Chapter 658: Sea and Land War!

“They’re retreating.”

Watching the Team Magma members withdraw like a receding tide, Aggron remained utterly tense.

Rather, he had thought of something unpleasant.

“Unheard beast roars and whale calls. More importantly, the sudden shift in weather.”

“Could it be—”

Nimo, Shinji, and Shizuka, running from the retreating Team Aqua encirclement, interrupted Aggron’s thoughts.

Though puzzled by the sudden retreat of both factions, they lacked familiarity with Hoenn’s mythological legends and felt no urgency.

“Wow! It’s really Mr. Aggron!”

Nimo sprinted forward, holding the umbrella Shizuka had given her, her eyes sparkling the moment she spotted Aggron and his signature Zhangyang red hair.

Had the situation permitted, she would have immediately challenged him to a Pokémon battle!

After all, even in the Paldea region, Nimo had heard of the Dragon Master Aggron.

Shinji and Shizuka also called out to Aggron with a hint of admiration.

“You’ve arrived just in time.”

Aggron gave them a slight nod; without Nimo and the others sharing half the pressure, he might have been trapped without his full Zhuli .

Though had they not burst out, he could’ve remained undercover just fine.

“Based on the current situation, the ancient Pokémon held captive have likely been released due to some cause.”

“This is a crisis—and an opportunity.”

“I know where Team Magma is holding Ash. Let’s rescue him first, then decide our next move.”

During missions, Aggron’s mind always remained calm and clear.

He understood that since the ancient Pokémon’s escape couldn’t be reversed, he must first complete what he could, then consider the next step along the way.

Aggron briefly explained his plan.

“I’ll take Brock, May, and Max to rescue Ash. Nimo, can you and the others contact these two outside the signal-blocking zone and inform them of the current situation?”

Displaying his communication device with only two contacts set, Aggron looked at Nimo, Shinji, and Shizuka.

Brock, as a former Gym Leader, hadn’t brought his Zhuli , and Rock-type Pokémon struggle to operate effectively at sea.

May is a novice Trainer and mostly a Coordinator who isn’t skilled in battle.

Her younger brother Max hasn’t even received his starter Pokémon yet.

Aggron could manage rescuing Ash while caring for them, but venturing further into the dangerous sea to find a signal zone for help would stretch him too thin.

Nimo’s strength had just been proven, and Shinji and Shizuka were students of Luo Mu. Though he felt ashamed to entrust such a task to these youths, Aggron had no other solution for now.

Nimo took the communication device, her eyes flickering as she saw the contacts labeled “Goh” and “Mightyena.”

It seemed the situation was urgent.

After exchanging a glance with Shinji and Shizuka, Nimo nodded. “Leave it to us, Mr. Aggron!”

They’d originally planned to report to the authorities, but had accidentally encountered Brock and others, leading them to Mose Island.

Aggron’s eyes lit up. “I can lend you my Gyarados. If you can hold your breath, traveling underwater will be easier than on the surface.”

Given the torrential rain, the sea’s condition was clearly perilous—his Gyarados, trained systematically by the Inspectorate, could easily protect them through the storm.

“No need, Mr. Aggron. Keep your Gyarados.”

Nimo shook her head, explaining they had their own reliable sea mount.

Whiscash was still waiting for them on the shore; with its size, even the fiercest sea could be easily conquered.

Since Nimo insisted, and Aggron’s combat strength was already limited, he didn’t press further.

The situation could deteriorate at any moment—they had little time left.

After assigning roles, Aggron led Brock and the others toward Team Magma’s submarine. The enemy was now busy chasing the escaped Groudon—this was the perfect moment to strike.

Meanwhile, Nimo and the others hurried toward their rendezvous point with Whiscash. Just after their glance, they reached a mutual understanding.

—Besides summoning the two Hoenn Champions, they also needed to call Luo Mu!

What? You think that might trouble Luo Mu?

Trouble him? Luo Mu always tells them: “When you hit the little one, the big one comes.” If it’s truly beyond their capacity, forget everything else—contact him immediately.

Besides, the news they’d seen before leaving Greenhill City said Luo Mu alone could restrain both Legendary Pokémon—and even knock them down once.

Though they didn’t know whether Rayquaza was stronger or weaker than the two ancient Pokémon Team Aqua and Team Magma sought.

But calling him was definitely the right move!

Water and Flame, who chose to retreat, now arrived at opposite ends of Mose Island.

On Water’s side, thick dark clouds obscured the sky, and dense raindrops fell like a relentless black curtain.

In the sea, a Team Aqua-submarine rocked helplessly in the storm, each rising wave threatening to shatter it.

A human masterpiece, yet powerless before nature’s roar, like a helpless child.

Water, standing on a flyer, clutched a vermilion orb, veins bulging on his forehead. He screamed desperately—but the noise of rain and wind drowned his voice completely.

In the sea, a colossal fish, like a mythic leviathan, leapt repeatedly between water and air, its massive fins churning the ocean into endless waves, nearly swallowing Mose Island whole.

Water tried to project his will onto Kyogre through the vermilion orb—but Kyogre didn’t even deign to glance at him, let alone obey.

—Kyogre seemed to be gathering strength, waiting to meet its ancient foe.

On the other side, Flame faced the same situation.

As the bright sun was swallowed by the downpour, a brilliant white light shot skyward, instantly dispersing most of the clouds over Mose Island, and blazing sunlight poured down.

Compared to the raging sea on the other side, this area was relatively calm.

—Unless you ignored the colossal beast, clad in red armored plates, forging a path of molten rock across the sea.

