POKEMON : STARTING WITH FLASH METAGROSS

"Then let's go check it out, Metang! Be careful and go around!"

"Beta!"

Seeing there was no need to watch the battle, Metang immediately moved.

Under the cover of the flower field, it bypassed the battlefield and flew straight toward the Beedrill swarm.

The battle between the two groups of Pokémon was so intense that Metang and the others went unnoticed. The surrounding Bug-type Pokémon had all fled, leaving the once-bustling sea of flowers strangely deserted.

Rax tread carefully, feeling an unusual tension.

"Flaaffy!"

skiploom sniffed the air and pointed out the direction for Metang.

Rax silently observed as skiploom eagerly led the way, reminding him of how much Metang had grown since its time as a Beldum, wandering paths aimlessly.

"Could there be something valuable ahead, something skiploom is drawn to?" he wondered.

A few minutes later, a lone Beedrill came into view.

Metang halted, staying cautious.

skiploom, however, acted decisively, dispersing a fine cloud of Sleep Powder.

The shimmering powder, appearing almost like nectar, lured the Beedrill closer. As they came into contact with it, they fell asleep instantly.

"They really don't know what they're dealing with," Rax chuckled at their naivety.

"Flaaffy!"

Skiploom's eyes sparkled, clearly indicating they were closing in on their goal.

The number of Beedrill steadily increased as they progressed. Eventually, one Beedrill spotted its companions falling asleep in the flower field. It emitted a sharp warning cry, alerting the entire swarm.

"Flaaffy!"

skiploom grew anxious and tugged at Rax's sleeve.

"Stay calm! Just guide us to the treasure, and we'll grab it. If we can't escape, we'll leave it behind. Once the Queen Beedrill returns, we'll be in serious trouble."

skiploom nodded. It sniffed the air again and nestled back into Rax's arms, pointing ahead.

"Beta!"

With a burst of speed, Metang charged forward, tearing through the flower field like a silver streak.

The Beedrill swarm, now fully alerted, took off in pursuit. While their speed was impressive, it wasn't enough to match Metang's.

Within moments, more than a hundred Beedrill were buzzing behind them, their pursuit relentless.

"Flaaffy!"

skiploom cried out suddenly, and Metang decelerated, coming to a stop in a clearing.

In the middle of the clearing stood two Queen Beedrill, guarding something.

"Fla!"

skiploom pointed toward the treasure, and Rax followed its gaze.

Amid the dead roots of what looked like a Tropius tree lay a green, faintly glowing crystal.

"A Flying-type energy crystal!" Rax exclaimed, recognizing it from his studies at the Professor Rowan's lab.

Upon closer inspection, the tree roots looked eerily like a Tropius that had turned to ash after death.

"No wonder the butterfree and beedrill are fighting over this. Even skiploom was drawn here—they all share Flying energy!"

"Metang, let's grab it!"

Without hesitation, Metang's eyes glowed with a pinkish-purple hue, unleashing its psychic power. It immobilized the two Queen Beedrill blocking the way.

Rax leaned forward, grabbing the crystal with one swift motion.

"Let's go!"

Metang released its hold on the Queen Beedrill and roared away at full speed.

Angry buzzing echoed behind them as the Queen Beedrill sent out an enraged signal to summon reinforcements. The swarm swelled, and the battlefield's distant Giant Beedrill began rushing back toward them.

As Metang carried them away, Rax examined the crystal. His face fell—it was fractured.

"No wonder this thing's energy was detectable from so far away. It's leaking Flying-type energy!"

Rax turned to skiploom. "Can you safely absorb it inside your Poké Ball?"

skiploom shook its head. The Poké Ball's containment field would destabilize, potentially harming it.

"Then absorb it now. Take in as much energy as you can. Whatever's left, we'll figure it out."

"Flaffy!"

Rax held skiploom tightly as Metang pushed its speed to the limit. skiploom began absorbing the crystal's energy, faint green light glowing from its body.

Behind them, the swarm grew larger, joined by the two Queen Beedrill, who were being carried along by their subordinates.

Rax kept an eye on the path ahead, wary of wild Pokémon drawn to the leaking energy.

An incoming Yanmega darted toward them, its wings glowing white as it aimed an Air Slash at Shaymin.

"Move right!"

Metang banked sharply, dodging the attack with expert precision.

Rax pulled out a can of Bug Repellent Spray, unleashing it on the pursuing Yanmega.

The Yanmega screeched in frustration, its flight path faltering. Moments later, it was consumed by the furious Beedrill swarm behind them.

The chase was far from over, and Rax knew the hardest part was yet to come.