Chapter 15: The Warriors of the Plain
Recap: Fang Yuan captured a Wildfire Stallion and passed the first of the Beast King's three trials. Now he must face three warriors in combat to earn the right to challenge the Gym Leader himself.
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The morning sun painted the plain in shades of amber and gold.
Fang Yuan stood at the center of the camp, his grey robes stark against the brown earth. Around him, the nomads had gathered in a wide circle—warriors, hunters, elders, children. They sat on their beasts, leaned against their tents, perched on rocks. All of them were watching.
The Beast King sat on his bone throne, his Sand Serpent coiled at his feet. His eyes were sharp, hungry. He had been waiting for this.
"The second trial," he announced, his voice carrying across the camp. "Three warriors. Three Gu. One challenger. If the southerner wins, he moves to the final trial. If he loses..." He smiled. "Then he becomes one of us. Whether he wants to or not."
The crowd laughed. Fang Yuan didn't.
The first warrior stepped forward. She was tall, her arms thick with muscle, her hair braided with iron rings. Her Gu was a Rock Beast—a creature of stone and earth, its body the size of a small cart, its eyes two chips of flint. Rank 2. Ground type.
"You're small," she said, looking down at him. "My Rock Beast has crushed bigger men than you."
Fang Yuan reached into his robe and pulled out a Pokeball. "Size doesn't matter."
He released his Lotus Gu.
The flower materialized in a burst of golden light, its petals open, its core blazing. The crowd murmured—they had never seen a Gu like this, a creature of light and grass, so out of place on the gray plain.
The warrior's eyes narrowed. "Grass against rock? You'll need more than a flower."
She raised her hand. "Rock Beast. Crush."
The Rock Beast charged, its massive body shaking the ground. Fang Yuan didn't move.
"Petal Dance," he said quietly.
The Lotus Gu's petals spun, scattering golden light across the clearing. The Rock Beast stumbled, its stone skin cracking under the assault. Grass was weak against rock? No. But light—light was something else. The Rock Beast had never faced light before. It didn't know how to defend.
The warrior cried out, trying to recall her Gu, but the golden light was everywhere, blinding, burning. The Rock Beast collapsed, its legs crumbling, its body falling apart.
The crowd was silent.
Fang Yuan recalled his Lotus Gu. "Next."
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The second warrior stepped forward.
He was young, barely older than Fang Yuan, his face painted with white ash. His Gu was a Wind Bird, larger than any Fang Yuan had seen—its wingspan wide, its feathers black, its eyes red as blood. Rank 2. Flying type.
"You're fast," the warrior said. "But my bird has never lost a race."
Fang Yuan released his Magnemite Gu. The small electric creature hovered in the air, its magnets spinning, its body crackling with energy.
The warrior laughed. "A metal bug? Against my Wind Bird?"
"Thunder Shock," Fang Yuan said.
The bolt of lightning arced across the clearing. The Wind Bird tried to dodge, but the Magnemite Gu's aim was perfect. The lightning struck its wings, and the bird screamed, its feathers smoking, its body convulsing.
It fell to the ground, twitching.
The warrior stared, his face pale. "How—"
"Next," Fang Yuan said.
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The third warrior didn't step forward.
He was an old man, his face scarred, his hands missing fingers. His Gu was a Fire Wolf, its coat red as blood, its eyes burning coals. Rank 2. Fire type.
But the old man was looking at Fang Yuan differently now. Not with contempt. With respect.
"You've beaten two of my best," he said. "I won't make the same mistake."
He released his Fire Wolf. The creature materialized in a blaze of heat, its fur crackling, its teeth bared. It circled Fang Yuan, its eyes never leaving his.
"Fire Wolf," the old man said. "Flame Charge."
The Fire Wolf lunged, its body becoming a streak of fire. Fang Yuan released his White Boar Gu.
"Block."
The White Boar Gu planted its feet, its tusks lowered, and took the Flame Charge head-on. The impact shook the ground. The White Boar Gu skidded back, its hide smoking, but it held.
"Now. Horn Attack."
The White Boar Gu charged, its tusks aimed at the Fire Wolf's chest. The Fire Wolf tried to dodge, but the White Boar Gu was faster. The tusks struck, and the Fire Wolf yelped, its flames dimming.
