Rumble—
The container holding Zygarde core "Z2" opened, and countless thread-like green lights converged from all directions.
In just an instant, under the wrapping of green light, Zygarde core "Z2" transformed into its fifty percent form—"Z-God" Zygarde!
However, this "Z-God" Zygarde appeared in crimson red!
Moreover, from this Zygarde's body, Johan could sense negative emotional energy and desire power similar to Hoopa Unbound's "Shadow," as well as abnormal Mega Evolution energy.
In the original work, Lysandre had also captured a Zygarde core and, relying on the power of that mysterious "Giant Rock," used abnormal Mega Evolution energy to forcibly influence and control Zygarde.
This was to demonstrate the "correctness" of representing the "God of Order" executing order and destroying most living beings.
And this current "Z-God" Zygarde had obviously been given an additional layer of power—the power of negative emotions!
This made the Zygarde that had just recovered to fifty percent immediately become extremely violent.
Thick red-black vines surged wildly from underground one after another.
In just moments, the vast Lysandre Labs was entangled and covered by these red-black vines, and these vines were spreading throughout Lumiose City with Lysandre Labs as the center.
[What's wrong with you! Answer me!]
The most anxious about this change was undoubtedly the other Zygarde core "Little Soft."
But no matter how it called out, it obviously wouldn't get any answer.
As Zygarde core "Z2" underwent changes, the room immediately filled with a large number of Team Flare members who had been lying in wait.
Among them were many high-ranking Team Flare executives, such as blue-haired Mable, purple-haired Celosia, and green-haired Bryony.
In an instant, numerous Poké Balls were thrown, and a large number of Pokémon appeared in the room, surrounding Johan's group.
As for Lysandre, he just glanced coldly at Johan before turning and calmly walking out through the large hole opened by Zygarde's vines.
"Gengar!" Johan called out lightly.
"Ka-kaah~"
Gengar grinned menacingly, and black mist surged from its body as it slowly sank into the gradually spreading shadows at its feet.
As Gengar disappeared, the spreading black mist instantly flowed like "black water" rapidly toward the surroundings.
Wherever it passed, whether Pokémon or humans, almost all rolled their eyes and collapsed unconscious on the ground.
Except for some Team Flare members with decent strength who reacted quickly enough, along with their Pokémon, most ordinary members lost their fighting ability almost immediately.
Lysandre, who had calmly walked out earlier, now had a dark expression as he slowly retreated.
Before him.
Darkrai with flowing black clouds and Marshadow holding a small stick and continuously weighing it in its hand—one with a calm expression and one grinning—gradually forced him back.
No matter what arrangements or plans you have, this "violent demolition" approach was more straightforward than anything.
"Since you want to see your so-called 'beautiful world,' let me give you a 'preview' first."
Johan half-closed his eyes.
"Ka-kaah~"
Gengar emerged from the shadows, floating before Lysandre with rotating hands as a black hole appeared.
Old Johan family hypnosis!
When the black hole dispersed, the mighty Team Flare leader Lysandre was already unconscious on the ground.
Seeing this scene, the Team Flare members were even more bewildered.
No one had expected things to develop this way. For a moment, everyone didn't know what to do.
This was truly "flipping the table"—ignoring the rampaging Zygarde, disregarding so many Team Flare members present, and directly knocking out Team Flare leader Lysandre?
Actually attacking the trainer directly?
Without even hesitating...
Who exactly were the evil organization members here?
However.
What happened next exceeded everyone's expectations.
Buzz—
Suddenly, a crimson beam shot from a tall building in the distance.
Far away, one could see on that tall building, through an open gap, a precise giant device was mounted, and that red beam originated from it.
Beside that massive precision device stood a chubby Team Flare executive with his hands behind his back—it was Xerosic!
Behind him, numerous Team Flare members bustled about, operating the giant machinery.
"Xerosic, you bastard!"
"Xerosic, how dare you?"
"Damn it!"
Noticing this crimson beam, the remaining Team Flare executives all disregarded the current situation and quickly turned to run out of the research facility.
