Xiao Mei faithfully translated Gastly’s words to Chen Kai, who then caught several Gastly and Haunter to question repeatedly.
The answers were all the same: they all claimed they had never seen a Pokemon like Swablu.
Chen Kai’s heart sank.
Had Swablu’s trail ended here?
That shouldn’t be the case, right?
Or was it scared and fled blindly, hiding deeper and more concealed within the supermarket?
Just then, a larger Haunter, looking like the leader of this group, struggled and slowly floated up.
It didn’t respond to Chen Kai’s question; instead, it extended a smoky claw and pointed to the deepest part of the supermarket.
There, discarded shelves were piled high, forming a dark area resembling a cave entrance.
It urgently let out a few “hissing” sounds, seemingly gesturing for Chen Kai to follow it.
Chen Kai and Xiao Mei exchanged a glance.
Though the light bulb on Xiao Mei’s tail was dim, it still glowed steadily.
Chen Kai nodded slightly, gripping his Poké Ball, and cautiously followed behind the Haunter, carefully navigating around the obstacles on the ground, heading towards the most secluded corner of the supermarket.
The deeper they went, the colder and damper the air became, and the musty smell grew even more pungent.
Finally, deep within the “cave” formed by the collapsed shelves, they saw a relatively open space.
In the center of the ground, on a massive “throne” made of discarded tires and torn rags, a large purple figure was coiled—a Gengar.
This Gengar was far larger than its ordinary counterparts, even more robust than Chen Kai, a human; it was likely a Totem Pokemon.
Its dark purple body was like solidified shadow, emanating a chilling sense of oppression.
Its characteristic wide grin revealed a strange, ambiguous curve, and its crimson eyes gleamed with cunning and depth.
It did not show hostility or fear like the Gastly group outside; instead, it leaned lazily on the “throne,” watching the approaching Chen Kai and Xiao Mei with interest, as if everything was under its control.
The leading Haunter floated beside the Gengar, respectfully and quickly letting out “hissing” sounds, seemingly reporting the situation.
Chen Kai took a deep breath.
Facing this powerful Gengar, which was clearly the leader of the group, he solemnly repeated his question, describing Swablu’s appearance in more detail:
“Gengar, excuse me.
I’m looking for my lost companion, a white Swablu.
Its feathers are pure white, and the… friends outside said they haven’t seen it.
Have you or your subordinates noticed any trace of it?
It might have accidentally wandered in here and gotten scared.”
Gengar’s crimson eyes in the darkness were like two eerie red lamps.
It slowly turned its large head, its gaze sweeping over Chen Kai and Xiao Mei one by one, finally resting on Chen Kai’s anxious face.
Then, Gengar stated that it had indeed not seen a white bird enter this place tonight.
Then, its gaze swept over the Gastly that were still whimpering from the electricity, and it said:
“Gengar, Gengar.
Gengar, Gengar!” (Your Ampharos has good power.
But next time, don’t be so… noisy in my territory.)
After Xiao Mei translated Gengar’s words, Chen Kai’s heart sank completely to the bottom.
Even the “boss” here hadn’t seen Swablu, so where had it gone?
Miraidon clearly said it last sensed Swablu entering here!
He took out his Poké Ball, intending to ask Miraidon, but found that Miraidon inside the Poké Ball was actually asleep!
This was very rare; often, Chen Kai would be asleep, and it would still be playing on its phone, high-intensity online Surfing.
Chen Kai felt a bad premonition and tried to shout loudly to wake Miraidon, but Miraidon continued to sleep soundly, completely unresponsive.
It was as if it had been hit by Hypnosis.
Due to the overload of using Thunderbolt, the light on Xiao Mei’s tail grew dimmer, and the darkness in the supermarket once again became viscous and malicious.
Just as Chen Kai was pondering his next move, a bone-chilling coldness unexpectedly pressed against his back!
Chen Kai’s hairs instantly stood on end.
He whirled around, the flashlight beam shaking violently.
A pale, expressionless face was almost pressed against the tip of his nose!
Beneath long purple bangs, those hollow purple eyes, in the dim light, were like bottomless cold pools, staring intently at him!
“Wah!” Chen Kai was scared out of his wits by this sudden “face-to-face attack,” his heart nearly leaping out of his throat.
His body instinctively recoiled sharply, even bumping into Xiao Mei.
