There is a Trainer's Lampent!
This provides a rather reasonable explanation as to why a Pokémon like Lampent would appear in the sewers of Goldenrod City in the Kanto Region.
However, why would someone leave a Lampent in the sewer, allowing it to recklessly attack Wild Pokémon and Trainers? What is their purpose?
"Unusual Life Energy, flames..."
These two conditions fit the two conditions that Little Monk Ann Ci reminded him about.
What connection is there among these?
Just as Natsuhiko was in a daze.
Hiss—
The Lampent, which should have lost its ability to fight, unexpectedly floated up again.
You could see the eerie blue flame in its lampshade, showing an unusual intensity.
Through the glow of the flame, one could vaguely see what seemed to be a few thumb-sized Crystal Blocks wrapped inside.
Like fuel.
With the appearance of these Crystal Blocks, Lampent's flame was greatly intensified.
Hiss—
The flame filled the entire lampshade.
The small yellow dots that originally served as eyes were now enveloped and obscured by the flames, disappearing from sight.
"Absorb accumulated Life Energy to stimulate the flame, so that even if it has lost its ability to fight, it can stand strong?"
Witnessing the Lampent floating up again, Natsuhiko's expression became a bit serious.
It's like having a cheat.
As long as those few seemingly small but highly inflammable Crystal Blocks in the wick aren't depleted, Lampent seems able to keep standing.
"Togepi, Water Fluctuation."
"Togepi!"
Togepi puffed its cheeks, raised its hands, and a light blue water orb formed, thrown towards the Lampent.
Yet the Lampent's flame suddenly expanded, a serpentine fire dragon spiraled out, forming a Flame Vortex targeting Beedrill directly.
Hiss—
However, midway through the Flame Vortex, it met Togepi's Water Fluctuation, causing an explosion with a roar from the hot and cold shock.
"Beedrill." Natsuhiko squinted and called out.
Beedrill's red eyes flashed, understanding Natsuhiko's intent.
It moved like lightning.
Dodging the Flame Vortex's attack range, it drew a straight line in the mist created by evaporating water vapor, the sharp Long Needle gleaming with a ochre light once more.
Lampent noticed Beedrill's actions, but before it could react.
A net full of thin arcs of electricity directly enveloped it.
A Power Grid long forgotten but not unused.
Direct Charge Drill aimed directly at Lampent's lampshade.
Rumble—
And at this moment.
Suddenly, there was the sound of many rushing footsteps in the sewer.
Dense and chaotic.
Rushing from both the front and rear towards here quickly.
Abra, extending its Psychic powers, suddenly opened its eyes, disbelief and a hint of uncontrollable panic within them.
"Abra!"
Upon hearing Abra's words, Natsuhiko's heart sank again.
A large number of Rattata and Raticate were rapidly approaching here.
Seemingly attracted by something.
Almost instinctively, Natsuhiko glanced at the Crystal Blocks burning perpetually in Lampent's flame.
Ka!!
Meanwhile, Beedrill's Direct Charge Drill successfully struck Lampent's glass lampshade, directly punching a gap in it.
Long Needle probed inside, picking and flicking.
All three Crystal Blocks augmenting its flames were swept out.
Once the Crystal Blocks left the flame, Lampent's state immediately withered.
It wobbled and fell to the ground, the flame in the lampshade becoming exceptionally small.
And these three flying blocks were enveloped by Abra's Psychic powers the instant they appeared.
Next, their forms flashed, appearing beside Beedrill.
Psychic powers extended to envelop them, using Instant Movement to leave here again.
And the thundering roar, the dense Raticate and Rattata, quickly completed the flood over this area.
...
...
Instant Movement to escape.
The other end of the sewer.
Abra had preset a Psychic "anchor" here, returning them to this spot.
Natsuhiko had Abra wrap the three crystals, momentarily not daring to lift the Psychic coverage.
The earlier uproar from Rattata and Raticate was still vivid in his memory.
The commotion caused by these Raticate began when Lampent, supposedly out of combat, somehow restored itself.
The anomaly in Lampent started with the appearance of these three Crystal Blocks.
"Are these...really Life Energy Crystals absorbed and condensed by Lampent?"
Watching the Crystal Blocks enveloped by a thin layer of blue Psychic power in his hands, they seemed to contain a strange power.
Gentle rubbing.
"So, is this the unusual Life Energy Ann Ci mentioned?"
This seems to make sense, but...
"Does the flame really only refer to Lampent's flame?"
Compared to these Life Energy Crystals, Lampent's flame seemed a bit insignificant.
"Also, it seems to have an unusual attraction to Wild Pokémon. Could the unrest among the surrounding Wild Pokémon in Goldenrod City be related to these Life Energy Crystals?"
Natsuhiko felt like he had grasped some crucial factors.
But he slowly shook his head.
"With the abilities of the Alliance, and Uncle Liu and Agatha holding the fort, Little Monk Ann Ci's reminder suggests he has discovered something, there's no reason Uncle Liu and Agatha wouldn't know. After all, Agatha is the Ghost-type Elite..."
After some contemplation, Natsuhiko decided not to report the incident.
Don't underestimate the Elite members.
Especially these two veteran Elites, none are simple.
What he saw might just be the surface, while they are likely engaged in deeper maneuvers.
Natsuhiko always remembered this saying.
Act within your ability.
"But I'll still have to ask Ann Ci when I return, he's bound to know quite a bit."
Knowing more information can help him make better choices at critical moments.
With clarity, Natsuhiko let Abra continue securing the three Life Energy Crystals, its Psychic barrier preventing the leakage of their aura.
He surveyed his surroundings.
Roughly determining their current location.
Not far from the entrance to the sewer they had just entered.
'No need to continue wasting time if we can't find Grimer and Muk. Catching three Paras is enough to enter the draw once, hopefully Teacher Poke can be of help,' Natsuhiko thought.
He lifted his foot to leave.
Suddenly.
Bam bam bam!!
Dark purple viscous sludge shot up from the water channel in the middle of the sewer.
But before it could hit Natsuhiko, the ever-vigilant Beedrill dodged and jabbed, knocking down all these toxic mud clumps.
Swaying.
Like a Water Ghost coming ashore, several massive sludge balls slowly crawled out from the sewage, bit by bit, bit by bit...
At first glance, it was indeed a bit unsettling.
"I wondered why I couldn't find you, it turns out there's a secret in this sewage discharge pipeline."
Grimer and Muk, Pokémon that feed on garbage, can sometimes corrode walls and bricks.
They corroded a small hole below the sewage channel, allowing them free passage, though others rarely discover it.
Precisely because they were hidden here along the way, Natsuhiko couldn't detect them until now.
"This works, let's deal with you before heading back, better chances of rewards."