Beneath the surging crimson glow, massive blades of molten rock erupted straight from the earth, soaring upward and flying at incredible speed toward Primal Kyogre's looming figure in the sky.
Each magma-forged blade radiated blistering heat, their surfaces glowing with liquid fire, and the visual impact alone was enough to make one's scalp go numb.
Precipice Blades!
And at the very instant those magma blades came into being, Primal Kyogre's four gathered water columns had already been unleashed.
The four colossal torrents of water split and shot out in different directions, converging upon Primal Groudon without giving it even the slightest chance to dodge. But clearly, Groudon had no intention of avoiding the attack in the first place…
For battles between beings of their level, any attempt to evade was not only meaningless—it was an insult to their pride!
Of course, there was another truth: having just cast Precipice Blades, Primal Groudon in fact had no way to dodge at all, even if it wanted to.
Thus, all four devastating water columns slammed into its body almost simultaneously.
Origin Pulse!
As a Ground and Fire-type, Primal Groudon bore an innate fourfold weakness to Water. Under normal circumstances, thanks to its Desolate Land ability, water-based moves should not have been able to touch it at all.
But with Primal Kyogre's Primordial Sea suppressing the battlefield, its water techniques not only functioned—they struck with full, unrestrained force.
"ROOAAARRR!!"
The explosive impact engulfed Groudon's entire colossal frame, the eruption blasting skyward as the ancient titan roared in both pain and fury.
Origin Pulse was supremely effective!
And yet, in that same instant, the surging magma blades of Precipice Blades finally reached their target.
The fiery blades, each several tens of meters in height, rose violently from the churning waters, and one in particular stabbed mercilessly into Kyogre's exposed underbelly.
"WOOOO—!!"
Primal Kyogre let out a guttural cry of agony, its vast body shuddering as it tumbled downward, crashing heavily into the ocean with a thunderous splash.
The clash was brutal and merciless. Even Kyogre, with its natural dominance over the seas, was reeling from Groudon's counterstrike.
But Groudon's rage was not yet sated. Its savage, bloodthirsty gaze remained locked on Kyogre, and in its maw, a blinding light began to gather once more.
Solar Beam!
Under the blazing intensity of Desolate Land, the Solar Beam required no charge time at all. Within moments, a searing white pillar of concentrated sunlight blasted forth, crashing straight into the ocean where Kyogre had fallen.
The hit was direct and devastating. The beam struck Kyogre head-on, blasting its massive form backward, sending it skidding across the water's surface and throwing up an enormous wall of spray.
But the battle was far from over.
"WOOOO!!"
Kyogre's furious cry reverberated across the entire sea, shaking the heavens. Beneath the storm-tossed waves, its colossal silhouette darted and circled like a predator preparing to strike.
Suddenly, the rainfall intensified into a torrential downpour. The ocean heaved violently, storms raged unchecked, and within moments, a monstrous tidal wave began to rise beneath the darkened sky.
It grew and grew until it blotted out the horizon, a wall of water hundreds of meters high, threatening to swallow the world.
"What… terrifying power…"
Wallace, once the epitome of grace and composure, could not mask the shock in his eyes. He looked up at the overwhelming wave, so immense that it filled his entire vision, stretching from sea to sky.
Compared to the earlier waves Kyogre had used against him and Cynthia, this one was at least twice as large, its destructive power incalculable.
If Wallace himself were to be thrown into such a wave, he feared he wouldn't even cause a ripple.
The sheer scale of it was enough to crush entire cities.
A normal Water-type Pokémon commanded by an ordinary trainer could consider a ten-meter Surf as an incredible feat. As a Water-type Champion himself, Wallace knew the standard well: even his ace, Milotic, if it pushed itself to its very limit, could only manage a wave around twenty meters tall.
Twenty meters was already equivalent to a seven- or eight-story building, and the destructive impact was beyond terrifying.
But this? This was Kyogre casually summoning a tidal wave five times that size—over a hundred meters high, and with a breadth so wide the eye could not find its end.
And Wallace knew all too well: this wasn't even Kyogre's limit.
If it willed it, Kyogre could summon waves far greater, catastrophes that would reshape coastlines and erase entire regions.
"—Wallace!!"
A voice suddenly called out from behind him, cutting through the howling storm.
Wallace turned sharply, eyes lighting up with relief. "Steven!"
Descending from the sky upon a soaring Skarmory was none other than Steven Stone himself.
"Are you all right?"
Skarmory landed with a metallic screech, and Steven leapt down, his sharp gaze immediately scanning Wallace from head to toe.
His worry was plain, but seeing that his friend was battered yet unharmed, his tension eased slightly.
He also gave Cynthia a curt nod of greeting. He had already been informed that the Sinnoh Champion had joined the battle as reinforcements.
"I'm fine… more or less," Wallace said with a weak shake of his head. His eyes, however, quickly returned to the battlefield where the two Primordial titans clashed. His voice carried a deep note of frustration. "But just look at them… Even with all the numbers we have, even if everyone fought together, what difference would it make?"
