SERGEI IS TOO STARSTRUCK WITH SARAGOSA TO EVEN RESPOND, an illumina garchomp he has never seen before. The truth is, he only learns of the existence of illumina pokemons upon reading public records and tabloids but has never seen an actual one. Until Saragosa.

And despite the warnings and threats he received from his colleagues about going to the Lesser Megalopolis, all his courage pays well when he is this close to the rare garchomp.

"Of course, count us in." Sergei is busy trying to force a selfie with the illumina pokemon and his own garchomp but the flashes from his rotom phone only aggravates the looming situation in-front of them.

Something lurks in the dead metropolis: A 'DEAD' ARMY OF BLUE-SKINNED HUMANOIDS march from the other end of the street. At first, they did not took notice. But the light coming from Saragosa and the flashes from the rotom phone caught their attention.

The horde is slowly walking towards their direction, and when they have come far enough to confirm that they are actual humans, the swarm begins to run.

---

TL;DR
- 03 encounter hostile zombie-like MEGALOPOLANS that have been driven mad by the darkness. you may encounter any amount from a single one to a large swarm.

EXPEDITION: LESSER MEGALOPOLIS I
Remiel Calcifet Saki Shitachi

Saki - or at this moment, her civilian personality Yakumo - held no apparent motivation for being in this place. With her soft and peaceful demeanour, one might even think her entirely ignorant of where she was. Lacking a Garchomp of her own, the girl stood out as different. Even from the start, an outsider, to say nothing of what lay beneath her skin. At least Metagross was a similarly impressive monster, promising protection and peace. She'd been advised to not wave around her Paradox Pokemon, as a civilian, unless she wanted to draw too much attention and have too many questions asked of her. Which was a shame, because she liked it quite dearly. Once they were home, perhaps, more time together.

That advice proved fortunate in other ways as well. Iroha was rather unsuited to combat against multiple foes, whilst that happened to be one of Marisa's specialties. Yakumo's serene, carefree smile evaporated in a flash, and her gaze narrowed coldly. Too likely these strange people were dangerous. At least more likely than not in her eyes. "Psychic," she instructed, whilst clambering up upon her beast. The telekinetic attack struck one of the humanoids with a grotesque crunch, and the resultant mangled body was a new obstacle for the others to trip over. Yet still, there were too many of them to incapacitate by herself with any haste.

"Tch. Can your Pokemon deal with this? Sticking together is best for survival, but not if we stick with poor decisions. If you can't kill them, I'll retreat. You two should do the same." Even her tone of voice and speech patterns shifted drastically from the girl she was before, now that danger had presented itself.

"LIIIIIIIGHT."

For starters, Sergei cannot comprehend how an alien race that are moderately human can even understand and speak their language—if ever he hears what they say correctly. But his suspicions are confirmed when the horde follows the light: Saragosa leaps away upon Remiel Calcifet's command, giving the trio the time to hide.

Yakumo (Saki Shitachi), on the hand, sounds panicking. At least that's what Sergei believes. Whatever reason a girl comes with them in this mission is beyond him since he thinks girls her age should be in the confines of her own home.

"No time to waste arguing now! Let's do what he tells us."

The redhead follows after Remiel Calcifet, leaving behind Yakumo with Valiant on their tail should a there be a loose Megalopolan who was not herded by the illumina Pokemon. When Remiel Calcifet takes a moment to squint at what looks like Z-CRYSTALS scattered on the ground, Sergei takes upon himself to make a closer inspection.

"Seems like it. But are they still working? Looks like they're totally expended.

---

TL;DR
- 03 encounter hostile zombie-like MEGALOPOLANS that have been driven mad by the darkness. you may encounter any amount from a single one to a large swarm.
- 04 discover permanently defunct and dull Z-CRYSTALS scattered about the city.

EXPEDITION: LESSER MEGALOPOLIS I
Remiel Calcifet Saki Shitachi

Seated upon her Metagross, Saki matched Sergei's and Remiel's pace without having to move at all, her creature scrabbling onwards but not rushing ahead. "Arguing?" She tilted her head with a lifeless gaze, then opened her mouth as if to ask further, before seemingly giving up.

