Capítulo 29: Chapter 29: Trial by Stone(Rio)
"Machop, stay focused!" The girl's voice cracked, panic bleeding into her tone as her eyes darted between the Pokémon. Diglett tunneled deeper, its body vanishing into the earth while Machop gritted its teeth, shaking off the residual heat from Charmeleon's Flamethrower.
Rio's gaze hardened, every detail burned into his mind. The ground beneath trembled, betraying Diglett's swift movements underground. "Pidgeotto, stay airborne! Zubat, hit them with Supersonic!"
Zubat flitted through the air, emitting sharp, piercing waves that ricocheted off the cave's jagged walls. Machop staggered, clutching its head as confusion set in, its stance faltering.
"Charmeleon, Smokescreen!" Rio's voice sliced through the chaos, commanding and unwavering. Charmeleon sucked in a deep breath before exhaling a thick plume of smoke, the battlefield vanishing beneath a blanket of darkness.
High above, Pidgeotto circled, its Keen Eye cutting through the murk. Rio's sharp eyes caught the faintest shift in the ground beneath the smoke. He didn't hesitate. "Geodude, Magnitude!"
Geodude slammed its rocky fists into the earth, the shockwave rippling through the tunnel with a bone-rattling force. Diglett was yanked from its subterranean path, flung to the surface in a dazed tumble. Pidgeotto seized the moment, diving with blinding speed, slamming into Diglett with a Quick Attack that sent the Ground-type crashing to the floor.
Machop, lost in the disorienting Smokescreen, tried to steady itself, its muscles trembling. "Charmeleon, Fire Fang!" Rio's voice rang out like a death sentence.
Charmeleon leaped through the smoke, jaws ablaze, and clamped down on Machop's side with searing fangs. The cry of pain that tore from Machop's throat was the sound of defeat. Its legs buckled, the fight drained from its body.
As the smoke began to dissipate, the aftermath lay clear—the opposing Pokémon were battered, broken. Diglett lay unconscious, while Machop, barely clinging to consciousness, fell to one knee, struggling to stay upright. The trainers exchanged a silent, defeated look before recalling their Pokémon.
"You're tougher than you look," the boy muttered, his voice thick with reluctant respect. The girl just glared, her pride too wounded to form words.
Rio approached, his expression a mix of sternness and caution. "These caves are unforgiving," he warned, his voice devoid of pity. "It's not just about finding fossils. It's survival."
The trainers nodded, the weight of his words sinking in. They turned, disappearing into the cave's darkness, leaving Rio and his team alone once more.
The tension in Rio's shoulders slowly eased. "Good work," he said, crouching beside Charmeleon, who growled softly in contentment, its tail flame flickering warmly. Zubat fluttered around Rio's head, exhilarated by the battle, while Pidgeotto landed gracefully on his shoulder, its feathers slightly ruffled. Geodude rolled forward, its stony face showing the slightest hint of satisfaction.
Rio reached into his jacket, fingers brushing against the small Charmander-shaped charm, a keepsake from his parents. The warmth of the metal was a comforting reminder of why he was here, why he had to keep going. He tucked it back into his pocket with a quiet resolve.
"Mount Moon isn't done with us yet," Rio murmured, eyes scanning the map. "We've come this far. We keep moving."
With a determined nod, he rose, signaling his team to follow. The cave's oppressive darkness closed in around them as they ventured deeper. The tunnels narrowed, forcing them to squeeze through, single file. Rio's flashlight flickered weakly, barely piercing the blackness, while Charmeleon's tail flame cast eerie, dancing shadows on the walls.
The distant sound of dripping water echoed, growing louder with each step. The tunnel suddenly opened into a vast chamber, the walls lined with strange, luminescent crystals. Their faint glow bathed the room in an unsettling light, casting long, twisted shadows across the uneven ground.
Rio halted, scanning the area. The air was heavy, charged with an almost electric tension. Pidgeotto's wings twitched nervously, and Zubat's echolocation clicks grew rapid, anxious. Geodude tensed, muscles coiled, ready to strike at any moment. Charmeleon growled low, its tail flame flaring as it sensed the looming threat.
"Stay close," Rio whispered, his voice barely audible. "Something's here."
As they edged forward, Rio's foot struck something solid. He glanced down, his flashlight revealing a half-buried Poké Ball, its surface scratched and dulled by time. He knelt, brushing away the dirt, turning the ball over in his hand. It was broken, the release button jammed in, useless. Someone else had been here recently—but where were they now?
A low rumble reverberated through the cave, growing louder, the walls quaking under its force. Rio's pulse quickened, eyes darting around the chamber. "It's above us," he whispered, realization hitting him like a freight train. "Move, now!"
The ceiling cracked, rocks raining down. Rio dove, rolling just in time to avoid a boulder that slammed into the ground where he'd stood. Charmeleon roared, unleashing a Flamethrower that blasted a falling rock into oblivion. Pidgeotto and Zubat darted through the air, dodging the deadly barrage with split-second precision.
