Salamence!
Zinnia's Salamence spread its blood-red wings wide, the violent air churning as it slashed forward to meet the cannon blast of Metagross. Its razor-sharp dragon claws swung down fiercely.
Dragon Claw versus Flash Cannon!
Two mighty attacks collided head-on!
The impact shook the battlefield. A violent wave of air rolled outward, and turbulent pressure blasted across the mountaintop like a storm.
Then, to the astonishment of everyone watching, Dragon Claw tore straight through Metagross's Flash Cannon!
"Wha—so strong?!"
For a moment, many of those present froze in disbelief.
That had been an attack from Steven's ace Metagross—a move whose destructive power needed no explanation.
Yet this unknown black-haired girl, someone they had never even heard of before, had actually blocked it!
Archie and Shelly both exchanged dark looks, their expressions stiffening with unease.
The Team Aqua and the Team Magma had been at odds for years, each side knew the other's roster of elites well. And yet… when had Team Magma gained such a powerful member?
"This girl…"
Even Steven himself could not help but frown deeply, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the black-haired youth for the first time with true seriousness.
Metagross had not been fighting at full strength—it had only fired that Flash Cannon to stop her from reaching the two elders, not to cause grievous harm.
But even so, Metagross's Flash Cannon was not something an ordinary trainer could withstand.
Steven was confident that even Maxie or Archie themselves would not be able to block it head-on!
Yet this girl, this "Zinnia," seemed stronger than their bosses.
"A champion-level Salamence…"
Steven carefully observed the dragon hovering in the air. Its overwhelming aura, its terrifying presence—there was no doubt at all. It was of championship caliber.
For Team Magma to have someone like this emerge from its ranks… this was dangerous. Far too dangerous.
Steven's expression darkened. If such a person were allowed to freely walk away, it would surely spell disaster for the Hoenn region.
Because no matter how young or how polite she might seem, she was still a member of an evil organization!
"Hand the orb over to me."
Zinnia moved with astonishing speed. With her Salamence holding off Metagross's attack, she had already rushed in front of the two trembling elders. Her voice was calm, but carried the cold edge of command.
The old man and old woman looked at her in terror, instinctively taking several steps back. When their eyes met, both could see nothing but panic mirrored in the other's face.
They were ordinary people. Against someone like this, a figure from an infamous group, how could they not be afraid?
"Metagross, Meteor Mash!"
Steven's tone remained steady, though he was clearly anxious.
Metagross rose into the air with electromagnetic levitation, its massive body gliding effortlessly forward before lunging at Salamence. The steel limbs began to glow brightly, energy condensing for a brutal strike.
"Dragon Rush!"
Zinnia's eyes went cold, her command cutting through the chaos.
Salamence roared to the heavens, its entire body brimming with condensed dragon energy, before it transformed into a monstrous avatar of a dragon and hurled itself at Metagross with unstoppable force.
"I'll say this one more time. Hand me the orb. I do not want to hurt you."
Her gaze returned to the two elders, her voice now tinged with threat.
Steven was proving troublesome. She had no wish to get bogged down in a protracted fight with him. The only way forward was to accelerate her plan.
Above, Salamence and Metagross collided again and again, Dragon Rush smashing into Meteor Mash. Sparks and shockwaves rained down from the violent midair clash.
Metagross seemed to have a slight edge, its durability allowing it to endure. But that alone was far from enough.
Salamence was a dragon pseudo-legendary, blessed with raw physical power and endurance surpassing ordinary Pokémon. Metagross too was a pseudo-legendary, but its greatest advantage lay in defense, in attrition. And this was no time for a drawn-out battle.
Lucas stood aside, listening, a faintly strange expression playing on his lips as he glanced at Steven. Did Steven really believe that he could defeat Salamence quickly? Even if he managed it, the opportunity would long be lost.
"Mr. Lucas, please—stop her! The orbs must never fall into the hands of Team Magma."
Helpless with Salamence holding his Metagross back, Steven turned toward Lucas, his voice grave.
"???"
Marnie and Green exchanged bewildered glances.
Was Steven truly asking him for help?
Was he out of his mind? Shouldn't he be praying that Lucas didn't join the chaos instead? Asking him to lend a hand—wasn't that a little too naïve?
"I know your identity is… unusual," Steven continued, his voice steady but edged with urgency. "But this concerns the safety of Hoenn. Mr. Lucas—if you are willing to intervene… as long as it does not violate my principles, I will owe you a great personal favor."
No, Steven's brain had not broken. He was not a fool.
He was a man of broad vision and righteousness, but also one who believed no person was entirely evil.
Lucas Blackthorn was a trainer of a legendary. Steven believed in his heart that the dragon of truth would not choose to accompany a man who was purely wicked.
This was a gamble—but a gamble worth making.
"I'm afraid I must sincerely apologize, Mr. Steven. It seems, however, that we're already a bit too late."
Lucas raised a brow, then spread his hands in mock regret.
The truth was, he had never intended to stop either Team Magma or Team Aqua from claiming the orbs. Originally, he himself had come to Mt. Pyre with the intention of seizing them—but that idea had faded.
