Chapter 367: Ganging Up on Kyurem
For the first time, Keldeo successfully blocked Kyurem’s Dragon Breath using Secret Sword.
"Not bad—so this is your true power?" Kyurem wasn’t angry at having its attack blocked—it seemed almost satisfied.
"In my view, fighting with true strength is what makes a sincere battle."
"In that case, I should show you my true power as well."
Kyurem ceased its Dragon Breath and instead used its divine move—Glaciate. But this time, the attack wasn’t aimed at Keldeo—it was aimed at Rio.
Facing this, Keldeo, who could have used the opening to strike Kyurem, instead leaped in front of Rio, Mewtwo, and the others, blocking Glaciate with Secret Sword.
The attack was stopped—but Keldeo, still newly awakened, collapsed. It lay at Kyurem’s feet, its horn pinned under Kyurem’s claw.
"I’ve lost. Do what you will with me." Keldeo said, a hint of despair in its voice.
But to its surprise, Kyurem lifted its claw from Keldeo’s horn.
"You didn’t take the chance to attack me. Instead, you protected your companion. Good—you are a worthy blade. I acknowledge you." Kyurem said.
"Kyurem!" Keldeo was deeply moved, forcing itself to stand once more.
Kyurem watched it for a moment, then turned to leave. Before it went, it glanced at Rio.
"That human—take Keldeo and those three frozen ones and get out. I need rest."
Hearing those words, Rio smiled. He glanced at Mewtwo, Gengar, and Charizard on either side of him. The three, who had been itching for action for hours, moved without hesitation. Mewtwo Teleported directly in front of Kyurem, while Charizard and Gengar took flanking positions, surrounding it.
"Human—what are you trying to do? Capture me?" Kyurem immediately understood the intent. It had faced such attempts before—everyone who dared to try ended up frozen solid alongside their Pokémon.
Keldeo, who had just stood up, looked at Rio in shock. Rio ignored Keldeo’s gaze and smiled at Kyurem.
"You’re right, Kyurem—I do want to capture you. But before that, two old friends of yours want to have a word with you."
Rio pulled out two stones—one black, one white.
"Come on over, Zekrom, Reshiram." Rio called out to the stones.
"Zekrom... Reshiram..." Kyurem’s eyes widened. It knew those names well—the two who had caused its original form to split due to their differing ideals.
Then Rio pulled out a blue orb and a blue stone.
"Come on over, Kyogre—Kyurem’s waiting for you to join the beatdown. And Dialga—you’re the only one of the Sinnoh Three I’m calling this time." Rio called out to the orb and stone.
"Human—who exactly are you? Can you really summon Zekrom and Reshiram?" Kyurem’s voice echoed in Rio’s mind.
"Just an ordinary, unremarkable human." Rio smiled. "But this human has captured quite a few legendary Pokémon—and Zekrom and Reshiram are among them. They’ve been very eager to see you again."
"You’d better be telling the truth. Otherwise, you won’t leave this place alive." Kyurem glared coldly at Rio.
It desperately wanted to meet Zekrom and Reshiram again—because finding them meant it could enter a new form. If this human was telling the truth, that would save it a lot of trouble.
"Of course. I, Rio, never lie. I just hope you can withstand their assault." Rio smiled.
"You think Zekrom, Reshiram, and these three can defeat me?" Kyurem scoffed, glancing at Mewtwo, Charizard, and Gengar. It figured a Gengar, a Charizard, and some unknown Pokémon probably weren’t even as strong as Keldeo. If they tried to gang up on it, they’d just end up frozen solid.
"Since you want to fight me, let me see what you’ve got. Don’t disappoint me." Kyurem attacked first, gathering Dragon Breath in its mouth.
Keldeo had come up beside Rio. It was confused by what Rio was doing.
"Don’t worry, Keldeo—I’m not going to let Kyurem die here. I’m just satisfying my Pokémon’s desire to beat it up, and my own desire to capture it." Rio shrugged.
"But this is Kyurem! Can you really do it? I think you should run!" Keldeo was genuinely worried. It had now fully understood Kyurem’s power and didn’t want the human who believed in it to die here.
But the next moment, its expression froze. On the battlefield, Charizard spat golden flames that matched Kyurem’s Dragon Breath. Then Gengar threw a Shadow Ball, and Mewtwo fired an Aura Sphere—both strikes sent Kyurem flying. Yes, flying—it crashed into an ice pillar and shattered it.
Keldeo was dumbfounded. It had fought Kyurem for so long without even scratching it—and now Rio’s Pokémon had actually hurt it. True, it was a combined effort, but that still showed their strength.
"You’re going to die here—because now I’m angry." Kyurem’s voice came from beneath the ice pillar. It pushed the pillar aside and rose to its feet.
Kyurem gathered an intensely cold beam in its mouth.
[Glaciate]
Kyurem’s divine move.
This time, Mewtwo stepped forward. It raised its right hand, gathering a massive surge of psychic power.
[Psystrike]
Mewtwo’s divine move.
