[Instance 'Appointed Time' is being calculated…]
[Main Quest completion confirmed! After review, player Caleb Chase's Instance exploration rate is 68%!]
[Main Quest contribution is being calculated…]
[Performance in the Mythical Pokémon Contest is being evaluated…]
[Evaluation: S-rank!]
[Congratulations to player Caleb for obtaining 5000 Points!]
...
At the Pikachu Plaza within the Infinite World... Dark, heavy storm clouds rolled in, the terrifying and oppressive rumble of thunder brewing wildly within.
At this moment, countless players stopped what they were doing, held their breath, and looked up, quietly awaiting the judgment of the thunder.
A few days ago, an article titled «..Heh, So This is What the Big Shots Ranked 1st and 3rd on the Leaderboard Are Like? How Pathetic!» appeared on the Infinite Forum.
The author of that article vividly recounted the events that took place during the Mythical Pokémon Contest.
From the players entering the Instance, to Caleb, nicknamed the 'Achievement King', being actively sought out by Entei, to the later battle between Ho-Oh and Lugia in Ilex Forest...
Aside from providing extremely detailed descriptions of Caleb's appearance, abilities, and Pokémon, it also criticized and mocked two certain selfish, fame-seeking top players who slacked off intensely.
Players who hadn't participated in that Mythical Pokémon Contest read it with great interest and made comments like:
1. Wow! So Caleb Chase is a total hottie! I'm in!
2. I want to know, why did Entei actively acknowledge him?
3. That's it? That's it? This is the legendary Big Shot Baek Gyeol and Big Shot Ye Fan?
4. I'm disgusted. Can these two just die already? My little Caleb dealt more damage with two Pokémon than their twelve combined. Disgusting!
5. So, who won the Mythical Pokémon Contest in the end?
The appearance of the last question instantly grabbed the attention of all players...
Soon, someone noticed that Ye Fan and Gyeol had already returned to the Infinite World! But what about Caleb?
What happened to Caleb?
No one knew.
Long before the Mythical Pokémon Contest began, players who hadn't qualified were kicked out of the Instance, so they were unaware of what happened afterward.
Neither Gyeol nor Ye Fan, who came out early, disclosed what had happened in the Instance.
Thus, the outcome of that contest became a mystery.
Caleb Chase... this name was like a seductive siren to the players in the Infinite World, tempting them relentlessly.
Now, the long-awaited Achievement Thunderclouds had finally appeared.
Watching the gathering thunderclouds in the sky, countless players grew excited. They knew that only that existence within the entire Infinite World could summon thunderclouds of this scale!
Finally, under the expectant or nervous gazes of countless people, the emotionless announcement rang out, resounding like a great bell in everyone's hearts:
«Congratulations to player Caleb Chase for unlocking the Achievements:
- My World
- Friend of Pokémon
- Fight for You
-The World's Focus...»
"F*ck! He's here! He's here!"
"Everyone, move aside! Keep your eyes peeled! We can't let him get away this time!"
"Stop pushing! Let me see what my idol actually looks like! Dammit, you stepped on my shoes! These cost me 500 points, limited edition!"
...
Having just left the Instance and appeared under the Pikachu statue, Caleb looked at the bizarre scene before him, a huge question mark popping up over his head.
'What's going on? Why are so many people staring at me?'
He was stunned for a moment, but didn't dwell on it, preparing to go home and release those Pokémon into the Pokémon Paradise.
But before he could teleport, several players grabbed his arm.
Their eyes were burning with fervor as they exclaimed excitedly, "Is it you?"
Caleb: "??"
Another, more reserved player swallowed hard and asked, "Caleb Chase?"
Caleb hesitated for a second before quickly denying it, "No, you've got the wrong person."
Having said that, he ignored these players and prepared to teleport away.
This was one thing the Infinite World did very well. If a player disliked socializing with others, they could simply stay in their own little room and play solo quietly.
Those who enjoyed socializing could freely make friends on the Infinite Forum or in the bars and hotels of the commercial district.
"Don't go!" Seeing him about to leave, the player quickly shouted, "We just want an answer! Tell us, and we'll let you go!"
Caleb: "…"
'That just sounds like I'm some heartless scumbag...'
He was speechless for a moment. Glancing at these players who meant no harm, he asked, "What is it?"
A burly player asked, "Who won the Mythical Pokémon Contest?"
Caleb smiled at him and said, "What do you think?"
The player's eyes widened, "It was really you?!"
Ignoring the players' pleas to stay, Caleb directly teleported back to his room and entered the Pokémon Paradise.
There were mountains, water, trees, flowers, and grass... This was the most suitable place for them to live.
For Pokémon, this could truly be considered a utopia in the purest sense. No oppression, no violence, no need to worry about food or harsh weather.
He released all the Pokémon from Ilex Forest from his inventory, letting them bathe in the warm sunlight here. He then activated the Paradise's healing function for the first time.
As beams of white light flashed, the listless, severely injured, and on the brink of death Pokémon on the ground quickly regained consciousness.
"You can live here without worry," Caleb said.
As long as he was alive, this little space wouldn't disappear. Even if he settled in the Pokémon world, it would follow him there.
"Scy!"
The Scyther that he had previously healed with his Viridian Power saluted him, then turned and flew toward the dense forest in the distance.
The remaining several thousand Pokémon gradually understood the situation. After expressing their gratitude to Caleb, they also began searching for their new homes within this space.
Watching the last Caterpie wiggle away, Caleb let out a soft sigh of relief, "Finally, it's done."
The expected task completion notification sounded as well:
*Ding!*
[Hidden Quest 'Sanctuary' completed!]
[Quest reward
[Due to your outstanding completion of this hidden quest, you have been specially awarded the additional title "Child of the Forest"!]
- Child of the Forest: S-rank title. When equipped, greatly increases affinity with wild Pokémon inhabiting forests!
Caleb was taken aback for a moment.
This title's effect was quite similar to the previous 'Savior' title.
So far, he had obtained three titles.
They were: Gigantamax Slayer, Savior, and now Child of the Forest.
As for Achievements…
There were too many for him to count. He skimmed through them roughly before closing the achievement panel.
'There's just too many. I can't even keep track anymore.'
"Mhm... The settlement rewards have been distributed, so what should I do next?"
Caleb looked at the Gacha chance in his inventory, then turned to find Dragonite lazily resting with its eyes closed in its dragon's nest...