Unfortunately, Devil Fruits were hardly something found lying around everywhere. Alongside abilities, they were one of the few treasures that could grant people a certain degree of combat power — or even dramatically increase their potential.
Because of their attention on the website, whenever a new work was uploaded, they would discover it immediately.
Because to them now, these anime weren't just anime anymore.
Everything within them could become real.
Hadn't the Kamen Riders and Armor Heroes from tokusatsu shows already become reality?
The Dragon Emperor Qin Tian's Flame Dragon Armor, and Haicheng Chen Feng — the Kamen Rider Decade who had been acknowledged by Kabuto.Tendo Tadashi.
These were all public examples.
There were rumors that someone had spotted Kuuga from Kamen Rider, though the truth was uncertain.
If it were real, why hadn't anyone else seen him until now?
It wasn't as though someone with the power to transform into Kuugo could have died, right?
So when the Pokémon anime was uploaded to the site, many people discovered it right away. Some spread the news to other websites, while others couldn't wait to start watching.
And then, they felt as though they had stumbled upon a treasure.
Setting aside the possibility that things from the anime might manifest into reality, it was already a remarkably excellent anime in its own right.
Both the story and those adorable, purehearted Pokémon.
To make things better, they discovered the website's main page had also added a game, also called Pokémon.
Unfortunately, it was only a turn-based game.
Outside of gaming enthusiasts, most people chose to watch the anime.
Almost impossibly, the internet became swept up in this anime called Pokémon.
The adorable Pikachu, the vacant-eyed Psyduck, the "fierce but cute" Squirtle, the queen-like elegance of Gardevoir, the noble Snivy — all of them captivated every viewer.
Of course, with no one sure who had started it, affectionate nicknames like "Garlic Toad" and "Spitting Turtle King" also appeared, bestowed upon Bulbasaur and Squirtle.
After hearing them called by these names so often, some people even forgot their real names.
When Bulbasaur or Squirtle were suddenly mentioned, they'd have to picture who they were talking about.
Sure, it was funny — but setting that aside, they had come to love this anime, to love Pokémon, to the extreme.
Who could refuse an adorable, intelligent Pokémon that was willing to protect you with its life, and wasn't even weak in battle?!
No one!
If some people had previously doubted whether Devil Fruits, Imperial Arms, and similar items had truly materialized in reality — since they hadn't seen any themselves — now, regardless of truth, they desperately wanted it to be real.
They wanted to encounter Pokémon in reality!
To capture a Pokémon that belonged to them.
---
**Imperial Capital Spirit Qi General Bureau.**
"What exactly are you doing?"
Uchiha Ten watched Liu Suifeng slack off, handling his tasks while simultaneously playing the Pokémon game on the side. A slight twitch tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Sure, when he was a student in his past life, there had been teachers who let students self-study during class while they themselves scrolled through novels on their phones. But Liu Suifeng's situation was different….
This was the Imperial Capital Spirit Qi Bureau!
If he got caught, was he sure he wouldn't get scolded?
"Of course I'm studying these creatures that may appear in the future — memorizing their appearances, abilities, and habits. That way, when it comes time to handle them, I'll have experience."
"You think I actually want to be playing this."
Liu Suifeng said with complete seriousness.
"Your fingers haven't left that mouse for a single second. If they had, I might believe you."
Uchiha Ten thought to himself.
But… Pokémon, huh…
Uchiha Ten gazed at the Gardevoir, Milotic, Sylveon, Ninetales, and a Pikachu on the computer screen. His gaze grew distant.
There was a time when he, too, had dreamed of being able to transmigrate into the Pokémon world.
Back then, he couldn't see the darkness of the Pokémon world. Even Team Rocket, as antagonists, had brought him so much fun and emotion.
The Pokémon world was a dreamlike world — a world he had yearned for and fantasized about endlessly.
Even now, if given the chance to choose a Pokémon, even if it required paying a great price, he would agree without hesitation.
"Do you think there's a chance Pokémon could descend into reality?"
Uchiha Ten asked Liu Suifeng.
"I've never believed Emperor Bai would release these things without reason."
Liu Suifeng said coolly.
"Devil Fruits, Imperial Arms, Kamen Rider transformation devices, Five Element Armor summoners, Clow Cards — all of these have already descended onto Earth."
"It's just that most of them choose their own masters, so even we haven't managed to collect all that much."
"Just some animal-series Devil Fruits."
"Not a single Imperial Arm."
"As for Ultraman transformation devices like the Emeric Rod, I have no doubt they've been created by now either — it's just that no one acknowledged by them has been found yet."
Pure light was something this world of equal darkness and brightness couldn't accommodate.
Even children — their light and darkness were equal, just utterly pure.
So pure that they didn't know whether their actions were good or evil.
"You should play through the game a few more times properly, too. In the future, if Pokémon really do appear and acknowledge you, raise one well — it might become one of our high-end combat forces."
Liu Suifeng looked at Uchiha Ten.
"…."
"Understood."
Uchiha Ten opened his mouth, then ultimately lowered his head in resignation, abandoning the thought of saying he understood all of this far better than they did.
Because saying it wouldn't accomplish anything anyway.
But if Pokémon really did come into the world in the future, and he had the chance to choose — who would he pick? Ralts?
The powerful Psychic abilities and noble, elegant form were certainly an excellent choice.
Salamence?
The Dragon-Ground type pseudo-legendary — both strength and potential at the absolute top among Pokémon.
Charizard?
With good training, it might even be able to defeat Legendaries.
Dragonite?
Nah, forget Dragonite. It can't even Mega Evolve. No way.
After seriously contemplating several Pokémon, Uchiha Ten laughed and shook his head.
Who knew when the descent would even happen, and here he was getting swept up in fantasies.
And even if it did descend, where would he get the chance to choose? Pokémon would be doing the choosing of them, more likely.
Not to mention — the situation in this world was no longer as peaceful as it had been before the spiritual revival.
Mutant beasts' rate of evolution was hardly slower than humans'.
Resources, war, race… This land would not know peace in the future.
The past few days — perhaps due to the existence of the gods — had been completely peaceful, whether in Huaxia or other countries. Even when they encountered mutant beasts out in the wild zones, as long as humans didn't take the initiative to attack, the mutant beasts simply lay quietly on the ground.
According to the Spirit Qi Bureau's investigation, that rain that had fallen like a divine miracle had landed on both humans and mutant creatures without causing particularly significant changes.
Beyond the healing of illnesses and injuries, and the extension of lifespans...
*(End of Chapter)*
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