PROLOGUE — "The Last Mission"
The desert night was still burning when Alex finally stopped running.
Heat shimmered above the cracked earth, and the last flames from the smuggling outpost hissed as they died under drifting ash. The air smelled of smoke, metal, and victory. Not clean victory—Interpol never got that—but victory all the same.
Ashflame Infernape stood beside him, steam rising off his scorched fur, eyes still glowing with adrenaline."Easy, buddy," Alex murmured. "We're done here."
Infernape huffed, crossing his arms with a satisfied grunt, his elemental flames dimming back to their usual warm glow.
Behind them, a squad of Interpol officers swarmed the ruins, cuffing the surviving smugglers, gathering illegal Poké Balls, and calling in transport shuttles. Floodlights flickered on, turning the broken compound into a stage of pale gold dust and shadows.
Alex rolled his shoulder—the one with the long, jagged scar—and winced. Another mission. Another wound to add to a body already written in permanent reminders.He breathed out slowly. Calm as always. Collected. A hint of a smile in the corner of his mouth, because if he didn't laugh a little, he'd probably cry.
A familiar voice crackled through his earpiece.
"Agent Alex Hale. The site is secure. Outstanding work as always."
"Thanks, Looker," Alex replied, brushing sand from his jacket. "Nice to know smugglers still scream the same in every region."
Looker chuckled on the other end—a tired, warm sound only heard after a successful operation.Alex heard footsteps behind him and turned to see the veteran agent approaching, coat fluttering in the dry wind.
"Well done," Looker said, patting Alex on the arm. "Interpol owes you more than a few favors after the past four years."
Alex smirked. "Better add it to my tab. I'm expecting a free dinner one of these days."
"Oh, trust me," Looker said, eyes twinkling, "I'm saving for something far better than dinner."
Before Alex could respond, his wrist communicator vibrated.
A priority message.
He frowned. The vibration pattern was one he hadn't felt in years.
Domestic Notice.Cinnabar Island.Immediate Response Required.
Alex opened it.
And everything inside him went still.
The world around him—the fires, the shouting officers, the night wind—faded into a distant hum.
Looker noticed instantly. "Alex? What's wrong?"
It took a moment for Alex to speak. When he did, his voice was softer than Looker had ever heard.
"…It's my parents."
Looker's face fell. "Oh."
A silence stretched between them, heavy and fragile.
Alex swallowed, forcing himself to read the message in full.
Cinnabar Island Home & Gym:Gym Leaders Marcus Hale and Elena Hale confirmed deceased.Cause: structural collapse following underground tremor.Minor survivors: Lila Hale (12), Kai Hale (9).Immediate guardian required.Funeral arrangements pending.League requires confirmation of return.
His heartbeat stuttered—once, hard.
He felt the earth spin beneath his feet.
His parents.
Gone.
Lila and Kai…
Alone.
His throat tightened. For a moment, the calm, collected agent vanished, replaced by a young man standing on Cinnabar's beach, waving goodbye to his family four years ago, promising he'd make them proud.
Looker stepped closer, gentle but firm."You need to go."
Alex nodded, eyes distant. "Yeah. I… I do."
Infernape looked up at him, ears lowered, sensing everything.
Alex exhaled shakily, then straightened, slipping back into control—but not the same kind. This was the control of a man suddenly carrying the weight of the world on his shoulder.
"Looker," he said quietly, "I'm done."
The older agent inhaled, then nodded solemnly."Interpol will always have your back, Alex. Take the time you need. The League will support you as well."
Alex managed a small, grateful smile. "Tell Lance I'll owe him a rematch."
Looker returned the smile with a tight, understanding one of his own."I'll send the message. Go home."
Alex turned toward the waiting transport craft, Infernape falling into step beside him.The desert wind carried the last embers of the mission behind him—but he didn't look back.
For the first time in years, Alex wasn't walking into danger.
He was walking into grief.
Into responsibility.
Into the unknown life waiting for him on an island that used to be home.
Tomorrow, he would return to Cinnabar.To the siblings who needed him.To a Gym in ruins.To a legacy he never expected to bear.
And everything would change.