Elf: Starts with small diamonds, then mutates into Diancie.

They handle everything very skillfully and efficiently.

............

Seven o'clock in the evening.

Li Xiang enjoyed a good time at the cat cafe. Before leaving, Su Hao asked curiously, "Krookodile, and the Pokémon that inexplicably went berserk in the Spiral Realm, what will the League do with them?"

He was somewhat worried that the Scyther chieftain he used to know might have turned into a rogue crocodile.

Li Xiang crossed his hands behind his back, tilted his head back, and after thinking for a moment, said, "Current intelligence indicates that these Pokémon will no longer go berserk after losing their ability to battle, but in order to prevent a relapse, they will be placed in a Pokémon treatment center for observation for a period of time. Once it is confirmed that there are no aftereffects, a suitable place will be found to release them back into the wild."

"However, the source of the berserk state has not yet been found, because these Pokémon were all rejected from the Spiral Rift. Therefore, most scholars tend to believe that there is an infection source within the Spiral Rift."

"Although there is no unusual activity in the Spiral Secret Realm at present, the key to the secret realm has become invalid. Until the alliance sends a powerful expert who can forcefully enter the secret realm, no one is allowed to approach the vicinity of the entrance to the secret realm."

"Near the entrance?" Su Hao asked, feigning confusion.

Why only seal off the area near the entrance and not other areas?

Li Xiang glanced at Su Hao strangely, wondering why he cared about this.

He replied, "Only when the spatial nodes near the entrance were relatively weak could a Champion-level Pokémon skilled in spatial manipulation forcefully open the passage."

Su Hao feigned curiosity and coaxed, "Then it's impossible to enter the secret realm from other places?"

Li Xiang wasn't wary of him, and he would answer even these obscure common sense questions.

When Li Xiang mentioned that the secret realm was sealed off, Su Hao knew something was wrong; this meant he wouldn't be able to get in.

Fortunately, Li Xiang seemed to know other methods.

"To give an example, if we take the spatial barrier of the Spiral Realm as an example, without any weak points in the space, it would require at least a Champion-level Pokémon that is skilled in spatial manipulation to force it open."

"After all, this secret realm used to be ranked very high, so the requirements for other weaker secret realms will be lower."

"Furthermore, if you possess the Key to the Secret Realm, you can open a spatial gate at any location within the Secret Realm."

At this point, Li Xiang couldn't help but chuckle to himself. With the old Secret Realm Key now invalid, and no new Secret Realm Key to be found, it was highly likely that a new one had been generated inside the Secret Realm.

"The Key to the Secret Realm... is it a key?"

Su Hao had a premonition that the white, transparent key in his mind was the key to the secret realm.

Su Hao had a lot of questions, and Li Xiang said with a helpless expression, "Rather than a key, it's more like a virtual key or token that only exists in the mind of the person who is bound to it."

"Only the holder can choose to open a passage at a specific location within the secret realm, either a one-time or permanent one."

"I understand." Su Hao nodded, indicating that he had figured it out.

Li Xiang frowned, keenly sensing that Su Hao seemed very interested in the secret realm, no, the Spiral Secret Realm. He sincerely advised, "The superpowered individuals in the alliance who are good at predicting the future have also said that the source of the infection is very likely in the secret realm. We must stay away from there."

Su Hao remained expressionless and obediently replied, "I will."

Let's explore the Spiral Secret Realm tonight!

------------

The Paradox of the Future - Ironthorn, Rock + Electric.

Chapter 236 Night Detective

After leaving Li Xiang's cat cafe, Su Hao, who was full of rebellious spirit, decided to go to the Spiral Secret Realm tonight to find out more.

Li Xiang is right. High school students like Su Hao should stay at home and wait for adults to handle things.

After a while, the powerful figures mobilized by the Divine Continent Alliance will arrive in Yang City and begin attempting to forcibly enter the Spiral Secret Realm.

But things will get more complicated then, and Su Hao has no idea what the source of the Pokémon's berserk state is; his only goal is to summon his Reshiram.

If the Alliance's powerful members arrive, the security will likely be even tighter. Assuming Su Hao doesn't reveal Articuno, and his father Su Xu is also in seclusion, it will probably be very difficult to get close to the vicinity of the Spiral Secret Realm.

Therefore, he had to go in early.

As for the source of the infection, that can be left to the League to handle. He's just an ordinary high school student who was passing through on his way to find the mythical beast Reshiram, who called him the Hero.

"Do you want to try it out outside?"

The words spoken by Diancie, who had an inexplicable air of confidence on her face, made Su Hao frown in worry.

To prevent the source of infection within the Spiral Rift from potentially corrupting Pokémon like negative energy.

