Pokémon: Trainers Start as Bounty Hunters.

Ho-Oh's personality isn't like some of the others who would kill other Pokémon at the slightest disagreement. The words "rebirth" don't seem to suggest any life-threatening danger.

"I don't think it's impossible, but I'm not suitable." Blaziken agreed with Tetsuya's statement, but had a different opinion about the user.

Its claws pointed to a luxurious ball on Tetsuya's waist.

Tetsuya was taken aback at first, then his eyes were somewhat unreadable: "Are you sure? Ho-Oh's power is ultimately manifested more in its flames."

That luxury ball is made by Pidgeot.

As both are birds and both are Flying-type Pokémon, it's impossible to say that Ho-Oh's power is useless against Pidgeot, and its effect is probably only slightly less than that of Fire-type Pokémon.

However, this operation was entirely caused by Blaziken, which was also the main source of damage during the process, so Tetsuya hadn't even thought about it in that direction.

As a trainer, this is the fairness that should be shown when distributing loot.

"I don't need this to become very strong."

Blaziken made its stance clear through waveguides.

Although it's a bit goofy, it has always been the one in Tetsuya's team who loves fighting the most and is the proudest.

Blaziken doesn't think that it can only become strong by relying on Ho-Oh's flames.

Anyway, before I had any power, I was already incredibly powerful with the help of my boss, wasn't I?

Compared to itself, the bird was the one who needed the flame more.

Blaziken felt it was time to give that guy some confidence to surpass himself—even though Pidgeot's progress in strength had been slightly faster than Blaziken's all along, thanks to its age.

Is that so?

Sensing Blaziken's sincerity, Tetsuya, who had been frowning, smiled.

He patted Blaziken on the shoulder; it seemed to be a very mature big kid now.

"So, are you willing to give it a try? It might be a bit dangerous, you know," Tetsuya asked, holding up the Pidgeot's Luxury Ball and zooming in.

The miniature version of Pidgeot that was reflected inside nodded vigorously.

Although I'm usually a bit of a slacker, when faced with something like this, how could I be content not to give it a try?

It also wants to become super strong so that it can protect its trainer like before.

Tetsuya let out a deep breath: "Then, let's go, Pidgeot!"

He released the Pidgeot from the Luxury Ball towards the location of the flames.

After emerging, Pidgeot did not immediately touch the flames, but instead exchanged a glance with Blaziken.

Then, it's unclear what the two of them discussed, but Pidgeot seemed quite angry.

It turned its head and slammed a wing directly onto the sacred fire.

Tetsuya watched this scene with a smile on his face.

How should I put it? It's a unique friendship between these two guys.

Songye stood to the side with a bitter face.

If those old men at the dojo found out, Tetsuya would definitely be fine.

Not only will nothing happen to him, but he will be even more respected, though he will probably have to be educated for a long time.

Under the watchful eyes of Tetsuya and Blaziken, the moment Pidgeot's wings touched the sacred fire, it did not turn into air like the wooden plank from before.

Not only that, the latter slowly transformed into red light, covering Pidgeot's entire enormous body.

Tetsuya felt reassured. Seeing Pidgeot's calm demeanor, he realized things were at least going well at the beginning.

Gradually, the red light transformed into flames and enveloped Pidgeot.

"Beep—"

A slightly painful cry came from the flames.

Damn it, Pidgeot thought to himself, barely able to contain himself.

Actually, when it came into contact with the flames, it felt like its body was melting, but it deliberately endured it so as not to worry its trainer and partners.

Aside from the pain, it can sense that its body is becoming stronger and more powerful.

"How much longer do we have to endure this?" Pidgeot wondered, his mind somewhat hazy.

It felt like it had been holding on for almost a year, and the fire had been burning for far too long.

In a daze, Pidgeot's eyes seemed to see through the flames the picture of Ho-Oh hanging on the wall of the charred tower.

It looks like it's moving?

Before darkness fell, this thought popped into Pidgeot's mind.

--------

Tomorrow's update will also be a bit late, since it's Valentine's Day, probably around tomorrow afternoon.

Chapter 409 The Fierce Eagle

In the eyes of Tetsuya, the others, and the Pokémon, the transformation of the sacred fire into red light covering Pidgeot's body and the subsequent engulfment of its entire body into flames happened in the blink of an eye.

Hearing Pidgeot's painful cry, Tetsuya instinctively exclaimed, "Pidgeot?!"

"It's alright, the waveguide fluctuations are normal, and the aura is also strengthening."

The blue light in Blaziken's eyes intensified, and after flashing several times, it gave Tetsuya a conclusion that reassured him somewhat.

Looking at Pidgeot, whose form was vaguely visible in the flames, he felt a little regretful: "As one of the world's most powerful legendary Pokémon, Ho-Oh's power is still too great for Pidgeot. I should have asked Professor Oak first."

Undeniably, he had just been somewhat intoxicated by the sacred fire.

On the one hand, few people and elves can resist their desires in the face of the power of the divine beast; on the other hand, the sudden visit of Pine Leaf also deepened some uneasy illusions.

So much so that Tetsuya made the decision to let Pidgeot absorb the sacred fire after only a brief consideration.

While carrying and storing a Pidgeot does pose certain risks, now that I think about it, those risks are not a big problem compared to the threats and suffering that the Pidgeot might have to endure.