"...I've actually never seen one before, myself." She pat the side of her mount, lifted gently down to the ground via telekinesis. Cautiously, Saki lifted one, holding it up to her eye for scrutiny. "Marisa, cover our path. I wonder if this civilisation was once able to mass produce them. Or perhaps they still can, that infrastructure may be intact. Is there some relation between these crystals and this world...?" With a thoughtful hum, she began to pocket several. "Even if they're powerless, they may have scientific value..."

As she talked to herself, her Pokemon did as instructed. With terrifying brute force, it smashed apart the nearby scenery and structures, barricading the entrance to the alley they'd gone down. Surely sufficient to keep any Megalopolans out, even if they'd heard. With its intelligence and processing power, Marisa had of course run the calculations and kept and rubble from crushing Valiant or any of the humans present.

Once satisfied with her haul, Saki straightened upright, using a softer voice for just a moment. "By the way, now that we're safer, what brings you two here anyway?"

LIKE HIS TWO COMPANIONS, SERGEI SNEAKS A FEW PIECES OF THE DEFUNCT Z-CRYSTALS FOR FUNSIES.

He continues to follow their trail as Remiel Calcifet narrates his reasons of going in this expedition. Sergei, on the other hand, is busy scrutinizing the crystal. Thanks for the few lights that continue to illuminate their surroundings, the z-crystal is a hollow core that can easily tremble with a force of grip. He shares the sentiment of Saki Shitachi, but gives in to the fact that he has already seen enough crazy to not actually believe this can be possible.

It is now their turn to answer, but Sergei's eyes is fixated on the vending machine, the only thing brightest in its corner. Suddenly, his throat begins to feel dry like the Desert Resort. "I suddenly feel thirsty."

Sergei knows he should not be doing illogical things, but curiosity gets the best of him upon seeing the familiar machine in an unfamiliar terrain. Saki Shitachi must be right about the Megalopolans mass producing z-crystals, but not for reasons they thought they know. The redhead touches the steel, his fingers searching for trenches on the cold surface, and then there's one: in the shape of the z-crystal.

"This must be their currency."

He places one, two, three... he counts seven crystals already in the slot before the machine lights up in full disco color and a neon-tinted bottle rolls down. "Dope."

Sergei opens it and gorges liberally on the bottle. The flavor overwhelms him as he begin to throw up and accidentally drop the bottle from his hand. The ODD TASTE leaves a feeling of sand and dryness in his mouth, the liquid seems to be something inherently unhuman. "Nope. NOT DOPE."

Unfortunately for the trio, the flickering lights is just another signal. Valiant howls in their rear: the Megalopolan mob has destroyed the barricate and is running back to them.

---

TL;DR
- 03 encounter hostile zombie-like MEGALOPOLANS that have been driven mad by the darkness. you may encounter any amount from a single one to a large swarm.
- 04 discover permanently defunct and dull Z-CRYSTALS scattered about the city.
- 07 discover barely working vending machines that dispense odd-tasting energy drinks in exchange for defunct Z-CRYSTALS.

EXPEDITION: LESSER MEGALOPOLIS I
Remiel Calcifet Saki Shitachi

At first, Saki seemed disoriented. She furrowed her brow and glanced back and forth, mouthing silent words to herself. Something about this conversation, or perhaps its existence in the first place, was a little unsettling. Perhaps being in Ultra Space was simply taking its toll on her.

She composed herself with a quiet sigh. "Adventure. Exploration. Diving into the unknown. I was under the impression that these were the moral obligations of a Pokemon trainer. Someone has to explore this place, after all." A dryly amused smile casually made its way to her facial features. "What right does Hoenn have to forbid such an act? Do they say that because it's dangerous? So are many other things in this world. Who permits them to stop me from living my life as I see fit? If I wish to commit suicide, directly or otherwise, that's really none of their business. Or do they wish to force me to stay trapped in this cage of flesh, simply so I can toil away as a cog in their economical machine? Hm."

She glanced over at Sergei. He seemed distracted enough by the vending machine, so perhaps Saki's absurd and creepy dialogue was a private moment just for Remiel. Not that she cared. In fact, she continued. "You're responsible for the well-being of your own life, not just for others. If this place is so forbidden, then from a logical perspective, you shouldn't be risking your life here either. Not for someone you're more likely to find in The Border. I wonder what drives you? To not give up and give in, the way we have."

