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Just as Cynthia's mind reeled with surprise, the figure moved.
Its speed was incredible, leaving only a white afterimage in its wake.
The white Pokémon that had appeared so suddenly formed an immediate standoff with the painfully roaring gray-blue dragon.
It seemed completely immune to the terrifying freezing aura radiating from the giant beast.
The icy energy was repelled by some invisible barrier or strange field surrounding its body, unable to even come close.
"What the hell is that monster?!" The Plasma Team members, barely recovered from their terror at the dragon losing control, were frightened all over again.
Without giving them time to react, the white Pokémon vanished from its position and reappeared ghost-like at the dragon's side.
Its slender leg struck the dragon's torso with fierce momentum.
Was that High Speed Movement combined with High Jump Kick?
Cynthia analyzed instinctively.
The hit connected. The injured dragon let out an ear-splitting roar.
The Ice-type energy in its mouth finally finished condensing, and an incredibly thick Ice Beam shot out, striking directly at the white Pokémon's previous position.
But the white Pokémon was faster, having already leapt away with grace.
The Ice Beam hit only the afterimage it left behind, instantly freezing and shattering a large section of the rear rock wall.
BOOM!
The clash between two powerful Pokémon triggered violent energy shockwaves.
The entire cavern shook as ice shards and debris fell continuously.
Cynthia had to focus completely on maneuvering her character, carefully dodging the splashing energy and falling rocks.
At the same time, her fingers flew across the keyboard, rapidly hitting the screenshot and record keys to capture every detail and data point of these two unfamiliar Legendary Pokémon.
She noticed something important. The white Pokémon's attacks weren't aimless.
Its gaze seemed constantly locked on a specific part of the dragon's body, as if something there strongly attracted it.
But what could it be?
Meanwhile, taking advantage of the chaos, the Plasma Team's lieutenant scrambled forward, trying to reach the strange cube that had fallen to the ground.
It continued emitting a faint rainbow glow.
Just as his hand was about to reach it, the dragon's berserk Dragon Breath swept across.
Although not aimed at him directly, the explosive shockwave still sent him flying.
He slammed heavily into the rock wall and passed out.
The strange cube rolled and tumbled across the ice surface, coming to rest right at Cynthia's character's feet.
Without hesitation, Cynthia immediately controlled her character to step forward and pick it up.
The game notification popped up: [Obtained "Ultra Beast Suppressor (Damaged)"!]
[Description: A special device used by Team Plasma to stabilize and attempt to control Ultra Beasts, seemingly containing technology that doesn't belong to this era. Currently severely damaged from overload and impact. Cannot be used.]
Team Plasma...
Ultra Beast Suppressor?
So this thing could directly control that white Pokémon called an "Ultra Beast"?
Cynthia looked at the white Pokémon moving at astonishing speed on her screen. Her suspicion was confirmed.
Frustrated repeatedly, the gray-blue dragon's rage seemed to reach its peak.
It raised its head and let out a long howl filled with endless pain and brutality.
Even more terrifying Ice-type energy burst forth explosively with it at the center.
CRACK! CRACK-CRACK!
Visible ice layers spread rapidly, transforming nearly half the cavern into a world of solid ice. The temperature plummeted.
The white Pokémon agilely weaved between ice pillars and freezing air.
It seemed to assess the situation, realizing this berserk giant wasn't an easy opponent.
Obtaining the thing attracting it would be difficult under these conditions.
Its cold green eyes glanced at the Ultra Wormhole, which was about to contract and close.
Without further hesitation, its form shot back like white lightning.
In the instant before the wormhole disappeared, it dove through agilely and vanished.
The Ultra Wormhole closed after it, as if it had never appeared.
"Quick... run!" Seeing this, the remaining Plasma Team members were scared out of their minds.
They couldn't care less about their unconscious commander or the incomplete plan.
They immediately scattered and fled the cavern in panic.
Having lost all targets, the dragon roared and vented its final fury on those fleeing backs.
Its massive body smashed through ice layers and rock walls as it pursued them outside, leaving devastation everywhere.
The cavern finally regained a temporary calm, leaving only Cynthia's character and the surrounding crystal-clear yet dangerously cold ice walls.
Cynthia let out a long breath. After confirming the surroundings were safe, she immediately opened her bag to examine the newly obtained item carefully.
"Team Plasma... Ultra Beast..." She murmured. Her speculation was confirmed.
