Pokémon Detective Case Files

Chapter 490 Escaping the Secret Room

Chapter 492 Escaping the Secret Room

Just as the Unknown Totem was about to re-form and transform into the legendary Pokémon Mewtwo again, Kojima moved.

No matter how much mystery surrounds it, Unown is ultimately a Pokémon. And every Pokémon carries an indelible mark—its type.

Superpower type.

When it comes to fighting superpowers, the task should be left to the experts in Dark-type abilities.

While Bug and Ghost types can inflict super-effective damage, they lack resistance to Psychic moves, making them vulnerable to devastating hits. Only Dark types possess not only a spear that is doubly super-effective but also a thick shield that grants them complete immunity.

This is the underlying logic etched deep within the elemental advantage/disadvantage chart. Top-tier superpower experts like Gadalia might have a thousand ways to circumvent it, but even the most ingenious tactics cannot erase the natural chasm between elemental attributes.

What Lanju needs to do is extremely simple: "Black Eyes!"

Just as the last unidentified totem was about to merge into Regigigas's body, the Servant General standing at the giant's feet raised his head.

Those fierce eyes met the only eye of the unknown totem in mid-air.

The pupils dilated suddenly.

Although "Black Gaze" is a Normal-type move, the effect it manifests ultimately depends on the user's will. At this moment, the move's energy was instantly stained black, erupting from the eyes of the Pokémon, transforming into tangible chains that instantly pierced the consciousness of the Psychic Pokémon about to disappear—

Escape is prohibited. Departure is prohibited. Forced lockdown.

The figure of the unknown totem that represented only the character "A" suddenly froze.

Instead of becoming part of Regigigas as expected, it was forcibly ripped from that vast torrent of consciousness, hovering alone in mid-air. Within its enormous white eye, its dark pupils darted wildly, filled with terror, confusion, and utter bewilderment.

The departure of this unknown totem triggered a slight chain reaction.

A dozen subtle ripples appeared on Regigigas's massive phantom torso. The unknown totems adjacent to it, which had been perfectly integrated into the giant's silhouette, were also forced to reveal themselves—like puppets whose strings had been ripped off by brute force, they were half-detached from the phantom, their black-and-white symbols swaying in the air.

Seeing this, a smile appeared on the corner of Yueju's mouth.

However, before that smile could even reach his eyes, more unknown totems surged in from all directions.

The instant Regigigas' reconstruction was interrupted, they almost immediately burst forth from the cracks in the crystal, from the shadows of the rock walls, and from the darkness of the cave ceiling. Their numbers far exceeded those that had separated, forming a dense, black mass like marching iron ants, surging towards the breach in Regigigas like a tidal wave.

"They're here again!"

Upon seeing the enemy's response, Lian Wu's warning and the old craftsman's concrete pillar blasted out simultaneously.

The steel bars shattered large rocks, and the "Rock Slide" attack crashed into the swarm of Unknown Totems rushing towards Regigigas, temporarily scattering dozens of Unknown Totems like a boulder thrown into a flood. But those black-and-white-eyed symbols only drifted back a few feet before gathering more companions and surging once more into the phantom of the legendary giant.

It can't be stopped.

There are too many of them.

Seeing that they could not break the deadlock, the three Heavenly Kings and Lila had no choice but to engage in another fierce battle.

On Regigigas's broken body, light began to flow again, and the other legendary Pokémon also unleashed their moves.

But this time, the Heavenly Kings have mastered new tactics.

"Metroid—'The Eye of Miracles'!"

Lila's command pierced through the clamor of the battlefield.

Then, the battered Ironfoot Pokémon once again plunged its four legs deep into the ground, and the cross on its forehead suddenly emitted a blinding light.

That beam of light, imbued with the power to see through all illusions, swept across the battlefield once more. Wherever it passed, the majestic legends and illusions began to peel away layer by layer, like morning mist under the blazing sun.

Regirock's rocky shell melted away like a snowman, revealing hundreds of black eyes that darted about in terror; Regice's crystalline ice armor crumbled into countless floating symbols, swirling and scattering in the air; Registeel's steel body, Regidrago's dragon-headed arms, and Regice's lightning-fast form also revealed their true forms under this light—hundreds and thousands of unidentified totems, densely packed and layered, like honeycombs made of living eyes.

But this time, the "Eye of Miracles" was actually targeting three other creatures—"Now!"

Wanlong's Chandelure was already poised to unleash its power. Although this Pokémon had already reverted to its Mega Evolution state, its Elite Four-level strength was still not to be underestimated.

