Charizard vs. Ma Xiaotao: Suppressing the Evil Fire

In a small grove near Sea God Lake.

Ma Xiaotao looked deeply skeptical.

"Mu En, you're saying this guy who hasn't even reached Soul Elder can help me deal with my evil fire?"

Mu En sat in his wheelchair, utterly at ease.

"You'll have to ask the boy. He says he can do it. What would an old man like me know?"

Chi Hong studied Ma Xiaotao. A violent aura radiated from her, as though she might fly into a frenzy at the slightest provocation.

She might have looked all brawn and no brains, but she was a Soul Emperor.

With the Flame Plate's help, Charizard could wield Ultimate Fire and completely suppress Ma Xiaotao's flames.

But Charizard's strength, equivalent to a six-thousand-year Soul Beast, was still far too limited.

Ma Xiaotao's strength was comparable to a Soul Beast over twenty thousand years old.

Ma Xiaotao frowned.

"What are you looking at? Can you really solve my evil fire problem or not?"

Chi Hong smiled.

"Don't rush. You must be feeling irritable right now, so let it out first."

He revealed his two purple Soul Rings, then tossed out a Poké Ball and summoned Charizard.

The moment Charizard appeared, it sensed the terrifying evil fire emanating from Ma Xiaotao.

It immediately went on guard, roaring at her as the flame on its tail surged and it readied itself for battle.

Ma Xiaotao's expression changed.

"A Soul Grandmaster with two purple Soul Rings. And that fire dragon's aura... It's Ultimate Fire!"

The fiery aura erupting from Charizard exerted tremendous pressure on her, even though her Evil Fire Phoenix was already one of the continent's finest fire-type Beast Martial Souls.

Only the legendary Ultimate Fire could suppress her flames like this!

Yet Charizard's challenge did nothing to quell the evil fire within her. Instead, it made it rage even more violently.

Eyes red, Ma Xiaotao breathed heavily.

"I can't hold it back anymore. Evil Fire Phoenix!"

The next instant,

a pair of phoenix wings made of flame, threaded with wisps of black smoke, spread from her back. Terrible heat engulfed the grove.

Mu En concealed that violent aura, preventing it from spreading any farther.

Six Soul Rings in the optimal configuration circled her, leaving no doubt of her Soul Emperor might.

"Phoenix Fire Line!"

Ma Xiaotao cried out. Her first Soul Ring lit up, and she spat a straight beam of fire.

Chi Hong calmly gave the order. "Charizard, meet it head-on. Flamethrower!"

Charizard could tell something was off about how strong this woman was. But its boss had given the order, and it wasn't about to show fear.

Its chest swelled, and it blasted out a stream of crimson flame that collided with the incoming beam!

Boom!

Ultimate Fire clashed with evil fire!

A scorching shockwave swept outward, leaving a huge, charred crater at the point of impact.

Despite the vast gap in their strength, Charizard had actually blocked such a terrifying attack.

Confidence flared in Charizard. It thought it could win. Planting a foot against the ground, it prepared to charge.

Chi Hong considered what he had just seen and realized that blocking Ma Xiaotao's hundred-year Soul Skill was probably Charizard's limit.

Anything stronger would require triggering both its abilities just to put up a fight.

Across from them, Ma Xiaotao's eyes had turned blood-red. Her fifth Soul Ring lit up, and she intoned, "Phoenix Cloud-Piercing Strike!"

A small flaming phoenix with a wingspan of just one meter formed before her.

Though small, it contained terrifying heat and penetrating force as it hurtled toward Charizard.

The air along its path twisted.

Charizard's eyes instantly went blank.

Boss, what gives? Why is this attack so much stronger than the last one? I can't take this!

As the fire phoenix closed in, Charizard was already calculating how many Full Restores it would need afterward to mend its wounded heart.

But this time, someone stepped in front of Charizard.

That someone was Chi Hong.

A pale-blue shield enveloped him, suffused with profound, powerful Ultimate Ice. Behind him shimmered the faint image of an Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion.

Ice Empress Protection!

Before the phoenix could reach him, the flames covering its body began to fade away bit by bit.

In an instant, the sweltering grove turned bitterly cold.

Having released some of her evil fire and then been suppressed by the Ultimate Ice, Ma Xiaotao gradually regained clarity in her eyes.

"What's going on? You have Ultimate Ice as well as Ultimate Fire? What... what kind of monster are you?"

Chi Hong breathed out a long stream of icy particles, his expression calm.

To Charizard, the sight was utterly shocking.

How had its trainer become so powerful? Who was supposed to do the fighting from now on?

If it wasn't even as strong as its trainer, didn't that make it a useless Pokémon?

The thought left Charizard dejected. Even the flame on its tail dimmed a little.

Wait. There was still a weaker little brother. It was still number two.

Thinking of Greninja, Charizard puffed out its chest again and resolved to find a chance to surpass its boss too.

Chi Hong saw every change in Charizard's expression. He had deliberately put on that display for it.

"You rotten human! Why did you draw so much Soul Power from me? Do you have any idea how much that costs me?"

The Ice Empress's indignant voice rang out in his mind.

"It was an emergency. I had no choice."

Chi Hong said it with a straight face.

There was no way his own Soul Power could have blocked Ma Xiaotao's ten-thousand-year Soul Skill. Even Ultimate Ice couldn't make up for such an enormous gap in Soul Power.

But he had the Ice Empress, with her four hundred thousand years of cultivation. Though she could currently wield only a fraction of that strength, he could still draw enough Soul Power from her to fend off the attack.

"You can't use my Soul Power like that! It'll diminish my cultivation, and my body will get smaller too! If you need me to handle a problem, summon me directly! Do you understand?"

The Ice Empress spoke coldly.

Her body would get smaller? Wasn't that a good thing?

That was what Chi Hong thought, but aloud he said:

"Of course. No problem. Next time, for sure."

The Ice Empress's tone softened.

"As long as you understand. That old human beside you is extremely powerful. Even at my peak, I wouldn't have been his match. He may have reached the Snow Empress's level. You'd better be careful."

"Don't worry. Have you forgotten how I brought you under my control?"

"Hmph. Do whatever you want."

The Ice Empress fell silent, apparently in a sulk.

Chi Hong turned his attention back to Ma Xiaotao.

"I have both Ultimate Ice and Ultimate Fire. If you want your evil fire problem solved, you'll do as I say."

Ma Xiaotao froze for a moment, then nodded without thinking.

"I... I still feel a little uncomfortable. Can you help me?"

Chi Hong said evenly:

"Sure. Take off your clothes first."