"Tsk tsk tsk, at this rate, Elite Guardian Gray, you might not be able to hold onto the title of the strongest man anymore."
Nathan smacked his lips as he said this.
Leaving the mystic realm, the few guards stationed at the entrance noticed Nathan emerging, and at once they felt that something about their boss seemed different.
"Keep up the good work," Nathan greeted them casually.
"Boss, did you… did you hire some kind of body sculptor to reshape you? Why do you look like you've changed so much?"
One of his underlings, seeing Nathan in such a good mood, couldn't help but ask curiously.
Upon closer inspection, they could tell that Nathan's face now seemed sharper, more defined, his features carved with stronger lines. Even the way he walked carried an air of power and confidence.
The only thing was, he wasn't wearing any tight clothing, so they couldn't tell if his physique had also changed underneath.
"Heh, I've been training a little—got myself eight-pack abs. As for you, maybe it's about time you turned that big beer belly into something more useful."
Nathan chuckled while pointing at the underling's bulging stomach.
After tossing out that playful jab, he summoned Flygon and departed.
Back in Grace City, he sent a quick message to Grog letting him know he had returned. Barely twenty minutes later, Grog appeared at the manor.
"Boss, thank heavens you're back! If you hadn't come back soon, I really would've been tortured to death…"
The moment Grog laid eyes on Nathan, he immediately started wailing. Of course, his tears were only for show—it was more thunder than rain.
Seeing Grog act this way, Nathan could more or less guess the reason. It had to be related to that uproar he caused online, declaring that everyone else was trash.
Grog rambled on endlessly for a good while, alternating between complaints and reports about recent events.
Although Nathan had posted that video online, in truth he had been a little worried inside. What if no one dared to come challenge him? But the results went far beyond what even Grog had expected—people really did step forward to challenge him, and not just one!
In fact, someone had already arrived!
The only thing was, this person hadn't revealed which country he came from. He had only stated one thing: that he possessed a legendary Pokémon and wanted to challenge Nathan.
"You're serious? Someone really came? When did he arrive? Where is he now?"
Nathan asked, a spark of excitement lighting up in his eyes.
He had only been inside the mystic realm for two days, and already a challenger with a legendary Pokémon had appeared to seek him out. This was an incredible stroke of fortune! After all, Volcarona only needed to defeat one more legendary Pokémon to qualify for ascension into the legendary tier.
"I arranged for him to stay at a hotel. He said whenever you returned, I should let him know."
Grog explained.
Although the man was here to challenge Nathan, in order to ensure the challenge proceeded smoothly, Grog had gone out of his way to arrange suitable accommodations. Since his arrival, the man had already asked several times when Nathan would return.
"Good. I'll inform Kelly to prepare the plane. Let's go meet him together."
Without further ado, Nathan grabbed Grog and mounted Flygon, heading straight for the hotel.
Within minutes, they arrived at the hotel Grog had mentioned.
Thanks to the training in the mystic realm, Flygon's speed had increased significantly.
Knock knock knock. Grog led Nathan to the challenger's room and knocked on the door.
When the door swung open, a man dressed entirely in red stood there.
He looked to be in his thirties, and not only were his clothes crimson, but even his accessories and hair were dyed red. The entire person looked as if he were wrapped in flames.
"You're Nathan Vesper?"
The man's eyes skipped past Grog and fixed directly on Nathan, asking bluntly.
While Nathan was sizing him up, the man was also scrutinizing him in return.
"That's right, I'm Nathan Vesper."
Nathan smiled as he extended his right hand.
The man glanced at the offered hand, hesitated for a moment, then finally shook it.
"My name is Blaze. Pick a place. Before meeting you, I thought you were nothing but an exaggerator. But now that I've seen you in person… you've piqued my interest."
Although his words carried a clear note of provocation, in Nathan's ears they sounded surprisingly pleasing. This was exactly what he wanted—to be challenged. The only thing that felt odd was the man's name.
No matter the country, people had both a first name and a surname. Yet this man simply called himself "Blaze" (Fire). Was it just a code name?
Nathan didn't press further. After all, names were just labels. He could be called Nathan, and someone else could be called the same.
Kelly moved quickly. The moment he heard Nathan intended to have his Pokémon battle another legendary, he immediately rushed over without pause.
After picking up Nathan, Grog, and Blaze, the plane flew straight toward the desert battlefield they had used last time.
