Jinwoo stood at the edge of Eterna City, gazing out at the road leading east.
He had no set destination, but he knew staying in one place for too long would only draw more attention.
Cynthia had already taken notice of him.
Team Galactic, too, seemed to be watching him secretly, he noticed it ever since they started.
It was only a matter of time before someone made a move.
Behind him, his shadows remained silent, waiting for his command.
Weavile crouched low on a nearby rooftop, its red feather-like crown barely visible against the dark sky.
Zangoose stood a few paces back, its blood-red markings faintly glowing under the streetlights.
Beru, as always, remained the most imposing presence, a silent guardian in the night.
And then, there was Darkrai, half-visible, shifting between reality and nothingness, lingering in the darkness like a specter.
Jinwoo had no doubts about the legendary Pokémon's loyalty.
But its presence alone was enough to stir chaos.
He exhaled softly.
He needed to move before trouble found him first.
But unfortunately, it seemed fate had other plans.
A flicker of movement.
The sound of rapid footsteps.
Jinwoo turned just as a group of figures stepped out from the shadows of an alleyway.
Their uniforms were unmistakable, Team Galactic.
Five of them.
All wearing matching silver jumpsuits with the signature "G" insignia.
One, standing at the center, looked more authoritative than the rest, possibly a commander or squad leader.
Jinwoo remained motionless, watching as they surrounded him.
The leader, a man with slicked-back hair and sharp features, smirked.
"We've been looking for you."
Jinwoo raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
The man's smirk widened.
"Darkrai belongs to Team Galactic."
Darkrai, who had been silently observing from the shadows, let out a low chuckle.
"I do not belong to anyone."
The Galactic grunts tensed.
Clearly, they weren't used to Pokémon speaking telepathically.
They looked new.
The leader's smirk twitched slightly, but he quickly recovered.
"You don't understand. Darkrai was meant to be captured by us. It has no place following some rogue trainer."
Jinwoo's expression remained unreadable.
"And?"
The man's smile disappeared.
"Hand it over."
Jinwoo tilted his head slightly.
"And if I don't?"
The leader's eyes hardened. He motioned to the grunts.
"Then we take it by force."
Jinwoo sighed.
They really had no idea what they were dealing with.
He extended his hand.
"Try it."
The Team Galactic grunts reacted instantly.
"Go!"
Poké Balls shot through the air, bursting open in flashes of light.
A Golbat, a Skuntank, a Kadabra, and two Houndooms emerged, growling and snarling as they surrounded Jinwoo.
Jinwoo remained still.
He didn't need to react.
His shadows would handle this.
Weavile was the first to move.
Before the enemy Pokémon could even process what was happening, it blurred forward, claws glowing with Night Slash.
Golbat screeched, too slow.
Weavile's claws slashed across its wings, sending it crashing to the ground before it could even take flight.
At the same time, Zangoose lunged at one of the Houndooms, its claws glowing with Shadow Claw.
The Fire-type roared in pain as the attack landed cleanly against its side.
The other Houndoom turned, preparing a Flamethrower.
Only for Beru to appear behind it.
The fire never left its mouth.
Beru's glowing mandibles snapped shut around the Pokémon's throat.
A sickening crack followed.
The Houndoom collapsed, unconscious before it even hit the ground.
The Galactic grunts took a step back, their confidence wavering.
The leader gritted his teeth.
"Kadabra, use—"
He never finished the command.
Jinwoo's eyes glowed light blue, in a blur of motion Jinwoo was in front of it.
The Psychic-type's eyes widened in panic, its teleportation became useless.
Sung Jinwoo held it head and smashed it to the ground.
The leader took a shaky step back.
"What the hell—"
Darkrai finally moved.
A pulse of Dark Void exploded outward, engulfing the remaining Pokémon in its eerie glow.
One by one, the enemy Pokémon collapsed into sleep, their bodies twitching as nightmares consumed them.
Silence.
The battle had lasted mere moments.
Jinwoo finally spoke, his voice cold.
"I'll give you one chance to leave."
The grunts didn't hesitate.
They turned and ran.
The leader, however, remained frozen, his hands clenched into fists.
He trembled, whether from anger or fear, Jinwoo couldn't tell.
Finally, he spoke.
"You don't know what you've just done." His voice was barely above a whisper.
Jinwoo narrowed his eyes.
The man lifted his gaze.
"You've made an enemy of Cyrus."
Then he turned and fled.
Jinwoo watched him go, his expression unreadable.
Cyrus.
The leader of Team Galactic.
The man who sought to recreate the world in his own image.
Jinwoo exhaled.
It was only a matter of time before he ran into the true power of Team Galactic.
But he wasn't concerned.
If Cyrus wanted to challenge him...
Then he would crush him.
Jinwoo watched as the last of the Team Galactic grunts disappeared into the night.
The battle had ended almost as soon as it began, but the consequences would ripple far beyond this moment.
Cyrus.
That name lingered in Jinwoo's mind.
He knew from what little he had learned about this world that Team Galactic wasn't just some petty criminal gang.
Cyrus was dangerous, not in the way a strong trainer was, but because of his vision.
A man willing to destroy an entire world to create his own.
Jinwoo wasn't particularly concerned.
But he knew what would come next.
If Team Galactic had been watching him before, they would be hunting him now.
Good.
If they wanted to challenge him, he would let them come.
Jinwoo turned to his shadows.
The battle had been easy, too easy.
If the enemies in this world continued to be this weak, then he would have no real reason to fight.
He had to find a challenge.
Eterna City was no longer worth staying in.
If Cynthia had already taken notice of him and Team Galactic was watching, then it was time to move.
But where?
Jinwoo pulled out a map he had taken from a trainer earlier that day.
His eyes scanned the region.
To the east was Celestic Town, a small village with historical ruins.
To the south was Hearthome City, a place filled with trainers, a Gym, and a Contest Hall.
To the west, beyond the forest, was Canalave City, home to a library filled with knowledge.
Jinwoo tapped his finger on Hearthome City.
A Gym meant strong trainers.
And strong trainers meant more battles.
His decision was made.
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