Chapter 48
The makeshift bunker beneath the ruins of the Pokémon Center was filled with low murmurs and tired eyes. The air was heavy with tension and the faint scent of burned plastic and medicine. Outside, distant tremors reminded everyone that the nightmare above hadn't yet passed.
James stood by the metal hatch, adjusting the cuffs of his soot-streaked coat. Though clearly exhausted, his green eyes remained focused. At his side, Arcanine stood tall, its flames dim but steady. Golduck stretched its arms, visibly impatient, while Gengar hovered silently, its grin unusually subdued.
Near him, Lance tightened the straps of his utility belt. Dragonair floated beside him like a ribbon in the breeze, Gyarados remained coiled near the exit, barely fitting in the hallway, and Charizard—battle-scarred but ready—snorted a thin plume of smoke.
Karen leaned against the wall, cleaning a scratch from her Umbreon's flank. Houndoom lay quietly at her feet, watching the entrance like a sentinel. Shiftry perched on a broken table, its white mane fluttering as if anticipating the next strike.
Kaito was the most distant, crouched near a flickering emergency light. He checked the edge of his black coat, hiding the scratches beneath. His Honchkrow perched above him, still as a gargoyle, while Spiritomb swirled ominously within its keystone. Scrafty lounged lazily nearby, though its eyes missed nothing.
Erika, Clair, Ferma, and Daisy stood around Officer Jenny, who was reviewing a rough map of the plateau on a cracked Pokégear. Erika now had her Gloom and a sturdy-looking Exeggutor standing beside her, while Daisy, already giving quiet orders to Seaking, Slowbro and Blastoise, had taken command naturally. Clair clutched Dratini nervously, while Seadra floated in a hovering stream of conjured water behind her.
Ferma, now more composed but still awkward, adjusted her vest as Mantine hovered above. Alongside it stood an Ampharos and a Victreebel, both watching their Trainer with cautious loyalty.
Hiro leaned against a broken support beam, his black MAG cap now dust-streaked. Magmar was by his side, and two new additions—Machamp and Scizor—stood nearby, both stretching and ready.
Jenny released her own Pokémon—an Arcanine, a Fearow, and a Primeape—all alert and awaiting orders. She gave a grim nod.
"All right. First group—rescue and recover. Second group—go find Gawain."
The Trainers looked to one another.
Before departing, James glanced back at the rescue team. "Get as many out as you can."
"And you don't die," Daisy answered, her voice soft but resolute.
He offered a small smile. "I'll try."
Without further words, the two groups split.
Daisy, Erika, Clair and Ferma remained behind with Officer Jenny, their Pokémon already preparing for defense. The bunker's walls suddenly felt heavier without the main force present.
James, Lance, Karen, Noland, Lorelei, Hiro and Kaito stepped into the dark above, the ashes of war swirling like snow around them.
The hunt for Gawain had begun.
…
The wind outside was colder than expected.
Ashes still drifted over the ruined Indigo Plateau, mingling with the scent of burned plastic, scorched earth, and fear. Craters pocked the landscape like old wounds—scars from the siege hours earlier. The once-majestic League Plaza was now a graveyard of banners, broken barriers, and shattered memories.
The group moved in silence. James led with Golduck at his side, its sleek form alert and glistening. Behind him, Lance scanned the ruined towers for signs of movement, occasionally sending Dragonair to glide above for a better view.
Karen walked with a confident pace, her Umbreon weaving between the shadows like a phantom. Noland stayed near Lorelei, his heavy coat flapping with each step as Metagross trudged beside him. Hiro and Kaito brought up the rear, each scanning in different directions, neither speaking.
They passed the collapsed remains of the main hall—where the champion's procession had once paraded. The silence was broken only when Gengar, drifting ahead, suddenly stopped in midair.
James raised his hand. "Wait."
Up ahead, near the base of a toppled tower, a figure lay slumped against a broken League monument. A crimson cloak torn. Armor dented and scorched. Blood dried along the side of the face.
He was alive, but barely.
Lance rushed forward first, kneeling beside the man. His red hair caught the light as he checked for a pulse. "He's from the Elite Guard…"
"Elite Guard?" Hiro echoed, glancing at the others. "You mean like an Elite Four?"
Kaito narrowed his eyes. "I've never heard of them."
Lance nodded, glancing back. "They're not publicized. They're candidates—trainers who've proven themselves strong enough to be mentored by the Elite Four, but haven't yet made the cut. Some choose to stay and train directly under them, acting as a kind of vanguard."
Noland stepped closer, crouching. "Makes sense they'd be here. Gawain's one of the highest-ranking elites."
