The closer they drew to the place where Xerneas slept, the richer the life energy around them became.
It was as though every inch of air had been infused with vibrant vitality.
The flowers, grasses, and trees stretched freely here, growing strong and lush, their emerald leaves gleaming with life in the sunlight.
In this peaceful place, a withered tree stood at odds with its surroundings.
Its tangled roots plunged into the earth, its trunk bore the scars of time, and lifeless branches stretched out from its crown.
"We're here!"
At the sight of the tree, Chen Shi stopped and spoke calmly.
"We're here?"
Steven, the other two, and Diancie looked around in confusion, unsure why Chen Shi had suddenly announced their arrival.
The air just seemed a little fresher here, and the plants grew thickly. There didn't seem to be anything special about it.
"Old Chen, what do you mean, we're here?" Steven asked bluntly.
"Aren't you looking for Xerneas? That's Xerneas!" Chen Shi pointed at the withered tree, his tone calm.
He had just scanned it with the system. It really was the sleeping Xerneas.
There was no mistake.
"What?!"
"This is Xerneas?"
Diantha stared at the utterly lifeless tree, her face filled with astonishment.
She never could have imagined that the legendary Life God would look like this.
Wasn't this a little too different from what she had imagined?
Even Steven and Cynthia, who had always trusted Chen Shi, couldn't help having doubts now.
"Old Chen, are you sure you haven't made a mistake?"
"This is just a tree. Xerneas, the Life God, should be a Pokémon!"
In Steven's mind, even a legendary Pokémon was still a Pokémon-a living creature.
Even if Xerneas had fallen asleep, how could it have become a tree?
What, could Xerneas change