The night was still, yet it pulsed with something far deeper than silence.
Ashwin walked slowly, each step echoing through the ruined remnants of the smuggler's den. His clothes were torn, singed from fire and slashes, dotted with both his and his enemies' blood. Vespiquen hovered beside him, her eyes glowing faintly as dozens of Combee swirled like a golden mist, watching the shadows.
Behind him, the once-captive Pokémon trudged out in lines—some limping, some too frightened to walk without help. The pairs clung to each other—siblings, bonded mates, or simply trauma-born companions.
As Ashwin reached the mouth of the cave and the moonlight touched his face, the System pinged softly in his mind.
Main Quest Completed: "Liberation of the Den"Sub-Quests Completed:– Rescue of All Classic and Exotic Starters– Expose the Cruelty: Witness the Depth of Smuggler Injustice– Battle the Field Boss – Dungeon Core Eliminated
Rewards Unlocked:– Sanctuary Expansion: The Breeder's Grotto has gained three new levels.– Sub-Space Chambers: A room for each elemental typing has been formed, creating ideal habitats.– Guild Reputation Increased (Hidden).– New Title: Caretaker of the Forgotten.
Ashwin blinked as a projection of the Grotto appeared in front of his eyes, overlaid in faint blue light. The once-modest underground space had expanded dramatically. Lush greenery for Grass-types, flowing magma veins for Fire-types, and a glacial hollow for Ice-types now existed in harmony. The central healing spring pulsed with soft blue light.
He stood in awe as the system continued.
All rescued Pokémon have been teleported to the Grotto's core chamber.Stasis Healing Field Activated: Minor wounds are being healed.
Behind him, the rescued Pokémon paused, confused for a moment before they too began stepping forward into the light. One after another, they vanished into the teleportation ring inscribed beneath the forest floor, taken to safety.
Ashwin turned, watching them go.
Among them were:
A trembling male Ralts and a vigilant female Ralts, leaning against each other for comfort.
A battle-scarred male Rockruff and his quieter female sibling, limping side by side.
An energetic male Eevee and a frail female Eevee, who hid behind her brother.
A determined male Riolu and a hesitant female Riolu, fists clenched together.
A stubborn male Gible and a shy female Gible, sticking close.
An aggressive male Axew and a nurturing female Axew, standing guard near the cage entrance.
A regal male Dratini and his elegant female counterpart, wrapped protectively around each other.
A clever male Zorua and a playful female Zorua, half-shifting their forms in sync.
Male and female Shinx, female and male Snorunt, and a pair of Phanpy, all eager yet cautious.
They didn't just look grateful.
They looked hopeful.
Ashwin stepped forward and knelt, offering a hand to the hesitant male Riolu. Riolu flinched—but slowly extended a paw and touched his palm. His fur was dirty, his aura faint—but it pulsed in rhythm with Ashwin's heartbeat.
"I won't let anyone hurt you again," Ashwin said quietly. "You're home now."
The System responded, as if moved by his sincerity.
New Quest Unlocked: Guardians of the Grotto – The Rebirth of TrustObjective: Build bonds with all rescued Pokémon. Care for and train them to restore their spirits.Reward Tier 1: Loyalty Bond +10 with each PokémonReward Tier 2: Permanent Sub-Class Slot: "Warden of Bonds"Reward Tier 3: Choose 3 Pokémon to evolve with unique Grotto-exclusive abilitiesFailure Condition: Handing over any rescued Pokémon to any external guild or authority.
Ashwin's jaw tightened.
No guild would take them. No system official would even know. This was his vow—and his burden.
Grotto Upgrades Summary:
Sanctuary Expansion:Triple area enlargement. Added elemental biomes including:
Psychic Glade
Molten Heart Cavern
Glacial Hollow
Verdant Grove
Echo Cavern for Dragons
Healing Spring (center)
Sub-Space Habitat Chambers:Specialized habitats for each Pokémon type. Also includes:
Cradle of Stars: for baby Pokémon and emotionally fragile species
Mossvale Thicket: for stealth and hunted Pokémon
Prism Nexus: allows evolution tuning with rare essences
Den Loot Collected:
4x Evolution Stones (Water, Leaf, Fire, Shiny)
2x Mega Evolution Stones (Locked)
7x Wild Healing Herbs
1x Prism Nectar (Legendary-tier trauma cure)
1x Unidentified Relic (emitting Unown script)
Guild Standing(Hidden):Designation: "High-Value Independent Contractor"Flag: Monitoring Suspended – HQ unaware of recent activities
Back at the farm, Ashwin gently stepped onto the teleportation ring and was taken underground. The Grotto, now expanded, glowed like a living city. He could hear the rustling of leaves in the Verdant Grove, the bubbling lava in Molten Heart, and the whispers of water through the healing spring.
One by one, the Pokémon explored their new homes.
The Ralts siblings curled into a nest in the Psychic Glade.
The Rockruff duo were testing their claws on the rugged stone paths.
Eevee's frail sister peeked from a mossy den, stepping out just slightly behind her brother.
Even the gruff Gible and shy Axew were finding places to breathe.
Ashwin didn't need to command. His presence alone offered reassurance.
Vespiquen floated gently above the central chamber, her massive wings spread like a queen protecting her hive. The Combee zipped to and fro, forming barriers, corridors, and even playing with the younger Pokémon.
Munchlax plopped down near Ashwin and yawned, clearly exhausted, while Gogoat—his once tiny Skiddo—nuzzled his shoulder proudly.
"I didn't just rescue them," Ashwin said, looking around the sanctum. "I gave them a second chance."
Tomorrow, they would train. Learn names. Forge bonds.
But tonight… they were safe.
And that was enough.