The eerie purple "Purgatory" flames swept out, combined with General Yueju's "Dark Strike at Vital Points," precisely bombarding the unknown totem groups exposed by the "Eye of Miracles."

Under the combined assault of flames and malice, dozens of unknown totems trembled and fell, the light in their eyes slowly fading.

The tactics worked.

While legendary Pokémon and Paradoxical Pokémon are undoubtedly powerful, the countless Unknown Totems are far weaker.

Then, in the same way, they dismantled the illusions of the three Paradox Pokémon—Rockrock, Leafeon, and Ironhead.

Those "imitations" made up of a small number of unknown totems collapsed one by one under the light of the "Eye of Miracles" and the combined attack of the Heavenly Kings: the metal broke apart, the life orbs shattered, and they could no longer be manifested, turning into real dead objects.

However, the joy of victory lasted only a moment.

When Metagross attempted to repeat its previous tactic, sweeping the light of its "Eye of Miracles" over the remaining six giants—Regirock, Regice, Registeel, Regierej, Regidorago, and Regigigas in the center—the group witnessed a devastating sight.

Too much.

Inside each giant are hundreds or even thousands of unknown totems, which are not even in the same league as the Iron Rocks that were defeated before.

Furthermore, they are not simply stacked, but nested and covered by each other in an almost precise order. Even if the "Eye of Miracles" can briefly expose them, those unknown totems will suddenly disperse as soon as they reveal their true forms. It is simply impossible for human beings to take down hundreds of targets scattered in all directions in just a few seconds.

"No—" Wanlong gritted her teeth, sweat beading on her forehead—

"There are too many to clear them all! Where did Team Plasma collect so many Unknown Totems? When did these Pokémon become so common? Or... do they have some kind of breeding method?"

No one could answer her.

The battle continues, but the nature of the conflict has subtly changed.

This is no longer a close contest, but a brutal war of attrition—and wars of attrition always favor the defender.

Time passed by, second by second.

There is no distinction between day and night inside the cave, only the ever-burning faint light on the crystallized rock walls and the brief bursts of fire when a move explodes.

It's unclear how much time passed—perhaps half an hour, perhaps two hours—but the wound spray and diaper rash on everyone's bodies...

The supplements were running low, and the elves were beginning to show signs of fatigue.

The good news is that the intensity of the fighting has clearly decreased.

After all, the opponent wasn't a true legendary Pokémon.

With the strength of everyone present, although the illusions made of unknown totems were impressive, once they understood that their essence was nothing more than "building blocks" pieced together from weak unknown totems, they could find flaws in the gaps between the movements.

When faced with attacks that are otherwise unbearable, you can use the method Yueju previously used: first identify an unknown totem, and then use a chain reaction to neutralize the opponent's attack.

The bad news is that the unfavorable situation remains unchanged—the reality is still that the number of enemies is simply too great.

No matter how many unknown totems are defeated, new individuals will always emerge from the depths of the crystal to fill the void.

The injured individuals retreated into the rift behind the cave, while the unconscious individuals were hidden by phantoms and newly formed crystals. Before long, another group of unharmed unknown totems emerged from the shadows.

It seems like they can never be defeated.

"This can't go on—"

The blueberry's voice was hoarse from issuing a series of commands.

While directing the Servant General to use "Protect" to block Regielech's "100,000 Volts," he quickly scanned the battlefield, trying to find a way out from the dwindling options.

Suddenly, his gaze fell upon three tiny figures: a Chimchar, Piplup, and Turtwig. They were struggling to help at the edge of the battlefield, using their meager attacks to harass the lone Unown. Three small flames, splashes of water, and leaves seemed so insignificant on a battlefield teeming with powerful attacks, yet they persisted.

The next second, a dangerous glint flashed.

The "awakening power" of an unknown totem grazed the little fire monkey's tail, blasting a shallow crater in the rock wall behind it. Debris flew everywhere, leaving a charred mark.

The attack wasn't very powerful; to the Elite Four members and the detective's Pokémon, it was nothing more than a tickle. But for the three starter Pokémon, it was enough to be fatal.

"Bring the grass turtles back!"

Seeing the little Chimchar scratch its head and then seem about to unleash "Flame Jet" again, only then did Bulbasaur realize its mistake.

Damn it, those are three beginner Pokémon! How did they manage to participate in battles with such weak strength until now?

They worked together so well that even now, Blueberry is only just realizing this serious problem.