Geodude hunkered down, curling into a protective ball as rocks bounced harmlessly off its hardened body. Then, with a grunt of exertion, it slammed the ground with Rock Slide, sending a counter-wave of boulders upwards, intercepting the falling debris and clearing a temporary path.
"We have to go, now!" Rio's shout was hoarse, the dust choking his lungs as he scrambled toward the nearest tunnel. His Pokémon followed, their coordination flawless despite the chaos.
But fate wasn't done with him yet. His foot snagged on something, and he crashed to the ground, pain flaring in his knee. Gritting his teeth, Rio glanced up at the ceiling, now mere seconds from collapsing entirely.
"Charmeleon, Pidgeotto, cover me!" Desperation edged his voice as Pidgeotto swooped in, creating a gust that cleared the dust and debris. Charmeleon's Ember attack kept the falling rocks at bay, buying precious moments.
Zubat screeched in alarm, tugging at Rio's shirt with its tiny claws, while Geodude rolled up, wedging itself under his arm, hoisting him back to his feet.
With one final, desperate burst of energy, Rio staggered to his feet and dove through the tunnel entrance. The chamber collapsed behind them, a thunderous roar sealing their escape route with a cloud of dust and rubble.
Breathing heavily, Rio leaned against the wall, his body trembling with the aftershock. The flashlight flickered in his hand, the beam weak but enough to reveal his Pokémon, all miraculously unharmed.
"Is everyone alright?" His voice was ragged, but there was relief there. Charmeleon nodded, its flame still burning bright despite the strain. Pidgeotto perched on his shoulder, feathers ruffled but intact, while Zubat clung to the ceiling, its rapid clicks slowing to a calmer rhythm. Geodude rolled over, concern etched in its usually impassive features.
Rio exhaled deeply, offering a small, grateful smile. "We did it. All of us."
The way back was gone, buried under tons of rock. But the path forward was clear, if not any less dangerous. As Rio checked his map, he knew they were close—close to their goal, close to the heart of Mount Moon's mysteries.
But close meant nothing in a place like this. Every step deeper was a step into the unknown, where the very walls could turn against them at any moment.
Rio's grip tightened on the flashlight as he took the lead once more. They had survived one trial, but the mountain wasn't done with them yet.
And neither was he.
---
The cold of the tunnel bit into Rio's skin as he pushed forward, his legs heavy with fatigue. Each step sent a jolt of pain through his knees, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to slow down. The darkness seemed to press in on him, a suffocating weight that even Charmeleon's tail flame couldn't fully dispel. The flame danced and flickered, throwing jagged shadows on the rough stone walls, shadows that twisted and morphed into fleeting, menacing shapes.
Rio tightened his grip on the damaged Poké Ball in his pocket, its battered surface rough against his palm. The thought of who it might have belonged to gnawed at the back of his mind like a hungry Rattata. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was walking into the same fate as whoever had dropped it. But there was no time to dwell on it now. The tunnel sloped downward, and the air grew cooler with each step. He kept moving.
Water dripped steadily from the ceiling, the sound amplified in the silence, each drop echoing like a countdown to something inevitable. Geodude rolled ahead, navigating the treacherous ground with practiced ease, while Pidgeotto soared just above, its sharp eyes cutting through the murk. Zubat flitted from side to side, its echolocation painting a clearer picture of the tunnel than Rio's weak flashlight ever could.
Then, a low rumble shuddered through the ground. Rio froze, every muscle in his body tense. His breath caught, and his pulse quickened. It wasn't an earthquake; he knew the feel of those well enough. This was something alive. Something big.
"Geodude, Rock Throw," Rio whispered, his voice barely louder than a breath. Geodude didn't hesitate, slamming a rocky fist into the wall, dislodging a chunk of stone and hurling it into the darkness. The rock skittered down the tunnel before coming to a stop, the sound bouncing back distorted. But there was no mistaking it—something was coming.
The ground beneath Rio's feet trembled as the rumble grew louder. His hand hovered over Charmeleon's Poké Ball, ready to call it back in an instant if necessary. "Pidgeotto, prepare to scout. Zubat, stick close."
The tension in the air snapped as the tunnel exploded inward with a thunderous crash. A monstrous Onix, its segmented body like a living chain of boulders, burst through the rock wall. Dust and debris filled the air, and Rio instinctively shielded his face, coughing as the gritty particles scraped his throat.
Charmeleon snarled, flames flaring up its spine, the only thing standing between Rio and the towering beast. The Onix's eyes glinted in the dim light, narrowing as they locked onto Charmeleon's fire. It growled, a deep, reverberating sound that made the walls shake.
"Charmeleon, Flamethrower! Geodude, Magnitude!" The commands left Rio's mouth sharply, driven by the urgency pounding in his chest.
Charmeleon unleashed a torrent of fire, the heat searing through the air as it struck Onix's stony hide. The flames danced across its surface, leaving blackened scars, but the massive Pokémon barely reacted. It answered with a deafening roar, its tail slamming into the ground with the force of a battering ram.
Geodude smashed its fists into the earth, sending shockwaves rippling through the tunnel. The ground heaved, rocks tumbled from the ceiling, and the entire structure groaned under the strain. Onix reeled, momentarily thrown off balance, but its sheer size kept it from falling.
