Chapter 532: Two-Headed Operations

"Hey, Shui Wu Tong and Chi Yan Song are fighting again."

Above the vast Hoenn Sea, gale winds howl and towering waves surge.

The oppressive presence of ancient Super Ancient Pokémon blankets the entire sea and sky.

Groudon's towering crimson form stands near the coastal land, flames steaming and heat waves rolling; each step cracks the earth.

Kyogre drifts in the raging deep sea, deep‑blue waters churning into a massive tsunami, while biting sea winds and torrential rain ravage all directions.

The clash of the two legendary Divine Beasts raises terrifying layers of waves and storms, with endless booming roars.

Coastal towns near the shore have long been ruined by four years of relentless conflict; houses collapsed, roads damaged, sand and ruins everywhere, the once bustling Hoenn seaside towns now reduced to scarred desolation.

At the chaotic battlefield's edge, Team Magma and Team Aqua members line opposite sides, each brandishing flags and shouting wildly, the atmosphere of opposition amplified to the extreme.

Further away, on a relatively hidden ruined rooftop, Huo La and his party stand quietly.

Huo La lifts a telescope, clearly overlooking the grand yet chaotic battle of sea and sky in the distance, and slowly says, "Do they have to fight a battle every day now?"

Beside him, Xiaoyin shakes his head lightly: "I've been covertly investigating here for over a week, and this is only the second time they've started a war."

He pauses, his tone becoming more subtle, voicing the doubts from his recent observations: "Moreover, based on my observations, the fight between Shui Wu Tong and Chi Yan Song is off. Though they are immortal opposing camps, the two massive Super Ancient Divine Beasts clash, yet they've never truly fought to the point of life‑and‑death or destroying Hoenn."

Bilan steps closer immediately and asks, "Like what?"

"It seems staged on purpose," Xiaoyin says in a low voice, stating his judgment.

"Deliberate?" Huo La's pupils flicker, his mind instantly replaying all clues, suddenly catching the nuance, "You mean they deliberately keep this frequent fighting state, and the real purpose isn't to seize Hoenn territory or pursue their own ideals?"

"I can say with high probability that it is so," Xiaoyin nods, continuing with details, "Each time the two Divine Beasts finish their duel and the storm calms a bit, the rank‑and‑file members of Team Magma and Team Aqua immediately spark small‑scale clashes."

"These clashes look fierce and full of gunpowder smell, yet never cause real casualties nor expand the war. After each clash, both teams, under the pretext of war, forcibly requisition massive supplies, energy, and various resources from civilians in their controlled zones."

"Huh?" Paipa looks puzzled, brow furrowed, "That doesn't add up. With Shui Wu Tong and Chi Yan Song's power, if they want resources they could just raid outright; there's no need for elaborate theatrics to make money."

What seems like an unnecessary move instead reeks of strangeness everywhere.

"Regardless, we must proceed with the plan we prepared earlier; we can't afford hesitation," Huo La grits his teeth, fully suppressing his doubts.

No matter what conspiracy lies behind Shui Wu Tong and Chi Yan Song, their disruption of Hoenn and plundering of resources is a fact; today we must end this farce completely.

"Huo La, are you really going alone?" Bilan still worries, her brows full of concern, asking again for confirmation.

"Yes, don't worry." Huo La nods heavily, his tone steady and resolute, "This time I'll deploy every force at my disposal. And now I hold a trump card, I won't be so easily defeated."

Nearby, Xiaoyin sees this and quickly comforts Bilan: "Sister Bilan, don't worry, this guy is very clever and never lets himself fall into a certain‑death crisis."

Bilan helplessly taps Xiaoyin's head lightly, using the small gesture to slightly calm her inner anxiety.

At that moment, Huo La takes a deep breath and suddenly stands up.

He lifts his hand, pulls out a Pokéball containing a Palkia, and grips the sphere tightly with his fingertips.

Buzz—!

The void trembles, a pale‑violet Space Rift suddenly opens before him, and a massive portal spanning the air slowly takes shape.

Above the battling Groudon and Kyogre on the sea surface, an identical portal tears open in the sky, its spatial distortion instantly covering the entire sea battlefield.

The raging flames and tsunami freeze and recede almost simultaneously.

Chi Yan Song and Shui Wu Tong, who were controlling the Divine Beasts in a duel, both pause their actions.

The two, separated by endless wind, rain, and towering waves, lock eyes from afar, their gazes flashing extreme vigilance and gravity.

At the same time, the atmosphere in the top‑level conference room of the Pokemon League Headquarters is dead silent.

Dande sits at the head, solemn; Professor Oak, Professor Elm, Ju Zi Po Po and other League executives are all present, each with a grave expression, none speaking.

Opposite them, Spinel stands tall and calm.

On the massive screen beside them, Loz's face is projected clearly; in the background, the busy staff of Macrocom Group can be seen faintly, occasional reconstruction command voices echo in the ears.

Spinel scans the assembled people, and in a deep voice says, "Dande Alliance Leader, Professor Oak, the current situation is as such. We plan to take the initiative, intervene in the Unova Region, deal with Quicks and Lysandre, but for this war we need the League's support."

Initiating a cross‑regional war to encircle the two top‑level villain leaders carries too great a risk, enough to affect the entire Pokemon World's balance; no one dares to state their position lightly.

The sealed conference room is silent as a tomb; only the screen intermittently carries Loz's low voice directing Galar's post‑disaster reconstruction, further heightening the oppressive atmosphere.

Spinel is not in a hurry to push.

He knows that such a major decision concerning global stability inevitably requires ample time to weigh pros and cons.

After a long while, the one who breaks the silence is Professor Oak.

He looks up at Spinel, his tone steady: "Spinel, regarding your proposal to join forces with Galar and us to pacify Unova, I have no major objections."

"But I have great doubts about you, and about our overall combat power."

"Hm?" Spinel raises an eyebrow, his face showing puzzlement.

Professor Oak continues his slow analysis, voicing the core concern: "I have no doubt about mid‑low to even high‑end conventional forces. Gathering all the power of Galar, Paldea and the League can crush all Unova grassroots forces and purge the vast majority of rebels."

"However, the deadliest issue in this war has never been the foot soldiers, but the top‑tier Divine Beast‑level forces."

He looks at Spinel gravely, striking the core: "We don't know Quicks's strength; according to Unova legends, conservatively he likely controls at least two Divine Beasts. We have already witnessed the three aura beasts Lysandre wields."

"Once war breaks out, they will inevitably use all their strength to fight to the death. Facing this level of showdown, how should we respond? If we can't block them, this war will only become a greater disaster."