“This looks… straight out of a horror game…” John noted as he looked at the entrance of a Mystery Dungeon in front of him.

“No kidding dude…” Taro agreed. “It’s like one of those human games that I saw on the internet… like… Residency something?”

John looked at him. “You mean Resident Evil?”

“Yeah, that’s the one! Scared the shit out of me…” The Togedemaru said as he sighed in helplessness. “That game is so scary for no reason…”

John rolled his eyes. “Can probably guess which one…”

“It is no time for useless chat.” Popo interrupted. “We must remind you of what is at stake once we enter this dungeon.” Nana continued. They were standing in front of a massive gray door that led to the only dungeon in the Distortion World, the Hollow Forest. “We should also tell more of what we know about Glitch Pokémon.” “They act less savage than normal dungeon Pokémon.” “But still savage nonetheless.” “From what we have seen, some do not attack on sight while others do.” “They are capable of speech, but only incoherent mumblings.” “Do not be fooled by some appearances that some of them take, they can be deceiving.”

Claire put a paw on her mouth. “So… what do we do once we see them?”

The mice turned their heads to the Vulpix simultaneously. “If one is weak, we annihilate them. If one is strong, we hope and pray that we manage to escape with our lives.”

The Pokémon shuddered before the Tandemaus turned around and started heading into the door. “Wait!” Claire called out, making the pair of mice turn to the nervous Vulpix. “Since we’re about to enter a Mystery Dungeon… how about we use a team name?”

Amy turned to the Vulpix while tilting her head. “Seriously Claire? Can’t we just go in without the team name?”

“Nope! We need to decide on a team name! It’s basically rule number one when exploring a dungeon in a group.”

Taro scratched the side of his head. “When was that a thing?”

Claire put a paw forward. “It doesn’t matter! What’s our team name gonna be?”

John sighed, knowing that there was no convincing the fire fox out of this. He decided to go along with it, because why not? “Alright…” John decided for a bit, not putting a lot of effort into it. “How about… Team uh… Team Net? Cause like, you know… we’re trying to solve the mystery of the internet and all…” John looked around at the silent Pokémon before rubbing the back of his head. “Just thought that it’d fit or something…”

When Amy was about to speak, Claire spoke. “That’s an amazing name, John!” She turned to the other Pokémon. “Alright Team Net, let’s win over this dungeon for good!”

Taro sighed and looked aside, knowing he had a cool name to give the team. “Of course, we don’t have a say in this…”

“Now that the distraction is over.” Nana called their attention. “Let us enter…” Popo continued before they spoke together. “The Hollow Forest!”

With that, the recently formed Team Net passed through the gate and entered the Hollow Forest. After the blinding light that covered their vision, once the team entered the dungeon, disappeared, they looked around and found themselves in a really eerie environment. Linear paths, that all mystery dungeons had, were covered with gray grass, broken twigs, and withered leaves. Dead trees surrounded the linear paths, giving it more of a creepy and somber atmosphere of a dead land. Along with the horror game scenario, there were some blue crystals coming out of the ground in some parts. It seemed that there were also some floating islands that were also part of the dungeon since those also had linear paths like the dungeon.

The group was, to no one’s surprise, overwhelmed and a bit nervous about continuing this (except Popo and Nana, who were going through with this with no hesitation). As they continued looking around the place, dread kept building up inside them, with the fear of the unknown. Who knows what could be lurking around there besides the weird Pokémon? John just deeply inhaled and exhaled, mentally and physically preparing himself for the horrors he was about to face. “Alright John, you can do this…” He muttered to himself. “You’ve trained for this, you know how to defend yourself, and you probably can fend off another kind of Pokémon you definitely know nothing about…”

The Vulpix heard it, obviously because John was on her head, and reassured the small Jotlik with a determined look. “Don’t worry, John. Everything’s gonna be alright, I’m gonna protect you, no matter what.”

John smiled behind his fuzz after he heard it, but stayed in silence as he continued checking his surroundings.

Taro looked around. “This looks so creepy yet so cool…”

“Straight out of a horror game for real…” John stated, Taro nodding in agreement.

Amy grimaced. “It could be worse… right? I mean… at least there’s air here and the floor isn’t made out of anything hazardous.”

The Togedemaru sighed. “I know, it’s just that… I feel like something that isn’t actually a Pokémon would jump at me at any time…”

Popo and Nana instantly turned to the spiky rodent. “Oh, because it will happen.” They leaned closer to him as they spoke. “Once you are cornered, alone, with no one to help you, no one to hear your screams. It would be the perfect opportunity for the entity to pounce, and your soul would be lost forever right at that moment.” That left Taro shaking in fear, whimpers escaping out of his mouth. The Tandemaus leaned back and looked away from the other rodent. “Anyways, we have to move.” “We cannot stay in the same place the entire time.” “Or else said entity shall come for us. Let us move.”

The party nodded and they started walking aimlessly, exploring the narrow paths of the dungeon. It seemed that the dungeon still held random items laying on the ground like other mystery dungeons. They found, surprisingly, some berries laying on the ground along with some blue orbs with some images engraved in them, which made John a bit confused about what they were for.

“What are those balls for?” John asked as he looked at an orb with some Zs along with some circles drawn on it.

“Oh, those are called orbs.” Claire explained. “They’re items that can do certain stuff depending on the orbs you’re using.” She pointed at the orb that John saw. “That one is a slumber orb, it puts everyone around the user who activated it to sleep.”

John tilted his head. “Really? Isn’t it kinda bad since it would hit your own teammates?”

Amy picked up the orb with her mouth and put it in Claire’s bag before responding. “Well, no need to worry about that since the orb knows how to differentiate enemies from allies… for some reason.” She said looking away in thought before she came up with a theory. “Maybe it has to do with the Pokémon that activates it, but that’s just speculation.”

“I see… any useful ones that we should keep an eye for?” The Joltik asked as he started to look around for more of those orbs.

“Oh! An escape orb is a really good one.” Taro said as he looked at John. “If things go south pretty quickly, you can activate it to leave the dungeon entirely along with the rest of the team.” The spiky rodent explained as he looked around for other items. At the corner of the wide rectangular area they were, he found what looked to be a wand. “Oh, nice! A wand!” He beamed as he went to get it. However, he suddenly stopped once he stepped on something. The floor had revealed its disguise, revealing some kind of pressure plate that, once stepped on, spun Taro like a top. “Wooooahh!?”

The other members from Team Net looked in the Togedemaru’s direction and flinched in surprise. “Taro!” Claire, John, and Amy shouted as they ran to him along with Popo and Nana.

Taro stopped spinning and was left with a blurry and distorted vision as he limped on the ground, trying to reach the others. “Ugh… why does everything still spin… and why are there multiple of you guys…?” In the spiky rodent’s eyes, he saw multiple copies of Team Net along with multiple sleek black and red distorted figures behind them. He asked dizzily. “Who’s… the new guys…?”

Popo and Nana walked up to him and slapped him on the cheek, making the Togedemaru squeak, and a small spark came out of his cheek. “Snap out of it.” “You shall be useless if you are incapacitated by a mere dizzy spell.”

“Ah, sorry…” Taro said as his vision readjusted, trying to maintain his balance to not fall. “I just saw a useful item and I thought that I should…” As his vision got better, and the multiple clones of his friends disappeared, he saw that a certain figure of the creature behind them wasn’t disappearing. Instead once his vision focused again, he noticed that the creature behind them was a Zoroark… however he noticed a lot of things wrong. The hair of the Pokémon looked like physical static, along with their eyes. The arms were a bit lankier than usual, the claws looked longer than the usual Zoroark claws. Their head was visibly shaking, and some of their limbs seemed to phase in and out of existence with some glitchy aura surrounding them. “... get…?”

John tilted his head. “Something wrong, dude?”

“U-uh... guys… am I the only one seeing it or… is someone behind you?”

The others turned around and saw the glitchy Zoroark. John screamed as the other flinched and stepped back. “What the fuck!?”

The Tandemaus got in front of them and, suddenly, claws made from a dark aura appeared in each mice’s hand. They pointed the claws towards the glitched-out Zoroark. “We do not fear you.” “Instead, you should fear us.” “Understood?”

The Glitch Pokémon just stared with an unstable look. Their glitchy aura changed the atmosphere around them a little. “ Ohajasu in 82-0 te q2y res 38sj@# ting dhw&-”

Before they could say anything further, they suddenly vanished with some static effects left behind. Team Net stayed silent for a moment, a cold shiver running down their bodies. The Tandemaus turned to them and the claw of darkness disappeared. “We were lucky.” “Next time do not stand still and watch.”

John stuttered, trying to process everything he had just seen. “I- fucking what!?” He threw his nubs in the air. “How else are we supposed to act towards something like THAT? Who knows what stuff it could do!”

“As we mentioned before.” “Appearances can be deceiving.” “They mean nothing over power.”

Claire sighed and asked. “But what would happen if we touched it?” She looked aside. “It looked really unstable…”

“There is no need to fret.” “Nothing happens if you make physical contact with a Glitch Pokémon.” “However, if you get killed by one…” “It shall transfer glitch energy directly into your body and…” They pointed at them. “You become one of them as well.”

Amy shied away. “I’m starting to get second thoughts about this…”

Taro stood beside Amy and put a paw on her back, thankfully her uniform prevented Taro’s paws from being skewered. “There’s no turning back now Amy… but don’t worry, I’ll protect you!” He said with a proud smile.

The grass hedgehog just stared at him with an unamused face before responding. “I doubt it…”

Taro sighed defeatedly. “Can’t you give me a slight bit of credit here?”

John butted in. “Alright, at least we have a clear objective when we find one of those glitchy guys. Just don’t die, that’s the usual for when fighting dungeon Pokémons, right?”

Claire nodded. “Yep. So we just gotta give it our all!” She looked back at the others. “Ain’t that right, guys?”

Taro and Amy nodded. Yes, they were mentally shitting themselves from being in this horror game situation, but they were going through with this no matter what kind of monsters reside in this dungeon.

Team Net continued exploring the first floor of the dungeon, finding some other items that were useful and eating some food to quell their hunger for a small while. It wasn’t long before they, unfortunately, found another Glitch Pokémon. To make it even worse for the team, it was standing close to the stairs that led to the next floor.

The Pokémon itself was a Lucario, facing away from them as its head twitched as it had its whole body limped. Its aura tassels were covered with some kind of black static along with its tail. It was currently mumbling other incoherent words as they got to hear it better. “OJaso0q0aklka%#*TAsUketeOnsownskiçuaohiUHGUSWOB*01Uo9384@#&”

The Tandemaus took the opportunity to summon their claws of darkness again and motioned for the rest of the team to follow them as they got close to the Glitch Pokémon. Suddenly, when they got close to it, it started making a distorted chuckle before it transformed into a laugh as it clutched its head. Suddenly its whole body was enveloped by black glitch particles. Team Net started taking steps back as the mass of particles grew taller and taller. “What’s happening!?” John asked, terrified.

Popo and Nana stood their ground and looked back at the quartet. “It is changing!” “Stay on your guard!” They looked back at the morphing glitch, pointing a claw at it. “The ordeal has begun!”

From the darkness of the particles, a yellow glow could be seen coming from it. Then, the black glitch particles disappeared for the most part, revealing the Lucario’s new body. The fur was a mix of yellow and white, their limbs were so stretched, leaving it the size of eight feet tall. Its spikes were now a black coloration, having double spikes on each claw, and the tips were also changed into black along with getting bigger and thicker. Its mouth was now full of sharp blue teeth, the eyes also changing to blue but having yellow pupils. The Glitch Pokémon laughed maniacally as it lunged at Team Net.

“Dodge!” John shouted and everyone did so, dodging a claw swipe that lifted dust off the ground. The Joltik hopped off Claire’s head and summoned an Electro Whip from his mouth, holding, managing to catch the wrist of the tall monster and hold it in place. “Cwaire!” He called out a little muffled.

Claire steeled herself and summoned three purple fireballs around her, the Will-O-Wisp going directly towards the distorted Lucario and making contact with it. John released his electric silk strand and backed away a little. Meanwhile, the Tandemaus had separated and come from different directions towards the monster, each with a Shadow Claw of their own. They closed in, slashing each leg of the monster before joining hands together and backing away while it roared.

The glitched out Lucario tried to slam a claw on them, however, it made contact with a spiky ball that had rolled like a wheel and jumped to block the attack. Since Taro’s steel spikes were much harder, he was able to come out on top, pushing the claw away. The Togedemaru grinned, the thrill of the clash pushing the fear away from the battle. “Heh, they aren’t too bad after-”

Suddenly, the glitchy monster tore the electric web away that was paralyzing his other claw and hit Taro with his spikes, jabbing him in his side and launching him to the ground a bit away. “Taro!” Claire shouted.

Amy shouted back while running to the Togedemaru. “Don’t worry, I’ll go treat his wounds, you guys can still keep him busy!”

“Alright!” John said, taking a calming sigh before looking at the glitchy monster, who was going after him. John shrieked before using his Grappling Silk to slingshot himself onto a blue crystal that was close to them, managing to escape another slam. But once he looked back at the glitchy creature, black static energy was building up on its claws. John knew from a lot of anime that this was a bad thing, so instinctively, he jumped away from the crystal, avoiding two energy slashes projectiles of black energy that shattered the glowing rock. However, instead of the pieces on the ground, they lazily floated around, like there was no gravity around them. The Joltik landed on the ground, his small heart beating fast. “That was close…”

The beast Lucario said more incoherent speech before roaring, lunging at John. However, it was stopped by a pair of twin mice materializing two floating jaws of sharp teeth, resembling their mouth, in front of them. They managed to hit the Crunch, biting down on the creature’s side.