The old man raised his hand. "Enough."
The Fire Wolf retreated. The old man looked at Fang Yuan.
"You've won."
The crowd was silent. Then, slowly, the applause began.
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The Beast King rose from his throne. His Sand Serpent uncoiled, its golden eyes fixed on Fang Yuan.
"You've passed the second trial," he said. "Tomorrow, the third. You will face me. One match. No limits. No restrictions."
He stepped closer, his voice dropping. "But I will warn you, southerner. I have fought a hundred battles. I have killed a hundred challengers. My Sand Serpent has devoured stronger Gu than your flower and your bug."
Fang Yuan met his gaze. "I've faced stronger."
The Beast King laughed. "We'll see."
He turned and walked back into his tent. The crowd dispersed, their whispers following Fang Yuan like smoke.
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That night, Fang Yuan sat in his tent, his Subjects spread before him.
Nine spheres. Nine creatures. Each had a role. Each had a weakness.
The Beast King's Sand Serpent was Rank 3. Ground type. Its sandstorm could blind, its bite could poison, its body could crush. He had seen it in the tent, coiled around the Beast King's shoulders, its scales gleaming.
Ground type. Weak against Grass, Water, Ice. Strong against Fire, Rock, Steel.
He looked at his Subjects. Lotus Gu was Grass, but its petals were still recovering from the battle. Water Flea Gu were all dead. He had no Ice types.
I need a new strategy. Something he hasn't seen.
He opened the Shop. 231 primeval stones. He scrolled through the items, looking for something, anything, that could give him an edge.
Evolution Stones – 3 IES each (300 PS conversion) – Too expensive.
Exp. Share – 80 PS – Too slow. He needed power now.
Focus Sash – 60 PS – He had one, on his White Boar Gu.
Choice Band – 80 PS – Could work. Increase attack, lock into one move. Risky.
Ice Stone – 3 IES – If he had an Ice type, he could evolve it. But he didn't.
He closed the Shop. He would have to do this with what he had.
He pulled out the cracked stone. It was warm, pulsing, and the creature inside was awake.
Tomorrow, it whispered. You'll need me.
"Tomorrow," Fang Yuan agreed. "But not yet. I need to save you for the badge."
The badge. Yes. But the Beast King is stronger than the others. His Sand Serpent has lived for a hundred years. It has fought a thousand battles. Your Subjects are young. Weak. They will break against it.
Fang Yuan's hand tightened on the stone. "Then I'll break it first."
The creature was silent for a long moment. Then it spoke again, its voice softer.
You are a strange one, Fang Yuan. You have nothing. No clan, no army, no power. And yet you fight like you have everything to lose.
"I do," Fang Yuan said. "My freedom."
And what will you do when you have it? When the system is broken, when the badges are yours, when the door in the Dead Lands opens? What will you do then?
Fang Yuan looked at the stone. "I'll become immortal."
The creature laughed—a soft, sad sound.
Immortal. Yes. That is what we all wanted, once. Before the system. Before the door. Before we became fragments of what we were.
Fang Yuan tucked the stone back into his pocket. "I'm not a fragment. I'm whole. And I will not break."
He lay back and closed his eyes.
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He dreamed of the Dead Lands.
The sky was black, the earth red, the air thick with ash. In the distance, a door rose from the ground—a door of black metal, its surface etched with symbols that shifted as he watched.
He walked toward it. His feet left no prints. His breath made no mist. He was a ghost here, a shadow, a memory.
The door loomed above him. Its surface was cold, colder than anything he had ever touched. And when he placed his hand on it, he felt something on the other side. Something vast. Something ancient. Something waiting.
Open me.
He pushed. The door didn't move.
Open me.
He pushed harder. The door began to crack.
OPEN ME.
The dream shattered.
Fang Yuan woke gasping, his hand pressed against his chest, his heart pounding. The cracked stone was burning against his skin.
He sat up, his breath ragged. Outside, the sky was still dark. The camp was silent. But he could still feel it—the thing on the other side of the door, waiting.
Tomorrow, he thought. Tomorrow, I fight. And after that...
He looked at the black-and-gold sphere in his hand. It was cold, silent, but he could feel the fragment inside, stirring.
After that, I find the door.
He lay back and waited for dawn.
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End of Chapter 15