Chapter 469: Abnormality in the Mine
Smack!
Shieldon fell heavily on the ground.
He panted and stood up, but seemed completely unable to run anymore.
"Shieldon! Quick! Come on, we..."
Carbon (Tanshit) reached out his hand, wanting to hug Shieldon and leave together.
But although the little guy is small in size, his weight is not light; how could a teenager run carrying over a hundred catties?
"Kedo!"
Shieldon seemed to know this too.
He reached out and bit Carbon's arm hard, roaring at him.
Shieldon turned around, shook his tail at Carbon, and looked seriously at the group of Kabutops and Kabuto.
"...Shieldon."
Carbon understood his partner's meaning.
He didn't hesitate, turned around and ran. Perhaps the first thought that appeared in his mind was to flee this place at all costs and save his own life.
But after turning around and running two or three steps, Carbon's footsteps suddenly stopped.
The earth trembled constantly.
The rustling, terrifying sound behind him echoed continuously in the depths of this dark and enclosed cave.
If he didn't run.
He would definitely die.
Carbon didn't know what someone else would choose.
At this moment.
His legs simply couldn't move.
"Damn it..."
If he just stood there motionless, wouldn't Shieldon's sacrifice be meaningless?!
Bang!
Carbon punched his own constantly trembling thigh heavily.
Bang!
Another heavy punch.
His legs could move.
Carbon turned around without hesitation, stepping forward to face the Kabutops clan.
Lightness.
Carbon had never felt at any moment in the past that he was so light as a swallow.
Perhaps.
This is the feedback after following the choice of the heart.
Whether it was his brain or his body, they were all cheering and jumping for joy.
Cheering for Carbon choosing death?
No.
Revitalized for his action of choosing his partner regardless of death.
From an observer's perspective, this is no different from seeking death and is not worth encouraging.
But the spirit of Carbon and Shieldon being willing to sacrifice themselves for each other is indisputably admirable.
"Kedo?!"
Before Shieldon could react.
He felt his vision spin, and then was hugged by Carbon rolling into the corner.
Carbon only hoped this group of strangely acting Kabuto wouldn't have the time to bother with them and would continue heading outside.
However, the Kabutops were not blind.
They surrounded them instantly.
Although they were in the process of being forced to relocate, they still had the time to hunt two pieces of food.
"Kedo."
Shieldon pointed his hard head forward.
Unfortunately, the little guy's size was really a bit short, truly not posing any threat, unable to scare these shelled creatures at all.
"Swish swish!"
A Kabutops issued the order to attack.
The surrounding Kabutops and Kabuto became restless one after another, gradually approaching Carbon and Shieldon.
Screech!!
Not thunder, nor an oddity.
It was the shriek produced when the air was rubbed to the extreme.
An azure blue light of Aura pierced the darkness in the cave like a meteor. In the blink of an eye, a thin figure appeared in front of the Kabutops.
His body exuded the aura of dragons and oceans.
His gaze was as sharp as a Sceptile's.
His posture was as tough as an Empoleon's.
His momentum, however, didn't lose the majestic and handsome demeanor of a Lucario.
He.
With just one blue Aura Sphere, scared back all the Kabutops and Kabuto.
The blue light of Aura shone on their faces.
Making them retreat continuously.
Even the leader Kabutops showed a panicked expression on his face.
"Either scram now, or all die here; I am not like those soft-hearted folks."
Will held the Aura Sphere in his hand in front of him, a blue stream of light flashing across his eyes.
As an existence who had lived through the magical beast era twice, when it was time to deal a deadly blow, he wouldn't suffer from a bout of Holy Mother syndrome.
"Swish swish!"
The Kabutops heard Will's voice.
Each one was scared out of their wits, breaking formation one after another and fleeing in all directions.
However, Will noticed.
Even though this group of guys fled in panic.
They didn't flee deep into the tunnel, but ran wildly towards the outside of the tunnel.
As if something deep in the tunnel was driving them out.
Could it be...
Is that Garchomp about to run out?
"Worthy of being Lucario, just awesome."
Cynthia and Garchomp appeared a step later.
"Garchomp."
Garchomp heard Cynthia's praise and was quite unconvinced.
"S-saved."
"Kedo..."
Carbon and Shieldon, coming back to their senses, breathed a sigh of relief.
"Are you okay?"
Will turned around, squatted down, and stroked Shieldon's head.
Hard as a bowling ball.
"Kedo~"
Shieldon looked up at Will, walked slowly to his leg, and rubbed his head against it.
His chubby little tail swung left and right, looking in an extremely good mood, having the comfort of surviving a disaster.
Will quietly rubbed his little tail.
The solid feel was really quite good.
The one who designed a cute creature like Shieldon is really a genius.
"Are you okay?"
