As Aoki approached Meteor Falls, the crowd gradually grew larger. Blending into the mass of Trainers and tourists, he drew no attention.
Passing through the cavern entrance, Aoki ventured into the intricate tunnel system. The initial pathways bustled with people of varying skill levels.
Having no need for a map—thanks to the system's records—Aoki moved with purpose. Only his Floette remained visible, tucked quietly in his chest pocket. His Gengar lurked within the shadows, an unseen safeguard.
Deeper into the caves, the crowd thinned. The meteorite's impact had shaped this terrain, leaving it populated by Rock-type Pokémon. Waterfalls fed pools where Water-types gathered, and wild Pokémon roamed every corridor.
Soon, Aoki found himself alone, far beyond where most Trainers dared to venture. The wild Pokémon here were too strong for casual explorers.
Summoning his Slowking, Aoki relied on its psychic powers to mark their path with Telepathy coordinates, ensuring they wouldn't get lost. Beyond this point, no maps existed—only exploration.
Though Aoki faintly recalled routes from past travels, he couldn't guarantee his target Pokémon would be waiting. A slow, methodical search was necessary.
At least the solitude worked in his favor.
Then, at a turn, two figures appeared.
Their uniforms were unmistakable.
Team Aqua.
Aoki's grip tightened. During his voyage from Kanto to Hoenn aboard the S.S. Tidal, Team Aqua had ambushed the ship. Only with Matsuda and the crew's help had he escaped.
Now, here they were again.
Earlier, atop Mount Chimney, he'd encountered Team Magma with Steven. Both villainous factions were growing bolder. Their full-scale operations couldn't be far off.
But what were Aqua grunts doing in Meteor Falls?
Aoki's mind raced. Was there something here they needed?
Silently, he trailed them, keeping his distance. Slowking's psychic awareness allowed him to monitor them without getting too close.
Their battles with wild Pokémon revealed their skill—they weren't pushovers. Engaging recklessly would be unwise. Worse, they spoke little, only issuing commands. Their purpose remained unclear.
After observing, Aoki withdrew. His priority was catching a Pokémon, not picking fights.
Yet as he turned to leave, the female Aqua member—Lina—paused.
"Something wrong?" her partner, Pash, asked.
Lina frowned, scanning the shadows. "Felt like we were being watched."
Pash tensed. "Your instincts are sharp. Should we check?"
Lina hesitated. "No… it's gone now. Probably nothing."
Pash exhaled. "Good. This mission came straight from Archie. We can't afford mistakes."
"Right. Let's keep moving."
The two pressed onward, avoiding unnecessary battles. Their task was mapping the area—fast.
Meanwhile, Aoki summoned another Pokémon: his Weavile.
At level 43, Weavile was the lowest-leveled in his main team besides Floette. But its Dark typing made it invaluable here.
Meteor Falls housed swarms of Solrock and Lunatone—Rock/Psychic-types. Weavile's immunity to Psychic moves and Slowking's Water/Psychic prowess gave them an edge.
Solrock's Fire-type moves were mitigated by Slowking's resistance. Together, they'd hunt undisturbed.