Moltres stared at Su Feng, waiting for his response. Seeing no reason to hide it, Su Feng answered plainly.
"I am Arceus' emissary. My duty is to help Pokémon integrate into this world."
"Emissary of Lord Arceus?!" Moltres' voice rang with disbelief.
Even the creator of her kind wouldn't dare claim such a title so boldly. Yet the divine aura clinging to this human was unmistakable—and history had recorded humans wielding the Creator's power.
After a pause, Moltres dipped her head slightly. "Greetings, Emissary. How may I serve?"
Su Feng couldn't help but smirk. Arceus might be a scam artist, but damn, its name opens doors.
Nearby, Magmar glanced between them, utterly lost. Who's Arceus? Why is Moltres acting like this?
"Ahem." Su Feng gestured to the drone. "I'm live-streaming. Let's avoid mentioning… that name."
Moltres nodded, and the stream unfroze.
[Feng-ge, upgrade your drone! It always lags at key moments!]
[It's not lag—he's censoring stuff around Legendaries!]
[Wait, no—the whole app crashed earlier!]
[My bad, Feng-ge. Wrongfully accused you.]
Su Feng: "..."
System went all out faking that "glitch."
"I'm establishing a Pokémon League," he said to Moltres. "I'd like to borrow a fragment of your flame."
Moltres' eyes softened. Centuries ago, another human had asked the same—for the same purpose.
"Granted. But…" Her gaze shifted past Su Feng. "Do you know this little one?"
Su Feng turned. At the cave entrance stood a tiny, fluffy figure—the Growlithe from earlier.
Magmar nearly choked. "Mag! (Kid, how'd you get here?!)"
[Growlithe?! Why's it here?]
[Probably sniffed out Feng-ge's Poké Puffs.]
[Or maybe it wants to join him!]
[Walking dog distribution system?!]
Su Feng sighed. Growlithe must've tracked his scent—impressive stealth for a pup.
"Unfamiliar trespassers face expulsion," Moltres said coolly.
"He's with me!" Su Feng scooped up Growlithe. "Why'd you follow us?"
"Whine…" Growlithe nuzzled his hand. It didn't know why—only that it had to.
Moltres relented, but then—
Click!
A Luxury Ball burst open. Combusken emerged, leg bandaged but eyes blazing.
"Torchic! (Moltres! I challenge you!)"
Su Feng: "..."
Buddy, you're not ready for this smoke.
He lunged to cover Combusken's beak. "Kids say the darndest things, haha…"
Moltres studied Combusken—the suppressed fire in his core, the evolution on the brink. A rare talent… but reckless.
If he evolved now, the sudden surge could burn him from within.
Hmph. Fine.
"Accepted," Moltres said.
Su Feng froze. "…Wait, what?"
"I said," Moltres spread her wings, "let's battle."