Zapdos revealed a great deal of useful information.
For example, there really was an extraordinarily powerful Zapdos living on that "Lightning Island." However, as for whether that Zapdos carried the title of "God of Lightning," Zapdos itself wasn't certain.
The reason was simple.
Even among Legendary Pokémon that possessed an actual population, such as the Zapdos species, members of the same race rarely maintained close relationships.
Most preferred to live solitary lives.
As for Lightning Island, Zapdos had only discovered its existence after arriving in this world.
Young and hot-blooded at the time, the moment it sensed the abnormally powerful aura of the Zapdos living there, it immediately challenged it to a battle.
The result was obvious.
Zapdos was thoroughly beaten without the slightest ability to resist.
However—
Afterward, it noticed that its strength, which had long been stuck at a bottleneck, actually showed signs of improvement following the brutal defeat.
As a result, every month or two, Zapdos would make another trip to Lightning Island to visit that overwhelmingly powerful senior.
Officially, it called it a trial.
In reality, it was just getting beaten up.
Zhou Yichuan couldn't help laughing.
Zapdos swept him with a contemptuous look.
Pathetic human. What do you know?
Zapdos understood better than anyone.
Had it not undergone the trials on Lightning Island, then when it encountered that strange Pokémon called Xurkitree, it probably wouldn't have survived long enough to receive Chen Mo's help.
Thinking of this, Zapdos hesitated briefly before turning toward Chen Mo.
"Chirp..."
"You want to go south one more time after you've recovered?"
"Chirp!"
Zapdos nodded rapidly.
At the same time, it felt somewhat embarrassed.
After all, they had already made an agreement.
It had traded ten years of freedom in exchange for a chance to live.
And now, before the agreement had even properly begun, it was already asking to make a trip south.
Honestly speaking—
Even Zapdos felt it was a little inappropriate.
Gritting its beak, it was just about to offer some additional compensation when the young man in front of it simply nodded calmly.
"Going to say goodbye to an elder who looked after you for such a long time is only natural."
"I understand."
"Once you've recovered, just go."
"Chirp?"
Zapdos was visibly stunned by how straightforward the answer was.
After a long pause, it hesitantly asked:
"Chirp..."
(Aren't you worried I'll use the opportunity to run away?)
"Not at all."
Chen Mo shook his head.
Then he smiled.
"Raichu and the others still have debts to work off here."
"I don't think you'd be willing to abandon them completely."
"Chirp..."
(That's right... there's still them...)
Zapdos immediately understood.
It thought of all those little Pokémon who had stayed by its side when it was hovering between life and death, refusing to leave even a single step.
Warmth filled its heart.
Throughout its long life, Zapdos had never experienced the comfort of a true family among its own kind.
Yet from a group of ordinary Pokémon belonging to entirely different species, it had felt emotions unlike anything it had ever known.
"Oh, right."
Chen Mo suddenly spoke again, interrupting Zapdos's thoughts.
Zapdos looked at him questioningly.
"There's something else."
"Since you're heading to Lightning Island anyway, I'd like to entrust you with another task."
The moment Zapdos heard this, it immediately became vigilant.
Seeing that reaction, Chen Mo laughed helplessly.
"Relax."
"I'm not interested in causing trouble for your senior."
"As long as it stays peacefully on that island and doesn't come looking for us, that's already the best outcome for everyone."
"The matter I want your help with concerns the other two islands I asked you about before."
"Fire Island and Ice Island."
"Didn't you say you never paid attention to them before?"
"When you reach Lightning Island this time, I'd like you to look around the surrounding area and see if there are two islands matching my description."
"But there's one thing you absolutely must remember."
"If you really do find islands like those, do not land on them to investigate."
"As I mentioned before, those islands may be inhabited by a Moltres and an Articuno."
"They're on the same level as the Zapdos living on Lightning Island."
"If you recklessly enter their territory…"
"You should already know what the consequences would be."
The casual expression vanished from Zapdos's face.
It nodded seriously.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yichuan, who had been quietly listening the entire time, finally couldn't hold back his curiosity any longer.
"God of Lightning, God of Fire, God of Ice..."
"These three Legendary Pokémon bearing divine titles."
"What's different about them compared to ordinary Legendary Pokémon?"
"You seem unusually concerned about them."
"Zapdos, Moltres, and Articuno are collectively known as the Legendary Birds."
"The three living on Lightning Island, Fire Island, and Ice Island are very special individuals."
"They really are quite different from ordinary Legendary Pokémon."
"It would be difficult for me to explain the details clearly."
"But there is one thing."
"I once heard a secret from a certain existence."
Chen Mo spoke softly.
"The world once nearly perished because of the wrath of three gods."
Zhou Yichuan's pupils instantly contracted.
July 8th, Saturday
Clear skies.
10:00 AM.
Anping City Pokémon Arena.
"Now's the time!"
"Poliwhirl, use Bubble Beam!"
At the young trainer's command, Poliwhirl reacted immediately.
Its abdomen contracted.
Its cheeks puffed up.
The next second—
A barrage of bubbles erupted from its mouth.
"Aipom, dodge it!"
The opposing trainer shouted anxiously.
But it was already too late.
Having only just staggered back to its feet after taking a heavy hit, Aipom had long lost its usual agility.
Its face was full of unwillingness as it watched Bubble Beam draw closer and closer.
Then—
Boom!
Its body was blasted away once more.
This time—
It failed to stand up again.
The referee, who had been nervously monitoring the battle the entire time, quickly entered the field.
After checking Aipom's condition, he announced the result.
"!!!"
The Poliwhirl trainer, already drenched in sweat, froze for a moment upon hearing the referee's words.
