《Pokemon: Reborn Rich Alternate Earth》 Julian And His Team Julian And His TeamJulian Walker : Reincarnated form our world to a planet similar but containing pokemon, has a system like normal isekai protagonist, Rich second generation with a powerful family and background. Plans to make full use of his identity and status powers : Aura , Psychic, Ash''s physique ----------------------- 1. Metagross [Shiny] 2. Lucario 3. Melmetal 4. Dragonite 5. Slowking 6. Aggron S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 7. Steelix 8. Arcanine 9. Gengar [Shiny] 10. Magearna 11. Gabite 12. Honedge Ranks and Qualifications Ranks and QualificationsPokmon qualifications/potentials are divided into eight types: Red Orange sea??h th Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yellow Green Cyan Blue Purple Gold. -------------------------------------------- Corresponding respectively: Rookie (Red 0-20) Ordinary (Orange 21-40) Advanced (Yellow 41-60) Pseudo-Elite (Green 61-70) Elite (Cyan 71-80) pseudo-Champion (Blue 81-90) Champion (Purple 91-99) Legendary(gold above 100) ---------------------------------------------------- There are Ruins and Secret Realms Secret Realms: Primary/Normal/Elementary/junior Advanced Top tie Chapter 01: Julian Chapter 01: JulianLake City No. 1 Middle School, Senior Two (1) class, the head teacher Edgar stood on the podium, looked at the students below, and said with a slightly solemn expression. "The day after tomorrow will be a two-month summer vacation. You will be high school seniors after summer vacation. I think you should know what I''m going to say next, right?" "We know" Sar?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Many students shouted excitedly. "Teacher, I''ve been waiting for this day for 17 years" "You''ve also been single for 17 years" "Okay, listen to what Teacher is saying" The class leader spoke, and the class soon quieted down, but the excitement on their faces still existed. "I know you''re all excited, but being a Trainer is a dangerous thing and a big test for your family." "After school today, go home and discuss with your parents whether you should enter the regular class or the Trainer class in your third year of high school." "Remember, this choice will affect your whole life. Even if many people have already made their choice, you still have to think about it again when you go back this time." "Okay, the school is over" After Edgar finished speaking, he left the classroom. As he left, the entire classroom became extremely lively in an instant. Their voices even reached the corridor. Normally, if this was the case, there will definitely be a teacher coming to warn them. But this time is different, because all the 3 second year highschool classes in the entire corridor are making excited sounds. "Julian , which class will you choose, the regular class or the Trainer class" A relatively thin boy walked up to another boy and put his hand on the other''s shoulder. "Naturally it''s the Trainer class," Julian said lightly. Don''t look at his dull expression, his heart is already screaming. He can finally be a Trainer. In the future, punching Elite and kicking champion is not a dream. Julian was extremely excited. He was a transmigrator, who came from Earth and traveled to this planet which is very similar to Earth. The biggest difference between this planet and his previous one is that this planet has a fantasy species called Pokmon, and some countries also call them Pocket Monters. Both Pokmon and Pocket Monster refer to the same species, just different names. He is very familiar with Pokmon. From Pokemon Fire Red, Pokemon Leaf Green, Diamond Pearl, Black and White, Platinum, etc., he has played all of them in his previous life. He is a veteran Pokemon game and anime fan. ''I have always fantasized that one day I will be able to travel to Pokmon world and capture my favorite Pokmon.'' And this dream came true, he really traveled, although not the Pokmon world of Ash and Pikachu in the anime. But in the world he is now in, there are indeed Pokmon. There are Pokmon in the streets, TV commercials, videos, etc. There were no Pokmon on this planet for the first two hundred years. Pokmon suddenly appeared in this world two hundred years ago. With the appearance of Pokmon, the area of ??the planet continued to grow. According to scientists, the world where Pokmon are located and the planet they are on are gradually merging together. With the advent of Pokmon, humans were naturally extremely vigilant against these strange creatures at first, and the destructive power of them was extremely powerful, and the powerful creatures were even comparable to nuclear bombs. In the first fifty years, a huge war broke out between humans and Pokmon, and countless humans and Pokmon died every day. Humans ended up using a nuclear bomb, but a beast appeared on Pokmon''s side to stop the nuclear bomb. The legendary beast''s ability to destroy the sky and the earth made humans realize that the ultimate weapon they had was a joke in front of them. Humans thought they would be destroyed by the legendary beast, but legendary beast did nothing to human beings, but reached peace agreements with the high-level leaders of various human countries. Later, with the development of science and technology, and various secret realms, forbidden areas and ruins