Under Trick Room, Typhlosion's speed was completely suppressed.
Even though it was an Elite Four level Pokémon, it likely had never encountered such a strange move before.
As for timing-based counterattack tactics… those weren't something Typhlosion could come up with on the spot. Not understanding the mechanics of Trick Room, it simply kept feeling shocked that it wasn't as fast as before.
Five minutes later, the battered Typhlosion was half-collapsed on the ground, staring in terror at the proud and cold Gardevoir before it.
It gave in…
The next moment, the flames on the back of Typhlosion's neck were extinguished completely. After letting out a low whimper of surrender, it turned and fled into the bushes.
"Honchkrow, follow it!"
Without hesitation, Sato immediately sent out Honchkrow to follow the tracks Typhlosion left behind.
As an Elite Four level Pokémon with a territory, Typhlosion's lair should definitely contain some valuable things. And as the victor, Sato naturally didn't mind scavenging a bit.
Even if, truthfully, he wasn't hurting for cash.
"Kroow!"
Soon, Honchkrow stopped in front of a small rocky hill, where the entire surface was riddled with holes chewed out by Ground-type Pokémon. Typhlosion had clearly entered one of the caves.
After all, it was a yellow-furred, dark green-blue oversized rodent.
No Houndoom…
No Umbreon…
The only one who could explore caves freely was…
"Gengar, it's yours."
"Gen~"
Gengar slowly floated out from Sato's shadow. After giving him a light nod, it bounced into the cave at a relaxed pace like a Clefairy.
Sato then recalled Honchkrow and entered the cave with Gardevoir.
"Toto, should I scout this place?"
"No need. Save your energy for the fight-"
Gardevoir: (^ )??
"For battle..."
Gardevoir: (￢_￢) glance…
Sato pretended not to notice and strode forward confidently.
Gardevoir smiled smugly at his back, then flashed forward and caught up to him.
Five minutes later, Gengar returned silently to Sato's side. Without saying a word, it simply pointed to a tunnel on the right.
Sato nodded and waved his hand.
"Let's go!"
…Unfortunately, Gengar was too chill, and Gardevoir too aloof, so Sato just awkwardly lowered his hand and acted like nothing happened as he briskly walked toward the right passage.
Twisting and turning, up and down! They had to search for a path Sato could fit through. Gengar occasionally vanished and reappeared, then vanished again…
As they went deeper, Sato inevitably encountered other Pokémon living underground.
Most of them were intimidated by Gardevoir's presence, some ran, some hid.
Those that didn't make it in time would shove their heads into the dirt, trembling with their butts exposed… like the Aron before them now.
Seeing this, Gardevoir kindly used Confusion to pile some rocks and dirt over it, sealing it up nice and tight~
Sato: …
"Gen! Gen-gen~"
Just then, Gengar returned again, pointing at the rock layer below, signaling that the destination was beneath them.
"Is the rock thick?" Sato asked smoothly.
"Gen~"
Gengar raised both chubby hands to demonstrate… but halfway through, it stopped, realizing that gesture didn't quite fit its usual laid-back style.
After a brief pause, Gengar also used Confusion to move some rocks and dirt, shaping them into a half-meter-long mound to indicate that the rock layer was about half a meter thick. Not difficult to break through.
Unfortunately, the dirt Gengar moved happened to be the same pile Gardevoir had just used…
And so… a wriggling steel-gray butt reappeared before everyone!
Gengar: ゛( ' ◇ ')?
A chilly breeze blew through the cave. Aron shivered from the local cold, wondering if these people just didn't know when to stop!
'You buried me… and now you're digging me up again just to humiliate me!?'
Aron: ( 'д)
"Pfff… a-ahem, Gengar means the rock layer is only half a meter thick, right? In that case, easy fix! Tyranitar!"
Suppressing a laugh, Sato dodged Gardevoir's bewildered and slightly accusatory gaze, then took the initiative to send out Tyranitar.
"Tyra… ?"
Hunched over, Tyranitar grumbled as it bumped the ceiling of the cave. It also liked rocky environments, but clearly not ones so cramped that it couldn't even stand up straight.
"No need to smash the top, just collapse the floor. That'll open things up."
Tyranitar scratched its head in confusion but obediently stomped the ground. With little effort, it detected a hollow space below.
"Tyraaan!"
With a shout, Tyranitar immediately used Sand Tomb, turning the ground into sand and safely reaching the next layer.
Just as Gengar had scouted, the cave below was indeed Typhlosion's den.
At that moment, Typhlosion was lying in its nest, licking its wounds… until its tongue suddenly hit a mouthful of sand.
Pleh! Pleh! Pleh…
Typhlosion sprang up in shock. Looking up, it found that its nest was leaking sand.
And then the whole den collapsed…
Dust filled the air. Typhlosion covered its nose, squinting in disbelief at the scene before it!
As the dust cleared slightly, Typhlosion finally saw the culprits. Its expression shifted from shock to fury… to fear… and finally to sheer grievance!
'I already surrendered…'
At that moment, Sato and Gardevoir also noticed Typhlosion, who looked like it was on the verge of crying from sheer injustice. They instinctively glanced at each other…
'What the hell did you do to make it look that bullied?!' ×2
"Tyraaan!"
"Hmm? Something good?"
Sato turned to Tyranitar and saw it busily digging through the sand, pulling out a deep crimson rock.
Veins like blood vessels ran across its surface, pulsing with a red glow at regular intervals, as if the rock itself was breathing.
"Heart of Earthflame!"
Sato was thrilled. Typhlosion really lived up to being a wild Elite Four level Pokémon, its den truly held something valuable!
Heart of Earthflame: a rare Type-Enhancing Item for Fire-types. Once absorbed, it could greatly increase flame temperature, even converting the flame to lava in some cases.
The difference between fire and lava was obvious. Just the solidification alone could easily double the power of Fire-type moves.
And they hadn't even brought Houndoom, yet they already scored a rare Item. The rest of the team could only watch in envy.
"Keep looking! See if there's anything else!" Sato said excitedly to Tyranitar.
Tyranitar, eager to find a treasure for itself, began digging even faster!
As for Typhlosion, it had only received a single glance from Sato the entire time…
And then, it was completely ignored.
Typhlosion: The beast feels wronged, but the beast won't say it!