The crack on its head rapidly spread along the crystal, and the ice-blue luster instantly dimmed by more than half.
With a muffled groan, its massive body could no longer maintain balance, collapsing like a toppled ice pillar, and fell straight into the pool with a loud "boom".
The splash was explosive, waves battered the shore, and took a while to gradually recede.
The pool water slowly regained tranquility, only to see the body of the Crystal Onix slowly floating up from the murky pool bottom, its head tilted to one side, the originally transparent crystal shell now dimmed, and the ice-blue energy aura weakened incredibly, evidently having lost the ability to fight.
K.O. in one move? Serena lightly covered her red lips, her beautiful eyes widening in shock at the scene.
Though she knew Ash's Pikachu was formidable and had seen Ash's battle scenes, this Crystal Onix didn't seem like an ordinary opponent either!
Yet it was defeated in one move? And Pikachu looked like it barely exerted itself!
How strong are Ash and Pikachu!
"Go, Pokeball!" Ash threw the Pokeball, precisely hitting the Crystal Onix, a light absorbed the Crystal Onix into the Pokeball, which then sank into the lake.
Ripples appeared on the lake's surface, Serena clenched her small hands, her face showing a nervous expression, looking as though she was capturing the Pokemon herself. This was the second time she saw a Pokemon being captured; the first was Lapras, which had willingly become Ash's Pokemon, without any suspense in capture.
But this time it was a battle capture, uncertain if the Pokeball could successfully bind the Crystal Onix. (Crystal Onix: Do you mean, in the state of being beaten with lumps and dimmed body, lost consciousness, I could still break free from the Pokeball?)
Seconds later, the Pokeball finally levitated from the lake, silently floating on the surface without a hint of movement.
"Pikachu, I entrust this to you."
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu kicked off with its paws, darting out like a streak of lightning, Serena and Misty hadn't even caught sight of Pikachu's shadow, and it was already back, holding a Pokeball.
The Pokeball was the one that had captured the Crystal Onix, Pikachu had just managed to go from the ground to the lake and back in less than a second? How was this possible!!
Serena realized, ever since joining Ash's team, Ash's actions have constantly shattering her worldview.
The power of the Pokemon aside, Ash's terrifying physique akin to a Pokemon is unheard of to Serena, since when could humans possess the power of Pokemon?
Besides the aspect of strength, what shocked Serena most were Ash's culinary skills.
Initially, Serena heard Misty say, 'It's not me feeding them, let whoever you want to join join~'
Serena assumed Misty was just giving Ash an out, Ash looked like a brute and hardly someone who could cook.
Joining the team, Serena thought she couldn't be of much help in Pokemon matters and expected to be taken care of by Ash, so she was determined to take good care of Ash and Misty's diet, making sure they were well-fed!
But... what's up with glowing dishes? What's with feeling soothingly comfortable after eating them? What's with each dish having different effects!
After tasting Ash's cooking, eating other people's food feels like chewing wax!
Serena couldn't imagine if she leaves Ash's team someday, how she would handle meals, wouldn't she starve unable to eat outside food?
So now aside from Pokemon, Serena had Ash teaching her cooking as well, diligently learning.
Traveling with Ash is a process of continuously expanding one's horizons, if one day Ash was battling an Legendary Beast in the sky, she wouldn't find it strange... Hmm, actually still strange, what human can fight a Legendary Beast in the sky, sounds bizarre good grief!
Ash, unaware of all the thoughts Serena's little head processed from Pikachu's action, took the Pokeball from Pikachu's hand and shouted gleefully, "I captured the Crystal Onix!!"
"Pika Pika!"
Thus, Ash's team returned to six, now with one available slot for Pokemon.
…
After capturing the Crystal Onix, Ash led the two girls out of the cave, returning to the town, in just five minutes.
Additionally, Ash stored some of the crystal from the cave into his Space Backpack. For him, these things won't fetch much money, even if he cleared out the entire mine, it probably wouldn't be worth half a month's dividends.
The reason for taking these crystals was partly to give some to Serena, to ensure she wouldn't be short of money.
After getting along these days, Ash could clearly sense some gaps remained between Serena and them. Though they were childhood acquaintances, having not met for years, upon reuniting, he had been the one taking care of her.
Relationship-wise, at best childhood sweethearts, in reality, merely childhood playmates encountered a few times. Serena's deep-rooted pride couldn't allow continuous reception of care and favor from others.
So regarding spending, Serena staunchly only used her own money, and bore most of the cost for ingredients and such, though Ash tried paying, Serena constantly reached the checkout before him.
Just these few days of travel expenses likely depleted Serena's savings by more than half, despite Serena having little, Misty noticed and conveyed to Ash.
Upon learning this, Ash pondered how to manage funds for his self-reliant travel partner, coincidentally opportunity came knocking, offering crystals from the mine. These crystals might fetch money if given to Serena, she couldn't refuse?
Then Serena insisted on dividing the crystals into three parts, taking only one, her greatest concession.
Normally people want more money, yet this trio pushes money around, fearing others wouldn't take it...
Finally, Ash had no choice but to comply with Serena's proposal, dividing the crystals into three parts, instructing Serena and Misty to sell theirs at the town's crystal shop.
This place may seem full of glass products, but there are indeed shops selling genuine crystal items, although such things are deemed luxury, a pure crystal sculpture costs at least ten times more than glass, ordinary folks can't afford them, hence considered luxury.
However, don't underestimate the tourists at Orange Archipelago, such luxury relative to typical expenses is luxury, yet for Trainers, the real luxury items are always related to Pokemon, even so-called treasures and luxury goods, unless Pokemon-related, their price remains at such level.
Look at Ash's perfume sale at Erika's place, just a small bottle of perfume selling for tens of thousands, and it's a fast-consuming item. So those treating such items like daily meals are truly affluent.
The two girls went to dispose of their crystals, while Ash kept his, claiming different use.
That mysterious demeanor left Misty and Serena puzzled, but they followed his words, selling the crystals at the local crystal shop.
Meanwhile, Ash went to Ah Gong's store...