The collapsed mine

Cheng Tian walked over to Aron, crouched down, and studied the Pokémon carefully. He reached into his backpack, pulled out a handful of Froakie's Pokémon food, and held it out to Aron. "Want to try some?" Cheng Tian asked with a smile.

"Aron?" Aron leaned over and sniffed it, then tentatively began eating. Cheng Tian took out Froakie's Poké Ball as well, released Froakie, and let the two Pokémon play together.

"Froakie?" Looking at Aron's big metal head, Froakie felt curious and wanted to touch it.

Hmm... cold and hard.

"Aron?" "Froakie!" Seeing that the two little ones were getting along fairly well, Cheng Tian nodded in satisfaction. Children found it easier to play together, after all.

Cheng Tian stood up. "Uncle Ma, I want to catch Aron." "You want to catch this one?" Uncle Ma asked in surprise.

Cheng Tian nodded, a plan taking shape in his mind. Aron's evolved form was Aggron, a steel behemoth with outstanding physical defense that could also undergo Mega Evolution.

That made Aron an excellent candidate for the physical tank Cheng Tian wanted on his team.

Seeing that he wasn't joking, Uncle Ma grew serious as well. "Aron doesn't have a Trainer, true, but if you want to take this one away, you'll need Aron's consent." As he spoke, he pointed at the group of Machamp. "Otherwise, the Machamp will be the first to pick a fight with you."

Looking at the muscle-bound Machamp, Cheng Tian's backside clenched. He had no desire for an intimate exchange with these Pokémon...

"Hey! Xiao Tian! I'm here!" Just then, Cheng Tian's father came running from a distance. "Old Cheng, what took you so long?" Uncle Ma laughed and hurried over to greet him.

"Dad!" Cheng Tian's father smiled and patted Cheng Tian on the shoulder. "Well, Ma? My son hasn't caused you any trouble, has he?"

"No, no. He just nearly stepped on a detonator and got himself blown up, that's all."

Cheng Tian's father: !!!

After giving Cheng Tian a thorough scolding, his father seemed to be in a much better mood. "How did that business deal of yours go?" Cheng Tian's father said with a smile, "It's settled. Our mine will soon have investment in technology. The mayor even said his daughter attends First High too. Xiao Tian, do you know her?"

Cheng Tian shook his head. "How would I know the mayor's daughter?" His father sighed. "You ought to make more friends. Every extra friend opens another road." Cheng Tian chose to let that go in one ear and out the other.

"Anyway, today's deal is settled, so we're heading home early," Cheng Tian's father told Uncle Ma. "Ah, I really envy you office workers. Your working hours are so short."

"All right." Cheng Tian's father patted him on the shoulder. "Say goodbye to your Uncle Ma first." Just as Cheng Tian was about to speak, Froakie suddenly seemed to sense something and lunged at Aron, tackling the Pokémon onto the ground to one side.

"Aron!" "Froakie, what are you..." Cheng Tian was just about to ask what Froakie was doing.

Suddenly, the pitch-black mine entrance nearby began shaking violently. Rumble... The surrounding rocks began falling, kicking up clouds of dust.

"Oh no! The mine is collapsing!" Uncle Ma's face drained of color. Perhaps the site hadn't been properly surveyed before the detonators were set off, and the blast had inadvertently destabilized the rock structure of the Machamp's mine, triggering a collapse!

"Run!" Seeing this, Cheng Tian's father grabbed him and ran, with Uncle Ma close behind. "Wait, Froakie's still there!" Cheng Tian was about to go back for Froakie when he turned and saw the Machamp leader swiftly hoist Froakie onto a shoulder, then use all four arms to scoop up Aron and run out.

The collapse sent vast clouds of dust billowing into the air. The Machamp at the rear stopped and abruptly raised a green energy barrier. It was Protect!

In the real world, the move Protect couldn't guarantee complete protection. The strength of its energy barrier depended on the user's stamina and abilities.

The Machamp all used Protect, their energy barriers layering over one another until they formed an enormous shield that sheltered everyone inside, blocking the rocks and dust that kept rolling toward them.

"Cough, cough! Froakie! Are you all right?" Cheng Tian hurried over to check on Froakie.

"Froakie!" Froakie jumped down from Machamp and signaled that everything was fine.

"Aron!" "Machamp!" Just then, Aron tried to head toward the collapsed mine, but Machamp blocked the way, warning that it was dangerous.

"Aron!" Aron cried anxiously. There were still some Machamp inside the collapsed mine! They had always taken good care of Aron and were like family. Aron had to save them!

"Aron, don't panic! The rescue workers will be here soon!" Uncle Ma urged as well. The collapse had caused such a commotion that work had stopped in the other construction areas, and rescue workers had already been contacted.

"Aron!" Looking at the frantic Aron, Cheng Tian suddenly spoke up. "Uncle Ma, Dad, let me go take a look with Aron first!"

"No! What can a little brat like you do? You'll only get in the way!" Uncle Ma immediately refused. "Xiao Tian, you can't help. Don't make trouble!" Cheng Tian's father disagreed as well.

"Those Machamp are like family to Aron. How could anyone stay away when their family is in trouble?" Cheng Tian gritted his teeth. "I'll be fine. Don't worry. Aron, Froakie, let's go!" With that, he took Froakie and ran toward the collapsed mine.

"Aron..." Gratitude shone in Aron's eyes. This human was willing to help rescue the Machamp. Aron hurried after him.

"This is sheer recklessness!" Uncle Ma ran over as well. Worried about Cheng Tian's safety, his father followed.

They reached the mine entrance that had just collapsed. The place was now a complete wreck, and even the entrance had been buried.

Cheng Tian looked at Aron. "Aron, can you sense where the mine entrance is?" At his words, Aron closed those eyes and used Rock-type power to sense the surrounding rocks. "Aron!" A moment later, Aron pointed in one direction, indicating that the entrance was there.

"All right..." Cheng Tian rolled up his sleeves and began clearing away the rocks, one at a time.

There were so many rocks that he could never clear them all by himself, but he did it anyway. He wanted to help Aron, even if all he could do was move the rocks little by little.

"Xiao Tian, get back here!" his father called. "Dad! Aron found the mine entrance! Come help clear these rocks!"

"Machamp!" The two grown men were about to say more, but the Machamp nearby led the others over and immediately began moving rocks.

"The ones buried in the mine below were their own brothers! Of course they had to rescue them!"

The group of Machamp ran over, muscles rippling, to help clear the rocks. Uncle Ma shook his head helplessly at the sight. "Old Cheng, your son really does keep people worrying."

"Ah." Cheng Tian's father sighed helplessly. Then the two men ran over as well and began helping clear the rocks.

Many rocks had fallen, in all different sizes. Some even required two or three Machamp working together to move them.

Fortunately, the rescue workers arrived quickly. They had been clearing rocks for a little over ten minutes when an excavator drove up, followed by a large crowd of people and Pokémon.

Today's first update is ready! Please bookmark and comment!