Corvisquire soared in front, while Shiro jogged through the desert with Growlithe at his side.
After winning its first battle with ease, the Fire-type was unusually excited. It ran and leapt with its tongue out, shaking its head wildly. The orange-colored fur on its body rippled with each movement, covering most of the black markings beneath.
"Coooor!"
Soon, Corvisquire cried out from above, circling in place as it spotted their next opponent. It tilted its wings and dipped lower, signaling Shiro and Growlithe.
Noticing the signal, Shiro picked up his pace. After jumping over two low sand dunes, he finally spotted their target lying in a sunken sandy pit.
A Stunfisk.
But not the usual kind. This one was the Galarian form. Its body was grayish-brown, with a shrunken tail and jagged fins on both ends. It looked like a trap, with a Poké Ball-shaped mouth and back patterns that resembled animal footprints.
This kind of Stunfisk was far more aggressive than the normal version.
The regular Stunfisk has the Electric as its secondary type. When prey touches it, it discharges a strong electric current to paralyze them. But the Galarian one has Steel as its secondary type. Its body is like a trap. Once something steps on it, it clamps down with force strong enough to break a leg in an instant.
The Stunfisk in front of them lay completely still in the pit. The low ground and shaded light made it hard to see, with brown mud settled at the bottom. If someone wasn't paying attention, they'd probably step right onto it—and trigger the trap.
Shiro thought for a moment, then gave a command with a wave of his arm to the curious dog beside him.
"Growlithe, use Howl."
"Grooooowlithe!"
The Fire-type raised its head, opened its mouth wide, and let out a long, echoing howl.
Howl was a move that raised the attack power of the user and any nearby allies.
Shiro gave another order. "Keep using Howl until your attack power is maxed out."
Following the command, Growlithe howled again and again. After a certain point, the increase in strength became barely noticeable.
Standing atop the small dune, Shiro quietly observed the Stunfisk lying in the muddy sand below. He focused his gaze and the creature's info appeared in his mind.
[Name: Stunfisk
Type: Ground/Steel
Level: 29 (Intermediate)
Ability: Mimicry
Held Item: None]
Its level was not too high, just right for Growlithe to handle.
The ability Mimicry allowed the Pokémon to change its type based on the terrain. For example, if another Pokémon activated Grassy Terrain, Stunfisk would become a Grass type and benefit from that field effect.
But in this current desert setting, that ability wasn't going to help much.
Then he turned his attention to his own Pokémon.
[Name: Growlithe
Type: Fire
Level: 25 (Intermediate)
Ability: Flash Fire
Held Item: None]
Flash Fire made Growlithe immune to Fire-type moves. If hit by one, it would actually grow stronger, boosting its own Fire-type moves. It was a useful and reliable ability.
At the moment, Growlithe stood poised and focused, eyes locked on the unmoving Stunfisk. It waited patiently, eager for the next command.
Shiro satisfied its wish. "Start with Ember."
Growlithe opened its jaws, a flicker of flame forming in its throat. A thick stream of fire shot forward, striking the sandpit with precision and igniting the area where the Stunfisk lay.
Though still at intermediate-level, Growlithe's natural strength and solid training made its Ember nearly as potent as a Flamethrower used by some Advanced-level Fire-types.
Galarian Stunfisk, being Ground and Steel, was especially vulnerable. While Ground took neutral damage from Fire, Steel was weak to it. The combination made the Ember devastating.
"Stuuuuun!"
With a piercing cry, the Stunfisk jerked to life, its body now charred and smoldering. It slapped its tail against the ground and launched itself into the air to escape the flames, scorch marks darkening its flattened form.
"Stun—!"
But Growlithe didn't let up. Its eyes tracked the airborne target, flames danced from its mouth, trailing the erratic movements of the panicked Stunfisk.
Finally, pushed to its limit, the half-cooked Stunfisk couldn't take it anymore. It turned and leapt up the sand dune behind it, not sparing its attacker a single glance as it fled.
"Nice." Shiro nodded, and continued, "Growlithe, use Flame Wheel, Chase it!"
"Growl!"
Growlithe barked with vigor, then dropped low and ignited itself in a swirling vortex of fire, rolling forward like a burning wheel.
The blazing fireball sped across the sand in a flash, soaring over dunes and trenches with ease. In a blink, it caught up with the fleeing Stunfisk.
With its attack power boosted by earlier Howls, and taking advantage of Stunfisk's type disadvantage, Growlithe's Flame Wheel slammed into the enemy with overwhelming force.
The impact sent the flat-bodied Pokémon flying more than ten meters, crashing hard into the sand and skidding to a stop—completely still.
On the ground, the charred and smoking Stunfisk didn't move. It had lost the ability to battle.
"Groowl! Groowl!"
Growlithe trotted proudly toward its fallen opponent, clearly intending to drag the roasted Stunfisk back.
"No! Come back!" Shiro called, waving both arms. When Growlithe didn't listen, he sighed and pulled out its Poké Ball, recalling it remotely in a flash of light.
Bzzt—bzzt—
Just then, the comm device on his waist began vibrating intensely.
"Hm? Granny Shae?" Shiro pulled it out to answer. A raspy, aged voice came through the other end.
"Shiro, bring your team to Stow-on-Side immediately! We've already arrived, and even brought the company's TV station. Everyone's just waiting on you now!"
"Got it! We'll be right there!" Shiro replied, ending the call in a hurry.
He pulled out a Poké Ball and recalled Corvisquire, who had landed on his shoulder, then called out to another Pokémon.
"Let's go, Draklaok! Take me back!"
"Draa~"
The Dragon-type emerged with a soft hum, gliding behind him and gently lifting him by the shoulders. With smooth, rapid motion, it soared into the sky and raced back toward the camp.
In less than a minute, they were already back near the crumbling walls and the line of tents.
Marvin had already packed up and was standing with his bag on his back. Nessa leaned against the wall, arms crossed, calmly waiting.
"Sorry I'm late," Shiro said, glancing around. "Where's Allister?"
"He went on ahead toward Stow-on-Side. Only left a few seconds ago, so there's no rush," Marvin answered as he tilted his head back, hands behind his head, and took long strides toward the town.
Shiro nodded and followed without a word.
...
A while later.
The four of them regrouped at the base of the wide stone staircase on the outskirts of Stow-on-Side.
With the sandstorms finally gone, the sight above was beautiful: deep brown peaks beneath a brilliant blue sky, and a humble, welcoming town built into the slopes. But the steps were still buried under thick layers of sand. Shiro's foot sank deep with a crunch, and he had to tug it free before climbing further.
Soon, they stepped into the town's main street, which was still blanketed in heavy sand. Locals crowded the roads, busy sweeping up the mess in front of their homes.
As Shiro and his group walked into view, the townsfolk, broom and dustpan in hand, straightened up one by one to look at them.
"Is that them? The League trainers who stopped the sandstorm?"
"Yeah, those four. The reporter mentioned them earlier."
"Heroes… They're real heroes…"
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