Although Aaron's hair had turned golden and his body was wrapped in golden light, Jian recognized him at a glance.
His pupils contracted.
A terrifying thought struck him.
Could all these Pokémon be Aaron's?
Once that idea appeared, Jian could not shake it. A memory suddenly surfaced in his mind.
...
At an ordinary barbecue restaurant, Brutus and Jian sat together, eating grilled meat and drinking beer.
Brutus drained a large glass of ice-cold beer, let out a satisfied sigh, then said,
"Jian, I'm heading to the border tomorrow."
"The Chairman said something happened over there, so I have to leave tonight."
Jian paused slightly, then asked with concern,
"Something happened at the border?"
"Is it dangerous?"
Brutus picked up a grilled oyster, grinned, and said,
"What kind of danger haven't I seen before?"
"It's nothing. Just a bunch of clowns stirring up trouble."
"They picked Hualis's border of all places. Sounds like they're looking to die."
Brutus clearly had no patience for foreign forces that only knew how to play dirty.
"And the Donovan Group incident still needs to be investigated to the end."
"Anyone who dares mess with Aaron is messing with me."
"If I weren't busy, I'd go there myself and twist those bastards' heads off."
"Damn, just thinking about it pisses me off."
Brutus downed another glass of cold beer, irritation clear in his voice.
Jian shot him an annoyed look.
"So you can protect people after all."
"Funny. When I got beaten up and asked you to back me up, you beat me up too."
"Then you told me to stop being useless and win my own fights."
"Great family support, honestly."
Brutus burst out laughing.
"You really hold grudges, huh?"
"That was ten years ago. I can't believe you still remember."
Then his smile faded slightly.
"Aaron is different."
Jian became quiet.
Brutus looked down at the beer in his glass and said,
"I saw something in his eyes."
"Calm."
"Not the fake kind people put on to look tough. Real calm."
"The kind that makes you feel like no matter what happens, he already believes he can handle it."
Brutus's expression grew serious.
"Calm like that comes from confidence."
"And that kid has absolute confidence in himself."
There was genuine admiration in Brutus's eyes.
Jian could tell his cousin truly thought highly of Aaron.
"And..."
Brutus's tone shifted.
"I have a feeling."
"One day, Aaron is going to become an extraordinary Trainer."
"No."
"He definitely will."
"Hualis might not even be a big enough stage for him."
Brutus had drunk quite a bit by then. His face was slightly flushed, and there was a faint haze of alcohol in his eyes.
He lifted his head and looked toward the night sky.
"His stage is out there."
Jian looked surprised, half convinced and half skeptical.
"Bro, is Aaron really that impressive?"
"Hahaha!"
Brutus burst out laughing.
"When you meet him, you'll understand."
"Alright, I'm leaving."
"You're paying, by the way."
Brutus stood, tossed Jian a lazy wave, then released Heracross and jumped onto its back.
"Hey!"
Jian stood up after him.
"Be careful out there!"
Brutus looked back from above with a grin.
"I'll be fine."
"When I get back, I'll bring Aaron with me. Drinks are on you next time too."
"You bastard—!"
Before Jian could finish, Heracross beat its wings and carried Brutus into the night sky.
His laughter drifted back through the air until both he and Heracross disappeared into the distance.
...
Jian came back to himself and looked at the figure standing atop the giant dragon.
"Brutus..."
A strange light appeared in his eyes.
"I think I understand what you meant now."
His voice lowered.
"That kid is going places."
"And if Hualis has someone like him..."
"Maybe we really are heading into a new era."
...
"Chief, what do we do now?"
"Should we go down and help?"
The officer beside Jian asked.
"Help?"
Jian glanced at him irritably.
"With our strength, are you sure we'd be helping and not just getting in the way?"
"Stay here for now."
"If anything breaks through their line, we all gang up on it."
"Yes, Chief!"
The officers answered at once.
...
Meanwhile, inside the underground chamber, Aotum stared at the surveillance screens.
His teeth were clenched so tightly they almost cracked.
On the screens, Aaron's Pokémon were tearing through the army he had spent years building.
"Damn it... damn it!"
"Where the hell did this guy come from?"
"What are those Pokémon supposed to be!?"
"Not a single one of them is normal!"
Aotum's face twisted with rage.
He slammed his fist against the console, eyes bloodshot as he cursed like a madman.
"This is bullshit!"
...