Join my p@treon for more chapters
[email protected]/Tempest_29
For Jacob, who had always been fascinated by Steel-type Pokémon, this underground chamber was nothing short of the paradise he had always dreamed of discovering. The sheer abundance of Steel-type Pokémon in one location was beyond his wildest expectations.
Steel-type Pokémon were scattered throughout the cavern, and many of them displayed the telltale metallic sheen that indicated they were shiny variants. The sight filled Jacob with such excitement that he couldn't help but grin from ear to ear, his eyes sparkling with the enthusiasm of a true Pokémon researcher who had stumbled upon the discovery of a lifetime.
With his heart racing from anticipation, Jacob quickly began scanning the area, searching systematically for Steel-type Pokémon that might possess exceptional potential. He was determined not to waste this incredible opportunity to encounter so many rare Pokémon in their natural habitat.
Using the warm glow from Charizard's tail flame as illumination, Jacob discovered that the underground platform housed not only Steel-type Pokémon but also a significant population of Rock-type Pokémon. The diversity was impressive and suggested that this underground ecosystem had been thriving for quite some time.
As Jacob examined the various Pokémon around them, he made note of their potential levels. There was a Carbink with Elite-level potential gleaming in the shadows, an Alolan Diglett with Elite-level potential peeking out from a small burrow, and even a Nosepass with Lord-level potential standing motionless against the cavern wall.
"There are actually so many Steel and Rock-type Pokémon gathered in one place?" Amelia couldn't help but exclaim in amazement as she took in the sight of the numerous Pokémon surrounding them. Her voice carried a note of wonder at the unexpected discovery.
"Would you like to try catching one?" Jacob asked Amelia with an encouraging smile, thinking this might be a perfect opportunity for her to add a powerful new member to her team.
"Jacob, we don't have any capture quotas," Amelia reminded him with a concerned expression. "Capturing Pokémon without proper authorization is considered poaching, and we'll definitely be found out when we return to the city. The consequences could be severe."
She was right to be cautious. They didn't possess the necessary qualifications to capture Pokémon from this designated Wilderness Area, and the penalties for unauthorized capturing were quite serious.
"I understand your concern, but we can actually purchase capture quotas," Jacob explained while continuing to investigate the potential of the surrounding Pokémon. "Each person is allowed to capture one Pokémon in the Wilderness Area every two years, provided they have the proper documentation. I'd be happy to cover the cost for you."
"One million Pokédollars for a single quota," Amelia replied, shaking her head. "You should just purchase one for yourself instead of worrying about me. I don't have that kind of money available." Since the expenses for raising her current Pokémon were covered by her family, she didn't have access to such large amounts of personal funds. "Besides, the Pokémon I already have are more than sufficient for my current needs."
After their brief discussion about capture quotas, Jacob began conducting a more thorough examination of the potential levels of the surrounding Pokémon. He hadn't yet captured any Steel or Rock-type Pokémon for his team, so this unexpected discovery represented a potentially valuable opportunity for him to fill that gap in his roster.
After carefully scanning the entire visible area, Jacob felt a wave of disappointment wash over him. Although the underground chamber contained an impressive number of Pokémon, their overall quality was clearly not meeting his high standards.
Throughout his survey, the highest potential Pokémon Jacob had encountered was at the Overlord Class level. He hadn't even spotted a single Gym Leader Level Pokémon, let alone the King Level Pokémon that would truly be worth the expensive capture quota.
"There are five different tunnels branching off from this main chamber," Jacob observed after completing his exploration of the open underground platform. If he wanted to find higher-quality Pokémon, he would need to venture deeper into this Underground World and search through the connecting passages.
Before Jacob and Amelia stretched five distinct tunnel entrances. Each passage disappeared into pitch-black darkness, making it impossible to determine where they might lead or what they might contain.
"Which tunnel should we choose?" Amelia asked, studying the mysterious openings.
"It doesn't really matter," Jacob replied thoughtfully. "Let's go with our instincts."
Ultimately, Jacob decided to enter the largest tunnel entrance. His reasoning was straightforward: larger passages typically indicated that bigger Pokémon lived within them, and in his experience, larger Pokémon often possessed better potential than their smaller counterparts.
Seeing Jacob confidently stride into the chosen tunnel, Amelia followed closely behind him, and together they began their deeper exploration of this fascinating Underground World.
The tunnel Jacob had selected was remarkably spacious. Even when walking side by side, the two friends had plenty of room to move comfortably. A faint sound of moving air could be heard echoing through the passage, suggesting that the tunnel system was quite extensive and well-ventilated.
As they made their way through the winding underground corridor, the presence of Carbink and various small Rock-type Pokémon no longer surprised them. Jacob continued using his analytical abilities to assess the potential of each Pokémon they encountered.
"Elite level. That's not good enough," Jacob muttered to himself as he evaluated one specimen.
"Lord level isn't adequate either," he continued his assessment.
"Even Overlord Class isn't sufficient. For the price we'd pay for capture quotas here, we absolutely must find a Pokémon with at least King Level potential or higher."
The two friends continued their journey through the tunnel for quite some time. Suddenly, the rhythmic sound of heavy footsteps began echoing from somewhere ahead of them. Each thunderous step caused the ground beneath their feet to shake subtly, indicating that whatever was approaching was both large and powerful.
"Charizard, use Flamethrower!" Jacob commanded, deciding to illuminate the area ahead rather than wait to be surprised by whatever was making those ominous sounds.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
Accompanied by increasingly loud vibrations and the bright illumination provided by Charizard's flames, a massive Tyrantrum with Gym Leader Level strength became visible. The ancient Pokémon was accelerating rapidly, charging toward them like a runaway freight train, completely ignoring the fire attack and showing no intention of slowing down.
