Inside Stark Mountain, waves of heat assaulted their faces.

The two men traversed the narrow path winding around molten lava, glancing downward.

Magma gushing from the fractured ground had swallowed the terrain, bubbling violently while emitting scorching steam.

"This situation..." Flint took a deep breath, wiping sweat from his forehead with a grin, "really gets my blood pumping!"

"Not looking good..."

The middle-aged man frowned while checking his detector. "There must be something wrong with the volcanic seal stones."

Rumble.

A faint tremor echoed from Stark Mountain's depths.

Handsome Guy and Flint exchanged glances before quickening their pace along the steep lava path, sprinting toward the cavern entrance together.

Blistering heatwaves struck them as the earth trembled violently. When they saw the spark-spewing, magma-like figure ahead, both men froze simultaneously.

A reddish-brown metallic body seemingly forged from molten steel stood anchored to the rock formations with powerful limbs, its massive maw exhaling terrifying white-hot plumes!

ROOOOAR—!!

The steel beast's bellow sent cascades of rubble tumbling down.

"Is that..." Flint's eyes widened as he clutched his spiky hair in disbelief, "a legendary Pokémon...?"

"Interpol Special Tool No.6 - Standard Issue Pokédex!"

Handsome Guy dramatically reached into his coat pocket and aimed the device at the creature.

The Pokédex's signal light flashed as its mechanical voice announced:

*Beep... Heatran, the Lava Dome Pokémon. Data unavailable. Moves unknown. Reported sightings near volcanic regions.*

"Whoa, we've got ourselves a real monster here!"

Flint ducked under a searing heatwave while retrieving a Poké Ball from his pocket, his expression sharpening.

"Go, Infernape! Mach Punch!"

The blazing Infernape materialized in a red flash. With a ground-cracking stomp, it closed the distance instantly.

BAM BAM BAM!

A flurry of supersonic punches struck Heatran's steel-plated back, leaving faint white marks.

"GRROOOOAH!!" Heatran's eyes burned crimson as it opened its maw, gathering a terrifying sphere of energy that sent shockwaves rippling outward!

Flint's pupils contracted. "Get out of there, Infernape!"

"Monfer!" Infernape kicked off the ground, blinking several meters upward.

The cavern's ceiling bristled with jagged stalactites, which Infernape used as platforms to evade.

BOOM!

A devastating Flamethrower erupted from Heatran's jaws, horizontally blasting the hanging rock formations. Falling debris kicked up clouds of dust.

"Monfer!" Infernape couldn't dodge in midair, crossing its arms defensively before being engulfed in flames!

"Incredible power." Handsome Guy paled while scanning their surroundings. There had to be another way!

CRASH!

Infernape smashed through multiple falling stalactites before struggling to stand, its golden scales charred and back embedded with rubble. Wiping blood from its mouth, its eyes blazed with fighting spirit.

Blaze ability activated!

"This guy..." Flint gritted his teeth, glaring at Heatran. "Is it the volcano's guardian?"

"More like a sealed berserker," Handsome Guy corrected. "Reported Heatran sightings never exhibited this level of power. This might explain Stark Mountain's abnormal volcanic activity!"

ROAR!!

Heatran bellowed again, eyes pulsing with violent red light. Its metallic limbs clanked down the stone steps toward Flint, each step fracturing the ground.

Meanwhile, Handsome Guy's widened eyes reflected a massive, loosened seal stone on the upper platform.

"That's it."

Handsome Guy rushed forward as his Croagunk shattered incoming projectiles.

"Flint! Buy me time to reset the seal stone!"

"Easier said than done..." Flint clicked his tongue, standing defiantly before Heatran with a wild grin. "But no problem!"

Heatran's maw gaped, white-hot energy coalescing into a massive Fire Blast hurtling toward Flint!

"Flare Blitz!" Flint swung his arm. Infernape's body ignited in golden flames, punching through the Fire Blast before slamming bodily into Heatran!

