Raihan, the Gym Leader of Hammerlocke, was one of the top Trainers in the Galar region, second only to the Champion, Leon.
In fact, Raihan held the distinction of being the Trainer who had defeated the most of Leon's Pokémon in official battles.
Yes, regardless of whether the rumors about Raihan being capable of becoming a regional Champion in other regions were exaggerated or true, one thing was certain: Raihan was undoubtedly a Champion-level Trainer.
"This big guy…" Raihan stepped into Hammerlocke Stadium, his handsome face marred by a deep frown as he gazed up at Eternatus in the sky. In front of him stood his trusted partner, Duraludon, a towering, bipedal Pokémon with a sleek, metallic body.
"The legendary Eternatus? Why is it here?" Raihan's mind raced as he recalled the legends surrounding Eternatus. His eyelids twitched nervously.
Duraludon's Dragon Pulse had landed perfectly, yet Eternatus seemed completely unfazed. This had already given Raihan a sinking feeling. Now, he was certain—this terrifying creature was indeed the legendary Eternatus, the bringer of the "Darkest Day."
What the hell? Why was such a dangerous Pokémon in Hammerlocke, and right in the middle of the city? Raihan wanted to scream, but the dire situation forced him to focus. He had to face Eternatus head-on.
"Roar!" Time was not on Raihan's side. Eternatus had already noticed him and Duraludon. A blinding, ominous red light began to gather in Eternatus's chest, its intensity making Raihan's pupils shrink.
"Hey, hey, hey! This is no joke! Starting with a big move right off the bat?" Raihan quickly stepped back, a chilling sense of danger telling him that Eternatus was truly angry.
A dazzling red beam of light illuminated the darkened sky, shooting straight toward Duraludon at incredible speed. It was one of Eternatus's signature moves—Dynamax Cannon!
"Duraludon, Steel Beam!" Duraludon roared, a brilliant light gathering in its mouth before it unleashed a massive metallic beam to meet the Dynamax Cannon head-on.
Steel Beam!
Steel Beam was one of the most powerful Steel-type moves, with a base power of 140 in the games. However, its side effect was severe, draining the user's stamina far more than moves like Double-Edge.
The red and metallic beams collided mid-air, creating a shockwave of energy that rippled outward, sending gusts of wind in all directions.
"Not bad, I suppose," Ryuu Shiro murmured, his eyes narrowing as he watched Duraludon hold its ground against Eternatus. He couldn't help but offer a compliment.
Indeed, it was impressive. While it was clear that Eternatus wasn't going all out, the power of a high-tier Legendary Pokémon was still overwhelming. Yet, Raihan's Duraludon had managed to hold its own, proving that Raihan's reputation wasn't entirely undeserved.
But… that was all.
"Hmph!" Oleana frowned at Ryuu Shiro's words. In his eyes, Raihan's strength was merely "not bad"? How arrogant.
Oleana let out a cold snort, but she knew that Raihan alone stood no chance against Eternatus. Her eyes filled with worry. The only top Trainer in Hammerlocke was Raihan, and she had already sent a private message to Leon. However, Leon had just ventured deep into the Crown Tundra, the most dangerous wilderness area in Galar, where signals were unreliable. She had no idea if he had received her message.
And in that short span of time…
As Eternatus exerted more power, Duraludon's Steel Beam was shattered. The red beam of the Dynamax Cannon struck Duraludon with full force, giving it no chance to dodge.
Boom!
The explosion of energy was devastating, the shockwave sweeping through the stadium like a hurricane. Duraludon was sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground, severely injured.
"Duraludon!" Raihan quickly recalled Duraludon into its Poké Ball, having already retreated to a safe distance. From the earlier clash, it was clear that Duraludon was no match for Eternatus in its current state.
Holding Duraludon's Poké Ball, Raihan's Dynamax Band began to spark with red energy. He was preparing to Gigantamax Duraludon! Even though he knew he couldn't defeat Eternatus, as the Gym Leader of Hammerlocke, he had to try.
"Pathetic," Ryuu Shiro sneered from a distance, his lips curling into a mocking smile.
Using Gigantamax in front of Eternatus, the source of Dynamax energy? Raihan's Poké Ball swelled slightly under the surge of red energy, but almost immediately, the energy dissipated, and the ball returned to its normal size.
The Gigantamax had failed!
"What's going on?" Raihan was stunned, staring in disbelief at his unresponsive Dynamax Band.
"Eternatus is the source of Dynamax energy. Without its permission, trying to use Dynamax is a joke," Ryuu Shiro taunted, his mocking gaze shifting to Oleana, who was pale and biting her lower lip.
Oleana was the creator of the Dynamax Band! It was through the band's regulation that Trainers could use Dynamax in areas with Dynamax energy.
Oleana's face darkened further. Ryuu Shiro was absolutely right.
"Roar~" But Eternatus paid no attention to this. Its dragon-like eyes locked onto Raihan's position, and the dangerous red light began to glow once more.
Dynamax Cannon!
