Chapter 1462

In the dense tropical rainforest.

The group moved forward with a mix of caution and leisure, inevitably chatting along the way.

"Ms. Asahi's specialties are molecular biology and geology, right?" Shigeru was well-versed in the celebrities of the academic world.

After all, he himself was the grandson of a celebrity.

Asahi replied, "Yes, I specialize in exploring the various mysteries of Pokémon from those two perspectives."

Tsukiya was quite surprised to hear this and looked at Ken, who was leading the way in front, "And Mr. Ken?"

"If I remember correctly, Mr. Ken often conducts various Pokémon surveys in harsh environments like mountainous regions," Shigeru continued.

Ken's reaction was flat: "Hmm."

Asahi, who was used to warming up the atmosphere, added with a smile, "Especially in places where no one sets foot; challenges are his style and creed."

"So amazing!"

Tsukiya was full of admiration.

Weavile, following Ken's footsteps, glanced sideways at its trainer, who remained silent, knowing that despite his cold appearance, he was actually in quite a good mood.

Tsukiya couldn't help but look at Huang Tie, "And the Champion—"

"I don't have any particular specialty, nor am I as professional as the two of them. I simply like seeing Pokémon living happily together."

Huang Tie held a digital camera that Porygon2 had transformed into, with Kubfu looking around behind him.

It was its first time accompanying him, and it had been entrusted with the duty of guarding its partner.

The little bear was very serious about it.

Shigeru, however, laughed, "Your understanding of Legendary Pokémon is one of a kind in the world. Perhaps no one else in the entire world has forged friendships with as many Legendary and Mythical Pokémon as you have."

"Who said that?"

Huang Tie retorted, "Satoshi knows far more than I do."

"Is that so?"

Shigeru hadn't seen the Pokémon movies, so he remained noncommittal.

Asahi was very interested in this, "Satoshi? That boy is quite interesting, it's just that he didn't seem interested in the Mew Project; only his friends participated."

"That guy was focused on the World Coronation Series at the time, so he really didn't have that much free time," Shigeru shrugged.

The small team crossed a river.

Suddenly, a huge shadow was cast under the water, and immediately after, clear water splashed into the sky!

Boom!

"Swampert!"

A low roar spread through the woods; the wild Pokémon that leaped out of the water was none other than a Swampert.

"Watch out."

Huang Tie reacted instantly, pulling Tsukiya, who had been targeted, behind him, while ordering, "Ice Punch!"

"Kub!"

Kubfu reacted swiftly, shooting out at lightning speed while the wild Swampert used Mud Shot, slamming its frost-covered fist into the side of the opponent's face!

Wham!

The sprayed mud pellets were deflected elsewhere, and the fierce cold instantly froze the river water, emitting a tooth-aching crackling sound.

The wild Swampert was also trapped in the ice.

However, this guy had great strength; it shattered the ice after a few hits, struggled free, glanced twice at Huang Tie, who was protecting Tsukiya, and then swam away.

Kubfu jumped back onto the tree root where the group was crossing the river, its vigilance not yet dissipated.

"Well done."

Huang Tie patted its head.

Tsukiya, who was slightly panicked, calmed down and said gratefully, "Thank you!"

"It's nothing. It seems this river belongs to that wild Swampert, and we were treated as intruders."

While explaining, he reminded them, "Similar situations will inevitably occur next. You'd better send out a Pokémon."

In the five-person team, neither Tsukiya nor Shigeru had sent out Pokémon to accompany them; they truly lacked the experience of venturing deep into dangerous territory.

Asahi said, "That's right, it's too passive to send them out from their Poké Balls temporarily."

Shigeru and Tsukiya looked at each other, and after safely crossing the river, they threw their Poké Balls without hesitation.

Pop! Pop!

Light flashed.

Shigeru chose Electivire, while Tsukiya chose Gardevoir.

Ken urged, "Pick up the pace and move forward; time waits for no one."

The duration of the short dry season was truly not long.

They had to leave enough time for the return trip to avoid being trapped in this rainforest for an entire year.

Soon, the group arrived at the base of the plateau cliff, looking up at the precipice that towered into the clouds, all filled with awe for nature.

"So big! And mysterious..." Tsukiya whispered.

Asahi introduced, "Long ago, the fishermen living on the surrounding islands called this place 'Gachi-Gachi-Ma'."

"Gachi-Gachi?"

"It's the sound made by evil spirits devouring humans," Ken said softly.

Shigeru's expression became serious, "A mountain of terror that must never be approached?"

