It was slightly smaller than Lu Chen's Aerodactyl, and its body lacked that covering of sharp rocks.
Its gray skin and dark red eyes stood out in the dim tunnel.
The two Aerodactyl faced each other from a distance in midair.
Lu Chen's Aerodactyl reined in its aura, gave a low growl, and looked at its younger kin.
Although Lu Chen's Aerodactyl was by no means an easy Pokémon to get along with, it still showed its younger kin plenty of courtesy.
The two Aerodactyl communicated in midair in the way of their species.
"Meowth, what are those two Fossil Pokémon saying?" James and Jessie huddled in a corner, asking Meowth in hushed voices.
Looking at the two imposing Aerodactyl before him, Meowth protested fearfully.
"Why does it have to be me, meow?"
"Because nobody but you understands what they're saying!" Jessie smacked Meowth on the head.
Left with no choice, Meowth steeled himself and ventured out, pricking up his ears to translate carefully.
"Roar!"
Lu Chen's Aerodactyl asked the first questions.
"How long have you been asleep? Do you have any other kin, meow?"
"What business is it of yours who I am? Whether I have any other kin is none of your business either!"
At that rude reply, Lu Chen's Aerodactyl grew visibly angry as it looked at the disrespectful youngster before it.
But it still suppressed its anger.
Standing nearby, Lu Chen watched the two Aerodactyl converse and found it rather fascinating.
After all, in the super-ancient era, the number of rocks on an Aerodactyl's body had actually been the most direct indication of its strength.
In that era, more rocks meant greater strength and higher status.
Thus, whenever Lu Chen's Aerodactyl encountered other Aerodactyl, it had always enjoyed the reverence shown to an emperor.
Yet unexpectedly, for some unknown reason, the Aerodactyl of this new era had completely abandoned those rules.
"Get out of my way! I'm hungry! You weird-looking freak."
Meowth translated quietly from the sidelines.
After this youngster's repeated disrespect, Lu Chen's Aerodactyl finally ran out of patience.
Its aura surged!
A terrifying presence erupted from its body, and a dark red glow spread over its black rocks.
It struck in an instant.
Its enormous claw clamped precisely around the wild Aerodactyl's neck.
Then Lu Chen's Aerodactyl slowly opened its gaping maw.
Its sharp teeth gleamed coldly in the dim light, and the smell of blood poured from its throat as though it had substance.
The newly awakened Aerodactyl snapped fully alert.
It stared at the Aerodactyl before it, covered in sharp rocks.
Looking into those eyes, redder, darker, and more terrifying than its own, it showed an expression of fear.
It finally realized just what kind of being it had provoked.
Meowth trembled in fright, but still persevered and finished the final translation:
"Remember this from now on! These rocks aren't some weird-looking things! They're symbols of the Aerodactyl species' strength and glory!"
Aerodactyl roared in fury.
The sound exploded through the tunnel, shaking loose stones that pattered down.
The wild Aerodactyl's eyes rolled back, and it fainted on the spot.
"All right, Aerodactyl. Don't be angry."
Lu Chen coughed softly and stepped forward.
"Who knows how many generations separate you from this descendant? It's only natural that it doesn't know the rules from your super-ancient era."
"Besides, you've already scared it unconscious."
Only after hearing Lu Chen's words did Aerodactyl release its claw.
The unfortunate wild Aerodactyl crashed heavily to the ground, completely unconscious.
Lu Chen looked at the unconscious Aerodactyl before him without much hesitation.
He took out a Poké Ball and threw it.
A flash of red light drew the wild Aerodactyl inside.
"Ding."
The capture succeeded.
It was a Fossil Pokémon, after all, and could keep his own Aerodactyl company.
Even if he sold it, it would fetch quite a sum.
Ash watched from the side, dumbfounded.
"That's amazing... An Aerodactyl got caught just like that?"
In his arms, Pikachu cautiously poked half its head out, only relaxing a little after confirming that the terrifying patterned Aerodactyl wasn't looking their way.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Seeing even the tyrannical Aerodactyl that had oppressed them defeated so easily, all the super-ancient Fossil Pokémon were stunned.
Omastar, Omanyte, Kabuto, and Kabutops looked at one another.
Then they all neatly lined up before Lu Chen.
They all lowered their heads, their meaning clear: every one of them was willing to submit.
Lu Chen looked at Omastar with some amusement.
"You too?"
Omastar shuddered all over.
It glanced at the Aerodactyl licking its lips beside Lu Chen, then at the two trembling Omanyte behind it.
Finally, it lowered its head.
It was willing.
The corners of Lu Chen's mouth lifted slightly, and he said with a smile,
"All right. Since you're willing to submit, I won't make things difficult for you. I'll take you out of this underground cavern in a bit."
At Lu Chen's words, an entirely different light appeared in the Fossil Pokémon's eyes.
The world outside...
Who knew how long these Fossil Pokémon had spent in this tunnel, deprived of daylight?
Apart from a lack of sleep, the reason they had been so furious upon awakening was that they had spent so long in this awful environment.
Both the Omanyte species and the Kabuto species were unquestionably aquatic Pokémon.
Being stuck deep in this tunnel with its scarce water had left them suffering terribly.
Now they finally saw hope of getting out!
Just when Lu Chen thought things were more or less settled,
"Roar!"
Suddenly, Ash's Charmeleon leaped out of Ash's Poké Ball.
After landing, it fixed its gaze directly on the Aerodactyl beside Lu Chen, its eyes shining.
The flame on its tail shot higher with a whoosh, and it took an eager stance of challenge.
Ash's face went pale at the sight.
"Charmeleon! What are you doing? Get back here!"
He rushed forward to stop Charmeleon, but without even turning its head, Charmeleon opened its mouth and unleashed a Flamethrower, scorching Ash and making him jump on the spot.
Ash's hair instantly curled into a clump, trailing black smoke.
"Hot, hot, hot-!"
Looking at this eager Charmeleon, which completely ignored its Trainer's commands,
then at Ash floundering helplessly beside it like an ineffectual husband, Lu Chen found it rather amusing.
This was his first time seeing a Pokémon disobey orders.
In the super-ancient era, if a tamed Pokémon refused to obey, the very first thing it did would definitely be to kill its Trainer, then flee.
It would never behave like this-not killing its Trainer, and even staying by Ash's side all day, freeloading on food and drink while simply refusing to follow commands.
Lu Chen couldn't help reflecting that the current era really was much gentler.
Charmeleon extended a claw and pointed at Aerodactyl, roaring repeatedly.
Its meaning was clear: I want to challenge it!
Faced with Charmeleon's provocation, the Aerodactyl beside Lu Chen had no desire to fight whatsoever and gave a bored yawn.
It couldn't even be bothered to look Charmeleon in the eye, slightly raising a wing to swat this little fellow who didn't know its own limits away.
Lu Chen reached out to stop it.
Aerodactyl glanced at Lu Chen, instantly understood its Trainer's meaning, folded its wing, and stepped aside.
Aerodactyl had guessed what Lu Chen intended to do, and it too looked at Charmeleon with amusement.
Its gaze seemed to say:
"Heh heh, you're in for it now, kid."