The Rathian had long since vanished into the clouds. Only then did the skittish, smaller creatures poke their heads out, cautiously returning to the clearing. The Aptonoth followed suit, returning to their grazing with a dull, short-lived sense of relief.
Arlow stepped out from the brush, letting out a long-held breath. "So that was a Rathian? Truly a breathtaking sight—in more ways than one."
He had to admit, seeing the "Queen of the Land and Skies" hunt with such raw, predatory efficiency made his heart race. He felt a deep sense of awe, followed closely by a burning ambition: When will I be strong enough to have a partner like that?
The thought was exhilarating, but he knew he had to walk before he could fly.
Turning his attention back to the Aptonoth, Arlow pulled out the "Hunting Manual." He navigated to the [Monsties] tab and tapped a button. A Poké Ball materialized in his palm.
"I need you on standby for backup, Chansey!" Arlow tossed the red-and-white sphere.
"Lucky!" The pink, round Pokémon appeared with a cheerful cry, looking around the prehistoric forest with wide, curious eyes.
This was the first thing Arlow needed to verify: his system's Capture Balls worked exactly like Poké Balls. They could hold both Monsters and Pokémon.
He could now carry multiple partners in his "Box," though he could only have six active in his party at once, similar to the Galar region's modern storage system. He could swap them out anytime, giving him incredible tactical flexibility.
"Lucerne, I'm counting on you too," Arlow said, nodding to the Palico.
"Leave it to me, meow!" Lucerne unsheathed his bone knife, his eyes sharp.
Arlow pointed toward the nearest Aptonoth. "Lucerne! Use Palico Deployment!"
"Witness my new power, meow!" Lucerne swung his blade. A brilliant white light surged from the hilt, extending the edge of the bone knife into a shimmering energy blade.
Slash!
The blade cut deep, sending a spray of blood into the air and leaving a long gash on the Aptonoth's flank.
MOOO—! The Aptonoth let out a piteous cry, stumbling back before turning to bolt. Its panic triggered a chain reaction, sending the entire herd into a clumsy, frantic stampede.
Luckily, Aptonoth weren't built for speed. They were docile herbivores, lacking the aggressive "battering ram" instincts of the Kestodon found in the Wildspire Waste.
The fight was one-sided. Lucerne chased down his target, raining several more energy-infused strikes until the beast collapsed, panting and barely conscious.
It was a simple victory, but for Arlow, it was his first commanded battle—a confirmation that Lucerne was now operating under the "rules" of a Pokémon battle.
"Alright! My first official capture!" Arlow reached for a Capture Ball, his heart hammering with excitement.
But just as he was about to throw—
RAUGH! RAUGH!
A massive, yellow-green lizard-like creature burst from the foliage, its claws tearing through the dirt as it charged directly at Arlow.
"Lucky?!" Chansey squeaked, startled by the sudden ferocity.
"Lucerne! Chansey! Get back!" Arlow yelled, scrambling away from the intruder.
GRRR!
The creature—covered in green scales with a mane of dreadlock-like yellow fur—slammed its claws onto the wounded Aptonoth, pinning it down like a schoolyard bully stealing a lunchbox.
"It's a Great Jagras, meow!" Lucerne cried.
"Yeah, and it just stole our kill," Arlow muttered, his face darkening.
This was the first Large Monster most players ever encountered in the game. A Fanged Wyvern known for its insatiable hunger, the Great Jagras had a digestive system so powerful it could actually burn its own stomach lining if it didn't eat constantly.
Because of this, it was always on the move, frequently clashing with other predators—and now, Arlow.
The Great Jagras ignored the humans for a moment. It unhinged its massive jaw and swallowed the Aptonoth whole in a single, sickening gulp. Its flexible belly instantly distended, bulging out like a giant water balloon.
Hiss... It let out a long, satisfied burp, its belly dragging on the ground. It hissed at Arlow's team in a show of dominance. Behind it, half a dozen smaller Jagras scurried out of the bushes, yapping and snarling at Arlow like a gang of street thugs backing up their boss.
"Don't panic. Back away slowly," Arlow whispered. The three of them retreated step-by-step, keeping their eyes locked on the pack.
Sated and heavy, the Great Jagras didn't give chase. It crawled back into the shade of the trees to find a place to sleep and digest its massive meal.
Its pack followed, still barking insults over their shoulders as they disappeared.
"Phew..." Arlow wiped sweat from his brow. In the game, a Great Jagras was a "punching bag" for training. In reality, it was a half-ton of muscle and teeth that could have ended him in seconds.
He looked at the empty clearing. The Aptonoth herd was long gone.
"Dammit."
Arlow realized what happened. The Rathian's hunt must have flushed the Great Jagras out of its usual territory. It had arrived just in time to see a "free meal" provided by Arlow.
