Ho-Oh, Suicune, and Raikou did not stay at Mount Tensei for long.
None of them were the type to laze around sleeping in magma all day like Groudon. As members of Ho-Oh's Guard, they each still had their own missions to fulfill.
And so, the day after their return, the Pokemon prepared to leave Mount Tensei once more.
"Ho-Oh, you're all leaving?" Fuyuki felt a pang of reluctance.
Ho-Oh nodded gently, its entire body radiating a rainbow-like brilliance.
"There is no need to worry. Entei will remain here to look after you on our behalf."
Raikou shot Entei an irritated look: "It's agreed then. Next time, it's my turn to stay at Mount Tensei and watch the kid."
Entei: "...Fine."
Raikou: "Hmph."
Suicune opened its mouth as if wanting to say something, but in the end said nothing at all. It simply gazed tenderly at the human child.
Marshadow, on the other hand, didn't need to leave. It would stay at Mount Tensei alongside Entei until Ho-Oh selected the next Rainbow Hero.
Only then would it depart Mount Tensei to go guide them.
Ho-Oh paid no mind to its subordinates' chatter and continued speaking to Fuyuki:
"When I return next time, I shall take you to the human world again."
If it brought little Fuyuki to the human world a few more times, he could gather even more energy.
And then, Fuyuki might be able to conjure those miraculous candies once more.
"Then I'll wait right here for Ho-Oh to come back!" Fuyuki said obediently.
Ho-Oh gave him a gentle nod, then spread its wings and flew away, leaving behind nothing but a beautiful rainbow hanging in the clear sky.
Seeing Ho-Oh depart, Suicune and Raikou also prepared to leave.
"Bye, Raikou! Bye, Suicune!" Fuyuki waved goodbye to the two Pokemon.
Suicune gave him a warm, gentle nod.
Though Raikou was annoyed that Entei got to stay behind and look after Little One this time, it was Ho-Oh's decision. There was nothing it could do about it. It could only bid Fuyuki a proper farewell before turning away alongside Suicune, the two heading off in different directions.
In the blink of an eye, the once-lively Mount Tensei was left with only Fuyuki, Entei, and Marshadow.
The sudden quiet took some getting used to.
"Let's go home," Entei said.
"Mm."
Fuyuki followed Entei back inside.
Marshadow, as always, slipped into the shadows.
Fuyuki hadn't forgotten the task at hand.
While Entei lay resting nearby, he opened the system shop, selected Rare Candy, and locked the target onto Entei.
Exchange!
Clatter clatter clatter!
The next moment, accompanied by a cascade of rattling sounds, candy after candy wrapped in blue foil appeared out of thin air, tumbling onto the carpet and forming a small mountain of sweets.
His 2.7 million Shock Points were instantly drained, leaving barely 30,000 remaining.
Gazing at the sudden spectacle before it, Entei froze.
"Little One, what is this?"
"Entei, eat up!" Fuyuki picked up a candy, peeled off the wrapper, and held it out to Entei.
Entei opened its mouth and cooperatively ate the candy.
At first, it assumed this was just ordinary food that Little One had conjured up to share.
But the instant the candy touched its tongue, Entei's entire being froze in place.
An incomparable sensation surged through its body. Its energy, muscles, bones, everything was transforming at an utterly unbelievable speed.
It... was getting stronger!
After a long moment, Entei finally finished digesting the Rare Candy. It opened its golden-red eyes wide and stared at the human child in astonishment.
"Little One, this is..."
"When Ho-Oh took me to the human world before, while those humans were watching me, special energy gathered around me. And then I was able to conjure these candies!" Fuyuki had long since prepared his explanation.
"I see."
Realization dawned on Entei. It looked at the pile of candies before it and immediately grasped their significance.
Something this precious... how could it possibly keep them all for itself?
Fuyuki naturally read Entei's thoughts. He shook his head: "These are all for you. Raikou, Suicune, Ho-Oh, and Marshadow... next time I gather more energy, I'll conjure candies for them too!"
In truth, Fuyuki had previously tried exchanging a Rare Candy for a regular Pokemon and then giving it to Ho-Oh.
The result was that the system, in order to prevent him from exploiting this kind of bug, caused that Rare Candy to lose its effect entirely.
This meant that Rare Candies exchanged for Entei couldn't be used on other Pokemon. Even if they were, there would be no effect whatsoever.
"Little One..."
Was it the first one Little One had thought of?
Entei was deeply moved. This time, it didn't refuse.
Entei ate the candies one by one.
Its body and the energy within began transforming at an utterly incredible pace.
Its golden-red eyes grew ever more commanding. A blazing divine aura radiated from its entire being, and a terrifying pressure emanated outward, as though one were standing before a mountain itself.
The color of Entei's fur grew ever more pure, burning like living flame.
When Entei consumed the very last Rare Candy, its entire body had undergone a complete metamorphosis.
The pressure it exuded was in no way inferior to Ho-Oh's.
Fuyuki checked the Rare Candy price. If he were to exchange again, it would now cost 88,000 Shock Points per candy.
This meant that Entei's current overall strength, if measured by in-game levels, had probably reached Lv87.
Several levels higher than even Ho-Oh!
With this, they had nothing to fear even against the strongest humans in the world.
Once Entei, Suicune, Raikou, Marshadow, and Ho-Oh were all maxed out, he could single-handedly take on all of Team Rocket.
Invincible!
"Entei, when I grow up, I want to go out on adventures with all of you!" Fuyuki blurted out.
Entei paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded: "When that time comes, I'll be right there with you."
Though that Raikou would definitely try to fight it for Little One's company.
With that thought, Entei couldn't help but ask: "Little One, when the time comes, if Raikou or Suicune also wants to travel with you, who would you choose?"
Hearing this, Fuyuki blanked for a moment.
After a pause, he couldn't help but ask: "Can't we all go together?"
Entei shook its head: "There are many weak Pokemon in this world that need us to protect them. Only by splitting up can the three of us make the most of our individual strength."
Fuyuki understood. What Entei was saying was that if all three of them traveled with him, it would be a waste of manpower.
But... choosing just one?
Was this his very own "pick your starter" moment?
Other trainers: Lv5 Charmander, Lv5 Squirtle, Lv5 Bulbasaur.
Him: Lv100 Entei, Lv100 Suicune, Lv100 Raikou.
"..."
The mental image was too beautiful. Fuyuki simply couldn't fathom it.
But as for Entei's question, his heart had long since known the answer.
"I want to go with Entei!"
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You can read up to chapter 86 and more soon on patreon.com/NiaXD.