Littleroot Town, Professor Birch's Research Institute.
In a cramped office, the light from the screen and the desk lamp illuminated Professor Birch's tired face — his eyes bloodshot from staying awake for several days straight. He was flipping through thick piles of documents with a group of researchers, trying to find answers to the strange phenomenon: "What caused the mutation in the Mawile in Dewford Cave?"
Next to him, a young man with green hair and tanned skin — none other than Brawly, the Dewford Gym Leader — was dozing off, exhausted from sleepless nights.
Professor Birch muttered anxiously, his eyes fixed on the data before him. Despite nonstop research over two days and nights, no satisfactory clue had been found.
Suddenly, a clattering sound echoed as the desk lamp accidentally fell to the floor. The noise woke Brawly, who was dozing nearby.
He sat up, picking up the lamp, still groggy: "I think another meteorite fell… It scared me."
Professor Birch perked up instantly. "Brawly, what did you just say?"
Brawly, embarrassed: "Ah, I… I don't know what I said…"
His exhaustion made it hard to control his words. But the mention of the meteorite hit a key point in Professor Birch's mind.
He asked, "Are you sure a meteorite fell recently? And is it related to Dewford Cave?"
Brawly nodded: "A small meteorite fell near Dewford not long ago. I'm not exactly sure where, but it didn't make a very loud sound."
Professor Birch furrowed his brow, thinking carefully: "It's possible that the changes in Dewford Cave are the result of that meteorite."
Without hesitation, he sat before the computer and began searching for more information.
After a while, he suddenly exclaimed: "Fire Stones! That's the key!"
Brawly and the researchers immediately gathered around, their eyes filled with hope and anticipation.
Professor Birch explained, "The meteorite carried an immense amount of heat energy. This rapid accumulation of heat created numerous Fire Stones inside Dewford Cave."
"Mawile, being Steel-type Pokémon, are very sensitive to fire. The energy emitted from the Fire Stones causes them immense pain, driving them into a frenzy!"
"That pain is what makes them aggressive and uncontrollable."
Having identified the cause, Brawly quickly asked, "Professor, what should we do now?"
Professor Birch answered gravely, "We must report this to the League immediately. They need to dispatch a team to Dewford to provide assistance."
"Not only Mawile, but there are also wild Aron and Lairon inside the cave."
"Currently, they can still tolerate the heat from the Fire Stones, but over time, as the temperature rises, they won't be able to control themselves."
"If these Steel-type Pokémon run rampant across the island, the consequences will be disastrous."
"We have to remove these Fire Stones before it's too late."
Brawly nodded, fully aware of the grave danger.
Dewford Town is a small, peaceful island. If a horde of rampaging Pokémon invades the residential areas, chaos would be inevitable.
He stood up and, along with Professor Birch, immediately contacted the League headquarters in Mauville City.
After explaining the severity of the situation, the League quickly decided to send 50 elite investigators to Dewford to suppress the mutation outbreak.
As for the routine missions issued by the League's Center?
No one paid any attention anymore.
An incident of this scale cannot be resolved by just one person or a small group.