The next morning, Pallet Town, Oak Research Lab.
Professor Oak rubbed his tired eyes and looked away from the computer screen. Morning light streamed through the windows.
A thick notebook sat in front of him. He'd filled it with detailed records: ore locations, fossil sites, and Pokémon habitat data from the game.
His computer screen still glowed. Devon Corporation had sent him this high-end machine weeks ago. On screen, his "Pokémon Emerald" character stood deep in a cave surrounded by unusual rocks.
Professor Oak had started this project simply. He wanted to help Cynthia unlock Regirock's altar while learning the game. He thought it would take just a few days.
He was wrong.
As time passed, he made a discovery. Every special terrain in the game, even ordinary roadsides, contained ore deposits. The variety amazed him. Some ores had never appeared in the real world. Others matched minerals he knew well.
As one of the world's top Pokémon researchers, Professor Oak understood what these ores meant. They powered everything: capture devices, machinery, assembly lines, and production technology.
The research world desperately needed more ores. Supply couldn't keep up with demand.
Experts believed ore shortages had cut scientific progress in half. The League had tried everything. They'd even deployed teams of Rock and Ground-type Pokémon to search for wild ore deposits. But this method was painfully slow.
Then Pokémon Emerald changed everything.
Professor Oak realized something important. If everything else in the game matched reality, why not the ores? The distribution patterns he found seemed consistent. He could predict where these ores formed and what conditions they needed.
The game even labeled each ore's properties.
So Professor Oak dove deeper. He recorded ore locations for Cynthia while creating a separate research document. He sent this to Devon Corporation, hoping it might help their real-world mining operations.
He knew the game world would differ from reality. But he thought the information might help anyway.
He was right.
After receiving his first report, Devon Corporation made an immediate discovery. They found three new ore types in a Hoenn region mine, exactly where his notes predicted.
Each ore had unique properties. All three outperformed the rare minerals currently used in industry. Devon's executives were thrilled.
The company president personally sent someone to deliver a gaming computer, the one Professor Oak now used. He wanted more information.
Professor Oak picked up his coffee. His assistant had just brought it over. He prepared to continue today's gaming session.
The research institute's door suddenly burst open.
A middle-aged man strode in. His hair was messy. His white lab coat was pristine. A sneer already twisted his face.
The assistant took one look and fled.
This was Professor Charles. He'd co-founded Pokémon transfer technology, the system that let trainers store and move their Pokémon digitally. His research credentials were impressive. His reputation was terrible. Everyone knew him as sharp-tongued, mean-spirited, and arrogant.
Professor Charles spotted the game on Oak's screen immediately. His sneer widened.
He walked over slowly. His finger tapped rudely on the desk, making light clicking sounds.
"Morning, our dear Professor Samuel Oak," Charles's voice was sharp. "Working so early, are we? Tell me, can studying virtual games for children really advance your research?"
He emphasized "work" and "research" with obvious mockery.
"We're both too old for this. We should focus on research that pushes human knowledge forward, not waste time on entertainment products. We're leading figures in science. Don't you find this embarrassing?"
"This game claims to give real-world rewards, but they're useless for actual research. Playing games won't solve our current challenges, like fossil resurrection."
Professor Oak frowned. He found Charles incredibly annoying.
Unfortunately, the man had earned the right to speak this way. Charles was genuinely skilled at research. But his condescending attitude and constant put-downs made everyone dislike him.
If not for Charles's contributions to transfer technology and their shared status as top League researchers, Oak would have thrown him out.
Professor Oak didn't want to argue. He replied tiredly, "Charles, you really haven't changed at all."
He moved his mouse to close the game and continue his other work.
Then everything changed.
The Pokémon Emerald window exploded with brilliant golden light!
The glow was so intense it flooded the entire room. It turned Charles's mocking face an eerie yellow.
A voice rang out, clear enough for both men to hear.
[Congratulations, esteemed player "Samuel Oak," you have performed outstandingly in the Pokémon Emerald [Rock Cave Explorer] hidden event, earning first place!]
[Special reward has been distributed!]
[You have obtained a special item: Ancient Revival Furnace (Prototype) x1!]
[This item can directly revive fossils. We hope you will use it properly!]
The golden light poured from the screen. It condensed and shaped itself in the center of the room.
Complex pipes appeared. Crystal panels glittered. The furnace had a simple, heavy design. Mysterious patterns covered its metal shell.
A device radiating ancient power materialized between Professor Oak and Professor Charles.
*Hummmm...*
The machine resonated with a low vibration. It settled slowly onto the floor, taking up considerable space.
Light flowed through the patterns on its surface. The crystal panel at its core pulsed on and off, like breathing.
The entire research institute fell silent, the kind of silence that follows miracles.
Charles stood frozen, as if struck by lightning.
Professor Oak walked forward. He patted the machine and chuckled.
"If you ask me, maybe it really can solve that problem."
---
Meanwhile, the internet had erupted.
The third batch of reward distributions dominated trending lists on every major platform:
* #Wind Studio is distributing real money!
* #Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time leaderboard winners receive millions!
* #Pokémon Emerald mysterious player obtains incredible item!
* #Pokémon: Dark Phantom skill book giveaway, everyone gets one!
Countless players posted screenshots of their rewards.
Top Mystery Dungeon players shared bank statements. Deposits with endless zeros filled the screen.
One caption read: [Thank you Wind! My mom is saved!!]
Pokémon Emerald players showed off Life Orbs. These glowed with dangerous red light. They were at least three times larger than commercial versions.
The top comment said: [Holy shit! Wearing this, I feel my Sceptile could fight ten opponents!]
Pokémon: Dark Phantom players recorded their Pokémon learning new moves. The game had distributed skill books.
[Hahaha, my Haunter finally doesn't have to only use Lick anymore. Just learned Psychic!]
Even ordinary players shared their modest rewards.
[Got a few Revives. Wind didn't forget me! So touched! Does anyone buy these? I probably won't need them much.]
The entire Pokémon world's player community celebrated. Those who didn't make the rankings or received basic rewards watched enviously. They saw the premium items and cash prizes others had won.
Forum and social media activity surged again. Countless people vowed to grind harder.
Next time the leaderboard updated, they'd make it on.
---
Across the city, in a cramped rental room that smelled of instant noodles, Joe hadn't slept all night.
A week ago, on impulse, he'd downloaded Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time. He'd immediately gotten hooked.
He'd never imagined playing as a weak Cyndaquil, a small fire-type Pokémon, could be so immersive. Carefully exploring dangerous dungeons, cooperating with the hot-tempered but reliable Charmander partner the game assigned him, it brought intense relief.
Only during his daily gaming sessions could he forget. He forgot about reports. He forgot about his boss's screaming. He forgot about the numbness of day after day.
In those moments, he was just a Pokémon helping his partner survive adventures.
Morning sunlight now shone through the dirty window. Joe's bloodshot eyes were surprisingly bright.
He'd just completed a thrilling three-star dungeon. The settlement reward notification sounded.
Then another voice rang out.
[Congratulations player, your leaderboard reward has been settled!]
[Your final progress ranking is: 9]
[One million in prize money has entered your account]
One million.
Joe was completely stunned.
After a frozen moment, he frantically unlocked his phone to check his account.
When he saw the balance, his throat went dry.
One million was enough. Enough for him to...
His worn-out phone suddenly rang. The screen was covered in scratches.
The caller ID showed his boss's name.
Disgust surged through him. Joe took a deep breath and answered.
Before he could raise the phone, his boss's roar blasted through. The anger was so loud he didn't need speakerphone.
"Joe! Where the hell are you?! Did you finish revising the report I sent you last night? The client is demanding it! Efficiency! Do you understand efficiency? Do you want to keep your job?! Get back to the company immediately!"
"I want it on my desk within half an hour! Otherwise your bonus this month..."
Joe had always earned less than his coworkers. His boss exploited and oppressed him constantly. He did two or three times the normal workload every day.
And for tasks that weren't even his responsibility, the boss still ordered him around.
In the past, he could only swallow his anger.
But now...
Joe looked at the balance on his phone screen. He listened to the endless accusations and threats.
Fury he'd accumulated for years broke through every concern.
He shouted into the receiver with all his strength, cutting off his boss's tirade:
"Idiot, shut the hell up!"
The voice on the other end stopped abruptly, shocked by this sudden rebellion.
Joe panted heavily. His chest heaved. He spoke clearly into the receiver, word by word:
"I quit!"
"The report? Let someone else revise it! I'm not even in finance. You make me fill out reports every day. Did a donkey kick your brain?"
"Bonus? Keep it to buy yourself a coffin! You never give it out at year-end anyway. Go to hell!"
Relief crashed through him like a wave, washing away years of bitterness.
He didn't wait for a response. He pressed the hang-up button and dragged the number to his blacklist.
The room returned to quiet. The sunlight seemed brighter.
Joe sat in his chair. He looked at the Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time icon on his phone screen. Then he looked at the one million balance in his account. A tired but brilliant smile appeared on his face.
He took a deep breath, expelling shadows that had been suppressed for years.
Then he picked up his phone again and tapped the icon, composed of a leaf and claw marks.
This time, not to escape reality, but to embrace possibility.
The screen darkened. A gentle forest-like light appeared. Ethereal, melodious music played.
[Welcome back.]
The familiar greeting appeared on screen.
Joe's finger gently pressed [Continue Adventure].
۞۞۞۞
~ Push the story forward with your Power Stones