On an unnamed island—
"Metagross, Meteor Mash!"
Steven's expression was grave as he gave the order to his Metagross.
The steel titan's forearms glowed with a brilliant white light. Its metallic body lifted slightly off the ground as it accelerated forward at high speed, charging directly toward Tyranitar.
"In terms of sheer strength, my Tyranitar will never lose to anyone's Pokémon."
Lucas's voice carried a faint smile, his tone calm and composed, utterly free of panic.
Unlike Steven, he was not weighed down by heavy concerns.
"Fire Punch."
"ROAR!"
With a thunderous roar, Tyranitar's claws ignited in blazing flames. Even though the sky above was pouring with heavy rain brought about by Primal Kyogre's ability, the Primordial Sea…
The distance between this island and where Primal Kyogre raged was immense, and since Kyogre itself was not present here, fire-type techniques could still be unleashed.
Tyranitar's savage eyes locked onto Metagross, and in the next heartbeat, its burning fist swung down with terrifying force.
BOOM!
A deafening crash resounded across the battlefield as Tyranitar's Fire Punch collided head-on with Metagross's Meteor Mash.
"What an impressive display of power."
Lucas raised his brows slightly, noting that the two attacks were perfectly matched, neither overpowering the other.
Strictly speaking, Fire Punch should hold the advantage over Meteor Mash, as fire-types naturally counter steel.
However, Fire Punch was not Tyranitar's natural STAB move, so its destructive force was diminished somewhat. Add to that the rainfall overhead, and the flames were inevitably weakened.
"Dark Pulse!"
"Flash Cannon!"
Tyranitar's jaws opened wide as a mass of swirling, purple-black energy condensed. At the same time, a brilliant metallic light gathered in front of Metagross.
The next instant, the two beams collided at near point-blank range—
KABOOM!
The explosion blasted both titans backward, forcing them several steps apart.
"Your instinct for battle is truly remarkable, Mr. Steven. It seems that the path to becoming a top-tier Champion is already right at your feet."
Lucas clicked his tongue softly, his gaze filled with praise.
In truth, Tyranitar actually had a slight advantage against Metagross. Dark-types are immune to Psychic moves, and although Tyranitar was four times weak to steel, Metagross was also four times weak to dark and, likewise, unable to use its Psychic arsenal.
Yet even under those conditions, Steven had not fallen behind in the slightest.
Of course, the battle had only just begun. Metagross was Steven's ace Pokémon, it would hardly be thrown into disadvantage so quickly.
And undeniably, Steven was only one decisive step away from standing at the pinnacle of Champions. But that single step was an exceedingly difficult threshold to cross.
"Mr. Lucas, are you truly determined to help Team Magma awaken Groudon? Life here has always been peaceful, harmonious. People should not be forced to endure such calamities."
Steven's voice remained steady, his face calm yet resolute as he spoke to Lucas.
He had no desire to make Lucas his enemy. His goal was only to stop Maxie.
But Steven knew full well, Lucas was not someone one could casually provoke. Especially not under these circumstances.
As an enemy, Lucas could prove fatal to the entire Hoenn region.
"Steven, there are some events in this world that are destined to occur. Even if you forcefully try to prevent them, it will all be meaningless."
Lucas shook his head slowly. Even without Zinnia at his side, the temperaments of Archie and Maxie would inevitably lead them to awaken Kyogre and Groudon sooner or later. "And besides…"
But before he could finish, the entire island suddenly shook violently.
Lucas raised an eyebrow. It was here.
Steven felt it too, his expression hardening. Such tremors were not normal. Could it be…?
The quaking grew more and more intense, faster and stronger, until it seemed—
As though some colossal beast was thrashing beneath the very foundation of the island!
"ROOOAR!"
A terrifying bellow reverberated from deep below, shaking the entire island from its core to its surface.
CRASH!
From not far away came the sound of mountains splitting apart. Lucas turned his head, eyes narrowing.
A small hill had burst apart, shattered into rubble. From its broken core, a torrent of blazing magma surged forth, flooding down in fiery waves.
At some point, the pouring rain had ceased. The heavy storm clouds above dispersed completely, revealing a sky once more clear and bright.
The dazzling sunlight poured down, so blindingly intense that people could hardly keep their eyes open.
The weather had shifted.
Desolate Land!
The Primordial Sea had been dispelled, and in its place, the Desolate Land spread its dominance!
Desolate Land: The weather shifts to Harsh Sunlight! Water-type moves become completely invalid! This sunlight cannot be overridden by any weather ability or move, except by Primordial Sea or Delta Stream!
This—this was the ability of Primal Groudon!
"ROOOAR!"
Another deep, earth-shaking roar resounded, this one far clearer than the last.
From within the roiling magma, a titanic beast slowly emerged, its entire body glowing with an ominous crimson light.
Primal Groudon—had awakened!
"Woooo…"
From afar, a low, ancient cry echoed across the sea. Primal Kyogre let out a deep, resonant call, twisting its massive golden-blue body.
