Chapter 365
This is also Lusamine appreciates him.
"Hello, Dr. Lusamine."
Cynthia showed respect to Lusamine. Lusamine and Mohn were legendary figures in the Sinnoh Region's scientific community. Putting aside the fact that they had earned a lot of wealth through their wisdom, their research achievements in various fields alone were enough to earn her respect, especially their research papers on "space," which Cynthia had read many times.
"Most people prefer to call me Chairman these days... but I guess that's fine too."
Lusamine smiled. If it were the old her, she might have cared more about these illusory titles, but now, these things were no longer the most important to her.
"So, what are your thoughts? Can you take me with you for now? On Poni Island, just drop me off before you go to the Altar of the Moone. You're planning to visit the other three islands anyway, and I'd like to check on the other staff there and retrieve some items."
Having regained her senses, Lusamine also cared about her foundation's subordinates, and there were also some important research materials at the main office on those three islands, which would be ideal if they could be recovered.
After all, those important subordinates from headquarters are still missing. Judging from the information Gladion brought back, they are most likely still trapped in that Otherworld— "Ultra Space".
"With that information, I'm more confident in creating clothing that can withstand the aura of the Ultra World. Otherwise, normal people from our world would definitely be affected mentally if they went there."
The story of Lusamine's family all begins with Ultra Beast and will inevitably end with Ultra Beast. Even now, Lusamine, Lillie, and even Gladion cannot escape the shackles of these things. Lusamine will not stop until everything is over.
Now that things have started to change and everything is starting to get better, she can no longer lie there doing nothing.
"... Once I get the data, I want to return to the main island of the Aether Foundation and restart the equipment there with the other staff."
Lusamine also has her own goals.
"I will find those Disappearance employees too."
Her husband's Disappearance has always been a thorn in her side. Although she still holds onto some hope, she is even more determined not to let such a thing happen again. Her subordinates, with whom she spends every day, are also people she cares about deeply.
As long as the people are still alive, their Aether Foundation can be re-established at any time.
"Let's make this clear first, if there's going to be a fight, you're not to get involved, understand?"
Qiao Ran ultimately agreed to Lusamine's request. The main reason was that her presence would indeed be of considerable use, helping to develop a method...
Ultra Space combat suits—this is the final solution to all problems.
Moreover, with Cynthia joining them now, and their own strength having increased significantly, Qiao Ran is, to be fair, a bit "overconfident".
"Mmm, mmm."
The usually imposing chairperson could only nod obediently. Although her skills as Pokémon Trainer were not bad, at least at the level of an average Gym Leader, she thought it best not to speak when she saw the people in front of her.
Even Lillie, who only recently became Pokémon Trainer, has already surpassed her.
While it's true that Lillie's starting point... is definitely not what a beginner should have... Who gives beginners Pokémon at an elite level Pokémon higher?!
Having made their decision, the group prepared to leave as soon as possible. Taking Lusamine along wouldn't cause too much trouble, at least during their sea voyage, they could handle the Ultra Beast. As for what would happen after they landed on the island... well, they'd deal with that later.
"Sister Lusamine... remember to come back sometime!"
"Older Brother and sisters, let's do our best to defeat all the Monster on the other islands!"
The children of the Aether House also came out to say goodbye. Having experienced so much at such a young age, they were no longer as emotional as they used to be. Instead, they were much more composed. Who knows, these children might be very successful when they grow up.
Qiao Ran couldn't help but nod.
"At sea, our main mode of transportation is flying. Lillie, you and your mother can stay together. I'll have the Altaria carry you."
Qiao Ran made some arrangements. Lillie didn't have her own flying Pokémon. Originally, she was supposed to be with Qiao Ran, but now, Qiao Ran could only let her and Lusamine ride Altaria.
"Mei, Mei, keep a close eye on Lillie's situation. Remember to provide support if any problems arise."
