Bai Chen's preparations were finally complete.
That evening, he enjoyed what would be his last dinner in this world—
And he didn't hold back in the slightest.
Only after eating until he couldn't take another bite did he finally stop,
leaning back in satisfaction.
He glanced toward the flickering system timer.
Three minutes left until teleportation.
"Time's almost up."
He slung the backpack over his shoulder,
tucked Nergigante and the master smith into their Poké Balls,
and went through his gear one last time.
Three blades.
A full set of heavy armor.
Four empty Monster Balls.
A reinforced trainer's belt.
And on his wrists—the Z-Ring and its twin Z-Crystals, gleaming faintly.
After defeating Hariyama—a foe twenty levels above him—
His level had jumped to 33, while Nergigante had risen to 32.
Compared to a month ago, Bai Chen could only smile bitterly.
"A different man entirely…"
Lusamine and Lillie followed him out into the moonlit training yard.
"Do you really have to go?"
Lillie's voice trembled, her eyes reflecting the faint glow of starlight.
Bai Chen's smile was gentle.
"I do. I don't control these transfers… they just happen."
Lillie bit her lip, the sadness flickering through her eyes for a moment—
Then, as if determined not to cry, she forced herself to smile brightly.
"Then I'll be waiting here to welcome you back."
The system's voice rang in Bai Chen's mind.
[Transfer Countdown: 20 seconds]
"Last twenty seconds," he murmured, glancing at them.
19... 18... 17…
Suddenly, Lillie shouted—
"Bai-san! In forty-one days, it'll be my twentieth birthday!"
"You'll come back… right?"
He blinked, momentarily stunned—
then grinned.
"You're twentieth, huh? Is a day that important? Of course I'll come."
"Really?" Her hands clenched nervously at her chest.
"Really. And I'll even bring you a proper gift."
She still looked uncertain,
so Bai Chen extended his pinky finger with a teasing smile.
"Here. Pinky promise."
Lillie hesitated, then reached forward—
and their little fingers hooked together.
At that exact instant—
The world shimmered, and Bai Chen vanished.
No light.
No tunnel of stars.
No rippling gate.
He simply—disappeared.
Like a projection cut off mid-frame.
Lusamine's eyes widened in disbelief.
She quickly pulled out a scanning device—
the kind used to detect Ultra Space energy fluctuations—
But the screen remained perfectly flat.
"No readings at all…"
"What an extraordinary transfer method."
She lowered the device slowly,
then turned toward her daughter—
who stood motionless, head bowed, her shadow trembling in the soft light.
"Lillie, listen…"
Lusamine had meant to comfort her,
but before she could finish, Lillie lifted her head.
Her eyes—no longer teary—
were full of resolve.
"Mother," she said clearly,
"I've decided!"
Lusamine blinked, caught off guard.
"Decided… what?"
"I want you to teach me how to earn money."
"I want to learn how to manage the foundation—how to run a business."
Lusamine stared at her in surprise.
"Can I ask… why this sudden change?"
After all, her daughter had always cared more about Pokémon research than profit.
School, studies, everything—had been her choice.
Lillie looked at the empty training field,
her voice soft, but firm.
"At Bai-san's pace, he'll only grow stronger and stronger."
"When he comes back, I don't want to still be the same helpless girl."
"I want to do something meaningful—something that's mine."
Lusamine understood immediately.
Ah… so that's what it was.
Love didn't only make people foolish.
Sometimes, it made them grow.
And the idea of Lillie following her footsteps pleased her deeply.
The Aether Foundation would need a successor one day.
Her son had already made it clear he wasn't interested.
Lusamine's tone turned serious.
"If you're going to learn from me, you'd better be prepared."
"Business isn't easy. I won't allow you to quit halfway."
"I won't!" Lillie said without hesitation.
Her conviction was clear, burning like sunlight.
"Good," Lusamine nodded approvingly.
"Then let's begin immediately."
"I'll just go pack—"
"No." Lusamine's voice was firm.
"You think I, the chairwoman of the Aether Foundation, have time to wait while you pack?"
Lillie froze, then smiled softly.
"Understood, Mother."
Her new journey had already begun.
As they boarded the sleek white jet,
Lillie turned one last time toward the now-empty training field.
"Bai-san…" she whispered in her heart,
"Next time you return—
I'll make sure I'm someone worth your notice."
Meanwhile—
A flash of white light.
Bai Chen was thrown out of the dimensional corridor,
landing hard against the grassy ground.
"...That was one hell of a landing."
He groaned, opening his system interface.
[Return Countdown: 29d 23h 59m]
"Good. Still a fixed thirty-day interval."
"At least I won't be breaking any promises."
He exhaled, glancing around—
and froze.
"Wait… this isn't the Astera"
The landscape was wild and overgrown.
Massive ferns and towering trees swayed overhead.
The earth trembled faintly beneath distant roars.
Herds of Aptonoths—docile, plant-eating wyverns—
wandered across the field nearby.
Bai Chen took a careful look around,
His eyes widened in recognition.
"This… this is the Ancient Forest, Area 1!"
Of course.
He knew every inch of this place.
His old hunting grounds.
The camp was nearby—just past the ridge.
Smiling, he drew a Poké Ball and released it.
"Come on out, Smithy."
The master craftsman blinked at the sudden sunlight—
and then froze, staring up at the colossal trees that stretched into the heavens.
"Yama! Yama!"
Excitement sparkled in her eyes as she turned a full circle,
taking in the breathtaking scenery.
"This… this is your world?"
"That's right." Bai Chen grinned proudly.
"My homeland. A place full of monsters—many of them fire-type,
and far stronger than anything in Alola."
He drew in a deep breath of the forest air,
rich with the scent of moss and ancient life.
"Come on. Let's head to the Starfall Base."
"I'll introduce you to the other smiths."
But before they could move—
The Aptonoth herd nearby erupted in alarm.
Wings flapping, earth trembling—
The docile creatures scattered in panic.
Bai Chen's expression sharpened.
And then he saw it—
a dark, hulking shape slinking between the trees.
A Great Jagras.
Hunting.
Its yellow scales gleamed beneath the sunlight. Its eyes were fixed sharply on Bai Chen.
"...A welcome party already?"
He smirked, resting his hand on his blade.
"Guess the forest missed me."
Note: he will return to the Pokémon world, but stronger, and with new weapons.
If you want to read more, join my Patreon/kazama677
60+ advanced chapters available.
I will drop 1 bonus chapter for every 40 Power Stones.
Bonus chapter for every 10 reviews/comments