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Chapter Text

In the early evening, there was already a chill in the air around Spikemuth, a town covered in chaotic graffiti.

Inside the tall fences, remnants of abandoned factories loomed in the center, with music and bright neon lights filling the air, catching the attention of most people.

In a narrow alley, some distance away from the fences, foul-smelling black water flowed from a pile of garbage onto the street. Among the pile of garbage lay a young man, covered in blood.

His black hair was barely visible, and his body looked somewhat muscular.

He frowned, struggling to open his eyes. But the flashing lights and the stench kept irritating his senses.

His name was Shiro. After being hit by a truck in his old world, he closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he found himself here.

'Where am I?' Shiro looked around, not realizing he had transmigrated. The smell of motor oil from the truck still lingered in his mind.

Who would think that waking up in an unfamiliar place meant transmigration? Shiro thought someone must have dragged him here while he was unconscious.

He checked for his phone and keys, but they were gone. His clothes were different as well, and he quickly realized the person who brought him here had also taken his money.

"Who does something like this..." Shiro muttered, wiping the sticky substance off his face, gently tapping his still aching head, and using the trash beneath him to push himself up.

But as soon as he tried to move, sharp pain shot through his arm, and his legs didn't cooperate. Shiro knew he'd been hit by a truck, so he expected this kind of pain.

Using sheer willpower, Shiro leaned against the pile of trash, unsteadily standing up and trembling as he walked toward the end of the alley.

He couldn't stay in such a filthy place any longer; the smell was enough to choke him. His top priority now was to find a police officer or ask a kind stranger for help.

'Once I get to the police station, they'll send me to the hospital. That should solve everything…' Shiro thought to himself.

Suddenly, the dizziness in his head deepened, forcing him to lean on a rusted metal roll-up door and stop to recover.

Unfamiliar scenes kept flashing in his mind, and the little creatures, both familiar and strange, made him doubt what he was seeing.

He had actually arrived in the world of Pokémon!

However, this wasn't a relaxing utopia—it was a harsh world where survival required constant struggle.

Here, his name was also Shiro. His father was a member of Team Yell, a respected team leader who was said to be up for a promotion soon. But just two days ago, news arrived that his father had died during a failed mission.

Once the news spread and was confirmed, a Team Yell underling led a group to his house, looting it and taking the Zigzagoon his father had left for him.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Shiro, full of youthful defiance, wasn't satisfied with this and tried to find his father's old friends for help. But as soon as he stepped outside, the people who had stolen his Pokémon beat him up and threw him into the trash heap.

'Such bad luck... for both of us.' Shiro couldn't help but laugh as he processed the information.

However, for him, the chance to live again, and in the Pokémon world at that, was still incredibly valuable.

Just then, a few unkempt people walked down the street, sandwiched between the two abandoned factories.

They frequently glanced at Shiro, who was resting against the door by the roadside, and started to gossip:

"Isn't that Shiro?"

"I heard his dad died, his Pokémon got stolen, and he just got beat up..."

"Seriously? Aren't there two others who went through the same thing? They were all on the same team. But it's none of our business. Let's go, or we'll be late."

"Right, let's go. I wonder what Pokémon it is this time. If it's just one or two and someone else gets to it first, we're screwed…"

While speaking, the boys quickly ran off.

Shiro only glanced at them briefly, not paying much attention.

Those people were the lowest tier in Spikemuth, with neither official League status nor membership in Team Yell. They were often struggling to even get a meal, let alone own a Pokémon. They couldn't even touch a Poké Ball. He didn't have much information about people like them from his memories.

Now, Shiro needed to head home, following the path he remembered.

He aimed to get to a relatively safe and clean place, rest his body, and then figure out his next steps.

His father, being a member of Team Yell, likely left behind some money and a few Poké Balls.

These should serve as his rookie starter pack.

By now, the night was in full swing, and the neon lights in Spikemuth's sky flickered erratically, their colorful beams flashing wildly, as if trying to paint on the dark canvas of the night.

The loud rock music echoed from the central area.

It was the son of the Spikemuth Gym Leader, Piers, holding his regular concert.

As a member of Team Yell, one of their duties was to support the son of the Gym Leader.

It was said that Piers, worried about the decline of his hometown, came up with the idea of music to try to revitalize it. And now, he had indeed gained quite a following, though most of his fans were from Spikemuth itself.

Shiro walked west, passing through the dilapidated streets surrounded by warehouses and abandoned factories, until he reached a relatively tidy residential area.

It was a bit far from the concert in the central area, but it was peaceful. On both sides of the street were neatly arranged houses with white walls and red roofs.

Following the direction in his memories, Shiro headed toward one house, opened the unlocked courtyard gate, and walked in.

Inside, the house was eerily quiet. The heavy black wooden door was half-open.

At the same time, Shiro remembered that he hadn't felt his keys on him. Now, with the courtyard gate wide open and the house door also not closed, a bad feeling crept up on him.

It was very likely that the people who had beaten him up had also stolen his keys, and now they might be inside, ransacking his house.

If they hadn't left after robbing him, wouldn't he get beaten again?

Shiro stopped in the dark courtyard, staring at the silent door. He decided to approach slowly.

He first crept to the side of the wall next to the door, listening quietly for a while. When he heard nothing, he gently entered the house.

If those people were still inside, they would either be noisy or already asleep. If they were asleep, Shiro planned to sneak in and check.

The house had two floors.

The first floor was a mess. The cotton stuffing from the sofa had been pulled out and scattered across the floor, and everything from chairs to decorations had been destroyed or torn apart.

This made Shiro relax a little.

Since the burglars were so violent in dismantling the house, it was highly unlikely they had plans to stay. They were just there to steal things.

He cautiously climbed the stairs to the second floor, checking each room in disarray before finally confirming that no one was there.

However, Shiro's expected rookie starter pack was also gone.

After coming down and locking the door, he walked into the relatively clean bathroom.

He tidied his face and changed clothes, then lay down on the bed in a room on the second floor, which was messy with scattered blankets.

He quickly fell asleep, but in a half-awake state, he heard faint knocking on the door.

**

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Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Spikemuth, Residential Area.

Shiro searched through his home, going over the already ransacked areas once again, but he only found some basic supplies.

"Ha..."

He sat down heavily on the torn up sofa, rubbing his head as he tried to remember any important places.

After resting for a while, he couldn’t think of anything significant, so he gave up on expecting to find any treasures from that dead father. Even if there had been something valuable, it was likely long gone by now.

He got up and walked over to the door, checked that it was locked, and then moved through the downstairs rooms, closing all the windows.

The courtyard gate didn’t need to be locked, as the wall around the yard wasn’t high, and anyone could easily climb over it.

What worried Shiro most were the large glass windows. There were no burglar bars or anything, and if someone threw a stone and shattered them, a group of people could easily rush in.

He had a feeling that danger was coming soon.

The blue-feathered Rookidee on the white table was curled up into a little ball, soundly asleep, feeling safe in its current environment.

Shiro piled some food he had found, such as bread and berries, onto the table. He also placed a bowl with water next to Rookidee, hoping it would eat when it woke up.

Now, besides Rookidee, Shiro only had a small 15 centimeter knife. He hadn’t found any other sharp tools.

After closing all the doors around the living room, he shoved some bread into his mouth.

If anyone came in to rob him again, and was able to break down the door, he would be ready to react immediately.

"Rook!"

Rookidee suddenly opened its eyes, jumped off the white table, and tried to fly. 

Unfortunately, its broken wing on the right still hindered its movement, and after flapping a couple of times, it eventually landed back on the table.

"Eat something." Shiro said, pushing the bread and berries towards the bird.

Rookidee glanced at his face, then without hesitation, it bent down and began pecking at the berries.

After applying the healing spray, Rookidee's broken wing still needed a day to recover and it wouldn't be able to regain its combat strength, the kind that could crush an average human right away.

If there was an attack, Shiro would have to figure something out himself.

"Rook! Ki! Ki!"

Rookidee raised its head and chirped sharply, its eyes focused on the door.

It had been trained as a target and had its wing broken, but its sensory abilities had grown stronger through constant evasion. It could easily hear the growing commotion outside.

Seeing this, Shiro instinctively stood up, gripping the knife handle and asked Rookidee, "Is a group of people coming?"

"Rook!" Rookidee nodded and tried to fly again.

Shiro pressed it back onto the white table and sternly ordered, "Rest first. If you try to fly while your wing is still injured, it will only worsen your condition."

"Bang, bang, bang..."

There came a series of loud bangs on the door, followed by shouting.

"Is Shiro home? We need to talk, come out!"

"They won't get in so easily. You should return to your Poké Ball." Shiro said, taking out a Poké Ball.

Rookidee looked back and forth between the Poké Ball and Shiro, hesitating.

It knew that the people outside had ill intentions. If it hid in the Poké Ball and Shiro went out to fight and got hurt, it might lose the trainer who had treated it so kindly.

In the short time it had been here, this was the most comfortable moment for Rookidee since arriving in Spikemuth.

"Rook! Ki! Dee!"

Rookidee shook its head, spreading its wings to signal that it was ready to fight.

Shiro fell silent. Rookidee was still too weak and couldn't fly. He didn’t want to involve the injured bird in the fight. After all, the little guy was more of a burden right now, but also his key source of support for the future.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The sound of more intense banging broke Shiro's thoughts. The crowd outside was getting more urgent. The voices were clearly audible through the quiet room.

"Is there no one in there?"

"How could that be? Uncle Rabby just gave him a Pokémon. Where could he have gone?"

"Hey! I just went to the back and checked. All the windows and everything are locked..."

"He’s inside! He knows we're coming! He’s probably behind the door!"

"If the front door won’t open, break the window!"

The noise outside abruptly stopped, followed by the rapid shuffle of footsteps.

Shiro didn’t have time to hesitate anymore. He quickly nodded, taking Rookidee in his arms, and made his way up the stairs to a corner.

The sound of glass shattering rang out repeatedly. The loud noises clearly entered the room.

The intruders had already made it into the guest room. Though the door was locked, it was much thinner than the front door. With a few people working together, they could easily break it open.

"Boom boom boom!"

The weak wooden door trembled under the force, its surface intermittently bending outward.

Less than half a minute later, with the sound of the first splinter of wood breaking, the entire door was torn open in the middle, and several figures dressed in dark clothing rushed through.

"Quick! Whoever gets to it first gets the Pokémon!"

"Damn it, don’t steal from me!"

The two men at the doorway were pushed aside and the others didn’t care at all, stepping over their bodies as they rushed forward.

There were seven of them in total. One lay motionless in front of the door, while another struggled to get up, looking weak and unable to move much.

The remaining five split up, searching the first floor and opening each locked door one by one.

Shiro crouched behind the staircase corner, his body hidden behind overlapping handrails, watching the group through the gaps in the railing.

Among them, a young man in a short-sleeved shirt, with short hair and covered in black mud, scanned the surroundings before charging up the stairs without hesitation.

To him, it was highly probable that Shiro was hiding on the second floor, trying to escape while they were wasting time on the first floor.

If he could catch Shiro first and get the Poké Ball, he would have his own Pokémon!

The short-sleeved youth paid no attention to the stairs beneath his feet, and just as he was about to step around the corner, a shadow flickered in his peripheral vision.

Instinctively, he leaned back, but the sharp pain in his waist and abdomen told him he hadn’t fully avoided the attack.

Shiro’s intended fatal strike to his neck had missed, so he redirected and thrust the knife into his waist.

“You… Shiro! You bastard…”

The short-sleeved youth reached out his arm, but before he could finish his sentence, the knife was yanked from his waist, spurting blood as it was pulled free.

As he was about to shout, a small blue bird fell from the stairs, its iron like beak plunging straight into his neck, silencing him for good.

“Shiro! Shiro is over there!”

A sharp eyed long-haired man, still holding a piece of bread, pointed at Shiro by the stairs.

The other three, still rummaging through the rooms, immediately sprang from their corners and surrounded the base of the stairs.

But Shiro kicked the short-sleeved youth’s lifeless body down, sending it rolling straight toward the others.

The bloodstains and wide, lifeless eyes froze the four in place, leaving them too stunned to move.

Shiro, holding Rookidee in his arms and the knife in his other hand, stared coldly at the group.

He couldn’t afford to lose Rookidee. 

Today, either he died, these people escaped, or they would all lie here forever.

**

**

**

Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:

P@treon/SilverShark769

Your support means a lot, thank you!

Chapter Text

"He's all alone! That Pokémon can't even fly! Don't be scared, let's grab a chair as a shield and charge together!"

The long-haired man tossed the bread in his hand aside and shouted at his companions.

He took the lead, moving into the living room to grab a small round chair and held it by its legs.

The other three immediately followed, picking up fallen chairs and pushing it forward.

The width of the stairs was just enough for two of them to move side by side and with the knife in Shiro's hand, he couldn't utilize its full power in this situation.

Rookidee didn't have any ranged attack moves. At its current Novice level, it could only use Peck, Leer, Power Trip, and Hone Claws—none of which were useful in this situation.

Shiro quickly turned and continued up the stairs, placing Rookidee at the highest point of the handrail.

The four below saw him seemingly trying to escape and immediately sped up, with the chair clashing against the railings and walls.

If they reached the second floor, Shiro would be surrounded and he'd have no chance of fighting back. 

'I have to take out at least two of them on the stairs.'

Shiro glanced back at them and deliberately slowed his pace. When he was halfway up the second row of the stairs, he suddenly turned around and kicked the long-haired man's chair.

The long-haired man had been leaning forward, pushing the chair to defend against attacks. But after the kick, his stance wobbled and he lost his balance, falling backward.

"Damn it!"

He and the one behind him both crashed down with a grunt.

Seizing the opportunity while the others hesitated, Shiro drew his knife and stabbed it toward another man's side. The man, covered in mud, tried to push the chair forward to block him but it only kept Shiro at bay, he couldn't stop the bloodstained knife from coming through.

"Ah!"

He cried out in pain, swinging the chair wildly. But this only made him miss Shiro, who had already retreated two steps. It also prevented his companion from getting through to advance.

After a few back-and-forth exchanges, the man was exhausted. Swiftly, Shiro grabbed his chair and slammed it into his face.

"Down you go!" Shiro hissed, watching him stagger a few steps before falling backward.

The long-haired man and the one behind him who had just gotten up quickly sidestepped to avoid it, leaving only one person on the stairs, helpless and frozen.

"Rook! Ki!"

Seeing this, Rookidee, who had been waiting at the highest point of the stair railing, immediately jumped down. Its steel gray beak glowed with white light as it unleashed a Peck.

Rookidee attacked from above, its Peck easily piercing the man's head, then it landed on the step.

Shiro quickly moved down, kicked the dead body aside, and scooped Rookidee into his arms.

"Good job." He muttered as he held the Pokémon close.

"Ki!"

Rookidee shook its head twice, flicking off the remaining filth from its beak.

These people were much easier to deal with than Pokémon. Rookidee felt very relaxed.

At the corner of the stairs, the long-haired man and another uninjured companion used chairs to shield the one who had been stabbed in the waist, retreating downstairs.

Shiro silently watched them, still holding Rookidee. He didn't throw anything to stop them.

After suffering casualties, they were too scared to continue and fled. This was the ideal outcome Shiro had anticipated.

'Don't chase desperate criminals.' Shiro thought, he had no need to continue fighting them as long as his safety was guaranteed.

"Damn it!"

The long-haired man glanced upward, full of resentment.

'How could he control a newly acquired Pokémon so easily? Why would a Pokémon that had been tortured obey him so quickly?'

Frustration twisted his expression as he gritted his teeth and shouted.

"Shiro, just you wait! I'm going straight to the Gym Leader to report you. I'll say you stole our Pokémon and killed so many people! The Gym Leader has always warned us not to kill in Spikemuth!"

Everyone knew the long-haired man was just making empty threats, but Shiro didn't see it that way.

They might have been the ones breaking in to rob him, but the mastermind behind them was definitely a member of Team Yell—someone who wanted him dead. If these words were twisted and passed along by that Team Yell member, and the Gym Leader issued a warrant for his arrest, there was no way Shiro could escape. The trainers hunting him down would be far beyond his level.

'This guy has to die here!'

A surge of murderous intent rose within Shiro as he gently placed Rookidee on the stair railing.

Having already carried out two sneak attacks, Rookidee instantly understood Shiro's intent. It curled its talons and tucked its body in, ready to strike at any moment.

Shiro quickly moved down the stairs, grabbing a fallen chair and hurling it at the long-haired man's head.

Sensing danger, the two men using chairs as shields quickly raised them to block. With a dull thud, the thrown chair slid off their makeshift defense.

But Shiro was already closing in, knife in hand, pressing it against the long-haired man's throat.

"Ah!" The long-haired man let out a pained scream as he tumbled down the stairs with his chair. Leaving a thin line of blood on his neck.

The attack hadn't been fatal.

But from above, Rookidee had already dived down, its beak piercing clean through the other standing man. 

Meanwhile, Shiro swiftly finished off the man who had been stabbed before and was now collapsed on the floor.

The long-haired man scrambled up from the ground. Every inch of his body ached but he didn't dare hesitate. He used both hands and feet to crawl toward the broken wooden door, desperate to escape.

He was the last one left.

"Rook! Ki! Dee!"

With a sharp cry, Rookidee flapped its wings and pounced from the stairs, beak aimed straight at the fleeing man's head.

"Damn it! Die, all of you!" 

A figure suddenly rushed out from the side of the living room, holding a stick, and swung it toward the blue-feathered bird in front of him.

At the moment, Rookidee was directly above the long-haired man, with the stick's shadow already looming over it.

If it could still flap its wings, it would have easily dodged this slow attack. But with its right wing broken and its body suspended in midair, there was no way to dodge. It could only watch helplessly as the stick came down.

"Thud!"

"Ugh..."

The stick struck the arm that appeared suddenly, and Shiro couldn't help but groan, though his body didn't stop. He quickly drove the knife into the stuck wielder's throat.

Rookidee also successfully landed on the long-haired man's head and finished him off.

The stick wielder was the one who had been trampled at the wooden door, still able to move. After recovering his strength, he found a stick from somewhere and almost hit Rookidee.

Shiro collapsed to the ground, clutching his left arm as sweat poured from his forehead.

He had clearly heard the sound of bone breaking earlier, and with the intense pain now, his forearm was definitely fractured.

"Rook! Ki! Ki! Dee!"

Rookidee hopped anxiously in front of Shiro, its claws twitching nervously, feeling regret for its reckless actions.

Its mistake had caused Shiro to get hurt while trying to protect it.

"Don't worry, I have healing spray..."

Shiro gritted his teeth, struggling to pull the healing spray from his pocket. He rolled up his sleeve and sprayed it on the bruised area of his left forearm.

The cool sensation quickly alleviated his pain, and Shiro let out a deep breath. After recalling Rookidee into its Pokéball, he painfully stood up and headed for the second floor.

Many had died in his home. The mastermind behind his father's death, the one who incited people to steal from him—was most likely Rabby. After Rabby noticed the abnormalities, he would undoubtedly come to finish the job himself.

There wasn't much time left. Even if there were no more enemies, after killing so many people, he couldn't stay in Spikemuth any longer. 

He had to escape quickly.

**

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**

Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:

P@treon/SilverShark769

Your support means a lot, thank you!

Chapter Text

Spikemuth.

In the dirty corner of the street between the old, abandoned warehouses on both sides, Shiro walked quickly along the walls, wearing a loose brown coat.

The pink graffiti on the wall resembled twisted, malicious faces of demons, spewing out nauseating poison gas.

This street was on the far west side of Spikemuth, and under normal circumstances, no one would pass through it.

It had once been the town's garbage dump. Even though it had been cleaned by Pokémon before, a stench still lingered— a mix of decaying fish and feces that had fermented over time.

Any normal person would likely flee after taking a single breath of the stench and never return.

Shiro covered his face with a damp cloth, soaked in alcohol, which worked well to mask the foul odor.

He decided to leave Spikemuth through this route, then head along Route 9, through the tunnel into Route 7, and toward Hammerlocke.

Shiro planned to find some temporary work in Hammerlocke, while also training his Rookidee along the way.

Before long, he had walked out of the trash filled street. After turning around two fences made of barbed wire, the scene changed to grasslands and dirt roads.

As the fresh scent of grass and earth gradually replaced the foul odor, Shiro let out a quiet sigh of relief.

He had officially left Spikemuth.

Galar was a region where battles were a traditional custom, and there were trainers everywhere looking for battles. The official routes set by the League, known as travel routes, were the most common places for battle enthusiasts to gather.

As long as he entered Route 9 and hid among the many League trainers, he'd be safe from danger.

Thinking this, Shiro still took a cautious look around to check if anyone was following him.

"Rook!"

At that moment, Rookidee hidden in his coat suddenly chirped and tapped his arm, signaling something.

'There's someone nearby!'

Shiro quickly turned around and looked in the direction pointed out by Rookidee.

At the end of the purple black wall, beside the two fences of barbed wire, a black haired girl slowly emerged. She wore a black jacket and a pink skirt, her arms crossed as she stood tall by a tree, staring at Shiro.

It was the gym leader's daughter and the future gym leader's younger sister—Marnie!

'What is she doing here?'

For a moment, Shiro couldn't make sense of it. The only thing connecting him to Marnie was Rookidee, who had gotten its wing injured due to "training." 

But now, it had been less than half an hour since the murder. In such a short time, it would be impossible for someone to discover what happened, report it to the gym leader, and then send Marnie out to track him down.

'No, the gym leader would never send Marnie out! This must be her own action, what is she trying to do?'

"Ki!"

Just as Shiro was deep in thought, Rookidee, hidden in his coat, nudged him with its head in one direction. It was clear that Rookidee wasn't trying to draw his attention to Marnie.

Looking back, Shiro spotted a familiar, chubby figure standing in the bushes beside the dirt road. Rabby, leaning against a small tree, casually watched Shiro.

'Rabby has come to find me personally? Is he here to kill me? But why is Marnie also here?'

Caught between the two of them, Shiro suddenly felt a little unsure of what to do.

As a member of Team Yell, Rabby would at least be using Pokémon at the Intermediate level, easily able to crush Shiro and his Rookidee, who was only at the Novice level.

And Marnie, being the gym leader's daughter, if she was here for some unknown reason to harm him, there was nothing he could do to fight back.

"Yo! Isn't this Shiro." Rabby, holding his big belly, walked toward him from the tree, waving his hand in greeting and asking, "What are you doing outside of Spikemuth? I just finished a mission and ran into you."

Rabby laughed, swaggering up to Shiro and stopping right in front of him. With a questioning glance at Marnie, he called out.

"Miss! This is my nephew. What do you need him for? He always listens well!"

Shiro's mind quickly raced, realizing that Rabby and Marnie weren't working together. 

This meant he was temporarily out of danger since Rabby wouldn't try to kill him in front of Marnie. Now, he needed to figure out what Marniei wanted.

Seeing the situation, Marnie, who had been watching from a distance, slowly walked over. 

She frowned and scrutinized Shiro from head to toe before asking.

"Is Rookidee with you?"

Shiro froze for a moment, suddenly understanding. He quickly nodded.

"That Rookidee..." Marnie spoke softly, furrowing her brow as she glanced at Rabby, seemingly hesitant.

As the daughter of the Spikemuth Gym Leader, Marnie had been trained in his way, which involved using wild Pokémon for battle experience, often through harsh methods. 

This meant that captured wild Pokémon, like Rookidee, would often be injured. Although Marnie had prepared herself mentally for this, she couldn't help but feel some sympathy.

When she saw Rabby carrying three injured Pokémon, she followed him to this spot.

Marnie could sense the strange tension between Rabby and Shiro but wasn't sure about the nature of their relationship. To avoid further confusion, she simply told him.

"Make sure Rookidee's injuries heal properly."

Shiro nodded quickly in agreement.

"Don't worry! Rookidee and I have a strong bond..."

"Then take this." Marnie reached into her pocket and pulled out several light blue candies, handing them to Shiro. "Feed these to Rookidee."

Shiro blinked for a moment, unsure what the candies were. After staring at them, he realized they were the Exp. Candies from the game.

'In the game, these candies could be used to boost a Pokémon's experience points, but what use did they have in the real world? Did they promote Pokémon's growth?'

Shiro made a random guess, smiling as he accepted the candies.

"Thank you, Miss Marnie! Rookidee will be happy with these."

Marnie nodded, still frowning as she rubbed her nose lightly. 

"Train it well," she said. "I'll come check on it from time to time, don't think you can slack off." She hadn't realized yet that Shiro was planning to leave Spikemuth as soon as possible.

Rabby's eyes widened as he shoved his fat body between them, raising his voice in a loud shout.

"Hahaha, that's right! Shiro… you're planning to head into the wild, right? Let me take you to catch a Pokémon!"

For Rabby, the unexpected appearance of Marnie completely threw off his plans. 

'Was that Rookidee really so special to her? She actually followed it all the way here?' Rabby wondered. 

If it weren't for Shiro killing someone and running, with Marnie's protection, Rabby would have had no chance against him.

But now, they were outside Spikemuth, and anything could happen. All he needed to do was disappear with Shiro in front of Marnie, and after that, if someone died, he could explain it however he liked.

Marnie, hearing Rabby's words, fixed her gaze on Shiro.

Shiro lowered his head slightly and said.

"Thank you, Miss Marnie. I'm going to go catch a Pokémon with my uncle."

"Hm?" Marnie hummed lightly, furrowing her brows before giving a slight nod. She wasn't concerned about what they were up to, she just wanted to know where Rookidee was now.

Marnie had already confirmed the whereabouts of the other two injured Pokémon and handed them over to two other young men. But what Marnie didn't know was that those two young men, along with Shiro, had lost their parents on the same mission.

Hearing Shiro's response, Rabby was a bit surprised and met Shiro's innocent face with a confused look. 

He thought Shiro would make an excuse for Marnie to chase him off, so he could take advantage of the distance and time to escape.

"Uncle Rabby, should we go?"

Shiro patted Rabby's back, looking as though he genuinely intended to leave with him.

"Sure, sure…"

Rabby couldn't help but laugh.

'This boy is still calling me uncle even now. That's good, I wouldn't need to waste energy chasing him. Once we got to a deserted area, it would be easy…'

"Huh?"

Halfway through the thought, Rabby felt a sharp pain in his lower back. In shock, he turned his head to look at Shiro, whose eyes were now cold and menacing.

**

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Chapter Text

In front of Marnie, Rabby wouldn’t send out his Pokémon to kill. He planned to shake her off before making his move. But by then, Shiro would have no chance of survival.

Shiro understood his situation better than anyone. Right now, with both of them standing in front of Marnie, this was his best opportunity!

Rabby didn’t dare to make a move—but Shiro did!

He pulled out the knife from the fat man’s waist. Rabby, stunned, instinctively reached for his Poké Ball.

“Rook-Ki!”

Rookidee hidden in Shiro’s coat leaped out, its sharp beak glowing white as it stabbed straight into Rabby’s wrist.

A bloody hole instantly appeared in Rabby’s fragile flesh. His fingers, just about to grasp the Poké Ball, stiffened and veered off course.

In just a few moments, Shiro had already plunged the knife into Rabby’s throat and twisted the handle forcefully, stirring the blade inside.

“Urgh, you—”

Rabby couldn’t even finish his sentence before collapsing stiffly to the ground.

Despite being a trainer of a much higher level than Shiro, wild battles weren’t just about Pokémon duels. The fastest way to win was to take out the opposing trainer first!

Shiro withdrew the knife and wiped it clean on Rabby’s gray Team Yell uniform before glancing at Marnie, who was frozen in shock.

The girl had one hand covering her mouth. After swallowing hard, she lowered it again, staring at Shiro as he looted Rabby’s body.

He found a total of eight classic red and white Poké Balls, four of which were empty.

Besides that, Rabby had a League issued card for storing money and a silver watch.

Shiro also yanked the metal chain from Rabby’s neck and stuffed it into his pocket. After confirming he had taken everything of value, he briefly considered stripping Rabby’s clothes—then decided against it.

“Are you planning to escape?” Marnie suddenly asked. She stared at Shiro, her thoughts focused on the Rookidee that was about to be taken away from Spikemuth, showing no fear.

Shiro nodded.

“Yeah.”

With that, he couldn’t be bothered with this girl anymore. After putting the knife away and tucking Rookidee back into his coat, he prepared to leave.

Since his dead father never gave him this newbie starter gift, Shiro decided to take it by himself.

Whether Rabby was the true culprit behind killing the original Shiro’s father, he didn’t know, but there was definitely some connection.

Right now, in Spikemuth, his enemies were still alive, and he'd definitely be back.

"Rookidee got hurt because of my Pokémon training!" Watching Shiro’s back as he walked away, Marnie clenched her fist, leaned forward, and shouted with all her might, "You must take good care of it!"

Shiro didn’t care to respond to this young girl. But then, his hand brushed against the Exp. Candies in his pocket. After a moment of thought, he turned, nodded and waved goodbye to Marnie.

It wasn’t exactly proper to act unfriendly after taking someone’s things.

As Shiro disappeared into the forest near the grass, Marnie turned her gaze back to the body on the ground. She gritted her teeth and took out a Poké Ball.

"Toxicroak! Come out!"

A deep blue, upright frog-like creature appeared. Its red vocal cords on its chest pulsed as it let out a cry.

"Croooaak!!"

"Toxicroak, use Toxic to dissolve this thing." Marnie commanded.

"Toxi-croak!"

Toxicroak opened its mouth and sprayed a deep purple acidic liquid onto the fat body.

Rabby’s corpse immediately began to smoke as the hissing sound of corrosion filled the air.

In just a few moments, the body quickly dissolved, turning into a puddle of white water.

"Good, come back."

Marnie recalled her Pokémon into its Poké Ball, standing still for a moment before pulling out another one.

"Come out, Liepard!"

A deep purple, elegant leopard stepped forward with graceful cat-like steps. 

Marnie jumped onto its back and ordered.

"Go! We’re heading to the house we visited earlier..."

Liepard nodded slightly, its lithe body quickly becoming a blur of purple, leaving only its devilish long tail swaying behind.

……

Spikemuth.

Inside the Spikemuth Gym.

In the main hall, the dark walls encircle the large mouth of a dark type Pokémon. As the dark type gym of the Galar region, the architecture and décor were all filled with an atmosphere of darkness and malice.

The towering pillars in the hall were like twisted black thorns, stretching out as if to welcome those who entered.

Marnie walked in slowly, her steps quiet against the carpet patterned with the Dark type emblem.

"Well? Marnie, did you see that kid and his Rookidee?" A broad-shouldered figure stood at the far end of the hall, his back to her, speaking without turning around.

Before him, a Scrafty was pummeling a Greedent with full force.

The Scrafty, sporting the same mohawk as Team Yell, had its large white teeth coated in dark energy as it bit down viciously on the Greedent’s thick, fluffy brown tail.

"Greed!"

The Greedent let out a pained cry, struggling to break free, but the grip was too tight.

"In Pokémon battles, as long as they fight, they naturally refine their moves. Victory builds confidence, making training and growth much easier..." The man spoke as he turned to face Marnie.

Dressed in a black kimono, he looked middle-aged, but his graying hair and beard showed his advanced age.

"Dad, I went to check. There was nothing to see." Marnie replied.

"Hmm?" The Spikemuth Gym Leader, Silas, let out a doubtful grunt, shifting his gaze to a nearby Team Yell member who stood silently by. 

"That kid asked for the crippled Pokémon himself, didn't he? I even sent more resources his way. If he’s not at home raising his Pokémon, then where the hell did he go?"

The questioned Team Yell member hesitated, struggling to find words before nodding awkwardly.

"Uh... Yes..."

"Hmm? His father just died. Where the hell could he have gone?" Silas muttered to himself in confusion before turning to Marnie. "You went to his house. What was the situation there?"

"The doors were open. No one was inside, but everything had been rummaged through and trashed." Marnie paused, glancing at the Team Yell member beside her before adding.

"I think someone from Team Yell broke into his house and stole his stuff. He might've been scared and ran away."

"Hmph..." The Gym Leader rubbed his chin, then let out a sigh. "Shiro’s father actually did decent work. By all rights, Shiro should’ve joined Team Yell too. What a waste... The ones who looted his place—"

He shot a look at the Team Yell member beside him. The tall, lanky grunt immediately understood and left to take care of it.

"Tch, those little street rats are still trash even after joining Team Yell! Robbing houses in the residential district? What’s next, killing people in broad daylight?"

He cursed openly in front of Marnie before his tone softened into something more reassuring.

"I’ve already sent someone to handle it. Marnie, don’t worry. There won’t be any more robberies in Spikemuth after this."

Marnie looked at her father, hesitating to speak. In the end, she simply nodded and turned to leave the Gym’s main hall.

Watching his daughter walk away, Silas exhaled sharply through his nose, pacing the carpeted floor.

Under his breath, he muttered, "Those useless bastards... Doing something this reckless. If they all end up dead, what the hell am I supposed to use?"

**

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Chapter Text

"Rookidee! Fly up! Go higher!"

Shiro shouted across the grassy field.

This was a grassy area on Route 9, where Shiro spent another day outdoors, relying on a constantly burning campfire to get through the night.

The pale green grass was a bit dry and tough, with several winding paths running through it. 

The grass was filled with Blipbugs and sometimes a small Nicket would dart by.

Rookidee's wings had mostly healed, and the injured right wing now looked just like the left one. It had no problem flapping or folding.

Shiro held it with both hands, letting it try flying.

Rookidee huddled in Shiro's palm like a small ball of blue feathers, but with a gentle toss upward, it flapped its wings and took off, revealing its nearly grown yellow belly.

Shiro chased it through the grass below, calling out loudly.

"Rookidee! Fly higher!"

"Rook-Ki-Dee!"

Rookidee spread its wings and tried to climb higher into the sky. Its small, round body soared gracefully and nimbly through the air.

Shiro's Rookidee didn't know many moves, and its talent was fairly average. But its chest muscles were incredibly strong, giving it excellent flight ability. Shiro guessed its ability might be Big Pecks.

The effect of Big Pecks was that it prevented the Pokémon from having its Defense lowered. This was Rookidee's hidden ability, different from the typical Keen Eye or Unnerve. 

Upon evolving into Corviknight, its ability would change to Mirror Armor, which reflected stat-reducing moves or abilities back to the Pokémon using them.

With Mirror Armor, Corviknight could completely ignore the opponent's debuffing moves and focus entirely on attacking.

"Come back, Rookidee!"

Shiro stood still in the grass, raising his arm and calling out as Rookidee flew farther away.

Before long, Rookidee returned, landing lightly on his arm.

Shiro could only use his right arm now. His left arm, still sore from the hit, hurt whenever he moved it. It hung limply inside his brown coat.

"Here, Rookidee, have something to eat..."

Shiro took out a rare candy, and Rookidee hopped over to peck at it.

Rookidee was close to reaching the Beginner level, probably around level 10 now.

Shiro was ready to start training Rookidee.

He crossed the grassy field and reached the edge of the forest, stopping by a tree. 

After measuring the distance roughly, he pointed at a nearby tree and said to Rookidee.

"Rookidee, start from this tree and fly to that one within one second."

"Rook?"

Rookidee looked around, not quite understanding what Shiro meant.

"Just keep flying. You can fly and jump, however you want. We're training your short-term burst power. I'll train with you." Shiro said, walking toward the tree he had pointed to. The distance between the two trees was about six or seven meters.

Since his arm was injured, Shiro couldn't use it, so he crouched down and jumped toward the tree.

The frog jump was a very tiring movement. At first, it was manageable, but after just one round, his legs began to ache.

Seeing this, Rookidee flew to a branch and tried to fly quickly over.

But after several tries, Rookidee still needed more than a second to take off, flap its wings, and start flying. By the time it reached the other tree, almost three seconds had passed.

Every time, it was the same. Rookidee grew more and more impatient, unable to find a way to improve. But when it saw Shiro below, panting with tired arms, still pushing through, it kept trying.

"Next, try using energy, use your moves." Shiro took a deep breath and reminded Rookidee.

He wanted Rookidee to learn new moves while strengthening its own abilities.

Pokémon can learn many types of moves, including moves outside their own types.

For Rookidee, there are several moves that can enhance its speed.

Flying-type moves like Tailwind and Psychic-type moves like Agility directly boost its speed. Normal-type moves like Quick Attack and even Bug-type moves like U-turn don't directly enhance speed, but they are still very useful in specific situations.

Shiro sensed Rookidee's eagerness and said to calm its nerves.

"Don't worry, Rookidee. This is our first training session. It's normal not to see results right away, no need to rush."

Hearing Shiro's voice, Rookidee gradually calmed down. It was most worried about not being able to show progress and disappointing Shiro, especially since Shiro, despite being injured, was working much harder than it.

Now more focused, Rookidee began to concentrate its energy, flying back and forth between the two trees.

"Ha..." Soon, Shiro was out of breath, his legs sore, and he collapsed by the tree.

He quietly watched Rookidee continue to improve. In the time that had passed, Rookidee had gotten much faster. Its takeoff was almost invisible, as it soared straight from one tree to the other.

Its blue feathers glowed faintly white, the sign of a move taking shape.

Still in its developmental stage, Rookidee easily learned new moves on its own. Even if it lacked natural talent or didn't inherit abilities from its parents, it could still learn and grow through hard work and training.

'What move is this?' Shiro wondered.

Logically, Rookidee, being a Flying-type Pokémon, would most likely learn Tailwind, a move that creates a strong whirlwind to boost the speed of all allies for four turns.

But Tailwind requires the Pokémon to flap its wings and use the wind to speed up its body, making it easy to identify. This wasn't the move Rookidee had learned.

Shiro thought it looked more like Quick Attack.

This Normal-type move was highly useful and could be learned by nearly all Pokémon. 

Quick Attack covers the body with energy, allowing the Pokémon to move and strike at lightning speed, just like what Rookidee was doing.

"Rooki-dii!"

Rookidee chirped joyfully. Without even realizing it, it had greatly increased its speed, and the time it took was now very close to the one second Shiro had set.

"Alright, you've done really well. Rookidee, come down now." Shiro called out.

They had been training for hours and it was now afternoon. Shiro's legs had almost fully recovered.

He noticed that Rookidee hadn't stopped at all, and he was worried it might overexert itself.

"Roo-kiii!"

Rookidee chirped and landed softly in Shiro's palm.

Now, Rookidee's body was sore, but its spirits were high, eager to continue training. 

The noticeable increase in speed was immediate feedback, making it realize it had become stronger. With the results of the training, it was even more eager to keep going. 

A little soreness didn't matter at all.

**

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Chapter Text

Shiro sat against a tree, holding Rookidee in one hand as he tried to massage it.

He had no idea how to properly massage a Pokémon or where to apply pressure, but he adjusted his technique based on Rookidee’s reactions, doing his best to relieve its fatigue.

"Rooki~"

Rookidee let out a soft chirp, closing its eyes in comfort as Shiro’s fingers worked over the muscles beneath its blue feathers.

At first, he had pressed too hard or in the wrong places, causing Rookidee slight discomfort, but now he had gotten the hang of it.

Once the massage was done, the two of them ate some dry rations before preparing to move on.

Shiro was eager to reach Hammerlocke. He needed to find a job and settle into a relatively stable life.

He had only been in Galar for a few days, and the constant battles and rough travel had left him exhausted.

Right now, all he wanted was a proper bed, one where he could sleep uninterrupted until he naturally woke up

Route 9 had two branches leading in different directions. One path to the west led to Route 9 Tunnel, while the northern path led to Circhester.

Circhester was far too cold. Covered in snow and ice, it was a harsh place for both training and survival. Shiro ruled it out without hesitation.

As he walked toward Route 9 Tunnel, he often spotted trainers standing near trees or lurking in the tall grass, tossing Poké Balls.

Most of them were trainers affiliated with the League. Regardless of their professions, their training and battles were funded by League subsidies, allowing them to move freely.

Shiro avoided them whenever possible, steering clear of any interactions.

These trainers were far stronger than him, at the very least, they were at the Intermediate level. On top of that, they were also responsible for testing challengers who aimed to take on the Gym challenge.

The Galar region’s Gym challenge system was very different from those in other regions.

Normally, all it took to enter the League Tournament was an official League ID or sometimes not even that. As long as a trainer defeated eight Gyms and collected the badges, they could participate.

But in Galar, things were different. Just to challenge the Gyms, a trainer needed a Letter of Endorsement. Whether from the League President, the Champion, or a Gym Leader, at least one of them had to vouch for the challenger. Without it, there was no chance of competing in the tournament.

This system cut off most lower-class trainers from rising through the ranks. Even if someone had the strength, they couldn’t challenge the Gyms or gain recognition.

That was why many powerful trainers from Galar’s lower levels ended up leaving for other regions.

Shiro was planning to do the same.

Once he found a way to support himself in Hammerlocke, he would focus entirely on training his Pokémon. When Rookidee evolved into Corviknight, giving him a reliable means of protection, he would set out to travel and compete in tournaments outside of Galar.

Here, if you didn’t have the right connections, you had no future.

‘There isn’t even an organization like Team Rocket here, just Team Yell, a group that doesn’t know what it wants to be.’

Starting out in Galar was the worst possible luck.

"Ugh..."

With that thought, Shiro silently made his way through the trees, avoiding the main road and the many League trainers scattered along the route.

Official battles involved wagers, winning against them would earn him League money. But Shiro wasn’t strong enough to win, so avoiding them was the smarter choice.

‘Up ahead is Route 9 Tunnel. I need to check if I can pass through directly, or if I'll have to find another way around.’

Just as he was thinking about it, a raspy voice called out from the depths of the forest:

"Oh... Hehehe... Hey, kid. You don’t have an ID, do you? Want to make a trade?"

Shiro stopped in his tracks and turned to face the source of the voice. He hadn't noticed anyone hiding there earlier, and even Rookidee hadn't detected anything.

Though Shiro had identified the location, it was hard to spot the figure unless he looked closely.

At that moment, the voice’s owner suddenly flickered and appeared right in front of him.

‘Teleportation!’

Shiro immediately recognized the distinctive psychic move.

In the world of Pokémon, some humans with special talents could awaken and train psychic abilities. They could use psychic moves, even doing things that psychic Pokémon themselves couldn’t.

"Heh, you're not that surprised. Seems like you’ve seen a bit." the figure said, his face hidden under a dark red hood, his entire body cloaked in a long robe.

He then asked, "Kid, want to trade something?"

"Who are you?" Shiro asked, taking a step back.

In places like this, it wouldn't be surprising if someone died. The psychic user before him was definitely stronger, and if he wanted to kill him and take his things...

"Kid, you’re worrying too much." The hooded man’s voice was sharp, and he added, "I’m a traveling merchant affiliated with the black market in Hammerlocke. I value credibility. Even if you had a fortune on you, I wouldn't kill or rob.”

"Can you hear my thoughts?" Shiro asked, more focused on that than on the man’s credibility.

"Of course. That’s what psychic powers are for. We can even communicate through telepathy, though it’s unnecessary." the hooded man admitted, then continued, "Pokémon, Pokéblocks, evolution stones... whatever you need, I can get it for you."

At his words, Shiro’s eyes shifted. He realized the usefulness of this psychic ability for the traveling merchant.

It seemed that all these underground market merchants possessed psychic powers, allowing them to transport goods over long distances. Wherever these merchants were, it was like an entire black market.

It was incredibly convenient, but also expensive. Shiro wondered who had the resources to build an entire supply line.

"Oh? Kid, let me tell you something. The person in charge is the great Chairman Rose!" The hooded man said, raising his arms in praise.

Rose was the current Chairman of the Galar region's League and the President of the largest corporation in the region, Macro Cosmos. Most companies in Galar were likely affiliated with Macro Cosmos.

"It’s not quite that exaggerated, but almost." the hooded man added, hearing Shiro’s thoughts.

He then asked, "So, kid, do you want to buy something? Or sell something? Some Pokémon can only be obtained by us..." Pointing at the four Pokémon Shiro had taken from Rabby.

Pokémon usually stayed inside their Poké Balls. Unless the ball’s switch was open, they couldn’t escape unless they were exceptionally strong.

However, some trainers keep the switches open so that their Pokémon can decide to come out at any time. In such cases, the bond between the Pokémon and the trainer is very strong, built on mutual trust.

The four Poké Balls from Rabby were all locked, preventing him from releasing the Pokémon in time during a crucial moment.

The four Pokémon Shiro had acquired were Intermediate-level Dottler, Scraggy, Thievul and an Advanced-level Noctowl.

**

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Chapter Text

Shiro could hardly command these four Pokémon.

Especially the strongest one, Noctowl.

Every time Shiro observed it through the Poké Ball, the fierce look on its face made it seem like it wanted to swallow him whole.

The other three had more indifferent attitudes. 

They might not attack Shiro if they were released, but they certainly wouldn’t obey him.

Whether these captured and seized Pokémon could be commanded depended on strength.

Right now, Shiro’s power was insufficient. His only Pokémon, Rookidee, couldn’t match them in battle, so he couldn’t guarantee his safety.

The best option was to sell them all.

"Heh, right? You have to sell. I’ll buy them, no tricks." the hooded man scoffed and added, "One Intermediate-level Pokémon costs 10,000 Pokédollars, and an Advanced-level one goes for 100,000, with the price scaling up from there."

Shiro thought for a moment and asked, "So, do you also sell Pokémon of higher levels at multiple times the price? Like, can a Gym-level Pokémon be bought for a few million Pokédollars?"

"Kid, even if you have the money, do you think you can tame a Gym-level Pokémon? Stop dreaming. Hurry up and take out the Poké Balls so I can calculate the price." the hooded man extended his hand, his voice growing impatient.

For him, dealing with newcomers meant answering endless questions, many of them trivial and repetitive basics.

But Shiro understood that the hooded man hadn’t denied the possibility.

Noticing the man’s impatience, Shiro decided to just take out the four Poké Balls he intended to sell, placing them on the dry, muddy ground between the weeds.

"Hmm... a total of 130,000 Pokédollars..." The hooded man quickly produced a stack of colorful bills from his sleeve.

"Can I sell this?" Shiro took out the League Card he had obtained from Rabby, handing it to the hooded man.

"Hmm?" The hooded man took the card and gave Shiro a meaningful glance, then said, "Without knowing the password, I can only give you one-fifth of the amount on this card."

"Okay, no problem." Shiro agreed without hesitation.

"Alright, 130,000 plus 100,000, that’s 230,000 Pokedollars. You probably need a space backpack produced by Macro Cosmos, right?" The hooded man asked with a follow-up.

"Sure." Shiro nodded firmly.

He had a lot of items on him, and even the food alone took up quite a bit of space. The small bag in his clothes that he had been using was no longer enough. Buying a space backpack was definitely a good choice.

"230,000 minus 30,000, that’s 200,000... Do you want to buy one or two more Pokémon? Don’t worry, they’re all very healthy, and their potential is quite good." the hooded man continued, enjoying the feeling of constant trade.

Shiro thought for a moment before asking, "What Pokémon do you have?"

"Heh, I have Pokémon of all levels. But for the lowest novice level, I only have five that I just got. Let me show them to you." the hooded man said, pulling out five small Poké Balls.

With another wave of his hand, all five Poké Balls were levitated into the air by his psychic power and enlarged. The red tops were facing Shiro, making it easier for him to inspect.

"Grooky, Sobble, Vulpix, Gastly, and Eevee..."

Shiro muttered their names one by one as he examined them. Just as the hooded man had said, all these Pokémon were very healthy. Their eyes were bright and they seemed quite curious about the stranger.

These five Pokémon were all relatively rare, with Grooky and Sobble being part of Galar's native starter line, while the other three—Vulpix, Gastly, and Eevee—were well-known Pokémon from the Kanto region.

Shiro felt a little tempted.

He wasn't particularly interested in Galar's starters, but the remaining three were definitely Pokémon he wanted.

"How much for each?" Shiro asked.

"One hundred thousand each." the man replied, his face hidden beneath the dark red cloak, but it seemed like he was smiling.

"One hundred thousand?" Shiro was a bit incredulous. Advanced level Pokémon were only priced at one hundred thousand, and these were just low-level novice Pokémon.

The hooded man casually explained, "Rare Pokémon with excellent potential. I guarantee there's nothing wrong with them. If you want them, buy them."

Given Shiro's current finances, he could probably only afford one. After thinking for a moment, he made his choice...

"I'll take Gastly!" Shiro said decisively.

"Heh..." The hooded man instantly put the remaining four Pokémon away. "Alright..."

…...

Not long after, in the deep forest. The suspicious-looking hooded man disappeared in an instant.

Shiro, with one hand holding a backpack, stuffed the remaining few bills into his pocket.

After buying Gastly, he also picked up some flying-type and ghost-type Pokéblocks. The few Intermediate Pokéblocks for those two types would last him two to three months, costing him about 80,000 Pokédollars.

He also bought some specialized bone fracture medicine for 10,000 Pokédollars. 

Though it was expensive, it worked wonders. After applying it for just ten minutes, the bruises began to heal and the pain had nearly disappeared.

After selling off everything he had taken from Rabby, he was left with just over 10,000 Pokédollars.

Shiro sighed, adjusting his backpack, but he didn't feel too bad about it.

He understood that spending money was necessary to grow stronger. Without investment, he would gain nothing.

That traveling merchant had already done him a favor by taking the time to trade. With his current strength, there was no way he could enter the black market, buy what he needed and leave safely.

"Come out, Gastly!" Shiro took out the newly acquired Poké Ball and released the eager Pokémon inside.

"Gaaas!"

Gastly resembled a small black ball burning with ghostly flames, its mouth wide open and its curious eyes darting around as it hovered near Shiro.

Shiro spoke in a low voice. "Gastly, from today on, I’m your Trainer."

"Gas?" Gastly tilted its head and tried to float above Shiro.

"Your meals depend on me. If you don’t listen, I’ll lock your Poké Ball shut and you won’t be able to come out." Shiro pulled out a purple and black colour Pokéblock from his backpack as he spoke.

Gastly sniffed the scent and immediately floated closer, nodding repeatedly.

"Here." Shiro tossed the Pokéblock, and Gastly eagerly tilted its head back to catch it.

After that, it settled on Shiro’s shoulder, following him as he made his way out of the forest.

Descending from the wooded slope and crossing a small patch of grass, Shiro spotted the entrance to Route 9 Tunnel ahead.

He stopped at the edge of the grass, watching from a distance.

Though the Route 9 Tunnel itself was empty, just a passage connecting Route 7 and Route 9, the tunnel wasn’t open to just anyone.

Shiro observed for half an hour. Three or four Trainers arrived, each showing their League Card to the security personnel stationed at the entrance, dressed in light blue uniforms.

Just as he was wondering how to get through, Gastly drifted toward his coat, locking eyes with Rookidee curled up inside.

It made a playful face.

"Rook!"

Rookidee, who had been tucked away in Shiro’s coat, shot out in an instant, flying up to Gastly with a piercing red gaze, staring at the impudent newcomer.

**

**

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Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:

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Your support means a lot, thank you!

Chapter Text

"Gaasss~"

Gastly tilted its head. The purple ghostly flames surrounding it turned into an arrow, first pointing at Shiro, then at itself, and finally at Rookidee.

It wasn’t impressed by Rookidee.

"Kii!"

Unbothered by the provocation, Rookidee didn't waste words. A bright white light surged around its body as it instantly launched an attack.

Quick Attack!

Its deep blue feathers cut through the eerie purple flames in a flash. The two Pokémon crossed paths in midair, yet neither suffered a scratch.

Gastly was startled but showed no concern. Rookidee, on the other hand, was fuming, completely ignoring the fact that its attack had no effect.

Even though Gastly was also in the novice level and a few levels lower than Rookidee, around level 8, its Ghost typing made it immune to Normal-type attacks.

Right now, Rookidee was still too weak. The only attacks it could use were moves like Peck and Quick Attack.

Gastly probably didn’t fully understand type matchups when it provoked Rookidee so recklessly. But by pure luck, it had found itself in an overwhelmingly advantageous situation.

"You two, fight up here!" Shiro had already climbed the slope and called the two Pokémon over.

If they battled too long near the grassy area below, they might attract security personnel or League trainers. Given his lack of strength and official identity, that would be a major problem.

Shiro wasn’t sure how Galar’s officials handled these situations, but he wasn’t about to take the risk of getting arrested and thrown in jail.

"Gaaasss!"

Gastly was the first to reach the dirt clearing on the slope. It bared its fangs at Rookidee, its swirling purple gas intensifying as its eyes turned pitch black.

Mean Look!

This move would prevent Rookidee from escaping. However, in this situation, it was completely useless.

Rookidee simply ruffled its feathers, unfazed by the attack, then continued flying straight toward Gastly with a Peck.

"Hissss~"

Seeing the fierce look in Rookidee’s eyes, Gastly flinched. It suddenly had the feeling that this little blue bird was out for blood. 

Panicking, it shut its eyes tight, its ghostly flames shrinking inward.

"Open your eyes, Gastly!" Shiro commanded sharply.

He was more than happy to watch his Pokémon fight each other. As far as he was concerned, this was their battle to settle. He wasn’t going to step in and give either side an unfair advantage.

In the team, status had to be determined by strength. If someone lacked it, even if Shiro tried to help, it wouldn't earn them any respect.

"Rooki!"

The gray steel beak of Rookidee pierced through Gastly's ghostly body without resistance. Gastly had just heard Shiro's words but only cracked open its eyes slightly.

"Rook?”

Rookidee, confused as to why its attack hadn't worked, didn't give up. It turned around and continued using Peck.

"Gasss?"

Gastly vaguely saw a sharp bird beak moving in and out of its body but felt no pain or injury.

"Face your opponent, Gastly!" Shiro's tone grew more forceful.

Gastly seemed to realize something and immediately opened its eyes. It turned to face Rookidee and stuck out its tongue, making a mocking face.

"Ki-dee!"

Rookidee grew even more furious, its red, bead-like eyes locking onto Gastly. In a flash, its body became a streak of grayish-white light, darting forward at high speed.

Whoosh!

This time, Rookidee was even faster, slicing through the air with a sharp sound. But once again, it simply passed right through Gastly’s body without causing any harm.

Gastly wobbled in place, its dark face full of mockery.

If it had known earlier that this little blue bird would be all bark and no bite, it wouldn’t have been scared at all.

Rookidee let out a sharp cry. Furious yet helpless against this strange purple-black orb, it turned to Shiro for help.

"The Quick Attack you used is a Normal-type move. Gastly’s Ghost typing makes it immune to Normal-type attacks." Shiro explained calmly. Then, he turned his gaze to Gastly. "Gastly! Use every move you’ve got! You have the advantage, are you really struggling to win?"

Gastly was still swaying in midair, showing no signs of attacking.

Hearing Shiro’s command, it instinctively released a brief pulse of colorful light, but the glow faded almost immediately.

Confuse Ray!

The move was meant to confuse its target, but Gastly’s level was too low. With insufficient energy, its Confuse Ray was too weak to take full effect.

Breathing heavily, Gastly looked exhausted.

Meanwhile, Rookidee flapped its wings repeatedly in the air. It was trying to use a non-Normal-type Flying move, following the training Shiro had previously instructed, focusing on sensing Flying-type energy.

"Is that all you’ve got? You can’t even land a single attack? Keep going!" Shiro ordered.

Gastly, still panting, desperately tried to gather a small black energy sphere in front of it. But the orb barely formed before it shattered in midair.

Shadow Ball!

Shadow Ball was a high-level Ghost-type move. The fact that Gastly could even attempt it at level 8 was impressive. But its lack of energy and low level made it impossible to pull off completely.

If Gastly could reach the Beginner level and surpass Level 15, it would definitely be able to use Shadow Ball properly.

‘That black market merchant wasn’t lying. This Gastly has outstanding potential. Its parents must have been powerful Ghost-type Pokémon for it to inherit such moves.’ Shiro was thinking while watching the battle.

"Gas..."

Floating in midair, Gastly wasn’t thinking that far ahead. It only knew that its move had failed again. Its energy was running low, but it hadn’t completely exhausted its strength yet.

"Gastly! Do you have no way to attack? Rookidee might not be able to hit you for now, but you can’t hurt it either. You can’t beat Rookidee!" Shiro provoked, trying to see how far Gastly’s potential could go.

"Gas!"

Hearing Shiro’s words, Gastly refused to back down. It gathered itself and focused on the little blue bird flapping its wings across from it.

"Huff..."

Gastly exhaled forcefully. Wisps of icy mist appeared, drifting toward Rookidee in slow, curling tendrils.

It was an early form of Icy Wind.

Though it couldn’t fully execute the move yet, Ice was strong against Flying. Even in its incomplete state, the chill was enough to significantly affect Rookidee.

The icy air ruffled Rookidee's blue feathers, making it shiver. It flapped its wings and let out a sharp cry.

But perhaps this cold awakened something within Rookidee.

In that instant, it sensed something flowing between its wings. Instinctively, it beat them hard, releasing that energy outward.

Compressed air condensed into a sharp blade, slicing toward Gastly.

Air Cutter!

As a Flying-type move, it made sense for Rookidee to learn it. But being able to execute it fully in such a short time was no small feat.

The attack landed cleanly on Gastly, striking its already weakened form. With a final, dazed sway, Gastly lost consciousness.

**

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Chapter Text

"Alright! The battle is over!"

Seeing Rookidee still trying to land a final blow, Shiro quickly stopped it.

After comforting Rookidee in his arms, Shiro took out a few light blue Pokéblocks and fed them to it to restore its stamina.

Although both Pokémon in this battle were inexperienced and weak, Shiro was very satisfied with the result.

Rookidee was naturally a hard-working Pokémon. It had made some progress during the battle, and after resting and digesting the Pokéblocks, it would likely reach Beginner level.

As for Gastly, although it was a bit mischievous, its talent was excellent. It had mastered many high-level moves and Shiro was sure there were still some moves it could use that he wasn’t aware of.

Shiro placed several Pokéblocks into Gastly's mouth, returned it to its Poké Ball and planned to train it slowly once it woke up.

The battle had taken quite a bit of time, and now it was evening. There were no more League trainers near the Route 9 Tunnel.

Two security guards in blue uniform were leaning on a brown cart outside the tunnel, chatting.

Shiro walked down the slope and crouched in the grass, thinking about how to get through.

If he tried to rush in while the two security guards weren’t paying attention, the risk was too high. He had no idea what the situation was on the other side of the tunnel, and it would be easy to get caught.

But if he didn’t enter through the Route 9 Tunnel and chose to go around...

This area was part of a very large mountain range. The League had built the tunnel here to make passing through more convenient. If Shiro tried to climb over the mountain, the danger was one thing, but the time it would take was another—it definitely wouldn’t be solved in just an evening.

Standing at the foot of the mountain, Shiro looked up and saw the endless slope.

How to get through was a problem.

But Shiro was patient.

There were definitely many others like him, who needed to avoid the League trainers. How had those people made it through here?

Shiro had originally planned to wait and see, learning from their methods.

During the battle between Gastly and Rookidee, when Shiro didn’t have time to observe, someone like that had probably already passed by.

He quietly waited in the grass.

Around twenty minutes later, a disheveled middle-aged man appeared, walking along the side of the mountain near the tunnel. His olive-green outdoor gear was covered in dirt.

He walked along the wall until he reached the edge of the Route 9 Tunnel. There, he immediately pulled out two Pokédollars bills and handed them to the two security guards. The guards then took a black cloak from their brown cart and draped it over the man.

The man continued to press against the wall, moving along the side of the tunnel.

Shiro had good eyesight, but he couldn't make out the exact amount of the Pokédollars.

He then placed Rookidee from his coat in the grass and took out several different denominations of Pokédollars from his bag, letting Rookidee identify them.

"Rook!"

Rookidee pointed its beak at the Pokédollar with a value of one thousand.

‘A two thousand Pokédollars toll?’

Shiro nodded, then put the money and Rookidee away.

He stood up and headed for the tunnel.

However, he remembered the strange way the man had entered, by staying close to the wall.

Though confused, for safety’s sake, Shiro decided to mimic the man's approach. He first moved to the side of the tunnel, closely following the wall.

He edged along the wall toward the tunnel entrance. The two blue-uniformed security guards noticed him and came closer.

After expertly taking the Pokédollars from Shiro, they pulled a black cloak from the cart and draped it over him, then gave him a warning.

“Kid, remember to stay quiet. If you come across a trainer, act like a piece of wood. Don’t speak, don’t move. Got it?”

Shiro nodded repeatedly, hiding his face under the black cloak and following the man’s earlier movements, edging along the wall toward the tunnel.

The two guards continued to lean lazily against the small cart, casually observing the surroundings.

Inside the tunnel, it was pitch black, with no lights in sight.

The tunnel floor was a smooth dirt path, with two tracks running down the center.

Shiro had not walked far when he saw a short-haired boy darting out from the nearby forest, wearing a brown coat and running straight toward him.

Seeing another person approaching, the two security guards, who had been casually standing around, immediately straightened up, taking their positions like gatekeepers, one on each side to greet the newcomer.

However, when the boy got closer, he gave a flattering smile and reached into his coat with a dirty hand, pulling out some Pokédollars. He said, "Hehe, gentlemen, please show some leniency..."

"Damn it, I thought you were a Trainer!" The younger security guard immediately cursed, snatching the money from the boy's hand. After a quick glance at the amount, his expression softened slightly.

The older security guard handed the boy a black cloak, explaining and giving instructions, "Those without proper identification have to stick to the wall to enter. What would happen if an official Trainer sees people like you? Besides, we still need to identify everyone..." he said, putting the money into his pocket.

The short-haired boy quickly put on the cloak, constantly nodding in agreement.

Shiro, however, noticed the amount on the Pokédollars. Each one was five thousand.

‘This guy looks dirty, has no identity, and is spending money so lavishly... Could I rob him along the way?’

The thought briefly crossed Shiro's mind but was quickly dismissed.

He would never take such a risky action without knowing the other person's strength.

So, Shiro continued sticking to the wall, moving further into the pitch-black tunnel. After walking roughly another 20 meters, the light from the tunnel entrance had become faint.

Suddenly, Rookidee in his coat moved, its beak pointing sharply in one direction—the tunnel ahead.

Shiro immediately stopped.

In the darkness ahead, just beyond the reach of his eyes, a figure stood still.

"Did you find me?" a faint, hoarse voice came closer.

Shiro didn't step back. Instead, he reached for his knife.

"Looks like it's your first time, huh? Did you copy me to get in?" The voice stopped about a meter away from Shiro.

He could barely make out the figure now. It was the same disheveled man who had entered before him.

The man had long, dirty hair that covered his eyes and a stubbled chin. A foul smell emanated from him.

"Kid..." The man nodded at Shiro. "Shouldn't you pay a tuition fee? Not much, just two thousand Pokédollars. I’ll take you in and out, how about it?"

‘Two thousand Pokédollars?’

That seemed like a small amount, and paying a newcomer’s fee to gain information seemed worth it.

He didn’t hesitate or think twice. He immediately agreed.

"Alright! But you need to tell me what's ahead in the tunnel first."

Shiro slightly raised his hand, pointing towards the tunnel's end.

"Hmm?" The disheveled man didn't move, his eyes locked onto Shiro's raised arm.

The next moment, Shiro struck with his knife, aiming for the man's throat.

**

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Chapter Text

Clang!

Two small knives clashed, making a sharp sound.

The disheveled man quickly stepped back, revealing a knife in his hand. It was about 20 centimeters long, slightly longer than Shiro's.

"I misjudged you. Another one of the same kind?" the man asked in a low voice.

Shiro didn't respond. His gaze shifted to the hand tightly gripping the Poké Ball.

At this point, Shiro had lost the advantage. If he continued to fight head-on without knowing the strength of the other person's Pokémon, he was likely to lose.

Besides, the entrance to the tunnel wasn't far away. If there were any signs of a Pokémon battle, those two security guards would definitely rush back.

"Hmph..." Shiro sneered and nodded, slowly putting away his knife.

The disheveled man also sheathed his knife, taking two steps back, raising his hand in a gesture to maintain distance, then quickly moved off in the opposite direction.

"Hey..." A timid voice suddenly called from behind Shiro.

He turned around to see the short-haired boy from the tunnel entrance. The boy had just arrived at this spot.

The boy swallowed nervously, his eyes lingering on the pocket where Shiro had put the knife. After a moment, he shakily pulled out two Pokédollars and said, "Big Brother, this is my tuition fee. Please don't make a move..."

Shiro glanced at the amount. Both bills were worth 5,000 each. The short-haired boy was offering 10,000 Pokédollars right off the bat.

However, Shiro didn’t reach for them. Instead, he spoke in a low voice, "Fold them into squares and throw them over."

Despite the short-haired boy looking weak, Shiro wasn’t sure about his true nature. He wouldn’t risk accepting the money without knowing more.

"Ah? Heh..." Upon hearing Shiro's request, the boy chuckled, then flipped his hand and pocketed the money. "Never mind, then."

He lifted his head slightly and said with a smile, "You go ahead, big brother."

Shiro remained silent for a moment, then picked up his pace.

The short-haired boy was indeed no simple character. As an illegal citizen, if he were constantly at others' mercy, his money would have been long taken. There was no way he would be lucky enough to make it this far.

Shiro kept a three to four meter distance from him, maintaining his pace as he moved forward. The disheveled man ahead had long since disappeared.

"Big Brother... where are you from? Are you heading to Hammerlocke too?" The short-haired boy suddenly asked from behind.

Shiro gave him a glance but remained focused on his path, not responding.

The short-haired boy, seeing Shiro's response, didn't insist on talking any further.

They walked for several hundred meters in silence, and ahead, a faint light began to appear.

They were almost at the end.

Shiro could already see the two security guards in blue uniforms leaning against a blue cart. The middle-aged man from before was also there, having taken off his black cloak. It seemed like he knew the security personnel.

Shiro couldn't help but stop.

"What's wrong?" the short-haired boy asked quietly. "Is it that man causing trouble?"

"No, it's the security guards. They seem to be waiting for someone..." Shiro replied, glancing at the boy.

From his brief encounter with the man, Shiro knew that the chances of him knowing the security guards were very low. There was no way they would be gathered together. These guards were very snobbish and looked down on people like Shiro.

Most importantly, Shiro knew how bad the man smelled. 

‘Why are the security guards standing so close to him?’

With his suspicions growing, Shiro began to observe more carefully. It didn’t take long before he noticed something off.

The two security guards and the man appeared to be together, but they weren't interacting at all. The man’s hands were resting on the cart, most likely shackled.

But instead of escorting him away, they were strangely staying there, which meant they were setting a trap.

The two guards must have received some kind of information, or the man had told them something, causing them to endure the stench and wait.

‘Could it be that the murders in Spikemuth were exposed and the Gym Leader had put out a warrant on me?’

Shiro hesitated. It seemed very likely.

"Hey! they're waiting for us. What do you think about just charging out?" the short-haired boy urged from behind.

"But those two security guards are strong..." Shiro worried that they might release high-level Pokémon and he wouldn't stand a chance.

"If they're that strong, why are they ambushing like this? There aren’t many people left in the tunnel. Why not just send in their Pokémon to search?" The boy remained calm and continued in a low voice. "I have a newly acquired advanced-level Pokémon, but it has some issues and doesn’t listen well. How about I bring it out first to attract their attention?"

Shiro frowned and looked at the short-haired boy before nodding in agreement.

The advanced-level Pokémon the boy mentioned, the one with issues, was likely a trophy taken from a murder and not his own Pokémon.

However, since the short-haired boy had volunteered, Shiro saw no reason to reject him.

"Alright, let’s move forward a bit and wait until they can barely see us..." the short-haired boy started, but was interrupted.

"You go ahead. I'm scared." Shiro pointed forward, his face full of distrust. He only had one life, so he was extremely cautious.

The boy remained silent for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

"Alright."

Next, the two switched positions. After making a quick loop, the short-haired boy was now in front, with Shiro trailing behind.

"Wait for me to release my Pokémon, then we’ll charge out together. We’ll each rely on our own abilities..." the short-haired boy said, then walked ahead.

Shiro had his own suspicions about the boy.

‘This guy must have committed a crime and is probably on the run, maybe even wanted by the League.’

Shiro wasn’t sure whether the two security guards were after him, the short-haired boy, or both. One thing was clear; they had to run.

After walking for a while, they confirmed they were getting very close, and the two guards in blue uniforms in front seemed to react.

"Alright! Three, two, one..." The short-haired boy began the countdown and pulled out a Poké Ball, pressing the button.

He then threw the Poké ball toward the tunnel exit. The two security guards, realizing something was wrong, immediately jumped to the sides.