The glitched monster screeched and tried to slash the Tandemaus off of it, however, Popo and Nana avoided the slash by vanishing in the shadows and reappearing behind Claire, who ran at it and shot a point-blank fireball at its face.

The creature staggered back as its head twitched, along with the burns on its glitchy body started to take effect. It roared once again, but before it could do anything else, a shout from a female voice called out to it. “Incoming!” It looked in the direction of the grass hedgehog, who had a spinning ball beside her, charging speed from it and releasing some sparks of electricity.

Taro then spin-dashed his way towards the glitched Lucario, covering his body with an electrical coat. With all that speed he built up, he jumped and popped his spikes out, making contact with the white and blue beast. The force of the hit was enough to lift some dust from the ground and also launch the eight feet tall Pokémon backwards, paralyzed and burned as the static particles became a bit more unstable.

Popo and Nana looked at Team Net. “We have them immobilized for now!” “Let us move while we can!”

The team nodded and made a mad dash towards the stairs that for some reason… led upwards and had no other floor above? John already saw this as a bit weird but decided not to think much about it. He slingshotted towards the stairs, jumping on Claire’s head once she eventually got there. Once they reached the top of the stairs, their vision blackened for a moment before returning to normal, now on a new floor… but a bit sideways.

After managing to catch her breath, Claire said while panting a little. “We… we did it… we beat that thing…”

John looked aside. “W-well… we didn’t BEAT it… more like, just worn it down…”

Taro panted. “Oh, Arceus… that was like… the coolest thing I’ve ever done… but at the same time, the most stressful thing I’ve ever done…”

Claire looked at Taro. “Oh right! Taro, are you alright? That jab you received looked like it hurt…”

Taro looked at Claire and grinned. “Don’t worry, I could’ve received way worse.” He then looked at Amy with a smile. “But thankfully, Amy is a great healer!”

The shaymin blushed and looked away. “C’mon… all I did was shove a berry in his mouth and used Aromatherapy to ease the pain a little…”

Claire smiled. “Well, that’s at least something in my books!”

The Joltik suddenly groaned. “Ugh… how much more do we have to endure… that was, like, the first enemy we fought here…”

Popo and Nana took a step towards them. “The edge of the realm is only 3 floors away.” “We can get there faster if we avoid any unnecessary battles.” “Let us not waste any more time.” “We want to be there as soon as possible.”

John nodded along with the others. “Alright then.”

Team Net continued exploring the floor, moving carefully while paying more attention to their surroundings. The atmosphere of this floor was more tense than the last one, since they knew the capabilities of the Glitch Pokémon now, and were more on edge on the possibility of encountering another powerful one.

There were more enemies on this floor, however, they didn’t look as dangerous as the other one they fought before. Like all the Glitch Pokémon, these ones had some glitchy aura around them and some parts of their bodies were covered in static. They saw an Eevee with half a tail covered in static along with ears. A Muk that was literally just made of physical static. A Lycanroc didn’t look like there were any parts of the body covered in static, however, there were white X marks all over its body, and even one of its eyes was replaced with the same mark. And a Furret that had extra glitchy limbs, almost looking like a mammalian centipede.

John cringed once he saw the Furret and looked away from the ungodly sight. “Ugh... some of these guys look like abominations that came from some sort of haunted game or some shit…”

Taro nodded. “It feels like I’m inside a horror movie right now…”

Claire sighed. “At least it’s not fully a horror movie yet. From what I remember, most horror movies have skeletons in them, right?”

As she said that, the rattle of bones could be heard behind them. They turned around and saw a really weird sight. They saw two skeletons of Pokémon, limping with glitch energy surrounding their bodies. One of the skeletons looked like a Pokémon that had scythe arms, stood on two legs, and looked like some kind of bug. The other skeleton looked like a pterodactyl that couldn’t fly anymore probably because it was just bones now. They were currently mumbling incoherent speech as they got close to them.

John flinched and shouted quietly. “You just had to say it, didn’t you!?”

The fire fox replied in a low voice. “Hey! I didn’t know these guys could just be skeletons as well!”

The Tandemaus took a step towards the two Glitch Pokémon. “It does not matter at the moment.” “It has spotted us.” “Therefore…” They showed their sharp teeth and formed their claws of darkness. “We must incapacitate them.”

The Joltik sighed and jumped out of Claire’s head, readying himself along with the rest of the team for another battle. Suddenly, the same glitched-out Zoroark from before appeared beside Team Net, making them scream and jump away from it. It just stared at them for a moment before looking at the two skeleton Pokémon. Its head shook violently and he suddenly used static to disappear and reappear behind them. It grabbed both skeleton Pokémon with its recently formed static arms, randomly teleporting with them all around Team Net before disappearing completely from their sight.

The quartet was left confused about what the hell had just happened, staring in silence as they tried to process these recent events. Amy broke the silence first. “... what in the living heaven just happened?”

Claire felt her muscles relax as she released a sigh. “How should I know? None of this place makes sense whatsoever…”

John groaned as he rubbed the top of his head. “Can agree with you on this one… and this is like, what, only the second floor?”

Nana and Popo crossed their arms. “Just know that it could be far worse than this.” “Just be glad we got some indirect help in this scenario.”

Taro put a paw on his chin, looking thoughtful. “But why did it help us? What’s that guy’s goal? Like, it could’ve killed us swiftly by catching us by surprise, but it didn’t.”

“Ugh, we’re gonna get nowhere with this.” John said before jumping on Claire’s head. “Let’s just pick up the pace. The sooner we get to the end of this nightmarish place, the better.”

The rest of Team Net nodded, and with that, they resumed the exploration of the floor, managing to find the stairs not too long after. Fortunately, no strong enemies were guarding the stairs this time. If only that could happen for the rest of the floors…

The experience on the third floor was… alright, even if being upside down was awfully disorienting, but they managed to hold their puke and got over it pretty quickly. The team managed to stay stealthy all the way to the stairs since there were fewer enemies on that floor. They even took a small break to check their items and also eat some food to replenish their strength.

However, the atmosphere sometimes just left them on edge every time they weren’t hearing any sort of sound. So they had to rely on some small talk here and there. “So… Popo and Nana?” Claire asked and the Tandemaus turned to them. “How uh… how are you liking the experience so far?”

“It has been truly a great experience.” “We have thought of coming here to see the Glitch Pokémon for ourselves.” They started tilting their heads as they spoke. “After all, their souls would provide a great source of sacrifices along with their unstable vessels.”

Claire looked aside. “Oh…” She sheepishly smiled. “Indeed, I- uh… yeah, I totally agree with you…!”

And that’s when the Vulpix decided it would be best to just stop the small talk and let the silence creep in a little. Well, at least they found the stairs right after.

The fourth floor also went almost the same as the third floor, unfortunately, they had to fight some enemies, without the help of that glitchy Zoroark this time. They had to fight a Magneton that looked half melted and had their eyes be replaced with static, a Jigglypuff that was crying static who had the ability to teleport with a glitch, and the toughest being a Feraligatr with no eyes and X marks all over its body. At least these enemies weren’t as bad as the first one they fought, the Feraligatr was literally just blind, so they could get around it easily.

With that… Team Net reached the fifth floor.

“We have reached the fifth floor.” Popo announced. “This is where this dungeon differs from others.” Nana continued as they looked back at the quartet. “As the Great One told.” “The fifth floor of this dungeon splits off in multiple paths, connected through the entirety of the Distortion Realm.” “To reach the edge, we must go to the right path of the floor.”

John tilted his head. “Wait a second, I thought that every mystery dungeon constantly changed every time someone entered. How would you know the right path is… you know, right?”

The Tandemaus turned their head to the Joltik. “Were you not paying attention, friend?” “We said that this is the part where the dungeon differs from the others.” “Not only does it provide shortcuts to the entirety of the realm…” “It also does not change in the slightest.”

“O-oh…” John looked away. “I see…”

Amy took a step forward and asked for confirmation. “So basically… we keep going right and we’re out?”

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The mice nodded. “Indeed.” “We are close to the end.” “However, that does not mean we can lower our guard here.” “The Glitch Pokémon also have access to this floor.”

Taro sighed, looking down. “Just when I thought I could actually relax…”

“Well, a few more of these monsters can’t hurt.” Claire said while snorting some flames from her snout. “No matter what, we’ll face them together! Ain’t that right guys?” She asked with a confident smile and the rest of Team Net replied with a “Yes!” as they nodded their heads. They were so close, the human world was just within their grasp now, just one more push and they were out of there completely!

They started sprinting towards the right path, which looked like a really long forest trail, the kind that could be seen in liminal spaces and some horror movies. After a couple of minutes of just sprinting, they could see actual light at the end of the dungeon, surrounded by dead trees like some kind of gate. John shouted. “There it is!”

“Freakin’ finally!” Taro said before putting more energy into his jog. “Can’t wait to get out of this place-”

Before they could go any further, a warp in reality that resembled static appeared in front of them, revealing the glitched-out Zoroark. Team Net stopped in their tracks, tensing up after getting into a staredown with the Glitch Pokémon. John thought in panic. ‘NonononoNO! What the hell is this guy doing here!?’

Suddenly, the Zoroark’s belly turned into static, and from it, came what looked like the head of a being with some of its features being obscured by glitch particles, making the glitchy creature’s arm limp. The head was black and white colored, with spikes coming out of the sides and two horns coming from the top of it. It had multiple eyes, all with red sparkling pupils inside them, along with a wide mouth with sharp teeth. Strangely enough, the head spoke with some coherent glitchy speech. “̵̼̯̒̃M̴͍̽̒y̶̝̋̒,̶̫́͜ ̶̜̔m̶̦̀̈ͅ-̸̣̜̍̈́m̴̢̙͐-̴̺̑̊m̷̧̖̔y̷̩̪̅̆-̵̞̑y̶̧͙̓̄.̸̢͈̌͠ ̶̳̟͆̓I̶̠͘n̶͚̊-̵̗͖̒̚i̵͙̇̃ǹ̷̦̣t̵̳̙̄̈́e̴͚̻̒ṙ̵̢̦ę̷̱̍s̶͙̝͛̄t̴̠̞͌ì̵̦͈n̸̨͕͝g̵̯̾̓ ̶͖̳̈́ò̵̻̜̚n̵̝̞̒̒e̶̠͋͝ś̸̪̏ ̶̫͈́w̶̛̰̝̉-̴̨͔̊w̴̲̉͆-̸̘̔͘w̷̡͍̔̇é̸̺̬̋ ̸̲͑͝h̴̖̋a̷̠̋͛-̸͕̳̈́̏h̴̨̤̊̕a̷͉̎v̵̡͠ḙ̵̳͠ ̴̟͊̈́h̷̭͘e̵̠̓r̴̻͐͂ȅ̵͙̜͝…̷̨̈́͘”̷͇̀͋

"What the hell!?” John blurted out before looking to the Tandemaus. “I thought you said these things can’t speak!”

The mice nonchalantly put their hands over their mouths in thought. “There were no records of a Glitch Pokémon capable of speech.” “This one must have slipped through the great awareness of the Great One.”

“HUH!?” Team Net blurted out.

