Masters EX Arc Chapter 1 - A Royal Invitation

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I leaned back in my chair, the weight of everything that had happened pressing down on me like a ton of bricks. The dim light of the conference room didn't help—just a single lamp casting long shadows on the walls. The atmosphere was thick with tension and fatigue. I could see it in everyone's faces, even Nemona's, who usually radiated boundless energy. She sat beside me, her eyes shifting between the others in the room: Looker, Anabel, and Emma.

"...And that's it. Gretel's on her journey now," I said, trying to wrap up the explanation. My voice felt hoarse, like I hadn't spoken in days, though I knew that wasn't true. "We didn't find MissingNo. We came up empty."

Looker's eyes narrowed, his frustration barely contained. He cursed under his breath, the tension in the room spiking for a moment before he composed himself. "It's the same story all over again. This blasted thing keeps slipping through our fingers." He took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm. "Clay and the other Gym Leaders haven't located anything either. They've been combing the area nonstop, but it's like it just vanished."

"So, what now?" I asked, leaning forward. The fatigue was getting to me, but I pushed it aside. "What do we do next? I'm not too thrilled that it came to this, but I'm ready to keep looking."

Anabel's gaze softened as she looked at me. "Y/N, you're in no state to be running around on a wild Swanna chase with no leads," she said gently.

I looked down at the hole in my clothes, the torn fabric revealing a wound that was more than just physical. I still didn't fully understand what had happened back in that cavern, but the memory of it clung to me like a nightmare I couldn't shake. Flashes of something sharp, something painful, flickered in my mind, and I winced, my hand unconsciously going to the spot. Mimi, who was perched on my shoulder, shifted nervously, her little body trembling. She hadn't left my side since it happened, and the look in her eyes told me she was just as shaken as I was.

Emma, who had been quiet until now, suddenly interrupted. "You two won't have time for searching anyway," she said, a hint of something almost playful in her tone.

Nemona and I exchanged confused glances. "What do you mean?" Nemona asked, her brow furrowing.

Looker glanced at us, an unreadable expression on his face. "You haven't heard yet?"

Nemona tilted her head, clearly puzzled. "Heard what?"

Before he could answer, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out and saw a video invite waiting for me. I hesitated for a moment before tapping on it, and suddenly, the screen filled with the image of a man dressed in extravagant clothing, his demeanour oozing arrogance.

"Greetings, Champions!" the man exclaimed, swinging his arm in a dramatic gesture as if he were addressing a grand audience. "I am Lear, creator of Pasio and the newly formed PML."

I blinked, taken aback by the sheer flamboyance of his introduction. "What the hell is the PML? And where is Pasio?" I muttered under my breath, not really expecting an answer.

Nemona shrugged beside me, clearly just as puzzled. "Maybe it's in Galar? He definitely gives off that snobby vibe," she guessed.

"As champion trainers from Paldea, you two have been invited to take part in the Pokemon Masters League, the grandest tournament in the history of tournaments! Champions from all over the world will gather to find out who's the very best. The winner gets a chance to battle me, Lear, the greatest of them all!" He paused, letting out a haughty laugh. "Bwahahaha!"

Nemona and I exchanged incredulous looks. Lear was utterly hamming it up, and it was hard to tell if he was serious or just playing up some kind of act for the camera.

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