Hearing the boy's answer, Sorrel's lips curved slightly into a smile.
He reached out and patted the boy's shoulder, his tone carrying the warmth of an elder brother. "Then when the time comes, I'll be watching your performance."
"Hehe." The boy grinned, and even his steps seemed to grow lighter.
Sorrel and the boy advanced another hundred or so paces. The tunnel narrowed slightly here, and fine crystal clusters began to appear along the rock walls on both sides, refracting specks of cold light beneath Lunatone's glow.
Just as they finished this patrol route and prepared to head back to change shifts, the two Sandslash walking at the front stopped at the same time.
Their bodies stiffened, their raised ears twitching faintly as their noses rapidly sniffed along the ground and the cracks in the rock walls.
Almost at the same moment, the Marowak following close behind also halted, its bone club held across its body as its sharp gaze swept over the surroundings.
"Something's wrong." Sorrel kept his voice extremely low, his right hand already resting on the Poké Ball at his waist.
Lunatone reacted even faster—its pale yellow body suddenly lit up, and a visible Psychic Barrier silently unfolded, enveloping Sorrel, the boy, and itself.
The Barrier was like flowing mercury, shimmering with a faint silver glow under Lunatone's light.
"Senior Brother, this is..." The boy had not finished speaking.
"Rumble—!"
The entire tunnel suddenly shook!
The tremor came without warning, as though some colossal creature deep underground had turned over in its sleep.
Gravel and dirt rained down from the tunnel ceiling, striking Lunatone's Psychic Barrier in a dense series of crackling pops.
The boy staggered, and only avoided falling because Sorrel swiftly grabbed his arm.
"What was that?!" Panic was obvious in the boy's voice as