Vast ocean.
Unnamed island.
"Flarepine, do you know you're playing with fire?"
Yuanzhi stood on his Salamence's back, looking at the shrewd man with glasses who stood opposite him, arms crossed.
And he was the leader of the Magma Team, Flarepine, a seemingly gentle man with a heart full of malice.
Flarepine smiled and patted the Camerupt beside him, indifferent, "Hoenn Alliance is determined to destroy our Magma Team? I'm always ready, I just want to remind Elite Trainer Yuanzhi to be cautious of the Ocean Team and that guy Archie, he's not as straightforward as he seems."
Listening to Flarepine's words laced with subtle threats, Yuanzhi took a deep breath.
The Magma Team and Ocean Team are at odds yet operate in a mutually cooperative, mutually hindering position.
If the Hoenn Alliance wants to eliminate one, the other would perceive a grave threat and definitely not stand by.
Unless the Hoenn Alliance could annihilate both the Magma Team and Ocean Team with overwhelming force, otherwise, once the war starts, it will only become more difficult.
Flarepine seized the Hoenn Alliance's mentality, daring to launch this surprise attack so recklessly.
Of course, if the Magma Team, at great expense and with resolve, takes out one of the Alliance's Elite Four, the Hoenn Alliance certainly cannot sit still.
But if it's just a few young Trainers...
"Bullshit!"
From the other side, came a rough roar, it was Archie, the leader of the Ocean Team, just mentioned by Flarepine!
In fact, Flarepine and Archie have known each other since childhood, and were actually good friends.
But due to some special reasons, ultimately, they embarked on two divergent paths, ending up as rivals.
Yet they can both say without hesitation that the one who knows Flarepine best is definitely Archie, and the one who knows Archie best is certainly Flarepine.
Exactly because of this momentum, the Magma Team, Ocean Team, and the Hoenn Alliance formed a peculiar balance.
"Golem, Sharp Stone Attack."
At this moment, the chilling voice of Ice-type Elite Four Kikuno came, directly pushing Archie back, preventing him from distraction.
They were merely delaying these Elite Four, lacking the strength for a frontal confrontation, relying entirely on their Pokémon's numerical superiority to stall and buy time for the Magma Team members entering the Alternate Space.
Even when their Pokémon were defeated, they could summon another to make up for the loss.
Flarepine and Archie, besides anything else, backed by the vast financial and resource support of the two underground entities, Magma Team and Ocean Team, possessed numerous Pokémon.
Not at the pinnacle level, but certainly not weak either.
On the other side, Agatha's battlefield was not as chaotic as this one.
Agatha's battle zone was surrounded by a ghostly aura, yet her attention was not primarily on her opponent, but on the old man standing with a Haunter by his side, smiling nonchalantly.
Agatha and Old Bill were old acquaintances as well.
They once competed for the position of the Elite Four, but ultimately, Agatha won, while Old Bill vanished.
Not long ago in Goldenrod City, Agatha met him again.
Unexpectedly, this intelligence merchant who did not participate in events, only supplying information, also came.
Though they exchanged no words, Old Bill exerted considerable pressure on Agatha.
Old Bill suddenly glanced at the old pocket watch in his hand, shouting to Flarepine, "Leader Flarepine, the signal suppressor needs energy replenishment."
"Alright!" Flarepine's voice echoed from afar.
Their vessel was equipped with a signal suppressor, so they weren't worried about the situation being reported to the Alliance.
Listening to Old Bill's seemingly whimsical words, Agatha's murky, deep-set eyes gleamed with dark light.
A shadow rapidly separated from the shadow beneath her feet.
...
...
On the seventh day in the Alternate Space.
Natsuhiko learned from Kona about having seen a mysterious mark and, after a brief rest overnight, embarked on the journey to find the person who left the mark.
That night, Kona absorbed a great deal of wilderness survival knowledge from Natsuhiko, like a sponge swiftly filling her gaps.
But then...
Their relationship underwent some subtle changes.
All attributed to a single sentence from Natsuhiko.
"Soon, I'll earn my Bachelor degree from Silver Academy."
This simple statement suddenly made Kona realize that Natsuhiko could also be considered a member of the academic faction.
Her senior, no less?!
If before, Kona asked Natsuhiko questions as a friend, from this statement onwards, she began seeking answers from the perspective of a "junior" or even a "student."
The relationship with Natsuhiko scaled back a great deal.
Since this "academic" colleague Natsuhiko could gain such rich wilderness experience, Kona believed she could as well.
And the quickest way was to inquire from Natsuhiko.
No, Senior Natsuhiko.
"Senior Natsuhiko." Kona called out as they walked.
Doesn't that sound as if their relationship suddenly became much closer?
An elder brotherly senior.
Natsuhiko rubbed his temples in frustration, realizing he must've made a mistake in wanting to connect with Kona previously.
Did this relationship need him to establish it?
"Speak," Natsuhiko replied irritably.
Yet he did not refuse.
In such situations, a Kona with limited wilderness knowledge and only common sense was nowhere near as useful and valuable as a Kona with emerging potential as the future "Ice-type Elite."
Now a large number of Magma Team members have entered the Alternate Space, wanting to ensure personal safety while securing some resources and unifying limited strength is also essential.
"Found it."
"Hmm?"
Turning around, Natsuhiko saw Kona squat on the ground, uncovering a not so apparent mark beneath the muddy tree trunk, almost entirely hidden by dirt.
Upon seeing the mark left after removing the dirt, Natsuhiko's eyes shone.
But he was also curious.
"How did you notice this mark previously?"
He hadn't managed to spot it even when deliberately searching.
Kona's fair face blushed slightly, murmuring, "During a trance... no, while thinking, I accidentally noticed it."
Understood.
Natsuhiko nodded.
Looking towards the direction indicated by the mark.
Uncertain who left this mark, Lance? Flint? Or Hilona?
It matters not, whoever it is, they are formidable figures.
And the direction indicated by the mark was the dense forest before them, initially showing little evidence of human activity.
However, as they just stepped into the forest, a piercing, excited shout echoed from within.
And the sound came in droves, rising and falling.
"Woo woo woo woo——"
Suddenly, Natsuhiko felt as though he'd entered a forest filled with monkeys.
——————
Fifth update! Seeking monthly votes!