The next afternoon, Stephen arrived at Rose Tower in Wyndon, Galar, with his group in tow—Karen, Cynthia, Will, Aster, and others.
"Dr. Stephen, I thought you'd forgotten our agreement," Rose greeted them with a smile.
"Of course not, of course not. It's just that I've been busy these past few days," Stephen lied without the slightest embarrassment.
Rose didn't call him out, instead inviting Stephen's group to his favorite restaurant in Wyndon for a meal and a chat.
"Hey! Stephen, look! It's Lance!" Halfway through the meal in the reserved restaurant, Will pointed at the TV and shouted.
"Turn it up, please," Rose called to the bar.
On TV, Goodshow was beaming like Santa Claus, standing in front of Lance and a sleeping Kyurem, facing the camera:
"We can't give all the credit for defeating N to Lance. Before Lance arrived, Alder had already worn down the opponent a lot, which made it easy for Lance to secure victory. Of course, we can't deny Lance's improvement—he's now fully capable of being the world's second best, and could even compete with Stephen-kun for the top spot in the world. Next, we'll be launching a full-scale operation against Team Plasma, and this will be broadcast live…"
"They've been reporting on them non-stop these days," Aster blinked. Due to her amnesia, Aster's way of understanding the world now relied on Stephen and the others' explanations and television.
"Broadcasting a crackdown on criminals? I've never heard of that before," Mary whispered.
"After all, the league has had too many embarrassing incidents these past two years. They desperately need to do something big to restore their reputation with the public," Cynthia said. "Team Plasma may be strong, but with Champion Lance now possessing Kyurem, he's as overpowered as Stephen. The League naturally wants to seize this opportunity to show its strength."
"Better not screw this up," Karen raised an eyebrow. She'd witnessed the power of the enhanced Dark Kyurem yesterday—indeed formidable, and more than enough to deal with Team Plasma. But in this era, Lance isn't the only strong one. Not to mention, Giovanni has always been looking for a chance to deal with him.
"Chairman Rose, we're almost done eating. Let's get to business," Stephen cut in. When Goodshow was being interviewed, Rose had been gripping his knife and fork so tightly his veins were bulging.
"Of course, please follow me," Rose immediately regained his smile.
On the way out, Rose told everyone that their destination was another major city in Galar—Hammerlocke. Since little Hoopa had never been there, they had to take a Flying Taxi.
...
When they arrived in the medieval-styled city, they found Leon already waiting.
"Long time no see, Dr. Stephen!" Leon greeted them with a dazzling smile and a wave.
Cynthia, Karen, and the others looked complicated—how can someone still smile after having his childhood sweetheart stolen?
"Do you all know the legend that's been passed down in Galar for 3,000 years?" Rose asked as he led everyone toward the city center.
"The legend of the two kings—the Sword and Shield? Though humans took all the credit, thanks to Stephen, the truth finally came out," Karen quickly recalled the two legendary dogs.
"Correct! We in Galar are also grateful to Dr. Stephen. But Miss Morgan, do you know why the two kings are revered as heroes by the people of Galar?" Rose asked again.
Karen was stunned; Cynthia, a history buff, answered, "Because of the Darkest Day, right? It's said that 3,000 years ago, a calamity called the Darkest Day ravaged Galar, and was finally stopped by the Sword and Shield Kings."
"Champion Cynthia, you are indeed knowledgeable. Oh, but I can't call you 'Champion' anymore," Rose smiled and continued, "But the Darkest Day wasn't just a natural disaster—it was a Pokémon, named… Eternatus!"
As Rose said the name "Eternatus," they had unwittingly arrived at the power plant in the center of Hammerlocke.
After the security guard nodded to Rose and let them in, they took the elevator to the lower floors. Rose entered a code, and as the huge steel doors began to open, an ominous crimson glow made everyone frown.
At the bottom of a bottomless abyss at the end of the drawbridge, a giant skeletal dragon lay sleeping in the red light. Mary, who was timid, staggered and needed Karen's support.
"Chairman, this, this is…?" Even Leon had trouble keeping his composure.
Rose remained calm. "This is Eternatus."
"Whoa! The guy who got beaten by those two dogs 3,000 years ago?!" Will blurted out.
It seemed the phrase "those two dogs" triggered a reaction—Eternatus in the abyss released a menacing aura, scaring Will so much he fell on his butt.
