The spirits rejoiced.

The fainted Pokémon received the blessing of the Tower of Heaven’s souls, while the victors had their names sung in praise.

N felt his very soul blazing, exactly as that silver-blue dragon had once told him—

Life was blooming in its most brilliant form.

The two fallen Pokémon carried in their hearts a deep unwillingness and the desire to fight again. They entrusted that desire to their remaining teammates, making them stronger!

“Hm?”

Hikaru could feel the surge of power flowing from N. That powerful wish and conviction seemed to be inherited by his other Pokémon.

“If Hilda and Hilbert are both heroes,” Hikaru thought, “then their opponent N should also have that same strength. Could it be that a Seeker’s conviction allows the remaining Pokémon to inherit the will of the fallen and thus awaken greater power?”

If so, the longer this battle dragged on, the stronger his later Pokémon would become. It was a kind of bond power—only, N would call it—

“Let me show you the ultimate love I have for my friends!”

“My friends support me, and I support them. A friend who falls has not failed—they have paved the way for those who follow. This is the equation of conviction and inheritance!”

For reasons unknown, N’s battle spirit was flaring high, but Hikaru could see it—

The spirits were rallying around him!

And around himself, too, Pokémon souls were gathering!

Their fighting spirit burned fiercely, feeling the joy of life.

For them, battle was the meaning of existence—and they poured all their strength into the ones still standing!

Simply to see a stronger, more powerful fight!

“My third one—Arcanine!”

Sure enough, N’s third Pokémon was the summer-team Arcanine, boasting high base stats and classified as a “Legendary Pokémon” in its own right.

“Grotle!”

Sunlight still blazed across the field, and Hikaru’s choice was Torterra!

This Torterra’s maple-colored shell carried the sacred White Tree upon its back, making Arcanine narrow its eyes—its appearance alone showed it was no mere Grass-type weakling. The great dog growled low.

Intimidate! Attack down on entry!

But Torterra was unmoved. The ancient spirit within its will made it immune to Intimidate’s effect.

At the same time, green light flared around it—Overgrow from the start, as a sign of respect.

“What… that Torterra’s green power—is that Overgrow?!”

Could that ability be activated right from the start?

N’s understanding was shaken—wasn’t that supposed to trigger only at low HP?

Hikaru smiled. “In theory, yes. But my Torterra has learned ancient power—it can deliberately awaken Overgrow under the sun!”

“As for my dragon… that’s for your last two.”

N fell silent, but a faint smile tugged at his lips.

The Gods of Wind and Thunder were already stirred by this battle, shouting from inside their Poké Balls. They wanted to fight—and accused him of poor command!

Perhaps it was true. But that didn’t matter. If he lost, it only meant his strength was lacking—that’s why he sought their help in the first place.

“Your Torterra not only looks unusual—its speed is remarkable. Its mind is also… chaotic.”

“I can’t read it anymore.” N sounded almost vexed.

Outwardly calm, Torterra was inwardly a flurry of anxious thought before battle—but once it began, that anxiety vanished instantly.

“My Torterra’s speed is not what you think. If you assume it’s slow… you’ll pay for it.”

“Rrr!” Arcanine roared, charging with blazing speed—its body cloaked in fire!

Flame Charge! Speed rises while attacking!

A heavy Pokémon like Torterra should struggle against a speedster—N could hear the mutterings in its mind, like drawing lots among many moves. Perhaps this was the key to breaking through!

But Torterra’s body radiated life energy, its shell glowing silver—Iron Defense! sharply boosting defense!

Hikaru’s next mental order—Shell Smash!

Red light flared as Torterra’s defenses fell—twice. But a White Herb instantly restored them!

Attack, Special Attack, and Speed were massively boosted!

“High Horsepower!”

With a full-power Ground-type charge akin to Close Combat, Torterra slammed into Arcanine!

The collision shook the Tower of Heaven’s floor—yet the ancient construction held firm.

Ground-type energy erupted in a blast. Arcanine howled!

Now was the time—Reversal!

Its pained expression vanished, eyes wide, as it spun back with crushing force—striking so hard the sky seemed to tremble!

The lower its HP, the greater the damage—

Yet as the blow landed, Torterra began to glow brilliantly—Synthesis!

The sacred tree on its back swayed, its Revival Herbs glowing. N finally saw it—those strange plants growing from its shell weren’t held items—they were part of its body!

“What—?!”

Branches erupted from the tree, gathering massive Grass-type energy—

Wood Hammer!

The crushing hit nearly knocked the great dog out cold.

“Conviction can be inherited. I believe that. Don’t give up—Arcanine!”

Abandoning mind-reading, N shouted aloud—and the nearly fainted Arcanine howled!