Watching Sergei while she talked, she considered buying some of the bizarre products, despite his condemnation thereof. No, rather, it would have been easier to rip the vending machine open, and feast directly on its innards. This land masqueraded as civilised society, but it was just as much the wilderness as the rest of Ultra Space. Kill or be killed; eat or be eaten.

Before she could act on that possibility, the zombies returned, proving more capable than she gave them credit for. She hadn't been paying attention, so this act of theirs astounded her. Well then, no more pit-stops until they had truly escaped. "Magnet Rise. If only Marisa here knew Earthquake. Burying these things under the rubble of their dead world would be a fitting and efficient end. Now get on."

Her Pokemon lifted itself slightly into the air, moving to Remiel and Sergei in turn. There wasn't a lot of room, and a Metagross was inherently heavy, but she believed it was manageable. Valiant was on his own, though. And if the trainers were slow, or had other plans... well, Saki wasn't going to just sit there and get eaten alive. If she had to abandon them and find her way out of Lesser Megalopolis by herself, that wasn't something under her control. What really was?

---

I'll count this for 🗺️ the consequences of Saki Shitachi 's indifference and calculating personality must be explored in some way.

VALIANT THE GARCHOMP TAKES CARE OF THE REMAINING MEGALOPOLANS WHO EVADED THE FALLING RUBBLES. Sergei agrees with Remiel Calcifet, the only way out is to fight or find the exit. He watches Saki Shitachi lift off the ground with her Metagross and speaks, "Tell me you'd find the exit and come back for us."

Regardless, he will have Valiant take care of the task at hand.

"Valiant here can't learn FLY but he certainly can lift himself up in the air like any other Garchomp and find us the exit," Sergei tells Remiel Calcifet, with a quite tone of pride as he SPEAKS ABOUT HIS KNWOELEDGE OF DRAGON-TYPES.

But without the move, the Garchomp needs to improvise. Catapulting himself in the air with a hasty STONE EDGE, the dragon is in the air in no-time.

---

TL;DR
- 03 encounter hostile zombie-like MEGALOPOLANS that have been driven mad by the darkness. you may encounter any amount from a single one to a large swarm.
- 04 discover permanently defunct and dull Z-CRYSTALS scattered about the city.
- 07 discover barely working vending machines that dispense odd-tasting energy drinks in exchange for defunct Z-CRYSTALS.
- 🗺️ SERGEI DACHEV's expertise with dragon-type pokemon must be advantageous in some way.

EXPEDITION: LESSER MEGALOPOLIS I
Remiel Calcifet Saki Shitachi

"Oh, is that so." Saki's answer seemed apathetic, but after a pause to think, she clapped a few times. What Remiel said was an answer the girl seemed to approve of, although her smile still failed to each her eyes. That was the extent of their conversation, but even that much had been enjoyable.

'Enjoyable', however, wasn't enough when lives were at stake. Remiel had declined her offer, perhaps out of some sense of heroic duty, and she had no intention of staying to watch that hopeless battle. Fortunately for all of them, the suggested alternative was... palatable. No, in fact, it was quite a good idea.

Saki glanced over her shoulder at Valiant, nodding vaguely, then flew off in the opposite direction with Agility. They'd cover more ground that way, by splitting up. The exit... this city seemed to sprawl on endlessly. And even if they could find a way out, it was useless if they'd end up in just more Ultra Space. Not a way out, they needed a way back... and hopefully, that exit would look just like the entrance.

Even with Marisa's breakneck speed, it took a few minutes of soaring around to spot something promising. Time was of the essence, and promising was better than nothing. Then again, the option to abandon her allies was there. It was there, and it couldn't denied or ignored... but, Saki didn't know what awaited her on the other side. It may well have just been more Ultra Space. Having some bodyguards would be helpful, if those two were still alive. Saki flew back immediately to where she'd last seen Remiel and Sergei. Even if they'd relocated, with her bird's eye view, it would be easy to find them (or their bodies) and regroup.