Chapter 56

"... As expected... like master, like Rotom."

Looking at this incomprehensible scene before her, Mei couldn't help but think of her obedient Rotom, and her lips twitched. Her own Rotom Dex was still the best.

Lillie, on the other hand, looked at Rotom, whose face was flushed, with a strange expression. "... Sounds like you're enjoying it? Is it really that comfortable?"

Perhaps because Rotom not only lacked a body but was also a Pokémon, neither Mei nor Lillie gave it much thought. Although it still felt strange, they ultimately treated it as a slightly suggestive joke—who would care about a flying phone?

"Call."

Finding that they didn't seem to care, Qiao Ran breathed a sigh of relief; he had just thought he was about to suffer a social death.

This Rotom... really doesn't know his place. There are other people here, and these aren't his Pokémon, so why is he shouting so loudly?

No... no, even Pokémon aren't allowed.

"Wait, why am I thinking about these things?" Qiao Ran shook her head, quickly banishing the strange thoughts from her mind.

Just then, Rotom's voice rang out.

This time, her voice lost its initial liveliness and became an inorganic electronic sound, as if she were playing a long text transcript.

Rustling...

Project approval.

To cope with different situations, it combines the power of dreams of all attributes.

Project launched.

Tentative name: Beast Killer.

Blueprint planning completed.

Biological skeleton fabrication... complete.

All-Type Cells culture... complete.

Everything went smoothly; I can go see the wrestling Competition tonight.

Codenamed BK, initial development completed.

The Sinnoh Canalave Library data has been retrieved.

A/R system adaptation complete.

One should be serious about one's work.

Complete the tasks assigned by your superiors diligently.

BK's official name has been confirmed; its attribute is: full.

The prototype of S/N, a three-body system, is complete...

Oh no... This is terrible...

Those guys are here...

Prototype emergency test... Result: Failure

We're running out of time...

K

"What's this?"

After listening to this long document, which resembled both a report and a diary, Lillie's eyes widened and she couldn't help but make a sound.

"Bone... cells... prototype, no... could it be... no... impossible... Mother wouldn't agree to such a plan..."

Lillie's breath hitched; clearly, she seemed to be thinking of some fragments of a research report she had only recently come across.

She had initially thought these were all just vague, unreal things, like legends, and that nothing had actually progressed yet. But in fact... things had already gotten this far.

--Biological experiment.

An experiment to create entirely new Pokémon was conducted within the Aether Foundation.

Attribute: Empty.

After listening to Rotom's report, Qiao Ran's expression gradually turned serious, and he focused his gaze on the three Poké Ball.

The report mentions three prototypes in total. So, what's inside those three Poké Ball...?

Section 105, page 102 [Attribute: Empty]

Creating new life—it sounds easy, but it's actually quite difficult to do.

In the Pokémon World, only a handful of organizations possess this technology. Besides the behemoth Team Rocket, which spans two regions, only the Aether Foundation...

It truly achieved the goal of "creating new life." Of course, Magearna, the owner of the Mechanical Pokémon and Soul-Heart, might be considered the only exception.

However, if we compare the differences between Team Rocket and the Aether Foundation, it's not hard to see that the technology used by the Aether Foundation may even be more advanced than that of Team Rocket. They not only used artificial skeletons inside the Pokémon's body, achieving complete self-design, but also injected cells of all types into this artificial life form without obtaining any Legendary Pokémon's body tissue, and achieved good results.

To put it simply, Team Rocket built a towering skyscraper on an already high foundation, but there was likely an element of luck involved. Most importantly, they failed to conduct a proper risk assessment, which led to the experimental subjects breaching containment and causing immense losses to the organization.

The Aether Foundation, on the other hand, forged a completely new path, using inferior materials to build a sturdy structure from scratch according to its own blueprint.

Therefore, the path taken by the Aether Foundation is a more scientific and sustainable one.

Type: Empty -- This is the name of the Pokémon created by the Aether Foundation. This Pokémon, which can be compatible with all types, is their final achievement. The design of such a Pokémon was likely inspired by Arceus in the Sinnoh Region by the Aether Foundation. However, this also shows the ambition of these scientists.

Their initial goal was to create an artificial god.

--What would happen if they replaced those ordinary All-Type Cells with those of Legendary Pokémon?

"Anyway, let's open the Poké Ball and see."

Qiao Ran felt a glimmer of anticipation. Although he had already had close encounters with Legendary Pokémon like Dianxi and Suicune, this was his first time facing a man-made Pokémon. Type: Null... What kind of child was this?

"Wait, it's better to be careful."

Unlike Qiao Ran 'Qiao Ran expected actions, Mei suddenly stopped him. There was some caution in her eyes, or rather, during her time trapped in the Aether Foundation, she had learned to think about problems more carefully.

"As mentioned in that previous record, they conducted one last experiment. Do you remember the results?"

Mei spoke cautiously, and Lillie nodded in agreement, taking over the conversation.

"They... failed."

"That's right. What kind of failure is this? Anyway, being careful is always a good idea."

Mei looked at Lillie, then at Qiao Ran, and after a brief exchange, they came up with a temporary solution.

Find an open space, and then open the ball up.

