As Aoki approached the room, the remaining Cofagrigus—those that still retained any semblance of combat capability—began to fight with desperate ferocity. Their sole mission was to guard the coffin within, but their efforts proved futile. Slowking and his allies intercepted them, holding the Cofagrigus at bay outside the door, allowing only Aoki and his Mismagius to pass through.
The chamber was a sealed space, its only entrance being the door they had just stepped through. Unlike the crumbling ruins outside, the floor and walls here were meticulously maintained, a testament to the reverence the ancient civilization had for this place. The outer coffins had long since decayed, yet the inner one remained pristine. Though it appeared plain, even unremarkable at first glance, its flawless preservation hinted at the extraordinary materials used in its construction.
"Mismagius, open this for us," Aoki commanded.
Fresh off its victory against a Pokémon of equal strength, Mismagius was brimming with confidence and obeyed without hesitation. Its eyes flashed crimson as ghost energy surged forth, gradually sliding the heavy lid aside. The weight was immense—far beyond what Aoki could have managed alone.
A preliminary scan with both psychic senses and his system confirmed no hidden mechanisms. Given that this relic bridged ancient civilization and forgotten technology, traps would not have been surprising. As Aoki stepped closer, he noticed only a thin layer of dust and a peculiar sheet of parchment-like material inside. Though it resembled paper, its endurance over centuries marked it as something far more durable.
Wrapping his hands in psychic energy as a precaution, Aoki carefully lifted the artifact. The Cofagrigus outside had likely been guarding this very document—or, more precisely, the knowledge inscribed upon it. His system quickly translated the ancient script, revealing content closely tied to the inscriptions on the stone tablet in the outer hall.
The tablet had only vaguely alluded to the creation of a Groudon-inspired Golurk, but this parchment detailed the entire process. Many of the materials listed bore archaic names, lost to time, making exact replication impossible. Yet as Aoki read further, he uncovered something even more intriguing.
After countless failures, the Groudon-based Golurk was finally completed. Initially, its creation was met with jubilation—its partial replication of Groudon's abilities convinced the people they had earned the Earth God's favor. But their celebration was short-lived. The Golurk soon exhibited signs of instability, growing increasingly uncontrollable.
The tomb's ruler, the king, ordered its immediate sealing. His decree, however, sparked outrage among his subjects, who accused him of fearing the Golurk's power would overshadow his own. Opposition factions arose, swiftly undermining the monarchy. Unbeknownst to the public, these "rebels" were mere pawns—weak and disorganized—manipulated by traitors within the royal court.
The king, however, had no time for political strife. The rogue Golurk's strength was escalating dangerously, demanding his full attention. He cared little for his throne or even his life, but he refused to let his creation wreak havoc upon his kingdom.
In the end, the monarchy fell. With his dying breath, the king penned this final account, ordering it entombed within this coffin. His last words were a solemn vow: as ruler, he would bear full responsibility. As a descendant of Groudon, he would ensure the Groudon-Golurk remained sealed forever.
Aoki theorized that this hidden kingdom's ties to Groudon ran deep. The king's death may have summoned the true Groudon, whose wrath annihilated the realm. The palace was buried beneath collapsing rock, the lush landscape scorched into desert. Only one mystery remained: where was the Golurk now?
The parchment's reverse side held a map of the ruins, one section deliberately obscured. That blacked-out region, Aoki surmised, marked the Golurk's resting place. Its existence seemed certain—why else would Larvitar sense its call?
Stepping back outside, Aoki found Slowking and his team had dispatched the remaining Cofagrigus and Yamask. These foes had been tougher than the Litwick horde, leaving even his strongest Pokémon wounded.
"Florges, tend to everyone," Aoki instructed.
With a graceful wave of her hand, Florges summoned verdant healing grass. Aoki supplemented their recovery with Pokéblocks, restoring their stamina.
Meanwhile, Team Magma's forces, led by "Master Maxie," were descending the ruins' upper levels. Their progress, unimpeded by the challenges Aoki had faced, brought them swiftly toward the depths.