Chapter 42: Deep into the Cave
Since they weren't planning to dig their way back through the avalanche, the next logical choice was to follow this cave downwards.
Although the cave was pitch black inside, there was still wind and air, so Chen Xi wasn't worried about suffocating.
Besides, isn't adventuring all about exploring? If everything was within expectations, what would be the point?
Moreover, Zhu Lan was, after all, the future Sinnoh Champion, full of good fortune. Following her would surely bring some luck.
Even if he was a side character who didn't bask in the protagonist's aura, a dead side character would still die at a crucial moment. He couldn't possibly just get lost and be gone, right?
Chen Xi secretly cheered himself on and resolutely said to Staryu, “Staryu, you have Shinny. You go first.”
“Oh, wow!” Staryu nodded, and a faint golden glow emanated from its body, illuminating the cave tunnel.
“So bright!” Zhu Lan looked at Staryu in surprise and exclaimed, “What a brilliant glow.”
“Because of its Illuminating ability, Staryu is much brighter than other Pokémon when using Shinny!”
Chen Xi had nothing to hide. After all, he and Zhu Lan were not enemies, at most rivals.
“I see!” Zhu Lan nodded, feeling much more at ease, “With such a glow, I do feel much safer.”
Of course, despite saying that, Zhu Lan did not recall her Garchomp.
After all, even though Zhu Lan was young at this time, she was not lacking in necessary vigilance.
In such a cave environment, having Pokémon by her side was much safer than having them in Poké Balls.
At this moment, Chen Xi took out the Star Dust from his backpack and handed it to Staryu. Staryu seemed to cast something on the dust, and it became a bit blurry, as if it had dimmed.
“What are these?!” Zhu Lan couldn't help but ask curiously as the bag of Star Dust returned to Chen Xi's hand.
Chen Xi said, “They are markers. I had Staryu use Psychic to apply a layer of Protect to these Star Dust particles, which gives them the effect of Protect for a short time.
We'll scatter them along the way. If we reach a dead end, at least we'll be able to find our way back.”
“Very good, very thoughtful!” Zhu Lan praised Chen Xi's words.
However, looking at the small bag of dust in Chen Xi's hand, she worried, “But there's only this small bag. Is it too little?”
“Don't worry, this bag is enough!” Chen Xi smiled slightly, took out a small spoon, scooped a spoonful from the bag, and handed it to Floette, saying, “Every three meters, use Awakening Power to sprinkle a grain of dust behind me!”
“Floette~ Floette~!” Floette replied confidently, as if saying, “Leave everything to me.”
“I'm counting on you, Floette!” Zhu Lan smiled slightly and praised Floette.
Once the preparations were made, the two immediately set off.
Staryu walked at the very front, with a layer of bubbles condensed around it, mainly to soften the light it emitted.
But it also made Staryu look even more like a light bulb at this moment, a super-sized one.
Along the way, Zhu Lan's gaze occasionally swept over Chen Xi's back, not looking at Chen Xi, but at Floette.
Floette, Chen Xi's Pokémon, was the first Pokémon to make her taste defeat. It was impossible for her not to pay attention to Floette.
But no matter how she looked at it now, she only felt that this Pokémon, using Awakening Power to control the dust particles to fall one by one, was more cute than fierce.
Watching its diligent appearance now, it was truly hard to imagine that such a Pokémon had defeated her Garchomp.
However, laymen watch the show, while experts watch the technique. Zhu Lan was not an ordinary girl who judged by appearance.
Floette's current use of Awakening Power to control the dust to leave marks seemed very simple, as if anyone could do it.
But each time it accurately separated only one particle, and without any mistakes, this alone showed that Floette's control was very strong.
In the Pokémon system, normally, the pursuit is for Pokémon moves to be as powerful as possible, Pokémon speed to be as fast as possible, Pokémon strength to be as great as possible, and so on. The pursuit of power is so simple and crude.
