Dragon Star Cluster

Dragonite was using its psychic energy to create a barrier around them, shielding them from the harsh winds and making the ride incredibly smooth. Without it, they would've been struggling to keep their balance.

Menchi stole a glance downward—and instantly regretted it. The ground was really far away. 

If they fell from this height, they wouldn't just die—they'd be reduced to unrecognizable splatters on the earth below. She clenched her fists, pushing the thought out of her mind.

Dragonite's back was wide enough for both of them to sit comfortably, but even so, the idea of free-falling wasn't exactly pleasant.

After hearing that their target was far away, Larry had immediately decided to fly there instead of wasting time on foot.

Back on the ground, when he had asked Menchi if she wanted to "ride the plane," she hadn't understood what he meant. Now, she did.

Many Pokémon could fly, but when it came to rideable ones, there were generally two types:

The first was Pokémon like Dragonite, where riders could sit comfortably on their backs—though it was even better with a proper saddle.

The second was those that allowed riders to stand on their backs while flying, more for dramatic effect than practicality.

Dragonite belonged to the first category. If they had walked, it would have taken them hours to reach the target.

With Dragonite's speed?

They arrived in minutes.

"There! That's it—the Jeweled Mammoth!" Menchi pointed toward the dense forest below, where an enormous creature towered over the treetops.

Despite the thick foliage, its sheer size made it impossible to miss. Its massive frame was covered in black and red striped fur, and its two enormous, curved tusks gleamed like polished gemstones.

It was huge. The Jeweled Mammoth stood like a towering mountain, its massive body radiating an overwhelming presence that kept all other creatures at bay. 

This beast wasn't just any ingredient—it was one of the most prized in the entire food region. Its sheer size and power made it one of the strongest creatures around, and capturing it was no easy feat.

Menchi and Larry, both determined to win the championship, naturally aimed for the best ingredients. Every item on Menchi's list was of the highest quality, each one rare and incredibly difficult to obtain. 

Ordinary food hunters wouldn't even dream of attempting to collect such ingredients. But with a powerhouse like Larry as her partner, Menchi could afford to set her sights on the very best.

While this was a food competition, raw strength was just as crucial as cooking skill. To succeed, one needed both. This was why food hunters often worked in pairs—one to handle the hunting, and the other to masterfully prepare the ingredients.

Larry gazed at the Jeweled Mammoth with anticipation, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "That's one big guy," he muttered to himself. Top-tier ingredients like this weren't just valuable; eating them could bring massive improvements. He couldn't help but wonder how much stronger he'd get after tasting it.

Menchi explained further, "The most important part of the Jeweled Mammoth is its abdomen. There's a translucent, ball-shaped piece of meat there, known as the core. That's where all the essence of the creature is concentrated. The rest of the body isn't worth much, except for the tusks, which are highly valuable."

That meant Larry didn't need to be too careful—he just had to make sure not to damage the core.

He patted Dragonite's head and said casually, "You heard that, right? Aim for the abdomen." To him, this was just a simple task for Dragonite. He wasn't worried about whether the job would get done, only about keeping the essential parts intact.

Menchi raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Dragonite's handling it?" she asked, her expression filled with curiosity. She had assumed Larry would use the same method he had against the giant Ant Lion—teleporting directly onto the mammoth's head and striking it down in one blow. But now, it seemed like Dragonite was the one attacking.

Each of Larry's Nen beasts had unique traits. Gardevoir specialized in teleportation, Gengar in spatial storage… so what about Dragonite?

Her mind flashed back to their flight earlier. Dragonite's speed had been insane—so fast that the world blurred past them in a streak of colors. If that was its defining trait, wouldn't it make more sense for Larry and her to land first?

She imagined Dragonite rocketing toward the mammoth at breakneck speed and slamming into it with overwhelming force. If that happened, the fight would be over in an instant. But before she could finish that thought, Dragonite did something unexpected.

Instead of charging in, Dragonite stopped mid-air. It tilted its head back and let out a deafening roar that shook the entire landscape. The sheer force of the soundwave sent distant creatures sprawling to the ground in submission, just like the saber-toothed tiger before.

Then, something even more astonishing happened. A massive surge of Nen shot up from Dragonite, rushing into the clouds above. The sky darkened almost instantly, storm clouds forming out of nowhere. Within seconds, the air was heavy with violent, surging energy, crackling like a storm ready to explode.

The sudden shift in the atmosphere didn't go unnoticed.

Deep in the forest, a young woman named Lika sat under a tree, casually tossing a small golden fruit into her mouth. As she chewed, her ability activated. Her Nen wrapped around the fruit, sending it into a separate space instead of her actual stomach.

The fruit burst with a rich, chocolate-like juice—her chosen dessert for the moment. But before she could enjoy it fully, her companion, Gel, spoke up. "Look at the sky." 

Lika followed his gaze and frowned. The sky, which had been clear and beautiful just moments ago, was now filled with thick, swirling storm clouds. There was no way that was natural.

In a high-rise office overlooking the competition grounds, Linne stood at the window, gazing toward the food region.

From this distance, an ordinary person wouldn't be able to see much. But Linne wasn't just any ordinary person. Though her eyesight had weakened due to illness, her unique abilities allowed her to perceive things others couldn't.

Her pupils suddenly shrank as she focused on the ominous clouds gathering above the food area.

"This storm…" she murmured, gripping her cane tightly.

It wasn't just a regular thundercloud. Something was happening.

Even with the naked eye, Linne could see the overwhelming aura of Nen surging within the dark clouds. The sheer amount of power contained in it was beyond anything she had expected. Then, to her utter disbelief, streaks of glowing purple light shot down from the sky like meteors.

These weren't ordinary falling stars. The front of each "meteor" resembled the head of a ferocious dragon, and as they tore through the air, they let out deep, guttural roars that shook the earth itself. Each one carried an immense and terrifying force, crashing down toward the ground with unstoppable momentum.

The contrast was breathtaking—the pitch-black sky illuminated by streaks of violet fire, turning the scene into something straight out of an apocalyptic vision. At that moment, everyone watching thought the same thing: the end of the world.

This was Dragonite's ultimate technique—Dragon Star Cluster.