The time returned to a short while before Ho-Oh's descent.
The situation in the Gringey City urban area was actually quite fine.
Misty and Brock had also become idle now, as all the Muk had aggregated together.
"How should we deal with that big guy?" Misty sat on the Blue Gyarados's head and flew to Brock's side.
Starmie stood behind Misty, using its Confusion to lift two people—it was Cassidy and Butch.
"Let's just watch from here. As long as the impact isn't too big, we can talk about it after the citizens have evacuated." Brock, currently sitting on Onix's head, also felt a headache coming on.
If they were in the wild, whether it was forcefully killing the Giant Muk or scattering it, both could be achieved. Unfortunately, this was inside the city. Even though it was located near the city's edge, they still couldn't do such a thing.
Blow up crap? Even rural kids only dared to stuff firecrackers into it. Have you ever seen anyone throw a bomb into a cesspit?
Even when rural kids stuffed firecrackers, sometimes unexpected situations would also occur in the cesspit. For example, it blowing up everywhere before they could run away. Or the methane concentration being too high... and the whole thing exploding. Truly thrilling.
"So troublesome—" Misty thought the same way.
In fact, as a Water-type specialist, if she were to make a move, the outcome would be even worse than if Brock did. If Brock made a move, at most he would smash the Giant Muk into scattered pieces here and there. If Misty made a move, she would wash the Giant Muk into a pile of sewage... By then, perhaps the entire city would truly be thoroughly ruined.
In short, everyone felt somewhat tied down.
As for the Giant Garbodor that appeared over at the garbage dump?
As long as that Giant Garbodor didn't advance towards the city, it didn't matter.
...Regarding Ash heading to the garbage dump alone to deal with the trial of the Rainbow Hero, Brock and Misty were completely unaware.
If Ash hadn't guessed that Marshadow was there and that the trial of the Rainbow Hero had begun, he wouldn't have gone over there alone either. In Brock and Misty's eyes, Ash should be somewhere in the city... and he should be safe right now. After all, to Brock and Misty, Ash was a smart person, perhaps even excessively so.
Everything seemed as it should be.
Especially when the rainbow-colored divine fire appeared from the sky and began to purify all things.
Ho-Oh descended with supreme divine might, healing all the pain and injuries of Ash and his Pokémon, and declaring the sacred moment of successfully passing the trial of the Rainbow Hero—
"Ho-Oh is here..." Seeing this scene, Brock completely relaxed.
Ho-Oh's reputation was still very good. Even among all the gods, it was of the most approachable category. Of course, this was only relatively speaking.
"This is the second time seeing it... This light feels really comfortable to be bathed in." Misty also let out a sigh of emotion.
The last time they saw Ho-Oh was when they first met Ash. Time really flew by fast. They had already been traveling for a long time and passed through quite a few cities.
Brock and Misty now had no pressure in their hearts and felt much more relaxed.
Since Ho-Oh had arrived, then this city was definitely fine.
—It was said that even if all the people in an entire city died, Ho-Oh could mass resurrect them.
—At least, that was what the ancient texts wrote.
However, scholars and experts believed that cities in the past shouldn't have had as much population as modern cities, and should have only been the size of current villages... but even if the population was small, resurrecting a thousand or eight hundred at once was still doable.
This world did not have explicit rules of life and death, so a large-scale resurrection was something Ho-Oh could do. It was the only one with this ability.
Even though it was a god of atmospheric air currents, Ho-Oh's resurrection ability was stronger than that of the God of Life.
...This point was also quite absurd.
And the moment an accident occurred was right now.
At a time when Brock and Misty were completely unable to react.
The special Poké Ball at Butch's waist had a reaction. This was the special Poké Ball that Giovanni had given Cassidy and Butch at the beginning of their mission. This Poké Ball was of a type that couldn't be opened from the outside; it could only be opened from the inside.
This Beedrill had always been peeking outside, including when Ash's trio was ganged up on by Team Rocket at the Silph Co. campus in Saffron City. At that time, if Ash's life was truly in danger, it would have made a move as well.
Cassidy and Butch only knew that when the timing was right, the Poké Ball would open on its own.
And then there was nothing more.
So right now was the time Giovanni deemed appropriate.
The Beedrill inside this special Poké Ball sensed Ho-Oh's descent. Therefore, the Poké Ball opened.
Bang—
Accompanied by the red light of the Poké Ball.
