"I see! So, you want me to go with you to the Hoenn region and help deal with the meteor crisis that's going to happen there in a month, right?"
After a lot of explaining, Lugia finally extracted the key information from Grey's words.
"That's right. Since the meteor's range, quantity, and mass are all a bit too large, I want to find some Legendary Pokémon and have everyone help handle this crisis together. Lugia, are you willing to help us?"
Grey extended an invitation to Lugia.
Lugia opened its mouth. It originally wanted to say that it had only just woken up and was still a little sleepy.
But…
Groudon and Kyogre were watching it like tigers eyeing prey.
And at this moment, Grey also took out two orbs.
They were the Blue Orb and the Red Orb.
Lugia: "…"
"Ahem, it's nothing. Lugia, just follow your heart. We won't force you to come with us to the Hoenn region."
Grey took a few steps back.
Groudon and Kyogre nodded along.
At the same time, they changed into their Primal Reversion forms.
Lugia: "…"
It was now like Red himself, only able to answer with ellipses.
Damn it.
Weren't these two always fighting and squabbling on normal days?
Today, in order to set up this situation for it, they had actually even used Primal Reversion together!
This Lugia had lived for a very long time.
It had seen the prime of the three super-ancient Legendary Pokémon, Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza.
And now, they had actually set aside their personal grudges to come and drag it along.
In other words, this matter probably really was extremely dangerous.
Dangerous enough that they had no choice but to join forces.
"Since you're all inviting me like this, if I still don't go, wouldn't that make me seem cold-hearted?"
Lugia had no choice but to agree.
Seeing this, Groudon and Kyogre both showed their white teeth.
"Grey, where are we going next?"
Kyogre had already begun treating Grey as the central decision-maker.
They had "subdued" Lugia so easily that Kyogre was a little worried Lugia might not be that strong, so it felt they might as well call in a few more.
"Next, we're going to the Unova region. I have a friend who has Zekrom. If we call him over too this time, I feel like he'll be very useful."
After saying that, Grey sent N a message.
Dojo Annihilape: Where are you lately? Do you have time to come out?
Nature's Black: I'm free. I just need to tell Mr. Alder, and I can head out. Did something happen?
N replied instantly.
Dojo Annihilape: Here's the situation. The Hoenn region is about to face a meteor crisis. I've already gathered seven top-tier Legendary-level fighters, but I still feel like it isn't enough, so I wanted to call you over to help.
Nature's Black: No problem. I didn't expect you to know so many friends, Gym Leader Grey. You have to introduce me to them!
In N's eyes, the fact that Grey could call over so many top-tier Legendary Pokémon meant they were already friends.
Becoming friends with Pokémon was his favorite thing!
Dojo Annihilape: Of course. I think they'll be very willing to become your friends too.
Grey was not making empty promises.
He was giving that answer based on N's situation.
N was so pure that he would probably get along very well with Groudon.
Nature's Black: Mhm! Then I'll wait for you here in Nimbasa City!
Dojo Annihilape: Okay.
After replying to N, Grey sent Steven another message.
Dojo Annihilape: Steven, I've already settled things with Lugia. Now I'm heading to Unova to call someone over for you. image.jpg
Grey took a photo on the spot and sent it to Steven.
Hoenn region, Mossdeep City.
Steven was searching for meteorites inside his collection room.
When he saw Grey's message, he stopped what he was doing.
Then…
He saw the photo Grey had sent, and his brows kept twitching.
In the photo, Grey was taking a group picture with Groudon, Kyogre, Reshiram, and Lugia.
If the three Legendary birds in the background were removed, it would have been a very nice group photo.
Steven Stone: You really are fast, Grey. I didn't expect you to bring Lugia over so quickly.
Dojo Annihilape: After all, this is a major matter. I don't want to drag it out either. All right, I'm getting ready to head to Unova. We'll talk later.
Steven Stone: Grey… I'll be waiting for your triumphant return!
After finishing his messages with Grey, Steven secretly made a vow.
He had to give Grey something.
Hmm…
Recently, his family's mines had discovered many new and unusual Mega Stones.
Maybe he should give Grey some?
Thinking of that, Steven felt it was fine.
But if it was only Mega Stones, that seemed a bit too shabby.
Grey would not accept something like a house either…
What should he buy?
