Part 16: Good Thing Random Encounters Don't Exist

Music: Ranger Base


After showing up in Summerland, they've gone back to hiding.
What worries me are the Stylers that the Go-Rock Squad were using. According to Cameron's report, they sound similar to my stolen Super Styler. One, it can capture any Pokemon without the expertise of a Ranger. Two, it enables the use of Pokemon abilities over and over, even for criminal deeds. While there appear to be minor changes, those Stylers are undoubtedly based on my Super Styler. Worse, there's something that's of an even bigger concern...
Professor... Is this what worries you? The Super Styler--which isn't fully developed--could harm Pokemon if they are forced to use their abilities.
Professor, do you remember what Cameron wrote in his report? When Circe captured the Go-Rock Squad's Pokemon, they were automatically released. Could that mean their Styler hasn't been perfected yet?
That's correct, Spenser. That reasoning is sound. It appears as if the Go-Rock Squad's Styler cannot fully control Pokemon yet. When a Pokemon under their control is captured by a Ranger, it appears to return to its natural state. The sense of justice in the hearts of Rangers must have an effect on such Pokemon. However, we still must do something before the Go-Rock Squad perfects their Styler. In other words, we don't have the time to waste chatting here! *leaves*
Professor, you're as impatient as always... For the time being, Spenser and I will concentrate on gathering more intelligence.
By the way, Circe. There is a new job I want you to handle. Circe, do you remember the Krokka Tunnel? It's the one that you escorted the professor through. The tunnel is a vital traffic corridor that joins Ringtown and Fall City. However, it's been blocked off by rockfalls. Citizens on eiher side of the tunnel are up in arms over this. Clear the rockfalls that are blocking the Krokka Tunnel. That's your newest mission. I think this mission will be difficult for anyone to handle alone, so I've asked a Fall City Ranger to assist you. The Ranger should be on the way to the mission site already. I'm counting on you, Circe.

Music: Mission Received!


Before we embark, let's finishing our talk to everyone. Spenser has nothing interesting to say, though.
Countdown until we get assigned to work with that snobby jerk Aria...

We've had so much happen in a row, we had to put off clearing the rockfalls in the tunnel. Having you back will help us a great deal, Circe.



But her parents were always busy with work, so I think she had a lonely childhood. Even now, I see her looking lonesome every so often.

Music: Fall City


Massive boulders have blocked the path completely to the Ringtown side, I hear.

Music: Mission Start!


I just realized that this screen has a special description that doesn't appear anywhere else.

There's absolutely nothing in this screen, so we go inside the tunnel.

Music: Krokka Tunnel


It's been incredibly inconvenient with the tunnel out. I hope you don't take long clearing those rockfalls.



Good thing there's no random encounters in this game. Otherwise, a tunnel mission would've been a nightmare.
Good old "take two steps, meet a zubat".



Quite a lot of these assists are clones of each other




Lapras?
The Marine Challenge involves us going through the sea on a Lapras. It's not a spoiler since it's told 5 updates ago.



In addition to the ones we've seen (Bellsprout, Magnemite, Poliwag, Paras), there's new wild Pokemon here.



*Notices Circe* Oh? Circe? Are you that Ringtown Ranger they said would join me later? You know, this doesn't look like a job that would take the both of us. I've already done this much, so you can take care of the rest by yourself, can't you? There are only three rockfalls left for you to clear. I'm very busy with that Go-Rock Squad case, so I'll leave you to it. *bails*

Spoiler: By bailing out on us, she just missed the chance to investigate more about the Squad.
Change my name to phone because I called that shit.



These are the rocks that basically started the whole game.



I don't think Diglett has any attacks. Diglett's movement doesn't break our line, which is nice.

Spoiler: We're still not going to see Diglett hides under the ground



Required Loops: 2
Possible EXP: 22/26/30/36

Good old Diglett. Nothing like a useless capture to drain our batteries!



Like before, we have to take the detour through Poliwag's room.



We could use Poliwag here, but...



...Geodude randomly turns into a rock, so we can just go to another room.
Hahaha. They deliberately set that up to mess with newbies at least once.



Beside that trick, there's nothing interesting about Geodude.



