At the top of the Sky Pillar.
In this environment filled with faint ozone, Zinnia's restless heart was unusually calm.
After releasing Groudon and Kyogre, she hadn't stayed near Monsu Island to secretly influence events further.
Zinnia had immediately mounted Salamence and rushed at full speed to the Sky Pillar in the nearby sea.
As a descendant of the Draconid people and the successor to her sister's role, she knew the Sky Pillar well. She had climbed to its summit many times alone to pray devoutly for the descent of the "Sky Dragon," the Dragon God.
Hoenn had faced two crises from outer space.
One was the meteorite that fell in Meteor Falls two thousand years ago. The other fell in Sootopolis City a thousand years ago.
After a thousand years of peace, the Draconid people's murals predicted that in the modern era a thousand years later, a new meteorite would once again fall on Hoenn.
And this time, its impact would not be limited to one area. The entire Hoenn region would face destruction from the giant prophesied meteorite.
Zinnia was the "Successor" passed down through generations by the Draconid people to deal with this crisis. Her responsibility was to prevent the meteorite disaster.
Her task was singular and only one.
To gain the recognition of the "Sky Dragon," the Dragon God Rayquaza, whom the Draconid people had worshiped for generations.
Once she obtained its recognition and helped it evolve to a higher form, they would gain the power to shatter the giant meteorite.
The condition seemed simple, but only Zinnia knew how difficult it truly was.
—Because in all the years she had been the Successor, she had never once seen Rayquaza.
More precisely, she had tried to summon it using the methods passed down by the Draconid people, but Rayquaza had never once responded or descended to the top of the Sky Pillar.
If she couldn't even meet it, how could she gain its recognition and together eliminate the giant meteorite that constantly threatened Hoenn and the world?
This was also why Zinnia nearly had a mental breakdown when she saw the news from LaRousse Town on her phone.
Leaving aside the black Rayquaza worshiped by the Draconid people.
The Hoenn Rayquaza had actually been defeated by that person. Even if it was only temporary and its strongest form hadn't appeared.
That alone was enough to push Zinnia to take action.
After leaving the sealed area, she first returned to the Sky Pillar but didn't see the Hoenn Rayquaza that should have returned to rest. With no other choice, she began the plan she had already prepared.
—By awakening the other two ancient Pokémon, the natural energy turmoil caused by their conflict would surely attract Rayquaza.
Then, not only would she meet it, but the stain on the "Sky Dragon's" honor for failing to stop the two ancient Pokémon would also be washed away.
She knew her actions could cause many cities, humans, and Pokémon in Hoenn to die from natural disasters if anything went wrong.
But that was still far better than a giant meteorite directly smashing into Hoenn and destroying everything. Washing away the stain was just a bonus.
She had decided to use any means necessary to resolve this unprecedented crisis—all to meet Rayquaza and gain its recognition.
That way, a small sacrifice could buy long-term peace and stability.
"…"
Gripping the "Key Stone"—an item still only circulated in small circles around the world—Zinnia stood at the altar on top of the Sky Pillar, praying devoutly and murmuring unclear prayers.
Even if she was called hypocritical or despicable, as long as she could summon Rayquaza, the crisis she herself had caused would be resolved.
Hoenn would enjoy peace once more, followed by even longer-lasting peace.
As for the possibility that Rayquaza wouldn't respond this time, she had ruled it out from the beginning.
The chaotic natural energy was enough to attract its attention. Unless the two ancient Pokémon stopped fighting or someone stopped them in advance, Rayquaza would definitely answer her summons.
While Zinnia prayed at the top of the Sky Pillar.
Under the "control" of Archie and Maxie, Groudon and Kyogre's conflict grew even fiercer.
Logically, the intensity of their battle should have already turned Monsu Island into floating debris.
Yet under Groudon's power, the island not only didn't sink but was even expanding outward.
Kyogre, refusing to yield, kept raising even stronger, taller, and larger tsunamis while expanding its "domain."
In simple terms, starting from the sea around Mossdeep, thick storm clouds and heavy rain expanded without limit. In just ten short minutes, they were already approaching the nearest city in that direction—Mossdeep City.
On the other side, the terrifying sun above Groudon that seemed capable of evaporating the sea had completely cleared the gloom behind it, pouring down rays that stung exposed skin.
It was no longer a case of whoever appeared later overwriting the other's weather.
With Monsu Island as the boundary, Kyogre's Heavy Rain and Groudon's Drought collided like they had wills of their own, yet remained clearly separated into two distinct regions.
If they could truly expand without limit, it was only a matter of time before the entire Hoenn region fell into these extreme weathers and the natural disasters they brought.
Watching this scene, Lance's heart grew heavy.
Perhaps Archie and Maxie themselves hadn't noticed, but ever since they formed that so-called mental will connection, they had been growing more and more abnormal in Lance's eyes as time passed.
This was probably the example Wallace had told him about: mortals trying to control sea and land gods that might represent nature's will itself would instead be influenced by them.
From Lance's observation, both ancient Pokémon seemed very interested in the Orbs that matched their color—the ones that had merged into Archie and Maxie.
The conflict itself might even be over ownership of the Orbs.
They wanted to keep the Orbs of different colors while also possessing the ones matching their own color—like children who wanted both candy and ice cream.
