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Chapter 188: An Audience with the Great Elder
🕑 Added 2025-09-08 12:57:22 +0000 UTCChapter 188: An Audience with the Great Elder
"Why does she get to go up?"
Finally, someone voiced the complaint that was on everyone's mind. They could grudgingly accept that Basalt, having already caught a Bronzor, could bypass the trials. But Summer? Just because she knew him?
Basalt and his group paused. Summer's face flushed with embarrassment.
But it was Bronzor who responded. It floated forward, and its voice filled the minds of every trainer present. "Anyone who has earned the recognition of a member of our clan may skip the first two trials and proceed directly to the third. This trainer has my recognition."
"If you have a problem with that, you are free to leave," it added, its tone imperious.
The trainers stared, stunned. They weren't shocked by its霸气 statement, but by the fact that it could use Telepathy. A pre-evolved Bronzor?
"How is that possible? Isn't Telepathy something only professional-level Pokémon can master?"
"Even a gifted Pokémon would have to be at the advanced tier. And this isn't just one-on-one; it's communicating with all of us at once!"
"No wonder it holds such a high status, even though it's not that strong. It's a psychic prodigy."
While the crowd was buzzing, Basalt and his group were already ascending the stone steps.
"Basalt, thank you," Summer said, her face still a little red, her eyes shining.
"Don't thank me. Thank Bronzor," he said, scratching his head.
After about ten minutes, they reached a large platform halfway up the mountain. Three trainers were sitting cross-legged, their eyes closed, beads of sweat on their foreheads. In front of each of them floated a Bronzong, its body glowing with a strange light.
"Aren't those the three who passed the first trial?" Summer whispered.
"What are they doing?"
"This is the second trial," one of the escorting Bronzong explained. "We are using Hypnosis to create a series of dreamscapes to test their willpower. For you humans, willpower is just as important as a Pokémon's natural talent."
"That makes sense," Basalt said, giving it a thumbs-up.
"Aaargh!" Just then, one of the trainers cried out in pain, clutching his head. The Bronzong in front of him immediately ceased its psychic assault.
"He failed," the lead Bronzong said with a shake of its head. "He could not resist the temptations of the dream."
It then noticed Basalt and Summer and assumed they had also passed the first trial. But when it saw Basalt's Bronzor, its aura immediately filled with joy, and it floated over to greet it.
After another thirty minutes of climbing, Basalt and Summer were exhausted. The Bronzong took pity on them and used their psychic power to carry them the rest of the way.
"This is our home," the lead Bronzong announced, gesturing to a series of caves at the summit. Dozens of Bronzor and about a dozen Bronzong were floating about, some meditating, some training, some just playing.
When they saw Basalt's Bronzor, the entire clan erupted in a joyous chorus of metallic clinks as they flew over to greet it, bumping into each other in a strange but heartwarming display of affection.
"Young lady," the lead Bronzong said to Summer, "you may have skipped the first two trials, but the third, gaining the recognition of a Bronzor, is something no one can help you with. Good luck. I will now take this one to see the Great Elder."
"The Great Elder already knows we're here?" Basalt asked, surprised.
"The Great Elder is one of the Titans of this Hidden Land," Bronzor explained with a laugh. "Its psychic power covers this entire mountain. Nothing escapes its notice. We've been communicating telepathically this whole time."
"Its psychic power covers the whole mountain?" Basalt was stunned. The sheer scale of that was mind-boggling.
After saying goodbye to Summer, he followed Bronzor into the largest cave. Inside, the walls were made of a gleaming, blue-green ore. The tunnel was lit by glowing stones embedded in the walls.
About a hundred meters in, he finally saw it. The Great Elder. It looked like any other Bronzong, only its color was a slightly deeper shade of bronze, and it floated motionlessly in the air.
"Child, you have returned," a wise, ancient voice filled Basalt's mind.
"Great Elder," Bronzor cried, rushing forward to gently bump against it in a sign of affection.
"You have grown strong," the elder said, then turned its gaze to Basalt. "Basalt. I thank you for taking care of our young one."
"It was my honor, Great Elder. Bronzor is my partner."
"I am old," the elder continued, a note of melancholy in its voice. "My potential is spent. But you young ones... you have limitless possibilities. That is why I have opened our home to these talented young trainers. Bronzor was always the most gifted of its generation. And you, Basalt, are a human of exceptional talent. Perhaps your meeting was fated."
"I will now offer you my full support in your journey," the elder said, its gaze firm. "But in the future, when you have achieved greatness, I hope you will remember your old friend and help protect this mountain."
It was the plea of a hero at the end of his days, a leader who had seen the limits of his own world and was now placing his hope in the next generation.
"Take this," the elder said, and a single, shining berry materialized in front of Bronzor. "It is a Custap Berry. Eat it now."