For now, he found himself far more interested in Zinnia, the girl of the Draconid People.
Besides, in the hands of Maxie and Archie the orbs served his own interests better. They had prepared for years for the awakening of Groudon and Kyogre.
They could summon them far faster than he ever could.
Otherwise, if he were left to search blindly on his own, who knew how long it would take to find where the two primal beasts slept?
On this point, Lucas and Zinnia were in complete, silent agreement.
She had joined Team Magma for the very same reason—to hasten the awakening of Groudon, to provoke the clash of Groudon and Kyogre, and thereby draw out Rayquaza.
"Put the orbs down!"
Steven's head snapped back in shock at the shout.
The two elders had already produced the artifacts, trembling hands lifting them toward Zinnia.
One gleamed with the fiery glow of the Red Orb.
The other shimmered with the deep azure light of the Blue Orb.
"Unbelievable… you old fools—so easily giving them away?!"
Gasps echoed through the chamber.
Every gaze fixed immediately upon the jewels.
Especially Maxie and Archie—their pupils shrank as their hunger ignited.
"Bring the orbs to me!"
Archie's eyes locked on the Blue Orb with deadly focus. He barked an order, sending his Aqua grunts charging forward.
Zinnia belonged to Maxie. He could not—would not—let the Blue Orb fall into their hands. If Maxie got both, Archie knew he would have no chance to claim it back.
"Skarmory!"
Steven, too, grew desperate. Another Poké Ball flew from his hand, and his steel bird burst forth with a screech.
Meanwhile Zinnia caught the Red Orb, her eyes flickering as she stared into the crimson gem.
This… this was Groudon's power.
As a chosen successor of the Draconid People, she could feel it immediately—the ancient power slumbering within.
She also knew secrets hidden from the world: with this orb, Groudon could undergo Primal Reversion!
Her eyes turned to the Blue Orb, her brows furrowing.
She needed both Groudon and Kyogre awakened, so that their battle would summon Rayquaza. But if she seized the Blue Orb as well, how could Archie awaken Kyogre?
As she hesitated, a piercing cry cut the air.
Steven's Skarmory dived like a silver spear straight at her.
"Out of my way!"
Zinnia snapped, hurling another Poké Ball.
An Altaria burst out, its wings spreading in a cottony bloom, intercepting Skarmory in mid-air.
But even as the birds clashed, Aqua grunts were already swarming forward, throwing themselves recklessly into the fray.
"What a lively spectacle~"
Lucas chuckled softly, watching the battlefield ignite into chaos.
"Lucas, you really don't plan to do anything?"
Green tilted her head, her lips twitching. Everyone was fighting tooth and nail for the two orbs—while Lucas stood there as if on a sightseeing trip, the very picture of a casual tourist.
"There's no need. Since they're so eager, let them have the orbs."
Lucas's tone was dismissive, indifferent.
So, what if Maxie and Archie held the orbs? All it meant was that they would awaken Groudon and Kyogre for him.
As for whether they could control them…?
Perhaps, using the orbs, there was a chance to command their ordinary forms.
But once Groudon and Kyogre returned to their Primal states, their power would devour all who tried to bind them.
They would not be masters—they would be consumed.
Just as in the animated specials, where the awakened behemoths had annihilated those who dared call them.
"But didn't you come here for the orbs?" Green's eyes widened in surprise.
She had assumed Lucas was only biding his time, waiting for the right moment to snatch them. To hear him now sound as if he had truly abandoned the idea—it left her utterly baffled.
"Mr. Lucas," Steven said between gritted teeth as he continued battling Zinnia, "Team Magma and Team Aqua are ambitious and reckless. If they truly awaken Groudon and Kyogre, the consequences will be unimaginable."
His gaze flicked toward Lucas. You are the strongest Rocket executive—how could these words come from you? Shouldn't a Dragon Master like you simply unleash your presence, seize the orbs, and end this?
Compared to Maxie and Archie—madmen both—Steven honestly believed it would be safer if Lucas himself held the orbs.
But Lucas only smiled, the corners of his mouth curling with mockery as his eyes swept over Maxie and Archie.
"Mr. Steven, you overestimate them. You don't honestly think the likes of those two can control Groudon and Kyogre, do you?"
Indeed, among all the villainous groups across the regions, these two were among the weakest.
Alola aside—for Team Skull hardly counted as true villains, merely pawns of the Aether Foundation, when it came to sheer incompetence, Maxie and Archie stood at the top.
Their own strength was laughably far from championship level. In the original tale, yes, their actions had triggered a storm that nearly destroyed Hoenn—but the devastation had been entirely the doing of Groudon and Kyogre.
Maxie and Archie were merely catalysts, nothing more.
Of course, in the alternate timeline of Rainbow Rocket, both had grown far stronger, even conquering their worlds with Groudon or Kyogre at their side. But that had been another world entirely, a gathering of bosses from across dimensions.
Here, now, in this Hoenn?
They were nothing but fools playing with fire.
"Uh…"
Steven faltered, caught off guard by Lucas's mocking smile. For a moment, he was utterly at a loss for words.
(End of Chapter)