A water-type trainer who specializes in dragon-type water.

Leaving the scorched earth scarred by the Gigantamax battle, Zhang Heng and Cheng Lan followed the guidance of the aptitude locator and headed towards their destination.

However, Zhang Heng could see from afar that the direction they were heading was a volcano.

The closer you get, the more pungent the smell of sulfur becomes, and the hotter the ground becomes, as if the entire mountain is a giant living furnace.

The volcanic walls are steep and jagged, covered with twisted rock pillars and deep fissures formed after cooling.

They found the entrance to a huge cave, like the gaping maw of a volcano. From the dark depths of the cave, a faint red light shone through, accompanied by a deep rumble from the earth's core.

"The situation inside is unclear, so be cautious."

Zhang Heng whispered, sending Charizard and Cheng Lan's Invisible Dragon ahead to clear the way.

Although exhausted, the Charizard still mustered its spirits, and the flames on its tail acted like searchlights, dispelling the darkness at the cave entrance.

The Kecleon makes full use of its ability to change its appearance, adjusting its attribute to fire, perfectly blending into the environment, like an invisible sentinel, silently probing every corner ahead.

The interior of the cave is intricate and complex, with passages that are sometimes as wide as a plaza and sometimes so narrow that only one person can pass sideways.

The surrounding rock walls are covered with various peculiar minerals, which shimmer with a glass-like luster under the firelight of the fire-breathing dragon.

A scorching stream of air surged from the depths of the cave, carrying a dense concentration of fire energy; each breath caused a burning sensation in the lungs.

After wandering through the maze-like cave for an unknown amount of time, the view suddenly opened up ahead!

They stumbled into an underground space far larger than they could have imagined! Its grandeur far surpassed that of the lava lake area where they had encountered the Flame Centipede.

The dome hangs high, and countless stalactites hang down like inverted swords, shimmering with a dark red light.

At the center of the space is an enormous lava lake, its area comparable to that of a small town.

The lava in the lake was no longer flowing slowly, but was churning violently like boiling water, bubbling and releasing huge bubbles, each of which released a heat wave hot enough to burn the skin.

The temperature here was so high that even with the S-level damp rock field weakening it, Zhang Heng and Cheng Lan still felt as if they were in the core of lava, and their sweat was instantly evaporated as soon as it seeped out.

Zhang Heng immediately looked at the system map in his mind. The light spot representing the champion-level divine beast was almost overlapping with their position at this moment!

He gazed into the distance, looking at the opposite shore of the lava lake and the scattered black reefs in the lake.

There, a large number of Fire-type Pokémon lived, and their auras were far stronger than those of their counterparts outside.

Most notably, there is a giant coal mountain tribe.

Several giant coal mountains, resembling small coal hills and bearing enormous coal deposits, stand steadily on the outermost edge like the foundation stones of the tribe.

Beside them were large coal carts, busily shuttling back and forth, pushing shells that resembled mine carts.

In the most central and safest spot of the community, small charcoal lumps, resembling jumping coals, were playing and frolicking.

Besides the Giant Coal Mountain family, you can also see lava snails here with even redder shells, as if they have been forged through countless trials;

A larger fire-breathing camel with a volcano on its back that spews out columns of hot smoke from time to time;

There are even a few rare, oddly shaped melting ant beasts that prey on ants with their long tongues.

"Charizard, come back and rest."

Zhang Heng decisively recalled the Charizard. The aura of a Celestial King-level being was too conspicuous in this place, and it could easily attract the hostility and challenge of the territorial overlord, just like with the previous Flame Centipede.

He skillfully used the Poké Ball's healing interface to inject Charizard with a specially made injection that effectively restored its stamina and treated its burns.

Just as he was about to carefully scan the entire area to find the target divine beast, his gaze was drawn to an unusual individual in the Giant Coal Mountain clan.

It was a large charcoal cart, but its color was completely different from its surrounding, predominantly gray and black, kind of cart!

Its carapace has a strange bluish-gray color, and the "mine cart" it pushes shimmers with a refined metallic luster, making it particularly conspicuous in the dim light of the lava.

"Could he be the target I'm looking for?" Zhang Heng wondered, and quickly focused his mind, using his system abilities to investigate.

[Pokémon Name]: Coddy Cart (Shiny)

[Attribute]: Fire, Rock

[Level]: 37 (Lord-level combat power)

[Qualification]: Near Champion Level

【Characteristics】: Steam engine

After reviewing the attribute panel, Zhang Heng secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "Fortunately, it's only near-champion level, not my goal."

He was calculating in his mind. It wasn't that this shiny charcoal cart wasn't good enough, but rather that his ambition was greater—he wanted to subdue the fire-type legendary beast hidden here!

"It's a flash?"

Cheng Lan, who was standing next to her, also noticed the unusual large charcoal cart and couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice.

The rarity of Shiny Pokémon is enough to make any trainer's heart flutter, and even though she is a Water-type specialist, a hint of desire couldn't help but show in her eyes at this moment.

"This large charcoal cart... it possesses an extremely top-tier characteristic, one of the few that can be paired with fire and water—a steam engine," Zhang Heng explained to Cheng Lan in a low voice, his tone tinged with admiration.

"What are the characteristics of a steam engine? How does it work when combined with a water system?"

Cheng Lan prefers exploring the ocean depths and raising Water-type Pokémon, but he is not a trainer who is obsessed with battling.

There isn't much knowledge about the characteristics and circumstances of many rare Pokémon.

Zhang Heng patiently explained, "Once this ability is hit by a water or fire-type move, the speed will directly soar to the limit, adding six levels. It is even more terrifying than the 'Accelerate' ability."

