The suffocating killing intent in the air seemed to freeze the very space around them.
With unwavering determination in his eyes, Pei Jingguo gripped the hilt of Honedge without hesitation!
In that instant, an overwhelming suction force surged from Honedge's body.
Its lone, eerie eye began to glow brighter and more unnaturally blue with every passing second.
The blue ribbon—still attached to its scabbard—wrapped around Pei Jingguo's arm like a living creature.
Suddenly, the suction force intensified drastically!
Pei Jingguo clenched his jaw.
It felt as if Honedge were a bottomless black hole—mercilessly draining his life force.
"Don't think you can break me!"
Pei Jingguo roared, eyes wide with fury.
The arm that had started to wither under the pressure suddenly swelled back with vitality, surging with raw power!
At that moment, it became a tug-of-war—Honedge's relentless drain versus Pei Jingguo's overflowing life force!
Everyone who didn't know what was really happening could only look on in growing panic.
"What's going on?!"
Wang Tao cried out. "Wasn't it already tamed?! What the hell is that thing doing?!"
"I can sense it…" he said, his voice grim. "Pei Jingguo's qi—it's fading rapidly!"
Ji Wei, who had remained quiet, frowned and rubbed his chin.
"As a melee class fighter, qi is everything to us. It represents our physical and mental strength."
"For it to be drained like this—this is the first time I've ever seen such a thing…"
"But Pei Jingguo really is a monster. The density and quality of his qi… no wonder they call him a genius."
"Still… if this keeps up, he won't last long."
Ji Wei was an A-rank berserker, with countless battle experiences under his belt. He could tell at a glance—this wasn't a normal bond.
It was a battle. A silent, soul-level duel.
And the strangest thing was—why would taming a Pokémon be so intense?
None of the others had gone through anything remotely like this!
Everyone turned to the one person who might have an answer—Su Bai, the owner of the Pokémon Center.
He stared solemnly at the duel unfolding in front of him and finally spoke.
"Every Pokémon has a distinct personality."
"Take Machop, for example. Despite its appearance, it comforted Xiao Zhang out of emotional empathy."
"Eevee clung to Li Xiaoyu the moment it saw her."
"When it comes to reading people… Pokémon often see through us more clearly than we see ourselves."
"But Honedge… Honedge is a very, very unique case."
Su Bai took a deep breath.
"According to legend, Honedge is a blade reborn—a sword inhabited by a departed soul."
"In the Pokémon world, countless tales speak of Honedge draining human life force until the victim collapses dead."
He paused, looking at the horrified faces in the room.
"I've said this before—Ghost-type Pokémon are inherently strange."
"Unless you're using elemental techniques, most normal-type Pokémon can't even scratch them."
"Even someone like Ji Wei—unless he enchanted his weapon or had a songstress behind him—"
"His raw strength alone wouldn't do a thing to a Ghost-type."
"But even these ghostly beings… have their own personalities."
"This Honedge… among all Honedge… may be one of the rarest and most temperamental."
Su Bai's eyes narrowed as he glanced at the floating Pokédex in front of him.
Its data on this Honedge was largely unremarkable—except for one part.
Under the talent section, there were three bold letters glowing in red: MAX.
He didn't know whether to call Pei Jingguo lucky or cursed.
This Honedge… had maxed-out potential.
In terms of individual values—it was a perfect 6IV specimen.
But this wasn't a game.
In-game, 6IVs could be bred over time, with Destiny Knot items to make it easier.
Even then, getting a flawless Pokémon without hacks or tools took a painful grind.
And in the wild?
A naturally occurring 6IV Pokémon was practically a myth.
Winning the lottery was easier.
"If the legends are true, and every Honedge is a soul reborn…"
"Then the one inside this Honedge… might've been a true powerhouse in life."
"Pei Jingguo was never going to tame it easily."
Thanks to Su Bai's explanation, everyone finally understood the gravity of what Pei Jingguo was facing.
Their anxiety spiked.
Pei Jingguo wasn't just a peer—he was their comrade-in-arms.
If they weren't standing inside Su Bai's Pokémon House… if Su Bai weren't right beside them…
They would've rushed in and pulled him away by force.
And if Pei Jingguo got angry afterward? So be it.
Su Bai could feel their thoughts. He sighed bitterly.
Even if Ho-Oh, the legendary phoenix of life, could resurrect Pei Jingguo afterward…
Would it?
And besides—Ho-Oh belongs to Johto.
They were still barely scratching the surface of Kanto.
Most quests had only just begun.
There was no way a Johto-region legendary would intervene now.
"Damn it… why are geniuses always so troublesome…"
Right now, Su Bai had only one hope left—that Pei Jingguo would win.
The duel between him and Honedge wasn't just dangerous—it was brutal.
His muscles withered and revived in cycles.
His once-black hair slowly turned white.
Wrinkles formed on his face—each moment aging him more and more.
Just minutes ago, he was a handsome young man.
Now, his face bore the weight of age he didn't deserve.
And yet, his eyes—bright and resolute—never wavered.
"Holy crap… I'm never catching a Honedge. Ever."
Liu Yunlan stared, stunned.
"Even if he wins… what's the point? He'll be an old man!"
"You might think it's meaningless," Ji Wei spoke softly, stepping forward.
"But to someone like Pei Jingguo… it means everything."
"'If I can understand the Way in the morning, I am content to die in the evening.'"
"If he can overcome this… S-rank will be nothing more than a stepping stone."
Everyone fell silent. Their expressions grew heavier.
Su Bai felt even more frustrated.
He glanced at Pei Jingguo—his hair now almost completely gray—and silently ran through his mental list of Pokémon.
Was there any who could help restore him?
Celebi, perhaps? The guardian of time and nature?
Dialga, the literal god of time?
But Celebi, like Ho-Oh, was Johto.
Dialga? Sinnoh region.
That was multiple versions away!
"Damn it… geniuses are a pain…"
As Su Bai mentally scrambled through timelines and legendaries—
A muffled groan came from Pei Jingguo, followed by the crisp, echoing sound of a blade sliding into its sheath.
Clang!
Su Bai turned sharply.
Honedge—like a true sword returning to its scabbard—was now resting firmly in Pei Jingguo's hand.
The blue ribbon that had once gripped his arm with force—
Now hung softly at his side, as if bowing in surrender.
Honedge had submitted.