The anomaly began with a muffled, eerie fluctuation originating from the distant city center—one that did not propagate through the air, but directly acted upon the level of energy perception.
Boom—
The very first thing Beedrill did upon emerging was to swing the Poison Sting in its hands. Both of Beedrill's hands were Poison Stings. Furthermore, these Poison Stings were very large and very long, just like lances.
And this Beedrill of Giovanni's was moreover unimaginably strong. Immense power was concentrated on the Poison Stings.
Move name—Fell Stinger.
Game effect—If an opponent is knocked out by this move, the user's Attack stat is raised by three stages.
Of course, this wasn't a game after all right now. After being realized in reality, this move was [Enhancement + Attack], and the degree of enhancement would increase as time went on.
And Beedrill's debut involved casually blowing up the Giant Muk along the way. It was blowing it up in the truest sense of the word, literally blowing it up.
A streak of yellow light, as minuscule as the tip of a needle yet radiating an edge that made one's soul tremble, appeared without warning before the super-giant Muk's massive body. There was no charge-up, no omen, as if it were originally meant to be there.
In the next second.
That terrifying, mountain-like existence formed by the fusion of countless Grimer shattered and disintegrated silently from its center, much like glass plunged into absolute zero.
Failing to leave behind even a single trace of a wail, the vast majority of its main body transformed into a sky full of drifting purple dust in an instant, pattering down as if a bizarre toxic rain had fallen. The remaining small portion of its body disintegrated into countless unconscious normal Grimer and Muk, tumbling dejectedly from mid-air.
The Giant Muk was almost blown up like a sky full of stars, the kind where ninety percent of its body was thoroughly smashed into powder.
And right now, Ho-Oh's divine fire and divine light happened to be everywhere. Under the burning of the divine fire and the illumination of the divine light, the pollution that would have been caused by the powder of Muk's body was instantly purified.
It was exactly at this moment that Ash sensed this fluctuation in his Aura.
Next, Beedrill executed an absurdly fast Extreme Speed. This could also be considered a kind of feinting to the east to attack the west.
At the time when Ho-Oh, Entei, and Suicune were all subconsciously focusing on the site of the explosion, Beedrill looped around at high speed from another angle.
Although it seemed like it had taken a detour and wasn't moving in a straight line, this was actually the fastest route.
A straight line has always only been the shortest distance, but not the fastest distance. Between two points, there exists a so-called brachistochrone curve... it is the path of fastest descent between one point and another.
What happened next was so fast that it surpassed the limits of biological neural reaction.
Before this devastating scene could fully form an image on their retinas, that streak of yellow light had already vanished.
No, it wasn't vanishing. It was because its speed was too fast, so fast that it distorted space!
Almost at the exact same instant the Muk disintegrated.
Above the garbage dump.
That streak of yellow light flashed out of thin air like a phantom. True spatial jumping did not rely on psychic powers to calculate coordinates, but rather used pure speed and power to savagely tear apart the barriers of space.
"Roar—!!"
Entei's warning roar had just burst from its throat, when its body carrying the Sacred Fire was struck head-on as if by an invisible meteorite.
"Bang!"
The muffled sound of impact made one's heart skip a beat.
Entei's mighty figure was ruthlessly knocked flying without any power to resist. It transformed into a crimson shooting star, trailing scattering sparks as it miserably smashed into the distance, triggering a violent explosion and rumble.
...Entei's work intensity during this period had been very high, it was already very tired, and its condition was originally poor to begin with.
"Woo!"
Suicune reacted slightly faster. A flash of horror passed through its azure blue eyes, and in front of it, a barrier flowing with pure water ripples and ice crystals instantly condensed.
However, it was useless!
The streak of yellow light treated it as if it were nothing. Like a hot knife cutting into solidified grease, the barrier shattered on impact, turning into a sky full of ice crystals and water splashes.
Suicune followed in Entei's footsteps.
...Even though Suicune's condition was slightly better than Entei's, it also hadn't expected such a thing to happen.
Its body wrapped in water currents was sent flying by a massive force, tumbling helplessly in the air before smashing heavily into the crystal-clear stream that had just been purified below, splashing up a towering pillar of water.
And Ho-Oh, situated right in the center.
Its pupils burning with seven-colored radiant flames contracted sharply, reflecting that rapidly expanding speck of deadly yellow light.
It felt it!
That was an edge sufficient to kill it once!
The Sacred Fire instinctively attempted to burst into a blaze, and its boundless divine power attempted to construct a defense, but... it was too late!
