"Did it go...alright this time?"
Fang Yuan looked at the Monferno lying in the hospital bed and smiled, "It seems this time you'll be fully recovered in just a week."
"That means... your physical condition has greatly improved."
"..." Monferno.
That made sense, but why did it feel like there was something off about it to Monferno?
In the Hidden Realm of Spectral Capital.
Monferno, who kept exploring the Thunder Flame Mode and was battle-hardened, further improved its control over the Thunder Flame Mode.
After leaving the Spirit World, it had reached the point of being able to open the second gate and was touching upon the third.
Rotom had divided the process of compressing and merging the Intersected Force into eight stages, like a series of doors that could unlock Monferno's potential incrementally as they opened.
At present, Monferno was strong enough to forcibly open the third door.
However, just like the initial Thunder Flame Mode, it would suffer backlash from the Intersected Force.
"Woo ah~~" Monferno let out a frustrated cry. Although it was just a week, would it be able to make it to the World Championship selection in time?
The ultimate victory in Fang Yuan's tournament had been a huge incentive for Monferno.
And even though it had won first place, Monferno had no intention of slacking off because it knew it had relied on external help... Monferno longed for its own strength.
If it missed the World Championship selection, along with numerous opportunities for battle training, wouldn't that be a real shame?
"Don't worry, the selection will last a long while. If it's just a week of cooldown, you'll definitely get the chance to battle against the strong," Fang Yuan said with a smile.
Cooldown...
Monferno pondered the word; it did seem appropriate and sounded much better than 'lying around'.
"So, just focus on recuperating. Plus, this time you've got company... with the other Pokemon," Fang Yuan continued.
Then, Fang Yuan turned to look at the bed beside Monferno, where Ditto lay... this kid was also pretty miserable.
Ditto: ˙﹏˙
The Inferno Shock Turbo Guards, which Fang Yuan and Rotom had researched, were indeed potent. Although as an inanimate object the usage cost was quite high—while they could allow Monferno to use the Thunder Flame Mode with no side effects and have nearly top-tier power, it was easily damaged and irreparable. If that was the case with just the first gate, using the guards to open the second would inevitably damage them.
But the Inferno Shock Turbo Guards that Ditto transformed into were much more practical.
Not only did it perfectly replicate the properties of the guards, capable of controlling the most basic Intersected Force, but it also had the potential for growth.
As Ditto itself grew stronger, so too would the Inferno Shock Turbo Guards' ability to endure damage. Such growth-capable Inferno Shock Turbo Guards could help Monferno continue to develop and open up to the fourth, fifth... and even the eighth gates of the Eight doors of Yin and Yang, eventually mastering the Intersected Force to perfection.
But... that was in the future.
For now, Ditto's physical strength could only bear the third gate of the Eight doors of Yin and Yang, and that too at its limit. After helping Monferno compress the Thunder Flame power, it, like Monferno, would end up overtaxed and significantly injured.
Compared to Monferno, though, Ditto was somewhat better off. Due to the special material properties after transformation, it wasn't the primary target of the Intersected Force's impact. With some proper care, it could recover after just a day or two of rest.
And Monferno was quite warm-hearted too. Seeing Ditto injured following its lead, it gave all its first-place prize money to Ditto to do with as it pleased. To this, Fang Yuan naturally did not mind; as long as the two were happy, that was what mattered.
Monferno: (﹁﹁)
...........
After Monferno promised Fang Yuan that it would strive to recover soon, Fang Yuan went out to the balcony and saw the various Pokemon in the backyard working hard at self-cultivation.
The third Fang Yuan Team Championship had indeed impacted every Pokemon significantly.
Monferno's progress was evident to all Pokemon.
The Self-detonating Magnetic Monster might have thought it could lose, but even if it did, it would have been to Super Gengar, not Monferno.
As for Glutton, it never imagined that after Mega Evolution, it would lose to Monferno.
Super Gengar's strength was indeed formidable. Infernape, with top-tier physical strength and breaking through to the top tier domain in both its types, had its Rage enhanced under the influence of Thunder and Lightning. It had become stronger than ordinary Rage, gradually shifting towards Intersecting Flames; still, Monferno's victory was hard-won.
