Chapter 357: Trial

On the Lake Center Island at the heart of Heart-Equal Lake, the group stood around the sealed cave, the rough rock wall exuding a cold, heavy feeling.

Shan Kui raised his hand and gave the cave's rock wall a heavy pat, his tone urgent: "Huo La, no way, I'll still unleash the Super‑Armored Rampaging Rhino and have it drill through! I don't believe that, even with the Rhino's power, it can't break this damned stone!"

Huo La sighed helplessly, reached out and pressed Shan Kui's shoulder, his tone full of futility: "It's useless, Shan Kui. Unless you can send the Super‑Armored Rampaging Rhino into another dimension, even if you drill through this rock wall, you won't find their trace."

Shan Kui pursed his lips and, unwillingly, withdrew his hand.

Huo La took a deep breath, waved his hand, his tone tinged with melancholy: "Come, come, all of you step back a bit, let me try the final method."

Ming Yao, Xiao Zhao and Shan Kui hurriedly fell back behind Huo La, their gazes fixed on him, eyes full of anticipation and anxiety.

Huo La turned, facing the sealed cave, hands reverently clasped, his body slightly bowed, his tone respectful and solemn, he spoke slowly, word by word: "Great Lake Legendary Pokemon, Ai Mu Li Duo, Ya Ke Nuo Mu, You Ke Xi, I earnestly ask you to hear my summons."

"I am Huo La, from a distant future world, commissioned by Arceus to seek his scattered Stone Tablets and save the endangered Galar Land. If you dwell here, please reveal yourselves; whatever Trial you present, I am willing to accept calmly, only asking for your guidance."

The words about the Trial were not baseless for Huo La.

He remembered clearly that in the future Shen'ao Region, these three Lake Legendary Pokemon had each bonded with Ash, Xiao Gang and XiaoGuang, allowing them to complete Trials concerning emotion, will, and knowledge, and ultimately together defeated the world‑dominating Chi Ri.

Now cornered with no way out, proposing a Trial is a desperate measure; no matter how slim the hope, they must give their all and try, they cannot give up so easily.

Having said that, Huo La maintained his devout posture, standing quietly in place, his gaze fixed on the cave, patiently awaiting a response.

One second, two seconds, one minute, two minutes… time slipped by slowly; the cave remained motionless, and even the surface of Heart-Equal Lake beside it stayed still as a well, windless and calm, as if his call never reached that mysterious realm.

"Ah…" Huo La slowly straightened, let out a heavy sigh, shook his head helplessly, his tone full of disappointment, "It seems this method won't work either; we'll have to think of another way."

Xiao Zhao and Ming Yao exchanged glances, also sighing, their faces full of dejection.

Xiao Zhao was about to speak to comfort Huo La, telling him not to be too anxious, when a corner of his eye suddenly caught the cave behind Huo La; his pupils contracted sharply, and he shouted trembling, "Ho… Huo La… you, behind you!"

Shan Kui also covered his mouth, eyes full of shock, nodding repeatedly, unable to utter a complete sentence.

Huo La's heart tightened, and instinctively he jerked his head—on the cave's rock wall behind him, the previously dim stone surface suddenly flickered with pink, blue, and yellow lights, soft yet dazzling, gathering slowly upward along the wall.

In the blink of an eye, the three‑colored lights coalesced into a sphere above the cave; when the light faded, three ethereal, soul‑like slender figures, completely transparent, floated slowly in mid‑air, each surrounded by a faint halo, eyes gentle yet majestic, silently gazing at Huo La's party, exuding a sacred aura that inspired awe.

Everyone held their breath, staring unblinking at the three transparent figures in the air, not daring even a breath.

The pink halo enveloped Ai Mu Li Duo, the blue halo wrapped Ya Ke Nuo Mu, and the yellow halo shrouded You Ke Xi; the sacred aura each emitted inevitably inspired reverence.

At that moment, a gentle, ethereal female voice, without warning, resonated in each person's mind, clear and vivid, without any noise: "Huo La… we know you, we know why you have come, we know the mission you bear and Arceus's commission."

After a brief pause, the gentle voice sounded again, bearing undeniable authority yet still gentle: "Since you are willing to accept the Trial calmly, bring the partners you have chosen and come with us."

The moment the voice fell, the sealed cave wall before them suddenly rippled with a soft pink sheen, the ripples undulating outward like water waves, the once solid rock seeming to turn into flowing light and shadow.

Moments later, a passage shimmering with pink, blue, and yellow glimmers appeared before them—its inner walls coursed with tiny specks of light, the depths hazy, as if linking to another mysterious world.

Huo La's gaze stayed fixed on the fantastical passage, and he replayed the voice's words in his mind, then turned, his eyes landing on Xiao Zhao and Ming Yao beside him, speaking solemnly: "Xiao Zhao, Ming Yao, you two come with me inside."

"Alright!" Xiao Zhao immediately nodded, his eyes full of resolve.

Ming Yao followed suit, replying: "Alright, together!"

"Hey, what about me?" Shan Kui, anxious, stepped forward, "I want to go with you too! I can help as well!"

Huo La looked at Shan Kui's eager expression, smiled, stepped forward, slowly removed the Master Ball containing Deoxys from his waist, gently handed it to Shan Kui, and solemnly entrusted: "Shan Kui, the Field Master, I'm leaving this with you for safekeeping. The Trial is unknown; there may be dangers inside. Stay here, guard Deoxys and our camp, and wait for our return."

"Huh?" Shan Kui instinctively took the Master Ball, his fingertips brushing the cold sphere, his mind momentarily stunned, not yet grasping Huo La's intention, nor having time to say anything.

Huo La turned and resolutely stepped into the Time and Space vortex shimmering with three‑colored glimmer, his figure instantly enveloped by the passage's light and shadow.

Xiao Zhao dared not delay, immediately followed Huo La, hurried into the passage, his figure quickly vanishing into the hazy light.

Ming Yao looked at the still‑dazed Shan Kui, pointed at the Master Ball in her hand, and softly said: "Take good care of it; we'll be back soon."

Having said that, he also turned and stepped into the passage, the three figures all disappearing, leaving only the passage still glowing softly on the rock wall.