The group didn't have to wait long. Within moments, several figures appeared from all directions, surrounding David and the others.
"This is..."
The rest of the group couldn't read the exact power level of these newly arrived Pokémon the way David could, but the Aura rolling off each one was clearly not weaker than Crobat's — if anything, some surpassed it. Even without knowing the numbers, everyone could sense real strength standing before them.
Quietly, David activated his system's scanning function.
[Name: Blastoise] [Energy Level: 59 (Undergoing Transformation)] [Aptitude: Purple] ... [Name: Chesnaught] [Energy Level: 50 (Gym Peak)] [Aptitude: Purple] ... [Name: Tangrowth] [Energy Level: 50 (Gym Peak)] [Aptitude: Pale Purple] ...
David counted eight Pokémon in total, seven of which stood at true Gym Peak. Two of them had already begun their energy transformation, meaning they carried the potential to reach Elite status one day.
But it was the last Pokémon to step forward that surprised him most.
[Name: Sceptile] [Energy Level: 60 (Elite)] [Aptitude: Purplish Red]
This Sceptile looked old. Its age showed not just in its scales, but in its leaves, which had faded to a dull yellow. Still, when the other Pokémon saw it approach, they stepped aside on instinct, clearing a path to the center. The moment it took its place, everyone understood exactly who was strongest in this Secret Realm.
This was, without question, an Elite-level Sceptile. David hadn't expected the school's Secret Realm to be watched over by an Elite-level Secret Realm Master. Most high-level Secret Realms were guarded by Pokémon of Elite rank or higher, and some — like the Moore family's Myriad Dragon Nest — were said to house dozens of Champion-level Pokémon and even legendary bloodlines.
David had read about such places once, back in his family's library. One account described a group of people who had wandered into a beautiful, hidden realm, the air so rich with life energy that they thought they'd stumbled into paradise — only to be attacked moments later by the legendary Regirock guarding it. If not for an Elite Trainer traveling with them, the story might never have reached the outside world at all; they would have simply vanished.
David had assumed that this school's Secret Realm — formed by accident, and clearly less complete than a true high-level realm — wouldn't hold Pokémon anywhere near this strong. He hadn't expected it to be this impressive.
What struck him as odd, though, was the way Sceptile kept glancing toward David's group, almost as if it had some particular reason for watching them.
While the rest of the students murmured among themselves, Teacher Dominic walked forward without hesitation and began speaking with several of the Pokémon. He had been a student at First High School himself once, skilled enough to earn a spot on the school team back then, and he'd attended training camps like this one before. He knew these Pokémon well — two of them, clearly fond of him, greeted him the moment he approached.
David watched quietly from the side. These Pokémon felt different from ordinary wild Pokémon, even the ones usually found guarding Secret Realms — their bond with the humans here ran much deeper. Perhaps it came from the fact that this realm had been built and maintained through the combined effort of both sides.
It wasn't like the Myriad Dragon Nest. Most of the powerful Dragon-types there had once been partners of David's own ancestors, so their closeness with the Moore family made sense. But these Pokémon were different — none of them had ever been captured or belonged to anyone. In many high-level Secret Realms across Cloudspire territory, the Secret Realm Masters who'd signed agreements with humans might not bear any real ill will, but that didn't mean they were friendly, either. It came down to who they were dealing with, and the Master's own personality.
After a short conversation, Teacher Dominic explained why they'd come. The Pokémon seemed used to this kind of request; they said everything had already been arranged, and the group could head to their usual spot to get ready.
But as everyone began to move, Teacher Dominic called out to Willow and asked her to stay behind, giving her a quick wink. Then he led David and the rest of the confused group toward the "usual spot" the Pokémon had mentioned.
Walking behind Teacher Dominic, David studied their surroundings. This had to be the core of the Secret Realm — the energy here felt far denser than where they'd just come from. The water, the land, even the forest looked completely restored, as if they'd stepped into an entirely different world compared to the outer edges of the realm.
Still, David couldn't shake his curiosity about why the class monitor had been asked to stay behind. He decided to just ask outright, and the others turned toward him too, clearly wondering the same thing.
"Hey, does anyone remember what Willow's starter Pokémon was?"
"Sceptile, obviously. Why?" the chubby boy beside him answered immediately.
"Sceptile..." David murmured, and then it clicked. "Wait — is Willow's Sceptile related to that old Sceptile back there? Or is it actually its direct descendant?"
Teacher Dominic gave David an approving look before explaining.
"That's exactly right. Willow's Sceptile is a direct blood relative of the Secret Realm Master. When it was still a Treecko Egg, there was an accident during its development that left it with a few congenital weaknesses. The old Sceptile had no other choice, so it entrusted the Egg to us, hoping our technology could save its descendant — and it suggested the Egg could go on to become some new Trainer's partner. First High School's Breeding Center worked hard and managed to help the Treecko recover fully, but the Egg stayed at Imperial First High's Breeding Center after that. Eventually, by pure chance, it was chosen by Willow."
He paused. "Understand now? This is a real opportunity for her — nothing but upside."
Once Teacher Dominic laid it out so plainly, everyone understood: the old Sceptile intended to personally train her.
An Elite-level Pokémon offering direct guidance to one of its own kind — everyone present, aside from David's group, looked openly envious. Emma and the rest of David's friends, meanwhile, were simply happy for Willow. Her talent had never been in question; what she'd lacked was early experience. Training under an Elite-level Pokémon of the same species would close that gap almost overnight. And as a proper Secret Realm Master, surely it had more than guidance to offer.
Even so, David found himself quietly amazed at just how lucky Willow was. She'd already walked away from the Dragon Festival with an unusually gifted Feebas, and now the Treecko she'd picked up almost on a whim at school turned out to have an Elite-level Pokémon as its family. Born into an ordinary household, yet somehow taken under the wing of one of the Alliance's most accomplished Trainers — in any other story, she'd be the protagonist.
David nearly laughed out loud at the thought.
But that was a matter for another time. Right now, they had one job ahead of them: building a temporary shelter.