Chapter 120: CH58 (119), Cave (3)
I let him out again and telepathically gave him a brief description of my space before I put him inside. My space did its thing and created a habitat for Cubone and improved Cubone as well.
The habitat was an area of about 500 m² that had a large hill in the middle which took up most of the area. The hill had a cave system inside that served as Cubone's new home. I placed the habitat somewhere in-between the two ponds.
As for Cubone's improvements, his potential got increased and he even unlocked a new talent.
'Name: None
Species: Cubone
Gender: Male
Age: 3+ Years
-
Type: Ground
Potential: Blue (34.7%)
Genetic variation: None
Abilities: Rock Head, Lighting Rod
Talents: Conduct Current
Affinities: Ground
-
Bond: Mikail (artificial, weak)
Quirks: None'
Now, looking at the first part of his status screen one can see that his potential was increased all the way up to blue and to 34.7% at that, which meant it had been pretty high up while he had deep green potential.
As for the talent he unlocked, there seemed to be a synergy with his Lightning Rod ability, because Conduct Current allowed him to direct the electricity he absorbed through Lightning Rod as well as any static electricity he produced.
While it did not turn him into an electric type in any way, it gave him the ability to occasionally use some electric moves against water types. Another thing to note was his age. He was older than 3 years old, which meant he had enough time to develop on his own.
'Parameters:
Stage: Iron Stage (high)
Vitality: A
Strength: B
Endurance: S
Agility: B
Energy Capacity: B
Energy Density: A
----
Immune: Electric
-
Resistance: Poison (Minor), Rock (Minor)
-
Weaknesses: Water (Minor), Grass (Minor), Ice (Minor)
----
Condition: Healthy, Eager'
The influence of his age could be seen in his parameters. They were pretty respectable, especially his endurance which had broken the limit once. The type influences were just like with every ground type and his condition was good, he was eager to get stronger.
'Masteries:
Ground Energy Manipulation (Beg.)
----
Techniques:
-
Beginner:
Growl, Tail Whip, False Swipe, Focus Energy, Leer
-
Proficient:
Mud-Slap, Headbutt, Retaliate, Boomerang, Fling
-
Advanced:
Bone Club'
I could see the influence of his age in the techniques section as well. Not a single one of his moves was left at the novice stage. The worst ones were already at the beginner mastery, while he even had one at the advanced stage.
While he had mostly physical attacks, there were some long-range ones among them and a single special one. All in all, Cubone turned out to be a great catch.
I informed the others inside the space about our newcomer and left him there to get acquainted with the others, while I resumed my exploration of the cave. A few dead ends and Pokemon fights later, we came upon a really large room with a lake inside.
There were quite a few Slowpoke, and even some Slowbro around the lake, as well as a few Wooper and Poliwag along with a few Poliwhirl and Quagsire. Still, it seemed as if the Slowpoke were the bosses inside the room since they took the largest area for themselves.
None of these species were inherently aggressive, so I could explore the room without having to be on the lookout for any attacks too much. Unlike one of the rooms that a colony of Zubat and Golbat lived in, I had to be constantly alert in that one.
There was also the room with the Ekans and Arbok, that I had to blitz through or risk constant attacks. Anyway, it was nearly time for lunch, I decided to have lunch now and explore the room afterward.
I naturally called everyone out except for the water types, those I had to leave inside the space. While we were eating a few curious Wooper, Poliwag, and Slowpoke approached us. The older ones kept an eye on them and us but seeing nothing bad happening they left the young ones alone.
I gave them some berries and some of the food bars I had made for my water types after I saw them checking out our food. They seemed to enjoy it very much, and once my Pokemon were done eating they began to mingle with them.
I naturally did not miss the opportunity to check their potential, but like most of the time, I checked the potential of wild Pokemon their potential turned out average or worse.
One good thing about the situation was that everyone seemed to have accepted us being there thanks to me feeding the young ones and my Pokemon playing with them.
So, while they went to play with the room dwellers Xatu and I were checking out the place to see if we could find anything useful. Unfortunately, we found nothing I didn't already have.