At least before the profession of Pokémon Coordinator flourished, control, a very important indicator, was rarely mentioned, let alone at low levels, even among Elite Class and Master Trainers.
One very important reason for this is that, in the impression of Trainers, they instinctively treat Pokémon as wild beasts.
Even if they verbally treat them as friends, they never regard them as beings equal to themselves.
So even if they found a Pokémon a bit weak in control, it was taken for granted, as long as the moves were strong.
Of course, there are exceptions to everything. There are two types of Trainers who truly treat their Pokémon as equals.
One type is martial artists, and the other is Psychic users.
Because these two often engage in physical collisions and mental fusions with their Pokémon.
This training mode, which goes beyond normal Trainer methods, makes them exceptionally strict with their Pokémon.
And their Pokémon, under their guidance, naturally learn to control every bit of their power.
As a Transmigrator, Chen Xi firmly believed in one principle: true power is power that one can fully control. If one cannot control it, no matter how strong the power, there will eventually be a day when it harms oneself.
Therefore, Chen Xi actually attached great importance to the training of his Pokémon's control.
In a way, this was the coordination ability pursued by Coordinators, only Chen Xi himself didn't understand it.
As they walked, Chen Xi suddenly stopped, which also made Zhu Lan stop abruptly.
“What's happening?” Zhu Lan's expression changed slightly, and she asked cautiously.
“Something's up ahead. It looks like we'll have to fight our way through!” Chen Xi looked up at the dense red lights in the sky!
“Hmm?!” Hearing this, Zhu Lan also looked up.
Above Chen Xi and Zhu Lan's heads were dense red eyes, enough to make anyone with trypophobia's scalp tingle.
It was a flock of Zubat and Golbat. Each of them was baring their sharp teeth.
Because they heard delicious creatures entering their hunting range.
In an instant, countless Zubat and Golbat swarmed towards Chen Xi and Zhu Lan.
The astonishing scale looked like a dark wing enveloping Chen Xi and Zhu Lan.
“Come out, Torterra, use Grassy Terrain!”
Chen Xi didn't hesitate, immediately found an angle with his back against the wall and an obstruction, summoned Torterra, and placed it in front of him, making it his wall.
“Torterra is at a disadvantage against the Poison and Flying-type Zubat and Golbat!” Zhu Lan, pulled over by Chen Xi, said worriedly.
But the next second, Zhu Lan decisively shut up. Because at this moment, she saw an overwhelming barrage of attacks raining down.
If it weren't for Torterra's massive body helping to block and create a small space, they would have been directly overwhelmed by the flock of Zubat and Golbat.
It must be said that Torterra's massive body and defense system, coupled with Floette's Lucky Chant, made Torterra extremely sturdy, becoming a very important cover for Chen Xi and Zhu Lan.
Even when facing a strong assault from the bat swarm, Chen Xi and Zhu Lan still had room to counterattack at this moment.
“Quick, counterattack! Have your Garchomp use Sandstorm, at least to give us a weather advantage!”
Zhu Lan looked at Chen Xi worriedly, mainly fearing that Garchomp's Sandstorm would harm Chen Xi's Floette and Staryu.
However, Zhu Lan was also a decisive person and knew the important auxiliary role that Sandstorm could bring. So, with an order, Garchomp immediately unleashed an overwhelming Sandstorm!
In an instant, sand swept across, and the Zubat and Golbat that were rushing towards the two bore the brunt of it.
However, Floette and Staryu both used Protect. In a cave environment, using Protect allows Pokémon to become Rock-type, not only making them immune to Sandstorm damage but, more importantly, strengthening their Special Defense in a Sandstorm environment.
Seeing this, Zhu Lan felt a little relieved. At least Chen Xi wasn't crazy; he truly had a way to deal with it.
Staryu used Power Gem at this moment. Under its innate Rock typing, the power of Power Gem greatly increased.
As long as they were hit by this rock beam, whether Zubat or Golbat, they all died on impact, falling like raindrops.
