Skarmory's wings, like sharp silver blades, gracefully cut through the last layer of thin clouds.
The scenery below transformed at a visible pace. The rolling hills gradually receded, replaced by the outline of a city woven from steel, concrete, and vibrant colors.
As Skarmory's flight altitude continuously decreased, Mauville City's unique appearance unfolded more clearly before their eyes.
The entire city seemed to be gently embraced by a massive, 'hui' character-shaped building complex, with a lush green park at its center, like an emerald meticulously set into the urban fabric.
Several avant-garde high-rises were scattered throughout, their glass curtain walls reflecting the sky. Among them, the most eye-catching was undoubtedly the lightning rod tower that pierced the clouds.
It had a heavy alloy steel base, with the tower body narrowing layer by layer, and the lightning rod at the top shimmered with a cold metallic luster.
Even at hundreds of meters high, one could faintly feel the weak electric field circulating around the tower, as if all the city's lightning power was firmly drawn to this colossal structure, poised to strike.
"Almost there."
Steven raised his hand and patted Skarmory's neck, his fingertips tapping its metallic feather armor. Skarmory let out a clear cry.
Its wing-flapping frequency gradually slowed, its massive body not appearing clumsy, but like a light cloud, slowly descending towards the open grassland at the city's edge.
The gentle breeze stirred up a few blades of grass upon landing. Lionel took the opportunity to jump off Skarmory's back, his feet landing on the soft grass, and subconsciously looked down at the wooden signpost by his feet.
The writing on the signpost was clear and neat:
"Route 110 – 5 kilometers to Mauville City center"
Below, a line of warm tips was written in a slightly smaller font:
"Welcome to Mauville City! Many wild Electric-type Pokémon reside along the way. These little fellows have contributed a lot to the city's power generation, please do not harm them~"
The nearby lake shimmered with ripples, and the afternoon sun scattered across the water, breaking into a sheet of dancing golden foil.
At the center of the lake, a black building outline, surrounded by a blue fence, faintly appeared. A faint blue electric arc occasionally flashed on the lightning rod at the top. This was Mauville City's core facility, the power plant that supplied electricity to the entire city.
Steven also jumped off Skarmory's back, brushed off the grass clippings clinging to Skarmory's wings, and pointed forward:
"I'll drop you off here. Just follow this road straight ahead, and you'll reach Mauville City soon."
Lionel quickly nodded in thanks:
"Thank you so much, Mr. Steven. From Rustboro City to Mauville City, you've saved me at least several days of travel."
"It's nothing."
Steven waved his hand, turned around, and pulled out a palm-sized silver communicator from his backpack, handing it to Lionel.
"Take this. The signal in the desert can be unreliable, and regular communicators might lose connection. This one is specially made by Devon Corporation and can directly access the satellite channel to contact me.
Also, if you really encounter Mirage Tower, absolutely do not enter it on your own. Contact me immediately, and wait for me to arrive before doing anything, understand?"
"I understand, safety first."
Lionel solemnly took the communicator, pressed the side switch, and the screen lit up with a soft blue light. He carefully read the operating instructions before properly placing it into the inner compartment of his backpack.
Steven seemed to suddenly remember something crucial, paused his steps, and turned back to add a reminder:
"Oh, right. Regarding Beldum strengthening its physique by devouring metal ores, I'll compile a detailed document on the types of ores and feeding frequency and send it to you later. Remember to keep an eye on the communicator for messages, don't miss it."
"Okay, I've noted it down."
Lionel nodded seriously. This information was crucial for Beldum's growth, and he dared not be careless in the slightest.
Only then did Steven turn around, satisfied, and jumped back onto Skarmory's steel spine, patting its neck:
"I need to rush to Mossdeep City. The tide times at Shoal Cave are unpredictable, so I need to get there quickly. If the tide comes in, I'll have to wait even longer.
You prepare well for the Pokémon Contest and Gym battle in Mauville City, good luck. I'll watch your matches if I have time."
"Don't worry, I'll do my best." Lionel looked up at him, his gaze firm.
Skarmory let out a long cry, its wings fiercely flapping, stirring up a strong current of air, and carrying Steven soaring into the sky.
The silver-gray figure cut a sharp arc under the sunlight, quickly adjusted its direction, and flew towards the southeast where Mossdeep City was located.
In just a moment, it shrunk into a blurry speck of light and disappeared into the distant horizon.
Lionel stood in place for a moment, watching until the silver-gray figure was no longer visible, then withdrew his gaze.
Walking along Route 110 towards Mauville City, as soon as he stepped into the urban area, he felt an atmosphere distinctly different from Rustboro City.
The rooftops of the buildings on both sides of the street were uniformly painted in bright lavender purple, and colorful wind chimes hung from the windows of every household.
When the wind blew, the crisp "ding-a-ling" sounds intertwined with the distant laughter, making one's mood unconsciously lighten.
Screams and cheers from children emanated from the direction of the arcade not far away. Lionel then remembered that Mauville City had the largest arcade in the Hoenn region.
But he didn't plan to go there first. Arcades could be played anytime. The most important thing now was to pack some delicious food, find a hotel, and let his three Pokémon share it well, and also let them get to know each other.
Following the signposts on the road, Lionel headed towards the food street.
The further he walked, the more obvious the street's hustle and bustle became. The air was mixed with the charred aroma of roasted corn and the sweet and sour scent of berries, wafting into his nostrils, whetting his appetite.
He walked slowly along the street paved with colorful tiles, observing this city that was both familiar and new in his mind.
As the city with an Electric-type Gym, Mauville City's shop signs also exuded Electric-type elements everywhere:
Many signs were shaped like lightning bolts, and huge plush dolls of Electrike, Zebstrika, Plusle, Minun, and other Electric-type Pokémon were placed at the entrances.
The electrode pads in the center of these dolls' bellies would occasionally light up, attracting passing children to reach out and touch them, having a great time.
Lionel also encountered many Trainers on the road, and their Pokémon all had distinct local characteristics.
A Shinx followed its owner closely, its fluffy tail with a star at the end wagging vigorously, leaving a trail of tiny electric sparks wherever it ran.
There were also several pairs of Plusle and Minun by the roadside, tails cocked, circling at people's feet, begging for food.
After someone fed them, Plusle and Minun would light up with faint currents on their cheeks, actively guiding the feeder to touch them.
Lionel saw that after someone reached out to touch their cheeks, their hair immediately stood on end, and they kept exclaiming, with joyful smiles on their faces.
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