They had barely entered the forest before their surroundings grew dark.
The forest was dense, its canopy thick with branches and leaves, making it difficult for sunlight to penetrate even during the day. Moisture could not escape, leaving the ground beneath their feet covered in soft moss and all kinds of fungi.
This was also why so many Bug- and Grass-type Pokémon gathered in Eterna Forest.
Everything around them was quiet, with only the occasional cries of bird Pokémon breaking the silence. In the dark, secluded forest, those sounds seemed especially eerie.
The damp moss absorbed Xia You and May's footsteps, keeping them from carrying far. This only made May feel even more unsettled, and she moved a little closer to Xia You.
As everyone knew, just as Misty feared Bug-type Pokémon, what May feared most was this sort of ghostly, frightening atmosphere. Even if there was nothing there, she would scare herself.
Taking all of this in, Xia You asked, "Why are you being so cautious?"
May hesitated. Although it might make her seem like a coward, she still answered honestly, "This forest gives me a really uncomfortable feeling. It's like... there's a pair of eyes watching us."
"Isn't that perfectly normal?" Xia You chuckled. "This forest is full of wild Pokémon. To them, we're intruders, so of course they'd watch our every move."
"I mean... something more unusual..." May shook her head and said hesitantly, "Like... like..."
"You mean ghosts and spirits?" Patting her shoulder, Xia You laughed. "There's nothing to worry about. On the contrary, with so many Pokémon keeping us company, they're the ones who should be worried! No matter how powerful ghosts are, could they be stronger than Pokémon?"
Hearing that, May thought he had a point, and her mood did improve. Whether it was