Elements continued to clash, shattering windows and carving up streets. Grappling bodies broke through buildings as pokémon fought up close. Humans shouted orders, ran as they repositioned, and lay dead, strewn across the battle torn streets. Smoke and screams filled the air.
Scores of pokémon wearing collars stampeded down the central streets of Cerulean City, unleashed by Team rocket. Some of the pokémon screamed, some cried, and some were stoic. But they all charged forward or fell to the ground, writhing and clutching at the collars.
The civilian trainers who joined the defenders and the youngest gym trainers met the charge unflinchingly and without understanding. But the more experienced members of the defense blanched as they recognized the classic cruel tactic.
Nonetheless they fought.
A sobbing snorlax led the charge down one of the streets as special attacks flew out to meet it. Pressurized jets of water left deep gouges in its skin, spikes of ice embedded themselves in muscle, and fire burned all around it. It fell meters away from the defender's position, the collar around its neck activating as the body came to a stop, electricity causing its limbs to jerk in a parody of life.
More stolen pokémon soon joined it on the ground.
While the front assault was happening other Rocket forces attempted to slip around the rear. One trio lurked in the shadows of a ruined building watching the battle, a red-haired woman, a blue-haired man, and a meowth.
"I knew they were going to use the pokémon we took from Saffron, but I thought they were just going to train them to fight with us," Jessie said, face pale.
"This- this is-" James stuttered, his cheeks tinged green.
"What's the point even?" Meowth asked, voice quiet. "This is just supposed to be a distraction. Why do that?"
"Shoul- Shouldn't we try and accomplish our mission?" Jessie gulped. "So that it meant something?"
James bent over and threw up on the broken floor.
"Would it change anything?" Meowth questioned.
"No," James said, straightening up and wiping his mouth. "It'll never mean anything. It's- It's just wrong."
"Then what should we do?"
Wild pokémon continued to go berserk all around the city, smashing up the outskirts of Cerulean and any individuals or small groups that were unlucky enough to run into them. The wilderness between the town and the cave was a no man's land, trapping the League forces.
Inside the cave the glowing purple mist was being pushed back, the barrier now a translucent blue as it grew in strength and shrunk in size. Giovanni, sitting in the middle of the command outpost in the cave, smiled at the sight.
"Prepare the Capture Force," he ordered. "Our prize is almost ready. We must go down to claim it."
"And when we have it no Elite or Legendary, no region or nation, no force on this very planet will be able to stand against us." Giovanni's smile grew fierce as he stood up. "We will have finally won. The world will be ours to shape in our image."
Onix burrowed through earth like Misty's pokémon swam through the oceans. Ash clung on tight to the stone serpent's back as stone and dirt parted around them at blistering speeds. They had left the gym via the basement and gone to depths that the wild ground types normally avoided before making their way to the cave.
The trip seemed to drag on as Ash's nerves sparked with anticipation and fear, but when they burst into the cool open air of the cave, Ash felt that the journey had been way too short.
Utter darkness surrounded them as Onix came to a halt so that the three humans and Pikachu could get off. Distant crashes and roars echoed through the cave, which warned Ash that the pokémon inside were rampaging as well.
And there was something else, something just on the edge of his perception, something Ash couldn't quite pick up on no matter how he strained his ears….
"Misty, get out the battle-blinds," Brock said. "We don't want to give away our position yet."
Misty nodded and pulled out the battle-blinds she had borrowed from the gym and quickly set them up. The blaze of white light the trio called out their pokémon was contained, not a hint of light disturbing the cave's darkness.
Brock called out Zubat and Geodude, Misty Staryu and Starmie, while Ash sent out Butterfree.
"Zubat, anything dangerous in the immediate vicinity?" Brock asked once the pokémon had gotten its bearings.
Zubat shook his head.
What's that… noise, I think? Pikachu asked the flying type.
What noise? You mean all the screaming and fighting? Zubat asked, giving Pikachu a quizzical look.
No, it's… it's.. I don't know, it's something.
Something you can only almost hear? Something annoying just on the edge? Ash whispered to the electric type.
Yeah! What he said! Pikachu replied.
No, I'm only hearing things loud and clear, Zubat. I have no idea what you two are on about?
"Aaron, what are you whispering to the pokémon?" Brock asked.
