37
After the intense heat of the crater, the descent into Lavaridge Town felt like stepping into a dream. The air was thick with the scent of hot springs and the famous, freshly baked Lava Cookies.
The "Spark" and the Lens
We found a quiet corner near the town's famous hot springs. May was still shaky, her hands resting on the table next to the Obsidian Key. The tool wasn't just metal anymore; the wood had petrified into a dense, volcanic glass that shimmered with a dark, inner light.
I reached out to steady her hand as she reached for a cookie. For a second, our fingers lingered. The adrenaline of the "grounding" hadn't fully left us, and there was a silent realization of how close we'd both come to the edge.
Lens, ever the drama-seeker, zoomed in. He caught the flickering reflection of the sunset in May's eyes—still tinged with a hint of that amber "Vigor"—and the way I didn't pull my hand away.
[Chat Log (PUBLIC - EMERGENCY LIFTED)]
GymBro_Chuck: LOOK AT THE FRAMING! Lens is a cinematography god!
Shipper_Central: THEY'RE LITERALLY GLOWING. Is that the Vigor or just chemistry?!
IceCreamQueen_C: Jake, look at her pulse readings on the drone... they just synced up with yours. That's not physics, that's a bond.
PervySage: I KNEW IT. Saving the world is the ultimate wingman!
May looked up, her face flushing as red as the volcano's core. She quickly grabbed a cookie and stuffed the whole thing in her mouth to avoid speaking, but she didn't move her hand.
The Obsidian Key Analysis
I pulled out my tablet to send the updated scans to Steven. "The Key is no longer just ironwood," I whispered, mostly to the chat. "The Meteorite's energy has converted the material into a high-density Obsidian Alloy. It's incredibly conductive for Infinity Energy. Steven says this thing can now act as a dowsing rod for the Orbs."
New Gear for the Shinobi
Kage sat nearby, staring at his charred ironwood stick. It had served him well, but the "Solar Drain" had pushed the wood past its breaking point. It was brittle, blackened, and mourning its lost balance.
We visited a local artisan who specialized in "Volcanic Glass Smithing."
The New Sword-Stick: We commissioned a new blade for Kage—a core of Tempered Titanium wrapped in a layer of Blackened Charcoal-Oak. It was heavier, sharper, and designed to withstand the heat of Sun Breathing without turning to ash.
The Ninja Pouch: We found a specialty "Growth-Fabric" pouch made from Leavanny silk and Machoke-belt leather. It was enchanted to expand with the user's physical mass—perfect for a Treecko on the verge of becoming a Grovyle.
The Evolution Glow
The air around the team felt heavy—in a good way. The sheer amount of "Vigor" they had processed at the summit was acting like a catalyst.
Kage was glowing with a steady, emerald pulse every time he practiced a form with the new blade.
Blaze was literally trailing embers, his Torchic hops turning into powerful, disciplined kicks.
Tammy looked at the new gear and gave a sharp, toothy grin. She didn't want a "pouch," but she did snatch a set of Black-Claw Extensions from the smithy, testing them against a stone pillar."They're ready," I said, looking at the "Evolution Possible" alerts flashing on my screen. "One more big push, and this team is going to look very different."