After defeating Butterfree, Centiskorch did not immediately leave. It raised its massive body, then gazed down at the silent forest from above...
In the next second, a fierce red light erupted in the sky, and countless fiery rain 'drops' descended from above. The trees below were instantly set ablaze.
A forest fire, with Centiskorch at its center, spread aggressively in all directions.
"Hey! Stop staring! It's time to go!" Luna's voice called from below.
Caleb landed with his Dragonite and Riolu. He frowned slightly and said, "You go first. Head to the eastern zone. I'll go to the southern zone and bring back that Dynamax Tyranitar."
Luna nodded, her eyes filled with worry...
The sky was filled with fiery rain, blooming like fireworks, while smoke billowed around them. The bright flames reflected on her face, creating an atmosphere that reminded her of the wartime romance novels she used to read in school.
As if making some grand decision, she suddenly clenched her small fists, took two steps forward, and wrapped her arms around Caleb's neck.
Caleb reacted as if facing a deadly threat. He bent down abruptly to break free, then asked vigilantly, "What are you trying to do?!"
Luna: "..."
"Never mind..." She sighed inwardly, the mood was thoroughly ruined.
Helpless, she said, "Go on then. Be careful... don't let Tyranitar turn the tables on you. Make sure you come back alive..."
Caleb frowned, "Don't jinx me."
With that, he mounted Dragonite. He noticed Luna not moving and he shouted, "Hurry up and run! The fire's about to singe your hair, and you're still standing there!"
Luna turned her head and, sure enough, saw a burning tree collapsing right behind her. Flames licked at the branches, the scorching heat making the air crackle.
By the time she looked up again, Caleb was already gone...
...
~Southern Zone~
Drake, Tristan, and Walter stared at the western sky, now crimson with fire...
"What's happening over there?!" Tristan's voice trembled with shock.
Drake's expression was grave, "We need to leave. The wind is blowing this way!"
Just then, an earth-shaking roar echoed from nearby.
The three of them whipped their heads around to see a colossal figure lumbering toward them.
Their faces paled instantly. Drake panicked and hurriedly said, "Put out the fire! Don't let it spot us!"
As he spoke, he frantically stomped on the blazing campfire in front of them. But it was too late...
The Dynamax Tyranitar had already noticed them.
"RUN!" Tristan's eyes nearly bulged out of his skull as he turned and fled, abandoning his Pokémon without a second thought.
"F*ck! A max-level Dynamax Tyranitar?! What the hell is this Instance playing at?!" Walter's face twisted in disbelief.
The ground trembled violently as Tyranitar took a single massive step forward. A gigantic boulder erupted from the earth and hurtled toward the trio.
The three of them were on the verge of breaking down. Tristan was so terrified, that tears and snot streamed down his face, his pants soaked, "MOM! HELP! I DON'T WANT TO DIE! AAAAAH!"
From a nearby tree, Caleb watched the scene unfold with a frown.
Perched on Dragonite's head, Riolu's was gaze calm as it observed the three fleeing figures below.
At the critical moment, the Lickitung Tristan had abandoned by the campfire suddenly lunged forward.
It slammed into its trainer with full force, knocking him out of a boulder's path, but was crushed beneath the massive rock in his place, instantly falling into a near-fatal state.
"LICKITUNG!" Tristan scrambled up despite the pain.
The boulder dissolved into dust, and a sandstorm began to swirl across the battlefield.
Having narrowly escaped, Walter and Drake collapsed onto the ground, staring in horror at where the boulder had landed.
Tristan stumbled toward Lickitung, scooping it up with trembling hands. He fished out an Oran Berry from his pocket, desperately trying to feed it to his barely conscious Pokémon. But Lickitung no longer had the strength to chew or swallow.
If a Pokémon remained in a near-fatal state for too long without treatment, it would die for real.
As a veteran player, Tristan knew this rule all too well. His face twisted with panic and helplessness. But there was nothing he could do.
On this isolated island without a Pokémon Center, a near-fatal state was practically a death sentence.
Just then, a tall and composed figure appeared before him.
Tristan looked up in despair, "Here to laugh at me?"
Caleb didn't answer. He crouched down, placing his right hand over Lickitung's body. The Viridian Power quietly activated, pouring life-giving energy into the injured Pokémon...
Tristan froze, his emotions in turmoil. He stared at Caleb with a complicated expression before finally asking, "...Why help me?"
Caleb shook his head, replying, "I'm not helping you. I just don't want to see this Lickitung die saving a trainer who doesn't deserve it. That would be too tragic..."
Tristan had no retort. He clenched his fists, remaining silent as he watched Caleb heal Lickitung.
When Lickitung's eyelids fluttered weakly, he finally exhaled in relief, "...Thank you."
Caleb didn't respond. He stood up, then turned to leave with Dragonite and Riolu. He still had to lure Tyranitar toward Centiskorch.
Tristan remained on the ground, watching the figure flying toward Tyranitar in the distance. "...Terrence Jones... was it? I'll remember you."
...
"Wuu?"
Mid-flight, Dragonite suddenly tilted its head, its large teal eyes locking onto Caleb...
It was asking: >...If we were in that situation… would you abandon us like that trainer did?..<
Caleb paused, then shook his head, "Of course not. Do I look like that kind of selfish trainer to you?"
Dragonite thumped its chest with a claw. "Wuu Wuuu!" (Then I'll protect you just like that Lickitung did!)
Riolu who was nestled in Caleb's arms listened quietly. In its heart, it vowed the same...
Caleb patted Dragonite's green head, "Let's focus for now. We've got work to do!"
"Wuu!"
Dragonite snapped back to attention, eyes fixed on the Tyranitar ahead.
Caleb calculated the distance. The moment Tyranitar entered Dragonite's attack range, he commanded, "Now! Twister!"
Dragonite opened its maw, purple energy swirled into a vortex-shaped beam that shot straight toward the Dynamax Tyranitar.
The attack struck the back of Tyranitar's head, halting its advance. With a ground-shaking roar, the colossal beast turned, its furious gaze locking onto Dragonite in mid-air...