Painting was a time-consuming endeavor, so President Shinnosuke didn’t linger long. After all, if everything went smoothly, Hikaru’s artwork would soon be on display at the Floccesy Gallery, and he could enjoy it to his heart’s content then.

The battle earlier had already gathered extremely valuable live-combat data. With Hikaru’s detailed explanations, even more items would soon be digitized and integrated into the company’s software systems. Like Hikaru, President Shinnosuke held great expectations for the future of Pokémon battles.

“The older I get, the more I realize how precious battles are. They remind me… that I’m still alive in this world, that I am a living being.”

“Battles are a way to understand a Pokémon’s heart—and likewise, for Pokémon to understand their Trainers. Some Pokémon yearn for combat and seek out humans on their own. Others, however, prefer not to fight. Though I love battles, they aren’t everything in life.”

“Ah, if only I were thirty years younger… I’m an incapable Trainer now, so I can only watch others battle. But whenever I see them fighting side by side with their Pokémon, I feel it—I truly feel it. That feeling, that emotion… it’s exactly why I started this company. I wanted to experience more of that.”

President Shinnosuke, unusually sentimental, said his goodbyes to Hikaru and Burgh, then left with Ms. Keiko and his business secretary. There was still a mountain of work awaiting him, but today’s rare excitement had rekindled his fighting spirit!

Once he finished his current tasks, he’d make time to go clean Skyarrow Bridge again! Next time, he’d do it with his Trubbish and Minccino, making sure the entire bridge sparkled.

“…The old man, back in the day—” Burgh began.

Hikaru thought he was about to say President Shinnosuke used to be strong.

But Burgh simply waved his hand. “No, the old man was honestly pretty weak.”

“He only had two Pokémon—Minccino and Trubbish. But even though he wasn’t strong, he loved battling deeply.”

“In the grand scheme of things, victory is the least meaningful part of battle. The old man found meaning in another layer of it,” Burgh stroked his chin. “Ah, I feel a spark of inspiration again.”

Once everything had settled down, only Amarys remained in the Gym while Hikaru began his “artistic creation.”

Burgh didn’t just spectate—he wanted to quickly jot down the inspiration he’d just received. With his fast hands, sketching a rough draft was easy. He and Amarys went into another studio to work; though it looked like a greenhouse, the Gym had been designed with sticky honey-like walls and beehive-like soft partitions to confound challengers—making it feel more like an artistic maze.

Paint, brushes, easels, paper—everything Hikaru needed was already in place. And slowly, memories from his past began to surface.

Volcarona’s pre-evolution, Larvesta…

It had been hatched by him and dream Pokémon together—a child of ancient times?

It was young, having only just awakened in this era. Yet it was also old, coming from a distant past—a time when the Ancient City still shone with its last light.

Among Bug-type Pokémon, Larvesta and Volcarona had astonishingly long lifespans, surviving for centuries while remaining lively. They were known to inhabit deserts, ruins, and even settle in abandoned mines.

In the distant past, these Pokémon were known as “Sun-Thieving Larvae,” revered as emissaries of the sun itself.

Perhaps the Ancient City once raised Larvesta as guardian deities, worshipped and treasured.

“What did Pokémon give us? Did the Sun-Thieving Larvae steal something like Prometheus’ divine flame?” Help us continue by reading at the source: MV2LEMPYR.

“In the era when Pokémon were called monsters, there was a great divide between humans and them.”

“In the beginning—during the Age of Strife and shadow—when the world was dark and life was desperate, a Pokémon brought forth the first fire and light…”

“…Larvesta.”

As Hikaru murmured, the Tree of Link seemed to stir—sending him a new message.

[Note: In ancient times, the Unova region’s human and Pokémon communities began forming around the Ancient City.]

Ah… this reminded Hikaru of what Riolu had once seen.

The little blue pup had described a grand city rising first, a magnificent castle standing tall in the heart of fertile plains. At first, there was only this single, giant city. But gradually, towns, villages, Pokémon forests, and rivers sprang up around it.

The people of the great city had cultivated forests and carved canals, thus creating the Wood and the River.

[Note 2: It had once been barren land. The people struggled in harsh conditions… until one day, a Pokémon emerged from the wasteland, holding a flame. The dark world began to shine.]

The Tree of Link seemed to recall fragments of ancient memory. Silently observing Unova for who knows how long, it had become faint and frail, its mind scattered—unable to offer clear guidance due to the fading of history and the drift of human hearts.

“Because of our deep bond… you’ve received echoes of my memories in return, haven’t you?”

[Note 3: Perhaps so. Thank you.]

“It’s nothing. Now then—let’s begin. Show me those stories of yours.”

Hikaru looked toward the Riolu at his side. “Can you show me your Aura memories?”

“Awuu? (The Aura memories? Of the Ancient City?)”

“Awuu! (Sure!)”

Riolu placed a paw over its chest and began to channel the blue light of Aura.

The power of Aura resides in the heart.

With it, ancient memories were reawakened. Linked through Aura… that mysterious, ancient Aura now guided him forward.

Riolu understood—his Aura had changed. It had evolved with Hikaru’s power. Now it felt as though the very land of Unova whispered to him, gifting him its voice.

As though it wished to give him a mission—a trial.

He was confused… yet curious.

What would the coming journey bring?

Exciting things awaited. What lay hidden in the Abyssal Ruins? Whatever the answer, his Trainer would lead the way!

Hikaru closed his eyes.

The memories engraved in his soul resurfaced.

