Due to the need to sense the location of the abnormal aura, Rex had Swellow fly at low altitude. Through repeated experiments, they finally pinpointed the general area of the aura's source, though it was still quite large.
To accurately find the culprit behind the Pokémon escape event, Rex decided to search on foot. He didn't dare to let Swellow fly too close to the high-concentration aura area, as falling from the sky would be disastrous.
Although Rex trusted Swellow, the world was full of powerful entities, so it was better not to risk his life. Therefore, he decided to search for the source of the anomaly from the ground.
After landing, Rex followed the guidance of Swellow and Machoke, heading toward the area with the densest aura. Machoke cleared the path ahead while Swellow flew low behind him.
With their protection, Rex felt no fear as he walked through the eerie, silent forest.
Seeing the once-vibrant forest turned into a lifeless place filled Rex with emotion, prompting him to quicken his pace in hopes of resolving the issue sooner.
As Rex delved deeper, the aura grew stronger, and the pressure on Swellow and Machoke increased. However, they continued to struggle against the aura.
Due to the rugged terrain, Rex walked until nightfall without reaching the aura's source. Traveling in the dark was too dangerous, so he found a tree hollow to rest in for the night, planning to continue his journey at dawn.
Rex arranged for Machoke and Swellow to take turns standing guard, then went to rest in the tree hollow. After walking all afternoon, he felt quite exhausted.
Unbeknownst to Rex, Swellow and Machoke did not take turns resting. Instead, they guarded the area around the tree hollow in unison, preventing any potential dangers.
Rex had a peaceful sleep that night, with no disturbances.
In the morning, Rex had a simple meal and continued his journey with Swellow and Machoke to find the source of the aura.
As Rex pressed on toward the aura, the situation on the western side of Jade Moon Lake grew tense.
Thanks to Rex's arrangements and Swellow occasionally feeding some berries, the situation had initially calmed down. However, as more wild Pokémon gathered, the berries became insufficient.
Survival in the wild relied on the law of the jungle, so the berries dropped by Swellow were first consumed by the stronger Pokémon. Only after they were satisfied could the weaker ones eat.
However, like a school of weak fish, even the weakest Pokémon could collectively rival a dominant predator when gathered in large numbers.
The mysterious aura drove all Pokémon out of the area, and the weaker ones instinctively formed groups for protection. Consequently, the wild Pokémon on the western side of Jade Moon Lake gathered with their respective species.
As smaller Pokémon like Wurmple and Oddish gathered in large numbers, even predators that once easily hunted them dared not provoke them.
Now, these Pokémon groups were fighting over food, with the initially dominant solitary Pokémon being the first to be eliminated.
However, these solitary Pokémon wouldn't give up. Knowing that Rex Farm had abundant food, they began attempting to bypass Swellow's and Politoed's blockades to enter Rex Farm.
It would be manageable if it were just these solitary Pokémon. But as the gathered groups, numbering in the thousands, began eyeing Rex Farm, a major battle seemed imminent.
At that point, even if Rex Farm could defend against them, the losses would be substantial.
Rex, still on the road, didn't know the situation was deteriorating. However, he knew that unless he quickly found and resolved the aura's source, Rex Farm would inevitably suffer losses.
Rex's progress was slow, not due to his own limitations, but because the aura was so strong that Swellow and Machoke struggled to resist it, making it impossible to move quickly.
Machoke continued leading the way, but every step felt increasingly heavy. Sweat, which rarely appeared even after hours of training, now poured from its body.
Swellow wasn't faring much better. Unable to fly, it moved forward step by step on its sharp claws.
Despite the difficulties, neither Swellow nor Machoke showed any signs of giving up. This determination pleased Rex. Physical strength could be improved through training, but mental fortitude was harder to cultivate.
Suddenly, Rex found himself in an open area, having unknowingly exited the forest. Ahead was a vast space with a range of mountains in the distance.
While surveying the surroundings, a green light appeared in a distant canyon, then quickly disappeared, only to reappear again in a cyclical pattern.
Swellow and Machoke were heading in the same direction as the green light, making Rex ecstatic. He believed the green light's location was the source of the anomaly.
"I'll return you to your Poké Balls first. That green light should be the source of the anomaly," Rex said to Swellow and Machoke, who were still fighting against the aura.
To Rex's surprise, Swellow and Machoke immediately shook their heads, resolutely looking towards the green light.
Understanding their desire to use this challenge to strengthen their willpower, Rex decided not to rush. They were close to their destination anyway.
After several more hours of arduous trekking, Rex finally reached the canyon entrance. Despite it being less than a kilometer, it took a long time due to the challenging conditions.
Swellow and Machoke were now panting heavily, barely holding back their fear. Rex could see that entering the canyon was impossible for them.
With no choice but to proceed alone, Rex ventured into the canyon to investigate.
Inside the canyon, he found a spacious and beautiful area with fruit trees, streams, and many unknown flowers.
Knowing this wasn't the time to enjoy the scenery, Rex headed straight for the green light.
"Is this... Celebi?"
(Chapter End)