The morning sun had barely kissed the horizon when Ashwin's eyes snapped open.
His chest heaved, lungs dragging in sharp, cold air. The remnants of the dream still echoed in his ears—cries of pain, a forcefield humming with malicious power, and the bloodshot eyes of Turtwig, pleading for salvation. It wasn't a nightmare. It was a message.
From the System, or perhaps... from the Pokémon themselves.
[System Alert: Smuggler Den Status – Phase Shift Triggered][Urgent Raid Opportunity: Available – Countdown: 1:00:00][Warning: Hostile Activity Increasing – Immediate Tactical Response Required]
"One hour…" Ashwin whispered, sweat already forming on his brow.
Without another second wasted, he bolted from his room, burst out of the farmhouse, and ran straight toward the edge of the flower fields.
"Vespiquen!" he shouted, voice cutting through the misty air.
From her usual perch in the floral grove, the queen of the skies rose in regal silence. Her six wings beat in unison, sending a ripple of sound through the wind.
The call went out. A chemical hum only Combee could hear.
From trees, tunnels, and the fields themselves, hundreds of Combee erupted into the sky. Like living amber, the swarm filled the air in synchronized formation.
[Combee Swarm Mobilized: 400+][Command Relay Engaged – Vespiquen: Queen's Directive Mode: ACTIVE][Group Buff Activated: +20% Speed & Evasion for All Allied Combee]
Ashwin clenched his fists. "Recon first. Stealth only. Wait for the signal."
Vespiquen dipped her head in acknowledgment before zooming into the sky, guiding her swarm like a general leading her legion.
But then—a sudden gust of energy exploded from behind the barn.
Ashwin spun, eyes wide.
"Skiddo?!"
The Grass-type Pokémon braced himself near the training pen, hooves scraping against the dirt. A glowing green aura burst forth, rising into a pillar of light. Leaves circled him like blades. His horns elongated. His body grew taller, stronger, more majestic.
Evolution.
Ashwin's mouth fell open. "It's happening now?!"
In seconds, the light dispersed. Standing in Skiddo's place was a proud, sturdy Gogoat.
[Skiddo → Gogoat][Level: 27 | Trait Gained: "Unshaken Will" – +15% Endurance when aiding lower-level allies][New Move Learned: Grass Pledge]
Ashwin ran to him, placing a firm hand against the Pokémon's warm fur.
"Perfect timing. You're going to lead the ground charge."
Gogoat let out a proud bellow, stomping once with strength that rattled the fence.
Around him, the rest of the farm Pokémon assembled:
Zigzagoon (Galarian) darted in with a smug look, his scout pouch already full.
Munchlax ambled over carrying emergency supplies in his arms.
Woobat soared into the sky, sonar pulses already sweeping the forest edge.
Dustox, Seedot, Skwovet, Budew, Drilbur, and even the newly-evolved Gogoat stood in formation.
[Farm Core Team Status Updated]Gogoat – 5% (Evolution Cooldown)Vespiquen – 32%Munchlax – 65%Zigzagoon – 56%Seedot – 44%Skwovet – 49%Budew – 36%Dustox – 48%Woobat – 45%Drilbur – 41%
Ashwin grabbed a rolled map and pointed to a marked ridge. "Vents here. Water outlet here. Underground scan?" He turned to Drilbur.
The Ground-type tapped its claws together and burrowed immediately.
[Drilbur Scanning Activated – Subsurface Tunnel Detected: Connects to Smuggler Den Waste Chamber]
"Zigzagoon, loot and report. Minimum noise."
The sneaky raccoon was already halfway to the trees, tail wagging.
[Loot Acquired: PokéSnax Bundle (x3), Rare Candy Fragment (x1), Scout Lens (+8% Accuracy equipped to Zigzagoon)]
Above, Woobat buzzed back with sonar pulses echoing rapidly.
[Recon Report: Shield Generator Found | Patrol Rotation – Every 2 Minutes][Boss Location: Vault Chamber Rear – Heavy Guard Presence][Loot Cache Detected: 5 | Energy Signature: High Value]
Ashwin marked it all down.
Suddenly, two shadows joined Vespiquen in the sky. Two more Vespiquen, each leading their own swarms, hovered like silent shadows above the forest line.
[Allied Vespiquen (x3)][Combee Swarm Count: 600+][Swarm Trait: "Royal Veil" Activated – All Combee gain +20% evasion and scouting for 1 hour]
Ashwin took a long breath.
"North team—breach via vent. South swarm—distract patrols. I'll enter from the waste pipe and disable the generator."
From within the Breeder's Grotto, a soft blue glow activated.
[Teleportation Chamber READY][Captured Pokémon will be auto-teleported to Grotto upon contact][Plasma Field Interference: MANUAL DISABLE REQUIRED]
Woobat zipped in front of Ashwin with one last urgent ping.
00:18:00 left.
"Ready?" Ashwin whispered.
Gogoat let out a low, determined snort. Munchlax gave a thumbs-up. Zigzagoon returned with another small shiny box in his mouth.
Ashwin looked up.
Over 600 Combee hovered in the skies, wings silent, stingers ready. Vespiquen hovered at the center like a divine war goddess.
"This is our moment," Ashwin said, voice low. "Let's end this."