appointed Gym Leader. Although she had been chosen as one of the heroes, she had yet to accomplish anything heroic.

Hilda seemed delighted.

"I get to command the Legendary dragons in battle? Great! Leave today’s battle to me!"

"I’ll give them a gatekeeper battle they’ll never forget. Here they come!"

The doors to the sixth floor opened. The heroes of the Round Table had broken through the obstacles below and finally arrived.

A battle against Unova’s Legendary Pokémon!

"Yes!" Hilda exclaimed. "I’ve been waiting forever for you, Calyrex! I may not be a Champion or an Elite Four member, but isn’t it a little exciting when someone who wasn’t on the list suddenly appears?"

[I see. A human hero who commands the Tao trio!]

[Then allow the heroes of Galar to challenge you!]

Hilda grinned, her face displaying the joy she felt whenever she faced a powerful opponent.

"If you love battling this much, then let’s keep this fiery fight going! I am the Battle Girl! Now, go, Reshiram!"

"Fusion Flare!"

Calyrex raised one hand and tossed the Reins of Unity over Zamazenta!

Calyrex’s As One—Horse and Hound?

[Unnerve]—the opposing side could no longer eat Berries.

[Dauntless Shield]—Zamazenta’s Defense rose by one stage upon entering battle!

"What?! They fused!" Hilda rubbed her eyes. "Wait, did their typing change too?"

She suddenly spun around when she heard Kyurem shouting.

"That! That’s it!"

Calyrex had no intention of joining the debate over whether fusion or riding was the correct official term.

Such a discussion was utterly unnecessary!

The king permits it. The king acknowledges it. The king names it!

[Umu! Iron Defense, Iron Defense—now begin Body Press!]

And then—

[King of Giants, suppress Kyurem! Regidrago, unleash your move and engulf the black and white dragons—]

[Dragon Energy!]

On the ninth floor...

Gold rubbed his nose.

"Heh-heh! I never thought I’d actually be classified as a Champion-level contender. This tower is the only place that truly recognizes my strength!"

"And they put me on such a high floor too!"

"Everyone’s always calling me a reserve. None of them understand me. The great Gold once fought Arceus, you know! I might not be any good at regulated battles, but when there aren’t any rules—like when climbing a tower—I’m an expert!"

"And as one of the people guarding this tower... I definitely won’t disappoint Arceus!"

"All right! There’s Blond Sinnoh Big Sis No. 2, the big sister who looks just like Green—Green No. 2—and the guy who looks like that flashy pretty boy, Ruby No. 2! Let’s all get along, okay?"

The strange nicknames left everyone speechless.

"Blond Big Sister No. 2... Yes, I’m No. 2. I’m terribly sorry about that," said Cynthia from the Pokémon Adventures world.

Because she was still so young, she had been completely defeated by the other Cynthia during their previous sparring matches in the Dream World.

Big Cynthia and Little Cynthia...?

Young Cynthia did not believe she had lost because she was weak. The problem was their ages and the evolutionary stages of their Pokémon.

Hadn’t she become Champion while still using a Gabite? Didn’t that make her more impressive?

She had reached the Pokémon League and climbed to its summit with a second-stage Pokémon. How could she possibly accept being suppressed by another version of herself using a fully evolved Garchomp?

Still, the fact remained that she couldn’t win.

"Gold, you and I come from the same world. You don’t need to call me that, do you? Or are the numbers one and two determined by strength?"

Young Cynthia pointed out the problem with Gold’s logic and sighed repeatedly.

The other two people he had labeled "No. 2" reacted much the same way.

Leaf could only offer an awkward but polite smile.

"I’ve already told you several times. I’m not Green—not the Adventures one or the Let’s Go one. There’s no reason to keep calling me that, is there?"

Brendan listened helplessly to Gold’s commentary.

"I’m not anyone’s No. 2 either. Still, I’m a little interested in the person you mentioned."

"That flashy boy is obviously really strong, but he doesn’t seem to like Pokémon battles," Gold said with a dismissive wave. "Not unless that wild girl fights alongside him."

Then he felt the tower tremble.

"Oh! The people below are coming?! All right! Time to put on a good show!"

