Pokémon: I picked up a reborn Eevee at the start of the game.

Everyone was silent.

This is a very sensitive issue. If we only focus on eliminating Team Magma and ignore the series of consequences caused by Groudon's awakening, the final result could very well be—

What exactly have you been protecting?

It's conceivable that, given the setback in his original plan, Crimson Pine would ultimately resort to a desperate gamble to summon and control Groudon. If he succeeds, the consequences would be absolutely unimaginable.

"Therefore, we must keep him and the Crimson Pearl out of the temple. Even if their remnants escape, there's nothing we can do."

"Mikeli said in a deep voice."

"Don't worry, they can't escape."

Xia Chen gestured towards Gu Leton with his chin and said this.

The other three also approved the final plan.

With the biggest disagreement resolved, the subsequent plans and task allocation became a natural progression.

Adam, the strongest among them, was in charge of the main battlefield and direct confrontation with Crimson Flame Pine, while Qianli, Mikoli, and Xia Chen dealt with the smaller minions.

Most of the fairy-type spirits in Maxiu are small in size and are responsible for reconnaissance and support.

The unique Guleton is a free agent who moves between different battlefields and pursues the fleeing Lava Team members.

After discussing these matters, it was nearly eight o'clock.

Although the Lava Team would most likely operate in the dead of night, Xia Chen and his team still dispatched a dozen or so Bigmouth Gulls and Giant Swallows to conduct aerial reconnaissance near the temple.

They fed and rested the Pokémon, devised tactics, and waited patiently for Team Lava to arrive.

Xia Chen took a moment to contact Cynthia; they had successfully arrived at the underwater cave, but Team Ocean had not yet arrived.

The situation there is much more complicated. The underwater cave is not like the Awakening Temple in the city, which is guarded by elves. You need to consider the timing of your infiltration, and the Marine Team could act at any time.

Firstly, the underwater caves are hundreds of meters deep in the ocean, allowing the marine team to sneak in undetected from below the surface.

Cynthia and her companion could only have Milotic stay in the underwater cave and wait for the information before they could take action.

Therefore, there is a greater possibility of an accident occurring over there.

Fortunately, the area surrounding the underwater cave is all sea, uninhabited by humans, so even if an accident occurs, the impact will be much smaller.

As for the safety of Cynthia and Gadriya, Xia Chen had nothing to worry about and didn't need to give them any instructions.

…………

Before we knew it, it was 2 a.m.

In the dead of night, with wind and rain falling, it is the perfect time to sneak around and do bad things.

In the rainy night, a flock of giant swallows flapped their wings vigorously and flew towards the ancient city of Liuli on the crater. With their fierce and powerful claws, they captured figures dressed in fiery red uniforms.

The leading giant swallow was exceptionally large, with a pair of wide, fully extended wings as majestic and powerful as an eagle's.

Before long, this group of giant swallows, taking advantage of the cover of the rainy night, silently sneaked into the ancient city of Liuli. At the same time, a large beak resting on a tree next to the Awakening Temple narrowed its sharp eyes and flew towards the Liuli Dojo on the other side of the lake.

No one noticed this seemingly ordinary elf.

The leading giant swallow landed first, followed by the thirty-odd giant swallows behind him.

Just like Crobat and Arbok are Team Rocket, Swellow is Team Magma's signature Pokémon. This team, consisting of more than thirty Swellows at least at the Elite level, is the elite Team Magma led by Redpie.

At the head of the operation, a lean and capable middle-aged man with red hair was giving final instructions in the woods, which was only a few hundred meters away from the Temple of Awakening.

"Firefly, your squad will deal with the guardian spirits watching over the temple. Fire Spirit, you take Porygon and Rotom and the others to break through the temple's gate. Understood?"

The calm voice carried a hint of cold decisiveness. The thirty-one team members did not answer, but nodded firmly with fanatical expressions.

Crimson Pine nodded slightly and concluded in a deep voice: "Fellow colleagues, the arrival of the new world is only one door away from being opened, and you will be the key to unlocking it. Gentlemen, please always remember that we are fighting for a better tomorrow!"

"For a better tomorrow!"

The uniform whispers were drowned out by the night rain.

"start to act!"

As the final whisper faded, the crimson legion stealthily moved through the night toward the future they longed for, but could never reach.

Meanwhile, in the sea area about tens of kilometers away from Liuli City, an enormous roaring whale king dived into the water and swam towards the underwater cave.

Beneath the deep sea, a Milotic, which had been lying in ambush before an underwater cave, suddenly opened its eyes and swam toward the surface at an incredible speed.

In the stormy night, some time before dawn, a fierce battle was about to break out.

…………

call--

The wind and rain followed, with torrential raindrops falling incessantly and the howling wind never ceasing its advance.

Today, a southeasterly wind was blowing, and the red flame pine trees, propelled by the wind, were moving at an astonishing speed.

"Firebird, look! Even the wind is pushing us forward. It must be Groudon urging us to awaken it!"

The voice of the Crimson Pine Tree pierced through the rain, calling to its most trusted and capable assistant beside it.

"Yes, Lord Crimson Flame Pine, I have already seen a bright future for humanity under your leadership!"

