Chapter 399

Seemingly sensing Qiao Ran's breathing, Lillie, who had been speaking, suddenly fell silent. She clearly Frisk the situation; they were so close...

A blush crept onto Lillie's face.

The relationship between the two was no longer just that of simple friends, and several days had passed since their last encounter. Both Lillie and Qiao Ran found it difficult to control their feelings, and they looked at each other, their breathing gradually becoming heavier.

It wasn't until Lillie leaned close to Qiao Ran's ear and whispered something that Qiao Ran finally managed to stay on guard.

"... Mei hasn't come out yet... there's still time..."

"...!"

Qiao Ran took a deep breath.

Although time may be limited and nothing really is likely to happen, it's still possible to de-stress a little, right?

"?"

When Mei came out, more than twenty minutes had passed. However, not long after she left, she saw Lillie run into her suitcase, pick out a change of clothes, and then hurriedly run into the bathroom.

"I... I'm going to take a shower."

"??"

Mei felt something was off, but she didn't press the matter. Perhaps it was because she was finally able to rest today and tomorrow, Lillie planned to take a quick shower and get some rest.

"..."

However, Qiao Ran seemed to be sitting on the bed in a daze, as if he was struggling with something. Mei blinked, looked at the location of Lillie's bathroom, picked up her phone and scrolled through videos for a while, and then she moved closer to Qiao Ran.

"Qiao Ran, take a look at this?"

"...???"

What are you looking at?

Qiao Ran turned her gaze away and stared blankly at her.

No way????? You're here too?????

This identical scene almost gave him the illusion that he was trapped in some kind of cycle. Lillie had been teasing him for a long time, but as soon as she saw Mei coming out, she quickly slipped into the bathroom, giving him no room to continue.

And now...

Looking at Mei, who had already moved closer to him, Qiao Ran couldn't help but swallow. It seemed that a faint fragrance emanated from her.

Then, another twenty minutes or so later --

No one could understand Qiao Ran's pain. Even an hour ago, he probably couldn't understand how he had survived to this point.

Lillie Mei had both Bide their limits, but they couldn't let go because of each other's presence. Qiao Ran, caught in the middle, was in an awkward position. They would rather make a feint while the other was taking a shower than take any further action when the other was around.

"..."

In the middle of the night, Qiao Ran could only stare angrily at the ceiling above.

Even though he was surrounded by two stunningly beautiful girls, one on each side, he couldn't do anything. If he did, the worst-case scenario would be that both of them would start getting angry with him.

Moreover, this is not conducive to proceeding to the next step.

... When will this kind of life ever end?

He's starting to regret it now; why did he agree to let everyone share a room?

Slowly, the second day arrived.

Qiao Ran spent a long night, while the others...

Based on his feeling, he seemed to have slept only so-so. However, the three people present tacitly avoided mentioning this topic.

I met up with Mei, and we all had breakfast together. Today was another day off, so everyone could do whatever they wanted without any restrictions.

Just like Qiao Ran, he planned to take Silvally and the others out to buy some new clothes in the morning. Of course, considering the recent financial situation, Qiao Ran and the Pokémon had already made an agreement that they would only buy clothes for Silvally this time. As for the other Pokémon, they would probably have to wait until later.

Even so, they were happy to accept it. After all, Silvally has a total of eighteen forms, each with its own unique feel. Moreover, since each Pokémon has its own representative type, they all felt that their own type was the best. As a result, this issue eventually became the focus of their competition.

Even Yveltal, Pokémon known for its unconventional Dark type, attempting to find the best combination for Silvally to use under the Dark type. However... considering her own aesthetic sense, Qiao Ran felt that she probably had little hope.

Besides Qiao Ran, the other girls also had their own destinations to go to. For example, Cynthia just planned to find a quiet dessert shop or cafe to write down everything that had happened recently. She had actually been doing this since yesterday.

As for Acerola, she stayed in Alola, intending to experience the life of Oceanic Residents with Mina. As for Lillie Mei, they basically all ran away with Qiao Ran.

However... every time Qiao Ran met Lillie Mei's gaze, he always had a strange feeling that a danger alarm had been triggered, as if they were hinting at something.

"..."

In response, Qiao Ran could only pretend to know nothing. The three of them began their battle of wits with thin air. Only Mei looked puzzled, feeling that something was not quite right.

In fact, accompanying Pokémon to buy clothes is not an easy task. Although Qiao Ran only needs to act as a "judge" in this process, this time being a "judge" is obviously not so easy.

Every Pokémon was secretly competing, and they didn't usually have the chance to test their strength against each other. But now, taking advantage of this opportunity, they started a pairing competition. And Silvally, the Silvally at the center of the storm, didn't act like it should at the center of the storm at all. It didn't show any fear and even looked very moved.

When Qiao Ran secretly asked her, that was all she answered.

"... It's so nice that everyone cares about me."

"..."

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Qiao Ran's forehead. This...

The Silvally seemed completely unaware that something was amiss.

While they genuinely care about you, aren't you afraid they'll fight over this?

Although there are foolproof solutions, I really can't afford eighteen outfits!!!

Of course, according to Qiao Ran's calculations, he wouldn't buy eighteen sets of clothes directly, as there are still a few types of Pokémon he doesn't have. However, even so, it's still a considerable number, and Qiao Ran alone simply couldn't withstand such "torture."

These few outfits that can only be purchased naturally become the key to the Pokémon's competition, as each of them wants to showcase their unique insights and win the title of best designer.

"..."

As the only judge with any real say present, Qiao Ran naturally bore a tremendous responsibility. He could only use the art of language to praise everyone before pretending to be very conflicted and giving a result. Although this might be a bit mentally taxing, it was the best outcome he could achieve.

Of course, among these Pokémon, there are also those who excel at design, such as Dianxi and Ninetales. Since they usually like to tinker with small decorations and have even participated in Performance Competition with Qiao Ran, their aesthetic sense is among the best even among humans. So, unsurprisingly, the combination of Ice-type and Fairy Type is almost unparalleled.

Qiao Ran stated that he absolutely did not favor either side; he simply liked aesthetically pleasing things.

Furthermore, Mei and Lillie, who came with him, can also testify to this. Lillie is a Fairy Type fan, not to mention that even Mei, who likes Poison-type Pokémon, was attracted by their designs, which shows that their designs are truly top-notch.

In the end, apart from the normal outfit that Silvally chose itself, Qiao Ran basically bought two sets: one for Fairy type and one for Ice-type. The normal outfit that Silvally chose was basically a tracksuit, with Sportswear top, track pants, and a hat on its head. Now, it wouldn't look out of place at all if it started running in the street.

As for Dianxi and Ninetales' choices, they were slightly different. Under the Ice-type style, it was a dress that was somewhat aloof. The Ice-type Silvally's hair color was almost the same as Ninetales's, and their figures were only slightly larger. If the two of them stood together, they really would look like two sisters.

As for the Fairy Type, it's clearly more...

It adds a touch of cuteness; the lace paired with the fluffy skirt, along with the long pink hair, creates a rather contrasting effect.

Although the two sides are quite different, it doesn't feel out of place at all when applied to Silvally after its status change. Perhaps this is the magic of Pokémon can switch types at will.

At least from Qiao Ran's perspective, he found it quite shocking.

The morning was spent shopping by everyone and Qiao Ran's wallet was crying out in despair, while in the afternoon, Qiao Ran had some more private time.

No matter where he goes, he can freely arrange his time. Whether it's checking on Cynthia's writing, visiting Lillie Mei in private, or meeting his Pokémon in the Wild Area, Qiao Ran always finds different ways to spend this "rest" time.

It was a rare moment for Qiao Ran to experience a sense of peace, as if the crisis had never occurred, allowing him to quietly spend each peaceful day.

Finally, Qiao Ran arrived at Exeggutor Island in Alola. Next to the Altar on Exeggutor Island, he indeed encountered Tapu Fini, who was also there. She was Levitate in the air, looking at Qiao Ran as he walked towards her step by step.

"Tomorrow, we'll take these flutes to the Altar of the Moone."

"You should know what kind of place that is, right?"

Hearing Qiao Ran's words and seeing him looking directly into his eyes, Tapu Fini nodded.

As the Island deity of Poni Island, she had no reason not to know the story of the Altar of the Moone. In ancient Alola, there was no such Altar. Until one day, a special being descended upon Alola and stole all the light. It was two brave legendary beasts that appeared, Defeat the Monster, and finally restored peace to Alola. The Altar of the Moone is a place to commemorate this event.

Of course, this is merely an explanation given to the public.

Born here and having lived here for thousands of years, Tapu Fini had witnessed everything. On that day, no Pokémon could stop that "Monster," not even the combined efforts of Tapu Fini and several other Island deity. However, the two legendary Pokémon from history, while directly related to solving the problem, did not do so in the same way.

It wasn't that they Defeat the Monster and then left Alola; rather... the Monster devoured them, stole their power, and then tore open an Ultra Wormhole with its bare hands before finally leaving.

Alola eventually returned to peace. However, the problems were never truly resolved. Tapu Fini had a premonition that Alola would face problems again after that day, but she never expected it to happen so quickly.

Only a few thousand years have passed, yet the entire Alola is facing such a massive problem.

These Ultra Beast from Otherworld shared the same aura and scent as the "Monster" that appeared that day, and even the two "divine beasts" gave her a similar feeling. These creatures were not from this world, nor were they native to Alola; they were invaders from Otherworld.

"Finnii."

Tapu Fini didn't hide anything and explained everything to Qiao Ran. Although she wasn't good at expressing herself and didn't have the same lively emotions as Tapu Lele, she still liked and trusted Qiao Ran very much in her heart.

The fact that she came to that lonely world and rescued her was already quite touching for Tapu Fini. Furthermore, he helped other Tapu, which made Fini have an even better impression of him.

