"Banette?"
Putting aside whether a Legendary Pokémon claiming it wasn't good at battling was believable or not, Chen Mo glanced at the Banette being restrained by Gengar before turning back toward Meloetta with a strange expression.
"Are you sure?"
Unlike the ever-composed Chen Mo, Banette had been teetering on the edge of losing control from the very beginning.
It was extremely dissatisfied with Meloetta for taking over You You's body.
If Gengar hadn't been desperately holding it back the whole time, it probably would have already charged in and attacked.
Under those circumstances, would Banette really listen to Meloetta?
Honestly, Chen Mo had his doubts.
"No need to worry. There's merely been a small misunderstanding between us."
Meloetta slowly approached Banette while carrying You You in midair.
That action nearly gave Gengar a heart attack.
While desperately trying to restrain the increasingly agitated Banette, Gengar kept frantically signaling at Meloetta.
"Gengar!"
(Don't come any closer!)
Eventually, Gengar couldn't hold back anymore and shouted directly at her.
At the same time, it began drawing upon its own energy to further suppress Banette, which looked ready to explode at any moment.
Only then did Meloetta finally stop.
Gengar immediately looked relieved.
At last, this one was willing to listen to ghostly advice!
Unfortunately, before it could celebrate for long, Meloetta curiously looked Gengar up and down with her emerald eyes, gave it a warm smile—
—and continued moving forward anyway.
Gengar instantly lost all hope.
Forget it.
Let the world burn.
At that moment, Chen Mo's voice sounded from nearby.
"Gengar, let go."
"Gengar?"
Gengar whipped around toward him, eyes filled with urgency and confusion.
If it released Banette now, things would definitely spiral out of control!
"Let go."
"Trust me."
Chen Mo's voice remained calm.
Only then did Gengar realize something unusual.
Normally, Chen Mo always looked directly at whoever he was speaking to.
But now, although he was talking to Gengar, his eyes were fixed upward.
Instinctively, Gengar followed his gaze.
Then it froze.
The flourishing golden tree above them had extended countless golden branches downward.
Like living creatures, they slowly twisted through the air toward Banette.
"Gengar..."
For some reason, Gengar suddenly felt at peace.
Slowly, it released its grip.
The moment its restraints vanished, Banette shot forward like an arrow released from a bowstring.
But before it could travel very far, the descending golden branches wrapped around its body.
Gently.
Patiently.
They completely cocooned it.
"Laa~ la la la~ la la~"
Meloetta clasped her hands together.
This time, she didn't borrow You You's voice.
Instead, she opened her own mouth and softly sang an unfamiliar melody.
The heavenly song instantly filled the entire stadium.
And through the broadcast, it spread across the nation.
It's beautiful...
The same thought arose simultaneously in countless hearts.
The massive stadium fell silent.
Not a single voice could be heard besides Meloetta's song.
Everyone seemed afraid of disturbing the sacred moment.
Or perhaps they had simply been captivated by the warmth carried within the melody.
One by one, people closed their eyes and listened quietly.
Time seemed to lose all meaning.
Perhaps it lasted a long while.
Perhaps only an instant.
Then the song ended.
Satisfied yet reluctant expressions appeared on countless faces.
"This is simply..."
At the commentary desk, Lu Ming stared at the green figure displayed on the giant screen, unable to find words.
He wasn't a music expert.
But a performance capable of making tens of thousands of people sit in complete silence just to savor every note—
That was extraordinary.
At that moment, he felt calling Meloetta the deity of music and melody would not be an exaggeration.
It was incredible.
Chen Mo slowly opened his eyes.
Meloetta's song had calmed his heart completely.
His opinion of her rose significantly.
He could also sense that many spectators who had previously feared Meloetta's ability to control humans had quietly changed their views.
"What a fascinating power..."
Chen Mo gazed at Meloetta thoughtfully.
At the same time, he began considering which Pokémon he should send out.
If Meloetta was going this far, she clearly had confidence in resolving Banette's hostility toward her.
Then Meloetta spoke through You You once more.
"Ideal Hero, there's no need to hold back."
"If possible, please use your strongest power."
"This child called Xiao Ji is a wonderful vessel."
"Although I am not skilled in battle, I do possess enough ability to temporarily fill in the part that is missing from it."
"So please don't underestimate it."
"Fight with everything you have."
"Otherwise, defeat may be waiting for you."
She smiled gently.
"A vessel?"
Chen Mo paused.
Then he understood.
Back in Lavender Town, Banette had absorbed an enormous amount of negative emotions and entered a berserk state.
If Banette's normal strength was compared to a container holding two hundred milliliters of water, then that power had forcibly expanded it into a five-hundred-milliliter container.
Afterward, Banette vented and released the excess energy.
The water returned to two hundred milliliters.
But the container itself had already become larger.
One day, Banette might naturally grow strong enough to fill that expanded capacity.
But what Meloetta was suggesting now was obvious.
She intended to forcibly restore Banette to that peak state.
"A complete Banette, huh..."
A smile appeared on Chen Mo's face.
"Fine."
"That's exactly what I wanted."
"Thank you."
Meloetta gracefully performed a lady-like curtsy.
"No need to be so formal."
Chen Mo waved dismissively.
Then he seemed to remember something.
Looking toward the cocooned Banette, he said,
"Banette took quite a bit of damage fighting Electabuzz earlier. I can help—"
Before he could finish, the golden branches withdrew.
Banette was revealed inside, eyes closed as though sleeping peacefully.