I also checked the Pokemon I came across while checking the room but none had any satisfactory potential, but the strength of some of them was another story.
One of the Slowbro I checked was at the (high) silver stage, while another one was at the (mid) silver stage. There were also a (low) silver-stage Quagsire, Poliwhirl, and another Slowbro among the ones I checked. All in all, a pretty strong line-up.
Still, as I had mentioned none of them reacted negatively towards us, and they allowed us to roam around unmolested. Once I was done with the room, I went up to the lake to check it out as well. I told Xatu he should keep an eye on the others while I was diving before I jumped in.
The first thing I noted was that there were Magikarp and Barboach inside the lake in addition to the ones outside of it. Then I called out my water types so that they could accompany me while I was checking if there was anything I would want inside.
The lake was pretty large so it took me a few hours to do a once over and by the end of it I did not find anything new. I also checked out any of the Pokemon I came across inside the lake, but they were all busts as well.
Well, I actually discovered the entrance to an underwater passage, but I did not enter it since I wanted to finish checking the lake first. So, after I had done that I swam to the entrance.
I sent two Magikarp slightly ahead and followed after them with the rest. There were no other Pokemon inside the passage and just a few minutes later the passage started heading upwards. It ended up leading to another surface point, presumably another room.
I told the others to stay put and carefully went up to check the situation myself. I swam towards the edge of the hole and slowly lifted myself out of the water trying to be as quiet as possible.
Once my head was high enough for me to get a look around the place I saw that the passage seemed to have led to a medium-sized room. I could see no Pokemon around the passage area so I considered pulling myself up, but I decided to return to the previous room first.
I was planning to bring Xatu and Butterfree with me so that I had someone by my side in case there was any danger in the new room I had discovered. Xatu could also hopefully teleport us away in case the danger was above our pay grade.
With that in mind, I lowered myself back into the water and together with my water types returned to the lake, where I called over Xatu as well as Butterfree.
I explained the situation to them before I put them into my space. I told Mothra to keep an eye on the others and swam back to the new room. I once more told my Remoraid as well as Magikarp to wait for me at the entrance and pulled myself up as quietly as possible.
Once I stood in the new room I called out Xatu and Butterfree, before we began exploring the room. We saw no one while checking out the first half, but somewhere around the middle of the room, a single Slowbro was standing.
The Slowbro was observing us and I was pretty sure he had been observing us the whole time we had been looking through the room, maybe even before that.
It waved us over and its stance, as well as face, gave off a peaceful feeling. While I was contemplating if I should go over or not he contacted me telepathically.
'Come closer young one, I have no plan to attack you. I've been observing you for a while now, and it looks as if you are searching for something. I have the only things that should be of any value inside this room. I just want to talk for a bit, maybe we'll get to see if you have anything I am ready to trade with.'
I flinched when I first heard his voice inside my head, but while listening to what he said I felt no falsehood, so I slowly approached him with Xatu and Butterfree by my side.
Once I was close enough I used my emotion sense to see if I could make out anything suspicious, but I felt only peace and calmness from him, so I kept approaching him. Still, to cover all bases I told Xatu to be ready to Teleport us back to the others in case anything happened.
Slowbro's smile widened when I said that to Xatu making me think that he may have heard my telepathic message as well. Once I was in front of him he motioned for us to get comfortable while he himself sat down. I followed his example while Xatu and Butterfree kept standing/flying.
As soon as I sat down he began asking me about the situation I had encountered inside the cave system so far as well as the immediate area around the cave entrance. Apparently, it had been some time since he last left the room with the lake.
He was the real leader of the Slowpoke and Slowbro, as well as the large room the lake was in. According to him he preferred staying there in peace looking after the new generation which was why it had been some time since he had checked the situation outside.
I told him about the Pokemon I had seen during my exploration of the cave so far, as well as some of the rooms with ponds/lakes I came across. In return, I asked Slowbro if he had evolved with the help of a Shellder or through his own efforts to which he said all Slowbro in his group had evolved on their own.
This was impressive because this meant none of them had the weakness of possibly devolving or being dependent on another Pokemon. After that, we talked about some random things before I asked about the sole useful thing he had mentioned.
