In Pericarp Town, the residents watch Mount Pericarp worriedly as the matriarch says history is repeating itself, leaving Yuha concerned for his new friends. On the Brave Olivine, Murdock, Ludlow, Mollie, and the Pokémon also watch Mount Pericarp without being able to get in contact with Liko and the others. In the captain's deck, Orla gazes at the mountain before turning to the emergency button that had been installed during the repairs.
On Laqua, the Explorers continue their progress to activate the Laquium core as Pagogo charges up its energy. Liko, Roy, Dot, and Amethio stand before Gibeon and his White Zygarde, and they start the battle by sending an onslaught of attacks that Zygarde dodges effortlessly. Dot notes Crocalor's Disarming Voice being the only move that would work super effectively against the Order Pokémon, so she and Liko send Quaxwell and Floragato to create an opening for Crocalor to attack. However, Zygarde stops them from approaching with Land's Wrath. Ceruledge moves in with Shadow Claw, but Zygarde's Core Enforcer not only stops Ceruledge but also damage Floragato, Crocalor, and Quaxwell. Gibeon declares his opponents will be eliminated before Dot suggests they attack from mid-air. Roy has Crocalor use Flame Charge along the terrain to launch himself into the air, but Zygarde's Thousand Arrows sends Crocalor back to the ground and force Floragato and Quaxwell to evade. Ceruledge attempts to attack from behind but Zygarde jumps into the air and unleashes a Core Enforcer attack in the Fire Blades Pokémon's direction. Before the attack lands, Ceruledge is saved by Floragato using her bud and the kids remind Amethio he is not battling alone. Dot is stuck on how to proceed and Roy suggests they charge in, with Amethio supporting the idea.
With a plan in place, Floragato approaches Zygarde, with the others following suit. Gibeon orders Zygarde to use Thousand Arrows and Dot manages to get a hint once the smoke from the attack clears up. Dot explains her findings to the others and they get their Pokémon rushing to Zygarde once more, evading Thousand Arrows in the process. Unfortunately, the four of them get caught off guard by Zygarde using Thousand Waves instead of waiting for the Cells to return. Gibeon tries to have Zygarde use Core Enforcer once more but Amethio has Ceruledge use Phantom Force to send them into the air and unleash their attacks from there, including a supereffective Disarming Voice. Liko thanks Amethio, who attributes their success to being in sync, as Gibeon laments letting Zygarde get attacked. Liko and the others press on as Zygarde uses Core Enforcer that is blocked by Aqua Cutter and Psycho Cut from Quaxwell and Ceruledge respectively. Another Core Enforcer is unleashed but Floragato and Crocalor manage to stop it with Magical Leaf and Flamethrower, allowing Quaxwell and Ceruledge to have an opening. Before they could land their attacks, Gibeon orders Zygarde to use Thousand Waves. The four Pokémon manage to hold on and attack once more, with Gibeon purposely letting the attacks land to let Zygarde to land a devastating Land's Wrath that leaves its opponents on the brink of defeat.
Seizing the chance to also stop Pagogo, Gibeon has Zygarde use Core Enforcer, but Liko gets Floragato to stop it with Magical Leaf. Despite Spinel being sure the battle is over, Liko refuses to give up and runs to her partner, who is trying her best to protect everyone. Liko declares she will also protect everyone and their wishes, encouraging Roy and Dot to run to their partners and support their friend. Empowered by their feelings, Floragato evolves into Meowscarada, stunning the people watching. Amethio runs to Ceruledge, who expresses something to its Trainer. Recognizing what his partner is trying to convey, Amethio thanks Ceruledge and the two stand alongside Liko and Meowscarada. Determining Ceruledge only has enough strength for one last attack, Amethio entrusts Liko and Meowscarada to end the battle once he and Ceruledge open a path for them. Everyone watches on as Meowscarada and Ceruledge dodge a Land's Wrath attack from Zygarde, who uses Core Enforcer afterwards but with Amethio's encouragement, Ceruledge stops the attack with Bitter Blade. This allows Meowscarada to get close and attack Zygarde with consecutive hits from Acrobatics before it evades her Sucker Punch by jumping into the air. Gibeon attempts to end it by getting Zygarde to use Core Enforcer but the Magician Pokémon sends the Order Pokémon to the ground with her newly learned Flower Trick, shocking the leader of the Explorers.
As Liko and Meowscarada celebrate, Zygarde gets back up. Gibeon orders Zygarde to keep attacking but it ignores his words to stare at Liko, Amethio, and their Pokémon. Shortly after, it disassembles itself back into the earth, leaving its devastated former Trainer behind. Lucius steps forward to tell Gibeon he has lost now that Zygarde approves of Liko and her friends. Gibeon demands to know what makes Lucius and his allies so different that he is the one defeated, and Lucius easily answers it is because of their bonds. Gibeon finds the idea absurd as it is not something that can be explained by science but Lucius counters the argument with the fact that Pokémon are strange creatures that can create miracles, such as Meowscarada evolving once her and Liko's feelings were in sync. Amethio supports Lucius's reasoning, saying he also sensed his feelings being in tune with Ceruledge earlier. The Ancient Adventurer suggests that Zygarde was trying to show its Trainer that bonds can create endless possibilities, causing Gibeon, and Lucius once he got close, to gaze at the Poké Ball that once held Zygarde. At that moment, Pagogo shines brightly and flies towards the top of the Laquium cluster alongside the Six Heroes, Terastallizing into its Stellar Form. Pagogo then shared its energy with the Six Heroes, transforming them into a Terastallization-like state, before they all float into the sky.
