Zarius rolled and ended up back on his feet, and he saw that Lucien had dashed back away from the explosion. His fur was standing on-end, puffing him up in a slightly humorous way. But then Zarius saw him lock up and topple over. Damn. Paralysis.

  The Luxray turned to face Zarius and let out a deafening cry, forcing Zarius to pull his ears back to reduce his sensitivity. The thing charged him, and Zarius readied himself. He saw it flash blue, and then it crossed the intervening space in a split-second; a sphere of blue lightning that slammed into his chest and crushed his ribs. He coughed up blood as the charge carried him a short distance, before the creature stopped and Zarius went rolling end over end.

  “Ah. I believe that was called a Volt Tackle.” Yveltal sounded slightly concerned.

  Zarius felt his ribs crack back into place as the shadows wound their way around him, and he rolled to his side and held the sword point-out toward the Luxray. Lash Out! He thought as he activated the Move. The pins of blackness manifested from the shadowy dark around him and sped forward.

  The Luxray, almost faster than Zarius could track, dodged to the side. Double-Team, Zarius thought as he activated the Move three times, using all the remaining uses for the day. The vibration along his body was ever-more-intense. He saw the Luxray charge again, and its body began to blur blue. Instinctively, he dove to the side as the Volt Tackle went off, and he felt his cloak tear as he managed to evade the Move.

  Turning around in a rapid pivot, he raised his hand in that claw shape, “Bite! Bite! Bite!” three, rapid-fire uses of the same Move. The spectral, shadowy teeth appeared all around the Luxray, munching down onto it and eliciting a cry of pain from the creature as it wheeled around. Double-Edge, he thought as he felt his forearms thrum from another use of the Move, waiting for the next charge.

  He wasn’t waiting long as the Luxray did the Move again, and this time Zarius did not just evade, but also lashed out with the sword, drawing a deep, clean cut along the side of the creature. This time, when its body reformed from the charge, it stumbled in the grass and slipped down to the stony river bank. Zarius felt his forearms stretch in agony once more, but the shadows caressed and soothed the wounds.

  Zarius saw another series of Bites flash out and knew that Lucien had recovered from his paralysis. The shadowy teeth ripped flesh and crushed bone as the Shadow Brand was activated, eliciting further cries of pain as the Luxray managed to get to its feet.

  It’s tail was crackling with electricity, pointed up to the skies above. “Something big!” Lucien warned as he moved above Zarius onto the grassy bank. “Sand Attack!” A geyser of dirt shot forth from his front-paws and into the Luxray’s face, causing it to recoil slightly as the enormous blast of lightning surged forth. The bright, blue sphere was gigantic, and if its aim had not been disrupted, then Zarius would have not been able to dodge.

  But Lucien’s move was just what was needed to divert the blast enough for Zarius to get out of the way. The huge sphere of ball lightning zipped past him before landing in the stream, exploding in crackling energy as the whole river was electrocuted and Magikarp began floating to the surface.

  Zarius felt the warm heat of the Helping Hand near his chest, and saw more shadowy teeth take chunks out of the Luxray as its blood spurted out onto the rocky bank. Zarius dashed forward, using a Bite of his own as the Shadow Brand manifested then immediately detonated. As he got close to it, he chopped out with the sword.

  The Luxray danced backward, but Zarius still caught its foreleg and chopped clean through it, forcing the creature to stumble. Another explosion of blue lightning surged out, and Zarius was thrown back into the stream and felt his body lock up. He was, thankfully, on the edge of the water and not face-down, so he could still breathe.

  Then, pain. Crushing pain as the Luxray Volt Tackled him. It crushed his thigh, and he would have let out a cry of pain if he could. It carried them both to the center of the river, and Zarius felt the pain resonate all over his body as the water conducted the electricity to wrap him in a cocoon of agony. Plus, now he was drowning, as water poured into his open mouth and he couldn’t move.

  “This is not good,” Yveltal said, panicking. “Lucien, get us out of the deepest part!”

  Zarius felt the Luxray channel lightning through its front foreleg that still remained, directly into him. Agony was all he felt, as his whole existence became defined by the wrenching pain coursing through his body. Even thought was suppressed as his mind was filled with white-hot suffering.

  Then, relief. Something big – Lucien, he assumed – slammed into the Luxray, bit down onto Zarius’ shoulder, and dragged him out of the deepest part of the stream. He felt the paralysis fade, and rolled over as he vomited out and coughed up the water that had been drowning him.

  Lucien stood over him defensively, squaring off against the Luxray standing proud in the middle of the stream.

  “Helping Hand on me,” Zarius gasped out.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  “Done,” Lucien growled as he continued to just stand in front of Zarius, to be a body blocker as the shadows mended and helped him recover.

  Zarius felt the heat near his chest. Lash Out! He thought as he used his last use of the Move for the day. The black spikes that manifested around him and darted forward were far bigger – akin to huge icicles of shadowy essence. They slammed into the Luxray who was too injured to dodge, and it was launched backward to the opposite bank.

  Zarius felt the warmth surge into him of the creature dying, the life essence filling him.

  -----

  [Combat Concluded]

  [Experience Awarded: 500]

  [Bonus from Harvester of Life: 125]

  [Total Experience: 625]

  [You have Leveled Up!]

  [Level 9]

  [Current Experience: 1025 / 1250]

  -----

  He lay there, and Lucien curled up next to him, as the water slowly flowed past making a delicate, soothing, churning sound. The shadows of the darkening night continued to suffuse Zarius’ body, and when he felt good enough to stand up, he touched Lucien to pass on the healing of Mending Darkness. “Good job,” he said, softly, as he scratched Lucien’s head.

