In the smoke, Houndoom stood vigilant, its fierce eyes scanning in all directions. It didn't have any moves to clear the smoke.
Suddenly, a figure shot through the haze—Frogadier, gripping a kunai, aiming for Houndoom's throat like a bolt of lightning.
"Flamethrower!" commanded Tabitha.
Houndoom reacted almost instinctively, turning its head and unleashing a powerful Flamethrower!
Frogadier was instantly engulfed in flames—but it was only a shadow clone!
"Another fake?" Tabitha frowned. The Eruption move should have wiped out all the Double Teams.
Did Frogadier use Double Team after Eruption?
Where was the real body?
Just then, the true Frogadier burst from the haze, water swirling around it as it dashed toward Houndoom's back with a kunai, moving as fast as a Spark.
"Aqua Jet combined with Cut? This one has to be real!" Tabitha thought.
"Behind you! Lightning Fang!" Tabitha shouted.
But after using Flamethrower forward, even a powerful Houndoom couldn't turn and launch Lightning Fang fast enough.
They had no choice but to brace for the impact!
Pfft!
Zzzzzzi!
Frogadier's kunai slashed across Houndoom's neck, but Houndoom gritted its teeth, unleashing a numbing electric current as its jaws snapped forward in a vicious Crunch, aiming for Frogadier's head.
Clang! The sound of teeth clashing echoed.
It was fake again! Another Substitute!
Neither Tabitha nor Chris expected this. Chris had thought that Frogadier would have been badly injured or even knocked out after enduring Eruption.
But Frogadier still had enough energy to create a Substitute? Using Substitute takes a lot of stamina. If it didn't have enough strength left, it shouldn't have been able to pull it off.
Now that both the Double Team and Substitute were broken, where was the real Frogadier?
Just as this question formed in the minds of both Tabitha and Houndoom, a stream of water surged from behind Houndoom—from the same direction it had released Flamethrower earlier—giving them the answer.
"Water Pulse!"
Houndoom, exhausted from its earlier movements, couldn't turn around this time. Its earlier effort had been its limit.
Tabitha could only watch as the Water Pulse slammed into Houndoom, knocking it to the ground.
When it tried to rise, Houndoom felt an unfamiliar sensation in its limbs, making it hard to steady itself.
Tabitha's eyes widened. Oh no! Water Pulse had confused Houndoom, leaving it disoriented!
Chris saw his chance. "Frogadier, Quick Attack and Cut!"
In a flash, Frogadier darted through the haze, lightning fast. Its kunai gleamed, trailing two streaks of light in mid-air like a masterful sword ready to strike!
This blow would surely land!
"Electivire, Thunder Punch!" Tabitha couldn't bear to see his Pokémon defeated and quickly acted. A Poké Ball soared through the air, and Electivire landed with a thunderous punch crackling with electricity.
"Gabite, Dragon Claw!" Chris, expecting this, was already prepared. This wasn't a typical battle with rules—using multiple Pokémon was fair game.
Gabite emerged from its Poké Ball, facing Electivire head-on. Without hesitation, Gabite allowed the Thunder Punch to land. The electric attack had no effect on the Ground-type Gabite, but in return, Gabite's Dragon Claw slashed across Electivire, leaving a deep mark.
It was a trade well worth it. Electric-type moves were useless against Gabite, but the Dragon-type move was a real threat to Electivire!
As the two Pokémon landed, Frogadier had already finished its battle.
A sharp, decisive Cut left an "X" scar on Houndoom's neck. Frogadier stood behind it, breathing heavily, its slim figure swaying slightly. It wasn't trying to look cool—Frogadier was simply doing its best to stay on its feet.
Taking on that Eruption hadn't been easy.
With a thud, Houndoom collapsed, unable to rise again.
[Houndoom LV 40 has fainted. Frogadier gains 3102 experience points. Frogadier leveled up! Current level: 35]
One more level, and Frogadier would evolve.
But then Chris noticed something strange—a glowing white light began to flow from Frogadier's body. It was the unmistakable light of evolution!
"Wait, isn't it still one level short? Why is it evolving now?" Chris wondered.
Under the shroud of white light, Frogadier's body straightened and grew taller. When the light faded, a powerful Greninja stood before him.
[Greninja (Water/Dark)]
[Level: 35]
[Ability: Battle Bond (activated when bonded with the Trainer, effect unknown)]
[Stats: HP (31), Attack (31), Special Attack (31), Defense (25), Special Defense (27), Speed (31)]
[Moves: Bubble Beam, Pound, Growl, Quick Attack, Lick, Smokescreen, Water Pulse, Substitute, Cut, Fling, Smack Down, Rock Smash, Water Sport, Water Shuriken, Night Slash, Role Play, Shadow Sneak, Spikes, Feint Attack]
[Held Item: Mystic Water]
"I keep forgetting this isn't just a game." Chris chuckled. In reality, a Pokémon's will to grow stronger could trigger evolution even if it didn't align with the game's level system.
And as for why Frogadier was able to endure Eruption and still use Substitute? It had learned Water Sport during the battle, which reduced the power of Fire-type moves!
"That's the power of a Pokémon with the Battle Bond ability," Chris thought proudly.
On the other hand, Tabitha looked furious, as if he'd just eaten something foul. Seeing his opponent's Pokémon defeat his own, and then evolve right in front of him, was deeply humiliating.
"Electivire, Thunder Punch!" Tabitha shouted in desperation.
"Crack!" Electivire roared, charging forward with electrifying speed, its fist glowing with sparks aimed at Greninja.
But Gabite leapt in front of Electivire, blocking its path.
"Gabite! (You want Greninja? You'll have to get through me first!)" Gabite growled.
"Annoying little pest!" Tabitha gritted his teeth and threw another Poké Ball. This time, Camerupt appeared.
