The floor of the enormous tunnel was remarkably level, but the surrounding walls were covered in scratches, as though something had squeezed through, scraping against them as it forced its way past.
Of course, it was only enormous by Yong's standards. Swampert still had to hunch slightly to walk through it.
By the light radiating from Larvesta's body, Yong stopped every few steps to study the tunnel. There was no noticeable climb or slope, suggesting that the passage extended fairly level into the depths of the mountain range.
Just then, the finlike antenna on Swampert's head twitched slightly.
"Lah-chi..."
Seeing his partner grow a little wary, Yong looked into the darkness ahead.
"What is it? Did you sense something, Swampert?"
"Lah-chi!"
Swampert pointed ahead, stepped forward, and opened its mouth to release a pale blue Water Gun.
Its control over Water-type energy had already become extremely precise. This Water Gun carried little force and would not hurt any Pokémon.
"Hoo-ga!"
A startled cry rang out as the Water Gun vanished into the darkness.
Hearing it, Yong hurried over.
"This is..."
"Hoo-ga..."
At the foot of the tunnel wall, a Pokémon was hiding in a crack, with a small part of its body still exposed. Water kept dripping from its pale purple, tendril-like appendages...
"So it was a Tangela!"
Tangela!
Yong smiled faintly and crouched down, reaching out to pat the water off Tangela's vines as he spoke softly.
"Did we scare you, little one?"
"Hoo-ga~"
Sensing the two-legged creature's goodwill, Tangela squeezed out of the crack with some difficulty and cautiously examined the strange creature and Pokémon before it.
Having lived in Mt. Coronet since birth, Tangela had never seen a human. Its round eyes were full of curiosity.
It wanted to come closer, but the heat and firelight coming