They didn't move for a long time.
Not because they were tired—
But because they understood.
Trial Valley's inner region wasn't about climbing anymore.
It was about surviving long enough to deserve the next step.
Lia finally stood up, her voice quieter than before.
"We can't fight like before."
Eren nodded.
"No. From here on, every decision has to be exact."
Aftershock Growth
Charizard exhaled slowly.
Its flame burned low—but incredibly dense. At Level 72, its body had become something different. Each movement carried weight without effort, like a force that didn't need to prove itself anymore.
Aegislash hovered silently.
At Level 73, its presence had deepened further. The shield no longer reacted—it anticipated. The blade no longer struck—it decided where to strike.
The battle with Tyranitar hadn't given them victory.
It had given them clarity.
The Valley Tightens
They continued forward.
The canyon narrowed.
The glowing cracks in the ground grew brighter, hotter, almost unstable. The air shimmered constantly now, filled with dense energy currents that made even breathing slightly heavier.
The system flickered.
[Trial Valley — Core Region]Recommended Strength: High Champion → Peak Champion
Lia stopped reading halfway.
"…Peak Champion?"
Eren's voice remained calm.
"Which means we're not ready."
She looked ahead.
"But we're here."
He didn't disagree.
Natural Refinement
The environment itself began to push them.
Not violently.
But constantly.
Charizard's heat cycle tightened further under the extreme energy density, forcing it to refine every movement even more.
Aegislash's shield pulsed occasionally, absorbing invisible fluctuations in the air.
The system chimed.
Charizard — Level Increase:Lv. 72 → Lv. 73
Aegislash — Level Increase:Lv. 73 → Lv. 74
Lia smiled faintly.
"We're still growing…"
Eren crossed his arms.
"Yes. But growth here attracts attention."
The Calm Before Something Worse
The valley suddenly became silent again.
Not empty like before.
Held.
Like something was choosing whether to appear.
Charizard stopped.
Aegislash's shield rose fully.
Lia's instincts screamed.
"…Another one?"
Eren didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"…No."
His voice dropped slightly.
"Something worse."
The Ground Splits
Without warning—
The ground cracked open.
Not from impact.
From pressure below.
A deep, heavy force surged upward, distorting the air as if reality itself struggled to contain it.
Something was coming out.
Not walking in.
Emerging.
The Unknown Apex
A massive shape rose slowly from the fractured earth.
Its form wasn't fully clear at first—only fragments visible through heat distortion.
Dark scales.
Heavy limbs.
A presence that felt older than everything else in the valley.
Lia's breath caught.
"…What is that…?"
Eren's eyes narrowed.
"…Something that doesn't belong to normal rules."
The creature stepped fully into view.
Not just powerful.
Absolute.
Even Charizard instinctively stepped back.
Aegislash's shield trembled for the first time.
No Chance to Prepare
The creature didn't observe.
Didn't hesitate.
Didn't measure.
The moment it surfaced—
The entire valley bent around it.
The pressure alone forced Charizard down to one knee.
Lia felt her body freeze.
"I… can't move…"
Eren's voice cut through sharply.
"Move anyway."
Forced Adaptation
Charizard roared.
Not in defiance—
In resistance.
Its heat cycle surged—
Then compressed harder than ever before.
Every ounce of its strength focused on one thing:
Standing.
Aegislash reacted instantly.
The shield expanded outward—not physically, but in presence—creating a small space where the pressure was slightly reduced.
Just enough.
Charizard stood.
The System Reacts
For the first time—
The system responded urgently.
[Warning: Extreme Entity Detected][Survival Probability: Critical]
But at the same moment—
Another notification appeared.
[Hidden Condition Met][Exclusive Secret Realm Resonance Activated]
Lia's eyes widened.
"Our realm…?"
Eren's expression changed slightly.
"…Now?"
A Flicker of Advantage
For a brief moment—
The pressure eased.
Not gone.
But weakened.
As if something beyond this valley had intervened.
Charizard's flame surged brighter.
Aegislash's presence stabilized instantly.
The unknown creature paused.
Just for a second.
Survival Window
Eren spoke quickly.
"This isn't a fight."
Lia nodded immediately.
"I know."
"Then what do we do?"
He looked at the fractured ground around them.
"Survive. Adapt. Don't challenge it."
The First Real Fear
The creature took a step forward.
The valley trembled.
This time—
There was no illusion.
No strategy.
No pattern.
This was something beyond what they were meant to face right now.
Lia clenched her fists.
"Charizard… Aegislash…"
Her voice steadied.
"We don't lose here."
The air shattered.
The true battle of the Core Region—
Was about to begin.