Roy looked at the captured Grimer, and after some thought, decided to just transfer it back to Oaks Laboratory to level it up.
Carrying it around every day resulted in a stench, and he didn't have any particular need for a Poison-type combatant right now.
So, he decisively transferred it back.
...
At this moment, inside Oaks Laboratory.
Professor Oak was happily cooking a bowl of seafood noodles.
The pot was bubbling away, and the aroma of fresh shrimp and clams filled the entire room.
He hummed a tune, in a particularly good mood.
"The weather is nice today, and the noodles are cooked well too~ Perfect~"
Suddenly, a "ding" sounded in the laboratory.
Professor Oak was taken aback.
"Oh? Someone transferred a Pokémon back?"
He put down his chopsticks and walked toward the transfer device.
"At this time... who could it be?"
He walked up to the transfer device and saw the name on the display screen.
"Ah! It's Roy!"
Professor Oak was instantly excited.
"What good thing has this kid caught this time?"
He rubbed his hands together, his face full of anticipation.
That kid Roy always sent back rare items.
He wondered what treasure it was this time.
Professor Oak thought happily as he picked up the Poké Ball from the transfer device.
Huh?
He leaned in to sniff it.
Why was there a fragrance?
It seemed like perfume.
"This kid is quite particular, even spraying perfume on the Poké Ball."
Professor Oak muttered, pressing the release button.
"Let me see what good thing it is this time..."
A flash of red light.
Grimer appeared on the laboratory floor.
The next second.
A stench so thick it was suffocating instantly filled the entire room.
Professor Oak's smile froze on his face.
"Ugh~"
He violently covered his nose, bent over, and began to retch.
"Th-this... what is this, ahhh!"
He tears came to his eyes, and he hurriedly pinched his nose.
But the stench still drilled into his nose, making him dizzy.
"Roy! You stinky brat!"
Professor Oak roared, his voice changing pitch.
"How could you catch a Grimer!"
"And!! You specifically transferred it back at dinner time!"
"You did this on purpose, right! Ugh~ Ugh~"
He retched twice more, tears streaming down his face.
"You brat! Ugh~"
Professor Oak scolded while running toward the window, fumbling to push it open.
...
Meanwhile, far away in Black Cloud City, Roy was sitting in the Pokémon Center's restaurant, enjoying a meal.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.
...
Night fell especially early in Black Cloud City.
Not because of the time, but because of the weather.
Dark clouds pressed down very low, covering the entire city tightly.
Although the streetlights were on, the light didn't travel far before being swallowed by the darkness.
In the lobby of the Pokémon Center, Nurse Joy looked at the sky outside the window and frowned.
"This weather... I'm afraid it's going to rain heavily."
She walked to the door, closed the glass door, and pressed the lock on the side.
With a click, the door was locked.
"That's all for today, no more new guests." Nurse Joy stretched, the fullness of her chest creating an alluring curve under her nurse's uniform.
She turned to look at the few people in the lobby.
"You all should rest early too, I've arranged the rooms for you."
Delia nodded and yawned.
"I am indeed a bit tired."
Although she hadn't walked much today, she had been through a lot, and she was mentally exhausted.
Misty also rubbed her eyes: "Me too, my eyelids are fighting each other."
Nurse Joy took a few keys from behind the counter and handed them to them.
"Second floor, 203 and 204, they are adjacent."
Delia took the keys and looked at Roy: "Aren't you going to rest?"
Roy leaned on the chair and shook his head: "I'll sit for a while longer, you go ahead."
"Then don't stay up too late." Delia warned, pulling Misty upstairs.
Misty walked two steps, then suddenly turned back to look at Roy.
"By the way, that Grimer of yours... don't let it out again! I don't want to be woken up by the stench in the middle of the night!"
Roy smiled: "Don't worry, it's been transferred back to the laboratory."
"That's good." Misty breathed a sigh of relief and turned to follow Delia.
The two women stepped up the stairs, their footsteps fading away.
Nurse Joy didn't rush to leave, but leaned on the counter, tilting her head to look at Roy.
"You really aren't resting?"
"Yeah." Roy nodded, "I'm used to staying up late."
Nurse Joy blinked, not asking any more questions.
"Then I'll go organize the treatment room first, those Pokémon from today still need another check."
She said, turning toward the treatment room.
After a few steps, she turned back to look at Roy again.
Her eyes held an indescribable meaning.
...
The lobby quickly quieted down.
Only Roy was left sitting on the chair.
He closed his eyes, seemingly resting.
In reality, he was waiting.
Waiting for everyone to fall asleep.
