The air above Cinnabar had grown thick with tension, as if the island itself held its breath. Alex stood atop the volcanic cliffs, Infernape by his side, flames licking his fists in anticipation. The wind carried a faint scent of sulfur, stronger than normal, and even Hydreigon circling above shifted uneasily in the air.
"Something's different," Alex muttered. Ceruledge's sword hummed faintly, resonating with the subtle energy in the rock. "They're moving faster than I expected. The amplifiers weren't just a diversion—they were a test."
Kai and Lila flanked him, their Pokémon alert. Talonflame circled overhead in tight, controlled loops, Luxray's eyes glimmered with static tension, and Gardevoir's psychic aura rippled as if sensing distant tremors. Arcanine's fur bristled, ears flicking at every distant rumble.
Giovanni stood a few paces back, Persian sleek and ready, his Rhydon flexing as it scanned the rocky horizon. "The amplifiers weren't random," he said quietly. "Magma is positioning themselves carefully, controlling geothermal nodes to manipulate the volcano's energy. If they succeed, Cinnabar could be destroyed—or worse, they might awaken something ancient."
Alex narrowed his eyes. "Groudon," he said simply. Infernape growled softly, flames flickering higher in agreement. "They want it active. We need to find the main operation before the volcano becomes unstable."
The team descended a narrow canyon path leading toward a cluster of jagged outcrops farther inland. Faint smoke spiraled from deep fissures, and the rocks beneath their feet hummed with heat. It was unlike anything Alex had ever felt—not just a natural pulse, but the controlled, almost mechanical rhythm of energy being siphoned and redirected.
"This way," Giovanni said, moving with surprising agility. "The nodes lead to one central amplifier. That's where they're concentrating power."
As they crested the ridge, the first signs of Magma's heavy fortifications appeared. Large boulders had been rearranged into walls, the amplifiers embedded within them, humming with energy. Camerupts and Torkoals stood guard, with a few Magma grunts patrolling the perimeter.
Alex clenched his fists. "Positions. Pokémon, ready. We're not just taking them down—we're shutting the source completely."
The battle erupted with precision. Infernape leapt forward, spinning in a controlled Flame Wheel that sent Camerupts staggering, while Ceruledge's sword cleaved through the stone barricades. Garchomp tore across the rocky ground, claws ripping into the supports of the amplifiers, while Hydreigon's triple attacks coordinated to intercept multiple foes. Typhlosion H exhaled a sustained stream of heat, melting sections of magma-covered rocks to prevent any operatives from reinforcing the devices.
Kai and Lila moved fluidly alongside their Pokémon. Luxray's electricity surged, disabling one amplifier, while Talonflame swooped down, scattering a group of Magma grunts. Gardevoir lifted heavy stones, protecting the siblings and blocking sudden attacks, while Arcanine tackled reinforced structures with precision.
Giovanni acted strategically, deploying Rhydon to knock over defensive walls and using Persian to harry Magma operatives attempting to regroup. For a brief moment, Alex found himself impressed by how seamlessly Giovanni's veteran experience complemented their coordinated force.
But the central amplifier was bigger, more dangerous. Energy pulsed from it like a heartbeat, resonating with the volcanic core. Alex realized the stakes: if Magma completed the connection, the energy surge could awaken Groudon beneath the island, unleashing cataclysmic power.
"Stay focused!" Alex shouted, signaling Infernape and Garchomp. "We take the amplifier down first—then we deal with them."
Infernape dove in, flames spiraling, striking the core of the amplifier while Ceruledge and Garchomp simultaneously dismantled its structural supports. Sparks and molten rock flew, but their combined precision kept the surrounding terrain intact. Hydreigon's shadowed attacks disrupted Magma's final line of defense, giving Alex the opening he needed.
Kai and Lila mirrored his precision. Luxray and Arcanine disabled the amplifier's secondary energy conduits, Talonflame provided aerial coverage, and Gardevoir stabilized precarious rock formations. Even Giovanni had to focus, directing Persian and Rhydon with meticulous care to prevent catastrophic feedback.
Finally, with a controlled surge of power from Infernape and a decisive strike from Ceruledge, the amplifier collapsed in on itself, sparks scattering harmlessly across the rock. The pulse of unnatural energy diminished, replaced by the natural geothermal hum of the volcano.
Alex exhaled, surveying the battlefield. Pokémon panted, dust and molten rock mixed in the air, and the Magma grunts had been driven off, retreating into the shadows. But the calm felt fragile, temporary.
Giovanni approached, his usual stoic expression softened for a fleeting moment. "Well-handled. You've disrupted their operations… for now."
Alex nodded, eyes on the distant fissures. "Yes, but this was only one amplifier. If Groudon is to be prevented from awakening, we need to find and dismantle the remaining nodes—quickly. Magma will react, and we have to stay ahead."
Lila brushed ash from her sleeves, looking at Gardevoir. "We've got this, right?"
Alex offered a brief smile. "We do. We have to. There's no room for mistakes—not now."
Kai's Talonflame circled overhead, Luxray's tail crackling faintly, Arcanine's fur bristling, and Infernape's flames pulsed softly. The siblings and their Pokémon were ready, and Alex knew that together, with Giovanni's insights, they could track Magma's network across Cinnabar and beyond.
The storm was coming, but for now, the island remained intact. Alex allowed himself a moment to appreciate the quiet, brief as it was, before turning back to the volcanic peak. Each step closer to the truth brought them nearer to the ultimate confrontation.
And somewhere deep beneath the island, Groudon stirred, feeling the pulse of energy that Alex and his team were determined to control before it could unleash devastation.