Chapter 8: Letting Go of the Past

The only reason Naruhiko kept moving despite his utter exhaustion 

was the promise of a better future. 

Kashiwagi believed that, at moments like this, everything except the rewards within reach was just an illusion. 

So whenever Naruhiko started slowing down, Kashiwagi would say something to provoke him. 

As the provocations increased, Naruhiko's expression became noticeably irritated, but his steps grew firmer. 

However— 

It was as if fate enjoyed toying with them; their journey was always fraught with hardships and challenges. 

Just as they reached the fork where they had earlier encountered the Graveler, a new crisis struck! 

From the left-hand tunnel, a tank-like, earth-gray, four-legged Pokémon charged out. 

It seemed somewhat panicked, carrying a screaming man on its back. 

The man's right arm was twisted unnaturally. 

The moment their eyes met, Kashiwagi's brow furrowed sharply. 

Naruhiko's eyes filled with despair, 

while Shibata's face shifted from panic and pain to delight and malice. 

"Hahaha! Do you think I won't recognize you just because you're wearing a mask? Rhyhorn! Kill him for me!" 

Shibata's shout quickly echoed through the entire cavern. 

"Run! Run ahead, fast!" 

Kashiwagi freed up one hand and quickly pulled a purple ball from his pocket, throwing it to the ground. 

Bang!

The ball exploded, releasing a thick purple fog that swiftly filled the fork. 

It was a Smoke Ball, a tool designed to obscure a Pokémon's sight and scent. It wasn't cheap. 

The fleeing Rhyhorn had no real interest in chasing them to begin with, and losing sight of its targets made it even more sluggish. 

Shibata's angry shouts echoed in frustration. 

Within the smoke— 

Naruhiko, who had been lagging behind, suddenly overtook Kashiwagi. 

Even though he had been on the verge of collapse, he now burst forth with a new surge of energy, running faster than ever. 

"Focus on saving yourself! Just put the person down!" 

Kashiwagi whispered urgently. 

At this point, there was no need to cling to saving others when their own lives were at stake. 

"You put yours down first! If you do, I will too!" Naruhiko shot back without hesitation, not even turning his head. 

Yet he was still certain that Kashiwagi hadn't abandoned the two he was carrying. 

Idiot! 

What's the point of this stubbornness right now? If you need to give up, then give up! 

Kashiwagi gritted his teeth. 

From the vibrations behind him, he knew the Rhyhorn had picked up their trail again. 

There was no helping it. Both of them reeked of sweat and blood. It was impossible for the Rhyhorn to miss their scent. 

And when it came to running in a straight line, that Pokémon was incredibly fast. 

Even at his peak, Kashiwagi wouldn't have dared to claim he could outrun it. 

Now, burdened by two people? Impossible. 

"Run, you cowards! Let's see how far you get!" 

Shibata's venomous voice echoed from afar. 

He had transformed his pain into intense hostility, likely imagining some grudge-filled scenario in his mind. 

Getting targeted by someone like him was pure bad luck. 

What a pity. 

Kashiwagi sighed inwardly. 

Without hesitation, he threw the person he was carrying onto the edge of the tunnel. 

The exit was less than 500 meters away. 

Even though the path sloped upward, carrying two people would only take him a little over a minute. 

It was a shame. 

Good luck to you two. 

Maybe Shibata, in his desperation to chase us, will leave you alone. 

If so, that's your slim chance at survival. 

"I've ditched one! You should stop hesitating too!" 

Kashiwagi shouted, freeing his other hand to untie the rope around his second burden. 

At that moment, Shibata's scream rang out from behind them. 

"Ah! What is this thing?! Where did it come from?!" 

Kashiwagi dropped the person from his back but kept running. 

He turned his head for a fleeting glance and caught a flash of silver light, dazzling and brilliant. 

A Pokémon's roar followed. 

"Guu!!" 

"Rrruhh!!" 

—Aron! 

Kashiwagi immediately recognized that familiar cry. 

After all, he had been startled by it twice before. 

Had it followed them again? 