They departed for different floors, each carrying different emotions.

Once everyone else had teleported away, Gold put on his goggles, swung his billiard cue, and sent out his entire team at once.

"I get to decide the rules for this floor, so let’s have an unrestricted battle royale! Every hit’s gonna be a critical!"

"A king of knights who uses a lance... There isn’t much difference between a lance and a billiard cue! Let’s go, Exbo!"

His billiard cue tapped the floor, drawing a curved line across it.

The Hatcher’s clothing transformed.

A golden-white Arc Suit settled over him in the name of a new Sinjoh.

He opened with the strongest Fire-type attack!

"Obviously, you use Fire-type moves against Ice-type Pokémon! The entire team will perform an all-target attack!"

"Aibo, use your tails as electric fans! Fan the flames on Exbo’s back and increase their power!"

"Sunbo, use Sunny Day!"

"Exbo, use Eruption under the sunlight!"

"Sun team, coming through!"

It was a combination attack performed by three Pokémon.

Aibo’s fan-like Ambipom tails, combined with Exbo the Typhlosion’s firepower, formed the surprise technique that had once defeated Archie during the Emerald arc!

The instantaneous firepower unleashed by this move was so intense that not even the great sword Instant could withstand it!

Gold’s lips curled upward.

"Heh! These flames aren’t messing around! How’s that? Even Guile Hideout would be burned to a crisp by Exbo’s—"

Buzz!

Two Pokémon burst out of the sea of flames.

One was Galarian Zapdos, which resembled an enraged flightless chicken with all its feathers standing on end. The other was Galarian Articuno, a masked Pokémon whose name evoked freezing snow even though it wasn’t an Ice type.

Astonishing speed carried them through the flames. A cold and merciless stare, despite not being an Ice-type move, could freeze a Pokémon in place.

Thunderous Kick plus Freezing Glare!

"They’re running! They’re fast, but I can still keep up with that much—"

Gold suddenly looked around, only to realize that a black bear-like martial artist had appeared amid the flames.

This wasn’t the Water-style bear. It was the Dark-style one—Bea’s Single Strike Style Urshifu, which had dedicated itself to increasing its strength.

Urshifu leaped above Typhlosion.

After all, this floor had no rules!

Writing down a rule like that had been Gold’s greatest mistake.

Urshifu raised its fist and plunged from above, attacking the Trainer along with his Pokémon—

Wicked Blow: Bedrock!

"Ow! What the heck was that?!"

On the twelfth floor...

Because the timelines had advanced, Cynthia had still been quite young when Red and the others from another world began their journeys and became Champions. No matter how mature she appeared, she was still a young woman.

She frequently visited this place precisely because she felt her strength was insufficient. After learning of the disaster that might occur, she wanted to become stronger before confronting Team Galactic.

The other version of herself had recently stopped appearing here as well, apparently because she was investigating Team Galactic’s activities.

It seemed Team Galactic had vanished from her home world.

That was certainly unexpected. However, even young Cynthia couldn’t provide her counterpart with any useful information regarding the Spear Pillar. If anything, she was the one who had always received help.

That had made her fully aware of one important issue.

The level of communication between regions and the state of technology differed greatly from one world to another. Although their timelines appeared similar and many major events unfolded in nearly identical ways, the underlying circumstances could be completely different.

In her world, communication between regions wasn’t nonexistent, but it remained far below average. Almost every regional incident took several years to be understood. Sometimes, even the people living in the region remained unaware that something had happened.

It was extremely strange.

"The people of Sinjoh lost the history of Sinjoh. That is why things became this way."

"I aspire to become one of the people of Sinjoh as well. That is why I continue climbing this tower and fighting."

"If I defeat the Pokémon called Calyrex, will I earn that qualification?"

Young Cynthia thought about it while gazing at Gold with complicated envy.

That was right. There was also an elderly man on one of the higher floors. He was another descendant of the people of Sinjoh.

If there was time remaining after this battle, she would ask him for guidance.

The Cynthia of the Pokémon Adventures world would never appear in Unova, nor did she have much of a relationship with Caitlin of the Battle Frontier. Consequently, she did not know the Alder of her own world either.

