Moving deeper into the forest, Su Yi and Lulu quickly began noticing familiar signs. Footprints, broken trees, and lingering scent trails told the story clearly—Anjanath, Tobi-Kadachi, Jagras, and even a Rathian had passed through recently.
It was obvious that the brief arrival of the storm-bringing elder dragon hadn't truly disrupted their lives.
…but something was changing.
The canopy thickened as they moved forward, massive trees blocking out most of the sunlight and turning the forest into a cool, shadowed refuge. Prey birds glided quietly between the trunks, yet the air felt off—too quiet.
"We'll rest here until noon passes," Su Yi whispered.
But even as he said it, he knew—
They weren't alone.
"…That's huge… what is that, meow?!"
Only when they got closer did Lulu realize a massive creature stood nearby. Two legs, hoofed feet, short forelimbs, thick white fur, and enormous shovel-like antlers gave it an unmistakable presence.
"…It's a Banbaro."
Despite being herbivorous, Banbaro was far from harmless. Anger it, and it would turn into a walking bulldozer. Right now, though, it was simply drinking—calm, massive, and completely unbothered.
"Relax… don't startle it."
Su Yi crouched slowly and took out Pokémon food, sprinkling some on the ground before eating a portion himself as a demonstration. Banbaro blinked, watching him carefully before letting out a soft sound.
"…Moo?"
It stepped forward, sniffed, and then began eating. After a brief pause, it finished everything.
Su Yi didn't move. He didn't try to approach or touch it—he simply observed. For a moment, the forest felt peaceful again.
Then—
ROOOOOOOAR!!
The entire forest shook.
Banbaro snapped to full alert instantly. Su Yi grabbed Lulu without hesitation and pulled her into the bushes.
"…That roar…" he muttered, grimacing. "Of course it's him…"
A black-furred brute stepped into view.
Anjanath.
The tyrant of the forest—hot-tempered, territorial, and violent. It locked eyes with Banbaro immediately, and the tension rose in an instant.
"Great… bad temper meets worse temper…" Su Yi muttered.
Before anything could happen—
Another roar echoed.
Different.
Crackling with power.
Anjanath froze and turned.
From the shadows, lightning flickered—and then it emerged.
A familiar body structure, but covered in orange tiger-like stripes and white fur, with arcs of electricity dancing across its body.
Fulgur Anjanath.
"…You've got to be kidding…"
"Fire brute… and Thunder brute…"
"…Both here?"
Both monsters roared violently, asserting dominance.
Banbaro?
Ignored.
Because this was no longer about territory—it was predator versus predator.
Anjanath's throat ignited with flames as heat shimmered around it, while Fulgur Anjanath's body crackled with electricity, its entire form glowing with power.
Fire and lightning—
Two disasters—
About to collide.
They charged.
BOOOOOOM!!
The impact shook the forest violently. Their heads slammed together, legs digging into the earth as tails smashed trees apart. Wood splintered, and the ground cracked under the force.
Banbaro blinked once—
Then quietly walked away.
"…Not my problem."
The battle turned brutal.
Bites, claws, and roars filled the air as flame clashed against lightning. Flesh tore, blood sprayed, and the forest was transformed into a battlefield.
"…Yeah," Su Yi muttered, already backing away. "Time to leave."
He didn't hesitate. Grabbing Lulu, he retreated immediately.
They hadn't gone far when—
SKREEEEEEEEEEE—!!
A piercing roar echoed from above.
Su Yi looked up through the canopy, catching sight of three shadows—red, green, and blue.
"…No way…"
They rushed toward the open shoreline, and what they saw made everything clear.
A Rathalos pair—
Fighting—
An Azure Rathalos.
Fire rained from the sky as claws tore through the air, and roars echoed across the ocean.
Su Yi's expression tightened.
"…This…"
"…This is the real disaster."
It wasn't just storms, and it wasn't just a single elder dragon.
It was ecosystem chaos.
Variants emerging. Territories collapsing. Predators clashing everywhere.
"This forest…"
"…is no longer safe."
Standing at the coastline, watching the sky burn—
Su Yi muttered quietly:
"…Looks like…"
"…peaceful exploration is over."