The Past and the God!

"Aunt Flame's here! Get him! Get him!"

"Yes! Time for payback!"

"Go, Aunt Flame~~"

As Ceruledge appeared, the crying around them stopped dead. Excited cheers instantly echoed through the space.

"Easy now~"

Ceruledge suddenly spoke.

Mu Yun froze.

She wasn't speaking the language of Pokémon. She was speaking Yanhuang Language!

At her words, everyone fell silent.

"Hello, young human friend."

Ceruledge made no move to attack. After a glance at Xiao Du, who was braced for battle, she turned her attention to Mu Yun.

"Hello."

Mu Yun linked his mind to Pokémon Space. Only after confirming he could retreat at any moment did he relax.

"Don't worry. I'm not the guardian of this trial. I'm here for personal reasons."

Ceruledge seemed to notice his tension and wariness, and she explained herself calmly.

Bzzzz...

The wall of mist behind her suddenly rippled.

A moment later, Shadow Beedrill Number Nine flew out.

This time, though, no Unown possessed it. It merely hovered in place, motionless.

"I am a personal guard of His Majesty the Sacred Fire God and the guardian of this Phantom Realm. If you like, you may call me Aunt Flame, just as the little ones do."

Ceruledge's voice was gentle. If not for her terrifying face and fierce appearance, Mu Yun might have mistaken her for an auntie from next door.

"Aunt Flame!"

She was a Peak Master Level powerhouse. Calling her aunt was the least he could do.

Forget aunt—with her age, she could probably have been his great-great-grandmother.

Ghost-type Pokémon lived a long time, after all.

"Since you've called me aunt, take this as a meeting gift."

Ceruledge smiled faintly, and a ripple spread across the wall of mist.

A fiery red gem emerged from it and floated slowly toward Mu Yun.

``` [Burning Orb (Top