This Trainer Has No Sportsmanship

Liss glared at her. "Not everyone in Crusadia supported the Mekk-Knight Project. Some believed that resealing the Destruction Power would only delay the inevitable. Only by using the 'World Key' to wield both Creation Power and Destruction Power could one transcend the realm of gods, create a new order, and completely eliminate the threat of the apocalypse. Unfortunately, those fools were narrow-minded and intolerant of differing opinions. They even used physical means to erase the opposition. Thankfully, the dissenters had prepared for this and preserved their consciousnesses." By the end, she was gritting her teeth.

The Legendary Beasts

After hearing Liss's account, everyone exchanged glances.

Auram scratched his head. "What do you think? Is everything she said true?"

Ningirsu said, "It sounds plausible, and some parts match our experiences. But it is still only her side of the story. We can't believe all of it."

Alisa gave a disdainful laugh. "I've seen tricks like hers plenty of times. A lie can't be entirely false. Nine truths and one lie, eight truths and two lies, seven truths and three lies—those are all excellent methods of deception. The more sophisticated the con, the greater the proportion of truth."

You Zhi added, "Her account was mixed with too much personal emotion. She was bound to embellish her own actions while slandering Crusadia, her sworn enemy. So, the parts unrelated to her can be trusted, but anything involving her deserves closer scrutiny."

He was about to continue when he noticed his body beginning to fade. The same thing was happening to Alisa.

The two looked at each other and immediately understood. The condition for clearing this trial was not helping the protagonist defeat the villain, but uncovering the truth of the world.

Eve noticed their abnormal state and asked anxiously, "What's happening to you two?"

Auram asked with concern, "Did you get cursed during the earlier battle?"

A flicker of worry crossed Ningirsu's face, but he quickly figured it out. "Idiot. They're leaving."

"Just as you said, we have fulfilled the mission of the Spirit Purifiers. It is time for us to return."

Eve said reluctantly, "So soon? Can't you stay a few more days?"

Auram tried to keep them. "Yeah! We haven't even held a celebration yet! From now on, humans won't have to hide in the forest. Once we bring this news back, the villagers will definitely celebrate for three days and three nights."

You Zhi was about to deliver a stylish farewell when inspiration suddenly struck him. He grabbed Liss. "Quick, transfer her Star Power into me."

Everyone was confused for a moment, but Ningirsu was the first to react. He told Eve, "Do as he says."

"Okay, okay."

Eve chanted a spell and drew out the Star Power within Liss, transferring all of it into You Zhi.

Liss could have resisted, but she did nothing. She merely sneered.

As You Zhi used Strength-Weakness Mimicry to refine the Star Power, he explained, "The World Legacy is the manifestation of Destruction Power, so Star Power must be connected to Destruction Power as well. If it is used too frequently, it may trigger the Destruction Power within the earth's core. No matter how you look at it, having me take the Star Power to another world is undoubtedly the safest option."

Auram asked worriedly, "Will this really be okay? Could it bring danger to you or your world?"

"Don't worry. I don't have the self-sacrificing spirit to die saving others. If I dare do this, then I naturally have complete confidence."

Hearing You Zhi say that, everyone relaxed. It was not that they doubted his character, but rather that he had indeed left them with the impression of being extremely reliable—someone who could turn any collapsing situation around.

Before long, all the Star Power within Liss had been transferred away, and her body became faint and insubstantial.

"Don't forget the Star Shield. Unfortunately, we have only gathered four World Legacy artifacts so far: the World Chalice, Star Armor, Star Lance, and Star Shield. There are still three World Legacy artifacts we have yet to encounter."

Eve hurriedly chanted another spell and transferred the Star Power within the Star Shield into You Zhi as well. Once she finished, only faint outlines remained of You Zhi and Alisa, as though a gust of wind could erase them.

Auram patted his chest. "Now that we know the truth, we will definitely find the remaining three World Legacy artifacts and keep them safe."

Ningirsu stepped forward solemnly. "I owe you a thank-you. You saved my sister."

The still-recovering Imduk let out a weak cry.

On the other side, Eve was also saying goodbye to Alisa. Before she could finish, You Zhi and Alisa completely vanished from the world.

After a dizzying sensation of weightlessness, You Zhi and Alisa returned to reality and appeared in the underground level of the Burned Tower. However, unlike the time before they had been transported away, it was now late at night. The underground chamber was pitch-black, with no fingers visible before their eyes.