Steven paced back and forth. After thinking for a moment, he came up with a very good gift.
Retirement insurance!
Yes!
After Grey retired in the future, the bank would send him a sum of money every month.
As for the standard…
Steven felt that Grey could not be treated poorly.
He would go straight with the highest tier!
Once Steven decided, he acted immediately.
He directly called his assistant and had them handle the matter.
As for him, he continued searching for meteorites, striving to help Rayquaza recover to its peak as soon as possible.
…
…
Unova region, Nimbasa City.
The last time Grey had come to Nimbasa City felt like a very long time ago.
It had clearly been less than half a month in reality, so why did it feel like almost two months?
Grey could not quite figure it out.
But still.
Now was not the time to think too much about that.
After arriving in Nimbasa City, the most important thing was finding N.
So where would N be?
Without thinking, Grey walked toward the Nimbasa Amusement Park.
In front of the Ferris wheel.
N had been waiting for a long time.
"Grey, long time no see!"
N walked forward and gave Grey a big hug.
Grey hugged N back. Looking at the smile now shining on the other's face, Grey felt that the "rehabilitation" had been very successful.
At the very least, the current N no longer had that idea of liberating the Unova region.
"Before anything else, I'd like to ask you to have a battle with me and witness my progress. Is that okay?"
N had waited a long time for this day.
He had finally waited until Grey came to the Unova region again. He could not let such a good opportunity go to waste.
"Sure, but this place doesn't seem very convenient. How about we find somewhere more open?"
Grey knew that N wanted Zekrom to battle him.
In that case, he would naturally use a top-tier Legendary Pokémon too.
There was no way they could battle in an amusement park.
N thought about it. There happened to be an open area nearby, so he nodded in agreement.
The two of them arrived in the desert.
Yellow sand danced wildly in the wind. This barren land was the perfect battlefield.
"Zekrom, let Grey see how much we've grown these past few days!"
As N raised his hand, black lightning crashed into the dunes.
Zekrom spread its wings, and a blazing fighting spirit burned in its crimson eyes.
Grey nodded slightly and calmly took out a Master Ball.
"Groudon, battle!"
Following his call, Groudon, the god of the land, descended with its towering form into the rolling yellow sand.
Seeing who had arrived…
Zekrom and N both froze on the spot.
Dragon and human looked at each other.
They had both thought Grey would send out Reshiram, another member of the Tao trio. They had never expected that the one appearing in the yellow sand would be the creator of the land, Groudon!
"N… Why don't we call this battle off for now? I feel like something might be wrong with my body… uh, like some kind of accident happened, so I can't participate in today's battle."
Zekrom unconsciously backed half a step away, slightly folding its dragon wings.
But N lowered his voice with a firm gaze. "Zekrom, we may not be without a chance."
"???"
Zekrom turned toward its N in disbelief. Its crimson pupils were filled with three parts confusion, three parts shock, and four parts anger.
Its proud lightning strikes would be nothing more than scratching an itch against Groudon!
It truly could not imagine how an Electric-type move was supposed to deal effective damage to Ground-type Groudon.
Ah. When the next Hero of Ideals appears, I should choose someone with basic common sense!
Zekrom was already thinking about the next option before it had even finished dealing with the current one.
"Damn black flying dragon!"
On Groudon's side, it looked up at Zekrom hovering in midair, and the magma patterns on its back armor flickered violently.
What it hated most were these guys who could show off in the sky. It immediately let out a roar, waiting for Grey's command so it could make the other side eat its Precipice Blades!
Speaking of Precipice Blades…
Grey quietly asked Groudon, "Hey, Groudon, isn't Precipice Blades a Ground-type move? Why can it also damage Flying-type Pokémon?"
Grey remembered that Precipice Blades was a Ground-type move, yet this move had been effective against the three Legendary birds earlier.
"It's purely because I hit hard. The Ground-type energy covering it didn't damage the three Legendary birds earlier, but the physical body of the attack could."
After giving its answer, Groudon continued staring at Zekrom, waiting for the opponent to attack first so it could reasonably counterattack.
"Also, give me a buff first. I've been craving Primal Reversion for ages."
"Fine. I'll satisfy you this once."
Grey raised the Red Orb and established an energy connection with Groudon.
The orb instantly burst with blazing light. Primal natural energy surged like a flood into Groudon's body.
"Grou!"
