Chapter 106: That Which You Seek, My Sorrow
Early the next morning, the white-furred monkey, fully prepared, set off with the two little ones. They wandered leisurely until they reached the Charred Tower, pausing before the shattered remnants of its walls, lost in thought.
"I've always had a question," the monkey mused. "The Bell Tower was originally constructed mostly of wood, right? So how has the Charred Tower managed to stand for so many years after such a massive fire?"
Logically, it should have been as fragile as a crispy shark wafer—if not more so. Yet, despite its burnt appearance, it hadn't collapsed. Approaching closer, there wasn’t even a trace of that musty, decaying wood smell. Instead, it stirred in little Fairy Cream’s mind a craving for a creamy caramel coffee.
“That’s because this place bears the flames of the Phoenix Lord’s wrath. That’s why the Charred Tower remains preserved in this form,” an aged voice whispered beside Bamboo Cold’s ear. Turning, they saw a small, elderly man clutching a broom.
“And who might you be, sir?”
“I sweep the grounds around the Charred Tower.” The old man smiled softly. “To be honest, even when tourists come, few linger this long. Are you a history student?”
Oh, I thought you were a monk who cleans in silence. Such an explanation carries weight—no one would believe you were just an ordinary man. In the Bellflower Tower of Bellflower City, a few bald heads might have gathered, folding their hands in prayer before the white-furred monkey.
“Master, I see you possess wisdom.” Bamboo Cold nodded. “I booked the special room at the Bell City inn last night.”
The old man chuckled. “Ah, I see now. We did have visitors like that before.”
“But sir, you mentioned the Phoenix’s flames—does the Charred Tower still hold the Phoenix’s power within its structure?”
In the world of Pokémon, there is an item called “Charcoal” that boosts the power of fire-type moves. If that’s true, then nothing compares to the Charred Tower ruins. Snatching pieces from there would be far more useful than any charcoal. But if that were done, who would truly be dealing the damage—the Phoenix’s power or the Pokémon themselves? That remains debatable.
“No, even locals have such doubts, which is why the legend I just told you exists,” the old man said, sweeping leaves from the ground. “Legend has it the Phoenix Lord quelled the Bell Tower’s flames but, due to ancient rites, unleashed an even fiercer fire.”
“The Charred Tower endures, but it also signifies that the Phoenix no longer trusts the people of Bell City.”
“Among the many stories of places the Phoenix would rest, Bell City is the most documented one.”
The old man sighed. “But unfortunately, the place that most witnesses the legend has lost the Phoenix’s gaze.”
Elsewhere, sightings of the Phoenix are limited to deep, wild forests inhabited by powerful wild Pokémon.
“Sir, you know so much.”
The old man gave a knowing smile. “Child, if you listen to something for decades, you come to know much.”
Seeing the old man unwilling to elaborate, Bamboo Cold respectfully refrained from pressing and, with the two little ones, continued exploring Bell City’s other scenic spots.
No flames appeared; the phenomenon must happen at night. They could return after having their fill.
Later, Dragonite and Fairy Cream eagerly dragged Bamboo Cold to watch Bell City’s most famous dance.
The white-furred monkey sat calmly in a private box, his expression as serene as a meditating monk, while Dragonite and Fairy Cream whispered conspiratorially beside him.
“Miru?”
The trainer’s odd demeanor was unsettling. Could he really be turning into that big sister’s so-called boring man?
“Wuwu.” That was a little girl named Chihiro’s comment, but it seemed to bear some truth. Dragonite wore a grave expression, bracing for battle.
Oh no, had Chihiro’s prediction come true?
The two little ones, often watching TV, morphed into relationship experts, yet Bamboo Cold’s expression plainly said, “This dance isn’t even as interesting as the data on my device.”
They could only exchange puzzled looks, thinking it made sense why the trainer had few friends.
“What are you two whispering about? Didn’t you say watching through a screen was dull and you wanted to see the live show?”
Bamboo Cold took a sip of the complimentary juice, the cup adorned with an emblem of the Phoenix spreading its wings—a symbol of deep affection.
“Wuwu!”
“No worries. We’ll find a chance and try harder next time!”
“Miru!”
“Yes, big sister.”
The white-furred monkey raised an eyebrow, shaking his head at their loud plotting. These two little ones sure had wide-ranging concerns.
As the nocturnal dance ended, Bamboo Cold gathered them into their Poké Balls and quietly approached the vicinity of the Charred Tower.
The identity of the old man was questionable, but certainly not the Phoenix incarnate, so it was best to avoid him.
Looking up, Bamboo Cold said, “Sure enough, the flame phenomenon has begun again.”
The Poké Balls at his waist shook slightly. Dragonite and Fairy Cream looked puzzled, sensing nothing unusual.
