For Garchomp's temperament, Chen Shi truly didn't know what to say anymore.
If you said Garchomp was reliable—well, he could be bribed with just three bottles of alcohol, doing whatever he was told afterward.
But if you said he wasn't reliable, that didn't feel right either. At critical moments, this dragon had never dropped the ball.
Most importantly, Garchomp belonged to Grandma.
By seniority alone, Garchomp technically outranked him.
Grandma was already getting on in years and couldn't be bothered to discipline him. And Chen Shi, as a junior, could at best complain verbally—there was nothing else he could really do.
Soon, the two of them, accompanied by the two dragons, descended the mountain.
Just as Chen Shi was about to mount Salamence and head back home, a massive ship appeared offshore, slowly approaching the coast.
On the deck stood an elderly man with white hair and beard, wearing a captain's coat and a cloak draped over his shoulders.
The moment Chen Shi saw him, his eyes lit up.
Perfect timing.
He had just been thinking about contacting the League and asking them to keep a close eye on Team Magma and Team Aqua—and now a member of the Elite Four had come knocking on his door.
That man was none other than Hoenn's Dragon-type Elite Four—Drake.
As for why Drake was here, Chen Shi could already guess.
Mt. Pyre had just experienced an explosion involving Champion-level Pokémon. There was no way the Pokémon League would ignore something like that. Sending Drake to investigate was only natural.
Sure enough, Drake noticed them as well.
He released his own Salamence, leapt onto its back, and flew straight toward them.
Cynthia tensed slightly at the sight of the Salamence, but Chen Shi spoke up calmly.
"That's Hoenn's Dragon-type Elite Four, Drake. He was probably drawn here by what happened at Mt. Pyre. No need to worry."
Hearing this, Cynthia relaxed. Of course she knew Hoenn's Dragon Elite Four—she just hadn't expected him to look more like a seasoned sea captain than an Elite Four member.
A moment later, Salamence landed in front of them.
Drake jumped down, his laughter booming.
"You're Old Chen's grandson, right? I've been hearing your name so often lately it's about worn my ears out."
Then he glanced at the blonde woman beside him.
"And this young lady must be Cynthia. Your reputation isn't small either!"
Chen Shi discreetly scanned Drake's Salamence with his system.
Level 86.
Champion–mid stage.
Only a step away from Champion late stage.
A terrifying existence.
Outwardly calm, Chen Shi smiled and responded politely, slipping in a bit of flattery.
"You're being too kind, sir. Compared to your legendary deeds, I'm nothing more than a junior making some noise."
Drake laughed and waved a hand.
"Enough, kid. Cut the sweet talk."
Then his expression turned serious.
"You've already been up Mt. Pyre, haven't you? What's the situation inside?"
Chen Shi had originally planned to answer directly, but suddenly recalled something Steven had once mentioned.
After a brief pause, he said instead:
"Sir Drake, there's no immediate danger up there now—but the follow-up problems are quite serious. May I ask you a few questions?"
Drake raised an eyebrow.
Seeing the two Champion-level dragons behind Chen Shi, he didn't doubt his words. But the fact that this young man dared to question him sparked Drake's interest.
"Go ahead," Drake said. "I don't guarantee answers, though."
Chen Shi nodded.
"Then I'd like to ask—how is your relationship with the Draconids?"
Drake's brow furrowed instantly.
"This has something to do with the Draconids?"
His close ties with them weren't a secret among Hoenn's upper circles. Chen Shi clearly knew this—yet he still asked.
That alone told Drake that this matter ran deeper than it appeared.
Chen Shi continued calmly.
"Team Magma and Team Aqua just jointly attacked Mt. Pyre. They stole two orbs—one red, one blue."
Drake's frown deepened.
He was well aware of Team Magma and Team Aqua—two underground organizations that had surfaced recently, causing chaos all across Hoenn.
Wallace had already led a suppression attempt once, but with little success.
But for the two teams to cooperate just to steal two orbs?
That was unexpected.
"And how does this involve the Draconids?" Drake asked bluntly.
Chen Shi looked equally puzzled.
"You… don't know what those orbs represent?"
Drake snorted.
"If I knew, why would I be asking you? I don't concern myself much with League secrets—so it's normal I wouldn't know."
Only then did Chen Shi relax slightly.
If even Drake didn't know the orbs' significance, how had Maxie and Archie learned about them?
Then again, Drake truly did keep his distance from League politics. His ignorance wasn't strange.
Chen Shi exhaled softly and spoke in a low voice.
"Those two orbs can awaken Groudon and Kyogre."
"If those two are awakened, they will inevitably clash."
"If you're close to the Draconids, then you should have heard of the catastrophe from a thousand years ago—the disaster caused by Groudon and Kyogre's battle."
"In the end, it was the Dragon God worshipped by the Draconids who descended and stopped them."
Drake's pupils contracted violently.
"Groudon… Kyogre?"
He had lived among the Draconids before. He had heard that ancient legend—but he had always regarded it as nothing more than myth.
Now he was being told that the orbs capable of awakening those two titans had been stolen.
What did that mean?
A replay of the catastrophe from a thousand years ago?
Before Drake could fully process it, Chen Shi delivered the final blow.
"Sir Drake, I've also been to the Draconids."
"The elder there once told me that their ancestors left behind a prophecy."
"Exactly one thousand years later—the disaster would return."
"And now…"
Chen Shi met Drake's gaze steadily.
"This is that time."
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