Chapter Eighteen: The Departure of the Alchemy Emperor, A Return to Armor Island

“So, what are your plans next?” Leon asked.

Su Yi pondered for a moment, sorting through recent events, then replied, “I’ll probably be staying on Armor Island for a while. I want to catch some Pokémon that will help with my adventures—and, by the way, find a caretaker to help hatch this little one.”

As he spoke, Su Yi carefully took out the Charizard egg from his backpack.

“Oh? That’s a big egg. Is it a Pokémon from your side?” Leon asked with keen interest.

Su Yi nodded. “It’s a Fire Dragon egg.”

“You have Charizards there too?” Leon inquired with curiosity.

Su Yi scratched his head and explained, “Not Charizard, just Fire Dragon. But, depending on the gender, male and female Fire Dragons look different and have contrasting fighting styles.”

“Ah, I’m really curious what kind of Pokémon that is. By the way, do you have many Pokémon over there that we don’t have here?” Leon asked.

Su Yi thought to himself: They’re all ones you’ve never seen.

“It’s both dangerous and amazing over there,” Su Yi replied, leaving it at that.

“That’s wonderful, to be able to see the different landscapes and cultures of two regions,” Leon said with envy. “If there’s a chance, take me to your hometown someday.”

Su Yi was taken aback, then sighed inwardly: That’s an unknown for now.

...

The next morning, Leon mounted his Charizard and bid everyone farewell.

“Su Yi, if you’re done with your matters, you can come find me in Wyndon City. If you need help with identity papers or documentation, I can assist you,” Leon said.

Su Yi immediately remembered that, in this world, he was still undocumented.

Without an identity, there would be endless troubles in a modern city. With Leon, the Champion, lending a hand, things would be much easier.

“I truly appreciate it. I’ll have to trouble you then,” Su Yi said gratefully.

“No need to be so polite. Safe travels,” Leon replied, pressing down his cap with a smile.

“You too!” Su Yi responded.

Luzhao waved her paws. “Goodbye, meow!”

Leon waved back, and his Charizard spread its wings, soaring toward the station near the Fields of Gratitude.

“Well, it’s time for my own adventure. For now, I’ll be in your care, Master Mustard, Aunt Honey,” Su Yi said, turning to the couple.

“No problem. Armor Island may be small, but do be careful,” Mustard said, hands clasped behind his back.

“I’m off!” Su Yi and Luzhao climbed onto the Dodorran, leaving the dojo behind and heading north toward the Soothing Wetlands.

...

The morning breeze was wonderfully refreshing. Su Yi hummed the “Chocobo Song” as he rode atop the Dodorran across the wetlands.

The Soothing Wetlands, as the name suggested, were a vast expanse of marshy fields with few tall trees, instead dominated by low shrubs and grasses. Streams, pools, and ponds were scattered everywhere, filling the air with cool, humid freshness.

“It feels like wandering through a wild plain.” Su Yi took a deep breath, enjoying the scenery and feeling at ease.

A few Woopers poked their heads out of a pond, curiously watching the passing Dodorran, while far off, an afro-maned Tauros strolled leisurely through the grass.

“Strange, I haven’t seen any Fletchinder around.” Su Yi looked up, searching the sky for a flash of scarlet.

That was his goal for the day: to find a Pokémon with the Flame Body ability—Fletchinder—to help accelerate egg hatching.

So focused was he on searching that Su Yi didn’t notice the wild Pokémon around him gradually disappearing.

Dodorran strode forward, passing by a pool.

Suddenly, ripples spread across the water’s surface.

“Roka!” With a splash, a Drednaw-like Pokémon lunged from the pool, its extendable neck shooting out as powerful jaws snapped at Dodorran.

“Gah!” The alert Dodorran quickly dodged to the side.

“What was that?!” Only now did Su Yi realize he had been ambushed.

“There’s another one in the water, meow!” Luzhao, who was seated behind Su Yi, immediately spotted a shadow lurking in the next pool.

“Roka!”

As expected, from the opposite side, another Pokémon burst from the water, jaws wide, striking at Dodorran.

“Drednaw!” Su Yi recognized the massive Pokémon at once.

Fortunately, Dodorran’s thieving instincts served him well; both Drednaw’s attacks were deftly avoided.

“Those two sly ambushers! Looks like whether it’s the Monster Hunter world or the Pokémon world, you always have to be cautious in the wild.” Su Yi drew out a Poké Ball.

“Think I’m easy prey? Go, Savage Dracovish!”

A gigantic lizard, over ten meters long, blocked the marsh. At the sight of such a formidable opponent, the two Drednaw froze in shock.

But Savage Dracovish did not hesitate.

“Roar!” With a mighty swing of its muscular forelimb, claws spread wide, a sharp greenish Dragon Claw tore through the air.

“Crash—” The Drednaw in front was sent flying into the pond by the blow.

Su Yi’s eyes lit up, noticing something different in this attack. Previously, Dracovish merely enveloped its claws in dragon energy, but this time, the claws were sharper, the energy condensed even tighter.

“Crash...” Seeing its companion so easily defeated, the remaining Drednaw hesitated, ready to flee.

“Roar—!” Savage Dracovish cast a fierce glare over its shoulder, its long tail raised high, glinting with green scales. In the next instant, the Dragon Tail lashed down like a heavy whip, sending the Drednaw crashing into the water alongside its partner.

With a tremendous splash, the encounter ended as swiftly as it had begun.

“You’ve perfected Dragon Claw and now learned Dragon Tail. Did you pick that up from Leon’s Charizard yesterday?” Su Yi asked in surprise.

“Roar!” Dracovish nodded.

“You’re getting stronger again. Well done!” Su Yi praised.

Not far off, hidden in the bushes, a sly figure watched as Dracovish dispatched the Drednaw duo with such ease. A glimmer of curiosity and mischief flashed in its cunning eyes.

“Hee hee!”

...

Perhaps luck was not on his side—neither Fletchinder nor even Talonflame appeared.

“After all, this isn’t a game. You can’t just encounter what you want. No sense wasting time. I’ll head back to the Focus Forest to check on those little cuties.” Su Yi unfolded the map of Armor Island that Master Mustard had given him, then made his way towards the first place he’d arrived in this Pokémon world—the Focus Forest.

...

The trees ahead grew taller and denser. Following the path in his memory, Su Yi soon reached the berry grove.

“I’m back!” Su Yi called out, releasing Chansey from her Poké Ball, who cried out happily, “Lucky!”

“Pikachu!”

“Goomy!”

...

One after another, more than a dozen Pokémon poked their heads out from trees, grass, and behind rocks. Overjoyed, they ran toward Su Yi, Luzhao, and Chansey, quickly surrounding them in a cheerful circle.

“There seem to be even more Pokémon now,” Su Yi remarked.

These small, gentle Pokémon had banded together, finding a way to survive as a group.

“Oh? There’s an Emolga, a Comfey, a Jigglypuff...” Su Yi glanced around in amazement at the various new faces.

“Huh?!” Suddenly, he exclaimed in surprise and hurried over to one particular Pokémon.

“Your ability... could it be Flame Body as well?”