After defeating the Flygon, Aoki gained some understanding of the situation within this space.
It was unclear how long this dimension had been isolated from the main Pokémon world. The environment had developed into a completely natural ecosystem untouched by human intervention. Without Trainers to capture and raise Pokémon, the wild Pokémon here had evolved under pure survival-of-the-fittest conditions. This meant there were likely to be both extremely high-level specimens and weaker ones, though compared to the outside world, powerful Pokémon appeared much more frequently here. Only the strongest individuals or those belonging to established, dominant groups would have survived the harsh natural selection of this environment.
Having dealt with the Flygon, Aoki didn't pause for rest. He immediately continued deeper into the forest with his Pokémon team. With proper preparations made, he felt ready to face whatever stronger Pokémon might appear. The sheer size of this dimensional space remained unknown, as did how many others might have entered it. The random teleportation upon entry at least increased the chances of Steven and Phoebe having survived.
Based on their known growth rates, Aoki estimated Steven and Phoebe should now possess skills at least approaching Champion level, likely with one or two Champion-caliber Pokémon each. His main concern was their lack of wilderness survival experience. Steven might fare slightly better - though he didn't venture out frequently, he had enough field experience to handle basic survival situations. Phoebe, however, was completely inexperienced in such harsh conditions. If either encountered traps or ambushes at critical moments, they could easily fall into danger.
These thoughts made Aoki quicken his pace. While he didn't expect to find them immediately, he hoped to explore further and gather more intelligence about this space. Encountering members of the opposing force would allow him to identify which organization had attacked Wattson and make appropriate preparations.
To his disappointment, after a full day's travel he found no human traces - only endless wild Pokémon. His team battled constantly, eventually requiring Aoki to summon his Slowking and Swampert. With these four powerhouses joining the fight, they managed to repel the wild Pokémon assaults. The intense combat proved beneficial - his Aggron, long stuck at the peak of Elite level, finally broke through to Quasi-Champion tier after the day's battles. While seemingly just a one-level improvement, this represented a massive power increase.
At this point, all members of Aoki's secondary team except Pupitar (who he'd ordered to remain calm and focused) had reached Quasi-Champion level, proving his training plans had succeeded perfectly. As night fell on their first day in the forest, they needed to find safe camping grounds. Fortunately, the Unown's Secret Power worked in this dimension, allowing them to create a hidden space within a large tree for shelter.
With so many Pokémon to feed, dinner preparation became an involved process. Beyond emergency rations, they had to forage for local ingredients. It had been ages since all of Aoki's Pokémon gathered together for a meal - from his original core team of Honchkrow, Slowking and Gengar to later additions like Bagon, Horsea and Ralts. This rare gathering provided comfort and confidence when exploring unknown territory.
Aoki canceled post-meal training. On their first day in this mysterious dimension, conserving energy took priority - tomorrow could bring anything. Whether his Champion-level veterans like Honchkrow or newcomers like Ralts, he ordered all to rest properly. They retreated into the Unown's dimensional space inside the tree, sealing the entrance. Only another Pokémon knowing Secret Power could possibly detect them now.
Shortly after their disappearance, two figures arrived at the campsite - a man and woman. The man examined the buried campfire ashes, testing their residual warmth while the woman surveyed the area, noting lingering food scents.
"The smoke signals we saw were real," the man confirmed. "Someone's active here - whether our agents, theirs, or League operatives remains unclear."
The woman frowned deeply. "I never expected the spatial displacement upon entry would scatter everyone. Finding you took considerable time, and we still have no grasp of this dimension's full scale."
"The nature of this space involves too many unknown variables," the man replied. "It hasn't been seen in generations - our lack of understanding is inevitable. We came specifically to retrieve that item from the targets."
The woman's expression darkened. "But attacking Wattson...the Hoenn League must be in an uproar. I question whether a single artifact justifies such extreme measures." Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on NoveIＦire.net
"Such decisions aren't ours to make," the man said dismissively. "The higher-ups will bear responsibility. Our current objectives are regrouping our forces and eliminating all League operatives who entered this space. Leaving them unchecked could prove disastrous."
"Do you think the League's sent reinforcements? If they've secured the exit, we'll be trapped here indefinitely."
"Speculation wastes time," the man cut in. "Let's track whoever made this fire. Given the ashes' temperature and lingering smells, they can't have gone far." After confirming no immediate threats, the pair vanished into the forest.
Meanwhile, Aoki rested unaware in the dimensional space. Having rushed to Slateport City without sleep, then endured two days and nights of continuous action - even with psychic endurance - left him exhausted. The Unown's pocket dimension provided perfect security, allowing both Trainer and Pokémon to fully relax. They slept soundly, recovering strength for the challenges ahead.