The ground trembled repeatedly, as if the entire mountain range might collapse at any moment. Stones rolled down from the cave ceiling again and again. Faced with such apocalyptic scenery, the group quickened their pace.
Part of it was fear—fear that the cave might collapse and bury them alive beneath the mountain.
But more than that, the violent shaking of the earth told them just how fierce the battle outside had become.
And that made them worry for Logan's safety.
With the last bit of strength left in their Pokémon, they pushed aside the rocks blocking their path. At last, they stepped out of the cave and breathed the open air again.
What they saw—
Made all their pupils widen in shock.
Cerise Island had become a wasteland.
Not a single flower remained.
Not a single tree.
Not even a complete rock.
The sheer destruction before them was only the aftermath of battle, yet it was enough to make one's heart tremble. Smoke drifted from the extinguished volcanic crater, sending chills down their spines.
"Where's Logan?"
Cynthia's voice snapped everyone out of their stunned silence. Immediately, all of them began scanning the sky and land anxiously, silently praying that Logan was still safe.
Soon, a thunderous explosion echoed from afar, drawing all their attention.
They saw dragons clashing against dragons.
They saw dragons battling the very earth itself.
"Boss Giovanni?!"
When Sabrina recognized Giovanni, she cried out in shock while leaning against Cynthia for support. Her exclamation caught Red and Blue's attention.
"That's the leader of Team Rocket… Why is he here?" Green asked.
No one could answer.
Even Sabrina herself had never expected to encounter Giovanni here.
"That Garchomp… that form…"
"He succeeded… Mega Evolution is real… Garchomp really evolved again…"
Cynthia's pupils widened as she muttered the words almost unconsciously.
She did not recognize Giovanni.
Compared to the brutal battle still unfolding in the distance, what truly captured her attention was the Garchomp resting nearby.
Its body.
Its shape.
Its presence.
Everything about it was different from her own Garchomp.
Cynthia knew immediately—
That was Garchomp's new form.
Its Mega Evolution.
Within her pale gray eyes flashed shock, excitement, and longing.
Yet buried deep beneath that joy was a profound sense of loss.
Not long ago, during the desperate battle against the three Elite Four members—the hardest fight Cynthia had ever experienced—she had failed to fully trust her Garchomp.
And because of that, Mega Evolution had not succeeded.
Now, everything Logan had demonstrated told her that the theory she once considered "illusory" was real.
He and his Garchomp had truly reached perfect unity of mind.
Yet this also made Cynthia realize something else.
Mega Evolution was not a power that could be achieved easily.
There had to be a crucial key hidden within it.
A key that could only be found between trainer and Pokémon themselves—
Not something that could be borrowed from others.
Mega Garchomp's appearance also attracted everyone else's attention.
All of them were exceptional trainers with extensive Pokémon knowledge. They were especially familiar with the Pokémon of their acquaintances.
Garchomp was the final evolution of Gible.
That was basic knowledge.
And yet—
The form before them had clearly evolved even further.
This revelation left them all stunned.
After all, the instinct of every trainer was the same—
To pursue deeper bonds and greater power alongside their Pokémon.
"Cynthia… Green…"
A faint voice called out.
Everyone turned toward the source.
A small girl—completely battered, dried blood still visible on her face—was waving to them as she ran over.
Her hat had long been torn.
Her single ponytail had come loose, strands of wheat-colored hair now covered in dusty gray.
Yet despite the mess—
The smile on her face shone as brightly as the rising sun.
Among the group, Yellow was the most familiar with Cynthia and Green, since she had trained with them in the Sinnoh region.
"Yellow!"
Green, whose abdominal wound had been treated with a hemostatic spray, happily greeted the girl. When Yellow ran close, Green immediately pulled her into a hug like an older sister.
"Let me see your injuries. Do they still hurt?"
"Hehe… they don't hurt at all!"
Yellow scratched her head shyly.
"This time… I actually managed to help Logan a little!"
There was a hint of pride in the young girl's voice.
"No, Yellow. You did very well."
"You probably helped more than you realize."
Cynthia shook her head gently. Her uninjured hand rested on Yellow's head, her warm smile like a spring breeze.
The praise made the little girl even more embarrassed.
Just then—
A deep purple light erupted across the distant battlefield.
Before everyone's eyes, Mewtwo completed its Mega Evolution.
Then, together with Giovanni, it wiped out Lance's Dragon Legion in one decisive assault.
The group exchanged looks.
Without needing to say anything, they began supporting each other and slowly walking toward the battlefield.
Meanwhile—
After unleashing its attack, Mega Mewtwo Y floated back beside Logan.
Its deep, piercing eyes remained fixed on Giovanni.
Even though Logan and Giovanni had briefly cooperated, Mewtwo still trusted him not at all.
Giovanni noticed the gaze and simply smiled, raising his hand casually.
At this moment, he had no interest in fighting an even stronger Mewtwo.
Dragonair.
Gyarados.
Charizard.
Aerodactyl.
All of them lay collapsed on the ground, barely conscious.
Zekrom was gravely wounded but still stood tall, its massive black body drenched in blood.
Lance lay sprawled across the ground, limbs spread wide.
Sweat.
Blood.
Dust.
Filth.
He looked like a broken man.
The wound on his lower abdomen had been torn open badly, blood slowly spreading across his clothes.
"Heh… hehehe…"
His chest rose and fell.
A hoarse, cracked laugh escaped his throat.
"The time… is almost here…"
"The time… is almost here…"
He kept muttering like a madman.
Then suddenly—
Giovanni felt something stirring within his chest.
It tore through his shirt and suit, bursting outward and floating into the sky.
It was the original Viridian Gym Badge.
From the badge emanated a mysterious energy pulse.
That pulse shot upward as a brilliant pillar of light.
At the same time—
From seven other islands, seven more beams erupted into the sky.
Eight pillars of light converged into a single point, illuminating the pre-dawn sky.
The intersecting energy tore open space itself.
A gate made of light appeared.
From beyond it came a furious cry—
The cry of a legendary bird.
"Hahahahahahaha!!!"
"I did it! I succeeded!"
"It's here! Lugia has arrived!"
"Ancient records were right!"
"Those eight Gym Badges were forged here on Cerise Island!"
"That power was one of the greatest achievements of ancient civilization!"
"These eight islands… are altars for worshipping the Sea God!"
"As long as I control Lugia, with Zekrom and my Dragon Legion beside me…"
"All humans in Kanto will be wiped out!"
"The ideal world I long for—"
"I will create it myself!"
Lance burst into wild laughter.
His body trembled.
His laughter was obsessive.
Manic.
Yet—
Suddenly, it stopped.
Because he realized something.
Neither Logan—
Nor Giovanni—
Looked surprised.
Both of them were completely calm.
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