Pokemon: A New Path-Battle of Gods[469]

A strong sea breeze whipped through Steven Stone's silver hair as he stood at the edge of the helicopter's open door, staring down at the two ancient titans locked in a deadly confrontation below.

In his hand, he gripped a Poké Ball tightly.

Through his radio headset, his voice rang out with unwavering determination:

"Groudon and Kyogre have come face-to-face. I'll do what I can to stop them here. The rest is up to you!"

His words reached a distant location—far beyond the stormy battlefield.

Across the misty ocean, Wallace stood atop his massive Wailord, gazing toward the horizon where a lone, towering structure pierced the sky.

Sky Pillar.

The legendary tower was said to connect land, sea, and sky, and at its peak lay the Dragon Altar, the sacred place where the Sky God Rayquaza could be summoned.

Wallace had long been entrusted with protecting Sky Pillar. Although even he had no right to enter its highest chamber, today was an exception.

This was the backup plan.

Before heading into battle, Steven and Wallace had made a promise: If they failed to prevent Team Magma and Team Aqua from awakening Groudon and Kyogre… If the two titans clashed once more…

Then Steven would hold the line, while Wallace would seek out Rayquaza—the one Pokémon that could put an end to this war.

The salty wind mixed with cold drizzle, snapping Wallace from his thoughts.

His radio crackled.

"Wallace, are you ready?"

Steven's tone was serious, but as usual, Wallace attempted to lighten the mood.

"Of course, Champion~ But really, don't overdo it. You'll ruin that perfect hair of yours."

Steven didn't laugh.

And Wallace knew why. Because at that moment, the battle had begun.

With a roar that shook the heavens, Groudon stomped forward, sending shockwaves through the ocean.

At the same time, Kyogre's massive fins surged through the raging sea, summoning towering tsunamis that spiraled high into the sky.

The force of their collision sent waves crashing violently against the hovering helicopter.

Steven stumbled, nearly losing his footing, but caught the side railing just in time.

On the other end of the radio, Wallace's voice lost all playfulness.

"I'm leaving now. Hold on, Steven!"

"Got it."

The transmission ended.

Wallace turned toward Wailord, his blue cape fluttering in the wind.

"Wailord, full speed ahead! We're heading for Sky Pillar!"

"Wooooooh!"

With a deep, resonant call, the massive Pokémon propelled itself forward, gliding across the ocean toward the towering spire in the distance.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

...

"Mr. Steven, are you alright?!"

The helicopter pilot steadied their course, quickly glancing at Steven.

Steven shook his head, his sharp blue eyes locked onto the chaotic battle below. The entire Hoenn region was already suffering from the two titans' struggle.

Reports streamed through his headset:

Torrential rain and hurricanes pounding coastal cities. Unbearable heat waves scorching entire towns. Some regions fluctuating between both extremes within seconds.

If this battle wasn't stopped soon, the entire Hoenn region would face complete devastation.

They had to act.

Steven clenched his jaw. 'No more waiting.'

He gripped two Poké Balls and hurled them into the sky.

Two flashes of white light burst forth—revealing: Skarmory, wings gleaming like sharpened steel. Metagross, its four metallic legs landing with a heavy thud on the helicopter's side.

With one swift motion, Steven leaped onto Skarmory's back.

He turned toward the pilot.

"Get out of here and evacuate!"

The pilot hesitated.

"But… but, sir—"

Steven's expression hardened.

"No buts! Get to safety!"

After a brief pause, the pilot nodded.

"Understood! Please… be careful, Champion!"

With that, the helicopter turned away, disappearing into the storm.

Now, Steven was alone. Alone in the eye of the storm, with two legendary Pokémon battling to reshape the world itself.

But he was not afraid. He was the Champion of Hoenn. And it was his duty to protect it.

With one final breath, he charged.

"Metagross, Flash Cannon!"

A burst of pure energy erupted from Metagross, a brilliant beam slicing through the rain-filled sky—straight towards Kyogre

The attack hit its mark, slamming into Kyogre's massive form just as it leapt out of the water.

The Legendary Pokémon let out a deep, guttural cry, momentarily thrown off balance before crashing back into the ocean.

Groudon—noticing the human interference—let out a thunderous roar. Lava bubbled beneath its feet as massive pillars of molten rock burst forth from the ocean floor.

Steven's Metagross reacted instantly. It dodged just in time as the colossal stone pillars erupted all around it, nearly catching it mid-air.

At that moment, Steven Stone raised his hand and issued his next command.

"Metagross, use Meteor Mash!"

