Mu En's Reward and the Freshman Assessment

Stronger than ever, Charizard swished his tail and showed off to Greninja.

Greninja bristled, then darted up to Mu En and gazed at him pitifully, abandoning every trace of a cool-headed ninja's dignity.

Chi Hong sighed.

"Too bad, Greninja. You're not a Fire type, so the dorm supervisor can't help you."

At that, Greninja drooped, looking utterly miserable.

Mu En looked helpless. "Honestly, you two. I don't think you're suited to working with other Soul Masters. How about this? Take part in the Freshman Assessment alone in two months. If you win the championship, I'll prepare some rewards for your two Soul Beasts."

Chi Hong lit up.

"Dorm supervisor, isn't that practically handing me the prize? I already beat two older students they call the Outer Court Twin Stars. How hard can these freshmen be?"

Mu En shook his head.

"It's not that simple. Last time, those two Soul Elders underestimated you and couldn't make use of their teamwork. Against a well-coordinated team of Soul Masters, fighting alone will put you at a serious disadvantage."

Chi Hong fell into thought.

Come to think of it, he had never faced the power of a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

In the original story, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong's Golden Road could apparently restrain even a Soul Douluo to some extent.

He would have to watch out for that.

"Dorm supervisor, can you tell me what the reward is?"

Chi Hong asked again.

"Heh. You really think the championship is yours already? You're a confident one."

Mu En chuckled.

Then he looked at Greninja and Charizard and said slowly,

"When I strengthened your Soul Beast just now, I noticed some traits that didn't quite fit a Soul Beast."

Chi Hong grew wary. As expected of a Limit Douluo, Mu En could tell Charizard wasn't a Soul Beast.

But given Mu En's personality, he probably wouldn't send Charizard off for experiments.

Xuan Zi was another matter. That guy might even roast Charizard and eat him.

He was the Holy Spirit Cult's supreme elder, after all!

"An ordinary Soul Beast produces a Soul Ring when killed, and a rare one may produce a Soul Bone. Charizard has neither of those traits," Mu En continued. "His aura resembles a treasure I once obtained."

"What treasure?"

His curiosity piqued, Chi Hong hurried to ask.

Mu En smiled and shook his head. "Win the championship and I'll tell you. Go back for today."

Damn old man. Leaving me hanging again.

Chi Hong gritted his teeth inwardly. He suspected Mu En's treasure was the Flame Plate, but he had yet to see a single Plate since arriving in this world.

All he knew was that gathering every Plate would let him ascend to godhood, with authority no weaker than this universe's Creator God.

If only he were strong enough.

The Limit Douluo before him wasn't someone he could stand against anytime soon.

Unless he could summon the legendary Pokémon of the Pokémon world, too.

Forget the others—even a Caterpie would show Mu En what a real dragon looked like.

Grumbling to himself, Chi Hong put on a beaming smile and slowly pushed Mu En's wheelchair toward the Dormitory.

"Just call me whenever you need anything, dorm supervisor. I've got plenty of free time..."

After that, he settled back into training.

Two months passed quickly.

The freshmen's grand competition, held three months after enrollment, finally arrived. As he had hoped, Chi Hong was allowed to enter the team battles alone.

Students from the other classes breathed a collective sigh of relief.

In their eyes, Chi Hong had become the School Bully, someone they absolutely could not afford to provoke.

Get too close and a Forced Battle would trigger automatically, followed by a thorough beating.

All they could do was take a detour.

There was one thing worth mentioning.

Chi Hong had often tried to challenge Dai Huabin, the White Tiger Duke's son, hoping to see the power of a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

But despite looking like a brute, Dai Huabin was shrewd. He had never used Hell White Tiger once.

Instead, he kept refusing Chi Hong's challenges. He wasn't like the Twin Stars, who had rushed to fight Chi Hong the moment women were mentioned.

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong were just as secretive. It seemed Chi Hong's pressure had driven them to learn their Martial Soul Fusion Skill early, but they would rather take a beating than reveal it.

They were clearly all hiding something!

Hide all you want. Tricks won't save you from overwhelming strength. You'll only become experience for me.

Full of confidence, Chi Hong checked his two Pokémon's information.

[First Soul Ring · Charizard]

[Age Level]: 3,412

[Affection]: 89/100 (Close)

[Ability]: Blaze. When HP falls below one-third, Fire-type moves gain 50% power.

[Hidden Ability]: Solar Power. In sunny weather, special attack moves gain 50% power, but HP decreases each time a move is used.

[Moves]: Ember, Smokescreen, Dragon Breath, Fire Fang, Slash, Flamethrower, Air Slash, Wing Attack, Blazing Inferno...

[Held Item]: None

[Second Soul Ring · Greninja]

[Age Level]: 1,723

[Affection]: 82/100 (Close)

[Ability]: When HP falls below one-third, Water-type moves gain 50% power.

[Moves]: Pound, Growl, Water Gun, Quick Attack, Lick, Water Pulse, Smokescreen, Water Shuriken, Night Slash, Role Play, Haze, Shadow Sneak, Spikes, Aerial Ace, Substitute...

[Held Item]: None

"Charizard loses HP whenever he uses a move. Losing HP triggers Blaze, which boosts his moves. Those two abilities make a nasty combination."

Chi Hong marveled at it.

Reality here worked differently from the games.

After Charizard's potential had been awakened, his original Blaze ability hadn't disappeared. It had remained, leaving him with two abilities.

With both Blaze and Solar Power active, a single Blazing Inferno from Charizard could match the power of a ten-thousand-year soul skill. It was terrifying.

Greninja, meanwhile, had a wide range of moves and remarkable agility, perfectly suited to a ninja.

Chi Hong focused on the three people before him.

They were his opponents in the first match: Huang Chutian's team from the original story, including the twin sisters Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo.

All three looked as though they were facing a formidable enemy.

Huang Chutian in particular swallowed involuntarily. Chi Hong had beaten him plenty of times lately, leaving him with a lasting fear.

The referee announced the start of the match.

Chi Hong pulled out a Poké Ball. "I choose you, Charizard."

Charizard alone was enough for this team.

[You encountered wild trainers Huang Chutian, Lan Susu, and Lan Luoluo. Battle start.]

[Charizard used Dragon Claw. Huang Chutian was unable to battle.]

Watching Huang Chutian go flying, the twin sisters' eyes filled with fear. They immediately clasped hands and embraced.

They unleashed their Martial Soul Fusion Skill: Heavenly Net.

"Finally, a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. Charizard, use Flamethrower."

Chi Hong's expression turned grave as he swept out a hand.

Facing the vast blue net descending upon him, Charizard raised his head and drew a deep breath. Flames gathered in his mouth. After charging for a second, he unleashed a blast of scorching Solar Fire!