Cynthia walked over and looked at Carbon slumped on the ground.
She took out a few wet wipes and a bottle of potion from her backpack and handed them to him.
She saw scrapes on Carbon's knees.
Shieldon's front legs also had them.
"Ah, thank you, thank you so much; if it weren't for your Lucario arriving, Shieldon and I might have had to perish here today."
Carbon took those items and bowed solemnly to Cynthia.
He was truly too grateful.
This was a life-saving grace!
"It's all Lucario's credit."
Cynthia pointed to the dog who was petting Shieldon.
Unfortunately.
She came a bit late.
Didn't see Lucario's heroic posture.
Just thinking about it, she knew it must have been very handsome.
"Your Lucario is very strong, and also very handsome!"
"Hehe, I think so too."
Cynthia smiled embarrassedly.
As if it was her that Carbon was praising.
"My name is Carbon, I'm a freelance miner in Ambrette Town."
Carbon squatted down to treat his Shieldon's wounds.
"I'm Cynthia, a trainer from the Sinnoh region, and also an archaeologist."
Cynthia introduced herself, then sized up the little Shieldon,
"Isn't it very dangerous for you guys to work in this mine usually?"
Her meaning was actually very simple.
She just felt Carbon and Shieldon looked relatively weak; coming to this kind of place seemed a bit...
Overestimating their capabilities?
Just that words couldn't really be said like that.
The gentle Cynthia still had to take care of others' emotions.
"No, most of the Pokémon living in this mine are very friendly, because the seniors who came to the mine before would always feed them, equivalent to paying a 'toll fee', so not only will everyone not attack us, but they also welcome our arrival very much, even taking the initiative to take us to find ores in exchange for food."
Carbon shook his head and hurriedly explained.
"Then..."
Cynthia doubtfully pointed in the direction the Kabutops left.
"I also don't know what the situation is; before, there was never any news of Kabutops and Kabuto appearing in this mine, everyone didn't even know so many Kabutops and Kabuto lived in this mine."
Carbon shook his head blankly.
"Looks like the depths of this mine connect to a place suitable for ancient Pokémon to survive, but something went wrong there."
As soon as Will's voice fell.
Blonde-kun got excited.
"? Telepathy?"
Carbon looked left and right, only then confirming it was Will "speaking".
"More or less."
Will nodded.
"You guys came in planning to?"
"Tourism, exploration, adventure."
"Is that so, this is indeed a nice place, but today, I suggest it's better you guys go back with me; the situation in this mine is clearly abnormal."
Carbon tried to dissuade them.
Will didn't respond, turning his head to look at Cynthia.
He didn't care either way.
"Let's go back first."
Cynthia quickly made a decision.
As Carbon said.
The situation in this mine right now seems somewhat strange; continuing deeper might encounter some danger.
If even Lucario couldn't handle it.
Then they might fall into the same situation as Carbon and Shieldon.
Moreover.
On the way out, there might still be Kabutops and Kabuto who hadn't run out just now; Cynthia also wanted to safely escort Carbon and the others out to avoid accidents.
"Okay, then let's go together; I need to go back and tell Big Sister Monet about the situation here. I'll personally bring you in to explore after the situation in the mine is confirmed to be stable in a few days."
Carbon nodded and also breathed a sigh of relief.
The road conditions in this mine are much more complex than imagined.
He was really afraid someone like Cynthia, coming in for the first time, would get lost here, plus the current unknown situation.
Even if Cynthia is very strong.
She might also encounter some danger.
In that case, even if he got out, he wouldn't feel at ease.
After making the decision.
Everyone returned the way they came.
"Who is Big Sister Monet?"
Cynthia turned her head and asked.
"A Pokémon Ranger living in Ambrette Town."
"Ranger? The mine?"
"Yes, she has a very powerful Garchomp."
Carbon nodded, his eyes filled mostly with admiration,
"She is the patron saint of us miners; encountering danger or abnormal things in the mine, finding Big Sister Monet first is definitely the right choice."
"...So that was her Garchomp."
Cynthia nodded gently.
Recalling the one Will and Garchomp mentioned before.
On the way back.
As Cynthia guessed, from time to time they could encounter Kabuto that had fallen behind in the mine tunnel.
The moment these sluggish little things saw Will, it was as if they saw a ghost, hurrying to slip away.
Some slower ones simply "lay in the sand" on the spot, digging dirt to bury themselves.
"Lucario, what did you do?"
"Nothing, just scared them a bit."
Will shrugged.
He also didn't expect the effect to be so good.
Half an hour later.
Following Carbon, they arrived at the Nature Monitoring Station in Ambrette Town.
Working here are all personnel such as Pokémon Rangers and Forest Guards of the Kalos League stationed in Ambrette Town.
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