The Enemy's Airship Has Arrived

The setting sun dyed the vast grasslands a flowing golden honey, and the noise and heat of the day gradually settled into a warm afterglow.

Yan Yang and his Pokémon decided to rest for the night on this land where they had reunited with the Pyroar pride, gather their strength, and set out for the mysterious Mount Coronet tomorrow.

After Lion King's solemn lesson in fatherly love, Yan Bao looked somewhat listless, as though every step carried internal injuries. Yet the tense atmosphere between him and his father had eased considerably, replaced by an awkward and subtle closeness.

At times, he would nuzzle dependently against his gentle mother. At others, he would cautiously sneak glances at his imposing father. That foolish look of wanting to get close but being too scared to do so made it impossible for Lion King to harden his heart and scold him again.

Hawlucha's skin was thicker than a city wall, and he had long since thrown the day's embarrassing misunderstanding to the back of his mind.

Right now, he casually hooked an arm around Yan Bao's neck—though the height difference made the gesture rather comical—and animatedly recounted how he had fought side by side with Yan Yang and Entei, using both wit and courage to defeat human poachers in his "legendary exploits."

His tone made it sound as though he were Yan Bao's long-lost blood brother, bonded through life-and-death trials.

Yan Bao listened in a daze, faint admiration shining in his huge eyes as he occasionally let out an awed growl.

After all, Yan Yang had never gone into detail about those past events. He had only vaguely said that Yan Bao had been picked up somewhere, and later the story had somehow evolved into all sorts of ridiculous versions involving a junkyard or