[CONGRATULATIONS! User has defeated GYARADOS.]
[Gained 5,000 XP | Level Up: 1 -> 16]
[New Skill Unlocked: Biological Synchronization (Wings)]
I was still lying by the lake, but the Gyarados was... different. Its entire lower half was gone, leaving only jagged remains. Something was here while I was out, I realized, a chill running down my spine. Did a pack of scavengers find it? How long was I unconscious?
I shook off the dread and checked my new status.
[Name: Jack / Celebi | Level: 16]
[Titles: Slayer of Gyarados, Child of ??????, Otherworlder]
[Stats]
HP: 75 | ATK: 62 | DEF: 78 | SP. ATK: 85 | SP. DEF: 62 | SPE: 89
"My stats jumped a ton," I whispered, though I winced as I tried to shift my weight. The system had "synchronized" my wings, meaning they now felt like actual limbs rather than foreign objects glued to my back. The downside? I could feel the throbbing pain of the break much more clearly now.
Hunger gnawed at my stomach. I looked at the Gyarados. The idea of raw fish was revolting, but I had no fire and no other options. My tiny jaw wasn't strong enough to bite through the armored scales, so I used my small, claw-like fingers to tear away chunks of the pale underbelly. To my shock, it was delicious—sweet and energizing.
After a quick drink from the lake, I felt refreshed, but my right wing was still a mangled mess. Flying was out of the question. I had to walk.
I spent thirty minutes trekking through the undergrowth, staying hidden beneath the broad leaves of three-meter-tall ferns. Eventually, I stumbled upon a clearing. A small, raccoon-like Pokémon—a Zigzagoon—lay whimpering on the ground. Standing over it was a pink, bipedal creature with large, lopped ears and a gentle expression.
[Name: Audino | Level: 12]
[Rarity: Uncommon | Type: Normal]
[Moves: Heal Pulse, Life Dew, Zen Headbutt, Helping Hand]
A healer? I stayed back, watching. The Audino closed its eyes, and a soothing pink shockwave rippled from its body. I watched in awe as the Zigzagoon's jagged stomach wound simply... vanished.
If it can do that for him, maybe it can help me.
I stepped out from behind a fern. The Zigzagoon immediately let out a low, defensive growl, baring its teeth. "Whoa, take it easy! I'm not here to fight," I stammered, holding up my tiny hands.
The Zigzagoon prepared to spring, but the Audino placed a soft paw on its head, calming it instantly. The healer then turned to me, its eyes landing immediately on my trailing wing. It walked over, looking worried.
"Wait, can you sense that I'm—"
Before I could finish, the Audino closed its eyes. That same warm, pink aura enveloped me. I felt a strange, tingling sensation, like a thousand tiny needles stitching my wing back together. The sharp, stabbing pain faded into a dull ache.
I immediately tried to flap my wings, but a sharp sting stopped me.
"Hey, hey! Stop that," a soft, melodious voice rang out in my head. "I knit the tissues back together, but you still need to rest. If you push it now, it'll just snap again."
My eyes went wide. "Wait... you can talk?!"
The Audino tilted its head, looking amused. "Of course I can. Why shouldn't I be able to speak?"
"I... fair point," I replied, still reeling from the shock. "It's just been a weird couple of days."
"You aren't from around here, are you?" the Audino asked, leaning closer to inspect me. "You're a new face."
"How can you tell?"
"I know every soul in this forest," she replied with a kind smile. "And I've never seen anything quite like you."
"It's a long story," I sighed.
"Don't worry, I won't pester you for details. But thank you for the healing," I said, turning to leave. "I'll be on my way now."
"Are you sure about that?" Audino called out. "If you want, you can stay with me for a few days until that wing is fully healed. Right now, you're just a walking snack for a hungry Arbok."
I looked at my tiny, grounded body and then back at the kind healer. I had nowhere else to go and no idea where I was. "Yeah... okay. Why not?"
"Wonderful!" Audino chirped, her ears twitching happily. "It's been a while since I've had a guest."