"Lucario..."
"Golbat..."
In the silent tunnel, Lucario and Golbat cried out at the same time. Their cries echoed through the empty space. Clearly, they had both sensed Umbreon.
They opened their eyes and looked into the depths of the pitch-black tunnel, then rushed toward the tunnel on the right without hesitation. Yu Hai could only follow closely behind, his flashlight casting a bright beam that illuminated a small patch ahead as he plunged deeper into the tunnel.
The tunnel was filled with the damp scent of earth. Dark green moss covered the walls, reflecting a ghostly green glow beneath the flashlight. The ground underfoot was uneven, and he occasionally stepped on loose stone slabs, producing sharp cracking sounds.
However, Yu Hai and the others did not notice that just after they left, waves of black ripples suddenly spread across the previously still tunnel walls. Transparent pitch-black figures, like smoke, slowly passed through the walls one after another.
The Ghost-type Pokémon's eyes glowed with eerie red light as they mockingly watched the direction Yu Hai and the others had gone. Their mouths slowly stretched into exaggerated grins, and they let out chilling, cackling laughter that echoed through the tunnel for a long time.
"Umbreon, Umbreon..." Yu Hai ran breathlessly to the end of the tunnel and found Umbreon lying on the ground, its once sleek fur now a complete mess.
Umbreon's ears drooped weakly. Its face was twisted in pain and struggle, its eyes tightly shut, brow furrowed, teeth biting hard into its lip. Its body twitched faintly as if it were enduring tremendous torment, already unconscious.
What had happened to Umbreon after it fell down here? Why had it ended up like this?
Seeing Umbreon's condition, Lucario immediately stood in front of Yu Hai. Its legs bent slightly, every muscle