The chamber pulsed with violet light, deep beneath the earth—beyond where League satellites could see.
Metal walls breathed, alive with subtle movement. Shadows flickered unnaturally across the floor, as if cast by flames no one could feel.
Inside stood a figure cloaked in black and crimson robes.
His back was turned.
But the screen before him showed Ash's face.
Still. Focused. Dangerous.
A mechanical voice echoed:
"Class-1 clearance breach confirmed. Champion Ketchum accessed BLACK VEIL archives. Trace detected."
The man didn't speak at first.
Then—
Wet, slick sounds emerged from his spine.
Six black tendrils uncoiled from beneath his cloak, twitching slightly, steaming in the cold air.
Some were smooth like shadow.
Others metallic. Mechanical.
Some… breathing.
"Finally," the man whispered.
"After all these years…"
He turned.
His face was mostly human, but stretched at the edges—too smooth. The whites of his eyes flickered like voidlight. His irises spiraled constantly, never still.
"Prepare an interception unit."
"Priority level?"
"Omega."
He smiled.
But there was no warmth in it.
"Terminate the Champion."
The tendrils curled behind him, pulsing once—like hearts wrapped in tar.
"The gods sent him too early."
"Let's correct that."
Sinnoh – Temple Path Near Spear Pillar
Cynthia walked in silence through the frozen corridor of stone and snow.
It had taken days to reach this place—a hidden sanctum of her tribe, north of Mt. Coronet, known only to those blessed by the Trial.
Above, the sky darkened.
Below her feet, the glyphs began to glow.
Gold. Blue. Violet.
She stepped onto the central dais.
In front of her, three ancient stone monoliths rose:
One carved with a clock—Dialga's mark.
One with a spiral shell—Palkia's domain.
One with a ringed crest—the symbol of Arceus.
Each pulsed once.
The wind stopped.
Time… stuttered.
Then the stones shivered.
Cynthia dropped to one knee as a deep, vibrating voice entered her mind:
"Priestess of Balance… your presence has been marked."
Her breath caught in her throat.
"The world tilts. The sky prepares to open."
She clenched her fists.
"Then send me. Use me. I will protect it."
"You are not ready to fight what waits beyond the veil."
"But you… may guide those who are."
Suddenly the sky above the shrine split like glass.
A beam of light pierced the heavens, and something fell—not a meteor, but a shard of glowing crystal, embedded with a single eye that blinked.
And vanished.
Cynthia staggered back.
Around her, the stone monoliths cracked.
And from within the ring of glyphs, a circle of aura ignited, spiraling outward with divine force.
She stood tall again.
Eyes glowing faintly.
A new power singing beneath her skin.
Not from the gods.
But from the world itself.
She whispered:
"Skylar… whatever's coming, you won't face it alone."