If a bounty hunter believed every piece of intel they were given without conducting their own investigation, they wouldn't survive very long.
Wild Pokémon don't stay still like fixed data. Their population sizes and individual strength change constantly over time.
Unexpected developments are often what push people into deadly danger—something no sane person wants to experience.
"Bzz~"
A faint crackle of electricity echoed through the silent cavern.
The strange-looking device Silas had taken out activated and, under his control through the handheld panel, drifted deeper into the tunnel.
This was a prototype scanner currently in the research-and-testing phase developed by the Silph Co.
Its precision and controllability surpassed every commercial detection device on the market.
Most importantly, it could bypass the senses of certain Pokémon.
Silas had acquired it from Hiroki Silph, who gave it to him under the pretext of "helping with field testing."
In other words, even if it broke, it wasn't a big problem—just proof that the instrument still had many flaws.
At least, that's what Hiroki Silph told him.
Because the device was equipped with many measuring modules, it consumed energy rapidly.
Fortunately, charging was easy—it supported both Pokémon-powered charging and conventional charging.
In the wild, Silas' Ampharos could recharge it effortlessly.
As the device went deeper, the environmental data it collected was transmitted back to Silas' Pokémon Wristwatch.
"Mm, humidity matches expectations… but the water-source depth is this large? I'll need to take precautions against Water-type Pokémon."
Silas muttered as he read the data.
Overall, the environment wasn't much different from an ordinary cave—other than an underground river that formed a waterfall.
"Gigalith, I'm counting on you."
Silas tossed out a Luxury Ball.
With a flash of red light, the previously spacious cave instantly felt cramped.
The massive Gigalith took up a significant portion of the chamber.
After materializing, Gigalith nodded toward Silas and immediately got to work.
Its expressionless eyes stared deep into the cave as layers of yellowish light rippled across its rocky body.
A few minutes later, Gigalith turned its head toward Silas.
"Mhm, I see. Got it."
Silas nodded repeatedly as he listened to Gigalith's report.
Based on Gigalith's detection, the Pokémon composition hadn't changed much.
The only additions were groups of Rattata, Raticate, and a herd of Slowpoke.
Oh, and a large number of Magikarp splashing around—though apparently no Gyarados.
No one paid attention to Magikarp anyway.
Their appearance wasn't unexpected. They were the local natives.
If their power wasn't low enough for them to be pushed out, they likely would've been the first group to riot.
And because of Kanto's higher elevation, most Pokémon living near Tohjo Falls were species native to Kanto rather than Johto.
Of course, Gigalith wasn't omnipotent.
It couldn't scan Water-type Pokémon deep in the riverbed that weren't in contact with the ground.
The only reason it detected the Magikarp was because they continuously splashed above the surface.
Gigalith's excellent hearing allowed it to judge their general numbers through the sound of water.
This meant another partner's help was required.
"I'll leave the next part to you, Blaziken."
Silas recalled Gigalith and threw out a third Luxury Ball.
"Blazi-Ken!"
Blaziken emerged and immediately shouted at Silas, clearly still upset about what Silas did earlier in the forest.
"Work, work. We need money if you want to eat."
Silas urged him with a teasing grin.
Blaziken rolled his eyes but obediently closed them a second later.
A faint blue glow spread from its body.
Seeing this, Silas also dropped his playful attitude and quietly shut his eyes.
"Aura resides within the heart."
Silas and Blaziken's voices echoed in unison within their minds.
Anyone nearby would have seen the blue glow around Blaziken suddenly intensify, while Silas himself radiated a faint light.
Though Silas wasn't an Aura Guardian, and couldn't freely command Aura like they could, he could amplify Blaziken's sensing ability through their bond.
After all, Aura—being a form of Psychic energy was a special power that existed to varying degrees in all humans and Pokémon.
In an instant, invisible ripples swept across most of the cavern.
The wild Pokémon deep inside were unaware. They simply continued their chaotic movements.
"No ground-dwelling Pokémon of note. Underwater, two additional Advance-level Seaking."
Blaziken's concise report allowed Silas to relax.
"Good. Go back and rest a bit—you'll be fighting again soon."
Silas reopened his eyes and recalled Blaziken once the Pokémon showed no objections.
Ordinary-level Pokémon were no issue for Silas whatsoever.
Unless their numbers reached triple digits, they were just cannon fodder for his partners—a single high-powered move would wipe them out.
The real concern was the Advance-level ones.
Fortunately, Raticate and Golbat—despite being evolved Pokémon—didn't necessarily reach Advance rank.
Among all detected non–Water-type Pokémon, only three Golbat and two Raticate were Advance-level.
Counting the Seaking that only evolve around level 33, the upcoming fight consisted of:
2 pseudo–Elite–level Pokémon
10 Advance-level Pokémon
Numerous Standard & Novice-level Pokémon
"Mm. As expected—nothing too troublesome."
Silas exhaled in relief.
Even though the probability was low, he had been worried this cursed place might spawn a Champion-tier Pokémon or several Elite Four Pokémon.
That wasn't paranoia—such things did happen.
Quite a few unlucky Trainers died every year because of situations like this.
"With this, the ground Pokémon are Gigalith and Togekiss's job. Water-types go to Serperior and Ampharos. Blaziken handles protection and emergency support."
Silas finalized his battle plan quickly.
Now he just had to wait for Blaziken to recover from Aura sensing.
Silas was patient—every bit of strength mattered in a real fight.
He wasn't about to lower his guard just because victory seemed likely.
Ten minutes later, after resting in place for a while, Silas set out again.
