Inside the capture net, Yveltal stared blankly at Elias.
Even it couldn't fully grasp what had just happened.
Just moments ago, it had been seething with humiliation and rage at being subdued by humans, but now…
In the blink of an eye, the humans who'd arrived to help—and Delphox, who'd been fighting it moments earlier—had instead been cleared away by this Ghost Form.
What was he even doing this for?
For the first time, Yveltal realized it really couldn't follow the logic of these… ghosts.
Wait.
[Ghost, you need something from that stupid deer, don't you?]
Yveltal's voice resonated directly in Elias's mind.
As if guessing correctly, it widened its eyes, questioning him further.
Elias paused upon hearing this.
He cast a mildly surprised glance at the red bird trapped in the net.
So… telepathy truly was a skill every Legendary Pokémon possessed.
But soon, he turned away again, paying it no further mind.
As a faint blue glow flickered, Delphox vanished from nearby—Teleported elsewhere by Elias.
"Rest well."
Thinking of how wronged Delphox had appeared moments ago, Elias murmured softly.
His preparations were finally complete.
Just as Lysandre had said, his target had always been Xerneas.
Only Xerneas's blessing could truly unlock Diancie's potential and correct her inherent flaws.
Compared to that, using the Ultimate Weapon was nothing more than a last resort.
After all, legends were just legends. Elias considered that a backup plan in case he failed.
But similarly—
A blessing could only be granted willingly by Xerneas.
After being forcibly awakened by Yveltal, that deer would already be enraged—there was no chance it would offer help willingly.
Therefore…
Elias didn't mind employing a few small tricks to persuade Xerneas to grant Diancie its blessing voluntarily.
Seeing its question go unanswered, Yveltal—still pinned securely—became more certain.
When this Ghost Form had spoken with the red-haired human earlier, he'd also mentioned Xerneas.
[If you let me out, I can negotiate with Xerneas for you.]
Yveltal narrowed its eyes, its deep voice echoing again in Elias's mind.
Humans could be crafty at times, yet absurdly easy to manipulate at others.
Especially when they cared deeply about something—their judgment clouded by emotion.
That was a lesson Yveltal had learned well over thousands of years.
Predictably, as soon as it made this offer, Elias glanced back at it.
He even began walking closer.
He stopped only a meter away.
A calculating glint flashed through Yveltal's eyes.
It could escape the net on its own, but that would still take at least a day.
If—
"Are you close with Cresselia?"
Elias interrupted Yveltal's thoughts with an abrupt question.
Huh?
At hearing the vaguely familiar name, Yveltal froze.
Before it could even remember who—
THUD!
A dull impact struck its head.
"Spend less time with the Lunar Pokémon. Otherwise, you'll keep dreaming."
Elias glanced calmly at Yveltal—its face already twisted in pain—then casually withdrew the oversized mallet he'd formed with psychokinesis.
"Rrrgh!"
[Stupid ghost, you're finished! Let's see how you'll make that stupid deer cooperate now!]
Head throbbing, Yveltal's furious voice rang out again.
From birth until now, it had never suffered such humiliation.
Yet…
Elias's attention had already shifted away.
BOOOOM—!
From the direction he gazed, another ear-splitting roar thundered.
Clearly closer than before.
"Xerneas, and…"
"Zygarde."
When speaking the second Pokémon's name, Elias clenched his fist.
Zygarde—the Pokémon standing above the two Legendaries, the true ruler of the Kalos ecosystem.
This was the leverage he'd use to convince Xerneas.
Clearly, his deliberate decision to expand the battlefield had succeeded.
He'd lured it out, just as planned.
BOOM!
Another tremendous crash echoed.
But this time, a lithe figure came flying in as well.
Thud—!
Xerneas hit the ground on all fours and immediately sprang backward, bleeding off momentum.
Even then, it still slid back a short distance before steadying itself.
Staring at the large-antlered deer suddenly appearing in front of it, Yveltal went blank inside the net.
That Ghost Form had actually done it?
He'd truly baited Xerneas here?
More shocking still was that once Xerneas stabilized, it didn't spare even a glance for its old rival.
Instead, it raised its head instantly, eyes fixed on the forest ahead.
Yveltal had mostly calmed by now—and its enemy's odd reaction made it think.
As if recalling something, a rare and unmistakable fear appeared in Yveltal's deep azure eyes.
The next second—
Crack—!
The crisp sound of trees forced aside rang out.
A serpentine Pokémon even larger than Xerneas, covered in black-and-green scaled armor, emerged from the woods nearby.
Its expressionless face bore only a single eye-like scale.
A pale white glow filled its socket—as though it had no pupil at all, just a chilling, empty whiteness.
After locking onto Xerneas's position, Zygarde stopped and didn't move further.
The three Legendary Pokémon stared at each other from afar. The air seemed to freeze instantly, leaving behind only deathly silence.
Even Yveltal—still struggling moments ago—now held its breath and went still.
Other Pokémon—even Xerneas—it could charge without hesitation.
But… not Zygarde.
Never Zygarde.
It was as though Zygarde was born with an innate authority, suppressing both it and Xerneas.
Every time Zygarde had intervened over thousands of years, it had ended with the two Pokémon's "deaths."
Fortunately, as the Destruction Pokémon and the Life Pokémon, neither it nor Xerneas could truly die.
But the unforgettable memories still made Yveltal instinctively fear Zygarde.
Just as the three Pokémon faced off, none daring to make the first move—
Vmm!
Several beams suddenly fired from a clearing nearby, striking the vigilant Zygarde directly.
BOOOOM!
An explosion thundered, thick smoke instantly swallowing its massive serpentine body.
Simultaneously, Xerneas—fully alert until now—suddenly felt a comforting, warm power flow through its entire body.
She whipped her head around and saw the human ghost beside her, releasing a faint green energy toward her.
Was he… helping her?
---
T/N: ZYGARD IS SOOO COOOOOOL!
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