“̴̧͠N̵̛͖-̶͇̒ṇ̷̓-̶̄ͅn̷͚̋-̴̥͝n̴̲̕ḯ̷̗c̵͇͗é̸̘ ̸͇̀m̷͍̔ė̸̜ë̸̙́-̸̹̋e̶̫̿ė̴͚e̶̪͌t̸̘̑î̶͇ň̷̼g̸̤͋ ̵͕͠y̷͔͊ó̶̹ū̷̧ ̴̨̈́f̸͓́ī̸̢v̶͍̊e̶̙͗.̴͎͝”̷ The glitch being said.“̷͓͂W̴͔͗-̸̟̃w̸͇̐ë̷͙́-̶̮̏w̶̗͛e̵̟͘ ̴̺̊c̸̛̗a̶̹͗ĺ̷̦l̷͐͜ ̷͖̇o̶̡̊-̵̭͒o̷̥͑-̶̗̋o̶͈̓u̷͉̅ȓ̷̞s̴̛̟é̶͍l̸̬̕v̶͈͊e̴͐ͅs̵͙̿…̷̝̒ ̶̠̅M̸̺͐į̶̑s̶̟̆s̸̢̓i̵̞͑ng̶̙͗N̷̫̆o̶̡͘.̶͔͋ ̸̹̾Ọ̴̕-̸͘͜o̷̓͜n̵̙͒e̴͖̍ ̵̬̃ö̷̗́f̷̗͑ ̴̧̍A̷̦͆-̵͉͌A̴͘ͅ-̶̪̊A̵̗͐-̶̺̀A̸̯̔r̴̻̽c̶̘̈ẽ̵̦ủ̵̳s̸͊ͅ ̵̣̐m̸̹͝i̸̻͊s̶͉͆t̵͎͛a̸͠ͅk̷̺͌e̸͙̔s̴͓̅-̴̗̌e̶̘̍ş̵̍-̶͕̈ḙ̶̕s̶̯̔ ̸̙̈́t̵̳̄h̵̝͘a̶̙͌ț̷̈́ ̷̗͛ṭ̴͗ḧ̶̼́ȇ̶̻-̸̪͛ť̶͇h̷̼̃ë̵̥ỹ̵͙ ̴̯̚ḫ̴̇i̶̠͝d̵̝̍ ̸̯̑f̴̗̓r̵̝̓ó̸̪m̷̢͊ ̴̟̈́ţ̵̔h̴̝̕ê̷̯ ̸̖͝w̶̦͋ó̴̰ṙ̵̘l̴̖̅d̶̡̏ ̴̨͗a̵̞͐l̵̝͌o̶̗͝0̸̜͊O̴̲̔O̶̔͜Ỏ̸̭n̵͎̽g̶̪͆ ̴̘́w̷̘̾ǐ̴͓ẗ̸͔h̵̙͂ ̷͕̌o̸͖͒t̴̨́h̷̠̉e̴̢͊r̸̥̅ ̵͙̈m̵̛͇i̸̢̐s̵̯͗t̷̨̓a̴̺̐k̵̦͐e̵̹̾s̷͓̑ ̵̰̈́l̴̟̋i̶͍͒k̸̮͝ẻ̷̝ ̷̙͗m̷̪̃e̶̲̚-̶̩͒ẻ̴̗-̴͉̓m̷̹̆e̸̦̋.̶͇͗”̷̨̊ Suddenly, a giant monochrome claw came out of the Zoroark’s belly as well, pointing behind Team Net. “̴̹̾T̶̗͋h̶̛͜e̸̻̋ ̶͔͠o̴̮̎n̶̹͊ë̷̯́s̸̹̊-̴̞͌e̴̺̎s̴̞̅-̶̙͝e̸̠̓s̷̥͝ ̵̧͌ŷ̵̭ö̵̰u̷͚͂ ̸̼̉s̶̈́ͅa̴̱̔w̴̖̾ ̵͇́a̷͖͐n̷̫̄-̵̟͝ȁ̴̟ñ̸͉d̴̳́ ̷͓̃f̶͎̉ǒ̴͇ů̴̻g̴͓̚h̵͈͒t̸̞͆ ̵̩̀ă̶̙r̸̯̔e̶͈̍ ̶̮̕t̷̝͂h̸̥̃ḙ̵̂ ̷͇̓s̸͔̕-̷̬̃ś̴̬ã̴̤m̸̞̊e̴̛͔ ̷͎͋a̷̡͆s̴̛̺-̴̡̈́à̷̧s̷̜̈ ̸̩̚m̸̈́͜ḙ̶͘…̸̰̎ ̶̫̈́ḃ̵̞u̵̙͋t̶̼̊ ̵̫̽ẅ̸͓e̸̊͜-̸̡͠w̸̪̆é̸̫ ̸̝͐a̷͕͑r̷̠̃e̵̦͝ ̸̮̾t̸̓͜ĥ̶̻ę̴̓ ̷̰̉o̴͖͂ȑ̵͉i̸̫͑g̴̲͐ḭ̷̑ṅ̵͜a̵̧͝ḽ̴̀.̶̗̐”̶͚̊

Claire took a careful step forward and asked. “Wait… you’re… the origins of every Glitch Pokémon then?”

“̷̞̈́Y̷̧̓ō̶͜-̴̱͒y̵̥͝o̵̘͊u̷͚͠’̶̬͠r̷̗͠e̵̮͒ ̷̊ͅc̷͇̾o̵͓̓r̴͚̈́r̸̬͒e̶̝̐c̴̺̐t̷͔̉.̵͕͛ ̵̤́Ẅ̴̮́-̸̠͊w̵̡̄é̴͚’̴͓̉r̸̯͠e̶̻̊ ̴̡̃t̸̳͛h̸̜̑e̷̮̒ ̸̰́ć̵̙á̸̦u̸͍͂ṡ̵͖ë̶̲ ̷̺̌o̵͇̓f̷̺̓ ̶̗͆e̷͇͠-̸͖̑e̴̲͝-̵̐͜ẹ̵́v̷̡̇e̶̯͠-̵̕ͅe̶̯̓r̷̖̈-̴̮͆è̴̦r̵̨̈́y̷̺̆ ̸̣̒G̵͍͑l̷̙̄ḯ̸͓ṭ̸̈c̵̭̕ḥ̵̒ ̸̤͠P̷̻̿ọ̸̆k̵͇̈́é̵̝̎m̴̤̓o̸͕̐n̸̅ͅ ̸̪̓ṯ̴̕o̵̿͜ ̴̰̇e̶͘ͅ-̶̩͆é̷̟x̷̝̀ĩ̴̼s̵̘̋t̶̗͒.̵̯͂ ̷̣͑W̴̡͛-̸̣́w̶̻̓e̵͕͠ ̸̙́w̵̨̒a̷̡̛ñ̸͈-̵͔̉w̷̠̉a̷̧͑n̸̢͆ť̵͜ë̶͓d̵͠ͅ ̵̜̓t̸̲̂ò̶̜ ̴̞̽c̵̲̉r̵̥͐e̷̝̿a̸͕̔t̴̩̉e̷̺̊ ̸̢̓a̷͈̓n̶̪͛ ̵̟̈ȃ̷̱r̵̦̓ḿ̶̟y̶̠͑-̶̦͐m̸̖̐ỳ̵̡ ̸̜̋t̷̡̛o̵̦̓ ̷͈̌e̶̲͠s̵͔̐-̶̤͌ē̶͚s̷̜͋c̵̛̩a̶͇̽p̵̠̓e̶̗͌ ̷̫̀ţ̷̎h̶͌ͅi̵̭̓s̴̩̈ ̷̠͐p̵̦̈l̵̩̃a̶̰͊c̵̘̓ë̶͕ ̵͚͝ả̶͙-̴̧̈́a̷͕͑ǹ̶͙ḓ̴̊ ̴̭̋f̷̞͐ĭ̴͙n̸̰͂d̸̛͚ ̵̲̕p̶͕͋-̶̛̟p̷̹̈́e̸͕͛ą̵̊c̶̘̉ę̵̈́ ̷̘̏ỉ̷̥n̸̦̋ ̶̬̑t̵̼̓h̴͌ͅ-̷̟̾t̸͈̓ḧ̵͚́-̶̲̈́t̷̘̒h̷͔͊ė̷̢ ̸̯͊n̵͋͜o̶̢̍r̷͚̃m̷͖̀ḁ̸̏l̴̼̈́ ̴͘͜w̵̱͠ọ̸͛r̷͔͠l̶͉̽d̶͉͆,̶̱͆ ̴͙̌h̴̰̎ǒ̴̙w̸̰͒é̸̖v̴̥̀-̸͇͝e̵͎͑r̷̟͊-̸̩́ë̷̢r̴̰̾,̴̺͘ ̴͖̽t̸̲̎h̴̖́i̷̘͂s̷͈͝ ̵̯̋ṁ̶̥y̸͓̔s̶̱̆t̴̲̐ḙ̴̎r̵̻͋ý̵̞ ̶̩̐d̷͕̎u̵͙͒-̵̺̄d̶̺͒u̶̙͝n̸̼͂g̷̭̾e̴̖̋o̸̠͑n̸͕͠ ̷͕̌d̶̛̞i̴̠͘s̷̹͑r̷̩̆ụ̴͠p̸͕̾t̵̺̓s̵͖̐ ̷͂͜ṱ̶̚h̵̖͋-̵͇̍t̴͍̚h̸̪́e̶͑͜ ̴̱͝c̷̠̿o̶̭̔n̷̤̕t̶͓̐r̴̦̈́o̸̻͊l̶͇̒ ̶̯͝o̵͘ͅf̶̫̔ ̷͎̈́e̴̗̒v̵̪̈́e̵̺̊-̸̣̉v̴̗̉e̴͓̕r̴͔̎y̶̮̎ ̴̤̃m̴̤̒ì̶͉n̸͎̚ȋ̴̺o̸͚͋ṅ̸̞ ̵͔͗w̵̖̎e̵̠̓ ̶̼̄c̸̦̍r̵͙͌è̵̘a̷̭͘t̵̰͊ḙ̴̍d̴͙̊.̸̗̓ ̸͉̈W̵͑͜-̵͕̈́w̶͉̕e̸͍̔ ̸͓̀w̴̠̋ȍ̷͓u̴̟̕l̷̟̀d̶͕̓ ̶̗̌ẗ̵̝́e̵͜͝a̷̻͐r̶͕̊ ̵͈̽ò̶͍p̸̩̃ẹ̶̆n̸̡̛ ̸̤̆a̷̼̐ ̶̭̂p̸̠̄o̵̭͐r̸͙͛t̴̳̄a̷̦͛l̵̪̈́ ̸͉̈ṭ̵̈o̵͇̍ ̵̬̓ṫ̵̢h̴͔̃e̸͙͑ ̴̖́ȏ̸̹t̶̥̊h̷̲͒ẹ̸͋ȑ̵̺ ̵̬̉s̷̼͝í̵̺-̶͚͑s̶̝̋i̶͎̕d̶͇̅ę̴̚,̷̱̈́ ̴̟̒b̶͕̋-̷̝̐b̸͙̒ǘ̴͈t̴͑ͅ ̵͍̐t̶̹̓h̵̠̏e̷̡̒ ̵̛̞d̷͚͊ụ̶͠-̵͕͐d̸̤̚ȕ̶̬n̶̠͘g̶͙͑e̴͓̅ó̷̱ṅ̴̻ ̵̖̀p̸̳̈́r̵̻͂ȅ̵̯v̴̖̊-̵̬̂p̴̗̍r̶͖͋e̸͕̓v̵̪̔e̸͇̐n̷̢̆t̴̖̎s̷̛̠ ̶̥̂t̴̙̉h̸̝̎ȁ̵̰t̶̞͊.̵͖̄”̴̢̄ It let out a glitched sigh. “̷̞̉T̶̩͆h̷̤̒-̶͕̏t̸͙̽h̵̡̓e̶̙̔ ̸͔́f̴̦̔ḯ̵͕r̶͓͑ś̵̝t̸̢͊ ̷̜̑e̴͕͋ñ̶͜e̸͍͐m̵͖̽ỳ̵̘ ̴͓̅y̴̟̕o̴̗̊u̷͙͝ ̶̩̉f̴̲͂ǫ̵̿u̴̦̽ģ̴̀h̴͓͆ţ̸̀ ̴͔͊h̷̻͘e̶̠̿r̴͇̃e̴̮͋…̶̫̎ ̴̠̂ẇ̵̩ã̵̝ș̸̋ ̴̺̇o̷̪͛–̶̤̀o̸͚̽u̴̮͌r̸͙̚ ̸͈͌f̴̖͆i̸̥̇r̴̰̐s̵̳͌ṫ̴̨ ̶̞̋č̶͖r̴̾ͅ-̷̛̣c̷̟͌r̴̹͘e̵̹̎a̷͙͑ť̴͕i̴͉̽o̷̟͛n̶̺̆,̵̞͗ ̴̬̇à̷͈l̵͍͛t̷̩̔ĥ̵͎ǒ̷̯u̴̜͆g̵̼̈́h̶̡͒,̴̨́ ̴̛̗ẘ̶̬h̴̫̽è̶͈n̴̪̑ ̴̧͠ĭ̷̝t̸̡̃ ̷͉̿ṭ̷͝r̵̹̔ĭ̴̢ę̸̐d̶͂ͅ ̶̥̍ả̴͚t̴̼̓t̶͕͐a̶̪͝c̶̤͛ḱ̵̖ȉ̶͎ǹ̸̳ǵ̵̩ ̸̳̄ṳ̷̏-̶̬̌ủ̴͜-̷̝̈́u̴̗̍s̶̟̄,̵͚́ ̵̗̚w̴̭͝ė̷͓ ̴̺̍g̴̬͊a̶̙̾v̸͔̆e̴̘͋ ̵̣̈́ị̴̀-̷̬̀ī̶͓t̸̘͝ ̴͋ͅa̸̧̕n̶̻͐ ̸̡̒é̶͈x̷͍̾t̶̬͐r̶̤͝a̸̡͐ ̴͉̇p̷̝̋-̶̠̈p̸̗̒o̶̦̚w̶̭̅é̴̫ř̴̢ ̶̻͠f̶̢͌ǫ̶̚r̶̻͐ ̴̦͛ṳ̵̾s̴̡̆ ̵̠͐t̴̰̚ő̶̠ ̶̖̊t̷͆ͅa̴̍͜k̷͚̚ḛ̶͊ ̶̖͋c̸͖̐ơ̴̺n̴̘̾t̸̺̉r̵̤̿ŏ̸̗l̶̲͝ ̶̧̈́ō̷̮v̵͙͋é̷̥r̶̖̽ ̶̬̀i̶̙̓t̷̠̊…̷̕ͅ”̵͉͋ It looked aside, rather annoyed. “̶͖́Ä̷͉-̶͈͗a̸͎͋n̴͙͠d̶̙́ ̴͉̈́l̵͉͠ỏ̷͇o̵̗͠k̴̪̔ ̷̤̓a̶͎̚t̴̫̾ ̸̖̾h̵̤́ȍ̶̯w̴̛̫ ̴̬̃t̷̥͆h̵͔͂-̴̩͌t̶̤̃ḫ̸͠a̶̰͝ṭ̴̌ ̷̘͊e̵̺̒n̶̗̒d̴͓̑è̷͎d̸̥̕ ̴͚̓u̶̜͛p̷͇̈́…̵̣̍ ̴̭̊a̸̩̒-̷̨̑a̴͂͜ ̵͍͝t̵̰͂h̸̞͘î̸̧r̸̹̾d̷͚̈ ̶̮̏o̸̲̅f̷͖͗ ̴̥͌ô̵̭u̷̼͌ŕ̷̘ ̸̞̋p̷̦͐ò̵̙ŵ̸̫ȇ̸ͅr̴͙̓ ̸͍̚w̸̨͋a̶̙͠s̴̰̉t̵͇͘ḛ̵̄d̷͕̓ ̵͇̈́f̷̯̕-̴̦̎f̴̼͌-̶̬̃f̶̞͘o̷̹̐ȓ̸̜ ̷͈̄ń̷̞ò̴̼t̸̡̍h̷͕̀i̸̥͋n̶̟̅g̷̩̽.̷̣̈́”̴͔̈

Team Net looked at themselves a bit nervous before looking back at MissingNo. with John asking a question. “So like… you’re uh... not planning on taking over the world or something like that… right?”

