Chapter 1466: Plateau Exploration

In the dense tropical rainforest.

The group advanced with caution tinged with a hint of leisure, idle chatter inevitable along the way.

"Miss Asahi, your specialties are molecular biology and geology, right?" Komo knew academic celebrities like the back of his hand.

After all, he himself was a celebrity's grandson.

Asahi replied, "Yes, I excel at exploring various mysteries of Pokémon from those two angles."

Tokiwa was quite surprised to hear this, and looked toward Aken, who was leading the way up front, "Then what about you, Mr. Aken?"

"If I recall correctly, Mr. Aken should often conduct various Pokémon surveys in harsh survival environments like mountainous regions." Komo followed up smoothly.

Aken reacted flatly, "Hmm."

Asahi, habitually warming up the mood, smiled and added, "Especially uninhabited places — challenging the impossible is his style and creed."

"So amazing!"

Tokiwa admired him endlessly.

Mawile, following Aken's steps, side-eyed the silent Trainer, deeply knowing that beneath the apparent coldness, his mood was actually quite pleasant.

Tokiwa couldn't help but look at Baimu again, "The Champion—"

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

Baimu held the digital camera transformed from Porygon2, with the bear disciple looking around behind him.

First time accompanying, and even assigned the duty of guarding the partner.

This little bear performed very seriously.

Komo laughed, "But your understanding of Legendary Pokémon is unique under heaven. There may be no one in the whole world who, like you, has formed friendships with so many Legendary and Mythical Pokémon."

"Who said that?"

Baimu retorted, "Satoshi knows far more than I do."

"Is that so?"

Komo, never having seen the Pokémon movies, expressed no opinion on this.

Asahi was quite interested in this, "Satoshi? That boy is quite interesting, just doesn't seem interested in the Mewtwo Project — only his friends participated."

"That guy was single-mindedly focused on the World Championships at the time, indeed didn't have that much free time." Komo shrugged.

The squad crossed a river.

Suddenly, a huge shadow reflected underwater, followed immediately by clear water spraying skyward!

Bang!

"Laggu!"

A low roar spread through the forest; the wild Pokémon leaping from the water was none other than Swampert.

"Careful."

Baimu reacted first, pulling Tokiwa — who had been targeted — behind him, while simultaneously ordering, "Ice Punch!"

"Guma!"

The bear disciple reacted swiftly, shooting out like lightning just as the wild Swampert used 【Mud Shot】, his fist overflowing with cold air crashing heavily into the side of its face!

Thud!

The splattering mud balls veered elsewhere, and the fierce cold air instantly froze the river water, emitting a teeth-aching cracking sound.

The wild Swampert was likewise trapped in the ice.

But this guy had great strength; in two moves it shattered the ice and broke free with all its might, glanced at Baimu protecting Tokiwa, then turned and swam away.

The bear disciple jumped back onto the river-crossing tree roots where the group stood, its alertness undiminished.

"Well done."

Baimu patted its head.

The slightly flustered Tokiwa calmed down and said gratefully, "Thank you!"

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

While explaining, he reminded them, "Similar situations are bound to occur from now on; you'd still better send out a Pokémon if possible."

In the five-person squad, neither Tokiwa nor Komo had sent out a Pokémon to accompany them — they truly lacked experience venturing deep into dangerous territory.

Asahi said, "Right, temporarily deploying from a Poké Ball would be too passive."

Komo and Tokiwa exchanged a glance, and after crossing the river safely, unceremoniously threw their Poké Balls.

Bang bang!

Light flashed.

Komo chose Electabuzz, while Tokiwa chose Gardevoir.

Aken urged, "Pick up the pace and advance; time waits for no one."

The dry season's duration is truly not long.

They must leave enough return time to avoid being trapped in this rainforest for a whole year.

And soon, the group successfully reached the base of the plateau cliff, all looking up at the sheer wall towering into the clouds, hearts full of awe at nature.

"So big! And mysterious..." Tokiwa murmured softly.

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

"Gachigachi?"

"The sound made by evil spirits devouring humans." Aken said blandly.

Komo's expression turned grave, "A mountain of terror that absolutely must not be approached?"

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

"Academia has a theory that this place was once the planet's central axis in ancient times."

Ancient? Once was?

Baimu only felt it was awe-inspiring.

