Chapter 147: Reminiscence

Chapter 47: Nostalgia

The Emerald Lake, located in the southwest of the Cologne Plain, is surrounded by a dense forest of bald cypress trees. Covering an area of just over three thousand square meters, it cannot be called huge, yet it ranks as the largest lake across the entire Cologne Plain.

Untouched by human influence and after centuries of quiet recovery, the water quality of the Emerald Lake has reached its absolute peak. Countless Pokémon are drawn to it, inhabiting its surrounding shores.

Resembling a purely natural mirror of glass, the tranquil surface of the lake reflects the lush, tender green branches of the bald cypress trees bordering both sides. Viewed from the sky, it looks as though a smooth mirror has been set within a border of carved jade.

A serene and tranquil atmosphere hovers over the lake. Everything appears so peaceful and calm.

Unfortunately, any Pokémon explorer with a modicum of wilderness survival experience knows that in such primitive and untamed natural environments, the safer and more peaceful the surface appears, the deeper and more profound are the evil shadows hidden beneath that harmless exterior.

Swish—

Crystal-clear splashes suddenly erupt across the rippling, calm surface of the lake. Two crimson dorsal fins break through the water, basking in the scorching rays of the blazing sun overhead.

A massive shadow gradually emerges, slowly undulating its body beneath the lake's surface and gliding gently. Warm currents flow from the crimson fins on its back throughout its body, gradually raising its slightly lowered body temperature as a cold-blooded creature.

Feraligatr cannot help but narrow its eyes in comfort.

A brutal temperament, terrifying strength, and exceptional Water-type aptitude have made it the undisputed master of the Emerald Lake.

Today, as usual, it lazily sunbathes while scanning for prey with its vertical pupils, which are protected by retractable membranes.

Abruptly, Feraligatr’s nostrils flare slightly and twitch.

It seems to catch an extremely enticing scent in the air.

Familiar.

Inordinately familiar.

"That is..."

An alarming red glare suddenly bursts within Feraligatr's golden vertical pupils.

The scent of a living human!

The crimson dorsal fin sinks silently back into the lake water. Under Feraligatr's exceptionally precise control, the gentle energy of the Water-type wraps around its entire body, forming the most concealed natural camouflage beneath the clear surface.

The flowing water is effortlessly parted, sliding gently past both sides of its body without the slightest sound.

Its massive form glides toward the shore at a terrifying speed of two kilometers per hour through the water.

With glowing red and ferocious vertical pupils, it stares at the lakeshore above the water with a greedy gaze full of human-like emotion.

There, a slender human figure stands quietly.

Its thick tail sways slightly, and tiny swirling vortexes of water circle beneath Feraligatr's feet as explosive power is quietly gathered.

Saliva flows within its jaws.

Feraligatr can even imagine the wonderful scene of the frail human skull before it slowly bursting open beneath its sharp teeth; it can already feel the hot, viscous blood dancing on the tip of its tongue with a savory flavor.

"I can't wait!"

Filled with the most delightful fantasies, Feraligatr surges upward straight from the bottom of the water.

The calm surface of the lake is rudely shattered. Crystal droplets scatter in a spiral toward the surroundings, transforming into a fine drizzle.

Inside its cavernous maw, jagged, blade-sharp teeth flash dazzlingly under the sunlight.

The strong impact propels Feraligatr's massive body straight into mid-air, casting a shadow of death over the slender human figure on the ground.

Time seems to stand still.

Abruptly, a flash of silvery-white, razor-sharp metallic light appears beside the human figure, flickering through the air like a shooting star cutting across the night sky.

Tiny ripples spread gently through space like rings in water.

The next second,

"Sizzle!"

Blood splatters.

As if sliced by the sharpest blade, a pitch-black crack appears on Feraligatr's tough, deep-blue skin.

Its massive body is bizarrely cleaved in two from top to bottom, transformed into two gruesome chunks of meat like a biological specimen.

A gentle lake breeze sweeps past, blowing away the thick, pungent smell of blood in the air. Golden, silky hair flutters in the breeze.

Standing by the lakeshore is none other than the blond-haired man from the Nightmare Society headquarters.

Azure pupils reflect the clear lake surface before him.

"Sigh."

Sighing softly, he appears rather helpless at this moment.

"Did I... take the wrong turn again?"

The blond man mutters, his tone melancholic. Clearly, he has finally come to realize his own atrocious sense of direction.

Frowning, the blond man ponders.

He has already spent nearly a full day and night pursuing the culprit of the destroyed base in the wrong direction. If he returns to the base now to reorient himself, it will certainly be too late; yet if he returns straight to headquarters like this, the leader will definitely not spare him.

"What should I do?"

His highly polished black leather shoes tap gently against the ground.

A quiet, silent atmosphere echoes by the lakeshore.

"Forget it!"

Looking somewhat defeated, the blond man stomps his foot hard, closes his eyes, and spins around in place a few times at random.

Opening his eyes again, he looks straight ahead.

"Right here!"

Tap, tap, tap—

The sound of hurried, frustrated footsteps rings out as the blond man strides toward the direction he has chosen.

In the invisible void, a giant hand seems to be quietly plucking the threads of fate.

Under normal circumstances, the blond man’s tracking ability is basically zero, yet in an absurd twist, he has selected the most accurate path.

......

......

Awooo—

A desolate, distant, and unidentifiable howl echoes from the edge of the sky.

Lu Yun startles awake, bolting upright.

The brilliant golden sunlight filters through the mottled glass window, casting a warm, lazy glow over the soft white duvet. A gentle warmth, carrying a faint sense of coziness, flows throughout his entire body.

Lu Yun sits there with a dazed expression, as though still half-asleep.

In this brief, intoxicated moment of morning reverie, he recalls the fond memories of his past life as a human.

After a busy day of work, either turning on the television and lounging lazily on the sofa, pulling a chilled carbonated beverage from the refrigerator and taking a small sip, letting that icy, refreshing sensation burst from the tip of his tongue all the way down his throat, into his chest, and into his stomach to invigorate his entire body; or sitting at a barbecue stand with a few close friends, chatting away. The topics might be the difficulties encountered at work, or perhaps a video game releasing soon...

All these things are like illusory bubbles in midsummer—beautiful, yet fragile at the slightest touch.

Lu Yun snaps back to reality, smiles faintly, and shakes his head gently.

He jumps off the bed, bathing in the brilliant sunlight, and stretches his limbs.

Past memories may be worth cherishing, but what matters most is the present and the future.