being in the Pokemon world

The sun had barely risen beyond Emberhollow's scorched ridges when Alex set off with Riolu and Charcadet at his side. Word had spread of a Dominant Pokémon nest in the crumbled ruins of an old research station east of town. Locals avoided it. Too many trainers had gone in chasing glory, never to return.

But Alex wasn't going in to fight.

He was going in to loot.

Charcadet kept low in the bushes, his flame dimmed to near invisibility. Riolu moved with practiced silence. Alex had planned for this the night before: scouting vantage points, timing patrol patterns, even using bait berries to redirect wild Pokémon. He wasn't just bold—he knew what he was doing.

Dominant Pokémon were larger, stronger, more aggressive. But they hoarded supplies. Food, shiny objects, even stolen eggs from weaker nests. They were territorial tyrants, but also collectors of survival resources in this broken world.

From a ledge above the ruin, Alex spotted the monster: a massive Ursaring, battle-scarred and furious, pacing in a wide circle. Its fur was darker than normal, as if burned or corrupted. One of its claws glowed faintly red.

"We won't fight that," Alex whispered.

He sent Charcadet to create a distraction—a faint ember trail that sparked a controlled bushfire to the far north. Riolu followed up by tossing a rock deeper into the underbrush on the opposite side.

The Ursaring roared and barreled away, pulled between the sounds. A perfect opening.

"Now."

They moved fast. Alex leapt the ruined fence and ducked into the debris. What was once a lab was now a shattered husk, the walls punched through by time and claws. Inside, crates and nests were tucked into corners. Charcadet stood guard as Riolu helped Alex open each box.

They found canned food, broken Poké Balls, discarded tech—most of it salvageable. But in a back chamber, buried beneath a tarp of moss, Alex found the real prize.

A cluster of eggs.

Three of them, warm and intact. One was dark blue and speckled—likely a Zubat. Another pale green, almost mint-colored—possibly a Budew. The third was larger, orange-tinted, and pulsing faintly with warmth.

"This one's rare," Alex murmured, wrapping the largest egg in cloth. "We take all three."

The moment they stepped out, the wind shifted.

The Ursaring roared in rage.

It had returned.

"Move!"

Alex didn't hesitate. He tossed a pouch of Brightpowder behind them, obscuring the trail. Riolu leapt up to kick a loose beam, collapsing part of the roof as a barrier. Charcadet lit the path ahead, burning brambles that blocked their escape.

By the time the Dominant Pokémon reached the ruin, Alex and his team were vanishing into the trees, breathing hard but unhurt.

Back in Emberhollow, Alex met with a trader operating out of a semi-permanent stall near the market square. The man was cautious, always glancing over his shoulder, but he dealt in relics and rare goods.

"What've you got, kid?"

Alex opened the bag. Canned food, rare berries, intact Poké Balls, and a salvaged Tera Shard from one of the lab crates. The trader's eyes widened at the sight.

"You hit a Dominant stash, didn't you?"

Alex didn't confirm. He didn't need to.

"I want supplies. Clean water. Rations. And coin."

The man chuckled. "You're no rookie. Fine. Let's deal."

The trade was quick and quiet. Alex got enough purified water for two weeks not like the dirty water he have been drinking, dried rations, a sturdy egg incubator, and a small pouch of Sinnohan coins accepted in Emberhollow and a few nearby towns.

He kept the eggs.

Those were too valuable.

Back in their camp just outside Emberhollow, Alex carefully placed the eggs inside the incubator. Charcadet watched curiously, and Riolu curled beside them protectively.

Alex stared into the fire that night, not saying much.

He wasn't just a survivor anymore.

He was a strategist. A scavenger with purpose. The world had fallen into chaos, and he was carving out a space in it by being smarter, faster, and more focused than those who only chased battles.

Dominant Pokémon ruled the wilds.

But Alex had learned how to steal from kings.