《World Master System》


 Chapter 1 - The Transfer, the System, and Officer Jenny.

    I opened my eyes a period of time after I felt should have already been hit by that truck. (All Hail Truck-kun) I found myself laying in the middle of a forest with my head still pounding. Suddenly, a screen appears before my eyes.


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    Congratulations!


    You have been selected as a suitable candidate of your world to ascend to a higher dimension.


    Sensors had detected your soul possessed a useful innate ability:


    ''Infinite Relay''


    - Mental and Soul Energy when fused contain natural law resonance. Can allow bodies made of fusion energy to ignore distance and low energy dimensional barriers. Traversing the world''s unbounded by laws is possible.


    Your personality and ability ?ssessment shows potential for growth into a strong warrior under the established parameters parameters and thus you are worthy of investment, a System suitable to your idealize growth has been supplied.


    The System ?ssigned to you is the "World Master" System.


    - This system will allow you to utilize your innate ability to it''s maximum potential and guide you onto an optimum growth route.


    - To stimulate growth, your newly made body has reverted to an earlier age, condensing your natural energy and senses. Slight alterations have been made so as to help you adapt and grow to a form more appropriate for a warrior. Costs for this service have been recorded.


    Please note that your current body is still from a lesser dimension. Your current Realm was picked as an Optimal Hub to move between realms and consolidate knowledge. However, your current state is very weak for this Realm''s standards. Do your best to strengthen quickly.


    Your system utilizes your Mental Energy as the basis and by utilizing spiritual energy you gain access to worlds or alternate dimensions by resonance with information stored in your memories. The system can tap into information from worldly energy of your previous world and the universe to fill in gaps of data as needed. The uses of the System will increase together with your Bodily, spiritual and mental energies.


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    A drip of cold sweat rolls down my face, I really could die any moment again here, and very easily at that. Looking around I find some dense foliage with seemingly no animals crawling about in it. I crawl in it and begin to scoop up a lot of the dirt and seemingly benign foliage and pack it over my body for further concealment.


    I began to realize my body seemed to have shrank by a good bit. I cant see my own reflection, but just from my bodily movements and the fact my whole body is almost hairless... it really would seem I''m no longer in a body that would belong to an ?du?t of their early 20''s, though the ''system'' had already said that. This is not the time to dwell on this though, getting resources for survival is vital right now.


    I pause my thoughts and try my best to enter a meditative state. Visualizing myself entering the space between my brows.


    The next instant I was in a vast and empty space. I was no longer sitting in a meditative pose as I was before but was now standing. It would seem I cannot feel my actual body when I am within this space.


    I begin to walk inside the space, looking for whatever I need for interacting with this system. Soon after I thought this a blue wall, stretching seemingly infinitely in all directions, appeared in front of me. I approached the blue wall and on it I read:


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    Please select a world to begin your development. Your mental-spiritual energy body can currently solidify spatial coordinates on a single world for dimensional travel. All worlds chosen have a time progression rate equivalent to the current world. Current suitable worlds related to memories are displayed:


    - Note: These are real worlds whose realities closely match existing realities models in your mind. Worlds with suitable threat levels for current capabilities selected. The system will set your spatial coordinates to a location suitable for your current growth stage on that world.


    1) (Fable)


    - World Resources: Atmospheric Mental Energy Stimulants, Basic Mental Energy Techniques, Low-Grade Mental Energy Formations


    - Unique Natural Laws: Sorcerer Physique Refinement Laws, Sorcerer Mental Technique Enlightenment, Fate Laws, Alternate Reality Binding


    2) (Pokemon)


    - World Resources: Basic and (Incomplete) Low grade Mental Cultivation Techniques, Basic and Low-Grade Mental Energy Beasts, Natural Mental Energy Formations, Basic Mental Energy formations and Technology, Basic Natural Technology


    - Unique Natural Laws: Mental Energy Consolidation, Mental Energy Technique Enlightenment, Mental Cultivation Enlightenment


    3) (Avatar: The Last Airbender)


    - World Resources: Basic Spiritual Meditation Techniques, Innate Spiritual Element Stimulants


    - Unique Natural Laws: Spiritual Technique Enlightenment, Spiritual-Physical Dimension Binding


    - World Resources: Basic Qi Cultivation Techniques, Basic to High Grade Qi Genetics, Basic to Mid Grade Martial Arts Techniques, Basic to Low Grade Natural Technology Development


    5) (Crash Bandicoot)


    - World Resources: Basic to Low-Grade Mystic Tribal Arts, Basic Natural Genetic Modifications, Basic Tribal Energy Type Genetic Modifications, Basic and Low grade Tribal Energy Technology


    - Unique Natural Laws: Tribal Art Enlightenment, Space-Time Tribal Energy Laws


    6) (Sonic The Hedgehog)


    - World Resources: Basic Chaos Energy Body Techniques, Basic Chaos Energy Type Genetic Modifications, Basic Natural Technology, Basic and Semi-Low-Grade Chaos Energy Technology


    - Unique Natural Laws: Chaos Energy Condensation


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    Looking at all of my options I feel like I am going crazy. All of these worlds are game or story worlds I was deeply into at one point or time. Additionally, from the benefits each world has stated, I can tell these worlds might have more to offer than the story worlds they are similar to.


    Without strength, I may end up starving to death or being eaten in this place. Wasting my energy searching for a settlement (which may not even exist in this world) could easily spell death. Why should I do so when I have such a good option, given to me so blatantly.


    Out of these worlds, there is only one option which would kindly allow a weak person to get strength easily. Although it is tempting to go to a World with higher Grade resources, they are not places I would be able to easily strengthen myself at.


    My System Ability seems to be based off of Mental Energy first, and spiritual energy second. At least, that is what it says. I need to strengthen mental energy, which is the foundation of my ability, first and foremost.


    I calmly think in my mind to choose the Pokemon World.


    The blue wall begins to ripple like water from the raindrop, a black orb begins to emerge from the origin of the rippling waves. I feel a connection from the orb, it is linked to a distant place. I step forward swiftly, and go into it.


    Entering through the black orb, I find myself in the middle of a forest again. Fortunately though, this time I can also see buildings in a clearing not far away. I begin to make my way towards the clearing.


    Coming out of the forest I hear a strangely familiar voice yelling at me lightly.


    "Hey, you over there! What are you doing there? Don''t you know these are the grounds of the police acadamy? Why aren''t you in Uniform?"


    Somewhat startled I look over and smile.


    "Apologies Officer Jenny, to be honest I''ve always wanted to join the force but I wasn''t certain of the proper methods to do so. I ended up lost for a long time searching for the way to the academy to try and get in."


    A suspicious look appeared in her eye,


    "That''s Instructor Jenny to you! And how on earth could you have been lost in the woods for 2 days, more like you skipped and finally decided to come in. I''m not sure how you know me but I''ll let that slide, we''d best get you registered for classes."


    Officer Jenny led me inside the main building and into an office. I spent about an hour doing paperwork.


    "You are lucky that someone else forfeited their place here at the last minute, or we wouldn''t have any spot for you at all. What were you thinking Grey, trudging your way through the woods with no Pokemon or no escort to keep you company! You could have died!


    All you had to do was let an officer know at your hometown that you wanted to be a volunteer and they would have brought you here. Isn''t that common sense? What sort of an airhead are you?"


    "Well mam, to be honest there are a lot of weird things about myself that I can''t explain properly, haha."


    She narrows her eyes at me.


    "Well, there are no requirements of any kind on becoming a volunteer policeman as you won''t be a real officer. However we will need to issue you a new Identification Card since you don''t have one. If I ever find out you''ve been using Pokemon for misdeeds I will track you down myself."


    I immediately responded,


    "I would never mam!"


    Her eyes became a but gentler,


    "Well, I know you wouldn''t but it''s always best to warn against it just in case"


    She hands me a miniaturized pokeball.


    "Do you know how to use it?"


    I instantly shook my head.


    "Sigh, of course not. Look, it''s easy. Focus your mind on the pokeball, this ball is ownerless so it will naturally guide your mental and essence energy into it, making a mental connection."


    Following her instructions, I focus on the Pokeball. A small amount of the mental energy making up my body seeps into the ball and my body shrinks slightly. Realizing I just shrank at least an inch in full view of another person, I look up to see officer Jenny''s expression.


    The smile on her face is frozen, and the doubt of her own sanity is tangible on her face. I break out a conversation to make it seem like nothing happened.


    "So, Officer Jenny is this the pokeball I''m going to use to get my first pokemon?"


    She snaps out of her trance.


    "Yes, of course. We have a small exclusive Pokemon Safari here on the Police Academy grounds. The Pokemon you could catch in the safari include: Growlithe, Riolu, Machop, Meditite, HootHoot, Mienfoo, and Lillipup.


    There are also a few low level bug Pokemon and stray flying Pokemon as well, just like you would find anywhere. Those I listed are the best Pokemon for policing and all on the Police force will have some Pokemon from a police safari grounds."


    She guides me to the gate of the fence surrounding the safari and let''s me go in myself. I decide to aim for Growlithe as my first Pokemon. It is the only Pokemon here with elemental special attacks like ember or flamethrower. To be prepared for anything, it''s the best choice.


    Entering through the security gate I was checked for any excess gear that are restricted within the safari zone. After getting clearance the guard who searched me clapped my back hard.


    "I saw you haven''t brought any Pokemon food either for a lure. You''d have to be really lucky to catch a Pokemon in a safari like that. I know you students try to cut costs wherever you can, but this is one investment you might want to make. If your going to try anyways, good luck!"


    I thanked him for his ''concern'', and he opened the gate and I passed through. The instant I entered the safari I was surrounded by the tall grass. Luckily there is no need to fear poisonous creatures in the tall grass as they regularly patrol this place to keep them out, and regular bugs and animals in this world are much smaller in population and lack variety due to the suppressive nature Pokemon have on the ecosystem.


    I wandered through tall grass for maybe a half hour before getting to a more forested area. A few minutes into the forested area I finally saw my first Pokemon, a Hoothoot. Gosh, it is somewhat embarrassing thinking of the naming for these creatures as an ?du?t. Though, maybe that is just because I ?ssociate the names with it being an anime instead of an actual world.


    So anyways, after I got out of the long grass I saw the Pokemon that looks like an owl. Now, I certainly plan to catch one of these guys eventually as it seems to be some sort of arranged destiny for me to do policing in this world. Not now though.


    From what Officer Jenny said, I''m only capable of holding a single Pokemon right now. It took a decent amount of mental energy to just bind the one pokeball, and I have a feeling the energy consumption will be far worse when it comes to sealing an actual pokemon inside it.


    I really need to hurry, every moment I am here my real body is just sitting defenseless in a forest.


    As I walk through the forest I hear a rustle in the brushes. A humanoid Pokemon, a meditite, casually walks out of the underbrush. If this were the video game I would have gotten some intense background music and a ''Wild Meditite Appears!'' Notice would have come up.


    Then, since this is a safari, I would have the option to throw pokeblocks, approach, try to catch it, or run away. In this case, I would prefer to run away because I don''t particularly want a Meditite. The instant I try to briskly walk away though, the damn thing threw a kick at me!


    What the hell! There isn''t supposed to be a ''fight'' option in the safari! Furthermore, Pokemon should be good and not attack Pokemon trainers! Though I may not actually be one yet, the rule should still apply, though I suppose it never did in the anime either.


    This particular Meditite, however, did not care to abide by that rule. If this were the game, I had chosen the option ''RUN!'' and either god or this meditite would reply with a mwahahah evil laugh (in my imagination) and a notification of ''You Cannot Escape!''.


    I had stupidly allowed my guard to be slightly down as I was moving away so the kick managed to strike the back of my ribs. The instant I felt the impact I shifted my weight to go with the blow and rolled to soften the impact. The pain from it coursed through me but I stood up as soon as I finished the roll and faced the Meditite.


    As I steadied my stance and faced it the pain in my body died down quickly. However, oddly along with the pain dying down my body shrank slightly again as well. I was originally rather tall at about 2 meters but now I had shrank to about 180 centimeters.


    I had a fair amount of experience in martial arts originally. I had never been able to stick in a single school though. A little bit of Tai-quan-do and Boxing as a kid, some Shotokan Karate, Jiu-jitsu and Muay Chaiya as a teen, and then Army Combatatives techniques and the more complicated Kung Fu styles I had just started to try and pick up when I had gone into college.


    However, in every one of the schools I somewhat stuck around in I was told I had no talent for the martial arts. The reason was simple, I just couldn''t bring myself to hurt others, even if I knew the other person was probably stronger I couldn''t bear to bring out all my strength on a person I felt no threat from.


    There were few occasions where I actually felt threatened by others in my life. The first time was actually when I was still a kid. I was not very social of a person and somehow I offended a few little punks by defending someone they were teasing, so they decided to act as bullies to me instead, in retaliation.


    The four kids tried to jump me in the bathroom at the grade school. I don''t remember what exactly they were trying to do pushing me around but I beat them up and made them kneel in apology for acting as bullies. I had to go to the principals office every day for the rest of that year as punishment but every one of those fellows grew up to be outstanding citizens after that, I think I did the right thing.


    The time after that was when a man came into my home with a knife, I was unarmed but I managed to out-maneuver him and obtain my own knife, threatening the guy sufficiently and convinced him robbing me would end badly. Overall it just came down to intimidation so it was no actual fight, but it was still a notable serious encounter.


    Another time was when I was ambushed by teen punk who disliked me in school, he punched from a blind spot in the middle of the hall. The hit landed and by instinct I flowed with the move and my fist hit his face. I managed to stop my fist after it lightly hit his nose so he wasn''t badly injured, but it was close~


    I almost got in trouble and would have probably been kicked out because it was High School. But because neither of us got badly hurt and it was glossed over with a stern warning to not cause a ruckus. I didn''t exactly make up with the guy after that but we didn''t have any problems after either.


    Then the last and most recent time before traveling this world was when I was in my Basic Military Training. The people of a particular platoon had been breaking into rooms and filming the group of people beating others up for fun. Gotta say some people in the military have an odd sense of humor.


    So, a group of people barged into our room one night. I, having heard the rumors of said fellows, was a little excited. At least I couldn''t keep the smile off my face.


    Even though I couldn''t bear to hurt another person practicing in a gym. Those sort of jackasses who I was perfectly justified to kick the shit out of were perfectly fair game. Unfortunately it ended a bit too fast.


    A few guys came up to me and came at me trying to pin me. I knocked those guys into the crowd of others and then I saw a guy out of the corner of my eye coming at me from behind. I turned quickly and the fool was flying at me in the air, so I elbowed him out of the air into a wall.


    Everyone stared at me for a second and I got somewhat confused and asked if we were going to continue because I was getting kinda pumped. They said it was a misunderstanding though and even my roommates were looking at me with weird eyes.


    So I just made sure to remind them to invite me if they felt like having fun fighting again. I kept reminding them after that too so they wouldn''t forget, unfortunately there weren''t any more occurrences of fighting again after that. I was sincerely disappointed.


    Ah, I got sidetracked from the main story! Anyways, this little meditite could make me feel that it was actually a threat. I watched the humanoid critter intensely, awaiting it''s next move.


    Unfortunately, the little guy was inhumanly fast and strong! In addition, it was just too small, so I couldn''t properly use many moves of my moves on it. In the end, I was only able trade blows with it and couldn''t use my technique to gain any advantage at all.


    However, the blows were insanely heavy! Although it wasn''t to the extent of blowing a person away, I''m at least somewhat decent at fighting and almost four times it''s size, and every blow of this creature was enough to cause some of the bones in my arms and fists to break.


    There the occasional attempts at low kicks and the like as well but both of us had decent footwork and could easily evade a kick from the other side. After a short while I began to shrink rapidly as the different parts of my body made up of energy broke and reformed themselves.


    It wasn''t as though Imy blows had no affect on my opponent though, I could clearly see the slowing of it''s movements and the sweat on it''s brow.


    This body made of energy would erode as I exhausted stamina but my abilities would remain relatively the same and the feeling of exhaustion was more mental than physical. However, this type of exhaustion was a lot easier to endure and gave me a big edge. Although I thought this body would be weaker because it was made of energy, it is strangely much more suitable for fighting.


    The fight dragged on for what felt like a long time. Eventually my height had dropped to being only 80cm, just slightly taller than the meditite. At this point I actually began to gain momentum, because I could bring into play the techniques I would normally use on a person.


    The meditite was already visibly extremely tired but it continued a formidable exchange blows with me. At a moment I felt a slight opening from the meditite. It had just thrown a right hook but it''s center of balance was thrown off significantly.


    I dove into the opening instantly. Sweeping and twisting my arm against the arm it shot out I knock it''s fist away, shifting it further off balance while moving into it''s space. Using the same arm I jab upwards into it''s jaw, dazing it.


    Finally, I shuffle my feet and use my right foot to knock it''s left foot out from under it. Then shift my right arm from guard to attack it''s ?h?st and then grab and knock it to the ground with a throw. I follow up quickly and cautiously with a pin before I notice the complete lack of resistance.


    Testing to make sure, I do a sternal rub, but sure enough it''s knocked out cold. Keeping it in a pin, I look around again and realize it is almost dark. Having spent this long here, if I don''t get back to my actual body soon I might have starved or died of thirst without realizing it.


    I glance down again at the Meditite pinned under my knee. From what I could tell, this thing is actually pretty strong. Furthermore, if I recall correctly it should be both Fighting and Psychic type so it should also have the ability to fight the paranormal.


    I sigh and take out the shrunken pokeball I have stored in the pouch Jenny lent to me. Putting a miniscule amount of energy into it, the pokeball swells in size. Then, I press the bu??on on it down on Meditites forehead.


    The moment it touched the pokemon''s forehead it jolted awake. Simultaneously, an enormous amount of mental energy began to be su?k?d into the pokeball. The Pokemon tried to push me off but I held it down.


    I began to shrink very quickly as my mental energy was absorbed by the pokeball, transforming into a type of red energy which engulfed Meditite. Meditite was absorbed into the pokeball and so ensued the stereotypical inside-the-pokeball struggle.


    I could feel the inner chassis in the structure of the pokeball through a strange sort of mental connection. Meditite, still combined together with the red energy, used all it''s remaining power to try and shift or collapse a part of the inner chassis of the pokeball so it could escape. The Inner chassis of the pokeball acted alike the legendary immortal array formations, trying to bind it with the red mental energy, but the array itself was actually somewhat delicate.


    Whenever Meditite surged it''s energy to a particular part of the chassis, I applied energy there to reinforce it and keep it from collapse. Effectively, after a short minute, the pokeball let out it''s signature sound signifying that I had successfully caught the Meditite, as the formation stabilized.


    Seriously, I would do a victory pose and go, ''Yeah! I caught Meditite!''. Except A: I''m a grown ?ss man (On the inside) and it would be creepy as hell. And B: I''m now the same size as the pokeball itself so a victory pose right now would at best be me leaning on the pokeball with a peace sign posing for a picture.


    Since I caught a Pokemon, it was best for me to return to my real body. However, it would be kind of pointless to do so without bringing back my purpose in coming here. So, I approached the Pokeball and placed my hand on it.


    I closed my eyes and tried to focus. Focusing my mind my sixth sense turned into a new kind of vision. However, there were only two things I could see using my new vision.


    The first was the pokeball before me and it''s contents. The pokeball shape itself was spectral, and within the pokeball chassis was an extremely complex arrangement of energy grid lines forming a sphere. Within the sphere was the red energy which ebbed and flowed very naturally here and there within it.


    A spectral Meditite floated within the red energy looking completely at peace. The Meditite curled up in the red energy which looked like fluid made it seem as if it were just a baby in a w?mb. As though it being there was the most natural thing in the world.


    The second thing I saw was a star, extremely far in the distance. It''s light was very faint but familiar. I could tell that the star should be the location of my original body.


    I willed myself to go there, together with the pokeball which was connected to my consciousness. At that instant my body vanished together with the pokeball, not a trace was left in the wake of it. As though I had never been there at all.

 Chapter 2 - Bottom of the Food Chain

    Suddenly, I felt my legs were under me, instead of planted on the ground. The disconnect between how I was the previous instant and how I was this instant, made it feel awkward. It seems that my legs had also fell asleep from having been in an awkward sitting position for too long. Opening my eyes I could see.. well, leaves.


    Of course, that''s good because it means my body wasn''t disturbed when I was in the Pokemon world. Grgrgrgret (sound that means your hungry), however, it seems my stomach has still been operating normally even without me. I began to feel both hunger and thirst the second I had returned.


    Indeed, having an out of body experience is certainly a dangerous phenomenon. I have to be even more careful of the time I spend in that state in the future.


    Focusing my mind again and closing my eyes in the way similar to before I tried to sense the pokeball, to see if I had managed to bring it with me. I found the pokeball in it''s spectral form, floating inside the space between my brow, orbiting the spatial orb with the Pokemon World coordinates.


    Using the small amount of my mental energy remaining on me, I try to ''summon'' or ''drag'' the pokeball out of that space and into the world.


    The moment I attempted to do so the pokeball began to shimmer and shake apart, dispersing into energy. A small portion of the energy, which shined in a blinding light, condensed into a sort of magical seal on the blue wall. The remaining energy, dyed in red, seemed to exit the mental space and go outside.


    I opened my eyes, and for a moment nothing happened. Then, a lightly shimmering spectral body of Meditite condensed in front of me.


    "Meditite, we need to find some food and water around here. We need to try our best to avoid detection by any sort of creatures lurking about though. Any one of them could spell death for us right now. Do you have any sort of abilities to detect or avoid detection by others, abilities to locate food and water, anything like that?"


    Meditite stared at me for a second then nodded it''s head, sending a light mental signal that it can. Indeed, just like in the anime, most Pokemon are extremely intelligent and can easily communicate. Though, I suppose it would be expected for a humanoid Pokemon at least, but I still don''t know about a Magikarp.


    I got up out of my seated position and stretched my legs a bit to get the blood flowing. Ah~ More than a few things cracked getting up after sitting so oddly for so long. I looked at meditite whose spectral body had appeared in the physical world, it was giving me a blank and judging look.


    Don''t judge me Meditite, I still managed to beat you in a fight.


    "Lead the way Meditite, but make sure to keep low, signal me if we need to find deeper concealment."


    Meditite gave me the affirmative and we started slowly moving through the brush.


    Luckily I''m able to sense Meditite with my mental energy or I could have easily lost him in this heavy brush.


    I follow him at a short distance, and we move through the brush. About 10 minutes into our movement Meditite arm signals me to get down and I duck into some nearby heavy bushes as Meditite moves into some tall grass near himself.


    Not long after, although I could only somewhat make it out, I saw the enormous body that was causing that noise as it slowly. The creature appeared to be either a huge boar or a mammoth, or something like that? I can''t make out most of its body through the brush and trees but from the body size and hair it should be something similar, or then again maybe not since this is a different world after all.


    A few minutes after, it passed into the distance, Meditite gets out and signals me to get up. We continued moving through the brush and eventually came to an area where more light could be seen coming through between the trees.


    The thick brush seemed to have been cleared in the surroundings around a stream which appeared about 9 meters in width on average and stretched out beyond sight in length in either direction. The waters in the stream appeared to be relatively calm but also rather deep.


    Tracks could be seen all about the edge of the stream, indicating the lack of brush around it is likely due to the trampling of animals coming through this place for water. Meditite signaled me to hold and not move any further, and so I sank quickly back into some concealment.


    A number of horse-sized creatures that looked akin to an Anteater came along in a small herd. The Anteaters shot long tongues out of their already long snouts, sinking them like straws into the stream. They spent a good amount of time simply staying there, moving about up and down the stream, flicking their tongues into the water occasionally.


    After a short while one made an abnormal jerking action with its tongue in the water. The creature continued to jerk and reel back as though something had caught it''s tongue. It would seem there are indeed some predators lurking in the water as well, these fellows adapted to avoid them, but the predator in the water is trying to pull it in.


    At this time, two more Anteaters came over to join the fellow that was caught and similarly stuck their tongues into the water next to it. They began to all pull together and a large creature, looking akin to a long bodied catfish with jutting sharp teeth came out of the water.


    Finally, I realized I was mistaken, these Anteaters were actually fishing this whole time. Their tongues appeared to be have hooked hairs on the end of them and all three of the Anteaters had lodged their tongues into the sides of the fish as it thrashed about but could not escape.


    After they had dragged the fish out of the water for a good distance, they pulled out their tongues and began stabbing into it again in other places. A few other Anteaters came over to joining in on the fun. Some of them sank their tube-like spiked tongues into the water before sticking it into the fish.


    It seemed as though they were pumping water into the fish''s circulation system to make it easier to suck all of its blood out. Not too long after they all left the fish behind and it just laid there, slightly deflated and deformed, looking horrifying from all the blood being drained from it.


    This repeated a few times as they caught different kinds of fish and drained them of their lives. Truly, you can''t underestimate any of the creatures in this place.


    After they all seem to have drank their fill of fish blood, they all began to leave, moving down along the riverbed. Earnestly, for a good while I was rather nervous some of them might have the intention of coming my way but thank goodness that didn''t happen or I might look like a mummy already.


    The spectral meditite moved out of the bushes and beckoned me along. It grabbed a long and sturdy looking tree branch and carved out a small channel on the ground, it should be meant for drawing a small amount of river water closer away to eliminate the risk of approaching too close to the river. I went over to the woods and similarly grabbed a branch and began to help.


    Not long after we had made a long and narrow channel leading away from the river. Then, at the end of it, we dug out a small hole to allow the water to pool up once it was a short distance into the forest. Meditite followed up and made a separate channel and pool after.


    It would seem one is primarily for washing and the other for drinking. We began to collect small stones and other sediment and made a few small permeable barriers on the two channels to the drinking pools. Although it wasn''t perfect, using fire and creating a steam apparatus to thoroughly purify it isn''t realistic right now.


    At the least these basic filters should prevent unseen parasites and a few other things so I don''t get too sick...


    Meditite now has a body completely made of energy so I don''t think this fellow even needs to eat or drink anymore. Or more like, he probably just gets all of his sustenance from the link to my own mental energy.


    So at the very least, I don''t have to worry about taking care of him much. Does that mean I am eating for two now? Ugh, that''s a disturbing and twisted way of thinking about it, let''s cease that train of thought.


    After getting my fill of water, I turn my eyes toward those mummified fish... eating fish is generally okay raw, right? And I can''t really cook anything because fire is bound to draw animals and kill me, so...


    I looked about trying to find a somewhat sharp rock, or perhaps a weak looking rock that could be splintered and used as a knife. However, before I got far, meditite approached me. Beckoning for me to hand the fish to him.


    I handed Meditite the fish, and he dragged it over near the washing pool and set It down. Meditite formed a karate style knife-hand, and then a small purple radiant arc, flickering slightly, formed off the edge of his hand. Quickly, he brought that edge down on the fish.


    The purple radiance smoothly cut through the fish, slicing off the layer of skin on one side and revealing the meat. In fact, this meat looked very healthy, as most all of the blood had been drained in advance there was no mess and only a slight fish smell to it.


    Meditite began to shrink slightly as the radiance sliced through the fish. He slowly sliced off numerous very thin layers of meat. The size of the pieces were sliced suitably thin so that any sort of major parasites within would not be able to survive or hide themselves within.


    I was somewhat confused on how Meditite knew this method. Do Meditites do such things in the wild or did he see people doing these things somewhere? Then again, he is a psychic type and has a open link to my mind as well so it might not be impossible he drew on this knowledge from my own memories.


    From what I could tell, Meditite had used a weak form of the psyblade attack to cut the fish apart. Likely, he wasn''t skilled enough to use it in battles and could only b?r?ly form a stable blade to cut through some things slowly. I was certainly thankful for this ability of his though, and the fact he did not try it on me.


    After a few minutes, we had a decent pile of sashimi which had been carved off of this big and scary looking fish. I quickly threw the remains of this fish into the river so as to lower the risk of the smell of it bringing predators.


    Not long after it began floating something akin to a gigantic eel reared a part of its upper body out of the water and swallowed the remainder of the fish whole. It''s mouth seemed sufficient enough to swallow me whole as well. I was even more thankful of not approaching that river now.


    We brought over the sashimi to the washing hole and I thoroughly washed the first piece before eating some.


    Wow! Surprisingly, it tastes pretty good! I ate only 2 pieces of the thin sashimi before I felt full. It didn''t seem like much, but even the fish here probably have much higher energy content than the most vigorous lion or tiger back on earth, so even a little meat goes a long way.


    Unfortunately, this sort of meat will likely go bad in just a few hours given the weather, not even long enough to last to the next meal. So I went ahead and ate another piece and a half so that my stomach was basically bursting, as I don''t know when my next meal might be.


    The rest of the meat and fish carcasses remaining were all thrown to the eels~


    After that, me and Meditite made our way to a spot where there seemed to be relatively few creatures about. With Meditite standing watch, I fell into sleep for the first time in this unknown land.

 Chapter 3 - Setting a Path

    When I woke up in the morning, Meditite was still on watch. When I asked if he needed rest, I received a firm no. Apparently the reason I had been attacked was because I had woken up Meditite from his deep Meditation (sleep) and he wasn''t happy about it.


    So, I indicated my intent to go into the Pokemon world and asked Meditite to stand guard. Getting a positive response, I shut my eyes, reached for the spatial orb linking to the Pokemon world, and transported there.


    ...


    When I opened my eyes again, I was in the same location where I had captured Meditite and left previously. It seemed as though the pokeball for Meditite had disappeared, and I was not likely to get it back. I started to make my way back to the safari checkpoint.


    Safari Guard 1: "Haha, I told you it wasn''t likely to catch anything. Although you had one of those Safari-tech pokeballs, it still broke on you, eh? Gotta make sure you find a weaker Pokemon to go for the next time you try, can''t start out with a strong Pokemon cuz they have a strong will, and bringing stuff to satiate the Pokemon in a safari is also common sense. Do that next time, you hear me?"


    Knowing he mostly meant well I grinned and beared it,


    "Yes Sir, I will try my best next time."


    Safari Guard 2: "And next time, don''t get lost inside the park, we almost had to send people searching for you! Glad your okay though, classes are going to start soon, so go see Officer Jenny about registration."


