In the world of Pokémon, where humans and Pokémon coexist, Ash Ketchum—the main character of that world—is setting off on another journey.

  "Look, Pikachu! We've arrived where he is."

  "Pika! Pika!"

  Pikachu beamed joyfully from Ash’s shoulder. Ash had heard the news: The Pokémon Master of the Kanto Region.

  He was as excited as a child. After all, he’d never believed a true Pokémon Master even existed.

  According to the rumors, this Master lived in a hidden region, knew the "truth of the world," and held influence over all regions and generations of Pokémon. It was even said the Master possessed power greater than Arceus—the god of Pokémon. Ash couldn’t ignore that. He was desperate to know: What does it take to become a true Pokémon Master?

  Just then, his phone rang. The caller was none other than Cynthia, the Champion of Sinnoh.

  "Ash, did you hear the news?" Cynthia asked.

  "If you mean the Pokémon Master, then yes! I’m on my way to meet him!"

  "Ash Ketchum," Cynthia said seriously, "that might be fake news. I’ve never heard of a true Pokémon Master. Don’t forget—you’re the World Champion now, not just a free-roaming trainer."

  Ash smiled. "It’s okay. Even if it’s a trap, I’ll get out of it. I trust myself!"

  Cynthia’s expression softened. "Alright. Good luck."

  ---

  A window shattered with a sharp crack. A sniper had just fired near Mina’s face. Her tool’s analysis confirmed: it was a toxic bullet from Team Rocket.

  "Team Rocket again, sending lunatics even to this hometown... Or should I say, that sniper was a human?" Mina muttered, tongue clicking.

  Her analysis tool continued:

  "Yes, boss. Their bullets seem to be formed from parts of the sniper’s own body. But, boss, there’s something else."

  "What is it?"

  "That Pokémon World Champion—Ash Ketchum. The more I calculate, the more he seems like the ‘core of the world’ itself."

  "Why?"

  "Think about it. He’s been at the center of every region: Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, Alola, and Galar. He overcame countless trials, yet he reached the top using only wild-caught Pokémon."

  "Boss, you know how most people sell their conscience, discard their Pokémon, and still fail to reach gyms. But Ash? He won the World Championship with only Pokémon caught in the wild. That’s not coincidence."

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Mina nodded, narrowly avoiding another bullet.

  "It’s insane. He’s met every legendary and mythical Pokémon. That’s impossible for an ordinary person. I’ll stay cautious. Thanks."

  "Wait, boss... I just got a signal. Ash Ketchum is here."

  At that news, she casually caught two bullets and flicked them aside.

  Ash’s destination wasn’t a fancy hotel or a ruined shack. The building showed traces of life once lived, but he didn’t care. He kicked the door open.

  "Excuse me!" he shouted.

  The door splintered from his strength. He was greeted by someone staring at him in disbelief.

  To Ash, she looked like a regular trainer: white t-shirt and purple skirt pink scarf on her neck, sunglasses resting on her hat.

  Ash sat calmly before her. Darkness settled over the shattered house. The living room windows were perforated. This place didn’t suit a Pokémon Master.

  "Hi, are you the Pokémon Master?" Ash asked, almost childishly.

  The girl crossed her legs and looked at him with quiet arrogance.

  "You’re Ash Ketchum—World Champion, Alola Champion, the boy from Pallet Town who grew up fatherless and made friends with Pokémon all across the world. Right?"

  Ash was startled. She knows everything about me...

  She must be the Pokémon Master!

  Suddenly, Ash was seized. Mina’s Ditto, disguised as a scarf, tightened around his neck. He struggled, but it only tightened more.

  "Urgh...!"

  Pikachu, panicking, charged up, but Mina whispered something. Pikachu stopped.

  Ash collapsed as the Ditto strangled him.

  ---

  In unconsciousness, Ash dreamed.

  Every region he had traveled was in ruins. People bled out. Pokémon screamed. A Growlithe bit its own trainer, then cried in regret. Pokéballs filled rivers. A man screamed, “The last day of mankind has come!”

