Aspiring to become a Pokémon trainer

The crimson dragon roared to the sky, then suddenly flapped its wings and transformed into a crimson comet that tore through the horizon. With a resolute determination to destroy everything, it plunged straight down from the heights without regard for anything else.

Its speed and power far exceeded the ordinary; this was by no means a friendly sparring match, but a desperate act of self-sacrifice.

"Nanyin!" Korni was startled and tried to step forward without thinking, but the silver-haired girl gently took her arm.

Without retreating even a step, facing this devastating attack, Nan Yin merely raised her hand slightly.

The fingertips did not touch any sphere; it was merely the transmission of a thought.

The massive, azure-blue figure moved.

Those broad, crimson membranous wings instantly transformed into azure lightning that tore through the sky, arriving first despite being behind, and with immense force, fiercely confronting the blood-red dragon shadow.

It is no longer the clumsy child in the courtyard trying to control its power.

Faced with its experienced, fierce, and furious kin, the newborn dragon showed no fear, nor did it employ any fancy techniques or attempt to evade; it simply proved itself in the most direct way.

Dragon God Dives Against Dragon God Dives.

boom.

The crimson and blue dragon shadows intertwined, and the sound waves generated by their collision shattered the stone wall, causing the ancient cracks to spread further.

Claws, fangs, sharp horns—there was no complicated process, just a clash of pure power and savagery. Every claw strike and tail sweep carried the force to split mountains and shatter rocks. The two colossal beasts used every weapon at their disposal, chasing victory and defeat with the most primal wrestling and biting.

Higanbana's Salamence was experienced and powerful, each attack carrying a fierce and ruthless aura, attempting to overwhelm this fledgling dragon with absolute skill.

However, although Nan Yin's Flying Dragon was slightly sluggish in its movements, every time it revealed a flaw, the girl would remind and correct it in time. The potential that had been accumulated in its body was like a volcano waiting to erupt, gradually manifesting itself in this battle between dragons.

If one's strength is insufficient, one's skills can make up for it.

thump.

Exhaustion surges back, and with the intertwining of wings, the girl's innermost thoughts and guidance unfold at this moment.

"A selfless charge."

Abandoning its defensive stance and setting aside all concerns, the azure dragon cleaved through the cliff face like a sword piercing the clouds, striking the former squarely in the waist and abdomen. In an instant, the crimson dragon shadow was severely injured, lost its balance, and tumbled precariously toward the precipice.

The winner and loser are self-evident.

"I...I don't agree! Salamence, Mega Evolution!"

Raising the keystone, Higana couldn't bring herself to criticize the dragon god; she could only place all the blame on the girl before her. She bit her lower lip, held the translucent crystal high in her palm, and called out her companion's name.

However, just as the radiance of evolution was gaining momentum, it was abruptly cut off by a cold snort. For the first time, clear anger and displeasure, as if offended, appeared in the eyes of the high god.

"This is the Pillar of the Sky, the place where I slumber, not a battlefield for play."

"Human, you bear the filth of an alien planet (Eternatus), yet you are favored by the true dragon (Reshiram), and you also have the echoes from the depths of the earth (Dianci), as well as an essential, special, contradictory, complex, yet strange... balance."

"In the exchange just now, the young man's (Salamander's) posture, is that your understanding? It does have a certain strength that breaks through the void. With such talent, you are worthy to inherit my great power. If not you, then who else should I give it to?"

Rayquaza's winding, mountain-like body had somehow descended to an even lower level.

"But......"

Higana was still unwilling, but she couldn't change the fact that she had been controlled by her emotions, lost her composure, and fallen into a disadvantageous situation.

However, to everyone's surprise, the silver-haired girl slowly raised her eyes and shook her head gently but firmly.

She was involved in the conflict, at its center, and experienced the poignant truths of right and wrong.

“Your Majesty the Dragon God, regardless of right or wrong, you have repeatedly referred to Eterna as an evil spirit, and seem to look down on all things, watching the contradictions become sharp, and even taking pleasure in it.”

With a light touch of his fingertips on the cold, purplish-black armlet on his wrist, the aura of Wujitana flowed almost imperceptibly.

“Ultimately, it’s because you are powerful enough. But the filth of the Star Sea is also a wronged and trapped spirit. It has no intention of doing evil, but it has been repeatedly scorned by your arrogance. My companions are not born lowly either, just like this Miss Higana.”

"Varied!"

The sounds of shock and anger could not drown out the girl's calmness; only her composure and serenity remained.

"She made many efforts for this, but it was all rejected with a single word. Whether it is right or wrong is up to you to decide. In your eyes, it may be insignificant, but for the person involved, it is a lifelong goal."

"Everything in the world has two sides. Who can prove that you are definitely right?"

His words were sharp as a tempered blade, incredibly shrewd.

“If the successor you seek is merely a plaything when you’re bored, or a self-righteous follower, then I cannot bear the title of ‘successor’.”

Chapter 274 Accompanying Flight

"Insanity."

The stern voice rang out, and with just a flick of its tail, the clouds churned like boiling water. The declaration of "I can't take it anymore" was like a boulder thrown into a deep pool, stirring up ripples.

After a brief period of stagnation, a surge of anger resurfaced.

The precipice of Sky Pillar trembled violently, the ancient stone foundation emitted a hoarse groan of unbearable strain, and an invisible storm raged around Rayquaza, its target the silver-haired girl.

This was not murderous intent, but the fury of the overlord of the sky, the embarrassment of having his usual arrogance exposed in a single sentence, the disbelief of being shocked and angry, and the venting of his divine power after being provoked.

It wanted to see what made these insignificant humans dare to question its judgment and refuse its 'gift'.

A fierce wind swept over me, and the weight of the sky pressed down on me.

However, even with the wrath that seemed to rage like the heavens themselves, a blue dragon spread its crimson wings and used its broad shoulders to shield the girl from the wind and rain, protecting her from behind.

It doesn't flaunt its achievements; it simply tries to make itself appear taller and more imposing.

Yes, in reality, facing the meteor carried by Deoxys, Nanon didn't need Rayquaza's assistance. Reshiram, Eternatus, and even Milton all had the ability to intercept it halfway. However, compared to those legendary beings, the dragon before them was more adept at navigating and fighting in atmospheric and vacuum environments, giving it an advantage on the main battlefield.

She didn't have any requests of the dragon god in her eyes. She came here only on Daigo's instructions to take care of Ruby and Safia. Naturally, she wouldn't just listen to him and do as he asked against her will.

"enough."

The gentle, calm voice, though soft and soothing, drowned out the thunderous roar. It was unclear whether it was Bai Long's heartfelt words or Nan Yin's voice.

The crystal necklace on her chest blended into the sunlight, and the White Dragon of the Dao manifested behind the girl. It slowly lowered its pure white wings, and cold flames of blue and red rose from the vortex at the end of its tail, completely unmoved by the oppressive vortex.

It is not meant to demonstrate power or challenge authority, but simply to serve as a reliance for Nanyin music at this moment.

At the same moment, a colossal purplish-black phantom shrouded the clouds, obscuring even the high-hanging sun. The former Galilean venomous dragon, equally disdainful of the so-called heavenly god Rayquaza, was eager to test its might.

A prisoner of the stars? How laughable! You are nothing but a guard dog in a corner of the world, how dare you presume to comment on the vastness of the universe?

“Countless historical records describe Rayquaza as a just and peaceful figure who quells disasters without seeking praise and who is indifferent to fame. As a god in the heavens, you should be like this, shouldn’t you?”

Dianeci crossed her hands, and countless dazzling diamonds materialized out of thin air, layer upon layer forming a perfectly faceted barrier. She used words to lightly rebuke her opponent, and also used actions to support the confidence behind her words.

With their companionship and protection, Nanyin naturally had no fear of the Dragon God and dared to speak out against all 'outrageous' things.

"You laugh at Miss Higana's ignorance and lack of self-awareness, but what about yourself?"

