◉◉◉◉◉
Towering trees surged skyward like ancient pillars, their dense emerald canopies swallowing the sunlight whole.
The Sandalwood Forest had become a cathedral of nature, its leafy crowns forming a vaulted ceiling, trunks standing as solemn columns, and deep shadows shaping its silent walls.
No stir of life disturbed the stillness. The absence of movement lent the forest an almost sacred gravity, as though some vast and unknowable presence dwelled within.
And in the heart of that endless sea of green, a trace of divinity quietly revealed itself.
At the exact center of the Sandalwood Forest lay a clearing, encircled and guarded by countless colossal trees. It was as if an unseen force drew a perfect boundary there. Apart from the soft carpet of short, velvety grass blanketing the ground, no other plant dared cross into that space.
In the middle of the clearing stood a singular tree.
It was not large. Compared to the sky-piercing giants around it, it seemed almost fragile, smaller even than the average woodland tree.
Yet any being who stood before it would feel something immeasurable, as though it bridged earth and sky.
Its entire form shimmered in a silver-white hue, like polished metal. But unlike steel, it held none of metal's harsh glare. Instead, the light around it seemed drawn inward, gently settling upon its surface as if tamed by its radiant life force, becoming a mantle of soft silver.
It bore no leaves. Its smooth branches stretched outward like drawn blades, elegant and sharp, carrying a strange and profound divinity that balanced piercing strength with quiet mercy.
"Whoosh…"
A faint breeze drifted through the air. It was the tree's breath, long and unbroken.
"Rustle…"
The crowns of the surrounding giants swayed gently, as if bowing in allegiance to their sovereign.
No living creature bore witness to this silent rhythm. It was a hidden symphony within the forest's ocean of green.
But such harmony, so perfect even nature seemed reluctant to disturb it, would soon be devoured by shadows born of greed.
---
At the outer edge of the Sandalwood Forest, on a barren stretch of plain.
Crackle. Snap.
Flames roared across stacked firewood, sparks bursting into the air as waves of heat rippled outward.
Thick cuts of meat sizzled over a metal rack, fat dripping into the fire, filling the air with a rich, mouthwatering aroma.
It was unmistakably a temporary human campsite.
In the wilderness, far from civilization, a simple fire of wood and flame could mean everything. Warmth. Food. Protection.
In an earlier era, when human society flourished without fear, venturing into forests and untamed lands had been ordinary.
But since the Nightmare Seeds began spreading through the Pokémon world, journeys like this more often ended in tragedy.
Wrong time. Wrong place.
The presence of a human camp here felt unsettling.
---
Inside a large, hastily erected tent not far from the fire.
Tap. Tap.
A slender finger drummed rhythmically against a wooden desk, the crisp sound echoing through the warmly lit interior.
Raven leaned back in her chair, brows slightly furrowed, her sharp gaze fixed on the paper report in her hand. Her expression was thoughtful, distant.
Gone was the languid ease she displayed at the headquarters of the Phantom Order. Now she carried herself with severe focus.
Her long purple hair, once flowing like silk across her chest, was tied neatly into a practical ponytail. A fitted black tactical suit wrapped around her form, lending her an air of disciplined lethality.
As leader of the Phantom Order, Raven was troubled.
By all logic, she should have been pleased.
The most critical piece of her organization's rise, the trail leading to Xerneas, had grown clearer by the day. In five or six more days, once she harnessed the power of Xerneas, her grand design would finally take shape.
That was why she had personally brought most of her senior officers to the Sandalwood Forest.
Yet the report in her hand left her unable to celebrate.
Over the past six months, scattered branches of the Phantom Order across the globe had suffered devastating strikes. It was as if some unseen force lurked in the shadows.
At first, the losses were few. She dismissed them. With so many outposts, it was inevitable that one or two might be exposed.
But as the destruction mounted, her instincts sharpened.
The pattern of attacks made it unmistakable. A powerful individual was systematically attempting to erase the Phantom Order from the human world.
The absurdity of it might have been laughable, if it were not so infuriating.
Yet her plan had reached a critical stage. She could not afford to divert significant resources to hunt this enemy.
Until today.
Her narrow eyes glinted coldly as she reread the report.
Two days ago, Pink Hill Outpost, located less than twenty kilometers from her current position, had been destroyed.
This was the closest the intruder had ever come.
For someone in her position, patience had limits. So many of her bases were reduced to ash by a nameless adversary. Her anger had been simmering for months.
She would no longer ignore it.
She decided to dispatch one senior officer from her current unit to investigate. If they could track the culprit down, all the better. If not, it mattered little. The distance was short. They could return quickly without delaying the main operation.
As for strength.
A faint, chilling smile touched Raven's lips.
To ensure the success of this pivotal stage, she had brought nearly eighty percent of the organization's senior leadership, leaving behind only those whose roles were too critical to move.
Even the League would hesitate before confronting the force gathered here.
Every senior officer had been personally vetted by her. She knew their capabilities intimately.
Against an enemy who only dared target weakly defended outposts, one senior officer would be more than enough.
After considering her options, Raven raised her voice toward the tent entrance.
"Zeke."
◉◉◉◉◉
~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
◉◉◉◉◉
For early access to advanced chapters on P-atreon:
P-atreon/iamxeno
(Just remove the - hyphen to access Patreon normally)
Thank you so much for your support and for reading!