Drake versus Archie, Norman versus Maxie.
Two great battles, ready to erupt at any moment!
Off to the side, Tabitha and Shelly exchanged glances, intending to command their Pokémon to join the fight and provide assistance.
Even if their participation wouldn't be decisive, it could still have some effect. But just as they were about to move, two figures appeared before them.
"Sorry, but I'm afraid your opponents are us."
At some point, Cain and Steven's Pokémon had been released again.
Tabitha and Shelly, on the other hand, had suffered severe losses after Kommo-o's devastating explosion.
The strength advantage they had previously held over Cain and Steven... had now completely vanished.
Moreover, unlike Maxie and Archie, they couldn't afford to spend massive resources to raise multiple Pokémon.
The few they had left hadn't yet reached their limits, though.
Following the strategy Cain and Steven had discussed in advance: Steven headed straight for Tabitha, while Cain went for Shelly.
In truth, Cain knew those two quite well.
Last time, Drake had been the one to fight them; this time, it was his turn.
It was a sign of growth.
At that moment, the Pokémon still left with Shelly were a Sharpedo, a Crawdaunt, and a Walrein.
Three Water-type Pokémon, of which the strongest was undoubtedly her Walrein.
Pokémon: Walrein (Light Purple)
Gender: Male
Level: 76
Types: Ice + Water
Ability: Thick Fat
Held Item: None
Egg Moves: Water Sport, Yawn, Aqua Ring, Belly Drum
Basic Moves: Ice Fang, Swagger, Crunch, Defense Curl, Powder Snow, Growl, Water Gun, Rollout, Encore, Ice Ball, Brine, Aurora Beam, Body Slam, Rest, Snore, Hail, Blizzard, Sheer Cold
Learned Moves: Water Pulse, Block, Stomping Tantrum, Iron Tail, Icy Wind
TM Moves: Ice Beam, Protect, Earthquake, Rock Tomb, Echoed Voice, Frost Breath, Sleep Talk, Surf, Waterfall
However, during the fight against Kommo-o, it had also taken considerable damage.
At best, it could only exert about seventy percent of its full strength.
Even so, those three Water-type Pokémon still posed a notable threat against Cain's current team.
The six Pokémon Cain had sent out: Slowking, Florges, Tyranitar, Aggron, Blaziken, and Swampert.
The battle between Steven and Tabitha had already begun. Between two men — and enemies, no less — there was no need for talk.
Meanwhile, the duel between Drake and Norman versus Archie and Maxie had reached its climax.
Drake was relentlessly pressuring Archie without giving him room to breathe.
Norman, on the other hand, was exchanging blows with Maxie in an uncertain stalemate, neither side gaining the upper hand.
Norman's Slaking hadn't yet unleashed its full power, but Maxie likely still had aces up his sleeve as well.
Cain looked at Shelly and suddenly smiled.
"Shelly, this isn't the first time we've met, is it?"
Shelly shot him a look, noticing he wasn't in any rush to start the battle. That worked in her favor, as it gave her Pokémon more time to recover.
With a flirtatious gesture, she brushed her blue hair back.
"So, young Cain is in such high spirits? Even before the fight, he wants to chat a bit with his big sister?"
Shelly was, without a doubt, an extremely attractive woman, and when she spoke like that, she exuded an air of seduction.
Within Team Aqua, there were many who secretly coveted her beauty.
But because of her status and power, none dared make advances.
"It's nothing. I just wanted to invite you to change locations. There's not enough space here," Cain said, unfazed by how she addressed him.
In truth, he was indeed much younger than her.
"Oh? And where does young Cain want to take me?" Shelly asked with a teasing smile.
But in her eyes, a faint flash of disgust appeared.
It was clear she had misunderstood him.
Though it wasn't her fault — after living in such an environment for so long, climbing step by step from the bottom to a commanding position, her instincts naturally made her wary.
The fact that she still held onto her own principles showed she was not only strong but also upright.
She was quite similar to Rose, Cain's current subordinate.
Both appeared flirtatious on the surface, but deep down, they were women of unyielding purity.
"Then please, follow me," Cain said calmly.
He didn't bother explaining further.
He ran toward a side passage.
He couldn't fight properly here anyway, so regardless of what she thought, luring her away was the best option.
Shelly's eyes glinted with a murderous gleam.
No one in the League is any good. Such a young boy... and already with dirty thoughts.
Regardless, she followed him with her Pokémon.
She trusted in her own strength completely — especially after assessing Cain's team and gauging their levels.
No matter how skilled he was, her Pokémon were stronger.
Everyone else was too occupied with their own battles to notice Cain and Shelly's disappearance.
One after another, they entered the passageway.
There, nothing could interrupt their confrontation.
"Alright then... let's begin," Cain said.
"Let's see what kind of trick you're hiding," Shelly replied, adjusting her hair again as her gaze hardened.
At that moment, her expression resembled Lorelei's.
Cain only smiled silently.
What looked like a passage was actually an alternate space Cain had prepared in advance.
What they had just crossed was merely the spatial barrier to it.
He had disguised it as a normal tunnel, but in truth, it was an independent space.
The Unown possessed such power, though Cain rarely used it.
"I've heard... that you, Team Aqua, worship the god of the sea — Kyogre."
Shelly, who had been ready to fight, was momentarily stunned.
She didn't understand what Cain was playing at, but she still nodded, a hint of devotion flashing in her eyes.
"The god of the sea, Kyogre, is the greatest being among all legendaries. In this Pokémon world, though the land is vast, the sea is even greater. Isn't that proof enough of its greatness?"
Cain didn't refute her. Instead, he nodded sincerely.
"That's true. Most of this planet is covered by oceans."
But then, his tone shifted.
"However, what does that god have to do with you?"
"The sea will always be the sea. Aside from a few sailors and you people from Team Aqua... how many humans can actually survive in it?"
Shelly's brows furrowed.
"What are you trying to say?"
Cain smiled, showing his teeth.
"You, as one of Team Aqua's top members — Archie's right hand — how much do you actually know about him? About his true goals and ambitions?"
In Team Magma, everyone clearly understood Maxie's goal: to awaken Groudon.
But in Team Aqua, it wasn't like that. Archie's ambition and his plans... actually contradicted the basic laws of survival for both humans and Pokémon.
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Shelly asked again, her voice sharp.
(End of chapter)