The First Flame… Larvesta?

“…Oh, you’ve finished,” Burgh and Amarys returned to the studio, cheerful. Amarys had benefitted from Burgh’s sketching advice, while Burgh himself had turned all his inspiration into sketches—leaving him in high spirits.

But when Burgh saw Hikaru’s near-completed masterpiece, he fell utterly silent.

He remained frozen mid-head scratch, staring blankly at the massive painting before him.

“I was wondering… who was the Pokémon that brought fire and light to Unova first?”

“Larvesta is the Sun-Thieving Larva—the messenger of the sun. But why did Unovan people call it that?”

“When you think of the sun, you think of searing heat, blazing light. It enriches the land, nurtures life, offers sunlight, rain—it makes the world thrive.”

“So maybe what Larvesta stole wasn’t just a symbol of the sun… but the life and prosperity it brought to the land.”

“Long ago, when Pokémon were known as monsters, there was a divide between them and humans.”

“In those dark days, humans huddled on barren plains, confused and afraid.”

“Then, a white, adorable, flame-spewing Pokémon emerged from the sand. It brought warmth, shielding people from freezing to death. It brought light—so they could see and make sense of their world.”

“With fire and light came warmth. And so, people and Larvesta began living together, transforming the desolate land into a paradise. The soil became fertile. New plants took root. Rivers began to flow. Together with Pokémon, humans built a great city.”

“That was the Ancient City.”

“And so, they began a sun-worshipping culture, hailing Larvesta as the herald of the sun god. And when it became Volcarona—a true solar being—their worship reached its peak.”

“Thus, the Ancient City flourished, and all of Unova prospered around it.”

Burgh stared intently at the canvas.

In front of the temple within that majestic city, the shadows of the ancestors stretched deliberately long, merging with Larvesta’s shadow into a single leaping flame on the sundial.

It was like—

In Burgh’s mind, a fire danced and flickered—an artistic vision?

From exterior to interior, something had been expressed.

“Humans and Pokémon sharing the same light?”

Every flame contained silhouettes of humans and Pokémon. Burgh suddenly thought—if the scenes Hikaru described were true…

Ancient humans might’ve used its fire to smelt the first bronze. Larvesta, in turn, may have depended on humans for food or something else. They arrived with goodwill and innocence. Humans and Pokémon were like kindling—igniting each other!

We were already part of the same flame…

Perhaps Pokémon didn’t need humans—but humanity certainly needed them.

“This is amazing—I get it now!”

Burgh was ecstatic.

“What you’re expressing—I understand! At least some of it!”

“This is the emotional impact of true art! It’s like history unraveling before my eyes. This is exactly what I wanted to see!”

“You’re saying Pokémon and humans supported each other—it was Pokémon’s fire that warmed us and allowed civilization to form! Their powers united—that’s it! That’s the real meaning of Unova—United as One!”

“The First Flame! The origin! That’s what I’ve been trying to grasp! The Ancient City’s legend is vague, but this ties it all together! Now everything is clear!”

“Roxie did say that during an excavation with Drayden, they found that the Ancient City predated all other ruins! Of course—it was Unova’s first city!”

“If it was only humans or only Pokémon—nothing could’ve been built. But together, they could do anything! You’re rebuking Team Plasma’s twisted ideals! This is powerful! A masterpiece of artistic rebuttal!”

“This needs to be displayed front and center at the Floccesy Gallery—”

Then he froze.

Oh no!

This piece was supposed to be paired with his own painting of Volcarona. But now, Hikaru’s work had far exceeded it in artistic depth and thematic power.

The pairing… just wouldn’t work.

To the untrained eye, they might both seem incredible, or simply different in style. But Burgh knew—his painting was merely a “praise” of Volcarona. Pure aesthetics.

It had no history, no philosophy. It was purely visual—celebrating the Pokémon and its concept.

It was a great piece, and Burgh was proud of it. But beside this—they simply didn’t match. Whether you viewed Volcarona first or Larvesta’s story—it would feel disjointed.

Pure aesthetic and metaphor-laden history can’t coexist in the same frame.

It causes confusion. It muddies the experience.

“This is really… troublesome! My style doesn’t match! And I can’t whip up a compatible piece in just a day! Ah—is imperfection the essence of true art?!”

“Such a misstep… but also such joy!”

“What’s it called?”

At that moment, as Burgh’s excitement peaked, his spirit brushed against the Tree of Link through his connection with Hikaru.

[The Tree of Link has sensed a new will. It is slowly growing.]

[Reward: Burgh’s Recognition!]

[Note: This is recognition from Burgh, the genius artist and Gym Leader of Floccesy City. He sincerely believes your work holds unparalleled artistic value and philosophical depth. Once displayed, it will influence the hearts of Unova’s people and draw countless visitors, evoking long-lost memories.]

Then came another notification:

[Acquired: Fame +100%! Reputation +100%! Popularity +100%! Charisma +100%!]

[Description: Once displayed, your fame and reputation will likely rise even further. Exhibitions are essential for obtaining rare and unique artistic insights and crafting techniques. After all, fashion is also a form of art.]

Fashion, huh… Before crafting the Arceus ensemble, it might be a good idea to practice.

Hikaru didn’t hesitate.

“Let’s call it The First Flame. That was the name I had in mind too!”

“I also have a few unfinished new pieces. I’d like them to be exhibited too. Just give me one day.”

Burgh: “You have more new works?! Ah! That’s amazing!”

(End of Chapter)

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep