The once clear sky had darkened without warning, a sinister crimson hue faintly visible through the clouds. This apocalyptic scene sent waves of panic through the majority of Hammerlocke's residents.
"Warning! Warning! A highly dangerous wild Pokémon has appeared within the city. All citizens are advised to evacuate the stadium immediately."
"Warning! Warning!..."
The broadcast echoed repeatedly from every corner of Hammerlocke, as police officers flooded the streets, guiding the panicked crowds to safety. Hammerlocke, the central city of the Galar region and one of its most prosperous, could not afford any mishaps.
"What's going on?" A young man with a bronze complexion grabbed a police officer, his brow furrowed as he demanded answers.
"You… You're Raihan, sir?" The officer was momentarily stunned before recognizing the young man, his face lighting up with relief.
Yes, it was Raihan, the Gym Leader of Hammerlocke!
"Sir, you've finally returned! A terrifying Pokémon has appeared near Hammerlocke Stadium and is attempting to shatter the protective barriers. Please, you must stop it!" The officer pleaded urgently, his words tumbling out in a rush. The situation had escalated too quickly, leaving no time for preparation.
The stadium's protective barriers were designed to ensure the safety of spectators during Pokémon battles. Now, they had become the city's last line of defense.
"A dangerous Pokémon? Understood. Do your best to calm the citizens." Raihan's frown deepened. He had just returned to Hammerlocke after receiving a distress call from Oleana, who had directed him to the stadium.
What on earth was happening?
A sense of foreboding settled in Raihan's heart.
...
"Roar!"
A deep, resonant dragon's cry echoed through the air, followed by a massive crimson beam of energy hurtling forward.
Dynamax Cannon!
The beam shot straight ahead but was intercepted halfway by a translucent barrier. This was the stadium's safety shield, a crucial safeguard for spectators during Pokémon battles, especially in the Galar region, where Dynamaxing was a common occurrence.
These barriers were designed to withstand even the most powerful attacks from top-tier Champion-level Pokémon. Yet, as Eternatus continued its assault, cracks began to spiderweb across the barrier's surface.
It wouldn't be long before the barrier shattered completely, and Eternatus would descend upon Hammerlocke.
"Such awe-inspiring power. That crimson hue is truly magnificent, don't you think, Miss Oleana?" Standing at a corner of Hammerlocke Stadium, Ryuu Shiro gazed at Eternatus with an irrepressible smile of admiration.
This was the kind of power he craved—the overwhelming might of a high-tier Legendary Pokémon. This was the dragon of his dreams!
Though Eternatus, with its skeletal, dragon-like form, might appear terrifying to most, to Ryuu Shiro, it was nothing short of breathtaking.
"You're insane! Do you have any idea what this means?" Oleana, leaning against a wall to keep herself from collapsing, glared at Ryuu Shiro with a face drained of color. Her voice trembled with anger.
How could he still smile at a time like this?
"Take a good look!" Oleana raised a shaky arm, pointing outside, her eyes locked on Ryuu Shiro. Her usually composed demeanor had shattered, her voice sharp and piercing.
"Take a good look at this city! It's a thriving metropolis, home to countless residents. If Eternatus breaks through that barrier, those people will lose their last line of defense! If Eternatus goes out of control, this disaster will be entirely your fault, you monster!"
Yes, in Oleana's eyes, this was all Ryuu Shiro's doing. If he hadn't infiltrated the Energy Plant and released Eternatus, none of this would have happened. And yet, here he was, still smiling. What kind of person did that?
What kind of person could be so heartless?
"Oh, I see. Should I apologize then?" Ryuu Shiro's smile didn't waver. He glanced at Oleana, shrugging with a complete lack of remorse.
"You're quite the comedian, Miss Oleana. I must say, your jokes are unexpectedly entertaining."
"But tell me," his smile twisted into a sneer, "what does their survival have to do with me?"
"Besides, if you hadn't found and sealed Eternatus in the first place, I wouldn't have had this opportunity. So, in a way, I'm deeply grateful to you."
Ryuu Shiro's handsome face was now filled with malice as he leaned in close to Oleana, his eyes locking onto hers. His lips curled into a chilling grin.
"You bastard, you—" Oleana's face turned from pale to livid, her anger boiling over.
But before she could unleash a torrent of curses, a sharp, shattering sound reached their ears.
Oleana's expression darkened as she looked up. The protective barrier of Hammerlocke Stadium had been destroyed.
"The real show is just beginning~" Ryuu Shiro licked his lips, his gaze fixed on Eternatus as it roared into the sky, reveling in its newfound freedom.
With the barrier gone, the two "heroes" would surely have sensed its presence by now.
Meanwhile, deep within the Slumbering Weald, the dense fog that blanketed the forest seemed to grow heavier. A sleek, wolf-like Pokémon lying on the grass slowly opened its sharp eyes, lifting its head to gaze into the distance.
That aura… it was the calamity's presence!
....
Eternatus was not a Pokémon native to this planet. Like Deoxys, it had come from the depths of space.
