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Chris searched for the source of the voice but found no one visible. The sound seemed to be transmitted directly into his ears through some unseen method.

However, Chris could clearly identify that it was Professor Theodore's voice.

"Get out of there first and lose those pursuers," Theodore's voice instructed again.

Chris chose to trust the guidance.

He recalled Greninja and Mega Garchomp to their Poké Balls, then had Gardevoir use Teleport to escape the approaching swarm.

They easily disappeared from the hostile Pokémon's sight.

Several minutes later, Chris encountered Theodore in a desolate area away from the town.

"I haven't seen you for a year. You've changed so dramatically that I almost didn't recognize you," Chris observed as he studied Theodore.

This was vastly different from the gentle, elegant Professor Theodore who could have been called a "young master" and served as the dream companion of countless students when they had met a year ago.

Professor Theodore now sported a full beard and disheveled hair, displaying a weathered, experienced appearance.

There was something more—a sense of having lived through hardship and struggle.

He had evolved from a handsome young man into a distinguished mature gentleman.

What exactly had Theodore experienced during this past year?

"You've changed as well," Theodore replied, studying Chris with equal curiosity.

In one year, Chris had completely lost his youthful innocence.

A year ago, Chris had been merely a freshman; now he should be a sophomore. However, he currently possessed the refined temperament of an accomplished trainer who radiated quiet confidence and capability.

Theodore suddenly recalled suggesting that Chris challenge Gym Leaders before coming to this rescue mission.

Given the strength demonstrated by that extraordinary Greninja and the Garchomp capable of Mega Evolution, Chris had presumably achieved Gym Trainer status.

Fame at such a young age naturally produced that sharp, confident bearing.

"So, have you completed whatever you needed to accomplish here?" Chris asked. Even now, he didn't understand why Theodore had desperately entered this dimensional world.

"It's finished," Theodore smiled with satisfaction.

"That's excellent news."

"Professor Vladimir said he needs approximately twelve hours for preparation time. After that's complete, we can return directly through a spatial channel," Chris explained, offering Theodore the spatial locator device.

Theodore didn't accept it immediately, instead thinking, "Only twelve hours?"

"Actually, with the time that's already passed, there should be about eleven and a half hours remaining. Is there something wrong? Do you have unfinished business here?" Chris inquired.

Theodore turned toward the town's direction. "Yes, I need to retrieve all the Pokémon in this place—those same Pokémon that were preparing to attack you."

"Really?" Chris raised his eyebrows with interest. "Is there something special about those Pokémon?"

He had been curious about the Pokémon inhabitants since his arrival.

The existence of Pokémon within a spatial rift world was highly unusual.

"Nothing particularly special about the Pokémon themselves," Theodore shook his head.

"Then why remove these Pokémon from here?"

"That's quite a long story..."

For the next hour, Theodore explained to Chris the situation in their current dimensional world.

The world where Chris and Theodore now found themselves was no different from ordinary spatial crack dimensions. It wasn't a world where "time stopped" as Chris had initially theorized, but rather a typical "lifeless zone" deprived of sunlight.

As for why Pokémon existed in this world, the explanation was quite different from what Chris had expected.

These Pokémon weren't originally inhabitants who had been transported into the spatial crack when the world was separated from reality. Instead, they had been deliberately placed here afterward.

More precisely, they had been thrown here by another Pokémon.

In this world existed a Zapdos possessing spatial manipulation powers. It continuously transported Steel-type Pokémon here to construct a tower resembling a massive battery—the lighthouse Chris had observed—while bringing Electric-type Pokémon to serve as living power sources for the battery.

Zapdos itself drew power from this lighthouse-shaped battery to increase its own strength continuously.

After listening to Theodore's description, Chris could think of only one appropriate term: "Slave master."

Sustaining itself through the power of ordinary Pokémon while keeping them captive here—what else could this be called but slavery?

As expected, Zapdos was behind all the worst situations!

"Those Pokémon are really that obedient?" Chris wondered. The angry appearance of the Pokémon that had attacked him earlier seemed more like genuine aggression than forced compliance.

"Of course not," Theodore shook his head and explained further: "That Zapdos also commands Metagross and Bronzong as subordinates. Since they're all Psychic-type Pokémon, they use powerful mental abilities to hypnotize the captive Pokémon, making them completely obedient."

That explained everything!

After Theodore's reminder, Chris remembered that those Pokémon's expressions had seemed strange—their faces displayed rage, but their eyes had lost all luster and appeared lifeless.

This reminded Chris of Malamar from the animated series.

In its first appearance, it had controlled Officer Jenny, transforming her into "Madame X" and using her to help build a criminal organization attempting to transform the entire world.

Throughout future episodes, whenever Malamar encountered any Pokémon or humans, it would hypnotize them to become its subordinates.

That had been one of the more disturbing episodes in Chris's memory.

In the real world, Chris frequently saw news reports about people using Psychic-type Pokémon to commit crimes. Psychic-types using Hypnosis to control other Pokémon or humans wasn't particularly unusual news anymore.

"So you want to break the hypnosis controlling these manipulated Pokémon and remove them from this place?"

"Exactly!" Theodore replied with firm determination.

Chris had no objections to this plan, but there was one concern.

"If we proceed with this, Zapdos will notice our interference, won't it?"

From Theodore's earlier explanation, Chris understood that the lighthouse's illumination indicated that Zapdos was actively absorbing electrical power.

This meant the legendary Pokémon was currently present in this world.

If a battle erupted shortly, they would face a Zapdos that was both a legendary Pokémon and possessed spatial manipulation powers.

The situation felt somewhat problematic.

Chris had previously battled a Level 70 Zapdos at the Power Plant, and that encounter had been extremely difficult.

There seemed to be an enormous gap between legendary Pokémon and ordinary Pokémon that was typically insurmountable.

However, that battle had occurred before he achieved Gym Trainer status. Now he might have a reasonable chance of victory.

"When I return from here, I'll assemble a specialized team and go farming for experience..."

Actually, if he could defeat and capture a legendary Pokémon now, why wait to return later?

There were still more than eleven hours remaining.

After the power accumulation progress at the underground power plant reached 100%, Electric-type legendary Pokémon would begin appearing.

He could treat this as a preview battle. If he could successfully defeat and capture this legendary Pokémon, then when facing that future Zapdos—even if he couldn't defeat it outright—since it was also an Electric-type, he should at least be able to delay it effectively!