Everyone Else Awakened, But I Just Opened a Pokémon Pet Shop

"Wha… What the hell?!"

Wang Tao stared in disbelief, eyes wide with shock.

"That's an S-Class death beast being herded like livestock—this is the first time I've ever seen anything like this!"

"Meloetta is way too badass!!"

But his excitement quickly turned to panic.

"Wait, wait—what's happening now?!"

"The direction's all wrong!!"

The massive S-Class death beast was charging straight toward them!

"Why… why is it running our way?!"

Wang Tao's jaw dropped. Something was definitely off.

Nearby, Liu Yunlan and Pei Jingguo also sensed the strangeness.

But if one paid close attention, they'd notice—Meloetta wasn't kicking randomly.

Every time the massive, bull-like death beast slightly veered off course, Meloetta would flash through the air like lightning and give its head a sharp kick—correcting its trajectory.

And that trajectory… was aimed right at them !

"Huh?! What the hell is she doing?!"

Liu Yunlan was completely dumbfounded.

What was this?

Was Meloetta unable to defeat this S-Class death beast?

Fine—but why bring it here of all places?!

That was an S-Class death beast!

Pei Jingguo had already drawn his longsword and begun calming his breathing—mentally preparing himself for what was about to come.

Whatever had happened, it seemed they were about to face the full fury of an S-Class beast.

Under Meloetta's relentless "directional kicks," the massive bull death beast was forcibly herded toward Wang Tao and the others .

Finally, Meloetta leapt high into the air, spun like a blazing fireball, and landed with a powerful dropkick —

SMASH!

The enormous bull's head was slammed into the ground with a deafening crash.

And now, its hulking form loomed right in front of the stunned crowd!

"That's... That's the Tailless Rampaging Bull!"

"A strength-type death beast! Incredibly powerful—one horn could knock over a small mountain!"

Xiao Zhang's face went pale as he stared at the creature in horror.

Over three meters tall and more than five meters long— it was a living mountain .

As the former second—and now first-ranked—language student at Haicheng No. 1 High School, he immediately recalled the textbook entry on this beast.

The Tailless Rampaging Bull, while not the strongest in terms of elemental power among S-Class death beasts, was infamous for its brute strength and nearly indestructible body .

In fact, one unofficial ranking had even listed it as one of the most dreaded death beasts to encounter during a siege.

After dropkicking the massive bull to the ground, Meloetta dusted off her (nonexistent) clothes with exaggerated grace, then bowed elegantly toward the crowd.

"Mission completed!"

Diancie strolled over with a mischievous giggle.

"According to Master's orders, it's now your turn to deal with this bad boy!"

"W-Wait… WHAT?!"

Wang Tao felt like his eardrums had exploded.

What did she mean their turn ?

This bad boy?

She couldn't possibly be talking about the S-Class death beast lying just a few meters in front of them… right?!

That was insane!

He instinctively turned to look at his best friend—

Su Bai waved cheerfully from a distance, cupping his hands like a megaphone:

"This Tailless Rampaging Bull is all yours now!"

"Handle it well—don't let me down!"

"Relax. Nothing bad will happen. Meloetta and Diancie are watching over you!"

He even gestured at the two Pokémon with a wink.

With these two around, there was no real risk to Wang Tao and the others' lives.

"I really worry too much about these guys…"

Su Bai folded his arms and shook his head, smiling.

"Where else could you find such a kind and thoughtful shopkeeper like me?"

"These kids have such good luck."

"Relax?! How the hell are we supposed to relax?!"

Wang Tao looked like he was about to cry as he stared at the massive bull head just meters away.

His Grotle was no small Pokémon, but compared to this monster—it looked like a baby turtle.

Not to mention the savage killing intent that radiated off the S-Class death beast—it was almost suffocating.

"Looks like Boss Su thinks we've had it too easy lately…"

Pei Jingguo held his sword with both hands, his eyes locked on the monster ahead.

"No matter what happens now, we don't really have a choice. This guy clearly doesn't plan to let us walk away."

Liu Yunlan swallowed nervously as he looked at the beast.

The pressure was overwhelming.

The rest of the trainers silently made their own preparations.

It was clear that hoping for Su Bai to have a change of heart was wishful thinking at best.

Still, though they were grumbling aloud, deep down , Wang Tao and the others were starting to feel a surge of anticipation.

A-rank death beasts no longer push them to their limits.

After spending so much time working with their Pokémon, they could feel it— their partners were reaching a bottleneck .

Without the pressure of a powerful enemy like this S-Class bull, evolution would remain out of reach.

In truth, they had no other choice.

The Tailless Rampaging Bull, after being floored by Meloetta's devastating kick, began to stir.

Its blood-red eyes gleamed with rage as it locked eyes with the trainers and their Pokémon .

It had been on its way to investigate the chaos from earlier.

Even among S-Class death beasts, if two weren't of the same species, they wouldn't live too close—but they would still support each other in battle .

That's what made S-Class death beast nests so hard to wipe out.

But just as it was charging to support its kin, a little green-haired creature had appeared in its path.

And before it could even react—

That creature had suddenly turned red —

Then slapped it with a powerful strike that almost broke its neck!

No matter how hard it tried to retaliate, the little red-haired thing was too fast to hit.

Even worse, its butt kept getting kicked , and it hurt— a lot .

The pain only made it angrier—and caused it to run faster.

Just like that, one kick at a time , it was herded here.

Death beasts were naturally violent and bloodthirsty.

Being treated like a farm animal had driven this Tailless Rampaging Bull into a blind, berserker rage.

Now, it lowered its head and charged forward without hesitation!

And thus began the legendary scene that would later be dubbed—

"Meloetta the Cowherd."

Once again, Meloetta knocked the beast to the ground and bowed out.

But now, as the bull lifted its head and caught sight of the group standing ready in formation—

Its fury exploded anew.

That aura—those Pokémon— they smelled just like that annoying red-haired one!

"MOOOOOOO!!"

With a deafening bellow, the Tailless Rampaging Bull rose.

Its bloodshot gaze fixed on Grotle and the trainers behind it.

Its hooves scraped the ground with increasing force.

There was no mistaking it.

This was going to be a full-powered charge.