"Camerupt, use Double-Edge!"
Camerupt charged between Gabite and Electivire, clearing the way for Electivire to focus solely on Greninja.
As Electivire prepared to strike, Chris remained calm and issued two commands.
"Greninja, use Role Play."
"Gardevoir, use Life Dew!"
(Greninja took on Electivire's Thunder Punch ability, and Gardevoir prepared to heal the team with Life Dew!)
Kirlia had learned many skills after evolving into Gardevoir.
Life Dew was one of them, a rare healing move.
Gardevoir raised her hand, and tiny, lustrous drops of water scattered across the battlefield, neutralizing the scorched air and toxins left behind by Eruption.
Bathed in the refreshing droplets, Greninja's stamina began to recover rapidly.
Reaching out, Greninja conjured a hat made of elemental energy from seemingly nowhere and placed it on his head. The hat dissipated like light and shadow, but Greninja stood unfazed, ready to take on Electivire's "Thunder Punch."
In the next moment, Greninja didn't dodge. The surging electricity lashed out, mercilessly consuming him.
"Zzzttt!"
But within seconds, the current that should have hurt Greninja flowed through him harmlessly, making him feel oddly comfortable instead.
"I guessed right," Chris said, a smirk forming on his lips.
Role Play, a move that temporarily copies the Ability of the target!
Electivire had two Abilities.
One was Vital Spirit, preventing it from falling asleep.
The other was Motor Drive, which made it immune to Electric-type moves and increased its speed by one stage when hit by them.
Chris had bet that Tabitha's Electivire had Motor Drive, since Vital Spirit was its hidden Ability and much rarer in Electivire.
There was no way he could have lost this gamble—Greninja simply couldn't be paralyzed by electricity anymore.
Now, with the Motor Drive Ability, Greninja wasn't just immune to Electric-type attacks; he absorbed the lightning punch, boosting his speed!
"Greninja! (Is that all you've got? Try harder!)" Greninja taunted dismissively.
Electivire roared in fury.
"Cut!" Chris commanded.
Strength renewed by Life Dew, Greninja swiftly formed kunai in both hands, their edges gleaming.
"Protect!" Tabitha shouted in desperation. When he heard Chris call for Role Play, he knew things had taken a turn for the worse.
Electivire raised its arms, crossing them to form an invisible Barrier. But just as it moved, its body froze. A deep gash appeared on its chest, running from its right shoulder to its left waist.
Blood streamed from the wound.
Greninja, who had been in front of Electivire moments ago, had already moved behind it, standing confidently with his arms crossed.
From Frogadier to Greninja, his speed had increased to an astonishing level!
"Dynamic Punch!" Tabitha yelled.
Electivire clenched its teeth, launching a heavy punch behind it.
But it struck nothing but air. Greninja's speed was so great that he dodged the attack effortlessly.
Another swift "Cut!"
"ninja! (Goodbye!)"
Another gash appeared on Electivire's chest, this time from the left shoulder to the right waist.
The two wounds formed a perfect "X."
With a final thud, Electivire collapsed.
[Electivire LV40 defeated, Greninja gained 3524 experience points.]
Meanwhile, the battle between Gabite and Camerupt was coming to an end.
Head-to-head, Gabite and Camerupt exchanged blows at close range. Gabite didn't bother with defense, and Camerupt lacked any defensive moves.
Although Camerupt was higher-level and stronger, Gabite had the constant support of Gardevoir's Life Dew, keeping it healed and agile. Gabite's speed was far superior to Camerupt's.
In less than two minutes, Camerupt, covered in Dragon Claw scars, collapsed.
[Defeated Camerupt LV40, Gabite gained 3214 experience points.]
From afar, Tabitha's team looked on, numb with disbelief. Their Pokémon were clearly stronger, so how could they be defeated so easily after Houndoom fell?
"You're lucky!" Tabitha called out, recalling Camerupt into its Poké Ball. "I didn't bring any more Pokémon this time, so I'll let you off." He turned and sprinted toward Mt. Chimney.
"Finally, we won." Chris exhaled in relief. Tabitha had put a lot of pressure on him.
That Houndoom was overwhelming!
As for Electivire, despite its powerful moves, its Motor Drive Ability had been its downfall, quickly exploited by Gabite's Ground-type advantage and Greninja's Role Play.
Camerupt could have defeated Gabite one-on-one, but with Gardevoir assisting and Greninja ready to strike at any moment, the three-on-one situation made victory impossible.
[BOSS battle victory! Extra reward: Fire Stone]
Chris looked up.
A glowing Fire Stone descended from the sky, landing directly in his hands.
A Fire Stone, a valuable evolution item for certain Pokémon.
Chris had no formal training in identifying Pokémon items, but just by its appearance, it was clear that this Fire Stone was of high quality—likely a treasure-level item.
Its value could easily be in the millions!
Pocketing the Fire Stone, Chris scanned the area, searching for Maxie's location.
The battle had taken up a lot of time, and there were only thirty-three minutes left in the one-hour countdown. Chris needed to find and defeat Maxie within the next half hour.
He noticed the defeated Team Magma grunts running towards the top of Mt. Chimney, followed closely by Team Aqua members. Without wasting any time, Chris sprinted toward the mountain's peak.
After running for over ten minutes, Chris finally spotted Maxie at the summit of Mt. Chimney.
Maxie was a thin, middle-aged man in a red and black trench coat with the Team Magma logo on his chest. His face was slightly worn, and he wore black-rimmed glasses. His eyes, cold and indifferent, gave the impression that human life meant little to him.
Maxie was operating a strange device, but when he sensed Chris's approach, his icy gaze shifted toward him.
"You're the Trainer who beat Tabitha?"
"In the past, I might have recruited you. But today is not the right time."
"See you in the next life."
He tossed a Poké Ball.
It opened in mid-air, and a massive Camerupt stomped onto the battlefield, its level glowing above its head.
LV50.
A Level 50 Camerupt!
Chris's heart sank. No wonder the mission had recommended returning only after reaching level 45.
"Camerupt, Earthquake!" Maxie commanded.
Camerupt raised its heavy front legs and slammed them into the ground.
"Boom!!"
The ground trembled violently as the volcano roared to life!
Chris lay on the sofa, gasping for breath.
Displayed on the handheld screen was a message:
[Dungeon challenge failed, enter cooldown: 30 days]
Facing Camerupt, level 50, there wasn't even a chance to fight. Camerupt's Earthquake caused a small-scale volcanic eruption. Gardevoir didn't manage to use Teleport to escape and was hit by the magma instantly.
Though Chris felt no physical pain, the terror of magma erupting in his face left him drenched in cold sweat.
"The intensity of this real-life simulation really helps me build courage and improve my ability to handle tough environments," Chris thought, trying to look at the situation from a positive angle. After all, the world isn't always safe, and real-life training for unpredictable wild battles could prove beneficial.
Next time he faced Maxie, he needed to at least survive a magma onslaught.
In reality, if a level 50 Pokémon went on a rampage in a city, it would turn entire kilometers into ruins. Especially with Pokémon like Camerupt, who frequently use moves like Eruption and Earthquake, the destruction would increase tenfold.
"Level up, level up!" Chris sat up, ready to control his character and train nearby. He realized his weakness—if only his Greninja was level 50, a Water Shuriken would finish Camerupt in seconds. There'd be no need to worry about Earthquakes or lava.
"Huh?" Chris suddenly noticed that the path from Mt. Chimney to Jagged Pass wasn't blocked due to the battle between Team Magma and Team Aqua. This meant he could now travel directly to Lavaridge Town!
Normally, this area would be blocked until after the Mt. Chimney storyline.
Without hesitation, Chris descended into Jagged Pass.
Jagged Pass, a special area between Lavaridge Town and Mt. Chimney, was covered in volcanic ash, and several Trainers were battling there. However, the Pokémon found here were quite different from those on Route 113.
The Pokémon commonly found on Route 113 include: Machop, Numel, Spoink, Mankey, Ponyta, and Tyrogue.
"Ponyta?" Chris thought for a moment, debating whether to catch one as a land mount.
Rapidash would make for a cool ride!
The main appeal, though, was that the flames on Ponyta wouldn't burn its rider. The last thing Chris wanted was for his pants to catch fire while riding.
After checking his Pokédex, he confirmed that Ponyta and Rapidash's flames don't harm those they trust. They didn't even have heat, so there was no danger of feeling like he was standing inside an oven while riding.
Unfortunately, the Ponyta on Jagged Pass were only around levels 20-23, and Chris knew evolving it into Rapidash would require training it to level 40. He quickly lost interest in that plan.
Still, he caught a Ponyta and stored it in the PC as backup.
"Professor Birch, you're welcome! I'm sending you another rare Pokémon for research."
Professor Birch: "I'm grateful, but can you please take back the 1,400 Aron you sent first?"
Originally, Chris only wanted to breed a shiny Aron, but when he finally got one, he had fourteen hundred extra. They were all stored in the PC for now, while his attention shifted to other projects.
Aron, which eventually evolves into the mighty Aggron, wasn't any less valuable than starter Pokémon on the market.
After battling all the trainers along the way and collecting the TMs for Flame Charge and Rock Polish, Chris finally made it through Jagged Pass and arrived at Lavaridge Town.
He headed straight to the Pokémon Center, where Nurse Joy healed his Pokémon. Meanwhile, he stopped by the shop next door to sell off unwanted items he had picked up along his journey.
Instead of heading directly to the Lavaridge Gym, Chris wandered over to the hot spring's entrance, where an old man handed him a Pokémon egg.
In Chris's memory, this egg would likely hatch into a Wynaut, which eventually evolves into Wobbuffet. While Wobbuffet isn't particularly strong in battle, it's a rare Pokémon, and Chris was pleased to add it to his collection.
As he stood outside the hot spring shop, a notification popped up:
[Do you want to enter Lavaridge Hot Spring?]
"Huh?" Chris raised his eyebrows and decided to give it a try, choosing 'yes.'
The next second, Chris found himself standing naked in front of the hot spring.
"Whoa! Is this for real?" Chris's eyes widened in surprise.
He tentatively dipped his toes into the water, which was pleasantly warm.
"It really is a hot spring!" Chris beamed, eagerly sinking into the water.
As the warmth enveloped him from all sides, Chris felt a wave of comfort wash over him.
"Ahh, this feels amazing~~," Chris sighed contentedly. "I could get used to this at home too~~."
After about ten minutes of pure relaxation, Chris wondered if his Pokémon could also enjoy the hot spring. Maybe it would even help them recover from their battles. Nearby, he noticed a computer sitting by the pool.
Hurrying over, Chris accessed the system and sent all of his Pokémon into the hot spring one by one.
Each Pokémon began to enjoy the soothing waters.
Hariyama, the largest of the group, sat in the hot spring, the water level rising rapidly as it leaned back with a towel on its head. All the exhaustion from its rigorous training seemed to melt away.
Not far off, Greninja sat quietly with its eyes closed, letting the warmth ease the strain of the previous battle, where it had expended the most energy.
Combusken, ever active, took the opportunity to teach its younger brother Gabite how to swim in the hot spring.
The one having the hardest time was Aron. Being so heavy, it immediately sank to the bottom upon entering the hot spring. Luckily, Hariyama quickly noticed and helped Aron move to a more stable spot. Meanwhile, Aron, not particularly fond of the water, soon climbed out and lay down on the shore, taking a nap. As long as Aron could sense the presence of its companions, it considered any place a good spot for rest.
