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

Amidst the storm and torrential rain, an elder dragon with a metallic sheen descended gracefully, the wind coiling around its form as if it had been born from the tempest itself.

Su Yi lifted his head, gazing at the steel dragon that was less than ten meters away. The gusts carried raindrops that lashed against his face, and the overwhelming pressure made his legs tremble slightly.

Kushala Daora took notice of the stranded prey caught in the storm. Its blue-amber eyes stared at Su Yi in silence.

All creatures, when facing a predator, display some kind of emotion—be it fear, panic, wariness, curiosity, or even anger.

But the ancient dragon before him showed none of these reactions. These beings stood at the pinnacle of the ecosystem, completely disregarding any existence beneath them. Only when provoked would they unleash their fury.

Fortunately, Kushala Daora was not one to attack indiscriminately. Otherwise, Su Yi would have had no choice but to flee for his life.

Even so, just being watched by the steel dragon—its form shrouded by the storm—filled Su Yi with panic and suffocation.

It seemed to be telling him with its very presence: Revere the storm!

In that moment, Su Yi understood why those who dared to challenge an elder dragon, who stood their ground against nature's wrath and survived, were honored as heroes. The sheer courage it required was beyond what most could fathom.

Clutching Rucao's paw, Su Yi pulled the trembling feline behind him, shielding him. But in truth, Su Yi himself was also gripped by fear.

At this moment, the only thing in his backpack that could offer a shred of courage was a flash bomb.

However, unless Kushala Daora attacked first, he wouldn't recklessly use it.

If he threw that flash bomb now, he might end up provoking the steel dragon into a relentless pursuit.

"We're leaving, Rucao!" Su Yi forced himself to stay calm. Under the dragon's piercing gaze, he slowly led the dazed Lu Cao away.

Only when the figures of the man and the cat disappeared into the torrential rain did the steel dragon turn its head slightly in another direction. Then, it slowly lay down, gazing silently into the distance.

The seaside forest camp stood among the trees, shielding the tents from the howling wind. Su Yi and Rucao stumbled inside, drenched and disheveled.

Luckily, the adventurer supplies he had just bought at the Alcaide Island station were already proving their worth.

Charcoal, solid alcohol, a lighter, a kettle, and dry towels.

Su Yi quickly lit the stove, setting a pot of water to boil, and while warming himself by the fire, he immediately began drying Rucao with a towel.

"Are you okay, Rucao?" Su Yi asked with concern. This was likely the first time Rucao had ever come face-to-face with an elder dragon.

The feline's small paws were still trembling in Su Yi's grasp, though whether from fear or the loss of body heat due to the storm was uncertain.

"I'm fine now, meow… So that's an elder dragon? It was terrifying, meow! It felt like the storm itself, meow!" Rucao shuddered, still shaken.

"That's the peak of this world's power—commanding storms, shrouded in Gust, the Steel Dragon-Kushala Daora." Su Yi murmured, unable to suppress his awe for such a mighty being.

A man and a cat, staring into the eyes of an elder dragon in the midst of a storm—this was an experience many hunters would never have in their lifetime.

And for many, such an encounter would mark the end of their lives.

"I don't know how long Kushala Daora will remain in the Ancient Forest. We should be prepared to stay inside the tent for a while."

Fortunately, he had stocked up on plenty of food and supplies.

"Get some rest, or you'll catch a cold."

At midnight, the howling wind and pelting rain made it difficult for Su Yi to sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, those cold, enigmatic blue-amber eyes of the steel dragon resurfaced in his mind.

Only when facing an elder dragon in reality could one truly grasp their terrifying presence—no game's special effects could ever replicate that feeling.

"Su Yi? Can't sleep, meow?" Rucao's voice came from beside him, awakened by Su Yi's restless movements.

"Did I wake you?" Su Yi asked apologetically.

The small feline sat up and shook his head. "No, meow. I couldn't sleep either, meow."

"Rucao… when you faced Kushala Daora, were you scared? Or did you regret it?" Su Yi asked hesitantly.

"Of course I was scared, meow! My heart felt like it was going to stop! It was way worse than facing a Nargacuga, meow!" Rucao admitted, still rattled.

"But I don't regret it, meow! If I did, I wouldn't have chosen to go on an adventure in the first place, meow!" Rucao suddenly perked up, smiling.

Su Yi exhaled deeply and gave a wry smile. "I was afraid… that bringing you into danger would make you fear adventure—and that you'd leave me."

"Why would I do that, meow? As long as I'm with Su Yi, I won't be afraid of adventuring, meow! I love traveling with you, meow. You've taken me to so many amazing places, meow!"

"I think, meow… staying in one place forever, never knowing what kind of flowers bloom in the spring—that's what really scares me, meow," Rucao said, uncharacteristically serious.

"And if we have to face another elder dragon in the future?"

"Then we'll face it together, meow! I believe Su Yi will become really, really strong—so strong that he'll charge forward without fear, meow!" Rucao answered without hesitation, waving his paw.

"Thank you, Rucao. Let's continue our journey together."

"Meow!"

They reached out and high-fived.

The rain did not last through the night. By dawn, the storm had subsided, leaving only strong winds.

Stepping outside the tent, Su Yi shivered as the cold wind bit at him. He quickly tidied up the outdoor stove and began preparing breakfast.

The presence of the elder dragon had clearly left an instinctual mark. When Su Yi released the Great Jagras and Kulu-Ya-Ku from their pokeballs, they immediately grew agitated and restless. He had to hurriedly feed them before recalling them back into their pokeballs to rest.

Walking beyond the campsite, Su Yi peered through the trees toward the waterlogged coastal plain. The steel dragon remained, lying there in silence, its head still turned toward the sea.

"Why is Kushala Daora here in the Ancient Forest?" Su Yi muttered. "At this time, the Nergigante shouldn't be rampaging in the Elder's Recess yet. That only happens after Zorah Magdaros makes its Elder Crossing…"

A sudden realization struck him.

"Could it be that Zorah Magdaros has already begun its Elder Crossing—and is heading toward the New World?"

The more Su Yi thought about it, the more it made sense.

Elder dragons possessed an extraordinary level of perception. While it was possible that the steel dragon was simply wandering through the Ancient Forest, Su Yi was more inclined to believe that it had sensed the approach of an even more powerful life force making its way across the sea—hence its presence at the coastal region of the Ancient Forest.

The timing lined up.

"The future Sapphire Star…"

Su Yi felt like an epic tale was about to unfold—yet he himself was not yet prepared for it.

"Then from now on, I'll just have to be more prepared. And right now—" Su Yi's expression shifted, a smirk forming on his lips.

"Isn't this the perfect opportunity?"