The old man suppressed the complex emotions in his heart and took a deep breath. This was no time for sentimentality.
He raised his head and looked north through the window.
In that direction, the night sky over Mt. Moon was more than half obscured by smoke and dust. The stars, once clearly visible, had become blurred amid the gray-white haze.
The ground was still trembling in wave after wave. Though the tremors were no longer as violent as at the start, the unceasing aftershocks themselves were a dangerous sign.
Wu Shan removed a Poké Ball from his belt and gently pressed the button with his thumb.
"Come out, Lunatone."
A flash of red light appeared, and a Lunatone materialized at his side.
This Lunatone was a full size larger than Sorrel's. Its beige body gleamed warmly beneath the lights, like fine jade polished over countless years.
The red gemstones protruding from its body were especially eye-catching. Every one of them was crystalline and translucent, as though flames were slowly flowing within.
Most striking of all were its eyes—those blue eyes were as deep as the ocean, with faint starlight flickering in their pupils.
The instant Lunatone appeared, the air in the room seemed to soften.
It floated beside Wu Shan, its blue eyes calmly watching the old man as it awaited his command.
"Lunatone," Wu Shan said steadily, "take me to Mt. Moon."
Lunatone's eyes brightened slightly. A pale blue halo of Confusion spread from its body, enveloping both itself and Wu Shan.
The next second, the night wind rushed against them, carrying the earthy stench of soil and a faint scorched smell.
Wu Shan and Lunatone were already standing on high ground at the outskirts of the Mt. Moon Range.
The ground beneath their feet was still trembling