"Groudon and Kyogre are somewhat different from the other legendary Pokémon of the various regions."
Noticing the faint confusion on Steven's handsome face, Lucas let out a light chuckle, then slowly began to explain.
The legends of this world, when seen from the perspective of humankind, were ultimately far too mysterious, too enigmatic. The veil of mystery that cloaked these primordial beings could only be faintly lifted through the study of scattered ancient ruins and the rare surviving pieces of archaic scripture.
Therefore, Steven's puzzlement was not strange at all—Lucas had already anticipated it.
In truth, except for those fanatical and near-deranged villains who spent their lives madly chasing after legends, scouring ruins, hoarding documents, and obsessively piecing together scraps of lore, the majority of people in the world barely understood these ancient myths.
And even those villainous bosses who devoted themselves to such pursuits—figures like Archie of Team Aqua and Maxie of Team Magma, the two native leaders of Hoenn's infamous evil organizations at most only grasped a fragment of the truth. Compared to ordinary people, they knew a little more, yes, but still only bits and pieces of basic information.
In fact, in the animated version of the Hoenn story, Archie himself had been utterly shaken to his core by the calamity brought forth when Kyogre awoke. And in the end, Kyogre didn't just terrify him, it outright destroyed him. That alone was proof enough: they had no real concept of the terror that was the true power of Groudon and Kyogre.
Perhaps in every tale of their awakening, the one who ultimately claimed glory, the one who calmed the chaos and established its prestige, was always Rayquaza. But anyone who truly believed that Groudon and Kyogre were "weak" or "lesser" was, without a doubt, an utter fool.
When they undergo their Primal Reversion, both Groudon and Kyogre are not just legendary Pokémon—they stand firmly at the peak, existing within the absolute highest echelon of power.
"What exactly is so different about them?" Marnie tilted her head, her dark hair swaying slightly, her voice laced with curiosity as she gazed up at Lucas.
Could Groudon and Kyogre really be so unlike the other legends?
"They are indeed very different. According to the oldest legends, Groudon and Kyogre were the very beings who created the land and the sea. Their power, from the perspective of humanity, is absolutely on the level of an epic catastrophe. To speak without any exaggeration and with no sense of warning—both of them possess the very real ability to destroy the world."
Lucas's voice was low, steady. He was not dramatizing, nor was he deliberately frightening his listeners. He was merely stating the truth.
For Groudon and Kyogre, the creation of land and the sea was not some extraordinary feat—it was their instinct, their very nature. And because their purposes for existence were inherently opposed, whenever both of them awoke at the same time, there was no avoiding it—they would inevitably clash.
One embodied fire and earth, the continents themselves. The other embodied water, the endless sea. Groudon and Kyogre were born as natural enemies, destined to fight.
And if their power was not restrained, the disaster it would bring to the world would be immeasurable.
An endless expanse of land would be intolerable. An infinite ocean covering all things would be even worse.
Especially Kyogre if allowed to act without limit, the world would be drowned beneath its Primordial Sea, swallowed by the abyss, leaving not a single trace of life behind.
That was why Rayquaza, the guardian of the ozone layer high above, also bore another unshakable responsibility: to mediate, to quell, and to suppress these two forces.
Every time Groudon and Kyogre awoke and clashed—releasing their power without restraint, their abilities overflowing, Rayquaza would descend from the heavens to force them back into submission.
"Destroy the world…"
Steven muttered, his refined and handsome face tightening into a grim expression, brows deeply furrowed.
He had always known of the legends that belonged to his home region, but never—not even once—had he truly imagined that Groudon and Kyogre might be this terrifying.
And yet, he believed Lucas.
There was no reason for Lucas to lie about such a matter.
After all, Lucas was the so-called Trainer of Reshiram, this was already common knowledge among the upper echelons of every regional Pokémon League.
The Dragon of Truth, Reshiram, itself was a high-tier legendary Pokémon of Unova, said to have taken part in the very creation of the region. Compared to such a being, the Regirock that even someone as strong as Brandon had once captured did not even belong in the same league.
"It seems I'll need to contact Wallace, have him keep a close eye on both Team Magma and Team Aqua."
Steven thought to himself. Yes, Hoenn's two infamous villainous groups—the Team Magma and the Team Aqua, both harbored ambitions of awakening Groudon and Kyogre. That much was no secret.
In the past, Steven hadn't paid it too much mind. But after hearing all this, he now knew he had to give his trusted friend Wallace a warning.
"But that was Groudon and Kyogre as they once were. The truth is… the Groudon and Kyogre of today no longer possess such terrifying strength."
Lucas cast Steven a sidelong glance, his lips curling into a faint, almost mocking smile that carried a strange undertone.
"???"
Not only Steven, but also Green and Marnie froze on the spot, their expressions blank.
What did he mean, "they no longer have that kind of power"?
"It is exactly as I said. Groudon and Kyogre have slumbered for far too long. And because of that endless sleep, their power, too, has fallen into slumber."
Lucas's tone was amused as he explained, as though he were recounting something absurdly unique.
Yes, because they slept too deeply, they ended up letting their own strength fall asleep as well. A strange kind of "pride," not unlike being a dragon that cannot fly or a Feebas who stubbornly insists on its worth.
Indeed, Groudon and Kyogre's so-called "Primal Reversion" was fundamentally different from Mega Evolution. The Primal forms were not some new transformation—they were their original, true forms. But under the weight of unending sleep, even that original power had dozed off, bit by bit, until it was buried.
"…Ah, this…"
Green's face went completely slack, her mouth hanging open, utterly unsure of what words she could possibly respond with.
"Then… that power, they should be able to recover it, shouldn't they?"
Steven, ever cautious, narrowed his eyes. Even though the thought was unsettling, he knew that if their power was only dormant, it could not mean it was lost forever.
And then, all of a sudden, something clicked in Steven's mind. He finally began to understand why Lucas had chosen to come to Mt. Pyre!
"That's right," Lucas said, a sharp smile spreading across his face, his white teeth flashing eerily in the gloom of Mt. Pyre. "When their powers entered slumber, those energies crystallized into two orbs. These orbs are the very essence of their greatest power.
"As long as someone obtains the orbs, not only could they control Groudon and Kyogre, they could also force them into Primal Reversion!"
The Blue Orb and the Red Orb!
That was Lucas's purpose in coming here. That was what had suddenly struck him the night before.
And that was also why he abandoned the nearer Meteor Falls, despite its proximity to Rustboro, to come here instead.
These two orbs were the source of Groudon and Kyogre's true might. Only by reclaiming them could the two ancient titans return to their primal states.
Likewise, anyone who possessed the respective orb could control Groudon and Kyogre.
Of course, attempting to control them with the orbs would be the worst possible choice, because those orbs were nothing less than their own slumbering power.
If one's heart was strong and unyielding, then perhaps they could exert control over the titans for a brief time. But if not, they would not control Groudon or Kyogre at all—rather, they would be overwhelmed and controlled in turn by the orbs' terrifying power.
Steven's eyes widened.
At last, he understood Lucas's goal: it was all about Groudon and Kyogre!
"Groudon and Kyogre are far too powerful, Mr. Lucas. They must never be allowed to emerge."
His face pale, his voice grave, Steven addressed Lucas firmly.
Even if Lucas had not explained in detail the horrors that Groudon and Kyogre could unleash, Steven would still never stand by and allow these two ancient Pokémon to be awakened.
All the more so now.
And yet, he did not wish to tear things apart outright, not here, not so soon—not when they had only just arrived at Mt. Pyre.
"Don't worry, Mr. Steven. I am an honest, law-abiding citizen. I would never do anything to bring harm to the world."
Lucas shrugged with feigned innocence, flashing Steven a genial smile, as if to say: look, I am a man of peace, a good and harmless person.
Steven: "…"
He forced the corners of his mouth upward into an awkward, polite smile, one that carried both courtesy and disbelief.
"Hard to believe you can even say such words with a straight face," Green muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes.
Standing beside her, Marnie heard clearly and gave a firm nod of agreement.
"Groudon and Kyogre are slumbering somewhere unknown. But their two orbs remain outside, in the world. Which is why… we must ensure those orbs are well protected."
Lucas continued, smiling serenely, as though nothing at all was amiss.
Yes—because of their excessive slumber, Groudon and Kyogre hadn't just let their powers fall asleep; they had even managed to lose the very orbs that housed those powers!
Truly, the two of them were a pair of "special cases" among special cases.
To think that they were supposed to be the rulers of land and sea!
And yet, after countless unmeasured ages, the Red Orb and the Blue Orb had both drifted here to Mt. Pyre, entrusted into the keeping of an elderly couple who watched over this sacred place.
That was why Lucas had come today. He would seize those two orbs and set them into his own hands making it all the more convenient for the schemes he was planning next.
"You haven't yet found Groudon and Kyogre's resting place, have you?"
Steven's eyes flickered with a complex light.
He was not tempted by the thought of their power.
What weighed on his mind was the disaster that would inevitably follow if Groudon and Kyogre were ever to awaken.
They must not be allowed to rise.
And as for Lucas's claim that he merely wanted to protect the orbs…
Did he believe it?
Not a single word.
Even Lucas's own companions didn't seem to believe it!
'Better to follow along and see what happens first,' Steven decided after a long pause. Yes, Lucas likely already suspected his thoughts.
But since Lucas had not spoken them aloud, Steven would not expose him either.
Besides, Lucas clearly knew a great deal about legendary Pokémon—knowledge that Steven himself did not have.
So, the four of them pressed on together, climbing higher toward the peak of Mt. Pyre. Yet the dense fog that blanketed the mountainside was proving to be more and more of a hindrance.
On either side of the staircase leading up, gravestones of Pokémon lined the path. The environment, coupled with the heavy mist, created an atmosphere that was eerie and unsettling in the extreme.
"Golbat—use Haze!"
A sudden, harsh voice rang out.
From the mist to the side, a Golbat burst forth, releasing thick clouds of dark haze toward Lucas and his companions.
Ever vigilant, Steven instantly detected the ambush. In the blink of an eye, a Poké Ball appeared in his hand.
"…Hmm?"
Lucas arched a brow. With a casual flick of his wrist, he tossed out his own Poké Ball.
In a rush of crimson light, a massive, ferocious Salamence appeared in the sky. Its blood-colored wings beat with terrible force, whipping up a gale that instantly scattered the haze, blowing it right back.
A Salamence?
Steven's gaze locked on the brutal aura radiating from the beast. Of course, he knew it—Salamence was one of Hoenn's most famous pseudo-legendary dragons.
But this one's strength…
It seemed clear that this was one of Lucas's newly trained core battlers.
Steven's eyes flicked to Lucas briefly. According to League intelligence, Lucas was already a Trainer of champion-caliber strength, standing firmly at the top tier.
His thoughts then turned toward their unseen attacker.
"Team Magma?"
Steven's face darkened. That fiery red uniform left no doubt—it was indeed a member of Team Magma.
But why would they be here, of all places?
Steven's frown deepened.
Team Magma had always pursued Groudon. Their leader, Maxie, dreamed of creating a world covered in land.
And now, combined with Lucas's earlier words about the two orbs…
Steven felt a heavy, sinking premonition rise in his chest.
(End of Chapter)