Chapter 13: The Emperor's Broadcast
The midday sun blazed over Ancient Sword Mountain, its rays slicing through the mist that clung to the meadow at the base of the towering peak. Souichi Kiruma stood in the free training zone, a grassy expanse alive with the rustle of wild Pokémon—Rattata darting through the underbrush, Pidgey soaring overhead, and the occasional Abra blinking out of sight. His mountaineering bag leaned against a gnarled pine, packed with camping gear, energy cubes, and a sleek Silph Co. live broadcast drone, its compact frame glinting like a polished gem. Silk, his Caterpie, perched on a flat rock, its green hide shimmering with a draconic aura, its pink antennae twitching with eager anticipation. The system's panel glowed in Souichi's vision, its update a spark of opportunity:
[Task Update: Finishing Touch Proficiency: 52%. Draconic transformation stable. Objective: Conduct live combat training on Ancient Sword Mountain to refine skills and boost public profile. Tasks: (1) Win the Johto Rookie Tournament Championship. (2) Enhance trainer physical capabilities. Alert: Hoenn travel restrictions remain—monitor for updates. High-profile attention increasing—multiple factions tracking host's movements.]
Souichi activated the Silph Co. drone, its high-definition camera whirring to life, syncing with the sensor on his wrist. The device, a discounted splurge that still stung his wallet, was a marvel—compact, durable, with a satellite link that could stream flawless footage from the wilds. *You're earning your keep today,* he thought, grinning as he checked the PokéNet app. His announcement—*"The Caterpie's Spring! One Trainer, One Bug, Smashing Ancient Sword Mountain. Real Fights, Real Stakes!"*—had exploded online, racking up thousands of likes and comments. Fans were hyping it with dragon emojis and chants of *"Emperor Souichi!"* *Let's hope they don't try this with their own Caterpie,* he mused, half-praying his stream wouldn't inspire reckless copycats.
"Alright, Silk, time to shine," Souichi said, kneeling beside his Caterpie. "We stick to the safe zone's edge—fight what we can, dodge what we can't. No Finishing Touch yet; let's flex String Shot and Bug Bite." Silk chirped, its draconic glow pulsing, as if eager to dominate. Souichi felt a surge of pride. Since the system's awakening, his own body felt sharper—stronger, faster, like the daily runs and drills were supercharged. He'd torn through Silk's String Shot in training, earning a betrayed glare from his partner. *Sorry, buddy. You're not cocooning me anymore.*
The drone hovered above, capturing Souichi and Silk as they faced their first challenger—a feisty Rattata, teeth bared, darting from the grass. "Silk, Bug Bite!" Souichi called. The Caterpie lunged, its jaws snapping with amplified force, Silver Powder boosting its attack. The Rattata squealed, dodging, and retaliated with Quick Attack. "String Shot, now!" Souichi commanded. Silk spat a web of sticky threads, ensnaring the Rattata mid-charge. A swift Tackle sent it scurrying back to the underbrush, and the drone's feed erupted with PokéNet cheers: *"Emperor's bug is a beast!"* *"Caterpie OP!"*
The system pinged: *Combat proficiency increased. Transformation stability: 53%.* Souichi fist-pumped, grinning. "That's how we roll, Silk!" The Caterpie's glow flared, its confidence soaring. They took on a Pidgey next, Silk's Electroweb sparking to trap its wings, followed by a Bug Bite that sent it flapping away. Each battle sharpened Silk's instincts, its draconic aura pulsing stronger, and Souichi's commands grew crisper, his own reflexes honed by the system's subtle boost.
In Cerulean City, Kanto, Misty lounged in her gym's office, her Starmie floating nearby, casting a soft blue glow. Her Pokégear chimed with Souichi's live broadcast preview, and she raised an eyebrow. "Wild training with a Caterpie? This kid's got guts," she muttered, still stinging from her online battle loss to his Hypnosis Powder tactics. Red's endorsement had drawn her in, and now, watching Souichi's stream, she saw why. His commands were sharp, his bond with Silk undeniable. *He's no rookie. Top-tier, maybe even Champion-level.*
She shared the stream link in a group chat of Kanto's elite trainers, her fingers flying: *"Hualan Mermaid: Check this out! Da Yan's anchor is live on Ancient Sword Mountain. Wild training with a Caterpie. Insane."*
*Red: Saw it. Kid's got moves.*
*I'm just pushing Miss Walnut: Red spoke?! Miracle!*
*Viridian's Son: He's not mute, Green. Chill.*
*Dragon Rider: This is Red's guy, right? Streaming wild battles? Bold.*
*Gorgeous Water Artist: Da Yan? Interesting…*
*To purchase precious gemstones, contact Devon: Mikoli, focus! Hoenn's a mess.*
Misty smirked, clicking "watch" as the stream loaded. Souichi's face filled the screen, his grin fierce as Silk downed a Drowzee with a perfectly timed Electroweb. *He's got the whole world watching now,* she thought, her curiosity deepening. *Red's right—this kid's something else.*
In Caiyou City, Hoenn, Wallace and Steven sat in a harbor café, their Pokégear screens mirroring Misty's. Wallace's Milotic coiled nearby, its scales catching the evening light, while Steven's Metagross hovered, its psychic hum a quiet shield. The stream played silently, Souichi's commands cutting through the chatter of wild Pokémon. "He's training on Ancient Sword Mountain," Steven said, his eyes narrowing. "Smart. Low-risk, high-reward for that Caterpie."
Wallace sipped his tea, his expression a mix of awe and urgency. "Look at that bug move. It's no Caterpie—it's a dragon in disguise." He glanced at Steven, his voice low. "PokéNet's buzzing with 'Emperor' hype. If Magma or Aqua catch this stream, they'll know exactly where to find him."
Steven nodded, typing a discreet message to Red: *"Kid's live on Ancient Sword Mountain. Caterpie's unreal. Keep him close—Hoenn's watching."* He switched to a Devon report, seismic spikes near Pacifidlog flashing red. "Groudon and Kyogre are stirring. If Souichi's heading for the Sky Pillar, he's walking into a storm."
Back on Ancient Sword Mountain, the sun dipped low, painting the meadow in shades of amber. Souichi's drone captured every moment—Silk's glowing form, his own sharp commands, the wild Pokémon falling one by one. The chat exploded: *"Emperor's rewriting the Pokédex!"* *"Caterpie for Champion!"* Souichi grinned, sweat beading on his brow as he called, "Silk, Bug Bite—one more!" A bold Sentret crumpled under Silk's jaws, and the system pinged: *Combat proficiency: 54%. Public profile rising.*
Souichi knelt beside Silk, ruffling its antennae. "You're a star, buddy." The Caterpie chirped, its glow a beacon in the dusk, and Souichi felt the weight of eyes—Red, Misty, maybe even Hoenn's Champions. His Pokégear buzzed, an unknown ID: *"Nice show. Sky Pillar's no meadow. Allies are ready—name your time."* Souichi's heart raced. *They're closing in.* He typed back: *"Appreciating the love. Kanto's next, then Hoenn. I'll call."*
As the stream continued, Silk's battles lit up the meadow, and Souichi's grin turned fierce. *Hoenn's watching. Good. Let's give 'em a legend.* The Sky Pillar loomed in his mind, a distant blade against the stars, and he knew—Silk and the Emperor were just getting started.