"Is this the place?"
Su Feng pointed at a narrow cave entrance barely taller than a person, hidden behind dense weeds and trees. If not for the Machop leading him here, he might never have spotted it.
"Machop!" The Machop nodded vigorously. It had indeed seen a terrifying Dragon-type Pokémon inside this cave. Just recalling the encounter made its legs tremble. Thankfully, the Pokémon had ignored it due to its weakness at the time. Even if it evolved into a Machamp, it doubted it could defeat that creature.
"Good. A deal's a deal—this bag's yours."
Su Feng handed over the Energy Blocks, patting the Machop's head before letting it leave. Though the cave looked unremarkable, it was better than wandering aimlessly.
[You're just trusting the Machop? What if it lied for candy?]
[This cave's too small for a powerful Dragon-type!]
[Maybe it's like "the dragon's den" in legends? Hidden but mighty!]
Su Feng adjusted his headlamp and stepped inside. "I've said before—Pokémon are honest. Even if there's no Dragon-type here, the Machop had its reasons."
The cramped entrance soon opened into a vast cavern, its walls glistening with moisture. Drips echoed through the tunnels, and pairs of glowing eyes watched from the shadows. Geodudes rolled away like startled marbles, while Zubats flapped deeper into the darkness.
[Those round Pokémon are adorable! Like meatballs with arms!]
[Those green eyes in the dark are creeping me out…]
[Why is everything so clear? It's pitch-black in caves!]
"Night vision on the drone," Su Feng explained, illuminating a Geodude hiding in the rocks. "This is Geodude—common in mountains. They bury themselves to observe humans. Older ones get smoother from weathering. Step on their heads, though, and they'll get mad—like someone stomping on you while you sleep."
[H♂a♂r♂d♂e♂r clashes!]
[I saw one once—thought it was a rock monster!]
As Su Feng trekked deeper, an eerie sensation prickled his neck. Something was watching him. Yet whenever he turned, nothing was there.
"Haunter, Torchic—feel anything following us?"
Both shook their heads.
[Why keep looking back? Ghosts?]
[The only "ghost" here is the one on your head.]
[Pray for the ghost's safety if it messes with him lol.]
"Shouldn't you be praying for me?" Su Feng grumbled.
An hour later, the cave still stretched endlessly. Just as doubt crept in, he rounded a corner—and froze.
A small, crystalline Pokémon with diamond-like patterns glimmered under his headlamp.
"Carbink!?"