Chapter 32: Guardian Spirit Of The Snow Mountain
The next morning, Elif was handling matters concerning the fiefdom for Lei Wen in his tent when Anna’s voice suddenly came from outside.
“Master!”
Lei Wen looked up and saw Anna running in with Zorua in her arms.
Her eyes were bright and filled with joy, “Master, my Zorua learned a new move!”
“Oh?” Lei Wen was a little surprised.
“Zorua, quickly use that move to show Master!” Anna said quickly.
Zorua nodded slightly, and the next second, its form began to change rapidly.
Illusions flickered one after another, and then, Pokémon identical to Zorua appeared in the tent.
Under Anna’s command, dozens of Zorua simultaneously looked up at Lei Wen.
Lei Wen recognized the move at a glance.
“It’s Shadow Clone?” he praised, “Not bad, it’s indeed a very powerful move.”
“Shadow Clone?” Anna asked with a face full of curiosity, “This move is called Shadow Clone?”
“That’s right,” Lei Wen nodded, “It seems you and Zorua have made great progress during this time! You have not disappointed my expectations.”
“Yes!” Anna’s eyes shone, “Not only that, Zorua has become more proficient with other moves too!”
“It seems it’s time to teach you the next lesson,” Lei Wen said.
“What is it?”
Hearing this, Anna and Zorua immediately looked over with expectant eyes.
“Monster Abilities,” Lei Wen stood up, walked to Zorua, and slowly explained, “As far as I know, every monster has different abilities.”
“This is the manifestation of their inherent power. Let me use my Dratini as an example.”
Lei Wen beckoned, and Dratini flew over.
“Dratini’s ability is Marvel Scale. Compared to other monsters, Dratini’s scales possess a magical power. When it’s poisoned or paralyzed, the power within its scales is triggered, making its scales even sturdier.”
“Marvel Scale…” Anna felt a new world slowly opening up, “Then is Zorua’s ability also Marvel Scale?”
Lei Wen smiled and shook his head, “No, the abilities of different monsters are different. Even monsters of the same species have subtle differences in their abilities.”
“From my observation, your Zorua’s ability is a power called Illusion, and you have already seen that power.”
“Huh? I’ve seen it?” Anna was stunned.
Lei Wen nodded, “The night you met Zorua, the illusion it created to scare away Abomasnow to protect you was the power of Illusion.”
“Zorua can use this power to create various illusions to confuse opponents. Sometimes, it can even change its appearance in the eyes of others, for example, by transforming into a human.”
“And this power can often be very useful. For instance, when you encounter a monster that you cannot defeat, you can use illusions to disrupt the opponent and escape.”
“Wh-what a powerful ability!” Anna’s eyes widened.
Lei Wen smiled slightly, “Next, your task is to train Zorua’s ability until it can use illusions to transform into a human.”
“Once you master this power, the next step, I will begin teaching you the most important aspect for a Trainer—Command.”
“Command?” Anna responded repeatedly, “Yes! Master!”
“Also, take this parchment and read it carefully,” Lei Wen handed Anna the parchment he had written earlier.
It contained a detailed type chart and the types of some Pokémon.
Anna took it and promised, “We will definitely study hard!”
Lei Wen smiled and nodded, “In that case, you may go!”
Judging from Anna’s performance these past few days, this child has a lot of talent in becoming a Trainer.
Watching Anna and Zorua’s retreating backs, Lei Wen murmured:
“Little Anna, you must grow up quickly!”
Zorua’s illusion ability is perfect for a scout.
Speaking of scouts, Lei Wen couldn’t help but think of Cliff, Ryan, and Christina, whom he had dispatched a few days ago.
“I wonder how their mission is going…”
＊
On the snowy mountain, five kilometers away from the fiefdom.
Christina, wearing a thick cashmere hat and knitted gloves, gazed at the mountains and lakes below while meticulously sketching the surrounding terrain with her pen.
Ryan and Cliff stood guard.
Several days had passed since they left the fiefdom, and their food was running out, so it was time for them to return.
Along the way, they encountered many monsters, but with Cliff’s rich experience, they not only narrowly avoided attacks but also recorded the appearance and habitats of those monsters.
Of course, not all monsters attacked them.
For example, a monster that looked like a pot, hid under stones, and recoiled its head and limbs into its shell at the sight of people.
Or a bird monster with wings as fluffy as cotton clouds that was not afraid of people.
Ryan even witnessed a large herd of enormous Ivory Pigs slowly ambling past them.