Once their companion pointed it out, the other two Elite Four members showed the same strange expression. Without hesitation, they immediately used the Poké Balls Hugo had entrusted to them to recall Chimchar and Piplup. Turtwig also disappeared in a flash of red light at the same time.

Whether by coincidence or not, the moment the three beginner Pokémon's negligible fighting power vanished, the pressure on the battlefield suddenly increased. It was as if the Unknown Totems no longer sensed a certain threat, and their attacks became even more unrestrained.

Meanwhile, Interpol agent Lila was trying to find another way.

"Metamorphoses, aim at the energy sources of those unknown totems and unleash 'Cannonball'!"

The behemoth made of alloy instantly obeyed the order, the cross on its forehead lit up, and a condensed steel-attribute energy cannon roared out, heading straight for the largest crystal pillar at the edge of the cave.

The sound of the crystal shattering was deafening. The enormous crystal pillar snapped in half, crashing to the ground and turning into countless glittering fragments—however, even before hitting the ground, those fragments began to decompose in the air, turning into barely visible dust that floated and dispersed.

Then, as if drawn by some invisible force, the dust slowly drifted into the air. A group of unknown totems nearby stretched out their bodies, and the dust disappeared into their black torsos. The next second, the previously listless individuals regained their bright light in their eyes.

"This is—" Interpol's eyes widened.

"They're absorbing it." Wanlong's voice held a hint of annoyance and realization. "Those crystals are indeed the energy source of the unknown totems, but destroying them will only turn the crystals into dust that is easier to absorb—the unknown totems and they have a symbiotic relationship. Destroying the crystals will only make it easier for those guys to recover their strength."

Her gaze swept across the entire cave. Layers upon layers of crystal pillars, crystalline veins embedded in the rock walls, clusters of crystals hanging from the dome—

"As long as this space remains closed, it can never be substantially weakened."

The lingonberry let out a soft sigh, whether in praise or self-mockery, it was hard to tell.

"The plasma cluster—they actually managed to create a castle that is theoretically almost impossible to fall into."

He looked up at the dense array of unknown totems, his gaze filled with a reverence that seemed to seethe through gritted teeth—

"No wonder the 'City Defense Division' let us easily pass through the maze and get here. The maze can disperse the main force, while this energy center can attract the Alliance's highest combat power and drag us into a bottomless war of attrition. It's an unsolvable dead end. As long as the Alliance wants to retake the headquarters, even if they know it's a trap, they have to jump in."

"What's the use of saying all this now?" Lian Wu's tone remained calm, but a hint of anxiety appeared between his brows.

"After fighting for so long, the number of enemy unknown totems hasn't decreased significantly, indicating the existence of some kind of rotation mechanism. Combat alone can't solve the problem. Now we only have two paths—to retreat, or to stay?"

Just as he was speaking, the old craftsman who was the King of Fighters charged at Regidorago again.

It imitated the tactics of the previous Servant General, and before the Dragon Giant's "Dragon Power" descended, it used "See Through One Move" to capture the unknown totem that was momentarily exposed due to the dissipation of energy, and then hit it accurately with "Sonic Fist", which also turned the opponent's entire move into harmless wind pressure.

However, before the old craftsman could continue his pursuit, even more unknown totems surged into Reginald's body, filling the void left by the damage.

The blueberries didn't move.

He stared at the new batch of unknown totems continuously emerging from the crystal cracks, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

But even worse news was yet to come.

"Everyone—" The handsome man raised his chin, gesturing for everyone to look in the direction they had come from—the entrance to the passage they had traversed.

The breach they had created there is now completely sealed off.

Whether the other party used some kind of mechanism or not, in any case, the escape route had been silently and completely covered by a newly formed crystal.

On the surface of those crystals, dozens of unknown totems that hadn't yet transformed into phantoms were still quietly embedded there, staring at everyone in the cave with their disproportionately large eyes.

"There's no way out either." The handsome guy's voice was relatively calm, but the delinquent frog behind him shrugged and spread his hands.

All strategies have been exhausted.

The healing potions are gone, the recovery items are gone, and there's no way out.

Even time—seems to be running out.

but-

Just then.

Blueberries noticed.

A tiny, almost imperceptible commotion came from the direction of the edge of the battlefield.

It was a breeze, a breeze that would not normally appear in a closed room.

And in the direction from which the wind came, amidst those densely packed, unknown totems.

A small, white, mottled fish, mingling in the shadows of the ever-changing, unknown totems, silently swam into the cave.