It is said that in the distant past, Groudon once clashed with the ancient god of the sea, Kyogre, in the Hoenn region. With every step Groudon took, the land expanded, and volcanoes erupted violently. With every movement Kyogre made, the tides surged, and the seas flooded inward. When the two met, it was a battle between land and ocean—a cataclysm capable of destroying an entire continent.
The ancient human civilization of Hoenn, though they managed to stop the battle between the two deities by unknown means, ultimately fell into decline because of it.
When Giovanni saw Groudon, he was indeed startled. Against a legendary Pokémon that was practically one with the earth, even his Beedrill could at most hinder Groudon's advance, not truly defeat it. For Giovanni, who specialized in Ground-types, Groudon's "authority" was like a natural predator. Unless he fully reached the level of a "Champion," defeating Groudon with Ground-type Pokémon would be as difficult as a myth.
For legendary Pokémon that could not truly die, even if you "killed" them, it was at most a temporary physical destruction. As long as the earth existed, its energy would continuously flow into Groudon's body, and before long, its physical functions would restart.
If not for this trait of legendary Pokémon, ancient human civilizations would have long devised countless methods to eradicate them.
"No… Groudon should still be slumbering deep in Hoenn. I almost fell for it… Incredible. That must be Mew's ability—the legendary Mew, which possesses the genes of all Pokémon."
Giovanni's eyes gleamed with interest in Mew's power. Historical records of human interactions with Mew were scarce. Even though Team Rocket had once used Mew's genes to create Mewtwo, those genes had been extracted from an ancient stone tablet, not from capturing Mew itself. As a result, humanity had little research on Mew. Even knowing that Mew held the genes of all Pokémon, no one had ever witnessed the abilities this trait granted it.
If a Pokémon researcher were here, they would undoubtedly be overcome with fervor.
But Giovanni was no researcher—right now, he was more like a Trainer. His first thought was to analyze the abilities—or rather, the "authority"—this trait gave Mew, as well as its potential weaknesses.
"Dugtrio, Rhydon, Nidoking, Nidoqueen—all of you, use Earthquake!"
If this were the real Groudon, an attack like Earthquake would be nearly useless. But Giovanni was using this move to test the limits of Mew's "authority."
The simultaneous Earthquake from four Pokémon once again shook the earth violently. The central district of Saffron City was reduced to ruins, resembling a wasteland. Apart from the Silph Co. building, which barely retained the shape of a skyscraper, every other high-rise had collapsed. This was the unbelievable power of the strongest Trainers—a single person could destroy an entire city. Trainers themselves were like walking nuclear weapons!
The surging energy of the earth struck the "Groudon," and Giovanni, who had been watching closely, immediately reached a conclusion:
"It has Groudon's traits, but it's more like a weakened version. The 'Groudon' transformed by Mew is constrained by Mew's own power, making it far inferior to the original. But…"
Giovanni analyzed coldly, calculating the possibility and methods of victory based on Mew's abilities and his own means.
"But this trait of Mew's grants it the greatest adaptability. No matter how the environment changes, Mew can survive using this 'authority'!"
Ryuuske's voice rang out from atop "Groudon's" head.
Compared to "Groudon," his body was minuscule—like a human standing before a kaiju from Ultraman. Yet, as he stood atop the monstrous creature's head, it was as if his tiny form controlled this terrifying beast. His gaze, sweeping over the land below, carried immense pressure.
Every species faces the trials and choices of nature. Many fail in the competition and are wiped out. The victors etch the reasons for their survival into their genes. Unlike other "gods," Mew did not possess a definitive authority or symbol. In terms of sheer power, it paled in comparison to beings like Kyogre and Groudon.
But Mew had the greatest environmental adaptability—the strongest survivability. Its genes contained the choices of all Pokémon in the face of nature's trials!
Mew could not crush opponents with overwhelming force like Mewtwo, but it could endlessly outlast them, using its unique traits to become flawless, with almost no weaknesses.
However, this wasn't what concerned Giovanni the most. What truly puzzled him was—
"Kid… how are you controlling Mew?"
Giovanni's expression darkened. This was what he found most unbelievable.
Humans could not command legendary Pokémon. Attempting to force them would only bring death. Even though Giovanni knew many methods to temporarily control legendaries, he dared not use them lightly. To make a legendary Pokémon obey, one had to align with its goals and spirit to an extreme degree. So what agreement had Ryuuske reached with Mew? What understanding did they share that allowed Mew to follow his orders?
"Guess, old man!"
A cold smirk played on Ryuuske's lips. Even now, with Mew under his control, he didn't dare claim he could completely defeat Giovanni. This man's strength was simply that overwhelming.
But Ryuuske was certain that, for now, he was no longer in mortal danger. Unlike Mewtwo, Mew had no time limit. It could adapt to any environment. As a Psychic-type at its core, Mew's transformations were even more versatile. It could use all conventional moves, its methods so varied it bordered on the unbelievable.
Though its overall power meant it wasn't invincible—falling short against the very top-tier legendaries—it was still the hardest Pokémon to defeat, ensuring its user remained practically untouchable. For Giovanni to kill him now would be nearly impossible.
In other words, the Gym Leader of Viridian City was a terrifying existence who could hold his own against two legendaries at once!
"Mew, transform into 'Rayquaza' and retrieve Mewtwo first!"
The pain in Ryuuske's left arm reminded him of the most urgent task—recalling Mewtwo, who was still locked in battle with Beedrill.
Using the genetic adjustment fluid in the Master Ball to restore the "synchronization rate" between Mewtwo and himself, then relying on Mew's abilities to stall Giovanni until Mewtwo was ready to fight again—this was Ryuuske's battle plan. With Mewtwo as the main attacker and Mew as the defensive support, he refused to believe Giovanni could keep up. After all, the Gym Leaders assaulting Saffron City wouldn't give him that much time!
"AAAAAAaaaaaaa————"
Breaking free from the earth's restraints, the towering "Groudon" underwent another transformation, this time into a serpentine, clawed "dragon." A layer of ozone—toxic to humans—surrounded its body as it soared into the sky amidst swirling clouds.
To be continued…
Advance 50 Chapters are up on my Patreon!
pat reon.com/ReidAstrea