Cynthia: Instead of turning around and running away, you're actively approaching me

Chapter 336 Cynthia: Instead of turning around and running away, you're actively approaching me?

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Cynthia and Nemo stepped into the Hundred Generations Forest, their black leather shoes snapping tree branches as they walked, followed by a Metagross monster. The soft, rotten feeling of fallen leaves and decaying earth wafted under their feet.

The first thing that catches the eye is the towering trees surrounding the area, seemingly vying for the daytime sunlight, standing straight upwards, their dense canopies intertwined to form an impenetrable net, so that looking up one can only see the dark dome, with occasional moonlight filtering through the gaps, the dark green leaves rustling slightly.

The ground was covered with only green moss, not even low shrubs. As the two stepped into it, the long-silent black forest seemed to come alive, opening its eyes warily, with countless gazes cast from the tree branches overhead.

Something was moving through the forest, there were fluttering sounds and dark shadows flying over their heads, but no sound of wings flapping. Only the rustling of the trees and the mournful howling sound, like the wind passing through a valley, echoed in their hearts.

"Eek!" Nemo, who was on her first real adventure in the wild, was frightened by the forest environment. She felt a chill run down her spine, shrank her neck, and tiptoed to Cynthia's side, grabbing Cynthia's arm.

Cynthia's gaze swept across the forest. As a local, she quickly figured out the situation and comforted Nemo, saying, "Don't be afraid, it's just the movement of Bug-type and Bird-type Pokémon. The sound in the distance is a Mightyena, which is far away from us."

Cynthia's calm and steady voice gave Nemo a great sense of security.

Is this the charm of a seasoned trainer?

She tried to let go, but Cynthia grabbed her wrist, her fingers slipping between hers, locking the back of her hand. The warmth of their palms pressed together told Nemo that they still had each other in the desolate forest. Nemo turned her head, and Cynthia's beautiful face wore a gentle smile, with a hint of masculine spirit.

"Don't let go, the forest is more dangerous, it's safer to hold hands."

Startled, Nemo quickly looked away, her cheeks burning, and nodded obediently, "Mmm."

She looked around in a bit of panic. The boundless forest, the endless and repetitive trees, was devoid of any life. The cold wind blowing from the woods actually cooled her face.

"Could there really be a Western-style mansion in this kind of wild forest?" Nemo couldn't help but wonder.

On second thought, hiding the item in this forest was indeed a wise choice. It could hide people instead of things, and there was no need to worry about the other person escaping the forest. The only concern was whether the item would survive and whether its owner could be found when they returned.

"Yes," Cynthia's gaze swept over the surrounding trees. After repeatedly comparing the distribution of the trees, she raised her hand and pointed in a direction. "Some of the trees over here are missing. It's a sign of human intervention. The mansion should be in this direction."

Nemo couldn't see any trace of Cynthia's supposed artificial intervention, so she kept quiet and followed Cynthia forward, thinking to herself how great it was to have a powerful figure leading the way; she didn't have to worry about anything. Metagross was left behind to watch the portal.

The forest path was difficult to walk on. The thick layer of decaying leaves and wet mud made it feel like there was nowhere to put your footing, which was strangely comfortable physiologically. However, the thought that there might be various substances in the wet mud made Nemo feel itchy and disgusted.

Cynthia was glad she had changed out of her high heels before setting off; otherwise, she would have had to lift her heels every two steps, and perhaps at some point she would find that her heels had disappeared into the forest.

The article specifically names a famous actress named Carlos who filmed a survival show but wore a skirt and high heels to deliberately create a dramatic effect, and ultimately relied on her to carry the show.

The quiet forest evoked a sense of desolation, which was particularly eerie. To bolster her courage, Nemo initiated a conversation: "Speaking of which, Miss Cynthia is from Sinnoh, right? Are you familiar with Eternal Forest?"

