"Metagross, let's go."

  Standing at the vil door, Julian recalled all his Pokémon into their Poké Balls, then released his Metagross outside.

  Today, he was heading to Advanced Secret Realm No. 25, for which he had already secured a month-long leave from his head teacher, Frank.

  The time spent in an advanced secret realm varied, but typically, trainers would stay for about a month. In some cases, rger secret realms required even more time.

  Julian's primary aim i Realm No. 25 wasn't to catch more Pokémon; he already had a solid team of eight.

  But her Growlithe nor Slowking were high in levels.

  Instead, he po train his Pokémon and search for hidden treasures. Though, if he happened upon a particurly exceptional Pokémon, he'd certainly make the capture.

  "Ding~"

  Just as he reparing to set out, his phone chimed.

  Julian's expression shifted as he read the message.

  "A riot has broken out in Intermediate Secret Realm No. 36 near Yuan ty, Imperial City. Numerous Pokémon have breached the secret realm's gates. All senior and junior students from Imperial City Uy are to provide immediate support, while support from youudents is optional."

  A secret realm riot was a serious event. When a riot occurred, the first casualties were usually the secret realm guards, followed by anyone in the nearby town.

  Typically, intermediate secret realms were managed by rge corporations, schools, powerful families, or the local Trainer Association.

  These entities were responsible not only for managing the realm but also for taining any potential Pokémon outbreaks.

  Most Pokémon from secret realms preferred to stay within them, as the outside enviro was entirely different.

  However, there were annual instances all over the world, where Pokémon burst out of these realms, sometimes causing signifit destru.

  Many factors could trigger such events, like ges in the secret realm's enviro, hostile interference by evil forces, or powerful Pokémon expanding their territories and driving out the former octs.

  "Dragonite!"

  Julian called as he returned Metagross to its Poké Ball and summoned his Dragonite.

  He quickly attached a swift-flight saddle ontonite's bad pulled up his map, pinpointing the location of Secret Realm No. 36.

  "Dragonite, head northwest!"

  Julian directed, climbing onto the saddle.

  Dragonite nodded and took off swiftly in the indicated dire.

  At the same time, numerous students from Imperial College were also on their way to Secret Realm No. 36 by various means. The sky was filled with more Pokémon than usual, all heading in the same dire.

  Imperial Uy had called on only the seniors and third-year students, as they were mostly pseudo-Elite level a suited to hahe situation. Their battle skills and self-defense capabilities made them a reliable force for dealing with mid-level secret realm riots.

  Meanwhile, first and sed-year students, were still at the Advanced level.

  An advanced-level trainer wasn't enough to handle Pokémon riots in a mid-level secret realm.

  So whether to participate or not to them.

  However, if you went and faced dahe school won't be held responsible if something happened. Even if third- and fourth-year students lost their lives in suts, Imperial Uy wouldn't bear liability.

  Trainers enjoyed a high social standing and strong bes, but they also faced much higher risks.

  Before being a Trainer, everyone signed an agreement.

  The essence of the agreement was clear: 'if you meet your end, don't bme others—aowledge that you simply weren't strong enough.'

  "Hugo, let's tact Brother Walker right away!"

  Luis called out, looking at the text message on his phone.

  "Julian just flew off on his Dragonite, heading straight for the secret realm," Hugo pointed skyward.

  "Then we're going too!"

  Luis ran toward the uy's rental office to secure a Flying Pokémon, but the area was already crowded—clearly, many students had the same idea.

  News of the i at Intermediate Secret Realm No. 36 in Yuan ty quickly spread online, prompting numerous Trainers in the area to rush to the se.

  Though the local residents had been advised to evacuate when the riot first broke through, Yuan ty was a densely poputed ty-level city with nearly two million residents.

  Fifty trainers statioo guard the secret realm sted only half an hour before the defensive line was overrun by the rioting Pokémon. All fifty perished itle.

  Evacuating such a rge number of people in under half an hour ractically impossible.

  The only thing that could be done now was to support Yuan ty as soon as possible, and at the same time make the greatest efforts to evacuate the people.

  --

  A Pidgeot with a camera strapped to its neck hovered high above Secret Realm No. 36, broadcasting the se live.

  Down below, an unending stream of Pokémon poured from the realm's gates. Small Pokémon like Rattata, Caterpie, and Venonat were even crushed uhe stampede er ones, including Onix, Golem, and Nidoking.

  Over ten thousand Pokémon had already broken free, and their numbers tio rise, all heading in the dire of the ty.

  In the live broadcast chat, desperate messages appeared:

  "How did this riot start? Has anyone figured out the reason?"

  "My parents are still in Yuan ty…"

  "Where are the Trainers? Whehey going to show up?!"

  "Pray for…"

  The Pidgeot beloo a small media pany that had been filming a short feature in Yuan ty when the riot occurred.

  While most people had fled, the pany's two founders stayed behind.

  One seudo-Elite Trainer, while the other was just an ordinary person. The Trainer saportunity in the chaos ahe Pidgeot to capture the live se.

  The viewership in the live stream had surged to over five millioe the grim situation, the pseudo-Elite Trainer couldn't help but feel that this daring move was worthwhile.

  "Our at has gone viral, so I'm leaving it to you," said the pseudo-Elite to his partner.

  "Yeah it sure-wait, What? where are you going with this?," his partner replied, feeling a surge of excitement—until his expression shifted in realization.

  "Going to stop this, As a middle-aged man, I hought I'd still have that fire in me."

  "Are you crazy? You haven't fought in ages! Didn't you see all those Trainers fleeing earlier?" His partner looked at him in disbelief.

  When disaster strikes, some step forward while others flee.

  "That's exactly why I'm going. Don't worry, I'm not about to run or die. I still have a family to care for bae," the prospective Elite Trainer said, ughing.

  "If you die, I'll take care of your wife and kid," his partner said seriously.

  The prospective Elite Trainer: 'Damn, do I have to take you out first before I go?'