Seeing Aoki approaching the room, the remaining members of the Void organization that still had combat capability began to fight desperately. The dim torchlight flickered against the ancient stone walls as the sound of clashing Pokémon echoed through the cavernous ruins. Aoki swiftly collected his exhausted Pokémon into their Pokéballs, leaving only three team members ready for battle: his Mismagius, Slowking, and Larvitar. The air was thick with dust and the faint scent of ozone from recent psychic attacks.
With the assistance of Slowking's formidable psychic powers, Aoki carefully navigated his way out of the underground tomb. The glowing crystals embedded in the walls cast eerie shadows that danced across the hieroglyph-covered surfaces. His Lanturn had wanted to seek revenge against the Void operatives who had trapped them earlier, but the strategy would have required sacrificing the very energy sources that had sustained the ancient burial site for centuries. The thought of such destruction gave Aoki pause as he considered the historical significance of the ruins.
Holding the ancient map carefully in his hands, Aoki no longer needed to wander aimlessly through the labyrinthine corridors. The parchment, though brittle with age, clearly marked the route to the blacked-out section of the complex - undoubtedly the resting place of the special Golurk mentioned in the historical texts. His Larvitar's instincts confirmed this direction, as the young Pokémon's innate sense of security aligned perfectly with the mapped location. The rhythmic tapping of Aoki's boots against the stone floor was the only sound in the otherwise silent passageways.
Surprisingly, they encountered no other Pokémon during their journey. Given the extensive time that had passed since these ruins were active, only Ghost-type Pokémon like Haunter and Gengar could naturally survive in such an environment without sustenance. Alternatively, there might be Pokémon capable of prolonged hibernation, only awakening when intruders approached - species like the ancient Golurk that activated when certain mechanisms were triggered. The complete ruins formed an enormous palace complex from a forgotten civilization, and without the map's guidance, navigating would have been impossible.
Suddenly, the ground trembled violently as thunderous explosions rocked the ancient structure. BOOM! CRACK! The entire ruins shook with such force that dust rained from the ceiling and small fragments of stone broke loose from the walls. Only the exceptional craftsmanship of the imperial architects prevented complete collapse, though several weakened sections gave way entirely. Aoki's expression darkened as he steadied himself against the quaking walls. "Is that Team Magma?" he wondered silently. "Have they reached this level already?"
Prior to obtaining the map, Aoki had assumed he and Team Magma were exploring separate ruin systems. However, the ancient document revealed they were actually different access points to the same massive complex - Team Magma having found the upper entrance while Aoki discovered the lower tunnels. Comparatively, descending from above presented far greater challenges. The upper levels contained the living quarters of the ancient rulers, riddled with defensive mechanisms and traps designed to protect the royal family. Though the lower levels housed numerous Golurk sentinels, the main entrance remained more accessible as it was designed for public ceremonies and worship.
According to the inscriptions, the Golurk army served as the kingdom's standing military force - countless in number and strategically positioned throughout the territory. However, when Groudon's cataclysmic awakening occurred, most became trapped within the very earth and stone they were created from. This explained why the Golurk only emerged when Aoki's team disturbed their resting places. The ancient civilization might not have developed modern weaponry, but their alternative technological paths produced remarkably powerful defenses. This historical context helped explain why certain ancient kingdoms still existed secretly in the modern era, as the Pokémon League hesitated to confront civilizations possessing such unknown capabilities.
Naturally, only those ancient societies demonstrating willingness to cooperate avoided eradication. The League maintained a careful balance - swiftly eliminating potentially hostile forces before they could grow powerful while gradually assimilating cooperative groups. These alliances provided the League with access to ancient technologies and helped maintain regional stability. Over generations, many such groups became fully integrated into the League's structure. This slow, diplomatic approach had little relevance to Aoki's current mission, though it crossed his mind as another explosion rattled the ruins.
The battle sounds above grew progressively quieter, suggesting Team Magma was overcoming the Golurk defenses. Their Champion-level leader's power was undeniable, likely supported by multiple Elite Four-caliber administrators. Aoki hoped the ancient automatons could buy more time, but realistically, while numerous, few Golurk possessed sufficient individual strength to seriously challenge Team Magma's top operatives. At best, they could only delay the inevitable.
Aoki broke into a run, his footsteps echoing through the narrow corridors. Several passages had collapsed entirely, forcing detours through side chambers filled with ancient pottery and rusted implements. Even with the map's guidance, navigation remained challenging - if these maze-like ruins barely slowed him down, they might only briefly impede Team Magma's progress. After ten frantic minutes of sprinting through the dusty passages, Aoki finally reached his destination: an imposing stone door banded with massive chains of unknown metallic alloy, completely sealing the chamber beyond.
He hesitated before approaching, his eyes locked on the two stone statues flanking the entrance. Though currently inert, these were unmistakably two Claydol - ancient psychic guardians. Their stony surfaces showed no movement, but Aoki knew better than to trigger their defensive protocols by approaching carelessly.
Pokémon: Claydol (Light Cyan)
Gender: Genderless
Level: 64
Type: Ground/Psychic
Ability: Levitate
Held Item: None
Egg Moves: None
Basic Moves: Hyper Beam, Teleport, Harden, Confusion, Rapid Spin, Mud-Slap, Heal Block, Rock Tomb, Psybeam, Ancient Power, Cosmic Power, Power Trick, Self-Destruct, Extrasensory, Guard Split, Power Split, Earth Power, Sandstorm, Imprison, Explosion
Learnt Moves: Stealth Rock, Drill Run, Earth Power, Gravity, Psychic, Snore
TM Moves: None
The second Claydol possessed identical capabilities with only minor move variations. Facing two Champion-level psychic guardians gave Aoki serious pause. Even if his Mismagius and Altaria could each occupy one, entering the chamber would still be incredibly risky - especially without knowing what other defenses might await inside. He stood frozen in indecision, weighing the dangers against the potential rewards.
"Larvi!" His Larvitar suddenly tugged at Aoki's pant leg with urgent insistence, its small claws gripping the fabric tightly as it stared at the sealed door with wide, determined eyes.
"You're certain the artifact is in there?" Aoki asked softly, though Larvitar's behavior already confirmed their destination. Both the Pokémon's reaction and the presence of the powerful Claydol guardians indicated this was indeed the correct chamber. Even attempting to bypass them with Slowking's Teleport would fail - as psychic-types themselves, the Claydol would instinctively block any unauthorized dimensional warping.
Aoki carefully withdrew the ancient parchment from his pack, its strange material still intact after centuries. "I wonder if this document can authenticate our right to enter," he murmured, running his fingers along the peculiar glyphs inscribed upon its surface. The weight of history pressed upon him as he contemplated his next move, acutely aware that Team Magma's forces grew closer with each passing moment. The musty air grew thicker with tension as ancient guardians stood watch over secrets lost to time, while modern intraders converged from both above and below, racing toward a confrontation centuries in the making.
The torchlight flickered ominously as Aoki weighed his options, the shadows stretching long across the engraved walls that had stood silent witness to generations of history. Somewhere in the distance, another explosion rumbled through the stone corridors, a reminder that time was running short. His Larvitar nudged him again, its small body tense with anticipation. The moment of decision had arrived - to turn back now would mean abandoning their hard-won progress, but to proceed risked awakening ancient defenses that had slept undisturbed for ages. The parchment in his hands felt suddenly heavier, as if charged with the weight of its unknown significance. Aoki took a steadying breath and stepped forward, his boots scraping against the stone floor as he prepared to test whether the ancient document would serve as key to the sealed chamber before him.