"I wouldn't say I'm familiar with it. I came here once before with Garchomp, back when it was still Gible. But I got lost and wandered around in the forest for many days. In the end, I ran out of food, was thirsty and hungry, and almost thought about going home to inherit the family business. Fortunately, I finally made it out with Gible, or rather, crawled out of the forest. My dress was all dirty. Now that I think about it, I wish I had had a companion by my side when I went on the adventure."

Cynthia didn't mind Nemo sharing her past adventures. Stepping back onto the land of Sinnoh and breathing the familiar air, she thought of her grandmother who had taken care of her since she was a child. Although her grandmother always had a cold face and was very strict with her, she was often scolded for various reasons when she was a child. But at this moment, she felt a strange sense of nostalgia.

Why not take advantage of the holiday to go back and visit? Cynthia thought about it for a moment, then realized that if she went back, her grandmother would probably ask her all sorts of questions, especially about giving up her championship title to focus on historical mythology research and finding a partner. Suddenly, she felt overwhelmed.

Is she, a dignified Sinnoh champion, someone no one wants? — It seems so, or rather, no one dares to want her. A man with ability can give a woman a sense of security, but a woman with too much achievement will put enormous pressure on a man.

Although there are many people in her social circle of similar status, she also has requirements for choosing a partner. Thinking about it carefully, there are really not many people who can meet her requirements. In her early years, she was so focused on Pokémon battles that she realized her prime was over. If she continues to dawdle, she might not have had a normal relationship by the time she turns thirty, and she'll probably be laughed at by Karuni.

Karni: "The mighty Sinnoh Champion can't even beat a little boy."

The only one around who seemed to be behaving normally and meeting the criteria was Wei Xin. He also seemed to have some interest and potential—no, Wei Xin's progress speed was beyond what could be described as potential. Even Leon's debut speed back then seemed to be slower than him. In any case, Leon could never have ridden Lugia, Rayquaza, against Groudon, Kyogre, and Deoxys when he first debuted.

There seem to be quite a few girls around Wei Xin who are good friends with her, but given Wei Xin's qualities, it's normal for her to be popular. I need to keep an eye on her. Or maybe I should ask Wei Xin when I have some free time during the holidays, and if she could accompany me back to Shenhe Town? That would be a good way to explain myself.

But what should I say when they ask about my identity and profession?

Anyway, we can't say that Wei Xin switched from the archaeology department to the combat department, because that would definitely offend Grandma. In Grandma's eyes, her being the Sinnoh champion is already considered a waste of time. There's also the East Glory Tournament this year, which Wei Xin is definitely going to participate in. With his strength, if he wins another championship—or maybe we should just tell Grandma that he has a tomb?

Grandma studies Sinnoh history and creation myths, which is not her area of ​​expertise in Donghuang history.

Xi, who enjoys battles, and has no experience in dating, suddenly found herself in a dilemma. Dating is so complicated; if only it were as simple as battling Pokémon.

The fact that even the mighty Sinnoh champion had such an experience instantly eased Nemo's nervousness. After learning about Cynthia's embarrassing past, she felt a little closer to her.

The two walked for a long time, until the Metagross was surrounded by trees behind them, but the surrounding scenery remained unchanged. The forest seemed endless, and walking on foot in this boundless forest seemed pointless.

As they walked, Cynthia suddenly asked with concern, "Nemo, how are you feeling? Are you tired?"

"It's alright," Nemo said. She didn't know why, but her stamina was exceptionally good today. She had played several matches in a row and walked several steps without feeling tired. "How much longer until we get to the mansion?"

"It's almost here."

As soon as Cynthia finished speaking, the trees receded to the sides like curtains on a stage, and a three-story wooden mansion appeared at the very end of the view. The mansion was not luxurious, at least not for the Sinnoh champion and the young lady of the Rotom Corporation.

The only unique feature is that every room in the mansion is lit up, with orange and white lights illuminating the surrounding environment like a lighthouse, guiding everyone in the Hundred Generations Forest to this place.

