Chapter 94
As Mike studied the inscription on the stone tablet, he remembered the Pokédex entry he had once read about Enamorus.
Legend said that when the bitter winter neared its end, Enamorus would cross the sea and return to Hisui in its Incarnate Form.
Its compassion caused new life to sprout across the land, earning it the title of the Herald of Spring.
(Enamorus, the Herald of Spring)
Mike frowned.
Although Enamorus had only appeared in Pokémon Legends: Arceus in the games, this was now a real world.
Naturally, he was curious about what had happened to it.
"What a shame. The rest of the tablet is missing..."
Mike sighed regretfully.
Even so, he was already satisfied with everything he had learned.
He had personally uncovered part of Sinnoh’s ancient history and witnessed the script and mural techniques used by its people.
That alone made this an incredible discovery.
More than sixteen hundred years...
Mike couldn’t help feeling emotional.
A human life lasted barely a century. Compared with certain Pokémon, those hundred years were almost insignificant.
"Whatever the case, I’ve now seen a glimpse of how the ancient people of Sinnoh lived. This journey was more than worth it."
After comforting himself, Mike stepped back and looked once more at the wall covered in writing and carvings.
He took several more photographs as keepsakes before putting away his professional equipment.
He had made up his mind.
Whenever he had the opportunity in the future, he would explore more places like this.
Ever since arriving in this world, he had developed a strange fascination with its history and how its civilizations had changed over time.
After all, a photographer who didn’t dream of becoming an archaeologist was hardly a proper photographer.
Sooner or later, he would uncover even more of this world’s forgotten history.
Once he finished taking pictures, Mike exhaled, grabbed his collar, and used his shirt to fan himself.
They were deep underground, where the air was almost completely still.
The heat and stuffiness were becoming unbearable.
Mike looked toward Baltoy and Bronzor.
"Thank you for showing me a piece of what happened in Hisui long ago."
Baltoy rotated slowly, and its hollow voice echoed through the ruins.
"Bal... toy..."
[Enamorus... I... protected...]
Baltoy suddenly began spinning rapidly in front of Mike.
Mike stepped back and pulled Gengar in front of him, staring at Baltoy in confusion.
What was happening to it?
Baltoy continued repeating the same fragmented words.
"Bal... toy..."
[Enamorus... protected...]
"Bal... toy..."
Its rotation grew faster and faster.
’Was this the beginning of evolution?’
Gengar floated protectively in front of Mike, watching the changing Baltoy and Bronzor with caution.
At the same time, Bronzor released a deep metallic cry.
"Bronz—"
A dazzling white light erupted from its body as well.
The evolution light of both Pokémon illuminated the entire underground ruin.
After a while, the brilliance finally faded.
Two completely different Pokémon now stood before Mike.
Baltoy had evolved into Claydol, while Bronzor had evolved into Bronzong.
Mike stared at them and quietly asked, "You two... evolved?"
"Claaay..."
"Bronzong..."
Claydol’s strange body seemed to have emerged from something resembling a cracked clay shell.
Mike immediately raised his camera and began photographing it from every angle.
After finishing his examination of Claydol, he turned to Bronzong and continued taking pictures while studying its new body.
Bronzong resembled an enormous bronze bell.
A thick bar stretched across its upper body, with an opening in the center and both ends hanging down along its sides.
Its bell-shaped opening faced downward, while intricate patterns covered its entire body. It had red ring-shaped eyes, and its mouth sat directly between them.
Mike looked at the mouth between Bronzong’s eyes and asked it to open up.
Bronzong obediently did so.
Mike leaned closer and looked inside. Its mouth appeared to have the same basic structure as that of an ordinary Pokémon.
However, Bronzong’s main body was hollow like a bell.
Where did the food it swallowed actually go?
It couldn’t possibly travel upward through an empty body!
To test his theory, Mike asked Gengar for a Berry and pushed it directly into Bronzong’s mouth.
Bronzong happily began chewing.
Mike watched carefully as it ate, but the Berry never entered the hollow interior of its body.
The inside was completely empty, yet the food seemed to vanish the moment Bronzong swallowed it.
