"Be prepared to deal with the dangers that may arise at any time. The other party came in earlier than us and has been here for such a long time. Maybe they have discovered many secrets inside." Aoki whispered.
Steven nodded.
In this quiet environment, even a single word could cause noticeable movement.
Aoki's psychic powers activated, connecting Slowking and Metagross.
Group telepathy mode began again!
Enveloping Steven and all the Pokémon in the mental link, this not only reduced the chance of detection but also sped up the coordination between Aoki and Steven when issuing commands.
Steven, who had tried this kind of cooperation before, was not surprised at all.
When they had used this method previously, both Slowking and Metagross were only at the Elite level. Now, however, these two Pokémon had reached Quasi-Champion strength, and their abilities had greatly improved.
After arriving at the lowest floor, they found a cylindrical structure. Below it, four passages led in different directions.
Aoki and Steven exchanged glances before choosing the nearest passage and proceeding inside.
The interior was not much different from the outside, but the walls bore numerous scratches.
Judging by the variety and number of marks, it was clear that they had not been made by a single Pokémon, or even a single species.
Some of the scratches were analyzed by Aoki's system, allowing him to guess which Pokémon had caused them. Others, however, left no discernible clues.
Continuing deeper, the two remained extra cautious, sensing an eerie atmosphere around them.
The passage was not very long. At its end was a room—empty except for a few cages and layers of dust.
Time had weathered most of the contents, but the cages, made of an unknown material, remained intact.
This aligned with Aoki's theory. The cages had likely once held Bug-type Pokémon, which were confined here and left without food.
Only the strongest and most resilient would have survived.
Whoever had used this method in ancient times was clearly no ordinary Trainer. The Pokémon they sought to raise were likely either rare or immensely powerful once fully grown.
Moreover, in ancient times, humans and Pokémon had not yet achieved peaceful coexistence. The complex nature of their relationship was beyond what Aoki could fully grasp now.
Many Pokémon from that era had gone extinct, making it impossible for Aoki to determine exactly which species had been kept here.
"Let's go. The other passages are probably the same." Aoki communicated to Steven via telepathy.
They proceeded to the next passage, which was nearly identical.
Upon entering the third passage, however, they noticed something unusual.
Fresh footprints marked the ground—both human and Pokémon. The tracks were recent.
Concealing their presence with the help of their Psychic-type Pokémon, Aoki and Steven levitated slightly above the ground, moving forward silently.
From deeper within the passage, a faint green smoke drifted out, carrying the scent of... food?
Aoki and Steven's expressions grew serious. The traitor must be hiding inside.
Creeping closer, they saw the room's interior. Unlike the previous chambers, this one was tidy and well-organized. No cages were present, but food and supplies hung from the walls. A fire burned in the center, roasting meat. In one corner, stacks of provisions, water, and Pokémon food were neatly arranged.
The occupant had clearly turned this place into a refuge, stockpiling enough supplies to wait out the chaos outside. Whether they intended to join Team Magma, Team Aqua, or flee to another region, they were prepared.
A clever strategist.
But as Aoki scanned the room, he realized—
No one was inside.
"Steven! Behind you!" Aoki's telepathic warning flashed into Steven's mind in an instant.
Reacting swiftly, Steven didn't flee—instead, he dodged behind Metagross's massive body.
"Gengar!" Aoki simultaneously commanded.
Gengar emerged from Aoki's shadow, instantly raising a protective barrier.
Protect!
A dark shape shot past Aoki, deflected by Gengar's shield—but the attacker twisted mid-motion, slipping past the barrier and lunging again.
"Floette!" Aoki's Floette reacted instantly, its own Protect flaring up just in time. Slowking's psychic powers then locked onto the assailant, halting its advance.
On Steven's side, Metagross intercepted the attack meant for him.
Despite the sudden ambush, Aoki had remained calm, and his Pokémon had reacted swiftly. Yet the fact that the attacker bypassed Gengar's Protect suggested they had come prepared.
Why hadn't Slowking or Metagross detected them earlier?
The thought barely formed before the shadowy figure bolted for the passage exit. Aoki leapt onto Drapion's back, directing it to give chase.
Steven, meanwhile, mounted Metagross, using its Psychic and electromagnetic levitation abilities to keep pace.
Aggron had been recalled for now—Steven could summon it again when needed.
As they burst back into the central chamber, they found a lone figure waiting.
The woman standing there looked at them with mild surprise.
"I didn't expect the famous duo to be the ones chasing me. No wonder my plan failed. A miscalculation on my part."
She had short black hair and wore loose, casual clothing. The fact that she seemed so at ease in this place spoke volumes about her mental fortitude.
Most would find such an environment oppressive, but this woman appeared completely unfazed.
The footprints in the passage, the scent of roasting meat—it had all been a trap. She had lured them in, then sent her Pokémon to strike from behind.
Beside her, two small Pokémon hovered, their speed explaining how they had evaded detection earlier.
Ninjask.
And Shedinja.