"Gengar, Double Team!" Yozora commanded.
Shua, shua, shua…
In an instant, Gengar split into over a dozen copies, all of them sneering wickedly as they surrounded Dragonite in a tight circle.
Clair's expression turned grim. Unlike Yozora, she couldn't see through Gengar's trickery. Neither she nor her Dragonite could tell which shadow was the real one.
Dragonite's eyes darted around, searching for the most suspicious figure, but it was all in vain.
Yozora smiled faintly. "Gengar, Shadow Ball."
More than ten Shadow Balls shot forth from every direction, pelting Dragonite from all sides. The attacks exploded with violent force against its body, making the dragon's brows furrow in anger.
Even though only one of those Shadow Balls was real, the overwhelming visual assault was as effective as a psychic strike, shaking Dragonite's mind and forcing it to expend even more energy than the actual damage inflicted.
"This can't go on…"
Clair bit her lip, finally losing patience. She shouted loudly: "Dragonite, Draco Meteor—hit every Gengar at once!"
Dragonite roared as draconic energy surged wildly within its body. It raised its head and spat out a golden orb of energy.
The orb soared upward before bursting like a dazzling firework, raining down countless energy meteors in an indiscriminate storm.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Gengar darted about like a phantom, dodging frantically.
But in this chaos, it could no longer maintain its clones. One after another, the illusions vanished under the bombardment of Draco Meteor.
With the clones destroyed, Gengar's true body was revealed, caught firmly in Dragonite's sights.
"Dragonite, Fire Punch!" Clair commanded sharply.
With a swish, Dragonite streaked forward, flames blazing along its claws as it swung down toward Gengar.
Yozora's voice rang out, brimming with confidence. "Dodge, then use Night Shade!"
Gengar's Ability, Speed Boost, had been triggering repeatedly. Its speed had climbed to its absolute peak, far surpassing Dragonite. Within moments, it had widened the distance between them, its glowing black eyes firing beams of dark energy to snipe Dragonite.
Dragonite was tough, but Gengar's attacks landed with no small force.
Strike after strike landed, etching wounds across Dragonite's body. Its breathing grew labored, fatigue evident in its wings.
"That Gengar is unbelievably fast…" Shōshi gasped from the sidelines.
Everyone knew Gengar was naturally quick, but Dragonite wasn't exactly slow.
Not to mention—Dragonite had the level advantage. A peak Elite Gengar shouldn't have been able to outspeed a Dragonite of Elite Four caliber.
And yet, the battlefield told a different story. Gengar was toying with Dragonite, its speed at least twice as fast, darting about effortlessly.
"What a monstrous Gengar…"
Clair's expression darkened as Dragonite continued to take a beating. She raised her hand and cried out: "Dragonite, Hurricane!"
Dragonite's small wings flapped furiously, whipping up a violent storm that finally forced Gengar back under its crushing winds.
"Now! Water Gun!" Clair ordered without hesitation.
She knew well—Gengar was fragile. With Dragonite's raw power, any attack that landed could end the battle instantly. Water Gun might have seemed simple, but its speed made it the most reliable choice.
Sure enough, the jet of water shot out with incredible velocity, rushing straight at Gengar.
Just as it was about to strike, however, a beam of red light intercepted, pulling Gengar back into its Poké Ball at the last moment.
…
The absolute chance to end it was stolen away, but Clair showed no regret.
She now understood how to counter Gengar. Whenever Yozora sent it back out, she would be ready.
Instead, she felt a growing anticipation for Yozora's next Pokémon.
"Go, Dragonite!" Yozora called, releasing his own Pokémon without hesitation.
Two Dragonite now hovered opposite one another, eyes sharp and expressions solemn.
"He has a Dragonite too?" Clair's heart shook. "And that physique… it looks incredibly strong. Could it have divine potential?"
Her own Dragonite was about two meters tall.
But Yozora's Dragonite? At least 2.3 meters, broader and bulkier, its frame like a living tank brimming with raw strength.
That was talent—the kind of power that exceeded levels themselves.
"And its aura… Elite level, high stage!" Clair's face grew even heavier.
If his Dragonite truly had divine potential, then it was far stronger than its level suggested.
Had her Dragonite been at full strength, she might still have had confidence.
But after the battle with Gengar, it was badly wounded, exhausted, its stamina dangerously low.
"We must finish this quickly. Dragonite, Ice Beam!"
Draconic energy flared into icy light as Clair's Dragonite unleashed five intertwining beams of frozen destruction, streaking through the air toward Yozora's Dragonite.
"Fly! Use Agility!" Yozora countered.
His Dragonite flashed aside, weaving through the attacks.
Clair's Dragonite pressed hard, firing beam after beam, desperately trying to pin down its foe.
But Dragonite, being Dragon/Flying, was four times weak to Ice. A single hit could spell doom.
Yozora chose avoidance.
And with Speed Boost stacking again and again, his Dragonite's speed climbed higher and higher, slipping past every beam with ease.
"What on earth…? Why are all his Pokémon so fast!?" Clair gritted her teeth.
"Counterattack! Dragonite, Ice Beam!" Yozora ordered.
This time, his Dragonite unleashed its own freezing blast.
Clair's Dragonite tried to dodge, but it was slower. It narrowly evaded two beams, then cried out as the third struck its leg.
Frost raced up its limb in an instant, locking it in place.
The pain jolted its nervous system, its wings faltered, and it began sinking toward the ground.
"It's over…" Clair's heart sank.
Sure enough, Yozora's Dragonite unleashed a Dragon Pulse that blasted her Dragonite across the field, knocking it out cold.
