Chapter 190: Lapras's Elegy
With Professor Oak present, Bai Feng didn't need to worry about being attacked by the Fossil Pokémon, so he took Professor Oak on a tour around the Underground Cave.
In the Depths of the Cave, Professor Oak discovered the traces left by Bai Feng digging up trees, but he didn't say anything, nor did he ask what Bai Feng had taken.
That was Bai Feng's exploration gain, and others had no Qualification to inquire. The Pokémon League didn't have a law stating that "anything discovered on the League Grounds must be handed over." Even if Bai Feng captured all the Fossil Pokémon in the Cave and didn't hand over a single one, no one could object.
This was a place where the Pokémon League explicitly stipulated that Wild Pokémon could be captured; it wasn't a Pokémon Reserve.
After giving the Professor a general understanding of the Situation in the Underground Cave, Bai Feng fully entrusted the Matters here to the Professor for handling, while he himself continued towards Cinnabar Island on Dragonair.
Flying over Fool's Valley, Bai Feng officially entered the Water Route on the Sea.
"Woo~ woo~ woo~"
While flying over the Sea, Bai Feng suddenly heard a mournful and sharp Singing Voice.
"Dragonair, stop, what is that sound?" Bai Feng patted Dragonair's Neck.
"Woo~" I don't know.
Dragonair shook its Head.
"Let's go take a look." Bai Feng said to Dragonair.
Dragonair nodded, and immediately flew with Bai Feng in the direction the sound came from. Before long, they saw a Reef, and behind the Reef was hidden a blue Figure.
That mournful and desolate Singing Voice came from behind the Reef.
"That... seems... to be a Lapras." Bai Feng said after looking for a long time.
"Dragonair, get a little closer to take a look." Bai Feng whispered to Dragonair.
"Hello."
After getting closer to the Reef, Bai Feng indeed saw a Lapras. However, this Lapras was covered in Injuries, with tears hanging from the corners of its Eyes, crying very sadly.
"Woo!!!"
Hearing Bai Feng's voice, Lapras let out a frightened Growl, and immediately dove into the Water with a face full of Fear.
"It seems to be very afraid of Humans."
Just then, a voice suddenly sounded in Bai Feng's ear, startling Bai Feng as well.
Bai Feng turned his Head to look, only to see a Gastly slowly appearing beside him.
"Why are you here too?" Bai Feng asked in surprise. This Gastly was the one he had encountered at Maiden's Cliff.
"Yo, hello, Young Man!" Gastly grinned and greeted Bai Feng. "I'm traveling around the World, passing by here, and heard a mournful Singing Voice, so I came to take a look."
Bai Feng nodded, and then looked at the Sea Surface again. After a while, the Lapras finally emerged from the Water, panting.
Although Lapras are Water-type Pokémon, they don't live underwater like Fish Pokémon. Instead, they are Pokémon that live on the Water, so they cannot hold their breath underwater for a long Time.
"Woo woo~ woo woo~"
Seeing Bai Feng again, Lapras swam towards the distance with a terrified expression, seemingly wanting to escape from here.
Just then, Gastly suddenly disappeared from beside Bai Feng, and when it reappeared, it was already opposite Lapras. It looked directly at Lapras with its Eyes, emitting a Faint Light from them.
"Don't be afraid, don't worry, we won't hurt you..." Gastly whispered into Lapras's ear.
Gradually, Lapras's Emotion indeed slowly stabilized. It no longer showed Fear on its face, nor did it shout loudly.
Gastly used Hypnosis on Lapras. This wasn't the kind of Hypnosis aimed at control, but a psychological suggestion.
It can be seen that Gastly's mastery of Hypnosis was very high. The Illusory Technique it sometimes used actually cleverly utilized Hypnosis.
For example, it might use Variation to turn into a beautiful woman in front of you, but in reality, it might not have undergone any Change itself. It's just that you have unknowingly fallen under its Hypnosis. It suggests to you that it is a beautiful woman, and when you look at it, the appearance of a beautiful woman naturally appears in your Eyes.
This kind of suggestion is subtle and gradual. Perhaps as soon as you came into contact with it, it was already quietly using Hypnosis on you.
After Gastly had calmed Lapras down, Bai Feng rode Dragonair to its side, checking its Injuries while treating its wounds with Potion.
Lapras's Injuries were severe. It took Bai Feng quite some Time to finish treating them all.
With Gastly present, Lapras remained quiet the entire Time, only letting out a Growl when its wounds were touched and hurt.
"Tsk tsk tsk, you Humans are truly Evil."
Looking at the wounds all over Lapras's Body, Gastly said, clicking its tongue.
Bai Feng didn't speak. He could naturally recognize that these wounds on Lapras's Body came from Humans.
