Chapter 103: Zuo Hang’s Failed Spell
“.External power will never be your own. Only the strength gained step by step can be relied upon. You’re an Elite Four after all, do I really need to teach you such a simple truth?”
“No, this characteristic isn’t what you think.” Zuo Tian said.
“Don’t worry about whether it’s what I think. Just tell me, was Little Charizard’s original characteristic Blaze?”
Zuo Tian glanced into the Pokémon Day Care and said in a deep voice: “Blaze.”
“Good, then tell me again, does gaining Ultra Beast Boost require experiments?”
“It’s not experiments, just injecting something.”
“Injecting is still modification! Don’t give me that useless concept-switching nonsense!”
“This injection is very safe. Failure won’t kill you, and strength won’t decrease.”
“You know so clearly, so you’ve been injected?”
“No.”
“No experience and you’re talking like an expert?? Aren’t you on my side?”
The second cigarette had already burned to the end.
“I’m definitely on your side.” Zuo Tian said affirmatively.
“Heh, on my side and you still want me to sell Pokémon? Damn it! If my Little Charizard loses even one scale, our father-son relationship is really over!”
Zuo Hang’s attitude was firm. “I’ve figured it out. I’ve only been at school for two weeks, and home has already turned upside down. You wait, I’ll take leave right now. That Aether Foundation wants my Pokémon? Tell them to come find me personally!”
Zuo Hang hung up the telephone.
The Pokémon he kept at the Pokémon Day Care were mostly laid-back types, like Ninjask, which had no dreams or whose dreams had already been realized.
Most of Zuo Hang’s Pokémon were training in different places around the world, often impossible to find, in a semi-released state.
The Pokémon Day Care had GPS trackers on every Pokémon, but Zuo Hang’s Pokémon fought without holding back, so damaged GPS was routine. To find them, Zuo Hang had to notify the Pokémon Day Care in advance. If lucky, his kids would return once a week; if not, maybe no news for a month.
This time going back, Zuo Hang had to gather the kids at home, tell them to run at the sight of Old Man without looking back, and no matter what Old Man said, absolutely don’t believe it!
“Hangzi Ge, we’re done for.” QQ suddenly pinged. Xingye typed in the squad group.
“Sorry, it’s my fault. Leader Spearow was too strong.” Lin Ping typed.
Zuo Hang glanced at the time.
Less than ten minutes out, and the four-person squad was wiped out.
“Sorry, I promised no casualties.” Just those few words showed Lin Ping’s self-blame.
“I thought you’d last at most five minutes, but you held out twice as long. Not bad, I’m satisfied.” His head was aching from Old Man’s matter, so he probably didn’t think before typing this.
The group stared at the chat, feeling like Zuo Hang wasn’t praising but mocking.
“Where are you all? I came straight out of the Red Gate, seems like I landed in the elementary section.”
Xingye typed: “We’re at the entry point. White Dragon threw us right back.”
“Alright, I’m heading back now. Get ready, something came up at home. I might be gone for a week.”
After typing that, Zuo Hang didn’t check replies, stepped onto the Flying Sword, and flew toward the Red Gate they had passed through entering the Secret Realm.
Two minutes later.
Zuo Hang landed.
The four sat side by side on steps far from the Red Gate, heads down, no communication between them.
Heichuan was very quiet, as if reading a novel. Xingye’s side was noisy, with different BGM switching on the Terminal, like scrolling Douyin.
Lin Ping gripped the Terminal in his hand, screen black, just simply head down.
Zuo Rou hugged Piplup, fluffy short hair covering her face, expression unclear.
A deathly stillness between the four, none of the passion and vigor a 15-year-old Trainer should have.
“What are you doing? All of you?? Did someone die at home or lose a competition??” Clap, clap. Zuo Hang clapped in front of them to draw their attention.
“Such a small matter and you’re like this? Really?? Why did you come to White Dragon? Huh? Why? To mope here?? Why isn’t anyone speaking? Give me some reaction. Don’t be like Xi Ran. What’s a mouth for if not talking?”
Zuo Hang stepped forward, forcibly straightening Xingye’s head. “Xingye, you’re usually the chattiest. Why silent now? Huh? Speak!”
“.”
“Nothing to say, Hangzi Ge. I’m trash. Without you, we’re nothing.” Xingye pulled a Poké Ball from his back waist. “Single Sword withdrawn, Snowy Child down in one move. Hangzi Ge, I really am trash. Don’t say more, let me be quiet.”
“???”
Zuo Hang’s head throbbed.
How did they get so depressed on their own?
Not even the time for it yet.
So much negativity at 15—what if they grew up?
“We won, everyone. We won! Broke three records. Class A’s total points are definitely steadily first.”
“You won, not us, not Class A. Only you won. Not just Class A, all of us are Losers today.” Lin Ping said very seriously.
“Bro, no need to say more. Nothing works. We just want to be quiet.”
Zuo Hang fell silent.
He really wanted to know what happened after he left.
“Seriously, instead of moping here, go train all day. I suggest the gravity training room, max level. Turn sorrow into strength, maybe even breakthrough.”
This was similar to what he just told Old Man.
In summary, better to do something real than think useless thoughts. “Sigh~” Zuo Hang sighed. When did this society get so frivolous?
“Pika~” Electric Mouse sighed along with Zuo Hang, agreeing he was right.
“Buzz~” Doublade hummed once, also thinking Zuo Hang made sense.
Grabbing Zuo Rou’s arm, he pulled her up. “Let them mope. You’re already introverted; more and you’re off to the underworld. Come with me to the training room. You’ve always wanted extra practice for Turtwig, right? Approved today. Train as late as you want.”
“Wait… no, huh?!” Zuo Rou’s little face full of shock. Before reacting, Gardevoir’s Psychic dragged her up.
Zuo Rou’s dedicated ride—Gardevoir’s Psychic Field.
Zuo Hang smiled, the sudden gentleness on his face a bit creepy. “Good sister, don’t trouble your brother~ If I come back and you’re back to your old self… truth is, I’m not a good person, but I won’t do those weird things you imagine. At most, I’ll wipe your hard drive and toss those little books you brought.”
“!!!”
Zuo Rou seemed to hear important info.
“I’ll train! Right now! Won’t go back to before. I’ll go out more, talk to others. No more introversion. I get it. Just got KO’d in 10 minutes? No big deal! Train hard this time. Next time, go to Rainforest revenge on those Spearow! So… don’t touch my hard drive! Or throw my books!!!”
Feiao City, Da Lao Hei Pokémon Day Care.
Zuo Tian lit the third cigarette.
He seemed to be thinking about what Zuo Hang said earlier.
“—External power will never be your own. Only the strength gained step by step can be relied upon. You’re an Elite Four after all, do I really need to teach you such a simple truth?”
He understood the reasoning.
But Zuo Tian had witnessed the despair Ultra Beasts brought.
If possible, he wanted to take it one step at a time too. But often he didn’t have that time. Adults are forced into many decisions, even if they lead to regret.
【Ultra Beast Factor】—This allows ordinary Pokémon to gain the Ultra Beast Boost characteristic, possessing the same “stronger with every kill” ability as Ultra Beasts.
Aether Foundation, to counter 【Spatial Tremors】 appearing worldwide, launched the “Ultra Beast Creation Project” nine years ago.
“Only Ultra Beasts can counter Ultra Beasts!”
“It’s 2025 already. Science can beat magic too.”
Zuo Hang’s words kept echoing in his heart.
Zuo Tian didn’t enter the Pokémon Day Care again. The third cigarette burned only halfway.
