Chapter 329: A Crisis Emerges
Vmmm... Vmmm... Vmmm...
One by one, spatial gates opened up within the Ancestral Secret Realm, materializing precisely in front of each person and Pokémon.
The trainers and their Pokémon were all reluctant to leave, but they ultimately stepped through the gates.
"Everyone, let's go!"
Basalt was no exception. With a wave of his hand, he led his five Pokémon into the spatial gate.
"Ancestor, thank you for your teachings during this time."
Before leaving, Amuyar and Bator bowed deeply to the Hippowdon Ancestor.
This one month had been more fruitful for them than all their previous years of training combined. Unfortunately, limited by their current strength, they couldn't yet utilize many of the secret techniques they had learned. They would have to continue to grow and mature before they could unlock their full potential.
But at least they had internalized the principles and concepts. This knowledge would be enough to support their growth for a long time to come. At the very least, it was more than enough to dominate at the Pro-level.
"Sand-heck... Sand-heck..."
The Hippowdon Ancestor's eyes were bright. It gave them a few words of encouragement and watched them leave.
The world spun, and when their vision cleared, they were back on the rocky mountain. Khara-Khan and the Council of Elders were waiting for them.
Although seven Roba youths had entered the realm, Khara-Khan and the elders immediately swarmed Amuyar and Bator, eagerly asking about their gains.
Adil was there, of course. Noticing Basalt being left out and ignored, he walked over with a smile. "How was your month in the secret realm?"
A sunny smile appeared on Basalt's face. "It was great. I gained a lot!"
If nothing else, just having Bronzong and Marshtomp master the "Sandstorm" move was an incredible achievement. If anyone on the outside knew about it, they would be sick with envy. And that wasn't even mentioning his other gains.
As an outsider, Basalt was more than satisfied with what he had accomplished.
"Let's go. We have to celebrate your return. We'll have a good drink tonight."
Adil clapped Basalt on the shoulder, and Basalt instinctively flinched.
"Basalt, I also gained a lot this time. Give me half a year to digest it all, and I will challenge you again."
Bator crossed his arms and walked up to Basalt, his face full of confidence, his gaze condescending.
"He's getting cocky," Basalt thought. He was unfazed, but he replied politely.
Seeing Basalt's mild reaction, Bator's smile grew wider.
After Bator left, Amuyar came over to Basalt, his face full of worry. "Basalt, you have to be careful. Bator's Hippowdon has improved incredibly fast. It's already grasped the basics of the secret techniques the Ancestor taught. Give it a little more time to absorb it all, and it'll definitely reach the Pro-level."
"Pro-level?" Basalt just smiled. "It's not like I haven't beaten a Pro-level trainer before. Besides, Bator is improving, but I'm not just standing still. As for who's improving faster... that's hard to say."
No opponent Basalt had ever defeated had managed to surpass him yet.
And besides, if it weren't for Larvitar being unevolved and its body having such a small capacity, would its Quicksand Domain have been compressed by that Hippowdon?
"Larvitar's evolution probably isn't far off either."
Basalt glanced at Larvitar, who was glaring at Bator's Hippowdon, and a small smile touched his face.
...
Back in Roba City, Basalt first slept for a full day and a night, finally feeling refreshed.
Although he had eaten and slept in the Ancestral Secret Realm, the environment was so harsh that "good sleep" was impossible. It was just a matter of getting by.
He stayed in Roba City for a few more days. During that time, Alim also came to find him several times. Basalt always felt something was a bit off about him, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
On this day, Basalt decided it was time to leave. He went to say his goodbyes. "Big Brother Adil, thank you for taking care of me all this time. But I've imposed on you for long enough. It's time for me to go."
He had been away for nearly a month and a half, and Professor Rowan had already urged him to return several times.
"You're not staying a few more days?" Adil looked reluctant. He had been hoping for Basalt and Reya to spend more time together. After all, proximity breeds affection.
Reya stood to the side, not saying a word, but the reluctance on her face was clear.
"Yeah, Basalt, why don't you stay a little longer?" Amuyar also tried to get him to stay, scratching his head. "Sparring with you every day, I feel like my training is twice as effective, and I'm improving so fast. Even though I still can't beat you, and you thrash me every time!"
Amuyar's words made everyone laugh. After receiving the Ancestor's inheritance and being personally guided by Adil, Amuyar was on the fast track, his strength improving by the day.
Basalt was actually reluctant to leave the Roba lifestyle as well. But he couldn't. He still had too much to do and couldn't stay in one place for too long.
In the end, Basalt politely declined their invitations.
Seeing his decision was final, Adil had no choice but to accept it. He took a piece of animal hide from his dimensional backpack and handed it to Basalt. "This is the map of the Ashkule volcano cluster I promised you. I've marked which areas are inhabited by which Pokémon clans, and which areas are dangerous. It should be a big help to you."
"Thank you so much!"
Basalt clasped his hands in thanks and couldn't help but immediately open the map.
On the small hide, numerous mountains were drawn, surrounded by deserts and giant mountain ranges.
"This is the Takla Desert, so this must be the Silvercrest Mountains."
Basalt had a general idea of the Ashkule cluster's location. It was located about a hundred kilometers south of the Aridia region, on the northwestern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, in the Western Silvercrest Mountains. It was composed of over ten main volcanoes and dozens of smaller ones.
"If you set out from here, you'll probably enter from the back of the cluster. The entrance is here, at Sky Dragon Mountain. A small Charizard clan lives there. There aren't many of them, but their strength is not to be underestimated. Don't provoke them. They're very fast flyers, and if you can't beat them, it's hard to escape."
"And this here is Great Black Mountain. It's a volcano occupied by a large pack of Houndoom. Those Pokémon are strong, fast, have a keen sense of smell, and they're pack hunters. It's best to just go around it."
Adil first pointed out several dangerous areas for Basalt to avoid, then gave him directions. "Of the Fire-type Pokémon in the Ashkule cluster, the only ones suitable for a sandstorm team are Magcargo and Camerupt."
"Magcargo can be found on almost all the volcanoes, but their largest population is on Mount Ash, right here."
"As for Camerupt, they are mainly concentrated on Mount Uruk. But because Uruk is one of the largest volcanoes in the region, the Pokémon living there are very strong. I remember a Magmortar clan that occupies the area near the magma."
Adil shared all the information he knew, adding a final warning. "Those Pokémon are also very difficult to deal with. If you can beat them, fine. If you can't, they'll just dive into the magma, and there's nothing you can do."
"Also, the volcanic region is rich in Fire-type energy, so the power of Fire-type moves gets a significant boost, no less than in harsh sunlight. It's very easy to get a burn while fighting them. So, before you go, you must bring plenty of Blazeberry Powder."
"Thank you so much, Big Brother Adil!"
Basalt was sincerely grateful. With this information, he had a clear target. He could head straight for Mount Uruk, which would not only save a lot of time but also help him avoid a lot of unnecessary trouble.
"We're family. Don't mention it."
Adil smiled, a hidden meaning in his words, but Basalt didn't catch it at all.
Although he had decided to leave, Basalt didn't set off immediately. Adil insisted he stay for lunch.
It was a request he couldn't refuse.
But strangely, after lunch, Adil was nowhere to be found.
With no other choice, Basalt waved goodbye to Amuyar and Reya and released Bronzong, shooting into the sky.
Not long after he left, in a dark room somewhere in the Roba Tribe, the black-robed man licked his lips.
"He's finally... come out."
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