Chapter 370
The Pokémon engaged in battle, and Cynthia beside him also sent out her team. Perhaps due to her frequent archaeological work, Cynthia's Pokémon are mostly not of particularly large size, allowing her to operate with complete freedom in this cave environment.
"Ti!!"
Under Qiao Ran's command, Dianxi took the lead and unleashed her Diamond Storm directly at the spreading "mist." However, when she and the other Pokémon released their energy in an attempt to attack the opponent, their attacks were completely ineffective, like throwing mud into the sea.
The matter in the Antimatter World seems to have subtle differences from that in the Real World. Without understanding these Rules, it is obviously unrealistic to try to shake them with attacks from the "Positive World".
"No, it's still effective."
According to Qiao Ran's observation, only Zacian, which he sent out, and a few of Cynthia's Pokémon caused the mist to shift slightly. However, this did not seem to be because he had "found a method," but simply because the power was too great and Superpower produced an effect.
"No, that stuff is still spreading. It's too late. We have to retreat now!"
In the vast Sacrificial Chamber, the dark purple mist seemed to want to envelop everything, spreading at an extremely fast speed. Qiao Ran was unaware of the effects of being touched, so all he could do was remind everyone to retreat.
Starting with Lana at the back of the group, everyone moved closer to the passage they had come from.
Qiao Ran and Cynthia, who were at the very back of the retreat, took on the responsibility of covering the rear, trying to push back some of the spreading fog. Although the effect did not seem obvious, given the current situation, they could only do as much as they could.
"Cynthia!"
"Um!"
Seeing that everyone else had already entered the passage, Qiao Ran grabbed Cynthia's hand, trying to lead her away with him.
Although Qiao Ran's combat ability as Trainer is not as good as Cynthia's, his physical strength after the enhancement is still better than Cynthia's.
Faced with this unexpected situation, Qiao Ran could only do her best to protect everyone present.
However, the retreat was ultimately too slow.
--Even when the enemy had spread to the point of devouring everything around them, Qiao Ran and the others did not leave.
"..."
Those who attempt to challenge the Rules set by the Deity with their own wisdom and strength will ultimately be defeated by overestimating themselves.
In the last second before losing consciousness, Qiao Ran was still holding Cynthia's hand tightly, and their eyes met. Her anxious gaze was still etched in his mind.
"..."
However, when Qiao Ran regained consciousness, his body seemed to appear in that familiar scene once again.
Torn World, scattered fragments, a dark purple sky and abyss, and those inverted, unsettling Solitary Island —everything signifies that he has returned to that strange world.
A radiant Light Orb was constantly swaying around him.
Where are the others? Where are the Pokémon??
Qiao Ran straightened up abruptly, but didn't see any familiar faces around him. Even Cynthia, who had been holding his hand, wasn't there with him.
"On my body..."
Qiao Ran checked himself and found that apart from his basic clothes, everything else had disappeared completely.
"You won't be able to find them here for now."
"...!"
Suddenly, a sound coming from in front of him drew Qiao Ran's attention—it was a floating Light Orb, the same thing Qiao Ran had seen before.
Rotom...?
Qiao Ran asked a question.
"Um."
The Light Orb swayed in the air, as if trying to nod, but the movement looked more like it was just shaking in place.
"We meet again... and again in this way."
"This must be the second time already, right?"
"... yes."
Qiao Ran a deep breath and stood up from the ground. Compared to last time, he figured out his situation much faster this time.
Around him were numerous Floating Island, similar to those before, and various displaced spaces. However, the only difference from last time was that the broken objects were clearly resembling the ruins of Ruins of Abundance, while this time they were various "rock walls" within Cave.
So what's the plan this time?
"Come with me."
The Light Orb swayed for a moment, then led the way for Qiao Ran. Qiao Ran followed behind, but couldn't help but have many questions in his mind.
"..."
Last time, his mind was disturbed by this world, and he was in a state of confusion, unable to think at all. But this time, he was able to maintain a relatively clear mind. Although he was still a little uncomfortable, he had the leeway to think.
"Why...?"
"Will it turn out like this?"
What exactly is this world?
Why was it you who turned into Poké Ball last time?
To avoid forgetting what he wanted to say, Qiao Ran asked all the questions that came to mind in one breath. He was trying to find answers from Rotom in front of him, even though the other party would most likely not answer, he still wanted to know some of the secrets.
"This is an alternate world, the opposite of the Pokémon World."
The Light Orb drifted forward for a distance before Levitate on another Floating Island not far away.
"... If you want to know more, come with me."
She swayed up and down as if she were Captivate Qiao Ran.
However, looking at the distance between the "Floating Island" beneath his feet and the "Floating Island" opposite, Qiao Ran couldn't help but swallow hard.
This distance... isn't it a bit too far?
As it turns out, Trainer is also a physically demanding profession.
Without excellent physical fitness, good mental qualities, and a strong psychological foundation, one would definitely be terrified and their legs would go weak on the spot when faced with this situation.
"... There's nothing below... nothing at all..."
The last time Qiao Ran came, she was in a daze and just let it go. But this time, she regained a little of her senses and became somewhat frightened.
He could only try not to think too much, empty his mind and body, and then, after a short run-up, use all his strength to leap from the end of the Floating Island and soar into the sky.
"Snap--"
The sound of friction as he landed rang in his ears. Qiao Ran's landing posture was clearly not graceful, but when he got up from the ground, a joyful smile still appeared on his face.
"I... I made it through... I made it through this time too."
