The descending Felyne immediately caught the Kulu-Ya-Ku's attention.
Wah?
The bird-wyvern let out a confused squawk, twisting its neck upward. It was met with the sight of Lucerne's short sword glowing with a brilliant white light.
Zing!A Heavy Cleave!
The Kulu-Ya-Ku staggered back with a pained shriek. Its talons loosened, and the half-eaten egg it was holding dropped, shattering on the wooden floor. Yolk and shell splattered everywhere.
Gah!!
The Kulu-Ya-Ku stared at the broken egg on the ground with wide eyes, its expression one of pure disbelief and inconsolable loss.
Taking advantage of the bird's shock, Arlow leaped down as well. He scrambled toward the remaining pile of treasures and scooped the massive Rath-egg into his arms.
"Hmph—this thing is heavy!" Arlow grunted, adjusting his grip on the smooth, warm shell.
Snapping out of its daze, the Kulu-Ya-Ku turned its fury toward Arlow. First, this human had interrupted its meal; then, he'd caused its food to spill; and now, he was trying to make off with the "main course" it had saved for last.
Gah-gah-gah!
Infuriated, the Kulu-Ya-Ku puffed out its chest, letting out a rasping screech as it arched its back, preparing for a lethal lunge.
"Come out, Great Jagras!" If this were before, Arlow would have been hesitant, but everything was different now.
The emerald-green lizard, over ten meters long, materialized in the hollow. The space suddenly felt much more cramped.
ROAR!
The Great Jagras let out a booming howl, venting the frustration of being cooped up inside the ball.
Blinded by rage, the Kulu-Ya-Ku ignored the supernatural appearance of the lizard. It dashed forward, its sharp claws swiping left and right.
"Great Jagras, dodge it!" Arlow tried to command.
RAUGH!
Naturally, the Great Jagras—having zero concept of a "Trainer"—ignored him completely. Seeing the aggressive bird, it simply viewed the Kulu-Ya-Ku as the perfect outlet for its own agitation. It lunged forward, snapping its jaws in a feral counterattack.
Thud!
Neither side gained the upper hand. The Great Jagras was freshly healed, and the impact caused some of its scars to weep; meanwhile, the Kulu-Ya-Ku took a nasty bite to its shoulder. Both monsters roared at each other, claws and maws tensed for a bloody struggle.
Arlow facepalmed.
"This won't work. This is a perfect opportunity—both sides are evenly matched. I have to make the Great Jagras listen to me." Arlow's expression turned solemn as he quickly reloaded his Slinger.
The two monsters clashed again. No technique, just raw, savage instinct. After a round of biting and clawing, they backed off, panting and circling each other for the next opening.
Whiz—Pop!
A stone from Arlow's Slinger struck the ground right behind the Great Jagras. The lizard let out a startled bark and spun its head around, glaring at Arlow with annoyance.
Arlow held his Slinger steady in one hand and the Jagras's Capture Ball in the other. He raised his voice, shouting firmly, "You should be able to understand me!"
Ever since he'd captured the Jagras, its human-like expressions had made Arlow suspicious. Did monsters endowed with Pokémon attributes truly gain a Pokémon's spiritual sapience and intelligence?
He was about to find out.
The Great Jagras stared at Arlow. Its eyes weren't just reptilian slits; they were focused, reflecting a mix of confusion and contemplation.
"I knew it! That look in its eyes... It's the proof!" Arlow felt a surge of hope. This meant commanding a monster was possible—it wouldn't just be a chaotic dogfight.
Gah-gah-aooo!
Seeing the Jagras distracted, the Kulu-Ya-Ku lowered its head, using its sensitive beak to probe the ground beneath the debris.
"You must be confused," Arlow said, his words coming faster as he watched the bird. "Thinking thoughts you never had before, feeling a strange power in your body, wondering what that ball means for your future..."
The Kulu-Ya-Ku found its target and began digging frantically.
"You can try to trust me! We'll become partners, travel the world, and fight together. We'll find the meaning behind all of this together!" Arlow spoke with raw sincerity, pouring his heart into the desire for the Jagras to believe in him.
Huff!
The Great Jagras's gaze shifted from skepticism to a flickering spark of trust. It turned back toward the Kulu-Ya-Ku. This time, it didn't roar wildly. It stood poised, watching the bird's frantic movements with calculating intent.
The Kulu-Ya-Ku finally unearthed a heavy rock, clutching it tightly in its claws.
Arlow's pulse quickened. He knew he had won half the battle.
GAH-AOO!
Losing patience, the Kulu-Ya-Ku leaped into the air, bringing the rock down in a crushing overhead strike. The Jagras tensed, its claws digging into the wood, ready to counter—but it held its position, waiting.
Arlow saw the opening and roared, "Back up and dodge!"
RAUGH!
The Great Jagras barked an affirmative. Its four powerful limbs propelled it backward just as the rock slammed into the spot it had occupied, kicking up a cloud of splinters and dust.
"Now! Body Slam!" Arlow punched the air.
ROAR! The Great Jagras reared up. A surge of energy—a power it had never known—suddenly awoke within its muscles. Before, it wouldn't have known how to channel it, but with the command acting as a mental guide, it grasped the trick instantly.
The Jagras aimed its flexible, heavy belly at the Kulu-Ya-Ku. A white, shimmering aura enveloped its body. Though the light flickered unevenly due to a lack of practice, it didn't lessen the impact.
BOOM!
The sheer weight of the Jagras, combined with the Move's power, nearly crushed the air out of the Kulu-Ya-Ku.
The bird staggered to its feet, the rage in its eyes replaced by dawning fear. It realized it was in no condition to win.
"Don't let it recover! Great Jagras, use Bite!"
The Jagras responded instantly. It opened its massive maw, and white energy coated its serrated teeth, extending their reach and sharpening them into lethal points.
The lizard lunged, its jaws clamping down on the bird's flank. The Kulu-Ya-Ku shrieked as its pale yellow scales were shredded.
"Now toss it!" Arlow commanded with a sweep of his arm.
Hiss! The Great Jagras exhaled a plume of white steam, tensing every muscle in its body. With a violent twist of its neck, it slammed the Kulu-Ya-Ku against the far wall of the hollow.
Cras-thud! The bird-wyvern let out a final, weak cry and slumped to the ground, defeated.
ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!
Victorious, the Great Jagras let out a triumphant howl, asserting its dominance.
"Well done. Now, I'm taking the thief and the loot!" Arlow pulled out a Capture Ball and aimed it at the fallen Kulu-Ya-Ku.
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