    I nodded to him and scurried away to avoid more lectures.


    I found Officer Jenny in her office.


    Knocking..


    Officer Jenny: "Come in!"


    I open the door and walk into her office.


    "Hello! Again! How exactly did you manage to get lost again, and how did you even do so in that little safari?"


    "Um..."


    "Yes?"


    "I have a very good excuse as to why I am lost often, I''m just uncertain if said excuse would be believable or acceptable.."


    "Oh, really? This ought to be one of the most amusing things I''ve heard in a while, please tell me."


    "Okay..."


    "Yes?"


    "I''m not really sure if I should, but I don''t like being dishonest.."


    "Yeah, to be honest I don''t reall.."


    "So actually, I''m an alien from a very distant planet who died once and then was brought back to life by some sort of powerful being, or group of them, which actually just happened yesterday a bit before I met you.


    That being, or those beings, gave me a technique which together with my innate ability let''s me make a body of mental and spiritual energy that can travel near infinite distances to other planets.


    The greater beings more or less said I needed to travel to other planets to gain the resources and knowledge needed to survive. Also, as of right now this is the only planet I''ve been given access to. So I have to do everything I can to get stronger within a short time frame, as well as try to catch Pokemon who can help in my survival."


    Officer Jenny stares at me with a warm and patient face,


    "I understand, your probably around 12, and your at the age for Pokemon School without any Pokemon get to keep you company. Chuuni* is something a majority of kids your age catch. Please tone your fantasies to a level that they don''t get people worried about you, and don''t disturb your studies."


    ..about the reaction I expected.


    "Listen mam'', the truth is although my body looks this way now, we are actually about the same age. And honestly, I really need someone over here who understands the situation I''m in or it will be impossible for me to get what I need. So I''m going to give you a demonstration."


    Before she can react, I take her letter opener off of the desk, pull up my sleeve, and drag the blade across the broad side of my shoulder. She totally freaks out, but for me it only stings a little because it is an energy body taking the damage. My vision of the room shifts to a slightly lower angle and the gash on my arm quickly regenerates without a drop of blood leaking out.


    At this point, she had rum over and snatched the letter opener from me with shock and worry in her eyes. Then, she instantly went over and grabbed a first aid kit and rushed back over. After her hurried movements, she finally noticed the cut was gone.


    A shocked and confused expression ran across her face.


    "Because this body is made of mental energy, any injuries on it only results in a bit of energy loss and some headaches. Then the injuries will instantly regenerate, but because of the mental energy loss, the body will also shrink slightly until I can''t maintain it."


    A ''still sorta confused'' and also ''pondering'' expression spread across her face.


    "Hmm.. I''ve heard of more powerful Psychic trainers being able to do all sorts of strange things, so I suppose it''s not that strange~"


    Yes! I''m so glad people are so easy-to-accept nonsense explanations in this world.


    "So, will you help me?"


    "Okay, sure! All that helping you means is doing my job as a mentor anyways right? Sorry to say, but I don''t know you well and I''m not going to just lend you money either if you ask. I can show you some ways to earn money though."


    Thinking this turned out pretty well, I bow slightly, "Thank you very much! What I really need right now is just an easy way to get some more pokeballs quickly. I think I''m going to need as much help as I can if I want to be able to survive."


    She nods, "Okay then, there are a few things you will need to know that are either common sense or need to know for policing. The first class you should take would be on mental energy tempering, the more mental energy you have, the more Pokemon you can have with you. In order to become an official Pokemon trainer you must reach the minimum mental ability to link with 6 pokemon below level 15."


    "Once you reach the Pokemon Trainer level, it is then important to learn how to do Resonance Mental Tempering. It is NOT something you should attempt until you are at the official Pokemon trainer level. The resonance tempering can carry you up to the level of a Pokemon master. Only as a Pokemon trainer would you be able to rely on resonance with your pokemon to defend your body in the midst of a battle."


    "The method for a Pokemon master to train further is something closely guarded by the Pokemon League. Only those able to pass their tests of both character and capability would be shown the way forward from there. Only by defeating all of the gyms in a region and defeating all others in competition would one be allowed the opportunity to enter sacred grounds to raise their Pokemon levels to 100."


    "At the time when your pokemon reach level 100, you must either learn the secret methods of the Pokemon league, or comprehend your own path. Those who seek comprehension usually choose only Pokemon of a single type.


    This is certainly useful because it allows you to adapt to any situation, but the chaotic mental energy your resonance will result in making it nearly impossible to approach the level of a true Pokemon master on your own. So, unless they have no ambition of advancing, even those aiming for the Pokemon league would have at most 3 pokemon types."


    "Although it is not commonly known, a person who wins the Pokemon league challenge, as well as the following competition of champions, would only be called a pseudo-Pokemon master. Normally, they have Pokemon around level 80.


    Only once the Trainer has a breakthrough in comprehension, causing their mental energy to change in overall quality, would their Pokemon have the chance to use the energy to grow beyond level 100 and have the chance to induce natural Mega Evolution. Bringing them to the same tier as Legendary Pokemon."


    "This is all too far beyond you though, normally this would only be revealed when a person is a preliminary Pokemon Champion, which would be around level 60. This information is also disseminated among the policing forces though, as it is necessary knowledge when dealing with emergencies where the involvement of True Pokemon Masters are involved."


    "Most regions have both an underground of criminals as well as different above ground organizations. In any region there will be a Policing force and a Pokemon league who manage the regions. The leaders of most of the Pokemon leagues as well as the larger Criminal Organizations are usually True Pokemon Masters."


    "Unfortunately, any True Master cannot be defeated no matter how many normal enemies they are up against. Even in the case where they are overwhelmed, it is still a simple matter for them to escape, and it would simply result in massive losses. Only a legendary Pokemon or another True Master could ever hope to fight one and defeat them."


    "This is why, when policing, one must be careful when selecting their target. It does no one any good if you die trying to do something impossible. Of course, even among criminals murder is very rare, but it is much more common to simply steal your pokemon. Which is the same as crippling your growth, and enhancing their own."


    "Some good ways to earn money would first be doing volunteer policing duties, as ?ssigned at different stations. Secondly, it might be good for you to learn traditional Pokeball crafting, which can be picked up rather quickly, instead of going into classes on modern Pokeball engineering. You would be able to get pokeball''s much more easily, and you would be able to make money by selling them if you can grow to be good enough at it."


    Ding!


    You have uncovered sufficient vital information about this world.


    From the analysis of the information discovered, an optimum growth route has been designated.


    Obtain Pokemon of types:


    Psychic, Neutral, Fighting, Ghost


    Currently Obtained Pokemon Types:


    Psychic (Meditite), Fighting (Meditite)


    You are currently restricted from forming links with other types of Pokemon.


    You are restricted from reaching Mental Energy beyond level 30 until you have formed a party composed of these Pokemon types.


    Notice: Upon reaching the threshold of a level 1 Pokemon Trainer, you will be allotted access to a new world to further accelerate growth.


    Notice: The lowest level of power for creatures near your true body is around level 30, you should hurriedly raise your abilities to survive.


    Analysis method for Pokemon within the mental realm has now been generated.


    -------------------------------------------------------------


    Why! If I can''t bring Growlithe back with me, will I have to manually create my fires instead! Well, if the minimum level is 30, I would just die if I made a fire and attracted attention anyways since Meditite is certainly under level 15.


    Focusing back on Officer Jenny, I realized my cognition must be accelerated for these notifications, how convenient. So I just picked up where the conversation left off after the brief shock and I shook my head.


    "Officer Jenny, the system seems to have placed restrictions on the direction of my growth. The only types of Pokemon I am allowed to capture are fighting, psychic, ghost, and neutral. At least, up until I can raise my Pokemon above level 30."


    Officer Jenny leans back, appearing to be thinking about something. She looks back at me and asks,


    "So you know what the different Pokemon types are? Do you have any idea of what different Pokemon you would want to go and try to catch in that case? Note that you need at least one Pokemon with a keen sense of smell, and one for transportation if your going to do police work."


    She writes down a list of Pokemon on paper and hands it to me.


    "Here are the Pokemon I would suggest to you."


    Tracking Pokemon)


    Riolu: Fighting Type


    Lilipup: Normal Type


    Smeargle: Normal Type


    Eevee: Normal Type


    Teddiursa: Normal Type


    Pokemon that can be rode)


    Girafarig: Normal and Psychic Type


    Tauros: Normal Type


    Bouffalant: Normal Type


    "Additionally, it would also be good to get at least one pure psychic type pokemon. Although it may be difficult, but their senses can be especially keen in detecting and avoiding danger. As of right now, your mental energy could keep 2 Pokemon at once at best, but you could never have them both out at once.


    Early stage cultivation is pretty fast though, so you should be able to get to the grade of three simultaneous Pokemon with 2 weeks of effort... also, psychic and fighting type trainers normally train their abilities as a fighter or as a psychic together with their Pokemon, I don''t know anything about that so you will have to figure it out on your own."


    "In my opinion, you should be catching a Riolu or a Teddiursa, which can be strong in low level fights. As well as a Tauros or a Bouffalant, who have both a high speed for escapes and the ability to carry heavy burdens."


    I nod in understanding,


    "Okay, for now I am going to go with capturing a Tauros first, then once I get the strength, a Teddiursa."


    She sighs,


    "Okay, now we have your short term plans figured out at least. The first thing you need to do is start learning pokeball crafting. You could catch a Tauros with a simple visit to a ranch. You should be able to get down the basics of pokeball crafting by the time your mental energy has grown enough to catch a Teddiursa."


    "A simple Taxi ride can get you over to the Laramie Big P Ranch, it is in the Kanto region, just south of the Tohok region we are currently in. The hard part is, Tauros there are somewhat wild, and instead of a traditional battle, you can only catch them if they recognize your capabilities. You cannot catch Pokemon freely there, but you can still put in paperwork in advance and then capture a pokemon."


    "The Teddiursa can only be found in the wild, and are normally protected by groups of Ursaring. So, having a fighting type to incapacitate and a transportation Pokemon to escape are both going to be vital. If you raise a proper Ursaring though, it will no doubt become a very powerful ally."


    She sighed,


    "I will ?ssign you to a room of your own, so no one will question it if you disappear inside of your room so long as you keep it locked. Here is the room key, and here is a list of classes and an issue slip for your books. Good luck, and try to make it to all of your classes if you can."


    I nodded and thanked her fervently, then wandered around before finding the room. I go into my new room and lock the door before ''logging out'' of the Pokemon world.

 Chapter 4 - Psychic Powers

    After I had returned, I noticed Meditite had brought me to a new location. Apparently some creatures had approached my body while I was away. So Meditite had Piggy backed / dragged me away.


    I feel bad relying on this guy so much... I really need to catch more Pokemon soon so he can get a bit of help. Luckily, my Mental Space seems to act like a portable Pokemon Center.


    I can simply expend my own Mental Energy to replenish the fatigue of Meditite, but that can only work for so long. It is mentally exhausting to have to be constantly vigilant, regardless of who or what you are. Somehow, Meditite seems to be perfectly fine regardless, but I don''t want him to have to be.


    I spent the night with Meditite, practicing different techniques from Modern Boxing, Shotokan Karate, Muay Chaiya, Xingyi Quan and Taiji Quan. Because of his Psychic Sensing Abilities, we had the confidence to do our practicing in a more open area.


    Going over the motions for the body techniques of these arts would be second nature for me. However, for Meditite, these are all new to him. He is a fighting type as well, and it is easy to tell that he enjoys himself, learning all these techniques.


    Meditite memorized the basic techniques quickly. If he were a human, his martial arts abilities would be at the level of genius. I was exhausted before long, yet Meditite was still perfectly fine.


    As I practiced with Meditite I came to realize I''d grown rather accustomed to Mental Energy Sensing. As I''ve been tracking Meditite''s body which could not be seen which cannot be seen with the normal eye casually, I suppose I should have noticed that sooner.


    After we finished basic exercises in each of the arts we started resting, and as my consciousness began drifting a bit, I noticed the minute flows of the mental energy coming off of Meditite.


    The mental energy radiated off his body in minute flares, spreading out and forming large but low density arcing currents. Eventually those currents spreading out became too indistinct to accurately sense. However, I could sense the energy currents as they re-approached and re-entered his body.


    Is this how his ''Psychic'' senses work? It is really just a special form or method of Mental Energy sense. This may be why the Psychic trainers in Pokemon world are known to be so powerful. Their cultivation method raises both psychic powers and their powers as a trainer simultaneously. The psychic type uses their mental energy in the most natural way, while others probably waste energy in a conversion process.


    I just watch Meditite operating the Psychic Sensing techniques for a long while. Meditite, who most certainly knows I am staring at it, sits in a meditative stance and intensifies it''s technique further. The flow of Mental Energy becomes even clearer in my view.


    From what I can tell, Mental Energy senses work best, by far, when you are trying to sense things using your own energy. For me, it is probably also far easier to perceive Meditite''s Mental Energy than the Mental Energy of another, due to our connection. However, it would be impossible for me to sense my surroundings using his energy as a medium. That could only be done using my own energy.


    Now may be a good time to try and learn some psychic techniques, since Meditite is implicitly encouraging it anyways. Although it may burn a bit of my mental energy, it would be best to not rely on my Pokemon for everything. I focus on my mental space again, in stories the ''Mental Palace'' there would always be the source of Mental Energy.


    I am ?ssuming that my mental palace is concealed behind the wall within the space. Considering I could use abilities and keep Pokemon, it should still be possible to draw out Mental Energy from behind the wall. I enter the space, focusing on the wall.


    Closely inspecting the wall, it becomes more apparent that there are minute traces of Mental Energy within. Touching the wall would give off a small ''spark'' of Mental Energy, drawing it into my Energy body.


    Thinking this, I decide it may be best to experiment with using the energy body inside this space. I move far away from the wall and begin with trying to stimulate an arc.


    Most all forms of energy or matter follow principles akin to electromagnetism or thermodynamics, flowing from areas of high energy or high concentration to area of low energy or low concentration.


    The part that makes their flow complicated is material properties which disrupt and distort that flow. If only a particular object in an area is capable of holding the energy, then the instant the energy is forced out it will arc and recombine into another area of the same material, but in an area of relatively lower concentration.


    In this case, the materials that can attract mental energy are my body, the wall, the spatial orb, and the seal. In the outside world those are all within my body, but here to stop the energy from being drawn towards those, I had to move further away. And now that my energy body is isolated, I should be able to mimic the actions of Meditite which are based on recombination principles.


    I began with a simple experiment, my thumb and middle finger as a circuit, pulling energy from the tip of my middle finger and forcing an excess out from my thumb. A strange thrumming noise rebounds in the air as erratic white air flows briefly between my two fingers.


    Well, that was pointlessly cautious. I threw aside my worries and just repeated the action, turning it from an instantaneous to a continuous motion. I continued on doing so for a while and then stopped as it felt strange, certain parts of my Energy body''s hand felt numb.


    Trying to move the energy through it again, I found that the energy could not move as easily anymore through that area. However, moving it through other areas there was still no problem. It seems that the movement of excess Mental Energy will still result in fatigue even if it is not actually expended by the process.


    I expected there to be a loss of Mental Energy as I used it, but instead, a body made of Energy is actually fatigued? The concept of a body of Energy being fatigued is in itself contradictory. If the energy is fatigued then does the energy have subordinate energies within it that it operates off of?


    In cultivation novels, the characters both cultivated energy to permanently strengthen themselves as well as used the same energy to exert their strength. At least, that was my impression. Perhaps it was instead that the cultivation energy and it''s exertion energy were different?


    In other words, the Mental Energy I use for the Energy Body and It''s regeneration should be cultivation energy. The Mental Energy is more like a cellular structure that can double as energy. The cultivation energy is so flexible it can completely re-make my entire body, whereas the energy used by it to exert it''s power is simplistic but can be much more easily produced the more cultivation energy you possess.


    Maybe it is insignificant now to just use cultivation energy because my cultivation is still virtually non-existent. After all this body was just created the other day, and this much energy was produced in such a short time. Down the road, such losses may become more significant as cultivation becomes harder the farther you go.


    Thus, for fighting it is best to rely on techniques that only result in fatigue, rather than those that burn my cultivation. To catch a Pokemon you have to use up a part of your cultivation, and the amount it costs likely increases for stronger Pokemon as well.


    However, if you use resonance cultivation, you can potentially gain that energy back and grow even faster. So in essence, catching a Pokemon is like making an investment. In that sense, catching all kinds of random Pokemon would just be wantonly burning your own potential growth, though if you have high cultivation and they have low cultivation the energy might become negiligable or it may become possible to use


    I end up hoping that this body is similar to a normal one, and my ''Mental Energy Muscles'' will grow strong as I use them more. Eventually I can get to the same stage as Meditite, and by alternating which areas I use, I should be able to execute the Psychic sensing technique.


    I practiced the technique until the body felt numb all over, and then after checking on Meditite again, I went to sleep.


    ...


    In the morning I woke up and went to check out Meditite, he was practicing his Martial Arts Techniques again. Is this little guy not a bit too hard-working? It turns out, he is at a level where he can Meditate as a replacement for sleep, and remain fully lucid and aware in his meditation. Meditite is too amazing!


    I thanked Meditite for the hard work, and went back into the Pokemon world.


    ...


    When I arrived at the class the Instructor was already there. A brawny looking fellow, seeming to be in his later 20''s, was sitting at the instructors desk. In his hands was a book, and on that book was his face. A slowpoke curled up near his feet was sleeping with a look of contentment eerily similar to his supposed master.


    I did not quite question it before, but who is this guy? In the books, only Kurt and those of his lineage knew the secrets of how to craft apricot pokeball''s. Only with the development of Pokeball Engineering did they fall from their once lofty heights.


    Maybe this guy the missing father? The ''mysterious'' link between Maize and her well-known grandfather, Kurt?

 Chapter 5 - Negligence

    "Hello Professor!"


    The man on the book, startled, jumps to attention. In his startled movements he lightly knocks into Slowpoke, awaking it as well, and it stares up at him with a miffed expression.


    "Ah! Hello young man, as you could see, I was just closely examining the contents of that book just now. Ahahaha."


    "Oh? May I ask what it is on?"


    Cough, cough. He glances at the title on the book cover.


    "Ah, it is a book on Recent Human History, the wars and minor conflicts between The Pokemon League Alliance, the Psychic Association, and the Fighters Guilds."


    I scratch my head a bit, I don''t think such names were anywhere in the original Pokemon. Though, I already knew this wasn''t actually the same World, it only has a few common points.


    "Oh! Very intriguing professor, ''One must know where one has been to know where one must go.'' I''m sure professor is full of wisdom and will go far in progressing the ways of traditional Pokeball Crafting."


    The professor nodded his head vigorously.


    "Indeed! Indeed! You understand my sentiments exactly! History can teach many things, and it is exactly because I know history well that I decided to spread the knowledge of apricot crafting! Traveling from school to school.


    I am aware you missed your first class, but we are actually starting with Pokeball history. Ah! I am Professor Boru by the way. Well anyways, as you said class starts in a few minutes. Go ahead and take a seat.


    Ah, sorry about that earlier slowpoke! I..."


    Ignoring the seemingly eccentric professor, I went ahead and took a seat in the second row of desks. Before long the class had began, it seemed I had missed something from the first class but considering we haven''t started crafting lessons I don''t care much.


    "Look at the History, dig sites unearthing ancient artifacts all seem to indicate old powerful civilizations also possessed the power to seal Pokemon. These sealing artifacts, unlike our modern pokeball''s, could seal and control Pokemon in items of any shape or size! Even sealing a Legendary Pokemon was not uncommon!"


    "What? Even Legendary Pokemon?!?"


    Cross comparing the System''s grade scaling, Legendary Pokemon should be Low Grade. Low Grade, judging from the Pokemon Storyline and legends, should be the rough equivalent of Xiantian Stage Cultivator.


    "Yes! Even Legendary Pokemon! It is believed the latent aura in the atmosphere was far more dense in ancient times. Thus, Legendary Pokemon were also far more common."


    "But if those artifacts were so powerful, why do they not exist today? Why would we use pokeballs if an artifact could do the job better?"


    "Ah, this is simple. There were two issues that led to this knowledge being lost, though mind you it is mostly conjecture. The first is the complexity of making each of these artifacts, and the second is greed."


    "So, people simply did not care to share this artifact knowledge? They kept it to themselves to hoard power?"


    "Indeed. The strong ruled the weak, something common even in the modern day. It is almost certain they had a structure of nobility centered around those who developed the artifacts.


    The previous generation would trap the Pokemon and the next generation would develop an artifact specific to that pokemon. The nobility held control over all the Pokemon at all times, but they also had to be scholars, as they needed to be in order to develop unique and highly complex formations for each pokemon."


    Hm... but if they were so powerful...


    "How could they possibly fall from such a position?" I asked


    "Quite simple, they only passed down the methods through their direct lineage. All it takes is a single idiotic grandchild to mess up everything. They allowed the basic sealing techniques to be disseminated but kept the controlling techniques for themselves. Eventually, all that was left was the sealing technique."


    "But then, if the control techniques were lost, where did the pokeballs come from?" I asked


    Hahahaha, the Professor laughed.


    "Pokeballs don''t use any control techniques. How could you misunderstand something so basic? Pokeballs can be considered as a branch of the sealing techniques.


    The seals on the Pokeball differ in that they create an additional seal that binds together the Pokemon inside and their master. Thus, as long as your strong enough, the effect of the Pokeball is similar to the controlling method."


    I nod, "Right, that makes a lot of sense. Do you also study control artifacts then? Do you think they could be used to enhance Pokeball crafting?"


    He snorts, "How could control artifacts possibly be better than Sealing artifacts? The only reason they used such things historically was they had no alternative. Control methods have long been rendered obsolete.


    With a pokeball the Pokemon and Trainer can grow their strength together. With the ancient seal and control method you are merely imprisoning the Pokemon and forcing it to do things. The Pokemon will forever remain static, and will even degrade in power over time."


    "Oh~ Understood. Then professor, does anyone in the modern day still research control method?"


    "Hm, good question. I don''t believe so, but if anyone does, it is likely in the Psychic Association''s territories. Technically they use control technique still today, except theirs is a natural gift through psychic powers rather than something attained through understanding.


    Hm... but I think we''ve strayed from the main point here. This is a class on the tradition of apricot pokeball crafting. Originally, it was passed down strictly within my bloodline, and that was a tradition held up until my father Kurt''s generation.


    You all will be part of a new generation of Apricot Pokeball Crafters. Even if your main profession will be with the government in the future it does not mean your achievements in this field will be any less. Haha, if you truly enjoy it consider quitting the police to become a professional craftsman."


    The professor continued to rant about how great Apricot Pokeballs are compared to Modern Pokeballs for several minutes more before the class ended.


    When the class ended, I moved on to the next class. Walking in, I felt somewhat awkward. All of the people in this class, instructor aside, seemed to be very small children.


    My own body, which had shrunk already from the original six foot two inches to six foot, I still towered far above the 10 and 11 year old children in this class. Most people here had ?ssumed I was 12 because of my education level on Mental Energy but likely this body was closer to 14 years old.


    Unlike the previous class which had desks, this class instead had mats laid out with a student sitting on each mat. With my face flushed red with embarrassment being an old fellow in a class with children, I moved towards the back and sat on one of the mats shamelessly.


    Strength is everything in this world and all others, after all.


    Not long after the class began, this time the teacher was the classical Oji-san instructor. A friendly Old man by the name of Theodore.


    "I will go over the instructions for basic energy cultivation again. First, close your eyes, it will help with the visualization process. Something related to your d?s?r?d Pokemon type is ideal.


    The energy we use as Pokemon trainers is closely related to one''s state of mind. This is why we call this energy Mental Energy. You need only clear your mind and focus, the rest is all in body positioning."


    Bang!


    "Ow!"


    "Who taught you your posturing! You look worse than anyone here, and your most certainly the oldest one here. And it''s too obvious your still Lucid, your facial expressions keep changing constantly! You should be setting an example, not slacking off!"


    What the hell! Your telling me I''m slacking off by not daydreaming properly?!? Even if its true, you don''t have to point it out you bastard!


    "Cough, yes Sensei."


    Well, it is not like I haven''t acted similarly before. It may be his way of expressing concern.


    I glance at some of the other students and adjust my posture a few times before it seems just right. Hands together but relaxed, legs crossed with right leg over left and feet flush with the sky. My back, as straight as can be.


    When I close my eyes my Mental Energy ''Vision'' instinctively takes over. So, since there is only one thing that occupies my entire view, might as well focus on that. I focus onto the distant star that is my original body, it still looks like a star so it should be good for meditation right?


    I focus on the fake star and try to distance myself from all else. Sounds, stray thoughts, anything.


    ...


    When I opened my eyes again after what felt like a short minute, the clock read that almost 6 hours had passed... So long? I cannot believe I just let the time flow by like that.


    "Ah, good! It seems you got onto the right track. It is not common to fall into such a deep state, I could practically feel the energy developing within you. I could not bear to wake you."


    I nod, "Right, thanks professor, but I think I had best go now. Since everyone else has already left."


    He returns the gesture, "Ah, right, well I will see you tomorrow." The man says with a smile.


    I left the class in a hurry and went somewhere more private, I have been out of my body for a bit too long. I hope Meditite is still okay.


    ...


    When I open my eyes the first thing I see is blood splattered on the ground and Meditite leaning against a tree. His arms broken, the enemy he faced with minor injuries. Small cuts and bruises across it''s body.


    Meditite with his fists bloodied from facing it''s foe was exhausted, it seems he was b?r?ly holding it off. The brown "Wooly Mammoth" paced back and forth in front of him, the minute cuts across it''s body continuing to leak blood. It''s eyes radiating intense hatred.


    I look towards the creature that did this to him from my spot in the bushes. The regret was instantly washed over with rage instead.


    Hm.. No need to think so much, I just need to kill it and it will be fine.


    My heart beats with a heavy thump at that thought, power and excitement flows through my body.


    I stand up and take a step forward.

 Chapter 6 - A Very Hairy Goliath

    The beast turns to face me as I begin to move towards it.


    Though it''s body looked like that of a mammoth from the back to the side, it''s face looked nothing like that of a mammoth. The words that come to mind would be, alien, abomination.


    The whiskers on it''s face like tentacles, spikes protruding from them on the side of them facing outward. The whiskers which curled up seemed to cover it''s face like a mask, but it opened up the mask and took a threatening posture towards me, it''s mouth filled with jagged teeth opening wide.


    "Garoaaahheeee" a strange roar/trumpeting noise came from the creature, trying to threaten me.


    Taking advantage of the opportunity, I throw as much power into my body and legs as I can. My body move much faster than imagined and already I was in front of the creature. I stopped myself with a foot on its ?h?st.


    Shocked slightly by what happened I froze for a split second, and in that split second the creature was already reacting. It reared its head and the spiked whiskers slammed towards me.


    Catching myself again, I touch down again on the ground, shifting my weight and dodging their path.


    I stomp down and fly through the air towards it again. It''s tentacles, still in disarray, have left it''s face wide open. I step with one foot onto the creatures ?h?st again, shifting my charging momentum upwards. My other foot uses all of that momentum and slams into It''s jaw.


    The creature, on all fours, had no moves to soften the impact. "Graah!" It knocks me away, it diverts it''s head to the side, and the flat sides of its whiskers hit me.


    I crash into the ground, but the blow lacked significant weight so I was able to quickly recover.


    The creature looks disoriented from the blow, and was obviously injured, but it also managed to slide the tentacles into place over it''s face again. Forming a Protective mask of tentacles and spikes. With its jaw now protected, that attack won''t work again.


    I steady my stance to prepare for the next bout, watching it''s movements closely.


    The beast acted with caution similarly, crouching down and snarling from under it''s mask. The hairs all over it''s big body began to stand on end, creating a strange shimmering light. The beast casually began walking to the side, and dissapeared.


    Fuck.


    I backed up against one the trees, looking for hints of where it might have gone. How could a fu?k?n? mammoth be so light footed and stealthy?


    Boom


    What felt like a boulder hit me in the side and I rolled for several meters. I got up. I''m rather certain my left leg was broken on that impact, but that was unimportant as I needed to see what to do to survive this.


    I heard a noise from behind me and turned, I heard it charging at me but still saw nothing. I could run but that could be even worse than getting hit in the front, I have no idea how to dodge though since I can''t see how it moves.


    I could feel the breath of the giant beast on me already, but just before the impact Meditite rushed in from the side.


    Haah!


    Meditite threw it''s entire weight into the invisible creature, the shock rendered its stealthing inert. It lost its balance, and fell into a roll off to the side. The interruption of its momentum let me dodge it''s path just in time.


    I looked over to Meditite and saw it''s body covered in holes. It had thrown itself into the spiked tentacles of the creature in order to save me. Energy began to leak out the holes until it''s body finally collapsed, the Energy flew over and into my body, returning to the seal in my mental space.


    I could feel meditite was still fine, it would just need time to reform it''s body.


    I looked back towards the Creature again, but once again, it had disappeared. How, how did Meditite manage to see it?


    Obviously, it was through Energy Sensing.


    My only hope to win this fight would lie in that ability.


    But is it realistic to master something so complicated Energy Sensing so quickly? No, unlikely, a more familiar or simpler method is better.


    Is the energy not strong enough? I upped the power. And finally I saw the vague form coming towards me. All I could see were distortions within the Energy vision, but I could get a vague sense of where it was.


    To fight it hand to hand like this would be impossible though. Can I bluff it out of hiding? Or a weak psyblade might be possible.


    I compress my hands together, the Energy being sent out compresses together with it simultaneously as I keep it focused on the creature. The compression becomes more and more difficult as my hands grow closer. The creature closed in on me.


    Finally, I reached a critical point. The Arc curved inward and Energy converged and compressed itself into reality. The energy was only a small and incredibly thin sheet, yet it flew out with incredible force.


    A split second after the first blade came a second, a third. A rain of Energy blades came down on the creature.


    The weak blades caused wounds all over it''s body. From the size of its body they were but scratches, but a swarm of ants can still swallow elephants.


