43
I woke up to the rhythmic beep-beep of a heart monitor and the smell of sterile linen. The Lilycove General Hospital was quiet, but the sheer amount of "Get Well" flowers in my room—mostly from fans who saw me collapse on the "Free Bird" high note—was enough to trigger an allergic reaction.
"You're finally awake, sleepyhead," May whispered. She was sitting by the window, already back in her traveling gear, though her new Frogadier, Genji, was perched on the curtain rod like a gargoyle.
"The stamina drain was worth it," I croaked. On the bedside table sat a sleek, metallic wristband with a glowing blue core.
The Gift: A note from Steven was tucked under it: "Jake, your spirit is willing, but your stats are 0. This Stamina Band uses Devon's biotech to regulate your heart rate and supplement your endurance. Wear it. We have work to do."
Phase 1: The Ninja Race (Frogadier Training)
Once I was cleared for discharge, we didn't go back to the museum. We headed to the Lilycove City rooftops. Genji was itching to test his new reach.
The Mobility Test: Genji's "frubble" scarf wasn't just for show. He could now use it as a grappling hook. He raced Kage (Grovyle) across the skyline.
The Technique: While Kage used Leaf Blade to create temporary footholds in the brickwork, Genji used Aerial Ace, turning his momentum into a blur of blue.
The Result: By the time they reached the lighthouse, Genji had mastered the "Frogadier Sling," a move where he uses water pressure to launch himself horizontally at Mach speeds.
Phase 2: The Decryption (The Clandestine Channel)
"Lens, cut the public feed. Switch to Encrypted Channel: Emerald," I commanded.
We met Steven in the sub-basement of the Lilycove Museum. The Ancient Sea-Map was spread across a digital table, and the Blue Shard was pulsing in a containment field.
The Trusted Circle: Only Steven, Sidney, and Professor Birch were logged into the private chat. No fans, no grunts, no leaks.
The Reveal: As the Shard's energy hit the map, a hidden layer of ink appeared. It wasn't just a map of the ocean; it was a Tectonic Blueprint.The "Coalition" Base: The map highlighted a point in the Sootopolis Crater that shouldn't exist. "It's a mobile fortress," Steven explained. "The 'Coalition of the Deep' isn't just hiding; they're building a massive siphon. They're going to try and drain the Infinity Energy directly from the planet's core."
"The Stamina Band is helping," I said, checking the readout on my wrist. "I can feel the 'Vigor' from the map, but it's not knocking me out this time."
"Good," Steven said, his eyes cold. "Because to get into that crater, we need to break through a blockade of both Aqua and Magma's elite fleets. We're going to need your 'Titans' to lead the vanguard."
Phase 3: The "Authorized" Upgrade
Before we left, Steven handed us our final "Lawful Operative" gear: League-Issue Heavy Duty Cuffs (designed for Pokémon and humans) and a Search & Seizure Warrant for the Sootopolis region.
"You're not just streamers or trainers anymore," Steven reminded us. "You're the law."
May gripped her Lucha-ready gloves. "Let's go bring the house down. For real this time."