After catching the Onix, the leader didn't take any more risks. He found a hollow inside a tree and hid there, waiting in complete silence until the time for the first game finally ran out.
Unlike the others, he had survived not by luck but through quick thinking and ruthless decision-making.
Kay realized that this player was dangerous. He wasn't just skilled in battle; he was smart, opportunistic, and had no hesitation in abandoning his teammates if it meant saving himself.
Kay could already tell that this person would be a serious challenge in future games.
'People who can make decisive decisions in dangerous situations are dangerous like him'. That thought stayed in Kay's mind.
The leader of the opposing team had abandoned his teammates, but in return, he had secured his own survival.
Kay exhaled, pushing that thought aside for now. There was something else he needed to check. He turned his gaze toward the crowd, scanning the faces of the remaining players.
He was looking for four specific people; the ones who had lost in the first round. But after a few moments, his eyes widened.
They were gone.
A heavy feeling settled in his stomach. He turned to a nearby player and quickly asked, "Where are the players from the team that lost the first round?"
The player hesitated, glancing around nervously before lowering his voice. "After Alakazam teleported you guys to the island, a group of those masked Cubone men came. They took the players that lost the first game through that big door."
The player paused, his expression darkening as if recalling something unsettling. Then he continued, "They also took the players that lost their Pokemons. Those guys tried to resist… one of them even called out his Pokemon to fight back."
Kay asked to push him to continue. "And?"
The player shook his head. "The masked guys didn't even hesitate. They just summoned a ton of Cubones. The poor guy's Pokemon didn't stand a chance."
He looked down at the ground before adding in a whisper, "They even killed that trainer's Pokemon. They're crazy, man…"
A chill ran down Kay's spine. 'So that's what they meant by eliminated'... He clenched his fists, but deep down, a small part of him thought that maybe they had only killed the Pokemon as a warning to the others. But he had no way of knowing for sure.
At that moment, another urgent thought crossed his mind. Eevee!
Eevee was seriously injured, and potions wouldn't be enough. Kay immediately rushed toward the Marowak-masked man and called out, "My Pokemon is too injured! Potions you gave us weren't enough to heal it!"
The masked man said nothing. He simply stood there, unmoving. His face was hidden behind the skull mask, so Kay couldn't even tell if he was being ignored or if the man was actually considering his words. The silence stretched on, and Kay's frustration grew.
'He won't do anything unless he's ordered to by his superiors.'… That thought clicked in Kay's mind.
After everything he had seen so far, he was sure that this place followed a strict chain of command.
The guards didn't make their own decisions. They only acted when given permission. Kay decided to use that to his advantage.
With a confident voice, he spoke again. "If you don't inform your superior and my Eevee dies, you'll be the one getting punished."
The masked man didn't react, so Kay pushed further. "The man with the red mask said that all players have equal chances in this game, right? If my Pokemon dies because you refused to treat it, then that rule won't apply to me anymore. That means your superiors will hold you responsible."
Kay didn't mention the name of Groudon because he didn't know if the names of legendaries were known in this world or not.
For the first time, Kay saw hesitation in the masked man's posture. It was small, but it was there. Kay knew he had struck a nerve.
The Marowak-masked man didn't respond to Kay's words. He simply turned away and spoke to one of the Cubone-masked men, instructing him that he would be back soon.
Without another word, he left through the large door. Kay felt a wave of relief wash over him.
He had successfully convinced the masked man to act, but now everything depended on whether their leader would approve the request to heal Eevee.
With no other choice but to wait, Kay returned to his seat, carrying Eevee gently in his arms. One of the guards motioned for him to sit, and he obeyed without protest.
Looking down at his injured partner, Kay spoke softly, "Eevee, use Wish." The small Pokemon weakly let out a soft cry, its body glowing faintly as the healing energy activated.
Even with this, it wouldn't be enough. The potions they received before the first game had already finished, and Eevee still wasn't in good shape. Kay clenched his teeth and hoped that help would come soon.
Time passed slowly, every second stretching into what felt like an eternity. Finally, after about half an hour, the large door creaked open once more.
Kay immediately turned his gaze toward it, his heart pounding. The Marowak-masked man stepped back into the hall, but this time, he was not alone.
Three guards flanked him on either side as he approached. When he reached Kay, he spoke in a cold and firm tone. "Player '10F' Follow me."
Kay stood up without hesitation. He had been right; they had accepted his argument and agreed to help Eevee.
Without saying a word, he followed them. This was the first time he had been allowed to leave the hall, and now he had the chance to see what was on the other side.
The first thing he noticed was that after walking for just a few minutes, they reached a very extended stairs.
But what really caught Kay's attention was the design of the surroundings. The walls were a light brown color, similar to the shade of dry desert sand.
Deep cracks ran through them, making the entire structure look like parched earth. The place had an ancient atmosphere, and Kay couldn't help but wonder just how large this entire facility was.
As they arrived at the stairs, one of the guards turned to Kay and handed him a piece of black cloth. "Put your Eevee inside its Pokeball, then put all your Pokeballs inside your pocket. Then cover your eyes with this."
Kay froze for a second. The guard hadn't said 'Pokeball.' He had said 'Pokeballs.' That meant they already knew that he had two Pokemons.
He had thought that maybe the guards wouldn't know about such a detail, but it seemed that they were extremely careful that they informed even the guards with such a detail. Still, he didn't show any reaction to what the guard said and just obeyed.
Taking the thick fabric, Kay wrapped it around his eyes. The material was dense, completely blocking out all light. It was clear that they didn't want him to see where they were going.
He felt one of the guards place a firm hand on his shoulder, guiding him forward. Step by step, they moved, walking for what felt like ten minutes.
The air was dry, and the only sounds were the faint echoes of their footsteps against the hard floor.
Eventually, the group came to a stop. Kay felt someone reaching for the blindfold, and a moment later, the fabric was pulled away.
Blinking to adjust to the sudden brightness, he found himself standing in front of a door. It looked almost identical to the large door in the hall, except it was slightly smaller.
Without a word, the Marowak-masked man stepped forward and pressed a button on the wall beside the door.
A small device above the entrance emitted a faint beep, and the next moment, a thin ray of light scanned across his face.
Kay watched in silence as the scanner completed its process. Then, with a low mechanical hum, the door slowly slid open, revealing the mysterious room beyond.
See you in the next chapter...
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