This human was different from the others. Although he claimed that he and Tapu Lele were merely acquaintances, Fini could sense the distinct aura emanating from Qiao Ran.

If it were just a normal relationship, Tapu Lele would never go to such lengths to protect a human, let alone care about them. The people Tapu Lele likes all have their own unique qualities, and Qiao Ran is probably the most special one.

"Really... That Monster absorbed two Pokémon and then left using Ultra Wormhole."

Through Rotom's translation, Qiao Ran also learned about that period of history. Although there were some discrepancies with some key points in his memory, it was generally accurate.

That "Monster" was none other than Necrozma, the god of the Ultra World, Arceus of the Ultra World.

However, for some reason, Necrozma was stripped of its light and then came to the Pokémon World, specifically Alola in ancient times.

It was around that time that we were able to connect the facts Tapu Fini had just recounted—it devoured the two "legendary Pokémon" of the time, which were the ultimate forms of the two Child of the Stars, and only then did it regain some of its own abilities, allowing it to return to the Ultra World.

As for what happened next, Qiao Ran had no way of knowing.

However, judging from the current situation where Ultra Beast are swarming out of Otherworld and conquering Alola, the situation in the Ultra World doesn't seem to be too good either. It's just... in the present...

Back in the real world, Qiao Ran had also encountered visitors from the Ultra World. Judging from their appearance, they didn't seem to be facing any major problems.

In response, Qiao Ran could only take it one step at a time. After all, it wasn't realistic to speculate on the Ultra World based on the current information. The Ultra World was a vast world with different situations in each region. Moreover, these worlds contained many different planes, making them far more complex than the Pokémon World. Right now, Qiao Ran felt that he should focus on solving the problems in the Pokémon World, since the crisis in the Pokémon World was the most pressing issue.

Thank you for telling me all this.

Qiao Ran looked at Fini in front of him and smiled kindly. Fini nodded gently in return.

"Fini."

"... I want to go with you tomorrow," Rotom said.

Rotom translated what the other person said instantly, but the content of the sentence still surprised Qiao Ran.

Are you coming with me tomorrow?

Qiao Ran had initially thought that Tapu Fini wouldn't be very interested in this mission. After all, she always appeared indifferent and aloof in front of him; who knew what she was really thinking? Moreover, as the Island deity, protecting the people and Pokémon living on the island was her most important task. What she should be doing now was driving out the Ultra Beast from the island, not climbing some Altar with them.

However, Tapu Fini still chose the most difficult path.

"Financier." She nodded.

Regardless, the Altar of the Moone is part of Poni Island, and she must be involved in everything that happens there.

Although she dislikes getting hurt and fights that lead to injury, it doesn't mean she's incapable of fighting or afraid of fighting; she simply dislikes getting hurt.

"Alright, since you want to go, then come along tomorrow. Mina will be coming too, so please show us the way tomorrow."

Qiao Ran smiled and couldn't help but reach out and try patting the other's head—the shell on top. Surprisingly, Tapu Fini didn't show any resistance; she remained calm.

With Tapu Fini joining the team, the group is clearly more stable this time. Tapu Fini's grasp of the island's terrain is definitely better than the average person's, and even compared to someone like Mina who frequently explores canyons, it's probably better. After all, she is, after all, Island deity has lived here for thousands of years.

"... By the way, could you tell me about Alola's past? For example, what's the relationship between you Tapu?"

Since they had some free time and were quite interested, Qiao Ran simply lay down on the grass next to the Altar and chatted with Tapu Fini. With Rotom acting as the translator, their conversation went smoothly, although the translator would occasionally chime in with a few words, making it seem very unprofessional.

That evening, everyone went to Mina's boathouse, took out the food they brought from the Real World, and prepared a sumptuous dinner. As Mina's roommate, Hapu also got to enjoy some delicious food there. Although she wouldn't be participating in the operation the next day, she wouldn't give up if she could get something for free.

During the meal, Qiao Ran finalized the order and detailed plan for tomorrow's operation. Since the Altar of the Moone is located at the farthest end of the Poni Island Grand Canyon and on the highest mountain peak, it would take a lot of time to get there, or... fly there directly. However, that would inevitably attract a large number of Ultra Beast. If he wasn't in a hurry, Qiao Ran didn't want to use such a plan.

On Melemele Island, although they used flight to travel, it also brought them many huge problems. This time, Qiao Ran and the others were heading to the most dangerous Altar of the Moone. If they had a choice, Qiao Ran would prefer that they maintain their stamina and complete the final challenge in one go, rather than being half-dead by the Ultra Beast along the way before even reaching the destination.

After discussing all the details with everyone, Qiao Ran and the others said goodbye to Mina and the others, preparing to return to the Real World to rest.

It's getting late.

However, when Qiao Ran, Lillie, and Ai Mei entered the same room and closed the door, the three of them fell silent in unison, awkwardly standing there.