"Hakuya, the situation is exactly as you predicted."
When Hakuya and Roxanne had finished escorting all the captured grunts from the ruins to the Officer Jenny's police station, Steven, who had returned to Rustboro City ahead of them, hurried over. With a face full of worry, he handed a tablet to Hakuya.
"According to the latest intelligence transmitted by the League's monitoring department, an unidentified energy source has been detected in the H17 sea area off the coast of Rustboro City. At the same time, the energy fluctuations in Lilycove City and Mt. Chimney have also exceeded the peak values of previous years. It seems those two super-ancient Pokémon that have slumbered for a thousand years truly are on the verge of awakening..."
Initially, upon hearing that the Legendary Giant Rock would awaken Kyogre and Groudon, Steven had remained somewhat skeptical. After all, according to historical records, the last time those two super-ancient Pokémon were active was over a thousand years ago.
The only reason he had chosen to notify the Elite Four and the others was purely out of his absolute trust in Hakuya.
However, just a short while ago, an urgent emergency call from the League Council had completely shattered the last remnants of his wishful thinking.
—The seabed near Lilycove City and Mt. Chimney near Lavaridge Town were simultaneously emitting intense energy fluctuations.
Matching the legends passed down in the Hoenn region, the super-ancient Pokémon slumbering in those two locations were seemingly beginning to awaken.
Hmm... Their energy output already exceeds that of an ordinary Kyogre and Groudon. Just what kind of terrifying calamity will this bring?!
Steven genuinely couldn't even imagine it.
"Mr. Steven, is it possible to determine the exact time the two super-ancient Pokémon will fully revive right now?"
Glancing at the tablet, Roxanne lifted her head, an unprecedented look of urgency appearing on her fair, pretty face.
According to what Hakuya had said earlier, both Groudon and Kyogre's target was that Legendary Giant Rock.
And because Team Aqua and the others had stolen the Giant Rock, the battleground was essentially locked to the vicinity of Rustboro City.
As the Gym Leader of Rustboro City, she naturally felt a burning urgency to know the movements of these two super-ancient Pokémon.
"Based on our model estimations, the energy fluctuations will reach their absolute peak in twelve hours, which also signifies that Groudon and Kyogre will fully awaken... Of course, this is only a preliminary estimate. The actual awakening time might be even sooner."
A rare shadow of gloom passed through Steven's eyes as he sighed.
But seemingly realizing instantly that his demeanor would negatively affect morale, the Hoenn Champion forced a smile back onto his face.
"However, there's no need to worry! I already notified Sidney and the rest of the Elite Four in advance. Furthermore, Lance of the League G-Men happens to be stranded here in the Hoenn region due to a mission. As long as we formulate a battle plan ahead of time, we should be able to stop the battle between Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre."
"Hmm..."
Hakuya rubbed his chin with his hand, falling deep into thought.
To be completely honest, he felt that even adding the Flying-type Elite Four (Lance) to the mix still might not be enough.
If there was a significant gap in strength between an Elite Four member and a Champion, then the gap in strength between a Champion and a literal God was even wider.
Super-ancient Pokémon possessing the mighty power of nature were absolutely not something ordinary Pokémon could contend with. Not to mention, Steven currently didn't have a Mega Stone on him. Let alone whether his base-form Metagross could last half an hour... just hoping it could tank a single [Precipice Blades] from Primal Groudon without fainting was already a pipe dream he wouldn't even dare have in his sleep.
And reality was different from a game. Even though he had violently elbowed countless 'fat fish' and 'flightless lizards' in the randomized world, when it came to a real-life battle, Hakuya was still a bit worried about the combat capabilities of Floragato and the others.
The best solution was to find some more external help.
It was true that Floragato, Latias, and Alcremie needed to battle to temper themselves, but he still had to reduce the risk of wiping to the absolute minimum.
"Steven, you know about Rayquaza, right?"
"Of course."
Steven nodded without hesitation.