"I'm asking if they can hear something," Ash replied, looking over to the patch of darkness where Brock's voice had come from. "It's bugging me because I can't quite hear it."
"I don't hear anything," came Misty's voice from another patch of darkness.
"Neither do I," Brock added.
"Yeah, Zubat didn't either," Ash said. "But Pikachu seems to be almost hearing it too…"
"That doesn't make any sense," Brock said. "If it's a sound then Zubat should certainly be able to hear it."
"Maybe it's something psychic?" Misty suggested.
"Butterfree, do you sense anything psychic going on?" Ash asked, turning to the spot of darkness where the bug-type should be.
This cave is full of psychic energy and residue, Butterfree answered. But there's nothing that should make people almost hear a noise that doesn't exist.
"That's weird," Ash said.
"Aaron, is this noise going to interfere with your ability to operate?" Brock asked.
"No, it's just annoying," Ash replied. "Let's get going."
"Zubat, lead the way," Brock said. "Aaron, have Butterfree use telekinesis to keep us going in the right direction so we don't lose track of each other. Onix, wait in the tunnel until I have Zubat call for you."
People and pokémon nodded and followed the former gym leader's directions.
Soon the trio set out in the utter darkness of the cave, following Zubat, shepherded together by telekinetic pull and prods from Butterfree. Ash was unsure how long they walked. There was no way to tell time in the blackness outside of the cadence of one's own heartbeat and there was nothing to see except gradients of shadow. The din of berserk pokémon in the background was unsettling white noise, a constant unchanging chaos.
The only thing that did change was the not-sound on the edge of hearing. It grew in intensity as they walked on until Ash could feel it in his head, he could taste it, but no matter what he could not hear it.
From the way Ash heard and felt Pikachu's ears twitching he knew that the electric type was in the same boat.
When they finally came across a glimmer of light Ash didn't even recognize it as anything other than a trick of the eye at first. But as they drew closer his brain was clearly able to comprehend that what he was seeing was light.
"We're almost there," Brock whispered. "But Zubat's indicating there's something ahead."
That something is a lot of fighting pokémon, Zubat said. But unless can think of a clever way to tell you-
"Wouldn't it probably be wild pokémon?" Ash said.
Huh, I guess I was overthinking it.
"Makes sense," Brock said. There was enough light now that the former gym leader was a dark shape rather than a patch of shadow in Ash's eyes.
"We need to be careful then," Misty said. "If they spot us…"
She didn't need to finish the sentence.
"Let's make sure they don't find us then," Brock said.
They slowed down, making sure to move as quietly as they could. Continuing onward the light grew brighter and brighter until the trio of humans and their pokémon could make out the source. There were a series of floodlights stationed around a camp, filled with equipment and humans wearing Rocket uniforms. Pokémon prowled the edges of the encampment, accompanied by their trainers. That camp itself was full of machines, large bulky things most of which had antenna dishes and one that had a simple antenna.
"What are they up to?" Brock drawled, settling down behind a collection of stalagmites and peering over them.
"You think it's a sensor station?" Misty asked as she, Ash, and all the pokémon they had out joined the former gym leader.
"Maybe," Brock said, his expression twisting. "But it doesn't make much sense to set it up underground all the way out here."
"What else might they be using those dishes and antenna for?" Misty said. "Communication hub?"
"With all this rock in the way?" Brock shook his head. "Might be a relay station, but that doesn't need much equipment, so while I think there is a relay in there I don't think this a communications hub or dedicated relay station."
Ugh, Pikachu moaned. Whatever that noise I can't hear is, it's really starting to bug me.
"Me too buddy, me too- Wait," Ash's head snapped towards Pikachu. "It's louder here for you too, right?"
Yeah, Pikachu nodded, grimacing.
"You're talking about that inaudible 'sound' that's been bugging you?" Misty asked.
"Yeah, it's louder here," Ash nodded.
"It might be an artificial psychic effect," Brock said, rubbing his chin. "But why is it only affecting Aaron and Pikachu?"
"Do you think it might be related to what's driving the wild pokémon mad?" Misty asked.
"I… I don't know," Brock said. "But the question remains, why is it only affecting Aaron and Pikachu? Why not us or our pokémon? Or Aaron's other pokémon?"
