"Let's all go together," said Steven and Phoebe, exchanging a look that reflected their determination.
They both understood Drake's intentions. It wasn't that he considered them a burden, but someone needed to lead the evacuees—and they were the most suited to preserve hope for tomorrow.
Besides, with only two people, they could move more freely. Still, they couldn't help but feel a bit frustrated.
When had Cain surpassed them?
Since entering that mysterious space, though the days had been difficult, their growth had been significant. Both the power of their Pokémon and their development as trainers had progressed greatly.
"Master Drake, it's safer if we all act together," Cain also chimed in.
He understood even better than Drake the true power of the enemy.
The number of Elite-level trainers exceeded five. Had he not taken down Logan first, the situation would've been even more chaotic. If the enemy discovered the League was splitting its forces, they might try to do the same.
Drake listened to Steven and Cain without rejecting the proposal. After all, they were the star twins of the Hoenn League, and their growth was worthy of trust.
Drake admitted that over the years, he had overprotected the League's new generation, which had prevented most of the previous generation's trainers—save for a few like Glacia and Sidney—from reaching their full potential.
The Hoenn League undoubtedly needed a change.
"Very well! Since it's decided, let's not waste any more time. We act tonight. Cain, assign your two Venusaur to escort the evacuees. We'll bring them to a safe location, then return to infiltrate the Tree of Life," Drake declared.
"Understood!" the three responded in unison.
"Do any of you have injured or weakened Pokémon? I can help treat their wounds before we head into battle," Cain offered.
Steven and Phoebe's faces lit up.
One of the biggest challenges in this space was recovering the energy of injured Pokémon.
Cain, as a professional breeder, was exactly what they needed.
"Let's gather everyone. I'll do a general healing session," Cain suggested after thinking for a moment.
"Good idea," Drake agreed.
Even his own Pokémon had some minor injuries. Though he could manage, a little extra help wouldn't hurt.
Soon, all the camp members gathered in the central plaza.
"In a moment, everyone call out your injured Pokémon. Cain will take care of treating them," Drake announced from the center.
The group erupted in cheers upon hearing the news.
Since being trapped in this space, their only healing resources had been the potions they'd brought—which had long since run out.
Many had been patrolling with injured Pokémon, which could negatively affect their long-term development.
Every one of these members was part of the League's core. Losing any of them would be a major setback, though the impact might vary.
It was unthinkable that after so much training, they didn't have access to basic healing methods. Cain couldn't help but disagree with some of the Hoenn League's policies.
Drake was the first to act. He tossed two Poké Balls, calling out his Salamence and Haxorus. Both bore unhealed scabs on their wings and bodies, respectively.
For such powerful Pokémon, those wounds weren't an immediate threat, but fully recovering before battle was essential.
After Drake, Steven and Phoebe also released their full teams—six Pokémon each.
All showed signs of having fought, some in critical condition, barely able to stay standing.
Cain watched in surprise as he analyzed the data from their teams. He had underestimated their progress.
They were truly heaven's chosen!
Steven's Metagross had reached level 64, qualifying as an Intermediate Elite-level Pokémon. His other Pokémon had also surpassed the Elite threshold.
If Mega Evolution had already been publicly revealed, his Mega Metagross would probably be the strongest around—second only to Drake.
It was also a Shiny Pokémon. But Cain didn't detect any signs of a "special awakening" in it, which made that phenomenon even more mysterious.
Seeing that the leaders had released their Pokémon without reservation, the other members followed suit.
Soon, around thirty trainers had gathered their injured Pokémon in the plaza center. The area was completely covered with Pokémon.
Drake looked at Cain with a glance that asked if he was ready. If not, he could order some lightly wounded Pokémon to be withdrawn.
Cain nodded confidently.
He pulled out three Poké Balls and summoned Florges and his two Venusaur.
"Florges, Venusaur—Grassy Terrain!" Cain commanded.
Although some Pokémon knew that move, its effect couldn't compare to that of Elite-level Pokémon.
"Floress~"
"Saur~"
"Saur~"
Florges raised her arms, and a brilliant green carpet spread beneath all the Pokémon's feet. The two Venusaur reinforced the terrain, amplifying its healing effect.
The Pokémon began to show signs of relief, some even closing their eyes as if they were about to fall asleep.
"Form a line! Come pick up a dose of this medicine. Give it to the Pokémon with the most serious injuries—it will help accelerate their recovery," Cain shouted.
The Grassy Terrain move could heal scratches and restore energy, but it couldn't do much for internal wounds. Still, as they saw their Pokémon visibly improving, everyone began to place more trust in Cain.
After all, he was one of Hoenn's star twins, famous for his talent as a breeder.
(End of chapter)