BOOOOM!

Heatran didn't budge, its metallic fist slamming Infernape into the ground with a crushing impact!

The entire floor fractured as Flint's Houndoom flanked Heatran, allowing him to recall the battered Infernape.

"Flash Fire ability? Or Heatproof?" Flint muttered frantically. "How does this hunk of metal have such traits?"

Fire attacks seemed utterly ineffective. Worse, red energy now crackled along Heatran's steel back, its eyes glowing bloodier.

Handsome Guy had circled toward the seal stone when Heatran whirled and fired an energy blast at the adjacent cliff. The shockwave sent Handsome Guy flying.

"Dammit."

Flint threw another Poké Ball: "Flareon, catch him!"

Dust swirled as Croagunk intercepted Handsome Guy's fall. Flint exhaled in relief before glaring at the arrogant steel beast, cracking his knuckles.

"You're... forcing me... to get serious!"

"GROOOAH!!" Heatran unleashed another devastating Fire Blast. Flint stood firm as his Magmortar appeared, cannon-arms glowing white-hot—

The two Fire Blasts collided in an explosion that shook the entire cavern.

Wiping blood from a rock-cut cheek, Flint muttered:

"If only Volkner were here..."

"Thunderbolt!"

Flint jerked his head up toward a silhouetted trainer at the entrance, his Pokémon releasing a brilliant electric discharge.

"Volkner? No, wait—"

Flint's pupils shrank.

"Teacher Lu's Rotom!"

The thunderbolt from Rotom Pokédex illuminated the cavern, crackling against Heatran's body.

"Grrr." Heatran initially looked contemptuous before freezing in surprise.

"Call it Thunderbolt, but it's actually Thunder Wave—"

"Just kidding." Lu Ye smirked.

"Teacher Lu!" Flint cried. "What are you doing here?"

"Heard you were having fun, so I came to help."

"But the exit? If lava blocks it—"

"Blastoise is guarding it."

Meanwhile, at the cavern entrance, Blastoise stood firm as searing magma encroached from both sides.

"That guy—" Lu Ye smiled.

Blastoise adjusted its shades, cannons gleaming dangerously.

"Is ridiculously reliable!"

A massive Water Pulse surged forth, rapidly cooling the magma into steaming igneous rock and widening the path.

Lu Ye's sheer confidence made Flint involuntarily gulp.

Simultaneously—

"ROOOAH!!" Heatran broke free from paralysis, charging furiously at Lu Ye!

"Didn't last long enough."

Lu Ye rubbed his temples before commanding: "Haunter, Gravity. Then go help Handsome Guy."

"Gengarrr!" Haunter grinned maliciously, tiny hands pressing downward as Heatran sank into the fractured ground.

Spiderweb cracks spread while Heatran gathered terrifying energy in its maw. The expanding glow made Flint grimace.

"That's no Fire Blast—" Flint began.

Lu Ye murmured: "Heatran's signature move, Magma Storm."

Flint blinked. "Have you caught one before? How do you know so much?"

"I have a friend who owns one."

Flint stared blankly before scratching his head.

This "friend" is totally you, isn't it?!

While Heatran weren't unique, this one sealed beneath Stark Mountain rivalled "Darkrai of White Poplar Town" in power.

A normal Heatran wouldn't challenge Flint. But this one... was proving troublesome!

Lu Ye frowned, watching Handsome Guy painfully struggling toward the platform.

"Safety first, Chief!"

"Yes, Sir!"

Stubborn yet effective, this was a man who delivered results.

Handsome Guy's eyes shone as he glanced at assisting Haunter, forcing his aching legs forward. Almost there... just a bit more!

Heatran's Magma Storm continued gathering the volcano's primal energy.

Clenching his teeth, Flint reached for another Poké Ball when Lu Ye stopped him.

"Let me handle this. You can't take it."

