The two begin their journey toward Ruby Town, walking along the route. The terrain gradually becomes rockier and more uneven as they get closer to the volcano area. The air feels warmer too, signaling the hot climate ahead.
Hikari adjusts her hat, wiping sweat from her forehead.
"It's getting hotter. The volcano must be active."
She looks ahead at the mountains in the distance, where smoke can be seen rising from the top.
Zoah notices the smoke too, and pulls out his water bottle to take a sip.
"We should take breaks more often. Don't want to get dehydrated in this heat."
He offers her the bottle. She accepts the bottle and drinks some water, grateful for the refreshment.
"Thanks. We should also keep an eye out for wild pokémon that might be affected by the heat too."
As they continue walking, they spot a few pokémon in the distance - some Magmar and Slugma basking in the heat near a lava pool.
One of the Magmar notices them and lets out a small flame, seeming agitated by their presence.
Zoah stops and signals for Hikari to stop as well, watching the Magmar carefully.
"Looks like we've got company. And it's not happy about us being here."
The Magmar takes a step forward, its flames flickering more intensely. Chimchar tenses up, ready to defend if needed.
Hikari whispers to Zoah, "Should we try to avoid it, or do you want to battle?"
Zoah assesses the situation, weighing their options. The Magmar seems to be alone, but the area is hot and dangerous.
"Let's try to avoid it if possible. We don't need to provoke it unnecessarily." He slowly takes a step back, keeping his eyes on the fiery pokémon.
Magmar suddenly flares its body up and lunges forward at them initiating a battle. Zoah quickly reacts, sending out Shinx to intercept the attack.
"Shinx, dodge and use thundershock. Stay away from its body from physical contact!"
Shinx quickly dodges the lunge, its fur standing on end as it charges up electricity. It releases a Thundershock toward Magmar, aiming to keep distance like Zoah instructed.
"Why keep distance?" Hikari asked
"Flame body. It's an ability when touched, it inflicts burn." Zoah says
Hikari nods in understanding.
"Got it. So we need to be careful about physical contact with its body."
The Thundershock hits Magmar, but it seems to barely affect it due to its fire typing. The pokémon growls and prepares another attack.
Magmar's fist glows orange and goes in for a rock smash attack onto Shinx.
"Shinx dodge it and still use thundershock! Keep your distance!" Zoah calls out as Shinx dodges and goes for another thundershock.
Then Magmar turns its head and speed a flamethrower from its mouth at the thundershock.
The Flamethrower clashes with the Thundershock, creating a steam explosion. The heat from the steam makes the area even hotter, causing sweat to drip down both trainers' faces.
Shinx struggles to maintain its distance from the steam, but keeps trying to hit Magmar with electric attacks.
Zoah wipes sweat from his brow, feeling the intense heat. "This steam is making it harder to see. Shinx, keep trying to hit it with small bursts, don't let it get too close!"
Hikari fans herself with her hand, feeling the effects of the battle and environment.
Shinx continues to fire small bursts of electricity, trying to wear down Magmar. The pokémon becomes more agitated by the continuous attacks, its flames burning brighter.
The steam starts to clear slightly, revealing that Magmar is getting closer to Shinx despite the dodging.
Zoah notices this and shouts, "Shinx, fall back! Don't let it get within range of its body!"
He looks around for any advantage in the battlefield, but the hot terrain limits their options.
The heat was getting worser then before as Magmar was letting out a heat wave attack that pulses from its body. The heat in the area starts to become hotter then before. Sweat was appearing on all four.
"Z-Zoah... it's...getting to hot....w-we need....to go to cover...." Hikari breathing a bit heavy.
"You're right....damn..." Zoah grins not wanting to leave the battle, but they are forced to. "Shinx, return!" Shinx gets called back into its pokeball as the two bolts for it.
Shinx returns to its ball, and Zoah and Hikari quickly retreat from the battlefield, seeking shelter from the intense heat. The Magmar watches them leave, still radiating heat waves.
They find a rocky overhang to take cover under, panting heavily from the heat exhaustion.
