"It's Damian and them!"
Steven halted in his tracks, turning his gaze toward Damian.
Clearly, above, Primal Kyogre is standing off against Black Kyurem.
"It seems the battle has just begun; we've timed this perfectly."
Wallace sighed with relief, fearing they'd arrive too late and the battle would have already ended.
"Hmm, we'll go over there too."
Giovanni nodded, ready to dash toward Damian's direction.
"Sorry, this route is blocked for now."
A clear, bright female voice suddenly rang out, making Steven and the others change expression slightly.
This voice, they are not unfamiliar with.
" Zinnia !!"
Steven turned, and four figures appeared in his sight.
A Lorekeeper from the Draconid people, a girl with a fierce, fearless smile, walked forward.
"Caitlin …" Looking at the leftmost girl in a pink tailored dress, Cynthia's expression is complex.
"N?"
Alder stared incredulously at the green-haired young man standing with Colress—because that was N!
N felt Alder's gaze, lowered his head slightly, pulling down the brim of his hat, using the shadow to cover his eyes.
"Damian is fighting Kyurem right now, you all mustn't intrude on him." Zinnia tilted her head slightly, showing a wide white smile.
"Zinnia, you've avenged your grievance, why are you still with Damian?" Steven asked in a deep voice.
"This doesn't concern you, esteemed Hoenn Champion." Zinnia sneered.
And has the grievance truly ended? Not yet.
Zinnia clearly remembered there was also the House of Berlitz in Sinnoh Region that she hadn't dealt with yet.
But for now, there's no rush to go to Sinnoh.
"Zinnia, let me deal with it; I can defeat her."
Steven opened a Poké Ball; Metagross appeared before Steven as he whispered to Alder and the others.
This wasn't his first time battling Zinnia, but Steven still had confidence.
Last time in the Hoenn sea area, if not for the sudden phone call, he believed he could have defeated Zinnia.
"Huh? I can't just pretend I didn't hear that." Zinnia laughed.
"I want to see how your Metagross beats my Salamence!"
Zinnia threw a Poké Ball; with a brutal roar, Salamence unfurled its wings and soared.
"Come on."
Then Salamence carried Zinnia into the air; Steven immediately mounted Metagross and followed.
"N! Why are you following Team Rocket's people?"
Alder can't understand; obviously N is a kind-hearted person, yet he's mixing with Team Rocket.
Alder had been hoping N could take his post, become the Unova Champion and lead Unova forward.
And last time they spoke, weren't things fine?
"..." N remained silent.
Joining Team Rocket isn't what he wants, but…
"This is thanks to your help, Alder." Colress wore a meaningful smile.
"What?" Alder froze.
"If you hadn't awakened Kyurem, Kyurem wouldn't have swallowed N's Zekrom, and N wouldn't have become one of us." Colress's smile was sharp.
Alder and the others suddenly understood; Alder felt guilty.
Yes, if they hadn't incited Kyurem to emerge, Zekrom wouldn't have been swallowed by Kyurem.
From this perspective, the League bears undeniable responsibility.
"So, N, you've teamed up with Team Rocket?"
"Damian said he could help me rescue Zekrom." N took a deep breath, his gaze firming, lowering his voice.
Having made a decision, there's nothing to hesitate about or regret.
N has always been someone who, once determined, doesn't waver easily.
"Champion Alder, Zekrom is my most important teammate; no matter what, I won't forgive anyone who interferes with this operation!" N declared in a low voice.
Now that Damian and Kyurem's battle has begun, and this battle also concerns whether Zekrom can be rescued.
So…
Even if the opponents are Alder and them, N won't go easy!
"I see."
Alder sighed inwardly, but what could he say?
If he admitted Damian could not beat Kyurem, they wouldn't let Damian win Kyurem either.
So, from this angle, it seems N and the League may indeed be incompatible.
"I'll deal with N; without Zekrom, I can beat him." Leon glanced at N and Caitlin, his gaze ultimately resting on N.
Alder didn't object; although N, having lost Zekrom, reduces the threat significantly, N remains a Champion-tier trainer, and Alder himself isn't sure he can beat him.
"Champion Leon; you handle Caitlin." At that moment, Cynthia suddenly spoke up.
"Okay." Leon looked puzzled at Cynthia and agreed.
N and Caitlin should favor N, though Caitlin—specializing in Psychic types—may prove tough to beat.
But with Cynthia's interjection, Leon refrained from overthinking.
"I can beat N, don't worry." Cynthia spoke up.
