Chapter 236: The Legacy of the Initial Flame? The Emberling?

Painting is a time-consuming task, so President Shinnosuke didn’t wait long here; if everything goes well, Kōtai’s work will soon be exhibited at the Feiyun Gallery, where he can view it to his heart’s content.

This battle has gathered highly useful combat data; under Kōtai’s explanation, more items will be rapidly digitized and updated in the software. President Shinnosuke, like Kōtai, holds bright hopes for the future of Pokémon battles.

“The older I get, the more I feel combat is precious—it tells me I am still alive, a living being.”

“Combat is a path to understanding Pokémon’s hearts, and a way for Pokémon to understand Trainers. Some Pokémon crave battle and seek out humans, but others refuse to fight. Though I love battles, they are not the entirety of life.”

“Ah, if only I could be thirty years younger again… I’m a weak Trainer, so I can only watch others battle. Every time I see them fighting in perfect harmony with their Pokémon, I feel it as if it were my own. That feeling—that emotion—that’s the very reason I founded this company. I want to experience more of this.”

President Shinnosuke, rarely moved, sighed deeply. After bidding farewell to Kōtai and Ati, he left with Miss Hui and his business secretary, feeling he still had endless work ahead—but today’s battle had unexpectedly reignited his passion!

Good! After finishing my work, I’ll find time to clean the Tianjian Bridge again! Next time, I’ll clean the entire bridge thoroughly with my Pupitar and Kinochiru!

“When the old president was…” Ati began, and Kōtai assumed he was going to say the old president had once been strong.

But Ati waved his hand: “No, the old president was truly weak.”

“He only had Kinochiru and Pupitar—yet despite being weak, he was said to have been deeply passionate about battles.”

“Among all battle outcomes, victory is the most trivial thing. Did the old president seek something deeper?” Ati stroked his chin.

“Ah, I’ve gotten another inspiration.”

After everything was settled, only Nari remained in the Gym. Kōtai began his “artistic creation.”

Ati didn’t just stand there watching—he quickly recorded his new inspirations, sketching them down. With his speed, drawing rough drafts was effortless, so he and Nari shared many common interests in sketching, and they moved to another studio.

Though this place looked like a botanical garden, in truth, to deter ordinary Gym challengers, many sticky, honey-like walls had been built inside the Gym, modeled after beehives. This artistic design had divided the Feiyun Gym into many independent spaces!

Paints, brushes, canvases, paper—all necessary tools were ready. Kōtai’s past memories gradually surfaced.

Emberling…

Was it hatched together with the Pokémon from my dreams—an ancient child?

It is called young because it has only just awakened in this era; it is called old because it comes from a distant past, perhaps the final golden age of Ancient City.

Among Bug-type Pokémon, Emberling and Volcarona have unusually long lifespans, living for centuries while remaining lively. They appear in deserts, ancient ruins, and abandoned mines.

In ancient times, this Pokémon was called the Sun-Thief Larva and revered as a divine emissary of the sun.

Perhaps Ancient City once had the ancient custom of raising Emberling and worshipping it as a guardian deity.

“What did Pokémon give us? Did the Sun-Thief Larva steal fire like Prometheus?”

“Long ago, when Pokémon were called demons, a barrier existed between humans and Pokémon.”

“The first Pokémon to aid the people of Unova emerged in an age of chaos and utter darkness—the first to ignite flame, bringing light and warmth to the world.”

“Emberling”

As Kōtai murmured, Linktree seemed to recall something and sent him a message.

[Note: Legends say—in ancient times, the people of Unova and their Pokémon gradually gathered around Ancient City.]

Ah… this is…

Kōtai remembered the scene Leo had shown him.

The blue puppy told him it once saw a grand city built first, a magnificent castle standing at the center of fertile plains. At first, only the huge city existed, but gradually, more cities, towns, Pokémon-inhabited forests, and rivers spread outward from it.

The people of the great ancient city planted forests and dug irrigation canals—thus they created forests and rivers.

[Note 2: Once, that land was barren wasteland. People struggled in hardship. Then one day, a Pokémon emerged from the desert, holding flame in its grasp—the dark world began to brighten.]

Linktree seemed to recall fragments of ancient memories. It silently observed Unova, having existed for an unknown length of time.

But due to the scattering of human hearts, the loss of history, its own weakness and decay, it spoke vaguely and could offer no useful advice.

“Because of our close bond, have you also received a reverse gift?”

Kōtai asked.

[Note 3: Perhaps. Thank you.]

“It’s fine. Now I’ll paint—according to the stories in your memory. Let me see.”

Kōtai looked at Leo, who followed him: “Can you show me the memories stored in your aura?”

“Awo? (Aura memories… memories of the ancient city?)”

“Awo! (Yes!)”

Leo placed one paw on his chest, gathering blue aura light.

The power of aura resides within my heart.

Rekindling ancient memories, Linktree’s aura—unusual, ancient aura—guided him forward!

Now, Leo knew its aura was different from the past—it had transformed through Kōtai’s power. And throughout the world, many things seemed to call to it, as if all of Unova’s nature whispered to it, offering gifts.

It hoped to grant it some mission or trial. The blue-furred puppy was deeply confused, yet intensely curious.

What would happen on the journey ahead?

How exciting! What lay hidden in the underwater ruins? As long as he followed this Trainer, all answers would come!

Kōtai closed his eyes.

The engraved memories surfaced in his heart!

The fire-bringer… Emberling?

“Oh, you’re done?” Ati and Nari returned to Kōtai’s studio, cheerful and relaxed. Nari had received Ati’s sketching guidance, and Ati had quickly sketched down all his inspirations, his spirits high.

But when he saw Kōtai’s nearly completed new piece, Ati was utterly speechless.

