Edge of Life and Death

"So Team Rocket was behind this. Damn it, my body can't take this heat."

"Even if my skin doesn't burn, I'll suffocate."

"Their clothes seem to work. I'll check the system and see if it has anything."

Liu Xin opened the system shop and was stunned.

It was packed with high-tech gear: spacecraft, weapons, flying hoverboards, and more.

It even had fireproof suits like Team Rocket's, though these were lighter and more advanced.

"Fireproof Veil."

It cost 300 Points and could be used forever. Its fire resistance was excellent.

Best of all, it was easy to put on.

Luckily, he had spent the past week leveling up and saved plenty of Points.

After spending 300, Liu Xin had 200 Points left.

"Guess that makes me a little rich?" Liu Xin joked.

"Ground-type Pokémon can't fly. I'll have to get a spacecraft someday—or at least a flying hoverboard."

The Fireproof Veil was a small vest worn under his clothes. The difference was immediate.

Flames bounced away from him. It even had a built-in air purifier that converted carbon dioxide, keeping him from running out of oxygen.

But it worked slowly. If he didn't get away from the heat soon, he would eventually suffocate.

Shiny Cubone was still absorbed in its training. It was almost there, with flames on the verge of covering its entire body.

Liu Xin clenched his fists. "Keep going. I won't burn to death now, but I'm still not safe."

Chuan Yamei and Dadi soon spotted Liu Xin in the sea of fire. They laughed. "What a coincidence."

"To think we'd run into you here, brat. Look at that Shiny Cubone—is it absorbing the flames?"

"That Pokémon must be an absolute prize. Let's capture it right now."

As they finished speaking, a small robot walked in.

It locked onto Shiny Cubone, and a mechanical voice rang out. "Target confirmed. Initiating capture of Shiny Cubone!"

Its arms shot forward, reaching for Shiny Cubone.

"Team Rocket really does have impressive technology. That robot can withstand this much fire."

"Mutant Phanpy, I choose you."

"Stop that thing."

"Phanpy!"

As soon as Mutant Phanpy appeared, flames blazed across its body, resonating with the fireballs around it.

Special Energy Area: Fire-type damage doubled.

Liu Xin was overjoyed when he heard the system prompt.

Mutant Phanpy's Special Attack was already ridiculous. With a Fire-type boost, how powerful would it be?

There was one way to find out.

"Fireball."

Boom!

Three or four fireballs burst out at once, striking the robot's grasping hands dead-on.

Impacts rang out one after another.

Dadi sneered. "Useless. Completely useless."

"Our fire-resistant robot fears Fire-type moves least of all. Attack it as much as you want; it won't help."

"Unless you use a move of another type, you'll never—"

Wait. Mutant Phanpy wasn't only Fire-type.

Only after speaking did Dadi realize something was wrong.

But it was too late.

Liu Xin grinned. "Thanks for the tip."

Mini Earthquake!

Crack! Crack!

The ground beneath the robot split open and swallowed it, trapping it in place.

Ground Spike!

Small chunks of stone gathered, then sharpened into spikes that hovered around Phanpy.

At his command, they all shot forward.

With Mutant Phanpy's Special Attack at full force, the Ground Spikes hit hard.

By the time the barrage ended, the robot was damaged in several places, sparks hissing from its frame.

Chuan Yamei cried out in panic. "This is your fault! Why did you tell him its weakness?"

"Now our fire-resistant robot is wrecked. How are we supposed to catch the Pokémon?"

"I forgot Mutant Phanpy was Ground Type too..."

"Let's take the Extraterrestrial Meteorite and make a tactical retreat."

They were ready to back down. They were no match for Mutant Phanpy.

But could they even get near the Extraterrestrial Meteorite?

Mutant Phanpy certainly wouldn't let them.

"Phanpy!"

Ground Spikes and fireballs flew at Dadi and Chuan Yamei together.

"No! Stop!"

"Remember this, brat!"

The two were blasted away, and the fire-resistant robot was destroyed along with them.

Meanwhile, the surrounding flames reached a new peak. Molten lava was everywhere, and sparks sprayed through the air.

Liu Xin sensed the danger and shouted, "Mutant Phanpy, surround us with Ground Spikes!"

"This fire is no joke. We can't let it hit us!"

Rumble!

The whole area shook like an erupting volcano. It was terrifying.

Mutant Phanpy shaped its Ground Spikes into a barrier, shielding Liu Xin and Shiny Cubone.

Flames sprayed in every direction. When they struck the spikes, the barrier seemed ready to melt at any moment.

Mutant Phanpy struggled to hold it up, its face contorted with pain.

Hold on!

You have to hold on!

A dazzling earthy-yellow light shone from Mutant Phanpy's small body as it gave everything it had to resist the flames.

Bang!

At last, with one final roar, the eruption of fire subsided.

It had felt endless, but less than five minutes had passed.

Yet in those five minutes, the entire area had been scorched. Nothing living remained in the fire's path.

The Ground Spikes crumbled away. Mutant Phanpy could hold on no longer and collapsed unconscious.

Feeling the searing heat in the air, Liu Xin knew he had narrowly escaped death.

If Mutant Phanpy's Special Attack hadn't been strong enough to create such a thick barrier, the sea of fire would have swallowed him.

"Strong Pokémon really are what matter most. Though you nearly got me killed this time."

"But we're safe now. Keep focusing on your training."

The area had fallen quiet, without a trace of Fire-type energy left in the air.

Only Fire Stones lay scattered on the ground—ten in all. There must have been many more, but the rest had been swallowed by the earth.

He would need them when it came time to evolve Mutant Phanpy. Better to have too many than too few.

A little farther ahead, the Extraterrestrial Meteorite at the center of it all had gone dull.

Not a trace of Fire-type energy remained inside it. It was no different from an ordinary rock.

It was ugly, too—not even worth keeping as a curiosity.

"Did that last eruption drain it of everything valuable?"

"That certainly seems to be the case."

"Everything has its limits, and the Extraterrestrial Meteorite is no exception. Its energy is completely spent. It's worth less than an ordinary rock now."

Liu Xin stopped paying attention to the Extraterrestrial Meteorite, because Shiny Cubone had finally finished its training.

"Cubo! Cubo!"

Its triumphant cries rang out, and a wave of heat swept over Liu Xin. Even wearing the Fireproof Veil, he felt uncomfortably warm.

Looks like the little guy improved all around!

"You're finally done. Let's see what's changed."