From high above, Steven Stone's voice rang out, steady and unwavering.

Metagross trusted its trainer completely.

The instant it heard Steven's command, it swung its powerful steel claws without hesitation.

A second later, the massive stone pillars erupting from the sea were shattered into countless pieces, their jagged remains sinking beneath the waves.

"Roar…"

The onslaught of Precipice Blades ceased, but Groudon's golden eyes narrowed as they locked onto the defiant Pokémon standing before it.

Metagross landed on solid ground—a temporary foothold created by Groudon's expanding landmass—and paused for just a moment.

But that moment of stillness was all it took.

Suddenly a massive black shadow loomed beneath the sea's surface. Then, with terrifying speed, the figure burst from the water, leaping high into the air.

Kyogre towered over Metagross, its vast body blocking out the light, and in the next instant a blinding array of bluish-white beams erupted from its core.

The sheer force of Origin Pulse struck Metagross directly—there was no time to dodge. The steel Pokemon was blasted off its feet, crashing violently into the sea.

An explosion of steam and seawater erupted upon impact, forming a towering, fiery-red mushroom cloud over the battlefield.

For a split second, all sound disappeared.

The world stood still.

Then, the shockwave hit, sending massive tidal waves crashing outward in all directions.

Steven's pupils shrank.

'That power…It was incomparable.'

And yet from the depths of the sea, a shimmer of metallic light surged upward.

Metagross had not fallen.

It rose from the water, launching itself right back into the fray, refusing to retreat even against such impossible odds.

Steven's heart swelled with pride.

But as Metagross took its stance once more, Groudon and Kyogre both turned their eyes to the same target.

The tiny Pokémon that dared challenge them.

The very idea of this small intruder standing in defiance against the Gods of Land and Sea was enough to provoke their wrath.

The ocean boiled. The ground split apart.

And in perfect sync, Groudon and Kyogre attacked together.

Groudon's molten veins pulsed as its energy surged through the ground, summoning colossal stone pillars from the sea.

Kyogre, from below, reared its head, a ray of freezing blue light gathering at its maw.

Their intent was clear:

These two legendary Pokémon actually plan to join forces to repel the intruder.

Steven's mind raced.

"Metagross, Agility!"

In an instant, Metagross' body gleamed, its movements accelerating as it weaved between Groudon's Precipice Blades.

Kyogre's Ice Beam sliced through the battlefield—just missing Metagross—but as it hit the water, the sea instantly froze over.

Metagross didn't stop.

It raced toward Groudon, light gleaming off its steel body as Steven timed his next move.

"Meteor Mash!"

All four of Metagross's metallic arms merged into one, glowing with a deep blue energy as it descended like a comet, striking directly at Groudon's chest.

CRACK!

The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield, shattering the solid ground beneath Groudon's feet.

The Legendary Pokémon bellowed in rage, staggering backward—And then, it roared.

Groudon's golden eyes locked onto Metagross, and in a single moment, a beam of blazing flames erupted from its mouth, engulfing Metagross completely.

The sheer intensity of Groudon's wrath turned the surrounding air sweltering hot, waves of scorching flames washing over everything in sight.

Metagross—still reeling from the attack—was suddenly hit again.

From above, Kyogre's body lifted out of the ocean, and in a split second, another Origin Pulse fired.

A blinding surge of water energy crashed into Metagross, sending the pokemon plummeting into the ice-covered sea below.

Steven clenched his fists.

"Metagross—!"

But before he could even finish, Groudon and Kyogre turned their attention toward him.

From below, Kyogre charged its next attack—a massive, swirling Hydro Pump—and fired straight at him.

"Skarmory, dodge!"

The Armored Bird Pokémon let out a sharp cry, twisting in the air at the last moment. The massive torrent of water barely missed, but the sheer force of the attack threw them off balance, causing Skarmory to spiral in the air.

High above the battlefield, a news helicopter hovered anxiously.

Inside, a reporter from Violet TV gripped her microphone tightly, her eyes filled with panic and despair.

"Champion Steven!"

Her voice trembled.

From inside emergency shelters across Hoenn, countless civilians watched the live broadcast in horror.

Families huddled together, eyes fixed on the screens.

"It's over…!"

One of the citizens whispered in disbelief.

"There's no way he can win… not against both Groudon and Kyogre at the same time!"

Inside the Hoenn Pokémon League Headquarters, the Chairman of the Hoenn Alliance stood with a grim expression, his eyes locked onto the live satellite footage broadcasting the chaos unfolding in the Hoenn region.

