We were really blown away by the captivating performance of Team Requiem. The crowd that gathered was in uproarious applause. After the festivities of the performance was over, that was when Tom and I decided to take a quick rest over at the hotel that was relatively close by. We were both tired, but at the same time, excited for what's to come in the future.

Tom soon found I was about to log off, the menu screen right in front of me, before he soon interrupted me by asking "Cross? May I ask you something really quick?"

I stopped my actions right then and there, looking at Tom curiously. "What is it?" I asked him.

"Well, given today's performance, I'd say that we are going to be given some good luck on our hands, wouldn't you agree?"

I smiled, stifling a laugh, before asking "You seriously wanted to ask me that question before I logged out?"

"Well, you should realize that sometimes, you need to notice a good positive sign when it comes to how the world goes about its time with you," Tom mentioned. "Not every person is going to be lucky to experience the joys and beauties of life like we do, you know."

"True," I said. "But thinking that the beautiful performance today is a good luck sign, I don't know. You and I have a tournament to prepare for, and before you know it, once we win, BAM! We are one step closer to achieving our dream together!"

Tom chuckled, before he soon looked at me with skepticism. "I don't think you understand, Cross," Tom said, before he soon stared out of the window of our room, the calming sound of the ocean reverberating in our ears. There was a lovely full moon out tonight. "Just think, across that water a little ways northeast, they were able to survive as a team, and emerge stronger than ever before."

Confused by what he said, I decided to pry a little further. "And who's they, Tom?"

"Team Inferno," Tom mentioned, looking at me. "I was thinking about them for a while, and I couldn't help but think of one thing that's always puzzled me…" Staring back out the window, he asked "How did they survive a whole month on the Zero Isles by themselves?"

This was the first I've ever heard of this. I'm familiar with the location of Zero Isles. Tom and I visited that place one day when doing some practice. However, we barely lasted for about an hour before we ended up returning back to Volcanica for a breather. Yet the news of a team that managed to survive on that island for ONE MONTH was truly what shocked me. "A month?" I pondered. "But…how could that be? Wouldn't they be dead meat if they stayed there for that long? How could one team survive on their own for an hour over there, let alone a month!?"

"I know it seems strange," Tom mentioned. "However, I just so happened to have heard rumors about this from a few players. It turns out, that a couple of years ago, these two players seemed to have been stuck in this game against their wills."

"No way!" I stated in shock. "Seriously!? How did that happen?"

"I don't know," Tom answered. "But if they could survive in one of the most dangerous places in the game, I bet you that those two are the most experienced players in the world."

I became a little bit jealous of them. Team Inferno…the strongest team in the game? Doubtful. However, hearing how they survived on the Zero Isles for a month was honestly quite the accomplishment. And yet, why is it that I never heard about this before? Surely, such an impressive feat would've become more widespread by this point, right? Especially after a couple of years have passed. Grinning, I stated "If they're that strong, then I'll have to find a means to beat them in combat myself." I looked over at my friend, and continued with "The both of us. Together! What do you say? The Ebony and Ivory Blades against Team Inferno? That's the kind of reputation I could work with."

Tom sighed, giving a joking smile, before he decided to look back at me, and say "You seem to be in high spirit. Alright. One day, when the time is right, we'll both take them on!" He then pulled out the menu to log off, before he said "Goodnight, Cross!"

I turned back around to lay down in my own bed, before I pulled out the menu, found the option to log off, and smiling. "One day, I'll finally put their skills to the test," I muttered to myself. I then hit the "Log Out" function on the menu, tapped it, and everything in my field of vision went white, before suddenly blacking out. And I opened my eyes back in my bedroom in the real world, the feel of the bedsheets beneath my hands spurring me awake.

One day, for sure. I will meet Team Inferno. They will be my ultimate challenge.

Chapter 18: Three Blades, Three Secrets

Upon our arrival at Hotel Soprano halfway across the bridge, it was already nighttime. The five of us were planning on rescuing "Sting" sometime tomorrow morning, but apart from that, all I could really think about was my last stay in this lovely place. Has it really been one year since I've been here? Time certainly does fly by, now that I think about it. I remembered the oath I made with Tom that night. I recalled how for the longest time, I've been determined to face against some of the most powerful players in the game and test my own skills to see if they lived up to their reputations. Just hearing Team Inferno's name was enough for me to feel like I was confident enough to face them, and perhaps even get the opportunity to see their skills in combat in action.

I wasn't expecting the duo we've got to meet with, however.

Adam definitely has the build of a fighter, but he's surprisingly not a great combatant, much to my shock. He's clearly not the brains of the duo, often relying on his brother to provide a strategy he can follow through with, much like how a trainer directs his Pokémon's movements. Adam is also surprisingly gentle, often feeling the most sensitive out of battle rather than in battle. When he does fight, it's mostly out of desperation, and he's not very observant with any tells his opponents give him. He's rather timid, which is pretty much the exact opposite of what someone would expect out of an Incineroar.

And Josh clearly is the most difficult to read out of any other player I've been up against. He's skilled, I'll give him that. However, he seems to lack initiative when it comes to combat. He more often goes in line for wanting to avoid conflict as much as possible, focusing on trying to get out of a scrape quickly, rather than dealing any high damage to his foes. Based on the way he fights, I'll take it that he's a self-taught combatant in the real world as well. Utilizing a mixed form of martial arts from around the world, improvising on the fly when it comes to his strategies. He's calm, collective, and intelligent when in the field of battle. However, his eyes seem to be hiding some sort of darkness within, and it looks like no matter how hard I try to dig into his mind, he's got his emotions and thoughts locked tighter than Fort Knox.

Yup. These two were not what I was expecting in the slightest. Such polar opposites, and yet, they work together as a team. This made me very confused about them when I first fought them. What was it they were doing when I first met them? Gathering berries. What is their home like in the game? A military fortress. What's their family life like? Basic and uninteresting. Why did they have Incineroar and Lucario as their in-game avatars? Favorite Pokémon. How are these two brothers fighters to begin with?

However, as I look at the two of them now, even after deciding to help the both of them, I can't help but realize that they need my help as much as I need theirs. If we were to not only rescue my friend, but also find a means of escape from this world, then we're golden! I only accepted this quest merely because it was the closest we got to a clue on where we could get the answers we're looking for.

