After Kyogre and Groudon swallowed the two orbs, their eyes began to glow, and their bodies started to change.
The markings that ran along their bodies turned golden, and their appearances underwent slight alterations.
At the same time, the symbols representing both Pokémon began to manifest.
Kyogre's "α" and Groudon's "Ω" appeared clearly before everyone's eyes.
If anyone still didn't understand why Team Magma and Team Aqua had chosen those two symbols as their emblems, witnessing this scene made it unmistakably clear.
Sadly, the members of Team Magma and Team Aqua were no longer alive to see it.
But everyone watching the live broadcast on television became witnesses to that moment.
The two Pokémon, who moments ago had seemed dazed and disoriented, completely recovered their energy upon facing each other.
And at the same time, they completed their return to their primordial forms.
At that moment, Juan and Drake—standing in the aircraft—frowned deeply.
They could both feel it: Kyogre's and Groudon's energy was rising at an alarming rate. Under these conditions, Juan would hardly be able to restrain Groudon.
"Cain, let's hope everything goes according to your plan," Juan said gravely. "If Kyogre and Groudon turn their wrath directly toward the Hoenn region now, I fear it would mean its end."
Cain's expression also darkened. He could feel an overwhelming sense of danger radiating from both Pokémon.
This was the true pressure of a legendary deity—perhaps even beyond that level.
They were none other than Primal Kyogre and Primal Groudon.
Even so, Cain replied calmly, "Kyogre and Groudon are like water and fire; they could never coexist in harmony. If they could, they wouldn't have fallen into their eternal slumber."
Of that, he was absolutely certain. Kyogre and Groudon, once they met, would inevitably fight.
But Cain, Juan, and Drake also noticed a crucial detail: Kyogre had absorbed an additional special energy—a crystal that Groudon did not have. Groudon's furious reaction toward Maxie confirmed it; that crystal was vital to him.
Perhaps, it would be the decisive factor in the battle that was about to begin.
But now Kyogre had it, and Groudon didn't.
The balance had been broken.
Would that mean that Primal Kyogre would defeat Primal Groudon?
And if Groudon, in desperation, lashed out uncontrollably, would the League ultimately benefit from the chaos? After all, both Juan and Drake were immensely powerful Trainers, and Juan possessed a Master Ball.
It wasn't impossible.
"The real battle is about to begin," Drake said, interrupting Cain's thoughts.
Because right then, Primal Kyogre and Primal Groudon began their clash.
The first to strike was Kyogre, taking advantage of its natural superiority.
It whipped its massive tail against the ocean, beat its fins like giant wings, and—to everyone's astonishment—rose into the air, moving freely.
Kyogre could fly!
That was certainly not good news for Groudon.
Immediately, an intense bluish-white light began to radiate from around Kyogre's body. They were energy spheres floating and shining like blades of light. A moment later, they shot straight toward Groudon.
Origin Pulse!
Kyogre opened the battle with its most powerful move—its signature attack.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Explosions thundered one after another. Each wave struck against Groudon's body.
Kyogre seemed ready to revel in its successful strike—but when the smoke cleared, it saw that Groudon had barely taken any damage. Its molten, rock-like skin merely hissed with steam.
In the instant before impact, Groudon had raised a wave of magma with a single swing of its right arm, detonating the energy pulses before they could touch it.
"RROOOAAAARRR!"
Groudon had no intention of staying on the defensive. Before the mist even cleared, it spread its arms wide, and the golden lines on its body began to glow with blinding brilliance.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
It was as if a titan strode across the ocean: with each step, a massive pillar of rock and molten magma surged up from the sea.
Its speed increased with every instant. After several pillars appeared, one erupted directly beneath Kyogre.
Cain recognized it instantly—Precipice Blades!
The pillar that struck beneath Kyogre was larger and hotter than the rest, rising with tremendous force.
BOOOOM!
A monumental explosion shook the heavens.
Groudon's attack hit Kyogre squarely.
The shockwave was so intense that every nearby aircraft—planes, helicopters, even Trainers flying atop their Pokémon—was blasted away. Many plunged into the sea.
The military helicopter carrying Cain, Juan, and Drake shook violently. The three had to cling to the safety bars to avoid being thrown off balance.
Kyogre, struck head-on, was hurled from the sky into the ocean. As it hit the water, a massive column of steam rose—a testament to the blistering heat of Precipice Blades.
The attack completely enraged Kyogre, who moments ago had been so confident.
But when it emerged once more from the surface, Groudon was already waiting, unleashing a storm of gigantic, burning spheres—balls of magma blazing with devastating heat.
Kyogre narrowed its eyes.
—So, you think I'm that easy to defeat, huh? —its gaze seemed to say.
The power around it intensified.
It opened its mouth slightly, and its body began to emit a deep blue glow; the lines on its skin pulsed with its energy.
Suddenly, a shield of blue and white energy enveloped it completely. Groudon's magma spheres slammed into it but failed to pierce through.
"ROOOOAR!"
Kyogre roared furiously. The shield expanded, growing at tremendous speed until it enveloped Groudon.
Within seconds, the entire ocean inside that barrier had turned to ice.
A thick layer of frost covered the surface. Only a small circle of liquid water remained around Kyogre; everything else was frozen solid.
The waves that had once roared violently were now perfect ice sculptures.
And most striking of all—the Primal Groudon was completely trapped inside a massive block of ice.
Those watching from land were left speechless.
But the silence didn't last long. The ice encasing Groudon began to tremble and crack with a deafening sound.
It was the sound of ice melting under an impossible temperature.
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRACK!
The ice shattered with a colossal roar, and Groudon reappeared. Its red-and-gold body now looked as if it were made of molten magma.
Hell and ocean had awakened—and the entire world trembled before them.
(End of Chapter)