c106: Zapdos
"What a hassle! Come back for now, Togekiss. Gardevoir, locate any nearby people and lead me to them once you sense something."
Chen Xiaoxiao rubbed her temple in frustration as she recalled Togekiss into its Poké Ball, then gave the command to Gardevoir.
"(Understood, Xiaoxiao.)"
Gardevoir's voice echoed telepathically, and her crimson eyes shimmered blue as she activated her Trace and Telepathy abilities in tandem, sensing through the electromagnetic fluctuations permeating the Electric Forest.
A few moments later, Gardevoir nodded subtly. Chen Xiaoxiao gave her the signal and both vanished with a sharp blink of Teleport.
When the scene stabilized, they reappeared deep within the forest, at a location known as Zhisen Glade. It was marked on the map as a place with a high density of electrical fields due to the overgrowth of Galvantula webs and stray Magneton.
In front of them, two students were surrounded and overwhelmed by a group of hostile Electric-type Pokémon. The situation was deteriorating fast; the students were bruised, and their Pokémon none stronger than Quasi-Elite rank were on their last legs.
Using the scanning feature of her Trainer System, Chen Xiaoxiao quickly assessed the power levels of the enemy Pokémon. The strongest among them barely scratched the edge of Elite tier, likely a rogue Electivire or Magnezone commanding the pack.
The moment the students noticed Chen Xiaoxiao's sudden appearance, their eyes widened with disbelief.then hope.
They shouted for help, trying to explain that the Electric Pokémon had gone berserk, but before they could say much, Chen Xiaoxiao calmly gave her order:
"Gardevoir, clear them out."
BOOM!
With a single wave of her hand, Gardevoir released a Moonblast infused with stored Psyshock. The wave of psychic and fairy-type energy collided with the electric-types, sending them sprawling like stunned Magikarps. One Magneton was crushed against a tree, while the others fell like scattered dominoes.
The two students gawked at the aftermath.
"Gardevoir, move us."
Chen Xiaoxiao spoke again, unfazed by the shock on their faces. Gardevoir quickly teleported her to the two students' side.
"Retrieve your Pokémon. I'll get you out of here."
Still dazed, the students quickly obeyed and returned their injured Pokémon to their Poké Balls.
"Don't move. Gardevoir—take us."
As soon as Chen Xiaoxiao gave the signal, the world flashed white. By the time the students blinked again, they found themselves back at the central encampment the temporary staging ground established outside the Electric Forest three days ago.
Both were speechless with awe.
"You two stay here. Do not re-enter the forest. Understood?"
The students could only nod dumbly in agreement.
"Gardevoir, continue the search."
Chen Xiaoxiao vanished once more.
In a blink, she reappeared deep in the Electric Forest again. Gardevoir, still sensing disturbances through electrical anomalies, led her onward.
Soon, they arrived at a clearing Chen Xiaoxiao instantly recognized the man standing there.
"Mr. Gardener! It's really been a while… You've got quite the crow's mouth, don't you?"
She half-joked, recognizing the senior Electric-type researcher from Hanwu University, one of the professors assigned to monitor the Forest's magnetic conditions.
"I wish I didn't. But this time, we really need your help."
The professor gave her a grim nod. He had likely already been contacted by Hall Master Lei, the high-ranking official in charge of this regional operation.
"What exactly is going on? Why are Electric Pokémon attacking humans?"
Chen Xiaoxiao cut straight to the point.
"I don't have a full answer," he admitted. "But I know this: dozens of students have already been taken. We don't know where or why."
"Do you know which direction they were dragged off to?"
"I do."
Before the professor could speak further, a student named Xiaoli, who had been hiding behind the professor, stepped forward.
She didn't know Chen Xiaoxiao personally but understood from the context and her commanding presence that this young woman wasn't just a random trainer.
She pointed east. "They were taken that way!"
"Good. I'll commit that direction to memory. For now, I'm getting you two out of the forest. Your presence may interfere with Gardevoir's tracking."
Chen Xiaoxiao turned toward Gardevoir.
"You're a lifesaver."
The professor nodded gratefully.
"Gardevoir, take us out."
With a shimmer, the three of them teleported to the Electric Forest's entrance.
"Teacher!"
The two students Chen Xiaoxiao rescued earlier ran over with excitement.
Chen Xiaoxiao nodded at Gardevoir, who promptly teleported her back into the depths of the forest to continue the search-and-rescue mission.
Over the next ten minutes, she located and extracted more than a dozen students and several trainers scattered across the forest. Meanwhile, other faculty members had also begun retrieving students, some using flying-type mounts, others with psychic support Pokémon.
Suddenly, a familiar cry echoed from the sky—SKREEEEEE!!
An Archeops swooped down, beating its wings heavily.
"It's Hall Master Lei!"
A teacher exclaimed. Everyone turned to see the prehistoric Pokémon land near the group, its talons gripping the dirt as Hall Master Lei jumped off.
His eyes scanned the crowd quickly, searching but neither his niece nor nephew was present. His concern was written all over his face.
Then, Archeops stiffened, staring into the woods. It let out a sharp, warning cry and began trembling.
The master followed its gaze.
"To rattle Archeops like that... The threat must be Champion-level! Flash Gardevoir… and is that Chen Xiaoxiao?"
Recognition dawned on his face, followed by surprise.
"Chen Xiaoxiao?"
He approached her directly.
"Hello, Master Lei."
Chen Xiaoxiao nodded respectfully.
"So the rumors are true. You're even more impressive in person. What's the situation?"
Chen Xiaoxiao reported quickly.
"According to Professor Gardener, students were authorized to stay within a 50-kilometer radius. Gardevoir and I already swept that range. We've recovered most survivors, but more than ten students and some trainers remain unaccounted for. They may have been taken into the deeper sections of the forest or worse."
"Can you use telepathy to communicate with the Electric-types? Understand why they're hostile?"
"I tried. But they're enraged beyond reason. There's no communication. They reject all mental contact."
Pavilion Master Lei frowned.
Then something clicked in Chen Xiaoxiao's mind.
"Gardevoir, take me to Ampharos' location."
She gave the command telepathically, avoiding exposing her prior knowledge of Ampharos' location in the Electric Forest, a fact she'd kept hidden for strategic reasons.
"Master Lei, I'll be back shortly."
With that, she vanished once again with Gardevoir.
---
Meanwhile...
Far deeper inside the Electric Forest, the missing students and trainers were bound by vines and electromagnetic tendrils, carried one by one to a hidden grove.
As they regained consciousness, a hush of awe passed through the crowd.
Standing on a jagged rock was a large, yellow, bird-like Pokémon with jagged wings crackling with thunder.
"It's... Zapdos!"
The legendary Electric/Flying-type's presence sent chills down their spines.
But what happened next was even more bizarre.
Each Electric-type Pokémon escorting a human placed them in a line before Zapdos. The Legendary Bird examined each one carefully.
It stared at the first human, then shook its head.
The next another shake.
One by one, Zapdos seemed to reject every human.
After finishing its inspection, Zapdos let out a deafening cry that echoed through the Electric Forest. Hundreds of Electric-type Pokémon roared back in synchronized unison.
Then, Zapdos spread its wings and took off followed by the massive swarm of Electric-types.
"They're... they're mobilizing!"
One trainer gasped, horror-struck.
"What are they going to do now!?"
No one had an answer but the fear in their eyes was clear. Whatever Zapdos was planning, it had just begun.
—
30+ advanced chapter on patreon....Visit patreon now to read my exclusive content... posting 5 chapters per day, Our collection is now available on PATREON
visit patreon.com/Elbertovic to view 30+ advanced chapters
Please subscribe guys