The main reason was still that this was a sneak attack. Ho-Oh had come to meet its chosen Rainbow Hero, and hadn't expected a battle to occur here.
This could also be considered a case of the prepared calculating the unprepared. It was just like the Prince of Lanling going to gank Taiyi Zhenren. Striking first with a sneak attack would always land a hit regardless.
"Screech—!!!"
Ho-Oh's golden radiance, originally as dazzling as the sun, flickered violently like a light bulb with an unstable voltage, wavering brightly and dimly, before quickly dimming down.
It was as if some sort of energy maintaining its sacred exterior had been forcibly shattered. As the light faded, what was revealed was... Ho-Oh's true form, devoid of its golden glow's embellishment.
—Ho-Oh: I went to see my chosen Rainbow Hero full of majesty.
—Ho-Oh: I accidentally bit the dust.
Beedrill hovered quietly in mid-air, its dual stingers lowered, tainted with specks of golden divine blood. Its compound eyes were cold and emotionless, as if it wasn't the one who had just committed the act of deicide.
Ash recognized this Beedrill that had once stood beside Giovanni.
Considering the Rainbow Wing that Giovanni had "gifted" to him. Everything seemed to be strung together by an invisible thread.
Giovanni had indeed given him a great gift, but he had also been waiting for this moment from the very beginning.
This made the taste in Ash's heart very strange.
Did he need to resent Giovanni? There seemed to be no reason for resentment.
Because he had indeed obtained immense benefits because of this. Especially considering the difficulty of this trial... Giovanni's behavior was just like buying a lottery ticket.
Ash couldn't very well say that Giovanni gave him a huge benefit and he calmly accepted it. ...And this was even under the condition of knowing that bad luck would strike.
The benefits were taken. He even got more benefits.
It was just that this feeling of being schemed against was still very unpleasant. Ash felt that if he had the chance, he needed to hit him back.
To make you bunch of birdbrains feel like you can calculate everything and have everything under your control.
I will blast you apart! Blast you all apart!
Even though his mind had wandered off to who knows where. But Ash still didn't do anything, nor did he say anything. In short, he decided to watch the situation first.
As for Ho-Oh being killed? One could know it was impossible even thinking with their ass.
The scene was deathly silent.
There was only the golden divine blood dripping from Ho-Oh's wound, burning the freshly purified land below, making "sizzle sizzle" sounds.
Logically speaking, Ho-Oh should be resurrecting right now. But Ho-Oh's appearance looked a bit like it didn't want to resurrect? ...Otherwise, it wouldn't just keep bleeding there.
"Woo..." In the distance, Entei struggled to stand up from the ruins, shaking its somewhat dizzy head, and muttered in a low voice, "Even though... I didn't sense this guy's aura nearby at all before..."
Due to the high-intensity, overloaded work during this period, Entei's condition was actually somewhat weak.
Suicune also leaped up from the stream, shaking dry the water droplets on its body. Its clear and cold voice carried the same confusion and a trace of embarrassment: "I had not perceived it either."
The two of them had been wandering around here the whole time previously. Entei had even practically planted a sliver of Sacred Fire inside the bodies of all living creatures. But it truly hadn't found anything closely related to Giovanni.
So where exactly was this Beedrill of Giovanni's hiding?
Alright, it was actually a blind spot under the light. Cassidy and Butch were brought over by Marshadow.
Entei and Suicune truly hadn't expected that the Poké Ball carried on Butch's body would contain Giovanni's Beedrill.
So this was Marshadow's fault again.
Entei: There shouldn't be any problem with those brought over by Marshadow.
Suicune: Oh, they are Marshadow's people, they should have been inspected.
Marshadow: ...I just grabbed them at random.
Entei: ...You should just go die.
Suicune: ...It's quite good if you die.
And facing Giovanni's invisible questioning transmitted through Beedrill, these two legendary protectors actually felt somewhat afraid to look him straight in the eye.
Even if he was a Rainbow Hero who failed the last trial, he still had the right to come pick a fight with Ho-Oh.
This wasn't an issue Entei and Suicune should worry about. Matters related to the trial of the Rainbow Hero were generally the direct responsibility of Ho-Oh, plus executed by Marshadow.
Entei and Suicune were just helpers. So the two of them indeed had no position to say too much.
Giovanni's voice sounded again, carrying a trace of imperceptible mockery: "What, very surprised?"
"A little minor technological measure. Shielding your perception isn't too difficult."