Time passed minute by minute.
The lights in the corridor went out one by one.
Nurse Joy came out of the treatment room, looked at Roy in the lobby, hesitated for a moment, but didn't disturb him and went upstairs herself.
Another half hour passed.
The entire Pokémon Center was completely quiet.
Only the humming of the air conditioner's outdoor unit could be heard.
Roy opened his eyes.
He stood up, walked to the stairs, and looked up.
The second-floor corridor was pitch black, and all the doors were closed.
He turned back to the lobby and took a black windbreaker out of his backpack.
He put it on.
He zipped it all the way up and pulled the hood over his head.
His whole person almost blended into the darkness.
Then, he walked toward the depths of the Pokémon Center.
That was the Pokémon resting area.
...
The door to the resting area was glass, with a sign on it saying "No Entry for Unauthorized Personnel."
Roy pushed the door open and walked in.
Inside were rows of transparent resting pods.
In each pod was a Pokémon, sleeping quietly.
Some were curled into a ball, some were sprawled out, with various postures.
The environment in the pods simulated their most suitable habitats.
Some had deserts, some forests, some water areas...
Roy walked to a resting pod in the corner.
Inside, covered with a soft little blanket, two furry little guys were huddled together.
It was Pikachu and Eevee.
Pikachu was lying on its side, with a little paw resting on Eevee.
Eevee was curled up in Pikachu's arms, its little head resting on Pikachu's belly.
Both little guys were breathing evenly, sleeping soundly.
The corners of Roy's mouth curled up, and he crouched down.
He closed his eyes, and the Aura within him slowly spread.
Invisible fluctuations penetrated the glass of the resting pod, touching Pikachu's consciousness.
"Pikachu."
...
Pikachu's ears twitched.
It opened its eyes drowsily and yawned.
Then, it felt it.
Its master's Aura.
Calling it.
Pikachu woke up instantly.
It carefully withdrew the little paw resting on Eevee, its movements very light.
Eevee grunted, turned over, and continued to sleep.
Pikachu breathed a sigh of relief and climbed out of the blanket.
It looked back at Eevee, used its little paw to pull the blanket up, covering Eevee's exposed little belly.
Then, it jumped lightly out of the resting pod and ran to Roy.
"Pika Pika~"
It called out softly, its eyes shining.
Roy crouched down and hugged Pikachu into his arms.
Pikachu's body was warm, furry, and felt great.
Roy rubbed its head and lowered his voice: "Let's go, I'm taking you to meet a Thunder-type master."
Pikachu tilted its head: "Pika?"
"We might have to fight." Roy smiled, "Are you afraid?"
Pikachu's eyes instantly lit up.
It jumped out of Roy's arms, clenching its two little paws into fists, and struck a fighting pose.
"Pika Pika!"
Its little face was written with the words "Bring it on."
Roy was amused by it and hugged Pikachu back into his arms.
"Let's go."
He closed his eyes, and Psychic energy surged within him.
Invisible power wrapped around him and Pikachu.
The next second.
Space twisted.
...
When he opened his eyes again, he was already on the street.
The strong wind howled, blowing Roy's windbreaker until it rustled.
Raindrops hit his face, cold and painful.
Pikachu shrank its neck and buried its face in Roy's arms.
"This rain is really heavy..." Roy muttered, pulling his hood to cover his face.
He looked up to check the direction.
Northeast.
The dark clouds were thicker there, and lightning cut across the sky from time to time, illuminating the sky with a pale white light.
Boom!
A thunderclap exploded, shaking the ground.
Roy hugged Pikachu tightly and walked quickly in that direction.
...
After walking for about twenty minutes, the surrounding buildings became increasingly dilapidated.
The road was full of potholes, and the accumulated water went over his ankles.
The streetlights were also broken, and only the occasional lightning could illuminate the road ahead.
Roy slowed his pace and lowered his posture.
Because figures appeared ahead.
Not just one.
There were many.
Roy dashed behind an abandoned building and peeked out.
On the street, people in twos and threes were rushing in the same direction.
They were wearing different clothes, and it was obvious they weren't in the same group.
At the very front were a few people in black, wrapped up tightly, with only their eyes visible.
They walked very fast, with Poké Balls at their waists; they were clearly Trainers.
Following behind were a few people wearing dark yellow clothes.
Roy's eyes narrowed.
On those clothes, there was a red letter "R".
The "R" was very eye-catching, particularly striking under the reflection of the lightning.
Team Rockets were involved too?
Further back, Roy saw some people wearing ninja outfits.
Their figures were light, their footsteps making almost no sound as they leaped and shuttled between the buildings.
