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While Zinnia was quietly studying Kai, he happened to turn around at the same moment. Their eyes met in midair.
Seeing Kai looking her way, Zinnia showed no embarrassment at all. Instead, she smiled lightly and introduced herself.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Zinnia—descendant of the Draconid people."
"Draconid… people?" Misty blinked. Having only recently arrived in Hoenn, she had never heard this name before. In fact, most people in Hoenn barely knew the Draconid tribe existed.
Zinnia waved her hand casually. "It's nothing special. Just a group of people who have lived around Meteor Falls for generations. The name sounds fancy, but that's all."
If only it were that simple…
Zinnia made it sound like a small hermit community, but Kai knew better.
The Draconids were dragon specialists a clan of powerful Dragon-type trainers hidden deep beneath Meteor Falls.
Their true home, the Hidden Village of the Draconids, lay underground, accessible only through a submerged passage. And their isolation had everything to do with the ancient war between Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre two thousand years ago.
Records claimed that the world-shattering clash only ended when Rayquaza descended from the heavens, summoned by the falling meteor showers streaking across the sky.
A thousand years later, another meteor crashed where Sootopolis City now stands, awakening Groudon and Kyogre once more.
That time, the Draconid Lorekeeper prayed upon the Key Stone, calling Rayquaza to return and Mega Evolve. After another fierce battle, the two titans fell silent again, and Rayquaza soared back into the sky.
Since then, the Draconids built Sky Pillar to honor their guardian. Its walls were painted with murals chronicling these events and foretelling that another meteor would strike the world in the next millennium requiring Rayquaza's aid once more.
Listening to this story, Misty felt awestruck.
"Groudon… Kyogre… Rayquaza…" she murmured, starry-eyed. "I didn't know Hoenn had so many incredible Legendary Pokémon…"
Kai chuckled. "It's no different from Kanto or Johto. Ho-Oh, Lugia—every region has legends. Rayquaza and the others are stronger than Raikou by quite a bit, though."
Hearing names like Ho-Oh and Lugia gave Misty a clearer idea of these Hoenn legends' scale.
If Ho-Oh could restore life, and Lugia was hailed as the Guardian of the Seas, then Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza must each possess powers on that same extraordinary level.
Professor Cozmo repeated the story from his own knowledge, confirming Kai's understanding. Misty finally comprehended what kind of lineage Zinnia came from.
The group chatted a bit longer and learned that Cozmo had only met Zinnia recently. He had come here alone to study meteors, got lost inside the cavern system, and was rescued by her right before Team Aqua began pursuing him, leading to this kidnapping incident.
"By the way…" Misty suddenly asked, "Professor Cozmo, what exactly is your research field?"
"Me?" Cozmo shrugged. "Meteorites. Any kind of meteorite. Did you know wormholes can theoretically transport meteorites into other universes—?"
Once he started talking about his specialty, he couldn't stop. Zinnia had to cough loudly for him to realize he was rambling.
They stayed hidden for a long time, and when no Magma or Aqua reinforcements appeared, they finally relaxed.
By around three or four in the afternoon, they left through a different tunnel under Zinnia's guidance. With her leading them, there was no need to worry about getting lost.
But just when they were nearing the exit—
They were ambushed by Team Magma.
Having lost Kai's group in the maze-like tunnels, Courtney had chosen not to search blindly. Instead, she had deduced the possible exit points and set up an ambush here.
And her patience paid off.
Dozens of Houndoom lunged forward at once. Misty and Cozmo froze in panic, but Kai had expected Magma to make another move and wasn't surprised in the slightest.
What did surprise him was Zinnia's composure. Even surrounded by enemies, she didn't show the slightest panic.
A big heart indeed…
Courtney stepped forward coldly. Reinforcements were already on their way. Once they arrived, she was confident she could take all of them down.
Except for one thing:
Team Aqua would definitely come for revenge just like Magma had earlier.
Inside the encirclement, everyone released their Pokémon.
Misty sent out Starmie and Poliwrath the same Pokémon that once battled Ash during the Whirl Cup.
Professor Cozmo tossed his Poké Ball, releasing a floating orange meteor-like Pokémon with jagged rock shards around its body Solrock.
Zinnia summoned her fearsome Salamence, its red wings spreading as it snarled at the Houndoom pack.
Kai glanced at the situation, then sent out Dragonite and Tyranitar.
Seeing only these two, Courtney scoffed.
"What? Where's your Electric-type? Afraid to bring it out?"
Kai smiled calmly. "Not at all. I'm saving Raikou for Team Aqua. Electric is super effective on Water, after all."
Courtney's expression darkened instantly.
He was right and she herself had stationed scouts behind to guard against Aqua's sneak attack.
Still, her top priority was capturing Professor Cozmo.
Dozens of Houndoom closed in from all directions, and the battle erupted.
Dragonite knocked one aside with a single tail swing.
Poliwrath and Starmie blasted away incoming flames with Water Gun.
Zinnia's Salamence handled four to five Houndoom at once, overpowering them with brutal force.
But the most eye-catching was Kai's Tyranitar shrugging off flames thanks to its natural resistance and heavy armor-like hide. It bulldozed through the battlefield like a living tank, scattering enemies with every step.
Team Magma's Houndoom were far too weak to handle this level of firepower.
Still, sheer numbers kept the group from advancing.
When Courtney's Camerupt finally joined the battle, the situation balanced slightly.
But it wouldn't last long. Once Misty's Water-types had a clear shot, Camerupt would be the first to fall.
Courtney frowned deeply.
Only now did she truly understand how dangerous these people were.
Just then—
Footsteps thundered behind them.
Courtney's face lit up with reinforcements!
But when she turned—
Her expression froze.
It wasn't Team Magma.
It was Shelly leading Team Aqua.
"How does it feel, Courtney?" Shelly laughed loudly. "Funny how the tables turn! You ambushed us earlier, and now look at you—cornered between them and us!"
Courtney's fury nearly boiled over.
With enemies on both sides, today's failure was unavoidable.
She turned one last bitter look toward Kai.
That man.
He ambushed us and threw everything off.
If not for him, victory would've belonged to Team Magma.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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