Outside Opelucid City.
On an unremarkable mountain, howling cold winds brushed across his face, stirring strands of short black hair.
Xia Yan adjusted his hat, his face filled with emotionless chill. Beside him, a pitch-black Charizard kept snorting.
Scorching white vapor streamed from its nostrils and took a long while to fully dissipate into the cold winds of northern Unova.
Charizard glanced at the figure beside it, far smaller and frailer than itself.
Its tail, covered in glossy black scales, swayed lightly as if in a mindless, idle motion, before quietly coming to rest beside that figure.
The flame at the tip of its tail gradually grew and spread as it drew closer.
The rising heat dispelled the mountain's chill.
Feeling the temperature rise, Xia Yan glanced at the tail beside him, then turned to look at the aloof Charizard. A warm smile appeared on his resolute, cold face.
Suddenly.
Charizard's expression turned slightly solemn, its sharp dragon eyes locking onto the distance.
A figure pierced through layers of clouds and mist as it sped toward them.
The hazy figure rapidly approached, its outline gradually becoming clear. It was a fierce, imposing Salamence soaring through the air with wings spread wide!
And standing on Salamence's back was a tall, beautiful woman.
Before long.
Salamence arrived at the mountaintop.
It whipped up roaring currents of air, and the sharp winds bent the weeds and sent the forest leaves rolling in green waves.
"Roar—"
Seeing this, Charizard let out a restrained growl.
Yet the sound was filled with displeasure.
At the same time.
Its sharp eyes concealed restrained savagery.
Seemingly sensing Charizard's threat, the domineering and violent Salamence's aura stalled slightly. After casting Charizard a wary glance, it reined itself in a little and slowly landed on the ground.
Thud.
The figure