Chapter 0838: The Legendary Moment of Sirfetch’d（Three-in-One）

“Eternatus!!!”

Eternatus surged with a fierce, dark red aura, writhing beneath the sky as the black vortex above Galar sucked in more and more energy, expanding ever wider.

“Charizard!”

Charizard soared upward, dodging gales and flying debris as scorching red fire pooled in its throat. Its belly puffed, and—boom—a searing flame burst forth.

The iconic flame attack exploded in the turbulent wind, a fiery blast smashing into Eternatus’s head with an explosive roar.

Shockwaves pummeled the rooftop, hurling rubble everywhere.

Eternatus shook its triangular skull, the back-spines of its long vertebrae locking into the stone tower with a grinding screech to keep itself upright.

Then, from the ribcage-like bones at its chest, a glowing pink core swelled with deep purple light!

A suffocating Pressure rolled outward as the energy built rapidly, air shimmering from the force.

Leon focused intently on Eternatus. When that purple light finally fractured, he shouted:

“Dodge, Charizard!”

“Charizard!” Charizard flared its wings, tail flame blazing as it darted away under the night sky.

Leon rolled sidewise, narrowly missing the blast from where he'd just stood.

WHAM!!

Eternatus’s ribcage fired a massive purple beam, its dragon-like pulse shooting past Leon and smashing into the ancient city gate.

Stone walls exploded in a shower of rubble and thick black smoke.

“This thing… knows Dragon Pulse? It’s a Dragon-type…I get it now, that’s why my Fire Blast barely dented it. Let’s try this—”

Leon ducked low, barking out, “Fire back, Dragon Pulse!”

“Charizard!”

Charizard circled high in the dark, wings swirling with emerald dragon energy as violet light pooled in its mouth.

In a blink, a massive purple dragon-shaped blast streaked from its jaws, green claws outstretched, roaring as it crashed into Eternatus and detonated!

Black smog and gales battered Eternatus’s enormous frame.

Its barbed spines slipped from the tower, the huge body sliding down—then catching itself with a fresh grip.

It clawed its way back up, jagged head emerging again at the top, expressionless white eyes fixed coldly on Leon as it bellowed:

“Charizard!!!”

Charizard flapped down with a sharp stare, landing in front of Leon.

“Hit it again, Dragon Pulse!” Leon nodded. “Let’s go!”

Charizard nodded fiercely, launching upward—then its eyes widened in shock.

Those twin barbs on Eternatus’s back whipped forward like lightning, piercing both of Charizard’s wings, then snapping back with a sickening crack.

“Charizard!!” Leon dashed forward.

“Charizard!”

Charizard smashed to the ground, purple toxin staining its face. With a guttural roar, it blasted a quick spurt of fire at the wounds on its wings.

The flame seared the flesh, reflecting Leon’s anxious gaze in the orange light.

Sweat poured from Charizard’s brow, pain in every line. But the Cross Poison’s toxins slowly faded as the fire burned them away.

The Eternatus’s eyes narrowed and it rumbled fiercely to Leon.

Leon stroked Charizard’s head. “Hang in there…”

The danger wasn’t over. Eternatus clambered again to the tower’s peak, towering over Leon as it howled.

“Eternatus!!”

Its entire body—just twisting purplish-red bone and join—poisoned barbs dripping beneath its spine, core gleaming in pink.

Night wind howled, black vortex swelling in the heavens, the Pressure turning crushing.

Leon helped Charizard up, face drawn but stern.

“Are you still good to battle, Charizard?”

“Charizard!” Charizard shook Leon off, smoke flaring from its nostrils, eyes flashing, mouth tugged in a fiery grin.

Its tail rose, flame burning brighter in the night.

The Fire-type Ability—Blaze!

“You… you tough old lizard…”

Leon broke into a broad smile.

Since we were kids, you’ve always been so stubborn.

No matter the opponent, when we’re together, we’ve always pulled through.

Who needs Gigantamax? Just the two of us, we’re enough.

Because—

Leon shook himself, double-slapping his own cheeks, golden eyes radiating like the sun.

I am Galar’s Champion.

And also—the Strongest Champion!

I bear the hopes of Galar—I will carry it, whatever the cost!

“Let’s go, Charizard!”

Leon pointed high as his partner roared at Eternatus.

“This is our Champion moment—let’s show them!”

“Eternatus!!!”

Eternatus’s ribcage core swelled with tumultuous Power Spot energy, all the Dynamax particles in the air flocking toward it as a purple-red blast erupted from its heart.

The cannon cut a deep channel through the field, its light nearly swallowing Leon and Charizard whole.

Eternatus’s signature move: Dynamax Cannon!!

Leon yelled:

“Charizard, Blast Burn!!”

“Charizard!”