Almost the instant they saw the mansion, Cynthia and Nemo realized something was wrong.

Why would anyone light up every room in the mansion so late at night? Either someone is holding a banquet in the mansion in the forest, or there are ghosts in the mansion. Based on Wei Xin's clues, it's clearly the latter.

Although they were afraid of ghosts and monsters, the Champions Cynthia and Nemo became excited at the thought that it was a Ghost-type Pokémon. However, they remained cautious and walked to the door. Instead of knocking, they went to the side and tried to peek into the room through the window.

Unfortunately, it was to no avail.

The room lights were so bright, it was like someone had thrown a flashbang inside; you couldn't see anything.

Want to cover up.

As the two women were wondering what was going on, the wooden door of the mansion creaked open, and a deep, steady male voice came from inside: "Ladies, have you gotten lost in the forest? If you don't mind, may I entertain you on behalf of my master?"

Cynthia and Nemo turned to look at each other, their faces expressionless, but their guard was on high alert. As they approached the gate, a robust old man in a black tailcoat stood ramrod straight, his white-gloved hands folded over his abdomen. His features were so sculpted they resembled a mannequin, and his leather shoes were pressing against the gate. His purple eyes swept over Cynthia and Nemo, finally settling on Nemo.

His lips didn't move, but Nemo felt that he seemed to be smiling.

What are you laughing at? Do you think I'm easy to bully? Wait till I pull out my pudding and we'll see if you're still laughing.

"You two are trainers traveling in the forest, right? The forest is very dangerous at night. If you need, please be sure to stay here for the night so that I can entertain you two ladies as my master has ordered. To be honest, it is time for the manor's dinner banquet now."

Knowing there was something wrong with the mansion, Nemo didn't know how to answer. She wasn't sure if the person in front of her was a Ghost-type Pokémon in disguise or a real person. Wei Xin didn't give her any more information either, so she could only try to keep a cold face and hold Cynthia's hand with a bit more force.

She should catch two Pokémon with the Insomnia ability or the Psychic type outside before coming back.

Cynthia rubbed her thumb against Nemo's hand twice to soothe Nemo's nervousness. With a flawless smile, she politely said, "Then I'll trouble you, sir. Please also give my regards to your master."

Upon hearing this, the waiter's beard trembled slightly, a toothless smile playing on his lips. He turned, his palm pointing towards the center of the hall, towards the red-carpeted staircase leading to the second floor. Above the staircase hung a portrait, also depicting a white-haired man with sculpted features and sharp angles. Most striking were his purple eyes, identical to the waiter's. It seemed that from any angle, one would notice the person in the portrait gazing at them intentionally or unintentionally.

"What kind of waiter would hang his own picture right in the middle of the wall on the staircase in the lobby? You're not even going to finish your act," Nemo thought to herself, fuming.

"Then, please come with me, ladies."

"Okay," Cynthia replied, squinting her eyes, but just as the waiter turned around, she lifted her foot in Nemo's astonished gaze.

He kicked the waiter in the waist.

She now regrets not wearing high heels, otherwise the injury from that kick would have been much greater.

Almost the instant Cynthia kicked Nemo, the waiter began to swell uncontrollably like a giant human-skin balloon, his eyes bulging out.

If it wasn't because Cynthia's damage was too high, there's only one possibility: it self-destructed.

At the very front, the portrait hanging on the central wall of the staircase suddenly opened its mouth wide, revealing its ferocious fangs. Accompanied by a piercing shriek, the flesh and blood on its face and its eyeballs began to melt, and milky white liquid flowed from the portrait onto the steps.

Cynthia instinctively pulled Nemo into her arms and reached for the Poké Ball at her waist.

Bang!

After the waiter exploded, a pool of purple smoke landed on the stall, bubbling and rising in wisps, carrying a pungent stench.

There were also scattered branches and clothing on the ground, as well as two or three teeth of unknown origin, and melted hair that had been soaked in liquid—it was a spider web.

