Groudon tried to pull Grey onto its side.
Facing the olive branch Groudon offered, Grey could not help laughing.
He gently shook his head, his tone mild. "I've always been used to standing on the side of the sky."
Groudon: "???"
You little…!
Grey's statement instantly sent Groudon into a rage, and the patterns across its body burst with scorching red light.
That was clearly mocking it for being unable to fly!
He was not even trying to hide it anymore!
Rumble!
Magma churned violently inside Groudon's body, but when it faced Reshiram's spread dragon wings and the mist surrounding Kyogre, it had no choice but to suppress its roar into a dull rumble.
For the first time, Groudon hated its natural flaw this much. It could only crush the rock layer beneath its claws in frustration.
If only it had a pair of invisible wings!
That was Groudon's only thought.
"Hehe."
The light around Kyogre gradually withdrew, and its magnificent body returned to its original deep-blue color.
It leisurely swayed its tail fin and laughed without the slightest attempt to hide it. "Still the same after all these centuries, huh? A landbound lizard that can't even reach a cloud."
"You're just a useless fish relying on power handed to you by a human! If you hadn't relied on Primal Reversion, how could you possibly suppress me like this?!"
Groudon roared.
Kyogre elegantly swayed its tail fin and struck back. "And what about you? You don't even have a human willing to help you. Oh, wait. One of the humans willing to help you ran away, and the other is still trembling on the ground."
Groudon did not refute it.
Because it was all true.
As for Grey.
He sat leisurely on Reshiram's back, watching the two ancient gods argue like children, and casually grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds from his pocket.
However, Grey did not intervene in the dispute between the two Legendary Pokémon. Instead, he signaled for Reshiram to land in front of Zinnia.
Right now, there was something more important to do.
He looked down at this descendant of the Draconid people from above, his gaze gradually turning cold.
"This isn't over."
Grey's voice was calm, but it sounded like judgment being passed.
"If I hadn't stopped you in time, what you did today would have been enough to plunge the entire Hoenn region into crisis. If your crimes are investigated seriously, I'm afraid this won't be as simple as spending a few years in prison."
The truth was exactly as Grey said.
If Groudon had been allowed to cross the ocean, the resulting tsunamis and earthquakes would have swept across the entire Hoenn region. Coastal towns would have had no way to avoid being submerged, and countless lives would have vanished in this man-made disaster.
Grey stared at Zinnia's pale face.
He lifted his hand in a signal, and White Kyurem's frost had already sealed every path of retreat.
Zinnia lowered her head and fell silent, her fingertips digging deep into her palms.
She did not try to make excuses for herself.
When she raised her head and met Grey's eyes, only defiance remained in her gaze.
As a descendant of the Draconid people, Zinnia knew better than anyone what consequences awakening the super-ancient Pokémon could bring, but she had still taken that dangerous step.
"Why exactly did you do this?"
Grey looked into Zinnia's eyes, his tone carrying confusion.
Normally speaking, if Zinnia wanted to find Rayquaza, there were clearly gentler methods.
Not this kind of method that could trigger natural disasters and leave places everywhere in ruins.
Zinnia raised her head and answered in a low voice, "Because… a massive disaster is about to descend."
When the word "disaster" came from Zinnia's mouth, Grey's brow furrowed slightly.
"I know you won't believe it easily."
Zinnia continued speaking to herself in a low voice. "But the ancient texts guarded by the Draconid people for generations clearly record that a crisis capable of destroying the world is approaching. Only by summoning Rayquaza can we possibly win a sliver of hope for this world."
"So you didn't hesitate to disturb the ecological balance of all Hoenn and used this extreme method to force Rayquaza to appear?" Grey's voice carried a trace of helplessness.
Zinnia nodded firmly, madness flashing faintly in her eyes. "This is the only way to draw its attention."
Grey helplessly pressed a hand to his forehead and shook his head, but then he heard Zinnia continue explaining. "But summoning Rayquaza is only the first step. According to the ancient texts, it currently lacks a key form of energy. Only by obtaining that energy can it truly resolve the coming crisis."
Her voice gradually sank lower. "That is also why I had to take such extreme measures… There isn't much time left."
Those words reached Grey's ears.
Finally, Grey's expression turned serious.
Not because of the so-called disaster prophecy, but because Zinnia could accurately describe Rayquaza's current condition.
"You're right. Rayquaza's current situation really isn't great. Over the years, it has been constantly swallowing meteorites to make up for an energy deficit. If this problem isn't resolved, even if it appears, it won't be able to complete Mega Evolution."
