As Zhao Xuan and Corviknight crossed through the rift, the sight that unfolded before them was nothing short of breathtaking. Stretching as far as the eye could see, skyscrapers pierced the clouds like steel giants, huddled together in a dense, sprawling forest of modern architecture.
The buildings varied in style—some minimalist and sleek, others ornate and pulsing with artistic flair. Sunlight danced off the glass curtain walls, refracting into a kaleidoscope of colors that lent the city an almost dreamlike quality.
Below, broad avenues crisscrossed the urban landscape like a gargantuan spiderweb. The streets were a river of motion: luxury sedans, buses, taxis, and heavy freight trucks flowed in an endless stream. The symphony of the city—the low thrum of engines and the occasional sharp blare of horns—swelled into a unique urban concerto. On the sidewalks, crowds moved with purpose—office workers rushing to their desks, shoppers laden with bags, and locals enjoying a leisurely stroll.
Interspersed among the human throngs were Pokémon of every shape and size, weaving through the massive "steel jungle" as a natural part of the ecosystem.
"Finally back," Zhao Xuan muttered. A bright, tired smile broke across his face. He had been inside that Secret Realm for an entire month.
In this world, every Secret Realm had strict entry requirements. Low-level realms, for instance, only opened once every two months, and once you stepped inside, you were committed for a full thirty days before the exit stabilized.
Low-level realms offered meager resources and weak Pokémon—the strongest residents and best potential specimens rarely exceeded the Advanced Rank. Zhao Xuan, however, had just returned from a Mid-level Realm. The "Boss" of that particular zone was that Luxray he'd encountered, a beast boasting Pseudo-Heavenly King strength.
If not for Zhao Xuan's Aura Power (Waveguiding Power), he never would have successfully secured that Shinx egg.
The Secret of the Traveler
Naturally, Zhao Xuan had a "Golden Finger"—a Mall System. It contained various items from the Pokémon world: Rare Candies that could instantly level up a Pokémon, evolutionary stones (Fire, Water, etc.), and even high-tier gear like Key Stones for Mega Evolution and Dynamax Bands.
Without this system, it would have been impossible for his Corviknight to reach the peak of the Elite Rank in just three years. Even his Aura Power had been redeemed through the Mall.
However, nothing was free. The Mall required Points, which could only be obtained by trading in treasures not native to the Pokémon world—such as the "Crystals" dropped by slain Eerie Entities (Ghosts/Aberrations). The stronger the entity, the more valuable the crystal. Magic Beasts were also a prime source of currency.
The Return Inspection
"Please show your identification."
A voice snapped Zhao Xuan out of his reverie. A Pidgeot, slightly smaller than his Corviknight, had pulled alongside him. Mounted on its back was a middle-aged man in a police uniform.
"Sorry, I was lost in thought," Zhao Xuan apologized. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a credential embossed with a red-and-white Pokéball seal.
This was his Pokémon Trainer License. It recorded his rank and the data of his registered Pokémon.
The officer took the ID, his eyes widening slightly when he saw the rank: Elite. He shot a surprised glance at Zhao Xuan. To reach the Elite rank at such a young age—this kid had a limitless future.
Despite his internal shock, the officer remained professional. He swiped the ID through a handheld scanner, handed it back, and nodded respectfully. "Thank you for your service. Welcome home."
"Thank you," Zhao Xuan smiled. He tapped Corviknight's neck, signaling it to proceed.
"Gaa..." Corviknight let out a low cry and beat its steel-clad wings, accelerating away.
The officer's "thank you for your service" wasn't just a polite greeting. Trainers didn't enter Secret Realms just for treasure; they were the frontline defense. Periodically, mindless, violent Pokémon—known as Magic Beasts—would spawn in the realms. They possessed no reason, only a thirst for slaughter and destruction.
If these beasts broke through the rift into the Main World, they posed a catastrophic threat to cities and civilians. By law, all registered Trainers were required to enter realms periodically to cull these beasts. This was why the mortality rate for Trainers remained tragically high. To come back alive was a victory in itself.
"I wonder how many didn't make it this time?" the officer sighed, watching Zhao Xuan disappear into the skyline before returning to his post. Behind Zhao Xuan, a steady stream of flying and ground-based Pokémon was beginning to emerge from the glowing portal, turning the outskirts of Shanghai into a hive of activity.
Spring Autumn Middle School
Meanwhile, in the heart of Shanghai at Spring Autumn Middle School...
Ring! Ring! Ring!
The sharp peal of the bell signaled the end of class. Within seconds, the quiet campus was flooded with the vibrant energy of youth as students spilled out of their classrooms, filling the air with laughter and chatter.
In the Grade 11, Class 1 room, the homeroom teacher, Li Meng, looked at her restless students. Knowing it was futile to keep them, she simply nodded. "Class dismissed."
The students practically bolted upright, ushering her out. As soon as she was gone, the room erupted.
A lanky, monkey-like youth hopped over to two girls. "Taozi, Yingzi! Let's go catch a movie today. I'm telling you, there's a blockbuster that just released this month!"
The girls were a study in contrasts: one had a cool, refined aura, while the other was lively and fresh-faced—both in the prime of their youth. These were the top two students in the grade, Qiao Yingzi and Huang Zhitao, and the boy was the class underdog, Fang Yifan.
"I don't have time," Qiao Yingzi, the lively one, said coolly, barely glancing at Fang Yifan. "Today is the day Zhao Xuan and the others return from the Secret Realm. I'm going to wait for him."
With that, she turned and left.
Fang Yifan watched her back, muttering bitterly under his breath, "Tch, what's the big deal? Who even knows if he's coming back this time..." His voice was thick with jealousy.
Huang Zhitao didn't catch his exact words, but the nasty tone was unmistakable. She found Fang Yifan incredibly annoying; if it weren't for her friendship with Yingzi, she wouldn't give him the time of day. She had no patience for such immaturity.
"What about you, Taozi?" Fang Yifan asked, seemingly oblivious to her disdain.
"I don't have time either. I have tutoring after school," Zhitao replied flatly. "If I want to be a Pokémon Doctor, I have a mountain of knowledge to master."
She buried her head back in her book, but Fang Yifan, lacking any sense of self-awareness, continued to hover around her, talking incessantly.
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