The voice beneath the hood of the Fire Goose was as fiery and passionate as a blazing fire, yet a cold and icy glint shone in the depths of its eyes.

The journey between the two places was short, less than half a minute, and the Great Swallows landed in front of the gate outside the cave passage of the Awakening Temple.

Dozens or even hundreds of white lights appeared, and in an instant, an elf army composed mainly of Houndoom, Crobat, and Camerupt appeared in the night.

They made no sound, like well-trained hunting dogs awaiting their master's command; their silent solemnity concealed an astonishing and overwhelming aura.

Suddenly, a dozen or so cross-bats and giant swallows flapped their wings and flew out, like shadowy figures in the night sky, swiftly passing by under the gray-blue night.

After several muffled thuds and the sound of heavy objects falling to the ground, the demons flew back to their respective trainers.

One of them stepped forward and approached Crimson Pine. "Lord Crimson Pine, all the guardian spirits have been dealt with!"

The large raindrops pattering on his face couldn't hide the man's excited expression. Chi Yansong smiled and said, "Very good, continue to await orders."

"Yes, Lord Crimson Flame Pine!"

With the fall of the guardian elf, the already nearly undefended Temple of Awakening was left with only one last simple security gate.

Once Porygon and Rotom infiltrate the temple, he can easily enter, awaken, and take control of Groudon.

Then, the sea area centered on this glass island will become a new continent, and the area of ​​human activity will expand again.

And by capturing Groudon, he will become the god of that new world!

Crimson Pine was dreaming of ruling the world when suddenly, a sharp gust of wind rang in his ears, and then a dark shadow pierced through the rain like an arrow and attacked his face.

bang——

Like the crisp sound of an arrow colliding with steel breaking the silence of the rainy night, an elf with several sharp black spikes on its shell stood before the Crimson Flame Pine, blocking the attacker.

Looking at the Swan Dancer that had been blocked by Blazing Turtlemon, Crimson Pine narrowed its eyes slightly, "Thank you for your hard work, Blazing Turtlemon."

"Ugh—"

Blazing Turtle Beast responded calmly, its spiked shield still facing outwards—its most proficient fighting stance.

Although failing to enter the Temple of Awakening disrupted Crimson Flame Pine's original plan, it cannot be entirely considered that he was out of the loop.

Perhaps he was already on guard, or perhaps there was a mole within the team—who knows?

In short, this is not the key point.

Before he came, he must have made ample preparations and had several contingency plans.

Now, we're simply implementing Plan B.

…………

With his hands behind his back, he gestured to the back, signaling the Fire Spirit to go around and open the door. Crimson Pine then called out to the front, "Come out, Adam, what can't we talk about?"

Adam, hidden in the darkness, slowly emerged, accompanied by several composed and unassuming Pokémon: Slowking, Lapras, and Kingdra.

Crimson Pine's face remained calm and confident. "Are you alone? Where's Mikuri? At the temple gate?"

Adam didn't respond to him, but simply said, "Stop, Crimson Pine. It's not too late to surrender now."

"You want me to surrender?"

Crimson Pine laughed as if it had heard a joke. The laughter was soft, but carried a hint of maniacal madness.

Suddenly, the laughter stopped abruptly, and Crimson Pine tilted its head and asked, "Why are you stopping me? According to your League's information, Groudon is bound to awaken sooner or later, isn't it? I can control it; I should be the hero who saves the world!"

Adam did not reply, but looked at Crimson Flame Pine with a pity that seemed to look at a madman, but more so with the coldness of facing an enemy.

He hissed, "Don't hold back, finish him off!"

If you can't reach an agreement, then fight. That's the most basic rule in this world.

Suddenly, King Thorn Dragon and Laplace flew forward at a speed beyond their species' capabilities, and the Swans that were already bullying Crimson Pine joined the group.

The target is none other than the soul of Team Lava, Crimson Pine!

The fire-breathing camel, blazing chicken, and giant swallow beside the red flame pine came forward one after another, and fought against Adam's elves.

At the same time, dozens of fire and grass-type Pokémon in the Pokémon army simultaneously released [Sunny Day], and the abundant fire energy miraculously brought forth a brilliant ray of sunshine on the stormy night.

After all, it was a naturally formed rain, not caused by the [Origin Sea]. The simultaneous release of dozens of clear skies was enough to reverse the rain in this area in a short time.

The Crimson Pine, with its entire fire element, received a powerful boost.

He whispered, "I'll deal with Adam. The rest of you, head to the temple gate and take care of Mikoli. Fire Goose, you lead the team!"

"Understood, Lord Crimson Flame Pine!"

Fire Goose, with a calm expression, responded in a low voice, then led the elven legion behind him around Adam and headed towards the Awakening Temple cave not far behind him.

Adam did not stop it; dividing the battlefield was part of the plan, and his only responsibility was to hold off Crimson Pine.

As the leader of Team Magma, Crimson Pine's strength should not be underestimated; his main Pokémon are conservatively estimated to be at the Elite Four level.

With the help of clear skies, the battle had only just begun, yet it was already showing signs of overwhelming Adam and the other elves.

However, Adam was not in a hurry. The core and key to this fierce battle did not lie with him.

…………

On the other side of the battlefield, in front of the Temple of Awakening.