Above the vast blue ocean.
The suddenly rising temperature and unrelenting sunlight left everyone's cheeks covered in sweat.
Not a single person complained.
Instead, they urged the Pokémon beneath them to go faster, faster still.
"We're expected to reach the energy point in about half an hour. There's an island fifteen kilometers ahead. We'll go up there and rest for a while."
Although Steven was just as anxious at the moment, he knew very well that blindly rushing onward would bring no benefit. It would only speed up their eventual failure.
So, he gave the order to rest.
The Metagross beneath his feet used Psychic-type power to relay the information to all the Trainers.
No one objected. They merely adjusted their direction slightly and headed toward the island Steven had mentioned.
A moment later.
"Here, water."
Tetsuya casually handed Norman a bottle of chilled purified water.
Nearby, Alolan Ninetales swished its tails uncomfortably, finding the suddenly scorching weather extremely difficult to adapt to.
"Ice-type Pokémon really are nice. You've got a refrigerator with you wherever you go."
Norman praised it with a smile.
"You don't seem very worried?"
"Would it help?"
In response to Tetsuya's question, Norman simply said, "It's not as if we've never encountered the power of Legendary Pokémon before.
"With the people here alone, there's no way we can stand against Groudon.
"All we can do is buy time. There's no other way."
His tone was calm, yet incomparably resolute.
That was right. There was no choice.
Norman's wife, Mitsuko, and his two children, Max and May, were still in Petalburg City.
As a coastal city, if Groudon truly began expanding the land, it would undoubtedly be heavily affected.
For his family, he had to do everything in his power to stop Groudon—and survive.
Tetsuya did not