"Hmm." x2
Of all the people, Lillie's strength and experience are relatively weak, but right now, she's the only one suitable to stay with Lusamine.
Moreover, Qiao Ran also had his own selfish reasons for making this arrangement. He had always known that Lillie's relationship with his mother had not been fully repaired, and Lillie would often secretly talk to him about these things. If they could have a chance to be alone, the mother and daughter should be able to change a lot.
The back of the Altaria is the perfect log bridge, and after everything is over, Qiao Ran can also get information from the Altaria about what they talked about.
Perfect.
Qiao Ran felt that everything in his plan was going smoothly, and the flight to Akala Island was about to begin. Cynthia also released her Garchomp, which created an invisible aura the moment it appeared.
"I'm sorry, this child just has a bit of a temper."
Cynthia patted Garchomp's head, calming it down a bit. Given Garchomp's arrogant nature, it seemed to have always disapproved of Cynthia and Qiao Ran being together. Rotom had helped translate all of this.
Otherwise, Qiao Ran would have thought it was just a fierce-looking creature.
The journey from Ula'ula Island to Akala Island requires traversing a vast expanse of sea, and their destination requires crossing the long, narrow section of the island to reach the other end.
This was by no means a "short" journey. Moreover, unlike Qiao Ran and the others, Lusamine was unable to enter the Poké Ball and travel to the Real World with Qiao Ran. This meant that they had to find a safe zone on Akala Island before nightfall and the end of the night, so that Lusamine would at least have a place to rest.
It's like the Aether House on Ula'ula Island, or Po Town.
Nothing particularly noteworthy happened along the way. Qiao Ran lay on Yveltal's body, his eyes half-closed in a somewhat bored manner. Although he didn't open his eyes and appeared to be slacking off, he was actually spreading out a little of his Aura Power so that he would be able to Frisk any abnormalities immediately.
However, he didn't have many opportunities to make a move along the way. Many times, before those Ultra Beasts could fly over, they were scared away by Cynthia's Garchomp with a single Leer.
These Ultra Beast for survival, naturally know best how to "survive." Just how stupid must they be to actively challenge such a terrifying being!
As for any fish that manage to escape, they will be directly Smack Down Garchomp, a complete and utter crushing defeat without any mercy.
For Champion- level Garchomp, facing these Ultra Beast the Heaven level is like cutting tofu with a cleaver; there's not even a hint of stopping it.
It went too far.
Cynthia's fighting spirit was also extremely high. When it was time to fight, she would become a completely different person, transforming from her original intellectual demeanor into something somewhat "crazy."
Although this madness is relative, Qiao Ran could still sense it in her. Her gentle, scholarly side, suppressed, needed to be released. This contrasted sharply with the aggressive, irritable, and easily angered Lie Yao.
Land Shark is simply the perfect match.
Several more hours passed.
With all the Pokémon flying at full speed, the time for this long journey was greatly reduced.
"Hang in there, everyone. Just a little further ahead, and you'll see the outline of the island."
The first to sense the island's existence was Qiao Ran, who used his Aura Power to observe the surroundings, as he needed to guide the team and help them avoid danger.
"Once we arrive on the island, if you need to rest, you can rest for a bit. We'll take off again when you're ready to head to Konikoni City on the other side of the island."
The long flight not only made the Pokémon tired, but also made the humans feel fatigued. Although Qiao Ran and his companions stopped on some small Floating Island along the way to solve some "problems," the accumulated fatigue was still difficult to alleviate over time.
Moreover, the sun is gradually setting in the west, and the sun has already touched the horizon. It will probably be dark soon. At this time, everyone is getting hungry, and even the Pokémon need to be fed. Fortunately, Qiao Ran had anticipated this and had Suicune and the others prepare food in the Wild Area before setting off.
Suicune couldn't participate in aerial battles either. Although she could run on water, it was probably unrealistic for her to run for thousands of kilometers. So, she once again took on the logistical work for the team.
However, no one can replace her.
