Pokémon: Unlocking The Path to Supremacy

The next morning, Aoki woke up early, ate breakfast, and began his daily training routine. With each session, Boss Lairon refined his Rock-type moves, Torchic honed its agility, and Froakie worked on its water-based attacks.

As the sun rose higher, Aoki took May to the ruins once more.

The moment the sunlight streamed into the ruins, something unexpected happened—the once-sealed dark passageway lit up, revealing an ancient staircase that hadn't been there the previous day.

"What's going on? Where did this passage come from? It wasn't here yesterday." May's eyes widened in confusion.

Had she missed it before? Or had the ruins themselves shifted?

Aoki, however, remained calm. "Don't worry too much. Let's go check it out. There could be hidden treasure inside."

He had a strong hunch about these ruins. Ancient places like this often held rare artifacts, and given the presence of a silver treasure chest yesterday, the chances of another valuable find were high.

May hesitated, clearly uneasy about the eerie, dimly lit passage. "Alright, but… this place gives me the creeps."

Aoki took the lead, followed closely by Boss Lairon. Although there was no immediate sign of danger, he remained cautious. Even though the original manga and historical records never mentioned any serious threats here, reality could differ from expectation.

Torchic and Froakie tensed, their small bodies alert.

Upon descending, Aoki found himself standing before an underground river. The cavern was vast, with high ceilings and jagged rock formations. Despite the open space, no hidden passageways were immediately visible.

Something moved in the water.

"Brother Aoki, there's something in the river!" May pointed at the shadow lurking beneath the surface.

Aoki's sharp gaze quickly identified it. "It's Relicanth, the living fossil Pokémon—an ancient species that hasn't changed for over a hundred million years."

His system displayed their data:

Name: Relicanth

Type: Rock/Water

Ability: Swift Swim (Free to Roam)

Strength: Superior (Quasi-Elite, weakened state)

Potential: Quasi-Elite

Scanning the group, Aoki noticed multiple Relicanth, but all appeared frail. Normally, their strength would be at least Gym Leader-level, with a few bordering Quasi-Elite. However, being trapped here for millennia with little food had left them weak.

Still, despite their weakened state, these Pokémon were highly valuable. Their rarity ensured a hefty price in the market, and a trained Relicanth could serve as a sturdy defensive battler.

"Boss Lairon, use Rock Slide!"

Boss Lairon stepped forward, summoning jagged stones in midair before hurling them toward the Relicanth.

The impact caused a ripple through the water as the Pokémon flinched in pain. Their groggy eyes burned with sudden rage. With a collective cry, they retaliated—multiple Water Guns fired simultaneously.

Yet, their long period of weakness showed. The attacks were sluggish, lacking their usual force.

"Froakie, Hydro Pump! Torchic, Fire Spin! Boss Lairon, Rock Tomb!"

The three Pokémon acted in sync.

Boss Lairon moved first, launching another barrage of boulders that disrupted the incoming Hydro Pumps before slamming into the Relicanth.

A pained screech echoed through the cavern. The weaker Relicanth were knocked out instantly, unable to withstand the Rock-type onslaught.

Only the leader remained. Once a Quasi-Elite powerhouse, it was now barely at Superior rank, struggling to hold its ground.

Torchic's Fire Spin barely singed it—the water weakened the flames too much. But Froakie's Hydro Pump struck dead-on, sending the ancient Pokémon reeling.

With one last cry, it collapsed, unconscious.

Aoki blinked. "That was… anticlimactic."

He had expected a tougher battle. The Relicanth leader had withstood a direct hit from Boss Lairon but crumbled the moment two rookie Pokémon landed a solid hit.

"Amazing, Aoki-san! You won!" May clapped excitedly.

Without hesitation, Aoki tossed a Poké Ball, capturing the Relicanth leader first before proceeding with the rest. However, he had little personal interest in keeping them—Relicanth's base stats weren't impressive enough for his long-term plans.

Using his Pokédex, he quickly sent data on the captured Pokémon to Professor Birch's research institute. Only the strongest Relicanth remained in his party for now.

After healing it slightly, Aoki took out a batch of specially prepared Pokéblocks.

At first, Relicanth hesitated, wary of its new trainer. But the moment it tasted the Pokéblocks, its hesitation vanished. The rich flavors were irresistible, especially after centuries of starvation.

Satisfied, Aoki knelt beside it. "Relicanth, is there anything hidden underwater? Can you retrieve it?"

His system interface had already revealed the presence of a silver treasure chest submerged within the river. There had to be something valuable inside.

Relicanth nodded and dived into the murky depths. A few moments later, it resurfaced, pushing a small, ornate box onto the shore.

"It's real! There's actual treasure!" May gasped in excitement, eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Aoki, however, remained cautious. "Hold on, let's be careful. Boss Lairon, use Iron Defense, then open it."

A metallic sheen covered Boss Lairon's body as its defenses rose. The Pokémon then carefully pried the box open.

Nothing happened. No traps.

Inside lay two objects—a stone with an intricate spiral pattern and a sturdy bracelet.

Aoki's heart pounded as he reached for them. He recognized these items instantly.

An Evolution Keystone and a Mega Stone.

The concept of Mega Evolution was rare even among expert trainers. It allowed a Pokémon to temporarily transcend its evolutionary limits, unlocking an even stronger form.

In the game mechanics, this meant a base stat boost of 100 points—a game-changer in battle.

Aoki could barely contain his anticipation. If this Mega Stone belonged to Boss Lairon, it could evolve into Mega Aggron!

That would mean even greater power and defensive capabilities.

Holding his breath, Aoki examined the Mega Stone, hoping for the best…