Chapter 719
Unease, A Strange World
Chapter 719 Unease, A Strange World
Natsume suddenly realized that the world-traveling device Akari mentioned was given to him by "himself".
But Natsume assured that he absolutely did not do such a thing.
In other words, other people, under their own guise, had contact with Chiri.
The timeframe is when he was chasing Wang Luo in his own timeline.
If the other party can change some of Chi Ri's perceptions, then it is not impossible for them to have some influence on the final machine without making a sound.
Natsume suddenly thought of Rainbow N, who had left earlier; the timing of their appearance was too coincidental.
"Never mind, resolving the current predicament is the priority."
The days slipped by quietly in a strange, almost unreal sense of acceleration.
For ordinary people living in every corner of the Pokémon world, this period has been filled with dazzling surprises and conveniences.
A new wave called "Rotom Technology" is sweeping the globe at an unprecedented speed, centered around Sunshine Academy.
In Saffron City of Kanto, commuters are delighted to find that the subway has been equipped with a smart navigation system powered by the Rotom core, making trains more punctual, the carriages cleaner, and even the air conditioning seems to understand the temperature felt by each person.
In the kitchen, the Rotom-equipped refrigerator intelligently recommends recipes based on its inventory, and the Rotom oven perfectly replicates the chef's skill in controlling the heat.
The children wear Rotom Health bracelets on their wrists to monitor their heart rate and Pokémon affinity in real time;
The installation of Rotom emergency call devices in the homes of the elderly has greatly increased their sense of security.
In Green Mine City, Hoenn, scholars are overjoyed that the accuracy of observational data from the Space Center has been greatly improved due to its connection to the Rotom satellite network.
In Home City of Sinnoh, thanks to the widespread availability of Rotom power stabilizers, power outages have become a distant memory, thanks to the power transmission network connecting various locations.
In Unova's Flying Cloud City, Rotom-powered holographic GG signs transform the city's nightscape into a sci-fi wonderland.
In Miare, Carlos, Rotom bike-sharing has become a new street fashion trend.
Newspaper front pages, television news, and online headlines are filled with positive reports about "Rotom Technology benefiting people's lives" and "Sunshine Academy leading a new era."
An optimistic, prosperous, and technologically inclusive atmosphere, like a warm tide, permeates every corner of the world.
The name Sunshine Academy has become synonymous with hope and progress.
Only Natsume, who was in the most central laboratory of the academy, could clearly feel the increasingly chilling atmosphere beneath this "peaceful" facade.
On the enormous holographic screen in front of him, the energy model representing "quad-core fusion" collapsed once again in a blinding red light.
The alarm dissipated, its piercing sound like a death knell.
Scattered around the experimental platform were countless discarded design drafts and remnants of energy crystals.
This is just the basic energy circuit integration...not counting the others.
Natsume scratched his hair in frustration.
No matter how he adjusted the parameters, optimized the structure, or even used the main world to conduct countless simulations, the invisible barrier of "three" remained the limit.
Like the fundamental laws of the universe, it is unbreakable.
"It still doesn't work..."
Natsume rubbed his throbbing temples, his voice filled with deep weariness.
The Rotom machine, the god-making project, his ultimate trump card that he had placed so much hope in, has fallen into a complete stalemate.
Time ticked by, but he seemed to be standing still.
What unsettled him even more were the reports from the outside world.
It wasn't from Ash, Brock, or Dawn, but from three other people he sent to different regions: Serena, Yurika, and Shinji.
The three reports, which arrived almost simultaneously, were surprisingly identical in content, exuding a chilling "cleanliness."
Serena's report—from Miare:
"...The Carlos League Tournament has successfully concluded, and I achieved a place in the top eight."
"But the Flame Team that you asked me to keep an eye on... seems to have vanished into thin air."
"According to the vague records of the local Interpol, about six months ago, there were several bizarre incidents involving the dismantling of the Flame Team's secret base. There were no signs of combat at the scene, only signs that the core equipment of the base had been precisely dismantled and taken away, as if it had been cleaned up by a professional cleaning team."
Yulijia's report - from Gongmen City:
...The atmosphere in the Galar League was electric, and I even picked up a tiny green bug on the road...but none of that matters, I made it to the semifinals!
"But... Dean, the follow-up to the Marocmont Group that you asked me to keep an eye on, I can hardly find any information about it."
"But my brother hacked into the website that the group was still maintaining six months ago."
"According to reports, the group's top executives collectively retired months ago," and related technical files vanished without a trace, without even causing a ripple. It's so strange, as if an invisible hand gently erased them from history.
Shinji's report—from a small island: "...The Alola League system is unique, and I'm adapting quite well."
"But Dean, the island god you mentioned... I haven't seen any trace of him."
Three reports point to some strange phenomena:
The villainous organization, which should have been a regional scourge, was not wiped out by the alliance, but rather "cleaned up" in advance by some more efficient, thorough, and traceless external force.
Or perhaps, certain regionally unique Pokémon with special divine roles have suddenly become difficult to find.
Natsume put down the report, his fingertips icy cold.
In the report by the Alliance's great man.
Thousands of years ago, when Team Rainbow Rocket invaded, there were similar signs of legendary Pokémon disappearing en masse.
He walked to the observation window of the laboratory and looked down at the brightly lit, bustling and peaceful college below.
In the square, a giant holographic GG is playing Rotom Technology's latest application, drawing cheers from the crowd.
But what he saw was a different picture.
He raised his hand and looked at the ring that he still couldn't remove, its surface completely blank.
It was no longer hot, but it felt like a cold branding iron, imprinted on his fingers and on his heart.
"Indeed, this is the eighth anchor."
Natsume muttered to himself in a low voice, his voice hoarse.
The worst-case scenario is becoming a reality.
The members of Team Rainbow Rocket have probably become like a colorless and odorless poison, seeping into the "blood" of this world.
Their invasion was not a massive military assault, but a silent replacement.
The apparent peace is merely a fragile curtain before the storm.
He, holding a seemingly powerful trump card, but with its key parts locked, stands on the edge of a collapsing cliff.
The pressure, like a rising tide, overwhelmed him.
The Rotom machine's god-making project has stalled, while the enemy has already besieged the city, and may even... have already entered the city.