Xinhai walked to the center of the platform and looked around. From this angle, he could take in the entire valley at a glance.
—The neatly scattered trees, the drifting motes of light, and the Sceptile Tribe waiting quietly along the valley's edge.
The Old Sceptile looked at him and spoke again. "Sceptile."
Gardevoir's voice sounded in Xinhai's mind. "It says you can release your other companions too."
Xinhai nodded and removed the Poké Balls from his waist.
Red flashes appeared in succession—Charmander, Axew, Weedle, and Milotic emerged onto the platform.
The moment Charmander appeared, the flame on his tail surged up with a whoosh. His orange eyes curiously surveyed the surroundings.
But he quickly sensed the solemn atmosphere filling the valley. Instinctively lowering his flame, he obediently crouched by Xinhai's feet.
When Axew emerged from her Poké Ball, her purplish-red eyes still held a trace of drowsiness.
But when she saw the glowing trees around her and the drifting motes of light, her little mouth fell slightly open, and she softly cried, "Axew."
Weedle lay on the platform, longing visible in his eyes as he looked at the emerald leaves. The dark red patterns on his body glimmered faintly beneath the moonlight.
Milotic's long body occupied half the platform, her red eyes curiously observing everything around her.
Finally, after a moment of hesitation, Xinhai took out Golem's Poké Ball as well.
A red flash passed, and Golem's enormous body, covered in magnets and black crystals, appeared on the platform.
The platform trembled slightly—Golem was truly quite heavy.
His unusual appearance stood out beneath the moonlight: the iron sand on his chest resembled a beard, the magnets on his back shone with a metallic luster, and his orange eyes slowly swept across the surroundings.
When the Old Sceptile saw Golem's