Charizard flew with an easy, fluid posture, every beat of its wings precise and powerful, its body maintaining a steady balance within the currents of air.
The ground rapidly fell away beneath them. Grassy slopes, treetops, stream valleys—everything was left below in just a few breaths.
Once they were in the air, Charizard adjusted the angle of its wings, tilted its body slightly, and flew northeast.
"Charizard, full speed ahead!" Xinhai bent low, his voice drawn out by the wind.
"Roar!!"
Charizard let out a deep, exhilarated roar. Its wings suddenly beat with greater force as Flying-type energy rapidly gathered across their surfaces, forming a stable thrust with the airflow.
Its speed rose sharply within a few breaths, and the forest canopy below became a blurry band of dark green.
The wind rushed at Xinhai head-on, sweeping across his cheeks and ears with a sharp, scattered howl.
Eevee poked half its body out from inside his clothes, its fluffy tail whipping violently at the edge of his pocket. Clinging to the fabric with its little paws, it let out several cheerful cries of "Vee!"
Eevee crawled halfway out of Xinhai's chest pocket, its large brown eyes narrowing slightly against the wind as its little paws gripped the cloth at his shoulder.
"Vee—!!" It gave a long, excited cry, stretching its little head forward. Clearly, it was enjoying the sensation of flying at such incredible speed too.
Hearing Eevee's cry, Xinhai's smile deepened.
He gently pressed down on Eevee's little head so it would not be blown away. His other hand rested on Charizard's long neck, feeling the steady, powerful rhythm beneath its scales.
The ground sped away beneath them. Rivers and hills swept past on either side of his vision, while the northwestern Hoenn Region unfolded below like a rapidly