An energy storm rippled outward like spreading waves.
In the blink of an eye, it reached and blanketed the entire forest.
Under that surge of power, countless Pokémon were startled.
"Chii-chii!!"
"Bii—!"
"Ssspeee—!"
All kinds of cries mixed together into total chaos.
Escaping Pokémon could be seen everywhere, darting in all directions.
Shiko, Lopunny, and Himeko were also struck by that force.
A twisting pain stabbed through their heads.
Their minds went blank for a split second, their thoughts turning hazy.
Psychic-type energy!
Shiko snapped back to his senses.
He lifted his head and looked toward the source of the fluctuation.
What happened?
Why was there such a violent overflow of Psychic-type energy?
And how could it affect the entirety of Wintergreen Forest?!
Also—
that spine-chilling scream…
what was that about?
Shiko's mind filled with questions.
His instincts told him that somewhere in this forest, something abnormal had occurred.
"Please… s-save… save me…"
A weak voice sounded inside Shiko's mind.
Who?!
Shiko jolted, startled.
"Please… save me…"
Just as Shiko began to suspect he was hearing things, the voice echoed in his mind again.
It was unbelievably faint—
and laced with overwhelming fear and despair!
This was Telepathy!
Shiko finally understood.
It had to be a Pokémon somewhere in the forest, sending a distress call through Telepathy.
And because he possessed the same Ability himself, he was able to receive it!
This way!
Shiko identified the direction.
Then the next second—
without the slightest hesitation, he sprinted straight toward it.
He didn't even know why he was moving so decisively.
If he had to give an answer, it was probably because the intense terror and helpless fear carried in that voice hit him head-on, unmistakably real—
and he couldn't stay indifferent.
"Shiko! Shiko!?"
"Buneary!? Buneary!?"
Lopunny and Himeko shouted after Shiko's back.
They didn't understand why Shiko had suddenly charged deeper into the forest.
They yelled for a long time, but he never even turned his head.
With no other choice, the two of them ran after him.
Buneary was in front, keeping her eyes on Shiko's direction—
while also making sure Himeko, who was running last, wouldn't lose the path.
After all, compared to Pokémon, a human's speed really was too slow.
A few minutes later,
Shiko stopped behind a thick wintergreen tree.
Buneary and Himeko caught up as well.
"Shiko! You—"
Himeko panted hard, about to ask what was going on, when—
before she could finish—
she noticed what was ahead.
In an open clearing in the woods,
there was a group of people wearing black combat uniforms.
At that moment,
they were shoving an alloy cage onto a vehicle with all their strength.
Inside the cage
was a small, white Pokémon, with green hair that draped over and covered its face.
Ralts!!
A rare Psychic-type Pokémon!
Himeko's pupils constricted.
Looking closer,
Ralts's condition was terrible.
It lay limply against the alloy cage.
Its breathing was extremely faint.
It looked like it had suffered severe injuries.
"That uniform…"
Himeko focused on the black combat uniforms those people were wearing.
The style looked familiar.
She searched her memory—
and instantly found the answer.
Damn it!!
It's Team Dark!
An evil organization active in the Great Axia Alliance!
Besides poaching and trafficking Pokémon, they carried out all kinds of cruel, illegal experiments explicitly forbidden by law!
They were the most dangerous organization in the Great Axia Alliance, with the most crimes to their name!
So…
Himeko's gaze returned to Ralts.
This Pokémon
was almost certainly something they had poached and smuggled.
Or it had been taken for some kind of illegal experiment.
Bastards…!
Himeko clenched her fists.
Her brows knit tightly.
A chill like frost leaked from her, ice-cold.
And at that moment,
inside Shiko's mind,
that weak voice rang out once more.
"Save me… please… p-please save me…"
This time,
Shiko could be certain.
The distress call was coming from that Ralts inside the alloy cage.
(End of Chapter)
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[[email protected]/Zukooo]
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