Paragon

Hisui Incursion [9]

PARAGON

Hisui Incursion Arc [9]

Chapter 61 : Adventure in the Land of Legend

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Hisui Region - Obsidian Fieldlands

Laventon's bottom lip quivered as he raised a shaky finger in Yura's direction. "Y...Y...Y-Yura...?!"

Beside the hole it'd popped out of, Shieldon groaned, a low, metallic grinding emanating from its stony throat, ready to defend its young master.

The shock of seeing Yura aside, this was also Ash's first time seeing Shieldon in the daylight, and now that it was well-illuminated, he noticed something strange about this one.

Unlike the Shieldon of the modern age, this one's metal skull was a far darker shade, nearly black. He hadn't noticed before in the darkness of night, but this one's head almost appeared to be made of obsidian rather than iron. Its eyes held the same wild look as the other pokémon of this time and its body was covered in dirt and gravel.

"W-What are you...?" Sabrina stammered.

"What's going on? Are they there?" another voice echoed from within the hole.

Ash, Sabrina, and Riley all exchanged a look.

Yura looked down the hole, then back up. Scarlet bloomed across her cheeks and she clambered out. Shieldon stalked toward her protectively.

Rei's head popped up next and he took one look at the others before all the color drained from his face.

After an awkward pause, Riley extended a hand, and as if on autopilot, Rei accepted it, and the Guardian hauled him out.

Akari was last and it took less than a second for her to realize what was going on. "Oh...," she breathed. Her face and clothes were smeared in dirt as well but Riley wasted no time in offering his hand.

Laventon's eyes were closed, yet his whole body trembled as he stood in place. Ash glanced between their now bloated party, but all eyes were trained on the Professor, awaiting his judgment with trepidation. Wind whistled through the trees like roaring laughter, but no one was smiling.

Finally, the Professor stopped shaking and he unballed his fists. Rei swallowed, and Akari and Yura clutched each others' hands so tightly it looked painful.

"We're turning back," Laventon said in a low voice.

"Wait, Professor, please just let us explain, we—" Rei sputtered.

"We're turning back!" Laventon roared in a voice completely different from how Ash had ever heard before. And given Rei and Akari's wincing reactions, it wasn't something they'd ever heard either. "You two, I understand!" he said, jabbing a finger at his disciples. "You could say I expected it! But what on earth possessed you to bring Yura all this way?!"

"Please, Professor!" Akari wailed. "We've been talking! She just wants to find her home—"

"So you took her beyond the safety of the walls?! This is a child!"

"She has a pokémon!" Rei offered.

"Don't try to justify your reckless foolishness!" Laventon snarled. "Not only have you put her in mortal peril, but you've endangered yourselves and us as well! The journey simply cannot continue! It's done! It's—"

A hand came down on the Professor's shoulder and he whipped around. Ash smiled sympathetically.

"We don't want to invite any wild pokémon over," he said.