Cynthia's lips pressed into a thin line, her elegant brows furrowed tightly. "Exactly. Even the three of us… we can barely interfere. Against them, our efforts are next to meaningless. How can ordinary League trainers even think of intervening?"
The gap was simply too vast. Unless one had stood face-to-face with such apex legendaries, one could never truly comprehend the depths of that despairing power.
"If there is anyone who can actually stop them…" Cynthia's voice lowered, her tone hesitant, "it can only be those two trainers."
Wallace's head snapped toward her. "Which two?"
She held his gaze for a moment before speaking the names. "The ones chosen by the White Dragon and the Black Dragon. The heroes recognized by Reshiram and Zekrom."
Wallace froze, while Steven's frown deepened.
Indeed—those two legendary dragons had already awakened in Unova and had chosen their human partners. Among Champions, this was hardly a secret.
Cynthia had no idea who Zekrom's hero was; she had only vague impressions from videos, and the Black Dragon had seemed… underwhelming.
But she knew with certainty who Reshiram had chosen: Lucas Blackthorn.
Yes, the same man who now also commanded Eternatus. With both Reshiram and Eternatus at his side, if he chose to act, perhaps he really could restrain Groudon and Kyogre.
At the very least, he could temper their violence and keep the battle from spiraling out of control.
But there was a fatal problem…
Lucas was a member of Team Rocket.
"Reshiram's trainer will never help us." Steven cut in firmly before Wallace could speak. His tone carried both certainty and bitterness. "Don't forget, Groudon was awakened with Lucas's aid."
Wallace and Cynthia both fell silent, the weight of that truth pressing down like lead.
The situation could not be worse.
"…Then come with me to Sky Pillar."
Wallace drew a deep breath, his eyes resolute. There was no time left to hesitate. The legends said a power remained there, one that might awaken the only being capable of quelling both land and sea.
Even if the chances were slim, they had to try.
Steven was about to reply when a sudden draconic roar split the air.
All three turned sharply—and there, not far away, a Salamence descended, carrying one man and two women on its back.
Cynthia's gaze flickered, her expression instantly complicated.
The man was Lucas.
"Well, well… Everyone's gathered," Lucas said with a casual smirk, his crimson eyes sweeping over the group before landing on Cynthia. "Miss Cynthia, didn't expect to see you here too."
"Protecting the people is our duty as Champions," she answered with her usual calm grace.
"Hah, still the same as ever," Lucas chuckled, shrugging. "Well then, good luck with that."
Without another word, he walked past them and headed straight toward Zinnia.
None of the three Champions moved to stop him. They knew it would be suicidal to provoke him now, with Groudon and Kyogre rampaging unchecked.
Scolding him? Childish. He was already openly part of Team Rocket. To waste time rebuking him now would be idiotic.
The only rational choice was to focus on Groudon and Kyogre first. Afterward, Lucas could be dealt with however they wished.
"Everything ready?" Lucas asked Zinnia.
She nodded eagerly, eyes shining. "We've been waiting for you. Let's go now."
Her smile brimmed with excitement. She was about to behold Rayquaza—the deity of her people, the Draconid
All their efforts, all their scheming to awaken Groudon and Kyogre, had been for this single moment.
"Then let's go," Lucas said with a smirk, glancing back once more at the two Primordial titans locked in furious combat. His scarlet eyes gleamed with anticipation. "To Sky Pillar."
His heart burned with excitement. If Groudon and Kyogre were already this strong, then just how terrifying would the power of Mega Rayquaza, a being capable of subduing both—truly be?
He could hardly wait to find out.
Just as Zinnia released Salamence again, ready to depart, the sky darkened once more.
A new shadow descended from above—a vast, jet-black dragon whose wings blotted out the heavens.
It landed heavily upon the earth, radiating overwhelming draconic might.
Zekrom.
And upon its back stood a young man with green hair, his expression calm yet resolute.
"…N?"
Even Lucas was caught off guard. His brows rose in surprise as his crimson gaze settled on the newcomer.
Why was N here, in Hoenn of all places? Shouldn't the King of Plasma be in Unova?
Cynthia too was stunned.
Yet the truth stood before their eyes: N, accompanied by Zekrom, had come.
"Lucas," N said evenly as he leapt down from Zekrom's back, "I'm not here to fight you."
His sharp emerald eyes turned toward the battlefield, where Groudon and Kyogre's clash tore the heavens apart. His handsome face radiated light, his words filled with conviction and faith.
"I am here… to stop Groudon and Kyogre!"
The declaration rang out like thunder.
Cynthia, Steven, and Wallace all felt their hearts lift in sudden hope.
But off to the side, Green and Marnie exchanged stunned looks, nearly choking on their own disbelief.
"…Huh??"
The King of Team Plasma, siding with the League to help stop a world-ending disaster?
This made absolutely no sense.
And yet, it was happening.
(End of Chapter)