Chapter 155: Thank You

Under normal circumstances, an intermediate secret realm could contain three to four million Pokémon. In terms of size, these realms often covered an area equivalent to two or three cities.

Pokémon weren't evenly distributed but rather clustered according to their habitats, population densities, and food sources.

Metagross sped toward the source of the disturbance with Julian on its back. At Metagross's pace, they covered the 20-kilometer distance in just a few minutes.

As they arrived, Julian spotted members of the Z organization maneuvering a truck-sized machine.

Julian's sudden appearance startled the Z members, who hadn't anticipated anyone intercepting them so soon after their plan began.

The leader, codenamed Persian, recognized him instantly. "Julian," he muttered, eyes on the silver Metagross.

Julian smirked. "Looks like my reputation precedes me—even scurrying rats like you know who I am."

Without further words, he gave Metagross a command. "Steel Beam, destroy that machine."

"Don't even think about it"

But Persian was quick, throwing out a Poké Ball.

"Feraligatr, Hydro Pump—stop it!"

Feraligatr's Hydro Pump intercepted Metagross's Steel Beam just in time.

Julian observed the opponent's Pokémon closely, noting its level and strength.

"Level 75... Elite-tier Feraligatr," Julian mused. This hinted Persian might be an Elite Trainer, though his presence didn't feel quite like that of one.

He quickly calculated his remaining time on the Elite Experience Card—it only lasted ten minutes, with just two minutes left.

Because it was only an initial-level Elite experience card, Metagross's current strength was only at starting level of Elite, and it was impossible to fight above it's level in battle.

"Alakazam, Shadow Ball!"

Alakazam suddenly appeared beside him, launching a Shadow Ball that struck Feraligatr squarely, putting it in critical condition.

With Alakazam at the peak of Elite level, the difference in power was stark.

An Elite-tier Pokémon's strength increased exponentially with each level, and Alakazam's peak level could easily overpower multiple Pokémon at the initial Elite stage.

"Metagross, Zen Headbutt!"

Julian called. With Feraligatr already weakened, Metagross's attack left it completely incapacitated, securing valuable experience.

Alakazam was limited by qualification, and experience was useless for it. Only by breaking the shackles of qualification could it improve it's level.

Julian turned his gaze back to Persian, hoping he might send out another Elite-tier Pokémon to give experience to Metagross..

"Come on, got any more Elite-level Pokémon?" he taunted.

Persian stared in shock. He hadn't counted on Julian having not just one Elite-level Metagross, but also an Alakazam at the peak of Elite.

Feraligatr wasn't even his own Pokémon—it was loaned to him by the organization to ensure the success of this mission.

"Alakazam, Psychic—don't let them escape!"

With Alakazam's powerful psychic grip, the entire group was immobilized.

"Metagross, take out that machine," Julian ordered.

As Metagross hammered the device, Julian couldn't help but suspect there had to be an insider helping these people get such a massive machine into the No. 36 intermediate secret realm.

Unless they also had a system space like his own, which was absolutely impossible

According to the first law of Transmigrators: only one Transmigrator and one system should exist in a single space-time.

(T/N: yep, definitely in the rulebook)

A device this large couldn't fit into a standard space backpack, nor could it have arrived through any ordinary means.

This all but confirmed that someone within the realm's management team was aiding them.

Under Metagross's relentless assault, the machine was quickly destroyed.

Julian approached Persian, took his Poké Ball, and returned the unconscious Feraligatr to it.

He clipped the ball onto his belt, ensuring the organization wouldn't get it back.

Persian's eyes burned with fury. The Feraligatr wasn't even his own; it was lab-grown, assigned to him specifically for this mission.

Even in the Z organization, Elite-level Pokémon were rare, and the price of losing one was steep.

If he lost this Feraligatr and made it back alive, the organization would likely deal with him themselves.

Julian had no intention of keeping Feraligatr—he had little use for a Pokémon bred by a terrorist organization. He'd hand it over to the Trainer Association in exchange for certain benefits.

Metagross returned to Julian's side, its energy level dropping as the 10-minute Elite Experience Card expired, reducing it to its usual pseudo-Elite state.

"Alright, let's head back"

Julian said calmly, releasing Dragonite.

With the machine destroyed, Dragonite was no longer under its disruptive effects, making it a more comfortable ride than Metagross, who gave him a slight, offended look as he mounted Dragonite.

Metagross looked at Julian: Scumbag

"Metagross, could you bring this machine along?" Julian added, gesturing toward the wrecked device. He figured it might have research value for the Trainer Association's scientists.

Under Alakazam's control, the ten Z members hovered helplessly, while Metagross hoisted the broken machine, following Julian toward the exit of the secret realm.

---

At the entrance, Principal Brown and the others were in anxious debate over whether they should enter to provide backup when they saw Steelix, who was guarding the entrance, stand alert.

Moments later, Julian appeared, flying out on Dragonite, with the subdued members of the Z organization trailing behind, held by Alakazam's Psychic power.

"It's really Julian!"

"He stopped the riot!"

"Don't stop me, I'm going to give birth to a monkey for Julian "

"Forget that—call him King Julian!"

"King Julian! King Julian!" 

As Julian came out of the secret realm and stopped, everyone could finally see his face clearly.

Not John, not Jake, but Julian Walker.

The King Julian of Imperial College.

Julian dismounted and waited calmly for the Trainer Association to take custody of the Z members.

Handing over captured operatives was a task he was happy to leave to others, sparing himself the tedious work of interrogations.

As he looked around at the over a hundred trainers watching him with admiration, Julian simply said, "Thank you."

Julian hadn't expected to feel this way, but seeing the aftermath—trainers who'd fought against the raging Pokémon, sacrificing their own partners, and sometimes even risking their lives to buy time for reinforcements—he felt a sense of reverence.

These trainers had fought bravely, aware of the danger, yet standing their ground.

For that, they had earned his respect.

As for the more than 100 Trainers who escaped at the last minute, their merits still outweighed the demerits.

Without their efforts, the defensive line would have collapsed much sooner, and he might not have arrived in time to prevent the worst.

Although they chose to escape in the end, but under the threat of life, how many could truly stand firm?

Hearing Julian 's words, Principal Brown and the rest of the trainers looked momentarily stunned, lowered their heads, don't know what they were thinking. 

Some people were still choking, mourning their fallen Pokémon partners. The pain of those losses would stay with them forever, a weight that came with the path they'd chosen.

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*****

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