Many Magikarp and Goldeen swam at the bottom of the lake, and occasionally a Goldeen could be seen.
After playing and observing for about half an hour, Lionel had Milotic and Metang lead them back to the shore.
After playing, it was time to get down to business.
Lionel whispered a few words to Tyrantrum and Larvesta.
Although the two Pokémon were still a little reluctant, they obediently shook their heads and nodded to show they understood.
Lionel took out a Poké Ball, pressed the switch, and a soft red light gently enveloped it, gently returning it to its original position.
Then, he turned around, his gaze falling on Metang and Milotic beside him:
"From now on, I'm leaving it to you two."
Lionel's gaze passed over the two Pokémon in front of him, fixing on a small path leading up to a steel boat not far away.
The path was hidden among dense vegetation, vines and bushes almost completely obscuring it.
Without careful observation, it was impossible to tell that it was a passable path, clearly indicating that it was rarely trodden.
"We'll start from here, taking it one step at a time, carefully exploring every corner of this mountain range,"
Lionel said to the Metang and Milotic, his voice filled with undisguised anticipation.
The terrain of the Meteor Falls mountain range was uneven due to the impact of meteorite fragments, coupled with the cascading water from the waterfall at the summit, making the terrain increasingly complex.
Therefore, countless lakes and caves of varying sizes were scattered throughout the mountain range.
Lionel's goal was clear:
Starting from the foot of the mountain, to carefully explore this
Meteor Falls mountain range, inch by inch.
He remembered that back at Mt. Chimney, it was the aura of a high-level Pokémon energy cluster that lured out the Larvesta.
Now, he held a similar hope.
He wanted to see if he could use the same method to attract the Shelgon that were hiding their forms and silently accumulating energy in preparation for evolution.
After all, Shelgon require an enormous amount of energy to successfully hatch.
If Shelgon truly existed in this mountain range, they might be attracted by the high-level Pokémon energy orb he was carrying.
The Larvesta was able to sense his high-level Pokémon energy orb because the stone with the Groudon symbol mark enhanced its perception;
But Shelgon didn't have such an item, so Lionel could only hope for close contact.
When he got close enough, the Shelgon might sense the energy orb's presence and be attracted.
Thinking this, Lionel took out a high-level energy orb emitting a faint glow from his system space.
He carefully placed it in the pocket on his chest, ensuring it could stably emit energy fluctuations.
The mountain path was rugged and difficult to traverse, covered with sharp rocks and tangled tree roots; a slight misstep could cause one to trip and fall.
Lionel had to slow his pace, concentrating intently on avoiding these obstacles.
The ground beneath his feet was incredibly slippery due to the constant moisture, making it easy to slip and fall.
Fortunately, Metang was there to assist him. It used its telekinesis to gently roll up the obstructing branches and loose stones, clearing a relatively smooth path for them.
At the same time, it also used its telekinesis to slightly support Lionel's body, easing the burden on his feet and making progress much easier; otherwise, the difficulty of walking on such a path would have been immense.
Milotic remained close by Lionel's side, maintaining a high level of vigilance.
After all, the Meteor Mountains are different from other places; the terrain is complex and fraught with unknown dangers. In case of an emergency, Milotic's power would be needed to deal with it.
Lionel and his group walked with difficulty for about half an hour, when suddenly a fork in the road appeared ahead.
One path led deeper into the dense forest. Sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground, revealing a shimmering expanse of water, like a small lake.
Lionel pondered for a moment, then turned to Milotic beside him and said,
"Milotic, go explore the bottom of the lake.
Keep an eye out for any unusual Pokémon, especially those that look a lot like you.
Also, check if there are any underwater passages leading to other caves. If you find anything unusual, come back and tell me immediately."
When Milotic heard "Pokémon that look a lot like him," a hint of confusion flickered in his clear eyes.
It tilted its head slightly, as if pondering: What kind of Pokémon resembled itself?
But without much hesitation, it obediently followed Lionel's command, gracefully flicking its tail fin and leaping lightly into the lake ahead.
Its figure quickly disappeared into the shimmering water.
Lionel and the Metang waited patiently on the shore.
The Metang hovered in mid-air, its red eyes warily scanning its surroundings, guarding against any potential surprises.
Lionel found a relatively flat rock to sit on, his gaze fixed on the lake, silently hoping for a new discovery.
Not long after, a ripple appeared on the lake's surface, and Milotic emerged from the water.
It swam to the shore, gently nuzzled Lionel's arm with its head, then shook its head, as if silently saying,
"Nothing special to find in there."
Disappointed.
Lionel felt a slight disappointment, but he wasn't angry.
In the following time, he led his Pokémon to explore the mountains and forests. They didn't encounter any caves, but they did find several hidden lakes.
At each lake, he would release Milotic to explore, while he and Metang observed and waited on the shore, not letting any clue slip by.
However, their exploration yielded little result.
According to Milotic, the Pokémon it encountered in the lakes were mostly common Water-type Pokémon like Magikarp, Goldeen, and Staryu.
Furthermore, they found no trace of any connection to the caves inside the mountain.
However, the peaceful exploration was soon disrupted by a different situation.
On the shore of a large lake, Milotic was about to enter the water when a huge undercurrent suddenly surged beneath the calm surface.
A massive figure swam swiftly towards the shore where Lionel and his group were, accompanied by a fierce roar and splashing water everywhere.
Metang and Milotic reacted extremely quickly, instantly blocking Lionel's path and assuming a defensive stance.
Lionel's heart tightened, his gaze falling on the massive figure. His system panel quickly displayed its information:
[Pokémon: Gyarados]
[Type: Water/Flying]
[Category: Ferocious Pokémon]
[Ability: Intimidate (Intimidates the opponent upon entry, causing them to flinch and lowering their Attack stat)]
[Moves: Bite, Ice Fang, Waterfall, Crunch, Rain Dance, Aqua Tail, Dragon Dance, Hydro Pump, Hurricane]