The airship ascended from the Indigo Plateau, charting a course due south. As the hours passed, it soared over the Sevii Islands before crossing into the beautiful and mysterious expanse of the Orange Archipelago. This chain of islands, teeming with unique Pokémon and stunning landscapes, was Kai's home.
The final destination for this voyage was Mikan Island, a key location in the archipelago's southwest, just a stone's throw from Pummelo Island. Mikan was an island of dense forests and clear streams, home to many wild Pokémon, some with patterns and traits seen nowhere else.
Recently, the Orange League had poured resources into its development, establishing a Pokémon Center and a state-of-the-art research institute. The new lab was dedicated to studying and protecting the region's unique ecosystem and had already begun attracting scientists from around the world. The League was actively courting top researchers, hoping to pioneer a deeper understanding of Pokémon evolution and behavior in this special environment. With its calm surrounding seas and mild weather, Mikan Island was the perfect hub for this new air route.
The journey was a long one. While the airship was fast, it couldn't match the speed of a Pokémon like a Pidgeot. By evening, it had left Kanto's Cinnabar Island behind and entered the airspace of the Sevii Islands. A stop was scheduled for Three Island around 9 PM.
Unlike the grand cruise liners that offered Pokémon battles and other diversions, the airship's space was limited. Passengers were mostly confined to their cabins, left to watch the clouds drift by or chat with companions. But the service was impeccable. Uniformed attendants moved quietly through the corridors, offering snacks and drinks with warm smiles. As long as you could pay, Team Rocket's commercial ventures treated you like royalty.
A soft knock came at Kai's cabin door. "Mr. Kai," a flight attendant said, pushing a small cart, "we'll be arriving at Three Island in about three hours. Our company has prepared a dinner for you at a local hotel, but since it might be a little late, would you care for some complimentary snacks first?"
Inside, Kai was in the middle of a heated card game with his Pokémon. He, Poliwrath, and Ursaring were gathered around the bed, a deck of cards spread between them.
"A single seven," Kai declared, confidently playing his last card. "Ursaring, you lose again. As the chump, you get double punishment. Poliwrath, stick two more penalty slips on him."
"Poli!" Poliwrath chirped happily, slapping two more small paper slips onto Ursaring's fur.
"Roar? Roar, roar!" Ursaring grumbled, looking down at the more than forty paper slips already covering its body. Its big bear brain was clearly overloaded.
After the attendant left the snacks, Kai released the rest of his team. "Alright everyone, dig in. Quagsire, you're up next."
Quagsire's small, bean-like eyes widened as it pointed a webbed hand at itself in disbelief. Me?
As Kai watched his team, he reflected on their strength. This was the first lineup he'd assembled to challenge a major League Conference, and he knew they weren't the strongest team out there. He was determined to train every Pokémon who joined him to their fullest potential, but he couldn't deny the reality of inherent limitations. A common sentiment among trainers was that some Pokémon, no matter how hard they trained, were held back by their natural limits. In this world, a Pokémon's innate talent—its individual values—and its training determined the peak it could reach.
Scholars had long tried to quantify this, developing a leveling system to help trainers gauge their Pokémon's progress:
Novice (Levels 1-10): The starting point for most newly born Pokémon.
Junior (Levels 11-20): Pokémon at this stage have mastered a few moves and gained basic combat experience.
Intermediate (Levels 21-30): Pokémon here possess solid combat ability, and many undergo their first evolution.
Advanced (Levels 31-40): The stage where most Pokémon complete their final evolution and develop a distinct fighting style. The vast majority of wild Pokémon never surpass this level.
Elite (Levels 41-50): Only Pokémon with outstanding talent reach this stage. They are true elites who can serve as the cornerstone of a powerful team.
Gym Leader (Levels 51-60): Pokémon at this level have mastered a wide array of skills and can tap into their full potential. Their talent is nothing short of extraordinary.
Elite Four(Levels 61-80): These Pokémon are top-tier combatants, capable of harnessing the power of nature itself and wielding unimaginable destructive force.
Champion (Levels 81-90): A level achieved by perhaps only one in a hundred thousand Pokémon. Their existence represents the pinnacle of power in a region.
Legendary (Levels 91-100): A mythical realm entered only by divine, legendary Pokémon and those rare few favored by fate itself.
Trainers were also ranked by the strength of their teams. Currently, Kai's official certification was still an Advanced Trainer.
Poliwrath (Water/Fighting): Level 47. Ability: Swift Swim.
Ursaring (Normal): Level 43. Ability: Guts.
Skarmory (Steel/Flying): Level 41. Ability: Sturdy.
Octillery (Water): Level 41. Ability: Sniper.
Quagsire (Water/Ground): Level 40. Ability: Water Absorb.
Lanturn (Water/Electric): Level 37. Ability: Volt Absorb.
Soon, the game was back in full swing, with Quagsire now the unfortunate target, its blue body slowly being covered in white paper slips. Ursaring, having recovered from its earlier defeat, now roared with laughter from the sidelines.
A slight shudder ran through the cabin as the airship began its descent. Outside the window, the outline of Three Island appeared against the night sky, its tourist districts still brightly lit.
"Alright everyone, back in your Poké Balls for now," Kai said to his still-eager team. "We'll continue when we get to the restaurant."
The airship docked smoothly, and the cabin doors opened.
"Dear passengers," an attendant announced over a small loudspeaker, "we have now arrived at Three Island. Dinner has been prepared at the hotel across the way; please present your boarding pass for entry. The flight will depart at 11 PM. We will make an announcement before departure, so please take your time and enjoy the local delicacies."
Kai slung his bag over his shoulder and joined the stream of people disembarking. As he stepped onto the platform, a female voice called out from beside him.
"Excuse me, are you Trainer Kai?"
He turned to see a woman with dark blue hair dressed in a researcher's lab coat.
"If you mean the unlucky guy from the Silver Conference, that's me," Kai quipped with a wry smile. The whole affair had made him unexpectedly famous.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," the woman said, extending a hand. "My name is Ivy. I'm a Researcher from Celadon University, on my way to the new research institute on Mikan Island."
***
(End of Chapter)
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