Next, because Dusknoir was too slow, Chen Shi didn't want to waste time. He released Charizard to carry Phoebe, while he himself had Dragapult carry him, rushing at full speed toward one of the volcanoes.
"Chen Shi, where are we going? Aren't we going to 'borrow' things anymore?" Jirachi asked curiously from his arms.
Chen Shi's mouth twitched.
Had Jirachi been corrupted by him too?
Why was it always thinking about "borrowing" things?!
"Jirachi, we have something important to do right now. We need to find Cynthia and the others. We'll talk about borrowing later, alright?"
"Oh… okay~~"
Hearing that they weren't going to "borrow" anything, Jirachi looked a little disappointed, but still obediently nodded.
"But where are we supposed to find Cynthia?"
At that, even Chen Shi felt a headache coming on.
If he had known earlier, he would've asked Jirachi to leave a psychic mark on Cynthia and the others before entering the secret realm.
Unfortunately, they had left too quickly back then—and he had only learned about that method afterward.
This secret realm was enormous.
He had no idea where to even begin looking.
Chen Shi turned his head to look at Mew.
"Do you have any way to help me find them?"
"Don't worry—I'll make sure you get plenty of good food once we're out."
Mew seemed tempted, but ultimately shook its head.
[Without leaving a psychic mark beforehand, I can't locate them either.]
Hearing that, Chen Shi let out a quiet sigh.
Was he really left with nothing but blind luck?
At this rate, who knew how long it would take to find them?
The chances were slim.
"Bimi~~"
Suddenly, Victini let out a soft cry.
Chen Shi instinctively turned to look.
Victini patted its little belly pitifully, indicating that it was hungry.
Chen Shi couldn't help but laugh.
"Ah, I forgot—you've been eating more lately. Sorry about that."
He pulled over his backpack and took out some energy cubes, handing them to Victini.
The little one happily accepted them and started munching away.
Chen Shi smiled.
But just as he was about to have Dragapult speed up again—
a sudden idea flashed through his mind.
His gaze locked onto Victini.
Victini felt a chill under his stare and let out a weak sound.
"Bi… Bimi?"
Chen Shi's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
Everyone knew—
Pokémon consumed energy when using moves.
The longer a move was maintained, the greater the energy consumption.
So what would happen—
if there was a Pokémon like Victini, known for possessing near-infinite energy, continuously supplying power to another Pokémon?
The answer was simple:
As long as Victini didn't stop supplying energy—
the move would never cease.
"…If I can't find them…"
"Then can I make them come find me?"
"If I have Charizard continuously fire Flamethrower into the sky…"
"…wouldn't that act like a massive signal flare?"
Chen Shi fell into thought.
Of course, there were problems with this plan.
First—
could Charizard endure it?
Energy could be replenished, but mental strain still existed.
Second—
there was no guarantee Cynthia and the others would come even if they saw it.
What if they ignored it?
And third—
it might also attract Team Magma or Team Aqua.
After weighing everything, Chen Shi still decided to try.
He would rather make a wrong move than do nothing at all.
"Stop!"
At his command, Dragapult and Charizard halted immediately, turning back in confusion.
"Chen Shi gege, why are we stopping? We're almost at the volcano," Phoebe asked.
Chen Shi didn't explain.
Instead, he looked at Victini.
"Little V, I need your help. I'm going to have Charizard continuously use a move, and I need you to keep supplying it with energy so it doesn't stop. Can you do that?"
Victini didn't hesitate at all.
Energy?
It had plenty.
This was nothing.
Chen Shi then turned to Charizard.
"Charizard, Victini will replenish your energy. Fly higher, and continuously use Flamethrower into the sky. Can you do it?"
Charizard glanced at Victini and nodded.
Chen Shi then released Metagross again, letting Phoebe stand on it.
They ascended into the sky.
Charizard began unleashing Flamethrower—
while Victini clung to it, continuously supplying energy.
A blazing torrent of fire shot straight into the heavens—
like a beacon cutting through the sky.
Across the secret realm—
many people noticed it.
They looked up in confusion at the towering pillar of fire that dyed half the sky red.
…
Out at sea—
Steven Stone and Diantha had been wandering aimlessly for another day.
Aside from the small island they stood on—
there was no land in sight.
And as for the "abundant resources" the League had promised—
they hadn't found a single thing.
"Ah… Miss Diantha, do you think we're going to be stuck living on this island for a whole month?"
Steven sighed helplessly.
Diantha pursed her lips, unsure how to respond.
They had already tried every method they could think of—
but nothing had worked.
If they really had to stay here for a month…
then this entire trial would become a joke.
The two sat silently on a large rock.
Then—
Steven suddenly noticed something in the distance.
"Miss Diantha… look over there. The sky… does it look red?"
He spoke uncertainly.
Diantha froze for a moment before turning to look.
Indeed—
just as Steven said—
the sky in that direction seemed to be glowing red.
In truth, Chen Shi's idea worked here purely by coincidence.
In the outside world, it wouldn't have worked.
Because the planet was round.
But this secret realm wasn't.
That was why—even from so far away—
Steven could still faintly see the Flamethrower.
Diantha hesitated, then asked:
"Should we go take a look?"
Steven paused—
then nodded firmly.
"Let's go. It's better than staying here doing nothing."
…
Elsewhere—
having just emerged from the desert, Cynthia also saw the pillar of fire in the sky.
After a brief moment of hesitation—
she had Garchomp carry her toward that direction.
And not just them—
many of the participants within the secret realm began heading toward Chen Shi.
…
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