Chapter 56 The Clara Mountains

Chapter 56: The Clara Mountains

The Clara Mountains lay in the southeastern reaches of the Sinnoh region. Surrounded by hostile climates and treacherous terrain, since the dawn of human society they had always been regarded as a forbidden zone for mankind. It was only in recent years, with the rapid advancement of technology and the ever-growing hubris of humanity—driven by a fierce desire to conquer nature—that a handful of explorers dared set foot upon the Clara Mountains.

Yet, to everyone’s astonishment, even with highly developed technology and powerful Pokémon companions, those who returned alive from the mountains were exceedingly few. These survivors shared one unmistakable trait: without exception, they were all elite trainers of extraordinary strength.

But when it came to the Clara Mountains themselves, these survivors fell curiously silent, refusing to disclose any details to the outside world. In interviews with the media, they all issued the same solemn warning to the world:

“Absolutely, under no circumstances, should anyone enter the Clara Mountains without thorough preparation!”

“You’ll need powerful Pokémon companions, extensive wilderness survival skills, the most advanced exploration equipment, indomitable will, and fearless courage—and, finally, a bit of luck.”

“Miss even one of these, and it’s almost impossible to make it out alive.”

As the powerful organization that ruled most of the world, the Pokémon League had naturally dispatched numerous official teams to explore the Clara Mountains. But the number of agents who returned alive was so small, the information gleaned so scant, that ultimately, the effort was deemed not worth the cost, and the League abandoned its attempts. After establishing restricted zones around most of the area, they left the Clara Mountains well enough alone.

Yet despite the terror and danger, hundreds, even thousands of adventurers risked life and limb every year to venture into the heart of the mountains.

To the north of the Clara Mountains, a vast, dense forest stretched out—a place teeming with dangerous wild Pokémon, but still far preferable to the deathly seas to the south or the scorching desert to the west. Thus, it became the point of entry for most adventurers who sought to brave the Clara Mountains.

...

A harsh screech broke the silence as thick, sturdy black tires skidded violently against the ground. A dust-caked off-road jeep came to a steady halt.

A robust man leapt down from the vehicle. He wore a sharp camouflage jacket, heavy military boots, and carried a black backpack slung over his shoulders.

Matt tightened his loose belt, his gaze filled with longing as he looked toward the shadowy forest not far ahead. In the distant sky, he could just make out the towering mountain peaks shrouded in mist and cloud.

As a professional adventurer, exploring the Clara Mountains had always been his ultimate dream.

After years of preparation, today, at last, he was ready to act and realize his dream. But before he set off, there was one final task left. Smiling faintly, Matt popped open the jeep’s trunk and pulled out a black case the size of a small refrigerator.

His muscles taut, the years of training had given him a solid, unyielding core. With a heavy thud, he set the case down on the ground.

At the front of the case was a monochrome glass screen with a keyboard, its design reminiscent of a bygone era’s computers. Inside, three semicircular grooves sat arranged in perfect symmetry.

Matt’s fingers danced nimbly over the keyboard as lines of code flickered across the screen. He pressed Enter.

With a low mechanical hum, the case vibrated slightly. Soon, the tremor ceased.

Matt lifted the lid. Where the grooves had been empty, there now rested three Poké Balls.

The one on the left was blue, adorned with vivid red markings; the one in the center was striped black and yellow, a tiny lightning bolt decorating the button; the last was a simple, elegant white, marked only with a slim red line along the seam.

He carefully unlatched each Poké Ball and placed them into the empty slots on his belt, satisfaction lighting his face.

In truth, besides being a professional adventurer, Matt held another, more clandestine role: he was an operations consultant for Dark Star.

Within the organization, his main responsibilities were to provide strategic guidance and advice for various missions—a leisurely post, but a lucrative one.

For this journey into the Clara Mountains, Matt had made the most thorough preparations possible, yet he knew his chances of survival remained slim. Thus, before entering the mountains, he had spent all his savings and a vast reserve of points he’d accumulated within Dark Star, sparing no effort or expense to increase his odds.

The three Pokémon before him had been carefully selected from the organization’s lending vault after extensive research, chosen for their overall strength, mission ratings, and value—those most suited to this expedition. Together with the three Pokémon he had carefully raised since childhood, Matt was confident that, at the very least, he need not worry about his team’s strength.

The morning sunlight fell gently, casting soft traces of light across Matt’s weathered face. From deep within the forest came the distant, melancholy roar of some unknown beast—ancient, lingering, as if mourning another adventurer soon to be lost.

A few Murkrow, looking like little black-hatted courtiers, burst from the trees and soared into the vast blue sky, forming a V-shaped flock that soon vanished from Matt’s sight.

Drawing back his gaze, Matt smiled faintly, drew a deep breath, and with resolute eyes, stepped boldly into the dense forest ahead.

...

Within the gray expanse of the Poké Ball’s interior, Luyun lay contentedly atop a great mound of fluff, eyes half closed in leisure. Around his neck, the Thunder Stone necklace pulsed with a steady, gentle green light, as though breathing. In his right hand, where he held a purple crystal, dazzling liquid light flowed, spreading through his body.

The cool, radiant green and the dazzling purple intertwined, like the notes of a graceful classical symphony.

A faint vibration hummed through the Poké Ball.

Luyun slowly opened his eyes, stretched lazily, and gazed out through the translucent walls. The inky darkness had been replaced by a lush, verdant plain; in the distance, he could see the edge of a dense forest.

Excitement flickered in his eyes.

“At last, a mission!”

To Luyun, every assignment from the organization was like a dungeon in his past life’s games—offering rich experience, precious resources, and rare opportunities. Simply lying around in the Poké Ball, like a beached fish, would never bring real improvement.