Pokémon: I picked up a reborn Eevee at the start of the game

Daigo was taken aback. "You mean, because of the experimental research we did?"

Xia Chen sighed softly and nodded. "There are some things I should explain to you. Multiple sources indicate that what corrupted the Ultimate World into what it is now is a kind of existence called [Dark Matter]... You can think of it as a chaotic entity without intelligence, with only a single-celled mind that wants to destroy the world."

Daigo was clearly quite shocked by this heavy-handed information and remained silent for a while.

After pausing for nearly half a minute, he scratched his hair in a rather unladylike manner and asked, "So, our research made it sense a threat, and then it planned to send an Ultra Beast to eliminate us?"

Xia Chen nodded affirmatively, "I think my understanding is pretty much correct."

Daigo was as excited as he was just moments before, and now he was filled with frustration. He said dejectedly, "It's my fault. I shouldn't have done something so dangerous under these circumstances."

"It has nothing to do with you, and it's also because I didn't tell you beforehand."

Xia Chen calmly advised, "No matter what, it's not necessarily a bad thing to discover it in time. At least we know that the guy is definitely afraid of the energy unleashed by this move."

Daigo rubbed his hair, trying to regain his composure, and asked again, "So what should we do now?"

Xia Chen pondered for a moment and replied, "Do what needs to be done. You take the Radiant Stone and Pure Crystal back to Earth to continue your research. I'll stay here and keep watch to see how things develop."

The best-case scenario would be for the monster riot to subside as the aura of the [Z-Move] that the Dark Matter fears disappears, but that's just an ideal situation. If things don't improve or even get worse, Xia Chen and Cynthia can still hold out.

Daigo's expression was somewhat conflicted. Xia Chen could tell that he intended to stay, so he advised, "Compared to the extra combat power you would gain by staying, continuing the research on the Radiant Stone would be more helpful to us."

These words were a bit too real and hurtful, but Daigo wasn't easily hurt. After a moment of sadness, he nodded.

"Okay, I understand. You should be careful while you stay here."

Xia Chen smiled slightly and extended his hand to Daigo, "Of course, I'm looking forward to our next match."

A smile also blossomed on Daigo's handsome face. "Alright, next time, I'll show you the hard work that Aggron and the others put in day after day!"

Snapped!

A crisp clapping sound rang out, and the two exchanged a smile.

…………

Once the coordination and communication work is done well, the rest is quite simple.

In less than three days, Daigo and his team returned to Earth with the ore named [Z Pure Crystal] and the results of their research over the past few months.

After months of bustling activity, only Xia Chen, Cynthia, and Gadria remain as the otherworldly visitors in the metropolis.

The situation did not improve with the disappearance of Z-Crystals and Radiant Stones. Less than a week later, the metropolis was hit by another wave of monsters of the same level.

Although the number of trainers and Pokémon has decreased significantly, the defensive works have not become more difficult.

Xia Chen only had Zeraora and Regilechi, the golden duo, make a slight move, and the powerful Ultra Beasts fell one by one like wheat fields in autumn harvest.

With the fully recovered Seadra and Cresselia, the Metropolitans once again defended their homeland.

This situation is completely under control and doesn't even require intervention from Gullton or the Lacecrown.

During this time, Xia Chen was not idle either. He went to the place where Daigo had dug up the Z-Crystal to continue searching for Z-Crystals of other attributes.

The same principle applies: the more the enemy forbids you from doing something, the more it proves that you are sticking to the right direction.

Prior to this, Daigo had already found Z-Crystals for the major attributes of fire, water, electricity, flight, and normal.

Therefore, Leton's mining efficiency is no less than that of Bosscodora and others. In just half a month, he found Z-Crystals of the six major attributes: Grass, Ice, Dragon, Steel, Ghost, and Fairy.

As for the other attributes, Xia Chen couldn't find them at all, and probably didn't hide them in this mining area.

Overall, aside from the Psychic and Fighting types, these types of Z-Crystals are sufficient to cover the types of Xia Chen's Pokémon.

Meanwhile, on Earth, Daigo and his team have made significant progress in their research on Z-Moves, and have even created the Z-Ring.

And a question that had been bothering Xia Chen for a long time—"Do you have to dance awkwardly when using Z-Moves?"—has also been answered.

The answer is no. Shouting out the move name or dancing are just mediums to help Pokémon communicate with the Z-Ring's energy.

Psychic beings like Xia Chen and Cattleya can help Pokémon unleash Z-Moves without needing any commands or gestures.

But Cynthia is different...

When she learned that the price of using the Z move was an awkward dance, she almost thought it was Xia Chen's prank and it took her a long time to accept the fact.

After all, Z-Moves can unleash power far exceeding the Pokémon's own energy level, and the price is just a short dance, which is not shameful.

Actually, there's nothing embarrassing about doing this if everyone does it, but unfortunately, Xia Chen and Gadria, who stayed in the Ultimate World, don't need to, so it's a bit shameful for Cynthia to do it alone.

Ultimately, at Cynthia's half-hearted insistence, Xia Chen also joined the Z-Move Dance Crew.

…………

Two months have passed in the blink of an eye.

According to the Earth Alliance calendar, it is now early October 2026.

In the Ultimate World, there is no distinction between day and night, nor between seasons. It wasn't until Xia Chen returned to Earth that he realized another year had almost passed.

This year seems to have passed particularly quickly. Looking back on the days when I first arrived in Alola at the beginning of the year, it feels like it was just yesterday.