Seeing the situation grow more complicated, Lance had already sent Ash's group away from the dangerous area around Monsu Island on Gyarados.
Gyarados had just returned to his side.
Nemona, Paul, and Shizuka should have contacted reinforcements by now.
Although with the current situation, Team Aqua and Magma probably no longer had the capacity to maintain signal jamming.
Fortunately, Steven and Wallace lived nearby. During the time it took for them and any additional support to arrive, what Lance needed to do was clear.
No matter what other functions the two Orbs had besides "controlling" the ancient Pokémon.
Lance's task was simple.
Stop their fight. If possible, neutralize the two ancient Pokémon.
And prevent any side from collecting both Orbs.
His intuition told him that if he wanted to prevent things from getting even more complicated, he had to pay attention to this point.
"…Hah! It's dangerous, but I have no choice but to do it!"
Even the man known as the "Invincible Dragon Master" understood how dangerous his task was, given how clearly he knew his own strength.
As an Elite Four member of Kanto and Johto and a Champion, he could have simply watched from the sidelines. He had no duty to protect Hoenn.
But Lance still chose to act—because his sense of justice would not allow him to stand by coldly.
After all, right now, only he had the ability to stop Groudon and Kyogre.
…
Meanwhile, in the sea near Mossdeep City.
After hearing the two men on the communicator solemnly say they would set off immediately, Nemona, Paul, and Shizuka, sitting on Wailord's back, put down the device and breathed a sigh of relief.
No matter what, they had completed the task Mr. Lance gave them.
Next was—
The three exchanged knowing glances. Nemona dialed the number at the very top of her contacts, labeled "Teacher Lucas."
The call connected quickly.
Before the person on the other end could speak, the three of them started talking over each other, explaining the situation.
On the other end, Lucas only asked one question.
"You three got involved too?"
"Y-yes."
Even through the phone, the teacher's authority made the three swallow nervously as they answered.
After a short but strangely long silence, Lucas said, "Alright. Since Lance is there and Steven and Wallace are heading over, I won't stop you from going back."
"My only requirement is that you stay safe."
"—And I'll be there soon."
…
"Lord Archie?"
On the turbulent sea, Matt poked his head out from the submarine's top hatch, ignoring the pouring rain, and stared blankly at Archie riding the flying device as if possessed.
At this point, Archie no longer cared about the subordinates he once valued.
His eyes glowed with an eerie red light. His once-detailed ideals of what he would do after covering the planet with ocean had become blurred, replaced by a single, obsessive goal and belief.
"—Expand the sea!"
Archie, who had become a puppet of the vast will represented by Kyogre, kept shouting these words.
On the other side, under Courtney and Tabitha's incredulous gazes, Maxie was doing the same, shouting a different slogan.
"—Expand the land!"
They no longer cared whether their subordinates would be caught in the crossfire. They roared wildly, ordering Kyogre/Groudon to use wide-range attacks.
At that moment, a solemn male voice rang out loudly.
"Dragonite, Gyarados—Hydro Pump!"
Lance, who had appeared from an unknown direction riding Dragonite, fearlessly blocked the path in front of Groudon with the erupting volcano as background.
His red Gyarados surfaced in the turbulent sea, overcoming its primal fear to stand before Kyogre.
Two powerful water jets slammed into the two ancient Pokémon.
The strong impact pushed the wave-making Kyogre back several meters. Groudon staggered.
A human-like look of daze—or more accurately, a reflexive reaction to pain—appeared on their faces.
Lance's arrival was undoubtedly a ray of dawn tearing through the despairing dark clouds above them.
But his own expression was extremely grave.
How should he put it.
Dragonite and Gyarados's attacks were effective, proving the ancient Pokémon could be moved.
—But only moved.
From the terrifying power of the moves Groudon and Kyogre had exchanged earlier, it was clear.
Their stamina was practically infinite. In a battle of attrition, only this side would be worn down.
Fortunately, all he needed to do was stall for time.
Lance's gaze sharpened. He precisely noticed the simultaneous glances from Kyogre and Groudon, as well as their move preparation motions.
He shouted without hesitation: "Dodge!"
Under some mysterious power, even across a great distance, Gyarados on the sea surface clearly heard Lance's command.
Gyarados, which owed its rebirth to Lance, trusted him 100%. It immediately dove deep underwater.
Sure enough.
The next instant, a sky-filling cyan-white beam swept across where Gyarados had just been.
The beam carried terrifying energy fluctuations. Just grazing the surface made the sea tremble violently.
—And at the impact point on the new bare land Groudon had created with lava, a heaven-shaking energy explosion roared upward.
Gyarados, resurfacing from the sea, swallowed hard, eyes full of lingering fear.
That was close!
If it had been hit by that thing, it really would have said goodbye to this world.
On the other side, Groudon raised its head and roared. The volcano behind it erupted again. Against a backdrop of sky-filling fire rain, the earth began shaking violently.
It took a step forward. Looking at the Dragonite soaring before it, Groudon's crimson eyes were full of fury.
Below the airspace where Lance and Dragonite were, the seawater began boiling madly.
The next instant.
With a violent shake of the nearby seabed, steaming scarlet blades shot out of the sea like soaring swords, carrying malice toward the flying Dragonite!
…