The Country Bumpkin Yelu Qi

"Hahaha! I told you we'd find something if we went deeper!"

"Ampharos, use Thunderbolt!"

Xu Mu and Cynthia had not gone far when they heard a battle ahead.

Sounds carried far through the cave. Xu Mu and Cynthia exchanged a glance.

They both decided to go watch!

The caves of Meteor Falls held all kinds of Pokémon. Besides the common Sandslash, Golbat, and Geodude, there were plenty of rarer ones.

Aron, Bronzong, and Abra, for example...

Xu Mu had encountered a few Pokémon along the way, but none had tempted him to catch them.

Cynthia simply had not seen one she liked, so she had let them pass by.

Following the noise, Xu Mu led Cynthia through a maze of winding tunnels and into an open space.

The person battling there was the boy from the grasslands they had met earlier: Yelu Qi!

He was directing Ampharos to attack an already injured Milotic relentlessly. It looked as though he meant to catch her.

Despite her type disadvantage—Electric-type moves were strong against Water-type Pokémon—Milotic fought back desperately. She clearly did not want to leave this place or be caught by that country bumpkin.

"Wooo!"

Milotic let out a long cry and fired a Dragon Pulse that struck Ampharos squarely!

"You're still fighting back? Ampharos, hit her with another Thunderbolt!"

When Yelu Qi saw Milotic resist, he immediately ordered Ampharos to keep attacking.

Ampharos was angry after taking that Dragon Pulse, too.

I've been holding back because you're pretty, and you sneak-attack me?

"Maaah!"

Another Thunderbolt!

The electricity left Milotic writhing on the ground, screaming in agony.

Cynthia frowned slightly at Milotic's pitiful cries.

"They're both around Semi-King level. I should be able to handle this."

After weighing their strengths, Cynthia was about to step in.

Xu Mu caught her by the arm.

"He found Milotic first. It wouldn't be right for us to interfere now."

Xu Mu's words left Cynthia bewildered.

You were ready to snatch something at the drop of a hat earlier. Now that I want to, you're stopping me?

Did Xu Mu suddenly find religion and decide to do good deeds?

Xu Mu smiled mysteriously and pointed at Milotic.

"She sounds like she's screaming, but she's actually calling for a companion. Think of it as calling in reinforcements."

So that's it. Cynthia relaxed. Xu Mu was still Xu Mu. He had not changed.

"Why would a wild Milotic at Semi-King level be here?"

Knowing Milotic would be all right for now, Cynthia turned her attention to why she was here in the first place.

Xu Mu thought for a moment and decided to tell the truth. "I'm not sure."

"I've got it! That must be it!"

Xu Mu had just decided to be honest with Cynthia for once instead of making something up, but she claimed she knew?

"Like you said, Dragonite doesn't live in the water either. Milotic doesn't necessarily have to live there!"

"There's plenty of room here, and most of the Pokémon nearby are Rock-type. They're no threat to Milotic. This is a perfect place for her to settle!"

"So you were right, Xu Mu. Going deeper into the cave really did pay off!"

Cynthia's elaborate theory left Xu Mu speechless.

He opened his mouth, then decided not to explain.

"Exactly! Well said. That's just what I was thinking. You can finally reason things out for yourself. Excellent!"

As he spoke, Xu Mu shamelessly patted Cynthia on the head.

And he had the nerve to complain about other people showing off. He was the worst of them all!

"Rooar!"

Milotic was on the verge of collapse, and Yelu Qi was ready to throw a Poké Ball. But a dragon's roar made him stop.

A Dragonite was flying toward them through the narrow tunnel at high speed.

When sections of rock wall got in his way, he smashed straight through them with Extreme Speed.

"Rooar!"

Who dares hurt my goddess? I'll kill you!

The moment Dragonite arrived, he spotted the badly wounded Milotic!

And then... Milotic was his weak spot. Hurt her, and there would be hell to pay.

Dragonite launched straight into Outrage and gave Yelu Qi's Ampharos a savage beating!

"Ampharos, Mega Evolve!"

The boy might have been a country bumpkin, but he was still the son of someone important back on the grasslands!

A simple Mega Evolution was well within his means.

With no time to spare, Ampharos skipped the flashy display.

He completed the transformation and grappled with Dragonite again.

Milotic seized the chance to use Recover and regain her strength.

"All I wanted was to catch Milotic! How did I end up drawing out an Elite Four-level Dragonite?"

"Who could take that thing on?"

"Ampharos, let's get out of here. No point fighting a losing battle. We can try again after Dragonite leaves!"

Yelu Qi had enough sense to know that Dragonite's arrival had ruined his chances, so he prepared to retreat.

Then he happened to spot Xu Mu and Cynthia, who had been watching from the sidelines. His eyes darted between them.

"Hey, brother! Miss Cynthia! How about we work together?"

Cynthia looked indifferent. Xu Mu had no intention of agreeing.

It was like playing a game with a girl, only for some random stranger to ask to join your team halfway through.

As if that would fly!

I've got her all to myself!

"No need. If you can't handle it, hurry up and step aside. We've been waiting ages."

Xu Mu's words cut off Yelu Qi's escape route.

If you can't do it, get out of the way. Spare us the excuses.

We've been waiting over here long enough!

Yelu Qi's already dark face darkened further...

"Ampharos, we're leaving!"

While Dragonite was confused by Outrage, Yelu Qi promptly recalled Ampharos and sent him back out beside him.

He shot Xu Mu a look that said, Weren't you going to step in? Go on, then.

You think having a girl with you makes you the best trainer around?

That's an Elite Four-level Dragonite. Let's see how you deal with him!

"Anyone can talk big. If you can do it, go ahead. Otherwise, run with me! Hahaha!"

Yelu Qi took a stance ready to bolt at any moment and fixed his eyes on Xu Mu.

If Xu Mu and Cynthia tried to flee, he would make sure he ran faster.

Yelu Qi thought he had set Xu Mu up to embarrass himself in front of Cynthia.

Instead, Xu Mu and Cynthia looked at him as though he were an idiot.

"Run from one Elite Four-level Dragonite? You've got to be kidding me."

Xu Mu curled his lip and glanced disdainfully at Yelu Qi, who was crouched low, ready to run.

Yelu Qi was unmoved by anything Xu Mu said.

You just want me to let my guard down so the two of you can run first!

Who hasn't heard the story about outrunning a tiger?

It's a race now. Whoever runs slower is the one who gets caught!