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In the Mountains, located near southeastern reaches of the Sinnoh region, had been regarded as a forbidden zone for humanity since the dawn of civilization.
Its brutal climate and treacherous terrain made survival almost impossible.
In recent decades, advancements in technology and humanity's growing arrogance have emboldened explorers to attempt the crossing, driven by a desire to conquer nature.
Yet even with high-tech gear and powerful Pokémon partners, those who returned alive were few and far between.
Survivors all shared one thing in common: they were elite trainers of exceptional strength.
And when asked about what lay within, they refused to speak in detail. Instead, their warnings were always the same:
"Never—never—enter the Clara Mountains without absolute preparation."
"You'll need powerful Pokémon, extensive wilderness survival skills, top-grade equipment, iron will, unwavering courage… and a bit of luck."
"Miss even one of those, and you won't come back alive."
Even the Pokémon League had sent multiple official expeditions. But with so few operatives surviving and so little information gained those missions were eventually abandoned.
Warning zones were established around the mountains, and the League let the wilderness reclaim them.
Still, each year, hundreds of adventurers ignored the danger and set out toward the mountains' heart.
On the northern edge, the Clara Mountains were bordered by an endless, dense forest still dangerous, but far less deadly than the lifeless southern sea or the scorching western desert.
Most adventurers chose the forest as their entry point.
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Tsssk!
The screech of heavy tires grinding against dirt split the morning air.
A dust-covered off-road jeep rolled to a stop.
From the driver's seat stepped a broad-shouldered man. His camo jacket fit snug over a muscular frame; heavy combat boots crunched against the ground. A black pack rested across his back.
Matt adjusted his belt, eyes fixed on the shadowed treeline ahead. In the distance, beyond the mist, the Clara Mountains loomed towering, majestic, and deadly.
For Matt, a professional adventurer, exploring the Clara Mountains was the ultimate goal. Years of preparation had led to today.
But before setting off, there was one last piece of preparation.
A faint smile crossed his face as he popped open the jeep's trunk and hauled out a large, black case the size of a small refrigerator.
His muscles flexed as he set it down with a deep thud.
The front of the case resembled an old-fashioned computer terminal keyboard, with a monochrome screen, while the inside held three symmetrical, half-sphere slots.
Matt's fingers flew across the keyboard. Lines of code scrolled past, followed by a sharp Enter keystroke.
Vrrrrm.
The machine hummed to life, vibrating faintly before falling silent.
When the lid opened, three Poké Balls sat neatly in the slots.
The first was ocean blue with bright red streaks a Dive Ball.
The second was black and yellow, its button marked with a small lightning bolt an Ultra Ball with a custom Electric insignia.
The last was a clean, minimalist white with a slim red stripe a Premier Ball.
Matt unclipped them from the case and slid each into an empty slot on his belt, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.
Aside from being an adventurer, Matt had another role Operations Advisor for Dark Star. His job was to provide tactical recommendations for missions: steady work, high pay.
Knowing the odds of survival were slim, Matt had spent nearly all his savings and a mountain of Dark Star points to stack the deck in his favor.
These three rented Pokémon had been chosen after weeks of careful review for power, utility, and overall mission fit.
Together with his own three long-trained partners, he was as ready as he'd ever be.
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Sunlight streamed down, tracing faint lines across Matt's weathered face. From the forest depths came a distant, unidentifiable roar long and mournful, like the mountains themselves mourning the loss of another would-be conqueror.
"Caw!"
A flock of Murkrow burst from the treetops, their black feathers shining in the light. In a perfect V-formation, they flew toward the horizon until they were no more than specks.
Matt's smirk returned. With a deep breath, eyes alight with resolve, he stepped into the forest.
---
Inside the gray space of his Poké Ball, Kael lay on a giant pile of soft bedding, eyes half-lidded in contentment.
The Thunder Stone pendant on his chest pulsed faintly with green light. In his right forehoof, he held the purple Dragon-type crystal, its liquid core glowing brilliantly and slowly flowing into his body.
Emerald light and violet radiance danced together in a harmonious rhythm, like the slow, elegant notes of a classical melody.
Bzzz…
A faint vibration rippled through the Poké Ball's space.
Kael's eyes opened. Stretching lazily, he glanced through the translucent wall.
Where there had been darkness before, a lush green plain now rolled out before him, with the distant outline of dense forest.
His eyes brightened.
"Finally… a mission."
To him, every assignment from Dark Star was like a dungeon run in his past life rich with experience, rare items, and growth opportunities.
And lying around like a Magikarp in a tank was never going to make him stronger.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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