Just as Han Xin was frozen in shock, a massive creature—easily nine meters tall—burst out of the bushes beside him.
For a Ditto barely thirty centimeters high, it was like staring up at a mountain.
"Don't eat me! I don't even have meat on me!"
He squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for teeth and claws. But after a tense pause… nothing happened.
Cautiously, Han Xin cracked open his tiny beady eyes.
The monster standing there wasn't lunging at him. Instead, he got a good look at it: yellow-and-white scales covering its body, spines jutting from its back, strong hind legs planted on the ground, and forelimbs feathered in fiery orange. Its head sported a crown of bright crests.
And clutched tightly in its claws was… a giant egg. The creature tapped at it with its beak-like mouth, as though judging its quality.
"…Wait. That's not a Great Jaggi. It's a Kulu-Ya-Ku!?"
Relief washed over him.
Not only was Han Xin a self-proclaimed Pokémon master—he also prided himself as a certified Monster Hunter nerd!
And unlike the vicious Great Jaggi, Kulu-Ya-Ku weren't bloodthirsty predators. They were egg thieves, preferring to snatch and snack on monster eggs instead of picking fights.
That, at least, was good news.
Han Xin knew he wasn't in much danger. His Ditto body was bright purple—a color that in the Monster Hunter world practically screamed toxic. Even though he knew he wasn't poisonous, most monsters would think twice before biting into him.
Still… the Kulu's huge eyes locked on him. It tilted its head, staring at the squishy blob like it was seeing a ghost.
"Don't give me that look, big guy. Go home and eat your egg already! You're creeping me out!" Han Xin muttered nervously.
The towering bird crept closer, step by step. But suddenly it froze. Its eyes darted around as if sensing danger. Hugging the egg tight, it bolted off at full speed, kicking up dust as it vanished into the trees.
"…What the hell?" Han Xin mumbled. Between his new Ditto body, the broken system, and now this confused egg thief, the whole situation felt absurd.
And yet, instead of despair, his curiosity only deepened.
"Oh my Arceus, this is wild…"
Shaking his head, he decided it was better to find somewhere safe to test his system than to dwell on a dead Melynx. Still, as he turned to leave, he glanced back at the fallen feline.
"Thanks, cat bro. Hope you get a better respawn next time."
He was still muttering when the ground suddenly rumbled beneath him. A massive gust of wind swept over.
A chill shot straight through him.
Turning his gooey body as stiffly as a rusty robot, Han Xin found himself face-to-face with another towering monster.
Like the Kulu-Ya-Ku, it was a bird wyvern. But this one's body gleamed orange and white, its underbelly plated in blue-white scales and armor. Its head was narrow and pointed, eyes glinting with cruel intelligence.
And worst of all—its tail. Half its body length, tipped with a hooked, venom-blue barb.
Han Xin's gooey jaw dropped.
"…The Great Jaggi King."
Unlike the harmless egg thief, Great Jaggis weren't just curious. They were bullies. Predators. They'd hunt anything smaller, weaker—anything that moved. Even if they couldn't eat it, they'd kill it for sport.
The dead Melynx from before had been proof enough.
Now the Great Jaggi lowered its head, grinning slyly at Han Xin. Its eyes sparkled with cruel delight—like a kid finding a new toy to break.
"Aw, hell no! Run!"
Han Xin bolted left, his blob body wobbling at full throttle. But the next instant, another smaller Jaggi leapt out of the brush, blocking his path.
He swerved right. Another Jaggi cut him off.
Together with their leader, the three monsters formed a deadly triangle around him—the Jaggi pack's signature hunt formation.
Han Xin froze.
Most people would've broken down crying, maybe prayed for a quick death.
But not Han Xin.
He hung his gooey head low… then suddenly burst into manic laughter.
"Hahahaha! Finally! My time to shine has come!"
He roared at the heavens:
"System! Activate!"
From the void came that soothing, familiar voice:
[Pokémon Item Lottery System] at your service!
"System! I don't care how—just give me some crazy power! Let me wreck these guys!"
Ding! Invalid request. Please follow menu instructions.
For functions, press 1.
For status, press 2.
For item storage, press 3.
"…What the—? Customer service?! Are you serious?!"
The Great Jaggi pack was closing in fast, snarling and cackling. Han Xin's bravado evaporated, replaced by panic.
"Customer service! Transfer me to a real person!"
Transferring… please hold.
Beep… beep…
(Soft hold music begins playing.)
Han Xin was sweating puddles—if blobs could sweat.
"You useless, trash system! Hurry! I'm about to die here!"
And then—finally—
A clear, feminine voice rang in his mind, smooth and confident.
Hello! Manual Support Unit [Scarlet] at your service~ I'll be guiding you to victory in the world of Pokémo—
But she cut herself off mid-line.
"…Wait. Hold on. What the hell? This isn't Pokémon! You dumped the Host in Monster Hunter?!"
Han Xin snapped back, just as furious:
"Don't look at me! I already complained last chapter!"