"Legend has it that hundreds of years ago, Moltres lived here. Is it true?" Cynthia asked, looking at the environment around Flame Mountain. She was most interested in these ancient stories. After all, she wanted to be an archaeologist.
"The legend is true. Otherwise, this place would not be called Flame Mountain," Zhang Tian replied. He had inquired about the intelligence of each gym before challenging them.
"In fact, besides Moltres, Heatran has also lived here," Bea added. "Therefore, many Pokémon professors think there is something in this mountain that can increase the strength of Fire-type Pokémon. Of course, that was in the past. It is said that no legendary Pokémon live here now."
"So that's the case. It's still good for you, Great Xia. Unlike my country, which doesn't have any history," Cynthia said with a bitter face. The history of her country was too short and too bad.
"Cynthia, I've always wanted to ask you why you want to become an archaeologist," Zhang Tian said, a curious look on his face. "After all, your country has no history. I didn't dare to ask before, for fear that you would think too much, but since you have said so now, I want to ask."
"It's my personal love. I'm curious about the past, especially the stories of legendary Pokémon. I want to know the origin of mankind, and how this world came to be. I think as long as I understand the stories of legendary Pokémon, I can know these two answers," she replied.
"Hobbies? That's a reasonable and willful reason," Zhang Tian smiled gently.
"No wonder you came to the Great Xia to travel. Its history is the oldest and most mysterious in the world," Bea said with a look of sudden realization.
"Cynthia, when my strength is enough, I will take you to find these legendary Pokémon," Zhang said with a smile, winking at her.
"Okay! I'm waiting for you!" she smiled, very gently.
"How gentle you are, Cynthia," Zhang said, rubbing her head. He then took her and Bea to the door of the Fire Gym. The gym was a huge palace complex, similar to the Rock Gym, but all red, like flames.
"Zhang Tian, it's Zhang Tian!" the apprentice guarding the door saw him and immediately ran into the gym to report to his boss. Flint had ordered them to report to him as soon as Zhang Tian arrived.
"Rookie King, please wait a little. Our Gym Leader will be here later," another apprentice said politely. Although he was about the same age as Zhang, he understood that the gap between them was like heaven and earth.
"Okay, no problem," Zhang nodded, and waited with Cynthia and Bea. After about five or six minutes, a very tall middle-aged man walked out. It was the Fire Gym Leader, Flint.
"Rookie King, I didn't expect you to come to challenge me so soon. I thought you would train at Elder Morty's for a few more days," Flint said, surprised.
"Fire Gym Leader, don't you know that I am a psychic? After challenging you, I can use Teleport to return to the Ghost Gym for training," Zhang replied with a smile.
"Hahaha, that's right. It was me who made a fool of myself," Flint smiled, then waved at Zhang. "Come with me, Rookie King. I have long wanted to fight you. Those Pokémon of yours are extremely powerful. I have long wanted to see them."
On the battlefield of the Fire Gym, the referee, riding on the back of a Charizard, learned the news. "Audience, we have a good show to watch! The Rookie King, Zhang Tian, is about to challenge our gym leader!" he announced loudly. The audience immediately began to discuss, the atmosphere much hotter than before. Zhang Tian could now be called a well-known star.
"Zhang Tian, the Rookie King who can defeat Pokémon."
"That's right, it's this monster."
"Flint is in trouble this time. I hope to have a more exciting battle later, so that it will not have been in vain."
In the midst of the discussion, Zhang Tian and Flint walked out of the contestant tunnels. The moment they did, a cry of "Qi Tian" sounded.
"Flint!"
"Flint!"
"Rookie King!"
"Rookie King!"
After yesterday's events, Zhang's popularity was very high. He had many die-hard fans. A smile rose at the corner of his mouth, especially when he heard his name called. It made his blood boil. He loved this feeling.
Flint walked onto the battlefield with a cold face. He was serious. Iris had lost, and Morty had lost. He did not want to lose. Even if it was not a shame to lose to Zhang Tian, Zhang was too young. He did not want to lose to such a junior. He would give it his all.