The moment Grey finished speaking, all three sides reacted differently.
Zinnia widened her eyes in disbelief.
The secret she had exhausted so much effort to uncover from ancient texts had been exposed so casually by him.
Wait, that wasn't right!
Grey, where did you get that information?
Could it be something like the "all-seeing eye" the protagonists had in the light novels written by Shauntal over in the Unova region?
At the same time.
Groudon and Kyogre, who had been arguing, both went quiet.
The two super-ancient gods looked at each other, and even the surrounding lava and waves temporarily calmed down.
After fighting for thousands of years, they had never noticed that the arbiter hanging high in the ozone layer had been circling around them with a hidden problem all this time…
Wait!
During their previous conflicts, that green dragon could Mega Evolve.
Since its core energy was depleted…
Hehehe…
For a moment, Groudon and Kyogre exchanged meaningful looks and let out sinister chuckles at the same time.
These two old enemies actually reached an understanding because of the same thought.
If they joined forces while they had this chance, perhaps they could be free of that sky dragon's restraint forever…
Just then.
Grey's gaze swept toward the two first-rate Legendary Pokémon.
Groudon immediately raised its head to the sky and pretended to study the structure of the clouds. Kyogre focused on looking down at the land, as if the strange laughter just now had never happened.
Seeing how badly they were trying to cover it up, Grey could not help pressing a hand to his forehead.
With a world-ending disaster right in front of them, these two were still scheming over how to take advantage of the situation!
"Grey, I understand that you may find these records hard to believe…"
Before Zinnia could finish, Grey raised a hand and cut her off.
"Wait, when did I say I didn't believe you?"
Zinnia instantly froze in place, her pupils slightly widening.
She had originally thought she would need to spend a lot more effort to persuade him. She had not expected Grey to accept this seemingly absurd claim so straightforwardly!
"However, this cannot become your reason to escape punishment."
As Grey spoke, he took out his phone and quickly connected a call with Steven.
A moment later, Steven hurried over on Metagross.
"Grey, what's going on?"
Steven had originally been in Rustboro City directing the evacuation of residents. After receiving Grey's emergency call, he immediately mounted Metagross and rushed over at full speed.
When he landed on the devastated battlefield and saw Groudon and Kyogre facing each other, as well as Grey standing between them, he immediately felt that the situation was far more troublesome than he had imagined.
"Steven, this is what happened. Listen closely and I'll explain it quickly."
Grey briefly and clearly explained the course of events to Steven.
Zinnia stood to the side and quietly added the details recorded in the ancient texts.
The more Steven listened, the tighter his brows furrowed. His fingers kept tapping against Metagross's cold metal shell.
Although the facts were right in front of him, his subconscious still refused to believe this sudden disaster prophecy.
Seeing that Steven was still hesitant, Grey said seriously, "This information completely matches my judgment. In the few days since I arrived in Hoenn, I personally saw Rayquaza at Sky Pillar. I could clearly sense the mikado organ inside its body, and it truly is lacking energy."
"And this mikado organ is the device Rayquaza uses to store energy for Mega Evolution. In other words, it is the organ it needs when facing Primal Reversion Groudon and Kyogre."
Since even Grey had provided such definite supporting evidence, Steven finally set aside the last trace of doubt and nodded with a solemn expression.
Steven turned to Grey and asked, "What should we do next?"
Grey thought for a moment, his gaze turning into the distance. "Go to Meteor Falls. As the sacred place of the Draconid people, it may contain the clues we need."
After saying that, both of them looked at Zinnia.
She was the only one who could lead the way.
Hearing this, Zinnia lightly sighed and silently walked to the front.
As a criminal, her only choice right now was to cooperate and guide them.
However, before setting off for Meteor Falls, there was still one important matter that needed to be resolved.
Grey's gaze moved back and forth between Groudon and Kyogre, his fingertips lightly tapping his chin.
How to handle these two awakened first-rate Legendary Pokémon required careful consideration.
Logically, he could just let them leave on their own.
But Grey really could not feel at ease.
Judging from Groudon and Kyogre's behavior just now, there was no guarantee that these two would not seize the chance to team up and settle old scores with the weakened Rayquaza.
Groudon and Kyogre turned their heads at the same time and realized that Grey was observing them with a meaningful gaze.
The two first-rate Legendary Pokémon immediately felt uncomfortable all over, like thieves with guilty consciences.
"Can we leave now?"
After a long while, Kyogre took the initiative to ask, its voice carrying obvious impatience.
