Chapter 20

As soon as August let them ask their question he was fired with question in quick succession.

The group has surrounded August as they sat on the chairs in the form of an Arc while facing August.

He was not able to understand what they were saying except for some common questions like, " What happened to Alex? " " How did this happen?" " Why did this happen?" " Is he going to be alright?" And " where were you when this happened?"

Seeing that nothing was coming out of this question hour of the kids, he let the steel container of water on the floor fall on the wooden floor.

The clang noise along with the splash of water stopped them from questioning the older man further.

August started once again, "I know you all are worried about Alex's well-being and how he is currently, but if you wish to know about his condition you better ask one question at a time so I can understand what you are saying. With all of you talking together, I don't have the slightest clue of what you all are saying. All I hear is the buzzing of beedrill. "

This made the kids embarrassed especially the older ones of the group like Bill and Julius.

" Now, you will ask one question and it will start with Cynthia?" He points towards Cynthia to start the question hour.

" What happened to Alex? We are fine, but Alex isn't. Why is that so?" Cynthia asked August.

August took a deep breath and said, "Normally I cannot say what the test really was for the sake of secrecy, but since it is like this I will start from the very beginning.

Togepi are cute Pokemon and their evolved forms are powerful so many trainers put them in their wish list, but in their Beginning stages they are too weak and cannot protect themselves.

So Togekiss decided a test to see whether you can survive in the wilderness without Pokemons and take care of their injured self while heading for the safe place." He looks over to see of everyone follows them till now.

Seeing everyone grasp his words and listen attentively, he continued, "You both have to pass a forest inflicted with wild Pokemons which you managed to pass and completed the test.

Alex has also completed the test, but the place he was sent off to and you both were sent off to is different." He ended omniously.

Bill doesn't know why but he felt a cold feeling arising from his chest on hearing this.

He asked while shivering involuntarily, " Where was he sent off to?"

"He was sent off to the Badlands."

On hearing it, both Bill and Julius who were the oldest in the group, above fifteen, fell back from their chair and looks at the older man in shock.

" A... are you joking? The Badlands?" Julius asked acting similar to Bill who was looking at August in horror hoping he was wrong about it.

" What the hell is this Badlands you all speak about?" Elsa shrieked out in anger at them acting all freaked out about it and never really revealing what it really was.

" That place is a graveyard. An ultimate graveyard for both humans and Pokemons. " Bill said with a grave expression on his face.

Everyone who are unaware of that place seem to shudder when they saw Bill serious and grave experession, for they have always seen him smiling and joking, but never with this kind not expression.

August took the fort to explain it to them about the severity of that place, "The Badlands are the place outside the areas of the Pokemon league's control. That is one way of explaining it.

The Badlands have a few places of entering from the league territory. One is directly through nthe ocean where one sails until he reach the land.

The second would be through the Mt. Silver. Mt. Silver is the gateway to the Badlands, the safest gateway to say the least. At least the chances of survival is more than other places."

" Mt. Silver? But isn't it a restricted area?" Elsa asked shocked.

August calmly answered, " The reason it is prohibited is because of the dangerous and aggressive Pokemons living there. There are times when some Pokemon arrive on this side and cause havock in the mountain.

Because of that, it isn't a place where humans and Pokemons can live peacefully. There are also many attacks from the other side. The situation is very bad at that border.

That's why the headquarters of the Pokemon league is situated at that place.

But, Badlands are way worse that the border. Let's just say it like this, every step you take there, a Pokemon or a tribe will attack you with the intent to kill. There are many humans living in that part of the world. They aren't like you and me, but are hunters.

They hunt their prey and even feed on each other if need be. They are cannibals. " He said.

This made them shudder.

He let them digest everything, for the world he is revealing is a bit too much for the kids just yet.

" Living there, they have fed on different Pokemons and their body have accommodated to that power. So they have become superhumans. Normal humans are not their opponent let alone any Pokemon below advanced level, their attack won't even cut them.

So in that place, you not only have Pokemons but also these cannabis humans to deal with. "

Elsa nervously said, " Are these the only things to worry about?"

Although she doesn't know why, but she felt that these things although dangerous for most people are still within the ability of elite four to deal with yet the fact that a veteran elite four August is afraid of that place meant things may be much worse.

" The most dangerous thing out there isn't the Pokemons of humans but the vegetation and climate of that place.

Many plants because of the different treasure such as high quality fire stone mine, etc have mutated and become vicious. They are like hunters lurking in the forest ready to attack their prey.

And the weather of that place is very unstable. Some place is too hot some are too cold, because of the presence of evolutionary stones and different treasures which help in Pokemon growth.

And so the region between the two area are quite hectic. The plants and Pokemons living in the places between two heavily contrasting places have many powerful Pokemons living in cluster who seek to kill and destroy anything who isn't related to their species.

These also make it difficult for most people to able to survive in that place.

Finally, the few places which the league do control are heavily protected by the Pokemons of elite four and champions. You can say at least half of the team of the current elite four and champions sit at these places to make sure that no one come out to destroy them. Of these pokemons every once in a while some die in the fight.

So tell me kids, is that place dangerous or not?" August asked with an omnious expression on his face.

The kids seem to freeze in terror because of hearing even Pokemons of elite four may die in places which are pretty safe compared to other places, so how dangerous their case may be.

Then he went on to Alex's current situation, " As for Alex situation, it is due to a combination of his past encounter in the Pokemon raid as well as his current actions in the virtual Badlands. His actions simulated the nerves of his from the past and reawakened this form for him.

You see this is the thing which happens to someone who face the raid at this age, he isn't completely recovered, for similar cases may pull him into this mindset.

Now, you should rest too. I have some works to do."

August walks away from them after mentioning a little about the Badlands.

For the kids it was already very dangerous but this is only the rough description of why those places are dangerous. He never mentioned how they die, what kill them or a compulsory participation of certain trainers of specific strength.