Chapter 446: The Blood-Red Moon Stained Crimson!

Faced with this question, Pecharunt hesitated for a moment; whether due to some concern, it lowered its head and stammered, unwilling to speak.

Seeing this, Luo Mu did not force it to explain itself; noticing Shalier approaching, he pondered briefly before asking Pecharunt, "I'm afraid I cannot spare the time to send you back right now, yet it is too dangerous for you to return alone.

How about this: until my affairs are concluded, you temporarily stay with me, and once I am done, I will send you back?"

Though he said this, Luo Mu could easily have asked Luxray, Feng Su Gou, or Spectrier to escort Pecharunt back.

The main reason for making this proposal was simply his desire to observe Pecharunt more closely.

Not only was he curious about the story possibly hidden behind Pecharunt, but also about the truth of its dealings with the Three Treasures.

After all, judging by Pecharunt's personality and its current frail strength, it hardly seemed like a Pokémon capable of taking on three opponents alone.

Based on Luo Mu's years of experience playing Pokémon, the Three Treasures of legend from Kitakami might well be legendary Pokémon themselves; the value of such a feat—defeating three of them—simply did not align with Pecharunt's current state.

Faced with Luo Mu's proposal, Pecharunt did not hesitate this time.

On the contrary, Luo Mu's suggestion suited it perfectly; it had been worrying about how to get close to him, for those fragments should be on his person! "Poni!"

Pecharunt nodded rapidly like a chick pecking at rice, thereby accepting the invitation.

Shortly after, Shalier, arriving with her Growlithe, discovered that a new Pokémon, Pecharunt, had joined Luo Mu's side.

Her professional instinct as a photographer made her subconsciously want to snap a few photos of Pecharunt, but she forgot to turn off the flash, startling Pecharunt so badly that it immediately hid behind Luo Mu.

While soothing Pecharunt, Luo Mu helplessly reminded Shalier, "Be a bit more careful; what if you encounter Bloodmoon Ursaluna and your flash startles it, causing it to go berserk?"

Shalier could only scratch her head, wearing an expression of someone who realized their mistake, and pulled several small candies from her shoulder bag, offering them to Pecharunt as an apology.

Sensing her goodwill, Pecharunt accepted the candies, unwrapped one, and popped it into its mouth; the sweet flavor instantly spread, making Pecharunt's starry eyes shine even brighter.

Through this back-and-forth, Pecharunt became somewhat familiar with Shalier, yet it remained somewhat resistant to her Growlithe's friendliness, and even toward Feng Su Gou, which had saved it, Pecharunt dared not approach too closely.

No one knew why.

Luo Mu only found it strange; Pecharunt appeared like a sensitive, introverted little girl, nothing like the ferocious creature described in Kitakami's legends of the Treasures.

A short while later.

Luo Mu and Shalier, accompanied by Pecharunt, ventured deeper into the direction of the Eternal Forest.

Along the way, Shalier held up a map she had drawn and excitedly pointed to several locations marked in red ink, saying:

"Over the past month and more, I have explored many large and small areas within the Eternal Forest, yet there is one place I have not yet visited."

"Now that you are here, I am confident we can stay there for some time."

"Oh?"

Luo Mu leaned over, took the map from Shalier's hands, and saw that the place she indicated was the sole lake within the Eternal Forest.

Shalier explained, "In nature, water sources are always the most precious resource; to use a human analogy, this is a strategic battleground where the most wild Pokémon gather, and where their strength is greatest."

"After all, without sufficient strength, it is difficult to seize such precious water resources."

"Bloodmoon Ursaluna is, after all, a living creature, and as such, it must have a need to drink; given the size of Ursaluna as I know it, the juice from berries alone would absolutely not sustain its massive body for prolonged activity."

"Previously, lacking the strength to remain by the lake for long, I was helpless, but now that you have arrived, we can make that our first destination."

Explaining slowly, Shalier naturally lifted her gaze to the sky.

"Moreover, tonight's moon is both large and round."

Even with accelerated pace, it was not until midnight that Luo Mu and his party finally reached the lake within the Eternal Forest.

This lake was said to flow down from the Kitakami Hall region, eventually forming a lake in the very center of this Eternal Forest.

Although it was now the hour when all sounds were hushed, near the lake at the center of the Eternal Forest, "guests" continued to arrive in an endless stream.

"Roar!"

A pitch-black shockwave, tangible as solid matter, swept outward like a storm; within moments, the surrounding group of Gastly and Haunter were completely driven away.

Having done this, Luxray casually walked back to the vicinity of the tent, lay down, and resumed its guard duty.

Attacks like this were countless tonight that it had already repelled; coupled with the battles against the original occupants of this area, Pawniard and Bisharp, it was just as Shalier had said: the vicinity of this lake was indeed fraught with danger.

Inside the tent.

Pecharunt curiously stared at Flapple, its small nose twitching slightly as it sniffed the fragrant air, unconsciously secreting ample saliva in its mouth.

It smells so good!

