"Now that the crisis is resolved, we need to think about how to get out of here."
After a brief rest, Ethan Black and Jasper Reid sat together to discuss strategy.
"Absss!"
Hearing the conversation, Absol immediately stood up and walked toward them, slightly moving the blade on its head.
"Do you mean... you know where the exit of this Secret Kingdom is?" Ethan Black asked, hesitating a little.
"Absss!"
In response to his words, Absol first nodded, then shook its head, and finally nodded again.
"Eh... isn't that right?"
Ethan Black was a little confused.
This time, Absol nodded firmly, then lifted its paw, pointing in a direction.
"Are you saying the exit of the Secret Kingdom is over there?"
Ethan Black looked toward where Absol was pointing: it was the same forest through which he and Jasper Reid had entered this place.
Absol nodded again and suddenly let out a call that awakened all the Pokémon that were resting.
Immediately, under its guidance, Ethan Black and Jasper Reid mounted Lairon and ran in the indicated direction.
It didn't take long before they returned to the initial forest. Following Absol, they entered it until they reached a clearing.
There, Absol pointed forward and made a motion as if to leap ahead.
"So, this is the exit, but you can't open it?"
Ethan Black guessed again and received confirmation from Absol.
After exchanging a few signals with it, Ethan Black understood that in this Secret Kingdom, only the Ekans species lived, and all other Pokémon had entered by accident from the breeding area.
Absol had voluntarily entered to rescue them, but after saving them, it became trapped along with them... until Ethan Black appeared.
"Another Secret Kingdom exit that requires special conditions to open?"
Ethan Black immediately recalled the Secret Kingdom where Meltan was, feeling a slight headache.
Last time, the exit only opened because Meltan was there and they made a deal.
"I don't know if Meltan will be able to open this exit too..."
His eyes shone, and he then released Meltan from its Poké Ball.
At his request, Meltan nodded with complete confidence, which brought joy to those present.
"Zzzt~"
Suddenly, Meltan emitted a low sound, and an invisible wave began spreading from its body.
"Is that... the Magnet Pull ability?"
Feeling all the metal in its body vibrating, Ethan Black deduced what Meltan was doing.
As it increased the power of its ability, spatial waves began spreading through the air.
Soon, a floating spatial rift appeared, and through it, the breeding area in the outside world could be seen.
Seeing it, everyone erupted in cheers; some Pokémon even cried with emotion.
Finally, they could go home!
Absol looked at Meltan in surprise, then its expression turned thoughtful.
"It really opened it."
"A special magnetic field generated from the Magnet Pull ability... capable of opening a Secret Kingdom!"
"Could it be the principle of a spatial magnetic field? I don't know if all Pokémon with this ability can do it... or if it's something unique to a Mythical Pokémon like Meltan."
Ethan Black was also amazed. It was no wonder it's a Mythical Pokémon... it's really strong.
Receiving his praise, Meltan stood proudly, although when it looked at the spatial rift, its eyes showed a hint of sadness.
"Absol, get ready, we're going home."
Ethan Black, unaware of its melancholy, spoke cheerfully.
"Absss!"
Absol nodded enthusiastically and ran through the forest to notify all the Pokémon that it was time to leave.
Meanwhile, Ethan Black and Jasper Reid took the opportunity to explore the Secret Kingdom a little more, finding several berry trees.
Soon, thanks to Absol, all the Pokémon gathered in the clearing. Meltan opened the rift, and they began to pass through it, one by one, returning to the real world.
After more than half an hour, Meltan and all the Pokémon were back in the breeding area, immediately filling the forest.
"We're back."
Ethan Black looked up at the sky, which was beginning to brighten, and smiled.
The Pokémon around him celebrated; not long ago they were fighting to survive against the Ekans, and now they had returned to a safe paradise.
Chiu, chiu, chiu.
At that moment, bird songs were heard: the breeding area staff had spotted them.
"It's the missing Absol!"
A worker recognized it immediately, and soon more staff arrived, including the person in charge, who invited Ethan Black and Jasper Reid to explain what had happened.
"A small Secret Kingdom inside the breeding area... filled with Ekans feeding on other Pokémon?"
Upon hearing the story, the person in charge was astonished and reported the case to the Pokémon Trainers' Guild of Greenrock Mountain.
"Jasper, thank you for helping me hide that Meltan can open Secret Kingdom exits."
On the way back, Ethan Black spoke seriously. He knew that a Pokémon with this ability had immense value, and although the Pokémon Trainers' Guild wouldn't do anything illegal, it was still a risk.
"What are you saying? I'm the one who should thank you! This time, you were the one who got me out of the Secret Kingdom."
They looked at each other and smiled. They had shared dangers, and that didn't require words.
(End of chapter)