Unfortunately, hot springs weren't exactly a great fit for Rock-type Pokémon!
As for Gardevoir, she was gently rubbing Chris's back, adding to the relaxing experience.
"I'll bring everyone here for a soak whenever we've had a tough day," Chris suggested.
"Hari!"
"Gabai!"
"Gardevoir~"
All of Chris's Pokémon agreed enthusiastically, happy with the idea.
Chris, determined to challenge the Lavaridge Gym, had underestimated the strength of its leader, Yasha, and her two Pokémon.
*Torkoal Lv. 36*
*Arcanine Lv. 39*
Chris had no idea about the exact levels of Yasha's team and ended up losing the battle.
It was hard to believe—after all, Chris had just defeated Tabitha's three level 40 Pokémon. How could he lose to Yasha's team when neither of her Pokémon had even reached level 40?
The answer lay in Yasha's clever strategy. She led with Torkoal, activating its Drought Ability, which created Sunny Day. This made Fire-type moves 50% stronger and cut Water-type moves' power in half.
The advantage Chris had hoped for with type matchups was neutralized. Without weather moves like Sandstorm or Rain Dance, Chris could only watch as Torkoal maintained control of the battle.
To make matters worse, Yasha's Torkoal was likely holding a Heat Rock, extending the duration of Sunny Day, allowing her to dominate the fight. From start to finish, Torkoal's Lava Plume—a powerful area-of-effect attack—was relentless and unavoidable.
Chris managed to push through with Greninja, but Yasha's Arcanine came in next, using Intimidate to lower his Pokémon's attack. Starting with Extreme Speed, Arcanine quickly knocked out the already weakened Greninja. Then, using the Fairy-type move Play Rough, it swiftly took down Chris's Gabite, leaving him unsure how to fight back.
If Chris wanted to win a rematch, he knew he needed to focus on two key areas.
First, his team's level. Greninja had to be at least level 40 to stand a chance. Based on his experience, Chris figured Yasha's Trump Card would be at least level 42. If he wanted a real shot, he needed to be prepared for levels as high as 44 or 45.
Second, he needed to counter Yasha's weather strategy. Without a move like Rain Dance or Sandstorm, Torkoal and Arcanine would continue to feel like they were several levels stronger than they actually were.
It was clear: if Chris didn't prepare properly, Yasha's Torkoal and Arcanine would continue to perform like powerhouses.
Determined to level up, Chris headed to Route 113, near the Fallarbor Gym, for some crowd-battle training using Sweet Scent.
It wasn't about catching new Pokémon; the wild Pokémon on Jagged Pass weren't suitable for training. They were too difficult to defeat in one move, and missing a second attack meant risking Gabite or Gardevoir being knocked out.
Luckily, Gardevoir had recently mastered Dazzling Gleam, a perfect move for handling groups of opponents. Still, Meteor Falls was swarming with Zubat and Golbat, making it less efficient for leveling.
After considering his options, Chris decided that Route 113 was the best place to train. The wild Pokémon there, like the Normal-type Spinda and Ground-type Sandshrew, were easy to handle. Skarmory appeared rarely, and in those cases, Chris would simply flee from battle.
With the Exp. Share equipped, Greninja was gaining levels steadily, while Gabite and Gardevoir took turns leading the charge.
Chris knew he had to be patient and retreat for a while, focusing on training before returning to Lavaridge for another challenge.
Time passed quickly. When you're doing something you enjoy—like playing a game on the weekend—it's easy for the hours to slip away. Chris felt the same way while training, even though he wasn't battling all the time. In school, time also flew by, whether he was attending classes or reading books.
September had come and gone, and now October arrived, marking the shift from summer to autumn. The temperature fluctuated at the beginning of the month, but soon enough, it was time to start wearing more layers.
During the October vacation, Chris planned to explore a D-level dangerous area called the "Forest of Plenty" with the senior sisters from the Berry Club. Their main goal was to find the rare Enigma Berry, but the seniors weren't too serious about the search, treating the trip more as a chance to relax and have fun.
The vacation was seven days long. On the first day, they would prepare their luggage. The second day was set for traveling to Forest City, the closest city to the Forest of Plenty. They'd spend the third day exploring Forest City before entering the forest on the fourth and fifth days. Finally, they'd return to school on the sixth day.
Chris, however, had little interest in eating and shopping with the seniors, so he decided to join them directly on the fourth day. He bought an early ticket to Forest City and planned to meet up with them right before entering the forest.
As for the first three days, Chris decided to go home and take care of something important—catching the elusive Shiny Onix! He had been worried that if he waited too long, it might become harder to track down.
On the first day, Chris set off.
*On the train.*
"Toge~pi~pi! (≧▽≦)"
"So~fun! No! ㄟ(≧◇≦)"
Togepi and its new friend, Wynaut, sat on the small table in front of Chris, both playing online games on their devices. They were completely immersed, their little cries of joy filling the train car.
Delibird had also tagged along, eager to visit Redwood City. It still had some unfinished business—collecting its salary from the owner of Patato Brisket Rice, a local restaurant. It was so determined that it even requested braised chicken from the canteen in advance! Although Chris couldn't quite understand how Delibird managed to ask its boss for leave, he didn't question it.
Since Chris and Delibird weren't staying at home, Togepi refused to be left behind and came along as well. Wynaut had recently hatched from an egg Chris received from the hot spring elder, making its appearance just a day after Chris's last leveling session.
