EXTRACTION #1

With Josh Devlin

"Let's not linger, Mr. Devlin." Gwyar said as they came upon the ore veins they had been looking for, slowly lowering his phone, the screen still glimmering with the map the league had given him. "I don't enjoy migraines."

Nor the horrors that came with them, in those tight quarters.

As ever, a Gallade, a Riolu and an Aegislash all stood besides the large man, each wearing a hard hat upon their heads, brandishing pickaxes and drills with which to assist in the discovery of new treasures.

"Shall we, then?" Gwyar said as he put on his hard hat and hoisted up a pickaxe, swinging it down firmly into the veins.

---

• Take the brunt equally. Receive 50 RKS POINTS

Sygna Suited up and astride his Manectric, Josh didn't have to worry about migraines. He expected to be the one guarding Gwyar, but with them both having knightly personalities, it was inevitable they would be protecting one another. "I'm not one to linger," Josh answered. "Remember, my Pyroar are ready to help you when we need to beat feet. Not if. When." Thankfully, the quarters weren't so tight that the duo couldn't saddle up if Gwyar didn't have his own means of hastily fleeing when the Ultra Wilds' depths became too much for their minds to withstand.

Being a top contributor to the operation, Josh had established some expectations as to what would happen. It was not enjoyable by any stretch; some of his worst fears came to life in the alien world. Most traumatizing was reliving the worst moment of his life in a twisted way, gaining new respect for Beedrill after being triple-stung in the same way he brutally ordered King Zing to do so to Eris six months ago.

"No time like the present," Josh replied with a nod, spurring his Manectric forward. His four Pyroar zoomed ahead to start their own digging with their claws that were sharp as swords, Aleph the Type: Null serving as rear guard. He wanted to kick some Ultra Beast butt.

EXTRACTION #1

With Josh Devlin

With both men well aware of the looming time limit hanging over them, they got to work.

A cacophony of crashing pickaxes and whirling drills came from the blonde man's side of the caverns as they worked. With each and every one of his pokemon striking at the ore veins full strength, good progress was being made.

Though he could feel the tension and paranoia that usually came from standing inside the skelleton for long begin to settle in, he did his best to ignore and continue his work.

They couldn't afford to be distracted here.

---

• Focus on mining. Receive 1 CURIO.

From the Gym Leader's side came crushing paws. While the Pyroar weren't quite as efficient as the officer's power tools, they were still getting the job done. Josh slid off his Manectric's back to help load the saddlebags of his Pokémon. Even with Aleph's help, which he was more than confident would be sufficient to handle the waves of Nihilego and Poipole headed his way, they had to be ready to flee at a moment's notice. He had been at the Ultra Sea's depths enough times to have an idea the horrors it would put him through. Little was he prepared for their intensity today, though.

"You need a place to store your crystals and what not, Rani's side pouch is open, Gwyar," Josh let his elder partner know. The pride had, likewise, become familiar with what to expect, which is part of the reason he brought the same six Pokémon with him for every operation. As the Ultra Beasts increased in number, Josh would find himself transitioning from the role of miner to the role of protector faster than he would have liked.

EXTRACTION #1

With Josh Devlin

"Ah, thank you. I'll keep that in mind." Gwyar said with a smile, shoveling his goods into the cart.

They truly might end up using Josh's services in the end. The blonde was focusing his efforts on large curios, after all.

Focusing too much on mining and not taking care of themselves, however, came with a shortened time limit, however.

A familiar ripple rocked the caverns as the radiation reached critical levels, the heavy thump of yet another aberration's arrival demanding their attention once more.

A titanic, three headed lioness rose, claws shaped like blades scrapping against the floor as it couched low, its body entrapped in distorted gold steel like it were wearing armor.

"Not the worst looking one we've seen." Gwyar said, rubbing at his chin thoughtfully as he considered the creature before him. "Gawain... If you would."

As his gallade launched into battle, Gwyar began shoveling treasure more fervently into carts.

"Mr. Devlin— I do believe we've best prepare to make an exit. Oh, and— I'll be taking you up on your earlier offer, thank you once again."

---

• Battle a fusion Pokemon. Receive 50 RKS POINTS.

The radiation burst from the Eternatus core began to eat away at the protections of Josh's Sygna Suit. "This is... far more intense than it's been on any of my previous trips here. I get the feeling it's not just us that are running out of time. It's the League... as a whole..." the Gym Leader panted, starting to feel like he wasn't even wearing his suit at all.

He whistled for his Pokémon to gather. All of them did so except for Aleph. The Type: Null looked confused and agitated, the radiation having a different effect on him. No longer able to distinguish friend from foe, he wound up for a CRUSH CLAW when Nala was least suspecting it, felling her in a single blow. The lions scattered, leaving them wide open to a triple HYPER VOICE from the three-headed monstrosity fast approaching. Josh withdrew the fallen Pyroar. "That time might be now, Gwyar," he urged, holding Aleph's Poké Ball in his right hand to withdraw him once they had enough of a lead. "Pick a Pyroar and hop on. We need to leave before we pass out completely."

EXTRACTION #1

With Josh Devlin

"Indeed. Thank you." The man nodded, picking from the Pyroar offered before swinging himself and his load of treasure atop the feline. "Gawain, Galatine! Fetch Raki— we're leaving at once!"

Twice now, he had been fortunate enough to get a ride from one of his mining companions. He would need to thank them properly when there was time.

---

• Escape with your full load. Receive 1 CURIO.

As the core's hum continued to increase, both in pitch and in volume, Josh knew they had very ltitle time to escape. Withdrawing Aleph, he whistled for the rest of the Pyroar to abandon their posts. The great cats, normally having a fairly quiet running stroke, sounded like a stampede as the rock they carried in their saddlebags bounced around inside. Nala, not used to carrying so much weight, started to fall behind. Right when the eye walls were about to trap her, she growled loudly before sprinting through the use of DOUBLE TEAM.

"They're gaining on us!" Josh shouted with urgency, thinking that the decision to leave with their entire haul was greedy. "Hold on tight, Gwyar - this is gonna get rough! DOUBLE TEAM, everyone!" Following Nala's lead, the rest of the lions mirrored the speedy move, Saber keeping up with a QUICK ATTACK. He only hoped the knight had the strength to handle the Pyroar's wildly and rapidly-fiexing back as the rift to Dewford fast approached.