As the God of Suppression who mediated the conflicts between Kyogre and Groudon, the legend of Rayquaza had long circulated throughout the Hoenn region.
And based on his experience interacting with Hakuya recently, he knew perfectly well that Hakuya wouldn't ask such a low-IQ question at a time like this. If he was asking, there definitely had to be a deeper meaning.
Therefore, Steven instinctively furrowed his brow. Seemingly realizing something, he spoke with a carefully measured tone.
"Hakuya, are you suggesting..."
"Yes. Relying solely on the League and the G-Men probably won't be enough. I believe we need another source of power. According to the legends, Rayquaza—the one who stopped the battle between the two super-ancient Pokémon, Groudon and Kyogre—is the absolute best candidate."
Hakuya stated his idea.
"During this window of time before Kyogre and Groudon officially awaken, I will take a trip to the Sky Pillar near Pacifidlog Town to see if I can request the help of the Rayquaza residing and slumbering there."
Rather than passively waiting for Kyogre and Groudon to hatch and inevitably fail to stop them, it was better to imitate the Pokémon Adventures manga and personally go to the Sky Pillar to call Rayquaza over.
Of course, besides this, there was another method.
That would be diving into the randomized world to catch a Rayquaza and bringing it out as his ultimate trump card to 1v2 them.
However, after pondering for a moment, Hakuya chose to temporarily abandon this idea.
He could only enter the randomized world after midnight. Furthermore, he only had one Gym Badge right now, making his catch rate for Legendary beasts abysmally low. Even if he managed to encounter one and miraculously succeeded in catching it, by the time he got out, Kyogre and Groudon would have probably already demolished Rustboro City.
It was much better to take advantage of the daylight right now and go try his luck at the Sky Pillar.
He didn't have the Jade Orb, but he could try selling a favor using his Legend Plate and Rainbow Wing. Regardless, he had to give it a try first.
"Seeking to borrow the power of Rayquaza to stop the battle between the two super-ancient Pokémon..."
Nearby, Roxanne was considering the feasibility of Hakuya's suggestion.
In Hoenn mythology, the one who stopped the battle between Kyogre and Groudon was indeed this God of Suppression.
However, as the ruler of the skies, although Rayquaza didn't wantonly destroy things fighting over energy like the other two, its temperament could hardly be described as gentle.
Moreover, its whereabouts were incredibly elusive. Even the Draconid people—who claimed to be the descendants of Rayquaza and possessed the ability to communicate with Dragon-type Pokémon—found it extremely difficult to track it down. Otherwise, Steven and Roxanne wouldn't have failed to think of the 'find Rayquaza' plan right from the start.
But since Hakuya was actively suggesting it now, he likely had his own unique method.
Recalling the extraordinarily powerful strength Hakuya had displayed earlier, Roxanne pursed her lips and nodded thoughtfully.
Then, she looked at the black-haired young man before her, her beautiful crimson eyes shining with a brilliant light.
Although it was true that Hakuya's strength was immense, she didn't subscribe to the belief that 'with great power comes great responsibility'—that the strong should inherently carry a heavier moral burden and act as judges.
Intervening in a battle between two super-ancient Pokémon was intrinsically an incredibly dangerous endeavor.
Humans are creatures that naturally seek advantages and avoid harm. As a rookie Trainer who had only started traveling a month ago, if Hakuya had chosen to say this had nothing to do with him and evacuated Rustboro City early to save himself, Roxanne felt she would have completely understood.
But now...
Even though he wasn't official League personnel, Hakuya was actively joining this operation to intercept Kyogre and Groudon.
From beginning to end, she hadn't heard a single word from him demanding any sort of compensation or reward.
It wasn't for League rewards, nor did he harbor any ulterior motives; he was purely, warmly stepping up to help.
In that moment, Roxanne's already high affection for Hakuya began skyrocketing at an absurd rate.
However, before she could even express her gratitude, the Hoenn Champion on the other side had already grabbed Hakuya's shoulders, his eyes brimming with tears.