It shook its head. “̶̩́W̴̝̒-̴̳̑W̵͉̓ê̷̙ ̴̪͑h̷̥̾ḁ̸̔-̴̳͑h̶̬̀a̶̟̚-̸͖̀h̸̙̄ả̵̧v̷̘̾e̶̛̬ ̷̧̏n̶͉͆o̶͈̔ ̴̼́i̸̬̒n̶͈͛ẗ̴̻ė̸͙n̵͓̽t̷̩̎i̶͍͐o̸̜̐n̶̮̑ṡ̷̢ ̷͈̎ó̶̟ǹ̸̝ ̴̢͌d̵̯̐ó̸̦í̵̢n̸̺͌g̸͈̓ ̸̱͠ť̶̝h̶͠ͅạ̶̒t̵̪̑…̷̲̒ ̶̫͠á̷̼-̴̬̆ä̴͔́-̵̣̄ã̸̪f̷͓̎ẗ̷̫́ȅ̴̦r̶̟̒ ̷̝̏ạ̶̚l̷̡̕l̸̜͝-̴̘̽a̵̲̔l̴͎̍l̴̺̅,̸̗̒ ̶̜́A̶̜̚r̴̡͒-̴̧͠A̶̟̐r̵̠͆c̸̹̋ẻ̵ͅu̵̺͒s̵̟͊ ̷̣̈́o̴͈͝ẅ̷̥n̶̫̐ ̴̙́ç̷͋h̵̢̒ḯ̴̝l̵̪̅d̴͓̅ ̵̤̋i̸̝͝ś̵͓ ̶͙̎h̶͕̑ė̷̪r̵̡͛-̸̥͛h̵͚͑ḛ̵̇r̵̖̔ę̸͠ ̴͆͜t̴̞͠ǒ̸͜ ̵̟̅p̷̝͐ŕ̵͇-̵̫͌p̴̩̓r̴͔̔e̵̤̚v̷̟̾ē̶̖n̵̰̈́t̵̟͌ ̶̥͊ö̷̮́u̷̠̎r̵̘̽ŝ̴͙è̶͕l̷̯̑v̶̟͐e̴̮̅s̸̹̀ ̶̘̌ạ̸̀n̵̛͉d̷̩̋ ̶̮͊o̷̱̍u̷͙̚r̴̬͠ ̴̪̃m̴̜̕i̷̠̊n̸̮̚i̵̙͛o̵̦̔n̵͙̓ŝ̴̥ ̷̯̀f̶̼͝r̷̟̂ȍ̷̰m̷͈̔ ̶̹͘é̶̪ș̷́c̶̢͂a̵͍͠p̷͙̿ȋ̴̪n̷̂ͅg̷͇͊ ̸̺̚t̸͎̽o̸̮͒ ̴̬̉ţ̵̈h̸̳͝e̴͇͝ ̵͋ͅǹ̷͍o̴͔̕r̴͕̉m̶̛͔a̸̱͗l̵͎̏ ̸̈́͜w̶̪̔o̵̳͋r̷͎͝l̸̲͋ď̷̳…̶͖͐ ̵͙͌ṱ̵̋h̸̯̒e̸̩͌-̴̒͜t̴͔́ĥ̸̖e̸̮͝n̷̞̐ ̸͚́ȃ̴̫g̸̞̚a̷̜̅i̵̯̓ṅ̶̥.̶̮̃.̷͈̀.̷̙͝ ̷̼͋i̶̲͆t̴̲̎ ̸̢̇r̵̬̊e̸̪͝-̴̦́r̸͉̅e̵̠̎a̸̳͑l̶̖̿ļ̷̀y̴̢̽ ̷̍ͅm̴͔̽u̵̜͑s̵̞̃t̸̤̑ ̵̦̈́h̵̤͋ä̴͚-̵͚̄ḫ̷̈́ạ̴̚t̸͓̐ē̴̪ ̶̳̑m̸͉̏-̸̯̐m̸̖͌e̸̖̔ ̸̪͒f̷̩̉o̷͙̍r̷̯͝ ̵̭̔n̴̦͆o̵̤̽-̷̞̍ṇ̷͝o̸͕̎t̶̩̃ ̷̥̕k̸̥͊n̸͍͒o̶̺̒w̸̱͐-̵̥͝k̷͙̐n̶̮̄o̴̥̎w̷̬͑ì̵̦ǹ̷̤g̴̜̃ ̶̠̅h̴̡͛o̵̭͊w̵̳̆ ̷̪̏t̵̛͓ȍ̶̧ ̷̖̅č̴ͅȏ̷̥n̷͚͛t̶̫͊r̸͎͂ö̷͙l̷͇̔ ̴̜̅m̶̞̋y̵̚͜ ̸͖̀ỏ̴̗w̷̜͑-̷͈̀ö̷̧w̴̭͝n̷̬̊ ̸̞̀p̸̘͋ö̸͎́ŵ̴̞e̴̗͘r̸͓͊ ̷̠̓a̵͂ͅt̵̞͠ ̴̛̱t̴̼̀h̴̠́ĕ̶͉ ̸̥̃ț̸͆-̶̧̚t̴̫̉i̶͍̐m̴̟̃e̷͇͂.̸̮͌.̴̰͂.̸̲̿”̷̗͐ It looked at Popo and Nana, its smile growing a little wider. “̷͈͂Y̶̯͝o̸̥͝ǔ̶͕r̷̭̃ ̶̼̽d̶̙̚ḙ̵̃d̸̪̂u̵̻̕-̸͎̒d̵̦̐ȗ̶̬c̴̮͝t̵͔͝i̸̺͗ỏ̵̝n̵͉͘s̸̱̈́ ̴͕́w̶̪͒e̴̫͆r̸̜̕ẻ̸̖ ̷̜̚w̸̦̑ȓ̸̥o̴̳͐n̵̺̈g̶͙̓.̶̗͠ ̴̙̐T̵̛ͅ-̸̫̉t̴̗͊ḫ̶͌e̸̥͒ ̴̟͐o̴̮̽n̵̲̎e̶̛̘ ̴̠̃y̷̤͂o̸̦̚û̵̪ ̸͈̌c̷͖̋ạ̷̏l̷͔̚l̵̩̀ ̸͉̆t̶͙̏h̶͓̀e̶̼̔ ̷̡̏G̵̯͆ř̶͖-̵̳̈́G̸̜̉ŕ̴͚e̴͈͊à̸̰t̷̼͘ ̴̺̂Ó̵͇n̶̘̎e̸̙̊ ̶̪̕â̴̤l̴̬͗r̴̦̅e̴͙͐ả̸̧d̴̢͌y̷̘͑ ̷̟̑k̶͎̊n̸̝̚ô̸͔w̴̢͊s̵̖͝ ̶̹̆ô̸̭f̶͚̎ ̷̝̕m̸̺̍y̵̮̚ ̷͍̈e̴̡̍ẍ̵̺i̸̙̾s̸̪̉t̷̙́ë̴̗́ṋ̶͝c̷̜̈́é̵̪…̵̦̈́ ̵̙̔p̶̎ͅē̶̼r̸̗͂h̵͕̾a̸͓͂p̷̤̾s̷̛̰ ̴̡̄ṱ̷̐h̴͍̀e̵̡̅y̸̡͗ ̵̡̉d̸̪́ï̸̜d̶̥͗ ̴̼̆n̷̼͆o̷̹̓t̶̝̽ ̴̫͒ŵ̶͇i̷̠̔s̷̖̒h̸͓͝ ̶̳̈́t̵̗͂o̸͎͂ ̴̣̄t̵̻́è̸̩ľ̸͈l̵̞̉ ̶̘̌y̷̗͒ọ̵̓ů̴͕ ̷̢́a̵̡̍l̵͓̑l̴̢̔.̸̺̀”̶̪̒

“Alright then… what do you want with us?” Amy asked, her muscles tensing up a lot more than normal. “Are you planning on making us your vessels so you can escape or something like that…?”

It chuckled. “̵̧̏I̸̙͐f̷̠̓ ̴̢̌w̵̛̺-̸̜͒w̶̜͐-̸̹̔w̷̃͜e̵̞͗ ̵͈̌d̷̲̊í̸͖d̸͎̈ ̸̹͂ẘ̷ͅa̷͍͛ñ̷͉ẗ̴̯́ ̶̞̑t̵̤͐ĥ̸̦a̸̪̔t̵̫̊…̸̡͠ ̴̟͘w̸̼̚e̷̠̊-̴̡̿w̴̢̿e̸͕͆ ̸̞͝w̴͉̾o̶̚ͅǔ̷͈ĺ̷͈d̶͔̎-̸̗̊ẉ̴̊o̶̢͛ȕ̶̺l̵͙͒d̴̖͛’̵̡̌v̶͓͠e̶͚̐ ̷̫́d̸̮̄ó̷͖ṋ̴̾ë̶̯ ̷̭̃s̷̄͜õ̸̬ ̸͇͗ạ̷̕l̴͔̃ŕ̷̼ė̶͓a̸͎͌d̶̬̒ỵ̷͌…̴̻͗ ̷̖̚w̴̻̌h̵̲́e̶̜͌n̸͍͛ ̴̱͂ẃ̸͙e̸͇̔ ̴̙̍f̷̬͊i̵̯̍r̸̬͋s̴̱̒t̵͎͝ ̸̦̚m̷͇̌e̷̢̚t̸̤͗ ̸͖̎i̷͙̿n̶̯͌ ̸̮̊t̴͚̆ḥ̷̀e̴͎͘ ̷̻̐d̵̹́u̸͎̒n̸͔̎g̴̢̐ě̴̥ȏ̶̜n̶͍͐…̵̙̋”̷̠̍ It turned away from them, looking in the distance. “̴̘͑W̶̮͂e̴̞̾ ̸̡́h̸͚̏a̷̘̐-̷̙̓h̷̻́a̵̩͂v̸̼̏ē̵̜ ̸̦̓m̵̫̃ạ̵̚d̶̤̆ḙ̴̓ ̵̖̀t̷̜̒h̸̗͒ê̴̖ ̵̗̆ḑ̶̓ŭ̴̹n̵̹̾g̵̥̒e̵̗̾o̸͈̅n̷̲̂ ̶̨̌è̴̪á̵̧s̴͈̄i̷̱̓e̴͔̾r̵̙̋ ̸̙̌ḟ̴̬ö̵͖́r̴͉̋ ̵͇̈y̶̛͈o̴̜̾u̴̢͗-̸̔ͅy̵͇̓o̶͍͑u̸̡̐ ̸̡͛s̸̠̆ǒ̴͖ ̸̠̍w̸̦͛ë̶̩́-̷͍̀w̵͚̔ȅ̶̪ ̴͓̐č̷̝o̴͖̿ṵ̶̾l̷͙̓d̴̫̋ ̸̤̄t̷̳̏a̵͍̎l̸̛̦k̷̲͘ ̷̢̃h̶̢̿e̵͕̋-̴͖̎h̶̭̀e̸̙͘r̵̥̿ë̶̫́ ̴̠́a̷̯̚ṋ̵̚d̴͔̈ ̵̗̋g̷͇̈́e̷̤͋-̵̨̋g̵̘̒e̴̫̊t̴̩̎ ̵̲̅ḍ̶̑ö̸̖́w̸͙̽n̵͓̓ ̵͍̊ṱ̶͝ơ̷̤ ̴͖͊b̸͎̅u̸̗̾s̴̰͝i̴̼͑n̵̪͐é̶͜s̶̥̈́s̸̞̓.̵̧̓”̸̥̚ Its multiple eyes turned to Team Net. “̴̖̃Y̴̨͠ò̴̪u̷̠͑ ̶̧̅s̴̻̏e̶͔̓e̶͎͑…̸̘͆ ̷͎̊y̷͠ͅȏ̴̤-̴̬͐ÿ̸͕́ö̸̖́u̴̦͗ ̸͕̋w̶͚̄e̸̮͊-̶͇͐w̶͎̎e̷̝͂w̴̦͋ẽ̷̖w̴̤̔ĕ̵̗-̸̩̀w̶̰̽ẻ̷̞r̸̗͝é̴̡ ̸̝͗u̴̲̎n̶̼̂e̸̤̐x̵̳͘p̵̠̂ê̵̹c̵̙̀t̸̮̃ë̴͕́d̴̟̕ ̵͈̿v̶̙͐î̶̧s̸̻͗ï̷̲t̷͇̀o̵̱͝r̸̛͍s̴̨͗.̴̲͆ ̷͚̓Ś̷̘i̸̧͗n̶̨͛c̶̡̛e̶͍͂ ̴͕̉ǐ̶̞t̴͕͘’̵̺͋s̴̨̊ ̷͇͗b̷̠̔e̸̫̽e̵̩̚n̶̮̚ ̸̯̒s̸̹͊o̴̭̾ ̸͍͗l̶̻̽ő̸̟n̵̬̆ĝ̵̺-̸͇̾ò̸̺n̴̼̏g̷̪͆ ̴̳̄s̸̰̔i̵͎̓n̴̯̒c̷͓͊e̵͍̅ ̷̳̀ẁ̶̘ě̸̳ ̶̬̔f̶͉̄o̸͇͗ṳ̵̍g̸̫͝h̷̜́t̶͓̽ ̵̫̓a̴͓̔n̷̘̽y̴̳͑o̸̦͂ǹ̴͎e̵̖͒…̸̭̕ ̸̹̈́Ï̵̭ ̴̬͛t̸̯̀h̷̬̍ǒ̷̢u̷̺̾g̶͓̃h̷͓̅t̴͈͘ ̴̰̌w̶̡̾e̶̯̍ ̵̩̃c̸̪̕o̸͈̒ȗ̸͇l̵̞̋d̶̖̋ ̸͕́t̸̠̄e̶̞̿-̸̞̓t̷̪̽ë̵̟s̸̮͠t̸̗̏ ̷̦͆o̵͚͝u̷̼̎r̵̰͐ ̸̢̑s̸͕̑ṯ̷̐ȑ̵̺e̷̗͆n̴̡̓ǧ̸͜t̷̨͐h̷̝̀ ̶͙̃i̸̹̎n̸̨̚-̸̧̛i̶̦͘n̶̼̓ ̴̢̅ạ̶̾ ̸͇͠f̸̧̈́r̵̡͐i̴̭͂e̸̜͛n̷̪͗d̴̗̊l̷̡͗ÿ̸͚́ ̷̗͘b̵̰͝a̸̟͝ẗ̵̪́t̸̞̀ļ̶̉ẹ̶̊.̴̝͠”̷͕̀