Ash had an idea as to why he might be affected, but he also lacked the answer as to why Pikachu was affected when Bulbasaur and Butterfree were not.
"It's weird," Ash admitted. "Maybe we're just scared or something."
"Oh, now you get scared?" Brock's tone was sarcastic but amused.
"I get scared all the time," Ash replied. "I just don't let it stop me."
"Maybe you should let it stop you from time to time," Misty snarked.
"I never would have started my journey if I did," Ash answered, slumping down on the stalagmites.
They sat in silence for another minute, Brock and Misty observing the Rocket encampment while Ash rested.
Brock broke the silence.
"Do you think if we-"
A flying rock shattered the stalagmites before Brock could finish his sentence.
Humans!
Get them!
A horde of pokémon came swarming out of the darkness, gravelers, hypnos, sandslashes, rhydons, rhyhorns, golbats, and more. The boy heard their twisted cries as the mass of pokémon bore down on them.
TEAR THEM TO PIECES! RIP OUT THEIR SOFT INNARDS AND USE THEM TO DEAFEN THE SOUNDS!
KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM!
Kill every human until silence returns.
Ash went pale.
The boy had lived the entirety of his life near pokémon. He had known their power from an early age. He had faced death at their side and from them time and time again.
But facing the swarm bearing down on him, it struck him how small and vulnerable he was next to them. Stone carapaces that could shrug off blows that would leave him splattered like an insect on a windshield, psychic powers that could tear him to shreds and set his mind ablaze, giant claws that could carve him up, deadly poisons, and so many other powers. Each member of the swarm of rampaging wild pokémon could kill him with ease and each and every member seemed to want to.
"Fall back!" Brock ordered, giving up on stealth. "Zubat! Tell Onix we need a pick up!"
"Staryu, slip them up!" Misty ordered.
"Butterfree, Sleep Powder while we run away!" Ash ordered, already scrambling back. "Pikachu, Thundershock after Butterfree's done, aim for their eyes!"
Blue-white light flared as Staryu covered the cave floor with ice, while sparkling powder wafted towards the rushing mob. Then galvanic power buzzed and the cave was filled with yellow light as tendrils of electricity danced through the blood thirsty pokémon.
Ash heard the rumbling that heralded Onix's arrival but they must have come further than he thought because it still sounded distant.
"There! Up there!" Brock shouted, pointing at a nearby high mound. "And then get your pokémon out!"
The trio scrambled for the high ground as the pursuing mass of pokémon shattered the ice and rammed the pokémon caught by the sleep powder out of the way. Ash could feel the vibrations from their pursuit in the souls of his feet and the sound drowned out the rumbling of Onix's journey. What was more, he could hear what they were saying.
KILL THEM! KILL THEM AND STOP THE NOISE!
The noise.
A noise that wild pokémon could hear.
Something that didn't seem to affect pokémon with a trainer.
A noise like what Ash couldn't hear but sensed; like what Pikachu, who out of all his pokémon lived the most like a wild pokémon by never going in his pokéball could also sense but not hear.
Something that the wild pokémon were blaming on humans.
Ash understood.
The pokémon were correct to blame it on humans, they had just blamed the wrong ones.
"Staryu, Ice Barrier!" Misty commanded. Once more ice appeared in the cave, a wall of spikes midway up the cave hill.
"Why are they coming after us?" Misty hissed as she continued to run. "It doesn't make any sense. Why not the Rockets?"
"They've probably got as much repellent around the perimeter of their camp as will fit and probably are using masking on the camp itself," Brock answered as he sprinted towards the crown of the hill.
"But why are the pokémon all ganging up on us? I thought they were fighting everything, including each other?" Misty went on, grabbing Starmie's pokéball so she could unleash another pokémon.
"Because they blame humans for this!" Ash said, trying to figure out which of his pokémon to call out next.
"How do you know that?" Misty asked, white light blazing as Starmie appeared.
"Can't you hear?" Ash gestured towards their attackers, the mass that covered the cave floor and was reaching the bottom of the hill.
"What in the Distorted World do you mean by that?" Brock shouted, as Geodude joined them on the hill.
"There's nothing to hear!" Misty shouted at Ash. "Get-"
"THEN YOU AREN'T LISTENING RIGHT!" Ash bellowed back.
He knew what he had to do.
