c2: Crossbat
Riding atop a flame-winged Charizard, Xia Yu and Xia Luo soared above the lively streets of Starlight City, before crossing over dense canopies of the western jungle, finally descending on a rocky ledge halfway up the imposing Thousand Links Mountain, a known high-level training zone in West Shu.
"What are we doing all the way out here?" Xia Luo asked, raising a brow at his younger brother as Charizard's claws clamped down on the landing rocks.
"I'm here to catch a Pokémon," Xia Yu replied plainly, not bothering to lie. There was no point. If Xia Luo was going to help, he might as well know.
"To catch a Pokémon here?" Xia Luo chuckled as he dismounted. "This area's been combed clean by League Trainers and Ranger units. Most of the Pokémon with decent Individual Values (IVs) have long since been caught. If you just want a reliable starter, I can still give you one of the standard three—Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle. It's a late start, but not hopeless."
"No need, brother. I know what I'm doing." Xia Yu declined the offer directly. He didn't want a charity Charmander he wanted something rare, something that met the system's harsh standards.
"Fine. Suit yourself," Xia Luo shrugged, unsurprised. His brother had always been stubborn. With two Gym Leaders in the family, Xia Yu didn't need to do anything to live comfortably. He could coast on wealth and reputation, a typical second-generation elite. But here he was, pushing into danger himself.
The cave entrance loomed like the open mouth of a Gengar. As they entered, darkness enveloped them. For visibility and defense, Xia Luo summoned Volcarona, its burning wings lighting the stony path with flickers of gold and orange.
Xia Yu looked up at the majestic Sun Pokémon, eyes tinged with longing. He'd once been inches from owning a Larvesta with Gym Leader-grade potential. But the system rejected it deeming it unworthy. The regret still stung.
If not for this cursed ability of his, he might have already evolved it into a Volcarona and set the League ablaze.
As they ventured deeper, the light stirred dozens of Pokémon. Winged shadows stirred above—Zubat—startled by the unnatural glow from Volcarona's wings, began fluttering and screeching, wings slicing the air like daggers.
"Volcarona, take care of the Zubat swarm," Xia Luo commanded calmly.
Zubat, the bat-like Poison/Flying-type species, were common cave-dwellers, recognized by their eyeless faces, wide mouths, and deep blue bodies with violet membrane wings. They were nocturnal, thriving in dark, damp places like this. Direct light disoriented them, making them more aggressive. They normally slept upside down during the day but reacted aggressively when disturbed.
In caves like this, it wasn't uncommon to find tens of thousands clinging to the ceiling. Xia Yu even spotted a few Golbat, Zubat's evolved form. But no sign of a Crobat the rare evolution only achieved through maximum friendship and training.
Despite the swarm's size, they were no threat. In the cramped terrain, Xia Luo's Volcarona fought like a champion. Its flaming scales repelled the horde with ease, the brilliance of a single evolved Bug/Fire-type dwarfing the chaotic mass.
"Only 300 meters left," Xia Yu whispered after checking the disposable Pokémon Detector. The system's scan showed the Heavenly King-level Pokémon was near.
They pressed onward, crossing an underground river using a stone path carved by ancient water erosion, eventually emerging into a large cavern chamber. Stalactites glistened above. In the center was a clustered Zubat nesting ground, filled with hundreds of speckled Pokémon eggs, glowing faintly under Volcarona's light.
"This is it."
Xia Yu's pulse quickened. The detector's marker aligned perfectly with the nest. One of these eggs held the Heavenly King-potential Pokémon he was chasing.
"Brother, there are so many eggs I'll pick one," he said, crouching beside the pile.
"Help yourself. These are nearly all Zubat eggs," Xia Luo said, disinterested. "They aren't bad Crobat can be top-tier in doubles or aerial combat but they're not Elite challenge material. I need Pokémon with real stats—something to break through Elite Four shields."
Kneeling down, Xia Yu activated the system's internal appraisal function, scanning each egg like a Poké Ball scanner:
[Pokémon Egg]
Species: Zubat
Gender: Female
Type: Poison / Flying
Potential: Elite-level
Ability: Inner Focus – Prevents flinching due to mental discipline
Moves: Unknown
"Not this one…" Xia Yu muttered. He moved to the next, and the next.
Suddenly, a shrill, ultrasonic scream echoed through the cave like a flashbang. Before either brother could react, a violet blur shot through the air, homing in on Xia Yu at blinding speed.
"Volcarona Fiery Dance!" Xia Luo shouted instantly.
A wave of fiery wind burst forth from Volcarona's wings, blocking the incoming shadow and shielding Xia Yu. Heat surged like an inferno, lighting up the cave in a blazing dome.
"Charizard guard the rear!" Xia Luo added, tossing another Poké Ball from his waist. With a roar, Charizard emerged, wings flaring and tail ablaze, ready to engage the attacker.
