Incredible. Absolutely incredible.
David stared at the Dragonite before him and swallowed quietly. So this was what a Legendary-level Pokémon felt like.
He hadn't expected the first Legendary-level Pokémon he would ever encounter to be a Dragon-type pseudo-legendary that had reached this height. With power like this, even if it were to face the so-called Secondary Legendaries — those Pokémon considered a step below the true gods — any of them without divine authority would be walking into a losing fight.
So this is what it means to be an S-rank Secret Realm, David thought. It's truly something else.
A Pokémon with this level of strength, if it ever appeared in the outside world, would be a force capable of standing against an entire nation on its own. Many smaller countries, even throwing everything they had at it, would not last long.
It was genuinely a frightening thought.
Then it occurred to him — this Secret Realm belonged to his family.
Well then. That changed things. David quietly straightened up. Yes, of course. Powerful Pokémon like this were only to be expected. Perfectly fine.
While David was making that very private adjustment in his head, the Dragonite that had carried them up the mountain was already speaking to the Dragonite Clan Leader, glancing back toward Uncle Zayn and David as it did.
Uncle Zayn stepped forward, gave a slight bow to the Clan Leader, and leaned in to whisper to David at the same time.
"The Dragonite Clan Leader was your great-grandfather's ace Pokémon, Young Master. Those wounds on his body — he received them during the war to seal Yveltal."
David gave a quiet nod. That explained everything.
He had spent a good deal of time studying the Moore family's history after the world changed, so he knew exactly who his great-grandfather was, even if they had never met. The elder had passed away before David was born, but his name carried enormous weight.
His great-grandfather's name was Gavin Moore, and by all accounts, he had been a Trainer of extraordinary caliber. David had already suspected as much the moment he saw the Dragonite — and now it was confirmed.
Gavin Moore was regarded as the greatest Trainer the Moore family had produced in over two hundred years. Even during the golden era when the Cloudspire Alliance was first established — a time overflowing with exceptional talent — he had been firmly in the conversation for the top three. Aside from the Alliance Chairman, a man of humble origins whose talent was simply unmatched and who defined an entire generation, Gavin had been widely considered to hold the second position in the Alliance at that time.
It stood to reason, then, that the Dragonite before them was no ordinary Pokémon. He was the Clan Leader of the Dragonite family, and with the Secret Realm's Guardian still sleeping, it was this Dragonite who held true authority over the Ten Thousand Dragons Nest.
David had already sensed this from the moment they arrived at the summit. Under his scanning ability, not a single one of the many adult pseudo-legendary Dragon-types gathered on the peak registered below Champion level. Several of them were Legendary-level themselves — the Clan Leaders of their respective groups. And yet all of them were positioned around the Dragonite, deferring to him without question.
Now, the Dragonite Clan Leader turned his gaze toward David and Uncle Zayn, taking them in with a long, steady look.
Just that glance was enough. David felt the air around him grow heavy in an instant. The Aura within him, normally so active and responsive, seemed to go very still on its own, as if it understood better than to make any noise.
Uncle Zayn stepped forward and calmly explained why they had come, then introduced David by name — and by lineage.
The moment the Clan Leader heard the name of his former Trainer spoken aloud, the fierce pressure surrounding him eased. Something shifted in those ancient eyes as they moved back to David. A different quality entered his gaze — something quieter, more searching.
This was the descendant of his Trainer.
The Dragonite leaned in slightly, and through David's Aura, he could feel that familiar bloodline. He gave a slow nod. Yes. Without question — a cub of the Moore family.
"Roar~"
The Clan Leader addressed the other Dragon-type Clan Leaders gathered around him, explaining the purpose of David and Uncle Zayn's visit.
Every Pokémon on the summit turned to look at David at once. He felt the weight of all those eyes and had to fight back the urge to take a step back. Instead, he quietly drew on his Aura and held his ground. He did not flinch.
Several of the Pokémon seemed to approve. Whatever else could be said, staying composed under the combined pressure of this many powerful Dragon-types took real mental strength. Among trainers his age, that kind of composure was rare.
And the Pokémon present were not easily fooled. The strong Aura within David was not something he was trying to hide at that moment, and eyes as sharp as theirs would not miss it.
He was an Aura user. Not the Dragon-Taming Power passed down through generations of the Moore family — but a genuine special ability, and a strong one. His talent was not in question.
"Roar~"
Satisfied with what they had seen, the Dragonite Clan Leader made his decision. David was free to choose any of the young Pokémon that the families had brought for the Dragon Festival. If the Pokémon he chose also agreed, he could take it with him directly without waiting for the formal event. He then had the Dragonite that had carried them up the mountain escort David over.
Both David and Uncle Zayn quietly let out a breath.
The young Pokémon brought by the Dragonite family were naturally the most talented of their generation. David should not mistake the situation — being a member of the Moore family did not mean he could simply walk in and claim one of the best. Not at all.
Many of the powerful Dragon-types living in the Ten Thousand Dragons Nest had once been the partners of Moore family ancestors, yes. But if David himself had not measured up today, no one here would have pressured any of these young Pokémon to go with him. Dragon-types were proud by nature, and the most talented among the pseudo-legendary young were prouder still.
A Pokémon that did not respect its Trainer would not take commands willingly, let alone form a real bond. Without that bond, the growth that came from training alongside a Trainer simply would not happen. It was as straightforward as that.
For that reason, capturing a Dragon-type Pokémon ultimately came down to the Trainer themselves. Everything else was secondary. Even when the Moore family traded capture rights with the Alliance, what they were providing was the opportunity — not the outcome. Whether the Pokémon recognized you was entirely your own responsibility.
That said, the Clan Leader's endorsement was not nothing. With his word, every young Pokémon in the Secret Realm would look at David with at least some degree of openness. Even a few who had not been considering finding a Trainer at all might now give it a thought.
That was the Dragonite's standing in the Ten Thousand Dragons Nest. With the Guardian asleep, he was the one in charge. It was not a coincidence that Uncle Zayn had brought David here first.
Led by the same Dragonite that had flown them up the mountain, David made his way toward the area where the young Pokémon were staying.
Uncle Zayn did not follow this time. He had done everything he could. From here, it was David's turn.