In case of any unexpected situation, it would be easier to handle than in this cramped indoor space, and the open space under the bridge would be a good alternative.

"Everyone, please come out first."

Upon arriving at their destination, Qiao Ran first released all of his Pokémon, including Nihilego. After this period of training, Qiao Ran was basically able to ensure that Nihilego wouldn't do anything strange.

"You all come out too."

Like Qiao Ran, Mei also released her Poison-type squad, and the two teams formed an encirclement, surrounding a clearing in the center.

Even in the sky, Qiao Ran's Altaria Mei's Decidueye were keeping watch, ensuring that not even a single Buzzwole could escape.

"Okay, is that about right?"

Qiao Ran looked around and Mei and Lillie both nodded to him, indicating that everything was OK.

Qiao Ran then put on gloves and picked up a Beast Ball from the box with his right hand.

"Come out!"

He pressed the switch on the Beast Ball and launched it, aiming directly at the center of the encirclement.

After a dazzling display of light effects, a strangely shaped, four-limbed beast-like Pokémon appeared in the center of the Battle Court.

This Pokémon has a jet-black body and a huge brown restraint on its head, but the strangest thing is its body—its Pokémon are made of sharp bird claws, while its hind limbs are ordinary beast-like. Not only that, its tail is also shaped like a fish tail.

She embodies characteristics of many distinct creatures, much like the legendary chimera—seemingly incongruous yet strangely unified.

"He seems... to be quite normal?"

Seeing that the other party stood still for a long time without moving, Qiao Ran couldn't help but breathe a slight sigh of relief. In this state, communication was most likely possible, as long as the other party was also using the "language" of this world's Pokémon. However—just as he was thinking this, the Type: Null suddenly raised its body and roared angrily, the Rage Growl coming from the restraints on its head.

"... Roar... Roar roar roar roar roar!!!!!"

Instantly, a powerful shockwave emanated from her body, causing Qiao Ran and the others to involuntarily take a step back. Then, like a reverse-spreading ripple of water, a dark yet bright, evil yet righteous light spread along the distant wall, and then—passed over the ground, passing beneath Qiao Ran and the others' feet.

They gathered on the one with the Type: Null.

In that instant, her body was illuminated by a faint light, as if it had been magnified and expanded to a higher level. Not only that, but a strong and unsettling aura also erupted from her. Feeling that abnormal fluctuation, Qiao Ran's expression grew increasingly grim.

This is exactly the same aura that Nihilego had back then!

"Why... why is this guy..."

Qiao Ran couldn't help but glance at her own Nihilego. At this moment, it was still floating in the air, twisting its body and saying something that Qiao Ran couldn't understand at all.

"Qiao Ran!"

Mei and Lillie both called out to Qiao Ran, their expressions also turning quite grim.

"Roar roar roar roar roar!"

The aura emanating from her Type: Null continued to grow, and in a short time, it reached its peak. Moreover, her body size had increased to at least 1.5 times its original size.

"Roar...!"

Immediately afterwards, she let out a roar, and her limbs began to move rapidly on the ground. Her body emitted colorless energy, causing the Sturdy ground of the Aether Foundation to crack like Spider Web. Agility, she charged forward like a tank!

--And the place she charged at was exactly where Qiao Ran was standing; to be more precise, she was aiming at the person who would eventually hold that Beast Ball!

She wants to break free from her constraints!

Section 106, Page 103 [Awoo!]

"Awoo!"

Seeing the approaching Type: Null, the first to act was the Vulpix that had been staying by Qiao Ran's side. She opened her small mouth, and a biting cold wind swept past, even causing tiny ice shards to appear on the ground.

Because of her small size and frail physique, Vulpix can't form an encirclement like other Pokémon, so it's better for her to stay by Qiao Ran's side and protect her trainer's safety.

However, the Vulpix's attack, when used on the current Type: Null, didn't seem to have much effect. The giant artificial beast was still running wildly, even though a thick layer of ice had formed on its head.

Her Type: Null; Beast Killer. She has many names.

However, she was created to exist as a weapon.

She is a weapon, a useful weapon, a weapon capable of piercing the enemy's chest.

However—all she Covet for now was freedom, all she Covet was to have the restraints on her head removed.

"Roar roar roar roar roar roar!!"

The attack from the Type: Null continued. Watching that unstoppable charge, Qiao Ran couldn't help but think of Iron Maiden, who also liked to be straightforward. However, this artificial beast clearly brought him a stronger sense of Pressure.

"Qiao Ran!"

"Careful!!"

Mei and Lillie both cast worried glances at Qiao Ran. At their current distance, they were unable to provide any support; that Type: Null was simply too fast and too terrifying.

"Damn it."

A bead of cold sweat dripped down Qiao Ran's forehead. He started running, but his speed was nothing compared to that of a Pokémon.

These Pokémon, whose bodies are covered in strange auras, seem to have some kind of unspoken agreement; once they launch an attack, it's always aimed at their trainers.

Oh no! Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!

As the Type: Null drew ever closer, Qiao Ran's face grew paler and paler. The Vulpix was also launching an attack with all its might, but the opponent showed no signs of stopping.