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"Take them down! Go, Walrein! Use Blizzard!"
"GRAOOO!!"
Now that Archie had decided to act, he showed no mercy. He hurled a PokeBall, and a massive Walrein burst out. Immediately, a raging Blizzard surged forward, sweeping across the battlefield!
"Hmph! Today you'll learn how powerful we are! Go, Camerupt! Use Flamethrower!"
"FWOOO!!"
Maxie refused to be outdone. A sturdy Camerupt appeared at the front of his team, and flames erupted from the humps on its back. A roaring inferno surged forth, colliding violently with the incoming Blizzard!
"Go! Show them our strength! Long live Team Aqua!!"
"Don't let them escape! Burn them to ashes! Team Magma is the strongest!!"
With both leaders already engaged, their subordinates didn't hold back either!
In an instant, the two sides clashed in full-scale chaos! Flames and water blasts shot wildly in all directions. The crater of Mt. Chimney was quickly filled with thick black smoke and billowing white steam!
And amidst this chaos—
"Hahaha! It's working! It's working! It's coming—yes, it's coming! The power of this meteorite! Awaken this volcano already!"
On a protruding cliff above the crater, the stout man named Tabitha sat atop a crude-looking machine. His chubby hands operated it rapidly. As he worked, electricity surged through the device, most of its power converging on the black meteorite fragment fixed at the top.
As the energy gathered—the meteorite fragment gradually turned red!!
Clank—clank—clank—
But as the energy built up, the entire machine began to shake violently!
"Sir! The energy is becoming unstable!"
An assistant beside Tabitha shouted urgently.
"Hahaha! No need to worry! Everything is under control! It may be a bit crude due to time constraints, but it can handle this level of vibration! Alright! Energy fully charged! 1! 2! 3! FIRE!!"
Laughing with complete confidence, Tabitha aimed the now fully crimson meteorite fragment toward the long-dormant Mt. Chimney below—and slammed the activation button!
Zzzzt—BOOM!!
A brilliant orange-red beam burst from the meteorite fragment and shot straight down into the crater!
Gurgle… gurgle… rumble rumble rumble!!
The beam struck the very center of the volcano.
Within moments—the long-dormant Mt. Chimney began to awaken once more!
"Hahahaha! Success! It worked! Just as I thought! This meteorite from Meteor Falls really can stimulate volcanic energy! That's it—boil! Keep boiling! Then erupt with everything you've got! Hahaha!!"
Seeing his machine work, Tabitha's face filled with pride and excitement. Feeling the rising heat around him, he shouted wildly in exhilaration!
Meanwhile, Archie—still battling Maxie—also felt the temperature rising. Sweat began to bead on his forehead. His brows furrowed as he glanced toward the laughing Tabitha, anger flashing across his face.
"Iga!! What are you doing?! Stop him, now!!"
Archie had already given the order earlier—but Iga had yet to act. His patience was running thin.
"Hehe… no need to be angry, Boss. That machine isn't much of a threat. I'll handle it now."
Only after hearing Archie's command again did Iga act. He released his Crobat and Misdreavus, mounted Crobat, and swiftly flew over the battlefield toward the cliff!
"Hmph! Don't even think about it! Go, Houndoom! Use Fire Spin!"
"ROOO!!"
Maxie noticed immediately. He threw a PokeBall, releasing Houndoom, which unleashed a swirling vortex of flames straight at Iga!
"Block it! Starmie, use Rapid Spin!"
"Sha!!"
Archie wasn't about to stand by. A rapidly spinning Starmie moved in front of Iga, dispersing Houndoom's Fire Spin completely!
"Tch! Annoying pest!!"
Maxie glared angrily at Archie.
"Haha! Come on, Maxie! Let's continue our battle!!"
Ignoring his anger, Archie caught Starmie as it returned and immediately counterattacked.
"Starmie! Hydro Pump!"
"Sha!!"
With Archie keeping Maxie occupied, Iga flew unimpeded to the cliffside. He smiled as he looked at Tabitha and his machine.
"Hm? Hmph! Trying to interfere? Not happening! Go, Camerupt!"
"Go, Swellow!"
Both Tabitha and his assistant reacted instantly, sending out their Pokémon to prepare for battle.
"Hehe, don't be so tense. I'm just here to take a look. Oh? So this is your 'Volcano Awakening Machine'? Not bad… but—"
Instead of attacking immediately, Iga spoke casually, a faint mocking tone in his voice.
"But what?! Are you questioning my invention?!"
Tabitha's eyes narrowed dangerously, anger flaring.
"Hehe, not at all. It's just… while your machine can indeed activate the volcano, it seems that's all it can do. If this is the extent of your plan… then it looks like we were worried for nothing."
Iga pointed down toward the crater, a playful smile on his lips.
"What?"
Tabitha was startled. Confused, he followed Iga's finger and looked down—
"W-What?! What's going on?!"
His expression changed instantly!
"How is this possible?! Why hasn't it erupted?!"
Team Magma's plan had been simple:
Use the machine to release the energy within the meteorite fragment from Meteor Falls, reawaken the "dead" volcano, and trigger a massive eruption.
That eruption would increase both the landmass and temperature of the Hoenn region.
But the reality before them—
Mt. Chimney had indeed awakened! The hardened volcanic rock had reverted into molten, boiling lava!
But that was all.
The expected eruption never came.
Though the meteorite beam continued striking the lava, it no longer responded!
"Damn it… I calculated everything… except this! The energy in this fragment isn't enough! It can only go this far! If we want a true eruption, we'll need more—or larger—meteorites!"
Tabitha muttered bitterly, eyes filled with frustration.
And just as his attention was fixed on the volcano—
"Hehe! Now's my chance! Crobat! Misdreavus! Use Shadow Ball!"
"CROBAT!!"
"MIS!!"
Iga seized the moment. Both Pokémon launched their attacks simultaneously—two spiraling black Shadow Balls shot forward and struck—
—the protruding cliff beneath Tabitha!!
BOOM! BOOM!!