The flames finally dispersed.
"Arcanine!"
Junsha Muko rushed forward.
"How are you? Are you feeling any better?"
Sensing her worry, Arcanine weakly lifted its head and nuzzled her palm reassuringly.
Grandpa Chen approached and handed her another vial.
"Give it the Stabilizing Elixir."
Muko quickly fed the potion to her partner.
Moments later, Arcanine's aura calmed, and it drifted into deep sleep.
Only then did Muko finally breathe out.
She bowed gratefully.
"Chen-lao… thank you. Truly."
Grandpa waved a hand.
"Come inside. We'll talk there."
"Alright."
Muko recalled Arcanine and followed them into the villa.
Inside, Grandma Chen served hot tea.
"Girl," she asked gently, "what exactly happened? If a Champion-level Pokémon truly acted, you wouldn't still be alive."
Junsha Muko sighed deeply.
"Recently, two underground forces suddenly emerged in Hoenn: Team Magma and Team Aqua."
Chen Shi's eyelids twitched.
Maxie and Archie…
Of course.
Muko continued:
"We received intel that Team Magma appeared on Mt. Chimney. President Miyazaki ordered Elder Mura to lead a unit to capture them."
"But none of us expected their leader to command a Champion-class Pokémon, plus three peak-Elite Fire-types."
"My Arcanine was injured just by the aftershock of Elder Mura's clash with that leader."
Chen Shi's mouth twitched.
So that earlier blast wasn't even a direct hit… just leftover force.
Grandpa Chen frowned.
"I've never heard of any Team Magma. Must be newly formed."
Grandma sighed.
"Muko-girl, you must be careful. If battles like that break out, run as far as you can."
"You aren't ready for that level yet."
"…I understand, Grandma Chen."
Grandpa added:
"Take Arcanine to Nurse Joy for a full check. If nothing else shows up, don't let it battle for half a month."
"And if something seems off, come back."
"I will. I'll transfer the payment later—thank you again!"
With Junsha decisiveness, she dashed out immediately.
Grandma chuckled.
"Still the same Junsha temperament…"
Chen Shi finally asked:
"Grandpa… are Champion-tier Pokémon really that strong?"
"Just the aftershocks nearly killed a late-Elite Arcanine?"
Grandpa sat silently for a long moment.
Then he sighed.
"There are some things you should know now."
Chen Shi straightened instantly.
Grandpa continued:
"For ordinary Pokémon—whether a Caterpie or a pseudo-legend like Garchomp—their natural ceiling is generally Elite Four peak."
"At that point, their bodies, energy cores, and internal circuits reach the limit."
"To go further—to reach Champion—they must shatter their limit. That requires willpower, talent, and resources. All three."
"Once a Pokémon breaks through that limit, its strength surpasses Elite Four by an enormous margin."
"The gap is like heaven and earth."
Grandpa's eyes dimmed with quiet sorrow.
"My Sceptile, Salamence, Venusaur…"
"And your grandmother's Garchomp… all reached peak Elite Four long before you were even born."
"Sixteen years have passed."
"They're still there."
Chen Shi's eyes widened.
Sixteen years… unable to advance?
Both elders nodded.
Grandpa continued:
"They don't lack perseverance."
"They don't lack resources."
"They lack… potential."
"Without a miracle, they may stay at this level forever."
Chen Shi immediately understood.
Drakloak had Legendary-grade potential — Champion level was guaranteed.
Swampert also had Champion-grade aptitude.
Togepi, though currently Elite Four potential, still had two evolutions and multiple enhancement opportunities. With the right stones and Grandpa's potions, it could reach Champion potential.
But…
Florges — even after evolving via Premium Shiny Stone and drinking a potential-boosting potion — was only quasi-Champion.
Leafeon too was only quasi-Champion.
Would that mean—
One day they'd be stuck at Elite Four peak?
Unable to break through, just like Grandpa's Garchomp and Salamence?
A cold stab pierced Chen Shi's heart.
His fists clenched.
No.
Absolutely not.
No partner of mine will be left behind.
Grandma smiled softly, remembering old times.
"When your grandpa's Swampert was pregnant, he nearly lost his mind gathering the best herbs."
"He wanted to make sure you wouldn't be disadvantaged in the future."
"We never expected the egg you picked up to contain a Pokémon whose potential surpassed Swampert entirely."
Warmth overflowed in Chen Shi's chest.
In his previous life, he was an orphan.
In this life, though he lost his parents early—
His grandparents gave him a home.
A family.
A love he had never known before.
He bowed his head, voice steady and resolute.
"Grandpa, Grandma… don't worry."
"I will never disappoint your expectations."
The two elders exchanged a satisfied smile.
They didn't need to say anything more.