Chapter 666 - 666: 666. Rayquaza vs Deoxys

After Zinnia finished explaining everything, Kai finally let out a slow breath.

Good.

So Team Aqua and Team Magma had simply stumbled into this situation by coincidence just like he had earlier, playing the part of the mantis stalking the cicada. That was the best possible outcome.

For a moment, he had truly suspected that there was a leak inside Devon Corporation.

No wonder Flannery had refused to answer him earlier.

How could she admit that this was nothing more than blind luck?

---

The Battlefield Stalls Again

The fighting across the valley fell into another tense stalemate.

On the frontline, Pokémon from both sides continued clashing. Team Magma couldn't break through, and Kai's Pokémon couldn't push them back either.

In front of Kai, Zinnia released another Pokémon Altaria to reinforce Salamence.

In terms of raw strength, Zinnia and Flannery were evenly matched. Perhaps Zinnia held a slight edge, but not enough to overwhelm her opponent.

That balance explained how Salamence and Altaria, despite being outnumbered, were able to hold off Flannery and her elite subordinates.

---

On the other side of the battlefield, Team Aqua was faring no better against Deoxys.

They had underestimated it.

Even after trying to overestimate its strength, they still fell short.

With the three Legendary birds harassing them from above, Deoxys rampaged through Aqua's ranks. Even their elite Pokémon could barely withstand it. Only Shelly's Pokémon posed any meaningful threat.

Still, their numerical advantage was overwhelming.

Like ants gnawing at a serpent, they believed that given enough time and sacrifice they could exhaust Deoxys and eventually capture it.

That was, of course, assuming the three Legendary birds didn't interfere.

But clearly, Kai had no intention of giving them that opportunity.

---

Water from the lake continued flooding into the valley. In some places, it rose to knee height.

Fire-type and Water-type moves illuminated the battlefield half the valley glowing crimson, the other half shimmering blue.

Then—

The sky changed.

A massive bank of dark clouds gathered overhead.

Almost instantly, Deoxys, Raikou, Suicune, Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres all looked up at the same time.

Their reaction caused every other Pokémon to pause and follow their gaze.

This time, the change in weather had nothing to do with Kai.

He and Misty looked upward.

So did Flannery.

So did Zinnia.

Then—

A colossal shape burst through the clouds.

A long, serpentine body. Emerald scales. Golden ring patterns. Red-edged fins like rudders along its sides.

Even those who had never seen it before instantly recognized the name rising in their minds:

Rayquaza.

"It's Rayquaza!" Misty gasped. "It really came!"

Beside Kai, Zinnia trembled uncontrollably.

Even she hadn't expected it to appear so soon.

This time, she swore silently, she would not miss her chance.

---

Team Aqua and Team Magma wore far more complicated expressions.

Originally, they had only been searching around Mt. Chimney for their respective goals Groudon and Kyogre.

A fallen meteorite meant nothing to them.

Only when reports surfaced of a powerful Pokémon near it did they mobilize.

Seeing Kai battling Deoxys had seemed like a gift from fate.

But now?

They had already exhausted themselves fighting one Mythical Pokémon.

Another Legendary especially one like Rayquaza was more than they could handle.

Even the shockwaves from its battle could wipe them out.

---

Rayquaza wasted no time.

It dove straight toward Deoxys.

Shelly's expression darkened.

Just as Zinnia had said, Rayquaza possessed a fierce territorial instinct. It had retreated injured before but now it had returned.

Deoxys did not hesitate either.

Abandoning Team Aqua's forces, it ascended to meet its rival.

The two collided midair.

Zinnia bolted forward like a hunting leopard, racing toward the center of the battlefield. Salamence and Altaria followed immediately.

"Kai!" Misty shouted.

"Gardevoir!" Kai called.

In an instant, Gardevoir teleported back to his side.

Through telepathy, Kai ordered Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres to retreat.

Rayquaza and Deoxys would not stop until one—or both were broken.

He had no intention of being caught in the crossfire.

Better to conserve strength.

---

High above, Rayquaza and Deoxys clashed without restraint.

They tore across sky, mountainside, and valley floor.

Mountains collapsed. Trees were obliterated. Craters formed where none had existed before.

The terrain itself began to change.

When the three Legendary birds returned to Kai's side, Flannery didn't hesitate.

She withdrew immediately.

No way was she facing three Legendary Pokémon head-on.

Still, she didn't retreat far. She regrouped—clearly planning to seize whatever remained at the end.

Kai merely glanced at her before refocusing.

Team Aqua suffered the most.

Trapped near the epicenter, they couldn't even retreat.

A Hyper Beam-like blast from Deoxys missed Rayquaza—but detonated among Aqua's Pokémon instead.

Rayquaza's massive body swept through the air; Deoxys dodged, but the shockwave sent Aqua grunts flying with shattered rock.

They were paying dearly for their ambition.

---

With the Legendary birds guarding them and their Pokémon regrouped, Misty finally had a moment to act.

She raised her Pokédex toward Rayquaza.

The device responded:

> "Rayquaza, the Sky High Pokémon. Dragon/Flying type. It has lived in the ozone layer for hundreds of millions of years. Its flight resembles a meteor streaking across the night sky. It feeds on atmospheric particles and is known to consume meteorites."

Humanity knew far more about Rayquaza than Deoxys.

Satellites and spacecraft had occasionally captured glimpses of it in the upper atmosphere.

But beyond that, it remained a mystery.

---

Zinnia had already reached the heart of the chaos.

Explosions erupted around her.

Still, she pressed forward.

She attempted to call out to Rayquaza, holding shining objects in her hand—likely Key Stones or artifacts of her people.

Her voice was swallowed by thunder and detonations.

Desperate, she ordered Salamence and Altaria to assist.

They were struck down instantly.

She could not intervene in this battle.

Kai shook his head slightly.

Too impatient.

Trying to capture Rayquaza amid a three-way battlefield?

Reckless.

---

Above, the battle intensified.

Rayquaza's relentless assaults shattered Deoxys's body repeatedly—but each time, Deoxys regenerated with its terrifying cellular reconstruction.

Yet even Deoxys was tiring.

Its movements slowed.

Its attacks weakened.

Rayquaza, too, bore wounds and breathed heavily.

Both were nearing their limits.

Across the valley, every pair of eyes lit up.

They all understood.

If anyone intended to act—

Now was the moment.

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