"But Eternatus also severely wounded Zacian and Zamazenta," Stephen said. That battle 3,000 years ago ended with both sides badly hurt.
Eternatus's Eternamax form is its true state, but the two dogs beat it down to this shrunken state. The Sword and Shield Kings' forms are also their true selves, but after that battle, both were left in their current, damaged forms.
"Chairman Rose, you wanted to see me for this guy, right?" Stephen asked bluntly.
Rose nodded, not wasting words. "Yes. I hope you can help Leon capture Eternatus."
Everyone was shocked, but quickly regained their composure. After all, with a little thought, it wasn't that strange. Ever since Leon debuted, Rose had poured all his resources into him, making him the perfect Champion. Now that Lance had Kyurem, Rose, who always looked down on the Indigo League, couldn't stand to fall behind. You have Kyurem? Fine! I'll give Leon Eternatus!
"This guy's playing for keeps…" Will muttered.
Cynthia suddenly thought of something. "Chairman Rose, you've been preparing for this ever since Stephen first came to Galar, haven't you?"
Cynthia also remembered how Rose had fawned over Stephen back then—many even suspected Rose had a crush on him.
Rose replied calmly, "If Dr. Stephen had joined Galar, Eternatus would have been his. But, alas… Of course, it's not too late now." As he finished, the calm in Rose's eyes turned to fanaticism.
Stephen waved it off with a smile. "No need, Chairman Rose."
Eternatus, as the creator of Dynamax, requires its trainer to remain in Galar. Dynamax is too important to Galar. That's why, after catching Eternatus, Goh handed it over to Leon—he couldn't take it away, or Rose would send assassins after him.
Besides, Stephen was sort of family with Zacian. In the games, Pokémon are just data, but here, it's reality—Zacian's personality would never let her team up with Eternatus; it'd be a miracle if they didn't fight on sight.
"Chairman, I…" Leon hesitated.
"Lance already got Kyurem! How can you afford to fall behind?!" For once, Rose spoke sternly.
Everyone fell silent, thinking, "Chairman Rose is risking his life to oppose the Indigo League…"
"…Let's begin, Chaiman Rose," Stephen said, his life philosophy being to repay kindness and revenge alike. He'd received countless benefits from Rose over the years—it was time to return the favor.
Rose nodded, took out his phone, and made a call. "Oleana, prepare to awaken Eternatus."
Cynthia suddenly asked, "By the way, this is a city. Is it okay to wake up such a big guy here?"
Releasing a top legendary in an urban area, especially one with a bad temper, reminded her of the Dialga incident on Lily of the Valley two years ago. If Stephen hadn't teleported the civilians away with Hoopa, who knows how many would've died.
"No need to worry. Since we came from outside the city, how many civilians did you see?" Stephen asked.
Cynthia was momentarily stunned, but then realized—no wonder things felt off when they arrived: Rose had already made preparations.
After Rose gave the order, mechanisms in the walls activated. Several mechanical arms shot beams of red light—Wishing Star energy—into Eternatus. This was the very essence Eternatus needed. The reason it had been sleeping for 3,000 years was because it had been too gravely injured and lacked energy; its body had been broken by Zacian and Zamazenta, and the fragments became Wishing Stars scattered across Galar. Replenishing its power would reawaken it.
Instantly, the sockets in the skeletal dragon's skull lit up with ominous white dots—its eyes. A deep, hoarse dragon's roar echoed through the plant as its body visibly stirred. It was waking up!
A crimson pillar of light shot through the ceiling and into the sky. Outside, the sky around Hammerlocke darkened and spiraled outward from the pillar. People in several nearby towns noticed the anomaly.
"Hurry, Leon! If the Darkest Day's influence spreads, we're in big trouble," Stephen warned.
The Darkest Day could forcibly trigger Dynamax in ordinary Pokémon and drive them berserk. If rampaging monsters started appearing all over Galar, who knew what might happen.
"Let's go! Charizard! Dragapult!"
Leon, the ace of the League, sensed the gravity of the situation and sent out his two strongest Pokémon.
Stephen didn't rush to help. Catching a Pokémon was something a trainer had to do themselves; otherwise, the Pokémon might not accept them.
Leon's strength needed no explanation. In the original story, he could barely contain Eternatus in its normal form but stood no chance against Eternamax Eternatus.
"Can he finish this before it Eternamaxes?" Stephen wondered.