It was Groudon, the ancient Pokémon.

It seemed to dislike flying or leaping; only after the molten path was complete did it slowly lift its feet and march steadily toward the island.

According to Firefly and Firehill’s estimates, its destination was the volcano on the island, which could erupt at any moment.

Flame tried to project his will onto Groudon through the indigo orb—but faced the same problem as Water.

—No matter how they shouted, neither ancient Pokémon so much as glanced at them or their orbs.

“Impossible. Ancient humans had already confirmed: different colored orbs could control corresponding ancient Pokémon.”

Flame didn’t understand—where was the problem?

Their mental power couldn’t even make the orb glow faintly.

Was their will to pursue their ideal and dream not strong enough?

Flame refused to accept such nonsense. Standing on Team Magma’s flyer, he followed Groudon’s movements, holding the orb and shouting at it continuously.

Unaware, Groudon had already reached the volcano’s rim.

Perhaps it had arrived at its destination and now noticed its surroundings—or perhaps Flame’s incessant noise had finally annoyed it.

Groudon, who had ignored Flame entirely, finally deigned to look at him.

Groudon had always been too indifferent to bother with the noisy little creature that always chattered whenever it awoke.

Better to prepare for the battle with that fat-headed fish.

But the moment Groudon’s gaze fell on Flame—and more precisely, on the indigo orb in his hand—its cold, emotionless eyes, reflecting only nature’s will, suddenly flared.

—The next second, Flame was stunned to see his indigo orb suddenly glow, and he sensed a vast will.

“Ohhh! Groudon, obey my will!”

Flame’s face lit up with joy as he raised the glowing orb high.

Behind him, Firefly, Firehill, and others clearly saw the orb’s light and its complete absorption into Flame’s body.

They and the many Team Magma members were filled with excitement.

Wonderful! If Groudon accepted Team Magma’s control, expanding the land to the world’s edge—human footsteps spreading across the globe—would no longer be a dream!

As the orb fully merged into his body, ancient red patterns, identical to Groudon’s, ignited across Flame’s skin.

A sign that his will had aligned with Groudon’s.

“—Good. Groudon, now expand the land!”

Flame shouted excitedly, unaware he had completely lost his usual composure.

Whether or not Flame’s command had effect, Groudon lifted its monstrous head and roared—a sound echoing across the entire Mose Island.

The next instant.

Violent tremors swept across Mose Island.

As the earth shook, the volcano, which had only sporadically emitted black smoke, suddenly erupted after a brief buildup—

A geyser of magma blasted skyward, then rained down as countless fiery meteors, indiscriminately striking Mose Island and the surrounding seas.

Groudon’s roar reverberated through heaven and earth; the volcanic column pierced the clouds. Flame stood at the crater’s edge, red patterns flowing like lava across his skin, the heat rippling his red-black uniform.

At this moment, he clearly sensed Groudon’s simple thought.

This was Groudon’s “provocation,” or rather, its “challenge,” directed at Kyogre.

In the sea, Kyogre, gathering its strength, recognized this power instantly.

Its emotionless eyes locked onto Groudon atop the volcano—especially the indigo orb in Flame’s hand.

The next instant.

Water, who had been utterly ignored by Kyogre, was stunned to see his vermilion orb suddenly glow—and then merge into his body.

Instantly, he sensed Kyogre’s immense will, laced with fury.

—It seemed to regard the indigo orb as its own.

Though he didn’t understand why, Water, realizing he had established a connection with Kyogre, shouted:

"HAHAHA! First, drown this island—Kyogre!"

Kyogre opened its massive jaw full of sharp teeth and let out a deafening whale call, then instantly slammed its flippers, summoning a colossal tsunami capable of swallowing Masi Island whole.

The hundred-meter tsunami blotted out half the sky; sunlight refracted through the wave wall into an eerie blue glow. Water Tree stood in the hollow beneath Kyogre’s dorsal fin, indigo patterns pulsing like veins along his neck, salt-laced winds filling his wild laughter.

His emotions seemed influenced by Kyogre itself.

"You won’t get away with this!" Charizard’s expression turned cold. Groudon’s front legs slammed the volcano’s mouth, and instantly, a spiderweb of crimson light cracked across the ground. Lava surged along the glowing paths, forming a boiling lava dam along the shoreline.

It opened its jaws without preparation and fired a thick "Solar Beam," blasting a massive gap through the tsunami.

The instant the broken tsunami met the lava, Masi Island shuddered violently. White mist erupted skyward; the shockwave from steam explosions flattened the coastal forest.

Fortunately, most of both sides had boarded their submarines; the few remaining gathered behind Charizard or Water Tree, untouched by the attacks.

Casualties were not severe.

The first tsunami shattered, but Water Tree’s expression didn’t change—he raised his hand again.

"Ice Beam!"

Blue light flared along Kyogre’s dorsal fin; the second tsunami it had summoned was struck by the beam and instantly frozen into an ice wall.

The ice wall, heavy and unyielding, crushed the cooling lava barrier.

This battle scene was witnessed by Agatha, who had already rescued Ash and now hid safely out of range, watching.

"Is this the power of ancient Pokémon?"

Though only two sides clashed, the awe-inspiring sensation of commanding nature’s forces as easily as one’s own limbs left Agatha stunned.

Now he could be certain.

The legend Milotic had told him before he infiltrated Team Magma held not a single lie.

Rather—it had been far too conservative.

Watching the two extreme weather patterns now spreading and colliding, Agatha suddenly had a premonition.

—Without intervention, Groudon and Kyogre’s battle would truly devastate the entire Hoenn region!

(End of Chapter)