"Darma!!"

A deafening roar echoed from the Poké Ball as a towering figure emerged.

The creature stood about two meters tall. Its icy body was adorned with a strange smiley face on its round belly. Flames shot from its head like a rooster’s comb, while fire flickered along its arms, creating a stark contrast between ice and flame.

It was the Galarian Darmanitan in Zen Mode!

Shiro immediately recognized the Pokémon, but there was no time to examine it in detail. He quickly took large steps, following the short-haired boy who was now running full speed ahead.

The Galarian Darmanitan’s fire sacs had been frozen by the ice and snow. But when angered, its body would reignite with flames. 

The angry snowman was relentless, even willing to melt itself to burn everything in its path.

**

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Chapter Text

The raging flames seemed to fill the tunnel exit. The snowman version of Darmanitian opened its mouth wide. Its long, fiery fangs lunged toward the middle-aged man.

The man widened his eyes, shaking violently, but all it did was reveal the silver-white shackles on his wrists.

The fiery fangs of Darmanitian consumed both the man and the cart in an instant, leaving behind large, scorched marks where they once stood.

The two blue-uniformed security guards, who had wisely retreated to the sides of the tunnel, now threw their Pokéballs.

"Come out! Drizzile!"

"You too! Charjabug!"

A blue upright lizard-like creature and a deep green rectangular bug appeared at the tunnel's entrance. Both Pokémon were Intermediate level, and even they showed fear in the face of the frenzied Darmanitian, which was at the Advanced level.

This kind of battle was far from the usual League-style rotation matches. A single mistake could result in fatal injury or death.

"Drizzile! Use Water Pulse!" The bulkier security guard shouted his command. The water-type Drizzile was perfect for dealing with the flames almost engulfing the tunnel entrance.

Drizzile nodded and flicked the purple-blue fins on its head before bringing its claws together at its chest. In just a moment, it gathered a water sphere as large as a basketball.

With a swift motion, Drizzile unleashed a water jet, shooting directly toward Darmanitian at the tunnel exit.

"I'll put out the fire! You block the exit!" The bulkier guard waved his hand at the thinner guard across from him.

The thinner guard immediately nodded, directing his Pokémon.

"Charjabug! Use String Shot! Block the tunnel!"

White silky threads shot out from the deep green rectangular bug, spreading into the surrounding area of the tunnel.

Though the threads weren’t abundant enough to form a full barrier, it was extremely sticky. The moment someone stepped on it, they would be unable to break free.

By spreading the threads widely, the chances of trapping the target would increase.

“Darmanitan!!”

Now, Darmanitan’s flames, dampened by the water splashed over its head, were significantly reduced. However, its anger intensified and it turned its head, roaring at Drizzile.

The Pokémon, somewhat frightened, reduced the size of its water jet. Despite its appearance as a small thug, it was timid and had never encountered such a fierce Pokémon before.

“Don’t be afraid! Drizzile... Damn it! They’re running from the other side! Quickly, chase them!” The chubby security guard was comforting his Pokémon when he suddenly noticed two figures slipping out from the tunnel, fleeing in opposite directions along the dirt path.

Both figures were covered in black cloaks, making it impossible to identify them. The chubby guard couldn’t immediately tell which one was the target.

However, as long as he caught them all, it didn’t matter.

“Charjabug! Use String Shot again!” The slim guard immediately ordered as soon as he heard the call. The Bug Pokémon switched from spreading a net of silk threads to firing it toward the targets.

Shiro and the short-haired boy easily bypassed the thin strands of threads, heading into the woods on either side.

Charjabug wasn’t slow, but it had to spread its threads to the left and right. Although both of them got some strands on their bodies, slowing them down slightly, they weren’t caught.

The thin security guard saw this and shouted.

“We’re after Marvin of Circhester! Non-related personnel stay where you are and take off your cloak!”

Hearing this, Shiro immediately threw off his black cloak, but his steps didn't slow down.

As soon as the cloak fell, the security guard quickly identified the target and commanded his Charjabug to attack the direction where the short-haired boy Marvin was running.

"Fuck!" Marvin turned his head and saw Shiro toss the cloak, cursing aloud.

His other Pokémon had no combat ability, so he refused to send them out to delay the situation.

Marvin decided to throw off his black cloak as well. He then turned and ran toward Shiro.

His position was off, causing many of Charjabug's threads to miss. Marvin barely dodged the remaining threads as he rushed toward Shiro, who was about to enter the forest.

"Get the hell away from me!" Shiro cursed, but there was nothing he could do to stop Marvin.

His Gastly was still not fully recovered, and his Rookidee was hidden in his coat, too weak to be of any help at the moment.

Releasing Rookidee now to interfere with Marvin or Charjabug would only create a burden due to its weakness.

Shiro understood that Marvin’s choice to make this move meant that he didn’t have any other Pokémon to rely on. But even at his weakest, Marvin was at the novice level, which made him comparable in strength to Shiro.

Helpless, Shiro could only speed up.

Once he entered the forest, those annoying threads wouldn't have much of an effect.

“Hey, don't leave me behind!” Marvin shouted as he threw off his outer brown coat, revealing a short-sleeve, mud-smeared shirt and shorts, along with a large backpack.

He ran faster than Shiro, but still couldn’t catch up.

The thin security guard hadn’t expected Marvin to be so fast. Gritting his teeth, he grabbed another Poké Ball.

“Nuzleaf! Rock Tomb!”

A brown, humanoid Pokémon appeared. It had a green leaf on its head, and its round head tilted back as it raised its hands toward the sky.

Shiro and Marvin immediately felt the ground shake. Soon, several large rocks emerged from the ground in front of the Nuzleaf. The rocks were suddenly hurled toward Marvin.

Normally, this move, Rock Tomb, would have trapped both of them. However, Nuzleaf, covered in injuries, clearly hadn't fully recovered from a recent battle. 

It struggled to control the rock-type energy and launch the stones. Since it wasn’t using a move of its own type, the force was insufficient.

The rocks veered off, landing behind Shiro and Marvin.

Seeing that the two were about to escape into the forest, the thin security guard shouted, "Charjabug, use String Shot! Keep that dirty guy back!"

Charjabug’s blue eyes lit up as it sensed its trainer's urgency. Its deep green body wiggled with effort, and the threads it spat out were far more resilient, landing between Shiro and Marvin.

Marvin had no choice but to stop, side-stepping and waiting for the white threads to fall to the ground.

But the rocks didn’t wait for him. They kept coming.

Marvin felt the sound of air being split and the overwhelming pressure from behind. His scalp tingled, and with a quick leap and roll, he dove toward the forest edge, landing some distance away from the trees.

One of the rocks grazed his calf. While it didn’t crush him, it left a large gash, making it difficult for him to get back on his feet and run.

Marvin crawled on the ground, struggling. He cast a desperate look at Shiro, who was already at the forest's edge.

The rocks stopped falling, but the threads continued, relentlessly advancing as Charjabug moved forward.

Shiro turned, reached down and grabbed Marvin's hand, pulling him into the forest.

The two rolled sideways, crashing into the tree roots before coming to a halt.

The security guard’s face turned pale. He ordered his Pokémon to follow, but Shiro had already released his Rookidee.

"Rookidee! Peck!"

Rookidee darted forward, targeting several trees on the forest's edge. With a loud crash, the trees fell, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The two of them vanished from the thin security guard’s sight.

**

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Chapter Text

“These two guys…”

In front of the tunnel, the thin security guard reached out to recall the injured Nuzleaf, signaling Charjabug to charge toward the forest, still clouded with dust.

But halfway through his run, a wave of intense heat suddenly surged from behind.

The security guard didn’t have time to turn around. His body instinctively rolled forward to dodge.

When he looked back, Darmanitan had already reached behind him. The fat security guard’s Drizzile lay charred on the ground, and the security guard himself was nowhere to be seen.

“Damn!” The thin security guard cursed. He had never imagined the Darmantan could be this strong.

Even though Darmanitan was a level above Drizzile, with the type advantage, it should have been possible to fight back. Plus, the fat security guard had more than just Drizzile as a Pokémon.

With little time to think, the thin security guard began running in a panic, ordering Charjabug to target Darmanitan with String Shot.

Charjabug, desperately trying to cover for his retreating trainer, threw out white threads with all its might. But as soon as they touched the snowman, they were instantly burned away by the flames surrounding it.

Darmanitan slid across the dirt path, leaving a trail of frost behind it.

The Galarian Darmanitan was originally an Ice-type, but upon entering Zen Mode, it became a dual Fire and Ice-type. In this form, both its Ice and Fire attacks were significantly enhanced, and its speed also increased.

Such an Advanced-level Darmanitan could even rival Pokémon of the Gym-level.

Realizing Charjabug was of no use, the security guard promptly returned it to its Poké Ball. As he ran, he pulled out his communication device and dialed a number.

“Darma!”

Darmanitan refused to relent. The flames on its body burned even brighter, yet a chilling aura emanated from its surface.

As long as it had a target in sight, Darmanitan would chase it to the bitter end.

“Bzzzt!”

The moment the security guard’s call connected, a gust of icy wind swept from behind. His uniform jacket stiffened instantly, growing unbearably heavy.

Pale snowflakes spewed from Darmanitan’s mouth. Ice spread across the security guard’s clothing, expanding rapidly. His voice began to tremble.

"Reporting to the League… We have an escapee at Route 9 Tunnel, and—"

The security guard's voice trailed off as he lost consciousness, his body crumpling to the ground. Most of his body had frozen solid and his words remained unfinished.

On the other end of the line, only a confused voice responded.

"Hello? Is this Route 9 Tunnel security? Hello?"

The communication device trembled slightly.

Darmanitan threw its head back and roared.

“Darmann!!”

Then, it stomped over the device.

When no more movement occurred around it, the furious beast gradually reverted into its harmless, quiet form. 

……

Night had fallen.

On Route 7, east of Hammerlocke, inside the northern forest.

Within this forest, close to the official League road, high-level Pokémon that once dominated the area had already been cleared. Only novice level young Pokémon, meant for new trainers to catch, remained.

A deep purple Purrloin flicked its devilish tail, walking gracefully between the trees before nimbly leaping onto one.

Its eyes shifted, spotting two unfamiliar figures not far away. The Pokémon moved from branch to branch, coming closer and watching the two below.

Marvin gritted his teeth, clutching his injured leg. His bone was likely fractured, and he wouldn't be able to move for a while.

"Zzzz..."

Flames suddenly erupted in front of Marvin, burning fiercely through a pile of collected dry wood.

Shiro cleared the leaves around the pile, setting it up as a spark to ignite the fire.

He then sat by a tree nearby, quietly pulling out a Pokéblock from his bag and feeding it to Rookidee in his arms.

“Hiss!” Marvin gasped, then said, “I never thought you’d actually help me back there...”

“Have you figured it out now?” Shiro looked at Marvin’s large bag and asked in return.

“Ha...” Marvin chuckled, shaking his head, his face covered in dirt.

When the rocks hit him, he had thought he was done for. If he were in Shiro’s position, even if the other person had valuable resources, he would never have helped in such a dangerous situation.

Especially since this person was the source of the crisis.

Marvin rummaged through his large backpack, pulling out a bundle of Pokédollars and tossing them onto the dry leaves about a meter away from the campfire.

"This is all the cash I have on me. It should be what you want. Consider it a compensation for the time lost because of me."

He held his injured leg, his face calm as he continued.

"As for the life I owe you, we’ll talk about that later."

Shiro walked over, picked up the money, lightly tapped it once, then stashed it in his own bag.

The bills were all at least five thousand each, and roughly counting, there were nearly a million Pokédollars.

Shiro nodded, satisfied. Saving this wealthy person would earn him a million Pokédollars —it was worth it.

He gently stroked Rookidee's feathers and then chuckled softly.

"Marvin, what if I wanted to take your life right now? I bet there are still plenty of things in your backpack."

"You could've killed me a long time ago if you wanted to. Why wait until now? Tch..." Marvin gritted his teeth, clutching his leg tightly, then added, "Besides, you’re not even sure if I have any more Pokémon on me, right? I know you're very cautious."

Shiro nodded. Seeing Marvin nearly stumble into a tree from the pain, he pulled out a bone healing medicine from his pocket and waved it in front of him:

"Maybe you need this?"

"Wh..." Marvin barely got a sound out before his eyes locked onto the white bottle of medicine in Shiro's hand.

He quickly asked.

"Is this a medicine from Macro Cosmos? Did you buy it from a black market merchant? How much?"

"If you want it now, one bottle costs 100,000 Pokédollars, no tricks." Shiro held up the bottle, raising one finger.

Selling goods wasn’t about quality, but about whether the customer needed it. As long as there was demand, you could charge whatever you wanted. If Marvin wants it, he'll have to buy it with tears.

"Of course, if you’re short on cash, you can trade Pokémon items or something like that." Shiro kindly added.

But Marvin just casually rummaged through his backpack, pulled out a League card and tossed it directly to Shiro.

"Anonymous League card, 100,000 Pokédollars."

Shiro stood frozen for a few moments before picking up the card, inspecting it closely. He couldn’t tell the difference between this and a registered League card.

"Give me the stuff!" Marvin winced in pain, especially knowing the medicine was right in front of him, making his leg ache even more.

"Mm..." Shiro tossed the medicine over and pocketed the League card.

He hadn’t expected Marvin to be so well off. The money on him seemed endless. He couldn’t figure out why he had become a fugitive, running from something.

"Ah..."

After applying the medicine, Marvin finally let out a long sigh and said to Shiro.

"Hey, buddy. Wanna do something big with me?”

**

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Chapter Text

"With you? Do something big?"

Shiro couldn't imagine what big thing a rookie trainer like him could possibly do. 

For now, he just wanted to live a stable life in Hammerlocke.

"Heh, by the way, I still don't know your name." Marvin wasn't surprised by Shiro's doubt. He continued, "You should already know my identity, right?"

Marvin's identity?

Shiro only knew that Marvin was from Circhester. Even with the added label of being wealthy, Shiro couldn't figure out who this guy really was. The current Gym Leader of Circhester was Melony, an Ice-type trainer.

'For Marvin to be so confident about his name, could he be related to Melony?'

"Shiro." While thinking, Shiro briefly introduced his name, not saying anything further.

"Hahaha, Shiro, your name sounds like someone from Kanto." Marvin leaned forward and spoke with a laugh.

Shiro just shook his head without replying.

The name Shiro's deceased father gave him did indeed sound like it came from Kanto. His father had chosen the name based on his mother's name. His mother had escaped from Kanto and married his dead father.

Shiro's parents didn't have any significant status, nor were they strong trainers. His father had only joined Team Yell through hard work, and was eventually killed by someone's betrayal.

"You should know, that event is about to start. We could try to sabotage it..." Marvin said to him, looking quite excited.

"What event?" Shiro truly didn't understand what this person was talking about.

"Ah! Galar Region's most important event! The Gym Challenge!" Marvin would have stood up and shouted if his leg weren't still hurt. 

"Oh..." Shiro nodded to show he understood, but he still wasn't moved.

He wasn't interested in any Gym Challenges. It didn't concern him. He planned to leave Galar for another region anyway.

"This year's Gym Challenge is generating a lot of hype. There's Leon, personally recommended by Chairman Rose, Raihan from Hammerlocke, Piers, the son of Spikemuth Gym Leader, and Bea, a Karate genius from Stow-on-Side..." Marvin listed the participants, then snorted dismissively. "And there's also a guy from Circhester—Gordie."

At this point, Shiro froze for a moment and tried to ask.

"That Gordie..."

"He's my older brother." Marvin grinned, showing a look of disgust.

"Then what did you do?" Shiro became interested and asked him.

"Me?" Marvin paused. Now he knew that Shiro didn't know him at all.

But Marvin didn't mind. Anyway, Shiro would eventually learn about all of it, so he explained.

"I stole my dad's Pokémon and some money. But that bitch killed my dad..."

After a while, Shiro nodded, understanding the situation.

Melony, the current Gym Leader of Circhester, was married to the town's Gym Leader. They had two sons and a daughter. However, the Gym Leader had somehow adopted a child from somewhere, and it was unclear whether the child was an illegitimate son or something else. They named him Marvin.

Marvin was a year younger than Gordie, the Gym Leader's biological son. The Gym Leader had already given Gordie the letter of endorsement for the Gym Challenge, promising to give Marvin one the next year. However, Gordie failed to even win two Gym Badges the last time he participated.

This year, for some unknown reason, the Gym Leader fell seriously ill, and Melony gave Marvin's endorsement letter to Gordie again.

Melony's remaining son and daughter were still too young to participate in the Gym Challenge. She planned to let Gordie earn the eight badges and compete in the tournament before considering anyone else.

"Who knows what will happen once that idiot gets eight badges? From eight badges to the top eight, and from the top eight to the championship." Marvin gritted his teeth, then quickly let go of the anger. "Anyway, I'm not her son."

Marvin had initially endured this situation, but recently, Melony had been making his life miserable in various ways. The Gym Leader's condition had worsened as well.

"I couldn't take it anymore, so I stole some things and one of my dad's Pokémon. But after I left, that bitch had him killed. The worst part is..." Marvin clenched his fists, clearly furious.

"She accused you of killing the Gym Leader and stealing things to escape?" Shiro guessed.

"Yeah." Marvin nodded, then added, "My bounty is one million Pokédollars, alive or dead. If someone completes the bounty, they'll get Melony's 'special thanks'... Heh."

He sneered. Who didn't know that the stuff on Marvin was worth far more than just one million Pokédollars? It was all about the Pokémon resources he carried.

Shiro roughly understood the situation and nodded slightly, but he didn't respond to Marvin's suggestion about sabotaging the Gym Challenge.

Shiro was well aware of his own limitations, and he knew just how powerful figures like Leon were. If he were an Elite-level trainer, he might... not even consider it and just leave.

Leon, the undefeated champion, had never lost a battle since debuting. Even with Rose's deliberate marketing and promotion, Leon's strength was undeniably impressive, which was why the marketing held up.

Not to mention the other competitors, he alone could easily wipe the floor with two small fries like them.

Leon was at least at the Gym level now—how could two novices possibly win against him?

Shiro kept silent.

"We're not going to take on Leon and the others directly." Marvin winked and pointed toward the north. "Shiro, the Gym Challenge only has five participants, they are not even competing together. And I know better than anyone how weak Gordie is."

"You want to specifically target Gordie? What's his current strength?" Shiro asked, following up.

"Six Pokémon. His strongest is still only Intermediate level. Maybe in two months, Melony will have him evolve one of his Pokémon into an Advanced-level one." Marvin answered truthfully.

"How are we supposed to fight that?" Shiro shook his head decisively.

In two months, Gordie would have an Advanced-level Pokémon, while Shiro would likely only have a Corvisquire. And it would likely be at the Intermediate level at best. 

Unless something miraculous happened, like Rookidee evolving directly into Corviknight, Shiro wouldn't have an Advanced-level Pokémon anytime soon.

Shiro never believed in such things as lucky breaks.

"Haha, of course, we can't beat him now, but in two months, it's a different story." Marvin smiled mysteriously. "I have a way that can bring both of us to at least Intermediate level. That loser Gordie is terrible at commanding Pokémon. We'll easily win."

"What's your method?" Shiro wasn't fully convinced.

"Hehe, Shiro, you just tell me if you're in or not." Marvin looked directly into Shiro's eyes, his gaze flickering with anticipation across the dancing campfire.

"I'm not doing it." Shiro still rejected the offer.

**

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Chapter Text

Even though Shiro and Marvin were sitting across from each other, having a decent conversation, Shiro never forgot that the guy in front of him was just a stranger. 

They hadn't even known each other for a full day. And despite having been through some danger together, the trust level was still too low.

Marvin's words alone weren’t convincing. He spoke in riddles, never explaining the details of his plan or how exactly things would go down.

If Shiro agreed, it would mean sticking with Marvin for the next two months. Marvin would be the one making all the decisions—whether it was disrupting the Gym Challenge or picking fights.

He wasn’t about to gamble his life on a stranger’s promises. And what would even happen after they sabotaged the Gym Challenge? Would they be hunted across the entire region?

"Don't rush to refuse,” Marvin continued, trying to persuade Shiro. “It's a five person Gym Challenge. But as long as one of them gets humiliated on live broadcast—" 

"And after that?" Shiro interrupted.

"Shiro..." Marvin grinned with confidence. "We join Macro Cosmos!"

To prove he wasn’t making things up, Marvin pulled out an official Macro Cosmos emblem and a company-issued communication device from his bag.

‘Join Macro Cosmos?’

Shiro fell into deep thought.

‘So sabotaging the Gym Challenge wasn’t just Marvin’s idea… This had to be coming from Rose himself. But why? Why would he want to interfere with something like this?’

"Leon has to become the champion, and the Gym Leaders aren’t exactly compliant." Marvin lowered his voice. "We're backed by Chairman Rose."

"That does sound pretty tempting." Shiro agreed.

Hearing this, Marvin's eyes lit up.

"But I refuse!" Shiro’s tone shifted in an instant.

……

The next morning.

On Route 7, east of Hammerlocke, many diligent trainers were already out, challenging each other to battles to strengthen their teams.

With the Gym Challenge coming up in two months, every registered League trainer had the right to block participants mid-route, forcing them into battles to prove whether they were worthy of passing.

The entire battle would be streamed live via drones, making it a perfect chance to appear on television.

Who wouldn't want their family to see them looking heroic on TV?

While trainers were gearing up for battle on the wide, dirt road designated by the League, two figures moved swiftly through the forest beyond the grass and sloping terrain.

"If you agree, after entering Hammerlocke, I can get you a job immediately." Marvin kept rambling, still unwilling to give up.

Even after Shiro rejected him last night, Marvin couldn't accept it and was still pestering him to join.

But Shiro had already made up his mind—he would grow stronger on his own. More importantly, he simply didn’t trust Marvin.

"I’ll find a job myself once we reach Hammerlocke," Shiro replied.

"Ugh..." Marvin sighed, realizing he had no way to convince him.

Just ahead, beyond the forest, was the Hammerlocke Bridge.

The bridge, a massive structure made entirely of rare stone, had a deep brown hue and spanned over twenty meters in width.

It was one of Hammerlocke’s iconic landmarks, always bustling with people.

Once they reached the bridge and blended into the crowd, it would be impossible to tell who was a registered League trainer and who was undocumented.

With such heavy foot traffic, there were no security checks either.

Shiro and Marvin stepped onto the bridge, staying close to the railing as they moved along with the crowd.

On both sides of the bridge, several imposing Corviknight stood tall, their trainers shouting to attract passengers.

As a signature Pokémon of Galar, Corviknight was everywhere in the region, leading to the development of an entire industry—Flying Taxi Services.

For a fee, anyone could ride in a carriage carried by Corviknight and travel freely across Galar.

From wealthy elites to low-ranking trainers, everyone preferred this mode of transportation.

"Corv! Corv!"

One Corviknight had just taken on a passenger. As its trainer secured the rider, the massive bird flapped its wings and soared into the sky, leaving a few black feathers drifting to the ground.

The Corviknights used for transportation were all at the peak of the Advanced level, around level 39 or 40. Due to their limited potential, they remained stuck at this awkward level—not strong enough to reach the Gym level but also not weak enough to return to being the ordinary Rookidee seen on the streets.

Most of the trainers who had caught Rookidee early on and trained them into Corviknight found that their primary Pokémon couldn't improve any further and eventually switched to becoming taxi drivers.

For new trainers, Rookidee was easy to catch and could become quite powerful with training. However, the vast majority of Rookidee that were kept as home birds lacked exceptional potential.

Without top-tier resources, once they exhausted their potential and reached their final evolution, their growth stagnated.

Some trainers, unwilling to accept this, forced their Corviknight into dangerous battles, hoping to push them beyond their limits. Yet, only a few managed to succeed. Most ended up injuring their Pokémon, leaving them unable to fly and condemning them to a life of misery.

"Rooki~"

Shiro's Rookidee poked its head out from his coat, then hopped onto his shoulder, gazing longingly at the Corviknight soaring freely in the sky.

As they walked, Shiro and Marvin crossed the bridge and entered the bustling streets of Hammerlocke.

"Alright, Shiro. Let's part ways here. I have something urgent to take care of." Marvin waved at Shiro, then suddenly remembered something and pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. "You'll probably need this."

He handed it to Shiro and made his way toward a nondescript café.

Shiro nodded and took the piece of paper, glancing at it.

It read: F307, Hammerlocke, Black Market.

He casually stuffed the paper into his pocket and continued down the sidewalk, curiously observing the city he was seeing for the first time in person.

Hammerlocke had once been the heart of Galar, a place where heavy machinery technology flourished. Though it had since evolved into a city dominated by electric power and precision technology, the industrial city remained well-preserved, showcasing its historical significance.

The city's layout consisted of two levels. The lower level, accessed through the main southern gate, was a bustling commercial area.

At the end of this level, an industrial elevator could take one up to the upper level, where Shiro was now.

At the heart of the upper level was the Hammerlocke Stadium, also known as the Hammerlocke Gym.

Galar held Pokémon battles in high regard, and many gyms also served as stadiums.

The gym leaders of Hammerlocke had always come from a secretive Dragon Taming family, and Shiro didn’t recognize the current leader or their name.

As Shiro passed the Pokémon Center, glowing with a soft pink light, he decided to head down to the lower level to look for a job.

For official league trainers, presenting their identity cards at the Pokémon Center meant free treatment and accommodation. But for someone like Shiro, getting thrown out was considered a lucky outcome.

Those who could get into the big cities without being caught were usually wanted criminals. Kind-hearted league trainers might even capture them on sight, making sure to check if there was a bounty first.

Shiro needed to find a job and a place to stay as an undocumented citizen.

Officially, there were no options, but getting into the black market in Hammerlocke might provide the answers he needed.

**

**

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Chapter Text

"Whirr~"

The sound of large gears turning echoed in the air as the industrial elevator connecting the lower and upper floors of Hammerlocke began to operate.

This elevator was simply a large square platform with a few railings. Once almost full with passengers, it could be operated by the relevant staff to move.

It was completely free to use and had become a unique feature of Hammerlocke.

Shiro leaned against the edge of the elevator, listening to the casual chatter of the other passengers.

"There are quite a few participants in this Gym Challenge, huh?"

"Compared to before, there are just one or two more..."

"Do you think some people got in by using connections?"

"Who knows? Everyone's true strength will be revealed in battle, haha."

"I wonder if that Leon is really undefeated."

As they spoke, the elevator shook slightly, and everyone arrived at the lower level of Hammerlocke.

The visitors, seemingly from other towns, quickly gathered and walked towards a dessert shop, while Shiro stuck close to the edge of the street, counting the store numbers.

‘209... 301, 302…’

Shiro walked past a clothing store and a flower shop, then paused at the entrance of a narrow alley.

Store number 307 was just ahead, next to the dark alley.

Shiro felt that the alley looked more like the entrance to the black market than the actual store.

"Pokémon Resource Shop..."

Shiro mumbled to himself, stopping by a tall green plant placed as decoration in front of the shop.

The issue was that this shop still had an official Galar League label, suggesting it was meant for League trainers...

He worried that if he went inside, he'd be caught and interrogated about where he came from.

'Is the location Marvin gave me reliable?’

Shiro hesitated.

Just then, a middle-aged man with shiny hair arrived at the store with a young child, about seven or eight years old. The man glanced at Shiro with a look of disdain before pushing the door open and entering.

"Welcome!" The shopkeeper's loud voice was clear and unmistakable to Shiro standing outside.

Peering through the glass door, Shiro saw the middle-aged man browsing the shelves, then heading to the counter to pay.

The door opened again, and the middle-aged man shot a quick glance at Shiro, carrying his items in one hand while pulling the child along with the other, before exiting hastily.

After several days of outdoor travel, Shiro's clothes were covered in mud, his brown coat was a bit dirty, and his hair was messy and tangled. He looked like someone who hadn't had time to tidy up, which made it understandable that people might find him unkempt.

As Shiro pondered whether to go inside, a voice came from within the store.

"Hey! What are you standing outside for, friend? Want to come in and take a look?" The round-faced, chubby shopkeeper peeked his head out from behind the door, waving his hand at Shiro.

The shopkeeper beckoned him inside.

After scanning the shop quickly and confirming that there was no one else except the shopkeeper, Shiro stepped in.

The shopkeeper, tall and nearly two meters in height, had a booming voice. He sat down behind the counter and pointed to a metal door at the far end.

"One thousand Pokédollars."

Shiro's eyes shifted slightly, and he pulled out the money, placing it on the counter. The shopkeeper swiftly took the bills.

Shiro walked confidently toward the metal door and opened it.

Inside was pitch black, and nothing could be seen. Shiro had to hold onto the door handle and stand still, observing his surroundings.

"Hello." A calm, man's voice echoed from nearby.

Suddenly, Shiro felt a sharp pull on the door handle. Before he could react, the metal door slammed shut, dragging him inside.

Shiro instantly gripped the knife hidden in his pocket.

"Don't be afraid. We're very reputable... It seems you've dealt with us before? You're quite sensitive." The voice continued with a snap of fingers echoing through the room.

The lights in the room suddenly turned on.

A figure in a black cloak sat behind a long table, with a chair across from him.

One side of the room was lined with a massive mahogany cabinet, with a black door embedded in its center.

But what truly shocked Shiro was the opposite side—a floor-to-ceiling window revealing a vast, unfamiliar landscape. Below, stretching far beyond his sight, were lush grasslands and vibrant gardens.

This was definitely not Hammerlocke!

The moment that snap sounded, he had been transported elsewhere.

"Psychic power? Teleportation?" Shiro asked in shock as he stood before the window.

"Mm." The cloaked man nodded slightly, then complimented. "Not bad, you caught on quickly. Some people, when they first arrive, start screaming about illegal detention and demand to be sent back. Hahaha..."

Shiro remained silent, stepping forward and taking his seat at the table.

"I expected you to be just as shaken as the others," the man continued, his tone casual.

"This is Macro Cosmos company’s headquarters, isn’t it?" Shiro questioned.

"Correct. And at the same time, the finest trading hub you’ll ever find."

Shiro nodded. He had imagined the black market to be more of a hidden bazaar—people wearing masks to conceal their identities, each setting up their own little stalls for trading.

"It used to be like that," the cloaked man replied, reading his thoughts with psychic power, "but ever since Chairman Rose unified the market, it evolved into a much safer, more efficient, and well-regulated system."

Noticing the wary look in Shiro’s eyes, the man added, "if you don’t want me to listen in, I won’t use my abilities."

"Do people actually enjoy being eavesdropped on?" Shiro retorted.

"Of course! Ever since we started operating, plenty of fugitives have come here for psychological counseling. And we charge for it, mind you... Since you’re a newcomer—"

"Enough. I don’t care whether you’re listening or not. I don’t need counseling. Let’s get to business." Shiro cut him off.

"Very well, my dear sir. You may be in need of a League identity card..." The man got straight to the point.

Shiro narrowed his eyes, skeptical. "A registered League Trainer? You can just buy one?"

"Oh, no, nothing that official. It’s just a civilian identity card. But with this, you’ll no longer be a 'ghost' in the system. You’ll be recognized as a League citizen. If you contribute enough to the League later, you can even register your future children as official trainers."

"How much?" Shiro asked, unable to hide his curiosity.

The so-called "black market" was essentially an all-purpose store backed by Macro Cosmos. With Chairman Rose's support, these trading hubs spread across Galar, offering anything and everything to meet demand while generating massive profits.

Normally, one had to visit a Pokémon Center or a police station to obtain an identity card. But in Galar, you could simply buy one from the black market, likely the only place for someone like him.

"Two hundred thousand Pokédollars," replied the man. "Non-negotiable. Fair price for all."

**

**

**

Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:

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Your support means a lot, thank you!

Chapter Text

"Two hundred thousand Pokédollars for just a regular identity card?"

Shiro was surprised. A civilian card with no special privileges sold for two hundred thousand Pokédollars?

"That's right," the man in a black cloak shrugged. "Standard price. Take it or leave it. We guarantee the card is legitimate. Whether people can afford it isn't our problem. Otherwise, how could so many undocumented people easily become legal citizens?"

Shiro paused for a moment, realizing the underlying issue. "Does this two hundred thousand also cover the removal of criminal records?"

"Of course," the man laughed lightly and continued. "What name do you want? Where do you want to be born? Anything is possible. With this League citizen card, you'll also have legal rights to travel and cross regions."

"I'll buy it." Shiro immediately pulled out the money from his bag, counted it, and placed it on the table.

"Then, what's your new name?" The man took a third of the money.

"Shiro." Shiro decided not to change his name.

"And your hometown?" He took another third of the money.

Shiro hesitated for a moment before replying. 

"Hammerlocke City."

"Good. Here's your card. Keep it safe. If you lose it or damage it, we won't cover the cost. Of course, you can always go to the Pokémon Center or the police station for a replacement. It's not our responsibility." The cloaked figure collected all the money as his arms began to glow with blue light.

After a brief spatial distortion, he spread his arms, and a grayish-white alloy card materialized on the table before him.

Shiro carefully picked it up and examined it.

The front of the card displayed the Galar region's Corviknight symbol. The back showed Shiro's personal information and photo, but there was no birthdate. The age shown was seventeen.

Shiro looked at the man with a hint of doubt.

He hadn't mentioned his age to the man, and to be honest, he himself didn't know how old he was.

"Psychic power detection, completely authentic," the man explained. Then he added, "Do you need a Pokémon with better potential? To be frank, other than the Gastly bought from us, the talent of that Rookidee is quite average."

"Rooki-dee!"

Rookidee, hidden in Shiro's coat, popped out and landed on the table, fiercely chirping at the dealer.

"Its courage is commendable," the man remarked as Shiro recalled Rookidee back into its Pokéball. He continued, "What do you think? Want to buy a Pokémon with better potential?"

"No need, I can't afford it. Rookidee is just fine for now." Shiro tightened his grip on the Pokéball, ready to leave.

"Then perhaps you need some resources to train your Pokémon?" The man slowly waved his arms, and between the light of psychic energy, images of various Pokémon items and resources appeared.

......

After a long while, another finger snap echoed.

The room suddenly went dark, and Shiro was instantly back at the metal door, holding the doorknob.

He twisted the doorknob and stepped out of the room.

The Pokémon shop was still empty. The shopkeeper sat at the counter, resting his chin on his hand, looking like he was about to fall asleep.

Along with buying the identity card, Shiro also bought some resources beneficial to Gastly and Rookidee.

For Gastly, Shiro purchased several ghost-type energy crystals, each priced at ten thousand Pokédollars. He bought ten in total, planning to enhance Gastly's ghost-type abilities.

When training dual-type Pokémon, trainers usually focus on one type to improve the Pokémon's control over its energy and abilities. The other type is typically used for type advantages and broadening the range of effective moves.

Gastly and its evolutions are Ghost and Poison dual-type Pokémon, and Shiro hadn't considered strengthening its Poison abilities.

Both Haunter and Gengar have large tongues and like licking their trainers. Even though a Pokémon can control the production of toxins, Shiro wasn't willing to take the risk. He had no particular interest in the Poison type anyway.

Shiro also bought a berry that could enhance Rookidee's potential—Fly Berry. The black market dealer claimed it was a research product from Macro Cosmos, cultivated through specific breeding techniques.

Such highly specialized berries with corresponding attribute traits were very rare, and some of the cultivation methods were even irreproducible.

For this, the man charged him five hundred thousand Pokédollars.

Shiro's one million Pokédollars fortune quickly dwindled to around two hundred thousand Pokédollers.

Training Pokémon was expensive, but for Shiro, money was meant to be spent. He didn't enjoy hoarding it. Once his Pokémon were strong enough, he could either sell wild Pokémon or participate in competitions to make more money.

"Hey! Shiro!" The sleepy shopkeeper suddenly opened his eyes and called out to Shiro.

Shiro froze, then quickly realized that the shopkeeper had already accessed his identity information from the League card.

"Quick action there..." The shopkeeper rummaged through his drawer. "But you still haven't picked up something."

As Shiro wondered what it could be, the shopkeeper suddenly pulled some money—one thousand Pokédollars, the exact amount Shiro had given earlier.

The shopkeeper then slid the money across the counter and resumed his position, resting his chin on his hand and casually explained.

"Just a security deposit, of course. I'll return it when it's time. We're a reputable place."

Shiro gave a slight nod, pocketing the money before pushing the door open and stepping onto the street.

Now that he had secured his identity, he could freely use normal shops and public facilities without the constant fear of being discovered as an illegal citizen. 

With the League card, he could pay a small fee to use the Pokémon Center's services. Though it wasn't as good as the free access granted to registered trainers, it was still quite convenient.

Shiro then found a clothing store, and after presenting his identity card, the shop assistant greeted him warmly and began making recommendations. Once he'd tried on a few outfits, the assistant led him deeper into the store, explaining that customers who purchased clothes could use their free shower and changing facilities.

After all, many trainers spend long periods out in the wilderness and need to buy new clothes, take a shower, and change when they occasionally return. The store had combined all of these services—just a few extra showers, simple, and low-cost.

Shiro changed into a pair of dark gray pants and a windbreaker. The interior lining was pure black and made from high-quality materials, carefully crafted with Pokémon fur. The entire outfit cost him just over a thousand Pokédollars. 

Now, carrying a bag and walking down the street, Shiro looked every bit like a relaxed young traveler, far from the image of an illegal resident.

After asking around and observing the area, he stopped in front of a store with a blue sign and walked in confidently.

The sign read: "Hammerlocke Recruitment Agency."

**

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Chapter Text

Job recruitment and hiring in the Galar region were not separate processes.

Chairman Rose had centralized the system. If a business in a large town needed staff, it had to submit its hiring request to the recruitment agency. 

The agency would then handle the announcements, candidate selection, and hiring process.

Through these agencies, getting a job didn’t require any form of ID. Applicants might need to pass certain work-related assessments and could choose to accept or decline the job. Any necessary identity verification was already handled within the agency.

Because of this, if someone without proper identification wanted to find work, the agency would not only charge a referral fee but also take two-thirds of their wages.

Without an identity, some people had it worse than slaves.

That was why most undocumented individuals chose to work in the Wild Areas, taking on dangerous tasks that didn’t require an ID or a reduced paycheck.

But Shiro wanted a relatively stable job for the next few months. He also had an identity card, so he came to the recruitment agency to find suitable work.

The Hammerlocke recruitment agency wasn’t very big. Upon entering, Shiro saw a several meter long silver-white counter. On both sides stood large touchscreen machines, their functions unclear.

"Welcome! Sir, please present your identity card." A tall female clerk gave a slight bow as she spoke.

Shiro took out his brand-new ID and handed it over. After verifying it, she inserted the card into a slot on the counter.

As the indicator light turned green, the clerk smiled and handed the ID card back to Shiro with both hands.

"Sir, you can use the equipment here to check relevant information," the female clerk said, gesturing toward one of the large machines on the side. "You can select the job you like. After submitting your information and preferred time, you can prepare to go to the corresponding location for the assessment."

Receiving the card, Shiro walked over to the machine on the right side and pressed the start button.

The machine's screen lit up, and a row of black text quickly appeared on the crystal-clear blue background.

[Welcome, Mr. Shiro. Please make your selection.]

The screen was neatly organized into detailed categories based on profession, working hours, and benefits. The information was all directly from the job positions, ensuring authenticity, with no misleading details. If any position was found to deceive the job seekers, it would be flagged in the system as such.

Rose's unified recruitment policy, while harsher on illegal citizens, made everything else much simpler, more transparent, and trustworthy.

Shiro’s fingers slid across the screen as he browsed through the listings, ultimately selecting three job options.

[Hammerlocke Affairs Office: Now hiring street cleaners for Hammerlocke. No limit on the number of positions. Monthly salary: 30,000 Pokédollars.]

[Hammerlocke Trainer School: Looking for a teacher with rich knowledge of both Pokémon theory and practical skills. Requirements: A deep understanding of Pokémon types, abilities, and moves, including knowledge of Pokémon from regions outside of Galar. Previous experience is preferred. No specific requirements for trainer levels. The school provides three meals a day and accommodations. Monthly salary: 15,000 to 20,000 Pokédollars(depending on ability). Interested applicants can go to the Hammerlocke Trainer School for an assessment.]

[Hammerlocke Stadium: In partnership with Macro Cosmos, looking to hire sparring partners. All Pokémon species and strengths are welcome as long as they are the strongest of their kind. The facility is available for free training daily. Interested applicants can go to Hammerlocke Stadium for an assessment. Monthly Salary: 20,000 Pokédollars (base salary) plus a 20% commission.]

Shiro was very interested in these three positions.

The first, the street cleaner, offered a high salary and relatively short working hours. The job required cleaning the streets between 4:00 and 5:00 AM every day, with Pokémon assistance allowed for cleaning.

Due to its unglamorous nature, street cleaning in Hammerlocke had always struggled with a shortage of workers. This forced the City to hire people from the Macro Cosmos every day to do the job, which was costly, and the wages for cleaning staff had been rising steadily.

The second position, teaching, was the most sought-after job. Not only did it come with free accommodation and meals, but the teaching load was also light. However, the requirements for the job were high, and the examination process was strict.

The third position, as a sparring partner, was a professional role at the Hammerlocke Stadium, designed to meet the needs of trainers coming to Hammerlocke. The job required someone to be the strongest in a particular Pokémon species, with no restrictions on the type. Whether it was a Rookidee or a Blipbug, the best of the species would be chosen to act as the sparring partner.

All three jobs had their clear pros and cons, but Shiro was most interested in the sparring partner position.

Unlike the painful sparring sessions at the Spikemuth Gym, this professional sparring was about giving it your all to defeat your opponent.

In Galar, trainers entered the stadiums to improve themselves and pursue victory. Choosing a sparring partner meant selecting an opponent of similar strength. Due to Galar's tradition of battling, if a challenger lost, they would have to pay an additional fee directly to the sparring partner.

Finding a sparring partner at the stadium was essentially a losing business, but many trainers were eager to participate.

In such conditions, it was easier to tap into one's potential and strive for improvement.

However, as much as Shiro liked the sparring job, the question of whether his Rookidee could be considered the strongest among its peers remained unanswered.

"Let's take the sparring partner job," Shiro decided, feeling confident in both himself and Rookidee.

He had yet to use the Fly Berry he bought for Rookidee, and the Exp. Candies he got from Marnie were also not completely used up. There was still plenty of room for Rookidee to grow.

As for Gastly, only one Pokémon could be chosen as the representative for the sparring job. Since having more than one would create time conflicts, and the stadium could not afford to delay customers.

Gastly would just focus on training and improving its strength.

The screen on the machine flickered, and after inputting the information, Shiro selected the time for the assessment.

It would be three days later, at 10 AM.

He would need some time to find a place to rent and train Rookidee.

[Thank you for your visit. Please pay the official processing fee of 100 Pokédollars.] the machine's voice spoke.

The female clerk walked over, took the money from Shiro, and then bowed respectfully as she saw him off.

……

Shiro quickly found a standalone house in the western corner of the lower level of Hammerlocke. It cost 10,000 Pokédollars per month.

There were cheaper apartments available, costing only a few hundred Pokédollars a month. However, the conditions inside were poor, with outdated furniture and infrastructure that hadn’t been replaced in years. The space was too small, and Rookidee wouldn’t even be able to fly inside.

Since he could afford the higher rent, after careful consideration, Shiro chose the standalone house.

He wasn't the type to put himself in difficult situations, and having money while living uncomfortably seemed pointless to him.

At the same time, Shiro had been exhausted by the past few days of living in the wild. Now that he had a proper home, he could finally sleep comfortably.

After a quick inspection of the two-story house, he made his way to the second floor bedroom. Once inside, he locked the door and sank onto the bed with relief.

He then released Gastly and Rookidee from their Poké Balls, taking care to set out their Pokéblocks and prepare comfortable spots where they could rest.

Both he and his Pokémon needed to recover their energy for the upcoming training and battles.

**

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Chapter Text

Shiro slept soundly until the next day.

As the sun began to rise, casting a red glow over Hammerlocke City, the Corviknights flying overhead started calling out.

The beige curtains in the bedroom glowed faintly, the light spilling onto Shiro’s face. He instinctively opened his eyes, feeling more refreshed than ever before.

Swoosh!

The curtains were drawn open, and the soft morning light touched the face of Rookidee nestled in its small bed. It groggily opened its eyes and met Shiro’s gaze.

"Time to get up and train!" Shiro said, lifting the drowsy Rookidee and pulling Gastly out of its cozy spot.

“Gaassss~”

Gastly yawned widely, revealing its small fangs.

After a while, Shiro had finished washing up, shaving off the newly grown stubble and splashing his face with some water. He then headed out with Gastly and Rookidee.

The streets had already been cleaned by the employees of Macro Cosmos. The cobblestone road, dark and smooth, carried the faint scent of damp earth.

Shiro jogged all the way from the west side of Hammerlocke to main street, entering a restaurant that opened early.

By now, he was sweating and hungry.

After spending a little over a hundred Pokédollars on a simple meal, both Rookidee and Gastly were fed with Pokéblocks.

Shiro was now ready to head to the Hammerlocke Stadium and train in the professional training facility inside.

Taking the elevator to the upper level of Hammerlocke, he walked straight ahead and saw the large bronze doors standing tall, with the Pokémon Center operating 24/7 right beside it.

This was the entrance to the Hammerlocke Stadium. 

It was only a little past six in the morning, but the area was already bustling with trainers. 

After a quick glance around, Shiro stepped inside. The entrance led into a towering, arched corridor. At the far end, two trainers in white uniforms stood like security guards—which, in fact, they were.

A bronze-colored barrier stretched across the end of the corridor, positioned just behind the two security guards. Beyond it lay the entrance to the Hammerlocke Gym—accessible only to trainers participating in the Gym challenge.

On either side of the corridor, deep blue, semi-transparent automatic doors lined the walls. Each door led to an elevator, and every elevator had a registration desk manned by an attendant who checked trainers’ ID cards before granting access.

Shiro casually approached one of the elevators on the left and handed his card to a burly man in a white uniform.

“Training or looking for a sparring partner?” The man swiped the card and began typing on a nearby computer.

“Training.”

“There are three levels of training rooms—basic, intermediate, and advanced. The basic room is shared, while the intermediate and advanced rooms are private. Prices are 100, 300, and 500 Pokédollars per hour, respectively. Pick a level and duration, then pay up. We take cards.”

The man rattled off the details with practiced efficiency before pausing to await Shiro’s response.

“Intermediate. Five hours.”

After processing the payment, the man tapped a few keys before waving Shiro forward.

Shiro wasn’t entirely sure about the differences between the training levels, but he preferred privacy over sharing space with others. Five hours would also align well with his schedule—just in time for a meal afterward.

Taking the elevator to the designated floor, he stepped into a long hallway.

On one side, old-fashioned bronze-framed windows offered a sweeping view of half of Hammerlocke. On the other, rows of training room doors lined the wall, each accessible by swiping an ID card.

If a room was occupied, a red indicator light would flash outside, preventing access. But at this early hour, most rooms were empty. Shiro picked one at random and entered.

Inside, he ascended a short flight of stairs before stepping into the main training area. 

The space was unexpectedly large—five meters high and spanning over a hundred square meters, far more spacious than it seemed from the outside.

At the center stood several movable alloy Pokémon dummies, meant for target practice.

A horizontal bar was fixed three meters up, providing a perch for Flying-type Pokémon. Various weight-training equipment filled the corners. There were also free water and rations stored in the refrigerator and cabinets, available for trainers to take as needed

"Come out, Rookidee, Gastly!"

After surveying the room, Shiro retrieved the Poké Balls and released his Pokémon.

"Rooki!"

Rookidee, feeling stifled inside the Poké Ball, immediately flapped up to the horizontal beam on the wall, curiously scanning its surroundings. As a young Pokémon that had yet to complete any of its two evolutionary stages, it naturally preferred to be outside.

"Gaaas!"

Gastly, on the other hand, was visibly excited. It wobbled forward and crashed into the metallic Pokémon target in the center of the room, only to bounce right off.

The alloy models were designed with Advanced-level Pokémon in mind, sturdy enough to withstand multiple attacks from even Gym-level Pokémon. Given Gastly's current strength, even if it attacked all day, it might not even scratch the metal.

"Rookidee, Gastly!" Shiro called them over. 

"Rookidee, your training will focus on Flying-type moves—Air Cutter. The goal is to be able to conjure two wind blades simultaneously within two seconds."

"Rooki-dee!"

Rookidee nodded and took to the air, beginning its move practice.

Right now, it took over three seconds just to form a single Air Cutter, so before attempting to release two at once, it first needed to reduce that charge time as much as possible.

"Gastly!" Shiro barely finished speaking before Gastly excitedly floated in front of him, grinning widely.

To Gastly, this all felt like just another game.

Shiro paused for a moment, then gave it a nearly impossible task.

"Gastly, your goal is to fully form a Shadow Ball. Ideally, you should be able to release one within three seconds."

"Gas...?" Gastly's mouth fell open, and its purple ghostly mist briefly receded inward. Hearing such a difficult challenge, it became a little reluctant to train.

But a quick glance at Shiro's firm gaze and another at Rookidee, diligently practicing, made it reconsider. Without further hesitation, Gastly began trying.

Shadow Ball was a high-level Ghost-type move with significant power. However, for the Novice-level Gastly, it was incredibly difficult to execute. Forget launching it—just managing to barely form a Shadow Ball would already drain all its energy.

This was a matter of raw strength, not something Gastly could achieve just by sheer effort alone.

Still, training would allow it to become more familiar with the move and its energy flow, building experience and strength over time. Failure was inevitable, but without failure, how could it ever become stronger?

With his Pokémon set on their respective tasks, Shiro strapped on a 20-kilogram weight and began doing push-ups and squat jumps within the training room.

In the Pokémon world, the greatest threats were often other humans.

Some individuals possessed special abilities, while others had undergone extreme training, developing physical prowess on par with high-level Pokémon.

Strength was the foundation of survival. 

Shiro aspired to one day single-handedly take down an Onix or go head-to-head with a Machamp, effortlessly shrugging off their attacks.

Even if he lacked the talent to reach that level, improving his physical fitness beyond that of an ordinary person was still worthwhile.

**

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Chapter Text

About three hours later, Shiro was so exhausted he could barely move. He simply lay on the ground, watching Rookidee train with full concentration in midair.

Rookidee’s proficiency with Air Cutter was improving rapidly. After many attempts, it had shortened the time needed to form the attack to around a second. However, trying to conjure two wind blades at once was still beyond its ability, its control over Flying-type energy wasn’t quite there yet.

Meanwhile, Gastly, who had initially wanted to be lazy, was inspired to give its all when seeing Shiro push himself so hard. But after just a few attempts, it ended up completely drained and collapsed onto the ground.

Using a move beyond its level consumed far too much energy.

Shiro decided to take out all the Pokéblocks he had, piling them up against the wall so Gastly could eat whenever it got hungry.

Under this intense training, Gastly’s proficiency with Shadow Ball was improving at a visible rate. If not for its current limitations—mainly a lack of raw power—it might have already been able to launch the attack with ease.

Yet despite the struggle, Gastly seemed captivated. It refused to give up on Shadow Ball, obsessing over the move.

Seeing this, Shiro reminded it that it didn’t need to make the Shadow Ball so large, it could use smaller versions for attacks instead.

That simple suggestion seemed like a revelation for the not-so-bright Gastly. Excited, it quickly formed a series of Shadow Balls, each about the size of a human fist, and hurled them at the alloy training dummies.

That counted as completing the task, in a way.

Gastly’s talent was clearly far superior to Rookidee’s. Not only did it inherently know more moves, but its control and understanding of energy developed at a much faster rate.

In other words, its elemental affinity was extremely high.

Shiro even suspected that Gastly was already on the verge of reaching the Beginner level. The pile of Pokéblocks he had placed against the wall had been devoured at an alarming rate, nearly an entire week's worth of food gone in no time.

"Roo-ki-dee!"

Noticing Gastly’s progress, Rookidee trained even harder. No matter what, it refused to fall behind its teammate.

But some gaps simply couldn't be closed with effort alone.

"Rookidee, come down and rest for a bit." Shiro leaned against the wall, calling out to it.

Rookidee was already panting heavily, its yellow belly fluff rising and falling with each breath. It had been training so hard that even the blue feathers on its back had started shedding, scattered across the floor.

Yet it still hadn't mastered conjuring two wind blades at once. To Rookidee, Flying-type energy felt like two spinning iron balls—one wrong move, and they slipped out of control.

“Rooki…deeeh..."

It wobbled midair, flapping weakly before finally tumbling to the ground in front of Shiro.

It had actually been at its limit for a while, pushing itself purely through willpower.

"Rookidee!" Shiro quickly scooped it up, crushed a few Pokéblocks into water, and fed it. Then he placed a Flyberry—the one he had bought off the black market—by its beak.

Shiro had taken time to ask several league trainers about recovery methods. They all said that feeding a Pokémon special berries right after exhausting training yielded the best results.

After eating, Rookidee curled up into a small ball.

Shiro gently stroked its feathers, planning to feed it the remaining Exp. Candies once it woke up.

Right now, Rookidee had just reached the Beginner-level, around Level 11. If everything went as expected, it should be able to reach Level 16 or 17 in the next three days, right on the verge of evolution.

Its rapid growth was partly because of its low level and the abundance of resources Shiro was pouring into it.

Once training was done in these three days, and it had sharpened its moves a bit more, it would be ready to evolve.

Shiro had also thought about Rookidee’s future at the Hammerlocke Stadium after evolving. 

At Level 16 or 17, it would probably be the strongest among its kind there. But once it evolved into Corvisquire, that wouldn't be the case anymore. There were bound to be many Advanced-level Corvisquire competing for the position, all over Level 30. A freshly evolved one wouldn’t stand a chance.

By then, Shiro could only swap it out for another training partner—Gastly.

With its superior talent, Gastly would probably reach a similar level by the time Rookidee evolved, giving it some solid battle strength.

……

Afternoon.

After quickly having a meal at a nearby restaurant, Shiro returned to the training room, diving straight back into his training.

Rookidee, having eaten the Fly Berry, had already woken up and was full of energy, chirping and eager to train.

Bang!

In the training room, Rookidee flapped its wings in mid-air. The surrounding air visibly condensed, quickly transforming into two wind blades that slashed toward the metallic target.

It had mastered the flying-type energy much better than in the morning. Not only did it effortlessly create two wind blades, but after just a few more tries, it successfully formed a third one.

Rookidee trained tirelessly, enjoying the rapid growth of its strength. Ever since Shiro fed it the Fly Berry, its body had become noticeably lighter and more agile.

Bang, bang, bang...

Four or five small Shadow Balls shot from Gastly, flying in a orderly fashion and hitting various parts of the metallic target.

“Gaa-gaa-gastly!”

Gastly giggled, floating next to Rookidee and showing off.

Rookidee glanced at Gastly with its red eyes but didn’t pay it any mind. Gastly felt a strange chill run through it, as if a cold breeze had blown by. It shrank back, nervously calling out.

“Gaasss~”

Gastly, feeling slightly intimidated, backed down.

It had lost to Rookidee the last time they fought. Now, Rookidee was already at a higher level, faster, and had moves that could actually deal damage to it. There was no way it could win.

Besides, Gastly could feel that if it kept showing off in front of Rookidee, it would be caught and beaten up.

Seeing Gastly give up so quickly, Rookidee didn’t bother with it anymore and continued training on its own.

At this time, Shiro was carrying a weight of several dozen kilograms, pushing himself through his exercises with great effort.

Gastly, who wanted to slack off, looked around, feeling a strange sense of guilt. It decided to continue training as well. In this atmosphere, both people and Pokémon were slowly but steadily improving their strength.

The evening soon arrived.

The training room's timers signaled that Shiro's session was up. The machines began flashing and beeping, reminding him that it was time to renew his session.

But Shiro, along with Rookidee and Gastly, had already been training for over ten hours. 

Although Rookidee and Gastly still had plenty of energy and claimed they could keep going, Shiro was concerned that they might overstrain themselves and cause injury.

Training could become addictive, but taking appropriate breaks was necessary to maximize efficiency and avoid harm.

So, Shiro recalled his Pokémon, quickly tidied up his things, and left the training room with his bag.

In the hallway outside, several trainers were leaning against the wide copper windows, gazing out at the city of Hammerlocke and chatting casually.

"Hey, Shiro, you're done already?" A man in an orange-red tight training suit with curly hair waved at him from near the window. His name was Hugo. Shiro had spoken with him earlier in the day and had asked him about the recovery method for Pokémon.

"Yeah, I finished training for today. Hugo, I’m heading out." Shiro waved back.

Hugo nodded, watching Shiro take the elevator down, then returned to his conversation with his companions.

**

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Chapter Text

Evening in Hammerlocke. 

Near the bronze gate of the Stadium, a muscular man wearing only a short-sleeved shirt stood by the arched passageway, holding a handwritten sign with one hand. Any passing trainer would inevitably notice him.

He stood silently, scanning the trainers that came and went.

The sign read: Battle Arena - Current Champion: 7 Consecutive Wins.

It wasn’t unusual for trainers to set up battle arenas with prizes. It happened frequently in the Stadium. However, standing so boldly at the entrance like this man was rare.

The Hammerlocke Stadium was full of powerful trainers, so it was only a matter of time before someone came to challenge him and sent him straight to the Pokémon Center.

As time passed, some curious trainers approached and began discussing the situation.

"Hey! What's the battle format? Are there any restrictions on Pokémon?" one of them asked.

Hearing this, the muscular man flipped the sign around, revealing another line of text.

Only Pokémon at the Novice level. Battles will be held in the public training area.

"What the hell?" The trainer who had asked scoffed. "No wonder he’s still standing here after all this time. Only novice level? He must be crazy."

"If he were crazy, he wouldn’t have won seven times in a row." Another trainer chimed in. "I saw him here yesterday. He fought once and left right after. He’s using a novice level Dragon-type Pokémon, and he only battles once per day."

"What?" The first trainer frowned, sizing up the silent man. "And people actually accept the challenge?"

"The prize is a Salamence Dragon Scale… and if you lose, you only pay 1,000 Pokédollars."

"Whoa!" The trainer exclaimed, drawing the attention of others passing by.

Shiro was among them.

He quietly followed the crowd, listening to the discussion.

If the level restriction had been higher, he wouldn’t have considered it. But since the arena was limited to the Novice level, it actually broadened the range of potential challengers.

A trainer might not have a high-level Pokémon, but finding a Novice-level one was easy—just catching one in the wild would do.

His Rookidee couldn’t participate, but Gastly could.

This was the perfect opportunity for Gastly to get some battle experience. Even though Shiro had no immediate use for a Dragon Scale, losing would only cost him 1,000 Pokédollars, which wasn’t much.

As more trainers gathered, they bombarded each other with questions, leading to an explanation of why the prize was so valuable.

Salamence was a Dragon-type Pokémon that required level 50 or higher to reach its final evolution. That meant any Dragon Scale it shed came from an Elite-level Salamence at minimum.

Dragon-type Pokémon were sought after by wealthy collectors and ambitious trainers alike. They not only had far superior physical abilities compared to other Pokémon at the same level but also boasted advantageous typings. 

At this point in time, Fairy-types hadn’t been discovered yet, making Dragons one of the strongest typings, only weak to Ice.

Their growth potential also far exceeded that of ordinary Pokémon. Most could evolve two times, and by their final stage, they typically reached Gym-level.

Rookidee, for example. Even after evolving into Corviknight, it would only reach Advanced-level at best. A Rookidee without outstanding talent had zero room for further growth after its final evolution. It could never break past its limits.

Meanwhile, even the weakest Dragon Pokémon could rely on their superior species advantage to stay ahead, even when their potential was fully tapped.

Only non-Dragon pseudo-legendaries could match them. However, most pseudo-legendaries were already Dragon-type. These Pokémon were the closest thing to Legendary Pokémon in terms of power.

For someone to offer such a prize, the man running the arena had to be from Hammerlocke’s Dragon Taming family.

"Anyone up for a battle?"

For the first time, the man spoke. His voice was deep and heavy.

After reading the challenge requirements, the gathered trainers quickly learned which Pokémon he was using—a Novice-level peak Jangmo-o, which would eventually evolve into Kommo-o.

It's clear that this battle arena was set up to help his Jangmo-o reach the next level.

Dragon-type Pokémon, especially pseudo-legendaries, had slow growth rates to match their immense potential. Battling was the best way to help them grow stronger and evolve.

"I'll do it."

Before anyone else could respond, Shiro stepped forward.

Some trainers hesitated. Jangmo-o was far too strong for most Novice-level Pokémon, which were still in their baby forms. The trainers who did have capable Pokémon had carefully selected ones with outstanding potential, and they feared that pushing them into such a fierce battle could negatively impact their future growth.

But Shiro had no such concerns.

He only had one Pokémon available for battle—Gastly. It could fly and was immune to Normal-type moves, which meant most Novice-level Pokémon wouldn't even be able to touch it.

At this level, the only dangerous move Jangmo-o might know was Dragon Tail, which was a melee attack. As long as Gastly avoided it, victory was entirely possible.

"Alright! This way, my friend."

Seeing someone step up, the muscular man immediately put away his sign and walked into the Hammerlocke Stadium alongside Shiro.

Among the trainers left behind, some regretted missing the chance, while others remained skeptical. But the majority followed along, eager to see how strong this Jangmo-o really was, and just how powerful this man could be.

The crowd surged through the bronze gate and headed toward the public training area on the right. The muscular man greeted the receptionist at the entrance before leading them inside. He had already rented a battle zone in advance.

Shiro followed closely. After walking through a long passage, the sound of battles and shouting suddenly filled his ears.

The Hammerlocke basic training area was less of a training area and more of a public battleground.

Under a 15-meter-high ceiling, rows of battlefields stretched as far as the eye could see. The deep blue flooring, made of a special reinforced material, was divided by simple white lines.

Each battlefield was equipped with two tall metal pillars on either side. Trainers could scan their ID cards at these pillars, which would then activate psychic energy barriers, forming an oval-shaped protective shield around the entire battlefield.

Once a battle ended, either trainer could remove their ID card to deactivate the barrier.

This setup, with its advanced technology and heavy investment, clearly bore the mark of Macro Cosmos Corporation.

The muscular man quickly led Shiro to an open battlefield. Both of them inserted their ID cards into the pillars, and soon, a crowd of onlookers gathered around the psychic barrier to watch.

With a smooth motion, the man pulled out a black and yellow Ultra Ball and held it in his hand.

"My name is Rylan, and my Pokémon is Jangmo-o."

With a single throw, the Ultra Ball burst open in midair, releasing a small golden-scaled dragon onto the battlefield.

Jangmo-o landed firmly on all fours and let out a sharp cry.

"Jangmo-o!"

**

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Chapter Text

"I’m Shiro, and my Pokémon is Gastly!"

With a confident declaration, Shiro reached for his Poké Ball and tossed it onto the battlefield.

The red and white ball opened, and out came a dark, ghostly figure surrounded by swirling purple gas—Gastly.

After some training, Gastly had also reached the peak of Novice-level, placing it at a similar strength to Jangmo-o.

"Gastly!" The surrounding trainers began murmuring.

"Gastly in Galar is quite rare, and this one seems to have impressive potential."

"I originally thought he was just a dumb kid eyeing the dragon scales, but now it's hard to say who will win..."

"Hmph, this Jangmo-o isn't like the others. Have you seen its scales? Regular Jangmo-o don’t have shiny golden ones like that. Clearly, it's been bred with lots of Dragon-type resources and has extraordinary talent."

Some trainers still didn’t think much of Gastly, shaking their heads at the Ghost-type Pokémon.

The noise from the onlookers grew louder and louder, drawing the attention of other trainers already engaged in battles.

However, it didn't interfere with Shiro and his opponent inside the psychic barrier.

Rylan's presence was intimidating—years of grueling training had sculpted his body into pure muscle. His Jangmo-o, though young, was equally impressive—its golden scales and strong limbs clearly indicated its physical strength, with even some muscles visible under its scales.

Gastly, on the other hand, hovered in the air, unconcerned with its opponent who couldn’t even fly.

"Jangmo-o! Jump up, Dragon Tail!" Rylan commanded, taking the initiative to start the battle, his arm swinging in sync with his order.

As Shiro had predicted, Jangmo-o’s only viable attack was Dragon Tail—a physical move. 

But Jangmo-o wasn’t like the typical Novice-level Pokémon; it was surprisingly agile. The young dragon leaped effortlessly into the air, soaring up to six or seven meters to meet Gastly, its tail glowing with a purple light at the tip.

"Gastly, keep floating higher!" Shiro quickly responded.

Gastly sensed the immediate danger and subconsciously followed the command, soaring a few meters higher, rising all the way to the top of the psychic barrier.

Jangmo-o, unable to gain any more height, missed with its Dragon Tail, which only swept through the spot where Gastly had been moments earlier. 

The young dragon landed heavily back on the battlefield.

Gastly, still shaken from the close call, stared wide-eyed at the scene. Seeing its bewilderment, Shiro shouted,

"Gastly! The opponent is strong! Use Shadow Ball!"

Gastly snapped out of its daze at Shiro’s call, eyeing Jangmo-o with renewed wariness. Several small shadowy spheres of ghostly energy began to quickly form beside Gastly’s body.

Meanwhile, Jangmo-o wasn’t idle. Rylan knew his Pokémon couldn’t reach Gastly’s current altitude but had a plan to close the gap.

"Jangmo-o! Use Dragon Tail, go higher!"

Upon hearing the command, Jangmo-o swung its tail downward with immense force, causing the ground to shake with a resounding roar.

The dust from the impact obscured Jangmo-o’s figure for a moment, and the audience couldn’t track its movements.

The power of the Dragon Tail launched Jangmo-o upward, only slowing down noticeably after rising to a height of eight or nine meters. By then, it was already dangerously close to Gastly in mid-air.

"Gaassss!"

Gastly let out a sharp cry, its ghostly gas swirling violently around it as it saw its opponent closing in.

Fueled by instinct and adrenaline, Gastly’s potential surged. The five small Shadow Balls it had prepared fired at Jangmo-o in quick succession, their dark energy spiraling toward the dragon.

"Counter with Dragon Tail!" Rylan yelled.

Jangmo-o launched another Dragon Tail while in mid-air. The powerful purple energy pierced through two dark Shadow Balls, causing two crisp explosions.

However, the remaining three Shadow Balls dodged the Dragon Tail and hit Jangmo-o's body directly.

Jangmo-o let out a pained cry, its body plummeting rapidly from the force of the Shadow Balls. The earlier Dragon Tail that had instinctively aimed to end the battle with Gastly also veered off course.

Another loud rumble shook the battlefield, but Jangmo-o merely shook its head and stood up, glaring at Gastly in mid-air.

"Jangmo-o’s strength is insane! Its defense, speed, and overall physical qualities far exceed Gastly’s!" The trainers watching voiced their shock. 

Jangmo-o's strength as a Novice-level Pokémon had already surpassed everyone's expectations. 

"No wonder Rylan chose dragon scales as the prize. He never considered the possibility of losing!" A trainer who had considered challenging Rylan sighed, "Gastly is good, but… it can't even afford to take one hit from Jangmo-o.”

Inside the barrier, Shiro’s body tensed as he clenched his fists.

He knew all too well that it was highly unfair for Gastly, or any Novice-level Pokémon, to battle Jangmo-o. The physical prowess of Jangmo-o was overwhelmingly superior.

If not for Gastly’s Levitate ability and its Ghost typing, a regular Novice-level Pokémon would have been defeated in one move.

But Gastly still had a chance to win.

“Gastly! Hypnosis!" Shiro growled urgently after Jangmo-o hit the ground.

Hypnosis was a low-level Psychic-type move, and Gastly could easily learn it.

Hypnosis was an incredibly useful and crucial control move in any battle. If it hit, Gastly would at least have a few chances to freely attack.

Rylan understood this as well and immediately instructed Jangmo-o to avoid it.

"Jangmo-o! Use Tackle to move!"

Jangmo-o, already incredibly fast, accelerated further using Tackle, charging through the battlefield in random directions, leaving most of the spectators unable to track its exact position.

Gastly in the air was also struggling to keep up with Jangmo-o's erratic movements.

Although it was stronger in terms of dynamic ability, Hypnosis wasn’t an easy move to land, especially since it wasn’t part of Gastly’s core typing, and it wasn't particularly skilled with it.

Gastly was bound to miss.

But what Shiro wanted was not Hypnosis.

