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The new semester began officially, and with it came the arena battles.
On the first day back, Xiang Yangwei didn't start things off with a luggage-searching competition like last semester. Instead, after gathering everyone in a routine assembly, he simply looked at their nervous faces and said, "Happy New Year."
Then, after a bunch of empty platitudes, he let them go.
It was a bit out of character for Xiang Yangwei, leaving many who were secretly looking forward to something feeling disappointed.
Li Xiang was one of them.
Even though he had over seven thousand performance point, he never thought having too many was a bad thing.
Besides, after buying this and that, his points were draining pretty fast.
The biggest expenses were the A-Rank Training Facility and the Pokémon Paradise.
The so-called "work-life balance" meant that after working so hard, his Pokémon needed to relax too.
So, his points kept plummeting like a waterfall.
Watching the numbers drop daily pained Li Xiang, who had a bit of a hoarder mentality.
Back on topic....
Incineroar was continuing down the path it started during winter break: getting beaten up on purpose.
To do this, having high damage resistance was crucial. So now, its daily task was to get pummeled repeatedly with the help of professionals.
The biggest difference between the A-Rank and B-Rank training facilities was that the A-Rank could actually call in Pokémon of different attributes to spar with Incineroar.
The B-Rank could only use high-tech equipment.
Clearly, the A-Rank facility was far more useful for Pokémon.
No wonder it cost so much.
Plus, with the professional support here, Li Xiang could finally experiment with things he hadn't dared to try before.
For example, The Magma Belt.
He knew there was more to this thing than met the eye, and it wasn't as simple as it seemed.
At the very least, he hadn't seen this kind of change in any other Incineroar. Additionally, it was necessary to train Incineroar's fire-absorption ability, even if it had hardly ever been useful...
After all, hardly anyone was foolish enough to use Fire-type moves against an Incineroar.
....
Inside the training room.
In a 360-degree composite-material-lined chamber, Incineroar stood still, facing Li Xiang, who was behind a layer of reinforced glass.
"Go for it, Big Kitty! Show me something new!" He pumped his fist at Incineroar, who responded with a confident grin.
The goal of this test was to push Incineroar to its limit, forcing it to release the highest temperature flames it currently could, and incidentally, to see if its belt would undergo any changes.
Given the circumstances, this process was expected to take a long time.
The necessary conditions included:
- A high-level Fire-type Pokémon
- A flame thrower
- An oxygen release system
- A temperature measuring device
- Fire suppression and cooling equipment
- A standby medical team
- And, highest quality catnip cigars.
As a devoted fan of gangster films like The Godfather, Incineroar had always held a certain fondness for cigars. At the same time, due to its unique physiology, it had an unusual "chemical" reaction to burned catnip.
This had led to it persistently begging Li Xiang to make it a catnip cigar.
It didn't want a poorly made one or one made by someone else—it had to be handmade by Li Xiang himself.
Just like the catnip lollipops he used to roll for it.
Ever since he found out that Incineroar's favorite catnip brand didn't sell lollipops, Li Xiang had started making them himself.
This gesture had deeply moved Incineroar. So, when Incineroar learned it could use burned catnip, the first thing it thought of was having Li Xiang personally make it a catnip cigar.
At first, Li Xiang refused—rolling cigars was much more troublesome than lollipops, but he couldn't withstand Incineroar's pitiful pleading eyes.
Reluctantly, he spent time researching how to roll cigars online and eventually produced a passable one.
The process was incredibly time-consuming. After making one, Li Xiang didn't want to make a second, but, sticking to his principles, he persevered until he became proficient.
The box of cigars he made became one of Incineroar's most treasured possessions. It couldn't bear to smoke them, rarely even taking them out to look at.
Only in the dead of night would it take them out, give them a sniff, and enjoy a little high.
But today, one cigar had to be sacrificed.
While Incineroar felt a pang of heartache, it was also anticipating that euphoric state.
When was the last time it had smoked burned catnip?
Probably months ago.
"Kitty, stop spacing out. Let's begin."
Li Xiang's voice interrupted Incineroar's thoughts.
It looked up blankly, then slowly pulled a multi-colored cigar from the fluffy fur around its neck.
It took a deep whiff first. Savoring that soul-stirring aroma, Incineroar pressed one end of the cigar against the center of its belt.
Sizzle...
Green smoke rose, and a peculiar scent drifted through the air. It carefully placed the cigar in its mouth and took a deep drag.
Hiss—
Incineroar's body shuddered involuntarily.
How to describe this feeling?
The moment the smoke entered its body, every cell seemed to open up. Its senses sharpened, and its mind became incredibly clear.
Originally, color dominated Incineroar's field of vision, but after inhaling the smoke, everything began to change, shifting into something like a color spectrum... no, thermal imaging!
