The Sky Behind Him
The wind was quieter now.
Not gone—
But distant.
Far behind the floating arena of the
Flying Championship.
Standing at the edge of the descending pathway—
Elior took one last look back.
High above the clouds—
The battlefield where he lost.
Where he grew.
Where he understood.
"…So that's how high the sky goes…"
There were no cheers.
No celebration.
Only the sound of wind brushing past him.
Skyrend walked beside him—
Skyrend
Tired.
Quiet.
But not broken.
No Regret
Elior exhaled slowly.
"…We lost."
A pause.
Then—
"…But we didn't fail."
Skyrend looked up at him.
Their eyes met.
No words needed.
Behind him—
The rest of his team emerged:
Infernyx
Thundrion
Riolu
Lunashade
They had all felt it.
That battle.
That difference.
Moving Forward
Elior tightened his grip slightly.
"…We're not stopping here."
He turned away from the sky.
Facing forward.
A new road awaited.
The terrain changed as he descended.
Clouds gave way to cliffs.
Cliffs gave way to winding paths.
And far ahead—
A new town came into view.
Zephyros Town
The town was alive with movement.
Windmills turned endlessly.
Flags fluttered in every direction.
Bridges swayed gently between buildings.
Everything here…
Moved with the wind.
Elior stepped into the town.
People passed by.
Trainers moved with purpose.
But Elior didn't rush.
Not this time.
"…I lost because I wasn't enough."
He said it calmly.
No anger.
No denial.
Just truth.
"…Aero didn't just have power…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…He had something deeper."
A connection.
A synchronization.
A level Elior hadn't reached yet.
Suddenly—
A cold sensation passed through the air.
Subtle.
But sharp.
Elior stopped.
"…What was that…?"
Lunashade Reacts
Behind him—
Lunashade stepped forward slightly.
Its eyes glowed faintly.
Not aggressive—
But alert.
From a distant rooftop—
A shadow watched.
Silent.
Still.
A member of
Team Umber.
"…He's here."
A pause.
"And the shadow… is reacting."
The figure disappeared.
***
Elior looked at Lunashade.
"…You felt it too?"
Lunashade didn't respond.
But its aura flickered.
Something Is Coming
Elior turned toward the deeper part of the town.
"…This place…"
A pause.
"…Something's not right."
The wind suddenly shifted.
Not naturally.
Not randomly.
But sharply.
Like something had disturbed it.
Final Panel
Deep within Zephyros Town—
A hidden chamber.
Dark.
Silent.
A device glowed faintly.
Energy pulsing.
Shadow energy.
A voice echoed:
"…Prepare it."
Another voice replied:
"The resonance is close."
And the journey continues...