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"Roar!"
Krookodile let out a roar to the sky, and an invisible pressure centered on it, instantly sweeping across the surroundings.
This was an aura belonging to a top predator, etched into its genes.
In an instant, the restless presences hidden in the shadows around them seemed to have a bucket of cold water poured over them; they quieted down one after another, then retreated into the distance in a panic.
The entire jungle fell silent.
Ariel nodded with satisfaction.
Krookodile's presence was like a mobile pass.
It was enough to deter most blind fools, saving him precious physical strength and energy.
He continued forward, with Krookodile following half a step behind him. Its massive body moved through the narrow forest without making much noise, its eyes scanning the surroundings alertly from beneath its sunglasses-like membranes.
Guided by the map, Ariel precisely avoided a quagmire marked as "Death Swamp" and bypassed an area left in shambles by giant footprints—the territory of a certain Overlord Pokémon.
He wasn't here to challenge an Overlord; his clear objective allowed him to avoid many unnecessary troubles.
After traveling through the forest for about two hours, a marker on the map caught his attention.
"A stone tablet?"
Ariel pushed aside a large hanging vine in front of him, and his vision suddenly opened up.
This was a small clearing in the forest. Unlike the dark surroundings, sunlight actually managed to shine directly down here.
In the center of the clearing stood a black stone tablet over three meters tall.
The tablet was weathered, its surface covered in moss and the marks of time, yet one could still see densely packed characters carved upon it.
It wasn't any modern script but rather a combination of pictures and symbols. The strokes were ancient and vigorous, carrying an indescribable sense of mystery.
Ariel walked up to the stone tablet and reached out to touch the cold stone surface.
He couldn't understand a single word.
But he could feel that this stone tablet was not simple.
Neither the photos given by Yuki nor the map from Stern mentioned the existence of this stone tablet.
This was something outside of the plan.
Ariel frowned and took out the map to confirm his position once more.
That's right, he hadn't taken the wrong path. According to the route, after crossing one more ridge ahead, he would be able to see that Crater.
This stone tablet stood on his mandatory path like an abrupt question mark.
Was it a coincidence, or some kind of sign?
Ariel's gaze fell on a symbol at the very top of the tablet.
The shape of the symbol was peculiar, resembling a bird with spread wings, yet also like a burning eye.
For some reason, he felt that this symbol had a faint connection to one of his goals for this trip.
He pondered for a moment before finally withdrawing his gaze.
He bypassed the stone tablet and prepared to continue forward.
But the moment he turned around, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the back of the tablet.
On the back of the tablet, another symbol was carved, but it was larger and clearer than all the characters on the front.
It was... a pattern that closely resembled the DNA double helix structure.
Realizing that the things on the stone tablet were likely related to the mega stone he was searching for.
Ariel decided to keep moving forward.
This place might be far more complex than he had imagined.
...
The pungent smell of sulfur mixed with volcanic ash permeated the scorching air.
Ariel braved the oncoming heatwave. Every step he took was on scorching volcanic rock, and a burning temperature rose from the soles of his feet.
The closer he got to the center point marked on the map, the thinner the air became. Each breath felt like swallowing glowing embers, searing his throat and lungs.
Ariel released Gyarados and ordered it to use Whirlpool around its body to help the cooling of the surroundings.
Around Gyarados, a "sizzle" sounded as the water vapor evaporated.
Gyarados followed behind. Its massive body also seemed a bit restless in this environment, letting out a low roar from time to time to vent its dissatisfaction with the high temperature.
The end of the map was not the expected Crater, but a bottomless giant fissure.
The rocks at the edge of the fissure were roasted by geothermal heat until they turned a dark red, like a wound left behind after a giant beast tore the earth apart.
A chill, completely different from the outside world, was seeping upward from this fissure in thin strands.
"Is there another world down there?"
Ariel muttered to himself, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
He didn't hesitate and commanded Gyarados to wrap its tail around him. Man and dragon slowly descended into the deep darkness along the steep rock wall.
The descent was longer than expected.
When his feet stepped onto solid ground again, the outside heat and sulfur smell were completely cut off.
In its place was the unique cold dampness of a cave, along with the fresh scent of mixed rock and soil.
This was a massive natural grotto. Above them, countless giant stalactites hung down like sharp swords, their tips condensing water droplets that reflected points of light under the faint glow of the Poké Ball.
Water droplets fell to the ground with a "drip-drop," their echoes long in the vast cave, making the place feel even more silent.
Ariel's gaze was immediately drawn to the scene in the center of the grotto.
It was an ancient altar made entirely of obsidian. It was pitch black, its surface as smooth as a mirror, yet it exuded a sense of heaviness and the passage of time.
The altar's design was primitive and mysterious, carved with complex patterns he had never seen before, seemingly recording some forgotten legend.
And right in the center of the altar, several fist-sized stones lay quietly.
They emitted a faint light that flickered as if they were alive, following a unique rhythmic breathing.
The light wasn't dazzling, but it had an indescribable magic that made it impossible to look away once your eyes touched it.
mega stones!
Ariel's heart skipped a beat. He could clearly feel the key stone in his space ring resonating faintly with the stones on the altar. A desire from the depths of his soul made him step forward, wanting to take a closer look.
But the moment he took his third step, a pressure as heavy as a mountain descended without warning from the deep shadows of the cave.
"Woo—"
Gyarados let out a wary low growl, its massive body instantly coiling up, its crimson eyes staring fixedly into the darkness on both sides of the altar.
Something moved in the darkness.
First came the piercing sound of metal scraping against rock, then a steel figure gleaming with a cold light slowly emerged from the shadows on the left.
Its feathers were like carefully polished blades, each one glinting with the unique cold hardness of metal.
A pair of sharp eyes, devoid of any emotion, stared coldly at Ariel... oh no, staring at the Gyarados in front of Ariel.
Skarmory, the aerial fortress of the Steel and Flying-types.
This Skarmory was a size larger than normal, its armor covered in fine scratches—medals of honor left by battle and time.
At the same time, the shadows on the right also began to writhe.
Countless dark blue vines surged out like a tide, intertwining and knotting together to finally form a massive figure.
The vines were thick and powerful, covered in a thin layer of moss, showing that it had been dormant here for a long time.
Two "arms" formed from the coiled ends of the vines hung at its sides, ending in three thick "fingers."
Tangrowth, a pure grass-type tank.
The aura emitted by the two of them was so strong it almost felt physical!
Both were at the Gym Leader Level!