It had already been two days since the Pokémon Swimming Race in Slateport ended, yet the streets were still filled with tourists wandering around with their Pokémon. Some people were taking photos at the event's commemorative wall, others were browsing through special merchandise. The lively atmosphere lingering in the city was precisely the intended outcome of hosting such an event in the first place.
After organizing and packing his equipment as compactly as possible, Theo slung the bag over his shoulder. He took out his phone and once again opened the forum posts that shared useful advice about exploring Granite Cave:
First, if you see a Makuhita, never laugh at its squinted eyes. Although Makuhita might normally look silly and harmless, mocking its tiny narrowed eyes may provoke it. If it gets angry, it might attack you without hesitation.
Second, always shine your light on the ground to watch your footing and be wary of Mawile's traps. Mawile may look cute, but its personality is far from pleasant. It loves setting traps to prank other Pokémon. Trainers exploring caves who fail to stay alert might easily fall victim to its malicious pranks.
Third, Absolutely, absolutely do not carry too many metalic items. Bringing too much metal will attract Aron, and once they notice you, they may start chasing you. In a dark cave, being pursued by a group of Aron is trouble you definitely do not want.
Fourth….
As Theo walked, he kept all of these cautionary tales, lessons written in blood by other trainers, firmly in mind. The scenery he saw while following the coastal road out of town was vastly different from what he had seen before.
Now, tourists in all kinds of outfits filled the area, and many trainers were enthusiastically battling right on the streets. The lively commotion continued all the way to the town entrance. Only after he stepped out of town did the surroundings gradually grow quiet and devoid of people.
The coastline had become a paradise for wild Water-type Pokémon. Corphish waved their small pincers while crawling along the shallows, Wingulls glided over the ocean surface with open wings, and occasionally an Octillery could be seen sprawled lazily over a rock.
As soon as Theo walked near, the Octillery stared at him blankly. Instantly recalling the unpleasant memory of once being splattered with ink by one of them, Theo pretended not to notice it at all and immediately sped up to avoid this "potential source of trouble."
It wasn't long before Granite Cave appeared before him.
Inside, the cave was pitch-black, completely blocking out sunlight. Only the vague outline of the entrance could be seen. The wind passing through the mouth of the cave carried a chilling coldness from within, and the darkness beyond seemed bottomless—instantly amplifying the cave's eerie atmosphere.
Theo did not rush inside immediately.
First, he set his livestream device to flight-follow mode to ensure the entire exploration process could be recorded clearly.
Then, he retrieved the inflatable portable fish tank from his backpack, filled it with water, secured the straps, and wore it on his chest.
Finally, he tossed a Luxury Ball into the air and released Feebas.
Seeing Feebas swim comfortably inside the chest-mounted tank, Theo breathed a sigh of relief. The exploration of Granite Cave would take quite some time, and Feebas couldn't stay out of water for too long. If Feebas were kept inside its Poké Ball the whole time and something unexpected happened, it might delay his ability to send it out for help when he needed it most.
This arrangement allowed Feebas to maintain peak condition while also being close enough to react immediately if they encountered danger.
Once everything was ready and he confirmed he hadn't missed any essential equipment, Theo turned on the headlamp above his forehead. He tapped open the livestream link and greeted the waiting viewers.
Then he lifted his head to glance at the cave entrance—so dark he couldn't see inside at all. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward steadily and walked in.
The headlamp's beam cut through the darkness, illuminating the damp and glistening cave walls.
Theo had only taken two steps when the livestream device chimed with a crisp ding-dong, and the screen instantly filled with a flood of comments—like a flock of noisy sparrows chirping all at once.
"Streamer finally started the live! Front-row seat for the Granite Cave exploration!"
"Feebas looks so well-behaved in the fish tank!"
"Be careful, streamer!"
"Your gear looks so professional—where did you buy that portable fish tank? I want one for my Magikarp! Please share the link!"
Theo lowered his gaze to glance at the screen, smiling slightly. He reached up to adjust the angle of his headlamp, letting the light illuminate both the path ahead and the fish tank on his chest.
The livestream device slowly descended, centering the camera on the Feebas inside the tank.
A soft fill light turned on automatically, making Feebas's purple body appear exceptionally clear.
Tiny droplets still clung to its rough scales, catching the light with a shimmering glow. Its bulging eyes stared roundly at the lens, as if studying the mysterious "little square box" that had suddenly approached.
With a crisp splash, Feebas flicked its tail. The moment its fin hit the water, droplets sprayed onto the lens, smearing it with a hazy circle of water.
By the time the droplets slid down the glass, Feebas had already swum to the other side of the tank, pressing its forehead gently against the transparent wall—almost like it was greeting the viewers.
The livestream comments exploded instantly:
"AHHHH that tail flick! Feebas is too adorable!"
"When the water splashed onto the lens, my heart melted!"
Theo lowered his head to look at the little creature in his arms, unable to hold back a smile. He lifted a finger to tap its head lightly. Feebas instantly turned, rubbing against his fingertip with a soft "mm-mm" sound, like a child acting spoiled.
"Good morning, everyone."
His voice traveled through the microphone clipped to his collar, carrying a faint echo unique to the cave environment.
"We just stepped into the cave. From here on, I need to stay focused on observing the surroundings, so I might not be able to respond to the comments right away. Please bear with me. If anything special happens, I'll stop and explain it."
"Understood! Streamer, focus on the exploration!"
"Safety first! Don't worry about us!"
"We'll just quietly enjoy your first-person adventure!"
Even though he had prepared himself mentally, the environment inside Granite Cave still exceeded Theo's expectations. Its complexity was far greater than he had imagined.
Not only did the narrow trails twist and overlap like a mess of tangled threads, but many areas were damp and covered with moss—making it easy to slip at any moment.
Even worse, the rock formations were so similar in appearance that many intersections looked nearly identical, making it difficult to match them precisely to the map he held.
Theo studied the map carefully, comparing every detail several times. After confirming his path, he chose a direction and continued deeper.
Then, without warning, the Feebas in his chest tank suddenly leapt out of the water, drawing a small arc through the air. Droplets splattered directly onto Theo's face.
Startled from checking the map, Theo blinked away the moisture. When he lifted his head—
—he saw a small, hunched, shadowy figure blocking the middle of the tunnel.
It looked so thin that a slight breeze might knock it over. Theo's heart instantly skipped a beat. Every image of lurking primitive cave creatures he had ever seen in movies flashed across his mind at once.
Meanwhile, in the livestream—
The screen was drowning under frantic scrolling comments. The viewers' agitation practically seeped through the screen:
"Streamer! Streamer! Look up! Look in front of you!"
"Stop looking at the map! Something moved in front of you just now!"
The cave exploration had only just begun, yet already the unknown loomed before him.
(End of Chapter)