The scent hit him first.
Rotting food, chemical runoff, and the unmistakable tang of blood. Ashwin gagged, pressing a cloth over his mouth as he crawled through the narrow sludge tunnel beneath the forest. His boots sank into the grime with every step, water dripping in rhythmic pulses above.
Behind him, Zigzagoon padded silently, alert. Woobat hovered above, sonar pulses toned down to avoid attention.
[System Notification: Infiltration Path – Active][Distance to Target: 78 meters][Warning: Strong Psychic Energy Detected Nearby – Proceed with Caution]
The farther he moved, the heavier the air grew. It wasn't just the filth—it was the weight of pain, the saturation of suffering lingering in the walls. Every inch closer brought more than just stench.
It brought horror.
Ashwin reached a rusted iron grate and peered through the bars into the first chamber.
His breath caught in his throat.
A small clearing—a repurposed sewage filtration chamber—had been turned into a holding pit. Inside were cages stacked three levels high. Pokémon crammed into boxes barely big enough to turn. Wires buzzed with low voltage electricity. A Pancham lay unconscious in one corner, ribs visible through its fur.
Another cage held an emaciated Bunnelby whose ears had been bound. A Litten whimpered softly in a corner, a collar strapped so tight around its neck it left raw welts.
Zigzagoon growled low.
Ashwin gritted his teeth, eyes burning with rage.
[System Alert: Psychological Stability – Danger Zone][Calm Required to Maintain Tactical Efficiency]
"Monsters…" he whispered.
The worst part wasn't just the conditions—it was the sound. The cries weren't loud. They were soft, resigned. Pokémon that had long stopped calling for help. Pokémon that had given up.
Ashwin moved forward. Each tunnel he passed through told another story of horror.
In one chamber, Pokémon were tethered to cruel machinery—forced evolution chambers powered by dark tech. A Pidgeotto twitched under the current, feathers burnt, eyes dull.
Another section revealed an incineration zone.
Ashwin stopped in front of the blackened chute.
He didn't want to imagine what had been disposed of there.
Zigzagoon nudged him—Woobat chimed softly.
[Distance to Power Node: 26 meters][Security Patrol Detected – 2 Grunts | 1 Pokémon: Mightyena (Lvl 31)]
Ashwin's eyes narrowed. "Good. Let's shut them down."
He climbed from the tunnel into the shadows behind rusted crates. The grunts were chatting casually beside the generator, unaware of the silent fury crawling toward them.
A flash—Zigzagoon dashed forward like a blur.
The first grunt didn't even react before the scout smashed into his side, sending him tumbling into the electrical panel. Sparks flew.
"Mightyena! Now!" the second one roared.
But Woobat was already above, unleashing a Confusion that rattled the beast mid-jump. Ashwin darted forward, leaping over the grunt and smashing a portable Null Disk against the generator's core.
[Power Node Deactivated – Sector 2][Force Field Weakening – 32%][Auto-Teleport Enabled for Registered Pokémon]
Suddenly, from the cages around them, light shimmered.
Blink–blink–blink!
Pokémon began vanishing one by one, pulled into the Grotto's sanctuary.
A weak Turtwig looked up, eyes dazed—but finally hopeful.
Ashwin stood, panting, fists clenched.
"This is just the start," he whispered.
A soft growl echoed behind him. More grunts were coming.
Ashwin looked at Zigzagoon and Woobat. "Phase two."
They moved, vanishing into the next tunnel. The deeper they went, the more they saw—more chambers, more Pokémon in chains, some forcibly bred, others starved into obedience.
Ashwin's hands shook.
[System Status: Mental Integrity – Holding][Note: Exposure to Prolonged Cruelty May Affect Morality Alignment][Suggestion: Prioritize Rescue – Avoid Direct Emotional Confrontation]
He ignored the warning.
This was no longer about just saving Pokémon.
It was justice.