Chapter 120

"Okay, deal."

Upon hearing Qiao Ran's answer, Rose quickly echoed his sentiments, but Rose failed to notice the slight flicker in Qiao Ran's eyes.

Clearly, Qiao Ran is not satisfied with the status quo.

If they were just allowed to leave unscathed, it would obviously leave him feeling uneasy.

His promise was only to guarantee the other person's safety; beyond that... he wasn't obligated to guarantee anything else, was he?

"Is it transmitted through this device here?"

With Rose was surrounded by Pokémon, leading the way, Qiao Ran and his group found themselves back in the Underground Factory they had left earlier.

In a secret, hidden warehouse within the Underground Factory, there was a massive, door-like device connected by huge pipes to energy transmitted from an unknown source. On the other side was a control console.

"That's right. It seems that no matter which world you're in, people like me would make the same choice... putting the important things here."

The purple-skinned "Rose" from the Ultra World sighed, having accepted his defeat and now maintaining a remarkably calm demeanor.

"We'll activate the device. Just stand in the middle, and you'll be teleported back to your world in an instant."

You're not lying to me?

Qiao Ran was somewhat suspicious; after all, this guy was far too cunning, and who knew what he was up to?

Why would I need to lie to you? I already...

"We've already lost, what's the point of doing anything more? You can check whatever you want until you feel safe." Rose shrugged, indicating that he had no more tricks up his sleeve and no intention of attacking.

"..."

Qiao Ran frowned and still did some checking—but after checking, he still couldn't figure out what the device did. He wished Lillie or Sonia were here.

Left with no other option, he had to make a reluctant decision.

"This guy needs to stay by my side. I'll return her to you once the teleportation begins."

Qiao Ran was referring to "Oleana"; he still needed this girl as a hostage.

"Okay, okay."

Rose had no room for negotiation and had no choice but to agree once again.

In fact, he no longer had any intention of confronting Qiao Ran. He had already admitted his defeat, and in this respect, he appeared quite "magnanimous" and "at ease."

With Rose's control, the device began to charge, energy began to flow around, and the unique cracks of the Space Wormhole began to appear on the outside. Dimensional teleportation had begun.

"Master, it is indeed the aura of Galar."

Rotom made a report.

"Really? Then I'll give this back to you." Qiao Ran pushed Oleana, who was next to him, and handed her back to Rose. Since the teleportation had already begun, the hostage was no longer of any use.

After leaving the device, Oleana ran to Rose's side without looking back, while Rose, who had been operating the device, pulled out a strangely shaped hand cannon from behind the control panel.

"You didn't expect that, did you, Hero? Now is my chance!"

Once the teleportation begins, there's no way to stop it, but—if we can kill the Hero using other methods, that would be a way to avenge our defeat.

"Boom!"

Pale energy poured from the hand cannon, aimed directly at Qiao Ran's heart.

However, to Rose's surprise, Qiao Ran's expression seemed completely unsurprised, because the instant Rose pulled out his hand cannon... no, even before Loz pulled out his hand cannon, Qiao Ran had already taken action.

They both seemed to share the same idea.

Qiao Ran opened the Poké Ball and released a huge Black and Red Pokémon. The Black and Red Pokémon seemed to understand Qiao Ran's intention, and a jet-black Energy Beam shot out from the Portal, attacking Rose and Oleana outside.

After doing all this, Qiao Ran immediately withdrew the other party. Everything was so natural and seamless.

"...!"

Rose's hand cannon attack was shattered mid-air. Startled, he threw out a spherical device to create a protective field, shielding him and Oleana. However—due to the convergence of space, Yveltal regained his adaptation to the "world Rules," and that Black and Red Energy Beam was no longer so easy to intercept.

The energy within the pillar of light surged and raged, and the light, carrying death energy, directly tore through the protective Barrier and engulfed Rose's body.

"Aaaaaah!"

Rose and Oleana cried out in pain within the pillar of light. However, since they hadn't fully returned to the Pokémon World, Yveltal's Oblivion Wing didn't yet have the full power to take their lives. Nevertheless, the process was still painful enough.

Anyone who has experienced this skill can clearly Frisk their life force fading away.

"You... you Hero, how could you break your promise!"

Rose roared, condemning Qiao Ran.

Qiao Ran merely squinted and glanced at Rose and Oleana, who were being swallowed by the Energy Beam.

"Although you all call me the Hero, I know I'm just an ordinary person who holds grudges."

In the final moment before disappearing, Qiao Ran finally managed a smile.

"I'd like to."

Section 232, page 228 [Regression]

The technology to travel between worlds is extremely rare—but that doesn't mean no one can possess it. Just as Lillie attempted to reconstruct the device for traveling between worlds using the remaining data from the Aether Foundation, these are all achievable things.

Of course, the technology in this Otherworld may be very different from that of the Aether Foundation. After all, they belong to different worlds, and the basic Rules of these worlds may have some unexpected deviations, such as changes in the gravitational constant.

"Aaaaaaahhhhh!!!!"

As the Growl around him faded, Qiao Ran, situated between two worlds, began his journey through time.

Standing inside the Portal opened by the Otherworlder, Qiao Ran experienced a completely different feeling compared to Rotom's Portal. If Rotom's portal made him feel "comfortable," this one was probably unbearable for him.

"Hmm..."

Qiao Ran closed her eyes.

Just like when he first encountered those Ultra Beasts, a feeling of nausea and rejection naturally arose from the depths of his body and mind. To prevent the nausea from becoming more intense, Qiao Ran could only close his eyes.

"..."

When Qiao Ran regained consciousness and opened his eyes, he found himself seemingly in a desolate meadow.