He knew Gastly knew the move, but in their training, they had never actually practiced it.

Without special telepathic abilities for communication, Shiro had taught Gastly to read his arm movements for coordination during training, alongside his verbal commands.

In the short time of training, Shiro had taught only one thing.

That whenever he clenched his fist, Gastly should use Shadow Ball, regardless of what he said.

The same applied to the Rookidee, but with Air Cutter instead of Shadow Ball.

This allowed Shiro to exploit the information gap, making surprise attacks more effective!

**

**

**

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Chapter Text

On the battlefield. 

While Jangmo-o was running around, trying to avoid the possible Hypnosis. Gastly in the air began to condense small Shadow Balls.

The formation of the small Shadow Balls took two seconds, and under normal circumstances, this time is enough for Rylan to direct Jangmo-o to jump into the air and use Dragon Tail to disrupt and strike.

If the cycle of Shadow Ball followed by Dragon Tail continued, it would not just be a matter of who exhausts their stamina first. 

Even a single slip-up from Gastly could result in a devastating blow.

Shiro aimed to break this possible cycle and pull Rylan and Jangmo-o into his rhythm.

"Jangmo-o! Dodge!" Rylan, upon seeing the Shadow Balls in front of Gastly again, immediately realized that his opponent had a strong bond with his Pokémon. 

They had developed their own battle rhythm, one that no longer relied solely on verbal commands.

However, Jangmo-o hadn’t reacted quickly enough, thinking that Gastly was still about to use Hypnosis.

In the heat of its rapid run, before it could even look up, several fast-moving Shadow Balls exploded on its body one after another.

"Jangmo-ooo!"

The Pokémon cried out in pain as several golden scales shattered from the impact. The shock left it shaking its head in pain. Though it took several hits, it was still standing strong.

Shiro, meanwhile, was closely monitoring Jangmo-o’s condition.

To him, it was like a boss fight in a souls-like game—his attacks felt like mere scratches, but one mistake could instantly result in defeat.

He needed to stay highly focused and avoid any errors.

His opponent could make countless mistakes, but one slip-up from him or Gastly would be their downfall.

"Gastly! Hypnosis!" After this round of attacks, Shiro called for Hypnosis for the second time. 

He swung his arm with force and opened his clenched fist.

Gastly, quick to catch on to the gesture, began preparing Hypnosis.

But Rylan hesitated. After being tricked once, he was no longer sure whether Shiro's command was real. All he knew was that Gastly was likely alternating between Hypnosis and Shadow Ball.

Continuing to rely on Dragon Tail would put his Pokémon in serious danger.

Gastly’s Hypnosis had a strong chance of landing midair, and if Jangmo-o were to fall asleep before hitting the ground, the follow-up Shadow Balls would likely take it down.

Even with good physical endurance, Jangmo-o couldn’t take that much punishment.

In comparison, it was safer to continue dodging rather than attacking.

"Jangmo-o! Don’t attack!” Rylan ordered, prompting the Pokémon to speed up and dodge.

From above, Gastly released the slow-moving pink wave for Hypnosis, but it was far too slow to hit the agile Jangmo-o opposite. 

"This is the safest move!" several onlookers praised.

"After taking a Shadow Ball once, Jangmo-o is now watching out for both Hypnosis and Shadow Ball while dodging. At this point, Gastly’s chances of landing another Shadow Ball have significantly dropped. Besides..."

The trainer speaking suddenly paused, prompting the others around him to urge him on. "Besides what?"

"Besides, Gastly’s trainer, this Shiro guy—he can’t afford to trade blows with Rylan's Jangmo-o in midair. If he wants to win, he has to avoid any direct exchanges up there as much as possible. So, really, his only viable move is Hypnosis..."

Amid the murmurs of the spectators, the clash within the barrier carried on.

"Jangmo-o! Dragon Tail!" Rylan immediately issued the command after Jangmo-o dodged the slow-moving Hypnosis. 

He was now going for a direct confrontation, this was the best way to defeat the slippery opponent in front of him.

Shiro narrowed his eyes, giving the next order.

"Gastly! Acid Spray!"

Gastly, a Ghost/Poison-type Pokémon, had not been particularly trained in Poison-type moves, but like any other Pokémon of its kind, it knew basic Poison-type moves.

Acid Spray and Shadow Ball were the only two offensive moves available to this Gastly.

And Acid Spray, which involved spitting a glob of toxic slime from its mouth, was significantly faster to launch compared to Shadow Ball.

"Jaangg!"

As Jangmo-o was still about a few meters away from it, Gastly quickly spat out a blob of toxic green slime.

In mid-air and unable to gain leverage, Jangmo-o widened its eyes and flailed helplessly as the slimy mass covered it completely.

The attack rhythm of the Dragon-type Pokémon was completely disrupted.

Though the slime itself didn’t do much damage, and the faint poison didn’t affect Jangmo-o’s body, the Acid Spray left it disgusted. 

After hitting the ground, it hurriedly shook its head to shake off the slime.

"Jangmo-o! Use Protect!" Rylan shouted urgently. 

Faced with Gastly and Shiro’s seamless coordination, he felt a deep sense of helplessness. 

The command reached Jangmo-o’s ears, snapping it out of its disgusted state, and instinctively, it used the move. 

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The barrage of Shadow Balls fired from the air continuously slammed into the barrier, creating a series of booming sounds and ripples.

A few seconds later, the green barrier shattered, and Jangmo-o, still shaken, refocused its attention on the annoying opponent above.

"Jang-mooh!"

Jangmo-o yelled at Gastly, its sturdy hooves seemed ready to charge and kick Gastly in the face. 

It wanted the timid opponent to face it head-on!

"Gaaa-stlyy!"

But Gastly in the air only twirled lazily, sticking out its tongue and making a mocking sound.

"Jaangh!"

Jangmo-o was furious, itching to jump up and beat Gastly senseless if it could fly.

"Hmph, Gastly, Hypnosis!" Shiro wasn't interested in their verbal sparring. Quickly achieving victory was his top priority.

But Rylan, who had been waiting for this moment, seized the opportunity. 

He barked, "Jangmo-o! Dragon Tail, go up and defeat it!"

Rylan was betting—betting that Shiro’s command was actually for Shadow Ball.

In a situation where he would be forced into a passive position no matter what, Rylan had to wait for Shiro to issue the first command, then make his decision.

He was confident that no one would avoid advancing in such a close victory. After the two Pokémon’s verbal exchange, Gastly’s trainer was likely to go on the offensive with Shadow Ball!

And that would be the perfect time for Jangmo-o to jump in and land a decisive blow!

**

**

**

Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:

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Chapter Text

"Jangmo-o!"

With unwavering determination, Jangmo-o leaped upward at full speed. Fueled by frustration, it was even faster than before.

All it needed was to reach Gastly’s height, then strike with Dragon Tail to finish the battle.

In mere moments, it reached the same altitude as Gastly. Its body twisted midair, and its tail, enveloped in a swirling aura of purple Dragon-type energy, lashed toward the seemingly frail opponent.

"Gaasss~"

But Gastly remained unfazed. The gaseous mist surrounding it trembled slightly, and a faint pink ripple surged toward Jangmo-o’s face.

Drowsiness washed over it instantly. It struggled to keep its eyes open, but its momentum faltered, and its Dragon Tail lost its strength.

"Jangmo...o…"

Jangmo-o muttered weakly before its body gave out, crashing straight to the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.

‘Damn it…’ 

He lost the bet.

Rylan opened his mouth, but no words came out. Across from him, Shiro remained as focused as ever, his expression calm, unfazed by the battle’s result.

"Gastly! Use Shadow Ball to end it!" Shiro's command was immediate and decisive.

Rylan knew this time the Shadow Ball was real. There was no way to turn the tide now.

"I give up!" His deep voice boomed as he raised his hand.

He swiftly pulled out an Ultra Ball and recalled Jangmo-o. Then, retrieving his trainer ID from a nearby pillar, he signaled the battle’s conclusion. 

The psychic barrier surrounding the battlefield vanished.

Shiro stopped Gastly just in time, recalling it into its Poké Ball before retrieving his own ID.

"Follow me." Rylan said nothing more after his defeat. He simply gestured for Shiro to come with him.

From the crowd of trainers who had gathered to watch, several pairs of envious and jealous eyes followed them.

A Dragon Scale from an Elite-level Salamence—why did that nameless kid get such a treasure?

But most of the trainers accepted the result.

The battle had been intense. Gastly's strength was at the top among Novice-level Pokémon, and Shiro’s command over it had been something they could learn from.

……

Shiro followed Rylan out of the battlefield, through the bronze gates of the Stadium. The spectators who had been tailing them hesitated before dispersing.

Outside the Stadium, Rylan headed straight for the western side of Hammerlocke.

Shiro knew he was leading him to claim the Dragon Scale, but the direction still made him hesitate.

"Rylan, where are we going?"

"Oh!" Rylan paused for a moment, as if just realizing something. He scratched the back of his head before explaining, "We're heading to the treasure vault in western Hammerlocke. That's where the Dragon Scale is.”

Shiro frowned slightly.

He knew about the treasure vault. But could they really just walk in and take something from there? Wasn’t it under the jurisdiction of the Galar League?

Unaware of Shiro’s thoughts, Rylan chuckled and said with a smile.

"Haha, sometimes I get lost in thought when I'm thinking too hard. Just now, I was trying to figure out how to use Jangmo-o to defeat your Gastly."

He then turned to face Shiro and asked, "Shiro, are you traveling here from Kanto? This is the first time I've seen a battle style like yours."

Almost every Galarian who heard Shiro’s name assumed he was from Kanto. Names like his weren’t common in Galar, and Gastly was a Pokémon more commonly found in Kanto as well.

Shiro simply shook his head at Rylan's question. He was more concerned about the safety of that Elite-level Dragon Scale.

Even though the crowd from earlier had dispersed, walking openly through the streets like this would undoubtedly attract some shady individuals looking for an opportunity.

"Hahaha, so you're from Galar? That's rare… This is the first time my Jangmo-o has ever lost a battle since it hatched."

Leaving through the western gate of Hammerlocke, Rylan continued, "I don’t have any Pokémon at the novice level right now, and there aren’t many Pokémon to battle in the Hammerlocke Stadium. The one in the wild are too weak…"

Shiro nodded. He knew Rylan came from the family that controlled both Hammerlocke City and its gym. He was likely from the same generation as Raihan.

In this family, the most well-known and public-facing figure was Raihan. A rival acknowledged by Leon, and a strong contender for the Galar League Championship after this round of Gym Challenges.

"You know Raihan?" Shiro suddenly asked.

"Oh, Raihan? Yeah he's my cousin," Rylan spoke as if he was used to hearing this question.

He then walked toward a nearby dark bronze-colored building and gestured for Shiro to follow.

This was the Vault. It looked like an impenetrable fortress, sealed tight from every angle. Above its arched bronze doors was an emblem of a dragon’s head.

Rylan took out a brass key as large as his palm, unlocked the massive door, and instructed Shiro to wait outside.

Moments later, he returned, carrying a cloth bundle about the size of a basketball, which he shoved into Shiro’s arms.

“The Dragon Scale from Salamence is inside," Rylan said before turning back the way they came. "Anyone who knows me knows I keep my word, but for the next while, you might have some people watching you. Be careful.”

Shiro quickly stuffed the cloth bundle into his backpack, nodding in agreement. 

They walked back together to the entrance of the Hammerlocke Stadium, their departure followed by a few lingering gazes. 

Before parting ways, Rylan gave Shiro his contact information, telling him to reach out if there were any issues with the scale. He also mentioned that once Gastly reached the Beginner-level, he wanted a rematch with his Jangmo-o. 

By now, the sky had darkened.

Shiro quickly returned home.

He still hadn’t decided what to do with the Dragon Scale.

An Elite-level Dragon Scale was bound to attract the greed of other trainers. Inside Hammerlocke, it might not be a problem, but the moment Shiro stepped out into the wild, someone would surely come for it.

Fortunately, he had no plans to leave anytime soon.

He had money on hand, and once he got hired as a sparring partner in the next few days, he could focus on training his Pokémon—battling while strengthening them at the same time.

At the very least, he wanted to reach Intermediate level before traveling. That would give him some measure of safety.

Night time.

In his bedroom, Shiro unwrapped the brownish-yellow cloth bundle, revealing the Dragon Scale inside.

It was a large, blue scale that had shed from Salamence’s back. The intricate patterns on its surface were incredibly distinct, and under the fluorescent light, it seemed to shimmer faintly with a blue glow.

Rookidee and Gastly sat on the bed, one on each side, staring at the scale.

Rookidee’s red eyes were wide open. The aura coming from the scale made its instincts scream to flee, but at the same time, it knew this was just a scale.

Torn between fear and curiosity, it found itself wanting to peck at it.

**

**

**

Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:

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Your support means a lot, thank you!

Chapter Text

"Rooki-dee!"

Unable to suppress its urges, Rookidee's beak glowed with a white light, the precursor to its Peck move. Shiro didn’t stop the bird from its reckless behavior.

Clang!

Rookidee's beak struck the blue Dragon Scale, producing a sharp metallic ring. The force of the impact sent the tiny bird tumbling across the bed, rolling several times before nearly slipping off—until Shiro caught it just in time.

"Rooki..."

Rookidee hopped back onto the bed, visibly fearful of the Dragon Scale in front of it, retreating into Shiro’s embrace.

Being an ordinary Pokémon, Rookidee  instinctively wanted to flee after feeling the Elite-level Salamence's presence from the Dragon Scale. 

Attempting to attack with its move was a brave but ultimately futile effort.

As a Pokémon at the Beginner-level, it stood no chance against a Dragon Scale of this caliber. It couldn’t even make a dent in it.

Making an impact on a scale of this caliber would require at least a Gym-level Pokémon.

"Gaassstly..."

Gastly also cautiously floated around the Dragon Scale, then quickly darted behind Shiro, peeking out with a trembling eye as if it were facing a vicious predator.

Gastly had a timid personality, so naturally, it was scared of something that even Rookidee feared.

When both of his Pokémon lost their curiosity about the Dragon Scale, Shiro lifted it and stuffed it into his backpack.

"Alright, I’ll put the Dragon Scale away now."

The space inside the bag Shiro bought from the black market was surprisingly large. He didn’t know what kind of advanced technology was used, but it could hold about a third of the space in a Hammerlocke intermediate training room.

Shiro would always keep this treasure close to him, or rather, all his belongings were always kept close.

However, the Dragon Scale was unlikely to be used in the short term and would gather dust in a small corner of his backpack.

After organizing his things, Shiro washed up and fell into a deep sleep.

……

For the next two days, Shiro maintained a routine of staying at home, the Stadium, and the restaurant, training intensively with Rookidee and Gastly.

Especially Rookidee, who was the main Pokémon for participating in the upcoming Hammerlocke Stadium sparring partner assessment. Shiro wanted it to reach around level 17 within these three days.

After consuming the Fly Berry and the remaining Exp. Candies, Rookidee didn’t disappoint. Its strength quickly reached the brink of evolution.

This was largely due to its relatively low level. With ample resources, its strength grew rapidly, leaving Gastly far behind.

Meanwhile, rumors spread within the Stadium about someone winning Dragon Scale in the basic level training area. However, with so many private arenas in there, such events weren’t uncommon and didn’t attract much attention.

Not many people set their sights on the Dragon Scale, mainly because they couldn't gauge Shiro’s true strength. As an unfamiliar face, it was unclear whether his naturally gifted Gastly was a second-tier or third-tier Pokémon.

Galar rarely saw trainers with both personal and Pokémon talent suddenly rise to prominence. Most people thought Shiro was a member of some prominent family.

At the same time, based on Shiro’s battle command ability, many of the onlookers believed his strength was likely at the Advanced-level. Comparable the region's ace trainers participating in the Gym Challenge such as, Bea, Piers and Gordie.

Leon and Raihan were far beyond the rest in strength, making them an unfair point of comparison.

The lack of attention Shiro received was partly due him keeping a low profile, but that didn't mean no one had their eyes on the Dragon Scale.

The evening before Shiro was set to participate in the Hammerlocke Stadium sparring partner assessment, he finished his training and was preparing to head home. 

Just as he stepped into the corridor outside the training rooms, he ran into a familiar face.

"Hey, Shiro!"

A curly haired man leaned against the window frame, raising a hand in greeting as soon as he spotted Shiro.

Shiro had met him on his first day at the stadium. His name was Hugo, and Shiro had even asked him several questions about the usage of special berries.

“Leaving so soon?" Hugo said with a familiar tone, attempting to throw an arm around Shiro's shoulder, but Shiro swiftly stepped back to avoid him.

Over the past two days, Shiro had seen Hugo frequently outside the training room. He was well aware that the man was likely observing his strength, trying to decide if he should target the Dragon Scale.

"Need something?" Shiro asked flatly.

Hugo hesitated for a brief moment, clearly not expecting such a cold reaction. However, he didn’t dwell on it and instead got straight to the point.

"Shiro, why don’t you come inside my training room? How about a battle?"

Such a proposal was nothing unusual in Hammerlocke or anywhere in Galar, really. The people here loved battles, and even the region’s culture revolved around promoting them.

But to Shiro, the invitation felt like a blatant attempt to ambush him.

Hugo didn’t seem to notice anything wrong and continued to smile.

"How about it? Just a friendly match. Not much on the line, only 2,000 Pokédollars."

"Sorry, but my Pokémon are exhausted. They don’t have the energy for another battle." Shiro turned away as he spoke, already walking off.

"Ah? It’s just a quick match, no big deal—" Hugo reached out to stop him, only for Shiro to dodge him smoothly once again.

Shiro’s pace didn’t slow. Before Hugo could do anything else, he stepped into the elevator and disappeared from sight.

"...What?"

Hugo stood there, dumbfounded, unsure how to react.

He couldn’t understand why anyone would be so opposed to battling, especially when that same person had actively challenged others to win the Dragon Scale.

The door of a nearby training room suddenly slid open.

A bald man stepped out, draped in a ragged brown cloak.

"What's going on? Where is he?" The bald man asked, his voice hoarse.

He had no eyebrows, his skin was a sickly yellow, and a large scar marked his forehead, where his eyebrows once were.

Hugo remained silent, not sure how to explain the situation. His task had been simple—invite Shiro into the training room for a battle, and if that failed, force him inside.

Yet somehow, before he even realized what was happening, Shiro had already slipped away.

A moment later, he sighed and answered truthfully.

"That guy didn’t want to battle at all. Said his Pokémon were tired and just ran off."

The bald man scoffed, lowering his head.

"Hmph. No proper Galarian would ever refuse a challenge like that."

"What can I do if he doesn't want to battle?" Hugo spread his hands in frustration.

**

**

**

Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:

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Your support means a lot, thank you!

Chapter Text

"What a coward!"

The bald man grumbled loudly as he and Hugo walked toward the windows.

The two men were trying to test Shiro's strength, to confirm his true abilities.

They weren’t bold enough to act within the Hammerlocke Stadium, but understanding Shiro’s real power was crucial for their next move.

Although the idea of attacking him while he was out to steal the Dragon Scale had crossed their minds, they were more inclined to buy it directly from him. 

A legitimate transaction would raise no suspicion, and they wouldn’t have to worry about being hunted down or facing retaliation for their actions.

If Shiro turned out to be weak and stayed hidden in Hammerlocke, they could pressure him into selling the Dragon Scale at a low price.

"What should we do now?" Hugo asked, looking out the window and scanning the streets below for Shiro. 

"What else? We either wait and see if he leaves, or we approach him directly and negotiate a price," the bald man replied, glancing at Hugo’s curly hair.

The bald man was an illegal citizen without an official identity card. While he had the money to buy one on the black market, he wasn’t in a hurry.

An identity card from the black market would erase his wanted status, unless someone recognized him and continued the pursuit.

The bald man planned to commit a few more major crimes, earning enough money before buying an identity card. But that also meant he would have to stay in hiding for a long time. If he didn’t use a large hood to cover his face, he could be caught the moment he was recognized at the stadium.

He also had intentions to commit crimes in Hammerlocke, but the city’s strict laws made it difficult. 

Enforced by the Dragon Taming family, Hammerlocke boasted one of the lowest crime rates in the region, second only to Wyndon, home to the League Headquarters and Macro Cosmos.

“Let’s find a time to contact him,” the man said, turning back toward the training room.

……

The next day, Shiro packed his things early and left the house.

He jogged all the way to the main street in Hammerlocke. 

It was around six in the morning, and the cobblestone path had just been swept by Macro Cosmos employees, glistening with water droplets.

Only a few restaurants on the street had opened, with not even the waitstaff in yet, leaving only the busy owners preparing for the day.

Shiro entered a quaint, old-fashioned restaurant and ordered a bowl of egg noodles for 25 Pokédollars.

He placed Gastly and Rookidee on the table, setting their food containers and Pokéblocks beside them. Moments later, the restaurant owner brought the steaming bowl of noodles over, then turned to leave as the steam rose from the dish.

Soon, the sounds of slurping noodles filled the restaurant.

About twenty minutes later, Shiro finished his meal, packed up his Pokémon and belongings, and set off toward the Hammerlocke Stadium.

Taking the elevator up, Shiro noticed a decent crowd gathering beneath the giant bronze gates of the stadium. He walked straight to a male receptionist inside the passageway. 

The receptionist looked up, adjusted his glasses, and gave Shiro a nod, signaling him to speak.

"I'm here to apply for the position of sparring partner. I made an appointment three days ago," Shiro said, handing over his identity card.

The receptionist swiped Shiro’s card in a nearby card reader, and the screen displayed his identity information.

"Ah, Shiro, right? Please follow me." The receptionist smiled and stood up, guiding Shiro toward the basic training area, which was also the public battle arena.

At this time, the arena was almost empty, with only a few trainers scattered around. The vast space made the arena feel even larger.

The receptionist walked over to a tall, rectangular machine and swiftly located Shiro’s application details. Then, he asked,

“What Pokémon will you use as a sparring partner?”

“Rookidee.” Shiro answered without hesitation.

“Hm?” The receptionist paused, adjusting his glasses. “Are you sure? Rookidee is a very common Pokémon in Galar, meaning many trainers have them… and we already have a sparring partner specializing in Rookidee. You’ll have to defeat him first. We only keep the strongest. You understand that, right?”

Shiro understood what the receptionist was implying. Since Rookidee was so common, anyone applying with it would have to prove themselves against a tough opponent.

His Rookidee was close to evolving, but the current sparring partner’s Rookidee was likely at a similar stage.

In terms of battle experience, the existing sparring partner’s Rookidee definitely had the upper hand. Still, Shiro had full confidence in himself and his Pokémon.

“You should know, the current Rookidee sparring partner has held his position for three years. He raises only Rookidee.” The receptionist glanced at Shiro, giving him a fair warning.

Shiro considered this for a moment before nodding.

He was well aware that such an opponent would be formidable—probably one of the best in all of Hammerlocke when it came to training and battling with Rookidee.

But that was precisely why he wanted to fight.

Only by facing a strong opponent could he identify weaknesses in his training and discover what made the other trainer exceptional.

If he lost, he could always rely on Gastly. And if all else failed, he could apply for a different job at the recruitment center.

“Are you sure you want to use Rookidee?” The receptionist asked again, adding, “If you lose, you’ll only get one chance to apply with a different Pokémon. If you fail again… the stadium has no use for weaklings.”

“Of course.” Shiro didn’t waver.

“Alright.” The receptionist rapidly entered the data. “Your assessment battle will begin at seven. Our sparring partners work from seven in the morning until six in the evening. That won’t be a problem, will it?”

“No.”

After confirming, the receptionist typed in the final details, then let out a breath of relief. Satisfied, he gestured toward a nearby battle arena.

“Shiro, you can wait over there. Once our current Rookidee sparring partner arrives, the match will begin.”

With that, the receptionist adjusted his glasses again and left.

Shiro walked to the designated battlefield, set his bag down at one end, and released Rookidee from its Poké Ball.

“Rook-ki-dee!”

Rookidee flew onto his shoulder.

Both the Trainer and Pokémon began strategizing.

……

Before long, a scrawny middle-aged man stepped out of the corridor, his sharp gaze sweeping across the area as he strode straight toward Shiro’s battlefield.

Behind him followed the bespectacled receptionist.

Dressed in a simple black cloth shirt and matching trousers, the man carried an air of competence. However, his deeply wrinkled face, stretched taut like dried bark over his bones, gave him an unsettling appearance.

**

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Chapter Text

"Are you the one here to challenge the Rookidee sparring partner?" The middle-aged man asked, staring at Shiro in silence.

"That's right, let's start the battle." Shiro shrugged his shoulders, and Rookidee, which had been resting on his shoulder with its eyes closed, suddenly sprang up, leaping into the air and staring at the thin middle-aged man.

"Hmm... sleek feathers, wide wings, strong explosive legs, sharp gaze..." The man stared back at Rookidee without fear. He then grinned and added, "A good opponent."

Shiro also stroked Rookidee, his gaze sharp and focused.

The two of them stood motionless as the male receptionist moved to the referee's position. 

Around the battlefield, trainers began to gather, drawn by the upcoming match.

Sparring partner assessments occasionally happened, but they weren't usually announced to the public, making it a rare opportunity for other trainers to witness one.

These battles always attracted a crowd, as many trainers admired the strength of the stadium's sparring partners. Most had either applied for sparring or experienced it themselves, understanding how demanding the role was.

The strength required here wasn’t just about the Pokémon but also about the trainer's own capabilities.

With two identical Pokémon, similar in form and level, the key to victory now relied on the trainer's ability. After all, the trainer was also a crucial part of the Pokémon's strength.

Even with identical Pokémon, their upbringing would differ depending on the trainer's philosophy. Different training strategies and focuses would shape how the Pokémon developed. 

All these factors combined would ultimately determine the outcome of the battle.

"Alright! Now that two of you are ready, I will be the referee. The challenger—Shiro, and the challenged—Grant! Both sides will use Rookidee!" The male receptionist, wearing glasses, stood in the center of the battlefield.

After saying these words, he raised his hands high and walked to the side.

At the same time, both Shiro and the thin, middle-aged man, Grant, inserted their league cards into the two pillar slots.

A faint pink psychic barrier extended from both ends, sealing off the battlefield from the spectators and the referee.

The trainers watching from the sidelines began murmuring among themselves.

"Rookidee, huh? Damn, I remember the Rookidee trainer hasn't changed in two or three years, right?"

"Grant specializes in raising Rookidee. The ones that come out of his hands are guaranteed to have excellent potential and strength. Whenever his Rookidee evolves, they're snapped up immediately."

"He raises Rookidee and then sells them?"

"Wow, first time hearing about this..."

Upon hearing the discussions, the referee adjusted his glasses and then raised his hand, shouting.

"Silence!"

The crowd fell silent immediately. The referee continued.

"Now! Both trainers release your Pokémon. This battle is one-on-one. No switching Pokémon mid-battle. If one side loses their ability to fight or concedes, the battle is over!"

"Rooki-dee!"

Two simultaneous calls echoed. 

Shiro's Rookidee, hovering in mid-air, stood ready, while Grant threw a Poké Ball into the air.

"Roo-kee!"

A blue bird soared into the air. Its wings were slightly longer than the usual Rookidee’s, and its beak was sharper, gleaming with a metallic sheen.

At the sight of Grant's Rookidee, Shiro's eyes narrowed. 

It was his first time raising a Pokémon, so he knew there were areas where he might have fallen short.

But his opponent, with countless battles and experiences, had clearly honed his Rookidee in specific ways. The sharpness of the beak, in particular, seemed capable of piercing through steel.

Compared to Rookidee on the other side, Shiro’s looked more like an ordinary one. It was slightly larger due to better feeding and rigorous training, but overall, it still had a round, compact build.

"A Rookidee with strong pectoral muscles ... You must have fed it some rare berries, huh?" Grant’s eerie voice drifted from across the battlefield. The moment Shiro subconsciously glanced at him, Grant’s Pokémon had already taken off, flapping its slightly longer wings.

A pale-white Tailwind stirred the air around it.

"Air Cutter!" Shiro shouted the moment he noticed his opponent’s movements.

Grant seized the initiative during Shiro's brief moment of distraction. However, he quickly regained focus and gave a sharp command.

In just a moment, a sharp-edged Air Cutter was launched at high speed. At the same time, the opponent's Tailwind had just finished forming.

Had Shiro been even a second slower, his opponent would have gained a free Tailwind boost right at the start. That extra speed advantage, coupled with no interference or chip damage, would have left him at an immediate disadvantage.

‘Sneaky bastard.’

Shiro’s focus sharpened.

His Rookidee’s Air Cutter struck Grant’s directly, sending a few blue feathers drifting away in the wind.

Seeing this, Shiro wasted no time. "Quick Attack!"

The moment its attack landed, his Rookidee shot forward in a blur, streaking toward its opponent.

"Hmm?" Grant furrowed his brow. Instead of dodging or counterattacking, he ordered, "Agility!"

A faint pink glow of psychic energy enveloped Grant’s Rookidee as its speed surged.

The Psychic-type move Agility grants a rapid speed boost, similar to Tailwind.

The Quick Attack struck the opposing Rookidee’s forehead, nearly dispersing the faint psychic energy surrounding its body. But despite the blow, it held firm, completing the speed enhancement.

"Peck!" Shiro commanded. His Rookidee, following up on its attack, turned midair and aimed its beak, now glowing a deep white, straight at its opponent.

"Hmph! Dodge." Grant smirked, his expression sinister.

Now, with two speed boosts stacked, Grant’s Rookidee barely needed to move to slip past Shiro’s attack.

"This is troublesome." Shiro muttered, clenching his fist.

Grant’s strategy was obvious—boost his Rookidee’s speed as much as possible.

At this level, neither side had access to high-powered moves, meaning Pokémon could afford to take hits while setting up.

And in a battle between Rookidee, speed was everything.

Shiro now understood why Grant had held the sparring partner position for years. With this strategy, any ordinary Rookidee at the Novice level wouldn’t even get a chance to land a hit before being taken down.

"You’ve already lost, kid." Grant’s grin widened, the wrinkles on his gaunt face making him look even more unsettling. "Your only chance was in those first few seconds. Now, this battle is over."

**

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Chapter Text

"Heh..." Shiro didn’t pay much attention to Grant’s arrogant and boastful words.

Although the opponent’s Pokémon had taken the opportunity to boost its speed twice with the first move, it had also endured two attacks. 

For a Pokémon like Rookidee, whose stamina was relatively weak, these two hits had already caused considerable damage.

Shiro could clearly see that each time the opposing Pokémon soared through the air, it was panting heavily.

The spectators outside the battlefield began discussing the match.

"Grant's Rookidee is fast, but its stamina is running low."

"True." An older man with gray-white hair nodded in agreement, focusing on the battle. He lowered his voice and said, "That guy Shiro’s Pokémon is still in good shape. If he lands two more hits, he can win this fight."

"But can he keep landing hits?" someone else added.

The discussions from the onlookers didn't interfere with the battle in the arena.

Shiro understood that there was a huge speed gap between the two Pokémon. He ordered his Rookidee to hover in the air on his side of the field, waiting for the opponent to make a move.

If he forced his Rookidee to rush in while it was slower, his opponent would easily dodge and counterattack.

"Use Air Cutter!" Grant ordered. His Pokémon gathered flying-type energy in the air, and two light, white blades of wind shot toward Shiro’s side.

"Dodge, then use Hone Claws!" Shiro’s Rookidee reacted immediately to the command. It flapped its wings hard, dodging the Air Cutters.

The two Pokémon were now at opposite sides of the arena, with a good distance between them. Even though Grant’s Rookidee was faster, it didn’t mean that Shiro’s was slow.

Air Cutter, being a straightforward attack, was easy to avoid.

At Shiro’s command, Rookidee hovered in the air, its claws scratching together as a pale gray energy wrapped around its body.

By using Hone Claws, Rookidee boosts both its attack and accuracy, allowing it to anticipate the opponent’s movements more effectively.

Grant quickly noticed Shiro’s strategy and shouted commands at his Pokémon.

"Charge in, use Peck!"

His Pokémon disappeared from its spot with a quick flap of its wings, its sharp beak gleaming with a metallic sheen as it dived toward Shiro’s Rookidee’s wings.

Grant's Pokémon had gone through many battles against its own kind and was well-versed in the techniques taught by its trainer. For a Pokémon like Rookidee, the most important thing was its wings. Once the wings were injured, it would have almost no ability to fight back.

Grant’s previous opponents lost battles for the same reason.

Just as Grant’s Rookidee paused and lifted its head to use Peck, Shiro immediately shouted.

"Rookidee, attack!"

“Ki-dee!”

A gust of wind swept around Shiro’s Rookidee as the Air Cutter, already charged, shot out from beneath its wings. It collided perfectly with Grant’s Rookidee’s head, which was aimed directly at its own wings.

"Rooki… Dee!"

Grant’s Rookidee, already wounded, was momentarily dazed by the blow. It quickly flapped its wings and retreated. The speed was so fast that Shiro couldn’t react in time to give an order to pursue.

Outside the battlefield, the trainers watching had started to chatter excitedly.

"Did it not use Hone Claws earlier?"

“Not possible! It's using it, that Rookidee has a glow of energy around it...”

“Could that be the glow of an Air Cutter?”

“Hmm... what do you think, old man?”

The surrounding trainers, puzzled, turned their attention to the older, more experienced gray-haired trainer. This veteran, known for his strength in the Hammerlocke Stadium, had been a formidable presence for years.

“Mm..." The old man thought for a moment before explaining, "It should be an Air Cutter. Not sure if you're aware, but a few days ago, this young man, Shiro, battled Rylan using his Gastly, relying on a clever deception strategy to gain the upper hand.”

“Deception strategy?” Some trainers didn’t quite understand.

“Rylan...” A few trainers who recognized Rylan fell into thought.

But most were still confused. They hadn’t seen the battle between Shiro and Rylan, didn’t understand the deception strategy, and didn’t even know who Rylan was.

"It's the one with the Dragon Scale bet!" The old man, noting their confusion, reminded them.

“Oh!” Now the trainers understood.

It was the battle from a couple of days ago that had been making waves, where the prize was a Dragon Scale. The match between two Novice-level Pokémon had been incredible, with the fight being as intense as one between Beginner-level level Pokémon.

But some people cast subtle, unfriendly glances at Shiro.

So far, all Shiro had shown were his Gastly and Rookidee, both relatively weak Pokémon, though they had great potential. It was hard to tell whether he was training a second team of Pokémon.

Although Shiro appealed to be young, becoming a Pokémon trainer had nothing to do with age.

Maybe some three-year-old kid's father is a powerful trainer who raised a pseudo-legendary for him. The moment he starts his journey, he already has an Elite-level Pokémon.

There are plenty of wealthy trainers like that.

While the surrounding trainers outside the battlefield were lost in thought, inside, the two Rookidees clashed once again.

Grant knew that after falling into Shiro’s trap, his Rookidee had taken serious damage. It wouldn’t last much longer. He had to end this quickly.

‘He actually managed to form this kind of bond with his Rookidee…’ Grant gritted his teeth, his expression darkening. His eyes grew cold as he issued the command.

"Rookidee! Get in close and use Peck!"

Grant no longer dared to waste time talking big. His trash talk had only ever been a tactic to disrupt his opponent and secure a win. Now that he was at a disadvantage, it was useless. There was no point in saying anything unnecessary.

Shiro's Rookidee had gained a significant advantage thanks to its two early attacks and the tactics he had planned from the start. But he also understood that the opposing Rookidee still had a chance to turn things around.

The opponent was fast, and Rookidee as a Pokémon had obvious weaknesses and limited endurance.

A slower Rookidee was nothing more than a sitting target, making it even easier to strike its vulnerable areas.

If Shiro made a mistake and gave Grant an opening, his Rookidee could likely land a single blow strong enough to knock Shiro's Rookidee out of the fight, gradually draining its strength until defeat.

‘The most likely spot… is the wings.’

Shiro's Rookidee had previously injured its wing, so he was very cautious and made sure to protect it well.

**

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Chapter Text

In the battle arena, Grant’s Rookidee moved swiftly, leaving a blur of motion as it cut through the air. 

The surrounding trainers could barely catch a glimpse of the bird, only seeing a faint white trace where the air was sliced by its speed.

Everyone understood—Grant wanted to end the battle quickly.

Though Shiro’s Rookidee remained unscathed, it was clear that it couldn’t match its rival’s speed. A single mistake, a Peck to the wing, and the battle would be over.

At the same time, if Grant's Rookidee made a mistake, even a slight Peck to the head or a hit from the Air Cutter could instantly cripple the bird’s ability to fight.

The outcome of this Rookidee battle would be decided in a matter of moments.

“Rookidee! Air Cutter!” Shiro’s voice rang out in sync with Grant’s, both trainers giving their orders at the exact same moment.

In midair, Shiro’s Rookidee locked eyes with its adversary, rapidly flapping its wings to gather flying-type energy.

“Speed up!” Watching Grant’s Rookidee dart across the sky like a blue blur, Shiro swung his arm, urging his Rookidee to go faster, clenching his fist.

Meanwhile, the trainers outside the arena were buzzing with excitement.

“No, he can’t use that move! It’s too slow! He won’t have time to complete the Air Cutter…”

“The Air Cutter is too easy to dodge! It’s not a guaranteed hit!”

“What is Shiro trying to do? He might be using the Air Cutter as a feint, but what’s his real plan…”

The older trainer, with deep lines on his face, scratched his gray hair and said, “We’ll find out soon enough.”

He didn’t understand Shiro’s intentions either, but he knew that the bond between a trainer and their Pokémon was something only they truly understood.

The wind whipped across the battlefield as the two Rookidees, their deep blue feathers gleaming, crossed paths.

The watching trainers fell silent, their eyes fixed on the battle unfolding before them.

Grant’s Rookidee, recalling the previous feint and attack, saw that the Pokémon opposite was merely hovering in the air gathering energy. Unable to tell which move was coming, it followed its trainer’s instructions and began spiraling in the air, circling quickly.

After creating a brief blue blur, it suddenly dove sharply, using Peck from below, its beak aimed at the base of opposing Rookidee’s wing.

This was one of Grant’s usual tactics—using incredible speed to confuse the opponent, only to attack unexpectedly from below.

Normally, no other Rookidee could anticipate such an attack. Those with fast reflexes might try to ascend quickly, but even then, they would still be injured.

Grant’s speed-based strategy was highly effective in Rookidee battles, especially since it exploited the weak spot—the wings.

Unable to match the speed, Shiro's Rookidee couldn’t target specific weak points like the wings and could only strike wherever it had the chance.

But now, any hit to the opponent would be enough to end the battle!

“Rook-dee!”

Feeling a rush of wind pressure from below, Shiro's Rookidee instantly transformed into a streak of gray light, darting diagonally to another spot.

As Grant's Rookidee froze for a moment after missing, Shiro’s Rookidee swiftly launched a surprise attack, crashing hard into the side of its opponent's body.

“Rooook!”

It flipped several times in mid-air before finally crashing into the psychic barrier at the edge of the battlefield. The attack dealt significant damage, causing it to fall straight down from the air.

Seeing this, Grant's eyes widened, and his face twitched in surprise. 

He shot a cold glance at his fallen Pokémon at the edge of the battlefield before recalling it into its Pokéball.

The referee, standing at the battlefield’s edge, pushed his glasses up and raised his hand to announce.

"Alright! The battle is over! The winner is Shiro!"

The trainers outside the arena remained in a daze, struggling to process what had just happened.

"What the heck, how did that Rookidee suddenly defeat its opponent? I didn't even see it clearly."

"I didn't see clearly either. It didn't seem to use Air Cutter?"

"Of course it didn't! I said it before, how could that Air Cutter even hit the opponent?"

"What do you think, old man?"

The trainers shifted their attention to the gray-haired old man who was pondering the situation. His furrowed brow suddenly relaxed, and his hand that had been gripping his hair lowered as he spoke.

"It must have been Quick Attack. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have missed it.” He nodded toward Shiro’s Rookidee. “That bird wasn’t just charging Air Cutter—it was waiting for the perfect moment to burst forward with Quick Attack instead.”

"Quick Attack?" The surrounding trainers exchanged glances, not having considered that move. Shiro’s unspoken, intuitive command style also left them surprised.

At that moment, both Shiro and Grant removed their identity cards from the metal pillars, and the psychic barrier that covered the entire field disappeared.

The receptionist, who had been the referee, walked over to Shiro, extended his hand, and said.

"Impressive, Shiro. You've successfully won without taking any damage... looks like we’ll be colleagues now. My name is Pym."

Shiro shook his hand, offering a simple response.

“Guess I got lucky.”

Grant, also walked over. His expression was darker than when he first entered the battlefield, and his face, already resembling the rough texture of bark, was now twisted into a knot.

“Your Rookidee is well-trained,” he muttered, his gaze lingering on the small bird perched on Shiro’s shoulder. “Especially the muscles around its chest and wings…”

Big Pecks, as a hidden ability of Rookidee, were very rare. The Pokémon academic world had yet to study this hidden ability. 

Grant didn’t know this was the reason behind it; he just knew that Shiro’s Rookidee was an extraordinary one.

"The final evolution of Rookidee is Corviknight, a Flying and Steel-type." Grant’s voice was hoarse as he gave one last glance at Rookidee before turning to leave, adding, "Flying refers to the wings, Steel refers to the beak."

The training of Rookidee focuses on strengthening its wings and beak. Shiro understood the point.

Grant only said that much before walking away. He didn’t think that Shiro’s training was superior to his own, but rather that Shiro won mostly due to his unexpected tactics and command.

"Shiro..." As Grant walked toward the exit, Pym leaned toward Shiro and whispered, "I’ve seen Grant train his Rookidee before. He bought some Metal Coats and covered his Rookidee’s beak with them..."

Shiro listened intently, nodding and smiling at Pym.

"Thanks."

**

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Chapter Text

The sparring partner job at Hammerlocke Stadium ran from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with a 30-minute break at noon. During their shifts, trainers could freely use the intermediate training rooms within the stadium to train their Pokémon.

However, there was one strict rule—sparring partners had to remain inside the stadium at all times. Their presence ensured they could respond immediately whenever a battle request came in.

Sparring partners were also ranked based on the strength of their Pokémon. Novice and Beginner levels fell under the Silver rank, while Intermediate and Advanced were classified as Gold. Those at the Gym level or higher earned the prestigious Platinum rank.

Currently, there are no Platinum ranked sparring partners at Hammerlocke Stadium, since trainers at that level can earn far more by taking on missions or catching Pokémon.

The majority of sparring partners here are at the Beginner or Intermediate level.

With his Beginner-level Rookidee, Shiro was classified as Silver Rank, earning him a base salary of 20,000 Pokédollars. Though the bulk of his earnings come from commissions. 

A one-hour session with a Silver rank sparring partner costs 1,000 Pokédollars. With a 20% commission rate, Shiro earns 200 Pokédollars per hour.

This doesn't include battle wagers. If the hiring trainer loses, they must pay at least 1,000 Pokédollars per match.

Galar's long-standing tradition of betting on battles has made the sparring partner profession highly profitable.

......

Now, inside Hammerlocke Stadium.

The match between the two Rookidee trainers had just ended, and the gathered spectators had thoroughly enjoyed the intense battle.

Although neither of the Pokémon in the battle were particularly strong or rare, Rookidee, as a representative Pokémon of the Galar region, has always been the strongest among sparring partners of the same rank.

The fight had been well-executed and entertaining and was likely to be the talk of the stadium for the next few days.

After the battle, Shiro returned to the stadium's main hall and asked Pym to book an intermediate training room for him.

He could train his Pokémon while waiting for another match. However, Rookidee couldn't be pushed too hard—if it was too exhausted, it wouldn't perform well in battles.

Pym sat at his computer, the glow of the blue screen reflected off his glasses as his fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard.

Suddenly, he stopped typing.

"Shiro, someone just requested a battle with you."

He adjusted his glasses and gave Shiro the battle location.

"Battlefield 27… It's probably one of the trainers who just watched your fight."

"Alright." Shiro had no reason to refuse. If someone was eager to hand him money, he certainly wouldn’t turn them away.

......

Shiro made his way toward the designated battlefield, his sharp gaze scanning the occupied and empty arenas until he found the correct one.

Standing on one side of Battlefield 27 was an older man with grayish-white hair. His pale, aged face made it hard to tell his exact age, but he could easily pass for sixty.

This was the "old man" who had been watching from the sidelines earlier.

"Hello, Shiro. My name is Bryan, but you can call me by my nickname—Old Man." Bryan smiled as he gripped a Poké Ball. His voice was as aged as his appearance.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Shiro, a sparring partner specializing in Rookidee." Shiro kept his introduction brief and stepped onto the battlefield.

He tossed Rookidee's Poké Ball into the air with a flick of his wrist.

With a burst of red light, Rookidee emerged, flapping its wings vigorously. Its crimson eyes gleamed with fighting spirit.

The earlier battle hadn't worn it down. if anything, it had only fueled its excitement for the next fight.

"Looks like it's in great shape." Bryan studied Rookidee with interest before inserting his League Card into the arena's metal terminal.

Shiro followed suit, inserting his ID.

A soft pink psychic barrier rose around the battlefield, sealing the space for their match..

Rookidee hovered midair, waiting for its opponent.

Yet, Bryan didn’t send out his Pokémon right away. Instead, he turned toward Shiro and asked,

"I remember you won a Dragon Scale from Rylan, didn't you?"

Shiro’s gaze flickered.

"Yeah," he responded, already guessing where this was going. Bryan probably wanted to buy it off him.

"What are you planning to do with it?" the old man asked.

Shiro paused for a moment, then answered,

"Feed it to my Pokémon."

"Your Pokémon?" Bryan fell silent for a moment, then nodded and threw out a Poké Ball.

Shiro only had two Pokémon, Rookidee and Gastly, neither of which could bite through the Dragon Scale.

But that didn't stop him from pretending as though he had the right Pokémon for the job.

Out of Bryan's Poké Ball emerged a pure white, upright rabbit with red ears. It was Scorbunny, the Fire-type starter from the Galar region.

Scorbunny's feet were long and thick, constantly bouncing in place, with small flames occasionally flaring around it.

From its appearance, Shiro could tell that this Scorbunny was close to evolving, likely at level 16.

"Hehe, let's see if I can get it to evolve through this battle," Bryan casually remarked.

Shiro nodded slightly and confidently said, "You go first."

Bryan didn't hesitate, shouting, "Scorbunny, use Fire Kick!"

'Fire Kick?'

Shiro quickly searched his mind, but couldn't recall a Fire-type move by that name.

Even so, he swiftly issued his command, "Rookidee! Use Quick Attack to dodge!"

On the battlefield, Scorbunny kicked off the ground with great force, launching itself into the air at incredible speed, far faster than Rylan's Jangmo-o. 

Pokémon like Scorbunny had a natural talent for speed, and its body was built for quick, offensive moves.

It spun mid-air and shot toward Rookidee with its flaming feet, delivering a powerful kick.

Rookidee reacted instantly.

With a sharp cry, it became a blur of gray light, narrowly avoiding the fiery strike. The moment it passed by Scorbunny, it clipped the Fire-type with its wing.

Caught off guard, Scorbunny lost balance midair, tumbling awkwardly toward the ground.

In the nick of time, Shiro had instructed Rookidee to use Quick Attack to dodge. If it had depended solely on its wings, it might have been hit.

The Fire Kick seemed to be a combination of two moves, making it incredibly strong. If Rookidee had been hit even once, it would have sustained serious damage.

"Hmph, not bad. You reacted well." Bryan nodded, impressed by Rookidee's swift dodge and counterattack.

"Rookidee, Hone Claws!" Shiro knew that Bryan's Scorbunny was strong, so he issued a hasty command once Rookidee had dodged.

Rookidee's body glowed with a white light, and it rubbed its claws together.

‘Is he feinting?’ Bryan narrowed his eyes.

After a brief hesitation, he commanded, "Scorbunny! Keep moving and use Growl!"

Growl was a move that lowered the opponent's attack. Bryan wasn't sure if Shiro was really going for an attack with Hone Claws or merely using it to feint. He had no choice but to issue the command.

If Rookidee was going to use Air Cutter, Scorbunny could quickly stop Growl and dodge.

But if Rookidee was really just using Hone Claws, then Growl would counteract the potential boost from Rookidee's move.

"Rooki!" Rookidee called out loudly, completing its move.

Despite being startled by the sound, Scorbunny still managed to use Growl.

"Scor!"

"Rookidee, Air Cutter!" Shiro quickly followed up with his next command.

**

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Chapter Text

Rookidee moved with incredible speed, its wings forming two sharp air blades that sliced toward Scorbunny from both sides.

"Dodge it!" Bryan commanded with a wave of his hand.

With Scorbunny's speed, a mere Air Cutter couldn’t hit it.

"Scor!"

Scorbunny leaped just in time, evading one of the air blades, but the other grazed its ear.

Hone Claws didn’t only boost attack power. It also increased accuracy, enhancing Rookidee’s dynamic vision and reaction speed.

These two air blades were precise, and one of them shaved off the red fur at the tip of Scorbunny’s left ear.

"Don't stop! Quick Attack!" Shiro ordered without missing a beat, pressing forward with relentless aggression to take down Scorbunny.

"Tch, Fire Kick!" Bryan knew he'd miscalculated with the Air Cutter and, seeing Shiro’s continuous attacks, he decided to counter with a direct clash.

Fire Kick was a move that combined Ember and Double Kick. At the current Beginner level, it could deal devastating damage, enough to leave an opponent of the same level badly injured.

Experienced trainers always trained their Pokémon to master move combinations, maximizing their attack potential.

On the battlefield, Scorbunny saw Rookidee charging forward, its body glowing with a gray-white energy. Without hesitation, it jumped and ignited its legs in flames.

But its Fire Kick hit nothing but air.

Rookidee hadn’t used Quick Attack to rush in. Instead, it remained airborne, using Hone Claws once more.

"Damn it!" Bryan cursed. He had reminded himself before the match to watch out for Shiro's deceptive commands, yet he still fell for it.

This wasn’t about the Pokémon’s strength. The real gap was in their trainers’ tactics.

By now, Rookidee had completed its Hone Claws, and without hesitation, Shiro issued the next command.

"Air Cutter!"

"Damn… Protect!" Bryan couldn't risk Scorbunny dodging this time. With Rookidee’s accuracy boosted twice, it had a high chance of landing a hit.

For a Beginner-level Pokémon, Scorbunny was quite fragile. It lacked the endurance to take a direct hit from the Air Cutter. If it got struck, its movements would be restricted, leading to an inevitable loss.

Bang, bang, bang....

A few soft impacts echoed as the Air Cutter struck the green protective barrier, sending ripples across its surface.

At the same level, Protect was nearly unbeatable, easily blocking Rookidee’s attack. But it couldn't be used in quick succession.

"Keep using Air Cutter!" Shiro commanded.

Rookidee remained airborne, staying just out of reach of Scorbunny. With its ranged attacks, it could wear the opponent down freely.

Bryan understood this all too well. His expression changed, but he couldn't think of a way to turn the situation around.

Before the next Air Cutter could land, he recalled Scorbunny into its Poké Ball. "I give up!"

Bryan conceded without hesitation, pulling his ID card from the metal pillar.

"Thanks for the match." Shiro retrieved Rookidee and removed his own ID card.

“Ugh…” Bryan scratched his head repeatedly, his gray hair now resembling a half-formed bird’s nest.

He sighed, “I didn’t expect to lose so quickly. Your commanding ability is truly impressive, much more than someone your age would have.”

“Heh, I just have a lot of ideas,” Shiro casually replied, accepting the money Bryan handed him.

It was 5000 Pokédollars. Shiro quickly glanced at it before looking back at Bryan.

“A small gesture, consider it a greeting gift.” Bryan waved his hand dismissively and left. He had only booked the one-hour package, and one battle was enough.

Shiro stood there for a moment, wondering if he had seen this guy before during his travels from Spikemuth to Hammerlocke. After recalling and dismissing the thought, he pocketed the money and prepared to leave the place. 

It was still early, and he had to make the most of his time to train. Not only for Rookidee and Gastly, but also for himself.

Shiro could feel his physical fitness improving from the intense daily training.

In the Pokémon world, food is often tied to the Pokémon, providing unimaginable nutrition. As a result, his body recovered very quickly.

After exiting the passage, Shiro asked Pym for an intermediate level training room and got straight to work.

Before he knew it, it was already afternoon.

During the training, Shiro noticed that after two victories, Rookidee’s strength had not only stabilized, but was now close to evolving. 

Rookidee was now at level 17, almost on the brink of evolution. It seemed ready to reach level 18 at any moment.

At level 18, Rookidee would evolve into Corvisquire, but now was not the time for evolution.

“Rooki-dee!”

Inside the training room, Rookidee flapped its wings and landed on Shiro's shoulder.

Its chest muscles were now more developed, and its wings had grown slightly longer due to continuous training and flying-type resources. However, its beak still remained the same.

Shiro planned to buy a Metal Coat from the black market to strengthen its beak. Once its beak’s strength was improved, he’d let it evolve.

The accumulation during a Pokémon's early stages is beneficial for their evolution. Many Corviknights lose their potential right after evolving and remain stuck at the Advanced-level for the rest of their lives, often because they weren't properly trained during their Rookidee stage.

Shiro gently stroked the feathers on Rookidee's head. Rookidee nuzzled its yellow belly fur against Shiro’s shoulder, shaking its head and flapping its wings to show Shiro that it could always feel a strange energy and impulse inside its body.

But it held back that impulse, feeling like its training wasn’t enough, like its body wasn’t fully developed yet.

“Your feeling is right…” Shiro recalled the advice from Grant.

He said that Flying was in the wings, and Steel was in the beak. This meant the two attributes of Corviknight needed to be trained in these areas. Right now, Rookidee’s beak isn’t fully trained, and its body lacks steel-type energy. That's why it feels incomplete.

Corviknights that became stagnant were often affected by this. They didn’t train their beaks with Metal Coat when they were Rookidee, causing them to lack steel-type energy in their bodies and making them weak after evolution.

“Looks like I need to buy not only Metal Coat but also some Steel-type Pokéblocks,” Shiro muttered to himself, holding Rookidee in front of him and massaging its body.

Whether for Shiro's current job as a sparring partner or for Rookidee itself, evolution isn't the best choice right now.

“Gass!”

Gastly, who had been silently watching them, shook its head and looked at Shiro with wide, pitiful eyes, its mouth open as if begging for a massage too.

“Alright, alright. One at a time…” Shiro said calmly.

**

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Chapter Text

“Gaass~”

Gastly squinted his eyes as ten fingers gently pressed against its body. It was as if it had discovered a whole new world. The purple gas surrounding it retracted into its form, and it yawned, revealing two small fangs.

“Rooki..." Rookidee lightly pecked at its feathers on Shiro's shoulder, its sharp eyes were filled with disdain as it observed its companion's behavior.

'How embarrassing. I would never act like that.'

With that thought, Rookidee nestled against Shiro's shoulder, curling into a small ball of blue feathers.

At the same time, Shiro was lost in thought, troubled by his financial situation.

He needed to buy a lot of materials. The black market opened by Rose wasn’t a place where prices could be bargained down, but at least it guaranteed quality and safety.

‘Looks like I’ll have to sell the Dragon Scale I got from Rylan. It should fetch a good price, and none of my Pokémon need a high-grade item like that anyway.’

Shiro planned it out in his mind, letting out a sigh at the difficulty of raising Pokémon.

The cost of raising Pokémon was no joke. And this was just two of them—plus, Gastly was practically left to fend for itself. If he took on another, it would be a nightmare. He might even have to resort to some risky business just to afford raising them.

……

After work, in the evening.

Shiro packed up and headed straight for the black market.

Following a familiar route, he arrived at the League convenience store, handed the shopkeeper a 1,000 Pokédollars deposit, and stepped into the black market once more.

The same dimly lit room. The same familiar snap of fingers. The space around him brightened in an instant, and with it, his location shifted.

Through the large floor-to-ceiling window beside him, Shiro could see the setting sun casting a deep crimson glow over the treetops of the Macro Cosmos garden, stretching long shadows across the ground.

"Oh? We meet again, Shiro. What can I get for you today?" The black cloaked man rested both elbows on the table, fingers interlocked, and asked casually.

“Is it you again?" Shiro questioned, a hint of doubt in his voice.

Logically speaking, the Macro Cosmos black market should have plenty of psychics acting as intermediaries. There was no reason he’d be meeting the same one twice.

"Hehe... That doesn't matter. What matters is what you need..." The cloaked figure lifted his face from beneath the wide hood, but in Shiro's eyes, it was nothing more than a shadowy blur.

“Metal Coat and Steel-type Pokéblocks.” Shiro stated directly, not bothering to dwell on the matter anymore.

"Alright." The man spread his hands, a faint pink psychic energy swirling in front of him. "A Metal Coat costs 50,000 Pokédollars. What quality of Steel-type Pokéblocks do you need?"

Hearing this, Shiro furrowed his brows, hesitating over the quality of Steel-type Pokéblocks. 

The quality determined the purity of the Pokéblocks. The higher the quality, the fewer impurities they contained. In this case, impurities referred to leftover berry fibers and bits of condensed fruit pulp. 

Low-quality Pokéblocks were safe to eat, but their overall energy content was much lower.

Moreover, high-quality Pokéblocks were rumored to include rare materials, enhancing energy fusion and boosting their effects.

Right now, both Rookidee and Gastly were eating intermediate Pokéblocks and had been for a while. However, if Rookidee continued consuming intermediate Steel-type Pokéblocks, it might reach the point of evolution before even finishing them.

If the process dragged on too long without the Pokéblocks taking full effect, it would be a wasted effort.

“How much for perfect-quality Pokéblocks?” Shiro asked, testing the waters.

“Hmm…” The cloaked figure paused. “10,000 Pokédollars for 100 pieces.”

“10,000?!” Shiro was surprised, though it was within his expectations.

A hundred Pokéblocks wouldn’t even cover three meals. At a consumption rate of 150 per day, a month’s supply would cost 450,000 Pokédollars.

This was practically burning money.

"I'll take five days' worth." Shiro calculated the cost and spoke.

He had a bit more than 200,000 Pokédollars left. After buying the Metal Coat and Steel-type Pokéblocks, he would still have 50,000 left to get some Ghost-type resources for Gastly. In the end, he’d have around 50,000 Pokédollars set aside as a backup.

"Alright, please wait a moment." The man raised both hands, and under the ripple of psychic energy, a Metal Coat and a box materialized on the table. "The Pokéblocks are inside the box."

He slid the items toward Shiro, accepting the Pokédollars in exchange.

"Do you need anything else?" The man returned to his previous posture, elbows resting on the table as he leaned forward slightly.

"Do you have anything infused with Ghost-type energy?" Shiro asked.

"Of course. Are you looking for berries or gemstones? Our Macro Cosmos company cultivates a variety of special berries, while the gemstones are meant to be worn long-term..." The cloaked man explained.

Shiro frowned slightly, "How much for the berries?"

"That depends on how much money you have." the man chuckled.

"Around 50,000 to 60,000."

"Then I highly recommend the Wraith Berry. It's a newly developed variety from our company, priced at 65,000 Pokédollars each."

......

Ten minutes later.

Pokémon Resource Shop No. 307, Hammerlocke.

Shiro took back his 1,000 Pokédollar deposit from the store owner, feeling the weight of his nearly empty wallet.

After those purchases, only 41,062 Pokédollars remained. He counted it carefully—twice.

He wasn’t sure if the black market was really that "black" or if he was just too broke. Raising two Pokémon had already cost him over a million Pokédollars.

But their growth had been significant.

Back home, Shiro immediately released Rookidee and Gastly from their Poké Balls and handed them the freshly bought resources, explaining their uses as he went.

"This is the Metal Coat. We will have to apply it layer by layer over your beak... it should take about seven or eight days. And these are the Steel-type Pokéblocks. You'll be eating them mixed with the Flying-type ones from now on."

As soon as he finished speaking, Rookidee eagerly grabbed a nearly transparent, iron-gray Pokéblock.

"Rook?" Without even chewing, Rookidee swallowed it down.

Its eyes widened as a surge of energy coursed through its body. It felt as if it hadn’t just eaten food but absorbed the core of some powerful energy.

"Gas!" Gastly, on the other hand, was practically bouncing with excitement. Lacking hands, it used its head to nudge the deep purple, almost black Wraith Berry, hopping around in front of Shiro.

"Alright, alright, I get it." Shiro caught Gastly and rubbed its head. "Put it away for now. You have training tomorrow—save it for then."

"Gass!" Gastly nodded enthusiastically. It had watched Rookidee eat a berry before, and now it was finally its turn.

"Rooki!" Rookidee, feeling an immediate surge of strength, was already looking forward to tomorrow’s training.

Shiro could only sigh and rub his forehead. "Get ready for bed soon, or you’ll be too tired tomorrow."

"Gas~"

"Rook~"

Both Pokémon responded at the same time.

**

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Chapter Text

The next day at the Hammerlocke Stadium.

Inside an intermediate-level training room, Shiro pushed himself through a grueling workout, performing frog jumps with weights strapped to his back. Each movement sent sharp pain coursing through his legs, his muscles burning as if filled with acid.

Even so, he pushed on, jumping forward one step at a time, determined to complete two laps around the training room.

Above him, Rookidee perched on an alloy bar, its eyes closed in rest. A thin, grayish-black film coated its beak, slowly melding into it—a process that would take a few hours. Since Rookidee rarely relied on its beak for attacks and focused more on improving its flight speed and Air Cutter, the Metal Coat’s integration didn’t interfere with its training. Still, Shiro had decided to let it rest for the morning.

Gastly, on the other hand, was hard at work. Its task was simple—force out every inherited move, no matter how weak the results were.

It had just reached the Beginner-level. Its talent was strong, and it had inherited many moves, but with its current abilities, some were still unusable.

"Gaass..."

A ghostly purple flame flickered around Gastly, its dark face full of determination. Sinister, inky-black Dark-type energy surged from its body, forming rippling waves that shattered against the alloy Pokémon target before dissipating into the air.

"Gass~"

Seeing that its attack still left no mark on the target, Gastly sighed in frustration. But the thought of the strange berry waiting for it after training reignited its motivation.

With Rookidee resting, Gastly had grown a little lax. If Shiro simply stood back and watched, it wouldn’t push itself as hard—no matter how tempting the reward was. But after days of rigorous training, Gastly hadn’t yet realized just how much its energy reserves had grown.

Just now, it had managed to release Dark Pulse—a high-level move—with only a brief charge-up, and without showing any obvious signs of exhaustion.

A few days ago, it couldn’t even use proper moves. Even attempting unfinished moves left it drained.

Rookidee had been watching all of this.

It understood that Gastly’s natural talent allowed it to grow stronger just through training. While it, despite having strengthened its Flying-type potential with the Fly Berry, still wasn’t on the same level.

Watching Gastly improve so quickly made Rookidee anxious—not just because it wanted to keep up through sheer effort, but because it refused to lose its position as the stronger one..

There was no way Rookidee would allow itself to become Gastly’s underling.

Hours later, as the sticky sensation on its beak finally faded, Rookidee stretched its wings and chirped, flapping urgently as it flew to where Shiro was resting against the wall.

"Rook! Rook!"

It beat its wings rapidly.

"Gaass…”

At the same time, Gastly was also exhausted, barely holding on. The purple flames around its body had dimmed significantly as it lay weakly beside Shiro, letting out faint cries.

"Alright, that's enough."

Shiro carefully inspected Rookidee’s beak and gave a small nod. "Looks like it’s done. You can resume training."

Rookidee’s beak had become even glossier than before. Previously, it still had the color and texture of a regular bird’s beak, but now it looked like a solid steel spike. Just the sight of it sent a chill down Shiro's spine.

Grant truly lived up to his reputation as a seasoned breeder of Rookidee. His experience and methods had proven highly effective.

Satisfied, Shiro patted Rookidee’s head, prompting it to take off immediately to resume training. Then, reaching into his backpack, he pulled out the berry he had purchased the day before and handed it to Gastly.

The moment Gastly saw the long-awaited special berry, its drowsiness vanished. 

Its eyes widened with excitement, and a grin spread across its face.

It devoured the berry in a few quick bites, then, as soon as the taste settled in, its eyelids drooped, and it slumped into Shiro's arms, fast asleep.

Shiro gently stroked Gastly while closing his own eyes to rest. He planned to wait until the stadium's break time before heading out for a meal to replenish his energy.

……

Time passed quickly—before he knew it, ten days had gone by.

During this time, Shiro focused entirely on training with Rookidee and Gastly. His routine was simple and low-profile, strictly moving between three locations.

His past experiences from school and work on Earth helped him endure the repetitive, monotonous lifestyle. While others might find it dull, Shiro saw it as steady progress.

Most trainers didn’t stay in one place for long. After spending a couple of days battling at Hammerlocke Stadium, they would head out on adventures in the Wild Area, returning only for supplies and battles.

This kind of restless lifestyle was common in Galar, along with the dangers that came with it.

Shiro’s plan, however, was different. He intended to push both Rookidee and Gastly past the Intermediate level before leaving Hammerlocke.

Right now, even though Rookidee had been steadily improving, it was still at Level 17. It could evolve at any time—just one step away from Level 18. However, after thorough research and consulting others, Shiro decided to hold off on its evolution.

A Pokémon’s evolution wasn’t just a change in appearance and physical attributes—it also rapidly converted all pre-evolution training into newfound strength. If a Pokémon’s foundation was solid, evolving at the right time could result in a massive leap in power.

Many trainers take advantage of this, using evolution as a way to break past strength barriers and boost their Pokémon's overall power.

For instance, experienced trainers often hold off on evolving their Corvisquire when it reaches Advanced-level, around level 37, choosing instead to let it accumulate more strength. By doing so, once it finally evolves, the stored power could propel it straight into Gym-level.

Shiro aimed for Rookidee to break into the Intermediate-level upon evolution.

Once Rookidee evolved into Corvisquire, Shiro would need to use a new Pokémon for the sparring partner job. This period of controlled growth was also beneficial for Gastly, allowing it to develop enough strength to challenge the sparring partner position.

Currently, Gastly had reached a stable position within the Beginner-level, sitting around Level 15.

Over the past ten days, Shiro received quite a few sparring requests. The Pokémon sent out by the challengers were mostly in their initial forms, but Shiro and Rookidee didn’t lose a single match.

The stadium’s payout system was straightforward. Earnings from battles were handed out immediately, and bets were settled on the spot. Thanks to his solid skills, Shiro had gained some recognition, drawing in more challengers. In just ten days, he had earned around 30,000 Pokédollars. 

"Phew... At this rate, making 100,000 a month is easy. If I focus on training both of them, could I even push them to Advanced-level before leaving the city?"

As the day neared its end, Shiro sat in an intermediate training room, counting his earnings.

Of course, he knew it was just wishful thinking. Reaching Advanced-level before leaving was unrealistic.

The resources needed to raise Pokémon from Intermediate to Advanced level were insanely expensive. Daily Intermediate Pokéblocks wouldn’t be enough. 

On top of that, without strong opponents in Hammerlocke to push his Pokémon further, their growth would inevitably slow down or stagnate.

**

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Chapter Text

These past few days, unless it’s for a training session, Shiro had been avoiding battles with other trainers.

He knew that many were just testing him, challenging him to a battle where they would bring out their strongest Pokémon to gauge his true strength. After that, they might think about what to do with the precious Dragon Scale he possessed.

The Dragon Scale from an Elite-level Salamence had become a hot potato in Shiro's hands. While it was of little use to him, he didn’t want to sell such a valuable item to the black market either.

The merchants there would undoubtedly try to drive the price down, and if he managed to get even a third of the scale's actual worth, that would already be considered lucky.

Ideally, the best course of action would have been finding a Gym-level trainer in Hammerlocke who had a genuine need for the scale. But there was a problem—Shiro lacked the connections to approach such powerful trainers.

And without the assurance of his own strength, he was worried that a Gym-level trainer might get greedy and forcibly take it from him.

Shiro didn’t believe that such powerful trainers would be willing to make a fair trade with a weak trainer like him.

As for contacting Rylan, Shiro truly couldn’t bring himself to take something from someone else and sell it to them again. He wasn’t even sure if Rylan would buy it, and if he mentioned it, he’d definitely reveal his lack of strength and expose the truth.

However, when it came to a typical Advanced-level or Intermediate-level trainer, they wouldn’t be able to use the scales either, which made it difficult for Shiro to find a suitable buyer.