"Rookie King, I don't want to lose to you, so I will go all out. If you want to win, you have to show your true skills. Of course, you can get the gym badge whether you win or lose. Your combat power far exceeds the standard of a quasi-Elite Four," he said. According to the standards of the Great Xia Pokémon League, the Fire Gym was the fifth gym, with a challenge standard of quasi-Elite Four.
"Fire Gym Leader, it's good to do your best. If you release water, it's too boring. As for winning or losing, you don't have to care too much, because the final winner will only be me. You can't stop me," Zhang said with a confident smile.
"Okay, let me see what you're capable of," Flint replied. If it had been an ordinary challenger, he would have been angry, but Zhang Tian had the confidence and strength to back up his words. Can I beat this ridiculously strong Rookie King? If I really lose to him, I really won't be willing, he thought. Zhang was too strong. Even he felt a trace of pressure. In his subconscious, in a battle of the same level, Zhang Tian was more oppressive and powerful than the other gym leaders. What a little monster. After he reaches the championship, I'm afraid we old guys are really not his opponents. Use all your strength. Even if you lose, there is no shame. Now, I just want to enjoy this battle. His eyes were full of fighting intent.
The referee began to announce the rules, which were the same as the previous gym. A terrifying momentum, like a volcanic eruption, rose from Flint's body. Seeing this, Zhang also burst out with his own. The two auras collided, and a roaring sound filled the air.
"Begin!"
"Come out, Pink Rathian!"
"It's up to you, Charizard!"
Zhang chose the Pink Rathian because it had not yet had a battle. A 2.7-meter-tall Charizard appeared before Flint.
[Charizard]
Level: 68 (Elite Four)
Ability: Blaze
Item: Charizardite Y
And before Zhang, the beautiful Pink Rathian appeared.
[Pink Rathian]
Level: 60 (Elite Four)
Ability: Queen of the Poisonous Earth
Item: Float Stone
"Is this Zhang Tian's monster? It's really big!"
"It's so terrifying, so shocking. It's like a small mountain that can fly, a big house that can fly."
"Such a beautiful Pokémon, it's just too big, and a little hideous."
"Another Pokémon that I haven't seen before. How many Pokémon does this little monster have?" Flint thought, looking at the pile of Poké Balls on Zhang's belt. His scalp felt numb. Zhang's Pokémon were strong, and there were so many of them. In a life-and-death battle of the same level, no one was Zhang Tian's opponent. Quantity was also an advantage.
"Keystone, respond to my heart with fiery enthusiasm! Charizard, let's go! Mega Evolve!" Flint raised his left hand, and the Keystone lit up. He was going all out from the start.
"Pink Rathian, Dragon Dance!" Zhang commanded telepathically.
The Pink Rathian roared and began to use Dragon Dance. At the same time, the Charizard, while Mega Evolving, was also using an auxiliary skill: Work Up. Like Bella and Iris, Flint could also use a status move during Mega Evolution.
"Roar!" The Pink Rathian completed its Dragon Dance, its Attack and Speed now at +1. The Charizard completed its Mega Evolution and its Work Up at the same time, its Attack and Special Attack now at +1. It was now a Mega Charizard Y, a Fire/Flying type. Its ability was Drought, so the moment it transformed, the weather instantly became sunny, boosting the power of Fire-type moves by 50%.
Mega Charizard Y. It seems Flint is using a sun team, Zhang thought.
"Pink Rathian, Sludge Bomb. Attack and close the distance at the same time," he ordered.
"Heat Wave!" Mega Charizard Y flapped its wings, and an endless hot wind blew towards the Pink Rathian. The coverage was so large that it couldn't be dodged. The Rathian could only carry it or attack back.
"Roar!" At the same time, the Pink Rathian opened its mouth and spat out a purple pillar of energy light. It was Sludge Bomb. It waved its wings and approached the Mega Charizard Y, its speed extremely fast.