"Galarian Moltres!"
In an instant, Ryuu Shiro recognized this sinister avian Pokémon.
With such a striking appearance and overwhelming aura, it was impossible to mistake.
"There really is a Moltres here?!"
Marnie, upon seeing the Galarian Moltres, froze in place, her delicate face stiffening as her eyelids twitched uncontrollably.
Earlier, she had mocked the idea, saying that rumors were for the foolish and that the tales of Legendary Pokémon in the Crown Tundra were likely spread by those with ulterior motives.
And now…
Slap! The truth hit her right in the face.
But this wasn't the time to dwell on that. Ryuu Shiro and Marnie stood up as the Galarian Moltres soared through the sky, its wings wreathed in eerie black-and-red flames that burned with a mesmerizing, otherworldly glow.
The real problem was…
"It's coming straight for us."
Ryuu Shiro's eyes flickered as the Galarian Moltres flew directly toward them—no, more accurately, toward the massive tree they stood beneath.
"But what luck, Marnie. Want to try catching it?"
A wider grin spread across Ryuu Shiro's face, his excitement palpable as he turned to Marnie.
Just yesterday, he had captured Eternatus. And now, today, he had stumbled upon a Galarian Moltres.
This was… absolutely perfect.
Sure, Moltres was only a mid-tier Legendary, far from the pinnacle of power among the world's most revered Pokémon. But a Legendary was still a Legendary—a being of supreme rarity, a creature most Trainers would never even glimpse in their lifetime.
"...I'll pass."
Marnie's heart raced as she gazed at the black-and-red Moltres, her clear, beautiful eyes shimmering with longing.
But sensing the overwhelming pressure radiating from the Galarian Moltres, she reluctantly shook her head.
She knew Ryuu Shiro wasn't just being polite—his true passion lay with Dragon-types. And compared to Eternatus, Galarian Moltres was little more than a bonus.
But still…
Sorry, not sorry. I don't think I can take this wild Moltres in a fight.
A faint melancholy settled in Marnie's heart. This fiery bird didn't look like it would go down easily.
Meeting the right Pokémon at the wrong time…
For a brief moment, Marnie felt an odd sense of enlightenment.
"You go ahead and catch it, Shiro."
She exhaled softly, her expression smoothing back into its usual calm.
It's just some overgrown bird that's on fire. Like I'd be desperate for that.
Pfft. My dream Legendary is Yveltal! This cheap knockoff Moltres can't compare!
"Marnie? You okay? It's just a Moltres—there'll be other chances."
Ryuu Shiro blinked, noticing the rare hint of frustration on Marnie's usually composed face. After a moment's thought, he offered some consolation.
"..."
Any lingering regret Marnie had instantly evaporated.
"Scree~!"
While the two were talking, the Galarian Moltres had already landed on one of the tree's massive branches, preening its feathers with an air of regal indifference.
It either hadn't noticed the humans below… or simply didn't care.
After all, to a Legendary Pokémon, humans were nothing special.
This wasn't its first encounter with them. Stay calm, stay unbothered.
"What an arrogant little thing. I like it."
Watching the Moltres rest so casually, as if it owned the place, Ryuu Shiro's grin widened.
Its prideful attitude suited him just fine.
"Dragonair, Dragon Pulse!"
Without hesitation, Ryuu Shiro hurled Dragonair's Poké Ball into the air.
A flash of light, and the elegant serpentine Dragonair materialized midair, its maw glowing as it unleashed a devastating Dragon Pulse, the energy tearing through the air toward the unsuspecting Moltres.
The attack struck before the Legendary bird could react.
"Scree—!"
Caught off guard, the Galarian Moltres let out a pained shriek as the blast sent it tumbling from the branch, crashing heavily onto the grass below.
But in seconds, it was back on its feet, wings flared wide as it glared furiously at Dragonair, its piercing cry ringing through the air.
How dare this lowly creature ambush the great Moltres?! UNFORGIVABLE!
Dark flames erupted around the enraged Legendary, swirling into towering black-and-red pillars of fire that encircled it—a spectacle both breathtaking and terrifying.
"They say Galarian Moltres possesses power vast enough to topple mountains, its aura manifesting as these sinister flames. Anyone who touches them will have their soul withered away, burned to nothing but white ash."
Marnie's eyes gleamed with fascination as she recited the legend, watching the inferno rage around the Moltres.
