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

ROOOOAAARR!!

As if things weren't bad enough, Deviljho took a step back, tensed its legs, and then leaped high into the air.

It came crashing down toward Bazelgeuse, aiming to smash it into the ground.

If Su Yi got caught in that impact—he'd be flattened into paste.

At this life-or-death moment, Su Yi's mind raced.

Grabbing Rucao, he raised his grappling hook launcher and fired toward a distant rock formation.

THUD!

The ground quaked violently, sending dust and rubble raining down from the cliffs above.

Just in time, Su Yi swung away, narrowly escaping Deviljho's devastating stomp.

"Huff… haah!"

Su Yi shook his trembling legs, his heart slamming against his ribs.

"Su Yi, meow! It's Odogaron, meow!"

Rucao pointed excitedly.

In a corner of the battlefield, Odogaron lay motionless, its fate uncertain.

Not far from it, Deviljho and Bazelgeuse were still locked in fierce combat.

Su Yi gritted his teeth—then ran toward Odogaron.

The ground was treacherous, covered in a thick layer of bones that had accumulated over countless years.

Jagged, uneven skulls and ribcages made every step difficult.

Even though it was only forty to fifty meters away, the tremors from the monsters' movements made it feel like an endless distance.

"Su Yi, watch out, meow!"

Rucao's urgent warning made him react instantly.

Without thinking, Su Yi dived forward.

The next moment—

A gigantic, muscular tail whipped past overhead, slicing through the air where his head had been just a second ago.

Su Yi scrambled to his feet, sparing a quick glance at the battle.

Deviljho and Bazelgeuse were locked together once more, their battle moving closer toward him.

"Too far…"

Su Yi eyed Odogaron.

At this distance, even with his good aim, hitting a precise capture shot was risky.

Just as he rushed forward again, a monstrous foot slammed into the ground nearby.

Shattered bones exploded into the air, raining down like shrapnel.

A few pieces struck him hard, sending sharp jolts of pain through his body.

But Su Yi just gritted his teeth and pushed forward into the field of bones.

One step.

Two steps.

Through the treacherous, uneven terrain, he pressed forward—fast.

Then—

A thunderous roar exploded behind him.

Bazelgeuse, with its powerful frame, slammed Deviljho into a rock wall, blocking Su Yi's path.

The two titans crashed down between him and Odogaron.

ROOOOOOARR!!

Deviljho furiously retaliated, its massive body twisting and thrashing, creating a whirlwind of force.

The sheer power of their clash sent shockwaves through the air.

Barely dodging a fatal collision, Su Yi found his opening.

With a running start, he slid beneath Deviljho's snapping jaws and past Bazelgeuse's glowing scales.

"So close!"

Su Yi pulled out a capture ball, locking onto Odogaron—

THUMP!

His heart nearly stopped.

A razor-sharp claw slammed down inches from his head.

Su Yi shielded himself, looking up—

And locked eyes with Deviljho.

It had finally noticed the tiny human scurrying around.

Not far away, Bazelgeuse had been knocked down, struggling to get back up.

Somehow, Deviljho had gained the upper hand.

ROOOOAAARR!!

Deviljho bellowed at Su Yi, releasing a blast of putrid breath.

The shockwave of its roar rattled his skull, leaving him momentarily paralyzed.

"Su Yi, meow!!"

Rucao's scream pierced the air.

Stunned, Su Yi froze in place, his body going cold and numb.

Then—

A savage howl tore through the battlefield.

A dark-red blur suddenly lunged into action—

Odogaron, who had been motionless this entire time, exploded forward.

With lightning speed, it latched onto Deviljho's head, digging its claws deep into its face.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

Odogaron's razor-sharp talons tore into Deviljho's flesh, ripping and shredding wildly.

Deviljho shrieked in rage, violently shaking its massive head, trying to throw Odogaron off.

"I'm saved!"

Su Yi snapped back to his senses and sprinted away as fast as he could.

At that moment—

Bazelgeuse rose back up, spreading its wings wide.

Then—

It soared into the sky.

In the next instant—

A rain of explosive scales descended from above.

BOOM!

THUD!

By sheer misfortune, Deviljho slammed its head into the rock wall, violently shaking off Odogaron, which had been clinging to its face.

Odogaron was instantly sent flying, crashing onto the ground.

