Chapter Ninety-Four: The Floating Dragon—I'm Really Done For

“Bazelgeuse, meow?” Lu Cao recalled the monster, and a trace of panic rose in her heart.

The falling scales from the sky, the thunderous roar that shook the ears, all of it had left a deep impression on the young cat.

“Partner, stay back a little.”

As he spoke, Su Yi loaded a stone into his slinger and fired it at the scale.

Tap.

It did not explode. Su Yi let out a breath of relief, walked over, and prodded it with his sword and shield.

The dark, soot-black scale crumbled like charcoal and shed a dusting of powder. It looked as though it had been there for a very long time.

“Judging by the condition of the scales, Bazelgeuse must have been gone for quite a while,” Su Yi said.

That monster could fly long distances for long periods in search of food.

On the bright side: an outstanding flier, a hero among flying wyverns.

On the less bright side: always on patrol, pooping wherever it pleased.

So it did not keep a permanent nest. Instead, while hunting, it would search nearby for a suitable place to rest and use that as a temporary lair.

Which meant the Bazelgeuse that left these traces might already have departed from the Coral Highlands.

“But it’s not absolute. We still have to be careful,” Su Yi said.

The vision of flying wyverns was generally excellent. If things went badly, while he was out hunting and failed to notice it, the Bazelgeuse might dive out of nowhere.

“I came out today in high spirits, planning to enjoy a good hunt. Who would have thought there’d be a hidden surprise?” Su Yi shook his head and began searching the surrounding area for signs of a Paolumu.

And, as fortune favored the diligent, he finally found traces of the Paolumu on the plateau.

“White fur, and four-toed footprints. It should be Paolumu,” Su Yi said.

What was interesting was that the Paolumu’s footprints were very similar to Pukei-Pukei’s, and even the shape of its wings and the dots at the tips were strikingly alike.

One could only say: same monster model, different skin. As expected of you, lazy old Capcom.

“Hey, hey, hey, I’m here, little Paolumu.”

Watching the scoutflies drift, wavering toward some place in the distance, Su Yi smiled the smile of a hunter.

...

Following the scoutflies’ lead, Su Yi crossed the plateau and came to a gentle slope. Ahead of him arched a stone bridge, with a hill of piled rock rising above it.

“The traces are getting denser,” Su Yi said, looking at the footprints marked by the scoutflies, and summoned Zizi and the Odogaron.

“I’ve got the boss of the Coral Highlands here, a walking flash bomb in Zizi, the plain-clothed tough guy of the Rotten Vale, and the Odogaron that can go toe-to-toe with elder dragons.”

Su Yi laughed. “The advantage is mine!”

Hum hum~

The scoutflies drifted onward, then finally stopped.

Not far away, beneath the shadow of the rocks, a monster draped in white fur, looking soft and fluffy, was basking in the cool shade with a leisurely air.

“I found you!”

Su Yi smiled.

Paolumu had a pair of large ears on its head, and four long incisors in its mouth, making it look rather mouse-like. Its underside extended all the way to its tail and hind legs, covered in a hard keratinous armor.

“Odogaron, keep it under close watch. Try not to damage the fur on Paolumu’s neck,” Su Yi reminded it.

After all, the fur from that spot was needed to make the hot-air balloon. Who knew whether too much damage might affect it.

“Hoow?” Odogaron snorted, as if to say, You’re making this difficult for me. How am I supposed to kill it quickly without biting its neck?

“Ahem. In any case, do your best,” Su Yi said.

“Raaagh!”

Odogaron padded forward soundlessly, and when the distance was right, it let out a roar and charged at full speed.

“Guaaaah!” Paolumu, seeing Odogaron rushing straight at it, cried out in alarm and beat its wings, trying to take off.

“It’s over,” Su Yi said.

Before Paolumu could even rise, Odogaron lunged and bit down on its head.

Snap.

Its sharp teeth pierced flesh and bone.

Paolumu’s face twisted grotesquely. Summoning the last desperate strength of survival, it drew in a deep breath. The air sac around its neck expanded, and then it fired a burst of compressed air at Odogaron, which was latched onto its head.

Boom!

The air burst with a deafening crack. The shot struck Odogaron squarely in the head, forcing it to release its grip.

“Argh!” Odogaron shook its dizzy head and glared in irritation.

Using the swollen air sac, Paolumu rose into the air, intending to flee.

“Zizi.”

Before Su Yi had even finished speaking, and with only a single glance, Zizi understood at once. After the glowing membrane had warmed, it flashed a burst of brilliant light straight at Paolumu’s face.

Zing!

“Guaaaah!” The air sac around Paolumu’s neck deflated, and then, with a panicked thud, it fell crashing to the ground.

Odogaron leapt upon it and pinned it down.

Su Yi opened the Hunter’s Guide and checked the Mission section.

“Hm, no mission triggered. Then you can die here,” Su Yi said.

He had originally thought that if an investigation mission had been triggered and there were material rewards, he might even consider taming it. But now there was no helping it.

Paolumu: Seriously, me, I’m really done for this time.

“Odogaron, finish it!”

Su Yi gave the order without hesitation.

“Raaagh!”

Odogaron swung its claws, gleaming with a pale, bone-white light. The tearing claws whistled again and again as they ripped toward Paolumu’s throat.

“Guh, ngghh...”

Paolumu struggled frantically, but under Odogaron’s suppression it had no way out. In the end, its movements grew smaller and smaller, until they finally ceased.

Su Yi nodded, then cast a wary glance at the sky.

“Hah! Looks like I worried too much. There’s no sign of a Bazelgeuse up there,” Su Yi said, exhaling.

He stepped forward to inspect Paolumu’s corpse. Odogaron had struck only slightly below the head, and the fur on the neck was largely intact.

“Nicely done!”

Su Yi praised it.

Odogaron let out a breath, as if to say it was nothing.

Zizi remained as steady and calm as ever, its merits hidden from view.

“You’ve got tonight’s feast right here,” Su Yi said, then directed Odogaron and Zizi to work with Lu Cao in carving materials from Paolumu’s body.

With the help of the companions, the materials were stripped quickly. Su Yi tidied up and prepared to teleport back to camp.

“That hunt went smoothly,” Su Yi said, opening the Hunter’s Guide.

...

After returning to the waterfall cave camp, Su Yi gathered his things and headed to the tribe of the Coral Highlands musicians.

Passing through the waterfall, the cats of the tribe spotted Su Yi’s party and came bustling over with enthusiastic welcomes.

“It’s Su Yi, meow! Welcome to visit us, meow!”

Coral greeted Su Yi happily.

“Hello, Coral. I brought a small gift, please accept it,” Su Yi said, handing over a large assortment of sweets he had bought in the world of Pokémon.

“You’re too kind, meow! Su Yi is always giving us things, meow,” Coral said gratefully.

“Good things should be shared. Let everyone have a taste,” Su Yi said with a smile.

“Meow!” Coral happily distributed the sweets to the tribe.

“This is so pretty, meow!”

“It smells amazing. Is this food, meow?”

“So sweet, meow! Even better than plain honey, meow!”

Soon, the cats were completely absorbed in the sweetness of the treats.

“It’s really delicious, meow! Thank you, meow!” Coral exclaimed after taking a bite, its catlike eyes lighting up.

“Actually, I came today because I wanted to ask you something,” Su Yi said.

“Feel free to ask, meow,” Coral replied with a nod.

“Take a look at this first.”

Su Yi handed over the bone flute.

“Meow? This is our instrument?”

Coral blinked in confusion. “But we no longer use such a crude instrument, meow.”