38
The steam rising from the Lavaridge Hot Springs provided the perfect natural "smoke screen" for a clandestine training session. While May soaked her tired feet, the rest of the team pushed their limits in the mineral-rich waters and surrounding volcanic crags.
The Thermal Workshop: Jerry's Breakthrough
Jerry had been obsessed with the heat ever since the crater. He spent the evening chewing on Lava Cookies and breathing in the sulfurous steam.
Flamethrower: Drawing on the "Spicy" energy he'd observed in Blaze, Jerry learned to compress the flammable gases in his cheek pouches. Instead of a spark, he used the friction of his teeth to ignite a sustained, high-intensity Flamethrower.
Brick Break: To balance his ranged fire, Jerry practiced a vertical chop with his forepaws, channeling his momentum into a Brick Break. He shattered a cooling basalt pillar with a single, clean strike.
[Chat Log]
GymBro_Chuck: A Rattata with Flamethrower?! That's a 1% build right there!
IceCreamQueen_C: It's the mineral density in the water. It's acting as a natural stimulant for his move-pool.
The Dual-Wielding Harbinger: Raven
Raven stood atop a jagged rock, her silhouette haunting against the moonlight. She was experimenting with a more physical combat style to complement her psychic prowess.
Dual Wielding: She began synchronizing her glowing horn with her tail. By coating her tail in the metallic energy of Iron Tail while simultaneously charging her horn with Night Slash, she became a whirlwind of blades.
Razor Wind: For range, she whipped her head in a crescent motion, creating vacuum blades of Razor Wind that sliced through the steam clouds like paper.
The Blinding Thief: Tammy's Opal Flash
Tammy had been hoarding the "booty" from Slateport, especially a set of high-clarity Opal Jewelry. During the training, she realized the gems could do more than just look pretty.
Mastering Flash: Tammy learned to channel her inner energy through the opals. By refracting light through the gems, she could trigger a Flash so intense it didn't just blind opponents—it left a lingering afterimage that made her look like she was in three places at once.
[Chat Log]
PervySage: She's a literal disco ball of doom now. You can't hit what you can't see!
The Hot Spring Moment
As the training wound down, I sat on the edge of the spring next to May. The Obsidian Key was resting between us, glowing a soft, rhythmic red.
"The team is changing, Jake," May whispered, watching Blaze try to "meditate" while floating on a wooden board. "They're getting stronger, but... they feel more 'ancient' too. Like they're remembering things they never learned."
"It's the resonance, May," I said, looking at the lens of the drone hovering nearby. "We're waking up something old. We just have to make sure we're the ones holding the leash."
Suddenly, the Obsidian Key let out a sharp, metallic ping. The surface of the water in the spring rippled in a perfect geometric pattern, pointing toward the northern peaks.
"The dowsing effect," I muttered. "It found a signal. And it's moving fast."