The rock walls of the ruins vanished in a surge of energy, revealing a majestic, golden temple hidden within. Far in the distance, atop a gargantuan altar, stood the true Dragon God Shrine of the Spear Pillar.
"That is the place," Mishiko shouted over the roar of temporal energy. "Feng Che, Cynthia—you two must work together to seize the Adamant Orb from the crown of that Primal Dialga. It is the key to stabilizing the timeline! I will head to the shrine to summon the true lords!"
Mishiko released her Dragonite, which expertly wove through the black temporal arcs to carry her toward the golden temple.
Feng Che and Cynthia exchanged a brief, determined look before releasing their own battle teams.
"Go, Greninja, Incineroar!" "Kommo-o, take the lead!"
As Greninja materialized, a massive Rampardos, its head lowered for a lethal charge, thundered toward them. Greninja reacted with fluid grace, hurling a Water Shuriken directly at the beast's feet. The Rampardos lost its footing, sliding across the stone floor and tripping several of its prehistoric kin before slamming into a pillar and losing consciousness.
"Go, Poké Ball!"
Feng Che used his psychic power to guide the ball. The unconscious Rampardos was drawn inside in a flash of red light.
Pokémon: Rampardos
Gender: Male
Potential: Superior (Green)
Ability: Sheer Force
Level: 56
Special Note: Having been revived by Primal Dialga's chaotic energy, its ancient bloodline has been stimulated; it has the potential to awaken Dragon-type traits.
"Nice catch, Greninja," Feng Che noted. But Greninja's expression remained heavy. It could feel the divine pressure emanating from the Dark God.
Greninja: The opponents keep getting more terrifying. I thought Regigigas was strong... but this thing is on another level!
More Rampardos charged. Greninja leaped high into the air, its hands forming a compressed Water Pulse sphere. It hurled the orb, which exploded into a localized flood, sweeping the ancient predators away. However, the torrent was stopped dead by a phalanx of Bastiodon, who stood as firm as a mountain range.
Infuriated by the defeat of its pawns, Primal Dialga turned its gaze toward Greninja and unleashed a Roar of Time. A black pillar of energy tore toward the frog Pokémon. Greninja lashed its tongue out, coiling it around a high stone pillar to pull itself out of the path of destruction.
The beam struck a wounded Rampardos instead; the creature was instantly reverted back into a Skull Fossil.
"Be careful! That beam manipulates time itself," Feng Che warned.
At that moment, Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter burst onto the dais with their remaining elite grunts. Seeing their leader possessed and under attack, they released their aces: Tangrowth, Electivire, and Honchkrow.
"Distractions at a time like this?" Cynthia growled. "Garchomp, Draco Meteor!"
Garchomp let out a sky-shaking roar, summoning a storm of golden meteors. Primal Dialga countered with another Roar of Time, the black light shrinking the meteors until they vanished into nothingness.
"That was close," Mars panted, leaning against a pillar. "Cynthia's Garchomp is a monster."
Suddenly, a black beam shot toward Saturn.
"Watch out!"
Greninja's tongue lashed out, wrapping around Saturn's waist and yanking him to safety just as the beam incinerated the spot where he had stood. His Skuntank wasn't so lucky; caught by the edge of the light, it was reverted into a Pokémon Egg.
"Do you see now?" Feng Che shouted at the Commanders. "Your 'Boss' is gone. He's a puppet. He can't even tell friend from foe anymore. Saturn, your Skuntank is an egg now—count yourself lucky it isn't ash."
The three Commanders looked at each other, then at the black-wreathed Cyrus. They lowered their weapons. "He... he doesn't even recognize us."
"Cynthia, we can't beat that thing with raw power," Feng Che said, turning to the Champion. "We need to get that orb to my grandmother so she can finish the summoning!"