Su Yi, The Pokemon(?) Master (Pokemon X Monster Hunter Fanfic)

With a resounding thud, the Pukei-Pukei crashed to the ground, letting out a piercing wail.

Rucao carefully examined the spines on the monster's wings and immediately recognized them.

"It's that guy, meow!" That encounter had been the closest Rucao had ever been to death.

From the dense foliage, a pair of black blade-like wings emerged, followed by an elegant, pitch-black figure stepping into view. Its dragon-like eyes, accentuated with crimson markings, locked onto the Anjanath.

The Anjanath ignored the wailing Pukei-Pukei, instead fixing a fierce gaze upon this new intruder.

"Nargacuga!" Su Yi murmured. This was the monster that had nearly killed him—the Pouncing Shadow!

The Pukei-Pukei, its wings badly injured, struggled to stand. It shrank its neck feathers, making itself look as small and pitiable as possible—its natural survival instinct.

Silently, the Nargacuga stepped onto the forest clearing, while the Anjanath growled menacingly, issuing a deep, guttural rumble. Neither predator spared the Pukei-Pukei a second thought.

"Uwah…" The Pukei-Pukei whimpered and cautiously backed away, whining all the while.

ROAR!

The Anjanath and Nargacuga suddenly let out furious, synchronized roars at the still-lingering Pukei-Pukei, as if annoyed by its continued presence.

Was this some kind of Ancient Forest bullying?

"Uwah!" The Pukei-Pukei abandoned all pretense, turning tail and fleeing in abject terror.

With the stage now cleared, only the two apex predators remained, poised for a territorial battle.

The Anjanath bellowed, its back membrane flaring, and its nasal crest rising to make itself appear even larger and more intimidating.

The Nargacuga let out a low growl, circling the Anjanath in measured steps, searching for an opening. Its razor-sharp wing blades twitched in anticipation.

The short-tempered Anjanath struck first. It lowered its head and charged, its powerful legs propelling it forward with tremendous speed.

The Nargacuga nimbly leaped onto the Anjanath's back, but before it could sink its fangs into flesh, the Anjanath rammed itself against a massive tree, shaking the forest with a thud.

The force of the impact sent the Nargacuga crashing to the ground.

The enraged Nargacuga let out a furious snarl, sinking its fangs into the Anjanath's exposed heat membrane.

Flesh tore, blood splattered.

With a pained roar, the Anjanath twisted its head and clamped its jaws down on the Nargacuga's tail. With savage strength, it swung the Nargacuga and slammed it onto the ground.

THUD!

The Nargacuga's tail spines bristled in pain, stabbing into the soft flesh of the Anjanath's mouth, forcing the beast to release its grip.

After this brutal exchange, both creatures panted heavily, their eyes locked in mutual fury, preparing for the next strike.

Snap!

Sitting on a tree branch some distance away, Su Yi nonchalantly cracked open a slightly bitter Scattering Nut, munching as he watched the spectacle unfold. He almost wished these two monsters, which had each given him trouble before, would tear each other apart.

In Su Yi's arms, his Larvitar alternated between fear of the two colossal monsters and fascination at the once-in-a-lifetime battle unfolding before its eyes.

The wind began to pick up, rustling the leaves. The Anjanath and Nargacuga remained locked in their standoff, their clash now framed by a storm's brewing intensity.

ROAR!

The Anjanath bellowed, its throat glowing red as sparks crackled between its fangs.

The Nargacuga seized the opportunity.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Its barbed tail lashed out, launching a volley of razor-sharp spines toward the Anjanath.

The spines embedded themselves into the Anjanath's flesh, causing it to stumble. Seeing its chance, the Nargacuga lunged, its wing blades slicing toward the Anjanath's head.

Just as the deadly strike was about to land, the Anjanath's eyes burned crimson. With a furious roar, it snapped its jaws shut, catching the wing blade between its fangs.

CRACK!

The Anjanath clamped down, tearing through the wing membrane. A burst of fire erupted, searing flesh and sending the Nargacuga howling in pain.

The Anjanath swung its head violently, tossing the Nargacuga aside.

Then—

The winds surged.

Dark clouds swirled overhead, and powerful gusts howled through the trees.

As if recognizing an ominous signal, the Anjanath immediately released the Nargacuga and looked skyward. Without hesitation, it turned and retreated.

The Nargacuga snarled after its rival but did not pursue. Instead, it too vanished into the jungle.

Su Yi sprang to his feet, stepping into the clearing where the battle had taken place.

His scouting flies latched onto the monsters' tracks, memorizing their scent. Su Yi picked up a stray Pukei-Pukei feather, and the scouting flies hovered over it, preparing to lead the way.

But Su Yi did not follow. Instead, he lifted his gaze to the turbulent skies, his expression grim.

"Su Yi, what's wrong, meow?" Rucao asked, sensing his unease.

"This isn't just any storm, Rucao. Something... terrifying is riding the winds."

Ignoring the glowing quest prompt on his Hunting Guide, Su Yi turned and bolted toward camp.

"We should just return!" He opened the Hunting Guide, preparing to teleport back to the Pokémon world.

[You are within the domain of the storm. Departure is not possible.]

A chill ran down Su Yi's spine. Cold sweat dripped down his back.

"No way... there's a restriction like this?! We have to run—now!" Without another word, he took off at full speed.

"What's going on, meow?!" Rucao shouted, struggling to keep up.

"It's an Elder Dragon!" Su Yi's voice was grim, his expression deadly serious.

He never expected that his Hunting Guide—which prevented departure when a monster was tracking him—would also block escape in an Elder Dragon's domain. Did that mean he could only leave once the Elder Dragon departed or was slain?

"E-Elder Dragon?!" Rucao gasped in horror. These creatures were legendary calamities—living disasters that reshaped the world itself. And now, one was descending upon them?!

Thunder rumbled through the cloud-laden sky, silver lightning slithering between the storm clouds.

Despite the thunder's fury, an eerie stillness settled over the Ancient Forest. Every living creature had sensed the presence of an overwhelming force and had gone into hiding.

Drip. Drip.

Raindrops began to fall. Su Yi quickened his pace.

Whoosh!

Moments later, the heavens unleashed a torrential downpour.

Su Yi wiped the cold rain from his face. The chilling dampness was already sapping his stamina. He had long since recalled Larvitar to its Poké Ball, but the icy rain still stung against his skin.

"We're close!" He burst from the forest into the open plains near the coast. The ground had turned to slick mud under the relentless rain. In the distance, the ocean raged, monstrous waves slamming against towering sea stacks.

Su Yi had never imagined that the cataclysmic Elder Dragons from the game could feel so suffocatingly real.

"If I can just make it there..." He struggled against the storm, trying to locate the camp.

But then—

WHOOSH!

The storm struck.

A tornado erupted out of nowhere, the sheer force of the wind pinning Su Yi in place.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Above the raging tempest, the deafening sound of wings slicing through the wind drowned out even the torrential rain.

Descending upon the Ancient Forest's coastal plains, a dragon clad in steel-like scales—Kushala Daora—had arrived.

Su Yi raised a hand to shield his eyes from the raging winds and rain, forcing himself to gaze at the terrifying figure within the storm.

"So... that's an Elder Dragon."