Chapter 443: The Phoenix Bell and the Divine Blessing
Elder Qi!
Qi Zhurong!
Kenji's breath hitched as he looked at the man. Despite his title, Qi looked
relatively young—certainly under fifty. He had a rugged face with a light
dusting of stubble and eyes that burned with an intense, focused light. His
physique was broad and powerful, looking more like a heavy-weight boxer than a
typical bureaucrat.
Beside him stood an Emboar.
This wasn't a standard Emboar. It was draped in roiling, intense flames, and its
presence felt fundamentally different from any of its kind Kenji had seen
before. It carried the unmistakable aura of a creature that had been directly
Blessed by Ho-Oh.
[Pokémon Status]
Target: Emboar (Master Tier - Blessed) Gender: Male Level: 100 Type: Fire /
Fighting Ability: Blaze Potential: S+
Another Level 100...
Qi Zhurong was one of the current Eight Masters—the eight strongest trainers on
the entire planet. They represented the absolute peak of the training pyramid,
the "Gods" of the competitive world.
Qi Zhurong appraised Kenji with a look of genuine curiosity. "So, you're Kenji.
I've been looking forward to meeting the boy who's turned the League upside
down."
As the previous Huaxia League Champion, Qi had stepped down to let his younger
brother, Zhurong Yun, take the throne while he returned to the ancestral estate
to serve as the Guardian of the Bell Tower. He rarely concerned himself with the
outside world, but Kenji's name had become impossible to ignore.
"I'm honored," Kenji replied with a respectful nod. "I hope to one day be worthy
of a match against you as well."
"Since you're here," Elder Lie interrupted with a hospitable smile, "would you
like to see the interior of our tower? I'd be happy to give you a personal
tour."
Xun Zhurong, standing to the side, nearly choked.
The Bell Tower was sacred. There was no precedent for allowing an outsider
inside. Even for the Zhurong clan, standard religious ceremonies were held in
the courtyard. Xun remembered trying to sneak into the tower as a child; Elder
Lie had caught him and beaten his backside so thoroughly he still felt a phantom
ache when he looked at the doors.
Kenji was equally stunned. "Are you sure? I wouldn't want to intrude on a holy
site."
"Hahaha, it is no trouble at all," Elder Lie waved a hand dismissively. He
looked at Xun. "Stop staring like a Magikarp. If you want to see, come along."
Xun scrambled to follow, his heart racing. He had only been inside the tower
twice in his entire life. I'm literally getting a VIP tour just because I'm
Kenji's plus-one, he thought, suppressed excitement bubbling in his chest.
The Elder's Ninetales flicked its tails, and the massive wooden doors sealed
shut behind them.
Inside, the walls were covered in ancient, vibrant murals depicting the history
of Ho-Oh and the Legendary Beasts. The devotion of the Zhurong Clan was visible
in every brushstroke.
In the center of the first floor stood a magnificent statue. It was cast in
solid gold and stood several meters high, depicting Raikou in a proud, defiant
pounce. The craftsmanship was so detailed that the storm clouds around the
beast's paws looked like they were actually swirling.
Kenji's inner accountant did a quick calculation. A solid gold statue of that
size... between the raw materials and the master-level artistry, that's a
ten-figure asset just sitting in the lobby.
"HA-JIA!"
Before they could reach the stairs, a blur of red and orange intercepted them.
An Infernape landed in their path, its teeth bared in a warning snarl.
[Pokémon Status]
Target: Infernape (Master Tier - Blessed) Gender: Male Level: 100 Type: Fire /
Fighting Ability: Blaze Potential: S+
Kenji's eyelid twitched. Level 100. Again.
He was becoming numb to it. He had been on the summit for less than thirty
minutes and had already encountered three Pokémon at the absolute ceiling of the
world.
The Infernape glared at Kenji and Xun, its posture suggesting it was ready to
physically eject them from the premises.
"Infernape, stand down," Elder Lie said, his voice firm. "This young man is a
guest 'Acknowledged by the Phoenix.' Show some respect."