"After a thousand years of slumber, you looked down upon the world as if it were nothing, regarded faith as dust, and bestowed the name of inheritance according to your own whims, unaware that the tides of the times had already crushed you. Have you ever truly seen the peace and happiness of generations of people who looked up at the sky, soaked in the ink marks on the scroll she held up? Have you ever heard the heavy responsibility, pain, and even grievance behind the name 'Xijia' in her mouth?"

Hearing the girl's words and reflecting on her own rash behavior, Higana felt incredibly conflicted and ashamed.

The pain that gnawed at her day and night—the death of her dearest friend, the doubts of her people, the heavy burden of her mission, the despair of not being recognized by the gods—was so precisely dissected and presented in the mouth of this outsider.

She had always directed her anger at Dewen, at fate, and at the girl before her who had taken away the title of 'Inheritor'. But Nanyin directed her deepest wounds at the high and mighty god.

"I..." The girl's lips moved, but her throat felt like it had been sanded, and she couldn't utter a complete sound. The pillar that had always supported her, called mission, suddenly cracked under Nan Yin's questioning.

"Yes, it is indeed insignificant and meaningless. You are powerful, and therefore you can be willful. But power is never a reason to trample on the persistence of others."

“You think I am contradictory yet balanced, and jokingly say that I am interesting enough, so you claim to have the responsibility of passing on the legacy. Isn’t this a change in your attitude towards the Meteor People?”

Each word is like a knife, peeling away the dragon god's magnificent scales to reveal the essence of worldly affairs.

Rayquaza's churning cloud form froze.

In the dragon's molten gold eyes, the surging rage was replaced by a rare look of astonishment and scrutiny. For millennia, it had been worshipped, feared, prayed for, and challenged. Yet never before had anyone placed it on the scales of humanity with such equal, even offensive, sharpness.

Silence. A suffocating silence enveloped the precipice, broken only by the suppressed breathing of the crowd and their stunned gazes.

a long time.

The dragon god's undulating body slowly stretched out, and its oppressive aura receded like a tide. It no longer looked at Xijiana, but gazed intently at Nanyin, as if trying to take this human into its entirety.

"Mortal, your courage... is as sharp as your words." The thought echoed again, less filled with rage and more with an indescribable complexity. "To question the gods comes at a price. I ask you one last time—"

The clouds gathered and condensed before it into a miniature golden stream of light, yet containing the will to tear the sky apart—the very essence of the finishing touch!

"I acknowledge this 'honor,' but will you accept this 'responsibility,' or not?"

The light hovered, pointing towards Nan Yin's brow. To accept it meant receiving the inheritance and being able to rightfully request Rayquaza's assistance; to refuse it meant completely defying divine will and facing an uncertain future.

Everyone stared at the girl's exceptionally slender figure standing at the very front. Korni bit her lower lip, Ruby and Shafia held their breath, and Higana clenched her fists, her eyes churning with emotions—she both hoped that Nanyin would refuse, to prove the 'absurdity' of the god's actions, and she was also vaguely afraid of the omen that the golden light pointed to.

Unmoved, the silver-haired figure gazed silently at the approaching golden light, then slowly swept it over Higanbana's struggling face, before finally settling his gaze back on Rayquaza's massive body.

She raised her hand, not to answer the dragon god's question, but to turn her pretty face away and gently stroke Eevee's neck and shoulders.

"My journey here is solely for that meteorite, solely for this disaster, solely for the people and Pokémon I cherish on this land." Her voice was calm and serene, yet carried a clarity that pierced through the mist. "Whether the legacy is passed on is up to you; whether you accept it or not is up to me. But at this moment—"

Facing the golden light that represented the power of the gods, it took a step forward.

"I choose to invoke the name of 'Nanyin' to ask His Majesty the Dragon God to clear the clouds and reveal the sun for Fengyuan!"

There was no kneeling, no oaths. There was only a frank request and a "name" that stood between heaven and earth, a name that was clear to the conscience.

