Early the next morning, Lin Hao stood outside Professor Oak's Laboratory, holding the sealed package. It was small but surprisingly heavy.
Professor Oak had specifically instructed him to deliver it personally to the research station in Viridian Forest and hand it to the person in charge. He was not to open it, pass it to anyone else, or lose it.
"That's it?" Lin Hao stared at the professor.
"It's that simple." Professor Oak straightened his glasses. "But be careful on the way. The forest hasn't been peaceful lately. We've been getting more reports of missing Trainers."
"Missing?"
"Yes, all rookies who went in for intensive training." Professor Oak leaned closer. "Some people say they saw rampaging Pokémon-huge ones with red eyes."
Lin Hao's steps faltered. That savage aura matched Ho-Oh's description perfectly. "I'll be careful."
When he left the laboratory, May was already waiting outside. "I heard you're going to Viridian Forest?"
"Where did you hear that?"
"Professor Oak told me." May folded her arms. "I'm an Investigator. I have the authority to supervise suspicious missions."
"What's suspicious about this mission?"
"You're the one who seems suspicious." May glared at him. "We haven't settled what happened at Mt. Moon yesterday, and now you're taking some mysterious package somewhere. Do you think I'm an idiot?"
Lin Hao shook his head. "Fine. Come along if you want, but don't hold me back."
"We'll see who holds whom back!"
The two set out with Pikachu and Charmander. Lin Hao had received Charmander yesterday, and the little Pokémon looked sickly and listless. Yet this was a Shiny with Solar Power and excellent natural potential.
"Hey, perk up." Lin Hao patted Charmander's head. "I'm taking you out to see the world today."
"Char..." Charmander gave a weak cry.
Pikachu lay on his shoulder, eyes half closed. Ever since joining Lin Hao, Pikachu had been practically half-retired, rarely lifting a finger except to occasionally scare someone with Static.
A dense stand of trees marked the entrance to Viridian Forest, with scattered sunlight dappling the ground.
The scent of vegetation filled the woods, and occasional Pokémon cries broke the air. The forest was eerily quiet. Places like this were never short on danger.
"Stay close," he told May.
"I don't need you to remind me."
The three of them and their companion followed the trail. After about half an hour, they heard whimpering up ahead.
"What's that sound?" May stopped.
Lin Hao listened closely. It was coming from the bushes on the left. He pushed aside the branches and found a Jynx crouching on the ground, crying. "What's wrong?" he asked, crouching down.
Jynx looked up, tear tracks streaking their face. They pointed toward the fork ahead and made muffled sounds. "Jynx, Jynx..."
"They say they're lost," May translated. "They lost their way at the fork and can't find the way back."
"That's all?" Lin Hao stood up. "Then just go back the way you came."
Jynx shook their head, pointed toward the fork, then at themself. They drew their neck in and stubbornly refused to move.
"They say there's something scary over there." May stood frozen. "They're too afraid to go past it."
Lin Hao and May exchanged a glance. "I'll take a look." May reached for the Poké Ball at her waist.
"Wait." Lin Hao stopped her. "I'll go. Stay here with them."
"Why?"
"With your strength, you'd only hold me back."
"You!" May was speechless. Lin Hao ignored her and headed toward the fork alone.
After only a few steps, he smelled blood. Several broad armored scales lay scattered on the ground, each as large as a palm. Deep claw marks scored a nearby tree trunk, its bark ripped away to expose the white wood beneath.
Lin Hao crouched and picked up a scale. It was thick and hard, with sharp edges. "This is a Gyarados scale." He silently asked the system, Scan the area. Where is Gyarados now?
[Scanning... Gyarados energy traces detected. Location: northwest, approximately 200 meters away. Status: rampaging.]
"Rampaging?"
[Yes. Its aura is somewhat strange. Something has clearly enraged it.]
Lin Hao frowned. Another rampage? Why had so many Pokémon in the forest been going berserk lately? He was about to head back and tell May when a furious roar erupted behind him.
"ROAR!" A massive Gyarados burst through the canopy, its eyes bloodshot and its sharp teeth bared, lunging straight at him!
"Lin Hao!" May screamed behind him.
Lin Hao had no time to react beyond instinctively stepping back. But Gyarados was too fast. Its enormous maw was already right in front of him! In that instant, a figure shot past his side. It was Charmander.
The little Pokémon who had looked so listless before now stood protectively in front of Lin Hao. Charmander hunched forward, the flame on their tail suddenly flaring, and unleashed a searing tongue of fire that slammed into Gyarados's mouth!
The impact knocked Gyarados's head aside, but its tail swept around a moment later, sending Charmander flying! Charmander slammed hard into a tree trunk and slid to the ground, unable to get up for a long while.
"Charmander!" Lin Hao rushed over.
Gyarados turned its head, fixing him with blood-red eyes. It roared wildly, a murky red glow shining in its gaze.
"ROAR!" It lunged again. Pikachu's Thunder Shock would struggle to restrain Gyarados in this state. He needed something stronger.
But he didn't want to expose himself. Ho-Oh! he called silently.
Master! Ho-Oh's voice answered immediately. Let me out! One blast of Sacred Fire, and I can burn it to death!
No, Lin Hao replied through gritted teeth. That would expose us.
Then what do we do?!
Gyarados was already upon him! Lin Hao held his breath and focused, ready to risk everything, when another voice suddenly sounded in his mind. It was deep and carried an astonishing weight of power. Master, let me handle this.
Lin Hao froze. "Tyranitar?"
Before you continue