Asahi said, "But geologically speaking, it's a very important mountain, because it hasn't changed at all for hundreds of millions of years."

"There is a theory in academia that this place was the central axis of the planet in ancient times."

Ancient times? Was it?

"An Xin'er~!"

Following the Tree of Beginning in the north of Kanto and the planetary core beneath Sootopolis City, the central axis of the planet had also appeared?

Just then, the detector that had been quiet all along reacted.

Immediately after, Dr. Hodaka's voice came from the recorder on Asahi's chest, "This is Hodaka. The detector has detected the target's psychic energy—"

Before Asahi could reply in time, the digital camera in Huang Tie's hand suddenly spoke, "A wave of psychic energy is coming."

"Hmm."

Huang Tie also sensed it.

He instinctively took out a Poké Ball and activated it, but there was no response at all.

On the other side, Dr. Hodaka also lost contact with the group, and the detectors, Rotom Phones, etc., in everyone's hands all lost connection simultaneously.

Porygon2 survived under its own protection, but it lost its network connection and couldn't go to the digital world.

The group looked at each other.

The current situation wasn't just about being unable to release Pokémon; they couldn't even recall them.

"Is it Mew's doing?"

Shigeru guessed.

Tsukiya said, "I think it's very likely, otherwise the instruments wouldn't have failed only after the psychic energy appeared."

Asahi said, "Although it's not completely certain... should we go back and regroup?"

As the team leader, Ken said coldly, "If the reason is Mew, we can't give up easily; coming back again won't make a difference."

He looked around at everyone and finally looked at Huang Tie, "This might be some kind of challenge."

Huang Tie knew Ken was seeking his opinion, "Since Mew has issued a challenge, there's no reason for us not to accept it. Captain, give the order."

"That's right!"

"Exactly!"

Shigeru and Tsukiya responded in unison.

With Electivire and Gardevoir by their side, they felt quite confident.

Ken then said, "Since that's the case, prepare to set off!"

After a round of responses, they began to attempt the climb, with Ken and Weavile taking the lead to scout the safe path and fix the ropes. Shigeru wanted to act as an assistant, but was rejected by Ken.

He trusted his partner Weavile more.

Shigeru took the second position, and Tsukiya was third.

Asahi wanted to bring up the rear, but Huang Tie said, "I'll take the rear. With me and Porygon2 covering, you can all rest assured."

"—Alright."

Asahi didn't refuse.

She and Ken had collaborated with Huang Tie the year before last, so they trusted him very much.

They got to work.

Weavile, relying on its sharp claws, took the lead to scout the safe path, which was then confirmed by Ken.

Shigeru and the others tied their safety ropes one after another and climbed along the designated track.

After they had all climbed onto the cliff, Porygon2 whispered, "Why not just take them up? Whether it's me, Gengar, or your plates, we could easily do it."

The facts were exactly as it said.

Porygon2's Psychic was enough to support all of them in flight, and if that wasn't enough, he could add the shiny Gengar in the shadows; not to mention Huang Tie himself had the power of the plates.

"Don't you think climbing with your own strength is more interesting? Stop being a killjoy."

Huang Tie didn't think being a babysitter for the whole team was anything interesting, "Sunshine comes after the rain; if adventures were always in easy mode, one would soon get bored."

Porygon2: "..."

It really didn't understand why he didn't base his actions on convenience.

Not long after.

Huang Tie, at the end of the line, climbed onto the cliff.

It was his first time climbing slowly with his own strength, and he found it unexpectedly interesting.

Ken, Shigeru, and Asahi had plenty of experience in wilderness exploration and were physically strong, so their climbing speed wasn't slow.

Tsukiya, who was relatively inexperienced, had Gardevoir's help, so he was quite relaxed.

At this moment, he was very glad he had listened to the advice; if he hadn't sent Gardevoir out in advance, he would probably be the one dragging the team down.

After climbing nearly four hundred meters, when Ken and Weavile were squatting on a protruding cliff edge looking around, they suddenly gave a warning.

"Shigeru! Watch out!"

A piercing sound of wind approached rapidly.

He instinctively turned his head and saw a Skarmory with silver light shining on its wings.

"Electivire!"

"Electi!"

Electivire freed one hand without hesitation and fired a thick bolt of electricity at it, instantly interrupting the Skarmory's charge.

The rope that had been targeted was spared.

But the group didn't relax; dozens of meters above their heads, several other Skarmory were circling.

"Is this their territory?"

