The moment Lushui leapt down—
The Kulu-Ya-Ku reacted instantly.
"Gah?!"
It cried out in confusion, snapping its head upward—
Only to meet a blade wrapped in white light.
Slash!
The strike landed clean.
The Kulu-Ya-Ku staggered back with a sharp screech, its claws loosening—
And the half-eaten egg slipped free.
Crack!
Egg fluid splattered across the ground.
"GAH—!!!"
It froze.
Completely.
Its eyes widened—
Locked onto the shattered egg.
Shock.
Disbelief.
Then—
Pure devastation.
…
And in that fleeting moment—
Su Yi moved.
He dropped down without hesitation—
Rushing forward—
Grabbing the largest egg—
The Rathalos egg—
And pulling it tightly into his arms.
"Heh… heavier than I thought."
He adjusted his grip, exhaling sharply.
By the time the Kulu-Ya-Ku snapped out of it—
It saw everything.
The ambush.
The ruined feast.
And now—
The theft.
"GA GA GA—!!!"
Its entire body trembled.
Then—
It erupted.
Neck stretched forward.
Body lowered.
Claws digging into the ground.
Battle stance.
Fury incarnate.
…
"Come out—Great Jagras!"
Su Yi didn't hesitate.
This time—
He had confidence.
Light flashed—
And a massive green form appeared—
Filling the tree hollow in an instant.
"ROOOAAAR!!"
The Great Jagras roared, releasing all the frustration it had held back—
A beast unleashed.
The Kulu-Ya-Ku didn't even flinch.
It charged.
Claws slashing wildly.
"Great Jagras—dodge!"
Su Yi shouted instinctively.
But—
"RAAAGH!!"
The Great Jagras ignored him.
No discipline.
No obedience.
Only instinct.
It opened its jaws—
And bit back.
BOOM!!
Both sides collided head-on.
The Great Jagras—
Wounds tearing open again.
The Kulu-Ya-Ku—
A fresh, brutal bite carved into its scales.
They roared at each other—
Feral.
Unyielding.
Ready to clash again.
…
Su Yi covered his face briefly.
"…This won't work."
"They're evenly matched…"
"This is the moment."
"I need it to listen to me."
His gaze sharpened.
The Slinger loaded instantly.
…
The monsters clashed again.
Brutal.
Primitive.
No technique—
Only survival.
After another violent exchange—
They separated.
Panting.
Watching.
Waiting.
…
Whoosh—CRACK!
A stone shot past—
Striking the ground behind the Great Jagras.
"RAH?!"
It turned sharply—
Eyes locking onto—
Su Yi.
One hand raised—
Slinger still smoking.
The other—
Holding its Poké Ball.
"You can understand me… right?!"
His voice cut through the chaos.
Firm.
Unyielding.
…
The Great Jagras froze.
Its expression shifted—
Confusion.
Hesitation.
Something new—
Something unfamiliar.
…
"…Yes."
Su Yi's heart pounded.
"That's it."
"That intelligence…"
"It's real."
…
Behind them—
The Kulu-Ya-Ku lowered its head—
Claw tapping the ground.
Searching.
…
"You're confused, aren't you?"
Su Yi spoke quickly—
Stepping forward.
"Your body changed… your mind changed…"
"That strange power… that ball…"
"You don't understand any of it."
"But you can trust me."
"We'll fight together."
"Travel together."
"And figure all of this out—together!"
His voice carried no hesitation.
Only conviction.
…
The Great Jagras hesitated.
Then—
It glanced at the Kulu-Ya-Ku again.
This time—
No blind rage.
Only thought.
…
Meanwhile—
The Kulu-Ya-Ku found what it wanted.
It dug—
Pulled out a rock—
Gripping it tightly.
…
Su Yi clenched his fists.
"…Halfway there."
…
"GAH—!!"
The Kulu-Ya-Ku leapt.
Rock raised high—
Crashing down.
The Great Jagras flinched—
Instinct screaming—
But—
It held.
…
"NOW—DODGE BACK!"
"ROAR!!"
This time—
It listened.
It leapt backward—
Just in time.
BOOM!!
The rock smashed into the ground—
Dust exploding upward.
…
"NOW!!"
"BODY SLAM!"
The Great Jagras surged forward.
Something awakened within it—
That unfamiliar strength—
Now guided.
Now controlled.
White light gathered—
Unstable—
Flickering—
But powerful.
BOOM!!!
Its full weight crashed down.
Power + momentum—
Crushing impact.
The Kulu-Ya-Ku gasped—
Nearly suffocated beneath it.
…
"Beautiful!!"
Su Yi's voice rang with excitement.
…
The Kulu-Ya-Ku staggered up—
But its fury had faded.
Replaced—
By fear.
It understood now.
It was losing.
…
"Finish it!"
"BITE!"
The Great Jagras lunged—
Jaws glowing—
Fangs extending.
CRUNCH!!
The Kulu-Ya-Ku screamed—
Scales tearing open.
…
"Throw it!"
With a roar—
The Great Jagras twisted—
Dragged—
Then—
SLAMMED it into the ground.
BOOM!!!
The impact echoed through the hollow.
The Kulu-Ya-Ku lay still—
Letting out a final, weak cry.
…
"ROOOAAAR!!"
The Great Jagras roared in triumph—
Power surging through its body—
Fully awakened.
…
"…It's time."
Su Yi stepped forward slowly.
Poké Ball in hand.
Eyes locked onto the fallen Kulu-Ya-Ku.
A faint smile formed on his lips.
"Let's make this official."
"I'm taking everything."
"…Including the evidence."