Chapter 24: Marill and the Summit of Ancient Sword Mountain
The moonlight draped Ancient Sword Mountain in a silver veil, its serene lake reflecting the stars like a mirror of the cosmos. Souichi Kiruma sat by his campfire, its warm glow flickering across his tent, where he'd settled for the night. Silk, his oversized Caterpie, stood guard, its draconic aura pulsing faintly as its antennae twitched, scanning the darkness for threats. Tide, the newly caught Marill, nestled beside Souichi, its round blue body and buoyant tail sphere glinting under the moon. Teddiursa's Poké Ball, clipped to Souichi's belt with the Lucky Egg, hummed softly, while the newly acquired Lucky Egg—now fused with Silk—radiated a subtle warmth, boosting the Caterpie's growth. The system's panel glowed in Souichi's vision, marking a milestone:
[Task Update: Finishing Touch Proficiency: 60%. Draconic transformation stable. Objective: Integrate Marill (Tide) and pending Charmander (Green's gift) into team; enhance synergy with Silk and Teddiursa. Lucky Egg active (Silk experience gain +50%; Teddiursa experience gain +50%). Marill's Huge Power trait and inherited moves (Water Jet, Belly Drum) confirmed. Alert: Critical attention from Da Yan's Ghost King (Xia Yi), Kanto elites (Green, Red), and Hoenn factions. Unidentified presence detected at summit—exercise extreme caution.]
Souichi leaned back, the cool grass beneath him, and patted Tide's head. "You're a gem, little dragon slayer." Tide's bright eyes sparkled, its thoughts fierce yet warm: *This human's kind. Strong. That bug's a dragon, but I'll match it.* Silk, its Lucky Egg glowing faintly within, chirped softly, its gaze sharp—*Water bear's tough. Good. We'll crush gods together.* Souichi grinned, sensing their bond forming. *Silk's my ace, Teddiursa's my brawler, Tide's my slayer. Charmander's next.* Green's offer—a Charmander bred from his Champion Charizard—loomed large, a fiery addition to balance his team. *Pallet in two days. Then Hoenn.*
PokéNet buzzed on his Pokégear, the ended stream still trending: *"Emperor's Marill is a beast!"* *"Caterpie, bear, dragon slayer—Rookie Cup's done for!"* Green's Line message burned in his mind: *"Marill's a killer. Charmander's waiting in Pallet."* *Ghost Otaku*'s note—*"Kanto's your stage, Hoenn's the fight"*—hinted at Xia Yi's deeper game. *Da Yan's Ghost King, locking my file. She's protecting me, but for what?* The system's alert about an "unidentified presence" at the summit sent a chill down his spine. *Something's watching.*
Souichi glanced at the lake, its calm surface hiding the power of Tide's battle. The Marill's Water Jet had slammed Silk back, its Belly Drum boosting its Huge Power to monstrous levels. *This kid's a dragon slayer in the making.* He pulled up the system's data on Tide:
- **Race**: Marill (Tide)
- **Attributes**: Normal/Fairy
- **Trait**: Huge Power
- **Moves**: Water Jet, Belly Drum, Tail Whip, Water Gun
- **Evaluation**: Exceptional strength for its age, bolstered by Huge Power. Inherited moves (Water Jet, Belly Drum) indicate high potential. Its combative spirit and straightforward nature make it a prime candidate for a "Dragon Slayer" Marill. Recommended: Tailor energy cubes to boost stamina; focus training on move precision.
