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The shuttle bay doors hissed open, and the freezing, ash-choked wind of the Sootopolis storm shrieked into the cabin. I looked into the lens of the drone, the Stamina Band on my wrist glowing a steady, defiant blue.
"Hey chat," I said, my voice barely audible over the roar of the engines. "We're literally jumping off a plane into the heart of the storm. This may or may not be our last stream. Thanks for being part of the journey. If we're going down, we're going down as Titans. Let's make this the most awesome one ever!"
I grabbed May's hand, and together, we stepped into the abyss.
🎬 THE EVOLUTION MV: "HERO" BY SKILLET
[The Intro: Heavy Orchestral Strings] The camera follows us in a vertical tailspin. The EMP clouds are a swirling vortex of purple lightning. As the first guitar riff hits, the atmospheric pressure and the "Vigor" from the Obsidian Key reach critical mass.
[Verse 1: I'm just a step away...] Kage (Grovyle) and Blaze (Combusken) fall parallel to us. The lightning strikes them, but instead of damage, the energy is absorbed into their Adrenaline Orbs.
The Evolution: In a synchronized burst of emerald and crimson light, they transform mid-fall.Sceptile & Blaziken: Kage's tail fans out into a massive, pine-like array, and his blades become pure titanium-obsidian. Blaze's feathers erupt into flowing white ribbons of flame, his legs now capable of shattering mountains.
[Chorus: I need a hero!] Genji (Frogadier) kicks off a piece of falling shuttle debris. As he spins, his "frubble" scarf hardens into a liquid-crystal darkness.
The Evolution: He emerges as Greninja, his form perfectly aerodynamic, a massive Water Shuriken already forming on his back.
The Shot: The three final-stage Titans form a "V" formation in front of us, cutting through the clouds like a spear.
[Verse 2: Who's gonna fight for the weak?] Eli (Gardevoir) spreads her shimmering cape, using her psychic power to create a slipstream that keeps us from burning up. Beside her, Raven (Absol) looks at the Absolite on her chest.
The Mega-Link: I tap the Key; May taps her Soul Dew. A double-helix of light connects us to Raven.
Mega Absol: Her fur erupts into angelic, wing-like tufts. Her horn becomes a scythe of pure disaster energy. She lets out a roar that clears the storm clouds for a split second, revealing the Mecha-Tentacruel waiting below.
[Bridge: I've got a hero living in me!] The "Speed Surprise" Jerry isn't evolving, but he's glowing gold. He's perched on my shoulder, his Focus Sash fluttering like a cape. Tammy (Liepard) is running down the side of a falling Magma interceptor, swiping its guidance chip as it explodes behind her.
[Final Chorus: Hero! Hero!] The music reaches a crescendo as we break through the floor of the clouds. The Sootopolis sea is covered in hundreds of Aqua and Magma ships, and the Mecha-Tentacruel is charging its main laser.
[Chat Log: TOTAL VIRAL MELTDOWN]
GymBro_Chuck: TRIPLE EVOLUTION AND A MEGA IN THE SAME DROP?!
IceCreamQueen_C: Look at the formation! They're not just falling, they're attacking!
Master_Oak: This is the 'Titan Protocol.' They've reached the apex of their potential.
PervySage: I'm not crying, you're crying! Hero is the perfect track for this!
We hit the 500-foot mark. "Titans!" I screamed into the tactical headset. "Target the Siphon! BREAK THE BLOCKADE!"
With a sonic boom, the team scattered to their targets, leaving trails of fire, water, and shadow across the sky.