"I don't think so."
Maybe the League really didn't anticipate the size and situation of the mystic realm.
They probably just assumed there would be more Elite-level beings here and thus rated it an S-level danger zone.
But to say they had absolutely no idea—that's impossible.
After all, they did authorize an elite trainer expedition mission!
…
"Heh, it's fine as long as you're okay. I knew you'd be fine, kid."
"By the way, what placement are you aiming for in the National Tournament this time? Top 16? Top 8?"
"If you make it into the top 4, your 'Rising Star' title will be fully cemented!"
Hearing the Vice President's teasing voice, Nathan didn't reveal that his real goal was the championship.
After chatting for a while, Nathan hung up and looked at the other messages on his phone.
[Miss Evelyn]: "Congratulations, top scorer on the college entrance exam!"
[Lily]: "Not bad, my boy! You didn't embarrass your mom!"
[Sister Serene]: "I admire you more and more. Visit Emerald City sometime. Your studio is already a household name here!"
...
[Lily]: "Son, are you really abandoning your most beloved mother? Such sin!"
Seeing all the messages lined up, Nathan finally realized the college entrance exam results must be out.
He checked his missed calls.
Sure enough, besides calls from family and friends, there were also plenty from various universities.
Nathan had no intention of calling them back.
Choosing a university before the National Tournament versus after winning it was like the difference between heaven and hell!
Not to mention, Nathan was planning to publicly reveal Mega Evolution during this tournament!
Of course, before that, he needed to acquire as many Mega Evolution Stones and Z Crystals as possible.
Once revealed, each one would be worth a fortune!
Thinking of all the things in the system store that were once out of reach, Nathan nearly drooled.
After replying to some messages and missed calls, Nathan began his bedtime feeding ritual.
Given Lily's mischievous behavior, Nathan made sure to send a special reply:
[Nathan]: "Be good, daughter. Promise me you won't cause trouble. I'll buy you anything you want!"
After a bit of mutual teasing, Nathan broke his own record—falling asleep within ten seconds!
"Vol~"
Hearing Nathan snore not long after, the Pokémon eating beside him instinctively quieted down.
Nathan had been working hard for them, and they would never forget his kindness.
But that night, Nathan had another dream.
In the dream, his Pokémon sacrificed themselves, his friends and family were targeted for revenge by the Dark Spirit Organization...
The League, for the sake of enormous profits, colluded with the Dark Spirit Organization, conspiring together...
In the dream, Nathan's eyes bled red tears, and the black crystal pendant around his neck shone brightly!
Faintly, Nathan seemed to see a black-and-purple creation alpaca!
But before he could see it clearly, he was awakened by his biological clock.
The first thing he did was grab the pendant and furiously mess with it!
A mere pendant knows nothing of human society!
Even if it felt real, Nathan could still spot countless flaws!
For example, it would be impossible for the League and the Dark Spirit Organization to unite—
Because among the League's founding elders, more than two-thirds had mortal grudges against the Dark Spirit Organization!
After venting his anger, Nathan tossed the pendant aside.
Then he started studying how to maximize the effects of the Dynamax Fruit!
This was precious stuff, mutated from a Salac Berry and infused with the pendant's power.
After countless years, the tree barely produced fifteen tiny fruits!
Otherwise, Nathan wouldn't have needed to live so frugally even now.
"Vol~"
The steadily growing Volcarona watched Nathan silently, doubling as a living air conditioner to keep the room at the perfect temperature.
When Nathan snapped out of it, in front of him, besides scraps and equipment, was a glowing purple crystalline Pokéblock.
Honestly, it didn't look edible—it looked more like an exquisite piece of gemstone art!
The most magnificent, dazzling gemstone art!
Even though it had just been made, the Poké Ball containing Steelix began to tremble uncontrollably.
The whole ball quivered in excitement.
"Don't worry, you'll get your share. No need to be so impatient!"
After calming down Steelix, Nathan stored away the Pokéblocks.
Because he didn't know how powerful these cubes might be, he didn't dare to use them in a regular hotel.
Ordinary Pokéblocks already made the Dark Spirit Organization go crazy.
If anything out of the ordinary happened, Nathan wouldn't even be surprised if a true Champion-level trainer showed up!
"Pokéblocks are ready, but Mega Evolution..."
Thinking of the evolution he planned to unveil but had been delaying even practicing, Nathan's eyes flickered with a strange light.
Looking outside, the once-clear sky was now streaked with fiery clouds.
His stomach started grumbling loudly.
Those few Pokéblocks had taken Nathan an entire day!
"Sigh, forget it. Better solve my hunger and registration issues first!"
Patting his stomach with a sigh, Nathan said.
Although his psychic powers were no longer useless, his body wasn't made of iron.
If only the system store could exchange for something like a Supersoldier physique...
The kind that could get hit by Pikachu's Thunderbolt over and over and just shrug it off.
Or even revive after dying.
Checking out of the hotel, Nathan wandered the streets, buying anything that looked tasty.
"Ow!"
At a street corner, Nathan suddenly felt something bump into him.
A girl with teary eyes had fallen to the ground—but not because she was hurt.
Her ice cream and snacks had all spilled and were now inedible.
"Ahem, sorry."
Seeing her like that, Nathan felt awkward, apologized, and prepared to leave.
If he left quickly enough, maybe he could avoid trouble!
But before he could go, a delicate hand grabbed the corner of his clothes.
"You need to pay!"
Turning around, Nathan saw the girl still looking at him with tearful eyes.
Tears pooled at her lashes but didn't fall.
Just then, the black crystal pendant around Nathan's neck flashed with a dark light.
"What do you think you're doing?"
A crimson gleam flashed across Nathan's right eye as he suddenly grabbed the girl's tiny hand with a cold voice.
At that moment, this seemingly clumsy, food-loving girl had secretly reached for the Poké Balls at his waist!
The black crystal pendant itself couldn't sway Nathan, but the dream had made him extra sensitive.
In that split second, he even had the urge to break the girl's wrist!
Even if he knew the dream wasn't real, the pain and rage he felt had been very real.
Thinking about his Pokémon potentially being sold to the Dark Spirit Organization for experiments,
Nathan's face darkened terrifyingly, his right eye's scarlet glow hidden behind his bangs, blood-red and horrifying!
[That's right... This world is too dark. Only by sinking deeper into darkness can you destroy and dominate it...]
Unknowingly, a seductive female voice echoed in Nathan's mind.
Until...
…
"Nathan!"
A sudden voice snapped Nathan back to reality.
The girl's wrist was already bruised red from his grip, her young face pale,
and her eyes filled with terror when looking at him.
Turning around, he saw people around pointing at him and whispering.
Only one familiar figure looked at him with worry—Lily!
Nathan didn't need to think. It was Lily!
Her beautiful, delicate face was still eye-catching, even more so now with a look of concern.
"Nathan, what's wrong?"
Lily hurried to his side, asking with deep worry.
Nathan felt a wave of warmth flow through his heart.
He shook his head. "I'm fine."
He realized—even if the girl had bad intentions, his reaction had been too extreme.
This black pendant...
Even if it didn't understand human society, it seemed to instinctively grasp the nature of human hearts!
"Should I say... that it really deserves to be the dark side of that damned alpaca?"