Previously unlocked locations could be freely traveled to even across different eras. Caleb had already tried this back in the Collapsed World Instance...
As Caleb took out the Warp Beacon from his inventory, several selectable locations appeared on it as usual.
Nameless Grassland, Nameless Beach, Nameless Forest, and, at the very end, Sootopolis City.
However, the text representing Sootopolis City had now turned dim, losing its original glow.
Caleb used his will to select teleportation. The next second, his entire person vanished from the spot and reappeared above a vast expanse of sea.
*Splash!*
Before he could even react, he felt stifling seawater flooding into his ears and nose.
Caleb: "..."
He quickly adjusted his position, returned to the surface, and took deep breaths of the fresh air above.
The surroundings were empty. Aside from the endless blue seawater, there was nothing else, not even a small island, let alone Sootopolis City.
'What's going on?' Caleb frowned.
He released Dragonite from its Poké Ball and rode it into the air, trying to find any sign of land from above.
But still, there was nothing.
As far as the eye could see, the seawater stretched to the horizon, as if this world were a planet entirely composed of ocean.
Caleb took out the Warp Beacon from his inventory again. It showed that his current location was indeed within the boundaries of Sootopolis City.
"So what ancient era did I actually travel to?"
He was somewhat unwilling to believe it. Even in ancient times, it couldn't be that there were no humans at all, right?
Thinking this, he and Dragonite flew along the sea surface towards the horizon.
One hour, two hours, three hours...
During this time, Hydreigon came out to relieve Dragonite once.
Four hours, five hours, six hours.
The azure sea still stretched endlessly in all directions.
It was getting dark. Left with no choice, Caleb could only teleport back to the initial Nameless Grassland to rest...
He took out the travel tent he had obtained from the Transformation and Substitution Instance, lit a campfire on the grass, and sat by the fire with Dragonite and the others to rest.
The sky above was filled with stars, and the dancing orange flames illuminated the faces of the Pokémon.
"Bi~Bi~Bii~" Celebi relaxed as it sat on Caleb's shoulder, leisurely swinging its little feet.
Caleb placed a red berry into its hand. Just as he was about to speak, he heard the voices of Yuna and the other two from the telepathic link, which hadn't been active for a long time...
Yuna: <..Caleb? Caleb, are you there?..>
Caleb was taken aback for a moment, then opened the telepathic link and asked, "You're able to contact me?"
Yuna keenly picked up the confusion in his tone and asked: <..What's wrong? Did something happen on your end?..>
Caleb glanced around and nodded, "I ran into a bit of a special situation. I've traveled back to a long time ago."
Hearing this, before Yuna could react, Fumitaka exclaimed: <..Really?! So Celebi really is with you?!..>
Caleb didn't hide it, "Yes."
Fumitaka was even more shocked: <..So what they said on the forum is true?! How did you manage to snatch Celebi from Ye Fan and Baek Gyeol?!..>
Caleb, who was preoccupied with thinking about today's events, perfunctorily replied, "Maybe they just didn't like Celebi."
Fumitaka: "??"
A flash of inspiration crossed Caleb's mind. He said, "By the way, Yuna, do you know what happened in this Instance thirty-eight years ago?"
He hadn't found any related information on the computer earlier. In this Instance, human society's history only recorded up to thirty-eight years ago. Before that, it was a complete blank; nothing could be found.
Yuna immediately understood what Caleb was asking.
She shook her head and said: <..Sorry, I don't really know. When I entered this Instance last time, I asked the people here, but they didn't remember what happened thirty-eight years ago..>
Yuna thought for a moment and continued: <..It's as if someone erased their memories..>
'Someone erased their memories... Was it Mewtwo? But even if it erased humanity's memories, it couldn't erase the traces of human existence from thirty-eight years ago, could it?'
Caleb pondered for a moment and recounted what he had encountered during the day, "In the point in time I'm at now, the continent where humans lived is still a vast ocean. And based on what you said earlier, Arceus believes humans are all hypocritical and selfish, which is why it had Groudon and Regigigas create a new continent... But before that, where did humans live?"
Kamala was also drawn into their conversation.
She thought seriously for a moment and tentatively said: <..Maybe they lived on the continent that's now only inhabited by Pokémon?..>
As soon as Kamala said this, Yuna denied the notion: <..That's impossible. You saw it yourself, there are no traces of human existence here..>
Fumitaka chimed in: <..They couldn't have come from outer space, could they?..>
Ignoring Fumitaka, Yuna glanced at the Decidueye beside her and asked, <..Are you going to attempt the main quest of this punishment Instance?..>
"No." Caleb said subconsciously. After saying it, he realized his mistake.
He had unintentionally gotten himself tangled up. He had come here only to find Mewtwo, not to liberate this punishment Instance.
Yuna smiled understandingly and asked: <..Have you found your star yet?..>
"Not yet." Caleb answered.
The location 'Above the Clouds and Sky' was just too ethereal and vague. He still had no leads at all.
Yuna: <..We've achieved our goal. We might leave this Instance tomorrow. What about you? Will you stay here or come with us?..>
"No. Not before find my 'star'."
Yuna: <..Alright then, good luck to you!..>
After ending the telepathic call, Caleb extinguished the campfire and prepared to rest early, hoping to explore this continent first thing tomorrow morning.
He thought for a moment, and decided to start with the clue of the 'mountain peak piercing the clouds'.
But just then, a clear cry suddenly came from the sky.
Caleb and all his Pokémon looked up together and saw a large bird radiating seven-colored light flying across the sky.
It was Ho-Oh!
Watching a Legendary Pokémon fly overhead, Caleb's first instinct was to use the Warp Beacon to escape.
But then he remembered this wasn't the future. Hoopa and Mewtwo weren't here. These Legendary Pokémon had no grudge against him and naturally wouldn't attack him.
Thinking this, Caleb gradually relaxed.
He had heard that Ho-Oh brings happiness and good fortune to those who see it.
Caleb lay on the grass, watching Ho-Oh's receding figure, and silently wished in his heart: 'Let me successfully find Above the Clouds and Sky and take Mewtwo away! Please, no more mishaps...'