The white, transparent ice surface covers the entire cave. Gary huffed in the cold air as he walked on the mirror-like ground.
"This floor~ it's hard not to slip…" Looking at Lorelei in front of him, Gary couldn't help but imagine the scene of this elegant lady falling down—
"It's fine; I'm already used to it." With sharp high heels, Lorelei stood firm as a mountain, clearly no chance to see what was under her skirt...
As they walked deeper into the cave, a massive block of solid ice appeared before Gary.
"This is it. My Glaceon evolved because it touched this ice rock," Lorelei said, pointing at the giant ice block.
"Alright, now it's their turn." Gary took out his Poké Balls. "Nidoking, Nidoqueen, Rhydon, I'm counting on you!"
"Roar!!" The demolition trio requested to battle!
"Come on, break this ice for me." Gary pointed at the huge ice block in front of him.
Rhydon nodded stupidly, revving up its power, and charged directly at it with its drill head!
Nidoking and Nidoqueen simultaneously raised their right hands, white energy coalescing as they unleashed a powerful attack!
Boom~ Ice shards flew everywhere as the massive ice block shattered into pieces. Gary crouched down and rummaged through the debris until a diamond-shaped Ice Core appeared in his hand.
"This is it." Gary smiled.
"Great! Finally, it wasn't a wasted trip." Lorelei gently brushed her hair aside and smiled like water.
After putting away the Ice Core, Gary prepared to leave.
"By the way, with such favorable natural conditions here, why haven't we seen any wild Ice-type Pokémon?" Gary wondered.
Lorelei looked toward the innermost part of the cave. "Because the owner here might not like other Pokémon appearing."
Suddenly, a storm whipped up around them, with blue ice crystals falling from the sky.
Gary couldn't help but tighten his down jacket. "What's going on?"
Lorelei took out a Poké Ball and stood protectively in front of Gary. "Be careful; don't show any hostility; otherwise, it could be very troublesome."
"Oh~" A cold cry echoed as a bird Pokémon with crystal-like blue tail feathers appeared before them!
"Articuno!" Gary exclaimed. "Isn't this supposed to live in the Orange Islands?"
Lorelei calmly adjusted her glasses. "The Orange Islands are just its public domain; it is also a deity of ice. This one is its mate."
Gary asked somewhat relievedly, "Then this one shouldn't be too strong, right?"
Lorelei's gaze turned icy. "Well, this one is at least a peak Level 2 deity…"
Boom! The ice-blue divine light spread out as Lorelei paused her tone. "Alright, it's already a Level 1 deity…"
"What does it want?" Gary tightened his grip on Charizard's Poké Ball.
"I don't know~" Lorelei frowned and stepped forward. "Articuno, we mean no harm; please don't get angry!"
"Oh!" A gust of icy wind blew in; Lorelei immediately covered her face with her hand.
The expected bone-chilling wind didn't arrive; when Lorelei lifted her head, she saw Gary's back.
"It's not something a gentleman should do to hurt a lady. I'll handle the rest," Gary said with a smile, his bangs standing upright from the cold—
"But~" Lorelei still wanted to argue uneasily.
"It's fine~ I'm blessed by the earth," Gary stepped forward confidently as green light began to rise around him.
The lush and gentle power of nature made Articuno slightly calm down its anger.
"Articuno, why did you suddenly attack us?" Gary asked seriously.
"Oh!" Articuno raised its wings and cried angrily.
"You say… you sensed the aura of a divine beast?" Gary was taken aback.
Buzz~ The silver feather in his pocket emitted a faint glow and floated up.
Gary suddenly realized that it was Lugia's feather that made Articuno think its territory was being invaded.
"Oh~" Articuno flapped its wings excitedly.
The general meaning was that while its partner was away from home, it intruded into another's house...
Who could stand that…
"Um, can we leave now?" Gary hurriedly stuffed the feather back into his backpack.
"Oh!" To his surprise, Articuno not only didn't calm down but became even more aggressive.
"I understand; you want to see what kind of abilities Lugia favors in a trainer, right?" Gary frowned tightly. Today couldn't end peacefully.