"Miss Cynthia?" Nemo was stunned. She hadn't expected Cynthia to attack so directly. "What if it really is a waiter?"

"It's a pity he's not," Cynthia said, raising her eyelids and pursing her lips. "When you encounter a problem, try to solve it first. Don't try to reason with bad things or bad people. That's what I learned from Wei Xin. Besides, a woman's intuition is always sharp and accurate."

Nemo pursed her lips, thinking to herself that a woman's keenness should be used for things like catching someone cheating, right? Anyway, her sister was quite keen when she caught her brother-in-law.

As Hiro kicked the waiter over, the mansion revealed its true form.

The mansion was enveloped in gray, transparent spiderwebs. The furniture, the floor, and the steps were all covered in gray, dirty gauze woven from the spiderwebs. The broken windows on the walls swayed gently as the cold forest wind blew in, making a creaking and mournful sound. Dust fell from the roof and was captured by the undulating spiderwebs.

An old, lifeless Western-style mansion, clearly uninhabited and neglected for a long time.

The portrait on the wall in the center of the steps has three nails missing from its four corners. It is hanging from the last corner, like a person struggling to stay upright on a cliff. The portrait itself is also different; the hair is not white but blue, and the face has distinct lines, resembling a Gyarados.

"Red Sun?" Considering the black beard below his nose and the mansion's actual age, Cynthia had another guess: "He must be Red Sun's father, grandfather, or someone even further back."

Cynthia took a step forward and stepped onto the spider web on the ground. The web was covered in dust and had almost no stickiness, but it was very thick. The surrounding bookshelves began to shake. Just in case, Cynthia and Nemo released Lucario and Babuto respectively, and they vigilantly observed every move in the mansion.

Then, several books suddenly fell from the empty ceiling. Cynthia looked down and saw that besides some materials related to mechanics, there were also some unusual books: "Spirit and Matter," "The Existence of the Mind," and "Beyond Time and Space."

"The Universe and the Milky Way" and "The Origin of the Universe".

Hirona was very familiar with these books; they were the textbooks her grandmother used when she studied creation myths with her.

Why would the owner of the mansion study these things? Cynthia was puzzled, but she didn't intend to delve into it; it was pointless. The most important thing right now was to find Rotom's trail. Then she felt something gently land on her head. Cynthia reached out and took the piece of paper off her head.

There are words written on it.

"Something's wrong, stay away from the electric motor," Cynthia read with great difficulty. If the writer wasn't a doctor, it was very likely a ghost. "Electric motor? Does it refer to Rotom? Nemo, what do you think?"

Cynthia turned her head, wanting to ask Nemo, as the second daughter of Rotom Corporation, she should know more about this. Then she froze. There was no one beside her. Nemo, who had been holding her hand, had suddenly disappeared, and she hadn't even realized it. All she could feel was the cold air in her hand.

"Nemo? Nemo?"

An ethereal call came from afar.

"Miss Cynthia, are you calling me?" Nemo looked at Cynthia walking in front of her with a puzzled expression. Just now, Cynthia had kicked over a waiter and then led her into the mansion to explore.

The mansion was brightly lit.

"No, you must be hallucinating." Cynthia said as she walked without turning around. "Don't pay attention to those sounds. It might just be a prank by a Ghost-type Pokémon. Be careful, Ghost-type Pokémon are very cunning, don't let them affect you."

"Okay." Nemo didn't doubt it and obediently followed behind Cynthia. With Cynthia leading the way, what problems could possibly arise?

She suddenly felt that something was wrong. She and Cynthia should be walking in sync, but Cynthia's figure was getting further and further away from her.

"Miss Cynthia!" Nemo took a step forward, reached out, and tried to grab Cynthia but failed. Cynthia suddenly appeared far away from her, as if she hadn't noticed her at all, and turned around without hesitation, disappearing into the corner.

