The air was heavy, charged with energy that pulsed through the very ground beneath their feet. Alex paused at the edge of a cliff overlooking a wide valley in the Indigo Plateau. Infernape crouched beside him, flames flickering softly, mirroring the low tremor that ran through the rocks. The faint red glow beneath the soil hinted at something massive stirring below—the unmistakable signature of Groudon awakening.
Kai shifted, Talonflame perched lightly on his shoulder. "Feels… different this time. Like the land itself is… angry."
Alex nodded, eyes scanning the horizon. "It's not just Magma—they're amplifying nodes in sync. We're seeing their plan converge. Every amplifier we've disabled delayed them, but this one… this one is feeding directly into the core of the volcano. If we're not fast, Groudon could react before we even get a chance to contain it."
Lila's Gardevoir floated beside her, eyes glowing with psychic intensity. "What's our approach?" she asked.
Alex exhaled slowly. "We move in stages. Hydreigon will scout from above, pinpointing any residual energy flows. Ceruledge, Garchomp, and Infernape will handle direct interference with the node. Typhlosion H will control heat surges, and Arcanine—" he glanced at his sister's Arcanine, who gave a soft bark, "—will back us up where needed."
Giovanni's Persian padded silently near the front, Rhydon ready to shift boulders or block unexpected paths. His gaze, however, remained distant, thoughtful. "Be aware," he said, voice low. "This node is connected more deeply than the previous ones. The energy beneath your feet is reacting to the amplifier. Even a slight miscalculation could trigger an eruption—or worse."
The team advanced cautiously, descending into a fissure where residual heat warped the air. The walls glimmered with molten veins, faint red-orange lines coursing through stone like arteries. The pulse beneath them quickened as they approached the central amplifier.
"Positions," Alex instructed. "We strike together—precision, not force. Every Pokémon, focus."
Infernape leapt forward first, spinning into a controlled Flame Wheel, melting surface structures around the amplifier. Ceruledge slashed through reinforced barriers with its blade, while Garchomp surged, claws chiseling away rock to reveal vulnerable components. Hydreigon circled high, firing coordinated dragon breaths to intercept Magma operatives attempting reinforcement.
Kai and Lila synchronized flawlessly. Talonflame swooped in, scattering operatives and drawing attention, while Luxray struck with precise electricity bursts, short-circuiting amplifier conduits. Gardevoir lifted fallen debris and stabilized the unstable rock, her psychic energy shimmering in the molten light. Arcanine dashed across broken terrain, blocking dangerous energy surges and ensuring the Pokémon in the middle line could operate safely.
Giovanni acted decisively, deploying Rhydon to shift boulders into chokepoints and Persian to silently incapacitate Magma operatives attempting to reinforce the node. Even he had to tread carefully—the ground beneath was unstable, and the energy pulses now hummed like a living heart, aware of their intrusion.
Alex could feel it too: a deep rumble vibrating in his chest, a resonance unlike anything he had ever sensed. He knew, instinctively, that Groudon's presence was near, reacting to their interference. Every movement they made was observed, every strike measured against the rhythm of the awakening.
"Almost there," Alex muttered, signaling Infernape and Garchomp. With a synchronized surge, the trio struck the amplifier's core simultaneously. Sparks and molten rock erupted, but the collapse was controlled—just enough to disable the node without triggering an uncontrollable eruption.
The valley went quiet, save for the low, deep pulse from below. Alex's eyes narrowed. "That pulse… it's stronger. Groudon is reacting."
Lila's voice was tense. "How strong?"
Alex shook his head. "Stronger than we've ever encountered. We've slowed Magma, but we haven't stopped them from awakening the land's power." He glanced at Giovanni. "We need to track the remaining nodes fast, and we need to prepare for the consequences. Groudon is aware now—and it's coming."
Giovanni's expression darkened. "Then we'll need more than skill and coordination. Strategy alone won't contain what's stirring. We need to anticipate, adapt… and be ready for what comes next."
Kai tightened his fists, Talonflame squawking sharply. "We've faced impossible odds before. We'll handle this too."
Alex looked at the siblings, at their Pokémon, at the veteran standing beside them. Pride and determination swelled quietly inside him. The battle was far from over, and the path ahead was dangerous—but together, they had the strength, the strategy, and the bonds to face what was coming.