The two divine moves met midair, unleashing a violent shockwave that forced Rio and Keldeo to shut their eyes. Though they couldn’t see what happened next, they both heard Kyurem’s cry of pain—clearly, it had been badly beaten.
"Dialga~" — What are you doing?! How could you start without me?!
At that moment, Dialga tore through a dimensional rift and arrived on the battlefield—only to see Kyurem being sent flying by Charizard and Gengar’s attacks.
"Dialga~" — Hold on, Kyurem! You’re the best Dragon-type!
Dialga cheered Kyurem on—while forming an Aura Sphere in its mouth and blasting the rising Kyurem back into an ice pillar.
The shockwave from the clash also freed Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion from their icy prison. Though frozen, they had been able to see and hear everything.
As soon as they were free, like Keldeo, they stared in disbelief at the so-called "strongest dragon on the ground" being pummeled by other Pokémon.
"Is that... the legendary Time God of Sinnoh—Dialga?" Cobalion was well-traveled and recognized Dialga. "Why is it here? Is it because of you?"
"It is." Rio shrugged, not bothering to hide it.
Just then, two dragon roars echoed from above.
"Reshiram~" — Move aside! Let us handle it!
"Zekrom~" — Let us beat it to death!
Zekrom and Reshiram had arrived. Zekrom blasted a hole through the cavern ceiling with Bolt Strike, allowing both to dive in and join the beatdown.
"Kyogre~" — I’m here! Let’s go!
Right after them, Kyogre arrived, flapping its fin-like wings to fly in. Its entrance made the already cramped cavern even more crowded—especially when it unleashed Origin Pulse, shaking the entire Giant Chasm.
"Take this outside! Don’t fight in here!" Rio called out.
The legendaries immediately flew out. "Reshiram~" — This one can’t fly—someone carry it out!
Kyogre chimed in: "Another flightless weakling—just like that idiot in Hoenn. A disgrace to legendaries."
"I’ll take it out." Mewtwo didn’t waste words—it used Psychic to hurl the battered Kyurem out through the hole Zekrom had made.
As for Rio himself, none of the Pokémon remembered him. They were all focused solely on beating up Kyurem. If Keldeo and the Swordsmen had wanted to kill Rio, only Victini would have been there to protect him—and it probably wouldn’t have been enough. Fortunately, the Swordsmen had no such intention. They were all too stunned by the gathering of legendaries.
"Zekrom, Reshiram, and even Hoenn’s Kyogre—are they all your Pokémon?" Cobalion asked Rio.
"That’s right. They’re all my Pokémon now." Rio pointed at Victini on his shoulder. "And Victini too."
Hearing that, the three Swordsmen exchanged glances, speechless. Rio broke the silence: "Would one of you mind taking me out to watch the battle?"
"Climb on my back." Cobalion, as the leader, stepped forward and lowered itself.
"Thank you."
Moments later, Cobalion carried Rio outside the Giant Chasm. Kyurem was now being beaten by seven regional guardian-level legendaries: Mewtwo, Charizard, Gengar, Dialga, Reshiram, Zekrom, and Kyogre.
It was the most brutal beatdown any legendary had ever endured—rivaling the treatment of the Black Rayquaza. But while Rayquaza had Mega Evolution, Kyurem’s only option was to fuse with Reshiram or Zekrom.
And that’s exactly what it was trying to do.
While being pummeled, Kyurem fixed its gaze on Reshiram. When Reshiram flew close while using Flamethrower, Kyurem activated the Gene Wedge within its body. A triangular-shaped object released beams of light that locked onto Reshiram like homing missiles.
"Reshiram~" — Block these for me!
Reshiram shouted in panic. Dialga, not understanding, stepped in with Dragon Claw—but the beams merely changed direction and chased Reshiram even faster. One beam struck Reshiram, and the other two followed. A red barrier formed around Reshiram, and it cried out in agony.
The other legendaries paused and looked over.
"Zekrom~" — It’s fusion evolution! Stop Kyurem!
Only Zekrom understood what was happening.
"Fusion evolution?" Mewtwo, Dialga, and the others exchanged glances—and instead of rushing to stop it, they hesitated.
"Don’t stop it, brothers! Let it evolve—it’ll be more fun to beat up!" Gengar cackled. This was exactly what it wanted—not only would they lose a target, but Kyurem would get stronger and be able to take more punishment.
On the ground, Kyurem’s wings shot golden spiral rings at the red sphere containing Reshiram. It dragged the sphere toward itself, opened its mouth—and Reshiram shrank into a small orb, swallowed whole.
"ROAR!!!"
Kyurem roared, its body transforming. Flames blazed from its form, and its tail and bone wings changed. It became a dragon with feathered wings, now able to fly. Its level rose from 92 to 95.
"Kyurem~!" — You bastards—you thought you could bully me because I couldn’t fly?! Now I’ll show you!
Kyurem roared, gathering a massive fireball before it—Reshiram’s divine move, Fusion Flare.