Compared to the unexpected variable that was Caleb, Giovanni truly didn't place much importance on these regional Elites and Champions.
After all, he has conquered countless worlds, and the Elite Fours of every region were more or less the same across numerous worlds. Giovanni was more than familiar with their tactics.
Facing the League's overwhelming number of Pokémon, Giovanni showed not a trace of fear. He ordered in an unhurried manner, "Mewtwo, show them your power!"
The group of Elites exchanged glances.
Lance and the Kanto delegation moved to confront Mewtwo.
Steven led the Hoenn and Unova teams against Groudon and Kyogre.
Cynthia and the Sinnoh group took on Dialga and Palkia.
The remaining Kalos delegation engaged Lysandre and the X/Y duo (Xerneas and Yveltal).
"The power of Legendary Pokémon isn't something your hand-raised pets can withstand!" Giovanni declared with a smirk, "Mewtwo, Mega Evolve!"
Mewtwo's indifferent eyes closed slightly as it bathed in evolution light. Its form shifted rapidly within the glow. In the blink of an eye, Mega Mewtwo Y stood before them.
"Gyarados, Hyper Beam! Dragonite, Dragon Dance!" Lance commanded sharply.
"Useless," Giovanni said, confidence radiating from his eyes. "Mewtwo, eliminate them!"
Mega Mewtwo Y vanished and reappeared instantly. A terrifying wave of psychic aura engulfed Gyarados in a flash. The sheer force distorted space itself.
Gyarados collapsed, instantly defeated.
"How?!" Lance stared in disbelief.
But Mewtwo wasn't done. It teleported beside Dragonite midair. Blue light flashed, and Dragon Dance was forcibly interrupted. Dragonite plummeted like a broken kite.
On another battlefield, Cyrus watched Giovanni's display, then turned his gaze to Cynthia's Garchomp.
"How nostalgic," he mused, "In my world, you did everything to stop me… only to fall at Spear Pillar, consumed by shadows."
Cynthia met his eyes coolly and said, "You won't succeed."
Cyrus laughed, "Is that so? Then prove it! Dialga, Roar of Time! Palkia, Spacial Rend!"
Time and space tore apart as the two Guardians shot skyward. Then, their signature moves descended from above.
Cynthia's lake-like eyes reflected the apocalyptic scene.
The power of Legendaries was so great, it could alter the climate. Black storm clouds smothered the sky above Aether Paradise. Wind whipped through, sending Cynthia's golden hair streaming backward.
Garchomp sensed the terrifying energy. It spun around instantly, carrying its Trainer away at top speed.
The combined might of the Temporal and Spatial deities struck the earth. Explosions roared. Combined with Groudon's rampage in the distance, the world itself seemed to shatter, as if it were the apocalypse.
The situation was similar on other battlefields.
Giovanni and the others hadn't even needed to use their other Pokémon. With just Mewtwo, Groudon, and the rest, the battle had already tilted hopelessly in their favor.
"This is Mewtwo's true power," Giovanni said, smiling as he watched Dragonite fall, defeated by Mega Mewtwo Y.
"Damn it!" Lance gritted his teeth.
Steven frowned, supporting his badly wounded Metagross as he caught his breath: 'They're too strong.'
Team Rainbow Rocket's Groudon and Kyogre were far stronger than the ones they'd faced before.
"It seems this world hasn't mastered Mega Evolution yet," Maxie remarked, eyeing Metagross.
He had encountered a Steven who could Mega Evolve his Metagross in another world. That battle had been tough.
"This is the end, Lance," Giovanni said, signaling Mewtwo to halt its assault.
Lance, battered by the battle's aftermath, bled from a deep gash on his shoulder, his clothes soaked red. He said nothing.
Giovanni's gaze swept over the defeated League members and laughed, "Feeling hopeless? If you'd just surrendered to Team Rainbow Rocket earlier, none of this would've happened."
Lance clutched his bleeding arm and spoke through gritted teeth, "Someone will stop you."
Giovanni raised an eyebrow, amused. "Now's not the time for bravado– oh, wait...You're talking about that Caleb guy, aren't you? How interesting… you see him as your savior?"
No one responded.
Giovanni's smirk widened, "Then it's a shame. Let me crush your last shred of hope. I'll show you– no, I'll show this entire world just how powerless your so-called savior really is. Faba!"
Faba's voice crackled through his earpiece: <..Yes, sir!..>
Giovanni ordered, "Broadcast live across all regions, link the feed to Ultra Space!"
<..Understood!..>
The moment he finished speaking, an Ultra Wormhole opened behind Giovanni and the others. They stepped backward and vanished.
In their place, a massive screen materialized. The screen showed a strange space. There, a young man was curled up on the ground, unconscious?
Beside him, a humanoid Pokémon stood guard, unrelenting and protective.
Cynthia's heart sank at the sight. She clenched her fists.
"Caleb…" Caitlin whispered, staring at the screen.
"No way!" Lorelei frowned. "He can't be… he'll be fine!"
"Does anyone know how to enter that place?" Lance asked gravely.
Gladion stepped forward from the crowd, "It's useless. Without Solgaleo, we can't open a portal to that place."
The air grew heavy with despair once more.
...
'So tired...'
That was the only thought in Caleb's mind.
The vitality-fueled Viridian Power had drained him completely. After two days of relentless, high-intensity combat, he collapsed into a deep coma the moment Cyrus fled.
Time itself began to slow for him. The very concept was about to fade away.
Memories flashed through his mind. It is said that in the moments before death, one's life flashes before their eyes.
'Am I dying? What will happen to that world after I'm gone?'
He hadn't even said goodbye to Mimikyu and the others. Pokémon were deeply loyal creatures. He thought of that Charmander Ash encountered in the Anime. It was abandoned by its Trainer, yet stubbornly waited for him in the same spot.
Worry consumed Caleb...
What would Mimikyu do without him?
Could Lucario survive alone in this unfamiliar world?
Dragonite... he probably didn't need to worry him. That chonky dragon could thrive anywhere.
Celebi would likely return to the forest.
Hydreigon had grown so strong, it could rule the wilds as a true apex predator.
Dark Lugia and Larvitar… they were still hatchlings. They'd probably forget him once they grew up.
As for his Mewtwos…
Just then, his consciousness was abruptly pulled back to reality. Caleb opened his eyes and saw Giovanni and the others lined up not far away..
Mew2, grievously wounded from the onslaught of multiple Legendaries, knelt on the ground, ignoring its own injuries. The young Legendary Pokémon's eyes filled with worry and sorrow as it looked at Caleb.
"Get up," Giovanni said, "Defeat us, and we'll spare this world."