Sieg's thoughts itched the more he dwelled on them, and soon enough a meticulous plan began to take shape in his mind.
He spent the entire day resting on a sandy slope, only when night fell did he pack up, fully recovered, and set out.
"Krokorok is a Pokémon that greatly fears the cold. When the desert temperature plummets at night, it usually won't come out. Instead, it hides deep beneath the sand."
Dressed in night gear, Sieg moved cautiously across the desert, relying on his memory from earlier that day to return to the area where the attack had taken place.
The battlefield had already been covered by a fresh layer of sand, but faint traces of combat still lingered.
Sieg crouched behind a reef-like boulder. Even at night, he didn't dare to expose himself carelessly, for Krokorok's eyes were unique.
A thin membrane covered their eyeballs, not only shielding them from sandstorms but also allowing them to sense heat.
Like a natural thermal imaging device!
Because of this, Krokorok could see clearly in the dark, making them dangerous nocturnal hunters.
Carefully crawling across the damp sand, Sieg prepared his method for flushing out their nest.
"Castform, drench this whole area, summon rain with all your strength!"
His strategy was simple and brutal: soak the ground completely. With Krokorok's volatile temper, they would definitely be provoked into emerging.
Castform floated gracefully, slipping out from behind the rocks, its gaseous body like that of a wandering spirit.
"Yoooohhh"
A crisp cry echoed, and it shifted into its rainy form.
Within seconds, thick clouds gathered above the sand.
Black clouds churned as drizzle began to fall, soon thickening under Castform's control until it turned into a torrential downpour.
Once the task was complete, Castform drifted back like a ghost, perching behind Sieg and giving him a fawning smile.
Sieg chuckled and scolded, "Alright, alright, I know you did well. I'll give you a vial of 'Weatherflow Essence' once we're back."
Ever since Sieg had caught Castform, it had never returned to that hidden underground river where it once absorbed nature's unique air currents. Naturally, he had stocked up on that treasured dual-colored stream of energy before leaving the base. That rare mineral, Weatherflow Essence was Castform's favorite.
After putting Castform back in its Pokéball, Sieg focused intently on the sand ahead.
The downpour gradually seeped into the ground, soaking the desert sand.
Not long after, just as Sieg had expected, several enraged Krokorok burst from underground.
They pounded their chests with sharp claws, baring teeth and growling angrily.
Sieg retrieved the special sachet he had prepared earlier. Crafted from Ludicolo's sweet aroma, and mixed with a few rare spices, it had an irresistible allure to Pokémon.
"Murkrow, it's your turn!"
The dark crow seized the pouch in its beak and flew swiftly in another direction.
The furious Krokorok, distracted by the scent, instantly turned and chased after Murkrow.
"Kekekeke, let's see what you've been hiding underground."
Sieg sneered. He had no worries about Murkrow's safety. Not only did the Krokorok lack ranged attacks, but Murkrow's speed was more than enough to outpace such lumbering crocodiles.
Seizing the chance, Sieg pulled out the alloy shovel he had obtained during his adventure in Rustboro's tunnels, then began to dig fervently.
All the while, he prayed silently, "Please let it be an egg, not just their food stash."
His other Pokémon joined in, using their skills to dig. Under his orders, they held back their power, if there really were Pokémon eggs here, damaging them would be a terrible loss.
As Sieg dug with tireless effort, a faint glow of cruel light flickered in the corner of the sand. Something had opened its eye.
"Here, dig faster!" Sieg urged.
At last, his shovel struck something solid. With trembling hands, he brushed away the sand to reveal a dirt-yellow Pokémon egg.
A Sandile egg!
Joy burst across Sieg's face. If there was one, then surely there would be more. Krokorok usually laid their eggs in clusters.
"We've struck it rich!" he laughed, unable to hold back his delight.
One after another, eggs were dug out and carefully lined up. By the time he finished, Sieg was panting, drenched in sweat, but his grin stretched from ear to ear.
"Five… six… seven… seven eggs!"
His breath came heavy, half from exhaustion, half from excitement.
But suddenly, a low rumble of sand came from behind.
"Wraaaugh!"
Sieg froze, his hairs standing on end. He spun toward the sound, only to see an enraged Krokorok glaring at him.
"One of them didn't leave?"
Though startled, Sieg quickly calmed down. He stuffed several eggs into his backpack at once.
"Crawdaunt, Aqua Jet! Umbreon, Shadow Ball!" he commanded, retreating to avoid the battlefield's danger zone.
Crawdaunt's body surged with water, blasting forward like a bullet. The crashing strike slammed into Krokorok.
The Krokorok roared, slamming its claws into the ground. Sand swirled upward into a towering wall, blocking the attack with the move Sand Tomb.
"Crawdaunt, cut it down with Razor Shell!"
Water blades shimmered along Crawdaunt's claws, and with one brutal slash, the sand wall was cleaved apart.
At that instant, Umbreon's Shadow Ball whistled through the darkness, striking the Krokorok squarely. The impact sent it staggering backward.
Sieg's eyes gleamed. He would not waste such a perfect chance.
"Crawdaunt, finish it with Razor Shell!"