Chapter 369

Following the direction she pointed, everyone could see some artificial traces on the small hill over there, and in the very center of the walls covered with green grass and trees, there was a small opening.

Unlike the Ruins of Abundance that Qiao Ran and the others had seen in the desert before, this Life Ruins... seems to be built inside Cave. Moreover, judging from the shape of the opening, this Life Ruins is most likely related to some kind of primitive worship.

"From the outside... it doesn't seem like those strange substances have been found."

Qiao Ran frowned.

"Maybe they've all gotten inside."

Cynthia also sensed something was amiss, but a long time had passed since the Observatory took the photos, and perhaps something had changed.

"Too."

Qiao Ran clapped his hands, signaling all his Pokémon to come closer to him.

"We're about to enter the Ruins, everyone please be prepared. Anyone but me could encounter the same thing that happened to me."

Qiao Ran looked around at everyone in front of her.

"Never let your guard down."

The Pokémon enshrined at the Life Ruins Tapu Lele, a Pokémon with both Fairy type and Psychic types. In Alola Region's legends, it is also a very special Island deity.

Other Island deity are either lazy or warlike, but Tapu Lele is different. In Alola's history, the records about her clearly point to one thing—a naive yet cruel character.

When Tapu Lele encounters something it likes, it will sprinkle Shield Dust to restore the stamina of humans or Pokémon instantly. However, when it encounters something it dislikes, Tapu Lele will mercilessly destroy it completely, remaining completely unfazed even in the face of the most brutal circumstances.

In the distant past, there is a legend that Tapu Lele mediated the conflicts between islands by scattering its Shield Dust to heal fatigue. However, there is another version of the truth behind this legend—that Tapu Lele used the power of its Shield Dust to leave all the fighters on the verge of death, thus ending the endless battle.

The truth behind these legends may be impossible to verify, but one thing is certain: Tapu Lele's dual nature is etched into the hearts of all Alola. Despite being a symbol of "life," Tapu Lele can also bring cruel death.

"This hole is probably too small for everyone to go in at once."

Upon arriving near the entrance to the Ruins, Qiao Ran glanced at the area from afar but did not proceed any closer.

"... Yes, the interior of the Life Ruins is much larger than the outside, but the entrance is quite narrow, so we don't usually go in together."

Lana nodded in agreement with Qiao Ran's statement.

"This design... is probably meant to show respect for Tapu Lele, right?"

An opening of this size is clearly not designed for "easy passage." Since it was deliberately made this way, there must be a special reason for it.

"Then we'll have no choice but to go in one by one."

Cynthia said, then looked towards Qiao Ran.

"... Should I go in first?"

Given the current situation, there definitely needs to be an explanation regarding the order of entry. With the internal situation still unclear, Cynthia felt that it was the safest arrangement for her to go in first.

"Wait, let me observe further."

Qiao Ran kept frowning and stamped her Stomping Tantrum impatiently.

If it were like the previous Ruins of Abundance, it might be easier to deal with, as both dangerous and safe areas would be clearly visible. However, now everything is hidden inside the Cave, making it much more difficult to move around.

"..."

Although Qiao Ran really wanted to blow open the door to see what was inside, this was, after all, Alola Ruins and the hope of everyone on the island. Moreover, no one could guarantee that if the door were blown open, the entire Cave would not collapse.

If everything collapses, then what they did before...

Then all previous efforts would be in vain.

So, all Qiao Ran can do now is close his eyes and try to use his Aura Power to sense the situation inside, but... just like the feeling in the Ruins of Abundance, his Aura seems to have been absorbed by something, and there is no sense of it being transmitted back at all.

"Something's definitely wrong inside, but... I can't sense anything inside."

This feeling made Qiao Ran feel as if he were being scratched by a cat. Although he knew these things, he didn't know them completely.

"Luca."

Cynthia's Lucario seemed to have the same feeling, and it also made a sound when it heard Qiao Ran's words.

