The howling gales and torrential rain continued to intertwine violently. Beginning from the seas near Lilycove City, the downpour kept spreading outward in all directions, to the point that nearly a third of the entire Hoenn Region was now affected!
And this was merely the beginning!
The terrifying influence of Primal Kyogre's Primordial Sea was expanding without restraint. Yet, the moment Primal Groudon awoke, the heavens once smothered beneath thick, oppressive storm clouds—began to clear with a sudden, almost violent brightness.
Half the sky was drowned in torrential rain, while the other half blazed with scorching sunlight!
The Hoenn Region had entered a weather phenomenon so bizarre that it defied reason itself.
-------------------------
Weather Institute
The Weather Institute, renowned across Hoenn for its research into unusual meteorological phenomena, was immediately shaken into activity.
Above its skies, the clouds churned, pitch-black and oppressive, while violent arcs of lightning slashed across the heavens.
"Report: South of Lilycove City, the weather has turned blistering and bright—temperatures are extremely high."
"North of Lilycove City, torrential rainfall is spreading rapidly without any signs of weakening."
A researcher in a white lab coat continuously compared the abnormal readings, his voice tight as he relayed the situation to the Director.
"Sunlight… and torrential rain…"
The Director's brow furrowed deeply. Of course, the Weather Institute, more than anyone else, was shaken to the core by such sudden and unnatural changes.
But the worst part—
They could not trace the source. There was no data, no evidence that could explain how two directly opposing, catastrophic climates had manifested simultaneously.
"…A calamity… is coming."
The Director finally raised his head toward the storm-streaked window, sighing heavily in his heart. He had already realized the truth.
The sunlight blazing outside… was intense beyond human imagination.
------------------
On the nameless island, Lucas and the others had also noticed the dramatic shift.
Their clothes and hair, previously drenched by the pounding rain, dried almost instantly under the brutal heat of the Desolate Land.
A heavy, suffocating wave of dry air began to spread outward in every direction.
This was not ordinary sunshine.
This was Desolate Land, a weather condition far more ferocious and suffocating than even the harshest of sunny days!
"ROOOOAR!!"
The deafening bellow of an ancient beast rattled heaven and earth. From the depths of molten lava, the crimson monster began to climb upward, step by step, its massive frame towering from amidst shattered stone. Its scarlet eyes gazed far across the horizon.
Just like Primal Kyogre, Primal Groudon could sense it—that swollen, bloated "fish" across the sea!
"This… this is Primal Groudon?"
Green's eyes sparkled brightly, filled with awe as she stared at the legendary Pokémon spoken of in legends—the being said to have created land itself.
By sight alone, its height was easily five to six meters, perhaps even taller. The aura of scorching heat radiating from its body was suffocating. Its back was hunched slightly, its two colossal claws thick and powerful, each movement filled with raw, destructive might.
Its back was covered by crimson armor-like plates, and due to its Primal Reversion, fiery-orange cracks resembling flowing magma glowed vividly from within those plates.
A terrifying sight. A brutal, ancient behemoth incarnate!
Just then, footsteps echoed from the cave behind.
Maxie and his subordinates emerged from within.
Steven turned at once, his expression hardening as he stared at Maxie.
These lunatics… they had actually succeeded in awakening Primal Groudon!
Damn it!
But now was no time to vent anger at Maxie. The far more urgent question—how in the world were they supposed to deal with this unstoppable, prehistoric monster?
"Leader Maxie!"
Upon seeing him, Courtney and the other Team Magma admins rushed over excitedly.
"Leader Maxie, you really did it! You truly awakened Groudon! This is incredible! Our dream world is finally within reach!" a Magma grunt shouted, his face glowing with fervent devotion.
They were completely oblivious to the actual danger, naively believing that Primal Groudon was under Maxie's control.
But Courtney noticed something strange.
If Groudon had truly been awakened, why did Maxie's expression look so grim, laced not with triumph but with confusion and unease?
Maxie's brows were deeply furrowed as he turned toward Groudon.
Yes, he had awakened Groudon, and with the Red Orb forced it into its Primal Reversion. But the problem was—
Primal Groudon wasn't listening to him at all!
"What an idiot. Primal Groudon is a top-tier Legendary Pokémon. You forced it back into its peak state with the Orb. How could you possibly hope to control it?"
Green rolled her eyes, unable to endure any longer. Her voice dripped with mockery as she spoke.
Lucas had already explained this to them earlier:
If it were merely Groudon or Kyogre in their normal states, then with the Red Orb or Blue Orb, Maxie and Archie could perhaps maintain a brief semblance of control. But given enough time, they would inevitably be overpowered by the legends' own will.
And once they entered their Primal Reversion forms?
Control became utterly impossible.
Maxie's face darkened even more at her words, but what infuriated him most—was that he couldn't even argue back!
"Maxie! Once this is over, you'll face the League's judgment!"
Steven finally understood as well. Seeing Maxie remain silent, he burst out in fury, his voice low but cutting like steel.
So that was it.
This bastard couldn't even control Groudon, yet he dared to awaken it?!
"ROOAAARRR!!"