Alisa endured the lingering dizziness and asked with concern, "Are you okay after absorbing so much Star Power?"

"Other than feeling a little stuffed, there aren't any side effects."

The absorbed Star Power was enough for You Zhi to break through to the fourth level, but this was clearly not the right time. He could only store it for now.

"What do you think Eve and the others will do in the future? Will they choose to keep maintaining the balance between Creation Power and Destruction Power, or will they solve the threat of Destruction Power at its root?"

"Relax. They aren't children, and after everything they have experienced, they will definitely make a proper decision after weighing the pros and cons. Even if the worst happens, don't forget that Imduk is there as a fallback."

Alisa thought it over and nodded. "That's true. Imduk is the legendary guardian dragon, a servant of the gods. No wonder you didn't absorb its Star Power."

"By the way, why are you sticking so close to me? I can barely look for the exit." You Zhi looked disgusted.

"I-I-I'm afraid you'll fall. It's so dark here that we can't see anything. What if you trip and get hurt? Wouldn't I have to carry you out later?"

"If you're afraid of the dark, you could summon a Pokémon and have it lead you out."

"W-who's afraid of the dark?! Besides, none of my Pokémon are Fire-type, so summoning them wouldn't provide any light. Rainbow Dragon and Jade Pegasus are too big. What if they damage the floors and cause the ruins to collapse? Didn't you say this place was a historical site?"

Suddenly, Alisa slapped her forehead. "That's right! Doesn't your Spellcaster Pokémon know Fire Punch? Hurry up and summon her! Why do we have to walk around in the dark?"

Because I can see perfectly fine in the dark.

You Zhi sighed helplessly. Just as he was about to summon Magician's Valkyria, a bright glow suddenly appeared ahead. Looking closely, he saw three statues.

"You scared me!"

Alisa poked her head out from behind You Zhi's back. Once she saw the source of the light, she let out a breath of relief. "So it's the Three Knights. Strange, why are there statues of them here?"

The so-called Three Knights were King Knight, Queen Knight, and Guard Knight. Their appearances corresponded to the K, Q, and J of playing cards, and their fame was second only to the starter Pokémon.

You Zhi vaguely felt that this scene looked familiar. Just as he was about to recall the corresponding plot from the game, the three statues suddenly began shaking violently. Their stone shells peeled away piece by piece. Inside were neither hollow spaces nor lumps of clay, but three living Pokémon!

These three Pokémon were not the Three Knights, but their more powerful forms: Celestial Knight, Celestial Paladin, and Celestial Gold Knight.

The three knight Pokémon glanced at You Zhi and Alisa, then transformed into three streaks of light. They passed through the floor and shot off in different directions, vanishing into the night sky in an instant.

Compensation Paid in Advance

"What... was that?"

Alisa stared blankly at the fading afterglow in the sky.

"The Three... the evolution forms of the Three Knights. It wasn't hard to tell from their appearance."

They had left too quickly for You Zhi to read the Cheat Appraisal text. He had only managed to remember the names of the three Pokémon.

"The Three Knights actually have evolution forms! This is huge news that nobody has ever discovered! The Three Knights aren't particularly rare Pokémon. Many Trainers have owned them, yet nobody has ever heard of anyone raising them to evolution..."

After a while, Alisa calmed down and did not continue discussing the matter. There were so many Pokémon in the world, and laws also protected privacy and restricted the spread of information. It was perfectly normal for there to be Pokémon or special evolution forms she did not know about.

Even as a noble daughter with access to broader channels than ordinary people, someone who had opportunities to read "forbidden books" and learn more Pokémon knowledge, she did not believe she could know every Pokémon in the world. She was not even sure whether she knew half of them.

After this unexpected incident, neither of them was in the mood to discuss the World Legacy Spirit Realm further. After leaving the Burned Tower, they found a hotel to rest in.

Since setting out with Auram and the others in search of the World Legacy artifacts, this was the first time Alisa had slept beneath soft, comfortable blankets. She also no longer had to worry about Krawler attacks while sleeping. With the accumulated exhaustion and sense of security washing over her, she fell asleep the instant she touched the bed.

When she woke the next day, the sun was already high in the sky. It was nearly time to check out.

