novelraw Chapter 750: Reunion After a Long Separation, Marshadow Appears!
Chapter 750: Reunion After a Long Separation, Marshadow Appears!
Chapter 750: Reunion After a Long Separation, Marshadow Appears!
I Really Didn’t Want to Be a Trainer
Lu Ye traveled together with Shangren and President Tang.
By tradition, each outgoing Donghua champion is granted one opportunity to meet Ho-Oh.
Those who pass Marshadow’s trial would receive a reward from Ho-Oh.
When they reached the mountain foot, Lu Ye asked Shangren what he had received from Ho-Oh.
“A blazing rock blessed by the Sacred Fire,” Shangren replied, “It suits my Talonflame and Venusaur very well. In short, I’m personally satisfied.”
Lu Ye said in surprise,
“I thought you didn’t pass Marshadow’s trial.”
After all, the difficulty of the Rainbow Trial is obvious… and the previous champion didn’t show anything in the final at all!
Shangren: “…”
What a show-off!
The Rainbow Trial values a brave, kind heart and a resilient spirit above all.
On that point, Shangren, who often got beaten up and pierced through, had indeed developed stubborn perseverance…
President Tang interjected, “Champion, have you really made up your mind to retire?”
“You can just call me by my name.” Lu Ye paused, then nodded, “I still want to continue traveling with my companions.”
Red retired because the champion role would constrain his growth, and also due to the consideration of a wrist injury.
Steven retired because he was more passionate about collecting minerals than champion duties.
Of course, when danger arrives, regardless of title, these trainers would stand up and fight, and Teacher Lu was no exception.
He’d just quietly note things down in his notebook for the Breeder…
“I understand your meaning, it’s just a pity…” President Tang shook his head gently and left the sentence hanging.
Shangren’s eyelid twitched.
President, I feel like you’re implying something with your words!
“Ahem!” Shangren coughed forcefully, then said in a low voice, “If you retire, you will still retain the champion title and the seed slot for next year’s World Championships.”
Lu Ye blinked, “What do you mean by that?”
“Champion-level trainers can directly qualify for the Master Ball-tier World Championships. Take Steven Stone for example—he currently holds the fourth seat among the Eight Masters, yet his title is still Hoenn Champion.” President Tang explained.
Lu Ye felt a little complicated.
The World Championships… that would be a battle feast attended by champions and even battle legends.
It wasn’t that he feared losing; the issue was that participating could put Pokémon into a near-death state, and he didn’t need rankings to prove himself anymore.
At the root… I never intended to be a trainer to begin with!
Life’s not easy, Lu Ye sighed, a chill faintly rising along the back beneath his black-and-gold champion cloak.
Oh well… today I’ll grab some Sacred Ash from Ho-Oh.
In future, no matter how badly injured someone or some Pokémon might be, Sacred Ash could bring them back!
The three walked on for a while.
At the mountain foot, the distant path wound upward, shrouded in thick mist, with bluish stones faintly glimmering.
“This is Celestial Blue Mountain, one of the places where Ho-Oh soars and rests,” President Tang said, “From here, you must go forward alone, Champion.”
President Tang insisted on the title “Champion.” Lu Ye didn’t argue and asked,
“The fog is so thick, what if I get lost inside the mountain?”
“That’s the duty of the Envoy who appears from the shadows,” President Tang explained, “After Shangren and I leave, Ho-Oh’s envoy will manifest and guide you through the Rainbow Trial, and lead you to the correct mountain path.”
“Don’t rashly storm into the fog on your own. Without the envoy’s guidance, it’s a dead end!” Shangren warned.
He had once peered into the strength of wild Pokémon in that fog during the Rainbow Trial… Nidoking and Rhyperior were unusually ferocious!
If they formed an encirclement, a trainer could very well be blasted by a round of Hyper Beam and carried off!
“It seems the envoy really is Marshadow…” Lu Ye thought to himself, “But I remember… didn’t I already pass the Rainbow Trial?”
Half a year ago, during his Sinnoh travels, Marshadow had appeared and guided Teacher Lu to the Rainbow Trial.
The trial was to [calm the enraged Giratina and save the glaciers of the Reversed World].
This was SSS-tier, hellish difficulty!
Compared to that, the trials faced by previous Donghua champions were trivial.
Lu Ye pondered for a moment.
Did coming to Celestial Blue Mountain require being tested again?
At that moment, something in his inner pocket warmed and emitted a rainbow glow.
Shangren opened his mouth, “Teacher Lu… your chest is glowing!”
Lu Ye felt exasperated and pulled a glowing object from his pocket, a Rainbow Wing.
The Rainbow Wing shimmered with prismatic light.
Under the astonished gazes of Shangren and President Tang,
the light extended into a faint path, like a guiding map, cutting through the dense fog and stretching toward the distant mountain road.
“The Rainbow Wing!”
President Tang had heard Lu Ye possessed this legendary item, and seeing it with his own eyes still brought a flicker of surprise.
“It seems to be able to take you straight to the summit… you won’t even need the trial!” Shangren said in disbelief.
Why… just because he’s better looking than me, Ho-Oh finds him attractive?