"Zoah, look! Pokemon center!" Hikari calls out.
Shinx returns to its ball, and Zoah and Hikari quickly retreat from the battlefield, seeking shelter from the intense heat. The Magmar watches them leave, still radiating heat waves.
They find a rocky overhang to take cover under, panting heavily from the heat exhaustion.
They make their way to the center, practically stumbling inside. The cool air inside feels like a relief to their overheated bodies.
Nurse Joy looks concerned as they enter, seeing their state, "Oh my, you two look terrible! Come, sit down and let me get you some water and ice packs."
She quickly brings them water and ice packs, placing them on the counter. Zoah and Hikari gratefully take them, placing the ice packs on their heads to cool down.
"What happened out there? You both look like you've been through a sauna."
Zoah takes a long drink of water before answering, "We ran into a Magmar. It was using heat waves and we couldn't handle the heat. Had to retreat to the center."
Hikari nods, still catching her breath, "It was too hot... couldn't even fight properly..."
Nurse Joy shakes her head, sympathetic to their situation, "The volcanic area can be dangerous during this time of year. The heat from the volcano makes it unbearable for some pokémon and trainers. You did the right thing by retreating."
She checks their vitals with a scanner.
Zoah and Hikari use the towels, sighing in relief as the coolness helps with the heat. The medicine helps with their dehydration as well.
"Thanks, Nurse Joy. How long do we need to stay here to recover?" Zoah asks, still feeling tired from the battle and heat.
"At least a few hours. I want to monitor your temperatures and make sure they go down completely. You can rest in the recovery room if you need to."
She gestures to a nearby room with beds for patients to rest in, "And maybe consider taking a break from the volcanic route for a day or two. Let your bodies adjust to the temperature change."
"Hahahahaha this area is great for training with fire pokémon! Your too weak to handle the intensity!" A male says a semi-dark skin male.
"Bastion please. Not the time." Nurse Joy says
"Oh hell nah! This time of year is the best way to train your fire types! Hahahahaha!" The male known as Bastion, that's only wearing flame pattern cargo shorts and sandals, no socks with flame pattern hair.
"Who are you?" Hikari asked
"Bastion Ulcan. I'm the Ruby Tower Leader of Ruby Town." Bastion says
Zoah looks at Bastion, recognizing the name of the Ruby Tower Leader. He seems like a very enthusiastic and energetic trainer.
"The Ruby Tower Leader, huh? So you're used to this heat then?"
Bastion grins widely, clearly proud of his fire typing expertise.
"You bet! I've trained in these conditions for years. My pokémon thrive in the heat! You two just need to toughen up a bit." He laughs again, his voice loud and boisterous.
Hikari frowns slightly at his comment, still feeling weak from the heat. Nurse Joy gives Bastion a disapproving look.
"Bastion, they're already dealing with the aftermath of battling a Magmar. Show some restraint."
Zoah stands up, slightly annoyed by his attitude but trying to remain calm.
"How long until it became unbearable?" Bastion asked
Nurse Joy sighs, knowing Bastion won't back down easily, "It's already unbearable for them. Look at their conditions."
She gestures to their exhausted state again, the ice packs still on their heads, "And they only got here because they had to retreat."
"That's not what I asked about....the battle against the Magmar....how long until you couldn't bear the heat?" Bastion asked directly at the two.
Zoah answers this time, meeting Bastion's gaze, "About five minutes. The steam and heat waves made it impossible to continue without risking severe burns or worse."
"I will train you both in enduring the intense heat until you can last for a half and hour then! Haha!" Bastion flares up as if he's ready to train them.
Hikari looks alarmed at the suggestion, and Zoah raises an eyebrow skeptically.
"A half hour? In this heat? We barely made it five minutes and we're already exhausted."
Nurse Joy steps in again, crossing her arms. "Bastion, they need rest, not more training. Their bodies need to recover first."
Bastion waves her off dismissively, "Rest is for the weak! My pokémon can handle it! And so can they if they train properly. You two are trainers, right? You should be able to handle the heat like a true fire type trainer!"
