The colossal and majestic body of Primal Kyogre, cloaked in golden-blue brilliance, swayed endlessly under the gloomy curtain of torrential rain. Its ancient, mysterious form loomed within the endless veil of water, sometimes hidden, sometimes revealed, divine radiance flashing across its body—like a god, like a demon.
The roaring sound of waves surged without pause. The very next second, a terrifying tidal wave, so massive it seemed to blot out the sky and smother the earth, rose straight up from the sea and crashed down toward Eternatus with unstoppable force.
"Dynamax Cannon!"
Lucas's brows furrowed tightly. No matter what, there was no denying that in the boundless ocean, Primal Kyogre's strength was being amplified to its utmost.
This tsunami… its visual impact alone was enough to shake one's heart.
A dazzling crimson light burst forth from Eternatus's chest and abdomen. A massive, sinister beam of scarlet energy erupted forward in an instant.
The overwhelming Dynamax Cannon slammed violently into the center of the tidal wave. With a deafening detonation, a massive gap was instantly blasted open.
The balance of the tsunami was destroyed. Mountains of seawater came crashing down without restraint, as though the very heavens themselves were collapsing, cascading in torrents like water from beyond the skies pouring down upon the world.
Eternatus retreated again and again, its long body swaying. The sheer volume of seawater falling from the skies wasn't something to take lightly—if it were to be crushed beneath it, that would be no joke.
"Wooo"
A deep, heavy rumbling cry resonated through the water, echoing endlessly.
Eternatus's white, speckled dragon eyes darted about, searching in all directions, trying to pinpoint Primal Kyogre's position.
"WOOOOO!"
The low roar sounded again—this time much closer. Eternatus abruptly lowered its head—below!
But by the time it discovered it, it was already too late.
Primal Kyogre's massive body suddenly burst forth from the ocean's surface. At the very moment it emerged, four colossal torrents of water condensed in front of its wings, lancing upward with unstoppable momentum toward Eternatus.
Origin Pulse!
Without a hint of hesitation, Eternatus unleashed a Dragon Pulse in return.
The roaring Dragon Pulse collided head-on with one of the water columns, the impact blasting the sea spray into a storm. But the other three water columns broke through unhindered, crashing mercilessly into Eternatus's body.
A cry of pain escaped Eternatus's throat. Though Water-type techniques were not particularly effective against it, that did not mean they could be taken lightly.
There were, after all, limits to resistance specially when it came to the overwhelming might of Primal Kyogre.
The exclusive move of Primal Kyogre—when struck head-on, the pain was absolutely real!
Immediately after, the massive body of Primal Kyogre, its entire form enveloped in a dazzling white radiance, slammed heavily into Eternatus.
Double-Edge!
The enormous frame of Eternatus was knocked back again and again under Primal Kyogre's fierce assault.
"The situation is becoming worse and worse…"
While Reshiram dodged another stream of flames from Primal Groudon, Lucas's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of the battlefield where Eternatus was fighting.
It was obvious. As the battle dragged on, Eternatus was gradually starting to be suppressed by Primal Kyogre.
And not just suppressed, it was being pressed down mercilessly.
Out here on this vast, boundless ocean, coupled with the heavy rainstorm pouring down from the heavens, all the advantages of time, place, and weather belonged completely to Primal Kyogre.
Moreover, Lucas could not afford to devote all of his focus solely to Eternatus. On his side as well, the situation was by no means favorable.
Primal Groudon might not be able to fly, but it was still very much a terrifying living artillery fortress. A single careless mistake, and taking a direct hit from Primal Groudon would not be something to joke about.
"That woman, Zinnia… why is she moving so slow?"
Another blast of Solar Beam brushed dangerously close past him, and Lucas was already beginning to lose his patience.
If Rayquaza didn't show up soon, even his side was going to be in serious trouble.
"…It seems like things really are starting to turn bad."
----------------
On the island, Green and the other three companions also realized that the tide of battle was shifting toward a disadvantageous direction.
Especially with Eternatus—Primal Kyogre had bitten down tightly onto its neck, seemingly intent on dragging this skeletal dragon down into the ocean's depths.
Two colossal beings, each easily over ten meters in size, colliding with full force—it was an earth-shaking, titanic struggle. But if Eternatus were truly dragged beneath the sea… then it would be utterly suppressed and battered without hope of reversal.
After all, the ocean was the domain of Primal Kyogre!
"Zekrom!"
N's expression grew solemn, and he was just about to call for Zekrom to assist.
