John had a feeling It was time for Onix to evolve. After all, with the Pokemon now at level 40, It was about time for the giant rock snake to transform into Steelix.
The evolution wasn't going to be easy, though. John had to find the right item: a Metal Coat. It was a rare, treasure-grade item needed for Steelix's evolution, and it also boosted steel-type moves. John had a few Metal Coats in his collection, but this one—this one would be special.
However, before embarking on the evolution process, John had a task to complete. He needed to heal Onix. Using Gardevoir's Teleport ability, he quickly transported back to the Pokemon Center, his Gameboy in hand, controlling the journey from a distance. After receiving treatment, he released the Onix, into the real world.
Onix's body shimmered with diamond-like crystals, and John couldn't help but think that Onix belonged in a place where diamonds could be found. He wondered if there were any diamond mines in the Burning Mountain or the region. The idea of diamonds, raw and uncut, fascinated him. He knew that if he could find the right diamond mine, he'd be able to find enough rough diamonds to eventually shape into something beautiful.
So, with that thought in mind, John decided to follow Onix back to its original home—the very place where it had spent most of its life.
"I guess we're going underground again," John muttered, taking a deep breath. He made sure to pack an oxygen tank in advance, knowing that some of the tunnels might be particularly deep.
Onix led the way, with Gabite following close behind. Gabite, a level 40 Pokemon, was strong and sturdy. John didn't worry about getting trapped underground, not with the Pokemon he had by his side. But just in case, he summoned Gardevoir. At level 38, Gardevoir's Teleport could easily cover distances over 100 meters. And if the rock walls ever collapsed, Gardevoir's Confusion could protect them long enough to make an escape.
It was a comforting thought—knowing that the strength of his Pokemon gave him the confidence to explore places he never would have dreamed of going before.
Onix burrowed into the earth, its massive form quickly disappearing beneath the surface. John, sitting comfortably on Gabite's back, let the dragon-like Pokemon guide him further underground. Gardevoir floated beside them, her psychic powers keeping the group safe as she held a glowing sphere made of Shiny Onix's own light. The soft glow illuminated the dark tunnels, guiding their way.
As they descended deeper, John couldn't help but marvel at the underground world. If he had been told this would happen to him just a few years ago, he wouldn't have believed it. Underground expeditions were something out of a wild fantasy, something you might read in books or watch on movies. Yet here he was, living it.
They traveled through winding passages, some so large that Onix had no trouble moving around. The tunnels grew wider and wider, more expansive, and John realized that many of them were far bigger than any passage Onix had ever made. It was almost as though this area wasn't just a typical Onix home.
"This doesn't look like the tunnels Onix usually digs," John thought, glancing around.
After a few moments of contemplation, he wondered aloud, "Could this be Steelix's doing?"
It wasn't unreasonable to think so. Steelix were larger, heavier, and more powerful than Onix, so they could easily create much bigger paths. But even so, John found himself thinking—no, it couldn't be. Steelix were formidable, sure, but not . If it was a Steelix, it would be several times larger than any Onix he'd encountered.
'Could there be an Alpha Steelix underground?' That was a scary thought, and John quickly dismissed it. The more he thought about it, the less likely it seemed. Most Onix lived alone. They were solitary creatures by nature, spending their lives in vast tunnels, occasionally encountering others when it was time to mate. But that was rare. The most likely explanation? This was just an unusual cave system.
Still, an uneasy feeling gnawed at him as he followed the path.
Soon, they had descended 500 meters into the earth. The tunnel opened up into a massive cavern—one so large that it stretched beyond the reach of Gardevoir's light. The psychic Pokemon had raised the ball of light high, causing the surrounding area to glow faintly. The light grew stronger as it climbed higher, illuminating the cavern floor.
John's eyes widened as the light revealed a chilling sight.
The floor was covered with the skeletal remains of Onix.
Thousands of them. Lined up in neat rows, each one as large as the last. Their massive bodies were twisted and sprawled across the cavern, stone heads glistening in the light. The scale of it was enough to make John's stomach turn. He had never seen anything like it.
The bodies were intact, not broken or destroyed—no, this was something else. The Onix didn't look like they had been killed in battle. Their bodies were pristine, carefully arranged as if they had been placed here after their deaths.
"How could this happen?" John whispered, the unease growing in his chest. He couldn't fathom it. These Onix weren't just casualties of an encounter; they looked like they had been laid to rest. But who would have done such a thing?
As he ventured further into the cavern, he noticed the Onix here were different from the one he had caught. They were bigger, their bodies rounder and darker. Their rough skin, hardened by age, contrasted sharply with the smoothness of Flash Onix. It was said that as Onix grew older, they became more rounded and their skin tougher. But these Onix—these were something else entirely.
"They weren't killed," John thought, shaking his head. "They were placed here. But why?"
Before he could consider it further, Onix let out a soft, low growl, slowing its pace. John dismounted from Gabite and followed closely behind the creature.
As they moved deeper into the cavern, the ground became even more eerie. The walls were covered in strange, almost unfamiliar markings—lines and carvings that looked like they were made by something far more powerful than a simple Onix.
And then it happened.
The first Steelix appeared.
It was dead, just like the Onix. Massive, imposing, and covered in layers of metal armor, Steelix's once-glowing body lay motionless. More Steelix appeared, each one showing the same eerie stillness.
"What happened here?" John murmured.
He had seen the dead Onix, but the Steelix were a whole new mystery. This place was much more than a simple Onix burial ground. It was the tomb of something far more ancient, far more powerful than John could have imagined.
He continued forward, his heart pounding. It was as if the cavern itself was alive, whispering secrets to him, drawing him deeper into the mystery. And he couldn't help but feel—he was only scratching the surface.