Things were far more complicated than they had imagined.
After tearing open a path through the Unown blockade with the help of the Growlithe pack, the group had barely taken a few steps before realizing—
The path they had come from was now also packed with Unown.
"There are way too many of them!"
Seeing the overwhelming swarm, a sense of despair quickly spread through the team.
Noticing this, Officer Jun frowned.
"Arf!!!"
Suddenly, the Growlithe and Arcanine guarding the group let out thunderous roars in unison.
The sheer force of it drew everyone's attention to the Pokémon protecting them.
"What are they…?"
Some didn't understand.
But many already did.
The young researcher who had solved the puzzle shouted,
"Don't give up! Growlithe and Arcanine are telling us in their own way—not to give up!"
The moment his words fell—
Officer Jun, who had fought alongside them all this time, immediately issued a command.
"Again—Flare Blitz!"
Dense Fire-type energy gathered rapidly, blazing flames illuminating every face.
"Arf!!!"
Wrapped in fire, the Growlithe pack launched another fierce charge.
However—
At that very moment—
The Unown crowding the corridor suddenly turned translucent, then vanished completely before everyone's eyes.
"Arf?"
The Growlithe halted abruptly, looking around in confusion.
As the flames dimmed and darkness returned—
Hu Chengliang caught sight of a strange flash in the air.
In the next instant, several Unown materialized, surrounding two researchers who had fallen slightly behind.
Then—
They disappeared together into the darkness.
Without a sound.
Realizing what had happened, the Growlithe quickly regrouped to protect the remaining people.
"What kind of ability is this!?"
Hu Chengliang's brows twisted tightly, cold sweat covering his face.
Suddenly—
The Unown symbols carved into the surrounding walls caught his attention.
After a brief thought, he turned to Officer Jun.
"Officer Jun—can you have the Growlithe attack the walls on both sides?"
"Alright."
She didn't question it and immediately gave the order.
The moment flames struck the walls—
A piercing screech filled the air.
Looking up, they saw Unown emerging from the heated stone walls, fleeing outward.
"So that's it…"
Hu Chengliang finally understood something.
These Unown hadn't appeared out of nowhere.
They had been hidden in the walls from the very beginning—perhaps watching them the entire time.
But…
"What exactly do the Unown want?"
Compared to the two Unown Chen Mo had encountered before, these felt like entirely different creatures.
Fortunately—
Through repeated clashes, they discovered a weakness.
Aside from their mysterious ability to abduct people, these Unown didn't actively attack.
They only defended against the Growlithe's moves.
"Could it be… they don't have offensive abilities?"
If that were true—
Then escaping might still be possible under the Growlithe's protection.
"Flamethrower!"
Under the barrage of fire, the Unown retreated again.
"Move!"
Without hesitation, the group pushed forward through the opening.
But soon—
They realized something was wrong.
Too long.
Previously, it had taken them about an hour to reach the ritual chamber.
Now, even after running for over twenty minutes under the Growlithe's protection—
There was still no sign of the exit.
"Something's wrong."
Everyone felt it.
At that moment—
A corner appeared ahead.
With Unown closing in, Hu Chengliang rushed past it first.
And then—
He suddenly stopped.
Looking up—
A dark red glow filled their vision.
Countless Unown floated in the air, arranged in orderly formations, forming intersecting, rotating circles.
"This is…"
The young researcher froze.
Looking around under the crimson light, he realized—
They had somehow returned to the ritual chamber.
And the eerie red glow—
Was coming from the massive symbol carved into the wall above the stone steps.
"…."
As if sensing their arrival—
The Unown stopped moving and turned toward them.
Those cold, single eyes sent chills through everyone.
The entire space fell into deathly silence.
Only the symbol above continued to emit its ominous glow.
"I feel like… they're performing some kind of ritual… and we just happened to walk in and become the sacrifices…"
An older researcher spoke in a half-joking tone—
But despair filled his eyes.
"Don't give up—the Unown don't have att—"
Before he could finish—
The Unown began moving again.
In the next instant—
Lights appeared in the air, forming familiar shapes.
Officer Jun's expression changed drastically.
"No… that's impossible…"
As the light faded—
Orange fur.
Majestic forms.
It was the Growlithe pack.
Hu Chengliang was equally stunned.
"Arf!!!"
The real Growlithe roared angrily at their identical counterparts.
But—
The summoned copies were even more decisive.
Flames erupted from their bodies as they attacked immediately.
Soon—
Everyone realized something horrifying.
These copies were just as strong as the originals.
"…."
Hu Chengliang's mind went blank.
This was beyond anything he could comprehend.
Even Suicune—
Felt less shocking than what was happening now.
At that moment—
A familiar voice shouted,
"Brother Hu—look at the stone steps!"
Snapping back to reality, Hu Chengliang looked up.
The upper steps were now covered in layers of purple crystals—
Which were slowly spreading outward.
Cold sweat poured down his face.
He didn't understand what it meant.
Didn't know what to do.
The ritual-like Unown.
The spreading crystals.
The glowing symbol.
Something terrible was happening.
But they were powerless.
What do we do…?
Then—
His eyes focused on the symbol.
Brighter… it's getting brighter…
The thought clicked.
He gritted his teeth and pulled out a Poké Ball.
"Nidoran!"
A small purple figure appeared.
Everyone was confused.
At a time like this—why summon such a weak Pokémon?
Then Hu Chengliang shouted:
"Please—destroy that symbol!"
"Naa!"
Without hesitation, Nidoran sprinted forward.
One of the summoned Arcanine opened its jaws to attack—
But—
The real Arcanine lunged first, biting it down and pinning it.
Your opponent is me.
With their protection, Nidoran reached the crystal-covered steps.
Facing the glowing symbol—
It leapt up and slashed wildly with its sharp claws.
The carving shattered rapidly.
And—
The red glow began to fade.
"It's working!"
Hu Chengliang clenched his fists.
Boom!
A loud rumble echoed.
A faint, furious roar seemed to come from nowhere.
As the symbol was completely destroyed—
The red light vanished.
The crystals stopped spreading.
The Unown froze.
The summoned Growlithe dissolved into particles of light.
"…Did we survive?"
someone murmured.
"Naa~"
Nidoran trotted back proudly.
"Well done."
Hu Chengliang gently patted its head.
Then—
He noticed something.
The crystals.
They had… moved.
"…Hm?"
He rubbed his eyes.
Then—
Everything changed.
The crystals surged forward—
Faster than before.
At the same time—
The Unown began spinning rapidly.
"Watch out!"
An Arcanine grabbed Hu Chengliang and leapt onto the crystal-covered area.
In moments—
The entire chamber was covered in purple crystal.
And it kept spreading.
Hu Chengliang's face turned pale.
They hadn't stopped it.
They had made it worse.
"Look—!"
someone shouted.
On the crystal surface—
A figure began to materialize.
Familiar.
Too familiar.
A sapphire-like crest.
Flowing white ribbons.
A long purple mane.
Ruby-red eyes gazing coldly at them.
"…Suicune."
Hu Chengliang whispered.
His mind went blank.
Why…
A Legendary Pokémon?
At the same time—
At the entrance of the ruins—
A ripple spread through the darkness.
Space itself seemed to tear open.
And from within—
Two Unown emerged.
One shaped like "P."
The other like "C."
They looked around anxiously.
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