Yuan County had descended into chaos, with a massive crowd fleeing in panic. Although government officials were organizing evacuation efforts, their numbers fell short of what was needed to control a population nearing two million.
Riots broke out in parts of town, with some people smashing store windows and looting whatever they could find.
As the looting began, more people followed suit, creating a situation that was difficult to control.
While some bystanders tried to intervene, their efforts were overwhelmed by the scale of the disorder.
At Yuan County No. 1 Middle School, the principal was rallying the school's Trainer Teachers to head toward the No. 36 intermediate-level secret realm. With only eight professional Trainers on staff, their resources were stretched thin.
"Where's Teacher Brad?"
The principal asked, noticing the strongest trainer—who happened to be a pseudo-Elite—was missing.
"Hurry up and contact Teacher Brad," the principal said urgently.
A teacher said hesitantly, "Brad… he's already gone."
The principal nodded.
"Gone? Then he's already at the secret realm. Teacher Brad is a pseudo-Elite Trainer and takes his responsibility seriously."
"No," the teacher corrected, "he went south."
The room fell silent.
The secret realm riot was in north, yet Brad had gone south and was unreachable. Now, everyone understood where their pseudo-Elite had gone: he'd deserted them.
"Deserter, that guy turned out to be a deserter."
The principal spat in disgust. "That gold-plated slacker is completely unreliable! It makes sense, He was only here for appearances—otherwise, why would a pseudo-Elite come to teach at a county school?"
Setting aside his frustration, the principal addressed the remaining trainers.
"Forget the deserter. Let's move out quickly. If anyone wishes to leave, I won't stop you."
But the teachers all shook their heads; they had roots in Yuan County and couldn't walk away now.
"Good. Rest assured, reinforcements are on the way. The nearest Imperial University is sending upperclassmen along with two Elite Trainers. Shu University's support team is also en route," the principal said.
"We just need to hold out for an hour."
--
The riotous No. 36 intermediate secret realm was only 10 kilometers away, and Pokémon had already begun appearing in the skies over Yuan County.
"Pidg~"
With a flap of its wings, a Pidgeotto whipped up a powerful whirlwind, blowing people off their feet.
A swarm of Spearows swooped down, their claws targeting anyone in sight.
Beedrills buzzed ominously, Twineedles gleaming as they struck with deadly precision, taking a few lives in seconds.
For ordinary people, even a level 5 Pokémon could be lethal if they weren't careful, and facing level 10 Pokémon was almost like confronting death itself.
Fortunately, not every resident was defenseless.
Though only about ten percent of Drakoria's newly registered Trainers went on to pursue the profession seriously, the rest kept Pokémon as companions.
These domesticated Pokémon, although less powerful than those of professional trainers, still offered protection.
Families with domestic Pokémon deployed them to defend their homes, and some even protected neighbors.
Grass and Bug-types, easy to care for and inexpensive, were among the most common domestic Pokémon, serving as valiant defenders amidst the chaos.
Roughly 70% of the wild Pokémon emerging from the secret realm were between level 12 and 20, matching the strength of Rookie Trainers.
Around 20% ranged from levels 20 to 40, equaling the strength of regular Trainers.
While the remainder, above level 40, advanced-level Pokémon, posed a serious threat to even experienced Trainers.
And most domestic Pokémon ranged between level 20 to 40.
Therefore, with the help of domestic Pokémon, the Pokémon who flew into Yuan County to cause destruction were quickly suppressed.
In the sky, a level 35 Fearow screeched, rallying a flock of Spearows to attack the domestic Pokémon resisting below.
"Nicely done, Oddish!"
A middle-aged man cheered as his Oddish took down a Spearow. His joy however was short-lived.
With a single dive, the Fearow stirred up a whirlwind, sending the middle-aged man and his Oddish crashing against a nearby building.
Oddish lay unconscious, and the man, impaled by a steel pipe, lay bleeding heavily.
Fearow, eyes gleaming with malice, prepared to strike.
"Machoke, Brick Break!"
A construction worker's voice rang out as Machoke appeared, attacking Fearow with a powerful strike.
The Fearow dodged, enraged, and retaliated with a peck, its beak piercing Machoke's shoulder.
Grimacing in pain, Machoke grabbed Fearow's beak with one hand, then raised his other arm, delivering another Brick Break.
Fearow let out a screech, stunned by the attack.
"Well done, Machoke!"
The construction worker praised, he didn't expect his Machoke to be this strong but his joy vanished as he noticed the blood pouring from the injured man's wound.
If this was not dealt with soon, the man would definitely die.
But he had no experience in this area, nor did he have any drugs.
"Go, don't worry about me."
The middle-aged man, struggling to speak, tried to push him away.
"Shut up!" the construction worker snapped. "I'm not about to let someone die right in front of me!"
"Bang!"
Just then, Machoke was thrown back as Fearow struck again, its fury and level advantage wearing Machoke down.
"It's all your fault! You just had to appear in front of me, but that's fine, I swear, if we're going down, it's together!," the construction worker cursed.
Seriously injured middle-aged man: (*⊙~①)
At this time, Julian was still on his way.
In the northern area of Yuan County, waves of Pokémon poured out of the No. 36 Intermediate Secret Realm, clashing with a gathered line of Trainers.
These Trainers, mostly not locals, had been in the area by coincidence, drawn to the scene by the breakout.
Among the approximately 300 defenders, most were ordinary or Advanced Trainers, though three were pseudo-Elite, acting as the main force holding back the onslaught.
However, as more Pokémon surged through the gates, the strength of the defensive line began to weaken.
One pseudo-Elite Trainer had already seen his three main Pokémon incapacitated, overwhelmed by the relentless swarm.
The rioting Pokémon showed no signs of rationality. Under normal circumstances, the mere presence of a pseudo-Elite Pokémon would have been enough to intimidate and deter most them.
Leading the response team, Principal and teachers from Yuan County's No. 1 Middle School quickly joined the battle.
"Alen, hurry up and fall back"
Principal Brown called urgently, stepping in to replace the young Trainer who had just lost his three main Pokémon.
Though he was also a pseudo-Elite, due to age Principal Brown's strength wasn't as good as before.
"Teacher, are you serious? How can I leave now?"
"Blaziken, Charizard, Magmortar!"
Principal Brown released his three Pokémon. Despite his pseudo-Elite status, these three were the only Pokémon he had.
The fire-type trio bore scars across their bodies, evidence of countless battles. Without hesitation, they charged into the fray, unleashing a barrage of fiery moves on the rioting Pokémon.
With their pseudo-Elite strength, they overwhelmed the chaotic Pokémon around them, bringing order to the area in bursts of flame.
"You're still young! Get out of here—I'll handle this!" Principal Brown Roared.
He knew that young trainers held endless potential. This riot in the secret realm was only beginning, and having survived two previous Pokémon riots, he understood the toll they took. Those experiences had left him with just three main Pokémon.
He didn't want his students to suffer the same fate. To him, asking them to leave wasn't about desertion but a tactical retreat to protect their future.
Meanwhile, the number of rampaging Pokémon had surged from over 10,000 to nearly 20,000, with an increasing number reaching Advanced strength.
"Ludicolo!"
A Trainer watched helplessly as his Ludicolo was overwhelmed and severely injured by a swarm of seven or eight Advanced Beedrills.
From where he stood, he couldn't recall his Pokémon with the Poké Ball—it was out of range, forcing him to witness Ludicolo's die here.
Among the 300 Trainers present, nearly everyone had already lost at least one Pokémon.
The Poké Ball retrieval limit was capped at 400 meters, but stepping within that range meant risking being torn apart by the rampaging Pokémon.
"Crack.. Crack..."
Suddenly, the ground cracked open, and a Sandslash burst from beneath. Before the Trainer could react, its claws slashed across his throat.
Nearby, the Trainer's Weezing saw the tragic sight, watching its Trainer fall with a mix of sorrow and rage in its eyes.
Unable to contain its grief, Weezing began to glow with a dazzling white light.
"Boom!!!"
An explosion erupted, instantly blowing away hundreds of the surrounding Pokémon. Those nearest to Weezing were instantly killed, leaving a cleared space in the aftermath of its sacrifice.
From the crater, Weezing, battered and barely clinging to life, struggled to rise one last time. Its gaze turned toward its fallen Trainer, but before it could take a final look, the relentless horde of rioting Pokémon closed in, engulfing it completely.
"Damn it!"
"MF**ker"
"Wooo...."
"Why hasn't the rescue arrived?"