The battle between Groudon and Kyogre had escalated beyond control.

The once-clear skies had turned into a battlefield of extremes—one side blazing under an unrelenting sun, the other drowned in torrential rain and tsunamis.

Each clash between the two Primordial Pokémon sent shockwaves rippling across the land and sea, distorting the very balance of nature itself.

As he observed the destruction, a staff member rushed into the room.

"Sir! We've just received word—support is arriving from other regions! The Champions of Kanto and Sinnoh are en route to assist!"

The Chairman, a man well into his fifties, exhaled sharply before giving a firm nod.

"Good. But until they arrive, we must hold the line."

With that, he removed his suit jacket and turned toward the exit. The staff member blinked in confusion.

"Sir, where are you going?!"

Without looking back, the Chairman responded, his voice steady:

"We can't let Steven fight alone. I may no longer be a Champion, but I can still help—at least a little."

...

The Battlefield at Sootopolis City

As the battle between Groudon and Kyogre raged on, Steven Stone found himself momentarily grounded, his Skarmory struggling to stay airborne amidst the violent winds and cascading waves.

Meanwhile, Metagross—severely weakened—had been knocked beneath the frozen sea, its energy nearly depleted.

Without wasting a second, he recalled Metagross into its Poké Ball, then pulled out a potion from his coat pocket, quickly administering it.

The pokemon stirred, its eyes flickering open weakly.

Steven let out a breath of relief.

"You're still with me, partner. Good."

After making sure Metagross was stable, he turned back to the battle.

Far ahead, Groudon and Kyogre were once again locked in brutal combat, their attacks shaking the very foundations of the Hoenn region.

"Wallace!"

Steven's voice came through the communication device urgently.

Far from the battlefield, Wallace was racing up the crumbling Sky Pillar, pushing his body to the limit. His elegant cape, usually pristine, was now torn and tattered from the relentless storm.

Every step was a struggle.

The ancient tower, weakened by time, threatened to collapse beneath him.

At one point, his foot slipped on a loose stone, sending him plummeting to the lower floor.

"Tch—!"

Pain shot through his body as he landed roughly. But there was no time to stop. Ignoring the pain, he gritted his teeth and continued upward.

'Just a little more… just a little more…'

After what felt like an eternity, Wallace finally reached the summit. His heart pounded as he stood before the Dragon Altar, the place where Rayquaza was said to slumber.

"Rayquaza!" he called out, his voice raw with urgency.

"Please, you must awaken! Groudon and Kyogre's battle will destroy Hoenn!".

The only sound was the howling wind and crashing waves far below.

No response.

Wallace's heart sank.

"No… this can't be happening…"

...

Meanwhile, in Paldea – Naoki's Ranch

Far from the chaos in Hoenn, in the small town of Kosaji, Paldea, the normally peaceful weather had turned unpredictable.

Storm clouds gathered overhead, casting a dark shadow over the land.

Mayor Thomas, a kind-hearted elder, hurried toward Naoki's ranch, umbrella in hand.

He knew that Naoki was still relatively new to Paldea, and he feared that the inexperienced rancher might not know how to handle this extreme weather shift.

"I need to warn him to secure the Pokémon, close the windows, and prepare supplies."

But when he arrived, he was met with a surprise. Naoki was nowhere to be found.

Instead, he was greeted by Indeedee who stood by the entrance.

Mayor Thomas frowned.

"Where is Naoki? Did he say where he was going?"

The elder Indeedee simply shook his head.

"Ai-ye?"

The younger sibling noticed the mayor's concern and cheerfully reassured him.

"Ai-ye! ai-ye!" (No worries! Everything's under control!)

Mayor Thomas let out a sigh. Even though the Pokémon seemed unfazed, he still felt uneasy.

"Alright. When Naoki returns, tell him to bring all the Pokémon inside, lock the doors, and make sure there's enough food prepared for an extended storm."

Sister Indeedee nodded enthusiastically.

"Ai-ye!"

Though still slightly concerned, the mayor decided to head back into town, hoping Naoki would return soon.

...

Steven tightened his grip on his Poké Ball.

"Wallace," he spoke into the communicator. "Did you reach the top?"

Wallace's voice came through, heavy with exhaustion.

"I made it…"

Steven felt a flicker of hope."And? Did Rayquaza awaken?"

"No response."

Steven's heart sank. He clenched his fists.

'We need another solution.'

Just then, a new message came through from the Hoenn League Headquarters.

"Champion Steven, hold on! The Elite Four and Champions from other regions are on their way to assist!"