He seems determined to push them to their limits, ignoring their current state.
Zoah clenches his jaw, starting to get irritated with Bastion's attitude. He can see that the Ruby Tower Leader is very set in his ways.
"We're not fire type trainers. We have different pokémon. And right now, we're dealing with the consequences of underestimating the heat."
Hikari adds quietly "And Zoah just became a Guild Ranger and I am a Radiant Garden Agent...."
Bastion looks at them with a mix of surprise and disappointment, "A Guild Ranger and a Radiant Garden Agent? Ha! That explains why you're so soft. Rangers and Agents need to be tough too! Not just those fancy badges!"
He laughs again, completely missing the point, "But that just means I need to train you harder then!"
"If either of you take on my tower, you'll have to be able to endure the most intense heat in the Wild Zone floor or you'll leave and not complete it. Ruby Town is a few days away and the tower there is no joke. Not many complete it on their first try." Bastion adds
Zoah and Hikari exchange a glance, knowing they need to complete the Ruby Tower for the Hōseki tournament. The Wild Zone floor sounds like a challenge they'll have to face eventually.
Zoah speaks up again, with a hint of determination despite his exhaustion, "We'll deal with that when we get there. Right now, we need to focus on recovering from this battle and getting to Ruby Town first."
"Tell me....which one of you is taking the Battle Tower challenge?" *Bastion asked*
"I am, she opt out of it." Zoah says
Bastion nods, looking at Zoah with interest now, "Ah, so you're the one taking it on. Good. You'll need all the training you can get then. The Wild Zone is full of Magmar and other fire types that will push you to your limits."
He grins again, rubbing his hands together, "I can't wait to see how long you last in there!"
"I'll tell you the rule for the Wild Zone floor now....you have to last at least 10 minutes there. You can battle or avoid battles there...If you can't last ten minutes...you won't proceed to face me. On the top floor." Bastion explains
Zoah listens carefully to the rule, taking note of the time limit. Ten minutes in the Wild Zone sounds daunting, especially after their experience with the Magmar.
"Ten minutes... and only battling or avoiding?" He confirms, making sure he understood correctly.
Bastion nods again, his expression serious now, "That's right. You can use any strategy you want - battle, avoid, hide - but you have to survive for ten minutes. And if you don't... well, you know what happens."
He smirks, clearly enjoying the challenge he's setting up for Zoah.
Zoah feels the pressure of the challenge. Ten minutes in a heat zone full of fire pokémon, with the threat of not being able to proceed to the leader floor if he fails.
"I'll manage it." He says firmly, trying to sound confident despite the odds.
Bastion chuckles at his confidence, amused by his determination.
"We'll see about that. You've got guts, I'll give you that. But guts alone won't save you from my pokémon."
He pats Zoah on the shoulder, a bit too hard, "Get some rest and prepare yourself. You'll need it."
Bastion walks towards the entrance then stops as the door opens, "If you want my training...come to the Blood Gulch Canyon ruins. I'll be there." With that Bastion heads out.
Zoah watches him leave, the mention of the Blood Gulch Canyon ruins making him curious. He turns to Hikari.
"Blood Gulch Canyon... that's near Ruby Town, right?"
Hikari checks her map on her device, "Yeah, it's about a day's journey from here. It's an old canyon area with some ruins left from ancient civilizations."
Nurse Joy is finally speaking up, "I'm so sorry about him. He's not like Mizu from the Sapphire Tower, but he's more....what's the word?...Umm"
Zoah nods in understanding, understanding that Bastion is quite different from the Water Tower leader.
"Greedy? Arrogant? Both?" He suggests with a slight smirk.
"Prideful in survival in heat. He can last about maybe two hours in the blazing heat." Nurse Joy says
Zoah raises an eyebrow, impressed but also concerned about that time limit, "Two hours? That's a lot longer than ten minutes... He really is dedicated to his fire typing."
"That's not normal." Hikari speaks about Bastion.
Nurse Joy sighs again, agreeing with Hikari, "No, it's not. But that's why he's the Ruby Tower Leader. He's trained his body and pokémon to handle extreme conditions. He expects others to do the same."