Hopefully, it gives us the answers we're looking for…

But then there's the fortunes we've received from L and S. I couldn't help but be nervous about the possibility that I could die. I gave Nolan the task in learning about what Adam and Rose got for their fortunes, and I just prayed that once we made our rest at Hotel Soprano, we could get something worth our while.

Josh and his team were at the reception desk, renting our rooms for the evening. After that, Josh and Adam decided to go and check out the rooms, Rose went off to check out the view of the ocean from the balcony, all the while Nolan and I sat down at a nearby table to go and discuss what we've learned. Patiently, I asked "So, did you learn anything from Adam or Rose?"

"As a matter of fact, I did," Nolan answered. "Turns out, Rose was really worried about Chris, and I had to tell her that he's ganz gut! Nothing to worry about! Of course, she seemed to have her doubts. Yet I reassured her, and told her-"

"The fortune, Nolan," I interrupted. "Did you find out her fortune?"

"OH! Ja! Entschuldigen sie!" He then cleared his throat, and said "Her fortune was this: A dice with death you will avoid, yet another challenge you will face; if warriors three cannot overcome this task, then you shall stay in place. Through the rocks you must climb, the flames you face must burn; let lightning be quelled by that point, and hope in your friend shall return."

"Okay, clearly, this is starting to confuse me," I admitted. "Are you sure you heard her correctly?"

"Ja! Fraulein Rose is honest, without question. She told me everything with honest integrity."

I sigh, feeling like that fortune didn't add up at all. How in the world is that related with my fate in the slightest? I had my hands over my face, feeling a little bit nervous, and I held onto hope. "Did Adam's fortune get brought up somehow?" I asked.

"Ja. He said this: Lightning strikes, and flames will burn upon the mountain peak; journey on and stay forever strong, and you will find that which you seek. A light will vanquish the darkness inside your aching heart; soon it will pass on to you, and in the mountain it will start."

I groaned, before asking "Why are their fortunes not relevant to the future I might face!?" Just then, I felt like I just forgot, but not entirely. I slapped my head, and I cursed under my breath. "Crap, I forgot to tell you and Chris what I got as my fortune, didn't I? Maybe you could interpret it to find out what it was about!"

"Ah, good thinking!" Nolan stated. "You also have a prediction, so go on ahead! What is it?"

Nolan eagerly sat there, waiting for my input. I was nervous, but I needed him to know. I'm sure he's going to mention this to Chris later, so for now, talking about it to Nolan would be the best course of action for me. However, I wasn't the most confident with it. "Okay. I think the prediction went somewhat like this:

You will lose two things, but lose two in return;

Leaving you a gift that will ultimately change your life;

When the shadows gain rise, and take four away;

The heavens will scorch above through a blinding light.

Enemies become friends, friends become foes;

The clash of light and dark will pierce like a dagger;

A power slumbers, awaiting to be awakened;

And once it does so, the mirror will shatter.

Though trapped like a bird inside a cage;

The path of freedom must be heeded;

Yet to obtain true freedom from the shadows of this world;

Sacrifices will be needed…"

I felt defeated, refusing to finish the last part of that prophecy. "I'm doomed," I commented, my head lying flat on the table. "I'm as good as dead here, aren't I?"

"Hey, we don't know that, okay?" Nolan stated, trying to reassure me. "That 'sacrifices will be needed' part was ominous, but there's no knowing if it will involve you in the slightest."

"Gee, thanks," I sarcastically said. "That makes me so much better…"

"Hey, no need to feel bad," Nolan stated. "Look on the bright side! You've got me to stay by your side!"

I sighed, looking back towards the Aegislash in front of me, and I said "That's true. I'm just glad that somebody I've known for a long time is here with me." I gave a reassuring smile, and I stood up from my seat, where I decided to go and meet with Rose once again. "Meet me back in our room, Nolan. I'm going to check on the others."

"I'll be sure to make contact with Chris," Nolan said. "See you later, Herr Cross!"

"Auf weidersehen," I replied, waving him farewell as I walked over to the balcony.

I walked over towards the balcony, expecting Rose to be there all alone. However, there was one thing that caught me off guard completely. I looked at the balcony, and found that Josh was with her. Alone! On the one hand, I needed someone else to talk to. But on the other hand, I didn't want to interrupt their conversation. So, instead, I found a vacant balcony table, and decided to sit down, all the while deciding to eavesdrop a little on their conversation.

Rose and Josh were simply eyeing the moon in the sky. A full moon. Rose was somewhat uneasy, but Josh tried to make sure she's at ease. As I looked at the Lucario, he's…quite peaceful. Not a single sense of tension in sight. For a moment, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me, but no. Josh was genuinely happy. I saw it in his eyes. He's surprisingly gentle.

"I've never seen such a lovely view like this before," Rose mentioned. "Tell me, Josh. Do you tend to see sights like this all the time?"

"Sometimes I do," Josh answered. "However, Volt constantly has to keep me on a leash, often referring me to a 'mutt' whenever he has the opportunity to scold me." He sighed. "I always hated him for that. One day, I wished for nothing more than to prove to him I'm more of a capable fighter than he gives credit for. Hell, Adam and I proved it three years ago! And yet, he's holding us back!"

"I can see why you'd be a little angry with him," Rose mentioned. "So, that begs the question, do you hate him? I mean, he technically was the one who rescued you, wasn't he?"

Josh wanted to turn to face her, and speak to her face about what he thought about Volt as a person. About all of the years of pent-up hate he's built for his commanding officer. And yet, no words came out. Instead, he just winced a little, before he turned to face the horizon, a little bit pouty in the face. "I…wanted to tell him I didn't like his authority… But, in truth…" He lowered his head, before saying "I respect him."

"If that's the case, why don't you tell him yourself?" Rose asked. "What's holding you back?"

Josh audibly groaned at that question. He turned to Rose, attempting to hide his worries to little effect. "I just… I don't know. Maybe something inside of me is telling me that it's not the right time, but I'm just incapable of forming words to his face."

Rose quizzically looked at him, and she asked "What time do you think is the most appropriate, then?"

