Chapter 356: Capturing Groudon
Faced with Rio’s ultimatum, our Land God Groudon didn’t hesitate for a second. It chose the former — becoming yet another regional guardian-level legendary Pokémon under Nicholas Rio’s command.
"Good choice — you’ve got good instincts." Rio praised, giving Groudon a thumbs-up.
Groudon rolled its eyes. Good instincts? Please — did I have a choice?
"But I have one condition." Groudon’s tone shifted.
"What condition?" Rio raised an eyebrow. He wasn’t an authoritarian trainer — he usually agreed to his Pokémon’s reasonable requests.
"I want to ask first — have you captured Kyogre yet? Or are you planning to?" Groudon’s voice sounded eager at the mention of Kyogre.
Hearing this, Rio’s eyebrow rose higher. He thought he knew what Groudon’s condition would be.
"Not yet — I’m planning to capture it soon." He answered honestly.
"Take me with you! Give me a chance to beat it up! I’ve been beaten for so long — I need someone to take my anger out on. Kyogre is perfect." Groudon said excitedly. It desperately wanted to pummel Kyogre.
Hearing this, Dialga couldn’t help but exchange looks with Palkia and Giratina, all wearing mischievous grins. They completely understood Groudon’s feelings — they’d all been through the same thing.
However...
"Groudon — I’m sorry, but I can’t grant that request." Rio shrugged.
"What?! Why not?! You’re going to capture Kyogre anyway — why can’t you take me? If that’s the case, I don’t want to be captured! Those bastards got to beat me up, so why can’t I go beat up Kyogre?!" Groudon felt unfairly treated.
"The reason is simple, Groudon — it’s not that I don’t want to take you. It’s that you can’t fly, and your size would cause too much destruction. Just appearing somewhere would dry up the surrounding environment, cause fires, and lead to mass casualties among Pokémon and humans." Rio explained apologetically.
He genuinely wasn’t discriminating against Groudon — it was just too destructive. Even standing in the ocean, it would cause a massive area to dry up. Taking it along would devastate nearby cities, and he had no grudge against Hoenn or Steven.
Groudon’s face immediately twisted into a "WTF" expression. It glared hatefully at Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Rayquaza, and that floating fat Gengar above.
Being able to fly is all that matters, huh? Discriminating against those who can’t fly? Believe me, I’ll Precipice Blades all you flying bastards to death!
"If that’s the case, then don’t capture me! I didn’t get beaten for nothing — I need someone to take my anger out on!" Groudon sulked.
It was just too unfair. "Too big"? I’m not too big — I’m voluptuous! "Cause fires and kill Pokémon and humans"? How is that my fault? I didn’t do it on purpose. I was born this way. It’s those weaklings’ own problem! This is pure discrimination — blatant discrimination against me, Groudon!
Seeing Groudon throw a tantrum over his refusal, Rio frowned: "Are you sure you want to go that route?"
"Yes, I’m sure! No other choice! Either let me go beat up Kyogre, or don’t capture me!" Groudon insisted stubbornly.
"Fine. If that’s what you want, I won’t force you. Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Rayquaza, Gengar — it seems our Groudon is unwilling to stand with us. So I’ll leave it to you to satisfy its wishes." Rio patted Flygon to carry him away, clearing the battlefield for the others.
Flygon glanced at the stubborn Groudon, then flew off. After hearing this exchange, it felt that these so-called divine beings weren’t that impressive — clearly outmatched, yet still asking for more punishment.
Dialga, Palkia, and the others, however, were beaming. They loved stubborn, principled opponents like this. Absolutely loved it.
"Dialga~" — Brothers — go!
With Dialga’s command, the gang-beating of Groudon resumed.
Ten minutes later.
"I surrender! I surrender! I won’t beat up Kyogre! I’ll stay here and not go anywhere!" Groudon’s voice echoed in Rio’s mind once again.
Rio smiled. Why make it so difficult? That extra beating was completely unnecessary.
"Alright, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Rayquaza, Gengar — stop." Rio called them off and patted Flygon’s back. Flygon understood and carried him back to Groudon.
"Would have been simpler to agree earlier — that extra beating wasn’t necessary. Groudon, we humans have a saying: ’A wise man submits to circumstances.’ Know when to lower your head. It saves a lot of trouble. You should learn that." Rio picked up the Luxury Ball he had put away earlier and tossed it at Groudon.
A flash of light — Groudon was drawn in. After three shakes, the capture was successful.
"Excellent — now Groudon of Hoenn’s three gods is mine. Only Kyogre remains." Rio smiled, picking up the Luxury Ball.
Behind him, Dialga and the others looked disappointed — they hadn’t had enough fun yet. Groudon had surrendered too soon.
After a moment, Rio released Groudon. "Alright, go home and rest. If there’s ever a chance for you to fight, I’ll definitely bring you along." He waved Groudon back to Mt. Chimney.
Groudon shot Rio a dirty look, then glared at Dialga and the others in the sky. Unwillingly, it trudged back to Mt. Chimney.
What the hell is this? I was sleeping peacefully, then I get woken up and jumped by four regional guardians plus a Gengar that’s basically on their level. Fine — whatever. I surrendered and got captured. But then they don’t even need me — they just send me back to sleep. What was the point of all that? Just to beat me up for the sake of capturing me?