"Where's our Elite Trainers?"
Above, a lone Pidgeot circled, capturing the scene below with a live broadcast camera strapped around its neck, broadcasting the chaos to anyone watching.
At that moment, Julian, racing through the skies on Dragonite's back, reached the skies above Yuan County. The scene was grim: groups of Flying-type Pokémon were attacking people below, spreading panic through the fleeing crowd.
"Metagross, Dragonite, kill down!"
Julian's voice was cold, his usual restraint pushed aside. He saw in the blood-red eyes of the rioting Pokémon that they were beyond reason.
Without hesitation, Metagross and Dragonite began clearing the skies.
"Jiggly.. puff..."
His phone rang, and glancing down, he saw it was his grandfather.
"Hey, Grandpa" Julian answered.
"Julian, are you in Yuan County?"
"Yes, I just arrived."
"Grandpa, have you figured out the reason for this Pokémon riot?"
There's a reason for any secret realm Pokémon riot and addressing that cause could stop it.
"Yes, It's the work of the 'Z' Organization. They must've placed a device in Secret Realm No. 36 that's driving the Pokémon mad and causing this riot."
"The Trainer Association's nearest Elite is on the way. They'll enter the realm to shut down the device. For now, your mission is to keep those rioting Pokémon from reaching the county."
Julian looked north, spotting the endless wave of Pokémon crashing against the line of defending Trainers, who looked close to being overwhelmed.
"It's too late, Grandpa. I have to go into the Secret Realm myself"
Julian replied, ending the call.
"Lucario, Slowking, help the people evacuate!"
The two Pokémon nodded, knowing the gravity of the task.
Julian rode Dragonite northward with Metagross by his side. He spotted a construction worker, eyes shut as he braced for a Fearow's attack. Dragonite unleashed a precise Thunderbolt, dropping the Fearow instantly, and then Julian tossed a packet of hemostatic powder down to the man.
Startled, the worker opened his eyes, catching sight of Fearow lying lifeless and the hemostatic packet falling into his hands.
Glancing up, he caught sight of a yellow blur as Julian sped off into the distance.
"Dad always said I was blessed," he murmured, cradling his injured Machoke and looking at the medicine in awe. "Looks like he was right after all."
Taking the hemostatic powder, the construction worker turned to the nearby injured middle-aged man, showing him the packet with a grin. "You would have been dead, but you met me, and due to my luck, you also survived."
Meanwhile, Lucario and Slowking had begun assisting in the crowd's evacuation.
Lucario lifted a separated child onto its back, tossing Aura Spheres to fend off nearby attackers.
Slowking, focusing with fierce determination, used Psychic to bring down Flying Pokémon and transport injured civilians to safety.
The 'Z' Organization stood as one of the world's most infamous terrorist groups, its members devout followers of Zygarde, the legendary Pokémon symbolizing the concept of 'order'. The organization spanned over a century in existence, leaving nearly every major country scarred by its attacks.
Despite multiple attempts by many nations uniting to dismantle it, the organization still existed.
The emergence of Pokémon had reshaped not only human lives but also beliefs, with organizations like this springing up, their loyalty often pledged to mythical Pokémon.
Some regions without a stable government remained gripped in their influence, with such groups often leaving small nations in disarray.
This complexity was part of why the Z Organization had yet to be eradicated.
With members scattered across countries with unstable regimes, particularly in East Africa, where nearly 50 small nations existed, eliminating it was nearly impossible in the ongoing turmoil.
(T/N: I didn't change the name for Africa, cause it's the first time I came across the author using real world name for a country/continent)
--
Principal Brown's three Fire-type Pokémon, though pseudo-Elite, were still somewhat old, and also injured from past battles.
In the midst of the chaos, an Advanced-level Azumarill targeted Blaziken's back with a powerful Water Gun, causing Blaziken to stumble. Then, two Arbok lunged forward, coiling around Blaziken, their fangs sinking in to deliver venom.
"Blaziken, hold on!"
Principal Brown's urgent voice cut through, breathing new life into the worn Blaziken.
Flames blazed from its body, scorching the Arbok enough to make them recoil in pain.
Just as Blaziken grabbed them by the neck, a pulse of purple light weakened it, forcing it to let go.
The Arboks took the opportunity to release venom spray, the toxins finally taking their toll. Blaziken staggered, its powerful frame eventually succumbing to the poison.
