Chapter 457: The Sovereign of the Phoenix Nest
Beyond the sudden, celebratory visit from Grandma Liu, the second major headline
was the miraculous recovery of Blaziken.
After a month of intensive care, the fire-beast's injuries had fully healed. In
fact, it had undergone a "Baptism of Fire." By breaking its physical vessel
under the pressure of Ho-Oh's divine energy, the Pokémon had experienced a total
cellular reconstruction. The Sacred Fire had tempered its bones and muscles,
making its physical endurance far superior to what it had been before the match.
It was the ultimate realization of the phrase "What doesn't kill you makes you
stronger." Still, looking at the trauma his partner had endured, Zhurong Yun
would have preferred a standard recovery. The pain of the Phoenix Fire seeping
into one's marrow was a torture few could imagine.
But the scars had faded, replaced by a radiant, healthy glow. For Kenji, seeing
the partner he had nearly broken stand tall again was the greatest relief of
all.
Now, the time for recovery was over. It was time for the coronation.
The day of the ceremony was clear and bright. Kenji stood alone atop the highest
platform of the Phoenix Nest Battle Arena, clutching a heavy, ceremonial torch
capped with a flickering ember of the Sacred Fire.
The light of the flames danced across the gold-threaded embroidery of his robes.
For this occasion, Kenji was dressed in traditional Champion's attire—a deep
crimson coat crafted from the silk of a Champion-tier Volcarona.
The fabric was a masterpiece of elemental engineering. It was functionally
indestructible, immune to both fire and frost. Even in the heart of a blizzard
or the center of an inferno, the wearer would remain at a perfect, regulated
temperature. The cut was modern yet regal, designed by a world-class couturier
to reflect the dignity of the office.
On the back, a sprawling, abstract image of Ho-Oh was stitched in shimmering
gold wire. On the breast sat the minimalist, silver-etched logo of the Huaxia
League.
Below Kenji, a gallery of the nation's power stood in silent formation. Zhurong
Yun, the four regional Elite Four members, and every provincial Gym Leader in
the country stood at attention, their eyes fixed on the youth above. Even Elder
Qi, a member of the global Eight Masters, was present to witness the transition.
Zhurong Yun stood with one hand behind his back, a faint, proud smile on his
face. Behind him, the four regional pillars—all of whom Kenji had personally
defeated—nodded in acknowledgment.
Further back stood the provincial leaders. Among them was Tyson Tang, the
Metropolis Gym Leader. He looked at Kenji with a whirlwind of conflicting
emotions. Kenji had been the first "real" challenge of his career as a
leader—the boy had been a mere academy student then. To see him ascend to the
throne in just a few short years was both inspiring and profoundly humbling.
Tyson had been training hard himself, his ace nearing the Champion threshold,
but compared to Kenji, the gap felt like a canyon.
Kenji looked out over the sea of faces, his gaze lingering on the VIP section.
There was Lawson, Grandma Liu, and Li Heng's parents. Mina, Zephyr, and Xie Mu
were there as well.
"Kenji-nii! It's really him!" little Song Qiang chirped, his face flushed with
excitement as he gripped the railing of the spectator box.
Coach He stood nearby, dabbing at his eyes with a handkerchief. He was
oscillating between pure joy for his student and smug self-congratulation for
his own "scouting eye."
Larvitar for a Champion, He thought, a tear rolling down his cheek. That was the
greatest trade in the history of the Metropolis Academy. No—the history of the
world!
Li Heng's parents were openly weeping, embracing each other as they watched the
boy they had once fed and sheltered stand at the apex of the nation. They had
seen him as a struggling orphan; now, he was a God among men.
Dozens of high-definition cameras were trained on the platform, broadcasting
Kenji's every breath to a global audience of billions. In the afternoon sun, the
wind caught his hair, making him look every bit the "Supernova" the media had
dubbed him.
Kenji took a deep breath. He looked back at his journey—from waking up in this
world with nothing but a System and a dream, to this moment. It felt surreal,
like a lucid dream he never wanted to wake from.
Slowly, Kenji turned toward the massive stone brazier at the center of the
platform. He lowered the torch.
The Eternal Flame ignited.
The roar of the crowd was instantaneous, a wall of sound that shook the very
foundation of the arena. The atmosphere in the Phoenix Nest went from respectful
silence to a riot of celebration.
While the Huaxia League cheered, the observers from the other global Leagues
watched with grim, envious expressions. Every region dreamed of producing a
prodigy of this caliber. To see such power concentrated in one youth was a
terrifying political reality.
"SKREEEEEEEEEE!"
Suddenly, a cry echoed through the stadium—a sound so sharp and resonant it
silenced the tens of thousands of cheering fans in an instant.
From the heart of the newly lit brazier, a phantom of a fire-phoenix erupted. It
wasn't just a trick of the light; it was a mass of sentient, golden energy. The
phoenix soared upward, its wings spanning the width of the arena as it rocketed
toward the stratosphere.
"Ho-Oh..." Zhurong Yun whispered, his eyes wide.
Even the Zhurong family had never received such a literal manifestation during
their inaugurations. The golden shadow reached its apex and exploded in a
silent, magnificent burst of prismatic sparks. It was a divine firework display
that painted the sky in seven colors.
As the sparks drifted down like warm snow, the Arena's stadium-wide pyrotechnics
followed suit. The sky above the Capital was consumed by the most expensive and
elaborate light show in human history.
The message was sent. The era of the Zhurong Clan had ended.
The Reign of Grand Champion Kenji had officially begun.
♧♧♧
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