The walk back home was a labyrinth of thoughts for Kenji. The image of Akari Hoshi, the revelation of her lineage, and the imminent entrance exam to Ryūsei Academy swirled in his mind, creating a whirlwind of emotions and expectations. The world, which until recently had seemed like an unknown and hostile territory, was beginning to reveal itself as a place full of opportunities and challenges, but also of unexpected connections and intertwined destinies. The idea of being Akari's classmate at Ryūsei Academy was tempting, but he knew that the path to get there would be arduous and full of obstacles.
Arriving at his house, Kenji greeted his parents with a tired smile, trying to hide the turmoil of emotions that agitated him inside. He shared a silent dinner with them, avoiding mentioning the dangers of the Forbidden Forest or his encounter with the daughter of Ryūjin Hoshi. He preferred to keep his secret world safe from their worries and fears, at least for now. There would be time to reveal the truth later, but he didn't want to do it until he was sure he could protect them.
After dinner, he locked himself in his room and opened the Pokémon System on his phone. He needed a moment of solitude to sort out his thoughts and plan his strategy for the future. The interface lit up, displaying his personal information, his inventory, his Pokédex, and, most importantly, the reward notification for completing the daily mission.
Congratulations! You have completed the mission "Defeat 5 Low-Level Monsters." Reward: 500 System Points.
Kenji smiled with satisfaction. Five hundred system points were a considerable sum, enough to buy essential provisions and strengthen Charmander. The investment was worth it, he thought, remembering the difficulties he had faced in recent battles. Each point was a step closer to his goal, a tool to overcome the challenges that awaited him.
Without wasting time, he went to the Pokémon System shop. He carefully reviewed the list of available items, analyzing their prices and benefits. He knew he had to be prudent with his expenses, that every point counted on his path to success. He couldn't afford to waste resources on unnecessary items.
Finally, he decided on a strategic purchase: ten additional Poké Balls, at five points each, and a batch of small potions, which would allow him to heal Charmander in case of emergency. His inventory, which before seemed empty and desolate, was now filling with useful objects and promises of future adventures. He felt like an explorer preparing for a long journey, ready to face the unknown.
After making his purchases, Kenji closed the application and lay down on the bed. Despite the fatigue, he couldn't fall asleep. His mind was full of images of Akari Hoshi, of the news about Ryūjin Hoshi, and of the possibilities that opened up before him at Ryūsei Academy. The promise of a life full of adventures and challenges kept him awake, fueling his ambition and his desire to excel.
The next day, Kenji woke up with renewed energy. The promise of exploring the new area marked on the Pokémon System map filled him with enthusiasm and curiosity. After having breakfast with his parents and without revealing his true intentions, he headed to the Forbidden Forest, with Charmander following closely behind.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, Kenji felt increasingly intrigued by the mystery of the new area. What kind of secrets did it hold? What kind of challenges awaited him? Would he find a new Pokémon, a powerful beast, or a magic object?
After several battles with minor monsters, Kenji finally arrived at the designated area. It was a quiet and silent clearing, surrounded by tall and sturdy trees. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating a play of light and shadow that danced on the ground. At first glance, there seemed to be nothing special about the place.
Kenji frowned, feeling a little disappointed. Had the Pokémon System made a mistake? Had he been deceived by a false promise? The idea of having wasted his time on a useless search frustrated him.
"Don't give up, Kenji," he said to himself, breathing deeply to calm his nerves. "There must be something here. You just have to look carefully. You can't let disappointment prevent you from reaching your goal."
He began to explore the clearing in more detail, walking back and forth and examining every corner. His eyes scanned the ground, looking for any sign of something unusual. Charmander followed him closely, sniffing the ground and wagging his tail curiously. It seemed to be as eager as Kenji to discover the secret of the place.
Suddenly, Charmander stopped and let out a soft growl, pointing in one direction. Kenji followed his gaze and saw something strange in the distance: a rock protruding from the ground.
"What's that?" Kenji murmured, feeling a spark of curiosity and hope ignite within him.
He approached the rock cautiously, observing it carefully. It was a grayish color and had an irregular shape, as if it had been shaped by time and weather. It didn't resemble any other rock he had seen before. It seemed to emanate a strange energy, a vibration that tickled his skin.
As he got close enough, the Pokémon System identified it with a message that appeared suddenly:
Object Detected: Resonance Stone!
Collect: Obtain 100 system points.
Note: The Resonance Stone is a valuable component for enhancing the growth of Pokémon.
Kenji's jaw dropped. "A Resonance Stone!" he exclaimed, feeling a surge of emotion and euphoria. "This is amazing. This is exactly what I needed."
Without hesitation, he extended his hand and touched the Resonance Stone. Instantly, he felt a warm and vibrant energy run through his body, as if an electric current had invaded him from head to toe. The rock shone with a faint light, dazzling him for a moment, and then faded, leaving a confirmation message in its place:
Resonance Stone Collected! You have obtained 100 system points.
Kenji checked his balance on the Pokémon System: he now had 600 points. The Resonance Stone had been a valuable reward, much more than he had imagined. The Pokémon System was becoming more and more important.
"This is great," Kenji said, grinning from ear to ear. "Now I can buy even more objects and strengthen Charmander. Ryūsei Academy, here we come!"
However, his joy was short-lived. Just as he was about to store his provisions, a rumbling shook the forest, interrupting his celebration. The trees trembled, the birds fled in panic, and the ground shuddered beneath their feet. An icy wind blew through the clearing, extinguishing Charmander's flame and filling the air with an acrid smell of earth and sulfur.