With everyone soothing and caring for them, the two Volcarona gradually settled down and stopped guarding the Pokémon Egg as fiercely as they had at first.
As their partners, Norika and Yong could now touch the Pokémon Egg right in front of them.
The Volcarona's wariness was slowly fading, after all. They were partners who trusted each other more than anyone else.
And the good news kept coming. The courtyard villa finally received the package forwarded by Cynthia...
With things here stable, the Volcarona no longer needed the Lava Cave's environment for protection and energy.
So Yong and Norika recalled their respective partners. Huchen carefully cradled the Incubator containing the Pokémon Egg that carried the clan's hopes. Enjo Norio, Yan Shang Dadi, and several clanspeople who had come to escort them rode in the vehicles ahead to clear the way, while Yong and the others got into the car behind them and sped toward the villa.
Upon returning to the Enjo Clan's grounds, Yong could clearly feel that the atmosphere throughout the clan had changed.
There were more people!
Every clansperson's eyes brimmed with anticipation, and they looked at him with a hint of respect...
To Yong, it still felt a little excessive.
Fortunately, Huchen soon brought him the package from Sinnoh, freeing him from those somewhat uncomfortable stares.
After saying goodbye to everyone, Yong went to the room prepared for him and opened the package.
Inside a translucent glass container, a strange plant grew in black-and-gray soil.
Its brown roots and stems tangled together into a base shaped like a net, with dense clusters of purple-black, needlelike leaves pointing skyward on either side.
Faint gray markings ran across the leaves.
They formed a face that seemed to radiate malice...
The entire plant was shrouded in a hazy, scattered black