He soon crept near the wild Pokémon habitat.
Well—"near" meant two more intersections away.
But he couldn't go any closer.
Any further and he'd risk being detected prematurely.
This was knowledge Silas gained from being hunted through the wilderness over a hundred times.
Carefully, he crouched down and retrieved the detector and control pad, then released his Pokémon one by one.
The already-small cavern instantly became packed wall-to-wall with Pokémon.
Togekiss, who usually liked to cheer loudly upon release, immediately had its mouth covered by Silas—who gave it a harsh glare.
Togekiss flushed with embarrassment. This wasn't its first mission, and it was just a little nervous. Next time it would be more careful.
Ampharos was excited—it had a strange love for taking on large groups at once.
The other three seniors were far calmer.
Gigalith, upon appearing, instinctively used Ground-type energy to dampen the vibrations from everyone's footsteps.
"Good."
Silas nodded with satisfaction at his energetic team and whispered:
"You know the targets. When I count down from three, you all charge in together.
Serperior—don't forget to set up Grassy Terrain for recovery.
Gigalith—make sure to use Gravity for battlefield control.
Togekiss—don't fly too high or too fast. Share some of the attacks aimed at Gigalith.
Ampharos, don't lose your head."
"Ampharos—don't get carried away."
He briefly gave instructions to each Pokémon based on their strengths.
Ampharos was displeased. Why was its instruction worded differently?
"You know exactly why," Silas scolded it harshly. "I'm worried you'll get overexcited and leap right off the edge. I'm telling you now—if you fall, you're climbing back up on your own."
The other Pokémon giggled quietly beside them.
Ever since that League match where Ampharos got overzealous and ended up seriously injured, Silas had been warning it even during training.
Ampharos could only lower its head.
"All right, enough fooling around. Let's get to work."
Silas's expression turned serious.
The five Pokémon immediately dropped their playful attitudes.
"Okay—three, two, one—go!"
At his command, all Pokémon except the standby Blaziken shot forward at top speed.
Togekiss naturally led the charge, but the little creature had a good sense of awareness. Remembering Silas's warning, it gradually reduced its speed to stay aligned with the three partners behind it.
The remaining three weren't much different in pace, Gigalith and Ampharos simply weren't fast, while Serperior deliberately stayed in the rear, fully aware of its assigned role.
Silas followed behind them at a steady pace, a pleased smile forming on his face.
This mission wasn't only about earning money; another goal was to train his team's coordination.
According to his plan, he would be spending most of the upcoming year in Johto's wilderness. Under those conditions, teamwork among his Pokémon would become especially important.
Wild Pokémon didn't care for fair one-on-one trainer battle rules. Unless you were challenging a clan leader, group battles were normal.
Judging from the initial charge, even without prior rehearsal, the training and time spent together had produced excellent teamwork.
The rumbling of the four Pokémon charging forward could no longer be hidden by Gigalith's presence. The Pokémon colony, led by the pseudo–Elite-level Golbat, quickly noticed Silas and his "uninvited guests."
"Screee—!"
Shrill cries echoed one after another.
It was Golbat calling for help from the Seaking group in the water.
Before it could call again, a massive rock suddenly smashed into it and knocked it out of the air.
It was Gigalith's Rock Slide.
Though it disliked water, underground caverns were practically Gigalith's half-home turf. Its Rock Slides flew out one after another with startling speed.
Several Golbat—its Poison/Flying typing weak to Rock—were dealt unbearable damage.
And that wasn't all.
Blades of white compressed air swept down from Togekiss above—Air Slash.
The cluster of Zubat preparing to fight was blown apart instantly.
"Ratta!"
Familiar squeaks rang out as Rattata and Raticate launched their charge while Golbat and Zubat were drawing fire.
Purple-furred four-legged Rattata and the larger brown bipedal Raticate rushed at Gigalith one after another.
They were powerless against Togekiss, which wasn't flying too high, but still out of reach. They could only place their hopes on their new leader Golbat and the Zubat swarm to handle it.
Clang!
The crisp impact echoed through the cavern.
Then came the cries of the Rattata and Raticate.
Their famously sturdy incisors bounced off Gigalith's rocky body instantly—some of them even showing tiny cracks.
Beyond the raw difference in strength, this was the difference between a trained Pokémon and a wild one.
If these were trainer-raised Raticate, even if they couldn't harm Gigalith significantly, they wouldn't end up in such a humiliating state.
Gigalith let out a heavy rumble. A brownish gravitational field expanded around it, and the small Rattata and Raticate hanging onto its body were shaken loose, several collapsing onto the ground unable to move.
In just ten seconds or so, the Golbat and Zubat swarm had reorganized and launched an assault on Togekiss again.
Wild Pokémon really were admirable in adaptability and battle instincts.
Togekiss was only Advance-level, and although strong, facing one pseudo–Elite-level Golbat plus three Advance-level Golbat at once was still overwhelming.
Thankfully, it wasn't fighting alone.
Seeing Togekiss pressured, the confident Gigalith immediately conjured a new barrage of rocks and sent them flying toward the Zubat.
Unlike the earlier solid boulders, these were shaped like thick, chopping blades.
This was Silas's modified version of Rock Blast, redesigned after studying Stone Edge—increasing its power slightly while keeping the multi-hit property, making it extremely effective in group battles.
Several Advanced-Level Zubat were knocked away instantly.
The pseudo–Elite-level Golbat endured, but its condition was clearly terrible.
With the situation stabilized on that side, Silas—arriving a bit late—shifted his attention toward the underground river nearby.
"Wahoo~ (￣▽￣～)~"
...
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