Groudon, the Legendary Pokémon of the Hoenn region, was wrapped in red, plate-like skin across its entire body, as though wearing a heavy suit of crimson armor. Large spikes protruded from its head, torso, and tail, and four bulldozer-like teeth curved upward at the end of its tail.
However, although Groudon had appeared inside the tower, its eyes were still black and pupil-less, proof that it remained in deep sleep.
Although it released intense light, its current state was the same as when it stayed in Terra Cave and the Seafloor Cavern.
Steven looked at this ancient beast. This was the second time he had seen it. The intense light stirred unpleasant memories in him.
"Groudon is said to be the embodiment of the land. In myth, it has long been described as the Pokémon that created land and expanded continents. When it first appeared two years ago, it made all the rain clouds Kyogre had stirred up across the whole land of Hoenn vanish!"
"Beyond that, it then underwent a further transformation. At the time, no one understood what kind of power that was. But later, after research by professional professors, it was determined that the phenomenon was extremely similar to Mega Evolution, which has been passed down in Hoenn since ancient times and also has traditions remaining in the Kalos region."
"Therefore, it was named Primal Reversion."
Hikaru said, "Actually, there is still a major difference. After all, Primal Reversion is a phenomenon triggered by natural energy, while the source of Mega Evolution is life energy released by the ultimate weapon combining with high-energy radiation from space. After that radiation struck Evolution stones, such as Fire Stones and Leaf Stones, it changed them."
"Do you know about [Project AZOTH]?"
Steven said, "No. What is that?"
Hikaru said, "The goal of that plan is to restore this world, restore everything, and return it all to its primitive starting point. It was once the research goal of Team Magma, or possibly Team Aqua."
"Maxie and Archie were both connected to that plan."
"Among them, Team Magma took action first. To promote the realization of this plan, they began researching Groudon's Primal Reversion. In other words, from the very beginning, the so-called [professors' naming] had a problem."
Steven's expression suddenly changed.
That had originally been a name decided by the researchers at the time, together with professors invited from other regions and Professor Birch.
As it turned out, that name had already existed long ago?!
Steven said, "...Even now, something like this... There was a mole on the research team?!"
Hikaru said, "Uh, you can't really put it that way. Primal Reversion is a name left behind long ago. The so-called [new name] was probably just something they found in ancient books and documents."
"[Project AZOTH] states that Primal Reversion is one possibility for Pokémon evolution, a possibility different from Mega Evolution. They had already understood that the difference between the two abilities lies in the source of the energy."
"And next comes the core point of this plan."
"[A] represents the original starting point."
"[Z] represents the end of everything."
"And according to the currently known information, the character Z also represents the Legendary Pokémon of the Kalos and Alola regions, nature's balancer, [Zygarde]."
"As for [O], [T], and [H], the investigation report does not clarify what they represent."
"In the Galar region, AZOTH refers to [mercury] in alchemy. And in the Kalos region, there was also an ancient kingdom with the same name."
"AZOTH: the Azoth Kingdom."
"It was a super-mechanical city-state developed through mysterious science. Enormous gears turned everywhere in the town, serving as the kingdom's defining feature. The kingdom's appearance, built with mysterious science, seems not to have changed since five hundred years ago."
"And the kingdom's mysterious science originated from the ultimate weapon three thousand years ago. Devon Corporation investigated that object and the related legend as well, though I do not know how you obtained your information... Even Team Magma and Team Aqua had investigative results."
"The final product of that work was the Mythical Pokémon called [Magearna]."
"The name Azoth comes from ancient practitioners who believed it to be a flowing soul present in all matter. Possessing it made transmutation of matter possible. It was the same sort of thing as the Philosopher's Stone, regarded as one of alchemy's greatest secrets, equal in importance to the Philosopher's Stone itself."
As for the Philosopher's Stone, it was the essence of all elements, an indestructible object that no element could harm or destroy. It was the fifth element. It was a dual, living mercury with its own spirit, capable of processing all unstable and imperfect metals.
Then did such a thing exist in the Pokémon world?
Steven naturally asked the follow-up question. "What...? Does something like that exist?"
Hikaru said, "Even Infinity Energy exists, so of course the Philosopher's Stone exists too. Or rather, Infinity Energy is another form of that kind of thing."
"It is ancient alchemy passed down from the distant past, ancient knowledge granted by the dragon gods from space known as the three alchemical principles. It is said that only heroes can obtain it."
