"Why?" Fumitaka asked, somewhat puzzled, "What exactly is the situation in that Instance? Why can't we even release our Pokémon?"
Yuna looked at him and replied, "Because that is a world ruled by Arceus."
Arceus, the creator god of the Pokémon world...
Yuna continued, "The Arceus of that world believes that humans are all hypocritical and selfish. It formed a large alliance of Legendary Pokémon with other deities. Groudon, Kyogre, and Regigigas divided the world's land into two major plates... One belongs entirely to Pokémon, while the other is inhabited by humans."
Hearing this, Fumitaka was stunned, asking, "How is that even possible?"
Yuna shook her head and said, "I don't know what historical turning point occurred in that world, but by the time I arrived, it had already become like that. Human society prohibits the appearance of Pokémon. Once a Pokémon appears, Legendary Pokémon guardians will take it to the continent where Pokémon live."
"My Decidueye was taken to the Pokémon continent by Hoopa," Yuna added.
If she hadn't obtained an item like the Super Escape Rope earlier, she might have been obliterated there by Hoopa Unbound and the Genesect army.
After hearing this, the other three present fell into silence.
After a long while, Kamala said incredulously, "This is... too outrageous, isn't it?"
Yuna offered a comforting smile and said, "Don't worry. This time, our mission is only to find Decidueye. We don't need to bother with the main quest of that world. After finding Decidueye, we can immediately use the Super Escape Rope to leave that Instance."
As she spoke, she took out three pieces of fruit candy wrapped in colorful candy wrapper from her inventory and handed them to the three, saying, "We can use this to communicate after entering the Instance."
Caleb took it, and the candy's information immediately appeared.
[Telepathy Candy: After consumption, one can establish telepathic communication with other players who have eaten the candy, regardless of distance or location.
- Effect lasts until the Instance ends...]
Fumitaka unwrapped the candy and tossed it into his mouth, asking, "But, Yuna-senpai, if that world is so vast as you say, how are we going to find Decidueye's location?"
Yuna explained, "I have a special item that can locate a Pokémon's specific position within the Instance."
"Ok." Fumitaka had a sudden realization and gave a thumbs-up to show he understood.
Yuna nodded, looked around at the three, and asked, "Do you have any other questions?"
Caleb shook his head. The information about that Instance had already been made very clear.
Interestingly, this punishment Instance was the complete opposite of the one he had encountered before.
One was entirely ruled by humans, the other entirely ruled by Pokémon.
Humans and Pokémon, as beings that have lived in the same world since ancient times, have seen their relationship gradually change over time.
In ancient times, people called Pokémon 'magical beasts' and considered them terrifying existences.
But as the wheel of history rolled on, people gradually discovered the peculiarities of these 'magical beasts' and began to tame them, creating ancient Poké Balls and turning them into tools of war.
Later, the war ended, and people discovered that these creatures called magical beasts possessed intelligence clearly distinct from ordinary animals and emotions no less complex than humans. Magical beasts were renamed Pokémon and began to formally integrate into human daily life. Thus, Pokémon battles emerged.
In modern times, Pokémon battles have developed to their peak. Humans and Pokémon have long become inextricably linked existences.
They eat together, walk together, care for each other in life, and accompany each other through every day.
What about the future? What will the future hold for humans and Pokémon be like?
No one knows the answer to this question.
Anyway, Caleb didn't want it to become like the 'Collapsed World' or the upcoming punishment Instance...
After leaving Yuna's place, he didn't go directly home but teleported to the commercial district, planning to see if there were any useful useful items he could acquire.
The items produced in this Infinite World were very diverse. Besides basic items for Pokémon like Fire Stones or Sharp Beaks, there were also many strange and wonderful items with special effects.
For example, Warp Beacons, Books of Answers, or like Yuna's Super Escape Rope and Telepathy Candy.
Generally speaking, these items were very practical. Players who obtained them would use them themselves. Unless they were short on points, few people would specifically put them up for sale.
For Instance, Caleb saw an item on a stall in front of him.
- Super Psyduck Watering Can: A watering can containing mystical power. This watering tool that can make Berry trees in soft soil bloom and bear fruit within thirty seconds...
Caleb was tempted. If he had had this item in the Deserted Island Survival Instance, he definitely wouldn't have been in such a sorry state as he was back then.
Still, tempted as he was, he maintained a calm expression as he squatted down and asked, "How much for this one?"
The stall owner glanced at the handsome guy in front of him and held up eight fingers.
Caleb looked and guessed, "Eight thousand?"
The stall owner choked on that number, shook his head, and said, I'm not that unreasonable! I meant eight hundred points!"
'What a bargain!' Without another word, Caleb paid the points and took the Psyduck Watering Can.
He now had sixty-two thousand points left. Eight hundred points meant nothing to him. If he had to calculate, it was probably just the small change from his next large-scale Instance.
Moreover, this item could be surprisingly useful in certain special situations. Overall, it was a great value.
The stall owner watched Caleb's departing back with a strange expression...
Ordinary players in the Infinite World typically only earned one or two hundred points per Instance, and some even only managed a few dozen points per run. Eight hundred points was no small amount for such players.
'A sucker.' The stall owner reached this conclusion in his heart...
...
After putting the Super Psyduck Watering Can into his inventory, Caleb wandered around the commercial district for while once more, but unfortunately, he didn't come across a second item he could use.
So he directly teleported back to his room...
Yuna said the Legendary Pokémon in that world were extremely powerful. Caleb thought for a moment, went to the utility room, and took out the pair of Red and Blue Orbs from the glass display case.
Better safe than sorry. If he really encountered some kind of Legendary Pokémon free-for-all battle, he could still use Groudon and Kyogre's power to hold out for a while.
He just wondered what Mewtwo would be like in that world.
Caleb glanced at the Mewtwo Favorability and Mewtwo's Heart in his inventory. He thought of the Mewtwo from the Collapsed World, which was burdened with pain and despair.
He wondered how it was doing now.
Just then, Celebi flew over from the room and settled on his shoulder.
Ever since Caleb returned from the Werewolf Instance, it hadn't gone to the forest in the Pokémon Paradise but had stayed by his side.
Caleb thought for a moment and asked, "I'm going to an Instance tomorrow. Do you want to come with me? Or stay at home and wait for me like last time?"
"Bi!"
Celebi chose the former without hesitation.
Compared to moldering away in the forest, it felt much more comfortable staying by Caleb's side...