Emerging from the dark, damp mine, John released his backup Skarmory. The steel bird shimmered faintly under the sunlight, its metallic wings gleaming. John climbed onto its back, his movements careful and deliberate. Skarmory hadn't yet mastered Fly, so taking off was always a gamble. Its lack of proper training meant John had to awkwardly cling to its slender neck, trusting the creature to carry him north without incident.
Flying Pokemon had their advantages, but John couldn't help feeling uneasy about them lately.
Sure, abilities like Fly, Surf, and Dive were natural instincts for many Pokemon. But without proper mastery, those same abilities became more of a liability than an asset. A Pokemon trained in Fly, for instance, could shield its rider from harsh winds, ensuring they wouldn't get whipped backward like a ragdoll. Surf worked similarly—protecting trainers from raging waters and keeping them stable on the waves.
The Dive move was even more impressive. Pokemon with this skill could plummet deep into the ocean, crafting a protective air bubble around their trainer. It resisted water pressure, repelled currents, and even generated breathable oxygen. Fully trained, a Pokemon with Dive could explore ocean depths of a kilometer or more with ease.
Unfortunately, Skarmory lacked any such finesse.
"Easy now, steady," John murmured as Skarmory ascended too quickly for his liking. He felt the rush of wind tugging at his jacket, threatening to unseat him.
Obediently, the Skarmory slowed, its wings beating in a smoother rhythm. Using the reprieve, John fished out his Gameboy and checked Gabite's tracking signal.
The screen displayed Gabite moving steadily north, having already left the region. Based on its trajectory, John guessed it would pass beneath Tangli, a small town further up. Beyond that lay the Silverpeak Mountains—an E-ranked danger zone notorious for its wild Pokemon.
"We'll cut it off there," John decided, pocketing the Gameboy. He patted Skarmory's side. "Let's head to the Silverpeak Mountains and set up."
Skarmory responded with a metallic screech, its steel wings slicing through the air. Though its LV was barely 20, the bird Pokemon carried John effortlessly, soaring across the landscape with surprising grace.
Ten minutes later, they reached the edge of the Silverpeak Mountains. Skarmory began its descent, gliding low over jagged peaks and dense forests. John was careful to avoid the territories of aggressive Pokemon like Fearow; getting tangled in unnecessary fights would waste precious time.
When they reached a small, secluded basin nestled between the mountains, John signaled Skarmory to land. The area was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind.
On one side of the basin loomed a dark, cavernous opening. The jagged edges of the rock suggested it wasn't natural—likely carved by something massive.
"This cave..." John muttered, narrowing his eyes. "Could this be the Shiny Onix's handiwork?"
Before he could investigate further, a thunderous BOOM echoed from the cave. A massive boulder flew out, crashing into the ground just meters from John.
Then came the unmistakable gleam of a crystal head emerging from the shadows.
The creature's enormous, crystal-like body sparkled brilliantly as it pushed another boulder aside, its movements slow but deliberate.
"Greninja, go!" John shouted, tossing a Pokeball into the air.
The sleek, amphibious form of Greninja appeared in a flash of light, landing gracefully on the rocky terrain. Without hesitation, it formed two shimmering Water Shurikens and hurled them at Shiny Onix.
The shurikens struck true, but the impact barely scratched Shiny Onix's glittering surface. The crystalline titan let out a guttural roar, its heavy tail slamming into the ground. The shockwave sent Greninja skidding backward.
John frowned. "Even with a four-times weakness, Water Shuriken didn't do much... Could it have some kind of ability that reduces water-type moves damages?"
He recalled a similar Pokemon from the old anime: Crystal Onix. But this wasn't ordinary crystal—it looked more like diamond.
Gabite arrived moments later, leaping from the cave with claws aglow. Its Dragon Claw struck Shiny Onix's body with a resounding crack, leaving visible fractures along the surface.
Shiny Onix roared in pain, collapsing under the force of Gabite's assault. Its body was riddled with scars—evidence of a brutal struggle underground.
John raised an eyebrow. "A diamond body, but such weak defense? That doesn't add up."
He crouched, studying the fallen Onix more closely. Its crystalline appearance was deceptive—was it really made of diamond? In this world, Rock Pokemon's bodies were known to adapt to their environment, transforming their composition to match nearby minerals.
If this Shiny Onix wasn't truly diamond, then what was it?
John decided to find out.
Grabbing a specialized Heavy Ball from his belt, he tossed it at the weakened Onix. The ball struck its target, sucking the massive Pokemon inside. After a few tense moments, the capture was confirmed.
John retrieved the ball and immediately checked its stats on his Gameboy.
[Onix (Rock/Ground-Type) – Shiny]
[Abilities: Shattered Armor (Defense drops when hit by physical moves, Speed increases) and Waterproof (Immune to water-type moves)]
[Individual Values: HP (31), Attack (31), Special Attack (25), Defense (31), Special Defense (31), Speed (27)]
[Moves: Rock Throw, Tackle, Harden, Bind, Smack Down, Rock Polish, Dragon Breath, Curse, Rock Slide, Screech, Sand Tomb, Stealth Rock, Slam, Iron Defense, Sandstorm}
John's jaw dropped. "Dual abilities?"
This was unheard of. No Pokemon in recorded history had ever been documented with two abilities at once.
The Waterproof ability alone was an anomaly, seemingly inspired by the anime's Crystal Onix. Combined with Shattered Armor, it explained the Onix's strange behavior. Gabite's repeated physical attacks had continuously triggered Shattered Armor, lowering Onix's defense while boosting its speed. Over time, its once-impenetrable body had been worn down to fragile shards.
John grinned. "You're an interesting one, aren't you?"
He glanced at the Gameboy again, noting a curious detail: when Onix evolved into Steelix, its Shattered Armor ability would transform into Force, enhancing its offensive power instead.
"But what happens when a dual-ability Pokemon evolves?" he wondered aloud. Would it retain both abilities, or would one disappear?
There was only one way to find out.