But the true shock came at the Lake of Rage. The Red Gyarados was there — but next to it floated a Shiny Rayquaza , level 25, docile as a Magikarp. Ethan caught it with a Great Ball. The sky did not fall. The world just… hiccupped.

Ethan chose the Gible. The moment the ball clicked shut, the Pokédex buzzed: “Dragon/Ground type. Normally found in Sinnoh’s Wayward Cave.”

“Ah, Ethan,” Elm said, adjusting his glasses. “The delivery got… scrambled. Something about a ‘Randomizer anomaly’ near the Ruins of Alph. Your journey won’t be easy.”