The wild pokémon were smashing their way through Misty's barrier. It wouldn't hold for more than a few seconds.
Zubat! I know I'm not your trainer but please listen to me! Ash cried out to Brock's pokémon. Make sure those pokémon can all hear me!
I'll give it a shot.
"Aaron, what are-"
Ash ignored Misty's questions and ran forward at the rhydon who had just broken through the barrier.
The stone/ground type bore down on him. It towered over him, more than six feet of heavy and hard stone carapace. Limbs that could crush him with ease. A horn that could gore him. Power over the ground itself that could swallow him up and destroy him so completely that there wouldn't be a body to find.
Still, Ash faced it head on, heart in his throat and his limbs quivering from the knowledge that if his idea didn't work then he would die.
STOP! He shouted at the stone type. WE'RE NOT THE ONES RESPONSIBLE!
Lies won't save you huma- wait, how are you doing that? How are you speaking like that?
The rhydon paused, blocking the gap it had created, jamming it for the moment. The entire horde paused as Zubat's control over sound carried Ash's words to all of their ears. The screams and roars abated as the pokémon began to murmur instead.
"What's happening?" Misty asked quietly from somewhere behind Ash.
It's just a ditto! A parasect called out from further back. Knock it out of the way so we can get the humans!
It's not a ditto, a hypno shouted. Its mind is human.
Then why is it speaking properly?
"I'm not sure," Brock answered Misty.
That doesn't matter! Ash shouted. He needed to take control of the conversation before the pokémon resumed their rampage. We're not the humans who created that noise! It's the humans by the lights with the machines who are doing that!
"Isn't that the other language he knows?" Misty asked, still quiet. "What's Aaron saying that he doesn't want us to know? What's he saying that's making them listen to him?"
"That's… that's not a language," Brock said breathlessly. "Languages have structures, patterns. Whatever Aaron's doing it doesn't involve language."
What humans? A sandslash yelled. We can't smell any humans over there. We should just kill these humans already!
Ash managed to stop himself from trembling. He had hoped that speaking properly would make the wild pokémon trust him, but it looks like they had only paused because the shock of what he was doing temporarily broke through their rage. If he didn't think of something quickly then the pokémon would ki-
No, there are humans there, a golbat spoke up out of the blue.
Why didn't you say anything? We could have got them first!
Because it's really hard to tell where they are, the golbat answered. And it's really hard to think if I listen hard over there.
That's because they're the ones behind this! Ash proclaimed, seizing the opportunity that had been dropped into his lap. That's why it's hard to think if you listen too hard, because they're helping create the noise!
You're just saying that so we don't kill you now! The sandslash accused. You're just trying to hide the fact that you're responsible so you can escape!
We can stay here, Ash offered, holding up his open hands in a conciliatory gesture. Until you're done with the camp. Some of you can stay here. If I'm right then the noise should get weaker and then you can let us go to deal with the humans responsible.
And if you're lying? The rhydon in the ice wall's gap asked, looming over Ash.
Well, Ash gulped, unable to hide all of his trembling. Then you still can kill us.
Yes, yes we can, the rhydon said, looking Ash straight in the eye. And don't think that onix we can all hear will save you. I can crush your head well before it reaches you.
I know, Ash replied, meeting the pokémon's eyes even as he fought to keep his limbs from quivering.
We'll keep the onix away from the rest of them so it doesn't interfere, a couple of gravelers and a parasect said.
Come on, a hypno called out from near the back. Let's go attack that camp.
The greater part of the horde departed, rushing towards the lights of the Rocket camp. The rest circled around the hill and clustered around the gap the rhydon had created.
Can I go back to my friends? Ash asked, still meeting the rhydon's gaze.
It won't make a difference, the rhydon told him.
Ash nodded and then turned his back to the stone-type. His shoulders tensed up in anticipation of a blow that he wouldn't even have a chance to feel before it killed him, but he walked up the hill to rejoin Brock, Misty, and the pokémon.
Misty was looking at him like she had never seen him before and Brock…. Brock's face was as impassive as a statue's. He stood tall, arms crossed as he looked down at Ash.
"You were communicating like they do" It wasn't a question.
"Yes," Ash nodded, looking at the ground, unable to meet the young man's eyes.
"What we thought was another language-"
"-was just me speaking properly."
