After Giovanni left, Hikaru didn’t linger either. He quickly departed the heavy, oppressive city of Black City, bringing the rescued Pokémon along.

The newly-reformed hunters offered their own vehicles for transporting the Pokémon. As for themselves, they claimed they would begin a redemption movement in Black City—to help other hunters and buyers realize that trading Pokémon was wrong.

Uh… they’d gone from a poaching gang to an animal rights group.

What if they ended up joining Team Plasma?

Hikaru frowned—perhaps his powers needed more careful use. If these ex-hunters joined Plasma, wouldn’t that mean he’d basically recruited members for them?

Or maybe… they’d start a new Pokémon protection team? Unova just got another mystery group on the list.

“Still… I never expected to run into Giovanni. After Team Rocket’s operations were crushed, he really followed the game route and came to Unova to train? And became a Gatekeeper Trainer of the Black Skyscraper? That’s insane!”

At this point in the timeline, if Giovanni really had gone through the three beatdowns from the games, he was likely training with the goal of becoming the strongest in the world.

But he was still Team Rocket’s boss—just commanding from afar. Team Rocket hadn’t disbanded. The iconic trio were still out chasing Ash around. The shifts in this worldline were truly fascinating.

The so-called Gatekeeper Trainers were the strongest Trainers who ruled each level of the Black Skyscraper. Past Zone 5, there were no formal overseers—just raw power dictating the rules.

The higher one ascended the Skyscraper, the more complex each Zone became. Giovanni had become the ruler of Zone 8—was anyone stronger in the upper two Zones?

Or was he intentionally remaining in Zone 8 to scout talented Trainers to join Team Rocket?

If so… was the Black Skyscraper just one big Team Rocket recruitment center?

At that moment, the Tree of Connection sent a new reward.

[Reward: Release Orb ×8, Veteran Warrior’s Emblem ×8, Emerging Power ×1!]

[Veteran Warrior’s Emblem: A badge awarded to Trainers and Pokémon who have experienced intense combat.]

[Effect: After countless battles, your Pokémon’s overall stat caps have increased, and all stats +30%!]**

[Emerging Power: Show your strength, reveal your growth… awaken power! You and your Pokémon gain 100% more effort values and growth rate after defeating Trainers and their Pokémon!]

[Your actions at the Black Market have earned the Tree of Connection’s recognition!]

“Nice! Time to head for White Forest!”

With James driving, the vehicle glided smoothly at high speed.

In the cargo hold, the rescued Pokémon rested peacefully for the first time since capture, enjoying Rare Candies and Energy Cubes.

They no longer feared harm, and human greed was now distant. More importantly…

The King had appeared.

A being who could command Pokémon—a mysterious traveler…

It all felt like a dream.

The dark silhouette of the Black Skyscraper shrank into the distance. Far ahead, across the wilds, a giant white sacred tree rose over the horizon, glowing gently even in the night. Hikaru was amazed.

The black sky twinkled with stars, and a peaceful breeze stirred the world. Leaves and herbs floated through the air.

This was White Forest—the Pure White Forest.

The Pokémon stared in awe at this new world. Natural energy surged and began to heal their wounds.

The forest seemed to sense the newcomers.

Thunk! Thunk! Berries began falling from the great white tree.

The Pokémon gratefully gathered and ate them. And more kept falling—endlessly generous.

The natural wind caressed them gently, soothing their anxious hearts.

Hikaru gazed at the massive tree not far away. Like the Black Skyscraper, it drew the eye and radiated a sacred, cleansing, and mysterious power.

And then—another Unova Connection activated.

[Unova Connection (White Tree Hollow) Activated!]

[Description: A sacred tree towering in White Forest. One day, a massive cavern opened at its roots. Deep within lies potent natural and sacred energy. The forest has a request… Listen to the voice of White Forest!]

[Note 1 (From White Tree Hollow’s voice): The Sacred Tree knows you seek Champion Alder. Come to the bottom of White Tree Hollow immediately!]

[Note 2: Your psychic powers may be enhanced in White Forest! Your Pokémon’s five stats, HP, and spirit may also be strengthened!]

[Note 3: This is the Sacred White Tree. The Tree of Connection hears its call!]

[Note 4: Dream energy surges here—the power of dreams is rising!]

[Note 5: Bearer of the Key, head to White Tree Hollow. The Tree of Connection needs to commune with it!]

[Note 6: White Forest has granted you something… It is now before your eyes!]

Forests are living beings. They choose who to bless.

Each forest had its own great power, and this was the third location Alder had investigated.

A thick, short, white branch appeared before Hikaru. It glowed brightly—a key!

When he touched it, a powerful force surged from it and poured into him!

[Obtained: Hollow Key!]

[Effect: A sacred key to the lowest depths of White Tree Hollow, crafted by the forest’s power. It has special purifying and holy energy. Boosts Psychic/Grass/Water abilities and enhances solar techniques.]

[Willpower +100%, Resonance +100%.]

The Tree of Connection pulsed with emotion. It remembered White Tree Hollow. There were many mysteries in Unova, and this Sacred Tree was one of the greatest!

With reverence, Hikaru and his Pokémon advanced. The rescued Pokémon gave cries of gratitude before vanishing into the grasses and woods.

“White Forest has accepted them. They’ll be protected here… This forest will make anyone with evil intent simply… disappear.”

Wait—disappear?

Confirmed: White Forest was tightly linked to the Inner World.

Hikaru entered White Tree Hollow. He encountered some workers and Hikers—members of an “investigation team.”

“You’re going to the bottom of White Tree Hollow? Are you with the investigation team? Normally, Trainers need to challenge their way through. This place hasn’t been fully explored yet.”

A worker in a puffy helmet spoke sternly.

“Who dug these tunnels, and in what era? Every layer shows signs of past habitation. The tree didn’t have a hollow before. It only appeared after that black tower showed up.”

“But the strange part is… when was the Black Skyscraper even built? Who built it? None of us remember.”

“Our team is still exploring. Many Trainers from across Unova are training here. We’ve set up challenge zones modeled after the Black Skyscraper. But this time, we go down, not up.”

“If you want to proceed, you must fight floor by floor…”

Hikaru showed them the Hollow Key.

The worker froze. “This… this shape! It’s a key from Zone 5 or deeper! You’re a Gatekeeper Trainer?!”

“Yes—this was found in the lower levels. With a key like this, new areas appear and elevators unlock!”

“We’re collecting these keys! All right—go on down. You may access any level freely.”

The worker’s expression turned solemn.

“According to the village elders, the Sacred Tree has a voice. A will.”

He opened a construction lift—the kind used on job sites. The Sacred Tree’s roots stretched deep underground, dividing the terrain into countless rooms and caverns.

Hikaru rode the elevator downward with his Pokémon, immersed in divine energy.

[Zone 7 – B9F]

This wasn’t the bottom level, but the team’s elevator only reached this far.

“Hmmm.” Aegislash looked around with its single eye. It sensed a strange natural energy—much like the ruins of Johto!

Mystic power filled the air.

“Dore~ree!”

Lilligant and Torterra were released. Grass-types felt amazing here. The natural energy was so dense that even Lilligant started to sing!

Compared to Johto’s chaotic forests, Pinwheel Forest’s calm, and the Illusion Forest’s mystery—White Forest had its own vibe:

Sacred. Peaceful. Yet burning with passion.

The little tree on Torterra’s back sprouted fresh leaves. It basked in the sacred energy, feeling deeply soothed and spiritually aligned with nature.

The turtle stared at a patch of glowing orange four-leaf clovers.

Hmm! Rare plants! I could grow those!

Lilligant glanced over and shook her head.

No way. Too big. Nowhere to plant it.

“Awwooo! (The life energy here is amazing!)”

Riolu felt the intense natural aura. The blue pup glanced around, alert.

Perfect place to train!

Larvesta stared at the water… then the tree roots… then the light drifting through the air.

Emmmm…

Why is it so bright here without the sun?

He was hoping to show off by acting as a light source…

WHRRR—

The Hollow Key glowed, guiding the way. Hikaru noticed the strange vegetation around him.

Large, glowing orange-yellow clovers filled the underground pools, radiating a purifying energy. White roots twisted around cavern entrances, lighting the tunnels with their brilliance.

There were many Fighters here, training, but they rarely appeared. The investigation team sometimes clashed with them in battle.

But Hikaru ignored them all and followed the Key’s light to a secluded cavern.

At that moment, vines withdrew from a tunnel entrance—and a soft light emerged from within.

“I’m here. What is it you wish to say to me?”

So many questions… The glowing tunnel revealed a new plant:

Red, towering four-leaf clovers.

Unlike the orange ones outside, these were special!

Then, the Hollow Key floated in front of Hikaru and transformed—becoming more ornate as it channeled the Sacred Tree’s power!

[Unova Connection (White Tree Hollow) Activated!]

[Description: The Sacred Tree in White Forest has called you. This is the Hollow’s heart chamber—its voice awaits!]

[From the Voice of White Tree Hollow:]

[Bearer of the Tree of Connection, transmitter of its power…]

[You have reached White Tree Hollow—a sanctuary built underground thousands of years ago after the world was ravaged by dragons. People once lived here, nourished by the Sacred Forest’s light and food.]

[The man you seek—Champion Alder—did indeed come here.]

[He began his journey in search of the legendary dragon… but found a different power instead. That power pulled him into another world—where he was given a new mission.]

[That power is the same as the one within you—the Tree of Connection.]

(End of Chapter)

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep