Taming the Ice Empress, a Four Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring

But becoming a human's pet was hard for the proud Ice Empress to accept.

True, she would no longer have to worry about her four-hundred-thousand-year heavenly tribulation. Her strength could grow rapidly, and she might even gain eternal life one day.

Wait. Put that way, maybe it wasn't so bad?

But this human wouldn't make her do anything humiliating, would he?

After all, he had stolen something. How despicable.

Then again, the stone tablet had been his to begin with.

While the Ice Empress wrestled with her thoughts,

Chi Hong grew impatient.

"If you won't agree, then this is goodbye. Ho-Oh, Sacred—"

"Wait! I agree!!!"

The Ice Empress hastily raised both pincers and shouted.

Faced with overwhelming force, she finally made the right choice.

"Good. Since you agree..." Smiling, Chi Hong took out an Advanced Poké Ball. It was his second Martial Soul.

"When I throw this Martial Soul Poké Ball, don't resist. You have to accept it wholeheartedly, or the contract will fail. If that happens, I'm afraid there's nothing I can do."

"Fine. I understand." The Ice Empress had no choice but to accept.

Chi Hong threw the Advanced Poké Ball. It clicked open, and a beam of white light reached out and enveloped the Ice Empress.

Bathed in the light, the Ice Empress opened her spiritual sea of consciousness. Her body shrank, and she entered the Poké Ball.

The Advanced Poké Ball landed on the ground, rocked three times, then stopped.

[You have captured the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion. Would you like to give her a name?]

"A name too? Ice Empress, then."

Chi Hong entered the name.

Once the capture was complete, he felt a faint mental connection form between himself and the Ice Empress.

They could now sense faint traces of each other's emotions and thoughts.

[The Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion has been defeated. Ho-Oh will now return.]

As soon as the notification sounded, Ho-Oh let out a long cry. Her body dissolved into a stream of rainbow light and flew into the Legendary Pokémon Ball in Chi Hong's hand. The ball turned gray, signaling that it could no longer be used.

After Ho-Oh disappeared, the sky returned to its dim state. But a speck of colored light descended, seemingly wrapped around something.

"What's that?"

Chi Hong reached out and caught the light. Inside was a rainbow-colored feather.

[Special item obtained: Rainbow Wing.]

"So I might have another chance to summon Ho-Oh?"

Chi Hong's eyes lit up. He had summoned Ho-Oh, only for the Ice Empress to go down after a single move. He still felt unsatisfied.

Surely there should have been some earth-shattering spectacle, with Ho-Oh sweeping away everything in her path.

"Forget it. Let's summon the Ice Empress and see what happens."

Chi Hong activated his second Martial Soul. A blood-red Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring appeared around him, bearing four golden lines that signified the Ice Empress had reached four hundred thousand years of cultivation.

He suddenly realized he could use the Soul Ring to wield the Ice Empress's abilities and Soul Skills, just like an ordinary Soul Master.

His first Martial Soul couldn't do that.

It only gave him some of a Pokémon's traits.

"Premium goods really are different." Chi Hong brightened. From now on, Charizard wouldn't have to focus on protecting him in battle. He could fight for himself.

He then threw the Advanced Poké Ball.

"I choose you, Ice Empress!"

A flash of emerald light revealed a breathtaking figure.

The Ice Empress floated in the air, curled up as though asleep.

Sensing Chi Hong's summons, she slowly opened her eyes. Golden irises shone above her small, delicate nose and soft pink lips, completing a flawless face.

Her silky emerald hair was tied into cute twin tails. Petite and slender, she wore a finely tailored uniform and radiated an icy chill.

She opened her bright eyes and surveyed her surroundings. Once she saw that Ho-Oh was gone, she looked down at Chi Hong and snorted.

"Hmph. Why did you summon me, human?"

Chi Hong gave her a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"First, even if you don't want to call me master or boss, don't call me 'human.' My name is Chi Hong."

"Chi Hong. Got it," the Ice Empress said dismissively. "Where's that divine phoenix of yours? You can't fully control her, can you?"

She had quickly worked out that Chi Hong couldn't command the divine beast for long. Otherwise, he would have had no reason to capture her or raise two thousand-year Soul Beasts.

That divine beast alone could sweep across the entire continent, undefeated.

Chi Hong did not answer.

"That's none of your concern. What I want to know is how much of your strength you can use."

The Ice Empress frowned and tried to draw on her Ultimate Ice.

"Because of your body, I can currently use only the cultivation of a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast. But my control over Ultimate Ice and its power seem to have increased by about twenty percent. That must have something to do with you."

Chi Hong frowned.

"That weak? I thought you could be a stand-in for Ho-Oh. Sigh."

Seeing him look down on her, the Ice Empress replied coldly,

"That's your fault. I can sense that the strength I can use is closely tied to you. You're simply too weak. A mere Soul Grandmaster, yet you dared set your sights on me. You should be grateful you can use even ten thousand years of my strength!"

"It's tied to me?"

Chi Hong thought for a moment, then brought up the Ice Empress's status panel.

[Contracted Soul Beast: Ice Empress (Second Martial Soul Form)]

[Age]: 400,000 years

[Bond]: 0/100 (Hatred)

[Trait]: Ultimate Ice

Ice-type moves deal 100% more damage. All Fire-type moves deal 50% less damage. In extremely cold environments, she automatically recovers 5% of her HP each turn.

[Skills]: Ice Empress's Pincers, Ice Empress Protection, Ice Emperor's Wrath, Eternal Frozen Domain, Heaven-Frozen Earth, Ice Empress's Breath, Ultimate Chilling, Thousand-Mile Freeze, Absolute Zero.

[Item]: Ice Empress: Far North Core

Automatically absorbs water elements from the air to slowly restore HP. This recovery effect doubles in the Far North or in snowy environments.

Note: Due to her low bond with her trainer and her trainer's weak body, this Pokémon cannot use her full strength. (Trainer, please build a closer relationship with your Pokémon. A true Pokémon Master must reach a state of mutual understanding with their Pokémon.)

"What? A bond of zero? You hate me that much? You're still not willing to accept this?"

Chi Hong was speechless. He frowned.

"Hey, Ice Empress, why do you see me as an enemy? You don't like me even a little? Aren't we supposed to work together to become gods?"

The Ice Empress's face turned cold as she gritted her teeth.

"Becoming a god is your goal. I only need to keep you alive. Besides, you stole my greatest treasure, had a divine beast beat me half to death, and... and forced me to become your pet! You're lucky I haven't eaten you. Why would I like you?"

Chi Hong sighed.

Sigh. This Ice Empress is such a pain.

Looks like I'll have to use a few tricks to show her

who's in charge!