After washing up, Alisa went downstairs to the hotel restaurant, where she encountered You Zhi having lunch.

"Looks like you slept very comfortably," You Zhi greeted her.

Alisa's face reddened slightly as she explained, "After all, I'm back home... Well, that doesn't sound quite right. I should say I'm back in familiar surroundings. People inevitably relax in familiar places. I think I understand now why so many adults feel homesick."

The moment she finished speaking, a wave of laziness swept over her. Alisa could not help yawning and stretching.

In the past, she would never have behaved so improperly before strangers. But after spending more than half a month roughing it in the wilderness with You Zhi, all her little bad habits had already been exposed. Why would she care about such things now?

"Come to think of it, you don't look tired at all..." Alisa glanced at him, looking puzzled. "Is it my imagination, or do you seem more energetic than before?"

"Solving an Anomaly and returning safely puts anyone in high spirits."

In truth, it was because he had refined the Star Power. Strength-Weakness Mimicry had reached the fourth level, and his Trainer spiritual power had advanced to six stars. You Zhi was now advancing rapidly toward a realm beyond humanity.

"So that was called an Anomaly. Judging from your tone, and your reaction when we first arrived in the Spirit Realm, this clearly wasn't your first time encountering something like this." Alisa asked tentatively, "If I wanted to join you and become one of these so-called Spirit Purifiers, what would I need to do? Do I have to apply to an organization?"

Rather than explain that Spirit Purifiers did not actually exist as an identity, You Zhi asked, "Are you sure you want to join? After this experience, you should understand that this is extremely dangerous work. You could lose your life at any time."

Alisa said solemnly, "Precisely because I have experienced it myself, I am absolutely certain that this is the life I have always longed for!"

"You like adventure?"

"Not just adventure. If it were merely for adventure, I could leave my Pokémon behind, find some deep mountain forest, and throw myself into it. What I truly desire is adventure that brings a sense of honor. Like this time—we not only helped Auram and the others, but indirectly protected their world as well. That sense of fulfillment is something money can never provide."

Alisa pressed a hand to her chest, as though examining her own heart. "Last night, my thoughts were still muddled, but after sleeping on it, I figured everything out. What I seek is a righteous adventure that leaves behind traces, proving that I was here—not meaningless travel for sightseeing, becoming a passing visitor whose every experience exists only in photographs.

Without this experience, my life would probably have followed my parents' arrangements. I would fool around recklessly before turning eighteen, learn the manners of managing a household after eighteen, choose some barely acceptable young man of equal status at a ball, get married, have children, and live out an utterly ordinary life.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with that. My parents and family raised me, gave me a privileged life that ordinary people could never experience in their lifetimes, and hired famous teachers to educate me. They have never wronged me, so I should have repaid them wholeheartedly.

But now that I have a better way to repay them, there is no need for me to obediently follow every arrangement. Being able to balance my ideals and my life would naturally be the best choice."

You Zhi did not ask what this better way of repaying them was. He could improve his realm by refining Star Power, so how could Alisa possibly have gained nothing? Setting aside everything else, the experience from that wave of Krawler alone had raised the average levels of her Pokémon by a considerable amount.

Ultimately, in this world filled with Pokémon, being a Trainer was the most respected profession. If she could become a Pokémon Master, the benefits she could bring to her family would far exceed those of a decorative ornament meant for marriage alliances.

"Becoming one of us isn't difficult," You Zhi said as he took out the Pokédex. "You only need to obtain one of these machines."

The Pokédex itself was not something that needed to be kept secret. Many people had similar handheld computers for looking up Pokémon information. What truly needed to remain secret was its ability to record traits after absorbing Pokémon spiritual power.

Alisa examined it carefully for a while, then said thoughtfully, "I feel like I've seen this somewhere before. I can't remember where right now, but I definitely saw someone using one."

"If you've seen one, then that makes things easy. We use a referral system, and as a newcomer, I don't have the qualifications to recommend anyone. Think carefully about who had one, then ask them for a referral slot."

You Zhi guessed that Alisa had most likely seen Pegasus using one, since he was friends with Phile. But since Alisa had not remembered, he would not voluntarily reveal Pegasus's identity.

"I understand. Thank you for telling me."

After lunch, just as the two were about to say goodbye and part ways, Alisa's eyes suddenly shifted as she said, "Come to think of it, you saved me once in the Spirit Realm, but I haven't really thanked you properly."