Charizard’s tail blazed up, the fire on its back transforming to blue. It flared its jaws wide, then a pillar of golden fire shot out—colliding with the Dynamax Cannon midair!

A miniature black vortex carved open the night, the ground trembling as shockwaves shattered space itself.

BOOM!!!

Black smoke churned over Hammerlocke.

Ash watched from Noivern’s back, peering down at Leon and Eternatus atop the burning tower:

“That’s the legendary Pokémon Natsume-sensei talked about in the group chat!”

The explosion rippled out, forcing Ash to shield his eyes in shock.

Mr. Leon is… fighting Eternatus all on his own!?

And—

Ash’s pupils reflected Leon’s upright figure, standing defiant.

He was amazed.

Just Charizard’s base form, and Mr. Leon could still go toe-to-toe with Eternatus!

“Ready, Pikachu?”

Ash’s gaze was intense as he looked at Pikachu on his shoulder, balling his fist. “Let’s go help out!”

“Pikachu!” Pikachu nodded, determined.

The black vortex above writhed, sucking in the clouds, and beneath it crouched Eternatus, jabbing at the rooftop with its five-headed, chain-like claws—blades striking for Charizard.

Charizard flipped and dove through the barrage, spewing Flamethrower down Eternatus’s spine from above.

Leon’s face was grim as he squinted at the sky.

“That vortex keeps getting worse…”

If Chairman Rose is right, Eternatus’s special ability lets it absorb all the Dynamax energy in Galar.

No one really knows what happens when it drains it all. But that vortex is seriously bad news—we have to finish this, fast!

“Mr. Leon!!”

Leon turned upward.

Noivern dropped down, Pikachu on the shoulder of the young trainer. Leon broke into a grin:

“I remember—you’re Ash, and that’s Pikachu, right?”

“Pikachu!” Pikachu waved happily.

Ash scratched his head. “When I saw Charizard, I had to follow and wanted to challenge you, but…”

“Things are way too dangerous here. You and Pikachu should stay back.”

Leon cut him off, turning to glare at the berserk Eternatus.

“Ash, once this is over, we’ll have our battle.”

“I want to help!” Ash yelled.

Leon started to answer—when a blinding Eternabeam blasted out, forcing both trainers to leap aside.

BOOM!!

Shrapnel flew as the tower continued to sink—then, with a metallic groan, restabilized.

Leon, from across the way, stared in shock at Ash’s agility.

“Mr. Leon, I’ve fought with Natsume-sensei against all kinds of legendary Pokémon.”

Ash grinned. “I won’t slow you down!”

Leon smirked, spinning back toward Eternatus and shouting:

“Let’s do this together! Charizard, Dragon Pulse!”

“Charizard!”

Charizard surged through Eternatus’s chain-web, unleashing a roaring dragon’s pulse from its mouth.

Ash shouted: “Pikachu, Thunderbolt!”

“Piii—ka—CHU!” Pikachu crouched and lightning crackled down its body.

Thunderbolt entwined with the Dragon Pulse, the dragon’s form turning electric-bright—so menacing that Eternatus raised a shield in defense.

CRASH!!

The barrier shattered instantly into bloody red shards. Dragon Pulse slammed into Eternatus; the lightning struck and detonated!

BOOM!!

The rooftop ignited in flame, consuming Eternatus’s silhouette.

“Is that it?” Ash asked.

“Let’s hope so.”

Leon’s eyes were still serious, scanning beyond the roof—where the black vortex swirled, ever larger and scarlet.

“But I doubt it’s over yet.”

Ash and Leon stood together atop the tower, staring up at the vortex’s monstrous pressure, both swallowing hard.

That darkness had eaten all Galar’s energy and was now a supercell of clouds over Hammerlocke.

At the station, the queue on the platform abruptly stilled.

Heads tipped skyward, and in the whirling vortex, a new shape appeared—so massive and sinister it seemed a war-fortress.

“Wh-what is that!?”

“There’s another Pokémon coming out of the vortex!”

At the tower’s peak—

The black maelstrom sucked in the fading Eternatus, bathing everything in purple-red.

Eternatus’s body warped and grew, swelling into a colossal form—over a hundred meters tall in the vortex.

“It’s bigger than Hoopa Unleashed!” Ash gaped.

“That’s Eternatus’s alternate form,” Leon said gravely. “When it goes into energy overload, Chairman Rose called it ‘Eternamax.’”

“Eternamax?”

“Eternamax makes Eternatus’s size and power spike, creating a storm of Dynamax energy—so fierce, even space and time get warped around it.”

KRA-KOOM!!

The sky reeled under blood-red winds, Eternatus’s Eternamax form shrieking, titan-sized, looming over half of Hammerlocke.

Its core detached from the body, suspended in air, a red chain snaking to its serpentine torso. Five dragon heads branched from its front like an enormous claw, the ends armored in spiked purple scales, each with a glowing pink eye.