"I don't know," Josh admitted. "However, I'm sure that one day, I'll be able to tell him. You know. When he finally understands who I am. Or rather, for what I am…"

Rose was stunned by what Josh just said. I also couldn't help but be surprised by that. "For what you are?" Rose asked, confused. "What do you mean?"

Josh hesitated, and started tensing up. However, upon looking at Rose, seeing the curious look on her face, he decided to finally make some sort of confession. "Uh…you see," he started, "ever since I've been stuck in this world, I've been thinking to myself…" The words caught in his throat.

"Go on," Rose reassured. "I won't be mad, Josh. Just…say what needs to be said."

Josh sighed, before he looked at the horizon, and I couldn't help but find a couple of tears forming into his eyes. Yet despite that, he tried to maintain a stoic personality. However, his words seemed to be trembling as he started talking.

"I was thinking, 'Do I really deserve to return home?'"

Nolan got to finish his talk with Chris on the communication function of our badges, and Chris seemed to be somewhat curious. "I see," he said through the badge. "So even Adam and Rose weren't too helpful in giving us confidence it could go well."

"Chris, we really don't know for certain," Nolan mentioned. "The fortunes aren't necessarily going to result in Cross's death, per se. Well, except perhaps yours…"

"Gee, thanks," Chris stated sarcastically.

"However," Nolan continued. "The majority of the fortunes we've looked into were positive, somewhat… So perhaps we should still hold faith that this would ultimately end in Cross living, right?"

Chris sighed through the badge so loud that it was easy to distinguish on the other side. "I guess so."

"In any case, how are things on your end?" Nolan asked.

"Nothing coming up, yet," Chris answered. "Every player I've talked to have never seemed to hear about 'Sting' before. Apparently, they were unsure on what kind of player he was as well. I even told them the spelling of the name in leet, and I got nothing."

"Well, give it time, and I'm more than certain we'll get something to work with," Nolan replied. "It's getting late, and we're all tired, so how about we get some rest and resume the investigation tomorrow? Hopefully, by then, we'll have come up with something…"

It took a while for Chris to answer directly, but soon enough, he gave his response. "Alright. Just, keep a close eye on Cross while you're there, okay? Make sure he's safe and all."

"Ja!" Nolan answered. "Du kannst auf mich zahlen, Chris."

Chris chuckled a little from the other end of the badge, recognizing Nolan's tendency to speak German, before he replied with "At least, he's in safe hands with you. Goodnight."

"Gute Nacht," Nolan said in return. Just like that, the communication has been cut off, and Nolan put the badge away. However, the Aegislash, upon lowering the badge, began to tense up a little. Sighing, he shook a little from a sense of unease, before he just as quickly tried to reassure himself. "Alright, Nolan! You're the shield that Chris needs at this moment! He will not make it on his own, you know that! Time to toughen up!"

This was quickly followed by a knock on the door of his room. "Wer ist es?" Nolan asked, speaking clearly to let the guest on the other side of the door know he's still up.

"Uh, you know I don't speak German, right?" the voice on the other side of the door answered.

"Oh, Herr Adam! Please, come in!" Nolan corrected himself, just as Adam opened the door. The Incineroar walked inside, closing the door behind him, before looking at Nolan. Nolan gave a slight chuckle as Adam walked in, and embarrassed, added "I do apologize! I often forget you don't speak a lick of German in the slightest."

"Yeah," Adam said, taking a seat on my bed as he looked at Nolan. "Don't worry about it." Curious, Adam asked "You're worried about Cross, aren't you?"

Almost instantly, Nolan froze up. He felt like he was caught up in an intense war, and the shell shock finally started to kick in. Nervously, Nolan had to ask "Did you hear anything?"

Adam crossed his arms, thinking back to the past few minutes. "Only bits and pieces. It was hard to hear what you were saying, but I could clearly tell you were somewhat nervous for Cross's safety." Looking Nolan in the eye, he asked "Was this why you asked about my prophecy earlier today?"

"Uh… Partially, ja," Nolan answered. He tensed up, but knowing fully well that he needed to at least tell somebody what he was thinking, he added "To be honest, we're worried about what was going to happen next. Our fortunes that we received from Sabrina earlier were…cryptic, to say the least."

Adam gave a slight chuckle, before admitting "Yeah, that's just how it is, sometimes. Fortunes are supposed to be vague and cryptic, I understand that… But man, I just want a fortune to just tell me outright 'You will win one-million dollars' or 'Your brother will get injured unless you take the blow for him.' You know?"

Nolan gave a slight chuckle in return, and added "Ja, das stimmt." Smiling (at least, what we would likely assume is a smile), he looked at the Incineroar in front of him, before he asked "Have you ever felt this feeling of intensity before, Adam? When it comes to fortunes?"

"Oh, yes," Adam said with a nod. "It was back when Josh and I did our training back on the Zero Isles. My fortune back then was this: 'Able in mind, yet fleeting with emotion, you must fight against insurmountable odds before you can truly grow. From your own psyche, you will find torment. However, if you manage to protect that which you hold most dear, you will grow stronger, not just in mind, but in body.' Though… If I'm being honest, Sabrina was just starting off with the whole idea of fortune telling. She didn't know how to make it rhyme or anything, but for what it's worth, I felt a true rush of emotions when I first took part in my training."

"Really," Nolan stated. "Understandable, but just out of curiosity, what was your training like on the Zero Isles? What did you go through? Both you, and your brother?"

Adam started to feel rather nervous, and tried to avert his gaze. "Well, it's not really my most cherished memory… For the most part…"

"Ah ha! So, there is something worth talking about!" Nolan added with anticipation. "What was it like!? Tell me all about how you spent the month on those islands!"

Adam was really nervous by this point. However, he can't help but find Nolan's anticipation for what's to be described as a tale that's worth telling to be something quite impressive. Hell, even I would've jumped at the chance to learn more about these two if it came to that! Yet Adam looked rather pensive, and was not sure on how to properly describe the situation in a meaningful way. However, he sighed, and he soon, looked at Nolan intently, before dryly saying "You're not going to let up until I do tell you, so I guess I have no choice." He crossed his legs as he sat on the bed, looking over at the Aegislash, and calmly, he said "I'll tell you everything that I went through in the Zero Isles. From the day of arrival, to the day we left. I hope you're listening carefully, because this one is going to take a while."