Akala Island's terrain is not particularly unique in the Alola Region. What is most special about this island is that it serves as the "gateway" to Alola, and has always been an important entrance for welcoming visitors from other regions.
The largest city on the island is called "Heahea City hospitality." This city is separated from "Konikoni City," the destination of Qiao Ran and his group, by only a shallow strait. If these two cities continue to develop, they might even merge together.
Besides these, the most striking feature of Akala Island is probably its large Volcano. Surrounding the Volcano are Overgrow forests and hills with flowing clear springs. The combination of these different natural environments presents a unique landscape that Qiao Ran would never see in the Real World.
"Let's rest here for a bit, have dinner, and then set off."
The spot where Qiao Ran and his group landed on Akala Island was an ordinary-looking beach. According to the map, this place seemed to belong to an area called "Hano Grand Resort." A large area starting from the lower right of Akala Island was basically the territory of this "resort." There was not only a huge hotel, but also many golf courses, Swimming Pool, and various supporting entertainment facilities. This large beach was just one of these facilities.
"... Lillie, we've been here before, haven't we?"
"Um."
Lusamine and Lillie clearly have deeper memories of this resort. Before they officially came to the Alola Region, they would come here as a family for vacation. Although Lillie was very young at that time, she vaguely remembered some things from that time.
"The owner of this resort also has a very accomplished daughter, probably a few years older than you. She previously completed Island Challenge of Alola. However, she has already gone to other regions and it's estimated that she won't be returning for the time being."
During dinner, Lusamine also talked about many things from the past. As a "well-informed" senior, Lusamine's knowledge and experience were indeed much better than Qiao Ran's and the others. Even just a few words from her were enough for them to learn a lot.
As for dinner, the group simply took some tables and chairs from the Wild Area, keeping everything simple. After all, even on the island, they couldn't be completely safe; they might have to fight halfway through their meal.
"Alright, let's continue our journey."
After finishing the dinner prepared by Suicune, Qiao Ran and the others dealt with a few Ultra Beast had inexplicably Beat Up as a way to digest their food before continuing their journey to Konikoni City.
As "experts" in dealing with Ultra Beast, these ordinary Ultra Beast no longer pose much of a threat to Qiao Ran and his companions. Unless a creature like Queen Nihilego or the Guzzlord they saw on Ula'ula Island suddenly appears, these ordinary Ultra Beast will not pose much of a threat.
However, one still cannot be careless when facing Ultra Beast. These creatures, who have no sense of martial ethics, do not listen to any grand principles or show mercy. If one is not careful, the consequences will be unbearable.
Especially Lusamine, Qiao Ran was particularly concerned about her safety. Putting aside his personal relationship with Lusamine and her identity as a scientist, she was still Lillie's mother, and he had to protect her.
From the beach at the Hano Grand Resort to Konikoni City, the number of Ultra Beast had noticeably increased. One major reason Qiao Ran and his companions hadn't chosen aerial travel on Ula'ula Island was to avoid attracting the attention of Ultra Beast, but...
Now that Cynthia has joined them, they feel more confident.
Even so, Qiao Ran still released all his Pokémon capable of aerial battles, and so did the other girls. Acerola, a Ghost Type expert, even released all of her Pokémon.
As the pressure of the battle intensified, Qiao Ran took the opportunity to give orders. The group formed a breakthrough formation in the air, with Qiao Ran's Yveltal and Cynthia leading the charge, and Mei and Mei bringing up the rear. In order to avoid being directly surrounded by the Ultra Beast, Qiao Ran and the others had to adopt a hit-and-run tactic. Otherwise, if they were really trapped, it would be difficult to break through.
During this time, there were instances where Cynthia's Garchomp didn't want to listen to Qiao Ran, but fortunately, Qiao Ran usually directly commands the Trainer, and with Cynthia's mediation, there weren't any major problems with Garchomp.
However, during these coordinated battles, Cynthia gradually realized this.
I think I understand now.
