Chapter 9: Escape from Death

"You take them out—it's not much farther now."

"Huh? You're going back?"

"Yes."

"I also—"

"Don't waste time. Once you're out you can't come back in. If you don't go, who's going to carry them? Hold on a little longer."

"…I'm sorry, Baimu. I'm really sorry—we dragged you down. Ah, take this with you!"

"Alright, go."

Recalling the parting with Naruhiro—the other's face, a mix of unwillingness and guilt—Baimu shouldered the hammer he'd picked up near the exit, switched on his headlamp, and breathed evenly.

He knew that Roggenrola might not necessarily be unable to beat that Rhydon. He also knew that even if it couldn't win, Rhydon might not necessarily take Roggenrola's life either.

Weighing everything, there was no need for him to turn back; there was no need to do something so dangerous.

And yet he had still come back.

Come to think of it, he'd always felt he was actually very selfish. All his acts of kindness toward others were a front, meant to satisfy utilitarian aims like fitting in, huddling together for warmth, and gaining benefits.

Therefore—

Coming back was, of course, to win Roggenrola's goodwill, to uphold the principle of always repaying kindness…

Baimu kept clarifying his own intention in his mind, persuading himself as if under hypnosis.

If not for that, facing those blood-red eyes of Rhydon, he probably wouldn't be able to help wanting to run.

"Ram him to death for me!"

Shibata's shout rang out suddenly, and Rhydon charged along with it.

Rumble rumble rumble—

The ground trembled with the galloping, countless pebbles shaken loose and flying everywhere.

The Rhydon before him only wanted to finish the job quickly, so it simply went along with Shibata's wish—sending the man in front of it flying—to shut Shibata up once and for all.

And in this mine tunnel, everywhere occupied by fallen rock, there was truly little room to dodge; evading Rhydon's charge was exceedingly difficult.

But he only needed to dodge once.

Just once.

Baimu stepped back two paces and stood behind a pile of loose stones stacked on the far left. Those things couldn't stop Rhydon's charge, but they could to some extent block its line of sight.

Even a Ground-type Pokémon can't see through stone and dirt.

Come on.

He drew a deep breath, staring straight at the frenzied Shibata and at Rhydon, which had lowered its gaze and leveled its horn straight ahead.

There was nothing more to say—only success, no such thing as failure.

Boom!

The instant the pile of loose stones was smashed apart by the ferocious beast, Baimu suddenly switched his headlamp to its brightest setting, and without caring whether he'd blinded Rhydon, rolled to the right!

"Ugh!"

A sharp pain shot through his left arm and left ribs, as if he'd been hit by a bullet.

But Baimu knew he'd dodged it—the pain came from the rubble Rhydon had sent flying, which alone proved how terrifying the force of its charge was.

And as he got up, a burning pain came from his scraped right elbow and shoulder.

Bear with it!

Press the advantage!

Baimu turned around, looking at Rhydon, which had crashed into the wall at an angle behind him. Shibata on its back was urging Rhydon to turn around and try again.

"Eat shit!"

He roared and hurled the hammerhead in his hand. Shibata didn't even have time to react before he was smashed off onto the ground, screaming nonstop as he didn't even know which part had been hit.

That guy's headlamp had never been switched off from start to finish—the target couldn't be more obvious!

"Oouh!"

The emptiness on its back made Rhydon panic. The massive body had only just taken one step back when it accidentally stepped on Shibata's leg.

"Ah—my foot!!"

Another scream.

Rhydon's movements froze; already somewhat clumsy and heavy, it now had even less idea what to do.

Objective achieved!

Without hesitation, Baimu ran toward where Roggenrola was.

Pokémon are also living creatures of the natural world, so he never mythologized them. In fact, as long as you understood Pokémon, you could find a way to "battle" them.

To capture a bandit, first capture the ringleader.

Since Rhydon was Shibata's helper, it certainly wouldn't just leave him be.

"Let's go!"

Baimu swiftly scooped up the half-conscious Roggenrola from the ground, and was surprised to find it wasn't all that heavy.

He turned and ran forward, passing Rhydon—which had wanted to rescue Shibata—at top speed. The latter noticed he was fleeing and immediately had the intention to pursue.

"Oouh—"

"Shut up!"

Baimu pulled another ball from his pocket and slammed it hard onto the ground.

Boom!

A terrifying burst of blinding light swallowed the entire cavern in an instant!

"Oouh!?"

The Iron Armor Rhinoceros was suddenly stabbed in the eye, its vision a sheet of white with nothing it could see clearly, and in its panic it went on a rampage, charging blindly this way and that as Shibata let out a string of continuous screams.

"Don't—let me go—ah! Help…"

"Huff…huff…"

All Baimu lowered his head and ran flat out, covering twenty or thirty meters in just a few breaths, then hastily glanced back and saw the Iron Armor Rhinoceros smashing about wildly and Shibata's cries gradually falling silent, and he let out a long, hard breath of relief.

Good thing he hadn't stupidly used the flash bomb Cheng Hong had given him earlier—the blast was huge and had thrown the thing straight into chaos.

The guy hadn't used it the whole time before—could that be why?

All Baimu shook his head, drove away the distracting thoughts, and ran with all his might.

Honestly, he was in the middle of an escape right now, so even if Roggenrola was unwilling in its heart, it was an objective fact that recalling it into its Poké Ball would be more convenient.

With the other party not in its right mind, the chances of it breaking free weren't high either.

But…

Forget it.

What if his earlier guesses were all wrong, and it was a Pokémon the Sandshrew Team had planted inside?

What if Roggenrola would rather die than go back into the Poké Ball? One had to remember that most Pokémon were steadfast in their convictions—once they set their mind on something, they would never turn back.

Thinking so much was useless—better to just run a little faster!

All Baimu suddenly yanked off the face covering, trying to take in more oxygen so his running speed could increase another step.

Uphill was really killing him.

Fortunately, until the white light symbolizing the exit appeared ahead, no sounds of pursuit came from behind either, and the instant he burst out, fresh air came rushing in all at once.

The blowing sandy wind had grown cool as well.

"Ha…ha…"

All Baimu was gulping in huge lungfuls of air, the fierce sunlight making it hard for him to keep his eyes open, and he only just barely held on without collapsing flat onto the ground.

He paid no attention to the startled gazes and shouts around him, fished out the jade stone and tossed it to the middle-aged examiner. "Token!"

The middle-aged man took it, gave it a casual glance, then looked at the battered Roggenrola and frowned. "You brought the Pokémon inside out?"

"No, it should be wild…" All Baimu shook his head.

"How could that—"

The middle-aged man's words cut off short, because a Galarian Yamask suddenly flew out of the cave, ran up to him, and shook its head at him.

He immediately changed his tune. "—Someone come take him and Roggenrola to the hospital! Hurry up!"

At once, lackeys carrying a stretcher came forward, carefully invited the one person and one Pokémon onto it, and carried them off.

All Baimu glanced at that Galarian Yamask, then said softly to Roggenrola beside him, "We're safe now. Don't worry."

As he said this, he too couldn't help slowly relaxing.

The mine cave trip had been brief, certainly, but harrowing beyond compare—especially the part where he'd gone back to save Roggenrola. Looking back on it now, he really felt he'd been throwing his life away.

"Sigh…"