Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command!

"I can't leave at the moment, so I'd like to ask you to check things out in Glimwood Tangle," Leon said.

Luo Yuan's feelings were a bit… complicated.

Glimwood Tangle… If he remembered correctly, Zacian and Zamazenta should be residing there.

He swore—up until now, he had never considered capturing Zacian or Zamazenta.

After all, he was already planning to return to Johto.

But since Leon had asked him personally, wouldn't refusing be a little disrespectful to the Champion of Galar?

Sigh… Luo Yuan gave a quiet sigh in his heart. Guess I'll reluctantly go take a look at Glimwood Tangle.

Thinking this, a smile appeared on his face. "Since you've put it that way, Leon, leave it to me."

Leon smiled in return.

For a moment, the two were perfectly in sync.

…

Luo Yuan was not one to waste time. After receiving the Glimwood Tangle report from Leon, he flew straight to Ballonlea on his Dragonite.

This small southern Galar town had also suffered during the Darkest Day incident.

Walking through the streets, Luo Yuan noticed signs of damage everywhere—mended fences on the roadside ranches, Wooloo curled up in corners, still visibly shaken, licking their wounds as they received care.

"Elite Four Luo Yuan!"

The Galar League liaison trainer, who had been waiting for him, quickly came forward.

"Hello." Luo Yuan nodded in greeting, then got straight to the point. "What's the situation in Glimwood Tangle?"

Although he already suspected that this might have something to do with Zacian and Zamazenta, he didn't want to make it obvious that he knew more than he should. So, the formalities had to be followed.

"It's like this…"

The liaison, clearly experienced, swiftly gave him a summary.

In short, during the Darkest Day, a Wooloo from one of the ranches was being sheared when it was affected by the phenomenon and [Dynamaxed] into a Giant Wooloo.

After wreaking havoc on the ranch, it rolled straight into Glimwood Tangle. What followed was a series of loud roars and the sounds of battle echoing from within the forest.

Under normal circumstances, that would've been the end of it—after all, the Darkest Day was over, and most [Dynamaxed] Pokémon had already returned to normal.

But ever since, the Wooloo in the town remained unusually skittish. Some local trainers sensed something off and tried to investigate, but each time they entered Glimwood Tangle, they became inexplicably disoriented and ended up wandering back out.

Some residents began to suspect that a new threat had appeared within the forest, prompting them to report the matter to the League.

Since Ballonlea was Leon's hometown, the report ended up on his desk—and thus, in Luo Yuan's hands.

After hearing the summary, Luo Yuan walked past the fence and approached a Wooloo that was curled up tightly in a corner.

For a species usually known for its carefree demeanor, such intense fear was clearly abnormal.

To confirm his theory, Luo Yuan reached out and pressed his hand gently against the Wooloo's fluffy coat, channeling his [Viridian Power].

The liaison trainer beside him was stunned by what she saw—within moments, the panic in the Wooloo's eyes melted away, replaced by a look of pure comfort and relief.

It let out a soft baa, rubbing its fluffy body eagerly against Luo Yuan's palm.

Then it nudged its head toward Glimwood Tangle and continued bleating at him.

"So it was like this…" Luo Yuan smiled faintly after sensing the Wooloo's emotions, then turned to the liaison. "I understand the situation. Stay outside and make sure no one enters the forest. I'll go check it out."

Is this what they call… the legendary ability to communicate with Pokémon?

As a simple liaison trainer, she had never seen anything like the power Luo Yuan had just demonstrated. She immediately took his words to heart.

"Yes, I'll make sure the townspeople stay back. Good luck, Elite Four Luo Yuan!"

She watched him walk into Glimwood Tangle, eyes full of admiration.

The forest was perpetually shrouded in mist.

The haze that clung to its dim woods, along with the dreamlike stillness, gave it the air of a place caught in the edge of sleep—hence the name, Glimwood Tangle.

Luo Yuan moved slowly through the trees.

Deoxys and Dragonite flanked him on either side, alert and watchful.

Expanding his psychic field, Luo Yuan searched the forest—and soon, he sensed a strange energy gathering around him, subtly trying to interfere with his sense of direction.

So this is why those trainers kept getting lost. Cheap tricks.

He chuckled, then waved his hand.

A surge of overwhelming psychic power burst outward, forming a mental storm that scattered the creeping energies with ease.