Pokémon: Breeding Simulator [158] [30 PS]

As Cynthia hesitated, Tornadus raised his hand again and unleashed a violent gust toward Garchomp.

The frigid, razor-edged wind howled toward them, and Garchomp rushed to meet it, raising both claws and slashing forward with all its might.

A [Dragon Claw] wreathed in emerald light collided with the storm head-on, slicing the air with a sharp, splitting sound.

The snow stirred by the clash burst outward like an explosion.

Cynthia buried her face in the folds of her oversized coat, shielding her cheeks from the biting wind.

She glanced back toward the cliff and her eyes narrowed with resolve.

Her body might be smaller now, but she wasn't a real child.

As a Champion, she knew this wasn't the time for indecision. If she kept hesitating, even Garchomp might not be able to get them both out in one piece.

"Garchomp, fall back!"

With that thought, she shouted the order to her partner.

At her command, Garchomp let out a roar and launched a [Fire Blast].

The blazing-hot flames roared into the air, instantly turning the falling snow into drifting clouds of steam.

Using the mist as cover, Garchomp darted back toward its Trainer.

As the Champion's long-time partner, it was a battle-hardened and highly trained Pokémon.

In its experience, creating a vision-obscuring screen like this would usually trigger enough caution in even the most aggressive opponents to prevent pursuit.

This was the perfect opening to escape with Cynthia.

That was the plan, at least—and so far, it seemed to be working.

When Tornadus saw the rising mist, he did hesitate.

He bore no particular grudge against that human girl, and truthfully, there was no real need to give chase.

But the order from the giant within the ruins had been clear: Summon the blizzard. Let no creature interfere—especially not humans.

If he let Cynthia go now, and she somehow stumbled into those ruins, he would be the one to suffer the consequences.

With that realization, Tornadus threw caution to the wind.

Just as Garchomp was preparing to take off, Tornadus flung out a [Icy Wind].

The frost-laden blast cut through the mist and slammed into Garchomp.

Taken off guard, Garchomp's thick hide was pelted by a barrage of bullet-like ice shards.

"Rraaah!"

It roared in pain, a flash of anger rising.

But before it could retaliate—

A searing orange-red beam, at least half a meter wide, came screaming toward them from a distance.

[Hyper Beam].

Cynthia and Garchomp both stiffened. They recognized the attack instantly.

"Garchomp, [Protect]!"

There was no time to run. Cynthia shouted the command without hesitation.

A hit from [Hyper Beam] at full force would seriously injure even a Pokémon as strong as Garchomp.

Thankfully, just before impact, Garchomp managed to raise a green shield in the nick of time.

BOOM—!

The beam struck the barrier with a thunderous blast.

Shockwaves burst outward from the point of collision, flinging snow into the air and vaporizing it into mist before it even touched the ground.

But the hastily conjured [Protect] couldn't hold. Under the force of [Hyper Beam], the barrier shattered instantly.

The resulting explosion sent Cynthia's small body flying—straight off the cliff's edge.

Seeing his Trainer in danger, Garchomp lunged after her.

But the moment it moved, it felt a sharp pain shoot through its wing—burnt by the beam's heat.

The pain made it stumble, forcing it to pause for half a second.

And that half-second was all it took to miss the chance to catch her.

"RRAAAHH!"

Realizing it too late, Garchomp's pupils contracted in panic.

Without thinking, it hurled itself off the cliff after her.

Watching Cynthia plummet toward the frozen lake below, its heart pounded with helpless dread.

Even if it used a move to break the ice now, it would be too late.

For the first time in its life, it felt powerless.

High in the air, Cynthia curled her body into as tight a ball as she could manage.

The frigid wind stole every thought from her mind.

Staring at the fast-approaching sheet of ice below, she felt tears welling in her eyes.

Even if it were just snow beneath me... Why did it have to be ice?

If she hit that at this speed, she'd be smashed to pieces.

And then—she heard Garchomp's voice above her, roaring in desperation.

So that's it…

Cynthia let out a soft breath.

She hadn't expected a simple expedition into an ancient ruin to end like this.

Is this... the end of my career as Champion?

That thought in her mind, Cynthia closed her eyes.

She was mere seconds from impact.

But then—

BOOM!

A deafening blast echoed from below.

A moment later, icy droplets splashed across her face.

And then—

A warm hand caught her by the shoulder.

The sudden shift stunned her. She didn't even have time to react.

Just as she cracked her eyes open—before her pupils could even focus—the freezing waters of the lake engulfed her.

Together with the hand that had grabbed her, she plunged into the depths.

"Guh—!"

Cynthia choked, swallowing a mouthful of icy water, her eyes welling with tears even beneath the surface.

But then, something strange happened.

She felt the freezing water retreating—almost repelled.

It was like she was being wrapped in an invisible shield, keeping the water at bay.

Behind her, also soaked to the skin, Elias let out a resigned sigh as he looked at her.

So it really was just as he'd seen earlier—this girl wasn't much younger than him.

He'd witnessed the entire fall.

And while Elias had never been the type to meddle, he couldn't just watch someone his age fall to their death in front of him.

So, with no other option, he'd ordered Lucario to blast open the ice with an [Aura Sphere] and teleported in to catch her.

Unfortunately, the force of her fall was stronger than expected—and it dragged him under too.

Zoroark's going to freak...

With that thought, Elias surrounded them both with psychic energy and launched them upward.

Splash—!

The surface of the lake burst open as Elias broke through with Cynthia in his arms.

Zoroark, who had followed them down, rushed over the moment she saw him, eyes brimming with worry.

Cynthia, still coughing uncontrollably on the ice, was drawn to the scene beside her.

Amid the swirling snow, a handsome boy, dripping wet, cradled a white Pokémon she'd never seen before in one arm—and looked down at her from above.

That image, etched in the heart of the snowy storm, would stay with her for the rest of her life.