Originally, like Garchomp, it had some reservations about Qiao Ran was slightly weaker. But now, it found this human much more agreeable and they even had some common topics to discuss.

Seemingly due to a common trait among Aura Emissary, both of them loathe this strange feeling, like an indelible stain on a blank sheet of paper, the key being that they don't even know what the stain is.

"Then you absolutely have to let me in."

Cynthia took a step forward.

"Wait, no, let me go first."

Qiao Ran still wanted to go in first; he was able to come out last time, and he wanted to do the same this time.

"... Don't worry about me. Besides, even if I go in, do you think you won't go in too?"

Cynthia showed a helpless expression. This was the first time since she became the Champion that someone would worry about her safety.

However, she felt she could understand Qiao Ran's thoughts. If he wanted to go in first, she would definitely have to stop him.

"That's settled then. Let's try another approach."

Qiao Ran looked at the others and then spoke.

Listen to me.

After a while.

The people at the cave entrance held hands, forming a loop.

Does this really work?

Mei asked with a hint of doubt.

"I don't know, but last time I just disappeared suddenly, right? So maybe this will help me figure it out?"

Qiao Ran explained.

"If any one of them disappears, at least one person will immediately realize it and notify everyone. After all, we can't see everyone directly just by walking in like this."

In Qiao Ran's opinion, this was the best solution at the moment.

He was holding hands with both of them: Cynthia at the front of the group and Mei behind her.

As the one walking at the very front of the team, Cynthia can send out Garchomp to scout ahead of her, while the others, except for the last one in the team, can only send out smaller Pokémon for defense.

"You guys... look so professional." Even Lana couldn't help but exclaim when she saw this setup for the first time. No wonder you're Trainer from other regions who've done so much.

"It's just that I've encountered it a lot." Qiao Ran didn't want to appear too "professional." If she could, who wouldn't want to be an ordinary Trainer who only knew how to enjoy traveling?

Moreover, even if we do these things, they may not be of any use.

Faced with beings beyond human imagination, faced with beings who control the Rules, human wisdom and effort are ultimately in vain.

However... Qiao Ran still clenched his hands, and Cynthia and Mei on either side clasped his hands back in unison.

Even if it only gives me some peace of mind, it's still meaningful, isn't it?

With everything ready, Qiao Ran and the others didn't dawdle. Starting with Cynthia, everyone lined up in a row.

At the very front of the group was Cynthia's Garchomp. Not only was it the strongest Pokémon was also the most adapted to the cave environment and able to react quickly to danger. It should be able to adjust in Pokémon should any situation arise.

"It's so dark."

Following behind Cynthia, Qiao Ran cautiously stepped into the "Ruins." However, the moment he stepped into the cave entrance, it was as if the whole world had suddenly gone dark, and he could see nothing at all.

"Mew, use Flash."

Qiao Ran "looked" at the pink cat-shaped Pokémon perched on her shoulder, and the Pokémon nodded in tacit agreement, its body Levitate slightly. A bright light emanated from its body, instantly illuminating the surrounding environment.

Since Vulpix evolved, her original task has been handed over to Mew. Mew also has its own advantages in terms of the versatility of its moves and its strength in actual battle. Although her level is currently the lowest among all Pokémon, it will probably be able to catch up with the main group soon.

"How strange, why is it so dark inside?"

The last few Lana to enter the cave also felt something was wrong. In her memory, although the entrance to the Life Ruins was relatively small, there was at least some light inside. Moreover, in the main Ritual area, there were "windows" on the dome leading to the outside to Absorb in light from the outside. It shouldn't be this dark.

There must be something there.

Mei also came into life

She knew that something was definitely wrong with the Ruins in front of her, but she had seen the things that covered the Ruins of Abundance on Ula'ula Island, and she had a vague guess in her mind that those things were probably what had changed this place.

"..."

