The group's journey to the x-mark the spot had been long and tiring, and [Name] was silently hoping that Swablu's eventual evolution into Altaria would simplify their travels in the future. They were under no illusion that Altaria could carry all three of them, but any improvement would be beneficial, for them at least. Although, perhaps finding a bigger flying pokemon would make it easier, maybe like Pidgeot or, if they really look, a Dragonite. Which they did not mind if they can figure out each Pokemon's habitat.
[Oh! Did you not know you can check through the Pokedex? Whoops!]
[Name]'s eyebrow twitched at the message from their stupid system.
[Hey! I have feelings, ya know!]
Not when you hold stuff like this back, [Name] shot back.
[You act like you never played a game before.]
[Name] clears their throat as they knew the system was somewhat right. Fine. Later we check. We need to find this sword. I am getting tired of this wild goose chase.
[Fine. Fine.]
Before the group, the obstacle was clear: three small Cryo Slimes guarded three cryo monuments, standing defiantly in their way. At this point being a nuisance more like it.
"It looks like we have to fight," [Name] remarked, looking over to Aether who was double-checking their position against the map.
Aether nodded, his voice steady against the cold wind due to being so high from the ground. "Let's make this quick." He summoned his sword, which appeared with a shimmering light, ready in his hand.
[Name] felt a thrill of anticipation. It was an excellent opportunity to see Swablu in action. They took out a Pokeball, preparing for the battle. With a press of the button, the Pokeball enlarged in their palm.
"Let's do this, guys!" Paimon shouted, inadvertently grabbing the attention of the slimes as she made sure to get out of the duo's way.
[Name] threw the Pokeball high into the air. "Come on out, Swablu!" they called out. The Pokeball opened, and a brilliant blue beam shot out, materializing into Swablu.
"Swa!" Swablu announced its readiness, wings spread wide and eager for battle.
"Use Dragon Breath!" [Name] commanded, their voice ringing clear in the chill air.
"Blu!" Swablu responded energetically, opening its beak wide. A surge of swirling blue energy blasted forward, striking the nearest Cryo Slime and causing it to shatter spectacularly into icy fragments. Meanwhile, Aether took the opportunity to dispatch another with a precise slash of his sword.
[Ding! Swablu earned 245 EXP! He needs 4,786 EXP to reach level 25!]
[Ding! Togetic earned 245 EXP due to EXP Share! She needs 3,656 EXP to reach level 27!]
[Name] watched with a satisfied smirk as their Pokémon gained experience, grateful for the efficiency of the EXP Share. It would certainly make it easier to level up their partners.
"Use Peck on the last slime!" [Name] instructed next.
Swablu's beak glowed with a white aura, and with a swift motion, it struck the remaining Cryo Slime. The impact made a satisfying pop sound as the slime burst apart.
Sorry, Aether, but my Pokémon need the EXP more after all, [Name] thought, catching Aether's nod of approval of a job well done.
No sooner had they resolved the first skirmish than three Anemo Slimes materialized from thin air.
Without hesitation, Aether pivoted and delivered three rapid slashes, each one cutting through a slime, making it dissipate into nothing.
"Use Disarming Voice on the last two, Swablu!"
Once again, Swablu obeyed the command flawlessly. It opened its mouth wide, releasing a powerful wave of sonic energy. The pink vibrations, adorned with little hearts, enveloped the remaining slimes. The force of the Disarming Voice was too much for them, and they burst apart, leaving nothing but a gust of wind in their wake.
[Ding! Swablu earned 490 EXP! He needs 4,296 EXP to reach level 25!]
[Ding! Togetic earned 490 EXP due to EXP Share! She needs 3,166 EXP to reach level 27!]
"Thank Arceus, that's over with," [Name] muttered, feeling a wave of relief wash over them as Swablu, chirping happily, fluttered over and settled atop their head. Despite the added weight, [Name] couldn't help but giggle, reaching up to gently scratch under Swablu's wings. The little Pokémon cooed in appreciation, clearly enjoying the affection. "Good job, Swablu," [Name] praised, causing the bird to puff out his chest proudly.
"That was easier than expected," Aether commented, letting his sword vanish into thin air as he rejoined the group.
