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North of Ignis City stretched a thick expanse of birch forest—
Birchwood Grove.
Its canopy formed a continuous blanket of emerald leaves, blocking the gentle morning sunlight.
Most of the forest floor lay wrapped in deep, cold shadow.
Even though the tree growth was lush, the place felt strangely lifeless.
Years ago, the League had purged this entire region of Nightmare Pokémon.
And ever since then, Birchwood Grove had carried a stillness a silence so heavy and unnatural that even early morning felt like midnight.
Vvvrrrm…
The low rumble of an engine approached from a distance, growing louder as tires ground against dirt and gravel.
"We're just about there. Everyone, get ready."
Rok, the instructor from the Fighting Gym, stood from the front seat, turning toward the Pokémon behind him.
He reached beneath the seat, pulled out a metal case, and opened it.
Inside were rows of black wristbands, shaped like small, rugged watches.
"Here. Everyone put one of these on."
Kael picked up a band, examining it.
Black rubber.
Durable.
A metal emblem in the center: the Fighting-type symbol.
"What's this for?" he wondered.
Rok's voice answered from the front.
"This year's Summer Camp has the Grass and Flying Gyms joining us as usual. All their Pokémon will have similar wristbands."
His voice dropped a little lower—serious, almost stern.
"Your objective is simple: collect as many wristbands from other Gyms as possible."
"Three sunsets from now, whichever Gym holds the most total wristbands… wins."
"And those who collect the most?"
Rok grinned. "We'll have special rewards for you."
The point of the Summer Camp was to prepare these nearly-graduated Pokémon for the real world to expose them to wild terrain, unpredictable encounters, and real combat rhythm.
The "victory" didn't actually matter that much.
The rewards?
Even more trivial.
The only reason there were rewards at all was to motivate the lazier Pokémon into actually trying.
Kael's expression twitched.
"…This is really a 'summer camp'?"
"Feels more like someone tricked me onto a battlefield."
But he didn't care.
He wasn't here to chase points, prizes, or titles.
This entire event was a convenient springboard a way to slip out of Ignis City.
The other Pokémon didn't share his surprise.
Even Croagunk beside him didn't bat an eye.
Clearly, they'd all been briefed beforehand.
"Alright, we're here! Everyone off!"
Rok's booming voice echoed through the bus.
"The other Gyms will be entering the forest from different sides. Stay alert."
Pokémon began filing out in groups, chattering in teams of two or three.
The Ignis Summer Camp didn't forbid teamwork, but it did limit the size.
No team could exceed three Pokémon.
It kept things fair.
Without a limit, a 20-Pokémon megasquad would steamroll everyone.
And it defeated the purpose of learning individual survival skills.
Most of the Gym Pokémon had already formed teams long before this trip.
This was their "final exam," after all.
Kael, who'd only joined last minute, had made no prior arrangements.
Which was perfect.
With Kael's overwhelming strength, having teammates would only slow him down.
They'd be liabilities problems he'd have to hold back for.
Solo was better.
As for Pokémon from the other Gyms…?
Kael's nose curled into a faint, amused smile.
"Heh."
If they were smart, they'd keep a respectful distance.
If not?
They'd learn the hard way.
His pitch-black feet stepped onto the soft earth, leaving shallow prints behind.
The air was thick with the scent of vegetation fresh enough to clear the mind.
"…Huh?"
Kael frowned, tapping his chin.
His clone-enhanced body came with an extraordinary sense of smell.
And beneath the fresh greenery, something else lingered.
A faint, faint odor.
Not rot in the physical sense but a mental stench.
Decay.
Corruption.
The scent of something violated by Nightmare energy.
"…Familiar."
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"That smell—"
FLASH.
His crystalline crimson pupils flared sharply, red light bursting out like a blade.
For an instant, a wave of pure killing intent erupted from him—
Surging outward like a tidal explosion.
Though he reined it back almost instantly, the aftermath rippled through the air.
All around him, the Pokémon who were forming teams froze mid-step.
A cold chill shot up their spines as if an invisible claw dragged itself up their backs.
Conversation died on the spot.
Kael smiled dark, sharp, predatory.
Without another word, he stepped silently into the shadowed forest ahead.
Behind him, Croagunk lifted its hand slightly wanting to call out to him.
Its body trembled.
That burst of killing aura had nearly frozen its lungs.
It watched Kael's silhouette disappear into the trees…
And slowly, defeated, lowered its hand.
Croagunk didn't have many friends in the Gym.
Its antisocial temper scared most away.
So for the camp, it had no team.
It had hoped just maybe to join Kael.
He looked fierce, yes.
But he spoke kindly.
He was reliable.
Strong.
Confident.
A perfect teammate.
But the aura that erupted a moment ago…
Croagunk shuddered again.
No.
It couldn't bring itself to call out.
"…Sigh."
Croagunk let out a soft, frustrated breath.
"Well… guess I'm going solo too."
Straightening its back, it steeled itself and stepped into Birchwood Grove.
The sunlight outside was warm and bright but beneath the dense birch canopy, the forest felt like the open jaws of a beast…
Waiting to swallow them all.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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