Chapter Ten: First Command, Initial Trust

The cat leaping down immediately drew the attention of the Scratching Bird.

Huh?

With a startled cry, the Scratching Bird turned its head upward, only to be met by the cat’s dagger, shining with a cold white light.

Clang!

The blade struck with force!

With a shrill scream, the Scratching Bird staggered backward, its talons loosening. The egg it had been halfway through eating slipped from its grasp, shattering on the ground with a splattering crack, yolk spilling everywhere.

Caw!

The Scratching Bird’s eyes widened in disbelief as it stared at the broken egg, its expression a mix of denial and shock.

Taking advantage of the bird’s momentary daze, Su Yi also leaped down, dashing quickly to the pile of eggs and scooping the Fire Dragon Egg into his arms.

“Heave-ho, this is heavier than I thought!” Su Yi took a deep breath, hefting the egg.

The Scratching Bird snapped back to its senses, instantly noticing Su Yi—the egg thief. First, he had disrupted its meal and scattered its food, and now he was about to steal the delicacy it had planned to savor last.

Caw, caw, caw!

Furious, the Scratching Bird craned its neck and let out a harsh screech, arching its body in preparation for battle.

“Come on out, Dire Raptor!” Su Yi would have hesitated before, but things were different now.

A huge, green lizard, easily over ten meters long, filled the hollow of the tree, suddenly making the space feel oppressively small.

Roar!

The Dire Raptor bellowed, venting the frustration of being confined inside the capture orb.

In its rage, the Scratching Bird ignored the bizarre arrival of the Dire Raptor and charged forward, slashing its talons left and right.

“Dire Raptor, dodge!” Su Yi tried to command.

Roar!

But the Dire Raptor, with no concept of a trainer, paid him little heed. Spotting the Scratching Bird’s aggressive intent, it instinctively treated it as an outlet for its own irritation and restlessness.

As the Scratching Bird’s talons swung, the Dire Raptor retaliated with a snapping bite.

Crash!

Neither side came out ahead. The Dire Raptor, barely recovered from serious injuries, had its wounds torn open once more, while the Scratching Bird gained another bloody gash from the raptor’s teeth.

Both monsters roared defiantly, claws and jaws poised, every muscle tensed for the next clash.

Su Yi rubbed his forehead in exasperation.

“This can’t go on. This is a great opportunity—both sides are evenly matched. I have to try and get the Dire Raptor to follow my commands.” Su Yi’s expression grew grave as he quickly loaded his wrist launcher.

The two monsters clashed again, relying on brute instinct rather than skill. After a round of savage blows, they stood apart, both wounded and panting, eyeing each other for an opening.

Whoosh! Crack!

Suddenly, a pebble shot behind the Dire Raptor, startling it into a furious shriek as it whirled around.

Su Yi was standing there, one hand holding the launcher, the other gripping the Dire Raptor’s capture orb. His face was stern as he shouted, “You can understand me, can’t you?”

Since subduing the Dire Raptor, Su Yi had noticed its human-like expressions, making him wonder—did monsters that gained Pokémon traits also acquire the same intelligence and spirit?

Su Yi was determined to find out.

The Dire Raptor, upon hearing his words, stared intently at Su Yi, its face a blend of contemplation and confusion.

“As I thought! Those human-like expressions are proof enough!” Joy stirred in Su Yi’s heart. This meant that commanding monsters in battle was truly possible, not just mere beast-fighting.

The Scratching Bird, seeing the raptor’s distraction, lowered its head and tapped the ground with its beak, using the sensitive organs there to probe the rock beneath.

“You must be confused,” Su Yi called out, his voice quickening as he noticed the bird’s movement. “Suddenly you’re thinking about things you never did before, feeling strange powers inside you, unsure what’s ahead after being trapped inside that orb?”

“You can try trusting me! We’ll fight side by side, explore new places, face countless battles together, and discover what all this truly means!” Su Yi’s expression was earnest, his emotion sincere as he tried to win the Dire Raptor’s trust.

The raptor’s gaze was still skeptical, but now it turned to the Scratching Bird—not with a wild roar, but with a thoughtful, measured stare.

The Scratching Bird, meanwhile, had found its target. Digging with its talons, it unearthed a rock and held it tightly.

Su Yi clenched his fists in excitement—he knew he was already halfway to success!

Caw!

The Scratching Bird, losing patience, leapt up with the rock in its talons and brought it crashing down toward the Dire Raptor’s head.

Sensing the danger, the raptor scraped the ground with its claws, eager to leap, but kept itself in check.

Seizing the moment, Su Yi shouted, “Retreat and dodge!”

Roar!

With a low growl, the Dire Raptor responded, its powerful limbs propelling it backward just in time. The Scratching Bird’s rock smashed into the ground where it had stood, sending dust flying.

“Now! Avalanche Strike!” Su Yi punched the air with excitement.

Roar!

The Dire Raptor rose, a surge of power awakening at Su Yi’s command. It was a new ability, one it had never used before, and as Su Yi named the move, clarity dawned—the way to wield this power became clear.

Raising its torso, the Dire Raptor aimed its supple belly at the Scratching Bird. A white glow enveloped its abdomen—uneven and flickering, inexperienced, but still potent beyond normal limits.

Crash!

With the full strength of its body and the boost from the technique, the Dire Raptor’s blow nearly flattened the Scratching Bird.

Both were badly wounded, but the Scratching Bird was the more agile of the two. Yet, blinded by fury, it failed to use this advantage, while the Dire Raptor used its weight and the “Avalanche Strike” to land a devastating hit.

“Beautiful!” Su Yi waved his hand in exhilaration.

The Scratching Bird struggled to its feet, its rage fading; it realized its condition had become dire.

“Press the attack! Dire Raptor, use Bite!” Su Yi wouldn’t let this chance slip by.

The Dire Raptor responded instantly, jaws gaping wide, white light glinting along its teeth and extending outward, making them appear even more ferocious.

It unleashed the attack, sinking its fangs deep. With a plaintive cry, the Scratching Bird’s pale yellow scales were torn asunder.

“Now, fling it away!” Su Yi commanded.

With a huff, the Dire Raptor clamped down harder, twisting its powerful body, dragging the bird along the ground before tossing it violently.

With a heavy thud, the Scratching Bird let out a despairing shriek as it crashed to the earth.

Roar!

Empowered at last, the Dire Raptor let out a triumphant roar.

“That’s enough—it’s time for a clean capture!” Su Yi drew out a capture orb, aiming it at the fallen Scratching Bird.