"Little darling, tell this old man what happened, and this old man will go avenge you." Gastly's Eyes still flickered with a Faint Light, inducing Lapras to tell the story of how it was injured.
Lapras are Pokémon that travel around the World following ocean currents. The Lapras in front of Bai Feng was originally on a Journey with its Clan.
When they swam to the strait near Cinnabar Island, they suddenly heard the Growl of their fellow Clan members. This made them very happy, as two Lapras Clans rarely encounter each other.
However, when they followed the sound to find its source, they realized they had been tricked. The sound wasn't coming from their fellow Clan members at all, but from an unfamiliar Machine.
Just as they were about to leave, a fishing net descended from the Sky, covering all of them.
The fishing net was electrified with Electric Current. The moment the Lapras Clan was caught, they were subjected to a strong Thundershock. In an Instant, most of the Lapras fainted directly and were dragged onto a Ship by the fishing net.
The Lapras that Bai Feng and the others encountered now was the only one that escaped, desperately covered by its fellow Clan members.
"Quickly tell me, who took your Companions? I'll go avenge you right now." Gastly narrowed its Eyes, and its semi-circular eye sockets flickered with extremely dangerous gazes.
Hearing this, Lapras shook its Head. It didn't know.
"Then which direction did they go?" Gastly asked again.
"Woo~" Lapras pointed in a direction with its Head.
Seeing this, Bai Feng showed a surprised expression. Wasn't that the direction of Cinnabar Island?
"Very good, then we'll search in this direction."
Gastly was currently wandering around with nothing to do and felt like finding some Fun.
Gastly was seen taking out a tattered Pokeball from its Body, putting Lapras inside, and then transforming into a wisp of Black Mist and disappearing.
"See ya, kiddo!"
Gastly's voice echoed over the Sea.
That was truly decisive and swift. Bai Feng shook his Head helplessly, and then said to Dragonair, "Dragonair, let's continue our Journey."
"Woo~"
Dragonair nodded. The white Wings on both sides of its Head suddenly grew larger, and then with an acceleration, it carried Bai Feng towards Cinnabar Island.
Approximately two Hours later, Bai Feng Smoothly arrived at Cinnabar Island and searched for the Vermilion Gym according to the Navigator's instructions. What finally appeared before Bai Feng was a dilapidated Hot Spring Inn.
At the Hot Spring Inn Doorway, there was also a Girl holding a Navigator just like Bai Feng, with a bewildered expression.
Seeing the Girl, Bai Feng showed a surprised expression, and then called out to her, "Chihiro Classmate!"
Chihiro Classmate turned her Head and saw that the person calling her was Bai Feng. She also showed a surprised expression.
"Bai Feng Classmate!" Chihiro smiled and greeted Bai Feng. "You were also assigned to the Vermilion Gym?"
"Yes." Bai Feng replied. "Why aren't you going in?"
Chihiro said helplessly, "I didn't expect the Vermilion Gym that the Navigator led me to find would actually be a Hot Spring Inn, so I was stunned for a moment."
Bai Feng joked, "Gym Leaders also need to live, so it's normal to have a side business."
Bai Feng's words made Chihiro laugh. However, it did seem to be the case. Although the Wage the League paid to Gym Leaders was generous, it was clearly not enough to cover a Trainer's expenses.
The profession of a League Gym Leader often raises a Trainer's social status more. With high social status, the avenues for earning wealth naturally increase.
For example, among those who open Restaurants, one opened by a Gym Leader is definitely more popular and easier to gain recognition than one opened by an ordinary person.
Just as Bai Feng and Chihiro were about to enter the Gym, a man wearing a floral shirt, sandals, and Sunglasses walked out.
"Excuse me, what is something that makes your Head cold and your Body warm?"
Chihiro looked up at the Hot Spring Inn Signboard and replied, "Open-air Hot Spring?"
"That's right!" The person opposite showed a surprised expression. "Clever little Girl."
"Then, Young Man, what is something that is right before your Eyes but cannot be seen?" This Time he asked Bai Feng alone.
"Eyelids?" Bai Feng replied.
"Right again!" The man with Sunglasses danced with joy. "You're both clever people, but what are you doing here? Not going in for a Hot Spring bath? My Hot Spring is great for beauty and skin!"
"We are here to Challenge the Vermilion Gym. Excuse me, where is Gym Leader Blaine?" Chihiro asked politely.
However, the person opposite just smiled without speaking.
Seeing this, Bai Feng said, "You are the Vermilion Gym Gym Leader Blaine, right?"
The man with Sunglasses showed a surprised expression. "How did you know?"
Bai Feng bluffed, "Didn't you say something that is right before your Eyes but cannot be seen?"