"Wait, you consider speaking like a pokémon to be the proper way of speaking?" Misty interjected, leaning forward.
"Well, yeah-" Ash began, rubbing the back of his head, but Brock interrupted him.
"We don't have time for that now," the former gym leader said. "What did you say to them?"
"I told them that the Rockets in the camp we saw were causing the noise," Ash said. "And that we'd stay here until they were done so that they could still kill us if I was lying."
"What noi- wait, you mean that thing you and Pikachu can't hear?" Misty asked. "So that is what's driving the pokémon insane?"
Ash nodded.
"Well, that buys us some time at least," Brock sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "And I'm guessing that if we make any big sudden movements they'll think we're trying to escape?"
Ash nodded again.
"We need to plan what we're going to do if your gamble doesn't work out then," Brock said. "And Aaron?"
"Yes," Ash said quietly.
"I understand why you'd keep this a secret, but we're going to have a loooong talk after this is all over. Got it?"
Ash felt a weight lift from his shoulders and he finally looked up and met Brock's gaze.
"Yeah."
There was no battle when the mass of wild pokémon descended on the Rocket encampment. The members of Team Rocket and their pokémon attempted to fight back, but one cannot fight back against a flood. Instead, the mass of wild pokémon swarmed over them, tearing screaming people and pokémon apart and smashing all the equipment in the camp.
Some tried to run.
They failed.
As Giovanni and his entourage descended further into the dark depths of the Cerulean cave system the radio on Giovanni's belt buzzed.
"What is it?" Giovanni asked, pulling the radio off of his belt and holding it up near his mouth.
"We've lost contact with one of the camps," Archer said from the other end of the connection. "Communication and Rage Signal relays are also down."
"Did they report any sign of hostile forces?" Giovanni asked.
"Unverified contacts. They couldn't investigate further due to wild pokémon in the area."
"Consider them verified. I want every other camp on high alert. Tell all non-critical encampments to retreat if they are engaged in force."
"Will do boss."
Giovanni shut off the radio and replaced it on his belt. He turned to the trainers accompanying him.
"We can't afford interference with the final part of this operation," Giovanni told them. "Some of you will need to take picket duty as well as guarding the infrastructure we need to deploy. Keep an eye out for favorable terrain and I'll dole out the assignments as we go."
"Yes, sir!" The assembled Rockets replied.
Giovanni nodded and then turned back to the path into the depths.
He would not, could not be stopped here.
Eddie coughed and wiped soot off of his face as he slumped down on a pile of rubble.
His pokémon were out of the fight, wounded but stable, which was more than could be said about others in his squad. They were trying to hold an intersection, taking refuge in the destroyed remains of a building, pokémon firing off special attacks from cover while their trainers aided them with whatever projectile weapon they happened to have, or simply acting as another pair of eyes. Various Rocket forces were returning fire, trying to pick off the unlucky Cerulean trainers whenever they pokéd their heads out of cover, or simply blasting away to wear down said cover.
Small fires burned all around the intersection filling the air with the acrid scent of smoke and a dry, harsh heat. Smoke from the whole city blocked out the sun leaving Rockets and Ceruleans alike in shadow. Eddie could barely hear some people and pokémon whimpering in pain, nearly drowned out by the constant sounds of special attacks; rushing water, buzzing electricity, crackling fire, the whines of beams, and the constant impacts and small explosions.
Eddie gathered enough strength to peak over the rubble and then slid back down before a Razor Leaf volley could decapitate him. He didn't peek out again; he didn't need to. His first look had confirmed his fears.
The enemy was accumulating a force large enough to overrun their position and from what Eddie saw they nearly had the numbers required, assuming all the new Rocket arrivals had functional teams. Even if they didn't they'd have enough bodies to throw at the beleaguered defenders to occupy them while intact teams of pokémon stormed their position.
The tempo of special attacks from the Rockets increased and Eddie began looking for an avenue of retreat.
The evacuated apartment building beside them had been their initial option, but it had taken a stray Rock Throw and a Solar Beam leading to a partial collapse. The nearby streets lacked cover and Eddie and his squad would be cut to pieces before they could make it a block. The nearby sewers had collapsed from the fighting so Eddie and his squad couldn't escape that way either.