Not even a crumb passed through the space below.
Mike abandoned the impossible question and sighed.
"Pokémon really are mysterious. There’s no other way to describe them."
He lightly knocked on Bronzong’s surface, producing a long, resonant chime.
"I’ve heard that people in ancient times could summon rain by ringing Bronzong. Is that true?"
Bronzong answered with another deep chime.
"Bronzong—"
[Yes.]
"Oh? You really can bring the rain?"
Mike’s mouth fell open.
Bronzong could actually summon rain?
"No wonder one of the murals showed a crowd kneeling and worshipping a Bronzong."
With his curiosity satisfied, Mike nodded and turned toward Gengar and the others.
"All right. It’s time for us to leave."
Gengar had wanted to get out for a while. The dark ruins were far too frightening for his liking.
Mike looked at Bronzong and Claydol.
"We’re preparing to leave the ruins. What about you two? Would you like to come outside with us, see the sunlight again, and experience a different life?"
Claydol and Bronzong exchanged a glance before refusing together.
"Claaay..."
[You should leave...]
Mike didn’t understand it.
He looked around the ruin.
Most of it had already merged completely with the surrounding soil.
Only this small chamber remained, and there didn’t seem to be anything left worth protecting.
Why did Claydol and Bronzong insist on staying here?
Sensing his confusion, the ancient Bronzong released a long, low chime.
[Something remains protected here. We cannot leave.]
[She once guarded this place, and now that duty belongs to us.]
Mike fell silent.
Before leaving, he asked Gengar to take out several sheets of paper and some watercolors, then placed them on a nearby stone.
He smiled at Bronzong and Claydol.
"In that case, would you be willing to... No, let me put it another way."
"Could you give me your names?"
[Names?]
"That’s right. Names."
"We’re friends now. My name is Mike, and exchanging names is something friends do."
[Friends...]
[Of course. I am Claydol.]
[And I am Bronzong.]
Claydol and Bronzong dipped themselves into the paint and left their marks on the paper.
They also drew several simple shapes and crooked ancient characters representing their names.
Mike carefully accepted both pages.
Then he placed another sheet in front of Geodude.
"What about you, Geodude? Would you like to leave your name with me too?"
Geodude didn’t hesitate.
It covered one of its hand in paint and slapped it firmly onto the paper.
Once everything was finished, Mike stood and looked at Geodude, Bronzong, and Claydol.
"Maybe Geodude can come visit the two of you more often from now on."
Neither Claydol nor Bronzong objected.
Geodude also agreed enthusiastically.
"Then we’ll be leaving."
Mike turned toward Glameow.
"We’re going to use the Escape Rope. It might move very quickly. Do you want me to hold you?"
Glameow hesitated briefly before lightly jumping into his arms.
Mike stroked her fur, then looked at Geodude, Bronzong, and Claydol. He also glanced around their humble, ruined home and waved goodbye with a smile.
Leafeon wanted to say goodbye to them as well, but the Escape Rope had already begun glowing.
With tears in her eyes, she could only bite down on the rope and hold on tightly.
Just as Mike was about to activate it, Bronzong called out to him.
"Bronzong—"
[Mike...]
Mike turned back curiously.
Bronzong’s voice resonated throughout the chamber.
[Before she left, she said that she loved this land and everything that lived upon it.]
"..."
Mike nodded.
"I understand."
"I love this land too."
"Bronzong, Claydol, you don’t need to worry. She never truly abandoned it. This land is still filled with life, and flowers and trees continue to flourish everywhere."
"She will always be watching over it."
Bronzong released a long chime to express its gratitude.
Mike, Gengar, Snivy, Beedrill, Glameow, and Leafeon grabbed the Escape Rope.
The next instant, Mike’s entire world began spinning.
It felt as though he had been strapped onto the fastest roller coaster imaginable.
After they disappeared, Bronzong turned toward Geodude.
[Will you remain here, or leave as well?]
"Geo!"
[I’ll come back and play with you next time!]
With that, Geodude bounced cheerfully away.
Silence returned to the ruins.