[Wild Pokémon Identified: Crobat]
Gender: Male
Type: Poison / Flying
Potential: Overlord Class
Ability: Infiltrator – Ignores barriers like Reflect, Light Screen, and Substitute
Moveset: Absorb, Gust, Supersonic, Hypnosis, Bite, Air Cutter, Cross Poison, Air Slash, Leech Life, Poison Fang, Mean Look, Astonish, Quick Guard, Haze, Venoshock, Wing Attack, Zen Headbutt
The exhaustive move list stunned Xia Yu. This was no wild Crobat—not with that many TM and egg moves. It had clearly been trained by a human: battle-hardened, versatile, dangerous.
"What's a trained Crobat doing in a wild egg nest?" Xia Yu thought aloud, backing away.
It wasn't just a chance encounter.
Something or someone was protecting this clutch of eggs.
And that Crobat wasn't here by accident.
After its first strike missed, the Crobat swiftly retreated to the far end of the cavern, back toward the nest it had seemingly been guarding.
Its piercing red eyes, reflecting the glow from Volcarona's burning scales, scanned Charizard and Volcarona with sharp vigilance but it didn't rush into another attack.
"Chirp, chirp!"
The Crobat released a series of shrill screeches distinct high-frequency Supersonic waves, carried far beyond the cave's natural acoustics. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Supersonic had been shown to transmit as both disorienting and communicative signals between wild Pokémon colonies. Here, it was clearly issuing a distress call.
"Xia Yu, are you done yet?" Xia Luo asked, eyes narrowing. "That Crobat just broadcasted a wide-range call for backup. If a whole colony of Zubat shows up, I won't be able to hold them off forever."
As he finished speaking, a rising roar of flapping echoed throughout the vast cavern system. From every tunnel, alcove, and unseen crevice, waves of Zubat burst forth. Their wings sliced the air as they swarmed toward Xia Luo and Xia Yu like a living storm.
"Almost there." Xia Yu's voice was tense. His hands trembled slightly. The swarm made it harder to focus, but he couldn't afford to panic. In front of him were dozens—perhaps hundreds of Pokémon eggs, most belonging to the Zubat family. The Detector had brought him here for a reason, and he was close: "Just a little longer… I'm down to the last row."
"Make it quick," Xia Luo urged. The threat wasn't about raw power these wild Zubat couldn't pierce Volcarona's defenses but a few stray ones could slip through in the chaos and hurt Xia Yu. That was something he couldn't risk.
Xia Yu no longer dared hesitate. With gritted teeth, he plunged into the final section of the cluster, activating the system's identification sequence with heightened urgency.
Finally—on the last row—the Detector emitted a soft chime. A blue light glowed over a small, pale violet egg with flecks of silver.
[Pokémon Egg]
Species: Noibat
Gender: Male
Type: Flying / Dragon
Potential: Heavenly King Level
Ability: Telepathy – Avoids damaging allies in multi-target attacks
Skills: ???
Found it!
Xia Yu didn't waste a second. He verified the pattern against the system log, then clutched the Noibat egg tightly against his chest and rushed back toward his elder brother.
At the moment Xia Yu lifted the egg, Crobat gave a screech unlike the previous Supersonic. This time, it was a Roar—a deep, vibrating, territorial cry. Its fury was palpable. Clearly, the egg Xia Yu had chosen was special perhaps even its own offspring.
With a fierce flap of its wide purple wings, the Crobat launched forward like a homing missile, eyes locked on Xia Yu.
"Charizard, Flamethrower cut it off!" Xia Luo's voice rang out with command-level authority.
Charizard's maw lit up with a deep orange glow before it expelled a concentrated stream of flame. The attack blasted through the air and intercepted Crobat mid-dive, causing it to swerve and hiss in pain.
"You made your pick?" Xia Luo asked calmly, not looking at Crobat but instead studying the egg Xia Yu was now clutching.
His sharp Gym Leader's eyes noticed the distinct difference. This egg bore none of the dusky blue tones or membrane-like surface of a Zubat or Golbat egg. The pattern was different—sleek, aerodynamic, and faintly marked with a spiral crest common among draconic lineages.
"Yeah," Xia Yu nodded, eyes full of determination. He could already feel the resonance the silent pulse of the Heavenly King-level potential within the egg.
"Then let's leave. This Crobat isn't going to stop unless we're gone." Xia Luo stepped forward, shielding Xia Yu behind him. He raised his voice again: "Volcarona—Heat Wave. Max output! Burn it all back!"
The Bug/Fire-type Pokémon shimmered like a living sun. Its wings beat furiously, unleashing a scorching Heat Wave that tore through the cavern.
The wave didn't just deter the incoming Zubat it overpowered them. The sheer thermal pressure drove hundreds backward, many collapsing midair, overcome by the intense blast.
Some dropped to the ground like autumn leaves. Others scattered, unable to breach the burning defense.
Crobat shrieked once more—but now with frustration rather than fury.
They had what they came for.
And they were leaving—victorious.