Into the Unown Ch 161 Preview + New Cover Art

Author's note:

The following is the first two pages of Chapter 161, just to give you guys a preview and to frame the context of the cover art.

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Chapter 161

Nina shut her eyes and allowed the misty rain to wash over her, revelling in the sound of the whistling winds.

“Kukuku…” To her side, Brucey laughed in a strained manner, desperately flapping his wings in an effort to keep up with the leisurely gliding Nitey.

Nina laughed. “C’mere, Brucey,” she beckoned. Golbats weren’t supposed to fly at such high altitudes so it was normal for Brucey to be struggling.

“Kukuku…” With a great deal of reluctance, Brucey conceded and landed behind Nina to wrap his wings around the girl. He would have loved to be at the front and be cuddled by the girl, but that spot was taken by Espy who warned him off with a mental pulse of denial.

Nina giggled and gently caressed Brucey before giving Nitey a pat on his scaly back. “Alright Nitey, no need to hold back anymore. Time to soar beyond the clouds!”

“Dragooo!!!” With a mighty bellow, Nitey flapped his wings and pierced through the veil of clouds obstructing the sky, prompting Nina to laugh out in exuberance and opened her mouth wide to taste the fluffy white mist. 

She had always wondered if clouds tasted like cotton candy, and now she knew — it was all just water. Cool, refreshing water vapours, but water nonetheless.

The girl chuckled. “No duh! What did you expect, you silly Psyduck.”

Nina felt a thrilling rush deep within her the higher she ascended. And the moment that they pierced through to the vast blue emptiness above, she hollered.

“WOOHOOOOO!!!”

Before her was an endless sea of clouds, mottled grey and tinged red and purple in the horizon. And peeking out from the ethereal canopy was the tip of Mount Silver, its peak holding aloft a majestic ball of fire, like a golden beacon illuminating the lands below.

Hatsuhinode — the first sunrise of the new year. Nina had always wanted to go witness the occasion in her past life. But now, that wish was finally fulfilled, and in the best way possible.

“Thanks for the suggestion, Nitey. This is your best idea yet!”

“Niiite~” Nitey hovered in the air with a proud look. He could have come at any time with his newly acquired wings, but he held off because he wanted to share the occasion with his loved ones.

“It’s a shame that Clody couldn’t be out here to experience this too.” 

The Clodsire’s pseudo-Safari Ball was currently hanging around Nina’s neck in transparency mode. He couldn’t be out with them because his Poisonous exterior was a risk to the flying Nitey. Otherwise, the Dragonite could have just carried the brown blob in his arms.

Nina and her team of Pokemon hovered in the air to bask in the first light of the new year. Espy, in particular, due to her species’s affinity with the sun, was especially ecstatic, eyes glistening in awe. Even her forehead jewel was shining a brighter red than usual.

Gastly peeked out from Nina’s shadow as well, to admire the scenic view despite her aversion to sunlight.

They stayed there for some time, watching the sun rise higher and higher, completely breaking free from the imposing silhouette of Mount Silver.

Nina let out a sigh of content. But just before she could tell Nitey to move on, she saw a rainbow trail arcing across Mount Silver’s snow-covered peak.

“Is that… Ho-Oh!” Nina exclaimed.

“Hooooo!!!” 

And as if responding to her call, a majestic screech echoed throughout the region, signalling the start of the new year.

Nina was practically buzzing with excitement. The Legendary Rainbow Pokemon was not an uncommon sight in Kanto-Johto, but Nina had never seen it in person before. To think that she could witness both Ho-Oh and hatsuhinode at the same time. She once again thanked Arceus for allowing her to be reborn in this magical world.

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This art was commissioned from the amazing Winter Sage. The same artist who drew the current image that I have as the cover art on RR and SH.

But instead of being fanart, I made sure to pay money to properly commision them this time.

As such, this art belongs to you guys as well, since I used your Patreon contributions for it.

So feel free to download it and use it for your own purposes. The only thing I ask is to not post it publicly just yet, just to avoid spoilers. However minor they may be.

Now, if you're wondering where the title is. Truth is, I'm not 100% yet on the graphics design part of the equation. The font and text placement and all that just look a little off, despite Winter's best efforts.

So I plan to add in the text on my own, but I haven't had the time to do it yet. I'll make sure to get it done by this weekend and I'll make another post then.

Anyways, big thanks again to Winter for all their hard work. Check them out in the link down below if you're so inclined.

https://www.tumblr.com/winterseeli/773394513349754880/one-of-newer-art-i-have-made-its-fan-art-of-a