In its fury, Kyogre unleashed Aqua Ring, creating a massive water veil surrounding it. This continuously restored its stamina, gradually healing the damage inflicted by numerous Pokémon attacks.
Kyogre's defensive capabilities were undoubtedly among the top for legendary Pokémon, especially its special defense. Since most long-range moves are typically classified as Special, this explains why Kyogre could withstand such a barrage of attacks.
No Trainer dared to approach Kyogre with their Pokémon due to its immense size. Attempting close combat would result in one outcome: instant defeat for the battling Pokémon.
At a distance, however, it was possible to evade Kyogre's ranged moves. Given Kyogre's colossal size and slow mobility, evasive maneuvers remained feasible.
But getting too close eliminated any chance of dodging its attacks; a single hit would render a Pokémon instantly incapacitated.
Lian had already ceased his offensive, realizing the gap was insurmountable. Even his full-power moves might be nullified within seconds by Kyogre's activated Aqua Ring.
The damage dealt couldn't outpace the rate at which Kyogre recovered, rendering the battle futile—a never-ending stalemate.
However, humans need sleep, and Pokémon require rest. It's impossible to sustain continuous attacks indefinitely. The moment they pause, Kyogre swiftly recovers to peak condition, making all previous efforts in vain.
It felt utterly hopeless just thinking about it.
***
Time passed as Trainers commanded their Pokemon to continuously unleash moves, yet deep down, they had already lost the will to fight.
Facing an opponent exponentially stronger than themselves left them feeling utterly powerless, especially when even combined efforts proved futile.
Even Botaya showed signs of wanting to retreat, realizing that continuing this battle was pointless, and eventually, the Sebas region would succumb.
Despite their unwavering determination, enduring without sleep for a day or night might be possible, but the Pokemon's stamina was finite; they couldn't endlessly perform moves without rest.
"Stop!"
Finally, Botaya issued the command to halt the battle. Continuing further served no purpose, as he had made the decision to abandon the islands of the West Sea.
Truthfully, these islands were barren with limited resources, primarily inhabited by ordinary people, holding relatively little overall value.
In fact, the League's contingency plan stated that if unable to stop Kyogre, they should abandon the West Sea islands and Westsea Town, buying more time in the process.
Although it was harsh, leading to many becoming displaced and homeless, the League had prepared alternatives. They would relocate them to new areas and provide sufficient funding for rebuilding their lives.
Initially, this decision was meant as a last resort. Before arriving, Botaya never anticipated gathering so many skilled Trainers to collectively confront Kyogre, only to face such an outcome.
In truth, the primary issue stemmed from Kyogre's existence being largely confined to legends. Even the limited details found in books led to a misjudgment of its true power.
Honestly, as the top Trainer from the Sebas region, Botaya had already overestimated Kyogre's strength significantly; otherwise, he wouldn't have brought nearly seventy percent of high-level trainers into battle.
However, Kyogre proved even more formidable than he imagined. It wasn't entirely his fault; after all, he was just a regional Champion, still in his early twenties.
The sixty-plus high-level trainers halted, devoid of any fighting spirit. They longed to cease this futile battle with no clear victory in sight.
Lian gazed out at the ocean, but Kyogre showed no signs of relenting. Previously, once the humans ceased their attacks, Kyogre might have calmly unleashed a tsunami to gradually expand its territory.
However, now, Kyogre was enraged. They had provoked it beyond measure. After completing the Surf move, Kyogre swiftly launched another attack.
A freezing beam shot forth rapidly, targeting two high-level Trainers in the sky.
Boom!
Fortunately, they were prepared and managed to counteract just in time. Following a loud explosion, one Trainer sustained injuries from being caught in the blast.
"Cough, cough."
The injured Trainer struggled with intense coughs, having narrowly escaped the impact thanks to his firm grip on his Pokemon. Otherwise, he could have lost control and plummeted into the sea.
Despite avoiding direct contact, his clothes were torn, covered in frost caused by the residual Ice-type energy from Kyogre's Freezing Beam.
Shivering uncontrollably from the extreme cold, the Trainer realized how immensely powerful Pokemon moves can be for humans, especially those unleashed by Kyogre. Even a slight ripple could potentially cost a Trainer their life.
The Trainer's luck was commendable, only slightly affected by the remnants, but even then, it posed immediate life-threatening danger and required swift medical attention.
"Let's retreat!"
Botaya realized they had no choice but to abandon these islands in the West Sea. Fortunately, despite the destruction, the overall loss wasn't insurmountable, as the League possessed sufficient resources to compensate for it.
However, these were their homes being lost, which inevitably brought immense sorrow to everyone involved. This harsh reality reminded them that even the Pokemon League sometimes faces adversaries beyond their control.
To truly confront Kyogre, it would likely require uniting all elite forces from multiple regions, along with meticulous preparation, just to have a chance of driving it back into the deep sea.
Kyogre possesses intelligence; sensing any danger, it would undoubtedly flee. Defeating Kyogre seemed an impossible task, not worth considering. The best outcome one could hope for is to repel it, and with some luck, induce its continued slumber.
The deep sea remains off-limits to humans. Unless advanced submarine technology is developed, accessing the depths where Kyogre sleeps will remain unattainable.
This is precisely why, for countless years, people have been unable to locate Kyogre; reaching its domain was virtually impossible, let alone finding it.
With the realization that retreat was necessary, everyone swiftly mounted their Flying-type Pokémon and began their departure. Many high-level Trainers felt helpless, becoming acutely aware of their own limitations.
The status, honor, and wealth bestowed upon high-level Trainers often led some to become complacent. Many, particularly those at an advanced age, started enjoying life rather than pushing further.
As a result, their Pokémon received less training over time, causing a decline in their overall abilities—a phenomenon observed in both regions.
After striving tirelessly to become high-level Trainers, their limited potential and talent prevented them from competing with Elite Four trainers, leaving no room for further advancement. Consequently, many high-level Trainers ceased putting in the same level of effort as before, opting instead to savor the fruits of their labor—a common fate shared by most civilian Trainers.