The injured Kulu-Ya-Ku clutched the massive egg tightly, its movements filled with barely contained excitement as it hurried down along the Ancient Tree's inner pathways.
Strangely—
No Rathalos.
No Rathian.
Neither pursued it.
Instead—
The battle raging above the canopy only grew more violent.
"…Something's off."
Su Yi frowned, his eyes narrowing.
"The injuries on it came from Anjanath earlier… so it stole the egg without getting hit?"
"Then what exactly are Rathalos and Rathian fighting up there?"
He watched in disbelief as the Kulu-Ya-Ku ran past him, proudly hugging the egg like a treasure.
The creature paused.
Turned its head.
Looked at him.
Then—
Let out a strange cry.
Almost smug.
As if saying—
Impressive, right?
And then—
It ran.
ROOOAR!!
BOOM! CRASH!!
The violent clash above snapped Su Yi back to reality.
"…Unbelievable."
"There really is a Kulu-Ya-Ku crazy enough to steal a Rathalos egg in the middle of chaos…"
Without hesitation—
He gave chase.
Careful.
Keeping distance from the battle above.
…
"…What could be fighting them?"
Su Yi ran while analyzing rapidly.
"Not an Elder Dragon… most monsters avoid those."
"Not ground-based either… this is the only access route."
"No new tracks detected…"
"…So it must be a flying wyvern."
A new variable.
A dangerous one.
"…Bazelgeuse?"
He slowed slightly—
Then shook his head.
"…No."
"The roar doesn't match."
That sound—
He knew it too well.
"…Then what is it…?"
No answer.
Only uncertainty.
…
Following the trail—
They reached a narrow hollow within the tree.
"…This should be its nest."
Su Yi raised his hand—
Signaling Lushui.
Both moved silently.
Step by step.
At the corner—
He peeked inside.
The Kulu-Ya-Ku had placed the Rathalos egg down—
Then began rummaging through a pile of others.
Different shapes.
Different sizes.
Selecting.
Choosing.
…
Su Yi pulled back slowly.
"…Damn it."
"How do I capture it without damaging the egg…?"
Yes—
He wanted that egg.
Not to eat—
But to hatch.
A Rathalos companion.
This—
Was the closest he had ever been.
"…No traps…"
"…Wait."
He froze.
Then smacked his forehead.
"I'm not just a hunter."
"I'm a Pokémon trainer."
He released Chansey.
"Lucky!"
Lushui waved excitedly.
"Meow!"
"Chansey—use Sing."
"Lucky~♪"
A soft melody flowed through the cave.
Gentle.
Hypnotic.
The Kulu-Ya-Ku froze.
"…Ga?"
It tilted its head—
Confused—
Then slowly turned toward the sound.
Its steps became sluggish.
Heavy.
Drawn forward.
…
At that exact moment—
Outside the nest—
THUD. THUD. THUD.
Heavy footsteps.
Anjanath.
Its nostrils flared—
Tracking.
Then—
It caught the scent.
ROOOOAR!!!
Excitement surged.
It charged straight toward the hollow.
…
Inside—
Just as the Kulu-Ya-Ku reached the corner—
BOOM!!!
The wall exploded inward.
Wood shattered.
Debris flew.
Anjanath burst in like a living battering ram.
"WAH—!!"
The Kulu-Ya-Ku shrieked.
Sleep—
Gone instantly.
It grabbed an egg—
And ran.
"…It's back again, meow?!"
Lushui gasped.
"…The egg!"
Su Yi's eyes locked onto it.
That—
Was the Rathalos egg.
ROAR!!
But Anjanath didn't care.
It ignored the thief—
And lunged straight at Su Yi.
"…What did I even do to you?!"
Su Yi instantly recalled Chansey—
Then ran.
Lushui followed.
Behind them—
Destruction.
The tree hollow collapsed as Anjanath tore through it in pursuit.
"…Still chasing?!"
Su Yi gritted his teeth—
Loading his Slinger.
"So you came prepared this time…"
The first shot—
Missed.
Dodged.
Too fast.
Too sharp.
"…Fine."
"You asked for this."
Second shot—
Direct hit.
The Dung Pod exploded on its nasal crest.
The stench—
Overwhelming.
Its tracking—
Disrupted.
But—
Still furious.
Still chasing.
"…Then how about this—"
"Flash!"
BOOM!!
Blinding light erupted.
Anjanath staggered—
Vision gone.
Disoriented.
Roaring wildly—
But helpless.
By the time it recovered—
Su Yi was gone.
…
The Scoutflies reappeared—
But the trail—
Was broken.
"…Can I still track it?"
Su Yi frowned.
The egg—
Was likely gone.
"…Damn it."
"Meow! Feathers!"
Lushui pointed.
Yellow feathers—
Caught in the vines.
"…Good eye."
The Scoutflies locked onto them—
And resumed tracking.
…
But something felt wrong.
"…Why are we back here?"
The trail—
Looped.
Returning to the original nest.
Inside—
Only broken shells remained.
Everything else—
Gone.
"…It came back to relocate food…"
"Smart."
"Very smart."
…
Following the new trail—
They reached another hollow.
Inside—
The Kulu-Ya-Ku was feasting.
Surrounded by eggs.
Stockpiled.
Greedy.
Obsessed.
"…There."
Su Yi spotted it instantly.
The largest egg.
The Rathalos egg.
Still intact.
…
"…Now."
"Lushui—go."
"Leave it to me, meow!"
With a powerful leap—
Blade glowing—
Lushui descended from above.
"Cat Combat!!"