Chen Kai and Miraidon dared not enter the lake, so they could only circle the edge of the mist again.
The human and the Pokemon could only hope that what Miraidon 'smelled' was not within this mist.
After following Miraidon's scent for a while longer, the two could only slump to the ground in disappointment.
What Miraidon smelled was behind a small mound near the lake, and it seemed this mist covered the entire lake, naturally including this mound.
"It seems we can only give up," Miraidon said, clearly unwilling.
Chen Kai was still conflicted: "Sigh... Even if you can escape from Hydreigon, why don't we try our luck?"
At this moment, a voice cautiously spoke: "App, App?"
"Ah?!"
"Gaaah!"
Both Chen Kai and Miraidon jumped in fright. Although Chen Kai had spoken bravely just now, he was already preparing to have Miraidon take him to escape again.
Looking back, there was nothing but bamboo forest around them.
Then a sound came from underfoot again: "App! App!"
Chen Kai and Miraidon looked down to see an Applin angrily hopping up and down.
"App!" (Just because you're tall doesn't mean you're great!)
Chen Kai naturally didn't understand what it said, but Miraidon translated for him, and then he understood. So he bent down, trying to meet the Applin's gaze.
The Applin jumped onto a rock and asked again: "App?" (What are you doing here?)
Chen Kai now clearly saw this Applin; the apple on its body still had faint, net-like scorch marks.
"Oh! You're that Applin from a few days ago! What are you doing here?!"
"App, App..." (Don't even get me started. First, my home was invaded by you, and not long after, a hateful Hydreigon went crazy and came to burn my home. I've been fleeing day and night and just arrived here.)
Chen Kai broke out in a cold sweat: "Uh... well... my condolences. As long as there's life, there's hope. If your home is gone, just build a new one, and I'll help!"
The Applin blinked its two large eyes: "App, App, App?" (I didn't expect you to be so kind. Anyway, you still haven't said, what are you doing here?)
"Us!" Chen Kai said, pointing to the lake ahead.
"We just want to get something from in there, but it's probably very dangerous, so we can only give up."
The Applin nodded its eyes: "App, App." (This lake is the territory of a powerful Pokemon, and it's indeed very dangerous for ordinary Pokemon to enter.)
Chen Kai said in surprise: "The territory of a powerful Pokemon! What kind of Pokemon's territory could be this eerie?"
The Applin shook its eyes: "App." (I haven't seen it, but I heard it's even more terrifying than that Hydreigon.)
After hearing this, both Chen Kai and Miraidon sighed: "Sigh..."
"Thanks, Applin," Chen Kai stood up and patted Miraidon's shoulder: "It seems we can only give up."
"It seems so."
"App?" (What do you want to get? Maybe I can help.)
Chen Kai looked at it suspiciously: "You can help?"
The Applin nodded its eyes.
"App" (Yes!)
So Chen Kai, with a 'nothing to lose' attitude, said to the Applin: "Look! Behind that small mound near the lake, there's something very important to us, but unfortunately, that place is covered by the mist, so we can't go in."
The Applin tilted its curious eyes to the side: "App?" (So what is it?)
Miraidon thought for a moment and said: "We haven't seen it either. For you, it should be something with a very fragrant scent."
The Applin's pair of large eyes wobbled as it thought for a while. It then firmly said to Chen Kai and Miraidon:
"App App" (I can help you look for it.)
Miraidon excitedly said: "Really?"
"App..." (But...)
Miraidon's expression froze.
"App..." (I hope you can help me with something...)
"Wait a moment." Chen Kai raised his hand to stop the Applin from continuing.
"Applin, if there's anything you need our help with, you can tell me directly. As long as I can do it, I'll definitely help you. You don't need to take risks."
The Applin paused. Then it continued to wiggle.
"App, App..." (Don't worry, human. I entered the mist yesterday and was perfectly fine.)
Chen Kai breathed a sigh of relief: "Is that so? Then, Applin, please help us search inside. Whatever you need help with, I'll definitely do my best to assist you!"
After speaking, Chen Kai bent down and extended his hand.
Miraidon also nodded: "Mhm! I'll help you too."
Out of politeness, the Applin moved closer to Chen Kai, extended its tiny tail, and shook 'hands' with Chen Kai.
"App, App..." (Alright, I'll go in and take a look. It's something very, very fragrant, right? I don't seem to smell any scent...)
After saying that, it retracted its eyes and tail completely into its apple, seemingly secreting some liquid to cover the apple's holes, and rolled straight into the dense fog.
Chen Kai's jaw dropped in astonishment.
"A Pokemon that can survive alone in this terrifying Area Zero really has some tricks up its sleeve!"
Miraidon also said in surprise: "Indeed. After it retracted into its apple, I couldn't sense any Pokemon's aura, as if it were just an ordinary apple."
The moment the Applin entered the mist, that terrifying figure instantly floated up from the bottom of the lake.
Just like an ant entering a house, most people wouldn't notice it. As long as the Applin didn't brazenly run in front of it, it wouldn't care.
Even if Chen Kai entered its territory alone, it wouldn't react much, like a small cat entering a house; some people might even find it cute and want to pet it.
But its reaction to Miraidon was different. If Miraidon entered its territory, it would be like a strange man suddenly running into the house, and anyone would have a stress response.
However, Miraidon remained outside its territory and did not enter. It floated on the water, snorted coldly, and continued to sink back to the bottom to sleep.
Due to the dense fog, Chen Kai and Miraidon couldn't see the figure emerging from the lake, only feeling that the mist had grown thicker.
The Applin moved even closer to the lake. It only felt a terrifying aura emerge, then disappear after a short while.
It was so startled that it didn't dare to move for a moment. After a few minutes, it steeled itself and continued to inch forward.
Chen Kai and Miraidon paced back and forth outside the mist, their eyes filled with anticipation and worry, just like students awaiting exam results, every second of waiting feeling like an ordeal.
Chen Kai occasionally took out his phone to check the time, muttering under his breath: "Why isn't it out yet?"
Time passed by the minute, and their anxiety grew more intense, as if the air itself had become heavy.
After more than ten minutes, an apple suddenly shot out from the dense fog.
"App!" (Run!)
The mist over the lake seemed to boil, churning violently.
Chen Kai grabbed the Applin with one hand and Miraidon with the other: "Run!"
Miraidon didn't say much, having already transformed into its riding mode. Air currents shot from its tail, carrying Chen Kai and the Applin away into the bamboo forest.
Damn it, an ant got into my house and stole the flowers I carefully planted!
The figure in the lake was furious, but seeing that the flower thieves had already vanished, it could only stew in its own anger.
Even the temperature of the entire lake water rose by several degrees.