Very quickly, the floor of this level of the Burned Tower was covered with unconscious Gastly and Haunter.
For a Blaziken that was not far from breaking into Elite–level strength, dealing with wild Pokémon that were at most Advance-level was incredibly easy.
If they hadn't been Ghost-types, it would have been even simpler.
"Ampharos, please keep Odor Sleuth active," Silas said, patting Ampharos on the head.
"Amphaa~"
Ampharos obediently nodded while maintaining a steady, bright yet non-glaring glow from the orb at the tip of its tail.
Silas had long known that Ghost-types like Gastly and Haunter appeared inside the Burned Tower. That wasn't a secret, most residents of Ecruteak City were aware of it.
Otherwise, the surrounding area wouldn't be so desolate.
After all, this had once been Ho-Oh's dwelling. Even if people felt guilty about what happened in the past, they would at least come to pay respects occasionally.
It was only the presence of Ghost-type Pokémon that had easily discouraged them.
To be fair, the Gastly line doesn't have the worst reputation among Ghost-types. Aside from being poisonous and draining life energy, most of what they do involves pranks and scaring people.
Compared to other Ghost-types that drag people into the spirit world or consume souls, Gastly and its evolutions could almost be considered relatively gentle Pokémon.
Moreover, the Gastly and Haunter here weren't entirely wild in the strictest sense.
One mustn't forget, the Ecruteak Gym specializes in Ghost-types. Its members are ascetics devoted to Ho-Oh.
Therefore, these Gastly and Haunter being allowed to roam here freely also served, to a certain degree, as protection for the already crumbling Burned Tower.
When necessary, under the command of the current Ecruteak Gym Leader, Morty's Gengar, these Ghost-type Pokémon were quite obedient.
Ignoring the fallen Gastly and Haunter, Silas continued upward with Ampharos and Blaziken.
All the way to the highest remaining level, he found nothing particularly worth investigating.
Thoughtfully touching the blackened wall, Silas wondered was Professor Oak's meaning that Blaziken should contemplate these ruins and gain some form of enlightenment?
Blaziken shook its head.
It could sense Silas's thoughts roughly, but in its perception, these were simply ordinary burn marks left by fire.
If enlightenment could be gained from this, then why not just burn a random log for practice?
Just as both Trainer and Pokémon were feeling puzzled.
"Ring…"
A faint chime echoed.
Looking up, Silas saw several transparent bells hanging beneath the eaves.
"This is…?"
He paused before taking out the Rainbow Wing from his dimensional pack.
The bells began swaying more violently.
For a moment, the Burned Tower filled with the soft sound of chiming bells.
Unfortunately, the area was far too deserted for many to hear it.
Except, the ascetics of the Ecruteak Gym.
Morty, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them and exchanged glances with the elders around him.
"You heard it too, Morty," said one elderly man with a face like withered wood.
Morty nodded and stood, walking toward the room's only window.
From this angle, the Burned Tower was perfectly within view.
"It's the Trainer chosen by Ho-Oh. He's at the top of the Burned Tower."
Relying on the rumored ability known as "second sight," Morty could see the presence of a person inside the distant tower.
If Silas had known, he would have joked that it sounded more like X-ray vision.
But the elders were in no mood for humor.
Their bodies trembled not from weakness, but from overwhelming excitement.
"Good! Good!" another wrinkled elder exclaimed excitedly. "First, a Trainer chosen by Ho-Oh. Now the Clear Bell rings once more. Lord Ho-Oh must be close to returning!"
"Morty," said the ascetic seated at the head of the room, his back facing the others, "go invite that honored individual here. Be sure to mind your attitude."
"Yes."
Dressed in black training attire, Morty bowed respectfully and left the room.
Meanwhile, Silas had no idea that Morty was already on his way to meet him.
He was only feeling that the Rainbow Wing in his hand was acting strangely.
There was clearly no wind inside the tower, yet it continued to sway.
"Is that how it works?" Silas unconsciously loosened his grip.
The Rainbow Wing immediately floated into the air. Under his watchful gaze, it slowly descended and landed atop a pitch-black pile of charred wood.
After thinking for a moment, Silas walked over and began moving the wood aside with his hands.
Beneath it lay a small heap of silvery-gray powder.
Silas froze for a second. Then disbelief crossed his face. Finally, it turned into wild delight.
"This is Sacred Ash?!"
This was an extraordinarily rare and priceless item.
As the lingering embers left behind by Ho-Oh's perch, Sacred Ash not only possessed extraordinary restorative effects, but also various mysterious properties.
Even within the Pokémon League's highest-level vaults, the total supply of Sacred Ash could be counted on one hand.
"I've struck it rich!" Silas immediately prepared to store it safely.
It wasn't strange for Sacred Ash to exist within the Burned Tower, where Ho-Oh had once perched. Nor was it surprising that some remained to this day.
After all, the ascetics respected this place deeply and were unwilling to alter anything within it.
As for him? Silas had no such devout faith.
Besides, wasn't Ho-Oh's remnant perfectly suited for a Trainer acknowledged by Ho-Oh?
But his excitement didn't last long.
The moment he crouched down and reached out, the Rainbow Wing beside him suddenly flashed.
Right before his eyes, the Sacred Ash began to fade, vanishing little by little into empty air.
"…You've got to be kidding me," he muttered, barely stopping himself from swearing aloud.
"Fwoosh."
A flame, indistinguishable from an ordinary one, suddenly sprang up where the Sacred Ash had disappeared.
Annoyed, Silas swatted at it while muttering, "Ampharos, find that blasted Gastly or Haunter!"
Even with his composure, he couldn't stay calm at a moment like this.
"Blaze."
In the next instant, Blaziken rushed to Silas's side and grabbed his wrist with a claw.
"Hm?" Silas looked at it in confusion.
Blaziken's expression was serious. It picked up a blackened wooden plank and threw it toward the flame.
Nothing changed while it was in the air—
But the instant it made contact with the fire, the plank vanished.
Cold sweat instantly covered Silas's forehead.
What in the world was that…?
Suddenly, realization dawned on him. His gaze shifted uncertainly between the flame and the Rainbow Wing.