"Hahaha~" The man with Sunglasses burst into laughter, pulled off the Wig on his Head, and then took off his Sunglasses, revealing his True Face. It was indeed the Vermilion Gym Gym Leader Blaine.
"Clever kid, since you're here to Challenge the Gym, then follow me!" After speaking, Gym Leader Blaine turned and walked into the Hot Spring Inn.
Led by Gym Leader Blaine, Bai Feng and Chihiro arrived at the depths of the Hot Spring Inn. There, they saw an Open-air Hot Spring steaming with heat.
Beside the Hot Spring pool was a Gyarados-shaped spout. Gym Leader Blaine pushed hard against the Gyarados, and a dark Hole suddenly appeared before Bai Feng and the others.
"Follow me." After speaking, Gym Leader Blaine was the first to walk into the Hole.
The Cave Interior was a downward flight of Steps. The further down they went, the hotter Bai Feng and the others felt. Before long, their entire Bodies were sweating and their Clothes were soaked.
Upon reaching the very bottom, what appeared before Bai Feng and the others was a Magma Pool. Above the pool, a Battlefield was suspended by chains.
"Is this the Vermilion Gym?" Chihiro murmured to herself.
Gym Leader Blaine walked to one side of the Battlefield and asked Bai Feng and Chihiro, "Which one of you will go first?"
Chihiro glanced at Bai Feng, then stepped forward first and said, "I'll go first!"
Bai Feng didn't say much, silently retreated to the side, and took out a bottle of Water from his Backpack, taking a big gulp.
It was too hot!
After Chihiro stood ready on one side of the Battlefield, Gym Leader Blaine said, "I don't have a Referee here, nor any special Rules. The Challenger can use three Pokémon."
After speaking, he released his first Pokémon, a handsome Ponyta.
"Neigh~~~"
Ponyta was full of Spirit. As soon as it appeared, it happily ran around the Field. The hot Environment and abundant Fire-type Energy made it feel very comfortable.
"Challenger, please release your Pokémon!"
Chihiro nodded, took out a Pokeball, and also released her Pokémon, a blue Shellos.
Seeing Chihiro use a Water-type Pokémon, Gym Leader Blaine and Bai Feng simultaneously sighed inwardly.
Although Water-type Pokémon are strong against Fire-type Pokémon, they were currently inside a Volcano Crater. Water-type Energy was extremely scarce here, and the Power of Water-type Moves would Inevitably be greatly weakened.
"Shellos, use Rain Dance!"
Chihiro was the first to give her Pokémon a command.
"Lulu~"
Shellos opened its mouth and spat a blue Light Orb towards the Sky. Dark Clouds quickly gathered Above the Field, but although the clouds gathered, the rain never fell.
Drip drop~
A few drops of Water fell onto the Field, kicking up a bit of dust, and then stopped...
Seeing this, Gym Leader Blaine said to Chihiro, "Little Girl, your expectations for your Water-type Pokémon seem too high."
As Gym Leader Blaine's words fell, the Ponyta opposite Chihiro had already arrived near Shellos after a long neigh.
"Stomp!"
With Gym Leader Blaine's command, Ponyta raised its two strong hind legs and fiercely kicked towards Shellos.
Bang!
Shellos was kicked flying.
"Shellos!" Chihiro exclaimed, a worried look appearing on her face.
Fortunately, Shellos was quite resilient and stood up again, enduring the severe pain.
"Shellos, Recover!"
"Ponyta, use Quick Attack to run, then use Return."
Seeing that Shellos wanted to use a recovery-type Move, Gym Leader Blaine naturally wouldn't let it succeed. Ponyta's speed became even faster with the boost from Quick Attack.
The Instant Shellos used Recover, Ponyta used Return, crashing heavily into its Body, interrupting Recover.
Return is a relatively special attack Move. The deeper the Bond between a Pokémon and its Trainer, the greater Power it can unleash.
The relationship between Ponyta and Gym Leader Blaine goes without saying, so Shellos was directly knocked out by this attack.
"Shellos."
Chihiro called out worriedly, and then heard Gym Leader Blaine say, "Sometimes adapting to the Environment is very important in a Pokémon Battle."
Chihiro recalled Shellos and humbly bowed to Gym Leader Blaine. "Thank you for your guidance, Gym Leader Blaine."
Seeing this, Gym Leader Blaine nodded with satisfaction. The young one is teachable.
"Challenger, please release your second Pokémon."
Chihiro pondered for a moment, then took out a Pokeball and released her second Pokémon, a bulky Graveler. A Rock-type and Ground-type Pokémon, it could be said to be a natural counter to Fire-type Pokémon.
(End of Chapter)