Nolan couldn't help but immediately open up his menu, where he pulled tapped the "Memo Pad" option, where he was given a fully functioning keyboard and screen as Adam sat there. Adam, understandably so, felt like he was witnessing a personal breach in privacy, and started to tense up. However, Nolan was quick to reassure him with saying "My memories can be a bit forgetful at times. I just want to understand what you're saying without losing focus!" That was an obvious bold-faced lie, as Nolan's mind was as sharp as a razor's edge in reality. He just wanted an excuse to write down this story in detail so that he can later share it with me and Chris when he has the chance.

Adam sighed, mumbling to himself "This is going to be a long night…" After a deep breath, he started. "You see, it all began when Josh and I first met with a player named Infernick…"

Chris sat there in the Volcanica hotel lobby after having talked with Nolan for a while. He looked out of place in the region, but often, there would be guests who would frequent the hotels from time to time. One time, Chris mentioned he visited the town of Nohr, which had a fascination with Water-type Pokémon, mainly because it was a coastal town. There were plenty of players who were more adept to the ocean depths, which was why the hotel happened to have been stationed by a cliffside near the eastern part of town, connecting between the ocean and surface rather flawlessly. There were plenty of Water-types there, but also a large variety of other kinds of Pokémon were present as well.

The Volcanica hotel was no different. Plenty of Fire-types, but with a large variety of visiting players of various species and types. And Chris, for lack of a better term, was one of those visiting types. Apparently, he's always had a fascination with traveling to various regions in the game, but so far, has always come up short on the idea of visiting some of the most daring and challenging of places. Sure, he's paid a visit to places like the Zero Isles, or the Forest of Illusion, or even the Deep Sea Trench, where if you weren't prepared, you'd be booted out in a matter of a few minutes just from how challenging they were. He's seen all of the tough dungeons that are accessed by regular means. He's even visited every town, from the desert town of Osiris, to the East-Asian inspired town of Hongshui. However, he only visited Volcanica just once, and that was today! The only other town he hasn't gone to, was Gelassenheit, because, apparently, the town is only accessed to those lucky enough to earn a once-per-month ticket from the colosseum challenges, and even then, the odds of winning the tickets are exceedingly difficult. Even I never once got a ticket, which just goes to prove how tough it was to obtain one.

And yet, as Chris sat there, he began to think things over regarding the prophecy he's received from Sabrina. Doubt was starting to fill up his mind, and he was unable to figure out if he was going to actually save me in any meaningful way. He truly did enjoy his time with the rest of us, and he was not comfortable with the idea of suddenly knowing that death was sure to follow me at some point, especially since I'm the only one in the team who could die. Unable to truly feel any sort of comfort, it was these thoughts that plagued Chris's mind.

And then, a voice spoke to him, asking "Excuse me, but is this seat taken?"

Chris snapped out of his train of thought, where he ended up looking at the player who spoke to him. He was caught off guard altogether by the sudden arrival of a Charizard looking at him with a curious expression. He seemed rough on the onset, like he's seen his fair share of fights and conflicts, and at the same time, he was surprisingly being as sincere as he could muster.

Username: Infernick Team: Delta Species: Charizard

Quickly, Chris said "No. Please, sit down if you like."

"Thank you," the Charizard replied with gratitude. He sat down at the open bench, and decided to start making conversation with the Scyther. "I'm Infernick. Though, you may refer to me as either Nick, or Nicholai if you wish to be more formal."

"Scicle," Chris answered back. "Though, my friends know me as Chris, or Christopher, if you prefer."

"Well, nice to meet you, Chris," Nick said with a smile. "What brings a strapping young lad such as yourself to a volcanic wonderland like this? Last I checked, the lava is deadly to non-Fire-types."

Chris could've sworn he felt his foot sting a little from that slight comment. "Yeah, well, I'm here because I'm supposed to be looking for somebody with my team," he said. "However, some things led to other things, and now I'm here just looking to see if there was anybody to talk to me."

The Charizard smiled, before openly asking "I'm talking to you, aren't I?"

"I meant somebody who's from the same team as my client," Chris answered.

Nick chuckled somewhat, before going "Good luck with that. Last I checked, clients don't just ask for a rescue, harvest, or battle invitation, and expect their teammates to be waiting for the people who accepted their requests. Trust me, I should know."

"Really," Chris added. "And how long have you been playing this game for, exactly?"

"Since it first launched, my friend," Nick answered. Yet, Chris could tell that Nick was…somewhat anxious when it came to that answer. However, Nick quite literally changes the subject, to then ask "So, you're a part of the Solace Guild?"

"Yes."

"Tell me, then. How is good ol' Mike doing, huh? Is he holding up the fort rather well in my absence?"

Chris immediately did a double-take when he heard that said out loud and so confidently. Why didn't he realize it sooner!? Stunned into silence, it took Chris a while to compose himself before asking "Wait a minute! You're the Infernick!? The one who ranks higher than D-Volt? The one who holds a lot of respect from Team Inferno!? You're him!?"

Nick was surprisingly relaxed and composed for a sudden burst of excitement coming from Chris. He just sat there, smiling, before stating "The one and only!"

"Oh, it's such an honor!" Chris stated, grabbing Nick's clawed hands into his blade-arms, and shaking them. "I've heard so much about your exploits in the game! You're the player who helped train Team Inferno on the Zero Isles, but only because you maintained a solo run that lasted for nearly seven weeks! You even brought the idea of stadium battles into the game to test our combat skills! I am your biggest fan! Please forgive me for not recognizing you earlier!"

"Woah, calm down, Chris!" Nick said, trying desperately to ease my overly-excited teammate. "Try not to draw too much attention! I'm supposed to keep a low profile, here!"

Chris immediately stopped shaking Nick's hands, before he said "I'm sorry! I didn't realize you were trying to go at it solo!" Taking a few deep breaths, all that Nick could do was just watch Chris try to contain his excitement. Finally, after calming down a bit, Chris asked "So, what are you doing outside of the Solace Guild?"

"Solo missions, mostly," Nick answered. "There's this one mission in particular that I've been meaning to achieve for a while, but so far, have come up fruitless. Heck, finding this Pokémon in particular is like trying to find a needle in a haystack! He's constantly moving, so it's been rather difficult to get a good read on his location. What's more, he's got his tricks up his sleeves, and often finds a means to escape from danger whenever he's in a tight bind."