Johan immediately took out the "Millennium Wrist," injecting aura power. A green gem on it blazed brilliantly, raising a barrier that temporarily blocked the crimson light.
"Get out!" Johan bent down to scoop up Zygarde core "Little Soft" from the ground, urgently telling Flint.
Flint didn't dare hesitate, pushing Johan's wheelchair and running out through the hole in the wall.
Giovanni appeared quite calm, unhurriedly following beside the wheelchair as they ran out of the research facility together, avoiding the red beam's illumination.
Everyone who could move evacuated the research facility at maximum speed.
"Xerosic, you bastard..."
Team Flare executive Mable gritted her teeth looking at Xerosic on the distant building.
You have to know, Representative Lysandre was still inside the research facility!
However, Xerosic appeared very calm, hands behind his back, speaking into his earpiece:
"Representative Lysandre said that for a brilliant tomorrow, all our lives would become insignificant. Representative Lysandre is like this, and we all are too."
The Team Flare top executives led by Mable gritted their teeth but couldn't refute.
Because this was indeed what Lysandre had instructed beforehand.
Xerosic continued:
"Representative Lysandre is only temporarily unconscious..."
Hearing this, Mable and the other two's eyes flickered.
Xerosic calmly declared:
"But now! Team Flare is temporarily under my command!"
"The plan remains unchanged—continue!"
Johan and the others who had also left the research facility looked toward Xerosic on the distant building.
They hadn't calculated that Xerosic would act "regardless of everything" at this timing.
Speaking of which.
Xerosic was actually somewhat similar to Team Galactic's chief scientist Charon—working for Team Flare while harboring his own agenda.
In the games, after the protagonist defeated Lysandre, he agreed to stop the "Ultimate Weapon" plan.
However, Xerosic directly disobeyed Lysandre's orders and still insisted on forced activation.
In the original work, after Lysandre was captured and Team Flare fell, Xerosic still led Team Flare remnants to continue their evil deeds, trying to capture the legendary Pokémon Volcanion to turn the tide.
A typical case of having rebellious intentions.
Actually, there were quite a few such people in the Pokémon world.
Whether Team Flare's Xerosic, Team Galactic's Charon, or Team Plasma's Colress—all were top researchers with their own calculations, and they would all take over remnant forces afterward.
Highlighting one point: unwillingness to be subordinate.
Johan could take down Lysandre in one fell swoop, but he temporarily had no way to deal with Xerosic hiding far away.
Because the previously controllable Zygarde, after being illuminated by that red light, had gone completely berserk.
"The preparations are indeed more thorough than I imagined." Giovanni, pressing down his hat brim, suddenly nodded slightly.
He and Johan had originally thought they could catch Lysandre off guard, but hadn't expected Lysandre's preparations to be truly comprehensive.
Not only himself, but also Team Flare's executives.
Of course, more importantly, Lysandre could even use himself as "bait" to facilitate the plan's smooth execution.
Regarding Boss Giovanni's words, Johan naturally had no response, but just...
Boss Giovanni, what's with that approving expression on your face?
[Wake up!]
Zygarde core "Little Soft" called to its companion and got a response—a crimson energy beam.
Boom!!!
Darkrai flashed into appearance, spreading its arms to create a black hole that blocked the beam's impact.
[In that case...]
Seeing this, Zygarde core "Little Soft" gritted its teeth and immediately leaped up from Johan's lap. Countless green threads converged from all directions, and under the shimmering green light, energy rapidly gathered.
The next second.
The true "Z-God" Zygarde appeared on the street!
Buzz—
The red Zygarde attacked again, while the green Zygarde also fought back with energy without showing weakness.
For a moment.
The two Zygarde clashed on the street as surrounding residents fled for shelter.
Numerous red-black vines spread from underfoot, destroying half of Lumiose City.
Fortunately.
Johan had already contacted top trainers from the Kalos region as an International Police Inspector, including Elite Four members and Gym Leaders.
With the help of Officer Jenny, International Police, and arriving League trainers, they quickly evacuated crowds and captured Team Flare members.
"Teacher Johan."
Flint murmured as he watched the scene before them.
