With the arrival of Dragon-type Elite Four member Drake and the League's regular army, the many League Trainers who had been terrified by Groudon's overwhelming power finally seemed to find an anchor. Their morale gradually began to recover.
At the same time, as the people of Fallarbor Town saw the League forces arriving as reinforcements, the chaos within the town finally began to show signs of subsiding.
"Warriors of the League! Split your forces! One group will rescue the civilians in Fallarbor Town. Everyone else, come with me—we're going to face that giant monster ahead!"
Seeing that Groudon was now less than a few kilometers from Fallarbor Town and noticing the desperate situation in the town, Drake immediately shouted in a loud, commanding voice.
As soon as he finished speaking, he took the lead, riding his Salamence straight toward Groudon.
Seeing Drake personally charge into battle, the League Trainers were instantly inspired. Gritting their teeth, they urged their Flying-type Pokémon to follow him.
Sato also joined them, though before doing so, he recalled Pikachu into its PokeBall.
Although Drake had unintentionally dragged him into danger before, he had also risked his own life to help Sato escape. In the end, he had even selflessly given Sato the Dragon-type training notes he had compiled over many years. Sato remembered every one of those kindnesses.
More importantly, Drake's willingness to risk his life yet again to protect others earned Sato's deepest admiration. This time, he decided to lend Drake a hand and contribute whatever little strength he could.
His own aerial force was practically insignificant—he wasn't even qualified to harass Groudon directly.
But he possessed psychic powers.
With his assistance, Drake's chances of surviving this battle would undoubtedly improve considerably.
At this moment, Drake was the banner holding the entire battlefield together.
If he fell, not only would the League Trainers who had gathered because of the regional emergency collapse into panic, but even the highly disciplined League army would suffer a catastrophic loss of morale and quickly fall apart.
Therefore, no matter what happened, Drake could not be allowed to fall.
As long as he remained standing, the battle between the League and Groudon would continue.
"Salamence! Altaria! Use Dragon Pulse!"
Once Salamence had closed the distance somewhat, Drake immediately ordered both Salamence beneath him and the Altaria flying beside him to attack Groudon.
Having followed Drake through countless campaigns over the years, these two Elite-Four level Pokémon showed not the slightest fear even when facing a Super Legendary like Groudon.
The moment Drake finished speaking, two enormous dragon-shaped waves of energy roared toward Groudon.
As Drake launched the first attack, the League Trainers following behind also ordered their Flying-type Pokémon to unleash their own attacks.
For a moment, countless moves rained down upon Groudon from every direction.
Faced with such a fierce barrage, Groudon finally stopped ignoring them.
A layer of pale white flames suddenly enveloped both of its hands.
Then, as casually as swatting flies, it effortlessly scattered countless incoming attacks with its massive palms.
It had activated Fire Punch.
At the same time, every swing of its arms generated a scorching gale.
Many Trainers and their Pokémon were caught in the blazing wind and blown violently away, feeling as though they had been thrown into a blazing furnace.
Only the more experienced Trainers reacted quickly enough, shouting for nearby Flying-type Pokémon to combine their efforts and generate powerful gusts of wind to resist the scorching blast.
Even then, they barely managed to withstand the aftereffects of Groudon's Fire Punch.
In Groudon's eyes, humans and ordinary Pokémon were nothing more than insects.
Yet now these insignificant creatures actually dared to gather together and challenge its majesty.
Its crimson eyes instantly turned blood-red with fury.
"ROOOOAR!!!"
The enraged Groudon suddenly let out a deafening roar.
A terrifying shockwave spread outward in every direction.
The nearby League Trainers and their Pokémon were overwhelmed with agony. Some combatants who could no longer endure the sonic assault fell helplessly from the sky.
Then Groudon opened its mouth.
One after another, gigantic balls of molten lava—each over ten meters in diameter—shot toward the surrounding League Trainers.
Naturally, no one dared confront those magma spheres head-on.
Everyone immediately ordered their Flying-type Pokémon to evade.
However, the giant magma projectiles were far from ordinary.
Halfway through their flight, every one of them exploded.
The explosions instantly unleashed violent shockwaves that blasted numerous League personnel from the sky.
At the same time, the shattered magma transformed into a torrential rain of molten fire, blanketing the entire battlefield.
The dense lava rain struck countless combatants.
Many of the weaker Trainers could only fall from the sky with unwillingness and utter terror written across their faces before plunging into the sea of molten lava below.
The area covered by the lava rain was enormous.
Even nearby Fallarbor Town was caught within its range.
Countless buildings collapsed or burst into flames.
In less than twenty seconds, over half the town had become an inferno.
Fortunately, many League personnel had already entered the town moments earlier to evacuate civilians.
Most of the townspeople had been moved to safety in time.
Otherwise, Fallarbor Town would truly have become a living hell.
Groudon's coordinated assault—combining its devastating attacks with sonic interference—instantly claimed the lives of nearly half the League Trainers participating in the siege.
Its terrifying might was evident for all to see.
The courage the League Trainers had only just regained because of Drake's arrival and the League army quickly evaporated.
Some of the more timid Trainers had already begun frantically ordering their Flying-type Pokémon to retreat.
"You vile beast! Salamence! Altaria! Mega Evolve!"
Seeing Groudon reduce so many League Trainers to ashes in an instant—and watching deserters begin to flee—Drake's face flushed red with fury.
Without hesitation, he activated the Key Stone in his hand, allowing both Salamence and Altaria to Mega Evolve.
The battle was on the verge of collapse.
As commander, he had to stand at the front.
Soon, two brilliant rainbow spirals appeared high in the sky.
Mega Salamence and Mega Altaria emerged before everyone's eyes.
Having Mega Evolved, the strength of both Elite-level Dragon-type Pokémon surged dramatically.
Mega Salamence, in particular, immediately engaged Groudon in close combat after Drake switched to riding his Flygon.
"Go, Salamence! Use Devastating Drake!"
After ordering Mega Altaria to bombard Groudon with Draco Meteor, and directing the Pokémon of the handful of Elite-Four level Trainers present to launch a relentless assault and distract Groudon, Drake immediately commanded Mega Salamence to unleash its ultimate technique.
Everyone watched as an enormous dragon-shaped comet suddenly appeared behind Groudon before slamming violently into its back.
Then, to everyone's astonishment, the seemingly insignificant Mega Salamence actually forced Groudon to stagger.
The colossal Pokémon was pushed several steps forward.
Witnessing this scene, many League Trainers who had already been preparing to flee found their courage returning.
Gritting their teeth once more, they stayed behind to assist the Elite-Four level Trainers in holding Groudon back.
If Drake and the others were defeated...
Where could anyone possibly run?
One might escape oneself—but could one abandon one's home?
Throughout Hoenn, Groudon's fearsome reputation was legendary.
If it were allowed to rampage unchecked, the entire Hoenn region would suffer.
And when that happened, the devastation now consuming Fallarbor Town would become the fate of their own hometowns.