After a short moment of silence, the system finally responded, "I was able to scan the description cards of all the items your eyes saw while you were running."
Kay's eyes narrowed in focus. He knew that during his quick run through the shelves, his gaze had passed over hundreds, maybe thousands, of items.
That meant the system might have gathered data on a vast collection. Kay didn't want to be flooded with information, so he gave a clear and specific command: "Show me only the rarest ones. I don't want to see anything basic, just the items I've never seen or heard of before."
There was a brief pause, and then the system began presenting the results. The descriptions appeared one by one, each more incredible than the last. Kay read them in stunned silence, his heart pounding at the implications.
Forgotten Scroll
A dusty, ancient scroll wrapped in faded red thread. According to its description, it allows a Pokémon to recall one forgotten move from its past. That includes not only moves it once learned and forgot but even moves it wasn't supposed to be able to learn now, but one of the Pokémon's ancestors had once learned it. Kay couldn't believe that something like this could exist, let alone be available in a tournament store.
Move Mold
A small, strange metallic cube that pulsed faintly with energy. Its function was almost unbelievable: it could reshape a Pokémon's move completely. The example given was changing a normal Quick Attack into a flying-type version or altering Ember into a wide-range burst. The catch was that the transformation would be random, and once it changed, the move's new form would be permanent. Kay had never even heard rumors of such an item. It was more like something out of science fiction than a real tool.
Evolution Thread
A fine silver thread barely thicker than a strand of hair. It could be sewn directly into a Pokémon's fur or skin, and over time, it would unlock a hidden or alternative evolution path. That meant even familiar Pokémon could evolve into rare or completely unknown forms. It wasn't just a tool; it was a key to hidden biology. Kay's mind raced with the possibilities. Just how many secret forms had the world never discovered?
Mental Relay Stone
A smooth, round stone that glowed with a soft, pulsing light. Its effect was both subtle and powerful: it allowed one Pokémon to learn a move that another of the trainer's Pokémon already knew, even if the types didn't match. That meant a Fire-type could potentially learn a Water-type move, or a Psychic-type could use Fighting-type moves, breaking every natural learning barrier. For a skilled trainer who knew how to plan team strategies, this was a dream come true.
Limit Break Syringe
A cold, steel syringe sealed inside a reinforced glass case. According to the description, it was developed in secret research labs and was incredibly rare. It could temporarily push a Pokémon's stats beyond their normal maximums: speed, power, reflexes, everything. But there was a cost. After using it, the Pokémon would be exhausted and unable to battle or train for a full day. It was the kind of tool you used in a do-or-die moment, the kind of tool that could turn a loss into a victory if timed perfectly.
Kay sat completely still, overwhelmed by what he had just read. He had thought this store was just a high-end reward for players, a place to grab good Power Stones and maybe a rare item or two.
But these? These were beyond rare. They were mythical. Tools that didn't just help a Pokémon grow but had the power to change what was thought possible in battle, training, and evolution.
What shocked him most of all was how casually they had been placed among the other items. These weren't locked away in vaults or protected behind glass. They had simply been there, resting quietly on the shelves—waiting for someone to notice.
And Kay had only scanned a portion of the store. Just two minutes of dashing, with a quick glance here and there.
If he had had five more minutes, or even just a few more seconds, what else could he have discovered?
That realization hit Kay like a bolt of lightning: this tournament wasn't just a game; there was something bigger behind.
There was something larger happening behind the scenes. Someone with power and resources had organized this tournament and filled it with impossibly rare items, not for the fun of it, but for a reason.
And now, while Kay was still sitting there staring at the list, all the other players had finished their turns.
They had entered the store, made their purchases, and exited. The doors had closed again. The selection phase was over.
While Kay was still sitting in his place, quietly thinking about the items the system had shown him, the sound of clapping echoed through the area.
It was the Marowak-masked man in blue. He looked at all the players and announced in a clear voice, "As all the players have now visited the special store, we should return to the main base."
Kay slowly stood up. He realized that now; after finishing this part of the event, he had two full days of rest before the start of the fourth game.
That gave him time to prepare, recover, and perhaps try to gather information about the next game.
Just as the Marowak-masked man finished speaking, a bright flash of light appeared out of nowhere.
A swirl of colors; blue, purple, red, and gold filled the air. In the middle of that shining light stood Alakazam. He had appeared instantly without warning, like a ghost stepping out of thin air.
The Marowak man raised his voice again and shouted, "Come here! Gather around Alakazam to teleport back to the base!"
The players, though still tired or tense from the item selection, began moving toward Alakazam.
Some were curious, some excited, and others looked disappointed, probably because they didn't find anything useful in the store. One by one, they formed a circle around the powerful Alakazam.
Once they were all close, Alakazam's eyes started to glow. A soft blue light shone from them, and then Swoooosh! the light expanded rapidly, covering the whole group in a wave of energy.
In an instant, they were back at the base.
The sudden shift in space caused chaos, as usual. Most of the players were dizzy from the teleportation.
Some collapsed to their knees, holding their heads. A few others ran to the sides and started vomiting. It was clearly not a fun ride for anyone.
But strangely, Kay didn't feel anything. No dizziness. No nausea. He felt completely fine, as if nothing had happened. It was so strange that he started to question whether he had really teleported or not.
Then, the system's voice echoed inside his brain, calm and proud. "Our degree of synchronization now allows me to suppress those side effects for you."
Kay's eyes widened in surprise. It hadn't crossed his mind that the system could even control his physical reactions to things like teleportation.
For a second, he was shocked, but then a feeling of thankfulness followed. Having this system wasn't just a blessing in battle or strategy. It could protect him in ways he had never imagined.
Kay then started wondering. If the system could do this now, what could it do in the future?
Maybe when their synchronization was even stronger, the system could shield him from pain or even boost his reflexes in dangerous situations. The possibilities were endless, and the thought gave Kay a quiet sense of confidence.
While Kay was still thinking about how far his bond with the system could go, the other players finally recovered from the rough teleportation.
They stood up one by one, wiping their mouths, straightening their backs, and breathing deeply.
The Marowak-masked man looked at the group and laughed, clearly enjoying their reactions.
Then he said in a cheerful tone, "Now that all of you have bought the items you wanted, it's time to move on to the next game!"
See you in the next chapter...
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