The trio walk down the long hall as Tom periodically appears and speaks to Grant, "So you really think that you are worth something? You fool. You utter buffoon."

Grant coughs up blood, which he hid from the others as a pink mist lingered at their feet as they approach.

Tom adds, "Don't speak up about your worsening wound. If you die, so be it."

Grant shook his head as Victor and Looker appeared shock, "Looker that's..."

Looker looked down at the Dream Mist and growled, "Curses... Dream Mist..."

"Dream Mist?" Victor asked.

"It makes dreams into reality, and we have a schizophrenic with us..." Looker explained.

"So that's real?" Grant asked, "Like, this one time and one time only that Tom is actually there."

"It's manifested by the Dream Mist yes," Looker explained.

"This is likely some sort of diversion," Grant explained, "I'll handle this! You guys go on ahead!"

"No," Victor responded, "You can't face this alone. I'll help you."

Grant held a master ball and smirked, "Zamazenta should be more than able to handle whatever this nightmare can throw at us."

"No," Grant shook his head, "This is a distraction and... this is something I have to do."

"But he-" Victor began to protest only to be stopped.

Looker grabbed the champion's shoulder and gave a silent nod. In that moment Victor understood. He nodded to Grant and explained, "We'll meet you up ahead."

Grant nodded and the duo left.

"Facing me alone?" Tom asked, "Finally taking my advice?"

"Quite the opposite, Tom," Grant smirked, "In a manner of speaking. I'm going to prove, once and for all, that accepting help has made me stronger. That my love for my family and for Sonia, all of that, refusing your advice has made me stronger than your lies. That, while I'll never fully be cured, I can be rid of you almost all the time, but to prove that to myself I have to be the one to  defeat you. I have to prove that my own strength as an individual has grown. Stronger than someone who refuses such ideas."

"So be it," Tom smirked, "But your team is still injured, Grant. What do you even have left after facing the knights?"

Grant nervously looked away, as he had, as what remained aside from him was fainted by the other knights between the main battles against the knights who had the keys, only Rook. Grant took a deep breath, and prepared for battle.

Madness Manifest Tom wants to battle.

Madness Manifest Tom sent out...

And there it stood.

The yellow insect that for years haunted Grant so.

The one eyed Vespiqueen.

Vespiqueen was surrounded by Dreama Mist.

Vespiqueen's attack, defense, special attack, special defense, and speed rose!

Rook and Grant prepared themselves for a difficult battle, as they knew it was now or never to defeat the bee that haunted Grant for so long. That this was the moment Grant had to finally face the thing that killed his parents.

Grant gave the order, "OK! Rook! You know the drill!"

Rook complied, sharpening its metal beak and feathers with Hone Claws as Vespiqueen used Attack Order, which sent hundreds of tiny bees at Rook, stinging him all over his body, but luckily his metal outer coat stayed strong.

Grant took a deep breath, Rook's breathing was slow and heavy, and despite the attack being weak, another blow like that...

"It's now or never!" Grant exclaimed, Finish it in one attack!"

Vespiqueen used Attack Order again, but this time the insects struck true, finding a weak spot damaged by prior battles and stabbing it. Rook cried out in agony as the stingers split open the bird's previously small, open wound.

There was no way Rook could take this...

Unless...

Rook didn't faint so Grant wouldn't be upset!

Rook shot into the sky, ready to, once and for all, protect his best friend. The massive bird flew in loops, building up speed until it dove down in a corkscrew, drilling into the Vespiqueen all the way through, slicing the bee in half with a critical hit that fainted it.

It turned back into Dream Mist as Tom yelled, "No! Impossible! You won't win! I'll show you!"

Tom took out a knife and screamed, "I'm stronger than-"

With that, he was sliced in half and turned back into Dream Mist. Grant stood in shock as the Pokémon stood before him. The legend itself. The king. The blade of justice.

"My cause is just," Grant explained with a bow.

Cobalion glared, but huffed in acknowledgment.

"You wish to test me?" Grant inquired.

It readied itself.

Grant approached nodded, "I'm ready."

Cabalion charged and prepared to strike...

Only to instantly be captured in a Quick Ball.

Grant knew he had no chance to defeat the thing in a fair fight with his team in such a state and went with his only, albeit risky, option left. To capture a legendary at full health was dumb luck, and if someone else was in Grant's place, they would likely have a legitimate and difficult battle against Cobalion.

With this however, Grant headed forward and entered the throne room where Victor faced the queen.

"Ah the peasant boy!" The queen exclaimed, "There you are!"

"Grant!" Victor exclaimed, "Little help?"

"You're asking him for help?" Liz laughed, stepping down from her throne, the elderly women grinning maniacally as she poofed up her curled grey hair. She word a purple cloak and held a decorated golden scepter as her massive, extravagant crown weighed on her head. "You fool! He's a peasant! His blood is inferior to our own! This world is defined by blood! Family is blood! Value is blood!"

"Blood is worthless!" Grant exclaimed, "Blood is just a lie used by malicious people to keep power over others! It's used by evil people to remain in the lives of the blood family that hurt! It's used by you to think you're better than others!"

"He's no more human than you or me you old crone!" Victor added.

"It matters not!" Liz exclaimed, "For soon all shall see the true power, the truth of blood family and royal blood! Do you know what Dynamax energy really is?"

"What?" Looker asked, "What could you mean?"

"Ha!" Liz exclaimed, "Dynamax energy is life energy! That's why Pokémon can take more attacks when filled with it! Eternatus was dead! Rose didn't awaken anything! He revived it! Now I shall revive the stronger of the two kings! King Arthur!"

"King Arthur?" Grant asked.

The women laughed, "Two kings there were, one of royal blood, and one a peasant. One true, one false. As soon as the Darkest Day was stopped the true king killed the false king and now he shall return to rule Galar! This is where your journey ends fools!"

"Grant beating Liz doesn't matter!" Looker exclaimed, "You have to defeat her ideology! It has to be you! Show her blood family is a lie! Show her blood ties are a lie! Show her family is love and that our blood means nothing!"

"I'll show you how powerful blood is!" Liz exclaimed, "I have only used one Pokémon my entire reign! Bred since the first kings of Galar! Bred for perfection! Behold a creature of royal blood! Behold the Pokémon that crushed Leon whenever he dared question me! Let us see which view of blood holds true peasant!"

Queen Liz would like to battle...