“A… Acerola?!” When the flashlight beam stabilized and illuminated that familiar yet utterly strange face, Chen Kai, still shaken, finally recognized the person in front of him.
However, Acerola’s face now lacked its usual vibrancy, replaced only by a chilling coldness and… dead silence that made one’s heart pound.
“You… how are you here?!” Chen Kai’s voice was distorted by fright.
Acerola didn’t respond, merely looking at him with those hollow purple eyes, expressionless, like a lifeless porcelain doll.
Her appearance was far too bizarre; wasn’t she just in the library a moment ago?
How could she suddenly appear here?
Chen Kai looked at Acerola’s abnormal state, suspicion arising in his heart, but he couldn’t be sure, so he probed, “Acerola! Have you seen my Swablu?!”
This time, Acerola reacted.
She nodded very slowly, with extremely small movements.
“You saw it?! Where is it?! Tell me quickly!” Chen Kai pressed on.
Acerola remained silent, slowly raising a slender, pale hand and pointing in an even deeper, darker direction within the supermarket.
That was not on the side of Gengar’s “throne,” but on the other side, a corner completely obscured by a pile of collapsed metal shelves and large, dusty plastic sheeting.
Then, she turned and walked towards that corner with an extremely light, almost floating gait, without looking back or making any gesture, but the meaning was clear—follow.
Chen Kai looked at Acerola’s fleeting back, then at the sleeping Miraidon and the worried Xiao Mei, his heart filled with struggle and doubt.
Acerola’s state was far too abnormal; her appearance and guidance carried an indescribable eeriness.
But… Chen Kai touched the Poké Balls of Iron Bundle and Iron Thorns, gritted his teeth, and made a decision: “Xiao Mei, you follow behind me and keep an eye on our rear!”
He couldn’t give up any hope of finding Swablu, even if there might be a trap ahead.
Xiao Mei waved its hands, cheering itself and Chen Kai on:
“Ampharos—!” (Leave it to me.)
Chen Kai took a deep breath and quickly followed the shadowy purple figure that flickered in the darkness.
Acerola led him, silently navigating around huge piles of trash and collapsed shelves.
The old, decaying smell in the air grew stronger.
Finally, they stopped in the deepest part of the supermarket, in front of a wall covered in mold and graffiti.
This wall was completely obscured by a pile of huge discarded cardboard boxes and a large, thick layer of dusty canvas.
Acerola stopped, raised her pale hand, and gently lifted a corner of the canvas.
Behind the canvas, there was actually a door.
It was an old, ordinary wooden door, its paint peeling and revealing dark red rust underneath, and the doorknob was heavily corroded.
A colder, ice-cellar-like aura emanated from the crack in the door.
Acerola turned around, facing Chen Kai again, her face still expressionless, merely pointing silently at the door with her pale hand, then her lips parted ever so slightly: “It’s inside.”
Chen Kai recognized that it was indeed Acerola’s voice, but that door, emanating an ominous aura, was far too strange!
Acerola’s state, this hidden door, the unknown space behind the door… He instinctively touched the Poké Balls at his waist; however, the Poké Balls hung there quietly, without any unusual movement or dangerous warning signals.
This allowed Chen Kai’s taut nerves to relax slightly—at least, Iron Bundle and the others weren’t signaling danger.
Perhaps Swablu really did accidentally wander in here?
Perhaps Acerola, despite her strange state, was giving a real lead?
“Swablu? Are you in there?” Chen Kai called out towards the door crack, his voice sounding particularly abrupt in the silence.
There was no response from within.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the strong sense of unease.
For Swablu, he had to go in and investigate.
He reached out, gripped the cold, rusty doorknob firmly, and pushed inward with force!
“Creak—!” A piercing metal scraping sound rang out, and the door opened inward, creating a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through.
A strong scent, a mix of rust, old dust, and a peculiar cold energy, assailed him.
It was pitch black inside the door.
The light from Xiao Mei’s body shone in, as if swallowed by the darkness, only illuminating a small, dusty patch of ground near the entrance.
Just as Chen Kai lifted his leg to enter, as if suddenly remembering something, he turned back to Acerola and said, “Why don’t you go in first and continue to lead the way?
It’s too dark, and I don’t know the way.”
Acerola’s hollow eyes seemed without ripple.
