The morning haze rolled over the mountains like a slow tide, blanketing the forest valleys in a calm, silver mist. But beneath that calm… something stirred.
Tharion stood at the cliff edge overlooking his hidden mountain villa, the same place where his second life had begun — where he'd first awakened with the System. The coordinates from the latest quest burned faintly across his mind's vision, glowing crimson against the mental map.
[Rift Location: Latitude 38.6621, Longitude –123.2117]
Status: Unstable – Expansion Imminent
Tharion exhaled quietly, the cool air condensing into mist."Of all places… it had to be here," he murmured.
Below him sprawled his sanctuary — 250 acres of vibrant wilderness and harmony. Pokémon of every kind roamed freely — a self-sustaining ecosystem he'd built over years. Garchomp soared through the clouds above the forest line, while groups of Riolu and Machop trained near the rocky banks. Eevee families darted through flowering meadows, and a trio of Charizards rested by the lava terraces he'd engineered into the volcanic ridge.
This was his paradise — the proof of everything he'd built beyond fighting.His true world.
But today, the air felt… different. Heavy. Resonant.
The System's alert still blinked faintly.
[Rift Expansion: 82% – Dimensional Fracture Imminent]
Tharion adjusted his coat, summoning Lucario, Gardevoir, and Metagross beside him."Time to check the source," he said calmly.
They descended through the winding trail, the scent of pine and damp earth filling the air. Pokémon along the way turned toward him — some curious, others instinctively alert. Even the normally calm Lapras at the lakeshore had raised its head, eyes gleaming uneasily at the distant hum rippling through the air.
When Tharion reached the center of the valley, he saw it — a faint distortion, like a tear shimmering in space itself. The energy crackled softly, folding reality inward like a mirror ripple on water.
He knelt, analyzing the readings through the System Lens.
[Analyzing Rift Composition…]
Dimensional Origin: Ultra Space Detected.
Stabilization Progress: Unpredictable.
A sharp pulse burst from the rift — a shockwave that rustled every leaf in the clearing. Tharion's hand instinctively went to his Pokéball belt. His team surrounded him instantly, forming a silent perimeter.
"Steady," he murmured. "Don't attack until I say so."
The rift widened with a deep, resonant hum. And from within… something massive began to emerge.
Blocks of radiant stone — glowing, shifting, moving as though alive — pushed through the fabric of reality. Piece by piece, the creature assembled itself from countless cubic segments, stacking and realigning until it stood complete.
A towering structure of black, living stone, with eyes glowing like deep blue beacons.It moved slowly, almost cautiously, scanning its surroundings with a low, echoing rumble.
The forest fell utterly silent.
Tharion's pulse steadied, but his stance remained defensive. "...What in the world are you?"
Then, as if on cue —
[System Notification]
[Entity Identified: Ultra Beast – Stakataka]
Type: Rock/Steel
Behavioral Status: Non-Aggressive.
Threat Level: Low (Unless Provoked).
Origin: Ultra Space – Sector 9]
Tharion's eyes narrowed slightly as he read the data flashing across his vision."An Ultra Beast… but peaceful?"
Stakataka turned toward him — slow, deliberate — and lowered itself slightly, its stone frame creaking as if in acknowledgment. The gesture wasn't hostile. If anything, it seemed… submissive.
Lucario tilted his head, sensing the aura around it. "Lucar…"Gardevoir's voice brushed through Tharion's mind. Its emotions… are calm. It's lost. Confused, but not violent.
Tharion nodded slightly. "Good. Then we'll treat it as a guest, not a target."
He took a cautious step forward, extending his hand slightly. "You're far from home, aren't you?"
The massive construct made a low, harmonic sound — like grinding stone resonating through the air. Around them, the nearby Pokémon began to emerge from the treeline, watching curiously. Pikachu, Luxray, Dragonite — all of them stared at the stranger from another dimension.
The scene was eerily peaceful — a meeting of worlds under the rising sun.
Then, another ping from the System:
[Optional Sub-Quest Generated]
"Guardian of the Rift"
Objective: Communicate with Stakataka and discover why it crossed into this world.
Reward: ???
Penalty: None.
Tharion exhaled softly, lowering his hand."Alright then… let's talk, Stakataka."
His Lucario gave a faint nod, and Metagross emitted a low metallic tone — the team ready, but calm.
Above, the rift's energy began to stabilize, forming a swirling blue ring — no longer chaotic, but pulsing in harmony with the Ultra Beast's presence.
