"Rawr?"
Gabite tilted its head in confusion.
"Uh... I need Carbink to guide me out. I'm lost," Su Feng explained.
Gabite glanced at Carbink, who nodded in confirmation.
"Bink~!"
After sizing up Su Feng and Combusken, Gabite snorted and flicked its head forward.
"Are you telling me to follow you?"
Gabite ignored him and lumbered ahead.
"Still as aloof as ever," Su Feng muttered, trailing behind with Combusken while engaging the chat.
[Whoa, so many Carbink!]
[My eyes! The sparkles are blinding!]
[Are those gemstones!? I've got a brilliant idea—]
[Don't even think about it. Gabite would swat you like a fly.]
Half an hour later, the tunnel opened into a glittering cavern. Gabite's lair was staggering—piles of gemstones, glass bottles, and dozens of Carbink scattered across the space.
"Bink! Bink!"
The Carbink swarmed around Gabite and the newcomers, chirping excitedly.
"Gast...?"
Haunter stirred awake in Su Feng's arms, then jolted upright.
"Gast!?"
"Easy, it's over," Su Feng soothed. "Sableye's gone. Combusken evolved and drove it off."
Haunter eyed the newly evolved Combusken, then slumped in relief—before drooping with guilt.
"You did great back there," Su Feng said, stroking her head. "You shielded me while wounded and held back your power. Without you, Combusken wouldn't have had a chance to evolve. Thank you."
"Gast..."
Haunter buried her face in his chest, embarrassed but reassured.
Gabite growled, dispersing the Carbink crowd, then climbed onto its gemstone throne, eyeing Su Feng imperiously.
[Gabite's flexing like a king!]
[Su Feng's the royal advisor, and Carbink are the harem?]
"You're not wrong," Su Feng chuckled. "It's a symbiotic relationship. Gabite protects the Carbink for their gems, and they supply it with shiny treasures."
Gabite tossed a handful of discarded diamond fragments at Su Feng's feet.
"You want a trade?" Su Feng pulled out a jar of Dragon-type Energy Blocks. "These—"
Gabite snatched the jar, dumped the cubes unceremoniously, and filled it with glimmering diamonds instead.
"Rawr."
It admired the sparkling jar, satisfied.
Su Feng: "..."
[LMAO! Trading gems for an empty jar!]
[Modern-day "pearls before swine"!]
[Look at his face—he's mourning those wasted Energy Blocks!]
Combusken pointed at itself, then at Gabite, incredulous.
"Torch!?"
"Yep," Su Feng grinned. "Gabite, we challenge you."
Gabite's eyes gleamed. Finally—a worthy opponent.