So, the Dragon Scale had remained tucked away in his bag, unable to be turned into useful resources. It was a frustrating situation.

But judging by the past ten days, things weren’t as bad as they seemed.

On one hand, Shiro kept his situation strictly confidential. On the other, the buzz surrounding the Dragon Scale quickly faded and disappeared. Every day, there were new events at the Hammerlocke Stadium that helped erase people's memories.

Obviously, there were still some who kept an eye on him, likely returning to the black market to check if any dragon scales were being sold.

These were the people Shiro feared the most.

Especially the reckless ones. They were hoping to score big in their next job and then use the money to buy a new identity on the black market.

Because of this, Shiro’s daily routine had become even more cautious. He’d always take the safest route, and whenever a stranger challenged him, he would send them to the training area to spar with his Rookidee. 

Whether he was eating at a restaurant or simply walking around, he made sure to stay in crowded places.

Today was no different.

Shiro had just left Hammerlocke Stadium, making his way back to his rented two-story house. The evening sun bathed the streets in a deep, reddish glow.

Along the way, he was greeted by a few people who recognized him as the new, quiet training partner. Most of them just nodded and waved before going on their way.

Soon, Shiro arrived at his doorstep. Just as he was about to take out his key to open the door, his hand paused.

There was a rug spread out in front of his door. 

Shiro always made sure to smooth it out in one direction before he left. But now, there were a few unfamiliar shoe prints on it.

Someone had found his house.

And Shiro was certain these people were after the Dragon Scale.

It was the only valuable and conspicuous item he had.

After closely examining the keyhole and the door gap, he confirmed there was no sign of forced entry. Shiro quickly opened the door, stepped inside, and shut it behind him.

He went upstairs, put his bag aside in the bedroom, and pulled out the Dragon Scale.

Shiro had made up his mind to sell it directly and exchange it for resources that would benefit his Rookidee and Gastly. He didn’t want to constantly live in fear of being harassed by those who lurked in the shadows, waiting to take advantage of him.

But if he went to the black market now, the scale would be worth a fraction of its true value.

A few days ago, he had asked Bryan if there were any other places to trade besides the black market. Bryan had suggested that he buy a laptop from the black market instead.

A laptop.

At first, Shiro was confused. He had subconsciously thought the current Pokémon world did not have things like smartphones or laptops. But then he remembered seeing the staff at the Hammerlocke Stadium using computers to record information when he arrived.

In the Pokémon world, there is a lot of advanced technology, and communication devices are abundant. However, most of them are expensive and must be bought from the black market. Ordinary residents of small towns and cities don’t typically need such devices, which is why they are rarely seen in use on the streets.

The Galar region’s internet is also tightly controlled by Macro Cosmos, and there is no access to search browsers for information. Everything visible is pre-arranged content.

That said, trainers outside Macro Cosmos’ control, especially certain gym leaders, have set up their own websites free from the black market, allowing them to trade with each other.

In places like Hammerlocke, such transactions are even backed by the city’s gym.

Shiro was planning to buy one tomorrow, which would cost around 20,000 to 30,000 Pokédollars.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Just as Shiro was brushing his teeth and thinking, he heard loud knocking on the door downstairs.

The knocking was heavy and forceful, almost like someone was banging on the door.

“Pfft...” Shiro spat out the mouthwash he had been using, wiped his mouth, then clipped all of his Pokéballs onto his waist.

Before heading downstairs, he silently released Rookidee. 

A familiar voice called out from the other side of the door.

"Is anyone there? Is Shiro inside?"

Shiro narrowed his eyes.

He walked to the door and opened it slightly—just enough to get a look at the visitor.

Upon recognizing the man, he slowly pulled the door open wider.

Standing there was Hugo, the tall, thin man with long, curly orange hair. He greeted him with a smile and a casual wave.

"Shiro, my friend. Mind if I come in and have a seat?”

Hearing this, Shiro shifted his gaze to the large man in a black cloak standing behind him, his eyes silently asking for an explanation.

"Oh, this is Dorian. He wants to discuss a business deal with you. So... what do you think?” Hugo grinned, as he gestured for Shiro to let them in.

Shiro checked to make sure no one else was with them and nodded in agreement.

“Please, come in.”

He opened the door fully, allowing Hugo and Dorian to step inside before shutting it behind them.

Dorian tilted his head slightly, observing how cautiously Shiro had handled their arrival.

Once inside, both men took seats on the couch in the living room.

"Just tell me what you're here for," Shiro said as he sat opposite them, not interested in any pleasantries.

He still remembered the last time Hugo invited him to a “friendly” battle in his training room.

While the stadium was safe and secure, Shiro never ruled out the possibility of encountering Psychic or Ghost-type Pokémon. Many of them possessed mind control and hypnosis abilities—without proper countermeasures, it would be no different from being dead.

This time, Hugo had brought someone with him, clearly prepared for a negotiation. The footprints on the doormat outside were likely left from their earlier scouting.

This was Shiro’s home. Entering without knowing how many Pokémon he had was a risky move.

Since they had stepped inside, they had probably abandoned any thoughts of using force in the transaction. No matter how weak Shiro might seem, in his own home, he wouldn’t go down silently. As long as he made enough noise, it would attract the authorities in Hammerlocke, and that would be trouble for them.

As Shiro had anticipated, Hugo wasted no time and went straight to the point.

“We want to buy the Dragon Scale you have.”

**

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Your support means a lot, thank you!

Chapter Text

Shiro wasn’t surprised when he heard that Hugo wanted to buy the Dragon Scale.

“How much are you offering?” he asked.

"The black market price for the Dragon Scale is around two million Pokédollars, but its actual value should be about five million Pokédollars," Hugo said confidently, smiling as he spoke. "Our offer is three and a half million, plus the feather powder from an Elite-level Corviknight. Your Rookidee should be ready to evolve soon, right?

Shiro nodded. At Hammerlocke Stadium, his job was to serve as a sparring partner for Rookidee. With daily battles, it was easy to tell howstrong it was and whether it was ready to evolve.

An Elite-level Corviknight was incredibly powerful, its feathers as hard as real steel. The powder it produced naturally contained both Flying and Steel-type energy, which would be highly beneficial for Rookidee. 

For the Dragon Scale, three and a half million Pokédollars was a fair price.

Shiro could tell that Hugo was sincere and truly wanted to buy the scale.

“We came here with sincerity,” Hugo said as he took out a League Card and a black metal box from his bag, placing them on the table. “We can complete the transaction right now if you’re ready.”

He gestured for Shiro to bring out the Dragon Scale.

“Alright.” With an offer like this, Shiro had no reason to refuse.

He wasn’t familiar with the black market outside Macro Cosmos' control, and he didn’t trust it. 

Even if he could sell it for five or six million Pokédollars, it wasn’t as good as the guaranteed three and a half million and the valuable resource for Rookidee right in front of him.

Shiro stood up and walked toward the stairs.

Hugo and Dorian both watched him closely. Moments later, Shiro returned holding a cloth bundle.

“The Dragon Scale,” he said, spreading the bundle on the table to reveal the precious blue scale inside.

“Alright!" Hugo grinned, his joy evident. He could sense the powerful aura of the dragon-type Pokémon radiating from the scale. Without hesitation, he slid the League Card and the black metal box toward Shiro.

Dorian silently lifted his head, his gaze fixed on the items worth millions of Pokédollars. 

Under his black cloak was a fierce-looking face, bald and menacing. It was the same man who had teamed up with Hugo before to test Shiro's strength. 

“Dorian, let’s go,” Hugo said as he carefully wrapped the Dragon Scale and put it in his backpack, still smiling.

Shiro also inspected the League Card and the powder in the metal box. Once he confirmed everything was in order, he gave a slight smile.

With these resources, he could likely stay in Hammerlocke for another year or two. Maybe even wait until Rookidee reaches Advanced-level. 

Without strength, Shiro wasn’t interested in taking risks. Slowly staying in one place to train and grow was the safest option.

"Alright, we'll be on our way then." Hugo glanced at Shiro with a smile before turning toward the door.

Now that he had secured the Dragon Scale, Hugo planned to flip it on the shadow black market—a network outside Macro Cosmos’ reach. There, he could easily sell it for far more than its estimated value.

Though officially priced at five million Pokédollars, items like this were always in high demand but short supply. It wouldn’t be surprising if the price soared to six or even seven million once listed.

Based on his estimates, it could go for around 6.5 million. After deducting the 3.5 million Pokédollars and the Corviknight feather powder worth 300,000, he would still be looking at a profit of at least 2.7 million—maybe even more.

The thought of such massive profits left Hugo elated. He practically danced toward the door.

But just as he reached for the doorknob, his tall, slender frame suddenly froze.

A claw, covered in Ghost-type energy, pierced through Hugo’s back, emerging from his abdomen, before quickly retracting, leaving a trail of crimson blood behind.

"Ugh… Dorian, you…"

Hugo didn't even need to think. He instantly realized the bald man behind him had betrayed him. 

Staggering as he turned around, he reached for the Poké Ball at his waist, but before he could grab it, a pink claw slashed through his wrist, severing his hand.

“Hmph.” Dorian just sneered, not bothering to explain himself. He had always gotten along well with Hugo. Their relationship was solid, and Hugo had even taken care of him in various ways throughout their time in Hammerlocke. 

But with a prize worth millions of Pokédollars sitting right in front of him, in a secluded little house—who could possibly resist?

Dorian certainly couldn’t.

As a wanted criminal, he had long since lost the ability to hold back.

"Morgrem! Kill the kid upstairs!" Dorian growled while yanking the backpack from Hugo’s lifeless body.

The Pokémon with the pink claw stepped forward—a small pinkish-red skinned humanoid creature.  

It bared a cruel grin and turned its gaze to the second floor.

Crash!

The sound of shattering glass echoed from above.

Shiro had never fully trusted them. After stashing his earnings, he had hidden on the second floor, carefully observing the two men.

He wanted to wait until they were completely gone before securing his belongings.

But instead of witnessing them suddenly spin around and attack him after the trade, he had stumbled upon an entirely different betrayal.

'Guess it worked out anyway.'

Shiro moved without hesitation. He grabbed his backpack, his entire fortune inside, secured the league card and metal box, then gave the signal.

His Rookidee unleashed an Air Cutter, shattering the window. Without wasting a second, Shiro leaped through the opening and escaped.

Morgrem, a Pokémon with a three-stage evolution, evolves from Impidimp at level 32, reaching Advanced-level strength at minimum.

And this Morgrem had clearly just evolved, its power still fresh and unrefined. Still, it was more than strong enough to completely overwhelm Shiro. It could knock out both his Rookidee and Gastly with ease.

The smartest move now was to escape.

Killing someone in a hidden corner of Hammerlocke wasn’t a big deal. As long as the body was dealt with and no one reported it, there wouldn’t be much trouble.

But if someone was killed in broad daylight or a body was left behind, the police would be on the scene in no time, tracking down the culprit like hungry wolves.

Solving cases earned them rewards from the Dragon Taming family behind the scenes.

Dorian knew this well. That’s why he stayed behind to deal with the corpse, sending Morgrem after Shiro.

With its Dark and Fairy typing, Morgrem had plenty of tricks to deceive opponents and make a clean escape. Even if it ran into the police, as long as it didn’t get caught, it wouldn’t be a problem.

First floor, inside the house.

"This brat isn’t strong, but he’s cautious," Dorian muttered, pulling out a Poké Ball. "Come out, Grimer. Clean this mess up!"

A purple sludge-like Pokémon appeared on the floor, reeking of filth. It wriggled forward, engulfing Hugo’s corpse completely. 

Moments later, it spat out a League Card and a set of keys.

Dorian picked them up and stuffed them into his pocket.

The League Card held the last of Hugo’s money. The keys belonged to his house in Hammerlocke.

Once he got his hands on Shiro, Dorian planned to head straight to the black market for a new identity.

**

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Chapter Text

As the glass shattered, Shiro leaped from the second floor of the small house.

Dropping from a height of around six meters, he felt a jolt run through his body upon landing but quickly steadied himself. Without hesitation, he took off running into the distance.

Thanks to his grueling training, his physical condition had improved far beyond what it was back in Spikemuth. Sprinting through the alleys, he felt as light as a feather.

But not as fast as Morgrem.

Shiro had barely made it ten meters when the red-skinned, dark purple haired imp poked its head out from the second-floor window.

Morgrem bent its legs, gathering power before launching itself into the air. Limbs spread wide, it pounced straight at the fleeing Shiro.

The golden-red sunset cast long shadows over the brown-gray alley, stretching a dark streak forward on the uneven stone pavement.

Seeing this, Shiro's pupils contracted. He threw himself into a roll to the side.

Morgrem landed exactly where he had stood moments ago, its long, messy hair swaying as it lifted its head.

"Rookidee! Air Cutter!" Shiro commanded mid-roll.

Rookidee didn't waste any time. Always hovering nearby, it flapped its wings sharply. Two sharp gray-white blades of compressed air shot forward, slamming into Morgrem's face just as it looked up.

Strands of dark-purple hair fluttered to the ground. Morgrem staggered slightly, but its claws quickly darkened, coated in ghostly energy. It sprang toward Shiro agagain.

"Gastly!"

At Shiro's signal, Gastly, who had been floating in front of him, immediately unleashed Hypnosis. 

The moment it was hit, Morgrem's movements noticeably slowed. Shiro seized the chance and sprinted toward the alley’s exit.

Even so, despite feeling drowsy, Morgrem kept its eyes locked on him. The difference in strength made Gastly’s Hypnosis too weak to fully take effect.

"Shadow Ball!" While running, Shiro tossed Gastly into the air. It instantly gathered several small Shadow Balls and launched them straight at the relentless Morgrem. Each one struck its mark, hitting Morgrem head-on.

But instead of weakening it, the pain only snapped it back to full awareness. Snarling, it lunged again, its body now shrouded in Dark-type energy.

"Rookidee!"

At Shiro's command, the already-prepared Rookidee used Quick Attack, slamming into Morgrem's side at full speed.

Caught off guard, Morgrem's forward lunge veered sharply to the side. It tumbled across the ground before flipping back onto its feet.

"Morgreeem!" It shrieked in fury, swiping wildly at the air as if trying to claw Shiro from thin air.

By the time it realized what had happened, Shiro had already dashed out of the alley, recalling both his Pokémon remotely with their Poké Balls.

"Mor-GREM!"

Morgrem let out another roar and leaped forward with a powerful push.

It soared out of the alley and landed on all fours, claws scraping against the pavement.

But despite the dim evening light, the streets outside were still bustling with people. Morgrem looked around but couldn't spot Shiro in the crowd.

Frustrated, it dashed straight to the middle of the street, standing upright as it scanned its surroundings.

"Ah! Whose damn Pokémon is this?!" An elderly woman cursed loudly after Morgrem brushed against her clothes.

Hammerlocke had strict rules forbidding Pokémon above the Novice-level from appearing in public streets—let alone an Advanced-level Morgrem.

This road led directly to the main avenue, packed with commuters at this rush hour. The dense crowd gave Shiro perfect cover.

"Whose Pokémon is this?" A uniformed stadium staff member happened to be passing by. Spotting Morgrem, he stepped forward and questioned the crowd.

"Who knows?"

"Which idiot let their Pokémon loose in the middle of the street..."

"Morrrg!"

The chaotic murmurs around were abruptly silenced by Morgrem’s sharp cry.

Already agitated from losing track of Shiro, its frustration only grew under the dim hues of dusk and the ceaseless chatter of the crowd.

Without hesitation, it unleashed Shadow Claw, slashing wildly to scatter the bystanders.

"Ahh!"

Screams spread like wildfire. Some people pulled out their communication devices, dialing in a panic.

"Reporting! There’s a Pokémon attack on West Street! It’s an Advanced-level Morgrem! Trainer unknown!"

"Someone let their Pokémon loose on the streets—!"

"Move! Get away from it!"

As the voices overlapped in rising panic, Morgrem had already broken free from the crowd.

Dorian had given it clear orders—if it failed to kill the boy, it had to escape before anyone could capture it.

Amid the fleeing people, Shiro moved quickly, swapping into a gray cloak and pulling up the hood. Watching Morgrem vanish down the road, he quietly slipped along the edge of the street, heading toward Hammerlocke’s main street.

‘Morgrem will go straight to Dorian, and Dorian will definitely try to change his identity at the black market.’

With that in mind, Shiro made his way toward his destination—League-affiliated Store No. 307.

……

The last remnants of sunlight had completely vanished, deep blue swallowing the horizon where red once lingered.

Though it was already night time, the League Store No. 307 remained open.

Or rather, it never closed.

In front of the entrance, flanked by two tall green plants, stood a burly, cloaked figure—Dorian. Arms crossed, he waited in silence.

He had been waiting for nearly ten minutes, well aware that Morgrem was in great danger.

If it had killed the boy and retrieved the items immediately, it should have arrived by now. 

The delay meant only one thing—Shiro had escaped. Worse, Morgrem had likely run into Hammerlocke’s police. 

The police wouldn’t give up until they captured Morgrem.

With that in mind, Dorian turned around, briefly glancing at a gray-cloaked trainer who brushed past him. Dismissing the stranger, he prepared to head inside and secure a new identity.

As for Morgrem—losing it was a shame, considering how much effort he had put into raising it. But so be it. With the Dragon Scale in hand, he could sell it off and buy two or three Advanced-level Pokémon with ease.

Dorian was still calculating prices and Pokémon options in his mind. Just as his hand was about to touch the convenience store’s glass door, a sudden sharp pain shot through his lower back.

"Mm!" He grunted, reacting instantly as his hand shot toward his waist.

But before he could reach his Poké Ball, a swift Air Cutter slashed his hand mid-motion. 

As Dorian staggered back, trying to retreat, a faint ripple of psychic energy struck him square in the face—Gastly's Hypnosis.

"You—"

Dorian barely got a word out before Shiro’s knife sank into his throat.

The burly, bald man slumped forward without finishing his sentence.

Shiro caught him before he could collapse, keeping him upright. To the passersby, it appeared as nothing more than two cloaked figures in quiet conversation.

No one suspected a thing—for now.

"Just as expected from a wanted criminal. All your Pokémon are bought, huh? Locked tight, every single one..."

Muttering into the dead man's ear, Shiro calmly pried the Poké Balls from his belt.

**

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Chapter Text

"Hmph..."

After looting Dorian's body, Shiro pulled off his backpack.

With nothing blocking the view, the fat shopkeeper stood behind the glass door, grinning as he leaned in closer, watching Shiro through the glass.

"Hey there, kid..." Shiro read the shopkeeper’s lips and guessed his words from the faint voice coming through. "Why not come inside and change into some fresh clothes?"

His heart tightened. Scanning the street, he noticed the peculiar looks from passing strangers. Without a word, he nodded and pushed open the glass door.

The moment he stepped in, Dorian’s corpse, still draped in a black cloak, lay sprawled on the floor. Yet, the shopkeeper didn’t look the least bit surprised or panicked. Instead, he scooped up the body like it was a crumpled bill and casually tossed it into a small room in the store.

"Now, let's talk about the price of a set of clothes." The fat shopkeeper sat behind the counter, his excess flesh nearly spilling over it. He wasn’t worried at all that Shiro might try to run.

"How much?" Shiro asked, his gaze shifting toward the people outside. The moves from his two Pokémon had been pretty obvious. Some sharp-eyed onlookers had already noticed something was off and were inching closer to investigate.

In Hammerlocke, reporting a murder was highly rewarding. The League paid handsomely, and there were no risks involved. 

As long as the police found the body, they could use Psychic-type Pokémon to reconstruct the events leading to the victim’s death, making it easy to identify the killer.

On top of that, the Hammerlocke Gym guaranteed the anonymity of informants. If there were any dangers, they’d even offer protection.

“Hehe... Relax." The fat shopkeeper followed Shiro's gaze and noticed the people outside. Instead of worrying, his grin widened. "One million Pokédollars."

"One million?" A cold, murderous glint flashed in Shiro's eyes.

A new identity card on the black market only cost two hundred thousand. Yet this fat bastard wanted a million just to deal with a corpse.

"If you try to run, they'll catch you. And I'll make sure the body gets found," the shopkeeper said calmly. "Even if you get a new identity on the black market, you still have to leave through my shop. Your face isn’t changing anytime soon."

Shiro stayed silent. Seeing this, the shopkeeper snorted.

"I know you. You're that Rookidee sparring partner from the stadium, Shiro. Last time, you bought your identity card from the black market too, didn’t you?” He sneered again. "And that Dragon Scale you got from Rylan..."

The shopkeeper's intentions were clear—he wanted to take advantage of Shiro's predicament and extort him for a large sum.

"Fine..." Shiro glanced at the watchful crowd outside and laid down his terms. "But you deal with them first. The body's in your hands. I need to know you can handle this, not just rip me off and sell me out.”

"Deal!" The shopkeeper’s grin stretched from ear to ear as he grabbed the only Poké Ball on his belt. "Come out, Phantump!"

The ball cracked open, but Shiro saw nothing—until a pair of crimson pupils emerged from the air.

Phantump had a small, black body, a wooden stump for a head, and big, glowing red eyes. Tiny branches sprouted from its sides.

Legends said it was the spirit of a child who had died lost in the forest, reborn by possessing a tree stump. A Ghost/Grass-type Pokémon.

Its strength was at the Intermediate level.

Phantump floated slowly toward the room where the shopkeeper had tossed Dorian’s body. With ease, it phased right through the door. Moments later, the door creaked open.

Out walked Dorian.

The bald, black-cloaked man moved forward step by step. But his movements were stiff, his joints rigid, as if afflicted by some chronic disease.

Anyone familiar with him would notice the difference immediately.

But now, it was already nighttime. The men gathered outside the store’s glass door could only make out a few vague, shadowy figures.

"Should we... go inside and check?" one man in tattered clothes whispered.

They all saw Shiro holding Dorian down and unleashing his Pokémon’s attacks, but now, with no corpse in sight, they weren’t sure what to make of the situation.

"Hey, why don't we just report this to the police?" muttered a short old man, glancing at the others. While the reward could only be claimed once a body was found, at his age, he wasn’t willing to take any risks.

"Should we go in?"

"Maybe we should just leave it alone. There’s probably something—"

Swish–

Before they could finish deliberating, the glass door suddenly swung open from the inside. 

Everyone instinctively stepped back, watching as a tall man in a black cloak strode past them and disappeared into the night.

"What the..." The old man blinked in confusion before suddenly realizing something. He turned and ran after Dorian, who had supposedly just been killed.

The others quickly followed suit.

Within seconds, the crowd that had gathered outside the store dispersed, drawn toward the "revived" Dorian.

His corpse, now controlled by Phantump, moved swiftly along the edge of the street.

The short old man struggled to keep up but eventually managed to grab the hem of Dorian’s black cloak, refusing to let go. 

He shouted, "Stop right there! You’re the guy who killed someone just now, aren’t you? Huh? Take off your hood and let me see your face!"

"Yeah! Take it off! Let’s go, we’re turning you in!" The others caught up, grabbing at Dorian’s cloak as well.

Under Phantump’s control, Dorian’s corpse came to an abrupt stop. The people behind hesitated, ready to jump in and subdue him if needed.

"Mmm..." A low grunt escaped from Dorian as he turned around and pulled back his hood. 

His bald, scarred face scanned the crowd, sending a shiver through those standing too close.

Since he had only just died, his face still looked normal. The old man hesitated, taking a few steps back as he exchanged uncertain glances with the others.

They hadn’t expected this. It really was the man they thought had been killed—not that kid from before.

"He’s... not dead?" The old man muttered, his voice uncertain.

Dorian let out another deep grunt. "Mmm?"

"S-Sorry, big guy, our mistake. Just a misunderstanding, a complete misunderstanding..." One of the ragged men hurriedly waved his hands in apology before turning and running off.

Seeing this, the others glanced at each other, then quietly backed away as well.

Soon, Dorian—his body still under Phantump’s control—lowered his hood and disappeared into the darkness.

......

Back inside the store.

The fat shopkeeper casually pointed a finger toward the glass door. "Well, kid? Looks like they’re all gone. The body is still in my hands..."

"Fine!" Shiro didn’t hesitate. "One million Pokédollars, right?"

He dropped his backpack onto the counter and started digging through the three and a half million Pokédollars he had gotten from Hugo.

“No…” The shopkeeper’s eyes locked onto the bag, practically glowing. "Three million now, kid."

**

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Chapter Text

"Three million?" Shiro's voice wavered slightly.

If it were just one million Pokédollars, he wouldn't mind paying to avoid trouble, especially after securing the Dragon Scale and the three and a half million from Hugo. 

Both he and the shopkeeper would profit, and Shiro could accept that.

But suddenly raising the price to three million? That was beyond his limit.

He had no reliable way to sell the Dragon Scale yet, nor did he understand the black market's so-called online transactions. He feared someone would track him down and kill him for it.

If he paid three million, then all the danger he faced tonight would be for nothing.

And who was to say this greedy bastard wouldn't keep raising the price?

"Raising it to three million out of nowhere, isn't that a bit..." Shiro frowned at the shopkeeper, but the man didn't seem to see anything wrong. Instead, he leaned closer, wagging a stubby, radish-like finger at Shiro.

"I know your situation clearly," the shopkeeper sneered. "Your strength is exactly what it looks like—nothing special. You're no heir of some big shot family from Kanto. Just a black market nobody with a new face." His grin stretched across his fat face.

Shiro simply stared at him.

Seeing no response, the shopkeeper pressed forward, planting both hands on the counter and tilting his chin up.

"Heh, not willing? If you give me one million, I'll keep the body for now—but tomorrow? Who knows? But for three million, I'll dispose of it right in front of you. Problem solved."

"Mm..." Shiro gave a short hum, nodding slightly.

"Haha, that's more like—"

The shopkeeper's words caught in his throat.

Shiro's hand, already gripping the knife in his pocket, lashed out with lightning speed, piercing straight through the man's neck.

It was clean. Precise. He was already well-practiced.

A wet, gurgling sound filled the air as the blade slid out. Blood, like overflowing wine from a barrel, spilled rapidly down the man's throat.

The shopkeeper's eyes twitched in shock. He couldn't comprehend how this kid had the guts to kill him here.

Even at night, as an official League store, it was supposed to remain operational.

He was also an informant for the Hammerlocke Gym. If anyone noticed his disappearance, the police would arrive in no time and conduct a thorough investigation of everyone who had entered and exited the store.

Shiro wouldn't be able to escape.

He could feel his life slipping away. His vision blurred, darkening at the edges. His body went limp, collapsing forward.

Shiro withdrew the knife, and with nothing left to support him, the shopkeeper crashed onto the counter.

In the dimly lit store, only the faint glow from the streetlights outside crept through the glass. A pool of blood spread beneath the shopkeeper, slowly dripping off the edge of the counter.

Shiro quickly gathered his belongings, ignoring the corpse. Then, moving swiftly, he began searching the store.

He grabbed a good number of high quality Ghost, Flying, and Steel-type Pokéblocks. After that, he swept all the long-shelved Pokémon items into his bag.

With everything he needed, Shiro took a deep breath and walked toward the black market entrance—hidden behind a door leading to the Macro Cosmos building.

Creak...

The door swung open, revealing pitch-black darkness inside.

Shiro stepped in and shut the door behind him. 

He had no idea if the black market was still operational—or what awaited him on the other side.

The tense wait made Shiro break into a cold sweat. As chaotic thoughts about how to escape from Hammerlocke swirled in his mind, a crisp snap of fingers brought him a moment of relief.

A faint pink glow flashed, instantly filling the room with light. Shiro raised an arm to shield his eyes, unaccustomed to the sudden brightness. After a brief moment, he relaxed completely.

His surroundings remained the same—an all-too-familiar room with massive floor-to-ceiling windows, beyond which stretched the night.

He had been teleported from Hammerlocke straight into the Macro Cosmos building.

"What would you like, sir?" A deep, magnetic voice, different from the previous black market merchants before, echoed unhurriedly through the room.

Hearing this, Shiro finally let go of his lingering tension and sat down across from the merchant draped in a large black cloak. Exhaustion washed over him at that moment.

"I want to..." Shiro hesitated, then cautiously asked, "Can you teleport me somewhere else?"

"Heh..." The cloaked figure let out a chuckle, its meaning unclear. Then, he explained, "Of course. That is one of our services."

Shiro nodded slowly. This black market was just as he expected—if they could use psychic abilities to transport him to the Macro Cosmos building, they could surely send him elsewhere as well.

Now, he just had to decide where to go.

Staying in Hammerlocke was out of the question. Fortunately, he had no real friends there and had left nothing important behind in his residence.

Shiro was cautious. He kept all his belongings and wealth inside his backpack, carrying everything with him at all times, no matter where he went.

"Well then..." He was still considering his options. He wasn't familiar with Galar's cities and had no particular destination in mind.

"Hehe, sir. Perhaps before you leave, you'd like to trade for some additional goods?" The cloaked figure gently reminded, then offered a recommendation. "You might be interested in a high-level Pokémon that has been... 'tamed.'"

"Tamed?" Shiro's brows furrowed slightly.

"Indeed..." The merchant spread his hands, allowing a faint pink glow of psychic energy to flicker between them. One by one, images of Pokémon materialized in the air.

Inteleon, Cinderace, Rillaboom, Unfezant, Mudsdale, Bewear, Grimmsnarl...

Each one was at least at the Gym-level, but without exception, their eyes were dull and lifeless—empty, as if their minds had been wiped.

"This is our company's latest research breakthrough. These Pokémon will obey their trainer's every command... heh." The merchant's words trailed off, leaving behind an eerie chuckle.

Shiro immediately understood. It must be some kind of brainwashing technique. Similar devices and experiments had appeared multiple times in the Pokémon world—even Legendary Pokémon had been subjected to such control.

"And their strength?" That was his primary concern.

"They will follow orders immediately. If you don't tell them to stop, they won't. Of course, they will never develop true synergy with their trainer—but they are obedient." The merchant paused briefly, then added, "However, their strength will never improve."

Shiro nodded in understanding, deep in thought.

The advantage of these Pokémon lay in their high levels and strong physical attributes. But because they had been brainwashed by some kind of device, their move sets were frozen in place—they could no longer be trained or learn new techniques.

Battling wouldn't help them grow stronger either.

In short, these Pokémon were nothing more than tools.

**

**

**

Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:

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Your support means a lot, thank you!

Chapter Text

"Well? Sir, would you like to purchase a high-level Pokémon like this? It would be quite useful for adventuring in the wild." The cloaked man spoke calmly, as if he didn’t particularly care whether Shiro bought it or not.

Shiro was definitely interested. A Pokémon like this only needed daily feeding and could provide solid protection while his Gastly and Rookidee grew stronger.

"How much?" Shiro asked.

"That depends on the specific strength of the Pokémon you choose," The man explained slowly. "An early-stage Gym-level Pokémon and a late-stage one have very different prices."

Once a Pokémon reached the Gym-level, each small improvement came with a significant price increase. Those that had been at that stage for a long time had mastered more moves and had much higher proficiency than those that had just reached it.

"Then... how much for that Rhyperior?" Shiro pointed to the psychic projection the cloaked man had displayed.

The Rhyperior had brownish-gray skin covered in orange-red armor plates that looked extremely durable. 

Its strength was at the later stages of the Gym-level.

"Oh? This one is quite powerful." The cloaked figure clasped his hands together. When he opened them again, a special gray Poké Ball appeared in his palm. Through its semi-transparent casing, the Rhyperior inside could be faintly seen.

"It evolved using a held item, so the price is... three million Pokédollars." The cloaked man placed the Poké Ball in the center of the table. "For comparison, a newly advanced Gym-level Pokémon of this level would cost around 1.5 million."

Since all Advanced-level and higher Pokémon sold on the black market had undergone brainwashing, their prices were fixed within a certain range and were typically much lower than high-quality training resources.

That was because any Pokémon at the Advanced level or above—whether caught in the wild or stolen—inevitably had obedience issues. This made their resale or trade-in value significantly lower.

A trainer's true strength came from Pokémon they had raised from a young age, building bonds and trust. Otherwise, many Pokémon would remain locked in their Poké Balls, and even when sent into battle, they might refuse to fight properly.

The difference was clear—one was merely a tool, while the other was a trained companion.

"I’ll take it." Shiro didn’t hesitate. He knew the price was inflated, especially for a brainwashed Pokémon that could never improve its strength. 

But this was the black market. As long as it served its purpose and gave him peace of mind, he could accept it.

He retrieved the money from his bag and completed the transaction. Then, he placed all the Poké Balls he had taken from Dorian onto the table.

There were five in total, all locked. Dorian had no bond or understanding with them, and Shiro had no intention of keeping them either.

The Pokémon included two Advanced-level Rillaboom and Thievul, two Intermediate-level Nuzleaf and Grimer, and a Beginner-level Wooloo.

"That’ll be 397,000 Pokédollars." After using his psychic power to assess the Pokémon’s conditions and strength, the cloaked man quickly calculated the price. He then took the corresponding amount from the thick stack of bills Shiro had given him and returned the rest.

After the transactions, Shiro was left with around a million Pokédollars, aside from the Dragon Scale.

The cloaked man leaned closer and asked, "Would you like to purchase anything else? Perhaps a Pokémon with high potential?"

"No," Shiro shook his head. As much as he wanted to acquire more resources for his Pokémon, his immediate priority was finding a safe location. "How much to teleport me to the Wild Area?"

"The Wild Area..." The man seemed to be considering it.

The Wild Area was a vast stretch of untamed land in the central-southern part of Galar, home to various Pokémon of different types. Many trainers ventured there to train and explore.

It was also a place where identity and regulations didn’t matter. Only money and strength dictated survival.

"Just 5,000 Pokédollars," The man said. "Many people travel between the Wild Area and the cities daily, so we have dedicated teleportation channels."

"Alright." Shiro felt a weight lift off his chest. He then asked about resources for training Rookidee and Gastly.

A short while later...

Shiro spent 400,000 Pokédollars to purchase two special berries—Blackwing Berry and Darkshade Berry—said to be high-quality exclusive products of the Macro Cosmos company. They were particularly beneficial for the growth of low-level Pokémon.

He also spent 100,000 Pokédollars on some Exp. Candies and 300,000 on an item specifically for Gastly: the Linking Cord, a rope infused with special energy. It was a necessary item for evolving Haunter into Gengar, and he made sure to get the best quality available.

Shiro also bought a portable communication device—essentially a Pokémon version of a laptop—for a little over 10,000 Pokédollars.

Now, he was nearly out of money, with only around 150,000 Pokédollars left.

"Alright, let's begin." After packing up his things, he handed the merchant 5,000 Pokédollars, signaling for him to proceed.

"Very well..." The cloaked man's voice suddenly became hoarse and distorted, his figure twisting unnaturally.

The surroundings plunged into darkness. The man vanished along with the light.

A wave of nausea hit Shiro. Instinctively, he shut his eyes.

……

The Wild Area connected several towns and was known for its ever-changing terrain and climate. Countless Pokémon lived there, and the species that appeared varied depending on the time, location, and weather.

It was also the heart of Dynamax phenomena. By locating Pokémon dens, one could also find wild Gigantamax Pokémon. Beyond that, trainers in the Wild Area could gather berries and items, earn Watts, and participate in Rotom Rally races.

It was a haven for those living off the grid in Galar—and the best place for trainers to grow stronger.

East Lake Axewell.

Inside a League store marked by a blue sign with a cloud symbol, a middle-aged woman with sallow skin lazily leaned against the counter, flicking through a few Pokédollar bills with her fingers.

It was past 7 p.m. Even the most seasoned trainers and adventurers would be looking for a safe place to camp for the night.

The League store was about to close.

Clang—

The iron door, a symbol of the black market, suddenly slid open. The woman glanced over and saw a cold-faced young man stepping out after surveying his surroundings.

It was Shiro.

After scanning the store and confirming that aside from an older woman, there was no one else, he finally walked out.

The woman watching him wore a faded red T-shirt stained with dust. Her baggy brown pants were splattered with mud, blending into the fabric’s color.

"Newcomer?" She swept the bills together with one hand, stuffing them behind the counter. "Name’s Ruth. Call me whatever you want. I run this place, but we’re about to close."

Shiro was about to nod when Ruth casually pointed toward a wooden door on the side.

"Guest rooms over there. 2,000 Pokédollars per night. You staying, or are you planning to sleep outside and feed the Pokémon instead?"

"..."

Shiro stayed silent for a moment. Instead of responding, he stepped outside and looked around.

The store was built on a small green hill. On one side, steep cliffs rose high, while the other sloped downward toward a tall metal fence at the hilltop.

Under the cover of night, the landscape beyond the fence had already faded into darkness.

If Shiro wanted to leave, he would have to step past that barrier.

A clear reminder of just how dangerous the Wild Area was.

**

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Chapter Text

After observing for a while, Shiro walked back into the shop and gave in without hesitation.

"I'll stay."

"Hmm... Pay up." The shopkeeper, Ruth, responded casually. Once she took the 2,000 Pokédollars from Shiro, she gave a slight nod toward the wooden door.

"There's a hallway in the back. Just pick an empty room," She waved him along, signaling for him to hurry inside.

Seeing how indifferent she was, Shiro didn't expect much from the so-called guest rooms. As long as he had a place to stay, it was enough.

He opened the door, revealing a dimly lit hallway about three meters wide, lined with wooden doors on both sides.

Shiro picked one at random and pushed it open. Empty.

Inside was just a bed. Further in, there was a small bathroom, and that was it.

After locking the door, he released Rookidee and Gastly. The two Pokémon flew a few laps around the room.

Only after confirming there were no safety issues did Shiro set down his backpack. He took out some Pokéblocks for his Pokémon, then casually ate some dry rations from his bag before lying down fully clothed.

Gastly and Rookidee weren't spoiled. Even though they'd left home, they quickly settled in, curling up on the bed and falling asleep.

The night grew deep.

……

At dawn, a faint golden hue appeared on the horizon.

Shiro's internal clock naturally woke him. He got up and washed up quickly.

Hearing the noise, Gastly drowsily opened its eyes and saw Rookidee flapping its wings and taking off. It circled twice above the room, stretching its body.

"Gaasss..." Gastly let out a slow hiss.

Before it could fully wake up, Shiro had already taken out the Pokéblocks, placing them in two small trays.

Gastly got the pure Ghost-type Pokéblocks, while Rookidee's were a mix of Flying and Steel-type.

After taking down the fat shopkeeper and looting his stock, their food quality had completely upgraded to advanced-quality, just one step away from the rare perfect-quality.

"Sigh... Murder and arson do pay well," Shiro muttered, sitting on the bed and biting into his dry rations as he watched his Pokémon eat heartily.

After accounting for the items he bought from the black market, he carefully went through what he had taken from the fat shopkeeper.

There were eight Pokémon items in total: three Everstones, two Mystic Waters, two Miracle Seeds, and one Dragon Fang.

He also had a massive supply of Pokéblocks, enough to feed his two Pokémon for an entire year.

Once Rookidee and Gastly finished eating and Shiro packed up, he recalled them into their Poké Balls and stepped out of the room.

It was around six in the morning. The red-carpeted hallway was completely empty.

It wasn't surprising—this place rarely had guests. In fact, Shiro hadn't seen another trainer stay here since he arrived.

Arriving before the door leading to the shop, Shiro opened it and stepped outside.

"Yo, up early, huh, kid?"

Behind the counter, Ruth was sorting through some things. She hadn't changed her clothes, and her waxy complexion looked even more exhausted. Shiro had a strong suspicion she had just spent the entire night slumped over the counter.

But the shopkeeper didn't seem to care. Seeing that Shiro hadn't left yet, she slapped the counter and asked,

"What? You came to the Wild Area without stocking up on healing sprays and a tent? Want to buy some now?”

It was just an offhand guess, but she was right. Shiro had arrived in a hurry and hadn't prepared anything.

"Yeah," Shiro responded and stepped up to the counter. "What kind of healing sprays and tents do you have? How much?"

"If you're traveling alone, I recommend healing sprays from the Macro Cosmos company. One bottle... 500 Pokédollars. As for tents, there's only one type, 1,000 Pokédollars each." Ruth leaned on the counter as she spoke.

"Ten bottles of spray and two tents." Shiro pulled out 7,000 Pokédollars and handed them over.

The shopkeeper took the money, walked into the room behind the counter, and brought out the items.

Shiro stuffed everything into his backpack and walked out of the Pokémon League shop.

Early in the morning, dewdrops clung to the grass on the hillside, glistening under the soft light. The cool, crisp air was refreshing, lifting his mood.

He walked to the metal fence at the edge of the slope and gave it a light push. To his surprise, the gate wasn't locked—it swung open easily.

It was Shiro's first time in the Wild Area, and he was not very familiar with the surroundings.

He planned to walk around the area first, checking if there were any gathering spots for trainers—places where small vendors clustered together.

The slope led down to a lush grassland, with a lake shimmering in the distance.

Lake Axewell sat at the heart of the Wild Area. No matter where you were, you could always see it. The Water-type Pokémon living there varied in strength depending on location.

At this early hour, aside from a few Blipbug wriggling in the grass, there wasn't a single person in sight.

The whole area felt empty. Only the occasional rustling in the grass and trees hinted at the presence of Pokémon.

Still, he did notice something.

Near the lakeside, beneath a tree, were messy, darkened footprints. The trampled grass had mixed with the dirt below. Similar signs of activity appeared at other spots along the lake's edge.

'People must have stopped here to rest before. I just came too early to see them,' Shiro analyzed.

He had planned to find someone who could guide him, someone familiar with the Wild Area. But now, it seemed he'd have to figure things out himself.

That worked for him. He wanted to find a good spot for training first and return around noon.

To his left, the grassy field stretched into a sparse grove. To the right, the path curved behind the hill.

Shiro headed left, toward the trees.

He carried plenty of Poké Balls. The Wild Area had no shortage of Pokémon. If he found one with good potential, he would catch it.

"Come out, Rookidee, Gastly."

Some distance away from the grove, he released both of his Pokémon.

In this unfamiliar place, he had no reason to hide his strength. The black market had already equipped him with a powerful backup—a brainwashed Rhyperior at the Gym-level.

The gap between Advanced-level and Gym-level was significant, which was why most trainers ended up stuck at the former stage.

But with Rhyperior on his team, Shiro had no reason to fear most Advanced-level trainers anymore. And if he ever encountered a Gym-level opponent, he'd just run.

As Shiro stepped into the small forest, rustling sounds echoed from all directions.

He ignored the noise, knowing they were just weak Bug- or Grass-type Pokémon, not worth his attention. He kept moving forward with Rookidee and Gastly by his side.

Before long, a few round, pinkish-purple Pokémon peeked out from the branches. The three green leaves on their heads blended seamlessly with the surrounding trees.

**

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Chapter Text

Bounsweet's body resembled a mangosteen, with its lower half being white, like exposed fruit flesh, and two small, adorable feet extending from it. Three green calyx leaves sprouted from its head, with two positioned horizontally. Its bright yellow eyes added to its innocent, endearing charm.

But when dozens of Bounsweet poked their heads out from the bushes in unison, all staring Shiro at the same time, it became somewhat unsettling.

If these little creatures weren’t just at the Beginner level at best, Shiro might have sent out his Rhyperior immediately to clear them out.

He had been misled by his past gaming habits, assuming there were only a couple of Pokémon hiding among the trees. Instead, he'd walked straight into an entire Pokémon colony.

"Dee-dee!"

Rookidee, however, wasn't concerned at all. It excitedly flapped up to a tree branch and began chirping away, engaging in what seemed to be a lively conversation with the Bounsweet.

Gastly, on the other hand, floated curiously among the trees, hovering near one plump Bounsweet before drifting over to another, slightly slimmer one.

Seeing that Shiro and his Pokémon weren’t hostile, the Bounsweet slowly let down their guard. While a few stayed to interact with Rookidee, most retreated into the trees.

Shiro quickened his pace.

He wanted to find an open space, somewhere without large clusters of wild Pokémon.

The last thing he needed was for his training to cause a disturbance, making the wild Pokémon think he was attacking them.

"Gaassstly!"

While walking, Gastly suddenly darted past him, floating ahead to explore the woods first.

Since this area wasn’t far from human settlements, the wild Pokémon here weren’t particularly strong or numerous, and their aggression was relatively low. That made it a fairly safe place.

After covering another hundred meters or so, Rookidee rushed over from behind, flapping its wings excitedly as it hovered in front of Shiro.

It now had a small satchel woven from leaves slung across its back. Inside was a faintly pinkish liquid, giving off a light, sweet fragrance.

"This is a gift from Bounsweet?" Shiro asked with a chuckle, reaching out to take the leaf pouch from Rookidee’s back.

"Rook-rook!"

Rookidee nodded eagerly and then nudged the pouch with its head, urging Shiro to try it.

The leaf pouch was only about the size of half a palm, and the liquid inside was barely enough for a few sips. But just from smelling it, Shiro already felt a strange sense of clarity and calmness.

Bounsweet’s juice was known to calm and stabilize one’s mood.

"Gaasss..."

At this time, Gastly floated over from the front, its eyes widening as drool dripped from its mouth.

Seeing its expression, Shiro smiled faintly. He took a small sip, then offered the pouch to both Gastly and Rookidee.

"You two try it too."

Although Rookidee had carried it over, it didn’t actually know what it tasted like. The scent had been lingering behind it the entire way, making it gulp repeatedly.

Shiro could tell from the way Rookidee’s eyes darted back and forth that it was just as eager to try Bounsweet’s juice.

Still, the little bird stood proudly on Shiro’s forearm, holding its head high with a hint of stubborn pride.

"Gaasss..."

Gastly eyed the leaf pouch, hastily licking away the drool gathering at the corner of its mouth. Since Rookidee had carried it back, it decided to let its "elder brother" drink first.

Shiro taking a sip was one thing, but Gastly couldn’t just selfishly snatch it away.

Gently, it nudged Shiro’s hand toward Rookidee, then cast the little bird a pitiful look, silently urging it to drink first.

"Rook..."

Seeing this, Rookidee finally buried its beak into the pouch, took two quick sips, then fluttered up to perch on Shiro’s shoulder.

“Gaasstly!"

Gastly no longer held back, burying its face in the leaf pouch and drinking up the remaining sweet liquid in no time.

"Gaasss..."

It swayed slightly, a satisfied grin on its face.

"Let’s go." Shiro tucked the empty leaf pouch into his backpack and continued forward.

As the trees grew denser, the number of wild Pokémon in sight also increased. Nitcket and Zigzagoon, for instance, often peeked out from behind trees, watching cautiously. But the moment Shiro turned to look at them, they quickly turned and fled.

Shiro steadily made his way toward a rugged mountain slope.

The rocky outcrop jutted outward, with no trees growing nearby, leaving a sizable patch of open grassland.

There were no signs of wild Pokémon here. This kind of open space wasn’t ideal for hiding.

"C'mon!" Shiro picked up his pace and signaled for Rookidee and Gastly to follow.

Both Pokémon were faster than him, reaching the center of the grassland first.

After scanning the surroundings for a while and confirming there were no people or threats, Shiro leaned against the rock and pulled training weights from his backpack, laying them on the grass.

Realizing what was coming, Rookidee and Gastly immediately understood that training was about to begin. They moved in front of Shiro, ready.

"Hold on," Shiro said, knowing how eager they were but deciding it wasn’t time yet. Taking out a gray Poké Ball, he called out, "Come out, Rhyperior."

This was the first time he released the Rhyperior he had purchased.

Its dark, powerful body was built like solid rock, with thick arms and a sturdy tail. The creature was clad in an orange, armor-like shell. Just as he had seen before, this Rhyperior had an imposing presence.

Its two drill-like horns, particularly the larger one, gleamed with a grayish-silver metallic sheen, resembling reinforced steel—clearly the result of specialized training.

Yet, its dull eyes gave it a vacant, almost foolish look as it stared blankly ahead.

Standing over five meters tall, its massive body took up a significant portion of the clearing.

"Rhyperior?" Shiro called, testing its response.

The sluggish Rhyperior slowly turned its head toward him. Though its eyes were now focused on him, there was still a robotic stiffness to its movements.

Shiro took out some berries and placed them in front of Rhyperior.

"Eat."

Immediately, Rhyperior lowered itself, devouring the berries in just a few bites.

Meanwhile, Shiro rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.

He had completely forgotten to buy Ground- and Rock-type Pokéblocks. If Rhyperior only ate berries, his supply wouldn’t last long.

‘Well, since it couldn’t grow stronger anyway, the cheapest Pokéblocks would do,’ Shiro thought, looking at the Pokémon. 

The only real burden Rhyperior posed was its massive appetite. As long as it was fed, it could continue working.

"Okay." Shiro had no immediate use for this brute, so he gave it a simple task. "Rhyperior, stand guard here. If any strangers or wild Pokémon approach, just give a loud roar to alert me."

"Rhhhaa..."

Rhyperior responded with a slow nod and a deep call before lumbering over to the clearing's edge, standing still like a statue.

Intrigued, Rookidee and Gastly circled around the towering newcomer, inspecting it from every angle, their curiosity evident.

"Alright, enough messing around! Training time!" Shiro called, snapping them out of their fascination.

**

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Chapter Text

Before the training started, Shiro fastened an Everstone around Rookidee.

It had actually been Rookidee's own request. After learning that evolving too soon could limit its potential, it had insisted on wearing the stone to prevent any unwanted changes.

This way, it no longer had to deliberately hold back its level.

Shiro planned to keep the Everstone on Rookidee until it reached the intermediate level before letting it evolve into Corvisquire. After that, Corvisquire would continue wearing the Everstone, only removing it when it was close to the Gym level to break through in one go.

Currently, Rookidee’s strength was already nearing that threshold, hovering around Level 19.

Its main focus in training at the moment was Tailwind.

Since it hadn’t inherited many moves from its parents, its natural talent was average at best, making Tailwind especially difficult to learn.

However, the move Shiro wanted it to master the most was something else—Protect, the most versatile defensive move.

Unfortunately, Rookidee showed no sign of grasping it. Shiro was considering buying a TM to help it learn the move.

"Gaasstly!"

Out on the grassy field, Gastly gleefully floated in midair, its shadowy form flickering as dark energy swirled above its purple-black gaseous body.

A moment later, a distortion took shape in the air, and in the blink of an eye, a jagged hole matching its shadow’s form appeared on the tree in front of it.

This was Night Shade, a high level Ghost-type move.

Gastly could barely pull it off at this point. Right now, its strength is roughly around Level 16.

Thanks to Shiro’s focused training, Gastly had developed exceptional control over its Ghost-type abilities. It could even stay inside Shiro’s shadow for brief moments.

Once it grew strong enough to stay hidden inside his shadow for extended periods, Shiro would essentially have a personal bodyguard with him at all times.

……

As the training continued, the sun rose higher, illuminating the small clearing nestled between the trees and the towering mountains. 

By now, It was already noon.

This area was remote, and with Rhyperior standing guard, Shiro and his Pokémon could train in peace without any interference from wild Pokémon or passing trainers.

After feeding the exhausted Rookidee and Gastly the special berries—Blackwing and Darkshade—Shiro recalled them into their Poké Balls.

"Rhyperior!" he called.

The massive Pokémon turned its head sluggishly before being recalled as well.

With everything packed, Shiro set off, retracing his steps along the familiar path.

Just as he entered the woods, a brilliant red beam shot into the sky from a few hundred meters away.

"Dynamax phenomenon!" Shiro let out a surprised cry.

Before he could react any further, the ground beneath him trembled, and the surrounding trees quivered. He quickly stumbled behind a sturdy trunk for cover.

Dynamax was a signature phenomenon of the Galar region, caused by a meteorite crashing into the land thousands of years ago. That meteorite had contained Eternatus, a powerful Pokémon, whose energy had spread across Galar. Pokémon that absorbed this energy could undergo temporary transformations.

When a Pokémon releases this special energy, it distorts the surrounding space, making the Pokémon appear far larger than its actual size. Once Dynamaxed, a Pokémon’s physical form expands dramatically, and its stamina receives a massive boost.

Normally, these special zones contained rare materials, attracting countless trainers eager to claim them.

"Dynamax..."

As the tremors subsided, Shiro slowly stood up, debating whether he should try his luck.

In the Wild Area, Dynamax occurrences happened randomly—sometimes a dozen in a day, sometimes only one or two.

He was well aware of the risks. Yet, even as his mind weighed the dangers, his body instinctively moved forward, drawn toward the phenomenon.

What if he got lucky and found something valuable?

He wasn’t the only one thinking this way. As he carefully approached, three Corviknights and two Unfezants soared overhead, racing toward the same destination.

After walking for another few minutes, Shiro came to a halt.

Up ahead lay the boundary of the Dynamax phenomenon.

A massive dome of deep red energy, spanning several hundred meters in radius, engulfed the surrounding forest and grassy slopes. But what stood out the most was the group of trainers in gray uniforms stationed at the perimeter, shouting through megaphones.

"This area is now under the control of Macro Cosmos! Unauthorized personnel, stay back! This area is now under the control of Macro Cosmos! Unauthorized personnel—"

"Damn it, these Macro Cosmos guys think they own everything!" a trainer spat as he dismounted from his Unfezant.

His voice carried a little too far, drawing the attention of a nearby Macro Cosmos trainer. The man stomped over, his expression gloomy.

"The hell did you just say?"

"I...!" The trainer quickly waved his hands, scrambling to return his Unfezant to its Poké Ball. "No, no, big guy, you got it all wrong..."

Noticing the commotion, several other burly men in gray uniforms started closing in. Realizing he was about to be surrounded, the trainer turned around and ran.

Chasing someone through the forest wasn’t easy, and the Macro Cosmos trainer didn’t seem too eager to waste the effort. They let him go, retreating to the perimeter to resume their patrol.

Shiro watched for a moment, then turned and left as well, following his original path back toward the eastern shore of Lake Axewell.

He wasn’t sure if Macro Cosmos always took over these Dynamax events in the Wild Area, but their trainers were strong—far beyond what he could handle. 

There was no way he could sneak in unnoticed and scavenge anything.

……

By noon, the eastern shore of Lake Axewell was bustling with activity. As a well-known safe zone, it had become the largest trade market in the surrounding area.

The crowd was scattered yet lively, with people conducting business while keeping a reasonable distance from each other.

Just as Shiro stepped out from the sparse woods, a hurried voice called out.

"Hey, buddy! You got the goods? How much? I'll take it all."

The speaker was a man wearing a white hat and a matching face mask, with sunglasses concealing his entire face.

He carried a massive backpack, nearly half his height, and had a sturdy build. Blocking Shiro’s path, he stood firmly in place.

Shiro paused, momentarily confused, then shook his head and waved dismissively, assuming the man had mistaken him for someone else.

Before he could take another step, the masked man quickly blocked his path again. 

"Wait! Don't go just yet! I'll pay 1,000 Pokédollars for every Watt!"

"Watt?" Shiro blinked, recalling that in the games, Dynamax energy was measured in Watts and could be collected.

‘Is that actually possible in real life too?’

While pondering this, he asked directly, "Are you talking about Dynamax energy?" 

The masked man, clearly a Watt Trader, stepped closer, prompting Shiro to instinctively take a step back.

"So you do know..." the trader muttered, reaching into his pocket. A moment later, he pulled out a thick wad of Pokédollars. Gesturing toward the fading red glow in the distance, he continued,

"You did just come from there, right? You should have collected at least a hundred Watts of Dynamax energy. I saw the Macro Cosmos guys heading that way earlier. Once they leave, there’s always plenty of energy left to grab."

Shiro followed his gaze, then shook his head.

**

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Chapter Text

"Hey! Buddy, I can add another 200 to the price. Don't go!"

The Watt Trader refused to back down, assuming Shiro didn’t want to sell and was looking for someone else to trade with.

Shiro exhaled deeply and explained truthfully.

"I really don’t have any Watts. I don’t even have anything to collect them with. You should find someone else."

"What?" The trader made a sound of disbelief. Then, he pulled a device from his bag that looked like an upside-down funnel and waved it in front of Shiro. “Seriously? you don’t have one of these? Did you just arrive in the Wild Area last night?”

Shiro nodded silently.

Seeing his serious expression, the man hesitated, his mouth opening slightly before closing again, at a loss for words.

Of all people, he had to waste time on someone who had just arrived last night. Looking around, he noticed that his competitors had already finished dealing with the other returning trainers.

With the misunderstanding settled, Shiro stepped around him, intending to explore and find something to eat.

"Wait! Hold on, buddy~" The trader rushed up again, this time shoving the Watt Collector toward Shiro. "How about this? One thousand Pokédollars. It’s yours."

"Huh?" Shiro was caught off guard. He hadn’t expected the guy to try selling him the device instead. He hesitated. "But—"

"But what?" The trader pushed the device closer. "Brand new. Quality guaranteed."

"How do I know if you're overcharging me? I don’t even know the market price." Shiro stepped aside again, waving a hand dismissively.

He had no idea how much this thing should cost. Unfamiliar with it and the person selling it, there was no way he’d buy it. Even if it were free, he’d have to wonder if there was a catch.

"Then I’ll just give it to you!" The trader forcibly stuffed the device into Shiro's hands. “Come on, man. Let’s be friends!”

Before he could refuse, the man turned and ran off.

Shiro stood there in silence, staring at the device in his hands.

'There's definitely something wrong with this thing.'

Still, he put it in his backpack. Only when the trader was completely out of sight did he turn his attention to a skinny man sitting by the lake behind a small stall.

The man wore a loose black shirt and gray pants, sitting cross-legged without moving. In front of him were several Watt Collectors identical to the one in Shiro’s hand.

Shiro walked over, his steps quiet against the grass. Stopping in front of the stall, he crouched down, his eyes on the devices.

"How much for one?" he asked.

"Five thousand Pokédollars." The man held up five fingers that looked like dried twigs. His voice was low. "Ask anyone around Lake Axewell. That’s the price."

"Five thousand..." Shiro took out the device from his backpack and compared it to the ones on display. They were exactly the same.

That previous trader had switched tactics the moment he realized Shiro was new—not buying Watts but offloading this device onto him.

Shiro didn’t believe in random acts of kindness. No way a stranger would just hand something over for free to "make friends."

"Can you check if there's anything wrong with this?" He held out the device.

The skinny man just stared at Shiro without moving.

Shiro added, "Help me take a look, and I'll buy one once you're done."

"Alright." The man finally reacted. He reached out with his bony fingers, took the Watt Collector, and examined it carefully.

After a brief inspection, he scoffed and tossed it back to Shiro with a cold chuckle.

"There's a tracking device inside. If you try to remove it, it'll send an alert to the owner. Let me guess—you got this cheap? Or did someone give it to you?"

"Found it." Shiro kept his response brief as he retrieved 5,000 Pokédollars and handed it over to purchase a new Watt Collector.

"How do I use this?” He asked.

"It's simple," the man explained. "Just hold the handle and point the funnel-shaped base toward the red energy inside a Dynamax space. The device will absorb it automatically.”

Shiro nodded, committing the instructions to memory. He then placed both Watt Collectors into his backpack, ensuring they were secure before heading out.

He didn't throw away the one the shady trader had given him.

That guy might have been targeting him for money, but Shiro had his own eyes on the man’s cash too.

After all, in the lawless Wild Area, robbing and looting were the fastest ways to make money.

He wandered around a bit more, spotting several trainers selling Pokémon meat and berries at makeshift stalls.

But instead of buying food from them, he made his way up the slope leading to the League store, deciding to stock up on rations there.

Shiro didn’t trust the food sold by these trainer-vendors. Mainly because no one else was buying from them.

Pokémon meat and milk could be hunted or gathered, and berries were easy to pick. But the ones being sold here weren’t necessarily fresh—and who knew what might have been added to them?

At the store, he stocked up on enough rations and berries to last half a month. He also purchased a Berry Encyclopedia to help identify berries in the wild.

There were simply too many types of berries, each with different effects. His vague memories from games and anime weren't enough to rely on.

Even the common berries listed in the book numbered in the dozens, and some of the same kind looked slightly different. As for those cultivated by humans, there was no way to keep track of them all.

For now, though, recognizing the common ones would be enough.

He also bought a detailed map of the Wild Area for 5,000 Pokédollars. It marked the territories of various Pokémon species along with rough estimates of their strength.

With everything he needed, Shiro followed the map toward his chosen training location.

His Rookidee and Gastly had been focusing on honing their moves and improving their physical attributes, but they needed actual combat experience as well.

Shiro chose the Scraggy territory on the northwest side of Lake Axewell—a cave and the grassy area outside it.

The colony only had one Intermediate-level leader. The rest were at Beginner or Novice levels, and there wasn’t a single evolved Scrafty among them.

A long time ago, this Scraggy colony had been much larger, even boasting a Scrafty at the Gym-level as their leader. Unfortunately, they had caught the attention of Macro Cosmos. Every Scraggy with potential, including their leader, was captured. This left the entire Scraggy colony in ruins.

Their territory shrank drastically, and they could no longer even hold their own against the nearby Minccino population.

"Looks like a good training spot..."

By now, Shiro had reached the northern side of Lake Axewell on foot. Along the way, he encountered several hostile wild Pokémon, but none were particularly strong.

Every time he released his Rhyperior from its Poké Ball, the wild Pokémon would immediately flee in terror.

**

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Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Boom!

The ground trembled as Rhyperior landed heavily. 

Linoone, unable to stop in time, crashed headfirst into the massive Pokémon's stone-like body. A dull thud echoed as it stumbled back, dazed.

Shiro watched as Linoone swayed unsteadily. "Rhyperior! Crush it!"

At his command, Rhyperior slowly raised its enormous, hammer-like arms high above its head. Air rippled from the sheer force as it swung down toward the disoriented Linoone. 

Linoone froze, its body seizing up as the powerful blow slammed into its midsection, driving it deep into the ground. It lay there, twitching, like an insect crushed under a fingertip.

"Linoone!" Goddard's eyes widened in horror. He let out a furious shout, but his charging steps slowed. A second later, he turned and sprinted in the opposite direction.

He never imagined that a mere "rookie" could have a Pokémon this powerful.

'This can't be real!’

Without a second thought, Goddard abandoned his Pokémon, muttering under his breath as he ran for his life. “Shit, shit, shit—”

Lyle stood frozen, dumbfounded. "What the hell… is happening?”

A supposed rookie had sent out a Gym-level Pokémon and crushed Goddard's Linoone like it was nothing. 

His stunned expression remained as Goddard raced past him.

Meanwhile, Shiro had already locked onto the conspicuous Watt Trader in white at the edge of the forest. Wasting no time, he gave another order.

"Rhyperior! Drill Run! Kill the guy in white!"

"Rhy..." Rhyperior let out a roar, its dull eyes locking onto its new target. Though slower to react than normal Pokémon, its pursuit ability remained unaffected.

It lowered its massive body, and the colossal drill on its head began to spin. Then, the entire creature started rotating, like a living, oversized demolition machine, launching forward with unstoppable force.

Its sheer power and speed created a conical white vortex in the air, and wherever it passed, the ground was left scarred with deep trenches.

The air pressure alone sent a chill down Goddard’s spine. He glanced back in a panic, just in time to see Lyle turn and flee. His Pokémon scrambled to intercept the behemoth—only to be knocked out instantly, their bodies tossed aside like ragdolls.

Then the drill struck.

Shredding through flesh and bone, it left behind nothing but scattered remnants.

"Mercy! Please, have mercy!" Goddard screamed, his limbs moving frantically as he charged into the forest.

Crash! Crash! Crash!

Trees toppled one after another. The sound of destruction grew louder.

Death was closing in.

But Shiro couldn't hear his pleas, and Rhyperior wasn’t capable of mercy. It was a tool—nothing more.

"Come on, come on!" Goddard fumbled desperately with his Poké Balls, unlocking them all at once. "Block it! Do something, damn it!"

Two Vikavolt burst into the air, immediately veering off in opposite directions to escape. A Greedent with sleek brown-red fur barely emerged before diving underground in terror.

His last hope—a Unfezant, the only one capable of carrying him away—ignored his screams entirely and soared straight up.

As the bird climbed higher, Goddard’s desperate expression remained frozen beneath its deep green underbelly. A moment later, his body burst apart into a mist of red.

Unfezant let out a cry and vanished into the distant sky.

"Rhy..."

Rhyperior slowly came to a halt. The target was gone. Without anything left to attack, it simply stood there, motionless.

The area behind it was a wasteland of broken trees and torn earth.

Moments later, Shiro strode over.

He first crouched near Lyle’s shredded remains, unfazed by the gruesome sight, and rummaged through what was left. Retrieving a few Poké Balls, he recalled the two unconscious ones inside. Then, near the trench Rhyperior had carved, he spotted Goddard's torn-up backpack.

The massive Pokémon stood in place, eyes vacant, staring at nothing in particular.

As Shiro sorted through his spoils, Rookidee and Gastly flew over from the Scraggy den. They perched on Rhyperior’s shoulders, one on each side.

They had spent most of the day together and had already grown accustomed to this slow yet powerful giant.

“Roo-ki!"

Rookidee had just finished a battle, though it had not won, the surge of experience left it brimming with energy. It hopped onto Rhyperior’s head, tapping its beak against the Pokémon’s massive drill horn.

Tock, tock, tock...

Despite its enthusiasm, the tiny bird couldn't leave even the faintest mark.

"Gaaaastly~"

Gastly also floated over, mimicking Rookidee as it tried ramming into the drill.

No effect.

While his two Pokémon played, Shiro finished counting the spoils from the two unfortunate trainers.

From Lyle, he found only four Poké Balls, each containing an Advanced-level Pokémon—worth around 400,000 Pokédollars on the black market. And Goddard’s massive backpack held 800,000 Pokédollars in cash, along with five League cards of unknown value.

"Tch, rich bastard..." Shiro mused before stuffing everything into his own bag.

One ambush, and he’d already made over a million.

"Shame about his Pokémon, though. All of them ran off..." He sighed. The ones that flew away or burrowed underground were practically money slipping through his fingers.

Goddard’s team had mostly been bought, barely trained, and completely lacking in loyalty. The moment danger struck, they scattered.

Aside from the Linoone that died at the start, the rest fled the first chance they got.

Shaking his head and putting the matter behind, Shiro packed up and returned Rhyperior to its Poké Ball. Rookidee and Gastly perched on his shoulders as he glanced over the devastated battlefield.

‘Looks like robbing trainers in the wild is the fastest way to get stronger.’ He pondered whether he could lure more hunters into an ambush.

Probably not.

Anyone who survived in the wild this long had a decent sense of caution. The only reason these two had fallen for it was because Goddard, a greedy Watt Trader, happened to cross paths with the wrong person.

Why would a normal trainer go out of their way to ambush and kill someone without knowing their true strength?

Shiro clicked his tongue, knocking his knuckles against his forehead. A missed opportunity.

"Rook! Rook!"

Rookidee suddenly hopped on his shoulder, clearly excited about something.

Shiro caught the eager bird in his hands, inspecting it closely. "What’s up?"

"Rooki-rook!"

Rookidee frantically shook its head, tapping its beak against the Everstone around its neck.

"You made a breakthrough?" Shiro’s eyes lit up as he understood its meaning. 

After fighting the leader of the Scraggy colony, Rookidee had officially reached intermediate-level, roughly level 21.

According to Shiro’s original plan, Rookidee had finished accumulating enough experience. Now, it was time to remove the Everstone and let it evolve into Corvisquire.

Rookidee cared deeply about its evolution. It wanted to become a strong, imposing Corviknight.

**

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Chapter Text

"Hold on, let me take a look..."

Shiro carefully examined Rookidee in his arms, studying everything from its head feathers to its beak, wings, back, chest, and talons. 

Only after confirming that every part of it was well-trained—far stronger than an ordinary Rookidee—did he nod in satisfaction.

Since Rookidee lacked natural talent, it had to put in more effort to grow stronger.

"Alright, I’ll remove the Everstone now." He reached for the gray stone necklace hanging around Rookidee’s neck and took it off.

"Rooki-dee!"

Without the obstruction of the Everstone, the little bird spread its wings and let out a sharp cry, soaring into the sky as a soft white glow enveloped its body.

The radiance intensified until it became almost blinding, completely swallowing Rookidee. Then, two long, black-edged blue wings stretched out, cutting through the light.

As the glow shattered, a sleek, imposing Corvisquire descended, its wingspan stretching over two meters. True to its name, it resembled a raven, its feathers a deep blue across its body. However, the plumage from its neck up was mostly black, giving it the appearance of wearing a mask.

"Corvi-squire!"