When Johan looked at him, he clicked his tongue: "Do you think... others might consider us 'disaster beasts'?"
Wherever they went, major incidents occurred.
What was the difference between this and being a "Grim Reaper's apprentice"?
Johan immediately gave him an unamused look, saying: "It's exactly because of thoughts like yours that Absol gets treated as a 'disaster beast.'"
With or without them, these incidents would erupt sooner or later.
The difference was that with them here, things could be stopped before completely spiraling out of control.
"Stop daydreaming! I now appoint you as 'International Police Special Officer'—quickly arrest these Team Flare executives!"
Johan kicked the contemplating Flint and gave him a randomly fabricated "title."
"Teacher Johan, you're still in a wheelchair?"
Flint complained while being kicked, taking Poké Balls and walking toward the Team Flare executives who had escaped.
Johan looked at the two clashing Zygarde and said to Giovanni:
"Boss Giovanni, I need to perform 'surgery' now. I'll leave that guy over there to you."
Johan indicated Xerosic on the distant building, who was preparing to release another beam.
Giovanni, hidden under his wide coat, smiled.
"Already starting to give me orders?"
Johan was speechless.
However, Giovanni didn't say more and turned to leave.
Johan exhaled, looking at the two colliding Zygarde. "Little Soft's" telepathy continued but received no response.
More importantly.
Every time "Little Soft" contacted and collided with the red Zygarde, the originally green-black colored Zygarde seemed to be tinged with a hazy blood color.
And its movements became increasingly aggressive, its behavior gradually becoming more violent.
Johan raised an eyebrow.
"It can spread?"
He immediately used aura power: "'Little Soft,' fall back! Leave it to me!"
[I'm not called 'Little Soft'!]
Zygarde nearly roared, but after shouting, it was stunned itself.
Only then did it realize it seemed to be affected by the negative emotional energy from its partner, immediately retreating and looking at Johan with some apology.
However, Johan obviously didn't mind these details and immediately directed Darkrai and Gengar to intercept the red Zygarde.
"Be careful not to make contact, don't get too close!"
Releasing large amounts of aura power, he began "surgical extraction."
Having experience removing negative emotions from Hoopa Unbound, Johan was obviously more skilled when "operating" on the red Zygarde.
But the red Zygarde was affected not only by negative emotions but also abnormal Mega Evolution energy, so...
"Hold it down!"
When Gengar's hands withdrew, grasping a large mass of dark red mist and stuffing it into its mouth, Johan's voice was stern.
Darkrai, Zygarde, Marshadow, and Tyranitar immediately rushed forward.
Doing their best to restrain the red Zygarde's movements.
Johan then closed his eyes.
Aura exists within the heart!
In a trance.
He seemed to arrive in a mysterious space filled with blood-red color, where a emerald Zygarde cell with a blue diamond-shaped core was wrapped and bound by countless crimson threads. Zygarde core "Z2" painfully kept its eyes tightly shut.
Johan stepped forward, "tearing apart" those threads one by one, but found these so-called "threads" were particularly clingy, gradually staining toward his hands.
Fortunately, he had experience, and since this was just aura power anyway, he ignored it and called softly:
"Zygarde, Zygarde..."
Outside.
The continuously devouring and spreading red-black vines representing "order power" suddenly stopped, and the red Zygarde's movements also halted.
The next moment.
Green threads quickly dispersed, Zygarde core "Z2" fell, and "Little Soft" immediately caught it while also returning to cellular core form.
[Partner! Partner?]
Under "Little Soft's" calls, "Z2" slowly opened its eyes, but the first thing it saw wasn't "Little Soft" but Johan sitting in his wheelchair not far away.
[Human!!]
Carrying anger, with some gnashing of teeth.
Zygarde's two cores—one friendly to humans, one repulsed by humans—and "Z2" belonged to the core that repulsed humans.
Moreover, it had always operated according to "order," being the "system" in maintaining order.
Having been captured, tortured, and even forcibly controlled and manipulated by humans this time, its hostility toward humans was more than obvious.
But fortunately, "Little Soft" stopped it in time.
[It was Johan who saved you!]