*Why hadn't Chris sent Wynaut to the storage box?*
Because it was special:
*[Wynaut (Psychic)]*
*[Level: 3]*
*[Ability: Shadow Tag (Prevents non-Ghost-type Pokémon without Shadow Tag from switching or fleeing.)]*
*[Individual values: HP (31), Attack (31), Special Attack (31), Defense (31), Special Defense (31), Speed (31)]*
*[Moves: Charm, Encore, Counter, Mirror Coat, Safeguard, Amnesia, Destiny Bond]*
*[Held item: None]*
This Wynaut was a perfect 6V Pokémon, with top stats and a deadly combination of moves that made it a force to be reckoned with. Chris couldn't bear to leave it in storage. With its move set, Wynaut had become a master of stalling and countering:
- "Counter" for reflecting physical damage.
- "Mirror Coat" for reflecting special damage.
- "Safeguard" to block status conditions.
- "Encore" to trap opponents into using the same move repeatedly.
- Its *Shadow Tag* Ability prevented opponents from fleeing.
- And if things got dire, "Destiny Bond" could ensure that even if Wynaut fainted, it would take its opponent down with it.
Chris could already see the future battles—opponents would be afraid to attack, unable to escape, and if they dared to defeat Wynaut , it would at least take one of them down with it. It was a brilliant strategy, if not a bit frustrating for his rivals.
For Chris, though, Wynaut was the ultimate defensive wall, and he was excited to start training it further. His plan? To get the Enigma Berry during their trip and use it to train Wynaut, then equip it with Leftovers for even more sustainability. He was eager to recreate the legendary "God of Berries" strategy!
After all, Team Rocket's Wobbuffet once reflected Giratina's Shadow Ball. The potential was limitless!
"You two, keep your voices down, don't disturb others!" Chris reminded Togepi and the little Wynaut.
"Just murmur…"
"So~that~no!"
The two Pokémon immediately lowered their voices, whispering quietly but not as loudly as before.
Chris was curious how the Pokémon could communicate so smoothly, despite their different languages.
However, while he couldn't hear Togepi and the little Wynaut 's chatter clearly, others glanced at Chris with kindness. They didn't think the two little Pokémon were arguing—instead, they felt Chris, as the trainer, was being overly strict.
Everyone seemed to agree that the Pokémon's cuteness was undeniable.
Chris wiped his forehead silently. Was cuteness really justice?
Opposite Chris sat Delibird, looking around curiously. Its size had reached the point where it needed a child's train ticket, so Chris had bought one for it since it couldn't fit inside a Poké Ball.
Over an hour later, after arriving at Redwood City train station, Delibird took Togepi to visit the owner of the Beef Brisket Rice Restaurant to catch up.
Chris considered going with them, but since it was on their way, he decided against it.
Delibird, however, refused Chris's offer and proudly left with Togepi.
"Togepi~~~"
The two friends said their goodbyes.
On Chris's side, both Pokémon were of the same age—well, there was also a Smeargle, but Smeargle was too busy painting to play with Wynaut .
Though they hadn't known each other long, Togepi and Wynaut had already formed a close bond through friendly battles.
After watching Delibird leave, Chris still worried about them getting lost on the way to the restaurant, especially since there had been a previous incident of them getting lost between Redwood City and Dragon University.
Thankfully, Chris had bought Togepi a Pokémon-themed watch with GPS tracking. If they got lost, Chris could always find them using his phone's "adult mode."
"Let's go home too," Chris said, bending down to scoop up little Wynaut.
Wynaut had clearly spent too much time with Togepi and was now in a playful mood, preferring not to stay in the Poké Ball.
Chris enjoyed holding Wynaut now, knowing that once it evolved, it would be too big to carry.
After leaving the station, Chris arrived at the city gate of Redwood City, released Ponyta, and rode it home.
Riding Pokémon wasn't allowed within the city limits, but out here, it was fine.
Chris had learned some horseback riding skills in a previous life, thanks to a well-connected client, and had joined a "Riding Club" at Dragon University. The club, made up of students who loved Pokémon racing, held daily competitions where Trainers raced their Pokémon.
One of the senior members had a Ponyta, so Chris had asked for tips on riding. After a few days of practice, and with a saddle, he was able to ride comfortably.
Ember sparked under Ponyta's hooves as they raced along the dirt road outside the city.
Though Chris felt like he was rampaging at high speed, in reality, they hadn't even exceeded 60 miles per hour.
Still, the joy of riding a Pokémon couldn't compare to driving a car.
After a two-hour journey filled with stops and starts, Chris finally returned to his hometown, Yangping Village.
As they passed the river at the village entrance, three Psyducks waddled in a line, quacking as they walked along the riverbank.
Chris saw the Psyducks, and the Psyducks saw Chris.
"Ponyta, Quick Attack!"
Ponyta's speed surged.
The eyes of the three Psyducks widened in surprise, and they jumped into the river one by one, narrowly avoiding Ponyta's charge.
"Psy psy!!!" The three Psyducks squawked indignantly, condemning Chris's reckless behavior.
Chris responded only with hearty laughter. He had wanted to do that for a long time.
When he arrived home, he greeted his parents and dropped his bag inside the house. Without wasting any time, he headed straight to the abandoned mine in the middle of Stoneclaw Mountain.
It was as deserted as ever, with no sign of anyone having been there.
He ventured into the mine.
"Flash!" Chris snapped his fingers, and Gardevoir created a glowing orb of light, illuminating the dark tunnel ahead.
They continued deeper until they reached the spot where Chris had last encountered the Shiny Onix.
Using the same approach as before, Chris opened his handheld device and summoned two Onix to test the area and see if the target was still there.
Ten minutes passed.
*[Your Pokémon Onix is defeated by Onix.]*
*[Your Pokémon Onix is defeated by Onix.]*
"Still here!" Chris felt a bit relieved and pulled out a Poké Ball. "You're up, Gabite!"