Though insultingly blunt, Flint found the man inexplicably reliable.

"All yours." Flint grinned.

Lu Ye threw his Poké Ball, releasing Sylveon's snowy form:

"Sylveon, Light Screen!"

"Sylveon! (▼ヘ▼#)" Its ribbons fluttered defiantly as a radiant barrier blocked the heatwaves.

Suddenly, a Luxury Ball at Lu Ye's waist shook violently.

"Arf! (｀0´)"

Red light materialized into Arcanine, who howled fiercely with bared teeth.

Both Lu Ye and Sylveon stared in surprise—

Arcanine had resolutely positioned itself at the forefront, unleashing a fearless roar.

"AROOOO!!"

If I have a dream...

It's to become a hero who protects everyone.

Arcanine grinned, its massive frame shielding Lu Ye as flaxen fur billowed majestically.

Regal. Dignified. Courageous. Loyal.

Countless thoughts flashed through Lu Ye's mind before he smiled helplessly.

"If this is your will—"

Recalling Sylveon, Lu Ye's eyes sharpened:

"Go, Arcanine!!"

"AROO!!" Arcanine's entire body gleamed as scorching waves crashed over them.

Heatran's maw stretched wide, the white-hot sphere in its throat swelling, fissioning, radiating terrifying pressure.

Arcanine crouched low, fangs bared, the Everlasting Feather around its neck glowing beautifully.

"Use this—it packs more punch."

Lu Ye handed the Rainbow Wing to Rotom, who used Trick to swap items.

Bathed in rainbow light, Arcanine's overwhelming vitality made Flint's eyes bulge.

"This... this is just..."

"Too tanky!!"

"Arf~ ᕦ(･ㅂ･)ᕤ" Arcanine grinned goofily.

BOOOOOOM!!!

The shockwave cracked even the Light Screen as Magma Storm formed a devastating red-white energy spiral—a vortex of molten steel and flame that engulfed Arcanine instantly!!

"Arf..." Arcanine groaned painfully yet focused intensely.

Its entire body trembled under the magma's torture, flaxen fur singeing as steam hissed from its form.

WHOOSH!

Suddenly, Arcanine's body erupted in flames—the Rainbow Wing's sacred fire clashing against the magma!

"AROOOO!!"

The opposing forces strained against each other, shaking Stark Mountain violently.

Flint clenched his fists.

At this rate... it might actually work!

Heatran's eyes showed surprise before it abruptly ceased firing, unleashing residual heat instead.

"Our turn."

A rare anger flashed across Lu Ye's face:

"Arcanine, Extreme Speed!!"

"AROO!!"

With a golden flash, Arcanine smashed into Heatran at blinding speed, shaking the entire cavern!

The overwhelming power made Flint's eyelid twitch.

"Taking that hit... and it actually powered up?!"

Or had Teacher Lu brought Arcanine specifically to train using the volcano?!

"Now THIS is a Fire-type Elite Four member!" Flint broke into cold sweat.

Heatran's metallic claws dug trenches in the stone as it skidded backward, eyes blazing furiously.

"Teacher Lu, careful!" Flint warned. "It's using Overheat!"

"Arcanine—"

Lu Ye snapped his fingers.

"Stomping Tantrum!"

Heatran looked up to see a massive form descending. Arcanine's quadruple-effective ground-type attack smashed down with crushing force!

BOOOOM!

The impact sent dust billowing as Handsome Guy turned in awe.

To turn such a desperate situation around... and nearly one-shot Heatran—just how strong was the Inspector?!

But more pressing matters awaited.

Taking a deep breath, he focused on the giant seal stone with determination.

CRREEEAK—

Handsome Guy repositioned the stone, wiping sweat before exhaling in relief.

Light spilled from the seal, washing over Heatran.

"Grrr?" Heatran suddenly looked grateful toward Handsome Guy before transforming into red light that vanished into the seal.

Stark Mountain's tremors ceased immediately!