Chapter 72: Welcome to Middel
On the central continent of the Pokémon world, the several regions separated by the central mountain range known as the "Spine of the World" were each given different names by humans.
The region located in the east—the "Ist Region"—had a suitable climate, often with abundant rainfall and ample sunshine, thus supporting the growth of vast, lush green forests. Humans relied on the natural wilderness for survival, advocating for harmony between people and nature. Under the region's more primitive ecology, many wild and untamed Pokémon also lived. Newmoon Forest, as the region's largest primeval forest, was home to nearly forty percent of the Pokémon in the "Ist Region."
Crossing the mountain range that bordered the "Ist Region's" Newmoon Forest and arriving at the west of the continent, one would find the "Weston Archipelago." This region was close to the ocean, dotted with various islands of different sizes. Each island possessed its own unique ecosystem; some islands had high and low cliffs, some had lakes distributed in their centers, some were covered in dense jungles, and some were barren on the surface but had extremely expansive spaces beneath the island. It was also because of this unique topography that the most developed industry in the "Weston Archipelago" was seafaring. Various large shipbuilding factories and trade docks were concentrated in this region.
To the south of the continent was a large port shaped like an inverted crescent moon. Looking out from the port, besides the flagships of various large shipyards on the ocean, one could also see what could be called the greatest of human creations in the Pokémon world—the "Continental Railway." Heaven knows how the humans of the past, facing the harsh ocean environment, overcame the monstrous waves and turbulent currents to lay the entire railway track over the ocean, starting from the south of the continent and connecting to another, smaller landmass—the "Flotte Continent." Humans traveled between the two continents using the railway, bringing about exchange and interaction among the people of various regions.
Speaking of the "Flotte Continent," one must mention its industrial manufacturing. Perhaps due to its distance from the central continent, the residents of the "Flotte Continent" couldn't obtain a large supply of resources from it. Therefore, they could only establish numerous industrial zones by excavating and utilizing the various resources existing on their own continent—heavy industries like machinery, steel, and energy, and light industries like clothing, furniture, and daily necessities. Because of its excellent industrial output, the central continent would also import various industrial products by sea, while the "Flotte Continent" similarly relied on exports to the central continent to obtain various hard-to-get resources. A complementary industrial chain structure had formed between the two continents.
However, due to excessive mining and excavation, as well as factory waste pollution, one side of1 the "Flotte Continent" has slowly desertified. The relatively harsh living environment has forced humans to move their living areas to the other side of the "Flotte Continent." Thus, the continent has formed two distinct forms: one side is an industrial zone with factories dotted across a desert, and the other is a residential area covered in green vegetation.
Finally, turning our sights to the central-northern part of the central continent, this is the largest region in this world, and also the region with the most complex terrain and environment. From the ten-thousand-foot snowy mountains in the west to the Fiery Volcano in the east, all kinds of terrains and landforms such as plains, forests, wastelands, and deserts can be found. The world's tallest natural structure—the Sky Tower—or the tallest man-made structure—the Battle Tower; the continent's largest agricultural fields, largest power plant, most luxurious shopping mall, and even the headquarters of the Pokémon League; all sorts of cutting-edge technology, and even the most ancient history that can be traced back, are all located here.
And our new story2 begins anew in the "Middel Region."
…
Endless purple light, blue light, black light, all mixed together, swirled in the void.
However, the chaos gradually subsided, and finally, returned to a state of nothingness.
"Ugh..."
Outside Verdant Leaf City in the Middel Region, by a sparsely traveled path, a small, dog-shaped, blue-and-black Pokémon lay collapsed in the dense grass, its eyes tightly shut.
Its mouth moved, letting out a weak sound.
Slowly, it opened its eyes, which were filled with confusion and chaos.
"Chirp, chirp?"
On a nearby tree, a swallow-like Pokémon with red feathers on its head and neck and a forked tail curiously flew down and lightly pecked the fur on the small dog Pokémon's head.
"Ah!"
This peck jolted the muddle-headed Rio awake. He shot up, his originally chaotic eyes regaining their clarity.
"Chirp, chirp! (Pokémon Language) You scared me!"
But this sudden movement startled the Taillow that had been playfully pecking at Rio's head. It hastily flew back up the tree, using the leaves to hide its body, and curiously watched this unfamiliar Pokémon through the gaps.
Rio sat there, somewhat stunned, desperately trying to recall what had just happened.
"I was... hmm, in the experimental base in Newmoon Forest, having a final battle with... Mewtwo... That's right, I even turned into an 'Aura Emissary'? ...And then I used all my aura to unleash an [Aura Sphere], which collided with Mewtwo's, uh, giant psychic energy ball formed by [Psychic]... What happened after that..."
Rio racked his brains, finally remembering a small detail from a corner of his memory.
"I remember when the energies clashed, there was a... a rift, which sucked both Mewtwo and me in." Rio sat up and looked around, finding that he was still surrounded by various grasses and trees, but it was clearly no longer a forest environment. Because, through the gaps in the grass, he could vaguely see a paved road and a creation that would not appear in a wild forest—a streetlight.
It was currently dusk. The streetlight began to emit a faint glow, dutifully illuminating the path for any passing creatures.
"That rift, did it transport me to another place? Then what about the Pokémon and humans of Newmoon Forest? The Blastoise Boss, Takuma, Souichi, Officer Jenny, Poliwhirl, Brother Machoke, what happened to them now?"
Rio thought of that string of familiar names, and worry surfaced in his heart.
"Sigh... but since both Mewtwo and I were sucked away, without a terrifying Pokémon like Mewtwo, even that Jerrod with his controlled Golduck would be no match for the Blastoise Boss and the others..."
Letting out a long sigh, Rio still comforted himself.
"I won't think about it. First, I need to figure out where I am now, then survive, and find a chance to go back to Newmoon Forest to get news about my companions."
Having settled his mind, Rio finally had a chance to assess his own situation.
With a thought, the light screen instantly appeared before his eyes. Countless data flowed past like water, finally settling on an interface with four panels.
"Huh???"
"Why is there an extra panel?"