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Of course, it wasn't as though Kael couldn't eat.
If he ever came across some rare material that required consumption to absorb its energy, he could still do it.
In fact, his absorption rate would likely be far higher than that of a normal Pokémon.
But for now, the idea of eating just didn't feel necessary.
Across the table, the quiet sound of chewing gradually faded.
Earl set his fork down, his trembling hands finally stilling.
His emerald eyes lifted slowly, staring at the strange, dark-skinned Machop sitting across from him.
Fear and confusion flashed in his gaze, followed by something gentler and understanding.
This Pokémon had saved him.
The memory came in fragments: the terrifying howls, the gleam of fangs, and the split-second blur that had shattered the Mightyena's skull before it could reach him.
Yes, Kael had been frightening monstrous, even but he hadn't hurt him.
He'd protected him.
Earl bit his lip.
For a long moment he just sat there, then finally whispered, "…Th-thank you."
The words pulled Kael out of his thoughts. He blinked, caught off guard, then gave a small nod.
His crimson eyes studied the boy carefully.
The redness around those eyes had faded; the panic was ebbing away.
'Good' Kael thought 'He's stabilizing'
Then he reached into his pack and dropped a red-bound book onto the table with a heavy thud.
Earl jumped, almost falling off his chair.
Kael pointed at the book. Then at Earl.
"You… want me to have it?" the boy asked hesitantly.
Kael shook his head and gestured again, this time toward Earl's mouth.
"Oh!" Earl blinked in realization. "You want me to read it for you?"
Kael nodded, satisfied.
Although the request seemed odd, Earl didn't refuse. After all, this strange Pokémon had saved his life.
He opened the book and began to read aloud.
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> "Solar Calendar, Year 2036
The world fractured.
All across the globe, Pokémon, regardless of species or strength, even certain legendary beings, succumbed to a strange affliction.
They lost reason, consumed by madness, and began slaughtering humans indiscriminately."
"Soon after, vast electromagnetic storms appeared, erasing most of humanity's technology.
Cities collapsed.
The survivors retreated to isolated strongholds.
For over a century, humankind lived on the brink of extinction."
"Only when the storms began to weaken did mankind manage to cling to life again, using ancient devices left behind by their ancestors and the aid of the few Pokémon who had not lost their minds."
"In Year 2 of the New Age, the Trainer Sorik led the first…"
The boy's clear, trembling voice echoed softly through the dim room.
Kael sat motionless, but inside, his thoughts were in turmoil.
So this was confirmation that this world was not the same one he'd known.
A parallel Pokémon world, broken by catastrophe.
And the madness spreading among Pokémon… the "Nightmare Seed."
It explained everything: the weak defenses at the underground base, the lack of trained Pokémon in Whiteleaf Town, and the apocalyptic silence.
Most intelligent Pokémon were gone.
The few still capable of rational thought were rare and precious.
Even average trainers probably had only one or two stable partners now.
Kael recalled the blood-eyed Mightyena he'd fought earlier.
Its movements had been wild, its eyes glowing with that unnatural red haze.
It hadn't been fighting for hunger or territory.
It had been fighting against corruption.
He shivered.
Just the thought of that infection spreading made his skin crawl.
"Nightmare Seed…" he muttered softly. "Guess that's what passes for a virus here."
Still, he couldn't just hide forever. He needed strength and for that, battle was inevitable.
High-intensity combat would earn him points faster, accelerate his growth, maybe even help him uncover the truth behind this world, but running headfirst into hordes of nightmare Pokémon? That was suicide.
No, he decided. I need a base. A city. Somewhere I can regroup and plan.
His mind raced.
In a world where normal Pokémon had become this rare, he himself was practically priceless.
If he could find a powerful human faction someone wealthy or influential, He could use them as cover, gain access to resources, and farm the "system points" he needed far more efficiently.
A slow grin crept across his face.
"Yeah… that might just work."
He drummed his fingers absently on the tabletop, lost in thought.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The rhythmic sound was the only noise in the room.
Earl had finished reading.
He sat quietly, eyelids drooping, exhausted.
Within moments, the boy slumped forward on the table, fast asleep.
Kael watched him for a long time, expression unreadable.
'This kid might know where the nearest human settlement is' he thought.
Then came the more practical problem.
He opened his mouth, then stopped.
Right.
Even if he wanted to ask, Earl wouldn't understand him.
Humans in this world didn't truly understand Pokémon speech.
Only a handful of gifted individuals could interpret it, and those were either veteran trainers or people born with rare abilities.
Earl was neither. Just a normal, frightened boy.
Kael chuckled dryly.
"Great. Saved the only person who can't talk to me."
For a brief, foolish moment, he wished he'd been born Psychic-type.
Then at least he could speak directly into the boy's mind.
But reality offered no such convenience.
He sighed, rubbing his temples. "Forget it. One problem at a time."
Kael looked out the window the night sky had fully settled, blanketing Whiteleaf Town in darkness.
For the first time in what felt like forever, the place was quiet.
He stood, walked over to the table, and gently scooped the sleeping boy into his arms. Carrying him to one of the bedrooms, Kael set him down carefully on the bed.
Earl murmured softly, turning in his sleep. The lamplight flickered across his pale hair, strands of white-gold splayed across the pillow.
Kael paused.
The image of that same boy earlier charging at a Mightyena with nothing but a kitchen knife flashed through his mind.
Reckless, but brave.
A small smile tugged at the corner of Kael's mouth.
"Maybe," he whispered, "you've got a bit of talent after all."
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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