SWSH025: Rumble!! The Horrific Darkest Day

is a chapter of Sword & Shield arc.
==Synopsis==
With Leon's confirmation, the group heads off to Wyndon, to meet with Chairman Rose. There, they meet up with other Gym Leaders, who also demand answers from Rose. As the Gym Leaders battle Oleana, who stands in their way, Casey, Henry, Marnie, Hop and Bede come to the top of the tower. There, they find a recording of Chairman Rose, who executes the plan they have suspected: the Darkest Day. Soon after, the Dynamaxed Pokémon roam around the town, spreading panic.
==Chapter plot==
Piers is on a call with Leon. Piers confirms he will gather the Gym Leaders and meet them all at the Rose Tower. Marnie and Hop shout to Piers as to what will happen to their Gym Challenge. Piers explains that he needs to first find out whether Chairman Rose will harm the Galar region, and if so, the Gym Challenge will be suspended. Hop protests, whereas Piers explains it is all up to what will Chairman Rose say about this, for he is uncertain of it all. Henry asks if he and Casey could accompany him, for if the intruders they saw earlier are involved in this, then this is more than just Casey's problem. He also remembers promising to Raihan and Sonia to confront Chairman Rose, surprising Casey, whom Henry tells that it is not that important. Piers nods, and asks Hop and Marnie what would they do. Marnie and Hop want to do as well, to see what will the chairman say, since the Gym Challenge is more than just stadium battles. Piers nods, and has the group move out.
At Ballonlea's stadium, Opal is contacted about Chairman Rose. Once she ends the call, she calls upon Bede, knowing he was eavesdropping behind the wall. Bede tries to deny this, but Opal offers him to accompany her, to see what Chairman Rose was about, as he did play with Bede's life. At Wyndon, Hop is fascinated by the town, and promises to return to it for the Gym Challenge. The group comes to the Rose Tower - Macro Cosmos' headquarters - and remark how tall the building is. Suddenly, Piers' attention is taken by four Gym Leaders: Melony, Bea, Allister and Gordie. Piers gasps, seeing Gordie and Melony together, having been in a while, to which Bea remarks that they did come here separately. They are also joined by Kabu and Milo, who wonder whether Chairman Rose does intend to bring back the Darkest Day, which was depicted on the mural in Turffield. Melony wonders where Nessa is, to which Milo explains she went to see Sonia in Hammerlocke instead. It makes Gordie wonder whether she will come with Raihan and Leon here, and notice the only one in question is Opal.
Suddenly, the group hears a blast from the Rose Tower. They go inside, finding Bede battling Oleana, with Opal by his side. Bede grits his teeth, asking of Oleana to move. The latter reminds that Chairman Rose is not here, but asks why is Opal accompanying him. The latter doubts Oleana would understand her answer, so Oleana sends her Pokémon out to remove them by force. The Gym Leaders defend themselves, sending Pokémon of their own to fight Oleana. Amidst the fighting, Hop wants to join in, but Piers pulls him, since this is a perfect distraction for them to confront Rose. Allister points at the elevator, but as the group goes in, Piers senses something. He quickly sends out Malamar, who absorbs the attack from Oleana's Garbodor. Piers rushes the rest of the group in, and is taken aback when Bede enters the elevator as well.
Marnie, Hop, Henry and Casey look at Bede, who is wearing different clothes. Bede cuts their talk, pointing at Henry, blaming the latter for his predicament: had he not eaten lunch with Chairman Rose in Hulbury, things would've been different. He blames the entire group, wishing he had never met them at all. Hop reasons with him that they would have met each other eventually. Casey inquires him about his Fairy-type outfit: Bede grits his teeth, exclaiming that instead of being a Champion, now he can become a Gym Leader instead. The rest of the group congratulates him, but Bede is still furious at Henry, who was happy for him. Henry admits he does not know what he should say, for which Bede does not want to hear it. Reaching the top, the group sees that Chairman Rose is not here, after all.
Suddenly, a screen appears, showing Chairman Rose, as a recording. Rose explains that he is not here, and to these events, he went impatient, since he wanted to launch this plan during the Champion Cup. Thus, Rose explains the Darkest Day is to begin a new heroic legend, to protect the Galar region for what is to come in a thousand years. A bright light appears, shot from the Rose Tower and Wyndon stadium. Casey realizes these are Power Spots, and notices they are activated in every town. Marnie detects a special beam, coming from Hammerlocke, shot to a pitch-black sky. Henry assumes that the Darkest Day is happening in Hammerlocke. Bede sees there is no point in staying here, and descends down with the rest of the group. Upon coming out, Hop is shocked to see Gigantamax Machamp and Garbodor. The group reports to the Gym Leaders that Chairman Rose is not in the tower, and that he has started the Darkest Day.
Oleana smiles, and calls her Pokémon back. She adds that the group can go visit Chairman Rose at the power plant in Hammerlocke. Bea thinks she was just buying time, but Oleana reminds that she was perfectly honest, and it was the group that distrusted her. Melony is angry at her, but Opal stops the rest, for they have bigger troubles: all of the Pokémon outside are now Dynamaxed, and cause trouble and panic. Henry sees it is just like in the legend - under a black sky, giant Pokémon roam the land, sowing fear. With Corviknight scared by this change, Milo points out they can't use taxis. With the monorail destroyed as well, Allister fears that they can't leave the city. The group then sees Professor Magnolia, hurrying them into her motorhome, as they quickly ride off to Hammerlocke. Casey wants to know what is going on; Magnolia is unsure either, but asks of her to activate the Power Spot Nav. Casey does so, seeing a lot of locations with the Power Spots. Henry recalls Gordie mentioning that Hammerlocke was full of Power Spots, which made Marvin's Dracie Dynamax. It makes him think that time was an experiment, to see Power Spots activating, for this day to proceed.
Casey turns the radio on, where it is asked of the people not to send their Pokémon out, and return existing Pokémon to the Poké Balls. Due to Pokémon Dynamaxing outside their usual places (Stadiums, Pokémon Dens or other Power Spots), Pokémon are becoming wild and cannot easily be controlled. In Hammerlocke, the news crew is reporting that the Power Spots have originated from Hammerlocke. The cameraman gaps; the newswoman asks what is wrong, to which he points having seen something in the sky: a very large Pokémon is descending down.
==Debuts==
===Pokémon===
*Greedent
*Applin
*Gigantamax Corviknight
*Piers' Malamar
*Hattrem (Bede's)
*Galarian Rapidash (Bede's)
*Bea's Machamp
*Gigantamax Machamp (Bea's)
*Appletun (Milo's)
*Galarian Standard Mode Darmanitan (Melony's)
*Coalossal (Gordie's)
*Oleana's Milotic
*Oleana's Garbodor
*Gigantamax Garbodor (Oleana's)
*Oleana's Salazzle
==Gallery==
Category:Pokémon Adventures: Sword & Shield Chapter chapters