Chapter 641: A World Where Only Kabutops Gets Hurt
Just as the Alpha Flygon was frantically calculating whether Kazuya harbored any logical motive to deceive them, Kazuya's brow abruptly ticked upward. He whipped his arm downward, smashing a blazing Fire Punch straight into the soil.
Boom!
The cataclysmic noise startled the Flygon, nearly making him jump out of his skin. For a split second, he assumed Kazuya had lost his patience over their hesitation and was executing an immediate liquidation.
Yet, in the very next moment, the Flygon saw Kazuya retract his flaming fist, dragging a hideous, thrashing bug directly out from beneath the crust of the earth.
"Zeee!" The Alpha Flygon's compound eyes bulged, and he immediately threw back his head to unleash a frantic warning cry.
Those loathsome bastards were back!
The psychological state of the Flygon flock instantly spiraled into frantic agitation. The Trapinch and Vibrava hurriedly scrambled out from their subterranean burrows, shrinking tightly behind the adult Flygon.
They absolutely couldn't remain underground! Because that pack of bugs similarly commanded the Dig technique. If they remained holed up beneath the soil, they could be silently and ruthlessly slaughtered without making a sound.
"So it's Kabutops. Does the subterranean network beneath this Rocky Mountain range directly connect to the ocean?" Kazuya murmured, casually tossing the hideous bug aside.
Kabutops.
The singular known species across the Pokémon League officially classified as an "incompletely evolved" organism.
Some modern scholars hypothesized that prior to their resurrection via fossil technology, Kabutops had historically functioned as a dual Bug/Water-type Pokémon.
And the most ancient, absolute Overlords to ever govern this planet... were Bug-type Pokémon.
Commanding a terrifyingly rapid growth cycle coupled with an unrivaled, catastrophic reproductive velocity, they had historically crushed other biological organisms to the absolute brink of extinction, leaving practically zero habitable space across the globe.
That absolute reign persisted until roughly 300 million years ago, when the planet was plunged into a catastrophic Ice Age spanning tens of millions of years. Massive populations of Bug-type Pokémon froze to death. The most ancient and terrifyingly powerful Bug-type apex predators successively collapsed from their thrones.
For instance, the legendary "Strongest Hunter of the Ancient World"—Genesect. It was precisely in the wake of that Ice Age that the Genesect lineage vanished completely from the face of the planet. Judging by the parameters of the modern League Era, they hadn't succumbed to absolute extinction, but their demographic scale had suffered such a devastating degradation that they no longer commanded the requisite numbers to anchor a sovereign rule.
Ever since that cataclysm, Bug-type Pokémon lost their absolute numerical superiority, tumbling permanently from the throne of global Overlords.
Kabutops might not have stood as the absolute Top 1 apex predator of that era, but they were undeniably a core pillar of the vanguard that allowed Bug-type Pokémon to assert global dominance.
At the very least, across the oceanic domain, barring their fellow Water/Bug cousin Golisopod, there likely wasn't a single organism capable of contesting their sovereign jurisdiction. They historically thrived within warm marine environments, boasting exceptionally swift swimming parameters, capable of cruising at an estimated velocity of 29 knots.
Later on, triggered by an unknown variable, Kabutops' gills, legs, and overall physiology began a slow evolutionary progression, seemingly preparing to transition their existence onto the terrestrial domain.
Modern scholars during the League Era hypothesized this shift occurred because their primary prey species had begun migrating onto land.
Yet, this monumental evolutionary pivot was precisely the critical variable that branded Kabutops as an "incompletely evolved" species. Before they could flawlessly conclude their physiological transition, they were struck by an apocalyptic catastrophe. To this day within the League Era, the exact cause of their mass extinction remains an unsolved historical puzzle.
Of course... that was merely the sanitized, official narrative projected by the Pokémon League.
In raw reality, whether in Kazuya's previous world or this current era, populations of subterranean Kabutops undeniably existed.
It was just that in the previous world, their demographic numbers were intensely sparse; the League withheld the data primarily to shield them from poachers. In this current world, however, their population was immense. Given their inherently brutal, hyper-feral disposition and utterly primitive cognitive faculties, they simply weren't suitable organisms for ordinary Trainers to interact with; the League's silence in this timeline inadvertently served to protect human lives.
Just like in his past life, when Kazuya and Shirona had embarked on an expedition to chart the subterranean networks, they had been forced to step in to rescue a young miner and a Shieldon being relentlessly hunted by a pack of Kabutops.
The neurological processing of these Pokémon remained permanently locked within the savage parameters of the Ancient Era. They harbored absolutely zero comprehension of concepts like "mercy," nor did they grasp the political consequences of butchering a human being.
In their compound eyes, humans were structurally no different from any other weak, fleshy prey.
Back on the surface.
One Kabutops after another tore through the topsoil, swarming out from the subterranean network. Kazuya expanded his Aura Power, executing a rudimentary scan of their parameters.
