The Mind's Eye—it possessed only the power of perception.
The true importance lay in the process of opening the Mind's Eye.
For when one awakened it, their spirit was constantly cleansed, and their self steadily elevated.
By the time the Mind's Eye truly opened, the heart would already be pure, focus absolute, and the mind completely centered.
Thus, the journey of awakening mattered far more than the result.
Once you attained the Mind's Eye, you would have already undergone a leap in growth in every aspect.
Yet the Mind's Eye itself granted but one ability—perception.
The Aura Guardians, however, were different. They were born able to sense Aura, and beyond that, to wield it. In sheer utility, Aura far surpassed the Mind's Eye.
One was innate, the other acquired. The two could not be compared.
"Aura Guardians truly are Heaven's chosen… and that is enviable. But…" The Old Master of Chang'an's chest swelled with turbulent emotion.
That Yozora was an Aura Guardian—this in itself did not trouble him too much.
What truly struck him was how, at such a young age, Yozora had already reached the state of spiritual resonance with his Charmeleon.
Even he, who had set his heart on training since childhood and was now sixty-three years old, had managed to achieve such resonance with only two or three of his ace Pokémon, despite spending a lifetime with his team.
To see Yozora already standing on such a summit filled him with shame.
This was the chasm between a true genius and the rest.
"Ahh…" The old master recalled his Snorlax, sighing heavily.
Now, with five defeats behind him, he had but a single Pokémon left to call upon.
Earlier, he had entertained the thought of taking Yozora as his disciple. Now, he had wholly abandoned the idea.
For he knew—he was unworthy.
What could he possibly teach such a boy?
At such a tender age, Yozora was not only the legendary Aura Guardian, but also a trainer of rarest talent, already in spiritual harmony with his Pokémon.
As for his future… it was unthinkable.
"My final one…" The old master placed the Ultra Ball containing Snorlax back at his belt and drew another from beside it.
On the fifth floor, there were two pinnacles. The first had been his Snorlax. The second, even stronger.
"Come forth—Blastoise!"
"Blas-toi!"
The massive shellfish Pokémon landed with a thunderous stomp, arms raised high as it roared to the sky. Shockwaves of sound rolled outward, rattling the air.
Its presence was even greater than Charmeleon's. Its level stood at mid-Lord tier, its potential that of a Gym Leader's caliber.
This Blastoise was one of his greatest champions, the ceiling and gatekeeper of his fifth-floor team. Even compared to his sixth-floor mainstays, it lacked little.
A true Gym Leader was expected to command at least two Gym Leader-level Pokémon.
The old master, a veteran, held three of such might. His other partners were mostly of Lord-tier strength.
But this Blastoise—this one could stand among his main force.
On the opposite side, Yozora felt none of its pressure. Levels were levels, but physical ability was another matter.
After months of rigorous training, especially the grueling one-month forge within Taige Gym, Charmeleon's stamina, strength, defense, and speed had long since surpassed what his level alone suggested.
To Yozora, Charmeleon's battle power was not inferior to Blastoise's in the least.
And more than that—Charmeleon bore Blaze. Once it ignited, its power would soar skyward.
"Charmeleon, Smokescreen!" Yozora struck first.
"Chaaaar!"
Charmeleon roared, expelling a thick cloud of black smoke toward Blastoise.
Smokescreen—his new move, learned during training at Taige Gym.
It dealt no damage, serving only to shroud the battlefield and obscure the foe's vision.
Naturally, Charmeleon too would be blinded.
A useless-seeming move. A clumsy tool at best.
But for Growlithe or Arcanine, it was different—for they could track prey by scent, unbothered by sight.
And in Yozora's case…
With Aura, coupled with the bond of spiritual resonance, he could pinpoint Blastoise's position regardless.
Thus, the smokescreen blinded only Blastoise, not Charmeleon.
"You underestimate us! Blastoise—Rapid Spin!" The old master's voice rang calm through the haze.
"Blas-toi!"
At his command, Blastoise tucked into its shell and spun furiously. The air whipped into a gale, dispersing the smoke in a single sweep.
The turtle rose, standing tall once more, gazing at Charmeleon with a face brimming with pride and certainty.
Time and again, this Blastoise had battled Charizards, nearly always victorious.
For water beat fire.
To a Charizard, Blastoise was a natural enemy.
If even Charizard could not best it, then what was a mere Charmeleon?
"Blastoise, Hydro Pump!"
"Boom!"
Blastoise crouched low, twin cannons blazing with force as torrents of water blasted forth, a crushing surge hurtling toward Charmeleon.
Hydro Pump carried devastating might, a roaring deluge.
But Yozora's expression did not waver. He trusted Charmeleon's body. "Dodge it—Thunder Punch!"
Charmeleon darted aside, the jet striking only empty ground.
"Shaah!"
Its figure blurred, a red streak tearing across the field as it charged.
"So fast!"
The old master's eyes widened. He could not believe such speed belonged to a Charmeleon.
But then he saw the fist—crackling with lightning—bearing down on his Pokémon. His heart jolted. "Blastoise, Iron Defense!"
At once Blastoise retracted into its shell, its carapace gleaming with metallic luster as Iron Defense bolstered its armor.
Charmeleon's electrified fist crashed down—
A thunderous boom resounded as sparks exploded in every direction.
The lightning arced madly across Blastoise's shell, filling the battlefield with blinding flashes.
"Blaa—stoooiiiise!"
Blastoise bellowed in pain. Though Iron Defense had hardened its carapace, the elemental force of electricity still surged through its body, bypassing raw defense and searing its flesh within.
The old master's face paled. "It's super effective…!"
Charmeleon landed lightly, claws digging into the floor as its tail flame blazed brighter than ever.
Its crimson eyes locked onto Blastoise without fear.
At that moment, the Old Master of Chang'an realized the truth—this was no ordinary Charmeleon.
This was the flame of a warrior who could one day conquer even Blastoise's natural advantage.
And Yozora… his path forward was limitless.
(End of Chapter)