"Blaziken!"
Principal Brown's voice trembled, his aged face now filled with tears. Another old friend had left him.
"Not good."
But there was no time for grief. Blaziken's absence left a dangerous gap in the defensive line. As a pseudo-Elite, Blaziken had held back a significant number of rioting Pokémon.
With it gone, nearly 500 Pokémon surged through the breach, closing in on over 300 Trainers positioned beyond the line.
Panic rippled through the Trainers.
Many had deployed all of their Pokémon and some kept one, keeping it in reserve for emergencies, yet their backup was no match for the incoming swarm.
And the number of Pokémon was constantly increasing.
"We're finished…"
"What now? Someone… anyone, save us!"
"They said Pokémon and humans were friends… why is this happening?"
The distress was palpable, broadcast live to countless viewers online, each wishing desperately for a hero to intervene.
"This time, it's over. I guess my wife and children will really be taken care of by you."
The prospective Elite Trainer glanced at the oncoming horde of Pokémon, forcing a wry smile. After sending a voice message from his phone, he retrieved his Eevee, the little Pokémon valiantly defending him despite being only level 6.
He threw the Poké Ball hard, launching it high into the air.
"Pidgeot, take Eevee home"
Pidgeot, the trusty companion carrying a camera around its neck, caught the Poké Ball in midair and swooped down, attempting to take away its Trainer too.
However, a Fearow and a Pidgeot intercepted its path, blocking the way.
With only 300 meters separating the gap from the Trainers, they braced themselves. Faces displayed a mixture of emotions—courage, fear, resignation, and defiance.
The sight of over 500 Pokémon charging through the defensive gap, now less than 300 meters away, sent a wave of dread through the remaining 300 Trainers.
Their faces showed every emotion—some were resolute, others gripped by fear or panic, and a few even resigned to their fate.
"I... I'm sorry. I don't want to die."
A Trainer whispered, shame evident as he turned and ran, even leaving his Pokémon still fighting in front of him.
In this world, very few people could truly face death. Even if one had resolved to confront it, but when death really comes, you would still be afraid and fearful.
Nearly half of the remaining Trainers broke rank, fleeing in desperation. As they left, the defensive line crumbled, and nearly 20,000 Pokémon surged forward, breaking through.
The rest were left behind.
"Ahhh! Cowards… damn deserters!"
"Don't judge them, Who isn't afraid of death?"
"But that's no excuse! By abandoning them, they're risking the lives of two million people in Yuan County!"
Although Pidgeot was engaged in battle with two Pokémon, and the video was shaky and chaotic, but this scene was still captured.
The rest of the Trainers looked desperate, unable to flee. Even if they had wanted to escape, it was already too late. As they watched the fleeing Trainers, there was no blame, only a hint of pity.
Despite their speed, escape was impossible. If they had stayed and the defensive line had held, there might have been a chance for survival.
But now, it was clear: everyone was facing certain death.
All that was left was the hope they'd bought enough time for the people of Yuan County to evacuate.
"Activate the 10-Minute Elite Experience Card"
Julian finally arrived, and what he saw was the broken defense line.
Nearly 20,000 rioting Pokémon, with it's current strength, Metagross couldn't stop them. Fortunately, Julian had the 10-minute Elite experience card.
This card had originally been intended for use in the Advanced secret realm, but given the dire circumstances, it was clear that he needed to use it now.
"Metagross, Light Screen!"
In an instant, a towering Light Screen barrier spread in front of the advancing Pokémon, like a dam appearing in a raging flood.
The Pokémon slammed into it, one after another, thudding against the shield, yet it held firm.
"Alakazam, Hypnosis"
Julian tossed out another Poké Ball, summoning Alakazam, his Elite-level bodyguard Pokémon.
With a quick glance toward Metagross, Alakazam seemed puzzled by its sudden strength but wasted no time.
He raised his spoon, radiating waves of hypnotic energy across the battlefield.
Even though these rioting Pokémon had lost their minds, Alakazam, at the peak of Elite-level, wielded overwhelming power, combining both high level and exceptional life level.
Hundreds of rioting Pokémon fell under hypnosis every second.
Within minutes, only a few rioting Pokémon remained standing, though more continued to push through the gate of the secret realm.
Julian called out, releasing Steelix.
"Steelix, hold the gate!"
"Dragonite, Metagross, let's go!"
Julian mounted Dragonite, and with Metagross close behind, they charged into the intermediate secret realm.
"Bang!"
Steelix fell, and after watching Julian rush inside, it positioned its massive body to block the entrance of the secret realm. With Julian having already entered and handled the Pokémon at the gate, no additional Pokémon surged out for the moment.
After hypnotizing the last Pokémon outside, Alakazam quickly followed to join Julian in the secret realm.
From the moment Julian appeared, Metagross quickly set up a Light Screen to block the rioting Pokémon, while Alakazam used Hypnosis to put them all to sleep.
Then, Julian dove into the gate of the secret realm and commanded Steelix to guard it with Protect.
This all took just one minute and thirty seconds.
In that brief time, Julian had managed what over 300 trainers could not—he stopped nearly 20,000 Pokémon from rampaging further.
Metagross, temporarily at the Elite level, and Alakazam, at its peak, performed flawlessly, each using their abilities to the fullest.
As Julian entered the gate, Steelix took position outside like a steadfast guardian.
It was only then that the other Trainers seemed to snap out of their shock. They stared at the hypnotized Pokémon in disbelief.
One trainer murmured, "Am I dreaming… or am I dead?"
Others were just as stunned, struggling to process the scene before them.
They had been ready to die just moments ago, only for a mysterious stranger to resolve the crisis in an instant.
Meanwhile, the live broadcast equipment on Pidgeot's neck had captured it all, flooding the screen with viewer comments:
"That was a silver Metagross! It's got to be Elite Walker!"
"Alakazam is incredible—Hypnosis worked on nearly 20,000 Pokémon!"
"I was scared to death watching this."
"You're lucky. I had to change my pants!"
"Everyone saw it was a silver Metagross, right? And I swear I saw a Dragonite too!"
At the entrance of the secret realm, a young pseudo-Elite turned to his teacher.
"Teacher, who was that? Was it Gym leader Jake?"
The reason why he didn't think it was John, was because the man looked too young, and even though he said Jake, he didn't think it was him either.
"No, not Gym leader Jake, I think it should be Walker Elite's grandson."
He remembered the face of the Gym leader—it couldn't have been Jake. But Walker Elite's grandson also had a silver Metagross, a rarity in all of Drakoria.
"That Julian—he's an Elite?!" the young pseudo-Elite exclaimed.
He'd heard of Julian; he'd been trending on social media recently, especially after footage showed his Metagross defeating Articuno and breaking into the pseudo-Elite ranks.
But it broke through pseudo-Elite just recently and it's Elite level already? It was hard to believe.
"Likely a temporary boost in strength," Principal Brown clarified, noting his student's disbelief.
Even so, the young pseudo-Elite found it hard to imagine. "What kind of resources could elevate a pseudo-Elite to Elite strength?" he wondered. Such a leap was not only an increase in power but an advancement in life force.
"Don't dwell on it," Principal Brown advised. "With the Walkers' resources, it's hardly surprising. Now, get your Pokémon back."
Alakazam had used Hypnosis on all the Pokémon present, including the Trainers' own.
Given its strength, these Pokémon would be out cold for at least half a day—plenty of time for Julian to address the issues within the realm.
The Trainers went about retrieving their unconscious Pokémon.
Though the immediate danger was over, none looked relieved; many of their comrades had been lost in the fight.
Some Trainers even carried their comatose Pokémon.
One trainer, unable to bear it, broke down, kicking the ground and sobbing, "This is all your fault!"
Others watched in silent empathy, some discreetly wiping away tears.
Inside Rift No. 36, Julian had Metagross clear away the hostile Pokémon near the entrance. The frenzied creatures seemed determined to escape the rift.
"Alakazam, seal the door with Light Screen," he commanded.
Alakazam nodded and raised a transparent Light Screen across the entrance, cutting off any chance for the Pokémon to break through.
Breaking through a Light Screen created by a peak Elite-level Alakazam would take even the strongest Pokémon among them half a month.
"Roar!"
Suddenly, an uneasy growl came from beneath Dragonite, causing it to tremble, and Julian felt the shift immediately.
"Dragonite, what's wrong?"
Julian sensed the Aura within Dragonite turning chaotic as a surge of aggression stirred in its heart.
He knew at once—it was that machine's influence.
Although Dragonite's power was approaching pseudo-Elite, it was still affected by the device's powerful signals.
'No wonder the Pokémon here lost control so completely, fighting without even feeling pain.'
"Return, Dragonite!"
Julian recalled Dragonite, hoping that inside its Poké Ball, it would be shielded from the machine's effects.
"Metagross, Alakazam, scan the area!"
A cold determination shone in Julian's eyes.
Metagross, at early Elite level, and Alakazam, at peak Elite level, each released waves of Psychic energy like radar, rapidly probing the surroundings.
After a few moments, Alakazam turned to Julian and nodded, then pointed in a specific direction.
"Let's go, Metagross—fastest speed!"
Julian jumped onto Metagross's back, gripping its cross-arm tightly.
Metagross launched forward at an intense 400 km/h, the speed so fierce it distorted Julian's face in the wind.
"I really need a helmet for this," he muttered.
Meanwhile, 20 kilometers from the secret realm's entrance, a machine the size of a small truck hummed, with ten figures in purple and blue uniforms standing around it.
Asians, whites, blacks all types of people were present.
"Persian, there aren't any more Pokémon around here. Should we move the machine?" asked one of the group members.
Members of the Z organization, each used code names based on Pokémon.
"Move it. I want Yuan County destroyed completely," Persian replied with a dark grin. "This is the Z organization's first strike of the year—we'll show the people of Drakoria our power."
"Drakoria's supposed to be a 'no-go' for us. They're joking—it's all talk!"
"Just imagine them crying in Yuan County. Their deaths will nourish Zygarde's awakening," another added.
"Persian," someone voiced hesitantly, "an Elite Trainer from Drakoria is likely en route. I'm concerned—"
"What's there to worry about? Lord Seviper will handle that Trainer."
Persian's smile widened. Since they dared to do this, they naturally made sufficient preparations.
The team began preparing to relocate the machine.
Its interference reached 20 kilometers, causing any Pokémon within range to enter an agitated state.
If the scope of this machine was bigger, then there would have been more Pokémon rioting, and Yuan County would have been done for long before Julian even arrived.
Under normal circumstances, an intermediate secret realm could contain three to four million Pokémon. In terms of size, these realms often covered an area equivalent to two or three cities.
Pokémon weren't evenly distributed but rather clustered according to their habitats, population densities, and food sources.
Metagross sped toward the source of the disturbance with Julian on its back. At Metagross's pace, they covered the 20-kilometer distance in just a few minutes.
As they arrived, Julian spotted members of the Z organization maneuvering a truck-sized machine.
Julian's sudden appearance startled the Z members, who hadn't anticipated anyone intercepting them so soon after their plan began.
The leader, codenamed Persian, recognized him instantly. "Julian," he muttered, eyes on the silver Metagross.
Julian smirked. "Looks like my reputation precedes me—even scurrying rats like you know who I am."
Without further words, he gave Metagross a command. "Steel Beam, destroy that machine."
"Don't even think about it"
But Persian was quick, throwing out a Poké Ball.
"Feraligatr, Hydro Pump—stop it!"
Feraligatr's Hydro Pump intercepted Metagross's Steel Beam just in time.
Julian observed the opponent's Pokémon closely, noting its level and strength.
"Level 75... Elite-tier Feraligatr," Julian mused. This hinted Persian might be an Elite Trainer, though his presence didn't feel quite like that of one.
He quickly calculated his remaining time on the Elite Experience Card—it only lasted ten minutes, with just two minutes left.
Because it was only an initial-level Elite experience card, Metagross's current strength was only at starting level of Elite, and it was impossible to fight above it's level in battle.
"Alakazam, Shadow Ball!"
Alakazam suddenly appeared beside him, launching a Shadow Ball that struck Feraligatr squarely, putting it in critical condition.
With Alakazam at the peak of Elite level, the difference in power was stark.
An Elite-tier Pokémon's strength increased exponentially with each level, and Alakazam's peak level could easily overpower multiple Pokémon at the initial Elite stage.
"Metagross, Zen Headbutt!"
Julian called. With Feraligatr already weakened, Metagross's attack left it completely incapacitated, securing valuable experience.
Alakazam was limited by qualification, and experience was useless for it. Only by breaking the shackles of qualification could it improve it's level.
