https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-232-Blood-and-Moon-Embodiment-of-Primitive-Ferocity-/12537284/
Chapter 231: Beneath the Clouds
Chapter 231: Beneath the Clouds
At this moment, the battle in the arena had reached its climax.
Aoki's Sleepy Snorlax and the young boy's Torcoal were both running low on stamina.
Facing the charging Torcoal, Aoki once again instructed Snorlax to use Yawn.
The move connected, and the Torcoal felt a wave of drowsiness wash over it.
Just as it was about to fall asleep, the boy shouted, urging his Pokemon to hang in there.
The Torcoal snapped out of its drowsy state, shaking off the sleepiness. It gathered the flames in its mouth and unleashed a Spark attack, defeating Aoki's Snorlax.
"Yes!" The boy exclaimed, his face lighting up with surprise and joy.
Aoki maintained a calm expression, silently retrieving his Poke Ball to return his Snorlax. "You're quite skilled. But you only have one weakened Torcoal left, while I still have a fully rested Pokemon."
"We won't give up!" The boy shouted with determination.
His fighting spirit ignited the diners, and they began to cheer loudly for him.
"Hey, kid! Keep going!"
"There are hungry customers waiting! Show us what you've got!"
"You can do it, kid! And Aoki, don't hold back!"
"That's right, Mr. Aoki!" The boy said, his eyes gleaming with fighting spirit.
Aoki: "...I know. Chatting too much will only make my boss angry. Let's continue the battle!"
Saying so, he sent out his last Pokemon.
It was a sharp-eyed, agile Murkrow.
The final battle truly began!
Despite facing such formidable opponents, the boy refused to give up. His determination rubbed off on his Torcoal.
The Torcoal struggled to overcome its intimidation and unleashed its signature Spark move! Perhaps it was luck, or perhaps Aoki allowed it, but the Spark hit the Murkrow and miraculously left it with a burn.
Seeing this, the boy excitedly clenched his fists. "Yes! That's it, Torcoal!"
When a Pokemon is burned, its stamina gradually decreases. If they could keep this up long enough, there was a chance they could win this battle!
Some of the spectators who supported Aoki were displeased by this turn of events.
"What's this, Aoki? You let that kid's move hit you so easily?"
"Get serious! I didn't come here to watch you throw the fight!"
Hearing these words, Aoki looked exhausted. He turned to the young trainer and said weakly,
"....Is it alright if I use a move commonly used by working adults?"
The boy paused, taken aback.
But Aoki had already given his command: "Murkrow, use Endure!"
Endure, a Normal-type move, doubles in power when the user is in a burn, paralysis, or poison status.
The Murkrow, receiving this command, burst into a dazzling white light. Then, it dove down from the air toward the Torcoal.
As expected, the Torcoal was hit, and the powerful Endure knocked it out of the battle.
The boy stood there, mouth agape in disbelief.
The diners erupted into enthusiastic cheers.
"Wow! Oh yeah! That's our Aoki!"
"What a fantastic battle! It really whets the appetite! I've unknowingly eaten two bowls of ramen!"
Aoki ignored the voices around him and said flatly, "I'm sorry, but you didn't pass the challenge at the Gym of Convergence. I can't give you the Gym badge. So, goodbye."
With that, Aoki picked up his briefcase, stepped down from the stage, and headed to the bar to enjoy his meal.
"That's Aoki for you..."
Naoki watched the man with the receding hairline with interest.
Even though he was dressed in a crisp and smart black suit, his face couldn't hide his fatigue, and there were noticeable dark circles under his eyes.
Remembering the purpose of his visit, Naoki asked the Sandshrew and the Tyrunt sitting next to him, "Are you two full?"
"Sand!"
"Tyrunt!"
Seeing that both Pokemon had filled their bellies, Naoki returned them to their Poke Balls. Then, he walked up to Aoki with Golett and sat down next to him, ordering two bowls of red bean soup to refresh their palates.
Before Naoki could say anything, Aoki noticed him and the Golett by his side.
Aoki's expression didn't change, remaining as stoic as ever. "You're here."
Naoki was stunned. "You know me?"
Could it be that Professor Ye also showed him my photo? No, why would he have my photo?