"Paimon thinks you guys are so cool!" Paimon exclaimed, her eyes wide with admiration.
"Now, let's see about these monuments," [Name] said, eyeing the trio of cryo statues they had initially come to investigate.
"Um, guys, how are we supposed to activate them?" Paimon inquired, tilting her head as she studied each statue. "None of us have cryo abilities, after all."
A lightbulb went off in [Name]'s mind as they remembered an earlier encounter. "I've got an idea," they said, their gaze thoughtful. "Swablu?"
"Swa?" Swablu looked down curiously, tilting his head at the sound of his trainer's voice.
"Do you think you can use Mist on these monuments?" [Name] pointed towards the statues.
With a confident "Blu!" Swablu took to the air, flapping his wings vigorously. As he hovered over the monuments, he released a thick Mist. The cool air mingled with the mist, causing the monuments to react almost immediately. A soft, otherworldly glow began to emanate from each one, harmonizing perfectly with the mist's swirling tendrils.
"Look, they're activating!" Aether observed, his voice filled with wonder.
"Swablu, you're amazing!" Paimon cheered, clapping her hands excitedly as they watched the ancient mechanisms come to life.
"Nice!" Aether exclaimed with a grin, clearly relieved that they wouldn't need to trek back to Mondstadt just for Kaeya's assistance with the cryo statues. As the final statue clicked into place, a chest emerged from the ground amidst the monuments.
"Good job, Swablu," [Name] praised, reaching into their inventory for a poffin. Holding it high, they smiled as Swablu fluttered from their head to snatch the treat, his feathers visibly ruffling with pleasure.
"Swa!" Swablu chirped contentedly, resettling on [Name]'s head after finishing his snack, which [Name] found rather amusing as they adjusted their grip on the incubator.
"This time, the mysteries have all been solved. It sure took a lot of work," Paimon declared, practically buzzing with the excitement of finding the treasure. The group had gathered around the newly appeared chest, hopeful that it contained the sword Kaeya had tasked them to find.
"Here we go," Aether muttered, his voice a mix of anticipation and weariness as he flipped open the chest. Instead of a gleaming sword, however, they found yet another map. Aether's shoulders slumped as he pulled out the map and held it up for the others to see.
"No way," [Name] groaned, the disappointment palpable.
"I mean, in all fairness, this treasure map really is terrible," Paimon commented, peering over Aether's shoulder at the sketchy lines and smudges that looked like they were drawn in haste. "It looks like it was drawn by pirates..."
[Name] almost tilted their head to get a better look but remembered just in time that Swablu was still nestled comfortably on their head. They hummed thoughtfully, squinting at the map. "I can see it, not gonna lie."
"I mean, this sword is meant to be hidden by Kaeya's ancestors who used to be pirates, right?" Aether reminded them, trying to find some logic in the chaos of the map's design.
"True, true," [Name] agreed, a bit of humor returning to their voice despite the setback.
"So now..." Paimon tilted her head, contemplating their next move. The group could either venture directly to the location marked on the map or return to consult Kaeya.
"We should go to the treasure location now," Aether decided, his voice firm.
"I agree, we should do this before it gets darker. Plus, it would take too long to go back and forth," [Name] added, absently rubbing the incubator as they spoke. Swablu, having finished his treat, had settled into a small nap on their head, burrowing deeper into his wings for comfort.
Paimon smiled, placing a hand on her chest. "You read my mind! Paimon's so happy! Let's go for it! Don't want anyone to get there before we do!"
"I hope you didn't jinx us." [Name] commented as the group headed off to the next destination.
"I mean, I doubt Treasure Hoarders would be there like Kaeya told us about." Paimon huffed, crossing her arms.
"Paimon..." Aether sighed, hand on his temple, shaking his head.
Paimon looked absolutely clueless, but shook her head either way. "Anyways, Paimon just wants to borrow the sword to..."
[Name] raised an eyebrow as they would think the sword would be too heavy for the tiny fairy to carry. Plus, she doesn't look like she knew how to use one.
Paimon noticed the two's expressions and waved her hands rapidly, flustered. "No, you heard nothing, guys! Paimon ah-- Paimon just wants to see it! Definitely not to become super, mega, powerful, and do nothing but play..."
"Sureee, Paimon." [Name] said, sarcastically.
"You really are something else." Aether chuckled a bit.
"Hehe..." Paimon giggled. "Alright, Paimon'll save the chit-chat for later. Arcadian treasure hunt, here we go!"
The group ended up in the coast of Dadaupa Gorge.
"It's so pretty..." [Name] commented, arms holding the incubator as the group took in the view of the ocean before setting off into the ruins, not too far from them. They silently had the urge to recreate the scene from Attack on Titan, but held it in. After all, it would be weird as Paimon and Aether wouldn't know what they are doing.
"Blu!" Swablu outstretched his wings with a flourish.
"We can go enjoy it more after we go into the ruins." Aether reminded them, who nodded in understanding. [Name] turned to him with a sheepish smile.
"Sorry, I just got a bit excited." [Name] laughed.
Aether shook his head, fond. "It's okay, [Name]."
"Sometimes you just have to enjoy it!" Paimon chimed in with a smile.
[Name] nodded in agreement. "Let's go now." It didn't take long for the group to find themselves in an opening on the base of the cliff.
"This must be the Arcadian Ruins." Paimon pointed at the cave opening.
"Hopefully, it is not to dangerous." [Name] said in slight worry.
Aether placed his hand on their arm, and they looked at him as he gave them a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I'll watch your back."
[Name] smiled. "And I'll watch yours, Aether. Right Swablu?"
Swablu chirped and nodded, bristing his feathers. Aether chuckled.
"Paimon too will protect you guys!" Paimon exclaimed causing the others to smile, and she looked back at the ruins. "Is it just me, or does it look...plain?"
"A bit yeah." [Name] admitted after taking a moment to look at the ruins.
"Oh!" Paimon raised a finger. "Paimon gets it! The perfect disguise is always in plain sight."
"Very wise, Paimon." Aether agreed.
Paimon looked giddy at the praise. "Kaeya's grandpa sure is impressive."
However, a strange sound began to echo from the ruins, catching the group's attention.
"Listen, guys...." Aether whispered as [Name] strained their ears to listen to the sound, but can't seem to figure out what might be making it.
"Oh! Must be mice." Paimon guessed.
[Name] shivered at the thought of rats.
"You didn't even try, did you?" Aether asked, with deadpan.
Paimon laughed awkwardly. "It is no time to get suspicious. We're close! Hurry! The treasure is waiting for us!"
[Name] giggled at the enthusiasm raiding from Paimon. "You sure are pumped up, Paimon."
Paimon nodded rapidly. "Yeah! It is a sword after all! A magic sword!"
Aether laughed. "I just hope we don't get into much trouble for it."
And the group set off into the ruins and standing on a pathway, deeper into the ruins.
[Name] shivered at the drop of temperature, so cold. They walked with the others as it lead them to take a left to show a hillchrul. [Name] smirked as they knew it was more EXP for their Pokemon.
"I'll take care of it, Aether."
"Sure, [Name]." Aether smiled as they had explained to him the more their Pokemon battle, the easier for their Pokemon to get stronger. After all, he has been to so many worlds that he has the experience to fight on his own even with new powers at his disposal.
"Use Dragon Breath on the monster, Swablu!" [Name] directed, pointing at the approaching hillchrul that brandished its bat menacingly.
"Swablu!" the bird Pokémon cried out, unleashing a powerful stream of blue flame from its beak. The Dragon Breath attack struck the hillchrul squarely in the chest, sending it staggering backward with a pained shriek before it dissolved into a cloud of dust.
[Ding! Swablu earned 504 EXP! He needs 3,792 EXP to reach level 25!]
[Ding! Togetic earned 504 EXP due to EXP Share! She needs 2,662 EXP to reach level 27!]
A flaming arrow whistled through the air, narrowly missing Swablu. Looking up, [Name] spotted an Arrow Hillchrul poised at the top of the stairs, arrow nocked and ready.
"Peck, now, Swablu!" [Name] commanded. Agile and swift, Swablu darted upwards, dodging another flaming arrow before diving at the Hillchrul. His beak glowed white with energy as he struck repeatedly, swiftly reducing the monster to more dust.
[Ding! Swablu earned 621 EXP! He needs 3,171 EXP to reach level 25!]
[Ding! Togetic earned 621 EXP due to EXP Share! She needs 2,041 EXP to reach level 27!]
[Name] couldn't help but feel a surge of pride; the EXP Share was indeed proving its worth, making the leveling process smoother and faster.
"Great work, guys!" Paimon cheered as they ascended the stairs, her voice echoing slightly in the cavernous space.
[Name] reassured Swablu with a gentle stroke of his feathers, as the bird settled into his usual spot atop their head. "It wasn't that bad, right Swablu?" they cooed affectionately.
"Swa..." Swablu chirped back, a hint of readiness in his tone, suspecting another task was about to come his way. His intuition was spot on; as the group rounded the corner, they were greeted by the sight of a menacing fire-spitting contraption blocking their path.
"Swablu, could you please use Mist? Sorry to ask again," [Name] said, their voice laced with apology. Swablu, ever the reliable companion, didn't seem to mind. With a graceful flutter of his wings, he summoned a thick fog, wrapping the fiery machine in a cooling embrace that immediately shut it down.
"Thank you, Swablu," [Name] expressed their gratitude, rewarding him with a poffin. Swablu's delight was evident as he chirped joyously, savoring the treat.
"We better move quickly before it fires up again," Aether interjected, his voice carrying a hint of urgency. Nodding in agreement, [Name] and Paimon followed him, navigating through the slowly dissipating mist.
No sooner had they cleared the area than four slimes ambushed them. However, the threat was swiftly neutralized by Aether and Swablu, who each took down two with practiced ease.
[Ding! Swablu earned 490 EXP! He needs 3,302 EXP to reach level 25!]
[Ding! Togetic earned 490 EXP due to EXP Share! She needs 2,172 EXP to reach level 27!]
"Man, you two handled that effortlessly!" Paimon exclaimed, her voice brimming with admiration.
Swablu, basking in the glow of the praise, puffed out his chest proudly, while Aether chuckled, amused by his Pokemon's antics.
The group advanced into the next room, only to find themselves facing an even more daunting setup: two pairs of contraptions, each spewing jets of fire at each other, with a mysterious statue positioned squarely between them.
"Get ready, guys," [Name] cautioned, their tone serious yet calm, as they prepared for whatever this stupid cave throws at the group next.
ha. i hope you guys like this. sorry for taking so long. i have been reading a lot of manhwa. currently reading solo max-level newbie. might write a book for it. i am pretty proud with how far this book came, but its so slow lol. but i promised myself to write everything i can from the game. to make up for it. i will be introducing other characters from other nations except inazuma except for Kirara and maybe Kazuha. although these characters won't have major roles until their own respective nations. i am leaning to writing them as the trio meet whoever i chose during commissions (or comment who you want to see! i dont mind!) between arcs. yes, mondstadt is going to be long. sorry guys! until next time~
My other works found through my profile:
Who You Are [MHA x Sakura Kinomoto!Reader]
Scarlet Vision [Twisted Wonderland x Scarlet Witch!Reader]
[Hiatus] Prince [Blue Lock x Akashi/Kuroko!Reader]
[Currently Reading] Roam [Genshin Impact x Pokemon Trainer!Reader]
Star [Jujustu Kaisen x Lucy Heartfilia!Reader]
Irregular Updates:
Story [AOT x KNY!Reader]
It Lives [HunterxHunter x Megumi Fushiguro!Reader]
Home [All Of Us Are Dead x KNY!Reader]
Don't Leave [Solo Leveling x Baam!Reader]
Story Ideas
Kiss [Young Justice x Wendy Marvell!Reader]
My World [Digimon 01 x Reader]
Ghost [ORV x Sung Jinwoo!Reader]
Future books for Irregular Updates (as of now):
Curse Me! [Hazbin Hotel x Sakuna!Reader]
Death Bite [Tokyo Revengers x Hibari Kyoya!Reader]
Supreme [Tower of God x Joker (Persona 5)!Reader]
Kitty Down [One Day, Suddenly, Seoul Is/One Day in Seoul x Lyney!Reader]
Darkness [Five Hargervees x Raven!Reader]
Shoot Me [Duty After School x Death the Kid!Reader]
..and more!