Ding!
Pokemon: Volcarona
Type: Bug/Fire-type
Species:Sun Pokémon. Volcarona resembles a gigantic moth, possessing six enormous wings, each marked with numerous black spots that are said to resemble sunspots. In ancient times, many regions worshipped Volcarona, believing it to be a symbol of the sun. They thought that venerating Volcarona would drive away darkness and cold.
Ability: Flame Body
Nature: Modest
Gender: Female
Base Stats: Total 550
HP: 85
Attack: 60
Defense: 65
Special Attack: 135
Special Defense: 105
Speed: 100
Moves:Quiver Dance, Fiery Dance, Hurricane, Rage Powder, Heat Wave, Amnesia, Bug Buzz, Flame Wheel, String Shot, Absorb, Gust, Fire Spin, Whirlwind,Silver Wind.
Egg Move:Morning Sun
TM Moves: None
Evaluation: Excellent! Having lived within the ancient castle for an unknown number of years, this Volcarona possesses tremendous strength and outstanding potential. It is a Pokémon that is hardly inferior to Moltres. Highly recommended for training!
This was the information on the Volcarona Liam had just captured.
Volcarona was clearly a Pokémon that specialized in Special Attack and Speed. Its HP and physical Defense were relatively low, which explained why it had been knocked out by Garchomp in a single hit.
Even so, Liam was very satisfied with it. Since Arcanine was no longer by his side, Volcarona could perfectly fill the Fire-type vacancy on his team.
After capturing Volcarona, little N had completely lost any desire to continue exploring after everything that had happened.
So Liam picked up little N, climbed onto Garchomp's back, and had Garchomp fly back up to the upper level of the underground ruins.
Once they returned to the upper level, Liam opened his navigation map and located what appeared to be the castle's exit. Then he had Garchomp head straight for it.
Before long, they arrived.
Standing before them was an enormous castle gate.
According to the navigation map, the other side of the gate was still buried beneath the desert sands. If he simply opened it now, Liam estimated that more than half of the castle's interior would immediately be flooded with sand.
Determined not to damage the ancient ruins, Liam gently patted Garchomp on the head.
"Garchomp! Evolve!"
"Graaah!!"
With a mighty roar, Garchomp transformed right before little N's astonished eyes.
Its appearance changed, and a pair of enormous Sand Claw Wings spread from its back.
The next moment—
The Sand Claw Wings expanded into two gigantic claws that grasped both sides of the castle gate.
As the rumbling of ancient chains echoed from within the walls, the massive stone gates slowly swung inward.
The moment the gates opened, Liam saw countless tons of sand piled outside.
Ordinarily, all that sand should have come pouring into the castle immediately. But Garchomp was now the true King of Sand.
Its power completely controlled every grain outside the gate.
Without Garchomp's command, not a single grain of sand moved.
Only after the gates had fully opened did the mountain of sand begin flowing under Garchomp's control.
Like a slow-moving river, the sand streamed into the castle, while Garchomp stood firm like an immovable boulder, the flowing sand naturally splitting and passing around it.
Gradually, the enormous accumulation of sand outside the entrance visibly decreased.
At last, a passage leading back to the surface slowly appeared before Liam and little N.
"Nicely done, Garchomp. While the path is open, let's get out of here."
"Graaah!"
Liam climbed back onto Garchomp's back with little N in his arms, and Garchomp slowly walked out of the ancient castle.
The instant Garchomp left the castle, the Sand Claw Wings ceased controlling the gates.
Immediately, the enormous doors began closing on their own.
Accompanied by the clanking of ancient chains, the two giant doors slowly shut until they met with a heavy boom.
"Heh... that's surprisingly advanced. Well, never mind. Garchomp, let's get out of here."
"Graaah!"
Liam couldn't help admiring the sophisticated mechanism of the ancient gate.
Still, now wasn't the time to dwell on it.
Escaping from beneath the desert took priority.
...
Garchomp carried Liam and little N upward through the underground desert for another ten-plus minutes before finally breaking through the uppermost layer of sand and emerging onto the desert's surface.
Liam silently thanked his lucky stars that Garchomp possessed the ability to manipulate sand.
Otherwise, climbing out today would have been incredibly difficult.
However, the moment they reached the surface, Garchomp immediately reverted to its normal form and began panting heavily.
It was obvious that maintaining that evolved state had consumed an enormous amount of stamina.
Seeing this even made Liam feel a little frightened afterward.
He quickly fed Garchomp plenty of stamina-restoring food before returning it to its PokeBall so it could rest.
"Thanks for all your hard work, Garchomp. Get some good rest."
Liam smiled at the PokeBall in his hand before putting it away. He then gently patted little N's back. The child was still clinging to his shoulder.
"So, little N? Feeling better? Can you walk by yourself now?"
"No!"
The answer came instantly. To make matters worse, little N tightened their arms around Liam's neck even more.
Liam: "..."
He could only sigh helplessly.
Forget it.
Little N wasn't heavy anyway.
Carrying them wasn't much trouble.
So Liam continued forward with little N in his arms, while Pidove stood atop little N's head.
After checking the navigation map and confirming the direction, they continued toward Nimbasa City.
The map showed that they had already left Castelia City and Route 4 behind, entering an area known as the Desert Resort.
Places called "resorts" were usually known for beautiful scenery.
This place certainly lived up to its name in its own way.
As far as the eye could see—
Nothing but endless desert.
Fortunately, with the navigation map guiding him, Liam had no fear of getting lost.
Since the shortest distance between two points was a straight line, he simply headed directly toward Nimbasa City.
Although there wasn't currently a sandstorm sweeping across the Desert Resort, walking through the deep sand was exhausting in itself.
After an hour of trekking, even Liam was beginning to wear out. He finally stopped to rest and replenish some water.
Nearby stood the ruins of an old house. Its roof had long since collapsed, leaving only a few broken walls standing.
Even so, those crumbling walls still provided some welcome shade.
Liam led little N into one of the shaded spots and gently patted their back, laying the now-sleeping child on top of a smooth, rounded boulder.
He then took out the bread and water he had prepared beforehand, sat beside the rock, and began eating and drinking to recover his strength.
What Liam didn't notice, however, was that as the aroma of the food spread through the air...
The very boulder on which little N was sleeping...
...began to tremble ever so slightly.