Chapter Twenty-Nine: Victory, Promise, and Smiles

“Scavenger Bird! Are you alright?” Su Yi called out with concern.

“Caw…” The Scavenger Bird staggered to its feet, its crest feathers slightly disheveled.

“Luckily, Scavenger Bird is a flying type—it can resist fighting moves.”

“Meteor Assault leaves a moment of vulnerability. Now’s our chance!”

“Scavenger Bird! Peck!” Su Yi launched a decisive attack.

The Scavenger Bird stretched its neck and unleashed a barrage of pecks like raindrops upon the immobilized Leek Knight.

Thump thump thump…

“Yah! Yum!” Leek Knight gritted its teeth, enduring the assault.

“The vulnerability is ending soon! Scavenger Bird, use Stone Bash… huh?!”

Just as Su Yi prepared to maximize the attack, the Scavenger Bird tilted its head, suddenly snatching away Leek Knight’s leek spear and shield.

“Huh?!” Bead was dumbfounded—was this even a legitimate tactic? Wasn’t this just robbery?

Recovering its mobility, the duck frantically tried to reclaim its weapons. For those weren’t just tools, but the honor and dignity of the Leek Knight.

Without its weapons, Leek Knight’s combat ability plummeted.

The Scavenger Bird nimbly dodged Leek Knight’s attempts, marveling at its new acquisitions.

Su Yi couldn’t help but laugh, “I almost forgot—you’re not just an Egg Thief, you’re a collector too.”

“What an unexpected turn! Bead’s in trouble now.” Master Mustard commented, enjoying the spectacle.

“Alright! Take advantage of it! Use Fury Attack!” Su Yi commanded with a grin.

“Caw!” The Scavenger Bird gripped the spear and shield, wildly swinging them at Leek Knight.

“Yah! Yah! Yum!” Leek Knight scrambled to avoid attacks from its own weapons.

Bang!

The spear struck Leek Knight, sending it flying.

“Leek Knight, use Wing Chop!” Bead could only direct as best she could.

“Yah…” Leek Knight swung its wing, and the Scavenger Bird raised the shield, easily blocking the blow.

“Yum…” Watching Leek Knight’s morale drop with its gear lost, Bead found herself out of options.

“The tide has turned! Scavenger Bird, go wild!” Su Yi decided to let his partner improvise.

“Caw!” The Scavenger Bird delightedly assaulted Leek Knight with its stolen weapons, turning the serious match into outright mischief.

With its spirit broken and equipment lost, Leek Knight was soon defeated by the Scavenger Bird’s chaotic attacks.

“Yah! Yum!” Leek Knight reached out for its gear as it fell.

Su Yi cleared his throat, “Alright, playtime’s over—give it back.”

Reluctantly, the Scavenger Bird returned the toys it had enjoyed to Leek Knight.

The duck, tearful, clutched its equipment as it collapsed.

“All three of Bead’s Pokémon have lost the ability to battle. The winner of this 3v3 Pokémon match is… Su Yi!” Master Mustard immediately announced the result.

“You did your best,” Bead comforted.

Su Yi went over and scratched the Scavenger Bird’s head, laughing, “You little rascal, how can you be so mischievous?”

“Caw!” The Scavenger Bird chirped proudly.

“A splendid battle, full of vigor—and surprises.” Bead extended a hand.

Su Yi shook her hand, replying, “A meaningful contest.”

…

“How was it?” Master Mustard asked.

Bead turned to look at Su Yi, who was not far away, happily praising his three partners, occasionally playfully scuffling with them.

“Creative, and versatile,” Bead observed.

“Energetic and fully invested,” Mustard said.

“Is the way he loves battling the same as the way you do?” Mustard asked.

“Master, what do you mean by that?” Bead was puzzled.

“Su Yi knows his partners deeply. He fights in ways they’re comfortable with, and develops strategies suited to their style.”

“And they trust each other in battle. Su Yi’s Pokémon believe in his commands, and he believes in their actions.”

“They aren’t bound to rigid orders.”

“More importantly, he loves battling—immerses himself in it—not just for victory.”

With hands clasped behind his back, Mustard calmly left the mountain.

Bead glanced at her hands, scarred from training, murmuring, “Not just for victory? What I pursue… is it merely others’ expectations—and living up to their image of me?”

She wasn’t naïve; she knew her drive to challenge the Champion and grow stronger stemmed from her family’s expectations and others’ praise of her as a karate prodigy.

To preserve her honor and reputation, she kept herself flawless, fighting with seriousness—even coldness.

She hadn’t smiled in battle for a long time, winning or losing.

“Bead, can I call you that?” Su Yi approached.

“You can, Su Yi,” Bead replied earnestly.

“No need for formalities—just Su Yi is fine,” he said with a smile.

“This is for you.” Su Yi handed her a bottle of amber-colored syrup.

“What is it?”

“Honey. Sweet honey lifts the spirits,” Su Yi smiled.

“Sweet…” Bead’s eyes lit up, eager to taste it, but with others present, she suppressed the impulse.

“Thank you for your kindness.” Bead accepted the honey.

“You didn’t use your main team, did you?” Su Yi asked confidently.

“That’s right,” Bead nodded.

“Next time—soon, I hope—let’s battle again, with all our strength,” Su Yi proposed.

“Of course. I never refuse a challenge,” Bead replied, clenching her fist.

“It’s a promise, then.” Su Yi slung his backpack.

“Off adventuring again?” Bead remarked, noting his gear.

“Adventure is my journey—free and true to myself,” Su Yi replied, smiling.

“And, young ladies look best when they smile—cheese, cheese,” Su Yi said, pointing to his cheek.

“Huh?!” Bead was caught off guard.

“Hahaha!” Su Yi laughed as he left.

“What a strange person,” Bead muttered.

When the field cleared, Bead took out the honey, twisted open the lid, dipped her finger, and tasted it.

Wild, pure honey flowed across her tongue, its sweetness blooming on her palate.

“Mmm!” Secretly fond of sweets, Bead squinted with delight, wearing a genuine smile.

…

“Phew! I’m back!” Su Yi left the dojo and quickly found a spot to enter the Monster Hunter world.

At that moment, in the New World—Ancient Forest.

The storm and rain brought by the Steel Dragon had infused the forest with renewed vitality.

Following the markings he’d made on the map last time, Su Yi arrived near what he suspected was the Poison Bird’s nest.

With the help of scoutflies, he found a nest clinging to the wall of a tree among the lush foliage.

Yet, the nest showed no signs of the Poison Bird’s return—the feathers inside were old and dull.

Su Yi frowned.

“Has the Poison Bird not returned? Or did it meet with misfortune?”

After all, in the perilous New World, you never know whether accident or tomorrow comes first.

“I should investigate the forest,” he decided.