Satoshi's mind spun in a whirlwind of panic as he hurtled through the air, the forest below rushing up like a green tidal wave ready to swallow him whole.
"What do I do, what do I do, what do I do?!" he shouted, his words shredded by the howling wind.
His arms thrashed wildly, legs kicking at nothing, as raw terror gripped his chest like a vice. The treetops were closing in fast—too fast. Branches whipped past in blurs, and he could almost feel the impact before it happened.
Then, like a bolt of clarity amid the chaos, it hit him. "The backpack! I forgot about the damn backpack!"
His eyes widened, a spark of hope cutting through the fear.
Without a second to waste, he twisted mid-air, hands fumbling desperately around his body, searching for the straps. His heart pounded so hard it echoed in his ears, vision blurring from the wind-stung tears.
"Please, please, where is it?!"
But then, defying gravity just ahead of him, a bag materialized—or rather, floated lazily upward into his line of sight.
It was sleek, all black with bold yellow stripes slashing across it, and smack in the center, a familiar Poké Ball emblem gleamed like a beacon. Simple design yet practical.
"Huh?" Satoshi blinked, staring in stunned disbelief as it drifted just a bit higher, teasingly out of reach.
"Hey, wait a minute! Don't you dare float away from me!"
He yelled, lunging forward with a desperate swipe. His fingers snagged the strap, and he yanked it close, slinging it over his shoulder in one fluid, adrenaline-fueled motion. The weight settled against his back, solid and reassuring.
"Yes! Freaking finally!" Relief flooded him, but there was no time for victory laps.
The ground was seconds away. He plunged his hand into the backpack's depths, mind racing for something—anything—to save him.
'A wingsuit! I need a wingsuit! Come on, give me the goddamn wingsuit!' he thought fiercely, visualizing the sleek gear from those extreme sports videos he'd binge-watched on slow shop days.
For a heart-stopping instant, doubt crept in—maybe the backpack had limits he didn't know about yet.
But then, his fingers closed around smooth, folded fabric. He ripped it out without mercy, unfurling a lightweight wingsuit, its material shimmering in the sunlight.
No hesitation. No second thoughts. Struggling against the buffeting wind, he forced his arms into the sleeves, legs into the pants, the fabric snapping and flapping like a living thing.
"Come on, you stupid thing—fit!" he grunted through gritted teeth, muscles burning from the effort.
With a final, savage tug, he zipped it up just as the treetops loomed perilously close.
Satoshi spread his arms and legs wide, transforming his body into a human glider.
WHOOSH!
The suit caught the air like sails unfurling, yanking him from freefall into a controlled soar. The crushing pull of gravity eased, replaced by a thrilling rush as he angled forward, skimming over the canopy.
His heart still thundered, body shaking from the near-miss, but beneath the fear, a wild grin cracked his face.
"Holy crap! Haha, I survived that hellish fall!"
He shouted, voice laced with disbelief and pure exhilaration. The wind roared in his ears, but for the first time since this madness began, he felt alive—truly, electrifyingly alive.
Now came the hard part: landing without turning into a pancake.
Satoshi glided onward, the rush of air a constant roar as he fought to steady himself. His muscles ached from holding the position, every shift in the wind threatening to throw him off course.
The forest stretched endlessly below, a tangled maze of greens and shadows, but up ahead, something caught his eye—a glimmering ribbon cutting through the trees.
A river. Flowing fast and wide enough to break his fall without shattering every bone in his body.
Hope surged through him. "That's it—my ticket out of this!" His instincts kicked in, screaming for action.
The ground was closing in, treetops brushing dangerously close to his feet. If he didn't adjust now, he'd slam into the branches like a misguided missile.
Gritting his teeth against the strain, he tilted his arms, banking his body toward the water. The wingsuit responded sluggishly at first, then smoother as he got the hang of it.
"Come on, come on... just a little further!" he urged himself, eyes locked on the shimmering surface.
The river grew closer, but so did the earth—altitude bleeding away with every second. Branches scraped at his undersuit, leaves whipping past in a blur. The water rushed below, turbulent but merciful compared to solid ground. It wasn't wide, though; one miscalculation, and he'd end up skewered on rocks or tangled in roots.
"Almost there... just a little more!"
he muttered, sweat beading on his forehead despite the chill wind. With a final, desperate push, he angled downward, bracing for the inevitable.
Splash!
The impact hit like a cold hammer, water exploding around him in a frothy cascade. The shock of icy river slammed into his skin, knocking the breath from his lungs.
But it wasn't over.
As the current seized him immediately, yanking him downstream like a discarded toy. He tumbled beneath the surface, the wingsuit now a sodden anchor, dragging him deeper into the churning depths.
'Agh! Gotta get this off!' he thought, bubbles escaping his lips as panic flared anew.
His lungs screamed for air, vision spotting from the lack of oxygen. Kicking wildly, he clawed at the zippers, fingers numb from the cold as the fabric resisted, soaked and stubborn.