And now it was fighting the Rhyhorn and Shibata? 

Aron… 

Rumble, rumble, rumble—!!

The violent shaking and falling debris interrupted Kashiwagi's thoughts. 

Looking back again, he saw large rocks collapsing from the ceiling, sealing off the path behind them. 

Shibata's shouting and the cries of the two Pokémon were completely muffled, cut off from the runners like a gate slamming shut. 

A gate named safety. 

Kashiwagi: "..." 

He stopped abruptly, spun around, and rushed to the person he had abandoned first. 

He grabbed them and then went for the second one as well. 

Naruhiko, who was just about to drop his own burden, turned instinctively and was dumbfounded by what he saw. 

"You actually dropped them? Wait, why are you picking them up again?" 

"Shut up and run." 

Kashiwagi didn't waste time explaining, keeping his eyes fixed on the exit ahead. 

Naruhiko wanted to ask what was going on, but seeing Kashiwagi's resolute expression, he swallowed his words and followed. 

To his surprise, Kashiwagi began running faster and faster. 

Even on the steep incline, he quickly pulled more than ten meters ahead, the gap widening with every step. 

"Wait, what?!" 

It was only now that Naruhiko realized—if Kashiwagi hadn't been waiting for him, he might have been out of the mine long ago. 

--- 

"Ahhh! Where did this thing come from?! Kill it already!" 

Shibata's furious roars echoed through the cavern. 

Aron stared at the snorting Rhyhorn, which seemed enraged, its posture tense and wary. 

But Aron's thoughts were elsewhere. 

Did that boy make it out? 

I hope so. 

The first time it saw him, Aron had been shocked beyond words. 

It had never expected to see him again. 

But soon after, it realized—his face and hairstyle only resembled someone it had once known. 

The two looked completely different. 

Of course. 

It had been abandoned and left in this unfamiliar land. 

There was no way they could meet again. 

Aron had imagined that person might one day come looking for it. 

But that had always been a fleeting dream. 

In the end, its most vivid memory was of the back that had fled without hesitation. 

Hatred? 

Maybe a little. 

But mostly, Aron didn't understand. 

Why? 

What reason was there to abandon it? 

Weakness? Slowness? Rebellion? 

No, none of those seemed right. 

After all, wasn't it you who said, 

"It's a Trainer's duty to help weak Pokémon grow stronger"? 

So why? 

Aron just couldn't comprehend it. 

"Guu!" 

Fueled by its frustration, Aron charged forward, its head enveloped in a silvery glow. 

But the Rhyhorn, as if waiting for this, raised its hooves with a menacing gleam in its eyes. 

Boom!

The powerful stomp struck Aron's face like twin hammers, pinning it to the ground. 

The silvery glow of Iron Head flared brightly, creating a cloud of dust that quickly dissipated. 

"Is it done? Damn thing, wasting my time! Break through those rocks now!" 

Shibata's twisted face shouted commands. 

"Don't let Kashiwagi escape! Kill him at all costs!" 

The Rhyhorn ignored Shibata, keeping its gaze locked on Aron beneath its feet. 

Aron struggled to rise but was no match for the Rhyhorn's strength. 

What a foolish little thing, the Rhyhorn thought. 

To challenge me alone? Ridiculous. 

Just as it prepared to crush Aron further, it suddenly felt its footing give way. 

Looking down, it noticed a small hole had appeared beneath its hooves. 

Aron was gone. 

Enraged, the Rhyhorn roared. 

Its legs glowed brownish-red with energy as it slammed them down furiously. 

Boom! 

The impact sent shockwaves through the cavern, splitting the ground and collapsing more rocks from above. 

Aron, hiding underground, was exposed by the violent quake. 

For a moment, panic and confusion flashed across its face. 

Then— 

Bang!! 

A blast of energy erupted, throwing Aron out of the ground like a volcanic explosion. 

It landed heavily on the ground, its body battered and one side of its face scorched black. 

Aron tried to focus on the approaching Rhyhorn, but its strength was fading.

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