Yōno Mihara had expected Ho-Oh and Kyogre to clash without hesitation.
But to her surprise, as Ho-Oh appeared, Kyogre's form slowly faded, then vanished like a mirage.
A cry rang out between sea and sky. Rosy light scattered the storm clouds, the black sea turned blue again, and in an instant, the wind and waves fell still.
Yōno Mihara was stunned. Even Seven and Vanilla struggled to make sense of it.
Kyogre had simply retreated?
Since when had the monster of the sea been so reasonable?
Even when facing the sky-blue Rayquaza, Kyogre would test its opponent before backing down.
Just as Groudon had fought to the bitter end against the Twin Dragons of Truth and Ideals despite knowing it was at a disadvantage, beings at that level cared about their pride more than ordinary creatures could imagine.
And now Kyogre had disappeared so easily. What was going on?
"Could the being it wants to replace and control be this manifestation of Kyogre in the Mortal World?"
Startled, Seven could not help entertaining the absurd thought.
But then he looked at the Armored Man wrapped in Ho-Oh's flames. Black fragments burned away from his body like scraps of paper, while beneath his metal helmet, his chaotic will seemed to mock them. Understanding struck, and Seven trembled all over. "You—!"
They had fallen for it!
Both Kyogre and the Armored Man were nothing but bait.
The enemy's existence did not depend on that strange suit of armor that could survive being burned in lava, as they had guessed.
The armor itself was probably nothing special. Even if it was, its power was insignificant beside whatever the true marvel was!
A ghost?!
Was he like the King of Portlantis, lingering in the world through an item and possessing other people?!
No, he