Looking at the battered and unsteady Groudon, Steven should have felt relieved. After all, if Groudon was dealt with, only Kyogre remained, and Hoenn's crisis would be resolved.
But the overwhelming power the Tech Hunter displayed during his battle with Groudon and Kyogre left Steven unable to celebrate.
Groudon and Kyogre may have caused untold damage to Hoenn, but their destruction was unintentional, born of their very nature.
The Tech Hunter, on the other hand, was a deliberate adversary of the Hoenn League.
As Steven wrestled with his worries, on the battlefield, Kyogre faced its own concerns.
Kyogre had watched Groudon's defeat in its entirety.
In the past, it might have been glad to see its rival taken down—it would mean no competition for natural energy.
But now, Kyogre and Groudon were on the same side.
With Groudon neutralized, it was clear who would be next.
Unlike Groudon, Kyogre was more strategic, already calculating its next move.
Meanwhile, for the first time, Rayquaza felt what it was like to have allies.
In the past, every time it tried to mediate Groudon and Kyogre's battles, it had to fight them both alone, often being overpowered.
Now, thanks to Luo Yuan, Mewtwo and Deoxys had taken care of Groudon, sparing Rayquaza the effort.
For the first time, the idea of being captured didn't seem so bad.
Luo Yuan, who was linked to Rayquaza's thoughts through telepathy, noticed this shift in perspective.
This kind of acceptance, whether one called it "finding joy in adversity," "self-domestication," or even "Stockholm Syndrome," was a welcome development for Luo Yuan.
It meant Rayquaza's submission was becoming genuine.
Luo Yuan's attention shifted back to Kyogre, leaving Groudon, now surrounded by Mewtwo and Deoxys, sitting dejectedly on the ground in defeat.
"Mewtwo." Luo Yuan instructed through their telepathic link.
Deoxys remained to monitor Groudon, while Mewtwo teleported to Kyogre's side, psychic spoon raised for an attack.
But just as Mewtwo prepared to strike, something unexpected happened.
In a move faster than the eye could follow, Kyogre raised its fins and struck a distinct pose.
It was a salute—a surrender.
Kyogre's gesture was unmistakable.
"No more fighting. I give up," it seemed to say, directing its plea not just to Mewtwo and Rayquaza, but especially to Luo Yuan.
This decision was no spur-of-the-moment act.
With Groudon defeated, Kyogre knew it couldn't stand alone against Rayquaza, Mewtwo, and Deoxys.
It had no desire to end up like Groudon.
The scene left Luo Yuan momentarily stunned.
The Hoenn trainers, still bracing for the next devastating clash, were equally dumbfounded.
Watching the two titans—one seated on the ground, the other raising fins in surrender—they found themselves, for the first time, thinking Groudon and Kyogre looked... cute.
Of course, that couldn't be true.
The wreckage of Sootopolis City, half of which lay in ruins, was a sobering reminder of the destruction they had caused.
But there was no denying that their current behavior underscored just how powerful the Tech Hunter was.
If even Groudon and Kyogre were reduced to submission before him, what chance did anyone else have?
Luo Yuan's calm voice broke the silence.
"Surrender, huh…"
He descended from Rayquaza, landing lightly on the ground between the legendary Pokémon, with Mewtwo and Deoxys at his sides.
Five legendary Pokémon stood together, with Luo Yuan at the center of it all.
"This pointless battle ends here," he declared, delivering his verdict on the fight.
Truth be told, even Luo Yuan hadn't anticipated this outcome.
Groudon and Kyogre's personalities were far more straightforward than Rayquaza's—they surrendered without hesitation.
The unexpected development left him pondering how to handle them.
Capturing them?
The idea was tempting, but Luo Yuan had only brought one Master Ball and one GS Ball, reserved for capturing Celebi.
While he had found another Master Ball in the Pokémon Association's vault, courtesy of Devon Corporation, he didn't trust their technology enough to risk using it.
And capturing one without the other would leave a lingering imbalance.
After some thought, Luo Yuan decided to let them go.
The impression he had left on them during this battle was deep enough.
If he ever decided to capture them in the future, he doubted they would—or could—resist.
But before releasing them, he would heal their injuries. He wouldn't want anyone else taking advantage of their weakened states.
With that decision made, Luo Yuan approached Groudon and Kyogre.
Both titans flinched under his gaze, despite their massive size.
As he placed his hand on their foreheads, Viridian Force coursed through his palms and into their bodies.
Though their outer appearances remained battered, their strength quickly returned to normal.
Anyone attempting to exploit their weakness now would be in for a nasty surprise.
Groudon and Kyogre exchanged glances, their gazes lingering on Luo Yuan with a newfound mix of respect and fear.
Luo Yuan didn't acknowledge their stares.
After patting their heads lightly, he rose into the air, lifted by Rayquaza.
Standing atop Rayquaza, he surveyed the Hoenn trainers below.
With his voice amplified through a vocal distorter, he proclaimed:
"I, the Tech Hunter, hereby declare that from this day forward, Team Rocket will officially expand into Hoenn!"