After eating their fill, Ace and Green asked the local residents for directions to their next destination, then returned their Pokémon to their Poké Balls and set off.
Melemele Island is the first island players encounter in the game, so it has very few Z-Crystals. One is the Normalium Z found in Verdant Cavern, and the other is the Fightinium Z held by the Island Kahuna, Hala.
So, Ace and Green's destination was Verdant Cavern.
After obtaining the Normalium Z, they planned to travel around Melemele Island, then go to Hala to request the Fightinium Z.
As for the crest feather of Tapu Koko...
If they tried to forcefully pluck it, Tapu Koko would definitely fight them to the death. It would be better to defeat it first and then take the feather.
Although the outcome might not change, at least Tapu Koko would understand the difference in their strength, and even if it got angry, it would have to consider whether it could win the fight.
While admiring the scenery on the island, Ace and Green slowly arrived outside Verdant Cavern.
Without much hesitation, they walked inside the cavern.
However, they hadn't walked far before they saw several Yungoos lying on the ground, having lost their ability to battle.
Ace walked over, squatted down to check them, and then said to Green, "They're fine, they were just defeated by someone. It looks like there are others in this cave. Judging by the situation, the opponent hasn't left long ago."
"Are they friend or foe?"
Green's expression became serious. Her years of life experience had made her extremely alert.
"Can't be sure."
Ace shrugged, "We'll take it as it comes. But they probably don't have any ill intentions, or these Yungoos wouldn't have survived."
Green nodded. Her previously relaxed mood vanished, and maintaining her alertness, the two continued deeper into the cavern.
Verdant Cavern wasn't too large. After walking briskly for less than three minutes, they could hear the sounds of fighting ahead.
Hearing the commotion, Ace and Green immediately quickened their pace.
After passing through another cave opening, the scene before them suddenly opened up.
In a wide-open space, a young man was commanding a unique Pokémon in a battle against the Totem Pokémon of Verdant Cavern, a Gumshoos.
"That... looks like a Duraludon."
Ace searched his memory. This Pokémon seemed to be a species endemic to the Galar region, which hadn't been released before he was transported here.
The Duraludon before them had the appearance of a bipedal monster. Its entire body was composed of aluminum-like metal. Its head and body were clearly connected, and its overall structure was well-defined. The part resembling a tail behind its body was a solid protrusion, and there were curved patterns on its body. Its palms, lower abdomen, and feet were made of differently colored metallic materials.
It looked large, but its actual weight was quite light.
The Steel/Dragon-type Duraludon unleashed a Flash Cannon, which directly struck the Gumshoos, who couldn't dodge in time, sending it heavily flying.
The Gumshoos slammed hard against a stone wall, which instantly cracked all over. By the time Gumshoos slid to the ground, it had lost its ability to battle.
"That's a decent attack. And its Steel/Dragon typing gives it good defense. It must be a main Pokémon he's been training," Ace explained to Green. The young man who had defeated the Gumshoos then walked over to a wooden pedestal and retrieved a Normalium Z.
After safely putting away the Z-Crystal, the young man turned around and looked at Ace and Green, saying, "Are you two also here to challenge the Island Challenge?"
"No, we're just here to collect Z-Crystals."
Ace raised his arm and showed the wristband on his arm to the young man.
The young man nodded and said to Ace and Green, "Hello, I'm Arlon from Motostoke."
"Ace, from Kanto."
"Green, also from Kanto."
Arlon examined Ace and Green, his eyes lighting up. "You two look strong. Want to have a battle? I'm pretty strong myself."
"I can tell, your Duraludon is very well-trained."
Ace smiled, "But never mind. We're just here on vacation in Alola, we don't really feel like battling."
"Is that so? That's really a shame."
Arlon pointed to the defeated Gumshoos, "Unfortunately, the Gumshoos has already been defeated by me. If you want to challenge it, you'll probably have to wait until tomorrow."
"No need."
Green walked over to the wooden pedestal, preparing to take the Z-Crystal and leave.
After all, they weren't required to defeat the Totem Pokémon; collecting the Z-Crystals was their goal. The fewer battles they had, the better, saving their energy.
But just as Green reached for the Z-Crystal, a large shadow suddenly leaped down from above, landing heavily in front of Green, and roared fiercely at her.
"Raticate?"
Ace was slightly startled, seeing the plump Alolan form Raticate.
Immediately after, with the appearance of another Totem Pokémon, a large number of Alolan form Rattata jumped down from above, surrounding Green completely.
"You or me?"
Seeing herself surrounded, Green didn't panic at all. She turned to Ace and asked.
"I'll take it."
Ace stepped forward, "I can handle this kind of encirclement quicker."
With that, Ace pulled out a Premier Ball. As the Premier Ball was thrown, his Crobat instantly flew out.
"Wait! Crobat!"
Green's eyes widened instantly, her face horrified, "Let me get out first!"
Without hesitation, Green immediately opened a Poké Ball. Blastoise landed beside her. Blastoise gripped Green's shoulders with its legs, and using its cannons as thrusters, fired two Water Cannons. Relying on the recoil force of the water cannons, Blastoise carried Green soaring into the air.
"Blastoise can be used like that?"
Arlon had never seen this sight before and felt his worldview shatter somewhat.
But before he could be surprised by Blastoise's unconventional move, Crobat's entire body was enveloped in poison.
"Poison Wings."
Following Ace's calm command, the Crobat in the high sky rapidly flapped its wings, instantly causing a rain of deadly poison to fall within the entire space!
The poison fell like raindrops. The dense poison liquid left the Rattata and Raticate no place to dodge at all.
The moment they made contact with the poison, the venom struck their hearts, and the group of Pokémon collapsed onto the ground simultaneously, like cut wheat.
Crobat slowly landed on Ace's shoulder. Ace stroked the Crobat, which had already deactivated its Poison Wings state, and looked at the fallen Rattata and Raticate, "Don't worry, I didn't have Crobat produce a lethal dose of poison. You'll all recover in a while."
Saying this, Ace walked over to the wooden pedestal and retrieved two Z-Crystals.
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