"In the Unova region, at some time far older than the important turning point three thousand years ago, there appeared something formed from the power of people's minds, souls, and dreams. It was exactly like the Philosopher's Stone, and could serve as an all-purpose stone usable as any material."
"[The Reveal Glass]!"
"Three thousand years ago, war broke out in Kalos, and the most powerful mysterious science was invented. In the Galar region, the Darkest Day occurred, causing large numbers of Pokémon to Dynamax and run wild."
"At the same time, the younger brother of Kalos's first king, in order to seize all of Kalos, brought many [foreigners] into Kalos. Those people are generally believed to have been ancient Galarians. To escape the attacks of the Darkest Day and obtain new land, they waged an unprecedentedly fierce war against Kalos."
"At that same time, the Original Dragon appeared in Unova. The ancient king formed a bond with it, and the Abyssal Ruins were successfully constructed. But afterward came the destined battle between heroes. The Legendary Dragon split apart and fought, and even the Entree was destroyed because of it, losing the ability to create Reveal Glasses."
"At that same time, the Mythical Pokémon known as Melmetal was worshiped because it possessed the power to produce iron, and the iron it created was used in war."
"A is a transcription of Alpha. O is a transcription of Omega. That leaves T and H..."
"Of course, this interpretation may not necessarily be correct. Whether the character A represents Kyogre remains debatable. But O is indeed Groudon."
Because the so-called A-god could also refer to Arceus. After all, the origins of Arceus's name included the alpha or A of [origin], as well as Zeus, whose initial character was [Z].
A rough voice rang out near the entrance of the Embedded Tower, accompanied by hearty laughter.
"I never expected that even such secret documents would be known to you. And on top of that, I heard even more unbelievable things! Did you investigate all this by yourself?"
"You're the [recipient] of the Scarlet Orb that the Hoenn Champion mentioned, aren't you?"
"Maxie and I once belonged to the same organization. [Project AZOTH] was born from the remnants of the ideas we held at that time."
"However, our thinking back then was far too immature. Whether it is land or sea, both are extremely important. Still, the current operation to awaken Groudon can be regarded as a restart of [Project AZOTH]!"
"To bring everything to an end, or else bring about our own end!"
A burly man in a blue diving suit, wearing a bandanna marked with the Alpha crest and sporting a full beard, arrived there carrying the Scarlet Orb.
Team Aqua's leader, Archie.
However, this was not his appearance from Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, but Archie from the remakes. In other words, he was the type with a bold personality who was deeply trusted by his subordinates.
Of course, the Archie from Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald would make a return during the Team Rainbow Rocket incident.
"For the sake of Pokémon, we once intended to return the world to nature. That was Team Aqua's wish."
"But now, we devote ourselves to protecting the marine environment. We will not make the same mistakes again."
Archie had brought the Scarlet Orb. He placed it in a transparent container, and after seeing Groudon appear inside the Embedded Tower, this leader known for his rough-and-ready manner also became rarely serious.
"Groudon's power evaporates moisture, eliminating the water molecules in the air and ocean. Among all weather moves and Abilities, this thing's Ability is the strongest!"
"I do not know what connection this tower has to Groudon and Kyogre, but the situation is urgent!"
"If Groudon goes berserk, are you confident you can restrain it?"
Hikaru said, "Of course. I am already prepared."
"As an embodiment of primal nature, violence is normal. However, before it undergoes Primal Reversion, Groudon's power is still absurd, but not impossible to deal with."
The strength of Hoenn's three super-ancient Pokémon was beyond doubt. Their showings in the Special manga were especially exaggerated, with Groudon evaporating and burning all the plants in Fortree City, causing a massive drought, and tearing the Hoenn region in half.
However, even such powerful force had once been suppressed by Roxanne, the young Gym Leader of Rustboro City.
So [presentation] was one thing, while an actual fight was another. What made it difficult to intervene later was that Groudon's power collided with Kyogre's, producing a result greater than the sum of its parts.
"Groudon's weaknesses are Water, Grass, and Ice!"
"Walking Wake, Palafin, Ogerpon."
"Lilligant, Chien-Pao!"
Poké Balls opened one after another. Water-type and Grass-type Pokémon appeared, along with the leopard who had just learned Eternal Ice Wall.
