Inside the simple wooden house in Lacunosa Village, an elderly white-haired couple looked at Lucien with pleading eyes.
"Lord Beastmaster… please save our village. Please save everyone here…"
Lucien watched them quietly, doubts rising in his heart.
The legends he knew came from thousands of years in the future; with such a long span of time, truth often twisted through generations of retelling.
If Kyurem were truly a man-eating dragon, why would the people of Lacunosa Village have stayed here for decades instead of moving elsewhere?
And in the modern era, the Unova League certainly wouldn't let a man-eating Kyurem roam freely.
Lucien couldn't make a conclusion until he understood the truth.
After a moment of silence, he finally said:
"I will do my best… but I need to understand some things first.
"When did this monster begin eating people?
"When was the most recent disappearance?
"Has anyone actually witnessed the monster eating someone?"
The old woman wiped her eyes, trying to recall.
"According to the elders, the monster began eating people during its fifth year living in the mountain."
"The last incident was three months ago. That night… the monster came into the village, and a young man named Shin was taken away and eaten…"
"No one has ever seen its true appearance. Everyone shuts their doors tightly after sunset. But the monster knocks on doors and lures people out. And whenever it appears… it snows, and the wind turns icy cold."
Hearing this, Lucien narrowed his eyes.
He had been unsure before, but now he felt certain: the creature they described was absolutely not Kyurem.
Kyurem would never politely knock on doors.
If Kyurem had wanted to attack, the entire village would already be frozen solid.
"How often does it come?" Lucien asked.
"It varies… sometimes every two or three months, sometimes once a year. But if you just ignore the knocking and don't open the door, it won't take you."
"So for decades now, we've followed the rule, never leave the house after dark."
A "monster" with rules and restraint.
Lucien nodded slightly. He had learned what he needed for now.
"I understand. I'll stay in the village for a while. If the monster appears… I will do my best to handle it."
The elderly couple immediately bowed in gratitude.
"Please, Lord Beastmaster… we entrust our lives to you!"
The old woman prepared a simple bed. Lucien didn't mind.
After dinner, he rested with Victini while keeping Serperior and Dragonair inside their Poké Balls to avoid alarming the villagers.
The first night passed uneventfully.
Early the next morning, Lucien asked for the location of the Giant's Cave, gathered enough food and water, and left Lacunosa Village.
When the villagers learned that a Beastmaster had come to defeat the monster, they gathered at the entrance of the village to see him off.
The Giant's Cave lay in the mountains northeast of the village, not far away.
Lucien rode forward, observing the surroundings.
Though it was mid-June and summer was approaching, Lacunosa Village still carried a faint chill, one that grew sharper the closer he got to the mountain.
And along the way, Ice-type Pokémon grew more numerous.
A drifting cloud of Cryogonal glimmered in the air. Delibird fluttered overhead.
Several Sneasel hid in the shadows, watching warily. The roar of a Beartic echoed from deep within the mountains.
"Weavile."
A low growl came from behind as several Weavile attempted a sneak attack.
Thankfully, Lucien had prepared beforehand and released Serperior the moment he entered the wilderness.
Disgusted by the ambush, Serperior immediately unleashed Leaf Storm.
Sharp leaves whipped into a violent vortex, swallowing the Weavile in an instant.
Victini sat on Lucien's shoulder, watching with interest.
"Nini?"
"Don't worry," Lucien said calmly. "Enemies of this level don't require your power."
Sensing danger, the Weavile quickly scattered and fled.
Lucien did not pursue them. He simply patted Serperior's head and continued onward.
Before long, a massive cave appeared in the mountains ahead.
Cold mist seeped from the opening, and an ancient, terrifying aura flowed outward, powerful enough to make one's spine tremble.
Even Victini's expression grew serious as it felt the presence within.
"Nini!"
Victini cried out sharply, warning Lucien to be careful. A powerful presence was watching them from inside the cavern.
"I know."
Lucien inhaled slowly. Now that they had come this far, there was no turning back.
The Giant's Cave, a forbidden place to the people of Lacunosa Village, had been formed decades ago by a meteorite crash. The outer caverns formed a natural barrier, sealing the central crater where Kyurem was said to reside.
Lucien looked up.
Countless Cryogonal drifted through the air like ghostly, floating crystals.
The cold energy radiating from deep within the cave distorted the local ecosystem itself, creating a bizarre world of eternal frost.
On the cliff opposite the cave entrance, three Pokémon stood quietly, observing the lone human and the small group beside him.
They were massive, powerful, and unmistakable.
The first, on the left, resembled an iron-bodied bull, its body shaped like a fortress wall. Rage burned in its eyes.
"That human is despicable! Imprisoning Pokémon in such a tiny space! Let me go down there and teach him a lesson!" Terrakion snarled.
"Calm yourself, Terrakion."
The blue-furred, goat-like Pokémon beside him, Cobalion, spoke in a composed tone. Its stance was rigid, noble, and vigilant as it studied Lucien below.
"How can I calm down?!" Terrakion roared back.
"Have you forgotten how many Pokémon lost their homes because of human wars? How many territories ruined? How many families destroyed?!"
"We did not come here to judge humans."
Cobalion's voice remained steady, unwavering.
"The power humans hold is not something that can be ignored. Before any confrontation, we must continue training. Only then can we protect the Pokémon of this land."
Terrakion stomped, furious but unable to refute Cobalion's reasoning.
At that moment, the third Pokémon stepped forward.
Its elegant green body shimmered like polished jade. Its scarlet eyes were gentle yet discerning. The breeze carried a faint fragrance of leaves as Virizion spoke softly.
"Terrakion, Cobalion… look at the expression on that human's face. He isn't here to harm anyone. His gaze is fixed on the cave."
Virizion narrowed its eyes slightly.
"He seems to be here for Kyurem, the same reason we came."
...
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