Chapter 256: The Sacred Fire of Entei
A dazzling white light engulfed the battlefield, and within it, Growlithe’s silhouette expanded, growing nearly two meters tall.
Standing proudly in the arena, Arcanine’s majestic, flaxen fur billowed with the wind.
A perfect fusion of strength and beauty. A symbol of loyalty and bravery. The legendary beast of Eastern myths.
Countless people had once been captivated by its elegant figure.
Its commanding roar alone could make people fall to their knees.
That being said, Lu Ye stared blankly at his very well-fed Arcanine, tilting his head in confusion.
Did my Pokémon… overeat a little?
The two Arcanine faced off, but Lu Ye’s Arcanine was clearly… a bit rounder.
Of course, for a bulky support role, extra mass was actually a good thing.
But the problem was, Lu Ye swallowed nervously, his heart trembling. If this guy ever goes on a rampage at home… I’m doomed.
"Awoo!"
Arcanine turned its fluffy head, flashing a goofy grin at Lu Ye.
I understand, Master!
I will win this battle for you!
Lu Ye sighed. "Just don’t break anyone’s bones, okay?"
"Awoo~ (O_o)??"
"Truly magnificent."
Blaine gazed at the battlefield, unable to stop himself from murmuring in admiration.
He had become a Fire-type Trainer because of his fascination with the legendary Moltres and its radiant flames.
There was a ruby-like brilliance in Fire-type Pokémon, a combination of beauty and unwavering determination.
And this Arcanine filled him with an indescribable sense of awe.
Fighting relentlessly for its Trainer, refusing to back down until the very end.
Blaine wiped the corner of his eye before putting his sunglasses back on.
"Let’s continue this battle!"
Blaine’s Arcanine had the Flash Fire ability, boosting its power when hit by Fire-type moves.
Its move set revealed a special attacker playstyle—Fire Spin and Fire Blast were its main offensive tools.
If it played aggressively, it would have the upper hand.
Lu Ye glanced at Arcanine’s newly learned move, Extreme Speed.
In theory, this should be a fast, close-range attack.
But Lu Ye looked at his Arcanine’s bulky figure with suspicion.
"Can you even move fast like this?" he muttered.
"Use Extreme Speed?" Lu Ye cautiously suggested.
"Awoo!! (｀0´)"
With a mighty roar, Arcanine charged forward like a tank, its momentum unstoppable.
"Fire Spin—on yourself!" Blaine commanded.
Flames erupted, forming a fiery cloak around his Arcanine’s body.
Flash Fire activated, boosting its power, while Fire Blast roared toward Lu Ye’s Arcanine.
Had it still been a Growlithe, this attack might have been too much.
But now, Arcanine barreled straight into the Fire Blast, its tougher frame taking the hit head-on.
"That reckless?!"
Lu Ye couldn’t help but exclaim.
"Use Take Down!"
With the added force of Take Down, Arcanine burst through the flames, soaring forward with surprising agility, like the wind itself.
But the problem was, watching Arcanine’s wide-open maw and flailing tongue, Lu Ye’s expression turned strange.
Normal Arcanine: Swift, elegant, noble.
His Arcanine: A full-speed, drooling wrecking ball.
"Use Burn Up!" Blaine shouted.
Burn Up would eliminate its own Fire-typing after the attack, making it immune to Water-type moves.
And as one of the strongest Fire-type moves, its sheer power was terrifying.
Flames roared, turning the entire battlefield red.
Blaine’s Arcanine crouched low, its immense heat causing the ground beneath it to crystallize.
Yet despite the impending inferno, Lu Ye’s Arcanine only gained more momentum.
Boom!
Burn Up exploded like a golden fireball.
Extreme Speed left behind a white shockwave.
The two attacks collided like heavy tanks, shaking the entire Cinnabar Gym.
At that very moment, deep beneath Cinnabar’s volcano, a legendary fire god opened its eyes slightly.
Both Arcanine were sent flying.
Lu Ye’s Arcanine crashed into the ground, its once-fluffy fur now singed black.
But Blaine’s Arcanine… was just as bad.
It felt like its entire skeleton had been shattered.
It struggled to get up… before finally collapsing.
Blaine took a deep breath.
"I’ve lost."
"Awoo~"
Arcanine, still lying on the ground, opened its eyes slightly, tilting its head toward Lu Ye with a hopeful gaze.
Lu Ye chuckled.
"You’ve already done more than enough."
He stepped forward, feeling the warmth of Arcanine’s breath as he gently patted its head.
"You can rest now."
"Awoo~"
Arcanine nuzzled into his palm, curled up comfortably, and, with a final sigh, drifted into sleep.
You saw it, didn’t you?
I Fought Well Against Those Two Weaklings
As long as it's not a mirror match, I’m still pretty strong!
A beam of red light shot out from Lu Ye’s Poké Ball.
Sylveon extended its ribbon-like feelers to check on Arcanine’s condition. After confirming it was fine, it let out a small sigh of relief.
"Everyone… is giving their all."
Lu Ye crouched down, gently patting Arcanine’s big fluffy head as if he were lulling it to sleep.
He sighed, shaking his head—half helpless, half relieved.
"That was an incredible battle."
Blaine stepped forward and shook Lu Ye’s hand, his voice filled with emotion.
"It’s been a long time since I’ve fought with everything I had!"
Lu Ye shook his hand back and coughed lightly.
"I didn’t expect… this guy to be so stubborn."
