Sprout dodged one of Brisa's attacks, but the rest dealt a total of 3652 damage!
Zygarde dodged the Flail and the last of the Triple Axel, but the rest dealt a total of 1402 damage!
Owen Focused, then used Umbral Storage for 2 Overheats!
Astrid's Blacklight Meltdown dealt 566 damage to Zygarde and 692 damage to Owen's tree, destroying it... but then Owen was fully healed to max HP and stamina!
Zygarde has +5 Speed! He can act 5 times!
Zygarde's Divine Equalizer struck 54 times and dealt 345 damage to Owen!
Zygarde's Thousand Arrows dealt 131 damage to Owen!
Zygarde's Triple Extreme Speed dealt 185 damage to Owen!
Zygarde's Core Enforcer dealt 90 damage to Owen! Owen's Ability was sealed!
"H-heh... heh... are you finished? Is that... the best you can do?!" Zygarde called, nearly kneeling, but not quite down. The dust settled; green arrows, silver energy, massive gashes on the ground, and even a great fissure through the sand... The Tree was destroyed by Astrid, and yet Owen had been left standing.
"You... How did you withstand that?! Those were all of my strongest attacks! I--then I'll defend! Your defenses... can't get any stronger anyway!"
Zygarde Rallied everyone, raising their Resistance by 2!
Owen: 116
Zygarde: 485
--
"So, you just need me to go in there, save that place from some little problem, and that's it?" Owen asked, frowning. I won't be away from home for too long, right? I... There are things I still need to do there.
"No time will pass," Diyem replied coolly. "With my powers enhancing you, this should... help. Assuming all goes well."
"You don't sound all that confident..."
"I don't have any time, Owen." Impatiently, he pointed at the portal. "Please."
Owen hummed again, sizing the Charizard up. He crossed his little arms, and Diyem seemed to twitch.
"There's a lot you aren't telling me," he said. "Why?"
"...I'm sorry. If I explained everything, I'd... run out of time."
"You just don't want me to know," Owen said. "...Mmh... But I'll help. I can tell that you don't mean... to do anything terrible. And, something about you..."
Diyem was silent, tense.
He shook his head. "I'll go. Get ready to help me from here, I guess? But on one condition."
"Hurry up. Whatever it is, yes, yes, I'll do it to the best of my ability."
Owen walked toward the portal, giving one last glance at Diyem. "When it's all over, you'll tell me why you knew my name."
--
"I'm still standing," Owen said, taking a steady pace forward, "because... that's how we are. That's how Team Spectrum... is. We can face down anything... and counter. We've shown that, over and over. Legend, god, and beyond. We've stood up to it and countered it with its own powers. That...! That is what we've fought for! And now that it's all over... That is the legacy we'll leave behind. This crowd... it's making my Perceive go
crazy." He tittered madly, eyes wide. "But I know what it's for. And I know my friends... guided me.
Owen used Shining Bestow on himself, twice!
Owen Focused...
Owen used up 69 stamina and gained some corruption.
"How long can you keep this up?" Owen asked.
Zygarde used Divine Equalizer on Owen, striking 56 times, dealing 352 damage!
Zygarde used Core Enforcer, dealing 89 damage!
Zygarde used Thousand Arrows, dealing 136 damage!
Zygarde used Endure!
Zygarde Rallied everyone for +2 Resistance!
"I... was going to ask the same of you!" Zygarde said with a nervous laugh. "You surely cannot keep up with these attacks..."
"You obviously haven't met Dad," Cal said, appearing underground. "You're all set, Pops!"
"Not yet," Owen hummed. "Not just yet..."
Owen used Shining Bestow on himself, then Umbral Storage for Overheats, and then Focused! His corruption became 70/50, and he only has 36 stamina left!
Zygarde used Divine Equalizer on Owen, striking 56 times to deal 351 damage!
Zygarde used Core Enforcer, dealing 92 damage!
Zygarde used Thousand Arrows, dealing 133 damage!
Zygarde used Extreme Speed x3, dealing 188 damage!
Zygarde raised his Resistance by 2 again! It's maxed out!
There it was. His guard was down. The perfect shot, as perfect as it would get.
"This is always our answer to any impossible task," Owen said.
"I'll admit... seeing your team in action is different than announcing it," Zygarde said, glancing at Mung, who was nearly speechless at the barrage Team Spectrum had endured.
"I came to Cibus first," Owen said, "and it looks like I'll be landing the final blow, too. But this isn't just me. This... this is everyone. Diyem, Brisa, Astrid... And everyone who isn't in this arena right now. I'm only strong because they're so strong. They were there for me at my lowest."
Owen was walking forward, now. Zygarde stepped back to gain some distance. Didn't matter.
"Hey, Sprout?"
"Yes?"
"You helped fill Cibus with hope more than anyone, didn't you? Was that your goal with how favorably you depicted us during all these matches?"
"Well, er..."
"Thanks, for that. On behalf of Diyem, who isn't really good at giving thanks."
I heard that.
Owen smiled a little wider. "I think we win, though."
"How do you know?"
With one hand, Owen tapped his horns. "Just a guess. I think I'm used to the crowd now."
With his other, he snapped his claws. A spark of Shadowy energy jutted out from his hand as a flash of madness seemed to wash over Owen's eyes... But it was controlled. A controlled mania.
And then, it was all over.
Owen used Shining Bestow on himself, using 35 stamina! He has 1 stamina left!
Owen focused... Breathe in. Out. Meditate.
Owen finally launched Void Demon!
Zygarde nullified the fixed damage! Zygarde blocked the extreme raw power attack, and one Overheat!
The three remaining Overheats dealt 592 damage... finally defeating Sprout!
No Tree. No more tricks. Owen stood there as Cal finally emerged from the soil, dusting herself off, and as she helped Astrid and Brisa up next.
Owen looked back, grinning. "Brisa! Astrid!" He lumbered over to them with heavy, energetic, tireless footsteps. "We won!"
Whatever he said next was drowned out by the crowd.