appeared in this world, humans found knowledge about Pokmon from the ruins, and most importantly, they found out about the production technology of Pok Ball. Over time, humans and Pokmon have lived in peace with each other for 150 years, blending into each other. Now many human countries have given up research on weapons, it is not that the world is peaceful and there is no war, but that scientists have discovered that Pokmon has endless possibilities. The nuclear bomb is really powerful, but it needs to hit the target. An Elite-level Pokmon can detonate this nuclear bomb in advance in the air. A Pokmon with a little training can easily kill a dozen heavily armed humans. In order to gain the power of Pokmon, the profession of Trainer was born. The comparison between countries is no longer the number of nuclear bombs in their own countries, but the number of top Trainers. An Elite-level Trainer can easily destroy a city with an Elite-level Pokmon in his hand, and a Champion-level Trainer is fully capable of destroying a small country. Therefore, Trainers have become a weapon for each country to protect their own country, and training powerful Trainers and Pokmon is a unified national policy of each country. The country Julian lives in is called Drakoria. (T/n:- Alternate world version of China) It is a country with black hair, black eyes and yellow skin. It has a very similar history to the country where he lived in his previous life. Just because Pokmon came to this planet 200 years ago, the history has naturally changed since then. The Drakorian Trainer Association stipulates that nationals who are 17 years old and whose parents and immediate family members have no serious violations of law or discipline can register as trainers. You can only hold a Pokmon after you become a Trainer. If you hold a Pokmon in advance, once you are discovered, you will be severely punished by the Trainer Association. Seeing Julian saying he wants to enter the Trainer class, Will said enviously: "You already have a Pokmon ready at home" "Yes, how about you" "I am going to buy from either the breeding house or from school" The only requirement to become a student of the Trainer class is to own a Pokmon, whether the Pokmon is Catterpie, a pokemon with limited future potential, or a Pseudo legendary like Dratini or Beldum. But even a Catterpie, sells for as high as 80,000 in a breeding house, and you can catch it from the wild, provided you are not afraid of broken bones. "Of course, I will buy it from the breeding house. There are only seven or eight kinds of Pokmon eggs coming and going in the school. My dad knows the manager of a breeding house." "I heard that three unqualified Charmander eggs came into the breeding house during this time, and I have reserved one for me" When Will said the following words, his voice was a little louder, so that the students around him could hear it. Charmander''s Pokmon egg, with a market value of over one million. The surrounding classmates looked at Will with admiration. They didn''t expect this guy''s family to be so rich, and he usually doesn''t show it at all. Their gazes made Will snort proudly. Chapter 02: Son of a National Gym Owner Chapter 02: Son of a National Gym OwnerIn the country of Drakoria, the main Royal Starter Pokmon are Charmander, Squirtle and Bulbasaur. These three Pokmon are carefully Bred by the Trainer Breeder Association of the country for hundred years. Both their growth potential and Species Strength are the best of all known regular Pokmon. But the price is also very expensive, Pokmon eggs start at one million. If Will''s Royal Starter Pokmon is really Charmander, he''s already ahead of most people. "Julian what is your starter Pokmon" The relationship between the two was good, and Will is also curious about what Julian''s starter Pokmon, but it will definitely not be as good as his own Charmander. "You''ll know after summer vacation" Julian smiled and had already started to pack the textbooks on the table and stuffed them into the schoolbag. Because of the existence of Pokmon in this world, the learning content of school is not only Chinese, mathematics, science, foreign languages, but also Pokmon, which is also a main subject. Even if you don''t want to be a Trainer, Pokmon is a must. Just like English, most people won''t use it when they learn it, but you have to learn it. It''s just that in the third grade of high school, it is divided into ordinary class and trainer class, and the proportion of Pokmon learning in the total score will be different. Lake City is the capital city of Yale Province, and it is also a very famous city in the entire Drakoria. The main reason is that there is a national gym here. There are only 18 national-level gyms in the entire Drakoria, corresponding to the 18 attributes of Pokmon, while the one in Lake City is a national-level steel-type gym. A person who wants to be a national-level gym owner must have at least three Elite-level Pokmon, and the Drakorian Trainer Association will send people to inspect the gym every three years. If the gym owner fails the assessment twice in a row, the gym owner will be dismissed. . The national steel-based gym is located on the outskirts of Lake City. After more than two hours, Julian has arrived at the door of the gym. The entrance is ten meters high and five meters