Eddie peaked out of the rubble at a different point and he saw the Rockets and their pokémon advancing in small groups, a large group hanging back and providing covering fire. The advance would be on them in seconds!
His squad needed to retreat/There was nowhere to retreat to-
And then, with a bone rattling boom, the world went white.
When his vision returned Eddie saw a huge pillar of dust and smoke rising from the former Rocket position. There was a channel carved into the sidewalks, streets, and the sewers beneath, from just in front of Eddie's squad to where the Rockets had been providing cover fire. And there were no Rockets remaining.
Eddie looked up and caught a glimpse of a small orange dot in the smoke choked skies above...
A dragon had arrived at Cerulean City.
The beast was orange with small blue wings that looked incapable of supporting a bird, let alone a small dragon with a man on its back. Yet the dragonite flew, carrying a passenger, a red-haired man wearing a cape. And flying on either side of them was the stone pterodactyl known as an aerodactyl, the combination of bird and cloud known as an altaria, and the wide blue dragon with red wings and a long tail known as a salamence.
Below them were the enemy forces and their hasty fortifications. Mere specs of dust before the dragons.
Brilliant white light shone in pulses as the dragon-types bombarded the earth below with short pulses of Hyper-Beam. Each burst destroyed either a group of Rockets or one of their strong points, leaving only dust and smoke behind.
At the same time dark-type pokémon lunged out of the shadows, attacking Rocket units in close contact with the defenders in the rear. Pinpoint bursts of obsidian power, snarling fangs, and sneaky blows cut down Rocket trainers and pokémon while Karen's trainers unveiled themselves to the defenders.
In under a minute the assault on Cerulean City had been thrown into chaos. With the offensive cut off and with no strong points to fall back to, Team Rocket's forces broke into a rout, desperately fleeing the wrath of dragons and darkness.
Uncaring, Lance and his team moved away from the city and towards the mountain that held the Cerulean Cave.
"We have confirmed sightings of Elites on the battlefield! I repeat we have confirmed sightings of Elites on the battlefield!" Archer's panicked voice sounded once again from the radio on Giovanni's belt. The traitorous gym leader's heart skipped a beat at the announcement even as his face remained as placid as ever.
"Which ones?" Giovanni asked, bringing the radio up to his face once again even as he continued his journey to the depths.
"Dark-type specialist Karen and Champion Lance," Archer answered. "Our forces in the city have been routed and radar has picked up on airborne objects closing in on the cave."
"Have all units fall back to the caves," Giovanni ordered. "We've almost won this; we just need to hold them off for a little while longer! Set up multiple defensive layers as soon as you can and be prepared to collapse sections of the cave if you need to."
"Yes sir!"
"And I want to double the guards around the capture field emitters. We need them to hold out until Operation Stolen Fire is complete and the helmet has restrained the target!"
"Understood sir! We will guard them with our lives!"
"Good man," Giovanni said. "Giovanni, over and out."
The head of Team Rocket grimaced. The Elites were an unfortunate surprise, but it could work out for them in the long run. After all, once the beast was theirs Giovanni could easily eliminate Lance and Karen, saving Team Rocket the difficulty of hunting them down.
His timetable had been moved up, Giovanni reminded himself, that was all their arrival meant.
After all, what could the Elite Four and the League do when Team Rocket had the power stolen from the gods themselves in their hands?
AN: I'd like to thank Amationary for beta reading.
Another scene planned from the beginning out of the way. I think part of the reason my writing pace has slipped is because I'm nervous about trying to do all these big moments right so I just avoid writing in general. Well, hopefully I'll drop that bad habit.
For you readers on FFN, I'd advise moving over to Ao3 sooner rather than later. I've noticed that email alerts are becoming non-functional (for me at least) on this site (yes I whitelisted the FFN bot, no it didn't help), I don't get alerts when someone leaves a review, sends a PM, or when a story I'm following is updated. I still plan to post on this site as long as it's still up, but it's becoming more and more likely that Ao3 will be the main hub of activity for me.
Anyone remember that scene in the Pokemon Adventures manga where Lance's dragonite annihilates a city with a Hyper-Beam? (While all the inhabitants are off at a festival). It's a good thing for Cerulean City that Symbiotic uses a different scale.
The next chapter will be released on June 26th 2024.
Don't forget to leave a review! Concrit is welcome!