"Is that so?" Chris asked. "Who are you looking for?"

Nick smiled, before pulling out something from his bag. "You'd be surprised, buddy. I've only received this objective a few days ago." He then pulled out a letter, before opening it up, and handing it over to Chris for him to read. "And yet, no matter where I find him, he's always thinking one step ahead of me!" Just then, his cheerful expression soon turned serious, before he said "He deserves what's coming to him after what he pulled."

Chris took a peek at the letter, a little bit weirded out by Nick's sudden and involuntary serious demeanor. But then again, he has seen players like that before. He's seen that kind of behavior in me plenty of times. But to see it from Nick was honestly a different kind of serious tone than he thought. In fact, it almost ended up sending chills up his spine. He didn't know why he was so serious, but upon looking into the contents of the letter, it all started to make sense. "Wait, you're seriously…?"

Nick nodded, pulling the letter away, before saying "Yes. I'm out looking for that damned thunder cat." His expression was intimidating to watch, like he's resolved himself to putting an end to a threat as soon as possible. "He deserves to pay after attempting on murdering my star pupils."

"You're after…" Chris began.

"I am after Zeraora."

I was mostly stunned when Josh asked something as profound as the idea of wanting to be away from the human world. Seriously? Why, though? For what reason?

Rose was just as puzzled, where she asked "You… What are you saying?"

Josh continued, by saying "I've been somewhat tormented by nightmares for a while now… Most nights, I've had a difficult time sleeping."

"Okay, but that doesn't explain why you brought up the idea of refusing to go home," Rose stated matter-of-factly. "Josh, what happened to make you consider that idea? Was it because of Gabe's death?"

"Well, no," Josh said, rubbing the back of his head nervously. "Not exactly."

"Then what, Josh?" Rose asked demandingly. "Why are you bringing this up to me now of all times?"

Josh looked at her, and asked "I thought you said you wouldn't be mad at me?"

"Not when the topic of discussion is something like abandoning your home! Josh, what happened to make you even consider it!?"

Josh started to become a little bit nervous, unable to really answer in a thoughtful way. "Uh… Well, I… You see, I…"

"You what, Josh?" Rose asked sternly. "What happened?"

"I DIDN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THAT PLACE ANYMORE, ALRIGHT!?" Josh shouted at the top of his lungs, catching both Rose and myself completely off guard. "Every day, I'm reminded of the struggles of my life at home, and I ultimately found a sense of comfort and ease with the virtual world! In every waking moment, I struggled with the idea of how the world itself has only gotten worse over the course of time, and I didn't want any part of that! I only wanted to go into the virtual world to be free! To feel a sense of fulfillment! And…" Just then, he sighed deeply, lowering his head, as he struggled to hold back tears. He turned his attention towards the ocean, and stared out towards the open sea. "On the day that Adam and I became trapped here, I had been through possibly the single-most horrifying experience of my life. One that…nearly put Adam's life in jeopardy. I saved him, sure, but… Then… We went from one ill-fated circumstance, to another. And then, once we went training on the Zero Isles, the only thing on my mind was for me and Adam to stay alive, and to start a new life. And then…" He took a glance towards Rose, and he continued with a somber expression on his face. "Something happened that nearly shook me to my core on the Zero Isles. One that made me consider one thing perfectly clear."

"And…what's that?" Rose asked slowly.

"That…Adam wanted to return to the real world immensely," Josh answered. "I was so focused on my own ideas that…I didn't realize what Adam might've been going through… And then, during the fifth day of training on those islands, he…"

He paused. At first, I thought it was because he needed time to think clearly before he ended up continuing with his confession. But that couldn't be farther from the truth. He soon looked past Rose, and looked straight at me with a shocked expression. Rose was quick to catch on, and turned to face me as well.

Well, this was awkward. "Were you listening to us the whole time in complete silence?" Josh asked.

Nervously, I began to ask in return "Is it even possible to just let this slide?"

"No, Cross," Josh answered. His demeanor was once more calm and collected. It was like that sudden outburst he had earlier never happened. "You should know better than to sneak over and eavesdrop."

"Like I needed a reason when you were screaming your lungs out earlier? Highly unlikely," I said.

Josh suddenly looked away from me out of anxiousness. Clearly, he was struggling to maintain his stoic façade, especially after everything that he had to go through today.

"Alright!" Rose said, trying to ease the tension, stepping in between the both of us. "Let's all just relax, and calm down. Clearly, it's been a long day, and we need to get some rest. Now, Josh? Are you going to go and rest up, or do you need a minute to yourself?"

"Uh…that won't be necessary," Josh answered, holding up one paw to reassure Rose that he's fine, all the while the other paw was behind his head, his obvious tell that he was nervous. "I'll just…go and get something to drink first, and then meet with Adam in our room. Okay?"

Rose sighed, before saying "Alright. Suit yourself." She then walked off, making her way towards the door, before entering back into the hotel.

Josh and I were pretty much the only ones on our own. He looked at me, and he asked me "Do you want something to drink, Cross? A gummi shake? Berry juice? …Water?"

"Gummi shake, please," I said calmly.

"I'll pay the tab," Josh insisted.

"No, no! I'll pay for it," I stated, holding out my hand to him so that I can tell him I'm trying to be sincere.

A few minutes later, we were in the hotel lobby, downing our beverages. Josh went with some simple water to drink, while I ended up with a gummi shake. Not because I had a sweet tooth, though technically, that was a part of it. No. The main reason I ordered a gummi shake was because, in this game, gummis provided stat boosts upon being consumed. And for somebody who competes in tournaments like me, that's basically the equivalent of drinking a protein shake before working out in a gym.

We just sat there in silence for a good while, all the while my mind was racing over what I just heard not too long ago. I truly had no idea that Josh was that psychologically damaged. If anything, based on my initial thoughts on the guy, he seemed to be a rather chipper person. A little bit odd, to say the least, but wow! Who would've guessed that Josh had some literal demons haunting his mind.

It was Josh who decided to break the silence. "Should we talk about it?" he asked.

Looking at him, I asked "About what?"

