Chapter 172: The Life Tiers of Pokémon

Chapter 172: The Life Tiers of Pokémon

Rio was also staring into Míng Rìzhào's eyes.

The young girl's eyes contained a mix of complex emotions, but the firmness that flowed from them made him feel that Míng Rìzhào was not just throwing a tantrum, but was truly hurt by his recent actions.

"So, this thing called trust..."

Rio muttered in an extremely soft voice.

Then, his paw slowly reached for the Poké Ball.

"Ilu..."

Ruru was a little worried and wanted to step in and persuade Rio, but was stopped by Míng Rìzhào's outstretched hand.

Rio picked up his own Poké Ball and looked at it carefully.

An ordinary Poké Ball, with the classic red and white color scheme. As long as he long-pressed the white button in the center, the Pokémon captured by the Poké Ball would be released, dissolving the capture relationship.

Letting out a breath, Rio reached out his paw and tapped the button in the center.

"Xiao Zhao..."

Fengling couldn't help but call out.

Míng Rìzhào's eyes remained firm, but the gloom hidden in the deepest part of her eyes grew a few shades darker.

"Beep." The paw touched the Poké Ball.

Then, the Poké Ball "swooshed" and shrank.

"Hold it steady. Don't lose it, or I'll be 'homeless'."

Rio tossed the shrunken Poké Ball to Míng Rìzhào.

"Didn't your father once say that you should respect a Pokémon's wishes? I didn't even say I wanted to leave, and you're already trying to force me to go. Tell me, do you have another dream dog on the side?"

After his usual nonsense, Rio finally apologized seriously.

"Sorry. I apologize for my willfulness, and I also apologize for my distrust of you."

"So, could you please help me overcome my inner fear?"

Rio turned to Ruru.

"And, I'm very sorry for making you worry, Ruru."

"In the future, when I train, could you please lend me a hand?"

Míng Rìzhào put away Rio's Poké Ball.

Then, with a "bonk," she gave his head a punch.

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't hit the head! What if you make me stupid?"

"Oh, really? This fellow made Ruru and me worry for so long. What's wrong with just a little knock on the head?"

"I'm an injured patient! A lady like you shouldn't be so rough... No, why are you hitting me too, Ruru???"

"Ilulu! (Pokémon Language) Hit you, hit you, hit you!"

"Ahhhh, that's enough out of you two! And you, Eevee, don't just join in the fun! Hey, Snivy, don't even think about fishing in troubled waters!"

…

Flannery and Akagi watched as the few little ones bickered for a while.

Taking the opportunity when everyone had relaxed, Rio also explained the reason for his recent abnormal behavior.

"An Incineroar that makes Pokémon extremely fearful?"

Flannery couldn't quite imagine it. As a Fire-type Gym Leader, she knew of Incineroar—a powerful Fire and Dark-type Pokémon. And in her past battle experiences, it wasn't that she hadn't encountered one. But she had never experienced a situation so exaggerated that just standing in front of an Incineroar would cause one to be controlled by fear and unable to move.

Míng Rìzhào corroborated Rio's account. She too, upon seeing Incineroar, would feel an irresistible shudder rise in her heart.

"That Incineroar is not simple. Just like... just like your Charizard, Grandpa Akagi."

Rio's gaze shifted to the Charizard that had been lying lazily all this time.

As if hearing itself being mentioned, a sharp glint flashed in the Charizard's eyes, and it inadvertently glanced at Riolu.

A powerful presence instantly enveloped them. But unlike with Incineroar at that time, this presence did not make Rio feel fear. Instead, what he felt from it was a majestic and grand aura, a surging momentum of blazing flames.

Not expecting Rio to be able to see through his Charizard's strength, Akagi was slightly surprised.

"This is a unique ability of Riolu."

Rio explained the system's ability with his usual excuse.

Stimulated by Charizard's presence, Snivy and Kirlia also instinctively showed wary expressions. Vines shot out from Snivy's neck, while Kirlia Ruru was covered in a thin layer of pink light.

On the contrary, the innocent and romantic Eevee showed no signs of strangeness, pattering over to Charizard's side on its short little legs and looking up at it curiously.

The old man Akagi gently patted his Charizard.

The latter let out a yawn and folded its wings. Retracted along with them was that powerful presence.

The old man Akagi took a sip of tea and asked.

"Do you know that within the same Pokémon species, different individual Pokémon can have different characteristics?"

"I know. Between Pokémon of the same species, from an appearance perspective, besides height and size, there is a very rare type of differently colored Pokémon. Although these Pokémon are not necessarily stronger than their ordinary kin, they are very much loved by humans for their unique appearance."

Fengling, whose hobby was reading various books, spoke with considerable confidence.