Especially the pie-crust lace on its back; intuition told Pecharunt that part was edible! Flapple, unsettled by Pecharunt's stare, subconsciously shuffled closer toward Luo Mu.

Seeing Flapple's movement, Shalier couldn't help but ask curiously, "By the way, why did your Applin want to evolve into Flapple?"

"As you mentioned, there should be three choices, and one of the newly discovered evolutionary branches can even evolve once more!"

Faced with Shalier's question, Luo Mu stroked Flapple's pleasantly textured peel-like head, smiling gently, "You'd have to ask it; it's a rather boring reason."

"Flu!"

Hearing this, Flapple cried out in protest. Its reason for wanting to evolve into this form was not boring at all! Seeing its self-righteous demeanor, Luo Mu helplessly shook his head and explained to Shalier, "It feels that rather than evolving into Flapple or Hydrapple, which excel in combat, it prefers becoming a logistical member of the farm."

"Let companions who are good at fighting handle the battles; it also wants to contribute in its own way—that was its exact wording."

Flapple is a Pokémon that evolves from Applin via a Sweet Apple, so its racial traits are inherently linked to the word "sweet."

Whether it is the sweet, woven pie-crust lace on its back, which can be generated by consuming energy and used as desserts or dessert decorations, or the honey it secretes, both serve as excellent ingredients for sweets.

Furthermore, after evolving into Flapple, its Ripen ability remains intact and has been greatly enhanced in both effect and range; even while staying under a tree, it can influence the quality of apples grown on apple trees, and might even increase the probability of yielding special Apple items.

This was the conclusion Applin reached after communicating with Serperior for a long time.

Listening to Luo Mu's explanation, Shalier looked thoughtfully at Flapple and praised sincerely, "You are truly amazing!"

"Flu..."

Flapple bashfully lowered its head, seemingly a bit shy from the praise.

Seeing it act that way, Luo Mu and Shalier could not help but emit friendly laughter.

For a moment, the tent was filled with an atmosphere of joy and laughter.

Hearing the commotion from within, Luxray twitched its ears and, without changing expression, used Thunderbolt to drive away a pack of Mightyena, awaiting the arrival of Bloodmoon Ursaluna, whenever it might come.

Inside the tent.

Little Sha Li resumed her conversation with Luo Mu regarding the conditions for Bloodmoon's appearance.

"Bloodmoon's modus operandi is far more cautious than that of other Pokémon; what I've heard is that it almost never reveals itself before humans."

"That is also the reason I have achieved nothing in the past month."

"But fortunately, through investigation and by compiling various testimonies and data, I have confirmed one of the necessary conditions for Bloodmoon's appearance!"

"Therefore, without exception, every person who has accidentally encountered it did so on a foggy night when the sky was clear of clouds, leaving only the stars and a nearly full moon hanging high above."

"At the same time, when Bloodmoon is encountered, that single moon in the sky is eroded by a mysterious power, transforming into a blood moon."

"This is also the origin of Bloodmoon's name."

Listening to Little Sha Li's account, Luo Mu remarked thoughtfully, "In other words, we can only wait here idly, hoping for the favor of the Goddess of Luck?"

Little Sha Li nodded in affirmation.

"Is Bloodmoon strong?"

After pondering for a few seconds, Luo Mu asked again.

Little Sha Li shook her head. "I'm not sure, but having survived from the Hisui era until now, and even crossing the ocean to reach this Kitakami region, it must be strong, right?"

"Then that is sufficient."

Luo Mu nodded slightly, closed his eyes, and spoke no more.

Just as Little Sha Li was baffled, he opened his eyes, his voice brimming with confidence.

"Tonight, Bloodmoon will appear."

"Huh?"

Little Sha Li was instantly stunned.

How could Luo Mu be so certain that Bloodmoon would definitely reveal itself tonight?

To one side.

Pecharunt was also staring curiously at Luo Mu; its nature was highly sensitive, which meant it could also keenly perceive the emotions of other living beings.

On Luo Mu, it could see nothing but unwavering confidence.

This made Pecharunt feel he was slightly dazzling.

Because they had to wait for Bloodmoon's arrival, Little Sha Li drank instant coffee, forcing herself to stay awake.

As for Luo Mu, having caught up on sleep throughout the afternoon, he felt no drowsiness at all, his mind remaining perfectly clear.

Wild Pokémon came and went by the lakeside, and the Pokémon standing guard outside the tent shifted from Luxray to Serperior, then from Serperior to Mimikyu, until the time reached four in the deep night, yet there was still no sign of anything related to Bloodmoon.

This left Little Sha Li at a loss for words.

She couldn't exactly say that Luo Mu was just speaking empty words about relying on luck; having already waited a month, this little extra time didn't matter, so she waited patiently until the minute hand on her watch reached the number "6."

Four thirty.

Without any warning, a thick fog rose by the lakeside, and many wild Pokémon, as if sensing something, ceased competing for water and scattered like birds and beasts fleeing in panic.

Up in that sky, the bright moon was stained by some kind of energy, gradually turning a deep blood-red color.

It was the blood-stained Blood Moon! (End of Chapter)