But suddenly—
"ROOOAR!!!"
A thunderous dragon's roar exploded abruptly across the skies.
The instant this draconic cry resounded, both Primal Kyogre and Primal Groudon's movements froze for a moment.
Lucas's lips curved upward ever so slightly, a faint smile appearing.
"…This sound—could it be?"
Cynthia and the others all instinctively raised their heads toward the heavens, where a streak of emerald green tore across the clouds at breakneck speed.
"It's Rayquaza!"
A spiraling force of aura rapidly condensed over Rayquaza's serpentine body, enveloping it entirely.
Giga Impact!
Rayquaza's speed was astonishing; in the blink of an eye, its devastating charge smashed directly into the unsuspecting Primal Kyogre, which seemed momentarily dazed.
Caught off guard, Primal Kyogre's colossal body was sent flying, crashing heavily into the sea with a thunderous splash.
"ROOOAARR!!"
The white aura surrounding Rayquaza slowly dissipated as the Sky Dragon turned, unleashing a majestic, domineering roar toward Primal Groudon.
The emerald serpentine dragon radiated overwhelming menace and authority.
"It really is Rayquaza!"
Both Cynthia and N's eyes lit up with joy. They had some knowledge of Hoenn's ancient legends.
Whenever Groudon and Kyogre surfaced into the world and their clash threatened catastrophe, the sovereign of the skies—Rayquaza—would always descend to mediate and put an end to their battle.
And now, it appeared that the legends were indeed true.
"…Hm? Why is it only in its regular form?"
Perched atop Reshiram, Lucas narrowed his eyes slightly as he observed the dragon. Rayquaza was still in its ordinary state?
Perhaps, for now, it simply did not wish to Mega Evolve.
"Salamence."
Knowing that Rayquaza was about to fight, Zinnia released Salamence from its Poké Ball and leapt gracefully onto its back.
"You're far too slow."
Reshiram glided alongside Salamence, and Lucas spoke with thinly veiled dissatisfaction toward Zinnia.
"So much time has already passed, and only now have you managed to bring Rayquaza here."
But Zinnia did not answer him. Her lips were tightly pressed together, her expression somber, her aura weighed down with gloom.
"You…"
Noticing something was off, Lucas frowned slightly. Her demeanor was clearly unusual.
After summoning the very Rayquaza she had dreamed of for so long, how could she possibly be wearing such a dispirited, spiritless look, as if her very essence had been drained?
Was it because Rayquaza had not chosen her? That explanation didn't quite fit either…
Yet before he could voice his thoughts further, the furious, resonant roar of Primal Kyogre erupted once again.
"GROOOAAAH!"
The sea surged and roiled violently. Through the surface, one could faintly glimpse an immense shadow swimming swiftly in the depths below.
In the next instant, a massive tidal wave surged skyward, rushing straight toward Rayquaza.
"ROOOAR!!"
Rayquaza raised its head high, releasing a furious cry. A sphere of pure, concentrated energy soared into the sky—
Draco Meteor!
Simultaneously, Rayquaza's serpentine body arched upward, and from its maw burst forth an enormous jet-black beam of destructive energy, aimed at the oncoming wave.
Hyper Beam!
The cataclysmic blast collided violently with the tsunami. The resulting explosion was deafening enough to rupture eardrums, as the wave was blasted apart, leaving behind a gaping void.
From above, countless blazing meteors of draconic energy cascaded down like the end of the world.
Lucas quickly pulled Zinnia back, retreating to avoid being caught within the deadly rain of Draco Meteor.
"Wooo…"
Primal Kyogre's guttural rumble echoed again, and suddenly the sea beneath Rayquaza split open, launching four radiant pillars of water toward the dragon.
Origin Pulse!
For legendary beings of such top tier, techniques like Hyper Beam or Giga Impact carried almost negligible cooldown times.
Rayquaza's body stiffened for barely a second or two, the backlash of its own Hyper Beam hadn't even dissipated when the Sky High Dragon was already moving again.
It slithered through the air with serpentine grace, attempting to evade Primal Kyogre's Origin Pulse.
But how could it be so simple?
One of the water pillars suddenly accelerated and struck Rayquaza directly, while the other three immediately converged upon it.
BOOM!
The Origin Pulse detonated in a tremendous blast, wringing a pained cry from Rayquaza. Yet before it could recover, another massive white beam shot forth, slamming into its body.
The explosion thundered across the battlefield.
