Kairos frowned. Why had this thing appeared now?
But then it hit him—he'd gotten so caught up in the surface world that he'd completely overlooked one critical detail.
A strange ripple spread from the pocket dimension in his inventory. The Legendary Pokémon Encyclopedia, with its cold metallic cover and ancient runic engravings, somehow broke free from its invisible constraints and emerged from the system space on its own. It floated right in front of him, about an arm's length away.
The pages began turning automatically, releasing a soft hum as gentle, mysterious light streamed from between them. The system's cold notification chimed directly in his mind:
[Record Chapter has been updated! Host detected to have engaged in close-range energy-level interaction with legendary-tier entity: [Codename: Raging Flames] (Ancient Species)! Legendary Pokémon Encyclopedia has recorded its basic name and initial impression!]
Kairos reached out and grabbed the floating encyclopedia.
Still as heavy as ever.
He opened the cover.
The first page still showed Mewtwo's shadowy silhouette with its shackle-like outline and the impression marked as "vigilant hostility." Kairos quickly flipped past it.
Mewtwo, buddy, when I get back, I'm finding a way to improve your opinion of me.
On the next page, a dynamic image of light and shadow appeared—a saber-toothed tiger form with burning flame patterns along its dorsal spines. Raging Flames.
Below it, several lines of glowing text appeared:
[Legendary Name: Raging Flames] (Ancient form of Entei)
[Status: Patrolling territory]
[Initial Impression]: Majestic and proud | Suspicious of humans (special mark) | Brief energy resonance with "Ho-Oh's relic"...
Kairos paused at that last line. So the creature had reacted to the Sacred Ash feather.
Which meant the Legendary Pokémon Encyclopedia's target had basically walked right up to him.
Entei hadn't shown any interest in him, true, but at least it hadn't attacked either. And just as he'd suspected, the Sacred Ash feather clearly had some effect on it.
If he could establish a real connection—even just initial goodwill—wouldn't that mean he could add another entry to the Contract Chapter's progress? The more Kairos thought about it, the more sense it made. This opportunity had practically fallen into his lap.
He placed his hand on the floating encyclopedia and, based on previous experience, began communicating with it mentally.
"Query information on 'Raging Flames.' Current precise location, temperament, preferences."
[Pursuit Chapter activated. Query target: [Raging Flames]. Emotion Points required: 5,000 points. (Due to its special ancient legendary form and highly active fluctuating state)]
The system notification remained steady.
Five thousand points?
Kairos nearly stumbled when he saw that number.
He'd already noticed the thing was charging outrageous fees, and now the costs were getting ridiculous.
Did even a Secondary Legendary require this much?
Whatever. He'd pay it.
After all, unlocking a slot in the Legendary Pokémon Encyclopedia was completely worth 5,000 Emotion Points.
As the points were deducted, light patterns rippled across the pages like water, and new information appeared before him.
[Precise Coordinates: Southeast direction, approximately 15 kilometers, [Scorching Valley] core area (large lava landform volcanic crater basin)]
[Temperament: Extremely territorial, aloof personality. (Key note) Dislikes chaotic metallic clanging and unnatural energy pollution. (Preference) Enjoys consuming molten fire crystals and items containing pure earth life energy.]
[Recent Behavior Pattern: Wandering leisurely]
After reviewing the information, Kairos's first reaction was confusion.
Dislikes metallic clanging and unnatural energy pollution?
Where would something like that even come from in this newly awakened surface world?
But it likes fire-type items?
How convenient.
He happened to have a few pieces of A+ grade fire-type resource called "Scorching Core Fragments" in his backpack, obtained from player reward draws.
The quality was too high to just hand out, so he'd kept them. Who knew they'd actually come in handy now?
For a Legendary Pokémon, this quality should be good enough.
As for items containing earth life energy...
He didn't have anything ready-made that matched, but there was one berry that might work.
A fruit with a green body covered in spiral patterns appeared in Kairos's hand.
The berry gave off a fresh earthy scent. It was called a Pomeg Berry—not a nut, but a special berry infused with Ground-type energy, also obtained from previous draws.
Everything was set.
Kairos weighed the Scorching Core Fragment radiating intense heat in his left hand and the Pomeg Berry in his right, then glanced at the system-provided map.
The target was in the lava basin core, fifteen kilometers southeast. Time to move.
After confirming the environmental recorder on his chest showed a steady green light, he stored the Legendary Pokémon Encyclopedia back in the system space and spoke to the faintly shifting shadow at his feet:
"The surface world's more dangerous than I expected. If things go south, I'm counting on you."
He adjusted his direction, chose a relatively hidden route, and began moving quickly toward the southeast.
As Kairos ventured deeper into the forest, the ground beneath his feet gradually grew hot and soft, while the sulfurous smell in the air intensified.
Giant ferns replaced the towering ancient trees, their leaf edges bizarrely burning with faint blue flames. Definitely not normal.
Sunlight penetrated the water vapor above, casting columns of light through the woods.
The ground began showing small holes releasing scalding steam and lava veins winding like spiderwebs.
He wasn't far from where Raging Flames was staying. The volcanic crater's ecology had clearly influenced the surrounding terrain.
Kairos's senses sharpened—the dangerous presence in this area had grown much denser.
From nearby came the faint, rumbling roars of a Mamoswine herd and the tremors of their movement.
They seemed to be guarding the edge of that strange glowing mushroom forest. Another even more hostile gaze, filled with intense malice, had briefly locked onto him before retreating into the forest depths.
Based on the silhouette he'd glimpsed, that was very likely Roaring Moon's territory.
Relying on his enhanced agility and environmental awareness, Kairos constantly adjusted his route, precisely avoiding areas radiating strong "keep out" warnings.
