Route 119, the rain was pouring down.
It was as if a giant hole had been ripped in the sky, the gray curtain of rain merging heaven and earth into a single chaotic expanse.
Large raindrops pounded against broad leaves with a rhythmic pitter-patter, gathering into streams that rolled down the veins of the leaves, washing away the already muddy dirt road into an even worse state.
The air was thick with the smell of damp earth and a faint, lingering scent of sulfur.
In the distance, a white modern building stood alone, embraced by the forest; that was the Weather Institute.
But at this moment, this building, which symbolized technology and peace, exuded an aura of slaughter.
Several beams from high-intensity searchlights swept fruitlessly through the rain, making the splashing droplets glint brightly, which only added to the tension.
The main gates of the institute were tightly shut, and the surrounding wire fence had been crudely torn open with a large gap.
Several members of Team Magma, dressed in dark red uniforms and hoods, were leaning against the wall smoking out of boredom, their crimson embers particularly striking in the dim, rainy day.
Inside the institute, in a spacious storage room, dozens of researchers in white lab coats were packed inside like sardines, their faces filled with fear and unease.
Outside the door, two burly Mightyena lay on the ground, dozing fitfully, low growls occasionally emanating from their throats as a warning to those inside not to make any rash moves.
Team Magma had occupied this place for over five hours.
"Boom!"
A dull explosion echoed from the woods not far from the institute, startling a flock of Starly hidden in the canopy.
The battle was already over.
On the muddy clearing, several young Trainers sat slumped on the ground in a pathetic state, their faces a blur of rain and tears.
Their Pokémon—a Castform, two Lombre, and the Linoone that had made the final charge—had all lost their ability to fight and lay battered in the mud.
"Water Gun! Use Water Gun!"
The leading youth had screamed at the top of his lungs; this was the scene from a few minutes ago.
His Castform had condensed a sphere of water in the torrential rain, attempting to launch a counterattack by taking advantage of the weather.
However, their opponents, that Team Magma patrol squad, gave them no chance at all.
"Heh, a bunch of brats who don't know their place."
The Team Magma squad leader grinned, revealing a row of teeth yellowed by smoke, his eyes full of contempt.
"Let these future flowers of the League see what true power is!"
"Camerupt, Lava Plume!"
The massive Camerupt beside him suddenly opened its mouth wide, and the volcano-like humps on its back instantly turned crimson.
The next second, scalding thick smoke mixed with sparks and a heavy scent of sulfur erupted like a black-red shockwave!
"Sizzle—"
The rain met the high temperature, producing a piercing sound.
A large plume of white steam rose into the sky, instantly shrouding the entire battlefield.
Before the Water Gun condensed by Castform could even touch its opponent, it was completely evaporated in mid-air by the heatwave.
Then, that scorching Smokescreen swallowed all the Water-type Pokémon with an unstoppable force.
"Wu—"
The lily pads on the heads of the Lombre instantly became charred and curled, and they collapsed with a mournful cry.
"Linoone! Our last hope! Use Tackle!"
The last boy's eyes were bloodshot as he issued his final command.
His Linoone let out an unwilling roar, its limbs digging forcefully into the mud as it turned into a black-and-white afterimage, charging toward those snarling Mightyena.
This was a desperate charge, gambling everything.
However, what met it were three lithe figures pouncing simultaneously from the shadows.
"Dark Pulse!"
The three Mightyena coordinated with perfect synergy, three streams of deep purple malevolent energy converging in mid-air to accurately strike Linoone's side.
"Bang!"
Linoone gave a mournful cry, its large body flipping once in mid-air before crashing heavily into the mire, splashing up a large amount of sludge, unable to stand up again.
The gap in power was so vast it was despair-inducing.
"Tch, how boring."
The Team Magma squad leader spat disdainfully and kicked the twitching Lombre next to him with the tip of his boot.
"You dare challenge our Team Magma with such pathetic skills? Go back and drink milk for a few more years!"
The leading Trainer struggled to crawl up from the mud, covered in filth; he glared intensely at the Team Magma members, his eyes filled with humiliation and resentment.
But he knew that if they kept fighting, his Pokémon might actually die.
He gritted his teeth, helped up his equally despondent companions, and stumbled away toward Fortree City.
He had to get the word back: Team Magma's target was the Weather Institute!
Watching those retreating figures fleeing in panic, the members of the Team Magma squad broke out into a fit of unrestrained laughter.
"Hahaha! See that? These are League Trainers—completely fragile!"
"Boss, your Camerupt's Lava Plume is getting more and more powerful. It can one-shot Water-type Pokémon even in this heavy rain!"
"Of course! Look whose Pokémon it is!"
The squad leader patted Camerupt's neck smugly, looking thoroughly satisfied.
"When Lord Fire Ghost arrives and sees how efficiently we've handled the trouble, he'll surely reward us well!"
"Lord Fire Ghost..."
A look of awe and fear appeared in one member's eyes.
"I heard Lord Fire Ghost's Magmortar can boil a whole river dry with a single Flamethrower!"
"More than that! I heard that last time, Lord Fire Ghost wiped out a secret League base all by himself!"
Just as they were boasting excitedly, a sharp-eyed member suddenly pointed toward the distance of the road and spoke with some uncertainty.
"Hey, look, is someone else coming from over there?"
Everyone looked in that direction.
The curtain of rain remained, and on the road in the distance, a blurry black figure was walking toward them at a leisurely pace.
The person had no umbrella and wore no raincoat, simply letting the cold rain pour over them. Their pace was steady, each step as if measured by a ruler, landing precisely on the muddy road without the slightest stumble.
In this mess of a battlefield and the harsh weather, this unhurried composure seemed completely out of place.
"Hmph, another one coming to die?"
The squad leader narrowed his eyes, the smile on his face turning cruel.
"My hands aren't even warmed up yet. Brothers, get ready to stretch your limbs again!"
Several members immediately understood, grins spreading across their faces as they commanded the Mightyena beside them, assuming battle stances...