Chapter Twenty: The Hunting Grounds Where Monsters Gather

At dawn, Su Yi stretched lazily and got out of bed in a leisurely manner. At the table, Dewgrass breathed on the goggles attached to her leather cap and polished them with her feline paw.

After washing up, the human and the cat made their way into the kitchen.

Yesterday, having already obtained permission from Honeyleaf to use the kitchen and ingredients, Su Yi began preparing breakfast.

“A little plain porridge with an egg makes for a simple meal.” Su Yi simmered the congee, and when the timing was right, cracked in a herbivorous dragon egg, then sprinkled in some meat morsels.

A big pot of simple lean meat and egg drop porridge was soon ready.

“Su Yi, you’re up early,” Honeyleaf said as she entered the kitchen with a traditional Western breakfast of bread and other items.

“You really don’t need to trouble yourself with breakfast,” Su Yi said, ladling out a bowl of porridge and passing it to her. “After all, I’m just a guest here with nothing to repay you, so I wanted to do what little I can.”

“And besides, I’m not a child anymore.” Su Yi sat down, grabbed some bread, and began to enjoy his breakfast.

“I might be back late today, or perhaps not at all, but don’t worry.” Su Yi and Dewgrass quickly finished breakfast and hurriedly dashed out the door.

“This young man Su Yi—sometimes he’s as mature as an adult, and sometimes as mischievous as a child,” Honeyleaf said with a wry smile, instantly reminded of her own old man at home, who was addicted to games.

……

“Armor Isle Station.” Riding his mount, Su Yi arrived at the Steel Armored Crow Station on the southwestern edge of the Salutation Plains, where people traveled across the sea by Steel Armored Crow taxis.

Though called a station, it also served as a marketplace. Here, not only could one purchase various trainer supplies, but also ingredients and seasonings for curry. There were even buyers collecting all sorts of items and materials.

Su Yi found a merchant here and sold off some of the materials and items bestowed by the Pokémon in Focused Forest. He selected a few to part with, such as the sought-after large and small mushrooms, apricorns for crafting specialized Poké Balls, and glittering crystal shards, as well as a Leaf Stone he wouldn’t need for some time.

The first sum of money he earned barely warmed his pocket before he spent it again on potions, revives, Poké Balls, and other trainer gear.

“Hmm… I should buy some daily necessities, like seasonings and such.” After another round of picking and choosing, most of the money from selling his miscellaneous wares was spent.

“With that, all the preparations before departure are done.” Su Yi nodded, satisfied.

Caw! The cry of a Steel Armored Crow echoed from above as the robust-winged bird slowly descended, clutching a small carriage.

Someone had arrived on Armor Isle.

“Oh? Someone’s come this early in the morning?” Su Yi looked curiously toward the station entrance.

A girl in a martial arts uniform, carrying simple luggage on her back, leaped from the carriage and surveyed her surroundings.

“Wait, is that Bea, the Galarian Fighting-type Gym Leader?” Su Yi blurted out in surprise—it was someone he recognized, though only from the games.

“You recognized me?” In the empty station, Bea noticed Su Yi’s astonished look but wasn’t surprised; after all, every Gym Leader had their share of fans and enjoyed ample exposure.

“Are you here for training?” Su Yi wondered. In the games, if you got to know the characters well, you’d learn that Bea was a karate prodigy who held herself to strict standards and enjoyed training alone in desolate places.

It was just a chance encounter, and Su Yi didn’t dwell on it. After all, the adventure ahead was much more enticing.

……

“Phew! Ancient Tree Forest, I’m back!” After leaving the station, Su Yi arrived at Focused Forest, found a secluded spot, and descended into the world of Monster Hunter—the New World.

Whoosh!

Unlike the usual sunshine, today the Ancient Tree Forest was cloudy, and a gentle breeze brought a touch of chill.

“Is it about to turn overcast?” Su Yi wondered, releasing Dewgrass.

“We’re back, meow!”

At that moment, one of the Poké Balls at his waist began to shake.

“Is that the Sizzlepede?” Su Yi released the Pokémon from its ball.

“Chirp!” The Sizzlepede climbed straight onto Su Yi’s head, curiously observing its surroundings.

“You don’t like staying in the ball, either?” Su Yi patted the fuzzy head of the Sizzlepede.

“Chirp!”

“Then hold on tight and don’t get lost.”

……

“I remember it was here.” Su Yi consulted the map in the Hunting Guide, comparing it to the view he’d seen last time atop the ancient tree, then made his way toward a clearing in the woods.

“Chirp…” The Sizzlepede looked around in wonder at the forest, so unlike Focused Forest.

“Stay quiet now, and hold on tight,” Su Yi whispered, then climbed gently up a tree with Dewgrass.

Before him lay the woodland clearing he had seen that day.

Herbivorous dragons munched lazily on plants. Overhead, vines wove between trees, with clusters of scatternuts hanging from them.

Occasionally, a ripe scatternut would drop to the ground, bursting apart with a pop. At once, a herbivorous dragon would amble over and nibble at the exposed flesh.

“If I’m not mistaken, scatternuts are one of the Toxivulture’s favorite foods. Let’s see if we can catch a glimpse.” Su Yi settled in for a patient stakeout.

Today’s weather didn’t seem the best—the clouds had completely covered the sun, the sky was fully overcast, and the wind was picking up.

A cool breeze drifted by and the temperature dropped, but luckily, the Sizzlepede’s Flame Body kept Su Yi warm as he held the little bug close like a living hand warmer.

“Thank goodness for Sizzlepede,” Su Yi murmured.

“Chirp~” Sizzlepede was also happy to be of use.

Whoosh whoosh…

The sound of wings stirring the air made them fall silent, tense as they peered at the clearing.

“It’s here!”

A creature descended, its body clad in green scales and feathers—a bird wyvern, flapping its wings as its chameleon-like eyes scanned the clearing warily.

After confirming no danger, the Toxivulture hovered, extending its long, flexible tongue to curl up scatternuts, storing them in its swollen chin.

“Should I act now, or try to follow it back to its nest before making a move?” Su Yi watched carefully beyond the clearing. This wasn’t the Toxivulture’s exclusive dining hall.

Just as the Toxivulture was engrossed in devouring scatternuts, the sound of trampling footsteps grew louder.

“Wrawk?” The Toxivulture looked up alertly just as a brute, draped in black fur, charged out, knocking over an unsuspecting herbivorous dragon. With jaws agape, the beast savagely bit down, killing its prey in an instant. Only after the hunt did it notice the Toxivulture overhead.

“Roar!” The Anjanath let out a menacing, warning bellow.

“Anjanath again? Is this the same one as before?” Su Yi muttered helplessly.

But it fit the Anjanath’s habits—apart from hunting, it spent most of its day patrolling its vast territory and leaving its marks. Since this was a herbivorous dragon grazing ground, it was naturally also its hunting ground.

Having eaten its fill, the Toxivulture had no intention of fighting the brute. It beat its wings, preparing to leave.

Just then, from the opposite end of the clearing, a sharp whistling split the air. Several barbed spikes shot out, piercing and tearing through the Toxivulture’s wing membrane, causing it to lose balance and plummet with a screech.

“That’s—!” Su Yi narrowed his eyes, the searing pain of being slashed seemed to flare across his back once more.