    The creature felt intense fear from the sheer volume of the blades and turned in its tracks, fleeing into the thicker woodland.


    I looked into the woods for a moment, thinking how could it just leave so easily. I suppose even such creatures have fight or flight instinct, or maybe it just determined I wasn''t worth the trouble.


    ...


    The creature moved between the trees in the distance, abandoning it''s stealth which it now deemed to be pointless. It''s intelligent brown eyes betrayed a hint of hesitation, this was originally just hunting a little critter for food. He never imagined it would devolve into a battle that could actually threaten him.


    However, thinking back, how could he possibly face others of his species, having failed at a hunt within their own territory?


    Would he even be allowed to survive in the future? Even though he was still young, if he was treated as a weakling how could he keep his place in the pack?


    His eyes were quickly covered by a cloud of embarrassment and anger. How could he let something so weak go, this small creature had only survived so far due to little tricks after all.


    In the midst of the forest, his body began to emit strange cracking sounds. His muscles moved in his body like snakes and he began to rise up on his back legs.


    Mud fell out from in between the crevices of his originally flat looking feet, and the feet became hands that used the tree beside him as a support to help stand up.


    The muscles and joints on his legs and arms shifted as his back and neck straightened up. A 4 meter tall 4 legged creature transforming into a 12 meter tall Monstrous Humanoid. His labored breath formed clouds as he strained to make the transformation.


    In but a few seconds it had already finished. It took a minute for him to recover and then he returned to the place where he had just fought with the little one, but it was already gone. He sniffed the air to search for his prey.


    ...


    After ascertaining that the creature had truly fled, I started to make my way towards the river.


    What concerned me most was I had no idea if it belonged to a group of social animals. Even if the injured one came back I''m unsure if I could handle it, much less if it came back with friends.


    The best choice for now is probably to try and leave the area. Following the river as far away from here as I can. Being stuck in what seems to be endless woods is still not as bad as being stuck in endless woods with no idea where to find water. So following the river is safest, even with the Bloodsucking Anteaters.


    As I was approaching the region near the river something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. Something moving FAST. I dodged backwards the second before that thought.


    I dodged backwards to see a ridiculously large rock fly by my nose. That was very close.


    Looking to the origin of the rock I saw a brown shaggy figure in the distance.


    No way...


    This bastard was a fu?k?n? Minotaur, not a Mammoth? Wait, neither of those work as an apt description. What the fu?k is this thing? How do I kill it properly?


    The moment I think that I notice something. This thing lacks protection around it''s neck like this. The fur that kept all our blows from causing damage is now practically non-existent.


    There is even a huge bulging vein on its furless neck, just asking to be slit open. You should have just kept crawling on the ground, where you belong, fu?k?n? trunkless elephant.


    I begun to move towards the Creature, moving in between the trees. My leg slows me down a bit, but it is not the first time I''ve had to move about with some broken bones.


    The creature throws two more stones, but having missed the first time as an ambush it could only dream about hitting me. But, it''s not like this thing changed forms just for fun. A human form is more suited for fighting because it allows the use of tools.


    The creature picks up it''s stick.


    Now when I say stick, I just mean it is like a stick, relative to this thing''s body. It just helps me thinking, you know, it''s really just a stick. In reality, it''s not a stick, it is basically a tree to itself, but this thing wants to whack me with it, so I will prefer to think of it as a stick.


    Of course, I won''t let that stick hit me regardless, so it doesn''t matter.


    I dive into the creature''s range and it''s stick is already swinging towards me. Having predicted it''s move, I dodged to the side. I go in for the kill, but it backs off.


    It becomes a repeating cycle. I advance, it retreats, and it repeats.


    Had it been before, my body would have already died from exhaustion, if this thing hadn''t killed me outright earlier. Yet even now I felt that I could continue moving, even if my body could not. After becoming more accustomed I could tell that with my ''Energy body'' I could treat my original body like a puppet, helping me move and take actions beyond my limits.


    Is this thing playing around? Or is it actually trying to exhaust my stamina?


    If the latter is the case, that is really bad. And besides that, ending this sooner is more likely to turn out better for me, regardless. I hesitated for a moment, but decided I needed to try it.


    I ran straight towards the giant, it noticed my action and seemed to purposefully hold its actions a bit, it''s guard was up so it did not believe I could get through to it. Of course, it was right. There is truly no way I can think of that would let me bypass the guard of a giant wielding a weapon and kill it.


    If it were possible to kill it from a distance I would, but those projectile psyblades could only annoy it. So I decided on this method.


    I close in, determined to kill it in one quick strike. The power flowing through me, I push it all into my legs, flying through the air. The creature, with a stern expression, swings it''s weapon straight in my path, a blow that was simply impossible to dodge.


    So, I didn''t dodge. I felt the impact of the massive stick, and at that instant, my consciousness shifted to my other body and I continued moving towards it. It took only instant to get within its range, and less than an instant to reach its neck.


    My hand formed a blade, and into that blade, I poured every bit my remaining energy. And then, using my other hand as a support, I poured in even more. Until a gleaming energy sword formed, and it plunged into its neck.


    "Guahe"


    The creature stumbled and fell back, I fell off of it, but the job was already done.


    It grabbed at its neck, trying to hold in the blood that was coming out all too quickly. It''s eyes betraying it''s disbelief, how could this have happened?


    It uttered out one last cry.


    "Goaaahhaaaaaaaree"


    But I shut it up, quickly plunging the blade in again and again. I need it die, I need this to end.


    It stops moving and I can see it stop responding to my actions, so I also stop.


    "Garoaahheeerr""Garoaaahheeeer""Garoaaahheeeeiir""Garoaaahheeeerr""Garoaaahhiee""Garoahie""Groaaahhe""Garoaaah""Garoaaahhi""Groahhe""Gar"GAROAHERRRRRR"


    From almost everywhere in the surrounding forests, there comes disturbingly familiar roars.


    ....Oh no.

 Chapter 7 - Many many Minotaurs

    ...It is about time to make a quick escape, I''d say.


    I return back to where my body is and look at it from the outside... I''m really not very good looking am I?


    Half of my body seems to be covered in bruising and my leg, which was already broken, seemed to be even more-so broken. I am numb to my injuries for now, as my consciousness is in my energy body. Looking at my body''s condition, I am also not looking forward to going back and feeling the consequences of my actions.


    My escape trip needs to start now. From the earlier sounds it seems like I will soon have a horde of monsters tearing me apart soon should I stick around.


    I decide to pick up my own body, using a fireman''s carry, and make my escape while letting my physical form heal. Unfortunately, my Energy Body had shrank slightly as I burned Mental Energy when forming my energy sword. Now being about 1.5m instead of 2, which will make my escape a bit more tedious.


    I began to move towards the river yet again.


    ...


    "Goaaahhaaaaaaaree"


    In the distance, he heard the distinctive death cry of pack member.


    No.


    Who would dare?


    The cry had come from near the river.


    This river acted as the border of their land, the Pilocai territory, and that of their competetitor''s, the Therious. The river itself was also the Domain of the Creoti.


    Although there are many ways a youth might die, not a single youth would release a death cry without good reason. The death cry is a warning, a warning of danger, of a potential threat to the tribe. If it were from a mere accident, if it were by the hands of a mere pray, the death is deserved and no cry could be uttered.


    A weakling would, after all, only become a burden to the pack. All are raised to understand their place and duties.


    If it is the Thareous, that is a major issue. Such a matter could easily result in a war.


    The creature shifted from his original form, into his Humanoid state. Becoming a 45 meter monster which towered over countless trees in the forest.


    It uttered a roar to respond to the call to rally, it''s anger and rage mixed within.


    "GAROAHERRRRRR"


    It ran through the forest towards the murderer who had harmed it''s kin. His roar echoed back the call deeper into the forest, calling more brethren to join the fight.


    ...


    I picked up my speed as I realized I could hear the thumping of giant footsteps behind me. I know I am headed in the right direction, but now it seems pointless as I will likely not even make it.


    Looking over my shoulder, I could see numerous looming figures approaching.


    Is there really anything that could be done in this situation? Is my death here now set in stone?


    The beings that gave out the system should at least somewhat care if I live or die, right?...


    Pht, a stone passed by my head, interrupting my train of thoughts.


    I began weaving between the trees. Although running in a straight line is the most efficient, for this situation it is better to just ensure my head isn''t smashed in by a rock.


    The immediate results of the action could be heard. The rocks, which they continuously threw towards me, became horribly inaccurate. The instant they would see me I would already be disappearing from their vision, behind yet another of the vast tree trunks.


    As some became impatient, they would just throw the instant they saw me without any thought. That was even worse, as they just hit air, not even able to hit the broadside of tree in the end.


    Still, as some threw their stones others continued their advance. Although they are not as fast in their Humanoid forms as in their original, likely because they are so massive, they still are much faster than a normal person due to their long legs.


    As with any group, there were some that are faster than others. Two particular minotaurs were the forerunners of the group, and had nearly caught up to me.


    To reward those two enthusiastic fellows for their hard work, I turned around and sent a barrage of psyblades at their legs.


    The actual damage was not much, but the shock from the impact together with how fast they were moving caused them to trip and fall over.


    But although they were temporarily out, more and more of the hairy fellows came forward one after the other. However, I also did my best to run. So as the more skilled runners among them were knocked down upon approach, I managed to pull further and further ahead.


    If it were not for the fact I had to keep shooting out psyblades at the fellows on the faster side, I would dare to say I could keep up the chase forever. At this rate though, I wouldn''t be able to last long.


    Luckily, I had already lasted long enough though. I could see the river, finally, in the distance. Ah~ my salvation, sweet glorious water filled with dangerous things.


    I heard a roar of significantly higher volume just as I encroached on the side of the river. Albeit, I wasn''t necessarily planning to do this originally, I think this may be the only way to escape this.


    I cast out Energy waves to see what dwells beneath the water the instant I am approaching it.


    What I see? Sparse fish, of the man-eating variety from the looks, and an enormous snake sleeping at the bottom of the stream.


    I jump into the water.


    The weight of my body on top of me makes me go down rather deep in the initial plunge. Once I submerged I could see the underwater world rather clearly even without the help of psychic power.


    The sudden change almost made me lose my own body. I grabbed it by one arm, put it over my neck, and began to swim upwards.


    Trying to swim through the water with my energy body, it took a lot more energy out of me. My energy body is not very buoyant at all, it took a lot to swim back up to the surface. When I made it back up, I heard my original body take a deep breath and cough out some water.


    Well, at least it worked out okay in the end. Let''s not try this again though. I pushed forward through the river and the nearby fish began to encroach.


    One of the fish, curious, comes quickly to take a bite of me. I hit it upside the head each time it tried until it swam away.


    I continued swimming through the river as quickly as I could, luckily the ''Minotaurs'' had stopped themselves at the edge of the bank. One could tell my actions had confused them for a moment, but then they cleared their heads and began casting stones at me.


    Noticing all of the stones landing around me, I begin to dip down sporadically underwater in evasion. Since I survived the first time, it should be fine?


    Each time I re-emerge I can hear myself coughing crazily. I suppose this counts as self-abuse? Well, it is something I have always done anyways.


    As I grew further away from the shore the stones were no longer even landing close to me. I loosened up on the submersion frequency to ensure my body had enough time to catch it''s breath. Gradually it began to feel as though the threat from the many minotaurs was fading away.


    However, the fish became more of a crisis the further I became from the shore. I managed to beat them away when they came one at a time. Yet now, they came in a group of three.


    Bloodshed was now inevitable. There was no need for it to be my blood though. Submerged, I looked about and saw numerous fish swimming towards me from all directions. I looked and saw off to one side a lone fish further in the distance, and I launched a few psyblades towards it.


    The psyblades seemed even weaker in the water, but they were just enough to draw blood. As it''s blood flowed and diffused through the water it pulled the attention of every fish around. A large majority of the fish happily changed their path and headed over there instead.


    I swam frantically, trying to get out of the river as quickly as possible. I created another fog of blood with a fish following closer behind me, managing to draw away another large portion of them.


    Eyes, which normally lack in blood vessels, bleed little even if badly damaged. So I could safely poke eyes so long as I didn''t literally poke them out.


    It was a long, tedious, continuous battle, just for the act of approaching the opposite shore.


    I swam through the river, killing, fighting, scraping by. When the other edge of the river was still 600 meters away, I heard resounding war cries from of the minotaurs on the now distant shore.


    Turning my head, I saw 12 enormous minotaurs, each towering above the trees. On each of their backs were bundles of giant throwing spears. Some already drawing one, some readying to throw.


    I dove down in an instant, but one of the spears had already arrived. It slammed into the water next to me, the force from it as though it was launched from a cannon. Parts of the rough wooden spear splintered apart on impact, the water caved inwards.


    It smashed into the water, su?k?n? me in from under the water and smashing into me with a wall of water above it. I was knocked flipping backwards through the air. Numerous booming noises resounded in the air as water flew all about as the other 11 spears landed subsequently.


    There was a short pause and things settled as the impacts became waves and the waves became ripples. Having no time to settle myself, having b?r?ly held on to my body through the impacts, I determined to escape regardless of cost.


    I dove down again, dragging my body deep under the surface. I see the deep white fronts of the crazy spear impacts happening in water above me, and the spears that went down and deep into the dark depths of the river.


    I started swimming forward again, heading towards the wall of earth I could see a small distance in front of me. I could still hear and feel the rumbling from the throwing spears, and it sounded like more spears were landing each volley.


    I realized that wasn''t the case rather quickly though.


    The spears that pierced into the depths of the water began to gain speed on their returning journey, their buoyancy propelling them back towards the surface. The new barrage of spears coming in, filled the gaps between them. Their impacts becoming greater, deeper, more intense than before.


    The new impacts su?k?d you in, the surfacing spears pushed you away. As they occurred in combination, the magnitude of them all combined and formed temporary currents under the water.


    The effects of this chaos extended deep down and all around, encompassing the entirety of my vision. The net of chaotic waters and erratically moving spears which cut off my path closed in around me.


    I calmed myself and tried casting out a psychic wave with my free hand to read the flow of the waters, as they tossed me about. I followed the flaws in the cage of currents, and slowly made my way forward. I felt the world going black as I finally reached the wall of dirt.


    Just as I reached it, the barrage of spears seemed to have stopped, and the waters calmed. I hesitated for a moment, but jumped out of the water regardless.


    I would definitely die in the water, but it was not guaranteed I couldn''t avoid the barrage of spears on the ground. Or at least, I convinced myself that was the case.


    Jumping out of the water, I instantly turned back. Half expecting a sharpened tree to already be flying my way.


    But what I saw was instead a battle between the minotaurs and a swarm of gigantic black river snakes. I cared not how it started, but it gave me opportunity to survive. I thanked the snakes in my heart, hoisted my body back over my shoulders, and ran into the forest.

 Chapter 8 - Journey to Nowhere

    I ran into the forest and continued to run onwards, up until the approach of night. Along the way I noticed various caves and burrows. With the onset of night, I decided to find one to hide out in.


    I stopped by one of the burrows, just large enough to stand up and walk about in it just a little, but still somewhat well covered by the greenery. I waved my hand and sent out a wave of energy to make sure nothing was inside, then went inside and propped my body up against the burrow wall.


    I covered the entrance with some light foliage but made sure to leave a enough gaps for air flow. I took a deep ''breath'' and finally returned to my body.


    Phuugh, I felt nauseous, tired, every possible negative bodily feeling hit me in an instant. My vision blacked out for a few moments before my senses came back to me. Gradually, I recooperated and managed to force my broken body back into a meditative stance.


    Going out right now was not a great idea with my injuries, so the best thing to do was to cultivate and regain energy. That way I could heal Meditite and have more help around.


    I get into the proper stance and begin to search for the ''star'' again. I look within myself with a sweep of mental energy.


    However, even if I try to ''look within'' using mental energy normally, it isn''t that simple to determine details. Basically the result is, yeah, I can definitely see myself sitting in the correct position.


    That is about it, not quite like the ''perfect x-ray vision'' like in movies. If I want to figure out or find leads on how to replicate the star, this won''t do.


    I bring out mental energy instinctually and channel it back into myself through my eyes. Following the optic nerve, the Energy travels to the stem of my brain.


    From the stem of my brain it then begins to slowly diffuse through my entire brain as well as down my spine, traveling more quickly and efficiently through some additional unknown channels within them.


    Channels, conduits of mental energy, with widths far smaller than a nanite, hidden within and between the neural synapses in an ethereal state. In myths they existed for Qi, body energy, etcetera. They were often closely ?ssociated with blood flow, but these channels are not in the physical plane, they penetrate even into completely avascular areas.


    I had sent the energy in to do a simple search, but once it went inside of the channels the Energy took on a will of its own and began this rapid saturation process.


    After diffusing throughout my brain it went further down the spine to the base of the skull, spreading throughout three vertebrae. It then diffused out into the smaller nerves and nerve endings in their immediate surroundings. The more minute channels in the spine ?ssisting the process. At the point it hit the fourth vertebrae it stopped.


    It then instead began to feed back up into the brain, the concentration of the energy swelling once the maximum capacitance was reached. At the moment the feedback occurred, the star began to appear. The energy flowing through the channels began to replicate and overflow.


    The overflowing energy funneled into and concentrated together just in front of my frontal lobes, forming into a small glowing bead of energy. A miniature star made of Energy. It just happened to be just beneath the skin, in between my brows and up near my forehead.


    The star, in truth, just a visual illusion made from the overflow of energy, its appearance was from the excess energy dancing on the surface of the spatial node which held the Mental Palace.


    This time the star was different though. The star from before was calm and natural, a byproduct of the system exercising it''s abilities. The light coming off of it was calm and ordered, like the drawn sun where each stand of light is like silk, smooth and straight.


    The star formed now was alike looking at the natural Sun, a star in it''s true splendor. The energy roiled about over the surface of the spatial node, energy arcing in perfect chaos, akin to Solar flares.


    I was filled with a sense of euphoria, the radiating energy flowing about my body filled me with strength. I felt as though my strength had greatly increased in but an instant. As though my torn and ragged nerves and body were soaking in the energy and becoming one with them.


    I quickly felt the problems in this sort of cultivation though. Not too long after I had formed the star my entire body felt as though it had been lit on fire.


    Not just the normal sort of fire. Sort of like that Hell fire, mixed with glass dust, acid, poison, all trickling down every wrong place. An unbearable sort of pain you would do most anything to stop, but you can''t.


    I stopped the cultivation process very quickly once the pain set in, but the pain just became more intense as time went on. Despite my very brain being on fire, I could not even pass out to mitigate the pain.


    Perhaps, it was exactly because it was my brain and not my body, that made it impossible for me to pass out. The burning of all my nerves making we twitch constantly, left me unable to scream or shout out, though I''m unsure if that is a good or bad thing.


    Time slurred together, I endured the pain in silence through the night. At some unknown time during the night Meditite must have recovered, as he was standing over me when I had finally come to.


    The dim light coming in from the opening to the burrow indicated it was already mid-day. I went out of the burrow and continued my journey through the woods.


    My wounds were still there, but my body was at least being held together well from my energy. I felt I had likely healed a great deal overnight. Though to what extent, I''ve no idea, at least it is enough to not hinder my movements.


    We moved so long as there was daylight, and took shelter in one of the numerous scattered burrows each night. When I had the chance during the night, I had returned to the World of Pokemon and requested a leave of absence from most of the classes.


    Meditite accompanied me in my Journey, we headed forever in the direction I believed was away from the river. The further we journeyed the more the forest thinned.


    As we traveled away from the river we had troubles over water for a time, but experimenting a bit we found that particular types of trees in the forest withheld water very well. Which we could easily extract using psyblade technique.


    Animals also became much easier to spot, when compared to pokemon they would only be around level 10-15, they could be easily hunted by Meditite and I for food. However, we would still have to run when encountering a horde of them.


    As we moved and the forest thinned more and more, the sky was no longer covered completely by overcast leaves and vines.


    Being able to now see the sky somewhat, I gradually noticed the strange fact that no sun ever appeared in this world''s sky. Nor did the light seem to originate from any particular direction.


    This means there are two possibilities.


    One is that the star(s) only ever appear just on the Horizon. A peculiar orbital system resulting in them never rising above it, at least for this season of the year.


    The second, there is an alternate physical phenomenon that is acting in the place of a star, acting as the light source for this planet. Certainly not an impossibility considering it is such a fantastical and strange world so far.


    Either being the case is likely of little matter. ''Maybe, if I have the time later, with the use of some *Starcharts, I may be able to determine just how large this world is. At that time it would come in handy to know what I''m dealing with.''


    I attempted the original method of simply visualizing the star again, and after cross-examining, I found it to be slightly less effective than the deviant method I created. Although the deviant method resulted in it''s fair share of discomfort, it was far more efficient.


    I found that using the deviant method my body in addition to my energy would also grow stronger each time by a small margin. Whereas with the original method my body would not strengthen no matter how much I used it, and the energy cultivation was also slightly slower.


    Excessive use of the deviant method would leave my entire body tense and sore afterward. In fear that overuse might cause damage to my body, I would use the original method on my off days.


    A week passed as I made this Journey and my body completely recovered, stronger than ever before. One morning I asked Officer Jenny to try testing my strength and she said my energy had reached the threshold of three pokemon.


    Still a long way to being a proper Pokemon Trainer, but still significant progress considering most spend years to get there.


    Every night I stayed in a burrow, and every night they were empty. Luckily enough, every burrow I entered would be empty upon arrival. Not even a bug could be found loitering about in them.


    It allowed me to always rest my body in relative comfort.


    At the close of every night I went through the different fundamental arrays for Pokeball crafting in the class. To practicing the different arrays we would inscribe on the bark of the apricot trees.


    The apricots which contained the most concentrated properties and energy of the trees were the only part that could be used to make a pokeball. However, any part of the tree could still be used to carve out the formations. It is only that you must carve out larger formations for them to be effective, due to the lower energy density.


    Essence Isolation Arrays


    - Isolates the essence of the Pokemon and analyzes it, retains the data and enables the other Arrays to perform operations and conversions without mishap.


    Essence-Energy Conversion Arrays


    - Converts a Pokemon from physical form to energy form and vice versa, can be broken down into three more arrays two for conversions in either direction, and one for compressing the two together.


    Establishment Arrays


    - Establishes a temporary array in the Trainer''s consciousness that allows the trainer to bond with and utilize the pokeball. This temporary array can be safely returned back into the original by the trainer at any time.


    It can also be tampered with to eliminate their connection, which harms both pokemon and trainer if they are still bonded, it can reset Ownership Array and allows a new person to take ownership.


    Ownership Arrays


    - Registers the Mental Energy of the Trainer and maintains a connection between the trainer and the Pokemon.


    - The active seals that retain the energy-form Pokemon within the Pokeball.


    Reinforcement Arrays


    - Utilizes the energy flowing through and into the pokeball in order to reinforce or alter the physical structure of the ball. This prevents the other Arrays as well as their foundations from chipping or weathering and allows for the Pokeball to shrink in size as needed.


    Synchronizing Arrays


    - Allows for the trainer and pokemon to intermix their energy in a cyclic manner, allowing for various cultivation methods.


    Imbuing Arrays


    - Refines and imbues Mental Energy of the Trainer into the Pokemon. This imbuement of energy makes the Pokemon instinctually loyal to the trainer, and also allows for the intemixing of energies to occur more smoothly for the trainer.


    Conduit Arrays


    - Concentrate energy and generate greater energy flow through d?s?r?d areas.


    Using these nine arrays in combination, one can make essentially any Pokeball. Of course, this is much easier said than done.


    In the creation of any array one must be familiar with both their tools and their material. The Mental Energy must be channelled and diffused into the material with precision, the diffusion process must occur at the instant the incisions are made such that the surface is not saturated with pollutant energy radiation.


    Too much energy put into the material at that instant and the material will be warped. Too little and the energy will not linger long enough to complete the array and make it self sustaining. The energy will slowly disperse after the initial incision. If you take too long then the energy will be too thin, allowing in pollutants, which again results in failure.


    The standard pokeball requires at least 300 of these arrays interconnecting with each other in order to function properly. No mistakes can be made on any one of those arrays or the entire pokeball would be ruined. This level of difficulty seems ridiculously high!


    It is not as though I thought making something that defies all logic would be easy, but I also did not think it would be so difficult?


    Another matter is the pricing. At a General Store any lowest grade apricot ball can be sold for about 150 Poke-dollars. On average the purchase price for a pokeball is double its selling price. Poke-dollars hold roughly equivalent value to the American Dollar, meaning buying any pokeballs are similar to purchasing a large household appliance or a television.


    It is neither cheap nor too expensive, it costs just enough money that you have to save up a bit to purchase it.


    Unfortunately, I had basically no way to earn that money. Unlike as-advertised by officer Jenny, it seems entirely impossible for me to start making my own pokeballs any time soon. I had half an impression that she was conning me into it because she felt bad about how few students he had.


    Fortunately though, this fool was actually rather desperate for students. After the first week of class many students realized how difficult this subject truly was and dropped out. Something that had apparently happened many times before.


    I appealed to the professor about my dire need for pokeballs and he happily agreed to draw up and accept an agreement in exchange instead of money.


    I signed an agreement stating that I would work my hardest and master Apricot Crafting, and pass down the knowledge to students in the future. In exchange, he would give me a stipend of two pokeballs. Since it was on-request I managed to get a Fast Ball and a Moon Ball, the first meant for Tauros and the second for Teddiursa.


    Mind you, this is basically giving approximately $500 - $600 for a pupil, actually rather generous if you think about it. Getting a pokeball in the pokemon world isn''t truly as easy as in a game.


    (*Starcharts -> Charts used in Astrology to record the movements of stars and planets in the night sky, was used hundreds of years ago to determine the rough size of the earth.)

 Chapter 9 - Smirking Shadows

    Grey walked through the woods, practicing his energy control as he moved under the light of dusk. Meditite followed closely behind through the air, using its psychic senses to monitor the surroundings.


    It had now been 12 days since he crossed the river to escape the ''minotaurs''.


    With his inhuman abilities he was capable of jogging through the woods at 40 miles per hour. He jogged about half of the time, and spent the rest of the time walking, practicing his array strokes on the bark of the local trees or Energy control.


    Since leaving the river behind he had traversed over 5000 miles (~8000 km).


    Over this entire period of time he had never once found another living thing in any of the caves or burrows he stayed in. These dark areas were like forbidden zones to the living. Not even the bugs you could find in these wilds would wander into them.


    Despite the warning bells that rang in his head due to that, those were still the only places he could possibly stay in and safely move between worlds without the disturbances of the wildlife.


    Over the past few nights he had run around doing chores at the Pokemon Police Academy, earning enough money to travel. He took leave for pokemon training and purchased a bus ticket to the Laramie Ranch.


    ...


    "NOBODY IN THIS BUS BETTAH MOVE UNLESS YA WANT HOLES IN YA!"


    "HAHA, YEAH, AND MAKE THAT DOUBLE"


    "NAH, TRIPLE"


    "NO! NO! QUINTOUPLE~"


    "That''s five you idiot, not four!! WE ARE THE GRUNT QUARTET!"


    Four voices rang out in a loud voice, and four people stood up from their seats with automatic weapons that appeared from seemingly nowhere.


    Each of them were muscular guys who wore sunglasses and the classic tourist-like shorts and T-shirts. With excellent showmanship they each tore off their floral T-shirts to reveal plain white T''s with a Red ''R'' on them.


    "Team Rocket Grunts!"


    "Ichi!" "Zwei!" "Tres!" "And Sei!"


    "We''s is here to steal you''s Pokemon! Hand them over real nice-like or this is gonna get Nasty!"


    An old man next to Ichi stood up, "Now young man, there is no need to do this!"


    "I told you! Nobody move! Or do I need to make another example!"


    The old man collapsed to the ground as blood pooled under his feet, the woman next to him had blood spattered over her face from the wounded man screamed. I made up my mind to make a move once the gun went off and dashed towards Grunt called Sei.


    The man noticed me and shot at me, but the bullet had little effect on me and I quickly made it to him, forming a blade on my two forefingers I stab into his eye and through his head, killing instantly.


    "Shit! He must be a Psychic Pokemon Trainer! Everyone, take out your pokemon and keep shooting him to wear down his energy! Machop, Go!"


    "Drowzee, Go!"


    "Raticate! Go!"


    Red Light flew at me from their pokeballs as the light transformed into pokemon that attacked me.


    Machop flew straight at me through the air, seeming to be preparing to bring down a chop on my head. Drowzee appeared on the far side of the bus, casting waves of psychic energy towards me. Raticate ran swiftly on all fours down the bus aisleway, a quick attack?


    I did not feel the need to fight them head on at all though. I jumped up, placing a hand on the roof of the bus and a foot on one of the seat frames, I launched myself at Machop while deflecting the waves from Drowzee. At the instant we came into contact I steadied myself on a frame, deflected his chop to the side and threw him heavily into the nearest Grunt.


    At that instant Drowzee''s eyes seemed to dim and it fell backward, seemingly unconscious. However, Raticate still chased after me, and Machop and the Grunt under him hurriedly tried to get back to their feet despite spitting blood.


    The bullets continually hitting me together with the energy for attacks began to wear on me slightly, so I sought to end it quickly. I launched a series of psyblades at the last Grunt standing.


    However, suddenly, Raticate jumped out to block it for his trainer. Unfortunately, I have no pity for murderous thieves, and so it became a psyblade storm which tore Raticate into pieces along with his trainer behind him.


    "You! You dare to defy Team Rocket! We may have been gone for awhile, but to think we would be thought so little of, to be defied on even a small Operation like this. No one can defy the glory of Team Rocket and live, NO ONE!"


    The Grunt Ichi ripped off his Team Rocket Shirt, revealing a vest lined with explosives, he reached into his pocket and pulled out what appeared to be a dead-man switch.


    I rushed over to the man but despite being faster than a normal human, the grunt still managed to flip open and press the switch before I reached him.


    In the instant after he pressed it, I still followed through with my full power tackle, and we both smashed through the window and into the air. After we flew a few meters I felt a huge pressure coming off of the Grunt and heard an incredibly sharp and terrible noise.