Lu Ye looked down at the Rainbow Wing. Blue light rose in his palm as he casually channeled a bit of Aura.
Rainbow Wing: (*^▽^*)
In an instant, the guiding route brightened somewhat, as if an auto-navigation had activated, avoiding the dangerous areas within the fog and leading straight to Ho-Oh!
Lu Ye wore an odd expression.
It seems desperate for me to go milk Ho-Oh for rewards…
Does this thing really symbolize the courage and kindness of a Rainbow Hero?
Why do I feel like this feather is glowing but already completely black inside!
From the shadows,
Marshadow, reunited after a long separation, secretly hid in the darkness, watching this old friend from afar.
It still remembered the farewell.
“You’ll definitely see me again,” Lu Ye had said with a smile.
Before the sentiment could last long, the Rainbow Wing made Marshadow’s jaw drop.
“Mahsha! щ(ﾟДﾟщ)”
This Rainbow Wing… has way too much character!
It clearly spent so much time with Lu Ye that it became completely assimilated—seemingly multicolored, but actually black inside!
“You three go ahead.”
Lu Ye held the Rainbow Wing, turned back and smiled, “I’ll be right back.”
Shangren gaped, exchanged a puzzled look with President Tang, and both nodded in unison.
Lu Ye walked the mountain path shrouded in dense fog, Rainbow Wing in hand.
Under the rainbow light, the bluish stones faintly glowed, forming a correct path.
Originally, a Ho-Oh envoy was required for a Donghua champion to meet Ho-Oh.
Now, with Teacher Lu possessing the Rainbow Wing, he effectively bypassed the usual steps!
Marshadow could no longer remain hidden. Its shadow darted across the stone, finally stopping in front of Lu Ye.
“Mahsha…”
A pitch-black figure slowly rose from the shadows, flames flickering in its eyes, fists clenched, its expression stern.
Ho-Oh’s envoy, Marshadow!
After half a year, the two reunited.
There was no avoidance in their gazes, only a silent greeting.
Lu Ye and the solemn Marshadow stared at each other for three seconds, then Lu Ye smiled and snapped his fingers.
The shadow beneath his feet suddenly split in two, one forming Darkrai and the other forming Haunter.
The two Pokémon rose slowly from the shade. Darkrai folded his arms and nodded lightly at Marshadow as a greeting between temporary comrades.
“Gengarrr~!” Haunter bared his teeth and greeted boisterously.
Hello, long time no see~!
“Mahsha…” Marshadow stiffened its neck and nodded.
Mm… long time no see.
Then Marshadow fixed its gaze deeply on the black-haired youth.
A black-and-gold cloak symbolizing the champion’s status now draped his back.
This meant he had become a League Champion… and intended to meet Ho-Oh!
Phew…
Marshadow exhaled deeply, its eyes’ flames leaping, its body flickering with golden fire, its head laced with a blue sheen.
“Mahsha!” Marshadow took a boxing stance and challenged Lu Ye.
Fight me!
I won’t let you pass the trial easily and meet Ho-Oh!
Lu Ye slid his hand into his inner pocket.
“Mahsha!!”
Don’t try to pull out a Poké Ball!
With a whoosh, Marshadow moved, flashing quickly in front of Lu Ye and throwing a jet-black little punch!
Lu Ye’s cloak billowed backward in the gust, his black hair swayed, but his eyes did not dodge; he looked at Marshadow’s fist with a smile.
The fist drew near, Lu Ye’s pupils clear, no fear—only a trace of joy at their reunion.
Because he knew Marshadow would not hurt him.
He believed this firmly: if you treat Pokémon with true heart, they will respond.
“Mahsha…”
Marshadow’s voice weakened, its gaze wavering slightly.
Lowering its eyelids, Marshadow looked at Lu Ye’s palm, where he pinched a small, withered, pitch-black fragile flower.
A flower that meant “gratitude,” a Gracidea Flower.
Marshadow had given this flower to Lu Ye at their farewell, and anything touched by Marshadow would be wrapped in shadow and turn black.
Even the Rainbow Wing, when held by Marshadow, would lose its shine and become a weapon for punishing enemies.
“Mahsha…”
Marshadow hadn’t expected Lu Ye to keep the little flower… it had given it casually back then… because it had nothing else, it plucked a Gracidea Flower from a sea of blooms and handed it to Lu Ye.
“Returning it to its owner… no, I’ll give it to you again.” Lu Ye said with a smile.
“Mahsha…”
Marshadow stepped back, silently staring at Lu Ye.
After a while, it turned around like a strict examiner.
You—your courage has passed the trial…
Now, come with me to meet Ho-Oh.
“Gengarrr~”
Haunter clapped happily on the sidelines.
Darkrai folded his arms and mused, “This trial is ridiculously unserious…”
Lu Ye walked behind Marshadow and asked curiously, “Didn’t I already pass the trial last time, Marshadow?”
Marshadow’s telepathic voice sounded, the boy’s tone faint.
“Last time was last time. This time there are new rules.”
“Who set the rules?”
“Of course I did, so you passed.” Marshadow snorted.
Lu Ye: “…”
This isn’t backdoor nepotism… this is bond!