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When the Kyogre Crystal began its free fall, the leaders of all factions instantly sprang into action. Among them, the one who held the most advantageous position was undoubtedly the Dragon-type Elite-Four, Drake, who rode high in the sky on his Level 85 Salamence.
Salamence was Drake's most trusted partner through the years. Even without words, it could instantly grasp its Trainer's intent.
So, the moment the Kyogre Crystal began to descend, Salamence's massive crimson wings flared wide. With a powerful beat, it accelerated toward the falling crystal.
However, Team Aqua's executive Hague, along with several wild Water-type Pokémon of Elite-Four-level strength, were not about to let Drake succeed so easily.
Under Hague's command, his Level 72 Sharpedo launched a lightning-fast Ice Beam at Salamence.
At the same time, several Elite-Four-level wild Water-types — including Tentacruel, Gyarados, Sharpedo, and Kingdra — also unleashed their own Ice Beams toward the fast-approaching Salamence in the air.
The ocean below erupted in chaos as countless wild Water-type Pokémon joined in, firing Water Guns, Ice Beams, Hydro Pumps, and other moves in a dazzling barrage.
In an instant, Salamence found itself under relentless crossfire from all directions. Even at Level 85, facing such overwhelming concentrated attacks, it was in grave danger.
"Salamence, drop the target! Use Protect and ascend immediately!"
Faced with such peril, Drake dared not let his long-time partner take the full brunt of the assault. He shouted the command without hesitation.
"Roar!!"
With a defiant roar, Salamence obeyed, a shimmering green energy barrier forming around its body. Beating its wings with all its might, it shot straight upward, narrowly escaping the deadly storm of attacks.
Although Salamence failed to seize the Kyogre Crystal, the powerful Protect barrier and its swift retreat spared it from serious harm.
Meanwhile, the crystal continued to fall — every faction leader's gaze locked tightly on it.
An Elite-Four-level Tentacruel made the next move. Several thick, black tentacles shot up from the sea like spears, lashing toward the Kyogre Crystal, now less than a hundred meters above the surface.
At the same time, more tentacles swept sideways toward Hague's Sharpedo and the other nearby Elite-Four-level wild Pokémon — Gyarados, Sharpedo, and Kingdra — to prevent them from interfering.
Each tentacle glowed with a sinister purple light, pulsing with concentrated Poison-type energy — it was Poison Jab.
Behind the great Tentacruel, swarms of its kin — Tentacool and Tentacruel alike — surged forward, launching attacks against the subordinates of the various faction leaders.
In the next moment, a massive battle erupted across the sea.
Hague and the other Elite-Four level Water-types were not about to let the Tentacruel succeed.
The Gyarados swung its powerful tail in a mighty Aqua Tail, smashing apart the Poison-charged tentacles. Then, with blistering speed, it unleashed a rapid volley of Dragon Rage blasts — six per second — shredding the Tentacruel's limbs midair.
The Sharpedo and Kingdra also counterattacked instantly. One lunged in, fangs gleaming, and bit clean through a tentacle, while the other unleashed Outrage, its body bursting with raging Dragon-type energy that shattered the remaining tendrils.
Immediately after, the Sharpedo used Aqua Jet, bursting from the sea like a torpedo straight toward the Kyogre Crystal.
But the Kingdra wasn't about to let it have its way. Instead of going for the crystal itself, it rocketed from the waves with a surge of Dragon energy, colliding head-on with Sharpedo.
Such was the domineering nature of Dragon-types — the Level 79 Elite-Four tier Kingdra clearly intended to eliminate its rivals first, then claim the crystal for itself.
Sharpedo was completely blindsided. The Outrage struck it directly, the overwhelming Dragon-type power blasting it backward.
As a Pokémon with high offense but low defense and HP, Sharpedo couldn't withstand a direct hit like that. With a pained roar, it crashed back into the sea, badly injured.
Kingdra, unwilling to let its prey escape, charged another attack — Dragon Pulse.
A roaring, draconic wave of energy shot from its mouth, striking precisely where Sharpedo had fallen. The resulting explosion sent a massive plume of water into the air — when Sharpedo resurfaced, it was barely conscious, floating limply on the waves.
Just as Kingdra prepared to finish it off, Drake and his Salamence reentered the battlefield from above.
Kingdra immediately shifted targets, hurling another Dragon Pulse skyward — and a fierce clash between Dragon-types erupted in the heavens.
Meanwhile, Hague commanded his wounded Sharpedo to seize the moment and go for the Kyogre Crystal that had just fallen into the ocean.
But the Elite-Four-level Gyarados and Tentacruel moved in to intercept, and the three began another chaotic underwater brawl.
Notably, the moment the Kyogre Crystal touched seawater, it flared with radiant blue light — and then began levitating once again above the surface.
Both Gyarados and Tentacruel were over Level 70, matching or even surpassing Hague's Sharpedo in strength. Each possessed a vast array of mastered techniques.
As a result, Hague's Sharpedo was at a disadvantage. Were it not for its Speed Boost ability giving it incredible agility, it would have been defeated already.
"Damn these wild Pokémon… Sharpedo! Mega Evolve!"
High above on his Pelipper, Hague saw his partner struggling and roared in fury. He pulled out a Keystone-embedded pendant from his gear and held it high.
"Let's go, Sharpedo!"
Hearing his Trainer's call, Sharpedo surged from the sea in a flash of white foam. The Mega Stone beneath its neck gleamed brilliantly, resonating with Hague's Keystone.
A dazzling rainbow light connected the two stones, and the power of Mega Evolution enveloped Sharpedo's entire body.
When it plunged back into the sea, its form had changed — it had become Mega Sharpedo.
A savage aura, like that of a primordial sea beast, burst from its body. Instantly, its sheer presence suppressed both the Elite-Four-level Gyarados and Tentacruel.
"Tear them apart, Sharpedo! Use Crunch!"
Hague's eyes flashed with ferocity as his Mega Sharpedo's scarlet gaze locked onto Tentacruel.
Having already activated its Speed Boost six times, Mega Sharpedo moved faster than lightning. With terrifying power, it lunged through the water, jaws wide.
"Ch-ch-chomp—!"
A sickening crunch echoed through the sea as Mega Sharpedo's jaws clamped down, its Strong Jaw ability amplifying the move's power by fifty percent.
Combined with the same-type attack bonus, Mega Sharpedo's Crunch became devastating. Its teeth gleamed like blades, effortlessly shredding anything in its path.
In just seconds, despite Tentacruel's desperate resistance, its massive body was riddled with holes, and its tentacles were torn apart by the relentless assault.
At last, overwhelmed by pain and fear, the Elite-Four-level Tentacruel turned tail and fled, abandoning all thought of the Kyogre Crystal.
"I can't even interfere… so this is what a battle between Elite-Fours looks like. Incredible."
High above the sea, bathed in the blue glow of the crystal, Sato hovered on his Crobat, watching the chaos below with a grim expression.
He turned his gaze eastward — at some point, thick, endless storm clouds had gathered, rolling toward them. In the distance, thunder rumbled, growing louder with every passing second.