Rubble shifted and scattered as Byron and Riley clawed their way out from beneath the collapsed debris.
Their Pokémon—Steelix, Bastiodon, and Lucario—were battered and exhausted, barely holding on. Without their incredible defensive strength, the two men would've been crushed moments ago.
But neither of them cared about that now.
Their eyes were locked on Peter… and the devastating power he had just unleashed.
"That… was terrifying," Riley whispered, staring at the heavily breathing Slaking, his gaze burning with awe.
Byron tightened his grip on his shovel. "No wonder Lucian said even Cynthia holds him in high regard… the kid's talent is monstrous."
The dust gradually settled. The hail stopped. Silence returned.
For a brief moment—
It seemed like everything was over.
But then—
A dark vortex opened in the shattered ground.
From it, a battered J emerged, her body torn and bloodied, alongside her barely conscious Drapion and Salamence. And floating beside her…
A shadow.
A nightmare given form.
"...Tobias."
Peter's eyes narrowed as a suffocating malice engulfed him once again, tightening around his chest like invisible chains.
"So we meet again, Peter," Tobias said calmly, his voice low and eerie. "Congratulations… you've ruined my plans once more. But tell me—shouldn't you check on your sick little girlfriend first?"
Peter's pupils shrank instantly.
"What did you do to Whitney?!"
He didn't wait for an answer.
He turned and ran.
But in that moment of panic—of pure, desperate concern—
He left his back wide open.
A compressed sphere of darkness shot forward—
And pierced straight through his chest.
"—!!!"
Blood burst from his mouth as his body froze mid-step.
For a split second…
Time itself seemed to stop.
His Pokémon turned in horror—
Only to see confusion, shock… and the slow fall of crimson droplets.
"MI-LOOOOO!!!"
Lopunny's eyes burned scarlet as rage exploded within her. The Mega Stone at her neck flared to life—light erupted, and in an instant, she Mega Evolved. Her High Jump Kick tore through the air with murderous force.
"LIVAAAA!!!"
Arboliva's usual serenity shattered into fury. The ground erupted in verdant energy, seeds rising skyward, glowing with lethal intent.
"Eee…!!"
Indeedee clung to Peter, tears streaming uncontrollably.
Eevee trembled, gently licking the blood from his lips, eyes filled with panic.
"Lucky…"
Blissey stepped forward alone.
Her body began to wither.
Green light rose from her crown—her life force itself—and flowed into Slaking.
She used Healing Wish.
"Don't… don't go…" Peter tried to stop them, his vision fading.
Too late.
"ROOOOAR!!!"
Slaking smashed both fists into the ground, its arms splitting open under the strain, blood spraying as it launched itself skyward.
"SKREEEEE!!!"
Braviary let out a cry soaked in blood, its Brave Bird faster and fiercer than ever before.
"GRAAAHHH!!!"
Ursaring activated its Flame Orb, eyes turning crimson as it charged in a frenzy.
Every Pokémon—
Every single one—
Had gone mad with rage.
They didn't care about their own lives anymore.
Only one thing mattered:
Protect him.
But—
"Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom."
One after another—
Lopunny, Arboliva, Slaking, Braviary, Ursaring—
Were blasted away.
Dark orbs sank into their bodies—
And they collapsed, dragged into nightmares.
From the shadow above, Tobias and Darkrai revealed themselves, crimson eyes filled with cold disdain.
Peter reached weakly for a Poké Ball.
His body wouldn't listen.
His lungs burned.
His vision dimmed.
"Give up," Tobias whispered, his voice like a demon's murmur from the abyss. "You were never my equal. Abandon your journey… abandon your dream of becoming a Master… and everything that happened here can be nothing more than a dream."
"A peaceful life… with the girl you love… isn't that better?"
"…Give up?"
Peter pressed a trembling hand to his chest, blood seeping between his fingers. His other hand shakily reached toward his belt.
"Give up my partners…? Give up… the promise I made with Whitney…?"
His pale face suddenly flushed with color. His eyes ignited with an unyielding fire.
"IMPOSSIBLE!!!"
Each word tore from his throat with blood—
But it rang with absolute conviction.
Because he didn't just carry his own dream.
He carried the faith of his partners.
The rivalry of his opponents.
The bonds of his friends.
And the girl who meant everything to him.
How could he ever—
Give up?
"…Then that's unfortunate," Tobias said coldly. "You'll all die here."
Dark energy gathered once more in Darkrai's hand.
But Peter smiled.
Even now.
That same fearless smile.
"…You might've made a mistake."
In the next instant—
From Darkrai's shadow—
Flames erupted.
"AAAAARK!!!"
Zoroark emerged, eyes blazing with hatred. Purple-black curse markings spiraled outward, surrounding Darkrai before detonating violently.
A curse took hold.
"—!"
Darkrai's hand pierced straight through Zoroark's chest.
Yet Zoroark smiled.
A tragic, resolute smile.
Its final gift—
Delivered.
It fell.
And behind it—
Five figures rose again.
"Mi…lo…"
"Li…va…"
"Ra…"
"Grr…"
"Chiu…"
Peter forced himself upright, nausea and dizziness overwhelming him. He signaled Indeedee and Eevee forward.
Then—
He stood tall.
Facing Darkrai.
With two debuffs now weighing it down, the nightmare Pokémon was no longer untouchable.
"The so-called Nightmare God…" Peter said quietly, voice steady yet filled with defiance. "Is that all?"
His tone carried the arrogance of someone who had lived twice—
And the resolve of someone who must win.
"…Now it's our turn."
Tobias scoffed, though his expression flickered. "Pathetic resistance."
He was about to attack—
When suddenly—
A voice echoed across the sky.
"Enough."
A woman's voice.
Vast. Authoritative. Absolute.
Tobias froze.
His expression shifted several times—
Before he clicked his tongue in frustration.
"…Tch."
With a final glare, he grabbed J—
And vanished.
Silence fell.
Peter swayed.
If he had held them just a little longer…
He could've won.
That thought flickered—
Then faded.
Darkness overtook him.
As he collapsed, the last thing he saw—
Was a faint crescent moonlight rising on the horizon.