"Speaking of which, is the Eight Masters Tournament about to start again?"

One day, after Xia Chen finished his usual battle with Cynthia, he suddenly asked.

Cynthia paused for a moment, then nodded after a brief pause, saying, "It seems... it's about to begin."

The Masters Tournament is held every four years. The last one was at the end of 2022, and now it's almost the end of 2026. Isn't it about to start again?

"What, do you want to participate?"

Cynthia took the cup Roseradore handed her, took a sip of water, and analyzed, "Based on your strength, you are fully qualified to represent the Eastern Empire region in the competition, but you are not the champion..."

The rule of the Masters Tournament has always been that only the trainers with the highest world rankings in each region can participate, and usually the champions represent each region.

Therefore, it is also known as the most prestigious and honorable Pokémon battle competition.

However, in the past two years, the Alola region has formed a league, and the Kanto and Johto regions are going to split up again. It is rumored that the next tournament will be expanded into the [Ten Masters Tournament].

Of course, this still has nothing to do with Xia Chen, the owner of the museum.

Xia Chen shook his head and said with a smile, "No, it's just that I didn't expect that we've known each other for almost four years."

Cynthia paused for a moment, then smiled knowingly.

That year, I followed a Pixiv up-loader who taught how to cook Donghuang cuisine, and by chance, we developed more connections.

Who could have imagined that four years later, that boy who didn't even have a starter Pokémon back then would now be a top trainer who could rival him?

Even more incredibly, he became the friend who held the most special place in his heart.

"Hey, why is your face a little red? Are you feeling unwell?"

Xia Chen's words interrupted Cynthia's thoughts. She calmed herself down and said calmly, "It's okay. This battle was a bit intense. I'll just rest for a bit."

This is the reason for the cover-up, but it is also the truth.

Over the past two months, Xia Chen's elves have made rapid progress.

From initially being completely dominated by himself, the two are now evenly matched.

Xia Chen has repeatedly managed to defeat himself in a full-scale 6v6 battle.

Of course, this is a battle between non-legendary spirits.

When it comes to legendary Pokémon, Heatran is a complete little brother compared to Goredon and Deoxys, and can't even see the back of Zeraora.

In fact, since defeating Dante to become the strongest champion in the Masters Tournament four years ago, Cynthia has never stopped moving forward.

She is now someone that ordinary trainers can hardly match.

Catching Heatran is just one example; Mega Garchomp and Mega Lucario have even gained strength comparable to Heatran.

In other words, Cynthia's top combat power has surpassed the conventional "Champion level" and reached the "Legend level" that only legendary Pokémon can reach.

The same applies to Mega Sylveon, Mega Gardevoir, and Dynamax Milotic.

It can be said that Cynthia and Xia Chen now fully represent the pinnacle of human trainers, and are definitely a level above other champions.

Well…excluding the oddballs whose upper limit for Cattleya is unknown.

Chapter 555 The Arrival

The battle between Xia Chen and Cynthia took place on the upper floors of the Metropolitan Tower.

Since [comprehensive training of Pokémon Trainers] became the "national policy" of Mega Metropolis, places like battlegrounds and Pokémon training centers have sprung up all over the land.

Walking down the street now, all I see are metropolitan people walking side by side with elves, and it looks no different from the world over there.

The thriving Pokémon system also gave Cionaira more confidence. Within three months, he led the Ultimate Defense Force to double the size of Metropolis.

Although this means a proportional increase in the number of places requiring protection, it is of great significance to people in metropolitan areas.

In a dark world ravaged by war, every ray of hope from the light of civilization is precious.

In the process of rebuilding civilization, the Crowned King also played an immeasurable and enormous role.

His magical powers revitalized the barren, impure, and dull land. Combined with the miniature artificial sun developed by Metropolis, the people of Metropolis witnessed for the first time how plants grew outside the laboratory.

This vibrant green is just as inspiring as its dazzling light.

In the new urban areas of the metropolis, city parks, botanical gardens, and green belts have sprung up, becoming the most popular places for metropolitan residents during this period.

Naturally, the Crowned Queen, who had performed miracles in public, once again won over a group of loyal believers who had once been superstitious about science.

Although the metropolis is not large in area, it has an extremely high population density. The faith of nearly 100,000 people is already quite substantial, not to mention that they are quite fanatical.

Strangely, the strength of the Lady Crown King did not increase much; in fact, it decreased slightly.

The Crowned Queen explained that the power of faith also involves a gradual absorption process, but Xia Chen expressed doubts about this.

Back in Frozen Village, the Calycerin King went from being easily bullied by a few wild Weavile to being relegated to legendary status in just a few days.

Why is it different now?

Looking at the Crown King, who was clearly hiding some secrets, Xia Chen was a little suspicious. However, the guy kept insisting that he was fine, so he could only stop asking and assume that it was because he had released too much energy, which had caused a slight loss of strength in a short period of time.

With the metropolis developing so vigorously, the dark matter was certainly not entirely unresponsive.

The Ultra Beasts' attacks were more intense, which was manageable; once you got used to it, it basically became a formulaic defense.

Even more worrying is that the ultimate research teams exploring the outside world have repeatedly reported back some strange phenomena—

In many places, huge, previously unseen cracks suddenly appeared in the sky. These cracks had an extremely strong attraction, and survey team members who went to investigate were accidentally sucked into them and did not survive.