Regarding this point, "Z2" obviously knew, which was why it only gritted its teeth without showing intent to attack.
[Look at this devastation—it's all caused by humans. We have no need to intervene further. Let's go!]
So "Z2" immediately wanted to pull "Little Soft" away.
This incident was completely caused by humans themselves—it not bringing down calamity was already being "impartial."
[Wait!]
"Little Soft" was about to stop it, but a hand was faster.
"Ka-kaah~"
Gengar scooped up Zygarde core "Z2," flicking its finger to gently tickle under its chin.
Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, lulu lulu~
"Z2" immediately trembled all over from the tickling, its eyes gradually becoming dominated by whites, and finally... it rolled its eyes, tilted its head, and went limp in Gengar's hand.
"Little Soft" showed a gloating expression on the side.
At this time.
"Johan."
"Diantha?"
Following the voice.
It was indeed the future "movie star" Champion of the Kalos region, currently one of Kalos region's Elite Four—Diantha.
As Lysandre's friend, after receiving Johan's message, she had rushed to Lumiose City immediately.
After all, Lumiose City was different from Dahara City.
Dahara City was remote and required considerable time to reach, while Lumiose City was located in the center of the Kalos region with very developed transportation, making it much faster to arrive.
Diantha looked at the devastation before her with complex emotions, hesitating:
"Lysandre, he..."
Johan jerked his chin toward Lysandre Labs.
At the same time.
"Ka-kaah?"
After handing the two Zygarde cores to Tyranitar and preparing to return to push the wheelchair, Gengar's ears suddenly twitched twice as it looked toward the east of Lumiose City.
Johan's phone also rang.
The call was from Professor Sycamore.
After connecting.
"Johan!" Professor Sycamore spoke quickly: "What you asked me to investigate—extremely strong abnormal Mega Evolution energy fluctuations are located in a warehouse on the east side of Lumiose City!"
Rumble!!
As soon as he finished speaking.
The entire ground of Lumiose City shook, coming from the east side of Lumiose City.
Immediately after, one could see a towering giant rock slowly rising in the distance, gradually changing into the shape of "Z-God" Zygarde.
However, it was much larger and completely made of stone, with particularly striking crimson giant eyes.
More red-black vines appeared at its feet like legs, supporting its movement.
"It was still activated..." Johan rubbed his temples.
From Lysandre anticipating his arrival, using King AZ, Alain and others as leverage to force him into Mega Evolution battles, to the "Z-God" Zygarde being controlled—everything was preparation for this "Giant Rock Zygarde" that now appeared.
Having witnessed Johan commanding so many legendary Pokémon in battle at Dahara City, Lysandre never believed that half a Zygarde alone could take down Johan or achieve his world-destroying goals.
Although Johan had some anticipation of all this, he couldn't prevent it.
Either he ignored the lives of King AZ, Alain and others.
Or he simply didn't interfere.
At most, when Ash began his journey, it would still erupt the same way, and by then Lysandre would undoubtedly be even better prepared, making it more troublesome to handle.
"Johan!"
At this time, Diantha jogged over, shaking her head solemnly under Johan's gaze:
"He's not there."
Not there?
Johan was stunned.
That didn't make sense.
With Gengar's abilities, plus "Old Johan family hypnosis," no matter how much of a card player Lysandre was, he was still just an ordinary human. How could he disappear?
Then he suddenly understood.
It was the beam Xerosic had fired!
So...
Johan looked at the massive towering "Giant Rock Zygarde"—Lysandre should be there.
"What is that..."
Following Johan's gaze, Diantha also noticed the massive "Giant Rock Zygarde," her pupils contracting sharply.
"Big trouble." Johan smiled helplessly.
Then, with Gengar's help, he quickly headed toward the "Giant Rock Zygarde."
"Gengar, slow down!"
Johan gripped the wheelchair handles tightly, urgently calling out.
"Ka-kaah~(￣∇￣)"
But Gengar had already put on sunglasses, assuming a posture of... preparing to race—oh, race wheelchairs.
Darkrai and Marshadow looked at each other and returned to the shadows together.