"Grass and Ice do indeed counter Ground," Archie said, looking deeply worried. "But I hope you understand. I already said this, right? Under harsh sunlight, water vapor will be evaporated completely."
"And under intense sun, the power of Water is suppressed, so even Water-type moves cannot deal much damage. Also, while Grass does counter Groudon, Groudon itself has Fire-type moves."
"After it undergoes Primal Reversion, the power of Fire will increase even further!"
Hikaru said, "Of course. That is the result of the Ability Drought. Moreover, Groudon's own Drought energy is many times stronger than that of other Pokémon."
"However, as the saying goes, Water and Ice are practically family. Water-type Pokémon can usually use Ice-type moves as well. Under Drought weather, Ice moves do not weaken."
That was exactly what made the Ice type so formidable.
Even Groudon in the Special manga world had been struck hard by the [Ice Ball] used by Wallace's Spheal. The intense heat was unable to melt away the ice energy or weaken the formation of ice, which was a very strange matter in the Pokémon world.
Although Fire still countered Ice, sunny weather did not weaken Ice's power. And now...
"Rrrah!"
The leopard roared first, eager to fight.
Archie looked at the Pokémon that had appeared and stroked his beard.
"One is a Dragon type, and the other is... hm, looks like a superhero?"
"Man!" Palafin was striking a pose. It met Archie's gaze, and in an instant, the two seemed to understand each other without words.
Archie said, "A hero of the sea... That feeling just now, without a doubt, you are a Pokémon born to protect the sea. You love the ocean and water! A real man."
"Man!" Palafin gave him a thumbs-up.
The sea superhero and the ocean ranger had appeared.
Steven also looked at the lineup before him. "There are two Water-type Pokémon. No, three?"
"Pon!" Ogerpon rummaged through her little cloak.
Wellspring Mask. Mask change.
She became Water and Grass type.
"No, no, no!" Hikaru waved his hand at Ogerpon. "The Wellspring Mask does not actually give you an advantage against Groudon. So we need to become [Dragon] type!"
"Pon? Oh!" Ogerpon tilted her body. Although there was a question mark over her head, she still did as instructed.
Dragon God Mask. Mask change.
Hikaru said, "Exactly. Grass and Dragon type. It resists Ground, is not weak to Rock or Fire, and also resists Grass and Electric!"
Steven was extremely shocked. "Its type changed?! Hm, the Hoenn region also has a similar Pokémon, Castform! When the weather changes, its type changes along with it."
"A Dragon type would indeed have some advantage against Groudon. How incredible. But among these Pokémon, there is actually also a Fire type?"
Steven looked to the other side.
In addition to the Pokémon that had appeared, a great knight about two meters tall, wearing golden armor, had also emerged.
"A Pokémon from the Paldea region. The legendary Fire warrior, Armarouge."
Hikaru answered Steven's question. "Although Groudon is a Pokémon that lives in magma, Fire-type attacks can still damage it. And there is a reason why I had a Fire-type Pokémon participate in this battle."
Armarouge nodded to Hikaru.
Preparations were complete. So, when should they pull the boss?
"Right now." Hikaru took the Scarlet Orb from Archie. At the same time, he whispered instructions to Palafin. Palafin received the command, struck a heroic entrance pose, and gave Archie a thumbs-up.
Heroes were always necessary.
Sometimes, the ones standing in the spotlight were not the only ones who counted as heroes.
"Oooh! I do not know what you are saying, but I will do my best too."
Archie looked rather confused as Palafin dove from outside the Embedded Tower into the sea in a diving posture. Then he turned back in even greater confusion. "Didn't you say you were going to have Water-type Pokémon use Ice-type moves? Wait, why did you just have it jump straight into the sea?"
The situation before him made no sense.
Hikaru did not explain. He immediately gave a command to the Groudon before him, whose energy had risen sharply but who had yet to awaken.
Just like Maxie had once done on the Jagged Pass.
The Scarlet Orb released dazzling red light. Then, the legendary embodiment of the land opened its eyes.
"Gruuuuuuu!"
The Embedded Tower shook violently. Groudon awakened from its deep slumber, and the first thing it saw was the few people before it.
Wait. Two of them looked somewhat familiar.
Oh. They were the people who had once appeared before it and interfered with its great battle against Kyogre.
But where was it? This was not Terra Cave, where it had previously slept, but a more orderly and ancient...
Wait. This place was?!
