"Don't you know? You don't even understand how you grasp your own laws?"
Ho-Oh looked genuinely speechless. It had clearly assumed Ash understood what he was wielding—yet he didn't.
"My abilities awakened when I was a kid," Ash explained. "They just kept growing as I trained, so I never really understood the exact principles."
Ho-Oh took a moment, then spoke calmly.
"The so-called law is the ability to control an element or concept at its highest form. If you master the Law of Fire, every flame you wield becomes effortless and absolute. Earlier, when you used elemental attacks, they were ordinary—no trace of true law. You were merely absorbing natural elements and releasing them."
Ho-Oh's gaze sharpened.
"But when that black flame pattern appeared on your body, the power you used afterward was something only a wielder of a law can display."
Ash finally understood.
"So… my Immortal State is actually a manifestation of the laws?"
He recalled the black flame markings, the transformations—how his jutsu and abilities changed entirely in that form.
"And that state has two forms. The first is the tattoo form. As for the second…" Ash sighed helplessly. "I hope I won't have to use it."
Although the second state drastically increased his power, the physical transformation was dramatic—so much so that Ash felt uncomfortable showing it to anyone.
He felt like a specimen in an experiment.
Even if the appearance was, objectively speaking… impressive. The transformation allowed him to channel his arcane techniques with complete efficiency, but the unnatural change still bothered him.
"Anyway," Ash continued, "Ho-Oh, Lugia—do you want to visit my Fantasy Island? Half is a Pokémon habitat, the other half is where humans live. There's no fence or separation. Both sides coexist peacefully. That's one of the rules I set."
Ho-Oh smiled softly.
"We would like to… but your Fantasy Island is not very large. If we appeared there, the disturbance would be considerable."
Ash blinked, then remembered the obvious—Fantasy Island was perfectly sized for ordinary Pokémon but far too small for Legendary Pokémon. Their sheer presence alone would cause panic.
"That's true," he admitted. "In that case, once Fantasy Island expands enough, I'll invite both of you properly."
He wasn't worried. He had already gained Ho-Oh's and Lugia's trust. There was no need to rush.
"Hmph. I'd like to see how long it takes you to find our homes." Lugia crossed its wings, tone stiff but not unfriendly.
"The habitats of Legendary Pokémon are harsh and shaped specifically for our growth. They aren't places humans can simply locate."
Ash chuckled. Lugia's pride was always like this—stubborn, blunt, but sincere.
"Don't worry," Ash said lightly. "You'll be surprised when my power breaks through again."
He glanced toward the sky, the thought of reincarnation drifting through his mind.
If his next evolution could activate soon…
"Breakthrough?" Ho-Oh repeated, incredulous.
"At your current strength, you're already comparable to us. You only hold the power of a first-tier Legendary—yet your performance exceeded it. Breaking through even further… that is extremely difficult."
Ash's eyes, however, only grew more determined.
Ho-Oh had seen many humans—but never one like him.
And the path Ash walked was only beginning.
"I'm only sixteen now," Ash said quietly.
"I still have time. And with my current strength, living for several hundred years… isn't impossible. My vitality can sustain it."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the soil before him stirred.
A small sapling rose from the earth—slowly at first, then rapidly.
In moments, it grew into a young tree, overflowing with pure, overwhelming life force.
"What an incredible vitality…" Ho-Oh murmured, eyes widening.
"How can a human wield this? Is this… the Law of Life? No… there's no law resonance."
Lugia examined the tree closely, equally stunned.
Ash folded his arms.
"It was an aerial battle earlier. My Mokuton wasn't suited for that range, so I didn't use it. But if I enter my spell-mark state… based on what you said, that must mean I've already touched the Law of Vitality."
Seeing both Legendaries caught off guard filled Ash with a quiet satisfaction.
At the same time, his heart stirred with awe. The worlds he once saw only in anime and games—now real, alive, intertwined with him. No one else could understand this feeling.
"It's hard to believe you're human," Ho-Oh said softly.
"Even if someone claimed you were a Legendary Pokémon yourself, I might not doubt it."
Lugia nodded.
"To command multiple laws at sixteen… it is unheard of. You may be the bridge between humans and Pokémon."
Strength ruled every world.
Peace required love—but also power to defend that love.
Without power, love was helpless.
This truth never changed.
Ho-Oh stepped forward slightly.
"Very well. We will wait for your signal. Take this—my feather."
A brilliant feather drifted into Ash's hand, radiating gentle heat.
"It can greatly enhance the skill and power of Fire-type Pokémon. And if you need to contact me, have Suicune deliver the message."
Ho-Oh's voice was soft, warm—almost like an older sister comforting a child.
If someone heard only the voice, they would never believe it belonged to the majestic Legendary that nearly burned the world minutes ago.
Ash recalled the earlier battle—the overwhelming divine flames, the sheer might Ho-Oh unleashed.
A twitch formed at the corner of his mouth.
He quickly shook his head, forcing that mental image away.
Some fantasies… were better kept out of his mind.