*Perfect,* Souichi thought, stroking Tide's round ears. *Cheap to raise, massive payoff.* Tide cooed, rubbing his hand—*This human's warm. I'll fight for him.* Silk shot a glance, its antennae twitching—*Cute, huh? I'm still the boss.* Souichi chuckled. "Jealous, Silk? Don't worry, you're my ace." Silk chirped, mollified, its ambition clear: *I'll lead them to glory.*
The night deepened, and Ancient Sword Mountain came alive. Absol's howl echoed from a rocky outcrop, its snow-white fur gleaming as it surveyed the wilds. A Centiskorch slithered through the woods, its venomous stinger chasing a fleeing Rattata. Pidgeots circled warily, avoiding the predator. Onix slept on a mountain path, Geodudes rolling past, while a Carbink peeked from a cave, retreating at the sight of a rampaging Rhyperior. In the lake's tributaries, Gyarados and Poliwrath vied for dominance, Milotic's elegant form gliding briefly before vanishing. The mountain pulsed with primal energy, a stark contrast to the day's quieter battles.
Souichi's senses sharpened as a faint tremor rippled through the ground. *Something's up.* Silk's antennae shot up, its glow flaring—*Danger. At the summit.* Tide's tail twitched, its eyes narrowing—*I'm ready. Let's fight.* Souichi stood, his system-enhanced reflexes tingling. "Stay sharp, team. Something's watching from the summit." The system's alert about an "unidentified presence" echoed in his mind. *Could be a Pokémon. Or worse.*
In Evergreen City, Kanto, Green watched his Charmander blast Ember in the gym's arena, its tail flame blazing. Red leaned nearby, Pikachu alert. "Kid's at a lake," Green said, checking Souichi's message. "Marill's a power pick. My Charmander's gonna fit right in." Red smirked. "He's a Cultivator. Silk, Teddiursa, Marill—he's building a legend." Green typed in the elite trainer group chat: *"Champion Green: Ai's Marill's a dragon slayer. Charmander's next. Pallet's gonna be epic."*
*Cerulean Mermaid: Marill's a beast! Charmander too? He's unstoppable.*
*I'm just pushing Miss Walnut: Da Yan Kung Fu with a water bear? I'm shook.*
*Gorgeous Water Artist: Sky Pillar's his destiny. Hoenn's ready.*
*To purchase precious gemstones, contact Devon: Mikoli, focus. Pacifidlog's critical.*
In Da Yan's Pokémon League headquarters, Xia Yi lounged in her office, her Gengar grinning as she studied Souichi's sealed file. *Marill with Huge Power. Smart.* Her *Ghost Otaku* ID had sent a rare berry during his stream, a subtle nod. *He's tied to Hoenn's ancients. Sky Pillar's his path.* She typed to an unknown ID: *"Marill's a power move. Pallet's next, then Hoenn. Keep his path clear—I'll block the League's prying eyes."*
In Caiyou City, Hoenn, Wallace and Steven watched the replay, Milotic and Metagross tense. "Marill's a perfect fit," Wallace said. "Water, fairy, Huge Power—he's ready for the Sky Pillar." Steven nodded, his Pokégear flashing with Devon's alerts—Pacifidlog's seismic spikes were critical. "Magma and Aqua will move soon. We need him in Hoenn."
At the campsite, Souichi released Teddiursa, its Lucky Egg gleaming. *Water bear's tough. I'll keep up.* Tide cooed, its resolve firm—*I'm no Magikarp. I'll slay dragons for him.* Silk's glow steadied—*New allies. We'll crush the gods.* Souichi's Pokégear buzzed—*Champion Green*: *"Marill's a champ. Pallet in two. Charmander's ready."* *Ghost Otaku*: *"Marill's a slayer. Summit's active—watch your back."* Souichi typed back: *"Pallet's on. Marill's in, Charmander's next. Summit's got my attention."*
A distant roar echoed from the summit, ice and snow glinting under the moon. Souichi's pulse quickened. *Something big's up there.* He patted Silk, Teddiursa, and Tide. "Tomorrow, we train. Then we climb. Great Flame King's rising." The system hummed: *Combat proficiency: 61%. Team synergy: 25%.* The Sky Pillar loomed in his mind, but first, Ancient Sword Mountain's summit called—a test for the Emperor's growing army.