  Pokémon destroyed Pokémon Centers with cries of joy and sorrow.

  "What’s going on?!" Ash screamed, horrified.

  Then came the light.

  Not sunlight, not moonlight—something beyond nature. It cracked through the darkness like shattered glass, revealing a void without time.

  From that void emerged something. Not a Pokémon. Not even a god.

  Ash couldn’t name it. Couldn’t describe it. But somehow, the word rose in his mind—The Existence. Not a creature. Not a god. Something deeper. Older. Written into the bones of reality.

  A Being.

  Its form constantly shifted.

  Sometimes it was a serpent made of stardust and circuitry, coiling across the sky like divine code.

  Sometimes it sat on a throne of rusted Poké Balls, wearing a face built from a mosaic of blinking eyes—each holding a different memory.

  Behind it, the sky was fractured.

  Black rivers flowed upward. Mountains drifted sideways. Stars were frozen mid-flicker.

  It had no mouth, yet Ash heard it—like a thought crawling directly into his skull.

  "Call it a war, if you wish," said the voice. Ash couldn’t respond. The being had no name, and yet in his mind, one word echoed—Existence.

  "A war you were never meant to see."

  When it smiled, it did so through fire and memory:

  A burning lab. Screaming Pokémon. A trainer falling backward into void.

  Its body flickered with ruin:

  A Growlithe howling over its trainer's bones.

  A godlike Pokémon trapped in chains.

  A shattered league trophy covered in red.

  "Peace is a hallucination. Built on silence and sacrifice. You were kept in the dark."

  The vision showed Zygarde facing Yveltal, Xerneas healing Pokémon wounded by humans, Zacian and Zamazenta marching with blades in their mouths. In some regions, droughts and storms raged. In others, time and space collapsed. Pokémon hunted humans like prey.

  "Ash Ketchum, if this is the future—what will you do?"

  Ash trembled.

  "I... I...!"

  The Existence laughed.

  "You can’t stop this. You're just human. Even Arceus is merely Pokémon."

  Ash clenched his fists.

  "Then I’ll stop it! Me, my Pikachu, and my Pokémon—we’ll stop this future!"

  The Existence showed him Paldea—peaceful now, but doomed. Two scientists built a time machine, ignoring the present. Their creations would soon destroy them.

  "They have no responsibility. They’re already dead. Do you still believe in mankind?"

  Ash shouted, "I don’t care! There are bad people—but most want peace! I’ll fight for them!"

  The Existence paused.

  "Then wake up. Face the real world."

  A snap of its fingers.

  Time reversed.

  Ash opened his eyes.

  ---

  "You’re awake?" a sweet voice asked.

  He woke to see the girl again. But something was wrong. His neck—it was tight. A choker?

  "What is this?! Are you the Pokémon Master?! Did you...?!"

  Her cold eyes met his. She didn’t answer.

  "You’re pathetic to fall for fake news. Let me introduce myself. I’m Mina. I came to make a deal—with the Pokémon World Champion."

  "A... deal?"

  "Call it a threat. I want you to give me the Kanto/Johto Champion title by fighting me in the World Championship."

  "That’s ridiculous!"

  The choker tightened.

  "I could kill you now, but that’d be boring. Instead, you’ll take me on a journey. Show me the Kanto region—your one. I want to see what kind of world the so-called Champion believes in. Can you do that, Ash Ketchum?"

  Ash coughed as the choker loosened. "Alright, alright! I’ll go! But... where’s Pikachu?!"

  "Behind you. He’s worried."

  Pikachu looked at Ash nervously, then climbed onto his shoulder. Ash smiled.

  "Alright, deal, Mina!"

  He extended his hand.

  She shook her head. "Bump me. That’s the deal."

  They bumped fists. For her, it meant more than she sneered unpleasantly and said,

  “It’s going to be very painful—disgustingly different.”

  But that story—was for later.