Paragon

Hisui Incursion [21]

PARAGON

Hisui Incursion Arc [21]

Chapter 73 : Beacon

___

Hisui Region - Cobalt Coastlands

Laventon exhaled and rested his hands on his knees, panting. He'd just spent the last ten minutes running back and forth across the beach, yelling as he did, but he received no familiar voices in response. The only other occupants of the beach were a few pods of Spheal and Sealeo, and Piplup and Prinplup, who stared at him curiously. They didn't approach him, but he kept his distance all the same.

Far out at sea, he could see the characteristic dark basalt of Firespit Island. Smoke billowed skyward even in the winter, the lava pools on the island never hardening due to the volcano's unceasing activity. That was where Rei had caught his Growlithe.

Due to the island's positioning, Laventon could deduce he was in the northern Coastlands, and this beach was almost certainly Islespy Shore. The docility of the pokémon here also supported that theory, and as long as the sun remained in the sky, Laventon figured he'd probably be safe even without a pokémon partner. However, that would change once night fell and the ghost-types came out. Even the tranquil Islespy Shore would become a nesting ground for the many phantoms that haunted these sands and cliffs, said to be the bereaved souls of sailors whose ships had crashed against the rocks of Hisui's eastern coast.

Of course, those were just rumors. Gossip and hearsay concocted by old maids who'd never made it past a mile of where they were born. Such things had no effect on a man of science like Professor Laventon.

Nevertheless, he picked himself up and resumed his search. Wherever the others were, they were probably safer than he was since they actually had pokémon, or some other way to protect themselves from wilds. But there were injured among them. Sabrina was concussed and Ash... Laventon could feel his saliva turn hot in his mouth as he recalled the grisly state he'd last seen the young man in. He swallowed, willing himself not to vomit, and he pressed ahead with a renewed vigor and urgency.

But, as attentive as he was, he didn't notice that pokémon slam down in front of him, cratering the sand and blocking out the sunlight in an instant with its towering body, until its shadow fell over him.

From beneath its crimson brim, Decidueye sneered, and his talons curled into the wet sand.

"D-Decidueye!" Laventon cried, recoiling. He stumbled back and fell onto his rear.

Decidueye leaned over him, his entire form exuding threat. Laventon leaned away, and as he did, he saw the other wilds lopping away as fast as they could, seemingly eager to get far away from the fearsome Alpha Pokémon.

Laventon looked up at Decidueye but it was impossible to abate his baleful visage. He'd been calm enough when Sabrina was around, but now that they were alone?

"S-Sabrina!" Laventon screamed, inching away. "Sabrina!"

Decidueye ignored his shouts and his eyes narrowed cruelly as he stepped closer to the Professor.

Laventon closed his eyes. For the first time since he'd woken up, he prayed the others weren't nearby. Rei, Akari, and Yura, at the very least. And even if Sabrina were close, what could she do in her current state to quell the monstrous bird's fury?

He hoped he was Decidueye's only victim.

Decidueye suddenly squawked and Laventon felt sand spray across his body. His hair stood on end and he shuddered as static electricity bristled over him.