Under normal circumstances, an intermediate secret realm could tain 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 acc to their habitats, poputioies, and food sources.
Metagross sped toward the source of the disturbah Julian on its back. At Metagross's pace, they covered the 20-kilometer distan just a few minutes.
As they arrived, Julian spotted members of the Z anization maneuvering a truck-sized mae.
Julian's sudden appearaartled the Z members, who hadn't anticipated aercepting them so soon after their pn began.
The leader, amed Persian, reized 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 and. "Steel Beam, destroy that mae."
"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 oppo's Pokémon closely, noting its level and strength.
"Level 75... Elite-tier Feraligatr," Julian mused. This hinted Persian might be ae Traihough his presence didn't feel quite like that of one.
He quickly calcuted his remaining time on the Elite Experience Card—it only sted 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.
"Akazam, Shadow Ball!"
Akazam suddenly appeared beside him, ung a Shadow Ball that struck Feraligatr squarely, putting it in critical dition.
With Akazam at the peak of Elite level, the differen power was stark.
Ae-tier Pokémon's strength increased expoially with each level, and Akazam'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 pletely incapacitated, seg valuable experience.
Akazam 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 experieo Metagross..
"e on, got any more Elite-level Pokémon?" he taunted.
Persian stared in shock. He hadn't ted on Julian having not just oe-level Metagross, but also an Akazam at the peak of Elite.
Feraligatr wasn't even his own Pokémon—it was loao him by the anization to ehe success of this mission.
"Akazam, Psychi't let them escape!"
With Akazam's powerful psychic grip, the entire group was immobilized.
"Metagross, take out that mae," 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 mae into the No. 36 intermediate secret realm.
Uhey also had a system space like his own, which was absolutely impossible
Acc to the first w of Transmigrators: only oransmigrator and one system should exist in a single space-time.
(T/N: yep, definitely in the rulebook)
A device this rge couldn't fit into a standard space backpaor could it have arrived through any ordinary means.
This all but firmed that someohin the realm's ma team was aiding them.
Under Metagross's relentless assault, the mae was quickly destroyed.
Julian approached Persian, took his Poké Ball, aurhe unscious Feraligatr to it.
He clipped the ball onto his belt, ensuring the anization wouldn't get it back.
Persian's eyes burned with fury. The Feraligatr wasn't even his own; it was b-grown, assigo him specifically for this mission.
Even in the Z anizatioe-level Pokémon were rare, and the price of losing one was steep.
If he lost this Feraligatr and made it back alive, the anization would likely deal with him themselves.
Julian had no iion of keeping Feraligatr—he had little use for a Pokémon bred by a terrorist anization. He'd hand it over to the Trainer Association in exge for certain bes.
Metagross returo Julian's side, its energy level dropping as the 10-minute Elite Experience Card expired, redug it to its usual pseudo-Elite state.
"Alright, let's head back"
Julian said calmly, releasing Dragonite.
With the mae destroyed, Dragonite was no longer us disruptive effects, making it a more fortable ride thaagross, who gave him a slight, offended look as he mounted Dragonite.
Metagross looked at Julian: Scumbag
"Metagross, could y this mae along?" Julian added, gesturing toward the wrecked device. He figured it might have research value for the Trainer Association's stists.
Under Akazam's trol, the ten Z members hovered helplessly, while Metagross hoisted the broken mae, 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 eo provide backup when they saw Steelix, who was guarding the entraand alert.
Moments ter, Julian appeared, flying out onite, with the subdued members of the Z anization trailing behind, held by Akazam'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 "
"Fet 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 hurainers watg 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, sacrifig their own partners, and sometimes even risking their lives to buy time for reinforts—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 st miheir merits still outweighed the demerits.
Without their efforts, the defensive line would have colpsed much sooner, and he might not have arrived in time to prevent the worst.
Although they chose to escape in the end, but uhe 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, m their fallen Pokémon partners. The pain of those losses would stay with them forever, a weight that came with the path they'd chosen.
