◉◉◉◉◉
Squelch.
A powerful foot struck the muddy ground, splattering filthy rainwater across the cracked asphalt.
Kael grimaced, shaking the muck off his leg with mild disgust.
Becoming a Pokémon had its downsides.
Unlike humans, most Pokémon lived freely in the wild no clothes, no comfort, no modesty.
It wasn't that they couldn't wear clothes; it just didn't make sense.
Especially for someone like Kael.
He'd learned the hard way that whenever he fought, his muscles would swell with surging energy his body radiating wild power that could tear through any fabric in seconds.
Human clothes were made for comfort, not combat.
If he wore them now, they'd shred apart the moment he unleashed his strength.
So he'd gotten used to the freedom.
Without fabric dulling his senses, he could feel the air currents, the ground vibrations, the flow of energy everything around him with razor-sharp clarity.
Even before the Great Cataclysm, only domesticated or show Pokémon ever wore human-style outfits.
Fighters didn't need them. The Warriors didn't hide their nature.
"Are you sure this is the right road?" Kael asked dryly, glancing at the endless wilderness stretching ahead.
Earl his human companion rubbed the back of his head nervously. "I… I think so?"
Kael sighed, dragging a hand down his face. "Unbelievable. You're lucky I don't eat humans."
He muttered under his breath, trudging forward anyway.
At this point, he'd accepted that Earl's sense of direction was about as reliable as a Magikarp in a desert.
Then—
Bang. Bang. Bang.
The faint echo of gunfire rippled through the distant rain.
Kael froze mid-step, crimson eyes narrowing.
Earl blinked, confused. "What is it?"
Kael tilted his head slightly, listening to the rhythmic cracks in the air.
"…Curious," he murmured, turning toward the sound.
Without another word, he began walking toward it.
Earl hesitated for half a second, then sighed and hurried to catch up. He'd learned better than to question Kael's instincts.
---
The stormy air was alive with the roar of gunfire. High-velocity rounds hissed through the rain, slamming uselessly against the Golisopod's armor. Each impact flared with sparks then died against its diamond-hard shell.
Aiden crouched low behind a supply truck, his breath ragged. He'd hoped the guards' weapons could at least slow the creature down.
But they did nothing.
Each bullet hit like a raindrop against a fortress wall.
"Come on… just a little longer…" he whispered, his eyes darting back toward the convoy's rear.
Through the mist and drizzle, a slender silhouette was sprinting toward them fast.
Relief flickered in his chest.
She'd come.
Beside him, Buneary was still focused, glowing faintly with the energy of [Focus Energy].
The white light wrapped around its small body like a cocoon of determination. The guards, seeing the young Trainer preparing his Pokémon, redoubled their efforts pouring everything they had into holding off the monster.
But the Golisopod didn't even flinch.
It advanced slowly, deliberately.
Step by step.
Each footfall thundered like a drumbeat pounding inside their chests.
Fear spread like poison through the ranks.
One of the guards finally snapped.
"RAAAAAHHH!"
He broke formation, charging forward with a combat knife raised high.
Aiden's eyes widened in horror.
The Golisopod didn't even look at him.
Its secondary claw flicked out once so fast the air itself seemed to tear.
Shrrrk—
A wet, splitting sound followed.
Blood sprayed across the mud.
The man fell in pieces, lifeless, crimson soaking into the rainwater.
The creature raised its dripping claw and brought it to its mandibles, licking the red stain with grotesque satisfaction. Its violet eyes gleamed with predatory delight.
The rest of the squad broke.
Screams filled the air, panic shattering their discipline.
Aiden squeezed his eyes shut, trembling but he could feel it. The Golisopod wasn't just strong.
It was projecting something….. A mental pressure, a suffocating aura that clawed at human sanity.
It's using a psychic terror field, Aiden realized.
It's breaking their minds before it even attacks.
Despair began to bloom inside him until a familiar voice cut through the chaos.
"Vivillon! Use [Aromatic Mist]!"
The voice was light and melodic, but carried absolute confidence. Moments later, a majestic butterfly Pokémon descended from above, its enormous violet wings scattering glittering powder into the air.
A soothing, floral scent swept across the battlefield.
The guards gasped as clarity returned to their eyes; the crushing dread evaporated.
Aiden's heart steadied. He looked up.
"Made it…" he whispered.
Standing at the head of the convoy was a tall girl with short, flame-red hair that glistened under the rain.
Her League jacket was rolled up to her elbows, revealing strong, pale arms.
Her amber eyes sharp and commanding landed on Aiden with concern.
"You okay, Aiden?" she called out, her voice calm yet fierce.
He exhaled shakily and nodded. "If you hadn't shown up, I'd be Golisopod food by now, Scarlet."
Scarlet Thorn one of Ignis Academy's top field trainers smiled faintly.
"Good thing I like dramatic entrances."
Then her gaze shifted to the towering Golisopod standing ahead, its claws gleaming in the rain.
Her smile faded into a smirk.
"This one looks tough," she said, rolling her shoulders.
"But tough's my favorite kind."
◉◉◉◉◉
~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
◉◉◉◉◉
For early access to advanced chapters on P-atreon:
P-atreon/iamxeno
(Just remove the - hyphen to access Patreon normally)
Thank you so much for your support and for reading!