    As incredible pain ripped through me as my body was blown apart.


    ...


    ...


    How long has passed? Such a strange feeling, to feel like nothing. To see, hear, feel, nothing. Did I survive or did I die? Am I still me? Or am I now mere fragments of myself?


    ...


    My awareness finally returned to me completely and I was able to look out into the world from my Spatial Node in the Pokemon World. Using the innate powers of the node I was able to ''see'' the surroundings of the node, but my energy was too weak to properly form a body.


    Looking out from the Node I could see the Bus turned over not too much further down the road, tipped over on its side. There were still some anguish and the like, but some passerby people and their pokemon seem to have just arrived and were helping people out of the partially burning bus.


    Over on the ground by the busted out windows I saw the now owner-less Pokeball of the Machop. Burning a bit of my remaining energy I managed to f?r??b?? move the spatial Node over to it and collect it, and then I did the same for the Drowzee Pokeball.


    Team Rocket won''t be needing these fellows anymore, and there is nothing particularly wrong with stealing from thieves. A pure psychic and a pure fighting type both walked right to me, what right did I have to deny them a better trainer?


    I used what little remaining energy I had to imprint on the two Pokeballs and ?ssimilate them into the mental space, and then returned to the other world.


    -------------------------------------------------------------


    It is the duty of the Shephards to ensure that Humans remain within the Mid-land circle. Any dereliction of duty on the part of a Shephard is a capital offense, none can be allowed to enter the outer-circle and harvesting must always be on time.


    Although this may seem harsh, their race is naturally long-lived and do not require the sleep that humans do, so them this is an easy detail to attend to. Their spiritual senses can also pick up movement over large swathes of land, so any attempts at escape from their captive "tribe" are inevitably doomed.


    Even the strongest of the Humans kept there, their chieftains, always rely upon Qi and Origin Energy as their strength. Even at their strongest they would b?r?ly match up to one of the lowest tier Therian, and even then they had no way to harm the ethereal bodies of the Therians with their primitive energy methods.


    The humans are some of the most precious livestock in the territories. Easy to handle and able to free-graze with minimal management. You need not worry much about safety issues, even a child could handle them.


    Their emotional intelligence is high and their logical intelligence is just good enough to produce small amounts of Spiritual and Mental energies without giving rise to a threat.


    The perfect livestock, with some torture/slaughter they produce a very high yield of negative energies. Keeping intelligent creatures suppressed makes their residual spirits just fall apart all the better. Tender, like meat falling off the bone.


    Each Tribal chieftain is carefully raised by their owner shephard. By purposefully inciting other humans to run or fight, the chieftain and shephard are able to both cow the humans into submission and pull a higher yield.


    The chieftain, in exchange for his services, is the only human allowed to live to an old age. Making it a position coveted by many, and allowing many to overlook or excuse themselves from their crimes against their fellows.


    This day, in particular, the Chieftain had done especially well in his work. A small group of six, an experienced hunting group, sought to escape away in the night. All the shepherd needed was to lie in wait for them to walk into his gaping mouth.


    Over the time Grey had been cultivating, ever since the battle with the minotaur, Meditite had been cultivating along with him. Practicing constantly in both fighting and psychic techniques.


    The strength of Meditite had skyrocketed, even faster than his own. It''s previous losses motivated it greatly and brought it huge gains. Not to mention that its master was irregularly strong for his cultivation stage, and the environment on this world contained denser energy than the Pokemon world.


    When he met Meditite it was at best level 5, but now it had already reached a major threshold. A formidable Pokemon at level 20. For Meditite to break through any further would require Grey to break through to an Official Pokemon Trainer.


    Today, like every night, it stayed on watch for its master Gray as he traveled between their worlds. After its previous failure and its newly increased strength, it was now determined to prove itself worthy of its master. Night after night it was disappointed with lack of opportunity, at most there would be the occasional stray animal.


    Tonight was destined to live up to it''s expectations though. In it''s meditation it sensed a small group of humans moving hurriedly through the forest nearby.


    Humans!! Like his master!!


    Although there were plenty of humans in the pokemon world, his master had yet to find a single one in this new world they inhabited. His master deeply and obviously d?s?r?d to find other humans in this world, and here the opportunity was, passing him by as he was in a deep sleep.


    The humans moving through the forest seemed to be startled by something, it appeared as though they were being chased by something...


    Well, this was not an opportunity his master would want him to let pass by. Furthermore, they were all approaching the resting place of his master. If he did not stop them, they could potentially find the master and then he would be in danger.


    Meditite thought, there should be no problem with beating the creature and saving the humans. So long as it is not one of those big hairy things, as there are just too many of those things. It is not worth the danger to his master.


    The thing pursuing them finally cam into its field of sight, a silhouette, a shadow figure, nearly invisible to the eye as it moves through the night.


    The creature was ethereal, a thin and unblemished humanoid shape. With fingers, nail-less, that came to a sharp point. Glinting red eyes and numerous short, sharp, needle-like teeth.


    The sight of such a creature, which instilled such fear in those humans, brought excitement to Meditite.


    A worthy enemy!

 Chapter 10 - Slapping a Demon

    We ran, we ran as hard as we could, as long as we could. But we were exhausted, scared. The elders state that the demons would hunt down any who dared wander outside the homelands.


    The Demons feed on fear and despair, one who is brave and fearless would provide them no sustenance even when killed. Or at least, doing so would make you far less appetizing to them.


    I only wish I knew how to be truly free of fear, to be truly brave. Maybe then the damned thing would leave us alone.


    At the start, when we fled the camp, although our hearts were heavy at leaving home.. I still thought us ready to face any foe.


    However, the moment we crossed the borderlands, passing the trees marked by our ancestors, we were stalked by this Demon.


    No, not stalked. We were haunted, tormented. The demon appears and disappears like the wind. It would draw blood with claw and laugh, its tongue on touch made it feel like your soul was rended, a pain unlike any other.


    Our attempts at retaliation, no more than than the subject of jokes for this creature. Our attacks merely pass through it harmlessly as it laughs in its soul-shaking voices and carves into you at will.


    We all knew death was upon us, and at one point Will attempted to turn back to return to camp instead but was killed on the spot.


    So instead we continued on without him, trying our best to escape, trying our best to hold onto that thread of hope we would escape.


    Because what else did we have to hold onto anymore. But after three days of Journey we saw no end to the chase, no end to the endless forestry.


    What the creature wanted was to fatten us for the slaughter, to bring our fear and despair to the peak. We all knew the purpose for it''s chase, it''s taunting. Yet there was nothing we could do about it.


    Three sleepless nights, filled with constant torment, no hope in sight. I could see their will to live die in each of my comrades eyes. Despite my attempts to show the contrary in my own expression, I knew I too likely bore such eyes.


    Fear and despair had overwhelmed each of us despite our efforts, and in its eyes we were likely akin to the beast so fat it fell from the herd. Good, easy, tasty prey. Finally, as we ran, I saw Horus fell back and I stopped to try and help him.


    "Get up Horus! We need to keep moving! Even if you''ve given in to despair, keep moving with us and don''t you dare show it!"(Ferrus)


    Horus, who now fell to the ground, stared at us as tears filled his eyes.


    "Damnit Ferrus! I don''t have it in me to keep going! After Will, I have the next lowest cultivation. My body has already pushed itself to the limit over these few days, just go on without me.


    I am ready to die, but I will show this creature my stubbornness before the end."(Horus)


    "Ahh~ then I~ will see~ how that stubbornness breaks~ as each of your fingers, pried off as my treats~ Your friends will die in most gruesome of ways, and your eyes will bear witness to your Shepherd, your better. Hahahahaha"


    The Demon flashed past me and I felt a sharp pain on my stomach. I coughed up a mouthful of blood and fell to my knees. Looking down, I saw my innards hanging out of the hole in my stomach.


    As I fell to the ground I saw the Demon fly past me and crash into a tree, knocking it down in the process. Someone had come to help us, it seemed, but I felt too tired to care any more.


    I couldn''t keep my eyes open any longer, so I tried to rest my eyes, hoping this situation would soon be over and we could all just go home soon.


    -------------------------------------------------------------


    Meditite quickly sped through the forest towards the Humans and their pursuer. One of the humans fell to his knees in exhaustion and the other ran back to get him, they spoke back and forth to each other as the Creature settled into the shrubbery.


    What are these stupid humans doing?


    Did they want to be eaten?


    Well, even if they want to, my master would still want them alive so I cannot allow them to kill themselves.


    As I reached the 300 meter marker the Humans finally came into view for my physical eyes. At that time the Creature had jumped out of it''s concealment and slashed open one of the Humans.


    Damn it! This bastard! My master might even scold me for losing that human! Getting me into trouble!


    As the human fell to the ground, the creature dashed towards another human closer to me. But it was too late, because I had already reached it.


    I was already on top of the creature when it finally noticed me, and looked up at me with it''s slowly widening eyes drawn towards the giant hand formed from my psychic energy.


    It coughed up a mouthful of black blood.


    "You dare to oppose our Theri Spirit Tribe on our own land?"(Demon)


    I ignore the statement and form a new giant fist to backhand the arrogant critter back into tree, this time with a bit more force, toppling the enormous tree in the process. It coughs up more blood.


    "Stop! Stop!! I will hold no offense over your trespassing here, just leave! We have no reason to fight here!"


    What sort of an idiot is this thing? What Theri Tribe? What trespassing? I just want to kill you and take these humans, so you must die.


    The humans gaze at me with wide-eyes, as though astounded by what they are seeing. Yes, I am quite amazing, aren''t I humans. Make sure you tell my master this too when you see him.


    I put on a bit of showmanship for the humans, picking up it''s body off the ground and smashing it back into it. Playing with my prey.


    However, even after hitting it so many times, it''s ethereal body is very resistant to the physical part of the attacks. Although I inflicted plenty of damage due to the psychic energy in the attack, it lacked the ability to deal a fatal blow.


    In the end, I used confusion. Unleashing a torrential storm of chaotic mental energy on the creature, which shredded it''s spirit-like body.


    -------------------------------------------------------------


    The battle from earlier had left the surviving three shaken to the core.


    The Demon which had appeared to kill them at last! The Spirit which appeared from nowhere to save them! The domineering might displayed in the battle!


    It was like an epic of the Oral Records.


    From the might the Spirit had shown, it was even stronger than the Camp''s Chieftain, an expert at the peak of the Body Tempering Realm. It seemed the spirit had already crossed the threshold of Body Tempering and was the equivalent of a Qi Drawing Realm expert.


    In the camps, to enter the Qi Drawing Realm was forbidden. To enter such a realm, one must forsake their Humanity and forge a contract with the Demons.


    Becoming a Demonic slave.


    For those who desperately seek a prolonged life, they often do not mind living a life of servitude. It is just the way of things for them to surrender more freedom in exchange for benefits.


    For those with pride in their bones, fortitude and conviction, they would at best reach the peak of Body Tempering before looking for an opportunity to escape the land of the Demons. As their group did, hoping to find a way to survive in the unclaimed wastelands.


    The rumors state that even the bystanders of the village were tortured for many days for the infraction. The family of this hero were tortured for months on end for their lack of proper discipline. And then the hero himself was being tortured still to this very day, despite many years having passed.


    Only those removed a village, who traded with them, were graced with a swift death.


    Only beings of the Greater Races were ever allowed to break through to such a realm freely. Any being of the Lesser Races who could beat the odds to break through would only face suppression or death, these two options only.


    The fact that this spirit being which had appeared before them had such a strength could mean only one thing. It too was a being of the Greater Races, and did not fear the retaliation of the Demons.


    It is said that even the most benevolent Greater Being would not deign it worth their while to help a being of the Lesser Races. To them, doing so is as ridiculous a concept as a man bending down to save an ant being washed away by rain.


    Surely, one might actually even do so once or twice, compelled by some sort of misled compassion. But you would quickly realize how futile and tedious such an effort is. The entire world competes for resources, for the weak to be suppressed was only natural.


    And yet, here was such a being of the Greater Races, coming to their rescue in a time of need. That too, defending them by going against another being of the Greater Races.


    Living under the suppression of the evil and demonic Therious, they were left in awe by the benevolent acts of this Great Being.


    In their mind they thought, if only our race could serve under this being''s race instead of the Demons. If even a few of them had the same temperament of this one.. Compared to their current masters, their circumstances would be like the difference of night and day.


    When the Great Being beckoned to follow they immediately began to follow with hasty steps.


    One of the girls in the group turned and bowed with her hands together towards the still-warm body of her brother, whispering some words of grief beneath her breath. Then turned again to follow decisively, a tear rolled down her face as her eyes changed slowly from soft to stern.


    When the Great being held out a hand, gesturing for them to stop, they immediately stopped in their tracks. It waved it''s hand with what appeared to them as great majesty, again gesturing to them to kneel down. Immediately they fell to their knees and cowtowed to the being in a display of submission.


    The being shrugged, turning around, it went into the nearby burrow.


    The three, two women, one man, waited patiently while retaining their posture of submission. Unwilling to move, lest this great being might refuse to allow them under him as his subordinates.


    -------------------------------------------------------------


    Grey awoke with a start back in the cave, a cold sweat ran down his back as cry escaped his lips from the aching pain, which split his head in two.


    When he awoke he found Meditite already awaiting him by his side.


    Meditite had a concerned but stern expression as if scolding him for being reckless.


    Grey''s body had become very thin but muscular, fit, but malnourished. His once tan skin which was now a pale, sickly white, was even more so pronounced after his awakening.


    The effects of his alternate body being blown up could be seen visibly, with ease.


    His cultivation method had frequently drained his body of its nutrients to condense his bodily strength and mental energy. Together with his spirit leaving his body frequently, this was blatantly abusing his body. Resulting in this current bizarre appearance of a beggar-bodybuilder.


    His eyes flashed and before him appeared two more spirit-like figures, akin to Meditite. They were the Machop and Drowzee he had stolen from Team Rocket.


    The eyes of the two were indifferent, their previous master''s deaths seeming to have not affected them much. However, one could see a trace of unwillingness in their eyes towards their new master.


    Grey knew from games that ''traded'' pokemon could be problematic at times. However, he was more or less a beggar both in appearance and in reality, regardless of whether it was this world or the pokemon world. He needed to pull these two into the fold.


    Unfortunately, he had exhausted all of his strength in the pokemon world, he had no means to force these two into submission right now.


    However, he and Meditite had now been comrades in arms for a while now. He knew he could trust such a minor task as cowing new recruits into submission to him.


    Grey shot his intent over to Meditite, who''s eyes immediately widened and then shrank into a sharp gaze.


    ''Of course you can leave such a small matter to me, The Great Meditite!'' His eyes seemed to say.


    Meditite''s eyes flared with anger as he looked over the two newbies, ''you dare disregard MY master'', it thought.


    Meditite swept his eyes over them them and pressed down on the two with his mental energy, forcing them to their knees.


    Energy fluctuations passed between Meditite and the others, it would appear as if Meditite was communicating with them in some way.


    As Meditite communed with them their eyes seemed to shake with shock and disbelief, moving swiftly between Meditite and Grey over and again.


    The two new recruits, after some time, had their eyes shift from shock to uncertainty to resolution, they nodded to one another as if in agreement to something. Then bowed slightly towards their new master.


    After resolving the matter of the two recruits, Meditite sent another sort of message to Grey.


    "What?!? We have visitors waiting for us? Why on earth are there visitors waiting outside for us? We are in the middle of the wilderness after all! Well, whatever, let''s go and greet them then."

 Chapter 11 - Pride

    Walking out of the cave I saw three people with their faces planted in the dirt. As me and the pokemon neared them they began to tremble.


    Are they really this scared? Why even come here if you are this scared? How did these people even get here anyways?


    "Hey! Get up. What are you three even doing, don''t you kowtow to me!"(Grey)


    Yet the three just kept trembling even more fervently. The man in the middle hesitantly spoke up in a muffled voice, with his head still in the ground.


    "We dare not get up Great One, we dare not even look, we would not wish to disrespect you in any way. We wish only to serve."


    I could not help but let out a sigh in exhasperation. Dramatic idiots like this really exist? I didn''t even do anything to be worshipped like this, did I?


    "Just get up! Get up already! How exactly do you expect to serve anyone without standing on your own two legs. Your legs look fine to me, use them! And I''ll tell you, I would never let anyone work for me, who cannot even dare look straight at me."


    The three stand up and raise their heads. Surprise flashes through their eyes as they see Grey standing in front of them, then fear overtakes it as they see his spectral-like pokemon standing around him. Their bodies quiver again, and with slight bows and tilted heads, "We greet the masters." they say.


    As they raise their heads he realized they look different than the average person. Definitely human, but unlike any genealogy or ''race'' from earth. They had grey-black skin, a skin color unseen on earth.


    Their skin was abnormally fair, even when compared to the actors in movies, with all of their make-up. Their gray-black skin had a healthy glow to it, with each of their facial features like the finest stone sculptures.


    Each had a red array symbol imprinted onto their forehead. Rather than a tattoo, it looked more like the symbols were fused into their heads. Nevertheless, each array was alike a work of art, as though it came not from man but nature.


    In his moment of pondering, a question comes again. This time, from the girl with brown hair.


    "May we ask for the grace of the Masters?"


    ''What fu?k?n? masters, all that is here is me and my pokemon.'' He thinks, ''Wait.''


    He looks behind himself to confirm, and yes. There is only a cave, and his pokemon, NO masters.


    ''These fellows are surely delusional. No, I''m sure they think they have a good reason to act this way, I just can''t imagine what it is.''


    He adopts a ''dignified'' posture and proceeds to answer them.


    "There are no ''masters'' here. I am Grey, these are my Pokemon."


    ''I can''t believe I just said that in a serious tone.''


    "In a way, you could say that I am their master, but I don''t typically treat those under me in the way a ''master'' would.


    If you want to follow me, perhaps I can allow that, and I will show you what I can. When your abilities are enough, you can do your best to help me where you can."


    ''No reason to let these guys wander around the forest acknowledging random people, I''ll take free underlings where I can get them.''


    The girl with red hair, concealing her own confusion, stepped forward to talk.


    "Forgive me Master, but your form looks so much alike a human. We humans have always been among the Lesser Races, that master would deem our form worthy to ?ssume and deem us worthy of teaching, we could never ask for more."


    The statement left Grey stunned,


    ''I feel like there was too much information in that statement to take in at once.''


    That one statement made him need to stop and think for a moment before he formed an idea of how this world might be to them.


    "Which Race are you currently under right now?"


    "Master, we currently live within the territory of the Demons.. the Therious!"


    "Oh? And what do they do exactly, that you would call them demons? Do you not serve them?"


    "Master, we do not serve them willingly. Only a few traitors of our race would do so, the Demons are our natural enemy."


    "I see."


    "Yes, they keep us alive only so they can kill us. They fatten us up and feed from the negative energies released at death, or they use our bodies as fertilizer for their mines."


    "I understand."


    "Master, things have always been this way since times of old, but.. I believe, anything would be better than this! Please, let us serve you! Let our people break away from this horror that is our lives!"


    A smoldering anger appeared in Grey''s eyes, listening to their story. But he suppressed his emotions.


    "Then, I will give you another proposal."


    Their eyes lock onto him.


    "I will lead you."


    "Thank you, master!"


    "But I will do so in my own way, and I will have very specific expectations of you as such."


    "Yes master, you may demand of us, anything."


    "My expectations are this: Learn all you can, and for now just follow my lead to the best of your abilities. A proper leader does not train others to follow. I will gradually train you to where you can even train others to lead.


    Someday, you will lead others to lead as well. They will then train those after them in the same fashion, and so on. This is how the Human race will rise, how they will never again be considered a lesser by any being.


    Now rise, raise your head up, act with a bit of pride. Don''t ever let me hear you call yourselves one of the Lesser Races again.


    I will show you how to kill the Demons."


    In a daze from the speech they recieved, they stood up in unison, "YES MASTER!"


    They shouted with vigor, but Grey could tell from their eyes they had not understood. They showed obedience and subservience toward him. There was not a trace of the pride or ambition of a Human, more like the loyalty of dogs towards a sincere master.


    However, that is to be expected. As most all people know, words are cheap. He would show them with his actions and teach them with their own actions. They would learn, with time, and the words would sink in.


    He only wished to reflect his intentions at the outset. This was the planet he made home on now, he would not see humans being oppressed anywhere on this planet. He would need to build a force if he wanted any semblance of a life here.


    Why not start with these three? Even if they seemed somewhat hopeless on first impression, he had seen plenty pathetic fellows be whipped into shape in the past. These fellows would be no different.


    Well, even if one or two were no good, they could still be used as fertilizer for the next try. An impassioned speech is still enjoyable anyways, even if it doesn''t serve a purpose.


    ''But then again, how on earth did they end up here? Did Meditite bring them over? It isn''t like people just go randomly acknowledging people and begging to serve them. Just what exactly was he doing while I was gone?''


    "Good! I look forward to working with you three in the future. ''Cough'' So, um... what are your names?"


    The girl with brown hair, "Seran".


    The girl with red hair, "Gina".


    The sole man of the group, "Horus".


    Talking to them I got to know of the nearby ''village'' of humans. The nearest village was at least a 4 days walk, the Demon in charge of this region was apparently killed recently, so we did not need to worry about encountering any resistance on the way there.


    I asked them if they knew any cultivation methods and it seemed, more or less, that their cultivation was dependent on those formations on their heads. Considering how weak they are, I wasn''t all that interested in learning their cultivation method.


    Considering the situation, these things may even have some sort of hidden purpose, a trick left behind by the Demons just in case. Even if it did hold greater potential, I wasn''t willing to delve into the matter until I better understood the formations themselves.


    Still, these formations held little to no similarities to the ones I had learned in the Pokemon world. They didn''t even seem to use the same type of energy system. So for now, I had no idea where I would even begin.


    For now, I figured the best option was to teach them mental cultivation methods from Pokemon World. I showed them a condensed form of Mental Energy, telling them to envision the star between their brows and focus on trying to draw energy from it.


    They were already accustomed to Qi cultivation, which would make it awkward switching over, but this was a very simple method to pick up and they did so after a short lesson.


    Their talent seemed to be nowhere near as good as his however. Though, the system had indirectly given him numerous boosts in terms of abilities that influenced his growth, so that''s likely to be expected.


    They now had much greater hope in breaking through to higher levels using this method than they did before. At the very least, they should all reach the level of a pokemon trainer with a few months.


    Considering those in the pokemon world would take a few years of training, this was actually rather fast.


    Still, ''This is too slow, I need to find a way to gain strength faster. I need to hurry and find a world where I can gain in strength even faster. I need to hurry to the pokemon trainer level.''


    I allocated out work to them for while I was gone.


    Meditite would serve as my bodyguard, per usual, and he would also ?ssist in the training of Drowzee while I was gone. The constant presence of Mental Energy from those two would also stimulate the growth of the other three.


    As for those three, they would take turns in hunting and preparing food for the group, and then train in off time. I made sure to plan it out so they still got the appropriate amount of sleep, but they would be very busy still. I didn''t have time to deal with all those sorts of things after all.


    Every waking hour of mine was already filled with work after all, and even every sleeping hour for that matter. Even one less thing to worry about was a great relief.


    Finally, I decided it would be best to just bring machop along with me. After all, as a fighting type, the only way to get experience was to fight and he would get plenty of that following me around.


    When I returned to the Pokemon World all I could see on the road was a few metal scraps, small remnants from the original Bus wreckage. From the scraps I managed to determine what direction it was the Bus was originally headed, telling me which way I needed to go to get to the Tauros Ranch.


    ''Ugh, paying so much for a Bus ticket, yet now I''m still running.''


    I brought out Machop and told him he had to run along with me. I called it training, but really, I just didn''t want to suffer the long-distance run alone. Besides, it was partially his fault the Bus was destroyed, he can bear the consequences together with me.

 Chapter 12 - No Survivors

    It took me the entire day, running in Pokemon World, to finally arrive at the mapped location of Laramie Ranch. However, all I found upon arrival were the remnants of a building, burning wildly.


    The building itself looked as if it were once an enormous mansion or more likely a community building. However, it''s current appearance was as though it were hit repeatedly on one side, by something akin to a giant wrecking ball. Wreckage from the building was strewn out for a large distance on the opposite side of where the building once stood.


    In the surroundings were various fencings which lacked any of the Pokemon which were meant to be within them.


    ''Damn it, can''t anything ever go right for me.''


    I took Machop with me and we searched through the remnants of the building for any survivors.


    I used my mental energy to smother the flames in the areas we passed through, and we yelled out to see if we could get any responses.


    For the most part, all we found were ashes and bodies, strewn about.


    However, I checked on each of the bodies we found just in case, and found two who happened to still be breathing, albeit unconscious, in bad shape. It was an old Uncle and a young girl.


    Using water and some of the cloth and wreckage I roughly cleaned their wounds and bandaged what I could, with some help from Machop.


    The older man had a more serious injury on his arm, which began to bleed significantly after removing him from the wreckage. I hastily tied off the arm to cut off circulation with an improvised tourniquet, but that is a dangerous method to use in itself, I would have to get him to some real professionals or he would eventually have to lose the arm.


    Considering the precarious situation they were in, and that there were no phones around, all I could do was carry them somewhere safer and try to get help.


    I pulled the man''s good arm over my shoulder and lifted him up in a carry, having Machop carry out the other survivor. I headed back towards the road, hoping to find someone to call for an ambulance, but the man woke up shortly after I carried him out of the wreckage site.


    "Stop! Put me down! Stay off the road!"


    The man yelling in my ear startled me, but I set him down just after he asked it.


    The man steadied himself on his feet after I let him down, but his face was still very pale due to his blood loss and injuries.


    "This was not an attack anyone was meant to survive, their intent was to exterminate anyone related to our Ranches, there will be Agents waiting on the roads, I remember, they said, no survivors... We need to get out of here now."


    "Okay, but I know another way, through the forest, to a nearby Hospital. If you wouldn''t mind, could you help us a bit more and come along."


    I nodded in understanding.


    "Of course, however I can help. Please tell me about the situation as we move though. I need to know what we are dealing with here."


    "Of course"


    I urged him to be in more of a hurry because of the turinquet, and quickly affixed his injured arm to his ?h?st with an improvised cast, and we moved through the forest towards the hospital.


    As we moved he told me what had happened.


    Team Rocket had came for revenge.


    Giovanni himself appeared, together with Mewtwo. Giovanni and an Army of Team Rocket Agents and Grunts appeared in the middle of the day, out of nowhere, announcing their arrival and reason for their appearance.


    Four Grunts had been killed on a Bus to their Ranches, someone had to be held accountable.


    Immediately after his speech, and before any rallying cry could even be issued, Mewtwo flew up into the air and cast out three shadow balls. As those three balls curved through the air they grew at a rapid pace until they eclipsed even the building itself in height.


    They smashed through the building with immense force, killing everyone in contact with it. Most all within the building died in that instant, and many were also pierced or crushed to death from the rubble and shrapnel from the impact.


    Only a few trainers and their pokemon managed to escape the building, and they were then besieged by the Army of Rocket Agents and their Pokemon. Who killed all those remaining. Then, a few of their pokemon set fire to what little remained, and they left.


    This was what it meant to be held responsible for the Death of Team Rocket members, that was the message Giovanni wished to spread.


    Aside from the Ranches, the only person involved in any other factions would be me, and I was counted as a part of the police-force and state, likely presumed dead. Since they did not have the strength to overthrow the current government of the region just yet, Giovanni directed the anger of his subordinates towards the Ranches.


    The savage and decisive nature of The Team Rocket of this world was shocking. They would slaughter a large community of the Kanto Region, just to send a message. This would definitely invite outrage and a call to action when it came out.


    We made our way quickly through the forest, following directions from the Uncle. He was clearly very experienced moving within these woods, and led us through the unbeaten brush with practiced ease. However, as we moved, one could see smoke rising in the distance, off in many directions.


    Presumably the other Ranches, or at least their Main Buildings.


    The man proclaimed that the Hospital was not far, and at the very least no smoke appeared to be coming from that direction. We could only hope it was still safe, but if Team Rocket is careful, they may still have people posted there.


    However, we arrived without any bad encounters.


    A Nurse appeared (Unfortunately, not Nurse Joy) and took the Uncle into the ER at the first moment we arrived. Then another Nurse came and brought the little girl into a room to check her wounds and get her into a bed.


    There were a large numbered of injured patients within the Hospital already and the Doctors and Nurses were hurriedly moving about, prioritizing the more seriously injured.


    A few minutes after I arrived, the local Officer Jenny appeared and I approached her.


    "Hello Officer Jenny"


    "Hello there! Do you know what is going on!? I saw the smoke while on patrol and when I got there, I found there was nothing left! I visited three different locations to check for survivors before I came here to see if anyone made it out!"


    "Yes, a number of people seemed to have made it out from some of the nearby buildings and made their way here. This was an attack by Team Rocket. They are simply going around, killing anyone in the area.


    Even their leader, Giovanni, is here."


    "Giovanni!! A Pokemon Master is here!?! We need to evacuate these people now then! If he shows up here, we will stand no chance against him!"


    Looking at this Officer Jenny, she was visibly shaking in fear.


    "Shape up Officer Jenny, we can still evacuate those who are able to be evacuated. Take a look at those Doctors and Nurses, they know just as well as you do the danger they are in, and they have not stopped doing their job for a moment."


    She nodded her head, but her fear clearly didn''t abate, she was merely trying harder not to show it. I sighed, this woman would likely be useless if a combat situation arose.


    "Right, so Officer Jenny, how about you start with evacuating those with worse injuries that aren''t critical. I''ll ask one of the Nurses to help pick them out, and you can drive the Ambulance, that way more can fit in with you."


    Her mouth still closed taught, she nodded again and followed me over to the Nurse and I worked out the plan with them on who would be sent out.


    "Thank you for all the help, I called for back-up a while ago and told them to come here when they arrive. Unfortunately, because a Pokemon Master is involved, there won''t be any back-up until one of the Pokemon League Masters arrive.


    They don''t want to uselessly throw away Police lives.. without a Master you cannot fight a Master. I''m sorry, but if they come here, please try to help whoever you can to escape from here."