...
[Elsewhere: Hoenn, Slateport City]
Amid cheers, Sonia raised the Contest Ribbon Trophy high. She hadn't joined the others in Galar because she was competing in the Contest. Stephen had originally planned to stand Rose up another day, but Sonia kindly insisted he didn't need to.
After the award ceremony, champion Wallace handed Sonia the ribbon and joked, "In a couple of years, I might not be the world's top coordinator anymore."
Sonia just smiled and didn't reply directly.
As Sonia left the arena with her trophy, reporters swarmed her with questions:
"Miss Sonia, how does it feel to win your first Contest?"
"Why isn't Dr. Stephen here? Is there trouble in your relationship?"
"Some contestants protested you using a Pokémon as strong as Diancie and said Legendaries should be banned. What's your take?"
"We're from Lumiose TV in Kalos. We compared your body shape over the past year—are you pregnant?"
"You didn't use Mew at all—do you think the opponents weren't worthy?"
"There are rumors and photos of Dr. Stephen and former champion Cynthia. What do you think of Miss Cynthia…"
"Out of the way!"
Before Sonia could answer, Nessa pushed through the reporters to pull her best friend out, but the crowd was too thick. Helpless, Nessa sent out her Toxapex, who cleared a path, letting Sonia escape.
"Let's go!"
Nessa grabbed her, and suddenly a golden ring appeared—Hoopa's portal. The two quickly entered. The reporters panicked but didn't dare follow. Everyone knew only two people could summon that ring, and they could guess who was on the other side. If anyone barged in and found Stephen lying in bed waiting for the two women but saw someone else, that person wouldn't live to see another day.
Many men present left with heavy hearts, convinced this would be the last time they saw those perfect faces and Nessa's and Sonia's incredible figures.
...
Back in Hammerlocke, Galar.
"Long time no see, little Hoopa."
Sonia waved to the waiting Hoopa. But before Hoopa could respond, a distant pillar of red light thickened, and a deep dragon's roar echoed, making Sonia and Nessa catch their breath at the oppressive power.
At the city center.
Seeing Eternatus, now fully enveloped in Wishing Star energy, Stephen looked up and sighed, "Still didn't make it in time."
Bewear in the Pokéball looked conflicted—her sister-in-law would be angry.
Hundreds of miles away, in the Slumbering Weald.
Sensing something, Zacian suddenly looked up, eyes flashing like blades toward the north, then vanished in a blue streak.
"Sorry, I couldn't stop him in time," Leon apologized, scratching his head awkwardly.
"No worries. Chairman Rose called me here for this," Stephen replied. As he spoke, everyone felt the immense aura coming from the dark sky—a vast chakra surged from the crimson pillar.
In a breath, a massive… claw burst through the pillar.
"No, that's… a head?!" Cynthia's beautiful eyes widened in shock. At first glance, it looked like a giant demon's claw, but in fact, it was a five-headed dragon! A hundred-meter-tall, gigantic five-headed demon dragon! Under the Darkest Day's shadow, it was like the hand of a demon god bringing calamity to the world.
Eternamax Eternatus!
This was its true form!
Even Karen and Cynthia, who had witnessed the battles of the gods, were stunned. Sonia and Nessa, who were less powerful, were even more shaken. Mew with earphones, however, was excited—oh oh oh!
New fun discovered!
The next moment, the demon dragon raised its head—and in an instant, the world tilted!
From the palm—no, the chest—of the dragon, points of red light rapidly condensed.
A beam of destruction rained down, world-ending in its power—the ground rumbled even before it hit.
Eternabeam!
Starting with a finishing move!
"Go," Stephen commanded, and a Pokéball on his belt burst open. An uncapturable figure shot out at lightning speed, all its strength focused into a single punch, meeting Eternatus's Eternabeam head on.
BOOM!!!
The earth-shaking impact made the ground tremble. In the distance, Sonia and Nessa saw a blinding white light shoot into the sky, while skyscrapers in Hammerlocke toppled like dominoes.
"Whoa! Mew, help!" Hoopa yelped.
Mew instantly teleported—not to escape, but to get closer to the center of the battle.
At the center, Eternamax Eternatus narrowed its eyes, bearing the massive impact. Opposite, Bewear with blue shield energy (Zamazenta's power) was holding her own.
"Giga Impact," Stephen commanded.