Morning light slowly spread across Emberfall City.
Steam rose gently from the canals as the city began to wake. The streets were quieter than usual after the chaos of the previous night.
At the northern gate of the city, Elior stood ready to leave.
His backpack was secured tightly, and his eyes were fixed on the distant mountains barely visible through the morning mist.
Somewhere beyond those peaks—
Team Umber continued their plan.
And deep within those mountains slept the ancient titan Pyrotherion.
Elior clenched his fist.
"We won't lose again."
Beside him, Riolu nodded firmly.
Infernyx stood tall behind them, its flames burning steadily. Voltiger rested on Elior's shoulder while Lunashade lingered quietly in the shadows nearby.
The laboratory doors opened behind him.
Dr. Selene approached.
"Leaving already?" she asked.
Elior nodded.
"If Team Umber is in the volcanic mountains, I can't just wait here."
Selene handed him a small device.
"This tracker might help," she explained. "It can detect energy related to Pyrotherion."
Elior accepted it.
"Thank you."
Selene studied his team carefully.
"Your Pokémon have strong bonds with you," she said. "That power… the one called Resonance… you'll need it if you plan to face them again."
Elior remembered the crushing pressure of Dark Resonance used by Commander Varkis.
He nodded slowly.
"I know."
Riolu suddenly tugged his sleeve.
The small Pokémon jumped forward onto the road and raised its fists.
It wanted to train.
Elior smiled slightly.
"Alright."
He pointed toward a clearing outside the city.
"Let's start now."
Training Begins
The clearing outside Emberfall was surrounded by rocky hills and dry grass.
Riolu stood in the center, breathing slowly.
Elior remembered the faint aura glow from the night before.
"You can use aura," he said.
"Let's try controlling it."
Riolu closed its eyes.
A faint blue light began forming around its paws.
Voltiger watched excitedly from a nearby rock.
Infernyx stood quietly, observing.
But Lunashade's reaction was different.
Its shadow slowly stretched across the ground again.
The moment Riolu's aura grew stronger—
Lunashade's silver eyes glowed.
Elior noticed.
"Lunashade?"
The shadow Pokémon stared toward the distant mountains.
Toward the volcanic region.
Almost as if it could feel something calling.
The aura around Riolu suddenly burst outward.
BOOM.
Dust scattered across the clearing.
Riolu stumbled back but stayed standing.
Elior grinned.
"Good! You're getting stronger."
Riolu nodded proudly.
Infernyx stepped forward next, flames rising slightly.
Elior raised an eyebrow.
"You want to train too?"
Infernyx spread its wings.
Its fire surged brighter than usual.
But suddenly the flames became unstable.
They flickered wildly before settling again.
Elior frowned slightly.
"You're still adjusting after evolving."
Infernyx lowered its wings but its eyes burned with determination.
Even Voltiger hopped down from Elior's shoulder, sparks dancing in the air.
Everyone wanted to grow stronger.
Because they all remembered the same thing—
The overwhelming power of Dark Resonance.
Elior looked toward the distant mountains again.
"We'll get stronger before we reach them."
The wind shifted.
Far away—
Beyond the volcanic peaks—
Inside a massive underground facility hidden within the mountains…
Members of Team Umber moved quickly through metal corridors.
In the center of a giant chamber stood a colossal containment structure.
Inside it—
The massive body of Pyrotherion glowed like living magma.
Machines drained energy from the ancient titan.
And standing above the chamber…
Commander Varkis watched silently.
"The trainer is moving again," one scientist reported.
Varkis smiled faintly.
"Good."
He looked down at the sleeping titan.
"Let him come."
The volcanic chamber trembled slightly.
Deep within the containment field—
Pyrotherion's eye slowly began to open.
And the journey continues....