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

"Damn, I didn't expect the forced return during my first mission to actually be a perk." Su Yi leaned against a tree, panting as he spoke.

When the Anjanath was chasing him earlier, he had considered returning to the Pokémon world for safety.

However, when he opened his golden finger ability—the Hunter's Manual—he was informed that he couldn't return while in combat or being tracked.

Only then did Su Yi realize that his first mission had granted him the privilege of ignoring the Nargacuga's presence and forcibly returning.

"I guess I need to be even more careful," Su Yi sighed, then took out a Capture Ball and released Rucao.

"Are you okay, meow?!" The cat immediately asked with concern.

"I'm fine, just ran into an old acquaintance," Su Yi chuckled.

Rucao wrinkled his feline nose in dissatisfaction. "Su Yi, you should always let me out, meow! I don't like the quiet environment inside the ball. I want to adventure too—I want to help you, meow!"

"Sorry, Rucao." Su Yi smiled bitterly.

Earlier, he had thought that moving alone would be more flexible in the narrow cave, so he had recalled Rucao.

But now he realized he hadn't considered the cat's feelings.

He truly saw Rucao as a partner, which was why he instinctively didn't want the cat to take risks.

However, he had forgotten that Rucao had chosen to follow him because he wanted to adventure alongside him—not to be treated as a pet and protected.

Felynes had their own thoughts and will. Rucao didn't want to be a pet—he wanted to be a true battle companion. Su Yi's actions had ignored his real desires.

"I'm Su Yi's partner, meow! Of course, we should act together!" Rucao raised his paw determinedly.

"Yeah, it won't happen again." Su Yi smiled and reached out his hand, high-fiving Rucao's paw.

Su Yi was about to return, considering how the breeding season had made the forest's monsters unusually sensitive and aggressive—plus, an angry Anjanath was still searching for him.

Continuing to explore would surely be troublesome.

But the more he thought about it, the more unwilling he felt.

He had come all this way, searching for tracks, being chased by monsters—yet he had gained nothing. That was frustrating.

"I can't just stop here. Let's try tracking it down one more time. If an adventure isn't risky, can it even be called an adventure?"

With that, Su Yi opened the Hunter's Guide map and marked the Great Jagras's den.

"Rucao! Let's go! The real hunt is just beginning!"

"Meow!"

Carefully skirting around the forest where the Anjanath and Rathian had clashed, Su Yi and Rucao arrived outside the Great Jagras's den.

Near a fallen tree, which had been toppled by the Great Jagras, lay a pool of blood, shattered yellow-green scales, and some crawling tracks. Most importantly, there was a partially digested, bloodied corpse of a herbivore.

"The Great Jagras isn't dead, but it's close. To escape, it vomited up its meal to reduce its weight. The crawling tracks lead this way!"

Su Yi calmly analyzed the scene. His hunter knowledge was beginning to come together, and suddenly, his thoughts became clearer than ever.

"Scoutflies, let's go!" He commanded. The green-glowing scoutflies latched onto the scent of the injured monster.

Following the glowing trail, Su Yi moved swiftly through the forest, collecting materials along the way.

"Getting close."

Slowing his pace, Su Yi pushed aside the foliage and saw a clearing where several herbivores were grazing.

A wounded Great Jagras, its body covered in gruesome wounds, was using its yellow-green scales to blend into the surroundings as it crept toward the prey.

The monster, which usually charged at its prey with reckless aggression, was now moving cautiously. Its injuries had weakened it so much that even hunting had become a challenge—a threat to its survival.

Roar!

When it could get no closer, the Great Jagras pounced with all its remaining strength. The herbivores panicked and bolted.

The Great Jagras barely managed to catch up to an old, weak herbivore, opening its jaws to bite down—

"Now's my chance!"

At that moment, Su Yi raised his left arm—his slinger loaded with Scatter Nuts.

Bang!

The Scatter Nut projectile hit the wounded side of the Great Jagras, exploding upon impact—right on one of the bite wounds left by the Anjanath.

"ROOOOAAARRR!!!"

The Great Jagras howled in agony, its voice filled with weakness.

"Go, Rucao!" Su Yi charged out of the underbrush, reloading his slinger.

His sudden appearance immediately drew the Great Jagras's attention. The monster turned, eyes burning with rage, and lunged at him.

Meanwhile, Rucao darted from the opposite side, his bone dagger glowing as he prepared to strike.

Slash!

Rucao's attack landed right on the monster's wound, making it shriek and twist to bite at the cat.

At the same time, Su Yi fired another Scatter Nut, pulling its aggro back.

With its mobility severely crippled by injuries, the Great Jagras quickly found itself overwhelmed.

"ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!"

It howled in panic, unable to defend itself.

Su Yi, however, remained patient. He and Rucao didn't rush in recklessly; they simply kept pressuring it, forcing it into a desperate struggle.

The most anxious one here was the Great Jagras—its life was now in grave danger.

In desperation, it abandoned all strategy and charged wildly.

But its injuries prevented it from running fast.

Su Yi kept his nerves tight, moving constantly, always staying just out of reach.

The Great Jagras soon realized it couldn't kill them and instead dove into the forest to flee.

"Hah! Trying to escape?"

Su Yi sprinted after it while adjusting his slinger.

Swish! A flash of silver.

Su Yi fired his Clutch Claw—

Clang! The hook latched onto the Great Jagras's back, locking in place.

In the next second, Su Yi activated the claw's pull, yanking himself onto the monster's back.

Sensing the unwanted weight, the Great Jagras veered toward a tree, trying to slam Su Yi off.

But Su Yi drew his sword and stabbed it into the monster's back. Though his strength wasn't great, the blade sank in just enough to anchor him.

Feeling the impact but holding firm, Su Yi clung tightly to the beast.

Seeing its ramming tactic fail, the Great Jagras gave up and started sprinting wildly, hoping to shake him off with low-hanging branches.

Behind them, Rucao chased tirelessly on all fours.

"Rucao! Get in here!" Su Yi twisted around and recalled the cat into his Capture Ball—

Then immediately released him onto the Great Jagras's back.

"Let's cause some chaos, Rucao!" Su Yi shouted.

"Got it, meow!" Rucao responded fiercely.

Raising his bone dagger, its glow brightened as he slashed wildly at the monster's back.

"ROOOAAAARRR!!!"

The Great Jagras let out a final, agonized scream, stumbling forward.

Its strength fading, the monster collapsed, rolling onto its side with a mournful cry.