Groudon saw the crest appearing inside the Embedded Tower. Then it saw that one of the three people was holding the Scarlet Orb. In that instant, the scene before its eyes seemed to overlap with ancient memories.
It remembered the Embedded Tower, but that had happened very long ago.
In a certain era, some people had left the Hoenn region and built this tower on distant land to worship earth, sea, and sky.
It had once been summoned here by them as well.
And to escape disaster, they had even created new orbs.
"Hey! The look in its eyes changed!"
Archie looked toward Steven. "It seems to still remember us!"
Steven said, "I originally thought that super-ancient Pokémon would not care about insignificant humans like us, but Groudon's memory seems very clear. That gaze contains tremendous anger."
"But since it can recognize us, that also means it can understand the current situation."
"Groudon, hear me!" Steven took a step forward and spoke to the furious embodiment of the land.
"The Hoenn land you created is now facing the crisis of a falling meteorite. At the same time, there is a madman preparing to create a fiend of the earth."
"In other words, conflict is occurring in the sky and on the land at the same time. Now we need your power. This time, not to expand the continent, and not to battle Kyogre. Please fight together with us to protect Hoenn's nature and land!"
Groudon listened to Steven's explanation. It still bared its sharp teeth, but gave no response. Immediately afterward, its body emitted white light, firing a pillar of white radiance from its body toward the top of the Embedded Tower.
Even the sky around Route 47 became cloudless. The waves stopped, and water vapor began evaporating violently.
"This thing does not care about the Hoenn region at all!" Archie had already sent out his Pokémon.
Of course, it was not his ace, Sharpedo, because a shark could not float in midair and battle. Therefore, the Pokémon Archie used was a Mightyena that knew Ice Fang.
Whether Team Magma or Team Aqua, both teams had Poochyena and Mightyena in their lineups, which had once contributed to a famous scene known as the "Mt. Chimney dogfight tournament."
"As an embodiment of nature, when Groudon and Kyogre fought their earth-shaking battle two years ago, I already understood."
Archie said to Steven and Hikaru, "Both of these creatures aimed for Hoenn's natural energy. As for anything else, whether humans or Pokémon live or die has nothing to do with them!"
"Therefore, they understand the current situation, but they do not care about the outcome that may come!"
Hikaru, however, looked at Groudon. "But there should be a legend like that, right?"
Steven had already prepared to send out Metagross for battle. Seeing that Hikaru still seemed to be talking, he could not help feeling confused.
"A legend...?"
Hikaru said, "Legend says Groudon once appeared as a savior before people suffering from flood disasters. Those people then passed down the custom of worshiping it."
"So it is not that it does not care about Hoenn. Rather, it thinks we have no right to control it in battle. Whether it fights, or what it does, is something it decides for itself."
"After all, unlike Rayquaza, Groudon and Kyogre have no bond with humans. Their Primal Reversion forms also do not require human power."
"However, the current situation is indeed extremely dangerous. Holding on to that old way of thinking will not work. So, does it really not matter if Hoenn's natural energy is obtained by an alien from space, or if Hoenn's natural energy is stolen by a fiend?"
"Gruuuuu!" Groudon released a deafening roar, triggering a fierce tremor through the Embedded Tower.
It stared at the humans before it. At the same time, that roar just now was also a warning.
Of course the natural energy of Hoenn's land could only belong to Groudon!
[Expanding the land is the meaning of my life. You humans experienced that incident two years ago, and yet you still think you can control me?]
[Give me the Scarlet Orb! Otherwise, I will make you taste the terror of drought once again!]
"Hey, the sunlight my team members detected outside is now 'extremely harsh'... And it is just like what happened in Hoenn two years ago!" Archie sounded urgent. "At that time, the entire sky above Sootopolis City turned the color of magma!"
"Half the world was scorching sunlight, and half the world was covered in dense storm clouds... But now, without Kyogre's power, and with Rayquaza injured, can we still suppress it?!"
"Could it be that it still retains natural power left over from using the orb two years ago...?! Look, this thing is grinning!"
Groudon was indeed grinning viciously at that moment.
The orb was a crystallization of natural energy. The energy contained inside it naturally could not be exhausted in a single use. It was the world's gift. Therefore, even though Groudon had been defeated by Rayquaza, it had still retained a little power.
Although that was not enough for it to immediately enter Primal Reversion, its power had still increased greatly compared with its normal state.