No matter what you do, the most terrifying thing is the unknown first time. When Qiao Ran realized that he could skip that distance, he actually relaxed a bit.
Congratulations, but this is just the beginning.
The Light Orb continued to hover in front of Qiao Ran, talking incessantly, seemingly quite pleased with itself.
"Now that I've jumped over here, I should be able to tell me something, right?"
Qiao Ran looked at the other person and continued with his previous questions. This time, his thinking was clear, and he would no longer be led astray by the other person.
"This is just the beginning; it's best to Unburden."
The Light Orb started beating around the bush again, but once she actually floated forward for a while, Qiao Ran really couldn't do anything about it.
This guy can fly, while he can't at all.
Just like last time, Qiao Ran overcame numerous obstacles, moving from one Floating Island another. Fortunately, he had always placed great importance on physical training, especially after encountering this situation last time, which he strengthened considerably.
"... call..."
After another exhausting jump, Qiao Ran lay wearily on the ground. Now that there was no one else around, only him and a large Light Orb, he no longer needed to worry about his image.
"... If this keeps up, I might as well just go and play in the Competition."
"It's still a long way off."
"However, it seems quite interesting to Trainer participate in Competition."
"Trainer who participates in Competition isn't Trainer anymore, okay?"
Qiao Ran couldn't help but complain, and the two of them started talking back and forth like that.
Qiao Ran tried to glean some information from the other person's words, but the other person always managed to evade the question very cleverly. However, with this time the thinking was clearly "clearer," the "sense of unease" that Qiao Ran had felt before became even stronger.
Although this guy claimed to be Rotom, and after he went outside, the Rotom outside also acknowledged everything that had happened in this world, the tone and reaction of the other party when he spoke with this Light Orb were very different from Rotom's.
There's a certain... Mei.
Qiao Ran even suspected that this thing might have Swallow Mei whole.
However, since the other party refused to say, Qiao Ran saw no need to press the matter further. This had always been his thinking; sometimes, maintaining a certain level of "tacit understanding" was one of the keys to survival and continued cooperation.
Judging from the previous outcome, the other party seemed willing to help him and did not do anything detrimental to him. Since their interests aligned, Qiao Ran was willing to trust them one more time.
Following behind the Light Orb, Qiao Ran continued to move a considerable distance in a certain direction.
Just like last time, Qiao Ran saw a huge Battlefield -like Battle Court, and that entire area was actually the ground of the very center of the Altar in the Life Ruins.
All the fragments here are just a glimpse into the Ruins.
"Arrive."
Guided by the Light Orb, Qiao Ran stepped onto the last Floating Island.
On the other side of the Floating Island, he also saw the same island shrouded in that strange blackish-purple mist, with pink hair and a black body, its entire being contained within a pink Cocoon-shaped Canister.
God.
--Tapu Lele.
Compared to Tapu Bulu, Tapu Lele has very bright and cute big eyes, but at this moment, this is completely unseen. It's as if it's entangled by some kind of negative emotion, and its gaze reveals an unyielding madness.
"This is Torn World, isn't it...? Why did the Tapu become like this?"
Qiao Ran asked the question as if talking to himself, and to his surprise, the Light Orb actually answered.
"Tapu are different from other Legendary Pokémon; they are the land deities of Alola and one of the fundamental building blocks of the world."
"When the lands of Alola began to be eroded, their existence shifted here... as a part of building this world."
"... Then what?"
Qiao Ran hoped she could continue, but before the conversation could develop further, Tapu Lele had already seen Qiao Ran on the other side. Her eyes, filled with resentment and Rage, were Lock-On on the intruder. A pink aura spread from her and quickly filled the Floating Island.
"Psychic Surge?... Psychic Terrain?!"
Qiao Ran immediately recognized that this was the effect of Tapu Lele's Ability —the effect of the Psychic Surge. Just like Tapu Bulu's Grassy Terrain, each Tapu has its own "Battle Court," which is one of the marks of them as land gods.
"There's no time."
The Light Orb floating in front of Qiao Ran began to change gradually, and soon her image solidified—transforming into the shape of Poké Ball.
"It's all up to you now, next!"
Her voice faded away, and Qiao Ran gripped the Poké Ball that had fallen from the sky.
What kind of Pokémon is inside?
"..."
Qiao Ran had no idea what pattern the Pokémon have, or rather, there was no pattern at all. However, faced with Tapu Lele, which had already Lock-On onto him, and the Psychic Terrain that had spread to his feet, Qiao Ran could only make the only reaction he needed to make at that moment.
"Come out, my Pokémon!"
Just like before, he used all his strength to Fling the Poké Ball in his hand.
Amidst a burst of light, Qiao Ran's partner appeared on the Battle Court, facing off against Tapu Lele.
Qiao Ran had no idea what Pokémon would appear in his Poké Ball. He could only speculate, rather superstitiously, whether constantly thinking about the image of a particular Pokémon would increase its chances of Pokémon.
Although he didn't know the answer to the question, it was certainly an option worth trying. And when facing Tapu Lele, he didn't actually have that many Pokémon he could send out.
The Fairy type Psychic type has a very wide coverage, especially Tapu Lele, whose Fairy type can easily outclass Dark Type, the nemesis of Psychic type. In addition, Tapu, as well as Psychic type moves that can be amplified and priority Psychic Terrain of both sides can be disabled. Among all Tapu, Tapu Lele is in a class of its own.
Although it looks pink, when it comes to fighting, it's much more ruthless than Tapu Koko, which looks like a warrior. Even an "experienced" Trainer like Qiao Ran has to think twice when facing Tapu Lele.