Chapter 18: The Super Big Flame Man
The forest of Ancient Sword Mountain thrummed with the fading echoes of insect wings, the air thick with the acrid scent of scorched silk and stunned Beedrill. Souichi Kiruma stood in a clearing, his breath steadying after the chaotic sprint, his Silph Co. live broadcast drone hovering above, capturing every moment of the electrifying scene. Silk, his oversized Caterpie, coiled at the center of a massive web of silk and crackling Electroweb, its draconic aura pulsing fiercely as a dozen fainted Beedrill lay scattered around, their stingers limp. A lone Arbok lay crumpled nearby, its scales bruised from Souichi's precise punch and Silk's follow-up Tackle. The system's panel glowed in Souichi's vision, its update a testament to their audacity:
[Task Update: Finishing Touch Proficiency: 57%. Draconic transformation stable. Objective: Successfully executed high-intensity AOE combat training with Silk and Teddiursa. Lucky Egg active (Teddiursa experience gain +50%). Alert: Live broadcast has drawn critical attention—Hoenn factions, Kanto elites, and unknown entities now prioritizing host. Physical enhancement confirmed: Trainer combat capability increased.]
Souichi wiped sweat from his brow, his grin fierce as he glanced at Silk. "You're a monster, buddy." The Caterpie chirped, its glow dimming slightly from exertion but its eyes blazing with ambition—*I'll crush them all, just wait.* Souichi's punch to the Arbok had been instinct, his system-enhanced reflexes kicking in faster than he'd expected. *Guess I'm not just a trainer anymore.* The drone's feed showed PokéNet exploding: *"Emperor just punched an Arbok?!"* *"Caterpie's a dragon, but Souichi's a beast!"* Gifts flooded the chat, including a Master Ball from *FightingMan*—Green's ID.
Souichi faced the drone, his voice calm but commanding. "Alright, folks, that's how you handle a swarm. Silk's web-and-grid combo is your AOE blueprint—control, then strike. But luring a Beedrill horde? Don't try that at home unless you've got a Pokémon faster than me." He chuckled, patting Silk. "And yeah, watch for ambushes. That Arbok almost got me, but we've got each other's backs."
The chat went wild: *"Coach Souichi's a Fighting-type human!"* *"Da Yan Kung Fu master confirmed!"* *"Caterpie and Kung Fu Emperor, unbeatable duo!"* Souichi laughed, but the system's alert about "critical attention" kept him sharp. *Hoenn, Kanto, and who knows who else. They're all locked on.*
In Evergreen City, Kanto, Red and Green sat in the gym's lounge, Pikachu and Arcanine sprawled nearby. Green's jaw was slack, his eyes glued to the stream. "Did he just… punch an Arbok?" he stammered, pointing at the screen where Souichi stood over the fainted snake, Silk's web sparking in the background. "And that Caterpie took out a Beedrill swarm? Red, this kid's insane."
Red's grin was wide, a rare sight. "Told you. He's not just a trainer—he's a force." He gestured at the screen, where Silk's massive form gleamed, its Electroweb frying the last Beedrill. "That's Cultivator work. You'd be proud."
Green nodded, still stunned. "Proud? I'm shook. He's raising a Caterpie like it's a Dragonite, and he's out here throwing hands like a Hitmonchan." As the "Cultivator," Green revered trainers who pushed limits, but Souichi's raw skill—breeding Silk into a draconic beast and fighting alongside it—was next-level. "I sent the Master Ball, but I'm meeting this guy in Pallet. He's one of us."
Red typed in the elite trainer group chat: *"Red: Kid's a monster. Punched an Arbok, Caterpie wiped a Beedrill swarm."*
*Cerulean Mermaid: WHAT?! He's human, right?*
*I'm just pushing Miss Walnut: Da Yan Kung Fu is real?!*
*Champion Green: He's a Cultivator like me. I'm sold.*
*Gorgeous Water Artist: That Caterpie's Sky Pillar material. Hoenn needs him.*
*To purchase precious gemstones, contact Devon: Mikoli, focus. Pacifidlog's spiking again.*
In Caiyou City, Hoenn, Wallace and Steven watched the stream in their harbor café, Milotic and Metagross tense at their sides. "He's fighting with his Pokémon," Wallace said, his eyes wide. "That punch… he's not just a trainer." Steven nodded, his Pokégear flashing with Devon's seismic alerts—Pacifidlog was rumbling harder. "He's Hoenn's key. That Caterpie's a dragon, and he's got the grit to match. Magma and Aqua will want him—bad."
Steven typed to Red: *"Kid's drawing too much heat. Swarm takedown and a fistfight? He's a target now. Keep him close in Kanto."* Wallace added, "If he's heading to the Sky Pillar, we need to align with him first."
On Ancient Sword Mountain, Souichi led Silk and Teddiursa toward the planned campsite, the drone capturing the fading light. The Beedrill swarm was a wake-up call—Silk's ambition was soaring, but a single ambush like the Arbok could've been deadly. *Gotta train Teddiursa harder. Can't rely on Silk alone.* He released Teddiursa, its Lucky Egg gleaming, and it growled, eyeing Silk with respect. "Alright, team, let's set up camp. Tomorrow, we train synergy."
The chat kept buzzing: *"Emperor's a Kung Fu legend!"* *"Caterpie and bear squad gonna rule!"* Souichi's Pokégear pinged—*FightingMan*: *"Green's calling you the Super Big Flame Man. Pallet's hyped."* Another from the unknown ID: *"Bold move with the swarm. Sky Pillar needs that fire—Kanto first, then we meet."* Souichi grinned, typing back: *"Kanto's next. I'll bring the flames."*
Silk chirped, its glow a beacon in the dusk, its mind racing—*I'll surpass them all, Groudon, Kyogre, everyone.* Teddiursa growled, catching the fire. The system hummed: *Combat proficiency: 58%. Hoenn convergence imminent.* As Souichi set up camp, the Sky Pillar loomed in his mind, a distant blade calling the Emperor and his draconic bug to destiny.