Professor Oak: We Will 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 deeper parts of the forest.

Compared to Star Dou Forest, which lay in the heart of Douluo Continent, Sunset Forest was closer to Heaven Dou Empire and farther north, with a much colder climate.

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

Flender's goal was a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast suitable for his seventh Spirit Ring. As long as 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 innate suppression over Spirit Masters and Soul Beasts with the same attribute.

That was also what gave Flender the confidence to target eighty- or ninety-thousand-year Soul Beasts.

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

They were not worth considering.

Their journey had been incredibly smooth, but their target remained nowhere in sight.

They were nearly at the heart of Sunset Forest, yet they had not encountered even a single Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. While Flender felt relieved, he also understood the standard of this place.

When Spirit Masters hunted Soul Beasts, the first step was finding one suited to themselves. That step alone consumed an enormous amount of time.

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

Inside the simple tent, Flender went about his daily routine of chatting in the group, learning about the progress of several fellow members.

At present, Dumbledore was still moving the fastest. Hogwarts was relatively small, after all.

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

Next, Dumbledore planned to visit the Weasley family and catch that rat that had misplaced its courage.

Zephyr came second. He was already on his way to Foosha Village in East Blue, and he planned to sweep up all those promising children while he was at it.

Professor Oak had far more trouble on his hands. He had to prepare activities for a summer camp while also racking his brains over filing reports and accusations against villainous organizations.

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?]

Professor Oak's Pokémon world was a setting that combined many elements. Pryce's combat strength in the Pokémon Adventures manga was simply too terrifying; the feat of capturing both Ho-Oh and Lugia alone put him in a league of his own.

Not to mention that in the final battle, all of Pryce's attention had been focused on opening a spacetime tunnel to send his Lapras back to its parents.

Even so, when faced with the combined siege of two generations of protagonists, Pryce had nearly been able to kill them off at will. Gold had only won after pulling off a miracle on the spot and hatching a flawless Pichu.

As for Professor Oak, even in Pokémon Adventures, where his combat feats were strongest, he had only defeated Agatha in his youth to claim the championship.

After "abandoning martial pursuits for scholarship" and becoming a Pokémon Professor, Professor Oak's combat strength had clearly declined.

Though he could still suppress Blue during her beginner stage, 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 his way to being rescued.

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

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

[Flender: You really shouldn't plant flags like that. Personally, I suggest you find Agatha first, clear things up with her, then go surround Pryce.]

[Samuel Oak: I'd like to find Agatha too, but she comes and goes like a ghost. I simply can't find her. 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. It was Professor Oak's own decision, after all.

[Dumbledore: Are you going to face an old friend who has fallen into obsession? I sincerely wish you success, Yukinari.]

[Zephyr: I won't say much. After all, I'm the old man destined to fall into obsession in the future.

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

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

[Flender: Pryce happens to specialize in ice-type powers. If Professor Oak gets the Mera Mera no Mi, it will be safer for you too.

Speaking of which, Zephyr, don't you plan to eat a Devil Fruit?

I remember that New World seems to have two Mythical Zoans yet to be claimed: 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 split my attention toward Devil Fruits, I would only become weaker. Not doubting is strength. I don't need a Devil Fruit.]

[Samuel Oak: That may be true, but another ability means another path. That Imu, the mastermind behind the World Government, has 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 suppress Devil Fruits as well.

Look at Joy Boy. The strongest Conqueror's Haki, passed down for thousands of years, forcibly pressed those Five Elders out of their Mythical Beast forms and back into human shape, then interrupted their teleportation and sent them right back where they came from.

You've improved as well, haven't you, Zephyr? Has the quality of your Haki reached that level?]

[Zephyr: Not yet. I estimate that my current Haki is only a notch stronger than Rocks and the others were at their peaks. There's still some distance between me and Joy Boy. I've been out of action for too long.]

[Samuel Oak: Indeed. The feeling of growing old really is unpleasant.]

[Dumbledore: ...]

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

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

[Dumbledore: If my magic is needed to set an obstinate 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 wanted 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 want to seek out a suitable Soul Beast, I could lure one over with my aura."

Although ultimate attributes possessed extremely strong suppressive power over the same attribute, those same attributes, when strengthened by an ultimate attribute, could also unleash greater power.

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

Walking out of the tent and gazing into the night, Flender lightly swept his hand through the air. Gentle breezes stirred around him.

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