The city's unrest soon died down. With the Pokémon League Champion and the Dragon-type Elite Four member serving as witnesses, the League's follow-up investigation was completed quickly, without taking up too much of everyone's time.
But the battle would likely linger in many people's hearts for a long, long time, especially for the Pokémon controlled by the Rage Potion, the Poison-type Enchantress. Although their lives were no longer in danger, the potion's aftereffects had damaged their potential and reduced their capacity for growth.
To appease the Pokémon and Trainers who had suffered, the Pokémon League bowed to pressure and decided to send those Pokémon to live out their remaining years in the Nature Preserve.
The Trainers, meanwhile, each received a new Pokémon as compensation, all at the League's expense.
As for Anmu, the Leader of the Evil Moon Organization and the instigator of it all, no one had seen him since Steven took him away.
The incident drew serious attention from the Pokémon League's senior officials. If a criminal organization dared attack a major city like Rustboro City, what wouldn't it dare do? Thus, led by the Elite Four, League investigators across the regions began searching far and wide, launching a sweeping crackdown on organized crime.
Had Yong been there, he would surely have told those senior League officials:
One day, an organization will create a top-tier legendary Pokémon!
One day, two organizations will awaken a pair of legendary Pokémon and nearly destroy the Hoenn Region!
One day, an organization will awaken the creator god and its three babies!
One day, there will even be a child born of a human and a Pokémon!
Ahem!
Just tell me, are you scared yet?
Of course, Yong had no time to say any of that. He had just checked out of his room, left the Pokémon Center, and headed toward the northeast of Rustboro City.
Although no one knew the Pokémon League's final findings, Yong still had his suspicions. This Poison-type Pokémon rampage was exactly like the Bug-type Pokémon rampage he had encountered before, only more powerful and with far more serious consequences. Even in the midst of battle, he had noticed the test tubes in the mysterious man's hands atop the building, and those purple potions!
The Pokémon League must have noticed those things too. After all, the Champion and an Elite Four member had been there.
Of course, none of that has anything to do with me anymore. After all, I'm just a lowly beginner Trainer!
Yong reassured himself and continued on his journey.
Deep in the distant Petalburg Woods stood a huge mansion. Its mottled walls bore traces of the passing years, and vines crept all around it, robbing it of its former splendor. No one knew how long it had stood there or who had left it behind.
The mansion was filled with an air of death. Dimness, gloom, and silence defined the place.
It was known as the "domain of the dead," the "entrance to the spirit world," and the "death zone for the living."
It was one of the forbidden places of the Pokémon World, ranked third among its many "unknowable lands"!
And now, a young figure arrived there, with a white Metagross at his side.
"It's still just as revolting, isn't it, Metagross..."
"Meta~!"
Steven chuckled.
"Let's go! Let's say hello to our old friends!"
The deep black mist parted down the middle, opening a path for the powerful visitor with reverence.
The mansion's doors slowly opened.
The man and his Pokémon strolled inside and vanished into the thick mist.
Bang!
The doors slammed shut!
Rusturf Tunnel lay in the mountains northeast of Rustboro City. It connected Rustboro City to Verdanturf Town and was also the only route to the secret area on Route 116.
Although the tunnel had yet to be completed, passing through was incredibly easy for Trainers with Rock-type or Ground-type Pokémon. As a result, passages crisscrossed the tunnel in every direction, spreading throughout the entire mountain!
There was also a small path carved out specifically by Pokémon that led straight to Verdanturf Town.
This offered some benefits to the Devon Corporation, which was developing the tunnel. After all, the paths opened by Pokémon could be used for its work to some extent, so there was no reason to block them.
As work on the tunnel progressed, the discovery of large numbers of cave-dwelling Pokémon and Rock-type Pokémon drew the interest of many Trainers. They came to explore and search, hoping to catch their ideal Pokémon partner.
Over time, more and more Trainers found the partners they wanted here, making Rusturf Tunnel an adventuring destination for Trainers much like Granite Cave in Dewford Town.
There were colonies of Onix, Geodude, and Diglett. Beyond these common Rock-type Pokémon, some people had even discovered and caught powerful Fighting-type Pokémon such as Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee, drawing still more attention.
Rumor had it that one Trainer had even spotted Beldum, the Hoenn Region's pseudo-legendary Pokémon, inside the tunnel!
Its final evolved form was the same as Pokémon League Champion Steven's Metagross!
Although it wasn't shiny, everyone knew the value of a pseudo-legendary Pokémon. Unable to resist that allure, Trainers targeting Beldum tirelessly searched for traces of it. In the end, one lucky person really did manage to catch one!
Everyone was astonished, and their enthusiasm shot to its peak!
That was why Yong now found himself facing a small settlement formed by a cluster of tents!
"Whoa! Is it really this crazy?"
Staring dumbfounded at the many tents and the Trainers streaming in and out of the tunnel, Yong dearly wanted to go back and ask President Stone for details.
What exactly was that surprise you mentioned?
"Huh? Isn't that Yong?"
He shook his head, speechless.
Just as Yong was about to cross the campsite and head for the tunnel, a shout stopped him in his tracks.
Turning around, he saw a young man in hiking clothes approaching with a shovel in hand. It was Takeda, the Gym Trainer from the Rustboro Gym-the Trainer who used Onix!
"Oh, hello, Takeda!"
Takeda looked Yong over in surprise and asked,
"Are you here to catch Pokémon too?"
"Uh, I haven't decided yet. I'm just taking a look first."
The boy shrugged and said,
"You know I only catch Rock-type and Ground-type Pokémon."
Takeda smiled mysteriously, leaned close to Yong's ear, and whispered,
"Then you've come to the right place. There are definitely Rock-type Pokémon in there that'll satisfy you, and they're seriously powerful!"
Yong gave the young man a puzzled look, his curiosity piqued. The prospect of a powerful Rock-type Pokémon made his breathing quicken, and he hurriedly asked in a low voice,
"Really? Is your information reliable? What Pokémon is it?"
"Of course it's reliable! Gym Leader Roxanne discovered them herself. She's already obtained a young one with tremendous potential!"
Takeda spoke with a hint of envy.
"The whole Gym knows, so we've all come to try our luck!"
As he spoke, he pointed toward a group of youths nearby. Yong looked closely and saw that they were indeed all Trainers wearing Rustboro Gym training uniforms. Among them, he even spotted the haughty young apprentice, Wufu.
"So that's it! Come on, tell me, what Pokémon is it?"
Having confirmed the source of the information, Yong urged him impatiently. Any powerful Rock-type Pokémon that earned Miss Roxanne's approval was certainly worth raising!
"You're going to love it. It's Aggron! An entire large colony of them!"
Aggron!
The image of a massive beast instantly sprang into Yong's mind!
Aggron
The tremendous surprise left him a little dazed. This was an iconic Steel-type and Rock-type Pokémon! Incredible defense, powerful physical attack, and a base stat total of 530 in its final evolutionary stage! It could even undergo Mega Evolution, just like Steelix!
So this was the surprise! This couldn't have come at a better time!
It's decided! You'll be my third partner, Aggron!