Despite its new form, it was still the same Rookidee.

With an excited cry, it dove straight into Shiro’s arms, the force nearly knocking him off balance. Staggering back a few steps, he barely managed to steady himself before wrapping his arms around the much larger bird, stroking its sleek, sharp feathers.

"Alright, Corvisquire." Shiro chuckled, patting its back.

Its massive wings nearly engulfed him. Before, he could cradle it in his hands, but now it was too large to hold the same way.

"Corvi! Corvi!"

Corvisquire flapped its wings and took to the sky, finally satisfied.

It was thrilled. After all, it had worked so hard to become stronger and finally evolve.

"Gaassss..."

Gastly floated nearby, staring enviously at the newly evolved Corvisquire before glancing down at its own small, shadowy form.

"Don't worry, you'll evolve too someday." Shiro noticed Gastly's emotions right away and held it gently to reassure it.

Gastly bobbed twice in response, but its gaze remained fixed on Corvisquire soaring through the sky.

The newly evolved bird swooped down, then climbed back up, circling effortlessly. It reveled in the newfound power of its wings.

Aside from no longer being able to snuggle in Shiro’s arms, everything about this new body—its power, its speed—was far superior.

"Squiiire!"

Then, with another sharp cry, Corvisquire began climbing higher.

Back when it was a Rookidee, it had always wanted to fly higher. But its round body and tiny wings held it back, limiting it to just a few dozen meters.

Now, it could easily ascend hundreds or even thousands of meters into the sky, making it an excellent scout. It could even carry Shiro by the shoulders while flying.

As Corvisquire soared higher, the vast Wild Area unfolded below—an expanse of forests and lakes stretching endlessly. In the distance, dark clouds drifted in, creeping slowly across the sky.

Far beyond that lay an arid desert.

But what stood out the most were the crimson beams of light piercing the sky, scattered throughout the land.

The nearest one was just ahead of the approaching clouds—on the western shore of Lake Axewell.

"Corvi! Corvi-squiiire!"

Corvisquire immediately swooped down, landing in front of Shiro and relaying what it had seen.

Through a series of wing beats and gestures, Shiro quickly pieced together the message.

"You saw a Dynamax den? Near the west side of Lake Axewell?"

"Corv!"

Corvisquire nodded firmly.

Shiro hesitated, glancing at the horizon where dark clouds were steadily rolling in.

It was getting late—evening would arrive soon.

If the rain continued into the night, surviving in the wilderness for the first time would be a real challenge for Shiro.

The safest choice was to set up camp on the eastern shore of Lake Axewell, near the League shop. That way, if anything happened, he could retreat quickly.

"Coorv!"

Noticing Shiro’s hesitation, Corvisquire tugged at his coat, pulling him toward the Dynamax energy pillar.

It wanted to go. It wanted to fight.

"Gaassstly!"

Gastly also floated up beside Corvisquire, nodding eagerly in agreement. 

To them, this unfamiliar Wild Area was exciting. New terrain, unknown Pokémon—there was so much to explore.

Besides, if things got dangerous, wasn’t there still their big, dumb safety net?

"That’s right. Even if things go south, Rhyperior has us covered." Shiro nodded, a smirk tugging at his lips.

He had spent a fortune on a tool Pokémon at the Gym level for this exact reason. It’d be a waste not to use it.

With that thought, Shiro waved his hand. "Let’s go."

"Corv!"

Hearing his confident tone, Corvisquire eagerly flew behind him, gripping his shoulders with its talons. With a strong beat of its wings, it lifted him into the air.

Shiro felt his body grow light as the treetops dropped away beneath him.

"Gastly!"

Gastly floated excitedly overhead before nestling into his disheveled black hair.

The wind whipped at his clothes, filling his lungs with crisp, cold air. He squinted slightly against the breeze.

The sky had darkened, the earlier blue-and-white hues now replaced by deepening gray. Thick clouds rolled in, creeping closer as they flew.

Far ahead, a towering red pillar of light stretched from the ground to the sky, marking a Dynamax phenomenon.

As they neared, he spotted a red energy dome blanketing a section of forest—Dynamax Zone, a distortion caused by unstable energy.

Not far away, a Pidgeot descended, carrying its trainer. They landed at the dome’s edge and entered.

"No Macro Cosmos people here?" Shiro mused, slightly surprised.

The Wild Area was vast, with many of these pillars scattered throughout. Even if Macro Cosmos wanted to control them all, they’d need a ridiculous number of people. Most likely, they only secured key spots, blocking access rather than taking full control.

The last time he encountered a Dynamax phenomenon, it was near Lake Axewell’s eastern shore. Macro Cosmos had arrived quickly and driven away the other trainers.

"Let’s go down first." Shiro tapped Corvisquire’s claws.

With a powerful flap, Corvisquire descended toward the shimmering red dome, carrying him along.

A few meters from the ground, Shiro signaled Corvisquire to release him, landing lightly.

Just ahead, about two meters away, lay the Dynamax zone.

The tangled grass on the ground, along with the air itself, distorted and stretched upward, forming a red barrier.

"I should be able to enter directly, right?" Shiro muttered, uncertain.

He reached out slowly, testing the boundary just as he had seen the other trainer do.

A deep hum rang out, like a distant bell vibrating his skull. His vision wavered for a split second before stabilizing.

Before him stretched a swirling curtain of colorful light.

**

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Chapter Text

Before stepping in, Shiro expected the interior edges to share the same red hue as the outside. Instead, it was a swirl of iridescent colors, like oil shimmering on the surface of water.

Ahead, the terrain remained grassy fields and dense forest, but unlike the outside world, everything here was cast in an eerie grayish-red tint, giving the landscape an unsettling feel.

As Shiro scanned his surroundings, his eyes landed on a strikingly out-of-place blue stone nestled in the grass ahead.

"What is that?"

He knew that in this strange space, Pokémon resources and items would occasionally appear. But the item before him was so close to the edge of the border, standing out too obviously. Shiro couldn't believe no one had noticed it.

"Corvisquire. Gastly."

At his low command, Corvisquire immediately understood and flapped its wings, unleashing Air Cutter. Gastly followed suit, forming several small Shadow Balls that shot toward the blue stone alongside the wind blades.

Shiro guessed it might be a Water or Ice-type evolution stone. Left out in the open like this, it was either a trap or guarded by a Ground-type Pokémon beneath. If there was no ambush, then Gastly and Corvisquire’s attacks alone wouldn’t be enough to destroy it.

Whoosh!

The sharp wind blades sliced through the surrounding grass and soil with ease. After Rookidee evolved into Corvisquire, its moves—especially Air Cutter—had become much more powerful.

The moment the first strike landed, the dirt beneath the stone began shifting and churning.

As the barrage of wind blades connected and Gastly’s Shadow Balls exploded nearby, the disturbance in the soil gradually settled. Moments later, two large, grayish-brown ears emerged from the ground.

Shiro narrowed his eyes and took a cautious step forward, scanning the area.

Only after confirming no other trainers were lying in wait did he signal Corvisquire and Gastly to approach.

"Coorv!"

With swift precision, Corvisquire latched onto the plump rabbit-like Pokémon—no, it was more than just plump.

The creature’s ears were thick and massive, even larger than its body. Brown fur covered the sides, with a yellow patch running down its middle. 

"Diggersby?"

Shiro recognized the Pokémon instantly. It was a Normal and Ground-type, known for its digging abilities.

This one was likely a native of this area. The space distortions here often transported Pokémon from other places, which could include many powerful and rare ones.

"An Intermediate level Diggersby… judging by its condition, it seems to have good potential,” Shiro muttered, as he casually tossed a Poké Ball, capturing the Pokémon. 

He had no plans to train it. A wild Pokémon with good potential like this would fetch a decent price on the black market.

After securing the capture, he bent down and picked up the blue stone.

Just as he had suspected—it was a Water-type Evolution Stone, though only of Intermediate quality. 

There were four qualities of evolution stones: basic, intermediate, advanced, and perfect. 

Even though this one was only of the intermediate quality, evolution stones were still quite rare. In the black market, it could easily fetch a few hundred thousand Pokédollars. 

"Corvisquire, fly up and scout the area. Look for anything unusual," Shiro instructed, sending his Pokémon into the sky while he remained on the ground, waiting.

This was his first time inside a Dynamax den, and he wasn’t about to take unnecessary risks. Even a simple evolution stone was guarded by wild Pokémon, not to mention the Dynamax Pokémon and other rare resources inside.

With a powerful beat of its wings, Corvisquire shot toward the top of the semicircular energy dome.

In front of the small grassy area where Shiro stood, there was a particularly dense forest, where flashes of Pokémon moves were visible from time to time.

Beyond the forest was a hill, around it gathered a group of trainers dressed in gray uniforms.

“Corv!”

Corvisquire swooped down after scouting, landing next to Shiro.

“You mean there’s a hill up ahead, with a lot of people, like the ones we saw before... the ones from Macro Cosmos?” Shiro murmured, watching Corvisquire nod. He understood his current situation now.

He knew he had to avoid any contact with Macro Cosmos as much as possible. If there was no way around it, escaping was the top priority.

Shiro decided to stay near the edge of the forest, searching for Pokémon with good potential and valuable resources.

……

Meanwhile, on the hill in the distance, members of the Macro Cosmos company, positioned in a loose formation, were slowly closing in on the center. In the middle of their encirclement lay a semi-transparent Pokémon, sound asleep.

The Pokémon, its light-blue body resembling a lizard, trembled slightly. Its four smaller paws curled into a ball as it rested on the soft grass.

Its black head, shaped like a large arrowhead, lay on the ground. On top of it was a much smaller, similar looking Pokémon. 

“Drakloak and Dreepy have shown no reaction. Team B5, keep advancing.” The leader of the group tapped his earpiece, signaling the other team members to move forward.

Dreepy, Drakloak, and Dragapult are famous pseudo-legendaries in the Galar region, with Ghost and Dragon typings. They are incredibly powerful.

Just the first evolution, from Dreepy to Drakloak alone required reaching level 50. Only upon reaching level 60 could Drakloak evolve into Dragapult.

This late-blooming dragon represents an overwhelming physical strength and potential far surpassing that of other Pokémon.

Every Dreepy that evolves can reach at least Elite-level strength.

Under normal circumstances, these Pokémon lived near the remote Lake of Outrage, guarded by many powerful adult members of their kind.

The Dragapult species were very protective of their offspring. Drakloak, in particular, were known to carry a Dreepy on its head at all times, training it until it evolved. If it lacked one, it would become uneasy, even trying to adopt other Pokémon as stand-ins. 

The spatial disturbance of this place just so happened to lead these two here.

Upon discovering these rare Pokémon in this Dynamax den, the Macro Cosmos investigative team immediately called for backup. Within a few minutes, the hunting team, riding their fastest flying Pokémon, arrived at the scene.

Although there weren’t enough personnel to deal with other trainers, most knew better than to cross paths with Macro Cosmos. And to avoid disturbing their target, the hunting team didn’t release a single Pokémon. They also kept their distance from the main attraction of this Dynamax den—a Gigantamax Machamp.

While Machamp was a rare and strong Pokémon, it paled in comparison to the two pseudo-legendaries.

The hunting team moved in slowly, each step carefully placed on the grass. No one even dared to breathe too loudly.

A wild Pokémon of this caliber, at elite level, could disappear in an instant if startled. Once it left the Dynamax area, tracking it down again would be nearly impossible.

Among the hunting team members, only the captain possessed an Elite-level Pokémon, and it was a mind-controlled one created by Macro Cosmos. 

They had to be extremely careful.

**

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Chapter Text

Shiro followed Corvisquire as they weaved through the dense forest.

Unlike the wilderness outside, this place was filled with Pokémon rarely seen elsewhere—massive Onix and Diglett from Kanto, as well as Sobble and Scorbunny, the regional starters.

Strangely, the Onix and Diglett lay motionless, seemingly asleep. Even when trapped between towering trees, the Onix remained completely still. It blended seamlessly into the forest, resembling a chain of boulders scattered throughout the area.

From above, the sight of multiple Onix sprawled across the crimson-hued woods made it seem as if the undergrowth was littered with enormous stones.

As for the Sobble and Scorbunny, they vanished the moment Shiro spotted them. They moved so fast that his eyes couldn’t even keep up. 

These small creatures were clearly familiar with the terrain and experts at hiding. Even with Corvisquire circling overhead, they remained undetected.

Shiro wasn’t the only one searching the forest. Several other trainers also wandered through the dense woods, searching for resources and Pokémon. However, they all shared an unspoken agreement—no one disturbed the resting Onix.

Wherever these Onix had come from, even the weakest among them possessed the strength of a Gym-level Pokémon. Waking one could trigger a chain reaction, stirring the others as well. If that happened, no one would escape unscathed.

For now, everyone could only rely on their own methods to explore the forest.

"Gaaasss!"

Gastly suddenly floated in front of Shiro, circling him once before nudging its smoky body in a specific direction. There was something ahead.

Following its cue, Shiro glanced over. Amidst the twisted, shadowy trees, a strange patch of darkness stood out—shifting slightly, as if it were a living creature.

"Cooor!"

Before Shiro could get a closer look, Corvisquire swooped through the forest with quick, agile movements, returning from another direction with a fiery red stone clutched in its beak.

"A Fire Stone?" Shiro took the stone from Corvisquire, running his fingers through the bird’s deep blue feathers in approval. "Not bad. Good work, Corvisquire.”

Corvisquire closed its eyes in delight, flapping its wings excitedly.

“Gaassss!"

Gastly, clearly envious, urged Shiro again, its eagerness intensifying as it nudged in the same direction.

"Alright, alright..." Shiro sighed, amused.

Just as he agreed to move forward, Corvisquire darted off toward the same area.

Pushing through layers of thick vegetation and rounding the base of a massive, gnarled tree, Shiro finally reached a spot where he could see what lay ahead.

A massive black figure loomed like a wall, blocking the gaps between a dozen trees. Its sheer size was overwhelming. Judging by its shape, it almost looked like the back of a Pokémon.

Shiro narrowed his eyes. "What...?"

He could hardly believe what he was seeing. Even the largest Snorlax couldn't possibly block this many trees at once.

“Corvi!”

Corvisquire fluttered around the rough surface of the dark mass, then abruptly flew back to Shiro, flustered.

Shiro stopped in his tracks, choosing not to move forward.

There was no doubt—this was a Dynamax Pokémon, and very likely the source of this Dynamax den. But with what little he could see, he still had no idea what Pokémon it was.

"Shhh..."

Raising a finger to his lips, Shiro signaled Corvisquire and Gastly to stay quiet. They both nodded in understanding and followed closely as he carefully stepped back.

Suddenly—

"Razor Leaf!"

A sharp sound rang out from nearby, instantly triggering Shiro’s tense nerves. 

He rolled to the side, taking cover behind a large tree. A barrage of small green leaves tore through the air toward him.

Before they could reach their target, Corvisquire reacted with lightning speed. It flapped its wings, unleashing an Air Cutter that sliced through the projectiles, scattering the attack before it could reach him.

“Gaasstly!”

Confirming that Shiro was unharmed, Gastly let out a furious hiss. A dark, twisted shadow rose behind it.

Night Shade blended seamlessly into the dim surroundings, making it nearly invisible as it lashed out toward the source of the Bullet Seed.

Looking out from behind the tree, Shiro spotted a green-furred monkey-like Pokémon about ten meters away—Thwackey.

The Grass-type staggered as Gastly’s Night Shade struck, its body half-immersed in the ghostly energy. Just as it was about to collapse, a beam of red light recalled it into its Poké Ball.

“Tough opponent! Let's go!” A trainer in a red T-shirt and black pants shouted toward someone behind him before quickly retreating.

Seeing this, Shiro frowned. ‘Seriously? Attacking me with just a Beginner-level Thwackey?’

Like hell he was letting them get away.

"Corvisquire! Gastly! After him!" Shiro pushed off the ground, sprinting in pursuit.

It had been a while since he caught a decent Pokémon, but the fleeing trainer ahead had one on hand. Since he wanted a fight, Shiro would take his Pokémon instead. It made no difference whether he caught one in the wild or stole it from someone else. 

Either way, they fetched a good price on the black market.

"Corvisquire! Tailwind!" 

At his command, Corvisquire flapped its wings, channeling Flying-type energy and whipping up a powerful gust. Shiro and Gastly instantly felt lighter as their speed surged.

With Tailwind boosting their speed, the gap between Shiro and the man in red quickly began to close.

“Gastly! Shadow Ball!”

The moment they were within range, Gastly formed six shadowy spheres, each spinning violently in the air before shooting forward like a barrage of arrows aimed straight at the fleeing trainer.

But the man was quick. He rolled forward, dodging the attack just as he tumbled out of the forest.

Once outside, he stopped running. Instead, he stood still, his voice chilling.

"The prey has arrived!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, two bursts of light—one blue, one green—flashed on either side of Shiro. A powerful stream of water and a series of colored leaves lashed out simultaneously.

Shiro had anticipated a trap, but their strength was nothing special—Advanced-level trainers at best.

The moment he saw the trainer opposite stop running, he reacted. Without hesitation, he pulled out a Poké Ball and threw it forward, his voice sharp.

“Rhyperior! Block it!”

“Rhyyy…”

With a dull roar, Rhyperior materialized before him, its massive stone-like arms rising just in time to intercept both attacks. Even though they were super-effective moves, Rhyperior’s sheer durability allowed it to withstand the blows without much harm.

While retreating, Shiro quickly assessed the situation. To his left stood Inteleon, a sleek, upright lizard—one of Galar’s starter Pokémon. To his right, Steenee, a bipedal, plantlike Pokémon with a humanoid build.

Wasting no time, he gave his next command.

"Rhyperior! Hammer Arm! Crush that Pokémon on the left!" 

At the same time, he issued orders to Corvisquire and Gastly.

"Corvisquire, use Quick Attack! Aim for the trainers! Gastly, Night Shade! Do the same!”

At his order, Rhyperior's massive body lunged forward, its arm glowing with a dull brownish-yellow light. Like a gigantic hammer, it swung down toward Inteleon.

Faced with the monstrous Pokémon’s attack, Inteleon froze in place, completely overwhelmed. 

Just before impact, a flash of red light withdrew it into its Poké Ball.

“Damn it! A Pokémon at the Gym level!” A man in a blue t-shirt clutched Inteleon’s Poké Ball tightly before turning to flee in panic.

Rhyperior crashed down behind him, missing its target but shaking the ground violently. The shockwave sent the fleeing trainer stumbling over a tree root, making him crash face-first into the dirt.

Corvisquire, already closing in with Quick Attack, seized the opportunity. Before the man could recover, its metallic beak pierced straight through his throat, killing him instantly. 

**

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Chapter Text

"Come out! Raboot!"

Outside the forest, the trainer in red realized the situation had taken a turn for the worse and hurriedly sent out his Pokémon.

A flash of red light revealed a Raboot, a sleek, rabbit-like Pokémon with gray, red, and black fur. Its drooping ears and red pupils gave it a cold, sharp gaze. The red and black fur on its body resembled a hoodie, covering its mouth, and a red spot marked the soles of its foot. 

Raboot was built for speed, with explosive agility, exceptional jumping ability, and devastating kicking strength—one of the top Pokémon in these aspects.

For battles in the wild, where pursuit and ambush tactics often determined survival, it was the perfect choice.

"Raboot! Use Flame Charge! Kill that guy!"

Following its trainer's command, like a blazing torch, Raboot shot into the forest in the blink of an eye, illuminating the surroundings. Its sharp gaze locked onto Shiro, who was hiding behind a tree.

The enemy’s target had always been Shiro.

In wild battles like these, attacking a trainer was far more effective than targeting their Pokémon. Without their trainer, a Pokémon with a deep bond would not only lose its commander but also suffer emotional distress.

Pokémon with weaker bonds, on the other hand, would often flee the moment their trainer died, scattering in all directions.

As such, killing the trainer was the fastest way to end a battle. 

But only if one had the strength to do so.

"Corvisquire!"

At Shiro’s shout, Corvisquire streaked through the air like a bolt of gray-white lightning, using Quick Attack to reach him in an instant. It grasped his shoulders with its talons and lifted him just as Raboot’s fiery charge closed in.

The scorching flames barely grazed Shiro’s high-top boots, leaving behind a faint scorch mark.

Raboot saw its target rising and quickly stopped using Flame Charge, halting its movement while looking up.

"Double Kick!" The trainer outside the forest shouted.

Upon hearing the command, Raboot stamped its feet and effortlessly jumped over ten meters. Flames erupted from its feet as it moved toward Shiro.

"Hmm?" In midair, Shiro glanced back and tapped Corvisquire’s talons twice.

Corvisquire instantly folded its wings and began descending. Raboot’s fiery Double Kick slashed through the air, leaving two dazzling trails of flame—but hit nothing.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield below, Rhyperior remained frozen in place, dazed. Across from it, Gastly’s Night Shade also found its mark. 

A tall man in a black t-shirt to the right was knocked to the ground, his back scorched black. The trainer of Steenee failed to react in time, and Gastly successfully struck him down.

"Nee-nee!"

Seeing its trainer fall, the furious Steenee, with thick green leaves swaying on either side of its head, chased Gastly while it blended into shadows of the surrounding trees.

"Rhyperior! Use Rock Blast! Target that Steenee!"

Shiro landed behind Rhyperior, in a position completely separated from the other Pokémon, a very safe spot.

As Rhyperior locked onto its target, it lowered its massive head as its rock-hard arms glowed with an earthy yellow light.

One after another, dark rocks, as tough as steel, blasted forward. They easily shattered the trees in their path, flying toward the mad Steenee.

"Raboot! Run!" The trainer in red outside the forest had already turned and was sprinting wildly.

Seeing its trainer retreat, Raboot abandoned its pursuit of Shiro. Upon landing, it leapt high into the air, attempting to escape the forest.

"Squiiire!"

But Corvisquire wasn’t about to let that happen. 

Without needing Shiro’s command, it shot toward Raboot’s landing point, Quick Attack boosting its speed. A sharp Peck struck the side of Raboot’s neck, drawing a thin streak of blood.

Corvisquire flapped its wings and soared back into the air, while Raboot crashed to the ground.

Ignoring the fallen Pokémon, Corvisquire immediately rushed toward the fleeing trainer.

At the same time, Rhyperior’s Rock Blast struck Steenee, which was still mid-pursuit of Gastly. The impact sent it crashing down, completely losing its ability to fight.

With most of the enemies taken down, Shiro swiftly stepped over the fallen trees, making his way to the two corpses to loot their belongings.

……

Near the edge of the Dynamax zone, the man in the red t-shirt pushed his exhausted legs forward, his muscles cramping. He didn’t dare stop.

He didn’t even have the courage to look back.

Corvisquire was closing in rapidly.

Hearing the rushing wind growing ever closer behind him, the man clenched his teeth and threw out three Poké Balls, shouting.

"Run! All of you, into the forest! Move it!"

The Poké Balls burst open. Two Thievul immediately ran in opposite directions, while the last Pokémon, a wounded Thwacky, remained still, too injured to flee.

Corvisquire ignored the escaping Pokémon. it knew its target was the human in front of him.

Moments later, Corvisquire caught up and struck the red t-shirt man down, killing him. 

Gripping the lifeless body in its talons, Corvisquire turned and flew back into the forest.

……

Within the dense woods, Shiro meticulously sorted through his spoils.

This time, he acquired seven Pokémon, with all of them at least reaching intermediate level. In addition, he had collected roughly 200,000 Pokédollars in cash, three League cards, and a mix of Pokéblocks, berries, and various Pokémon items.

After quickly organizing everything, he stuffed it back into his backpack.

Suddenly, a deep rumbling echoed from the dense forest behind him—the unmistakable sound of collapsing rocks.

“What’s going on?” 

Shiro frowned, confused. Without hesitation, he ordered Corvisquire to fly into the air to observe, while he ran out of the forest. Rhyperior and Gastly followed closely at his side.

“ROARRRR!”

A deafening chorus of roars erupted, one after another.

Massive, gray-colored serpentine figures began rising, their thunderous cries reverberating through the night. Their colossal tails lashed out, toppling trees like twigs. 

“The Onix woke up?” Shiro asked as Corvisquire swooped back down, nodding rapidly.

But Corvisquire didn’t stop there—it frantically gestured with its wings, trying to communicate something more.

“You’re saying there are a lot of people over there? And they’re all wearing the same uniforms? They are surrounding an incredibly powerful Pokémon?”

Shiro barely pieced together the message. But what exactly was this "powerful Pokémon"? One thing was clear though—the situation ahead was dangerous.

Even just the dozen or so Gym-level Onix blocking the path were far beyond his ability to confront or bypass.

As Shiro weighed his options, a massive shadow slowly loomed over the darkened landscape.

It was a humanoid figure, rising from the depths of the forest.

"Gigantamax Machamp!" Shiro murmured in shock.

Even from the forest’s edge, he could see it clearly. The Pokémon’s colossal size made it impossible to miss.  And then, realization hit him. The "Pokémon wall" he had seen earlier was Machamp's back.

The Pokémon had been lying down within the forest, its enormous body spanning across fallen trees like a living barrier.

The Onix had woken up for some unknown reason, gone into a frenzy, and in the process, they had inadvertently woken up Machamp as well.

……

At the heart of the forest, Gigantamax Machamp stood like an unstoppable titan.

With one of its mighty hands, it grabbed an Onix by the tail.

The Onix instinctively coiled its massive body around Machamp’s arm, trying to restrain it. But Machamp simply swung it through the air.

A ten-meter-long Onix was hurled skyward, smashing into the ground with a devastating impact.

The force tore through the earth, sending splintered trees and scattered debris flying through the already devastated landscape.

**

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Chapter Text

Going slightly back in time.

On top of the hill beyond the forest.

A series of black cylindrical devices were linked together, pulsing with a faint light-blue energy. The energy formed a shimmering barrier, enclosing two Pokémon at the center—Drakloak and Dreepy.

Fast asleep, the two dragons showed no signs of noticing anything unusual. Their semi-transparent, blue-green tails swayed in sync, their breathing calm and steady. If not for the eerie crimson glow covering the area, the scene would have seemed especially tranquil.

"Team B5, move forward. Activate the device and capture the Drakloak." 

After giving the order, the Macro Cosmos squad leader, dressed in a gray uniform, immediately signaled the others.

The seasoned hunters moved in sync, rapidly tightening their formation. Within seconds, the barrier had shrunk to a mere five-meter radius.

Drakloak was still deep in slumber, with the team now dangerously close.

Those with weaker nerves felt their palms grow slick with sweat. Facing an Elite-level Pokémon at such proximity was nerve-wracking—one wrong move, and disaster would strike.

If a pseudo-legendary of this caliber went berserk, it could mean the total destruction of the entire Dynamax zone.

“Now!”

The squad leader's sharp command spurred everyone into action. They lunged forward at once.

Hearing the sudden noise, Drakloak groggily cracked open its eyes, but before it could react, a dozen black pillar-like devices clamped shut, trapping both Drakloak and Dreepy within.

“Capture successful!”

The squad leader pressed his earpiece, reporting in while catching his breath.

Even as a seasoned veteran, his heart was pounding wildly after securing the capture.

This was a job that could cost lives.

"Copy. The retrieval team is en route.”

A low hum followed, signaling the end of the transmission. The squad leader exhaled deeply.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Inside the energy barrier, Drakloak had fully awakened. Confused by the unfamiliar surroundings, it repeatedly rammed its head against the glowing barrier.

But the space inside was too small. No matter how hard it tried, all it could do was create faint ripples on the light-blue energy walls.

Worse, the barrier exuded a bone-chilling cold that seeped into Drakloak’s body, numbing its limbs.

"Drraaa!"

Drakloak roared in frustration, opening its mouth to gather deep purple Dragon-type energy.

Yet the moment it formed, the entire device lit up. The light-blue barrier flashed brilliantly, absorbing every bit of the energy and storing it in the black cylindrical containers. The barrier then grew even stronger and brighter.

“Drree!”

The smaller Dreepy also threw itself at the barrier, but the moment it made contact, it was sent flying backward.

The ice-infused energy field drained its strength, leaving it weak and limp as it collapsed onto Drakloak’s head.

"DRAK-LOOOOAHK!!”

Helpless, Drakloak let out a furious roar, hoping to summon its kin.

It remembered sleeping by the Lake of Outrage, next to its tribe.

"Heh, as expected of the chairman’s top-tier device. Completely useless to struggle."

A few hunters stood outside the barrier, watching Drakloak struggle with smug amusement.

“This Drakloak is an idiot. It still doesn’t realize it's been caught.”

"What a shame, though. A Pokémon this strong…”

Following a man sigh, the group fell silent. 

Not far away, the squad leader observed the captured Drakloak and nodded in satisfaction.

Thanks to Macro Cosmos' cutting-edge technology, the paralysis-inducing energy barriers ensured that not even Elite-level Pokémon could possibly break through.

Once the Drakloak inside was drained of its energy and completely exhausted—along with the barrier’s paralysis effect—they would be able to capture it effortlessly with an Ultra Ball.

At this moment, a thin man in a gray uniform approached the squad leader. After glancing around to confirm the others were not paying attention, he whispered.

"Captain Gareth... An Elite-level Drakloak and a Beginner-level Dreepy like this… isn't it a waste to hand them over to those brats?”

Gareth shot him a sharp look and growled, "Torin! Watch your mouth!”

"Y-yes, of course..." Torin quickly nodded, bowing slightly to the burly captain. "It's just... Captain, maybe we could…”

He gestured toward Drakloak inside the barrier, then pointed northeast.

That was the direction of Galar’s port—toward Hulbury.

Gareth understood immediately. Torin wanted to take the captured Pokémon and flee Galar.

A strong, healthy wild pseudo-legendary Pokémon would sell for an absurd amount, no matter the region.

But Gareth had never considered leaving Galar. Unlike Torin, who had no attachments, Gareth had a wife and child here.

"Shut up and mind your own business," Gareth warned in a low voice, his thick brows furrowing as he glared at Torin with his round eyes.

"Y-yes..." Torin stammered.

Just then, a scout at the far end of the group suddenly shouted, "Captain! Look this way!"

Gareth turned his head just in time to see it—deep in the forest below the hill, numerous Onix were rising, their massive bodies thrashing wildly and toppling trees.

'Damn it!'

Realizing the danger, Gareth barked out orders.

"Send out your Pokémon! Hold this position! Don’t let a single one through!"

He yanked a Poké Ball from his belt and threw it forward.

With a deafening roar, a towering Rillaboom emerged. Its brown fur was lined with markings, and its massive, muscular frame dwarfed an ordinary Rillaboom—nearly twice the size. Standing on the grass below the hill, it was like a living mountain. 

The surrounding hunting team members followed suit, releasing their Pokémon to form a defensive line at the base of the hill.

But some of them hesitated, lingering at the back, unmoving and silent.

Gareth knew they were reluctant to fight, but there was no time to berate them.

Then, the earth trembled. 

A deep, thunderous rumble echoed as a massive figure began to rise from where it had been lying.

The colossal form of a Gigantamaxed Machamp loomed over the hill, its towering body stretching nearly two-thirds of the way to the top of the Dynamax space.

"MACHAAAMPH!!”

Awakened from its slumber, the Machamp let out a deafening roar, its four muscular arms flexing as it turned its gaze toward the writhing Onix below.

……

High above, Shiro hovered in the air, held by Corvisquire’s talons, watching the chaos unfold below.

The moment he spotted the Gigantamaxed Machamp, Shiro wasted no time. He swiftly recalled Gastly and Rhyperior into their Poké Balls before signaling Corvisquire to carry him into the sky.

The ground was no longer safe.

Even in its normal state, this Machamp was already at Gym-level strength. With Dynamax energy amplifying its power, its sheer size and physical enhancements made it an unstoppable force.

Forget ordinary Gym-level Pokémon—even Elite-level Pokémon with weaker offensive capabilities might struggle to leave a scratch on this behemoth.

Below, the Onix were fighting back, hurling massive boulders. But to Machamp, they were nothing more than pebbles. Physical moves like Tackle and Bind were utterly useless against it.

With its Fighting-type advantage over Rock-types, Machamp simply swung one of its massive arms downward. 

A single Karate Chop shattered a massive Onix into rubble, the force of the impact sending shockwaves through the battlefield.

From his vantage point, Shiro could clearly see both the struggling Drakloak and Dreepy, as well as the group of people standing watch over them.

**

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Chapter Text

"Dreepy and Drakloak..." Shiro murmured, hovering in the sky as his sharp gaze swept over the battlefield below.

Terrified by the sheer power of the Gigantamaxed Machamp, the remaining Onix frantically surged toward the hill in the distance—the only place that seemed remotely safe.

Despite the steep incline, panic drove them forward. They clambered over one another, using their fellow kin as stepping stones in their desperate bid for escape. 

Those lagging behind unleashed Rock-type moves toward the rear, hastily constructing an irregular stone barricade. From above, it looked less like a defense and more like a chaotic pile of rubble.

"CHAAAMP!"

Machamp’s bulging muscles tensed as it gripped two Onix in its massive hands. With terrifying ease, it tore them apart, sending shattered rock flying in every direction.

Looking around, it realized its prey was no longer surrounding it. Instead, they were fleeing. That only fueled its rage.

As a pure Fighting-type Pokémon, Machamp valued the honor of battle above all else. Even in the face of defeat, one should fight to the bitter end—not turn tail and run like cowards.

“MAAACHAAMP!”

A pack of weaklings!

Machamp swung its massive arms, uprooting several giant trees with their roots still clinging to chunks of soil. With a powerful throw, the trees hurtled through the air before crashing down onto the cluster of Onix.

Boom!

The ground trembled violently as several Onix were slammed into the earth, partially buried under the impact. Yet, despite the force of the attack, none were fatally injured. They writhed and twisted, still determined to push forward.

"Block them! Hold the damn line! Don't let them through!” Gareth roared from the hillside, his voice raw with urgency as he ordered his team to send out their Pokémon.

But the hunting team, accustomed to fighting for profit rather than survival, had never faced a situation like this.

Among them, only three were Gym-level trainers. The rest were merely at the Advanced level.

Now, faced with a swarm of Gym-level Onix charging like they’d lost their minds, they were already on the verge of breaking. And that wasn’t even the worst of it. Behind them was an even more terrifying sight—an enraged Gigantamax Machamp.

The two captured Pokémon weren’t even theirs. This was just another job for the organization.

Who in their right mind would risk their life for this?

One by one, Pokémon vanished into their Poké Balls as trainers recalled them. The defensive line that Gareth had barely managed to form disintegrated before the Onix even reached it.

Only his Rillaboom remained, standing firm.

"Rillaboom! Wood Hammer!”

Even amidst the chaos, Gareth's command rang clear.

Rillaboom crouched low, its muscular form pulsing with Grass-type energy. The leaves and branches on its shoulders flourished wildly as power coursed through its body.

Summoning a massive wooden hammer, it slammed it into the ground before charging forward, weapon in tow.

The nearest cluster of Onix was sent flying, crashing into those behind them and rolling back down the hill.

But with only Rillaboom holding the line, two Onix still managed to slip past. They roared and rushed toward the retreating hunters.

"Shit! The Onix are getting through! Stop messing with the device!"

A few reluctant hunters exchanged looks. They glanced at the two captured Pokémon, then clenched their teeth and ran.

Their Pokémon appeared one after another. Some mounted their Pokémon, others took to the air—everyone was escaping the Dynamax space as fast as possible.

Only Torin stayed, unwilling to give up yet.

As the others left, he rushed to the device, searching for a button that could instantly knock Drakloak unconscious.

"Damn it! Where is it?!"

His fingers scrambled over the control panel. But aside from "Activate," there were only "Connect" and "Cancel." No energy release. No knockout function.

"Draaak!"

From within the glowing light-blue barrier, Drakloak glared at him, eyes burning with fury.

If it wasn’t knocked out before being released, it would make sure every last one of these humans was sent to their grave.

"Ooonix!"

Suddenly, an Onix reared up before the barrier and slammed down hard. The impact rippled through the energy field.

Torin ducked just in time, barely avoiding being crushed.

His expression twisted. With a growl, he slammed his hand down on "Cancel.”

"Damn it! If I can't have these Pokémon, then those damn brats hiding behind the chairman won’t get them either!"

A sharp hum echoed as more than a dozen black cylindrical devices flickered in unison. The light-blue barrier surrounding the area began to dim and weaken. 

Seeing this, the Drakloak slammed into it with even greater force.

Torin didn’t hesitate anymore. He spun around and fled, summoning a golden-furred Boltund. He leaped onto its back and sped off.

……

Near the edge of the forest, Shiro watched as Drakloak was about to escape the barrier, his eyes gleaming with a hint of greed.

A Dragon-type pseudo-legendary...

Unfortunately, his current strength wasn’t enough to claim it.

Floating high in the sky, Shiro's thoughts were conflicted.

'If I were a true Gym-level trainer, with at least three Gym-level Pokémon, I’d definitely go down there and take my chances.’

As he considered it, his gaze landed on the burly man commanding the Rillaboom. His jaw tightened.

'Three Gym-level Pokémon might not even be enough.'

"Coorv!"

A sharp cry from Corvisquire snapped him out of his thoughts.

Following its gaze, Shiro spotted an Unfezant with deep gray feathers flying toward them from about a hundred meters away.

And on its back sat a man in a red cloak.

"Move!"

Without hesitation, Shiro patted Corvisquire’s talons, urging it to get them out of there.

He wasn’t surprised that another trainer had taken to the sky to avoid the chaos below.

With Machamp’s Fighting type and Onix’s Rock/Ground type, neither had any means to reach high altitudes. They wouldn’t even bother looking up.

And there was no way Shiro and those three trainers who had died earlier were the only ones lurking in the Dynamax den. At least ten others had to be around.

"Coooor!"

Corvisquire swooped down diagonally, steering away from the approaching Unfezant. 

"Squiiire!"

Another urgent cry. Its wings flapped even faster.

It had noticed something.

That Unfezant had suddenly changed direction, flying straight toward them!

"Hmm? So he knows he isn't strong enough either and wants to kill me for my spoils?" Shiro let out a low, cold chuckle. He wasn't afraid.

Even if he couldn’t claim the two Dragon-type Pokémon, the Onix scattered across the battlefield were still worth a fortune. If that trainer had chosen to come after him instead of joining the fight below, he most likely wasn’t at the Gym-level. 

And if he didn’t have a Gym-level Pokémon he had personally trained, there was no way he could take down his Rhyperior.

A piercing screech rang through the area.

Corvisquire swooped down toward the grassy plains at the edge of the forest, dropping Shiro off.

……

Near the hill, Machamp finally closed in, its massive hands reaching out and effortlessly grabbing several Onix at once.

The sheer pressure from its towering form forced even Gareth to step back.

"Boom!"

"Drraaakloooak!"

At the same time, an enraged Drakloak broke free from its confinement.

Its gaze locked onto its first target—Gareth, who stood not far away.

Even in the short time it had been imprisoned, Drakloak had memorized the faces of every human in those gray uniforms.

Especially their leader.

**

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Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:

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Your support means a lot, thank you!

Chapter Text

A deep purple energy radiated from around Drakloak, its sheer power distorting the surrounding air.

"Draaaa!"

Dragon Rush!

With a furious roar, Drakloak shot forward like a purple beam of light, its sharp, jet-like head aiming straight for Gareth on the hillside.

"Those damn bastards!" Gareth cursed, quickly retreating.

Even from a distance, he could feel the oppressive force of the Dragon-type move pressing against him. His chest felt tight as he waved his hand and shouted, "Rillaboom! Boomburst!"

Seeing its trainer under attack, Rillaboom immediately leaped forward, pounding its fists against its chest before unleashing a deafening roar.

"Roooar!"

A powerful shockwave, shaped like a funnel, tore through the air, colliding with the incoming Drakloak. The impact triggered a chain of explosions, shaking the hillside as Gareth continued to retreat.

Midair, at the edge of the Dynamax space, the eerie purple-red sky flickered, distorted by shifting multicolored lights. Silhouettes of hunters sat atop their Pokémon, watching from above, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Gareth’s patience snapped.

“Get your asses in here and help me recapture Drakloak!” he shouted at the figures lurking in the darkness.

His legs burned with exhaustion, and Rillaboom was steadily backing up alongside him.

Some of the hunters who were on better terms with Gareth hesitated but ultimately stayed put. Their strength wasn’t enough to make a difference.

The gap between Advanced-level and Elite-level was simply too vast.

Even the three Gym-level trainers nearby hadn’t stepped in. There was no way mere grunts like them could do anything against Drakloak’s power.

"Raaah!"

At the edge of the grassy slope, the Gigantamaxed Machamp roared, its massive arms swinging wildly. Several Onix slithered out of the Dynamax space right in front of it.

But as the Pokémon who had created this dimension, Machamp itself couldn’t leave.

It had no choice but to wait—either for its Dynamax energy to dissipate or for someone to take it down.

Just then, Drakloak, which had been locked in a standoff with Rillaboom, suddenly changed its expression. Under Gareth’s confused gaze, it avoided Machamp entirely and shot straight toward the sky.

……

Elsewhere, Shiro was jogging along the edge of the forest, his eyes scanning his surroundings.

The once-thriving woods had been nearly destroyed, the ground littered with broken branches and fallen trees.

He glanced back occasionally to check if the red-cloaked trainer on the Unfezant was still chasing him.

Shiro needed to make it look like he was running in fear.

"Corvisquire," he murmured.

At his signal, Corvisquire let out a low cry and fired off an Air Cutter. But Shiro deliberately had it slow the attack, weakening its power. By the time the blade of wind reached the enemy, it had already faded into nothing.

Without stopping, he glanced back again and saw exactly what he expected—the Unfezant was now flying even faster.

In just a few seconds, the bird swooped down, landing on an open patch of ground a short distance ahead, cutting off Shiro’s escape route.

Shiro immediately understood. The enemy was trying to corner him, forcing him into the wreckage of the forest to limit his movement and drain his stamina.

'Guess you're really weak.'

Instead of continuing to run, Shiro came to a halt and commanded. "Corvisquire! Quick Attack!"

The Unfezant was at Advanced-level, but that didn’t mean much. There was always the chance that it was just a bought Pokémon.

If the enemy was truly strong, he wouldn’t have needed to play this game of attrition. After seeing Corvisquire’s Intermediate-level strength and deliberate weakness, he should've attacked directly. 

Unfezant didn’t react in time when Shiro suddenly stopped. It kept moving forward at a sluggish pace, its rider clearly caught off guard by Shiro’s sudden halt.

The red-cloaked trainer panicked, frantically patting Unfezant’s wing while fumbling for two Poké Balls.

"Cooorv!"

Corvisquire’s piercing cry rang out. Before the newly released Pokémon could even materialize, it dove forward, its sharp beak slamming into the trainer’s lower back.

With a choked cry, the man crashed to the ground, tumbling violently across the grass.

Blood stained Corvisquire’s beak, but it didn’t stop. It swooped down again, striking the fallen trainer repeatedly.

From the opened Poké Balls, two Wooloo emerged, bleating aggressively as they charged at Corvisquire.

"Two newly promoted Intermediate-level Wooloo?" Shiro nearly laughed.

Meanwhile, the Advanced-level Unfezant remained completely still. Even as its trainer collapsed, it didn’t react at all.

One look at its empty eyes told Shiro everything—this Pokémon had been brainwashed.

“Woo! Woo!”

The two Wooloo cried furiously as they chased after Corvisquire. Their thick white wool covered their bodies entirely, save for the two small horns on their heads and the gray braids swaying with each stride. 

Corvisquire circled in the air, growing increasingly irritated. These two weren’t weak, and they were relentless. Still, it had no intention of engaging them head-on. Carefully, it continued to lure them away.

Seeing his opening, Shiro came near the corpse and picked up the two fallen Poké Balls.

The moment the Wooloo were recalled, he pressed the center buttons, locking them shut.

With their Intermediate-level strength, there was no way they could break free. Trapped inside, all they could do was silently rage.

“Coor!”

Corvisquire flapped over and landed on Shiro’s shoulder as he continued rummaging through the dead trainer’s belongings.

Before long, he found Unfezant’s Poké Ball and swiftly recalled the mindless bird.

"Tch, no wonder he was so careful," Shiro muttered, shaking his head. "This guy’s weak as hell.”

Aside from the two Wooloo and Unfezant, the guy had nothing else. Not a single extra Pokémon.

His cash situation wasn’t any better—just 20,000 Pokédollars in bills. His League card might have more, but there was no way to check that now.

With practiced efficiency, Shiro searched every possible hiding spot, but that was all he found.

Shoving everything into his bag, he signaled to Corvisquire. The bird tightened its grip on his shoulders and lifted him skyward.

If he was going to risk his life in the Wild Area at night, he had to make sure it was worth it. Ideally, he could snag an Onix or two from the chaos below—that would make this trip truly worthwhile.

From above, Shiro observed the situation below.

Machamp still blocked the hillside, keeping most of the Macro Cosmos hunters at bay. Meanwhile, their strongest Pokémon—Rillaboom—had shifted to defense, focusing on protecting its trainer rather than attacking.

From what he could tell, the hunting team’s leader had only that one Elite-level Pokémon.

'This is too risky.'

Shiro hovered midair near the edge of the ruined forest, evaluating the situation.

Everything had gone smoothly so far, but pushing his luck for an Onix capture wasn’t worth the gamble.

With wandering trainers lurking around and a wild Machamp rampaging, sticking around was a bad idea.

He motioned for Corvisquire to lower him back to the ground.

It was time to leave.

But just as he was about to retreat—

"Drraaahh!"

A dragon’s roar echoed across the night sky.

**

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Chapter Text

Drakloak soared through the dark sky, yet vengeance was the last thing on its mind.

Right now, something far more urgent demanded its attention.

Perched atop its head, Dreepy lay weak and unresponsive. Ever since they had crashed into that light-blue barrier, Dreepy had been in bad shape—far worse than Drakloak had initially realized.

No matter how many times Drakloak called out, Dreepy remained motionless, its small body limp and cold.

Dreepy was a very weak Pokémon, only at Beginner-level strength. In their attempt to capture Drakloak, the Macro Cosmos hunters had deployed a containment device powered by Elite-level ice-type energy.

For Drakloak, a Pokémon of the same level, the collision had been painful but bearable. Dreepy, however, had suffered immensely—most of its body had been frozen solid, pushing it to the brink of death.

At first, while trapped inside the device, Drakloak had been too panicked to grasp the severity of the situation. But now, after escaping, it enveloped Dreepy in dragon-type energy, only to realize how dire things truly were.

“Draaaak!”

In this unfamiliar, eerie space, Drakloak couldn’t find the way back to the Lake of Outrage for a while. Even after emerging outside of the Dynamax den, it was still at the western shore of Lake Axewell, which made a quick return to the Lake of Outrage to treat Dreepy impossible.

The only option left for Drakloak was to seek help from humans.

It had heard from its elders that humans could be both good and bad, but it was hard for Drakloak to discern who would be willing to help it.

Coming back inside the Dynamax zone and desperately scanning the area from the air, Drakloak noticed that most of the people near the hillside were those dressed in gray uniforms. They were the ones responsible for this mess, so seeking help from them was out of the question.

The ruined forest held no sign of human life, and aside from those on the hillside, there was barely anyone else around.

In fact, almost all the trainers in the area had gathered near the Gigantamax Machamp, hoping to get a share of the spoils.

Under normal circumstances, the most valuable thing in a Dynamax zone was the Pokémon responsible for the phenomenon.

These Pokémon contained massive amounts of Dynamax energy, enough to generate hundreds of watts with ease. And watts were hard currency in the Wild Area, a precious resource that Macro Cosmos always purchased at high prices.

As for the wild Drakloak in the sky, the trainers knew better than to pick a fight with a pseudo-legendary of that caliber. Most were too wary to even think of approaching it.

But then—

Drakloak’s senses locked onto a lone human standing at the edge of the Dynamax zone. He was distancing himself from the others, seemingly preparing to leave.

This human looked weak compared to the others and kept his distance from the crowd. More importantly, Drakloak could sense a faint dragon-type presence on him.

In this human-dominated space, that presence sparked an instinctive, almost blind trust in Drakloak.

And so, it dove.

……

"Coorv!"

A sharp cry rang out as Corvisquire flared its wings, immediately shifting into a defensive stance.

It had experienced the overwhelming presence of an Elite-level Salamence as a Rookidee once before—and now, Shiro was right behind it.

Suppressing the instinct to flee, Corvisquire spread its wings wider, warning the approaching Drakloak to back off.

"Gasss!"

Gastly also burst out of its Poké Ball, hiding behind Corvisquire and opening its mouth wide, trying to look menacing.

Shiro, a bit stunned, stopped in his tracks. He knew he couldn’t outrun an Elite-level pseudo-legendary Pokémon.

"Corvisquire! Gastly! Stand down!”

At his command, the two Pokémon hesitated before backing off.

His gaze shifted to Drakloak, who was circling him at high speed, moving with an urgent restlessness.

Seeing that Shiro wasn’t frightened and didn’t show any signs of aggression, Drakloak floated closer and lowered its head, revealing the Dreepy resting on top.

Shiro furrowed his brow and closely observed the seemingly lifeless Dreepy. It was barely moving, its body faintly shimmering with an eerie blue glow.

‘Is it injured?’

His mind raced, recalling the Macro Cosmos hunting team’s capture device. It had been infused with ice-type energy.

At this point in time, fairy-types had yet to be discovered, leaving ice as the one element dragons truly feared.

As these thoughts raced through his mind, Shiro’s hands were already moving. He pulled off his backpack and rummaged through it, retrieving a high quality healing spray.

Buzz...

He sprayed it over Dreepy's frozen body and waited until the shimmering ice-blue glow completely faded before putting the bottle away.

Next, he took out several dragon-type Pokéblocks, crushed them into fine pieces, and gently fed them to Dreepy.

It was a good thing he had taken these from the Pokémon shop in Hammerlocke.

“Dreee…”

A faint sound escaped from Dreepy as its body slowly regained color. The lingering frost-like shimmer faded away.

"Phew..."

Shiro wiped the light sweat from his forehead. Seeing that Drakloak was still hovering silently at a low altitude, he took out a box of Pokéblocks and handed it over, saying.

"It’s all good now."

"Draaak!"

Dragapult suddenly straightened up, shaking its head. When it heard the faint response from the Dreepy on its head, it eagerly opened its mouth and sucked up the entire box of Pokéblocks in one go.

"Draaa!" 

Its narrow eyes squinted in delight. 

Having grown up in the Lake of Outrage, this was the first time Drakloak had tasted something so delicious.

Shiro nodded slightly and slowly reached out his hand, gently touching Drakloak’s body.

Its semi-transparent, bluish-green form was cool to the touch—a sensation unique to ghost-types.

Noticing that Drakloak didn’t resist, Shiro asked, "How did you find me?"

"Draaakloooak!"

Drakloak did a quick spin before pointing its arrow-shaped head toward Shiro’s backpack.

Shiro paused, suddenly remembering the dragon scale that had been gathering dust inside.

That scale—so easily obtained—was the reason people had been after him, ultimately leading him to the Wild Area. The Dragon Taming Clan might not have cared about losing a single scale, but for Shiro, it had turned his entire life upside down.

"This thing?" He pulled out the Dragon Scale, holding it up for Drakloak to see.

"Draaa!"

Drakloak nodded repeatedly, its tail swaying as it pointed at the scale, then at itself and the Dreepy on its head.

Shiro understood immediately. 

"You want it?"

"Draaak!"

“Dreee!”

The now-recovered Dreepy and Drakloak nodded in unison.

Shiro fell silent. He was considering how to make the most of this dragon scale.

Drakloak was a Pokémon that never abandoned its Dreepy, fighting alongside them until they were strong enough to evolve on their own. It was so protective that if it ever found itself without a Dreepy, it would frantically search for a replacement, even placing other Pokémon on its head.

If that was the case...

"Drakloak, would you be willing to come with me?"

"Draaa..."

Drakloak immediately floated backward, shaking its head.

They had only just met. Even though Shiro had saved Dreepy and given it good food, Drakloak still needed to return to Lake of Outrage. The older Dragapults there would definitely be worried about them.

And there was no way Drakloak would allow itself to be separated from Dreepy.

"Then... what if I give you this dragon scale, and you stay with me for a while? Just two years. That’s barely any time at all for you." Shiro continued to persuade it.

**

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Chapter Text

“Klooak?”

Two years?

Drakloak tilted its head, considering Shiro’s words. That didn’t seem like a long time at all.

Even though it was just over ten years old, the older Dragapults in its clan had lifespans stretching across centuries. Two years was nothing in comparison.

“Drraak!”

But even so, it wanted to go back to the Lake of Outrage!

Shiro watched as Drakloak flicked its tail northward, its meaning clear.

"You want to return home? Then... how about this? Stick with me, and in six months, I’ll take you back for a visit. Stay by my side for two years, and I’ll personally return you to the Lake of Outrage."

As he spoke, Shiro dangled the Dragon Scale in front of Drakloak’s eyes, letting it sway back and forth before pulling out a small handful of Pokéblocks and offering them to Dreepy.

The tiny Ghost Dragon already had a favorable impression of Shiro since he had treated its wounds. Now, tasting the familiar Pokéblocks, the carefully refined essence of human technology quickly won over its tiny appetite.

And then there was the Dragon Scale—an irresistible temptation.

Dreepy bounced anxiously, nudging Drakloak as if urging it to accept the offer right away.

Because of their Ghost typing, the Dreepy line rarely shed scales, meaning they lacked a valuable resource crucial for a Dragon-type’s growth. To them, a Dragon Scale was a rare and precious treasure.

Besides, Lake of Outrage was a boring place. Every day, it was the same—Pokémon curling up in their nests, sleeping endlessly. How could that compare to the excitement of traveling with a human?

Drakloak hesitated, clearly torn. It had spent its entire life within the safety of its clan’s territory. Leaving so suddenly…

"You don’t have to worry," Shiro reassured, casually pulling out the last of his Dragon-type Pokéblocks. "I’ll cover your food and shelter, and you’ll get Pokéblocks every day."

This time, he even mixed in some Ghost-type ones meant for Gastly, their unique scent filling the air.

The moment Drakloak caught a whiff, its lingering hesitation evaporated. The cautious Pokémon nodded eagerly, wrapping its small claws around the box of Pokéblocks and digging in, even forgetting about the Dragon Scale.

Shiro let out a breath and smirked.

‘So, Pokéblocks are the ultimate bait for luring wild Pokémon,’ he thought. 

These two were also just too naïve. They actually waited for permission instead of just snatching what they wanted. Unlike humans, who always looked for shortcuts, they hesitated over what was right in front of them.

Drakloak happily munched away while Dreepy, growing impatient, let out urgent cries. After a few moments, Drakloak finally loosened its grip on the box, allowing its tiny companion to dive in and eat just as eagerly.

Shiro placed the Dragon Scale in Drakloak’s mouth, sealing the deal.

With that, he recalled Corvisquire and Gastly into their Poké Balls before glancing toward the hill in the distance.

“Let’s go,” he said, turning to leave.

"Draaa..."

Drakloak hesitated for a brief moment, glancing back.

It still wanted revenge.

Had it not encountered a reliable and good human like Shiro, Dreepy might not have survived. The thought of simply leaving without payback gnawed at it.

But Shiro had no intention of diving back into that mess. He and Drakloak had no battle experience together. If Macro Cosmos reinforcements arrived, they’d be overwhelmed in no time.

Suddenly—

BOOM!

A deafening crash echoed from the hillside.

The towering Machamp, which had been holding its ground, finally collapsed, its massive body leaving a humanoid dent in the already broken forest floor.

While Shiro had been negotiating with Drakloak, every trainer nearby had turned their focus on the oversized, clumsy Machamp. 

Against a coordinated assault from dozens of Pokémon, it had reached its limit. Its sheer size made it an easy target for smaller, more agile opponents.

With Gareth, the strongest among them, leading the charge, the hunting team members and the Wild Area trainers worked together seamlessly. Under the relentless barrage of attacks, Machamp staggered before finally crashing to the ground.

"Move!"

Shiro didn’t need to look back to know what was happening. He quickened his pace, while Drakloak along with Dreepy swiftly slipped into his shadow.

Being a Dragon/Ghost-type and its strong strength, Drakloak easily could hide within shadows.

Shiro knew that once those people finished dealing with Machamp, their next target would be the temporarily vanished Drakloak.

Macro Cosmos would never let a pseudo-legendary Pokémon slip through their fingers.

Ahead, the shifting, multicolored edge of the Dynamax phenomenon loomed. Without hesitation, Shiro plunged in. For a brief moment, all sense of sight vanished, the distortion consuming his vision—then, just as quickly, he re-emerged on the other side.

The eerie silence of the forest greeted him.

By the shores of Lake Axewell, several Wild Area trainers moved in the distance.

Keeping close to the mountain’s side, Shiro adjusted his pace, seamlessly blending in with the other passing trainers as he made his way toward the lake.

……

Inside the Dynamax den.

With Drakloak seemingly gone, the hunters stationed at the edge of the Dynamax zone and those positioned above had returned to the hill, aiding their captain, Gareth, in finishing off the Gigantamaxed Machamp.

Their greatest fear was Drakloak coming for revenge after escaping. 

If it went on a rampage, even before Macro Cosmos' special forces arrived, it could easily take down one or two Advanced-level trainers in an instant.

No one wanted to be the first to fall.

Even the three Gym-level trainers within the hunting team weren’t eager to take that risk.

Despite his frustration, Gareth couldn't afford to lash out at them. As the team captain, he bore the responsibility for both the mission and the current situation.

For now, finishing off Machamp took priority.

"Rillaboom, Wood Hammer!" Seeing Machamp fall, Gareth immediately ordered the finishing blow.

Wood Hammer was Rillaboom's most powerful Grass-type move, and Gareth wanted to end the battle in a single strike.

Gripping its drumstick-like wooden club, Rillaboom leaped high into the air. A vibrant green energy radiated from its weapon, forming a brilliant, sun-like sphere before it came crashing down onto the weakened Gigantamaxed Machamp.

Attacks poured in from all directions. Some were little more than nuisances, but Flying- and Psychic-type moves—effective against Fighting-types—struck hard.

Already badly wounded, Machamp had no chance to react. Before it could recover, Rillaboom sprang up again and unleashed another devastating Wood Hammer.

The blows landed squarely on Machamp’s chest and abdomen. It didn’t even have time to cry out before collapsing into unconsciousness.

Its massive body rapidly began shrinking.

"Its Dynamax energy is dispersing!"

In an instant, trainers from all directions swarmed in, each holding a Watt Collector, frantically absorbing the crimson energy lingering around Machamp.

The scattered energy spread throughout the forest, covering a wide area. Because of this, no fights broke out among the trainers—they were too busy trying to collect as much as they could.

Meanwhile, Gareth, the captain of Macro Cosmos’ hunting team, recalled his Pokémon without bothering to join the energy collection frenzy.

His focus was solely on tracking down Drakloak.

But as the shifting distortions of the Dynamax field slowly faded, turning more transparent. Outside, weaker trainers had already gathered, eager to scavenge whatever remnants of Dynamax energy remained.

Yet no matter how hard Gareth looked, he couldn't spot the one Pokémon that should have stood out the most—Drakloak.

‘Did it escape?’

His fists clenched as anger surged, eyes locking onto the regrouping hunting team.

**

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Chapter Text

The team members retreating mid-battle was something Gareth could understand. When faced with danger, self-preservation always came first.

But letting Drakloak escape in the chaos—that was something he absolutely couldn't accept.

When the Onix had swarmed in, only the hunting team had been on the hill. Yet somehow, the device restraining Drakloak had deactivated on its own.

'Someone must have tampered with the capture device during the chaos. But why? What benefit was there in setting Drakloak free?'

Gareth narrowed his eyes, suppressing the urge to glare at his subordinates. His voice was low and steady.

"Does anyone still have a tracking device?"

"Uh..." the gathered team members hesitated, exchanging uneasy glances. Then, one of them stepped forward and handed over a black, tablet-like device.

Thin, semi-circular antennae extended from its sides, pulsing with a faint blue light as they detected strong energy signatures within several miles. However, it could only pick up Pokémon at the Gym level or above. Anything weaker didn’t emit a strong enough signal to register.

Gareth knew that with Drakloak’s speed, if it had truly fled with full force, tracking it down would be nearly impossible. But he had to try.

The device let out a soft hum as its screen flickered between light and dark. Then, two distinct energy signals appeared.

“One is green—Grass-type. It’s right here…” Gareth’s hand trembled slightly. He took a deep breath. “The other is a mix of royal blue and purple… Ghost and Dragon-type… Elite level…”

His grip tightened.

"Get your asses moving and catch that damn Drakloak!”

His furious roar sent the hunters scrambling.

Most of them had no idea how Drakloak had escaped, but during the most dangerous moment, none of them had stepped up to help their captain. Now, they feared being caught in the storm of his anger.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself slightly, Gareth pressed the button on his communicator.

“B5 Squad, do you copy? The Special Operations Unit has reached the west bank of Lake Axewell. What’s your exact location?”

He seized the moment to explain quickly.

“There’s been an incident. Drakloak escaped, but it’s still nearby. I’m sending you the coordinates now. We're heading there as well."

The other side went silent for a few moments before replying.

"Understood."

……

West Bank of Lake Axewell.

Shiro moved with the crowd of Wild Area trainers outside the Dynamax zone, keeping an eye on the situation behind him.

Now that the Gigantamaxed Machamp had been taken down, the hunting team had regrouped, discussing something amongst themselves.

A vague sense of unease crept into Shiro’s mind, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on why.

He picked up his pace, following the lakeside toward the eastern shore.

Dense trees soon blocked the fading red light and the last remnants of the Dynamax phenomenon.

But then, Shiro noticed something strange.

There were fewer and fewer trainers in sight. Even the wild Pokémon seemed to have vanished.

That wasn’t normal. No matter who entered the forest, Pokémon like Nickit and Pidove should at least peek out of their hiding spots to observe.

Unless... a large number of people and powerful Pokémon were nearby.

‘Macro Cosmos hunters!’

Shiro instantly realized his mistake. He had made a serious miscalculation.

Judging by how the hunters had prioritized their own survival earlier, he had naturally assumed they were nothing but incompetent fools, unlikely to pursue Drakloak any further.

But that assumption was based on Earth’s technology.

This was the Pokémon world. There were countless ways to track high-level Pokémon.

Even if the device that had imprisoned Drakloak earlier contained a traceable material, it would be enough to pinpoint its exact location.

Shiro clenched his jaw. He had been too careless, acting as if he were still in Hammerlocke, strolling through the city without a care. He should have run the moment he had the chance.

It wasn’t like anyone in the Wild Area knew him. A simple change of clothes would have been enough to throw off recognition.

But now, it was too late for that.

"Come out, Corvisquire!" Shiro grabbed a Poké Ball and released his Pokémon. "Fly to the other side of Lake Axewell!"

Corvisquire clutched his shoulders and took off without hesitation.

Lake Axewell was the heart of the southern Wild Area, stretching so far that the other side was barely visible, covered in endless rippling blue waves.

Glancing back, Shiro spotted numerous figures in gray uniforms moving swiftly through the forest about a hundred meters behind him. The moment he took action, their pace quickened.

"Shit..." He gritted his teeth, but there was no time to dwell on regret.

Right now, there were only two options—escape or turn the tables.

"Draaak!"

Drakloak phased into visibility, its long, slender body coiling protectively around Shiro in midair as its glowing eyes locked onto the approaching hunters.

It wanted to wipe them all out.

Shiro knew what it was thinking. He gently stroked Drakloak’s body to calm it and murmured,

"Don’t rush. There are a lot of them, and they might have advanced tech."

Drakloak hesitated, recalling the icy containment field it had been unable to break before. The memory made it shudder, and it reluctantly nodded.

But Shiro wasn’t just worried about the hunters.

Macro Cosmos wouldn’t allow a pseudo-legendary Pokémon of this level escape twice.

With black market teleportation methods, it would take them only minutes to send reinforcements from their headquarters in Wyndon to the southern Wild Area.

They might already be here.

"Cooorv-squiire!"

Just as Corvisquire flew a few dozen meters over Lake Axewell, it abruptly flared its wings and came to a sharp halt in midair.

It let out a loud, wary cry, staring ahead.

A flock of massive Corviknight was approaching from the distance.

"Corviknight?" Shiro instantly recognized them. "Galar’s flying taxis! Corvisquire, head east! We’re going back to shore!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Corvisquire veered sharply toward the eastern shoreline.

Suspended in the air, Shiro kept a close eye on the movement in the forest, rapidly calculating his next move.

Fighting wasn’t an option. Even with Drakloak, all he could do was make the hunters struggle a little.

Most likely, the Macro Cosmos members would strike first with Psychic-types or Ghost-types to capture him, then focus on subduing Drakloak.

Now that he was exposed, there was no point in hiding anymore. His best option was to have Drakloak take him and escape.

But could they?

As Corvisquire reached the lake’s edge, Shiro swiftly recalled it into its Poké Ball. Drakloak immediately took over, biting onto the back of his collar to carry him.

At that moment, a booming voice echoed from both the ground and sky.

"TRAINER ABOVE! YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY MACRO COSMOS!"

"YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY MACRO COSMOS!"

Shiro’s brows furrowed. Just as he was about to glance back, a thick beam of freezing energy shot past, barely missing Drakloak’s head.

"Dree!"

Dreepy let out a terrified cry and immediately dove into Shiro’s arms for cover.

"Draaa!"

Drakloak twisted and weaved through the air, focusing all its energy on dodging the relentless ice beams streaking toward them.

But with every desperate maneuver, its altitude kept dropping lower and lower.

They were running out of time.

**

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Your support means a lot, thank you!

Chapter Text

"THE TRAINER AHEAD! YOU'VE BEEN SURROUNDED BY MACRO COSMOS!"

"YOU'VE BEEN SURROUNDED BY MACRO COSMOS!"

The blaring loudspeaker crackled, its sharp noise grating against Shiro’s ears. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, sliding along his cheek.

As he floated downward, he noticed the attacks from above forcing Drakloak into a tight position.

At the same time, several Corviknight arrived overhead, slowing Drakloak’s movements.

He wasn’t going to outrun this.

"Drop down near the forest, Drakloak!"

Shiro shouted with all his might and quickly glanced back.

The Corviknight closest to him was Elite-level, the strongest among them.

On its back rode an Elite-level Mamoswine. Beside it, an Elite-level Vanilluxe hovered, the two Pokémon gathering Ice energy in sync before releasing precise Ice Beams one after another.

'An Elite-level trainer who specializes in Ice types.'

A chill ran through Shiro’s heart. As he descended, his sharp eyes tracked movement below.

From the forest, a massive Rillaboom let out a thunderous roar, charging through trees barely reaching its waist, sending dust and debris flying as it rushed toward him.

Shiro and Drakloak were already close to the ground, gliding fast along the grassy path by the lake.

For a brief moment, it seemed like they had pulled ahead of Rillaboom, and the Ice Beams from above ceased.

Just as Shiro exhaled in relief, a towering pillar of ice shot past Drakloak, crashing into the lakeside. In an instant, part of the water and a large section of the forest froze solid, forming an ice wall several meters high.

Drakloak instinctively angled upward to leap over it, but another Ice Beam whizzed past its head, slamming into the ice wall ahead.

That brief hesitation was all it took.

Vanilluxe, resembling two ice creams fused together, had quietly floated in front of the ice wall, blocking their escape.

"Put me down," Shiro said patting Drakloak. The dragon nodded and gently placed him on the grassy lakeshore.

Behind them, Rillaboom thundered closer. In just a few seconds, the hulking Grass-type stood before them, its heavy breath stirring the dust.

The Corviknight circled overhead, forming an ironclad perimeter. Mamoswine and Vanilluxe locked their gazes onto Drakloak, ready to strike at the first sign of resistance.

Drakloak trembled, instinctively recoiling from the Ice-types. It hovered close to Shiro, circling him in distress, overwhelmed by the sheer number of enemies.

Then, a man stepped forward.

A middle-aged figure with a square jaw and a scruffy beard leaped down from Rillaboom’s back, landing lightly despite his size. He stopped ten meters from Shiro.

"Kid! I don’t know how you got your hands on that Drakloak, but it belongs to us," the man sneered. "Hand it over now, and we might let you walk away."

Shiro recognized him—Gareth, the leader of the hunting team.

Gareth raised a hand, motioning for Shiro to recall Drakloak into its Poké Ball and toss it over. He wanted to avoid a direct fight.

