The reflection stone World.
When Li Wei and Steven passed through the reflection stone, their vision suddenly cleared, and the dazzling light made them instinctively shield their eyes.
The scenery quietly changed; overhead was no longer a stone wall, but a clear sky.
Lush trees surrounded them, emanating a fresh woody scent, and in the distance, towering mountains could be seen, along with the sound of flowing streams.
The only thing that hadn't changed was that reflection stones were still embedded in the rocks all around them.
Seeing this, Steven couldn't help but exclaim,
"Is this the world inside the reflection stone?"
Li Wei, who had quietly put on his key stone glove, and Lucario, also curiously observed their surroundings.
"Come out, Metagross."
To prevent any mishaps, Steven also released his Metagross.
"Let's go find Piao Tai and Mr. Donggua first."
The story began not long ago.
Seeing ripples on the surface of the reflection stone in the cave, Steven recalled a rumor...
"I heard this rumor from an old lady in Soro City."
Facing Li Wei and Piao Tai's eager, knowledge-seeking gazes, Steven slowly recounted,
"There's a legend in Soro City's Reflection Cave that some special reflection stones in the cave connect to a parallel world."
"Speaking of parallel worlds, there's another rumor related to Arceus in the same legend, but we'll save that for later."
When it comes to Pokémon parallel worlds, Giratina's Reverse World can be considered one.
The Reverse World is completely opposite to reality, composed of floating islands, with the sky and ground inverted.
There are also parallel worlds opened when the spacetime gods fought, and the Ultra World where Ultra Beasts exist.
Li Wei remembered Ash visiting a parallel world when he was in the Alola region.
Li Wei remembered this clearly because the Trainer who saved Ash owned a Zeraora.
That was the initial reason Li Wei liked Zeraora.
Steven gazed at the rippling reflection stone before him,
"When a mirror-like stone ripples, it means the two worlds are connected."
"The rumor says that there are several reflection stones, each connecting to several parallel worlds, but what exactly are these parallel worlds like? No one knows."
"Perhaps the three people who went missing here entered a parallel world."
"I have to go find them."
Piao Tai said, about to walk in.
Steven grabbed Piao Tai's wrist and looked into his eyes,
"No, you must stay here. Leave the rest to me. I might still need your Helping Hand when I return."
Piao Tai pursed his lips in understanding.
Facing an unknown parallel world, Steven was certainly more confident than Piao Tai.
Because he was the HoennChampion.
At the same time, a colorful light suddenly emanated from Li Wei's backpack...
The meteorite was reacting!
Li Wei made a decisive decision, "I'll go too. Mr. Piao Tai, you stay here and notify the others."
Steven did not refuse Li Wei's request to accompany him.
When Li Wei and Steven passed through the reflection stone, following the passage to trace Donggua and Piao Tai whom they had seen, they arrived here.
"Dragapult, Drakloak, Metagross, search from above."
"Lucario, use Aura to search for people and Pokémon nearby."
"Arcanine, search by scent!"
Hearing this, Steven turned his head, slightly surprised, then let out a soft chuckle,
"Excellent judgment. You really seem to have the potential to be a Pokémon Investigator."
Li Wei's lips curved into a slight smile, "Compared to that, I still prefer being a Breeder."
"Then why did you follow us in?"
Steven truly didn't understand. If Li Wei liked stability, he would definitely not risk entering.
"One person is always better than two, and also because of this."
Li Wei held the meteorite, which was emitting colorful light, in his palm.
Steven nodded thoughtfully, "Perhaps the answer to the meteorite is here."
Right then, Lucario's ears twitched, and a blue Aura Sphere condensed in his palm.
A Fearow attempting to attack them was accurately struck by the Aura Sphere.
Bang—
The Fearow flapped its wings, leaving the thick fog in a panic.
"Fearow."
This was good news for them.
"There are Pokémon here too."
Li Wei and Steven said in unison.
"As long as there are Pokémon, it's fine."
Steven glanced at the Poké Ball on his waist, his face full of confidence.
"Grrrrr!"
Dragapult circled in mid-air, its head pointing in the direction of Heijin Coal Mine.
"Found them."
"Dragapult, take us to them."
After calling back Metagross, Drakloak, and the others, Li Wei and Steven re-entered the cave.
"Kohkin!"
After hearing Lucario's translation,
Li Wei turned his head to look, his eyes revealing surprise and peculiarity,
"Metagross said that this place is exactly the same as the Heijin Coal Mine in our world."
In their original world, Li Wei had already instructed Metagross to pay attention to the cave's conditions.
And Metagross, with its four super brains, had already thoroughly understood the situation in Heijin Coal Mine.
Lucario also had this feeling, but he couldn't do it like Metagross.
After looking around, Steven nodded thoughtfully, "Indeed."
Following the previous path, Li Wei and Steven saw an incredible scene.
Workers in work clothes, machinery, Pokémon...
For a moment, they felt as if they had returned to their original world.
However, the presence of another person told them that
this was definitely not their original world.
The 'Piao Tai' from the other world loudly asked, "Who's there?!"
Piao Tai would absolutely not fail to recognize them.
Unlike the nervous Piao Tai, the 'Mr. Donggua' from the other world appeared very calm.
With a shovel held in front, Mr. Donggua stopped everyone.
Mr. Donggua also raised one hand, making a shushing gesture,
"Wait, don't attack!"
The originally tense workers and Pokémon relaxed.
As the Canalave CityGym Leader, Mr. Donggua was deeply trusted by everyone.
He was also the person Piao Tai admired most, which is why Piao Tai had asked his father for help.
Li Wei instructed Arcanine and Metagross, "You two don't make a move either."
"Woof!"
Mr. Donggua held a lantern in one hand, his eyes narrowed sharply like an eagle's.
But when he recognized Steven and Li Wei, his expression immediately changed,
"You are ChampionSteven from Hoenn, aren't you? And Mr. Li Wei?"
Steven and Li Wei exchanged smiles; being intelligent, they immediately grasped the situation.
"It seems you are still a Champion."
"It seems you are quite famous."
After confirming Steven and Li Wei's identities,
Donggua asked in confusion, "How did you two get here? We haven't even reported to the League yet."
Even if they reported to the League, shouldn't Champion Hirona be handling it?
Why would Steven come?
This was completely unlike the StevenDonggua knew; that one wouldn't have this kind of time.
Li Wei and Steven exchanged glances, their eyes full of confusion.
Steven couldn't help but ask,
"Is our appearance here very strange?"