Five minutes earlier, while Luo Yuan and Rayquaza battled atop Sky Pillar...
At the Mossdeep Space Center—
Upon learning of Team Magma and Team Aqua's plans to awaken Groudon and Kyogre, the Hoenn League had quickly formed an emergency response team.
The team, led personally by the Hoenn Champion Steven Stone, utilized the Mossdeep Space Center's satellite network to track Groudon and Kyogre's movements. Their goal was to respond at the first sign of trouble.
Moments ago, the satellites detected an unusual energy surge.
"Mr. Stone, we've picked up large-scale meteor activity in the southern sea. Rayquaza's energy signature has also been detected!" a researcher reported.
Steven's brows furrowed. "Rayquaza?"
As Hoenn's Champion and the heir to the Devon Corporation—one of the key entities that had once attempted to capture Rayquaza—Steven was well-acquainted with the legendary Pokémon.
If his memory served him, Rayquaza had rarely shown itself since it escaped the League's research facility years ago.
For it to suddenly become active now… could it be sensing something?
Steven hypothesized that Rayquaza might have foreseen the impending awakening of Groudon and Kyogre. After all, Hoenn's history was marked by numerous clashes between the two legendary Pokémon, with Rayquaza consistently stepping in to mediate.
"It seems the rumors of Team Magma and Team Aqua's plans to awaken Groudon and Kyogre are true," Steven said grimly.
Although the League had received intelligence regarding these plans, there hadn't been solid evidence to confirm the two teams' ability to awaken the legendary Pokémon.
Rayquaza's sudden activity, however, was a compelling sign that the threat was real.
"What are your orders, Mr. Stone?"
A League Trainer standing behind Steven asked nervously.
In truth, the Trainer wasn't alone in his unease. Most of the League Trainers had never been involved in battles against legendary Pokémon. They lacked the experience to deal with such threats.
Steven, however, remained composed.
"Keep tracking Groudon and Kyogre's movements. Inform Sidney and Wallace to begin evacuating coastal residents immediately."
As his subordinates prepared to leave, Steven paused, adding, "Also, forward the information about Rayquaza to Mr. Norman. Ask him to investigate."
"Yes, sir!"
---
Back at Sky Pillar, Gengar's Curse had drained Rayquaza of its ability to sustain a prolonged fight. Faced with multiple adversaries and Deoxys as a particularly formidable opponent, retreat was the only option.
But to escape, Rayquaza first needed to shake off the relentless Deoxys.
Having made its decision, Rayquaza roared, shifting its battle strategy from evasion to direct confrontation.
Bang!
A Shadow Ball struck Rayquaza squarely, the explosion stinging its nerves with sharp pain. But Rayquaza, undeterred, charged forward with its jaws wide open.
Crunch!
The Dark-type move, highly effective against Psychic Pokémon like Deoxys, carried devastating power in Rayquaza's maw.
Had Deoxys been caught, the consequences would have been catastrophic.
But with its Speed Form boasting an astounding base speed of 180, Deoxys wasn't so easily trapped.
As Rayquaza's fangs closed in, Deoxys's form blurred, teleporting to its flank in an instant.
Rayquaza's bite hit nothing but air.
Far from frustrated, Rayquaza had anticipated this. After such a lengthy exchange, it didn't expect to land a single decisive blow.
Its real plan lay in its follow-up attack.
Swinging its tail, Rayquaza unleashed a Dragon Tail, forcing Deoxys back.
At the same time, powerful winds surged around Rayquaza's body.
The resulting storm buffeted Deoxys's slender frame, disrupting its balance.
Seizing the moment, Rayquaza twisted its body and soared skyward, abandoning Deoxys entirely.
Rayquaza's retreat was swift and resolute, with no hesitation or sentimentality.
Though Sky Pillar had been its home, it was now destined to become one of the few black marks in Rayquaza's long life.
Below, Luo Yuan watched as Rayquaza ascended toward the heavens, showing no sign of urgency or concern.
Instead, his expression held a hint of amusement.
Rayquaza, too focused on its escape, failed to notice this.
All it knew was that it had finally shaken off the dishonorable human and his overwhelming numbers. The freedom of the skies felt exhilarating.
As it basked in its escape, Rayquaza etched Luo Yuan and Deoxys into its memory.
Someday, it vowed, it would return to settle the score...
Bang!
Rayquaza's thoughts of revenge were abruptly interrupted as a massive force slammed into its head.
A colossal spoon struck it squarely in the face.
"Guh!"
The unexpected blow left Rayquaza stunned, its vision going blank as its body spiraled uncontrollably through the air.
The force from the impact reverberated through its entire body, sending the great dragon crashing toward the ground like a downed aircraft.
Below, Luo Yuan calmly stepped aside to avoid the falling Rayquaza.
BOOM!
Rayquaza's body struck the remnants of Sky Pillar, crashing into the rubble just inches away from Luo Yuan.
The impact raised a massive cloud of dust, accompanied by the sound of collapsing stone. Two more layers of the ancient structure crumbled under the force.
Swoosh!
Above, Mewtwo silently withdrew its spoon.
Floating high in the air, Mewtwo hovered with an aura of quiet dominance. Beside it, Matori was enveloped in an energy sphere, suspended alongside the legendary Psychic Pokémon.
This had been Luo Yuan's plan from the beginning.
He and Deoxys would engage Rayquaza directly, while Mewtwo acted as backup. It could intervene if Luo Yuan was overwhelmed or intercept Rayquaza if it tried to flee.
Now, the plan had proven effective.
Mewtwo's ambush not only stopped Rayquaza in its tracks but dealt significant damage as well.
Hovering above the ruined battlefield, Deoxys and Mewtwo stood like sentinels. Behind them, Luo Yuan and Matori floated in the air, watching the scene unfold.
On the ground, Gengar, Mimikyu, and the newly released Dragonite and Dragapult surrounded the dazed Rayquaza, waiting in silence.
In the swirling dust cloud, Rayquaza groaned internally.
Though it couldn't see clearly, the brief and brutal exchange made one thing painfully obvious: the opponent floating above it was undoubtedly on par with its own legendary power.