"We Seven Generals of the Guild are plotting something massive. Once it's done, the status of the Hunter Guild will be unshakable," Julian said, his voice laced with smugness. The words had barely left his mouth before he realized he had said too much. He quickly pivoted the conversation.
"Double the speed to Sinnoh. We're running out of time."
"The Millennium Comet is arriving soon. I must find Jirachi before it descends."
At Julian's command, the warship roared to full power. The thrusters erupted with brilliant cyan light, scattering sparks across the sky like falling stars before they dissipated into the cold air.
The Dragon God Shrine
In Celestic Town, the members of the clan had been summoned back to the ancestral grounds by Dr. Carolina.
"Why would the Lorekeeper call us back so suddenly? Did something happen?"
"It shouldn't have. Everything has been quiet lately. The Temple's attention seems to be entirely on the Garden family."
"I heard Cynthia is about to challenge the Sinnoh League Championship. Maybe we're just here to cheer her on?"
The clansmen whispered among themselves, their voices filling the air with speculation. Suddenly, Dr. Carolina entered the hall. Flanking her were Cynthia and Drasna, followed by a large group of figures clad in black robes.
"What is the meaning of this? Why are there so many outsiders in robes?"
"Did someone in the clan commit a grave crime?"
The confused Celestic members continued to murmur, eyes darting toward the mysterious guests. Suddenly, a brilliant golden aura of Dragon Power erupted from Dr. Carolina. Under her command, a massive, irregular crystalline sphere descended slowly from the ceiling of the shrine, eventually hovering just above her head.
"Silence, everyone! Inject your Dragon Power into this sphere immediately. I will explain the details shortly," Dr. Carolina commanded. She was the first to act, channeling her internal energy into the object.
The crystalline sphere began to pulse with a faint, rhythmic light. The clansmen stood in stunned silence for a few seconds before following her lead. As the collective Dragon Power flooded the artifact, it let out a thunderous roar—a draconic hymn that vibrated through the very stones of the temple. Golden light began to saturate the sphere.
After a long moment, seven red dots flickered to life on its surface. Dr. Carolina immediately cast the Dragon Crystals provided by the Garden family into the sphere. Upon contact, the crystals shattered, their energy absorbed instantly. A massive set of armor, shaped like the jaws of a gargantuan dragon, slowly began to manifest around the core.
At that moment, the clansmen understood: the sphere was the legendary guardian of Celestic Town—the Mythical Regidrago.
"It's Regidrago... has a catastrophe truly come for Celestic Town?"
"This is my first time seeing it. It looks so... majestic."
"This is our ancestral guardian. It only wakes when our existence is threatened," an elder whispered.
But as the Dragon Power continued to flow, a few individuals in the crowd grew restless. Their eyes darted about, and they began to reach for hidden communication devices.
Suddenly, a sky-rending dragon roar echoed within their minds. These few men collapsed to the ground, clutching their heads and howling in agony. Within seconds, their screams faded into silence as they fell unconscious from the sheer mental trauma.
"What happened to them? Why did they collapse?"
"They were fine just a second ago!"
"Was it an ambush? Is there an assassin in the shrine?"
Panic rippled through the crowd like wildfire.
"Silence! Do not be alarmed, and do not disturb the Dragon God!" Dr. Carolina's voice cut through the chaos like a blade. "These individuals betrayed the faith of the Dragon God. Regidrago has merely delivered a minor punishment. The Dragon God does not forgive those who turn their backs on Celestic Town!"
Her sharp gaze swept over the crowd, and a heavy silence fell. Members of the Celestic Guard stepped forward, hoisting the unconscious traitors and binding them with rope before hauling them away.
"Celestic Town is now in a state of war," Carolina continued, her voice echoing with authority. "I used this ritual to flush out the moles hiding among us. I have received secret intelligence: the Temple, the League, and the Hunter Guild are preparing an invasion. They intend to erase us from the map."
"We are the children of the Dragon God! Shall we stand and fight?!" she cried, her fist raised high.
"To the death! Victory or ruin!"
"To the death! Victory or ruin!"
The clansmen roared in response, their morale surging to unprecedented heights.
"Good. We do not bow to any force. If they think we are easy prey, we will cut off the hands that reach for us! We have ten days to prepare. The Garden family has already moved vast amounts of supplies to our town and helped us summon reinforcements from Johto and Hoenn."
"This is the hour of our survival. We stand united to protect our home!"
Dr. Carolina began assigning tasks with clinical precision. "Drasna, you are a daughter of this town and our strongest fighter. You will lead the vanguard to intercept the Temple forces. I am giving you our finest elites."
"Clair, take your team and set an ambush for the Hunter Guild."
"Zinnia, you will intercept the League's forces."
The town became a hive of frantic, disciplined activity. Above them, Regidrago drifted silently, its red dots blinking as it processed the state of its home through Carolina's mind.
Regidrago: I did not expect so much to change during my long slumber, it spoke telepathically to Carolina.
Regidrago: Having absorbed those Dragon Crystals, I can sustain only three full-power attacks. After that, I will fall back into a deep sleep. If only my Power Core could be returned to me...