The tunnel pulsed like a vein. Each step forward into the mountain felt like descending into a living organism, and Skylar could hear his own heartbeat syncing with the thrum in the stone beneath their feet.
They had reached the core.
And it was waiting.
The cavern opened into a monstrous cathedral of stone and flesh. The ceiling dripped black crystal. The walls twitched with breath. And at the center—
A creature that defied reason.
It rose from the ground like a malformed god—twisted limbs of different species fused together. It had the massive jaws of a Tyranitar, the wings of a Charizard now coated in black membrane, the legs of a Nidoking, and dozens of glowing eyes like malformed Beheeyem blinking along its torso. It didn't roar.
It screamed.
Skylar flinched as the sound carved into his skull like a psychic scalpel.
Misty fell to one knee. "It's projecting directly—into our minds—!"
Kalei raised a wall of aura instantly, shielding them from the mental barrage.
—"It's not just a beast," she said. "It's a mind."
The core heart.
The living brain of the corruption.
And it was awake.
The creature launched first.
A massive tail made of fused rock and bone swept across the chamber. Charmeleon dashed forward, took the hit—and didn't fall.
Skylar gritted his teeth. "We end this. Now."
—"Charmeleon, Flamethrower! Scyther, circle and strike from above!"
—"Froakie, Water Pulse, aim for its wings!" Misty shouted. "Starmie—Confuse Ray, slow its mind!"
—"Gardevoir, Psyshock! Now!" Kalei added, her own aura blade forming at her side.
The battle exploded.
Charmeleon's flames burned through one of the core's eyes, searing it shut. Scyther flashed through the air like lightning, carving deep into the membranes of its wings. Froakie's Water Pulse burst across the fusion's spine—but new arms grew where old ones fell.
Starmie's Confuse Ray struck—but the core let out another psionic burst, shattering part of the cave and throwing Gardevoir backward. She slammed into a wall, but rose slowly, dazed but alive.
Skylar's aura burned in his chest again—but this time, he didn't let it explode. He channeled it into his team.
—"Charmeleon—push your fire into Scyther's path! Create a cover!"
Flames arced upward as Scyther darted through them like a streaking comet, his blades glowing white-hot.
He slashed downward across the core's neck.
A chunk fell off.
The fusion screeched and retaliated—slamming its claw into the ground.
A pulse erupted from the crystalized heart in its chest—sending out a wave of corruption.
The ground split.
Misty screamed.
Froakie was caught in the wave—twisting midair, his body flashing with violet energy.
Skylar dove.
—"NO!"
He flung a burst of aura like a net, wrapping Froakie midair and pulling him back before the corruption could take hold.
Misty clutched him, sobbing in relief. "I thought I lost him—"
—"Not today," Skylar growled. "Everyone, on me! We hit the heart!"
The corrupted core reared up, its chest crystal now fully exposed—pulsing like a beacon.
Kalei stepped beside Skylar.
She looked at him.
—"Combine it."
—"What?"
—"Your aura. Mine. Together."
He understood.
They raised their hands side by side.
Their energies flared—silver and blue, swirling, merging, forming a spear of light in the air above them.
—"Now!" Kalei roared.
Charmeleon and Scyther launched forward, clearing the path.
Starmie unleashed a full Psywave.
Gardevoir held the core in place.
And Skylar thrust the spear forward.
It pierced the crystal.
Time stopped.
The core screamed, not in anger—but in fear.
Then it shattered.
A burst of pure white aura exploded outward, incinerating the fused limbs, the eyes, the twisted wings.
The mountain trembled.
Then—
Silence.
The core was gone.
The black crystal faded.
The walls stopped breathing.
The corruption… stilled.
Skylar dropped to his knees, exhausted. Misty ran to his side and hugged him tightly. Gardevoir fell into a seated position, and Scyther finally allowed himself to breathe.
Gary's voice came through their comms.
—"Is it done?"
Skylar smiled.
—"It's done."