Floette, moreover, Mimic'd Staryu's Power Gem and unleashed it, its power even more astonishing.
Beams of light shot out from Floette's hands, leaving the Zubat and Golbat with nowhere to hide.
At this time, Zhu Lan did not let Garchomp fight, but instead had Garchomp return to Protect herself and Chen Xi.
Because at this time, long-range attack methods were more suitable for combat, which Garchomp wasn't without, but it wasn't suitable.
Zhu Lan summoned Gastrodon at this moment. As soon as this slug-like creature appeared, it unleashed Water Pulse. The water spheres swept around like a fountain, and all the Golbat hit by Gastrodon fell.
However, as the battle stalemated, some bats directly bypassed Chen Xi and Zhu Lan, screaming and opening their gaping mouths to bite at the two.
At this moment, Garchomp's presence was very important. Garchomp swung its Dragon Claw, and the rushing Zubat and Golbat were swatted down like flies by Garchomp. One Pokémon alone held the rear.
Originally, Chen Xi had planned to have Staryu use Gravity, but seeing that Garchomp could handle it, he didn't need this skill that almost disregarded friend or foe, and calmly let Staryu act as a cannon.
And when Chen Xi saw Garchomp also join the battle, he also released Nidorino.
Chen Xi summoned Nidorino hoping that Nidorino could gain some experience, and also as a final fresh force.
And seeing this, Zhu Lan also summoned her Roserade.
These two Pokémon stood on the Grassy Terrain released by Torterra. Although facing the Sandstorm, they were able to calmly endure it, patiently observing the situation on the entire battlefield, and joining the battle at the appropriate time.
The battle fell into a stalemate. The Zubat and Golbat couldn't break through Torterra's defense, and their attempts to flank were blocked by Garchomp.
And Staryu and Floette, working together, unleashed Power Gem, which was almost a STAB move, sweeping away large numbers.
But under the astonishing numbers of these bats, although Zubat and Golbat were constantly losing their ability to fight, they were immediately replenished. It seemed as if these bat swarms were endless.
As the prolonged battle continued, the roles of Floette and Torterra began to become apparent.
At this time, Torterra was taking hits throughout, never fighting back, but maximizing its stamina. Whenever it had a chance, it would use Leech Seed on a few Golbat to drain a little stamina, and its main role was to maintain Grassy Terrain.
If a Pokémon consciously maintains a terrain-type move like Grassy Terrain, it can extend for a very long time.
With Grassy Terrain continuously replenishing stamina, Floette, Staryu, Garchomp, and Gastrodon all had ample stamina, enough to face any situation.
Of course, when facing Pokémon like Zubat and Golbat, there was also the problem of poisoning.
However, with Floette's Aromatherapy, as soon as anyone showed signs of poisoning, Floette would immediately provide treatment.
So, continuing the battle would not lead to becoming increasingly passive. On the contrary, Chen Xi and Zhu Lan became more composed the longer they fought.
“This battle will never end!” Zhu Lan looked at the endless stream of Zubat and Golbat.
“Wait a little longer!” Chen Xi frowned slightly and said, “I think we can wait a little longer!”
“Wait longer?!” Zhu Lan was stunned and said, “What are you waiting for?!”
“Waiting for them to realize that we can't be easily defeated by their numbers, waiting for them to use Supersonic!” Chen Xi said.
And just as Chen Xi's words fell, the Zubat and Golbat flew high into the air.
At this moment, their mouths emitted a series of hair-raising, nauseating sounds.
“It's Supersonic!” Feeling the sound, Zhu Lan immediately covered her ears, saying with a hint of unwillingness.
“This is what I've been waiting for. Staryu, use Magic Coat!” Chen Xi commanded decisively.
Hearing Chen Xi's command, Staryu at this moment emitted a brilliant, colorful seven-colored glow, appearing exceptionally dazzling in the dark cave.