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The portal back to Hoenn deposited us right in the heart of Lavaridge Town, where the steam from the hot springs was quickly replaced by the mouth-watering scent of Flannery's "Burning-Overheat BBQ."
🍖 The Homecoming Feast: Legends Unleashed
The entire town was closed off for a street party. Flannery had the grills roaring, and the other Gym Leaders were already there, treating the Titans like conquering royalty.
The Spread: Tables groaned under the weight of Lava Cookies, Slowpoke Tail Sliders, and Moomoo Milk shakes.
The Squad's Vibe: Blaze (Blaziken) was helping Flannery with the grills (using a precise Ember), while Tammy (Liepard) was busy "lawfully acquiring" the best cuts of steak for Raven (Absol), who was finally awake and enjoying the quiet. Eli (Gardevoir) was surrounded by a crowd of fans, gracefully accepting Berry Juice like a queen.
The Noble & The Slayer: Jerry (Noble Rattata) and Cobra (Poipole) were inseparable. Jerry was showing Cobra how to dip Poffins into spicy sauce, a true "Noble" introduction to Hoennian cuisine.
[Chat Log: POST-BATTLE CHILL]
GymBro_Chuck: Look at them eat! They deserve every calorie.
IceCreamQueen_C: May is still wearing the Lucha mask while eating. Respect.
⏳ The Secret Track: A Glimpse of the Primal War
As the feast wound down, I pulled the "Time-Fragment" Dialga had left behind. It looked like a swirling diamond shard. When I touched it to the Obsidian Key, a holographic recording projected into the center of the town square.
The Vision: It wasn't 2025. It was 3,000 years ago. We saw a silhouette of a man who looked remarkably like an ancestor of the "Singer" holding a much larger version of the Key.
The Battle: He was standing alongside a younger Rayquaza, fighting a swarm of black-scaled creatures that looked like proto-Ultra Beasts.
The Revelation: "He's singing," May whispered. The audio was distorted, but the melody was unmistakable—it was the core refrain of our "Teen Titans" theme. The "Vigor" wasn't something we invented; it was an ancient martial art of the soul.
🐲 Dragon Slayer Training: Hard Work Pays Off
"Alright, Cobra," I said the next morning, standing in the jagged ash-fields outside of town. "You heard the legend. You saw the history. You want to be a Dragon Slayer? You gotta put in the work."
The Training Arc:
Poison Dragon's Roar: Cobra practiced his toxic breath, but instead of just spraying ink, I had him focus the energy into a concentrated, pressurized beam. Jerry acted as the "target," using Extreme Speed to force Cobra to lead his shots.
The Noble Reflex: Jerry taught Cobra the "Flicker-Step." Using Poipole's natural levitation combined with the rhythm of the "Pacific Rim" beat, Cobra learned to dodge attacks by moving between the beats of the music.
The Bond: Every time Cobra felt like quitting, Jerry would nudge him with a "Noble" chuff, reminding him that a Slayer is only as strong as his loyalty to the pack.
By the end of the week, Cobra wasn't just a Poipole; he was a Titan in training. His movements were sharper, his venom more potent, and his eyes held the fire of a dragon-slayer.
"One more time, Cobra!" I shouted, the Stamina Band steady. "From the top! Dragon Slayer's Secret Art: Crimson Lotus Poison Drill!"