~21 October, 2021 | 3:00 PM~
~People's Square Station, Shanghai Metro~
Stardust rained from the sky, coalescing into the form of a young man on the platform.
This impossible sight instantly drew stares from passersby. Some called the police and ambulances for the unconscious man; others pulled out phones, filming and uploading to Douyin, Bilibili, Weibo, and Toutiao.
In a world without mystical forces or monsters, such an event at a subway station instantly went viral the moment it touched the internet.
Bilibili went wild:
- F*ck! Light turned into a human! Is he Ultraman?
- Don't be ridiculous. There's no such thing as Ultraman or aliens in this world.
- Everyone knows videos can't be faked. So it's gotta be real.
- It's true! I was right there, I saw the light particles turn into him with my own eyes!
- Could it really be an Ultraman's human form arriving in our world?
- Say what you will, but this guy is insanely handsome! I'm down!
- He's my husband. So back off, thot! Otherwise, I'll take up legal means to defend our marriage!
Even official media weighed in:
<..BREAKING NEWS: At 3 PM on October 22nd, a man materialized from light at People's Square Station. His identity remains unknown. He has been taken to City Hospital by concerned citizens..>
...
Caleb smelled disinfectant.
He opened his eyes and found himself lying on a white single bed. A glucose IV bag hung beside him, dripping steadily through a tube.
As he moved, the needle shifted, and a large bump visibly swelled on his hand.
"…"
Caleb pulled out the needle, pressed the alcohol swab to the puncture, and sat up on the bed.
'What's going on? Didn't I die? Did Red save me?' He scanned the room, walked to the window, and froze.
Outside stood the Oriental Pearl Tower, something that was buried deep in his memories.
His eyes widened in disbelief. With a thought, his inventory interface appeared before him.
Inside were his stored items and a Poké Ball holding the critically injured Zapdos that he had put away before the final battle.
Seeing these things, relief washed over him, 'Thank goodness. This isn't a dream. So, what happened while I was unconscious? And how did I return to my original world?'
He turned to the Book of Answers and asked his second question.
The pages flipped on their own. Words materialized on a blank page:
{..Cynthia used the item Ring(Ephemeral Dreamlike Void) to wish you didn't die..}
(T/N: It was previously translated as 'Floating World is Like a Dream, Empty'... But 'Ephemeral Dreamlike Void' sounds better.)
"A ring?" Caleb frowned and dug through his inventory until he found the forgotten ring from the Extreme Realm Instance.
Its effect had always been hidden, so he nearly forgotten it existed.
'But even if I was revived… shouldn't it be in the Pokémon world?' he wondered. Then muttered, "So why am I here?"
Just then, the Book flipped again. New text appeared:
{..It was Arceus, Dialga, and Palkia who sent you here..}
Caleb realized he'd asked two questions in quick succession.
After answering the last of his three questions, the Book of Answers emitted a white light and transformed into a Pokémon egg, quietly resting in a slot in his inventory.
Caleb pondered the last answer, 'Arceus? But I don't know that world's Arceus… Let alone the Temporal and Spatial Guardians who never showed up.'
At that moment, the hospital room door opened. A gentle-faced nurse stepped in, her eyes lighting up, "You're awake!"
Caleb turned to her. Before he could speak, she ran out into the hallway shouting: "Head nurse! Head nurse! The patient in bed 8 who's been asleep for two days is awake!"
Soon, a group of female doctors in white coats entered.
"Do you remember who you are?" one asked.
Caleb hesitated, then nodded.
"Then do you remember what happened?"
Several nurses looked on eagerly, clearly hoping for some magical answer.
'What happened? Should I tell them I fought Team Rainbow Rocket for three days straight?'
If he did, they'd probably think he was delusional. After a moment's thought, Caleb shook his head, "I don't remember."
The lead doctor pushed up her glasses, pulled out her phone, and played a viral video on the screen.
Caleb watched himself materialize from light particles on the metro platform.
Caleb: "…"
"Are you an Ultraman?" a nurse who looked freshly graduated asked, her eyes gleaming.
Caleb shook his head, "I don't remember anything before waking up."
The doctor shooed the giggling nurses away, "Don't worry. The hospital just needs your identity for records."
Caleb exhaled in relief.
But her next words made him tense, "Oh, and police might interview you this afternoon about what happened. Also… do you have family? Call them to settle your medical bill."
"How much is it?"
"Do you have health insurance?"
"I'm not sure." Caleb used to have, but after being dead for three years, it might've been canceled.
"Without insurance, it's 542 yuan. We'll leave you to rest."
"…"
Caleb never imagined he'd be stumped by a bill of just over 500 yuan.
'Should I just run?'
After all, he's already legally dead here. The calendar on the wall showed 2021, three years past the year he 'died'.
'No. I have no money, and no ID. I can't go anywhere.'
After the nurse removed the IV and left, Caleb tiptoed to the door, peeked out, then locked it.
He pulled out Zapdos's Poké Ball from his inventory. In a flash of light, the unconscious Zapdos appeared.
Caleb stroked his feathers as he channeled the Viridian Power to heal him.
Soon, Zapdos's eyes opened.
"Sorry, Bird Bro," Caleb whispered guiltily.
Zapdos scanned the room. Sensing no danger, he relaxed... but he also sensed something was off about this place.
>..Where are we?..<
"My old home," Caleb replied, "Arceus sent me here."
He expected Zapdos to ask what happened, but Zapdos showed an expression of sudden understanding: >..You know the Alpha? No wonder I sensed his aura on you..<
Caleb blinked, catching the implication, "What do you mean?"
Zapdos tilted his head: >..His power, it's all over you..<
Before Caleb could press further, footsteps echoed outside the door. He swiftly recalled Zapdos, unlocked the door, and jumped back into bed.
The door swung open.
"…"
"What? Don't recognize me?" Hatsumi grinned, stepping inside.
Another voice followed: "Didn't they say he was awake? Why is it so quiet?"
Terrence strode in, holding a fancy fruit basket. saw Caleb and grinned, "Surprise!"