Julian turned his gaze back to Persian, hoping he might send out another Elite-tier Pokémon to give experience to Metagross..
"Come on, got any more Elite-level Pokémon?" he taunted.
Persian stared in shock. He hadn't counted on Julian having not just one Elite-level Metagross, but also an Alakazam at the peak of Elite.
Feraligatr wasn't even his own Pokémon—it was loaned to him by the organization to ensure the success of this mission.
"Alakazam, Psychic—don't let them escape!"
With Alakazam's powerful psychic grip, the entire group was immobilized.
"Metagross, take out that machine," Julian ordered.
As Metagross hammered the device, Julian couldn't help but suspect there had to be an insider helping these people get such a massive machine into the No. 36 intermediate secret realm.
Unless they also had a system space like his own, which was absolutely impossible
According to the first law of Transmigrators: only one Transmigrator and one system should exist in a single space-time.
(T/N: yep, definitely in the rulebook)
A device this large couldn't fit into a standard space backpack, nor could it have arrived through any ordinary means.
This all but confirmed that someone within the realm's management team was aiding them.
Under Metagross's relentless assault, the machine was quickly destroyed.
Julian approached Persian, took his Poké Ball, and returned the unconscious Feraligatr to it.
He clipped the ball onto his belt, ensuring the organization wouldn't get it back.
Persian's eyes burned with fury. The Feraligatr wasn't even his own; it was lab-grown, assigned to him specifically for this mission.
Even in the Z organization, Elite-level Pokémon were rare, and the price of losing one was steep.
If he lost this Feraligatr and made it back alive, the organization would likely deal with him themselves.
Julian had no intention of keeping Feraligatr—he had little use for a Pokémon bred by a terrorist organization. He'd hand it over to the Trainer Association in exchange for certain benefits.
Metagross returned to Julian's side, its energy level dropping as the 10-minute Elite Experience Card expired, reducing it to its usual pseudo-Elite state.
"Alright, let's head back"
Julian said calmly, releasing Dragonite.
With the machine destroyed, Dragonite was no longer under its disruptive effects, making it a more comfortable ride than Metagross, who gave him a slight, offended look as he mounted Dragonite.
Metagross looked at Julian: Scumbag
"Metagross, could you bring this machine along?" Julian added, gesturing toward the wrecked device. He figured it might have research value for the Trainer Association's scientists.
Under Alakazam's control, the ten Z members hovered helplessly, while Metagross hoisted the broken machine, following Julian toward the exit of the secret realm.
---
At the entrance, Principal Brown and the others were in anxious debate over whether they should enter to provide backup when they saw Steelix, who was guarding the entrance, stand alert.
Moments later, Julian appeared, flying out on Dragonite, with the subdued members of the Z organization trailing behind, held by Alakazam's Psychic power.
"It's really Julian!"
"He stopped the riot!"
"Don't stop me, I'm going to give birth to a monkey for Julian "
"Forget that—call him King Julian!"
"King Julian! King Julian!"
As Julian came out of the secret realm and stopped, everyone could finally see his face clearly.
Not John, not Jake, but Julian Walker.
The King Julian of Imperial College.
Julian dismounted and waited calmly for the Trainer Association to take custody of the Z members.
Handing over captured operatives was a task he was happy to leave to others, sparing himself the tedious work of interrogations.
As he looked around at the over a hundred trainers watching him with admiration, Julian simply said, "Thank you."
Julian hadn't expected to feel this way, but seeing the aftermath—trainers who'd fought against the raging Pokémon, sacrificing their own partners, and sometimes even risking their lives to buy time for reinforcements—he felt a sense of reverence.
These trainers had fought bravely, aware of the danger, yet standing their ground.
For that, they had earned his respect.
As for the more than 100 Trainers who escaped at the last minute, their merits still outweighed the demerits.
Without their efforts, the defensive line would have collapsed much sooner, and he might not have arrived in time to prevent the worst.
Although they chose to escape in the end, but under the threat of life, how many could truly stand firm?
Hearing Julian 's words, Principal Brown and the rest of the trainers looked momentarily stunned, lowered their heads, don't know what they were thinking.
Some people were still choking, mourning their fallen Pokémon partners. The pain of those losses would stay with them forever, a weight that came with the path they'd chosen.