After leaving Ecruteak City, Roy rode Dragapult along Route 42 without a hitch. Near noon, they stopped in front of a towering mountain between Ecruteak City and Mahogany Town.
According to the map on his communicator, this was Mt. Mortar. Once they passed through it, they only needed to follow Route 42 a little farther to reach Mahogany Town.
There were two ways to cross Mt. Mortar: through the tunnel inside it or over the mountain itself.
Looking at the pitch-black tunnel and the towering mountain, Dragapult took off vertically and shot toward the summit.
On the way up, Roy spotted a man in a training outfit climbing the mountain. He was clearly a Fighting-type Trainer.
Three Pokémon followed behind him: a Hitmonlee, a Hitmonchan, and a Tyrogue.
Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan were both evolved forms of Tyrogue.
To evolve, Tyrogue first had to reach level 20. If its Attack exceeded its Defense, it would evolve into Hitmonlee; if its Attack was lower than its Defense, it would evolve into Hitmonchan.
Of course, Tyrogue had another evolution: Hitmontop, which it could evolve into when its Defense equaled its Attack.
The Trainer's Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan were both between levels 50 and 60. The Tyrogue bringing up the rear was level 19, just one level away from evolving.
Roy had no intention of greeting them and had Dragapult fly straight past.
Watching a dark green streak race overhead, the Fighting-type Trainer turned and called to the Tyrogue at the back:
"Tyrogue, keep it up! We'll be at the summit soon, too."
"Tyrogue!"
The summit of Mt. Mortar
"Dragapult, let's stop here."
Taking in the pleasant scenery at the summit, Roy found a clearing with a nice view and had Dragapult land there.
He was just about to reach for Palossand's Poké Ball at