Previously, her fighting style leaned more towards a solo Poison Wolf, but in a team, the primary consideration is the team as a whole. Garchomp towards Qiao Ran stems from its failure to change its old habits. If she wants to continue fighting, she needs to establish a relatively good relationship between her other Pokémon and Qiao Ran.
Not only Qiao Ran, but also other Trainer, and not only herself, but also her other Pokémon.
Humans and Pokémon are the core of this team.
About two more hours passed.
After a period of intense fighting, Qiao Ran and the others finally spotted a faint light in the distance, which was exactly where Konikoni City should have been.
During this period of battle, Lillie and Lusamine also encountered some minor issues. An Ultra Beast broke through attacked them, but in the end, Altaria took the initiative to block the attack for them.
However, this sudden movement also nearly caused the two to fall from the sky, but fortunately Yveltal was right next to them and caught them with his body.
Everything turned out alright, but it did cast a somewhat oppressive atmosphere over what had initially felt like an "easy" journey.
Everyone knows that if they continue forward, this situation will likely only increase.
But at least for now—let's go inside Konikoni City and see what's going on there.
What kind of lives do the Trainer here lead?
Although Qiao Ran did not find any obvious signs of other human activity along the way, it was probably the same situation on Akala Island and Ula'ula Island, where everyone was gathered in some obvious settlements instead of being able to move around freely outside as before.
As for the daughter of the owner of the Hano Grand Resort that Lusamine mentioned on the way, Qiao Ran actually had some impression of her. When he heard that she was likely not in the Alola Region, Qiao Ran couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
In the game's world, when the Alola League is established, this Trainer, who has never appeared before, will suddenly appear before everyone and take on the position of one of the Alola Elite Four.
In the two games about the Alola Region, only Acerola, Olivia, and the legendary owner's daughter have consistently held the position of Elite Four. The remaining male Trainer has rotated between Hala, the Island Kahuna, and Molayne of Ula'ula Island.
Of course, both games depict the same event at the same time. The difference might just be a small error in a parallel universe, but it also proves from another perspective that there must be something different about these three people who have been able to maintain their positions.
Especially considering that two of them are from Akala Island.
With different thoughts in mind, the group finally arrived at their destination. Through the memories of Lusamine and Acerola, they did not deviate from their course, and the faint light coming from the city confirmed this.
"Yveltal, stop here."
Under Qiao Ran's command, Yveltal flapped its enormous wings and landed next to a house. In the darkness, Yveltal's entire body seemed to blend into the blackness, with only its blue eyes emitting a faint light.
Qiao Ran jumped off her and helped Lillie and Lusamine get down as well; they would probably have to walk the rest of the way on their own.
"Qiao Ran, it's so quiet here..."
Lillie looked around at the pitch-black surroundings. The strangely shaped houses were completely devoid of any human activity. Staying in such a place always gave her a creepy feeling of unease, as no one knew what might be lurking in the darkness.
"Since there's no one here anymore, let's keep walking and see what happens."
Most of the people here had gathered together, after all, the combat strength of Akala Island Trainer wasn't much weaker than that of Ula'ula Island. Moreover, instead of worrying about these things, they should worry about their own current situation. As the only one in the team who could "see" things at night, Qiao Ran had already...
The Aura Power was pulled to its maximum to prevent any accidents from happening.
Meanwhile, Cynthia also dispatched her Lucario to thoroughly scout the surrounding area.
This is also why Qiao Ran and the others usually don't travel at night when they are on Ula'ula Island, but now time is clearly running out, and they still have to move forward in the dark for a while.
The surrounding low-rise houses all feature the distinctive architectural style of the Johto Region. Although most of them are now dilapidated, some covered in dust and others reduced to ruins, their stylistic characteristics are still readily apparent.
Because the surrounding area was dilapidated, the road conditions were quite complicated. In addition, it was difficult to see clearly at night, so Qiao Ran would help most people walk by pulling them along.