The once-vibrant forest was now cloaked in shadows, the moon casting pale beams through the dense canopy.
The night was alive with unfamiliar sounds, distant cries of Pokémon, the rustling of unseen creatures, and the whisper of the wind as it carried the scent of damp earth.
He stood at the edge of a hill, eyes fixed on the distant town.
Small buildings clustered together, their rooftops illuminated by scattered streetlights.
Even from this distance, figures moved along the streets, humans.
Civilization.
That meant answers for Jinwoo.
He turned to his shadows, Beru, Igris, Umbreon, and Weavile.
All stood ready.
"We move," he commanded.
Beru's wings vibrated softly.
"Shall I eliminate any threats, my king?"
Jin-Woo shook his head.
"No. We remain unseen for now."
The town could hold valuable information, and while he wasn't opposed to using force, he needed to understand this world first.
Striding forward, he kept his presence suppressed.
His shadows followed, silent and unseen, blending into the darkness with predatory grace.
The outskirts of the settlement were quiet.
A wooden sign stood near the entrance, carved with letters.
Eterna Town.
His eyes narrowed.
He had never heard of this place, nor had he seen this language before.
And yet, he understood it perfectly.
'Interesting.'
A few houses lined the dirt path leading deeper into the town.
Faint lights flickered behind windows, the glow of lanterns and strange mechanical devices illuminating the interiors.
He observed carefully.
The architecture was different from what he was used to, simpler, but not primitive.
The streets were clean, the air filled with an odd mix of nature and something artificial.
Then, he saw them.
People.
A group stood near a large structure in the center of town, dressed in casual clothing.
Some carried small, red-and-white spheres attached to their belts.
Others had Pokémon standing beside them, engaged in idle conversation.
Humans and Pokémon coexisted here openly.
He continued forward, keeping his distance.
He used stealth to make his presence unnoticed.
As he neared a street corner, hushed voices caught his attention.
"...Yeah, I saw it near the route. A Weavile and an Umbreon, but they were… different."
He froze.
A young man, no older than twenty, stood with his arms crossed, speaking to another.
His expression was tense.
The other, a girl, frowned.
"Different? How?"
The man hesitated.
"They… felt off. Like they weren't normal Pokémon. I don't know how to explain it, but when I looked at them, I felt—" He shuddered. "—like they were watching me. It creeped me out."
The girl scoffed.
"Maybe they were just strong Pokémon. You worry too much."
The conversation shifted to other topics, but he had heard enough.
Even without revealing himself, people could sense the difference in his shadows.
That meant keeping a low profile would be difficult.
He turned away, slipping further into the town, when a sudden voice rang out from behind him.
"You there! Hold on!"
He halted.
Someone noticed him.
Slowly, he turned around.
A man in uniform stood a few feet away, a badge gleaming on his chest.
His hand hovered near a Poké Ball on his belt, eyes sharp with suspicion.
"A traveler?" the officer asked, stepping closer. "You don't look familiar."
Jin-Woo remained silent.
The officer's gaze narrowed.
"What's your business in Eterna Town?"
He met the stare evenly, considering his options.
'Should he speak? Lie? Eliminate him?'
Then, a new voice cut in.
"Officer Jensen, relax. He's just passing through."
A woman approached, hands tucked into her pockets.
She had short, dark hair and an easy confidence in her stride.
Unlike the officer, she didn't reach for her Poké Balls, but her eyes were sharp, calculating.
Jensen sighed, shaking his head.
"Fine. But keep an eye out, Gardenia. Something's been off lately."
Gardenia.
The name meant nothing to him, but it was clear she held authority.
Once the officer left, she turned to him, an amused glint in her eyes.
"You don't talk much, do you?"
He remained silent.
She smirked.
"That's fine. Name's Gardenia. Gym Leader of Eterna City."
'Gym Leader?'
He stored the information away.
She studied him for a moment longer before tilting her head.
"You got a Pokémon, or are you just sightseeing?"
He knew an opportunity when he saw one.
If she was important, then getting information from her would be easy.
His lips curled into a faint smirk.
"I have a Pokémon."
Her eyes lit up.
"Then how about a battle?"