"Murkrow, use Wing Attack! Eevee, intercept with Swift!"
In the depths of the pitch-black tunnel, Sieg ran forward, the light in his hand illuminating the path ahead. A monstrous-looking Exploud was staggering and fleeing, its massive body swaying side to side. Clutched tightly in its arms was a tiny Whismur, looking like it just recvently hatched.
"Raaaargh!!!"
The Exploud suddenly turned around and let out a powerful sonic boom. Both Pokémon instantly used Protect, blocking the attack.
But within the narrow confines of the tunnel, the shockwave caused the surrounding earth walls to loosen. Bits of dirt and rock crumbled from the ceiling and scattered to the ground.
Rustle... rustle...
Sieg pressed on, commanding his Pokémon to keep attacking, gradually closing the distance between them. Eventually, the Exploud stumbled into a fork in the tunnel, one Sieg had already explored.
That branch led to a dead end. Sieg had long since marked it in his notes.
"Murkrow, no need to rush. It's a rat in a trap now. Let's blow away this mist first."
After a quick check and some brief preparations, Sieg entered the tunnel. The soft mud beneath his feet made a soft "shh-shh" sound with every step.
He frowned slightly. Explouds were incredibly sensitive to sound. Approaching recklessly would only alert it and give it the chance to launch a preemptive strike.
"No wonder... for such a sound-sensitive Pokémon like Exploud, this Cavern makes a perfect lair."
The realization hit Sieg hard.
Unless one was airborne like Murkrow, any step on the ground would immediately alert an Exploud lurking nearby.
"Crawdaunt, if anything goes wrong, use Protect immediately."
To play it safe, Sieg released his ace, Crawdaunt. Among all his Pokémon, it was undoubtedly the strongest and most reliable.
As Sieg neared the end of the tunnel, he carefully tried to minimize any noise.
But clearly, the Exploud was too sensitive to sound. In a flash, another sonic boom blasted out from the shadows.
Duang-!
A green protective barrier sprang up instantly. Crawdaunt reacted in the blink of an eye, shielding them from the wave.
Sieg raised his hand sharply, issuing a cold command, "Crawdaunt, use Razor Shell on the Exploud! Murkrow, use Wing Attack on the Whismur!"
Murkrow had been ready. It dove, cutting through the air like a blade, targeting the corner where the baby Pokémon cowered.
Crawdaunt launched itself forward, muscular legs propelling its body with an explosive force. Its twin pincers charged with water energy, forming the image of a razor-sharp shell that came crashing down.
With a desperate, agonized scream, the already battered Exploud finally lost its strength and collapsed unconscious.
Sieg signaled Murkrow to cleanly subdue the Whismur, then flicked his wrist and tossed two Poké Balls, capturing them both.
Beep-beep-beep-click!
"Whismur, the Whisper Pokémon. Usually speaks in a soft murmur, barely audible unless you listen closely. But when sensing danger, it lets out a scream that causes severe headaches."
"Normal-type Pokémon. Gender: Male. Ability: Soundproof. Height: 0.6 meters. Weight: 15 kg. Malnourished and slightly underdeveloped."
"Known moves: Pound, Echoed Voice, Snore."
"Egg move: Take Down."
Sieg held up his Pokédex and scanned both Pokémon. The Whismur had just transitioned out of its infant stage and had inherited the move Take Down.
"There's not much food in this tunnel, so it's no surprise the Whismur is malnourished. I'll nurse it for a few days before turning it in for the mission."
The captured Exploud, on the other hand, was level 27 and had remarkable potential. It was surprising that it had grown this strong in such a barren tunnel with little energy or sustenance.
What caught Sieg's attention even more was that this Exploud possessed the hidden ability Scrappy, which allowed Normal and Fighting-type moves to hit Ghost-types.
For a Normal-type Pokémon like Exploud, this was an outstanding trait. With its sonic-based attacks, it would be a formidable battler.
Unfortunately, Sieg had no plans to keep it. His interest was only in the market value, the hidden ability would certainly fetch a high price.
Having successfully completed his hunt, Sieg's mission in the cavern was now complete. Though he had some unexpected encounters along the way, like the old man and the Team Magma, none of it affected the overall progress or led to complications.
Retracing his steps, Sieg began making his way out of the cavern.
He'd left special limestone markers along the way when he first entered, so navigating back was smooth with almost no risk of getting lost.
Halfway out, Sieg glanced at Eevee beside him. Despite being out of breath, she showed no signs of complaining or slowing down.
"This journey really matured Eevee."
Back in the day, Eevee had been more of a pampered companion than a battler. It hardly participated in fights, and a bit of dirt in its fur would make it whimper pitifully.
But this expedition through Verdant Cavern had changed it. It had witnessed real battles, seen blood spill, and endured hardship.
While it still wasn't as cold and ruthless as Murkrow, Sieg was already more than satisfied.
Returning to a previously used camping spot within the tunnel, Sieg and his Pokémon gathered around a campfire to enjoy a quiet dinner.
After washing the ingredients he brought, Sieg roasted them over the fire. Having eaten only frozen meals for days, he couldn't resist treating himself to something warm for once.
His Pokémon sat nearby, eyes gleaming with anticipation, as he filled their bowls with heaps of food and Pokéblocks.
Eevee, ever the clean one, even laid a small napkin under its spot before sitting down.
In contrast to the other Pokémon who devoured their meals with gusto, Eevee ate gracefully, delicately picking up each bite with its tiny paws.
Once Crawdaunt finished its portion, it silently moved to the tunnel entrance and took up guard duty.
Murkrow's meal was specially prepared by Sieg himself, a tailored mix of Pokéblocks with a 3:7 ratio of Dark-type to Flying-type energy.
Currently, Murkrow hadn't yet mastered any powerful Dark-type moves. Of the three egg moves it possessed, all were Flying-type: Brave Bird, Roost, and Drill Peck.
This indicated that its flying potential was far superior, and Sieg intended to cultivate it into a true aerial dominator.
However, Murkrow had yet to grasp any of those inherited moves. They were incredibly difficult to learn, and despite being part of its bloodline, even inherited techniques didn't come easy.
Especially since Sieg hadn't had it for long, and the crow had only recently learned to fly.
There was no rushing the process. Pokémon training was all about time and patience.
You couldn't just stuff yourself and expect to become strong overnight.
Just as Sieg leaned against the wall to take a short break, his Pokédex suddenly buzzed loudly.
Usually, his Pokédex was kept on silent, so this surprised him.
When he flipped it open, the screen automatically shifted to an unfamiliar emblem.
[EMERGENCY ALLIANCE SUMMONING]
[Dear Trainer, we regret to inform you that your current location, Verdant Cavern, is now confirmed to be a location, where criminal organizations are conducting illegal activities. You are hereby issued a Class One Emergency Mission. Please cooperate with law enforcement in apprehending the targets. Rewards in Pokédollars will be distributed according to your contribution.]