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The numbers climbed slowly, one by one.
Li Xiang's heart pounded in sync with each increment. He glanced at Torracat and saw no signs of distress on its face—just heavier breathing, as if it were exerting itself, but nothing more strenuous than a brisk jog.
What was noticeable, however, was the golden shimmer surrounding the bell on its chest. The light pulsed like a fine veil under the sun, almost ethereal, tempting one to reach out and touch it.
But Li Xiang knew better. If he dared lay a finger on it, his hand would be well-done in seconds.
Best not to test fate.
Focusing back on the temperature display, he watched the numbers rise—slowly, but steadily. Each digit marked a new breakthrough.
Three minutes later.
1000°C.
The bell's chime grew louder, and the golden mist expanded further. If the temperature kept climbing, the glow might soon envelop Torracat entirely.
Li Xiang glanced at Riolu and Frogadier, who were watching him intently. Though they had only been together for a year, they knew exactly what that look meant.
After a silent exchange, the two Pokémon nodded firmly.
"...Push to 1100," Li Xiang said, voice low.
This state of intense focus was rare, and they all knew 1100°C was nothing to Torracat—just another step, like eating or sleeping, but stopping now, right at the threshold, would only leave Torracat with regrets.
What did flame temperature represent?
Power.
For Fire-types, hotter flames meant greater destructive force.
So—
Keep pushing. Push until it can't go any further.
Li Xiang licked his dry lips. The heat radiating from Torracat had long since become unbearable. Stepping back a meter would bring relief, but he couldn't, because Torracat was watching him.
Leaving now would shatter its momentum.
Sometimes, breaking limits relied entirely on that one driving force.
Endure.
Eyes locked on the display, Li Xiang waited, but compared to the jump from 900 to 1000, the climb from 1000 to 1100 was agonizingly slow—like watching a snail crawl, with numbers barely budging every few seconds.
The temperature even fluctuated downward a few times.
Li Xiang's nerves were frayed. Sweat drenched his clothes, his throat parched.
Five minutes later.
1100°C—achieved.
Unstable, yes, but it was done.
Now… 1200?
Li Xiang swallowed hard, wincing at the dryness in his throat.
He was probably dehydrated, but not enough to stop.
"1200," he rasped, wiping his forehead.
Riolu and Frogadier were also feeling the heat, but since Li Xiang wasn't backing down, neither would they.
Corviknight, the newest member of the team, didn't dare even flap its wings, staying utterly still despite not understanding what was happening.
Just… wait.
And so, the backyard's temperature climbed again. Fortunately, the heat source was just a bell, with a maximum range of five meters.
As expected, the chime grew louder, the golden mist thickening until it covered Torracat's entire chest.
What was the absolute limit for a Torracat around level 30?
Li Xiang didn't know, but right now, 1200°C was far from its limit.
It just couldn't control temperatures that high yet.
Ten minutes later.
1200°C—reached.
This time, the numbers refused to stabilize, constantly fluctuating.
Li Xiang took a deep breath and spoke softly, "Ease back a little… Hold it there. Good. Perfect."
Could Torracat hear him?
The temperature responded to his words, so—yes.
How it heard him wasn't something Li Xiang wanted to dwell on right now, because he had another decision to make.
1300°C?
Yes.
Torracat still had strength left. They had nothing else planned for the next few days.
Push now, regret briefly. Hold back, regret forever.
"1300," he commanded.
Like an old car straining its engine, Torracat pushed harder, seeking greater power.
Li Xiang was the driver, controlling the throttle.
Riolu and the others?
Just passengers along for the ride.
Another ten minutes passed.
1300°C—achieved.
The fluctuations grew more frequent, and rom this, Li Xiang estimated Torracat's true controllable limit.
—1500°C.
Beyond that, Torracat would lose control.
Watching Torracat's furrowed brow, Li Xiang set a new goal: 1550°C.
If 1500°C was the limit, then 1550°C was the breakthrough. Sometimes, you never knew how far you could go until you forced yourself.
1400°C—commence.
Torracat's frown deepened. The golden mist swelled, and by the time it hit 1400°C, the shimmer had transformed into a silken veil, wrapping around half its body.
Li Xiang took a sharp breath.
1500°C—next.
Torracat's body trembled. The golden silk now nearly encased it completely, and the bell's ringing was loud enough to be heard next door. Luckily, Li Xiang's parents weren't home—otherwise, they would've rushed out to stop them.
Through sheer force of will, Torracat locked the temperature at 1500°C, the golden veil now fully enveloping it.
Honestly? It had already done incredibly well.
From an uncontrolled 850°C to a stable 1500°C—
The difference was astronomical.
Torracat had surpassed mere "limit-breaking" and entered the realm of the absurd, but Li Xiang wanted it to go even further.
He could feel something changing inside Torracat, though he couldn't quite place what…
"1550," he finally said, once Torracat had stabilized at 1500°C.
By now, the heat radiating from the bell was so intense it warped the air.
Those final 50 degrees?
Each one was wrenched out by sheer force.
