Though he felt guilty about deceiving Jin, Su Feng knew honesty would've led to outright refusal—or worse, Jin insisting on joining him in the dangerous realm.
"Sorry, Jin! I'll explain everything to Old Chen later!" Su Feng clasped his hands apologetically.
Jin's anger softened. "You realize I'll face consequences for this?"
"Promise I'll clear things up!" Su Feng pleaded.
Resigned, Jin sighed. "Just… stay safe."
A blinding flash engulfed the S.S. Anne. When the light faded, the ship—and Su Feng—had vanished.
Inside the Mysterious Realm
The sky hung heavy with gloom, moonlight barely illuminating the ghostly silhouette of the cruise ship. Su Feng activated his drone, unsurprised to see full signal bars. Only my gear works here?
"Live stream: GO!"
Viewers flooded in:
[Where is this? Did you sail to the moon?]
[Bro's cosplaying as a vampire now?]
[Wait, did he say MYSTERIOUS REALM?! But there's signal?!]
[If it's Feng's stream, logic doesn't apply. Proceed.]
Su Feng facepalmed. "Yes, we're inside a realm. And meet the star—" He aimed the drone at the Alolan Vulpix napping in his arms.
The pup stirred, batting a paw at the drone.
[OMG SO FLUFFY!!!]
[My heart just exploded.]
[What Pokémon is this?! A snowy Vulpix?!]
[New life goal: Find one. Sell kidney if needed.]
"Introducing Alolan Vulpix!" Su Feng explained. "Regional variants adapt to their environments. Normal Vulpix are Fire-types; these are Ice-types. They evolve with an Ice Stone—"
He paused, recalling the Ice Stone in his backpack. Glancing at the snoozing Vulpix, he grimaced. If she evolves into Ninetales, I can't carry her around like this…
Better sell the stone.
Realm Exploration
The ship creaked ominously. Frost crept across the deck—unnatural even for an icy realm.
"Stay sharp," Su Feng whispered to Combusken and Haunter. Vulpix yawned, oblivious.
A guttural roar echoed. From the mist emerged a pack of Sneasel, eyes glowing crimson.
"Hostiles!" Su Feng barked. "Combusken, Flame Charge! Haunter, Confuse Ray!"
The Sneasel scattered as flames lit the gloom. Haunter's spectral lights disoriented stragglers.
But the victory was short-lived. A massive shadow loomed—a Weavile twice the normal size, its claws dripping frost.
"Night Slash!"
Combusken barely dodged, the attack gouging the deck.
"Retreat!" Su Feng ordered. They fled toward the ship's interior, Weavile's snarls echoing behind.
The Ice Stone Dilemma
Barricaded in a storage room, Su Feng pulled out the Ice Stone. Its blue glow reflected in Vulpix's curious eyes.
"Want to evolve?" he asked softly.
"Vuu?" She pawed the stone, then nuzzled his hand—No. Stay like this.
Su Feng smiled. "Don't worry. We'll find another way."
But first… He opened his livestream shop interface.
[Ice Stone Listing Added]
Price: Negotiable. Buyer must pass vibe check.