"After all, compared to that anticlimactic 'trial' last time, I had to make some preparations this time."
The previous trial he mentioned made Entei and Suicune even more silent, their eyes revealing complex and difficult-to-understand expressions.
That was a trial that had never been made public. But the situation that time was somewhat complicated.
That was something from several years ago. The people involved were quite numerous.
Even though there was the issue of Marshadow being too unorthodox. But there was more than one unorthodox individual that time.
The president of the Devon Corporation, Mukuge Tsuwabuki, was also among them. He attempted to capture Rayquaza at the Embedded Tower in the Johto region.
Although the process was short and did not cause any serious consequences, the final result... was clearly unpleasant.
Giovanni's Viridian Power completely disappeared at that time.
It was different from Ash. Giovanni's test was not conducted when he was a child.
When he was young, Giovanni had a powerful Viridian Power. But this power indeed became weaker and weaker as his age grew.
Even though Marshadow's personality was indeed very eccentric. But due to personality and age issues, Giovanni's trial of the Rainbow Hero did not reach the extent of Ash's.
To say it was severe or too tragic, it wasn't quite there either. After all, the more a trial-taker met the standards of a Rainbow Hero, the more tragic their trial would be.
If they didn't really meet the standards, they would be filtered out in the early stages, and then the trial would end.
Generally speaking, a situation where someone of Ash's age had to undergo the trial of the Rainbow Hero wouldn't appear either.
This was purely Marshadow's fault. Ho-Oh generally looked for those above 16 years old. But Marshadow was indeed far too unorthodox.
And as for Ash's trial this time, it had already begun and the commotion in Gringey City had already gotten huge, before Ho-Oh came over.
Considering it was already here, and the trial had already begun after all... even upon discovering Ash's age was too young, Ho-Oh didn't call a stop to it either.
And this piece of news was indeed fully shocking.
Ash and his Pokémon held their breaths in rapt attention. This was an epic-level gossip involving legendary secrets!!!
After all, the Ho-Oh feather in Ash's hands was obtained from Giovanni.
Since that was the case, what exactly was the situation Giovanni encountered back then?
At this time.
Ho-Oh's voice sounded again in everyone's hearts, carrying the majesty unique to divinity, yet unable to conceal that trace of helplessness.
"Giovanni... you cannot kill me."
"If this can quell your anger, I can permit you to kill me a few more times."
Amidst the burning of the divine fire, Ho-Oh was revived perfectly intact.
To describe it using game-like terminology:
1. Beedrill used Fell Stinger + Critical Hit to instantly kill Ho-Oh from full health.
2. Ho-Oh's passive triggered after death, resurrecting with 100% health, with no internal CD.
It was roughly like this.
Ho-Oh possessed an almost immortal and indestructible trait. Ordinary destruction had limited meaning to it.
And towards those who failed the trial of the Rainbow Hero, as long as they weren't excessively evil or wicked, Ho-Oh would also have a very high tolerance.
It still came down to the same issue: Ho-Oh was fundamentally a benevolent god. If its own excesses caused the other party to be harmed, then Ho-Oh would have an even higher tolerance.
"Hmph." Giovanni's cold snort came through Beedrill.
"You think I'm doing this in retaliation for that failed trial?"
"The selection of the Rainbow Hero stems from an ancient covenant. It is the tradition and glory of humanity."
"Even if I failed, it was my own lack of capability."
"I, Giovanni, am not so narrow-minded as to vent my resentment on you, a god following an ancient agreement."
Giovanni couldn't possibly pick a fight over this kind of thing. Otherwise, he would have directly finished off Marshadow long ago.
As for the so-called trial of the Rainbow Hero, he indeed hadn't noticed it at the very beginning. But after thinking about it a little later, he could figure it out... but he didn't take it seriously either.
So his reason for coming here was naturally not because of this issue.
So...
Giovanni's tone suddenly shifted, his voice instantly becoming bone-chillingly cold, as that suppressed anger erupted like a volcano:
"I came today to ask you only one thing—"
"Where did you take my son?!"
This was the matter that made Giovanni the most furious.
Why hadn't he picked a fight with Marshadow? For the sake of the trial of the Rainbow Hero being a human tradition, Giovanni wouldn't bicker over what Marshadow did. He swallowed this grievance.
But his own son being taken away by Ho-Oh was a matter he truly couldn't endure.
If it wasn't because he truly couldn't find Ho-Oh, he would have already fought his way to its doorstep.
____
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