It's Cleansing Water again, Heavenly Thunder, and Holy Fire...
No matter the trial, each one is of Hell Level difficulty.
Master Fan, who had himself faced the trial of The Brave of the Rainbow, was now deeply worried for Fang Yuan.
"Young man..."
"You must persevere!"
Master Fan sighed in his heart.
This might be the only chance in his lifetime to witness both Ho-Oh and the birth of The Brave of the Rainbow.
He had placed all his dreams on Fang Yuan.
And at this moment.
As Fang Yuan accepted the trials, Mashaduo watched intently at the peak of Azure Mountain.
"Mashaduo!"
So, let it begin.
The first trial, Holy Fire!!!
As Mashaduo declared, Shui Jun behind it leaped gracefully, turning into wind in the embrace of the north wind, and returned to the rocks of the North, leaving the arena to Fang Yuan and the others.
Lei Gong did the same, arcs of Thunder and Lightning flashing beneath its feet. As it moved, its whole body was wrapped in electric light.
Like Shui Jun, it calmly returned to its starting position to observe the trial from above.
On the vast grounds of Azure Mountain, only the imposing Emperor Yan remained, standing there like a volcano, his gaze fixed on Fang Yuan.
"Roar—"
Emperor Yan let out a roar, the molten lava-like power within seeming to be on the verge of erupting.
As if to say: Send out your Pokémon.
"What should I do..."
The atmosphere grew heavy.
Master Fan looked at the Perpetual Ghost nonchalantly pulling out Energy Blocks from its belly and stuffing them into its mouth as if unconcerned, sitting on the rock beside him, and fell into thought.
Then he turned toward the Eevee who was eating melons like himself, worrying even more for Fang Yuan. Did Fang Yuan have a Pokémon that could take on the challenge of the Holy Fire?
Master Fan had underestimated Fang Yuan.
As a false high-level boss who came to challenge Ho-Oh, Fang Yuan calmly took out Monferno's Poké Ball and pressed it gently.
The next moment.
Monferno, with flames wrapped around its limbs and an unquenchable flame on its head, emitting a startling Heat Wave, appeared in the field surrounded by white light.
"Woah!"
With its blue eyes, it looked at Emperor Yan in front of it. Upon feeling Emperor Yan's terrifying, volcanic oppression, Monferno's eyes lit up as if Thunder and Lightning were interwoven with Fire!
With a "bang," it was as if the air exploded, and a terrifying Heat Wave rose out of nowhere between the two Pokémon.
A trace of emotion finally appeared on Emperor Yan's previously placid face.
Mashaduo too was surprised by the Monferno Fang Yuan had sent out.
This Pokémon's will to fight could actually contend with Emperor Yan's oppressive presence?
"Roar—"
"Woah!!!"
The roars of Emperor Yan and Monferno rose together.
At this moment, realizing that it was chosen by Fang Yuan to face the trial first, Monferno understood—Fang Yuan trusted it, wanting it to show its mettle!
A trial?
Don't joke around, this Emperor Yan was just about even with Mewtwo (Power Unit: Mewtwo), and it had beaten Mewtwo before!
Though it had relied on the power of Ditto and Victini, it wasn't in such a bad position that it needed to face a trial!
It intended to crush the trial!
Monferno's momentum soared, the Flame of Will erupted, its combat spirit almost materializing, and orange-red flames enveloped its entire body.
"This..." Upon seeing Fang Yuan's new Pokémon, Master Fan paused inside, suddenly feeling inspired and gaining some confidence.
Fang Yuan also showed a smiling expression implying 'just as expected,' Monferno was still as unyielding as ever.
If that's the case.
Let Emperor Yan see your power, Holy Fire that could even grind down a "soul"?
It wasn't certain yet who would grind down whom.
Boom!!!
Feeling the challenge from Fang Yuan and Monferno, Emperor Yan's gaze sharpened.
Its blade-like brown fur whipped up Fire, and after taking a step forward, it stamped out a ring of Fire beneath it.
Emperor Yan slightly raised its head, the six-pointed star structure on its cheek being covered with Flame as well.
With another roar, the iron bands on its limbs seemed to be forged by Flame, turning deep red, and terrifying Flames burst forth from Emperor Yan.
At this moment, even the clouds in the sky turned a fiery red.
All the Pokémon in the Yunying Mountain Range instinctively looked up, witnessing this unique change in the scenery.
If Azure Mountain were a volcano, it would have completely erupted by now in the roar of Emperor Yan.
Yet even so, the temperature of Azure Mountain itself rose several degrees out of nowhere, becoming unbearably hot.
"Mashaduo..."
As Emperor Yan got serious, Mashaduo glanced at Monferno, then rapidly burrowed underground, escaping the contentious area.
Master Fan, feeling the oncoming Heat Wave, was also forced to take a few steps back.
Eevee stopped its munching and scurried back onto Fang Yuan's shoulder, joining Victini, who was already hiding there, one Pokémon on each shoulder, offering Protection to Fang Yuan.
The Glutton, too, set aside its food and dove back into Fang Yuan's shadow.
Others might retreat, but Fang Yuan and Monferno could not. Eevee and the Glutton immediately stepped up to help Fang Yuan withstand the Heat Wave.
In the void, separated by a spatial barrier, the two Celebi could feel the heat, while Mewtwo's gaze remained calm—was this level of Flame prepared to be shredded by the Monkey in front of it?
"Roar!!"
As Emperor Yan roared again, the Holy Fire on its body gradually formed into a Fireball and, with a thunderous departure, smashed toward Monferno—
"Woah!!"
At that moment, Monferno's eyes, too, lit up at the sight of the Fireball before it, crossing its arms in front, standing tall in place, intending to resist the Fire head-on.