Returning to the excavation site, Ash saw many people still tirelessly digging the ground with pickaxes. He found it difficult to understand their thoughts. If fossils were so easily found, they would have already been discovered by others.
Moreover, instead of relying on luck, it would be better to put in effort elsewhere. However, he acknowledged that this could also be considered a form of hard work.
Passing through the excavation site, Ash and his companions reached the periphery of the central area, where they could see Kanto Alliance personnel.
The central area resembled a cave, and six Alliance members guarded its entrance. According to the camp manager, these six were only part of the security team responsible for this shift.
Before Ash and his friends could reach the cave entrance, an Alliance member stopped them and asked for their trainer certificates. Ash presented his Pokédex, and Misty and Brock did the same. Their trainer levels were all at the Poké Ball level.
After confirming their credentials, the Alliance staff member stepped aside, allowing them to pass, but reminded them of the dangers inside and advised against venturing too deep.
They also mentioned the presence of an Aerodactyl, a powerful Pokémon at the Gym level, and urged the group to flee if they encountered it.
The Alliance staff explained that Aerodactyl was a ferocious Pokémon that dominated the skies in ancient times. Even in the cave environment, its movements couldn't be completely restricted.
According to their investigation, this Aerodactyl was likely a descendant of one that lived in the cave in ancient times. The cave had been sealed off from the outside world due to crustal shifts, and its existence remained unknown until the archaeological team discovered it.
Ash, Misty, and Brock acknowledged the warning and entered the cave. Due to the presence of Pokémon inside, the Alliance hadn't developed the cave much.
The only light source came from electric lights near the entrance, and the deeper areas were shrouded in darkness. To explore further, they would need to rely on their own lighting tools. Brock took out a flashlight to illuminate the path ahead.
After walking for about 100 meters, they reached a corner. Although they couldn't see what was beyond it, they could hear sounds of a struggle, suggesting a battle between people and Pokémon.
Turning the corner, they entered a wide space where several Trainers were present. Two of them were battling a Graveler, while the others observed from the sidelines.
The arrival of Ash, Misty, and Brock caught the attention of the non-battling Trainers, but they only glanced at them briefly before dismissing them. New trainers arrived and left every day, so there was no need for much interaction.
Brock observed the surroundings and noted that the Pokémon here weren't as ferocious as they used to be. They kept their distance from humans and didn't attack unless provoked. Misty suggested exploring further, hoping to encounter fossil Pokémon.
Ash, however, decided against it. He had expected more trainers to be present but realized the danger level was higher than anticipated. Venturing deeper into the unknown cave with limited escape routes was too risky, especially with Misty and Brock's safety to consider.
Misty, disappointed but understanding, agreed to explore the area they were in, hoping to find fossil Pokémon like Omanyte and Kabuto, which were part Rock and part Water type.
The three of them cautiously explored the area. At one point, they got too close to some Pokémon, leading to a brief attack. However, no serious incidents occurred.
After an hour of searching, they found nothing but Graveler, Sandslash, Zubat, Golbat, and Diglett families. No fossil Pokémon were in sight. Misty expressed her disappointment, while Ash and Brock, though also disappointed, understood that finding fossil Pokémon wasn't supposed to be easy.
As it was getting late, Brock suggested leaving. They had been exploring for an hour, and it was almost 5:00 PM. They needed to prepare dinner after exiting the cave.
As they were about to leave, they passed the space where they had seen the trainers battling earlier.
The trainers were gone, and the cave was eerily quiet. Pikachu, who had been resting on Ash's head, suddenly perked up, sensing something unusual. Ash and Brock also felt that something was amiss; the cave was too quiet. Even Misty, though a bit slower to catch on, noticed the unusual silence.
Ash observed a Graveler hiding behind a rock. It was huddled against the wall, motionless, as if it were a rock itself. Suddenly, Pikachu cried out and jumped from Ash's head. A golden thunderbolt illuminated the dark cave as Pikachu unleashed a Thunderbolt attack, striking the passage leading deeper into the cave.
A terrifying roar echoed from the depths of the cave, and visible sound waves surged outward.
"Roar!" The Thunderbolt seemed to hit some Pokémon, and a soul-stirring roar came from the depths of the cave. The sound waves, visible to the naked eye, were overwhelming!
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