Chapter 200: You’re Excellent, But You Aren’t the One

Chapter 200: Chapter 200: You’re Excellent, But You Aren’t the One

Mist hung heavily over the forest.

While it wasn’t so dense that one couldn’t see a hand in front of their face, Sora still had to periodically extend his Aura to sense everyone around him, making sure the group stayed together.

The last thing he wanted was for someone to accidentally fall behind.

"Calyrex, can you find them?"

Sora had no intention of following the Slumbering Weald’s "intended" route.

With strength like his, why should he slowly solve puzzles and clear stages one by one?

"I shall try."

Not wanting to cause Sora any trouble, Calyrex mounted Spectrier in a single graceful motion, instantly entering its Rider Form.

Deep within the forest, a blue wolf-like Pokémon suddenly awoke from its slumber.

A brilliant azure radiance bloomed from Calyrex’s eyes, spreading through the surrounding woods in an instant before continuing deeper and deeper into the heart of the forest.

"This feeling..."

The wolf raised her head in shock, disbelief filling her eyes.

"The King’s aura."

"Has the King returned?"

Beside her, Zamazenta was equally overjoyed.

"But... it isn’t only the King."

Zacian carefully sensed the fluctuations rippling through the forest.

As the Sword King, the authority she possessed was unlike that of ordinary Legendary Pokémon.

Perhaps she hadn’t reached the point of controlling natural laws, but within the Slumbering Weald, her senses were sharp enough to detect any human who entered.

For all these years, it had been the two siblings who kept intruders from becoming permanently lost.

From time to time they would awaken, weave illusions, and quietly guide lost travelers back out of the forest.

It was also their power that protected the Slumbering Weald itself, preventing those with ill intentions from disturbing it while they waited for the Darkest Day’s inevitable return.

"Let’s go and see."

Since Calyrex himself had come, the two guardians naturally had to welcome him personally.

To them, the King of Bountiful Harvest was still worthy of the utmost respect.

Without Calyrex’s power all those years ago, they never could have defeated the Darkest Day or protected so many Pokémon and humans.

The Heroes of Sword and Shield had dealt the final blow to the Darkest Day.

But without Calyrex...

They would never even have been able to confront it.

"The King has brought someone."

"A new Hero?"

"At last... will Sword and Shield finally find their new master?"

Both Zacian and Zamazenta grew excited.

They could hardly wait to meet the hero personally chosen by their King.

"They’re coming."

Meanwhile, Calyrex, who had maintained his psychic perception the entire time, finally detected the two legendary heroes approaching.

The legendary Heroes...

Cynthia remained silent.

She simply stood beside Sora, quietly waiting for the two Legendary Pokémon to reveal themselves.

Whoosh—

A wind suddenly stirred through the dim forest.

It grew stronger and stronger, scattering the thick mist and carrying fresh air with it, sweeping away the oppressive atmosphere weighing on everyone’s hearts.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two dark figures burst from the depths of the woods before landing gracefully in the clearing before Sora and Cynthia.

"Zacian. Zamazenta."

Looking at the two majestic Pokémon standing before him, Sora naturally spoke their names.

"Humans..."

"And... my King."

Zacian first examined Sora before shifting her gaze to Calyrex atop Spectrier.

"It has been a long time, great King of Bountiful Harvest."

Zacian lowered her head respectfully.

Beside her, Zamazenta did the same.

"Indeed... it has been three thousand years, you two."

Calyrex’s voice carried both dignity and nostalgia.

His relationship with the Sword and Shield duo had never been that of monarch and subjects.

It was closer to teacher and disciples.

In a sense, Zacian and Zamazenta had been nurtured by Calyrex’s own power.

"Allow me to introduce someone."

Pride filled Calyrex’s voice as he gestured toward Sora.

"This is Sora—the hero who rescued me, and now my dearest companion on this journey."

He briefly recounted how they had met and everything Sora had done for him.

"Our deepest thanks, Lord Sora."

"It was you who saved the King of Bountiful Harvest. Please accept our gratitude."

The two wolves stepped before Sora and bowed respectfully.

There was no doubt this was an exceptionally high courtesy, enough to show just how revered Calyrex remained in their hearts.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Zacian... Zamazenta."

After greeting them, Sora introduced the Pokémon accompanying him.

The legendary pair looked curiously at his companions.

Three thousand years had passed.

Their sacred sword and shield had long since decayed, greatly weakening their strength.

They were no longer what they once had been.

In fact, they might not even have been able to defeat their own Hundred Battles King forms anymore.

Even so, Sora didn’t underestimate them.

Their weakness was only temporary.

Once the Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield were restored, the two would immediately return to their peak—and perhaps even surpass it.

"Let me introduce one more person."

"This is Cynthia, my traveling companion."

"I wonder... have you heard of the title of Champion among human Trainers?"

Sora had intended to explain what a regional Champion was.

Instead, Zacian spoke first.

"A Champion?"

"So young... and yet already a Champion?"

"What an extraordinary young lady."

"You know about Champions?"

"Yes."

Since Sora had been brought here by Calyrex himself—and had even saved the King—Zacian’s attitude remained exceedingly gentle.

"From time to time, humans wander into the forest. Through them, I’ve learned about the outside world."

Compared to her rather simple-minded younger brother, Zacian was clearly the brains of the pair.

At the very least, when it came to gathering information, she outclassed Zamazenta by miles.

"I didn’t expect you to keep up with events beyond the forest."

Cynthia smiled.

"Allow me to introduce myself properly."

"My name is Cynthia, and I’m the current Champion of the Sinnoh region."

"Sinnoh lies on a continent far from Galar."

"So... you’re from another continent."

Zacian quietly studied Cynthia.

A trace of surprise flickered across her eyes.

"I can sense an ancient power sleeping within you."

"You are very strong..."

"But unfortunately..."

She seemed to see through Sora’s intentions immediately, yet she didn’t mind.

After all, a Hero had to be chosen eventually.

And since Calyrex had personally brought these humans here...

Their character was beyond question.

Anyone acknowledged by the King of Bountiful Harvest could only possess noble hearts.

As for whether they possessed the necessary qualifications...

"May I ask what you mean?"

Cynthia frowned slightly.

She knew Sora had brought her here to meet the true heroes of Galar.

But she had no idea that Zacian and Zamazenta were still waiting for a hero worthy of inheriting Sword and Shield.

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