Played a little more yesterday night. I had to battle the strange thing that had appeared. It was pretty strong, I could barely damage it. In the end, it ran away and disappeared. According to Lusamine, it was an Ultra Beast, so that's really cool. She wanted to be the mother for those things too, what a kind and caring woman. Afterwards, I left the Aether Paradise with Hau, didn't get to explore much there at all.
We headed for the next Island, Ula'ula. It seems to be pretty large. Upon arriving, Hau challenged me to a battle. I won, but he was pretty strong, his Torracat was at level 29 which was the same as most of my team at this point. I also noticed that he had a Leafeon, I guess he gets an Eeveelution that has an advantage against the player's starter. Either way, I won. Didn't want to explore this place quite yet though as I had unfinished business on Akala.
Went back there and explored more of the resort and the hotel. I got to battle a few trainers at the hotel which was unexpected, they turned out to be quite strong too. Suddenly, my team felt underleveled and weak. This is odd, though I think I know the reasons for it, and it feels really weird how some design choices in the game can change simple things like that. I don't really mind though. While doing these battles, my Mudbray reached level 30 and evolved into Mudsdale! Yes! Hearts strong as horses! My third fully evolved team member. And that was all I did yesterday.
Today, I started by exploring the beach by Hano Resort. Beat all trainers, found several items as well as caught Staryu, Sandygast and Pyukumuku. Tried the part-time job consisting of throwing Pyukumuku back into the sea. It gave me some pretty good money, might keep doing it later on if there is no other good way to grind money in the game. Left since I was done there and returned to the Aether Paradise since I could go back there. Wanted to explore it a bit more but there wasn't a lot to see, I found an item though. Couldn't go everywhere which is understandable, you can't have children running around and causing mischief in such important places. Lusamine and the others know what they are doing.
Left and headed to Ula'ula for real this time. I played with Tsareena and Mudsdale in Pokemon Refresh until they had 5 hearts, the only one left to do it with now is Brionne, will get around to it once it has evolved fully. The Professor had told me to go to Malie Garden, so I went there. Picked up some items and battled some trainers there. This place surely is inspired by the east, some said it was because it was created by people from Johto. And the traditional feeling is one of the few things I like about Johto, so why not? I like it. Met the Professor, he told me to go to Route 10 and take a bus to get to my next Trial, which is held on a mountain, so off I went.
Met Lillie outside, she wanted me to go with her to the Library to look for a book. Before going there, I explored the city a little. Went to a restaurant and thought I would get to battle, but I just got 4 Heart Scales, which isn't too bad. Bought some new clothes at the store, including sunglasses since I wanted to try wearing them. Those aren't the type I want but they will have to do, I wanted aviators but they were too expensive when I saw them at a previous store, will have to get them later on.
I also met Samson Oak, a man who studies the Alola Forms. Continued to the Library, where I met him again, he wanted to see an Alolan Persian. I'll show him one once I have one, not going to rush it as I will get it someday. I got a Fly TM(!) from a woman here, guess this confirms that HMs are not used in these games... which I'm actually okay with, I think I prefer the Poke Rider over HMs. At the second floor, I met Lillie as well as another girl whose name I can't remember. We read a bit about various Alola legends in the books here, like the Tapu. Lunala was also mentioned once, really interesting stuff.
Left and headed out to Route 10. Battled all trainers here, picked up all items as well as caught Fearow, Ariados, Raticate and Skarmory. Speaking of Skarmory, it was without any doubt my hardest capture on this game so far. At the end, I met Team Skull again and smashed them. They were trying to steal the bus stop sign? I have a really hard time taking them seriously after all the silly things they are doing and the way they are acting. I don't understand them at all.
Took the bus to the top of the mountain with the Professor. We saw another mountain in the distance, he mentioned it being the highest or largest (maybe both?) in the region. I guess I'll get there one day too. He talked about how he wanted to create a Pokemon League in the region, which isn't a bad idea. I explored the mountain top a bit, battled all trainers and found all items. Including Apricorn balls, very interesting. Also caught Ditto and Cleffa. Tried to catch a Minior as well but it used Self-Destruct on the first turn. Then I met a Beldum as well. Wasn't sure if I should catch it or not, decided to at least try. To my own surprise, I managed to catch it pretty easily. This surprised me. I wondered if its catch rate had been increased since last generation, but no. Seems like I was just lucky, which feels great.
After this, I went to the Observatory. Met a man named Molayne who was an old friend of the Professor. Had to battle him in order to go in. He used Steel-types, I managed to win without trouble. Inside, I met Sophocles, who I had previously met in Festival Plaza. He was the captain of the Trial, which started now. It was another unique kind of Trial, which I really like. Unique and interesting. I'm very happy about the fact that I was leading with Salandit here, and along the way, it reached level 33 and evolved into Salazzle! Just at the right moment. The Totem Pokemon that Sophocles had summoned appeared, it was a Vikavolt. It was strong, but my newly evolved Salazzle nuked it into oblivion with a Nasty Plot-boosted Inferno Overdrive, not even an Occa Berry could help against that.
I had cleared the Trial, and for winning, I got the Electrium Z from Sophocles, as well as the Steelium Z from Molayne. I'm not planning to use either crystal on my team but there might be other uses for them later on. My next mission was to deliver a Mask to the Professor who had gone back to the Garden. I went there, and met not only him, but also more members from Team Skull. Including their leader, Guzma. Had to battle him, and he was really tough. His Golisopod surprised me in a good way, another odd Pokemon... which I love. I beat him and they left.
The Professor gave me a Z-Crystal to use for my Brionne once it has evolved... which should happen soon. I left, my next destination was Route 11 for the next Trial. But before going there, I decided to go to the recycling place north of the city. Battled all trainers there and caught a Trubbish. Decided to stop there for today, got quite a lot done in the end, will continue tomorrow.
Team:
- level 33
- level 33
- level 33
- level 33
- level 33