An entire week passed.
The League and the joint forces of Team Magma and Team Aqua remained locked in a tense stalemate throughout those seven days.
However, that week wasn't merely filled with confrontation.
The League finally managed to extend its scouting routes to the very edges of Team Magma's and Team Aqua's bases.
During that time, both sides clashed over a hundred times.
From small skirmishes between minor squads to intense battles that nearly forced Drake himself to intervene directly against Maxie and Archie—almost triggering a full-scale war.
In the end, since Team Magma and Team Aqua were unwilling to face the League head-on, they chose to retreat.
And because the League lacked sufficient high-level personnel to safely pursue them—given the constant risk of ambushes—after several encounters, both sides withdrew with a tacit understanding.
But a week of stalemate had been an enormous drain on both the League and the two Teams.
That meant the final battle was drawing ever closer.
Team Magma and Team Aqua still hadn't found the Blue Orb or the Red Orb.
They had already searched every inch of their controlled territory.
If they wanted to continue searching, they would have to move outward and upward—but that area was already under the League's control.
Thus, after a long discussion between Maxie and Archie, they decided to advance against the League.
What had allowed them to endure this long was the League's lack of manpower, preventing them from splitting their forces to cover every front.
Moreover, they were certain that the artifacts were deep within Meteor Falls, allowing them to continue their search calmly.
But after a week, the situation changed once more.
Several small rebel factions stirring up trouble in the cities of the Hoenn region were gradually wiped out by the League.
This gradually freed up more manpower for the League, increasing the pressure on Team Magma and Team Aqua.
And most importantly: the artifacts truly were deep underground—but not as well-hidden as they had believed.
The clash was inevitable.
...
At the League's camp, Drake gathered everyone.
"In the past two days, Team Magma's and Team Aqua's area of activity has expanded, and their counterattacks have become increasingly fierce. I estimate it won't be long before a full-scale battle begins. You all must be prepared."
Cain and the others nodded.
Everyone clearly understood the situation—it was a matter of who would yield first: them, or the two Teams.
"During this time, increase patrols. Cain, Steven, Phoebe, and Wallace—you four are to maintain especially close watch," Drake ordered.
By now, Steven, Phoebe, and Wallace were fully capable of handling difficult missions.
After all, the battlefield was the best place to temper a person.
As for Cain, Drake trusted him even more than Glacia.
Once, Team Magma and Team Aqua had set a trap: Tabitha and Shelly, along with two Elite-level trainers, ambushed Cain. Yet Cain had managed to escape alive.
Even Glacia herself wouldn't have been guaranteed to make it back.
That incident proved that Cain's survival ability ranked among the very best in the League.
Cain's second nickname, "The Escapist," was already well known throughout the organization—and even among the two rival Teams.
His combination of psychic powers with Slowking, along with a special technique, allowed Slowking to perform Teleport almost instantaneously.
That pink flash that appeared whenever he used it had become his "signature" among the soldiers (some even joked about a golden one).
Thanks to that event, Cain's reputation within the League had officially surpassed that of Steven, Phoebe, and Wallace.
His strength was recognized by all, and no one doubted it.
Following Drake's orders, Cain once again ventured deep underground.
After days of exploration, the League had nearly cleared the entire tunnel network in the area.
As they continued forward, they sought to uncover what Team Magma and Team Aqua were truly searching for.
The wild Pokémon in those tunnels had also been eliminated, allowing for faster progress.
Cain arrived directly at the border of the rival activity zone.
The League had established numerous watchposts there. If anyone crossed the boundary, they could sound the alarm in time for reinforcements to respond.
Cain greeted the sentinels briefly before venturing into Team Magma's and Team Aqua's territory.
The guards weren't surprised at all—Cain had done this many times before.
"Mr. Cain really is a prodigy, isn't he still under eighteen? I've got a cousin—she's really cute and has a good temperament—maybe she'd have a chance with him," said one of the guards.
His companion initially agreed, but froze when he heard the rest.
"You? Come on! Don't you know how many heiresses from big families want to marry Mr. Cain? You think your cousin can compare to them?"
"In my opinion, since Cain comes from humble origins, he's probably in no rush to find a partner. When this is over, he'll likely become a member of the Elite Four. His mentor is a current Elite Four member, and for a disciple to inherit his master's position—that would be a story worth remembering."
From their words and tone, it was clear how deeply they respected Cain.
"I think so too. A genius like Cain, along with Steven, Phoebe, and Wallace... those four are Hoenn's greatest fortune! If all four of them fully mature, our region will be the most stable in the next hundred years..."
While they talked, their Pokémon remained vigilant, watching the surroundings.
Team Magma and Team Aqua hadn't crossed the border for quite some time.
But suddenly—
BOOM!
BOOM!
A series of deafening explosions echoed.
A massive wave of Pokémon charged straight toward them.
The two guards turned pale.
The worst-case scenario had arrived—Team Magma and Team Aqua were launching an all-out attack!
Their faces twisted with tension, but maintaining their professionalism, they immediately activated the alarm systems they carried.
The League's camp lit up with flashing red lights.
Level One Alert!
Total Mobilization!
Following the alarm, nearby posts and patrols rushed in at once.
But upon seeing the incoming flood of enemy Pokémon, everyone knew they were doomed.
At that scale, their speed and power were unstoppable.
However, the strongest reinforcements had also heard the alarm.
The first to appear was Steven, his expression grim.
Then Cain arrived, one hand resting on Slowking, his eyes glowing with psychic energy as he teleported to the frontlines.
"Cain! Use Teleport and get everyone out of here!" Steven shouted as soon as he saw him.
Cain looked at Steven, then at the people behind him—frozen in confusion.
Then he smiled broadly. "Don't worry. We've been waiting for this great battle for a long time. Slowking will take you all to safety. But when you return... be ready to fight."
Saying that, Cain patted Slowking on the back. The Pokémon understood instantly, teleporting alongside the others and enveloping them in psychic energy.
"You're staying behind alone!?" Steven shouted, disbelief in his eyes.
(End of Chapter)