But no matter the process, Glutton eventually lost.
Both the Self-detonating Magnetic Monster and Glutton reflected on themselves.
On the part of the Self-detonating Magnetic Monster, after gaining two Gear child to aid in its Charge practice, it had relaxed in other areas of training. However, alerted by this loss, it started to emulate Monferno and Ditto, undertaking various devilish training regimens with the two Gear child in tow.
The slightly inflated Glutton, post-Mega Evolution, realized that Mega Evolution wasn't invincible. And after all, it was only through Fang Yuan's power that it could perform Mega Evolution. If it didn't strive harder, it would not do justice to the power Fang Yuan had bestowed upon it.
The change in Glutton pleased Fang Yuan a lot; now, on the stage of the World Championship, perhaps a fully powered, perfectly mastered White Ghost of Mega Evolution would be seen.
Besides, Milotic and Dragonite also silently pushed themselves harder.
As for Eevee, its third-to-last result this time was a big shock. Although the Armed Magnetic Monster and Monferno both relied on the power of other Pokemon, effectively facing three-on-one and two-on-one respectively, and Glutton was strengthened only by relying on two Evolutionary Stones and Fang Yuan's assistance, Eevee was nonetheless determined...
"Without reaching the top, don't touch the phone!"
During the Fang Yuan Championship, Eevee ranked fourth, but undeniably, in one-on-one matchups, if Fang Yuan, the Trainer, isn't counted, Sun Eevee is still the strongest. Eevee can lose in team battles, but in the upcoming World Championship, Eevee wants to become Fang Yuan's ultimate trump card.
Eevee is set on becoming the first of Fang Yuan's Team to fully step into the top tier domain.
Without reaching the top, don't touch the phone. That resolution, for Eevee, could not be more significant...
Desiring to remain Fang Yuan's most trustworthy Pokemon for handling the most critical battles, Eevee this time really dug its heels in.
Fang Yuan did not disturb Eevee, touched his nose, and although he had a serious addiction to the internet, he saw that Eevee was still very concerned about its own status. After three Fang Yuan Championships, Eevee was the only one that had always spent a small part of its prize money on gifts for Fang Yuan. The gifts were simple, but Fang Yuan was very content.
Actually… eschewing the phone... Fang Yuan thought was unnecessary. An occasional mix of work and leisure could be very good, and it also provided a chance to practice multitasking. However, observing Eevee's determination, it seemed resolved to engage in meditation 24/7, even splitting into multiple avatars for extreme meditation!
Even Glutton, the laziest member of the team, and Eevee were starting to work hard. What more could Fang Yuan say...
"I'm indeed excellent. Hosting the Fang Yuan Championship was a stroke of genius. Maybe this is what being a genius Trainer is all about."
"Next, I too must start the practice of the 'Power of the Heart.' First, let's start with researching Key Stones, Super Stones..."
Just as Fang Yuan was starting to feel a bit smug, a phone call suddenly came through...
Upon seeing the caller ID, Fang Yuan immediately knew what it was about.
It was none other than... the start of the selection for the World Championship.
.........
At this very moment.
The second team member selection for the World Championship Hua Nation team is in its final preparatory stage and will officially begin the day after tomorrow.
While Fang Yuan was hosting the "Fang Yuan Championship," all kinds of forces were paying close attention to this selection. The second team selection, occurring every four years, was akin to the "Minor King Tournament."
In the Road of Champions building, a young man with an intimidating presence and an air of Haki about him was flipping through documents in a room, asking, "Is this all?"
"Yes, these are all the Trainers participating in the selection this time," replied a tall female secretary standing in front of a desk.
The young man nodded and picked out a few profile cards. The people on these cards held special identities: Daoist Successor of Evergreen Dojo... one of the former Four Heavenly Kings... daughter of the chairman of the Dawn Group, and so forth. These individuals were well-known and powerful Trainers in the Hua Nation Trainer Domain.
To Yun Kai, only such individuals were worthy of becoming teammates of the current Four Heavenly Kings and the Champion.