"This is it… this is the place! There's no mistake!"
Maxie stared at the crimson orb in his hand, its glow growing brighter and brighter.
He could feel it—
Groudon was here.
Hidden within this volcano.
According to the ancient records he had uncovered—
as long as he held the orb,
he could control Groudon—
and realize his ideal.
"Leader, but… there's magma everywhere. Where exactly is that Pokémon?"
Beside him, a purple-haired woman in a red uniform asked curiously.
She was one of Team Magma's three executives—Courtney.
Maxie smiled faintly.
"The Pokémon I seek… is within the magma itself."
The closer he got—
the brighter the orb shone.
Until—
standing at the very edge of the lava—
the orb began to tremble.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!"
Maxie burst into laughter.
"At last… at last!!"
"I've waited for this day… for so long!!"
Deep within the magma—
a pair of crimson eyes slowly opened.
…
Meanwhile—
far beneath the sea—
a similar scene unfolded.
Archie stood before a colossal shadow, his body trembling.
Whether from fear—
or excitement—
even he couldn't tell.
"Leader… is this… the one we've been searching for?"
His subordinate asked, voice filled with awe.
"Yes."
"This is it."
"With its power… our ideal will no longer be a dream!"
In his hand—
the azure orb shone brilliantly.
And then—
the massive creature before them…
opened its eyes.
Kyogre had awakened.
…
Back on Chen Shi's side—
the group had just left the volcano and were preparing to head toward the other one.
But suddenly—
the earth began to tremble violently.
As if a slumbering beast had been awakened—
roaring in fury.
Everyone stumbled, struggling to keep their footing.
The ground cracked.
Rocks tumbled down the mountainside.
In the distance—
magma erupted like a raging crimson torrent—
devouring everything in its path.
"What's happening!?" Phoebe cried out, grabbing Cynthia to steady herself.
Chen Shi's expression turned grave.
Just as he was about to speak—
he heard it.
The sound of waves.
His pupils shrank.
This was a volcano.
Miles from the sea.
There was no way—
he should be hearing waves.
Unless—
His head snapped around.
In the distance—
a towering wall of water stretched across the horizon.
A colossal tidal wave—
like a white wall rising from the end of the world—
crashing forward with unstoppable force.
Its roar was like an army charging—
deafening.
Soul-shaking.
Everyone froze in place.
Chen Shi's scalp went numb as he roared:
"Damn it! Team Magma and Team Aqua have already awakened Groudon and Kyogre!"
"RUN!!"
Steven Stone forced a bitter smile.
"Run? Where?"
"We don't even know where the exit is!"
That—
silenced everyone.
They had been randomly teleported into this place.
No one knew where the exit was.
Which meant—
they couldn't escape.
In front—
a sea of magma.
Behind—
a catastrophic tidal wave.
Where could they go?
Even Lance fell silent.
Leon swallowed hard, forcing a smile.
"…I just hope those people we saved made it out."
"Otherwise… we might all die here."
Even with Urshifu—
he wasn't confident anymore.
Not against this.
Diantha, Caitlin, and Lorelei stood frozen.
"…Damn it."
Chen Shi cursed under his breath.
He hadn't expected this—
Maxie and Archie had moved too fast.
He thought they still had days.
But it was already too late.
He grabbed the Mew on his shoulder.
"You—stop spacing out! Get us out of here!!"
Mew yawned lazily, its voice echoing in his mind.
[Oh? Now you remember me?]
"Not the time for jokes! Just get us out!"
Chen Shi forced a strained smile.
Steven, somehow still joking, said:
"…Chen Shi, why are you talking to an Eevee right now?"
Mew glanced at him—
and ignored him completely.
[So… no more limiting my ice cream? And no more scolding me?]
Chen Shi: "..."
"Is THIS really the time for that?!"
"Just move already!!"
The magma and waves were closing in.
Even he—
was starting to panic.
If he knew where the exit was—
he would've run already.
He hadn't even seen Groudon or Kyogre yet—
but at this rate—
they were about to clash.
And if they did—
there would be nothing left.
Just as Mew was about to reply—
a small voice interrupted.
"Chen Shi, don't worry!"
Jirachi floated up from his arms.
"Jirachi can take you out!"
Chen Shi's eyes lit up.
Without hesitation—
he tossed Mew aside—
and grabbed Jirachi, planting a kiss on its head.
"HAHAHA! I knew it—my Jirachi is the reliable one!"
"Quick! Take us out of here!"
"Okay~!"
Jirachi clapped its tiny hands.
A translucent psychic barrier formed—
enveloping everyone.
The next moment—
they vanished.
…
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