Everyone Else Awakened, But I Just Opened a Pokémon Pet Shop

"Phew…"

Su Bai let out a heavy sigh, then picked up the communicator and solemnly announced,

"Looks like… I won't be joining the reinforcement team."

"I need to stay in Haicheng City in case that thing decides to launch a surprise attack."

"The protection of the Pokémon Zone… will have to fall to you all."

He gave Rotom a quick nod, then pressed a button on the control panel.

Immediately, Su Bai's voice echoed through every adventure outpost and holographic Pokéball:

"Attention, all Trainers!"

"An unknown force has invaded the Pokémon Zone. Wild Pokémon are growing agitated, and the situation is dangerous."

"All Trainers, seek shelter at the nearest Pokémon Adventure Outpost. Please spread the word if you hear this message."

"Wang Tao, Zhang Qun."

"Ding Yue, Li Xiaoyu."

"Murong Nan, Liu Yunlan."

"And… Zhou Xiaofei, Liu Qiaoqiao."

"I'm transmitting the coordinates of Pei Jingguo and Xiao Zhang's current location to you. Please regroup immediately."

"Pei Jingguo and Xiao Zhang, cease your upward exploration and wait at your location until reinforcements arrive."

"This Pokémon is in an unstable state. Do NOT act rashly!"

"You are facing a second-tier Legendary Pokémon—one holding a divine title."

After issuing the orders, Su Bai quietly set the communicator down.

These were likely the only Trainers who had the capability to handle the mission.

Even Liu Qiaoqiao, the one he worried about the most, had grown strong enough to handle high-level threats after capturing Lapras.

As for the other Trainers—no matter how brave—they'd only get in the way if they tried to intervene.

Su Bai looked at Zeraora and Charizard standing beside him.

"You two… go with them."

"If their lives are in danger, forget the mission. Save them."

Charizard and Zeraora were more than powerful enough to subdue even a frenzied Articuno.

Even if it held the divine status of a second-tier god.

While the mission was important, Su Bai would never gamble with his companions' lives.

After everything they'd been through together, these Trainers were more than students or subordinates—they were his friends.

A failed mission could be salvaged.

But if someone died… what, was he supposed to beg Ho-Oh to bring them back?

Across the Pokémon Zone, due to the chaos among wild Pokémon, most Trainers had retreated to the safety of the outposts.

In a normal Pokémon world, they might have chosen to resist.

But these weren't typical Trainers—they had already lived through far darker times.

Following orders had practically become instinct.

A chorus of worried murmurs echoed through the outposts.

But the command from Su Bai took precedence above all else.

At one of the adventure outposts, Liu Yunlan and Murong Nan stood with Pokéballs in hand, having taken shelter after being overwhelmed by the Pokémon rampage.

A small holographic map hovered over their Pokéball, with Rotom projecting the coordinates of Pei Jingguo and Xiao Zhang.

The two exchanged glances, then inhaled deeply as they gazed into the chaos ahead.

"Let's go. We don't have time to waste."

Liu Yunlan gave her Arcanine a firm pat and pulled Murong Nan onto its back.

"Woooo!"

Arcanine let out a thunderous howl and dashed toward the ice-covered mountain, skillfully weaving through the agitated Pokémon.

Elsewhere, deep in the forest, two figures dashed swiftly, carefully avoiding the rampaging Pokémon.

Thanks to two Speed Boost Potions, Zhang Qun was running at top speed—but his face was full of doubt.

"Bro… can we really take on a second-tier Legendary?"

"That's a freakin' god, man…"

Zhang Qun, despite owning a pseudo-Legendary, had yet to truly experience its power.

But he was very aware of how terrifying Su Bai's Pokémon were.

He remembered Su Bai once saying that Articuno's strength rivaled that of Meloetta and Diancie.

"Whether we can or can't doesn't matter!"

Wang Tao interrupted firmly, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by intense focus.

"What matters is… this is a mission entrusted to us by Su Bai."

"If he says we can do it—then we CAN!"

He turned to Zhang Qun, staring him straight in the eye.

"I've never once doubted Su Bai."

"…R-Right!"

Zhang Qun stared back, then gave a hard nod.

"Then I won't doubt you either, Bro!"

"Let's go! Time to face this second-tier Legendary!"

With that, Zhang Qun pulled two more Speed Boost Potions from his bag.

"Here, Bro! Another round—bottoms up!"

At the seashore.

Gyarados let out a low growl, bowing its massive head.

All other Pokémon had already been returned to their Pokéballs by Zhou Xiaofei and Liu Qiaoqiao.

Zhou Xiaofei gently patted Gyarados's head.

"Let's go, Gyarados."

He looked toward the ever-expanding frost spreading across the mountain summit, his brows furrowed.

With a flick of its tail, Gyarados lifted gently into the air and soared in that direction.

Liu Qiaoqiao sat nervously on Gyarados's head, tightly clutching one of its horns.

Corviknight could've flown her there too, but it was no match for Gyarados in speed.

So riding "Big Scary" made the most sense.

"Xiaofei-ge… is a Legendary Pokémon really that strong?"

Qiaoqiao peeked down nervously, then quickly looked away.

The scenery racing beneath them made her dizzy.

"Ah—yeah, of course they are."

Zhou Xiaofei blinked, realizing she was scared.

He forced a smile to reassure her.

"But don't worry. You're already a real Trainer—you proved that when you caught Lapras."

"Whether it's Corviknight or Lapras—they'll protect you."

"And besides… you've got me!"

He flexed his arm with a grin.

"Big bro Xiaofei is super strong, you know!"

Liu Qiaoqiao giggled.

She wasn't truly afraid—more anxious than anything.

After all, she once stood between Xiaofei and death without flinching.

Facing a second-tier Legendary so soon after becoming a Trainer was scary—but her courage hadn't faded.

By a quiet riverbank.

Ding Yue and Li Xiaoyu were rushing toward the snowy mountain, now clearly transformed by the frigid aura.

"This is a second-tier god's power… it's literally changing the mountain's ecosystem."

"Can we really stop something like that?"

Ding Yue stared at the frosty peak in awe.

"I don't know if we can stop it… but if we don't hurry, we'll definitely be late."

Li Xiaoyu groaned, shooting her a glare.

"Seriously? You didn't pack any Speed Boost Potions?!"

"You're filthy rich! What the heck did you fill your space gear with?!"

"You trying to kill me with cardio?!"

Ding Yue was still holding up okay—but Li Xiaoyu, a magic-user class Trainer, was already struggling with the run.

Compared to the others, the two of them were the slowest.

Liu Yunlan and Murong Nan had Arcanine.

Qiaoqiao and Xiaofei had Gyarados or Skarmory.

Even Zhang Qun and Wang Tao, who were on foot, used Speed Boosts.

Looking at the holo-map, it was clear:

By the time the others regrouped… they'd still be huffing and puffing along the trail.

Ding Yue scratched her head, laughing awkwardly.

She loved her Pokémon so much she'd cleared her inventory just to carry healing items and Pokéblocks.

She did have gear for Awakeners… but had tossed it to make room.

"Who knew this would happen…"

Just as she opened her mouth to explain—

A brilliant golden figure appeared in their path.

Her voice cut off instantly.