Dark clouds gathered over the volcanic mountains north of Emberfall City.
Ash drifted slowly through the air as Elior climbed the narrow rocky path.
The ground was warm beneath his boots.
Small streams of lava glowed faintly between cracks in the stone.
Riolu walked beside him, alert and silent.
Infernyx's flames burned low so they wouldn't reveal their position. Voltiger rested quietly on Elior's shoulder, and Lunashade moved like a shadow behind them.
Elior checked the tracker device Dr. Selene had given him.
The signal was getting stronger.
Much stronger.
"That means we're close," he whispered.
Riolu nodded.
They carefully climbed over a ridge of volcanic rock.
Then Elior stopped.
Below them, hidden between two massive cliffs, stood a large metal facility built directly into the mountain.
Searchlights swept across the ground.
Armed guards stood near the entrance.
Large machines hummed inside the base, sending pulses of energy deep into the mountain.
Riolu's ears twitched.
Elior stared down at it.
"So that's it…"
The hidden base of Team Umber.
Deep beneath that facility—
The ancient titan Pyrotherion was being drained of its power.
Elior crouched behind a rock.
"We can't just rush in," he said quietly.
Riolu looked at the guards below.
Two Team Umber members stood watch near the outer gate.
An idea formed in Elior's mind.
"We'll sneak in."
Riolu tilted its head.
Elior pointed toward the guards.
"First, we take one of them out."
The Silent Battle
The wind howled softly across the volcanic rocks as Elior moved quietly down the slope.
Riolu followed closely.
One of the guards stepped away from the entrance, walking toward a storage area behind the base.
Perfect.
Elior whispered.
"Riolu… Quick Attack."
Riolu vanished in a blur.
THUD.
Before the guard could react, Riolu struck him from behind and knocked him to the ground.
The man collapsed unconscious.
Elior quickly pulled him behind a stack of crates.
He looked at the uniform.
Black coat.
Silver insignia.
The mark of Team Umber.
A few minutes later—
Elior stepped out from the shadows wearing the uniform.
The coat was slightly large, but it covered most of his appearance.
Voltiger hid inside the coat.
Infernyx and Lunashade had already returned to their Pokéballs to avoid attention.
Only Riolu stayed hidden in the shadows nearby.
Elior adjusted the collar.
"Alright… let's do this."
He walked toward the entrance.
The second guard barely looked up.
"Late shift again?" the guard muttered.
Elior lowered his voice slightly.
"Yeah."
The guard waved him through without suspicion.
The metal gates opened.
Elior stepped inside the base.
Rows of steel corridors stretched deep into the mountain.
Scientists moved between machines.
Energy monitors blinked across giant screens.
And deep below—
A massive tremor shook the facility.
BOOOOM.
The ground vibrated under Elior's feet.
He looked toward the lower levels.
"That must be where they're keeping Pyrotherion…"
Suddenly, alarms briefly flickered on one of the control panels.
Energy readings spiked dramatically.
A scientist shouted across the room.
"The titan's energy is rising again!"
Elior felt the heat in the air grow stronger.
Somewhere beneath the base—
The ancient titan was beginning to awaken.
And Elior had just walked directly into the heart of Team Umber's operation.
And the journey continues....