The cavern was originally a mining vein operated by the Devon Corporation. At first, it only produced elemental stones for crafting Pokéblocks.
But the deeper they dug, the more they uncovered something startling, an enormous mine filled with countless veins of all types of elemental minerals. The sheer abundance was unbelievable.
Devon took advantage of this goldmine, growing step by step from a small-time company into a cross-regional powerhouse, now widely recognized across the world.
However, for reasons unknown, the Verdant Cavern, once the cornerstone of their original capital, was abruptly shut down.
Instead, it was opened to the public, allowing trainers to explore at will. Though this act catapulted Devon's reputation to legendary heights, the financial losses were immeasurable.
Yes, they made a fortune through outside gambling dens, but compared to monopolizing such a massive cake all for themselves, it was hardly worth it.
Over the years, countless trainers had explored and mined the Verdant Cavern. The expedition zone extended nearly ten thousand meters, and the number of branching paths had multiplied into an ant nest of complexity.
No one could say how many treasures the explorers had taken from within, but it must have been astronomical.
All of it, Devon's loss.
No one knew why Devon made such a move, but it didn't stop the ever-curious trainers from throwing themselves into the mystery of the tunnel.
"Murkrow, blow away this fog!"
Sieg raised his voice, guiding his Murkrow while using the headlamp on his helmet to barely distinguish the way forward.
As the fog cleared from a patch ahead, Sieg finally managed to unfold his map and verify his location.
He was currently on the main central path of the Verdant Cavern. Besides this main corridor, there were countless branching paths, twisting, cramped, and dangerous.
People often got lost in the depths and became prey to the wild Pokémon lurking in the dark.
Sieg scattered a special ash powder he had developed along the path to mark his way. Following the map, he had been walking for over four hours before finally exiting the outermost zone.
"Murkrow, use Astonish!"
A flicker of eerie light pierced the darkness. With a startled shriek, a wild Geodude appeared.
Sieg quickly gave orders, and with the coordinated efforts of Eevee and Murkrow, they swiftly took it down. The deeper he ventured, the more low-level Pokémon began to emerge.
"A Geodude with the hidden ability Sand Veil, huh? That could fetch a good price later."
Sieg kept encountering low-level Pokémon, Rattata, Wurmple, and the like.
These creatures varied in species, but shared one trait: malnourished and frail.
Despite their weakness, they were extremely aggressive. Sieg had already been attacked by more than a dozen on the way.
"It seems their only food source is trainers like us. They've survived by feeding on humans."
Sieg quickly grasped the cruel reality.
There were no plants in the Verdant Cavern, and most of the wild Pokémon couldn't eat each other. The visibility was so poor that they couldn't even tell directions. Geodude could manage by eating rocks and sand, but others had no choice but to prey on humans.
Especially carnivorous species like Zubat, they would even go for human flesh.
Still, Sieg hadn't encountered any real danger in the outer areas. The wild Pokémon were mostly below level 15.
With his two partners by his side, they easily swept through enemies.Murkrow, now accustomed to combat, had taken out dozens of wild Pokémon.
Eevee, on the other hand, still hesitated. Every finishing blow had to be delivered by Murkrow.
Even so, Sieg was satisfied. At the very least, Eevee no longer flinched or showed hesitation. She attacked decisively.
"One bite at a time, one step at a time. Personalities can change slowly. We've got time, no need to rush."
Sieg was patient with her.
An hour later, he finally stopped, not just from his own fatigue, but because both Murkrow and Eevee were exhausted and panting heavily.
He released Crawdaunt to guard the area.
Sitting down, Sieg gently massaged Murkrow and Eevee, helping them relax and recover from fatigue.
He had to admit, these two Pokémon were terrifyingly gifted. No wonder, after all they came from a Gym and a League Breeding House.
In just a few hours, their combat ability had improved rapidly. At first, they'd get lightly injured, but now, they could coordinate flawlessly and finish battles in the wild with ease.
Especially Murkrow, born for battle. His sense of timing was flawless.
During their trek, he even reached level 15 and learned Wing Attack. Once mastered, he wouldn't need to rely on Peck anymore.
After a short rest and some recovery, Sieg and his team resumed their journey into the depths, following the map.
Along the way, they passed several exposed mineral rocks. Sieg used a steel alloy pickaxe to crack them open, but only found common steel inside.
While it held some value, it wasn't worth the burden of carrying it around. His spatial backpack was already packed.
As Sieg passed a fork in the path, an unbearable stench suddenly wafted from within. But it wasn't just foul, it was rank and putrid, like rotting meat soaked in brine.
The acrid smell drifted from deep inside the forked path.
He instinctively covered his mouth, frowning. Eevee, with her sensitive nose, recoiled and looked at the shadowy corridor with disgust.
Sieg released Crawdaunt and cautiously raised his flashlight toward the end of the path. There, two blobs of dark, sticky sludge writhed in the gloom.
In an instant, their name flashed through his mind.
Grimer!
Poison-type Pokémon that feed on trash and exude an unbearable stench.
Some environmental companies adore Grimer, since they're great for waste disposal, a problem that often gives people headaches. With Grimer, that issue vanishes.
"This is...!"
The beam of Sieg's flashlight swept across a corner, revealing two white skulls, still glimmering with a faint, eerie glow.
"Razor Shell, Crawdaunt, now!"
"Craaaw!"
With a mighty leap, Crawdaunt slashed down, pincers crossing in a deadly arc. With one clean strike, both Grimer collapsed, knocked out cold.
Without hesitation, Sieg threw two Poké Balls and captured them.
"Murkrow, blow away the stench here."
After ensuring the air was breathable, Sieg slowly approached the dark corner. Two cleanly placed skulls, alongside a pile of shattered human bones, greeted him in silence.
He stood quietly.
Behind him, Eevee trembled and hid behind Sieg's legs.
Murkrow merely glanced at her with contempt before perching coldly on Sieg's shoulder.
"Grimer... omnivorous. They really eat meat, huh..."
Sieg's calm murmur echoed at the end of the forked path, his pitch-black eyes glowing with a chilling light.
He used a shovel to bury the bones, then left that filthy, sinister place behind.
Beep beep beep-
The sound of the Pokédex chimed. Sieg checked the details of the two Grimer.
One of them had inherited the move Shadow Punch.
"A decent surprise," he murmured.