Ethan and Aurore moved quickly.
At the same time—
Other trainers around the Hala Volcano Cluster also rushed toward the disturbance.
It didn't take long before they arrived.
At the edge of a volcanic crater—
A Typhlosion stood locked in confrontation.
Opposite it—
A Shiftry.
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
Both Pokémon—
Were at Totem Peak.
But behind Shiftry—
Stood a trainer.
"Should we step in?" Aurore asked.
Ethan shook his head.
"They're evenly matched—for now."
Typhlosion clearly had the advantage in typing—
But Shiftry's trainer was compensating with precise commands.
Still—
Something didn't add up.
Cyndaquil and Quilava in this area were friendly toward humans.
That meant—
Typhlosion wasn't hostile toward trainers by nature.
So why—
Was it this enraged?
"There has to be another reason…" Ethan muttered.
He thought for a moment, then said:
"I'll watch the fight."
"You check the surroundings."
Aurore nodded and moved out.
Meanwhile—
The battle intensified.
The volcanic crater cracked under the force.
The once-beautiful crater lake—
Was ruptured.
Water spilled downward—
Destroying the scenery.
Elsewhere…
Aurore searched the surrounding area—
Until her gaze landed on a cave.
The entrance was massive—
Over ten meters tall.
And around it—
Fresh signs of destruction.
She narrowed her eyes.
Then stepped inside.
The deeper she went—
The hotter it became.
"…There's magma down here?"
She was surprised.
Despite the crater above having formed a lake—
There was still molten lava beneath.
Then—
Voices.
"Ha! Jackpot! So many eggs—we're gonna make a fortune!"
"Shut up and move faster. Park Budo can't hold them off forever."
Aurore's expression darkened.
Eggs?
Given the environment—
They could only be—
Cyndaquil eggs.
This…
Was a nesting ground.
Her anger surged.
She stepped forward.
"You steal Pokémon eggs—and you still call yourselves trainers?!"
The cave opened up into a massive chamber.
At the center—
A lava pool.
And around it—
Hundreds of eggs.
Several men were packing them away.
They turned.
For a moment—
They were tense.
Then—
They relaxed.
Just a girl.
Young.
And her Pokémon?
Only Overlord-tier.
Not a threat.
"I told you to keep watch," one of them muttered.
Then casually said:
"Park Budo—kill her."
Another man smirked, looking Aurore up and down.
"Boss… why not take her too? Such a waste to kill someone this pretty."
"Idiot," the leader snapped.
"You want trouble with the Donghuang Alliance?"
"Finish it quickly."
The man sighed.
"Fine… unlucky for you, girl."
He tossed a Poké Ball.
"Come out—Honchkrow!"
A large black Pokémon appeared—
Hat-like crest, red feathers, sharp eyes.
Its aura—
Oppressive.
Champion Peak.
Aurore's heart sank.
She regretted it.
If only she had brought one of Ethan's Pokémon with her…
She was talented—
But she was only eighteen.
Her Pokémon—
Hadn't had enough time to grow.
They couldn't match this.
"Froslass—go! Find Ethan!"
Aurore released all her Pokémon—
While sending Froslass for help.
They weren't far apart.
If she could just hold on—
She could survive.
"Trying to call for help?"
Park Budo laughed.
"Too late."
"Honchkrow—use Haze!"
Dark mist exploded outward—
Filling the cave.
In an instant—
Aurore and her Pokémon were engulfed.
Even Froslass—
Lost its direction.
"Froslass—use Icy Wind!"
The cold gust spread—
But couldn't fully disperse the black fog.
Aurore's Pokémon attacked together—
But against a Champion Peak opponent—
It wasn't enough.
Their attacks barely made a dent.
"Enjoy the calm before death," Park Budo sneered.
"Honchkrow—Air Slash."
With a single flap—
A blade of compressed air tore through the darkness.
Straight toward Aurore.
Her Pokémon reacted instantly—
Throwing themselves in front of her.
They used every defensive move they had.
But—
It didn't matter.
The gap in power—
Was too great.
Slash!
One by one—
They were sent flying.
Blood spilled.
In a single strike—
Every one of Aurore's Pokémon—
Lost the ability to fight.
And now—
Only she remained.
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