Rayquaza soared at breakneck speed toward the edge of space, shimmering in radiant lapis light. A mysterious surge of energy erupted from its body—Draco Meteor, a colossal atmospheric move.
One by one, meteors trailed blazing lapis-gold tails as they rained down, and Kyogre—massive and immovable—was the first in their path.
This was the Sky Sovereign's Draco Meteor—no ordinary attack to intercept. A direct hit would be followed by a relentless onslaught. Lucius acted swiftly, using Teleport to pull Kyogre out of the blast zone.
Though the storm of meteors missed them, their descent still carried the destructive power of a natural catastrophe.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The falling stars slammed into the southeastern seas and coastline of Hoenn, carving out impact craters hundreds of meters wide. Those that struck the ocean raised tidal waves that swept through everything—no living being within range survived.
The entire southeast of Hoenn lay scarred by the celestial barrage. Death hung heavy in the air.
Fortunately, major cities responded in time. Missiles were launched, intercepting many of the meteors before impact, sparing metropolises like Slateport City from obliteration.
But smaller settlements without such defenses weren't as lucky. Dewford Town, southern forests, and islets were obliterated. Humans and Pokémon alike were reduced to ash.
Rayquaza's attack had served its purpose. The Dragon-type ascended into the upper stratosphere, nearing the edge of space.
Rayquaza hovered in the thinning atmosphere, its breath ragged and furious. It hadn't expected to find not just Deoxys, but also Primal Kyogre aligned with it. Worse yet, they had worked together to drive it back.
Had it not been weakened years ago—captured by humans, its energy siphoned for experimentation—it would have transformed into Mega Rayquaza and fought them off with ease.
Seeing Rayquaza disappear into the upper atmosphere, Lucius and Kyogre ceased their pursuit. That height was oxygen-thin, hostile to a Water-type like Kyogre.
Lucius turned his gaze to Kyogre. Its eyes were empty—void of emotion or thought. Unlike other infected beings, it retained no shred of will. It followed Lucius's every command without resistance.
But it wasn't Lucius's overwhelming power that had erased Kyogre's mind.
Instead, Kyogre had voluntarily sealed away its own consciousness, realizing that its mental sea had been corrupted beyond repair. In a desperate act of preservation, the Mythical Sea Titan abandoned control of its body to protect the final spark of its self—an untouched core of pure awareness.
Lucius could still see it: a glowing azure sphere deep within Kyogre's spirit—its final sanctuary of self.
For a Legendary born at the dawn of creation, losing one's will was worse than death. It had chosen this fate, resisting the influence of the Mindworm, preserving its soul even in defeat.
Lucius understood: as long as that pure core remained untainted, his infection of Kyogre was incomplete. Worse, it might one day turn against him.
But for now, Kyogre's power would serve his purpose.
Standing atop the Sea Emperor's back, Lucius descended from the skies and arrived at Sootopolis City.
Though the city had been dangerously close to the Draco Meteor strike zone, it had survived—thanks to Wallace, the region's Champion-level protector. The tsunamis raised by the falling stars had been repelled by his might.
Kyogre did not land. Instead, it circled in the air and released a soft, healing rain.
But this was no ordinary rainfall—it was Life-Giving Water, imbued with restorative properties.
Kyogre, as a Water-type deity, possessed the innate ability to heal through water. Gentle wind and light rain blanketed the city. Everyone touched by it—human or Pokémon—felt their wounds begin to heal, their fear washed away.
Injured souls from the catastrophe below were slowly restored, and relief swept through the crowd.
As Kyogre bathed in golden sunlight, shimmering like a divine presence, people took out phones and cameras to capture the moment. Some wept, overwhelmed to still be alive.
Lucius and Kyogre continued flying across multiple cities, leaving behind trails of rejuvenating rain. Even in the bombed-out ruins struck by Draco Meteor, green shoots—symbols of life—began to emerge.
Of course, this wasn't just about restoring ecosystems.
Lucius had an image to shape.
Now that Lance and others were pushing for the Hive's public recognition, Lucius—its leader—had to make a lasting impression on the global stage.
And what better way than appearing as a savior, commanding a mythical Pokémon and healing a shattered land?
Especially to those who had just stared death in the face, Kyogre's divine presence and gentle mercy could stir powerful emotion.
And of course, no one watching would fail to notice the man standing atop the Sea Emperor's head.
There are two primal fears that grip humanity:
Fear of the unknown.
Fear of powerlessness.
Which is why people seek figures to rely on—especially in the wake of unstoppable disasters.
A handsome hero like Volkner and a godlike entity like Kyogre were the perfect figures to embody that hope.
With the Hive's influence now deeply embedded across both the League and society, shaping public opinion was as easy as breathing. Lucius had no doubt that by tomorrow, every media outlet would be blasting the headlines:
"KYOGRE AND VOLKNER SAVE HOENN"
Of course, every good story needs a villain.
This time, the villain was clear—Rayquaza, the one who unleashed Draco Meteor.
And the media would spin it further: Rayquaza is not the only Mythical Pokémon that sees humanity as an enemy.
Now, the world must unite under the Pokémon League's leadership, preparing for a potentially greater crisis to come.
As for Ho-Oh and Lugia… they couldn't be named just yet.
Their divine status—especially in Johto, where Ho-Oh was literally worshipped as a god—made direct accusations politically dangerous. To brand them as enemies could cause division, even civil unrest.
So, the truth must be revealed like beans spilling from a bamboo tube—bit by bit, through subtle hints and gradual revelations. That's the best way. Let people absorb it slowly.
Still, Lucius couldn't help but feel puzzled. During the chaos that just shook Hoenn, neither Ho-Oh nor Lugia appeared to intervene. That was… odd.
Logically, their goal had always been to incite war between Pokémon and humans. And just now, with Kyogre and Rayquaza unleashing apocalyptic destruction, wasn't that the perfect time to fan the flames?
So what exactly are they waiting for…?
⋯⋯
Within the raging currents of distorted space, a silvery shimmer—like moonlight—pierced the turbulence. It unfolded into a broad and stable subspace, where the withered figure of Goodshow flickered into view.
Moments later, a ripple of voidlight shimmered again. A quadrupedal Pokémon emerged—its body feathered in ocean-blue hues, its form reminiscent of a celestial ram.
"Cobalion," Goodshow said, his voice hoarse with age. "It seems you were right… The League has rotted from the inside."
He looked even older than before, his gaze heavy with an anguish that words could not express.
"There's still time," Cobalion replied, its voice as resolute and unyielding as tempered steel. "If you are willing… Keldeo will lead you to our leader."
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