The Masked Child

Shuoshulin, late at night.

The full moon hung high in the sky, bringing a touch of tranquil light to the grove. Faintly, the sounds of footsteps pounding on the earth and the clanging of objects collapsing could be heard—the clattering of Oddish grass stumbling and falling while walking at night.

Ze Shu lay on the lawn, gradually looking around at the small but very familiar simple wooden house behind him.

His eyes were tired but firm.

"It's time to leave."

A brief recollection.

He has been in the Pokémon world for five years.

When he was a child of about six or seven years old, he wandered into a forest and saw Pidgey fluttering its wings in the blue sky and Caterpie wriggling on the treetops. He immediately realized that he was in the Pokémon world.

Meet Pokémon, go on adventures, travel to different regions, and finally, if you get tired, settle down in a peaceful place and enjoy your retirement with your Pokémon.

This is something that every Pokémon fan has probably dreamed of, right?

Just when Zeki thought that coming to this ideal world meant he was going to live a wonderful Pokémon trainer life like in "Utopia", he was overjoyed and excited.

Suddenly, a "Glittering Big-beaked Sparrow" with golden and red plumage and burning with a sacred flame appeared in his eyes.

It's Ho-Oh!

The original legendary Pokémon. According to legend, Ho-Oh brings happiness to all who see it…

At the time, Sawaki wasn't too worried about Ho-Oh's sudden appearance, after all, he was the go-to "photographer" for the theatrical releases.

However, the Ho-Oh did not fulfill its duty as a 'photographer'. Instead, it kept approaching the Ze-Shu tree, its dark claws reaching down.

Ze Shu hadn't reacted yet.

The bird's claws, which were growing larger in his vision, were close enough to grab his young body.

As the line of sight continues to rise.

Ze Shu was abducted into this Masked Legion and became the fifth "Son of the Mask" under the leadership of the Masked Legion's leader, "Masked Man," and was given special training.

From now on.

Sawaki's childhood as a Pokémon Trainer was filled with constant indoctrination of knowledge, almost oppressive training, and a prison-like life that prevented him from contacting the outside world.

This experience, which felt like being in prison, caused Ze Shu immense pain and distress.

She only wanted to be trained by the masked man to become his loyal subordinate and help him achieve his goals.

Thinking of this, Ze Shu pursed his lips, a hint of grievance in his eyes.

In his previous life, he was just a college graduate who had just graduated and was hiding in a corner licking his wounds after being beaten down by society.

Losing one's life while trying to save someone from drowning should be considered a heroic act, right?

But why, even after he died and was transported to the Pokémon world, did he have to endure this "study" prison life, which was several times worse and more painful than "college entrance exams"?

Five years! More than five whole years!

Is this still the Pokémon world? How could such inhumane things happen?!

but.

After being abducted, Ze Shu came to his senses and carefully considered the events and things he had experienced after being held in Ho-Oh's grasp.

Good news: This is indeed a Pokémon.

Bad news: This is a special episode!

At least the environment he is in right now is the one described in the special episode.

Although Ze Shu didn't know much about the special episode and only remembered the general plot, the identity of the masked man became clear in Ze Shu's mind—Uncle Liu, the oldest owner of the museum in Chengdu.

He is the pinnacle of Pokémon power, having single-handedly controlled Ho-Oh and Lugia twice!

Under normal circumstances, Ze Shu would have no chance of escaping.

but……

The full moon hangs high in the sky now.

Liubo was weakened by his desire to capture the shrubs of the Shuoshu Forest and had no time to pay attention to them.

This is the perfect time to escape.

Thinking this, Ze Shu felt a surge of urgency.

He turned back to the hut and called out, "Little Eevee, have you packed your bags? I remember I only gave you some time."

Soon, a rustling sound came from inside the house, accompanied by a clear response: "Bu, bu yi..."

The simple wooden door of the Zephyr's Hut was opened from the inside, and the ice-blue little beast laboriously pulled a cloth bundle out of the door with its tiny mouth. The bundle was full of things, and as Glaceon dragged it along, they clattered and rattled.

That package was bigger than Glaceon's body!

You can vaguely see that the package can't completely cover it, and the exposed part is a corner of a clean but linen-colored little nest, a patched-up Eevee doll, and a pair of black boots used as a container, with the openings in the boots revealing that they are filled with all sorts of beads.

This is the source of the jingling sound.

Ze Shu: "..."

Is Ibrahimovic trying to pack up and take everything with him?

Those tinkling beads weren't anything special; they were just ordinary glass beads.

But Glaceon really likes these shiny things, so Zeju collects them every time he has the chance to go out. Little by little, he has collected enough to fill both of his big boots.

"My little Eevee," Ze Shu said helplessly, "We're running away, not moving. We can't take that much stuff..."

"Bu-bu-ee?!"

Upon hearing Zeshu's words, Glaceon paused for a moment, then made an incredulous sound, as if complaining that Zeshu hadn't told it this before!

Ze Shu covered his face.

He previously said: You can bring whatever you want...

But he didn't expect Ibrahimovic to pack so much stuff!

However, despite his complaints, Ibrahimovic immediately put down the package he was holding.

Its erect, diamond-shaped ears twitched, and it looked reluctantly at the package it had just painstakingly packed. After hesitating for a moment, it picked up the brown, patched-up Eevee plushie, then lifted its tiny feet, which looked like it was wearing dark blue ice boots, and hopped over to Ze Shu's side.

"Bu-i! Bu-i!"

"Since it's so urgent, let's hurry up and go!"

Glaceon urged.

Its ice-blue 'woven hat' on its head, along with the Eevee plushie it was carrying in its mouth, were both rubbing against Ze Shu's trouser leg, worried that its earlier tidying up had delayed things.

"Okay, okay... We have one night. No rush, no rush, we just need to be discreet..."

Zeshu was nudged a few steps by Ice Eevee before he said with a slightly amused expression.

He squatted down and vigorously rubbed Eevee's cute head. The cool and soft touch made Zeshu unable to stop until he rubbed Eevee's face until it blushed slightly.

And incidentally, the Eevee plushie was fixed to the petite body of the Ice Eevee.

"Bu...bu-ee..."

After being rubbed by Ze Shu's warm hands.

Glaceon exhaled a light puff of white mist from its small mouth, seemingly floating on air. Its body swayed gently, and its voice was much softer, unlike the crisp tone of its previous complaints or urging.

Ze Shu had already taken out a mask.

A white, round mask with only a strange cut made at the eyes and mouth.

The Masked Army, of course, wears masks. But this mask is probably the last one he'll wear.

Ze Shu thought for a moment, then slowly put the mask on his face.

With the mask on, he exuded a strange and manic aura.

Perhaps it's the effect of the mask.

All Ze Shu knew was that if he stayed in this oppressive Masked Base any longer, he would definitely go insane. Insane madness that would consume him, and then consume the Masked Base itself.

He then said in a slightly lighthearted tone:

"Ibrahimovic, let's go. Let's leave this place and start a new life!"

"Buyi!"

Ibrahimovic responded loudly.