Magby's immune system was robust—even without Su Feng's immunity-boosting tablets, soaking in the magma would have healed it eventually. The medicine was just an extra safeguard.
As Magby's condition visibly improved, Magmar's mate sighed in relief.
"Mag! (Thank you! We wouldn't have known what to do without you!)"
She looked ready to hug Su Feng, who subtly stepped back. Hard pass.
"Mag. (Look at him. And you call yourself 'knowledgeable.')" She shot Magmar a glare.
Magmar: "…"
No rebuttal. Dad privileges revoked.
Su Feng awkwardly scratched his cheek. This elder's domestic status is… fragile.
"Let Magby sleep in the magma. He'll recover fully by tomorrow."
Standing up, Su Feng got to the real agenda.
"Magmar, I need to ask you something."
"Mag! (Anything! I owe you!)"
Su Feng cut to the chase: "Do you know Moltres?"
"Mag? (Lord Moltres? Yes. You seek it?)"
Su Feng's eyes lit up. Too easy.
"Just want to meet it."
Magmar glanced at Magby, then lowered his voice. "Mag. (Lord Moltres dislikes disturbances. Sightings are rare.)"
"Mag. (But for saving my child… I'll arrange an introduction.)"
"Seriously?! Thank you!"
"Mag. (No, I thank you.)"
Noticing the live drone, Su Feng muted its audio. Some conversations weren't for public ears.
[Eh? No sound?]
[Secret convo? Spill it, Feng-ge!]
[I can lip-read! …Wait, he's wearing a mask. Never mind.]
[Thought my speaker broke. Turns out I'm deaf. Cool.]
[Bro, that's not how deafness works.]
"One more thing." Su Feng leaned in. "Where did you come from?"
"Mag? (What?)"
"Your original world. Why did you come to Earth?"
"Mag? (Earth? Aren't we in the Pokémon world?)"
"?"
Su Feng frowned. Magmar seemed genuinely clueless. "When was the last time you saw a human before me?"
Magmar's expression darkened.
"Mag… (Thirty years ago…)"
Back then, he'd been a Magby, traveling the world with his Trainer—a human who treated him like family. One day, that Trainer brought him to this volcano, told him to wait, and never returned.
For five years, Magby waited faithfully. Then hope faded. Heartbroken, he built this village, modeling it after human towns. Over time, he became its leader, found a mate, and fostered a community.
He'd assumed this was the Pokémon world. The concept of "Earth" baffled him.
Su Feng nodded. So he's unaware of the transfer. Only Arceus could orchestrate such a mass migration unnoticed. But why? What happened to the Pokémon world's humans?
No answers came. Even Kyurem had been cryptic.
Resigned, Su Feng unmuted the drone.
"Oops, mic glitched. Fixed now. (Deadpan.)"
[Feng-ge, just say it's classified. Don't insult our IQ.]
[Ah yes, a convenient glitch. (Deadpan.)]
[Sure, grandpa. Let's get you to bed.]
Su Feng tsked. This audience is too sharp.
"Wait—where's Combusken?"
He scanned the room. Combusken hadn't followed him inside.
Outside, the magma pool was deserted. A group of Cyndaquil trotted toward the village outskirts.
Su Feng trailed them—and froze.
A stone arena loomed ahead, packed with cheering Fire-types. On the platform, Combusken faced off against a Houndoom.
Su Feng blinked.
What the hell is happening?