Articuno nodded, its dissatisfaction growing stronger in its gaze.
"Sister Lorelei, you wait for me back," Gary said seriously.
"What? No way!" Lorelei immediately rejected Gary's request.
Facing an angry divine beast, even a genius like Gary could be torn to shreds!
"Trust me!" Turning back around, Gary looked earnestly at Lorelei.
Articuno had already assumed an attacking posture but hadn't struck yet.
Clearly, its target was only Gary alone.
This rebellious Articuno clearly wanted to go against the silver warrior.
Unlike the three legendary beasts' admiration for Ho-Oh, the three birds' disdain for Lugia—the great deity of sea and currents—was utterly unabashed...
Seeing Gary's determined gaze made Lorelei clench her hands tightly against her chest. "Gary, you must come back safely!"
Gary smiled slightly. "Of course!"
"Okay then; I'll wait for you!" After giving Articuno a fierce glare, Lorelei spoke loudly. "If Gary doesn't come back, even if I have to blow up this island, I'll make you pay!"
Leaving those harsh words behind, Lorelei turned and left while glancing back three times as she walked toward the cave entrance.
Gary smiled and waved until Lorelei was out of sight.
"Ding! Side quest triggered: God Slayer!
A champion's basic quality is to stand firm against divine beasts; please defeat the Articuno before you!
Reward: 5000 achievement points; Charizard Mega Stone x!
Due to significant level differences, task item Charizard Peak Experience Card x1 issued."
Looking at Articuno eager to battle before him, Gary revealed a smile and threw out his Poké Ball. "Is Articuno really that impressive? Charizard, let's battle!"
"Roar!!" With a roar like thunder, Charizard made a grand entrance.
At the same time, Gary silently recited to use the Peak Experience Card!
Boom!! A volcanic eruption-like intense flame exploded around Charizard as its momentum surged wildly!
The blazing tail flame shot into the sky as red light boiled around Charizard!
The surrounding white mist and perennial ice were directly evaporated into water vapor!
Gary clenched his fist with one hand and looked fiercely at Articuno. "Come on; let's fight!"
"Roar!!" Charizard stepped forward with its right foot and fiercely tilted its head back to glare at Articuno!
"Oh!!" Articuno suddenly soared high before diving down with an explosive blue divine light.
Absolute zero impact version!
"Charizard! Flame Charge!!" Gary shouted loudly.
Originally unable to master this move well enough yet under peak power enhancement—it became as easy as eating or drinking.
The blue flames surged violently as Charizard stomped down hard and shot straight into the sky.
Two figures traced laser-like trajectories as they collided head-on!
Boom!! A massive explosion of energy erupted as powerful winds sent Gary flying against one side of the rock wall.
The unleashed energy burst through the cave's ceiling straight into the clouds!
Bang! In the explosion's black smoke, Articuno broke free first and then raised its long beak as a massive wave formed at its mouth.
"Charizard! Grab its neck!" Gary yelled angrily.
Boom! Charizard fearlessly rushed forward into position with a cross-hold from behind locking onto Articuno tightly.
"Throw it to Earth!" Gary swung his right hand fiercely.
"Roar!! Charizard held onto Articuno tightly; its entire body burned with red flames as they soared upward like shooting stars!
Bang! Outside the cave, Lorelei watched in astonishment as Charizard displayed immense power; she breathed a slight sigh of relief—this younger brother has become so strong?
However, this Charizard might belong to Professor Oak. Shaking her head slightly, Lorelei relaxed again.
Flying around in circles in mid-air, Charizard dove back into the icy cave once more.
With both hands gripping Articuno tightly and using shoulder strength—let's go!
Boom!! With one headlong dive into the ice layer, Articuno fell silent.
Gary exhaled deeply and approached Charizard patting its belly. "Good job old buddy; for this week you can feast like crazy. I won't stop you."
"Roar!!" Charizard let out an excited roar towards the sky while spewing flames celebrating their victory.
The title of God Slayer achieved!