Professor Oak: We'll Win

In Sunset Forest, Flender and his group had already set up camp. This was their third day since arriving, and they had gradually entered the forest's core region.

Compared to Star Dou Forest, which lay in the heart of Douluo Continent, Sunset Forest was close to Heaven Dou Empire and farther north, making its climate considerably colder.

Thus, compared with the abundance and variety of Soul Beasts in Star Dou Forest, the Soul Beasts of Sunset Forest fell short.

Flender's goal was a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast suitable for his seventh Spirit Ring. Provided he could absorb it, the older it was, the better.

After the attributes of his Martial Soul had evolved into Ultimate Wind, Flender possessed an inherent suppression over Spirit Masters and Soul Beasts of the same attribute.

That was also what gave Flender the confidence to set his sights on eighty- or ninety-thousand-year Soul Beasts.

As for Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, they were like Title Douluo, having nearly undergone a transformation in the very essence of their lives. Even with his suppressive advantage, it would be greatly diminished.

They were not worth considering.

The journey had been exceptionally smooth, but his target remained nowhere in sight.

They were about to enter the depths of Sunset Forest, yet they had not encountered even a single Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. While that reassured Flender, it also told him what level this place was at.

When Spirit Masters hunted Soul Beasts, the first step was finding one suitable for themselves. That alone took an enormous amount of time.

Flender was not in a hurry. Still, the ancient forbidden knowledge that had been instilled in his mind gave him a vague plan.

Inside the simple tent, Flender spent his usual time chatting in the group, learning about the progress of several group members.

The fastest-moving member in the group was still Dumbledore. Hogwarts was relatively small, after all.

The issue of the Chamber of Secrets and the Basilisk had already been resolved. Dumbledore had also made a trip to Gringotts and successfully obtained Hufflepuff's Cup.

Next, Dumbledore planned to visit the Weasley family and capture that rat who had placed his courage in the wrong place.

Zephyr ranked second. He was already on his way to Foosha Village in East Blue, intending to scoop up all those promising children along the way.

Professor Oak had far more trouble on his hands. He had to organize the summer camp activities while also racking his brains to prepare reports and filings against the villainous organization.

More importantly, Professor Oak was preparing to confront Pryce directly and rescue Blue and Ah Yin first.

Flender cared deeply about this.

[Flender: Professor Oak, are you preparing to deal with Pryce? Shouldn't you think it over some more?]

The Pokémon world Professor Oak lived in had a combined setting. Pryce's combat prowess in the special manga was simply too terrifying; his feat of capturing both Ho-Oh and Lugia alone placed him in a league of his own.

Not to mention that in the final battle, Pryce had focused all his attention on opening a space-time tunnel to send his Lapras back to its parents.

Even so, when surrounded by the protagonist groups of two generations, Pryce had nearly slaughtered them with ease. Gold had even needed to suddenly hatch a flawless 6V Pichu on the spot to win.

As for Professor Oak, even in the special manga, where his combat performance was strongest, the only notable feat he had was defeating Agatha in his youth to claim the championship.

After he had "abandoned martial pursuits for scholarship" and become a Pokémon Professor, Professor Oak's combat ability had clearly declined.

Though he could still suppress Blue during her rookie days, when Team Rocket later ran rampant, he was powerless. He had turned himself into the old man from Calabash Brothers—either being rescued or on the way to being rescued.

Flender was very worried that Professor Oak would suffer a crushing defeat.

[Samuel Oak: Don't underestimate me. After gaining the Viridian Force, my old partners and I have become young again. We'll win.]

[Flender: It's best not to casually raise that kind of flag. My personal suggestion is that you first find Agatha and clear things up with her before going to surround and suppress Pryce.]

[Samuel Oak: I'd like to find Agatha too, but she comes and goes like a ghost. She's impossible to find. It will be easier to find Arlan first.

Don't worry. Arlan and I are old acquaintances. Even if I lose, he won't do anything to me.]

[Flender: I hope so.]

Flender could only offer his blessings. After all, it was Professor Oak's own decision.

[Dumbledore: Going to face an old friend consumed by obsession? I sincerely wish you success, Yukinari.]

[Zephyr: I won't say much. After all, I'm the old man who'll be consumed by obsession in the future.

If you're willing to wait, Oak, I can try looking for the Mera Mera no Mi that should theoretically be in East Blue and see whether I can send it to you.]

[Samuel Oak: A Devil Fruit? I am interested in that.]

[Flender: Pryce happens to excel at ice-type abilities. If Professor Oak has the Mera Mera no Mi, he will be safer as well.

Come to think of it, Zephyr, don't you plan to eat a Devil Fruit?

I remember that there seem to be two Mythical Zoans still unclaimed over in the New World: an Artificial Azure Dragon Fruit and a Vampire Fruit. Even if you don't eat them, you could take them first.]

[Zephyr: I'll pass. Focusing on honing my Haki is my path. If I divide my attention toward Devil Fruits, it will only make me weaker. Certainty is strength. I don't need a Devil Fruit.]

[Samuel Oak: That may be true, but one more ability means one more path. From what I've seen, Imu, the mastermind behind the World Government, possesses the power of a devil.]

[Zephyr: Just a maggot hiding in the shadows. I rather agree with what Garp said. If I get the chance in the future, I'll blast that bug into scraps with Haki!]

[Flender: That's true enough. In your world, Zephyr, Devil Fruits may be powerful, but Haki can also suppress them.

Look at Joy Boy. With the strongest Conqueror's Haki passed down through countless centuries, he forcibly pressed those Five Elders from their Mythical forms back into human form, then forcibly interrupted their teleportation and sent them back where they came from.

You've improved too, haven't you, Zephyr? Can the quality of your Haki stand alongside his?]

[Zephyr: Not yet. I estimate that my current Haki is only slightly stronger than Rocks and the others were at their peaks. There's still some distance between me and Joy Boy. I've had too long of an empty stretch.]

[Samuel Oak: Indeed. Feeling old really is unpleasant.]

[Dumbledore: ...]

[Flender: We've gotten off track. In any case, Professor Oak, when you decide to set out, remember to let us know.

This red packet function seems capable of transmitting move attacks too. If you truly can't hold on, perhaps we can lend you a hand.]

[Dumbledore: If my magic is needed to set an obsessive old man straight, I would be delighted.]

[Zephyr: When it comes to Haki, I was once known as Black Arm.]

[Samuel Oak: Thank you, everyone.]

After closing the Chat Group, Flender now planned to become a Spirit Saint as soon as possible and see whether he could use his Martial Soul Avatar to make a big move when Professor Oak faced Pryce.

"If I'm looking for a suitable Soul Beast, I could lure one in with my aura."

While ultimate attributes possessed extremely strong suppression over those of the same attribute, conversely, beings of the same attribute empowered by an ultimate attribute could also unleash greater strength.

To powerful Soul Beasts, an ultimate attribute of the same type was no less than a nourishing Immortal Herb.

Walking out of the tent, Flender looked into the night and lightly swept his hand through the air. Gentle breezes drifted past.

Sensing the movement of the wind, Flender's lips curled upward as a bold plan formed in his mind.