Along the spiral path, numerous mine caves dot the walls, and travelers pass by many of these as they descend. Where the two stood, the environment was relatively lush, with patches of grass and some vegetation. But looking down into the depths, the ground was bare rock. Surrounding the mining valley were uplifted mountains made mostly of red rock, which is said to emit a faint glow during dark nights, adding a mysterious beauty to the rugged landscape.
When Larry first laid eyes on the Kashi Mining Valley, the place immediately felt familiar to him. It reminded him a lot of Area 0 from Pokémon Vermilion, the winding spiral road descending into the valley and the mining cave carved into the rock walls were strikingly similar.
The main difference was that this place wasn't as lush or vibrant; there were fewer plants and no waterfalls. Also, unlike Vermilion, there were no paradox Pokémon here.
Larry wondered if he'd ever be able to obtain one in the future. Sure, there were powerful Pokémon around, but paradox Pokémon had a strange origin, they came either from ancient times or from the future, making them quite rare and difficult to breed.
Just then, a sharp "Ding! Pokémon successfully bred!"" echoed in Larry's mind. One of his two breeding processes had completed, and the faster one was ready.
Eager, he focused his thoughts and prepared to see which Pokémon had hatched. The new Pokémon had a gray body, with purple wing membranes and four sharp claws. Its face looked fierce, with sharp teeth and hostile eyes, resembling a sky overlord.
Two horns crowned its head, clearly marking it as a dragon-type. It was the Aerodactyl, one of the ancient overlords of the Pokémon world.
Among fossil Pokémon, the Aerodactyl was a prized creature, exactly what Larry had hoped for. Just finding this Pokémon alone made the trip completely worthwhile, not to mention there was still another Pokémon to hatch and the mystery of the Dark Sonata to uncover. Back when Larry played the standalone Pokémon games, he had always enjoyed using the Aerodactyl.
Now, Larry applied Constraint and Oath to the Aerodactyl and examined its stats:
***
Species: Aerodactyl
Type: Rock / Flying
Ability: Pressure
Strength Rank: A
Known Moves: Stone Edge, Iron Head, Earthquake, Roost...
Description: Aerodactyl's savage, draconic form strikes terror into its prey as it tears through the sky with unrivaled speed. Empowered by Pressure, it rapidly wears down opponents by forcing resource expenditure. Its vicious fangs and claw attacks deliver crushing damage, while Roost grants surprising longevity in prolonged engagements. Once a dominant apex predator, its battle style reflects the ruthless instincts of an ancient overlord.
***
The Aerodactyl's power settled firmly at the A-level. But strength wasn't the main focus here, after all, the experience gained between A-level and higher tiers wasn't that significant and could be improved over time. For Larry, having this powerful ancient creature on his team was a major win.
Aerodactyl has a Mega-Evolved form that it can attain once it reaches peak strength, often ranked at the S-level by elite trainers. While its move pool isn't particularly exotic, what truly sets it apart is its innate ability known as Pressure.
Originally believed to be exclusive to powerful Legendary Pokémon such as Ho-Oh, Lugia, and Dialga, the Pressure ability was later found in select non-legendary species as well. Aerodactyl is one of the rare non-Legendary Pokémon to possess this trait, sharing the distinction with others like Absol and Dusknoir.
This intense aura overwhelms opponents, rapidly depleting their stamina and resources in battle, making Aerodactyl not just a relic of the past, but a terrifying predator even by modern standards.
In the game, the effect of Pressure is that when an opponent uses a move, it consumes 1 extra PP, so each use drains 2 PP instead of 1. If two Pokémon with Pressure are on the same side in a Double Battle, the opposing move can consume 3 PP per use, making it a subtle but effective form of resource denial.
Compared to more dramatic or aggressive abilities, Pressure may seem modest. It doesn't boost stats or trigger flashy effects, and while it's certainly better than drawbacks like Truant, Slow Start, or Defeatist, it's often considered a "neutral" or whiteboard ability, solid and tactical, but rarely game-defining on its own. Still, in endurance battles or stall strategies, Pressure can become a key weapon, slowly draining the opponent's options until they're left with nothing.
However, in the real world, the "Pressure" has a much deeper impact. When an enemy tries to act, their energy consumption, both mental and physical, doubles.
This applies whether they're facing one Pokémon or many, making it a truly god-level ability. No matter who the opponent is, their stamina drains twice as fast, which is crucial in long battles where endurance matters. If you're weaker than your opponent, this could give you a chance to wear them down and strike the winning blow.
For Larry, who has a team of S-level Pokémon, a drawn-out war of attrition is unlikely. Still, having "Pressure" on Aerodactyl is a valuable backup strategy. While Marshadow often has little use in battle and finishes fights quickly, Aerodactyl could step in for some aerial support when Gengar and the others are engaged. It's always good to have an extra ace up your sleeve.
The device functions as a negative-effect blessing tool, inflicting a "fatigue" status on opponents that rapidly drains both their physical strength and mental energy. This support ability is roughly on par with that of the Happiny.
While it lacks the healing powers of the Happiny, the Aerodactyl offers effects that the Happiny does not. Once a fierce ancient Pokémon known as the Sky Overlord, it has been transformed into a Tool Dragon under Larry's control.
Its main advantage lies in its unique traits. Being the first fossil Pokémon to be revived, its abilities have exceeded Larry's expectations, making him even more eager to discover the next Pokémon. Now that the Aerodactyl is accounted for, the question remains: which Pokémon will appear next?
Just as Larry and Pyon were about to head down, a voice called out uncertainly from the other side. Both recognized it immediately, it was familiar and unmistakable.
A flicker of surprise lit up their eyes simultaneously as they both thought of the same person. 'Could it be…?'
They turned toward the sound and saw a man standing there, his face equally surprised. Though he no longer wore his old standard suit, his distinct curly beard made his identity clear. It was their mutual friend, Satotz!
"Satotz??" Pyon covered her mouth in surprise, unable to hold back an exclamation.