It was time, finally, after spending almost nine months in this forest. I could finally get some answers.
But before I could get on with my personal curiosity, I had to confirm something,
"Do you have more people with you?"
"No, she killed all of us."
He said, pointing to the lifeless body of the mother Zeraora.
I didn't even waste a single second; the question just spilled out of me.
"What... What year is it?"
It was a strange, almost silly question, but I needed to be aware of the general knowledge to blend in with society.
"The hell --"
Agh!!, Cough
"What kinda questio --- is that?"
"I lost a big chunk of my memory",
Of course, I lied with a straight face. I didn't bother to tell him the truth because soon he would be dead, and it wouldn't matter.
He coughed, a thin stream of blood running from his lips.
"It's… It's April 2197."
My mind reeled. That was more than a hundred and seventy-two years in the future. I had been brought not only to another world, but to another time.
But, then again, is the time parity in both worlds the same?!
Maybe this world discovered its calendar before my world, or perhaps it is something else.
Anyway, it doesn't really matter. This guy is about to die, and I need to figure out answers to as many questions about the modern world, rather than what my world.
"Where... what region is this? What forest?"
I asked, my gaze fixed on his.
He laughed, a dry, bitter sound that ended in a groan.
"We're in… the Obsidian Forest. A place not on any map.... A place that the government and the league don't want anyone to know about. We're in... the middle of nowhere."
"What?? What do you mean?"
I asked, my voice filled with confusion.
"Geographically, we are in the middle of the planet on an island..."
Then, he looked at me, sighed, and then continued,
"Boy.. I don't know who brought you here... But, this forest is one of the most restricted places in the world... Arg!!! ... All of the top people of the ten main regions know about this place. They don't agree on many things, but one of the things all the main regions and the main organisations absolutely co-operate with each other on is the security of this place. "
"Why so?"
I asked without wasting a second.
"This forest is filled with powerful Pokémon, and it is said that even legendaries were spotted near this island."
"There have been many attempts to invade and take control of this place. I don't know the exact details, but I know that many attempts were made by kingdoms, governments, and organizations, but every time they faced utter defeat. The last defeat was more than eighty years ago. It is rumored that a tier-one legendary protected this place. And, as it started going on a rampage, all the world leaders promised to never disturb this place. Since then, all the big ones keep an active military personnel and restrict all information about this place."
Then, his eyes flickered, as if remembering something, and then with another big sigh,
"At least, on the surface, that is. All the major players over the last half-century have sent small parties of scouts, researchers, and scientists covertly to uncover the mystery of this island. But, none of them succeded."
Just as he finished, I asked my next question,
"Then, why did you come here? Are you part of a scout team? Which region do you belong to?"
I had to know more. I had to understand the rules of this brutal world.
"No, we are... were not. We are just a pack of lowly Pokémon hunters who wanted to strike big by catching some strong Pokémon and then selling them. We were just about to leave this place when one of our scouts spotted Zeraora, and then ... and then you know the rest."
Cough, Cough.
He finished with another couple of coughs.
I could tell that he was in incredible pain. I wanted more answers. I had more questions. But, for some reason, I couldn't afford to ask him anything, who was reeling in incredible pain.
I always read those stories where the main character had no problem killing his first human, who did him wrong, after going into another world.
But it seemed really far-fetched from where I was standing. I couldn't look at this poor guy rolling in pain, forget about killing someone.
As I prepared for one last question,
"Are there Poké Balls in this world?"
He stared at me, his eyes filled with a pained mix of amusement and disbelief. "Poke Balls... Yes, there are PokeBalls in this world."
"I see."
I said, nodding my head, and started walking away.
"Hey, kid, where are you going. Don't forget your part of the deal, I-"
"Zeraora, ki--"
I wanted to tell Zeraora to kill that man. But I couldn't get it out. I froze. Then, I started thinking of what the humans did and how they were responsible for her death.
Then, again, I looked at Zeraora, who was standing still behind me.
"Zeraora, "
again, my voice trembling.
"Use Thunder Punch".
Saying that, I turned around as I heard several cracks of electricity charging up, and then the loud thump on the ground.
I turned around to see the hunter. His eyes, which had held a sliver of life, went dull. His hand fell, limp and lifeless, to the ground. He was gone. The light in his eyes had faded, replaced by a dull, empty stare. I was left alone, with the stench of his death and the chilling finality of his last words. The knowledge he had imparted was a new burden, a new weight to carry. The true monsters were not the Pokémon, but the people who would use them for greed and power. My adventure had just begun, but I was already a witness to its brutal, unforgiving nature.
My eyes found Zeraora's. He was standing beside the body with the bloody fist, which he had driven through the hunter's heart. As if knowing what I was feeling, he then, with a clear,
"Zeraora!!!"
He sent a small, little spark of electricity my way, like when we used to play. I was too tired to dodge it like before. The spark hit me, and suddenly sent a jolt up my body.
"Zera Zera Zeraraarara.."
Zeraora started laughing.
That's the moment, I could say with profound and bone-deep certainty, that I couldn't stay here. My purpose was clear now.
The mother had sacrificed herself for her child, and I had to honor that sacrifice. I was no longer a lost college student. I was a protector. I would protect this child, and in doing so, I would find my own path. The world was cold and unforgiving, but I would not let it break me. I would become strong. I would become a trainer.
And, we would become the strongest.