Seeing that something was wrong, Nemo released Babu the Groundhog and rushed over. When she turned around, she found that the corridor behind the corner was empty and gasped.

Things suddenly became strange.

Until a pale, slender hand landed on her shoulder from behind and called her name.

"Nemo?"

Nemo was startled, jumping three feet high with Babu Groundhog, quickly distancing herself from the people behind her. Turning around, she saw Cynthia, tilting her head and staring at her with a puzzled look: "I called you for ages, but you didn't answer me and kept walking forward. Did something happen?"

"Miss Cynthia?" Nemo was stunned, pointing at Cynthia in front of her, then at the spot behind her where Cynthia had disappeared. "But, I, you, just now, huh?"

She stammered for a long time without uttering a single useful word, but then she saw Cynthia suddenly raise her finger and point behind her: "What's that?"

Nemo whirled around, only to find the corridor behind her completely empty. Terrified, Nemo's face trembled. Turning back, her eyes brimming with tears, she cried, "Miss Cynthia, please don't scare me like this."

There was no Cynthia at all, only a little boy with red hair, pale face, shrouded in a cold light, holding an old, worn-out robot toy. He stood there abruptly, raised his gloomy face, and grinned, "Sister, you looked back?"

Aside from age and height, his appearance is as plain as Chi Ri's.

Nemo gasped. Had Chi Ri been this ugly even as a child? Forcing herself to remain calm, she told herself, "Calm down, Nemo. Think about what Miss Cynthia and Wei Xin would do in this situation. Think about them."

Recovering from her initial shock, Nemo's face immediately hardened, her expression resolute. She raised her hand, straightened her back, and pointed at the little boy in front of her. Being ugly wasn't a fault, but running around scaring people was. "Babu Groundhog, 100,000 Volts!"

"Babu!!!" Babu dug up with all his might, and the mirror next to him reflected a blinding flash of electricity as it struck the empty corridor.

The little boy was unharmed; the lightning passed right through him, as if it were on a completely different level from Babu's attack.

"It hurts, sister, it hurts!" the little boy cried pitifully, wiping away his tears. Only after he removed his hand from his face did Nemo see that the little boy's pale face was covered in red paint, as well as red tear stains at the corners of his eyes. If it wasn't paint or some kind of pigment, there was only one possibility.

It's blood!!!

Nemo made a snap decision, wanting to turn and run away. If she couldn't win, couldn't she at least run away? But when she turned around, she found the little boy at the other end of the corridor. He had the same red hair, the same pale face covered in blood, and was holding the same old robot doll. He raised his gloomy face.

"Sister, it hurts so much!!!"

It seems there's really no escaping it.

Nemo's breath caught in her throat. She turned her head and saw little boys on both sides. With nowhere to escape, she could only cling to Babu and let out a piercing scream. When the little boy heard the scream, his mouth stretched to its widest point, his eyes narrowed with laughter, his features contorted, and his expression was terrifying.

It opened its mouth, emitting a piercing shriek, and its body suddenly exploded, spilling crimson blood onto the ground.

A crimson sea of ​​blood surged through the corner and rushed towards Nemo. Trapped in the middle with nowhere to escape, Nemo could only kneel on the ground, clutching Babu, looking at herself through the window. The look of terror on her face was overwhelmed by the oncoming sea of ​​blood.

A strong feeling of suffocation washed over me.

Inside the mansion, a wisp of purple smoke stared at the two young girls lying on the sofa, sticking out its tongue excitedly and rubbing its hands together. However, it had no intention of harming the blonde woman, who exuded a very dangerous aura.

Even though he wasn't hypnotized, he still lay unconscious on the sofa.

If I wasn't intentionally fishing, I just wanted to find a place to sleep, even if it was a haunted house.

But the black-haired girl beside her was different. She had weak mental strength and experience. The moment she stepped into the mansion, she was hypnotized. Gastly quietly approached Nemo and extended her purple claws. Suddenly, Nemo's pocket burst out with a dazzling light, accompanied by a piercing and loud phoenix cry.