    "At least, there will be back-up, right? That''s Great! If some Team Rocket Punks show up in the mean time, or even if its Giovanni himself, I''ll make sure to hit them once or twice. Show them not to mess with me, or to show him bullying the common people isn''t so easy."


    She sighed, and said with a worried tone in her voice, "I mean it, if you encounter them, run! You won''t be able to deal with a group this powerful!"


    "Sorry, sorry, I''ve seen too many people die today. People I know well. People I saw every day, but now I won''t, I won''t see them smile, never again.


    I just, I don''t want to see anyone else die today.. you seem like a good guy, it''s such a bad situation but your so calm, everyone else is so calm too. I''m supposed to be the strong one here, I''m a policewoman, but I''m not!


    Who are you, to be so calm in a situation like this!?!"


    "My name is Grey, I''m an officer-in-training I guess, so we could be considered as colleagues. I am calm because this isn''t a hopeless situation, there is still a very good chance for everyone here to survive. So long as we work together, there is no need for panic. What is your name?"


    "I.. I''m Officer Jenny?"


    "Your first name."


    "Oh" she blushed, "I''m Kirsten."


    "Okay Kirsten, let''s talk again after all this, okay?"


    I shook her hand as I said this, and shut the door to the Ambulance as the last of the evacuees got in.


    She waved goodbye as she got into the drivers seat as they started up the engine to leave.


    However, as she began to drive out of the lot, a figure appeared and four hands stretched out. The figure grabbed the Ambulance and held it in place as the wheels spun helplessly against the ground.


    However, the figure smirked and held firm with ease with all four arms despite the wheels sending dirt flying, digging into the ground as it desperately tried to move. Kirsten''s face was pale as she desperately continued to press the gas as hard as she could, but the Ambulance refused to move, and wheels stopped moving altogether after sinking into the ground too far. Officer Jenny''s face was filled with Despair.


    Two more figures appeared from out of the woods in a relaxed manner, one puffing a lit cigarette in a casual manner as he approached with his female companion. They both wore white get-ups with Red R''s on them.


    The man took a long puff from his cigarette and then blew out a large cloud of smoke.


    "Heya Kiddos, having fun with my Machamp? Tsk, tsk, helping the innocent bystanders escape? How heroic! Right Andrea?"


    "Yeah, very Heroic. Makes me want to puke, Jeriah."


    I agree entirely! Wow, I hate heroism though, you know? So annoying! Ah~ Machamp doesn''t like heroes much either.


    Besides, we were waiting for all the survivors to gather here before killing them. It kinda ruins the point if we let some of them leave, so..."


    "Well, you will all get to die at the hands of two Official Agents of Team Rocket. It''s a greater honor than your status deserves, so receive it gratefully."

 Chapter 13 - Defiant

    The Machamp who held the Ambulance in place laughed and then tossed it into the air, as it landed upside down, one could hear the sound of crunching metal and screams.


    "No!"


    Grey ran towards the Ambulance at a break neck speed. But before he could close the distance a cloud of dust rose up where the Machamp had once stood, and he recieved a heavy impact on the right side of his body.


    Boom


    The air broke apart as his body flew through the air. It stopped only just as he hit a large tree, the bark crackled and splintered as his body impacted the tree, which nearly toppled from the intense impact. Countless branches on the tree broke as it bent and knocked into those around it, and branches and leaves fell down, covering his body.


    "Hahah, damn Hero, dying a bit too fast don''t you think?"


    Grey''s machop immediately stepped forward and made an attack on Machamp''s neck, using a knife hand.


    Machamp relaxedly grabbed Machop''s knife hand at the wrist, stopping him and pulling his arm off to the side, knocking him off balance as he was mid-air. Then grabbed Machop''s neck as it fell forward due to it''s initial momentum.


    Machamp lifted another arm into the air, balling that hand into fist.


    But at that instant, Grey emerged out from beneath the pile of green, rushing out towards him.


    Machamp caught sight of him from the corner of its eye. A hint of confusion flashed through it''s eyes, apparently he wasn''t dead yet. But it thought little of it.


    "Machamp, use Dynamic Punch! Knock him back into the trees, and then deal with that Machop first."


    Grey ran at Machamp at top speed, the Machamp held a lofty attitude as he just kept Machop aloft by his neck with one hand and ran out to meet Grey with a smile.


    As Machamp moved towards Grey his body appeared to resonate with his surroundings and his body which was already unnaturally swift began to defy reality and achieve even greater momentum, which increased by the moment as he launched his two right fists towards Grey.


    But Grey was ready to meet his opponent, and the weakness of knowing your opponents move was readily apparent. His enemy needed to announce his attack, but he had no need to. Anticipating the shift in momentum Grey tried his best to guess the path the blows would follow.


    At the moment the two fists approached in an arrogant fashion, Grey used his energy to quickly plant his feet and rotate his body, forming two knife-hands covered in blades of energy and shifting them into the direction of Machamps overwhelming dynamic fists.


    The result was crippling on both sides.


    Machamp''s hands on the otherhand blend profusely. A gaping wound could be seen extending laterally from just above his wrists to halfway down his forearm. Machamp dropped Machop and ?r??n?d in pain, gripping his forearms with each of his other arms while hoping to stop the bleeding.


    "Bastard! How dare a weakling harm my Machamp! Machamp is level 32! Weaklings like you are no match for him! How is this possible?!? Gahhhh! Machamp, return!"


    A red energy flew out and connected with the Machamp, the Machamp turned into more red energy and flowed back into his pokeball.


    The Agent Jeriah shrunk Machamp''s pokeball and took out another pokeball, casting it out.


    "Since your fighting two on one, I should even the playing field."


    Agent Andrea threw out a pokemon as well.


    --------------


    Two lights flashed and two new pokemon appeared before me.


    ''If only I had other Pokemon with me..''


    Before me appeared two fighting pokemon, a Hitmonlee and a Hitmonchan.


    "Machop, go and help those people stuck under the Ambulance, I will take care of this."


    Machop nodded and ran over to the Ambulance, this time, the enemy did not try to stop him.


    The two came at me at a brisk pace.


    "Hitmonlee!"


    "Hitmonchan!!"


    ""Use Close Combat!!!""


    Fists and kicks flew at me in a flurry, my arms were slowly repairing themselves, but not fast enough. My body began to shrink more as the energy which composed was consumed in repairs.


    It took my all to dodge any significant blows coming my way under the barrage of the two formidable foes. Even then though, I was inevitably still taking a lot of damage.


    After five minutes had passed, my arms had fully recovered and I began to fight back. However, by the time this had happened, I had already lost almost one fourth of my body mass.


    For every three exchanges of blows, I managed to hit them back once. However, unlike them each of my blows was akin to stabbing with a knife. It would consume a bit of my energy to do so, but they were certainly taking a lot of damage as the fight went on as well.


    Eight minutes into the fight, I had lost nearly a third of my original body mass. However, both of my opponents were also covered in wounds. Unfortunately, my opponents were wary of me after the first fight. I hadn''t managed to land any fatal or crippling blows, only glancing wounds, but by means of endurance I could manage to inflict so many glancing wounds that their movements had become almost as if they''d been crippled.


    As this fight had gone on, Machop had managed to rescue those people stuck in the ambulance with Officer Jenny. Bringing them back into the hospital for safety.


    Seeing their pokemon too battered to continue fighting they grimaced and brought back their pokemon again.


    Agent Jeriah sneered,


    "Hmph, fu?k?n? psychic, how many of your people can actually stand up in a fight against a pokemon? Your fighting abilities are actually this strong, yet your pokemon is actually that weak. If that isn''t pathetic, I don''t know what is, fu?k, I don''t even want to know where you picked up trash like that Machop."


    ''Considering people in this world keep most of their pride in their Pokemon, I think that would actually be a pretty solid burn in this world. Well, I can trash talk too.''


    "Ah, but you really don''t want to know? What a shame, because actually, I stole this Machop from one of the Team Rocket Grunts I killed on my way over here~ Machop, like many before him, managed to recognize that Team Rocket is only full of useless people, he by far prefers working for me instead."


    "You!! Your!! I''m gonna kill you!!!"


    Jeriah threw out another pokeball,


    "Go Cubone!"


    From what I could see, he still had more pokemon on his belt, it seemed this fight could still go on for quite a while. At the very least, it seemed he was only a basic level Pokemon Trainer, only able to use one Pokemon in battle at a time, and the girl was the same.


    But at this time, a Huge ''Dai'' symbol made of flame flew up into the air from behind him.


    Jeriah''s face turned pale again as he turned around. "What do you think your doing Andrea!"


    Agent Andrea wore a smug smile,


    "What? This is taking too long. We have a bunch of people in the area, with a little help we can finish faster. There is no telling when a Master of the Pokemon League will arrive, if he comes sooner what do you think the Boss will do to us for our failures?"


    "Gah, maybe your right. But we should still try our best to finish this before they get here, or we will look bad in front of the Grunts!"


    ''That was too fast!!''


    "Woohoo! Look at all those guys, they must have just finished burning down the nearby ranch, hahaha! What luck! I guess we''ll have to share now."


    The many cars flooded into the parking lot in an intimidating fashion. Slamming on their breaks as they skidded to a stop in front of their battle ground.


    The lead car in particular skidded and drifted about in a circle before coming to a complete circle, tearing up the ground in the process, before coming to a stop.


    A gasp escaped from many of the people behind him, watching from the Hospital.


    A woman with blue-gray hair stepped out of the vehicle in a domineering fashion.


    "Aunt Collie!!" A voice yelled from behind him.


    ''Aunt Collie?'' He thought. ''Wait, doesn''t this lady look just like a well-aged Officer Jenny?''


    Aunt Collie looked over to see Kirsten Jenny, her serious injuries clearly visible to the light of day. Her eyes seemed to burn with an unextinguishable flame of pure anger, the eyes of a mama bear who has seen her cub injured.


    As Aunt Collie yelled out, the other Officer Jennies got out of their cars as well, their looks all seemed peculiar.


    Some wore casual wear, some wore uniforms with no caps, all of their markings were torn off. These Officer Jennies bore a savage aura, like a pack of lionesses preparing to pounce on their enemies. Instead of the gun and tasers a police officer should have, these Jennies all hefted bars, baseball bats, and even segments of piping, holding them over their shoulders with cute but domineering smiles as though they were the female Yakuza.


    "Cheeaaahhh!!" One Jenny yelled out, "You dare to fu?k with our people!?! The fu?k?n? police commissioner told us it was too dangerous to come, he said he would fire us if we did, so we quit! We can''t even arrest you anymore, but we had to come anyway because we knew what you were doing!"


    "Damn these bastards, because of you all, we lost our jobs! How can I afford my weekly Poke-manga now! Shit! Obediently get your ?ss over here, receive my ?ss-whooping."


    "Fuck! Fuck!! Fuck!!! These bastards! these ?unts!! These yellow-bellied ???k-gobbling jizz-bunglers!!! They fu?k?n? dare to hurt my little cousin!!!!!"


    "Cheeaaahhh!! We''ll teach you not to fu?k with the Jenny Clan!!"


    "Fuck, it''s so nice to swear! I could never say bad words as a Police Woman! Oh, yes. Cough, fu?k you Team Rocket!"


    The Jennies, cursing in their sweet voices, swarmed the two Agents like a swarm of locusts. The two Rocket Agents knees nearly collapsed in fear as the endless Jennies came towards them like a flood. The Jennies beat them black, blue, and every other color, and they even beat their Pokemon together with them.


    They tied them up firmly and then set them aside.


    "Come on everyone! We have more than enough vehicles! We can help to get everyone out of here!"


    "There are some patients that are still in critical condition, but they are relatively stabilized. If Team Rocket is closing in on this place, and we have vehicles, we can try to bring them out of here."


    "Get the patients into the vehicles, quickly! Quickly!!"


    I felt like I was forgotten about in the midst of the confusion.


    ''Was I not just fighting for everyone''s lives? Did I not just fight two on one against pokemon with my own body? How was I forgotten about so easily?''


    But it was a dire situation, and we did need to resolve the situation quickly. I understood it wasn''t a situation where there was a luxury to talk things over. So I put it in the back of my mind and helped out as best I could.


    ''How could I possibly compete for attention with a group of beautiful ladies anyways. It is simply impossible. And even trying would only invite hate anyways.''


    Still, he maybe wanted a little attention for trying his hardest. Just a little.


    But the moment waits for no-one.


    Me and everyone able helped out in the attempt to put together a convoy to evacuate. However, before we could get the last person out, Rocket Grunts walked out from the forests en mass.


    One Agent stood out from the small army from Team Rocket.


    The Jennies guarding the perimeter mashed their teeth in anger, ready to throw down.


    "Aiya~ why couldn''t you ladies just do your jobs and stay home like good girls. My, my, we need to clean this mess up before Boss notices we let you all gather together. Or he~ won''t~ be~ happy!"


    Auntie Collie stood out from the group and laughed.


    "Yeah? You won''t be happy either when I shove this pole up your ?ss. Come on ladies... and gentleman. Let''s show these fools what''s what."

 Chapter 14 - Pokemon Battle

    As more and more team rocket members emerged from the depths of the woods, the air began to tense and stifle.


    Before, the Jennies did not even bother to bring out their pokemon. They had just directly beat up those Agents and Pokemon with brutal methods, using bats and pipes like common thugs.


    After all, a number of them were strong Official Pokemon Trainers, their physical bodies and capabilities were no worse than many pokemon. With so many of them dealing with two agents there was no need to bring out their pokemon at all.


    However, now, with Team Rocket members coming out in force, the situation became much more serious. Each Jenny brought out their full force to bear, and each enemy took the same time to bring out their own forces.


    There were many Tengela, Paras and Pidgeys, as well as Squirtles, Bulbasaurs, and Charmanders, from those who had tried at being normal Trainers. Among them were a fair number of evolved pokemon forms as well.


    More than anything though, there were a lot of growlithes, and many of them were evolved Arcanines as well. Well over half of the pokemon there were one of the two.


    All of the officer Jennies amounted to around 160-180 people. Most of them might not be considered full fledged Pokemon Trainers, but most were rather close to that bar, whereas a few of the Older Jennies had long surpassed that bar.


    On average, you could say each Jenny had about 5 Pokemon.


    Even if it were a group of rabble, 1000 strong was not a strength that one could sneeze at. Yet, most all of these women here were trained police officers, experienced in combat. Many of them, familiar with fights of life and death, veterans.


    Given not all of them could bring out the all of their pokemon at once, the actual standing force was closer to half that number at 500, but considering that 500 more pokemon could serve as reserve forces, it was still appropriate to say it is 1000 strong.


    As the obvious leader of this group, Auntie Connie was clearly the strongest. The epitome of an Officer Jenny.


    She stood at the front of them all with all six of her Arcanines out simulataneously. Each of them were domineering and fierce, their growls rumbled like thunder through the air, putting fear into the hearts of Team Rocket.


    However, those rumbling growls did not go unanswered. Among the uncountable Horde of Team Rocket Grunts, the Elite Agents loomed.


    A Skamory, a Muk, and a Steelix stood amongst the crowd, giving off an aura of oppression no less than Connie''s Arcanines. Among the crowd one could see a number of Golbat and Rhydons, with auras approaching the same level.


    Two Elites stood from the crowd.


    "I am Team Rocket''s Attila!"


    "And I, Hun!!"


    Aunt Connie spoke out, "Our Jenny Clan has stood for Maintaining Peace and Justice in the many regions for countless years! Your upstart Team Rocket cannot face up to us!


    Maybe our Kanto Region branch cannot win in an all out battle, but even if we can''t, how would the people rest at ease if we did not stand up for them! We will fight you wherever you appear, and whatever wrongdoings you try to make, we will always be there to stop you!


    Even if we cannot win here today, our clan will still track you down, and they and the common people of the land will wash you from the face of this world!"


    Attila just laughed and smiled, "Well, I was only Joking anyways. After all, your people are always like this. But then, this will be the first time I had the p???sur? to kill so many of your clan at once."


    "Hmph, brat, let''s see first if your people have the ability. No one can lay hands on my daughters and nieces without paying a price. Watch as I kill you and all your elites here myself, I''d love to see Giovanni cry when he finally arrives to see his forces in pieces."


    As she spoke, her Arcanines swept out, they ignored the strong individuals and directly jumped into the crowds of weaklings. Sweeping them away with tooth, claw, and fire. The Team Rocket Members, caught off guard from the sudden and vicious attack, took a lot of damage.


    The other evolved pokemon of the Jenny Clan simultaneously launched attacks against the elite pokemon, trying to inflict status effects and push them towards a wall made of pokemon using defensive moves. The pokemon of the defensive wall stood stalwart in front of them and used defensive moves like Cotton Guard, protect, iron curl, and iron defense.


    The result was Team Rocket''s frontlines instantly collapsing under their combined and organized response, and the death of many of their weaker members in the back-lines.


    However, such an advantage was granted only due to the trained and practiced measures of the Jennies. The difference between the combat force of veterans and the cannon fodder grunts of Team Rocket. This had only resulted in damage to the population of the grunts however, at first contact the elites of Team Rocket were held up for but a minute before quickly pressing back their weaker opponents, coming forward for a counter attack.


    Occasionally, a Jenny would set fire to the surrounding forest Team Rocket lurked in. The fires would each time be quickly suppressed but one could hear the anguished screams of those unlucky grunts who could not escape the flames. The rockets certainly attempted to set flame to the hospital on occasion to put pressure on their side, but each time they were intercepted.


    Team Rocket did not have as many pokemon of the fire or water type in comparison to the Jenny Army. They simply could not compete in terms of indirect attacks.


    Grey fought together with Machop on the frontline, dashing between the different skirmishes.


    ------


    As my index finger softly poked into a particular Team Rocket girl''s neck, she shrieked in surprise from my appearance from nowhere. As my hand touched her throat I was for a moment distracted by her beauty, I thought ''how smooth, how delicate, how soft, what a shame'' and my finger gouged out a small hole, she bled to death in an instant, and I moved on to the next one.


    It''s kind of crazy how fast a situation can shift from ''we need to get the fu?k out of here while we can'' -to- ''well, fu?k it, we can''t get out of here, so let''s kill fu?kers'' but well, now instead of trying to save people, we are just trying to kill them and keep them out of the hospital now.


    With the chaos on these frontlines, it was not difficult to launch sneak attacks.


    Well, to call them sneak attacks may not be accurate. Because the battlefield was chaotic, generally everyone had their hands full. Of course, they will try to keep an eye out to spot any threats, but generally that threat will come from the pokemon and not from people.


    I took the opportune moments when a Trainer''s pokemon were caught up in battle further away from them, and got at them like a fox stealing into a chicken coop. A quick kill and a quick escape, it is extremely efficient to simply stab into their head or neck. Even if they aren''t instantly dead they are crippled bad enough to where they can''t do anything.


    Machop would play defensively and evasively as it baited the enemy, then, while the pokemon suffered from the backlash, it wouldn''t be able to resist the beatdown from Machop.


    If one could clearly see the Mental Energy in the air, they would see Machop had gathered large amounts from each of those he had defeated and even more from those he had killed in this short time. Machop grew faster and stronger as time went on.


    As time moved on though they began to be more cautious. The battles grew closer together and they formed solid lines to hold us back. In the end, I could no longer continue launching the sneak attack strategy.


    In the end, I could at best throw out psychic blades at the opposing lines or punch a enemy pokemon trying to break the line back into the ground, meanwhile I just had Machop fight with the other pokemon. Overall, it became a bit boring and repetitive, although the feeling of punching those pokemon full force was fun there were hardly any openings to make a kill.


    However as the battle dragged on, one could hear and feel enormous shockwaves and pressure, emanating from the high level skirmishes nearby.


    ------


    "Max, Flamethrower! Tituss, Bite! Rina, Dodge that! Hodge, Gina, Cassie! They are all weakling! Why are you taking so long! Kill them already! You don''t need me to tell you what to do!"


    Connie''s six Arcanine dominated the battlefield, lording over all the other pokemon present.


    The Arcanine fights with the enemy Muk, Steelix, and Skamory let off intense shockwaves. People and pokemon scattered wherever they passed, and some of the weakest trainers directly passed out as the excessive energy passed through them, foaming at the mouth.


    The battle between the latter three Arcanine, who fought against multiple weaker foes, did not emanate nearly as much energy. Though, that did not mean in any way that it was any less intense.


    Each Arcanine was simultaneously fighting 10 or more foes. Occasionally, one would be sent flying out like a cannonball. Although those pokemon might be weak compared to Connie''s Arcanine, they were still near the level of Elite Four pokemon. Any people or pokemon in the path of those who were sent flying out were instantly turned into blood mist on impact.


    For those knocked out by the pressure, many of the Team Rocket members did not mind leaving their fellow members to their death. The average Jenny also did not bother to attack an incapacitated enemy, as they were trained as officers who upheld justice.


    However, no Jenny left behind! Every one of the younger Jennies who fell from the pressure was swiftly brought back to the hospital to safety. These actions helped keep morale up on their side, but also resulted in a lot of extra injuries in thanks for their efforts.


    ------


    A few counties away, in the Kanto Region.


    "I could have sworn the Ranch was somewhere around here... could I have been mistaken? It must be nearby, but where??"


    A young man in black clothing stands atop a mountain, his hand acting like the visor, he squints his eyes as if he is trying to find something and looks about. His messy spiky black hair and the long dark scar on his face would leave a deep impression on any who saw it.


    "Char~ Char! Char~ Char! Char~ Char!"


    He answered it promptly, "Satoshi!! Where are you!?! Don''t tell me you got lost again!! The nurses from that hospital are still on the other line! They are in a really bad spot, it''s basically a war zone down there!!" The voice roared out.


    Satoshi took a moment to recover from getting screamed at in the ear, rubbing his ear lightly.


    "Ah~ Jessie, you know I''m bad with directions. C''mon~ you should be able to tell me which way to go easy, right?"


    "Tcht, I know your habits. That''s why I sent Meowth out ahead of you. Just hurry up and head over there, you know he won''t be able to defeat Giovanni alone."


    Satoshi''s face lost it''s smile and became serious, "I know, I will hurry over there as fast as I can. Too many lives have been lost thus far on account of Team Rocket, they have gone too far too many times. At the least, this time, we must force them into complete remission once again."


    "Right~ well, I''m sure it will really be Pikachu doing all the work as usual. Just like I''m the one always doing the work at HQ nowadays, sigh~ Good luck out there! Make Team Rocket Blast Off at least one more time!"


    He smiled again, "Right, you take care too Jessie. I''m off!"


    He shut the poke-gear and cut the connection.


    He smiled again brightly, "Come on Pikachu, let''s go!!" He shouted.


    "Pikaaa!!"


    He took a step forward and a form of blue energy swirled through his eyes and then appeared to radiate from his entire body. With a minute movement, he flew off the nearby mountain cliff-face into the sky.


    A sound akin to a thousand strikes of thunder rang out, and Pikachu appeared in the sky besides him. Rainbow colored lightning crackled and sparked around it as it ran on the wind as though it were solid ground. The wind beneath its feet seemed to distort from intense electromagnetic force, it seemed to be using a technique similar to the legendary pokemon Raikou.


    "Hopefully we can still make it in time."

 Chapter 15 - Buying Time

    Dusk came as the battle raged on. The bodies of Team Rocket Members littered the landscape, together with the bodies of ladies surnamed Jenny. As the fight became more intense, no one had the time or ability to pull away those bodies from the battlefield.


    As the light became more scarce, an intense pressure befell everyone present.


    "So, this is where you were all playing. To think it took so long for me to wipe out all the Ranches in this area and catch up with you all. In fact, I''m surprised this hasn''t been wrapped up yet, Attila and Hun must''ve been negligent in their duties, but then, I would never have expected that all these officers would show up here against their orders." He said with a smile.


    As everyone had long anticipated, the Boss of Team Rocket had finally arrived. With the rumored power of a Pokemon Master, not a single person would even be able to escape if he wanted them dead. His arrival had more or less signified the end of this battle.


    "Well, you are all nothing but ants to me. Team Rocket has transcended the old limits of this world, Pokemon Master was once but an empty title, but now it holds true meaning.


    All beneath the Realm of Masters are nothing. To a master, there is no limit. Since I have now achieved the Mastery Realm, nothing can stand in Team Rocket''s way. We will rule this world, just as we rule many others."


    ''Quite the monolog''


    Auntie Connie still snorted arrogantly.


    "And just how are you going to do that, with the Pokemon Association against you? You intend to fight against him with just you? The Alliance Leader is not someone that you could simply contend against.


    "Tell Him Auntie Connie!"


    "Yeah, go to hell Giovanni!"


    "Hahahah, such a rowdy lot. It seems I''m unpopular, not surprising given the circumstances. You have to understand, someone must take responsibility for the death of my subordinates.


    Well, I understand you all are here because of your jobs. Understand that I am here for a similar responsibility. I simply must kill all the people of these ranches, other people must understand not to stand in my way. Their people took the lives of four of my own, thus I must take the lives of ALL of their people."


    The Jennies just mocked him.


    "Well, fu?k, I killed a lot more than four of your Team Rocket bitches today. Guess your gonna have to kill me too."


    "Right, I''m not even a cop anymore. From today on, if I see any Team Rocket members, they are dead. Better come and try to kill me too if you don''t like it."


    "Tcht, this bitch Giovanni, who does he think he is? We risk our lives every day, does he think we fear death?"


    "ENOUGH!"


    "Move out of the way, or hand over those responsible for the deaths. You have twenty minutes to do so, or I shall simply kill my way through you. Take your time to discuss and decide."


    Discussions burst out amongst the crowd after the pressure lifted. The noise from afar was distorted, it was indeterminable what was being said. The conversations seemed varied, chaotic, almost panicked.


    The refugees in the hospital grew anxious seeing the Jennies actually discussing with one another, would they really be handed over? Would they be put to death in the end? Although they had long despaired over this situation, they still felt unwilling, and some forgot their warm feelings about these selfless women who came to rescue them.


    ''Are we being abandoned? But they already fought for so long, are they just going to give up now? How could they just give us up like this?''


    However, Grey was among the crowd of Jennies, and could overhear these discussions easily.


    Not a single Jenny had a thought of turning over a single person, every one of them talked of how they would fight to the death. Of battle strategies, readiness, status, they gathered reports and re-organized themselves to prepare for another round of battle, however futile it might be. They spoke frantically in some of the discussions, it was a dire situation after all, but none wavered in their convictions.


    However, one thought pervaded the discussions, ''Why is Giovanni giving us more time?'' It was as though Giovanni himself was delaying the time of our deaths.


    The man had took a ridiculous amount of time to wipe out every single Ranch before coming here, despite likely knowing a large battle was going on here.


    More than likely, he knew what was happening from the onset, and could have come over to end it at any moment, but he didn''t. He let his underlings take unnecessary risks and even die in large numbers.


    It would only benefit themselves if he were to give them so much time. It would just give the Association time to send one the Masters to oppose him.


    "Nahhahahh, 15 minutes!! You bitch cops get 5 minutes of life left~ then the Boss is gonna kill you~"


    "These cop bitches actually killed my partner, the Boss is gonna make sure you pay for this."


    "God I hate cops, I hate the police, fu?k the police!! FUCK THE GODDAMNED POLICE!!!"


    "Yeah, these female cops are pretty. Maybe we should really do just that."


    "Slap" a female agent hit that fool, her eyes cold like ice.


    "You idiot, do you really think there are no women in our Team Rocket! How dare you even think of doing such thing. You fu?k?n? disgust me, get out of here before I kill you."


    The Team Rocket Members became agitated as Giovanni''s time limit encroached.


    The discussions and the declaration of Giovanni made Grey think the matter over again. If he confessed to the killing of those four grunts, perhaps he could divert some of this anger towards himself.


    If he could buy a bit more time for the Association''s Master to arrive, there would at least be a chance for these people to survive. If Giovanni became impatient and thought they wouldn''t show, everyone here would likely be massacred and he would just dust off his ?ss and swagger off.


    I walked through the crowd of Jennies to where Auntie Connie stood at the front with her Arcanines, facing off towards Giovanni.


    "Hey, Giovanni! I was the one who killed those four Grunts on the bus, the last one was so desperate he even used a suicide bomb on me. But he still couldn''t even do it right! Your company is full of incompetents."


    Giovanni actually stopped and looked over at me after I said this. His eyebrow arched in amusement.


    "Oh? So you are the fellow who grabbed my subordinate and forced him out of the Bus? But, from what I understand, the one who did so was still in contact with my man when the bomb exploded.


    Hahah, even a Pokemon Master would be hard pressed to withstand such a blast point-blank. Yet, here you are, claiming you did just that! What a joke."


    I smiled and shrugged it off, I was telling the truth after all, I just had to convince him it was true.


    "I have some special methods that would let me do so. Your Team Rocket is always looking for new cutting edge technology and techniques, right? What do you say you let this go and maybe I can tell you how I did it."


    Giovanni stopped and pondered over it for a moment. Grey had shrunk significantly due to blows and energy exhaustion during the battle, he looked no older than a 10 year old child.


    Well, first of all, we would need to see if you truly have such a strength. From what I can see, you have not even reached the standard of a Pokemon Trainer. Perhaps you are a psychic or Martial Artist who recently stepped onto the path of Pokemon Training?"


    "You could say I am both, but I am more powerful with psychic attacks right now."


    Giovanni shrugged, "Well, all this talking will get us nowhere. You are not even an actual Trainer yet, but considering this ability you claim to hold, it would still be fair to have one of my Team Rocket Agents to fight you.


    I nodded, "Yeah, that is fine. Would it be acceptable for me to fight together with my Pokemon then?"


    He laughed, "More confident in yourself than your Pokemon? Sure, sure. It will be a one on one though. Once your pokemon run out, you are free to fight against the pokemon yourself. Just understand that it will be a fight for your survival."


    He turned about and yelled to his subordinate,


    "Agent Ubung, step forward and teach this boy a lesson!"


    A large and heavily muscled man stepped forward. "Hahah, with p???sur?." The man said, his deep German accent held a ???ky and domineering tone.


    ''Well, I oughta smack that ???ky tone out of him. Eh, gotta let Machop take a shot at it first.''