It had sensed it.
That despised presence.
That loathsome creature had awakened as well. It would not forgive it. It would destroy it.
Primal Kyogre's vast fins spread wide, slamming down with enough force to churn the ocean. Its massive frame surged forward.
But before it could advance—
"Garchomp, Draco Meteor!"
"Wailord, use Take Down!"
Primal Kyogre's golden eyes flickered sideways. A Garchomp had darted swiftly into its path.
High above, a dense orb of pure dragon energy formed, before exploding into countless fiery meteors that rained down from the heavens.
Simultaneously, from the storming seas below, an enormous whale-like titan breached the surface. Its massive body shimmered with a faint white glow as it hurled itself upward, smashing toward Kyogre's belly like an oceanic leviathan.
It was none other than Wallace's Wailord!
Even among its kind, its size was monstrous, where most Wailord reached about fourteen meters, this one measured at least fifteen.
For that very reason, Wallace rarely called upon Wailord in battle. Suitable arenas were far too few; the whale Pokémon required vast oceans, and immense quantities of water, to fight effectively.
"Woooo!"
Assailed from both sky and sea, Kyogre was anything but pleased. A deep, melodious cry rang out as it swept its ribbon-like tail, raising waves in its wake. With terrifying force, that tail whipped directly into the oncoming Wailord.
Strictly speaking, Kyogre's body was smaller, only ten meters long—whereas Wailord dwarfed it in size.
Before Eternatus was discovered, Wailord had always been considered the largest Pokémon in existence. Even a Mega Steelix barely passed ten meters.
But in this moment, one truth was made clear: size means nothing against raw power.
The two collided midair—Wailord's Take Down against Kyogre's Aqua Tail.
And in just a single clash, the white aura cloaking Wailord's body was utterly shattered.
The great whale let out a pained cry as it was smacked violently back into the sea, vanishing beneath the waves with a thunderous splash. Its skull must have been rattled numb from that one strike alone.
Most people assumed Primal Kyogre specialized in special attacks, but few realized its physical attack stat was a staggering 150.
That towering ten-meter body was not for show.
Though its special attack was even greater, its physical might was more than enough to overwhelm.
"This…"
Wallace, standing atop a Gyarados, trembled at the sight. He had known Kyogre was immensely powerful—but for his Wailord to be swatted aside in a single blow?
The ocean roared as Wailord crashed back into the depths, sending geysers skyward.
Above, Garchomp's meteors rained down, striking Kyogre one after another.
But to Wallace and Cynthia's shock, Kyogre did not so much as flinch. Its golden-blue body, bathed in divine light, remained unscathed.
Cynthia's brows knitted tightly. My Garchomp's Draco Meteor… didn't even break its defenses?
It was like tickling a god.
If Lucas had been present, he would have laughed outright—who in their right mind tried to damage Primal Kyogre's absurd 160 base special defense with a special move?
"WOOOO!!"
Kyogre spread its colossal fins wide, tilting its head back as a dazzling aqua light enveloped its body. The roar of the surging sea grew sharper, louder—
And then—
Before Cynthia and Wallace's stunned eyes, Kyogre soared upward, dragging with it a gargantuan wave that blotted out the sun.
Surf!
"So, this is Primal Kyogre…"
The ocean swelled uncontrollably, and Wallace found himself staring blankly, stupefied.
In his vision, an unimaginable curtain of water had risen, towering to the heavens.
A Surf that stood dozens of meters high.
The titanic wave nearly brushed against the storm clouds themselves, its majesty overwhelming. Was this Surf? No… no, it was something far beyond that—
This was a tsunami!
As a Champion who had devoted his life to water-types, Wallace could tell you with absolute certainty: this was no ordinary move. This was a natural disaster.
A Surf dozens of meters tall—this was cheating, breaking every rule of battle!
"This isn't even the same level…"
Cynthia, riding atop her Togekiss, pressed her lips into a tight line. The instant she laid eyes on that towering wall of water, her heart sank with a rare sense of helplessness.
This was not a battle of equals.
And yet, equal or not, they had no choice but to try to hold it back.
"Garchomp—!"
But even as she gave the order, Cynthia was not foolish enough to send her partner to clash head-on with that monstrous Surf.
That wave carried enough pressure and momentum to kill outright.
If her human body were caught beneath it, she knew she would be reduced to nothing but red paste. Even her ace Garchomp would be crushed beyond battle in an instant.
There was only one option—strategic retreat.
Garchomp understood at once, pivoting sharply and streaking through the skies in the opposite direction.
Meanwhile, Wallace hastily commanded his Gyarados to turn back toward the island. Even if they weren't directly in Surf's path, a wave of that magnitude would churn the seas violently enough to capsize them.
If he lost his balance and fell now, thrown into those raging waters… he dared not imagine what would happen.
And so, both Champions fled desperately, as the ocean itself rose to devour the world.
(End of Chapter)