The intense light fell upon Gastly's body, making him feel as if he were being whipped. Gastly howled and tried to escape, but the light tightly enveloped him.

As if trapped in a cage woven of feathers, Gastly's body was gripped by light, unable to escape. He could only clutch his head and wail in agony, purple mist rising from his body into the air as his power began to dissipate. No matter how much he begged for mercy, it was to no avail.

It's like my roommate's phone alarm went off, but he didn't wake up. His phone was also password protected, so he couldn't turn off the alarm. Gastly could only suffer in vain.

In the sea of ​​blood, Nemo suddenly felt a warm current enter her body. In an instant, the fear disappeared, leaving only gentle and dazzling light, pure and holy. The piercing and painful screams were also completely purified. In a daze, she felt a strong hand grab her arm, pull her out of the sea of ​​blood, and embrace her.

It was an exceptionally solid chest, like land. In a daze, she could see the appearance of the person who came. Although handsome, it was not Shirona, but Wei Xin. He bent down and brushed the hair off her face, chuckled, and had a helpless expression.

"Still sleeping? Time to get up!"

Lazy pig!

The moment she heard the voice, Nemo opened her eyes wide. It was so cheesy and nauseating. Wei Xin would never say something like that.

Above her was a ceiling covered in cobwebs and dust, and the white paint on the walls was crumbling. Turning her head, she saw a wisp of dark purple mist convulsing beside her, foaming at the mouth—it was a Haunter, on the verge of death.

What's going on? Food poisoning?

Before she could even process what was happening, Nemo suddenly felt a burning sensation on her thigh, as if she had been doused with boiling water. She cried out in surprise and quickly pulled something out of her pocket. The seven-colored feathers shone brightly in the dimly lit mansion, dazzling and holy.

The holy light swept away the surrounding spider silk and chilling aura. Even Gastly next to Nemo lost consciousness after its hands buckled and tongue lolled out, bathed in its holy light.

It is a rainbow-colored feather.

Wei Xin gave her the amulet after entering the tomb, and even after leaving the tomb, he didn't ask her for it back—it's possible that Wei Xin forgot, but it doesn't matter because she forgot to return it too.

Unexpectedly, it played an unforeseen role here.

Considering Wei Xin's cautious nature, Nemo believed that it was precisely because she had the Rainbow Wing that dangerous Ghost-type Pokémon couldn't harm her that Wei Xin felt comfortable letting her come to the mansion to find something. Otherwise, with her weak stamina, she wouldn't even be able to escape if she encountered danger; her life force wouldn't even be enough to fill the gaps between the teeth of a Ghost-type Pokémon.

Seeing the unconscious Gastly beside her, Nemo didn't hesitate. She took out a Poké Ball, which she originally intended to use to catch Pokémon with the Insomnia ability in the forest, but skipped that step because Cynthia was there. She threw it at Gastly.

After a few flickering flashes, the red light dissipated, and Nemo captured Gastly. She hung the Poké Ball on her waist, her expression excited. It was the first time she had ever captured a Ghost-type Pokémon.

With the guide, finding Rotom in the mansion became much easier.

"Where is Miss Cynthia?"

Nemo turned her head and found Cynthia lying on the sofa, her two long, white legs crossed, her eyes closed, her breathing steady, her proud breasts rising and falling, fast asleep.

Even the Sinnoh Champion fell victim? Nemo's lips curled into a smug smile as she put her hands on her hips. She got MP this time, while Cynthia was just an easy win.

But right now, waking Cynthia is more important. Rotom hasn't been found yet. Nemo leaned close to Cynthia, shook her shoulders, and softly called, "Miss Cynthia, Miss Cynthia?"

But Cynthia remained lying motionless on the sofa, her breathing steady and her expression serene.

Cynthia was fast asleep.

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