Karen arched an eyebrow. "And we're just finding this out now?"
"I told you, I'm not part of the League," Lance replied calmly. "I only know this because I fought one once."
The wounded guard stirred, coughing weakly. "They're… headed east… Gawain… surrounded…"
James knelt beside him. "By who?"
The man struggled to speak. "The leader… they call him 'D'... he's not alone… they've got hunters with corrupted Pokémon… he's trying to hold them off…"
Lorelei's brow furrowed. "He's still fighting?"
The man managed the faintest nod. "He told us… to warn others. That if they got what he carried… it would be too late."
His hand trembled as he extended a broken League badge—Gawain's crest etched into the center. Karen took it, her expression unreadable.
Hiro clenched his fists. "We go after him."
"We will," James said quietly. "But we'll need to move fast."
Lorelei rose. "Then we need to prepare for the worst. Because if this 'D' is the leader… we won't just be fighting grunts."
The group exchanged looks. The road ahead had just gotten much more dangerous.
But no one turned back.
The team moved swiftly across a broken causeway, their Pokémon released and alert as they passed the remnants of an old security station. The landscape beyond darkened—thick clouds rolled overhead, casting flickering shadows over the jagged terrain. The air smelled of smoke and ozone.
They were close.
But so were their enemies.
A shrill cry cut through the wind, followed by the sharp hum of teleportation. Purple mist swirled unnaturally in the air—Gengar's laughter echoed through it.
J stepped out first from the ridge above, his blue coat whipping like a tattered flag. Gengar hovered beside him, eyes narrowed with cruel amusement.
"I told them you'd be predictable," he said, voice smooth like ice. "Always running toward the fire."
On the opposite side, a blast of corrupted lightning struck near a crumbled tree. L emerged, her sleek violet armor refracting the chaos around her. Electabuzz snarled beside her, muscles tense and sparking with unnatural force.
And between the two, the earth rumbled—cracked open by massive hooves.
From below the ridge came the heavy steps of the monstrous Piloswine, tusks red as lava and breath steaming. H walked alongside the beast, her fanged smile more wolf than woman.
"You should've stayed in your hole," she taunted. "Now we'll bury you properly."
In a heartbeat, the group of eight found themselves surrounded. Their path forward blocked. The air charged with anticipation. No immediate openings.
Lorelei stepped forward, eyes fierce. "They're stalling us."
Lance's voice was low. "We don't have time for a full fight."
"Then we split," James said decisively. "Some of us hold them off. The rest push forward to reach Gawain."
Karen smirked. "About time we made it interesting."
Noland glanced to James. "I'll stay. Metagross can pin Gengar down—just like before."
"I'm with them," Lorelei added, releasing Starmie and Cloyster. "We need to keep pressure on Electabuzz and that Gengar."
Hiro looked at the others, then nodded. "I'll cover your flank. My Magmar's better used here than chasing shadows."
The decision was made quickly—there was no time for argument.
Those staying behind:
Lorelei with [Lapras, Cloyster, Starmie]
Noland with [Metagross, Kingdra]
Hiro with [Magmar, Machamp]
Each of them kept one Pokémon in reserve, just in case.
As the rest began to break off—James, Lance, Karen, and Kaito sprinting toward the east ridge—J gave a sharp nod to his Gengar.
"Break them."
A thunderous clash erupted behind as Cloyster launched a hail of icicles to intercept Gengar's shadow ball, while Metagross slammed into the ground with psychic force, causing a localized quake. Hiro and Magmar lit the space with flame as Lorelei froze the edges with precision, working in tandem to pin their enemies.
Karen glanced back just once, Umbreon close to her heels. "They'll be fine," she muttered.
James didn't reply—his eyes were fixed ahead.
The path was narrowing. The fight had only just begun.
Location: Outskirts of the Indigo Plateau – Near the Main Square
The city beyond the bunker was barely recognizable. Charred buildings leaned against each other like dying trees, their windows shattered, their interiors blackened by smoke and chaos. The streets were caked with ash and dust, the silence between distant howls only broken by the low hum of flames or the occasional thunder of collapsing structures.
Officer Jenny moved cautiously at the front of the rescue group, her uniform ripped at the shoulder, but her expression sharp with duty. Her Arcanine padded beside her, body low, nose twitching at the scent of danger. Fearow circled overhead, calling sharp warnings at signs of motion in the distance. Primeape, impatient and jittery, boxed at the air with snorts of frustration.
Behind her, Daisy, Erika, Ferma, and Clair followed in a scattered but alert formation.
