Josh laughed at the dragon master's remark. "Heh, that's one way to put it. I think it's called Area Zero because this is where the Terastal crystals originate from. I don't think it truly was the meteor. Nothing like this could grow in a year and change. I'd be willing to bet a few thousand PD that these have been here the whole time." She was right, though; the place was colossal. Flying down to the very bottom of the cavern would be dangerous, though; there were so many Roaring Moon and Iron Jugulis around that going into open airspace would be a death wish. They could still take a shortcut or two, but staying out of the open would be important.

Josh stopped his Zeraora to let Chomper warm Andrea up sufficiently before continuing on. Clicking another Poké Ball, he let out his Shiny Pyroar to roam around them, even letting Andrea cuddle his warm fur if she was so inclined. He wouldn't be out of his Poké Ball any longer than need be to get her comfortable; keeping track of Sigmund and Aleph was enough. The pair of legendary Pokémon took the lead, bolting after a Sandy Shocks with the intent of double-teaming it in a bloodthirsty brawl.

It made too much sense; the meteoroid impact event was what started the Terastal nightmare. Since then, the caves had radically expanded, culminating in this one that seemed to reach to the very depths of the earth. They were already thousands of feet beneath the surface. How deep did these caves go? How much would their Sygna Suits protect them from the temperatores and pressures potentially at the bottom of Area Zero?

The Sandy Shocks Josh spotted, after seeing its brethren chewed apart thanks to Chomper's Fire Fang, turned tail. Aleph gave some chase, giving up when the unusual Pokémon ducked into a narrow space. "The sheer power behind these suits is incredible," the Gym Leader mused, the flow of Infinity Energy widening from the Shiny lion's presence. "I wish I'd have brought Saber here. He can run as fast as a Raikou when our sync peaks." Such was the power of knowing multiple speed-focused moves; the duo could use them simultaneously to give even the Beast of Thunder stiff competition.

Aslan appreciated the affection, a purr from his powerful lungs perhaps tickling Andrea. "There's still so much we don't know about them," Josh joined her in thought. "Where they come from, what their capabilities are... it's just so much. Especially Sigmund and Tyrfing." The electric thrusters on the Terrakion-like Pokémon's hooves were the secret to its incredible propulsion. He could not wait to strap a saddle to each of the robotic Pokémon and zip across the land. With so many legendary Pokémon out and about, his special Gym Challenge, fueled by Braver the teleporting Arcanine, as well as the ghosts above Mount Pyre, would likely get a lot busier!

Since acquiring his suit, Josh had become much more attuned to Infinity Energy, noticing the surge from Chomper and Andrea as her voice echoed down the cavern. While most of the Pokémon turned tail, a few remained: the most aggressive ones. Little did they know how many would be attracted to the source of the noise. The dragon master's prized Hydreigon seemed to mow them down with FIRE FANGS without issue, but were too many to surround the green dragon, it could spell trouble.

With the area cleared, the placid paradox Pokémon returned to Josh's side, though not after a scuffle between Sigmund and Aleph broke out. A TACYHON CUTTER was quick to silence the Type: Null, who only remained standing because the Iron Crown held back.

As Andrea's grin grew, so did Josh's. "I didn't bring any of my Cyclizar, though," he replied, Raikiri's bolt-whiskers lighting up. "And Raikiri's speed is just so high. Do you even have a--"

A rumble from the Iron Boulder's artificial voicebox prompted Josh to dismount his Zeraora. "...Tyrfing?"

Josh was nervous; his paranoia made him feel that this could have been a trap. Even so, Tyrfing was... unusually calm. The rock-type even crouched, as to gesture Josh to hop on. He rest his sides on the metallic creature's back, looking for a reaction before climbing on. The legendary-feeling Pokémon's body was so broad that the Gym Leader could not stretch his legs wide enough to properly straddle Tyrfing. For the first time, Andrea may have seen Josh looking... awkward while seated on a Pokémon's back, trying to find the best way to comfortably hold on.

"Why here, though?" Josh asked to no one in particular. "Is it because this is where Tyrfing came from? I've had no luck elsewhere. I know one thing, though; when I get him fitted, I'm going to need a saddle design that gives me more flexibility than just laying on his back."