He laughed at that and patted my hand, while he told me to wait for a moment. While he patted my hand I used the opportunity to check his status. What I saw caused me to freeze for a second, before I relaxed once more.
'Species: Slowbro
Gender: Male
Type: Water, Psychic
Potential: Deep Green
Stage: ?
Genetic variation: ?
Abilities: ?
Talents: ?
Affinities: ?'
Me being unable to see his stage meant that he was at least at the (mid) gold stage possibly higher. Thankfully, he really was as peaceful as I thought he was or I could have been in trouble.
Slowbro used his psychic abilities to levitate 2 things over, which I identified as Prism Scales once they were close enough. He took them into his hands and told me they were left behind by the previous owner of the cave.
It looked like a Milotic used to be the boss around here but it left a long time ago and never returned. After it left the Slowbro took over the leadership. The Prism Scales were left behind since it did not need them.
I asked if I could check it out and he agreed since he was confident that I couldn't run away from him.
'Name: Prism Scale
Type: Water
Class: C
Uses: It's the scale of a Milotic, that has been saturated in its energy and essence. Contains water-type energy and can be used as a supplement to help water-type Pokemon. Can be used to help trigger the evolution of certain Pokemon.'
Hmm, they're actually C-class, so I currently can't replicate or reproduce them, but I will be able to do it in the future. They are definitely useful and I want them, especially since I want to catch a Feebas or two. I returned the Prism Scales to Slowbro and told him I was interested.
"What do you want for them?" I wanted to know what he was expecting so that I could bargain accordingly.
"What are you willing to offer?" Instead of answering my question, he sent the ball back to my court.
Hmm, I had no materials that were of an equal class to the Prism Scales and he would recognize that, so I will have to make up for the difference in quality with quantity.
"How about 2 Passho Berries, 1 Psychic Seed, and 2 Aquamarines of a slightly lower quality than the Prism Scales you're offering?" I was pretty much lowballing here, proposing a number that even I would not have accepted in Slowbro's stead.
Still, that was bargaining 101, always offer much less than you are willing to pay, which was what I did. I took out the things I offered so that he could see what I was offering. Slowbro took a look at them and shook his head.
"Not enough, I need more than that. The things you are offering are not as good or rare as the Prism Scales. How about 20 Passho Berries, 20 Psychic Seeds, and 30 Aquamarines?"
Apparently, Slowbro knew about the dao of bargaining as well, since he returned my lowball offer with a highballed one. That was part of bargaining 101 as well, always ask for much more than you actually want, so that any price reduction that happens during the bargain is still inside your acceptable range.
"No way, that's impossible. How about 3 Passho Berries, 2 Psychic Seeds, and 3 Aquamarines instead?" I increased my offer by a tiny bit.
He naturally declined and what followed was a back and forth while we slowly approached a number we were both okay with.
"My last offer, I really can't go any higher than this. How about 12 Passho Berries, 8 Psychic Seeds, and 10 Aquamarines?" I proposed and Slowbro released a sigh before he finally agreed.
While it might seem like I was giving him too many things, one has to consider that I gained multiple berries per harvest. I also received two Psychic Seeds every harvest, so the only material that took longer to accumulate were the Aquamarines.
However, I received that one long ago, so I had enough of them in stock that I could easily accept a loss of 10 of them. Anyway, I took out the amount we agreed upon and received the two Prism Scales in return.
I was really happy with the result because I would have honestly given that amount for just a single Prism Scale but I got two which was even better.
I thanked the Slowbro and asked him if I could still check out the rest of the room which he agreed with. So, I did just that together with Xatu and Butterfree we checked out the rest of the areas we had not looked over.
Unfortunately, we did not find anything, but it was better to come up empty-handed than miss something obvious. Once we were done surveying the room I thanked the Slowbro once more for tolerating our activities, before we returned to the lake room.
I placed Remoraid and the Magikarp back inside the space, called over all my Pokemon, said goodbye to the dwellers of the room, and placed everyone except for Xatu, Nyx, and Teddiursa back into my space, before leaving the room to continue exploring the passages.
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