In Rustboro City, a storm was coming.
Under the direction of Officer Jenny, the people in the northwest part of Rustboro City left quickly.
A few hours ago, the Devon Corporation building became empty as everyone left.
Damian was lying in the President's chair. He was drinking coffee and looking at an internet forum. Beside him, Tapu Fini was happily eating a small share of a cake. It took one tiny bite at a time.
Armored Mewtwo stood silently in front of the large window. It looked like a statue.
Zinnia sat on the sofa. She was working on her nails. Caitlin sat on the other side. She used a clean cloth to wipe her Poké Balls.
Meanwhile, Joseph Stone was so nervous that he could not sit or stand still. These three people were being much too calm.
They should know what was happening, right? They should know exactly what was about to happen.
"President Stone, do you feel very nervous?"
Damian finally looked away from the computer. He looked at Joseph Stone with a smile.
"If you three leave now, there is still time."
Joseph Stone was silent for a moment. He still hoped the three of them would leave. In his mind, it was impossible for three people to fight the League members led by Steven.
"You all are still very young."
"We are young. That is why we do things with more meaning, right?"
Damian stood up. He looked down through the clean window. He could see the police officers led by Officer Jenny. They had arrived at the entrance of the Devon Corporation.
"I really like this quote: 'Live your life to the fullest, and when it's time to go, go in peace.'" Damian's voice was calm and refined.
"A person's life is very short. In this short life, you should use all your strength to find beauty and glory. That is a very meaningful thing, right?"
Damian looked at Joseph Stone.
"You are like that, Mr. Stone. You took the Devon Corporation from a small company and made it one of the strongest in the world. To other businessmen, you are bright and great."
"That is not the same," Joseph Stone said. He shook his head.
"No, it is the same. For me, I also want people to see my light. I want them to truly remember... my own unique name."
The corners of Damian's mouth moved into a wide grin.
Boom!
With a loud explosion, the door to the office was blown open. A Metagross appeared in front of everyone.
"Father!"
Behind Metagross, Steven's eyes immediately saw Joseph Stone.
"Steven!" Joseph Stone was very happy.
Zinnia and Caitlin slowly stood up.
"Steven, you are being a bit too violent."
Damian looked at Steven with a smile. There was no one else behind Steven. Did he come up here alone?
"This door was expensive. It is a waste to break it like that."
"Damian!"
Steven's eyes looked dark. He stared at Damian. He also looked at Zinnia and Caitlin.
"Why did you take my father?!"
Steven did not understand. Why did Damian and his group target Joseph Stone?
"You should ask President Stone that. I think he will tell you?" Damian shrugged his shoulders.
Steven frowned a little. He looked at Joseph Stone. He saw a complicated look on his father's face. His heart felt heavy.
"Damian, our people have blocked this whole area. You cannot escape," Steven said with a deep voice.
"Escape?"
Damian raised an eyebrow. He looked at Steven with a small smile.
"I have not seen you for a few days. But you have the same habit as Wallace, Steven."
Damian stretched his hands. His voice sounded like he was making fun of Steven.
"Why would we escape? Steven, if anything, I should say you are very brave to come here by yourself."
In the open space near the Devon Corporation:
"Is it really okay for Steven to go up alone?" Wallace was worried about his best friend's safety.
"Steven is not a reckless person. Since he made the decision, we just need to wait for his news."
Cynthia was not very worried. But Steven wanted to go alone, so they agreed.
"It looks like a fight started!"
Nemona had very sharp eyes. She saw the explosion on the top floor of the Devon Corporation building.
Smoke and dust came out of the building. Several figures flew out from inside.
"They are coming down!"
The serious man, Brandon, gave a reminder. He was also there to join the fight. Brandon would not refuse to help fight an evil group.
Damian moved down through the air. Armored Mewtwo used its Psychic power to help him land on the ground. Armored Mewtwo and Tapu Fini also landed beside him.
Then, Salamence landed. Zinnia and Caitlin were on its back. Steven's Metagross was the last to come out. It carried Steven and Joseph Stone. It landed across from Damian.
On the top floor, Steven had Metagross use Psychic to attack. That caused the explosion.
"Moving the battle? That is a good idea."
Damian cleaned some dust off his clothes. He did not plan to fight Steven inside the building. The space was too small to move freely.
"Father, you should leave first," Steven said to Joseph Stone.
