The gentle sound of waves rolling across the white sand filled the morning air as Alex stood at the water's edge, letting the cool seawater wash over his feet. The early sunlight bathed the ocean in a soft golden glow while the salty breeze carried the fresh scent of the sea across the island. In the distance, Wingull called over the rhythmic crashing of the waves, adding to the peaceful atmosphere.
Behind him, the beach was already alive with activity. Some of his girls lounged on towels and beach chairs in their bikinis, enjoying the warmth of the morning sun, while others played in the shallow water alongside their Pokémon. Several Pokémon had wandered farther up the beach, where they basked in the sunlight or relaxed beneath the shade of nearby trees. The girls' laughter mixed with the playful cries of the Pokémon, blending with the steady rhythm of the waves to create a scene Alex could have watched for hours.
Clarissa was practically melting beneath the warm morning sun, sprawled across a lounge chair between Maris and Celise. The three hard-working women had clearly decided to make the most of their vacation, their muscles finally free from the constant demands of training and work. Dressed in simple bikinis, they basked in the sunlight with drinks nearby, occasionally chatting between stretches of comfortable silence.
Not far away, Lina, Mira, and Talia had gathered around a portable outdoor kitchen. Lina was already preparing an impressive lunch, with the smell of grilled meat filling the air as she worked on barbecue, salads, and dessert. Mira, as usual, had taken it upon herself to offer massages to anyone who wanted one, while Talia remained nearby as the group's medical standby. In practice, however, the doctor was far more interested in discussing the differences between human and Pokémon physiology with Mira than treating anyone.
The livelier group had claimed the water. Lyra, Mika, Sable, Rhea, Nyx, and Marnie splashed around in their bikinis, enjoying the freedom of a completely private beach where they could relax without worrying about prying eyes. Their tiny bikini tops barely contained their full breasts as they moved, the fabric stretching tight across soft flesh that jiggled and bounced with every step through the surf. Some played in the shallows while others joined a casual game of beach volleyball, their cries carrying across the water whenever someone made a particularly good play. The volleyball flew back and forth as the women dove and stretched, their bodies on full display with every motion.
A little farther up the beach, Vera, Kaia, and Iris rested on their towels beneath the sun. They had no particular plans beyond enjoying the beautiful weather, occasionally glancing toward the others while carrying on an easy conversation.
Alex slowly looked across the beach, taking in the sight with a peaceful smile. The familiar scene stretched before him, from the women enjoying the morning sun to the gentle waves lapping against the shore. His gaze eventually settled on the massive building standing behind him farther up the beach.
Calling it a house would have been an understatement. The massive structure looked more like a fortress, with enormous walls surrounding a vast open garden at its center. Each wall consisted of 5 rooms stacked 5 stories high, creating a total of 80 multipurpose rooms throughout the building. Each room was no less than 5 meters tall and measured 20m × 20m, providing more than enough space for Alex's girls and their children, while leaving ample room for future accommodations when they eventually retired.
The sheer size of the structure was only part of what made it impressive. Every room had been constructed entirely from Master ranked materials, making the entire fortress extraordinarily durable. Its glass walls somewhat betrayed the imposing appearance, but even those were made from Master ranked material and could withstand Elite ranked attacks without suffering so much as a scratch. Every room was fully equipped with everything its occupant could need, making the fortress as comfortable as it was secure.
Four prominent towers rose above the corners of the fortress, each equipped with antennas and an energy-shield generator. Once activated, the generators could envelop the entire compound in a powerful defensive barrier, making the already formidable structure practically impregnable.
The structure had been designed to maximize the sunlight reaching the rooms, with the open courtyard and glass walls allowing natural light to pour into the building throughout the day. The central garden provided a stark contrast to the fortress surrounding it, filled with trees, flowers, winding paths, and spacious patches of greenery. The courtyard gave everyone plenty of room to relax and enjoy the outdoors without ever leaving the safety of the walls.
The island was meant to be their retirement home, but it also gave them the perfect place to hide their true strength from the League. By keeping their actual prowess out of sight, they could reduce the Contribution Points they were required to provide each year while enjoying a peaceful life far from the League's attention.
It was a secure and secluded fortress built to serve as their forever home, far from the bustle of work, responsibility, and the outside world.
Alex smiled at the thought before turning his attention farther inland. Beyond the beach, a dense forest stretched across the island, its green canopy swaying gently in the morning breeze. And farther still, towering above the trees, stood the massive caldera. Looking even farther up, he could see a thin curtain of shimmering blue energy stretching across the sky. The shield covered the island and extended roughly a mile out over the surrounding sea, keeping it concealed and protected.