"Graaah!" Gabite let out a powerful roar as it emerged. Without hesitation, it dove headfirst into the ground, its body slicing through the earth like water, quickly disappearing from Chris's view.
For Gabite, known as the "Earth Dragon," this underground terrain was like a natural playground.
Chris kept a close eye on Gabite's status using the tracking tablet in his hand, which showed Gabite's movements in real-time.
It began its exploration, moving diagonally forward.
Seven minutes later, Gabite had burrowed over 500 meters underground. Its HP dipped slightly, but it wasn't a significant drop.
According to the tracking data, Gabite had stopped descending and was now moving laterally at a rapid pace.
The battle must have begun!
Chris felt confident in Gabite's abilities. As his starter Pokémon, Gabite had reached level 40 through consistent training. Combined with the nutritious Pokéblocks made from various berries, Gabite was in top form. Unless it faced an opponent at Garchomp's level, Chris was sure it could handle the Shiny Onix.
The dot on the tracker representing Gabite moved erratically, indicating that the battle was intense.
Three minutes later, Gabite's signal began moving upward, but in the opposite direction from Chris.
If Gabite had already defeated or lost to the Shiny Onix, it would either be fleeing or returning to report.
This could only mean one thing: Gabite had won, but not completely. The Shiny Onix must have realized it was losing and was now trying to escape, with Gabite in pursuit.
"Let's go! We're chasing after them!" Chris said, determination in his voice, as he hurried forward.
Coming out of the mine, Chris released his spare Skarmory.
He climbed onto Skarmory's back, but because Skarmory had not yet mastered the move "Fly," it couldn't guarantee Chris's safety while riding. Awkwardly holding on, Chris allowed Skarmory to guide him north. This was why Chris didn't enjoy using Flying Pokémon much these days.
Moves like Fly, Surf, and Dive come naturally to some Pokémon, but mastering these moves ensures a Trainer's safety.
For example, a Pokémon with Fly can help the Trainer resist the wind, allowing them to stay balanced in flight rather than just speeding up on their own.
Similarly, Pokémon with Surf can navigate through water more effectively.
As for Dive, once mastered, a Pokémon can dive deeper into the sea. It can create a bubble that drains water, resists water pressure, and converts oxygen from the water to supply the Trainer inside the bubble.
A Pokémon with Dive can go kilometers deep with its Trainer without needing any special equipment.
"Slow down, slow down," Chris whispered to Skarmory.
As it decelerated, Chris adjusted his position slightly and pulled out his tablet. Gabite was still on the move, having already left Stoneclaw Mountains. To the north was a small town called Tangli.
Chris calculated that Gabite should pass directly beneath the town and enter the Rocky Mountains, a Class E danger zone.
"Let's head to the Rocky Mountains and wait!" Chris put away the tablet and patted Skarmory.
With a flap of its metallic wings, Skarmory soared through the sky with Chris. Though Skarmory's level was under 20, as a Pokémon, it could carry weight well beyond its own—up to 130 pounds—with ease. Flying was no problem.
In just ten minutes, Chris reached the Rocky Mountains and began to descend. Pokémon in dangerous areas are territorial, and many, like Fearow, have aggressive personalities. Chris didn't want to waste time in unnecessary battles.
Tracking Gabite's location in advance, Chris and Skarmory landed in a small basin at the convergence of several mountains within the Rocky range.
Nearby, there was a deep, bottomless cave.
"This cave…" Chris frowned. He suspected it might have been left by a Shiny Onix.
Suddenly, a huge boulder was flung out of the cave with a thunderous crash.
The next moment, a crystalline head emerged!
It was the Shiny Onix, pushing the giant rock out of the cave.
"Greninja, Water Shuriken!" Chris immediately threw a Poké Ball.
Greninja leapt out, forming two Water Shurikens in mid-air and hurling them at the Shiny Onix.
"Ding ding ding ding..."
The Water Shurikens collided against Shiny Onix with a sharp clanging sound, but they seemed ineffective.
Instead, the impact of Shiny Onix's massive body hitting the ground knocked Greninja back.
"A Water Shuriken with quadruple effectiveness didn't hurt it?" Chris raised an eyebrow, wondering if this Shiny Onix had a resistance to water moves, similar to the Crystal Onix in the anime.
However, this Shiny Onix's crystallization wasn't ordinary crystal—it looked more like diamond!
Logically, a Diamond Onix should have an incredibly high physical defense.
Could it be that this Diamond Onix excelled in both physical and special defense?
That would be amazing!
Gabite arrived moments later, leaping out of the cave with its Dragon Claws raised. It struck Shiny Onix, and cracks began to appear on its diamond-like body.
Shiny Onix was incapacitated on the spot, and from the scars on its body, it was clear Gabite had beaten it badly before it arrived here.
But... the diamond's defensive power? That's too weak!
Chris couldn't believe his eyes.
He began to question whether Onix's crystallized minerals were really diamonds.
In this world, all Rock-type Pokémon's bodies are composed of minerals, and when a Shiny Pokémon appears, it usually means their body transforms from regular rock into a different kind of mineral.
If Onix's body had indeed changed into another ore, it should possess the properties of that mineral.
The hardness of diamonds is well-known. But if this Shiny Onix wasn't made of diamond, then what kind of mineral could its body be?
Chris decided to take a sample of the ore for testing later.
He tossed a specially prepared Heavy Ball.
Without much resistance, Onix was captured. Chris immediately checked its stats on his handheld device.
*[Onix (Rock, Ground) (Shiny)]*
*[Level: 40]*
*[Ability: Shattered Armor (When hit by a physical move, defense is reduced by 1 level, but speed increases by 2 levels) / Waterproof (Immune to Water-type moves)]*
*[Individual Values: HP (31), Attack (31), Special Attack (25), Defense (31), Special Defense (31), Speed (27)]*
*[Moves: Rock Throw, Tackle, Harden, Bind, Smack Down, Rock Polish, Dragon Breath, Curse, Rock Slide, Screech, Sand Tomb, Stealth Rock, Slam, Iron Defense, Sandstorm]*
*[Held Item: None]*
"Dual abilities?"
