When the blue eyes opened, all of Mt. Coronet trembled, and web-like cracks spread across the ice beneath Lin Hao's feet.
Cynthia stepped back half a pace, her hand already gripping a Poké Ball. "Dialga..." she murmured.
The blue light within the fissure grew brighter, and the aura of time surged from its depths. The air felt so heavy it was hard to breathe.
Cyrus stood before the fissure with his arms spread, as though welcoming a god's arrival. "Do you see?" His voice burned with fervor. "The beginning of a new world is right before us."
"Arceus," Lin Hao said gravely.
"Here."
"Can you suppress Dialga's consciousness?"
"The Red Chain fragments are interfering with its judgment. I can block the summoning signal first, but I need thirty seconds."
"Thirty seconds is enough." All six Poké Balls at Lin Hao's waist popped open at once, releasing Charizard, Lucario, and his other main fighters. Pikachu jumped off his shoulder and landed at the front.
Cyrus turned, his smile still lingering. "You want to stop me?"
"It's not about wanting to." The mountain wind tore at Lin Hao's voice. "I will."
"Begin." Cyrus raised his hand.
Six Team Galactic commanders acted simultaneously. Twelve Poké Balls flew into the air and snapped open, with Donphan and Drapion leading the charge, followed closely by Skuntank and Houndoom... Their strength was far from top-tier, but their numbers were overwhelming.
"Cynthia."
"Understood." Cynthia released Garchomp and Milotic, intercepting the three commanders on the left flank.
Lin Hao looked toward the other three on the right. "Lucario, rapid-fire Aura Sphere. Suicune, use Absolute Zero."
Blue spheres of energy and an Ice Beam blasted out together. Within three seconds, all six Pokémon on the right flank were down.
The three commanders went pale and retreated. Cyrus's smile finally