Alex's eyes lingered on it as old memories resurfaced. This was where his ultimate battle against Team Dominion had brought years of conflict to a bloody conclusion. The scars left by that battle had long since disappeared beneath the vegetation as intended, but Alex still remembered what had happened every time he looked toward the old volcano.
He turned back toward the beach. The sunlight had grown warmer, the waves continued their gentle rhythm, and the women around him carried on with their morning in relaxation. He took a slow breath of salty air and felt the last traces of tension leave his body.
This was exactly what he had wanted for his final resting place, a peaceful home on a beautiful island, surrounded by the people he loved. For once, Alex had nowhere else he needed to be.
"What do you plan on calling this place?" Vera asked as she slipped up beside him and hugged his arm against her chest. "We can't keep calling it 'the island' or CI-13, like the League designated."
Alex looked toward the peak of the caldera and smiled. The blasts from multiple near-nuclear explosions had blackened and sharpened its peaks, leaving the earth calcified into jagged obsidian edges. From a distance, the dark, reflective rock gave the caldera the appearance of a crown.
"How about Obsidian Crown Island?"
"A bit ominous, but straight to the point. I like it," Vera commented. "You can't mistake the place after one look. Although… since it's a crown and the trees look like green hair, the aerial view would make it look like a head with a bald spot in the center."
Alex chuckled but didn't comment. It looked nothing like that from his perspective, especially with the crater's inward slope. It would look even less like a bald spot once they properly assembled the training ground. They didn't have the money for the walls or a proper floor yet, but they would eventually.
In fact, the island was still missing many of the facilities they would eventually need. Nyx's powerful telecommunications tower had yet to be installed, along with Rhea's factories and laboratories, a proper landing pad for the airship, defensive turrets and cannons to protect against bombardment or invasion, and dedicated facilities for their Pokémon. For now, they only managed to transport and assemble the completed main building, mark out the locations for future development, and install and activate the energy shield to keep the island hidden from prying eyes.
Once the initial work was finished, everyone planned to spend the next 2 weeks simply enjoying themselves. It was a much-needed vacation, especially for the girls, who had spent years juggling work, training, and other responsibilities. They could finally relax, settle into their new rooms, enjoy the beach, and spend time together without worrying about their usual obligations.
Their children, meanwhile, had been left to manage the Silver Network on their own as a trial run. It was a chance to identify where they still lacked experience and determine what areas required improvement, which was why they were absent from the island.
"I can't believe we spent all that money and only managed to get the main building finished," Vera said. "I'm a bit concerned about how much harder you'll have to work just to earn the rest of the money we need."
Even with the girls contributing from their almost untouched savings, which amounted to billions of credits, they had only managed to afford the main building. Clarissa, as a regional Champion, and Marnie, as a longtime Gym Leader, had contributed the most, but even their considerable savings barely made a dent in the overall cost. After all, everything had been constructed from Master ranked materials, with top-notch craftsmanship and design throughout.
"Don't worry," Alex said, pulling Vera into a hug from behind as they watched the waves roll across the shore. "It won't take me that long to earn the rest of the money we need to get this place fully up and running. My new backpack can carry almost 10 times the amount of loot from a single trip, so I'll be able to bring back far more with each expedition. Once I've earned enough to finish everything, we'll officially move in and begin our new, relaxing life."
Vera enjoyed his closeness, leaning back against him, though a concerned look soon spread across her face.
"Will that really be enough?" she asked. "Aren't you eventually going to get bored?"
It was no secret that time had a way of eroding everything, even the strongest emotions, which was why she was so concerned. Alex was a battle maniac, and he needed his fix every once in a while just to stay sane. Even the brutal, near-deadly sparring sessions with his Pokémon weren't enough to satisfy him for long.
"I'll find a way to keep myself busy," Alex whispered gently into her ear. "Worst case, I'll head out on a dimensional expedition. No matter how much I save, I'll still have to pay the Contribution Points for at least 2 Master ranked Trainers. Besides, I doubt Lyra, Mika, and Sable would willingly sit around on this island forever. They'll eventually want to reach Master rank themselves and go on dimensional expeditions. In the end, we still need money and work to stay on the League's good side."
Vera sighed but gave up on the thought. As much as she wanted to keep him by her side forever, she knew it was simply unrealistic. Even she needed to dedicate time and effort to her Pokémon breeding to keep her life interesting. It didn't make sense for Alex to simply toss away his passion.
Alex's attention, meanwhile, had already turned toward his next dimensional expedition. Rhea had spent the past year upgrading his gear, improving everything from the turrets and Rotom's Mauler to his larger space bag. She had even added a few extra toys specifically designed to help him deal with massive armies of AI-controlled robots.
With all the new upgrades at his disposal, Alex was already looking forward to his next expedition, wondering what kind of adventure he would soon find himself in.