POKEMON : STARTING WITH FLASH METAGROSS

Soon, all three Rhyhorn fell, while Metang merely panted slightly, looking remarkably relaxed.

Rax patted Metang's head with a satisfied grin.

"Well done!"

He then threw Poké Balls, capturing the three Rhyhorn.

The exploration of the cave wasn't over. To stay cautious, Rax ensured that any companion who showed signs of exhaustion was recalled into their Poké Ball for rest.

Thanks to this method, both Metang and Marowak made significant progress, while Skiploom overcame its earlier fears from the provocation and emerged stronger.

On the other hand, Scorbunny didn't gain as much experience due to the high average level of the cave Pokémon. To compensate, Rax assigned Scorbunny to nighttime training sessions in the dream world.

The dream world, mirroring reality, allowed Scorbunny to efficiently enhance its skills. This setup was perfect for mastering its newly learned Flame Charge.

For over two weeks, Rax remained in the cave, battling wild Pokémon and seeking directions to the exit. Finally, he emerged into the light of day.

As the sunlight warmed his face, Rax felt as if he'd entered another world.

He turned back to look at the cave's ominous depths, shuddering.

"It'll be a while before I step into another cave…"

The exit was midway up the mountain. From his vantage point, Rax spotted a Old-fashioned town nestled at the mountain's base. Relief washed over him.

"Finally, people! I can clean up properly," he muttered.

"Let's go, Marowak!"

"Marowak!"

Beside him, the dirt-covered Marowak silently followed, clutching its polished bone club. Despite the harsh cave environment and sleepless nights, Marowak had maintained its weapon meticulously.

Rax chuckled.

"Now you just need a good bath to match that clean club."

Deciding to save Metang's energy, Rax descended the mountain with Marowak.

After an hour, they arrived at the town entrance. It was a small settlement, lacking even a basic inn.

Rax approached a passerby to ask for directions, but before he could speak, the person took one look at his disheveled appearance and Marowak's intimidating aura, then bolted in fear.

Rax stood frozen in shock.

"I didn't expect to ever get treated like this…"

Just as he considered releasing Skiploom to appear less threatening, a cheerful voice called out behind him.

"Are you a traveling trainer? If you don't mind, you can come to my place to clean up!"

Rax turned to see a short-haired woman with a warm smile. She wore a white coat, and her demeanor piqued his curiosity.

"Thank you so much! May I ask who you are?"

"You can call me Professor Carolina. Come with me—there's no inn in this town."

Rax froze in astonishment.

"Professor Carolina?! The grandmother of Sinnoh's future Champion Cynthia…"

He glanced around, realizing the significance of this seemingly ordinary town—it was Celestic Town, home to Sinnoh's historic relics.

"Do you know me?" Professor Carolina asked, curious about his reaction.

Quickly composing himself, Rax replied, "Yes, Professor Carolina.I'm an assistant trainer under Professor Rowan. I received my Scorbunny from him. I've also heard the other researchers praise you during my time at the lab."

To back up his story, Rax released Scorbunny, who appeared looking just as worn out as he was.

Professor Carolina laughed heartily.

"So you're the trainer Professor Rowan thinks so highly of! How long have you been lost?"

Rax scratched his head, embarrassed.

"I just came down from Mt.coronet ."

The doctor nodded approvingly.

"Impressive! Come with me to my research institute."

Eager yet nervous, Rax followed her alongside Marowak and Scorbunny.

As they walked, Professor Carolina engaged Rax in conversation, curious about his background.

"I'm not originally from Sinnoh…"

"I came here through a friend's introduction to Professor Rowan…"

"Marowak was my first partner. Scorbunny joined later…"

Rax shared what he could, carefully maintaining his cover story. Finally, they arrived at the research institute.

"Kaishan! This is Rax. Please take him to the guest room to settle in," Professor Carolina called to her assistant.

Turning to Rax, she added, "You can leave your Pokémon with Kaishan for healing. Or, after you've cleaned up, he can take you to the healing device."

Professor Carolina's thoughtfulness reassured Rax. Trusting her, he handed over Marowak, Skiploom, and Scorbunny's Poké Balls to Kaishan.

"Thank you for your kindness, Doctor, and thank you too, Kaishan!"

Kaishan, a shy young man with glasses, nodded politely before leaving with the Poké Balls.

"Dinner is at 5:30. Kaishan will come to get you," Professor Carolina informed him before departing.

Once alone in the guest room, Rax wasted no time. After inspecting the room, he dove into the bathroom for a much-needed shower.

An hour later, he emerged feeling refreshed. On the table, he found clean clothes and a tray of fruit snacks left for him. Grateful, he eagerly devoured the fruit.

When Kaishan returned, he handed Rax's Pokémon back, now clean and healed.

"I also bathed them. They were very well-behaved," Kaishan said with a smile.

"Thank you so much!" Rax replied earnestly. After two weeks of cave battles, taking care of his team was no small feat.

"Let's head to the cafeteria for dinner," Kaishan said.

Rax's eyes lit up with anticipation.

"Maybe I'll meet Cynthia!"