Chapter 252: The Steel Behemoth Blocking the Way

At Observation Station 2, after nearly three hours of travel, Luo Mu and Brother Brother Qingmu finally arrived.

The time consumed by the battle with Roaring Moon meant dawn was not far off; the two entered Observation Station 2, whose layout was nearly identical to Station 1, full of hope, only to leave in disappointment.

Contact with the area below was still impossible here, yet they could connect to the communication equipment they had specifically reserved at Station 1; this could only mean that either Observation Station 3 or Station 4 below was experiencing problems.

Brother Brother Qingmu's Braviary had been honorably wounded in the battle against Roaring Moon, its thigh torn open by a massive wound inflicted by brute force; even though Florges's Floral Healing could cure external injuries, Braviary would still need to rest for about half a day to ensure no lingering effects remained, making it temporarily unfit for combat.

Fortunately, Brother Brother Qingmu had brought a fully equipped team of Pokémon, so there was currently no shortage of fighting strength.

Just a single monster from Area Zero had delayed a member of the Elite Four and a Champion-level Trainer for so long; in a region with no obvious villains, the dangers within the Paldea Crater had completely assumed the role of the final boss.

The two continued along the route designated as "relatively safe" toward Observation Station 3, finding it hard to imagine just how perilous the other, non-safe zones must be.

During their journey, Brother Brother Qingmu's gaze repeatedly fell upon the Ultra Ball tightly secured at Luo Mu's waist; perhaps his stare was too obvious, for Luo Mu spoke up: "You want to ask about Roaring Moon, don't you?"

Brother Brother Qingmu paused slightly, then nodded gently: "Luo Mu, how do you plan to handle it?"

"Regardless of your answer, I must first remind you that the monsters of Area Zero are creatures that hunt purely by instinct, far removed from modern civilization."

"Some researchers who have faced the terror they bring directly within the Paldea Crater even believe these beings should not be called Pokémon; indeed, even the mythical beasts of ancient history possessed more intelligence than they do."

Brother Brother Qingmu still held some unspoken doubts.

He knew Luo Mu had recently established a farm, which should be home to some gentle-natured Pokémon.

Creatures like Mareep, Wooloo, Skiddo, Da Nai Guan, and perhaps some Grass-type Pokémon.

Brother Brother Qingmu would bet anything that if Luo Mu simply brought Roaring Moon back to the farm and released it, those Pokémon would be the first to suffer.

Even the Corviknight they had administered simple treatment to afterward was a hunting target for Roaring Moon, let alone those Pokémon lacking sharp teeth and claws, possessing negligible combat ability, whose only worry was how many mouthfuls of pasture grass to eat today.

After devouring those Pokémon, that Roaring Moon would begin a hunting spree across the Paldea region, indiscriminately attacking all Pokémon and humans, making it an extremely dangerous entity.

However, the fact that these creatures could actually be captured in a Poké Ball was an outcome Brother Brother Qingmu had never anticipated.

From beginning to end, everyone who had come to explore the Paldea Crater had never regarded these fellows as Pokémon, and after repelling them, no one had ever considered capturing them.

Luo Mu looked straight at Brother Brother Qingmu, his voice serious: "Rest assured, I will not be so reckless."

Luo Mu was fully aware of Brother Brother Qingmu's concerns; while his farm housed many powerful Pokémon, it also contained weak ones, and simply bringing Roaring Moon back to release it without taking any measures would undoubtedly be something only an idiot would do.

His considerations for using an Ultra Ball to capture Roaring Moon were threefold.

First, to test whether Paradox Pokémon could be captured just as they are in the games.

Second, even with this Roaring Moon, he had detected a glimmer of rationality in its dragon-like eyes; perhaps, after taking thorough precautions, communication with it would be possible.

If all else failed, he would beat it senseless a few times to see if it could be tamed.

If every method exhausted still failed to establish communication, then it would be time for his third idea.

Hand this Roaring Moon over to the two Professors or the Paldea League for observation and research, deepening their understanding of Paradox Pokémon.

Moreover, this Roaring Moon had appeared near a road designated as a "safe route"; if he and Brother Brother Qingmu had not entered the Paldea Crater, perhaps it would have been the search team assembled by Geeta that encountered it.

Even if the second and third ideas did not come to fruition, once everything was settled, he could release this Roaring Moon in a location far from the safe routes.

Luo Mu felt his considerations were already quite thorough.

Seeing that Luo Mu truly had a plan in mind, Brother Brother Qingmu said no more; he still harbored a degree of trust in the Trainer who had defeated him.

Speaking no further words, the two directed Serperior and Oricorio to repel diurnal wild Pokémon that had begun stirring with the arrival of dawn, pressing on toward the location of Observation Station 3.

By noon, after a morning of travel, the two finally reached the middle layer of Area Zero.

The Pokémon responsible for clearing away attacks from wild Pokémon beside them had also been switched from Serperior and Oricorio to Mimikyu and Tauros.

Brother Brother Qingmu's Tauros was quite robust in build, capable of carrying both of them during travel; coupled with Mimikyu's ability to move alongside shadows and leap out at any moment to repel wild Pokémon and clear the way for Tauros, a journey that would normally take at least a day was forcibly shortened by the two to just half a day.

Along the way, they had encountered no Paradox Pokémon; just as the two began to think their luck had turned, on the essential path leading to Observation Station 3, they encountered a second Paradox Pokémon.

Gazing at the Pokémon before them that closely resembled Tyranitar, Brother Brother Qingmu's eyes, ringed with heavy dark circles, widened slightly: "What is this thing... I've never seen it before!"

The creature before them—no, rather than a living being, it resembled more of a mechanical construct.

Cold green metal armor clad its body; on its back sprouted a "thicket of thorns" extending from Kong Dong, emitting an eerie green glow, while its thick, long tail was segmented, with green light similarly shining from the gaps in its joints.

Its overall appearance was nearly identical to Tyranitar, yet that cold design informed Brother Brother Qingmu that this fellow was absolutely not the Tyranitar he knew.

But regardless of what relationship it might have with Tyranitar, now was undoubtedly the time to be on high alert.

They were already very close to Observation Station 3; perhaps it was this large fellow that had caused Station 3 to lose contact.

Brother Brother Qingmu tightened his grip on the Poké Ball in his hand, intending to endure a little "hardship."

Just as Brother Brother Qingmu prepared to throw the Poké Ball and command Tauros to prepare for battle, Luo Mu reached out from behind to stop him, saying in a low voice: "Do not show any intent to attack; we will simply bypass it and move on."

A hint of bewilderment crossed Brother Brother Qingmu's expression; what was Luo Mu saying?

That monster from Area Zero, which so closely resembled Tyranitar, had fixed its emotionless electronic eye upon them the very instant they appeared on this road!

(End of Chapter)