He remained frozen in the act of stroking his head, staring blankly at the “large-scale artwork” displayed on the canvas before him.

“I’ve been wondering—who was the first Pokémon to bring fire and light to Unova?”

“Emberling is the Sun-Thief Larva, the emissary of the sun. Why did the people of Unova call it that?”

“When we speak of the sun, we think of fierce burning, blazing light and heat—it makes the earth fertile, gives life to all things, bestows sunlight, illuminates rain and dew, and fills the world with vitality.”

“So perhaps Emberling didn’t steal merely the sun or its image. The people of Ancient City may have seen the life and abundance Emberling brought to the land in that distant age.”

“Long ago, Pokémon were called demons, separated from humans.”

“In an age of endless darkness, people huddled on barren plains, helpless.”

“Then, a white, adorable Pokémon, breathing flame, emerged from the sand. It brought warmth, sparing them from freezing to death. It brought light, allowing them to see, to distinguish things around them.”

“With fire and light came warmth. People lived alongside Emberling, transforming this barren land into a paradise. The soil grew rich; new plants took root; distant rivers began to flow across the land. Together, humans and Pokémon built a great city.”

“That was Ancient City.”

“Because of this history, they developed a sun-worshipping culture, regarding Emberling as the emissary of the Sun God. When it cocooned and became a true Sun Insect, their worship reached its peak.”

“Ancient City flourished. Centered upon it, all of Unova began to prosper.”

Ati stared intently at the painting.

Before the grand temple of the magnificent city, the shadows of all ancestors were deliberately elongated, merging with Emberling’s shadow on the sundial into a single flickering flame.

It was as if—

A flame flickered in Ati’s mind—an artistic essence?

Something it sought to express: first outward, then inward.

“Did humans and Pokémon share the same light?”

Within each layer of flame lay silhouettes of humans and Pokémon. Ati suddenly imagined—if the ancient scene Kōtai described was true…

Ancient humans used its fire to forge their first bronze, while Emberling used human strength to obtain food—or something else. In any case, it came with goodwill and innocence. Humans and Pokémon were like kindling igniting each other!

So… we’ve always been in the same flame?

Perhaps Pokémon don’t necessarily need humans—but humans in this world certainly need them.

“Incredible! I understand everything!”

Ati was thrilled!

“I’ve understood what you’re trying to express! At least, I’ve understood some of it!”

“Ah, this is the soul-stirring power of art! History unfolded before my eyes—that’s exactly what I wanted to see!”

“You’re saying humans and Pokémon share a history of mutual support—that Pokémon’s fire warmed humans, enabling human civilization to rise! Their powers merged as one—yes, this is ‘Unity as One’!”

“The first flame! The Initial Flame! That’s it! That’s what I’ve been struggling to grasp! Ancient City’s legends were vague, but traces existed—yet too fragmented to connect. Now, everything is clear!”

“Aloe-sis did say that when she and Chrysanthemum-sis conducted field archaeology, they found Ancient City’s history older than any other ruin! Yes, because it was the first city on Unova’s soil!”

“Exactly! If only humans existed, or only Pokémon, nothing could be achieved. But when humans and Pokémon join hands, nothing is impossible! You’re refuting that strange Team Plasma! This is amazing! This is the most powerful artistic rebuttal!”

“It should be hung in the most prominent place at the Feiyun Gallery…” Ati said, then froze.

Oh no!

This painting was meant to pair with my Volcarona piece—but now, its artistry and depth surpass my own. If paired together, the artistic levels…

How to put it? Laypeople might think both are impressive; experts might say they’re just different styles. But I know my Volcarona piece is merely a simple “tribute” to Volcarona!

It has no history, no philosophy—only pure aesthetics, focused solely on the Pokémon and its symbolic essence!

Of course, it’s an absolutely excellent piece—otherwise I wouldn’t be proud of it. But… if placed beside this one… in short, it feels profoundly “incompatible.” Whether you view Volcarona first or Emberling first, you feel a jarring dissonance!

Pure aesthetic beauty and a work steeped in historical metaphor cannot be displayed together!

It would cause aesthetic confusion and ambiguity!

“This is truly troublesome! My style doesn’t match this! But I can’t paint a new piece to match it right now! Ah—is art always flawed? Is imperfection and incompleteness the very essence of art?”

“What a blunder… yet what a blessing!”

“What’s its title?”

At this moment, Ati’s emotions surged. His will sensed a new artistic world awakening—and similarly, Linktree, connected to Kōtai, sensed Ati’s heart.

[Linktree senses a new will slowly growing!]

[Reward: Ati’s Recognition!]

[Note: This is recognition from Ati, the genius artist and Gym Leader of Feiyun City. He sincerely believes your work possesses unparalleled artistry and philosophical depth. When exhibited at the Feiyun Gallery, it will subtly shift the hearts of Unova’s people and draw more visitors to admire it, awakening cherished memories of the past.]

After Linktree’s message, new information appeared:

【Acquired: Popularity +100%! Fame +100%! Reputation +100%! Attractiveness +100%!】

【Description: After an exhibition, popularity, fame, and attractiveness may rise further. Continuous exhibitions may be necessary to obtain vital and unique professional knowledge and artistic craftsmanship. Likewise, fashion art is also a form of artistic creation.】

Fashion? Practicing before making the Arceus suit won’t hurt.

Guang Tai did not hesitate:

“Let’s call it ‘The Initial Fire.’ The name you spoke is exactly the one I had in mind!”

“Then, I also have unfinished new works I’d like to ask you to exhibit together. These pieces will be finished soon—just give me one day.”

Adi: “You have new works?! Ah! That’s amazing!”

(End of Chapter)