Tyranitar scratched its head, straightened the two Zygarde cores on its head, then followed with heavy steps.
Diantha followed with confusion, asking while walking quickly:
"Johan, what exactly is that?"
"'Giant Rock'—a monster evolved from abnormal Mega Evolution energy influence, combined with Zygarde's power."
In the original work, this "Giant Rock Zygarde" was no joke. Hoenn Champion Steven plus Kalos Champion Diantha working together, along with numerous Kalos Gym Leaders, plus Ash and Alain as the male leads, barely managed to take it down.
Its strength was much greater than the "Z-God" Zygarde with only half its power.
After all, it was the "Giant Rock" that even Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre fought to obtain, something that could enable Rayquaza's Mega Evolution—the materialization of Mega Evolution power, so naturally it was extraordinarily powerful as a monster.
"'Giant Rock'? How did Lysandre get this thing?"
The Hoenn disaster hadn't been long ago, so Diantha naturally knew about this thing.
But how did it end up in Lysandre's hands?
Johan was also puzzled.
After all, the "Giant Rock" appeared and disappeared unpredictably—no one could control it.
However, he had some guesses.
"Probably... Lysandre attracted it through gathered Mega Evolution energy."
Groudon and Kyogre's Primal Reversion attracted the "Giant Rock"—if Lysandre was intentional, perhaps he could discover this pattern.
Attracting the "Giant Rock" by releasing Mega Evolution energy was also possible.
Or...
The "Giant Rock" and the "Ultimate Weapon" were fundamentally both sources that caused Mega Evolution power to appear. Through some unknown means, Lysandre might have been able to retrieve it.
"So what's it doing now?"
Diantha watched the "Giant Rock Zygarde" heading straight away from Lumiose City toward the east, not understanding why it wasn't causing massive destruction like the earlier red Zygarde.
"If I remember correctly... ahem, if I'm not mistaken, its target is Anistar City."
Johan's body tried to press against the wheelchair back while speaking.
"Anistar City?"
Before Diantha could speak, Professor Sycamore's voice came through the phone that hadn't been hung up.
"Anistar City—its target is the 'Sundial'?!"
Professor Sycamore reacted, exclaiming.
Sundial?
Diantha was stunned.
Johan gripped the handles, saying gravely:
"Anistar City's sundial was originally a meteorite. Although it's not as good as the 'Giant Rock,' it actually contains quite similar components. If the 'Giant Rock Zygarde' gets it..."
Diantha immediately understood, finishing: "Power multiplication!"
"Right!" Johan nodded.
Professor Sycamore also added: "Our collection of 'Mega Stones' scattered around is actually based on the special radiation frequencies possessed by the sundial."
Diantha immediately dared not hesitate further, speaking into her communicator:
"Everyone, stop the 'Giant Rock Zygarde'!"
"Wait!" Johan quickly called out.
Under Diantha's slightly confused gaze, he took the communicator and said:
"This is Johan."
"Let the 'Giant Rock Zygarde' leave Lumiose City, reduce unnecessary destruction! Once it leaves Lumiose City by ten kilometers, immediately begin interception!"
After a brief silence.
The communicator responded.
"Understood! ×n"
As the initiator of this operation, Johan temporarily took over supreme command through Diantha's communicator.
Several helicopters headed toward the "Giant Rock Zygarde's" advancing direction from different angles, preparing to intercept the giant rock ten kilometers outside Lumiose City.
At the same time, a helicopter landed before Johan and the others.
"Johan, Diantha!"
It was Professor Sycamore, standing at the cabin door and quickly waving at them.
The group quickly boarded the helicopter, heading toward the "Giant Rock Zygarde."
Johan, Professor Sycamore, and Diantha watched the map on the helicopter's instrument panel.
Tyranitar sat in the plane, lying against the window, watching the distant figure that had already left Lumiose City and was passing through a forest, about to reach a barren rocky area.
"Bangi..."
Rocks, wonder what they taste like...
On its head.
The two Zygarde cores were also watching this scene.
[Look at what humans have done—this monster is completely created by humans. Humans really are...]