After the World-Initial Tree in the north of Guandu and the planetary core beneath Liuli City, has the planetary central axis also appeared?

Just then, the detector that had remained silent all along reacted.

Immediately, the voice of Professor Suigao came from the recorder on Asahi's chest: "This is Suigao. The detector has detected the target psychic energy—"

Before Asahi could reply in time, the polyhedral camera in Baimu's hand suddenly spoke: "A psychic wave is coming."

"Hmm."

Baimu also sensed it.

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

On the other side, Professor Suigao also lost contact with everyone, and the detectors in everyone's hands, as well as the Rotom phones, all lost response together.

The polyhedral phone survived under its own self-protection, but lost network connection and could no longer go to the digital world.

Everyone looked at each other.

At this moment, the situation was not merely being unable to release Pokémon; even recalling them was impossible.

"Is it Mew doing this?"

Xiaomao gave a guess.

Shiyang said: "I think it's very likely; otherwise, the instruments wouldn't fail only after psychic energy appeared."

Asahi said: "Although not completely certain…… but should we go back and regroup?"

As the team leader, Aijian said: "If the cause is Mew, then we cannot easily give up; trying again makes no difference."

He looked around everyone, finally gazing at Baimu: "This might be some kind of challenge."

Baimu knew Aijian was seeking his opinion: "Since Mew has issued a challenge, we have no reason not to accept the battle. Captain, give the order."

"Yeah!"

"Right!"

Xiaomao and Shiyang responded in unison.

With Pikachu and Gardevoir beside them, they felt confident.

Aijian then said: "In that case, prepare to set out!"

After a chorus of responses, everyone began attempting to climb the mountain, first led by Aijian and Mankey clearing the way and securing the rope, while Xiaomao wanted to assist but was refused by Aijian.

He trusted his partner Mankey more.

Xiaomao took second place, and Shiyang third.

Asahi wanted to bring up the rear, but Baimu said: "I'll take the rear, with me and Porygon2 guarding behind, you can rest assured."

"——Good."

Asahi did not refuse.

She and Aijian had worked with Baimu the year before last, and trusted him greatly.

Say it, do it.

Mankey, with its sharp claws, led the way, responsible for scouting safe paths, and Aijian confirmed them.

Xiaomao and the others successively secured their safety ropes and climbed along the designated route.

After they all got onto the cliff, Porygon2 quietly said: "Why not just carry them up? Whether it's me, Gengar, or your stone slab, we could easily do it, right?"

The fact is exactly as it said.

Porygon2's psychic power is sufficient to support everyone flying; if not, adding a shiny Gengar from the shadows would do, let alone Baimu still having the power of the stone slab.

"Don't you think climbing by your own strength is more fun? Don't spoil the fun."

Baimu did not find being the team's nanny interesting at all: "After the storm comes the sunshine; if adventure is always easy mode, it will soon grow boring."

Porygon2: '……'

It truly does not understand why not act based on convenience.

Not long after.

Baimu at the rear climbed onto the cliff.

He was still climbing slowly by his own strength for the first time, only feeling unexpectedly enjoyable.

Aijian, Xiaomao, and Asahi had ample experience in outdoor exploration, strong physiques, and their climbing speed was not slow.

The only relatively inexperienced one, Shiyang, had Gardevoir helping him, so it was also easy.

At this moment, he was very glad he had listened to advice; otherwise, if he hadn't released Gardevoir in advance, the team would likely have been dragging him behind.

After climbing nearly four hundred meters, Aijian and Mankey crouched on a protruding cliff face, looking around in all directions, when they suddenly gave a warning.

"Xiaomao! Be careful!"

A piercing wind sound rushed toward them at high speed.

He instinctively turned his head and saw an armored bird with wings glowing silver.

"Pikachu!"

"Chichi!"

Pikachu extended one palm, hesitated not, and launched a thick current at it, instantly breaking the armored bird's charge.

The rope that had been targeted escaped unharmed.

But everyone did not relax; dozens of meters above their heads, several more armored birds were clearly circling.

"Is this their territory?"

Aijian said solemnly.

His position was somewhat restricted for movement, Pikachu was too far away, and if Mankey were to go on the offensive……

"Leave it to me!"

A black-and-yellow figure brushed past the crowd, its whole body wreathed in lightning as it shot upward.

