Chapter 80: 80. Articuno -1
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"Ivysaur, use Razor Leaf!"
Following Kai's command, sharp leaves flew out from the bud on Ivysaur's back, striking the Geodude in front of them with precision.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Under the relentless assault, the wild Geodude couldn't withstand the damage and rolled down the hillside into the forest below.
Kai exhaled a sigh of relief. Counting this encounter, it was the sixth wild Pokémon that had aggressively attacked him since arriving on the island.
Zubat, Geodude, Tentacool, Slowpoke, Shellder, Graveler, Kai had no idea what might show up next!
While his Pokémon were strong enough to handle these attackers with ease, constant battling was starting to wear them out.
After some thought, Kai decided to take precautions. He released all his Pokémon at once, letting them surround him.
The familiar blue glow of Poké Balls filled the air as Jolteon, Blastoise, and his other team members appeared, forming a protective circle around him.
"This should make any wild Pokémon think twice about attacking," he muttered to himself.
He continued deeper into the island, eventually reaching a cliff. A natural stone bridge spanned the chasm, and he carefully crossed it before passing through a narrow rock crevice.
On the other side, he found himself at the entrance to a vast, rocky labyrinth.
With his Pokémon by his side, the wild encounters dwindled. It seemed that the sight of so many Pokémon deterred most attackers.
The labyrinth was a maze of towering stone walls, with paths that twisted and turned in every direction.
Many of the corridors looked identical, and after taking a few wrong turns, Kai realized he had completely lost his sense of direction.
Haunter, floated alongside him, scanning the area. "Are you sure there's an Articuno on this island? We've been walking for ages and haven't seen a single clue!"
Kai smiled despite his exhaustion. "If it were easy to find, it wouldn't be such a legendary Pokémon, would it? People think birds like Articuno roost in high places, but I think we need to head downward instead."
Haunter blinked in surprise. "Down? You think there's something beneath this island?"
Kai nodded. "Feel that cold air seeping up from the ground? There's probably a massive icy cavern below. It's the perfect habitat for Articuno."
"That makes sense!" Haunter exclaimed. "But how do we find a way down?"
Kai looked up at Haunter and his Zapdos, the Thunder Pokémon perched nearby. "You two, check from above. Look for anything that might be an entrance to the underground."
"On it!" Haunter and Zapdos nodded, taking to the air to scout.
As they flew off, Kai sighed and leaned against a rock to rest. "If only I had a Pokémon that could dig," he muttered. "This would be so much easier."
After a brief pause, he resumed his journey, following the maze's winding paths. He stuck to the classic maze-solving strategy of keeping one hand on the wall and following it, hoping it would eventually lead somewhere.
The labyrinth bore signs of previous visitors abandoned campsites, faded scorch marks, and weathered supplies.
It seemed the old fisherman was right: many trainers had come here in search of Articuno, only to leave empty-handed.
When Haunter and Zapdos returned, they brought disappointing news. "No luck," Haunter said, floating down to Kai. "It's all just rocks and more rocks. There's no obvious way in from above."
Kai frowned, thinking for a moment. "If we can't find an entrance from above, let's try from below. Haunter, you can phase through the ground. Search for any underground caves and find a passage leading back to the surface."
"Got it!" Haunter's eyes lit up with excitement, and it sank into the ground.
This time, the wait was short. When Haunter returned, it wore a triumphant expression. "You were right! There's a massive ice cavern deep below, and I found a tunnel that leads straight to it!"
"Excellent!" Kai climbed onto Zapdos's back, and Haunter led the way. They flew over the maze until Haunter fired a Shadow Ball into the air to mark the location of the tunnel.
Zapdos landed gracefully near the hidden entrance. Kai dismounted and immediately noticed how well-concealed the tunnel was.
Thick weeds grew around it, and a massive rock partially blocked the opening, casting deep shadows that made it nearly invisible.
A gust of icy wind flowed out from the tunnel, biting through Kai's clothes and sending a shiver down his spine.
"This is the right place," he said, pulling his jacket tighter. He took out a flashlight and turned to Charmeleon. "You take the lead."
Charmeleon nodded, its tail flame illuminating the dark tunnel ahead. The group cautiously filed inside.
As they descended, the air grew colder and colder. The walls glistened with frost, and the ground became slick with ice. Kai could see his breath forming misty clouds in the frigid air.
"Almost there," he whispered, a mix of excitement and nervousness building within him.
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