Li Xiang was certain Torracat was at its limit—but 1550°C was within reach.
A breakthrough beyond the breakthrough.
But just as the display hit 1549°C— Something went wrong.
The bell ignited.
A small, blazing orb of orange-yellow fire burst to life, and the golden silk around Torracat caught flame like tinder!
"Meow!"
Torracat's eyes snapped open.
Ears perked, nostrils flared— Golden fire erupted.
A roaring inferno engulfed Torracat, swelling like a miniature sun!
Li Xiang could withstand the bell's heat, but this forced him back two steps, and those two steps let him see the temperature display skyrocketing.
In mere seconds, Torracat's flames surpassed 1700°C—and kept climbing.
Was this… Flare Blitz?!
Li Xiang's breath hitched.
After half a year of failed attempts, detours, and relentless training— Was Torracat finally mastering this ultimate Fire-type move?
But something was still missing.
Though the flames were shifting toward pale yellow, they needed to reach blue—the true threshold for Flare Blitz.
Blue flames burned at 3000°C or higher.
Mega Charizard X's azure flames?
5000°C, minimum.
The gap was staggering.
"Almost there!" Li Xiang urged, eyes locked on the flames and the display.
Torracat crouched low, a guttural growl tearing from its throat as the bell's chime turned chaotic.
1700°C. 1800°C. 1900°C—
2000°C!
The flames shifted to a vibrant yellow!
Though uncontrolled, this proved Torracat's monumental growth.
Years of accumulation, unleashed in an instant.
From 800°C to 2000°C—this wasn't just leveling up.
This was evolutionary.
But after 2000°C, the climb slowed again, stalling at 2200°C two minutes later.
This is it…
Li Xiang felt a pang of disappointment as the temperature began dropping.
But mostly?
Pride.
2200°C—a new beginning!
"Meow!!!!"
Just as Li Xiang was about to congratulate Torracat, the fiery cat seemed to realize it hadn't reached the benchmark.
After all that effort—still not enough?!
Frustration burned in its chest.
Eyes darting around, Torracat suddenly bolted toward the backyard tree.
Li Xiang's expression twisted.
It was still on fire!
If it set the tree ablaze—
"STOP—"
Too late.
Torracat reached the tree, dug a small hole at its roots, and pulled out a jar!
The jar melted instantly in the flames, revealing catnip and silvervine sticks shaped like lollipops.
Li Xiang gaped.
"You hid catnip under the tree?!"
Since when did Torracat learn to stash contraband?!
But realization struck—he knew exactly what Torracat was about to do.
"WAIT—"
"Meow!"
Torracat turned, its expression resolute. No retreat. No surrender.
Then— It inhaled the burning catnip fumes.
"HSSSSSS—!!"
The smoke flooded its lungs.
Torracat was using the burning herbs to amplify its flames!
—No, that wasn't all! It was gagging, trying to force up the hairballs in its stomach!
Hairballs + Smoke = Transcendence.
Torracat was going all out.
Li Xiang lowered his hand helplessly. There was no stopping this now. The color and temperature of Torracat's flames shifted again—
Dramatically.
The hairball flew out.
The moment it touched the flames—
BOOM.
A deafening explosion lit up the backyard.
Li Xiang and the others ducked behind Frogadier's Water Pulse shield, ignoring the burning tree and the screeching fire alarm. Their eyes were locked on Torracat.
Through the smoke, the pale yellow flames flickered—
Then lightened further.
Since Torracat was no longer near the sensor, Li Xiang couldn't see the exact temperature, but it was undoubtedly rising.
Covering his mouth, Li Xiang felt his heart pound wildly, as if anticipating something—
The arrival of blue fire.
There!
His eyes widened. He swore he saw it—flecks of pale blue amidst the yellow, like scattered embers.
Faint, but undeniable.
Blue flames. The prerequisite for Flare Blitz!
In just two hours, Torracat had gone from 850°C to 3000°C!
It was like a level 20 Torracat suddenly jumping to level 50!
…Okay, maybe that was an exaggeration. Temperature and power levels weren't the same. Without sufficient energy reserves, high temperatures alone were meaningless.
When a soap bubble pops, it briefly hits 20,000°C—
But does it burn?
No.
Because quantity matters, and Torracat's energy reserves were still tied to its level.
At 800°C, it could sustain flames for 10 minutes.
At 3000°C?
Maybe 10 seconds.
But for Li Xiang, Torracat meeting Flare Blitz's core requirement—even if it wasn't fully mastered yet—was everything.
Under the burning tree, Torracat's stamina finally gave out.
The blue flames flickered and died.
"...Put out the fire."
Li Xiang ordered Riolu and Frogadier, then rushed to drag the unconscious Torracat to safety.
—Rain Dance + Water Pulse.
With Pokémon around, the flames were quickly contained. (Not that they were ever that big to begin with.)
The backyard's flowers were mostly fine.
The tree?
Slightly charred.
He was definitely getting scolded tonight, but it was worth it.
Li Xiang grinned, ruffling Torracat's sooty fur.
The test wasn't complete— But he was already more than satisfied.