Howl! Raising its own and its allies’ Attack—then Flare Blitz!

The blazing tackle almost flipped Torterra. Hikaru could feel Arcanine’s power surging—

The strength of two fallen allies was flowing into it, magnified by the tower’s spirits!

Flames licked up Torterra’s body—the burn chance had triggered!

“A 10% proc too? So conviction raises both power and secondary effect odds…”

Burn would sap HP each turn and cut physical damage—

“Hah!” Torterra braced. Arcanine’s Extreme Speed (+2 priority) made Speed boosts irrelevant—but Hikaru had priority abilities from the Unova Link. If timed right…

Arcanine gathered flames. Overheat would hit hardest, but leave it weakened if it failed to KO. Safer—Extreme Speed + Flamethrower.

It felt N’s conviction—this was its proving ground.

But suddenly—Torterra flared with dazzling light!

Flash! Blinding, lowering accuracy—and doubling as a pseudo-“Solar Punch” in emergencies!

Spectators cried out as their vision went white.

While Arcanine blinked away the glare, Torterra struck—burns were meaningless when it could grow its own healing berries.

Another full-force High Horsepower sent Arcanine flying—

It struggled to rise, then collapsed.

“Grotle!” Torterra bellowed in victory.

Barely won—almost lost to your combo, but skill won out.

N tugged his cap brim low, his eyes still dazzled, while Hikaru calmly put on black sunglasses.

Click. Click.

Two angry voices rose from his belt—Thundurus and Tornadus could wait no longer.

Without N’s command, their balls burst—gales and thunder roared as they descended, glaring at Hikaru.

You, emissary of Landorus—don’t get cocky. We haven’t fought yet!

“The legendary Pokémon of Mistralton’s tales…” Skyla whispered.

“This is like a myth come to life…”

Even artist Mr. Wado gripped his brush tightly—few could claim to battle both storm gods!

“Triple battle?” Hikaru asked. “Looks like they won’t wait. You brought them to help—and they hate me for being Landorus’ emissary… oh? There’s greed too?”

“You want… the Verdant Orb?” ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novelfire(.)net

The storm gods exchanged a glance. Yes. And if one of them got it, they’d use its power to overpower the other—then fight again!

“Then come take it.”

(A nonsensical ukulele chord rings out.)

Hikaru threw three Poké Balls—

Volcarona erupted in searing sunlight, momentarily forcing a clear zone against the storms. It hissed flames, unafraid before ancient gods.

“Riolu! Walking Wake!”

The Aura apprentice and ancient dragon eyed their foes.

The gods judged them—bug, unevolved; fighting-type, unevolved; dragon, but water-type—no threat.

Riolu and Walking Wake thought differently—legendary gods? Perfect prey.

“All-out, full-power!” Hikaru’s mind brushed theirs.

Walking Wake roared—Rain Dance? For me?

Riolu placed a paw to its chest, focusing. Aura… within me!

“This is triple? Good—let’s finish this in one clash!” N sent out his last—Darmanitan.

Drayden noted, “Fire power’s weakened in storm weather.”

N smiled. “He’ll inherit the strength of the fallen—perhaps type advantage won’t matter.”

The fight exploded—Volcarona blazed forward like a small sun, earning N’s shock at its heritage.

Walking Wake’s Noble Roar boosted its allies’ crit rate. Hikaru baited Thundurus by praising Tornadus—only for Thundurus to nearly swing at its brother.

That opening—Flare Blitz in Sunlight!—slammed Thundurus from the air.

Tornadus countered with Hurricane—only to have Riolu Copycat it back. Furious, Tornadus unleashed Bleakwind Storm while Thundurus grabbed Volcarona, shocking it—

But it rocket-hovered on flame jets, still in the air.

Walking Wake summoned Dragon Twister, trying to drag them down, but the storm gods’ signature storms pushed it back—until boiling Steam erupted from Wake’s jaws, hitting Tornadus head-on!

Even N gaped—sun and rain… coexisting?!

Steam’s power multiplied by both weathers—it was a theoretical impossibility.

The arena filled with vapor. Even Caitlin was baffled—Volcarona’s sunlight must be incredibly strong to hold against the storm.

The gods regrouped—Tornadus’s tailwind raised both their Speeds.

Twin Bleakwind + Wildbolt Storm struck—

But in the chaos, Hikaru’s wand flashed—Tornadus’s Wacan Berry vanished, replaced with a Ring Target.

Riolu grinned—Earthquake! Normally immune, Flying-types hit clean when carrying that cursed target.

It wasn’t an earthquake—it was a Skyquake, shaking even the heavens.

(End of Chapter)

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