Deviljho wasted no time in retaliating.

It opened its massive jaws and clamped down on Odogaron, lifting the struggling monster into the air.

Meanwhile, high above, Bazelgeuse had finished scattering its explosive scales and was now diving straight toward Deviljho.

Without hesitation, Deviljho swung Odogaron like a weapon and hurled it toward the incoming Bazelgeuse.

"RAAAGH!!"

Odogaron let out a mournful wail as it was intercepted midair, slamming directly into Bazelgeuse.

Caught off guard, Bazelgeuse staggered in the air, losing control and crashing down.

"Odogaron… that was brutal!"

Even Su Yi felt phantom pain just watching.

"Now's our chance, meow!"

Rucao's urgent voice snapped Su Yi back to reality.

Odogaron had fallen right in front of him.

"I have to capture it!"

Su Yi focused all his attention and hurled the capture ball.

CLANG!

The capture ball struck Odogaron, absorbing it inside.

Just as the ball sealed, Bazelgeuse steadied itself on the ground—

And then—

It unleashed a fiery explosion from its mouth.

WHOOSH! BOOOOM!

In an instant, the explosive scales ignited, detonating in rapid succession.

The toxic gas in the area caught fire, creating a chain reaction.

The entire valley erupted into an inferno.

The blazing heat surged forward, consuming everything in its path.

What was once a battlefield was now a hellish sea of flames.

"Cough, cough! Where did the ball go?!"

Su Yi waved his hands in front of his face, trying to clear the smoke.

But the capture ball had been blown away by the blast, its location unknown.

Even worse—

Rucao was nowhere to be seen.

"Rucao!! Rucao!! Where are you?!"

Su Yi called out in panic, his voice nearly drowned out by the roars of monsters and the crackling fire.

Amidst the flames, Deviljho howled in fury.

Bazelgeuse took to the skies once more, preparing to unleash another barrage of explosive scales.

Their battle raged on, unaffected by the inferno consuming the valley.

Then, through the smoke—

A charred, soot-covered figure rushed out, holding the capture ball high.

"I got it, meow!"

"Rucao!!"

Relief flooded Su Yi as he saw his companion safe.

Without hesitation, he scooped Rucao up and sprinted toward the exit.

Using the raging fire as cover, Su Yi and Rucao staggered their way out of the burning valley.

Behind them, the roars of Deviljho and Bazelgeuse echoed through the mountains, along with the tremors of their ongoing battle.

Finally, outside the danger zone—

"Huff… huff… Rucao, are you okay?"

Su Yi asked between heavy breaths.

"I'm fine, meow!"

Rucao shook itself off, revealing its once white-and-black fur now completely charred black.

Su Yi let out a long exhale.

"That was terrifying. Good job, Rucao, but please don't ever take such risks again. No monster is more important than you."

As he gently patted the dust off Rucao's fur, his voice was filled with concern.

Rucao stretched its body, purring at Su Yi's touch.

"Got it, meow! But I'm still happy I could help, meow!"

Su Yi sniffed, then grinned, ruffling Rucao's fluffy head.

Back at the Cave Camp

Su Yi took out some clean water, quickly washed off the grime, then immediately retrieved Odogaron from the capture ball.

The sight made his stomach tighten.

Odogaron was in terrible shape.

The ripped wounds on its abdomen had gotten even worse from Deviljho's second bite.

Su Yi could see exposed internal organs through the gaping wound.

The only thing keeping its stomach together was a few remaining strips of flesh.

If not for the faint rise and fall of its chest, Su Yi would have thought it was already dead.

"This is bad."

He quickly pulled out a Vitality Fragment, trying to feed it to Odogaron.

But in its weakened state, Odogaron couldn't even swallow.

"I need help—immediately!"

Su Yi called out for Chansey.

"Chansey!"

Chansey appeared—then gasped in horror at Odogaron's condition.

It had never seen a Pokémon this badly injured before.

While Chansey channeled Healing Waves, Su Yi gathered his medical supplies—

Potions, sutures, bandages…

He took a deep breath, steeling himself.

"Alright… focus."

This was his first time stitching a wound.

And this wound was beyond anything he had ever seen before.

The only thing he could rely on was the basic medical knowledge from his "Hunter's Training" ability.

"Odogaron… hang in there. You're the unbreakable warrior of the Rotten Vale!"