25
The energy in Rustboro was stifling. Between the Devon Corp briefing and the looming threat of two criminal syndicates, I needed a win—a real, official League win.
"Alright, Chat. We're live. No secrets today, just the pursuit of the Stone Badge." I kept the camera focused away from any sensitive Devon tech. "The 'Trial' was just a warm-up. This is for the record."
The Stone Badge Challenge: 3-on-3
Roxanne's gym was built like a lecture hall, but the battlefield was a treacherous landscape of jagged granite pillars and sand pits.
Round 1: The Silver Streak vs. The Geodude. Jerry didn't wait for a command. He used his Noble Rattata speed to kick up a massive dust cloud, building up a Thunderbolt charge. As the Geodude used Rollout, Jerry timed a Super Fang perfectly, catching the rock-type's edge and using the momentum to flip it into a pillar. One hit, one KO.
Round 2: The Street Queen vs. Lileep. This was personal for Tammy. Roxanne brought out an ancient Lileep, using Constrict to trap her. Tammy didn't panic. She used Torment, preventing the Lileep from healing, then triggered Assist. She pulled Kage's Leafage, coating her claws in razor-sharp leaves for a Slash that sliced through the tentacles.
Round 3: The Ninja vs. Nosepass (Rematch). Kage stepped up, his red sash fluttering. Roxanne tried her Magnet Rise trick again, but Kage was ready. He didn't use the 'Solar Drill' this time. Instead, he used Drain Blade, stabbing his stick into the ground to ground the magnetic field. With the Nosepass stuck on the floor, he delivered a focused Sun Rasengan to the center of its "nose."
"The winner is Jake Callison!" the referee shouted.
Roxanne handed me the Stone Badge, her expression soft. "You've earned this, Jake. But remember: stone can weather a storm, but it can also be crushed by the weight of the sea. Watch over her."
The Discovery: Rustboro Tunnel
After the match, we headed toward the Rusturf Tunnel to blow off some steam. Near the entrance, away from the construction crew, Raven suddenly stopped. She began pawing at a loose pile of rubble near a collapsed vein of ore.
"What is it, girl?" I asked, helping her clear the stones.
Nestled in the dirt was a piece of ancient, blackened metal—a Devon Part, but not a modern one. It was an Ancient Sea-Map Engraving, etched into a plate of rare alloy. Beside it sat a Shell Bell that didn't just ring; it hummed with the same indigo frequency as the Soul Dew.
"Genji!" May shouted. The midnight Froakie leaped forward, catching the Shell Bell and instantly tying it around his neck with his frubbles.
The moment the bell touched him, a holographic projection flickered from the map plate. It wasn't a map of the land; it was a map of the underwater currents leading to a place marked only as The Origin Trench.
[Chat Log]
StoneLover: That's an archeological find! That alloy hasn't been seen in 3,000 years!
IceCreamQueen_C: Jake, get out of there. If you found that, it means the sensors for Aqua and Magma are already pinging your location.
SilentRed: [GIF: IT'S A TRAP]
"Everyone, back to the city!" I yelled. But as we turned, a shadow fell over the tunnel entrance. It wasn't Team Aqua. It was a man in a red hoodie, his eyes hidden behind a visor. Courtney, the Magma Admin, stood there, a Camerupt huffing magma behind her.
"The calculation was correct," she whispered in a monotone. "The Anomaly finds the path. Hand over the plate, or the tunnel becomes your tomb."