Alex didn't look that impressed but he still smile. He simply nodded.
"Well done, Ninetales. Clean Fight."
She gave a small, satisfied flick of her tails as the frost slowly faded from the battlefield.
Alex walked toward the fallen Dragon-type. He crouched beside Salamence and sprayed a Hyper Potion across the worst of the ice-burns and fractures. The mist hissed against frozen scales. Color slowly returned.
Then he waited.
A few minutes later, Salamence's eyes snapped open.
He did not attack. Instead, he pushed himself upright and lowered his massive body slightly—crouching in front of Alex. Not submissive. Not aggressive. Measuring.
His voice was low and rough.
"Human… why?"
Gardevoir's calm tone echoed inside Alex's mind as she translated telepathically. "He asks why you healed him. He says you do not look like a human who acts without purpose."
Alex's eyebrow lifted faintly. "Do I look that calculating?"
A brief silence.
Gardevoir continued. "He says you look like someone who would kill if it benefited you."
Alex's expression didn't change—but something flickered in his eyes. "Interesting."
He tilted his head slightly, studying Salamence in return. "What about me suggests that?"
No answer came immediately.
Instinct? Alex wondered. Or maybe experience?
Without breaking eye contact, Alex reached into his TRH device and retrieved three stones. The cavern light caught on their surfaces.
A Key Stone. A Mega Stone.And a Mid Moon Stone.
Salamence's gaze sharpened.
Alex held them up calmly. "I'm not here to kill you. I'm here to trade."
His tone remained even—matter-of-fact.
"If you or your leader possess stones of similar value, I'm interested. I can offer more than this." He gestured slightly toward Salamence's healed body. "Potions that restore you from the brink of death. Or specialized food that improves the potential of Dragon-type Pokémon."
The air in the cavern grew still again. This was no longer a battle. It was negotiation.
Salamence's pupils narrowed when the stones caught the cavern's dim light.
Even injured, even freshly healed, the Dragon-type radiated restrained violence. The air around him felt heavy—like the calm before a storm.
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked at the stones. His tail twitched.
Gardevoir's voice slipped quietly into Alex's mind. "He says… you are dangerous."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Because I beat him?"
"No," she translated. "Because you healed him."
Salamence's wings shifted slightly, claws digging into the stone floor. "He says humans who want territory attack. Humans who want resources capture. Humans who want to kill… kill. But you fight, heal, and then negotiate. He cannot measure you."
Alex held Salamence's gaze. "That's fair."
The cavern was silent except for dripping water somewhere in the dark.
"I don't need territory here," Alex continued calmly. "And I don't need to capture you. But I know this area is controlled and that you're not the leader."
Salamence's eyes sharpened slightly at that. "So I'd rather speak to whoever is."
A faint rumble vibrated through Salamence's chest—not a growl. Thought.
Gardevoir translated again. "He says the Leader does not meet weak humans."
Alex smiled faintly. "Good. I wouldn't want to trade with a weak leader either."
Salamence stared at him for several long seconds. Then slowly—very slowly—he stood to his full height.
"He says… follow."
The air pressure in the cavern shifted as Salamence lifted off the ground, gliding deeper into the shadows of Meteor Falls.
Alex didn't hesitate. He put the stones away inside his TRH device.
Salamence beat his wings once, twice, and lifted into the air. He didn't fly fast and you can even say he fly very slow. He didn't look back. He expected to be followed.
Alex and his Pokemon walked.
The deeper they moved into Meteor Falls, the colder the air became. The light from the cavern ceiling faded, replaced by faint bioluminescent moss along the walls. The path narrowed, then widened again into something vast.
A natural cathedral of stone. But they were not alone.
Along the edges of the cavern, in cracks and elevated ledges, weaker Pokémon watched.
A pair of zubat clung upside down from a jagged overhang. A Lairon stood near a mineral vein, pretending not to stare. Further back, what looked like a Graveler rested half-hidden behind a pillar of stone.
None of them attacked. None of them fled. They simply observed.
Alex understood immediately.
An Area Leader did not waste energy driving out everything that entered their territory. That would do more harm then good. Smaller, weaker Pokémon were tolerated. They scavenged. They cleaned. They survived in the shadow of stronger beings.
Only those strong enough to threaten the balance—strong enough to damage the group or challenge authority—were driven away Or crushed.
Which meant one thing. The moment Alex's group stepped into this chamber, they had already been classified as a potential threat.
At the center of the cavern, atop a raised stone platform, rested a massive Salamence.
Three other Salamence stood behind and beside him, positioned like silent guards. Around the outer edges of the chamber lingered numerous Bagon and Shelgon. The younger dragons immediately retreated several steps when Alex's group entered, keeping their distance but refusing to flee entirely.
They were protected here.
The largest Salamence slowly lifted his head.
He was enormous—easily over seven feet tall at the shoulder. Scars carved across his chest and neck like old battle maps. One horn was chipped near the base. His wings remained folded, yet even at rest he radiated authority that pressed against the air itself.
Then his eyes opened.
----------
Pokémon: Salamence
LV: 59
Type: Dragon/Flying
Abilities: Moxie (hidden ability)
Gender: Male
Potential: Shallow Diamond (29%)
Move:
- Rage, Ember, Leer, Bite, Dragon Breath, Headbutt, Focus Energy [E], Crunch [M], Dragon Claw, Zen Headbutt [E], Scary Face [M], Flamethrower [E], Fly [M]
- (Perfect Talent) Dragon Rush [M], (Perfect Talent) Dragon Dance [M],
----------
Alex, seeing a level 59 Salamence with 5 Master Rank moves, was quite impressed. Stronger than he had anticipated.
His gaze shifted briefly to the other three Salamence—levels 51, 54, and 57. Together, the four subordinates formed a force that, in combination with their leader, wouldn't be far behind Alex's own team in raw combat strength.
Without Mega Scizor, it would be a relative close fight. He would still win, but it wouldn't be an easy victory.
The scout Salamence landed in front of the platform and lowered his head in acknowledgment. A short exchange of deep, resonant roars followed between him and the leader—measured, controlled.
Report delivered.
The larger Salamence's gaze settled on Alex. No immediate hostility. Just pressure. Then he released a low, rolling roar that vibrated through the cavern walls.
Gardevoir's voice entered Alex's mind a moment later.
"He says… you defeated one of his scouts. You healed him. And now you requested trade instead of territory. He asks what you truly want."
Alex stepped forward—close enough to show confidence. The rest of his Pokémon remained disciplined behind him.
"I want resources," Alex said evenly. "Evolution stones. Rare minerals. Anything of value you don't currently need."
The leader's eyes narrowed.
"And in return," Alex continued, "I offer sustainable advantage. High-grade healing supplies. And long-term enhancement food specifically tailored for Dragon-type Pokémon."
The cavern fell silent. Along the edges, the Bagon and Shelgon didn't move. They were listening.
Another low rumble escaped the leader.
Gardevoir translated. "He says humans lie. Humans promise advantage and return with capture devices."
Alex didn't blink. "If I wanted to capture you, I would have already started. As you can see, my team is stronger than yours."
The statement was not arrogance. It was just the Truth.
A subtle shift passed through the chamber. The leader understood the implication.
Silence stretched thin. Then the leader slowly rose to his full height. Stone cracked beneath his claws.
"He says," Gardevoir spoke softly into Alex's mind, "you may present your offer."
Negotiations had begun.
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