Pokémon: Chronicles of Freedom-Chapter 604 - 603: Forcing Their Way In

As the patterns on the red block fused together, a smile appeared on Ren's face.

Now, only three people remained: Regi, Ren, and Glacius, who always stayed silent with a book in his hand.

"Cain! Aurelia! I know you're here. You've seen enough of the show—come out," Regi didn't use the Crimson Bomb immediately but instead called out into the vast hall.

Aurelia, standing beside Cain, looked startled; she hadn't expected them to be discovered despite hiding so well.

Since they had been found, there was no point in staying hidden. They needed to find an opportunity to escape quickly, she thought, noting the imposing Nidoking in the hall, which they clearly couldn't face.

Just as she was about to move, Cain stopped her with his hand, frowning as he observed Regi.

"The two who disappeared didn't escape—they followed us?" Ren, standing next to Regi, looked around warily, staying alert.

"What's wrong, Cain? Aren't you going to come out and greet an old friend? We've been waiting for you for quite some time," Regi's voice grew louder.

But Cain, still hidden, relaxed his frown and showed a wry smile.

Regi hadn't actually found them; he was just trying to provoke them.

If they were really there and hadn't thought things through, they might have fallen for the provocation and revealed themselves.

However, Cain saw through Regi's behavior, especially after the sudden action of killing the man next to Ren. If Regi had truly discovered them, he would've attacked immediately, taking the initiative rather than calling out their names.

The hall fell silent.

After waiting three minutes without a response, Regi's expression turned serious.

He hadn't found any trace of Cain and Aurelia; he was merely trying to provoke them into coming out.

"They're not here. Let's move on," Regi said, growing increasingly uneasy.

Clearly, Ren and Glacius followed Regi's lead.

As for Cain and Aurelia, they were more like useful tools than true allies.

Unable to locate Cain, Regi couldn't afford to wait any longer.

The crimson block he held was beginning to heat up.

These bombs, once completed, activated automatically, which was why Regi and Ren had massacred so many wild Pokémon near the hall.

After placing the bomb, Regi and the others retreated to the edge of the hall, while their Pokémon took defensive positions.

The strongest among them, Nidoking, stood at the front like a wall.

The red block grew hotter and brighter, emitting small trails of smoke.

It didn't take long for the bomb to finish charging.

BOOM!

An explosion shook the area, filling the doorway with fine red cracks that expanded until it shattered into pieces.

The violent blast sent a shockwave through the hall.

Cain and Aurelia were affected too, but Slowking and Jynx managed to protect them.

If Regi had been more attentive, he might have noticed them, but he was too preoccupied giving defensive orders to his Pokémon.

Ten seconds after the explosion, the sound of falling stones finally ceased.

The hall was left in chaos.

But the door, now destroyed, revealed the scene inside.

Ren's expression immediately lit up with joy. Regi was also pleased, though not as overtly. Even Glacius, usually serious, showed a hint of emotion.

This demonstrated just how much effort they had poured into this operation.

Initially, thirty people had set foot on the island. Now only five remained: Regi, Ren, Glacius, Cain, and Aurelia.

A survival rate of just 10%.

Though the mission wasn't over yet, and they didn't know how many would make it out alive in the end.

The space behind the door didn't seem particularly special, though it was brighter. The walls were covered in visible inscriptions.

Ensuring there were no Pokémon inside, Regi led his companions in.

Beside him was Nidoking, his greatest assurance and trump card.

Even though it was no longer a secret, Nidoking was still intimidating.

It wasn't just meant to intimidate Cain and Aurelia, but also Ren, whom Regi still distrusted.

Ren didn't have Regi's full confidence, and his unpredictable temperament was a potential threat.

Once Regi, Ren, and Glacius disappeared from sight, Cain and Aurelia emerged from their hiding spot.

Thanks to Gengar, who had found a good place to conceal itself in the hall, and the psychic shielding of Slowking and Jynx, they had managed to stay undetected.

Aurelia couldn't help but feel a growing admiration for Cain.

If it had been up to her, she would've bolted at Regi's provocation.

Thanks to Cain, they had avoided a confrontation with Nidoking and Flygon.

Unconsciously, she asked, "What do we do now?"

Cain, thinking about the key Lucario had given him, responded after a moment, "We follow them."

With that, he moved toward the door.

Aurelia hesitated for a moment before following him with determination.

(End of Chapter)