Nearly twenty-four hours after departing from Mumbai, the pilot's voice echoed through the cabin.
"We'll be beginning our descent shortly."
I opened the window shade beside my seat and looked outside.
Far below, an endless carpet of emerald-green rainforest stretched toward the horizon. The dense canopy was occasionally broken by winding rivers that reflected the afternoon sunlight like silver ribbons cutting through the jungle.
Then I saw it.
Even from several thousand feet in the air, the ruins stood out unmistakably.
A massive stone complex rose from the heart of the rainforest as though it had always belonged there. Towering stepped pyramids overlooked countless smaller buildings, while broad stone roads connected different sections of the city. Enormous trees growing between weathered structures, yet none of that could conceal its sheer scale.
It wasn't just a temple.
It was an entire ancient city.
The closer we flew, the clearer individual details became.
Dozens of military helicopters circled the surrounding airspace while surveillance drones maintained constant patrols over the perimeter. Several temporary camps had been established around the edge of the ruins, each flying a different national flag.
The Americans had arrived.
So had the Europeans.
Several South American nations had also established their own operational zones.
Belize's military maintained the outer security cordon, ensuring none of the foreign teams ventured closer without authorization.
Our aircraft banked gently before lining up with a temporary runway that had clearly been constructed within the last day.
A few moments later, the landing gear touched the ground.
The transport aircraft rolled to a gradual stop.
As the rear loading ramp lowered, warm tropical air flooded into the cabin, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and dense jungle vegetation.
One by one, our team disembarked.
The moment my boots touched the ground, I immediately noticed just how busy the area had become.
Transport trucks moved continuously between supply depots.
Engineers worked around the clock expanding the temporary airstrip.
Soldiers from multiple nations walked between command posts while helicopters arrived and departed at regular intervals.
It resembled a multinational military exercise more than an archaeological expedition.
Before we had taken more than a few steps, a small delegation approached us.
Leading them was a man in his late forties wearing a Belize Defence Force uniform. His posture was perfectly straight, his expression composed, and years of military service were evident in every movement he made.
Walking calmly beside him was a powerful Luxray, whose sharp golden eyes carefully observed every newcomer arriving at the airstrip.
The officer extended his hand.
"Welcome, Mr. Patil. It is an honour to have you here... providing support."
His English was excellent, though the distinctive Belizean Kriol accent still colored parts of his speech.
The wording of his greeting wasn't accidental.
In a single sentence, he had made two things perfectly clear.
First, he respected the contribution India had made since the Merge.
Second, this was still Belizean territory.
Every foreign delegation present was here only with Belize's permission.
I accepted the handshake with a polite smile.
"Of course," I replied. "We're here to assist and help avoid any unfortunate accidents. The ruins belong to Belize, and we fully respect your authority over the operation."
The officer's expression softened almost imperceptibly.
"I'm glad we're on the same page."
Diplomacy after all.
No country wanted the first international expedition after the Merge to become a political dispute.
"My name is Colonel Alvarez," he introduced himself. "I'll be coordinating with all foreign delegations until the joint expedition begins."
"A pleasure."
After brief introductions with the rest of my team, Colonel Alvarez looked toward our aircraft.
"You've had quite a journey. Nearly twenty-four hours in the air isn't easy. Would you prefer to rest before today's briefing?"
I shook my head.
"We've had enough rest on the flight over."
There was no point delaying.
Every hour spent waiting increased the likelihood that someone would make a mistake around the ruins.
"Very well."
He turned and gestured toward the largest collection of tents situated near the center of the encampment.
"Then let's head to the command tent."
As we began walking together, I could see soldiers from multiple nations entering and leaving the same structure while satellite vehicles and communication arrays surrounded it from every direction.
"The American delegation arrived several hours ago," Colonel Alvarez explained. "The European representatives few hours ago, and the Brazilian team reached camp shortly before your aircraft entered our airspace."
He glanced toward me briefly.
"They're all waiting."
The jungle breeze carried the distant cries of wild Pokémon from somewhere beyond the military perimeter.
Farther ahead, rising above the treeline, the ancient pyramids silently overlooked the bustling encampment below, as though patiently watching humanity prepare to uncover secrets that had remained buried for thousands of years.
Taking one last glance toward the ruins, I followed Colonel Alvarez toward the command tent where representatives from across the world had already gathered.
Pushing aside the flap of the command tent, I stepped inside alongside Ritu, Captain Sethi, and Meera.
The interior was much larger than it appeared from outside. A massive table occupied the center, surrounded by representatives from various nations. Large digital displays lined one side of the tent, continuously updating satellite imagery, drone reconnaissance, and security reports arriving from the perimeter.
As we entered, several pairs of eyes turned toward us.
I offered a polite nod to the assembled delegates before taking my seat.
"Good afternoon, everyone."
The greetings were returned in kind, some warmly, others merely out of courtesy. This wasn't a diplomatic summit where everyone had gathered to strengthen relationships. Every person sitting around this table represented their nation's interests, and everyone understood that whatever secrets these ruins held could potentially change the balance of power across the world.
My attention naturally shifted toward the American delegation.
Leading their team was a man in his early fifties wearing field attire rather than a military uniform. His graying hair and rectangular glasses gave him the appearance of a university professor, but the confidence with which he carried himself suggested decades of experience working under pressure.
"Dr. Ethan Caldwell," Colonel Alvarez introduced.
We had met before when he came to India during the Academy Entrance exam.
"A pleasure to see you again, Mr. Patil," Dr. Caldwell said.
There would be time for longer conversations later.
Right now, everyone was waiting for the same thing.
Once every representative had settled into their seats, Colonel Alvarez walked toward the projector positioned at the front of the tent.
The lights dimmed slightly.
A satellite image of the ruins appeared on the large screen behind him.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, "it has been approximately twenty-seven hours since the arrival of the ruins."
The image changed to several aerial photographs taken from different angles.
"During this period, both Belizean forces and the American expedition have conducted multiple reconnaissance attempts using drones, ground vehicles, and remotely operated probes."
Another slide appeared.
This time it showed Golurk standing before the temple entrance, with several Golett scattered throughout the outer courtyard.
"Every attempt to advance beyond the outer perimeter has been repelled by these Pokémon."
A short drone recording began playing.
One of the unmanned reconnaissance vehicles cautiously rolled toward the temple entrance before a Golurk suddenly came to life. With surprising speed for something so massive, it blocked the vehicle's path before effortlessly hurling it back outside the perimeter.
The footage ended.
"It should be noted," Colonel Alvarez continued, "that although these Pokémon have consistently prevented our advance, they have not displayed lethal intent."
Several people around the table looked up.
"They have avoided using fatal attacks during every recorded encounter, and once personnel retreat beyond approximately two hundred meters from the ruins, pursuit immediately ceases."
The next image displayed a map with a clearly marked circular boundary surrounding the ancient city.
"They appear to be guarding the ruins rather than hunting intruders."
A quiet murmur spread through the room.
That single observation changed how everyone viewed the situation.
If the Pokémon simply wished to eliminate trespassers, they had already demonstrated more than enough strength to do so.
Instead...
They were enforcing a boundary.
Colonel Alvarez allowed the room to settle before speaking again.
"There is one more matter."
The projector switched to close-up images of Golurk and Golett.
High-resolution photographs filled the screen.
"We still have no confirmed identification for these Pokémon."
His gaze slowly shifted across the room before finally stopping on me.
"There are no records of them in the Pokédex."
The entire command tent fell silent.
One by one, representatives from every nation turned toward me, waiting for my answer.