John tilted his head. “Really? No buts or anything…?”

“̶̤̆Ñ̷̡-̸̝̒n̶͍̄o̷̙͘.̶͚͝”̵̠͠ It turned back to them. “̴̦̉T̸̞̆h̵̪̎e̵̖̋ ̸̯̃f̷̝̅a̶͈͛c̵̱͌t̷͓̏ ̶͚̈ȋ̴̱s̵̼͝…̴̨͂ ̵͈̕à̵̦f̷̺̾t̸̺̚e̴̼̓r̴̠̓ ̴̥͝o̵̳͐u̴̜̕r̶̤̈́ ̵̘̄ş̷̛m̴̦̓a̷̭̅l̷͕̾l̵̫̃ ̷͍̽b̶̯̓a̸̟͌t̵͈̀t̴̻͘l̸̜͘ẹ̸͝,̴͔̍ ̶̡̆y̶̙̋o̷̫͊ụ̷͆ ̵̭̀s̸͔̚h̵̟͂ǎ̴̯l̵͎̍l̸̖͌ ̸̜̋b̵̰͗ê̴͕ ̷̬́a̴̛̹l̶͓͒l̸̯̕ó̴̹w̸̩͛e̵͓̍d̷̟͒ ̸̞͊t̵̛̳o̴͎̓ ̸̜͘g̴̖̊o̵̝̓…̴̭̒ ̴̧̅ȟ̷͓o̸̡̒ẃ̶̻e̶̛̯v̶̳͘ë̷͈́r̴̛͈…̴̘͋ ̴̩͋Î̴̗ ̸̤͊w̷͔͘a̵̱͛n̶̜͠t̴̲̃ ̷̩͘ả̶̫ ̴̄͜s̴͓̉m̵̘̽a̵̛̖l̵̩̈l̴̨͗ ̵̛̞f̵̻̃ä̶͔v̴͎͆ö̴̗r̶̯͆ ̵̢͌f̷͕͛r̸̥̈́ŏ̷͚m̸̩͗ ̶͖́ỹ̵̖ô̶̦ũ̷͎ ̵̞͝f̸̧̓i̷̲͗-̶̠̈́f̸̩̆i̶̝̐v̶̲̓ę̴̇…̸̣̎”̵̜͐ Team Net tensed up from that favor. “̷̡̕W̵̮͐-̷̤̄ẁ̴͜e̶͙̍ ̵̮͐ẅ̵̩́a̵̦̕ǹ̷̝t̵̟͠ ̶̛͎y̷̭͝o̴͜͝ǔ̷̼ ̸̞̆t̵̢͝o̷̻̚-̶͍̍t̷̰̑ó̶̲ ̵̼́s̴̪͋h̵̻̊ò̵͇w̸̺̑ ̶̢̀ǔ̴̼-̶͔͌ṵ̷̐s̷̙̊ ̴̟̎t̷̯͝h̵̟͆e̵̜͝ ̸͈͑o̸͓̎ü̴̲t̵̮̔ś̸̲i̴̝͋d̸̺͌e̴̦̐ ̶͓̅w̷̺̓ǒ̶̭r̷͉̽l̸̺͘ḍ̵̎…̵̤͌ ̶̙̈w̴͖͗e̵̮̐ ̵̻̓s̸̺͝h̸͒ͅḁ̶͛ḷ̶̈l̸̲̄ ̵̤͊p̶̤̏r̵̼͝o̶̢̍m̵̧̈́i̷̊ͅs̸͖͒ë̶̜́ ̸̳͂t̸̰̽h̴̖̕ả̴̜t̴̝͑ ̷͙̑w̷̮͆ë̶̖́ ̸̤̏w̵̬͐o̵͓̽ň̶̯’̶̢̀ẗ̴̟́ ̶̺͗t̷̜̎-̸̜̎t̸͈̿-̵̝̉t̴̬͒r̷͉̕ỷ̸͈ ̷̒ͅa̸͕̾n̴͓̅y̴̬͘ẗ̸͈́h̵͚̀i̸̹̒n̸̘̄ĝ̶͚.̸͕̈”̴̅ͅ

The team gathered up and formed a circle, whispering to each other. “Should we trust it…? I don’t know… just seeing that guy gives me the creeps.” John admitted.

“We do not have a choice.” “If we wish to go through, we have to pass it.” “And we doubt we would be able to pass it with our current power.”

Amy sighed. “Do we really have no other choice?”

Claire shook her head slowly. “No we don’t…” The group disbanded the circle and looked back at MissingNo. “Alright… we accept.”

“̴̰̒G̴̹̉-̶̦̂G̵̹̓-̶̛ͅG̴̫͠r̸͚̕e̸̝̍ä̸͎t̷̹́!̵̳̑”̸̱͒ Suddenly, the giant head disappeared back into the belly of the Zoroark. It regained its composure before glitch particles started to gather around the vessel. Suddenly, from one moment to another, its whole body changed in an instant. The vessel now was way taller than before, the fur on its body changing to black and white, gaining a new pair of elongated arms as well as big white claws. The belly was covered with multiple eyes with red pupils staring at Team Net. The hair was now loose and longer, glitch particles flowing through it. Its eyes were now monochrome, black eyes with white pupils, and its mouth was wider, sprouting sharp teeth. “̸͈͑N̴̙͗ȏ̵̝w̶͚̚,̶̭͘ ̷̡̈l̵̗͋-̴̨̑l̵̼̈e̸̛̟t̸̥̉’̷̗̂s̸̢̉ ̶̝̑ḇ̸̌ȇ̸̱g̶͎̈ĩ̶̬n̴͕̋!̶̐ͅ ̴̖͠Ë̵͔n̶͚̐ṯ̶͛e̵̦̋r̶͕͠t̵̛̜-̷͙̈t̵̛̻-̴̨̑ẗ̸͍́a̶̩̅ì̶̫ṇ̶̀ ̴͍̊ų̸̈́s̶̠͛!̶̖͊”̴̭͊

Team Net was a little terrified of the monstrous-looking creature in front of them, however, that wouldn't stop them from putting up a fight. They steeled their positions and got ready for battle.

Universe’s Error

M̴͇̓ȋ̶̗ṡ̸̻s̷̼̓i̸̳̚n̴͉͌ǧ̴̜N̶̬͒o̵̮͐

The battle had begun, Team Net scattered around the limited field they were given for the battle as MissingNo.’s multiple eyes all looked at them separately. John started by trying to grapple onto trees consecutively at a fast pace. The Joltik suddenly stopped and jumped away from the dead tree in the direction of the monochrome glitch, pulling out his Electro Whip from his mouth and trying to lash out at it. Meanwhile, Claire was coming from the other side, with her Will-O-Wisp flames already floating beside her. She released her attack, the floating fireballs flying towards MissingNo.

However, the glitchy monster used two of its arms to block the attacks coming from both sides while also extending its arms a bit to grab the Joltik and Vulpix. After grabbing them, it threw them both on the ground a bit away from it, making them slide against the floor.

Taro took this opportunity to make contact with the monochrome entity, spin-dashing onto its back and using a point-blank Thunder Shock against it. However, it didn’t look like it really did much damage. MissingNo. turned its head backwards completely before slashing Taro away, launching the spiky rodent to a dead tree. “Gah!”

It was at that time when Popo and Nana made their claws of darkness appear in their hands and they ran towards MissingNo., dodging the slams of the giant claws and sometimes vanishing in the shadows to dodge. They appeared behind it and got ready to slash the glitch creature, however, it quickly turned its head towards the Tandemaus and shot a glitchy ball of energy at them, making direct contact with the pair and hitting them back on the ground.

Suddenly, MissingNo. was assaulted by glowing razor-sharp leaves, cutting some of their limbs, and making it bleed some glitchy white liquid. It looked at the source of the leaves and saw Amy standing there as her needles poked holes in her uniform. The Shaymin shot another Magical Leaf at the vessel. However, it just teleported out of the way with the glitch teleportation. In retaliation, its true head came out of the monochrome vessel again and it shot a glitched bird-shaped projectile at Amy, the hedgehog directly rolling out of the way.

“̴͖́İ̴̤-̸͈̑į̸̍s̸͇͌ ̵̝̽t̸̖̓h̴̘͂à̷͜t̴͍͛ ̴̬̈â̸̯-̷͒ͅā̸͚-̸͕̅ā̵͍l̵̹̈́l̷͖͆ľ̴̲ ̶͓̒y̸̤͝o̴̰͂u̵̖̍ ̸̼̚g̴̣̑ő̸͜t̶̺̏?̶͒͜”̶̳̈́ Suddenly, something latched on MissingNo.’s back. It retracted its true head back in the belly and looked back with the vessel’s head. A thick strand of silk was latched onto it, which was being held by John.

“Cwaire, now!” The Vulpix beside John nodded and incinerated the strand as the Joltik let go. The flame consumed the silk until it reached MissingNo., the fur on its body being the fuel needed to burn most of it. “Great, it's burned!”

Suddenly, the flame started glitching out, letting out glitch particles instead of smoke. “̴͚̌Á̷͔-̷̥̈́ã̵̙r̶̬̈́ë̵̯́ ̵̼̐y̶͕̓ơ̴ͅư̵͖ ̶͕́s̷̝̚u̷͌ͅ-̶̤̀s̸̡̽u̸̲͝ŕ̸͎e̷̗͗?̵̘̑”̶͇̃ The entirety of the flames disappeared in an instant with a glitch effect covering its entire body. “̸̝̇W̴̼͌e̴̦̓’̴̨́l̶̛̺l̴͙̎ ̸͙̌a̷̧̎d̴̺͒m̸͔̅ỉ̸̹t̵̥͂…̷̤̂ ̷̫̏n̴͎͗e̷͕͆-̴̳͆n̸͔̽e̷̦͊ā̴͈ẗ̸̯ ̵̼͛t̶͉̽r̷̺̕-̶͚̆t̶̘̽r̷̺̃i̴̥̍ċ̸͕k̶̙͆ ̶̬̅y̵̘̐ȍ̶͍ư̶̝ ̸̪͑p̷̞̕l̸̨͑ạ̶̾-̸̧̅p̸̣̀l̵̼͛á̴̘n̶͇̋n̸̟̔è̶͇d̵̟͌.̶̙̏ ̷̲̃N̶̡͌ò̸͜-̴͚͝n̴͇̂o̵̠̓w̵̝̓…̷͈̋”̵̮͝ It readied its four arms and got in an attacking position. “̶̣͋Î̶͇t̴̞̋’̵̧̊s̷͙͒ ̴̛̲o̶̤̿-̴͉̀o̸̪͑ǘ̵͍r̴̰͊ ̵͙͝t̸̫̃u̸̢͆ȑ̴̳ñ̷͚ ̸̳̒t̴͕̎-̸̘̇t̴̼̚ô̷̘ ̸̰̅à̸͎t̷̲̑t̵̫͛a̸̜̅-̸̭͂t̵̢͌a̶̡͘c̷̰̊k̸̙͋!̴̼̉”̵͕̑

MissingNo. disappeared in an instant, making Team Net desperately look around for it. Suddenly, Claire was grabbed from behind by a white claw, holding her up in the air as she struggled. “Claire!” Team Net shouted before she was slammed down on the ground and was shot at point blank by a glitchy ball of energy. Then, it grabbed John with another claw and threw him into the air, making a gun sign with its claw and shooting a glitchy black bird directly at the Joltik. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the time to grapple away and the bird exploded on contact with it. John was launched away onto a tree and slumped on the ground.

