Cold, dark, and stifling.
Even after the Quicksand Team had cleared it out, the abandoned mine remained deeply unsettling.
The ceiling above looked ready to collapse at any moment.
Thankfully, the tunnels were spacious—surprisingly so, given they had been carved wide enough to accommodate mining carts with ease.
Ayato couldn't help but marvel. The Orre Region might be barren, but its technological sophistication was undeniably impressive.
It had been ten minutes since they'd descended into the mine.
Someone had tried their luck near the entrance, chipping away at the rock face in search of a gem. The sharp clang clang of a pickaxe echoed through the tunnels, putting Ayato on edge. He'd quickly distanced himself from the eager miner, and soon after, the sound of a terrible crash followed by screams rang out.
That brave soul's misfortune served as a grim warning to the rest—no one else attempted the same.
"Keep your eyes open. Don't get separated," someone whispered from the front.
One by one, headlamps flicked on, casting narrow beams across the walls. The bravest in their group took point, occasionally muttering soft reminders to stay alert.
In the suffocating darkness, even the sound of others breathing was audible through their masks. The claustrophobic atmosphere weighed on them, silently increasing the pressure on everyone's nerves.
Most kids from Pyrite Town had some experience going down into mines, but this was no ordinary mine. An abandoned one posed dangers on a whole different level—traps, cave-ins, and wild Pokémon lurking in the dark.
Being attacked by Pokémon was an expected part of the test. For people in Orre, it was as terrifying as getting shot during an escape room challenge would be in other places.
So naturally, huddling together for safety had become the norm. Besides, the Quicksand Team had never prohibited group participation in the trial—traveling in packs was practically encouraged.
However, veterans who'd taken the test before claimed that moving in groups made them easier targets. Even if someone got lucky and reached an objective, disputes over splitting the rewards could easily turn allies into enemies.
Ayato hoped nothing of the sort would happen.
They were already at a disadvantage against Shibata's gang. Internal conflict would only make it easier for them to get stomped into the dirt.
"Intersection ahead. Stay sharp."
He gave a quiet warning, glancing at his companions. "Wild Pokémon are more likely to set up ambushes in spots like these... Don't look so panicked, alright? Relax. Breathe."
Some of the others were dripping sweat; others were breathing hard, faces visibly tense in the glow of their lights. They were wound tight, like overdrawn strings.
Once they had finally calmed a little, Ayato said, "Don't dawdle at the fork. Pick a path and go. I'll bring up the rear."
"Huh?"
Everyone turned to him, surprised.
"Don't 'huh' me. Move it. If someone else gets the token before us, we're out of luck."
Ayato fell back to the end of the line. "Go. Now."
People did stupid things when they panicked—fear shut down their reasoning. If something happened at the front, if someone tripped or froze, the whole line could go down.
Even if it wasn't intentional.
Like they say: if you run into a bear in the wild, you don't need to outrun the bear—just the guy next to you.
It wasn't that he planned to leave anyone behind. But he also didn't intend to be the one who got left.
"Ayato…"
His teammates looked back, unaware of the thoughts running through his head. Their expressions were touched, and they murmured encouragement to one another as they began moving forward again, slowly and cautiously.
Ayato drew a deep breath, scanning his surroundings with care.
Complacency could get you killed.
The danger here was constant—he had to stay sharp. Watch for anything unusual.
The Quicksand Team's Pokémon were mostly Ground- and Rock-types, a perfect match for the underground terrain. Fighting them down here would be suicidal.
They reached the fork.
The passage widened a bit, tension crackling like static through the group. They cast wary glances around, ready to sound an alert at any hint of movement. The lead teammate didn't hesitate, veering straight into the left tunnel—
"Wait."
Ayato's voice cut through the dark.
Everyone froze. A shudder ran through the group. Cold sweat broke across foreheads and backs.
"W-What is it?" someone asked, voice trembling.
"You were the one who said not to linger at intersections!" another protested, nerves fraying.
"Shh." Ayato held up a hand. "Listen closely. Do you hear that rumbling? And the ground—it's shaking!"
They all fell silent, instinctively holding their breath.
Ayato's senses were keen. He quickly picked up on it—the floor was definitely vibrating, and the low rumble was getting louder, like something massive was moving their way.
From the middle tunnel.
His eyes widened. He bolted toward the left path, yelling, "Run! Something's coming! Hurry!"
Just as the words left his mouth, a massive boulder—easily the size of a grown man—suddenly rolled out of the center tunnel, hurtling toward them at terrifying speed.
"Which way?!"
"Left!"
"Which way is left?! Where's Ayato?!"
"Go, go, go! Don't just stand there!"
Panic erupted. The four others stumbled in all directions. Their headlamps swung wildly, beams scattering through the blackness and making it even harder to see.
As if that wasn't bad enough, the ceiling had begun to crumble. Rocks pelted down in chunks, the walls vibrating as though about to collapse completely.
Panic, shouting, the thunderous approach of the giant boulder—
In the chaos, Ayato had already run far ahead, instincts carrying him forward.
Even so, he kept his wits about him, dodging hazards and avoiding potential traps and hidden Pokémon along the way.
When he finally stopped to check behind him, no one else had caught up.
And the boulder—likely a disguised Graveler—was gone.
"There were three tunnels. I definitely picked the left one, didn't I?"
Frowning, Ayato waited a full minute. But no one came.
He'd been separated from the others.
Going back?
Not happening. For all he knew, that Graveler was lying in wait.
"…"
Regret flickered across his face. Teaming up had its pros and cons. His companions had panicked, sure, but who could say whether one of them wouldn't have helped him in a pinch?
Still, what's done is done. No sense crying over it.
Ayato steadied himself.
It was easy to get disoriented in an underground mine, but if you looked closely at the cave walls, you could spot simple markers carved as guidance. Even someone half-illiterate like him could understand them.
He continued walking.
About ten minutes later, he suddenly dropped into a crouch and switched off his headlamp, slipping into the narrow crevice between two rocks to conceal himself.
He waited, perfectly still.
Two Vibrava zipped past overhead with a sharp buzz, their wings humming painfully in his skull.
One of the Vibrava was clutching a young man, his body smeared with blood.
Unconscious? Dead?
Neither possibility boded well. Traveling alone was far too dangerous.
Only after the Vibrava had gone did Ayato finally exhale and move to stand—only to freeze again.
At the edge of his vision, two blue eyes watched him intently.
"Guu?"
The unknown creature let out a low grunt.
Ayato's movements stiffened. The Vibrava's wingbeats had been so loud, he hadn't even heard this one approach.
He squinted, trying to identify it.
A deep gray creature stood before him, vaguely insectoid in appearance. Its head resembled a hockey mask, its body strange and compact. It was about the size of a border collie, and several black holes dotted its metallic shell.
[Iron Armor Pokémon: Aron]
It feeds on iron ore. Driven by hunger, it may even gnaw through bridges and train tracks. Widely regarded as a pest, Aron is a Steel- and Rock-type Pokémon.
Damn it.
His luck really was that bad.
A heavy weight settled in Ayato's chest.