"Can I take a look under its disguise?"
Kai frowned. This wild Mimikyu was really quite improper. Even though he already had a Mimikyu on his shoulder, this one had the audacity to make such a request right in front of its kind.
However, Kai noticed that the wild Mimikyu's gaze seemed a bit pitiful. With a sigh, he could only hope that his own Mimikyu wouldn't get too jealous. He bent down, picked up the wild Mimikyu, and looked under its cloak—
Some Trainers who had accidentally seen inside due to a gust of wind also suffered a painful death later that night.
But to Kai, this wasn't anything new. He knew very well what was underneath Mimikyu's disguise—he had seen it countless times before.
As the wild Mimikyu's true form stared at him in shock, Kai calmly reached out and poked it. He then made his assessment:
"It doesn't feel as good as my Mimikyu. My Mimikyu's body has a better texture."
Was it due to malnutrition? The wild Mimikyu's body felt thin and hollow, lacking the right firmness.
Upon hearing Kai's evaluation, the wild Mimikyu's true form twisted into an expression that was either humiliation or something else entirely. Suddenly, a hard object fell from beneath its cloak and struck Kai on the nose.
Kai winced, instinctively covering his nose as he let out a pained grunt.
That hit nearly broke his nose!
Once he recovered and opened his eyes, he was surprised to find that the wild Mimikyu had disappeared.
When he saw that the door behind him—one he had personally closed upon entering—was now wide open, he sighed in understanding.
"So it ran off in anger? I think I hurt its pride… If I get the chance to meet it again, I should probably apologize."
With another sigh, Kai glanced down at his palm, where the object that had struck his nose was now resting.
In his right hand lay a crystal, its color nearly identical to Mimikyu. Black markings ran across its surface, resembling Mimikyu's own patterns.
"This is… Mimikium Z!?"
Kai's exclamation caught the attention of both Growlithe and Mimikyu. They turned toward him, their expressions somewhat puzzled.
Why had Kai been talking to thin air just now? And why had he been moving his hands around so much?
---
Kukui, who had been sitting by the campfire recovering, folded his arms in thought. "So it was a Ghost-type Pokémon messing with you, huh? Now that you mention it, I did see a few Ghost-types floating out of the abandoned Thrifty Megamart. Looked like a bunch of Gastly and Misdreavus."
"Did you happen to see a wild Mimikyu? I ran into one in the supermarket's storage room, but it seemed to have left afterward." Kai held up the Mimikium Z, showing it to Kukui. "It even left me this."
Kukui leaned in closer to examine the crystal under the firelight. After a moment, his eyes widened.
"This is Mimikium Z!?"
Kai nodded in confirmation.
Kukui rubbed his chin, deep in thought. "A wild Mimikyu, huh? I don't think I saw one."
Kai paused mid-pet as he scratched Growlithe behind the ears. He could only accept Kukui's words with a resigned sigh.
"But…" Kukui suddenly spoke again, his expression turning serious. "You said you encountered the wild Mimikyu in the supermarket's storage room?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
"Well… the Thrifty Megamart's storage rooms were always built separately on the side of the building. Look over there."
Kukui pointed to the left. There, standing in clear view, was the half-collapsed warehouse with a sign that unmistakably read Storage Room.
For a moment, the two men locked eyes. In each other's gaze, they saw the same grave realization.
A moment later, Kai and Kukui once again stood inside the ruins of the Thrifty Megamart, staring dumbfounded at a wall—one that had no door at all.
Kai couldn't believe his eyes. "But there was a door here when I came in just now!"
Kukui sucked in a sharp breath, his expression turning serious. "This place isn't safe. We need to leave—now!"
---
Kai and Kukui dragged a drowsy Nanu out of his warm bed, forcing him to wake up. After making sure Nanu completed his morning routine, the two took turns explaining everything that had happened the night before.
As Nanu listened, casually crossing one leg over the other, his expression grew more and more serious. By the end, he gave them a grim conclusion:
"Sounds like you ran into a ghost. You're lucky you made it back alive."
Kukui, still shaken from the experience, grabbed Nanu by the collar and shook him furiously. "How can you say that with a straight face?! Where's your conscience?!"
Unlike Kukui, who was still rattled, Kai had already calmed down. He had long known that ghosts were real in the Pokémon world, and after a night of reflection, the pieces of the mystery were starting to fall into place.
Nanu raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright! My bad! Now let go of me, will you?"
Kai patted Kukui on the shoulder, prompting him to release Nanu.
Nanu adjusted his collar and, with a sigh, pulled a bracelet with a groove in its center from his pocket. "I wasn't planning to give this away, but… since I nearly got you two killed, I suppose it's only fair. This Z-Ring is yours, Kai. That work for you, Kukui?"
Kukui lowered his head slightly, speaking in a quiet voice. "And what about Tapu Bulu?"
Nanu waved dismissively. "Go ahead, go look for it. Do whatever you want."
Kai accepted the Z-Ring with a strange expression. With this and the Mimikium Z, he had already gathered a second special system of power—far more easily than he had expected.
After toying with the Z-Ring for a moment, Kai asked curiously, "So, what was your original plan for a gift, Nanu?"
At this, Nanu grinned mischievously. "Why, an autographed photo of Ula'ula Island's finest officer—me, of course! That, or your pick of an Alolan Meowth from the Ula'ula police station!"
Kai & Kukui: "…"
They swore then and there—they would never accept another request from Nanu again!
Journey to the Ruins of Abundance
To reach the Ruins of Abundance, Kai and Kukui first needed to pass through Tapu Village, then navigate the Haina Desert, a labyrinth of ever-shifting sandstorms, before finally arriving at the domain of Tapu Bulu, the island's guardian deity.
"If I can finish my trial early, I'd love to visit Mount Lanakila. I bet Alolan Vulpix are super fluffy."
As they passed through Tapu Village, Kai glanced at the towering snow-capped mountain in the distance—Mount Lanakila, the highest peak in the Alola region and the future site of the Pokémon League Kukui planned to establish.
Kukui nodded with a smile. "If that's the case, I'll make sure you get the best guide for the climb. Alolan Vulpix and Ninetales are fascinating Pokémon—their typing is completely different from those in Kanto! Here, they're Ice- and Fairy-type."
Navigating the Haina Desert alone could take several times longer, but with an experienced guide like Kukui leading the way, the two managed to traverse the storm-ridden sands by that afternoon. As they pressed forward, the outline of the Ruins of Abundance gradually came into view.
However, just as they were about to proceed, an enormous rock wall blocked their path.
Kukui finally spoke. "We need to climb. Once we scale this wall, we'll be able to see the ruins."
Kai nodded and immediately reached for a Poké Ball. Without hesitation, he released Dragonite, intending to fly straight to the top.
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