"…Damn."
"So that instant forced return from the first mission… was actually a bonus."
Su Yi leaned against a tree, breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling with exhaustion.
Back when Anjanath had been chasing him—
He had thought about escaping by returning to the Pokémon world.
But the moment he opened the Hunter's Manual—
A message had appeared:
[Cannot return while in combat or being tracked.]
Only then had he understood—
The earlier escape from Nargacuga—
Had been a one-time privilege.
"…Looks like I'll have to be more careful."
Letting out a long breath, Su Yi released Lushui from the Capture Ball.
"Are you okay, meow?!"
The moment he appeared, Lushui rushed over anxiously.
"I'm fine. Just ran into an old acquaintance."
Su Yi smiled faintly.
Lushui frowned.
"Keep me out next time, meow. I don't like staying inside the ball… it's too quiet. I want to adventure too… I want to help you."
"…Sorry, Lushui."
Su Yi's smile turned bitter.
Earlier—
He had kept Lushui inside while entering the cave alone.
He thought it would be safer.
More flexible.
But now—
He understood.
Lushui wasn't a pet.
He was a partner.
And partners—
Fought together.
"I'm your partner, meow! Of course we move together!"
Lushui raised his paw proudly.
"…Yeah."
"No more of that."
Su Yi smiled—
And high-fived him.
…
"…So, what now?"
Part of him wanted to retreat.
This forest—
Was far too dangerous.
Breeding season had made everything more aggressive.
And that vengeful Anjanath was still out there.
But—
The more he thought about it—
The more unwilling he became.
"…I can't just leave like this."
"Tracked. Chased. Almost died…"
"And got nothing?"
"…No way."
His fingers curled into a fist.
"If I avoid all risks…"
"…Is it even an adventure?"
He opened the [Map].
Marked—
The Great Jagras nest.
"Lushui—let's go."
"The real hunt starts now."
"Meow!"
…
Carefully avoiding the battlefield where Rathian and Anjanath had clashed—
They returned to the cave.
Outside—
Traces remained.
Blood.
Scattered scales.
And—
A partially digested herbivore corpse.
"…Not dead."
"But close."
Su Yi crouched, analyzing.
"To escape, it regurgitated food to reduce weight…"
"This trail… leads this way."
The hunter knowledge within him—
Was beginning to click.
"Scoutflies—track it."
Green lights swarmed out—
Locking onto the scent.
Then—
They moved.
Guiding him deeper into the forest.
Broken branches.
Claw marks.
Blood trails.
Everything pointed forward.
"…Getting close."
Su Yi slowed down—
Gently pushing aside the bushes.
Ahead—
A clearing.
Several herbivores grazed peacefully.
And there—
A heavily wounded Great Jagras.
Hidden.
Crawling slowly.
No longer reckless—
Only cautious.
Its injuries—
Had crippled it.
ROAR!!
When it could no longer get closer—
It lunged.
The herd scattered instantly.
One weak target—
Caught.
"…Now."
Su Yi raised his Slinger.
CRACK!
Scatter Nuts fired—
Exploding directly into its wounded side.
A perfect hit.
Right into the torn flesh left by Anjanath.
"ROOOAR—!!"
Pain surged.
Its roar faltered.
"Go—Lushui!"
Su Yi burst forward—
Reloading as he ran.
The sudden attack—
Pulled its attention instantly.
The Great Jagras turned—
Eyes blazing with fury—
Charging toward him.
At the same time—
Lushui burst out from the opposite side.
SLASH!!
Cat Combat struck cleanly—
Right into the wound.
The monster howled—
Turning toward him—
Only to be interrupted again—
CRACK!
Another Slinger shot slammed into it.
Split focus.
Two attackers.
The wounded beast—
Was trapped.
ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!
Panic crept into its voice.
Its stamina—
Fading.
Its injuries—
Worsening.
But Su Yi didn't rush.
This wasn't chaos.
This was control.
A hunt.
And in a hunt—
The one who panics—
Loses.
Desperate—
The Great Jagras turned and fled.
"…Trying to run?"
Su Yi sprinted after it—
Adjusting his Slinger.
Then—
SHING!
The Clutch Claw fired.
CLACK!
It latched onto the monster's back.
The wire snapped tight—
Yanking Su Yi forward—
Landing directly on top of it.
The Great Jagras slammed sideways into a tree—
Trying to throw him off.
Su Yi drew his blade—
Driving it into its back.
Not deep—
But enough to anchor himself.
The monster charged wildly—
Scraping through branches—
Trying to shake him loose.
Behind them—
Lushui sprinted on all fours.
"Lushui—get in!"
Su Yi recalled him instantly—
Then—
Released him directly onto the monster's back.
"Let's go wild, Lushui!"
"Got it, meow!"
With a fierce cry—
Lushui raised his weapon—
And struck.
SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!
Blow after blow—
Relentless.
"ROOOAR—!!"
Pain stacked.
The monster staggered.
Its legs buckled—
Then—
CRASH!!
It collapsed—
Rolling violently onto the ground.