Two Landorus clashed fiercely, their power shaking the earth.
When one raised its hand, sand and rocks surged into the air. Countless boulders rained down from the sky, and violent winds coalesced into a tornado, sweeping through several kilometers around us.
The whirlwinds tore ancient trees from the Mayan Forest, uprooting them effortlessly. Pokémon that didn't escape in time were caught in the chaos, spinning helplessly into the air.
From where Chris and Theodore stood, the devastation was clear, but the details of the battle were obscured by the storm's fury. Only the destruction left in the wake of the two Landorus could be seen.
"Is this a war of the gods?" Chris muttered in awe. "The clash of two legendary Pokémon!"
"No," Theodore replied, shaking his head slightly. "The war of gods is far more profound."
"What is a war of gods?"
"It's not simply a battle between two legendary Pokémon," Theodore began. "A divine war is a struggle for godhood, where Pokémon fight for the position of a deity. While legendary Pokémon often engage in these battles, they are not exclusive to them."
"What does it mean to be a god?" Chris asked, encountering a new term.
With the fusion of the real world and the Pokémon world, new phenomena emerged—concepts far beyond the mundane. These realms demanded recognition through achievement, and perhaps the rank of a Gym Leader was but the first step.
"The title of god is symbolized by a divine artifact, a unique item signifying the bearer as a deity," Theodore explained. "As you know, there isn't only one legendary Pokémon in the world."
Chris nodded. He thought of the numerous legendary Pokémon like the Three Legendary Birds, the Legendary Titans, and the Forces of Nature. He even suspected Ho-Oh's guardians included several beasts, or how else could one Suicune be caught in a mere net?
"However," Theodore continued, "the one worshiped as a god by humans is unique. For example, humans call one Zapdos 'Thor,' but that title applies only to the Zapdos who holds the divine throne—the strongest of its kind. Other Zapdos aspiring to godhood must challenge the reigning Thor."
Chris's curiosity grew as Theodore gazed deeper into the Mayan Forest with binoculars. There, the two Landorus clashed, their battle growing more ferocious by the second.
Both Pokémon wielded immense power over the earth. The ground beneath them, stretching for kilometers, transformed into a barren desert and began to collapse toward an abyss. Yet this wasn't a mere display of Ground-type moves. Landorus, with its unique Ground and Flying-type combination, was immune to damage from Ground-type moves—a rule even among divine combatants. However, physical blows, like falling rocks, could still inflict harm.
In the center of this godly duel, the earth itself quaked, caught in the relentless struggle for the divine throne.
The fierce battle between the two Landorus escalated into a devastating spectacle. Each clash unleashed unintended secondary effects: Earthquake, Sand Tomb, and Earth Power ravaged the surrounding land, obliterating the dense forest within a matter of moments.
The two Pokémon unleashed their might through an array of powerful moves, including Rock Slide, Extrasensory, and Dragon Breath. Energies of various elements collided violently in mid-air, creating unrelenting explosions. The sheer intensity of their confrontation was palpable, an awe-inspiring and terrifying sight.
Theodore continually led the group farther back, wary of the unpredictable trajectory of the two battling Landorus. No one could predict whether they might stray into their vicinity, so it was safer to keep a significant distance.
"Professor Theodore," Chris began, curiosity lighting his face, "you mentioned that legendary Pokémon often participate in battles of the gods. Does that mean ordinary Pokémon can also fight these battles?"
"Yes," Theodore confirmed, a glimmer of intrigue in his eyes. "There's a well-documented case in human history. It wasn't even that long ago—only 157 years ago."
Chris leaned in, captivated. "What happened?"
"Two Wailords engaged in a monumental battle of the gods in the heart of the Pacific Ocean. The fight lasted for weeks, but in the end, the reigning god was defeated, and the challenger claimed the throne. The victor became the new god Wailord, known to humanity as the Whale God."
Chris's mind raced. "Wait, I've seen the Whale God?" he asked, bewildered.
Theodore nodded. "Remember the East China Sea Dragon's Nest?"
Chris furrowed his brows, recalling his visit to the mysterious site. "But I didn't see a Whale God there," he said, confused.
Theodore smiled knowingly. "The Dragon's Nest itself is the Whale God."
Chris's eyes widened in disbelief. The massive, drifting island, shrouded in perpetual fog—it had never crossed his mind that it might be alive, let alone a god. "The island… is the Whale God?" he murmured, struggling to process the revelation.
Theodore explained further. "Yes, and it serves as a guardian, not only for Dragon University but also for the China. Its former trainer was the founder of the university."
Chris stood in stunned silence, his thoughts overwhelmed by the day's relentless revelations. The heritage of Dragon University was far grander than he'd ever imagined.
Meanwhile, the battle between the two Landorus reached its climax. The Pokémon hurtled toward each other in mid-air, their collision reverberating like a collision with an Oreburgh wall. Both were flung backward before instinctively retaliating with synchronized Hyper Beam attacks, their movements eerily synchronized.
Twin beams of energy streaked across the sky, colliding at a single point. The resulting explosion was unlike anything before it. In an instant, the collision point was consumed by a tear in space, a surreal rift that revealed glimpses of other places—an endless sky, lush fields of grass and wheat, flowing rivers.
Theodore's eyes widened in astonishment. "The clash of their moves has exceeded the spatial threshold, tearing the very fabric of space!" he exclaimed, unable to look away from the miraculous scene.
Amid the rift's visions, a luminous tower briefly appeared, sparkling with electric energy. Theodore's expression shifted from awe to determination. Without hesitation, he called out, "Salamence, use Dragon Rush and dive into that rift!"
His blood-red-winged Salamence surged forward, cloaked in emerald-green Dragon energy. As the Pokémon sped toward the crack, Theodore hurled a key toward Chris.
"Take this to the headmaster," he instructed firmly. "If I don't return in a year, tell him to come and rescue me!"
Without another word, Salamence vanished into the rift with Theodore aboard, leaving Chris holding the key, his mind reeling from everything he had just witnessed.