“Tsk, at times like this, I really envy Nassi’s psychic powers.”
Or rather, if he had any extraordinary abilities, he could share the vision.
He released them, holding Fairy Cream in one hand and resting a hand on Dragonite’s neck.
“Try to synchronize your breathing with mine. Relax and don’t be nervous.”
His voice softened. “Try to sense my heart.”
Bond—the word held special meaning in the Pokémon world, representing the power of the spirit.
White-fur was certain: the bond he shared with his partners was strong enough!
Dragonite and Fairy Cream closed their eyes, and when they opened them again, they saw the Charred Tower ablaze, black smoke billowing into the sky.
“Huh?”
Was I seeing things?
“Miru!”
Fairy Cream scowled in utter disgust. Were it not for the trainer and big sister being nearby, she would have drenched the Charred Tower in a creamy flood.
“Do you hate it that much?”
Bamboo Cold frowned. “Good. That matches my guess.”
Placing Fairy Cream atop his head, Bamboo Cold gripped Sticky Ball with one hand and Heavy Ball with the other, stepping into the Charred Tower’s domain.
Boom!
The flames danced intimately with the white-furred monkey, so intense that Dragonite nearly blasted off with a Water Pulse.
“Don’t move.”
Bamboo Cold soothed Dragonite, then swung his right hand holding the Heavy Ball, dissipating the illusory flames.
But then came the surging wave of fire!
“Hmph, the power of a Legendary Pokémon is truly stronger than that of Slowpoke. It even pulled me into this illusion.”
He could block Nassi’s level of psychic ability, but entering this illusion felt different.
“Woof!”
Rain summoned!
Raindrops began to fall softly, immediately cooling Bamboo Cold’s surroundings. Dragonite eyed the roaring flames solemnly.
The elemental energies were completely unbalanced. If she wished to summon a heavy downpour, she’d need more energy, but for now, she had to conserve strength to protect Bamboo Cold and Fairy Cream.
At that moment, three faint voices whispered near their ears.
Their source was unclear, but when Bamboo Cold heard them, he exchanged a glance with his partners—they seemed to “see” the sounds.
In a game, that would mean an NPC with a golden aura had revealed itself.
“Dragonite, come back first.”
The floor was scorching.
“Woof!”
Bamboo Cold patted Dragonite’s head. “I dared to come because I’m confident. Don’t worry, your time to shine will come.”
Dragonite obediently returned to its Poké Ball. Bamboo Cold nudged Fairy Cream’s cheek, urging her to focus.
“Let’s take a look.”
“Miru!”
Fairy Cream began swirling creamy orbs, her expression fierce. Even without orders, any malicious being would face a creamy assault.
The weak voices grew clearer. Bamboo Cold kicked aside debris and broken beams overhead, peering down into a hollow space, then froze.
Below were not the anticipated primordial forms of the Three Legendary Beasts but three continuously circling white light orbs. Upon noticing Bamboo Cold, they darted toward the white fur, swirling around him.
“Miru?”
Are you Pokémon?
Fear, unease, sorrow—
These negative emotions flooded Bamboo Cold and Fairy Cream’s minds, even reaching Dragonite within its ball.
Fairy Cream anxiously rubbed her hands, dissipating the energy from her creamy orbs, trying to offer it to the three small light spheres.
She sensed that the hateful energy wasn’t from these three pitiful little ones, meaning they were victims!
“Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
Bamboo Cold took out an incense burner. “Such weak flames—I have something stronger.”
With a thunderous crash, a massive stone tablet fell, gouging a deep pit, its chilling aura swiftly suppressing the fierce fire.
As the temperature dropped further, the three small orbs’ emotions seemed to calm, quietly hovering behind Bamboo Cold’s head.
He glanced at the inscriptions on the tablet.
“If I find out who carved these words, I’ll surely set your grave on fire,” he muttered.
“I thought I might be lucky enough to witness the truth of history and know your true identities,” Bamboo Cold said, extending his right hand.
The three orbs obediently floated over, emitting waves of desperate pleas for help—light in their despair.
“Yet, this is also a kind of fortune, even if it contradicts my original expectations.”
The Phoenix Lord’s wrath, the fear and sorrow of the Three Legendary Beasts before their deaths, and the sacred fire that severed ties—all these forged the undying Charred Tower.
The destined child who finds the Rainbow Feather and summons the Phoenix at the Bell Tower may learn the truth, then come to the Charred Tower to “deliver salvation,” or soothe the grief and anger.
People worship the Phoenix, respect the reborn power of the Three Legendary Beasts, and value the divine flames passed down through Entei, the life-giving fire that even cured genetic mutations in special time-space episodes, the water purification abilities of Suicune and her crystal barrier, and Raikou’s unparalleled strength—who, in the special episodes, single-handedly restarted the high-speed train connecting the capital.
Although the Snorlax that blocked the way for Red’s team was quite a spectacle.
“But it seems few care about how much pain you endured, or the heavy price you paid.”
“Come, it’s time to see the world beyond the Charred Tower.”
Bamboo Cold placed the orbs back behind his head and put away the stone tablet.
He kicked open the brittle, scorched door and faced the crowd outside—the torch-bearing, crazed-eyed people.
Their leader wore the skin of a shiny Loudred, but his gaunt frame made the disguise terribly ugly.
Their babbling made Bamboo Cold frown; it wasn’t a normal language but the incoherent ramblings of a gaunt old man who had invented this gibberish.
Even normal sleep talk had more logic.
Seeing this, Bamboo Cold understood what he was up against.
A face-to-face clash of fervent fans—Lochia’s supporters had probably lost the upper hand, and what came next was inevitable.
Ignorant faith, ignorant leaders, ignorant zealots.
“Why didn’t Lochia just blast you all away with a high-pressure cyclone back then?”
The Loudred-skinned man pointed at Bamboo Cold, muttering something about “enemies of the gods” and “villains obstructing the ritual.”
In short, a fight was about to break out.
“Kneel!”
In a rush, all the Pokémon charged forward but instantly fell, trembling in fear as they fixed their gaze on Bamboo Cold’s feet, unable to look up.
They believed death was imminent, a deadly threat.
“I told you, Dragonite, your time to dominate is coming.”
Bamboo Cold tossed his Poké Ball and grabbed a frying pan, stretching his arms.
“Today, I’ll do the Phoenix a favor and sober up these ancient Loudred.”
“Though I don’t understand why this illusion feels so real, I’ll deal with that later.”
You want to fight? Fine.
Because I feel the same way.
“Woof!”
An enraged Water Pulse burst forth like a dam breaking, sweeping away a crowd of people and Pokémon.
Dragonite, this time, was truly angry!
“Miru!”
Creamy machine gun!
Great mercy for the suffering!
The heavy, swift creamy machine gun lacked Dragonite’s grandeur but was precise, marking targets efficiently.
Clang!
Did it sound good? Sounding good is a good sign.
“I love your numbers because it makes me feel like mowing down foes in a Dynasty Warriors game.”
Bamboo Cold tossed the frying pan aside and stepped toward the Loudred-skinned man, who had lost most of his adornments and now crawled backward in terror.
“Gods and humans really perceive time differently.”
Bamboo Cold lifted the Loudred-skinned man like a chick.
“To a god, perhaps yesterday you were a sect devoted to life’s path, full of love and peace, but today you’ve become a dark menace.”
He carried the man toward the blazing Bell Tower.
“As a fanatic of the Phoenix, if you burn inside, will your god come to save you?”
Bamboo Cold smiled. “An interesting question worth exploring.”
“So, in you go!”
Without hesitation, he hurled the man into the tower, tilting his head to listen as debris shattered inside.
With that body, half his life might be gone already.
Bamboo Cold looked again at the three innocent light orbs, who expressed gratitude toward him and his companions.
They didn’t understand what had happened—only that they had escaped the agonizing flames and that the hostile energy around them had nearly vanished.
What remained was the massive block of ice before them and the warm, caring hearts of Dragonite and Fairy Cream beside them.
“Th-thank you.”
“No need to thank me—I’m just venting my emotions.”
Your future is already set.
Bamboo Cold raised his right hand toward the sky, sending the three orbs soaring beneath the bright moon.
“Stop circling behind my head.”
“Depart, depart.”
He smiled as Fairy Cream and Dragonite drew close, quietly watching the orbs ascend.
“May you find peace.”
“Farewell, little ones.”
He glanced once more at the towering blaze.
“Dragonite, maximum power, Water Pulse!”
Boom!
The vast blue beam pierced the tower in a single strike, the surrounding scenery retreating like a tide.
When their vision cleared, they saw a massive crowd behind them, with the elderly sweeper kneeling conspicuously at the front.
Rumble!
A gentle breeze blew, and the Charred Tower collapsed entirely, sending wood chips and dust skyward, as if following the three little orbs.
Bamboo Cold paused briefly then looked back.
Calculating the success probability of a silent retreat.
Calculation failed.
The white-furred monkey pulled out his phone. “Hello, Director, I’m in Bell City and, well, I might have accidentally brought down the Charred Tower. Can you cover for me?”
At the Joy Institute, working late: ??? What just happened?
The Blue Disc will launch on December 14 this year, with the strongest Shiny Firestorm Beast event. Brothers, remember to participate—it’s easy.
(｀ω)
(End of chapter)