Chapter 17 — The Last Morning in the Pokémon World
The next morning, the system issued a notification.
[DIMENSIONAL ISLAND STATUS UPDATE]
Vacation period complete.
Dimensional stability: 100%
Pokémon health: Excellent.
Administrator stability: Excellent.
Guardian stability: Excellent.
World One connection: Stable.
Return route: Established.
Destination:
WORLD TWO
Current dimensional classification:
HONKAI: STAR RAIL
Jin stared at the screen.
"So it's time."
Large Pikachu stood beside him.
"Pika."
[We'll come back.]
Jin nodded.
"Yes."
The system displayed a new function.
[WORLD ROUTE ESTABLISHED]
Pokémon World ←→ Dimensional Island
Permanent Return Gate: AVAILABLE
Travel Restriction: NONE
World Two connection: READY
Jin smiled.
This time, leaving didn't feel like abandoning home.
Because the island had a home to return to.
One Last Visit
Before departing, Jin opened the World One gate.
Ash, Serena, Cynthia, Steven, Leon, Misty, Brock, Clemont, Bonnie, and many others appeared.
Ash immediately looked around.
"So you're really leaving?"
"Yeah."
Ash smiled.
"Come back."
"I will."
Cynthia stepped forward.
"Perhaps the next time we meet, you'll have another ridiculous story."
Jin laughed.
"Probably."
Leon raised his fist.
"And our battle!"
Jin smiled.
"Definitely."
Serena hugged Jin briefly.
"Take care."
Clemont adjusted his glasses.
"I've prepared a dimensional communication protocol."
Jin accepted the device.
"Thanks."
Bonnie waved.
"Don't get lost!"
Jin laughed.
"I'll try."
Misty crossed her arms.
"Try harder."
Brock nodded seriously.
"Dimensional travel can be dangerous."
Jin looked at him.
"You're right."
Brock smiled.
"But knowing you…"
Jin waited.
"…you'll probably end up somewhere even stranger."
Everyone laughed.
The Departure
Dimensional Island began moving.
Not physically.
Reality itself moved around it.
The ocean remained behind.
The Pokémon World slowly became a distant point of light.
Jin stood at the highest point of the mansion.
Beside him were Pikachu, Astra, Aster, and the Guardian.
Thousands of Pokémon watched from below.
The system announced:
[DIMENSIONAL TRANSITION]
Departure from World One.
Destination:
WORLD TWO
Designation:
Honkai: Star Rail
Estimated transition:
10…
9…
8…
Jin looked back.
The Pokémon World shimmered behind them.
Ash waved.
Pikachu waved.
Cynthia smiled.
Serena raised her hand.
Leon gave a thumbs-up.
Then—
3…
2…
1…
WHOOM!
Dimensional Island disappeared.