Hammerlocke City. Damian had returned here once again.
"Chairman, why are we evacuating the citizens of Hammerlocke?"
Raihan looked at Rose in front of him with a confused expression. As the Gym Leader of Hammerlocke, Raihan was, in a sense, the guardian of Hammerlocke City.
And today, he had received a very strange order.
To assist the Hammerlocke police in evacuating the citizens, specifically, the citizens of the entire city. This...
This left Raihan completely baffled.
"Because something quite dangerous is about to happen, having the citizens evacuate first is the best choice," Rose explained to Raihan.
This matter was actually quite hard to explain. He couldn't exactly say that a "time bomb" had been sleeping under Hammerlocke City this whole time.
"Trust the Chairman, Raihan. Just trust the Chairman's decision."
Leon, who was standing to the side, advised his friend. That was right, Leon had come as well.
Since Leon had not had a falling out with Rose over a disagreement like in the games, he naturally trusted Rose implicitly.
Ultimately, in the game, Rose's decision really was too outrageous. He had talked about Galar's energy running out in a thousand years and planned to capture Eternatus for the sake of infinite energy.
What was Eternatus?
It was the source of the Darkest Day 3,000 years ago, the "disaster from the sky" that nearly destroyed the entire Galar region.
How could Leon not worry about a Pokémon like that?
Raihan remained silent and then looked at Damian's group of four next to Rose. He couldn't help but feel a bit curious.
"Is this Damian from Team Rocket? Oh, it's you guys."
Raihan was not unfamiliar with Damian. Or rather, he had a pretty deep impression of Platinum and Serena.
"Raihan, you know Damian?"
Leon's heart skipped a beat. At this moment, he was having a bit of a stress reaction. This was because not long ago, his most highly regarded junior, Gloria, had already joined Team Rocket!
Could it be that his own best friend was also in cahoots with Damian?!
Something like that... please, no!
"Ah~ I've only met them once. Platinum and Serena are both very talented juniors," Raihan scratched his head and grinned, replying with a cheerful smile.
"They are even more excellent now, Raihan. Platinum and Serena are both much stronger these days."
Damian replied with a smile. Of course they were stronger. After all, following their trip to the Crown Tundra, both Platinum and Serena had improved a lot.
Especially Platinum; she had now become the eighth Top Executive of Team Rocket.
Furthermore, Damian had reason to believe that Hilda and Serena would also be promoted to Top Executives soon.
Also, although she had only just been promoted to Top Executive, Platinum's strength was actually not at the level of someone who had just entered the Champion rank.
After all, the requirement for promotion to Top Executive was to have a full team of Champion-level main Pokémon. However, in reality, Platinum's trump cards and core members were not at that mere level.
"Oh? Is that really true? Then I would certainly like to experience that for myself."
Raihan's eyes lit up. As a battle-hungry Trainer, he was very interested in having a match with a powerful opponent.
His last battle with Platinum had been very satisfying for him.
"If Raihan would be willing to give me some pointers, that would be perfect."
Platinum responded very politely. In fact, she was very confident she could defeat Raihan this time.
After all, she hadn't gone completely all out in their last battle. Moreover, after that fight, she had gained a good understanding of Raihan's fighting style and tactics.
"Haha~ We will be staying in Hammerlocke for the next two days, Raihan. You don't have to worry about not having time for a battle. For now, let's go have some lunch."
Rose shook his head and chuckled softly.
Raihan shrugged noncommittally. In any case, he roughly understood that something big was likely about to happen in Hammerlocke City.
But if the sky fell, Rose and Leon would be there to hold it up. He was just a Gym Leader, so he would just follow behind them.
The group walked toward a nearby restaurant.
"Damian, what exactly are you and the Chairman planning to do?"
Leon came to Damian's side and asked Damian with a puzzled expression.
Even though he had been called here by Rose, Leon was still unclear about what was happening. Rose hadn't told him yet.
"For something like that, Champion Leon, shouldn't you go ask Chairman Rose instead?" Damian raised an eyebrow.
"Damian, no matter what you want to do, the Galar region has never offended you."
"Tsk~ Champion Leon, I really don't like the sound of that. You're making it sound like I'm some kind of great villain. I was actually invited by Chairman Rose to come and help this time."
Damian had an innocent expression and tone that seemed to say, "How could you misunderstand me like this?" It made Leon struggle to keep a straight face.
"So, could I ask you, Champion Leon, not to misunderstand me so much?"
"Is that so? Then I apologize to you."
Leon pondered for a moment, but he felt even more strange. Rose invited Damian to help?
"It's fine. Since you are so sincere, Champion Leon, I am willing to forgive you. After all, I personally admire your character very much."
Damian's smile was very bright.
Leon's eyelid twitched uncontrollably.
"Right, there's also the matter regarding Gloria..."
However, Leon suppressed his emotions and frowned as he brought up Gloria. At this moment, he still found it hard to believe that someone as optimistic and kind as Gloria had actually been snatched away by Damian.
In Leon's eyes, Gloria was his most excellent and suitable successor!
Simply put, Gloria was his appointed "Crown Prince"!
But now, the "Crown Prince" had actually run away?
No, saying she "ran away" wasn't quite accurate either. This Crown Prince had openly joined another faction.
"Gloria? Ah~ Speaking of her, Gloria really has great vision. She saw the future prospects of Team Rocket and requested to join on her own initiative."
"Gloria... brought it up herself?"
Leon felt like a knife had been driven deep into his heart.
"Yes. Perhaps this is just fate. I also didn't expect to run into a Trainer as talented as Gloria in the wild. Her talent is not inferior to Platinum or Serena. I am truly grateful for this land of Galar."
