Kenji didn't believe for a second that wtwo harbored any goodwill toward
humanity. After being shackled by R-Organization and subjected to a battery of
dehumanizing experints for so long, the psychic clone's mind had to be
twisted. He doubted it felt "kindness." If anything, it probably harbored enough
resentnt to want to wipe the slate of humanity clean.
The fact that it hadn't made a move yet was unsettling. It felt like a
countdown—the heavy, suffocating silence before a Category 5 hurricane.
Back ho, life moved forward, though the atmosphere was equally charged. The
biggest headline—the one dominating every Poké-Feed and news outlet—was the
official retirent of Elite Four Lawson.
In the Huaxia League, an Elite Four mber usually "retired" when a rising star
from the National Conference defeated them in a formal challenge. It was a
passive transition, and the most common way for the guard to change.
The second way was active retirent: a mber stepping down due to age or
health concerns. The League would review the application, and if the reasons
were valid, they would begin the search for a successor.
Kenji knew Lawson personally. The old man was as sturdy as an oak, possessing
more energy than most trainers half his age. But he had served the League with
distinction for decades, long outlasting the peers he had started with. Huaxia's
high command recognized his service; they weren't going to force a veteran to
stay in the trenches until he collapsed.
So, Lawson was finally enjoying his golden years.
This, however, was a disaster for Rainey Chang. The forr Northeast Elite Four
mber had just stepped down and hadn't even had a taste of freedom before she
was conscripted to fill the void. Per League regulations, the most recently
retired mber was the first choice for ergency vacancies.
Rainey was now the Northwest Elite Four. She could have refused, but doing so
would have ant watching her retirent pension vanish into thin air.
Aside from the political musical chairs, things were quiet. Kenji's friends from
tropolis Academy were staying away, giving him the space he needed for his
final training block. They knew the stakes.
"Is the date set?"
Coach He sat on the sofa in Kenji's villa, his eyes fixed on the young man
across from him.
Kenji nodded. "Three days from now."
Champion Zhurong Yun was a busy man, but the League had cleared his schedule for
the most anticipated match of the decade.
"Good. Don't put too much pressure on yourself," Coach He said, his voice
softening. "You're still young. Win or lose, you've already made history."
Kenji offered a faint, confident smile. "Don't worry, Coach. I don't plan on
losing."
"You little monster," Coach He chuckled, shaking his head. Most students in
Kenji's year hadn't even graduated yet, and here he was, three days away from
potentially becoming the strongest trainer in the country. "Alright, I'll let
you get so rest. Prepare well."
Kenji walked him to the door. "See you soon, Coach."
Once the villa was empty, Kenji took a deep breath. He headed upstairs to pack
his gear. The next morning, he began the journey to the heart of the Zhurong
Clan's territory.
Mt. Cinder.
The ancestral ho of the Zhurong Clan was located just outside the Capital
City.
Kenji arrived by noon, and even from a distance, the sight was breathtaking.
Amidst a sea of green mountains stood a single, towering peak of vibrant, fiery
red.
Mt. Cinder was legendary for its maples. It was said that the mountain was
carpeted in trees whose leaves stayed a brilliant, burning crimson all year
round, never once withering.
As he approached the restricted airspace, Kenji patted the back of his Ditto,
which had assud the form of a Dragonite. He signaled for it to descend.
Legend had it that the Great Phoenix, Ho-Oh, had once nested on this peak, and
the eternal maples were a gift of its divine residue. The Zhurong Clan
considered the mountain a holy site. As such, flying over the peak was strictly
forbidden. Whether it was a comrcial airliner or a wild Pokémon, the airspace
was reserved solely for their deity.
Kenji wasn't a religious man, but he respected the traditions of the house he
was about to challenge. He landed at the base and proceeded on foot.
As he walked, the forest changed. The oaks and pines thinned out, replaced by a
dense canopy of red maples. Each tree looked like a giant, living torch. It was
a staggering display of color.
"Stop. This is the entrance to Mt. Cinder. No unauthorized entry."
A group of guards wearing the Zhurong crest stepped into the path, barring his
way. Kenji removed his sunglasses and hat, handing over his League credentials.
