Chapter 174: Entering the Hidden Land
The Dragon's Tooth Oasis, once a popular tourist spot, was now completely sealed off to the public. Only the authorized representatives of major powers and their chosen talented trainers were allowed to approach. By the time Basalt's group arrived, a large crowd had already gathered. There were at least a hundred trainers his age, all of them exuding an air of arrogant confidence.
"Looks like the Savanna Province is being quite generous with their invitations," Agent Zhou remarked with a smile, surveying the crowd. "It seems any Gym Leader-level trainer was able to recommend a candidate this time."
"Hey, Zhou, look over there. The Psi-Ops Bureau sent someone too," Mr. Archer, the only one in their group wearing glasses, pointed out.
"Psi-Ops Bureau?" Basalt thought. What a... creative name.
Following Mr. Archer's gaze, Basalt saw a skinny old man accompanied by a young man with incredibly sharp, almond-shaped eyes.
"The 'Psi-Ops Bureau' is the Psychic Energy Research Administration, another one of the League's special divisions," Zhou explained to Basalt and Summer. "Their main job is to study the applications of psychic energy and feed their findings back into Pokémon training to enhance their mental power. They're a powerful group, arguably even more influential than us. They train their Pokémon using special methods to heighten their psychic abilities in battle, making them incredibly tricky opponents."
"So if either of you run into that kid," Zhou said, his voice laced with caution, "be careful. Avoid a conflict if you can."
Just then, the old man and the boy noticed them and gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. Zhou and Archer returned the gesture, but no words were exchanged.
After about ten more minutes, the officials from the Savanna Province League finally arrived.
"All trainers preparing to enter the Hidden Land, please form a line for identity and backpack inspection," a staff member announced. "If you are carrying any prohibited items, now is the time to remove them. If we find any, you will be disqualified."
The young trainers were herded into one area, while their guardians and mentors were directed to another. The inspection was quick and efficient. After a scan of their Pokédex and a facial recognition check, Basalt had his spatial bag inspected. It was a new, high-capacity bag he had bought the day before, worth five million. Space-expansion technology in this world was still in its early stages, and a bag this large was a luxury item.
Ten minutes later, the inspections were complete. A middle-aged official from the Savanna League nodded in satisfaction and threw out a Poké Ball. "Magnezone, open the spatial gate."
"Magneee~" The UFO-like Pokémon began to rotate its magnets, emitting an invisible magnetic force that reacted with the surrounding space. A three-meter-high portal, swirling with energy, materialized before them.
"Using its magnetic properties to resonate with the Hidden Land?" Basalt thought, beginning to understand the mechanics.
"Alright, line up and enter in an orderly fashion," the official instructed. "Once you're inside, release your Pokémon immediately for your own protection. Good luck."
One by one, the trainers stepped through the portal, some with looks of excitement, others with a hint of nervousness.
"Well, I'm off," Basalt said with a wave to Summer, and stepped through.
"Good luck, Basalt!" her voice called out behind him before being cut off.
The world spun, and for a few seconds, he was blind. When his vision returned, he found himself in a desolate canyon, surrounded by bare, barren earth and two hundred-meter-high cliffs.
"Cawww!" Suddenly, a piercing cry echoed from the sky above.
"A Pokémon!" Basalt's body tensed, and he immediately threw out his Poké Balls.
"Excaaa!"
"Brooonz!"
With his two partners by his side, Basalt's anxiety subsided. He looked up and saw a small flock of five large, silver birds, their bodies covered in what looked like metal armor.
"Skarmory," he breathed, a mix of excitement and apprehension in his heart. Skarmory was one of the few flying Pokémon that could fit into a Sandstorm team, and it could also be used as a flying mount. But the leader of this flock was massive and looked particularly ferocious. Its aura screamed "advanced tier."
"Bronzor, did we land in Skarmory territory?" he asked. According to what he had learned, the three Titan rulers of this Hidden Land were a Bronzong, a Skarmory, and an Aggron. To be randomly teleported into the territory of one of them was incredibly bad luck.
"This is Skarmory territory, but not their main nesting area," Bronzor replied telepathically. "We need to end this quickly, before they can call for reinforcements. Otherwise, you'd better be ready for Excadrill to dig us an escape tunnel."
"An escape tunnel? Right," Basalt thought, a wave of relief washing over him. A Steel/Flying-type had no way to deal with an opponent underground. There was no need to panic. But he'd rather not have to experience that if he could help it.
"Cawww!" The Skarmory swooped down, their wings glinting in the sun. They unleashed a volley of Air Cutters, a storm of wind blades that shot towards Basalt and his Pokémon.
"Rock Slide!" he commanded.
Countless massive boulders materialized above the Skarmory and came crashing down. The birds swerved to dodge, or used Steel Wing to slice through the rocks.
But just as they were feeling confident, the world around them suddenly changed.
VWOOM!
The air grew heavy, and their bodies felt like they were made of lead. It was Gravity. Bronzor's Gravity was now at a terrifying 4.0x multiplier. Two of the Skarmory, who had been in the middle of a Steel Wing, faltered and began to plummet. At the same time, the falling rocks from the Rock Slide, now under the effect of Gravity, accelerated, their impact force multiplied.
"Meteor Crash!" Basalt yelled, naming his and Bronzor's new combo move.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Caught off guard, the Skarmory were pummeled by the super-charged rocks, and they fell from the sky, dazed and disoriented.
"Bronzor, Charge Beam!"
The Skarmory were tough. The combo hadn't been enough to knock them out. The leader, though injured, was already trying to right itself and fight back. But Basalt wasn't about to give it the chance. A bolt of electricity shot from Bronzor and struck the leader, a super-effective hit.
Soon, all five Skarmory were on the ground. A final Earthquake from Excadrill, now super-effective against the grounded Steel-types, was all it took to finish them off.
Basalt looked them over. They were all older, and their strength was average. He wasn't interested. "Alright, let's get out of here," he said with a wave of his hand.
"Brooonz~" Bronzor lifted him with its psychic power, and they flew off. It was the ultimate way to travel in style.
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