Su Hao planned to have himself and Articuno scout ahead after entering the Spiral Secret Realm, while Diancie and the others would stay in their Poké Balls for the time being to prevent any possible infection.

However, Tianxi requested that she also stay outside and explore with Su Hao.

"Hmm! I have a feeling that thing poses no threat to me..."

Diancie's cheeks flushed slightly, her hands twisted together in a troubled manner.

Because this is just a feeling she has, there is no evidence to prove that she is immune to any potential sources of infection.

Su Hao also looked troubled. To be on the safe side, reason told him that he didn't want Tianxi to risk her life for an uncertain possibility.

But his emotions told him that as a trainer, shouldn't he trust his partner?

Torn between conflicting emotions, Su Hao looked at the embarrassed and uneasy Diancie and finally decided to take a gamble—to trust Diancie's intuition.

“I…agree.” Su Hao closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Before Tianxi could cheer, he opened his eyes and said, “However, we need to agree on three rules.”

Diancie raised her arms in a cheer, using her superpower to float a little higher until she met Su Hao's gaze. She then nodded happily and repeatedly, saying, "Mhm! Three rules, okay!"

With a helpless sigh, I have to say that although Diancie has experienced a lot and grown a lot, she hasn't grown much and still seems very easy to understand.

"The first of the three articles of the covenant is to ask Articuno's opinion first. He has much more experience than us, and his opinion is very important for such unknown matters."

Diancie nodded, reached out and poked the Master Ball on Su Hao's waist, and said in a coquettish tone, "Uncle and Aunt Articuno, can I?"

"..."

Articuno never expected to get caught up in the drama, and had no choice but to leave the Master Ball.

Sparkling, suspicious ice crystals appeared alongside Articuno. After its elegant and sophisticated entrance, Articuno squinted and said nonchalantly, "Little Diancie evolved by fusing with that light you mentioned. It's essentially different from other Diancies."

"Perhaps her intuition is right. With her new talent, she might actually have a talent to resist that strange source of black energy."

After explaining his thoughts, Articuno looked at Su Hao, waiting for his reply.

"...Fine, since you think so too, then I have no reason to stop you, but..."

Articuno nodded, marveling at Su Hao's quick learning ability. Then, Su Hao's sudden "but" made it tilt its head in confusion, asking, "But?"

Tianxi asked nervously, "But...?"

Su Hao's forehead was covered in tic-tac-toe marks. He clenched his fists and said, unable to contain himself any longer, "You are the God of Ice, so I have no objection to you creating your own special effects for your grand entrance."

Articuno was startled, suddenly realizing something, and instantly broke out in a cold sweat.

苏皓

Staring at his living room, which looked as if it had been soaked by rain, the floor, sofa, decorations, and table were all wet from the water that had melted the ice shavings.

"How many times have I told you, don't mess around with your damn special effects when you're making an indoor appearance!"

"Clean this up immediately before we leave!"

"Ku...is this how you treat the God of Ice? You actually expect me to clean up!?" Articuno retorted defiantly.

Su Hao wasn't afraid of him, and his voice rang out leisurely: "Speaking of which, I haven't played the game I promised you yet. I happen to have something to do, so why don't we cancel it?"

"Gulp... Kill, no, I was wrong..."

The God of Ice lowered his proud head in humiliation.

......................

"The first rule of the agreement is to obtain the consent of Uncle and Aunt Artificial Bird."

"Secondly, when encountering danger, do not act recklessly; follow Su Hao's judgment."

"Thirdly, if you are forced to recall your Poké Ball in an emergency, you cannot act childishly."

Tianxi counted on her fingers, repeating each one one by one.

She raised her voice and shouted energetically, "I will abide by it!"

"Okay, very spirited!"

"Let's not delay, let's pack our things and get going!"

Su Hao glanced at the time; it was 11 p.m. If they set off now, they would probably reach the vicinity of the Spiral Secret Realm around midnight.

......................

At midnight, the pitch-black night seemed to be devouring people. There was neither moon nor stars in the sky, only a gloomy undercurrent. Dust and fog, barely visible to the naked eye, swirled in the night, like a thick black cloth shrouding the entire city.

"Hmm... the situation looks rather serious."

Wearing a black three-piece suit that could conceal his presence in the night, Su Hao looked up at the sky and couldn't help but sigh that the celestial phenomena tonight seemed to foreshadow an impending storm, creating an atmosphere of oppression.

This incredibly oppressive atmosphere was something Su Hao had never experienced in his seventeen years living in Yangcheng.

"Hurry up and get there. Ever since I came back, I've had a growing sense that something is wrong."

Articuno's serious voice echoed in Su Hao's mind. Even He could feel that the atmosphere was becoming heavier and heavier as night approached.

Su Hao nodded and closed the door, his black sneakers lightly rubbing against the floor: "Okay."