Faced with the might of a peak Leader-class Pokémon, Lucius's Pokémon still lacked the strength to compete on equal footing.
Sifting through Archer's memories regarding the legend of Azelf, Lucius found that Archer's knowledge was limited to the common folklore in Sinnoh. Alongside Uxie and Mesprit, Azelf was one of the Lake Guardians, representing Willpower, Knowledge, and Emotion respectively.
Beyond that, there was no more precise information.
Willpower…
Lucius pondered for a moment before casting Mental Parasite on one of the crystal columns, sending out a telepathic thought: Hello…
As expected, the thought disappeared into the void without receiving any response.
He tried sending different thoughts toward the other two crystal pillars but still received no discernible reaction.
There seemed to be a powerful mental force enveloping the crystal cave, though it was dormant, like a sleeping presence. His thoughts were like pebbles tossed into the sea—causing faint ripples, but never making waves.
Realizing that blind guessing wouldn't yield answers, Lucius decided to consult someone who might know.
"Come out, Onix." Lucius released his Crystal Onix.
"Do you know how to activate this crystal?" he asked through the psychic link of Mental Parasite.
"I don't know. Only the king of the crystal cave knows."
"Where is the king of the crystal cave?"
Onix shook its head. It was still young and had never seen the cave's king. The king typically only communicated with a few Leader-class Pokémon within the cave.
No wonder it's so weak. Even in the original anime, it lost to a glassblowing apprentice on Sunburst Island…
Recalling Onix, Lucius knew that the best lead to finding the mysterious "king" was through the Leader-class Crystal Rampardos he had encountered earlier.
From observing the cave's layout, this seemed to be the core area. Several winding tunnels branched off the crystal-lined walls, with no clear indication of where they led.
"Houndoom, track the Crystal Rampardos." Lucius commanded.
Houndoom's nose twitched as it began sniffing around the massive cavern. The strange energy in the cave distorted both aura and scent, making tracking difficult. Even with Odor Sleuth, it took some time before Houndoom locked onto a trail.
"Let's go."
Lucius released Magmar. The two Pokémon suppressed their energy and silently followed the scent.
This tunnel was wider than the others—four meters high and three meters wide. From the scrape marks on the walls, Lucius deduced that a massive creature frequently passed through here.
After some distance, both Houndoom and Magmar slowed, their faces tense.
Two powerful auras lay ahead—one belonged to the Crystal Rampardos, while the other was unfamiliar.
So that's how it is… couldn't beat him alone, so he found a backup.
Sensing Houndoom's approach, the two Pokémon ahead turned aggressive. A palpable wave of malice filled the tunnel.
Dark-type move: Taunt.
"Grrroooowl!" Houndoom, provoked by the Taunt, erupted in black ripples and charged forward.
"Magmar, follow!" Lucius commanded, trailing behind with Magneton.
In such battles, trainers couldn't stand too close to avoid collateral damage, but being too far made command difficult. Lucius relied on Magneton's electromagnetic field for protection.
Ahead, bursts of flame illuminated the tunnel—combat had begun.
A thunderous roar echoed as a colossal figure moved, shaking the cave walls.
It was a Steelix, over 15 meters long. Its massive iron tail swept through the tunnel, forcing Houndoom to leap aside. Rampardos guarded its flank, ready to strike.
Steel-type Pokémon…
"Use Heat Wave."
Magmar roared, spewing searing winds through the sealed tunnel. The air temperature skyrocketed, and the crystal walls glowed red-hot.
In such a confined space, there was no escape.
Houndoom howled, the flames enhancing its strength instead of harming it.
Ability: Flash Fire.
Both Rampardos and Steelix were weakened by the heat, though their Leader-class strength allowed them to endure.
"Overheat!"
Magmar and Houndoom unleashed simultaneous firestorms, turning the cavern into an inferno. Crystals began to melt, and black smoke filled the air.
Without Magneton's magnetic shield, Lucius would have been cooked alive.
Rampardos and Steelix quickly realized the strategy. The longer the battle dragged on, the hotter the environment would become—an overwhelming disadvantage for them.
Steelix roared and spun its body like a drill, forcing Houndoom to retreat and breaking the Overheat barrage.
The Crystal Rampardos wasn't idle either—its crystalline body glowed brightly, as if forming a connection with the entire crystal cave.
A series of surging, robust energies rose from the ground, as if the earth's fury had manifested into iron fists. Each time Magmar set foot down, a brownish-yellow light flared up beneath it, forcing the Pokémon to constantly shift its position.
Earth Power.
Indeed, a Leader-class Pokémon wasn't so easily dealt with. If its ally hadn't been the Steel-type Steelix, I could have used the Venomous Plague to infect it, Lucius thought to himself, letting out a silent sigh.
Should I let Gyarados or Crobat join the battle? His mind raced as he considered his options.
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