Pokémon: Did you play Pokémon today?

Chapter 371 Lillie?

"Hopefully they'll have better luck over there."

Bai Zhou took a deep breath and stepped into the dimly lit teleportation cave first.

Zeraora followed closely behind, her golden fur swaying slightly in the turbulent currents of time and space.

After the weightlessness of the teleportation, what I stepped on was not soil, but soft sand.

No, it's more like seabed sediment.

Bai Zhou looked around and found himself in a strange underwater world.

There is no seawater here, but it has a unique underwater landscape, with huge black crystal pillars resembling corals everywhere, stretching from the ground to the top.

The surrounding area is a deep, dark energy "seawater".

It wasn't real water, but some kind of highly concentrated energy, appearing as a deep blue, translucent substance, flowing slowly.

"This is... the ultimate deep sea?"

Bai Zhou frowned, somewhat surprised.

This is the habitat of the Nihilegos —

Tsk, this is not a good situation.

Nihilego is an extremely special Ultra Beast that can release a neurotoxin that allows humans to unleash their potential and release their deepest desires.

Simply put, it's about getting people so high they lose their minds, and then being parasitized by it.

The thought of Nigo Ito's habit of pouncing on anyone he saw and wanting to parasitize them immediately gave Shirashu a headache.

But there's no other way; the only way to get back is to rely on Ultra Beasts, and we can only try our luck.

Just then, a violent explosion suddenly came from afar.

A dull roar pierced through the seawater, and the aftershocks of the energy impact caused even the surrounding black crystal pillars to tremble slightly.

Bai Zhou and Zeraora exchanged a glance, a hint of excitement flashing in their eyes simultaneously.

The sound means there is something alive!

The presence of living creatures means the presence of Ultra Beasts!

We can go back now!

Without hesitation, the man and the cat instantly sped off, heading in the direction from which the explosion had come.

No matter who it is—

Please, please save me!

Behind a hidden black crystal, a slender figure curled up, tightly embracing her companion.

She was wearing a white dress, but due to her long period of homelessness, the hem was stained and the edges were torn.

Her long, golden hair was disheveled and draped over her shoulders, and her face bore several small scratches as she desperately suppressed her sobs.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, and her heart pounded wildly in her chest, almost bursting out of her throat.

She dared not make a sound.

Even breathing was suppressed to the extreme.

Not far away, a dozen large Nihilegos were wandering around, searching for their tracks.

The translucent tentacles swayed slowly in the dark seawater, each sweep carrying a suffocating sense of oppression.

"Waaah"

A faint sob came from her arms.

The girl looked down and saw the tiny golden Voidwalker curled up in her arms, its once crystal-clear body now covered in cracks.

Purple liquid slowly seeped from the wound, turning into specks of light in the deep sea and drifting away.

"Don't be afraid—don't be afraid—"

The girl gently stroked it with trembling hands, her voice choked with emotion.

Tears rolled down her cheeks, mingling with the surrounding seawater.

"Someone will come to save us—they definitely will—"

Her voice was very soft, so soft that it was almost inaudible.

But she said this countless times.

She said this to herself in every moment she wanted to give up.

If she didn't believe someone would come to save her, she would have gone mad long ago.

She couldn't remember how long she had lived there.

All I remember is that one day, I suddenly appeared in this strange space.

There was no alternation of day and night, no hunger or thirst, only eternal darkness and silence.

When she first arrived here, she was terrified.

But just as she curled up in despair and cried, the tiny Nihilego appeared.

It was much smaller and gentler than those monsters.

It doesn't attack her, nor does it try to parasitize her; it simply stays quietly by her side, gently touching the back of her hand with its tiny tentacles.

That was the only warmth she felt during the countless dark days she spent there.

She named it "Little Gold" because it was golden.

They became friends.

No, they are family.

With it, she was able to persevere.

They hid together, wandered together, and lived together.

Xiao Jin would tell her where the danger was and where she could stay temporarily.

It would use its small body to shield her from the probing of those wandering Nihilegos, although it would be weak for a long time after doing so each time.

