The sun gradually rose in the early morning, driving away the lingering darkness and chill of the night.
Lance and Lorelei stood before the Shelter's exit, taking specially made protective combat suits from their backpacks and putting them on.
Then they each took out a helmet made from an unknown metal and put it on.
These combat suits could not actually block Dark Matter completely. They merely offered decent protection.
If a Shadow Pokémon's attack exceeded what the suits could withstand and left Lance or Lorelei wounded, they would still be assimilated by Dark Matter.
And that threshold was not very high-only about Gym-level.
Though it was low, this was already the most effective protection against Dark Matter that humans could currently produce.
After checking that he had everything with him, Lance said goodbye to the League officials and friends who had come to see them off.
"Head back. I'll definitely bring food back!"
"Lance, Lorelei, please be careful!" Diantha's eyes were filled with worry.
How painfully similar this scene was to when Leon had gone out last time.
Only now, it was Lance and Lorelei's turn.
If Lance and Lorelei failed to bring back food...
Then... next time, it would be her, or Cynthia and Steven!
Steven gave Lance a serious look, then suddenly smiled. "I know you're still brooding over missing that hot pot the day before yesterday."
"If you ask me, you're too rigid. There was all that meat and all those vegetables, but you refused to eat any because you couldn't bear to part with the few snacks in your stomach."
"How about this? If you come back safely, then the next time Miracle comes, I'll swallow my pride and make sure he arranges a hot pot just for you."
"Then it's a deal?!" Lance rubbed