    Machop, who stood by my side, ran forward into the clearing between the two armies.


    The large ''German'' man chortled and threw a pokeball while saying nothing.


    [Team Rocket Grunt Ubung sent out Magicarp!]


    I almost fell on my ?ss in surprise, are you fu?k?n? kidding me!


    What followed was Machop beating down three Magicarps easily.


    "Hu~ a formidable opponent." The man said in a serious tone.


    ''This... is this guy fu?k?n? serious?''


    Looking over at Giovanni I could see the embarrassment written all over his face.


    It is worth noting that these Magicarps were not nearly as weak as normal Magicarps. Each of them could even miraculously flop about in a way where they could fight somewhat, it was somewhat astounding! In fact, they were relatively strong, with each successive Magicarp stronger than the last.


    But still... they were Magicarps. Machop could easily smack them around a bit and they would pass out eventually. It was still a very time consuming process though, as the Magicarps flipped about frantically, dodging some of the attacks in a very annoying way and absorbing the shock from the fighting attacks relatively well.


    It was obvious Giovanni chose this guy because he wanted to waste as much time as possible, but still... even letting this guy into team rocket. Is Giovanni really this shameless?


    The man seemed upset. "Graahh! You defeated all my Magicarp! How could you!! This... I thought they would be enough to deal with your weak little Machop, it is more tenacious than I thought! Fine, I will take this more seriously. Go, Gyarados!"

 Chapter 16 - Peerless Pokemon Appears!

    Ubung''s Gyarados filled most of the space between the two small armies, people on both sides retreated further to give more space.


    Machop stood before this massive beast unwaveringly. His right foot drew back at a near 90-degree angle as his left foot faced forwards, his right arm drawn to his side held a fist as his left faced forward like a blade toward his enemy.


    Fighting the Magikarp from before was akin to a fisherman trying to beat an overly vigorous fish. It was both embarrassing and comical. Such as set-up could not truly be called a fight, unless one were weak enough to be knocked out by a fish out of water... if one is that weak, they can''t expect to properly fight anyone in the first place.


    None of those ''fights'' allowed Machop to show any of his skills.


    However, now, in the face of this enormous beast, his blood began to boil.


    A Gyarados is alike "The carp who leaped over the dragon''s gate" it is the likeness of a Chinese Dragon, and holds all the properties of a dragon. Higher level Gyarados in this world can instinctually utilize the intense energy of a dragon to move through the air as though it were water and fly.


    It was clear this gyarados was not that powerful, and had likely just recently leaped the dragon''s gate. It could only move on the ground like a python in order to fight it''s opponent.


    "Since you have reached this far, I will tell you a story. As I am sure you are curious why I raise only Magikarp and Gyarados, yes?"


    "Ah, no. That''s okay, let''s just fight -"


    "- When I was but a young lad, my father took me to fish on the sea every day."


    "-I remember like it were yesterday, every day he would fish as I watched, and every day he would catch many Magikarp. One day, I saw the rare sight.


    The great majesty of a herd of Gyarados! Even the largest pokemon in this world, the Wailords, would make way in haste in fear of provoking them. The undeniable might of the strongest kind of Dragon!! Capable of dominating the land, the sea, and even the air!!


    It was on that day I decided the only Pokemon I would ever raise were Magikarp. That one day, I would dominate the seas with my own Gyarados!!"


    "Ah, yes. Well, Gyarados is indeed a strong Pokemon."


    "You know it well! I begged my father for a Lure pokeball so I could catch my own Magicarp, but he refused me!! Saying Magicarp are too weak, that I should go through the official route, get one of the free starter pokemon!


    So, I ran away! A kind young man found me one day as I wandered the streets, he was so generous, allowing me to exchange my remaining worldly belongings and clothes for a Golden Magikarp. This Magikarp became my first pokemon!"


    What a dumb reason to run away, and this... story sounds strangely familiar?


    "He referred me to a Team Rocket recruiter so I could get more money to buy more Magikarp. Magikarp faced many troubles in fights, but with our efforts in training and my muscles combined, we managed to defeat our opponents and steal many pokemon! Soon after I got it, my Magikarp unfortunately lost it''s gold color, due to my negligant care, but I still loved it as though it were made of gold all the same."


    Was it not just that the gold paint washed off? This is actually a sad story, but what''s sad is his cluelessness.. and did this guy just skip pokemon battles and directly beat up and rob people?


    Virtuous?!? The most notorious Magikarp salesman who travels the world just to escape the wrath of his numerous victims?


    "Sigh, to this day I still only have two Gyarados, I am still far from my dream. If you can defeat this one, I will face you with my Red Gyarados, my first and strongest pokemon!


    Let me see your determination in this fight!"


    "Ah, yeah. Of course. Machop, go punch that Dragon."


    "Machop."


    Machop shifted his feet and moved towards the Gyarados to attack.


    "Gyarados, use Headbutt!! Crush that rookie!"


    The two came together in an instant, but the expected collision did not happen.


    At the instant before collision, Machop planted one foot firmly to the ground, his stance becoming extremely sturdy in an instant. His left hand as blade hit against the under portion of Gyarados'' head at a slight angle and transformed into a palm on impact, borrowing the force of the earth to shift Gyarados''s momentum upwards and to the side.


    This impact sent both flying backwards. Machop skidded back almost a meter before doing a backflip and landing on his feet. Gyarados simply fell back slightly and slumped onto the ground, it''s face was reddened as it struggled to breathe.


    "Finish it, Machop"


    Machop rushed Gyarados again, this time it held no determinable stance best just ran recklessly. Ubung, frantic, decided to try and keep a distance.


    "Gyarados, Tail Whip!"


    "Seismic Toss."


    Gyarados'' tail lashed out, but Machop caught the tip of the tail and jerked it upward over it''s head.


    "Gyarados, Bind!"


    Trying to seize the opportunity to disable Machop, but it won''t work.


    "Jump, full force, use it like a whip."


    The irregular movement''s force travelled down Gyarados'' body like a wave and forced it to lift up off the ground. Gyarados, still dizzy from being unable to breathe properly, could not escape this maneuver. It was whipped down onto the ground by it''s tail, hard.


    Giovanni wore a frown, "The Gyarados is no longer able to battle. Use your next pokemon."


    Ubung wore a stern expression as his anger festered into his stomach.


    "I thank you. It is not often my Magikarp and Gyarados get to fight such a formidable foe. Your Machop clearly has not grown beyond level 20, yet it''s skills allow it to display a strength far beyond that. If I can continue to face opponents like yourself, it will not be long before my dream is realized."


    "Go, Goldie!"


    The Red Gyarados appeared in a flash of red light. One could tell this Gyarados was at least half a size larger than the previous one, and looked far stronger.


    "Hyper Beam"


    "Dodge, roll!"


    As a dim light begins to emit and grow in intensity from the small gap in Gyarados'' lips, Machop rolls off to the side, circling about Gyarados, but the heavy beam quickly scorched the ground where he once stood quickly changed course and followed him.


    A red light shot out and Machop returned to it''s pokeball, and Grey stepped forward, shooting towards the Gyarados at a pace clearly far faster than his Machop.


    The Gyarados, whose body was exhausted from the intense strain of the Hyper Beam, could b?r?ly move. The unassuming Trainer seemed to transform into a horrifying monster before it''s eyes as it saw the Mental Energy moving in and around this ''trainer''.


    It felt the intense power of the being in front of it and stumbled backwards. In it''s eyes, it could see this was a being made of a very pure and powerful kind of energy. According to it''s senses this energy was just short of the standard of a Pokemon trainer in terms of quantity, when dormant it was just as unassuming as any other trainer''s energy, but it''s qualities displayed when unleashed was simply too oppressive!


    Although it knew it''s level was greater than this being, thereby giving it a far larger pool of usable Mental Energy, as a Dragon type it was far more s?ns?t?v? to the intensity of such energies. It knew it was still many levels away from being able to oppose such a being.


    A trace of fear could be seen in it''s eyes as it tried to escape but it''s body failed it. Grey quickly caught up with the Red Gyarados which had tried to turn back and run to it''s trainer. He directly pulled on the tail of the Gyarados, yanking it back towards him as it cried out.


    "You can do it, Goldie! Just hold out until you recover and end it with another Hyper Beam!"


    The Gyarados named Goldie looked back at him with a pleading gaze.


    ''Can you not tell I am about to be beat like a newly hatched Magikarp? Trainer, why must you do this to me, put me back in my pokeball. This is no better than when you tried to make me battle others using splash. Do you think I enjoyed such beatings?''


    But Ubung''s belief in his first Pokemon was unwavering, he strongly believed his life-long partner would pull through!


    Suddenly, a change seemed to come over Gyarados as it''s body flushed an even deeper red in rage. It struggled with all it''s strength and escaped from Grey''s grasp, it''s energy suddenly intensified, and beating it''s body against the ground, it took to the air!


    "Goldie! You''ve broken through! You finally learned how to fly!!"


    The Gyarados roared happily and flew high into the air.


    ''Hahah, that devilish Human will never reach me up here. Watch as I rain fire on you from above. You will regret fighting I, Goldie.''


    But when this Gyarados cast it''s gaze back towards the ground, all it could see in it''s vision was endless blades of psychic energy!


    "Noooo!! Goldie!!!"


    The Gyarados was hit and ravaged by the storm of blades. Gyarados was badly wounded and fell a long distance back to the ground. By a twist of fate, Gyarados was still b?r?ly conscious after the collision, but if one were to judge, his HP bar would be dark red.


    Unfortunately for Gyarados, Grey was merciless. After he saw the Gyarados was still conscious, the beating continued. As people looked on, many felt a hint of pity for this Gyarados.


    However, many on both sides remained silent, as they knew this was nothing but a show. They were quietly waited for the Association''s Master to appear. Giovanni also did not intervene, he was a person who innately looked down on the weak, and his subordinates were but pawns. He would put on a front of caring for his people, but he was mildly amused by this foolish subordinate of his being taught a lesson.


    As Grey was lackadaisically pummeling the Gyarados, he sensed another great power approaching from the distance, settling and dying down in intensity within the forest nearby. He finally stopped and released the Gyarados, allowing it to fall onto the ground.


    "Noooo! Goldie, get up! You can still do it! You can still win!"


    But Giovanni just shook his head and waved his hand. "Enough, you''ve lost. And you. I think you''ve proven you have the strength to support your claims.


    You will provide these secret methods you mentioned after we settle this matter. In exchange, we will spare your life, and you will be given the opportunity to join the glorious Team Rocket.


    However, these people must still be wiped out for the face of our Team Rocket!"


    At this instant, a small commotion emerged from within the crowd of Rocket members. In but a moment, Agents and Grunts seemed to fly out as though they were hit by an invisible explosion of energy. From the midst of them emerged a small and peculiar figure, a Meowth with sunglasses walking on two legs, a ???ky smirk upon it''s lips as it lowered it''s paw and crossed it''s arms facing towards Giovanni.


    "Nyaa~ what exactly were you planning to do? Ya'' wanna kill these people? That''s Nyot~ nice."


    "Hmph, useless, annoying, unloyal cat. You have no place here. Without your new master, do you really think you could so much as give me pause? I will slaughter all these people here, and taking that boy with me. There is nothing you can do to stop me!"


    "Heheheh, me and that brat are friends now, sure. But I have never had no master in all my life. That kid Satoshi helped me realize I could be my own trainer, and so, I was able to reach the greatest heights for myself.


    I am, and always will be, the master of myself, and no one else! Only my friends have the right to call me to help them, I call no one Boss any longer!"


    "Tcht, pathetic. All of it is simply a front. Even though you managed to break through and gain the strength of a Legendary.. you never truly went through evolution. You never properly condensed essence, and strayed from the proper path a pokemon should train in. You could never face up against a true Legendary grade pokemon."


    "Nyaa~ I never noticed you wh?n?d so much Bo~ O, hahahah, Giovanni. Why don''t you send out those Legendaries and that prissy Persian of yours. I like my odds in a six against one, nyaoo?"


    Giovanni''s face turned dark, "Arrogant and ungrateful punk, I''ll do just that to teach you a lesson. Mewtwo, Persian, Moltres, Rhydon, NidoKing, NidoQueen, go!"


    Six lights shot out and the six True Legendary Grade pokemon appeared, floating in the sky with their oppressive energy.


    Meowth took a step and out came his claws, covered in energy shaded gold. He slashed the air and the gold energy tore the space asunder before a steam of solid gold flowed out from the cracks in space. He leaped and a giant gold charm formed beneath him which carried him up to meet the six legendaries above him, a storm of charms sharpened into blades formed behind him and rushed forward to clash with them.

 Chapter 17 - Comprehension

    Grey was blown away several tens of meters from the very first shockwave, as Meowth clashed with the six legendary pokemon.


    He landed and was pressed down onto his back from the pressure of the energy they exuded. Unable to get up despite his efforts, he stared up at the scene in stupefaction.


    ''Is that Meowth from the Team Rocket Trio, fighting against the Boss of Team Rocket?! What is going on here? And how is Meowth so strong?''


    Meowth battled back and forth, six on one. Storms and rivers of gold flowed through the sky around him, blocking the intense blasts of Psychic, Fire, and Normal energies, occasionally countering back against them.


    "Get em'' Master Meowth!"


    "Yeah, fu?k em'' up, what are these stray Legendary Pokemon before Master Meowth? Giovanni better get his eyes checked before starting fights like this."


    Meowth smirked a laughed, clearly enjoying the praise as he fought more vigorously.


    "Ge.. go Boss!! You can beat that.. cat."


    "Ye.. yeah! We believe in you Boss!!"


    Giovanni almost tripped up in giving orders to his pokemon from the lack of confidence of his subordinates. However, because he truly had a huge advantage being six on one, this impacted morale had next to no effect on the battle.


    ''Hmph, I''ll discipline them to display their loyalty properly when we get back.''


    The battle raged on and on, though neither side could gain advantage small wounds and cuts could be seen accumulating on either side whenever they stopped long enough to be visible.


    To any other person, this was naught but a fierce battle. The chaotic storms of energy which could rip anyone apart with a glancing blow were something to be feared despite their beauty.


    However, for Grey, his body made of spiritual and mental energy began to react under the baptism of the intense waves of energy. Suddenly, he felt a barrier of sorts in his mind was broken, and a new sensation flooded his mind.


    [Congratulations!]


    [You have reached the threshold required for Mental Symbol Cultivation]


    [True Self: Endless Bodies, Mental Symbol Unlocked]


    [Secondary World Node has been Unlocked, select new world at your discretion]


    Grey, who had previously been stuck in terms of his Mental energy sensing, ignored the system, staring at the thick and now perfectly visible entangled energies before him in astonishment.


    He could not make out much of what was happening in the fight, many of the attacks were simply too fast for even the average mind''s eye to see. All he could see were the storms of Mental energy and a mix of other intense energies which radiated from the aftershocks of these attacks.


    This entire world was focused around Mental Energy, the laws of this world forced most all Mental Energy into a Physical state. This actually made it comparatively harder to sense and cultivate Mental Energy in this world in comparison to the Origin World he stayed in, despite being the main energy that all cultivated here.


    As in all things, this increase in difficulty was a trade-off. To thoroughly understand how to transform pure Mental Energy into a tangible materials would be nearly impossible elsewhere, perhaps it may take thousands of years of intensive research to discover some simple methods.


    For Grey, he could bypass the difficulties for cultivation placed on those in this World, and even comprehend these methods more easily than the locals due to his artificially boosted aptitude.


    In the eyes of modern science, there would be no method to perceive where this energy was coming from or going to. It could only be perceived as creating something from nothing!


    Although this may not be the reality, and one knows this energy should be drawn from somewhere, exchanged by some rules.. to fully understand such an exchange would require extremely advanced methods.


    Yet, now, Grey felt he could comprehend the movements and exchanges between these Mental Energies at a glance! The mental energy system was not just a single type of energy, it was in itself it''s own system of reality, the level of it''s complexity was far higher than that of the modern physics of this world or his old one.


    He felt this artificial body had a mind of it''s own, through it, he could instinctually interpret these Mental Energy laws. Just as a Human can instinctually interpret specific sights and sounds. He could bypass the rigorous scientific route and simply ''feel'' and to roughly ''comprehend'' what was happening in this swirling energy.


    He stared deeply into the chaotic mix of energy.


    ''The most intensive of all these energies should be the energy of Meowth, a Metal-type energy.. or more specifically, in this case, gold''.


    From the onset, the system designated the pokemon of this world as ''Mental Energy Spirits''. This was consistent with what Grey observed in bringing them back to the Origin world. It was only in the pokemon world or worlds with similar laws that a pokemon could exist just like normal living beings.


    A pokemon should be made almost entirely of Mental Energy, this property allows them to behave like ''pocket monsters'' with relative ease. The only thing in the Pokemon world which did not seem to be made up of almost pure Mental Energy was humans, which is precisely why trainers are so vital in pokemon growth.


    Traditional material worlds can be considered as derivatives of Origin Energy. As Origin Energy is in essence the Energy one would find at or around a Universe Origin event like the Big Bang, as it becomes more and more diluted, mixing together with the appropriate other energies, it would then turn into regular materials over time.


    If a scientist from an advanced cultivation society were to look at the composition of this world: Far below the scale of their modern studies of quantum particles, they would see 99.9% of the particles and fields composing this reality could be classified into types of Mental Energy.


    Of the remaining 0.1%, it would be essentially be entirely Origin Energy, and 0.099% of it would be found in the Humans of this world. While the remaining would be evenly distributed within all things.


    Due to this percent difference, and the world laws, the Pokemon world was extremely Human-centric. Mental Energies usually do not come into existence on their own, they are usually formed using some Origin Energy to support them. In this sense, Humans are truly the foundation for the Pokemon World, as without them, most all growth would stagnate.


    ...however, that is not to say there are no exceptions to these rules. Some Pokemon in this world are born with abnormally high strength, and this is precisely due to these rules. Those Pokemon born with abnormally high origin energy would find themselves acting more ''human'' and also possessing far more power than their peers. At the same time however, they would also find it more uncomfortable to act as a ''pocket monster'' due to their body composition straying from their original nature as a ''Mental Energy Spirit'' as well.


    Meowth was clearly one of these rare, abnormal Pokemon.


    ---


    ''A spot, like a small black hole, acting as the core for each of Meowth''s attacks.''


    He could clearly see that, while each of the other Legendaries indeed possessed overwhelmingly powerful mental energy, their attacks contained not a trace of the black-hole nuclei alike Meowth''s. He could deduce these black-holes should be something else besides Mental Energy, something that let his attacks be stronger, hit harder.


    [Pokemon World Mastery: 0.001% Completion]


    ''Apparently that is something I need to find more about.''


    He studied the fight as closely as possible, closely observing each moment Meowth launched his attacks.


    He could tell that somehow, Meowth used his Mental Energy to create those ''Black Holes'', but the movements were too fast and far too complex for him to properly comprehend.


    After studying it for a long time, he could felt he could b?r?ly understand how to form some ''false gold'', a general concept of the attack [Pay Day] which Meowth could use naturally, but even then, he knew it would likely be only rudimentary and unstable.


    A clap of endless thunder came from far away, echoing through the skies.


    Giovanni looked into the distance with glint in his eye.


    They arrived in an instant like a bolt of lighting.


    The young man with a scarred face looked across the battlefield, a blue Aura danced around him. As he stood in the sky and looked about, a hint of anger could be seen in his eyes. A hint of what seemed to be lighting flashed across his eyes.


    He waved his hand, his gaze turning cold, "Disappear."


    A barrage of Aura Blasts, each carrying a trace of thunder, pierced the sky and smashed into each of the enemy Legendaries. Knocking them far into the distance.


    BOOM


    The ground shook several times from the intense impacts.


    Team Rocket members eyes shook in fear, gasps rang out on both sides.


    Each person present thought, ''Is this truly a power a Humans could possess?''


    Aunt Cassie, looking seriously from afar said this, "As expected from the Leader of our great Alliance".


    "Really now, was such an entrance necessary? And here I was, ready to welcome you with open arms, Satoshi."


    "Such an entrance is what it takes to keep people like yourself from the opportunity of underhanded tactics. Even a fool would realize that much after dealing with people like you constantly."


    Giovanni bent over and coughed up a bit more blood and grinned, "Indeed, you are right. Of course, fighting against so many for so long, obviously you would grasp some sort of tactics."


    He stood up straight, still smiling widely, "Unfortunately, you are still too young. You have fallen right into my trap, you can no longer escape no matter how fast you may be."


    SNAP


    "Witness the return of Team Rainbow Rocket."


    From being hidden in the woods, figures emerged.


    Maxie


    Archie


    Cyrus


    Ghetsis


    Lysandre


    Charon


    N.


    Colress


    And... Giovanni?!


    The new Giovanni, a rainbow R on his ?h?st, snickered as he walked out of the woods.


    Lights like falling stars flashed across the sky. Many pokemon, each with the power of a True Legendary, took their place in the skies from those lights.


    Satoshi quickly cast out his pokeballs in return, Pikachu quickly came to his side to protect him.


    "Pikachu"


    "Raikou"


    "Zeraora"


    "Mew"


    "Lugia"


    "Ho-oh"


    The Rainbow Rocket Giovanni laughed.


    "You''ve really grown up while I was gone Satoshi. When last we fought you had not even reached the strength to wield a Legendary, only just beginning to tap into your Aura. Yet now, you own more Legendaries than both me and my Parallel."


    The defeated Giovanni laughed as well.


    "Really. He is much stronger than the Punk back on my world was. I''m glad I traveled around to get stronger. If the punk on my world grew this strong and caught me unaware, I might have been done for."


    Satoshi''s eyes narrowed.


    "As usual, you all don''t understand. Pokemon are not things to be owned. These are my friends, my allies, they chose to join me. Each for their own reasons. They fight together with me, to ensure this world will always have a place where Humans and Pokemon can coexist in peace."


    "Hahahah, so what. Like we could ever see eye to eye. We each have our own beliefs we fight for, and you and your Parallels will always be our greatest obstacles. There is no way for either side to step down, there never is, which is why, we laid this trap for you."


    Satoshi''s eyes swept over them, "Indeed. You''ve come prepared. I will repay you in kind. Unfortunately, your preparations mean nothing before true power. The power of the trust between me and my pokemon. Mew, take care of the bystanders. We will deal with the rabble."

 Chapter 18 - An Electric World

    As Satoshi called out, Mew flew down, encompassing the ground occupied by Grey, the Jenny clan people, and the civilians in an enormous purple barrier of psychic energy.


    The roaring voices of the various Syndicate leaders rang out with attack names and attacks of every type covered the sky in chaotic flows of energy. Each of these flows focusing towards Satoshi, whose Pokemon floated in the air next to him.


    "Raikou, Pikachu, Zeraora, Hold them Off!"


    "Lugia, Ho-oh. Combination technique, Yin-yang cyclone."


    Lugia and Ho-oh eyes gleamed and they flew about together, cycling about one another in unison.


    They cycled one another in rhythmic, minute pulses. Emanating streams of psychic and fire energy, off of which, condensed small traces of intense energy which appeared the colors of silver and gold. This energy lingered in the air, swirling about slowly, gaining gradually in volume and momentum.


    Giovanni''s eyes turned red, he knew not what this move was, but he could tell such a move which required two legendaries to slowly gather energy would not be simple.


    "Quickly, launch all of your strongest attacks! We cannot let this technique reach completion!"


    Each of the attacks from any Syandicate leader''s pokemon, whose numbers which blotted the sky, individually held strength which could easily annihilate the group gathered below.


    Yet, for every attack which came close, intense barrages of lightning and the loud claps from the pressure of thunder would meet and nullify them. The electric attacks moved as though they had eyes, not a single attack breaking through.


    In the area around the yin-yang cyclone, it was as though there were a perfect electical barrier, with which every attack in contact would meet a perfectly equal and opposite force.


    The Syndicate leaders continued to attack in a frenzy, but could only helplessly watch as the energy cyclne grew larger and larger.


    From Ho-oh, emanated an unyielding and everlasting fire. The energy emitted a feeling of passion and a yearning for the sky. It was akin to a legendary Pheonix, it''s yang energy could allow it to be reborn from the sacred flames.


    Their tempermants reflected the ideological yin and yang, and their energies engendering would form a lesser strain of yin-yang energy. When joined together in a combination attack, they could bring forth power far greater than they could apart.


    As the two cycled about each other a cyclone of gold flames and silver energy, each carrying a trace of true yin-yang energy, took place. It quickly developed into an enormous cyclone of energy, the gold-silver arcs swallowed all the attacks effortlessly as though they were but a drop of water slipping into an endless sea.


    In the eye of this storm of energy stood Satoshi and his three electric pokemon.


    As the cyclone gained critical mass, small, b?r?ly visible, streams of black and chaotic energy began to flow in towards the center of the eye of the cyclone.


    In the center of the cyclone, the black and chaotic energy flowed into his hand, guided by his aura and forming into a small sphere. Heart-trembling power was held in the small arcs of energy, like each arc were the flaring energy of an ancient and terrifying chaotic star.


    ''This attack will be far weaker than it should be without the help of mew to control it.. but, you will help me a bit, won''t you Pikachu? Everyone?''


    ''''''Of course''''''


    ''It can''t be helped, without mew those down below wouldn''t be able to withstand the aftershocks.''


    As he yelled, electric energy began to flow from the electric pokemon trio, flowing about Satoshi''s body. The dark and chaotic energy seemed to suddenly following the back-flow of his aura, quickly occupying his entire body, unifying him together with the haptic energy, which would then in turn reach out and unify with the lighting surrounding him.


    ''Our wills as one, inception of the electric world''


    An intense electric field occupied the entire space in the eye of the cyclone. The bodies of the Raikou and Zeraora discharging enormous amounts of energy, before turning even themselves into a mass of electrical energy, joining and becoming part of the storm themselves.


    The chaos energy fed into the storm of electricity, adding to it a trace of chaos lightning, further feeding the intensity of the storm as even more energy fed in from the cyclone of gold and silver. As the chaos lightning collided with Pikachu, he too merged together with the chaotic lightning energy.


    As the chaos and electrical energy engendered, Satoshi''s body grew, as though he were swallowing the electrical storm to engorge himself.


    His body beginning to look like that of a giant, made only of chaos and lightning. The very embodiment of chaotic lightning.


    Outside the gold-silver cyclone, none of this could be seen. Only the ever-increasing cyclone was visible, and not a hint of electric energy would seem to have been leaked on the outside.


    Yet, although this cyclone no longer seemed to grow as fast, the Leaders facing it could tell that the silver and gold energy had begun to condense even further. Causing the presence of this enormous cyclone to grow even more intimidating.


    The Syndicate Leaders all sighed in admiration at this technique.


    "Indeed. It is a shame, this youth could develop such a powerful technique with his pokemon. Yet, he must have wasted all his time developing this powerful defensive technique. Had he focused on training his attack powers, perhaps he may have stood a chance, all he can do is hold off our attacks. Yet, the fact he can hold out against ten Pokemon Masters by himself is in itself astounding."


    "He was one born chosen by the world, his destiny will always be to oppose the will of humanity. The will of our organizations to shape the worlds to our whims. We cannot allow his strength to continue to grow. He is too strong, even for a chosen one. This Satoshi must die here, today."


    "..attack mew and the survivors down below, we cannot muster enough power to break down this defensive technique. So, we must at least do what we can. This is one of the longest lasting defensive techniques I''ve ever seen, but let us see him continue staying inside his shell while we slaughter the people he came to protect."


    The Syndicate leaders shifted the focus of their attacks, and they rained down on mew''s psychic barrier.


    One could see mew in the center of the barrier, it''s arms and hands outstretched. The small unassuming pink pokemon seemed to be under extreme duress as it stood in the air, as though it were exerting all its effort in holding up the very sky above it.


    Those beneath mew similarly felt it was doing just that. Were it not for mew, that very sky filled with with every kind of death imaginable would come crashing down on them. Even through the protection of the barrier, they still felt an intense pressure which many could b?r?ly withstand. If those attacks were to actually reach them, not even ashes would be left.


    Inside the silver-gold cyclone, Satoshi absorbed the last strain of electric energy.


    His eyes snapped open, a blinding shining out from them. His enormous body now wreathed in chaos lightning, he appeared like an ancient God of lightning.


    He uttered just a few words, and from the undertones in those words rung out countless unknown meanings.


    His enormous body disappeared.


    The yin-yang cyclone began to slow.


    ''Has his defensive technique run out of time already?''


    Then, the flow of the cyclone reversed.


    It''s speed countless times faster than before. Chaos lightning which made the Pokemon Master''s heart shudder rippled through the merging silver-gold energy as it all moved inwards to one point. They converged into a single, bright, blinding light.


    Then, that light erupted outwards.


    Chaos lightning covered the skies over the Kanto Region, the Syndicate leaders looking at the pulsating energy shook in fear at that instant.


    ''This is a power no man, not even a Pokemon Master, should possess.''


    Then lightning rained down from the skies on each one of them at that instant.


    A world made purely of thunder and lightning, a world which, if completed, would be no less than their own in terms of complexity. It was a world made purely of electrical energy, yet it contained a trace of every form of energy together with it. An electric type energy which defied all logic in the Pokemon world, and seemed to encompass all of creation within itself.


    The Syndicate leaders and their pokemon did not even have a chance to cry out once this technique reached it''s completion. They, their pokemon, and their attacks, all were directly erased from this world without a trace by this lightning. Much of the land in the surroundings were also directly annihilated.


    Immediately after this astounding attack, there was only an intense silence, as the people present took a moment to process what happened.


    A cheer erupted from the crowd below as they looked up at the figure of Satoshi and his pokemon as they emerged from the settling storm clouds up above. As many women (and some men) seemed to cheer out Satoshi''s name from the crowd.


    ...


    Nearby, having escaped the notice of Mew and Satoshi, Giovanni had tunneled his way back up towards the surface. His face and the red R on his shirt covered in dirt.


    Glancing back at the desolate landscape which he had narrowly escaped becoming a smear on, his eyes were filled with grief and anger.


    "Damn you Satoshi, damn that kid, damn this world. I will have my revenge someday, I will ravage the other worlds and hone my skills, wash your neck and await my return, Satoshi."


