By the time Silas and Madam returned to their base camp, the atmosphere around them had completely changed.
The tension from the Phoenix Festival still lingered in the distance, but it no longer pressed down on them the way it had during the trials. Ho-oh had departed, the statues had gone dormant, and the gathered Eeveelutions were gradually dispersing back into their territories throughout Phoenix Forest.
For Silas, however, the night still felt unreal. Froakie was inside the golden sphere, asleep but finally healing.
The thought repeated in his mind again and again. After everything, they had succeeded.
Maybe not in the exact way he originally imagined, but the result was better than anything he could have reasonably hoped for. Ho-oh itself had intervened. Froakie's broken foundation was being repaired by divine power, and even if the recovery process would take time, the future no longer looked hopeless.
That alone made the entire expedition worth it.
Madam walked beside him with the red feather safely in hand.
For once, she didn't immediately return to her usual sharp commentary. Her expression was controlled, as always, but there was a rare lightness in her posture that had not been there before. She had benefited tremendously from Phoenix Forest already, and now she had received a direct gift from Ho-oh.
That was not something even elite trainers could easily claim.
When they reached camp, Arcanine was waiting. The moment it saw the red feather, its eyes sharpened. Its tail wagged excitedly.
Then it took a step forward, staring at the feather with unmistakable expectation. Madam noticed immediately and chuckled.
It wasn't the cold laugh she used when mocking someone's stupidity or the dry amusement she showed when Silas said something reckless. This one was softer. Familiar.
She walked over to Arcanine and rubbed its head affectionately.
"Of course it will be you who gets the feather, old friend."
Arcanine leaned into her hand, pressing its head gently against her in response.
Silas watched the exchange quietly.
He had known Madam relied heavily on Arcanine, but moments like this revealed more than battle ever could. Their partnership clearly went back a long way. It wasn't just utility, strength, or investment.
There was trust there.
Real trust.
The red feather pulsed faintly in Madam's hand, its fire-type energy dense enough that even Silas could feel the heat from several steps away. Ho-oh had made it clear that the feather would not turn Arcanine into an Entei, but it would raise its fire-type potential to an elite level.
For a Pokémon already as strong as Arcanine, that kind of improvement could be enormous but Madam did not use it immediately.
That was expected.
A treasure from Ho-oh was not something to be applied casually. She would likely wait until Arcanine was stable, fully recovered, and prepared to absorb it under ideal conditions.
Silas turned his attention back to his own situation.
Froakie was going to be alright.
That fact alone should have been enough to let him relax, but his mind was already moving ahead. Ho-oh's challenge lingered in his thoughts.
6 pseudo elite pokemon in a year's time was a daunting task but Silas felt up to it. He would do his best despite the brutal requirements.
Monferno and Electabuzz were growing quickly, and Froakie would finally be able to train properly once healed, but three Pokémon were not enough. Ho-oh had not asked him to bring three strong partners. It had asked for a full team of six.
The reward matched the difficulty.
Three elemental treasures, each similar to the power stored in the statues. Silas knew exactly what that implied.
Raikou.
Suicune.
Entei.
If he fulfilled the bargain, he could potentially gain enough inheritance power to create three Pokémon with near legendary potential. His current partners aligned well with those elements, but he still needed to think carefully.
The wrong choice now could limit him later.
He had caught several Pokémon during the expedition and might catch more before leaving Mount Silver, but not every strong Pokémon belonged on his main team. Resources were limited. Attention was limited. Growth paths mattered.
He needed balance.
His current lineup leaned heavily toward physical offense. Monferno and Electabuzz were both aggressive combatants, and while they could develop ranged moves, neither truly filled the role of a dedicated special attacker.
Silas crossed his arms, thinking deeply.
"Maybe I should expand my main team," he muttered. "We need a special attacker after all."
The thought wasn't new, but Ho-oh's challenge made it urgent.
A team of six pseudo-elite Pokémon in one year would require more than raw training. He needed compatibility, resources, talent, and a growth plan for every member. He couldn't afford dead weight.
Madam glanced at him.
"You're already scheming."
"I'm planning," Silas corrected automatically.
"Same disease. Different word."
Silas ignored that.
He looked toward the golden sphere containing Froakie. The little Pokémon slept peacefully inside, the divine energy pulsing around him in slow, steady waves. For the first time since Silas had obtained him, Froakie's future felt real.
That changed everything.
If Froakie recovered fully, he could become a key part of the team. With proper training, typeless energy support, and Hermes' guidance, his growth might accelerate quickly. The problem was time.
One month before full recovery. Then training and catching up. Silas would need to be efficient. He would need to be ruthless with his schedule, his resource allocation, and his decisions. Still, there was hope now.
For a short while, the camp settled into a moment of peace. Madam checked over Arcanine and her other Pokémon, ensuring none of them had lingering issues from the past several days. Silas organized his supplies, securing the Sacred Ash carefully and reviewing the resources they had gathered.
The Eeveelutions nearby gave them space.
Some watched curiously, especially the younger ones who had grown comfortable with Silas's group. Others had already returned deeper into the forest now that the festival had ended.
The night air remained warm. The lake reflected the faint lingering glow from the platform in the distance. It felt like the end of an arc.
That was exactly why the attack came then.
Two masked men in dark ninja attire appeared near the edge of camp without warning.
They emerged from concealment so smoothly that Silas almost didn't process them as real at first. One moment the space was empty, and the next, the men were there, standing with the quiet confidence of people who had already decided the outcome.
Their outfits were dark and fitted for movement, with masks covering most of their faces. Their presence was disciplined, controlled, and hostile.
Silas's body tensed instantly. Madam reacted just as quickly.
The older ninja spoke first.
"I will tell you what. If you kill yourselves for me, I won't also execute your Pokémon."
Silas's expression went cold. There was no hesitation in that voice.
He didn't sound like the bluffing type.
Before Silas or Madam could respond, two Venomoth appeared on either side of Jolteon.
Their wings beat silently as psychic energy flickered around their bodies, and both launched Energy Balls filled with strange purple energy. The attacks moved fast, curving inward from opposite directions as if designed to trap Jolteon in the center.
Jolteon's eyes widened.
BOOM.
The spot around Jolteon detonated like it had been struck by a bomb.
Dirt, smoke, and violet energy erupted across the camp, tearing through the ground and sending debris flying in every direction.
The peaceful atmosphere shattered instantly. Silas moved before the smoke cleared.