Onboard, Grog was practically buzzing with excitement. This was the first time he would get to personally witness Nathan's Pokémon facing off against a legendary.
The roar of the plane engines filled the air, and before long they arrived at the desert.
The battle scars from last time had already been buried by drifting sands over the past two days.
"Come out, Mewtwo!"
Nathan immediately released Mewtwo. This time, he wanted to let it test its strength.
In their previous fight against Entei, Mewtwo had lost in just one move. But now, with its mastery of Iron Body nearly perfected, Nathan believed in Mewtwo's power.
"Where's your Volcarona? I want my Pokémon to battle your Volcarona."
Blaze spoke as he pulled out a Poké Ball—entirely red, just like him, clearly painted over by hand.
When he tossed it, a Pokémon appeared before them.
It was a Moltres—a legendary!
But that wasn't the most shocking part. What truly stood out was that this Moltres was in its Galarian form.
Ordinarily, Moltres was a bird Pokémon covered in fiery red feathers, with a sharp, pointed beak, a fiery crest, and a blazing tail of flames. Its wings were sheathed in flame-like plumage, and its talons a deep brown.
Yet the Galarian Moltres was completely different. Its back was covered in black feathers, while its belly was streaked red. Its beak curved downward, glowing crimson. Its tail and crest burned with intertwined black and red flames, its wings shaded black at the front and red at the back. Its talons were crimson, tipped with black claws.
Moltres was a legendary bird that wielded the power of fire. It was said that when wounded, it would plunge itself into volcanic magma, igniting its body to heal its injuries.
The Galarian Moltres radiated a monstrous, overwhelming energy, its aura rising like pillars of fire, so oppressive that ordinary Pokémon couldn't even approach. Those struck by its attacks were left with a searing exhaustion, as though their very life force had been burned away.
The wicked energy it carried was so intense that the desert air, instead of burning, felt unnaturally cool.
That chill came from the sinister aura itself.
"Nathan, do you know why I came to challenge you? It's not because of your so-called 'trash declaration.' It's because I've heard others claim that your Volcarona is the true apex of all Fire-types!"
Blaze spoke sternly, eyes locked on Nathan.
From a young age, he had captured Moltres, and from that moment onward he had devoted himself to training Fire-type Pokémon. Every one of his partners carried the Fire attribute.
But his goal had never been the World Championship—that was why he had never appeared in international tournaments.
His true aim was to make Moltres the Fire-type Apex.
The title of "Apex" signified being the strongest of that elemental type.
To obtain it, one had to defeat every other Pokémon acknowledged as the strongest of that type across the world.
Over the years, Blaze had commanded Moltres in three hundred and twenty-one battles against Fire-types. He held a record of three hundred and twenty-one victories and zero losses. Many already recognized his Moltres as the Fire-type Apex.
But now, someone had cast doubt on that position—claiming Volcarona might be stronger.
That was why he had come!
As Moltres spread its wings, the familiar chime of the system rang out in Nathan's mind.
[All-Type Apex Quest! Earn the title of Apex for each type. Time limit: None!]
[Quest Reward: Three random items from the God-Tier Shop!]
[Young one, reaching the legendary tier is simply an increase in strength. Gaining the Apex title, however, is proof of that strength!]
"Since that's the case… Volcarona, come out!"
Originally, Nathan hadn't planned on sending Volcarona into this battle. But now, it wasn't just Blaze's demand—even the system had issued a mission. How could he possibly hold it back?
Thanks to intensive care over the past few days, Volcarona's injuries had fully healed. Nathan had spent a fortune on recovery medicines to restore it this quickly.
As Volcarona emerged, it soared gracefully into the air, scattering scales of searing powder that ignited the desert floor into blazing flames.
Opposite it, Moltres radiated waves of dark energy.
A clash between two Fire-type legends—such a fight was bound to be fierce, with no easy way to determine victory.
"Nathan, don't let me down!"
Blaze's eyes blazed with fighting spirit as he stared at Volcarona.
"Shouldn't I be the one saying that?"
Nathan replied with a provoking smile.
On the sidelines, Grog and Kelly immediately retreated. With two such Fire-types battling, this desert could easily turn into a blazing inferno. If they stayed too close, they would be the first to get burned.
Once the two had retreated to a safe distance, both trainers gave their commands at the exact same moment:
"Heat Wave!"
Both Nathan and Blaze were veterans at commanding their partners—both knew that Heat Wave could amplify the strength of their moves.
(End of Chapter)