bacchusnovels Chapter 179 What is Reality
Chapter 179 What is Reality
Infernape took a deep breath and took out a bottle of chilled watermelon juice that he had prepared in advance.
Drinking chilled watermelon juice can make your body invisible.
The Infernape felt a cool, refreshing aura envelop its entire body, then its body gradually faded and finally disappeared completely.
Infernape vanished through the doorway in a flash, and the door quickly closed again.
Inside the general manager's office at Rocket Entertainment.
At this moment, the entire company was immersed in a depressing atmosphere. Many people in the research room were still busy, and only the clanging and banging of machines could be heard.
Analyze potential machine malfunctions, write a 10,000-word analysis report, write a 10,000-word self-criticism, and have your annual salary halved...
When Manager Gaoshou returned today, he flew into a rage, which was quite frightening, and then inexplicably assigned these tasks.
The researchers shook their heads, guessing it was probably menopause.
Takagure was naturally furious!
His plan was perfect, and he had successfully completed the first step, on the verge of success.
By then, the starfish had almost successfully calmed the celestial phenomena, much faster than Marnie, but at this crucial moment, the machine malfunctioned?!
Before implementing the plan, he did consider the possibility of failure, and even thought of several ways that could fail, and tried to prepare in advance or provide contingency plans.
For example, if Pokémon were appearing around and disturbing Staryu, he would send people ahead of time to clear out the wild Pokémon in the surrounding area.
However, he never expected that the product his company developed would betray him at a crucial moment.
The instrument exploded!
The instrument exploded...
This was never part of his plan.
It was late at night, but Gao Shou was still wide awake, sitting at his desk.
Blessings are unparalleled, and misfortunes do not come singly.
The plan failed, and to make matters worse, they even lost their previous work notes.
Gao Shou rubbed his temples, feeling a terrible headache.
He sent Pokémon back to search, but they couldn't find them.
It might not have been left at the competition venue. He went to many places yesterday, so it's possible he left it at the Electabuzz Guild.
As for the cheating that was discovered in today's competition, Gaoshou has already taken care of it.
Of course, there will be a price to pay.
I never expected that old man Lewis, who looked so honest and cheerful, would be so ruthless in ripping people off. Anyone who didn't know better would think he was here to buy goods.
They even lost several valuable resources, which caused the later parts of the plan to fail before it even began.
Gao Shou took out another notebook and began to think about how to break the deadlock.
He himself is not very strong, having only recently been promoted to Heavenly King. He definitely can't win by force. There are no powerful figures in the branch. His own strength is already in the top tier.
I wonder if headquarters can send over that Pokémon that's still in the experimental stage?
Wherever it goes, it's an experiment. Although it's an artificial Pokémon, I've heard it's extremely powerful, capable of easily defeating even Champion-level Pokémon.
If only they could send someone over, not only to turn that manor to dust, but also to get revenge on that old bastard Lewis and blow him to bits!
Fortunately, this operation was carried out without consulting headquarters, so there was no need to report the situation to them.
Although there are some problems at headquarters and they probably won't be able to take care of things here for a while, I still need to make some achievements as soon as possible. Otherwise, once they have the time, I won't have enough funds to send a second round of gifts.
Team Rocket is a good market. Although they sent one of their members to Pokémon Prison this time, Gao Shou still thinks there is great potential. If they can use the Electabuzz Guild to control the power of Pokémon Expeditions in Littleroot Town and even the entire Hoenn region, it will be very helpful for Team Rocket's future development.
This is my achievement.
Meanwhile, the Monkey King, whose figure had completely disappeared, moved freely through the building.
Because it was built in secret, this building is not as luxurious as the Rocket Entertainment Company building outside; it is just an ordinary office building that incorporates a laboratory.
Monkey King arrived at the third floor, which is the middle part of the building, and entered an empty room.
This is a storage room, with dusty old instrument cases, bundles of cables, and some metal parts that I don't know the names of piled up against the wall. It is clear that few people come here usually.
Feeling the time was right, Monkey King took out the Flame Pearl, which was pulsating with blue flames, from his bosom.
Next comes the fusion of flames, bringing the intensity of the flames within the body to a new level, completely expelling all negative energy from the body, and incidentally controlling the negative energy that it had previously gathered together to throw out.