“John!” Taro screamed before running at MissingNo. and using a Rollout at it. However, the tall glitch entity grabbed the ball spiky ball coated in rocks and kicked him into the air before jumping along with him. It clasped the four of its hands and spiked it into the floor. Taro, unfortunately, was knocked out.

Meanwhile, Popo and Nana looked at each other and nodded. “We need more vessels! Come and be a valuable sacrifice for this fight!” The Tandemaus did something… weird. They started splitting themselves up and created more copies of themselves, almost like mitosis. After creating twenty clones of themselves, the originals extended their arms in the direction of MissingNo. “Go forth, vessels!”

Their clones charged towards the glitch entity and clung onto its entire body, biting and chipping away pieces of their flesh with claws. “̴̳̎I̵̼͒n̴͍̊-̸̳̂i̴̬͛ṉ̵̅t̴͎̀e̵̞͑r̴̙̈́e̸͍͑ŝ̵̞ẗ̷́͜í̵̥ṋ̵͝g̷͇̀ ̸̲̈t̷͚̋è̴͎-̷̯̈ṯ̶̏e̵̗͊ç̵͆h̶̠̿ň̶̙i̵̙̐q̸̓͜u̷̦̓e̴̠͘…̵̰̿ ̸̰̒h̸̰͗o̵̤͋ẘ̵̱ę̶͋v̷̢̽ẽ̴͕ṟ̷̾…̴̢͛”̴̻̆ MissingNo.’s true head came out of the belly once again and looked at its own vessel. The multiple eyes started glowing, and after a small moment, it shot from its eyes small laser beams, making all of the clones disappear with a puff of smoke.

Even after killing all of the clones, they left quite a bit of damage on the vessel. “̶͍̔W̶̭͋e̸̝͐’̴̭̀r̶͑ͅe̷̤͒ ̶͚̉ḭ̶̿m̶͙̓p̶̺̃r̴̕͜e̵̠͆s̵̖̊s̸͈̈ë̷̟́d̴̙̍ ̸͓̓t̴̙͝h̶̞̄a̵͙̋t̶̫͛ ̸̠͑ý̵̢o̴͔̚u̸͙͆-̸̤̑ÿ̸̧́o̶͛͜ȗ̴̳-̶̛͚ỷ̴͇o̶̗͠ư̷̡ ̸̖̚a̶̮͋c̵̳͋t̸͍̓u̷͎͝a̷̬͆l̸̬͊l̸͚̚y̷̹̌ ̴͔̎m̴̘̽a̸͕̕ņ̶͌a̸̤̚-̸͍̀m̸̻̿a̸͕̅n̶̬̽a̷͓̎g̷̤̈́e̶̫͒ḑ̶̂ ̴͖̊t̴̢̃o̷͍̒ ̶̹̈́d̷͓̈́-̸̬̓d̵̥̀a̸̳͊m̵̹͆à̵͚g̸̨͆ḛ̸͐ ̵̊ͅm̶̝̀ĕ̴͙…̷̦͝ ̸̪͗m̷̝̎a̴̘͊-̷̞̂m̴͕̀a̸̢̍ŷ̷̳ḃ̸̘ê̵̘ ̶̜̋Ì̶͍’̷̣̉v̴̬̽ẹ̸͝-̵̨̋v̷̞͆e̶̫͠ ̷͉̍b̶̼͂e̵̼͠e̷͓̎n̸͖̆ ̴̬̒s̶̡̏l̸̺̀a̶͌͜c̵̛̖k̷̞̀i̷̺͌ṋ̴́g̶̗̀ ̶̯͛ő̷̞f̷̞̔-̵̥͒o̴̪̒f̷̤́f̵͜͠ ̸͝ͅf̸̪́o̶̬͑r̸͕͝ ̴͖͝t̵̜̔ŏ̴̺ǒ̴͇ ̵̩̌l̶̦̓ò̴͎n̸͉͗g̸̥̓.̸̣̊”̴̜͛ The monochrome entity looked back at Team Net, who were looking really tired and really bruised. John was bleeding a bit of hemolymph from his head, Claire was battered and a bit bruised to the sides, Amy was just looking tired in general, and the Tandemaus didn’t look that much different, with no signs of tiredness. “̶̈́͜B̵̙͂u̷̞̿t̶̞̎ ̷͚̋ḍ̷̾ó̵̪n̷̨̕’̵͙̉t̶͈͋-̷̪͌o̸̞̊n̸͒ͅ’̴̗͌t̴̗̀ ̸̬̋t̴͓̓h̷̩̽ì̴̬n̶͍͝ǩ̸̥ ̴̛ͅị̵̾ṭ̴͝’̶̙̌s̸̻͑ ̷̜͑o̶͓̚v̴͒ͅe̷̛̱r̶͍͊ ̴͚͝y̶͈̎e̸͇͑ẗ̶̙.̴̭͋ ̶̻̀T̵͎̊h̸̳̆ě̵̙ ̷̪̐f̵̩̊u̴̩͝-̵̣̐f̸͖̾u̵͇̍ṇ̴́ ̷͓̽ĥ̸̦á̶͈s̴̩͗ ̴͖͛j̸̱̇u̷̫͒s̸̢͊t̸̙͛-̴͍̋ĵ̷̩ū̶̬s̴͉̾t̷͝ͅ ̴͙̃b̶͎̾e̸͘͜ǧ̸͔u̴͋ͅň̶̮!̶́ͅ”̶̦̏

Suddenly, more white claws were starting to come out of the belly of the vessel and it looked like the true body was coming out of the body. However, everything was obscured for a moment as static coated MissingNo.’s entire body. After the static disappeared, they could see the glitch entity’s true body. The head that they saw was now floating, a little wispy end at the back of the head, and around it were six disembodied floating white claws. Under the floating head, there was a mass of static particles with many monochrome Pokémon body parts coming out of it. “You’re… you’re shitting me…” John muttered. “Phase two…?!”

Claire grunted as she took a step forward, a determined look in her eyes. “We… we can do this! We’re not gonna back down on this! We’ve come this far together as a team… let’s show the power of Team Net to it!”

John sighed. “Alright… Team Net, let’s do this!”

The team ran towards MissingNo as it chuckled. “̶̜̅Ẁ̵̨e̶̦͂ ̷̮͘l̵̘̅i̴̯͐-̶̩͂ḷ̷͝i̷̼̐k̵̢̛e̵͔̐ ̴͙̆ỷ̷̙ỏ̷̟u̷͍̓ŗ̶̅ ̴͇̌d̵̡̄e̸̞̿-̷̬͝d̵̛͇ë̷̟́t̸͈͝e̴̼̿r̵͉̍m̶̢̈i̸͍̊n̷̢͊ȧ̸̭t̵̛͔i̸̦̋ȏ̶̘n̷͇̆!̵̼̄”̷̭̈́ One of the claws floated in front of it and fired another bird projectile at the group. However, John grappled away as the others dodged and scattered around.

Amy shot an Energy Ball at the entity, however, MissingNo. put a claw in front of it, absorbing the grassy ball itself. Then, another hand was aimed at Claire, and from it came the Energy Ball from before, however, this one was black and white and with glitch particles on it. The Vulpix dodged it and looked at the destruction that the orb caused. “Woah…” She looked back at MissingNo., knowing that she couldn’t use her Incinerate attack more freely. She started to run around it, trying to look for an opening.

Meanwhile, Amy went to the knocked-out Taro. Instead of taking out her bag, she looked at it and her eyes started to glow purple as she muttered. “Thank goodness I always carry one of these…” Suddenly, a Reviver Seed, coated in a purple aura, flew out of Amy’s bag and went directly into Taro’s open mouth. She used her paws to make the spiky rodent crunch the seed and swallow it. Next, she used Aromatherapy to make slight bruises go away. “Now gotta wait until he wakes up…”

Back to the fight, John was hopping from tree to tree, trying to find the best angle to hit MissingNo. with an Electro Whip. After finding a good angle behind it, John jumped towards the glitchy entity and pulled out his whip of electricity from his mouth. However, one of the claws blocked the attack, making it look at the Joltik. After John landed, he did not let go of his Electro Whip, and instead started hitting the floating claw even more, causing the disembodied limb some shock burns and paralysis. With that, John jumped back and grappled away into the trees once again.

Popo and Nana took this opportunity to appear from the shadows in front of the glitchy entity and uppercut its paralyzed claw with their Shadow Claw, making a big slice wound on it. The claw collapsed on the ground, leaving MissingNo. with one less hand to defend itself. “The Great One has trained us well.” Popo said, pointing his claw of darkness at the monochrome creature. “Do not underestimate us.” Nana said as she also pointed her claw at it.

“̶͔͑P̴̛͇r̸̬͋-̸̕͜p̸̰͘ř̸͔o̶̯͝p̴͍̈́s̴͉̅ ̵̦͐ẗ̴̲́o̸̳͋ ̴̠̕t̸̩͐h̷̠͆ẻ̴̯m̵̖̈́ ̶͇̈t̴̠̀h̴̟̆ę̴̔n̸̺̒.̴͗ͅ ̴̩͘T̵͉͐h̵̦̾-̴̘͝t̷͓̿h̵͎͐ẽ̶̘-̴̧͐t̸͈̃h̶̲̽è̵̳ỷ̶̲ ̴͚̔ẃ̴̨o̷̰̒ù̵̪l̶̰͋d̶̳̂ ̷͍͘l̴̩̒o̶̹̾v̴͙̐ĕ̶͜ ̴͎̀t̶̢͗o̷̥̍ ̵̮̾k̶̻̓n̷͉̊-̸̒ͅk̵̢͘n̶̛̩o̷̢͗w̸͒ͅ ̶̙̑ẏ̸̱o̷̥̊ủ̴͚’̸̦̉ŗ̸͛e̴͖̒ ̷̦̒k̷̩̈́e̵͖͆e̵̼̽-̷͔̿k̴͔̎ē̷̬e̸̡͝p̶͎̀i̶̺̽n̶̉͜g̴̤̃ ̸͙̀ú̸͓p̸͍̾ ̵̤̇w̷͇̿ḭ̷̀t̶̞̉h̷̥̄ ̴̮̊s̶͖̑ȯ̵ͅm̸̙͊ė̴̟o̶̡͘ṉ̵͆e̶̛̠ ̵̼̈́l̴͇͗i̶̼͝k̴̨͒ȅ̸̢ ̸̲̽u̷͎͂ŝ̷̰.̵̤̀”̷̎͜ Two other claws came in to replace the fallen one, starting to release explosive bird projectiles at the Tandemaus. However, the mice started running around it while jumping and ducking, avoiding the birds.

Claire saw this as her opportunity and aimed her Incinerate directly at MissingNo.’s back, hitting the floating head in the back. It looked back and saw the Vulpix standing there, snorting flames from her nose. The glitch entity aimed two claws, pointing a finger, at Claire. The claws started releasing glitchy balls of energy at her, however, the Vulpix dodged them, by sidestepping and running directly at MissingNo. She used the mass of Pokémon limbs below the floating glitch creature as stepping platforms to jump and get close and personal with it. She then shot another point-blank Incinerate at its face, making the creature recoil and put some of its claws on its multiple eyes.

“Hah! Literally, in your face!” Claire gloated, a smug smile creeping up to her.

“̷̼̄Y̸͍̏ė̵̝ṣ̶̈́,̶̱̿ ̷̞͛i̴̛̟t̶̞͝ ̴̢͆ì̷̥s̸͎̆-̶̪̕ĩ̸̫s̷̤͑ ̴̞͘i̵̺̍ṅ̷͎ ̶̩͐o̵̡͋u̷͕̇r̷̩͝ ̴͚͌f̵̰̚ǎ̸̖c̴͚͘e̴͔̿.̴̜̈́”̵̼̂ Its smile grew a bit wider. “̵̱̑H̶̬͆ḛ̴̔-̵̤͠ḥ̴͑ě̶͚r̶͓̉e̸͓̾’̴͓̀s̸̀͜ ̶̼́o̷̝͂ů̸̖r̶͈͌ ̴͇̿c̵̝͂o̸̫͐-̴̳̚c̷̯̑ȏ̵̢m̶̱͛e̷̳͑b̷̨́a̸̡͆c̶̣͗k̵̘̇ ̸̟̇t̴̘̾o̷̬͐ ̷̤̅t̵̮̏ĥ̷ͅå̵͉t̸͊ͅ.̸̝̎.̷͚́.̵͉̇”̴̙͐ Covered by its hands, its eyes started to glow a bit brighter.

However, John noticed what was about to happen and he hopped from the tree he was currently on. “Claire, watch out!” The Vulpix looked confused at the Joltik before looking back at MissingNo.

