Chapter 450: The Ancestor Has Appeared?!
Candice had already expected to lose—but she didn’t expect to lose so cleanly and decisively.
Letting out a long breath, she smiled sincerely and said,
“Thank you for the guidance, Mr. Lu.”
She had gained a lot from the battle, her eyes full of respect.
Lu Ye returned Arcanine to its ball and nodded slightly.
This responsible and earnest Gym Leader had left him with a good impression.
Since she was a fellow water friend from the Sinnoh region… maybe there was potential for another member to join the group.
“Didn’t think you were actually a Fire-type specialist, Mr. Lu.”
Mizuki stepped forward slowly, sounding thoughtful.
I still don’t know what type I’m good at myself…
Lu Ye blinked. “How’d you figure that?”
“Well, both of your Pokémon used ultimate Fire-type moves.”
Mizuki adjusted his glasses, looking every bit the wise old sage. “Even ordinary Fire-type masters would struggle with that!”
Ash added, “Mr. Lu’s Blastoise knows Hydro Cannon too…”
Lu Ye: “Don’t say that—it’s just a regular Water-type move!” While they were chatting, Candice approached Lu Ye with a smile.
“Mr. Lu, this is the Glacier Badge, proof of your Gym Challenge here in Snowpoint City.”
She handed over a clear, gleaming metal badge shaped like twin snowy peaks.
“And that,” she glanced toward Gengar, “is the TM for Blizzard.”
“It contains some of my personal insights. You can train it with help from Ice Stones or Never-Melt Ice.”
“B-B-Blizzard!?”
Lu Ye twitched and turned around.
“Gengaa!” Gengar proudly waved a light blue USB stick, grinning as it stuffed it into its pocket like a priceless treasure.
A valuable TM like this… I’ll protect it with my life, Master!
Lu Ye choked slightly, stammering,
“Y-You’re being too generous, Leader Candice!”
“Oh, not at all~”
Candice cupped her face and smiled. “It’s the least I can do. Besides, I was supposed to give you prize money too…”
“Prize money?”
“Mizuki didn’t tell you?” Candice blinked. “In Sinnoh, if you win a Gym Battle, the League provides a subsidy.”
“I believe other regions have similar policies, right?”
Mizuki nodded. “That’s correct.”
Lu Ye stood there frozen.
You mean… Gym battles come with cash rewards!?
No one’s ever told me that before!
They gave me badges, they gave me TMs…
But when it came to prize money—poof, they all vanished!
I know everyone’s strapped for cash… but using TMs to settle the tab? Really!?
Lu Ye looked up at the ceiling, suddenly feeling emotionally drained.
He pulled out a little notebook, took a deep breath, and got ready to jot down a grievance.
Candice said, “By the way, we still have some Never-Melt Ice in storage. If you need any…”
“Gengaa!” Gengar nodded furiously.
“I understand,” Candice smiled. “Consider it another reward for completing the Gym Challenge.”
Lu Ye massaged his temples.
Never-Melt Ice… as the name suggests, boosts Ice-type moves, but can also be used in cooking.
In summer, toss it in a Coke and you get pure ‘deadpan chill.’
You can even make gourmet dishes with it—like Frozen Snapper Volcano?
Mr. Lu really did go all out to keep his Pokémon from being picky eaters.
“Thank you, Candice.”
“You’re welcome~”
Lu Ye took the Glacier Badge, gave it a spin in his hand, and waved it in front of Ash:
“Want this? It’s the badge you’ve been dreaming about~”
“Darn it! I’m coming back tomorrow to challenge you again!” Ash yelled.
Mizuki adjusted his glasses, just about to bring up serious business with Candice.
Attempt #3 to get to the point—interrupted.
Lu Ye: “Candice, scan this QR code.”
Candice: “Eh? What’s this?”
“I saw that Ali was the only Gym Leader in the group. Poor thing had no one to talk to.”
Lu Ye said, “It’s a discussion group, basically.”
Candice’s eyes sparkled. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen Ali! We’re good friends~”
[Group owner has invited “Crystal Girl” to the chat!]
Aunt Lorelei was surprised: “Finally, an Ice-type Trainer joins the group.”
“Wait—is Aunt Lorelei hoping Mr. Lu will invite Elder Pryce too?”
Gold shuddered at the thought of Pryce’s sheer power. “That’d be suicidal!”
Lorelei smiled. “I think the ones in trouble would be everyone else.”
Ali: “Candice! Long time no see!”
Candice: “Yeah! Let’s go catch a movie together sometime~”
Erika is still disconnected…
A warm, peaceful atmosphere filled Snowpoint Gym.
Thud—
Suddenly, the doors burst open.
A gust of wind and snow swept in with icy chill.
Lu Ye squinted at the figure in a snow-covered suit and froze.
This guy… looks just like the legendary Aura Guardian, Sir Aaron?!
Then it hit him.
This was Aogen, the Aura Guardian from Iron Island!
Memories surged.
Aogen was Aaron’s descendant—and also an Aura Guardian himself.
He embodied the bravery, selflessness, and justice of his lineage.
He once defended Iron Island with Ash.
Also… Iron Island was actually his private property…
Why would an Aura Guardian be here? Lu Ye wondered.
Aogen, too, was confused.
He had come to Snowpoint at Brandon’s request, to work with Candice in protecting the city.
But the moment he stepped into Snowpoint Gym—
He sensed multiple, wildly distinct Aura forces.
One was overwhelming, like it came from the Tree of Beginning—more like a Pokémon’s Aura.
Another was… disturbingly strange—as if it was scanning and massaging his entire being…
Aogen shivered.
And then… there was one Aura—exactly the same as his own.
This Aura…
made him involuntarily think of his ancestor—the hero Aaron of Rota.
Aogen swallowed hard.
Did… the ancestor just manifest?!
Or did the ancestor possess this young man and borrow another five hundred years from the heavens?!
Aogen stood frozen, thoughts jumbled.
When did Aura Guardians become this common?
Three walked into the same place… and none were weaker than him!
Even shaking an Apricorn tree doesn’t give you drop rates this good!
Candice: “Mr. Aogen? Hello?”
Candice’s voice brought Aogen back to reality.
He coughed awkwardly and introduced himself:
“My name is Aogen. I came at Mr. Brandon’s request to help protect Snowpoint Temple.”
“Snowpoint Temple… something happened?” Mizuki frowned.
Lu Ye was about to ask too—
When a sudden realization hit him.
Oh no!
Snowpoint Temple… that’s where Regigigas is sealed!
In the anime, Hunter J had forcibly awakened Regigigas and tried to capture it…
But Hunter J had already been dealt with.
Still… is the King of the Regis the type to wake up with a grudge!?
Lu Ye’s heart tightened—
Aogen turned to him with a serious tone:
“Um… Senior… we might need your help…”