BOOM—
Pukei-Pukei crashed to the ground—
Letting out a shrill, broken scream.
Lulu's eyes narrowed.
Locked onto the spikes embedded in its wings.
Her fur bristled.
"…It's that one, nya!"
That encounter—
Had been the closest she had ever come to death.
…
From the shadows—
A blade-like wing emerged.
Black.
Sharp.
Silent.
Then—
It stepped forward.
Elegant.
Deadly.
A pitch-black wyvern—
Its crimson-lined eyes glowing like embers—
Fixing onto its prey.
Nargacuga.
…
Su Yi's voice dropped—
Barely above a whisper.
"…Nargacuga."
"…Red meteor…"
The same monster—
That had nearly killed him.
— Three Predators
The wounded Pukei-Pukei struggled upright.
Feathers puffed.
Body lowered.
Presence reduced.
…
Feign weakness.
Feign harmlessness.
…
Survive.
…
But—
Neither predator cared.
…
Anjanath growled low—
A deep, threatening rumble.
…
Nargacuga responded—
Equally cold.
…
Both—
Ignored the third party entirely.
…
"…Wuwa…"
Pukei-Pukei whimpered.
Backing away slowly.
…
ROAR!!
Both predators snapped.
Their voices exploded across the forest.
…
Enough.
…
The message was absolute—
Leave. Or die.
…
"WAAAH!!"
Pukei-Pukei fled.
No hesitation.
— Territory War
Silence fell.
…
Now—
Only two remained.
…
Anjanath roared—
Expanding its dorsal sails—
Raising its nasal crest—
Making itself larger.
More dominant.
…
Nargacuga circled.
Silent steps.
Measured.
Precise.
Its blade-like wings twitched—
Waiting.
Calculating.
…
Then—
Anjanath moved first.
…
It charged.
Head lowered—
Like a living battering ram.
…
Nargacuga leapt—
Landing on its back—
But before it could strike—
…
BOOM!!
…
Anjanath slammed it—
Into a massive tree.
The trunk groaned—
Splintering.
…
"RAAAAGH!!"
…
Pain ignited fury.
…
Nargacuga bit down—
Straight into the fragile heat-sail.
…
Flesh tore.
Blood sprayed.
…
Anjanath howled—
Twisting violently—
Grabbing Nargacuga's tail—
…
SLAM!!
…
It smashed it into the ground.
…
But—
SPIKES—
Exploded outward—
Piercing its mouth.
…
Anjanath recoiled—
Forced to release.
— Stalemate
Both monsters stepped back.
Breathing heavy.
Eyes locked.
…
Killing intent rising.
…
Waiting.
For the next opening.
— The Spectator
"Crunch… come on… crunch…"
…
High on a distant tree—
Su Yi sat.
Cracking bitter scatter nuts.
Watching—
Like it was a performance.
…
"…Honestly."
"Just kill each other already."
…
Both of them—
Had nearly killed him before.
…
No sympathy.
…
In his arms—
Larvesta trembled.
Terrified.
Yet unable to look away.
— The Wind Changes
The wind rose.
Leaves scattered.
The battlefield—
Transformed.
…
Anjanath roared—
Its throat glowing red—
Flames gathering.
…
Nargacuga moved.
NOW.
…
SWISH—SWISH—SWISH!!
…
A storm of spikes tore through the air—
Piercing flesh.
…
Anjanath staggered—
Just for a heartbeat.
…
And that—
Was enough.
…
Nargacuga lunged.
Wing-blades flashing—
Aimed for the skull—
…
But—
Anjanath's eyes burned crimson.
…
ROAR!!!
…
It bit down—
Catching the blade.
…
CRACK.
…
Wing membrane tore.
…
Flames erupted—
Scorching flesh.
…
Nargacuga screamed.
…
Anjanath seized the opening—
And slammed it—
Again.
— The Signal
Then—
The wind changed.
…
Stronger.
Colder.
Heavier.
…
Clouds twisted above.
…
A sound—
Like a distant howl—
Echoed through the forest.
…
Both monsters froze.
…
They looked up.
…
Then—
Without hesitation—
They retreated.
Immediately.
— Something Worse
Su Yi dropped from the tree.
Landing lightly.
…
Scoutflies ignited—
Guiding paths.
Tracing scents.
…
But—
He didn't move.
…
He stared at the sky.
Expression—
Dark.
…
"…Su Yi… what's wrong, nya?"
…
"…This isn't normal wind."
His voice tightened.
…
"…Something big is coming."
…
"…Something controlling the storm."
…
He turned—
And ran.
— Escape Attempt
"Forget tracking—run!"
…
They sprinted toward camp.
…
"Should we return?!" Su Yi snapped—
Opening the guide.
…
Then—
…
[You are within the domain of the storm.][Return is not possible.]
…
Cold.
…
His spine—
Went rigid.
…
"…No way…"
…
His pupils shrank.
…
"…RUN!!"
…
"WHAT IS IT?!" Lulu shouted.
…
"…Elder Dragon."
— Disaster Descends
Lightning split the sky.
Thunder roared.
…
The forest—
Fell silent.
…
Every creature—
Gone.
Hiding.
Waiting.
…
Drip.
…
Drip.
…
Rain began.
…
Then—
DOWNPOUR.
…
Within seconds—
A storm.
…
Su Yi wiped rain from his face.
Cold water biting into his skin.
…
Larvesta—
Already recalled.
…
Wind howled.
Rain struck—
Like needles.
…
"…Almost there!"
…
He burst from the forest—
Into the coastal plains.
…
The ocean roared.
Waves smashed against stone pillars.
The storm—
Unleashed.
…
"…This…"
…
"…This isn't like the game…"
— The Storm God
The wind—
Stopped him.
Completely.
…
He couldn't move.
…
Pressure—
Crushing.
…
Then—
WOOOOM—
…
Wings.
…
Not flapping—
But commanding the wind itself.
…
A figure descended.
…
Steel scales.
A body wrapped in storms.
A dragon—
Riding the hurricane.
…
Su Yi raised his arm—
Shielding his face—
And whispered—
…
"…So it's you…"
…
Kushala Daora.
…
The storm itself—
Had arrived.