"Although the combination of fire and rock attributes makes it four times weak to water, requiring precise control of the attack power, once successfully triggered, its speed will be unmatched."

Of course, Zhang Heng didn't say one last thing: it is also one of the few Fire-type Pokémon capable of Gigantamaxing.

Zhang Heng was indeed very interested in the large charcoal cart, but he also noticed something strange.

He said, "Generally speaking, shiny Pokémon are easily ostracized in their groups, but this shiny Charizard is not only unharmed, but is also in the most protected core position of the group... This is very unusual."

He spoke up to remind Cheng Lan: "That giant charcoal cart is strange. If we try to subdue it rashly, we will probably face a fierce counterattack from the entire Giant Charcoal Mountain clan. It will be extremely difficult."

"Forget it, I'm not a battle-type trainer. If I caught a shiny Pokémon, it would just be wasted in my hands. So, how about this shiny one? Does it meet your standards now?"

Just as the two were talking—

"Roar—!!!!!"

A deep, ancient roar, seemingly originating from the very core of the volcano, suddenly resounded!

The roar wasn't particularly loud, but it carried a kind of majesty and weight that struck straight to the soul!

Immediately afterwards, a shocking scene took place!

The surface of the entire massive lava lake began to drop at a visible rate!

A huge, swirling magma vortex formed in the center of the lake, like a bottomless pit, frantically devouring all the surrounding lava!

A deafening roar echoed continuously, the entire underground space shook violently, and rubble fell from the ceiling!

Even more surprisingly, those Fire-type Pokémon that were originally submerged in lava or living by the lake—Coalossal, Magcargo, Camerupt, Antminer…

Instead of panicking and fleeing, they showed expressions of immense excitement, even piety!

They voluntarily, as if on a pilgrimage, surged toward the center of the swirling vortex, and were then swallowed up along with the scalding lava deep underground!

In just a few dozen seconds, the vast lava lake was completely swallowed up, revealing the dry, cracked lakebed that still radiated astonishing heat!

As the lava disappeared, the temperature in the space dropped sharply. Although it was still unbearably hot, the stinging sensation that felt like it was about to scorch a person instantly had subsided.

Zhang Heng's gaze was fixed on the original center of the vortex.

There, the scene began to distort and ripple, like clear spatial ripples spreading across water after a pebble has been thrown in!

"That's... the entrance to a secret realm?" Zhang Heng muttered to himself, his face filled with disbelief. "A secret realm within a secret realm?"

"A secret realm within a secret realm? What's going on?"

Cheng Lan also had the same question; the scene before her was completely beyond her comprehension.

Zhang Heng suddenly turned around, his face unusually solemn and serious, his gaze fixed intently on Cheng Lan.

Cheng Lan's heart skipped a beat at his sudden solemn gesture. Looking at the boy's eyes, which appeared particularly sincere and eager in the firelight, a blush rose uncontrollably on her face. Her eyes darted away, and her voice was barely audible.

"Although...although you saved me, I...I am very grateful to you...but this...this occasion is not formal enough...the confession lacks a sense of ceremony..."

Zhang Heng seemed not to have heard what she was muttering at all, or rather, his mind was not on her at all. He spoke to himself, his tone serious.

“Cheng Lan, I want to explore that secret realm. The unknown dangers within may far exceed our imagination. However, if I leave you here alone, without the protection of the S-grade damp rocks, it will be difficult for you to protect yourself.”

He paused for a moment, then offered his choice: "I'd like to hear your opinion. If you want to leave, I can escort you back to the edge of this underwater realm first, settle you in, and then I'll come back to explore on my own."

"what?"

Cheng Lan was stunned for a moment, and the blush on her face was instantly replaced by astonishment.

I...I was all ready to say yes, and you tell me this? A strange feeling rose in her heart that she couldn't quite describe as either disappointed or amused.

She composed herself, shook off those chaotic thoughts, and adopted a professional and capable demeanor before speaking.

"It's alright. As a trainer, exploring unknown realms is my pursuit. Now that we've encountered it, why should we back down? Let's go in together."

Zhang Heng nodded and took out a Poké Ball for his Charizard. Cheng Lan also took out a Poké Ball at the same time and said to Zhang Heng, "Your Charizard is injured, and carrying two people in flight is too much of a burden. I also have a Flying-type Pokémon."

Zhang Heng was about to remind her that if her Pokémon wasn't Fire-type, it might not be able to withstand the strain here, but Cheng Lan had already thrown the Poké Ball out.

"Oh!"

A flash of white light, and a bighead gull appears! It has a huge orange beak pouch, white feathers covering its body, and striking blue wings and tail feathers.

"Chirp—!"

The Pelipper let out a clear, long cry. With its appearance, the surrounding fire-type energy seemed to be challenged, and the Pelipper was naturally surrounded by dense water vapor, passively triggering the Rain ability!

The water vapor and the scorching fire energy clashed fiercely, producing a hissing sound and rising into large swaths of white mist that enveloped the beaked gulls, creating what seemed like a mini sauna.

Zhang Heng was stunned for a moment when he saw the steaming scene, but then he understood: "This is a protective water mist formed by the interaction between the water system energy and the environment caused by the characteristics of rainfall. Although it cannot completely isolate the high temperature, it can greatly alleviate the damage."

Cheng Lan gracefully flipped onto the back of the beak and said, "Let's go!"

Without further hesitation, Zhang Heng released the Charizard, which had recovered somewhat, and mounted it.

The two exchanged a glance, then simultaneously spurred their mounts, transforming into two streaks of light, one red and one white, which rushed straight towards the constantly rippling spatial waves suspended above the dried-up lake bottom, instantly disappearing into them.