"Here in Hōseki, the Battle Tower Challenge is a lot more fierce than an average Gym challenge or Trial from other regions compared to this region." Nurse Joy says
"I can tell...they are experienced in specific types and work around specific environments." Zoah confirming how the Battle Tower Challenge is way different than Gym challenges in other regions he's read about.
"Exactly. The Battle Towers here test not just pokémon power, but also endurance, survival skills, and adaptability. It's why so few complete them on their first try."
Nurse Joy looks at Zoah with a serious expression.
"You'll need to be prepared for anything in there. The Wild Zone floor will test your limits in ways you might not expect."
Zoah takes a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for the challenge ahead. He knows he has to get stronger, both physically and mentally, if he wants to succeed.
"I'll be ready. I'll train with Bastion at the canyon ruins and prepare for the Wild Zone." He glances at Hikari, wondering how she'll handle his training while she's an Agent.
Hikari seems to sense his thoughts, giving him a supportive look.
"I'll be fine here. You focus on your training." She adjusts her hat again, still wearing it since he got it for her.
There was a notification on Hikari's Poké-band about a releasing event. She reads the details.
"Looks like I have to report to the ruins as well. There's a release event tomorrow."
Hikari says
Zoah notices the notification on her band, recognizing it as a Radiant Garden event.
"A release event? What kind of pokémon are they releasing?" He wonders if it's related to the Wailmer rehabilitation operation she witnessed before.
"It says it's releasing some Rhyhorns and Ponyta's back into the area." Hikari says
Zoah nods, remembering the wild Rhyhorns and Ponyta that are sometimes found in the area. They're known for their stubbornness and speed.
"Those are strong pokémon. They'll need to be carefully handled during the release."
He looks at her with a hint of concern. "Be careful with them. They can be aggressive when released after capture."
Hikari nods, aware of their aggressive nature, "I know. I'll be with other Radiant Garden employees during the event. We'll have tranquilizers just in case."
She puts her device away and stands up, stretching a bit, "You should get some rest too. You need to be well rested for your training with Bastion."
Zoah agrees, feeling the fatigue from the battle and heat catching up to him again, "Yeah, I will. I'll take a nap before we head to the ruins tomorrow."
He looks at the recovery room door, "I'll take that nap now."
Hikari gives him a small smile, "Good. I'll be in the lobby if you need anything."
She walks toward the lobby area to wait, leaving Zoah to rest in the recovery room. The nurse brings him a pillow and blanket.
"Don't you want to rest too?" Nurse Joy asked to Hikari.
Hikari shakes her head slightly, "I'm not as tired as him. And I want to check some things on my device."
She sits down in a chair, pulling out her device to look at the Radiant Garden map and notes about the release event.
Nurse Joy watches her for a moment, then goes back to her duties at the front desk. Hikari scrolls through the information, taking notes on the Rhyhorn and Ponyta behavior patterns and release strategies.
The lobby is quiet except for the occasional pokémon sounds from outside and the hum of the center's air conditioning.
A few hours pass as Zoah sleeps in the recovery room. The sun begins to set outside, casting an orange glow through the windows. Hikari keeps herself occupied with her work, occasionally checking the time.
When she begins to feel tired almost nodding off, she gets up stretching and yawning. She heads to the room Zoah is in, changes out her clothes with pajamas and slips in next to him.
Zoah stirs slightly as she gets in, but doesn't wake up. He's lying on his back, breathing steadily. The bed is big enough for both of them, though it's a bit cramped with two people.
She carefully adjusts herself beside him, trying not to disturb his sleep. She can feel the warmth of his body next to hers as she settles in, feeling comfortable despite the tight space.
He unconsciously shifts a bit closer in his sleep, his arm brushing against hers. The room is dimly lit by a small lamp on the bedside table. The sound of his breathing is calm and relaxed.
Hikari closes her eyes, listening to his breathing and the faint sounds of the center. She drifts off to sleep, feeling safe and protected next to him. The night continues quietly as they both rest for tomorrow's events.