"The elephant in the room," Josh answered. "And, no, I am not referring to that Donphan sitting behind you."

I chuckled, thinking he was joking. But, I had to turn around just to be sure. And…yes. There indeed was a Donphan sitting there, having idle chatter with a Golisopod. Upon turning back to Josh, I asked him "You seriously didn't want to leave the virtual world for a while?"

Josh silently nodded, sipping his water.

"Doesn't that kind of feel like a betrayal of Adam's trust?" I asked. "How do you think Adam would react if he found out?" This was then followed by me asking out of curiosity "You didn't tell Adam about this, did you?"

"No, I haven't," Josh answered. "I just kind of stopped thinking about it after a while. You could say that the Zero Isles really changed me, in more ways than one."

"Speaking of," I started, "you mentioned that there was something that made you reconsider your train of thought. It revolved around Adam, didn't it?"

"Yeah," Josh said. "I left the real world because I didn't want to feel the stress of keeping Adam out of danger, and I inadvertently trapped him here along with me."

"What kind of danger?" I asked, taking a sip of my shake.

Josh was hesitant, but after a few seconds, he mentioned "Adam almost died the day before we were trapped here."

I was so close to spitting out my shake when he said that, but I had restraint, and I ended up swallowing the drink, perhaps a little too quickly, and I coughed for a short while as I felt a bit of the beverage go down the wrong tube. Once I cleared my throat, I asked "Jesus, what happened!?"

Josh hissed a little through his teeth, placing a paw behind his head, before saying "It's kind of a horrifying memory, if we're being honest."

"Come on, tell me," I pried. "I promise, whatever it was, I won't tell a single soul! Not my teammates. Not Adam. Not Rose. Nobody!"

"And you can keep true to your word there?" Josh asked. "You promise to keep silent?"

"What do you take me for?" I asked. "Besides, I know that deep down, you're a kind soul."

Josh sighed, and he looked at me nervously. He looked ready to speak his mind. "Alright. You see…"

Josh cocked his head forward a little, and once again fell silent. I assumed that it was because he's trying to dodge the question altogether. But…this wasn't the case in the slightest. He was silent, and he then held his paws up in the air.

"I've heard you took a Roserade in as a team member. Tell me, where is she?"

Just then, as Josh turned his head, and I adjusted to take a look at the person talking to Josh, the figure holding Josh there suddenly materialized out of thin air. Camouflage. The figure quickly appears, and just like that, we both found ourselves face to face with an Inteleon.

Username: Snipeard Team: Intrepid Species: Inteleon

"Let me ask you again," he said, pointing his finger at Josh's face. "Where. Is. Rose?"

"Zeraora?" Chris asked with sudden curiosity. "You're going after him too?"

"As a matter of fact, I am," Nick answered. "This elusive Pokémon just doesn't know when to quit. After what he pulled days ago, I will not rest until he's nothing more than just a series of ones and zeroes." The Charizard looked to be rather intense, but then, suddenly, he ended up looking back at Chris with a sly smile. "I had no idea you were also looking for him, too."

Chris stammered a little, but he quickly mentioned "Actually, I'm doing this because-"

"You have a player trapped in the game," Nick finished for him. "Yes. I know what your team is like, Chris. You're known as Team Calibur. Led by X-Glaive, also known as Cross. Cross was reported as a player trapped in the game last year, just one month after another member of Team Calibur, EbonySol, went missing." Chris wasn't sure if Nick was quick to gather information, but Nick reassured him by following with "Volt told me all about you."

"Ah," Chris said, nodding in understanding.

Nick couldn't help but chuckle a little, before resting a clawed hand on Chris's shoulder. "You know something, Chris?" Nick started. "I've been thinking…"

"Uh, yes?" Chris asked.

"What do you think the right course of action is?"

Chris took a minute to ponder what it was he might've been saying at the time. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is that you left your group to search for somebody important," Nick answered. "Without warning, you had the guts to go and leave your friends, and potentially place them in an uncertain future." Placing his clawed hand back down onto the table, Nick began to look at them, as if he were reminiscing about something from long ago. "I mean, look at me. I left the future of Team Delta and the Solace Guild to my subordinates, and every day, I can't help but wonder if they really can carry on without me. Back there, I'm basically hailed as a tactical genius, a strong mentor figure, and more importantly, a capable leader." He shivered suddenly, like he's repressed some sort of intense fear, before he said "Every day, I worry about those two boys, Josh and Adam. They hold an immense amount of respect for me, and even to this day, I'm just glad to know that they are still alive out there, fighting for survival." He looked back at Chris, before asking "How long has it been since Cross was trapped in the game?"

"A little over a year," Chris answered. "Why do you ask?"

"Josh and Adam were trapped in this world for nearly three times as long," Nick added. "Given how long they've been trapped in this world, it's understandable that they're scared and alone. It's enough to make your head spin, your heart race, and your body tremble." Looking back at his claws, he said "The experience they went through on the Zero Isles alone was enough to make my skin crawl. I didn't want to make them go through such a harrowing ordeal… Rather, I would've preferred to keep them at arm's length at all times." Lowering his head, his expression was suddenly fearful, before he very quickly sighed, and said "Sorry. I've said too much already."

Chris was practically stunned into silence. His mind was racing, thinking about everything that Nick said that night. He thought about his team. He thought about Josh and Adam, and what they might've experienced on the Zero Isles. He thought about Zeraora. He even thought about his own actions, leaving the group for a goal that didn't exactly sit right with him in the slightest. I could wager that he might be regretting his own actions, but the fear and dread that he was feeling regarding my fate is the one thing that's not making him want to leave that spot. He wants to help his friends in any way he can, but the fear of the unknown terrified him to no extent.

Chris eventually broke the silence, before he asked "What made you decide to leave your team, anyways? To leave Josh and Adam like that?" He made eye contact with Nick, saw the look of concern in the Charizard's eyes, before asking "You didn't leave them by choice, did you?"

