Larvavine's Silk

"Do you know any moves?" Ash wanted to ask Larvavine why it was here, but there was no time for small talk.

The giant Vespitoxin was pursuing them relentlessly.

If not for its thick armor-like scales and massive size, which slowed its movement through the dense foliage, they would likely have already met their end.

Ash was fast, but there was no way she could compete with a flying creature like the Vespitoxin.

Her only hope now rested on Larvavine who had just saved her life.

She desperately wished it could help her somehow.

She didn't need it to defeat the Vespitoxin—just slowing it down for a moment to buy her more time to escape would be enough.

Unfortunately...

Ash's idea, while hopeful, she overlooked one crucial fact: Larvavine was considered one of the weakest Spirit Beasts for a reason.

When it heard Ash's plea, the Larvanine that was nestled under her arm, didn't respond with a display of its strength as she had hoped.

Instead, it tilted its head and looked up at her with a blank, confused expression.

After a long pause, as if it had finally understood her words, it lifted its head and gently spat a thin, weak thread of white silk at her cheek.

Ash: "..."

If they weren't in the middle of a life-or-death escape, Ash would've loved to sit down and interrogate Larvavine about how it had managed to make its way from the Salvale Town all the way to Azure Bay Mountain.

With its pitiful strength, it seemed like any random wild animal or Spirit Beast that was larger than itself could have ended its journey on the spot.

But now wasn't the time to dwell on such things.

Ash glanced at Larvavine, which drooped its antennae in disappointment, seemingly hurt by her silence.

With a sigh, she asked again, "What's the strongest thing you can do with your silk?"

Hearing Ash's question, Larvavine perked up immediately.

Even its previously drooping antennae sprang back upright.

Without hesitation, it wriggled its body free from Ash's grip and climbed along her backpack, making its way to her shoulder.

As if to prove it wasn't as weak and useless as Ash might have thought, Larvavine abruptly spat out a large clump of silk, completely sealing off the path ahead.

Ash had no choice but to come to a sudden stop to avoid running into it.

"Larvavine~ Larvavine~"

Larvavine immediately chirped an apology upon realizing its mistake, its once-proud antennae drooping miserably again.

"It's fine," Ash said while shaking her head.

Taking advantage of the pause, she turned around to glance at the giant Vespitoxin who was now only about ten meters behind them.

"How many more times can you spit silk like that?"

"Larvavine?"

Larvavine tilted its head in thought.

Not long after that, it let out three soft chirps, as if to say: I can do it three more times.

Ash nodded her head, indicating she understood, her mind racing as she formulated a plan.