"How do you plan to do it?" Professor Oak was very interested in Terrance's research topic.
"I'm still exploring it. If it succeeds, I'll discuss it with you then," Terrance said with a smile.
Indeed, the formation process of this special flame was still only Terrance's idea. He wasn't yet sure whether Altaria could actually master it.
"Very well, I'll wait for your good news," Professor Oak nodded.
Over the next few days, Terrance kept an eye on Ash and his friends' movements while exchanging academic discussions with Professor Oak.
Professor Oak was very interested in Terrance's knowledge of genetics and several of his breeding methods. Terrance, in turn, was very interested in Professor Oak's research directions and results. When Terrance and Professor Oak conversed, time passed quickly.
In the backyard of Professor Oak's Laboratory, the spacious grounds allowed Terrance's seven Pokémon to relax for a while. But since they might soon face a special opponent, Terrance didn't dare let them idle for too long and kept them on basic training to prevent them from getting rusty.
The documents gathered in Professor Oak's Laboratory were more interesting than Terrance had imagined. Famous libraries might have a greater quantity of documents, but they wouldn't have as complete a collection of obscure materials as Professor Oak's.
After all, Professor Oak's Laboratory was one of the major research centers in the entire Kanto Region.
"Entei was an unknown Pokémon that perished in the Burned Tower, and only after being revived by Ho-Oh did it take its current form. Because people feared Ho-Oh's power to manipulate life and tried to suppress Entei through violence, Entei left Ecruteak City."
"I didn't expect Professor Oak's Laboratory to have records about Entei as well."
Terrance put the book back and smiled faintly. Ho-Oh, a Pokémon recorded in mythology, was said to have the mystical power to revive the dead. From this perspective, Ho-Oh's mastery over life energy might be no weaker than Xerneas's—perhaps even greater, considering it could resurrect Pokémon and grant them immense power, making them what people call Legendary Pokémon.
However, Xerneas was also the origin of Mega Stones. With so little information, Terrance couldn't possibly judge whose control over the life energy was strong.
Still, while studying special flames, Terrance had once read a record in an ancient text about an incident involving Entei.
When Entei resided in Ecruteak City, before humans treated it with violence, it had once used the "Flame of Life" to restore the health of local residents and drive away disease. This story became the main inspiration for the flame Terrance intended to study.
The Flame of Life.
Without a doubt, the Flame of Life that Entei commanded was a derivative of Ho-Oh's Sacred Fire. By mastering the Flame of Life, Entei gained immense power; its terrifying signature move was also proof of the Flame of Life's might.
Though certainly not as strong as Ho-Oh's Sacred Fire or Reshiram's Blue Flare, it was still far beyond the flames of ordinary Pokémon—a very high-level flame.
Terrance wondered if the Flame of Life might be the product of fusing life energy with fire.
Terrance's Altaria had learned from Xerneas a way to control life energy and could achieve self–Mega Evolution. In a sense, this put it on a level no weaker than Entei, who had been revived by Ho-Oh. Since Altaria also wielded both life energy and fire—even if its command over fire was weaker—why not try, like Entei, to refine ordinary flames into the Flame of Life?
If Altaria could possess a special flame like Entei's, even setting aside the healing effects of the Flame of Life, its terrifying destructive power alone would give it immense combat value.
Once it mastered the Flame of Life, even among Fire-type Pokémon, there would be very few who surpassed Altaria in using flames…
"Even when facing Steven's Steel-type main Pokemon, Altaria wouldn't be passive anymore."
At this thought, Terrance smiled to himself. With more and more Fairy-type Pokémon appearing, even though he had Arcanine and Gallade, his shortcomings were still obvious. But if Altaria could master a special flame, all of that could be completely ignored.
Terrance felt that once Altaria mastered the Fairy Aura and the Flame of Life, then with the ability of self–Mega Evolution, he would be fully qualified to contend with figures at the Elite Four Champion level.
…
…
That day, while Ash, Brock, and Misty were training outside Pallet Town and enjoying desserts and tea, a Trainer wearing something like a pirate bandana passed by and challenged Ash.
Ash, who had been lacking energy for the special training, instantly perked up at the prospect of a battle and accepted the challenge.
However, perhaps the opponent was too weak; even Golem was knocked out in one hit by Pikachu's electricity.
"Wha—! Oh my gosh!!" The bandana-wearing Trainer clutched his head in disbelief.
"We won!!" Ash jumped up excitedly.
In the distance, Misty looked bored, breaking off a piece of bread. "That's only because the opponent is too weak."
Even Brock raised his head and said helplessly, "Coming to challenge without proper training…"
After chasing off the challenger, the three began to enjoy their desserts in peace. But, unbeknownst to Ash and the others, not only were the "immortals" of Team Rocket hungrily watching them from a distant mountaintop, but a shadowy figure on an island somewhere out at sea had also set their sights on them. [TN: Team Rocket trio are called immortals in Chinese fandom because they don't die.]
Before long, a Dragonite came flying over the waves, rushing past the mountain. While sweeping the Team Rocket members into the air, it also overturned the table and food Ash and the others had set out.
"Hm?" Dragonite suddenly stopped, realizing it had flown past, then turned its head and flew back to Ash and his friends.
The Dragonite carried a brown bag on its back. Seeing Ash stand up and wipe himself, it ignored his questions and directly pulled out a disc from the bag.
"For me?" Ash asked doubtfully, taking the disc. The next moment, the disc emitted a magical light, and a holographic image appeared. It was a woman in a brown coat. After a slight bow, she began to explain her purpose: "I'm very sorry to send you this letter so abruptly. Please forgive me. Because you are the Trainers with the brightest prospects, we invite you to attend the Banquet of the Strongest Trainers, hosted by our master."
"The location is the castle on New Island. Please fill out the postcard to decide whether you will come or not. This is an invitation to the strongest Trainers, please be sure to accept."
With that, the figure in the disc vanished.
"Should we go?"
"Of course we're going. They said I'm one of the most promising Trainers!!" Ash's confidence swelled. He had to go—no choice but to go.
After discussing it, Ash and his friends decided to attend the banquet. Meanwhile, Mismagius, who had been watching them from hiding in the void, began returning to Pallet Town to report the news to Terrance.
"A holographic projection… a new technology from Kalos?"
"And this 'Banquet of the Strongest Trainers'… what a bold name. It seems Mewtwo's knowledge is still limited at this point…"
At Professor Oak's Laboratory in Pallet Town, Terrance received from Mismagius the images of what Ash and the others had experienced. Spinning a Poké Ball on his finger, he smiled.
After waiting so many days in Pallet Town, it was finally about to begin. So the location was that island after all…
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