Bronzong slowly descended and buried part of its body beneath the soil before falling into a deep sleep.
Claydol did the same.
...
Meanwhile, Mike was being dragged through the cave by the Escape Rope at terrifying speed.
His body hurtled through every tunnel they had taken on the way inside.
"NOBODY TOLD ME THE ESCAPE ROPE WOULD LITERALLY DRAG US BACK ALONG THE SAME ROUTE!!!"
Mike’s scream echoed throughout the entire cave.
Terrified Geodude scattered in every direction, while swarms of Zubat fled through the entrance.
Gengar was still giggling excitedly.
"Gar, gar!"
[Wahoo!]
One Geodude stared at the empty spot beside it in horror.
[Who stole my rock?!]
It angrily turned toward the others and began demanding answers.
Beedrill squeezed his eyes shut in terror.
Snivy hung from the rope with Vine Whip, her expression remarkably calm.
Glameow buried her face in Mike’s chest, her spring-shaped tail wrapped tightly around his wrist.
Leafeon’s tears streamed uncontrollably.
"Leaf—"
[This is terrifying! Somebody save me!]
In what felt like an instant, the Escape Rope shot out of the cave.
Fortunately, it stopped at the entrance, preventing Mike from crashing into the tree where he had tied it.
The moment Glameow jumped from his arms, Mike’s legs went weak, and he collapsed onto the ground.
Once his mind caught up with his body, he crawled on all fours toward the bushes and began dry-heaving.
"Damn it... I’ve heard of getting carsick, seasick, and airsick, but I’ve never heard of getting rope-sick!"
No wonder the damned system had added a note saying that it was "somewhat fast."
Was that what it called somewhat fast?
They had returned to the entrance in less than a minute!
Mike had expected the Escape Rope to work like it did in the games—spin him around a few times and instantly teleport him outside.
He hadn’t expected it to physically drag them back along the entire route.
After retching for a long while, Mike finally collapsed onto his back.
"I can’t do this anymore. I’m finished. Let’s rest here before we continue."
Seeing his condition, Gengar took out a blanket and quickly arranged a temporary resting area.
...
"Meow."
Glameow quietly called to Leafeon.
"Leaf?"
Leafeon looked at the sheet of paper Glameow was holding.
[Is that... for me?]
Glameow shook her head.
Leafeon’s expression immediately fell.
Ignoring her disappointment, Glameow lifted one of Leafeon’s paws and pressed it onto the page.
She made her stamp it several more times before finally putting the paper away in satisfaction.
After handing it to Mike for safekeeping, Glameow took a beautifully braided multicolored cord from him.
She walked over to Leafeon and carefully tied it around one of her legs with her teeth.
"Meow."
[This is my present for you.]
Leafeon looked at the colorful cord around her leg and broke into a delighted smile.
"Leaf—"
[I’ll treasure it. Goodbye, Mike. Goodbye, Glameow. Goodbye, everyone.]
"Goodbye."
Mike said farewell to Leafeon, then picked Glameow up and turned to leave.
Leafeon watched them disappear into the distance before looking down at the cord on her leg.
She skipped happily away.
’Glameow will come back and play with me again. Hehehe.’
...
Mike carried Glameow along the path Gengar had cleared through the forest.
"Are you really satisfied with that? You didn’t say goodbye to her yourself, even though she said it to you."
Glameow curled up silently in his arms.
"Unless..."
Mike looked down at her with a teasing smile.
"Could it be that our Lady Glameow was afraid she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from crying?"
"Come to think of it, the first time I saw our adorable Lady Glameow cry was at the hospital, wasn’t it? Or was it even earlier? That scene—ow!"
Mike cried out after Glameow bit his wrist.
She immediately leaped from his arms and began walking gracefully near Gengar.
"If you wanted to walk by yourself, you could’ve just jumped down! Why did you bite me?"
Glameow ignored him.
"That’s fine. You don’t have to answer me, but you should at least give me the present Bronzong left behind. I still want to know what it gave us."
Glameow flicked her tail, tossing an object toward him.
Mike caught it and examined it.
It was a scale.
"This is... a snake scale?"