At that critical moment, Ditto—still in its Ultimate Genesect form—descended like a jagged streak of steel.
The quadruple sniper cannons on its back erupted with four pillars of freezing cerulean light. In a heartbeat, the encroaching mob of wild Pokémon was flash-frozen into solid blocks of ice, their manic roars silenced mid-breath.
Suddenly, a dark, heavy fist slammed into Genesect's flank. The force was astronomical, sending the steel hunter tumbling through the air. Marshadow emerged from the nearby shadows, a wicked, playful smirk etched onto its face. Having successfully baited Ditto's fury, the spirit vanished back into the ground.
"Marshadow's ability to traverse the shadow dimension is incredibly difficult to counter," Mewtwo noted, its eyes glowing as it tried to track the ripple. "Even my telepathy struggles to pin down its exact exit point."
"It's a terrifying trait," Feng Che agreed. "But Marshadow's physical defense must be at its lowest point while it's transitioning between the shadow world and reality. We just need to force it out."
"Ditto, use Bug Buzz combined with Metal Sound! Flush it out!"
Feng Che had hit upon a brutal strategy: acoustic interference. Ditto opened its maw and unleashed a discordant, high-frequency screech that vibrated the very air.
Marshadow, caught mid-shift, was forced out of the shadows. The sonic vibration hit it like a physical blow to the brain. Blood began to seep from its ears, eyes, and nose. The disorientation slowed its movements to a crawl.
"Now, Ditto! Mirror Shot!"
Feng Che seized the opening. Four silver beams of concentrated energy roared from the sniper cannons. Marshadow tried to dive back into the shadows, but the beams arrived first.
BOOM!
A series of violent explosions rocked the summit, sending a massive mushroom cloud of dust and debris into the air. Marshadow was blasted into the sky before crashing back down into a deep crater, smoking and motionless.
The spirit had been hit by Ditto's ultimate concentrated output. It was thoroughly defeated.
After several minutes, Marshadow groaned and climbed shakily out of the pit, rubbing its head. "Congratulations, young Hero. You have passed my evaluation."
"I acknowledge your strength. You may now summon the Rainbow Bridge."
With its duty fulfilled, Marshadow sank into the shadows and vanished. It would return to its sanctuary to slumber until the next Hero arrived.
Ditto, panting heavily from the exertion, reverted from its Genesect form back into its pink, gelatinous state—retaining its gold and silver wings. It hopped onto the central altar.
Instantly, the stone structure erupted in a brilliant, blinding light. A vivid rainbow arced across the sky, forming a crystalline Rainbow Bridge that connected the summit to the high heavens. Three majestic silhouettes descended the bridge, landing before Feng Che with divine grace.
The Trial of Sacred Fire
"So, you are the young trial-goer," Entei stated, its voice like the rumble of a volcano. "I shall be your first obstacle."
White-hot flames erupted from Entei's mane—the legendary Sacred Fire. "My test is simple: your Pokémon must endure my Sacred Fire for thirty seconds. If it stands its ground, you pass."
"But be warned: my flames can incinerate anything. If your Pokémon cannot withstand the heat, it will be reduced to a wisp of blue smoke. You may forfeit now, but if you do, you are forever barred from Ho-Oh's trial."
"I accept," Feng Che nodded without hesitation.
For any other trainer, this would be a death sentence. For Feng Che's Incineroar, it was merely a question of whether the bathwater was warm enough. After inheriting Groudon's legacy and bathing in the magma of countless volcanoes, Incineroar's heat resistance was bordering on the divine.
"Go, Incineroar!"
Feng Che explained the task. Incineroar's eyes lit up with predatory excitement.
"Investigator Entei, my partner is ready. Please, begin."
Entei, pleased with the human's respectful tone, opened its mouth and exhaled a massive, white-hot sphere of Sacred Fire. Before Feng Che could even give the word, Incineroar lunged into the heart of the fireball.
But then, Incineroar's face fell. Its excited expression turned into a look of sheer disappointment.
Incineroar: I thought the 'Sacred Fire' was supposed to be legendary. This feels like a lukewarm sauna.
Incineroar: Is this Entei guy a fraud? He feels a bit... weak.
Incineroar looked at Entei with a look of pure, unadulterated boredom.
"Uh, Lord Entei," Feng Che said, carefully choosing his words after hearing the internal monologue. "My Pokémon feels the temperature is a bit... underwhelming. It requests that you increase the intensity."
Entei's brow furrowed. It took a deep breath and unleashed a pillar of fire that reached toward the clouds.
Incineroar: Still not enough. Higher!
Having inherited the Omega power of Primal Groudon, Incineroar was practically a sponge for thermal energy. Under the badgering of the "Hero," Entei pushed itself to the limit, pouring out every ounce of Sacred Fire it possessed until it finally collapsed onto the grass, panting and exhausted.
Incineroar stood in the middle of the inferno, leisurely absorbing the Mythical flames to bolster its own core.
Entei: This Pokémon is a freak.
Entei shot Incineroar a terrified look before scrambling back up the Rainbow Bridge. It didn't want to stay a second longer; being a proctor who couldn't satisfy a student's demand for more difficulty was a massive blow to its pride.
The 10-Million Volt Battery
Raikou and Suicune stood in stunned silence.
"Ahem. Then it is my turn," Raikou stepped forward, sparks dancing across its rain-cloud mane. "My test is also simple: endure my 10-Million Volt strike."
Raikou channeled its power into the storm clouds above. A barrage of lightning tore through the sky, vaporizing a nearby rock formation.
"Go, Zeraora!"
Feng Che recalled Incineroar and sent out the Electric-type Mythical. Raikou's face darkened at the sight of another high-tier Electric type. It let out a low growl and began amassing an even greater charge.
"Zeraora, be careful. This is the 10-Million Volt test," Feng Che warned.
Zeraora nodded. "Leave it to me. As an Electric Mythical, I won't lose to a cat like Raikou."
Zeraora transformed into a golden streak, leaping directly into the heart of the storm clouds. Raikou unleashed the accumulated lightning. Zeraora was instantly enveloped in a catastrophic pillar of electricity.
As the volts poured in, Feng Che watched Zeraora's level counter ticking upward at a dizzying speed.
Raikou isn't testing us, Feng Che realized. He's acting as a giant, high-output battery for Zeraora.
When the lightning finally dissipated, Zeraora descended from the sky, its fur glowing with static and its aura significantly more oppressive. It had surged into the High-Heavenly King rank, finally tapping into its true potential as a Mythical beast.
"You... pass," Raikou said, its voice flat.
Raikou: I feel like a glorified charging station. He just used me to power up his pet. This is humiliating.
Two trials are down, and Suicune is the last one left. Should Feng Che use his "Power of Viridian" to harmonize with Suicune's water trial, or should he unleash his "Greninja" to show the North Wind Pokémon what true speed looks like?