Tharion looked at the faint energy signature glowing on his gauntlet.If this Ultra Beast didn't come to fight… then someone or something must have sent it here.
He glanced toward the mountains beyond the villa — the place where he first fell into this world.And a chilling thought crossed his mind.
What if the rift didn't open by accident… but because this world is starting to call others in?
The clearing shimmered faintly, the light of the rift now calm — breathing in rhythm with the strange Ultra Beast before him.Tharion took another step closer, the ground vibrating under each movement of Stakataka's towering frame.
Gardevoir's eyes glowed a soft blue as she extended her psychic field around both of them."Garde…" she whispered telepathically into Tharion's mind. Allow me, Master. Its mind is strange — fragmented, like thousands of stones speaking together… but I can listen.
Tharion gave a slow nod. "Do it carefully. We don't know if its presence could distort aura flow."
Her psychic field expanded — faint waves of pink light flowing across the massive creature's surface. Each block of Stakataka pulsed faintly, as if answering her call. The hum of energy grew deeper, echoing like a thousand tiny heartbeats inside the air itself.
Then Gardevoir's voice came again, soft but clear.It says… it did not mean to come here.
Tharion's brow furrowed. "Accident?"
Yes. Gardevoir's gaze softened. It was exploring a fading region of Ultra Space when a collapse occurred. It fell through the distortion and… found itself here. Your garden absorbed the dimensional shock. The rift is connected to its original realm.
Tharion looked around — at the peaceful wildlife, the Pokémon who now curiously surrounded the Ultra Beast without fear. His sanctuary had unknowingly shielded the world from an interdimensional collapse.
He folded his arms. "So, it's lost… not a threat. That's good."
Gardevoir nodded faintly. It also says… the rift will open again. Two years from now. That's when the path back will form.
Tharion's eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed at the slowly shrinking portal."Two years, huh? Then it stays here until then."
He turned toward Stakataka, his tone gentle yet firm."You can rest here, Stakataka. This land is protected, and no one will disturb you. You'll be safe until your rift reopens."
The Ultra Beast emitted a deep, harmonic tone — its entire structure lowering in what looked like a respectful bow. The ground trembled, but it wasn't a quake of power… it was gratitude.
Lucario smiled faintly, sensing the sincerity through aura."Rii…"
Tharion nodded once. "Welcome to the family."
And at that moment —
[System Notification]
[Quest Completed: Guardian of the Rift]Summary: You successfully communicated with the Ultra Beast Stakataka and prevented a potential dimensional disturbance.Outcome: Rift stabilized. Stakataka pacified.Time Remaining Until Rift Reopens: 2 Years.Reward Granted: ???
The text faded — replaced by a faint golden glow before him. The light condensed, forming an elegant capsule — like a crystalline shell of energy. Inside it pulsed with a gentle warmth.
Tharion reached out and caught it as the light dimmed, revealing what it contained.
A Pokémon Egg — but unlike any he had ever seen. The shell was black with faint silver veins running through it, glowing occasionally like living starlight.
[System Analysis]
Item: Unknown Pokémon Egg (Mythic Rarity)Origin: Spatial Rift EnergyEstimated Hatch Time: 47 DaysStatus: Contained Lifeform – Latent Dimensional Signature Detected.
Tharion's eyes gleamed faintly. "Dimensional signature? So it's connected to Ultra Space too…"
Gardevoir tilted her head. What do you think it will become, Master?
He smiled slightly, holding the egg carefully. "No idea. But whatever it is — it chose to come here. Maybe this world's already starting to bridge the gap between realities."
The egg pulsed once, faintly reacting to his voice — as if it understood.
Lucario stepped closer, peering curiously at the shell. Garchomp let out a soft rumble of approval. Even Stakataka shifted slightly, its blocks humming in a deep tone — almost protective.
Tharion turned toward the beast. "Don't worry. I'll guard it, same as I guard this place."
The Ultra Beast lowered itself again, settling into the meadow as if finding peace. The rift behind it dimmed completely, leaving only faint motes of energy drifting upward like fireflies.
Tharion looked over the garden one more time — at his Pokémon, at the life he'd built, at the strange newcomer that fate had dropped into his home.
"Two years," he said quietly. "Guess we've got time to prepare for whatever comes next."
The egg pulsed again in his hands — a heartbeat of new life beneath endless skies.