Especially its [weather]. It could not be overwritten.
Intense flames gathered in Groudon's mouth.
Fire Blast!
Under harsh sunlight, the power of Fire-type moves increased by 1.5 times.
Flames capable of destroying everything turned the Embedded Tower into a sea of fire. Groudon stared at the humans and Pokémon swallowed by the flames and let out a dismissive sound.
If this were not the Embedded Tower, it would have used the more powerful Precipice Blades and Fissure.
Precisely because it was still inside this tower, it had restrained itself slightly.
Then this move should have burned those humans into serious injuries. Next, it only needed to retrieve the Scarlet Orb...
Groudon looked at the dark silhouettes in the flames and strode forward. But in the next instant, a hurricane swept the flames aside. Along with the charge of two figures, the flames were absorbed and erased.
"Ability: Flash Fire."
Hikaru said, "Pokémon with this Ability absorb flames when struck by Fire-type attacks, strengthening the Fire-type moves they use."
Armarouge, holding a golden battle spear, used its Flash Fire Ability to increase the power of its own Fire-type moves.
"It is also normal that the weather cannot be overwritten."
"Although both are [Drought], there is a gap between one Drought and another. Your energy is far too powerful. This is not something Orichalcum Pulse can compare to."
"Lilligant... Triple Axel!"
Triple Axel, an Ice-type move, used Ice-type power. It kicked the opponent three consecutive times. The first hit had a power of 20, the second was twice that, and the third was three times that. Each strike had the same chance to land a critical hit.
Its actual power was 120, with an expected power of 180. After the critical-hit multiplier was adjusted to 2x, it could reach 240!
Groudon was struck dumb for an instant by that sudden assault. It took one heavy step back, causing violent shaking within the Embedded Tower's alternate space. Moreover, the Groudon appearing now was far taller than three meters, completely different from the Pokédex description.
But even with such a massive height, it was still forced back at once by a type-advantaged attack.
Groudon stared in disbelief at the shield of ice amid the blazing flames.
That white leopard was clearly weak to flames. Yet a Fire Blast under harsh sunlight had actually been blocked by an ice shield?!
What was that thing?!
Archie's expression was shocked. "Hey, what is this ice shield?"
Steven was equally astonished. "A move I have never seen before... Ice-type Pokémon should have very weak resistances."
Hikaru said, "The true secret art of the Ice type obtained from a certain parallel world, a technique capable of making up for poor resistances: [Eternal Ice Wall]!"
"It freely controls the energy of ice and snow, gathering moisture from the atmosphere to continuously create an ice shield that cannot be broken. Even Fire-type moves cannot breach it! Although Groudon can weaken the power of Water and eliminate rain clouds... Water-type Pokémon can create water vapor themselves!"
"Besides, the area around Route 47 has cliffs and the sea. No matter how powerful Groudon is, even if it can evaporate some of the water source, it cannot possibly evaporate the enormous ocean between Johto and Hoenn. Fighting here is actually to our advantage!"
"Exactly. That massive amount of water vapor comes from..."
The three turned their heads and saw a towering wave rising outside the Embedded Tower.
Palafin was moving in and out of the massive wave, striking a heroic pose.
"Man!"
A dark man would lend aid at the key moment of battle. Who said only those who use Blizzard count as heroes?
"Palafin, use [Waterfall]!"
"Pour the power of the sea into this place. Seawater is inexhaustible!"
In the Special manga battle, although Pryce had once been suppressed by Gold's Sunny Day tactic, that only restrained the Ice Man's regeneration speed. It did not suppress [regeneration] itself.
Eternal Ice Wall could truly be called the [secret art of winter]!
"Then why did the Fire-type move have no effect on the Grass-type Lilligant?!" Steven saw Lilligant charging out, and at that moment, Lilligant had already raised her Solar Blade.
After Triple Axel came a Grass-type same-type light-blade slash.
Hikaru said, "This is why I sent out Armarouge to assist..."
"The move [Role Play]! It changes the user's Ability to the same Ability as the target's!"
"This is my Lilligant's proudest tactic: [Flash Fire]!"
To make a Pokémon weak to Fire no longer weak to Fire, what one needed was a move capable of changing Abilities.
In official derivative works, tactics such as Skill Swap had even been used to create the famous [Flash Fire Scizor]!
(End of Chapter)
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