Chapter Ninety-Two: Record of the Little Stone Pool

In the morning, the air on the Land Coral Plateau was crisp and refreshing, lifting the spirits of all who breathed it in. Beneath the clear blue sky, pink coral spores drifted on the breeze, fluttering down like cherry blossom snow.

Enjoying the scenery and gathering materials along the way, Su Yi and Dewgrass arrived at the coral forest where they'd once battled the Swift Dragon.

Between the trees, Fragrant Wing Dragons glided leisurely through the air, snatching up the floating coral spores as they passed.

"Claw marks, footprints..." Su Yi noticed traces on the ground without any need for guide insects.

"These are the signs of the Sakura Fire Dragon. Since the Swift Dragon was tamed, this place has temporarily become her exclusive hunting ground."

The coral forest was not large, and after searching its perimeter, they found no sign of the Skyfaring Dragon.

The Skyfaring Dragon occupied a low ecological niche; with the Sakura Fire Dragon ruling this hunting ground, it would not venture here on a whim.

"Let’s try the plateau at higher altitudes," Su Yi suggested, looking toward the rising terrain in the distance.

Previously, they'd always explored the lower levels of the Land Coral Plateau. The middle layers were where creatures adept at flight truly thrived.

Using vines to climb upward, they ascended a series of undulating plateaus, soon arriving at a vast coral rock forest.

Coral rocks of every hue dotted the plateau, encircled by hills of various shapes, each adorned with vibrant plants and coral.

The beauty before them resembled the legendary underwater palace of dragons.

"So lovely! All these colors, my eyes can barely take it in—it's gorgeous!" Dewgrass spun around, marveling at the view, her eyes sparkling with delight at the discovery.

"Let’s take a photo, Rotom," Su Yi called.

"Finally, I can come out!" Rotom Phone emerged with relief.

Back when they'd first met the third expedition group, it hadn't dared show itself. Though the Wild Master had seen it, explaining its high-tech existence and the Pokémon phenomenon would surely astonish them.

Rotom Phone captured a photo of the dazzling coral labyrinth, built up over untold years.

"I hear the sound of water," Dewgrass said, twitching her cat ears.

"Oh?" Su Yi listened, and indeed heard the gentle murmur of flowing water.

"Is there a pool nearby?" he wondered, gazing around. The hills, entwined with plants, surrounded them, but he couldn't spot any stream.

"Su Yi! If there’s a pool, could there be coral shrimp, pearl clams, lantern fish?" Dewgrass asked eagerly, her eyes gleaming.

"Aibo..." Su Yi sighed with a smile.

She spoke of the treasures they'd found the first time they climbed the Land Coral Plateau. The bounty from that hidden pool had been a delightful surprise, and Dewgrass’s anticipation for such exploration seemed boundless, as if her enthusiasm would never fade.

"This way!" Dewgrass found a gap and waved.

Su Yi squeezed through the narrow crevice between rocks and coral, while Dewgrass’s petite form slipped nimbly ahead.

"Aibo, don’t run so fast," Su Yi called, watching the feline dart into the coral and rock thicket with helpless laughter.

"Here!" Dewgrass shouted excitedly.

Squeezing through, the space opened up before them.

From above, water streamed down from the plateau, collecting in a pool on the open ground.

Within the pool, aquatic plants, fish, shrimp, and shells scattered across the crystal-clear water. Sunlight poured through gaps in the coral rock above, casting myriad shadows and shimmering reflections.

The scene was reminiscent of the landscape described in "Record of the Little Stone Pool":

A hundred or so fish swam freely, seeming to glide through emptiness without anchor. Sunlight penetrated to the bottom, their shadows scattered upon the stones, unmoving. Suddenly, they darted away, swift and lively, as if reveling in the presence of visitors.

"Such a splendid sight, Rotom!" Rotom Phone snapped photos without pause.

"Su Yi! Fish, and shrimp!" Dewgrass whispered excitedly, as though afraid to startle them.

"Understood. Come out, Chansey, Sizzlbug, Cub Cub," Su Yi said, releasing only the smaller-bodied Pokémon due to the limited space.

"Friends, our target is right there!" Su Yi pointed at the fish, shrimp, and shells in the water, grinning.

"Gulu!"

"Chansey!"

Chansey and Cub Cub cheered, eager to begin.

Su Yi placed Sizzlbug atop his head. "Little one afraid of water, stay up here."

"Jiwu~" Sizzlbug chirped, happily clinging to Su Yi’s head, gazing curiously at the wondrous surroundings.

"Everyone, let’s do our best for tonight’s feast!" Su Yi fitted a capture net to his launcher, smiling.

The little Pokémon rallied themselves in excitement.

"Let’s catch them off guard!" Su Yi shouted, rushing into the pool and firing the net toward the densest cluster of fish.

"Gulu!" Cub Cub leapt into the water, using Brick Break and Low Kick to counter the current, batting fish and shrimp out of the water with all four limbs.

"Chansey!" Chansey scrambled to gather the prey Cub Cub tossed up.

Dewgrass, meanwhile, used Cat Strike, slapping fish and shrimp onto the shore with the flat of her short blade.

In no time, the pool became their playground, and Su Yi and his Pokémon reveled in the little world they’d found.

"Ha ha ha! What a harvest!" Su Yi dragged their catch ashore, lively fish bouncing and wriggling—a feast for the eyes.

"A big fish!" Dewgrass cried, clutching the tail of a large fish that thrashed violently, her small paws struggling to maintain their grip.

Splash!

The big fish slipped free, leapt from the water, and just as it was about to vanish into a crevice among the rocks, Sizzlbug atop Su Yi’s head shot out a sturdy silk thread, binding the fish tightly.

"Beautiful, Sizzlbug!" Su Yi grabbed the thread and hauled the fish onto the shore.

"Gulu!"

"Chansey!"

"Meow!"

The companions cheered in delight.

Su Yi exhaled, smiling as he watched his jubilant friends caper and dance.

"Got some great shots, Rotom," Rotom Phone chimed in, perfectly timing its photos.

"Su Yi! There seems to be something here!" Dewgrass called from beside a rock by the shore as Su Yi packed away their catch.

"Oh?" Su Yi approached, spotting a segment of cherry-hued bone sticking out beneath the coral.

"Coral Red Bone? Cub Cub, use Rock Smash to break the coral rock."

"Gulu!" Cub Cub struck, its fist glowing as it shattered the stone above the relic.

Then, Su Yi and his companions began to excavate, soon discovering an astonishing abundance of remains beneath the surface.