She didn’t hesitate at all, taking her light steps and walking first into the darkness, her figure instantly swallowed by the inky blackness.
Chen Kai stood at the doorway and shouted inside, “Hey, Acerola, are you still there?”
“Mm, I’m here,” Acerola’s faint response came from within.
As soon as she finished speaking, a faint cry came from inside: “Swa! Swa!”
The sound was a bit too deliberate, but Chen Kai didn’t dare to give up easily; what if Swablu really was inside?
Chen Kai gritted his teeth.
For his companion, he had to go in and confirm!
He took a step forward, tightly gripping his flashlight and Poké Ball in each hand, and squeezed sideways through the door.
Just as his entire body completely crossed the threshold, and both his feet stepped onto the cold ground behind the door—
“Bang!!! Boom—!!!”
A colossal sound, far heavier than before, as if carrying some sealing power, exploded behind him!
That seemingly not-so-thick wooden door, with a speed and force far exceeding physical limits, and with the momentum of a Thunderbolt, slammed shut automatically, fiercely and decisively!
The impact of the doorframe and door panel was not just a loud bang; it was accompanied by a heart-pounding, low hum, as if space itself was being forcibly stitched together!
The immense impact even made Chen Kai stumble forward, nearly falling!
“Damn it!” Chen Kai couldn’t help but curse under his breath.
Xiao Mei was trapped outside the door!
He immediately turned on his flashlight and simultaneously threw out Hydrapple’s Poké Ball.
“Big Boss! Use Random Light! Full power! Blast open this door for me!” Chen Kai ordered, his voice hoarse, while staying alert to his surroundings and pointing at the wooden door that had trapped him!
“Hydra—!!!” The seven heads of the serpents simultaneously let out a low roar, and seven purple energy beams shot out at once—Random Light instantly condensed to its peak!
“Boom—!!! Crack!”
The violent energy shockwave slammed heavily against this not-so-thick wooden door!
The entire confined space vibrated violently as if struck by an earthquake!
However, when the light dissipated… Chen Kai and Hydrapple were stunned!
That seemingly ordinary wooden door was completely unharmed!
The door itself didn’t even have a single dent or a bit of deformation!
That terrifying attack, which was enough to collapse a stone wall, seemed to have only polished and waxed it!
Absolute silence descended once more.
No sound could be heard from outside the door; inside, there was only Chen Kai’s heavy breathing, Hydrapple’s exhalation, and his own frantic heartbeat.
But Chen Kai knew that anger and annoyance were useless at this moment.
He turned his flashlight and began to observe his surroundings—the Acerola who had entered first had naturally vanished without a trace!
However, the flashlight beam cut through the darkness, illuminating not just dusty clutter and rough concrete walls anymore.
The scene before him instantly overwhelmed Chen Kai’s anger with a chilling sense of eeriness!
This was a storage room or a small warehouse, about ten square meters in area.
But this place… it was like a forgotten tomb, exclusively for Pikachu!
Piled high on the ground were not scattered parts, but all sorts of Pikachu toys, figures, and merchandise!
They varied in size and material, some plastic, some plush, some ceramic; the smallest were only thumb-sized, while the largest were almost half a person’s height!
Without exception, these items were covered in thick dust and mold, their originally vibrant bright yellow having long faded to a sickly waxy yellow or dirty earthy yellow.
Many of the dolls had broken black ear tips, peeling red cheek sacs, and broken or twisted cute lightning-bolt tails.
Some plush toys had exposed cotton, stained a bizarre green or black by mold, like rotting internal organs.
On the walls, various Pikachu posters were plastered everywhere!
From the classic hands-on-hips pose to battle stances using Thunderbolt, and even collaboration posters with other Pokemon.
But these posters had also been ravaged by time; the paper was yellowed, curled, covered in water stains and mold spots.
Many of the images were blurred, and Pikachu’s perpetually energetic smiling face, under the mottled fading and mold erosion, appeared twisted and eerie, as if silently screaming.
Some poster edges were torn, hanging down like tattered spirit banners.
The cold, decaying smell in the air was mixed with a heavy scent of dust, mold, and a nauseatingly sweet and sour odor unique to the slow decomposition of old plastic and printing ink over long years.
This smell was more unsettling than mere decay, as if silently narrating just how long this place had been forgotten.