"That's what I should be asking—how is Miss Cynthia with you?"
The two stared at each other, then spoke at the same time—
"Shouldn't it be Leon/Miss Cynthia who helped you? You got here so fast!"
Each assumed the other had arrived with a Champion's help.
"Hmph! This round is mine."
"Next time, I'll win!"
After exchanging their usual competitive remarks, the two bumped fists—only to notice Cynthia and Leon watching them, making them instantly awkward.
"...Uh, Miss Cynthia, weren't you going to investigate the underground factory in Hammerlocke?"
"An underground factory? Mr. Leon is heading there as well…"
It turned out both Champions were already planning the same investigation. Just as Cynthia suspected, Leon had also begun to doubt Chairman Rose.
Leon nodded and spoke seriously, "Follow me. The underground factory is this way. Chairman Rose never hid its existence from me… but he always avoided explaining what truly happens inside. That's why I began to suspect something."
Under Leon's lead, the four quickly reached the entrance.
But Leon suddenly stopped, frowning.
"Something's wrong… There should be guards here."
"Mr. Leon?"
"No one's here. This doesn't feel right… We need to move—now!"
He rushed in, with Ash, Gary, and Cynthia following closely behind.
...
Deep within the underground factory—
What awaited them… froze everyone in place.
At the center of the research chamber floated a massive sphere, radiating a sinister purple-red light. The sphere was riddled with cracks, beams of energy leaking from within.
And inside—
A Pokémon.
A skeletal, dragon-like entity wrapped in a jagged, purple-black exoskeleton. Crimson light pulsed through its body like a living core.
That light—
was the source of Dynamax energy.
"Eternatus…" Cynthia whispered.
Ash stared at it, unease rising in his chest. Something about it felt… familiar.
Then it hit him.
"That's it! I saw it before—on the plane to Galar!"
"On a plane?"
Ash quickly explained how he and Chloe had once seen this exact Pokémon flying through the sky.
Which meant—
from the very beginning…
He had already encountered Eternatus.
Leon's expression darkened. "So this is the source of the Darkest Day… Chairman Rose will have to explain himself."
The truth was undeniable.
The one behind Galar's chaos—
was Rose.
...
[Leon:] "Chairman Rose… why?!"
Even in the real world, Leon couldn't hide his disbelief. The man he trusted—the one who raised him—had always seemed kind and selfless. And yet…
[Raihan:] "Why would you do this? You're the Chairman of the Galar League!"
[Rose:] "Precisely because I am the Chairman."
Rose's calm voice echoed.
[Rose:] "Galar's energy will be exhausted in a thousand years. Without action, this region will fall into decline."
[Rose:] "I discovered Eternatus—the source of limitless energy. If we control it, we secure Galar's future."
[Leon:] "Even at the cost of chaos? Of people suffering?"
[Rose:] "Sacrifice is necessary for progress."
[Rose:] "I raised you to become the strongest Champion—for this very moment. You were meant to control Eternatus."
Leon's fists clenched.
"…You're insane."
What seemed like foresight… had become obsession.
...
Inside the facility, pressure surged. Eternatus stirred, its energy tearing at the containment unit.
Ash felt it through his Aura—cold, ancient, overwhelming.
Rose's voice echoed through the chamber.
"Leon… you don't understand the burden of leadership. You see chaos. I see survival."
Leon stepped forward.
"A true hero protects people—not sacrifices them."
Ash moved beside him, Pikachu sparking fiercely.
"We're stopping this—right now!"
Cynthia released Garchomp. Gary called out Blastoise.
Four trainers stood united.
Rose's voice softened.
"Then witness the dawn of a new era."
The sphere shattered.
A pillar of crimson light erupted skyward.
Eternatus roared.
The Darkest Day… had begun.
...
The shockwave blasted the four backward.
Ash forced himself up, teeth clenched. Above him, Eternatus rose, its massive skeletal body expanding as the sky turned a deep, violent red.
"It's overflowing with energy!" Gary shouted. "If we don't stop it, all of Galar will become a Power Spot!"
"Then we stop it together!" Ash declared.
"Charizard—Fire Blast!" Leon commanded.
"Garchomp—Dragon Pulse!"
"Blastoise—Hydro Pump!"
"Pikachu—Thunderbolt!"
Four attacks converged—
BOOM!
But as the smoke cleared—
Eternatus remained untouched.
Worse—
it absorbed the energy.
"Our attacks aren't working!" Ash realized.
"It feeds on energy," Cynthia said grimly. "We need another method."Leon's eyes sharpened. "The legends… the heroes used special relics."
Ash froze.
The Rusted Sword.
The Rusted Shield.
He reached into his bag—they vibrated faintly. "The forest… Zacian and Zamazenta gave us these for a reason!" Gary nodded. "Then we use them!"
Before they could act, Eternatus fired. A massive Dynamax Cannon tore through the lab.
"Move!"
The facility began collapsing. "We take this outside!" Leon shouted.
...
They burst into Hammerlocke's center. The sky twisted with red storm clouds. Dynamax Pokémon appeared across the city. Panic spread.
Above it all—
Eternatus transformed further.
Its true form emerging.
Eternamax Eternatus.
Ash tightened his grip on the rusted sword.
"This is it…"
Pikachu stood beside him, unwavering.
The fate of Galar—
rested on them.
No matter the odds—
Ash would not step back.
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed. Claim early access on Patreon: Patreon.com/kazama677
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter🔷 100 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.