"I'm Kenji. I have an appointnt with Champion Zhurong Yun for a formal
challenge."
The guards blinked. They recognized the face imdiately—everyone in Huaxia did.
However, they remained professional, verifying his ID through several scanners.
Once the green light flashed, they bowed respectfully.
"Our apologies, Kenji. Thank you for your cooperation. Please follow the stone
path straight up. We've been expecting you."
One of the clan mbers joined him, acting as a guide. As they climbed the long,
winding stone staircase, the man spoke of the clan's history with a palpable
sense of pride.
Finally, the stairs ended, opening into a plateau of traditional architecture.
The buildings were low, none exceeding two stories, built with dark wood and
red-tiled roofs. Standing at the end of the courtyard, her hands on her hips,
was a familiar figure with flowing red hair.
"Xun Zhurong?" Kenji asked, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
Xun rolled her eyes. "What do you think? I'm here to wait for you, obviously."
Kenji smiled. Their rivalry at the Huaxia League Finals had been heated, but
they had cleared the air months ago.
"Uncle Yun is tied up with so clan business," she explained, her gaze
lingering on Kenji with a complicated expression. "He'll be back later this
evening. He asked to host you until he arrives."
Xun was considered the greatest prodigy of the Zhurong Clan, yet Kenji—who was
younger than her—was here to fight for her uncle's throne. It was a bitter pill
to swallow, but she couldn't help but respect his teoric rise.
"I appreciate it," Kenji said.
Xun led him into the estate. As they walked, Kenji noted the sheer number of
high-potential Pokémon wandering the grounds. Magby, Growlithe, Litten,
Charmander, and Eevee were everywhere. None had a potential lower than A-tier.
This is the foundation of the strongest clan in the world, Kenji thought.
Children greeted Xun as she passed, looking at Kenji with wide, curious eyes. It
was clear she was beloved here. After showing him to a guest suite, she offered
him a tour of the peak.
They climbed the final set of stairs, reaching the very summit of the mountain.
"This path leads to the Bell Tower," Xun said. "Outsiders are almost never
allowed up here. Even mbers of our own clan need a reason to visit."
Kenji nodded. He knew the significance. The Bell Tower was the tallest structure
in Huaxia, a thousand-year-old pagoda that housed the Eternal Fla of Ho-Oh.
Legend said that when the bells rang, the Great Phoenix would return.
More importantly, it was rumored that the Legendary Beasts—Raikou, Entei, and
Suicune—guarded the tower's inner sanctum.
"If the tower is off-limits to outsiders, are you sure I should be here?" Kenji
asked.
Xun looked back at him. "The elders decided. You are soone who has been
'Acknowledged' by the Phoenix. That gives you the right to stand before the
tower."
They reached the summit clearing, and Kenji stopped in his tracks.
The Bell Tower was a masterpiece of ancient engineering, eighteen stories of
brilliant red wood reaching for the clouds. At the very top, beneath the eaves,
a basin of fire flickered—the Sacred Fire that had supposedly burned for a
millennium.
Creak...
The massive wooden doors of the tower groaned open.
An old man stepped out, moving with a slow, deliberate grace. Beside him walked
a Ninetales that radiated an aura so dense it felt physical.
[Pokémon Status]
Target: Ninetales (Master Tier) Gender: Female Level: 100 Type: Fire Ability:
Drought Potential: S
Level 100... Kenji's heart hamred. This was his first ti seeing a Pokémon at
the absolute ceiling of existence.
The Ninetales fixed her gaze on him. Her eyes were deep and knowing, as if she
were looking directly through his skin and into his very soul. It was a
disquieting sensation, as if his every secret were being laid bare.
"Elder Lie," Xun said, bowing deeply.
The old man nodded, his eyes crinkling with a hospitable warmth. "Welco,
honored guest, to the House of Zhurong. Please, forgive any lack of hospitality
on our part."
His voice was thin but carried the weight of a mountain. Before Kenji could
respond, a second figure erged from the shadows of the tower.
"Elder Qi!" Xun called out, bowing a second ti.
♧♧♧
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