"I feel as though I’m missing so many things. Can I obtain them through these battles against other worlds? I’ve already gathered a great deal of information."

"Only the final evolution remains."

"We’ve accumulated enough experience, and you’ve learned that move!"

"Raw power should be enough... Although, even saying that..."

If Gabite could evolve, perhaps she would finally defeat the other version of herself.

They were both Champions, yet she was constantly at the bottom. Young Cynthia found that deeply frustrating.

After all, she was the only person from her world who possessed the title of Champion. Lance didn’t count.

If their only Champion was constantly being crushed, wasn’t that humiliating?

"After becoming Champion, fame blinded me. That is what Grandma once told me..."

The grandmother of the Pokémon Adventures Cynthia was not merely the unnamed elder of Celestic Town or Professor Carolina. She filled the role of Wilma, the famous Draco Meteor tutor.

Young Cynthia listened to the tower shaking. When the doors to the twelfth floor opened, she drew a deep breath and assumed her stance.

"So you’ve arrived, Your Majesty."

"Among all the Champions here, I am the weakest, yet I was chosen to guard one of the tower’s middle floors."

"I cannot afford to embarrass myself—not in this tower that stretches through past and future and across endless space-time!"

The Gabite standing before her began radiating brilliant light.

At last, the moment of evolution had arrived!

"Garchomp—Draco Meteor!"

Some people had said that while Garchomp could certainly use Draco Meteor, it should never be treated as its ultimate weapon...

However, Draco Meteor was the move that the Pokémon Adventures Cynthia had always trained. She couldn’t simply abandon it halfway through, could she?

Physical Attack? Special Attack?

She didn’t understand any of that! Her world didn’t even have information about such a distinction!

Those were different things?

Her signature move was Draco Meteor.

If she wasn’t going to use Draco Meteor, what else was she supposed to use?

On the fifteenth floor...

Brendan examined his surroundings.

Since he had only arrived temporarily, this floor naturally couldn’t have been remodeled into Giant Chasm No. 2, as Kyurem had done with the sixth floor.

However, it seemed possible to temporarily create a battlefield. Although the scenery was an illusion, it appeared functional.

This was probably part of the authority granted by Arceus.

The Arceus from another world had supposedly returned to the depths of the universe, but because it occasionally manifested here, Entei had hinted that it might also possess authority to modify this place.

Could the addition of background skins have been its doing?

Regardless, the gods were watching every battle fought here.

"We’ll have to put on a good performance. Black Rayquaza, your dream is to accomplish what you failed to do before..."

[Exactly! I will complete Nobunaga’s unfinished dream: defeat Arceus and bring peace to Ransei. But history has already been brought under control, while I never battled Arceus. Therefore, that is now my wish.]

[Whether the decisive battle takes place in the past or future, fighting in the Dream Battle Tower is merely the admission ticket required to reach that Pokémon. Before then, the Arceus from another world would also make a worthy opponent!]

[Set your sights farther ahead. Perhaps you could become one of those people called astronauts and travel into the depths of space to meet the Original One—the Almighty Sinnoh. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could fight it?]

"You really are a battle maniac. So when Nobunaga supposedly brought peace to the land, it ended with the Demon King destroying everything? Or are your memories incomplete too?"

"Either way, let’s decide on a strategy first."

In truth, the strategy was simple: use Dragon Dance six times, maximize Sky Energy, then Mega Evolve and charge forward in one overwhelming assault.

His floor was purely a contest of stats!

"We’ll maximize Sky Energy before activating Delta Stream. That will remove the Flying type’s weaknesses and leave only the weaknesses of the Dragon type. Then we’ll overwhelm them in a single charge!"

"We may not be as strong as we were back then, and we don’t have an Awakening Emera to amplify your power, but we’re facing a team of twelve Legendary Pokémon strengthened by the faith of seven regions..."

[Hey, stop talking! You’re making the situation sound worse and worse. Put on that armor! The armor passed down in Ransei since ancient times. Who did it originally belong to again? Whatever. Wearing it will let you use a Warlord’s power!]

[Come to think of it, Nobunaga once said that Mythical Pokémon were ultimately nothing more than a dream—an illusion humans could spend their entire lives pursuing without ever reaching. Even if they truly obtained one, its destructive power would cause them to lose themselves.]