Seeing Naoki's confusion, Aoki explained, "From the moment you met with the chief... An uninvited guest like you catches my attention. I noticed you and that Pokemon as soon as you walked in."
Aoki, however, remained calm. "You dared to venture into a dangerous place like the Giant Pit. If it were me, I wouldn't have taken the job. My name is Aoki; it's nice to meet you."
"I'm Naoki," he replied.
Aoki nodded. "Please wait a moment while I finish my meal, and then I'll take you there."
"Okay," Naoki agreed.
Aoki seemed to be relishing this quiet dining moment, eating slowly and leisurely. By the time he finished his meal, Naoki and Golett had also finished their two bowls of red bean soup.
Aoki stood up, picked up his briefcase, and said, "Let's go. I want to get this job done quickly so I can knock off for the day."
"Okay," Naoki responded.
The two left the restaurant, and Naoki assumed Aoki would ride a motorcycle taxi or drive them to the Zero Zone gate in his car.
To his surprise, after they exited the restaurant, Aoki walked straight to a bicycle parking area, picked out a bicycle, and started riding it.
"Huh?" Naoki couldn't help but utter.
Aoki turned back, intending to tell him to follow, but seeing the bewildered look on Naoki's face, he paused and explained, "This is my usual mode of transportation. It's pretty ordinary, right?"
Naoki nodded woodenly. "Yeah."
"Ordinary... common... mundane... unassuming... unremarkable... and as uninteresting as me," Aoki continued. "I like it this way—simple and plain is true."
With that, Aoki started pedaling.
Naoki had no choice but to ride Golett and follow suit.
Along the way, Aoki began explaining another matter: "I wasn't supposed to be the one taking you there, but the person in charge had something come up, so they took a day off. That's why I'm bringing you instead."
Not knowing how to respond to Aoki's workaholic tendencies, Naoki simply replied, "Thanks for the trouble. I appreciate it."
"You're too kind... it's all part of the job," Aoki said.
Naoki was at a loss for words.
Aoki's face clearly showed the weight of his many part-time jobs, and after that brief explanation, he fell silent for the rest of the trip.
The Zero Zone gate was constructed on the steep cliffs surrounding the exterior of the Padia Giant Pit. To reach it, one had to ride a bicycle and then hike up the mountain.
Jin Hui Town was nestled right below the Zero Zone gate, and the towering cliffs reaching into the clouds could be clearly seen from the town.
Soon, the two arrived at the mountain's base.
Aoki dismounted his bicycle and parked it by the roadside. "From here on, we'll have to hike up the mountain. It's not possible to ride a bicycle any further."
Concerned, Naoki asked, "Do you want to take a break first?"
Looking at Aoki's exhausted appearance, Naoki was worried he might collapse from exhaustion halfway up.
"Let's just consider it post-meal digestion," Aoki said with a hint of fatigue in his voice. "Come on, let's get this over with so I can knock off and rest."
"Okay!" Naoki replied enthusiastically.
Aoki started walking, leaving Naoki with no choice but to follow on foot.
Fortunately, Naoki had been doing farm work regularly, so he was in good physical shape.
Before long, Aoki was breathing heavily from the exertion.
Naoki asked with concern, "Do you want to ride with me and Golett to the top?"
Aoki glanced at Golett and shook his head. "No, thanks. I'd rather not try anything that novel."
"Okay... if you say so," Naoki replied, slightly disappointed.
Perhaps sensing that small talk would make the hike less tedious, Aoki asked, "His name is Golett, right?"
Naoki nodded. "Yes, Dr. Orin named him."
"I see," Aoki said, and then his expression changed as he recalled something. "I'm surprised that the Chief approved your application to enter the Giant Pit. That's unexpected."
Naoki quietly replied, "Maybe she thought I had the strength to protect myself."
The strength to protect oneself within the Padia Giant Pit—was this man a champion-level trainer?
It made sense, though. Chief Ye had been working to recruit talented individuals for the Padia League, and by approving this man's application, she might be aiming to befriend him.
Aoki turned to glance at Naoki and suddenly asked, "Did the Chief invite you to join the League?"
Naoki was taken aback. "How did you know?"
A smug expression appeared on Aoki's face. "I guessed."