It recalled the term, looking at its surroundings and Li Xiang in front of it. The color layers were so distinct they almost seemed unreal.
Its sensitivity to temperature changes had increased. This enhanced its temperature control even further.
'Indeed. Cigars are supreme.'
Incineroar grinned, took another deep drag, drawing the smoke into its body, and its eyes lit up.
"Roar!"
'I say, let's begin!'
Instantly, Incineroar's belt glowed brightly. Fire-type energy surged, swirling like a vortex, constantly drawing oxygen from the air to make the flames burn even fiercer!
Around it, the oxygen release system activated.
Moreover, several Magcargo revealed themselves, opening their mouths and shooting streams of fire at Incineroar.
As the flames neared Incineroar, drawn by the belt's pull, they were absorbed into its center. The belt's glow intensified another level!
Outside, Li Xiang, wearing sunglasses, kept a close watch on the temperature gauge on the right.
As of two months ago, the highest temperature Incineroar had displayed was over 4,500 degrees. But back then, they didn't have all this professional equipment, and Incineroar hadn't been pushed to its limit.
So, that number wasn't very reliable. It could only serve as a baseline.
Any temperature higher than 4,500 degrees would mean Incineroar was improving!
Inside, Incineroar maintained a cross-armed posture, the catnip cigar in its mouth burning slowly, seemingly unaffected by the surrounding temperature.
This alone was enough to demonstrate its powerful temperature control.
As the saying goes, "Lighting a cigar with your belt makes you invincible."
Though Incineroar felt extremely calm mentally, its body was in a state of high excitement, as if it could shatter the reinforced glass with a wave of its hand and throttle Li Xiang like a chick...
'Huh? Why did I think that?'
Incineroar grew slightly alert. Even if it was subconscious, it had actually thought about harming Li Xiang?
Something was wrong. Very wrong.
If catnip cigars and gangster movies were Incineroar's favorite things, then compared to Li Xiang, those two were completely insignificant.
As a Pokémon that had grown up alongside this boy, striding forward on a broad path together, Incineroar genuinely liked... no, loved Li Xiang from the bottom of its heart.
It wasn't the affection of a child for a parent, the care between friends, or a master-disciple relationship.
Teammates? Companions? Family?
These words were too vague. Incineroar wouldn't acknowledge them.
In its view, Li Xiang was the other half of its life, the most important part of its existence, even. He was almost like a part of it.
Loving oneself required no conditions or reasons... But it had actually thought about harming Li Xiang?
After inhaling the smoke, as its thoughts became more active, had it produced some strange ideas?
Inner demons? Probably.
Incineroar smirked coldly. 'The only one who can decide my actions is me!
Mere smoke couldn't influence it at all!
Whether inner demons or hidden thoughts, this body existed to reach the pinnacle together with Li Xiang. It would never allow any possibility of harming him!
Not even in thought!
Incineroar took another deep breath. Its enormous lung capacity instantly burned the remaining cigar into smoke that swirled around its body.
Then, as if electrified, a tingling sensation and heat coursed through every muscle.
Incineroar's body stiffened slightly, but its belt began to visibly "melt," transforming toward a magma belt!
It might have taken two seconds, or three.
In just a few breaths, Incineroar in "Sage Mode" had transformed its belt into a magma belt!
And the temperature still hadn't peaked!
"Roar!"
'Keep cranking it up for me!'
Incineroar roared, eyes blazing, surrounded by smoke as if riding clouds and mist.
Outside, Li Xiang silently had the Porygon controlling the area increase the flame output.
The number on the temperature gauge had long surpassed 4,000 degrees and was still rising visibly!
4,500 was within reach!
And when it reached the next limit, what changes would occur in the magma belt?
He stared inside, eyes locked on the magma belt.
As if answering his expectations, when the temperature hit 4,500 degrees, the magma belt completely turned into an unstable fluid, spreading like a thin film over Incineroar's entire body.
Upon contact, the dark red light released by the magma belt enveloped Incineroar from head to toe.
It wasn't overly bright, but it gave off a chilling feeling, as if anything that got too close would instantly vaporize.
Unfortunately, perhaps due to insufficient flame or temperature, the film lasted only a few seconds before disappearing completely.
The temperature gauge stalled at 4,800 degrees.
But it didn't matter. Li Xiang had seen what he wanted to see.
"Hahaha, hahaha! So this is why it could never learn it before! It was waiting for me here!"
He laughed heartily, a look of realization dawning on his face.
Most people might not understand what that dark red light was, but as a "plagiarizer," Li Xiang knew.
It was the powerful form Ash's Torracat had taken in the Sun & Moon anime after absorbing Incineroar's Blast Burn, enabling it to achieve a stunning victory against a stronger opponent!
The incredible physical transformation that allowed it to accomplish the feat of defeating a stronger and fully evolved opponent!
Indeed.
The path of fire absorption was correct.