However, unlike Deoxys, which had the misfortune of encountering the Rayquaza, Eternatus had arrived on this planet 20,000 years ago via a meteorite, seemingly unnoticed by Rayquaza.
Eternatus was an exceptionally unique Pokémon. To survive, it needed to sustain its vitality by absorbing energy.
Three thousand years ago, in its quest to replenish its energy, Eternatus attempted to absorb the energy particles of the entire Galar region. This act triggered the catastrophic event known as the "Darkest Day."
The energy released by Eternatus formed a massive black vortex, causing numerous Pokémon in Galar to Dynamax or Gigantamax.
These out-of-control Pokémon brought the region to the brink of destruction, nearly leading to its downfall. This was the true origin of the "Darkest Day" calamity.
In the end, it was the legendary heroes of sword and shield who defeated Eternatus, shattering its massive body and saving Galar. These heroes were none other than Galar's legendary Pokémon, Zacian and Zamazenta!
To the Galar region and to Zacian and Zamazenta, who had once saved it, Eternatus was an absolute menace. Its very existence depended on consuming energy, making it an insatiable parasite. This was how Zacian and Zamazenta viewed Eternatus.
"Three thousand years have passed, and it has awakened again?" The cold, blue wolf-like form of Zacian slowly rose to its feet, gazing into the distance. The aura of that calamity was something it would never forget.
"Sister?" Zamazenta emerged from the thick fog, its steady eyes fixed on Zacian. While similar in appearance to Zacian, Zamazenta's red, shield-like form was noticeably more robust.
The relationship between Zacian and Zamazenta was unique among legendaries—they were siblings. However, compared to the more composed Zamazenta, the Crowned Sword Zacian had a far colder demeanor.
"I'll deal with it. That parasite must not be allowed to recover," Zacian said calmly, tucking its rusted sword into its fur and taking a few steps forward.
Eternatus was far too dangerous, and its vitality was too strong. It had to be dealt with swiftly.
Three thousand years ago, Zacian and Zamazenta had shattered Eternatus's body, scattering its fragments across Galar. Yet, somehow, Eternatus had awakened once more.
"Do you need me to come with you?" Zamazenta asked.
"No, it hasn't returned to its full power," Zacian replied. After a few steps, it transformed into a blue streak of light and vanished into the horizon.
Zamazenta watched as Zacian disappeared from view. Zacian's prideful nature was well-known, and Zamazenta had no intention of interfering unless absolutely necessary.
Besides, Eternatus hadn't regained its full strength, and Zamazenta had no doubt that Zacian could handle it.
After all, Eternatus, an alien species, was a Poison/Dragon-type Pokémon, while Zacian was a Fairy/Steel-type.
Poison was ineffective against Steel, and Dragon was useless against Fairy. What more needed to be said? Zacian was Eternatus's natural nemesis, a counter that could utterly dominate it in terms of type advantage.
If it weren't for the sheer power of Eternatus in its Eternamax form, Zamazenta wouldn't have needed to join the fight three thousand years ago…
…
Hammerlocke Stadium.
"Roar~"
Eternatus's dragon-like cry echoed across the heavens, and a dangerous red aura began to emanate from its body. The dark red sky churned violently as layers of black clouds twisted and swirled, forming a massive vortex that engulfed the heavens.
The Darkest Day!
The apocalyptic scene from three thousand years ago was about to repeat itself. The black vortex expanded rapidly, covering all of Hammerlocke and plunging its bewildered citizens into even greater panic.
Yes, having broken free from its prison, Eternatus instinctively began to absorb the surrounding energy.
It was not at full strength, and its energy reserves were depleted.
It needed to replenish itself, especially with the Energy Plant below, which it sensed was brimming with energy.
Three thousand years ago, its body had been shattered by Zacian and Zamazenta, scattering its fragments as Wishing Stars and Wishing Pieces across Galar. Now, it sought to absorb that energy once more to restore its former glory.
"Stop. Do you want to be shattered by them again?" A voice suddenly echoed in Eternatus's mind.
Eternatus paused, and the swirling black clouds in the sky came to a halt.
Shattered by them again?
Eternatus lowered its head, gazing downward. The voice was not unfamiliar—it belonged to the human who had released it. For some reason, Eternatus felt a strange sense of kinship with this human, and as its "savior," it held a certain fondness for him.
But if it didn't absorb energy, how could it recover?
Eternatus tilted its head in confusion, its spotted eyes fixed on Ryuu Shiro.
And at that moment…
A green dragon-like beam shot through the air, striking Eternatus.
It was a Dragon Pulse!
The attack exploded, causing Eternatus a slight twinge of pain. Its dragon-like eyes immediately flashed with danger.
"Raihan!" Oleana's voice rang out with a hint of relief.
Indeed, the Dragon Pulse had been unleashed by Raihan's partner, Duraludon.
Raihan had arrived!
"Here comes the appetizer," Ryuu Shiro smirked, amused by the audacity of attacking Eternatus so recklessly.