The river tossed him mercilessly, rocks grazing his sides, but he fought on. With a frantic yank, the zipper gave way—he shrugged out of the suit, feeling an instant lift as the weight vanished. Breaking the surface at last, he gasped desperately.
"Gasp! Cough-cough!"
Water spewed from his mouth, choking him as he flailed to stay afloat.
The current was relentless, shallow enough to scrape the bottom but strong enough to pull him under if he faltered. He paddled with everything he had, scanning the banks for salvation.
Up ahead, a massive rock protruded from the water like a lifeline.
"That's my shot!"
Gritting his teeth, he surged forward, arms slicing through the waves despite the burn in his muscles.
His fingers grazed the rough surface—missed—then caught hold on the second try.
With a guttural groan, he hauled himself up, collapsing onto the slick stone in a heap.
For what felt like an eternity, he lay there, chest heaving, body trembling from cold and exhaustion.
Water dripped from his hair, pooling around him as he stared at the sky. "Huff... huff... Holy crap... I'm still alive."
He turned his head slowly, taking in the vast forest enveloping him. Towering trees swayed gently, their leaves whispering in the breeze, while the river gurgled past like nothing had happened.
"Whoa... So this is the Pokémon world...?"
He murmured, awe creeping into his voice despite the ordeal.
Distant chirps echoed—Fletchling, maybe, or other bird Pokémon—perched high, eyeing the strange human who'd dropped from the heavens like a meteor.
Satoshi ignored them for now, his gaze shifting to the backpack still strapped to him, miraculously intact.
He'd almost forgotten it in the chaos, but its weight was a comforting reminder. Carefully, he shrugged it off and set it beside him on the rock, unzipping it with shaking hands.
Survival mode kicked in; he couldn't sit here forever. The sun was dipping lower, and who knew what lurked in these woods at night.
"I need to be smart about this," he muttered, plunging his hand inside. "Shelter... something to stay warm..."
His fingers brushed endless possibilities—bandages, a first-aid kit for any scrapes or bruises from the fall. He pulled them out, patching up a minor cut on his arm before diving back in.
But then, something unexpected: his hand closed around a piece of paper. Frowning, he withdrew it, unfolding the note with furrowed brows. "A note?"
He said aloud, voice hoarse from shouting and swallowing river water.
The handwriting was casual, almost mocking: "I also forgot to tell you that your adventure will start in the Kalos region. Your location is close to Lumiose City, between Route 5 and Route 4. By Author~"
Satoshi stared at it, blinking in utter confusion. His brain struggled to reconcile the absurdity—the sky drop, the near-death experience—with this flippant scrap of info.
"That's it...!?" he grumbled, crumpling the edges slightly. "You throw me from the freaking sky with zero warning, and this is your big reveal?!"
Anger bubbled up, hot and familiar, but exhaustion tempered it. He took a deep breath, forcing calm.
Despite the grudge simmering inside, the note was gold—direction in an unknown world. Kalos. Lumiose City nearby. Routes 5 and 4. He could navigate from here.
"...Well, I guess I should be thankful," he admitted reluctantly, slumping back against the rock. "At least I know where the hell I am." The rage toward that mysterious, so-called handsome author lingered like a bad aftertaste, but it fueled him rather than hindered.
"Agh, damn you." A small grudge, sure, but he'd channel it into survival.
Refocusing, Satoshi exhaled and delved into the backpack once more, determination hardening his features. He closed his eyes briefly, visualizing essentials.
"A blanket. A fire starter. Maybe some food..."
He whispered, feeling the items materialize at his fingertips—a compact, portable blanket for warmth; a waterproof fire starter kit; a pouch of dried fruits and nuts for quick energy.
Relief washed over him as he packed them away, a semblance of control returning. He glanced at the note one last time, tucking it into his pocket. "I'll figure out the rest on my own. Right now, survival comes first."
The Kalos region beckoned, Lumiose's lights a distant promise. It was time to move—wet, weary, but unbroken.
Just as Satoshi zipped up the backpack, slinging it over his shoulder with the supplies secured, an eerie prickle danced up his already shivering spine.
Like eyes boring into him.
Too close.
Too intense.
Slowly, heart rate spiking again, he lifted his head slowly...
And froze...
A face. Inches from his own.
"AHHH! A RACCOON!" he yelped, jerking back so hard he nearly toppled off the rock, arms windmilling for balance.
"ZIGZAGOON! (AHHH! A SCREAMING HUMAN!)" the Pokémon cried in perfect sync, its striped fur puffing out like an exploded pillow as it leaped backward, skittering a few steps away on the riverbank.
The forest echoed with their startled screams, birds fluttering from branches in alarm. Satoshi's pulse thundered, staring at the wide-eyed Zigzagoon, its tiny paws raised defensively.
*
To be continued...
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