wide, and the whole body is made of bronze. There is a stone statue of Metagross on the left of the entrance, and a stone statue of Aggron on the right. These two Pokmon are the symbols of the steel gym, and they are also the two strongest Pokmon of the gym master. "jingle" Julian rang the doorbell on the left side of the gate. Soon a happy voice came from the camera above the door: "My son is back, mom will open the door for you." Not long after, the heavy bronze door slowly opened, and a silver Metagross flew out immediately. Metagross gently rubbed Julian with his big head. "Meta~" happy voice came out of Metagross''s mouth. "Metagross, I can be a trainer tomorrow." Julian patted Metagross''s head happily. Julian usually lived on campus, and only went home on Fridays. Every time he goes home, Metagross rushes out to pick him up when the door opens. The usual Metagross is blue but this one is silver, apparently this is a Shiny Metagross Metagross itself is a Pseudo legendary Pokmon, plus it''s a different color, its value is already immeasurable, and the different color Pokmon has a special feature. The peculiarity of this Metagross is that its bodies hardness is one and a half times that of a normal Metagross. The steel Pokmon itself is known as the strongest defense, and the defense of this Metagross is higher than that of Normal Metagross. This made it a nightmare for all trainers who wanted to challenge this gym. To challenge a national gym, the minimum trainer requirement is Pseudo-Elite. Julian''s identity has finally been revealed now. He is the only son of the owner of this national steel gym and the son of Jake, a well-known Elite Trainer in Yale Province. When you walk into the gym, you will see a huge battle field, bigger than two football fields. After all, the lowest level of challenge is Pseudo-Elite. If the field is too small to allow Pokmon to display its due strength it Can be opened so that Flying-type Pokmon will not be restricted. Julian''s home is at the back of the battle arena. He can continue walking from the gate of the arena, and then circle around to get home, but it will take a lot of trouble. So he goes directly from the venue, so the distance is the shortest. After passing through the stadium, there is a front yard about the size of a basketball court. Behind the front yard is a three-story villa, which is Julian''s home. At the back of the villa is a huge backyard, where most of his father and mother''s Pokmon are placed. Following Metagross into the house, Julian threw his schoolbag on the sofa, and immediately laid down on the sofa. Metagross opened the refrigerator with Confusion and pulled out an ice-cold Coke. "Thank you Metagross" Julian said. At this time, mother Tina walked out of the kitchen, holding a knife in her hand, and said displeased, "Drinking iced Coke on a cold day, I''ll see what you do when you have diarrhea." "You too, Metagross, don''t you know what to do with him?" ''Well, I was scolded as soon as I got home, and I brought Metagross along.'' Julian had already gotten used to it. After drinking a sip of iced Coke, he said, "Mom, where''s dad, why isn''t he here?" As the owner of a national gym, don''t think about how busy you are, in fact, there may not be a few challengers in half a month. After all, the challenger''s most annoying requirement is to be a Pseudo-Elite, and there are 18 gyms in the entire Drakoria. As long as you collect eight national-level gym Badges, you can participate in the World Trainer Competition. The steel-type gym is the most difficult existence among the 18 national gyms, so unless you have absolute confidence in your own strength, you will not come to challenge. "There has been some movement over the Oreburgh Great Wall in the last few days. Your father went to take a look. He should be back soon," Tina said. "Something happened to the secret realm, why didn''t he bring Metagross?" Julian said worriedly. Metagross is his father''s main Pokmon, and he''s a little worried about not taking it with him. "It''s a small problem, he brought Aggron, it''s fine," Tina comforted. Julian was relieved after thinking about it. His father was an Elite-level Trainer and experienced a many battles. If something really happened in this secret realm, he would definitely take Metagross, not just one main pokemon. While talking, Julian had finished drinking the iced cola on the table. Lake No. 1 Middle School was a key high school in Lake City, and there were no canteens in it. sea??h th N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian had thought about this ice cola for five days. Chapter 03: Born in Rome Chapter 03: Born in RomeWith the fusion of the Pokmon world and their world, the size of the planet has continued to expand. Even though it has been two hundred years, according to scientists detection, the size of the planet is still expanding, but it is much slower than the beginning. Also because of the fusion, ruins and secret realms appeared. Ruins are rare and very mysterious, and each time something is brought out of the ruins, it can make people more aware of Pokmon and promote the development of technology. Ten years ago, a ruin suddenly appeared in the southern part of the Drakoria. The Drakorian Trainer Association immediately sent five Elites and ten top scientists to form an expedition to enter