An Elite-level Drakloak, if it went berserk, would cause heavy losses before being subdued.

"Not happening."

Shiro’s voice was firm. He reached out, pulling the frightened Drakloak close, his eyes scanning the Pokémon surrounding them.

He knew he had no way out.

But he wasn’t about to surrender.

He had never begged for mercy, never expected kindness. From Spikemuth to this place, if he had ever let those thoughts take root, he’d have died long ago.

Holding the trembling Dreepy tightly in his arms, Shiro locked eyes with Gareth.

Either escape or die trying.

That was his answer.

“Draa…”

Drakloak understood Shiro's intentions and let out a soft cry in response. It knew all of this was happening because of it, but if it hadn't searched for Shiro in the Dynamax den and had just run away, Dreepy would have died.

They were companions. The people in front of them were enemies.

“Hmph.” Gareth narrowed his eyes, glancing at the surrounding Pokémon. A plan was already forming in his mind.

Shiro clenched his teeth, scanning the area.

The moment he saw Gareth raise a hand to his earpiece, his body tensed, ready to lunge at any second.

"Hm?"

Gareth frowned. Then his expression eased, and he took a few steps back.

Something felt off. Shiro hesitated, cautiously stepping forward. None of the Pokémon around him showed signs of attacking.

Just then, a familiar voice came from inside the passenger cabin of a Corviknight taxicab nearby.

"Yo! Isn't that you, Shiro? What brings you all the way from Hammerlocke? Changed your mind?"

Shiro froze. He quickly searched his memories, trying to place the voice.

"Marvin?" he muttered.

From the passenger box beneath the Corviknight's talons, a familiar yet slightly different figure jumped down.

Marvin was no longer the filthy, disheveled mess he used to be. His bright orange-red hair stood out vividly, and he was now dressed in Macro Cosmos' white uniform.

With one hand in his pocket, he waved lazily at Gareth, who immediately stepped aside and recalled his Rillaboom without protest.

At the same time, the Mamoswine and Vanilluxe watching Drakloak closely were also withdrawn into Poké Balls with two flashes of red lights.

"Surprised?" Marvin smirked, strolling toward him. "Didn't I tell you I'd be joining Macro Cosmos?" He patted Shiro's shoulder, then reached out to touch Drakloak. But the Pokémon flinched, retreating into the shadows, refusing to let him touch it.

Marvin merely shrugged.

"I spotted you from the Corviknight and reported it to Chairman Rose," he continued, his tone casual. "Didn’t expect him to take such an interest in you.”

Shiro's mind raced. He remembered Marvin mentioning a mission to sabotage the Gym Challenge. Everything clicked. These hunters—no, the entire operation—was part of Rose's plan.

Including capturing this Drakloak.

Some of the things that had puzzled him about the hunting team's actions suddenly made sense. They probably all had rewards for capturing Pokémon, but the hunters themselves weren’t eager to do the dirty work for people like Marvin—those with special connections.

Marvin grabbed Shiro's arm, leading him toward the Corviknight. "Shocked, huh? Come with me, you know Chairman Rose, right? He wants to meet you."

Shiro nodded silently.

He didn’t feel relieved, just calm.

The danger was gone, but now he was at their mercy. He’d likely be forced into this plan, following Rose’s orders.

As they approached the cabin, Marvin shot a glare toward the hunters still lingering in the forest.

"What are you looking at?" he snapped. "If my friend hadn’t caught Drakloak, you useless lot wouldn’t have even seen its shadow!"

At his words, the hunters either averted their gazes or shrank back, unwilling to meet his eyes.

As Marvin and Shiro stepped into the passenger box, Corviknight spread its wings.

With a powerful beat of its wings, it lifted into the sky.

One after another, the other Corviknight followed closely behind.

**

**

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Chapter Text

Shiro sat in the flying taxi, his gaze fixed on the clouds drifting lazily past the window. His mind wandered, piecing together everything he had learned from Marvin during their last encounter.

Marvin’s goal was clear: to ruin the Gym Challenge and humiliate his older brother, Gordie.

'Or maybe... he plans to use this chance to kill him?'

But this wasn’t just some twisted family feud. What caught Shiro off guard was that the mission wasn’t Marvin’s idea. It was backed by Chairman Rose himself.

If Rose was involved, Marvin wasn’t acting alone. There were probably others, maybe even riding in the other Corviknight taxis flying alongside them right now. Shiro couldn’t help but wonder how deep this went.

"Shiro, how about this? I’d say this pays you back for saving my life before, right?"

Marvin’s voice snapped Shiro from his thoughts. He leaned back with a grin, hands tucked behind his head like they were on a casual road trip.

Shiro looked at him and nodded slowly.

If Marvin hadn’t shown up today, he probably wouldn’t have made it out of Lake Axewell alive.

"Crazy coincidence, huh?" Marvin chuckled. "Ran into you just like that. Seriously though, impressive stuff. Catching an elite-level Drakloak? That’s insane."

Shiro didn’t reply. He just smiled faintly and looked down at the sleeping Dreepy in his arms, the tiny Pokémon finally relaxed after escaping danger.

If the hunting team had succeeded in capturing Drakloak, they likely would’ve slapped some brainwashing device on it, turning the intelligent creature into a mindless weapon. Pseudo-legendaries, especially ones this strong, were far too smart to obey willingly.

Marvin stared at him for a moment, curiosity flickering in his eyes. He couldn’t figure it out: how someone like Shiro managed to win Drakloak over.

Shiro didn’t explain. He didn’t need to.

Even after nearly dying, he didn’t regret taking Drakloak away from them.

He wasn’t sure what the future held or whether his decisions were right or wrong. But none of that mattered. He was determined to seize every opportunity, in training, in battle, in survival. If he didn’t push himself to the limit, how could he ever compete with those born into power? The ones blessed with talent and resources?

Like Raihan from Hammerlocke’s legendary Dragon Taming family, Lance from Kanto’s, and even Leon, Galar’s undefeated Champion, who rose to fame because Chairman Rose noticed him and gave him his support.

'Well, looks like I might get a shot at Rose’s backing now too.'

Shiro lowered his head, his mind already racing ahead to what would happen when he finally met the man himself.

Marvin leaned closer, still watching him.

"Hey, Shiro, how did you end up in the Wild Area anyway? Back in Hammerlocke, you didn’t find the black market, did you? Wait... no. If you didn’t find it, how’d you end up all the way out here?"

"I killed someone. Had nowhere else to run," Shiro said calmly.

Marvin blinked, then laughed like he’d already figured it out.

"Let me guess—showed off some cash and got targeted? Man, that’s rough. You should’ve just stuck with me from the start."

Shiro shook his head lightly.

Even if he could go back and choose a hundred times, he’d still pick heading into the city and living a quiet, stable life.

After waking up in this world and becoming a fugitive almost immediately, safety was all he wanted. There was no way he’d trust someone he barely knew back then.

Marvin let out a sigh, his grin fading. His voice dropped lower.

"Well, after we split up, I headed straight to the black market, then to the company. After meeting Chairman Rose, I became part of Macro Cosmos."

He patted his white uniform, flicking the Macro Cosmos emblem on his chest proudly.

"Let me fill you in on our mission and the bigger picture,” Marvin leaned back, his voice taking on a more serious edge.

"You know how everyone thinks Chairman Rose runs Galar? That’s only half the truth. Sure, he controls the League, owns Macro Cosmos, and funds pretty much everything, but the Gym Leaders still hold too much power. Especially over their territories."

Shiro listened intently. 

"The Chairman doesn’t like that," Marvin continued. “While the Gyms schemed to break free from the Chairman’s influence, he wanted to weaken their authority.”

Shiro frowned slightly. "By attacking the Gym Challenge?"

Marvin nodded.

"Yeah. Everyone thinks the Gym Challenge is this fair, noble thing, but it’s a joke. Gym leaders handpick their successors and pass their titles down through their families like its some kind of royal inheritance. And the Endorsement Letter system just makes it worse. The whole thing’s rigged to prop up the heirs of elite families, turning the Challenge into a parade of rich kids and legacy trainers.”

Marvin’s voice grew colder.

"That’s where we come in. We’re the trainers who got cheated. Locked out of the Gym Challenge for stupid reasons: wrong family, no connections, whatever. The Chairman is using us to sabotage the Challenge from the inside. We’ll prove to everyone that the so-called 'endorsed' trainers aren’t the best; they’re just privileged.”

At this point, a grin crept onto Marvin’s face. 

"And here’s the kicker. If we make it to the Champion Cup and crush the current Gym Leaders, the Chairman promised we could replace them and become Gym Leaders ourselves!"

Shiro finally understood.

Rose wasn’t just trying to shake up the Gym system; he wanted to tear it down and rebuild it under his control.

And the strongest contender for the Champion title, the undefeated Leon, was also Rose’s man.

No wonder Macro Cosmos’ hunting team was backing them. This mission was crucial to Rose’s plans, a decisive move to seize total control over Galar.

The Champion of a region wasn’t just a title; it was a position. The Champion was technically the leader of all trainers and Gyms, with the authority to mobilize other trainers as needed.

Rose, acting as both Macro Cosmos' chairman and the League president, controlling the Champion and the Gyms…

He’d have Galar’s entire political and military power in his hands.

……

About half an hour later.

The Flying taxi finally reached Wyndon.

Powered by several Gym-level Corviknight working together and using Tailwind to boost their speed, they crossed half of Galar in no time.

Wyndon’s skyline was packed with towering skyscrapers, but the most impressive building was undeniably Macro Cosmos' headquarters—Rose Tower. The massive skyscraper was surrounded by an enormous park. 

The flying taxi brought them directly to the base of the tower.

Black metal and glass stretched endlessly into the sky. From the ground, the top was invisible; all Shiro could see was the blinding white reflections.

Stepping out of the cab, Shiro took a deep breath, feeling a little uneasy about what came next.

He was, after all, an outsider who joined halfway through. On top of that, he stole a Pokémon meant for the mission. And back in Hammerlocke, he killed a League staffer, technically one of Rose’s own people. 

He had no idea what Rose would think about that.

"Let’s go, Shiro." Marvin patted his shoulder and walked ahead like he knew the place by heart.

Two burly guards in black uniforms, wearing sunglasses, stood at the entrance. They didn’t even glance at Marvin.

Shiro followed closely but glanced back, hoping to catch a glimpse of the other trainers on the mission.

All he saw was a short boy stepping out of a taxi behind them. The boy wore a black shirt and a mask, hiding his face entirely. Shiro couldn’t tell who he was, though something about his posture seemed vaguely familiar.

He stepped into the elevator with Marvin, leaving the boy behind. Without waiting, Marvin pressed the button for the top floor, and the doors slid shut with a soft hiss.

Before long, they reached the top floor.

A hallway led to a large, dark-colored door. Marvin nudged Shiro forward.

"Chairman Rose only wants to see you. Go on in. Don’t worry, he’s a nice guy."

Shiro glanced at him, then walked toward the door, his footsteps echoing in the silent hallway.

‘Nice guy?’ He doubted it. None of the trainers he met on this journey had been remotely "nice."

Standing in front of the door, he reached out, took a deep breath, and slowly pushed it open.

A warm beige color filled his eyes, completely different from the cold steel and glass outside. It was a surprisingly small office.

Behind a red mahogany desk, a middle-aged man in a gray suit slowly lifted his eyes to meet Shiro’s.

**

**

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Chapter Text

Rose had slightly tanned skin, with a short ring of stubble around his chin and mouth. A single strand of black hair fell from the neatly slicked-back style on his right side, hanging loosely over his face.

For a moment, Shiro locked eyes with him. Rose wore a faint, knowing smile. Just as Shiro remembered why he was here and opened his mouth to speak, Rose interrupted.

“Oh? You must be Shiro, right?” Rose’s voice carried a lazy amusement as he twirled the stray strand of hair around his finger. “That’s not exactly a Galarian name… is it?”

Shiro hesitated for a second before answering, "My father—"

"I know!" Rose cut him off, his tone flat and uninterested. "You’re from Spikemuth, aren’t you?”

Shiro nodded, "Yeah."

Rose’s smile widened. His fingers twisted the strand of hair a bit tighter now, as though the motion helped him think. He spoke slowly, almost like he was narrating a story.

"Shiro. From Spikemuth. A naturally gifted trainer, well-known throughout the town. Everyone believed you’d make it to the Champion’s Cup and bring glory to Spikemuth, maybe even help the town recover from its decline. But the Gym Leader gave his endorsement letter to his only son, Piers, instead."

"You were furious. When you confronted him, he threw you out and banished you from Spikemuth. The townspeople also saw it as unfair, so you traveled to Wyndon and pleaded with the League for justice."

"Sounds about right?"

Rose’s voice stayed light, but the finality in his words felt almost like a verdict. He wasn’t asking a question; he was stating facts.

Shiro didn’t flinch, nor did he question this new version of his past. He nodded without hesitation. "I’ll remember that."

"Good." Rose sat up straighter and grabbed a file from the desk. "The report says you caught Drakloak on your own. Is that true?"

Shiro gave a brief rundown of what happened.

Rose listened intently, nodding along. When Shiro finished, Rose’s hands came together in slow, deliberate applause. His smile stretched wider.

"Impressive. Very impressive. You’ve got talent, Shiro... you know that Drakloak was originally supposed to be a Macro Cosmos catch, right?"

Shiro gave a slight nod.

Rose leaned forward, his sharp gaze locking onto him.

"I’ve read your file, including what happened in Hammerlocke. You even killed a League official there, didn’t you?”

Shiro didn’t get the chance to respond.

"But you never lost a single match in the Hammerlocke Stadium," Rose continued smoothly. “You even used a newly caught Gastly to take down Raihan’s younger cousin. Rylan, wasn’t it? Beat his prized Jangmo-o, a Pokémon his Dragon-taming family had been carefully raising."

Shiro’s chest tightened. He wasn’t scared, but he knew where this was going. Rose wasn’t just complimenting him; he was building up to something. This was a setup. Rose was about to push him into a corner with demands far higher than what the other trainers faced.

"You know," Rose toyed with his hair again, not getting to the point just yet. "A trainer’s talent comes down to two things. One: the ability to bond quickly with Pokémon. Two: the skill to command them in battle.”

He paused, his grin widening.

"Kid…"

Rose leaned back in his chair, voice lowering to a near-whisper.

"I want you to make it to the Champion Cup’s semi-finals. At least.”

…...

Shiro stepped out of Rose's office, processing the conversation inside. The situation left Shiro with no room to argue. He agreed without complaint.

Despite Rose’s harshness, there had been an upside: promises of top-tier resources throughout the journey, with priority over other trainers.

Shiro thought it over carefully. If he wanted to reach the semifinals, he’d need a full team of six Pokémon, and five of them, aside from Drakloak, would have to be Advanced-level at minimum.

There was only a month and a half left before the Gym Challenge began.

It sounded tight, but in reality, he had more time than it seemed. 

The Gym Challenge wasn’t a straightforward competition; it was a region-wide, live-streamed event where trainers traveled from Gym to Gym. The fastest ones, like Leon, might finish it within a month. Others, less skilled, could take over half a year.

The Champion Cup would only start once the Gym Challenge ended.

With Shiro and the others involved now, the whole schedule was bound to slow down. Rose was effectively giving him close to a year.

It wasn’t a bad deal: a rare chance to grow stronger, without having to struggle for resources on his own.

The only downside…

Everything he did would be under Macro Cosmos’ watchful eye.

……

Shiro was deep in thought as he stepped into the elevator, not paying attention. He bumped straight into someone.

He only paused for a moment, but the other person, much lighter than him, nearly stumbled to the ground.

It was a dark-skinned girl with delicate features. Her long, black-blue hair was tied neatly behind her head.

The moment Shiro got a good look at her, he couldn’t help but blurt out.

“Nessa?”

The girl, barely regaining her balance, widened her eyes in surprise.

“You know me?”

Shiro’s mind raced. In the original timeline, Nessa was the Gym Leader of Hulbury. But now, she hadn’t reached that point yet. He wondered if she was also part of Rose’s “special assignments.”

"I... I saw you before in Hulbury. Just surprised to run into you here…" he said quickly, trying to cover his tracks.

“In Hulbury?” Nessa frowned slightly, trying to recall any memory of seeing him there.

“Just from a distance, never talked," Shiro added, smiling awkwardly. "You’re probably here to meet Chairman Rose, right? He’s inside. Please, go ahead.”

Nessa gave a puzzled nod, then walked toward Rose’s office.

The elevator doors hummed shut. Shiro let out a long breath, finally relaxing.

In the original story, Nessa later became a famous model; her tall, slender figure definitely made her stand out. But that came after she became a Gym Leader.

Thinking about it, meeting her wasn’t all that surprising.

Even though Shiro had been in this world for almost a month now, the butterfly effect hadn’t changed the timeline drastically yet.

Nessa’s background wasn’t ideal either, but she undoubtedly had the potential to become a Gym Leader.

This special assignment from Rose seemed like a key turning point for her, and indirectly confirmed the mission’s chances of success were high.

The elevator descended slowly. Shiro didn’t know where to go or what to do next, so he decided to head to the first floor and ask around.

He was officially a member of Macro Cosmos now, after all.

What he wanted to figure out most was how the resources would be allocated. There was no way Rose would hand him whatever he wanted on a silver platter. And besides, the mission’s main focus still revolved around Leon.

If Leon defeated Raihan and became Champion, Rose’s plan would already be halfway complete.

……

Ding!

The elevator reached the first floor.

Shiro stepped into the spacious lobby, glancing around.

On either side were curved, silver-white reception counters. Behind each counter stood staff members in white uniforms, handling reception duties.

Shiro approached one of the counters and asked a muscular man in sunglasses.

“Where’s my room? And where are the other mission members?”

The man stayed silent for a moment, then replied slowly, “Marvin’s on the twelfth floor. He’ll fill you in.”

“Got it.”

Shiro turned back to the elevator and hit the button.

……

Twelfth floor.

The elevator doors slid open, revealing a wide, minimalist lounge, completely empty of furniture.

“Yo, you finally made it?” Marvin asked, sitting on the floor. “Been waiting a while for you.”

**

**

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Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:

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Your support means a lot, thank you!

Chapter Text

“Follow me,” Marvin said as he stood up from the ground.

Shiro silently followed him into the hallway behind the lounge. The walls were lined with deep red carpets, and warm beige lights were built into the ceiling, casting a soft glow.

Every five meters, a door stood on either side, leading to different rooms.

"These two rooms are taken." Marvin pointed to the first two doors at the front of the hallway, then added, "The one on the right is mine. The rest are empty—pick whichever one you like.”

Shiro gave a slight nod and walked a few steps down the hall before stopping at a nearby door.

"This one’s fine."

"Alright." Marvin pushed the door open and entered the room selected by Shiro. 

The entrance led into a short corridor that turned a corner, opening up into a small living space. A modest sofa faced a little TV, and beyond that was a bedroom with an attached bathroom.

"Check this out." Marvin patted a small cabinet near the entrance of the living room. On top was a half-circle device connected to the wall, giving off a sleek, high-tech vibe. He pressed a button, and a square screen lit up within the device.

Curious, Shiro watched as Marvin tapped another button that resembled a phone icon.

Buzz...

Within seconds, a soft female voice came from the device. "How may I assist you?"

"ID card," Marvin answered casually.

"May I have your name?" the voice asked.

Marvin glanced over at Shiro, who responded, "Shiro.”

"Understood. Please hold..."

The sound of rapid typing and mechanical humming filled the room. Shiro watched as the half-circle device closed, then split open in the middle, revealing a sleek, silver card that slowly rose from within.

He picked it up and examined it. The front bore the Macro Cosmos logo, while the back displayed his personal information.

"Your identity’s been reset," Marvin explained, with one hand lazily tucked into his pocket. "It’s wiped from the standard League database. Gyms and city systems won’t be able to track you anymore.”

Shiro flipped the card back and forth, then asked, "So my old ID card is destroyed automatically?"

"That’s right." Marvin nodded, giving the device an extra pat. "This thing’s a service terminal. It’s connected 24/7. If you need anything, just ask.”

Without waiting for a response, Marvin grabbed Shiro’s arm and tugged him toward the hallway again.

"Come on. I’ll show you around the rest of the place."

……

About an hour later.

Shiro now had a decent grasp of the building’s layout.

The twelfth floor, where they were staying, was originally an employee dormitory. The eleventh floor held the cafeteria—surprisingly generous, offering perfect-quality Pokéblocks for free, tailored to different Pokémon types.

For training, the ninth floor had private rooms, but there was also an outdoor training field behind the building, more spacious and open.

Floors fifteen to twenty were entirely black market zones.

Currently, Shiro wandered one of those black market hallways. The floor was carpeted in the same deep red as before, and the soft lighting gave no hint of the shady dealings behind each door.

Each room on this floor had a small indicator light next to the door. Red meant occupied.

Spotting a green light, Shiro pushed the door open.

Once inside, he was greeted by a wide floor-to-ceiling window. A black market merchant sat to the side, completely wrapped in a heavy black cloak.

"Oh? Long time no see, Mr. Shiro." The cloaked figure's head moved, following Shiro's every step. "What can I get you this time? A quick reminder: your spending limit is twenty million Pokédollars."

Every mission member had a monthly spending cap. Marvin mentioned his was ten million, though he wasn’t sure what the others got.

Shiro didn’t think twenty million was all that much. Raising Pokémon properly could burn through half of that without even trying.

"No, no, raising Pokémon doesn't cost that much." The cloaked man, clearly using psychic powers to eavesdrop on Shiro's thoughts, explained, "Your daily Pokéblocks are free and even the fastest Pokémon takes at least a week to fully digest special resources. Any faster might cause an energy conflict.”

Shiro frowned. This was the first time he'd heard such information.

"Some Pokémon with better talent digest faster, maybe two or three days. But Pokémon know their own limits best. Just ask them." The man finished his explanation and asked, "So, is there anything you need?”

Shiro stayed silent, lost in thought.

Right now, his main Pokémon were Corvisquire and Gastly. Dreepy was still too weak to fight, and along with Drakloak it barely counted as one Pokémon.

Not to mention the two Pokémon would probably take a long time to fully absorb the Dragon Scale he'd given them. As for his Rhyperior, a Gym-level tool Pokémon, it was unlikely to see much action in official battles.

Training would mainly focus on Corvisquire and Gastly.

Corvisquire had recently reached Intermediate-level, while Gastly was still in the Beginner-level. Both had been through plenty of battles. Now, with enough resources, they could likely hit Advanced-level within a month and a half.

After that, he could follow those Gym challengers—training and battling at the same time.

What troubled him most was picking the rest of his team. He needed to gather six Pokémon as soon as possible.

"Have you decided?" The cloaked man spoke again, voice calm. He spread his arms, and waves of pink psychic energy shimmered between them. "I might be able to offer some recommendations..."

The psychic energy shifted, forming illusions of several Pokémon: Grookey, Scorbunny, Sobble, Vulpix, Noibat...

All of them were rare and valuable, likely with impressive potential.

As Shiro scanned through the options, his eyes landed on a familiar figure—a Pokémon from Kanto.

"Growlithe?"

He pointed to the fluffy, fiery pup.

The merchant tilted his head. "Yes. Beginner-level, freshly imported from Kanto. Quite rare. The price is one million Pokédollars."

"I'll take it." Shiro didn’t hesitate. 

He didn’t know much about raising Pokémon and felt unsure about picking from so many options. So, he went with his gut.

The main reason was that Galar's starters were too ugly. Their strength wasn’t overwhelming either. Growlithe’s evolution, Arcanine, was both powerful and majestic—plus, it could serve as a mount.

Back when he played Pokémon games in his previous life, he always made sure to catch a Growlithe.

"Alright..." The cloaked man brought his arms together, and a Pokéball appeared between them, containing Growlithe. "I assume you'll want a special berry to boost Fire-type Pokémon? I recommend Zone D, Type 7, Number 219."

"...What?" Shiro raised a brow at the weird code.

The merchant chuckled and said, "It’s just a label. The first part is its location in the company’s breeding garden—makes it easier to track."

"Got it." Shiro didn’t bother asking the price. "I'll take it all."

Anyway, it was the company's money, the company’s Pokémon, and he was working for the company.

He didn’t feel the slightest pressure.

After receiving the Poké Ball and the special berry, Shiro handed over all the loot he'd collected during this time to the cloaked merchant. His backpack was packed with Poké Balls—most of them were taken from other people.

Among them were six Advanced-level Pokémon and eight Intermediates. He sold everything for around 680,000 Pokédollars.

He also had eight League cards of unknown value.

After the cloaked man bought those at half price, Shiro ended up with a total of 5.82 million Pokédollars.

Most of that came from the two watt traders who practically threw their lives away.

Counting the other cash he’d collected, Shiro had over seven million Pokédollars in his personal stash.

If he were still out in the Wild Area, that’d be more than enough to train his Pokémon comfortably.

Too bad he was just a corporate lackey now.

**

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Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:

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Your support means a lot, thank you!

Chapter Text

After buying six more Gym-level Dragon Scales worth a total of 3 million Pokédollars, Shiro walked out of the black market room.

“Phew~” He let out a long breath, feeling the rush of spending money so freely for the first time.

The company’s spending limit still had 15 million left, and his personal savings sat at over 7 million.

'So this is what financial freedom feels like.’

The thought lingered as Shiro stepped into the elevator, heading down to the 11th floor. He planned to grab some food at the cafeteria, then stock up on Pokéblocks for his team.

It was already late, past six, and the sky outside was starting to dim. For someone like him, who rarely stayed up late, it was almost time to wind down. Not to mention, after everything he’d gone through in the wild today, his Pokémon were just as worn out as he was.

Ding~

The elevator came to a smooth stop.

Shiro walked into the cafeteria, finding it nearly empty. Rows of tables and chairs sat neatly arranged, the quiet hum of the lights filling the space. He ordered a bowl of noodles without much thought and made his way to a corner seat.

He wasn’t sure about everyone else’s schedules, but both he and Nessa had only arrived today. She was probably still getting used to the place like he was.

As for Marvin, that guy slipped away after dropping Shiro off at the black market floor, saying he had more training to do.

Shiro was midway through slurping his noodles when the elevator chimed again.

His gaze drifted to the doors.

A small figure stepped out: a boy, or at least he looked like one, wearing a plain white mask. Black hair fell past his eyebrows, and a loose black shirt draped over his frame.

The boy moved quietly to the self-serve area, heading toward the plump lady running the drinks counter.

“Allister, you’re here again? Same drink as usual?” The lady’s voice was warm and familiar.

'Allister?' The name felt familiar to Shiro.

He chewed his noodles slowly, running through the list of Gym Leaders in Galar from the original story. It didn’t take long for the name to click.

Allister, the Ghost-type Gym Leader from Stow-on-Side.

In Pokémon Sword and Shield, players who chose the Shield version met him at that Gym. But seeing him in reality felt different. He seemed even quieter and more mysterious than the game made him out to be.

Shiro kept his head down, focused on his food. The fact that both Nessa and Allister were here made him trust Rose’s "special mission" a little more. They weren’t just any trainers; they were future Gym Leader material.

As for Marvin, Shiro wasn’t sure what to make of him yet. In the games, Melony and Gordie were the Gym Leaders of Circhester, not Marvin.

He couldn’t tell if his own interference had changed things or if something bigger was at play. Maybe, just maybe, he had altered the fate where Marvin was supposed to die in the Route 9 Tunnel.

Shiro shook off the thought.

He finished his noodles, stocked up on Pokéblocks, and headed to the 12th floor.

……

Once inside his room, Shiro released his Corvisquire and Gastly, placing trays filled with perfect-quality Pokéblocks in front of them.

"Coorv!"

Corvisquire dove in immediately, pecking away eagerly.

"Gaaasss!"

Gastly, not one to be left behind, let out a sharp hiss before shoving its gaseous face into the pile, devouring the food hungrily.

It was their first time eating something this good; both looked absolutely delighted.

Next, Shiro called out Drakloak from his shadow. He handed it and the Dreepy resting on its head a box of Pokéblocks each.

"And you too… come on out, Growlithe!"

He tossed the last Poké Ball, releasing his newest team member.

Growlithe emerged in a flash of light, covered in thick orange fur with bold black stripes. A fluffy, cream-colored mane wrapped around its neck like a warm scarf.

It was bigger than Shiro expected, nearly a meter tall, with a sturdy frame that hinted at good care before ending up in his hands. Its head even reached up to his elbow.

The Growlithe blinked up at him, wide-eyed and unsure. Then its gaze shifted, locking onto Drakloak nearby, who was happily munching away at its Pokéblocks.

The overwhelming aura of an Elite-level Dragon-type froze the poor Growlithe in place. It dropped to the ground, too scared to move.

“Come here, Growlithe,” Shiro called softly, seeing how timid it looked. He placed a food tray filled with Fire-type Pokéblocks in front of it.

Growlithe sniffed cautiously. After a single taste, its eyes lit up, and it dove in, eating heartily.

‘It’s probably from some breeding farm in Kanto, stuck in a Poké Ball for days. Now it’s in a strange place, surrounded by unfamiliar people and Pokémon… must be tough on the little guy.’

Shiro gently ran a hand through its fur before standing up to wash up.

It was about time for bed.

Starting tomorrow, he’d return to the full-day training schedule he followed back when he trained in Hammerlocke Stadium. 

……

The next day.

The sun barely peeked over the horizon when Shiro woke up. It was just past 6 AM.

After his morning routine, he grabbed his backpack and headed to the ninth floor. Even though Macro Cosmos Headquarters was secure, he kept his stuff packed—ready to run if needed.

When he reached the ninth floor, rows of side-by-side training rooms came into view.

The indicator lights above each door glowed green. He scanned his ID card in front of one, and the door slid open automatically.

Inside was a massive rectangular space, six meters tall and at least four or five times bigger than the intermediate rooms back at Hammerlocke Stadium.

Familiar Pokémon target dummies lined one side, while a wide variety of specialized training equipment filled the rest, including weights and machines tailored to different Pokémon types.

In the corner, free food and drinks were neatly arranged. Shiro even spotted a sizable shower room, seemingly designed for both trainers and their Pokémon.

“Damn, this is high-end,” Shiro couldn’t help but mutter, impressed. 

He then released all his Pokémon, including Rhyperior. The room's height was just enough to accommodate the hulking beast.

It hadn’t eaten all day yesterday. It wouldn’t starve, but still, going without food wasn’t ideal.

Shiro took out some Rock and Ground-type Pokéblocks from his backpack, stuffed them into a large food box, and placed it in the corner for Rhyperior to eat in peace.

Corvisquire and Gastly on the side stuck together, while Growlithe timidly shuffled over to join them.

Drakloak, meanwhile, was seeing this kind of room for the first time. It zipped around in circles, curiously exploring the space.

“Corvisquire, Gastly!” Shiro barely finished speaking before the two Pokémon rushed over, chirping and hissing loudly.

"Squuiire!"

“Gaaasss!"

They were both restless, eager to train, desperate to get stronger.

After all, it was bad enough when the massive Rhyperior joined, a powerhouse that completely overshadowed them. But then Drakloak came along, and its strength felt like an unshakable wall, leaving the two feeling hopelessly outclassed.

Especially for Corvisquire.

It couldn’t shake the feeling that it no longer deserved its place as the "big brother" of the team.

Rhyperior alone was enough to make it feel small, unable to even spread its wings in front of the towering beast. Adding Dreepy to the mix, Corvisquire wished it could disappear into the woods to train for ten years before coming back.

It had followed Shiro from Spikemuth, fighting through numerous battles. It refused to let itself fall behind. Weakness wasn’t an option.

Gastly felt the same pressure.

Back when it was just the two of them, things were fine. But now, with stronger teammates joining one after another, Gastly didn’t want to stay stuck as the "runt of the team" forever.

It glanced sideways at the clueless Growlithe, eyes narrowing. Especially now that the team had a newcomer to fill that spot.

Even though they were both still at the Beginner-level, deep down, Gastly couldn’t help but worry… what if it wasn’t even stronger than the new kid?

Looking at the goofy, vacant expression on Growlithe’s face, an uneasy, urgent feeling stirred inside Gastly.

**

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Chapter Text

Seeing Corvisquire and Gastly respond so eagerly, Shiro nodded in satisfaction.

Training was the best part of the day—for both trainers and Pokémon.

"Good. Looks like you two are full of energy," Shiro rubbed his chin, thinking about the training plan. "Corvisquire, let's focus on your speed today. I’ll strap a weight to you. As for Gastly… keep practicing your moves. Try to master every single one you know."

"Coor!"

"Gaass!"

The two Pokémon called out enthusiastically.

Shiro then grabbed a 20-kilogram weight and fastened it securely to Corvisquire. The bird took off excitedly, flying to the horizontal bar on the wall to start its training. Gastly, on the other hand, floated over to the Pokémon training dummies, launching moves one after another.

With an endless supply of Pokéblocks, they didn’t need to worry about running out of energy.

Off to the side, Dreepy and Drakloak stretched their necks, tilting their heads curiously. They watched the two Pokémon train with wide eyes.

They had never seen a trainer put Pokémon through training before. Usually, they just ate, slept, and somehow got stronger over time.

Shiro didn’t bother them. He wasn’t experienced enough to train Dragon-types properly anyway—not yet. For now, he just wanted them to get used to this lifestyle. Once they settled into the rhythm, everything else would fall into place.

As for Growlithe...

"Groow!"

The Fire-type seemed to think everyone was playing a game. It wasn’t familiar with the others yet, but that didn’t stop it from bouncing around Shiro, tongue wagging happily.

‘This one’s a bit slow on the uptake. Looks like it won’t get into the training mood anytime soon,’ Shiro thought to himself, exhaling softly. He reached down and gave Growlithe a gentle pat on the head.

Then he noticed Drakloak staring with wide, curious eyes, floating over and circling around the dog.

Growlithe, a little nervous at first, quickly became fixated on Drakloak’s semi-transparent tail. Without thinking, it started chasing after it. Soon enough, the dragon and dog were running in circles together, spinning around like a pair of hyper kids.

Shiro sighed, tapping his forehead lightly.

'Well, at least Drakloak won’t be bored. Let it drag Growlithe around for a bit.’

With that settled, he could finally start his own training.

As a trainer, leading by example mattered. He didn’t expect to fight like a humanoid Pokémon, but at the very least, he wanted to be physically stronger than other trainers.

In the wild, if two trainers’ Pokémon ended up in a stalemate, sometimes the fastest way to settle things... was to take the other trainer down yourself.

If his Pokémon were locked in a tough battle, Shiro thought it was perfectly reasonable to win by taking the opponent out directly.

He grabbed a dozen weights, strapping them to his arms, legs, waist, and back, practically covering himself in a layer of iron.

Altogether, it weighed about 50 kilograms.

His body strained under the load, but thanks to relentless training, good nutrition, and his naturally sturdy build, he could manage—barely.

He forced himself through a dozen push-ups before collapsing to the floor, panting.

After a moment to catch his breath, he pushed on.

Shiro didn’t care about fancy training methods. At the end of the day, fighting boiled down to two things: strength and speed.

He drilled squats and push-ups like a madman, imagining the day he’d be strong enough to take down an Elite-level Pokémon with his own hands.

……

Noon came quickly.

Macro Cosmos Headquarters, 9th floor.

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime. Marvin stepped out first, followed by Allister.

“Hey, you sure Shiro and that woman are here?” Marvin asked, one hand stuffed in his pocket as he glanced sideways at the boy next to him. Not that he expected an answer.

Ever since Allister arrived, he wandered alone between the training rooms and the cafeteria. Sometimes, he didn’t even return to his room. Every day was just him and his Pokémon training endlessly.

Just like his quiet, eerie personality, Allister specialized in Ghost-types.

Marvin wasn’t a fan of those spooky little things—especially since most of them were rumored to drain a person’s life force.

Allister didn’t reply. He simply walked straight to a training room door lit with a red indicator, then tilted his head toward another room nearby.

Marvin followed his gaze. The other room’s light was red too, meaning it was occupied.

“They both came to the ninth-floor training rooms this early?” Marvin muttered, raising a brow. “That in sync? Don’t tell me they knew each other before this... but Shiro never mentioned—”

Before he could finish mumbling, Allister suddenly raised his hand and knocked on the metal door. The dull, rhythmic sound echoed through the hall.

“Uh…” Marvin froze for a second, then reached out and pressed the indicator button of the other room.

A crisp chime rang out, followed by a smooth, gentle female voice:

“Mr. Shiro, currently in training—you have visitors.”

Click!

Panting slightly, Shiro cracked the door open. When he saw it was Marvin, he pulled it the rest of the way open.

“What’s up?” Shiro leaned out, glancing around. He spotted Allister standing not far away.

Marvin wasted no time, grabbing Shiro’s arm and dragging him out.

“Forget training for now. Squad A5 scored a batch of Exp. Candy. Plus, our whole team’s here now. Come meet everyone.”

While he spoke, the door in front of Allister clicked open too.

Nessa stepped out, her eyes landing on the boy in front of her before shifting to Shiro and Marvin, looking puzzled.

All she cared about was training, getting stronger, and eventually challenging the Gym Challenge competitors. She didn’t get why everyone was gathering instead of focusing on their own training.

“We’re all here now!” Marvin raised his voice, pulling out a small, sky-blue candy from his pocket. “You know what this is, right? Exp. Candy—helps Pokémon get stronger fast.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Nessa leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. “You saying it’s for us?”

“Yep!”

Marvin tucked the candy away again, sighing in frustration.

“If you guys actually checked your room for updates or grabbed a comms device, you’d already know. But nooo, I gotta round everyone up one by one… Pack your stuff. Let’s hit the elevator.”

……

A while later, everyone stepped into the elevator one after another. And with Marvin's explanation, they understood the situation. 

There were two hunting teams assigned specifically to support their special mission squad—A5 and B5. These were also the strongest teams within Macro Cosmos’ Pokémon hunting division.

The A5 squad had only two members, both of whom were elite-level trainers, widely known in the Galar region before they were recruited into the company. 

One of them was the trainer who used Mamoswine and Vanilluxe to intercept Drakloak the day before.

"A5 found those Exp. Candies near the ruins in Stow-on-Side," Marvin added, keeping it brief. "You either extract these from Pokémon or dig them out of old ruins. Either way, they’re rare.”

"How many are there exactly?" Nessa asked from the side. "Is there enough for everyone?"

Ding~

The elevator reached the first floor. As the dark gray alloy doors opened, Marvin scratched his short, orange hair and answered helplessly.

"Of course not. There’s no way it’s enough for all of us.”

With that, he led the group out of the elevator, heading towards the left side of the lobby, where an old, hunched woman stood silently beside a tall green plant.

"This is Granny Shae," Marvin introduced. "She’s an elite-level trainer specializing in Ice-type Pokémon, one of A5’s members.”

"Heh heh..." Granny Shae chuckled softly. She wore plain white clothes, and leaned on a black iron cane. "So, it’s you all... and that boy from yesterday too.”

Her eyes settled on Shiro, as if she could see straight through him to the Drakloak hiding in his shadow.

**

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Chapter Text

Shiro knew this old lady was the trainer of the two Ice-type Pokémon from yesterday. Without her, those Corviknight and Rillaboom wouldn’t have been enough to stop him.

"Not bad, not bad." Shae looked him up and down again, sighing softly before turning around and slowly heading for the main door. "Come along, all of you."

No one said a word. They quietly followed the old woman as she slowly made her way forward.

She was a powerful, Elite-level trainer; that was enough to keep everyone silent.

In the Pokémon world, "League Champion" might be a title, but it wasn’t one given lightly. To hold that position, Elite-level strength was the bare minimum; after all, even some of the weaker Legendary Pokémon only reached Elite-level.

The gap between Gym-level and Elite-level was massive, a divide most trainers could never cross. Those who could consistently raise Pokémon to that caliber stood at the very top, unmatched in resources, breeding knowledge, and mastery of Pokémon types.

Gym-level and Elite-level were two major bottlenecks that had crushed the dreams of countless talented trainers.

Even some of the Gym Leaders didn’t possess true Gym-level strength. They just relied on powerful Pokémon passed down from their predecessors to maintain appearances.

'I wonder how many genuine Gym and Elite-level trainers Galar even has,' Shiro pondered.

Some people, like him, simply bought "brainless" Gym-level Pokémon from black market and claimed to be Gym-level trainers. But without the ability to command those Pokémon properly, they couldn’t even beat experienced Advanced-level trainers.

Still, if someone managed to get their hands on a particularly strong "brainless" Gym-level Pokémon, like Rhyperior, they could still steamroll most Advanced-level trainers and anyone below.

Thinking about it more carefully, Shiro realized Pokédollars were the real ladder to strength and technology was the endgame.

Lost in thought, he barely noticed they had circled around the Macro Cosmos building and arrived at the outdoor training grounds.

The facility sat within a forest, enclosed by towering ten-meter-tall, pale green alloy pillars. A psychic energy barrier connected each pillar, forming a seamless boundary. From the inside, it looked perfectly clear, as if no barrier or technology was there at all.

The area was divided into three battle arenas and five training zones, plenty for their group.

Shae led them to the edge of one battle arena. Somehow, she pulled a red, round chair from nowhere, sat down slowly, then pointed her black cane toward the arena.

"Go ahead. Pick first, second, third, and fourth place."

‘A battle?’ Shiro instinctively glanced at the others, accidentally locking eyes with Nessa. Marvin and Allister didn’t seem surprised.

“First place gets half. Second place splits the remaining half. Third place gets two-thirds of what’s left… sounds fair, doesn’t it?” Shae’s wrinkled face curled into a smile. She tapped her cane on the ground again, motioning to the arena. “Fight.”

"What are the rules for this battle?" Marvin asked.

"Standard Pokémon battle rules," Shae answered flatly.

"Got it." Nessa on the side nodded without objection, while Allister remained silent. 

"Any other questions, kid?" Shae looked at Shiro, who was still frowning.

Shiro took the chance to ask, "Can we use any Pokémon?"

"Heh." Shae chuckled, showing her yellowed teeth. "You're a trainer. If it listens to you, why not?”

Shiro understood and nodded. Confidence surged through him.

If both his Rhyperior and Drakloak were allowed, getting first place should be easy. He doubted the others had any obedient, properly-trained Elite-level Pokémon.

Marvin and Allister clearly realized this too. Both knew about his Elite-level Drakloak.

"Looks like first place is already decided." Marvin sighed dramatically, resting his hands behind his head as he walked toward the battlefield, drawing a glance from Nessa.

"What do you mean?" she asked, then her gaze shifted to the silent, masked boy. Her eyes narrowed as a suspicion formed in her mind.

Shiro and she had only arrived yesterday, while Marvin and Allister had been here longer. For Marvin to act like first place was a foregone conclusion… someone among them must have overwhelming strength.

‘Is it him?’ Nessa stared at Allister, a heavy feeling growing in her chest.

She wanted to rise through the ranks, to become a Gym Leader. If she wanted the best resources for her Pokémon, she had to fight for them.

In a system like this, where resources were divided based on performance, the strong only got stronger, while the weak were left behind. Nessa knew she had to take the lead from the very beginning.

While the group mulled over their thoughts, Marvin brought over a small wooden tube filled with colored sticks.

"Let’s draw lots."

He reached in first, pulling out a stick. "Mine’s red."

Shiro followed, drawing his own stick. "Red.”

Their eyes met, sharing a helpless exchange. They hadn’t expected to fight each other so soon after meeting.

The remaining two didn't need to draw, they were automatically paired together.

The rules were simple: red and white groups, one-on-one within each group. The winners faced off to decide first place. The losers would battle the other group’s loser to determine second place, and the last two would fight for third and fourth.

"Start together or one at a time?” Shiro asked.

Nessa stepped onto the battlefield first, Poké Ball in hand as she looked at Allister. 

"We’ll go first."

Shiro and Marvin had no objections, moving to the sidelines.

Meanwhile, Shae had already dragged her little red chair to the referee’s spot, smiling as she waved her cane.

"Let’s get started, hurry up.”

Allister walked to his side of the field, standing opposite Nessa. Both trainers threw their Poké Balls at the same time.

"Mimikyu!"

"Come on out, Drednaw!"

Allister’s Mimikyu landed first—a small, ghostly Pokémon hiding beneath a tattered Pikachu cloth. Its head drooped awkwardly to one side. No one had ever seen what lay beneath the disguise, because those who had were said to meet horrific ends. 

Nessa’s Drednaw hit the ground with a thud—a bulky, snapping turtle Pokémon with a jagged, rock-like horn. It looked as tough as it was fierce. 

From the sidelines, Marvin winced the moment Mimikyu appeared, sucking in a sharp breath. His expression twisted into a grimace.

"That thing’s creepy as hell," he muttered, leaning toward Shiro. "It messed me up bad last time… I didn’t sleep a wink after fighting it.”

"Mm." Shiro didn’t really share the sentiment. He actually thought Mimikyu looked kind of cute.

On the battlefield, Nessa murmured softly to herself, trying to gauge her opponent’s strength.

"An Advanced-level Mimikyu… close to Gym-level."

Her Drednaw was also Advanced-level—big, intimidating, and roughly around level 38. But it was her strongest Pokémon. She’d sent it out first to seize an early advantage.

Among the remaining Pokémon she trained herself, only one other had reached Advanced-level. The other three were still at Intermediate-level.

She wasn’t sure if Allister was thinking the same way—leading with his strongest to overwhelm her—or if it was just a coincidence.

Still, remembering Marvin's previous comment, she figured Allister probably had something even stronger hidden in his lineup.

Clenching her fists, Nessa took a deep breath. This wasn’t just a battle; it was a fight for resources, a fight to stay ahead. She couldn’t afford to lose.

**

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Chapter Text

“Mimikyu, Work Up!”

Seeing Nessa remain silent, Allitser seized the initiative and gave his command first.

Work Up boosted Mimikyu's attacking capabilities, but it left a brief, vulnerable window where the Pokémon would be defenseless.

Nessa was already on edge, fully focused. The moment Allister finished speaking, she called out her own command.

“Drednaw, Crunch!”

She knew Mimikyu’s Ghost typing made most of her Drednaw’s moves not very effective, except this one. 

Crunch, a powerful Dark-type attack, was her best shot. If it landed clean, Drednaw’s overwhelming strength would make escaping nearly impossible. At that point, Allister would be forced to switch Pokémon or watch Mimikyu go down.

On the battlefield, Drednaw’s short, thick, blue-green legs moved with surprising speed. In just a few seconds, it crossed nearly ten meters, closing in on Mimikyu. Its powerful jaws opened wide, ready to snap down and swallow the smaller Pokémon whole.

Yet Allister remained completely still, silent like a puppet. It was hard to tell if he was frozen in fear or completely confident.

From the sidelines, Shiro saw the problem. He spoke with certainty.

“Drednaw’s attack won’t work.”

Mimikyu’s ability—Disguise—nullified the first hit it took, only suffering minor damage. The cost was that its Pikachu-like cloth covering would break, causing its head to droop lifelessly. If its true form inside was revealed, Mimikyu would become dangerously aggressive.

“Huh? How do you know that, Shiro?” Marvin raised an eyebrow, surprised.

He only figured it out after battling Allister himself. How did Shiro know just from a glance?

“You've fought a Mimikyu before?” Marvin guessed. 

Shiro shook his head and simply said, "I read it in a book."

"A book?" Marvin frowned, confused. What kind of book would contain such important battle knowledge? Normally, strategies, training methods, and move tactics were tightly controlled by top trainers and powerful families.

Who would write life-saving information like this into a book?

Curious, Marvin asked, “Shiro, what kind of book was it?”

Shiro glanced at him, noticing Marvin’s bewildered expression. Realizing his explanation sounded off, he made something up on the spot.

“A book from Kanto. You won’t find it in Galar.”

“Oh...” Marvin nodded in understanding.

The name "Shiro” already sounded like he was from Kanto, or at least had connections there. And Kanto, being the heart of the Pokémon League, was far more advanced and open than the more isolated Galar region.

Shiro just smiled faintly, turning his attention back to the battle.

Just as they expected, Drednaw’s Crunch landed successfully on Mimikyu’s disguise. A burst of ghostly energy scattered into the air, but Mimikyu remained unharmed. Drednaw lowered its head in confusion, staring at the smaller Pokémon.

The disguise was now in tatters, the once-cute Pikachu-like head slumped awkwardly to one side. Beneath the ripped cloth, Mimikyu’s dark, shadowy true form stirred, finishing its Work Up. It adjusted the remaining scraps of its cloth as Allister’s voice rang out.

“Mimikyu! Use Shadow Claw!”

Three long, sharp, spectral claws extended from Mimikyu’s shadowy form, slashing forward in an instant. The jagged, glowing claws reflected in Drednaw’s stunned eyes, growing larger as they closed in.

The sudden counterattack left Nessa no time to think. She could only shout.

"Drednaw! Brace yourself!"

Bang!

The Shadow Claw struck hard. Drednaw squeezed its eyes shut as the force sent it rolling backward. When it finally stopped, three deep, bleeding gashes were carved across its rocky, brown-yellow jaw.

"Quick! Drednaw! Use Crunch again!" Nessa shouted, her voice filled with urgency.

Even though she didn’t fully understand why Mimikyu had shrugged off the earlier attack, she assumed it worked like Protect—a move that couldn’t be used repeatedly in quick succession.

As long as this Crunch landed, she’d still have a chance to turn things around.

"Protect!" Allister reacted swiftly, giving no room for her counterattack.

Bang!

A solid, emerald-green shield appeared around Mimikyu just in time, completely blocking Drednaw’s descending jaws and horned head.

The force of the impact sent both Pokémon sliding back, putting several meters between them again.

Nessa bit her lip, trying to think of a way to win.

Mimikyu had already boosted its attack and accuracy. If it kept attacking from a distance, her Drednaw, with no speed or gap-closing moves, would be stuck on the defensive. She needed to end this quickly.

"Drednaw! Mud Shot!" she shouted.

Several deep brown, water-drop-shaped clumps of mud quickly formed around Drednaw before launching forward like projectiles.

“Dodge! Then use Baby-Doll Eyes! ” Allister’s voice remained soft and cool. Mimikyu didn’t even wait for him to finish—it was already moving, like it knew what he wanted without needing to hear it. Their synergy was seamless, a bond built from countless battles.

Mimikyu’s movements were light and agile. It twisted midair, evading the mud as easily as a leaf on the wind. As it spun, its shadowy body glowed faintly, conjuring a massive, pink, humanoid eye above it.

Drednaw’s gaze locked onto the eye. Its body shuddered, muscles weakening as the move took effect.

Baby-Doll Eyes. A move that weakened the opponent’s attack.

Nessa commanded urgently. “Drednaw, don’t stop! Use Jaw Lock!”

This was her chance.

Though Drednaw’s eyes were still slightly dazed, its body moved on instinct, a result of relentless training. It barreled forward, responding to her order with unwavering obedience.

Mimikyu was still midair, with no way to push off or dodge. Drednaw's massive jaws were wide open, its jagged, saw-like teeth just moments away from clamping down on the small, ghostly Pokémon.

Across the battlefield, Allister remained unfazed and ordered calmly. 

“Mimikyu, Giga Drain!”

In an instant, Mimikyu's entire body burst into a brilliant green light. At the same moment, Drednaw's powerful jaws snapped shut, biting down hard on Mimikyu's cloth-like form.

For a second, Nessa's eyes lit up with hope.

"Yes! This time—"

“Grrruhhh...!”

A pained groan echoed across the battlefield.

But the voice didn’t come from Mimikyu. It came from Drednaw, its jaws trembling as it tried to hold on.

“What...?” Nessa’s voice wavered. 

Mimikyu, still caught between Drednaw's teeth, continued to glow with that vibrant green energy, siphoning its strength bit by bit.

Even though Drednaw was still trying to inflict damage, the difference between what it dealt and what Mimikyu regained was too large. Drednaw was the one suffering.

“Giga Drain is a Grass-type move,” Shiro murmured from the sidelines. “It hits Drednaw’s Water and Rock typing for quadruple damage.” He glanced at Nessa’s tense expression.

“The match is over.”

**

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Chapter Text

"This... how is this possible?!"

Nessa couldn't believe what she was seeing.

A Ghost-type Mimikyu using a Grass-type move so effortlessly? And not just any move, but Giga Drain, one that saps an opponent's strength to heal itself.

The earlier Work Up to boost its attacks, followed by Baby-Doll Eyes to weaken Drednaw’s power... it was all part of a setup leading to this moment.

Watching Drednaw grow weaker and slower, Nessa knew it couldn’t fight anymore.

"I lost right from the start." Her voice was filled with unwillingness, but she still withdrew Drednaw into its Poké Ball and reached for her next one. "Come on out, Toxapex!"

As a beam of red light recalled Drednaw, Mimikyu landed lightly on the ground, its crooked, broken head tilting like a puppet with broken strings.

"Sigh... This is what's so nasty about Allister's Mimikyu," Marvin sighed, scratching his head.

He had no idea how to deal with this thing either.

A Pokémon with the Disguise ability, granting it immunity to the first hit, combined with an absurdly wide range of moves. On top of that, Mimikyu was quick and packed a solid punch.

"It's practically an all-around fighter... how did he even train it like this?" Marvin tugged his hair in frustration, completely at a loss.

"Relentless training, combined with mastering as many moves as possible," Shiro murmured, his thoughts drifting to the ways Pokémon learn moves.

Aside from the moves a Pokémon learns naturally, the best way to expand their arsenal is through TMs—Technical Machines.

But he wasn’t sure if Galar had the right ones. He decided to ask the staff after the match. If they did, then his Corvisquire, limited by its poor inherited movepool, could finally broaden its range of attacks.

Back on the battlefield, Nessa's newly-released Toxapex settled on one side of the arena, facing Mimikyu.

Toxapex resembled a spiked, dome-shaped tent, its tentacles curled inward protectively. It raised two front limbs, revealing its true form: a small, purple body with sharp teeth and yellow eyes, peeking out to observe the battlefield. 

Inside its body were powerful poison sacs, capable of producing toxins strong enough to incapacitate most opponents.

This was Nessa’s last Advanced-level Pokémon. If it couldn’t defeat Mimikyu... she’d have no choice but to admit defeat.

Taking a breath to calm herself, Nessa commanded. "Toxapex! Use Acid Spray!" 

Toxapex raised its tentacles high. The spikes at their tips glowed purple as toxic sludge began to form, condensing into a fist-sized blob.

The poison shot forward like a bullet.

But Mimikyu was too fast. It weaved through the air with ease, dodging every incoming glob of poison like they were moving in slow motion.

Allister’s voice rang out again, unhurried and calm. 

"Mimikyu, Giga Drain!"

The words barely left his mouth before Mimikyu lunged forward, green light bursting to life around its small, tattered form.

It streaked across the battlefield, heading straight for Toxapex like a tiny, glowing missile.

Seeing this, Nessa shouted, her timing razor-sharp.

"Toxapex! Poison Jab!"

Toxapex’s tentacles glowed an intense purple. It lashed out just as Mimikyu came close, both tentacles striking its opponent hard.

The attack landed.

Mimikyu staggered, its body twitching as purple poison began to seep through its cloth, spreading a toxic glow. It was poisoned.

Even so, it didn’t stop.

It pushed through the pain, the green light of Giga Drain still shining as it latched onto Toxapex, beginning to steal its energy.

Nessa’s eyes narrowed. "Toxapex! Keep hitting it with Poison Jab!”

"Toxapeeex!"

Toxapex’s poison-filled tentacles lashed out again, landing another Poison Jab on the already badly poisoned Mimikyu.

“Mimi…!”

Mimikyu let out a pained, high-pitched cry. Its cloth-like body collapsed, deflating like a puppet with cut strings. The ghostly form within shrank back, trembling in agony.

This Poison Jab hit far harder than the last one—it seemed to strike a critical point!

“What the heck just happened?” Marvin blurted from the sidelines, completely baffled. He turned to Shiro for answers.

Shiro paused, thinking it over before his eyes lit up in realization.

“It’s probably Toxapex’s Ability.”

“Ability?” Marvin looked even more confused. He wasn’t a Poison or Water-type specialist, so he had no clue about Toxapex’s abilities or move set. In fact, he barely recognized the Pokémon at all.

Shiro explained calmly, “It’s Merciless. When a Pokémon with this ability attacks a poisoned target, every hit is a critical hit.”

“Every hit’s a crit?!” Marvin gasped. “That’s insane!”

“Only if the opponent’s poisoned,” Shiro reminded him.

Their conversation wasn’t exactly quiet. Allister glanced their way, as he picked up on the explanation.

Meanwhile, from the referee’s seat, Granny Shae smiled, her sharp eyes turning toward Shiro.

“Well now… he even knows about a rare Pokémon like Toxapex, and its ability too,” she murmured to herself. The more she watched Shiro, the more he seemed like a seasoned trainer far beyond his years.

She found herself wondering where a boy like him had picked up such knowledge.

As she pondered, her gaze drifted back to the battlefield. Allister had already recalled his Mimikyu. Without wasting a second, he tossed his next Poké Ball forward.

“Come on out, Dusclops!”

A flash of light erupted, and Dusclops emerged onto the field.

Its entire body was wrapped in faded, gray bandages. It had large, five-fingered hands and ghostly, tattered ribbons draping from its body and head. Its single, oversized red eye stared out from the wrappings, glowing with a sinister light. 

But more than its appearance, the pressure it exuded was overwhelming—even stronger than Mimikyu’s.

“It feels like it’s on the verge of reaching Gym level…” Nessa muttered to herself, her heart sinking.

Allister’s strength was beyond anything she had anticipated. That Mimikyu might have been nothing more than a test. Her strongest Pokémon, Drednaw, had already been defeated at the start.

Now, Toxapex was her only remaining Advanced-level Pokémon that could battle effectively on land.

Her other Pokémon, Goldeen and Arrokuda, relied on water terrain to fight at full power. But this wasn’t an official match, nor a seaside battle; she had no natural water source to use.

Her mind raced. If Toxapex fell, this match would be as good as over.

Gritting her teeth, Nessa took the lead. “Toxapex! Set up Toxic Spikes!”

Toxapex lifted its spiked limbs, scattering a hail of purple, toxic needles across the battlefield. The sharp spikes rained down like poison-tipped arrows, creating a deadly trap for any Pokémon that touched the ground.

Dusclops floated backward, narrowly avoiding the falling spikes.

Allister didn’t flinch. His voice was as calm as ever.

“Dusclops, Shadow Sneak!”

Dusclops melted into the ground, becoming a distorted, slithering shadow. It twisted and slipped between the Toxic Spikes, darting toward Toxapex with alarming speed.

Nessa reacted quickly. “Toxapex! Poison Sting!”

Toxapex’s spikes glowed a deep purple, launching a flurry of venomous needles toward the incoming shadow.

Even if Dusclops avoided the physical spikes, the Toxic Spikes’ energy coated the field. Nessa was certain it had already been poisoned, and with Toxapex’s Merciless ability, any attack against a poisoned target would land a guaranteed critical hit.

If she could just land this strike… she might still turn the battle around.

**

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Chapter Text

The battlefield was quickly covered in a dense layer of poisonous needles, but the shadow darting rapidly across the ground remained completely unaffected, rushing straight toward Toxapex without slowing down.

Nessa's expression changed drastically, panic flickering in her eyes as her mind scrambled for a counter. She had misjudged the ghostly shadow’s movements, and her attack failed to land.

Across from her, Allister remained eerily composed, as though he had anticipated this outcome from the start. He raised his hand and commanded.

“Dusclops, use Thunder Punch!”

The moment Nessa heard those words, a chill ran down her spine.

Electric moves were super effective against Water-types. If Toxapex took a close-range hit from that Thunder Punch, the damage would be severe, potentially enough to end the battle then and there.

On the field, Toxapex raised its two front limbs, keeping its true body hidden inside. Its eyes stayed locked onto Dusclops’ shadow, ready to strike at any moment.

‘I have to time this perfectly!’

Nessa made her decision. Her eyes stayed glued to the encroaching shadow, tracking its every movement.

When the two were less than a meter apart, she seized the moment and shouted decisively. 

“Poison Jab!”

At her command, Toxapex instinctively gathered its Poison-type energy. Its two tentacles shot out, stabbing fiercely at the shadow slithering along the ground.

But Dusclops moved with unnatural agility, its form twisting and shifting as it evaded the strike. It wasn’t aiming to surface for the attack just yet.

“Damn it…” Nessa barely got the words out.

Before she could react further, Dusclops had already slipped behind Toxapex. Its large, heavy fist crackled with electricity, flashing brightly before slamming down.

BAM!

A muffled, heavy thud echoed through the battlefield.

Toxapex was sent flying several meters before crashing to the ground. Its tentacles twitched and quivered, struggling to lift its battered body.

Allister showed no mercy. He raised his hand again and commanded firmly.

“Dusclops! Keep going! Thunder Punch—”

“I give up!” Nessa interrupted, her voice urgent. Before Dusclops could strike again, she recalled Toxapex into its Poké Ball, saving it from the next blow. "I give up!” 

She repeated it once more, louder, looking toward Shae. Then, without another word, she turned to leave the field.

“Oh ho ho, giving up after only two Pokémon?” Shae chuckled from the referee’s position, though her smile held an icy edge. “If this were a wild battle, surrendering would mean death, you know…”

Nessa froze mid-step, feeling as though a bucket of cold water had been dumped over her. Realizing Shae misunderstood the situation, she quickly stepped forward to explain.

Shae listened quietly, then gave a slow nod. Once she understood Nessa’s remaining Pokémon couldn’t fight properly on land, she dropped the matter.

Tapping her cane lightly on the ground, Shae pointed toward Shiro and Marvin.

“You two, get moving!”

The boys exchanged glances before stepping onto a different battlefield together.

The previous one was still littered with Toxic Spikes, so they shifted to a fresh arena. Soon after, Macro Cosmos staff arrived to clean up the poisoned field.

“Shiro, go easy on me, yeah?” Marvin called out with a grin. Then his eyes sharpened. “But I’m still giving it everything I’ve got!”

Shiro chuckled, his voice carrying across the field. “Heh. Alright, Marvin—show me what you’ve got!”

After watching Allister and Nessa’s battle, Shiro had a rough idea of their strength.

Allister wasn’t quite at the Gym-level yet, but he was close. The only uncertainty was how many Advanced-level Pokémon he still had in reserve.

Nessa, on the other hand, had just reached Advanced-level strength. 

As for Marvin, since he always lost to Allister, it was clear he wasn’t as strong. Shiro remained confident in his Pokémon.

Not wasting any more time, both trainers threw out a Poké Ball.

Shiro released his Corvisquire, while Marvin sent out a snow-white, fluttering moth—Frosmoth.

Frosmoth’s body was pure white, its eyes a vivid blue. A diamond-shaped blue mark rested between its brows, and two large, feather-like antennae extended gracefully from its head. Its semi-transparent wings, patterned with snowflake-like markings, shimmered softly. Its small hands were crossed over its chest, giving the appearance of a fluffy scarf wrapped around it. 

This was no ordinary Pokémon; it was a creature as rare and precious as a pseudo-legendary.

Shiro’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.

In some ways, Frosmoth was even more elusive. Compared to its fiery counterpart—Volcarona—which was hailed as the embodiment of the sun in Unova and revered like a legendary Pokémon, Frosmoth was a winter spirit, equally extraordinary and rare to encounter.

“How about that?” Marvin grinned smugly, one hand on his hip. “Bet you’ve never seen one of these before!”

This Frosmoth was his father’s final gift, entrusted to him before he died. It was the last Pokémon their family had left.

His so-called older brother, Gordie, had an obsession with Rock-types, which didn’t help. As for Melony, despite parading around as an Ice-type trainer, she'd never actually raised a single Pokémon on her own. Every one of her so-called "partners" had been their father's hard work.

To Marvin, this Frosmoth was more than a Pokémon. It was his father’s final act of trust. He saw it as his responsibility—no, his duty—to uphold that trust and drive that bastard Gordie and that wretched woman out of Circhester for good.

“Alright!” Shiro’s voice rang out, excitement bubbling within him. “Let’s get this started!”

Even though his Corvisquire was still at the Intermediate-level, while Frosmoth was Advanced-level, neither of them looked intimidated. The bird’s eyes burned with eagerness, mirroring Shiro’s own anticipation.

No matter how strong this moth is, can it be scarier than a Drakloak?

Corvisquire, who had already faced Drakloak’s overwhelming pressure, wasn’t about to back down from a pretty white moth.

Across the field, Marvin barked his first command.

“Frosmoth, don’t give it a chance! Use Snowscape!”

A flurry of ice burst from Frosmoth’s wings, blanketing the battlefield in falling snow. The move not only summoned a snowy field but also boosted Ice-type Pokémon’s durability.

Shiro recognized the move and reacted immediately. 

“Corvisquire, Hone Claws!”

While snow filled the air, Corvisquire scraped its talons together, sharpening them with swift, aggressive strokes.

Blue and grayish-white light flashed across the battlefield as both moves activated simultaneously.

“Not bad,” Marvin murmured, recognizing the bird. This was the same Rookidee he’d seen before, except now, it had grown far stronger. Its movements were sharper, faster, more refined, nearly on par with his Advanced-level Frosmoth.

‘Looks like I still haven’t trained enough.’

Marvin thought back to seeing Shiro, first thing in the morning, pushing himself in the 9th-floor training rooms. He clicked his tongue in frustration and shouted.

“Frosmoth, U-turn!”

U-turn was a Bug-type move that let the user dash in, strike, then retreat at high speed.

“Corvisquire, Air Cutter!” Shiro countered without missing a beat.

Frosmoth blurred into a pale green streak, racing toward its opponent.

At the same time, Corvisquire spread its wings wide, conjuring several sharp, translucent blades of compressed air.

What no one expected was the sheer size of the attack; each of the wind blades stretched nearly three meters long. Five or six blades overlapped, forming an airtight wall that sealed off Frosmoth’s approach, slamming into the moth mid-flight.

**

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Chapter Text

"What the..." Marvin was completely caught off guard. 

An Intermediate-level Corvisquire’s Air Cutter should only reach about a meter in length, with two or three wind blades at most.

But what was this? The attack stretched across the battlefield like a wall of blades, each nearly three meters long. The sheer size and force were nothing like what he expected.

"Heh..." Shiro smirked as he caught sight of Allister and Nessa’s stunned expressions from the sidelines.

His Corvisquire wasn’t naturally gifted. Without the help of two special berries, its progress would’ve been even slower, and it barely knew a handful of moves.

But because of that, Corvisquire focused entirely on mastering the few moves it did know.

Especially Air Cutter.

When Corvisquire could fire nearly ten wind blades in rapid succession, Shiro changed the training strategy. He stopped focusing on quantity and instead pushed Corvisquire to strengthen a single wind blade to its absolute limit.

After all, if the attack couldn’t deal real damage, no amount of blades would matter. It’d be nothing more than a light scratch.

"Corvisquire! Keep going! Use Quick Attack!" Shiro commanded.

"Cooor!"

At his call, Corvisquire shot forward, turning into a streak of gray-white light. It darted straight for Frosmoth, who was still reeling from the earlier hit.

But Marvin’s training hadn’t been in vain. He reacted quickly.

"Frosmoth! Hurry! Use Ice Beam!"

Frosmoth stabilized itself in the air and rapidly gathered a burst of icy energy in front of it. Within moments, a thick, ice-blue beam blasted forward, powerful enough to freeze anything it touched solid.

Yet Corvisquire moved like a blur. With Quick Attack’s speed boost, its nimble body danced around the Ice Beam, leaving faint afterimages in its wake.

Frosmoth’s eyes struggled to keep up, still focusing on the beam it was unleashing. Normally, even if Ice Beam missed, the surrounding cold would slow the enemy down significantly.

"Watch out, Frosmoth! Dodge, quick!" Marvin’s voice rang clearly in its ears.

For a second, Frosmoth thought it imagined the warning. It blinked and looked again—only to see a flash of grayish-white light streak past its eyes, slamming into its snow-white body with force.

Quick Attack wasn’t a high-damage move, and Corvisquire wasn’t strong enough to cause serious injury.

But the impact was enough to send Frosmoth flying backward, nearly flipping in midair.

It stumbled in the air, wings flailing. After wobbling a few times, it managed to regain balance.

Seeing this, Marvin grew anxious. He couldn’t wrap his head around it—how could Shiro’s Corvisquire, just an Intermediate-level Pokémon, be this strong? Its speed and moves far surpassed any ordinary Corvisquire.

Frustration flared within him. He couldn’t let this drag on any longer.

