Chapter Six: The Pursuit of the Ferocious Dire Wolf Dragon

"Damn, who would've thought that the forced return during the first mission was actually a perk," Su Yi panted as he leaned against a tree.

Just moments ago, when the Savage Jaw Dragon was chasing him, he'd considered escaping directly back to the Pokémon world for safety. But when he opened his golden finger, the "Hunting Manual," he was informed that, since he was in combat or being tracked, a return was impossible.

Only then did Su Yi realize that the ability to forcibly return during his confrontation with the Swift Dragon was a benefit exclusive to the first mission.

"It seems I need to be even more cautious," Su Yi sighed, pulling out a capture ball and releasing Dewgrass.

"Are you alright, meow?" The cat sprang from the ball, immediately gazing at Su Yi with concern.

"I'm fine, just ran into an old acquaintance," Su Yi replied with a smile.

The cat wrinkled its nose in displeasure. "Su Yi, you'd better let me stay out from now on, meow. I don't like the quiet inside the ball, and I want to adventure and help you, meow!"

"Sorry, partner," Su Yi apologized with a wry smile. He had thought that, entering a narrow cave, he would be more agile alone, so he had withdrawn Dewgrass and gone in by himself.

Only now did he realize he hadn't considered the cat's feelings. He truly regarded Dewgrass as a companion, instinctively wanting to protect it from danger. But he forgot that Dewgrass followed him precisely to share adventures, not to be pampered like a pet.

Moreover, the Felyne had its own thoughts and will; Dewgrass did not wish to be a pet, but a true partner fighting side by side. Su Yi's actions had clearly disregarded Dewgrass's true desires.

"We're partners, meow! We should act together, meow!" Dewgrass declared, raising a paw.

"Alright, there won't be a next time," Su Yi said with a smile, pressing his palm to the cat's paw in a high-five.

"So, next..." Su Yi was about to return, given the breeding season had arrived, the monsters in the forest had become unusually sensitive and restless, and a vengeful Savage Jaw Dragon was hunting him down.

Continuing the exploration would surely bring more trouble. But the more he thought about it, the more unwilling he felt. He had come here to search for traces, been hunted by monsters, and ended up with nothing—utterly frustrating.

"I can't just stagnate here. Let's try searching once more. What kind of adventure is it if there's no risk?"

With that, Su Yi opened the "Hunting Manual" and marked the cave of the Great Grim Wolf Dragon on the map.

"Partner! Let's go! The real hunt is just beginning!"

"Meow!"

...

Carefully skirting the woods where the Savage Jaw Dragon and Rathian had faced off, Su Yi and Dewgrass arrived outside the Great Grim Wolf Dragon's cave.

Beside the trees toppled by the Great Grim Wolf Dragon lay a pool of blood, shattered yellow-green scales, some tracks, and, most notably, the mangled, partially digested corpse of a herbivorous dragon.

"The Great Grim Wolf Dragon isn't dead, but it's close. To escape, it vomited up its food to lighten the load. These tracks point to...here!" Su Yi analyzed calmly, the hunter's knowledge in his mind gradually coming together, and his thoughts suddenly became clear.

"Scoutflies, let's go!" Su Yi commanded the scoutflies to latch onto the traces, memorizing the scent of the Great Grim Wolf Dragon.

The glowing green scoutflies followed the trail, leading Su Yi deeper into the forest.

...

Guided by the scoutflies, Su Yi moved nimbly through the woods, occasionally collecting materials with their help.

"We're getting close!" Su Yi slowed his steps, parted the thicket, and saw an open glade where several herbivorous dragons grazed. Nearby, the Great Grim Wolf Dragon, its body covered in horrifying wounds, used its yellow-green coloration to conceal itself as it crept toward its prey.

Once, the Great Grim Wolf Dragon would have charged in, jaws wide, to kill its prey. Now, it was cautious and deliberate—the severity of its injuries had clearly affected its hunting, and thus its survival.

With a sudden howl, the Great Grim Wolf Dragon burst out when it could no longer sneak closer, sending the herbivorous dragons fleeing in panic.

It barely caught up with one old, frail herbivore and lunged to bite.

"This is my chance!" In that instant, Su Yi raised his left arm, and the shooter loaded with scatter nuts fired in a flash.

Smack!

The solid scatter nuts struck the wolf dragon's wounded flank, then exploded, hitting exactly where the Savage Jaw Dragon had left its bloody marks—a direct hit to its pain point.

Yow! Whimper!

The Great Grim Wolf Dragon howled in agony, its cry tinged with weakness.

"Go, partner!" Su Yi leapt from the thicket, reloading his shooter. His sudden appearance drew the wolf dragon's ire; its eyes flashed with fury as it turned to crawl toward Su Yi.

Meanwhile, Dewgrass darted from the opposite side, bone knife in paw glowing with the light of a skill.

Swish!

Dewgrass struck the wounded side of the Great Grim Wolf Dragon, eliciting another pained howl as it twisted to bite at Dewgrass.

At the same time, Su Yi fired another scatter nut, redirecting the wolf dragon's attention. Now, severely injured and sluggish, it found itself beset from both sides.

Yow! Yow! Yow!

The Great Grim Wolf Dragon lost its composure, unable to defend both front and rear. Its stamina drained, injuries worsening, and its howls grew desperate.

But Su Yi remained calm. He and Dewgrass did not rush in recklessly, instead orchestrating a battle of attrition.

The one who should truly panic was the wolf dragon. As its life came under threat, it launched wild, reckless attacks.

Yet it could no longer run swiftly. Su Yi kept his nerves taut and his steps moving, maintaining distance at all times.

The wolf dragon seemed to realize it couldn't kill them, so it plunged into the woods in a bid to escape.

"Hmph! Trying to run?" Su Yi adjusted his shooter as he sprinted after the beast.

Whoosh! A flash of silver.

The Grappling Claw shot from Su Yi's hand, striking its target with a click, the claw firmly embedded in the wolf dragon's back. In the next instant, Su Yi activated the claw, the rope hauling him onto the beast's back.

Sensing a creature atop it, the wolf dragon slammed sideways into a tree. Su Yi drew his sword, stabbing it deep into the wolf dragon's back. Though his strength couldn't drive the blade far, it anchored him, allowing him to cling tight through the shaking impact.

Finding the collision ineffective, the wolf dragon ignored Su Yi and bolted, trying to scrape him off with thick branches. Behind, Dewgrass bounded on all fours in pursuit.

"Partner! Get in!" Su Yi twisted, capturing Dewgrass in the ball as the cat ran behind.

Then, he released Dewgrass again, right onto the wolf dragon's back.

"Let's make some noise, partner!" Su Yi shouted.

"Got it, meow!" Dewgrass replied, brandishing the bone blade as its skills shone, slashing wildly across the wolf dragon's back.

Yow! Yow!

The relentless pain made the wolf dragon stumble; grievously wounded, it wailed and collapsed sideways to the ground.