As the Mew body emitted light, illuminating the surrounding environment, the people at the front could finally see what was in front of them.

Through a tiny "gap" at the end of the narrow passage, and with the faint light emanating from the Mew light, Cynthia and Qiao Ran both saw the surging, unsettlingly dark purple substance.

Having experienced it once, Qiao Ran was absolutely certain that those things were products of "that world," and that they could never exist in this world.

"Is it... those?"

Cynthia seemed to pause for a moment. Seeing these things for the first time had an indescribable impact on her spirit. Although her words were somewhat incoherent, Qiao Ran, who was holding her hand, understood that she was definitely asking him a question.

"Yes, that's what I saw last time."

Qiao Ran gave her an affirmative answer. He had already engraved those things in his mind, and seeing them here again, there was no way he could be mistaken.

"... Be careful."

Qiao Ran gave another word of advice, and Cynthia responded with a soft "hmm".

She had seen the name Giratina countless times in legends, but this was the first time she had seen a real Giratina from Torn World —a corner of a world filled with Antimatter.

Those strange substances were unlike anything in the Real World.

The closer Cynthia got to those things, the more she could sense it.

In reality, matter exists either way; it doesn't exist or it doesn't exist. Everything can be perceived and touched. However, the concept of Antimatter is worlds apart from that of this world.

At the center of those substances was an endless emptiness, as if connected to another world. It was clearly present before her eyes, yet it seemed to be hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands or hundreds of millions of meters away.

She had heard Qiao Ran's descriptions before, and Qiao Ran had said more than once that he couldn't understand certain powers or the "things" he saw. In the past, Cynthia just thought that Qiao Ran might just be lacking in experience, but now, she seemed to be able to understand what Qiao Ran was saying directly.

Even if she saw the essence of this world, those magnificent and bizarre existences, those Rules that transcend the two worlds, she still couldn't understand them.

All she could do was marvel.

"... Garchomp."

With her other hand out of the way, Cynthia Garchomp's head to reassure it. The strange things had clearly made the Garchomp feel threatened.

Continuing forward, Qiao Ran and Cynthia also saw the scene inside the Altar outside the passage.

At the end of the passage was the "vast Ritual area" that Lana had mentioned.

However, at this moment, the sky above the Ritual area was shrouded in a dark purple substance, enveloping everything above. At the top of the high Altar, at the end of the layers of steps, the main Ritual areas were also shrouded in it, without revealing even a crack.

"Tapu... Tapu Lele's Altar..."

Seeing this scene before her, Lana stood frozen in place.

As a native of Akala Island, seeing the Altar of her revered Deity reduced to this state must have been a severe blow to her, a feeling likely similar to that of Acerola at the Ruins of Abundance.

However, unlike her focus, the others, who had already faced this situation once before, simply watched everything in front of them with great vigilance, and Cynthia quickly calmed down after her initial surprise.

However, she was still holding Qiao Ran's hand tightly, showing no intention of letting go, which revealed that her heart was far from as calm as it appeared.

"I remember you said that the last time you lost consciousness and appeared in another dimension, it happened after passing through an area filled with this substance, right?"

"Yes, it's when you pass through the outer perimeter of the Ruins, then climb the stairs, and head towards the interior of the Altar."

Qiao Ran remembers the situation clearly, but some of the more specific details are a bit hazy in his mind at the time, so he doesn't remember them very clearly.

"Then we need to get a little closer to that thing."

"No, now that we haven't lost consciousness or been attacked, we should try a few more things... wait a minute."

Cynthia began to mutter to herself, but before she could say more than a few words, the thing in front of her seemed to have changed, and it shook slightly...

Although the fog hadn't seemed to make much of a fuss before, the people present realized something in an instant when it actually started to produce some "movement."

This is definitely not something harmless.

"Dianxi! Suicune! Zacian!"

Qiao Ran immediately released almost all the Pokémon from his Poké Ball that could be used in Battle Court of this size.