Chapter 127: Zorah Magdaros: What was that noise? (Peeks out)

"This is a perfect opportunity to record some ecological data," Su Yi whispered. "It's your turn, Rotom."

Aibo and Aiden exchanged a look: "?"

"My turn at last, Roto!" The Rotom Phone chuckled as it flew out from the side pocket of his backpack.

Aibo and Aiden were utterly astonished. "What kind of creature is that?! It floats in the air and can actually talk?!"

"Hello there, Roto! I am the Rotom Phone." A toothy grin appeared on the phone's screen.

"Is this also a Pokémon?" Aibo asked, wide-eyed.

Su Yi smiled. "That's right, and its abilities are incredibly convenient."

Having already witnessed non-biological Pokémon like Honedge, the group was becoming more accustomed to the varied forms of Pokémon.

"It’s still hard to believe," Aiden marveled. "Besides Wyverians, are there really other creatures that can speak human languages?"

"Rotom, start recording. This is important visual data," Su Yi said, leaning over a rock and pointing toward the Glavenus in the distance.

The Rotom Phone aimed its camera at the beast and replied, "Leave it to me, Roto."

A feed appeared on the screen, zoomed in, and began recording the Glavenus.

"How amazing! It can actually project the scene from so far away!" Aibo exclaimed.

"Pokémon are truly wondrous, aren't they?" Su Yi laughed.

Aibo leaned in close, staring intently at the screen, clicking his tongue in amazement.

In the distance, the Glavenus was diligently sharpening its blade, acting just like a patient blacksmith. Even though, by human standards, the greatsword was crudely forged and riddled with impurities and flaws, everyone knew they would have to avoid its edge once it started swinging. As the molten minerals cooled and solidified, the Glavenus held its tail-blade before it for inspection. Then, it placed the blade into its mouth, using the tooth-like protrusions on its jaws to grind it down.

"The edge is getting sharper," Aiden noted in awe.

The Glavenus admired its freshly forged blade, appearing quite satisfied.

"Valuable video recording of a Glavenus forging its tail-blade: acquired!" Su Yi said with a smile as he watched the footage saved on the Rotom Phone.

*ROAR!*

The Glavenus gave a satisfied growl and prepared to leave the canyon.

"Once it leaves, we can collect samples of the Zorah Magdaros's magma crust and head back to Astera," Su Yi said. Aibo and Aiden nodded.

*ROAR!*

Suddenly, the Glavenus's growl was answered by another ferocious roar.

"There's another monster?!" Aiden gasped.

Su Yi scanned the surroundings quickly. "Anything lurking around the tracks of an Elder Dragon is never going to be a pushover."

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

A series of rapid, heavy thuds echoed through the canyon, sounding like something massive was charging recklessly. Due to the undulating rocks, their line of sight was blocked, and for a moment, they couldn't tell what was coming or from which direction.

*ROAR!* The Glavenus suddenly turned toward a certain direction and bellowed.

*ROAR!*

A deep, powerful roar laced with a metallic rasp exploded through the air.

"That sound is so familiar... could it be?!" Su Yi climbed onto a rock and looked in the direction the Glavenus was facing.

*CRASH!*

The rocks blocking the path were smashed aside by brute force. A Flying Wyvern with tiger-like stripes scrambled forward on all fours, charging toward the Glavenus with unstoppable momentum.

"It's a Tigrex!" Su Yi crouched down, trying to make himself less conspicuous.

"The Blade of Scorch and the Absolute Power!" Aiden whispered in awe, watching the two monsters about to collide.

The Tigrex didn't slow down, launching itself into a pounce. The Glavenus nimbly dodged to the side and, while charging its heavy tail-blade, swung it toward the airborne Tigrex. But the Tigrex was prepared; as it landed, it dug its front claws into the ground and twisted its sturdy body, sweeping its frame like a battle-axe toward the Glavenus’s legs.

*THUD!*

The tail-blade missed, kicking up a cloud of debris, while the Tigrex’s strike connected with the Glavenus’s legs, throwing the beast off balance and forcing it to stagger. The Glavenus roared, spitting a molten iron bomb from its jaws. The recoil helped it regain its footing, and it stood firm.

*BOOM!*

The molten bomb exploded, sending liquid metal splashing everywhere. The Tigrex howled in pain, but its eyes grew even more feral. It didn't retreat; instead, it lunged forward to bite the Glavenus.

*SNAP!*

Its savage jaws clamped down on the base of the Glavenus's tail. Since more than half of the Glavenus's body length was in its tail, the sudden tug threw it off balance, and it was slammed to the ground by the Tigrex.

Su Yi watched with great interest. "Hey, 'Tiger,' is that really a place you should be biting?"

As he spoke, he grabbed two scattered nuts, cracked them open, and began snacking while watching the spectacle.

"Is this really okay?" Aibo asked, terrified they might get caught in the crossfire.

"It's fine, meow." Palico was already used to this; it pulled out a vial that looked like a potion and started chugging a drink.

"You two are far too relaxed," Aiden muttered.

Su Yi dug into his bag, pulled out two sodas, and smiled. "Want to watch together?"

Aibo and Aiden took them and drank deeply. On the battlefield, the Glavenus and Tigrex were locked in a fierce struggle.

The Tigrex swung its powerful forelimbs, hurling a massive boulder at the Glavenus. The Glavenus growled, adjusted its angle, and sliced the incoming rock in two with its glowing tail-blade. But behind the shattered rock came the Tigrex, lunging with murderous intent.

*THUD!*

The violent collision caused the entire forest of rocks to tremble.

*THUD!*

The ground shook.

Su Yi paused mid-bite, his casual demeanor vanishing instantly. "Something isn't right about this vibration," he said seriously.

Aiden realized what was happening and shouted, "Could it be?!"

*THUD!*

An even more violent tremor shook the earth. Even the two monsters fighting realized something was wrong; they broke away from each other and looked around in panic.

The Rotom Phone stopped recording and flew back into the side pocket of the backpack.

"Quick! Get the Corviknight!" Su Yi shouted.

The Corviknight, which was nearby, immediately flew over to retrieve them.

*BOOM!*

The ground shattered. Hundreds of tons of rock were heaved upward as the searing, volcanic magma crust rose from beneath the earth.

"Bad, bad, bad!" Su Yi scrambled frantically across the slope of the volcano. Rocks tumbled down all around him, and he dodged them narrowly while sliding down the embankment. "Why did it have to wake up at a time like this?!" he yelled in frustration.

*ROAAR!*

A panicked roar echoed from the volcanic shell of Zorah Magdaros.

"What!?" Su Yi looked back, his heart nearly stopping.

The massive body of the Tigrex was sliding down from the top of the volcano. It thrashed its limbs in a desperate attempt to find purchase on the slope, but it only slid faster—and directly toward Su Yi.

"Don't do this, Brother Tigrex!"

From calling it "Tiger" to "Brother Tigrex," Su Yi thought to himself: *I admit, I might have been a little too arrogant before...*