Pokémon: Above the Top

Zubat, Sandshrew, Geodude...

Along the way, Sato encountered several Pokémon, and just like Weezing, their bodies emitted a faint, green glow.

It seemed as though they had never seen anything that didn't glow before—they weren't afraid or hostile, just curious, silently observing Sato and his Pokémon.

This strange space felt like an endless tunnel. There were no branching paths, yet it was twisting and winding, with no clear destination in sight.

After walking for over half an hour, the environment remained largely unchanged, and encounters with Pokémon were infrequent.

Sato gradually picked up his pace.

As he turned another corner, the narrow passage suddenly opened up, revealing a massive cavern.

At its center lay a small, calm lake, its surface smooth and undisturbed, radiating a soft, green glow from within.

"Sssssss~"

The hiss of a serpent immediately caught Sato's attention.

Following the sound, he spotted a massive, coiled serpent—its scales were a pure, milky white. The markings on its belly were outlined in gold, bordered with silver.

Its ruby-like eyes gazed at Sato calmly.

A Shiny Arbok! But that wasn't all—this milky-white Arbok also glowed faintly with the same greenish light as the others.

Due to the cavern's brightness and its already pale body, its glow wasn't as obvious.

Unlike a normal Arbok, its body was long and slender, even graceful.

It had none of the usual cold-blooded, predatory aura that most serpent Pokémon carried. Instead, it radiated a sense of calm.

Even its gaze held no hostility or caution toward Sato.

"Human… Trainer, welcome to the Luminous World."

Arbok hadn't moved, yet a gentle voice—reminiscent of a Nurse Joy—resonated directly in Sato's mind.

Telepathy!

"…Hello."

Sato was startled, instinctively swallowing, unsure how to properly address the Arbok before him.

"Call me Belle. That's the name my previous Trainer gave me."

The telepathic message came again. Sato steadied himself, nodding toward Belle.

"Previous Trainer? You didn't always live here?"

"Is that so strange? I am a Pokémon, after all. Of course, I could have been captured. Every Pokémon here—except for me—wandered in by accident… just like you."

Sato didn't respond immediately. A telepathic Arbok went against everything he knew about the species, leaving his mind in disarray.

However, Belle didn't seem to mind his silence. It had likely gone a long time without speaking and, now that it had the chance, it couldn't stop itself from talking.

"My previous Trainer was strong—at his peak, he became a Elite Four-level Trainer."

Belle's ruby eyes narrowed slightly, and its serpentine lips curled up, as if reminiscing about something fondly.

"But I was never part of his main team. Even though I was a Shiny Arbok, my potential was average, and I never enjoyed fighting."

Still, I cherished my place. Life in the wild was too harsh, so I remained obedient. My Trainer treated me well—until he passed away. To escape those who sought to exploit me, I ran away."

As Belle spoke, it slowly slithered into the water.

"You're a Trainer from the outside—you must have noticed how different I am from my kind. Beyond my milky-white scales, I have lived for an unusually long time—even I am surprised by my own lifespan. Over the years, I naturally developed telepathy."

As Belle glided through the lake, its full body stretched out completely—from a rough estimate, it was at least thirty meters long, yet no thicker than Sato's calf at its widest point.

"But I am still weak. After hiding in Mount Silver for decades, I eventually made my way to Luminous Forest. By chance, I discovered this place."

Sato listened silently, watching as Belle moved effortlessly through the water.

It made no attempt to approach him, which put him slightly at ease.

Outliving its own Trainer, spending decades in Mount Silver, and surviving long enough to develop telepathy—Sato's first reaction to this ancient being was vigilance and caution!

"Are you nervous?"

"…No."

Arbok extended its slender head, observing Sato carefully, before suddenly releasing its presence.

Peak Elite!

Sato's heart tightened—he hadn't felt any aura from Arbok before, which was why he had been so cautious.

But now, he realized—this so-called Belle was only at Peak Elite level!

"Honestly, if it weren't for my appearance being so unique, my former Trainer might never have captured me. After all, he was a Grass-type Elite Four level Trainer ."

Belle's voice carried a subtle trace of sorrow. Having lived for so long, its intelligence had grown immensely, now barely different from a human's.

"Ever since I arrived here, I've stayed in this place. I love this environment—it's peaceful, quiet, free of battles and violence."

Belle slid onto land, maintaining a respectful distance from Sato, as if it too didn't wish to get too close to him.

"Over time, many injured Pokémon also wandered in. But this place is special—it heals their wounds. They don't even need food to survive."

Sato glanced around. What exactly was the function of this green glow?

"This is a closed utopia. Every Pokémon that enters finds peace and stability—so you don't have to worry anymore. Just stay here and live a peaceful life."

Belle's ruby-like eyes gazed at Sato kindly, as if it had already accepted him as one of its own.

Sato raised an eyebrow.

Live here? From start to finish, this place felt unsettling. Even this Shiny Arbok before him gave off an indescribable unease.

"I only came to explore the cave. I'll be leaving soon."

"Chaaa!"

Suddenly, Arbok's body tensed. It lunged forward, crossing the lake in an instant, raising its head to stare down at Sato coldly.

Its four-to-five-meter-long body suspended in midair effortlessly, showing no sign of strain.

Gengar rushed in front of Sato, standing on high alert against Arbok.

Without them realizing, the lake and the cavern entrance had filled with glowing Pokémon—all watching silently.

Even Weezing, which Sato had captured earlier, had turned to face him—the control of the Poké Ball had become useless!

"This place is wonderful. No pain, no disasters, just harmony. I'm protecting you—the outside world is too dangerous. Isn't it better to stay here, safe and sound?"

"What if I insist on leaving?"

"You can't leave. No creature that enters here can leave—not without my permission."

Belle's voice remained as gentle and pleasant as ever, yet Sato's frown deepened.

Chapter 114: Shiny Arbok