Chapter 346 · Rusturf Tunnel Collapse

[Pokémon: Slakoth ♂]

[Type: Normal]

[Level: 10]

[Potential: Champion]

[Ability: Truant – After taking one action, the Pokémon loafs around the following turn. (The length of this rest period depends on its current at a time condition.)]

[Moves: Scratch, Yawn, Slack Off]

[Friendship: 100 / 255]

Gary rubbed his temples. Just as he'd feared, Truant in the real world was as unreliable as ever—after every attack, the "loafing" turn was completely random. The "condition" the description referred to clearly meant whether Slakoth felt tired; if it did, it could laze about for quite a while.

"System, if I use an Ability-Enhancement Stone on Slakoth now, will its Ability become EX Vital Spirit after it evolves into Vigoroth?" Gary asked.

[No. When a Pokémon evolves, the enhanced Ability is overwritten by the new form's standard Ability.]

Gary frowned. He had hoped to power up Slakoth's Ability now and retain the upgrade post-evolution, just to see what an EX Vital Spirit could do. That route was apparently closed.

"Then what about Mega Evolution? Will an enhanced Ability be replaced there as well?"

[During Mega Evolution, the Ability is indeed replaced, but it becomes an EX Ability. Once the Mega state ends, the Pokémon's original Ability is restored.]

Gary let out a sigh of relief. At least his future Mega Blastoise would gain EX Mega Launcher. If EX Torrent was any indication, the boost to pulse moves would be well over 150%.

Once he finished reviewing Slakoth's data, Gary and Zinnia packed up and entered Rusturf Tunnel.

The tunnel had been carved through the mountain to link Rustboro City with Verdanturf Town, allowing cyclists to cross in under two hours. The path was level—perfect for biking.

Halfway through, however, they ran into trouble.

"Whii…?" The Whismur riding in Zinnia's basket perked up in alarm.

Gary and Zinnia squeezed their brakes. A dozen wild Whismur were blocking the path. Normally, the species was skittish around people; seeing so many gathered in the open was odd enough, but instead of fleeing, they shuffled toward the pair. One stepped forward and cried, "Whii… smur!"

"Vee!"

"Whii!"

Eevee and the rescued Whismur seemed to understand. Eevee leapt from Gary's handlebars, flicked his tail, and motioned for them to follow.

Gary caught on immediately. "Let's go with Eevee."

Zinnia, though confused—Whismur wasn't a Dragon-type, so her empathic sense was useless—nodded and followed.

Led by the wild Whismur, they turned into a side passage that showed clear signs of recent work: support beams, tool marks, fresh debris. This was obviously a new tunnel branch still under construction.

At the end of the passage, the Whismur stopped beside a mound of loose earth and broken rock.

"Whii!" they cried anxiously.

"It caved in here, didn't it?" Gary said.

The Whismur nodded.

"Someone's trapped?" he asked.

"Whii!" More frantic nods.

For wild Whismur—normally timid—to seek human help was remarkable. Something about the person buried inside must have won their trust.

"Rhyperior, Lairon—dig carefully. Don't hurt anyone who might be underneath," Gary ordered.

With iron claws and armored bodies, the two Rock-types made short work of the rubble, clearing several meters of packed earth in minutes. When the dust settled, an older man lay unconscious on the ground—clearly a miner from his gear.

The wild Whismur rushed to his side, chirping worriedly.

"Easy, I'll check on him," Gary said, kneeling. The Whismur backed off but kept close watch.

The man's breathing was steady and no blood was visible; he'd likely been knocked out by falling rocks.

"Latios, Heal Pulse."

Latios placed a claw on the miner's chest and bathed him in emerald light. Color returned to the man's face, and soon his eyes fluttered open.

"Wh-where am I?" he muttered, dazed.

"Don't worry about that yet," Gary said gently. "Can you stand?"

The miner tried, but winced as pain shot through his leg. "Feels like a hairline fracture. Walking's out of the question."

"That's fine. Lairon will carry you. Just don't complain about the armor plating," Gary joked.