Then—
Ecstasy exploded across his face.
"I DID IT!!!"
Thunderous applause erupted throughout the arena.
Even the commentator sounded emotional.
"This battle, which tested not only the strength but also the perseverance of both trainers and Pokémon, ultimately ends with Ji Yang and his Poliwhirl standing victorious!"
"Let's congratulate Ji Yang and Poliwhirl for successfully advancing into the Top 16 of the Pikachu Cup!"
As the commentator finished speaking, the giant circular screens around the arena began replaying Ji Yang's highlights from the group stage.
Standing beside Poliwhirl, Ji Yang felt tears welling up in his eyes.
The montage lasted nearly a minute.
After a brief blackout, a new line of text appeared.
[Next, please welcome the Top 16 competitors of this year's Pikachu Cup with your warmest applause!]
Accompanied by stirring music, the atmosphere in the arena reached another peak.
Ji Yang turned to look.
Figures were emerging one after another from both competitors' tunnels.
That's right.
Ji Yang was the second qualifier from Group H.
Before him, the other fifteen Top 16 competitors had already been decided.
"Poliwhirl."
"What should I do?"
"I can feel my blood boiling."
Ji Yang stared at the approaching trainers, battle spirit blazing in his eyes.
"Poli!"
Poliwhirl nodded vigorously.
It felt the same way.
Because today was also the day the Round of 16 matchups would be announced, every qualified trainer had brought their Pokémon onto the stage with them.
This had become a custom of the era.
Moments important to both trainers and Pokémon should be witnessed together.
As a result—
Poliwhirl could directly sense just how powerful the Pokémon approaching it truly were.
Especially that grinning Gengar.
Fortunately, according to Ji Yang, Gengar's situation was special and it wouldn't personally participate in battles.
Otherwise—
Poliwhirl felt that even if it evolved again, it still might not be able to beat it.
"Xiao Yang, that was an excellent match."
"Congratulations, Xiao Yang!"
...
As the tournament progressed, fewer and fewer competitors remained.
That was inevitable.
But at the same time—
The bonds between those who stayed only grew stronger.
Everyone had watched Ji Yang's do-or-die battle backstage.
Though they felt sorry for Aipom's trainer, they still offered Ji Yang their most sincere congratulations.
The sixteen competitors stood together at the center of the arena.
Chatting.
Laughing.
Enjoying the applause that belonged to them.
At the same time, the giant screen displayed the final Top 16 roster once more.
Group A: Hui (Butterfree), Wan Yushu (Granbull)
Group B: Xiao You (Shuppet), Xuan Mengyu (Gothita)
Group C: Gao Tianming (Charmeleon), Xiao Fan (Graveler)
Group D: Zhao Xue'er (Frosmoth), Mo Yu (Fraxure)
Group E: Qiao Cheng (Electabuzz), Xiao Sheng (Vigoroth)
Group F: Gengar (Gible), Song Qingyun (Loudred)
Group G: Chen Haoran (Munchlax), Fu Yuzhu (Furret)
Group H: Wu Zhenghao (Pinsir), Ji Yang (Poliwhirl)
Each time a trainer-Pokémon portrait appeared on screen, discussion erupted throughout the arena.
The official livestream was even more active.
[Seriously, not a single Grass-type made the Top 16. What am I supposed to say? There were tons of Grass-type trainers in the tournament!]
[That just means Grass-type trainers had terrible luck this year.]
[Grass-types are easy to raise, but common species like Oddish and Bellsprout need evolution stones for their final forms. That probably hurt them in the late stages.]
[Forget the Grass-types. Look at this ridiculous list and those ridiculous Bug-types! Didn't everyone say Bug-types were weak? Then why are there THREE Bug-types in the Top 16—and all of them qualified as first seeds?!]
[Holy crap, you're right!]
[Gengar being on this list alongside regular trainers still feels completely out of place.]
[Go Xiao You! Win the championship!]
[Speaking of Gengar and Gible, I just realized Wan Yushu also made the Top 16. And Snubbull evolved into Granbull. Heh, looks like a grudge match is coming.]
[The Round of 16 bracket is randomly seeded, right? First seeds versus second seeds.]
[Yep. Wan Yushu qualified second. He could run into Gengar and Gible immediately.]
[Damn, the countdown is starting! Why am I so nervous? I didn't even compete and don't have a favorite!]
The chatting among the competitors gradually died down.
Except for the completely carefree Gengar, all fifteen other trainers fixed their eyes on the giant screen.
Waiting for their next opponents.
Soon—
The countdown reached zero.
The tournament bracket appeared immediately.
All paths converged toward the golden Pikachu Championship Trophy at the top.
"So my first opponent is him..."
"Looks like another brutal battle."
"With his strength, he could've competed for first place in another group."
"Breathe... stay calm..."
"Find an opportunity..."
"Even Xiao You and Shuppet have a chance... right?"
"...Probably?"
The instant the bracket appeared—
Some celebrated.
Others worried.
Wan Yushu looked at the Gengar portrait directly connected to his own.
His fist tightened.
"Granbull."
"As long as we survive the first round..."
"We'll get another chance to battle Gible."
"..."
Granbull remained silent.
Its eyes instinctively drifted toward the Gible that had once defeated it.
The battle that had completely awakened it.
However—
Something strange caught its attention.
At that very moment, Gible seemed to be getting harassed by a Fraxure.
And Fraxure looked furious.
It was shouting something nonstop while Gible wore a completely bewildered expression.
Meanwhile, Fraxure's trainer sat nearby with a helpless look on his face, occasionally pulling the enraged Fraxure back and trying to calm it down.
What exactly is going on over there?
Granbull tilted its head in confusion.
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