"Pidgeotto, Quick Attack! Zubat, Supersonic!" Rio's voice was a sharp command in the chaos.
Pidgeotto streaked forward, a blur of feathers and speed, crashing into Onix's side. It was a solid hit, but the massive rock snake barely flinched. The attack was enough of a distraction for Zubat to swoop in, emitting a piercing Supersonic. The sound waves assaulted Onix's senses, the confusion taking hold as the behemoth shook its head violently.
Onix lashed out in a blind fury, smashing its tail into the tunnel walls, sending chunks of rock crashing down. The ground under Rio's feet trembled, the instability of the tunnel growing more apparent with each thrash.
"Charmeleon, Smokescreen!" Rio ordered, his mind working rapidly to formulate a plan. He couldn't overpower Onix—not head-on. They needed to disorient it, to make it vulnerable.
Charmeleon spewed a thick cloud of smoke, the dark, acrid fog billowing out and enveloping the tunnel. Onix thrashed wildly within the shroud, its massive body colliding with the walls, unable to see its targets. The smoke clung to the air, choking, and disorienting, the perfect cover for Rio's next move.
"Pidgeotto, Gust! Keep that smoke swirling!" Rio barked, his tone edged with determination.
Pidgeotto's wings beat furiously, sending powerful gusts of wind through the tunnel. The smoke churned and twisted, becoming an impenetrable fog that further confused the Onix. It roared in frustration, its attacks growing more desperate, more reckless.
"Geodude, Rock Slide! Bring the ceiling down!" Rio's voice was tight, the urgency unmistakable.
Geodude slammed its arms into the ground once more, triggering another tremor. The ceiling shuddered, loose rocks tumbling down like a deadly rain. The debris crashed onto Onix, each impact eliciting a roar of pain as the giant Pokémon was battered by the collapsing tunnel.
"Charmeleon, finish it with Fire Fang!" Rio's shout cut through the chaos like a knife.
Charmeleon's claws ignited as it leaped at the dazed Onix. Its fangs sunk into the rock snake's neck, flames scorching through stone, heating it to the point of cracking. Onix let out a final, agonized roar, its massive body slumping under the relentless assault. The earth trembled one last time before it went still.
For a moment, silence reigned. Rio stood there, chest heaving, eyes locked on the fallen Onix. Charmeleon's flame flickered, its breath ragged, while Pidgeotto and Zubat returned to Rio's side, battered but unharmed.
"We did it," Rio muttered, disbelief tinged with triumph. His legs shook, but he forced himself to remain standing. "Good work, everyone."
Geodude rumbled in satisfaction, rolling back to Rio's side with a glint of determination in its eyes. Pidgeotto perched on his shoulder, its feathers ruffled but victorious, while Zubat clung to the ceiling, clicking contentedly. Charmeleon's tail flame burned bright, a beacon of their hard-won victory.
But as Rio's gaze lingered on the defeated Onix, a thought struck him. This Onix was strong—too strong to just leave behind. A force like this could turn the tide in any battle. His hand slipped into his pouch, pulling out a fresh Poké Ball. The sphere felt solid in his grip, a reassuring weight that held the potential to change everything.
"Let's see if we can't make you a part of the team," Rio murmured, resolve hardening in his voice.
He stepped closer to the fallen Onix, its labored breathing the only sound in the tunnel. The Poké Ball expanded in his hand, the metal cool against his skin. This was his chance, his moment to seize an opportunity that might never come again.
"Here goes nothing," he said under his breath, and with a swift motion, he hurled the Poké Ball at the Onix.
The ball struck true, opening with a flash of light that engulfed Onix's massive form. For a second, the tunnel was plunged into silence, as if even the cave itself was holding its breath. The Poké Ball wobbled violently on the ground, its red light blinking furiously as it fought to contain the raw power within.
Rio's heart pounded in his chest, each second dragging out into an eternity. The ball rocked once, twice—then clicked shut. The red light faded, and silence fell.
A grin broke across Rio's face, a mix of exhaustion and triumph. "We did it," he whispered, his voice rough with relief. He picked up the Poké Ball, feeling the weight of Onix within. This was more than just a capture—it was a turning point.
"Welcome to the team, Onix," Rio said, his voice firm with determination. He clipped the Poké Ball to his belt, the added weight a comforting reminder of their growing strength. With Onix on their side, the path ahead didn't seem as daunting.
"Let's keep moving," Rio commanded, his voice steady, resolute. They weren't finished yet—not by a long shot.
The tunnel narrowed as they pressed on, forcing them into single file. The air grew colder still, the moisture on the walls thickening, dripping down like the mountain itself was sweating. The darkness pressed in closer, almost tangible, as if the tunnel was alive and hungry.
Rio's flashlight flickered weakly, casting long shadows that twisted and writhed on the rock walls. Charmeleon's tail flame provided some relief, but it was faint, a small comfort in the overwhelming blackness.
They moved in silence, the only sounds the crunch of gravel underfoot and the distant drip of water. Tension coiled tight in Rio's gut, every nerve on edge. Another threat could be lurking around any corner.
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