The cavern shook violently.
Cracks spread across the ancient stone floor as energy from the machines placed by Team Umber surged into the massive body beneath the earth.
The titan's glowing eyes opened fully.
A deep, ancient roar echoed through the cavern.
The sound felt older than the mountains themselves.
Elior stepped forward immediately.
"Stop those machines!"
Infernyx leapt ahead, flames exploding into the air.
"Flame Burst!"
Fire slammed into one of the strange devices surrounding the titan.
The machine shattered in a burst of sparks.
But the other devices continued glowing.
One of the Team Umber agents smiled.
"Too late."
Voltiger rushed forward.
"Thunder Strike!"
Lightning struck another machine, sending electricity surging through the cavern.
The device exploded.
But even with two destroyed, the remaining machines began glowing brighter.
The ground trembled harder.
Stone cracked away from the titan's massive body.
For the first time, its full form began to appear.
A colossal creature of stone and magma.
Its body looked like a living mountain.
Molten lines of energy flowed across its rocky armor like rivers of fire.
Professor Kaedra stared in shock.
"…That's it."
"The ancient guardian."
The titan slowly lifted its head.
Its eyes glowed like burning suns.
But before Elior could react—
The remaining machines released a massive beam of dark energy.
The beam struck the titan directly.
Strange black rings of energy wrapped around its body.
Chains made of pure energy.
The titan roared in anger.
But the chains tightened.
The Team Umber agents stepped back calmly.
"The control seal is working."
Elior clenched his fist.
"You're controlling it!"
The agent shook his head.
"Not controlling."
"Guiding."
Suddenly the cavern ceiling cracked open above them.
A massive aircraft descended through the hole.
Dark metal.
Sharp edges.
The symbol of Team Umber painted across its side.
Large mechanical arms extended from the aircraft and locked onto the chained titan.
Engines roared.
The titan struggled.
The cavern shook violently.
Infernyx roared and fired another blast of fire.
Voltiger unleashed another surge of lightning.
But the machines absorbed most of the energy.
Slowly—
The aircraft began lifting the massive titan upward.
Chunks of stone broke away as the enormous creature was dragged toward the surface.
"No!" Elior shouted.
Lunashade stepped forward suddenly.
Its silver eyes glowed brighter than ever.
For a moment—
The titan looked directly at Lunashade.
And the cavern fell strangely quiet.
As if the ancient creature had recognized something.
But the moment passed.
The aircraft engines roared louder.
The titan was pulled fully upward through the broken ceiling.
The Team Umber agents retreated quickly.
One of them looked back at Elior.
"You fought well."
"But this battle was never yours to win."
Then they vanished into the aircraft.
The ship rose into the night sky above Ignivar Town.
Carrying the ancient titan with it.
The tremors slowly faded.
Dust fell from the cavern ceiling.
Silence returned.
Elior stood there, staring upward.
"They… took it."
Professor Kaedra looked just as stunned.
"…This is worse than I imagined."
Far above the clouds—
Inside the aircraft—
The chained titan remained trapped within the glowing energy seals.
Several Team Umber members stood around it.
And at the far end of the chamber—
A single figure sat calmly in a tall chair.
The agents knelt.
"The operation succeeded."
The figure slowly stood.
For the first time, his face was revealed.
Cold eyes.
Sharp features.
A calm but terrifying presence.
The leader of Team Umber.
He looked at the captured titan.
"…Excellent."
Then he looked toward a large screen showing Elior standing in the ruins below.
"So."
"The Resonance trainer has appeared at last."
He smiled slightly.
"My name is Umbrael."
"And this world will soon remember it."
The aircraft disappeared into the night sky.
And the war for the ancient powers of the earth had officially begun.
And the journey continues...