After their afternoon nap, Cheng Tian and the others continued exploring downstream along the rushing creek. Only when the river went underground and could no longer be traced did they stop.
Compared with the gorge earlier, the terrain here seemed slightly more open. A small grove lay ahead, lush with greenery.
The Pokémon guarded the pair on all sides. Cheng Tian held Su Han's hand the entire time.
"Xiaohan, did you sense it?"
Su Han discreetly let the blue light in her pupils fade. "What is it, A-Tian?"
"Ever since earlier, I've felt like something has been following us," Cheng Tian said. "Whether it was those two Golem before our nap or what's happening now, don't you think it's all strange?"
Indeed, it was a little too quiet now. Aside from the distant sound of running water behind them, there was not a sound nearby. Even the chirping of insects had vanished completely.
Noibat had already begun scanning with Supersonic, Gengar had hidden back in the shadows, and even Greninja had activated Mind Reader, holding five Water Shuriken in one hand.
The next instant, Su Han's eyes snapped toward the bushes ahead and to their left. An agile figure appeared, its sharp scythes already slashing toward them!
Fortunately, Tinkaton was ready. An upward swing of the great steel hammer in Tinkaton's hands knocked the attack aside. Greninja hurled the Water Shuriken, which struck the attacker's body. The attacker cried out in pain, finally revealing itself.
It was a level 36 Scyther.
Cheng Tian froze. Scyther?
How strange. These Pokémon never attacked humans unprovoked, and would even protect the weak as an entire swarm. What was going on today?
"Rotom, Rotom! Something seems to be approaching, Rotom!" Rotom warned.
Just then, more rustling sounded. One Scyther after another emerged from the