He knew Shiro had an Elite-level Drakloak in reserve. If he couldn’t even take down this "small" Corvisquire at the start, wouldn’t that be humiliating?

Marvin gritted his teeth and shouted.

"Frosmoth! Blizzard, now!”

Shiro’s eyes narrowed.

Blizzard was a high-level Ice-type move. Usually, only Pokémon at the Gym-level could master it.

The worst part wasn’t the damage. It was the sheer area it covered. As long as Corvisquire stayed on the battlefield, it couldn't possibly escape the attack.

Not to mention, with the snowy weather already in play, Blizzard’s power would be even stronger.

"Corvisquire! Use Quick Attack, get to the sky!" Shiro ordered swiftly.

Marvin’s Frosmoth wasn’t lacking in skill either. With just a few flaps of its wings, it unleashed the Blizzard effortlessly.

A howling gust of icy wind swept across the field, snow swirling faster and thicker as it surged toward Corvisquire.

The piercing cold was unbearable, making it impossible for the Intermediate-level Corvisquire to endure. Following Shiro's command, it soared upward, flickering through the sky with all its strength, flying faster and higher than ever before.

Yet the swirling blizzard was relentless, like a vengeful homing missile. Guided by the violent winds, it tore through the air, each burst of frost landing heavier and harsher blows on Corvisquire.

Realizing this wasn’t sustainable, Shiro had no choice but to pull out a Poké Ball.

"Come back, Corvisquire!"

A beam of red light withdrew the bird Pokémon mid-battle, sparing it from further harm. Then, he drew out another Poké Ball and tossed it forward.

"Come on out, Rhyperior!"

"Rhyperior?!" Marvin’s voice cracked in disbelief. He thought he’d misheard.

That was, until the battlefield shook under the weight of a colossal figure. With a thunderous stomp, the massive, armored Pokémon emerged.

Marvin’s mouth fell open. He nearly shouted in shock.

A Gym-level Rhyperior?!

Was that even allowed?

Marvin’s head snapped toward Granny Shae, who was overseeing the match as the referee. His expression screamed his question: Is this thing even legal?!

The look in Rhyperior’s dull, unblinking eyes wasn’t the fierce gaze of a trained fighter—it was blank, lifeless, like a machine waiting for orders.

If this were an official match, a Pokémon like that would’ve been disqualified on sight.

But Granny Shae only smiled, shaking her head gently. Her voice carried across the arena.

"Didn’t I say it already? As long as it obeys orders and moves when commanded, it’s allowed. There’s no such thing as fairness in the wild.”

Marvin stared at her, stunned.

‘Isn’t this just blatant cheating?’

Shiro simply spread his hands with a grin, saying nothing. His Rhyperior was the perfect workhorse—obedient, efficient, and tough. Ground and Rock types didn’t need agility anyway. They just had to withstand every attack without flinching, then smack the opponent down with overwhelming force.

Considering the type limitations, even an unconditioned Rhyperior probably wouldn’t be much stronger than this one.

That’s exactly why black market Pokémon are so expensive. The black market never lies—if it’s pricey, there’s a reason.

Shiro glanced at Marvin’s increasingly despairing face, then at Frosmoth trembling in fear, instinctively inching backward. He didn’t bother dragging things out and called out. 

"Rhyperior! Rock Blast!"

Rhyperior responded immediately, lowering its massive body. The rugged orange armor plates on its back rumbled as several jagged boulders materialized, spinning faster and faster, growing larger with each rotation.

With a sharp, ear-splitting crack, the boulders launched forward, tearing through the air toward Frosmoth. Startled, it flinched and scrambled to dodge. Seeing this, Marvin hurriedly grabbed its Poké Ball and recalled it before things got worse.

“...Sigh.” Marvin let out a helpless breath.

Facing a titan-like Rhyperior, calling it a fight felt ridiculous. It wasn’t even a question of strategy anymore. His Pokémon probably couldn’t survive a single hit.

"Forget it…" The thought of giving up settled in Marvin’s heart. He had already accepted Shiro as the strongest. Even without this Rhyperior, he still wouldn’t stand a chance against his ace Drakloak.

Marvin’s original plan was to rely on his Ice-types to put up a decent fight against Drakloak—slow it down, maybe land a lucky hit or two—hoping Granny Shae would notice his efforts.

He wanted to impress her. To show he was worth taking on as a student.

Granny Shae wasn’t just a referee here. She was an Elite-level Ice-type master, someone Marvin had admired for ages. He’d tried asking her to take him as a student more than once, but she’d turned him down every time.

But if he surrendered now…

Marvin’s gaze flicked to the old woman, lounging on her small red chair, watching him with an amused, knowing smile.

His hands tightened around his Poké Ball.

No.

If he was going to lose—then fine. But he’d send out every last Pokémon he had before giving in.

He wasn’t done yet.

**

**

**

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Chapter Text

“Come out! Mr. Mime!”

Marvin took out a Poké Ball, and tossed it high into the air.

With a flash of light, Mr. Mime emerged, but instead of the usual pink, this one was mostly blue. Fluffy, clown-like growths curled around its cheeks like icy earmuffs, and its wide eyes and small blue triangle nose gave it a mischievous look. It had mitten-like hands, a frosty suit-like body with a diamond-shaped crystal resembling a tie, and ice-blue shoes that looked made for tap dancing. 

Mr. Mime stood on the battlefield, its thick, ice-blue shoes scraping back and forth against the ground. It looked half like it was hopping from the cold beneath its feet and half like it was performing a tap dance routine.

Across from it, Rhyperior remained still, its rocky arms planted on the ground as it stared blankly ahead.

It waited for Shiro’s command.

But Shiro wasn’t in a rush. He didn’t need to order an attack yet. This Mr. Mime had only just reached Advanced-level strength—it wasn’t much of a threat to his Rhyperior.

Marvin understood this too. He realized Shiro was giving him some face by not ordering an immediate strike. Seizing the chance, he swung his arm and shouted.

"Mr. Mime! Use Ice Shard!"

The moment the order was given, Mr. Mime raised its mitten-like hand. A chunk of ice quickly formed in the air before it flung the shard forward with a swift flick of its arm.

Bang!

The ice shard collided with the massive horn on Rhyperior's forehead and shattered instantly into scattered ice fragments.

Rhyperior barely felt a thing—just a faint chill. It instinctively shook its head, not even registering any pain.

Seeing this, Marvin sucked in a sharp breath, his mind racing for a countermeasure.

'How do I even fight this thing?'

Facing an opponent with such overwhelming strength, offense, and defense, his Pokémon’s attacks felt more like light taps than actual hits.

"If you don't make a move soon, I will." Shiro tilted his head back, speaking calmly. Seeing the tense look on Marvin’s face, he stopped holding back and gave his command.

"Rhyperior! Use Earthquake!"

"Earthquake?!"

From the sidelines, Nessa gasped, turning to look at Granny Shae.

It was already absurd that this Rhyperior was allowed into the battle. But now, If it unleashed a wide-range attack like Earthquake… wouldn’t it tear the entire battlefield apart?

Nearby, Allister released his Dusclops and casually sat on its head to avoid the incoming tremors. 

"Hehe, no need to worry." Shae remained seated on her little red stool, her expression unchanged. She tapped her cane lightly, smiling as always.

At the same time, Rhyperior raised one massive, brown foot. A deep yellow glow of Ground-type energy spread over its wide, thick sole.

Boom!

The foot slammed down like a falling pillar from the sky, smashing into the ground. Cracks spread out like a spiderweb, expanding rapidly. The fractures grew larger and deeper, as if threatening to carve a deep trench into the battlefield.

The powerful Ground-type energy surged along the spreading cracks, slamming into Mr. Mime and sending it flying backward.

“Miiimee!”

The Ice-type Pokémon struggled to prop itself up with its white-gloved hands. It let out a weak, pained cry before a red beam of light pulled it back into its Poké Ball.

Marvin clenched the ball tightly, biting his lower lip as he reached for his next Pokémon.

Meanwhile, the cracks from Earthquake continued spreading, but as they reached the edge of the battlefield, they suddenly stopped. The violent Ground-type energy seemed to crash into something solid beneath the surface and disappeared.

Shiro noticed the odd scene. After confirming that the usual psychic barriers were still in place and nothing else seemed to be protecting the arena, his eyes drifted toward Shae’s cane.

‘Did she freeze the ground?’ He wondered.

It wasn’t obvious, but the idea made sense. Somehow, the old woman must have used her Pokémon to release freezing cold air, solidifying the soil underneath and stopping the Earthquake from going any further.

Shae caught Shiro’s gaze and chuckled softly.

“Hehe... Don’t mind an old woman like me. Focus on the battle, alright?”

Hearing that, Shiro looked away and turned his attention back to his opponent. 

Marvin clutched a Poké Ball tightly, hesitating for a long moment.

This was his last Advanced-level Pokémon—and truthfully, it wasn’t that strong.

His strongest partner was the rare Frosmoth, followed by Galarian Mr. Mime. After that came this one.

The remaining two Pokémon on his team were recently caught and barely trained, far from ready for a battle of this caliber. 

But when his eyes met Granny Shae's calm, knowing gaze, his hesitation faded. With a determined swing of his arm, he hurled the Poké Ball forward.

“Go! Lapras!”

“Laaap-ras!”

A stunning, blue-coloured Pokémon emerged in a flash of light. Gray, jagged shell-like ridges lined its back, and its long, elegant neck swayed gently. 

The graceful aura it carried immediately captured Nessa’s attention from the sidelines. 

"What a beautiful Pokémon..." she murmured to herself. Though Nessa was fixated on becoming stronger, she was still a young girl. Beautiful things still held a special place in her heart.

If she ever had the chance, she even dreamed of pursuing a career in the entertainment industry someday.

Her eyes drifted to Rhyperior. Faced with such a brutal, powerful Pokémon, she couldn’t think of any way to handle it.

'Lapras won’t get hurt… will it?'  The thought crept into her mind, worry flickering in her eyes.

On the battlefield, Marvin shared that same concern.

The reason he hesitated to send Lapras out was precisely because he feared it might get caught in Rhyperior’s brutal attacks, and suffer serious injuries.

Even though he held Lapras’ Poké Ball, ready to recall it at a moment’s notice, that didn’t ease his mind. What if something went wrong?

Since joining his team, Lapras had never experienced a battle this intense.

But today…

“Laaap-raaasss~”

Lapras lifted its neck and let out a long, melodic cry, drawing Marvin’s attention.

Its bright eyes were filled with unwavering determination. It wanted to grow stronger—to fight alongside its Trainer.

Feeling Lapras’ resolve, Marvin clenched his fist and shouted.

“Lapras! Use Water Pulse!”

The Water-type move had quadruple effectiveness against Rhyperior’s Rock and Ground typing—this was his best shot at turning things around.

Shiro, of course, was fully aware of his intentions.

Quadruple damage from a Water-type attack was the only realistic way Marvin could hurt Rhyperior.

But Shiro wasn’t about to let that happen. He had already prepared a countermeasure.

“Rhyperior, Rock Tomb! Build a wall in front!”

“Rrraaahhh!”

With a roar massive chunks of rock shattered and shot up from the ground, merging into a thick, solid wall just before Water Pulse could hit. The wave splashed against the stone barrier and dispersed, leaving the massive Pokémon untouched.

"It blocked it perfectly!" Nessa exclaimed from the sidelines, her expression tense. "This Rhyperior’s been trained so well… it can create a defensive stone wall with just a move, stopping Water Pulse like it’s nothing…"

Hearing her, Shae, seated at the referee's seat, spoke in her raspy voice.

“That’s no ordinary Rhyperior. It’s nearly at the peak of the Gym level. Its previous trainer was a Gym-level Rock-type specialist.”

It was clear Shae recognized Rhyperior’s former trainer, but she didn’t seem eager to say more.

**

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Chapter Text

Seeing the rock wall successfully block Lapras’s Water Pulse, Shiro didn’t hesitate. He immediately gave his next command.

"Rhyperior! Use Bulldoze!”

“Rhhhyyy!”

With a thunderous roar, Rhyperior raised its massive foot high and slammed it down. A visible ripple spread across the ground, kicking up dirt and debris, which landed on the rock wall.

Unlike Earthquake, Bulldoze wasn’t focused on raw damage. Rather, it lowered the opponent’s movement speed, a tactical move meant to slow Lapras down.

As Lapras wobbled from the tremor, letting out a distressed cry, Marvin tightened his grip on the Poké Ball but didn’t make a move. Instead, he shouted.

"Lapras! Use Chilling Water!”

Hearing the command, Lapras quickly steadied itself. Though the Bulldoze had left its body churning with discomfort, it could still fight.

A freezing chill blew from its mouth, followed by a blast of icy water, not in a concentrated stream like Water Gun or Hydro Pump, but more like a wide splash, as if someone threw a bucket of cold water to cover as much area as possible.

Chilling Water wasn’t about dealing damage. It carried a chilling bite and could weaken the opponent’s attack. Marvin didn’t aim to hurt Rhyperior with this move. He only wanted to disrupt its actions.

"Rhyperior! Ignore it. Use Drill Run and knock it out of the match!" Shiro’s voice rang out, snapping Rhyperior from its daze.

The massive Pokémon instinctively obeyed.

It pushed forward, enduring the icy water head-on. Even though Lapras managed to spot Rhyperior’s silhouette behind the rock wall and focused its attack on it, Rhyperior didn’t flinch.

With its mind numbed by brainwashing, Rhyperior had no sense of pain anymore.

Its gray-white drill spun rapidly, coated in a layer of earthy yellow light. Like an unstoppable bulldozer, it pushed forward.

The enormous spinning drill shattered the rock wall in an instant, sending debris flying. Rhyperior emerged from the rubble, still surging ahead, icy water splashing against it without slowing it down.

The noise of the battle was overwhelming, and with the wall blocking their view, Marvin and Lapras couldn’t tell what move Shiro had ordered.

It wasn’t until Rhyperior’s enormous figure smashed through the crumbling rock wall that Marvin finally realized: Shiro was aiming to end this battle with a single, decisive blow.

Rhyperior was now less than five meters away. In just a moment, it would be right in front of Lapras.

Marvin knew he could interrupt Chilling Water and switch to Water Pulse for higher damage. But even if that landed, Lapras would still take the full force of Drill Run, and Marvin couldn’t imagine it enduring such a devastating hit.

As he hesitated, Rhyperior closed the gap.

Staring at the monstrous beast charging in, Marvin stopped wavering. He grabbed Lapras’s Poké Ball and recalled it in a flash of red light.

"I give up!" He shouted toward Granny Shae, sighing with a helpless smile as he walked off the field.

Shiro, without missing a beat, recalled Rhyperior as well, his eyes shifting to the sidelines where Allister stood.

The next match would be the final showdown between the two of them. By now, Shiro had sized up all three of his teammates. 

Allister was the strongest among them, close to being a Gym-level trainer. His Pokémon were likely all around Advanced-level strength.

Marvin came second, with three Advanced-level Pokémon.

Nessa was the weakest, with only two Advanced-level Pokémon.

Of course, by that standard, Shiro himself was the weakest of all. His strongest Pokémon, Corvisquire, was only Intermediate-level. His remaining partners, Gastly and Growlithe, were barely more than babies in comparison.

But Shae’s words rang true: a trainer’s strength wasn’t measured by the Pokémon they raised alone; it was judged by the Pokémon that obeyed them.

As long as Shiro sent out Drakloak, the other three wouldn’t stand a chance. The real question now was—would Allister agree to battle him?

“Let’s start the final match already. I’m getting impatient…” Shae’s raspy voice echoed from the referee’s seat.

On the sidelines, Nessa clenched her fists. She couldn’t tell which of the two was stronger anymore.

At first, she was certain Allister was the strongest. He had easily crushed her without breaking a sweat. But after Shiro released his Pokémon, she wasn’t so sure.

Rhyperior’s presence alone felt like it belonged to the higher end of the Gym-level, a full stage above Allister’s Pokémon.

If Allister was truly the strongest, did that mean he also had a Gym-level Pokémon?

Nessa couldn’t wrap her head around it.

“Let’s battle. One match to decide the winner.” Allister’s calm, indifferent voice drifted into the arena. He hopped down from his Dusclops’ back, recalling it and pulling out another Poké Ball.

“Alright.” Shiro nodded in agreement. Ending this quickly suited him just fine.

Battles were great, but what he needed most now was training and time. He had to seize every chance to close the gap between Corvisquire, Gastly, Growlithe, and the others.

Corvisquire and the rest were his real strength.

Rhyperior, after all, was a product of technology; it couldn’t be used in official battles. And while Drakloak was willing to help him, their bond had a two-year limit. Once that time was up, whether it stayed or left would depend on how much Shiro had grown. He had to prove himself worthy of becoming its true trainer.

Lost in thought, Shiro noticed Allister had already sent out his Pokémon.

It was that familiar Mimikyu.

In the short time since its last battle, Allister had already nursed it back to full health. It looked good as new.

'Mimikyu...'

Shiro's heart tightened. He knew how troublesome this Pokémon could be.

It was fortunate Fairy-types hadn't fully awakened in the current Pokémon world. If they did, Mimikyu—gaining its rightful Fairy typing—would become a dragon-slaying machine. 

With its Disguise ability that nullified the first hit and powerful Fairy-type moves, any Dragon Pokémon that failed to one-shot it would get torn apart in return.

Shiro’s hand hovered over Rhyperior's Poké Ball, hesitating. It had taken some minor damage from Lapras earlier. It wasn’t severe, but enough to affect its performance.

The bigger problem was that Rhyperior was, frankly, too dumb. Shiro worried it would end up getting toyed with by Mimikyu.

So…

“Go, Drakloak.”

He called out softly, and the shadow beneath his feet rippled. A sleek, blue-green dragon shot out, circling around him.

Drakloak seemed wary of the old woman, Shae, her presence making it uneasy. Sensing this, Shiro reached out, offering a few comforting words and promising a batch of perfect-quality Pokéblocks. Only then did Drakloak cautiously drift onto the field.

In stark contrast, the tiny Dreepy perched on its head was bursting with excitement.

Though it had no real combat power of its own, Dreepy wasn’t the least bit afraid. It wiggled and chirped eagerly, practically bouncing as it cheered for Drakloak to hurry up and beat the opponent.

**

**

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Chapter Text

"Elite level!"

Upon seeing Drakloak, Nessa gasped from the sidelines, rubbing her eyes twice to make sure she wasn’t imagining things.

The aura it gave off was unmistakably that of an Elite-level Pokémon.

"Wh..." She was at a loss for words, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing.

The Rhyperior from earlier was one thing. Clearly brainwashed by special technology, it had been nothing more than an expensive, mass-produced weapon—bulky, inflexible, and completely devoid of autonomy.

But this Drakloak was brimming with life. It didn't look like it had been tampered with in any way. What’s more, sitting atop its head was a Dreepy. And a Dreepy would never follow a soulless, artificially controlled “fake Drakloak.”

How had Shiro managed to capture an elite-level Pokémon? Had he raised it himself?

'No, no, that’s impossible.'

Nessa’s thoughts were in complete disarray. She couldn't wrap her head around the reality before her.

“Hard to believe, isn’t it?” A voice snapped her out of her daze. Marvin smirked at her dumbfounded expression, clearly enjoying her reaction. “Heh, Shiro caught it himself. What do you think?”

"Huh?" Nessa was speechless. She would have rather believed Shiro had a rich father and that Drakloak was a gift.

Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself and turned to Marvin. “Then… what about the Pokémon he actually raised himself? How strong are they?”

"That Corvisquire from earlier—the one that almost took down my Frosmoth despite the level gap." Marvin clicked his tongue. His strongest Frosmoth was nearly an entire stage above Corvisquire, yet in a head-on clash, it had to work so hard to defeat its opponent. He wasn’t sure what to make of it.

"Intermediate level..." Nessa murmured, feeling even more bewildered.

How could a human capture high-level Pokémon without relying on other Pokémon?

Did he fight them himself?

That would be...

Unbelievable.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield, the two trainers had only just finished sizing each other up when—

"Dree!"

Dreepy sitting on Drakloak’s head let out an impatient cry, eager to battle.

Granny Shae noticed the little dragon’s excitement and chuckled.

"Then let the battle begin."

The moment she spoke, Shiro and Allister both issued their commands in rapid succession.

"Drakloak! Use Quick Attack to close in, then hit it with Hex!"

"Mimikyu, use Baby-Doll Eyes!"

The instant the orders were given, Drakloak blurred into motion, vanishing like a streak of gray lightning. Since it still lacked good understanding with Shiro, it had to wait until his command was fully spoken before acting.

Mimikyu, on the other hand, had already begun its move the moment Allister gave the order.

A soft pink glow radiated from its eyes, forming the image of large, hypnotic human eyes. The attack landed successfully, reducing Drakloak’s offensive power.

But the Elite-level Drakloak’s speed was overwhelming. Even moving second, it closed the ten-meter gap in an instant. Baby-Doll Eyes had weakened its strength, but the impact came too fast for Mimikyu to react.

The cloth covering Mimikyu’s body drooped down, signaling that its disguise had been broken.

Landing a direct hit, Drakloak didn’t stop to assess its opponent’s condition. Moving at incredible speed, it continued following Shiro’s command, launching Hex immediately.

Dark shadowy threads tangled together, surging forward from Drakloak’s body, ready to engulf the small, ghostly figure before it.

Ghost-type Pokémon like Mimikyu are weak to Ghost-type moves, just like Dragon-types are weak to their own kind.

If Mimikyu took the attack, even if Drakloak weren’t at Elite-level, it would still be knocked out instantly.

"Protect!"

Allister’s command came just in time.

A shimmering green barrier formed, blocking the oncoming shadowy threads. But to Allister’s surprise, the supposedly impenetrable shield started showing visible cracks.

The sheer force of Hex tore at the barrier, and the overwhelming power gap nearly caused Mimikyu to lose control of its defense.

Fortunately, Drakloak’s attack didn't last for long. The moment the protective shield vanished, Mimikyu let out a small sigh of relief.

"Phantom Force!"

"Copycat!"

Shiro and Allister’s voices rang out at the same time again.

Copycat allowed the user to mimic the last move used by its opponent. Allister knew his Mimikyu didn’t have many strong Ghost-type moves, and its attack power wasn’t particularly high. So he planned to use this trick to land a powerful hit.

On the battlefield, Mimikyu swiftly copied Drakloak’s Hex. Just as numerous shadows gathered, ready to strike—Drakloak suddenly dove into the ground and vanished.

The attack missed completely.

"What?" Allister’s eyes widened.

He knew Phantom Force allowed Pokémon to disappear into the shadows, avoiding attacks before reemerging to strike.

But the question was—how had Shiro predicted that he would use Copycat? While Copycat wouldn’t have changed the battle’s outcome, if Mimikyu had used a different move, the damage Drakloak took could’ve been minimal.

Even if he was destined to lose, Allister had wanted to at least put up a fight and land a real hit. But Shiro’s precise command had completely shut him down.

On the field, Drakloak emerged from the ground right after Mimikyu finished using Hex. Without hesitation, it charged straight at its opponent.

Allister was so stunned that he even forgot to recall his Pokémon to prevent further injury. He could only watch as Mimikyu was sent flying before crashing onto the dirt like a discarded rag doll.

At this moment, Allister understood he had lost—both as a trainer and in raw Pokémon strength. He had assumed Shiro was just some lucky guy who happened to gain Drakloak’s recognition. Unfortunately, he was wrong.

A faint hum filled the air as a beam of red light pulled Mimikyu back into its Poké Ball. Without a word, Allister turned and walked away, stepping past the others toward the building.

Inside, there was a medical room similar to a Pokémon Center where his Pokémon could receive a full recovery.

"Hey! Allister! You’re not going to fight in the next match?" Marvin called out, waving a hand.

But Allister kept walking.

His hollow white mask revealed nothing of his emotions, and his small frame remained hidden beneath his dark clothes. Before anyone realized it, he had already walked dozens of meters away.

Thud!

A black iron cane struck the ground with force. Granny Shae clearly wasn’t pleased with Allister’s decision to leave silently. 

"Alright, Shiro takes first place. Marvin and Nessa, second and third. Allister forfeited midway, so he’s fourth!"

"Go back. Your rewards will be delivered to your rooms!"

Granny Shae spoke with a sharp tone, then stood up from her red chair and left with a sweep of her sleeve.

As a veteran trainer, she despised disrespect toward battle—and even more so, disobedience in character.

If this had been the chaotic days of decades past, a person like Allister wouldn’t have survived.

**

**

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Chapter Text

As Granny Shae left, the internal team battle finally came to an end.

Shiro and Marvin exchanged glances while heading back toward the building, both puzzled by Allister’s sudden departure.

"Just because you predicted his commands, you made him shut down completely?" Marvin rested his hands behind his head, leaned back slightly, and asked as he walked.

Shiro pondered for a moment, tapping his forehead, but still couldn’t figure it out.

In the original storyline, Allister was a highly talented yet extremely withdrawn person. And he wasn’t very old. If he really got upset over losing a battle, it wouldn’t be surprising.

Unfortunately, the price of throwing a tantrum was a significant loss of resources.

"By the way, Shiro, how did you know he was going to make Mimikyu copy your previous move?" Marvin tilted his head and asked. 

Nessa, who had been following behind quietly, quickened her pace to listen in.

Shiro glanced at him and replied, "Instinct.”

"Instinct?" Marvin chuckled in confusion, then nodded as if he understood.

'Must've been luck,' he thought.

Behind them, Nessa frowned. She felt like Shiro was hiding something, not telling the full story.

Shiro sighed. He didn’t know how to explain it either.

He had simply reacted on instinct, sensing that his opponent was about to use an offensive move. So he had Drakloak evade first before counterattacking. It was just common sense to him.

The power of the opponent’s move hadn’t even been a concern.

If it could cause damage, he had to avoid it. If there was an opportunity to strike, he had to take it.

That was his battle philosophy. It was also his survival philosophy.

Who knew if the next attack would be laced with poison? What if a single scratch was enough to spread toxins throughout the body?

It sounded extreme, maybe even paranoid, but he wasn’t willing to take that risk.

As for reckless charges? That was something to consider only in a desperate situation.

……

The three of them quickly returned to the building and took the elevator to their respective rooms.

As soon as Shiro stepped inside his room, his eyes were immediately drawn to a large black sack behind the door.

It was bulging, about half the size of a Growlithe.

"Wait… is this… all Exp. Candies?"

Up until now, he had only ever received a handful of Exp. Candies from Marnie. But even those few had been enough to boost his Rookie's strength significantly, pushing it straight from Novice to Beginner-level. 

If this entire bag was filled with them...

Shiro could hardly believe it. Had that old woman raided some ancient treasure vault?

With slightly trembling hands, he grabbed the bag and yanked it open. Inside, a pile of blue Exp. Candies of various sizes shimmered under the light.

"Hah..." He let out a breath, relieved.

With this many Exp. Candies, his three Pokémon would reach Advanced-level and catch up to Allister in no time.

However, as this thought crossed his mind, Shiro steeled himself.

At the end of the day, Exp. Candies were nothing more than refined energy, making them easier for Pokémon to absorb. And when it came to absorption, training was a must.

If he wanted to become stronger faster, he had to push himself harder.

Looking at the pile of Exp. Candies before him, Shiro let out a tired yet excited smile. Grabbing the large black sack with one hand, he headed straight for the training room on the ninth floor without wasting a second.

There was still plenty of time left in the afternoon. He had to make sure his Corvisquire and Gastly made full use of the available resources. And as for Growlithe, no more fooling around; it was time for serious training.

After swiping his card to enter the training room, Shiro immediately released his three Pokémon and placed the large black sack in front of them.

Under their shocked and curious gazes, he retrieved several sets of weights from nearby, securing them onto Corvisquire, Growlithe, and himself.

It was Growlithe’s first time wearing weighted gear, and it struggled to adjust. The extra dozen kilograms left it miserable, its ears drooping as it sprawled pitifully on the floor, hoping its sad expression would earn some sympathy.

“Growlithe…” Shiro ruffled its head a few times, then patted the heavier weights strapped to himself. With a sigh, he said, “Being weak means getting pushed around. Strength is the only way to earn respect, and the only way to get stronger is through training."

As Growlithe blinked in confusion, Shiro glanced around the spacious training room before issuing his orders.

“Growlithe, your task is to run a hundred laps around the room! If you get tired, eat some Exp. Candies and Pokéblocks, then keep going until you’re done!”

“Groowl?”

Watching Corvisquire take off into the air with its weights, practicing its moves, Shiro started his own routine of push-ups and squat jumps.

Even Gastly, usually the lazy one, seemed to be fired up, releasing Ghost-type moves with the intensity of a student cramming for finals.

“Roowl?”

Caught up in the intense training atmosphere, Growlithe found its legs moving on their own.

As the airflow shifted around it, its flaxen fur rippled, the reddish-orange streaks making it look like a living flame.

Thanks to its natural talent, Growlithe completed the first lap with ease.

The training room was quite spacious, with a single lap measuring over a hundred meters. Without weights, running it would’ve been effortless. But with the added burden…

By the time it reached thirty laps, it was panting heavily. At fifty, its legs ached, paws barely lifting off the ground.

At seventy laps, its limbs felt numb. It wasn’t even running anymore; just moving forward on autopilot, each step slower than the last.

It finally collapsed on the ninetieth lap, tongue lolling out as it lay flat on the ground.

Lifting its head, it glanced around. Corvisquire, despite struggling, still flapped its wings determinedly in midair. Gastly, too, looked like it was reaching its limit, its round body trembling.

But most striking of all was Shiro. Sweat from his weighted exercises had pooled beneath him, yet he kept pushing forward.

“Grrrowwlithe…”

Taking a deep breath, Growlithe forced itself up, staggering toward its food bowl. It swallowed two deep red, perfect-quality Pokéblocks, then turned to the bag of Exp. Candies and gulped one down.

The moment it did, a rush of energy coursed through its body. The exhaustion from before was nothing compared to this surge of pure, electrifying power.

Its body ignited with a faint flame, paws moving instinctively as it resumed running—faster, stronger.

By the time it reached its hundredth lap, it had forgotten about reporting back to Shiro.

The sensation was simply too exhilarating. It just wanted to keep running, to keep pushing forward, straight to the ends of the earth.

**

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Chapter Text

The day's training passed in a blur.

Shiro lost track of how much water he drank or how much meat he ate at the cafeteria. By the time he noticed the sun had set and it was nearly time to rest, Growlithe had already completed its fifth set of a hundred laps.

Corvisquire and Gastly were completely drained, sprawled out on the floor, while Growlithe flopped onto its side in front of Shiro, tongue hanging out. Its tired eyes seemed to say, “I’ve gone way beyond what you asked me to do.”

Shiro chuckled, giving Growlithe a few pats before removing the training weights from both Corvisquire and Growlithe. He tossed his own weights aside as well.

The moment they came off, his entire body felt light—almost weightless.

After leading his Pokémon to the shower room and giving them all a thorough wash, he recalled them into their Poké Balls. With that, the day's grueling training finally came to an end, and he headed back to his room to rest.

Once he finished washing up and taking a shower, he collapsed onto his bed.

Exhaustion hit him like a wave. The second he lay down, his mind shut off, and he fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Corvisquire, Gastly, and Growlithe were just as worn out.

Only Drakloak remained awake. Emerging from the shadows, it silently observed Shiro for a moment before vanishing back into the darkness.

"Dreeeep~"

Dreepy, resting on Drakloak’s head, let out a sleepy yawn before dozing off.

Drakloak closed its eyes as well, its thoughts drifting back to its kin at the Lake of Outrage.

The night passed in the blink of an eye.

……

The next morning, Shiro got himself a communication device to check for any updates from the company. After that, he jumped right back into his relentless training routine, just as he had the day before.

He wasn't going to stop until all the resources were nearly used up.

Corvisquire was handling it fine, but Gastly was starting to struggle.

Unlike the others, Gastly had a naturally lazy personality. If it weren’t for Corvisquire pushing ahead, Growlithe chasing from behind, and Shiro leading by example, it would have definitely found a quiet corner to slack off for a few days.

As for Growlithe, after the previous day's training, it seemed to have awakened something deep within itself. It had become obsessed with weighted running, treating it like a game. The more it ran, the more excited it became.

During breaks, Shiro also trained with Drakloak, familiarizing himself with its move set and combat style.

Since Macro Cosmos hadn’t assigned him any missions or sent any messages, he continued this intense training for over ten days straight.

With a steady supply of resources, his Pokémon’s strength improved rapidly.

Corvisquire had been in the most battles and trained the hardest. It easily advanced from Intermediate-level to Advanced-level, prompting Shiro to give it an Everstone to store up more energy before its evolution.

Gastly finally reached Intermediate-level as well, just a step away from evolving into Haunter. It was only a matter of timing now.

Not to be outdone, Growlithe pushed itself to reach Intermediate-level too, much to Gastly's frustration. Its evolution into Arcanine, however, would require a Fire Stone.

……

Inside a 9th floor training room, Shiro caught Growlithe mid-leap, effortlessly flipping the hundred-kilogram dog as if it were a balloon.

"Grow!" Growlithe stretched out its tongue, trying to lick Shiro’s face.

He sighed and gently placed it back down.

Raising a Growlithe properly was proving to be a challenge. Even after asking other trainers and searching Galar’s online forums, he couldn't find a clear answer.

In the end, he had to spend ten thousand Pokédollars on the black market to get some reliable information.

Aside from basic speed training, a Growlithe’s fire was just as important. It needed to consume specific berries regularly and, most importantly, carry a Fire-type item—Charcoal.

Legend had it that Charcoal was the sacred fuel left behind after Ho-Oh’s divine flames burned through ancient trees. No one knew exactly how it was obtained, but its effects were undeniable..

To properly raise a strong Growlithe, it needed to consume Charcoal regularly. The best method was to grind it into a fine powder and mix it into daily meals.

The price of Charcoal wasn’t too bad. A high-quality piece cost only a hundred thousand Pokédollars.

What gave Shiro the biggest headache, though, was Growlithe’s evolution.

"Groowl!"

Growlithe barked again. Seeing that Shiro wasn't responding, it wagged its tail and trotted over to Drakloak, who was resting with its eyes half-closed.

Drakloak slowly opened its eyes, only to find that Dreepy had already floated off its head and was now playfully chasing Growlithe around.

"Cooor!"

Up near the ceiling, Corvisquire was still training relentlessly.

Gastly, on the other hand, had collapsed onto the ground, its purple-black gaseous body flickering weakly.

It felt like it was dying.

There was no denying that growing stronger felt great, but for the past two days, its progress had suddenly come to a halt.

Shiro had reassured it, saying this was normal before evolution—that it was simply gathering the final bit of energy it needed. But without any visible progress, the pain from training seemed to double. Exhaustion weighed down on Gastly, making it want to pass out and sleep for three straight days.

Yet every time it opened its eyes, it saw Corvisquire pushing itself to the limit. That alone made Gastly feel ashamed. And then there was Growlithe, constantly breathing down its neck. The competition made Gastly more anxious than ever.

Shiro understood how Gastly felt, so he decided to give everyone the afternoon off. No brutal training today.

That gave him time to think about his long-term plans for raising his Pokémon.

The best time for Growlithe to evolve was when it reached the peak of Advanced-level, just before breaking into Gym-level. Pokémon that evolved using Evolution Stones benefited the most when they evolved at this stage.

The energy from the stone, combined with the Pokémon’s natural growth, made it much easier to shatter the limits of Advanced-level and step into Gym-level.

But a perfect-quality Evolution Stone was incredibly rare. In all of Galar, they were practically priceless. Rumor had it that they could significantly boost a Pokémon's potential and talent...

'Better to believe in it than not.'

Shiro sighed. No matter what, he had to get his hands on a perfect-quality Fire Stone, even if it cost him everything.

Besides, the spending limit provided by the company was about to expire. If he didn’t use it by next month, whatever was left would go to waste.

Shiro counted his funds. He had about 7.63 million Pokédollars in cash. Adding the remaining 15 million from his spending limit, that gave him a total of 22.63 million.

An Evolution Stone couldn’t possibly cost that much, right?

With that thought in mind, he took the elevator up to the black market floor.

He walked through the red-carpeted corridor and casually pushed open a door.

Buzz...

The door shut behind him as he stepped into the familiar black market trading room.

"Hm? Mr. Shiro, how can I assist you today?"

The black-cloaked merchant remained motionless, speaking in a deep, muffled voice. "Is there anything you need?"

Shiro sat down at the table, completely at ease. He had done this plenty of times before.

"Check the price of a perfect-quality Fire Stone for me.”

**

**

**

Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:

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Your support means a lot, thank you!

Chapter Text

“Hmm… a Fire-type Evolution Stone? And you want a perfect-quality one…” The black-cloaked man muttered as a faint pink glow of psychic power enveloped him, scanning through a list of related items. “An Evolution Stone, huh?”

Shiro waited patiently. Soon, the man called out, “Found it!”

With a sweep of his wide black sleeves, a swirling projection appeared: an illusion formed entirely from psychic energy, displaying the Evolution Stone in vivid detail.

"There are plenty of Evolution Stones in the company's storage, but perfect-quality ones are extremely rare." The cloaked man paused. "To be honest, this isn't something you can just buy with Pokédollars. If a Fire-type trainer were desperate enough, they might offer an unimaginable price.”

Shiro understood what he meant. A perfect-quality Evolution Stone was more than just rare—it was priceless to anyone who truly needed it.

But he also knew that if it were truly impossible to obtain, the merchant would have shut him down outright. He wouldn’t have wasted time talking.

So…

"What do I need to pay for it?" Shiro asked calmly, leaning forward to peer into the dark, shadowed face under the black hood.

The black-cloaked man stopped beating around the bush and said directly, "I need to ask the chairman. If he agrees, then you can have it, no matter the cost."

As soon as the words left his mouth, his body slumped. His hood and sleeves drooped as if his soul had left him.

Strong psychic waves surged and circled the ceiling, making even the green decorative plants in the corners sway slightly. After a while, the energy slowly dissipated, and the cloaked figure straightened, returning to normal.

"The chairman agreed." He spread his long sleeves and continued, “But your entire spending limit for this month will be cleared.”

“Fine.” Shiro nodded, satisfied.

Since he came here at the end of the month, he had planned to use up the rest of his unused allowance anyway.

As the League President, Chairman of Macro Cosmos, and even the main villain in the original story, Rose was surprisingly generous. After understanding Rose's personality, Shiro knew he wouldn’t refuse. He also didn’t force Shiro to empty all his Pokédollars.

He didn’t even mention reducing next month’s budget. 

That surprised Shiro a little. But since he was working under Rose, this was basically getting a little extra benefit.

“Here. Your Fire Stone. Handle it carefully.” Using psychic power, the cloaked man floated over a black iron box with red leather edges, gently pushing it toward Shiro.

Shiro opened the box. Inside lay the Evolution Stone, shining brightly with a thick amber glow. The flame patterns sealed within looked as if they were truly burning, flickering ever so slightly.

"Thanks." Shiro put the box away and stood up to leave.

“You’re welcome anytime,” the black market merchant’s composed voice echoed faintly behind him as the door closed.

With this, the issue of Growlithe’s evolution and future training was settled.

Shiro wasn’t the type to wait until the last second to hunt down essential resources. He preferred to be fully prepared ahead of time. As for worrying about turning himself into a walking treasure chest because of all the resources... well, what was the point if you were already dead?

If he survived to the end, every resource would have its use.

……

Shiro walked along the red carpet under the soft beige lights, stretching lazily. He had only trained briefly in the morning. From noon until now, he had done nothing but rest, and the sudden idleness made his body itch with discomfort. He felt like he needed to work out or at least move.

Twisting his wrists, Shiro stepped into the elevator and let out a quiet sigh.

“Heh. Humans really are shameless,” he muttered, carrying his bag as he exited onto the twelfth floor dormitory area.

……

Soon after, he returned to his small room.

After settling the tired Corvisquire and Gastly into their respective nests, he noticed Growlithe sitting by the bed, eyes wide and sparkling, full of energy and clearly eager to play.

Shiro scratched his head, gave Growlithe a soft pat, and casually summoned Drakloak and Dreepy.

Drakloak, who had long since grown immune to Growlithe’s constant antics, lazily sprawled out on the floor, ignoring the puppy’s playful hops. It was getting older now, easily bored by repetitive games.

But Dreepy was different.

It loved nothing more than tumbling around with Growlithe, burying itself in the fluffy fur and rolling about without a care.

Watching Dreepy eagerly dash over to Growlithe once again, Drakloak squinted in resignation, sighed softly, and finally joined them, reluctantly taking part in the playful chaos.

……

Meanwhile, Shiro sat quietly on his bed and opened the laptop he had purchased long ago. Due to Galar’s strict internet restrictions, there were only a handful of accessible sites.

These included the Galar League’s official page, Macro Cosmos company’s site, an online black market, and Rose’s personal page, and—

Well, none of them were particularly important.

Among the remaining options, the one that interested Shiro most, and the only one that actually had a chance of connecting to other regions, was called Professor Oak’s Laboratory.

At first glance, it seemed like just the official website of Professor Samuel Oak, the legendary Kanto researcher. And technically, it was. But over time, it had become something much more.

Thanks to Oak’s overwhelming reputation, seniority, and approachable personality, countless young researchers flocked to the site’s discussion boards, seeking advice and sharing discoveries. Oak himself often participated. Eventually, the site evolved into the largest academic forum for Pokémon research.

Back then, the League hadn’t even created an official research network, so Professor Oak simply restructured the site and turned it into a proper academic platform. As for Oak's actual laboratory, everyone knew it was located in Pallet Town—the legendary town famous for producing both trainers and researchers of exceptional talent.

“Oak’s Lab... too bad it only allows academic topics and discussions. Still, it’s impressive that it really connects researchers from eight regions... and it works even here in Galar,” Shiro murmured, scrolling rapidly through the site.

Everything posted here had to go through a review process and was only published after being confirmed safe. Shiro wasn't sure if this was the same outside of Galar, but it made sense given the region's restrictions.

The forum allowed members to create or join topic threads, usually centered around specific research fields related to Pokémon.

Using the identity card issued by Macro Cosmos, Shiro successfully registered an account under the username Corviknight.

He wasn’t planning to stay in Galar forever. More importantly, he needed to escape Rose’s grip eventually. If the opportunity arose, maybe he could transfer to Kanto or another region as a "researcher" and break free from Macro Cosmos.

“Categories... Pokémon breeding, reproduction, evolution, origins...” Shiro browsed the options. “Evolution’s probably the safest.”

He made up his mind, ready to publish some theories and predictions. 

When it came to real Pokémon breeding, he was practically clueless and usually had to ask others. 

But evolution? That was different.

He was familiar with countless evolution methods, many of which hadn’t even been officially discovered yet. If he started from small theories and gradually released more, perhaps even supporting them with research data and papers...

A slight smile appeared on his face.

**

**

**

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Chapter Text

Whether he made it to the semifinals of the Champions Cup or not, Shiro was determined to leave Macro Cosmos. And for that, he had to start preparing early.

Strengthening his team was important, but it wasn’t enough; he also needed to increase his own "value" in other ways. By then, even if Rose tried to force him to stay in Galar, pressure from a few well-known professors would make him let Shiro go.

As Rose tightened his grip on Galar, the main league was gradually loosening its control. If the right opportunity arose, they might step in and interfere with Galar’s league again.

If Shiro could make himself valuable enough to create a conflict of interest, Rose would have no choice but to make the best decision for himself. Once he left Galar, he’d finally be free of Rose and Macro Cosmos. For now, though, he needed the company to see his research.

"Pokémon evolution..." Shiro murmured, scrolling through an article on his laptop. "Some Pokémon don’t evolve based on level alone but require special conditions. These conditions vary and are still being explored by researchers..."

He leaned back slightly, recalling the three main methods of Pokémon evolution.

The first was level-based, where Pokémon evolved naturally by accumulating enough energy.

The second required Evolution Stones, like how Eevee evolved into different forms depending on the stone used.

The third involved special conditions; some evolved through trading, while others needed specific items or even the presence of another PokéPokémon.

The post he was reading focused on the third type. It was written by Professor Rowan, a well-known researcher in Sinnoh who specialized in Pokémon evolution.

"Evolution under special conditions? This explanation is too vague," Shiro muttered. "They still haven’t figured out trade evolution, huh?”

He thought for a moment and searched for discussions about trade evolution and special magnetic fields. He found nothing useful—just scattered, irrelevant posts and papers. There were several articles under Rowan’s research topic, but most were either off-track or pure nonsense.

It made sense. The Pokémon world was vast, and while there were plenty of researchers, true discoveries required significant funding and years of effort. Only a handful of professors had the resources and influence to push the field forward.

Shiro began typing up his own article, carefully structuring his thoughts.

[A Hypothesis on Special Magnetic Fields and Pokémon Evolution]

He proposed that certain Pokémon evolved under the influence of special magnetic fields, a phenomenon distinct from traditional evolution methods. These fields, he theorized, might act as an environmental trigger, altering a Pokémon’s energy flow in a way that facilitated evolution.

To support his idea, he provided examples of Pokémon commonly found in Galar.

For instance, his own Rhyperior had evolved from Rhydon not just through trade evolution but by holding a special item called a "Protector." This suggested that evolution required a specific external factor.

Besides Rhyperior, he also mentioned Gengar, Golem, Gigalith, Trevenant—Pokémon that have special evolution methods and could be found in Galar. To avoid making his theory seem too definitive, he intentionally included a few incorrect examples, keeping the paper balanced.

After detailing his hypothesis, he ended with a disclaimer:

"Due to current limitations, I cannot conduct concrete experiments to confirm these ideas. This paper serves only as a theoretical framework, providing a possible direction for further research."

Shiro read it over one last time.

"Alright, that should do it."

He clicked the “Submit” button, watching as the status changed to "Under Review" before closing his laptop and sliding it into his bag.

It was still early—barely past four in the afternoon. He could still go for a short run around the garden near the building.

"Growl! Growl!"

The moment Shiro got up, Growlithe, who had been playing with Dreepy in the room, immediately ran over. It bounced excitedly, tail wagging like a propeller.

Drakloak slipped into Shiro’s shadow, while Dreepy floated onto Growlithe’s head, joining in on the excitement.

Shiro exhaled, tapping his forehead lightly. "Fine, you can come too."

He really had no way of dealing with the dog’s endless energy. But this level of energy also proved that Growlithe was in excellent health and had great potential. If it were weak or sickly, it wouldn’t act like a true Fire-type—full of energy and eager to run.

Since he had free time, Shiro decided to take it for a walk.

……

At the top floor of the Macro Cosmos headquarters, a cold, striking woman with golden hair lightly knocked on the office door.

Knock, knock, knock…

Buzz! 

The door automatically slid open.

Rose leaned back in his chair, but when he saw who it was, he straightened up and smiled.

"Oleana, I’ve told you before, you don’t need to knock. Just come in."

Oleana, tall and poised, strode inside without responding immediately. Dressed in her usual white coat, she carried a folder filled with documents. Without a word, she pulled out a few pages and placed them in front of Rose.

As the vice president of Macro Cosmos, she handled nearly all of the company’s affairs. Only the most critical matters ever reached Rose’s desk.

Glancing at her attire, Rose casually twirled a lock of his own hair and said lightly, "Hmm~ Oleana, are you still handling the Dynamax research yourself? I told you, just leave that project to Professor Magnolia—"

"I know," Oleana cut him off coldly, still flipping through her files.

She retrieved a specific document and handed it to him. "Someone from the special squad posted something online. The review team isn’t sure whether to approve it or not.”

"Oh? They’re unsure?" That piqued Rose’s curiosity. He accepted the paper with one hand.

If it were something anti-league or anti-company, no matter how well it was disguised, he trusted Oleana to block it without hesitation. But for something to make her uncertain…

Oleana was one of his most capable subordinates. What kind of content could make her hesitate?

"It’s him again?" Rose skimmed through the document. "Pokémon evolution? He’s got plenty of time, huh? Instead of focusing on training his Pokémon, he’s off doing research…"

After a while, he finished reading and frowned, his confusion growing.

"What’s wrong with this paper?"

It wasn’t anti-league or anti-company. It was purely an academic study. He didn’t understand why there was any hesitation about approving it.

"There’s nothing wrong with the paper itself," Oleana replied. "In fact, it’s an excellent one. The hypothesis is highly specific and logical, supported by clear verification methods. He even provides Pokémon examples..."

She paused briefly before adding, "Even if I gave my researchers a clear direction, they wouldn’t be able to produce something this polished. It’s as if... he already knew the results before he even wrote it."

"He’s that good?" Rose chuckled, still twirling his hair between his fingers.

He knew Oleana’s research capabilities rivaled, if not exceeded, those of well-known professors. He had personally discovered her potential in a research lab.

Even the Dynamax Band, the device that allowed trainers to control Dynamax transformations, had been her invention.

"So what you’re saying is... he’s right about everything he wrote?"

**

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Chapter Text

Chapter Text

"Ah! I finally found you..." Marvin pulled Shiro out of the elevator and said, "We’ve got a meeting tomorrow. There's only a month left until the Gym Challenge begins, and the League is also making preparations.”

"What do you mean?” Shiro frowned, confused. 

Marvin glanced around, making sure no one else was nearby. Lowering his voice, he asked, "Do you know how strong your opponent is?”

Opponent? The one he would have to face in the Gym Challenge?

Shiro understood. His assigned location was Spikemuth, which meant his opponent was none other than the town's Gym Leader's son—Piers.

He knew Piers’ Pokémon lineup like the back of his hand: Scrafty, Malamar, Obstagoon, Skuntank…

Seeing Shiro nod confidently, Marvin furrowed his brows. "I'm talking about their actual strength! Do you know how many Advanced-level Pokémon he has? How many Gym-level ones?”

"Gym-level?" Shiro muttered, then suddenly realized what Marvin was getting at.

These legacy trainers were likely at an Advanced-level themselves, but since they were competing in the Gym Challenge, they'd definitely have one or two Pokémon handed down from their family. 

And those Gym-level Pokémon could be the biggest obstacles in battle.

Shiro lowered his head, thinking. "Didn't Chairman Rose investigate the Gyms' exact strength?"

"It's not that easy. You think Gym Leaders would just hand over that kind of information to the League?" Marvin shook his head. "One of our squad's tasks is to assess their real strength."

Some Gyms had declined over generations. Their current Leaders might be stuck at Advanced-level, relying on a couple of inherited Gym-level Pokémon to maintain appearances.

But some Gyms had deep resources and plenty of talent. They might even have Elite-level Pokémon at their disposal.

Marvin sighed and patted Shiro's shoulder. "I know my own family's situation best. Gordie is probably the weakest out of all of them. That old hag Melony only has a few Gym-level Pokémon left from my father, but I don't know if she'll give any to Gordie."

Shiro nodded slightly.

Circhester had been in decline for years and Spikemuth was probably in a similar state. They might only have two or three Gym-level Pokémon left, but in terms of raw ability, Piers was probably stronger than Gordie.

"Anyway, we’ll find out more at the gathering tomorrow," Marvin added before glancing at Shiro suspiciously. "By the way, where were you just now? I checked a few floors and couldn't find you.”

"Took my dog for a walk downstairs," Shiro replied casually.

"A walk?" Marvin's brows knitted together in disbelief. "Seriously, Shiro? You have time for that… Wait, actually, yeah, you do.”

He suddenly remembered Shiro had an Elite-level Drakloak. The realization sapped his enthusiasm. Here he was, the second weakest in their squad, worrying about a guy who practically had a cheat code on his team.

"I'm going to train. We'll see what happens tomorrow." Marvin patted Shiro's arm before heading into the elevator.

Shiro also headed back to his room.

His first priority was taking care of his Pokémon. He ran warm water and gave Growlithe and Dreepy a thorough bath, scrubbing away the day's dust and making sure their fur and scales were spotless.

Then, he released his other Pokémon and placed some Pokéblocks in front of each of them.

With that done, he pulled out his laptop and checked on the status of his research paper.

"Hmm. It went through..." He exhaled in relief and closed the laptop, tucking it into his backpack.

His biggest concern had been a rejection with no explanation. If that happened, he wouldn’t even know what went wrong and would have to rewrite everything from scratch. That would be a nightmare.

Satisfied that his work was safe for now, he stretched and got ready to head to the cafeteria. But just as he reached for the door handle, something caught his eye—Gastly floating beside the table, happily munching away at the Pokéblocks.

The ghost Pokémon was practically bouncing with energy, its mischievous grin wider than usual.

That reminded him—he still had training to do.

"By the way, Gastly…" Shiro hesitated for a moment but decided to save it for tomorrow.

After all, he had promised a break this afternoon. If he suddenly changed his mind, Gastly might push back and resist training altogether.

After dinner, he returned to his room and got ready for bed.

The night passed quickly.

……

The next day.

Early in the morning, just as Shiro finished breakfast, the communication device in his backpack began vibrating.

Bzzzt—Bzzzt—

Inside the elevator, he pulled out the small rectangular device and checked the message.

It said: Mr. Shiro, please report to the first floor of the building. Urgent mission.

"Urgent mission?" Shiro murmured to himself, pressing the button for the first floor as the elevator began its descent.

When the doors slid open, only Granny Shae and Grandpa Edgar were in the lobby.

Shae sat at the reception desk on her small red round stool. Meanwhile, Edgar stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the counter with his back toward her. They didn’t seem to be on good terms.

As soon as Shiro stepped out, Shae pressed a remote, and the large screen on the wall flickered to life.

On the screen, a refined young woman in a blue uniform spoke in a steady voice.

"Good morning, everyone. This is Galar Morning News. There is only one month left until the official start of the Gym Challenge. Galar’s Gyms are fully prepared and ready to welcome challengers… Now, let’s hear an important announcement from Chairman Rose."

The screen switched. The news anchor disappeared, replaced by Rose, dressed in a gray suit, sitting in his office at Macro Cosmos.

"Good morning, dear viewers," Rose greeted with a faint smile, the short stubble on his face shifting slightly as he spoke.

By now, Allister, Nessa, and Marvin also arrived in the lobby one after another.

"As everyone knows, the Gym Challenge holds great significance for Galar. This grand event gathers the most talented young trainers from across the region. I sincerely hope that all challengers achieve great results.”

Rose spread his hands and chuckled lightly, his expression as calm as ever.

"Now, let's turn to our host for a brief introduction to this year’s challengers.”

As soon as Rose disappeared from the screen, Marvin quietly leaned toward Shae and asked, "Granny, what’s our mission this time?”

"Don't rush. Watch the news first." She gave him a sidelong glance, her eyebrows slightly lowered as she motioned for him to stay put.

Understanding the hint, Marvin straightened up immediately, standing even straighter than before.

On the screen, a thin man was gesturing animatedly as he introduced the challengers, giving the audience an early impression of the competitors.

"Following the strongest contenders for the championship—Leon and Raihan—we have the highly anticipated genius martial artist, Bea! Hailing from the renowned fighting-type family of Stow-on-Side! And from Hulbury, there's Lina! Her father, Nathan, was once an unexpected dark horse in the Champion Cup!"

At this moment, Shiro keenly noticed Nessa, also from Hulbury, staring intently at Lina’s image on the screen.

**

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Chapter Text

Shiro was sure he had never heard of the name Lina in the original story.

But in this real Pokémon world, no Gym could just appear out of nowhere. Lina and Nathan, mentioned on the broadcast, were likely the previous Gym Leaders of Hulbury before Nessa took over. Though whether Lina would officially take on the role was still unknown.

Shiro watched the screen intently, memorizing the face of the short-haired girl with an arrogant expression.

"And next, we have the famous rock singer—Piers! Along with the challenger from Circhester, Gordie!" The man on the screen was full of energy, introducing everyone before finally announcing, "This year's Gym Challenge contestants are stronger than ever! Everyone, please—"

Click.

Edgar grabbed the remote and clicked the screen off with a bored sigh. "How many times has that Gordie guy competed? I feel like I’ve seen him before," he asked, turning to Shiro’s group.

"This is his second time," Marvin answered right away.

"Who cares how many times he's tried!" Granny Shae pushed herself up with her cane, scanning the group before getting straight to the point. "This time's mission is directly assigned by Chairman Rose. The location is Stow-on-Side, and your task is to assist Leon in driving out a group of rampaging wild Pokémon.”

Seeing the confusion on their faces, Edgar added, "The outbreak starts in exactly two days. You'll head to Stow-on-Side first. This time, the scale of the Pokémon rampage is huge. It’s the perfect opportunity for you to make a name for yourselves alongside Leon. The company will go all out on promoting you.”

Hearing this, Shiro started to understand.

This mission was the first step in Rose’s plan. By positioning them at the forefront of a crisis just before the Gym Challenge, he could spread their names across the region. At the same time, he could subtly emphasize their backgrounds and status, contrasting them with the challengers.

It was even possible that this entire rampage had been orchestrated by Macro Cosmos themselves.

Edgar cleared his throat. "Ahem. As for the exact cause of the rampage... it's connected to one of the company's historical site excavation projects. Anyway, it's for Galar’s development, you don’t need to worry about the details."

Shiro exchanged glances with the others before nodding.

From the way Edgar described it, the scale of this rampage was likely beyond their expectations. However, with Leon and Macro Cosmos staff leading the effort, their role was mostly about showing up and earning recognition.

"Alright, the Flying taxis will be here in half an hour. If there's anything you still need to prepare, now’s the time. We don’t know how long this mission will take," Granny Shae reminded them.

The moment she finished speaking, Shiro turned and ran straight toward the elevator.

There was no way he was going unprepared. Even with all the safety measures in place, the core of this mission was still about battles and training. He didn’t have any Pokéblocks stocked up, so he had to head to the cafeteria and grab as many perfect-quality ones as he could.

"Wait! Shiro! Hold up!" Marvin squeezed into the elevator just before the doors closed.

Back in the lobby, Nessa had already gathered everything she needed, while Allister showed no signs of concern. He barely required any preparation—whatever came up, he’d handle it when they got to Stow-on-Side.

About an hour later, four Corviknight, each carrying a passenger capsule, took off toward the southwest.

......

Stow-on-Side.

A mountain town that had flourished due to its ancient art. Thanks to its abundance of ruins, a large number of historians and researchers had settled there.

The surrounding landscape was mostly barren, covered in dry, sandy soil. Strong winds and scarce rainfall had turned the area into a rugged wasteland, home to a vast number of Ground-type Pokémon.

Situated between Ballonlea and Hammerlocke, the town served as a key trading hub. The people living in Glimwood Tangle were almost completely isolated from the outside world and had a high demand for supplies. 

Over time, many merchants had gathered in Stow-on-Side, making a living by selling goods. Trainers from the eastern wilderness would also sometimes come here to buy supplies.

Deep in the vast desert west of Stow-on-Side, a cluster of yellow and white tents stood taller than the crumbling ruins.

Inside one of the tents, several researchers in white lab coats worked frantically, their fingers tapping away at a massive machine.

"Almost there!" one of the researchers on the right exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. "The legendary empire, the ruins of the heroes... the legendary sword and shield!"

His enthusiasm made his words nearly incoherent.

"Researcher Hagrid, what’s happening now?" A young man with long purple hair approached from behind.

Hagrid was practically bouncing on his toes as he responded without turning around. "Leon, you might not understand, but today could be the day we uncover the secrets of the sword and shield! Chairman Rose's relentless efforts in excavation and research are paying off! Honestly, we should have done this a long time ago…”

Leon's brows furrowed deeply. Without another word, he stepped out of the tent.

Outside, the raging sandstorm made it nearly impossible to see the ruins beyond the walls. Within seconds, the swirling dust had turned his pristine white uniform a dull, earthy brown.

"Cough, cough..." Leon lifted an arm to cover his mouth and nose, shielding himself from the harsh wind. A deep sense of unease settled in his heart.

A sandstorm of this magnitude couldn't be explained by a mere Pokémon rampage.

On top of that, the company had sent four rookie trainers to assist. He had no idea how capable they were.

'Is it really safe to use such heavy machinery to explore these ruins?'

With that thought lingering in his mind, Leon stepped back into the tent. Watching the researchers, who were practically bursting with excitement, he couldn't help but imagine the worst. If Stow-on-Side were buried under the sand, what kind of disaster would that bring to Ballonlea?

The town’s residents had lived in Glimwood Tangle for generations. As of now, the only known safe path to the outside world led through Stow-on-Side. The other routes were completely impassable.

The forest was simply too dangerous. It was home to strange and powerful Pokémon, and its winding paths twisted and shifted like a maze, making it almost impossible to navigate.

Leon sighed, slumping into a chair as he waited for the so-called "special team" the company had sent.

……

Meanwhile, at the eastern edge of the wilderness near Stow-on-Side, four Flying taxis were forced to land in the middle of a desolate field.

"The wind up ahead is too strong. Even Corviknight can’t fly through it. You’ll have to walk from here," Granny Shae said as she shoved Marvin out of the passenger box. She then added, "Edgar and I have our own mission. You all stick close to Leon. If anything comes up, let him handle it."

Before Shiro and the others could ask any questions, the four Corviknight flapped their powerful wings and disappeared over the horizon.

"What the hell is this place?" Marvin groaned, folding his arms behind his head as he trudged through the knee-high, brittle grass.

Shiro walked in front, releasing his Corvisquire to scout the area from above.

The wind had already picked up, carrying grains of sand that stung their faces. Looking ahead, the distant hills were a hazy mix of yellow and gray, their shapes distorted by the swirling storm.

**

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Chapter Text

"Coor!"

Corvisquire swooped down from the air, landing on Shiro’s arm.

"Is the situation ahead serious?" Shiro asked, looking at the Pokémon.

"Corv! Corv!" Corvisquire flailed its claws, gesturing in a flurry of movements. Shiro barely managed to make sense of it.

The air above Stow-on-Side was almost entirely swallowed by sand and dust, leaving not even a glimpse of the sky visible.

"How are we supposed to get through this?" Shiro frowned, growing increasingly doubtful about this so-called mission.

He hadn't even encountered the wild Pokémon rampage yet, and the path was already nearly impassable. If the sandstorm was this intense, once the riot started in two days, Stow-on-Side would likely be buried under thick layers of mud and sand.

Suddenly—

Buzz!

His communication device vibrated in his pocket. Pulling it out, he glanced at the screen: the target location is in the western desert of Stow-on-Side. Leon is waiting for you there.

"Leon... waiting for us?" Shiro turned to Marvin, who still carried his usual carefree demeanor, then glanced at Allister and Nessa, both of whom remained unfazed.

As the undefeated champion, Leon had at least six Gym-level Pokémon by now, some possibly even Elite-level. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Shouldn’t they be waiting for him?

"Leon said he has urgent business." Marvin looked at the communication device in his hand and added, "It seems like some of the townspeople are buried under the sand. He went ahead to help."

Standing among the withered grass, Shiro gazed at the sand-covered mountains ahead, hesitating.

Even without stepping in, it was obvious that the situation inside was severe. Unless they borrowed the forces of Macro Cosmos to clear a path, it would be extremely difficult to reach the other side of Stow-on-Side safely.

Moreover, with the sandstorm this intense, it was nearly impossible to see clearly.

"Let's walk through it," Nessa said, confidently stepping past Marvin and Shiro, heading forward alone. It was just some wind and sand. As a water-type trainer, she wasn't worried in the slightest.

Shiro returned Corvisquire to its Poké Ball, exchanged a glance with Marvin, and followed. Allister, silent as ever, trailed behind them like a ghost.

After a while, as the dry yellow grass thinned out beneath their feet, the towering cliffs came into view, their rugged brown surfaces barely visible through the swirling storm. Sand battered their skin, and the wind howled in their ears.

Shiro reached into his bag and pulled out a metal mask, securing it over his face.

"Huh? Shiro? you have something like this?" Marvin, his face buried in his arms, asked, his voice muffled.

This was something Shiro had bought at the black market, preparing for situations just like this. It filtered out toxic gases and dust while also concealing his face.

Besides that, he had stocked up on several high-quality knives—sharp enough to slice through bone like butter. He was deeply concerned about potential conflicts. To avoid trouble, it was best to be prepared to strike first.

Without a word, Shiro took out another gray metal mask from his bag and handed it to Marvin. He had only prepared one extra mask.

"You're the best, Shiro," Marvin mumbled in relief as he put it on, finally able to breathe properly. "I didn’t even think about bringing one, but you had this all along.”

With that, Marvin stretched his hands behind his head and walked forward, his steps large and defiant, as he entered the narrow path covered in deep mud and sand.

Shiro noticed Nessa’s silent gaze and could only shrug, indicating that he had no more to spare. Preparing even one extra mask had been considerate enough—who would randomly buy three or four?

Seeing this, Nessa turned to look at Allister, who remained unaffected by the sandstorm, before lowering her head and pressing forward. She had grown up by the water, spending her childhood playing and fishing by the sea. Her clothes were mostly short-sleeved and lightweight, built for movement. She didn’t even have a cloak to shield herself from the sandstorm.

On the other hand, Shiro and Allister were wrapped up tightly out of habit. Even Marvin wore the standard long-sleeved white uniform of Macro Cosmos. The quality of those uniforms spoke for itself.

As the group entered the narrow mountain trail, it felt like they had stepped into a world made entirely of sand. The towering rock walls on both sides were barely visible in the swirling dust. Everything around them was just shades of brown and gray.

Shiro had to move carefully, feeling his way forward to avoid stepping into a pit and getting stuck.

At the rear, Nessa was slowing down. The exposed parts of her skin stung as the sharp grains of sand cut into her, but she gritted her teeth and kept going.

Up ahead, Marvin and Shiro were too focused on scouting the path to notice her struggle.

Shiro felt the terrain getting harder to walk on. The constant sandstorm had completely distorted his sense of direction and distance. He had no idea how far they had gone or where exactly they were now.

All he could hear was the howling wind and the endless rustling of sand.

Suddenly, Marvin yanked his arm.

Shiro froze and turned his head. A brownish-yellow arm had appeared beside Marvin, holding a black baton pressed against his waist.

There was another person next to Marvin.

The stranger wore a brownish-yellow long, sand-colored cloak that blended in perfectly with the surroundings, making them almost invisible. 

Before Shiro could react, he felt a firm pressure against his own waist. A muffled voice came from behind him.

"Hand over your Poké Balls and I'll spare your life."

Using his peripheral vision, Shiro caught a glimpse of the person beside him. They were holding the same kind of black baton in one hand while stretching out the other, demanding the Poké Balls.

Shiro didn’t move. Keeping his voice even, he asked, "Hey, man. What’s that baton for? You think you can kill me with it?"

"Heh..." The attacker let out a low chuckle. "A high-voltage stun baton. Strong enough to match a Thunderbolt attack. If I wasn’t worried about—hey, what the—ugh..."

As he spoke, a sharp blade sliced cleanly through his arm, cutting through flesh and bone in an instant.

Shiro acted with lightning speed. With a slight twist of his wrist, he drove his knife into the man's throat and pulled it out just as quickly.

The attacker slumped against the rock wall, then slid to the ground. Shiro took a step back, scanning the area as he moved toward Marvin.

This sandstorm was the perfect cover for an ambush. A great spot to rob travelers—or even betray allies. But at the same time, the poor visibility worked against the attackers, making it hard for them to react in time.

Shiro’s training had paid off. He was no longer the weakling he had been in Spikemuth. Now, he could hold his own against even Beginner-level Pokémon.

His eyes shifted to Marvin.

In the thick sandstorm, all he could see were Marvin’s hands fumbling around, stalling for time.

The voice of the second attacker drifted through the wind.

"Hurry up! Don’t even think about sneaking out a Pokémon. If you try anything, I’ll—ugh..."

Marvin knew Shiro had arrived. He immediately jumped back, putting distance between himself and his attacker.

Then, he saw it—an arm hitting the ground, followed by a body.

In the brief flashes between the swirling sand, Shiro’s black cloak appeared and vanished like a shadow.

"Uh—" Marvin started to speak but quickly shut his mouth, not wanting to interfere with Shiro’s next move.

He realized something.

There might be more of them hiding in the storm.

**

**

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Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:

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Your support means a lot, thank you!

Chapter Text

"Hey, girl, hand over the Poké Balls on your waist. Otherwise... I’ll just have to take them myself. Heh heh..."

A deep, sleazy voice echoed in Nessa’s ears.

She was already struggling with the relentless sandstorm, and now, with an attacker suddenly appearing, her mood plummeted.

