Mine, first underground level.
Draconis returned to the Underground Path he had discovered last time.
He and Gerolt stood together before the giant stone inscribed with peculiar patterns, gazing at the ancient, sun-like design on it. Draconis couldn't help but ask:
"Gerolt, do you know what civilization existed on this land before the Eindoak Kingdom was founded?"
Gerolt thought carefully for a moment, then replied:
"Your Highness, to my knowledge, before the Eindoak Kingdom was established, an ancient country called the Bos Empire ruled this land, but the markings here don't seem to be theirs."
"What about even earlier?" Draconis asked again.
Gerolt shook his head slightly: "I apologize, Your Highness, this is all I know. Perhaps some ancient scholars in the Royal City would have more information."
Ancient scholars, a profession dedicated to studying ancient kingdoms and civilizations.
"I see…"
Draconis wasn't too disappointed.
It seems even the Pokémon world cannot escape the developmental trajectory of the real world.
Wars between humans never cease; with the fall of one nation, another nation and civilization will rise on the same land, a cycle that endlessly repeats.
Continuing deeper, it wasn't long before Draconis spotted the Golem that had attacked him and Snivy last time.
Upon seeing this Pokémon, Gerolt stood in front of Draconis, but he did not attack. Instead, he nodded towards the Haxorus beside him.
The next second, a cold light flashed across the Haxorus's huge axe-like tusks, and it swung towards the Golem.
With just one strike, the Golem was repelled and quickly fled to another area.
"Alright, Your Highness, we can continue," Gerolt said.
Draconis: "…"
It must be said, having such a formidable and strong man around truly gives one a great sense of security!
The two continued downwards along the naturally formed tunnel inside the Mine.
The further down they went, the darker the surroundings became.
Gerolt took out a torch he had prepared earlier and lit it. Instantly, the orange-yellow flame illuminated everything around them.
Gradually, distinct traces of architecture began to appear ahead, but after the erosion of time, these structures had long become dilapidated.
"Your Highness, please be careful. We have already delved deep underground," Gerolt and Haxorus vigilantly scanned their surroundings.
Draconis hummed in acknowledgment, but soon, his attention was drawn to the ancient murals carved into the surrounding walls.
The patterns were somewhat abstract, but the general content could still be vaguely discerned.
They depicted a group of humans wearing grass skirts and animal hides.
They roamed the land, hunting with tools like bows, arrows, and stone spears.
Until one day, heavy snow fell, and temperatures plummeted. Many small figures in the murals lay on the ground, seemingly frozen to death.
Later, those people suddenly discovered a sun-like entity.
In the last mural, Draconis saw countless small figures kneeling before that "sun," seemingly worshipping it as a deity.
Clearly, the era these small figures lived in seemed to be a much older, tribal age, where civilization had not yet fully emerged.
"Unova region… Sun God…"
Gazing at the "sun" worshipped by the small figures, an incredible guess suddenly emerged in Draconis's mind.
Could it be… that the so-called sun does not refer to Solgaleo, but rather to the Pokémon known as the "Incarnation of the Sun," Volcarona?
Volcarona, a legend about it circulates in the Unova region.
It is said that in cold lands, Volcarona is revered as the Incarnation of the Sun and is depicted as the God of Fire in ancient murals.
Legend has it that it is born from a fiercely burning cocoon and appears in harsh winters, rescuing people and Pokémon suffering from the cold.
Draconis vaguely had a guess.
This meant that the ruins buried beneath this Mine very likely had a profound connection with Volcarona!
"Your Highness Draconis, we are almost at the bottom level, please be careful!" Gerolt vaguely felt a bad premonition.
This place must conceal some unknown dangers.
"I know." Draconis looked at Dratini and Snivy beside him, signaling them to prepare for battle.
After passing through a long tunnel, everything before them suddenly opened up.
This was an even larger cavern, and in the center of the cavern, a dilapidated ancient ruin, covered in dust, stood prominently.
Judging by the upright stone pillars and the pyramid-like stepped structure, it was clearly a relic from the tribal era.
But more astonishing than these was the fact that the temperature inside this cave was even higher than outside!
Even more bizarre, despite being underground, there was light in this cave!
It was a warm, fire-like glow that made one feel comfortable.
Such a bright environment not only failed to reassure Gerolt but made him even more vigilant.
"Your Highness, be careful! There's a monster's aura here!" Gerolt drew his sword, warning.
Haxorus also assumed a battle stance.
"Darumaka Darumaka!"
Accompanied by a series of somewhat rough Growl, several Pokémon, fiery red all over, ape-like in appearance, with two sturdy fists, leaped out from the corners.
Those were… Darmanitan!
Without a word, several Darmanitan swung their fists and attacked Gerolt and Haxorus, who were blocking their way.
With a "clang," Gerolt held his sword horizontally across his body to block.
A huge, fiery red fist slammed onto the blade with a "boom." Even though Darmanitan's strike possessed powerful impact, Gerolt remained firmly on the ground, unmoving.
"Darumaka?!" Darmanitan's face showed a surprised expression, seemingly wondering how this human could block its attack.
But the next second, Gerolt powerfully exerted his right hand, and the sword hilt vibrated, repelling Darmanitan while he pursued it with his sword.
"Darumaka—!"
The blow landed, and Darmanitan cried out in pain, flying backward.
Gerolt did not kill it; he merely used the scabbard to repel Darmanitan.
However, the other Darmanitan in the vicinity, seeing this scene, immediately fell into a state of fury.
"Darumaka Darumaka Darumaka—!"
They swung their huge fists, pounded their chests, and then charged towards Gerolt and Draconis from all directions.
"Your Highness, be careful!"
Gerolt and Haxorus charged forward in a coordinated move, but the sheer number of Darmanitan and Darumaka was too great, and several still managed to break through their defense, reaching Draconis.
"Snivy, Vine Whip! Dratini, Twister!"
Draconis did not panic; he calmly issued commands to the two Pokémon beside him.
"Whoosh whoosh!"
Accompanied by two whooshing sounds, Snivy released two Vine Whip, swinging them to repel the attacking Darmanitan and Darumaka.
Dratini also spewed a scorching Dragon Breath from its mouth, blocking a Darmanitan's Sucker Punch.
In just a few minutes, the surrounding Darmanitan and Darumaka were repelled by the combined efforts of the group.
These Darmanitan retreated with some fear, gathering in front of the ruins, jumping and howling.
"Rumble!"
Accompanied by a huge sound.
A massive, "sun" emitting a scorching aura slowly rose from within the ruins.