After sunbathing for more than an hour, Cain decided it was time to leave and recalled all his Pokémon. This break had been beneficial for easing his mental exhaustion.
Just as he was about to depart, a sudden gust of wind swept through the valley, causing all the trees to shake violently. Some smaller branches even snapped.
Cain's expression changed abruptly.
He looked up and saw a Pokémon above him. The sun was so dazzling that he couldn't immediately make out the figure of the Pokémon. Shortly after, another Pokémon appeared in the sky, and both emanated an extremely powerful presence.
Suddenly, the two Pokémon collided, creating an enormous shockwave. Although the battle was far from where Cain was standing, he barely managed to keep his balance.
After the impact, he could clearly see which Pokémon were fighting.
The Ice Pillar, Regice!
And alongside it, one of the legendary birds, Articuno!
Two legendary Pokémon!
Cain's heart skipped a beat.
Were these two Pokémon fighting here?
However, Cain calmed down slightly upon realizing that, while they were legendary, they were not "deities." Even so, it was strange to see these two Ice-type Pokémon in battle.
The Ice Pillar, Regice, one of the three legendary pillars, theoretically lacked the ability to fly. However, the three pillars could manipulate electromagnetic energy, allowing them to float if their control was strong enough.
As for Articuno, with its majestic wings, flight wasn't even a question.
At that moment, the two legendary Pokémon paused after clashing, locked in a tense standoff in midair.
Cain noticed that the ambient temperature had dropped significantly. Even though the sun was still shining, no warmth could be felt.
While the two Pokémon maintained their staring contest, a Charizard appeared flying in the distance, carrying a person on its back.
Charizard, under its trainer's command, approached the battlefield and positioned itself next to Articuno.
Articuno let out a sharp cry upon seeing it.
This Articuno has an owner!
Cain understood immediately and knew exactly who the owner of that Pokémon was in the Hoenn region.
It was Noland, the leader of the Battle Factory in Hoenn's Battle Frontier.
In the future, when Ash challenges the Battle Factory in Hoenn, he will face Noland, who will use this very same Articuno. Although he will eventually lose to Ash's Charizard, there's no doubt that Articuno is extremely strong.
Articuno's opponent, Regice, one of the three legendary pillars known for its cold demeanor, was also famous.
But why was Noland fighting Regice?
Was he trying to capture it?
Cain recalled that in the Battle Frontier, Brandon, the leader of the Battle Pyramid, already had the three legendary pillars under his control. He didn't know if Brandon had captured them all by this point.
What intrigued Cain the most was whether this Regice could be the same one that had disappeared from Mythical Island, where the three legendary pillars guarded Mew's ruins.
Although the thought came to him suddenly, Cain couldn't help but ponder it.
Unfortunately, the Pokémon were too far away for his system to scan them. If he could, Cain would have uncovered the truth.
He strongly suspected that this Regice was the same one that vanished from Mythical Island.
He saw Noland attempting to communicate with Regice but doubted he could succeed.
Could the three legendary pillars communicate verbally?
Of course not!
Brandon, the leader of the Battle Pyramid, commanded the three legendary pillars not through simple words but through his title and position as the "pharaoh."
These Pokémon only obey the legitimate owner of the ruins they protect, and the title of pharaoh had been passed down through generations, enabling Brandon to control them.
Without that title, it was impossible to control these Pokémon.
Noland clearly didn't want to fight Regice at this moment. Although his Articuno was powerful, he wasn't sure he could defeat Regice, especially not in this hunting area.
If they started battling, the environmental consequences could be catastrophic, causing immense damage to the habitat.
Regice, growing more impatient, didn't seem willing to keep listening to Noland's incomprehensible words. It had a clear purpose for being here, and if Articuno continued to block its path, it was ready to fight with all its might.
Noland, seeing Regice's increasing frustration, understood the situation. He knew that, while he couldn't defeat it, he could at least stall it long enough for the League's elite trainers to arrive and capture this powerful legendary Pokémon.
According to Noland, this Regice was much stronger than the one belonging to Brandon.
Cain, watching from below, hesitated.
He had the ability to communicate with Regice through telepathy but wasn't sure if intervening was the right thing to do. It might trigger a large-scale battle, and Cain wasn't sure he wanted to get involved with the Battle Frontier at this time.
The Battle Frontier, located in the Hoenn region, was very influential and not to be underestimated. Though different from the Kanto League, Hoenn's power structure was divided among the League, the Joy and Jenny families, the Pokémon Contest, and the Battle Frontier.
The Battle Frontier leaders were extremely powerful, with strength nearly comparable to the Elite Four, giving them significant influence within the Pokémon League.
Some even believed the Battle Frontier leaders were as strong as the Elite Four.
(End of chapter)