"So—what's your plan next?"
Leon asked casually.
Su Yi paused—
Sorting through everything that had happened.
"I'll stay on the Isle of Armor for a while."
"I want to catch a few Pokémon that can support my journey…"
He hesitated—
Then reached into his backpack.
"And also…"
"…find a babysitter for this little guy."
Carefully—
He lifted out a massive egg.
…
Leon's eyes lit up.
"Oh? That's huge."
"From your world too?"
Su Yi nodded.
"It's a Rathalos egg."
Leon tilted his head slightly.
"Rathalos?"
"You mean… something like Charizard?"
Su Yi chuckled.
"Not exactly."
"It's still called Rathalos."
"But males and females differ a lot—both in appearance and combat style."
…
Leon's curiosity deepened.
"…Now I really want to see it."
"And your world…"
"Are there many Pokémon we don't have?"
…
Su Yi thought silently:
You haven't seen anything yet.
But he only smiled.
"It's dangerous…"
"But also incredible."
…
Leon sighed softly.
"That sounds amazing."
"Traveling between worlds… seeing completely different ecosystems…"
Then—
He grinned.
"When you get the chance—"
"Take me there someday."
…
Su Yi froze for a moment.
…That might not be possible.
But he didn't say it.
…
— The Next Morning —
Golden sunlight.
A gentle breeze.
…
Leon mounted Charizard—
Preparing to leave.
"Su Yi—"
"When you're done here, come find me in Wyndon."
"I can help you with identification… paperwork… things like that."
…
Su Yi blinked—
Then realized.
Right.
He was basically an illegal resident.
"Thank you. That helps a lot."
Leon smiled, adjusting his cap.
"No need to thank me."
"Safe travels."
"You too!"
Su Yi waved.
"Bye-bye, meow!"
Lushui waved energetically.
…
With a powerful beat of wings—
Charizard soared into the sky—
Vanishing toward the distance.
…
— Setting Out Again —
Su Yi turned.
"I'll be heading out too."
"I'll stay here for a while—sorry for the trouble, Master Mustard, Mrs. Honey."
Mustard chuckled.
"No trouble at all."
"Just be careful."
"I'm off!"
…
Su Yi and Lushui mounted Kulu-Ya-Ku—
Heading north—
Toward the Soothing Wetlands.
…
— Soothing Wetlands —
Morning wind.
Cool.
Refreshing.
"🎵 La~ la la la~ 🎵"
Su Yi hummed softly—
Riding through the open terrain.
Shallow waters reflected the sky.
Bushes dotted the land.
Scattered ponds shimmered in the sunlight.
The air—
Moist.
Alive.
"It feels like wandering through an endless field…"
Su Yi took a deep breath.
Nearby—
Wooper peeked out curiously.
In the distance—
Bouffalant grazed lazily.
…
"Where are the Fletchinder…?"
He scanned the sky—
Searching for a streak of red.
That was his goal.
A Pokémon with Flame Body—
To speed up egg hatching.
…
But—
Something felt wrong.
Too quiet.
…
— Ambush —
Ripples formed in the water beside them.
"ROAAK!"
A massive turtle-like Pokémon burst out—
Its long neck snapping forward—
"GAH!"
Kulu-Ya-Ku dodged instantly.
"What the—?!"
Su Yi snapped to attention.
"Another one!" Lushui shouted.
"ROAAK!"
A second Drednaw lunged—
From the opposite side.
"Drednaw…"
Su Yi narrowed his eyes.
Both attacks—
Missed.
…
"Cheap ambush…"
He pulled out a Poké Ball.
"You think I'm easy prey?"
"Go—Jagras!"
BOOM!!
A massive green beast slammed into the wetlands—
Water splashing violently.
The two Drednaw froze.
…
But Jagras—
Didn't hesitate.
"ROOOAR!!"
Its claw ignited with draconic energy—
Dragon Claw.
SLASH!!
The first Drednaw was launched—
Crashing back into the water.
…
Su Yi's eyes widened.
"…Stronger than before."
…
The second Drednaw hesitated—
Fear creeping in.
Too late.
Jagras turned—
Eyes blazing.
Its tail rose—
Energy gathering—
Dragon Tail.
WHAM!!
The second Drednaw was sent flying—
Splashing violently into the water.
…
Silence.
Battle over.
Clean.
Efficient.
…
Su Yi stared.
"…You improved Dragon Claw…"
"And learned Dragon Tail?"
Jagras puffed its chest proudly.
"ROAR!"
…
"…You learned that from Leon's Charizard, didn't you?"
"ROAR!"
…
Su Yi smiled.
"Nice."
"You're getting stronger already."
…
— Somewhere Nearby —
Hidden in the bushes—
A pair of eyes watched.
"…Hehe."
Curious.
Interested.
…
— Later —
Still no sign of Fletchinder.
"…This isn't a game."
"You don't just encounter what you want."
Su Yi sighed.
"Let's head back."
"To the forest."
…
— Reunion —
"I'm back!"
"Lucky!"
Chansey called out happily.
"Pika!"
"Goomy!"
Dozens of Pokémon rushed out—
From trees—
From bushes—
From rocks—
Surrounding him instantly.
…
"…There are even more now."
The weak—
Had gathered together.
Surviving.
Protecting each other.
…
"Emolga… Comfey… Jigglypuff…"
So many unfamiliar Pokémon.
…
Then—
Su Yi froze.
"…Huh?"
His eyes locked onto one Pokémon.
He stepped forward slowly.
Heart beating faster.
"…Your Ability…"
"…is Flame Body… right?"