"Hakuya, I never expected you to not only be knowledgeable and incredibly strong, but also so passionately helpful and utterly selfless! How can such a flawless, perfect person exist in this world...
"Regardless of what the final outcome is, both I and the Hoenn League will forever remember your kindness!"
Just like Roxanne, Steven's affection meter had also been completely maxed out.
To stay and help during such a critical crisis... the old saying 'a friend in need is a friend indeed' couldn't be more fitting here—
The more he spoke, the more emotional he became. Finally, Steven—who now completely viewed Hakuya as his absolute perfect successor—opened his arms wide, looking as if he wanted nothing more than to rush over and give Hakuya a massive bear hug the very next second.
"Ah..."
Seeing this scene, the corners of Hakuya's mouth couldn't help but twitch.
While it's true that volunteering to help without asking for anything in return is a great way to farm affection points...
...I wasn't trying to romance YOU!
For a split second, the street gossip regarding Steven and Wallace involuntarily flooded Hakuya's mind. Even though those rumors were 100% baseless nonsense, he still hastily called for a timeout to stop him.
"Hold on, a hug won't be necessary!"
Crossing his arms over his chest in a 'dame' (absolutely not) pose, Hakuya earnestly refused.
"We're both grown men, hugging each other is just way too weird. Now, if it was Ms. Roxanne thanking me like that, that would be acceptable."
"Eh?!"
Roxanne, who had been watching the entire exchange from the sidelines, suddenly blushed bright red.
Even though she knew this was just a joke Hakuya casually threw out to politely decline Steven, hearing it still made the beautiful young teacher's jade-like face flush, her heart beating unusually fast.
So that's what Mr. Hakuya was thinking?!
Having finalized the plan to find the Mega-green-caterpillar, Hakuya didn't choose to linger any longer. Taking the map of Hoenn that Steven handed him, he prepared to set off for the Sky Pillar.
Looking at the boundless ocean stretching out from the Rustboro City port, and the sailors—under the direction of police officers—hurriedly docking their ships and unloading cargo in preparation for evacuation, Hakuya stopped walking, an inexplicable sense of awe rising in his heart.
These weren't just NPCs made of code in the randomized world; these were real, living people.
Perhaps in a short while, Kyogre, bringing howling winds and torrential rain, and Groudon, bringing scorching sunlight and severe drought, would arrive here simultaneously. The originally beautiful town scenery would be shattered in an instant, reduced to a pile of rubble.
Thinking of this, Hakuya, who was just about to depart, turned his head and spoke with utmost seriousness.
"If Kyogre and Groudon awaken earlier than expected, please be sure to notify me immediately. Even if I haven't found Rayquaza at the Sky Pillar, Latias and I will hurry back as quickly as possible to help."
"Hakuya..."
Steven was slightly taken aback. He realized the black-haired young man before him was exuding an aura he had never seen before.
An elegant, spring-breeze-like smile subsequently appeared on Steven Stone's face as well.
"Don't worry. Even if those two super-ancient Pokémon truly are as powerful as the legends say, our Hoenn League won't just sit and wait to die. Even if I have to fall here in Rustboro City, I will fight with everything I have to stop them."
Steven patted his chest, setting up a massive death flag at the speed of light.
Hearing these words, Hakuya's expression instantly turned a bit weird.
I don't have a Celebi on me! Don't actually drop dead from exhaustion and then logically pawn the Champion position off on me!
Given Steven's personality, Hakuya felt he might actually be capable of doing exactly that.
"Then I will take full command of the evacuation efforts in Rustboro City. Before Kyogre and Groudon officially arrive here, Officer Jenny and I will evacuate the vast majority of the town's residents. On one hand, this will prevent casualties in the ensuing battle, and on the other, it will clear a large enough battlefield to stop the conflict between the two super-ancient Pokémon."
At this moment, Roxanne also entered work mode.
Bending her slender, graceful waist slightly, she bowed toward the black-haired young man before her in gratitude.
"Mr. Hakuya, thank you for working so hard and doing so much for Rustboro City..."
"It's nothing."
Hakuya waved his hand and smiled.
After all, being able to battle the real-world Groudon and Kyogre is basically a dream come true for me.
"Latias, I'm leaving the flying and travel to you."
Pointing to the location on the map, Hakuya then looked up at the little jet plane hovering beside him.
The Sky Pillar was located north of Pacifidlog Town and Route 131. Using conventional transportation, by the time they traveled there from Rustboro City, Kyogre and Groudon would have probably already fought a dozen rounds. Therefore, he had to rely on Latias's divine flying speed.
"The journey is a bit far, but if we activate your Mega Evolution form, we should be able to arrive there very quickly."
"La-woo~"
...
Half an hour ago.
In the coastal waters of Rustboro City, inside the Submarine Explorer 1.
"Alright. Activate the starting sequence."
Standing in front of the console connected to the seven-colored meteorite, Lysandre spoke to the researcher in the white lab coat beside him.
"Understood. Initiating analysis..."
Hearing their leader's command, the researcher leading the experiment excitedly reached out and pushed a lever in front of him upwards.
BZZZ——!!!
As the device activated, four beams of white light shot toward the seven-colored meteorite in the center.
In an instant, looking at the energy data displayed on the screens before them, all the researchers present revealed expressions of ecstatic excitement.
"According to preliminary data, this seven-colored meteorite emits light energy." Shortly after, a researcher hurriedly walked up to Lysandre to report the situation. "It's simply unbelievable. Its energy waveform matches that of a Mega Stone, but its heat output far exceeds it..."
"Oh? Its heat output already exceeds that of an ordinary Mega Stone?"
Lysandre stared at the Giant Rock contained within the massive glass vat before him and smiled.
Giovanni hadn't lied to him. To a certain extent, this seven-colored meteorite truly was the origin of Mega Evolution.
If they could properly utilize this energy, awakening and capturing those two Legendary Pokémon in Kalos would finally be just around the corner.
But before Lysandre could rejoice for long, the previously smoothly progressing research analysis suddenly halted.
"We've detected an abnormal energy fluctuation response?!"
"This is bad! We need to quickly shield the energy particles emitting from the Giant Rock!"
"Dammit! That's completely impossible at our current stage..."
Noticing the anomalies displayed on the machines, the group of researchers frantically hammered at their keyboards, panicking entirely.
"What is going on?!"
Looking at the researchers inside the submarine, who had devolved into a chaotic mess, Lysandre instinctively furrowed his brow and shouted a harsh reprimand.
His tall stature, combined with the commanding aura cultivated from years of leading an organization, instantly quieted the noisy room.
"Boss, we've discovered..." Standing up, the chubby researcher acting as the representative looked rather pale. "The Mega Evolution energy fluctuations leaking from the Giant Rock seem to have triggered a response from two massive energy points in the Hoenn region."
To corroborate his statement, he leaned down and rapidly typed on his keyboard, projecting the locations of these two energy points onto the nearby screen.
—The deep sea tens of kilometers away from Lilycove City.
—Mt. Chimney near Lavaridge Town.
"Could this be..."
Looking at the coordinates displayed on the projection screen, Archie and Maxie, standing behind Lysandre, exchanged a glance. An ominous premonition simultaneously rose in both their hearts.
For them, who had pursued super-ancient Pokémon their entire lives, they knew the weight of these two locations all too well.
The Seafloor Cavern, located somewhere beneath the ocean near Lilycove City with its exact location unknown, was the legendary habitat of Kyogre.
And deep within the magma of Mt. Chimney, a place no human could reach, slumbered Groudon, the ruler of the land and magma.
Yes, they absolutely wanted to control Groudon and Kyogre. But if they awakened these two super-ancient Pokémon—which possessed the power to destroy the world—without making any preparations beforehand, that was nothing short of a death wish!