Ken said solemnly.

He was in a position where he couldn't maneuver well, and Electivire was too far away. If he let Weavile take the initiative to attack...

"Leave it to me!"

A black and yellow figure brushed past the group, galloping toward the heights with lightning coiling around its body.

Boom!

The majestic lightning illuminated the sky, and the Skarmory that had been eyeing them covetously screamed and scattered, not daring to ambush the group again.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Porygon2 returned and said, "Everyone, proceed with peace of mind."

"That was a huge help."

Ken thanked him proactively; he was just cold by nature, not blind to the help of others.

Asahi also smiled, "Keep it up, everyone! We'll be there soon!"

After another few hundred meters, passing through the clouds and mist, the persevering exploration team successfully arrived at the top of the plateau.

"Ha... ha..."

Tsukiya couldn't help but sit on the grass and pant heavily.

The others were also somewhat exhausted, except for Huang Tie, who wasn't even out of breath, observing the surroundings with great interest.

The plateau was very vast, and it would be difficult to explore it thoroughly in a short time.

Ken's goal, however, was quite clear, "Let's head toward the center; if I'm not mistaken, Mew must be inside."

Unexpectedly, the plateau forest was very quiet; not a single Pokémon call could be heard, and after searching all around, no traces appeared.

It was as if it were the uninhabited zone on the Orre continent where there was nothing but plants.

At the same time, the Rotom Phone still couldn't be used, and they couldn't contact Dr. Hodaka, so the group could only move forward according to the compass.

Not long after.

A peculiar depression and a giant rock standing in the middle came into view.

This clearly abnormal scene prompted them to approach.

A huge pit appeared.

Shigeru felt at a glance that this pit, filled with green vines, wasn't "natural," and strongly suspected it was caused by Mew.

"It's just like it was deliberately opened for someone."

"Hmm."

Ken and Asahi also gave affirmative responses.

After discussion, the group decided to send two people down to explore, and after confirming there was no danger, the other three would enter.

Ken, as the captain, was definitely responsible for leading the charge. The second person—

"Huang Tie."

"Sure."

Huang Tie had no objections and followed him down to the depths of the cave along the climbing rope.

In an instant.

A vast and beautiful scene presented itself before them.

Inside the huge cavern, a giant tree made of countless vines stood in the center, and many Pokémon were presented before them where the roots coiled.

Besides common Rattata, Roggenrola, and Carbink, there were actually many Fossil Pokémon present!

Huang Tie took photos quickly, and Asahi's voice came from above, "Is it safe?"

Ken said, "No abnormalities for now! This place probably hasn't been in contact with the outside world for hundreds of millions of years; it's a closed land that humans have never set foot in!"

Shigeru said with interest, "Could there be Pokémon with special ecology?"

He was referring to those ancient Pokémon that hadn't changed due to environmental influences, such as those Huang Tie was familiar with in the Hisui region.

Ken replied, "The priority is Mew; don't be in a hurry to come down, let me and Huang Tie explore around first."

Immediately, he walked forward first.

The others had no objections.

Huang Tie scanned the surroundings, his senses sharper than anyone else's, and he noticed some anomalies, "Ken!"

No sooner had he spoken than a giant creature flew from the depths of the cave, and another giant creature broke out from the bottom of the vines.

It was a giant Aerodactyl and Kabutops!

At the same time, above the cave, the voices of the other three came, clearly they had also encountered attacks from wild Pokémon.

Ken took the initiative to meet the attack, "Leave the Aerodactyl to me! Ice Shard!"

"Weavile!"

Weavile clasped its claws together in front of its chest, and a huge chunk of cold ice instantly condensed, flying toward the Aerodactyl.

On the other side, Kubfu had lightning flickering on its fists; even facing the giant Kabutops, it didn't hesitate at all, punching wildly to inflict pain.

Unfortunately, its energy level was a bit too low, making it difficult to inflict significant damage on the giant Kabutops in a short time.

The giant Kabutops was the type that didn't fear Huang Tie, raising its large scythes to slash down at the two.

"In your dreams."

Huang Tie raised his hand, and the power of the Psychic Plate surged, instantly restraining the giant Kabutops, "Thunder Punch!"

"Kub!"

Kubfu immediately rose to the occasion, punching hard at the joints of the giant Kabutops. After several consecutive punches, the giant Kabutops couldn't withstand the repeated attacks despite its ferocity, and fell down with a wail.

Porygon2 sighed, "Even feeding moves isn't done like this."