Pokémon: Starting with a Bound Entry System

Chapter 59: Articuno's Wrath!

"So, Vulpix is here to receive Articuno's inheritance?"

Hikaru stared at Yuki in disbelief. He couldn't imagine that a mere "B"-class secret realm would harbor one of the legendary birds—Articuno!

According to Yuki, Articuno had been aided by her mother twenty years ago and, in gratitude, had left behind one of its feathers. It had promised that when the time came for its molting, the owner of the feather could come to receive its blessings and awaken new potential.

Now, Yuki casually revealed the feather, unguarded. Hikaru couldn't help but feel moved. She trusted him so completely, handing over something so valuable without hesitation.

"Alright, I promise I won't let you down!"

The two of them had climbed to more than halfway up the snowy mountain.

"Thank you, Hikaru!" Yuki said with a bright smile, her eyes brimming with gratitude as she carefully put the icy feather back into her bag.

Their journey had been fruitful. Vulpix had already gained significant experience and reached level 22. Riolu, on the other hand, had seen even more progress. With the help of the Battle Absorption trait, it had reached level 12.

Hikaru planned to use a "Growth Fruit" on Riolu once it hit level 17. That way, Riolu could quickly ascend to the Elite rank and become a powerful member of his team.

On top of that, the item store had revealed new offerings that Hikaru found intriguing.

[Soothe Bell]: Speeds up the bonding process between a Pokémon and its trainer. Price: 50 Credits.

This item was perfect for Riolu's development. Without hesitation, Hikaru equipped it to Riolu.

Another new addition was the Fixed Slot Expansion x5, which allowed for five additional slots for equipping traits. At just 25 Credits, it was a bargain, especially as the team grew stronger and needed more flexibility.

---

The pair took a brief break as they continued their ascent. Riolu stood guard, using its Aura abilities to remain alert, a form of training in itself. Meanwhile, the other Pokémon enjoyed their energy cubes.

Suddenly, the ground beneath them shook violently. A deafening rumble filled the air as snow and ice began to cascade down the mountainside.

"Charmeleon!"

Sensing the danger, Charmeleon quickly unfurled its Fairy Wings, grabbing Hikaru and Riolu to lift them out of harm's way.

Kirlia, on the other hand, used its Protect ability to shield Yuki and Vulpix.

"Cawwww!"

A piercing cry echoed through the air, carrying with it an overwhelming sense of power and fury. The snowy mountain, which had been serene just moments ago, now erupted like a volcano. A blizzard unlike any other engulfed the landscape, transforming the horizon into a white abyss.

"Kirlia!"

Through the snow-filled air, Hikaru caught sight of a massive, majestic bird—a being of pure ice and snow.

"Articuno!"

The sheer presence of the creature left no doubt. However, something was amiss. This wasn't the serene guardian he had heard about. This Articuno was livid, its anger palpable as it spread its enormous wings, unleashing a devastating Blizzard.

Within seconds, the fierce storm blanketed the area for miles.

"A single move... it's affecting the entire region?" Hikaru muttered, awe-struck by the sheer scale of Articuno's power.

"Charmeleon! Burn through the ice! Create a path below ground!" Hikaru shouted.

He wasn't willing to bet on Kirlia's Protect holding up against a godlike entity's full-powered Blizzard.

[Pokémon: Articuno]

Ability: Pressure

Gender: ?

Potential: Tier-3 Divine Beast

Level: 95

Moves: Tailwind, Mist, Powder Snow, Reflect, Ice Shard, Agility, Ancient Power, Icy Wind, Freeze-Dry, Roost, Blizzard, Sheer Cold...

[Description]: Once a calm and majestic guardian, Articuno has been provoked by an attempt to capture it. A god's pride cannot be trampled upon, and its rage now burns with the force of a natural disaster.

Looking at its stats and skills, Hikaru was stunned. Articuno's power was beyond anything he had imagined—level 95, surpassing even human Champion-tier trainers. This was no ordinary creature; this was a god.

Charmeleon roared, its flames burning with unprecedented intensity. At Hikaru's command, it melted a hole through the icy ground just as the Blizzard swept in, giving the group a brief reprieve.

But as they descended into the tunnel, another threat emerged. A powerful underground current surged through the hidden cavern.

"Yuki!" Hikaru shouted as the rushing water swept her away.

Thinking quickly, Hikaru recalled Charmeleon and Riolu and summoned Frogadier. "We need to save her!"

---

The current eventually deposited Hikaru and Yuki onto a narrow, dimly lit shore. Frogadier helped guide Hikaru to safety. Looking around, Hikaru spotted several lifelike ice statues nearby—humans and Mightyena frozen mid-scream.

Clearly, they had been victims of Articuno's wrath.

Hikaru turned his attention to Yuki. Her soaked winter coat clung to her shivering frame, her pale face a stark contrast to her usual rosy complexion.

He immediately equipped two traits to her:

[Child of Water]: Allows breathing underwater and increases affinity with Water Pokémon.

[Immunity]: Negates one fatal attack or effect (remaining uses: 2).

Even with these measures, it was clear Yuki had barely escaped death. The Immunity trait had already been triggered once.

Hikaru's heart sank. Her survival was far too close a call. Now, with no dry clothes available, he faced a difficult decision.

"Forgive me, Yuki..." Hikaru muttered, pulling out a spare set of his own clothes from his storage space. He carefully removed her wet garments and dressed her in the dry ones.

After ensuring she was warm, Hikaru had Charmeleon prepare a steaming pot of herbal soup. Holding her hands in his own, he transferred warmth to her with the help of his Child of Ice and Snow trait.

Thanks to the combined efforts of Charmeleon and the traits, Yuki slowly regained her color. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she weakly whispered, "Hikaru..."

Relieved, Hikaru set her up to rest and turned his attention to the frozen statues. Among the belongings of the lifeless intruders, he discovered a pile of radiant feathers.

[Articuno's Essence Feathers]: SS-tier treasure. When absorbed, significantly enhances the potential of Ice Pokémon. Water Pokémon may also learn Ice-type moves.

"These must be Articuno's moltings," Hikaru mused. "And there's... so many of them?"

It seemed Articuno had accumulated these feathers over years of molting. Now, a treasure trove of over a dozen essence feathers lay before him.

"Hikaru..." Yuki's soft voice brought him back to reality.

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