"The Chief is my boss," Naoki explained. "If you accept her offer, you might end up like me, assigned to a city as a Gym Leader, or you might end up in a performance-based department, juggling multiple jobs. That's just the kind of person she is."
Naoki trailed off, unsure how to continue.
Aoki continued, "If you're willing to do it, that's fine, but if it were me, I wouldn't. I'm already juggling my work as a Gym Leader with my duties as one of the Elite Four, and that's my limit.
"..." Naoki fell silent.
As they chatted, the two had already reached the midway point of the mountain.
After passing through a dim tunnel, a tall building with a landing pad and helipad came into view.
"We're here," Aoki said. "This is the Zero Zone gate. We can enter the Padia Giant Pit from here."
Following the procedure, Aoki walked forward and used the access card provided by the League to open the metal gate, leading Naoki and Golett into the building.
Naoki looked up, awe-struck by the technologically advanced facility before him.
"This is my first time here as well," Aoki said. "It's too dangerous down there. If it weren't for work, I wouldn't come anywhere near this place."
As he spoke, he opened the metal door leading to the helipad. "This is it."
Naoki stepped inside and heard the whistling of the wind rushing by.
He and Golett stood on the landing pad, facing a vast expanse of thick, milky white clouds.
For a moment, Naoki felt as if he had ascended to the clouds, finding himself in a magical realm.
Even though he had experienced entering the Giant Pit in the game, the reality of it still made his heart pound with excitement.
Because beneath those creamy white clouds lay the unfathomable depths of the Padia Giant Pit, and if he accidentally fell from Golett now, he would surely be dashed to pieces.
Golett, by his side, seemed equally tense.
Naoki patted its head gently and took a deep breath.
He turned his head and saw Aoki standing at a distance, watching him.
Noticing Naoki's glance, Aoki spoke up. "My work here is done. Good luck."
"Thanks," Naoki said with a nod. He then mounted Golett and patted its head gently. "Let's go!"
"Agassi..." Golett's voice held a mix of emotions.
Naoki urged it on, and Golett leaped forward.
In an instant, the rushing wind roared past Naoki's ears, and the misty white clouds enveloped them tightly.
Golett began its rapid descent, with Naoki clutching tightly to its neck.
Suddenly, the ornate feathers on Golett's head transformed into wing-like shapes, slowing their fall, and the surrounding atmosphere gradually calmed.
Naoki opened his eyes and saw that they seemed to have passed through the cloud layer. Below them, a vast expanse of land and valleys sparkled with radiant light.
Light transformed into waterfalls, cascading down from the clouds.
The radiance was so bright and pure that even the grass, trees, valleys, cliffs, and waterfalls seemed sanctified by its touch.
Golett landed gracefully on a lush, green cliff.
Naoki dismounted and walked with Golett to the edge of the precipice, standing at the simple railing designed by the Padia League, gazing at the breathtaking scenery before him, which defied all description.
The air shimmered with dazzling brilliance, and in the grass, one could glimpse the wind carrying the powdery scales of Snow Moth Pokemon, which, illuminated by the light, resembled stardust falling from the heavens.
In the distant valley, a group of Qwilfish and their young drank from a majestic waterfall, their heads bowed.
Above them, Dandelion Seeds drifted gently on the breeze.
"It's so beautiful," Naoki murmured. He knew he would never forget this moment for the rest of his life.
"Agassi..." Golett called out, not quite understanding the situation.
Naoki turned away, remembering the purpose of his visit.
He looked around but was surprised not to find any Paradox Pokemon nearby. He figured that since this was the uppermost layer of the Giant Pit, the habitat of the Paradox Pokemon might not have expanded this far yet.
Dr. Orin had mentioned that the first observation station could be found by heading downward from the area below the Zero Zone gate.
It had taken Naoki and Aoki over two hours to climb the mountain, and now it was probably around three in the afternoon.
Naoki didn't plan to ride Golett straight down through the massive central cavity to the lowest level.
One reason was the danger Dr. Orin had mentioned, but the main reason was that he wanted to observe the Paradox Pokemon living here and perhaps even catch a few if they were fated to be his companions.
Therefore, they needed to reach the first observation station before dark and rest up before continuing their descent.
(End of Chapter)
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