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At that very moment, above the deserted island housing Team Aqua's base, Dragon-type Elite Four, Drake, was leading a squad of League members astride various Flying-type mounts. Riding atop his Salamence, he commanded an all-out bombardment of the island below.
Countless powerful moves erupted from Pokémon mouths, unleashing devastating explosions across the island's surface.
Some League members even released groups of Golem in unison, commanding them to use Earthquake simultaneously. The resulting tremors violently shook the entire island, causing the ground to split apart with terrifying fissures.
In an instant, the island was quaking and collapsing—its very terrain breaking apart. The underground Team Aqua base beneath it fared even worse: machinery sparked, circuits shorted, and multiple explosions and fires broke out within moments.
In just a few minutes, the entire base was in ruins. Screams of pain and panic echoed through the corridors as chaos consumed the complex. Countless Team Aqua members were either killed or injured. The scene resembled the end of the world itself.
"This is Base Commander Hague! Everyone listen carefully… evacuate immediately through the emergency passage to the fifth floor, then retreat through the underwater tunnel!"
Despite the desperate situation, Hague ignored his subordinates' attempts to stop him. Assisted by several of his Elite-Four level Pokémon, he returned to the command center and used the base's broadcasting system to issue an evacuation order to all Team Aqua members.
As expected of Team Aqua's most respected commander, Hague's firm voice restored order to the panicked organization. Those who had been lost in confusion immediately found their resolve and began following his instructions, retreating through the emergency tunnels toward the fifth floor.
Although disaster had struck without warning, every Team Aqua member in the base was a Trainer—and most were specialists in Water-types.
With the help of their Pokémon, they easily doused flames and cleared debris as they made their way toward the fifth floor for evacuation.
Meanwhile, chaos also broke out in the submarine docked at the underwater port on the fifth floor.
"Hurry! Fill the tanks and dive immediately! The League must be here for the Kyogre Crystal! No matter what, we can't let them get it!"
Inside the submarine's command cabin, Dr. Peter—wearing his white lab coat—shouted furiously into a microphone, his face twisted with rage.
But beneath that anger lay pure fear. He had only been at this secret Team Aqua base for two or three days. Before he could finish powering and calibrating the submarine, the League had already found him.
Their efficiency terrified him. There was no doubt in his mind now—the League knew of his existence, and soon he would be relentlessly hunted across the Hoenn region.
The confidence he had shown days ago, when he harnessed the Kyogre Crystal's power to stir chaos, was gone. Now, he only wanted to escape and find somewhere to hide.
Unfortunately, Dr. Peter was not the one in command of the base. Despite his arrogance, he was merely a guest scientist, and his words carried little weight.
Worse still, at a time like this, his obvious panic and self-preserving attitude disgusted many Team Aqua members.
Thus, when Commander Hague's orders came through, the chain of command inside the submarine shifted immediately.
"Y-you! What do you think you're doing?! I'm Team Aqua's top scientist! Aren't you afraid I'll report you to the Boss himself?!"
Dr. Peter shouted, panic showing on his wrinkled face as several guards surrounded him, releasing their Pokémon to subdue his Magneton and Porygon-Z in moments.
Meanwhile, other researchers in the control room were similarly surrounded by armed Team Aqua members. Within minutes, every scientist was disarmed—their PokeBalls and tools confiscated.
"Relax. We don't intend to harm you. But we need you to follow Commander Hague's orders—activate the device that controls wild Water-type Pokémon."
"You know as well as we do that even if we escape, the League will still be hunting us. We're outmatched, and we need reinforcements. Without that device, none of us are getting out alive."
"So please, follow orders, Professor. Don't make this harder for all of us—we're all in the same boat now."
A scar-faced Team Aqua officer wearing a black bandana glared down at Peter, pressing a large, calloused hand onto the scientist's frail shoulder and grinning menacingly.
Dr. Peter, as Team Aqua's premier scientist, was unaccustomed to such treatment. Rage burned inside him—but he was also clever enough to recognize the situation he was in.
He decided to bide his time. Survive today's crisis first—settle scores later.
"Ah, so these are Commander Hague's orders. Very well, I'll take care of it right away."
Dr. Peter forced a stiff smile, patting the officer's hand in false camaraderie while masking his fury.
"That old man's going to be trouble later," the scarred officer muttered to himself, a dark look flashing across his eyes. Still, he released his grip and gestured for his men to step back.
Under the watchful eyes of the armed officers, Dr. Peter and the other researchers began working furiously around the massive machine at the center of the control room.
Soon, the aquamarine crystal atop the device started to glow—its color shifting rapidly from blue to red. A pulse of strange energy rippled outward, spreading in all directions.
While Peter and his team were activating the control device, Sato had already infiltrated the base's detention area via Teleport, materializing directly inside Prof. Todd's cell.
However, the submarine's prison was heavily secured. Even though the guards outside had evacuated, the defensive Pokémon within still faithfully carried out their duty.
The moment Sato appeared, the room's hidden infrared sensors triggered an alarm. Several concealed PokeBalls sprang open at once.
Magnemite, Magneton, Voltorb, and Electrode materialized all around him—dozens of Electric-type Pokémon immediately unleashed volleys of attacks.
In an instant, the entire cell was filled with blinding flashes of lightning.