Chapter 273: Gary Oak, The Demeanor of a Champion?
For the residents of Hoenn, today was a day of catastrophe.
At first, the unusual weather changes seemed minor. But in the blink of an eye, floods engulfed cities while extreme droughts parched the land—two completely opposite disasters striking simultaneously.
"We can see that the area around Verdanturf Town is experiencing extreme drought. The humidity has dropped to just 5% and continues to decline!"
"The League has now raised the disaster level to Level 9. All Hoenn residents are advised to take shelter immediately."
"Wait... what is that?!"
A panicked cry rang out. The camera screen shook violently before stabilizing, revealing a scene that left every Hoenn resident watching in utter shock.
The cracked ground, scorched by drought, suddenly bulged, forming a small hill.
Then, with a deep tremor, an enormous crimson head burst from the earth.
Jagged, blade-like ridges adorned its skull, and as its mouth opened slightly, it exhaled a wave of scorching air, revealing sharp fangs.
With its emergence, the already suffocating heat intensified.
The sun's glare doubled in intensity, evaporating the last wisps of clouds in the sky.
[Is this... the true culprit behind Hoenn's catastrophe?]
Reporter Mary, her hands trembling as she clutched the microphone, was about to speak when the Pokémon that had just surfaced suddenly turned its head.
Its piercing yellow-black eyes locked onto her and her cameraman, Todd.
For a brief moment, both of them felt as if their very souls had been frozen in place.
[It noticed us?!]
Countless Hoenn residents watching their televisions felt their hearts stop.
Groudon opened its mouth, unleashing a heatwave so intense that the very air around it distorted.
Just as everyone—including Mary and Todd—thought they were doomed...
A voice echoed from the distant sky.
"Mewtwo, Shadow Ball!"
Whoosh—!
From beyond the camera's view, a deep, dark Shadow Ball shot forward at blinding speed, striking Groudon's head directly.
Boom!
The explosion sent Groudon's head recoiling, forcing its heatwave attack skyward instead.
Gasping for breath, Mary and Todd turned their shaking camera toward the source of the voice.
There, riding atop a Pidgeot, was a spiky-haired young man in a cape.
Floating beside him was a mysterious Pokémon they had never seen before.
---
Shortly after Asahi and Sabrina entered the Seafloor Cavern, the rest of the group arrived at the Pokémon League headquarters as planned, awaiting Asahi's return.
But before long, the news broke—Kyogre and Groudon had appeared near Marine Lilycove and Verdanturf Town, throwing the League into chaos.
Having witnessed the devastation in Hoenn firsthand, Blue took the initiative to join the battle.
Since Pidgeot was the fastest flier, Gary and Mewtwo arrived first to assess the situation—only to end up saving two people from Groudon the moment they arrived.
Landing from the air, Gary glanced at the microphone and camera in their hands.
"...You're reporters?"
"I'm Mary from Hoenn TV, and this is Todd… Thank you so much for saving us just now!" Mary expressed her gratitude with a heartfelt expression.
Beside her, Todd nodded repeatedly.
If not for the young trainer before them, they would have been dead.
Hearing they were indeed reporters, Gary instinctively straightened his back, ready to say a few words.
But the sweltering heat reminded him that now was not the time for interviews.
His expression turned serious.
"My name is Gary Oak, International Police, Champion of the latest Indigo League tournament. This area is extremely dangerous—please leave at once!"
The moment his words fell, the Groudon that had been stunned by Mewtwo's attack finally regained its senses.
It hadn't even fought Kyogre yet and had already been struck by some unknown Pokémon!
Fury burned in Groudon's eyes as it turned its terrifying gaze toward them.
Mary and Todd shuddered, feeling an overwhelming sense of dread.
Yet, Gary—having already experienced the terror of Rayquaza with Asahi—was far more composed in the face of Groudon. Whether or not he was actually afraid was unclear, but at least he appeared calm.
That composed demeanor, combined with the sight of him effortlessly saving two lives with a single Shadow Ball...
This was it.
This was the demeanor of a champion!
Respecting the words of a strong trainer, Mary and Todd quickly retreated. However, the camera remained fixed on Gary and the Pokémon beside him—Mewtwo.
And in the background, towering like a skyscraper, stood Groudon—the very force responsible for Hoenn's climate disaster.
A young, composed trainer, exuding the presence of a champion.
Looking at the scene framed in the camera, Mary—still reeling from her near-death experience—felt that the Hoenn League's prestigious "Whiscash News Award" was practically within their grasp!
Gary, however, had no idea what Mary and Todd were thinking.
At this moment, he just wanted to slap himself.
Why the hell did he try to show off? Now he was stuck here!
Staring at Groudon's glaring, murderous gaze, Gary—now facing the pressure of a Legendary Pokémon alone—found himself desperately missing Asahi.
Swallowing nervously, he turned to Mewtwo with pleading eyes.
[Mewtwo, big boss… you can handle Groudon, right?]
If he had to fight Groudon himself, he'd be lucky to withstand a single attack.
But Mewtwo had beaten Rayquaza before!
Mewtwo remained focused on Groudon.
Hearing Gary's question, it simply responded in a flat tone.
[Asahi isn't here.]
Groudon's aura felt weaker than Rayquaza's. If Asahi were here, with his strategy and Mega Evolution, they could have handled it—even without the aid of the Plates.
But Asahi wasn't here.
Gary's heart sank. He was about to say something else when—
Groudon, having sized them up long enough, lost its patience and stomped the ground violently.
Mewtwo's psychic senses flared—an immense energy surged into the earth beneath them.
"Watch out!"
Mewtwo immediately lifted Gary into the air with Psychic.
The next second—
BOOM!
The ground within a several-hundred-meter radius instantly shattered.
....
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