From its eyes, came small laser beams, all being shot randomly before fusing together and aiming at Claire. The fire fox didn’t notice in time, and unfortunately took a massive hit of glitch energy. She screamed as the beam made fly towards a tree before dissipating. Claire slumped on the ground, however, still not unconscious. However, there was a mysterious purple aura surrounding her as she gritted her teeth, trying her hardest to get up. After all, she had to protect John, protect John, protect John-

“̴͍͘Y̶̪͠ö̸̯́ư̷̠ ̴̮̊s̸̙͛t̶͚̏-̸̢́s̶̰͝ť̵̩i̸͗ͅl̸̳̀ḻ̵̂ ̸̙́p̸̡͘e̷̼͛ȓ̸̻s̸̯͛i̶̲͑s̶̳̊t̴̻̃,̷̰͗ ̴̨̛a̵̩͑f̷̢́t̵͖̄ȅ̸̞r̶̞̀ ̵̗͒a̸͉̕ń̶͕ ̵͎͆a̵̖͛t̸̆͜t̵̞͘ả̶̻ċ̶̳k̸̹̄ ̸̢̃l̵̳̚i̶͕͘k̴̫̔e̸͕̕ ̸̺̇t̶̗̿ḩ̵͠-̶̱̾t̸̰͝h̶͎͗à̷̜t̴̗́?̴̞̏ ̸̳̈I̵̭̿n̵̲͘-̶̗̎i̸͑ͅn̴̲͘-̴̺́ī̸̲ņ̶̃ç̶̂r̵̜͆e̸̼͊d̷̤̈́ḯ̵̲b̶̝́l̴͙͆e̸̢̽!̷̜̀”̷̨͝ MissingNo. looked around and saw how battered up and beaten everyone looked. “̶̣͛L̴͕̉ȅ̵̦t̷̖̎’̸̬̉s̴̖̿ ̵̭̚ě̴̮n̴̲̚d̶̯͛ ̷͉̉i̷̦͝t̴̫̀ ̸̲̋ḧ̴̨e̸͍͗-̶͉̾h̵̰́e̷͔̕r̸͘ͅe̶̒͜-̸̮̈́ŕ̴̹e̴̩̓.̷̱̀ ̶̖͊Ḁ̶̈́f̶̫́-̷̼͗a̸͈͘f̷̤̔t̶̹͆e̶̹͂r̴̼̔ ̷̘̆a̶̲̕l̸̝̈́l̶̤̈,̵̫̇ ̵̤́w̶̞̌e̸̮̾-̵̡̇w̴̡̔ë̵͖́’̷̜̑r̷̨̐ë̴̝ ̶̡͐ṉ̴̇ō̵̗t̵̞̏ ̸̢̀t̵̳͗r̸͕̈-̷̜̓ẗ̷̻́r̶͇͝y̴̮̓i̷͕̒ṉ̶̂g̶͕̾ ̵̯͝t̴̹̐o̵̗̅ ̸̺̽k̸̤̅i̶̛͖l̷̲̄l̴̲̍ ̸̼̾e̸͙͝a̵̹̕-̷̞̔e̷̦̊a̴̩̓c̴̟͝h̴̘͝ ̵͇͠o̷̭͠t̴̤̒h̷̨͛e̶̛̲r̸̰̔.̴̈́ͅ ̴̖̑W̸̭͘ě̶̬ ̵̪̆j̴̩̋u̵͕̇-̸͕̈́j̴̆ͅṵ̴͘s̸̥͌t̴̝͊ ̴̗̈w̴̱̄a̴̗͋n̸͇͐ṱ̸̿ȅ̵̺d̴̠͛ ̷̎͜ṱ̶̂ö̵̢́ ̸̙̆t̸̘͆ḛ̸̎-̷̛̪t̶̬̅e̸̬̿ș̶͗t̶͊ͅ ̶͖͆t̸̹̂h̸̨̆e̷̪̿ ̸̘̀s̸͉̉t̷͚͘r̸̤͠ĕ̵̹n̵͓͝g̴͇̈t̴̺̄h̶͇̍ ̷͇͒o̶͕̊f̸̣̌ ̵̤̃P̸̘̓-̷̹̉P̶̻̈́o̷͕̍k̵̩̐é̵̺̕m̶̲̀ȯ̶̠n̷̦͋-̵͉̉m̵̡̃ơ̸̻ň̵͍ ̷̛̻b̵̤̉ř̸̪a̸̙͛v̵͚͠ę̴̀ ̷̯͛e̵̜͋ṋ̴͊ǫ̵̌ũ̴̘g̵͍͗h̸̡͌ ̴̟́t̴̰͊o̸̠̽ ̷̠̈ć̸̹o̴͕͑m̵̪͆ȇ̵͕ ̴͎̊t̸̬̉o̷̗͝ ̸̐ͅt̵̠̊h̷̝̒e̴̦͠ ̵̱͘H̷̙́ö̷̰́-̴̦̀H̷̢̐o̴̱͝l̸̘̈́l̵̩̚o̴̞͒w̵̼͘ ̵̙̈F̸̞͛o̸͓͛r̷̭̅ḙ̶̛s̶͍̈ť̴̤.̶͓͝”̵̤̆

The purple aura started dissipating from the panting Vulpix as she got up… before immediately falling to the ground and fainting from exhaustion.

“̷͎͘.̴̛̣.̶̱̍.̵̫͛ ̷̱͝I̵̠̿t̵͙̓-̸̧͊i̵͔̇t̴̛͚ ̶̺͠s̸͚̔e̸̗͛e̶̤͗m̷̗͛s̶̨̃ ̶̼̆w̵̼͌e̵͖̾’̴̩̒v̸̲̍ḛ̶͐ ̸̮̅g̸͉̊o̴̤̊-̸̪̇g̸̬͘o̴͕͐n̷̛̬ë̵̱́ ̸̮͊a̴͉͑ ̶͖́b̵̢͂ì̶̢ṫ̴̻ ̶̥͠t̷͈̔ǫ̸̏ö̴̹ ̴̛̗f̴͕͑á̸̙r̴̻̒.̸͉̚”̷̯̆

John looked at MissingNo. with an unamused face as his eyes twitched a little bit. “Oh really…?”

After a certain amount of time, Taro and Claire woke up after John, Popo, Nana, and Amy healed themselves. The Vulpix looked around after opening her eyes with a groan. “Where… am I?” She looked at Team Net before locking eyes with MissingNo.’s vessel form, flinching and jumping away. “Wh-what!?”

Taro’s eyes fluttered open, looking around before catching sight of the glitchy entity. “Ah!” He screamed before hiding behind Popo and Nana.

The Tandemaus looked behind and showed their sharp teeth. “If you touch us, we shall pry your eyes open until we remove all of your tears and offer as a drink to the Great One.”

Taro took several steps back and saluted. “Y-yes, sir and ma’am!”

“W-what is it…” Claire stuttered a little scared.

John got in front of her and reassured her. “Don’t worry, the fight’s over. It deemed us worthy or… whatever.”

MissingNo. chuckled a little. “̴͚̏W̶̮͝-̶̝͌w̸̼̚ẽ̴̦ ̶̥̏g̵͖̍u̵͎̅e̵͜͝ś̸̟s̴̺̄ ̴̠͊y̸̙̾ơ̶̰-̶̫̂y̴̨͊ọ̷́u̷̞͠ ̷̹̽c̶̝͝ǒ̷̜ű̴̥ḷ̷͗ḓ̶͘ ̵̺͒s̷͓̃a̶̟̽ý̴̧ ̸̺̈́t̸͔̉h̸̙̉a̷͉̽t̴̺̓…̴͍͛”̴͓̈́ Its disembodied hands gathered around it, glitching and twitching as it gathered around it. “̸͖̀N̵͖̑-̸̭̒n̴͎͊o̷̩̅ŵ̸͓…̵̖́ ̴̖́á̴̼ḇ̷͝o̸͉̓u̷͍̔t̷̜́ ̷̱̋t̶̮̅h̸̞̄ā̸̡t̵̡̊ ̶̖̋r̸̤̂e̸̙͂-̴̮͗ŕ̷̡ḛ̴̒q̵̹̆ǘ̷̟e̵̦̋s̶͙͌t̷̤̽ ̶͙̉W̶̰̆ë̸͍ ̵̽ͅḿ̸̧ḛ̴̎n̶̤͒t̸̟̏ï̸̺o̸̘̾n̶͠ͅe̵̥̎d̴̗͠ ̸͎̊e̶̱͊a̵͎͊-̶̬͐ȇ̵͙a̴̗̓r̸͇̋l̶̪̎i̵̟͝e̷̪͂r̷̬̈́-̸̟͘e̴̮̽r̸͔̿…̴͎͝ ̵̳̑t̵̨̍h̶͔̿e̷͖̿r̵͈̊e̸͍͒ ̵͍̎i̵͚͒ş̶́-̷̫̐i̷̻̓s̶̹̑ ̸͍̄o̴͎͠n̵̗̄ḛ̸͛ ̵̙͆t̶̗̎h̴͚̍i̶͉͑-̵̯̋t̵̞̽h̸̨͗i̶͍̔ṅ̴̻g̵͍̀ ̸̜̑ẗ̸͈h̴̡͂a̷̱̾t̴̡̒ ̷̖̍W̸͍̓e̷̳͐ ̸̧̃f̸̼̃ó̶̫r̶̢͐g̷̘̈-̴͕̋f̶͕͂o̷̳̕r̸͈̉g̸͔̎ő̷̖t̸̤̏ ̵͎̋t̸̞̾o̴̘̔ ̸͖̽m̵͚̈́e̶̘̋n̶̰͘t̵͈̐ī̸̯ỏ̵̥n̸̰͠.̶̺͠ ̵̭̍T̵̠̉h̶̤̋-̸̣̄t̴͕̾h̸͔̒e̵̦͝ ̷̞͗r̶̙̔ẽ̵̙ä̶͉s̷̘̾ǫ̷͐n̶̝̽ ̴͎̀w̴̙̍h̶̛̙y̶͇͊ ̸̛̬W̶̬͊-̶̲̓w̶͉͝e̴̠͂ ̶̦͌h̷͎͠a̴̺͆v̷̛̭e̸͎̔n̸͇̏’̷͎́t̴̠̒ ̸̢͂è̸̼s̴͖̽c̶̙͊a̵͍̽p̷̊ͅe̷̯͠d̷̺̚ ̶̥̀u̵̙̎n̶͖͊t̴̖͋ī̷̩l̸̜̅ ̵̿ͅn̷͖̈ó̷̖-̸̬̈́n̶̝͝ò̸̯w̶̪̉…̷͈̇ ̸̰̚i̸̪̓ẗ̸̥’̵̡͛s̴̳̀ ̷̣̓b̶̞̊e̶͔͠c̴͚̈́ȃ̵̝u̴̞͊s̷̯̄ë̸̺ ̷͇̋ẁ̴̬ė̴̯ ̴̞͝n̸̰͌e̵̖͊è̸ͅd̷̘̒ ̴̥̔å̷̦ ̷̛̥v̶̪̈e̷͍͒s̸̻͌ś̶̹e̸̠͛l̶̯̆ ̶̻̒f̷̊͜r̴͓͝ò̵͎m̶̼͒ ̴̢̆t̷̟͝h̵̫̕e̶̺͌ ̵̑ͅo̴̰̿p̵̗̈́p̶̥̐o̴̻̚s̸̘͝i̸̢͋ţ̷͆e̷͔͊ ̵̫̋w̵͓̒õ̴̖r̸̨͐ḷ̸͛d̷̻͝ ̷̟̍s̷̹̾i̸̗͑ṅ̴͇c̸̥̄ẽ̵͈ ̴̼̓ŏ̴̡u̴̲͆r̵͉̉ ̴̧̆b̷̧̎ò̵͕d̶͕͌y̶̝̆ ̶̫͊w̶̝̏o̴̱͌u̴̮͋l̶̥̋d̷̹̄ ̷̦͠b̷̮͐e̵̩̐c̴̗̀o̷̦͘m̸̜͆e̴̮͑ ̷̭͐u̸̓ͅṉ̷́s̵͕̉t̷̪̓a̷͚͂b̵̹̈l̸͖̈́e̶̘̊ ̸̺͝i̶̤͊f̷̗̀ ̸̡͂w̴̪͒è̶ͅ ̶̭̇s̶̰̾t̴̗̂e̵̫͠p̶̬̾p̴̓͜ȩ̵͛d̸̬̀ ̸̘̾f̴̳̎o̶̮͆ò̷͍t̴̳͠ ̷͖̿i̶̻̽n̷̺̏ ̸̺̿t̸͉͂ḥ̵̈ê̸̹ŕ̶͇e̶͍̅ ̸̢̕ǎ̴̗l̸̰̂ö̸̙́n̴̝͂e̵̗̐…̷̘̈́”̸̨̒

John tensed up from that and gulped a little. “Meaning… you want to use one of our bodies to get out of here… right?”

