Life-or-Death Crisis

Scattered across the hollow's center and the surrounding rock walls were crystal clusters of varying sizes.

Most of them were Magnesium Tourmaline, common in the Pokémon world. They came in all shapes and forms, like natural yellow or pale-gold crystals. Tiny, unstable arcs of electricity constantly leaped and flickered within them, emitting faint crackling sounds and casting the surroundings into alternating light and darkness.

These Tourmaline clusters seemed to form a natural energy field, shrouding the entire hollow beneath an invisible pressure of static electricity.

Xinhai could feel faint currents occasionally skimming across the outer layer of his combat suit. If not for its special material, it would likely have been disrupted long ago.

Xinhai looked at Kirlia. Somewhat dejected, Kirlia spoke to Xinhai and the others through Telepathy. "Sorry, Xinhai. This environment is interfering with me too much. I can't use Psychic type power to scout whether there are any Pokémon hiding below."

Xinhai frowned slightly. He bent down, gently stroked Kirlia's head, and replied through Telepathy, "It's alright. This isn't your fault, so don't blame yourself. Besides, our safety still depends on you keeping watch, so don't be too discouraged."

Feeling Xinhai's trust and reassurance, Kirlia nodded seriously. It first focused its Psychic type senses on an area below, remaining alert for any attack that might come from the darkness.

Seeing Kirlia pull itself together, Xinhai turned to Blaziken beside him and gestured toward the bottom of the mine pit.

Blaziken understood. With its agile body, it used the protrusions along the rock wall, making several nimble leaps before landing at the bottom first and maintaining a guarded stance.

After confirming that there were no obvious signs of Pokémon activity below for the moment, Blaziken nodded at Xinhai.

"Alright, let's head down. Kirlia, sorry for the trouble," Xinhai