Chapter 115: The Flame Emperor’s Battle (Five Consecutive Updates—A Ten-Thousand-Word Release! Please support the first subscription and cast your votes!)

This question couldn't be resolved quickly. Since the duty had awakened, then so be it... Chen Ou no longer bothered to overthink things. The most crucial matter now was to win this battle. His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked toward Nasi and the Mega Alakazam, both ready for combat.

Yet, Chen Ou was unaware that Emperor Yan’s roar had effectively paralyzed half of Golden City...

We’ll revisit that amusing incident later; for now, Chen Ou had no idea he was entangled in something far bigger.

“Alakazam, Future Sight!”

A pink glow flashed in Alakazam’s eyes once more, and another psychic strike vanished into the void like a venomous snake, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

“Hat trick.”

“Emperor Yan, Flamethrower—say hello!”

Hearing Chen Ou’s command, Emperor Yan didn’t hesitate. It unleashed a normally sized, explosive flamethrower, brimming with the tension of an imminent explosion, aimed directly at Mega Alakazam.

“Alakazam, defend!”

Nasi showed no intention of underestimating the attack. A flamethrower of this magnitude was no mere psychic barrier’s match, even for a strengthened Alakazam.

Without hesitation, Alakazam erected a green shield before itself.

One must admit, the “Defend” skill was indeed useful. Unfortunately, its double protection was quite demanding, something few could master...

The flamethrower detonated violently the instant it met the shield.

Fortunately, Mega Alakazam’s champion-level “Defend” was robust enough; otherwise, this attack might have ended the battle right then.

Indeed, after Nasi’s enhancement, Mega Alakazam had truly ascended to champion status.

Though merely a gym leader, Nasi could, if she wished, easily unseat Shiba from his position as one of the Elite Four.

She simply chose not to, not because she couldn’t. All six of her main Pokémon were already at Elite Four level, and after enhancements, even her weakest was top-tier Elite Four. The mightiest, Mega Alakazam, had officially crossed into champion territory—not just barely, but solidly.

Truly, cheating was a strange and wonderful thing.

Chen Ou was no pushover either. His capture of Emperor Yan was purely due to his charisma and personal charm—though the Phoenix’s orders also played a part. Emperor Yan, already an advanced Elite Four Pokémon, willingly became his partner. This was why no one who knew the truth dared treat Chen Ou as a rookie.

Indeed, some parents entrusted their powerful Pokémon to their children, accompanying them on journeys. Given good relations, most children could manage commanding Pokémon far beyond their own trainer level—though, naturally, these were their family’s Pokémon. Otherwise, attempting to command such beasts would be sheer folly.

Chen Ou, as a novice trainer, had earned Emperor Yan’s full trust and obedience.

This proved that Chen Ou’s command skills were no novice’s but truly of Elite Four caliber. Which gym leader would hold back? It was absurd—a deep-sea leviathan had just swum into the rookie pond.

Hence, everyone eagerly anticipated this year’s Quartz Conference. After all, the thrill lay in shaking up the pond and watching it ripple!

Thinking this way, if someone rounded up ten high-level league trainers to thrash them, perhaps one or two might be falsely accused…

Emperor Yan’s flamethrower was blocked by Alakazam’s “Defend,” but Emperor Yan had already gained the upper hand. Though unsure when the “Future Sight” attack would strike, Chen Ou was confident he could handle it—after all, Emperor Yan had taught Kati Dog the “Substitute” technique.

Moreover, this was no ordinary Emperor Yan—it was the one fully enhanced by Chen Ou. If a single “Future Sight” could finish Emperor Yan, then neither Chen Ou nor Emperor Yan would have made it this far.

Taking advantage of Alakazam’s defense, Emperor Yan lunged forward. Black light flickered across its fangs, soon engulfed in crimson flames.

This time, Nasi noticed the detail.

“It’s a bite! Alakazam, use Teleport to dodge immediately!”

There’s wisdom in learning from mistakes!

Nasi looked at Chen Ou with a hint of pride, as if to say, “A beauty never falls for the same trick twice.”

Chen Ou mockingly applauded, as though witnessing a commendable change.

Nasi stomped her foot in irritation at his unserious attitude, revealing a rare, girlish charm.

Suddenly recalling something, she cast a cold glance toward the referee by the sidelines.

The referee looked up at the sky, signaling he saw nothing. Nasi withdrew her gaze and resumed commanding the battle.

The referee wiped cold sweat from his brow, thinking how lucky he was to react swiftly—otherwise, he might have been silenced.

Yet Nasi’s earlier behavior genuinely stunned him. He had never seen his gym leader act so youthful—even when facing the old gym leader.

He glanced at Chen Ou with a complex expression.

[Could this be the son-in-law of Golden Gym?]

Chen Ou, however, lacked the ability to read others’ thoughts; if he did, he would vehemently deny it. He harbored no impure intentions toward Nasi—not even remotely.

Now, though, he had no time to ponder such trivialities.

“Emperor Yan, take flight and circle behind!”

At Chen Ou’s simple command, just as Alakazam vanished before his eyes and the rush of wind came from behind, Emperor Yan spread its wings and soared into the sky. With a powerful wingbeat, it took off, then dived toward Alakazam, who was brandishing its psychic blades. The flames in Emperor Yan’s mouth extinguished, replaced by roaring flames enveloping its body.

Blazing Charge!

“Dodge!”

Nasi finally unleashed her ultimate command.

Alakazam reacted swiftly, using a low-energy “Swap Field” to reposition.

A stone pillar marked by Alakazam’s imprint was swapped in, and Emperor Yan showed no signs of stopping, crashing headlong into it.

Flames and dust exploded in all directions, obscuring vision once more.

“Alakazam, scatter the smoke!” Nasi ordered decisively.

“Emperor Yan, ram him!” Chen Ou’s command was blunt and forceful.

As the smoke cleared, Emperor Yan was engulfed in flames and charged at Alakazam with a single leap.

“Alakazam, Swap Field!”

Seeing Emperor Yan’s blazing charge, Nasi resolved to repeat her previous strategy. But the moment she issued the command, she sensed something was wrong.

“It’s Extreme Speed! Alakazam, evade quickly!”

She shouted, but only a pained scream answered her.

“Alakazam!”

Emperor Yan’s Extreme Speed struck Alakazam with unyielding force. Flapping its wings, Emperor Yan caught up to the flying, tumbling Alakazam and struck again.

“Emperor Yan! Bite!”

Emperor Yan opened its jaws wide, stopping at Alakazam’s neck.

Silence fell over the scene.

The outcome was decided.