The difference between a Secret Realm and a Danger Zone...
"I have some understanding of it," Owen replied.
He knew about Secret Realms, of course. As for Danger Zones—he knew a bit. In fact, the two were closely linked. A Secret Realm could essentially be viewed as the predecessor of a Danger Zone!
"Secret Realms aren't permanent," Mr. Lee explained. "Over time, they fuse completely with Earth, merging into our planet and becoming part of it. Do you know what that implies?"
"Vee-vee!!?" Eevee cut in with a question.
"Uh..." Mr. Lee looked at Eevee on Owen's shoulder, confused. What is it saying?
Owen watched Eevee's paws as it traced a small circle and then a much larger one. "I think it's asking if the Earth's physical volume increases because of the fusion."
"Not exactly..." Mr. Lee replied.
"Vee-vee~~" Eevee gestured as if it understood, then started miming something else entirely.
Owen translated: "Eevee says it knows what it implies now..."
"What?"
"It implies that the sales of Xiangpiaopiao Milk Tea can still circle the Earth once..." Owen nearly tossed Eevee off the chair. This brat! Still trying to be a smart-aleck! It was one thing to let it watch dramas, but it really needed to stop watching those mindless commercials.
"Vee..." Eevee pouted on the chair. Was I wrong? No!
Mr. Lee cleared his throat, feeling a phantom headache. "It means that the environment of the Secret Realm will assimilate the area where it descends, changing the ecosystem.
The Pokémon within will then be able to step out of the Realm and live on Earth."
"Most of the time, before a Realm merges, Professional Trainers finish exploring it, eliminate the hazards, and take protective measures to minimize the damage of the fusion.
However, humans aren't omnipotent. Decades ago, when over 90% of the Secret Realms merged, we didn't have the power to change anything. Vast regions of Earth became paradises for Pokémon."
"Some places gathered powerful Pokémon tribes; others had their climates altered so drastically by the fusion that they became incredibly dangerous. These are what we call Danger Zones."
"Nowadays, Danger Zones near human cities have mostly been cleared, but many remain difficult to explore, and the Ranger Defense Lines can't be established easily.
The most famous is the mysterious ocean, specifically the Bermuda Triangle. Other places like the Valley of Death in the Kamchatka Peninsula, Mount Everest, the Taklamakan Desert, or the Egyptian Pyramids...
Though not currently Secret Realms, they have become areas where even Professional Trainers cannot easily set foot due to past fusions.
I've even heard that legendary beings live in those places."
Owen listened intently until Mr. Li finally circled back to Magnemite.
"Using natural lightning to raise a Magnemite is indeed the best method, but the process is extremely dangerous. There are too many uncontrollable variables. Even veteran trainers have to think twice. For a rookie like you to try it... you clearly don't know the value of your own life!"
Uh...
Owen realized the implication and asked, "Does that mean there's a similar, less dangerous training method?"
"There is. It's the place I mentioned: the Electric Wilderness. It's a high-value Danger Zone that the Trainer Association has since cordoned off."
"Because of its fusion with a specific Realm, the Electric Wilderness experiences regular, predictable thunderstorms every day.
Additionally, the hills there are filled with special magnetic fields—it's a paradise for Electric and Steel-types.
Because the original Realm was a plain inhabited by massive numbers of Electric Pokémon, the weather and environment are perfect for nurturing them. That's how it got its name."
"It's located on our country's border. Ordinary people can't get near it, and regular trainers can't enter without a recommendation.
Because the thunderstorms follow a pattern, it's a sacred land for training. As for danger—it exists, but if you strictly follow the safety protocols, your personal safety as a trainer shouldn't be an issue." Mr. Lee pointed at Owen.
"I want to go," Owen said immediately. There's actually a place like that? Why didn't you say so earlier!
Mr. Lee laughed and held up a few fingers. "First, the entry threshold is high. Second, you'll need to rent an insulated suit and related gear for your safety. Third, no one is going to let a rookie in alone. You'll need to hire a personal bodyguard and a guide."
"The cost of this whole process will be several, if not dozens, of times more expensive than a standard charging room," he concluded.
Pay-to-win. In the end, it always comes back to money.
Owen thought it over seriously. "I want Magnemite to evolve in the most perfect way possible. If this place meets those requirements and doesn't waste its potential, the money doesn't matter."
How expensive could it be? More than a Thunder Stone? I have two million in the bank. Let's spend it!
"I forgot you're a little tycoon now," Mr. Lee remarked, shaking his head at Owen's newfound nonchalance toward money. "Actually, you might not even have to pay for it yourself."
"You're part of the Fairview Rising Star Project, and your performance has been more than satisfactory. Usually, the Association would provide an Evolution Stone for your Eevee, but since your Eevee has... unique issues... that stone was cancelled.
However, those resources won't just vanish. You won the High School League and brought a lot of prestige to Fairview. I believe the Association can help you settle the costs for the Electric Wilderness."
Eevee: "???" Wait, are you guys embezzling my stuff?? It puffed out its cheeks in protest. Then it remembered—it was the one who said it wanted to share resources with Magnemite. Eevee felt a sudden crisis of identity.
"So, if you're sure, I can help you apply. If you're willing to wait until summer break, I can personally accompany you and design an evolution plan for your Magnemite," Mr. lee offered.
Owen was overjoyed and nodded frantically. To refuse such an offer would be insane.
"Cha~~" Eevee closed its eyes and reached a state of inner peace. Fine. I'll let Magnemite 'enjoy' the experience of getting struck by lightning all by itself.
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