Ravaged Path was the only route from Jubilife City to Floaroma Town.
Years ago, rumors that Gible -a pseudo-Legendary- lived there drew in countless Trainers, Pokémon Hunters, and even the Pokémon League itself.
But after just a few years of destructive excavation and exploration, Ravaged Path became truly ravaged.
At the time, Bertha -then a high-ranking Investigator- came to the site, crushed the local Hunter stronghold, and immediately filed a report to have the area renamed Ravaged Path, as a warning to the complacent elites of the League.
Because Bertha already had Elite Four-level strength and was slated to become the Ground-type Elite Four, no one wanted to challenge her over something so minor.
From then on, this place was known as Ravaged Path.
Ironically, because it was so ravaged, the area had slowly recovered over the years, and wild Pokémon had gradually returned.
Haruki recalled all the known intel about Ravaged Path in his mind, then walked in with Skiploom.
Inside the cave, a vast dome stretched out before him.
Beneath the dome, rocky terrain gave way to scattered greenery, mossy patches, and waterfalls formed by intersecting streams, all bathed in light shining through cracks above.
It was breathtaking.
Ravaged? Hardly.
Only the explosion-shaped craters, tree roots buried under moss, and the maze of tunnel holes scattered around stood as remnants of the ruin.
Haruki led Skiploom further in. Along the way, he occasionally spotted a pair of timid Budew, a group of Kricketot humming in bliss, and several Oddish swaying in unison.
Everything seemed calm and peaceful.
Just then, Haruki felt one of the Poké Balls on his battle belt twitch.
"Beldum, what's wrong?"
Haruki picked up the Poké Ball, confirmed that no one else was around, and released Beldum.
The moment it emerged, Beldum bolted eastward like a Poochyena that had caught the scent of meat buns.
Haruki and Skiploom quickly followed, watching as Beldum dove into a low tunnel.
"Don't run off! Skiploom, lead the way."
"Skip~"
Skiploom floated ahead as a guide, and Haruki had no choice but to crouch and crawl into the passage.
The path inside was complicated; clearly carved by some large Ground-type Pokémon.
Haruki marked his way as he went, wondering why "obedient little Beldum" had suddenly acted so out of character.
They walked for over ten minutes, passing one junction after another, yet Beldum's direction never wavered.
Eventually, the tunnel began to rise until it opened up into a wide cavern.
Boom Boom Boom!
"Bee!"
"Skip~"
Their cries echoed across the open chamber.
Haruki looked toward the source and saw Beldum and Skiploom in battle with a Steelix!
…And not just any Steelix.
It was Elite-level!
Beldum was still only Skilled-level, but showed no fear. Its metallic body gleamed as it launched itself headfirst at Steelix. And Steelix didn't dodge either, just barreled into the hit.
Big head met little head in a loud, metallic crash.
Haruki had previously tested Beldum's full-force attacks and confirmed they were already at high Veteran level. But there was still a gap before reaching Elite-level.
So every time Beldum clashed with Steelix, it held steady for a moment… only to be ruthlessly knocked back.
Skiploom, unwilling to see its "obedient little brother" get bullied -though it wasn't being very obedient today- stepped in without hesitation.
Stun Spore, Sleep Powder, Leech Seed… she unleashed them all at once, successfully locking Steelix down.
Then, Beldum charged again.
"STEEEEEEL!"
Steelix let out a furious roar, clearly fed up with these intruders that had come out of nowhere. And yet, it didn't dare use a full-power Earthquake, its treasure was still nearby!
Just then, Haruki, who had been quietly observing from the cave entrance, noticed something unusual.
On the rock wall behind Steelix, several small blue-green stones stood out sharply.
Haruki pulled out his mineral sample case and quickly found a near-identical stone.
Indium-tungsten Ore: it had the property of accelerating the fusion of all metals. When consumed by Steel-type Pokémon, it boosted their absorption of Steel energy, thereby accelerating growth.
Usable during both Beldum and Metang stages!
Haruki's breathing instantly quickened. This was practically a catalyst in ore form.
Pseudo-Legendaries were amazing in every way except their agonizingly slow growth.
This ore felt like it had been made specifically for Beldum.
Suddenly, Haruki froze.
…Maybe Ravaged Path hadn't been destroyed because of rumored Gible sightings back then.
Maybe it was because of its rich mineral deposits!
At that moment, Beldum was struggling in battle.
If it weren't for Skiploom's support, Beldum would've been driven straight into the ground by now.
Still, Haruki wasn't planning to send Marowak in for backup just yet.
A true pseudo-Legendary like Beldum couldn't always hide behind teammates and coast off their strength.
If it wanted the ore so badly, it needed to fight for it.
"Beldum, shift right to dodge!"
Haruki's sudden voice broke through, and under immense pressure, Beldum reflexively obeyed.
The next second, Steelix's massive body lunged forward and slammed into the ground, eating a mouthful of dirt.
"Charging in isn't always wrong, but it depends on who you're charging. If you still barrel ahead brainlessly when facing an obviously stronger foe, do you really deserve the title of pseudo-Legendary?
Iron Head, strike its fifth body segment!"
Beldum's blood-red eye blinked, then without hesitation, it used Iron Head and slammed straight into Steelix's fifth segment.
Boom!
Still down from its failed charge, Steelix took another direct hit and crashed to the ground again.
It, too, was a charge-first-think-later type, and it couldn't understand… 'why wasn't Beldum going head-to-head anymore?'
But what followed was even more infuriating.
"Iron Head."
This time, Haruki didn't even have to give a second command.
Beldum twisted in midair and again struck Steelix squarely in its fifth segment.
Crash!
Steelix hit the ground for the third time.
Skiploom had already floated back to Haruki's side, lavishly using Protect to shield them from the flying debris.
"You sure know how to keep calm."
"Skip~"
Skiploom pressed close to Haruki, signaling for him not to be too mad… her hardheaded little brother surely understood now.
Boom Boom Boom!
Steelix never got up again.
Even at Elite-level, it was too dumb to even Dig and escape, just mindlessly charging the whole time.
It seemed the effects of Indium-tungsten Ore were far stronger than Haruki had anticipated. It had likely raised Steelix to Elite level, but its battle experience lagged behind most Skilled-level Pokémon.
"Beeeee~"
With the battle over, Beldum silently floated back, stopping just within reach of Haruki's hand.
"Go take a look at your prize. You wanted it so badly, why aren't you moving?"
"Bee~"
Beldum's blood-red eye stared fixedly at Haruki.
To others, it might have looked like it was mad, but Haruki could tell it was actually begging for mercy.
They locked eyes for a few seconds before Haruki sighed and gave Beldum's smooth head a pat.
"Alright, go on. Just don't eat too much on your first try."
In the very next moment, Beldum shot backward in a sudden retreat, then zoomed straight over to the mineral wall.