Another powerful beam shot through the air, heading straight for Raihan.
"Run, Raihan!"
....
A blinding, ominous crimson beam tore through the darkened sky, streaking straight toward the ground. This devastating attack was all too familiar.
"Run, Raihan!" Oleana's pupils contracted in fear, and she shouted in panic, no longer caring about anything else.
If this attack landed directly on Raihan, how could a human's fragile body possibly survive? But it couldn't happen! Raihan was one of the top Trainers in the Galar region. Losing him would be a devastating blow to Galar.
"Flygon…" Raihan, as a top Trainer, had sharp instincts. An unprecedented sense of danger surged through his body. He quickly pulled out a Poké Ball, ready to release his Pokémon, but he was too late!
The shock of his Dynamax Band failing had cost him precious time, and Eternatus's attack was too fast.
"To think I'd die here…" Raihan realized this as the terrifying red light filled his vision. A bitter smile appeared on his face.
But at that moment, a streak of blue light shot toward him like lightning, stopping just above him.
The sharp blue light resembled an incredibly sharp blade, slicing through the incoming Dynamax Cannon with ease!
Both Oleana and Raihan stared in awe at the blue light. Its brilliance was so intense that they couldn't make out what was inside. But…
That was Eternatus's Dynamax Cannon! The same attack that had effortlessly shattered Raihan's Duraludon's Steel Beam!
"Roar!" Sensing this familiar presence, Eternatus let out a low, angry roar. But upon closer listening, one could detect a hint of fear in its voice.
Yes, fear! Because this was one of the two beings that had nearly killed it three thousand years ago!
"It's here!" Ryuu Shiro narrowed his eyes. Finally, it had arrived! And that dazzling blue light could only mean one thing—the legendary Sword Hero of Galar, the Crowned Sword, Zacian!
As if to confirm Ryuu Shiro's thoughts, the blue light dimmed, revealing a cold and majestic wolf-like Pokémon landing gracefully on the ground. It raised its head, its icy gaze fixed on Eternatus in the sky.
Zacian!
"This is…" Oleana was momentarily stunned as she looked at this unfamiliar Pokémon. Due to her secret preparations regarding Eternatus, she was well-versed in the history of the Darkest Day three thousand years ago.
She instantly recognized this cold and aloof Pokémon! But deep down, she also felt a sense of relief. Zacian's appearance was like a shot of calm for her.
Because it was clear that Zacian had come for Eternatus!
"Zacian, one of the two heroes who saved Galar. However…" Ryuu Shiro smiled, his red eyes flickering as he carefully observed this legendary hero.
Strictly speaking, Zacian and Zamazenta shared some similarities with the legendary dragons of Unova, Reshiram and Zekrom.
Both were heroes passed down through generations, but while Reshiram and Zekrom, as the dragons of truth and ideals, stood in opposition, Zacian and Zamazenta were close siblings.
However, one thing they had in common was that Reshiram and Zekrom would actively choose human partners to fulfill their destinies of truth and ideals. Similarly, Zacian and Zamazenta would bestow their rusted sword and shield upon worthy heroes to save Galar.
"Only Zacian came? How confident." Ryuu Shiro glanced around but didn't see Zamazenta. He chuckled softly. It seemed only Zacian had arrived.
"You knew from the start that Zacian and Zamazenta would appear?" Oleana frowned, hearing the lack of surprise in Ryuu Shiro's tone.
"Is that strange?" Ryuu Shiro's lips curled into a mocking smile.
"When evil descends, the heroes of justice will also make their grand entrance. Is that really so surprising?"
"Ever since the Darkest Day three thousand years ago, Eternatus has been a thorn in Zacian and Zamazenta's side. Eternatus's reappearance would inevitably draw their attention."
"Stopping and destroying Eternatus is their duty," Ryuu Shiro said calmly. In its current state, Eternatus couldn't return to its original form. A single Zacian might indeed be enough to handle it…
"Oleana!" Raihan's voice called out. Ryuu Shiro glanced over and saw Raihan jogging toward them.
With Eternatus and Zacian now in a standoff, they no longer paid attention to this "insignificant" human.
Ryuu Shiro lost interest in Raihan after a brief glance, turning his attention back to the increasingly tense atmosphere between the two Legendaries.
Everything was going according to plan! Ryuu Shiro's red eyes flickered. Obtaining Eternatus wasn't an easy task, but it didn't matter. The situation was still progressing as he had anticipated.
Meanwhile, Zacian stared at Eternatus, its icy aura growing even more piercing.
"Menace!" Zacian pulled the rusted sword from its fur, and in a flash of light, it transformed into its Crowned Sword form.
A magnificent, glowing sword now rested in its mouth, and the patterns on its body became more intricate. Wing-like decorations extended from the back of its shoulders.
The Crowned Sword, Zacian!
"Roar!" Eternatus's white, spotted dragon-like eyes seemed to glow with anger as it let out another earth-shaking roar directed at Zacian.
The ominous red aura around it grew even more intense.
The fated battle between the hero and Eternatus was about to begin!