Negative energy is like waste in the body. Ho-Oh's blessing allows the flames to constantly clean up Infernape's body, clearing out the negative energy in order to make the body clean and create a suitable environment for the birth of the sacred flame.
When negative energy reaches the outside of the body, it is absorbed by the surrounding environment, thus creating the effect of an unlucky constitution.
After gradually gaining control of this power, Infernape set up a "trash can" inside its body to collect all the negative energy, reducing its outward dissipation and thus decreasing the frequency of its unlucky constitution activating.
Now, the cleaning is almost done and it's nearing its end. This time, it's using the power of the Azure Flame to do one last big clean-up, throwing away all the accumulated trash along with it.
Black flames began to erupt from Infernape's body, as if carrying the power of destruction and curse.
The flames licked at the blue flames within the Flame Orb, drawing in this wisp of true fire.
Just then, a dragon's roar suddenly rang in the mind of the Fire Monkey.
What is reality?
The majestic questioning echoed deep within the soul, sounding like a dragon's roar, but it was not actually a sound. Rather, it was a wisp of primal power hidden within the blue flames, appearing directly in the mind of the fiery monkey attempting to absorb the blue flames.
The blue flames flickered and hovered in the air, silently awaiting a response.
Only by providing a satisfactory answer can one successfully fuse with that flame.
What is reality?
Another question echoed in my mind.
A fire began to burn fiercely within him, and excruciating pain, memories, and chaotic images churned within his burning consciousness...
As it pondered the other's question, Infernape felt fragments of memories begin to surface in its mind, flashing through its mind like a revolving lantern.
It "saw" the institute in the afternoon, the sunlight blinding.
He defeated Prince Pokémon with a single move, drawing gasps of amazement from researchers and awe from other Pokémon.
What is truth?
Back then, "authenticity" meant readily available talent, invincible confidence, and the arrogance of "my fate is in my own hands, not in the heavens!"
So it refused the invitation from the Fire Elite Four member, as if it were rejecting a future that was not worthy of it.
The scene suddenly darkens, transitioning to a cold, rainy night.
A figure bathed in five-colored light descended—it was the Phoenix King, hailed by millions.
The gods favored and bestowed blessings; a wisp of golden flame merged into the little fire monkey's heart, bringing a burning blessing.
At the same time, it brings endless misfortune upon oneself.
The "reality" that follows is the absurdity of choking on water, the fear of slipping with every step forward, and the despair of being defeated by inexplicable accidents no matter how strong you are.
Pride was crushed, and strength became a joke.
A genius has fallen so low that even wild Pokémon dare to mock him.
Finally, there is the warm light.
Dr. Yamanashi rescued it in the wild, and Dr. Birch took it in, his eyes filled with concern and no hint of disgust.
And that trainer named Ark, when he reached out his hand, what he saw in his eyes was not the starter Pokémon or tools, but a complete version of himself worthy of standing shoulder to shoulder with.
Chimchar, would you like to become my Pokémon?
[Little Flame Monkey, please take good care of me from now on~]
[Ark, this little Chimchar has a special constitution; it's unlucky and will bring bad luck to the people and Pokémon around it. I need to make this clear to you. If you don't want it, I can help you choose another Pokémon later.]
"It's alright, Doctor, I'll take this little Chimchar."
From the moment it agreed to join the manor, it has been the manor's Pokémon, and I will not abandon it.
What followed were scenes of its companions in the manor who always helped it clean up its messes...
The "truth" at this point is the traces of repair after damage, the composure after accepting imperfection, and the "bond" that is accepted even knowing it will bring trouble.
Three kinds of "reality" collide, tear apart, and try to merge in my mind.
The blue flames burned silently, awaiting the answer, waiting for the Fire Monkey to extract the only true gold from the ruins of its own life.
The soul of the Infernape is burning and tormenting.
It was as if it had been thrown into another furnace, this time burning not its body, but its entire past and understanding.
Finally, in the eye of the chaotic storm of memories, a spark of enlightenment ignited and quickly spread like wildfire!
It couldn't open its mouth, but that thought, like the most intense flame, roared up from the deepest part of its soul, responding to the dragon's roar in its mind.
I once thought that authenticity was an invincible talent, a source of pride and adulation, but it turned out to be a mirage, easily shattered.
The negative turmoil within my body reflects the vanity of the past.
Later I came to believe that reality was an endless misfortune, an inescapable curse, a reflection of the moon in the water, distorted by the waves.
The energy of misfortune trembled violently, as if it were weeping.
But now I know...
All the images—glorious, broken, warm—are frozen in time, then collapse inward, merging into that initial, unique flame of life.
That flame was never truly extinguished by the Phoenix King's blessing, nor was it ever completely buried by the mire of misfortune.
The boy's heartfelt conversation by the river suddenly resounded at that moment.
You are part of the manor, and all the Pokémon in the manor are your family. We will never abandon any family member. Even if your unlucky constitution flares up severely, we will only work together to find a solution and will never abandon you.
I've taken one step at a time, and whether I've experienced glory or setbacks, I've always moved forward with the help of these warm and supportive forces.
The Infernape felt it had finally understood; the chaos before its eyes began to dissipate, revealing a path.
That is his own path to becoming a superstar!
[Truth is neither a blessing bestowed by Ho-Oh nor the price that comes with it, nor is it fortune or misfortune imposed upon me by this world.]
[Authenticity is the way I choose to burn brightly after all I've been through!]
I embraced both talent and curse, glory and despair, and used them all as fuel to ignite a flame that belongs only to me!
boom!!!
At this moment, a glimmer of golden light appeared on the originally very dark black flames inside Infernape's body!
The wisp of blue flame that had been quietly waiting suddenly brightened at this moment, as if it had found the only passage and joyfully merged into the flames of the Fire Monkey!
There is no exclusion, no primary or secondary.
The blue "True" Flame merged perfectly with the "Original" Flame of Infernape, which had experienced everything and forged its self-awareness.
The flames did not turn into a simple blue, but transformed into a crimson color with an inner blue-gold radiance, full of the weight of life!
The doomed black energy that had been accumulating in the "trash can" could no longer maintain its original form in the face of this new flame that was recognized by "reality".
They were not violently driven away, but were instead enveloped, decomposed, and transformed by the flames.
Originally, Fire Monkey planned to use the outburst of negative energy to bring misfortune upon the entire Rocket Entertainment company.
But now they're using a different method to achieve their goal.
Just as the last impurities are removed, the last shackles are melted off.
A powerful and pure new energy, yet subtly carrying the characteristic of "disrupting reality," was slowly released from Infernape's body, silently seeping into the surrounding environment.
Infernape has been promoted to Champion level, but it has gained far more than just power.
As it opened its eyes.
Deep within his eyes, against a crimson background, two cyan-gold flame patterns slowly rotated, like a ring of truth that sees through the essence of all things.
【The Eye of Truth】
Open your eyes now!
After fusing with the blue flame that represents reality, Infernape gained the ability to perceive reality, to understand the essence of matter, and then to change it!
In the storage room, there were dusty instruments, aging circuits, and unstable structures...
Under the control of the Fire Monkey, their "fate trajectory" begins to subtly shift, sliding towards those small but deadly "accidental" possibilities.
It saw the energy it had released, like invisible ripples, stirring countless fragile "chords of cause and effect" within the building.
The mission is complete.
The Great Sage stood up, and all the surging power instantly returned to his body.
The energy fluctuations from just now were quickly suppressed by the chilled watermelon juice.
With the help of chilled watermelon juice, Infernape once again slipped out of the underground building without a sound, mounted the long-awaited but completely bewildered Salamence, and rode away.
"Awoo?" (Weren't you supposed to be up to something? Why did it end like this?)
The Great Sage didn't have time to explain; he just told the Flying Dragon to leave quickly, while still clutching a cold iron ball tightly in his hand.
The light blue sphere is divided horizontally by a thick gray band running around its center.
Directly in front of the gray band, there is a circular indentation that is half blue and half pink, looking like a heart.
This is what the Great Sage just found in a tightly sealed laboratory, and it's the only thing in this building that feels important to him under the gaze of the Eye of Truth.
The iron ball is cold and lifeless, but it always gives people the illusion that there is life pulsating within it.
The Great Sage shook his head; now was not the time to think about these things. He and the Flying Dragon quickly departed.
The underground building behind them seemed unchanged, and everyone continued to work.
Ten minutes later, a loud bang suddenly came from inside the building, startling Takagure, who was deep in thought.
What happened?