The sky was a dim night, dotted with countless stars, and the moon shone brightly amidst the starlight.

"... It seems like it's no Ultra World?"

Qiao Ran clutched his head, his consciousness still somewhat hazy, but everything around him clearly told him that he had left that lifeless, hopeless world devoid of light.

"Yes, this is already Galar, Rotom."

Rotom Levitate beside Qiao Ran and reported the current situation. She could Frisk that this world was the same as the Galar they had been in before, but almost anyone could see that Qiao Ran's location seemed to have changed slightly from before.

"But... where is this place? It doesn't seem to be in Hammerlocke anymore...?"

By the moonlight, Qiao Ran observed his surroundings. It looked like an ordinary suburban meadow with sparse bushes in the distance. Clearly, such a scene was impossible to find in or around Hammerlocke.

There, there are only Castle and Castle ruins; there's no way you could find Forest and meadows.

"Damn it... did that guy trick me again... or was it that he himself couldn't pinpoint the exact location he'd traveled to?"

Qiao Ran didn't know if this was a deliberate design by Rose from Otherworld, or if the other side's technology was simply not advanced enough for precise positioning. In any case, the current situation was not very favorable for him.

"So, Master, shall we return to the Real World first, or do we wish to stay here a little longer, Rotom?"

Rotom pressed Qiao Ran for an answer. She was already prepared to travel through time again. Since she had returned to Galar, Qiao Ran no longer needed to worry about getting her location wrong. In other words, Qiao Ran could return to the Real World right now without any concerns.

When he comes again next time, he will still be able to return to Galar safely.

"Go back..."

Qiao Ran hesitated for a few seconds. He really wanted to return to the Real World, but there were also people in this world he was worried about. If possible, he really hoped to find a human settlement first and then send out the news that he was still safe and sound.

--That's right, at least let Bea and the others know they're safe, and tell them about the Otherworld so they can be wary of the people from the Ultra World.

Although Qiao Ran had Punishment Rose and his Secretary before leaving, making them experience the pain, Qiao Ran didn't believe that such an attack would directly kill them.

Moreover... Qiao Ran doesn't even know where he is right now, let alone find someone to pass on information.

"No... wait, that's not right."

Looking at the surrounding scenery, Qiao Ran seemed to suddenly realize something. He hurriedly ran forward a few steps and pushed aside the bushes not far away.

Suddenly, a straight highway appeared before him, with some warning signs standing crookedly on both sides of the road, reminding passing vehicles to limit their speed.

"That's right... this is it...!"

Qiao Ran's memories flooded back like a tide. He remembered this road because not far away, he could still see some deep pits of varying sizes, which were caused by the fight that took place here.

--That's where he battled the Gigantamax Pokémon!

Gigantamax Machamp!

Qiao Ran's heart started pounding.

"Yveltal!"

Qiao Ran immediately summoned Yveltal, which is more concealed during nighttime operations, and had Yveltal carry him into the air—even back in Galar, he couldn't let his guard down and had to be constantly wary of attacks from Gigantamax Pokémon. However, his excitement still brought a joyful expression to Qiao Ran's face.

What happened, Rotom?

Rotom had been asleep for a long time, had no idea why Qiao Ran was suddenly so happy. However, when asked, Qiao Ran simply Metronome mysteriously.

You'll find out in a little while; consider it a surprise.

If Qiao Ran's guess is correct, they should be able to see the so-called "surprise" soon if they fly in this direction.

The Spikemuth was quiet at night. A girl with Black Twin-Tailed Girl leaned against the dilapidated gate of Spikemuth and couldn't help but Yawn.

"Um..."

Beside her stood a small, half-black, half-yellow electric mouse, which also had a sleepy expression on its face.

"Morpeko, perk up a bit, it's our turn to keep watch tonight."

The girl crouched down and patted her companion's face, trying to rouse it; it wouldn't be good if it suddenly fell asleep.

"Moooo..."

Morpeko to perk himself up a bit. Even though he had rested a little more during the day, keeping watch at night was still quite tiring.

"For the sake of everyone in Spikemuth, someone has to do this. We can't be Slack Off."

To survive in this terrifying world, they must have capable individuals take turns keeping watch at night to prevent Gigantamax Pokémon from suddenly attacking. Spikemuth is a very small town, so even as its leader, the young girl must assume this responsibility.

Responsibility.

The girl stood up straight again, gazing at the Forest outside Spikemuth.

A gentle breeze swayed the tree branches, and she had been gazing at the same scene for who knows how long.

The girl couldn't help but think of some people who had left this town, many of whom never returned after leaving.

"I wonder what's wrong with him..."

"Moooo...! Moooooo!!"

Suddenly, Morpeko's Growl brought the girl back to reality. Her companion, who was lying beside her, suddenly yelled.

The girl looked up in the direction Morpeko looking.

"... Ah... what's that?"

In the direction from which the moonlight shone, a huge, bird-shaped black shadow appeared... Above the shadow, there seemed to be a human-shaped figure...

Section 233, page 229 [Disgraceful Master]

"That is..."

A thought struck the girl, and she quickly ran forward a short distance. She knew the dark figure without a doubt—or rather, after witnessing that scene, she would probably never forget what happened that day.

Some things can truly be remembered for a lifetime.

The shadowy figure drew closer, and the sounds around the girl grew clearer. She could even hear the wind whistling as the figure flapped its wings. However, to her surprise, before the bird-shaped shadow could even fully touch the ground, something fell from above.

"...?"

The girl hurried closer, and when she got nearby, she realized that what was lying on the ground was not a "Monster" at all, but someone she knew very well...

"Qiao Ran...?"