The scorching heat slowly dissipated. After the flames vanished, the completely charred Combusken collapsed onto the beach, having lost its ability to battle.
"The difference is too great."
Ruby shook his head, casting aside the distracting thoughts in his mind.
If he didn't shake off those thoughts, Ruby felt that his dormant passion for battle was about to awaken.
"I lost."
Sapphire said straightforwardly. She pulled a handful of Berries from her pouch and stuffed them into Combusken's mouth.
Ace nodded: "Work hard. You two still have potential, but you're too weak right now. Given time, you will surely become Elites."
Ace encouraged Sapphire and Ruby but simultaneously planted a subtle idea in their minds:
That they were not strong currently and needed time to grow.
This idea was simple, but for Ace, it had already achieved its purpose.
Sapphire and Ruby soon left Dewford Town, while Ace and Zinnia temporarily stayed behind.
Just as Ace had said, he was truly there for a vacation.
The main plot was still developing according to plan. Small matters could naturally be handled by his subordinates. As long as no major deviation occurred, there was no need for Ace and Zinnia to intervene.
More importantly, it wasn't yet time for Ace to enter the main plot. Ace didn't have to do anything, just peacefully enjoy a moment of relaxation.
"Lord Ace, Team Magma and Team Aqua have joined forces."
After more than a month passed, Zinnia approached Ace with a communication device.
Ace smiled faintly, standing up from the sofa: "They've finally joined forces, huh? They really made me wait too long."
Zinnia nodded. They had waited too long for this setup; it was time to reap the rewards of victory.
The two checked out of the inn, and then, led by the Tao Dragon, they flew towards the Pokémon League Headquarters in the Hoenn region.
Just as Ace and his companions were heading to the League Headquarters, in the Seafloor Cavern, the two groups from Team Magma and Team Aqua split at a fork in the road, each heading towards the caves where Groudon and Kyogre resided.
Advancing rapidly, the two teams found the still-sleeping Groudon and Kyogre almost simultaneously.
Groudon and Kyogre, whose consciousnesses were already awake, suddenly recalled what Ace had told them when they noticed the intruders:
"In the near future, someone will awaken you. Groudon (Kyogre), you must wake up slower (faster) than Kyogre (Groudon). Understand? You absolutely cannot mess up the order!"
Just as the two ancient Pokémon were lost in thought, the two teams from Team Magma and Team Aqua began to awaken Groudon and Kyogre.
Groudon felt flames gradually erupting on its body, bringing warmth and slowly awakening its body.
Groudon realized this and used its consciousness to suppress its increasingly restless body, thinking helplessly: "That stinky fish, hurry up and get out!"
As Groudon thought this, a loud roar came from the opposite side. Kyogre had been successfully awakened by Team Aqua and escaped the Seafloor Cavern!
"Finally gone."
Groudon sighed in relief and no longer suppressed the restlessness of its body. Soon, its body also fully awoke.
Suddenly opening its eyes, Groudon used Dig, immediately escaping the cave and quickly heading towards the location Ace had indicated.
"Heh heh, that fool Archie probably thinks he's won."
Maxie watched Groudon leave and couldn't help but mock: "But I have the ultimate winning item! Tabitha!"
"Yes, Boss."
Tabitha retrieved the Red Orb and Blue Orb from behind his cloak and handed them to Maxie.
Maxie held the two Orbs, laughing wildly: "It doesn't matter what happens on the surface! With these two Orbs, I can control Groudon and Kyogre right here in the Seafloor Cavern as I please! Archie, you've lost!"
On the other side, the Tao Dragon carried Ace and his companions to intercept a massive airship.
Rain poured down. Ace looked at the mobile League Headquarters before him and shouted loudly: "I am Ace, a close friend of the Kanto Region League Chairman. I have come to meet the Hoenn Region League Chairman!"
As Ace's voice fell, a large door on the airship opened. Seeing this, the Tao Dragon immediately flew over with Ace and Zinnia.
Ace and Zinnia leapt inside the airship, and Ace recalled the Tao Dragon.
At that moment, several League staff members walked over and signaled to Ace and Zinnia. The two followed the staff and smoothly entered the airship's bridge, where they met the Chairman who sported a voluminous Afro.
Looking at the Hoenn Chairman's explosively full hair, Ace's first thought was that the Kanto Region Chairman would probably be very envious when he saw him.
After all, the Kanto Chairman only had a small tuft of hair on top, and he had been worried about hair loss recently.
It would probably only take a few years until he was completely bald if Ace were to see him again.
Ace suppressed the chaotic thoughts in his mind, then looked at the Chairman before him and said: "Hello, Chairman. I am Ace."
"I know."
The Chairman took off his glasses, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and said: "The Hoenn Region is suffering a great calamity right now. I hope any competent Trainer can lend a hand. I wonder if you, Ace, could..."
"Say no more, Chairman."
Ace interrupted the Chairman and said with a smile: "We will definitely help."
Seeing Ace readily agree, the Chairman nodded in relief, his impression of Ace instantly improving.
"Chairman, it's appeared!"
Just then, a League staff member monitoring the two massive energy signatures said in terror: "It's Kyogre!"
"What?!"
The Chairman immediately rushed over, his face grim as he looked at the display screen.
Kyogre emerged from the sea and appeared near the famous sunken ship area of Hoenn.
With its appearance, the torrential rain intensified. Kyogre let out a loud cry, and a Water Spout roared out, fiercely hitting the abandoned sunken ship.
With just one hit, the metal hull was blasted apart at the waist, and amidst a giant wave, it slowly sank towards the seabed.
"Groudon has appeared too!"
The next moment, on another display screen, Groudon also burst out of the earth, appearing outside Mauville City.
The sun instantly erupted with scorching heat. The land began to dry up, vegetation withered and caught fire, and rivers evaporated and stopped flowing. The originally lush, green landscape instantly turned into a desert!
"Kyogre, Groudon... this is the end..."
Looking at the two ancient Pokémon that had appeared, despair flashed in the Chairman's eyes.