With proper switches and defensive tactics, winning a 3v3 battle was doable.
But feeling Arcanine’s determination, Lu Ye had chosen to fight alongside it until the very end.
"There’s a Pokémon Center nearby. I’ll take you there," Blaine offered, glancing at Arcanine, whose fur was singed and matted from the battle.
"No need," Lu Ye chuckled, glancing at Arcanine, who was already fast asleep.
"This guy is just napping."
Seriously… was this thing a Snorlax? Who falls asleep right after a battle?!
Blaine scratched his shiny bald head, about to say something when his expression suddenly turned serious.
A powerful pressure filled the air. Lu Ye’s heart tightened, and all of his Poké Balls opened at once.
His Pokémon instinctively took defensive positions in front of him, their eyes sharp and wary.
A shadow appeared at the entrance of the Gym, making Blaine pause.
Following Blaine’s gaze, Lu Ye turned around—and his breath hitched.
Flaming orange-red fur, a billowing white mane like drifting clouds, and a red, six-pointed star marking its face.
Like a lion descended from the heavens, it stood tall, watching Lu Ye with deep, scrutinizing eyes.
The Legendary Beast—Entei!
Legend has it that only those with a righteous heart could see Entei. Otherwise, they would be engulfed by the Sacred Flames of Cinnabar.
Blaine scanned the scene, seemingly understanding something, and nodded slightly.
Because of their long-standing friendship, Entei had been residing in the volcano beneath Cinnabar Island.
Perhaps the intense battle had drawn its attention.
Or maybe… it had found a Trainer worthy of its challenge.
Either way, this was an opportunity for Lu Ye.
At that moment, Lu Ye felt like he was standing in the heart of a volcano, surrounded by scorching magma.
His eyes met Entei’s deep gaze. Taking a deep breath, Lu Ye spoke.
"You got a problem?"
Blaine’s forehead was slick with sweat.
Was he provoking it?!
Or… did he actually want to battle Entei?!
Lu Ye froze.
He had meant to say hello, but somehow, it came out wrong.
Entei’s presence intensified. It suddenly opened its mouth, and a wave of scorching heat surged forward.
Lu Ye instinctively raised his arm to shield his face.
The hot wind whipped at his clothes.
Seconds later, the heat vanished as quickly as it had come.
When Lu Ye lowered his arm, Entei was gone.
"Awoo~~"
In its sleep, Arcanine lazily rolled over.
Golden flames flickered around its body, fluttering like butterflies, gradually restoring even the singed patches of fur.
"It’s Sacred Fire," Blaine muttered, adjusting his sunglasses. "Looks like… you and Arcanine have earned Entei’s recognition."
Lu Ye blinked.
"Is there a catch?"
"It’s just a healing ability. No side effects."
Blaine rubbed his bald head. "Although… it will make Arcanine even more energetic."
Lu Ye: ???
Making Arcanine more energetic?!
Entei, do you even know what you're doing?!
Seeing Lu Ye’s complicated expression, Blaine burst into hearty laughter.
"When I was chosen by Entei, I was even more excited than you! If you want to laugh, just go ahead!"
"Haha." Lu Ye forced a chuckle.
"When Entei wakes up, it won’t stay on Cinnabar Island anymore."
Watching Entei’s fading silhouette, Blaine murmured,
"I wonder when we’ll see it again."
"Oh, right. This is for you."
Blaine reached into his pocket and pulled out a Gym Badge, placing it in Lu Ye’s hand.
"With this, you have proof of your victory."
[Ding! Mission Update]
[Badge Collection Progress: (2/8)]
Seeing the system prompt, Lu Ye let out a resigned sigh.
Well… I was already prepared for this when I took on the challenge.
There are six more to go. I just have to make them count.
"And this, too."
Blaine rummaged through his pocket again and pulled out a red USB drive.
"This is a TM that all Gym victors receive. It’s an improved version."
Lu Ye raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"Fire Blast," Blaine grinned.
"No thanks! I really don’t need that!" Lu Ye’s face darkened.
"Haha, no need to be shy! I’ve seen plenty of young Trainers like you act all reserved!"
—
As night fell, Red and Yellow were preparing to return to the hot spring inn.
"I wonder how Teacher Lu’s battle went," Red mused.
"It should be over by now," Yellow thought for a moment. "We could call Mr. Blaine and check."
Red nodded and dialed the number. Surprisingly, it connected.
Just as he was about to speak, Red suddenly felt the hairs on his neck stand on end.
His instincts as a Battle Legend kicked in, making him glance toward the distant night sky.
A shadow moved across the rooftops, its lion-like figure leaping gracefully before vanishing into the snowy darkness.
Entei… why is it here?
A thought flashed through his mind.
Red’s voice grew a little more serious.
"Mr. Blaine, your battle with Teacher Lu…"
"I gave it my all and still lost," Blaine chuckled.
"Even Entei acknowledged him. No wonder you all call him ‘Teacher.’"
"I see."
Hearing Blaine’s personal recognition, Red smiled slightly.
Now he understood why Teacher Lu hadn’t let him watch the battle.
His trump card, the one that could even stand against Entei…
It wasn’t something to be revealed so easily.
"Come on, Yellow! Let’s throw Teacher Lu a victory party!" Red said, his steps light with excitement.
"W-Wait for me, Red-senpai!"
Cinnabar Island’s night air was crisp and refreshing.
Under the luminous moonlight, the two walked side by side toward the hot spring inn.