The moment the four of them stepped into the entrance of Mt. Pyre, the temperature plummeted.
The mist from outside seemed to take on a physical form, turning into icy tentacles that slithered down their collars and pressed against their skin, raising a layer of fine goosebumps.
The cave wasn't completely dark; a faint light seeped in from somewhere, churned into a chaotic mess by the heavy moisture. Although the fog here was much thinner than outside, the visibility was even lower in the gloomy environment.
Beneath their feet were slippery rocks, and every step had to be taken with extreme caution.
Water droplets fell from the stalactites overhead—drip, drip—the sound amplified infinitely in the empty cavern, like some unknown creature beating out a rhythm in the shadows, tapping on everyone's nerves.
Masaki and Tome subconsciously slowed their pace, and the distance between them shortened.
The palm Masaki used to hold the searchlight was already covered in a layer of cold sweat.
He prided himself on being a top student at the elite Trainer School, with a theoretical knowledge base second to none and a photographic memory of records regarding various dangerous locations.
But the words in books were cold, far less real than the chill currently seeping into his bones.
All the records about Mt. Pyre flashed through his mind: the habits of Ghost-type Pokémon, the possible internal structures of the mountain...
But at this moment, instead of giving him a sense of security, this knowledge only made him imagine even more terrifying possibilities.
Tome was slightly better off, but only just.
In her four years at the Rock Gym, she had indeed seen her fair share of action, but that was always under the protection of the Gym Leader.
The Previous Rock Gym Leader's mountain-like, reliable figure had always stood at the very front; she only needed to execute orders.
But now, the person protecting her wasn't there, and she only had three companions she wasn't very familiar with by her side.
She gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, trying hard to control her slightly trembling breath, her gaze drifting between the two tall figures in front.
Ariel and Steven walked at the very front, unhurried, their steps as steady as if they were taking a stroll in their own backyard.
Because of the distance and the lighting, Masaki and Tome couldn't see their expressions, only two silent silhouettes.
What were they thinking?
Were they afraid too?
This thought popped into Masaki's head.
Surely they were; after all, this was Mt. Pyre, a place legendary for connecting to another world.
No matter how powerful a Trainer was, they should have the most basic emotional reaction when faced with this pure, unknown gloom.
Tome was also secretly speculating.
Mr. Steven was a corporate heir, and Ariel was even more mysterious, but they were human after all.
In a place like this, who could remain completely unruffled? Perhaps they were just putting on a brave face, not wanting to lose their composure in front of their juniors.
The two glanced at each other, reading the same emotions in each other's eyes—a hint of regret and a hint of seeking solace in a kindred spirit.
If they had known it would be like this, they would have preferred not to come.
The road ahead grew even deeper and darker, as the last bit of natural light was completely swallowed up.
The cave became a box of pure darkness.
"Turn on the light."
Masaki's voice carried an imperceptible tremor.
With a 'click', he flipped the switch, and a beam of intense light tore through the darkness, shining straight ahead.
In the beam of light, countless tiny water droplets and dust particles danced up and down, like a swarm of lost Pokémon.
The brightness dispelled some of the chill and bolstered Masaki and Tome's courage slightly.
Just then.
"Whoa—!"
A sudden shout, like a clap of thunder, exploded in the enclosed cavern, the echoes layering upon each other as if countless people were roaring in their ears at once.
Masaki's hand jerked, the beam of the searchlight waving wildly across the rock walls, illuminating countless grotesque and twisted shadows.
He felt as if his heart had been seized by an invisible hand, nearly jumping out of his throat.
Tome was even more pale with fright; the fear she had suppressed for so long finally erupted, and a scream escaped her lips, sharp enough to pierce eardrums.
Their minds went blank, their only thought being—it's here! A ghost!
However, the expected attack did not come.
The shaking beam of light finally stabilized, illuminating the scene ahead.
Steven was spread out like a gecko, limbs splayed, practically 'pounced' against the stone wall ahead. There wasn't a trace of fear on his face; instead, it was a look of almost fanatical excitement.
He turned his head, his eyes shining brightly under the searchlight, and shouted to Ariel behind him:
"Ariel! Quick, come look! You have to see this!"
His voice was full of the pleasant surprise of someone discovering a new continent.
"The stones here! They're actually white! And look at this texture, this grain! Heavens, these crystals! They're perfect! Could this be..."
???
Masaki and Tome froze in place, their screams still stuck in their throats.
They watched the man who was clinging to the wall, touching and rubbing an unremarkable white stone while muttering to himself, and felt as if their worldview had suffered a violent blow.
That was it?
Ariel's reaction left them even more bewildered.
He let out a lazy yawn, even squeezing out a few physiological tears. He completely ignored Steven's excitement, instead turning his head toward the deep darkness and muttering to himself.
"What gives... why hasn't a Pokémon come out to attack yet? The atmosphere is all set, they're being way too inconsiderate."
He cracked his neck, making a faint 'click' sound.
"If they don't come out soon, I'm going to fall asleep walking. Maybe I should take the initiative and make some noise to invite them out to play?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it reached Masaki and Tome's ears clearly.
In... invite them out to play?
Masaki and Tome looked at each other, the terror on their faces slowly fading, replaced by an indescribable blankness.
One was a stone maniac who got excited and screamed like a ghost at the sight of a rock.
The other was a battle fanatic who complained that the Ghost Pokémon were taking too long to show up and even wanted to Taunt them into appearing.
Their previous guesses about 'strong people being afraid too' and 'pretending to be calm' seemed utterly ridiculous now.
Are these two... wired a bit differently from normal people?
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