Seeing such an enormous Tyrantrum thundering directly toward them, both Jacob and Amelia broke out in cold sweats and couldn't help but cry out in alarm. The sight of the charging behemoth was truly terrifying in the confined space of the tunnel.
Fortunately, at that critical moment, Alakazam automatically emerged from its Poké Ball without being summoned. The Psychic Pokémon quickly raised a protective light barrier in front of the group, successfully blocking Tyrantrum's devastating charge attack.
"Alakazam is absolutely incredible!" Jacob thought with relief.
"Protect is such an amazing move!" he added mentally, grateful for his Pokémon's quick thinking and decisive action.
Amelia was still visibly shaken by the close encounter. She patted her chest to calm her racing heart, moved to stand behind Jacob for protection, and looked up at the imposing Tyrantrum with a mixture of fear and awe.
This particular Tyrantrum stood approximately 4.3 meters tall, making it significantly larger than most specimens of its species that Jacob had encountered. At the same time, Jacob's analysis revealed that this Tyrantrum possessed excellent potential, boasting King Level capabilities—something quite rare among wild Pokémon in most regions.
"Damn it! You nearly scared me to death!" Jacob exclaimed, still feeling the adrenaline coursing through his system. Anyone who suddenly encountered a four-meter-tall Tyrantrum charging at them in complete darkness would understandably be startled. "Alakazam, teach this thing a lesson! How dare it try to frighten us like that!"
The more Jacob reflected on the encounter, the angrier he became, especially when he remembered how he had let out an undignified scream of fear. The embarrassment of that moment only fueled his desire for revenge.
"If I don't defeat you soundly, I'll never be able to let go of this frustration!" Jacob declared.
It had to be acknowledged that this Tyrantrum, with its Gym Leader Level strength, was indeed quite formidable. The enclosed environment of the cave tunnel worked heavily in its favor, limiting the mobility options of other Pokémon and allowing it to utilize its preferred battle strategy. All it needed to do was build up momentum and charge repeatedly, without having to worry about opponents dodging to the left or right in the narrow space.
Fortunately, Alakazam's King Level strength provided a significant advantage. Even without the benefit of environmental factors, there was no way it would be defeated by a Gym Leader Level opponent, regardless of type matchups or battlefield conditions.
After several intense rounds of combat, the Tyrantrum was already covered in various wounds and showing clear signs of exhaustion, while Alakazam remained relatively fresh and composed. At this point, the ancient Pokémon began showing subtle signs that it was considering retreat from the battle.
"Don't let it escape!" Jacob shouted, recognizing Tyrantrum's intention to flee and commanding Alakazam to pursue the wounded Pokémon.
Alakazam turned to look back at Jacob with what could only be described as an expression of mild annoyance. Its eyes seemed to convey the message, "If you think you can do better, feel free to try. You just stand there shouting orders from the safety of the back. Without me protecting everyone, this team would fall apart in no time."
Despite its obvious complaints about Jacob's commentary, Alakazam dutifully continued the pursuit. It struck the retreating Tyrantrum twice with precisely aimed Psycho Cut attacks, draining the last remnants of its stamina and ending the battle decisively.
Looking down at the fallen Tyrantrum, Jacob felt his mood finally beginning to improve after the earlier scare and embarrassment.
He was just reaching for a Poké Ball to capture the defeated Tyrantrum when he suddenly heard the unmistakable sounds of rushing wind and threatening roars coming from behind their position. It was clear that the recent battle between Tyrantrum and Alakazam had attracted the attention of other Pokémon in the area.
The roar of this approaching Pokémon carried a distinctly fierce and predatory quality, clearly indicating that it was no ordinary wild Pokémon. The sound of rushing wind was growing closer and closer, creating the impression that whatever was coming would reach them in mere moments.
Jacob's heart, which had just begun to relax after their victory, immediately tensed up again with renewed anxiety. However, before he could formulate any kind of response or strategy, the whooshing sound of wind was already close enough that he could feel it near his ears.
Alakazam, ever the reliable emergency responder, had no choice but to use Teleport to instantly position itself in front of Jacob once again, blocking the unknown Pokémon's surprise attack and protecting its trainer from potential harm.
"Boom!"
With the thunderous sound of impact echoing through the tunnel, Jacob finally got a clear view of the Pokémon that had launched this latest attack. It had a gray body with a fierce, predatory appearance, sharp teeth that gleamed menacingly in the firelight, and razor-sharp claws that looked capable of rending stone.
"An Aerodactyl?!" Jacob exclaimed in recognition and shock.
This was not just any Aerodactyl—his quick analysis revealed that this ancient Flying and Rock-type Pokémon possessed King Level strength, making it a truly formidable opponent.
"Roar!" the Aerodactyl cried out aggressively.
The prehistoric Pokémon flapped its powerful wings and suddenly exerted tremendous force, managing to push Alakazam backward despite its opponent's considerable strength. Without pausing, Aerodactyl lunged directly at Jacob, extending its razor-sharp claws toward his head with obvious lethal intent.
"Use Protect!" Jacob commanded urgently.
In this moment of extreme crisis, Alakazam once again demonstrated its incredible reliability by activating the Protect technique, successfully blocking the potentially fatal attack and saving Jacob's life.
The continuous unprovoked attacks finally ignited Jacob's anger to a dangerous level. If Amelia hadn't been present by his side, he would have seriously considered sending out his most powerful Pokémon to teach this aggressive Aerodactyl a lesson it would never forget.