After nearly three hours on the move, Lucas and Larry finally arrived at Observation Station 2.
With the time consumed battling Roaring Moon, dawn was not far off. The two entered Observation Station 2—which was laid out almost identically to Station 1—full of hope, and left in disappointment.
This station also couldn't contact the surface. However, it could connect to the communications device they had deliberately left at Station 1. That could only mean that the problem lay with Observation Station 3 or 4 below.
Larry's Braviary was honorably wounded in the fight with Roaring Moon. Its thigh had been torn open with a brutal gash; even though Comfey's treatment could heal superficial injuries, Braviary would still need at least half a day of rest to avoid any sequelae. It couldn't fight for the time being.
Fortunately, Larry had brought a full roster of Pokémon, so they weren't short on combat power yet.
Just a single Area Zero monster had managed to delay an Elite Four and a Champion-level Trainer for quite a while. In a region without an obvious villain, the dangers within the Paldea Crater were serving as the final boss in full.
They continued along a relatively safe route toward Station 3. It was hard to imagine how dangerous the other, not-so-safe areas must be.
On the way, Larry's gaze repeatedly drifted to the Ultra Ball locked tight at Lucas's waist. Perhaps his stare was too obvious, because Lucas spoke up: "You want to ask about Roaring Moon, right?"
Larry started, then nodded slightly. "Lucas, what do you plan to do with it?
"No matter what you answer, let me remind you first: the creatures of Area Zero are monsters that hunt purely by instinct and are far removed from modern civilization.
"Some researchers who have faced their terror head-on in the Paldea Crater even believe they shouldn't be called Pokémon. Even the demonic beasts of ancient history were more sentient than they are."
Larry still had reservations he hadn't voiced.
He knew Lucas had opened a farm, likely home to some gentle-natured Pokémon.
Things like Mareep, Skiddo, Gogoat, Miltank, and some Grass-types.
Larry would bet that if Lucas just brought Roaring Moon back and released it at the farm, the first victims would be those Pokémon.
Even the Corviknight they'd given a simple post-battle treatment had been Roaring Moon's prey. Never mind those with no fangs or claws, weak in battle, whose only concern is how many bites of hay to eat today.
After devouring those Pokémon, Roaring Moon would then prowl across Paldea, attacking all Pokémon and humans indiscriminately—a highly dangerous entity.
Still, the fact that these things could be captured in Poké Balls was something even Larry hadn't expected.
From beginning to end, none of the explorers who ventured into the Paldea Crater had treated these things as Pokémon. After driving them off, no one had considered trying to capture them.
Lucas met Larry's eyes, his tone serious. "Don't worry. I won't be that reckless."
Lucas fully understood Larry's concerns. There were many powerful Pokémon at his farm, but also weaker ones. Bringing back Roaring Moon and free-ranging it without doing anything first would be something only a fool would do.
He had three reasons for capturing Roaring Moon in an Ultra Ball.
First, to test whether Paradox Pokémon could be captured like in the games.
Second, even in this Roaring Moon's draconic eyes he'd perceived a hint of rational light. Maybe, with comprehensive safeguards in place, it would be possible to communicate.
If not, beat it up a few times and see if it could be tamed.
If all means failed and communication was impossible, then it would come to the third plan:
Hand this Roaring Moon over to the two professors or the Paldea League for observation and research, to deepen their understanding of Paradox Pokémon.
Moreover, this Roaring Moon had appeared near a route designated safe. If he and Larry hadn't descended into the Paldea Crater, it might have been Turo's search team that ran into it instead.
Even if the second and third plans didn't pan out, after the dust settled he could release it far away from the safe routes.
Lucas felt his considerations were thorough enough.
Seeing that Lucas clearly had a plan in mind, Larry didn't press further. He still had faith in the Trainer who had defeated him.
They fell silent again, directing Serperior and Oricorio to fend off the diurnal wild Pokémon that began stirring with dawn, hurrying toward Station 3.
At noon, after a morning of travel, they finally reached the mid-layer area of Area Zero.
The Pokémon handling wild attacks shifted from Serperior and Oricorio to Mimikyu and Tauros.
Larry's Tauros was brawny enough to carry them both, and with Mimikyu moving through shadows and jumping out to drive off wild Pokémon to clear the way, a journey that normally would take at least a day was shortened to half a day.
They hadn't run into any Paradox Pokémon along the way. Just when they thought luck was turning, they encountered their second Paradox Pokémon on the only road to Station 3.
Looking at the Pokémon before them—a Tyranitar lookalike—Larry's dark-circled eyes widened a touch. "What is that… This is my first time seeing one!"
The creature… no, more machine than creature.
Cold green metal armor plated its body. From holes in the back of the armor jutted eerie, glowing green spikes—like a thorn thicket. Its thick tail was segmented, green light leaking from the joints.
Its overall silhouette was almost identical to Tyranitar, but that cold mechanical design made it clear this thing was definitely not the Tyranitar he knew.
Whatever its relation to Tyranitar, now was undoubtedly the time to be on guard.
They were already very close to Station 3; it could well be this big guy that caused the station's loss of contact.
Larry tightened his grip on a Poké Ball, planning to hold the line for a bit.
Just as he was about to throw and order Tauros to prepare for battle, Lucas behind him reached out to stop him, saying in a low voice, "Don't show any aggression. We'll just pass it and move on."
Larry was slightly taken aback. What was Lucas saying?
That Tyranitar-like Area Zero monster had fixed its emotionless electronic eyes on them the instant they appeared on the road!