"Alright, you guys can head back too. When I awaken Kyogre, I’ll call you again." Rio told Dialga and the others.
They exchanged glances, nodded, and opened portals back to their respective worlds. Just then, Rio’s mind rang with friendship notifications — all three had gained 3 points. He couldn’t help but laugh. These three are really just gangsters. They gain friendship from group beatdowns.
"What’s up, Rayquaza?" Rio noticed Rayquaza still watching him.
"Since you’re going to beat up Kyogre, count me in. I’ve got nothing better to do." Rayquaza’s words made him laugh.
"Fine — ’when it rains, you might as well beat the kids.’ Since you’re free, you can join in too." Rio agreed.
"Thanks." Rayquaza was pleased and flew off. As it left, Rio received another friendship notification — this one gained 5 points, even more than the Sinnoh trio. He laughed again. Apparently, beating up one’s peers was every legendary’s favorite pastime.
Once Rayquaza disappeared, Rio patted Flygon’s back. "Little Flygon — have you seen my power now?"
Flygon nodded.
"Still want to be my Pokémon?" Rio asked.
Flygon fell silent.
"Looks like you’re not sure how to answer. Tell you what — come with me to find Kyogre first. After that, I’ll point you in the right direction." Rio said.
Flygon’s face lit up with joy, and it nodded. Rio smiled, pulling out his phone to check the Hoenn map. He knew where Kyogre slept — in the Seafloor Cavern, located on Route 134. So he needed to find Route 134.
Following Rio’s directions, Flygon carried him away from Mt. Chimney. Shortly after they left, Hoenn’s Champion Steven arrived. Hearing from locals that Groudon had been beaten up by several Pokémon and had returned to Mt. Chimney to sleep, he was utterly baffled.
Why? He’d received a late-night alert about Groudon awakening, then that it was fighting Sinnoh’s legendary Pokémon, then that Rayquaza had joined in. Five Pokémon had beaten up Groudon, then went their separate ways, and Groudon just went back to sleep like nothing happened. This was going to become one of the world’s unsolved mysteries. He had feared Hoenn would be destroyed — but then... that was it?
Two hours passed. It was now early morning, three hours before dawn. Rio arrived at Route 134 on Flygon.
"Flygon, wait here. I’m going to awaken Kyogre." Rio patted Flygon.
"Fly~" Flygon nodded.
A flash of light — Rio released Mewtwo. The Seafloor Cavern, as the name implied, lay at the deepest part of the ocean. He couldn’t take Charizard or Flygon — only Mewtwo could handle it, especially since he hadn’t brought Red Gyarados this time.
Mewtwo understood Rio’s intent immediately, using Psychic to carry him. It then Mega Evolved into Y Form and dove straight into the ocean. Within a minute, they reached the ocean floor. Mewtwo used its psychic power to locate a large cavern and flew inside. Using Extreme Speed, they reached the deepest part in moments — and found Kyogre, a massive sea creature, resting in a pool.
"Mewtwo, hit Kyogre with an Aura Sphere — let it know that if you sleep too soundly, you won’t even notice guests arriving. But don’t hit too hard — Dialga and the others still need their turn." Rio said.
Mewtwo smiled, raised its right hand, and formed a smaller-than-usual Aura Sphere. The sphere struck the sleeping Kyogre, jolting it awake — its eyes blazing with fury at Rio and Mewtwo.
The entire cavern, and the surrounding sea, began to shake.
"Go — take it to the surface." Rio smiled.
Mewtwo nodded, using Extreme Speed to carry Rio away from Kyogre in an instant. Naturally, Kyogre gave chase, swimming upward. As it awakened, a torrential downpour erupted over the sea. The nearest city, Slateport, was immediately affected — waking many from their sleep.
Steven, who had just returned to his quarters, was roused by another phone call.
"What?! You’re saying Slateport is experiencing unusual heavy rain, and someone spotted what looks like Kyogre emerging from the sea?!" Steven exclaimed in shock.
He was stunned again. What was going on tonight? First Groudon got awakened and beaten up. Now Kyogre was awakened — was it going to get beaten up too?
"Are any other regional legendaries present? Like Sinnoh’s three gods — Dialga, Palkia, Giratina?" Steven pressed.
"Not yet — no reports of other legendaries appearing." came the reply.
Steven breathed a sigh of relief — at least this was different from earlier. But then he grew confused again — why had Kyogre awakened?
Just then, the voice on the phone grew panicked: "Mr. Steven — we just received word that Sinnoh’s three gods have appeared again — this time on the sea surface!"
"What?!" Steven’s eyes widened. Speak of the devil. First Groudon got beaten up; now it was Kyogre’s turn. What was wrong with Sinnoh’s three legendary gods? Why were they coming to Hoenn?
Above the sea surface of Route 134, Rio had switched to Flygon’s back, holding three colored stones — Dialga’s, Palkia’s, and Giratina’s. They had appeared because of his call.
Kyogre, arriving at the surface, was completely bewildered. What had it done wrong? Why were Sinnoh’s three idiots in Hoenn, standing before it? And judging by their expressions... something was very wrong.