You Zhi waved it off generously. "No need. Clearing an Anomaly earns reward points, and since you don't have a Pokédex, all the points from this time will go to me. If anything, you did me a big favor."

"That won't do. One matter is one matter. As a noble, I cannot repay kindness with ingratitude. That would violate the family teachings I was raised with." Alisa insisted, "But I can't think of what to give you right now. How about this? Give me your bank account number, and I'll transfer you some money later."

You Zhi considered it, then did not refuse. As an unemployed man, his savings were only enough for daily expenses. Using them to raise Pokémon would leave him badly strapped for cash.

Alisa wrote down the bank account number You Zhi gave her, then waved goodbye and left.

She summoned Material Dragon and climbed onto its back. Once she had flown into the air, she turned around to look at the figure on the ground, her eyes carrying a trace of apology.

If she went home and told her parents that she wanted to travel abroad for adventure and training, they would definitely oppose it strongly. But if she said she was running away from home in pursuit of true love, they would still object, yet their opposition would undoubtedly be much weaker. They would only think that she had entered a rebellious phase and was young and ignorant.

"This money will count as compensation paid in advance."

(End of Volume)

Zelda Form

"I never expected an accident like this to happen. I don't even know whether to call you unlucky or lucky."

At Ecruteak Gym, Gym Leader Morty listened to You Zhi recount his experiences over the past days and sighed with emotion. "No matter what, it is a blessing that you returned safely. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known how to face Mr. Pegasus."

"It was just a coincidence. Who could have guessed that the Anomaly was underground? Fortunately, the conditions for clearing this Anomaly weren't too difficult."

Unlike the Heavenly Might Realm, whose story was relatively simple, the World Legacy Realm had a far grander background. Fortunately, the requirement for clearing it had only been uncovering the hidden truth of the world. If he had needed to resolve the apocalyptic crisis instead, You Zhi would not have returned for at least three to five years.

"Either way, I still have to thank you for helping Ecruteak City resolve such a major problem."

Morty thought for a moment, then took out a shining Badge and tossed it to him.

You Zhi glanced at it. It was the Ecruteak Gym Badge. "Can you just give it to me like this? Don't we need to have a symbolic Gym battle?"

"There's no need. A Gym Leader's duty is to appropriately test Trainers. Gym battles are merely one of the simplest and most effective testing methods, not a requirement. Other forms of testing work just as well. With your strength in resolving an Anomaly, you are qualified to receive your third Badge."

You Zhi thought it over. In the Pokémon anime, quite a few Gyms had indeed tested Ash through means other than Pokémon battles.

"By the way, you said that when you returned from the Anomaly, the three statues in the underground level became living Pokémon, and they were evolution forms of the Three Knights."

Morty's eyes gleamed. The reason he had cultivated himself in Ecruteak City had been to search for legendary Pokémon, especially The Winged Dragon of Ra.

"That's right, but they left as soon as they came to life. I didn't have time to observe them at all, so I probably can't provide much information."

"Have you forgotten? As long as a Pokémon appears within a certain range, the Pokédex automatically records its appearance and spiritual power fluctuations."

You Zhi suddenly understood. He took out the Pokédex and searched through it. Sure enough, he found the Celestial Three Knights, though there was nothing besides a front-facing photograph.

Morty stared at the screen for a long time before saying, "Many Trainers in the world own the Three Knights, but nobody has ever evolved them. I suspect the Three Knights cannot evolve through normal methods. These three Pokémon may have obtained a new form through the power of The Winged Dragon of Ra. It is said that on the day the Burned Tower was destroyed, The Winged Dragon of Ra briefly appeared and scattered feathers. There may be a connection between those two events."

He reluctantly returned the Pokédex to You Zhi, his face full of regret. "I have examined the Three Knights statues in the underground level many times, but I never noticed anything strange. I only thought they were ordinary statues. I never imagined they were petrified Pokémon. My guess is that they were previously in a state similar to cocoons. In order to absorb The Winged Dragon of Ra's energy, they had no choice but to become statues. Since your Pokédex recorded their spiritual power fluctuations, you can use that to track their location."

You Zhi took the Pokédex and tapped the distribution map, but no marker appeared on the screen. "There's a distance limit?"