Warning: Spoilers for Pokémon Horizons, Episode 54

Summary

• Friede discovers the secret of the stolen "Eternal Blessing," leading to the reveal of the Explorers' leader, Gibeon.
• The pink mist from Terapagos is associated with Rakurium, a key substance in the Explorer's plans.
• Gibeon plans to capture Terapagos to secure more Rakurium, potentially granting him immortality.

The villains of Pokémon Horizons have been one of the biggest mysteries in the series--just who are they, and what do they want with Terapagos? It was previously revealed that the Explorers began as an organization which ed the legendary adventurer Lucius, so how did this group turn to evil? Fortunately, Pokémon Horizons finally has some answers, even if they mostly raise more questions.

Recently, the story has focused primarily on Liko, Roy, and Dot as they travel Paldea and complete their Terastal training, which has brought all three of them some unexpected accomplishments, like experiencing their first evolution, or winning a gym battle. That has meant that the main plot dealing with Lucius, his Pokémon, and the Explorers has been on the back burner, but episode 54 changed things up by focusing on Friede as he attempts to investigate a lead.

Friede's investigation reveals a secret that's been stolen, and the episode ends with the reveal of Gibeon, leader of the Explorers.

The Explorers' Leader is After the "Eternal Blessing"

A Mysterious Substance is Key to the Explorers' Plans

Friede returned to his former employer, hoping to find some information on a project he had worked on quite a long time ago. His former boss was welcoming, giving Friede an old ID badge to access whatever he wished, but as Friede grew closer to his target, he found some surprising resistance. Friede managed to locate the item he was looking for, a substance known as the "Eternal Blessing," or Rakurium, which he believes is associated with the pink mist that Terapagos gives off whenever they encounter one of Lucius's Pokémon. Or at least, he found where it was supposed to be--the substance was stolen.

The episode ended with Amethio being called to meet Gibeon face to face, revealing the villain's full appearance for the first time. Gibeon is shown resting in an advanced-looking chair, kept in a room filled with pink mist like that of Terapagos, proving that Friede's hunch was right on the money. Gibeon, who refers to Amethio as his grandson, gives him a mission: to capture Terapagos once it becomes awakened, so that they might be able to obtain more of this "Eternal Blessing." Amethio accepts the mission, understanding it to be of dire importance.

At this point, it seems likely that Gibeon was the original founder of the Explorers, and thus was once a friend of Lucius's. How Gibeon has managed to live this long seems like a mystery at first, but the name "Eternal Blessing" seems to suggest that the Rakurium has played a role in keeping him alive for so long. The Explorers thus seem to be attempting to capture Terapagos to enter Rakua, where they can presumably obtain more of this Rakurium and secure their founder's continued existence. If correct, that would make Gibeon one of very few "immortal" human characters to have ever appeared in Pokémon, alongside Pokémon X and Y's AZ.

Given that Terapagos in the games has two forms which have yet to appear in the anime, it seems likely that this transformation may be the "awakening" which Gibeon and Amethio refer to. As Liko gains skill with Terastallizing, she may actually be putting even more of a target on her back by gaining the ability to awaken Terapagos. The plot of Pokémon Horizons definitely just took a big leap forward, so Friede, Liko and the gang will need to be ready when the Explorers finally do make their move.