Charizard's Hidden Ability: Solar Power

Beside Sea God Lake.

Chi Hong pulled on his coat and hood, then stared at Mu En as Mu En stared back.

Greninja and Charizard were still battling in the background.

Mu En sighed.

"Child, Sea God Lake was built to honor Sea God Tang San, the first leader of Shrek ten thousand years ago. It represents Shrek's honor and is sacred ground. You mustn't desecrate it like this."

"Understood, sir."

Chi Hong nodded and called back his two Pokémon.

He knew fighting was forbidden here, but Greninja loved the place.

Whenever Greninja stayed here and had a battle, his strength and bond with Chi Hong shot up.

Their bond had already reached 80 points.

As a Pokémon Master, Chi Hong found that temptation hard to resist.

Charizard and Greninja stood on either side of him, sizing up the little old man before them.

Once they saw he was disabled, they lost interest and closed their eyes to rest.

So these two really can't sense Mu En's strength. They're still too green.

Chi Hong shook his head to himself and patted them both on the head. "Hurry up and apologize to the gentleman."

Mu En was the most powerful person at Shrek now. Even if Chi Hong couldn't win his favor, he had no reason to offend him.

Greninja and Charizard shot Chi Hong disgruntled looks. They hadn't even beaten up the little old man, so why should they apologize?

Still, they listened to Chi Hong and obediently bowed their heads.

Chi Hong said bashfully:

"Sorry, sir. These two Soul Beasts of mine are a little too eager to fight. The other students have been afraid of me lately, so I couldn't find anyone to spar with. Hardly anyone comes to this area, we weren't disturbing anybody, and it's a comfortable place, so I let them practice against each other. It won't happen again."

Seeing how obediently Chi Hong apologized, Mu En smiled to himself.

You came here on purpose, kid. I stroll around this area all the time. I've seen you here plenty of times.

Even so, he said kindly, "What matters is that you know you were wrong."

Mu En studied Charizard and Greninja more closely, then sighed with feeling.

"I never imagined a Soul Master could one day form such a deep bond with Soul Beasts. If everyone had a special Martial Soul like yours, humans wouldn't need to hunt Soul Beasts. Perhaps people and beasts truly could live together in peace."

"One day, they will," Chi Hong said earnestly.

Mu En was about to praise the sensible young man further.

"If you'd let Greninja and me swim a couple of laps under Sea God Lake, my Soul Beast would be even happier and our bond would grow stronger. That would bring us one step closer to peace between people and beasts."

Chi Hong spoke as though it were the most reasonable thing in the world.

Mu En was speechless.

Why was this brat so fixated on Sea God Lake?

He had no respect for their Sea God ancestor at all.

In truth, Chi Hong suspected the Splash Plate was hidden beneath Sea God Lake.

Lately, he had sensed it more strongly near the lake, and Greninja's marked increase in strength while on the water made the possibility seem even greater.

Mu En sighed. "All right. A little monster like you doesn't come along often, so I'll give you a reward."

He had been quietly observing Chi Hong these past few days.

Aside from his fondness for challenging people to battles, the boy had a sincere heart.

His talent was exceptional.

He never bullied the weak and had the courage to challenge the strong.

He even helped weaker classmates.

By "weaker classmates," Mu En meant Huo Yuhao. By "helped," he meant beating up the Outer Court Twin Stars.

Most important was the trust and bond between Chi Hong and his Soul Beasts.

Mu En had never seen that quality in a Soul Master before.

So he was willing to help this unusual little monster and build some goodwill.

Sitting in his wheelchair, Mu En opened one hand. A spark flared above his palm.

"Come. Have your Charmander companion step closer."

Chi Hong looked at the spark in Mu En's hand. That familiar sensation had returned.

Could this be...

"Charizard, do as he says. You can go over." Chi Hong's eyes lit up.

Charizard gave a reluctant growl and took two steps forward. He lowered his head, deliberately blowing a faceful of steam at Mu En.

Greninja glanced sidelong at his good friend, looking pleased by his predicament.

A composed ninja has no need to curry favor with anyone.

The flame in Mu En's hand burned brighter as he gently pressed his palm against Charizard's head.

The next instant,

The flame entered Charizard's body and spread bit by bit from his neck through the rest of him.

Charizard let out a contented growl.

Mu En's aura had changed. A mighty draconic presence radiated from him.

Yet what flowed from his palm was a fire-aspected power of extraordinary intensity. Combined with his own power of light, it made him seem like a miniature sun.

Mu En's Martial Soul was the Radiant Holy Dragon. In theory, it should not grant him fire power of such intensity.

And given that familiar aura, he very likely carried a Flame Plate.

Chi Hong considered this as he watched Charizard.

He knew he needed to collect the Plates, but he still didn't know exactly what they could do.

This was the perfect chance to find out.

Charizard's crimson skin gradually turned golden, and dazzling light shone from his entire body.

Under the influence of that powerful law of fire, his latent potential was being awakened and developed step by step.

Greninja's eyes widened.

Wait, buddy?

How did you suddenly get stronger?

Weren't we supposed to improve together through battle until my type advantage let me narrowly defeat you?

Then I'd generously let you become my underling, and we'd both have bright futures ahead of us!

ROAR!!!

Charizard threw back his head and roared. Golden light streamed from his wings as he spread them wide, and the flame on his tail blazed wildly, as though Blaze had activated.

[Ding! Charizard has awakened the Hidden Ability Solar Power and learned a new move: Blazing Inferno.]

Delight spread across Chi Hong's face.

Mu En had fully awakened Charizard's Hidden Ability.

It was a powerful ability that could boost the strength of special attacks by fifty percent.

Could this be one of the Plates' special uses?

If so, the other Plates might also be able to awaken a Pokémon's potential.

At that thought, Chi Hong put on a suitably surprised expression.

"Sir, you're secretly one of the academy's big shots? Don't tell me you're a former headmaster watching over the campus from the shadows."

Mu En smiled.

"I'm no big shot, just a dying old man with little time left. Your companion's potential has now been fully awakened. From now on, he can use Solar Power. His flames already approach the might of Ultimate Fire. With more time to grow, he may well break through again."

Chi Hong nodded his thanks and smiled.

"Thank you, sir. I'll be sure to come by often to look after you."

Mu En shook his head. "You brat. You just want to see what else you can get out of me."