Mimikyu found this completely baffling—it exceeded everything the Ghost-type understood about the world.
Then, Lucario's Quick Attack brought them directly to Roy's side.
Roy's eyes were streaming with tears now, but through his aura powers, he could still sense that the approaching Pokémon were Lucario and Mimikyu.
So he confidently grasped the arm that Lucario extended toward him.
After securing Roy, Lucario didn't hesitate and activated Quick Attack once more.
Guzzlord's massive body had blocked the entire passage exit from the very beginning.
But now, because Mimikyu's Will-O-Wisp had dealt considerable damage to Guzzlord, the Ultra Beast was swinging violently from side to side, trying to extinguish the flames.
This inadvertently helped Lucario slip through the gap between Guzzlord and the wall.
Mimikyu glanced back with lingering confusion.
The Will-O-Wisp on Guzzlord's eyes had been extinguished by the violent movement, and now it was glaring fiercely in the direction they'd fled.
Neither Lucario nor Roy could see well in the darkness.
Among the three, Lucario was focused on running, Roy's eyes were watering from the wind, and only Mimikyu—clutched in Lucario's grasp and unable to move—had the leisure to check on Guzzlord's condition.
So it happened that when Mimikyu turned around, it met Guzzlord's gaze directly.
Even though Mimikyu was a Ghost-type Pokémon and had encountered many cruel Pokémon and malicious individuals before, Guzzlord's eyes still sent a chill through it.
"Mimi..."
It hates us...
Mimikyu's murmur was drowned out by the high-speed wind. Only Mimikyu heard and saw what it had witnessed.
Guzzlord no longer relied on its pincers. The sharp pain in its eyes had gradually subsided.
But the humiliation caused the rage in its heart to burn even more intensely.
"Guzzz... lord..."
Chase them...
The soft command was mostly covered by the sound of cracking stones throughout the cave.
But moments later, many Murkrow led by a Honchkrow surged from behind Guzzlord.
Circling around the Ultra Beast's body, they emerged through the gap in the wall that Guzzlord had torn open.
The Murkrow flapped their wings with fierce determination in their eyes, as if they would never give up the pursuit.
Meanwhile, after hearing about Roy's earlier encounter with the Murkrow, Lucario had become extremely sensitive to the sound of beating wings.
So the moment the Murkrow gave chase, Lucario realized enemy forces were pursuing them.
Faster. Faster!
Lucario kept repeating this in its mind, and its speed continued to increase.
With one hand, Lucario passed Mimikyu directly to Roy, then began unfastening the weighted bracelet on its wrist.
Sweat beaded anxiously on Lucario's face.
The moment the weighted bracelet came off, Lucario felt a lightness its body had never experienced before.
But to any outside observer, they would only see a phantom.
This time, Lucario had truly made remarkable progress in compensating for its brief burst speed.
For a Pokémon like Lucario that focused on explosive power, increasing stamina even slightly was no easy feat.
But at the same time, if such a sustained burst were applied in any battle, it would be a terrifying advantage.
The Murkrow behind them grew fewer and fewer, as Mimikyu reported to Lucario.
As the exit of this passage came into view ahead, Lucario's speed gradually decreased.
"Koko-ko!"
Thank goodness you're all safe!
Tapu Koko's familiar voice called out from the platform at the passage entrance.
Before Lucario could fully stop, Tapu Koko urged them to hurry.
"Koko!"
Get out of here quickly! This place is going to collapse!
Lucario nodded, understanding the message, and without looking back, continued its Quick Attack with Roy and Mimikyu.
Just ahead lay the entrance to Terminus Cave.
Tapu Koko had decided not to continue exploring the remaining passages after hearing such a tremendous disturbance.
That particular passage had remained eerily calm throughout—calm without a single ripple.
Tapu Koko had rushed to the platform with all its might, arriving just before Lucario emerged.
Above the platform, the massive rocky ceiling was slowly beginning to crumble.
The cracks appeared to originate from the tunnel Roy and the others had entered.
Sensing danger, Tapu Koko urgently commanded Lucario and the others to evacuate first.
Just after Lucario and the others departed, Tapu Koko heard chaotic sounds emanating from the passage.
Between those sounds and the feathers scattered at the cave entrance, the guardian deity immediately knew who was coming.
As a guardian deity, Tapu Koko operated under certain restrictions—such as being unable to harm Alola's Pokémon according to its own will.
So Tapu Koko quickly gathered energy in its hands and constructed a Light Screen across the passage.
The Light Screen proved very effective in preventing the Murkrow from continuing their pursuit, and Tapu Koko felt quite satisfied.
However, Tapu Koko found it strange seeing the killing intent in the Murkrow's eyes and their complete lack of fear toward the guardian deity.
The Murkrow repeatedly used Tackle against the Light Screen.
As if they felt no pain at all, they pecked at the barrier with their beaks, even until blood flowed, never stopping for a moment.
The constant thudding of Tackle against the Light Screen continued relentlessly.
Tapu Koko looked at them sorrowfully, its tone filled with sadness.
"Koko-ko..."
Have you chosen to no longer be children of Alola...
The moment Tapu Koko turned to leave, it seemed to glimpse a pair of malicious yellow eyes.
But when Tapu Koko glanced back, the eyes seemed to be an illusion—they had never appeared at all.
At that moment, the rocks above Tapu Koko's head began shaking again, making cracking sounds as they separated from the ceiling.
Everything urged Tapu Koko to depart immediately.
Tapu Koko cast one final glance into the passage but could see nothing beyond the darkness. With a heavy sigh, it finally left.
Strangely enough, the moment Tapu Koko exited the Cave, the shaking stopped completely.
It was as if the sudden tremors had occurred solely to drive Tapu Koko away.