"Mm. Just in terms of special effects, Galarian Moltres blows Kanto's fried-chicken Moltres out of the water."
Ryuu Shiro nodded in agreement. Forget strength—just the sheer intimidation factor of those evil flames put Galarian Moltres leagues above its Kanto counterpart.
"...?"
Marnie's eyelid twitched.
Special effects?!
These are REAL flames, you idiot!
And as if it had heard Ryuu Shiro's remark, the Galarian Moltres' blazing eyes snapped toward him.
Death Glare. Full Power.
What… did this human just call it?!
....
Ryuu Shiro felt the Galarian Moltres' piercing glare but remained utterly unfazed, his lips curling into a smirk.
"Moltres, meeting you here is fate. If I defeat you, you're coming with me."
"Hiding away in the Crown Tundra forever? That's no life for a Legendary."
He tilted his head slightly, addressing the fiery bird with casual confidence.
Compared to Eternatus, Ryuu Shiro's attitude toward Galarian Moltres was far more relaxed—after all, it was just a Legendary on the level of the Kanto bird trio. Did it really deserve his full seriousness?
Even among Legendaries, there were hierarchies, and Moltres was firmly at the bottom.
If it wouldn't obey willingly? Knock it out and take it by force. Simple.
"Scree~!"
Galarian Moltres shrieked in response, its answer clear—prove your strength first!
Dark-purple energy gathered at its beak before erupting in a vicious Dark Pulse, hurtling straight toward Dragonair.
"Dragon Pulse."
Ryuu Shiro's command was calm.
Dragonair's maw glowed as it fired a Dragon Pulse, the two attacks colliding midair in a violent clash. But soon, the draconic energy overwhelmed the dark wave, forcing Moltres to dodge as the remaining blast surged past it.
"Not bad."
Ryuu Shiro raised a brow. No wonder this Moltres acted so arrogantly—it was strong, hovering around Elite-level power. Combined with its Legendary physiology, most Elite Trainers would struggle against it.
"Too bad it's not a Dragon-type."
He sighed inwardly. Despite its name, Galarian Moltres had no Fire typing—it was pure Dark/Flying. The "flames" it wielded were just manifestations of its sinister aura.
Ironically, though, this variant was arguably stronger than its Kanto counterpart…
"Scree!!"
Humiliated by its failed attack, Moltres shrieked again, its wings flaring as black-and-red energy swirled around it.
Fiery Wrath—its signature move.
Without warning, dark energy erupted beneath Dragonair, a pillar of malevolent fire blasting upward.
"Dragon Tail."
Ryuu Shiro smirked. Predictable.
Dragonair twisted gracefully, evading the flames before darting toward Moltres at blinding speed.
Seeing its attack miss again, Moltres beat its wings furiously, unleashing a Hurricane. But Dragonair sliced through the gales effortlessly, closing the distance in an instant—
THWACK!
A brutal Dragon Tail sent Moltres crashing into the lake like a cannonball, water exploding upward.
"SCREEE—!!"
The enraged Legendary burst from the depths, its body cloaked in blue energy as it lunged at Dragonair with Sky Attack.
Damn eel! DIE ALREADY!
"Dragon Tail."
Dragonair didn't even blink. Its glowing tail whipped through the air—
SPLASH!
Moltres went flying back into the water.
"SCREEE!!"
It erupted again, this time with Brave Bird, wings blazing crimson.
I'LL KILL YOU, YOU SLIMY—
"Dragon Tail."
SPLOOSH!
Another geyser of water.
"SCREEEEEEE—!!"
Galarian Moltres surfaced a third time, its shriek dripping with fury and humiliation…
But instead of attacking, it just hovered there, its once-majestic flames looking oddly dim.
Marnie stared, dumbfounded.
"It's… running away?"
Yep. No more brave charges—Moltres turned tail and bolted, wings flapping wildly.
Wow. That retreat was smooth.
"Dragonair."
Ryuu Shiro's smirk sharpened. You really think I'd let you escape?
Dragonair hummed in acknowledgment, its serpentine body gliding after the fleeing Legendary.
Meanwhile, Moltres seethed mid-flight.
A Legendary like me… beaten into the water three times by a glorified eel ?!
UNFORGIVABLE! I'LL TRAIN FOR A THOUSAND YEARS IF I HAVE TO—
WHAM!
Before it could finish the thought, a familiar pain exploded across its skull.
And for the fourth time that day, Galarian Moltres met the lake.