One of Cain's objectives in entering the interior of Mt. Silver this time was to look for some materials to produce recovery medicines for Darkrai, while at the same time training his Pokémon in a high-intensity, high-risk environment.
Why does the League require at least Elite Four–level strength or above to enter Mt. Silver?
Precisely because Elite Four–level Pokémon are very common here. Without that level of power, one would most likely only be able to stand and watch at the entrance.
Of course, even Elite Four–level experts do not dare to move freely through the interior. At most, they circle around the outer area, trying to collect valuable materials or capture some high-value Pokémon.
The League also has clear rules for those who enter the interior of Mt. Silver: each person may capture at most three Pokémon, and indiscriminate killing of the Pokémon living there is not allowed. Defeating them is permitted, and even if one or two die due to carelessness, that is acceptable—but using one's own strength to massacre them without restraint is forbidden.
This is also one of the reasons why the League's army is stationed in the area.
On one hand, it prevents disturbances among the Pokémon of Mt. Silver; on the other, it stops trainers who enter from causing excessive damage to the ecosystem.
Naturally, if you have sufficient strength and the confidence to evade the League's investigation, then there is no need to worry about that.
In essence, this place is very much like a wild zone with extremely high Pokémon levels and an equally high degree of danger.
After passing through a tunnel, they arrived at a primitive forest: towering trees, uneven ground, bushes growing everywhere, and Pokémon visible almost everywhere one looked.
This was the inner region of Mt. Silver, one of the most dangerous wild areas in the Pokémon world.
Once inside, Cain released Salamence, Kingdra, Gardevoir, Lucario, and Venusaur.
While they were still in a relatively peripheral area, this was the most suitable place to train these Pokémon.
Cain sat atop Shiny Venusaur's back. Gardevoir floated silently beside him using her psychic power, leaving psychic coordinates on nearby trees along the way so that she could use the move Teleport at any moment to take Cain with her.
Salamence flew above the forest, ensuring a wide field of vision and preparing for possible aerial attacks.
Lucario, on the other hand, became extremely active upon entering this place, as if it had returned to its own home, darting back and forth among the trees.
Lucario's aura allowed it to perceive all goodwill and hostility from Pokémon within a one-kilometer radius. Thus, if any Pokémon tried to attack them, it would be impossible to escape its perception—unless the opponent's strength far surpassed Lucario's.
Combined with Gardevoir's psychic scanning, in Cain's opinion, only a Champion-level Pokémon could approach them without being detected.
But while still on the periphery, encountering a wild Champion-level Pokémon was practically impossible.
Moreover, Pokémon capable of reaching the Champion level in a wild environment were usually either extremely talented and persistent, or Pokémon that had lived for an exceptionally long time. Such Pokémon would not attack humans or other Pokémon without reason, unless their interests were threatened.
As for Kingdra, this environment actually offered it no advantage, and fighting here was rather uncomfortable for it.
However, Cain's goal was for it to adapt to all kinds of combat scenarios, even in an ancient and dense forest like this.
It did not take long after they entered the forest before they encountered the first wave of attacking Pokémon.
Inside Mt. Silver, the ecological chain among Pokémon was far more complex. There were predator–prey relationships among them, as well as a strong sense of territoriality.
Recklessly entering the territory of one or more Pokémon with a certain degree of strength was, to wild Pokémon, a direct provocation.
A group of fierce-looking Primeape charged out from the dense forest and attacked Cain directly, as he appeared to be the weakest in the group.
Primeape, known for their explosive temperaments, had only one reaction to intruders in their territory: attack!
Unfortunately for them, this time they had chosen the wrong opponent.
"Garrddeerr!" Gardevoir, who had been deep in meditation, opened her eyes immediately. Her psychic power activated, and all the Primeape—including one at the Advanced Elite level—were suspended in midair.
Cain smiled. Long before the group of Primeape approached, Gardevoir had already warned him; they were simply waiting for them to deliver themselves.
And this was only the periphery: among the Primeape that appeared, there was one that had already reached the Advanced Elite level.
The rest of Cain's Pokémon, already prepared, acted at once.
The first to react was Lucario, who moved nimbly among the trees. He brought his fists together in front of him, then spread them apart in a smooth motion— a bone glowing with white light appeared in his hands. He spun it rapidly, displaying astonishing skill.
Leaping from the top of a tree, he landed directly in the midst of the immobilized Primeape.
Aura gathered on the bone, and with a full rotation he struck them all, sending them flying.
Next, the other Pokémon joined the action.
From beneath Venusaur's enormous flower, two thick vines—each as thick as a human arm—extended outward. They wrapped around two Primeape that had been launched by Lucario, dragged them down, and slammed them violently against the ground.
Other Primeape falling toward the ground became Kingdra's targets. A massive jet of water, like a projectile, shot out from its mouth at an extremely precise angle: Hydro Pump!
Three Primeape were hit at the same time—one strike for three targets.
The final Primeape, the one at the Advanced Elite level, saw its companions defeated in mere seconds and erupted in rage. But before it could act, Gardevoir's psychokinesis immobilized it once again.
As if throwing a ball, she hurled it straight down from the air.
Above, Salamence was already prepared—like a forward receiving a perfect pass in the middle of the field, with an open goal in front of him.
A textbook spiral attack... Dragon Rush!
Boom!!!
The Primeape was smashed violently into the ground, shattering countless trunks and branches and sending innumerable Flying-type Pokémon fleeing.
As the saying goes, one stone can raise a thousand waves—the scene was exactly like that.
An ambush by wild Pokémon was resolved with ease thanks to the team's coordination.
However, seeing the eager expressions on his Pokémon's faces, Cain knew that their interest had only just been stirred.
It was like Lucario after using the move Swords Dance only once: he had not even begun to exert himself, and the enemies were already defeated. Far too unsatisfying.
Cain smiled and said, "It's not easy to find a combat opportunity like this. Since everyone's still hungry for more... Venusaur, Sweet Scent."
Let the storm... become even fiercer!
(End of chapter)