Rayquaza's massive dragon head tilted slightly, as if seeing the human before it for the first time. The hovering golden light vanished instantly.

"Hmph." A low, ambiguous hum reverberated in everyone's minds, carrying a hint of awkwardness as if their thoughts had been seen through...

"Sharp-tongued and audacious... yet, rarely sober."

The enormous dragon body stirred up the wind and clouds, slowly rising amidst the swirling mist.

"I will handle the 'virus' (Deoxys) and the meteorite myself, and you probably already saw through it from the beginning. As for the so-called name of the successor..." Rayquaza's gaze swept over Nan Yin one last time, then seemingly casually swept over the distraught Sigana below.

"I still keep it for you, no longer casually, but quite seriously. As for the tragedy of insatiable greed, you'd better take care of yourself."

The dark green mountains disappeared into the surging sea of ​​clouds, and the oppressive aura that had changed the color of the world vanished completely.

"Waaah..."

A suppressed sob broke the silence.

Higanbana curled up on the ground, her shoulders trembling violently. The thing that had been supporting her seemed to have completely collapsed with Rayquaza's departure.

It wasn't anger, but rather an endless emptiness and bewilderment.

Nan Yin walked up to her, offering neither comfort nor sarcasm. She simply bent down and handed back the scroll that had been swept away by the air currents.

"Sometimes, focusing too much on what's in front of you can make you forget what you really want."

The edges of the tattered parchment are curled, but the core scene on the back is still faintly discernible: it is not Rayquaza's proud and aloof figure, but countless blurry figures from different eras. They hold simple ritual objects, look up at the sky, and their eyes show fear, prayer, but more than anything, a kind of almost pious expectation for the future.

Below it, an ancient inscription was carefully marked in modern script by the new Meteorites—

Many look up to the heavens, but few are entrusted with the mission. Yet, all those whose hearts are set on the heavens and who wish to protect this land are people of shooting stars.

Higana's crying stopped abruptly.

She stared intently at the portrait, her fingers trembling as she traced the inscription below, over and over again.

Large, scalding tears fell onto the cold rocks.

“tide Jiana…she kept saying…” Even as she fell silent, the girl’s sobs still carried a heavy nasal tone, “The hearts that the Meteor Clan protects are more important than the bloodline passed down through generations, more important than the elusive divine favor. It’s because I…I was too fixated on the title of ‘Inheritor,’ I forgot…”

She raised her head, her crimson eyes washed by the water, clearly reflecting Nan Yin's figure for the first time. Gone was the frenzied hostility, only deep weariness and a trace of nascent remorse remained.

"I'm sorry..." These three words were as light as a mosquito's buzz, yet weighed a ton. She apologized not only for attacking Nan Yin, but also for being blinded by her obsession, narrow-mindedly blaming the innocent, and for forgetting the legacy of her dear friend and ancestors who upheld their principles.

Nan Yin reached out her hand, not to help, but with her palm facing upward, waiting quietly.

The sea breeze blows across the cliff, carrying away the dust and the salty taste of tears.

Higana looked at the slender hand, then at Ruby and Safia's worried yet sincere eyes beside her, and finally at her battered and bruised Salamence. In the end, she took a deep breath, wiped the mess from her face, and instead of taking Nan Yin's hand, she shakily stood up on her own.

She straightened her back, and although she was still thin, a flame rekindled in her eyes. It was no longer the hatred that burned everything, but a calmer determination after being tempered.

"A meteorite is approaching, and danger is imminent." She looked at Nan Yin, her voice hoarse but firm, "Even I want to do my part, however small."

......

Green Ridge Space Center, launch pad.

The enormous rocket stood between steel supports, a thin layer of white frost condensing on the ground from pre-cooling, and the air was filled with the unique coolness of metal.

Korne took a deep breath, tightened her lightweight yet multi-protective spacesuit, and subconsciously reached for the Poké Ball hanging at her waist—Lucario and Kushala Daora were inside.

Her gaze passed over the busy engineers and the control panel with flashing signal lights, landing on Nan Yin not far away.