[Partner!]"Little Soft" sternly interrupted. [Don't completely deny all humans based on just one corner you've seen. At least I believe in humans!]
"Z2's" eyes were stern.
[Why do you trust humans so much?]
[Because humans haven't given up on everything!]
"Little Soft's" gaze unconsciously fell on Johan.
[I traveled with Johan for a while and saw many things! Helping each other, working hard, sharing joy, trusting each other, having goals, moving forward. I don't know about others, but if it's Johan... he will definitely change what you've seen!]
Seeming to notice "Little Soft's" gaze, Johan looked up.
Finding both Zygarde cores looking at him, he smiled slightly and waved.
"Z2" remained unmoved, while "Little Soft" directly bounced onto Johan's knee.
"It's fine, small problem." He comforted with aura while taking out an energy cube and stuffing it into "Little Soft's" arms.
Originally.
Zygarde cores didn't need to eat, but they couldn't resist... having followed Johan for a while.
The situation with Old Johan's family Pokémon didn't need explanation—in short, one saying:
If you're not enthusiastic about eating, there's something wrong with your thinking!
"Little Soft" didn't want to have thinking problems, so eating was unavoidable, and once it ate... it became irresistible.
Fortunately, in cellular form, its appetite was almost negligible.
"Want some?"
Johan looked at "Z2" again, producing an energy cube.
"Z2" originally didn't want to respond, but seeing "Little Soft" enjoying it so much, it couldn't help swallowing.
[I...]
Before "Z2" could express its stubbornness, Johan used aura power to gently pull "Z2" over as well.
Then he stuffed an energy cube into it.
"Don't be polite."
Only after finishing did he continue looking at the real-time map with Professor Sycamore and Diantha.
"Preparing to intercept!" Professor Sycamore said gravely.
Their plane was slow, but the Gym Leaders, Elite Four, and International Police who had arrived first had already reached the location and begun intercepting the "Giant Rock Zygarde."
However.
Unsurprisingly, the interception had minimal effect.
After all, even retired Steven using Mega Metagross couldn't cause much damage to the "Giant Rock Zygarde" or significantly impede its progress.
Let alone ordinary Gym Leaders and ordinary Elite Four members.
Watching the images displayed on screen, Diantha and Professor Sycamore's expressions became increasingly grave.
All attacks were blocked by the "Giant Rock Zygarde's" vines.
Worse, if accidentally caught by the vines, strength would rapidly drain away.
Johan picked up the communicator again:
"Everyone, do not use Mega Evolution! The giant rock can absorb Mega Evolution power!"
"Don't try to forcibly block it! Dig trenches, divert water, drop boulders—learn to use nature's power!"
"Gym Leaders, Elite Four, International Police—each form separate teams!"
Successive commands were transmitted.
This time they quickly received responses.
"Yes! ×n"
It had to be said, after changing methods, although they still couldn't completely stop the "Giant Rock Zygarde," they did indeed slow its speed and progress.
[Tasty, right?]"Little Soft" on Johan's knee couldn't help asking.
[...]
"Z2" couldn't help glancing at its partner.
It had every reason to suspect its partner was speaking for humans because it had been "bought off" by humans.
But honestly, the taste was really good.
So humans had such delicious food?
It tucked its body and changed the subject.
[Humans can't stop it.]
"Little Soft": [But they won't give up.]
Speaking, it quickly added:
[When Johan arrives, they'll be able to stop it.]
[You trust him that much?]
[Weren't you also rescued by Johan?]
"Z2" was speechless.
Feeling Johan's aura full of goodwill and friendliness, "Z2" found it couldn't argue.
Humans had evil ones, those filled with desire, those who destroyed balance.
But there seemed to also be those who worked hard to maintain balance, solve problems, and were trustworthy...
If it was this human before it...
"Full?" Seeing the two Zygarde cores stop moving, Johan immediately gave them an aura treatment for "post-meal massage."
Whether they could pilot mecha depended on these two.
After a full aura treatment.
"Little Soft": (๑>ڡ<)☆
"Z2": (๑>︶<)☆
With this treatment, why didn't you say so earlier?!
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