Raikiri seemed eager to run, too. Before the riders of the two Iron Boulder could agree to take off at the same time, the Zeraora had already zipped down the smooth, winding trail leading to the bottom of Area Zero as they knew it. "Hey, don't take off without--" His words were no more as Tyrfing discharged a field of ELECTRIC TERRAIN around Josh, Andrea, and their two Iron Boulder. Tyrfing's QUARK DRIVE hummed, vibration similar to that of a powerful motor coursing through the Gym Leader. He gripped his steed tightly, expecting them to take off. As fast as Aleph could run, the poor Type: Null wouldn't stand a chance.

Little did he know he might have yet another legendary Pokémon he liked more than Raikou...

ROLL 2-10. (JOSH DEVLIN) - Hear the following cry echoing from somewhere deep below:

ROLL A 4, 14, 24, or 100. (JOSH DEVLIN) - Discover mysterious tracks or footprints.

Josh felt a psychic harness strap him to the rock-type's back, as though he was astride Janus. That was all the confirmation he needed: Sigmund and Tyrfing were psychic-types. Was the Pokémon known as Iron Leaves psychic-type, too? He would have to ask Shalin Nariya about it; if there was anyone that could tame such a Pokémon, it was her. She had one in her backyard, but it was so difficult to get time off together. Being a Gym Leader was a busy job, as was a Ranger Captain. Perhaps in the spring, they would get together and be merry at her Romping Grounds.

He couldn't think about that now, though; Tyrfing's charge was rapid and violent, rocking Josh not with the powerful, almost bucking-like strides of a WILD CHARGE, but with the speed of a QUICK ATTACK fueled by the QUARK DRIVE's electric thrusters. Had he worn his Sygna Suit, he could have seen just how fast the Iron Boulder was. Just by intuition, though, it was faster than Raikou. There were so many Pokémon out there with truly legendary speed now. First, Raikiri, then Kora, and now, Tyrfing. Was Raikou really that special anymore?

The strange cry caught Josh's ears, the Gym Leader also mentally wishing for Tyrfing to slow down. His metallic paws screeched against the cavern floor, creating four lines of sparks as the Sacred Sword pumped the brakes. He was quickly learning that as fast as the Iron Boulder was, the species was not good at coming to a stop.

A hump sent Josh and Tyrfing flying into the air, beyond a waterfall, and on top of the same large Terastal crystal where he had sighted Raikou during their last trip there. Until Andrea Vaneau made it over there, her questions would go unanswered. In the meantime, Aleph would be distracted by a Flutter Mane, the phantom flashing a CONFUSE RAY as disorienting as a strobe light.

ROLL ANY NUMBER WITH A 4. - Feel a sudden debilitating pang of fear.

Josh was a little shaken up after the impact, but otherwise okay. "If Tyrfing wasn't a psychic Pokémon, I'd be a lot worse off. His speed is so overwhelming, just like Raikou's." As swift as Terratron was, there was just something uncanny about Josh's Pokémon being among the fastest of their kind. Though Tyrfing's back didn't flex as much as he remembered Raikou's doing, it was still just as rough and tumble of a ride. "Did you feel yours strap you on with its mind, too?" he asked Andrea.

Josh gave Tyrfing a tap on the neck, prompting the Iron Boulder to let him off. He gave the dragon master a pat on the shoulder if she allowed it. "It's something we'll both have to get used to. You and me. How about we do this again, but at my Racing Grounds after hours instead?" the Gym Leader proposed. "There's something special about these two. I want to try to keep them under wraps as much as I can for now." Tyrfing shot Josh a scowl before being recalled into his Poké Ball.

Josh withdrew the rest of his team before taking a seat on Ao's back, the Roaring Moon under his rider's perfect control. "We can go full speed on our Pokémon on land that's designed for it. You'll get the Raikou-riding experience... well, as close as we'll get." Even if Tyrfing was moody and uncooperative, there was always taking her atop Raikiri. That Zeraora was almost as fast as the Iron Boulder was. Plus, they would have more freedom to schedule at more conducive times of the day, as Raikiri was a known quantity.