Catching Groudon had been far easier than expected.
Dylan chuckled as he watched Groudon hugging the Earth Plate with a silly grin.
All it took was giving it the Plate, and promising to help it beat up Kyogre once, for Groudon to agree.
Easier than Dylan had imagined—though that only highlighted how deep the grudge between "the non-flier" and "the fat fish" ran.
After all, they had fought for millennia. Even if their clashes began over natural energy, by now, they simply hated each other on sight.
"By the way, Groudon…"
Something crossed Dylan's mind, and the corner of his lips curved upward.
"What is it, Dylan?"
Groudon's mood was excellent. The Earth Plate's pure land energy was nourishing it immensely.
It was confident—given enough time absorbing it, it could surpass that fat fish once and for all!
Just picturing itself stomping Kyogre underfoot felt like reaching the peak of its life.
"Can you fly?" Dylan asked curiously.
"..."
The air froze. Groudon stiffened.
…
Hoenn, Slateport Arena.
This was the region's largest stadium, home of the Grand Festival.
Today, however, it was packed to the brim, every seat filled. Trainers from Hoenn and far beyond all wore expectant looks.
"The atmosphere feels… different somehow."
From a private box overlooking the stadium, Dylan and his group observed.
This room was reserved for VIPs like them. Still, Dylan personally preferred watching matches directly among the crowd—it felt more alive that way.
"Of course it's different. This is Cynthia versus Steven, after all." Diantha crossed one arm elegantly and touched her cheek with the other, smiling.
"A match like this can't be missed. If not for seat limits, there'd be even more people here."
"Exactly!" Leon laughed heartily, arms crossed. Ranked No. 4 in the Masters Eight, the only ones above him were Cynthia, Steven, and Dylan.
He, too, had come to watch in person. After all, both Steven and Cynthia were opponents he longed to face.
Not only Diantha and Leon—Iris, Serena, Alola's current Champion Hau, Alder, and many others were gathered.
With so many Champions present, Dylan naturally joined them here.
"I really wonder who'll win," Alder mused with a smile and deep curiosity.
"Dylan, what do you think?" Iris asked.
"Hard to say." Dylan shook his head. Between Cynthia and Steven, who was stronger? Impossible to judge.
Even in the anime's World Championship, the two never fought to a decisive result.
Ash defeated Steven, then Cynthia, then finally faced Leon.
By bracket alone, Cynthia placed higher—but that meant nothing.
If the matchups had been swapped—Cynthia versus Ash, Steven versus Iris—the outcome would've been the same: Ash advancing, Steven advancing.
So their relative strength couldn't be measured that way.
Besides, these weren't exactly the same Cynthia and Steven as in the anime.
Still, Dylan admitted—Steven now had two Metagross. That gave him a real edge.
He'd battled Steven before, and that shiny Mega Metagross was monstrously strong. The question was, how strong was Cynthia's ace Mega Garchomp?
And who knew—maybe Cynthia had prepared hidden aces. After all, Dylan's presence had already shifted many events.
She'd even fought in Hoenn's land-sea conflict last year. Perhaps those experiences had pushed her to raise new mainstays.
On the battlefield—
At the host's announcement, two figures emerged from opposite tunnels.
The stadium erupted into thunderous cheers.
"Champion Steven! Victory is yours!!"
"Lady Cynthia! You'll win for sure—we'll always support you!"
"Steven! Steven! Steven!!"
"Lady Cynthia, you're as beautiful as ever today!"
"Don't forget—Steven was personally acknowledged by Champion Dylan with a badge! How could he lose?"
Both had immense popularity, but this was Hoenn—Steven's home ground. His fans quickly drowned out Cynthia's supporters, some even beating drums.
Naturally, neither Champion cared about such noise.
Dressed in their iconic outfits, Steven and Cynthia took their positions.
"The World Championship ranking match begins! Challenger: Cynthia of Sinnoh! Defending Champion: Steven of Hoenn!"
The referee entered, blowing his whistle.