Nick averted his gaze somewhat, before he gave a smile that hid a thousand doubts. He patted Chris on the head, and said "You're quite observant, Chris." Lowering his hand, he continued with "Yeah, something came up that made me leave without question one day. I didn't even get the chance to see just how skilled of a team Josh and Adam would've become if I continued to train them. There were rumors being spread out from around the game about something that needed to be eliminated. I left three years ago because I had to go on a hunt for someone. But, after three years of searching, I couldn't find anything. I'm just hoping it isn't too late. I'm hoping that one day, I can go back to them, and put this search on hiatus…" Nick then got up from his seat, and he smiled at Chris. "Let's just hope we both find what we're looking for. It's been nice talking to you, Chris!"

As Nick was walking away, about to go and turn in for the night, Chris kept his eye on the Charizard, looking at Nick's back, wings, and tail that ended in a burst of flame at the tip. "Hey, wait!" Chris said, grabbing Nick's attention. "What are you searching for, exactly?"

Nick craned his head towards Chris's direction, and he gave a subtle smile. "What I'm looking for? Well, for one, the thing that kept me trapped in an endless search, Zeraora. The other… Freedom. Freedom for both Josh and Adam. Freedom for your friend, Cross." He turned back around, his smile fading, but he refused to show his expression to Chris. "Freedom…for myself…"

Just like that, he walked up the stairs, and he vanished from sight. Chris was left alone in the lobby again. All alone with nothing but himself, and his thoughts. He had the chance to meet with his icon, but never realized just how much that Charizard has been significantly different to what he was expecting. Perhaps, he thought, he needed to stop judging people from first impressions and instead focus on learning more about them as he gets to know them. That's the thought he decided to keep true to himself as he decided to turn in for the evening.

However, as he made his way to his room, a completely different thought crossed his mind. That last phrase that Nick said just now. He said "Freedom for myself."

Freedom…from what?

Nolan didn't even have the chance to write as much as Adam finally came to finishing up his story. Nolan was just stunned to complete silence, as he eyed the Incineroar in front of him, and heard what he had to say. To Nolan, this was something he was not expecting to hear in the slightest.

Just then, Adam finished things up on his end, and said "…So, what did you think?"

"Ich bin sprachlos," Nolan said silently. "I had no idea…"

Adam sighed, before he got up from the bed, and walked over to Nolan. Taking a seat next to the Aegislash, Adam asked "Are you alright? I mean, if you want, I could-"

"I'm fine, Adam," Nolan interrupted. "I just…need a moment to breathe, that's all. I mean…" Looking at Adam, the Incineroar clearly looked concerned, and all that Nolan could do was stammer out of sudden shock and emotion. Nolan sniffed, a single tear being shed from his eye, as he stated "That was quite the ordeal. I had no idea that both you and Josh had to go through something like that."

Adam looked away for a bit, before admitting "Well, you insisted, and now you know the story, so that means that you'll likely get the chance to tell the others in due time, I'm sure…" Placing a hand on his forehead, Adam admitted to himself "Oh, who am I kidding? Of course, you'll go and tell them. There's just no escaping it."

Nolan placed his hand on Adam's shoulder to calm him down, and stated "Hey, it's alright. Thanks for telling me."

Adam and Nolan looked at each other, and calmly, the both of them smiled. Adam was on the verge of tears, but kept his composure as he nodded. "No. Thank you for hearing my story."

"But to think, you had the gall to-"

"Let's not bring that up, please!" Adam insisted. "You should tell Chris and Cross while you have the chance." He chuckled somewhat, before silently commenting "Wow. Criss-Cross. I never saw those names like that, before."

"Ja," Nolan added, chuckling a little as well.

Adam got up from the bed, and he sincerely smiled at Nolan, before saying "I'm going to bed. Thanks for listening to my story."

"Thank you for telling it," Nolan replied. "Gute nacht, Adam."

Adam opened the door, and walked out, returning to his room. However, before he could close the door behind him, he took notice of something, and immediately stopped in his tracks. "Oh, Rose!" Adam said. "I thought you'd be in bed by this point."

"Same to you," Rose admitted. "What are you doing in Team Calibur's room?"

Nolan immediately got up from his seat, putting away the "Memo Pad" and deactivating his menu, and made his way to the door, where he saw the Roserade standing there in the hallway, a rather concerned expression on her face. "Fraulein Rose," Nolan said. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Rose answered. "I just had a talk with Josh not too long ago…" Looking back towards the stairs, she added "It turns out, he's in a worse psychological state than we once thought."

"What do you mean by that?" Adam asked with concern. "What did he say?"

Rose tensed up, looking at her fellow teammate with a look of concern, like her own thoughts were starting to become rather concerning. The look of dread on her face was immense, and furthermore, she had no idea whether or not she wanted to confess what she heard to Adam in the slightest. My guess was that she likely was unable to comprehend what Josh might've been thinking, and didn't want to tell Adam anything so that he doesn't have to worry. Swallowing her own emotions, she tried to make the confession. "Well, you see…"

But she was quickly interrupted by the sudden sound of loud crashing from beneath them, and almost immediately, the three of them stopped everything they were doing.

I was the one who made the first move. I launched an Aura Sphere at the direction of the Inteleon, which he wasn't expecting from the likes of me, and was knocked over to the counter, crashing behind the booth. Immediately, I rushed to Josh's aid, the both of us ready for combat. "Nobody threatens my friend like that!" I yelled. "Now tell us! Who are you?"

The Inteleon laughed, before calmly standing up and glaring at the both of us. "My, my, my. You have more secrets up your sleeve than I once thought. However…" Just then, a black membrane encased his eyes, and he menacingly stated "You two are no match for someone like me."

"Who are you?" Josh asked, readying an Aura Sphere of his own. "Start talking! Why do you know Rose?"

"You think that Gabe's the only one who knows who she is, LucarioTrainerJ?" the Inteleon questioned. "Well, you're mistaken. Gabe only wanted to be impress her, and it's because of THAT he's now dead and buried in the ground back home! And whose fault is it that he's dead in the first place?"

Josh immediately had a sudden realization dawn on him, as he had an idea on who he's talking to. Lowering his arms, the Aura Sphere dissipating, he asked "You're Gabe's teammate, aren't you? Is that why you want to see Rose?"

The Inteleon grinned, before he said "I am known as Snipeard. Diamond Rank member of Team Intrepid. And what's more…I'm known to be quite experienced in ranged combat."

"Well, you shouldn't be attacking Gabe's rescuer like that!" I stated. "You should be grateful and sincere for Josh's efforts!"

