The task of summoning the Dragon God

"I heard about it from Ada."

"A thousand years ago, a terrible disaster struck. In the end, your ancestors and the Dragon God stopped it."

Chen Shi feigned confusion as he spoke, wanting to see what the old woman could tell them.

And just what could they do to help?

Steven nodded along too, but unlike Chen Shi, he genuinely had no idea what had happened a thousand years ago.

The Grandmother-in-Chief fell silent for a moment, seemingly gathering her thoughts.

"According to the records our ancestors left behind, a terrifying beast emerged from deep beneath the earth a thousand years ago. Wherever it went, lava covered the land and all life was destroyed."

"At the same time, a mighty ruler appeared in the ocean. The moment it emerged, it raised a tsunami hundreds of feet high."

"The two terrifying beasts seemed to be natural enemies. The moment they met, a dreadful battle erupted."

"Wherever they fought, the seawater evaporated and the earth shattered. Countless living creatures were caught up in their battle and perished in that disaster."

"In the end, one of our ancestors stepped forward and beseeched the legendary Dragon God to stop the disaster."

Chen Shi had wanted to hear what happened next, only to realize that the old woman had nothing more to say.

Wait, that's it?

I thought you'd have something more to tell us. Wasn't it just Can't-Fly picking a fight with Bigheaded Fish, and then your ancestors calling in the Flying Caterpie?

That's barely any different from what I already knew.

Steven, on the other hand, listened with great interest, though he had a strange sense of familiarity, as if he had heard this somewhere before.

It sounded like a battle between Legendary Pokémon.

But after thinking it over for a while without coming up with anything, Steven let it go and looked at the Grandmother-in-Chief in confusion.

"Then what does your asking to see us have to do with this disaster?"

The old woman nodded slightly. "A thousand years ago, our ancestors left behind a prophecy."

"A thousand years later, the disaster would descend once more. At that time, a hero would appear, awaken the Dragon God again, and stop the disaster from spreading."

Chen Shi was speechless. Your ancestors sure nailed that prophecy!

The three idiots of Hoenn really did start fighting again a thousand years later. Can't argue with that.

"So you want us to find that hero?"

Chen Shi asked.

He certainly did not think he was that supposed hero, nor did he want to be one.

Someone else could take on this task of summoning the Dragon God.

Steven, however, was worried about the disaster in the prophecy. A thousand years later-wasn't that now?

Did that mean the disaster from a thousand years ago would happen again?

That was hardly good news.

The Grandmother-in-Chief gave Chen Shi a strange look. "Young man, why don't you think that hero could be you?"

Those words left Chen Shi stunned, while Steven's gaze grew increasingly odd.

You little rascal. So you've been hiding your identity as a hero all along.

Even Zinnia, standing nearby, was staring at Chen Shi in disbelief.

She had originally thought the Grandmother-in-Chief simply wanted to thank the two of them in person. After all, they had helped bring back the five dragon hatchlings.

But to her surprise, once they came in, the Grandmother-in-Chief began talking about events from a thousand years ago.

And now she was outright saying that the young man before them was the future hero. How could Zinnia not be shocked?

Chen Shi gave an awkward smile. "Ma'am, I think you've made a mistake."

"I'm just an ordinary person, not some hero."

"If you're looking for a hero, the guy beside me looks much more like one."

As he spoke, Chen Shi pulled over Steven, who had been watching the show from the sidelines, and said with complete seriousness,

"Not only is he strong, but his family's rich too. Most, most, most importantly, he has a heart full of justice."

"If he's not a hero, who is?"

Steven was speechless and forcefully shook off Chen Shi's hand.

The Grandmother-in-Chief slowly shook her head. "I can sense a power in you similar to the Dragon God's."

"That is the key to the Dragon God's ability to stop the disaster."

Chen Shi froze. After thinking it over carefully, he suddenly grew wary.

Could this old woman be talking about Mega Evolution?

The only thing he could possibly have in common with Rayquaza was Mega Evolution.

Unlike Groudon and Kyogre's Primal Reversion, Rayquaza underwent Mega Evolution.

But how the hell could you even sense that? Isn't that a bit ridiculous?

Steven glanced at him. Looks like this guy's hiding quite a few secrets.

But he did not take it to heart. After all, who in this world did not have a few secrets?

After a while, Chen Shi slowly spoke. "I'm not the only person who has mastered this power. There are others in the world who have mastered it too."

"So why does it have to be me?"

It was not as if nobody else had mastered Mega Evolution. As mentioned before, Korrina and Gurkinn in the Kalos Region had mastered it too.

Besides, couldn't Rayquaza Mega Evolve on its own?

Why did someone who had mastered Mega Evolution have to summon it?

The old woman looked at Chen Shi meaningfully.

"But you alone came here and happened to rescue our five dragon hatchlings."

"That's quite a coincidence, isn't it?"

Those words left Chen Shi speechless.

You make such a good point!

I actually have no comeback.

Excuse me, is it too late for me to leave right now?

With an odd expression, Steven looked at his friend beside him, taking some pleasure in his predicament.

"I think the Grandmother-in-Chief has a point. Maybe all of this was destined to happen."

"Chen, old buddy, looks like you're going to be this hero whether you like it or not!"

A vein bulged on Chen Shi's forehead. He really did not want to get mixed up in the three idiots of Hoenn's business.

Someone else could handle the task of summoning the Dragon God. For example... the guy beside him.

Chen Shi suddenly grew serious. "Ma'am, the man beside me can master this power too."

"I can teach him. Let him be the hero!"

Chen Shi was willing to go all out to avoid getting involved in this mess.

After all, he had never said when he would teach him.

Besides, Team Magma and Team Aqua had only just begun to emerge. There was still time.

He would have to tell Steven about Mega Evolution eventually anyway, so it was no problem.

This time, not only Steven but also the old woman and Zinnia were dumbfounded.

Do you really hate the idea of being this hero that much?

And this power can actually be taught?

We want to learn it too.

Altaria