Yun Mengqiu would not intervene along this stretch. Xiao Ran and Veranica would do most of the fighting. They wore Z-Rings, so this counted as part of their Island Challenge.
As they ventured deeper, Xiao Ran and the others also noticed that, although they kept battling wild Pokémon, they were not being driven back en masse like the other explorers. It felt more like a genuine trial.
"The two of us should handle as much of the fighting as possible. We should be fine," Xiao Ran said, glancing at Yun Mengqiu and Wang Yunshu beside him.
Wang Yunshu had just tried joining a battle, hoping to take the opportunity to hone her skills, but a large number of wild Pokémon had quickly swarmed her. That had never happened when Xiao Ran and Veranica fought.
"Yes! It looks like only people with Z-Rings will be able to enter Verdant Cave from now on!" Yun Mengqiu nodded, sounding a little wistful.
She had already reached Elite Four Class and might not even qualify for the Island Challenge. That was why she had not taken any of the three Z-Rings Xiao Ran had made. Instead, they had gone to Veranica, Qiu Yuxuan, and Xiao Ran himself.
They all felt that, if there really was an Island Challenge, those three were the best candidates. Qiu Yuxuan in particular had already raised an Elite Four Class Pokémon despite being only a Gym Leader Class Trainer herself. Perhaps the Island Challenge could help her soar to new heights.
"Once we get another Sparkling Stone, I'll make you a Z-Ring too. I don't know whether you can take the Island Challenge, but you should still be able to use Z-Moves!" Xiao Ran reassured her.
She had already tested that with Qiu Yuxuan's Z-Ring. Yun Mengqiu could indeed