"Just a little more! I'll pull you up!"
Bracing his legs, waist, and arms, Shen Qi curled backward, and Porygon finally began to rise.
Just as a glimmer of hope appeared, a cluster of vines crept out from deep within the dark fissure, wound tightly around Porygon, and pulled hard downward.
Porygon was extremely unpracticed with Magnet Rise and could not resist the vines at all. Even Shen Qi was nearly dragged into the hole.
Was this some kind of Grass-type move?
The question was instantly dispelled. Shen Qi keenly sensed the Normal-type energy fluctuations he knew best.
Judging by its appearance, the move should have been one of the moves called Bind. It had a restraining effect that prevented the target Pokémon from entering a confined state or being switched out normally.
He had already been maintaining a delicate balance while trying to pull back from the brink. How could Shen Qi compete in strength with the Pokémon in the darkness?
More rocks were being drawn in from the surrounding area. If they fell into the hole, the consequences would be unimaginable.
At that moment of life-or-death danger, Porygon suddenly pushed upward, wrenching free of Shen Qi's hands.
"Hey! You..."
[Thank you...]
Once that smooth touch slipped away, Shen Qi could no longer catch Porygon.
Bracing both hands against the ground, Shen Qi rolled back twice, gritted his teeth, and turned to flee in the opposite direction from the fissure.
Putting himself in Porygon's place, Shen Qi would certainly have shaken off his rescuer's hands too, rather than let them both fall into the pit with the tumbling rocks.
The fissure was now buried under a mass of rocks. Shen Qi would never foolishly lie at the edge crying and shouting as if he were filming a romantic drama.