With Kubfu leading the way, Johan and his team safely returned to the entrance.
However, that didn't an they were out of danger.
Between the entrance and the other side of the mountain lay a long and winding tunnel.
The massive commotion caused by Heatran could easily lead to a tunnel collapse if they weren't careful.
Additionally, the magma within the cave was unusually turbulent. If they recklessly charged into the tunnel to escape, the backflow of magma could prove just as troubleso and dangerous.
"We can't let Heatran get any closer. Its movents could bury the tunnel!"
Steven, with his experience in mining, spoke with authority.
As he spoke, he threw out two Poké Balls.
"Aggron, Armaldo, the tunnel is in your hands!"
"Garrr~!"
"Ka-kah~!"
Clad in heavy tallic armor, Aggron possessed the sheer strength to withstand any boulders that might fall within the tunnel.
Likewise, the armored Armaldo could use its sharp claws to ensure the tunnel remained unobstructed.
"Ninetales, go help them," Johan said.
"Oowoo~"
Ninetales leaped from his belt.
Despite the cave's scorching heat and the surging magma, Ninetales wasn't entirely powerless—though it was certainly less agile than it would be outside.
Instead of fighting, it was better suited to reinforcing the tunnel alongside Aggron and Armaldo by freezing and strengthening it.
The arrival of the nimble Ninetales brought a refreshing chill behind Johan's team, slightly alleviating the oppressive heat from the magma.
"Garrr!!"
Heatran paid no heed to Johan's plans and let out a deafening roar.
A scorching, golden-red light rapidly gathered in its mouth.
"Teacher!"
Flannery, who had been holding back the magma, shouted, signaling him to look at Heatran.
"I see it!" Johan responded gravely.
Within his sight, information about Heatran's incoming move materialized.
Magma Storm!
Heatran's signature move!
Not only did it possess imnse destructive power, but it also created a prolonged fiery storm that prevented Pokémon from switching out.
Given the current terrain and magma-filled environnt, the move would likely bypass accuracy checks altogether.
"Flannery, go find the Volcanic Keystone! Steven and I will handle this!" Johan ordered, frowning.
"The Volcanic Keystone?"
Flannery was montarily stunned.
"It's a solidified rock ford from cooled magma, closely linked to Heatran's existence. I suspect the keystone has loosened, which is why Heatran is so agitated."
The exact relationship between the Volcanic Keystone and Heatran was unclear.
To draw a comparison, it was akin to the connection between Spiritomb and the Odd Keystone.
In Pokémon Generations, Flint's younger brother, Michael, had cald a raging Heatran by restoring the Volcanic Keystone to its rightful place.
Flannery didn't have ti to question how Johan knew so much about Heatran.
The real issue was—how was she supposed to find the Volcanic Keystone in such a vast, magma-filled area like Mt. Chimney?
"Where do I look?" Flannery asked urgently.
Johan's mind raced.
He recalled his first visit to Mt. Chimney's interior with Steven, when their Gastly had discovered a peculiar stone within the mountain.
Perhaps that stone was the Volcanic Keystone?
"I think I know a place. Gengar!"
"Ka-kaah!"
Gengar floated out from Johan's shadow.
"You rember, right?" Johan asked.
"Ka-kaah!" Gengar gave a thumbs-up—it knew exactly what he was referring to.
"Great!" Johan turned to Flannery. "Gengar will lead you there!"
"Understood!"
Flannery quickly summoned her Torkoal, which dove into the magma. She leaped onto its back.
With Gengar guiding them, Flannery and Torkoal set off in search of the Volcanic Keystone.
But first, they had to get past Heatran!
"Garrr!!"
At that mont, Heatran's Magma Storm had fully charged, and a blazing torrent of molten fire erupted.
"tagross!"
"Kon-ginn!!"
A layer of heavy psychic energy enveloped Steven's shiny tagross as it charged straight toward the fiery onslaught.
Zen Headbutt!
BOOM!!
The terrifying collision sent molten lava flying. tagross was blasted backward, crashing into the rocky wall.
To be fair—
Steven's tagross was incredibly powerful, but against the Fire-Steel type Heatran, it was at an absolute disadvantage.
Moreover, the lava cave was Heatran's ho turf, amplifying its strength the more the magma surged. tagross alone wouldn't be enough to stop it.
Steven frowned and took a deep breath, reaching for his lapel pin.
Johan's eyes twitched—he quickly stopped him.
"Steven!" Johan called out. "I'll handle this."
Now wasn't the ti for ga Evolution.
Sure, ga tagross would gain a significant power boost.
But unless they could defeat Heatran in one decisive strike, that temporary surge in strength would only allow them to stall for a short while.
Besides, Steven wasn't yet fully proficient with ga Evolution—if he overexerted himself here...
That would only increase Johan's burden.
Steven was briefly stunned, then relaxed.
Right.
Johan was here.
It wasn't ti to go all out just yet.
Steven smiled slightly. "Teacher, I'll leave it to you."
Johan tossed out two Poké Balls.
"Dragonite, Charcadet!"
"Draaa~"
"Goka!"
Two figures, one large and one small, materialized.
Johan chose not to summon Tinkaton for now—like tagross, it was a Steel-type and wouldn't fare well in this environnt.
Thinking about it—
The magma wasn't just a problem for Steven. It hindered Johan too, albeit to a lesser extent.
"Dragonite, Water Pulse!"
While Flannery and Gengar had successfully drawn Heatran's attention, it sank lower into the magma, stirring it up further.
Whoosh—
A rushing stream of water struck Heatran, cooling its temperature and pulling its focus onto Dragonite.
"Garrr!!" Heatran's rage wasn't extinguished—it only grew stronger.
"Goka!"
Charcadet stepped forward.
"Sir, would you consider granting so respect?"
Heatran didn't even glance at it.
"Goka! o(>O
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