"Grateful?" Snipeard questioned. "My teammate is DEAD because of your failures! I saw it with my own eyes on that day! I saw that look on your face when you hesitated on killing that murderer during that rain storm a few days ago! You could've easily defeated him in combat, and what happened!? He got away! I had to search the wreckage for myself, just to be sure he was reduced to pixels. And instead…" He pulled out a card, seemingly from nowhere, and held it up to us. The pattern of the card was that of a lightning bolt. It was Zeraora's card.

Josh and I immediately were shocked by the sight of the card, and we were both confused on how he acquired it. "Where did you…?" Josh questioned.

"I found this only yesterday," the Inteleon said. "While you were busy gathering berries, and fighting with these pompous airheads-"

That struck a nerve. "I beg your pardon…" I stated, gritting my teeth.

"I came across Zeraora around the forest you were exploring that day, just by the riverbed," Snipeard continued. "He had his eyes set on killing you that day. It was thanks to me, that you are still alive as we speak, so I believe you should be thanking me."

"Then why point your finger at me like you were intending to kill me?" Josh questioned. "Why the sudden need for Rose?"

"Because…" The Inteleon soon tossed the card at our direction, before firing a burst of water from his fingertip. The water, hit the card, causing it to spin towards me, before hitting me square in the arm, the same one that was injured during my fight with Josh the other day. I gripped my arm in pain as the card was lodged into the cut, before the Inteleon then leaped from the counter, before gliding down towards Josh, crashing into a table and knocking it over, as he held Josh firmly to the ground, his finger pointed square at Josh's head. His black membrane around his eyes quickly vanished, before boldly stating "It's because of you that Zeraora is still alive! If you can't man up and locate the one responsible for Gabe's death, then you don't even deserve the chance to have Rose join your team! Now tell me, WHERE IS SHE!?"

I pulled the card from the cut in my arm, and I was beginning to worry that Josh was likely going to die. I knew for certain that Josh wasn't having the best day today, but to be held by metaphorical gunpoint like this must've been terrifying for him. I had to do something to save him. However, my arm was in immense pain, and that greatly hindered my combat capabilities. Regardless, I charged forward, only for the Inteleon to point a finger at me, firing a water bullet at me, grazing me in my only operable arm, causing it to bleed from a newly acquired wound. However, I still charged forward, ready to hit him with a Close Combat attack.

The Inteleon quickly jumped into the air, before suddenly being enveloped in a white glow. Upon hitting the ceiling, he jumped down, and landed a series of consecutive blows on me, bouncing from wall to wall, dodging my attacks like nothing else. I knew the move as Acrobatics, and given my severe disadvantage against something like that, it wasn't long until I was knocked to the ground.

"CROSS!" Josh yelled, as he tried to rush towards the Inteleon in retaliation. He readied a Force Palm, ready to strike the Water-type, only to end up suddenly struck by a blue beam of energy from Snipeard's fingertips, striking Josh's palm and freezing it in a block of ice. Josh's movements were slowed down, giving the Inteleon the chance to once again leap into the air to dodge Josh's attack, as Josh only struck the floor, breaking the ice around his paw. Josh tried to turn around to attack again, only to then be hit by Snipeard, who encased his hand in water and smacked him hard across the chest, knocking the wind straight out of Josh's system. Josh was seen flying, before he ended up crashing against the counter.

The various patrons were just as shocked about this sudden development like we were, and while some were ready to strike against the Inteleon for the disturbance of peace, others were in a state of fear as they could do nothing but watch. Regardless of that, the Inteleon walked over to Josh, before pointing his finger at Josh's head again. Josh took notice, and tensed up in fear.

"You don't even meet my expectations," Snipeard added. "How did someone like you stand toe to toe with Zeraora in the first place? Rose doesn't even deserve to be a part of your team."

Almost as if right on que, a Sludge Bomb attack ended up striking the Inteleon, exploding on contact, and knocking him down to the ground. He staggered up, while Josh and I saw, and were relieved, to notice that Adam, Nolan, and Rose were coming on down to help us. Rose was quick to go to Josh's aid, while Adam and Nolan decided to help me up. "What happened?" Nolan asked.

"Someone tried to kill us, that's what," I answered. I quickly glared at the Inteleon, as he got on up to his hands and knees.

Snipeard gave a serious stare down towards Josh and Rose, however. As Josh was helped up, Rose turned towards the Inteleon, a look of anger on her face. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I came here to find you," Snipeard mentioned. "After everything that happened, after that Lucario failed to exact revenge for us, do you really expect to stay by his side after he let Zeraora escape!?"

"That's none of your concern, Norman!" Rose stated. "I've made my choice! I'm going to help Josh and Adam escape from this world, even if Zeraora is still on the loose!"

"Tch!" Snipeard got to his feet, standing at his full 6' 3" height, as he brushed off any dust gathered around his body. As he stared at Rose, he said "Think about this, Rose. It's because of him, that Zeraora is still alive out there. Gabe is dead, and what has Team Inferno done to avenge him? Where were they when Zeraora has been wandering around, on the loose? They're no heroes, Rose! Think about it!"

Quickly, Snipeard ran towards the door, before he jumped from the bridge. As he jumped, he gazed back at the rest of us, a look of scorn on his face. The spray from the water made contact with the Inteleon's tail, and very quickly, he vanished into thin air. The five of us rushed over to the bridge to see where he might've gone to, but ultimately, he's gone. He was nowhere to be seen.

"Who was that guy?" I questioned. "What's his problem?"

Rose sighed, before turning back around towards the hotel. Muttering to herself, she said "Norman… What happened? You used to be so kind and innocent…"

"Norman?" Josh questioned, as the four of us looked at her. "You know him?"

"Sadly, yes," Rose answered, facing us again. "I've known him for a while, actually. We went to the same school together, in fact…"

"Then why is he angry at us for?" Adam asked with concern. "Josh and Cross nearly died there."

"That's because…" Rose paused somewhat, lowering her head, before she said "It's because he wants justice to be done for the death of his teammate. Or rather, someone he once considered as family."

"Wait, family?" Josh asked, a look of fear and dread for what was being said hitting him like a freight train. "Then he's…"

"His name is Norman Masters," Rose said. "He is Gabe's older brother."