Joseph Stone looked at Damian and the other two. He opened his mouth to say something to Steven. In the end, he just sighed and walked away to leave.
Cynthia and the others arrived at the scene immediately.
"Look who is here. Wallace, Cynthia, and... tsk~ Old Man, I did not expect you to come too."
Damian had a smile on his face. He looked at Wallace and the others. Finally, he looked at Giovanni.
"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6... Six Champions? The Hoenn League is really working hard," Zinnia said. She looked at the six opponents. The Hoenn League was trying very hard.
"Damian!" Giovanni's face looked complicated.
"Caitlin..." Cynthia looked at Caitlin. She pressed her lips together. She also looked complicated.
Caitlin saw Cynthia looking at her. She had a small smile. This time, she felt very calm.
"Are these the people from Team Rocket? They are all so young." Nemona was curious. These three people were different from her image of an evil group.
Damian and Caitlin were very good-looking. Zinnia was not "stunning," but she had a lot of energy.
"Damian, do you have nothing you want to say to me?" Giovanni's voice was very low.
"Say what?" Some of the smile left Damian's face.
"Do you think I have embarrassed you?" Damian asked calmly.
"'Giovanni'—such a great Gym Leader. His son joined Team Rocket. He is a shame to his father. Do you want me to say it like that for you?"
The area suddenly became quiet.
Steven and the others stayed silent. Zinnia's eyes looked bright. The man across from them was Damian's father?
"I have never thought that way," Giovanni said with a heavy face.
"Damian, come back. No matter the reason, you should not join Team Rocket and do bad things."
"Even now, you still want to lecture me." Damian had a mean smile on his face.
"Giovanni, to be honest, you never wanted to understand me. In the past, I was just a puppet. You planned my future and taught me. Even when I was away, I still had your 'label' on me."
Giovanni's face changed. He looked like he felt sorry and blamed himself.
"Giovanni, you do not need to say more. Right now, Damian will not listen to you," Steven said to Giovanni.
"He is right, Giovanni. We should beat them first. Once we catch them, we can help him return to the right path," Brandon agreed. He did not know the details. But he could tell Damian was "not right."
Damian really disliked Giovanni. Was it because of the past?
Today Damian even kidnapped the President of the Devon Corporation. Brandon did not want to imagine what he would do tomorrow.
"I understand," Giovanni said. He took a deep breath.
"Are we going to start? But honestly, just the six of you are not enough to beat us."
Damian's voice was playful. He did not seem worried at all.
"You guy, you really are arrogant!" Wallace's face turned dark. Those words were very familiar.
"I am just saying the truth. Does Wallace really think you can beat us?"
Damian raised an eyebrow. He acted like he was surprised.
Steven, Wallace, and Cynthia knew Damian's personality. They were not too surprised. Wallace's mouth just moved.
But Nemona was very shocked. Brandon was silent.
"Holy cow! Isn't this guy way too conceited?" Nemona was surprised.
It was six against three. All six of them were Champions.
"Damian is like that, but he is strong. Everyone needs to be careful," Steven said seriously. Then he gave everyone a target.
"Wallace, you go deal with Caitlin. Is that okay?" Steven said to Wallace. Caitlin was the weakest of the three. They would send Wallace to fight her.
"Of course, no problem! I will take her down. You can still always believe in me!"
Wallace promised. He was very confident.
Steven's eye moved. After the last time, Steven did not want to believe in Wallace. But he did not say that now.
Cynthia did not disagree. She wanted to fight Caitlin, but she stayed calm. She knew what was important.
The most important person was Damian.
"As for Zinnia... Brandon, Nemona—can the two of you take her down?"
"I can," Brandon nodded.
"OK, OK! Steven, leave it to us!"
Nemona had a big smile. She was the new Paldea Champion. She was fighting with a person who had Regirock. She felt safe.
"And then, Cynthia, Giovanni—we will fight Damian!"
Steven looked at Damian seriously. Damian was the most important one. If they could not beat Damian, it did not matter if they beat the others.
"Are you finished talking?"
Damian saw them stop talking. He asked them with a smile.
"I think you are wasting your time. You cannot win. But you brought a big group. I will let you prepare a little more."
"Damian, your overconfidence will be the start of your failure!" Steven's voice was loud and firm.
"Oh? Say that after you actually do it. I will let you see the evolution that is more than evolution."
Damian raised his hand. A bright Key Stone appeared in front of Steven and the others.
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