Everyone's Here to Catch Entei

Xu Mu rubbed Gible's big head and smiled with satisfaction.

You little rascal. Think I can't handle you?

We're both guys. Of course you know what I'm thinking.

But you have no idea your opponent is an old lech with a perfect mastery of playing innocent.

You're not worthy of being my rival in love.

"Really?"

Cynthia watched Xu Mu squeeze Gible into a ball and rough him up, while Gible endured it with a smile on his face.

I don't get it, she thought.

"Yeah. You don't understand friendship between boys."

Xu Mu flashed a sunny smile. The row of teeth marks on his head did nothing for his image, but it didn't stop him from playing innocent.

Greninja, when you get the chance, teach him a lesson for me.

Xu Mu shot Greninja a look.

Greninja nodded at once!

Got it. That kid won't get away!

"Sir, judging by the concentration of residual fire energy, we can conclude that the Legendary Pokémon that appeared this time was definitely Entei!"

"All right, I understand. Send everyone to Viridian Forest now!"

"Yes, sir!"

"A Legendary Pokémon has appeared in the new Secret Realm in the Eastern Lands!"

"Let's go take a look!"

"Chief, there's been a sign of a Legendary Pokémon in the Viridian Wilds. Our people say it may be Entei!"

An old man bowed as he reported to a stern-faced man.

"Entei? Send a few Venerables to take a look."

The man was the Chief of the Eastern Lands, the one who held power over its Pokémon League.

In the Eastern Lands, Venerables ranked above Gym Leaders.

That didn't necessarily mean Venerables were stronger than Gym Leaders. Most of them simply served the League, frequently carrying out missions that took them from place to place.

They were rather like the Elite Four in the Pokémon manga.

"All right. Let's send Venerable Dongfeng, Venerable Haoyue, and Venerable Tianshu."

The Chief nodded his approval.

While Xu Mu chatted idly with Cynthia and grew closer to her, top trainers from around the world were converging on the Secret Realm.

"Croak!"

Little Master, something seems off around here.

All sorts of cute little animals lived in the forest. Every now and then, one would pop out and give you a fright.

Normally, Xu Mu wouldn't have felt much about a walk through the woods.

But now that he had a beautiful girl beside him, Xu Mu felt he could walk hand in hand with Cynthia for a whole year.

"What is it?"

Xu Mu had been telling Cynthia a little joke when Greninja interrupted him. He was a bit annoyed.

Greninja was speechless. You find a girl and forget all about me...

"Croak!"

It sounds like someone's fighting up ahead!

Greninja pointed into the distance, then made a few gestures.

Xu Mu frowned slightly. A fight?

"Cynthia, someone's fighting over there. Want to take a look?"

Xu Mu turned to her, instantly changing his expression to a beaming smile.

"Maybe we shouldn't..."

Cynthia wasn't one to meddle. If something had nothing to do with her, she preferred to stay out of it.

I knew you'd say that. Otherwise, I wouldn't have asked, Xu Mu thought.

He didn't want to go either.

When you were away from home, it was best to avoid unnecessary trouble. Right now, spending time alone with Cynthia mattered more.

But even if Xu Mu wanted to stay out of it, his protagonist's luck meant trouble was bound to find him.

"What the hell?"

An explosion rang out nearby, and Xu Mu cursed through gritted teeth.

"I knew I wouldn't be able to dodge this kind of crap!"

He immediately stepped in front of Cynthia and looked toward the explosion.

A Lapras lay on the ground, covered in burns and unable to battle any longer.

"Xu Mu!"

Cynthia cried out and looked at him with wide eyes.

Her meaning was simple: We have to save it!

Xu Mu was speechless. He answered her with the warmest look he could manage, then stepped forward with a pained expression.

"These burns on Lapras... Looks like Entei's work!"

At a glance, Xu Mu realized Lapras had been burned by Entei's flames.

"Greninja, are your injuries any better?"

"Croak!"

Young master, I'm perfectly fine!

Seeing Greninja bouncing around, Xu Mu relaxed.

"Good. Bandage Lapras and treat the burns, then we'll go see what's happening."

With that, Xu Mu returned to Cynthia's side and took her hand as naturally as could be.

What? I'm doing the bandaging?

I'm a Pokémon! Is this really fair?

Oh, well. Good thing I'm good at everything. What would Little Master do without me?

Time to get to work! Let's go!

As Greninja gave himself a pep talk, he got to work and carefully bandaged Lapras.

Just treating burns. Easy.

After all, I've been on the battlefield...

Ahem. I've treated Charmander's burns loads of times. No problem.

Greninja stole a glance at Gible and Charmander. Only when he saw they weren't paying attention did he breathe a sigh of relief.

I nearly said too much...

A little over ten minutes later, Greninja finished bandaging Lapras. Xu Mu led the group toward the battle in the distance.

Well, that was a sight. He hadn't expected anything like this.

The one who had injured Lapras really was Entei.

But Entei had it rough right now...

More than a dozen people and over thirty Pokémon had Entei surrounded from underground, on the ground, and in the air!

Whatever else could be said about those Pokémon, judging by their presence alone, even the weakest was Elite Four level.

The strongest among them were even at Master Peak.

"Whoa. Did Entei dig up these trainers' ancestors or something?"

Xu Mu muttered the question.

Cynthia looked stunned too.

She didn't know the others, but she recognized the Western European group attacking Entei.

"Uncle Tatu? Leona!"

The moment Xu Mu heard that Cynthia knew some of the powerful trainers over there, he instinctively let go of her hand.

Getting caught holding a girl's hand by people who know her? That'd be awkward...

"Hm?"

Cynthia wasn't used to Xu Mu suddenly letting go.

Without thinking, she turned her wrist and caught his hand herself.

Xu Mu was speechless. Oh, well.

Fool one person, and you're a swindler. Fool a whole crowd, and you're a saint!

Today, I'm going all in!

So we're holding hands. Cynthia took the initiative. Am I, Xu Mu, going to chicken out?

Seeing more than thirty Pokémon gang up on Entei, Cynthia couldn't understand it.

"Xu Mu, are they all here to catch Entei?"

She asked quietly.

Xu Mu opened his mouth, unsure how to answer.

"I guess so."

Cynthia lowered her head, her expression dimming.

Xu Mu understood what she was thinking. They were the same kind of people—people who genuinely loved Pokémon.

"It's all right. I'll stop them."

He reached out and gently stroked Cynthia's hair, then straightened and strode forward.

"You lot over there, stop right now!"