    ...


    ''So, is this what the pinnacle of power looks like.'' he imagined in wonder, trying to imagine himself reaching such heights in the future. Finding, he could not even see himself being that strong, could not imagine how one could even train to be so strong.


    [No. This is not the pinnacle, there is no such thing. This is only peak-Low Ranked strength.]


    ''?!?, The System? I thought you weren''t the question answering type? And, how can something so strong still be considered Low Ranking?!''


    [Only after completing the laws for a single world would one reach Low Rank Culmination, and have a chance to ascend to become a Middle Ranked being.]


    ''That.. doesn''t make much sense. If you know everything, enough to make an entire world, that is already all-powerful isn''t it? Why say all this? Just to show off how superior the system is?''


    [The system is a tool, it would answer questions to keep subject from straying to the wrong path. For growth, it is best not to tell too many things. Learning through experience, necessary. When appropriate to give answers, closely regulated. In regards to the question, it should be obvious: There are many ways to make coherent worlds. Understanding just one, still very weak.]


    ''..personally, I think being able to create a complete world in itself is difficult enough. Though being strong is good and all, it is not as if one should dedicate everything to strength and forget to live, if being Low-Rank is enough to protect the people on the Origin World, that would probably be enough for me.''


    [Anything that is ranked, easily replicated. Beneath notice. It is best not to grow attached to such beings. With your inborn ability, must conceive growth to such a scale. Otherwise, unworthy of investment.]


    ''And if I were proven unworthy of investment, what would happen then?''


    [Nothing. If you do not prove worthy of investment, the system will stop helping you, the world you refer to as the ''Origin World'' will most definitely give you an end worse than death.]


    ''Wha-? How is that possible, I haven''t even seen anything as strong as a Pokemon Master on Origin World! That doesn''t make any sense!''


    [...]


    ''Hello?''


    [...]


    ''Fucking System and it''s stupid question-answer regulations.''


    ...


    In the clamor afterwards, Kirsten Jenny worked her way through the crowds. Finally spotting Grey among the group of survivors from the Hospital, she quickly approached him.


    "Grey!!"


    Grey''s unfocused eyes, still staring into the sky at that moment, seemed to snap back into reality as she grabbed onto his arm.


    He looked at her for a moment, "Kirsten?"


    She shook her head, looking extremely happy. ''He can tell me apart even with all my family here, he seems like a good catch, even if he''s a bit younger. And he even fought a Gyarados with his fists... hehe~''


    ''...wasn''t he a bit taller than me before though? Why does he seem so much shorter now?'' But she shook her head, remembering the techniques he mentioned before. ''It must be related to that technique.''


    Aunt Connie appeared, seemingly from nowhere, and put a hand on his other shoulder.


    "We defeated the biggest threat that has plagued the Kanto region for decades today. Giovanni was too impatient, if you hadn''t helped to buy time, he may well have decided we were unnecessary and just eliminated us. We owe you."


    Grey scratched his head, clasped his hands and answered, "I am nowhere near the strength of Miss yet. It is somewhat awkward to have to put on a show of a fight in front of those stronger than you. I hope I did not embarrass myself in front of Miss Connie."


    Aunt Connie chortled, "To even call me Miss, ah, such a good boy. I wonder, do such techniques really exist though? Your performance calls the question. To offer up such techniques to the likes of Team Rocket, even in exchange for the safety of others, is not okay. If such techniques did exist, they would need to remain well protected, handed down only to those who would use them for good and justice."


    Her eyes shifted from him to Kirsten. She let out a beautiful smile, which was not a smile. "My beautiful niece seems to have taken a liking to you. You are clearly a man of justice and high values, so no one in our clan would object to you.."


    "Aunt Connie!!"


    Her face grew beat red.


    Grey looked at Kirsten, ''I b?r?ly met this girl, she likes me already? She must be what, 17? No wonder she is so impressionable.. even if my body is younger than her now, my mind is still an ?du?t... I couldn''t take advantage of an underage girl.''


    Aunt Connie teased her niece for a moment and left soon after.


    "So, Grey~ Um, my Aunt was just joking about all that. But, it''s not like, I don''t think your an interesting person. More like, I do think your kind of interesting. So, like, maybe, we could hang out, if your sticking around the area."


    "Um, Kirsten, I''m sorry, but I can''t stick around. I have people I have to take care of, so I''ll be gone really frequently, and have to travel a lot."


    "Oh, okay.. I see.."


    ''Brock would probably be crying tears of blood if he saw me rejecting a Jenny like this.''


    "Then, maybe, could I have your number? That way, we could talk over poke-gear, you know, as friends~"


    Um.. it seems a bit too harsh to turn down even that.. but, I really don''t have a phone that does cross-dimensional service.


    "I''m sorry, I really don''t have poke-gear, and I still really need to complete my party as soon as possible so I don''t really have the time to get one. I still need to catch a ghost-type and a Pokemon I can use as a ground mount too."


    "Oh, well.. that''s great! It is good to go all out, pursuing strength at full throttle.. how about this. I used to travel abroad to visit my sister in the Alolan Isles, and I got this from her."


    She took a pokeball and shoved it into my hands, backing away quickly. "It''s an owner-less Rotom with a custom poke-gear shell, it''s range will still work even if you go to the other side of the planet. Consider it as thanks for saving my life from those two agents earlier."


    She stuck out her tongue a little.


    "Rotom can also be considered a ghost-type, as ''the plasma pokemon'' his ghost attacks would be no worse than any other ghost-type if you train him with that as the focus, so you have no reason not to add him to your six! I know your number, so I''ll make sure to call you. Byebye!"


    And she skipped away.


    Still mildly stunned, Grey watched her skip away. But then, looking down at this Rotom pokeball he felt it might not be that bad. ''I''ve already got a mish-mash party I didn''t plan for, since I got this Rotom, it won''t be weak so long as I''m the one training it.''


    Putting my energy into the Rotom pokeball I got a small notification.


    [Detected pokemon with abilities outside given parameters.. suppressing electric type powers.. strengthening ghost type powers.. successful. Modification results acceptable, binding successful]


    ''..um, all is well that ends well?''


    This event took a long time, but, I also gained a lot from it. Despite not getting the Tauros I originally came for.


    I worked my way through the crowd and into a secluded area, ''logging out''.

 Chapter 19 - Ravings of a Newbie

    When I woke up in Origin World it was already mid-day.


    ''I had stayed inside the Pokemon World for too long again, ugh.''


    I quickly got up, startling Meditite and my followers with the sudden movement.


    ''Did you all start to think I am a Statue that doesn''t move?''


    This time there had been a long and prolonged battle, and I had even managed to witness a fight far beyond my current ''cultivation'', it was a very worthwhile trip.


    But still, as could be seen from the reactions of these fellows, leaving one''s body is just too unnatural.


    Maybe in time they would view me in a negative light due to my actions, thinking I''m lazy, or maybe they will just think I am cultivating.


    When I''m gone, the state my body remains in is so rigid it could hardly be seen as human. An unnatural and unhealthy method of moving between worlds and realms indeed.


    I decided to do some exercise with Seran, Horus, and Gina. Teach them a bit on how exactly this Statue can move, in a way they will not soon forget.


    They should be spending most of their time cultivating Mental Energy, but beating some Combatives into them to keep their bodies in shape won''t hurt either. So, I helped them with learning some throws, submission moves and counters with sparring.


    Exercising a bit and showing off my strength, I felt much better.


    Using Body Strengthening, I found I had to hold back a lot so as not to harm them. The difference between my old Basic Mental Energy and my new Lowest Grade Mental Energy was rather large and hard to grow accustomed to.


    Or rather, I was not even fully familiar with the Basic Mental Energy, and now that my energy was stronger, my control was only that much worse.


    Having finally become a qualified Pokemon Trainer, I should have technically just moved up from a Basic being up to the Lowest Grade.


    Many of those I had been fighting, from the Minotaur to the Agents, were all already Lowest Grade though. I had obviously been able to defeat them. So, it would seem the difference in strength is not huge, at least between the slowest two.


    Though there may be little difference between Basic and Lowest, that is probably because it is the difference between Last and Second to Last.


    From what I could tell from the system, cultivation & strength was roughly categorized like this:


    Normal People & Animals -> Basic


    Hero-like People & Monsters -> Lowest Grade


    Heavenly Cultivators & Demi-Gods -> Low Grade


    Law Cultivators & World Gods -> Mid Grade


    Stronger than that? -> High Grade & Above?


    Initial, Minor Achievement, Intermediate, Major Achievement, Culmination.


    My current ''Status'', some based on stuff I got out of the system, should be roughly like this:


    ---------


    System Operations


    [Mental Space Operations]


    - Establishment


    - Stabilization


    - Energy Regulation


    [Fusion Energy Embodiment]


    - Node Linking


    - Energy Regulation


    [Node Establishment]


    - Spatial Manipulation


    - Psuedo-space Establishment


    - Resonance Point Establishment


    - Energy Regulation


    ---------


    Body Cultivation


    Cultivation Methods [None]


    Techniques [None]


    ---------


    Mental Cultivation


    [ Initial Lowest Grade ]


    Cultivation Methods


    [Mental Star Meditations]


    - Utilizes Self-hypnosis


    - Stimulates Energy Production


    - Forcefully floods the nervous system with Mental Energy, baptizing the mind and nerves in the body so that it becomes more in-tuned to Mental Energy.


    - Stimulates the Mental Space to produce more Mental Energy.


    Techniques


    [Mental Space Access]


    - Allows one to access the Mental Space


    [Mental Symbol Cultivation] Uninitiated


    - 1st Symbol[True Self: Endless Bodies]


    [Body Strengthening]


    - Uses Mental Energy to move and strengthen the Body


    - Condenses a Blade made of Mental Energy that shoots forwards


    [Psychic Sensing]


    - Can use Mental Energy to ''see'' the surroundings.


    [Payday Attack], Initiated


    - Can use Mental Energy to temporarily condense some gold charms (Requires Mental Energy Consolidation or Mentality of Origin to operate)


    ---------


    Fusion Energy (Spiritual/Mental Energy)


    Innate Abilities


    [Infinite Relay]


    - Can allow the individual to instantly move fusion energy across an effectively infinite distance. However, it is limited by the user''s ability to comprehend and utilize it.


    - Current utilization method: Establishing spatial relay nodes, using them to establish connection with the user''s fusion energy. After node establishment, the connection can allow the user to utilize a fusion energy body on the other side instantaneously, regardless of distance.


    ---------


    ...this is the way I worked it out in my head at least. Apparently my System, or maybe it''s creators, think it is bad for me to have the System constantly telling me my own status.


    Something like ''Learn to know your body for your damn self!'' Or ''Shit, why would you need a System to tell you what you know? If you need the system to tell you, obviously, you don''t really know it!'' -> I imagine the System''s creators saying something like this.


    Though, they did give percentages for the Law Comprehension part? I suppose it would be a bit too much to ask a person to comprehend a Law efficiently without at least helping to know your on the right track.


    ...or, they were just too lazy to make the cultivation and techniques portions.


    ...but really, if they can monitor the afterlife for special souls, pluck them, and send them to a new world with a System, obviously they can''t be too lazy. There is probably a legitimate reason not to.


    Probably, but, you never know... and the System says nothing on the subject, so...


    Well, forget it.


    We got our things together and got on the move again, after moving through what little daylight time we had left we settled in again.


    Instead of going back to the Pokemon World or setting up a Node on a new one, I decided to take the night and familiarize myself with my new Mental Cultivation level and train together with my Pokemon and the others.


    After everyone else went to sleep, I decided to take a look at my World Options. I did manage to unlock a new Node option after all.


    Settling myself in again, I shift my consciousness into my Mental Space and find the System within.


    -------------------------------------------------------------


    Please select a world to begin your development. You can now solidify a new spatial coordinate on a secondary world for dimensional travel.


    ------------


    Current Spatial Node Locations


    Note: Lowest Grade Mental Cultivation has been reached, some missions will now become available upon Node Establishment.


    (Pokemon World)


    [Missions Available:


    Create a true material world within the Pokemon Multiverse.


    Reward: Magic Energy Creation Technique]


    - World Resources: Basic and (Incomplete) Low grade Mental Cultivation Techniques, Basic and Low-Grade Mental Energy Beasts, Natural Mental Energy Formations, Basic Mental Energy formations and Technology, Basic Natural Technology


    - Unique Natural Laws: Mental Energy Consolidation, Mental Energy Technique Enlightenment, Mental Cultivation Enlightenment


    - Modular Laws: Mentality of Origin (New hidden law)


    - Current Projected Progression for World Law Comprehension: 0.001%


    - Mentality of Origin Laws: 0.5%


    [The Pokemon World contains a partial form of these mysterious methods, which allows one to transform Human Mental Energy into the native Origin Energy of Pokemon World. The complete form of these laws is modular and can thus be used in any world to condense origin energy from mental energy.]


    ------------


    Potential Node Locations


    All worlds chosen have a time progression rate equivalent to the current world. Current suitable worlds related to memories are displayed:


    [Spatial-Dimensional Shift has occurred. The Hub-world simulataneously shifts through space and phase material properties to interact with many realities, allowing you to draw close enough to d?s?r?d Worlds to detect and establish Nodes upon them. This Hub-world follows a complex-fixed orbit, with many replica-worlds in it''s path. World opportunities will re-appear in the future, so user can freely choose based on immediate needs.]


    [Spatial-Dimensional Shift: 2 World Connections Lost, 2 New Worlds in Range]


    1) (Mass Effect) [New World]


    - World Resources: Basic to Low(Incomplete) Grade Natural Technology, Basic Origin Energy Generators, Basic Mental Energy Generators, Basic Origin Energy Techniques, Basic Mental Energy Techniques, Mid-Rank ''Lost'' Natural Technology


    2) (D.N. Angel) [New World]


    - World Resources: Basic Natural Technology, Basic and Lowest grade Emotion-based Mental Energy, Emotion-based Magic Energy, Empathic Energy


    - Unique Natural Laws: Mental Energy Seperation (Psychic-Empathic Energies Isolated), Empathic Energy Retainment


    3) (Fable)


    - World Resources: Atmospheric Mental Energy Stimulants, Basic Mental Energy Techniques, Low-Grade Mental Energy Formations


    - Unique Natural Laws: Sorcerer Physique Refinement Laws, Sorcerer Mental Technique Enlightenment, Fate Laws, Alternate Reality Binding


    4) (Avatar: The Last Airbender)


    - World Resources: Basic Spiritual Meditation Techniques, Innate Spiritual Element Stimulants


    - Unique Natural Laws: Spiritual Technique Enlightenment, Spiritual-Physical Dimension Binding


    5) (Dragon Ball Universe)


    - World Resources: Basic Qi Cultivation Techniques, Basic to High Grade Qi Genetics, Basic to Mid Grade Martial Arts Techniques, Basic to Low Grade Natural Technology Development


    ------------


    [Connections Lost, node options will reappear when Origin World is back in synchronous space with these worlds]


    (Crash Bandicoot)


    - World Resources: Basic to Low-Grade Mystic Tribal Arts, Basic Natural Genetic Modifications, Basic Tribal Energy Type Genetic Modifications, Basic and Low grade Tribal Energy Technology


    - Unique Natural Laws: Tribal Art Enlightenment, Space-Time Tribal Energy Laws


    (Sonic The Hedgehog)


    - World Resources: Basic Chaos Energy Body Techniques, Basic Chaos Energy Type Genetic Modifications, Basic Natural Technology, Basic and Semi-Low-Grade Chaos Energy Technology


    - Unique Natural Laws: Chaos Energy Condensation


    -------------------------------------------------------------


    ...too much information, as usual.


    I was mildly embarrassed D.N.Angel showed up. I used to read the manga back in High School. It was more of a typical school-kid drama than anything, but it also had some interesting world mechanics. Still, that it would show up as a world option... sigh~


    Honestly, so much information, it took me a while to process. I think it is necessary to think through it to see which world would be the best choice for progressing forwards.


    There seemed to be many kinds of Energies, really, too many of them. At this point, I can''t much understand what the major differences between any of them are. Yet, these differences were something the system could distinguish between easily.


    In the Pokemon world, the man who appeared to save everyone, Satoshi, seemed to be an older version of the main character from the Pokemon Anime. He bore the same name as he did in the original Japanese version.


    I saw that the Mental Energy he used in the attack ''Electric World'' could be used to emulate and form almost anything. His lightning strikes he used at the end to finish his enemies, unlike Meowth, were still entirely composed of Mental Energy.


    So, I had some dull sense of the energy within, which resembled each of the varying Pokemon types.


    Satoshi''s ''Electric World'' lighting more or less acted like normal lightning within the realm of the pokemon world. Ridiculously strong lightning, but still, just lightning. However, from what the system had said, that lightning should have been a technique that could create a complete world.


    This means that world should be a world of ''another dimension'', but, since all of the Mental Energy he used came from the Pokemon World, it could likely be considered as creating a Pokemon ''sub-world''. Just the fact he was able to do this with one type means the same should apply to each of the other types.


    This implies the Mental Energy of the Pokemon world alone is both complex and powerful enough to sustain many types of sub-worlds of varying types.


    This means that any ''energy type'' the system considers could/should be equally capable in terms of omnipotence.


    Yet, obviously there should be some differences between these types of energy.


    Mental Energy comes from the Brain and the nervous system, and the Mental Space acts as an expansion of the Mind, which is why it can also produce Mental Energy.


    Whereas, from what I know, Qi can be gathered from the world around you or cultivated in the body.


    Qi acts similarly to Mental Energy, but rather than the entire body it primarily focuses around where we use the most energy in our body, in muscles and organs. Then, in novels, it often circulates in the blood rather than the nervous system. That applies only in certain worlds though.


    The general setting for Qi is ''ancient worlds'', another key word together with Qi cultivation is ''origin energy'', which is generally implying one uses energy from the origin of existence. High energy bodies contain more Origin Energy which begets more Qi.


    There were those who believed Qi once existed on earth, but then disappeared at some point.


    If Qi had ever existed in our world, it should have been very long ago, unless our Solar System coincidentally passed out of a concentration pocket of Qi not long ago historically, humans of Earth should never have touched upon it.


    If it were true, one could jest that dinosaurs and mass extinction occurred because we passed outside of the Qi pocket. Only life-forms that could exist and adapt to the lack of Qi would survive.


    Our Solar system continually moves further and further away from the origin of the Universe, if Qi and Origin energy existed anywhere, it would be thickest the closer you are to there.


    Alternatively, perhaps it would also exist very near to Black Holes, or similar extreme high-energy bodies.


    In essence, Qi should just be extreme high-energy particles, with minute size and mass specifically, particles which can both interact with normal materials, and remain inert to them, under very discrete conditions, without destroying and melting them in the process.


    The three main energy types in cultivation novels were Mental/Magical, Origin/Qi, Spiritual/Soul, and then, separate from them, was the simple physical body which served a different purpose in every case.


    The system clearly gave me the restrictions it did because it wants me to first focus on the three energies, often called ''the three flows'' and my simple material body which serves as the foundation for them.


    In pokemon, the correspondence would most likely be Mental/Magical -> Psychic types, Origin/Qi -> Fighting, Spiritual/Soul -> Ghost, and then likely, Normal -> the fundamental material body?


    Although each of these energies are capable of anything, they all have their own specializations and origins. Each energy will be stronger and weaker in certain area when you consider two cultivators with different energy types but equal quantities and qualities of it.


    Every type of cultivation in novels would generally use the body as the foundation.


    Traditional cultivation methods would slowly replace the original material body, with a body made of pure energy. Whereas Body cultivators would utilize their chosen energy-type, to transform their material body over time into something more akin to a material weapon.


    The Body Cultivator would use their energy of choice to re-enforce and/or hyper-compress all of the materials that compose their body. Generally, the end result would be a hybridization of the energy used and the regular base materials.


    However, in theory, with enough resources and effort they could simply make their body into a weapon so dense and powerful they could slap a star out of existence.


    One such example would be the main character of Stellar Transformations.


    The Stellar Transformations cultivation method diverged from it''s original path after entering MC''s hands, one originally centered on Natural Sciences.


    He reached the pinnacle of that reality by means of using a hybridization of Origin energy and materials science.


    It should be possible to use Natural Science to create a pinnacle pure material body, and it should also be possible to create one using any of the other energies if one were knowledgable in both fields, however, either approach would be many times more difficult than the hybridization method... if novels are something you can use to actually gauge reality, that is.


    ...did my mind wander onto strange things?


    Well, it is relevant Information, I think.


    Based on all of this, the system seems to want me to build a foundation for my body and the three flows before all else.


    Probably, I need to raise them all to Lowest grade to forge a solid cultivator foundation... at least, that is the typical pattern in those novels on cultivation.


    However, without strength, I may not survive in the Origin World. So, it may also be better to just focus on one energy type, then use that as the foundation to raise up the rest of them. At this point, if any, it would make the most sense to raise my Mental energy higher first, since it is already at Lowest grade.


    Then, there is also the issue of the immediate threats of Origin World.


    The issue of the Minotaurs is rather straight forward, from what I can tell they fit the pattern of an innate Qi-based Body Constitution. They can use a bit of Qi, but most of it goes into maintaining their enormous and powerful bodies, so at best their Qi techniques are cheap tricks. Not much to be done against them unless I get strong enough to deal with their whole Horde.


    The issue of the Shadow-like ''demons'' seems more tricky though. These are tedious energy-type beings. Their methods can be far more flexible than the Minotaur, and they cannot even be touched by your typical material body.


    Though they could likely be harmed somehow through Mental Energy, there is no particular guarantee that just any Mental Energy attack would be effective. If I could find a way to gather information on how to combat them in another world before confronting them en-mass, it would be ideal.


    In some cases, energy combinations between the three flows result in huge combat boosts as well. So that is another matter to take into account...


    Essentially, the only world available that I could really rule out for this time was Mass Effect. Though I would love access to the futuristic tech and knowledge, it did not seem likely I could use anything from that world to help in improving cultivation at the Lowest Grade.


    All of the other worlds have various pros and cons. To decide between them arbitrarily when I''ve no idea when my next opportunity will come just isn''t a good idea.


    I decided to not be too quick to decide on the matter for now though, I could b?r?ly control my current cultivation. Any more right now would be too much, I need to improve my control over my body and mental energy, I need to look into and cultivate my mental symbol, and I''ve been spending too much time separated from my body recently.


    So, my pokemon and followers and me moved together and practiced together as we moved towards the nearest village. I did my best to instruct them on fighting and cultivation, building a rapport with the three as best as I could.


    When I tried to do the ''mental symbol cultivation'' the first step required me to control my mental energy to mimic the mental symbol.. which was far harder than one might imagine.


    Three short days of travel later, we finally arrived in the area of the village.

 Chapter 20 - Loremaster Sardon

    A human village, no, it was not quite established enough to call it that.


    Looking from afar, there was a small human camping ground.


    Numerous "fox holes" and a few larger trenches with feeble tent-like structures over them, were splayed haphazardly in the middle of a large clearing in the forest.


    On the far side of the clearing, near the horizon, one could see more forestry, covering the entirety of that horizon.


    Yet, to the left, and to the right, there was no trace of trees to be seen.


    Instead, a grassland seemed to stretch out endlessly in either direction.


    Aside from the River, this was the only place I had seen thus far which was not almost completely shadowed by the canopy of the enormous trees, which seem to cover the land endlessly.


    People in clothing similar to the trio walked about the village. Each of them seeming to be merely going about on their own. None seemed they could be bothered to stop to socialize, laugh, gossip with neighbors. Too occupied with their own means for survival.


    No wall or any other ?ssortment of barrier made of sticks or otherwise could be seen around the camp''s perimeter. It appeared almost defenseless.


    There seemed to be a few people lingering around the edges of the village, appearing as though they were ''guards''.


    However, they did not seem disciplined at all. More or less just relaxing near the edge of the encampment with weapons on hand.


    It would be all too easy for a beast to sneak into this village, or just about anything really.


    If one of the Minotaurs came here, despite any one of them being at least the size of a small hill, they could probably use stealth and walk into the middle of the village undetected.


    Such a thing, it is as ridiculous as having a ''stealth tank'', and how stupid would you feel when such a badly camouflaged tank appeared in front of you, and you had missed it.


    Creatures with size and strength like tanks and camouflage live not too far away, and Demons lurk in the forest torturing and eating people, yet these fellows were so relaxed with their security.


    Not to mention these, there were numerous creatures in the woods which were of equal strength to that trio. If a group of them wandered over, that too would cause many issues.


    Ridiculous!


    Though I thought so, maybe they had their reasons. I wanted to get these people on my side regardless, so criticizing their methods is probably not a great idea.


    I did not immediately enter the village, on account of my ragged looks, I might leave a bad first impression on these people.


    So instead, I asked Seran, Horus, and Gina to go ahead and procure some appropriate clothing from in the village. We had a fair number of pelts, and a bit of herb-preserved meat from the animals we encountered on the trip here, which could be used for barter.


    The trio entered the village as I remained on the outskirts. I knew it would take an hour or two, and so I settled down to do some Mental Cultivation.


    Since my breakthrough to the Lowest grade mental energy, I became able to try and use the resonance technique.


    Over the past few days I had begun using it, and it truly showed some great results. They had the information on how to do it available freely and publicly, and I had read over it long ago, now I could actually apply it.


    This technique was the true foundation of the pokemon world. It had been perfected over many years, and had wonderous effects.


    Resonating with Drowzee and Meditite, I felt the greatest effect. Their psychic energy resonated with my own as I used the mental star and Nerve flooding methods, which greatly amplified my results.


    The resonance with Meditite and Machop seemed to have an odd effect on the Nerve Flooding method. Peculiar energy, I am ?ssuming Qi, seemed to emanate in minute traces, softly, from my nervous system into the rest of my body. Strengthening my body.


    The resonance with Rotom also seemed to affect the Nerve Flooding method. My mental space seemed to ''vibrate'' resonating and interconnecting with some other ''space'' near the center of my body.


    I knew this should be related to spiritual energy, but it seemed to be in the same location where the ''Dantian'' should be. But, typically, that is where one gathers Qi in later cultivation. I could not quite understand what it had to do with spiritual energy.


    "Hello friend!" a voice yelled out from behind me.


    The voice startled me, awaking me from my state of cultivation.


    "Ah! Ah.. you were cultivating, my friend. Sorry about that! Most people just cultivate in their homes. I come out here to relax at times as well, I suppose since it is a good place to relax, it should be a good place to cultivate as well!"


    Looking at the man, he appeared to be beaming with happiness. His attitude at a stark contrast with the people of the village.


    ''A man approached me without my even noticing. It seems I still lack training to improve my awareness, I was confident enough after honing it on our travels, but I suppose the effect is lessened during cultivation.''


    Cough, "Well, don''t worry about it. I did not feel like entering the village just yet, and was just waiting on my fellows to return."


    The man nodded,


    "Yes, it looks like my friend has had quite the journey in the woods. Probably, a journey beyond the Demon''s boundary? Only out there would one encounter the more vicious predators, they generally don''t venture on this side of the Boundary.


    I do not recognize you friend, you must have come from somewhere near the other side of the Human Ring."


    "The Human Ring? Is this place in the Human Ring, then?"


    The man''s eyes flashed and he smiled.


    "My friend seems to have come from very far away, indeed.


    I do not know if it is fortune or misfortune that you made it to this place, but.. yes, this place here is a part of the Human Ring. The land where the Demons allow humanity to roam freely. What is this friends'' name, might I ask?"


    "This one is called Sardon. It is good to meet you."


    "And you as well."


    We both stayed for a moment in silence... suppose I should say something.


    "..How big is the Human Ring, then? Do you know?"


    Sardon smiled widely and answered.


    "The Human Ring is a ring of grassland, in the middle of Demon territory. The forestry border you stand at now is the outermost ring of the Demon''s territories. The forestry border, which you can see near the horizon, leads towards the inner circles and the core regions of the Demon territory.


    If one wished to travel around the entire ring, for an average person, it would take about three lifetimes of constant travel.


    Some of the wandering tribes continue their journey in perpetuity, some in one direction, one in the other. In this way, people can know for themselves it to be true. The ring itself is not actually a perfect ring, but it should be pretty close.. from what we could tell.


    ...this section of the great ring is especially well known however, as it is one of the few points on the ring where people have been rumored to leave and return, at least, in a few our more secretive oral traditions."


    The entirety of the Demon territories, would be far larger.


    "So, why did you decide to rest here, friend? Were you waiting to watch the sight of the end-lights? I find it is one of my few joys to watch the light slowly fade, the distinctive colors you see at that moment are simply beautiful.


    I tell most every girl I court how comparable she is to it! Hahahah. It works well, you know! It does not hurt that I am a Lorekeeper to begin with, my stories sway their hearts with ease, these hunters'' stories cannot compare. Though, my friend, I am sure you''ve a number of tales comparable at least."


    I stopped for a moment and looked at the sun in the distance. This region''s light stayed perpetually the same during the day, as this world''s sun rose and set, it never truly seems to be breaching the horizon.


    "Yes, I do have a few.


    It is a bit peculiar for me here. Where I come from, the Sun would generally rise in one part of the sky, and set in the other.


    Here, it only b?r?ly crosses the horizon, staying and there throughout the day. I agree the light of dawn is beautiful, but the light here always appears like the light of dawn, does it not lose it''s meaning?"


    "...I''m afraid I don''t know what you mean friend. The ''Sun''? What is that? I''ve never heard of such a thing."


    I was stunned for a moment, most every civilization had the concept of the sun, so I had ?ssumed he would know what it was. But then, trapped in a land were you never see the whole thing, I suppose it makes sense for the concept to never have formed.


    I never thought I would have to explain something like this to someone.. at least, not to someone fully grown.


    "Hahah, you are a funny man, friend. What a creative tale! Although it is funny, please do not say such things!


    The Oral Traditions are the foundation of learning in the world. If false stories spread, it could take many years to correct those mistaken, especially so with such a realistic tale as yours.


    The light of day comes from the fire energy of the red mountains, an outpost of the Dragon race. And there are indeed flickering lights in the night sky, but these come from the chaos flows, which rampage above the ninth layer of the heavens.