[I have been wondering whether his words resemble what happened to the people of Sinjoh in that other world, the ones who betrayed Arceus. The wish Nobunaga made back then was indeed witnessed by Arceus.]

["Let Arceus and this war-torn land, whose people have lost themselves in pursuit of Mythical Pokémon, disappear forever!" Nobunaga truly meant those words at the time.]

[Afterward, Nagamasa returned every kingdom to the leaders who had once surrendered. Nobunaga stood atop the Infinite Tower and watched the peaceful scene below. Yet the entire region has now become a ruin.]

[Perhaps that history was false as well...]

An Infinite Tsukuyomi?

Perhaps something like that had happened. It sounded similar to the illusions that ninja often talked about.

A first playthrough ending that wasn’t the true ending was an age-old concept.

Whatever the truth might have been, Black Rayquaza no longer remembered it.

"Deploy the battlefield."

Brendan listened to the tower rumbling and began altering the environment.

The scenery of Ransei appeared across the entire floor.

Long ago, a man named Nobunaga had been called the Demon King. His overwhelming power and merciless campaigns had caused people everywhere to fear him.

The kingdom he controlled specialized in...

The battlefield transformed.

Dragnor!

"Black Rayquaza—Mega Evolve!"

On the eighteenth floor...

The red-haired old man in a robe opened his eyes.

"Ever since meeting Arceus and gaining a deeper understanding of the world, I have constantly wondered how I might better guide the younger generation."

"I believe this tower is a place where young people with dreams and power can come to understand themselves and decide their futures."

"It is a wonderful place... And this method of having Champions guard the tower may have established an entirely new precedent."

"A Champion gauntlet! Hahaha! I’ve never heard of a battle facility like this before. What kind of expert would be capable of crossing all those mountains and reaching the ultimate summit?"

"Moreover, this place is home to the Pokémon representing the four systems—the four Heavenly Kings, the four strongest Pokémon beneath the gods. Their influence could spread across an entire region."

"My, my. The Legendary dragons have been defeated? As one of Unova’s foremost representatives and an apostle of Arceus, I suppose I should take this a little more seriously."

"My few short decades of life cannot compare to a three-thousand-year-old legend empowered by the faith of seven lands. Even so, I have a deity in whom I firmly believe."

Behind Alder, Volcarona spread a sea of fire, transforming the eighteenth floor into an inferno.

"Come to think of it, if the people guarding this tower continue growing stronger... will anyone truly manage to clear all fifty floors and meet Arceus, the Almighty Sinnoh?"

"The Arceus encountered on the first floor and the Arceus waiting on the fiftieth cannot possibly be compared!"

The King of Bountiful Harvests appeared before Alder.

Its arrival suddenly reminded the old man of something.

"Speaking of a king of bountiful harvests, something has just occurred to me."

"Are you related to Landorus, or did the two of you simply end up with similar titles?"

On the twenty-first floor...

A white-robed ghost girl appeared, accompanied by the great wind that illuminated the world.

"Mr. Alder has been defeated."

Aster—This Shore—gazed ahead.

"So that Pokémon is the Poison-type dragon. Heh-heh-heh... As one of the Four Heavenly Kings, I will stop it here."

She laughed softly.

She had met Calyrex before, and the amusing king Pokémon had left quite an impression on her.

"We’ll use Mega Evolution to oppose them..."

Aster gently raised one hand, and Hoenn’s dragon god manifested behind her in its true form.

"Lord Rayquaza will fight the twelve Pokémon on the opposing side using only his own strength, without an Awakening Emera."

"Lord Rayquaza is the only Pokémon I have, but that will be enough."

[Aster... leave this to me. Entrust everything you have to me. Even if we are merely reinforcements—the "seventh Pokémon"—we will not be eliminated so easily.]

[As the final Pokémon guarding this tower, I will show that Poison-type dragon that no matter how durable its body may be, it cannot withstand my winds!]

Aster was merely a reinforcement.

The true defenders of this floor were...

