The exploration continued deeper into the cavern without encountering any further obstacles.
Upon reflection, it seemed miraculous that a Champion-level Crobat had appeared in such a resource-scarce cave. If an entire swarm of them had been present, the situation would have been impossible to handle. This line of work was far too dangerous.
Upon reaching the deepest part of the interconnected cavern system, Aoki finally discovered the source of the bats' unnatural strength.
The central chamber was saturated with dense, noxious energy—far more concentrated than usual. However, the Ghost energy here was nowhere near as potent as that found on the Trial Island where the Mismagius had been encountered. Still, given the sheer volume of poison saturating the air, it was no surprise that such a large colony of Zubat and Golbat thrived here.
The origin of this toxic energy remained unclear.
A thick, violet mist permeated the cavern, drastically reducing visibility. Even the glow of a torch struggled to pierce the haze.
Slowking erected a psychic barrier around Aoki and the others, shielding them from the poisonous fumes.
Only two of Aoki's Pokémon remained unaffected: Drapion and Gengar.
They moved freely through the toxic air, absorbing the noxious energy with visible delight. For them, this environment was ideal for growth. Given enough time, their natural aptitude—dark cyan potential—would likely allow them to break through to Champion level, unlike the Crobat they had faced earlier, which had only possessed light blue potential.
"Gengar…" The shadowy Pokémon drifted toward Aoki, its voice a low murmur.
"Hm? You found something over there?" Aoki's eyes sharpened with interest.
If Gengar had already located the source, there was no need to wander blindly and risk stumbling into unforeseen danger.
Following Gengar's lead, Aoki approached the center of the cavern.
There, he found a pool—one that appeared artificially constructed, given the neatly arranged bricks lining its edges.
But the true focus lay in the center of the pool: a stone pillar, its surface etched with intricate, ancient patterns.
Bound to this pillar was a Pokémon—a living one.
At the sight of it, Aoki muttered a single name:
"A Dragon Prison Pillar?"
The name was fitting.
Because chained to this pillar was a dragon—though not a pure-blooded one.
A Dragalge.
A Poison/Dragon-type Pokémon native to the Kalos region, an evolution of Skrelp.
This Dragalge's condition was dire. Its breathing was shallow, its aura nearly extinguished. It was impossible to gauge its original strength in this state.
The chains restraining it were no ordinary bindings—they were barbed, their needles embedded deep into the Dragalge's body, siphoning something from it and funneling it into the pool below.
This, then, was the source of the cavern's toxic energy.
The Dragalge had been drained—its very essence sustaining the poison that fed the cave's inhabitants.
Just how powerful had it been in its prime, to sustain such a vast ecosystem alone?
And more importantly—who had been strong enough to imprison it here?
Judging by the wear on the chains, the Dragalge had been bound here for years, if not decades.
As if sensing Aoki's presence, the Dragalge's eyelids twitched weakly before lifting.
Its gaze was ancient, weary—devoid of defiance, only resignation.
Aoki met its eyes without flinching.
Dragalge were notorious for their aggression, known to spew venom at anything that approached. They lurked in seaweed beds, ambushing prey with lethal toxins.
Ships that ventured into their territory were said to never return.
Yet this Dragalge showed no hostility.
Only exhaustion.
Time had worn away its pride.
Whoever had imprisoned it had not only leeched its power but discarded it—leaving it as nothing more than a resource for wild Pokémon to exploit.
That Crobat from earlier had likely reached Champion level by feeding on this very energy.
Aoki activated his system, scanning the Dragalge's data.
Pokémon: Dragalge (Light Green) — Critically Weakened
Gender: Male
Level: 60 (Originally 78)
Type: Poison / Dragon
Ability: Adaptability
Held Item: None
Egg Moves: Toxic Spikes, Haze, Acid Armor, Venom Drench
Basic Moves: Twister, Dragon Tail, Tackle, Smokescreen, Water Gun, Feint Attack, Tail Whip, Bubble, Acid, Camouflage, Poison Tail, Water Pulse, Double Team, Toxic, Aqua Tail, Sludge Bomb, Hydro Pump, Dragon Pulse, Outrage
Learnt Moves: Draco Meteor, Icy Wind, Gunk Shot, Snore, Bounce, Dragon Pulse, Iron Tail, Aqua Tail, Dragon Rage, Water Pulse
TM Moves: None
The data left Aoki silent for a long moment.
This had once been a level 78 Pokémon—borderline Master-tier.
Now, it was a prisoner, its strength drained, its potential diminished from what must have once been exceptional to a mere light green rating.
The moves it knew—Draco Meteor and Dragon Rage—were proof of its former might. Its Dragon lineage was undoubtedly potent.
But its most valuable trait was its Adaptability ability.
This ability doubled the power of moves matching the user's type—meaning its Poison and Dragon attacks would hit with devastating force.