Lian cautiously approached the darkness, passing by Shaymin's statue. He swung his long tail forward and gripped it with his claws, using its fiery glow like a lantern to illuminate the path ahead.
Kalia and Bobby remained stationary, hesitant to move further. The eerie atmosphere, combined with the recent sounds, would have likely frightened off anyone with a weaker nerve.
As Lian ventured deeper, he suddenly detected a sweet fragrance. This aroma was intense, reminiscent of the Sweet Scent move, which releases a captivating scent causing opponents to become entranced, thus reducing their ability to dodge effectively.
In normal circumstances, Sweet Scent also attracts wild Pokemon; once they catch the scent, they actively follow it towards the source.
Lian quickly deduced that the opponent must be a dual Grass- and Poison-type Pokemon. Dual Grass-Poison types are already rare, and finding one at its highest evolved form is even more uncommon.
It could potentially be Venusaur, Vileplume, Victreebel, Roserade, Ariados, or similar species. If it's primarily Grass-type, it would be relatively easy to handle—a single Flamethrower should effortlessly take it down.
The Sweet Scent was truly enticing, almost addictive for Lian, but he quickly realized that continuing to inhale it could easily lead to falling prey to its effects.
Outside, Kalia seemed to recall something and swiftly opened a Poké Ball with a click, releasing Ninetales onto the ground.
"Ninetales, use Safeguard on Charizard," Kalia instructed, concerned about potential Poison-type moves. Although Charizard wore protective black goggles, other parts of its body were vulnerable to powder attacks.
Safeguard would undoubtedly shield Charizard from being hit by powder moves, as Grass-type Pokémon excel at such supportive tactics, making it crucial to defend against them.
However, Kalia's command came too late. By the light of the flames, Lian spotted a shimmering cloud of purple powder drifting towards him from the darkness.
Instantly recognizing it as either Sleep Powder or Poison Powder, there was no time to ponder further. Fortunately, he hadn't been fully captivated by the aroma earlier; otherwise, he wouldn't have noticed the approaching powder.
In the next moment, with a whoosh...
A layer of flame expanded from Lian's tail, forming a protective shield-like barrier in front of him.
Lian's mastery over flames allowed him to instantly create a protective shield.
Although this shield lacked substantial defensive capabilities, it was highly effective against powder-based attacks.
The shimmering particles were swiftly incinerated by Lian's concentrated flame shield, disappearing within moments before reaching his body.
At that moment, Ninetales completed casting Safeguard, enveloping Lian with a glowing aura without hindering his movements.
Simultaneously, the Safeguard's radiant shield emitted light, replacing Lian's tail as it illuminated the surroundings.
In the dimness, Lian could faintly make out the shape of a Vileplume, identifiable by its massive red flower.
Surprisingly, it was a Vileplume, somewhat disappointing though.
However, even if it had been a Venusaur with the Chlorophyll Ability, Kalia likely wouldn't have tried to capture it. With Grovyle already in her team, adding another Grass-type Pokémon, despite being powerful like Venusaur, seemed unnecessary.
With Safeguard activated, Lian felt secure and opened his mouth, gathering a concentrated ball of flames that emitted intense light.
The primary purpose was to clearly see Vileplume's full form, allowing Kalia to also witness it, as otherwise, it would be too dark for visibility.
Lian controlled the flame without releasing it, illuminating the surroundings and revealing the hidden Vileplume.
Vileplume is typically not large, but this one appeared significantly bigger than average, with its blue body topped by a red flower adorned with scattered white spots.
Lian found it peculiar for a Vileplume to be here since Grass-type Pokémon generally rely on photosynthesis to survive. How could this Vileplume endure living in such darkness?
As Lian spotted the Vileplume, it noticed him as well and immediately unleashed Petal Blizzard.
Swinging its floral head, Vileplume generated numerous petals enveloped in radiant energy, launching them swiftly towards Lian with immense power.
Whoosh!
Lian abruptly released the flames from his mouth, directly targeting the glowing petals. Engaging a Grass-type move against a Fire-type move seemed like courting disaster.
Surprisingly, Lian found that Vileplume's Petal Blizzard, with countless shimmering petals, managed to counter his Flamethrower. With a loud explosion, the intense energy collision resulted in both attacks neutralizing each other.
Wow, what level is this Vileplume?
Lian knew that his Flamethrower should have easily suppressed the Grass-type Petal Blizzard. Yet despite this type advantage, his attack was still negated.
There could be only one explanation: This Vileplume must have reached a significantly high level. Otherwise, based on type effectiveness, it wouldn't possess such strength.
As Lian observed the Vileplume, he noticed a purple orb at the center of its flower, which seemed oddly familiar.
A Toxic Orb?
With no time to ponder further, Lian needed to focus on defeating this formidable Vileplume. Its high level demanded he employ different moves.
Air Slash!
Instantly, Lian unleashed Air Slash, creating a sharp air blade out of thin air. In such darkness, the Vileplume couldn't even perceive, let alone see, the incoming attack.
Shhhk!
In the next moment, Lian's Air Slash struck directly against the Vileplume's body. The razor-sharp air blade inflicted severe damage to the flower.
"It's actually a Vileplume!" Kalia, using the flames to illuminate, recognized the full form of the Vileplume with surprise. Typically, these Pokemon prefer sunlight for photosynthesis.
"Toxic Orb!" The well-informed Uncle Bobby immediately spotted the Toxic Orb atop the Vileplume's head. His keen eye and intuition were particularly attuned to such valuable treasures.
Kalia was equally astonished. A Toxic Orb is undoubtedly a prized item, despite its poisonous nature, which might seem undesirable at first glance, it has significant benefits.
The primary function of the Toxic Orb is to enhance the poison abilities of Poison-type Pokemon. By absorbing the toxic emissions from the orb, these Pokemon can grow stronger more rapidly.
Additionally, it can synergize with certain unique Pokemon traits, producing extraordinary effects during battles. Examples include Gliscor with the Poison Heal Ability or Pokemon with Magic Guard, among others.
"Could it be that the Mushroom Forest's toxic gas originates from this Vileplume absorbing the Toxic Orb's poison and subsequently releasing it?" Kalia questioned skeptically, finding it unlikely given the vastness of the forest compared to the orb's limited toxicity range.
The Mushroom Forest is vast; it seemed implausible for the toxicity from just one Toxic Orb to spread throughout the entire area.
"We're hitting the jackpot! There's more than one!" Bobby whispered, his voice trembling uncontrollably with excitement.