Taming the Ice Empress and a Four-Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring

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

It meant she would no longer have to worry about the tribulation that came with reaching four hundred thousand years. 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'd stolen something. How despicable.

Then again, the Plate had been his to begin with.

While the Ice Empress wrestled with her decision, Chi Hong grew impatient.

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

"Wait! I agree!!!"

The Ice Empress hurriedly raised both pincers and shouted.

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

"Good. Since you've agreed..." 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 try to resist. You have to accept it wholeheartedly, or the contract will fail. If that happens, I'm afraid there's nothing I can do for you."

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

Chi Hong threw the Advanced Poké Ball. It snapped open, and a beam of white light shot out, enveloping the Ice Empress.

Once the light surrounded her, 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, shook three times, then went still.

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

"I get to name her too? Ice Empress, then."

Chi Hong entered the name.

After capturing her, he felt a faint mental connection form between them.

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

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

The notification had barely sounded when Ho-Oh gave a long cry. His entire body dissolved into a stream of rainbow light and flew into the Legendary Pokémon Ball in Chi Hong's hand. The ball turned gray, meaning it could no longer be used.

After Ho-Oh vanished, the sky darkened again. But a speck of multicolored light drifted down, seemingly wrapped around something.

"What's that?"

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

[Special item obtained: Rainbow Wing.]

"This thing? Does that mean I'll have another chance to summon Ho-Oh?"

Chi Hong's eyes lit up. He had summoned Ho-Oh only to have him bring down the Ice Empress with a single move. It left Chi Hong itching for more.

There should've been some earth-shattering display that swept away everything in sight.

"Never mind. Let's summon the Ice Empress first."

Chi Hong activated his second Martial Soul. A blood-red Hundred-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 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 his Pokémon's traits.

"Top-quality goods really are different from the ordinary stuff."

Chi Hong's face brightened. From now on, Charizard wouldn't have to focus on protecting him in battle. He could fight for himself.

Then he 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 dainty Jade Nose and soft pink lips, completing a flawless face.

Her silky emerald hair was tied into a pair of cute pigtails. Petite and delicate, she wore an exquisite uniform and radiated a chill.

She swept her bright eyes over their surroundings. When she saw that Ho-Oh was gone, she looked down at Chi Hong and snorted.

"Hmph. What did you call me out for, human?"

Chi Hong answered with a strained smile.

"First, even if you won't call me 'Master' or 'Boss,' don't call me 'human.' My name is Chi Hong."

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

She had quickly worked out that Chi Hong couldn't keep the divine beast around 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. Nothing under heaven could stand against him.

Chi Hong didn't answer.

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

The Ice Empress frowned and tried to channel her Ultimate Ice.

"Because of your body, I can only draw on the cultivation of a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast for now. But my control over Ultimate Ice and its power both seem to have increased by about twenty percent. That must have something to do with you."

Chi Hong frowned.

"That weak? I thought you might serve as a stand-in for Ho-Oh. Sigh."

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

"That's your fault. I can sense that how much strength I can use is closely tied to you. You must be too weak. A mere Soul Grandmaster had the nerve to set his sights on me. You should be grateful you can use even ten thousand years' worth 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]: 400000

[Friendship]: 0/100 (Hatred)

[Trait]: Ultimate Ice

The power of Ice-type moves increases by 100%. At the same time, the power of all Fire-type moves decreases by 50%. In extreme cold, 5% of HP is restored automatically 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, slowly restoring HP. The recovery effect doubles in the Far North or snowy environments.

Note: Due to her low Friendship with her Trainer and his frail body, this Pokémon cannot use her full strength. (Trainers, nurture your bonds with your Pokémon. A true Pokémon Master must be of one mind with their Pokémon.)

"Huh? What's with zero Friendship? You hate me that much? You still won't accept this?"

Chi Hong was speechless. He frowned and said,

"Hey, Ice Empress, why are you treating me like 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. Through gritted teeth, she said,

"Becoming a god is your business. I only need to keep you alive. Besides, you took 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.

This Ice Empress really was trouble.

It looked like he'd have to take measures to show her...

...who was in charge!