A gust of wind swept through the street, carrying the distant echo of a growl.
"Stay close," Jenny muttered. "Dark Pokémon sometimes move in packs."
They were halfway down a tilted avenue when a low moan caught their ears. From beneath the wreckage of a fallen sign, two civilians—an older man and a young woman—were pinned between slabs of cracked concrete.
"Help me move this," Daisy said without hesitation, signaling to Blastoise, who moved in with slow, powerful steps. With a low grunt, the water-type dug its hands beneath the debris and lifted, allowing Jenny and Erika to pull the civilians to safety.
As they were treated with minimal first aid, Gloom wandered forward beside Erika. Its bulb began releasing a gentle, sweet-smelling aroma into the air. A moment later, a group of children emerged shakily from the ruins of a nearby building, drawn to the scent, tears streaking their soot-covered faces.
Erika crouched, extending her arms gently.
"It's alright now," she whispered. "You're safe."
The children huddled beside her, some clinging to Gloom, who blinked slowly, unfazed.
A few meters away, Ferma stood apart, arms crossed, jaw tight. She scanned the shadows like someone expecting betrayal at every corner. Her Ampharos cast light over a partially collapsed alley, and Victreebel slithered protectively near her feet.
Then, she heard it—a whimper.
Behind a dumpster, barely visible, a Mantine lay curled, its fins torn, blood smearing the street.
Ferma hesitated.
"Ignore it," she muttered to herself. "Someone else will—"
A growl interrupted her. A pair of corrupted Mightyena had locked eyes on the wounded Pokémon. They snarled and advanced quickly.
Ferma's hands moved before her mind caught up. "Ampharos, Thunder Wave. Now!"
Electric sparks lit up the alley, halting the Mightyena mid-charge. Ferma rushed forward, half-shoving debris off the Mantine with Victreebel's vines, dragging it back to safety.
"You're so damn lucky I'm soft," she hissed.
In that moment, her Mantine—her own, healthy and floating nearby—let out a soft call in response. Ferma blinked, meeting its gaze. For the first time in hours, she allowed herself to breathe.
A sudden shout caught their attention.
"Help! I need help over here!"
It was Clair. The youngest among them, she had lagged behind—until now.
Jenny had seen a partially collapsed building and, without hesitation, had run toward it. Beneath the remains of a steel beam, two elderly civilians struggled to move. Jenny had begun lifting rubble with Primeape, Arcanine holding off erratic Sneasel that darted near.
But a second collapse loomed, and there wasn't enough time.
Clair gritted her teeth. Her feet refused to move—until Dratini looked up at her and let out a determined cry.
"I-I can do this," she whispered.
She broke into a sprint. "Seadra! Hydro Pump, clear that edge!"
The blast hit precisely, shifting debris enough for Jenny to reach the trapped pair. Clair dove in and grabbed the hand of one of the elders, dragging him free as Arcanine shielded them from falling timber.
When it was over, Clair collapsed next to them, panting.
Jenny looked at her, impressed. "That was brave."
"I didn't think. I just… did it," Clair murmured, blinking tears of relief.
Further down the block, the team regrouped. More rescued civilians now walked with them, escorted by Daisy and Erika. Ferma limped slightly, supporting the injured Mantine with a cloth sling tied around her shoulder.
They turned a corner and came upon what had once been an auxiliary gym—a small training center used for amateur matches and League prep. It was partially caved in, but the symbol on the door remained: a clenched fist surrounded by laurel.
Inside, amid dust and silence, an old man sat against the back wall, nursing a wounded arm. He stirred as they entered, blinking at the unfamiliar group.
"You're not from the first wave," he rasped. "Thank Arceus."
Jenny kneeled beside him. "We're helping evacuate survivors. What happened here?"
The man coughed. "They hit fast. Pokémon I've never seen—red-eyed, furious. We couldn't fight them. Most of the trainers scattered, but some… some made it to the old tunnel."
"What tunnel?" Daisy asked quickly.
"There's an old route beneath the aqueduct system. It connects the plaza to the deeper parts of the Plateau. Civilians used to practice escape drills through there, but it hasn't been maintained in years."
Erika leaned forward. "Does it still lead back to the inner sanctum?"
"It should. If you're careful."
They looked at each other. The shelter wasn't going to hold forever. If the others needed help, if the hunters were closing in—they'd need every route they could find.
Jenny stood up. "Let's finish this sweep. Then we guide everyone back—and secure that tunnel."
From above, Fearow called again, circling wide.
The path wasn't safe.
But they would walk it anyway.
Together.