"This is the final floor," AI Sada announced. "I have finished collecting battle data from every preceding level. Calyrex and the Pokémon of Galar have had their stats, combat abilities, moves, and type matchups fully analyzed."

"I have brought two reinforcements: the Guardian of Paradise dragon and Terapagos."

"Mega Rayquaza, which stands at the origin of one battle system; Terapagos in its Stellar Form; and Dynamaxed Eternatus will appear on the same battlefield. How astonishing. Of the three, Mega Evolution is currently the only system known to function freely in other regions."

"Even though their bodies can continuously recover, the mental exhaustion accumulated from reaching this point cannot be overcome so easily. Even I, as an AI, find the thought of battling so many powerful opponents exhausting. The probability of victory is extremely low! Even if I recreated the Paradise Defense Protocol, it would only be defeated again."

"Is the faith of seven lands truly so powerful? Calyrex is the only Pokémon that draws upon faith in battle. In other words, after we fight it and marvel at the magnitude of its power, would that itself provide Calyrex with even more faith?"

"If so, wouldn’t it truly grow stronger with every battle? The stronger the people who believe in it, the greater its own strength becomes!"

"Very well. Let the final battle test begin!"

Naturally, the principal defender of this floor was Leaf, who sat atop her silver toilet.

She loosened her body and drew a deep breath.

"I’m completely sick of staying on Mt. Silver. When I go back this time, I’m definitely coming down the mountain..."

"Come to think of it, I never had a reason to stay on Mt. Silver in the first place! I’ve had enough. I’m going to let out all my frustration!"

"Mew, prepare for battle! We’ll use the strategy we tested while fighting Red!"

"Mew~"

Mew covered its mouth and giggled.

That move...

As the ancestor and origin of all Pokémon, using that one move would practically secure its victory.

Still, the Trainer named Red had been the first person ever to give Mew so much trouble. It hadn’t encountered anything like that even when it fought Mewtwo on New Island!

This time, however, everything would certainly proceed smoothly!

"Mew!"

"Use Imprison!" Leaf ordered.

When the opposing Pokémon knew a move also possessed by the user, Imprison prevented only the opponent from using it!

Mew stared at the big-headed king before it and activated Imprison.

Even a king said to fulfill every wish could not ignore this psychic power. Besides, there had been a certain rumor circulating on the lower floors...

[I heard you possess extraordinarily powerful psychic abilities. Shall we compare them?]

Mew flicked its tail and issued a challenge!

Calyrex merely swept its cape aside.

[As the ancestor of Pokémon, can you truly use every move?]

[Moves that have existed since birth may be considered techniques inherited from you or abilities engraved within DNA.]

[However, some moves are skills that we acquired through later training—techniques we spent our lives honing as we grew. Such battle arts cannot be transmitted through genes. They are glorious techniques belonging to us alone.]

[These moves were never passed down through history, nor did later generations ever learn of them. Ultimate moves, combination moves, and signature moves are likewise beyond your ability to copy!]

[This is the final gate! Let us, the mighty, surpass it! My companions and I shall become Pokémon Champions who stand above the Four Heavenly Kings!]

The darkness before them continued expanding.

The enormous Poison-type dragon and the other Pokémon all began to transform.

Aside from the kings of sword and shield, every Pokémon underwent...

"That’s... Dynamax!"

Mega Evolution versus Terastallization versus Dynamax!

However, the true focus wasn’t Dynamax itself.

The genuinely powerful thing was Calyrex’s riding system.

Blue clouds appeared above Calyrex’s head. It tossed the Reins of Unity around Eternamax Eternatus.

The blue clouds spread across the final floor.

Calyrex plus Eternatus.

Ability: As One—Human, Horse, and Dragon?

[Unnerve + Pressure] activated simultaneously.

They transformed into a gigantic blue-white star—the distant Rigel of the Orion constellation.

Its radius was seventy-seven times that of the Sun.

Its total luminosity was approximately 110,000 times greater!

All phenomena intertwined as countless stars spiraled together!

"Calyrex Dynamaxed?!" Leaf shouted. "Hey! This guy said it hated Dynamax before! It swore it would never use it!"

"Still, this is my first time seeing Dynamax!"

For someone witnessing Dynamax for the first time, its overwhelming visual impact was naturally incomparable.

