Chapter 452: You're a Clever One, Aren't You?
The anticipation for this final match was already cranked to the max.
The duel between the two strongest rookies of the season!
A clash of the miraculous and the mysterious!
A battle to decide which member of the new generation was the true child of destiny!
And yet, in a world that seemed to have no limits on insanity, things were about to get even crazier.
Before the match officially began, just as the referee was about to give the final confirmation, Forrest switched on his microphone. The explosive news he dropped sent the audience's excitement into a full-blown frenzy.
"Arthur," he said, his voice echoing through the stadium, "do you know about your heritage?"
"???"
A giant question mark materialized over Arthur's head.
At the same time, the eyes of every gossip-monger in the crowd lit up like a shiny Pokémon.
Is that... the scent of fresh tea?!
It was common knowledge that Arthur was an orphan who had emerged from Mt. Moon. This was no secret. Anyone who had spent more than a few days online had heard the title "Son of Suicune." Unless you've been living under a Geodude.
His Trainer ID was issued for the first time when he was fifteen. Before that, there were no birth certificates or any related records for him. The police station that first processed his case after his... arrival... could attest to that.
After Arthur became famous, countless internet sleuths tried to use data-mining and background checks to expose his story as a "publicity stunt" or a "ploy for clicks and attention." But now, nearly three years later, despite wave after wave of would-be debunkers, no one had managed to uncover Arthur's true past.
So, had Forrest cracked the code?
Had he solved one of the top ten unsolved internet mysteries of Alliance Year 252?
In that moment, countless spectators and fans leaned forward, their hearts pounding with breathless anticipation. It seemed that gossip and drama were truly timeless forms of human entertainment.
Only the person at the center of it all, Arthur, was completely bewildered.
Forrest wasn't asking who he was, but about his heritage. What was this about?
"...What are you talking about?" Arthur could only manage to reply.
Forrest smiled, an expression of complete and utter confidence on his face.
"Arthur, did you know," he began, "that you are actually a descendant of a Kubfu Alliance Champion from two hundred years ago? That Champion vanished at a young age, and not many records of him remain, but he was the youngest and most gifted Champion in the history of the Alliance! And his name… was also Arthur. Just like you."
The moment Forrest finished speaking, the entire stadium erupted.
"WHOA!!!"
The stands instantly transformed into a sea of roaring, howling fans.
Only Arthur's expression was strange.
The man spoke with such conviction, his tone so confident, that for a second, Arthur almost believed him… if he didn't already know exactly who he was.
He almost wanted to applaud. You're a clever one, aren't you?
Right now, only one thought was running through his mind: Did I just get demoted generationally... again?
Forrest then presented his evidence.
"You might not know this, but the Charizard you've recently acquired was the very same Pokémon that belonged to the historical Champion Arthur. I've confirmed this through certain channels. There is absolutely no mistake."
This time, another wave of clamor swept through the audience.
For many, this suddenly jogged their memories.
"Wait a minute! I remember! Didn't Arthur go to some Charicific Valley on a mountain last year? He posted a bunch of videos and articles afterward, calling for everyone to pay attention to the veteran Pokémon left behind by war heroes. I even donated some money back then."
"Yeah, I remember that too! When Arthur first used a Charizard in the preseason tournament last year, a lot of people guessed he got it from that valley. But is Forrest saying he brought out the Champion's own Charizard from the valley?"
As a meritorious service Pokémon, much of Old Flame's information was classified military intelligence, unknown to the general public. Even when Arthur used Old Flame's status to appeal for aid for Mount Axewood, newspapers and websites were forbidden from publishing his photo.
That was how Old Flame's identity had remained a secret until now.
Even at this moment, many people were still skeptical.
"That's fake, right? What kind of Charizard can live for over two hundred years? I learned in school that Charizard is the most misleadingly named Pokémon ever. They can't learn the move Eruption, and they aren't even Dragon-types! How could one live that long?" (1)
On the stage, Arthur's expression grew even stranger.
You even figured that out?
Forrest continued his grand speech. "And you even managed to reawaken that former Champion's Charizard's Mega Evolution. It's clear that he acknowledges you deeply. I can think of no other explanation for that bond other than a connection through blood."
"..."
If the occasion wasn't so serious, Arthur would have given Forrest a round of applause.
Great deduction! Next time, don't.
"So, what are you trying to say?" Arthur asked, giving a non-committal response.
He had no idea how the other guy had confirmed Old Flame's identity. Without enough information, he chose not to deny it outright. To save himself some trouble, he figured he could live with the generational demotion. It wasn't the first time, anyway; he was already numb to it. The fans had already given him a long-lost mother on one of Mt. Moon's peaks. It had been over two years, and he'd just had to accept it, hadn't he?
Seeing that Arthur didn't immediately deny it, Forrest grew even more excited.
"So you already knew something, didn't you?! Did the Charizard tell you?! Does he know anything else? For this battle, I've brought a temporarily captured Pokémon. I hope to have a sparring match with your Charizard. If my Pokémon wins, I hope you'll allow your Charizard to tell me some of the secrets of the Champion Arthur from all those years ago. It's very important to me!"
Actually, you don't need to ask Charizard for secrets about the Champion. I can just make some up… ahem, tell you myself.
Arthur, wearing a peculiar look, accepted the challenge. The main reason was that his opponent's expression and tone were so certain, his confidence so soaring, that Arthur didn't even have the heart to correct him.
Immediately, a wave of doubt rose from the audience.
"A temporarily captured Pokémon? Is Forrest being arrogant? How can a temporary Pokémon be used in a professional match? Especially in a Captain's Match this crucial?"
"Has the Blaze Team gotten complacent?"
"I think he's just asking for a loss!"
Their doubts lasted until the first round began. Arthur sent out Old Flame as promised, while Forrest released his own "senior."
The moment it appeared, the aged Salamence threw its head back and roared. The sheer force of its presence instantly stunned countless people in the stadium, silencing all the spectators who had just been mocking Forrest for his recklessness.
Holy—a Dragon!
What shocked them wasn't just that Forrest had produced a pseudo-legendary Dragon-type, but that this Salamence's aura was terrifyingly powerful. It didn't have the Intimidate ability, yet when its eyes swept across the crowd, it terrified many of the pet Pokémon the fans had brought with them.
This was an aura of pure lethality, honed over countless battles and a thousand victories!
But as the ancient Salamence finished its scan of the surroundings, its gaze returned to the front and landed on Arthur. In that instant, its expression suddenly turned strange.
Pokémon don't just recognize faces; they recognize auras. The young man before it was so young, yet his aura was so achingly familiar. For a moment, it was completely unsure.
It wasn't until Arthur secretly communicated with Old Flame, having him relay a message to the Salamence and asking for its discretion, that the aged dragon's eyes widened in utter shock.
No way!
It instinctively turned its head to look back at the young man it had entrusted itself to, Forrest.
The sudden glance from his Dragon "senior" left Forrest confused. He also had the strangest feeling. The peerlessly domineering Salamence, now that it was on the field… why did the look it was giving him seem to be filled with a profound sense of resentment?
Was he just imagining it?
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