They hadn’t felt it while staying in the Royal City, but now, having experienced it firsthand, both Ryan and Christina felt that this world was so beautiful and magnificent, and these monsters were so charming that one couldn’t help but want to explore them in detail.
“Prince Lei Wen’s mission is successfully completed!” Ryan grumbled regretfully, “It’s a shame I didn’t encounter any monsters willing to follow me…”
Christina couldn’t help but chuckle, “Ryan is so rough, what monster would like you?”
The three of them had gone through a lot together on this journey, developing deep affection for each other. They would occasionally tease each other.
Ryan clenched his fist, “Nonsense! I’m not rough at all!”
Christina burst into laughter.
Cliff stood to the side, holding his sword, his tall and strong physique like a wall.
Suddenly, his ears caught a strange sound.
Accompanied by a rumbling roar, it sounded like something colossal was approaching.
Cliff immediately became alert, “Danger!”
As soon as he spoke, a massive figure broke through the bushes in front of them and appeared before the three of them.
It was a monster over two meters tall, with a huge body, like a monster.
Seeing the three of them, it fiercely pounded its chest with its fists and let out an angry roar.
“Roar!”
The next second, its massive body lunged towards Cliff, who was at the front.
Pounce!
Cliff immediately blocked with his sword, but the monster’s strength was far greater than he had imagined, directly sending him and his sword flying.
“Cliff!” Ryan immediately drew his sword and stepped forward, shouting, “Christina, take cover!”
However, before his words could fall, the monster’s body erupted with an extremely terrifying power.
“Rumble!”
The ground shook, as if it would split open at any moment.
Before Ryan could even see what was happening, a powerful force surged from beneath his feet, blasting him away.
“Ryan!”
Looking at the furious monster, Christina’s face showed fear. She put away her paper and pen and rushed forward to check on Ryan.
As the monster was about to charge, at the critical moment, Cliff stood in front of the monster with his sword.
His body erupted with immense power, and years of combat experience made him realize that this monster was extraordinary.
They absolutely could not handle this opponent!
But it was too late to escape now. Cliff made a swift decision.
“Take Ryan and leave. Return to the fiefdom!”
Christina helped Ryan up, her face full of anxiety, “What about you?”
“I’ll lure it away! You guys hurry and go!”
Christina hesitated.
Cliff roared, “Take the map to Prince Lei Wen, go! Otherwise, none of us will be able to leave!”
Hearing this, tears welled up in Christina’s eyes. She cast one last look at Cliff, gritted her teeth, and, supporting Ryan, began to retreat along the path they had come.
Seeing the two of them leave, Cliff finally breathed a sigh of relief, but the next second, he was sent flying by a tremendous force, his body rolling down the snowy mountain.
His consciousness abruptly vanished, and Cliff fell into a complete coma.
Cliff had a dream.
He dreamed of himself in his youth. He had joined the army, and before he left, the girl he liked gently told him, “Come back alive.”
But when the war ended, everything had changed.
His parents were gone, and the girl he liked had married someone else.
With nothing left, Cliff took one last look at the girl, then resolutely returned to the army, until one day he received new orders.
—To accompany Prince Lei Wen to the fiefdom.
In a daze, Cliff seemed to hear that phrase again, “Come back alive.”
That was… Prince Lei Wen.
Cliff’s eyes snapped open.
He quickly looked around, confirming his current situation.
He was on a snow-covered hillside.
It seemed he had rolled down from the snowy mountain to here.
“I’m not dead.” Cliff tried to move his limbs, but a sharp pain shot from his right arm.
This made him let out a muffled groan.
It was broken.
Fortunately, this injury was nothing to him.
Cliff forced himself to stand, trying to find the way back to the camp in the vast snowy mountain.
However, after walking for a long time until he was exhausted, he saw the same hillside where he had first fallen.
He had lost his way.
Cliff’s expression grew heavy.
Time ticked by, and snowflakes began to fall from the sky. He no longer knew how long he had been in the snowy mountain.
His strength gradually faded. No food, no water. It was cold… so cold…
Cliff hid behind a wind-sheltered stone.
His body temperature was gradually draining, and his consciousness was becoming blurred.
Was he going to die here?
In a daze, Cliff suddenly saw an extremely beautiful creature flying towards him.
It was a large bird with beautiful blue feathers and a pair of beautiful ice-crystal wings.
On its head was a crown formed by three dark blue rhombic feathers, and its tail, elegant and flowing like a colorful banner, moved gently behind it, looking so sacred and graceful.
The falling snowflakes around suddenly froze, as if suspended in mid-air.
Cliff opened his eyes and met its red gaze.
