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The world went black for Kael in an instant.
With a blink, he found himself floating inside a semi-transparent red-and-white spherical space.
Suspended in the center, Kael stretched out his limbs and realized his tail could barely graze the sphere's inner wall.
"So this is what it's like inside a Poké Ball… No wonder Pikachu hated it in the cartoons back on Earth. It's tiny in here."
Looking up through the translucent walls, Kael felt like he had stepped into a world of giants. Lush blades of grass towered like trees, and tiny bugs skittering on the ground now looked like monsters from a fantasy game.
"Huh… It's actually kind of cool seeing things from this angle."
The change in scale made everything look surreal and oddly fascinating.
Suddenly, darkness loomed overhead.
Kael looked up just in time to see a massive, calloused hand descending toward the Poké Ball. A soft vibration followed as he was gently lifted.
Through the semi-transparent wall, a grizzled, weather-beaten face came into view every pore exaggerated, every wrinkle looming like a canyon.
It was Bali.
Kael grimaced and looked away.
Soon after, the Poké Ball was tucked into a pouch on Bali's belt, plunging Kael into total darkness.
Yawn… A wave of drowsiness hit him hard.
"Guess these things have a sleep-inducing function too…"
---
Elsewhere, in a dimly lit room, three shadowy figures were gathered some sitting, some standing, all deep in conversation.
The faint violet glow of an energy field shimmered along the walls, muffling their voices and ensuring no sound escaped.
"Captain, urgent news from HQ."
"Go ahead."
"The League's dispatched a member from the Elite Four to track us down."
"Elite Four, huh?" The man's voice turned thoughtful. "They must really think we're a threat if they're sending someone from the top."
"Hah. They really are overestimating us."
"What are your orders, sir?"
"We proceed as planned. With their agents spread out, they'll never expect us to strike again so soon especially not here."
"Understood, Captain."
A quiet laugh echoed among the shadows.
---
Stoneridge Town used to be nothing more than a forgotten farming village tucked in the hills between Virbank City and Aspertia City.
But that changed when a new transit route connecting the two major hubs was built. Businesses moved in. Trainers started passing through. And with them came opportunity.
Then came the Gym in nearby Virbank and the spillover traffic meant even more trainers began stopping in Stoneridge to rest, train, and prepare.
In the Pokémon world, Trainers were everything. Pokémon fueled the economy, but Trainers shaped the power structure. The stronger the Trainer, the more influence they had within the League, the families, and even the underworld.
It wasn't just about badges. It was about survival.
At the town's center stood a sleek, three-story building painted in the League's classic red-and-white palette. Above the automatic glass doors shone the unmistakable Poké Ball emblem.
This was Stoneridge Town's Pokémon Center the only one in the area.
A crucial part of the League's infrastructure, Pokémon Centers provided healing, storage, lodging, and more all at subsidized prices for registered Trainers.
Even the most remote regions had them, backed by League funds and typically managed by members of the famed Joy family.
Inside, one such Nurse Joy moved gracefully between counters.
She wore her trademark twin pink buns, a white cap with a red cross, and a soft smile. Her pastel uniform was crisp, her posture flawless, her professionalism undeniable.
Though this used to be a sleepy posting, the recent influx of travelers had made things busier than ever.
She welcomed the challenge.
Assigned to this remote town after being overlooked by her influential family, Nurse Joy had once been seen as a background piece. But now? Business was booming.
And if the numbers kept climbing, a transfer to a city like Castelia or Nimbasa might not be just a dream.
That thought made her all the more determined.
Shhhk!
The automatic doors opened.
A Trainer walked in wearing a plain black cap pulled low over his face. His outfit was forgettable cheap gear from a local Poké Mart. His demeanor screamed "average."
Joy greeted him with her usual warm tone. "Welcome! How can I help you today?"
"Room," the man replied hoarsely, barely lifting his head.
"Of course! Please fill out this registration form."
Joy handed over the form without hesitation. She'd worked long enough to know: never judge a Trainer by their appearance.
"Joy! That Poké Ball batch for League HQ is ready. We need your passcode to authorize the transfer!"
A voice called from the back room.
As center manager, Joy had key-level permissions that only she could authorize major transfers, unlock the storage vaults, or input secure League codes.
This batch of Poké Balls contained rare and high-potential Pokémon, fresh from nearby breeders and professors. They needed to be sent to League headquarters for evaluation and assignment.
"On it!"
Turning to the Trainer, she smiled again. "Please wait just a moment."
She disappeared through the door behind the counter.
What she didn't see was the smirk that crept across the Trainer's face as soon as she turned.
"Begin operation."
A quiet voice whispered into his ear transmitted through the tiny earpiece hidden beneath his long, messy hair.
And under the center's bright lighting, the shadow behind him warped unnaturally.
A pair of glowing crimson eyes slowly opened within it watching, waiting.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
Thank you so much for reading!