If this had been the Pokémon World's Beauty Contest, it would've scored sky-high.
Faced with that kind of firepower, even parasitic plants with the ability to detach infected parts couldn't fight back. The flames overwhelmed them too fast. Their desperate attempts to shed burning limbs were useless, they were engulfed entirely and burned to ash in eerie silence.
Whether on the ground or clinging to the walls, every last parasitic vine was wiped out.
"They can all use fire abilities?" Ging asked, eyes wide. The triple attack had caught him off guard. Arcanine, sure, its fire element was obvious. But Gardevoir and Gengar? They didn't exactly scream fire users.
Staring at the now-safe path ahead, Ging let out a low whistle. "Bringing Larry along was the smartest move I could've made."
He knew he could've forced his way through eventually, but not with this kind of ease. Larry made it look effortless.
With the threat cleared, the group pushed further into the cave. At the end of the corridor stood a massive stone door, cracked open just enough for them to peek through. Faint light shimmered along Divine script carved into the surface.
These sacred symbols weren't just decorative, they had actual effects. In the original records, things like Greed Island's memory card were stored in boxes protected by divine script.
"It looks like the divine script was holding the plants back," Ging said, examining the door. "But something caused it to open... and once it did, the parasitic plants escaped. That's probably when V5 sent their people in, and those people became the Gildrosia."
It all lined up. The only thing that didn't make sense was why the divine-warded stone door had opened at all.
Ging's brow furrowed as he considered the possibilities. He had a hunch.
Larry suddenly spoke, having arrived at the same idea. "The energy ran out," he said, his voice calm. "divine script need a constant supply of aura, like fuel, to keep working. Once that runs out, the effect fades."
It was the most reasonable explanation, and a dangerous one at that. Whatever lay beyond the door, the safeguards were gone.
Back in Greed Island, Gon had channeled his aura into an iron box engraved with divine script. Only then did the iron bars fall away, allowing access to what was stored inside. Dalzollene's blade was similar, only when aura was focused along its edge could the divine inscriptions activate their effects.
"Yeah," Ging said, nodding. "It's probably been too long. Without a steady supply of aura, the divine script lost its power."
Pyon, who had some knowledge of divine script herself, agreed. "Makes sense. divine script need aura to function. If the energy ran out, the seal would naturally break down."
Ging looked at the half-open stone door ahead, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "I wonder what's inside."
Driven by that same curiosity, the three stepped through the opening. What they found on the other side left them speechless.
It was a vast, hidden chamber carved deep within the mountain. The walls, ceilings, and even the floor were covered in divine inscriptions that glowed softly, casting a calming light across the space. The grooves of each symbol were precise, radiating an ancient, sacred aura.
Above them, strange, plant-like bulbs clung to the ceiling, gently illuminating the area like organic light fixtures. But it wasn't the lighting or inscriptions that truly caught their attention.
Scattered throughout the space were small buildings, simple in form, yet distinctly foreign. Their style was unlike anything seen across the Six Continents. The metallic sheen on their surfaces resembled the material found on the Gildrosia, hinting at some shared origin.
These weren't ordinary structures. They were built from some kind of rare, durable mineral, which likely explained how they'd remained standing all this time, untouched by decay or collapse. The aura of death was thick in the air.
For Gengar and Gardevoir with their keen spiritual senses, it was a feast. Larry could feel it too, countless traces of lingering thoughts, clinging to every stone and shadow.
The area wasn't massive. From where they stood, they could see the opposite side, but the layout was dense. Narrow alleys, uneven corners, and tightly packed paths made it feel more like a maze than a settlement.
"Is this… an ancient labyrinth city?" Pyon asked, her voice echoing off the stone. Then she shook her head. "No… more like a miniature version of one."
Ging nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah. Compared to the records of the Dark Continent, this place is way smaller. If that was a city… then this is more like a village."
Still, one thing was certain, this place was connected to the real ancient city.
Larry glanced around, putting the pieces together. "With Gildrosia here, it makes sense that this place shares the same roots."
Ging had reached a similar conclusion. "This isn't something as simple as being brought back from the Dark Continent. It's more likely an offshoot, an ancient settlement established by humans who had some knowledge of the labyrinth cities. Maybe a small group that split off and built their own version underground."
The buildings didn't need massive walls for defense like the sprawling city in the Dark Continent. Hidden within the mountain, protection came from the divine script etched all around, symbols imbued with durability and strength.
Sadly, even those wards couldn't stop the invasion. The parasitic plants had gotten in eventually, and whatever life once thrived here had been wiped out. "We still don't know how many Gildrosia might be left here," Ging said, scanning the area with caution.
As if on cue, several of the metallic creatures emerged from the shadows and began advancing toward them.
The Gildrosia, which had been wandering aimlessly around the building, suddenly reacted to the presence of a stranger. Without making any noise, they shot toward Ging at an alarming speed, far faster than anything they'd displayed outside. It would only take a few breaths before they reached him.
Ging narrowed his eyes, focusing on the incoming Plants. Right away, he noticed something was off. These ones were clearly different from the ones he'd fought earlier. First, their aura, much denser and stronger, more aggressive.
Second, their appearance. The heads were oddly large, disproportionate compared to the rest of the body. Based on earlier observations, these Plants were likely transformed remnants of ancient humans, but this batch felt like a significant evolution.
Standing nearby, Larry also sensed something was wrong. His eyes locked onto the Plants as he murmured, "These guys are almost A+ in strength..." He frowned, his voice lowering. "If that's the case, there might be an S-rank enemy behind all this."
Hearing that only made Ging more excited. A real challenge at last. He stepped forward without hesitation. Flames of aura flared around his fists like roaring fire as he launched his attack straight at the Plants' heads.