Nessa knew she was the slowest and had fallen to the back. If there was an ambush, it made sense that they would target her first. The others had already gone ahead, and with this blinding sand, there was no telling if they had even noticed she was missing.

'Damn it...'

Keeping her arm up to shield her face, she gritted her teeth and stayed still. She recognized the black metal rod at her waist. It was a stun baton capable of delivering a shock as powerful as a Thunderbolt. Even an Intermediate-level Pokémon could be knocked out in one hit, let alone a human. One wrong move, and she might not even survive.

"Hey, girl! I'm just worried about frying the money on you, not about killing you, so don’t try playing innocent!" The attacker’s voice cut through the howling wind.

"Alright! Just... don’t do anything rash. I’ll lock the Poké Balls first and hand them over..." Nessa spoke calmly, trying to deceive him. Moving slowly, she reached for her waist.

"Hurry up!" The man growled, his grip tightening on the baton. The crackling sound of electricity sent a jolt of fear through her.

She quickened her movements, locking the buttons on the empty Poké Balls before handing them over one by one. In these conditions, there was no way he could check if they were empty. He had to take them and assume she was complying.

'Just need an opening...'

Holding her breath, Nessa ignored the sting of sand cutting into her skin. She was waiting for him to drop his guard.

"Heh, these are all empty, aren’t they?" The man’s mocking tone made her heart pound, and her body instinctively tensed.

"Dark-skinned and flat as a board. You really don’t fear death, do you?" He sneered, as if he was about to press the stun baton and electrocute her on the spot.

"Hah..." He exhaled slowly, convinced he had successfully scared her stiff. He had only been testing if she was lying. Turns out, the Poké Balls really were empty.

Still, he didn’t want to press the baton just yet. He had no idea how strong her Pokémon were. If he accidentally fried the Poké Balls and killed her, what if her Pokémon escaped and tore him apart? Better to take things slow, break her down bit by bit.

Nessa didn’t respond. She had already made up her mind—she was going to run for it. Gambling her life on whether he could react in time was better than waiting for death.

"Hmph..." The man snorted. "Keep handing over the Poké Balls! And don’t even think about—ugh..."

His words cut off.

All he felt was a sudden coldness in his throat, as if something sharp had pierced through. His body stiffened.

Nessa flinched instinctively, then tried to flee, only to be caught by Shiro just in time.

"Nessa! It’s me!" He bent down, grabbing the attacker’s lifeless head and shoving it toward her.

"Shiro?" Nessa halted at the familiar voice. She turned, only to find something strange now in her hands. The moment she realized what it was, she yelped and flung it away. "You... you just—"

Before she could finish, Shiro was already walking off.

"Hey!" She hurried forward, grabbing his wrist. "Wait for me..."

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Shiro turned, scanning her from head to toe. That’s when he noticed the faint cuts on her arms and legs. Her skin, softened by years in the water, was delicate enough for the sand to leave marks.

Understanding her discomfort, he swiftly pulled the sand-colored cloak from the corpse on the ground and tossed it to her. Then, shaking off her hand, he started walking again.

There were no more enemies behind them, but there could still be some ahead. Plus, he still hadn’t found Allister.

Nessa hesitated for a moment before quickly wrapping the cloak around herself and catching up. The sting of the sand was a constant reminder that she couldn’t afford to slow down.

Up ahead, Shiro was searching through the wind and sand. He estimated the distance between Marvin and Nessa to be about fifty meters, but with the raging sandstorm, those fifty meters felt like five hundred.

"Shiro?"

A cold voice suddenly called from the side of the road. A pale, hollow mask emerged beside him. It was Allister, riding on his Dusclops. 

The ghostly Pokémon had something in its mouth. Looking closer, Shiro saw that it was the remains of a corpse—only the legs were left.

"Good." Shiro gave a short nod. "Let's keep moving. There may be more enemies ahead.”

"Mm." Allister responded lightly, glancing at Nessa, who was now wrapped in the yellow cloak, before signaling Dusclops to move forward.

They continued another ten meters before spotting Marvin pressed against the rocky wall on the left.

"Shiro!"

Marvin had also picked up a yellow cloak, draping it over himself. He pointed at the corpses on the ground, his voice heavy.

"These guys don’t even have Poké Balls on them."

"...No Poké Balls?" Shiro frowned. He had been too focused on finding his teammates to search the bodies earlier, but he hadn't expected them to have nothing of value.

"Not even Pokédollars?" He asked.

"Nothing," Marvin confirmed. He had no interest in pocketing such trivial things. "Their clothes are torn and ragged, just like... when we used to be outlaws."

Shiro felt a headache coming on.

He had expected trouble in this weather, opportunists lying in wait. What was shocking was that even the lowest of the low were openly blocking the entrance to Stow-on-Side to rob people.

They didn’t need a sandstorm to bury the town. The people themselves had already cut it off from the rest of the world.

And yet, within the town, Leon’s faction was still stationed. These people dared to be this reckless?

Shiro could already picture the chaos inside Stow-on-Side. The road ahead was only going to get worse.

"I have a Ground-type Pokémon…" Shiro said grimly, looking at the others. "I'll have Rhyperior clear the way. You should release Pokémon that can protect the flanks. We’re no longer on League territory.”

"Understood!" Nessa and Marvin nodded, releasing Drednaw and Mr. Mime.

Shiro then tossed his Poké Ball forward.

"Come out, Rhyperior!”

The massive Pokémon landed with a thud, blocking most of the path. Even the raging sandstorm weakened behind it.

The four of them moved in close behind Rhyperior, advancing slowly but securely, a strong sense of protection settling over them.

**

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Chapter Text

Along the mountain road leading from the wilderness to Stow-on-Side. 

A massive, brown-colored beast rumbled forward like a living steamroller, crushing everything beneath its heavy steps.

About thirty meters ahead of the advancing Rhyperior, a broad-shouldered, overweight trainer stumbled backward, struggling to retreat. His breath came in ragged gasps as he felt the tremors ripple through the ground and rock walls.

"Kamil! What the hell is that thing up there? A Gym-level Pokémon? What kind of lunatic would—" the chubby trainer kept mumbling as he stumbled backward. Behind him, a short and stocky man yanked at his arm, dragging him away with all his strength.

"Shut up, Bram! If you don't move faster, we're both dead!" Kamil growled, pulling harder.

Bram continued grumbling. "Could it be the League? Damn it, the idiots up front couldn’t even figure out if their target was safe to attack. Got themselves killed like amateurs… Useless trash!"

"Say one more word, and I'll leave you here," Kamil snapped. He reached for Bram's waist, rummaged around until he found a Poké Ball, and tossed it.

With a flash of light, a Hippowdon emerged. Its sand-colored hide blended seamlessly with the storm as it lowered itself, allowing the two men to clamber onto its broad back before charging away.

The massive beast behind them was less than ten meters away now. A moment longer, and they'd be crushed. 

Bram had no time to complain about Kamil's rough handling—he simply clung to the Pokémon's back, burying his face to avoid the flying sand.

"What the hell is that thing?!" he shouted over the howling wind. "A Gym-level Rhyperior?! What kind of psycho…?"

"Stop yapping, you bastard!"

"That's gotta be a League trainer! They're here to clean up Stow-on-Side! We have to tell the boss!" 

Amidst their frantic cursing, Hippowdon galloped through the sandstorm, weaving past other yellow-cloaked hunters and their Pokémon.

At last, the mountain trail came to an end, opening onto a set of dusty, yellow stone steps—the entrance to Stow-on-Side.

Half the staircase was buried in sand, but neither Bram nor Kamil cared. They urged their Pokémon forward, plunging straight into the wind-blown streets.

Pairs of wary eyes peeked from windows as they passed. Numerous Pokémon stood guard outside doors, their trainers ready to defend their homes from intruders.

In this chaotic storm, the reckless wild trainers had set the stage—rules no longer existed.

As Hippowdon vanished into the distance, more Pokémon stormed through the streets—Rhyhorn, Stunfisk—accompanied by a swarm of trainers who scattered in every direction. The tremors beneath the town grew stronger.

Inside the houses, the townspeople watched in fear.

"What’s happening out there?"

"What else? More sewer rats running for their lives."

"Is it the League? Or…"

Amid hushed whispers, the yellow-cloaked figures vanished into the storm. But not all of them had an escape. Some, with nowhere left to go, pounded furiously on doors.

"Open up, now! Or I'll kill every last one of you!”

“Open the fucking door!"

Whoooosh—

A door creaked open, and just as the intruder outside smirked in triumph, a blast of Flamethrower shot out, roasting him into a half-charred corpse.

BAM!

The door slammed shut again. Silence followed. The desperate hunters scattered like insects, frantically searching for another escape.

……

At the entrance of Stow-on-Side, a big, heavy foot stepped onto the staircase.

"Rhyperior, keep moving. Push through the streets and head west.”

Shiro didn’t withdraw his Pokémon upon entering the town. Instead, he and the others held their formation, advancing steadily. 

Though the yellow-cloaked hunters had retreated at the sound of their approach, he remained cautious. Some of the more organized groups of hunters were likely watching them like hyenas, waiting for the right moment to strike.

As they moved forward, scanning the buildings around them, Marvin spoke up.

“Stow-on-Side has a gym, right?”

“It does,” Allister answered first.

Nessa furrowed her brows, glancing around the town. After a moment of hesitation, she asked, "A gym leader has the authority and responsibility to manage their territory, don’t they? So... where is Stow-on-Side's gym leader? And what about the company’s forces? Why aren’t they maintaining order?"

Hearing this, Shiro also turned toward the direction of the gym and urged Rhyperior forward.

……

Stow-on-Side Gym.

The towering structure was built from rough yellow-gray stone pillars, stacked in a crude yet imposing manner. Though primitive in design, it was remarkably sturdy, shielding everything inside from the relentless sandstorm.

Inside, within a circular training arena, a lineup of Pokémon—Hitmontop, Sirfetch’d, Hawlucha, Machamp, and Grapploct—stood in formation, each relentlessly striking at hardened stone training dummies.

At the edge of the arena, a gray-haired girl delivered a storm of punches and kicks into a heavy sandbag, her movements sharp and precise.

“Keep punching, Bea! Give it everything you’ve got!"

In the center of the training grounds, a man clad in dark, ancient-style clothing stood with his hands behind his back. His voice was strict and commanding.

"Remember! Facing stronger opponents is the key to growth. Even if victory is impossible, fight with everything you have—force a draw if you must!"

“Yes, Father!”

Bea responded loudly, her strikes growing even fiercer. Her Pokémon, fueled by her determination, intensified their training alongside her.

The Stow-on-Side Gym Leader nodded in satisfaction and strode toward the sealed doors of the training field.

As soon as he stepped outside, a scrawny, trembling man stumbled toward him and dropped to his knees.

“G-Gym Leader! Outside… the sandstorm… Please, you have to save us!”

“Hmph! That’s the League’s problem, not mine!” Eldon snorted in disdain and kicked the man squarely in the chest, sending him tumbling across the grand hall.

“Who let this fool into my reception hall?! Who?!”

Two muscular men immediately rushed forward, grabbing the struggling man and hauling him toward the door.

Nearby, a tall, burly man dressed in a white martial uniform cautiously stepped forward and spoke in a low voice.

“Teacher Eldon, he claimed to have urgent news, but he wouldn’t say what it was. That’s why we brought him in…"

“Dyson…” Eldon drawled, casting a sideways glance at his student, who quickly lowered his head even further.

“I told you—no one gets in, didn’t I?”

“Forgive me, Teacher!” Dyson knelt, pressing his hands to his knees as he carefully chose his words. “It’s just… A group of rogue trainers from the wilderness have banded together. They’re looting, attacking people, and even trying to break into our gym…”

“There’s just a little sand outside. A little sand!” Eldon’s voice rose, his restrained anger about to explode.

Without another word, he marched toward the gym’s entrance.

Eldon didn’t care what kind of nonsense that bastard Rose was stirring up in Stow-on-Side under the pretense of archaeology. But if this chaos was starting to interfere with his gym’s training—then he would personally put an end to it.

BANG!

The gym’s massive stone doors flew open with a single kick.

**

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Chapter Text

"Ooo~"

The wind howled like a ghost’s wail, carrying sand into the gym and lashing against Eldon's face.

Without needing a word, Dyson quickly pulled out a large gray cloak and draped it over the gym leader.

Eldon scanned the area outside. A group of yellow-cloaked figures darted past the entrance.

"They’re—" Dyson began, but before he could finish, the gym leader had already thrown a Poké Ball.

In a flash of light, a towering, four-armed Pokémon with pale blue skin appeared: Machamp.

"Machamp! Kill these filthy dogs!" Eldon's voice rang clear in Dyson's ears.

Out on the street, Machamp, possessing Gym-level strength, made quick work of the feeble humans. It didn't even need to use any moves. With brute strength alone, it grabbed each of the yellow-cloaked figures in its path and crushed their throats like twigs.

In just a few seconds, lifeless bodies lay sprawled in front of the gym entrance.

Dyson swallowed hard, his heart pounding. Then, Eldon's chilling voice whispered beside him.

"Dyson, clean up the bodies. There's a bigger one over there—I’ll take care of it myself.”

With that, Eldon, draped in his gray cloak, leaped forward alongside Machamp, heading straight for the massive Rhyperior in the distance.

……

Behind the rock-armored beast, Allister—still mounted on his Dusclops—narrowed his eyes.

"Someone’s coming," he muttered.

"Someone?" Shiro frowned. "Can you be more specific?"

"A Gym-level trainer," Allister said, his voice suddenly tense. "And he has a Gym-level Machamp.”

‘A Gym-level Pokémon?’ Shiro was taken aback. He couldn’t immediately guess who it might be.

If it were someone from Macro Cosmos they wouldn’t be alone. There would be a large group of uniformed personnel, making them easy to recognize.

If it were hunters looking to exploit the chaos… that didn’t add up either. A trainer at that level wouldn’t bother with something so low-profit and inefficient.

‘A Fighting-type Machamp... Could it be the Stow-on-Side Gym Leader?’ Shiro considered. ‘Maybe he sent his Pokémon ahead as a warning?’

Before he could make sense of it, Allister called out, "They’re almost here! Less than twenty meters! He’s going to attack!"

Shiro didn’t wait another second. It didn’t matter who it was. If they were approaching with hostile intent, they were the enemy.

"Fall back! Cover the other sides!" Shiro commanded his teammates. Then, he ordered his Pokémon, "Rhyperior, use Rock Tomb!"

Marvin and the others quickly retreated, while Shiro also moved back to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

Machamp, being a Fighting-type, had a natural advantage over Rhyperior’s Rock typing. And Rock-type moves would only deal half damage to it.

However, Shiro wasn’t aiming for damage. Rock Tomb had another effect: it slowed the target down. With the ongoing sandstorm already hindering movement, this would further slow the enemy down.

Shiro’s biggest concern was the opponent using superior mobility to outmaneuver his Pokémon. After all, Rhyperior wasn’t exactly quick-witted. It couldn’t respond smoothly or adjust its attacks on the fly like other Pokémon.

"Rhhhaaay!"

With a bellow, Rhyperior slammed the ground. The earth rumbled as massive rocks rose and crashed down around the incoming Machamp.

The four-armed fighter dodged every one of them with swift, practiced steps, untouched by the falling stone. But even so, it was now trapped inside the rocky terrain. The infused ground energy began to weigh it down, draining its speed.

Standing at the edge of the stone field, Eldon gave a sharp command.

"Machamp! Use Brick Break! Smash through all of the rocks!"

"Machaaamp!" the Pokémon roared as its muscles bulged. Years of training had hardened its body like stone. It gathered power in an instant, its right hand glowing with a deep reddish-brown light.

With one solid strike, it shattered the first boulder in its path, then charged forward.

Shiro couldn’t see clearly through the sandstorm, but he could tell from the sounds what was happening. His opponent was trying to break through by brute force.

He quickly ordered, "Rhyperior! Use Bulldoze!"

Following the command, Rhyperior lifted its heavy foot and slammed it down. Its massive body followed, shaking the ground.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The crashing impact quickly spread discomfort to Machamp. Combined with the slowing effect of the attack, Machamp's speed dropped further.

But Eldon didn’t care about any of that. All he wanted was to take down this oversized beast as fast as possible. He shouted again,

"Machamp! Close Combat! Knock it out in one hit!"

Even as Rhyperior was still stomping, Machamp suddenly surged forward. It shook off the tremors in a few quick steps and closed the gap.

Close Combat was a powerful Fighting-type move. It sacrificed defense for an all-out offensive, aiming to overpower the target in one strike.

Its power was especially deadly against Rhyperior, who was weak to Fighting-type moves. The damage would be immense. But Shiro never planned to let his Pokémon face Machamp head-on, not with such a disadvantage in type and speed.

This was a wild battle. There were no rules out here.

"Drakloak."

With his low call, Drakloak burst from his shadow like a ghostly serpent. It moved with eerie grace, cutting through the sandstorm.

Thanks to the cover of sand and its natural stealth, Machamp hadn’t noticed it at all. Its focus was still locked on the massive beast in front of it, waiting to deliver the final blow.

"Draaak!"

It wasn’t until the roar rang in its ears that Machamp turned its head. Just two meters away, it saw Drakloak rushing in from the side.

Before it could react, Drakloak—its body wrapped in pulsing Dragon energy—slammed into it.

The Dragon Rush landed clean. Machamp was launched off its feet, hurled into the air, and slammed into the rubble.

From behind, Eldon couldn’t see anything through the sand and rocks. He frowned, wondering why Machamp hadn’t taken Rhyperior down yet. There was no sound of a giant beast falling.

His doubt only grew when Machamp crawled out from the rubble in front of him. It was struggling, badly hurt, dragging itself with all four arms.

Eldon’s face fell as he saw the bloodied state of his Pokémon. He turned to run, but something stopped him in his tracks.

Staring him down, eyes narrowed in silence, was Drakloak.

"Elite-level—"

The gym leader didn’t finish the sentence. A thin, threadlike shadow wrapped around his mouth and froze his limbs in place.

As the rumbling from Rhyperior’s steps grew louder, Eldon shut his eyes in despair.

He couldn’t understand it. How could a group of ragtag wild trainers command an Elite-level Drakloak?

With that kind of power, why wouldn’t they just join Macro Cosmos and live comfortably? Why waste it all out here in the wild...

**

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Chapter Text

"This guy... attacked us without saying a word?"

Rhyperior halted in its tracks as Shiro stepped forward, positioning himself in front of the downed man. 

Marvin, Allister, and Nessa moved quickly to encircle the stranger, exchanging puzzled glances.

"Wait a second… isn’t this Eldon, the gym leader of Stow-on-Side?" Marvin reached out and tugged down the gray hood, revealing the man’s face.

He squinted to be sure. Crew cut, rough stubble, sunken cheeks, sallow complexion—there was no mistaking it. Marvin had seen him before. It was definitely Eldon.

Hearing his name, Eldon slowly opened his eyes and looked at the four people surrounding him.

"You… are you from the League?" he asked, voice trembling as he struggled to speak.

The other three remained silent and turned to look at Shiro. Although they were members of Macro Cosmos and should count as League personnel, in this situation it all came down to their words.

Shiro didn’t answer. Instead, he reached down and searched Eldon, pulling a set of Poké Balls from the man’s belt. With practiced ease, he found the one containing Machamp, and recalled the Pokémon into it. 

"Hmm, all Ultra Balls. And locked up tight too. Doesn’t look like any of these were trained by you personally," he remarked as he waved the Poké Ball in front of Eldon before pocketing it.

Marvin and the others had no objections, knowing these were Shiro's battle spoils.

"I…" Eldon’s face flushed with shame. He forced his voice into a whisper. "These Pokémon… they belonged to the previous gym leader. Please… sirs of the League, I beg you, show some mercy.”

Shiro only chuckled and didn’t say anything. He waved for Drakloak to take the restrained man toward Stow-on-Side Gym.

There was no doubt this man was the town’s gym leader—but the fight was over, and the spoils were his. If Shiro had been the one defeated, would Eldon have spared him?

"Shiro," Marvin muttered, leaning in close. "He’s the Gym Leader. And with things already like this… isn’t Bea supposed to be Allister’s opponent? Should we…”

He gestured with a slicing motion as if planning to wipe out everyone in the gym.

"Not a good idea," Shiro shook his head after a moment's thought. "Even with the sandstorm, it’s not chaotic enough to pull something like that off. Anyone with the ability to kill would be noticed instantly—”

"No! I don't mean to kill anyone!" Marvin protested urgently. "I just mean we should take Bea's Pokémon too. Without them, she can't participate in the Gym Challenge."

Shiro was momentarily stunned, realizing he was too focused on killing.

"Let’s check out the gym first," he finally said, steering the conversation away. "Once we understand the situation, we’ll decide. And besides, with Allister’s strength, we don’t need to go that far."

With their path clear, the group pressed forward through the raging sandstorm, escorting the bound Eldon back to Stow-on-Side Gym.

……

Meanwhile, at the Gym’s entrance.

After cleaning up the corpses left on the street, Dyson—who had originally meant to follow the gym leader—came scrambling back in a full-blown panic. Gasping for breath, he slammed on the doors, yelling for the people inside to open up. The moment the door cracked, he slipped in.

"It’s over... it’s all over..." Dyson collapsed against the door, his chest rising and falling rapidly. "Teacher, he—he..."

"What happened?" a few apprentices exchanged confused glances, not understanding the commotion.

Dyson tried to steady himself and stand, but his panic got the better of him—his hands slipped, and he crashed into one of them. Thankfully, the apprentice caught him before he could fall flat.

Tears welled in Dyson’s eyes as he recalled the scene—several wilderness trainers taking down Eldon with ease.

He couldn’t understand it. Their gym leader had an entire team of Gym-level Pokémon. How could he possibly lose to a few filthy outcasts scurrying around like rats?

And now, in this brutal weather, with no one left to protect them... how was the gym supposed to survive?

"I never should've let teacher leave..." Dyson sobbed. The big man clung to the apprentice who had caught him like a scared little girl, crying as he stumbled into the lounge.

His strange behavior left everyone confused. Unfortunately, Dyson was completely overwhelmed; no matter how they questioned him, he couldn’t explain what had happened.

"Miss Bea! Something terrible’s happened!" Dyson burst into the training ground, shouting toward Bea who was still in the middle of practice.

She had just kicked the sandbag in front of her. Bewildered, she dodged the returning bag and walked toward the panicked man tumbling across the field.

"What is it?" she asked.

Dyson dropped to his knees, stammering. "T-teacher ... he’s been taken hostage."

"What?" Bea grabbed his collar with both hands and yanked him up close. "What did you just say?"

"Teacher Eldon… he..."

Dyson hesitated and stuttered, struggling to get the words out. It took him a moment, but he finally managed to explain what had happened.

At the same time, a group of apprentices ran into the field, shouting over one another.

"Miss! There’s a trainer outside! He’s captured the Gym Leader!”

Amid the chaos, Bea shoved her way through the crowd with brute strength and marched out of the training ground into the lounge.

There, she saw four figures in cloaks and a floating Pokémon beside them—Drakloak, an Elite-level pseudo-legendary.

"Elite-level..." Bea’s eyes locked onto the creature as she muttered under her breath.

Shiro stepped forward, placing himself at the front. With one hand, he lifted the bound Eldon and spoke sharply. "This guy charged in without a word and tried to kill us. Doesn’t Stow-on-Side Gym have anything to say about that?"

Bea didn’t answer. Her eyes were fixed on her father wrapped in shadowy bindings. The proud, stern man she had always looked up to now hung his head in shame, unable to meet her gaze.

Shiro glanced around the lounge. The place was rugged and bare. For a gym said to have such a long history, it had nothing that showed it. Not even a single piece of fine décor or historic value.

Near the entrance to the training area, a group of apprentices huddled together, peeking out nervously. They were used to picking on weaker challengers, not facing threats like this.

Shiro sighed. He had hoped to find something valuable here, but it was a letdown.

If it had been regular people attacking, he wouldn’t have shown any mercy. But he couldn’t kill the Gym Leader of the town.

If Eldon died, even if the townsfolk didn’t know the truth, the League’s higher-ups definitely would. There’s no way they’d let someone like that enter the Gym Challenge. 

After all, the whole point of their special team’s mission was to make a name for themselves—not to pick up bad press before they even started.

So, Shiro took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Tell me what you have to say."

**

**

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Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Shiro and the others waited for what felt like an eternity at the edge of the vast desert. At last, they spotted Drakloak emerging from the swirling sandstorm, gliding swiftly toward them.

Almost at the same time, Allister’s Mimikyu poked its ragged head out from a hole in the ground.

"Did you see the company’s forces?" Shiro asked, gently stroking Drakloak’s neck.

“Draaak!”

The Pokémon raised one claw and pointed in a specific direction.

"Over there?" Shiro followed its gesture.

“Kloak!”

Drakloak nodded, then twisted around and slipped into his shadow. Even though Drakloak was powerful, flying through the sandstorm was still far too uncomfortable. It was much better hiding in Shiro’s shadow where it was cool and quiet.

Meanwhile, Allister continued questioning his Mimikyu. After a moment, he took out a Poké Ball and recalled it.

Marvin was the first to speak. "Hey, Allister, did that little thing of yours find anything?"

Allister turned slowly, his hollow white mask offering no expression. Without a word, he raised his hand and pointed to the small hole where Mimikyu had emerged.

Inside the dark hole, the sand was slowly writhing, almost like it was sinking.

"Quicksand?" Shiro was surprised. He moved closer to take a better look.

If the area they were in was full of quicksand, then getting across to reach the company’s outpost would be extremely difficult.

"No... it’s sinking too slowly," Shiro said as he scooped up a handful of sand and examined it carefully. "This looks more like something happened deep underground that’s affecting the surface. But..."

He frowned, uncertain. It looked like they could still walk through, but if they hit a spot where the ground had collapsed more severely, it could get dangerous fast.

Just then, Nessa stepped up beside him and said, "Let’s just go the way Drakloak pointed."

She then called over her Drednaw and gave its rocky, jagged head a confident pat. "Drednaw can tunnel underground and scout the way ahead."

"My Mr. Mime can freeze the sand instantly if it turns dangerous," Marvin added, walking over with his arms behind his head. He gestured to his wobbling Mr. Mime beside him.

As they spoke, Drednaw had already plunged into the ground, leaving behind a raised trail of sand that stretched forward—just wide enough for two people to walk side by side.

"We'll follow the trail,” Nessa explained. “If the path stops rising, it probably means Drednaw got caught in quicksand.”

Shiro didn’t waste time anymore. He stepped forward and recalled his Rhyperior, which had been standing silently near the rocky stairs.

"Let’s go," he said in a low voice. 

Seeing that Drednaw was moving quickly underground, he picked up his pace.

Marvin and Mr. Mime followed closely behind. The four of them didn't speak as they moved forward. Their only goal now was to cross the sandstorm and reach Macro Cosmos’s outpost as quickly as possible.

……

Elsewhere, somewhere deeper in the desert, behind a crumbling section of a wall, several tall, yellow-green tents stood tightly packed together, connected to the worn-down wall to keep them from being blown away by the strong winds.

Visibility was low in the storm, but the dark shapes of Macro Cosmos off-road vehicles were faintly visible in neat rows.

To the west of the encampment, a massive stone statue rose from the desert floor. 

Years of wind and sand had worn it down so much that its original form was nearly impossible to make out. Only the faint outline of a four-legged creature could be seen, resembling a blurred sphinx.

The base beneath the statue stood three meters high. A deep, shadowy crack had split open near its bottom, just wide enough for a person to pass through.

This opening led into the ancient ruins that the Macro Cosmos forces were currently exploring.

No one had returned from the ruins for an entire day.

……

Inside one of the tents.

Leon paced back and forth, his nerves clearly on edge. Suddenly, he turned and shouted, "Any updates at all?! Are the detection devices Team B5 brought still working or not?!”

The researchers in white coats continued clacking at their keyboards, eyes fixed on their monitors. No one responded.

Irritated, Leon stormed past them toward the communications station at the back of the tent. There, a staff member in a gray uniform sat slumped in his chair, pretending to work. The blinking red lights on the console were completely ignored.

"What are you doing?" Leon snapped, voice sharp. "Have you contacted the special mission squad yet?"

The man jolted upright, startled. He fumbled with the console, tapping at the buttons in a feeble attempt to look productive.

But Leon wasn’t fooled. The man’s fingers weren’t even touching the buttons. He was faking it.

Bang!

Leon slapped the console and walked away in frustration. He was sick of this. These people were driving him mad.

Ever since Chairman Rose had assigned him here, things had been nothing like he expected.

They had claimed that a wild Pokémon riot or some unexpected incident might occur, and that he was there to ensure safety. But after all these days, all he’d seen were growing sandstorms and vanishing company teams. Not a single trace of any wild Pokémon.

Leon slumped into a one-person sofa next to the researchers, hands clutching his head as he tried to figure out what to do next.

Right now, the most serious problem was the sandstorm.

It had already cut off travel and daily life between two major towns. If this went on, tens of thousands of people could be in danger.

Assuming Team B5 and the special mission squad had already perished in the storm, Leon knew that protecting the scientists in this tent was now his top priority.

Aside from the sandstorm and the wild Pokémon lurking in them, he had to be even more wary of the criminals hiding in Stow-on-Side. 

Those outlaws would do anything for money.

“But I have to find a way to stop the sandstorm…” Leon muttered to himself, forming a plan in his mind.

The source of the storm was still that damned ruin.

He could leave his strongest Pokémon behind to guard the tent, then head into the nearby underground ruins himself. On the way, he could search for Team B5 and try to figure out how to stop the storm.

"That’s it," Leon said under his breath, already standing. He turned to the obsessed researchers and asked, "Do you still have any data on Team B5?"

"Of course, Leon, but please don’t be hasty,” replied Hagrid, the bespectacled man nearest to him, turning to calm him. "I’m afraid we’ll need more—"

He stopped mid-sentence, hands frozen above the keyboard.

At the same time, every researcher stopped what they were doing. All of them looked around at each other in silence.

"What happened?" Leon asked, more confused than ever.

"Team B5 is completely out of contact," said a woman with short hair as she stood up from her chair. "Every detection device has been destroyed. No signal at all." She gestured toward the now-dark monitor. "We’re going to need someone to go into the ruins."

**

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Chapter Text

"Completely lost contact?"

Leon’s face tensed. Worry clouded his expression.

Still, he wasn’t too shocked. He had already expected something like this might happen. So instead of panicking, he focused on what mattered more—getting answers from the researchers who finally had a moment to spare.

He looked at the short-haired female researcher in front of him and asked, “Then tell me. What exactly have you all been working on? And where did these sandstorms come from?”

“The research… the sandstorms…” she muttered, gaze drifting as she spoke. “It’s a bit complicated.”

"Complicated?" Leon almost laughed out of frustration. He knew what Rose was like—always in a rush, always trying to get multiple results from a single plan.

He didn’t know the exact details of Rose’s plan this time, but one thing was clear: this wasn’t just another wild Pokémon riot. It was much bigger than that.

And what infuriated him most was how everyone seemed to be keeping something from him.

“It’s actually just a basic ruins exploration,” said Hagrid, adjusting his glasses. “But Squad B5 rushed the process and caused some unknown disturbance inside.”

Leon scoffed at that. Without offering a reply, he pushed aside the tent flap and stepped into the raging sandstorm.

Behind him, the researchers exchanged uncertain glances. Some broke off toward the communications station; others followed after Leon.

Outside, the howling wind slapped against the tent. The hanging curtains puffed and flapped loudly, blown around by the sand-laced gusts. Leon raised his arm to shield his face, silently cursing his decision not to wear a cloak or something with more coverage.

Rose had once brought in a professional designer to tailor clothes and poses for him, but Leon had rejected all those flashy ideas.

Especially that big, red cape with many Galar company logos printed on the back.

Everyone knew pretty much every company in Galar belonged to Macro Cosmos. The logos might look different, but they were all part of Rose’s empire.

And then there was that one-handed pose pointing to the sky...

Thinking about it now, Leon actually missed that ridiculous but thick and warm cape.

Pushing aside the useless thoughts, he reached down to his belt and pulled out a Poké Ball.

"Come on out, Charizard!"

"Chaaar!"

With a powerful roar, the orange, winged Pokémon shot into the sky. Its wings spread wide, nearly covering half the base from above. 

This Charizard was huge and well-trained. It was Leon's ace. Its strength was around the early Elite level, roughly level 51.

Compared to the undefeated Champion he would one day become, Leon still had a long way to go.

"Charizard! Scout the area from above. Check out what’s going on around here!" Leon shouted and stepped back into the tent.

"Zaard!"

Charizard let out another fiery growl, flames flickering from its mouth, then flew high into the air.

……

Meanwhile, a few hundred meters away from the base, Shiro and his group were still following the path Drednaw had carved through the desert.

"Chaaaarizaard!"

A thunderous dragon’s roar pierced through the wind and reached their ears.

"That sound..." Shiro squinted his eyes, murmuring.

Drakloak also emerged from his shadow, curiously looking up at the sky. It had been a while since it heard a roar from a fellow dragon of the same level, and it couldn’t help but feel a bit excited.

"Is that... Charizard? An Elite-level Charizard?" Shiro recognized the faint orange figure in the sky through the sand. The figure paused as if trying to identify them, then quickly flew away.

In this area, the person who could have such a powerful Charizard was most likely Leon.

“Looks like Leon’s just up ahead.” Shiro spoke as he quickened his pace.

After spotting Charizard, the group shifted from a fast walk to a light jog. Even Drednaw was pushed to move faster.

Before long, Shiro could vaguely make out the outline of a crumbling wall through the thick sandstorm. Beyond it, tall yellow-green tents swayed against the wind, their peaks visible above the ruin.

“This the place?” Marvin asked, glancing at Shiro. “No one’s come out to meet us?”

Shiro didn’t answer. His eyes scanned the surroundings. The off-road vehicles parked near the ruins sat empty. The whole camp looked oddly quiet.

Normally, before a sandstorm this intense rolled in, the company’s teams would have already organized defenses with their Pokémon. Ground- and Rock-types would raise stone walls, Ice-types would reinforce them, and psychic shielding devices would go up to protect the site.

With all that, even the worst sandstorms could be held off, turning a camp like this into a peaceful safe zone.

Then they'd relax, have a good meal, and only afterward start planning how to get into the ruins and stop the storm.

But now, the camp looked deserted.

‘Could Leon be the only one left?’ Shiro wondered. ‘Or maybe that Charizard was left to guard the site while he went into the ruins himself?’

Frowning, Shiro stepped past the ruined wall, entering the eerie quiet of the base.

The wall gave some shelter from the wind and sand, but not much. As Nessa and Marvin recalled their Drednaw and Mr. Mime, the group approached the largest tent at the center of the site.

The moment Shiro pulled back the flap, a storm of shouting hit him like a wave from a busy market.

“Who’s in charge of the comms unit?! It’s been broken forever, and still no one’s fixed it!”

"Why isn’t Leon making sure someone’s on it?!”

"I already asked all of you! Not one of you gave me an answer!”

"Calm down. It’s probably just the ruins’ magnetic field acting up. It’s not a big deal."

"We’re cut off from the outside world, and you say it’s not a big deal?!"

A bunch of researchers in white coats waved their arms while shouting over each other, all crowded around a black communication device that they were still trying to fix.

Amid the chaos, Leon stood off to the side, his white uniform dusted with sand. He looked tired, mildly annoyed, and only half-engaged in their bickering.

"Cooor!"

A sudden gust rushed through the tent as Shiro released Corvisquire. Its wings flapped once, sending the fabric walls rippling from end to end.

The researchers froze, stunned by the unexpected arrival.

Leon, on the other hand, looked a little surprised and walked over.

Without a word, Shiro pulled out his company-issued communicator, turned it to reveal the emblem on the back, and removed his metal face mask. Then, he raised his voice.

"Quiet, all of you! We’re the company’s special operations unit. We’ve safely arrived. Now, where’s your leader?”

Leon confirmed the badge and identity, then gave the group of frantic researchers a sidelong glance before replying.

“I’m Leon. You’ve probably heard of me. For now, I'm the one in charge here."

Shiro nodded and signaled for the three people still stuck at the tent entrance to come inside. 

Then he asked, “Where’s Team B5? Weren’t they supposed to be on par with A5 in terms of strength? Where are they now?”

Leon went silent, then turned to look at the researchers who had started gathering behind him.

**

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Chapter Text

If Shiro hadn't seen it for himself, he wouldn’t have believed a team under Macro Cosmos could be this disorganized.

The people inside the tent were a mess, like some amateurs thrown together last minute. They couldn’t even explain what was going on, let alone deal with the situation.

“I got here two days ago,” Leon sighed helplessly as he spoke. “B5 Squad was already missing by then. These people still haven’t told me what actually happened.”

Before now, he had been the only one here. Whatever he wanted to do, he had to think it through from every angle. And the researchers only knew how to say “wait a bit longer,” which left him stuck and increasingly frustrated.

Now that four new trainers had arrived—and they looked way more reliable than these people in white coats—Leon finally felt some relief.

Hearing that, Shiro walked straight toward the researchers who were standing in a loose semicircle. He hadn’t even said a word yet when they started shouting over each other.

“Hurry! The research is at a critical stage! You can take the place of the missing team and go in again!”

“Yes, exactly! This is a project personally approved by Chairman Rose! You’re assigned to this too, right?”

“We still have plenty of scanning equipment. If you just follow B5’s route for another few hours or so—”

“Shut up,” Shiro said flatly. When the noise didn’t stop, he gave a look to Corvisquire beside him. The bird flapped its wings hard, sending a blast of wind that immediately silenced the group.

Whooosh—

The sudden cold gust kept them quiet for a moment, but one short-haired woman pointed at Shiro and snapped, “Are you seriously going to attack us? If you lay a hand on me, I swear—”

Smack!

Shiro knocked her arm away with a single, forceful strike. She stumbled backward, clutching her arm with a groan.

“Allister,” he called out, glancing at the boy riding Dusclops next to him. “Shut them up.”

“Okay,” Allister replied softly. He raised his hand, and Dusclops stirred.

Dark shadows stretched from beneath the Ghost-type. As two researchers helped the injured woman to her feet, several others stepped forward to protest—but before they could even raise their voice, shadowy bandages shot up from the ground and wrapped tightly around their limbs.

Dusclops’s body was surrounded by gray-white bandages. It floated forward slowly with arms outstretched, mouth open, and its single red eye flashing with an eerie light.

A tall researcher with brown hair panicked and shouted, “What do you think you’re doing?! Are you even with the League?! You’re not really—”

Before he could finish, the bandages wrapped around his mouth. More strips followed, quickly turning him into something close to a mummy. He squirmed inside the wrapping, muffled groans escaping as he struggled.

The rest of the group fell silent. Fear filled their eyes as they stared at Shiro and his team.

"Now then, everyone," Shiro said slowly as he took a deep breath. "I don’t want to waste time. So, I ask and you answer. Understood?"

“Y-yes! Yes...!”

The researchers all nodded wildly, panic written all over their faces. They had pride, sure, but they weren’t stupid. They knew when to fold.

Shiro glanced around. There were seven people in white coats, plus one man in a gray uniform, fast asleep in the back corner of the tent.

Once he had a rough idea of who was who, he looked over their faces and asked, "What happened to the B5 Squad?"

As soon as the voice fell, the researchers exchanged nervous looks. Eventually, the bespectacled man Hagrid stammered, "They... might all be dead..."

Seeing him struggle to get the words out, Shiro growled, "Be more specific!"

Hagrid flinched and quickly started explaining.

The B5 Squad had actually entered the ruins four days ago and hadn’t come back since. 

These ruins had already been confirmed to be the remains of the kingdom once established by the heroes of Sword and Shield.

There were many legends about the Sword and Shield across Galar. The stories varied, but nearly everyone had heard of them.

According to the myth, three thousand years ago, a mysterious Pokémon known as Eternatus fell from the sky, radiating a red glow. Its arrival triggered a massive catastrophe. A swirling black storm, later called the Darkest Day, swept across the region. The chaotic energy from Eternatus caused wild Dynamax phenomena, throwing Galar into chaos. It became the darkest time for the people. 

Just when things looked hopeless, two heroes wielding a sword and shield appeared and managed to repel the darkness, saving Galar.

But as for who those heroes were, some said they were two people. Others believed it was a single person who held both sword and shield. Some even claimed it wasn’t people at all.

"It was two Pokémon! The heroes of Sword and Shield were two Pokémon!" Hagrid’s whole body shook as he shouted, overwhelmed with excitement. "Two canine Pokémon! They held the sword and shield in their mouths and defeated Eternatus!"

He blurted it all out in one breath, then gasped heavily as the other researchers chimed in with more details.

The ruins beneath the desert were massive, home to many rare Pokémon that lived in tight-knit groups. To explore the place, the team had to drive them away.

But when their homes were destroyed or their family members captured by hunting squads, the Pokémon naturally became furious.

Most of them were Rock or Ground-types. They had fled to the far western edge of the desert and used Sandstorm attacks, letting the sea breeze carry the sand.

"So that’s where the sandstorm came from..." Leon muttered as he listened from nearby. "That’s the so-called Pokémon riot."

Unable to hold back anymore, he stepped forward and grabbed Hagrid by the collar and yelled, "Why didn’t you say this earlier?!”

"I...” the man mumbled and lowered his head.

If Leon had gone earlier, he likely would have driven the Pokémon back underground. But doing that would have affected the B5 unit still exploring inside.

Leon’s face twitched with frustration, but in the end, he let Hagrid go.

"Then what’s the current situation with the B5 Squad?" Shiro continued questioning.

"The B5 members..." Hagrid furrowed his brow. "They saw the shadows of those two canine Pokémon. Then they just... lost contact."

'They saw shadows?’ Shiro’s heart tightened. He knew which Pokémon they were talking about—Zacian and Zamazenta.

He didn’t know what level those legendary Pokémon would be. But the B5 Squad had at least three Gym-level trainers and captain Gareth himself, who commanded an Elite-level Rillaboom.

This team wasn’t just strong—it was one of the best units Macro Cosmos had. And yet, just after seeing shadows of those two Pokémon, they completely lost the ability to fight?

‘Zacian and Zamazenta… what level were they? Beyond Champion? Master?’

Shiro couldn’t even imagine.

If the real Sword and Shield dogs were here, it might not matter who came.

"There are a lot of ancient murals in the ruins. We've been taking pictures and copying everything to store it," Hagrid continued slowly. "The last thing B5 saw was a decayed wooden sword and a tattered wooden shield… placed on a strange platform."

**

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Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Shiro and the others continued down the rocky tunnel, covering several hundred meters at a brisk pace. Compared to the earlier descent, the walk now felt short and efficient.

As they moved deeper underground, the walls around them began to change color—shifting gradually from a dull brownish-yellow to pale yellow. Strange patterns appeared along the stone surfaces.

At first, they were faint and scattered, but the further they went, the more vivid and intricate they became. Eventually, entire murals emerged, stretching across the walls like ancient tapestries.

‘So these are the murals from that old kingdom or whatever,’ Shiro thought. He gave them only a cursory glance before refocusing on the path ahead. Stopping to admire ancient art wasn’t on his agenda.

Suddenly, Marvin hurried up from behind, whispering, “Shiro, did you hear something?”

“A sound?” Shiro glanced sideways at him. Marvin looked uneasy, shifting his eyes around the tunnel. “What kind of sound?”

“It was... a woman singing. Kinda nice, actually,” Marvin replied, keeping his voice low. He kept looking at the walls, as if expecting to see a woman emerge from the stone itself. If they were in a city—or even just out in the wild—he wouldn’t have found the singing strange. But hearing something like that deep underground in a cave?

"It’s definitely some kind of Pokémon," Shiro said firmly as he kept walking. In a world of Pokémon, whenever something strange happened, it was almost always related to one. Even so-called supernatural events usually had a Pokémon behind them.

If that was the case, then there was no reason to be scared. In fact, Shiro could vaguely hear the singing too. It was beautiful. But he didn’t give it much attention and focused on the path ahead.

"Shiro…" Marvin muttered, his voice shaky. "You sure there aren’t ghosts here? The researchers said this place used to be part of an ancient kingdom. There could be a bunch of dead singers buried down here or something…”

Shiro let out a quiet sigh. "Stop overthinking. I already told you, it’s probably a Pokémon. Could be a Flygon or something."

“Gaaass!”

Up ahead, Gastly came to a sudden halt, causing Dreepy to stop too. Both Pokémon started floating around nervously.

"What’s going on?" Shiro rushed forward, lifting his flashlight to illuminate the area. The beam swept across the path—then froze.

A dozen or so round orange heads lay scattered across the ground, stained with dark red liquid. Pieces of torn bodies with limbs had been deliberately tossed over the heads, like someone had cut them up after killing them.

"These Pokémon..." Shiro studied them. "They’re Trapinch."

Trapinch had oversized, rounded heads that seemed too big for their bodies. Each one had massive jaws, orange armor, and four short legs. They usually hid in cone-shaped burrows, waiting for prey. Once they bit down, they never let go.

"This is human blood," Shiro said quietly as he carefully moved a few Trapinch aside. Beneath them were several sunken holes—small tunnels that must have been their nests.

It looked like the B5 scouting team had accidentally stepped on them. Their own Pokémon likely missed the signs, and the Trapinch retaliated.

Shiro noticed bits of red-and-white flesh still lodged between the jaws of some of the dead Pokémon. 

"Ugh..." Marvin groaned and took out a collapsible alloy stick from his backpack. Using it, he began to push aside the Pokémon and human remains littered across the ground.

Shiro stopped at the edge of the small nests and didn’t move forward. Instead, he called Gastly and Dreepy over, ordering them to search each nest and check if any Trapinch were still buried deeper underground.

If they got bitten again, it’d be the same mistake all over.

Looking at the thick jaws and razor-sharp teeth of the dead Trapinch, Shiro couldn’t help but feel a flicker of fear. One bite from those things could probably leave a person crippled.

Behind him, Nessa instinctively covered her mouth at the sight, but quickly composed herself and pulled out a Poké Ball.

“Come out, Drednaw!”

The bulky, armored Pokémon emerged in a flash. The width of the tunnel was just enough for it to lead the way.

With its rocky, horn-like snout, Drednaw burrowed into the ground and started digging forward, tearing through the path ahead with brute force.

There was no need for Gastly and Dreepy to waste time searching. Before long, Drednaw unearthed two more Trapinch that had been asleep underground. Still dazed, the two Pokémon opened their eyes in confusion.

Startled, Gastly and Dreepy reacted on instinct, both launching the strongest moves they could. Two Shadow Balls hit their mark, sending the Advanced-level Trapinch tumbling backward. 

Despite its unimpressive appearance and early-stage Ground typing, Trapinch belonged to a lineage of Dragon-type Pokémon. Its first evolution, Vibrava, was Ground/Dragon, and so was its final evolution—Flygon. 

Before Garchomp entered the picture, Flygon had been considered the original dragon of the desert. And in the Pokémon world, any Dragon-type line had huge potential. 

Even a Trapinch with average talent could, upon fully evolving, reach Gym-level strength. The ones they encountered now looked like they were close to evolving. The attacks from the two Ghost-types barely did any real damage.

"Drakloak!" Shiro called out sharply as the two Pokémon began to recover.

From his shadow, Drakloak shot forward. In a blur, its glowing tail swept across the tunnel. With a single strike, it slammed both Trapinch into the rocky wall. They bounced off and hit the ground, knocked unconscious.

Shiro pulled out two Poké Balls and casually captured them, then continued forward.

None of the others—Marvin, Nessa, or Allister—specialized in Ground or Dragon types, so they weren’t interested in the Pokémon.

Shiro, on the other hand, was thinking it wouldn’t be bad to train one. His team still wasn’t full, and an Advanced-level Trapinch could help fill the gap. Once they were back at headquarters, he’d get them both appraised on the black market. If one showed promise, he’d train it. If not, he’d sell it off.

With Drednaw clearing the way, the group pressed forward. The murals ahead grew more detailed and colorful. At the same time, the number of corpses along the way increased.

Common Ground-types like Hippopotas and Sandshrew lay scattered, their bodies torn and broken. Team B5 had clearly shown no mercy, killing every wild Pokémon they encountered.

If it weren’t for the trails of blood in some spots, Shiro might not have realized there had been a battle here. Many of the corpses had clearly been removed to keep the path clear.

Even so, what remained was disturbing enough to make Marvin consider quitting the mission entirely.

"Shiro…what if that sword-and-shield ‘hero’ or whatever set this all up just to lure us in and kill us?” he muttered as he kicked aside a Stunfisk carcass. "Feels like this whole place is haunted with Pokémon ghosts.”

"There are no ghosts. If you don’t believe me, ask Allister," Shiro replied offhandedly while checking the map and picking out their route.

From behind them, Allister spoke in his usual quiet tone. “There are indeed no ghosts here.”

Marvin breathed a sigh of relief.

"But," the masked boy added softly, "there are ghosts up ahead."

A deep hum echoed through the tunnel.

As if on cue, Drednaw came to a sudden stop. Nessa instinctively stepped back and turned to Allister, eyes wide with alarm.

**

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Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:

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Your support means a lot, thank you!

Chapter Text

"Gaasss..."

"Dree..."

Shiro hugged the trembling Gastly and Dreepy in his arms. At the same time, Draklaok floated up beside him, baring its fangs and releasing a sharp growl toward the dark tunnel ahead.

“Draaaa!”

The path in front of them was completely shrouded in darkness, a thick, unmoving shadow that seemed to swallow everything whole.

Shiro's expression tensed. He could tell there was a Ghost-type Pokémon up ahead. Its presence felt unfriendly, and it was strong enough that even Draklaok didn’t rush in to strike.

As the standoff continued, Nessa noticed her Drednaw had stopped moving. Worried, she quickly recalled it into its Poké Ball, then held the ball under her flashlight to check its status.

"It's just asleep..." she murmured, letting out a breath of relief.

Hearing that, Shiro cautiously stepped forward as his two Pokémon hid inside his shadow. The Ghost-type on the other side didn’t seem truly hostile. It hadn’t made any move to attack them.

He raised his flashlight and aimed it into the darkness, trying to get a clearer view. But no matter how bright the beam, the shadows seemed to devour the light. Nothing became visible.

Then, as if sensing his approach, a hoarse and struggling voice came from within the blackness.

"No... don’t come closer... bad Pokémon... ahead..."

'What does that mean?' Shiro stopped in his tracks. He couldn’t figure out what the creature was trying to say.

They were humans, and behind them were piles of Pokémon corpses. Why would a Ghost-type be this kind, even warning them about something dangerous ahead?

According to mission records, the B5 unit had spent days exploring these cave ruins. They’d been ambushed, fought, and slowly pushed forward. But Shiro and his team reached this place in under an hour.

The map showed that B5 had vanished in the crystal cavern just in front.

Suddenly, Allister, who had been silent until now, spoke up with uncertainty in his voice.

"I think... it’s a Sableye."

"Sableye..." Shiro repeated softly, as the shadow slowly began to reveal its shape. The darkness stopped absorbing the light, and deep purple skin came into view, jagged and angular. 

Sableye. A species known to dwell in underground caves, digging endlessly and feeding on gems.

This one in particular had already reached Elite-level, around level 52. It must’ve lived here for many years, feeding off the minerals underground.

Its gem-like eyes flickered with a dim, eerie blue light. The small, hunched figure stared silently at Shiro, then slowly raised a claw as it spoke again, its voice raw and broken.

"You... killed many humans. You... good. Behind... Pokémon... stopped me from killing... bad Pokémon. You must… not go…”

Shiro glanced at Marvin behind him. The two exchanged looks, both stunned by what they’d just heard.

So he was a good person... because he’d killed a lot of people? And the Pokémon up ahead were bad because they stopped this Sableye from killing? 

It was a twisted logic based on the idea that everyone was bad by default, but strangely enough, it matched everything they’d encountered in these ruins so far.

Shiro still believed he was different from the B5 squad that killed without restraint. If it were up to him, he'd try to catch and sell Pokémon for profit, not just slaughter them all.

And in this bizarre setup, Sableye had mistaken him for an ally.

'It said a Pokémon stopped it from killing...' Shiro fell deep into thought.

That line was interesting. It meant two things. First, there were still survivors up ahead. Second, there was a Pokémon protecting them.

Even knowing how awful these people were, some Pokémon still chose to protect them. Based on what they knew, it was likely Zacian or Zamazenta. Shiro couldn’t guess why they trapped the B5 squad here without killing them.

In contrast, the Sableye in front of them might actually be the biggest obstacle in this whole mission.

"You... should go back. I will... think of a way... to kill everyone inside." Sableye spoke in a broken voice that left Shiro and the others briefly at a loss.

They were deep underground. Forcing their way past the Ghost-type could easily trigger a collapse. But it was telling them to leave, and their goal was to bring the B5 squad out of here.

'An Elite-level Sableye... Ghost and Dark-type...' Shiro thought about whether he could launch a sneak attack and take it out. In this era, without Fairy types, Ghost and Dark had no real weaknesses.

It was going to be tough.

Just then, Marvin quietly came over to his side and whispered, "Shiro... are we leaving or...?"

He glanced at Sableye. The meaning was clear. Shiro understood he was thinking about pushing through by force too, but now wasn’t the right time.

After a moment of thought, he made a decision. He turned to the Ghost-type and said, “Sableye, the Pokémon inside... they’re the ones stopping you from killing, right?”

“Yes... that’s right,” Sableye replied with a rough nod.

"Then maybe if we go in and do the killing, they won’t stop us? And since those Pokémon are protecting humans, it means we probably won't be in any danger either."

Shiro chose his words carefully, guiding the conversation, nudging the creature toward cooperation. Sableye’s eyes glinted faintly as it listened.

“So let us go in and give it a try. We’re on the same side after all. I want to wipe those people out too.”

For a moment, the place was silent. Then, without a word, Sableye stepped aside. It raised one claw and pointed down the tunnel.

“Then... go ahead. I’ll... stay here... and guard.”

Shiro glanced back at Marvin and the others, silently asking if they were coming.

“Let’s go. Doesn’t look too dangerous inside anyway. Honestly, I'd be more scared staying out here," Marvin said as he swaggered right past Sableye and walked toward the crystal cave.

Seeing this, Nessa and Allister followed behind quietly. Shiro took one last look at the Ghost-type, making sure it wasn’t about to launch a sneak attack, then entered last.

Sableye stayed right where it was, its glowing gem-eyes following their every step.

The four of them passed through a winding tunnel about five meters long before entering a massive inner chamber.

Jagged, crystalline structures—bright blue and sharp like frozen plants—covered the cavern. A radiant blue glow bathed everything in eerie light. Along the walls, faded murals and crumbling stone revealed that this had once been a palace’s grand hall.

"...What is this place?" Marvin, who’d entered first, froze in awe, completely speechless.

Nessa gazed dreamily at the blue crystals near the walls, reaching out to touch one—only to have someone grab her hand.

"Careful. The crystals might be dangerous."

She blinked and looked over. It was Shiro, motioning toward the front with a tilt of his chin. They stood on a rocky ledge near the edge of the hall. Below them stretched a wide, sunken floor blanketed in glowing blue crystals.

And scattered among the crystal-covered ground were the members of the B5 squad, all wearing Macro Cosmos uniforms, lying in disarray.

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"Those are..." Nessa muttered, dazed for a second before quickly snapping out of it.

At the same time, Shiro reached out and grabbed Marvin’s shoulder just as the boy was about to step toward the crystal-covered field.

"These blue crystals might have some kind of hypnotic effect,” he warned in a low voice. "Be careful. Don’t stare at them."

Marvin shuddered and hurriedly backed away, moving to stand beside Allister and his Pokémon.

The masked boy, who sat steadily on top of his Dusclops, didn’t seem affected. Instead, he kept scanning the area from his elevated position. Soon, he raised a hand and pointed toward a distant platform.

"There seems to be something over there."

Shiro rose on his toes to try and see, but the crystals blocked his view. Just then, Gastly and Dreepy emerged one after the other from his shadow.

"Gaasss!"

Gastly let out an excited cry, spinning a few fiery loops in the air as its black, round body flared with ghostly flames. Then, it floated higher and began drifting forward to scout the area.

Dreepy also lifted its body and looked around with curiosity before following after Gastly.

Shiro didn’t stop them. He actually wanted his Pokémon to check out what was down there, to see if anything or anyone was still alive among the crystals.

Gastly soon reached the edge of the platform and the end of the crystal field. There, it spotted a bronze-colored cylinder shaped like an altar. Two carved slots rested at the top—one shaped like a sword, the other like a shield.

Wooden replicas of the weapons sat within the slots. But the props were worn and nearly rotted, their surfaces splintered and fragile, as if they’d crumble at the lightest touch.

Gastly hovered back and forth above them in confusion. But infected by Shiro’s cautious mentality, it didn’t try to touch anything. It turned around, ready to go back and report its findings. 

"Dreeep!"

But Dreepy didn’t feel the same.

Curious and energetic as always, the young Dragon-type was drawn in by the objects. From its perspective, they looked like harmless wooden toys.

Flying above the sword, Dreepy wrapped its tail around the handle.

"Dreee~"

The instant it lifted it off the altar, a wave of weakness hit its body. A heavy, irresistible drowsiness washed over it.

Thump.

Its bluish tail loosened instinctively. The sword slipped free and fell with a light clatter beside the pedestal. Dreepy collapsed next to it, fast asleep.

"Gaaas!"

Gastly turned and saw what happened. Shock ran through its whole body, making its ghost flames shoot up higher. It looked toward Shiro, then down at Dreepy, hesitating—should it report first or help?

Thinking about how everyone might give it judging looks if it returned alone, Gastly made up its mind.

Seeing Dreepy sleeping peacefully, the Ghost-type crept lower. After checking the area to make sure no people or Pokémon were nearby, it rushed forward, wrapped Dreepy in its ghostly energy, and began heading back.

"Gaa..."

Suddenly, a wave of exhaustion hit Gastly hard. It felt like it had just finished a full day of training without rest or food.

"...ssstly…"

Its body drooped, and before it could reach safety, it fell directly into the crystal field and drifted into unconsciousness.

“What’s going on?” Shiro muttered. He’d been watching carefully and saw Gastly collapse midair.

There were no attacks, no moves, no signs of any human device or sound. Yet just like the B5 members scattered throughout the crystal field, it passed out without warning.

Before he could make sense of it, Drakloak shot out from his shadow. It zipped back and forth in panic, circling Shiro frantically.

Gastly was one thing, but Dreepy was still in there too!

“Alright, I get it. Don’t worry.” Shiro gently stroked Drakloak’s slender body, soothing the agitated dragon with a soft voice.

The Dragapult line, known for fiercely protecting their young, grew anxious when separated from them, and Drakloak was no exception.

Shiro knew he had to go down himself.

“Allister,” he called out, signaling for Dusclops to wrap its bandage around his arm. “I’m heading down. If I pass out, pull me back up.”

Seeing the boy nod silently, Shiro turned to Marvin and Nessa with a final word of caution.

“Stay alert. Especially for any sudden wild Pokémon appearances.”

Marvin nodded solemnly. He understood the warning; it was about the Sableye near the cave’s entrance. If that creature took advantage of the situation and made its move, it could bring the entire cave crashing down. And if that happened, none of them would survive.

Without wasting another second, Shiro gripped Dusclops’s bandage and descended.

The stone staircase carved into the cave floor was jagged and crude, as if hastily constructed. From above, the crystals hadn’t seemed so overwhelming. But now that he was walking among them, Shiro felt as if he had stepped into a forest of glowing blue glass.

These crystals were strangely translucent, almost as if water might drip from them at any moment. Each one towered over two meters, some reaching five or six meters tall.

Shiro moved quietly, a small figure winding through a sea of shimmering blue. Twisting paths took him deeper and deeper, until he vanished into the crystal forest.

“Draaak!”

Drakloak hovered close, circling him anxiously while pointing the way forward.

Although there were no signs of any living creatures, Drakloak could feel two powerful presences lurking in the cave. It was like something was silently watching them from the shadows. 

Shiro, however, sensed none of it. Focused, he pressed forward, stepping over fallen B5 members one by one as he advanced.

It didn’t take long before he came across the slumbering Gastly and Dreepy, lying in the narrow path between two glowing blue crystals.

“Klooak!”

Drakloak rushed forward, gently grabbed Dreepy in his mouth, and darted back into Shiro’s shadow. Then, it peeked out again to scout their surroundings.

Meanwhile, Shiro pulled out a Poké Ball and recalled Gastly from a distance.

“…Whew.” A quiet sigh of relief escaped his lips. He was about to head back when—

“Human…”

A low, distant voice drifted through the air.

Shiro froze. He looked around instinctively. But there was no one there—no Pokémon, no person. Just the dazzling, shimmering crystals all around him.

“Human…”

The voice echoed again.

He scanned the cavern once more, then rubbed his temples and chose to ignore it. He turned and began retreating.

He figured it had to be Zacian or Zamazenta playing tricks, but without knowing their true intent, there was no use trying to communicate.

The best plan now was to get the B5 members out, neutralize the Sableye at the cave entrance, and escape.

“HUMAN!”

The voice suddenly surged in volume—sharp and commanding.

As Shiro kept walking, the path and the blue crystals around him suddenly began to spin. His body lost all balance and dropped downward uncontrollably. 

He watched himself fall, unable to stop it. His eyelids grew heavy and slowly shut.

In the midst of darkness, an image slowly formed before his eyes—Zacian. 

The majestic blue-furred wolf, standing tall with glowing eyes, spoke slowly.

"Only those who complete the trial may take the Sword and the Shield.”

......

Back on the ledge above, Marvin, Nessa, and Allister also staggered. One by one, they collapsed, succumbing to the same mysterious force.

At the entrance of the cave, a pair of gemstone eyes blinked faintly in the dark, glowing softly with an eerie blue light.

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Chapter Text

"Spare me! Please, spare me!"

The waiter, pinned against the counter, begged for his life. His legs trembled so violently he looked moments away from collapsing in pure terror. Shiro had drawn a short, gleaming blade, and the glint alone nearly made the man faint.

"Talk," Shiro said coldly. "How do I get out of here?"

"Go... go where?" the waiter stammered, still feigning confusion as he pointed shakily toward the café entrance. "The door’s right there…”

Shlick!

The blade pierced clean through the man’s arm, driving deep into the solid wood beneath. His face twisted in pain, turning ghostly pale as he clenched his jaw to hold back a scream.

Shiro yanked the knife free and studied the blood on the blade. Then he asked again calmly, without a trace of mercy.

"How do I get back to the real world? Are you talking or not?"

"You... you know this isn’t real?" the man whispered, his voice trembling. He tried to struggle free, but quickly gave up—his attacker's strength was far beyond his own.

Shiro wiped the blade clean on the man’s black vest and said flatly, "What a joke. I can’t even walk out of a shadow. There’s no one here but you. That so-called menu looks like a flea market handout... and that ‘real leather’ sofa back there, the farthest one didn’t even load properly. Glitched out, didn’t it?"

He leaned in, eyes narrowing. "You really thought I wouldn’t notice? You take me for some baby Pokémon that follows people around just because they toss it food?"

"Gro... growwl..."

The waiter hadn’t replied yet, but the little Growlithe beside him let out a soft whimper and wagged its tail, clearly feeling targeted by the remark.

Shiro glanced down at the dog, then ignored it, and pressed the knife to the man’s forehead. If this guy didn’t start talking soon, he’d crack his skull open to see what was really inside.

"Wait, wait!" the man cried, the cold metal against his skin finally breaking his nerves. Given how rough Shiro had already been, he had every reason to panic. If he died here, there would be no one to hear his screams.

"It’s just..." The waiter hesitated, catching the deadly look in Shiro’s eyes. He sighed in defeat. "There are too many people inside, and the illusions still need to be maintained. The energy from Lord Zacian and Lord Zamazenta isn’t enough..."

"And?" Shiro pressed. "How do I get out?”

The man didn’t answer.

Instead, his body began to shift. His skin rippled, his limbs shrank, and within seconds, he had transformed into a small, impish creature with a round head—Impidimp.

The Pokémon looked just like the mischievous gremlins from old storybooks. Its limbs were skinny, its face was pink, and its wide mouth revealed a purple tongue and two sharp fangs.

"Oh?" Shiro muttered. He started to get the picture, but more questions rose. "You’ve got Fairy energy on you. Where did that come from?"

Right now, with Xerneas still in slumber, most Fairy-types should still be dormant. Impidimp may be a Dark/Fairy dual-type in the future, but at this point in time, it should be Dark-type only.

"It’s Lord Zacian’s power..." Impidimp spoke in a cautious whisper. A strange fear twisted in its chest as it looked up at the human who seemed to know far too much.

What made it even more uneasy was that, despite being a Beginner-level Pokémon, its body couldn’t match the human’s strength at all. It had no power to resist him.

"Mm..." Shiro nodded slowly, tapping Impidimp’s cheek with the back of his blade. Corvisquire on his shoulder kept its sharp gaze locked on the creature, ready to strike if it made a move.

"How do I leave?" Shiro demanded again. "Last chance."

Impidimp looked at him, then at the unfriendly stare from the bird on his shoulder. It let out a helpless sigh and muttered, "You passed. You made it through the trial... Is that good enough?"

The moment those words left its mouth, everything around them collapsed in an instant.

The café shattered like a puzzle smashed by a giant hammer, its fragments plunging into a dark abyss. The street outside vanished into a blur, replaced by that same blindingly white world from before.

The giant, blue-furred hound appeared once more. With an odd, almost helpless look in its eyes, it silently watched as Shiro's body slowly returned to the real world.

Originally, the illusion was supposed to erase a few memories. But Shiro had forced himself to stay conscious until all three of his teammates had collapsed, refusing to close his eyes until the very end. When Zacian tried to rewrite his memories, it realized the process would be more trouble than it was worth. Somehow, two entirely separate memory sets existed within this human’s mind.

How had someone like this even been approved to exist by Arceus?

Zacian didn’t understand. In the end, it gave up and simply accepted it.

Whatever the case, Arceus always had its reasons.

……

Underground crystal cave.

Surrounded by glowing blue crystal trees, Shiro slowly forced his eyes open.

His head felt like a string pulled too tight, forcing him out of the lingering sleepiness. He clenched his jaw and pushed himself up, sitting upright with effort.

"Ha... ha..."

He breathed hard, finally back to full awareness. The bandages wrapped around his arm fell away as he stood. Around him, the B5 members lay scattered in their gray uniforms, still unconscious.

A familiar voice rang out.

"Draaak!"

Drakloak appeared midair. It zipped around him twice at high speed, confirming he was okay, then stretched out its neck and cried toward the blue crystal forest.

Shiro followed its gaze. There, he spotted the Sableye that had been outside the cave earlier. Now, it lay motionless on the ground like it had also fallen into the illusion and passed out.

But behind it, a long trail of blood stretched across the floor. Its claws were soaked in red.

'It killed people!'

Shiro’s eyes sharpened. He sprinted for the cave entrance, but Drakloak grabbed him mid-run and lifted him into the air, speeding through the crystal forest.

Looking down, he followed the bright red trail of blood. Along the path, every B5 member they passed had a gaping wound in their chest.

All of them were dead.

Shiro’s expression grew darker. He was worried about Marvin and the others.

As Drakloak landed on a high slope at the cave entrance, Shiro rushed forward and saw that the three of them didn’t have any blood on their chests. He let out a breath of relief.

He grabbed Marvin and shook him hard a few times. No response. He placed two fingers under his nose.

"Still alive," Shiro muttered, letting go and dropping Marvin back down. He moved to Nessa and checked her too. She was also breathing.

Then there was Allister. His Dusclops had collapsed as well, and the masked boy lay quietly in its arms.

"No need to check this one," Shiro said as he waved Drakloak over. They took off again toward the blue crystal forest.

He remembered what was hidden deep inside—the decayed sword and shield, legendary relics of Zacian and Zamazenta. Just holding them in their mouths could trigger their transformation into the Crowned Sword and Crowned Shield forms.

"Wooden sword and shield," Shiro mumbled as he spotted the dark bronze altar at the far end, along with familiar indentations for both relics.

He was just wondering why the sword slot was empty when Drakloak suddenly descended. Out of the corner of his eye, Shiro noticed the wooden sword lying on the ground nearby.

Hovering above, he reached for the wooden shield, but stopped himself.

He had already broken free of the illusion once. It was unlikely he’d fall into it again. Still, caution was necessary. Touching the relics might not only trigger a response from within him… it might also awaken the others.

Especially that Sableye still lying in the crystal forest.

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Chapter Text