Morning mist hung low over the grasslands south of Hau'oli, clinging to the roots of palm trees and the edges of black volcanic stone. The sun had just begun to break through, scattering soft beams across the cliffs.
Cyrus adjusted the straps of his field pack and checked the readouts on his Environmental Tracker. The device hummed faintly as it scanned the surrounding terrain — humidity, radiation levels, residual energy patterns from nearby Pokémon.
"Looks good," he murmured. "Charcadet, let's try the new calibration patch."
Charcadet's armor gleamed as Cyrus attached a small sensor node to its shoulder. Blue lights blinked once, syncing with the PokéDex on his wrist. Ditto formed a cap over his head, shielding his hair from the humid wind.
He had planned to test how environmental conditions influenced elemental resonance — specifically how Fire energy fluctuated in high-humidity zones. Simple enough in theory. But here, surrounded by living ecosystems, nothing stayed simple for long.
A rustle echoed through the ferns ahead. Cyrus crouched, lowering the scanner's volume. The display pinged — strong Fire-type reading, mid-size signature.
"Could be a Salandit…" he whispered.
Charcadet crouched low beside him, embers flickering faintly.
Through the brush, a bright flash of flame erupted. A sleek orange figure darted between the rocks — a Growlithe, its mane flaring like molten glass. It was cornered by a trainer a few meters away, a young woman in a red travel jacket, poised with a Pokéball in hand.
"Alright, let's do this! Goomy, use Water Pulse!" she shouted.
Her small, gelatinous Pokémon responded, releasing a shimmering sphere of water that burst across the rocks — sending steam hissing through the air. The Growlithe stumbled but steadied itself, growling low.
Cyrus, still half-hidden, felt the Energy Meter spike. Instinctively, he adjusted a dial on the scanner to stabilize the reading — but the pulse emitted a faint burst of light.
The Growlithe's ears flicked. It spun, eyes locking on Cyrus's position.
"Oh no…" he muttered.
Before the trainer could react, the Growlithe turned tail and bolted into the tall grass, vanishing toward the ridge.
The girl blinked, then turned sharply toward him. "Hey! What was that? You scared it off!"
Cyrus froze. "I—wasn't trying to. I was just measuring—"
"Measuring? You cost me a capture!" she said, storming closer. "Do you even know how long I tracked that thing?"
He stood, raising his hands in apology. "Look, I didn't realize you were mid-encounter. My sensor must've—"
"You're using field tech in the middle of a battle zone! Who even does that?"
"Researchers," he said flatly, though his tone stayed polite. "I was collecting atmospheric energy data."
"Great," she snapped. "Collect it somewhere that isn't between me and my next team member!"
Charcadet stepped forward defensively, its flames sparking.
Her Goomy oozed closer too, its body shimmering with residual moisture.
Cyrus sighed. "Look, I'll help you track it down again. The Growlithe left a thermal trail, I can—"
"No thanks," she interrupted, crossing her arms. "I don't need help from someone who doesn't even know basic field etiquette."
That last part stung more than he expected.
"I do know etiquette," he said quietly, "just not… this kind."
Her glare softened a little, but only slightly. "Then maybe it's time you learn it."
She turned to leave, muttering under her breath.
But Cyrus, ever the observer, noticed something — the Goomy's slimy trail still glowed faintly from residual Water energy, and the air shimmered with Fire residue farther north. The Growlithe hadn't gone far.
"Wait," he said, stepping forward. "If we go now, we can still—"
The ground rumbled suddenly beneath them. Both trainers turned as a burst of flame erupted from the ridge ahead — the Growlithe had returned, furious and ready to fight.
The girl smirked, gripping her Pokéball. "Looks like it found us instead."
Cyrus exhaled. "Charcadet, standby—"
She glanced back at him sharply. "Don't you dare interfere this time."
He raised his hands again. "Wouldn't dream of it."
But the Growlithe wasn't aiming at her. Its gaze locked on Cyrus, its fur bristling, as if remembering his earlier flash of light.
Flames curled at its fangs.
The girl's voice rose in warning, "Hey! It's going for you!"
Cyrus barely had time to move before the battle began — and this time, it wasn't one he could stay out of.