The deeper they dug, the more certain Aoki became. The diamonds they uncovered weren't scattered randomly—they followed a pattern, growing denser the closer they got to the mountain's heart. As he watched his Pokémon unearth yet another cluster of glittering stones, he carefully pocketed the largest ones, leaving the smaller fragments for Larvitar to happily crunch on. The tiny Rock/Ground-type was in heaven, its cheeks bulging as it chewed through the hard gems with surprising ease.
Not wanting Aron to feel left out, Aoki summoned the Steel-type as well. The moment it materialized and saw Larvitar greedily devouring diamonds, its metallic eyes gleamed with envy. Without hesitation, it plopped down beside its companion and joined the feast, its powerful jaws making quick work of the precious stones. Larvitar, its mouth too full to protest, simply gave a muffled grunt of acknowledgment.
Though both Pokémon could digest diamonds, the gems were far harder than the usual ores they consumed. Their progress was slower, and the sheer density of energy in the crystals meant they quickly reached their limits. Soon, their stomachs were visibly swollen—round and taut like overfilled balloons. Yet, despite the discomfort, neither wanted to stop. The steady stream of unearthed diamonds was too tempting.
Then Larvitar had an idea. With a determined grunt, it wriggled out of its tiny red backpack—the same one it always carried, its largest compartment usually reserved for the Groudon armor fragment. The other pockets were empty, just waiting to be filled. Excited, Larvitar began stuffing them with as many small diamonds as it could fit, clutching the bag possessively afterward as if daring anyone to take its treasure.
Aron watched with blatant envy before turning big, pleading eyes toward Aoki. The unspoken question was obvious: Where's my backpack?
Aoki couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, you two," he said, shaking his head. "No fighting—these diamonds are all yours. But listen: they're not good for everyday meals. Too hard to digest. This is a one-time treat. From now on, I'll stick to properly balanced food for you both."
Aron scratched its metal head sheepishly, while Larvitar merely tightened its grip on the backpack, clearly unwilling to part with its loot. Knowing when to admit defeat, Aoki recalled both Pokémon into their Poké Balls. After such a feast, neither would need dinner—though he hoped their stomachs could handle the unusual meal.
As Drapion continued digging, its massive claw suddenly struck something far more solid than the surrounding rock. With a final, powerful swing, the wall shattered, revealing a dark tunnel beyond. But it wasn't completely lightless—tiny, diamond-like fragments embedded in the walls emitted a soft, eerie glow, illuminating the passage just enough to see.
Aoki's pulse quickened. This was it—the confirmation he'd been waiting for.
He climbed onto Drapion's back, signaling Slowking to use its psychic abilities to seal off the entrance behind them. The tunnel ahead split in two directions, but the choice was obvious—the path where the diamond clusters grew denser, almost as if leading somewhere.
Venturing into unknown territory required caution. Aoki organized his team carefully:
Weavile, small and agile, took point, its sharp claws ready to react to any sudden threats. Slowking followed close behind, its psychic powers primed to teleport Aoki to safety at the first sign of real danger. Gengar, ever the shadowy protector, melted into Aoki's own silhouette, while Honchkrow brought up the rear, keen eyes scanning for any movement from behind.
The tunnel gradually widened as they progressed, the walls becoming more and more encrusted with diamonds until they practically shimmered in the dim light. After what felt like an eternity of slow, careful movement, the passage finally opened into a vast, cavernous space.
Aoki's breath caught in his throat.
The walls weren't just studded with diamonds—they were covered in them, from floor to ceiling, glittering like stars in the faint glow. And then he saw them.
Dozens—no, hundreds—of Carbink hovered along the walls, their tiny hands pressing loose diamonds into the stone as if decorating their home. One near the entrance froze mid-motion, a diamond slipping from its ear-like appendages and clinking against the ground.
The sound seemed to echo unnaturally loud in the cavern.
The Carbink stared at Aoki, its round blue eyes wide with innocent curiosity. Slowly, others began to notice. But none panicked. None fled. None attacked. They simply… watched.
Carbink were peaceful by nature, content to live in quiet seclusion. These, isolated in their self-made diamond sanctuary, were no exception. They regarded Aoki and his team with silent wonder, as if trying to decipher what kind of creatures had stumbled into their domain.
Aoki exhaled slowly, his theory confirmed.
This wasn't a diamond mine.
It was a nest.
These gentle Pokémon had been shedding their crystalline fragments for who knew how long, methodically embedding them into the walls to create this dazzling underground haven. And now, they studied Aoki with the same quiet fascination he felt toward them.
Pokemon like Carbink have a relatively simple mind and no desire to attack. It can be said that it is a very docile Pokemon.
Especially this kind of Carbink who have lived in a comfortable place for a very long time.