After three days of cautious travel, Aoki and his Pokémon finally neared the base of the towering mountain. The journey had been arduous, requiring careful movement to avoid detection. The terrain had grown increasingly treacherous, forcing them to abandon faster modes of travel. Though Aoki's Flygon would have made the trip swifter, its imposing size made stealth impossible this close to Magma Team's suspected location. Even wild Pokémon encounters were deliberately avoided to prevent unnecessary noise that might alert the enemy.
Upon reaching the mountain's base, its sheer scale became apparent. Unlike the rocky foothills they'd traversed earlier, this colossal landmass couldn't possibly consist solely of stone—such mass would have collapsed under its own weight. Had Aoki known the mountain's true size earlier, he might have taken fewer precautions during their approach.
During nightly rests, Aoki had meticulously prepared the Talent Booster for Combusken. The crimson stone obtained earlier was indeed a Crimson Rock, and the system's analysis confirmed the potion's stability. However, the mysterious substance that Combusken absorbed remained unidentified.
Through carefully controlled training, Larvitar's growth was maintained at level 28, though the system projected an imminent breakthrough to 29 within ten days based on its energy saturation. Notably, the Groudon armor fragments in Larvitar's pack were diminishing at an accelerated rate, prompting consideration of temporary removal to regulate absorption.
No such restrictions were placed on Combusken now that its evolution potion was ready. Meanwhile, Aoki's team showed significant progress: Lairon reached level 34, while Politoed—thriving in this environment due to having a type advantage to most of the resident Pokemon—surged to level 42, narrowing the gap with Swampert. Larvitar watched these advancements with palpable frustration, consoling itself by consuming extra diamonds, understanding Aoki's preparations for its own development.
Following recovery from the talent potion side effects, Lairon spent a day readjusting to its new form. While strength and durability increased post-evolution, speed suffered—transforming the Steel-type into a veritable tank. This development amused Larvitar, who finally had a heavier companion, though Lairon's quadrupled appetite quickly depleted their shared diamond stash. Aoki compensated by replenishing supplies, recognizing the benefits visible in Lairon's superior metallic sheen compared to Steven's.
The resource consumption rate was alarming—nearly half of Carbink's Neverland reserves had been consumed. Population expansion for the diamond-producing Pokémon would soon become necessary to sustain both Larvitar and Lairon's enhanced nutritional needs.
"Larvitar, is the signal stronger now?" Aoki inquired. The Rock-type's vigorous nod confirmed their target lay within the mountain—multiple signatures detected. After recalling his team, Aoki summoned only Honchkrow and Slowking for this critical phase.
"Honchkrow, aerial reconnaissance—avoid detection if you spot humans," Aoki instructed before addressing Slowking: "Mark psychic coordinates at intervals and maintain a cloaking field." With a resonant "Caw," the Dark-type took flight while Slowking's crown gem shimmered, enveloping them in a psychic veil that masked scent and sound.
The ascent proceeded cautiously. Without tree cover, visibility improved but so did exposure. Aoki analyzed the situation: either Magma Team remained searching for their objective, or worse—they'd been annihilated. Both scenarios demanded extreme caution.
A discovery on a mossy boulder confirmed their presence: the Omega symbol (Ω), freshly carved—Groudon's insignia and Magma Team's emblem.
What Team Magma was pursuing was not ordinary Groudon, but Primal Groudon in its original form, the legendary Pokémon with both ground and fire typing. A top Pokémon that ranks among the first-level gods!