Rhyperior began to dig, using ground vibrations to probe for the nearest tunnel while Eevee helped lift loosened soil to the surface. Before long, the pair had opened a shaft wide enough for Gary and Zinnia to climb down.
Gary's flashlight beam revealed five Aron encircling them, each looking distinctly displeased.
"So these are Aron?" Zinnia asked, unfazed. She raised her Pokédex.
Pokédex: "Aron, the Iron Armor Pokémon. To build its steel body, it eats iron ore excavated from mountains. It sometimes consumes man-made metal structures such as bridges and rails."
[Lv. 11 Aron ♂ / Normal][Lv. 10 Aron ♀ / Normal][Lv. 12 Aron ♂ / Normal](The other two were similar.)
None topped Level 15, yet all five looked irritated.
"Sorry to intrude," Gary said politely. "Could you forgive us this once?"
"Rhyperior, give them a little scare," Gary ordered.
With a single menacing stomp and a glare, Rhyperior sent the Arons scrambling.
"So timid," Zinnia laughed. "Rhyperior didn't even attack."
"Most wild Pokémon behave that way—better to flee than fight a clearly stronger opponent."
"Time to look for stones," Gary said, turning away.
"Stones? I thought you came to catch an Aron," Zinnia asked, puzzled.
"That's just a bonus. I only raise Pokémon with high potential. If a specimen doesn't meet my standards, I won't waste the resources," Gary explained.
"There are different grades of potential?" Zinnia blinked.
"Of course. You don't think any random Pokémon becomes powerful just because you train it a bit, do you?"
Zinnia considered it. The elders' Dragons back home varied greatly in strength, even though they'd been reared together—so potential must differ.
"What about my Shelgon?" she asked.
"It's good—Gym-potential by League standards," Gary said. "Champions are the next tier up, and that can't be measured directly yet. As a pseudo-legend, Shelgon probably sits there, but reaching it depends on your skill as a Trainer."
Zinnia puffed out her chest. "I'm the tribe's successor—I'll manage."
"After you pass the tests your grandmother set," Gary teased, then moved on to search the cavern.
"Hmph! I'll show you," Zinnia muttered, striding off down another tunnel. Granite Cave held no danger for her; she'd lived underground all her life.
Gary marveled at the variety of minerals. Evolution Stones—Fire, Leaf, Thunder—were scattered together, something rarely seen outside specialized mines. Granite Cave must be a patchwork of geological strata.
"Lucky find." He pocketed a Fire Stone.
A rumble sounded behind him. Gary turned to see the same five Aron, now accompanied by a Lairon—apparently they'd brought reinforcements.
[Lv. 34 Lairon ♂ / Quasi-Elite]
A wild Lairon of that calibre was worth catching.
"Eevee, Fire Blast!" ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⟡𝕗𝗂𝗋𝖾⟡𝕟𝕖𝕥
Eevee vaulted into the air and spat a blazing, kanji-shaped burst. Lairon froze; the smaller Aron didn't even have time to react.
Boom! The Fire Blast landed squarely, knocking Lairon out cold.
The ball struck, rocked once, and clicked shut. Caught.
The five Aron squealed and bolted.
"Vengeful little things," Gary chuckled. "I only had Rhyperior glare at them, and they brought backup."
He clipped Lairon's ball to his belt and resumed his search, eager to see what other treasures Granite Cave might yield.