Under the gaze of those five heads, no trainer could muster the will to resist.

The legendary Pokémon who had devoured all of Galar’s energy—

Eternatus, Eternamax Form!!!

“SKRAAAAAAAAA!!!”

Eternamax Eternatus’s claw-body spread, all five heads howling as the storm behind it grew. The whole sky trembled.

“Mr. Leon, it’s coming!!” Ash hollered.

Eternatus lashed out, its claw crashing down on the tower, five jaws gaping in a monstrous scream.

CRASH!!

Leon’s Charizard was smashed back, hitting the ground hard, battered: “Charizard…”

“Pikachu!” Pikachu dug in, standing guard in front of the fallen Charizard, forced back by a streaking cannon shot.

“Here—grab this, Charizard!”

Leon hurled a Max Revive.

Charizard caught it, wings flickering, and ground it underfoot—energy flaring as it had Leon’s back again.

“Charizard!!”

Charizard roared to the sky, flames surging.

“What kind of move is that, Mr. Leon?!” Ash blinked.

“Ah, a Trainer’s gotta pack healing items.” Leon grinned. “It’s not a formal match—we can break the rules if we have to.”

Ash remembered—Natsume-sensei always carried Revival Herbs on his journeys too. He nodded, approval in his eyes.

“By the way, Ash.” Leon’s voice went serious. “You still have your Z-Move?”

Ash looked at his Z-Ring, sadly shaking his head. “No ‘Light’ here—the time-space storm blocks it.”

“Thought so,” Leon said, eyes sharp. “Dynamax, Z-Moves—even Mega Evolution—they’re all useless against Eternamax Eternatus.”

“Unless… it’s some kind of special Form, like the heroes who once saved Galar.”

Special form… Ash muttered low, “If only Greninja were here.”

Or Natsume-sensei. He must have a Pokémon with a special Evolution, too.

“We’ll keep fighting, Ash.”

Leon’s eyes hardened. “We must defeat Eternatus, no matter what.”

“Right!” Ash shouted.

In the sky, Eternatus’s chain-body rattled, five heads turning toward the Wild Area.

There—a blue and red streak, the legendary heroes of Galar, slashing through the storm!

BOOM!!

Like twin meteors, the flames landed beside Leon and Ash.

Two imposing wolfish Pokémon glared at the sky.

“No way…” Leon whispered in awe.

Ash pulled out the Rotom Phone to scan them.

“Beep… Legendary Pokémon detected: Zacian and Zamazenta. Data unknown, Rotom!”

Zacian and Zamazenta gave Leon and Ash a nod, then turned to face Eternatus’s titanic form.

“Awooooo!!!”

The two howled, blue and red auras coiling up as they leapt for the sky-bound monster!

BOOM!!

From Zacian’s jaws, white light forged into a tangible Sacred Sword, slicing at Eternatus’s massive palm.

Eternatus howled, shaking its monstrous head as red beams rained from its hands.

KRAKOW!

Zamazenta conjured a colossal shield in front—Wide Guard—absorbing the blasts as explosions rocked the tower.

“Zacian, Zamazenta…”

Leon’s face shone with awe.

“The heroes who ended the Darkest Day—it was them, wasn’t it?”

“Pikachu, Thunderbolt now!” Ash shouted.

“Pikachu—CHUUU!” Pikachu sent a pillar of lightning into Eternatus’s open palm. It shrieked, all five heads in pain.

Zacian and Zamazenta retreated to stand by Leon and Ash, faces grave.

From the vortex, torrents of Dynamax energy rushed to Eternatus, healing its wounds as it charged another Hyper Beam.

Zamazenta braced—Wide Guard shattered under the blast, Sacred Sword equally bested by Eternatus’s power.

The entire tower collapsed, stones and dust billowing skyward.

Leon shielded Ash as they landed below in the arena.

“You’re hurt,” Ash said.

“It’s nothing,” Leon replied, blood streaming from his arm as he grinned. “Eternatus is just tough, that’s all.”

‘We need the power of the Sacred Sword and Shield,’ a raspy voice echoed.

“What?” Leon turned. Zacian stood, battered and rising from the rubble.

‘Without the relics, we cannot defeat Eternatus.’

“Where are they? I’ll find them!” Ash shouted.

Zamazenta’s rumble was grave: ‘Humans stole the relics—we have no idea where they are.’

Leon saw Ash’s crestfallen face, Zacian and Zamazenta’s hesitation, and spoke up:

“Then I’ll stand and face Eternatus head-on.”

Zacian looked up at this Champion of the new age.

“Even without them…”

Leon’s eyes shone with purpose. “I’ll stop Eternatus.”

“Because—”

He exhaled, slapped his cheeks once more.

