"Could I have guessed wrong?"
The Grand Elder began to doubt his own speculation.
"However, if you are referring to my biological father, it should be him. I'm an orphan," Feng Che's voice rang out. "I drifted through many orphanages when I was younger."
"The only proof of identity I had on me was this chain."
Feng Che produced a gleaming golden necklace. The pendant was engraved with strange runes that were identical to those on the stone pillars of the Dragon God Shrine.
"This is the necklace Feng Lu wore when he was a child. I personally put it on him during his baptism," Vio said, his voice deep and resonant.
After recovering Feng Lu all those years ago, Vio discovered the necklace had gone missing. It was the token that proved one's identity within Unova's Dragon Clan.
Once Vio recognized his grandson, he was instantly overjoyed. He had initially feared that his talent as a Trainer had died out with Feng Lu, but he never expected Feng Lu's son, Feng Che, to be even more formidable—a true testament to the student surpassing the master.
Seeing Vio recognize Feng Che's identity, the Grand Elder nodded in satisfaction.
"With this token as proof, it's clear that Feng Che is indeed Feng Lu's child. If anyone still wishes to question it, that is easily handled. We can simply perform a paternity test when the time comes. This makes it an internal matter of our Dragon Clan."
The Grand Elder openly declared his support. "Your Dragon Force has been acknowledged by the Dragon God Shrine, and since you have also won the Dragon Championship, I accept you as the next clan leader of the Dragon Clan."
"I, Victor, support Feng Che as the next clan leader," Victor announced, publicly choosing his side.
Apart from the lineages of the Second Elder and Drayden, who remained silent, the other neutral clan members all acknowledged Feng Che's identity. It was only natural; Feng Che's Dragon Force was exceptionally strong, and he had managed to become the Dragon-type Elite Four Elite of the Unova region at such a young age.
Just look at Drayden—despite all his years of experience, he was still just a Dragon-type Gym Leader. Water flows downward, but people strive to move upward; everyone understood this simple truth.
"Victor, you..."
Drayden turned to look at Victor. He had always believed Victor would support him, and he never expected a public betrayal in favor of Feng Che.
"Drayden, you didn't actually think my faction was permanently loyal to you, did you?" Victor sneered. "I was merely waiting for my elder brother's return. Before he came back, I had no choice but to rely on you to avoid being swallowed whole by the fiercely ambitious Second Elder."
"Today, we should completely settle the score for the bloodbath brought about by the Second Elder's faction," Vio said, turning to Drayden with genuine sincerity. "Drayden, let us join forces this time. Once we purge the Second Elder's faction, we can decide who becomes the next clan leader. Whether it goes to our lineage or yours is fine, but the position must not fall into the hands of a man as wildly ambitious as the Second Elder."
"Hmph, then it remains to be seen if you'll live long enough to join forces. Come forth, Virizion! Kill them all!"
Virizion was a quadrapedal, antelope-like Pokémon, its body predominantly green. A pair of blunt, curled horns extended from the sides of its head. It had a pointed snout with a black stripe running from its nose to the back of its head, while its face, hind legs, and underside were white. A pink-tipped leaf grew on each side of its neck, and grass-like fluff crested its shoulders. Pointed tufts of fur lined its back, tapering into a tail. Its lower legs resembled knee-high boots, accented with pink patterns at the knees, ending in black hooves.
Countless vines erupted from the ground, and as they parted, Virizion materialized. With a gentle tap of its hooves, a massive Frenzy Plant burst from the earth, roaring toward Drayden and the others. At that moment, Regidrago was entirely pinned down by Cobalion and Terrakion, unable to break away to help.
Right then, a torrent of blazing white fire cascaded from the heavens.
The stark white flames instantly incinerated the Frenzy Plant Virizion had conjured, reducing it to ash. Countless more pillars of white fire rained down across the battlefield, striking the rampaging Druddigon and burning them to nothingness.
A colossal, pure white dragon descended from the sky.
"Reshiram! It's Reshiram, the Dragon God!"
"Lord Reshiram! Lord Reshiram!"
"The Vast White Pokémon has descended!"
Reshiram was the ultimate deity of Unova's Dragon Clan. As it gracefully touched down, many of the clan members fell to their knees, bowing in deep reverence—even those belonging to the Second Elder's faction were no exception.
"Human, your strength has earned my acknowledgment. This is your reward."
Reshiram exhaled a sphere of pure white flame, pulsing with boundless power. Feng Che immediately summoned his Deino, guiding the sphere of white fire onto the Pokémon's head. The lightning rune and the flame rune intertwined across Deino's forehead.
"Deino, once we secure Kyurem's legacy, you will become the strongest Pokémon of all," Feng Che murmured, gently stroking Deino's small head.
"Reshiram, this is an internal conflict of the Dragon Clan. Surely you will not interfere?" the Second Elder asked, testing the waters, deeply wary of the dragon's power.
"I indeed do not interfere in the affairs of the Dragon Clan," Reshiram spoke, opening its maw. "But when you commit such heinous atrocities, I must put an end to it."
Reshiram unleashed another torrent of white fire, directing it at the Pokémon controlled by the Second Elder's drugs.
Some of the Pokémon had been subjected to the drugs for far too long and were entirely beyond saving; these were instantly reduced to ashes by the sacred fire. Others had only been controlled for a short time and could still be saved; from their pores, streams of dark, corrupted miasma were forcefully expelled.
"Dammit!" The Second Elder watched as his entire Pokémon army was wiped clean by Reshiram, the veins bulging prominently on the back of his withered, bark-like hand.
"Swords of Justice, combine your strength and attack Reshiram!"
The Second Elder made an utterly sacrilegious command.
"Absurd! Second Brother, how dare you order Pokémon to attack Reshiram? That is the god we revere!" the Grand Elder shouted, his voice filled with bitter disappointment and rage.
An internal feud within the Dragon Clan was a minor matter; at worst, the losers would be exiled. Controlling Pokémon with drugs would at most result in a permanent ban on their research and house arrest by Drayden. But ordering Pokémon to attack Reshiram was an outright betrayal of their faith and an insult to their Dragon God.
It was nothing short of treason against the entire clan.
"Virizion, Terrakion, Cobalion... Awake from your slumber."
A meaningful smile played at the corners of Reshiram's maw.