"And if we differentiate by strength, within the same Pokémon species, there are some individuals that possess outstanding abilities. These individuals are called Elite Pokémon. In addition, another, even rarer individual will appear. The rarity of this individual is even higher than that of a Shiny Pokémon, and it almost only appears in group-dwelling Pokémon communities. Researchers call this Pokémon individual a 'Chieftain Pokémon'. It is a Pokémon that is much stronger than its own kind. This type of Pokémon also has unique abilities, but the unique ability of each Chieftain Pokémon is different, and the conditions for their appearance are also very different. To date, there is no detailed information that can explain this phenomenon."

Míng Rìzhào listened with great interest. Because at the academy, she had mostly studied knowledge related to Pokémon battles and knew very little about these aspects of Pokémon ecology.

Flannery added, "Not only that, but for Chieftain Pokémon, there are actually further distinctions. Generally, a Chieftain Pokémon that appears within its own species, we call a 'Leader Pokémon'. This type of Pokémon often plays a leading role in its own clan. If you encounter a large group of group-dwelling Pokémon in the wild, and the leader is a particularly powerful Pokémon, you must be extremely careful. This kind of Leader Pokémon, with the support of its clan, will become extremely terrifying in strength."

"Of course, there are also some special cases. Mixed-species Pokémon communities also have a chance to produce a 'Leader Pokémon', but this is much more difficult than the former. After all, gaining the following of different Pokémon is relatively difficult."

"Then there is another type, which is even scarcer, called a Hegemon Pokémon."

"A Hegemon Pokémon?"

This was also the first time Fengling had heard of such a distinction among Chieftain Pokémon.

Only Rio was not surprised, because up to now, he had already encountered four Hegemon Pokémon: Hegemon Nidoking and Hegemon Blastoise in Newmoon Forest, Sapphire's Hegemon Blaziken, and Ruby's Hegemon Swampert. One of them had even been a Hegemon Pokémon he had witnessed evolve. Of all the people and Pokémon present, probably none was more familiar with Hegemon Pokémon than he was.

"Yes, just like Champion Sapphire's Blaziken, that is a Hegemon Pokémon. This type of Pokémon, usually due to its extremely terrifying strength, is followed by Pokémon clans other than its own. The following Pokémon may even be spread throughout an entire region, and over time they become a regional hegemon."

"In the League's advisory notes, some of these Hegemon Pokémon are no less dangerous than some weaker legendary Pokémon. Therefore, if you discover a Hegemon Pokémon in the wild and do not have great strength, my advice is to leave immediately, because some irritable Pokémon have a very strong sense of territory. As long as you accidentally enter the area it commands, it will launch an attack. It is extremely dangerous."

"From ordinary Pokémon, to Elite Pokémon, to Chieftain Pokémon's Leader Pokémon and Hegemon Pokémon—this is the normal life tier of Pokémon. Every Pokémon has the potential to cross life tiers, but to continuously ascend... that is very, very difficult."

After speaking a long passage in one breath, Flannery also seemed to have thought of something and didn't continue.

At this time, Míng Rìzhào raised her hand.

"Then what about Pokémon that don't live in groups? How do they ascend the life tiers?"

"For example, the kind of Pokémon of which there is only one left in the whole world."

The gazes of all the people and Pokémon turned to Rio.

"Follow me."

The old man Akagi was the first to break the silence.

After he walked out of the small house, only then did Míng Rìzhào and Fengling realize that this old man seemed to have suffered some injury to his legs, as he walked with a limp.

Flannery sat still, signaling the two and the Pokémon to follow the old man Akagi out.

Although the old man Akagi did not walk smoothly, he was still swift on his feet. The Charizard followed behind him, swaying.

Soon, the few people (and Pokémon) arrived at an open space.

"Old partner, show the little ones your heroic posture."

The old man Akagi patted Charizard's wing.

"Swish!" Its two wings spread out. When they were fully extended, only then did Míng Rìzhào and the others realize how huge these wings were, as if obscuring the sky and the sun.

Charizard also instantly transformed from its lazy posture into a majestic one.

Sparks of fire sputtered from its mouth.

"ROAR—"

A heaven-shaking roar, and following it, blazing red flames erupted from Charizard's body!

The fierce flames coiled around its dragon body, circle after circle. The tongues of flame were like sharp swords, piercing the air, and an overwhelming, majestic presence swept out!

Looking at the Charizard, which was like a monarch bathed in flames, whether it was Míng Rìzhào or Fengling, or even Rio, who considered himself well-informed, and Ruru, Snivy, and Eevee, all were stunned speechless with amazement.

"!" The Pokémon egg was even more stimulated by the might of the flames, shaking even more violently.

The old man Akagi's eyes held pride, held gratification, and in their deepest part, there was a trace of regret.

"This is another life tier of Pokémon."

"A solitary Pokémon, after breaking through its own limits, reaches another, highest level."

"Unrivaled in the world."

"Peerless!"

The group-dwelling Chieftain Pokémon, and... the solitary Peerless Pokémon!