Grey slowly shook his head. "Please wait a moment."
Those words instantly angered Kyogre, and towering waves rose around its body. "Human! Don't push your luck!"
"You can leave if you want," Grey said unhurriedly, "but you need to make a vow."
Kyogre narrowed its eyes warily. "What vow?"
"If you attack Rayquaza after leaving…"
The corners of Grey's lips rose slightly. "Then you are a stupid fish even worse than Groudon. As for Groudon, if you break the vow, then you are a dumb turtle who can't even compare to Kyogre."
"How dare you!"
"You little…!"
The two first-rate Legendary Pokémon flew into a rage and attacked almost at the same time.
Molten stone blades rose from the ground, and blue-green light waves fired in unison!
"Metagross, protect Grey!"
Precipice Blades and Origin Pulse came howling toward them, and Steven immediately ordered Metagross to put up a defense.
"No need."
Grey calmly raised his hand.
The Blue Orb and Red Orb shone at the same time, forming a dazzling curtain of light that quietly dissolved the two world-destroying moves like wisps of smoke.
"Bro! I was wrong!"
"Boss, I was actually trying to use Precipice Blades to give you a massage just now!"
Kyogre and Groudon immediately realized the situation was bad and hurriedly restrained their presence, showing weakness.
However, Grey only shook his head lightly.
"It's too late to apologize now."
As his words fell, the two orbs suddenly burst with dazzling light. An invisible power instantly enveloped the two Legendary Pokémon.
Groudon and Kyogre immediately felt the sky spin and the earth turn. Their enormous bodies began swaying beyond their control, as if the entire world had flipped and started rotating.
"Steven, do you still have a Master Ball on you?" Grey turned and asked.
"Here."
Steven handed the precious Master Ball to him without the slightest hesitation.
Grey blinked in slight surprise.
His original idea had been for each of them to hold one Master Ball and capture the two Legendary Pokémon separately.
Steven saw Grey's hesitation and waved a hand with a light smile. "Don't worry about it. You capture them."
"Okay, then I won't stand on ceremony."
Seeing this, Grey no longer refused and took another Master Ball from his clothes.
The two precious Poké Balls drew arcs at the same time and accurately landed on Groudon and Kyogre.
When the red light lit up, the two first-rate Legendary Pokémon surprisingly did not resist. They allowed the balls to turn them into energy and absorb them inside.
Click!
With two crisp locking sounds, the existences that had once shaken heaven and earth now quietly lay inside the Poké Balls.
Steven looked at the two Master Balls with great interest and could not help praising him. "Grey, in the blink of an eye, you already have four Legendary Pokémon. A lineup like this may be unprecedented."
Grey lightly waved a hand, his expression calm. "After the crisis is resolved, if they don't want to stay, I'll naturally let them return to freedom."
After all, this capture was meant to prevent them from taking advantage of someone's weakness and going after Rayquaza while it was in poor condition.
Hearing this, Steven only smiled knowingly and said nothing more.
…
Everyone passed through the winding mountain road and soon arrived at Meteor Falls.
The falling curtain of water shimmered under the sunlight, and the ancient rock walls were carved with traces of history.
This place was Meteor Falls.
"Although this place is called Meteor Falls, it is only Meteor Falls as outsiders see it."
Zinnia stood in front of a waterfall and spoke to the two of them.
Grey nodded lightly.
Since even Zinnia said that, it meant the real Draconid people did not live here.
"All right. Follow me."
Under Zinnia's lead, Grey and Steven crossed the roaring waterfall.
The waterfall automatically parted, then closed again.
When the curtain of flowing water closed behind them, the scenery before their eyes suddenly opened into a hidden world.
Inside the enormous natural cavern, countless glowing crystals were embedded in the ceiling like stars in the night sky.
As they followed the moss-covered stone steps forward, they could see stone houses arranged in an orderly yet uneven pattern, built against the rock walls. In front of some doors, dried herbs still hung.
At the center of the cavern stood an altar, with several dust-covered ritual tools placed on top.
Although not many people lived here now, a solemn and dignified atmosphere still filled the air.
Zinnia's gaze slowly swept across this familiar scene, and a complicated look appeared in her eyes.
Her fingertips lightly brushed over the marks at the edge of the altar, and memories of living here with her people during childhood surged back like a tide.
But now, only she stood alone in this silent sacred place. The laughter and voices of the past had long since vanished with the wind.
"Gym Leader Grey, Champion Steven, welcome to… the true Meteor Falls!"
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