"Is there anything else, Kyurem?" Su Feng turned around slowly, forcing a strained smile.
"Did Arceus send you?" Kyurem cut straight to the point.
Su Feng glanced at his livestream—the feed was frozen again. Taking a deep breath, he decided to roll with it. "Yes. Arceus sent me."
Combusken and Haunter exchanged confused looks. Who the hell is Arceus?
"And what task did the Alpha give you?" Kyurem's piercing gaze locked onto Su Feng. "Do not lie to me."
Su Feng, with nothing left to lose, laid it all out. "Arceus tasked me with educating humans about Pokémon to prevent conflict." He pointed to the drone overhead. "That's the broadcasting equipment it gave me."
"Broadcasting?" Kyurem didn't understand modern tech, but it recognized Arceus's handiwork. The drone's flawless operation in its freezing aura was proof enough.
After a moment, Kyurem's demeanor softened slightly. "I see."
Su Feng blinked. "You… believe me just like that?"
Kyurem snorted. "Few humans could identify me on sight. Fewer still would dare invoke its name."
Su Feng seized the opportunity. "You said 'this world.' Are there others? What happened to the original Pokémon world?"
Kyurem's eyes gleamed. "You wish to know?"
"Yes!" Su Feng's voice was firm.
For a brief moment, Kyurem seemed to consider answering—then its entire body locked up mid-word. A full ten seconds passed before it regained control.
"...I cannot tell you," it finally said.
"What? You just agreed!" Su Feng protested.
"Changed my mind." Kyurem waved a claw dismissively. "Defeat me in battle, and I'll reconsider."
Su Feng's eye twitched. If I could beat you, would I be standing here begging for answers?!
"Just you wait," he growled, pointing to Combusken. "One day, he'll kick your ass!"
Combusken: "???"
Kyurem chuckled—a sound like glaciers cracking. "Amusing."
Still, it acknowledged its own abrupt reversal. Glancing at the Egg in Su Feng's arms, it said, "As compensation, I shall grant this unborn one a gift."
Before Su Feng could ask, a beam of pale light shot from Kyurem's crest, seeping into the Egg. The legendary Pokémon's aura dimmed noticeably afterward.
"You may leave. Do not reveal my location to humans."
Su Feng pointed upward. "Too late. My livestream already broadcasted you to the entire world."
Kyurem's jaw tightened. "...What?"
"Uh… problem?" Su Feng winced.
Kyurem exhaled frost, muttering about "reckless humans" and "Almighty's questionable choices." Finally, it sighed. "Go. I'll handle the fallout."
Outside the Factory
Only after putting 200 meters between himself and the factory did Su Feng stop shivering. The mountain's "cold" now felt balmy in comparison.
[Signal's back! What the hell was that glitch?]
[Where's the kaiju Pokémon?]
"That was no monster," Su Feng said grimly. "That was Kyurem—one of the most powerful Legendary Pokémon. A deity."
[A god? Like, actual divine being?]
[Bro, it's just a big ice dragon. Chill. (Pun intended.)]
Su Feng shook his head. "You didn't feel its presence. Kyurem could've frozen this entire mountain range on a whim. Yesterday's blizzard? That was likely it sneezing."
He pulled up Kyurem's image. "Some Legendaries warp time and space. Kyurem? It rewrites climates. And it's not even the strongest out there."
[Okay, now you're just making shit up.]
[If that's true, why hasn't it taken over the world?]
"Because they don't care*," Su Feng said. "To them, we're ants. Unless we provoke them…"
He trailed off as the Egg in his arms glowed faintly blue.