“̴͕͘T̶͎͆h̷̜́-̴̝̔t̷̹̓h̴̙̿a̷̝̎t̶͇̋ ̷͚̈́i̴̲͌s̴̗̑-̸͚̀i̴̘͒s̷͍̅ ̵̩̂c̵̹̽ó̷̞r̸̹̍r̵̖͋e̴͔͌ç̴̋t̵̖̿…̶͉͂ ̶̤̃b̷͙̉u̴̿ͅt̷̪̽ ̶̜̎d̸̮̐ö̷͍ṇ̴̒’̷͎̀t̴̮͠ ̴͜͝f̷̥͂ŗ̸͊e̴̮̐t̷͇͝.̶̢̕ ̴̜̃W̸͍̌é̸̞ ̴͓̋ṣ̷͐h̵͙͝á̵͇l̸͈̋ḷ̵̚ ̵̦̍n̸̲͊o̴̫͐t̷̫̍ ̸͚́ť̶̪ă̷̲k̶̠͒e̶̻͘ ̶̼̽c̶̠̕o̷͎͒n̶̜̄-̶̱̓c̶͍̅o̴̫̿n̶̟͋t̸͔̕r̸̗͊o̶̬̎ĺ̶͜ ̶͓̍o̷̥̚f̴̠̀-̷͜͝o̶̢͊f̵̝̉ ̸̻͘y̶͈̆o̵̟͐ű̸͖r̵̲̀ ̸̩̂b̶̟̓o̷͙̓d̷͚͘y̴̏͜.̶̭͌ ̴͉̇Ÿ̸͓́o̴̟͒-̸͋ͅy̴̏͜õ̵̼ȗ̶̹ ̵̬͆ẅ̷̮́o̶̗͝n̷̮̊’̷͎̚t̵̛̥ ̷̧̈f̷͇̿ẹ̵̀e̵̤͝l̷̨̉ ̶̮͠ṅ̵͈o̶͎͋t̷͚̐h̶͕̃ï̴̜n̸̞̒g̸̞̊ ̶͇͑ỏ̶̳n̷̳͝c̸̘̊e̵̯̕ ̴͖̚w̶̮̎e̶͍̽’̶̻̏r̸̤͝e̸̹̐ ̵̘͝i̷̔͜n̶͍̈́s̸̟̏i̷̗̐d̷͍̅e̶̦̍ ̶̪͊y̵̬͂ŏ̷̖ũ̶̝,̴̧̓ ̵̊ͅw̷̕ͅë̴̙́ ̷͙̈́k̸̯͆n̵̘̉ó̵̠w̵͙͑ ̷̰̇h̸̺͊-̴̗͂h̷̢͂o̷̼͊ẃ̸̦ ̷̰̃t̴͎̊ỏ̸͓-̵͎̅t̶̯́o̵̹̎ ̷͓̆ċ̶̹ȏ̴̞ň̷̗t̴͕̒ŕ̸͇ō̷̺l̶̢͌ ̶̩͌t̸̹̄h̸͔̾-̶̝͗t̴̹͛h̵̲̃è̵̜ ̷̬͑g̸̨͂l̸̢̈́í̸͖t̶͖̍c̶̣͂ḧ̵̲ ̶͍̋e̵͜͠n̶̝͋-̸̞̀e̵̳͒n̷̻̒e̸̢̊r̶͉͠g̶̘̈́y̷̬͌ ̶̤̾s̶̨͛o̴͙͒ ̵͙̀í̸͔t̷̪̓-̸̰̀ị̴͝t̷͇̓ ̵̲̃d̵̦́o̸̤͛é̸͇s̴̯̄n̸̩̏’̵̼͘t̸̨̑ ̷̙͋l̴͒ͅe̷̝̐-̸̏ͅl̵̻̓e̶̫̾a̸͓͑ḱ̵̗ ̵̞̂o̸͉̿ų̵͊t̵̽͜ ̸͙̈́ḟ̶̮r̵̠͝-̵͉́f̸̞͐r̸͎͆o̶̩͠m̴͊ͅ ̶̰̂ẙ̷̪ọ̴̇u̷̼͗r̸̤̿ ̷͇̿b̶̼͆ȏ̶̜-̷̖̽b̴̪̚o̴̳͝d̴̯̆į̵͗e̷̞͒s̷̡̅.̴̹̽ ̶̝̋H̸͍̒o̴̬̾w̴̞͐ê̷̪v̸͙̓ę̶̍r̷̜͗,̸̢̂ ̸̗̋w̷̜̉ȅ̸̼ ̵̨̐c̶̱̏a̶͔̅n̸̡̆ ̴̲͗m̷̬̑a̵̦̓k̴̟͝ḙ̸̆ ̵̹͝m̵̘͐-̷̙̓m̶̩̐ÿ̶̦́ ̴͐ͅb̷̖͌ȍ̵͜ḏ̷̈́y̵̻͑ ̴̫̕p̶̻̃ã̶̪r̶̗̍-̸̺̉p̶̖̓a̸̩̽r̷̗̉t̸̮̏s̶̒ͅ ̵̢̈́c̸̲͛o̵͕̔m̸͈͛e̴̗̋ ̵͎̑o̵̤̒u̶̡̒-̵̦͆o̵̧̊u̷͕͐t̶̰̎ ̶̪̈́ḯ̶̖f̵̠̐ ̶͈̀w̶̖͆e̴̛͔ ̸͚̈f̴̙̒e̷͚̔-̸̪͐f̶̹͠é̵̠ẻ̸͎l̸̐͜ ̸͙̈́ā̵̗ň̸͖ÿ̴̬ ̵̡͐d̶̻̒a̴̮̒n̸̙͊g̷͙̽e̸̗͂r̶̡̀.̶͐͜ ̵̦̀Ṱ̴͌h̸̽͜-̴̧̅ṱ̵̈́h̴̞̽i̸̗͛n̸̙̔k̴̟̆ ̶͎͒o̶̻̾f̵̺͂ ̶͍͆i̷̱̿ť̶̼ ̵̮̒ã̵͈s̷͙̃-̷̝̀a̴͔̾s̵̝͑ ̶̧͝a̷͙̿ ̶̡̓s̴̢̍ḯ̵̮-̵̼́s̶̼͝y̵̗͗m̸̢̒ḅ̴̂ỉ̶ͅȏ̸̤t̴͈́ǐ̶̙c̴̿͜ ̴̡̍ŕ̴̼ę̴̽l̴̗̃a̵̻͊-̴̺͋r̵͕̔ë̴̲́l̴̈́͜á̵̢t̴̤͘i̸̼͋o̴̻̓ǹ̶̟-̶̣́o̸̦̕n̴͝ͅş̴̈́h̸̟͆í̸̪p̶̡̚.̵͕̈́”̷̼͝

Claire looked aside nervously. “So…” She looked back at the glitch entity. “How long do you stay inside our bodies until yours stabilizes?”

It tapped its chin with a claw. “̵̦͌Ä̶̼-̶̤̌á̵̖ŗ̶́ò̵̤u̴̺̍n̶̘͌d̸̡͌…̷̻̅ ̷̦̔t̷̫͗w̸̘͘-̴̼͌t̶̻́w̴͈͛ỏ̵̙ ̶͍̐w̸͖͛e̴̹͆ě̶͍k̷͚̒s̴̞̀.̷̗̒ ̷̲̊W̸̼̔ȇ̷͕ ̴̠͂s̸͉͒ḧ̶̥́a̸̙̿l̴̤͋l̷̺̾ ̸̊ͅb̴̅ͅe̷̡̿ ̷͈̓s̷̠̊l̷͔̃ḙ̵̂-̶͇͠s̶̘͠l̴͙̔ë̵̥́ȩ̴͗p̶̰̔i̸̖̾n̷̫̅ǵ̷̳ ̸͉̈́a̶̛̬t̶̤͊ ̶̫͌t̴̜̿h̶̞͝â̸̝t̵̼̆ ̸̻̎ṯ̴͆i̸͇̎-̶͇̌t̵̥̀i̶͓̒m̸̘̉e̴͔͒,̶̫̀ ̵̺͗s̷͍͌o̵̤͝ ̴̳̓y̸̞̏o̶͈͊u̶̪͠ ̸̿ͅw̵̬̚o̷͈̎n̵̯͒’̴̰̂t̷̰͋ ̵̟̇n̸͇͑é̵̬ē̴̮d̵͔͊ ̶̨̔t̸̗̀o̵̟͠ ̴͔̀ẃ̷͈o̵̗̊-̴͆͜w̷̮͒ö̴͎́r̸̰̊r̴̯̉ÿ̷̫ ̷̧͝a̶̼͊b̸̜͋o̸̼̓u̶̒ͅt̴͚͂ ̴̪̽h̷͙̽e̸̜̓-̶̧̒h̴̼̉e̴̮͋a̶͚̾ŗ̴͂i̴̺͋n̵̟̓g̷̢͂ ̴̫̄v̸̖̀o̵̺̚ị̷̆c̴̭̋ē̸͎s̴̰̽ ̷̺̄i̵̥̇ṇ̶̃-̵̭͘i̷̯͆n̶̳͘ ̸͓͛ȳ̷͍ŏ̴̫-̶̨̃ÿ̶̦́ŏ̶̥u̴̪̕r̸̼͘ ̵̯̆m̵̬͊ï̷̼n̷̩͗d̵̛͈s̷̟͐,̷͎̿ ̶̯̄h̴̢͆e̵͔̊-̸͈͌h̶̘̆ȩ̵̓-̸̹͊ḩ̶̆ĕ̶̤ḥ̷͋ë̸̬h̴̖͗e̸͙̔.̷̼̆”̷̻̿

“... circle!” Claire called out and Team Net formed another circle between them and started whispering to each other. “Alright… who will be its escort? I don’t want to be the carrier of a potential virus.”

Popo and Nana spoke next. “We shall not let it inside our enlightened vessels that the Great One bestowed upon us.”

“Yeah, no way I’m letting it enter my body.” Taro said next. “I’ve seen some things on the internet and video games that I don’t want to describe… so a hard pass.”

“Yeah… just no, it’s kinda disgusting.” Amy simply said with a sigh.

Now everyone was looking at John. “... No… no! Why are you all looking at me like that!?”

Claire rubbed the back of her head. “John… maybe you could carry it. Since you’re human and all…”

The Tandemaus tilted their heads in confusion. “Wait.” “You are a human?”

John flinched and shot a silent angry expression at Claire before sighing. “Yes, I am one…”

“It explains a few things now.” The twin mice said in unison.

The Joltik then threw his nubs in the air. “But that still doesn’t justify me being the one!”

Taro sighed. “Look dude, I know this is weird as heck, but can’t you like… do it for us…?” He sheepishly grinned. “Pretty please?”

John looked around for any expressions of objections on the team, but unfortunately, he found none. He sighed and muttered. “Pussies...” He then looked back at MissingNo., who was patiently waiting for the response. “Alright uh… I’ll be the one to uh… carry you or… something.”

MissingNo.’s smile grew wider with excitement. “̴̢̇T̴̢͐ḧ̵͚́-̶̰́t̵̥̏h̸̖͗-̸̜̀ţ̷̚h̵̅͜a̴̖͘n̶̥̈́k̷̲͊ ̸̣̈y̶̫̍ó̷͕u̶̝͌!̶͇͂”̷̘̏

“Y-yeah uh… no problem…”

Without warning, the greenish spider was grabbed by one of the disembodied claws and put face to face with the glitch entity. “̷͚̋N̸̳̓-̸̹̇ņ̷̋-̶̡̚n̷̨̑ò̶̻w̸̭̎-̷͕̄o̸̻̿w̶̻͒,̴̮̄ ̶̲̐c̸̨͗l̵̨̓o̴͙͝s̸̢͆è̶͓ ̴̮͛y̴͖͠ŏ̵̜u̴̖͛r̸͖̚ ̷͍̈́ȇ̴͍y̵̺̓ē̷̲s̸͇̓…̸̠̊”̴̙̈ John did as MissingNo. instructed and closed his eyes. Suddenly, he felt like his back was torn open with something fuzzy leaking from it. After that, he felt something cover up the strange hole before being closed up completely. John then suddenly fell to the ground with a grunt.

The Joltik rubbed the side of his head. “Ngh… the hell just happened?” He slowly opened his eyes before he began to feel lightheaded, his vision looking a bit like static was in his eyes before returning to normal. John looked around for a moment before looking at his back, seeing giant glitchy monochrome claws entering his body. “Holy shit!” He blurted out as the claws disappeared completely off his view. He sat on the ground and started running his forenubs on his body, looking for any differences and irregularities. “Did… did it work?”

The other members of Team Net ran to him and analyzed his body as well, Claire sniffing him for confirmation. “John, are you alright?” She asked.

The Joltik looked at her for a moment before slowly nodding. “Yes… maybe?”

Taro put a paw on his body before asking. “You don’t feel like… cold or different like there’s something wiggling inside of you?”

“Dude, this ain’t Resident Evil!” John shouted a bit annoyed before sighing. “No, I feel completely normal.”

Amy tilted her head. “So… was MissingNo. actually telling the truth?”

John looked aside for a moment. “I… guess it was?”

“Do you hear any voices?” “Is it speaking to friend right now?” Popo and Nana asked, tilting their heads.

“Nope…” John sighed before getting back to his feet. “In any case, if I’m not feeling anything, let's just… trust its word for now. As long as there’s no glitchy shit or something, I’m gonna trust that it’s fine.”

Claire sighed. “If you say so… but immediately tell us if something does happen, alright?”

The Joltik nodded before jumping on Claire’s head. “Let’s just get out of here… I’m so fucking done with this place.”

The others nodded and started to walk to where they were going before, the light at the end of the path.

They did it. After a few hours, Team Net was finally out of the Hollow Forest and was now standing at the edge of the Distortion World… or what used to be the edge. They breathed a sigh of relief, except for the Tandemaus. “We made it…” Claire muttered.

The twin mice took some steps forward and looked around. “You were right, friend.” They looked back at John. “The Distortion Realm has indeed expanded.”

John rubbed the top of his head. “Told ya so…”

Popo and Nana looked at each other before joining their mitten hands together, both hands glowing with a dark aura before stopping. They turned towards Team Net. “This place is now marked.” “If we go here again, we do not need to go through the Hollow Forest again.”

Taro sighed in relief. “That’s a good thing to know…”

“Now then…” “We can finally go to where we originally came here for…” The Tandemaus then made another X-shaped tear in space, the other side barely being visible. Popo and Nana turned to the quartet. “Are you ready?”

Team Net looked at themselves and silently nodded in determination, going to see this through no matter what. With that, the Tandemaus went through the portal, followed by the rest of Team Net.