Damian spoke with a beaming smile, his tone full of emotion and delight.
It was just that Leon's eyes were a bit dazed.
"She is a total Top Executive prospect~ To be honest with you, Leon, I think that with Team Rocket's resources and environment, Gloria might even surpass you by next year."
"Heh heh heh..."
Leon let out a rare, hollow laugh. He didn't know what to say anymore. He felt so miserable!
What do you mean, your Team Rocket's resources and environment? With Gloria's talent, if she grew on her own, she could probably catch up to me by next year anyway, alright?
Leon felt bitter in his heart...
This was supposed to be his successor!!
"By the way, Champion Leon."
"?"
"I heard you also have a younger brother named Hop. He has great potential too, and I quite like him. Why don't you consider it? I can help you train him properly. What do you think—"
"No need. I will personally teach Hop. I won't trouble you, Damian."
Leon didn't wait for Damian to finish before he rejected him with a righteous and stern tone.
Stealing his Gloria wasn't enough, and now he wanted to steal his own brother too??
Damian, are you even human?!
Leon felt he needed to have a good talk with Hop. He absolutely could not let Hop join Team Rocket!!
Gloria had already "defected." It was unlikely he could count on Gloria leaving Team Rocket, but there was still Hop. Although Hop was a bit behind Gloria.
But Leon still believed in Hop's potential. This was his own brother, after all. And Hop also had a pure heart for Pokémon and Pokémon battling.
This was the thing Leon was most proud of about his brother.
"It's not just me talking, Champion Leon, but Team Rocket's growth environment is actually quite good."
Damian really liked Leon's "guarding against a predator" reaction. It was very interesting.
"I appreciate your concern, Damian, but I believe Hop has his own path. Besides, as his older brother, I will be there to help him."
Leon politely refused. He made up his mind not to let Hop and Damian meet.
After all, there was something wrong with Damian. Leon was terrified that Hop would fall under Damian's "Attract" move and be snatched away into actually joining Team Rocket.
Especially at this point in time; in a while, the Kanto League might have a final showdown with Team Rocket.
When that time came, Leon would definitely have to participate in that battle. If Hop joined Team Rocket, wouldn't the two brothers have to face each other on the battlefield?
Just thinking about that scene made Leon's skin crawl.
No way. He had to keep Hop far away from Damian. He absolutely could not let these two meet.
Following the release of the Hammerlocke evacuation notice, many citizens actually couldn't understand it at all. However, since this was an announcement issued by Rose himself, they naturally couldn't disobey.
After all, Officer Jenny was personally supervising the process.
The Hammerlocke citizens were still very efficient. The evacuation of the people was completed in about a day.
Hammerlocke Stadium.
Beneath Hammerlocke Stadium was a massive Energy Plant, which produced the Dynamax energy provided to Power Spots in various towns and cities.
It could be said that the Energy Plant was extremely important.
And Eternatus was sleeping right in the center of the Energy Plant!
"Shall we begin now, Damian?" Rose asked Damian while holding a controller.
"We can."
Damian nodded, holding the little turtle, Terapagos.
Hearing this, Rose decisively pressed the button on the controller in his hand. This controller was connected to the room where Eternatus was sleeping.
At this moment, inside the central part of the Energy Plant, within a massive room, a giant deep-purple bone dragon was currently crouching on the ground, sleeping.
It was none other than Eternatus.
Several mechanical arms rose and pointed at Eternatus. Solidified energy shot out and directly hit the core in Eternatus's abdomen.
An eerie red light lit up from Eternatus's abdomen. The red glow spread continuously along Eternatus's bone dragon body, reaching every part of it in the blink of an eye.
This massive bone dragon, which had been sleeping, finally moved. Its head slowly lifted, and its dragon eyes, formed by three white circles, lit up.
Eternatus had awakened!
"The ground... seems to be trembling?" Raihan looked at his feet in confusion. He faintly felt a sense of vibration.
"No, it's not just 'seeming'." Leon's expression turned serious.
The ground really was shaking!
BOOM!!
And right then, a violent, deafening explosion rang out. A massive beam of red light blasted through the floor of Hammerlocke Stadium and shot straight into the sky.
What is this?
Raihan was shocked beyond belief.
Roar~!
A low, raspy dragon's cry echoed far across the sky. A massive deep-purple bone dragon, its entire body flashing with a terrifying red light, flew out from the broken hole and stopped high in the air, lifting its head and roaring.
A majestic and heavy pressure filled the air. The originally clear sky quickly filled with dark, heavy clouds.
"Roar~!"
Eternatus roared again. A giant black vortex swirled high in the sky, and a terrifying crimson light shone down faintly.
It was ominous and oppressive.
The Darkest Day!
"What is that?"
Looking at Eternatus in the sky, Raihan was completely stunned.
Because this thing had actually come out from under Hammerlocke Stadium. No, how did he not know that such a thing was buried under Hammerlocke City?
"The 'Darkest Day' from 3,000 years ago, Eternatus!"
Leon's gaze was incredibly heavy. Rose had finally told him the truth, but the moment he learned it, Leon had been completely stunned.
He never expected that the Chairman he respected actually had such a plan in private. Raising the "Darkest Day"... the Chairman really was something else for coming up with that.
The key point was that Rose actually dared to do it!!
But fortunately, it wasn't too late yet. Damian could deal with this Eternatus.
For the first time, Leon felt truly lucky from the bottom of his heart that Damian had come to Galar. Otherwise, he really didn't know if he could have held out against Eternatus.
Thank you, Damian!!
Of course, gratitude was one thing, but letting him take his younger brother was absolutely impossible!