Moreover, when battle systems were mutually exclusive and only one could be chosen, Dynamax was almost always the best option. After all, it could strengthen the user while attacking, alter the weather and terrain, pierce Protect, and produce additional effects that granted it far more advantages than the other systems.

Calyrex’s voice descended from the blue clouds like a proclamation from heaven.

[Umu! The past is the past, and now is now! All of them are my wings! As long as we share a bond, there is nothing we cannot accomplish!]

[Dynamax can even break through Imprison!]

However, Calyrex privately thought that having three Trainers who used Rayquaza was simply too ridiculous.

The third one hadn’t even appeared, yet this was still completely overpowered!

Calyrex would draw out the maximum power of Galar’s Pokémon and enter the final match against the Pokémon who stood at the origins of the other two systems!

[Heroes! For what purpose do the fruits of all your training exist? Why are the hearts of the mighty so precious?]

[Prove it! Praise it! Raise your voices in celebration! Round Table Resolution—begin!]

[This battle is fought for our own existence! This battle is fought in pursuit of truth!]

[This battle is fought against those stronger than ourselves!]

[This battle is not fought for personal gain!]

[This battle is fought for noble honor! This battle is fought to reach our ideal!]

[This battle is fought alongside the brave!]

Twelve Pokémon roared and cried out!

While traveling toward Sinnoh, Hikaru learned what had happened in the Dream Battle Tower.

Calyrex frequently attempted challenges in the tower. It had simply been very weak before and constantly suffered random deaths against enemies both great and small.

Even riding Keldeo hadn’t been enough to reverse its disadvantages.

That was only natural. It hadn’t possessed the Reins of Unity back then!

Did Calyrex think that merely imagining it had used the Reins of Unity would make them work? That wasn’t how things worked!

Besides, the little water pony wasn’t especially strong. Riding it was useless.

D’Artagnan—Keldeo—had been given overly conservative stats.

Yet after finally unleashing its full power, Calyrex had advanced triumphantly through the entire tower.

Entei had certainly arranged an impressive lineup, placing an entire group of Champions in its path.

Gold, that wild brawler, had somehow mixed in among them... but considering his general role, perhaps he wasn’t so different?

Leon’s dream of making Galar the strongest region in the world had been fulfilled by the big-headed king?

"Of course, determining the winner of a battle between multiple systems is extremely difficult. From a gameplay perspective, Z-Moves are at a major disadvantage, even though they were originally designed as ultimate attacks capable of surpassing everything... and their narrative presentation is certainly more powerful."

As the saying went, Terastallization was the most interesting system, Dynamax was the strongest, and Mega Evolution was the most specialized.

Z-Moves had initially been positioned as Mega killers. They could pierce Protect, and if the opponent did not protect itself, a single Z-Move could instantly eliminate a Mega-Evolved Pokémon!

However, as offensive power continued escalating, Z-Moves gradually fell behind the times.

"With Mega Evolution, only certain Pokémon are exceptionally powerful. Hoenn’s weather trio, for example... They have always remained the answer to the metagame."

"Every Dynamax user, on the other hand, is extraordinarily powerful. That has never changed!"

"It is normal for each system to have different strengths and weaknesses. Their combat power cannot be perfectly balanced, especially when outside factors are included."

"Mega Evolution has bonds and life energy. Z-Moves have aura amplification. Dynamax has... Well, Dynamax doesn’t need any additional strengthening."

"But Calyrex is also empowered by faith. That is completely unreasonable."

"What exactly is this Faith System? We still don’t have an answer. In short, the more people who know Calyrex and firmly believe it is powerful, the more power Calyrex can actually display."

The great clash between every system—

Pokémon Champions!

"Let us congratulate the team of the King of Bountiful Harvests!"

Calyrex’s team had won the inaugural Pokémon Champions grand final of the Dream Battle Tower!

Eternamax plus As One?

What kind of ridiculous dream was this?

Eternamax raised five stats by twenty, with a base HP of 255, both offenses at 135, both defenses at 270, and Speed at 150?!

Calyrex stood atop the zenith!

At least below the twenty-first floor, it was number one!

(End of Chapter)

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