Groudon's body began to swell rapidly. Its originally dark rock armor turned into a dazzling crimson, and molten-gold streams of light surged through the black patterns.
When it stomped its front claw heavily, the entire desert trembled, frightening a group of Pokémon into hurriedly fleeing outward.
The sandstorm covering the desert quietly dispersed. Scorching sunlight poured down without obstruction, turning the entire battlefield into a blazing inferno.
Ability: Desolate Land!
Zekrom's pupils contracted violently, and its entire body subconsciously trembled slightly.
No one had ever told it that Groudon could increase its power even further!
The situation had already been hard to deal with, and now it had become even worse!
Maybe it should just run away?
Zekrom felt that running right now would be completely reasonable.
However, N remained unmoved. "Zekrom, let our ideals carry truth through to the end!"
"Dude! This isn't an ideal!!!"
Zekrom could not hold it in anymore. Stop connecting everything to ideals!
But sensing the energy coming from N, Zekrom knew that N was truly serious.
Damn it!
In order not to make N sad, Zekrom braced itself and charged in!
"Zekrom, use Dragon Claw!"
Fortunately, N still had some common sense. He knew that Electric-type moves were ineffective against Ground-type Groudon, so he used the Dragon-type move Dragon Claw instead.
"Haaah!"
Zekrom swung its dragon claws, wrapped in blue-green light, and dove down.
"Precipice Blades!"
Primal Groudon calmly raised its claw.
In an instant, countless giant stone spears wrapped in lava burst out of the ground. One of them accurately struck Zekrom in the chest and sent it flying hard.
"…"
Zekrom was a mess in the wind.
Groudon stomped its front claw again, and a new round of Precipice Blades shot out!
Fighting flying Pokémon was something it loved far too much!
Looking at Groudon's bird-hunting behavior, Zekrom became furious.
The enraged Zekrom's eyes turned blood-red. Violent Dragon-type energy erupted around its body, and its black dragon scales twisted on the spot. With Outrage, it shattered the incoming stone spears one after another!
The Dragon-type move, Outrage!
After smashing all the Precipice Blades, Zekrom dove straight down with the remaining Outrage energy.
Groudon crossed both arms and forcefully took the heavy blow. Its massive body carved two deep trenches through the sand as it slid backward several meters before stabilizing itself.
Being able to unleash this kind of power proved that Zekrom's strength was indeed quite good.
Grey could not help nodding slightly.
However.
After attacking with all its strength, Zekrom was now in the brief moment of exhaustion. Groudon seized this opening and suddenly grabbed both of its wings!
Boom!
Groudon stomped heavily on the ground. Countless molten stone spears burst out, forming a scorching cage around Zekrom and completely sealing it inside!
At this point, Groudon was fully satisfied.
It had trapped a flying Pokémon.
This proved that flying Legendary Pokémon were not impossible to defeat!
"All right, we're all good friends here. Let's stop while we're ahead."
Grey clapped his hands.
Only then did Groudon stop what it was doing.
The Precipice Blades cage scattered, and Zekrom was finally freed.
"N, maybe we shouldn't battle Grey anymore in the future."
Zekrom was still shaken.
When it had battled Reshiram before, it had at least had room to fight back.
But now, after fighting Groudon, it had no chance of victory at all.
It truly could not see even a hint of hope.
Zekrom admitted that it was scared.
Although in theory, it still had a tiny, tiny probability of defeating Groudon.
Still.
There was no need to go looking for trouble for itself.
"Okay."
N also agreed with Zekrom.
He walked forward and shook hands with Grey. "Grey, your strength has grown even greater. This Groudon is also incredibly powerful!"
"Ahem, this is merely a tiny fraction of my strength. Nothing worth mentioning."
Before Grey could answer, Groudon had already started bragging about itself.
"Hey, hey, hey. Someone gives you an inch, and you take a mile?"
Grey rolled his eyes at Groudon.
Groudon let out a snort.
In any case, it had won this battle. It was not excessive to call itself strong, right?
"You two have such a good relationship."
N looked on from the side with envy.
Grey waved his hand and said to N, "Do you want to come to the Hoenn region with me now? Or do you need to handle something first before leaving?"
"I don't really have anything to do here. By the way, Gym Leader Grey, aren't you going to visit Elite Four Caitlin and catch up?"
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