"Battle over! The challenger, Yozora, is victorious!" the referee declared.
"You're amazing, Yozora," Clair said with a bright smile as she approached, handing him the Rising Badge. "I can't wait to see how you perform at the Silver Conference."
At last, Yozora had gathered all eight badges, qualifying him to compete in the Silver Conference.
"Oh, and Yozora," Clair added, "with that Rising Badge, you can now enter the Dragon's Den. Inside, rare Dragon-type Pokémon dwell—you might even encounter them."
"The key to the Dragon's Den, huh?" Yozora chuckled. "But how rare could they be? The rarest Dragon in both Kanto and Johto is Dragonite—and I already have one."
After all, the Dragons of those regions could be counted on one hand—just the Dratini line and Kingdra.
And since Yozora already had Dragonite, and held little interest in Kingdra, there was no reason for him to bother with the Dragon's Den.
"If you're lucky, you could catch a Dratini," Clair said with a small smile. "Most trainers wouldn't complain about having more than one…"
But Yozora simply shook his head, without a shred of desire.
Such trainers were rare indeed.
…
At the Pokémon Center in Blackthorn City, Yozora handed his partners over to Nurse Joy for recovery. Meanwhile, he began studying routes across Mt. Silver, intent on reaching its far side as soon as possible.
For behind Mt. Silver lay Silver Town—the stage of the Johto League's Silver Conference.
To compete, trainers not only had to gather eight badges but also prove themselves by crossing the perilous mountain.
Mt. Silver was infamous for its rugged cliffs and treacherous terrain, as well as the ferocity of its wild Pokémon.
Whereas Lord-tier Pokémon were rare in other regions, on Mt. Silver they were said to roam freely, dominant and untamed. Trainers climbing the mountain had to tread carefully—or risk being mauled.
For Yozora, however, climbing Mt. Silver was inevitable.
Though he could simply ride Dragonite straight over, he refused to take shortcuts. This was the final trial before the Conference, and he would face it step by step.
Besides, Suicune and Weavile awaited him there.
Especially Suicune—the Legendary Beast itself. Yozora would not miss such an opportunity.
To prepare, he called Taige Gym and had two of his old partners, Beedrill and Buzzwole, transferred over.
…
That night, in the Pokémon Center's rear garden…
The crisp chill of late autumn hung in the air.
"Come out, Beedrill, Buzzwole!" Yozora released them together.
The instant they emerged, the first thing Yozora felt wasn't nostalgia—it was pressure. Their aura was overwhelming.
Peak Elite. High Elite.
Beedrill had climbed to the peak of Elite Four strength. Buzzwole had reached high Elite.
Buzzwole's growth was astonishing.
With potential approaching that of a Tier 1 Legendary, even Beedrill could barely keep up. In less than a year, Buzzwole had nearly closed the gap.
Of course, Beedrill had Mega Evolution—a trump card Buzzwole lacked.
"Unbelievable… not even a year, and you've both grown this strong…" Yozora marveled.
Had he known, there was no need to transfer both—just one would have been enough.
"Zzz-bip!"
"Graaah!"
Both Pokémon greeted him warmly, their bond unshaken despite the time apart.
Buzzwole then stepped forward, flexing its massive arms in a familiar gesture.
Yozora instantly understood. "You want to return to Ultra Space? It's been over a year—you want to visit home, and show your strength to your kin?"
Buzzwole nodded eagerly, its eyes full of longing.
"I see. That's only natural. You can go," Yozora agreed, patting its armored chest. "But you'll have to come back in a year."
By then, he would be eighteen, ready to begin his world journey and compete in the World Championships.
For that, he would need his strongest lineup—Buzzwole, Charizard, and more.
Buzzwole thumped its chest in agreement, smiling broadly.
But for now, it remained. It wanted one more thing first: a battle against Suicune, the Legendary Beast, before returning home.
…
At dawn, Yozora departed Blackthorn City and set out toward Mt. Silver.
The mountain wasn't vast, but its slopes were treacherous and unforgiving.
Extending his Aura, Yozora quickly sensed countless wild Pokémon. Among them, one aura stood out brightest—Suicune.
It hadn't lied. It was waiting for him.
Excitement swelled in his chest.
But then he froze.
Another aura. Just as strong. Nearly equal to Suicune's.
On this mountain, Suicune's mid-Elite aura shone like a full moon among stars.
Yet this new presence was nearly as radiant, second only to Suicune.
"My god… another Legendary? Could it be Entei, Raikou—or even one of the Legendary Birds!?" Yozora's heart raced.
He had only planned to capture Suicune. But if Mt. Silver truly held multiple Legendaries, then he would claim them all.
"First things first—Suicune." Locking onto its location with Aura, Yozora pressed forward.
But he hadn't gone far before stumbling into a troop of Primeape and Mankey.
"Hohohoh-waaah!"
With snarls and howls, the apes dropped from the trees, surrounding Yozora with bared fangs and wild eyes.
Each one was strong—Elite level at minimum. Several commanders, even lords, lurked among them.
Yozora couldn't help but sigh. Truly, this was Mt. Silver.
Only extraordinary trainers could hope to cross it.
And if that was the trial… then the Silver Conference would surely be spectacular.
Indigo League Conference in Kanto, Silver Conference in Johto—they were said to be equals. But in truth, the Silver Conference's standard was always higher.
And this mountain alone ensured it.
"Looking to extort food from me? Hmph… I despise your methods."
Yozora's gaze turned cold as the snarling Primeape troop tightened its circle around him.
…
…
(End of Chapter)