Their movements were fast and flexible, clearly well-trained.
There were other scattered people, dressed differently, both men and women.
Some were carrying large backpacks, some were holding strange instruments in their hands.
It was a mixed bag.
But their goal seemed to be the same.
All heading in the northeast direction.
Roy squinted.
So many factions appearing at once...
It seems that he would really be able to see Zapdos tonight.
...
Roy didn't rush to follow, but continued to observe.
He discovered that these factions were not close to each other.
The people in black walked their own way, Team Rockets walked their own way, and the ninjas walked their own way.
There was a distance between them, and they were wary of each other.
Occasionally, when someone got close, the other side would immediately be on guard.
"Not a cooperative relationship..." Roy's mouth curled up.
That made things easier.
They were each fighting for themselves, so he would have a chance to reap the benefits.
Roy waited for the last group of people to pass before emerging from his hiding spot.
He lowered his head, holding Pikachu, and followed them from a distance.
...
Another ten minutes passed.
A huge building appeared ahead.
An abandoned power plant.
The factory building was tall and dilapidated, with vines and rust creeping over the walls.
Most of the windows were broken, dark and hollow like eyes.
The most eye-catching thing was above the power plant.
The dark clouds gathered most densely there, like a huge vortex.
Lightning struck one after another, all hitting a certain area of the power plant.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The thunder was deafening, and the ground was shaking.
Occasionally, lightning would strike into the factory building, and through the broken windows, one could see a flash of blue-white light inside.
Pikachu poked its head out from Roy's arms, looking at the lightning in the sky, its little face full of shock.
"Pika..."
It muttered softly, the electric light reflecting in its eyes.
Roy looked down at it: "Do you feel it? It's very strong."
Pikachu nodded, then shook its head.
It stretched out its little paw, pointed at the lightning in the sky, and then pointed at itself.
"Pika Pika!"
It meant: One day, I will also be able to release such powerful lightning!
Roy smiled and rubbed its head.
"You definitely will."
...
At the entrance of the power plant, many vehicles were parked.
There were black SUVs, vans with the R logo, and several motorcycles.
The headlights were all off, parked quietly in the rain.
A few people were standing at the entrance, talking in low voices.
Roy went around to the side and found a corner where no one was around.
He closed his eyes, and Psychic energy surged again.
Space twisted.
The next second, he and Pikachu had appeared inside the power plant.
...
The factory was very dark, and only the occasional flash of lightning could illuminate the surroundings.
The air was filled with dust, rust, and an indescribable smell of burning.
The sounds of battle were becoming clearer.
The roars of Pokémon, the explosive sounds of skills being released, the shouting of humans...
Mixed together, echoing in the empty factory.
Roy crouched behind a pile of abandoned iron barrels and looked out.
In front was a huge factory hall.
The roof had a big hole, and rainwater poured in from the hole, forming a large puddle on the ground.
In the center of the hall, a Pokémon wrapped in electric light was fighting.
Zapdos.
Its size was larger than Roy had imagined.
Its whole body was covered with golden feathers, and its sharp wings spread out to over five or six meters wide, looking like a particularly solid individual.
Zapdos raised its head and let out a long cry.
The sound was sharp and piercing, penetrating the entire factory.
At the same time, the electric light on its body erupted violently.
Countless golden electric arcs shot out from its body, sweeping in all directions.
Wherever the arcs passed, the air trembled.
...
There were many Pokémon besieging Zapdos.
At least twenty or thirty.
The most numerous were Golbat.
Those purple bats shuttled quickly in the darkness, emitting piercing ultrasonic waves.
They pounced on Zapdos from all angles, opening their mouths to bite with poisonous fangs.
But they couldn't get close at all.
With one sweep of the electric arcs on Zapdos's body, the Golbat were electrocuted, their bodies twitching as they fell from the sky.
Slap, slap, slap...
Like dumplings being dropped, over a dozen Golbat fell to the ground, their wings still twitching.
Next were Magneton.
Those steel Pokémon made of three Magnemite combined were hovering in mid-air, with blue electromagnetic force circling their bodies.
They fired Thunder Wave, trying to interfere with Zapdos's movements.
But to Zapdos, this level of Thunder Wave was like a tickle.
It didn't even bother to pay attention, letting the Thunder Wave hit its body.
There were also some Elekid.
Those little things crouched in the corner, arms crossed, charging up, and then releasing Thunder Shock.
The golden current hit Zapdos, but instead of causing damage, it was absorbed by it.
Zapdos shook its feathers comfortably, seeming to enjoy it.
***************************
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