Gengar stayed in his shadow the entire time, even using its power to help conceal Kairos's presence. This way, those dangerous Ancient Species Pokémon wouldn't register him as a threat.
Honestly, this kind of travel was exhausting, but the results were clear. Kairos made it nearly ten kilometers deeper with close calls but no real danger.
The surface temperature had risen noticeably, and even the air became scorching. Breathing it in brought a stinging sensation.
Kairos checked to confirm the camera on his chest was accurately recording surface conditions, then continued forward.
When he passed through a sparse area of low shrubs, a region filled with strange, sharp blue crystals suddenly appeared ahead.
The area looked out of place and immediately caught his attention.
The instant his foot touched the edge of this area, a blazing, blindingly bright metallic beam shot toward him from the side without warning. Incredibly fast.
He reacted immediately. Without needing a prompt, the shadow at his feet surged upward.
A Shadow Ball condensed with deep, dark energy formed instantly and slammed hard toward the beam.
BOOM!
A violent energy explosion erupted. Intense light and smoke burst outward.
The attacker's form revealed itself after the blast.
Iron Hands.
The future form of Hariyama.
Its entire body was covered in cold, silver-gray alloy muscle. Its eyes no longer held the spark of a living creature but instead flashed with cold, emotionless red light.
A Paradox Pokémon?!
Kairos's eyes widened slightly. A flash of surprise crossed his mind. Wasn't this world supposed to only have Ancient Species?
The current situation didn't allow much time for thinking.
This thing was strong. Gengar had used eighty percent of its power in that interception. The opponent's strength had probably reached Elite Four level.
Iron Hands, having missed with one strike, seemed to assess the situation. It emitted a dull sound like grinding metal.
Its alloy muscles in both arms bulged as it prepared to charge again.
But before Iron Hands could launch its second attack, and just as Kairos was preparing to command Gengar...
Dense energy reactions suddenly erupted from all directions in the distance, closing in from different positions at alarming speed.
The sky was obscured by a massive shadow swooping in at high velocity. It looked like a moving blade tank, with blue propulsion flames jetting from gaps in its complex alloy structure, bringing a low, oppressive roar.
Iron Jugulis.
On the ground, amid strange mechanical humming, large amounts of metallic dust glowing with an ominous green light spread like living things, carrying an intense corrosive presence.
The source was a strange moth-like creature with wings shaped like shattered circuit boards, crackling with electric sparks. Iron Moth.
From the flank, a silver light so fast it was nearly blurred tore through the air, stabbing straight at him.
Two constantly vibrating energy blades radiated an intense aura of spatial cutting. Iron Valiant.
And that wasn't all.
From deeper in the woods, more blurry shadows radiating cold metallic luster and dangerous energy were rapidly converging.
Their numbers were unclear, but they formed a tight encirclement. Each individual's aura was at least peak Gym Leader level.
Several that appeared to be leaders had even reached Elite Four level. The pure, unnatural hostility emanating from them surged like a wave, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
Even more chilling was that they seemed to share some invisible link. Some kind of cold operational command was being transmitted silently.
The entire encirclement closed in like a precision hunting machine, and Kairos was the prey.
Gengar's form flickered rapidly between shadow and air, blocking the occasional stray attacks from all directions, but the pressure was obviously immense.
And what was even more critical—if they kept fighting here, the number of these Paradox Pokémon would only increase. Gengar's strength wouldn't be able to handle it.
Kairos was only a few kilometers from the core lava area of Scorching Valley. He could already feel the powerful energy belonging to Raging Flames.
But blocking his path was a group of well-trained, formidably strong, perfectly coordinated Paradox Pokémon whose numbers were still increasing.
Kairos immediately began his assessment.
Iron Jugulis was blocking the sky. Even if Gengar carried him up, it wouldn't work.
Forcing his way through would probably consume the Ho-Oh feather completely.
If he then encountered that aloof, territorial Raging Flames without the feather's protection, he'd be in danger too. Plus, his original goal of establishing friendly contact would be ruined.
In that brief moment, Kairos made his decision.
Under these circumstances, retreating was the best option. After all, he'd already paid the Legendary Pokémon Encyclopedia's points. He could take his time planning the next move.
With his mind made up, there was no hesitation.
Kairos glanced at Iron Valiant still closing in, its twin blades gleaming with cold light.
Then he looked at Iron Jugulis hovering in the sky like a fortress, continuously applying force field pressure.
Finally, his gaze swept over Iron Moth on the ground, continuously spreading toxic metallic dust. He memorized their positions and gave Gengar a direct nod.
"Get me out of here."
The perfect moment to use a Ghost-type Pokémon's abilities.
The moment his words fell, the shadow at his feet surged with Gengar inside it, expanding and swirling like a giant black maw that swallowed him whole, leaving only a trail of black smoke slowly dissipating in place.
At almost the same instant, several energy beams, corrosive liquid, and Iron Valiant's slashing attack crashed down hard on the position where he'd just been standing.
BOOM!!
Violent explosion smoke billowed upward. Shattered rocks flew everywhere.
When the smoke cleared, only a large crater remained. No trace of Kairos at all.
The Paradox Pokémon army that had surrounded him all visibly froze.
These Pokémon's command systems seemed to experience a brief judgment delay.
Iron Jugulis's cold electronic eyes rapidly scanned the residual energy traces.
Iron Valiant's form remained frozen in its post-attack posture, hovering quietly in place. Its twin blades hung slightly down, and the eyes beneath its mask glowed red, as if performing deeper calculations.
Only the low mechanical hum and the sound of metallic dust spreading remained in the air. For a moment, there was no other movement.
Meanwhile, fifty meters away, a shadow rapidly surged up from the ground.
Kairos reappeared on the surface, breathing a slight sigh of relief.
"Whew. Made it out."