At that moment, Primal Groudon lowered its massive head, finally noticing the fragile humans gathered beneath. Its crimson eyes gleamed with savage malice.
Mere ants.
A crushing aura of overwhelming pressure descended upon them. Its maw opened wide, a searing white light gathering rapidly, waves of violent energy surging outward.
Solar Beam!
"Run!!"
Maxie's pupils shrank to pinpricks, every hair on his body standing on end. A chilling dread surged up his spine. With a panicked shout, he turned on his heel and bolted without a second glance.
All of his usual composure, all of his scheming brilliance—vanished in an instant.
What mattered more than his life? Nothing!
This Primal Groudon was a damn traitor!
He had labored painstakingly, investigating ruins, scouring ancient records, risking his life to steal the Red Orb, painstakingly locating Groudon's resting place—finally awakening it from its slumber.
And how did it repay him?
With a Solar Beam aimed straight at him!
Not only was it disobedient, it immediately turned on him!
You ungrateful white-eyed wolf!
Damn it! The sheer betrayal left Maxie seething with fury even as terror drove his legs to sprint faster.
Lucas, Steven, and the others had also witnessed the terrifying scene and immediately retreated without hesitation.
"Leader! Wait for us!!"
"Damn it, who shoved me?!"
"Hell, how are you running faster than the leader?!"
In the blink of an eye, Team Magma's once-united formation collapsed completely, scattering like frightened birds in every direction.
Courtney's eyelids twitched wildly, especially at the sight of Maxie, usually so composed and calculating—now fleeing in disgrace, thin frame or not, sprinting faster than anyone else.
"Mightyena!"
Courtney quickly released her Mightyena, clinging to its neck to escape.
Seriously… what kind of idiots thought their two legs could outrun Pokémon?!
"ROOOOAR!!"
Primal Groudon's roar shook the heavens. The condensed white beam of light burst forth, blasting across the ground and sweeping toward a distant island across the sea.
Solar Beam!
For a brief instant, even the air itself seemed to hold its breath. Then—
BOOOOM!!
In Steven and the others' stunned gazes, the entire path of destruction erupted in a chain of deafening explosions. The sheer destructive blaze painted the sky red, the fiery shockwaves burning into everyone's eyes.
"So… strong!"
Green gasped, peeking out nervously from behind Lucas. One casual attack—just one—and the sheer power was already this overwhelming. Terrifying!
"Indeed… Groudon's destructive potential is truly monstrous."
Even Lucas nodded in agreement. Say what you would, Primal Groudon's raw destructive strength was undeniable.
"…But it's a pity it can't fly."
Then, shaking his head regretfully, he added with a sigh. Strong was strong—but it couldn't fly.
"???"
Green and Marnie both froze, utterly bewildered, their faces blank as they stared at him.
What did flying have to do with anything?! And why in the world was that where his focus was?
"Emmmm… strictly speaking, among all the top-tier Legendary Pokémon, only Groudon and Regigigas can't fly." Lucas chuckled at their confusion. Then, after thinking for a moment, he added, "But Regigigas doesn't really mingle with the others, you see?"
No interaction meant Regigigas basically never left its home, so its lack of flight hardly mattered.
But Groudon was different. Groudon and Kyogre were infamous, eternal rivals.
And in the original Hoopa movie, there had been that classic, embarrassing scene… Truly, not being able to fly was social suicide at times.
Besides, Regigigas at least had access to Psychic-type moves. And as everyone knew, with sufficient psychic power, levitation—if not outright flight—was entirely possible.
Take Mewtwo or Mew, the most classic examples.
So theoretically, Regigigas might still manage to "float" a little. Whether it could sustain it, though, was another question.
But Groudon? Groudon had no such luxury.
Green and Marnie exchanged a long, baffled look.
…Sorry, they really couldn't follow his train of thought.
Without knowledge of the Hoopa movie, they had no idea why not being able to fly could ever be considered such an embarrassment for a Legendary.
"Eh? Isn't that a big lizard, mii~?"
Just then, from inside Marnie's backpack, a small blue bald head popped out. Two big watery eyes blinked curiously at Primal Groudon, and an innocent childlike voice chimed out.
At first glance, it was clearly a Squirtle.
"You're only waking up now, after all that racket?"
Lucas raised an eyebrow, amused. He reached over to rub the smooth head of the "Squirtle," chuckling softly.
Of course, it wasn't a Squirtle at all. It was Mew.
Ever since Lucas had tricked it into joining them in Cameran Palace using the stone plates, this little thing had followed along, freeloading food every single day.
But it spent most of its time eating, then immediately falling asleep, sometimes for days at a stretch. Upon waking, it would eat again, completely devoid of the majesty one would expect from one of the world's most ancient myths.
"Hmm~ but that big guy looks super cranky, mii. Wait—oh! The giant whale's here too, mii!"
Mew tilted its head cutely, blinking in curiosity. It ignored Lucas's teasing entirely, instead using its powerful psychic senses to take stock of the battlefield.
Its expression changed at once.
Good grief… those two were definitely about to fight!
(End of Chapter)