"You got lucky this time, 'Mr. Mullet,'" Arlow growled, using the fan-favorite nickname for the beast. "But don't think I'll forget this."
Later, in a secluded grove overlooking the coast, Arlow pushed through a thicket of ferns. He was looking for a specific spot he remembered from the game—the hidden camp near the shore where the Hunter and Handler first took refuge after falling from the Zorah Magdaros.
To his surprise, he found it. The camp was overgrown and abandoned; the tent was lopsided, the fire pit was scattered, and old wooden crates were falling apart.
"Hidden location, check. It's a mess, but the foundation is solid. Let's get to work."
Half an hour of manual labor later, the camp was revitalized. As Arlow finished tidying up, the Sapphire Star on the cover of his Hunting Manual glowed.
A notification appeared: his [Map] had updated with a Fast Travel icon for the "Beachside Grove Camp." He could now "spawn" here directly from the Pokémon world.
"Let's rest here for the night. Lucerne, you should head back to Astera to file your paperwork. It's not a long walk from here," Arlow said, looking out from the cliffside. In the distance, he could see the silhouette of Astera—a base built from the wreckage of colossal ships.
"You really won't come with me, meow?" Lucerne asked.
Arlow shook his head. "Not yet."
He didn't have a legal identity in the New World. Every person in Astera was a registered member of the Commission.
A random human showing up with a "talking cat" and "magical creatures" would be interrogated immediately. He needed to be strong enough to protect himself—and his secrets—before he made contact.
He would wait until he could present himself as a "Trainer from a distant land," a title that commanded respect rather than suspicion.
"Alright! I'm off, meow!" Lucerne waved and dashed off into the woods.
"It's surprisingly quiet without him," Arlow noted with a faint smile. In just a couple of days, the Palico had become more than just a guide; he was a true friend.
"Lucky!" Seeing Arlow's lonely expression, Chansey reached into her pouch and pulled out an egg, offering it to him with a smile.
"For me?" Arlow laughed. "Thanks, Chansey. Thank you for coming with me to this strange place."
He had asked Chansey to join him primarily as a "cleric" for the team, but her presence was proving to be a huge emotional support as well.
"Good things are meant to be shared. I'll handle dinner tonight!" Arlow gathered a handful of "Special Mushrooms" he'd found nearby with his Scoutflies. In the game, they were just account items; in reality, they were fragrant, earthy delicacies.
He roasted them over the stone fire pit. Without spices, the natural umami was concentrated by the heat. They were delicious.
"Lucky!" Chansey nibbled on a mushroom, enjoying her first taste of New World cuisine.
"I'll have to find more for Lucerne tomorrow. I'm going to eat my way across this entire continent," Arlow vowed before settling into the tent for a well-earned sleep.
The next morning, Lucerne returned to camp, ecstatic. "Arlow! I'm back, meow!"
"Everything go okay?"
"All set, meow! And I brought you a gift!" Lucerne handed over two items.
The first was a pair of Binoculars—essential for scouting from a distance. The second was a metallic bundle that felt surprisingly heavy.
"This is..." Arlow's eyes widened.
"A Sword and Shield, meow! I know you aren't a Hunter yet, but you need to be able to protect yourself."
It was a basic Iron set. Arlow strapped it on, following the memories ingrained in his mind by the "Fundamentals" reward.
The shortsword felt balanced, and the small, round shield was light enough to maneuver quickly. It was the "beginner" weapon, but its versatility was legendary.
"This must have cost a lot of Zenny," Arlow said, knowing Lucerne wasn't wealthy.
"It's worth it, meow!"
Arlow picked up the cat and bumped his forehead against Lucerne's in a gesture of affection. "Then let's go. We have a capture to finish!"
They returned to the beach. The Aptonoth were there, as usual—oblivious and peaceful.
"Let's try for Kestodon this time," Arlow decided. "Aptonoth are too passive. If I want a mount or a fighter, I need something with a bit more spirit."
They moved down a slope where the grass gave way to sand and tide pools. A family of Kestodon—two males with thick, dome-like heads and several females—were resting near the water.
"Let's go—" Arlow started, but a familiar roar cut him off.
"Are you kidding me?! Again?!" Arlow ducked into the tall grass.
The Great Jagras charged down the slope once more, its stomach now empty and its hunger renewed. It lunged at the Kestodon. Unlike the Aptonoth, the male Kestodon lowered its head and slammed into the Great Jagras with a dull thud, actually pushing the predator back.
But the stalemate didn't last long.
CRASH!
The ocean surface erupted. A long, serpentine neck crested with a crown of jagged fins burst from the water. It let out a piercing, electrifying shriek that resonated through the very air, its towering form basking in the sunlight.
Arlow's jaw dropped. "No way... a Lagiacrus?!"
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