Boom—!

Torrential lightning lit up the sky, and the watchful Skarmory immediately shrieked and scattered, no longer daring to ambush the group.

Everyone let out a breath of relief.

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

"That was a big help."

A Jian proactively thanked them; he simply had a cold disposition, not to the point of treating others' assistance as invisible.

Asahi also smiled and said, "Come on, everyone! We'll be there soon!"

After another several hundred meters, passing through clouds and mist drifting with wind, the expedition team of astonishing perseverance successfully reached the area above the plateau.

"Hah... hah..."

Shi Yang couldn't help but sit on the grass, panting heavily.

The other few were likewise somewhat fatigued; only Baimu showed no sign of exertion, observing the surroundings with keen interest.

The plateau was extremely vast; exploring it thoroughly would likely be difficult in a short time.

A Jian's objective, however, was quite clear: "Let's advance toward the center. If I'm not mistaken, Mew is definitely inside."

Unexpectedly, the plateau forest was extremely quiet, not a single Pokemon cry could be heard, and after searching all around no traces appeared at all.

It was as if, on the Aurelian Continent, that uninhabited zone where nothing existed except plants.

At the same time, the Phone Rotom still couldn't be used, and they couldn't contact Professor Suigao either; the group could only advance according to the compass direction.

Before long.

A strange depression and a giant boulder standing in the middle came into everyone's view.

This clearly abnormal scene prompted them to approach.

A huge pit appeared before them.

Xiao Mao took one look and felt this vine-entwined pit wasn't very "natural," strongly suspecting it was caused by Mew.

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

"Mm."

A Jian and Asahi also gave affirmative responses.

After discussion, the group decided to send two people down to explore; after confirming no danger, the remaining three would enter.

As captain, A Jian would naturally take the lead; the second person—

"Baimu."

"Sure."

Baimu naturally had no objection, and together with him descended along the climbing rope to the cave depths.

In an instant.

A spacious and beautiful scene unfolded before them.

Inside the huge cavern, a giant tree composed of countless vines stood towering in the center; around its roots, many, many Pokemon appeared before them.

Besides the common Rattata, Geodude, and Carbink, there were actually numerous Fossil Pokemon present!

Baimu quickly took photos; Asahi's voice came from above: "Is it safe?"

A Jian said, "No abnormalities for now! This place probably hasn't had contact with the outside for hundreds of millions of years — a sealed land completely untouched by humans!"

Xiao Mao said with interest: "Could there be Pokemon with a special ecology?"

He meant those ancient Pokemon that hadn't changed due to environmental influence, such as the Hisui region that Baimu knew of.

A Jian replied, "The priority right now is Mew; you guys don't rush down yet, let me and Baimu explore around a bit."

Immediately, he took the lead walking forward.

The others naturally had no objection.

Baimu's gaze swept the surroundings; perception sharper than anyone's let him detect a slight strangeness. "A Jian!"

The words barely fell when a giant creature flew from the cave depths in the distance, and another giant beast burst through the vines at the bottom.

They were actually a giant Aerodactyl and a giant Scizor!

At the same time, shouts came from the other three above the cavern; clearly they too had encountered wild Pokemon attacks.

A Jian moved to intercept first. "Aerodactyl's mine! Ice Shard!"

"Weavile!"

Weavile brought its claws together before it; a massive chunk of ice instantly coalesced and flew toward Aerodactyl.

On the other side, the bear disciple's fists crackled with Lei Guang; even facing the giant Scizor he didn't hesitate in the slightest, wildly swinging his fists and pummeling its body.

Unfortunately its energy level was a bit too low; in a short time it was hard to deal significant damage to the giant Scizor.

The giant Scizor was also a type unafraid of Baimu; it raised its great scythes, preparing to cleave down at the two of them.

"Dream on."

Baimu raised a hand; the power of the Psychic Slate surged forth, instantly restraining the giant Scizor. "Thunder Punch!"

"Guh-ma!"

The bear disciple immediately roused himself, aiming at the giant Scizor's joints and swinging his fists with all his might; thud thud thud, several punches in a row — no matter how fierce the giant Scizor was, it couldn't endure that many consecutive attacks, and it howled as it collapsed.

Porygon2 remarked, "Move tutoring isn't even done this way."