Paradise Pokeball System

Chapter 115: Losing Control

Everything happened at once, instantly filling me with dread. This was exactly the reason why I asked the women to become part of my system.

I knew that I was weak and that my Pokémon weren't that strong yet, but what did this all mean now?

[You don't have time to worry about any of that right now. Catch the girls and return to Prisma, now.]

Cryo's voice was different, and it gave me chills. This was not a request.

'What do you mean, return!?' I demanded, but Soliera spoke up.

"You and the women need to hide in that world of yours. They cannot find you," Soliera told me, snapping me out of my thoughts with Cryo.

"Wait! What are you three going to do?! We can't just leave something like that in this world!" I demanded, but Dulse walked in with Zossie, both with dark looks on their faces.

"That is why we are here. Our mission is to protect you, and make sure that you don't fall into the hands of the enemy," Dulse said, and Zossie nodded.

"I may not like you, but I am an Ultra Recon Squad Member, and this is part of our job!" She declared, but I could see she was shaking.

I wanted to say something, but my body suddenly froze up.

[I am sorry, Landon. This is for your own good.]

Almost instantly, my body started to move on its own, summoning a Paradise ball to my hand. Without a word, my body walked over and pressed it into a confused-looking Tallia. Instantly after her energy disappeared, the ball vanished, and another appeared, and my hand pressed it into Jolene.

'Cryo... What are you doing? Why can't I control my body?!' I demanded, but there was no response as the Paradise ball vanished, and my body turned to face the recon squad.

"My name is Cryo, and I am taking control of Landon for the time being. I am doing this to prevent him from trying to join the battle you three are heading to. I am sorry for this, but I cannot risk my master's life. He is too weak, and too many things rely on him being alive, my life included," I explained, but I wasn't the one saying the words.

"So, you have a lot more power over the boy than he knew," Dulse said in a wary voice, and my head nodded.

"Yes, but I am only doing this to protect him, and the people that we have involved in this. I truly wish that there was more that we could do for you, but we both know that someone has to stop whatever has entered this world," My body explained, and each of the Ultra Recon Squad Members nodded gravely.

Each of them seemed to understand there was a good chance that they might not survive this encounter.

The Recon Squad members turned to leave, and my body moved towards the door. Panic surged through me as I desperately tried to regain control, but Cryo's influence held firm. I could only watch as my body walked out of the house, leaving me in a state of powerlessness.

"I will monitor you all from Prisma, but that is the best I can do. If I think there is a chance that Landon can fight without losing his life, I will let him, but do not expect backup," Cryo told them as I screamed in my mind.

I wasn't stupid. I understood what Cryo was doing, and why he was doing it, but I still hated it! Zossie was terrified, and so were the rest of them, but Soliera and Dulse held their firm looks.

This wasn't right! Why was this happening now?!

My eyes closed, and suddenly I was in an open plane of Prisma that I had never been before. Cryo was floating before me.

"Do you hate me for this?" The glowing blue and white Pokémon asked, and all I could do was scream for a bit.

When I stopped and caught my breath, I stared at the creature that had helped me get this far in my life. The same one that had saved me, kept my body safe and told me everything that I needed to know.

How could I hate them?

"I hate myself for not taking you more seriously!" I growled through gritted teeth and clenched fists. The realization of my folly hit me in waves.

I should have taken training more seriously. I should have taken on less women. I should have listened to the one person who had done nothing but try to help me become greater. Did it matter that he did it to free Ultramex?

"There is no going back now, Landon. I brought you to this place for a reason," Cryo said, snapping out of my head.

I was getting too lost in my thoughts lately. No wonder he took control.

"What is this place? Is this not just another layer of Prisma?" I asked, looking around, momentarily pausing my internal castigation.

"This is inside of Prisma, but this is your training area. A place that you have had access to for a few days now. While inside of here, time in the rest of Prisma, and the outside world will move at 1/4 its normal speed, turning 1 second there four here. The dilation can be adjusted at a later point, but you currently don't have enough points to do that," Cryo explained, but as he did, I started to feel angry.

While I was clearly to blame for this, why didn't he help me more?!

"Why? Why didn't you tell me to put points into it? Why didn't you force me to train more?! You clearly have the power to do that!" I yelled, but Cryo only sighed.

"Unlike you, I have specific instructions on how to assist and take care of you. You are the one who chooses your path. You are the one who makes the choices unless they would put you on the path of certain death. When that happens, only then can I intervene," Cryo explained, and I clenched my fist but kept silent as he continued.

"I answer any questions that you have. I teach you the things I am allowed to do without prompt. The rest is up to you. If your actions put you at risk of death, I will always force you back to Prisma, along with everyone you have caught. Nothing is more important than your life. I shouldn't have to explain why."

The weight of Cryo's words sank in, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of frustration and gratitude. It was true that I held responsibility for my choices, but the realization of the missed opportunities left a bitter taste in my mouth.

"I understand. I'll make better choices from now on," I replied, my voice determined.

Cryo nodded, the glow of his form pulsating gently. "Good. Use this training area wisely. You have potential, Landon, but you need to unlock it yourself. Train, learn, and become stronger. The challenges ahead will not wait for you."

With those words, Cryo disappeared, leaving me alone in the training area. The surroundings were vast and filled with a serene energy. I took a deep breath, pushing aside the frustration and focusing on the task at hand.

Soliera, Dulse, and Zossie were all going to fight my battle right now because I was too weak. I needed to train, to grow stronger. The Endbringers were a threat, and I couldn't afford to remain weak. With determination in my heart, I stepped forward into the training area, ready to use every second I had.