Understandable.
A mudslide can sweep away even boulders weighing several tons, smashing them into pieces through collisions. The Geodudes, weighing only forty or fifty pounds each, have no other choice but to huddle together for warmth.
"Whoa! You've got sharp eyes!"
Baimu praised as he saw the Geodudes being moved to the joints behind Steelix.
"Ha, happy!"
Blissey responded with a smile, slightly out of breath. It wouldn't be this tired just from lifting these six Geodudes with Spiritual Power. The main challenge was resisting the pressure from the mud and sand.
It was certainly not easy.
The huddled Geodudes suddenly realized they were in a new location, initially panicking and glancing around, then joyfully separating and jumping around on Steelix's back.
Two of them almost jumped off, but Blissey reacted quickly and stopped them with Strong Mental Will.
Nothing is more joyful for Pokémon than the feeling of narrowly escaping death.
However, as they continued jumping around, they realized they were on a huge creature. Their expressions turned wary, and two timid ones hid behind their companions.
"It's okay, go ahead and jump. Steelix is very tolerant," Baimu said generously with a wave, and Blissey, after a brief rest, released a Healing Fluctuation to the Geodudes.
In Pyrite Town, Steelix is so patient it serves as a slide, so a few Geodudes jumping is nothing.
"Roar~"
A roar of approval echoed.
The Geodudes looked at each other, realizing it was true, and finally felt at ease.
Then Baimu continued searching for other Pokémon in need, while Blissey went back to simply check the Geodudes for any major injuries.
Suddenly.
"Huh?"
Baimu was slightly stunned, his gaze locking onto something in the mud. He instinctively patted Steelix's head, "Lower a bit."
"Roar~"
The latter obediently lowered its height.
The clearer view of an oddly-shaped hill outline appeared clearly before him.
It looked like some kind of structure, yet not quite, but it did have an ancient ruins feel, though it's hard to distinguish in its buried state.
"Lower it a bit more, let me take a closer look."
Baimu continued to tap on Steelix's head, and when he realized he sighed.
Habits are really hard to change, huh.
Oh, well.
And with Steelix's cooperation, he vaguely saw a strange door, pitch-black as if not completely blocked by sand and gravel.
Baimu pondered for a few seconds and then turned to Blissey, "Let's send them out first?"
The mudslide had stopped for now, but who knows if there might be another, so it's safer to send the Geodudes to a secure place.
"Happy!"
Blissey agreed.
Two minutes later.
Steelix descended to an absolutely safe location, and the Geodudes on its back exchanged glances, politely calling to Baimu and Blissey before leaving.
"Let's go back and take a closer look at that place."
Baimu couldn't wait to figure out what that place was and even took off his hat to let the rain cool his head, to keep his senses sharp.
To be honest, he had a vague memory of such a thing, but the raincoat felt stifling, making it hard to recall.
"Route 120, strange cave ruins... Sky Drought Cave?"
That name popped into his mind, but he quickly dismissed it because the Sky Drought Cave he remembered was in the center of a lake, not on a mountainside.
Returning to the original spot.
Baimu eagerly asked Steelix to use its tail to dig out that door-like thing from the front.
"Roar~"
Steelix complied, its Iron Tail spinning like a drill, quickly clearing out a large area in the sand.
When he saw the strange markings on the door, he suddenly realized.
"Ah! It's the Ancient Tomb!"
Ancient Tomb.
The resting place of one of the legendary giants—Registeel.
There's another one deep within Route 111, but that's the Desert Ruins. Baimu didn't see it before as he only circled the perimeter and didn't go in deep.
Who would've thought he'd find an Ancient Tomb here.
He excitedly jumped off Steelix's head, and Blissey hurriedly followed, alarmed.
"These are all ancient Braille..."
Baimu examined the sand-covered door, taking out his phone to take photos and trying to get Porygon II in his phone to help translate.
The ancient languages granted to him by the calligrapher didn't include Braille, so he couldn't translate it successfully.
"—No corresponding knowledge base found!"
Porygon II brought him bad news.
"No findings? Impossible!"
Baimu looked at it in surprise, thinking that the search engine feature of Porygon II would effortlessly decode this Braille. Who knew it couldn't either.
"I can't help if it's not found..."
Porygon II was equally helpless. Search engines aren't all-powerful; much knowledge is locked in private computer databases. How could it retrieve them in a short time?
"Okay,"
Baimu nodded dejectedly, then heard Steelix above roaring angrily towards something, even showing intentions to attack.
He quickly climbed back up Steelix's tail and saw three individuals standing in the forest not far away, holding "guns" with a hunter's attire.
The trio initially wore faces full of glee, but upon seeing Baimu climb up, they retracted their expressions.
"Tch! It's owned! I thought so!"
One spat on the ground, displeased.
... Poachers?
No.
This isn't a Pokémon Reserved Area, so they should be Pokémon Hunters.
Baimu frowned deeply. The standard gear made it impossible for him to mistake them for ordinary travelers; normal people don't wield hunting "guns."
But why were they near a disaster area?
For these lawless individuals, he had no qualms about assuming the worst of their actions.
Because——
There's not a good Pokémon Hunter among them!
This was something even international police affirmed. You couldn't generalize them, as they had caught many Pokémon hunters, and none were innocent.
They indiscriminately capture and destroy vast forest areas, trespass into Pokémon Reserved Areas, disregard local laws and regulations, recklessly attack trainers passing by in the wild, and even rob them of their Pokémon.
There's nothing they wouldn't do.
Baimu warily watched the three, signaling Steelix to retreat. He didn't believe for a moment that these people would leave quietly upon realizing Steelix had a trainer; they would surely cause trouble.
Just as expected.
The three in the forest conferred briefly, smiling wickedly at him once again.
"—Capture him!"
One shouted.
The other two quickly dashed into the woods, and within seconds, they burst out, standing on two flying devices, as if to pursue Steelix.
Meanwhile.
They didn't forget to release their Pokémon from their Pokeballs.
Bam bam bam bam bam!
Amidst the chaos, several Honchkrows and Crobats flew out, rapidly closing in on Steelix.
Baimu glanced at the Pokémon, then at the two Pokémon Hunters approaching on flying devices, contemplating the last time he had been in a fight.
It hasn't even been two weeks, right?
The Hoenn Region sure isn't peaceful...
He quietly opened his Pokeball, releasing the excited Hydreigon and the Dragapult that had long been shaking its Pokeball.
"Two minutes. I want to see them on the ground."
"Zzzzz!"
Hydreigon shouted eagerly, while Dragapult silently charged towards the Honchkrows and Crobats, sensing Baimu's anger but unsure of how to respond.
So it simply chose not to.
And when the Pokémon Hunters saw Baimu deciding to engage rather than flee, instead of fear, they cried out excitedly.
"Kid, let us show you our—"
"Heavyweight Charge."
As the words fell.
The silvery glow shone brilliantly amidst the rain.