Morning slowly arrived over Ignivar Town.
The orange glow of sunrise spread across the volcanic hills, but the town below was far from peaceful.
The street where the tunnel had collapsed was surrounded by researchers and workers from the Ignivar Volcanic Research Institute. Broken stone and dust covered the ground, and the entrance to the underground ruins had been sealed temporarily with metal barricades.
Professor Kaedra stood near the edge of the damaged area, carefully examining the cracked earth.
A few steps behind her stood Elior.
He hadn't moved for several minutes.
Infernyx stood beside him, its flames burning low and steady.
Voltiger sat quietly on a broken stone slab, its usual energetic sparks now faint.
Lunashade remained closest to Elior, its shadow stretched across the ground like a silent guardian.
The battle was over.
And the enemy had won.
Elior looked up at the sky.
Hours earlier, the massive aircraft of Team Umber had disappeared into the clouds—taking the ancient titan with it.
"They planned everything," Professor Kaedra said quietly.
Elior clenched his fists.
"They took it right in front of us."
Infernyx's flames flickered slightly.
Voltiger hopped down from the stone and walked closer to Elior's side.
Lunashade's silver eyes watched him carefully.
None of them blamed him.
But the frustration still burned inside his chest.
Elior exhaled slowly.
"That man…" he said.
"The one on the aircraft."
Kaedra nodded.
"Their leader."
She looked toward the distant mountains surrounding Ignivar Town.
"He commands Team Umber."
Elior frowned slightly.
But he didn't say anything more.
The man's name was still unknown to him.
Kaedra turned back toward the sealed tunnel.
"What worries me more is the titan they captured."
Elior looked at her.
"What exactly was that thing?"
Kaedra hesitated before answering.
"The ruins call it an ancient guardian."
"A Pokémon older than most civilizations in this region."
She pointed toward the mountains surrounding the town.
"It slept beneath the earth to maintain balance between powerful elemental forces."
Elior's eyes moved toward his Pokémon.
Infernyx.
Lunashade.
Voltiger.
Fire.
Shadow.
Lightning.
The same three symbols carved into the ancient tablet.
"…Resonance," Elior said quietly.
Kaedra nodded.
"Yes."
"And if that organization learns how to control the titan using Resonance…"
Her voice lowered.
"They could manipulate the balance of the entire region."
The wind passed through the broken street.
Ash drifted gently across the ground.
Voltiger suddenly stood up.
Electric sparks burst from its body.
Elior noticed immediately.
"What is it?"
Voltiger stared toward the distant mountain range.
Lunashade's shadow stretched in the same direction.
Infernyx's flames flickered sharply.
They felt something.
Far away.
But still connected.
Kaedra followed their gaze.
"…They haven't gone far."
Elior looked down the road leading out of Ignivar Town.
The frustration in his chest slowly turned into determination.
He looked at his partners.
Infernyx lifted its head.
Voltiger crackled with energy again.
Lunashade's silver eyes glowed faintly.
Elior nodded.
"Then we're not stopping here."
He turned toward the road.
"If they think they can just disappear after this…"
Infernyx's flames rose higher.
Voltiger sparked brightly.
Lunashade stepped forward beside him.
"…they're wrong."
Far above the clouds—
Inside the dark aircraft—
The captured titan remained bound within glowing energy seals.
Several members of Team Umber stood around the chamber.
At the far end of the room, their leader watched the chained titan silently.
His expression was calm.
Cold.
Calculated.
Soon, the world would learn his name.
But for now—
The hunter below still did not know who he was chasing.
And that made the game far more interesting.
And the journey continues...