"At worst, we can just expose Giovanni's identity and strength directly." Tetsuya's idea was simple.

Compared to the Sacred Flame that still has stock, isn't it more intriguing to investigate a Champion-level Trainer who is also a part-time Gym Leader and Chairman of a listed company, and who is the head of a dark organization?

Especially since this dark organization is Team Rocket, which has been very active recently.

Given his current backing, unless Giovanni wants the Rockets, who are still in their development stage, to directly confront the league openly, the other side won't dare to do anything to him.

At most, they'll just make some plans against him in secret.

Anyway, he never expected to join the Rockets, so it didn't matter to him.

As for the other poachers, after Pidgeot breaks through to Elite Four level, with Kirlia's psychic protection, even if they don't defeat any powerful enemies, Zed is at least confident that he can escape.

After all, under the protection of psychic power, the Champion-level Pidgeot doesn't need to worry about the trainer's physical endurance and can directly unleash its maximum speed to fly.

That's a terrifying speed that can circle the Earth's equator in just over half a day.

Even though this speed is limited by physical strength and Kirlia's psychic protection limit is reduced, it is enough for Tetsuya to escape danger in an instant.

However, since he had already made this choice, all Tetsuya could do was pray: "Please don't let anything happen, Pidgeot."

He was very anxious as he watched the Pidgeot being reborn from the flames.

Time passed by, bit by bit.

The flames enveloping Pidgeot continued to burn quietly.

Strangely enough, although the temperature of the flames was obviously very high, the inside of the charred tower remained as cool as ever, as if the heat of the sacred fire had not been transmitted at all.

Tetsuya looked at the Blaziken.

Blaziken understood what he meant, and for what seemed like the umpteenth time, its eyes flashed with blue light.

"Nothing has changed."

It uses waveguides to relay its perception.

Since reaching its peak ten minutes ago, Pidgeon's waveguide has remained unchanged.

Neither Blaziken nor Tetsuya knew whether this was a good thing or a bad thing.

"Jie—"

The Gengar, which had been released by Pine Leaf at some point, chirped softly behind its trainer.

"Really? That's good, it's covered up." Songye nodded solemnly.

Although the burning of the sacred fire did not release heat, its light was visible to the naked eye even in daylight.

Even though the complex internal structure of the charred tower had shielded it from much damage, signs were still visible from the outside.

Don't forget this is a charred tower. Pine Leaf doesn't think anyone will pay attention to this place, especially when there's a possibility of another fire here.

Therefore, for safety and confidentiality, he had Gengar use Ghost-type moves and energy to create a protective shield-like barrier around him.

Now, most people will probably just think this is a prank by the Ghost-type Pokémon.

Pine Leaf gazed at the people and Pokémon in the center: "What would be the result if Ho-Oh's flames were used on a Pidgeot?"

Suddenly, his pupils contracted. What was this?

Tetsuya also discovered it.

All that could be seen in the flames before them was Pidgeot's body shrinking smaller and smaller.

Before Blaziken could react or sense anything, an oval-shaped black shadow replaced Pidgeot in an instant.

"This is... an elf egg?" Tetsuya quickly recognized the appearance of the dark figure.

As a seasoned trainer who has hatched many Pokémon, he is quite familiar with Pokémon eggs.

Combining this with the legends of his previous life, Tetsuya immediately made a connection: "Could this be Nirvana? And then being reborn, growing stronger, is this what they call rebirth?"

Before he could think too much about it, the shape of the shadowy figure inside began to change again.

This time, it turned from an egg into a bouncy ball.

However, no matter how Tetsuya looked at it, he felt that the size of this Popo shadow was a little too large, and the appearance of the crest and tail feathers had also changed.

"Oh--"

A vibrant cry came from within the flames.

Zhe also looked happy.

As it chirped, Pidgey's shadow transformed into the shape of a Pidgey.

Aside from being larger and having a denser crest and tail feathers, the shadow of Pidgey is not particularly different from that of Pewter.

Immediately afterward, before Tetsuya could even catch his breath, the flames suddenly receded.

A dazzling white light burst forth from its center.

"Gengar, go outside and cover the Burnt Tower with Black Mist!"

Upon seeing this commotion, Pine Leaf immediately sensed something was wrong and quickly ordered his Gengar to add another layer of protection to the outside.

"Jie"

The physical Gengar quickly blended into the darkness and disappeared.

Within the city of Enju.

"Hey, why is it all black over there at the scorched tower?"

A stall owner was chatting with people around him.

Another citizen who came out for a stroll waved his hand: "Hey, what else could it be? It's just that another trainer went over there and got tormented by those Ghost-type Pokémon inside."

"These young people nowadays just don't know how to cherish life. Fortunately, the Ghost-type Pokémon in our Burnt Tower in Eden City won't kill people. It's good to let these people suffer a little."

Another haggard-looking middle-aged man said the same thing.

Trainers who came to visit and were curious about this scene overheard their conversation and gave up the idea of ​​going there.

Rumor has it that the feeling of having your life force drained by a Ghost-type Pokémon isn't exactly pleasant.

Even if there is no danger to their lives, they do not want to joke about their physical condition.

Tetsuya also noticed Matsuba and Gengar's actions, but Blaziken had already explained their plan, so he was relatively reassured.