Lionel remembered that in his previous life, in the anime *Rayquaza: Deoxys*, Deoxys entered the ozone layer with a meteorite and was discovered by Rayquaza.
Subsequently, Rayquaza, as the ruler of the skies, regarded it as an intruder and, in its first battle, shattered Deoxys.
If he remembered correctly, their first battle took place in a glacier. Could this be a fragment of the meteorite that carried Deoxys to its demise?
Lionel stared intently at the meteorite fragment, trying to glean more information from the system panel, but the system only displayed this one line of text.
"Are you interested in this rock?"
Liza noticed Lionel's gaze and explained:
"This was discovered by a research team in the Arctic two years ago.
They detected some unknown energy fluctuations inside, but after studying it for a long time, they still can't figure out the principle."
Tate also chimed in:
"If you like it, we can give it to you. It's just on display here anyway."
Lionel paused for a moment:
"Is that appropriate?"
"Why not?"
Tate waved his hand dismissively:
"Steven comes here, and if he sees a rock he likes, he can just take it. Anyway, every now and then, the rocket returns with new samples, and these older ones also contain data."
Liza nodded:
"It's alright, we'll take it as a gift. Dad's not here today, so it's just the two of us. Are there any other rocks you like? Can you pick one or two more to take home?"
"No need, this is fine, thank you so much."
Lionel quickly thanked them. The fragments, stained with Deoxys core debris, were of unknown use, but keeping them was always a good idea.
As a return gift, Lionel offered:
"Would you like to see Metagross's Mega Evolution again?" Liza and Tate's eyes lit up, and they exclaimed in unison:
"Sure!"
In a spacious experimental area, Lionel released Metagross and took out the Mega Stone and bracelet again: "Metagross, Mega Evolution!"
With a burst of familiar white light, Mega Metagross reappeared, its oppressive aura instantly spreading out, filled with a sense of pressure.
Liza and Tate watched intently, their eyes filled with envy.
"Wow, that's amazing…" Liza murmured. "It's a pity the League's data says our Solrock and Luna Stone can't Mega Evolve."
"But it's alright,"
Tate added,
"My Alakazam and my sister's Pokemon both have Mega Evolution forms. Once we get the Mega Evolution item, we'll battle you again!"
"Anytime," Lionel said with a smile.
Afterwards, Liza and Tate took Lionel to see the rocket launch simulator and the high-energy ray telescope, etc…
In front of the telescope, Lionel even saw images of distant galaxies; the twinkling stars seemed almost within reach, making him marvel at the vastness of the universe.
Before he knew it, a day had passed.
As they left the Space Research Center, the setting sun bathed the white buildings in gold. Liza and Tate stood at the entrance waving:
"Once we get the Mega Evolution item, we definitely have to battle them again!"
"Okay, it's a deal! But I won't hold back," Lionel replied with a smile.
"I don't need you to hold back. Who wins and who loses is still uncertain," Tate said confidently, raising her chin.
After saying goodbye to Liza and Tate, Lionel, carrying the special meteorite and a head full of speculations about Deoxys, set off back to the hotel.
Back at the hotel, Lionel began planning his next itinerary.
Larvesta was still "holding a grudge" for the centrifugal force training during the day. Now fully recovered, it hadn't forgotten Deino's mockery.
Lionel was currently pinning Deino beneath his massive body, thoroughly ravaging it. Deino struggled violently, trying to overturn Larvesta.
The two Vulpixes, Ice and Fire, watched the spectacle, whimpering and cheering them on.
Lionel ignored their playful antics.
Instead, he used Steven's account to access Devon Corporation's top-secret database, retrieving detailed information about Sootopolis City.
On the 3D map, a city surrounded by azure waters slowly roLizaad, its volcanic crater-formed terrain clearly visible.
The most striking feature of the city's layout was a massive, sapphire-blue lake in its center, occupying two-thirds of the city's area.
This was Sootopolis City, Hoenn's most renowned sea city, and Lionel's next destination.
Lionel's purpose in going to Sootopolis City is threefold:
First, to challenge the Sootopolis Gym and obtain his seventh badge.
Second, to participate in the fifth Pokemon Contest held there, the most important event before the Grand Festival. Lionel has been preparing for this for a long time, and his Tyrantrum is now being urged to train more by Lionel via video every day.
Under the tutelage of the Krookodile, who is skilled in Sandstorm moves in Unova's Dragon Village, Tyrantrum's Sandstorm control has improved remarkably. Once in Sootopolis City, Lionel will bring it back.
This Pokemon Contest combination move is its last stage combination with Larvesta before evolving, and also one of the ultimate performances Lionel has conceived for a long time.
The final, third purpose is to watch and participate in the upcoming Water Festival in Sootopolis City.
The Water Festival in Sootopolis City is one of the most prestigious festivals in the Hoenn region, held annually on December 12th.
On this day, the entire city's residents board their meticulously decorated boats and gather on the giant lake in the city center, which connects to the seabed, to offer their most devout prayers and sacrifices to Kyogre, the guardian of the sea.
Yes, it's Kyogre, one of the three legendary Pokémon of Hoenn.
It's worth noting that the Johto region has the Bell Tower dedicated to Ho-Oh, and the Sea God Temple in the Whirl Islands to Lugia; these two legendary Pokémon protect the land of Johto like twin stars.
Meanwhile, on Island near the Kanto region, there is an ancient festival dedicated to the three legendary birds: with Fire Island, Thunder Island, and Ice Island as sacred sites, the corresponding orbs are offered to Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno, praying for favorable weather and peace in the seas.
The Hoenn region is no exception, possessing its own legendary Pokémon: Rayquaza, the ruler of the skies; Groudon, the god of the earth; and Kyogre, the god of the sea. These three legendary Pokémon respectively wield the power of the sky, the sea, and the earth, protecting the land of Hoenn.
Corresponding to these three legendary Pokémon are the three oldest groups of people in Hoenn: the Meteor People, the Clarity People, and the long-vanished Volcanic People.
The Volcanic People are the most ancient. Legend says they could communicate with the priests of Groudon, the god of the earth, but they completely disappeared a thousand years ago. No one knows their whereabouts, leaving only scattered legends.
Some speculate that they may have been wiped out in a catastrophe caused by Groudon's awakening, or that they hid deep within the volcano, making them impossible to find again.
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