    I know you are good intentioned here, as you know I can determine the falsehood as a Lorekeeper. However,this knowledge was painstakingly gained by our wandering ancestors, the average person may take what you said as truth, we cannot disgrace them by spreading rumor."


    "MASTER, WE HAVE RETURNED!"


    "Ah.. it seems my fellows are back, I will just be going now then."


    "Oh, of course! Sorry if I offended you, it is just.. the Oral Traditions are rather important.."


    "Don''t worry about it, it is obvious you would react strongly towards something against your beliefs. I would not hold it against you."


    His face twisted, seeming confused.


    "Well, good bye then."


    "Ah, yes, may the Demons keep from you."


    Grey joined up with the trio and they moved deeper into the forest to discuss the situation of the village.


    The man looked into the far distance, towards the red mountains. His powerful vision, enhanced by his strong cultivation, allowed him to see far further than the average person ever could.


    He looked on as the flows of fire energy were gradually extinguished as they met the chaotic energy in the upper layers of the nine heavens. At the instant they were extinguished, they transformed into a dim but dazzling Aurora of dancing energy, which gradually faded and gave way to the night.


    "Tcht, stars, what nonsense. Trying to lie and mess with others about something one could witness with their own eyes. What a foolish child.


    ...still, he should be stronger than he lets on. He acted completely ignorant of my presence, but he could even kill a Shepherd.."


    The man turned, his eyes flashed with a dark light. His body moved abnormally fast, disappearing into the deep forest.


    --------


    We returned to our nearby burrow.


    "Have you gotten the clothes I asked for?"


    "Yes Master, we have bartered for them on your behalf. We also spoke to some of the people around town to see if there has been any news or changes since the time when we decided to leave."


    "And?"


    "The village chief has recently fallen ill with a fever, and aside from that, a wandering Loremaster had come into town just the other day. Aside from these, there is nothing significant."


    "I see. Hm.. do you all know what the regions beyond the borders of the Demon Territory are like? If we wished to find somewhere safe from the reaches of the Demons, where would we need to go?"


    "...My lord, we do not know the best way. Supposedly, if one finds the river beyond the Demon''s forest boundary, one can follow it in the direction of the Red Mountains to reach the Wilds of the Dragons. There, for the lesser races, only the rule of the wilds applies, as the Dragons care not for worldly things. This is where we hoped to venture."


    "I see. Then, considering the Demon normally guarding the way is now dead, what chance is there that the Tribe here would be willing to follow and escape these lands?"


    "Master.. for some, they may jump at the chance. For others.. perhaps not. However, if Master shows his strength, I think they would not refuse."


    "Okay... Gina, tell me a about the people you know in the village, even the little things. I want a layout of the way things are in the village."


    ''A lot of the things that Loremaster said earlier were things I had no idea about, I need to learn more about these people in order to deal with them.''


    "..yes master, first there is Germol, he-"


    I listened to her explain the situation of the village, as expected of a pretty female, she seemed to know basically everyone in the village, and every bit of gossip between them.


    But more or less, it came down to form one picture of the attitudes of most of the people in the village. An attitude that had forced these kids and their friends to run and try to escape Demon territory on their own, without any elders stepping out to help nor stop them.


    Sigh~ ''I figured as much, despite being treated as cattle, there would still be a lot who would fear change and not want to leave. They would likely use all their clout to keep others from leaving as well.


    To bring these people with me, in the end, it is likely to come down to force. It would not make sense to do so out of nowhere though.. maybe, I should make up some excuse why they need to leave?


    A primitive society, where magical things are everywhere and demons exist. It shouldn''t be too hard to trick them, right? Come up with some realistic hoodoo and paint the Demons as though they are trying to kill them (which is generally true anyways), incorporate a bit of other true events to make it seem more real... considering the Demons really do constantly kill and eat people here, it shouldn''t be too hard.


    Well, if it doesn''t work, I can just beat them until they follow me. They might hate me for it for a while, but they would eventually come around.''

 Chapter 21 - Boundaries

    In the forest, a man flew through the brush like a shadow in the night. With his dark wooden bow and black clothes he blended into the darkness.


    His demeanor was that of a Nocturnal Predator, out on the hunt. His eyes sweeping the ground as he moved. He followed the minute traces in his surroundings and the smell of blood in the air, following his prey.


    A large beast, akin to a hybrid deer-camel, stumbled as it weaved it''s way through the woods not far from him. It''s speed, despite it''s injuries, was nothing to scoff at. The movement of this bulky animal was comparable to the fastest Cheetah, and it''s endurance was clearly superior to them as well.


    ...


    I had journeyed for almost two days, tracking a Guanpok as it moved about the forest.


    We clashed briefly on the first encounter before it ran, I managed to catch up twice after, but neither time could I land a killing blow.


    The animal was nimble, in the chase, we approached the Demon''s border a number of times. Thankfully, it never crossed over.


    Most animals never dare cross the border due to the aura, but one can never be certain what they might do in desperation. We had again drawn near to the border, I could feel the Demonic Aura in the air, but I had no choice but to continue the chase.


    A single Guanpok could supply the entire village with meat for a few days, the equivalent of months of work to your average gatherer, passing up the opportunity to get one would be to let both oneself and others go hungry. I could not simply let it go due to a little risk.


    Looking down on the ground, I saw the Guanpok''s fresh and bloodied tracks.


    ''Rustle rustle rustle''


    It seemed to be nearby, good.


    I rush towards the direction of the noise, quickly drawing an arrow.


    The enormous body of the Guanpok surged out of the brush in front of me, it''s large pointed antlers lowered and ramming towards me.


    ''fwit''


    The arrow pierced the Guanpok''s ribs, piercing directly towards it''s heart. The creatures eyes betrayed a hint of despair and it stumbled, allowing me the chance to dodge past it.


    ''Finally!''


    I ran through the brush to catch up to it in excitement, my blade drawn to finish it. When I found it, it had already fallen still on the ground. My blade flashed through the air and buried itself into the Guanpok''s eye. The beast seized for a moment then fell limp again.


    I stepped up to dismantle the body of the beast, but as I hovered over it, I stopped dead in my tracks.


    ''The Demon marks!''


    On each of the trees around me, peculiar Marks began to appear upon their surface as a Demonic Aura arose rapidly in the surroundings.


    Seeing these Marks, the hairs on the back of my neck rose up. I felt the Symbol on my forehead heat up slightly, as it reacted to the evil nature of the Demon Marks.


    I backed away hastily, any person who crosses or leaves the borders was destined to die. The mark heating up, meant a Demon would come for you.


    When your training, they remind you often, and you remind yourself often, to never ever cross that border.


    No one could ever forget the scene of the Demon dragging those they knew into the village, the sight of them slowly torn to pieces and eaten alive.


    Sweat ran down my back, I instinctively looked towards the shadows, feeling as if it were staring back at me.


    Panic took over and my mind went blank for a moment before I calmed myself down.


    I already crossed the border, should I just keep going?


    If I am going to be pursued either way, I might as well try to escape.


    Or should I go back to the village, hoping I wasn''t noticed?


    ..If any human were to cross the Demon''s border in the forest, they would soon find themselves in the hungry mouths of a Demon.


    Everyone knew it was their destiny to eventually be eaten by the Demons, both in body and soul, but none would be willing to rush to this fate! I for one wished to stay away from that eternal fate for as long as possible.


    Though, there was likely no longer a choice for me to avoid that fate any longer.


    If I was going to die, might as well give something to the others before it happens.


    There was a chance the Demons would simply ignore my trespassing here if I turned back, but if I ran out past the border, I would certainly be dead.


    I wouldn''t even know where to go.


    So long as I pretend nothing wrong had happened and head back, perhaps they would not notice it was me who crossed the border. Perhaps the Demons would be too lazy to follow up, or perhaps they would think it was a mistake.


    All I know is.. even if I escaped by some miracle, I still wouldn''t survive outside.


    I dragged the Guanpok back behind the border once again, skinning and taking what meat I could quickly and putting it away in my ruck. Then I promptly buried what remains were left over, covering up my tracks as best I could.


    Securing my ruck and the rest of my belongings, I quickly left towards the village.


    No one could ever know when a Demon was truly following them, the Demon would wait and drive their victims into a spiral of negative emotions before going in for the kill. Sometimes they would simply


    Because of this, when hunted by a Demon, keeping a calm mind will allow you to live longer, everyone knows this.


    I had seen Demons torment, murder, and eat people in the village before.


    They would put on such demonstrations from time to time, to make certain no one forgets them.


    In my mind the image of my uncle who was dragged to the village trade ground surfaced. The image of him being pulled apart and slowly eaten alive as he screamed overlapped with my own image and a cold sweat went down my back.


    Despite this, I continued to head back towards the village. My feet moved by themselves though my thoughts dwelled on the circumstance, despite my trying to clear them from my mind.


    ''Maybe they really didn''t notice I had left? Or does it just take them longer to arrive? Maybe I should head back and try to escape? But could I ever make it by myself?''


    As I walked into the village, my head held low, I heard a man approach me.


    "Hello young man! Good day!"


    My body shook as the man addressed me, his voice seemed to carry a thick layer of Qi, turning to look at him, I felt his Qi was unfathomable.


    ''Had I ever met anyone so strong before? Even the Village Chief never held such a presence, who is this? ..I should try my best to act normally, I don''t want to stand out, it is not like I was the only one out in the forest today.''


    ''This.. couldn''t be a demon in disguise, could it? No, Demons don''t even use Qi in the way Humans do.''


    "I am not of any particular tribe, but I am a Wandering Loremaster, yes."


    "Ah, I see, do all Loremasters have such strength?"


    The man gave me a smile which seemed all too sinister, "Of course, one must have sufficient strength to traverse the Great Circle on their own. A wandering Beast could easily lead one to death. The dangers are plentiful, but spreading knowledge of our ancestors is reward itself for the troubles."


    Looking in the man''s eyes, I felt as though it were a Demon staring back.


    By all rights Wandering Loremasters are the most righteous and kind people one could meet. But this Loremaster felt.. wrong.


    Perhaps it was my own paranoia, but regardless I did not want to talk to this man.


    "Would you like to hear the words of our Ancestors, my boy?"


    "Ah.. no thanks, nice to meet you Loremaster. I need to sell my fresh Guanpok meat at the market, while it is still fresh, so~ goodbye."


    I made way to the market square and found Auntie Osina bartering tent.


    "Auntie! Look at this haul I brought!"


    Auntie looked up from the wood slate she was carving and looked over at me, her large, muscular, slightly pudgy body, was as intimidating as ever, her tired eyes exuded strength.


    "Cht, just show me what you got, boy!"


    I laid out all I had gathered together with the Guanpok Meat I had wrapped in the skin. Auntie looked over what I had brought over and sighed.


    "It''s a great haul! There are plenty of kids hungry due to all the lazy elders like myself here. This should help a lot for some of the weaker ones. The Guanpok has just a trace of Qi, but not too much that it would harm them.


    Maybe some will be able to cultivate to the first layer with the help of this. More cultivators, means less food upkeep. Bahahah, good job!!


    The Guanpok isn''t whole, but with the current situation it is worth more.. for everything here together, I will give you a Guanpok Slate and two Gatherer''s Slates. Roughly eighty servings worth. Fair?"


    I shook my head, I would most likely be a dead man soon. No need to contribute my Slates to the Demon''s Stomach, it would be better to just leave them with Auntie and the kids.. Still, in case it does overlook me, might be good to keep a bit.


    "I only need the Gatherer''s Slates Auntie, my Guanpok Slate can be a donation to the children."


    Her eyes shone as I said it, yet she hollered out, "Boy, shut up and take your Guanpok Slate. Those children will get all they need one way or another, I make sure of that. Those slates are just a way to keep those old depressed bastards sitting outside the village from taking what they don''t deserve."


    I shook my head, "Auntie, if I were to die, then those lazy fellows would simply claim what I brought back for themselves. I don''t need much with my 7th layer cultivation. I can go months on just the Gatherer''s Slates."


    "Why the heck are you talking about dying? We could all die at any time, that sort of thing doesn''t matter. I told you take it, so take it. And while you are at it, go check in with Chief. That wandering loremaster treated him. He''s just beginning to recover, yet already barking out orders. Says he has urgent orders for all able bodies~"


    "Ugh. Chief? He takes up more rations than anyone, and does nothing to help anyone either! How did he get such a great cultivation? Obviously, because he stole from others and hoards all of the good food for himself. So what if he has orders, he can do it himself!"


    "Shush, don''t talk bad about the Chief. You may not like it, but the fact we can live here is because he is here to keep the larger beasts away!


    The Chief''s very existence protects us. And besides that, he could snuff out your life in an instant. That should be reason enough for you to at least feign some respect for him."


    "Tcht. I speak bad to that old man all the time, he can''t do anything about it. He is too scared the Demons will get mad about him wasting their food. His real job is just to watch over us, to make sure we don''t die before they want us to, their Caves can''t lack in our Meat after all."


    "Ugh, whatever, go or don''t. Don''t say I didnt warn you. Just get out of here, I have things to do."


    I nodded and started walking towards home when I saw something I couldn''t believe.


    "?"

 Chapter 22 - The Demons are Coming!

    "Gina, your alive!"


    She stopped in her tracks looked over at me, her eyes widening at the sound of my voice.


    Then, she smiled and narrowed her eyes again.


    "What. Did you want me to die?"


    My head reeled for a moment.


    "But, you and the others, you all ran past the Border almost a week ago. How did you manage to evade the Demons!?"


    "We didn''t. It chased us from the moment we crossed the Border."


    "What?!? Then, how did you escape!? Or, don''t tell me.. it''s still following you?"


    ''Is this why the Demon had not found me as soon as I crossed the Border? It was already busy? But if it followed her.. and it knows I crossed too.. then...''


    "No, no, the Demon is already dead."


    "...what?"


    "It is dead. The Demon, you know."


    Auntie shouted out from behind us.


    "What sort of nonsense are you talking about? And in front of my place! Come in here, and we can talk this over. Such things should not be said in the open."


    Gina nodded and gestured at me to follow her towards Auntie''s home. We both went in, and Auntie scrambled to gather the Slates scattered about, then followed after us.


    ''There''s simply no way that''s possible. Demons can''t possibly be killed by anything.''


    Gina looked me in the eyes and nodded as if my thoughts were on my face.


    "Ah, yeah. I understand. I wouldn''t be able to believe it either. Actually, I watched that Demon get beaten to death by another Greater Being with my own eyes."


    "..Hah?"


    "Nnn. Yeah, I understand, really."


    ''Then again, I guess that was always a possibility? There were other Greater Beings spoken of in the Oral Tales, which were equals to the Demons...does this mean I am off the hook then? If the Demon is dead, then isn''t everything fine? No, more than fine! Does this mean we are free?!''


    "Ah, but more Demons are definitely coming."


    "What!!!"


    "Ah, well, as I said. More Demons are coming."


    "I heard that part!! I meant, how are you saying such a thing so casually!?"


    In her eyes shone a light of fanaticism.


    "Because of my Lord! Of Course!"


    "Lo.. lord?"


    "A Leader of Greater Beings, one who takes the form of a Human to comfort us. He who''s subordinate could casually defeat the Demon which tormented us! Such a Being has come to take us away from this damned place."


    If anyone from earth had heard someone say this, they would first question the others'' sanity. Then, they would question if the other party was joking.


    When one realized the other party was serious, they would quickly begin walking in the other direction. After all, no one would want to be found interacting with such a brazen cultist.


    "Really!! There is such a Lord?!"


    However, the people of this world had never known such a thing as Religion. The Demons would never allow them to have such a thing as belief. Even if it appeared, it would be quickly extinguished.


    After all, for Demons who feed on dark emotions and fear, would it not be annoying to keep Humans who''s fear was suppressed by some misplaced belief?


    The Oral Stories were allowed to exist. However, this was not for the benefit of Humans. More or less, it existed because Demons thought it amusing to let them stew on what Humanity had lost.


    And so, amongst these poor people, many were very susceptible to this kind of cultish mindset. And would even begin developing it on their own initiative, without others even asking.


    "Nn, indeed. My lord is benevolent and great, he wishes to liberate all our people from the clutches of the Demons."


    "Oh~ and who, where, is this Lord your talking about, young lady?"


    "Aunty?"


    "Tcht, shut it boy. As I said, where is he?"


    "Well.. he is nearby. We were only told to come ahead and let people know of him beforehand. Our Lord will come tomorrow to take away all who wish to leave."


    "Oh? This Lord came to rescue us though, from what you said? Did he not come here to save everyone?"


    Gina frowned, "Yes, well, my Lord wishes to save all of the ''Humans'' in this village."


    Her tone there sounded off, as though there were an edge, even a hint of killing intent. The words sounded good in themselves but.. This is something I would never mistake. There is something wrong here.


    "What.. exactly do you mean, when you say that?" I asked her, with a hint of hesitation.


    She smiled.


    "All who would wish to stay cannot be considered ''Human''. A ''Human'' would choose life over death. A ''Human'' would choose to be more than food destined for a Demon''s gullet.


    Those who stay will have made their choice to side with the Demons. They may have chosen to be their food, or chosen to be their servants. Either way, they will have chosen, to not be, one of us."


    "Hm. Yes, now, I can believe you. That indeed sounds like something a Greater Being would say."


    Something like that.. is wrong. How could we possibly leave anyone behind?


    "There is no way we could just leave people behind! All of the people we know are here! What if they are just afraid to leave? Then, they would also die! They did not do anything wrong!


    How could you even say something like that!! If there is a chance to save people, then we should be saving them regardless, even if it means beating them over the head and dragging them along."


    "Did any of the people here even hesitate to cast us out, after we had crossed that old bastard called a Chieftain, just because they had tried to defend me? Honestly, I would find it hard to believe he isn''t a Demon''s servant with how many people he drives out of here."


    "Well.. if that Greater Being said that a Human is something they are not, I doubt anyone would dare to say otherwise. Is this that Being''s intent? To brand anyone who goes against his will as a Demon''s Servant?"


    "No... the Greater Being did not specify anyone in particular. But.. even an idiot would be able to tell what he is from the way he acts.


    The Chieftain will show his true colors all on his own. And so will the others like him. That Being said this: ''Those who serve the Demons will act to get others to stay and stubbornly stay themselves, and try to delay the departure for as long as possible, because delaying is the best tactic the Demons can use right now.''


    So, anyone who is too stubborn, is effectively aiding with the Demons. There is no need to be concerned with someone like that.


    Even if my Lord did do such things, which I can tell you he would not! He is still the one leading us away from this life, and those standing in the way should be done away with."


    Seeing the look in her eyes just now, I realized this was not the same girl who had once decided to escape the village to escape her fate of being a plaything.


    "Gina.. you have changed. You are no longer the person I knew. What you are saying.. those few words would also drive many people to their death. You are nothing more than the servant of some Greater Being, no different from those who serve the Demons."


    Slap


    My face stung and my mind reeled, and my vision blurred. Not realizing when, I had found myself on the ground.


    "Do not compare my lord with the Demons!


    He will lead us to a better life.


    He is not forcing anything on anyone.


    It would be the Demons killing those too foolish to follow, they would be facing the same fate one way or the other, or dragging down others into it.


    You will make your decision too. To stay and die as sack of meat in the Demons ??ps, or to follow our Lord and learn how to be your own self.


    I hope, you make the right decision, this time..."


    By the time I came to, Gina had already walked off.


    ''Why did such a simple slap affect me so much? Since when was Gina this strong?''


    Aunt Osina stood over me, a bit embarrassed, I tried to get back up only to fall back down again.


    "Just stay down there for a minute and shake it off. She hit you with something similar to the energy that Demons use, it afflicts the mind, the effect won''t wear off immediately."


    "The Demons?! Then, she is actually working with them?"


    "What gave you that idea?! Well, actually, it wouldn''t be unreasonable to think it might be another Demon plot. It doesn''t fit in with their usual sort, but one of them really might just play around like that."


    "Then! We need to tell people! If people follow her just to fall into another Demon plot!"


    "BUT, I don''t think that is the case. Especially due to the fact she has this type of energy.


    It is different from the Qi we use, and can attack the mind directly. It wasn''t much, only a trace of that energy she used, but the effects are quite apparent.


    The most significant thing about this type of energy though, is not just that effect, but that this is something that can be used against the Demons as well. We have never known physical or Qi attacks to be able to harm them, but that energy is the same energy they would use whenever they fought against one another.


    The Demons would never, ever, give us the means to fight them, for any reason! This, is why I am most inclined to believe she tells the truth."


    ''..Well, yeah, I would have a hard time believing Gina betrayed anyone normally too. I guess I was thrown off by her saying all that. In the end, this sort of situation wasn''t her choice, she may be trying to make the best of the situation.''


    I got up again, "Okay, I understand. So, it is probably for real. Then, all that I can do is try to see for myself what this being is like."


    Walking outside, I saw people were bustling and moving towards the town center.


    "Kistan! Have you heard what is happening?!"


    As soon as I had left Aunty''s tent I was already being called out to, she sure was diligent in spreading the word like her master told her...


    "Dural! Was it Gina who told you?"


    He shook his head, "No, no, no."


    He looked at me with a glint in his eye.


    "It was Khaled who told me. Khaled had said that Fujrab''s cousin had told him that she heard from Horus''s sister that Horus met a benevolent Greater Being that wishes to take away all who wish to leave the lands of the Demons!"


    This fellow.. one of the worst gossips in the village.


    "What?!? Wait, Horus has returned as well?"


    "Of course! What, did you just return from a Hunt? How do you not know about these significant events! Not only have Horus and Gina returned, but even that girl Serin you liked too!"


    Hearing Serin had returned, he did not know whether to be happy or distraught, and felt a mix of both. Since she is here, doesn''t that mean she also took the deal with that Being?


    He shook his head, since he had chosen to stay here the last time and not leave with them, he had no right to say anything.


    "What are you spacing out for? People are gathering around the Village Chief''s house. Come on!"

 Chapter 23 - Devotees

    In front of the Village Chief''s Tent, sitting upon the sole small hill of the village, a crowd gathered.


    ...


    Looking around I could see almost half of the village had already gathered together here.


    Seeing everyone here, I felt a migraine coming on. Whenever something big happened, everyone would naturally gather at the village chief''s place for his word.


    Not because they trusted in him, or his strength, but because that was what was ingrained into everyone since young.


    I never understood the reason for this sort of behavior, it was something people did without any good reason. Perhaps, if the Chief were an actual leader, this would have meaning, but in reality.. it just serves to help him step on those who oppose him. This is the way it ends up being in most villages, and anyone with a little intelligence could learn this from the oral records, yet people naively do this anyways.


    "See! I told you! Khaled would never tell an untruth, he is an honest guy! Though when he said he first heard it from Fujrab''s cousin I somewhat doubted it, as that guy loves to spread rumors, tcht. But look how many people are already here! It must be true!"


    From the Large Tent on the hill, a looming figure emerged. The old village chief walked out together with his storied spear, the symbol of his authority. Looking closely one would notice that his face which had been pale white and that of a dying man till the other day again had a flush of life to it.


    "Shut up!"


    A silence fell over the crowd.


    The village chief swept his eyes over the crowd which had gathered in front of his abode, and spoke out in confidence.


    "You lot are just going to take the word of those few people who had once abandoned the village and our people, to follow after them and leave our home forever? To go to your deaths? You bring this question, this proposition to me. What other answer do you think I would give? No!


    That girl and her friends are messing with your minds. They have already signed pacts with the Demons! You all know who it is that protects this village. That girl who has always been so rebellious against me and led those others astray before, to spite me, who only has the village''s best interests in my heart.


    Where did half of those who left with her go to? They were sacrificed by her in order to strike a deal with the demons! Everyone knows an act of betrayal must be made for one to form a pact!


    Do not think her and her friends would not stoop low enough to make a deal just to get revenge against me. They even wish to fool the entire village into breaking the conditions under which the Demons let us live, and wish to drive us all to our deaths!


    There is no reason to trust their words! Put an end to all this nonsense, and go back to your homes or do your business. If you all continue to gather here, or even elsewhere, and keep talking of this nonsense, just watch the lesson I''ll teach the ones who do so!"


    An old guard from the crowd yelled out, "BUT if we don''t leave, and they are telling the truth, then we will all die as well!!"


    As the Chief had been speaking out before, many people''s excited eyes had dimmed as they gazed downwards from the scolding. When this old guard Tal, who was also well respected peak warrior, spoke out a few regained their footing and nodded in agreement.


    Another younger guard spoke out as well, "Yes Chief, as those who returned said, no one should be forced to go. However, no one should be forced to stay, and you cannot make everyone stay yourself either."


    "To hell I can''t! Maybe if everyone were to leave together I would have some trouble, but if it is just keeping you few idiots that would defy me in line, it is a simple matter. I know which of you would try something, and for the next while, some of my most loyal will be watching you."


    He narrowed his eyes looking at old Tal. "And you, if you don''t take back what you have said just now. We will have to settle things here and now."


    Tal''s eyes glowed, a bright smile with a hint of madness graced his face. "Hmph, even I doubted it when I first heard the story, seeing everyone so excited, I just came to see the show.


    Now, seeing you, this old bastard, denying it so fervently. Now I realize there must be some truth in it.


    You have been currying favor to the demons all these years, anyone a bit older in this village knows this and we just hold it in because saying aloud meant death.


    Hahah, if you think we would still cower before you when you''ve lost your Demon backing, your kidding yourself."


    "Hmph, a liar and an old fool,, I''ve no idea what you''re talking about! But, I can see you want to do things the hard way.."


    "Ah, esteemed guests, I had asked you to please wait inside the Tent. There is no need for you two to bother with this unruly crowd, handling such things falls under my duties."


    ''Devotees!''


    Anyone with a somewhat higher cultivation would instantly be able to pick out a Devotee. These sort of traitors used the strength of the Demons to breakthrough to levels higher than their talent should allow. Their strength is almost entirely reliant on their Demon Master, their chains which they put on willingly bind deep into their very souls.


    Devotees are one of the most common pawns the Demons would use as fodder in their wars with the other Greater Beings. The Devotees have all of their potential exhausted when they are made into one, but each and every one of them is at the initial stage of the Qi Drawing Realm.


    Devotees would never be allowed to enter a village normally, they were people who had completely cast away their humanity. Now, they stood side-by-side with the Village Chief, telling us we cannot leave.


    This was the same as directly exposing himself and telling everyone he had betrayed them.


    If before I felt turmoil in my heart as to whether or not we should leave, then now not a trace of uncertainty remained.


    This ''chief'' had now made it all too obvious he was nothing more than a puppet. Although most in the village would not be able to see through what they are.. I know that myself, the guards, aunty, and a few others of higher cultivation definitively can.


    However, even if one can see through it.. just the Chief and these Devotees, that was a peak Body-tempering and two Qi Drawing Fighters! The strongest on the apparent opposing side was Old Tal, who was peak Body-tempering just like the Chief.


    "Those are Devotees!! You crazy! You bring Devotees into this damned village!"


    Those who saw through what they were had been shocked and shaken by their presence, and for those who could not see through it they were shocked upon hearing those words and doubt hung in their gaze as they stared at the Chief.


    "Hmph, so what if they are. What will you do about it? All of you will stay here. We have been under the thumb of the Demons for this long, do you think that you all would be able to leave just because the local Shepherd was gone? Did you think they would not account for such circumstances?


    None of humanity is able to leave without a pact and the Demon''s say so. If everyone is so unruly that you will not obey my orders, then I''m afraid they will simply say to put everyone down.


    Then, I will have to move to a new village, but you all will die here. Now, we don''t want that do we?"


    In the Village Chief''s eyes, he seemed earnestly exhausted and exasperated at our reactions. As if he thought that we were being unreasonable and unrealistic. He actually thought he had done nothing wrong siding with the Demons and treating other humans in such a way.


    As those words came out, the crowd''s emotions shifted from shock to anger. From anger, to hatred. This person they praised as their Chief even went to publicly reveal himself as a servant to the Demon''s who treated them as their food.


    He had become someone complicit with the murderers of their families and their ancestors over countless years.


    Absolutely unforgivable, unreconcilable, from the elderly to the youths, each of them wanted their blood. And with the Shepherd gone, they no longer feared taking it. Even if it were to be an uphill battle, it was at least no longer an impossible one, if they still did not fight then what would they be? How could they face their ancestors?


    Gina walked out from the crowd,


    "Hmph, not if we put you down first!"


    As she spoke seemingly from nowhere, the other two appeared as well.


    "So what if you''ve devotees with you. We also carry the power our greater being has bestowed us with, and our allies can easily crush even Demons, much less these lackeys. Friends, if you would fight together with us, against the Demons and their foolish followers."


    Gina, Serin, Horus, each began to radiate their Qi outwards, together with their newly cultivated mental energy.


    My blood also boiled, at this point even a blind man could see what was going on here. Blatently colluding with the demons, and now, trying to force us into submission.


    Even if the story of the other greater beings was a lie, nobody would give a damn. Because this common thought would resonate with anyone living in the circles and resonate with them to the bottom of their heart.


    ''Fuck the Demons! Kill the traitors!''


    They marched forward as those with the strength and will to fight gathered together with them. I stepped up to join them, I knew, at this point, we had already played into that other Greater Being''s hand. Now, since we''ve bit back, the Demons would never let us go.


    But given this chance, we could never let the Demons go either.


    We charged forward, and the Devotees stepped out to face the crowd. They swung their spears lightly, a dark energy flowing on their surface, and Shockwaves flowed out.


    My mind reeled for a moment before I got back up and saw the fight had truly begun. The followers of the Greater Being seemed to be using their strange energy to help those around them resist the negative influence of the dark energy.


    A few higher ranked members of the Guard who stood besides them had managed to resist the shockwave attack and now engaged them in close combat.


    I got up and gritted my teeth, the people regaining consciousness around me seemed to do the same.


    Although I felt helpless, if I could exhaust them even a little or land one hit, it would be worth it. Even if it makes the slightest difference, even if I die, I will help in exhausting these bastards to death!


    I charged yet again, running over and past my fallen comrades towards the enemy.


    ...