It seemed this organization, like Team Rocket, Team Aqua, and Team Magma, harbored great ambitions.
And the technology they possessed seemed extremely dangerous.
A machine that could control Ultra Beasts. This was insane.
Without delay, she immediately picked up her communicator and contacted Lance first.
"Lance, there's been a new development on my end."
She spoke quickly, concisely informing him of everything that happened at Shoal Cave: the dragon losing control, the strange white Pokémon appearing from the Ultra Wormhole, their fierce battle, Team Plasma's device, all of it.
"I suspect this may be connected to the Ultra Wormhole phenomena appearing in our world.
Also, that mysterious person of unknown identity who appeared at Team Aqua's base... the power and aura he displayed make me strongly suspect he might be Team Plasma's true leader.
Or at least one of their top brass."
After exchanging a few more words, she hung up with Lance and immediately compiled the detailed situation and her analysis into a report.
She sent it to her Alliance Headquarters contact, suggesting they investigate Team Aqua, the mysterious suited man, Team Plasma, and the Ultra Beast incidents as connected cases.
She also recommended raising the risk level.
Of course, she didn't mention she'd seen all this in a game.
Having done all that, Cynthia finally let out a soft sigh.
The game's plot development seemed to be actively guiding her down a path of tracking Team Plasma and uncovering the truth about Ultra Beasts.
And the upcoming storyline would surely provide her with more related information.
But before that...
Looking at the surrounding scene, she suddenly remembered something very important.
In her bag was an item she'd never had a chance to use: the [Gracidea Flower Seed].
That flower-planting lady had explicitly mentioned that this peculiar flower could only grow in extremely cold environments.
She surveyed her surroundings. After experiencing Kyurem's berserk ice sealing, Shoal Cave was undoubtedly the ideal planting environment.
Without hesitation, she controlled her character to find a spot where the ice layer looked thickest and the cold air most intense. She opened her bag and selected to use the seed.
The game character planted it carefully. The next moment, a miracle occurred.
The seed broke through the ice layer at a visible speed, took root and sprouted. Delicate stems and leaves unfurled rapidly, then bloomed into an incredibly gorgeous flower radiating rainbow light.
A faint, warm halo surrounded the flower, forming a stark contrast with the cavern's conditions.
A strange fragrance seemed to emanate through the screen.
However, this beautiful scene lasted only a few seconds.
The Gracidea flower, after blooming to its peak, rapidly withered and wilted.
It finally transformed into points of light that disappeared, as if it had condensed all its life into that final moment.
Simultaneously, a game notification appeared: [The Gracidea flower has bloomed and withered.]
[Obtained "Gracidea Flower"!]
Cynthia immediately opened her bag to check.
[Gracidea Flower: A special flower containing incredible life force. Legend says it carries gratitude and blessings. When used on Pokémon in battle, instantly heals the entire team of all status conditions (including fainting and status abnormalities).
(Note: Not the original effect)
But it seems to possess certain more mysterious, unexplored purposes.]
Instantly heal the whole team? Even revive the fainted?
Cynthia looked at that concise yet stunningly powerful description. Her pupils contracted in shock again.
This effect was almost too overpowered. Usable even during battle, this went beyond the scope of regular items.
But with almost no hesitation, she rejected the idea of using it as an ordinary recovery item.
Using something like this for routine healing would be a complete waste.
It surely had more important purposes, more fitting of the "incredible power" described.
So this thing must be carefully preserved.
Cynthia adjusted her inventory and carefully stored this item at the very top of her bag.
Meanwhile, the cold air in the cavern gradually began to dissipate. This segment of the game's plot seemed to temporarily conclude.
Cynthia controlled her character to leave Shoal Cave, her gaze turning toward the next destination: Mossdeep City.
The next gym challenge was about to begin.
---
---
At the same time, after going deep into Meteor Falls, Lance found a place nearby where wild Pokémon levels were relatively high and began the tedious but necessary grinding.
He controlled his character to walk back and forth on the uneven mountain paths and dry caverns, repeatedly entering battles with wild Pokémon.
Zubat, Onix, and Graveler became the best experience sources for Goomy and Bagon.
"Goomy, use Water Gun!"
"Bagon, use Headbutt!"
Battle after battle.
Goomy gradually changed from its initially soft, weak-attacking appearance to become somewhat sturdier.
The Water Gun it sprayed also became more powerful.
In one level-up glow, it learned a new move: Dragon Breath.
As for Bagon, its growth was even more obvious.
This pseudo-legendary Pokémon had great potential to begin with.
After leveling up, its attacks became increasingly fierce, and it quickly mastered the new skill Bite.
Lance looked at the two Pokémon on screen, both with their big heads and fierce-looking eyes. His heart filled with anticipation.
He attached the Soothe Bell to Bagon and, during battle breaks, constantly fed it various precious Berries and Pokémon items.
The effects were clearly visible.
At first, Bagon seemed uninterested in Lance's commands, occasionally even baring its teeth at him through the screen, showing its disobedient nature.
But gradually, as its friendship increased bit by bit, it became much more obedient.
It fought harder in battles, called out happily when receiving Berries, and even affectionately nuzzled close to Lance on screen after winning.
The grinding process was indeed somewhat boring. Lance took a moment to alt-tab and check the chat group, casually posting about his haul:
[Dragon Supremacy]: "Caught a Bagon in Meteor Falls! Pseudo-legendary! [Image]"
[Ice Cold]: "??? Really?! Your luck is that good?! (Lemon.jpg)"
[Fighting Spirit]: "Nice, Lance! Now you can be a Dragon-type Elite Four member in-game too!"
[Poison Is Supreme]: "Congrats. But grinding must be tough, right? You could try wandering around the Battle Frontier area. Wild Pokémon levels seem higher there, though it's a bit far."
Lance briefly looked at everyone's suggestions but still decided to train these two little guys at Meteor Falls first.
He closed the group chat, took a deep breath, and continued throwing himself into the repetitive grinding process.
After about forty minutes of battling, the moment finally came.
Goomy's body began glowing brilliantly. Its form stretched upward, becoming more elongated and snail-like.
Two retractable horns sprouted from its head, and its purple body gained a distinctive shell-like appearance.
[Congratulations, Goomy has evolved into Sliggoo!]
Lance smiled. One down, one to go. He continued the grind.
Not long after, Bagon also reached its evolution threshold.
In a flash of white light, its body grew larger and more muscular.
Its head became more angular and fierce-looking, and its legs grew stronger and more powerful.
[Bagon has evolved into Shelgon!]
"Good progress," Lance muttered, glancing at the two mid-stage evolutions on his team. But he wasn't done yet. These Pokémon had one more evolution left in them.
He pressed on with the grinding, battling wild Pokémon with renewed determination.
Just like that, almost another hour passed. As another Graveler fell...
The two Pokémon finally evolved to their final forms successfully.
In the glow, Sliggoo's body continuously stretched and grew larger, standing upright on two legs.
Its pale purple body became more draconic and bipedal, with bright green eyes and a longer neck.
Two pairs of antenna-like horns sprouted from its head, and its tail grew thick with a curled tip.
A pale green slime dripped visibly from its chin and arms, giving it a distinctive, glistening appearance.
[Congratulations, Sliggoo has evolved into Goodra!]
In another glow, Shelgon's body rapidly enlarged, growing wide and powerful blood-red wings.
Its head became more aggressive-looking, its entire body covered in hard blue armor, radiating the dignified aura befitting a Dragon.
[Shelgon has evolved into Salamence!]
Lance looked at the two final-form Dragon-type Pokémon in his party roster. A sense of accomplishment welled up immediately.
Adding two pseudo-legendary Pokémon to his team at once was a seriously significant power boost.
But he didn't rush to challenge the gym immediately. The desert ruins and the symbols inside that Cynthia mentioned kept making him curious.
Coincidentally, he wasn't particularly far from that desert now. He could Fly directly to Mauville City.
He controlled his character, retracing his path out of the cave and using Fly to go directly to Mauville City.
Then he headed north all the way into that vast desert, but didn't see the so-called tower.
Hot wind carrying sand blew across the screen. Lance wasn't anxious.
Following Cynthia's earlier hints, he waited quietly for a while.
When he re-entered, sure enough, he soon found that ancient ruins standing in the desert.
These ruins could be described as towering into the clouds, quite magnificent.
The huge stone pillars at the entrance and somewhat blurred wall traces showed the marks of time.
Obviously, these ruins had many years of history and were quite ancient.
Though Lance wasn't a professional archaeologist, he could still judge this from his own experience.
So... what would be inside?
Would his situation here be the same as Cynthia's?
He took a deep breath and immediately controlled his character to walk inside.
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~ Push the story forward with your Power Stones