But loneliness and despair gnawed at her heart day and night.

She wants to go home.

She missed the sunshine, her mother's embrace, her soft bed and hot food, she missed everything.

Today, she finally made up her mind to leave the deep sea and find her way home, despite Xiao Jin's desperate attempts to dissuade her.

Then—they encountered that group of monsters.

The moment the group of Nihilegos saw her, they pounced on her like madmen.

Their tentacles flared wildly, trying to entangle her, parasitize her, and turn her into something terrifying.

It was Kyongo Ido who risked his life to save her.

It was so small and weak, yet it withstood all the attacks and dragged her out of the encirclement.

But as a result, he was seriously injured.

Now, it lies dying in her arms, its life force slowly fading away.

"I'm sorry—I'm so sorry—it's all my fault—"

Please—don't leave me—

"I have nothing left—don't leave me—"

The girl buried her face in its cold body and wept silently.

Just then.

A huge shadow fell over her.

She stiffly raised her head.

Ahead, a dense swarm of Nihilego Idos had caught up.

They floated in the translucent energy seawater, their enormous tentacles swaying slowly, their countless compound eyes fixed on her.

They are waiting.

Like a group of predators toying with their prey, they revel in her fear.

The lead one, Nihilego, slowly approached, its tentacles almost touching her face.

"don't want!"

The girl instinctively held the little one in her arms, closed her eyes in despair, and waited for the excruciating pain to begin.

However, the expected attack did not come.

Instead, there was a violent disturbance of the water flow, and—

What was that? The sound of something speeding through the water!

"Zeraora! Plasma Lightning Fist!"

boom!!!

A deafening explosion rang out in front of me!

The violent current instantly tore through the dark seawater, and the blinding light illuminated the entire area!

The girl opened her eyes in astonishment, only to see a figure flashing with blinding lightning sweep over her head and slam into the tentacles of Nihilego that were attacking her!

It's...it's Pokémon?!

Someone—someone's come to save me?!

"Meow!!!"

Zeraora let out a roar full of battle intent, its claws crackling with violent electricity.

It tilted its head slightly, a flash of displeasure in its pupils. Damn it! It moved instinctively!

Before it could even ponder the question, "Why is this guy ordering me around?", its body had already transformed into a bolt of lightning and shot out.

Despite being annoyed, he didn't actually reject the person's command.

In any case, thankfully the person was rescued.

The Nihilego at the very front let out a mournful screech and retreated frantically!

The other five were also stunned by this sudden momentum, and their movements froze for a moment.

But there are too many Nihilegos.

The Nihilegos in the distance noticed the change and turned around, swarming towards this place!

The girl's newly ignited hope was instantly swallowed up by even greater despair.

So many—how could we possibly defeat them all?

Just when she was about to despair, a figure appeared beside her without warning.

"Don't be afraid."

A deep, calm voice sounded in my ear.

The next second, a strong arm wrapped around her waist, instantly carrying her and the little one in her arms away from the dangerous area where they were about to be surrounded!

The water roared past my ears.

When she came to her senses, she had already been led to a relatively safe place behind a crystal.

The girl looked up blankly at the person who had saved her.

He was a young man.

His black, tousled hair floated gently in the seawater. His face was handsome, and his eyes were calm, as if the thrilling scene just now was nothing more than a trivial matter.

He looked down at her, his gaze sharpening slightly.

A complex emotion seemed to flash in those eyes.

"Lillie?"

He whispered a name.

The girl was stunned.

Lillie —

Who is that?

She doesn't know her.

but----

When this person uttered that name, her heart skipped a beat.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say that she wasn't, wanted to say that she didn't know any Lillie, wanted to say—

But when the words reached his lips, he couldn't say anything.

Finally, it all turned into a soft murmur.

She just stared blankly at him, at that unfamiliar yet inexplicably reassuring face, her gaze gradually becoming unfocused.

"Um----"

Who is it?

Who is this person?

Why—why am I here—?

Why—why would you save her—?

