Rusturf Tunnel—a key passage in Hoenn. Aoki rode his bicycle through the dimly lit path, aiming to cross as quickly as possible.
Combusken sat behind him, its sharp senses on high alert, ensuring that no wild Pokémon would catch them off guard. The tunnel had a reputation for being home to Whismur, Loudred, and other cave-dwelling Pokémon, and Aoki didn't want to be delayed.
After a while, Aoki suddenly hit the brakes.
A group of people stood ahead, gathered in a semi-circle, looking troubled. Using his keen observation skills, Aoki quickly identified them as construction workers.
"Excuse me, is something wrong?" he asked the foreman.
Aoki's priority was to reach Dewford Town as soon as possible. He needed to purchase more Pokémon Egg Hatching Solution for Jirachi's egg. Time was of the essence.
"Ah, trainer, I'm sorry! There's a wild Loudred up ahead causing a disturbance. We can't get rid of it," the foreman explained with a troubled expression.
"Yeah, it's been extremely aggressive! We tried scaring it off, but it just keeps coming back!" another worker added.
The workers, being non-trainers, had no means of handling a Pokémon of that level. Their eyes turned to Aoki, hopeful.
Aoki glanced at Combusken, then nodded. "Alright, leave it to me."
He needed to clear the path anyway. The sooner this was resolved, the sooner he could move forward.
After parting with the workers, Aoki proceeded deeper into the tunnel. The air inside was damp, the walls glistening with moisture.
Combusken, sensing the chill, emitted a faint heat from its body, warming the surroundings.
Aoki patted its shoulder. "Thanks, Combusken."
"Not exactly!" Combusken crossed its arms, acting like it was no big deal.
After walking for some time, Aoki spotted his target—a Loudred, its purple body illuminated by the tunnel's dim lighting.
Its ears twitched aggressively, eyes scanning the area with clear hostility.
Using his Viridian Aura, Aoki attempted to communicate with it. "Loudred, calm down. We don't mean any harm."
However, before he could finish, Loudred released a deafening Echoed Voice.
The sound waves rippled through the tunnel, causing small rocks to shake loose from the ceiling. Cracks formed along the ground, a testament to its sheer power.
"Combusken, use Flamethrower!" Aoki commanded.
With a deep inhale, Combusken spewed a swirling vortex of flames. The fire met the invisible shockwave mid-air, creating a powerful explosion.
Boom!
Smoke filled the tunnel, reducing visibility.
"Combusken, step back. Treecko, this is your battle now!"
Treecko had been nearing evolution for a while. It needed real battle experience to trigger the transformation.
Aoki activated the Eye of Data:
Name: Loudred
Strength: Advanced
Potential: Gym-level
A second-stage evolution Pokémon with only advanced strength—below the standard of a fully developed Loudred.
"Treecko, start with Pound!"
Treecko dashed forward with incredible speed, appearing at Loudred's side in an instant. With a sharp pivot, its tail slammed into Loudred's side.
Thud!
Loudred staggered, grimacing in pain, but recovered quickly. Its frustration erupted into a powerful Uproar attack.
The intense sound waves clashed against the tunnel walls, amplifying their force.
"Counter it with Bullet Seed!"
Treecko puffed up its cheeks before firing a rapid succession of glowing seeds.
Rumble!
The seeds met the sonic waves, causing a series of small explosions that shook the ground.
"Now, rush in and use Brick Break!"
Without hesitation, Treecko dove into the smoke, vanishing from sight.
Loudred, disoriented by the sudden obscurity, looked around in confusion.
Then—
Whoosh!
A green blur emerged behind it.
Treecko's arm glowed bright white as it swung down, striking Loudred with Brick Break.
A pained roar echoed through the tunnel as Loudred stumbled, barely holding on.
"Still standing? Then finish it!"
Treecko's right hand lit up once more as it prepared a second Brick Break.
However, Loudred refused to back down. It roared, charging forward with a Tackle, intending to clash head-on.
Aoki smirked. "Take it straight on, Treecko!"
Treecko gritted its teeth and swung its glowing arm down.
BAM!
Loudred's momentum was halted instantly. The impact caused Treecko's arm to tremble, but it held firm.
Loudred, however, was at its limit. Its legs wobbled before it collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.
"Grooooo!"
Treecko raised its arms in triumph, celebrating the hard-fought victory.
Then—
A blinding white light engulfed its body.
Aoki's eyes widened.
"Finally! Treecko is evolving!"
His hands clenched into fists as he watched eagerly. Treecko had been with him for a long time, yet it had taken longer than expected to evolve.
Combusken had already evolved, and Frogadier was nearing evolution too. Treecko had lagged behind—until now.
The light around Treecko slowly faded, revealing its new form.
The once small, nimble gecko was now taller, sleeker, and more defined. The leaf blades on its arms glistened under the tunnel's dim lighting.
Grovyle.
Aoki smiled. "Treecko—no, Grovyle! You finally evolved."
Grovyle leaped forward, excitement radiating from its body. It bounced around Aoki, eager for praise.
Through the Viridian Aura, Aoki could sense its emotions clearly.
Master! I finally evolved! I won't let you down!
Aoki chuckled, reaching out to pat Grovyle's head.
"You've worked hard. Take a break tomorrow—you deserve it."
"Grooo!"
Grovyle waved its arms dismissively. I'm fine, Master!
Aoki shook his head, amused. Even after evolving, you're still the same stubborn Treecko.
With Loudred defeated and Grovyle's evolution complete, it was time to move forward.
The path to Dewford Town awaited.
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