Ryuu Shiro felt the Galarian Moltres' piercing glare but remained utterly unfazed, his lips curling into a smirk.
"Moltres, meeting you here is fate. If I defeat you, you're coming with me."
"Hiding away in the Crown Tundra forever? That's no life for a Legendary."
He tilted his head slightly, addressing the fiery bird with casual confidence.
Compared to Eternatus, Ryuu Shiro's attitude toward Galarian Moltres was far more relaxed—after all, it was just a Legendary on the level of the Kanto bird trio. Did it really deserve his full seriousness?
Even among Legendaries, there were hierarchies, and Moltres was firmly at the bottom.
If it wouldn't obey willingly? Knock it out and take it by force. Simple.
"Scree~!"
Galarian Moltres shrieked in response, its answer clear—prove your strength first!
Dark-purple energy gathered at its beak before erupting in a vicious Dark Pulse, hurtling straight toward Dragonair.
"Dragon Pulse."
Ryuu Shiro's command was calm.
Dragonair's maw glowed as it fired a Dragon Pulse, the two attacks colliding midair in a violent clash. But soon, the draconic energy overwhelmed the dark wave, forcing Moltres to dodge as the remaining blast surged past it.
"Not bad."
Ryuu Shiro raised a brow. No wonder this Moltres acted so arrogantly—it was strong, hovering around Elite-level power. Combined with its Legendary physiology, most Elite Trainers would struggle against it.
"Too bad it's not a Dragon-type."
He sighed inwardly. Despite its name, Galarian Moltres had no Fire typing—it was pure Dark/Flying. The "flames" it wielded were just manifestations of its sinister aura.
Ironically, though, this variant was arguably stronger than its Kanto counterpart…
"Scree!!"
Humiliated by its failed attack, Moltres shrieked again, its wings flaring as black-and-red energy swirled around it.
Fiery Wrath—its signature move.
Without warning, dark energy erupted beneath Dragonair, a pillar of malevolent fire blasting upward.
"Dragon Tail."
Ryuu Shiro smirked. Predictable.
Dragonair twisted gracefully, evading the flames before darting toward Moltres at blinding speed.
Seeing its attack miss again, Moltres beat its wings furiously, unleashing a Hurricane. But Dragonair sliced through the gales effortlessly, closing the distance in an instant—
THWACK!
A brutal Dragon Tail sent Moltres crashing into the lake like a cannonball, water exploding upward.
"SCREEE—!!"
The enraged Legendary burst from the depths, its body cloaked in blue energy as it lunged at Dragonair with Sky Attack.
Damn eel! DIE ALREADY!
"Dragon Tail."
Dragonair didn't even blink. Its glowing tail whipped through the air—
SPLASH!
Moltres went flying back into the water.
"SCREEE!!"
It erupted again, this time with Brave Bird, wings blazing crimson.
I'LL KILL YOU, YOU SLIMY—
"Dragon Tail."
SPLOOSH!
Another geyser of water.
"SCREEEEEEE—!!"
Galarian Moltres surfaced a third time, its shriek dripping with fury and humiliation…
But instead of attacking, it just hovered there, its once-majestic flames looking oddly dim.
Marnie stared, dumbfounded.
"It's… running away?"
Yep. No more brave charges—Moltres turned tail and bolted, wings flapping wildly.
Wow. That retreat was smooth.
"Dragonair."
Ryuu Shiro's smirk sharpened. You really think I'd let you escape?
Dragonair hummed in acknowledgment, its serpentine body gliding after the fleeing Legendary.
Meanwhile, Moltres seethed mid-flight.
A Legendary like me… beaten into the water three times by a glorified eel ?!
UNFORGIVABLE! I'LL TRAIN FOR A THOUSAND YEARS IF I HAVE TO—
WHAM!
Before it could finish the thought, a familiar pain exploded across its skull.
And for the fourth time that day, Galarian Moltres met the lake.