How many Pokémon did the Quicksand Team stuff in here?
Baimu was speechless. After being down for less than thirty minutes, he encountered three waves of Pokémon in a row, and the last wave was even caught on the spot.
What to do?
Should he use his trump card?
He touched his pocket, nervously watching Aron.
But for some reason, the other side didn't attack, maintaining a watchful posture, with a faint curiosity in its sapphire eyes.
The stalemate lasted for about ten seconds, and Baimu, who was waiting for Aron to attack, was momentarily puzzled. Then, as if he understood something, he slowly stretched his hand toward his collar.
At the same time.
A faint buzzing of wings suddenly came from behind him.
Oh no!
Those two Vibrava have returned!
When it rains, it pours. One Aron was hard enough to deal with, now there were two more Vibrava.
This was outright forcing him into a dead end!
Baimu looked at the Aron, which still hadn't assumed an attacking posture, and had the absurd thought of hugging it and hiding together.
Otherwise, even if he hid, Aron would expose itself.
Who knew the other side would take a few steps back, look at him carefully a few more times, then glance in the direction of the buzzing, run to the rock wall, and quickly dig a small hole in which it hid.
The movements were stealthy and agile, truly impressive.
This guy...
Hiding, Baimu couldn't help but touch the Iron Ingot on his chest, wondering if the clue referred to this Aron.
But the supposed "obtainable" Pokémon, how could the Pokémon released by the Quicksand Team be obtained?
Could it be... an abandoned one?
There's a possibility, but it assumes the test area didn't scrutinize carefully. In the end, the clue might not point to Aron; there are many Pokémon interested in Iron Ingot in the world.
In any case, anything is possible.
Baimu held his breath, trying to reduce minute body movements to avoid being detected by Vibrava.
This kind of Pokémon, living in deserts, has a strong aggressiveness and won't let go of enemies caught in its sight.
"Bzzz—"
The noisy sound was like a buzzer, constantly stimulating Baimu's nerves, and if not for his decent endurance, he'd probably have already lost it by now.
He silently counted down in his heart, holding his breath.
Soon after, he narrowly dodged the two Vibrava once again.
Until the buzzing was no longer heard, he slightly moved and looked towards the small hole Aron had dug out.
He thought the other side would poke its head out, but after waiting for more than a minute, there was still no sign.
"Gone... Is this one really abandoned?" Baimu touched the minimized Pokéball in his pocket.
The two Vibrava came back too quickly for him to even have a chance to test things out.
Did he really miss out?
He rubbed his temples to dispel distracting thoughts. The most important thing now was to pass the test, and even if he truly missed this chance, being an official member would bring him one.
Let's keep going.
Baimu turned on the lamp on his miner's helmet, adjusted the brightness so that the dim path became clearer without attracting light-sensitive Pokémon.
He hadn't left for long.
Aron poked its head out of the hole, looking in the direction he left, the four small black holes on its face spewing a bit of dust, and unhurriedly followed.
——
Huff, huff, huff...
Cheng Hong ran frantically, the Rhyhorn chasing him like a Life-taking Talisman, causing him some disorientation.
Unquestionably, this approach of ignoring traps was quite reckless.
So, as expected, Cheng Hong suddenly stepped into empty air, plummeting into a deliberately crafted deep pit, with jagged stones at the bottom easily tearing his skin, instantly soaking his clothes in blood.
"Ha ha ha ha, a bunch of overconfident trash, still thinking they can pass the test."
Above the pit, Rhyhorn revealed its head, surrounded by several annoying faces.
One of them sneered, "Tell me Baimu's whereabouts sooner, and if I'm in a good mood, I might let you off."
"In your dreams! Just wait! Baimu will never let you off when he finds out!"
Cheng Hong looked angrily at Chaitian.
After splitting up with Baimu, they had been very lucky, not only avoiding various traps but also hardly encountering any trial Pokémon.
When they reached the depths and saw the scattered Jade Mine fragments, they thought victory was imminent. Who would have thought Chaitian had already set an ambush here with people and cheating Pokémon, catching them off guard?
All his companions had fallen one after another, and now he, the only one who escaped, had fallen into a trap.
"Let you off? Hahaha, I want to see how he won't let me off! A bunch of penniless nobodies! Rhyhorn! Kill him for me!"
Chaitian laughed maniacally out of anger, suddenly waving his hand intending to have Cheng Hong killed.
The latter, terrified, crossed his arms in front of himself, eyes tightly shut, believing he was doomed. Despite his immense fear, he bit his teeth instinctively, unwilling to show an unsightly face at death's door, while inwardly calling on Baimu to avenge him.
However, after waiting for a long while, he felt no pain.
This made him open his eyes and look up.
"Huh? Where'd they go?"
Both Chaitian and the Rhyhorn were nowhere to be seen.
Had he really been let go? How is that possible!
Cheng Hong was full of doubts.
Above the pit, Chaitian's face was rigid, watching the retreating Rhyhorn. It was his uncle's appointed Pokémon meant to help him, but he couldn't command it!
The scornful look in its eyes before leaving pierced his heart.
Dammit!
Even a Pokémon dares to look down on me!
Remembering Rhyhorn's dismissive attitude earlier, Chaitian's face nearly twisted with rage, his fists clenched, body tense. The people beside him kept their voices low, not daring to speak loudly.
Afraid of being implicated.
"It's all because of that damned Baimu! I have to kill him!"
Ultimately, Chaitian blamed everything on Baimu's refusal to submit. If it weren't for him, the nobodies wouldn't dare be so defiant. He was also tired of being blamed by his family for failing at this trivial task, embarrassing them.
That's right.
It's all Baimu's fault!
Back near the Jade Mine, Chaitian looked at the "paupers" lying around, quietly moaning, and grinned menacingly, "Beat them! Make them scream! The more painful, the better! Make sure that little wimp Baimu knows what's happening here!"
"Um, Chaitian..."
"Hmm!?"
The speaker avoided Chaitian's bloodshot eyes, while the others exchanged glances, wanting to say attracting other Pokémon was easy this way, but they didn't dare go against the furious Chaitian and had to follow his orders.
In an instant.
Heart-wrenching cries echoed in the underground mine, sending chills down the spines of many Quicksand Team underlings exploring.
What could have happened that would make them scream so miserably? Is the test really this terrifying!
Moving slowly, Baimu also noticed the commotion. He even found the howls somewhat familiar, prompting him to quicken his pace.
Whether he passed the test didn't matter, but he feared the other side might perish, and he wasn't so cold-blooded as to ignore a friend's mortal danger.
Meanwhile, unnoticed by all, a small symbol-like figure, seemingly emerging from a slate of grayish rock, held a miniature camera, secretly observing these test-taking underlings.
In Pyrite Town, a man of noble bearing, holding a glass of red wine, watched the numerous screens in front of him and sighed.
"Quicksand Team, each generation worse than the last."
The security company originally established to protect the mines had deteriorated to this level.
"Death God Plate, have the Yamask keep an eye out, don't let too many die."
"Chatter!"
On a gigantic gray rock with a bizarre serpent-like symbol, ghostly violet eyes blinked softly before disappearing from sight.