She didn't want to battle Caitlin right now; her feelings toward Caitlin are complicated.
Because she has a sense that she might not be able to capture Caitlin this time either.
After all, Caitlin is very proficient with Psychic types, and if she can't quickly overpower Caitlin with Sucker Punch, Caitlin could walk away.
But Leon might have a chance.
"Then that leaves Colress, the former Team Plasma researcher Colress."
Three opponents had been assigned, leaving the last one.
"In that case, I'll take Colress." Wallace — his cloak swirled, his voice calm and confident.
Handle a single researcher; is that not easily done?
"Oh?"
Colress's face wore a half-smile expression.
"Don't be reckless; Colress's strength isn't weak; he has a Genesect! When Officer Jenny from Nimbasa City and Blueberry Academy's top students attacked him, he easily beat them."
Alder remains serious: "I'll go with you; beat him quickly and call in reinforcements for the others."
Alder looked at Damian; honestly, with his level, going after Damian would likely be useless.
Better to fight Colress with Wallace first.
"Senior, you're too cautious, but this works too."
Wallace thinks Alder is too cautious; he actually wanted to say, "Send Alder to reinforce Steven and the others."
But considering past experiences, Wallace thinks being safe is necessary.
Because…
He really didn't want to be a prisoner anymore...
How many times has that happened? Wallace also has face to protect!
"Are you two ready to discuss tactics?"
Colress spoke with composure, waiting for Wallace and Alder to finish their discussion.
"You can continue discussing tactics; I'm not in a hurry."
Colress wore a calm, elegant smile; dressed in white, he looked clean and neat, hardly like a villain.
"Such arrogance; even facing our duo, there's no urgency?" Wallace displeased.
"Not so." Colress sighed lightly.
"If I may speak for myself, I'm not very fond of battles; I prefer academic discussions and experiments."
Colress opened two Poké Balls.
A flash of white light; Genesect and Metagross appeared before Colress.
And as Colress raised his left hand, the Keystone on the back of his white glove shone, and Metagross shimmered with seven-colored lights of evolution.
In the blink of an eye, Mega Metagross appeared.
"However, since Lord Damian asked, I can join in and play a bit; don't worry, the battle won't last long." Colress spoke lightly.
"So that's the arrogance I'm up against."
Wallace frowned more; facing Colress, every word betrayed a sense of superiority.
Who is Colress, anyway? Just a researcher.
He didn't know who he was really facing.
Current Champion Alder! Former Hoenn Champion Wallace!
Meanwhile, two League Champions are about to battle; what is a mere researcher?
"But I do agree with one point: battles won't last long."
Wallace tossed his Poké Ball; Mega Gyarados roared as its Mega Evolution flashed and Mega Gyarados appeared!
Alder also tossed out his ace, Volcarona!
"We'll take you down soon enough!"
Wallace was very confident; though Genesect is tough, it's four times weak to Fire, and Alder's Volcarona can beat Mega Metagross.
And Mega Metagross is strong, but Mega Gyarados' Dark type counters Mega Metagross as well.
Wallace looked at Mega Metagross with a subtle feel.
What level is this guy? Fighting on par with Steven's ace?
As Steven's close friend, Wallace decides to teach this guy a lesson.
"Hehe～"
Colress's lips curled slightly; this is Hoenn's former Champion, after all?
Quite interesting.
"Then I'll anticipate your strengths." Colress said with a calm smile.
And over here with Damian.
"No, Damian, I can't even deal with that thing!"
Looking up at Black Kyurem, whose icy aura and dragon aura are off the charts, little Rayquaza's face goes pale.
I'm four‑times weak to Ice! You want me to fight Kyurem?!
"You'd better stay with Reshiram, then."
Damian watches the tiny Rayquaza, who's already flinching before the fight even starts, and his eyelids twitch.
"?", Reshiram, with its noble and icy bearing, tilts its head.
"But I really can't fight, you know." little Rayquaza admits, clearly frustrated, yet somehow the scalp tingling persists.
The freezing aura on Black Kyurem's body is more than enough to consume it all.
"Then you deal with the one behind you."
Damian glances toward the back, and little Rayquaza also turns its head, and freezes.
There, a man in a black suit, buzz‑cut, middle‑aged, hands in pockets, is slowly walking forward.
Behind him, Primal Groudon, wrapped in a pulsating red glow, is likewise stepping forward.
It's Giovanni and Primal Groudon!
Little Rayquaza falls into thought.
~~~
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