Torrential rain poured down in sheets.
Lying weakly across the back of his Gyarados, Wallace spat out a mouthful of seawater. At this moment, he no longer possessed even the slightest trace of his usual elegance and nobility.
The white Champion's cape draped across his shoulders had long since been soaked, wrinkled and clinging to his body. His neat white cap that normally sat on his head had been swept away who-knows-where by the raging ocean currents. His exceptionally handsome face was pale and drained of color, and around his neck hung a strand of seaweed of unknown name… truly a pitiful sight.
"At this rate, we're all going to be swallowed and erased by the sea itself."
Next to Gyarados, Togekiss hovered on beating wings, keeping close. Cynthia frowned deeply, her gaze fixed upon the colossal figure of Primal Kyogre looming in the storm-laden sky.
No matter how they tried to interfere with it, the result was almost negligible. The wounds they managed to inflict were so small as to be meaningless.
On the other hand, even a casual counterattack from Primal Kyogre was so destructive that they had to retreat desperately each time or risk being crushed by its sheer force.
The gap in strength was simply too overwhelming.
Even Cynthia's Garchomp, relying on its ability to take flight and its unmatched physique, was only barely managing to skirmish in and out, burning through stamina at an alarming rate.
And that was only because Primal Kyogre hadn't truly regarded them as enemies worthy of focus. Cynthia strongly suspected that, in truth, the ancient leviathan had never once taken them seriously—it probably saw them as no more than a few buzzing insects that happened to be in its way.
Its true attention had been fixed from the very beginning on its eternal rival, Primal Groudon, looming in the distance.
"Steven just sent me a message, Primal Groudon is already on its way here."
Wallace fished a dripping, soaked phone out of his pocket and glanced at the screen with a bitter expression. Fortunately, the device had been waterproof, or he would have lost it several dunkings ago. Unlike Cynthia, who had a flying partner, his Gyarados could not escape into the skies, and so he had endured the brunt of the storm.
Every time Kyogre casually raised walls of ocean dozens of meters high, the floodwaters fell with unstoppable might. Even when he could sense and predict the incoming surges to evade, he had nonetheless been submerged again and again. The irony of it all was that while they risked everything to restrain Primal Kyogre here, Primal Groudon itself was striding unbidden toward them.
"How utterly shameful this must look in Miss Cynthia's eyes…"
Wallace forced a bitter smile. He had been prepared for difficulty, but never had he imagined that Groudon and Kyogre would be so impossibly strong. Even with Cynthia lending her aid, it seemed that they had come only to suffer together rather than accomplish anything.
"As Champions of our respective leagues, it is only natural to help one another in times like these. There is nothing to be ashamed of, Wallace."
Cynthia shook her head gently. Not a single complaint or reproach left her lips. That was her nature—kind-hearted and resolute. If she had never seen this with her own eyes, she might have walked away. But now that she had, she would never simply stand by.
"…Groudon has arrived."
Cynthia's voice grew quiet, her golden eyes narrowing as she turned suddenly.
Startled, Wallace followed her gaze—and his face hardened instantly.
From the direction she had spoken of, the torrential downpour was beginning to abate. The dark storm clouds above were scattering. Piercing sunlight broke through in a blazing flood.
And upon the heaving sea, a crimson giant Pokémon, the embodiment of ancient land itself—was advancing step by steady step.
Each stride saw the water beneath its massive feet sear away, transforming instantly into solid ground. It was an awe-inspiring, impossible sight, and yet it unfolded plainly before their eyes.
"GROOOH—!"
Primal Kyogre's golden eyes blazed as it caught sight of its ancient rival. Its deep, resonant bellow shook the sky itself.
"WOOOOO!"
Not to be outdone, Primal Groudon raised its head and answered with a thunderous roar that reverberated across land and sea.
At once, the world itself seemed to split in two. On one side blazed dazzling daylight, scorching and dry. On the other side, relentless torrents of rain poured down from thunderous skies.
Land and sea. Sunlight and storm.
The two primeval rulers had finally come face to face.
A crushing pressure, heavier than a mountain, spilled forth from their clash of presence alone. Even seasoned Champions felt their chests tighten, breath coming shallow and strained.
"…So, in the end, we really cannot stop this."
Wallace's hands clenched tightly, his eyes filled with helplessness as he stared at the two colossal silhouettes confronting one another.
They had given everything they had, risked everything to try and stall Kyogre. But all they had managed was to delay it for mere moments. Now, the inevitable had come—the ancient clash between Groudon and Kyogre was about to begin, and no mortal force could stand in its way.
"We need to pull back. This place is far too close."
Memories of Michina resurfaced in Cynthia's mind, her voice carrying no hesitation. The battle of Dialga and Eternatus was still etched into her memory—and the power radiating from Groudon and Kyogre now was even more terrifying.
She would not make the mistake of staying within range of their destruction. To be caught in the aftermath of their blows would mean nothing short of annihilation.
Wallace was no fool either. Without objection, he urged Gyarados toward a nearby island, Cynthia's Togekiss flanking them closely.
Upon landing, both Champions immediately noticed others already gathered there—Archie and Shelly on one side, while on the other stood Zinnia.
Archie's face was filled with guilt and remorse. In stark contrast, Zinnia's delicate, beautiful face bore a smile that only deepened.
Her smile was dazzling, but to Wallace, who had always respected women, he had never felt a greater urge to strike one down with his own fist.
Cynthia's brows knitted as she too fixed a sharp stare upon the woman.
"WOOOOOH—!"
Up above, Primal Kyogre bellowed once more. Its sea-blue radiance blazed, and from its gaping maw erupted a colossal jet of water, surging like a sky-splitting geyser toward Primal Groudon.
Origin Pulse? No. This was simpler and just as destructive—Hydro Pump.
The battle had begun. Kyogre did not require reason, did not require provocation. The moment its gaze locked upon Groudon, its very nature demanded conflict.
"ROOAAAR!"
The incoming deluge was met by a roar from Primal Groudon. From its maw erupted a searing column of white-hot energy.
Solar Beam!
Water and sunlight clashed midair in an explosion of blinding light. The collision spawned a storm of energy ripples, violent shockwaves sweeping outward in waves so fierce they whipped the ocean into frenzied chaos.
"Are they evenly matched?"
Even from their island vantage point, Wallace and Cynthia had to shield their faces against the gale-force winds tearing through.
"No. Kyogre has the advantage."
Cynthia's sharp gaze narrowed. Though subtle, the water's power was forcing back Groudon's beam.
It was no surprise. Kyogre's special attack was unmatched, and Hydro Pump in full force surpassed Solar Beam in sheer destructive power. No matter that Solar Beam carried a type advantage—it could not completely overcome Kyogre's might.
"ROOOAAAR!"
Sensing the pressure, Groudon's fury surged. Its Solar Beam blazed suddenly brighter, expanding in girth as it forced back against the onslaught.
BOOM!
The two forces detonated in an earth-shattering explosion, birthing a storm of energy and wind that ripped across the sea.
"GUOOOOOH!"
With a mighty sweep of its colossal fins, Kyogre hurled itself forward, white radiance enshrouding its form. Before it, four concentric rings of water condensed, glowing with raw aquatic power.
Its exclusive move—Origin Pulse!
Groudon roared in defiance. The heat around it spiked furiously, magma blazing across its body. Raising one titanic claw, it slammed it down into the ground.
The very earth beneath them split apart, molten red light erupting outward in torrents.
Its exclusive move—Precipice Blades!
The clash of land and sea had begun.
(End of Chapter)