Regardless of how the battle among the quasi-Champions was unfolding, the arrival of three Champion-level Pokémon shifted the battlefield instantly.
Caught off guard and attacked from both front and rear, Mu Xue relied on her exceptional personal skill to avoid being completely surrounded—but the cost was brutal.
In just a short span of time, all six of her Pokémon were injured, while on the enemy side, only Salamence had lost its combat capability.
The pressure returned to Mu Xue—heavier than ever.
Hidden in the shadows, Celebi grew increasingly anxious.
It couldn't interfere every single time—anyone with half a brain would start suspecting something unnatural.
After once again using psychic power to subtly reposition Mu Xue's Pokémon and help them avoid a fatal strike, Celebi felt its urgency spike.
At this rate, even with its help, Mu Xue wouldn't last much longer.
Meanwhile, Oliver had quietly reached the outer perimeter surrounding the entrance to the Qinglin Secret Realm, his face partially covered with a torn piece of cloth.
He'd picked it up along the way—after all, showing up here openly would be impossible to explain.
Most of Mu Xue's manpower had been drawn into the secret realm itself, leaving fewer personnel monitoring the surveillance feeds. As a result, Oliver's arrival hadn't yet been detected.
Looking at the investigators forming tight rings around the entrance, Oliver knew he couldn't go in openly.
Even if they eventually allowed it, it would already be too late.
So he had only one option.
Oliver signaled Gardevoir.
About a hundred meters to the left, a Psychic Blade suddenly erupted.
At the same moment, Oliver and Gardevoir used Teleport, appearing directly at the entrance of the secret realm.
"Who's there?!"
As expected, the investigators' attention snapped toward the disturbance.
In that brief moment of distraction, Oliver and Gardevoir materialized at the gate.
"Not good!"
These investigators were elites. Several Psychic-type Pokémon reacted instantly, unleashing Telekinesis to restrain Oliver.
In an instant, the air around him thickened like syrup.
He couldn't even lift his foot—his body felt completely petrified.
But under Gardevoir's control, the Silver Feather above her head flashed with light.
The psychic restraints melted away like snow under sunlight.
Oliver took a single step forward—
And vanished into the secret realm.
The nearest investigator missed grabbing him by a hair's breadth.
Staring at the now-empty entrance, the investigators exchanged stunned looks.
"What do we do? Do we follow?"
"Champion Mu Xue ordered us to guard the entrance. That intruder could be from the Creation Society—we can't let them fight alone!"
"Alright. All Gym-level trainers, follow me inside. The rest stay here and reinforce security. Heighten alert—this must not happen again!"
"Yes!"
Thud!
Because of the rushed entry, Oliver stumbled and fell onto the grass inside the secret realm.
"Celebi!"
The moment he called out, a powerful psychic force wrapped around him and Gardevoir, teleporting them to an unfamiliar location.
When Oliver opened his eyes, Celebi was floating right in front of him.
"How's the situation?" he asked urgently.
Celebi pointed outward.
Oliver leaned forward to look.
Mu Xue was in terrible condition.
Her main Pokémon were all visibly injured, and the prolonged strain of commanding six Pokémon simultaneously had drained her badly—her face was pale.
"Damn it…" Mu Xue bit her lip, staring at the battlefield in frustration.
What she feared wasn't just her own safety.
She feared that tomorrow, Oliver might enter this secret realm completely unaware—and be captured by the Creation Society.
Then—
She felt a faint chill above her head.
She raised her hand.
A raindrop landed in her palm and dissolved.
Rain… in the secret realm?
Everyone sensed something was wrong and looked up.
Even in the darkness of night, thick clouds could be felt piling layer upon layer, pressing down like a collapsing sky.
A suffocating presence spread across the battlefield.
The drizzle turned into a torrential downpour.
It was as if an ancient, unknowable existence had awakened.
An indescribable majesty descended upon everyone.
The Champion-level Pokémon stopped attacking on instinct.
All Water-type Pokémon began to tremble slightly—
As though they were standing before the true sovereign of water.
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