Chapter 452: Choices and the Pilgrimage

In the Volcano Depth, the campfire crackled, and the dancing fire stretched the four silhouettes alternately long and short.

The four sat in a circle, each lost in thought, all silent, and the air was tinged with oppression—on one side the urgency of the Aether Foundation's relentless hunt, on the other the worry for Alola's future; no one broke the silence.

Finally Ash spoke first, waving his hand to break the deadlock: "Hey hey hey, stop looking so glum, Professor Oak just sent me a message!"

"Professor Oak? He sent a message?" Professor Kukui's eyes lit up instantly, his body leaning forward slightly, his tone full of urgency, "Tell me quickly, what did Professor Oak say to you?"

Ash scratched his head, thought carefully for a moment, and said slowly, "Professor Oak said the League already has someone who has secretly slipped onto Alola, probably to do something."

"Hmm?" Upon hearing "League," Gladio and Lillie, who had been solemn, instantly showed a flash of light in their eyes, and the gloom on their faces eased a bit.

Lillie couldn't help but speak eagerly, her tone tinged with hope: "So that means the League has decided to act, to help us save Alola and break free from the Aether Foundation's control?"

"Probably not." Before Ash could answer, Gladio spoke first, his tone calm, directly refuting Lillie's speculation, with no hint of hope in his eyes.

Professor Kukui also nodded slowly, agreeing with Gladio: "You're right, Gladio. Right now the Whole World's situation is chaotic, every region mired in disorder; even if the League wants to restore order, they would never, and should not, make Alola their first stop. Professor Oak contacted Ash specifically, likely for another urgent matter."

Ash quickly nodded in agreement, adding, "Right! Professor Oak said it was Xiaogang Ge Ge who arrived; he slipped into Alola mainly to look for Neimu Boshi."

"Xiaogang Ge? Traveling all the way from Chengdu to Alola, risking detection by the Aether Foundation just to find Neimu Boshi?" Professor Kukui stroked his chin, his brows slightly furrowed, his face full of doubt, "Neimu Boshi has been studying Pokemon ecology, but that doesn't seem enough for the League to send someone across such distance to look for her, does it?"

"I'm not sure; Professor Oak's message only said that," Ash shook his head, his tone sincere, "He told me that if I have any news about Neimu Boshi, I should contact Xiaogang Ge Ge as soon as possible."

"If we're looking for Neimu Boshi…" Lillie frowned, thought carefully for a moment, and gradually a clue formed in her eyes as she spoke slowly, "When we last partied from Neimu Boshi, she told me she wanted to go to Poni Island to conduct research, specifically to compare the Alola Coconut Tree with coconut trees from other regions; I think she's now…"

"Poni Island?" Ash repeated, his eyes brightening slightly, then immediately said, "Alright, I'll contact Xiaogang Ge Ge later and tell him Neimu Boshi's information!"

Just as everyone thought the matter was settled, Professor Kukui suddenly spoke, his tone solemn: "Ash, after you and Lillie manage to contact Xiaogang Ge tomorrow, go with him and act together."

"Huh?" The puzzled exclamation came not from Ash but from Lillie, her face full of bewilderment, her eyes showing confusion, "Doctor, why? Shouldn't we stay together, evading the Aether Foundation's hunt?"

Professor Kukui let out a soft sigh, then explained slowly: "Lillie, think carefully; Lusamine is single‑mindedly pursuing you and Gladio. Hiding inside this Dead Volcano cannot be a long‑term solution."

He paused, his tone growing heavier: "Moreover, you staying with Gladio makes your target too big, which is even more dangerous. It would be better for you and your sibling to act separately, both to disperse the Aether Foundation's attention and to give a chance of survival. That's what I've been pondering these past days."

Ash and Lillie exchanged glances, both showing a hint of hesitation and reluctance.

At that moment, Gladio spoke first, his tone calm and firm: "I agree with Professor Kukui's view. You two following me and the Doctor together is indeed too risky; separating is the best choice."

He turned to Ash, a hint of entrustment in his eyes, his tone solemn: "Also, Ash, since your friend Xiaogang Ge managed to slip into Alola, he must also know how to get people out. I need you to find him and… take my sister out of Alola, away from this conflict."

"Hm?" Ash heard that, the ease on his face completely vanished.

Now he was no longer the reckless boy of old; even though his passion still flared, he instantly caught the deeper meaning in Gladio's words, furrowing his brows, he asked in a low voice, "And you? What do you intend to stay for?"

Gladio lifted his head, his gaze fixed toward the direction beyond the volcano, and said word for word, "I will complete the Island Challenge, battle each island's dominant Pokemon, and earn the Four Tapus' approval."

"Brother!" Lillie shouted instantly, her voice full of panic and worry, springing to her feet, "Are you crazy? How can you go do the Island Challenge now!"

Professor Kukui's complexion darkened instantly, and even the Pikachu on Ash's shoulder sensed the gravity, its tail twitching uneasily.

Ash furrowed his brows even tighter, his tone urgent: "Gladio, do you know how dangerous the Island Challenge is now?"

Everyone present knew that today's Alola Island Challenge was no longer the rite of growth and glory it once was.

Since the Aether Foundation seized control of Alola and forced the death of the old Hala, the Four Tapus and the dominant Pokemon of each island have become completely disillusioned with humans, even developing a sense of hatred.

If the Four Tapus were not still bearing the responsibility of guarding their island's Pokemon and controlling the islands' core power, Alola now would likely already be the world's first region where massive Pokemon‑human conflict has erupted.

Precisely because of this, even though the Aether Foundation firmly controls Alola's governance, aside from focusing on its own research it never dares to act against the Four Tapus or the dominant Pokemon, which is why a fragile surface peace is barely maintained.

And attempting the Island Challenge now remains fraught with danger.

Gladio faced the worried gazes of everyone without any retreat, a flash of resolve in his eyes: "I know the danger, but it's the only way. Only by earning the Tapus' approval can we gain the power to oppose the Aether Foundation and truly protect Alola, protect Lillie."