Primal Groudon's Solar Beam!
Yes—Rayquaza's arrival had, in fact, drawn the full brunt of both Primal Kyogre and Primal Groudon's fury!
"…This is bad."
Watching as Rayquaza endured two consecutive heavy strikes, Lucas's brows furrowed tightly.
Something wasn't right!
Where was Mega Evolution?
So arrogant… Did this dragon truly believe that, even without transforming into the Mega Rayquaza, it could take on a flightless walking volcano and a bloated fish while staying in its basic form?
Rayquaza, you'd better pull yourself together!
"ROOOOAR!!!"
A wrathful roar shook the air as Rayquaza burst forth from the smoking explosions, meteoric draconic stars streaking across the sky to crash down upon both Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre.
But the damage inflicted… was far from satisfactory.
A dazzling white aura suddenly flared around Rayquaza once again, as spiraling force gathered over its body in an overwhelming tide.
Giga Impact!
Rayquaza whipped its mighty tail, slamming with devastating force into the massive body of Primal Kyogre below.
Primal Kyogre refused to yield, retaliating with its own reckless Double-Edge to meet the attack head-on.
BOOM!!
The two overwhelming forces collided, sending out shockwaves of unimaginable power, concentric rings of physical force rippling outward like ripples across water.
Yet Lucas soon realized—with shock—that Primal Kyogre's Double-Edge was overpowering Rayquaza's Giga Impact!
Without Mega Evolution, its strength simply could not rise to a qualitatively higher level. Rayquaza was not the opponent of Primal Kyogre—and let's not forget, Primal Groudon still stood nearby as well!
"ROOAAARRR!!!"
Like a beast of primordial times, Primal Groudon bellowed, its entire form erupting in blazing crimson light. With both claws, it slammed furiously upon the ground before it.
Precipice Blades!
In the next moment, countless titanic blades of molten earth erupted upward, encircling both Primal Kyogre and Rayquaza.
RUMBLE, RUMBLE, RUMBLE!!!
The Precipice Blades exploded with terrifying force, a storm of scorching magma swallowing both the great fish and the sky dragon whole!
The blazing inferno swept unrelentingly, as both Primal Kyogre and Rayquaza plummeted downward together.
"ROOOOAR!!!"
Witnessing itself strike down both the bloated fish and Rayquaza simultaneously, the flightless beast let out an ecstatic roar, practically giddy with delight.
Not only had it suppressed that detestable fish, but it had also dragged Rayquaza from the heavens!
Three fliers, all swatted down by its Precipice Blades in a single day. What satisfaction, what joy!
"…This Rayquaza cannot Mega Evolve?"
Seeing Rayquaza's miserable state, Lucas pressed a hand to his forehead helplessly and turned to Zinnia.
Now he understood—it wasn't that Rayquaza refused to Mega Evolve. It was that this particular Rayquaza was incapable of doing so.
Otherwise, why would it recklessly fight both Primals in ordinary form, throwing its life away?
Rayquaza could not possibly be that stupid.
"…I… my Mega Evolution failed…"
At those words, Zinnia's face turned deathly pale, her lips trembling as she whispered dejectedly.
Her mind was in absolute turmoil. The Mega Evolution of Rayquaza had failed…
Which meant Rayquaza could not stop Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre. And that meant she had committed an unforgivable sin of the gravest magnitude.
"…So, in that case, things truly have become troublesome."
Lucas blinked in surprise. So, it was really a Rayquaza incapable of Mega Evolution…
He glanced out across the sea. From the very start, he had known Zinnia could never earn Rayquaza's true acknowledgment. But never had he imagined that the Rayquaza she summoned would be… this weak.
He didn't expect her to summon the legendary Black Rayquaza, of course. But at the very least, she should have been able to summon one that could freely Mega Evolve.
A Rayquaza incapable of drawing the finishing stroke… could it even be called Rayquaza? That was nothing more than a flying green Caterpie!
"…Hey, Zinnia."
"…What is it?"
"Why don't you try going back to Sky Pillar again, and see if you can summon another Rayquaza?"
"…Please don't make such jokes, Mister Lucas."
Her mood already low, Zinnia's eyelids twitched as she answered weakly.
Summon another Rayquaza? What did he take Rayquaza for, exactly?!
"But this green-haired bug—no, this Rayquaza—can't even pull itself together, it's practically on the verge of collapsing."
Hearing Lucas's words, Zinnia fell into silence.
Because… in truth, he wasn't wrong…
(End of Chapter)