"Rules: Full 6-on-6 battle. Both trainers may use up to two battle enhancements. If all six Pokémon of the defender are unable to battle, the challenger wins!"
"Battle… start!"
The referee's arm swung down, then he retreated from the field.
On the screen, their portraits appeared, with the pointer spinning rapidly… landing on Steven's side. He would move first.
"I knew this day would come," Steven said, holding a Poké Ball. He didn't release it yet—he looked to Cynthia and smiled.
"I expected you'd challenge me. I just didn't think it'd be so soon."
Cynthia might appear a graceful, intellectual woman—but one didn't become Champion without a hunger for battle.
Like Diantha—elegant in daily life, but loving the clash of strength.
Cynthia was the same. Though women, their desire to fight rivals any man's.
After all, they had climbed to the top of their regions by defeating everyone.
"Yes. I want to challenge Dylan—to feel the pressure of facing him myself." Cynthia's lips curved in a refined smile, her hair swaying gently in the breeze.
"Why not at his Gym?" Steven asked.
"I want to face him here, in the arena."
"Cynthia, that isn't rational."
"Perhaps not. But precisely for that reason, it's worth attempting."
"I see."
Steven lowered his gaze briefly, chuckling.
"But first, Cynthia… you'll have to defeat me."
His eyes grew calm and sharp. He acknowledged her will—but he was the world's No. 2. He was Steven Stone.
"My name is Steven Stone, Champion of Hoenn!"
"Cynthia, even if we're friends, I will not hand over this position or its honor. You understand, don't you?"
He raised his right hand in his signature pose.
He wasn't just a trainer. He represented Hoenn itself. This was a battle between Champions.
"Yes. I understand."
Cynthia's golden eyes hardened, her aura shifting in an instant.
"I'll defeat you, and climb higher! As fellow Champions—come, Steven. Show me your strength!"
Dominance.
No need for flowery words. For Cynthia, defeating her opponent in battle was what a trainer did—Champion or not.
"Skarmory!"
Steven's eyes gleamed with fighting spirit as he threw his first Poké Ball.
This was a battle he had long awaited. Cynthia was a rival worthy of everything he had.
He had traveled across Hoenn, finished his journey…
And at the end, he was the strongest.
That was no arrogance—only fact.
And so, having become the strongest, Steven gave up his Champion title to Wallace, to dig stones in peace.
But he always yearned for powerful opponents.
"Skarmory, huh?"
Cynthia's eyes narrowed at the steel bird. She'd seen it in his battle against the Rota Gym—it was a veteran partner.
"Spiritomb!"
She tossed her first ball.
The Poké Ball burst open, revealing a keystone. Purple mist swirled upward, shaping into a ghastly face.
Her signature lead.
Beep—Spiritomb. Ghost/Dark type, the Forbidden Pokémon.
Ability: Pressure.
Moves: Dream Eater, Hypnosis, Dark Pulse, Sucker Punch, Pain Split…
Description: A malicious entity born from 108 evil spirits, bound within a keystone.
"That's creepy," Lillie murmured, tilting her head.
"Spiritomb is very rare. Ghost-type, yes, but also notoriously malevolent," Dylan explained with a smile. Most Pokémon were innocent—but not all.
"Steven's Skarmory is very stall-y, great at laying hazards. But Cynthia's Spiritomb isn't easy prey either."
He studied the battlefield.
Both Pokémon were notorious for being "stall-y."
Skarmory specialized in setting hazards. Spiritomb, meanwhile, was infamous for status spamming—Hypnosis, Will-O-Wisp, Toxic, Confuse Ray, Curse… endless tricks.
And with its Ghost/Dark typing, Spiritomb was immune to three types, weak only to Fairy.
Its HP was low and speed poor—but its defenses were solid on both sides. With Sucker Punch for priority and Trick Room as an option, speed wasn't fatal.
Skarmory could only set hazards. Spiritomb had many more ways to be a nuisance.
Yes—this was going to be a battle worth watching.
(End of Chapter)