From the very first moment they saw Kyogre and Groudon that day, although their power was still terrifying, both Drake and Juan couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed.
They were strong, yes... but not as strong as they had imagined two primordial gods would be.
However, when they later witnessed their complete forms, they finally understood the true distance that separated them from first-rank deities.
They could resist for a while, even face them briefly, but if the battle dragged on... they would inevitably be crushed.
That was why, as the League President, Juan couldn't help but worry. If those two deities were to appear again and fall into a frenzy once more, what could the League possibly do then?
No one expected that, in the end, Rayquaza would leave behind an object capable of summoning it. Even if it could only be used when Kyogre and Groudon awoke again, that alone was enough. For the League, it was a divine insurance policy.
After seeing Rayquaza defeat both titans effortlessly—and even force them to submit—Juan, Drake, and the entire world gained a new understanding of what those three ancient Legendary Pokémon truly represented: Rayquaza, Kyogre, and Groudon.
Legendary Pokémon, especially those of the first rank, embodied forces of nature. When enraged, they unleashed disasters. And no human, no matter how powerful, could ever truly oppose the fury of nature.
Rayquaza had its own duty: to prevent Kyogre and Groudon from freely wielding their cataclysmic power. Otherwise, the Pokémon World would fall into absolute chaos.
At that moment, Cain remembered the scene when Arceus had handed the Sky Plate to Rayquaza.
Could that have been the reason Arceus entrusted that Plate to it?
And the reason Rayquaza watched over Kyogre and Groudon so strictly, always maintaining balance?
For an instant, Cain felt as if he were grasping something deeper—something that connected the gods themselves to the very world.
However, the journalists and trainers slowly approaching brought him back to reality. Cain looked at the emerald-green orb in his hands, observed it for a few seconds, and then handed it to Juan.
"President, it's better if you keep it. In my hands, it's of no use."
Juan was momentarily surprised, but soon smiled and accepted the sphere. Cameras flashed all around, immortalizing that moment.
After all, that object was far too dangerous. Even with the rank of Hoenn's Elite Four, Cain knew keeping it would only invite trouble.
Now that everyone had witnessed Rayquaza's power, the greedy ones would soon start scheming. And if they learned that the orb in Cain's possession could summon the Sky Dragon, they would never let him live in peace.
It wasn't that he feared them... but even the smallest insects become annoying when there are too many of them.
Besides, the object was useless.
Even if someone used the sphere to summon Rayquaza without reason, the dragon would most likely annihilate the fool who dared to do so. It wasn't a weapon, nor a means of control. That was why Cain was decisive—he handed the "problem" to Juan and freed himself from an unnecessary burden.
Juan understood perfectly and, smiling, accepted the orb. As League President, he had no such concerns.
Above, the dark clouds began to scatter. The setting sun bathed the sea, dyeing it a fiery red. And amid the calm waters, a new island appeared—formed from the charred remains of magma fused with glacial ice.
Soon, many would come to visit that place, to see with their own eyes the battlefield where Hoenn's legendary deities had clashed.
They would call it the Island of Ice and Fire. (And no, not that one from One... nothing like that!)
Another tourist attraction was on the way—and a new source of income for the League.
But that no longer had anything to do with Cain. Together with Drake and Juan, he boarded a military helicopter and left the area, refusing any interviews.
They knew perfectly well that the next day, every headline would say the same: "The Great Battle of Kyogre and Groudon," "The Roar of the Sky," "The Judgment of the Primordial Deities"...
Yet beyond the media spectacle, the entire League breathed a sigh of relief.
The most dangerous threats to the Hoenn region—the Magma Team and the Aqua Team—had finally been eliminated. Even the Hunter Guild, with its unrestrained ambition, had been eradicated and driven out.
In just a few days, the most chaotic region of the Pokémon World had become the most peaceful.
In fact, there were no longer any underground organizations with real power. Only Team Heaven, which still controlled Mauville City, could be considered noteworthy... though they had barely five or six Elite-level trainers, and not even one in the Advanced stage.
That simple comparison showed just how clean the Hoenn region had become after the fall of Team Magma and Team Aqua.
Cain, meanwhile, could use this calm period to fulfill the task Juan had assigned him: reorganizing the hidden forces of the region.
Those that could be controlled would be brought under League supervision. Those that couldn't... would be eradicated.
Of course, he couldn't decide that on his own. He had to select the targets, submit reports to Juan, and wait for approval before taking action.
As for completely cleansing Hoenn's underground world, that was impossible. "When the water is too pure, there are no fish," said the old proverb.
Better to have controlled groups than leave room for chaos. Properly managed, even crime could be kept within reasonable limits.
A good example was Mauville City: its former leader, Wattson, no longer concerned himself with administration. He spent his days tending flowers and watering the garden, enjoying a peaceful life.
But all that was for the future. At that moment, Cain and Drake were accompanying Juan to his residence.
The President lived in a private villa behind the Hoenn League's headquarters. He claimed it was "for work purposes"... But upon seeing the facilities, the size, and the comfort of the place, both Cain and Drake thought the same thing: "This is abuse of public resources!"
They looked at each other, laughed... and without hesitation, submitted requests for villas of their own next to Juan's.
They couldn't help but remark, "Privilege... isn't so bad after all."
Later, they discovered that Sidney and Glacia had already been living there for quite some time—using the same excuse of "work proximity."
In the backyard of Juan's villa, a full day had already passed since the end of the great battle between Kyogre and Groudon.
Cain was crouched on the grass, carefully examining a Pokémon.
It was Latios.
"How is he?" asked Juan, watching anxiously. At that moment, he wasn't the League President, nor the ruthless strategist everyone knew... but simply a trainer worried about his partner.
Cain reviewed the report displayed by his system and, after thinking for a few seconds, looked up.
"It's not impossible," he finally said. "There's still a way to help him."
(End of chapter)