  “It hurt…but that was a good fight,” Lucien said with a grin as he laid there, tail flicking back and forth. “But we have to carry both bodies back – and the pups.”

  Zarius stood up and walked to the river’s center, grabbing the corpse and hauling it to the bank. Then, he went to the other non-evolved Pokémon and dragged it over. “Well, the pups are pretty small. I can carry them.” He took off his cloak and laid it down, rolled the corpses onto it, and then tied it up so that Lucien could bit one end and drag the load.

  “Making me do the heavy lifting?” Lucien asked with a slight groan.

  “Hey, I took more damage there. It’s only fair,” Zarius replied as he turned to the small outcropping. Heading over, he found the three small, Electric Type pups all making whining noises. “Okay, come here you.” He reached down and grabbed the first one, feeling a dull shock through his fingertips. Pulling his shirt up, he made a small indent where the pup could sit. Grabbing the other few and holding up the whole bunch, the small Pokémon nodded off to sleep once more.

  Zarius walked back and Lucien had recovered as the shadowy tendrils of raw, Dark elemental energy faded from his body. He stretched, then bit down on the clump of tied-up cloth before he began dragging the corpses. “Shall we?” he said, muffled, through the cloth.

  Zarius was about to reply but the language of the gods appeared in front of him.

  -----

  [You have unlocked an Achievement!]

  [Defeat a Pokémon’s final evolved form.]

  [Reward: Boost Bracer (Normal).]

  -----

  A dull, purple shimmering glow surrounded Zarius’ wrist and Lucien’s front-left paw just above the ankle. The purple glow grew brighter, forcing Zarius to look away, and then he felt a slight weight as he returned his gaze. A deep, green-colored bracer was on his wrist. He felt…strong. Stronger than before.

  “Ah. Victini’s doing. The god of victory, who in ages past was entrusted with the training of heroes. Humans that could rival Pokémon, before bonds to create Trainers were possible. We may receive rewards after combat from this god.” Yveltal sounded enthusiastic.

  “What’s it do?” Lucien asked through the cloth in his mouth.

  “This one increases your Normal Type attacks – including Zarius’ sword. Plus, just general strength improvement.”

  Zarius did feel a bit lighter in his step. A bit more spring, and the weight of the pups in his shirt was lighter. Lucien, too, seemed to be able to pull the carcasses with a bit more vigor. All in all, a difficult first Quest, but hefty rewards! Almost Level 10. That means another Ability for me! Plus, Lucien will get an Ability.

  “Maybe Moves as well,” Yveltal added. “We grow rapidly. But the early levels come quickly. The gap widens the further we go. Level 100 requires a cumulative total of 1,250,000 Experience overall.”

  Zarius did feel a bit of dismay at that, but shrugged and kept pushing on. “We’re at a thousand in only a week. And we’ve only fought three encounters, now. I think we’re fine. First, let’s take these carcasses to the Parson’s and get our reward. Then, back to the Guild Hall.”

  “And a bath,” Lucien added.

  Getting back to town took a few hours, and Zarius approached the outer-most, dark farm house. He walked up and knocked loudly, eliciting a sound of alarm from within. “I got your problem dealt with!” he shouted.

  The flickering light of a candle was visible in one of the ground-floor windows, and the door soon opened to reveal a middle-aged man with a bald head, holding a short spear. “What you want this late?” he asked.

  Zarius gestured behind him where Lucien had left the corpses while he stretched his jaw. “I’m a Trainer from the Guild. Took care of your problem.”

  The man, Zarius assumed Mr. Parson, blinked a few times in shock before descending the steps to get a closer look with the candle. “This thing is massive. The other one is the right size, though.” He glanced over at Zarius, “And you got something in your shirt there.”

  Zarius walked over and showed the still sleeping pups, “Yeah. A few of them.”

  The man recoiled away, “And you’re not killing them?”

  Lucien growled, “We do not kill defenseless pups. Let them grow up, get strong, so they are a challenge.”

  Of course, Mr. Parson only heard the cries of “Umbreon, Umby!” and an angry growl. He rapidly retreated to his porch. “I’ll…I’ll get the money.” He dipped inside the door and came out a few minutes later with a small, brown pouch. “Forty silver coins.”

  Zarius smiled and put the bag into his hip pouch. “Thanks. Have a good night!” he turned around, and Lucien bit down on the cloak-sled again as the duo headed up the main road toward Dendemille. The gates were closed, and guards were stationed with torches atop the expanse. Zarius waved and shouted through the darkness. “Hi! I’m that new Trainer! I got back from a Quest! Mind letting me in?”

  The guards all trained crossbows on him, and one yelled out. “Hold there! We’ll send someone to check you!” A sally-port door in the side of the wall opened, and a guard came out. Zarius made sure his belt around his chest was visible, and the guard waved his torch up to the gate. “He’s good!”

  The guard led him to the sally-port, and as Lucien dragged the corpses behind him, the various guards gathered and began muttering.

  “It’s a big one.”

  “New Trainer? You sure? A newbie couldn’t take that big thing!”

  “No, that’s the one that Barry saw sparring with Corina.”

  “Oh shit. The Dark Type one?”

  Zarius just grinned, knowing he had just flexed his power in a big way, and that level of prominence buoyed up his pride. Lucien kept following him as they got to the Guild Hall and entered.