After leaving the village, he did not ride his bicycle. Instead, he set off on foot toward Petalburg Woods.
The fields lining the road gradually gave way to dense woodland, and the air became more humid, carrying the distinctive scent of soil and humus.
Petalburg Woods was still just as he remembered it, with tall, dense trees. Sunlight filtered through layers of canopy, casting fragmented patches of light and shadow across the ground.
The forest path twisted and turned, bordered by ferns and low shrubs. From time to time, wild Pokémon poked their heads out of the grass, curiously studying these unfamiliar visitors.
The group moved quickly, much faster than when Xinhai and the others had first entered Petalburg Woods.
Eevee walked at the front, its large brown eyes swiftly scanning the path ahead and the thickets on either side. Its long ears twitched now and then, catching the faintest sounds from deep within the forest.
Charmander and Axew followed behind Eevee, one to each side. The three little ones formed a line like a miniature vanguard as they set foot on the dirt path leading deeper into the woods.
Gardevoir followed behind Xinhai, its red eyes half-lidded. Psychic Field spread around them like an invisible radar, covering several hundred meters. No wild Pokémon approaching them could escape its senses.
The scent of Petalburg Woods was no different from his memories—damp earth mingled with the grassy, woody fragrance unique to humus. Sunlight streamed through layers of canopy, scattering fragmented patches of light and shadow over the ground.
The forest trail wound through the trees, with waist-high ferns and low shrubs growing on either side. Every so often, wild Pokémon would peek out from the grass, curiously observing this group of unfamiliar visitors.
A Poochyena crouched behind a roadside bush, its