Shhhk!
As Sandslash sprinted forward, it swiftly raised its claw and slashed down, instantly eliminating one Paras. With agility, it dodged the remaining Paras attacks, engaging them in close combat.
Quickly, Lian and Sandslash managed to handle this wave of Paras; some were knocked unconscious, while a few unfortunate ones met their demise unintentionally.
It was unavoidable, as most Trainers strive not to kill Pokemon due to their inherent intelligence. Although some Pokemon act purely on instinct, resembling wild beasts, many still possess cognitive abilities.
Of course, certain Pokemon exist primarily for consumption, such as Farfetch'd, whose delectable taste is widely known by almost everyone.
After dispatching these Paras, Lian and Kalia continued onward. The initial encounter seemed like a test, as they started encountering more diverse Pokemon—beyond just Paras. They faced various mushroom-like species, including Amoonguss and Parasect, along with several Grass-type Pokemon.
After some time,
Lian unleashed another Dragon Pulse, taking out a Poison-type Pokemon that attempted to charge at them. It appeared these Pokemon were deliberately obstructing their progress deeper into the forest.
"Uncle Bobby, how much longer?" After resting briefly, Kalia proactively asked, feeling relieved from overcoming numerous encounters with dangerous Pokemon along the way. The main concern was the prevalence of toxic Pokemon; one misstep could easily lead to poisoning.
"Just ahead, this place is truly challenging. There weren't as many Pokemon before; no wonder Holan City had to abandon it." Uncle Bobby applied some antidote lotion onto his hands, neck, and arms. Earlier, he cautioned Kalia about spores, only for him to get affected first.
During their initial visit, there were fewer Pokemon present. It seemed each intrusion agitated them further, making subsequent visits increasingly difficult.
Fortunately, Kalia's Pokemon were strong enough; otherwise, venturing alone might have left Bobby stranded here.
Bobby, having explored various locations and faced numerous dangers, relied on his extensive adventure experience to advise against entering solo, hence posting the League mission.
The deeper parts of the mushroom forest felt eerie, but thankfully Lian's flaming tail emitted light and heat, illuminating their surroundings conspicuously amidst the mushrooms.
Lian led the way, vigilantly observing their surroundings, effortlessly eliminating numerous low-level Pokemon along the path. Unfortunately, most were weak against Fire or Flying types, making these encounters quite trivial.
His primary interest now lay with the ruins ahead. Being fluent in Pokemon language, during the recent battles, Lian gradually gleaned information from interacting with some of the Pokemon about the purpose of those ruins.
As it turned out, they indeed housed a temple dedicated to a Legendary Pokemon - not just any Legendary, but Shaymin, the Gratitude Pokemon.
Shaymin resembled a white hedgehog-like Legendary Pokemon known for its ability to decompose toxic gases and purify nature. Additionally, Shaymin possessed telepathic powers, enabling it to perceive human thoughts.
Long ago, inexplicably, this forest began experiencing a daily surge in toxic gases. When Shaymin passed through, it stayed for a while, continuously purifying the air and restoring the forest's original state. Grateful for Shaymin's help, people erected a temple deep within the woods in its honor.
However, driven by greed, humans deceived Shaymin, only to be swiftly detected by its telepathic abilities. Enraged, Shaymin left the area.
Without Shaymin's continuous purification of toxic gases, this forest began experiencing an increase in poisonous fumes and more Poison-type Pokemon. Eventually, these tall red mushrooms emerged.
One day, a powerful Poison-type Pokemon surfaced from the ruins, seemingly the source of all the toxic gases. It constantly emitted poison, causing the surrounding area to become increasingly hazardous.
Undoubtedly, venturing into the ruins was dangerous, but Lian remained intrigued. He wanted to see what kind of Pokemon resided there.
As Kalia approached the entrance to the ruins, a group of Pokemon blocked their path—unmistakably Parasects.
"Why are there so many Parasects?" Kalia wondered aloud. With such a large number obstructing entry, just what could be inside the ruins?
"Let's take care of them first; we can't proceed without dealing with these obstacles," Bobby frowned, noting that the numerous Pokemon guarding the entrance made it challenging. Thankfully, they had Kalia along, otherwise, it would have been even tougher.
"Charizard, handle them," Kalia nodded, determined to clear the Parasects. Without access to the ruins, she couldn't complete her adventure quest. Regardless of the outcome, entering the ruins was their immediate priority.
Lian swiftly initiated his attack, continuously unleashing Dragon Pulse moves. His Control Rating at 30% showcased a high mastery over Dragon-type energy.
Although these Parasects had slightly higher levels, they were still limited in strength and swiftly defeated by Lian. However, he refrained from using lethal force, as the Parasects merely sought to prevent unauthorized entry into the ruins.
Lian remained undeterred by any potential Poison-type Pokemon inside; he was confident in his own abilities, knowing that ordinary Pokemon posed no challenge for him. Only Legendary Pokemon could truly engage him in battle.
Additionally, Fire-type moves were impractical outside due to the mushroom forest's risk of ignition. But within the stone-built ruins, there was no such concern, allowing him to freely unleash Fire-type attacks without worry.
"Thanks to you, it was remarkably easy," Bobby praised amicably. The battle ended swiftly, with this Charizard proving far more powerful than any other he had encountered. Its moves were effortlessly executed, each one displaying immense potency.
A single Dragon Pulse move sent a loud boom echoing through the area, causing a large cluster of tall red mushrooms to collapse instantly, along with their resident Pokemon being instantly defeated.
The ruins comprised well-preserved ancient structures, with only minor damage at the edges. This preservation might be attributed to the site's remote location, rarely visited by people. The surroundings were dark, evoking an eerie atmosphere.
Upon entering the ruins, silence enveloped them, so quiet that even a pin drop would be audible. Lian led the way, utilizing his high Control Rating to intensify the flame on his tail, illuminating the area like a bright incandescent light.
The ruins appeared to be an ancient temple with ample space inside. Ahead lay a small shrine featuring a statue resembling a hedgehog, unmistakably Shaymin.
"Is that... Shaymin?" Kalia recognized the Legendary Pokémon, known for its cute and gentle nature. Almost every female Trainer was familiar with Shaymin.
As the Gratitude Pokémon, after helping others, if it senses genuine gratitude, the flowers on its body bloom beautifully.
Woo~
A low sound echoed from the depths of the ruins, evoking a chilling sensation.
"There must be other Pokémon here. Could they be Ghost Types?" Kalia questioned curiously upon hearing the eerie noise.
While this world indeed has Ghost-Type Pokémon, they still fall within the realm of Pokémon, so Kalia felt no fear of ghosts.
What truly terrifies people is the unknown; even encountering a sudden appearance of Gastly wouldn't frighten Kalia beyond a momentary surprise.
Lian recognized the sound as likely originating from a Poison-Type Pokémon, though he couldn't determine which specific one.
He ventured deeper into the darkness, intent on discovering what Pokémon it might be. With his formidable strength, he had nothing to fear.