Adrenaline coursed through Kenji's veins as he watched the Shadow Wolves encircle them. Four beasts with dark fur and glowing red eyes, each with enough strength to tear a grown man apart. The situation was critical, but there was no time to hesitate. The girl beside him trembled, but a spark of hope shone in her eyes.
"Hold on," Kenji whispered, tightening his grip. "Charmander and I will take care of this."
The Shadow Wolves, led by the largest and most aggressive specimen, let out a guttural howl that chilled Kenji's blood. Then, they lunged at them.
"Charmander, Ember on the front!" Kenji shouted, reacting quickly. He needed to create a barrier of fire to buy time and assess the situation.
Charmander obeyed instantly, unleashing a burst of flame that hit the two Shadow Wolves leading the charge head-on. The beasts recoiled, whimpering from the pain of the burns, but their fury only seemed to increase.
"Now, Lumina, use Sacred Ray!" the girl shouted, regaining her composure and giving orders to her Celestial Kitsune.
Lumina, despite her injuries, responded with surprising speed. Her body glowed with golden light, and a burst of sacred energy struck one of the remaining Shadow Wolves, knocking it to the ground.
Kenji observed Lumina carefully. The Celestial Kitsune was a Light/Support type, which explained her ability to launch healing and protective energy attacks. He needed to protect her as much as he protected the girl.
"Charmander, focus on the front!" Kenji shouted, blocking the Shadow Wolves' advance with Ember. "I'll take care of the rear."
Kenji took out an empty Poké Ball and prepared to defend himself. He had no chance of defeating four Shadow Wolves on his own, but he could buy time for Charmander and Lumina to regroup and plan a strategy.
The battle intensified. Charmander unleashed Ember ceaselessly, keeping the Shadow Wolves at bay, while Lumina used her speed and agility to dodge the attacks and counterattack with bursts of sacred energy. Kenji moved cautiously, avoiding the Shadow Wolves' attacks and looking for an opportunity to use his Poké Ball.
The girl, despite the danger, watched Kenji with admiration. She didn't understand how he could control that strange orange creature so easily, or how he could face the Shadow Wolves without showing any sign of fear.
"What is that creature?" the girl asked, seizing a moment of calm in the battle. "I've never seen a beast like that."
Kenji hesitated for a moment. He knew he had to be careful about what he said. He couldn't reveal his secret, he couldn't let anyone know about the Pokémon System.
"It's... an invocation," Kenji responded, improvising a lie. "I summoned it during the test. It's... special."
The girl frowned, showing skepticism. "But... it doesn't look like any of the beasts I know. Where does it come from?"
Kenji felt the pressure increase. He needed a convincing answer, something that could satisfy the girl's curiosity without revealing his secret.
"It's... from a distant region," Kenji said, resorting to another lie. "A region that no one knows about."
The girl looked at him distrustfully, but didn't insist. She seemed willing to accept his explanation, at least for now.
The battle continued. The Shadow Wolves, furious and determined, intensified their attacks. Charmander was beginning to show signs of fatigue, and Lumina was increasingly injured.
Kenji knew that time was running out. He needed to do something, and fast.
"Charmander, use Ember with all your strength!" Kenji shouted, giving the final order. "We have to end this now!"
Charmander responded with a roar and unleashed a devastating burst of flame that struck the Shadow Wolves, burning them and leaving them stunned.
Kenji seized the moment of confusion and ran towards Lumina. He took out a Potion from his inventory and sprayed it on her wounds.
"This will help you," Kenji said, with a smile. "You'll feel better in an instant."
The girl looked at him in surprise. "What is that?" she asked. "I've never seen a potion like that. How does it heal so fast?"
Kenji realized his mistake. He shouldn't have used the Potion. Now, the girl would be even more suspicious.
"It was given to me by… a stranger," Kenji said, resorting to another improvised lie. "He said it was a very powerful medicine."
The girl looked at him distrustfully, but didn't insist. She seemed willing to believe his explanation, at least for now.
Lumina, recovered thanks to the Potion, launched a final Sacred Ray attack that finished off the remaining Shadow Wolves. The beasts fell to the ground, defeated.
Kenji sighed in relief. The battle was over. They had survived.
The girl approached Kenji and extended a hand. "Thank you," she said, with a smile. "You saved my life."
Kenji shook her hand and smiled. "You're welcome," he said. "I just did what I had to do."
They walked together towards the city, talking about the battle and about their plans for the future. Kenji discovered that the girl's name was Akari and that she was an aspiring beast warrior. He also learned that Lumina was a Celestial Kitsune, a rare and powerful beast known for her ability to heal and protect her allies.
They arrived at the outskirts of the city and stopped to say goodbye.
"Wait," the girl said, before Kenji could leave. "I don't know your name."
Kenji hesitated for a moment. He knew that revealing his name could be dangerous, but he also felt that he should be honest with the girl he had saved.
"My name is Kenji," Kenji said, his voice soft.
The girl smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Kenji. I'm Akari Hoshi."
Kenji repeated the name in his mind, trying to remember where he had heard it before. Suddenly, it clicked.
"Hoshi," Kenji said, with surprise. "Are you… the daughter of Ryūjin Hoshi, the champion of this year's tournament?"
The girl nodded her head, with a proud smile. "Yes," she said. "I am Akari Hoshi, daughter of Ryūjin Hoshi."
Kenji was speechless. He had saved the daughter of Ryūjin Hoshi, one of the most famous warriors in the country, a legendary figure who was admired by all. He had heard stories about his exploits since he arrived in this world. And now, he had saved his daughter. The world was much smaller than he thought.