Togetherness

After seeing Brawly's diligent training, Yuga found a secluded spot and released his Pokémon.

However, Yuga wasn't planning to train his Pokémon at the moment, as he had a match scheduled for the next day, and additional training would not be suitable. Brawly, on the other hand, had no more matches to prepare for.

Yuga merely wanted to reward his Pokémon for their hard work over the past few days. They had accompanied him during the competition and explored ruins together, which had been quite exhausting.

When Yuga's Pokémon emerged, the Chandelure from his shadow also came into view.

The life energy within Yuga's shadow had merged with the power of the Ghost Realm Origin Stone, creating a unique force. After days of being nourished by this special energy, the Chandelure looked radiant.

The image of the Chandelure was that of a magnificent lantern frame adorned with ethereal blue flames. It was challenging for most people to imagine what a radiant Chandelure would look like.

However, Yuga's Chandelure managed to convey that feeling.

Firstly, its previously black lantern frame now gleamed brilliantly, with occasional flashes of light.

Secondly, its lantern-like blue-and-white body had a translucent, crystalline quality. Even its bright orange eyes sparkled.

Finally, the most significant change was in the flames it bore. They not only became brighter but also lost their chilling aura, emanating a warm and inviting sensation.

As the Chandelure emerged, a tiny Litwick timidly poked its head out, its flame atop its head gently swaying, giving it a playful appearance.

With its pea-sized eyes, the Litwick glanced around and, seeing that Yuga's Pokémon were gathered joyfully, it slid out, using its short arms to push itself.

As this Litwick appeared, more and more Litwicks from Yuga's shadow followed suit, joining in and gathering together. Their faces were filled with cheerful smiles.

Seeing his subordinates acting so unrestrained, the Chandelure initially considered scolding them and sending them back. However, Yuga stopped it.

The location Yuga had chosen was quite secluded, so there was no need to worry about anyone observing them. These lively Litwicks had probably been feeling pent up in the Shadow Space, so letting them come out and relax was a good idea.

With over a hundred Litwicks out, they filled the surrounding area. Unlike their evolved forms, the Lampent and Chandelure, which could fly, these Litwicks added an air of warmth to the atmosphere.

Just like the Chandelure, they appeared to be in excellent spirits, and their cute appearances made them seem less like Ghost-type Pokémon.

Seeing the flickering flames and the lively atmosphere, Yuga's mood also relaxed significantly, and even the tension brought on by the upcoming match faded away.

Volcarona, who had recently joined the team, was a bit overwhelmed by suddenly having so many new companions. Although it was already an Elite level Pokémon in terms of strength, it hadn't experienced much of the outside world. The sudden addition of so many companions left it feeling a bit overwhelmed.

However, with Yuga there to reassure it, Volcarona quickly got along well with the other Pokémon, especially with the Fire-type Chandelure and Litwicks.

Most Pokémon with the Flame Body ability enjoyed the nurturing warmth of flames. They loved living among flames, which was why people often saw Fire-type Pokémon swimming in the magma near volcanoes.

However, Litwicks, being primarily Ghost-type Pokémon, preferred dimmer environments where Ghost-type energy was more active. So, a situation like today, basking in flames, was a first for them, making it feel quite novel.

For Fire-type Pokémon with the Flame Body ability, living in flames for extended periods could accelerate their growth and make it easier.

Hence, the Flame Body ability held significant importance not only in battles but also in a Pokémon's overall development.

Volcarona, classified as a Sun Pokémon, was considered an embodiment of the sun in ancient times. Consequently, the flames on its body were unique and distinct from the ordinary flames seen on most Fire-type Pokémon.

This uniqueness was why Volcarona had been chosen to suppress and guard the seal of the Cofagrigus. The sun symbolized justice and light, making it a fitting choice to contain such a malevolent entity.

Litwicks, on the other hand, had Ghost-type as their primary typing, giving their flames a chilly and eerie quality. However, as Fire-type Pokémon, they yearned for the warmth and intensity of regular flames. This was why they were drawn to Volcarona, alongside the Chandelure, to explore the ruins.

Now that they were truly under the care of Volcarona's flames, they were jubilant.

Litwicks grouped in twos and threes around Volcarona, forming a harmonious bond.

After playing with his Pokémon for a while and feeding them some Pokéblocks, Yuga recalled them and returned to his accommodations.

The next day, the tournament proceeded as planned, with the semi-finals and finals scheduled for morning and afternoon sessions, respectively.

The four remaining contestants were Yuga, Roxie, Sora, and Christine. Amidst the cheering of the audience, the pairings for the battles were announced on the large screen: Sora versus Christine and Yuga versus Roxie.

In response to the enthusiastic applause from the audience, both Sora and Christine walked onto the battlefield at the same time.

Although Sora and Christine were strangers to each other, when Christine stepped onto the field, she smiled friendly at Sora, who nodded in response.

At the electronic referee's command, both Sora and Christine released their Pokémon.

Sora's first Pokémon was Weavile, a deliberate choice to counter Christine's Grass-type Pokémon, considering her reputation as a Grass-type Pokémon Trainer.

However, Sora appeared to have forgotten that Christine also had a Grass and Ice-type Pokémon, Abomasnow, which wasn't weak to Ice-types, unlike most Grass-type Pokémon. It seemed that Christine had done her homework on Sora's team, so she sent out Abomasnow as her starting Pokémon.

Abomasnow had the Snow Warning ability, which Christine had showcased in previous battles. However, she chose not to activate it in this battle against Weavile because it didn't affect it, as both were Ice-types. Instead, she reserved it for the next Pokémon, opting to save it for a more advantageous situation.