Chris was taken aback as he examined the stats.
The presence of two abilities was unheard of.
In all his experience, Chris had never encountered any Pokémon with dual abilities at the same time!
Moreover, the Waterproof ability didn't exist in any known Pokémon.
But it seemed very similar to the Crystal Onix seen in the anime.
The second ability, Shattered Armor, now explained why the diamond-like defense was so fragile, yet Onix's speed was so fast that Gabite struggled to keep up.
Gabite's repeated strikes must have continuously activated Onix's Shattered Armor ability. Over time, the hardness of its diamond body likely weakened to the point where it was as fragile as paper.
As for the upsides and downsides of this ability, Chris didn't worry much. Shattered Armor was a hidden ability. When Onix evolves into Steelix, its ability would change into "Force."
At that point, Steelix's defense might still lower when hit, but the trade-off could be worth it.
However, now that Onix already had dual abilities, Chris wondered if the Shattered Armor ability would become mandatory after its evolution into Steelix.
Chris was ready to let Onix evolve into Steelix. At level 40, it was the perfect time for the evolution to take place.
The key item for this evolution was the "Metal Coat," a booster for steel-type moves. Chris had decided to give Onix a treasure-grade Metal Coat as its evolution item.
However, before leaving, there was one more task to complete. Chris used Gardevoir's Teleport to return the protagonist in his handheld game to the Pokémon Center, healing the big-rock snake.
After the treatment, Chris released his Shiny Onix in the real world. Onix's Shiny form gleamed like crystallized diamond, making Chris wonder if the Pokémon had once lived in an area rich with diamonds.
Could it be Stoneclaw Mountains? Or maybe there were diamond veins in the Rocky Mountains?
Chris speculated, thinking about how diamonds start as rough stones before being polished into gems. If he could find a diamond mine, he could find plenty of rough stones.
So, Chris decided to let Onix guide him back to its former home. He brought an oxygen tank along, storing it in his secret base in case of any emergency.
With Onix and Gabite—both at level 40—on either side of him, Chris didn't worry about getting trapped underground. Still, to be cautious, he sent out Gardevoir. At level 38, Gardevoir could Teleport up to 100 meters, and its Confusion would be powerful enough to hold off a rockslide if necessary.
Indeed, Chris knew that his Pokémon's strength was his greatest asset in this adventure.
Onix burrowed into the cave it had emerged from earlier, leading the way downward at an angle. Chris followed, sitting on Gabite's back, while Gardevoir floated alongside, using Confusion to carry a ball of light from Flash to illuminate the path.
They were headed underground to search for diamonds!
What kind of adventure was this? Chris marveled. If not for living in a world where Pokémon existed, he would never have believed his life could unfold in this way.
Who knows? Maybe one day he'd even explore space!
Excitement bubbled up in him as Onix moved swiftly. Chris noticed that many sections of the tunnel they traveled already existed and were much larger than Onix itself.
It wasn't a path Onix had carved out.
But then, which Pokémon had created it?
After all, the Onix he'd just caught was 30 meters long, with a head 3 meters wide. And yet, the tunnel was wide enough to accommodate three Onix at the same time!
Chris thought about it for a while. No known Pokémon seemed to match the size of the tunnels.
"Could it be Steelix?" he wondered.
But he quickly dismissed the thought. Steelix was naturally larger than Onix, but being several times larger? That seemed unlikely.
"Totem Steelix?" he pondered, but even that didn't feel right. Could there be an Onix's mother deeper underground? The idea made Chris uneasy, but he reminded himself that Onix typically live alone. After breeding, young Onix venture out on their own. Their large size and formidable defense give them a high chance of survival—unless they encounter predators like Aggron or Metagross.
With an uneasy feeling, Chris pressed on. After descending 500 meters, he entered a massive, open area.
The ball of light from Gardevoir's Flash barely pierced the darkness, its glow spreading out in all directions but failing to reach the walls.
"Gardevoir, lift the ball of light higher and increase its brightness," Chris instructed.
Gardevoir raised its hand, and the ball of light floated higher, growing brighter as it ascended. In the vast darkness, it shone like a star, casting a faint light across the expanse.
As the light revealed more of the area, Chris's eyes widened in shock.
Before him lay a massive, open expanse—so large that the light only illuminated a fraction of it. What the light revealed, however, was thousands of Onix.
No, not just Onix—*dead* Onix.
Huge, stone-serpent bodies were lined up in neat rows, their giant heads resembling train cars arranged in a station. It was unmistakable—these were deceased Onix.
"How did so many Onix die here?" Chris murmured. He didn't believe they had been killed by the Shiny Onix he had recently captured. After all, the Onix he had battled earlier was merely defeated, not killed. Onix were generally good-natured creatures. They rarely fought to the death, even in the wild. Most of their conflicts were territorial, with battles ending in the expulsion of intruders, not death.
Moreover, many of the Onix in this cavern were larger, rounder, and darker than Shiny Onix. It was said that as Onix aged, their bodies became more rounded, their stone-like skin harder, and their color darker.
"Roar..." Shiny Onix let out a low, soft cry, urging Chris onward. It continued moving, though much more slowly now.
Chris jumped off Gabite's back and followed Onix on foot, studying the scene. Many of the Onix showed no signs of injury, and their arrangement was orderly, like trains lined up on tracks. It didn't seem like they had been killed in battle.
"These Onix weren't killed. It's almost like they were placed here after they died, or they came here to die," Chris speculated. The second possibility seemed more likely.
