Everything Cain had done, as well as the scene of his battle against Kyogre, was perfectly recorded by the cameraman.
At the same time, those watching on television and those viewing the live broadcast from their computers finally released the hands they had been clenching from tension.
The owner of the TV network had been nervous about the helicopter, but upon seeing the skyrocketing ratings, he nearly jumped for joy.
At that moment, the entire internet plunged into complete chaos.
"Damn! Forgive my lack of vocabulary, but that's the only word that can express the shock I feel right now!" wrote a young scholar.
"Incredible! Cain of the Sandstorm is way too strong! I thought beating Steven had just been luck, but I'm officially a fan starting today," commented an experienced online debater.
"Mr. Cain is amazing! How can he use psychic powers like that? I want to be a Psychic too!" posted a dreamy elementary school student.
"With an Elite Four member like him, I'm proud to be from Hoenn," said a father in his forties.
"Mr. Cain, you're magnificent! I want to have your children!"—and without a doubt, that comment came from a passionate fan.
"..."
Moments later, the live chat was filled with comments saying they wanted to have Cain's children.
In a matter of minutes, Cain's name became the most popular name on the internet and the most searched word of the moment.
The knowledgeable ones observed the strategy; the curious ones enjoyed the spectacle.
Those who truly understood the situation could see that the one directly facing Kyogre was Drake, while Cain was supporting and distracting from the flanks.
That's why, on screen, it looked as though Drake was taking the hits and being thrown by the attacks, while Cain took advantage of those moments to command his Pokémon to strike and draw Kyogre's attention—saving Drake at critical moments.
But only a small minority understood that; for the majority, Cain had suddenly become the hero of the entire world, gaining countless new admirers.
He, of course, had no idea about any of this.
He had merely rescued a helicopter that was about to fall, unaware that inside were reporters broadcasting the first footage of the disaster. He couldn't have imagined that, by doing so, the whole world would see him live.
And thanks to the overly dramatic praise of the reporter Gabby, Cain was instantly transformed into the "ultimate idol" of all his new fans.
However, on the battlefield, both Cain and Drake were finding it increasingly difficult to hold on.
Kyogre's power was recovering rapidly, while their Pokémon, even with support and healing, couldn't recover at the same pace. As the gap widened, the fight grew ever harsher.
Cain waited. He waited for the signal that Juan and his team were ready—so that he could withdraw.
After enduring a little longer, Drake's Flygon fell before Kyogre's overwhelming might. At that moment, Cain finally received Juan's message: "Preparations complete. We can begin."
Cain's face lit up. He replied with a single word: "Good!"
Then he turned to his mentor and said, "Master, the League is ready. Let's go!"
Upon hearing that, Drake let out a sigh of relief. He recalled all his Pokémon into their Poké Balls, mounted his lead Salamence, and both retreated at full speed.
Kyogre, seeing its opponent fleeing after such a long battle, roared furiously. It merged with the towering waves and gave chase with all its might.
Left in the sky was only the press team, hovering in their helicopter, watching.
But they quickly reacted and followed, having been informed of the League's plan by their station headquarters. They broadcast everything live, narrating to the viewers on TV and online what was about to happen.
Everyone clenched their fists, hoping the plan would work.
While Cain and Drake lured Kyogre toward the Hoenn region, Juan and his team finally managed to lead Groudon to the frozen sea.
The enraged Groudon had lost all sense of reason. It sought only to destroy every being—human or Pokémon—that stood in its way.
Seeing that everything was proceeding according to plan, Juan, standing atop a Latios, exhaled deeply.
Yes—Latios.
The legendary Dragon- and Psychic-type Pokémon, one of the guardians of the sky. Though it wasn't the "divine" Latios of ancient legends, it was still a force beyond compare.
This Latios was one of Juan's signature Pokémon and the main reason he had once been the Champion of Hoenn. Had he not resigned after the previous incident, no one could have taken that title from him.
Thanks to Latios, Juan had once managed to contain Groudon. That was why he trusted he could do it again now—and why he accepted Cain's plan.
Though the plan seemed risky, it made sense only because Juan had the strength to correct any unexpected outcome.
During the previous crisis between Team Magma and Team Aqua, Juan hadn't intervened—but this time, he hadn't hesitated for even a second to act.
Kyogre and Groudon, both enraged, were heading toward each other, just as planned.
...
High above the skies of Hoenn—
Several figures floated in the air at an indescribable altitude. Their garments were of different colors: black, white, and silvery gray.
Had Cain been there, he would have recognized them instantly—they were members of the Sacred Church.
"This is an excellent opportunity. Should we act? The chances of success are high," said the young man in the black coat first.
The girl in the silvery-gray coat looked at him as if he were an idiot, saying nothing.
The woman dressed in white, elegant in demeanor, remarked, "Can't you see that Juan himself—the president of the Hoenn League—is taking the field? I don't think we could withstand his wrath. Even though he hasn't appeared publicly in some time, I doubt his power has diminished—in fact, it may have grown."
"Stronger?" the young man in black seemed surprised.
The girl in gray, this time unable to restrain herself, replied irritably, "Have you ever seen a Dragon-type Pokémon grow weaker with age? And besides, we're not talking about just any Dragon-type."
"But... wasn't he seriously injured a long time ago?"
"You said it yourself—a long time ago. That old bastard is far too cunning. Do you really think he hasn't fought again because he's weak? That he gave up the Champion's seat out of lack of strength? He's been waiting for certain individuals to show themselves... and those individuals are us."
Though they were an enormous distance from the sea, the three seemed able to see everything clearly. And they also seemed to know Juan very well.
Juan himself, serious atop Latios's back, suddenly sensed that someone was watching him. He frowned and turned his gaze toward the interior of Hoenn.
"See? Old but indomitable—that's Juan. With perception like that, he can detect us even from this far away. I'm not moving. If you two want to, go ahead. I'm leaving."
With those words, the girl in gray vanished instantly.
The young man in black, once she was gone, dropped his foolish air and adopted a calm expression: "Tsk. Hard to manipulate... Bah, how dull. Let's go."
And with that, the other two also disappeared into the air.
(End of chapter)