Their numbers weren't overwhelming—roughly forty to fifty units.
Despite Kabutops commanding a natural elemental advantage, Kazuya didn't believe a vanguard of this scale possessed the absolute power to drive the Flygon clan to the precipice of extinction. This was especially true considering these specific bugs didn't register as exceptionally powerful.
However, factoring in the sheer frequency of these raids... if they were mobilizing forty to fifty units for every single wave, then the subterranean network immediately beneath the Flygon's bedding had highly likely degenerated into a sprawling, infested bug hive.
"Hey, don't just stand there gawking. Clean up this mess," Kazuya casually waved a claw toward the skyward sectors.
This was the exact tactical window he had been waiting for. His foundational blueprint had always been to extend an invitation, and if they hesitated, he would simply wait until their next ambush to mobilize his forces and offer direct martial assistance to demonstrate absolute sincerity.
He merely hadn't anticipated the timing to be this flawlessly convenient.
They had just touched down, and the Kabutops arrived right on their heels. Beholding this specific species of Pokémon, Kazuya felt zero surprise.
Trapinch and Vibrava absolutely ranked within the Top 3 targets on a terrestrial Kabutops' dietary menu. Their frequent, relentless raids were a biological inevitability. This wasn't a territorial war; this was a systematic hunt.
"Ahoo!"
"Al-ta~"
The Aerodactyl vanguard initiated a high-speed dive from the heavens, utilizing their razor talons and jagged fangs to violently tear the Kabutops apart.
A few Aerodactyl allowed their focus to slip, getting aggressively pounced on by leaping Kabutops and dragged down to the soil. The bugs crossed their scythe-like forelimbs, slashing viciously toward the Aerodactyls' necks—mirroring the executioner's scythe harvesting biological life.
But the Altaria flock wasn't deployed merely to serve as decorative cotton candy. Because their baseline velocity was inherently slower, they hadn't been pounced on by the initial wave of bugs, allowing them to anchor the rear and unleash immediate tactical support to cover the Aerodactyl.
A succession of violent gales swept across the field. The Kabutops pinning the Aerodactyl were violently hurled away by the wind pressure.
Instantly regaining their footing, the Aerodactyl lunged forward, launching a vicious flurry of bites and strikes, utterly determined to brutally reclaim the pride they had just sacrificed.
Kazuya didn't remain idle either.
He drove a devastating Bulldoze into the earth. Seven or eight Kabutops within his immediate perimeter instantly rolled their eyes back, violently knocked into unconsciousness. Following up, a torrent of roaring flames erupted from his jaws.
A platter of flawlessly roasted bugs—perfect in color, aroma, and flavor—was instantly served up. Though the aggressively pungent, stinging odor radiating from the burnt carapaces made Kazuya's jaw twitch in sheer disgust.
In reality, there was absolutely zero tactical necessity for Kazuya to personally intervene. The combined forces of the Aerodactyl and Altaria vanguards could have cleanly liquidated this entire swarm of bugs within five minutes. They commanded superior baseline parameters, optimal physical condition, and absolute numerical supremacy.
However, Kazuya calculated it was politically necessary to actively project his martial dominance before the Flygon flock. This served a dual purpose: forcefully extracting their awe and reverence, while simultaneously suppressing any lingering paranoia, allowing them to completely settle their hearts into their stomachs.
If he truly intended to slaughter the Flygon clan... did he genuinely lack the capability to execute them right now? Why on earth would he need to orchestrate a deceptive ruse just to kill them? That would be functionally identical to taking off one's pants just to pass gas—a completely redundant, idiotic waste of effort.
Exactly as he had synthesized, the variables flawlessly aligned with his blueprint.
Having personally witnessed the absolute combat superiority commanded by Kazuya's forces, and processing the undeniable reality that they had genuinely been rescued from an ambush, the Alpha Flygon decisively chose to extend his trust to Kazuya.
Securing the absolute trust of a Pokémon was, ultimately, an exceptionally straightforward endeavor.
"Zeee!" The Alpha Flygon nodded heavily toward Kazuya.
In the very next second, his physical frame initiated a rapid compression, shrinking from a staggering twelve meters down to a mere six.
"Welcome. From this day onward, you are officially our partners," Kazuya grinned broadly, reaching out a massive claw to firmly pat the Flygon's back.
To successfully subjugate a high-tier Rocky Mountain dragon lineage like the Flygon clan without expending a single shred of exhausting effort or losing a single fighter... it was mathematically impossible for him not to be thrilled. And Kazuya harbored zero intentions of masking his joy.
"Al-ta~" The Altaria flock warmly welcomed the integration of the Flygon, beating their cotton-like wings and throwing back their heads to unleash a melodic chorus.
The Aerodactyl, conversely, weren't nearly as enthusiastic.
No, that phrasing wasn't entirely accurate. It should be stated that the single-minded, primitive-brained Aerodactyl genuinely didn't care what new tribe merged into the collective. Their neurological parameters only required them to log a single directive: These are now companions. Do not fight them, and do not eat them. That was sufficient.
Currently, their absolute focus was entirely consumed by the task of "liquidating" the scattered Kabutops remains across the topsoil.
It had to be said—a roasted Kabutops radiated a deeply pungent, sharp odor. Yet for the exceptionally unique palates of the Aerodactyl, this scent was an overwhelmingly mouth-watering aroma.
"Zeee!" The Alpha Flygon smiled and nodded in return.
He turned around to officially communicate the integration decree to the rest of his clansmen. However, following a brief internal deliberation with his flock, he walked back toward Kazuya, his expression clouded with a heavy veil of solemnity.
"What is it?" Kazuya inquired with genuine concern.
He cared deeply about the operational status of the Dragon Clan's third aerial vanguard, which simultaneously doubled as their premier subterranean unit. Moreover, the Flygon clan boasted a demographic scale exceeding 60 members, and their Alpha leader firmly commanded parameters sitting at the lower-tier Champion level.
For an issue to force them into such a grim, brooding state, Kazuya deduced it absolutely couldn't be a simple logistical hiccup.
"Zeee..." The Flygon gave his wings a slight flutter, carefully detailing the critical bottleneck currently paralyzing their survival.
Somewhere deep within the subterranean network beneath these rocky peaks, there undeniably existed a massive Kabutops hive. They mathematically couldn't pinpoint its exact coordinates, but the Kabutops had completely locked onto the geographic location of the Flygon's territory.
If they continued to garrison this specific mountain, that swarm of brainless, hyper-feral bugs would inevitably launch successive, endless raids. This location was structurally impossible to inhabit long-term.
Yet, their infant Trapinch fundamentally required a sandy, loose-soil environment to mature healthily.
Where exactly were they supposed to relocate to?
Processing this data, Kazuya couldn't help but crack a broad grin.
This specific logistical puzzle was remarkably easy to resolve.
It was an established geographic fact that a sprawling desert was situated far to the south of the tropical rainforest. However, that coordinate was entirely too distant. With an immense jungle and a volcanic mountain range acting as massive geographic buffers separating it from the Dragon Clan's sovereign territory, migrating the flock all the way down there was a logistical impossibility.
As for alternative locations... over the past five years, Kazuya had developed a remarkably comprehensive understanding of the Rocky Mountain range's internal geography.
He was indeed aware of a few specific mountain peaks boasting a high concentration of sandy topsoil. But practically every single one of those coordinates was monopolized by terrifying apex predators like the Tyranitar or Garchomp clans. Furthermore, those peaks were nestled deep within the central nexus of the Rocky Mountains. Even if the Flygon successfully migrated there, they possessed zero martial capital to carve out a living under that immense pressure.
However... the absolute core reality was this: The Flygon clan didn't mathematically need to migrate at all.
The absolute origin point of their crisis was the Kabutops hive. If they could successfully launch a subterranean sweep and exterminate the Kabutops entirely, that would naturally be the flawless outcome. But since the hive's coordinates couldn't be tracked, that avenue was blocked.
Thus, the bottleneck had to be shattered from an entirely different operational angle.
And the alternative angle Kazuya immediately synthesized... was to deploy a separate draconian lineage—one exceptionally proficient at subterranean warfare, and whose biological diet explicitly included Kabutops—to cohabitate and garrison this territory alongside the Flygon clan.
Did such a Pokémon species exist?
Absolutely. A substantial number of them, in fact.
And by a stroke of flawlessly magnificent coincidence... the Druddigon clan was precisely that species.
"Hahaha..." Formulating this exact structural synergy, Kazuya couldn't help but chuckle aloud.
Druddigon were incredibly cunning and treacherous, yet they were biologically unsuited for prolonged terrestrial combat; the Flygon could flawlessly command the skyward sectors to shield them from aerial ambushes.
Conversely, while the Flygon were driven to the brink of madness by the subterranean Kabutops raids, the Druddigon were absolute masters at navigating claustrophobic tunnels to butcher those exact bugs—and they even actively hunted them as a primary food source!
It could be stated with absolute certainty:
With the generous "assistance" provided by the Kabutops swarm, these two draconian lineages could forge a flawlessly symbiotic, mutually beneficial cohabitation.
Kazuya wouldn't even need to heavily subsidize their food supply from the broader Rocky Mountain logistics network; the Flygon and Druddigon could comfortably sustain themselves purely by devouring the bugs. Given the Kabutops' terrifying reproductive velocity—practically cementing them as the terrestrial equivalent of Magikarp—there was zero mathematical probability of their food supply ever running dry.
Perfect. Simply flawless.
A beautiful world where only Kabutops gets hurt has officially been born.
~~~
Get early access to 30+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
~~~
Every 5 new reviews = 1 extra chapters
Every 150 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter