The battle was far from over.
For Groudon and Kyogre, legendary Pokémon who had fought since ancient times and survived countless clashes, their defining trait wasn't skill—it was sheer endurance.
While Groudon was still standing strong, even Kyogre, after taking the super-effective Thunder, managed to shake off the attack and rise again, albeit unsteadily.
Kyogre wobbled for a moment, then refocused its gaze on the battlefield.
On the other side, Groudon had adjusted its stance, glaring warily at the hovering Mewtwo.
"Looks like this isn't over yet," Luo Yuan muttered, standing atop Rayquaza's head.
One look at Groudon and Kyogre's determined expressions was enough to confirm their resolve.
One defeat wasn't enough to force either of them to submit.
Luo Yuan didn't mind, though. If one setback wasn't enough, he'd hit them with two. If two didn't work, he'd go for three. Patience was something he had in abundance.
With that thought, Luo Yuan waved his hand.
"Rayquaza!"
Rayquaza, connected to Luo Yuan's thoughts via telepathy, growled its displeasure but still obeyed. With a powerful roar, it dove toward the battlefield below.
As Rayquaza descended, Groudon and Kyogre reacted quickly.
Kyogre's glowing patterns lit up as it summoned a swirling Aqua Ring around its body.
The shimmering rings of water provided both a defensive buffer and a gradual recovery for its earlier injuries.
Groudon, on the other hand, opted for a more aggressive approach.
Its crimson markings glowed intensely as it flexed its massive muscles, activating Bulk Up to enhance its attack and defense.
A reddish steam began to rise from its body, the surrounding air warping from the heat. Groudon was preparing for Overheat.
At that moment, Rayquaza swooped down.
"Dragon Claw!" Luo Yuan commanded.
Rayquaza's claws slashed toward Kyogre, which countered by swinging its massive fins to intercept.
Boom!
The resulting shockwave rippled outward, sending towering waves crashing into the nearby buildings.
The Hoenn trainers, already stretched thin, scrambled once more to contain the collateral damage.
Groudon, seeing the clash between Rayquaza and Kyogre, prepared to intervene.
But Luo Yuan had other plans.
Springing from Rayquaza's head, he landed deftly on Dragapult, which had just emerged from its Poké Ball.
He left Rayquaza to engage Kyogre in close combat while issuing a new command.
"Mewtwo!"
Hearing the telepathic directive, Mewtwo surged forward, encased in its psychic shield, heading straight for Groudon.
This time, Groudon was ready.
Having already tasted Mewtwo's strength, it wasn't about to be caught off guard again.
The steaming titan roared, releasing jets of superheated vapor from its glowing cracks. With its body burning red-hot, Groudon unleashed its full power.
Heat Crash!
This move's power increased the greater the weight difference between the user and its opponent. And with Groudon's colossal mass, the disparity with Mewtwo was staggering.
Like an unstoppable freight train, Groudon barreled toward Mewtwo.
The two forces collided head-on.
Creaaaak!
The impact sent a deafening screech through the air as Groudon's overwhelming weight pressed against Mewtwo's psychic shield, which groaned under the strain.
This was Groudon's first close look at its opponent.
Mewtwo's peculiar appearance reminded it vaguely of Mew, the elusive Pokémon known for its carefree wandering. But this one was clearly different—darker, more refined.
As Groudon pondered, it increased its force, causing visible cracks to form on Mewtwo's shield.
Yet Mewtwo's expression remained eerily calm.
It continued to hold its ground, repeatedly slamming its shield against Groudon in a steady rhythm.
Cracks spread further across the shield, and for a brief moment, Groudon felt a flicker of doubt.
Before it could react, a sharp whistling sound pierced the air.
Whoosh!
From the side, a barrage of Shadow Balls slammed into Groudon.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A chain of explosions engulfed Groudon, swallowing its massive frame in a cloud of smoke and fire.
Not far away, Deoxys floated ominously in its Attack Forme, its sharp tentacles hurling Shadow Balls at a relentless pace.
This was Mewtwo's hidden ace.
The strategy Luo Yuan had devised was simple: use Mewtwo to hold Groudon's attention while Deoxys delivered the real damage.
Admittedly, the tactic wasn't the most honorable.
But Luo Yuan had never cared about fairness outside a formal arena. If he could turn a two-on-two into a three-on-two, why wouldn't he?
Deoxys' intervention tipped the scales dramatically.
With its four tentacles, Deoxys unleashed Shadow Balls at a rate of two per second per limb, bombarding Groudon in a ceaseless barrage.
This was what a battle looked like without turn-based constraints or PP limitations.
While each Shadow Ball lacked the force of a fully charged attack, their sheer volume made up for it.
The results spoke for themselves.
The explosions from Deoxys' assault completely engulfed Groudon.
Mewtwo, unfazed, calmly joined in, adding its own psychic blasts to the onslaught.
For over ten seconds, the relentless barrage continued until both Deoxys and Mewtwo finally paused.
As the smoke cleared, Groudon reemerged, its body covered in burns and cracks.
The once-mighty titan now stood shakily, its imposing presence reduced to a pitiful sight.
For a long moment, silence reigned among the Hoenn trainers.
Finally, a young trainer broke the quiet, voicing what everyone was thinking:
"So… terrifying."
The scene they had just witnessed—the coordinated assault of Mewtwo and Deoxys—was seared into their memories.
Even Steven had to admit that he wouldn't have lasted five seconds under such an onslaught.
For the first time, the trainers began seriously questioning something they had long avoided:
Could anyone in the Hoenn League stop the Tech Hunter?
The thought sent chills down their spines.