Kay stood in the corner of the hall, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, and eyes slowly scanning the other players. Now that the rules
Kay stood in the corner of the hall, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, and eyes slowly scanning the other players.
Now that the rules were clear and the night would be spent here, the air was thick with tension. Players were already walking around, talking in low voices, trying to form teams.
Some were standing in circles, whispering quickly, others eyeing each other cautiously. Kay knew this wasn't just about finding partners but surviving a very dangerous place.
He took a deep breath and began thinking carefully about each player, one by one, to decide who might be a good teammate and who could be a risk.
First, there was Player Number 5, the trainer who had a massive Onix. Kay quickly shook his head.
That would be a terrible idea. Onix was a huge Pokémon, and no matter how strong it was, its size alone would cause too many problems inside a dungeon.
It would make noise, shake the ground, and attract every wild Pokémon in the area. Staying hidden would be almost impossible with a giant rock snake moving around. That wasn't an option.
Next, Kay thought about the leader; trainer of Vulpix. That was even worse. This trainer was clearly holding a grudge against Kay after what happened in the first game.
Kay didn't even need to guess; he could feel the hatred in his eyes every time they crossed paths.
Teaming up with someone who secretly hated him? Inside a deadly dungeon, where a single moment of betrayal could mean death? That was out of the question.
Then there was Player Number 8, the Scyther's trainer. He was first in the rankings, and his Scyther was very strong.
But Kay didn't see that working either. The Scyther trainer had nothing to gain from working with him.
Kay was ranked sixth, and he hadn't shown anything special yet, at least not to the others.
Why would a top-ranked player team up with someone who had little to offer? It would be a one-sided deal, and the chances of rejection were too high.
Kay kept going through the names and faces in his head until he stopped at Player Number 27, the Cubone trainer.
Now, this was someone who made sense. Even though he was ranked second, Kay already knew the secret behind his Cubone's bones strength.
He had seen it firsthand, and in return, the Cubone trainer knew that Kay had two Pokémons, even though he had kept it hidden from everyone else.
That meant they both had something to protect and something to lose. They already knew things about each other that no one else did.
Kay thought, 'If we form a team, we won't have to hide anything. We can fight properly, focus on surviving, and not worry about giving away our secrets to the wrong people. In a game like this, even a second of distraction could get you killed.'
With that thought clear in his mind, Kay stood up straight and started walking. He moved past the players who were already busy forming groups and made his way directly toward Player 27.
The Cubone trainer was lying on the floor, arms behind his head, staring at the ceiling like he didn't have a care in the world.
But when Kay approached, he raised one eyebrow and glanced over, recognizing him.
As Kay got closer, Player 27 slowly sat up, still quiet, waiting to hear what Kay had to say.
Kay, already prepared, said clearly, "I want to form a team with you for the next game."
Player 27 narrowed his eyes, curious but guarded. "Why should I do that?" he asked. "I could easily team up with some of the strongest players here."
Kay nodded, understanding the doubt, but replied calmly, "Because you don't want to show the full strength of your Cubone to other players. You should keep hiding it for the final game."
He continued without hesitation, "And I already know your secret. You already know mine, that I have two Pokémons. If we work together, there's no need to hide. We can use our full strength from the start, without worrying about giving away information to someone who might become an opponent later."
Then Kay added with a serious tone, "This dungeon is dangerous. You know it. One small mistake could cost you your life. If you spend your time trying to keep secrets from your own teammate, that mistake will come faster."
Player 27 didn't answer right away. He just stared at Kay silently, clearly thinking deeply about what he had said.
After a short pause, Player 27 looked at Kay seriously. He didn't speak right away but studied Kay's expression.
Then, with a calm voice, he finally said, "I think you're right. Even though you're ranked sixth, the fact that I won't have to hold back while fighting next to you… that makes you the best match for me."
Kay heard those words and felt a sudden wave of emotion. He looked down, silently blaming himself.
He thought about the time he had wasted after getting Eevee; those long weeks he spent doing nothing, not training, not growing.
He remembered how he could have used that time to become stronger, to give Eevee a better chance in this world.
If only he had taken things seriously from the start, maybe he would've been standing there with a higher rank, with stronger skills. The regret sat heavy on his chest, but he kept it hidden behind a calm nod.
Kay then raised his head and said, "I think just the two of us are enough. We don't need to add anyone else. What do you think?"
Player 27 nodded, agreeing without hesitation. "Yeah, you're right. If we bring in someone else, we'd lose the whole reason we teamed up. This works because we both know each other's strengths. No need to bring in outsiders."
Kay gave a simple reply, "Yeah, sure." He didn't say anything more. There was nothing else to discuss.
Their team was formed, the deal was clear, and both of them knew that it was a practical decision, not friendship, not trust, just survival.
With that, Kay turned around and walked back to where he had been standing earlier. He wanted to keep a certain distance between them to show that this team was not about bonding or building trust for the long run.
It was about the game ahead. Nothing more. Since the next game wasn't about tactics or plans, but pure survival, there wasn't much to prepare anyway.
Now, all that was left was time. One night.
One long, quiet night before what could become the most dangerous challenge of Kay's life.
Kay looked down at the two Pokéballs in his hand, one for Eevee and one for Growlithe. He tightened his grip slightly, holding them with care and strength.
These two were more than just Pokémons to him; they were partners, friends, and his only chance of getting through what was to come.
He needed them to be at their best. But more than that, he needed himself to be at his best too.
Kay sat down on the cold floor of the hall, leaning against the wall. The room was still filled with other players whispering, sitting in corners, or silently watching one another. But Kay blocked out all of that.
His eyes slowly closed as he leaned his head back, telling himself that tonight was important.
The next few days would be hard. Very hard. There would be little time to sleep or rest once they entered the dungeon. So now, he had to rest as much as he could.
See you in the next chapter...
Drop some Power Stones...