Glimmora was a Poison-type Pokémon!
Sure, its design was pretty abstract, but there was an unspoken rule in the competitive battling scene:
The more abstract a Pokémon looks, the stronger it probably is.
As the top lead on Geeta's Champion team in Paldea, it was one of the best entry hazard setters in 6v6 singles—able to lay down all three types of hazards while clearing the opponent's at the same time.
Caleb loved it.
If only his own Gym had a Pokémon like that… heh heh.
"Caleb... Caleb!"
Just as he was lost in daydreams, a sudden elbow jab from Green snapped him back to reality.
"Wh-What is it?"
"Maybe dial back the facial expressions?" Green kindly suggested. "What were you thinking about?"
"Ah—nothing. Just suddenly remembered something happy," Caleb coughed awkwardly, quickly hiding his grin and pretending to play it cool.
He glanced to the side.
Professor Elm was fully absorbed in research, muttering to himself as he studied the surrounding Pokémon.
Professor Rowan was carefully observing the Pokémon in the lake.
Flint was off in his own world, messing with the slippery little head of a Wiglett.
Phew—luckily no one noticed.
Just then, Cynthia pointed to the other side of the artificial lake, where a pile of rocky terrain had been built up.
"The Pokémon Professor Rowan needs help with is over there."
Not far away stood a cluster of strange rocks.
At first glance, they didn't seem any different from ordinary stones.
Suddenly, Caleb's waist pouch began to stir. Pachirisu popped out of its Poké Ball on its own.
At this hour, it was supposed to be napping. There was no reason it should be up early.
It wobbled upright and waddled straight toward that strange pile of rocks.
Then, without a word, it climbed onto one of the bigger rocks and started gnawing away.
"So cute!"
Green couldn't help but gush.
After all, fluffy things were basically kryptonite for girls.
But sharp-eyed Cynthia noticed something off. "Wait... is it... sleepwalking?"
RUMBLE—
Right then—
The rock pile started to quake.
Stones shifted, pebbles tumbled, and suddenly, multiple Pokémon made entirely of stone—looking like they came straight out of an 8-bit game—rose unsteadily to their feet.
"A Garganacl!"
Caleb raised an eyebrow.
"Chipa?"
Pachirisu, happily licking the salt from the Garganacl's head, was jolted awake.
Earthquake? (ˉ﹃ˉ?)?
Cynthia's expression darkened slightly. She warned, "That's the one. The bad-tempered Garganacl. It's always causing trouble with its Nacli and Naclstack."
Garganacl, the Rock Salt Pokémon—pure Rock-type.
In the battling world, it was nicknamed "Lord of Salt."
Some even called it the "Salt King."
It had a signature move that metaphorically slapped every Pokémon with equal disdain—especially Water and Steel-types, who got hit with the full "Blessing of the Salt God."
"Chipa (#?Д?)"
Okay, the rock was tasty, but now… I don't know how to get down. Munch munch munch…
"ROAR!"
Feeling its "hairstyle" being nibbled on, the Garganacl let out a furious bellow.
"Chipa ( ? ○ Д ○ )?"
Oh no, I'm in danger! Munch munch…
Still eating?!
How dare it?!
Garganacl was fully enraged now. It picked up a nearby rock, a layer of white crystalline salt rapidly spreading from its palm to coat the stone.
Then it hurled it at Pachirisu. Salt Cure!
The move inflicted Salt Cure status.
Each turn, the target lost one-eighth of its HP. If it was Water or Steel-type, the damage jumped to one-fourth.
Though it didn't stack like Toxic, it was an attacking move with decent base power.
And with near-perfect accuracy, some considered it even more "toxic" than Toxic.
"Watch out, they're angry now," Cynthia warned.
Nacli and Naclstack were also riled up by Garganacl's fury. In an instant, the entire stone-horde—over a hundred of them—started closing in on the group.
"Caleb, call Pachirisu back!" Cynthia shouted anxiously.
That Garganacl's level wasn't low. If its Salt Cure landed, things could get messy fast.
Next second—
Her eyes widened.
The stone Garganacl had thrown was caught and eaten by Pachirisu.
Crunch! Crunch!!
The crisp chewing echoed around them, a sharp, crunchy sound that left everyone stunned.
"Did... did it just eat that?" Green was dumbfounded.
That tiny Pachirisu actually ate Garganacl's Salt Cure?! Whole?!
Caleb was surprised too, but considering it was Pachirisu, it kinda made sense.
When it came to food, Pachirisu never let him down.
Garganacl froze.
Its signature move… just got eaten?
"Chipa."
Having devoured the whole Salt Cure rock, Pachirisu wiped the leftover salt from its mouth, still looking unsatisfied.
More. Give me more.
"ROAR!!"
Provoked by that look, Garganacl roared again.
It shook its head violently, flinging Pachirisu off like swatting a bug.
What a disgrace!
Garganacl lifted its foot high, ready to throw down with Pachirisu once and for all.
At the same time, the surrounding Nacli and Naclstack could feel their boss's fury. They cracked their knuckles, itching for a fight.
"Hmph, looking for a fight? Bring it on." Flint's lips curled into a cocky smirk.
He might not be great at everything—but when it came to brawling, he was a pro.
All his Fire-type Pokémon were notorious hotheads.
Just as he was about to release his unstoppable Infernape, Caleb stopped him.
From Cynthia's brief explanation, Caleb had already pieced it together: this Garganacl had been unruly for a while. Its bad temper had made the entire group act out.
Professors Elm and Rowan had suspected it was due to environmental differences between Sinnoh and Paldea.
So they went all out, pouring tons of funding into building this man-made mountain—designed to replicate Paldea's ecosystem.
They even released all the Pokémon into the wild to study their natural behavior and breeding more accurately.
But even with all that, the Garganacl group kept causing trouble—always one spark away from an explosion.
Caleb found it a bit odd.
That's not what Garganacl was saying.
The power of Viridian Forest told him they were just really, really hungry. So hungry they were starting to hallucinate.
"Professor Rowan, have you not been feeding them?"
"We have! The lab's breeders prepared special Pokémon food just for them," she replied.
Now that was strange.
Still hungry after eating?
Caleb thought for a moment, then slowly stepped forward.
"Be careful," Professor Rowan warned.
Several researchers had already been sent flying just for approaching Garganacl.
But Caleb didn't flinch. Calm and collected, he kept walking.
Then he reached into his pocket… and pulled something out.
It was a Pokéblock.