Required Loops: 8
Possible EXP: 20/25/30/36



Looks like Aria destroyed the rockfall blocking the upper path. Let's go there first.

Music: Go-Rock Quads!


See what you missed by bailing out, Aria?

Even if you're in a hurry, stop in your tracks!

!

Open your ears to our melodic attacks!

!

The rhythm of rage pounds the ground!

!

Let the melody of ambition rise to the skies!

Y'know, the joke stops being funny after the third or fourth time. Hopefully they don't run it into the ground...

!

If you don't know us, we'll cure your ignorance! Billy! Garret! Clyde! Tiffany! The Go-Rock Squad's hot-prospect band of key-shaker-and-taker celebrities! A name once heard and never forgotten! The Go-Rock Quads!

!

We nailed our performance this time, right? Anyways... We came running when we heard Union Rangers were active in the Krokka Tunnel. So we get here and what do we find? Our old friend from Summerland's jungle cleaning up rocks! Hahaha! Is that like a side job or something?
Somewhere with this cavern sleeps a legendary Pokemon... Have you heard such a rumor? Wouldn't you agree that is the most exhilarating and exciting of tales? Of course, mere Rangers would never be able to gain mastery over any such legendary Pokemon. You Rangers should stick to what you can do, such as play hide-and-seek with some Politoed in a jungle. Or perhaps cleaning up rocks in this tunnel would be more befitting a job for you Rangers.

Good thing they don't know about our early missions.

Ouch! Harsh diss! Big Bro Garret, you sure can put people down with the politest of words. Better yet, your words are absolutely spot on the money! When it comes to controlling Pokemon, the Go-Rock Squad has it all over the Rangers now. After all, we've got our new Stylers! We can catch Pokemon galore with them and rake in the dough by making them do exactly what we want!

...Go-Rock Squad would've won if they just used Pokeballs.
Is their plan really the Underpants Gnomes plan?

Step 1: Steal Styler
Step 2: Catch Legendary Pokemon
Step 3: ???
Step 4: Profit!

...Well, it's not ready yet. It's still a prototype. What we're doing is partly testing, too. Ranger, you can look forward to the day when we get the real thing! ...Hah! That's all you'll get to hear this time! Bye-bye!

*They leave, including Billy this time*

Music: Krokka Tunnel


Going up the fork, we see a Magneton, It's no longer a full heal, but it's still nice to have.

That's all we can do here, so we go to the other way.



Music: Go-Rock Squad!
I'm looking for a legendary Pokemon! Don't mess with me!

Dealing with a Geodude is easy. Dealing with three of them at once is not.

Music: Go-Rock Squad Battle (Weak Grunt)


Poliwag/Bellsprout/Paras works well here. Yes, Grass assist works even though Geodude are clearly levitating. I guess they're not levitating high enough?

Music: Krokka Tunnel
Don't get all serious on me... *flees*



Krokka Tunnel has great color schemes.



There seems to be lots of 2 star rock smash field moves required.
I'm pretty sure this is our first, though
I wasn't paying close enough attention and mistook the boulders for 2 star rock smash obstacles.



Machop only has this basic attack. It's much less tedious than Machoke.



Required Loops: 6
Possible EXP: 25/28/31/35



We can't use Poliwag this time, but this rock works just like Geodude.





Graveler is pretty much just as easy as Geodude.



Required Loops: 11
Possible EXP: 42/49/56/66

Looks like we we don't need to catch Hariyama for the wall, after all.





Who's that Pokemon? It's Kirlia.
A Jigglypuff seen from above!




It can teleport and it attacks with light around it.

Teleporting isn't actually that bad since they still need some time to fully materialize (and break our line).



Required Loops: 5
Possible EXP: 36/42/48/56

Kirlia will be very useful against Hariyama. Once we manage to find them, that is.



Music: Go-Rock Squad!
You're a Ranger? What do you think you're doing here? Attack!

I'm going to be skipping most of these. Snubbull only needs 4 loops. 2 with Machop. Needless to say, they're dealt with quickly.

Music: Krokka Tunnel
No, no, I'm not upset. I'd be impressed if you managed to get me upset. *flees*




Moving up, we find...



...fuck
Oh come on! I was joking earlier!
Well, phone, that's what happens when you tempt fate...