No more doubt, no more fear. All the burdens he’d ever carried—the weight just vanished.

He knew, clear as day, that right now, against this Eternatus, he would lose.

But that realization…

It brought not despair, but a surge of new energy.

Champion isn’t the end of a journey.

With blazing gold eyes, Leon grinned wide:

“My real battle with Charizard—starts now!”

“CHAR!”

Charizard’s flames soared skyward, spirit unbroken.

Zacian watched Leon, something sparking in its gaze.

Across millennia, he was, by far, the strongest Champion we’ve ever seen.

He and the aura wielder at his side have both earned the title of Hero.

But…

The relics rejected us—and them.

So… Zacian looked up at Eternatus, fortress-bright beneath the storm.

Who, in this new era, will become the Hero who brings down the Darkest Day—the Sword and Shield Champion of ages?

Leon mounted Charizard again, weaving through Eternatus’s enormous chain-web as they fought, refusing to back down.

“He really is as powerful as Blue Oak’s Master’s Charizard,” Ash blurted. “Maybe… even stronger!”

But.

Ash clenched his fists.

Even with Mr. Leon at his best, he still couldn’t defeat Eternatus alone…

“Eternatus!!!”

Eternatus’s claw crashed forward, five dragon heads burning with energy, pressure making it hard to breathe.

There was no escape. Only facing it head-on, Trainer and Pokémon united!

Leon’s purple hair whipped in the wind, his golden gaze gentle.

May Galar’s next Champion be even better than I am.

At the least, maybe Raihan won’t get lost so much, or make people worry.

And Sonia, Master Mustard…

Now, at last, I stand among the Battle Legends.

BOOM!!!

Eternatus suddenly shrieked, the light in its palm vanishing as its core, surrounded by skeletal joints, spewed black smoke—scattering red crystals everywhere!

Leon’s pupils shrank.

Through whirling night wind and torn space—

A Latias floated beneath the black vortex, a certain black-and-gold Champion’s cape fluttering behind.

A fading Dragon Pulse from Latias sparkled away.

Natsume gazed up at the apocalyptic Eternatus Eternamax, murmuring:

“Base stat 1125, even higher than Arceus… this is the ultimate boss, alright…”

His eyes slid to the purple-haired man riding Charizard, and Natsume called out:

“Leon, let’s do a Dynamax Raid Battle!”

Leon blinked, then nodded hard, gratitude and resolve shining in his eyes.

Both Trainers barked orders, flying partners swooping down to Hammerlocke Stadium below.

Ash ran to greet them, excited: “Natsume-sensei!”

Natsume: ???

“How’d you get here?”

“Long story,” Ash replied, rubbing his head.

But then Natsume looked past him, surprised:

“Zacian, Zamazenta?!”

Zacian and Zamazenta gazed at Natsume.

In addition to the Power of One and Ripple Aura, they sensed something even more familiar.

Like an old friend—someone they’d once stood beside in battle.

At Natsume’s side, the Premier Ball at his belt shuddered.

A flash of white—Sirfetch’d landed, leek and shield in hand, feathers snowy white, V-shaped brow luminous and proud, eyes utterly resolved.

“Sirfetch’d!”

Looks like it’s my turn. Guess the danger’s not over yet, after all! Σ(°Д°;)

Sirfetch’d’s webbed feet froze. He stared at Zacian and Zamazenta, pupils contracting.

The two legendary Pokémon’s brows drew together.

Could it really be—

No, it is the same one!

Zacian and Zamazenta were stunned.

The Farfetch’d who once guarded the Slumbering Weald—standing now as Sirfetch’d, defender of Galar!

Sirfetch’d was momentarily lost in memory. “Sirfetch’d…”

I… know these two.

Did we once live together, fight side by side?

Like I do now, with Natsume and Coach Gengar…

Holding his leek and shield, Sirfetch’d quietly turned to Natsume:

“Sirfetch’d!”

Natsume blinked in surprise. “You want to battle?”

Honestly, the Pressure from Eternatus’s Eternamax was crushing. Natsume had planned to send in Gengar.

But Sirfetch’d radiated rare, fierce determination—he couldn’t ignore that.

“Sirfetch’d! (｀･ω･´)” Sirfetch’d nodded solemnly.

I’m not sure why, but like you, there’s something I want to defend.

“What do you want to protect?” Natsume asked.

Sirfetch’d stayed silent, glancing at Zacian and Zamazenta, then gazing up at the monstrous Eternatus.

Before… it was always someone else protecting me.

But sometimes—you want to be the one who protects, too.

A vision of Gengar, smiling bright, flickered in Sirfetch’d’s mind.

Coach Gengar, when was your legendary moment? Was it when you beat Hoopa back in the City of Wastes?

As for me—

That time… is now!