"It seems that won't be necessary."
Using his Eye of Insight, Chen Mo could clearly see that Banette's condition had been fully restored.
He looked back toward Meloetta.
"So, shall we begin?"
"Mm."
Meloetta nodded.
The Battlefield
When Banette woke up again, it appeared remarkably calm.
There was no longer any sign of it wanting to attack Meloetta.
According to Meloetta, while Banette had been recovering, she had used her powers to facilitate a conversation between Banette and You You.
Since Banette obeyed You You completely, it naturally settled down.
"Gengar..."
Watching Meloetta take her place where a trainer normally stood, Gengar once again wore its familiar goofy grin.
This was a strategy it understood very well.
That's right.
This battle would be commanded by Meloetta.
A Pokémon commanding another Pokémon.
Just like when Gengar had directed Gible during battle.
Meloetta had already explained beforehand that she wasn't actually experienced as a trainer.
Although empowering Banette was within her capabilities, this was effectively her first time taking the trainer's role.
She found the experience interesting.
But she admitted she possessed very little commanding ability.
As a result, Banette would mostly be fighting according to its own instincts.
"The emotions that connect trainers and Pokémon always possess a mysterious power."
"I was able to recover so quickly largely because of the tournament you created."
"Thank you very much."
Before the battle began, Meloetta casually revealed another important piece of information.
"It's nothing."
"That credit belongs to trainers like You You and the others, not me."
Chen Mo waved it off.
Yet Meloetta still bowed solemnly.
"Then let us begin, Ideal Hero."
"I hope to witness the bond between you and your partner in its fullest form."
"I will be watching eagerly."
"My pleasure."
Chen Mo took a deep breath and looked toward Pikachu on his shoulder.
Pikachu immediately understood.
Without hesitation, it leapt onto the battlefield and faced Banette across the arena.
Meloetta tilted her head slightly.
She had actually expected Chen Mo to send out that unusual Gengar.
Instead, he had chosen Pikachu.
"This is my very first partner."
"And the companion I trust most."
Chen Mo looked toward Pikachu.
At the same moment, Pikachu glanced back.
Its eyes were unwavering.
"I see..."
Meloetta said nothing further.
Then Marshadow's childish voice suddenly echoed within Chen Mo's mind.
"Are you really planning to use that power?"
"Right now, only your identity as the Ideal Hero has been exposed."
"Wasn't your original concern that revealing that power would be dangerous?"
"So that was my old way of thinking."
Chen Mo answered inwardly.
Looking up, he saw countless spectators and trainers staring at him.
"Since this is the final battle."
"Since I already promised Meloetta I'd use my strongest strength."
"Now seems like the perfect time."
"It'll also serve as a useful warning."
"I don't understand humans."
Marshadow shook its head within the shadows.
But Chen Mo merely smiled.
"Besides, Marshadow."
"Aren't you here?"
"Me?"
Marshadow looked up through the shadows toward Chen Mo's back.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"If something dangerous happens to me in the real world..."
"You'd protect me, wouldn't you?"
"..."
Marshadow fell silent.
A long moment later, it answered with obvious awkwardness.
"If your sincerity is sufficient, like this time..."
"I might consider it."
"Consider it."
"Don't misunderstand. I haven't agreed. I'll merely consider it!"
Chen Mo chuckled softly.
"No problem."
"You know I'm always sincere."
"..."
When no further response came, Chen Mo gently grasped the pendant on his chest.
Then he quietly asked another question.
"Marshadow."
"You won't be leaving me anytime soon, right?"
"..."
Marshadow froze.
It lowered its head and looked at the Rainbow Wing hidden within its body.
Then it replied softly:
"I am the Shadow Guide appointed by Lord Ho-Oh for the future Rainbow Hero."
"Until that hero appears."
"Until the trial begins."
"I won't leave you."
"Because..."
"There aren't any Pokéblocks I like anywhere else."
A smile appeared on Chen Mo's face.
"Then..."
"Thank you, Marshadow."
Meanwhile, throughout the stadium, everyone waited in breathless anticipation for the battle to begin.
Then they noticed something strange.
On the giant screen, Chen Mo suddenly closed his eyes.
One hand pressed firmly against his chest.
"What's Teacher Mo doing?"
"No idea. Is he praying before the battle?"
"Come on. Anyone who's watched his streams knows he isn't the praying type."
"Then what's—wait!"
"WHAT IS THAT?!"
Through the broadcast cameras, everyone saw it.
Brilliant azure lightning began emerging from beneath Chen Mo's hand.
Crackling arcs wrapped around his body.
Then more appeared.
And more.
Until his entire figure was engulfed in blue electricity.
"That's—?!"
Both commentators froze.
Even Zhou Yichuan, who had seen more than most, had never witnessed anything like this.
Meloetta's blessing had been mysterious.
Most spectators couldn't even perceive its effects.
But this?
This was visible to everyone.
Azure lightning coursed around Chen Mo's body.
For a moment, he looked less like a human and more like a god.
Then—
The young man on the screen slowly opened his eyes.
"Let's begin, Pikachu!"
In an instant, countless streams of azure electricity surged toward Pikachu on the battlefield.
The sight was absolutely breathtaking.
🌟 60+ Chapters Ahead!
👉 [email protected]/plotwired
💬 10 Reviews = 🎁 Bonus Chapter
🔷 100 Power Stones = ⚡ New Chapter
🔥 The more you support, the faster the story grows!