----
The hidden chamber was so well concealed and required solving multiple puzzles just to access it that it was clear this place held extraordinary significance.
Fighting back their excitement, Foster and a few researchers followed Kai down the stone staircase into the chamber. At first glance, it was disappointingly bare, like all the others. But having gone through this process several times already, they didn't let that discourage them. They moved quickly and confidently toward the far end of the room.
After seeing the mural of Ho-Oh earlier, everyone was eager to discover what Pokémon would appear next.
As they approached, they saw another mural, but this one was different. There was no puzzle to solve, no pieces to move. It was a single, intact illustration carved directly into the stone.
Even though they were bracing themselves for something special, what they saw still took their breath away.
The Pokémon depicted was otherworldly its body a pristine white, resembling a cross between a horse, a kirin, and a centaur. Its four golden hooves were sharp and radiant. A long, crest-like mane arched upward from its head. Its face was gray, with piercing green eyes and vivid red pupils.
A golden band curled across its forehead like a divine sigil, and a massive, ring-like structure adorned its midsection shaped like a cross, inlaid with four glowing orbs.
It didn't look like anything that could've come from Earth.
It radiated power. Majesty. Mystery.
"Arceus…" Foster whispered, his voice trembling.
He knew it instantly and so did the others. The moment they recognized it, the chamber filled with gasps of awe.
"No way… that's Arceus?!"
"What's it doing here? Does this mean ancient civilizations actually saw it… and worshipped it?!"
Though no one had ever seen Arceus in person, its existence was chronicled in ancient texts, legends, and forgotten scriptures, always shrouded in myth yet too consistent to dismiss.
Seeing his colleagues getting overwhelmed, Foster snapped out of it and called out, "Everyone, stay calm! It's just a mural. It doesn't necessarily prove anything."
The group quieted down but the tension in the room remained thick.
Kai stepped forward and studied the wall.
Running his fingers across the mural's edges, he suddenly said, "Doesn't this… feel like a door to anyone else?"
The others looked again, and with that suggestion in mind, it was obvious the mural wasn't just a picture. It was embedded in the wall like a massive stone door.
"A door? Where could it lead?"
"To… the realm of the gods?" someone murmured.
Foster pushed, pulled, and leaned, all to no effect. The door wouldn't budge. There were no switches, no buttons, no mechanisms in sight.
Kai even had Gengar phase through the door but all it found was solid rock and soil beyond.
This wasn't a door they could open not yet.
But Kai had a feeling… one day, he'd be back. Just not today.
Beside him, the researchers were buzzing with excitement. Even without being able to open the door, the discovery itself was monumental. They eagerly pulled out notebooks, cameras, and sketchpads, documenting everything.
For Kai, however, this was the end of the road for now.
He had confirmed that the door existed. That was enough. The rest would have to wait for another time.
Reflecting on everything that had happened, this detour to the Ruins of Alph an unplanned visit, really felt far from a waste. It had resulted in a new friendship, priceless discoveries, and possibly even foreshadowed something much bigger.
But it was time to move on.
Turning to Foster, he said, "Foster, I'll leave the rest to you. I've stayed here long enough it's time I hit the road."
"You're leaving already?" Foster looked disappointed but didn't try to stop him. Instead, he stepped forward and extended a hand.
"Kai, thank you. Truly. If it weren't for you, we might have never uncovered these secrets. The mysterious signals, the Unown text, Ho-Oh, Arceus… There's still so much we don't understand. I just wish you could stay and help us keep digging."
Kai grasped his hand firmly. "You're giving me too much credit. I was just following my curiosity. Honestly, I love solving puzzles. This whole experience was incredibly fun for me. But in the end, I'm still a Trainer. My goal is the League, and I have a tournament to prepare for."
"Then good luck at the Silver Conference!" Foster smiled. "I'll keep investigating here. If we discover anything new, I'll contact you right away."
"Thanks. And best of luck to you, too."
"Take care."
---
By the time Kai and Sabrina left the Ruins of Alph, the sun was already sinking toward the horizon. They were just about to hop onto Charizard and head toward Violet City for the night when Sabrina suddenly received a phone call.
It was from the Kanto Pokémon League.
Kai didn't mean to eavesdrop, but he still caught snippets of the conversation enough to piece together what it was about.
Apparently, the League had taken note of how long Sabrina had been away from the Saffron Gym. They were pressuring her to return immediately to resume her duties as Gym Leader.
Even though her father had been acting as a stand-in, the League made it clear: "The Psychic Prodigy" was the one the public recognized and respected.
Sabrina initially wanted to ignore the call and walk away from her role altogether to continue traveling with Kai.
But thankfully, Kai stepped in.
"Don't," he said gently. "You should go back."
She started to argue, but he cut her off with a soft smile.
"This is your responsibility. You can't just throw it away. A little time apart doesn't mean anything. We'll see each other again soon. This is part of your journey, too and I'd never be so selfish as to hold you back from it."
Sabrina fell silent. Her expression was tight clearly, she didn't want to leave.
Kai brushed a hand through her hair and added with a reassuring tone, "It's okay. You've been gone long enough. Take some time to rest and handle what you need to. Once this is all settled, we'll meet up and hit the road together again."
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