As Chris continued forward, the light from Gardevoir's Flash advanced with him, gradually revealing more of the cavern.
And then, something else appeared.
Scattered among the Onix were Steelix—dead as well. Not a single one had survived.
The deeper you go, the fewer Onix you see, and the more frequently Steelix appear.
And the Steelix seem to be getting progressively larger.
Eventually, I came across a body of water... a small pool.
It was a pond, about three meters in diameter, filled with a thick, khaki-colored liquid—almost the consistency of coffee...?
Chris doubted this was water from the underground river.
Onix lowered its head and began drinking the "coffee."
Suddenly, a Poké Ball on Chris's waist opened, and Aron jumped out eagerly, his short limbs moving quickly as he rushed over to join Onix, drinking the mysterious liquid.
Chris's mind raced with confusion. What just happened?
Was Aron just thirsty too?
It couldn't be that simple. Aron normally disliked the "Greninja" bath water back at home and always preferred cold water, just like Chris. How could he be drinking this dirty liquid here?
Aron and Onix... What they had in common was their Rock type and strong defenses. If Onix evolved into Steelix, they would both share the Steel type as well.
Suddenly, a bright white light interrupted Chris's thoughts—it was coming from Aron.
Chris recognized it immediately—it was the light of evolution.
"Evolution just from drinking some water?" Chris recalled that Aron's level wasn't high, only 30. He had been using an Exp. Share to train it, and it was still two levels away from evolving into Lairon.
Could Aron have a strong will to get stronger, like Greninja? Or was it just raw talent?
Moments later, the light faded, and Aron had evolved into Lairon.
*[Lairon (Steel, Rock)](Shiny)*
*[Level: 32]*
*[Ability: Heavy Metal (doubles body weight)]*
*[Individual Values: HP (31), Attack (31), Special Attack (27), Defense (31), Special Defense (31), Speed (26)]*
*[Moves: Tackle, Harden, Metal Claw, Rock Tomb, Roar, Headbutt, Protect, Rock Slide, Iron Head]*
*[Held Item: Hard Stone]*
The stats were normal, but the level wasn't! When did Lairon jump from level 30 to level 32?
Chris glanced at the khaki liquid in the pond.
"Could it have something to do with this?" he wondered, rubbing his chin.
After evolving, Lairon continued drinking the liquid. Soon, Chris noticed from the stats screen that its level had increased again—now to 33.
It really was the liquid!
"It can raise a Pokémon's level... Is this like some kind of Rare Candy effect?" Chris was in disbelief.
But now the mystery of how Onix reached level 40 without facing strong opponents made sense. It had been leveling up by drinking this liquid.
After hitting level 33, Lairon stopped drinking, curled its tail, and let out a soft growl in Chris's direction.
"Lairon~~ (turn off the lights, thank you)"
It had started Rest.
"Now's really not the time for a nap..." Chris tried to wake Lairon, but it ignored him. On the other side, Onix had also laid down and joined Lairon in Rest.
Their Rest wasn't like the kind you see in Contest battles where it's a negative condition; it was more like they had drained all their stamina and needed to recover through genuine Rest.
"Drinking this liquid increases their level, but it also seems to drain their physical strength, requiring them to Rest afterward?" Chris speculated.
He wasn't sure if his guess was entirely accurate, but one thing was clear: this strange khaki liquid was valuable!
Chris waited for a while, but as dinner approached, neither Lairon nor Onix woke up.
Since he didn't know how long they would sleep, Chris decided to return them to their Poké Balls and had Gabite fly him back to the surface.
The next day, when Chris returned, Lairon and Onix were still sound asleep in their Poké Balls. Even after visiting the Pokémon Center and having Nurse Joy check on them, they remained in Rest. Still, as long as they were okay, Chris wasn't too worried. Today's focus wasn't on them anyway.
Chris had come prepared this time—with a water pump in hand.
No way he was leaving behind this "magic sugar water" for Rock-type Pokémon! He was going to take every last drop.
He had set up hundreds of one-meter-high plastic buckets in his secret base beforehand. After getting back to the surface, he asked Gardevoir to open the entrance to the base.
Chris began pumping all the khaki liquid into the plastic buckets, ensuring none of it was wasted. Greninja helped by managing the pump, using its water abilities to keep everything in order, making sure not a single drop spilled.
With Gabite and Gardevoir by his side, Chris ventured off to explore the area further.
He wanted to figure out just how large this Onix graveyard was and how many Onix and Steelix had passed away here.
As they walked, Chris's attention was caught by a shiny stone on the ground.
Reaching down, he picked it up—it was a Hard Stone. Chris instantly knew this was something valuable.
His handheld device confirmed it:
*Hard Stone: Increases the power of Rock-type moves by 28% when held.*
"Nice! This one's high quality!" Chris said, pocketing the stone.
"The number of Onix and Steelix that died here must be in the thousands—there's going to be no shortage of valuable items like Hard Stones!" Chris's eyes sparkled at the thought. He then pulled out another device from his handheld—the treasure detector, also known as Treasure Detector 2.2.
"Does this thing actually work in real life?" Its game function was to find hidden treasures, but in reality, Chris wasn't sure what it could detect. Maybe it could find undiscovered Trainer treasures.
The device, shaped like two metal rods, didn't look too impressive. However, as soon as Chris activated it, both rods locked onto a specific direction at the same time.
"No way, it actually works?" Chris's eyes lit up in excitement. He quickly motioned for Gabite and Gardevoir to follow as he raced in the direction the Treasure Machine had indicated.
After walking about 30 meters, Chris stopped in front of the massive skull of a Steelix. Embedded in the skull was a translucent marble, its surface crisscrossed by a gray and blue swirl.
"This… This is a Mega Evolution Stone!"