Golem slowly got up from the ground, coughing a few times, his face showing clear signs of fear.
"I honestly thought I was dead just now," he admitted, touching his body and looking around before carefully putting his heart back into his stomach.
It was clear that Golem had been incredibly lucky.
Whenever someone on the team faced the swarm head-on, Larry always seemed to come to their rescue just in time.
Golem was the only one wearing two layers of protection that day.
His outer safety suit was completely burned to pieces, with the protective runes on it now useless, clearly beyond repair.
However, the robot armor he usually wore underneath had some burn marks but hadn't been pierced through, so it wasn't a serious problem.
On top of that, Gardevoir's quick reflexes and timely intervention ensured Golem's survival.
Beyond let out a hearty laugh to lighten the mood.
"Those who survive disasters are bound to have good luck ahead," he said.
"But this is also a reminder: when dealing with creatures from the Dark Continent, no matter how small or harmless they seem, we have to stay cautious."
His laughter faded as his expression turned serious, emphasizing the importance of not taking life lightly in the Dark Continent.
"If you act carelessly here, it's basically a death sentence," he continued.
"We haven't traveled far yet, but every step takes us deeper. The dangers ahead will only get stranger and more deadly. So everyone needs to stay alert and pay close attention to their surroundings. It's about taking responsibility for your own life."
Beyond knew all too well how terrifying the Dark Continent could be, so there was no room for slackening.
Sir Larry truly was powerful, but they couldn't rely on him to save them every time.
No one could guarantee they'd always be rescued.
Miru and the others nodded in agreement.
After the close call with the explosive bugs, they were all more vigilant now.
As Beyond spoke, Larry gazed off into the distance, lost in thought.
Just moments ago, a new Pokemon had been born, a small creature resembling a hedgehog, its back covered in green grass and flowers.
Its body was white, with thick, fresh green grass growing on its upper side, dotted with a few bright yellow spots.
The Pokemon before Larry was Shaymin, a legendary creature often called the "Gratitude Pokemon."
It had a pair of pink flowers on each side of its body, bright green eyes, and short white legs, giving off an incredibly cute and gentle vibe, like a tiny grass hedgehog.
Seeing it, Larry's pupils narrowed in surprise and delight, his joy far outweighing his initial shock.
It made sense that Shaymin appeared here among the endless grasslands and flowers since people often associate it with flowers and nature.
In many regions, it's said that Shaymin shows up only to those it recognizes, sometimes even living alongside them for a while.
Most Shaymin prefer to stay in gardens, and when they curl up, they resemble flowers so well that they often go unnoticed.
Although Shaymin is a legendary Pokemon, it's not as rare as some other legendary Pokemon according to the original lore.
Larry first encountered Shaymin in the movie "Giratina and the Sky Warrior," which left a strong impression on him.
He especially remembered the scene where Shaymin was quietly drinking water by a stream while the powerful Dialga and Giratina battled nearby, a moment where the little Pokemon's innocence and cuteness really stood out to him.
While the Shaymin in the movie acted a bit arrogant, Larry knew that was just its individual personality and not typical of all Shaymin.
After watching the movie, Larry admired the might of Pokemon like Dialga and Giratina, but his fondness for Shaymin was just as strong, if not stronger, simply because of its adorable nature.
He had always hoped for a cute and well-behaved Shaymin of his own, and today, he was lucky enough to get one.
This Shaymin was in its Land Form, known for its ability Natural Recovery and classified as a Grass-type Pokemon, with impressive stats rated SS-.
Its skills included moves like Seed Flare, Grassy Terrain, Aura Sphere, Baton Pass, and Air Slash.
Shaymin is somewhat like the Three Forces of Nature in that it has two forms, a common trait among many legendary Pokemon.
In its Sky Form, Shaymin looks more like a canine, with longer legs and green coloring, quite different from its adorable Land Form.
It has a red, scarf-like tuft of hair around its neck and green hair on top of its head.
White wings sprout from each side of its eyes, allowing it to fly.
When Shaymin is in its land form, it is a pure Grass-type Pokemon with the ability Natural Cure, which allows it to heal status conditions naturally.
In this form, Shaymin is shy and easily frightened, appearing chubby with balanced stats, each of its six base stats sits at 100.
However, when it shifts to its sky
In sky form, Shaymin becomes a dual Grass/Flying type with the ability Serene Grace.
Its personality takes a complete turn: it becomes brave and lively, and its stats lean more toward offense, showing a more aggressive side.
As a legendary Pokemon, Shaymin has a unique move called Seed Flare, which unleashes a powerful shockwave.
This attack not only deals damage but also has a 40% chance to drastically lower the target's Special Defense, making it a strong and strategic skill in battle.
Unlike the original story, where transforming between forms was complicated, here Shaymin can switch between land and sky forms simply by expending some aura, with no extra conditions.
Thinking about all this, Larry decided he wanted to see his Shaymin in person.
A soft white light appeared on his shoulder, and soon a small figure settled there.
"Mi~"
Shaymin's nose twitched like a puppy sniffing its owner, then it gently nuzzled Larry's chin.
The red flowers on either side of its face glowed faintly, showing Shaymin's happiness.
Suddenly, a sweet voice echoed in Larry's mind.
"Aura?"
Larry was moved, realizing Shaymin could communicate mentally and sense his feelings of gratitude.
"Hello, Shaymin," Larry greeted warmly, gently stroking the little Pokemon's head.
As he did, a gentle aura pulsed from Shaymin's body and spread to the surrounding plants.
Flowers that had been growing suddenly sprouted more blooms, and scorched earth, once burned by fire, quickly regenerated, returning to its lush state right before Larry's eyes.
Shaymin has the incredible ability to purify the environment, by inhaling polluted air, breaking down toxins inside its body into water and light, and then releasing these purified elements through its Seed Flare.
It can turn barren land into a vibrant sea of flowers, bringing life and hope wherever it goes.