Why—why is there a hint of—heartache—in his eyes?

The girl's heart suddenly raced.

It's not because of fear.

Rather, it was because some unfamiliar yet intense emotion, never experienced before, quietly began to grow in my heart, and then spread wildly.

Was he sent by God to save her?

In her most desperate, helpless, and lonely moment —

He appeared.

Like a ray of light.

It pierced through the deep sea of ​​this eternal night.

Boom!!!

Another violent explosion!

The girl suddenly snapped out of her daze and looked in the direction of the battlefield.

Zeraora is battling an increasing number of Nihilegos.

Its speed was as fast as lightning, and each strike could tear apart a Nihilego tentacle, but there were simply too many of them, and they kept coming.

Gradually, Zeraora began to lose ground.

Several tentacles broke through its defenses and lashed out at it!

"Meow!!!"

Zeraora let out a painful roar, his body was knocked back several meters, and lightning flickered erratically.

"Tsk."

An impatient click of the tongue came from beside me.

The girl turned her head and saw that the man was frowning as he looked at the battlefield, his eyes sharpening.

But she couldn't care less about that anymore.

All she knew now was that his embrace was so warm, so incredibly warm.

She didn't know how long she had been there, nor did she know what warmth or reliance meant.

But now, she feels it.

That feeling welled up from the bottom of my heart, almost overflowing—

sense of security.

She didn't even realize that her hand was unconsciously clutching the hem of his clothes.

They refused to let go.

Bai Zhou didn't notice the girl's overly intense gaze; his attention was completely focused on Zeraora.

Seeing that Zeraora was at a disadvantage, he immediately put down the girl in his arms and prepared to rush into the battlefield.

"No—no—"

A very faint sound came from behind me.

Bai Zhou was taken aback and turned around to look.

The girl had stood up at some point, her whole body trembling, her eyes filled with longing, as if she were experiencing some kind of severe withdrawal reaction.

Her hand was outstretched, as if trying to grab something.

"do not leave Me----"

She murmured to herself, or perhaps she was praying for something.

"Don't go!"

Her voice grew softer and softer, but her obsession grew stronger and stronger.

wrong----

Something's not right—

Bai Zhou frowned slightly.

Lillie—how long have you been here?

He couldn't be sure.

But one thing is for sure: it's definitely not short.

How long has she been in contact with the little Kyogee in her arms?

Although the little creature may not have meant any harm, simply staying in this environment and passively absorbing the faint toxins permeating the air—

A person's mind can be gradually eroded.

Loneliness will be amplified, and obsessions will be amplified.

The desire for a "redeemer" can be amplified to a morbid degree.

Oops!

Bai Zhou suddenly turned around, grabbed the girl's shoulder, and looked directly into her eyes!

Those eyes, which should have been clear, now faintly revealed a strange, sickly look.

"Wake up!"

Bai Zhou gave a low shout and simultaneously channeled a trace of super-restraint power into her, attempting to awaken her from that amplified obsession.

Look me in the eyes!

The girl shuddered, and her eyes cleared for a moment.

She stared blankly at the white boat so close to her, at the concern and anxiety in his eyes—

Then, that obsession seemed to have found a perfect "goal" to rely on, and gradually subsided and disappeared.

The girl seemed to regain her senses and nodded gently in response to Bai Zhou's words.

"Um—I'm fine—I'm sorry—"

Her voice returned to calm, and her eyes regained their clarity.

Bai Zhou carefully observed her for a few seconds, and only after confirming that there was no problem did he slowly release his hand.

They can have normal conversations, so it seems there's no major problem.

He must have been in this kind of place for too long, and his mind became a little hazy.

"Wait for me here, I'll be right back."

Bai Zhou gave a final word of advice, then flashed off to Zeraora's side.

He didn't turn around, so he didn't see what change occurred in the girl's expression the moment he turned away.

"you----"

She gazed at his retreating figure, murmuring to herself.

Suddenly, a sickly yet incredibly satisfied smile curved the corners of his lips.

"You are—come to save me—"

"You are—my—"

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