"...so if you do have 215 bones, you would prove modern evolutionary theory correct about anthropological traits in Ursaring! Plus, your skull is strangely shaped and your legs are oddly positioned. Are you a strong swimmer? " Howard continued his interview as they continued their trek deeper into the path. He instinctively felt the ridges on the Gigaton Ball as they proceeded. "If so, that supports my hypothe-"

Suddenly, the Ursaluna lunged forward and got super close into Howard's personal space, knocking him over. He immediately stiffed in fright. If he tried to jolt, the beast could bite his head off. He stared at it, sweating buckets. Their eyes locked together for several seconds, before the Ursaluna sniffed at the ball.

The first thing that went through Howard's mind: Arceus above, this thing reeks.

The second: I'M NOT DEAD I'M NOT DEAD I'M NOT DEAD!!!

As it continued to sniff the ball, Howard glanced at the Ursaluna with a strange possession. This ball was ancient, made from the old method of constructing Pokeballs. This Ursaluna was distinct from modern variants. It didn't take a genius to figure it out.

"I see. This is yours." It wasn't worded as a question, but a statement. Howard slowly slipped out from under the bear in a dexterous manuever, before staring it in the face. He looked at the Gigaton Ball again, and crossed his arms. This bear belonged to someone. Or, at least, it had.

That meant these were often captured, not just tamed. How many of these creatures existed at other points of time? It wasn't just a missing link, or anthropological division, or something else. It was a matter of life and something more. Howard was quiet for a moment, processing the information silently.

Then, a sound rang out.

"Ha."

"Hahahahahahahaha!"

Howard laughed loudly as he readjusted his hat. It was a delightful sound, out of place in such a dangerous situation. It wasn't the laugh of a mad scientist. It was instead a simple laugh of delight and pleasure. They had uncovered a plot, and this creature was a small part of it. Nonetheless, Howard reveled in it. This was the study of academics! Was this not why he studied the past? To find answers? And when he found those...

"It's just too much. Every time I find answer a question, there's ten more! If you belong to someone, then that raises a dozen more questions! What are you? Why're you helping us? The search never stops." Howard straightened his hat. "There's just too much to learn. Not to worry. I'm sure we'll find the secret to your existence, one day."

His eye softened as he looked ahead. "There's just too much to learn. The world's just too big."

While Howard inspected the Gigaton Ball, he couldn't help but shake the feeling that something was amiss. Why use this specific ball? Who was the owner? Why would it be buried in that field? He had assumed it broken, but now that the Ursaluna was here... He looked at it, really looked, before preparing to return the Ursaluna to its Gigaton Ball.

Then the walls grew eyes.

"Eep!" Howard immediately sprinted and hid behind Isaac Merlo , poking his head out from behind the man's shoulder. Hopefully Grigori Sokolov wouldn't mind his betrayal. After Ultra Plant, eyes had become a sore spot. "Sorry, you're just the closest meat-shield. Can't endanger the bear, since it's part of a study." Howard told the man, before peering at the Glimmora. They tended to gather around Tera Crystals. He should've seen them coming. "Please understand!"

In response to the Glimmora, Howard's Golurk lunged forward with a Zen Headbutt.

Here goes nothing... Howard thought to himself. He couldn't process everything from the Gigaton Ball's inspection, but he could still hit the button on the ball.

He hit the button.

---

PATH 2 SQUAD
Attempts to return bear to Gigaton Ball after inspecting the item with a professional eye.
Golurk is using Zen Headbutt on the Glimmoras
Attempts to use the Gigaton Ball to recall the Ursaluna from damage.
Salacing

xlhDcule

Considering that you're already drenched head to toe in swampwater, wading through even more isn't much of a roadblock for you. Slow? Sure, especially when you have to lug Chester around, but difficult? No, not really. A pain in the ass? Definitely, but compared to everything else you've gone through today, it's nothing more than a slightly irritating walk in a very unpleasant park.

At least, until the Dhelmise arrived.

"SHIT!" You snap, narrowly dodging a chain fired in your direction. Nothing could ever be simple, could it? One moment, it's ghouls, and the next, its ghosts. And why are they all magenta? What kind of weird shit do these aliens have going on? You didn't see any weird magenta shit when you were in the Ultra Plant, so why are these guys so obsessed with it? Not much about this makes sense to you, but you suppose that's your fault for not reading all the circulars they clog your inbox with. And for skipping out on all those refresher meetings you get invited to. And for mentally tuning out when people start explaining it... Wow, you really fucked yourself here, didn't you? But you don't have time to linger on that, as another chain narrowly misses your head. Alright, they want to fight? You'll give them a fight. "Chester, Shadow Ball!"

"No thank you."

"No thank... WHAT!?"

"I'm sorry, old sport, but I can't reveal myself! These are clearly nefarious hitmen of the Maritime Union, hired by my numerous and hateful enemies, here to make an attempt on my life! I must stay in hiding, lest these scallywags succeed in their dastardly mission. But, don't fear! I'll reveal myself once my security team have taken care of these scoundrels."

Security team? Does he mean YOU? Oh, this motherfucker! Why do you have to get your hands dirty while he gets to sit back and relax? Who does he think you are, Boris B. Bodyguard?! You won't stand for this. If he doesn't want to work, you'll just have to MAKE him work! Slowly, you gather your strength, and then, as though launching a shotput through the air, you toss the Substitute through the air, directly towards the opposing Dhelmise.

"Fucking HIT them, YOU CUNT!"

"AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"

Finally, the Gholdengo acts. The mouth of the doll opens, and from it emerges a golden arm. It points a finger upward, calling forth ghastly energy from the gloomy surroundings to coalesce upon its fingertip. Then, when it grows sizable enough, it launches its Shadow Ball, towards one of the many Dhelmise in an effort to neutralise the wretched assassins. Meanwhile, you grab one of the dodged chains as it retracts back to the one who fired it, dragging you along with it. Certainly a dangerous method, but it's definitely one way of getting where you need to go.

---

TL;DR - Shred gets into an argument with Chester C. Coins over a disagreement in tactics (It's a good thing Shred is alone, because if people heard him talking to his Pokemon and calling them swears, they might think he's weird). Eventually, he tosses Chester's Substitute towards the Dhelmise, forcing the Gholdengo to use a Shadow Ball on the Dhelmise. Meanwhile, Shred takes advantage of a missed Anchor Shot by grabbing one of the chains, pulling him through the water and towards the other side.
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they wade through the waters, following the dim light in the distance and the others in their group. they're sluggish as they move, unable to see, everything a blur in the dark and the damp. their only thought now is to find the way out, so they don't become entombed here like the other bodies they've seen. their mind briefly flickers back to the bloodmoon ursaluna, which they think they saw in the previous cave... however much they would have loved to have studied it and gotten some pictures, survival takes priority here.

they don't realize what's happening until it happens, because they're so far behind the core of the group. they're slow to respond to the warning cries, stopping and feeling for a pokeball when they realize something's up. before they can call upon one of their pokemon to assist them, though, they feel something tugging them down again. they fight against it, trying to pull away, not wanting to end up in the mud again.

perhaps it's because they're so far behind that they manage to break free. they reach their pokeball and call upon their serperior, who manifests and immediately thrashes his tail at the dhelmise, helping nikola get away.