Successful Escape

"Take them out, we're only a few steps away from the exit."

"Huh? Are you going back?"

"Yes."

"I also—"

"Don't waste time. Once you're out, you can't come back in. If you don't leave, who will carry them? Hold on."

"...I'm sorry, Kashiwagi. We owe you. Ah, take this with you!"

"Alright, let's go."

As Kashiwagi recalled his parting with Hong, the latter's face filled with reluctance and guilt. He shouldered the hammer he had found near the exit and breathed evenly.

He knew that Aron might not necessarily be unable to defeat Rhyhorn. Even if it couldn't win, Rhyhorn wouldn't necessarily take Aron's life either.

Based on his analysis, he didn't need to turn back. There was no need to take such a risk.

Yet, he came back.

Speaking of which, he always felt that he was quite selfish. All his kindness towards others was just a disguise for the sake of fitting in, seeking warmth, and gaining benefits.

So, he came back to win Aron's favor, to uphold the principle of repaying kindness...

Kashiwagi kept convincing himself, like hypnotizing. If it weren't for this, he feared that facing Rhyhorn's crimson eyes, he would have wanted to escape.

"Kill him for me!"

Chaida's shout suddenly rang out, and Rhyhorn followed with a furious charge.

Long, long, long...

The ground trembled with their running, and countless pebbles were stirred up, flying everywhere.

At this moment, Rhyhorn only wanted to complete its mission quickly, so it simply obeyed Chaida's wish and rammed the man in front to shut him up.

In this cramped mine, there wasn't much space to dodge, making it extremely difficult to avoid Rhyhorn's fierce charge.

But he only needed to dodge once.

Just once.

Kashiwagi took two steps back and stood behind the piled stones on the left. These things couldn't stop Rhyhorn's charge, but they could partially block its vision.

Even a Ground-type Pokémon couldn't see through stones and sand.

Come on.

He took a deep breath and stared at the crazy Chaida and the Rhyhorn charging forward.

Nothing to say, only success, no failure.

Bang!

The pile of stones was shattered by the fierce giant beast. Kashiwagi suddenly turned on the headlamp, setting it to the brightest mode without caring if it might dazzle Rhyhorn's eyes, and rolled to the right!

"Ow!"

Intense pain came from his left arm and ribs, as if he had been shot.

But Kashiwagi knew he had dodged The pain came from the gravel that Rhyhorn had knocked away, which was enough to prove how terrifying its charge was.

And when he stood up, the scrapped right elbow and shoulder also felt a scorching pain.

Endure it!

Seizing the opportunity!

Kashiwagi turned around and looked at Rhyhorn, which had bumped into the wall. Chaida urged it to turn around and attack again.

"Take this!"

He roared and flung the hammer in his hand. Chaida didn't even have time to react before he was knocked down, and the hammer hit him somewhere, causing him to scream in pain.

This guy's headlamp had been on from start to finish, making it easy to spot the target!

"Roar!"

With its back empty, Rhyhorn became flustered. Its huge body accidentally stepped on Chaida's leg as it retreated.

"Ah—my foot!!"

Another painful growl.

Rhyhorn froze for a moment, and its already clumsy movements became even more uncertain.

Objective achieved!

Without any hesitation, Kashiwagi ran towards where Aron was.

Pokémon were also creatures of nature, so he never mythologized them. Even just understanding Pokémon would lead to finding ways to "battle" them.

Catch the thieves by catching the king.

Since Rhyhorn was Chaida's helper, it wouldn't just abandon him.

"We're leaving!"

Kashiwagi quickly picked up the half-unconscious Aron on the ground and, to his surprise, found that it wasn't heavy at all.

Turning around and running forward, he quickly passed by the Rhyhorn that was trying to save Chaida, and the latter sensed his escape and immediately showed the intention to chase after him.

"Roar—"

"Shut up!"

Kashiwagi took out a Poké Ball from his pocket and fiercely threw it on the ground.

Bang!

A terrifying flash of bright light engulfed the entire cave in an instant!

"Huh!?"

Rhyhorn was suddenly blinded, with its eyes filled with white light, unable to see anything. In a panic, it ran around, accidentally knocking Chaida to the ground, who then started screaming continuously.

"Don't—let me go—ah! Help..."

"Phew... Phew..."

Kashiwagi panted heavily, trying to absorb more oxygen, allowing him to run even faster.

Uphill was truly life-threatening.

Fortunately, at this moment, the white light symbolizing the exit appeared ahead, and there were no sounds of pursuit from behind. When he charged forward, fresh air rushed over him, bringing a refreshing coolness.

"Ha... Ha..."

Kashiwagi gasped for breath, unable to open his eyes due to the intense sunlight. He could barely keep himself from collapsing to the ground.

He didn't pay attention to the surprised looks and growls around him. He fell into his pocket, took out the jade stone, and threw it to the middle-aged examiner. "Here's the token!"

The middle-aged examiner took it and glanced casually before turning to look at the heavily injured Aron. He frowned, "You brought the Pokémon out?"

"No, it should be wild..." Kashiwagi shook his head.

"How is that possible..."

The middle-aged examiner's words abruptly stopped as a Galar Yamask suddenly flew out of the cave, shaking its head in front of him.

He immediately changed his tone, "Someone, take him and Aron to the hospital! Hurry!"

Immediately, some lackeys came forward with stretchers, carefully carrying the person and the Pokémon and taking them away.

Kashiwagi glanced at the Galar Yamask and whispered to the Aron beside him, "We're safe now, don't worry."

As he said this, he couldn't help but relax himself.

The trip into the mine was indeed short but extremely thrilling, especially the part where he went back to save Aron. Now, thinking back to it, he felt like he had thrown his life away.

"Ah..."