The Pokémon's expression shifted instantly. The aggression vanished, replaced by
a look of wide-eyed clarity.
"HA-QIA…"
To Kenji's utter disbelief, the "Rage Monkey" let out a soft, apologetic trill
and performed a deep, human-like bow toward him.
"Human life is a flickering candle compared to a Pokémon," Elder Lie explained.
"Especially those blessed by the Lord of the Skies. Their lifespans are extended
far beyond the natural order. This Infernape belonged to one of our ancestors.
Since his trainer's passing over a century ago, he has remained here as a
permanent guardian."
Kenji nodded, mesmerized. Usually, when a high-level trainer died, their Pokémon
were released back into the wild or passed to a successor. But these creatures
were different; they were disciples of a faith. They chose to stay and worship
the God that had granted them their power.
"Go on, go play," Elder Lie said, waving the monkey away.
The Infernape gave Kenji one last curious look before leaping up the rafters
toward the higher floors.
As they ascended, Kenji saw more statues—a Suicune carved from a single, massive
sapphire and an Entei wrought from blood-red ruby. On every second or third
floor, they encountered another Level 100 sentinel.
Magmortar. Darmanitan. Chandelure. Arcanine.
By the time they reached the 12th floor, Kenji was mentally exhausted. He had
seen more Master-tier Pokémon in ten minutes than most trainers saw in a
lifetime. He realized now that if Mewtwo ever decided to attack Mt. Cinder, it
wouldn't be a massacre—it would be a war. The Zhurong Clan's "Home Defense" was
essentially a private army of Level 100 gods.
On the 14th floor, they saw the Infernape again. It had clearly run ahead to
warn the other guardians that a "Friend of the Phoenix" was coming. The
subsequent sentinels they met were remarkably docile, some even nodding in
greeting as the group passed.
But as they crossed the threshold of the 17th floor, the atmosphere changed. The
air became heavy, static-charged, and intensely hot.
Kenji stopped dead in his tracks.
Standing in a perfect row in the center of the massive chamber were three
entities.
Entei. Raikou. Suicune.
These weren't gold, sapphire, or ruby. They were breathing.
[Pokémon Status]
Target: Entei / Raikou / Suicune (Legendary Tier) Gender: None Level: 99
Ability: Pressure Potential: S+
Kenji's skin prickled. These were descendants or avatars of the original trio.
While they were "only" Level 99, their Pressure was leagues beyond anything Yuna
Su's Zapdos had projected. If Zapdos was a high school athlete, these three were
Olympic veterans. They sat at the very edge of divinity.
"Lord Entei, Lord Raikou, Lord Suicune," Elder Lie said, bowing with profound
reverence.
The Entei in the center inclined its head. A deep, resonant voice echoed
directly into the minds of the trainers.
"Human... you are welcome in this place."
Kenji mirrored the Elder's bow, his heart pounding. Behind the three beasts
stood a final statue—one of Ho-Oh itself, carved from a material that seemed to
glow with its own internal light.
The beasts moved aside, returning to their meditative vigil around the statue,
signaling that the guests could proceed to the final level.
The 18th Floor.
The top of the tower was open to the elements, the wind whistling through the
red-timbered eaves. It was empty save for a single object suspended in the
center of the room.
A cluster of intricate, golden chimes. The Phoenix Bell.
Legend said that if the bells rang, Ho-Oh would descend from the heavens.
Kenji stared at it, unable to look away. To his eyes, it looked like a simple
antique, yet the air around it shimmered with a golden haze.
"Would you like to try?" Elder Lie asked softly. "If a Pokémon touches the Bell
and it rings, it means they have been granted the Phoenix's Favor. They will
receive a Divine Blessing."
Kenji looked at the Elder, then at the Bell. "You're... you're letting me try
for a blessing?"
Elder Lie smiled. "The Three Beasts allowed you to enter the 18th floor. That is
permission enough. The question is: which of your partners is ready to stand
before the Flame?"
♧♧♧
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