The Pokémon before him—
Was insect-like.
Its head covered in soft white fluff.
Five red horns extended from its neck.
Three pairs of short legs supported its small body.
…
Su Yi's eyes widened slightly.
"…How did I forget?"
"There are Larvesta here too."
A Fire/Bug-type Pokémon.
And its final evolution—
Volcarona.
A creature once mistaken for a pseudo-legendary.
…
"Ji-wu!"
Startled by Su Yi's sudden approach—
Larvesta shrieked—
And bolted into the forest.
"Sorry! Wait—don't run!"
Su Yi immediately realized his mistake—
And chased after it.
…
Despite its small size—
Larvesta was fast.
Darting through bushes—
Slipping between roots—
A flicker of white in the green.
"Larvesta, I'm not trying to hurt you!"
It dove into a bush—
"Pujii!"
Suddenly—
It was knocked flying out.
…
"ROAR!"
A massive green lizard burst from the foliage—
Fangs bared.
"…Jagras?!"
Su Yi froze.
His hand instinctively moved—
The Poké Ball—
Still at his belt.
"…What the—"
"ROAR!"
The creature lunged—
Claw slicing toward the stunned Larvesta.
"Watch out!"
Su Yi reacted instantly—
Diving forward—
Scooping Larvesta into his arms—
SHING!
The grappling claw fired—
Embedding into a tree—
And just as the claw—
Nearly tore through his back—
He was yanked upward.
…
"…"
Larvesta trembled in his arms.
"Stay calm…"
"You're safe."
Su Yi steadied himself—
Then threw a Poké Ball.
"Come out—Jagras!"
FLASH!
His Jagras appeared—
And froze.
Because standing before it—
Was… itself.
…
"ROAR!"
The unknown Jagras attacked first.
"ROAR!!"
Su Yi's Jagras roared back—
Claws igniting—
Dragon Claw—
CLASH!!
BOOM!!
The impostor Jagras was knocked back—
Sliding across the ground.
Then—
BZZZZT—
Its form distorted.
Shrank.
Shifted.
Into—
A small, black fox-like Pokémon.
"…Zorua."
Su Yi exhaled slowly.
"So it was an illusion…"
"…A perfect one."
Even he—
Had been fooled.
…
"Hehe~"
Zorua giggled mischievously—
Eyes gleaming—
Then vanished into the bushes.
…
Su Yi shook his head.
"…That almost gave me a heart attack."
Below—
Jagras tilted its head—
Clearly intrigued by the illusion.
…
Su Yi looked down at Larvesta—
Still trembling.
"…Sorry."
"Didn't mean to scare you."
He carried it gently back—
To the berry grove—
And set it down.
Larvesta didn't hesitate—
It vanished again.
…
"…Yeah."
"I rushed that."
Su Yi sighed softly.
"…Guess it depends on fate."
…
— The Gathering —
He laid out everything he had prepared:
Berries.
Food.
Ingredients from the New World.
And Pokémon dishes from the dojo.
"Dig in, everyone."
…
Instantly—
The forest erupted in cheers.
A feast began.
…
Then—
A few Pokémon approached him.
Carrying items.
"…Huh?"
Mushrooms.
Apricorns.
Shards.
Even—
A Leaf Stone.
…
Su Yi blinked.
"…For me?"
"Pika!"
Pikachu offered it proudly.
"Goo~"
Goomy climbed onto his head—
Presenting a revive-like item.
…
"…Thank you."
Su Yi's voice softened.
To them—
These might have been small things.
But to him—
They meant everything.
His first real resources.
Medicine.
Supplies.
A foundation.
…
"…You guys saved me."
…
— Sunset —
Golden light filled the forest.
"See you next time!"
Su Yi waved.
…
But—
Larvesta still hadn't returned.
He sighed—
Turning away.
"Let's go."
Kulu-Ya-Ku stepped forward.
…
"…Hm?"
Su Yi paused.
"…Why is my bag heavier?"
He opened it—
A small white head popped out.
…
"…Larvesta?!"
"Ji-wu!"
It shrank back slightly.
…
Su Yi immediately softened his voice.
"Sorry… didn't mean to scare you earlier."
Larvesta hesitated—
Then nudged forward—
Holding an Oran Berry.
…
"…For me?"
Su Yi accepted it gently.
Then—
His tone turned serious.
"…Are you sure?"
"My journey…"
"…won't be safe."
…
Larvesta glanced back—
At the forest.
Then—
At the sky.
Beyond.
Its eyes trembled.
But—
"Ji-wu!"
It nodded.
…
"…Alright."
Su Yi smiled.
"Then from now on—"
"We're partners."
He extended the Poké Ball—
Like a fist bump.
Click.
Larvesta tapped it.
Captured.
…
— Back at the Dojo —
"I'm back!"
Mustard laughed.
"Someone looks happy."
Su Yi grinned.
"New teammate."
He revealed—
The Rathalos egg—
With Larvesta resting on top.
"Ji-wu…"
A shy greeting.
…
— Meanwhile, Wyndon —
Chairman Rose's office.
The door opened.
Leon stepped in—
Then paused.
Standing there—
Fully geared—
Was Bea.
"…Leon."
"Our Champion."
Rose sighed.
"You could've rested longer."
Leon smiled faintly.
"I met someone interesting."
Rose raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"From the Isle of Armor?"
"…I see."
…
Bea remained silent.
The Isle of Armor…
Mustard's island…
The place where the Champion once trained.
Her eyes sharpened.
…
"…If I'm hesitating—"
"…Then I'll go there."
"…And find my answer."
She turned.
"Chairman Rose."
"I'd like to request leave."
…
"…Understood."
He nodded.
…
And just like that—
A new path—
Was set in motion.