After walking for about ten minutes, the passage ahead came to an abrupt end.
Under the flickering torchlight, a massive "wall" composed of countless jagged boulders and compacted soil loomed before them, completely blocking the tunnel.
The rocks were uneven and razor-edged, their gaps packed tightly with hardened mud. The collapsed mass stretched all the way up to the cave ceiling, sealing the passage without leaving even the smallest crack.
Lin Xia's heart plunged. A chill shot up from his feet to the top of his head, momentarily overwhelming the natural cold of the mine.
Almost instinctively, he turned to his teacher, his voice tight with unease.
"Teacher… did something happen here? A mining accident?"
Lou Gao raised the torch. The dim yellow light traced the firm lines of his face, lending him an air of resolve tinged with solemn gravity.
After a long pause, he let out a quiet sigh and nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the cold stone wall. Deep within his eyes churned emotions that could not be erased—sorrow, regret, and lingering pain.
"Yes," he said softly. "Many years ago… a large-scale geological collapse. It happened in an instant."
He paused, the words weighing heavily.
"Afterward, rescue efforts managed to save only those near the entrance. As for those deeper inside…"
Lou Gao fell silent, releasing another heavy sigh that echoed through the hollow mine, oppressive in its stillness.
"That's why I told you—before you possess sufficient strength and knowledge, you must never prospect recklessly. Underground accidents can strike without warning."
He took a moment to steady himself. When he turned back to Lin Xia and the unusually quiet Larvitar at his feet, his gaze was once again sharp and resolute.
"However, after the disaster, the association and the City Guard conducted repeated surveys. They confirmed that the geological layers in this area have remained stable for many years."
"Other than this collapsed section, no additional dangers were found further in. But clearing a hundred meters of rubble would require enormous manpower and resources."
"And after evaluation, the remaining ore vein simply wasn't worth that investment. So this mine was completely abandoned and sealed."
Lou Gao gestured toward the towering rubble ahead. A complicated light flickered in his eyes—equal parts sorrow and expectation.
"Now, though, this place is the safest possible testing ground. There are no unknown threats—only the most realistic obstacles."
He looked at Larvitar.
"Little fellow, let this teacher see just how far your Digging Hole spirit ability can go."
"Show us what you can do. I'll stay right behind you—never leaving your side."
His tone hardened as he emphasized his next words.
"Remember: if anything feels wrong—if you feel unwell, if Larvitar shows any abnormalities, or if you sense strange vibrations, sounds, or airflow—stop immediately and retreat."
"Safety comes first. Do you understand?"
"Understood, Teacher!"
Lin Xia nodded solemnly, fully grasping the seriousness of his teacher's warning.
Taking a deep breath of the cold, dusty air, he pushed aside the lingering tension left by the tragic memory. He bent down, gently patting Larvitar's head before pointing at the massive wall of rubble.
"Larvitar, it's your turn. Dig through it."
"YOU JI—!!!"
Larvitar instantly burst with fighting spirit.
After a sharp, powerful cry, excited light ignited in its crimson eyes. A powerful aura surged from its small body as it launched forward without hesitation, charging toward the rubble like a gray-green cannonball.
Just a few steps from the wall, it suddenly lowered its body. A thick, solid earthy-yellow light flared to life, coating its short foreclaws and the armored carapace atop its head.
The light carried a heavy, grounded presence—the unmistakable power of the earth.
The next instant—
Pfft—whoosh!
There was no deafening explosion. Instead, a dull, compressed sound echoed as rock and soil were forcibly softened, displaced, and pushed aside.
The moment Larvitar's glowing claws and head struck the rubble, the jagged, seemingly indestructible boulders lost all resistance.
Under the earthy-yellow light, the rocks melted, crumbled, and slid apart as if butter meeting a hot blade, or sand swallowed by a whirlpool.
Gravel and dirt burst outward, shoved aside by an unseen force.
A circular tunnel—more than two meters in diameter—formed before their eyes at astonishing speed.
It was obvious that Larvitar had deliberately dug the passage wide enough for both Lin Xia and Lou Gao to pass through comfortably.
Wrapped entirely in that earthy-yellow glow, Larvitar moved like a perfectly calibrated drill, rotating and advancing forward. Wherever it went, rock retreated, and a passage naturally took shape.
The speed and efficiency far exceeded anything Lin Xia had seen during practice in the courtyard.
Here, beneath the earth, was where its power truly belonged.
Loose gravel and dust fell behind it, only to be swiftly compressed and fixed into the tunnel walls by an invisible force.
In mere breaths, a deep passage extended several meters ahead, faint earthy-yellow light still shimmering at its entrance.
Lin Xia stared in disbelief. Even with mental preparation, the sheer smoothness and speed left him stunned.
This was far beyond his expectations.
Lou Gao's eyes shone even brighter. The earlier sorrow vanished, replaced by awe and unrestrained excitement. His grip on the torch tightened until his knuckles turned white.
"By the heavens… this… this is a divine skill born for the underground! Truly divine!"
"Teacher, let's go!"
Lin Xia snapped back to his senses, suppressing the excitement surging in his chest. He stepped into the freshly carved tunnel, which still carried the warmth and scent of newly parted earth and stone.
The tunnel walls were remarkably smooth, almost polished, faintly warm to the touch.
Lou Gao followed closely behind, his tall frame slightly constrained by the passage. Holding the torch high, he carefully examined the newly formed rock walls and the small figure ahead—Larvitar—still glowing softly as it forged onward through the darkness.
The orange-red torchlight flickered, casting the shadows of two people and one Pokémon onto the damp tunnel walls.
And in the enclosed space, only the muted pfft-pfft of rock being parted, along with their steady footsteps, echoed softly through the underground passage.