The world around them changed completely in the next instant.
Xinhai's vision blurred. The ground beneath his feet vanished, the ranger beside him vanished, and even Gardevoir and the others disappeared without a trace.
In their place was a primeval forest bathed in moonlight. The air was saturated with an unimaginably dense Life Energy, while countless pale green motes drifted slowly through the night sky.
"Eevee?" (Where is this?)
Eevee lay on his shoulder, its large brown eyes sweeping over the surroundings in confusion as its little paws unconsciously clutched Xinhai's clothes tighter.
It lifted its head and let out a cry filled with confusion and a hint of unease.
"Eevee, Eevee?" (Xinhai, where did Gardevoir and Blaziken go?)
Xinhai drew a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
"I don't know either." His voice remained steady, though his gaze rapidly swept across the unfamiliar surroundings. "But don't panic. Let's go find them."
He raised a hand and touched the Poké Balls at his waist. After confirming they were all there, he visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
Xinhai's fingers brushed swiftly over several Poké Balls before finally stopping on the ones containing Krokorok and Zigzagoon.
A flash of red light appeared, and Krokorok's bulky dark-red form materialized at his side, followed closely by Zigzagoon's aqua-blue figure.
The moment the two little ones appeared, they immediately went on guard.
Krokorok planted its feet on the ground, its dark-red eyes vigilantly scanning the area as Ground-type energy spread out in an instant, sensing the terrain and any potential threats nearby.
Zigzagoon pricked up its ears, its nose twitching lightly as it caught at every trace of familiar scent in the air.
A moment later, the two little ones looked at Xinhai at the same time and shook their heads.
They