it. And block the surrounding area to prevent spies from other countries from sneaking in. From this ruin, the expedition team brought out the device about Pokmon transmission and more advanced Pok Ball production technology, such as the Luxury Ball that appeared in these years is the product of this technology. Before that, the Pokmon transmission technology was only possessed by the Celestria on the other side of the ocean. Under the monopoly of technology, the Celestrians exchanged a large amount of resources and country-specific Pokmon with other countries. Now Drakoria also has such a technology, many countries that are unhappy because of celestria''s use of this technology to oppress them wantonly, are looking for Drakoria to cooperate. As the price of bringing out these technologies, three of the five Elite-level Trainers who entered, died, and Elite-level main Pokmon were almost all killed in battle. Sar?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There was only one psychic Elite Trainer, relying on the psychic-type Pokmon''s Teleport brought the rest back, and his Alakazam, suffered a serious decline in strength due to excessive use of Psychic energy. Why did they lose so much, because they met the Regi-trio and many other high-level Pokmons in the ruins. Therefore, each exploration of the ruins represents a huge harvest, but also represents the ultimate danger. As for the secret realm, it is similar to the ruins, but the beings living in the secret realm are all Pokmon, and there is no technology in it. The secret realm is divided into normal, advanced and top level. There are only five top secret realms in the entire Drakoria, and traces of legendary pokemon and a large number of Pokmon have been found in them. The top secret realm is strictly controlled by the Drakorian Trainer Association. Unless you have contributed to the country or achieved extraordinary achievements, you are not eligible to enter. Under the top secret realm, there is the advanced secret realm, and the number is relatively large. The entire Drakoria has 50 advanced secret realms. Eighteen of them are very special, and they are all Pokmon with a specific Attribute. For example, the secret realm of the Oreburgh Great Wall in Lake City, where all life is steel Pokmon, so here the Drakorian Trainer Association built a national gym. The duty of the gym owner is to guard the secret realm and prevent the Pokmon in the secret realm from running out and disturbing human society. Of course, the Trainer Association also arranged an army at the gate of the secret realm. If there is a riot of Pokmon in the secret realm, it is far from enough to rely on the National Gym Trainer, and the cooperation of the army is necessary. Five years ago, there was a riot at Blue Lake, a high-level secret realm in Pearl City, Central South Province, and more than 300,000 Pokmon rushed out of the secret realm, including seven Elite-level Pokmon and a dozen pseudo-Elite. As a result, nearly half of the Pearl City at that time was destroyed, and there were countless casualties. The battle lasted for seven days before the Trainers repelled these Pokmon and successfully drove them back to the secret realm. At that time, the owner of the Pearl City''s National Gym, a water-type Elite was killed in the riot, and three other Elites were also killed, not to mention the ordinary Trainer and Pokmon. The National Gym is closely related to this high-level secret realm. Although this high-level secret realm is dangerous, it can also provide countless resources and powerful Pokmon. The owner of a national gym can enter and exit the advanced secret realm under jurisdiction, but cannot capture more than six Pokmon per year. If the Rift Pokmon riots, the Gym must lead the way, which is an equivalent exchange. In addition, the other 32 high-level secret realms are controlled by major top universities and companies, and of course the ownership is owned by the Drakorian Trainer Association. As for the secret realms of normal levels, the degree of danger is much lower than that of advanced secret realms. Especially the primary secret realm, ordinary trainers can enter after paying a price ranging from 300,000 to 800,000. Julian and his family were a big clan here two hundred years ago. With the integration of the Pokmon world, the Drakorian Trainer Association was established. At that time, the ancestors of the Julian''s family had a very accurate vision and saw that the Drakorian Trainer Association would be a huge organization in the future, so they quickly brought all the clansmen to join them. After two hundred years of development, the family also has a certain right to speak in the Drakoria''s Trainer Association, and even control the entire Yale Province, but they are very low-key, and most ordinary people don''t know it. Julian is also very low-key in school. No one knows that his father is a national-level gym owner and an Elite-level trainer. In addition, his grandfather is Top Drakorian Elite. There are currently more than 500 Elite Trainers registered in the Drakorian Trainer Association, and Top eighteen Attribute Elites stand in front of all Elite Trainers. If you want to become a Top Fire Elite among the 18 Elites, then you must collect 8 National Gym Badges, which serve two purposes. One is to participate in the five-yearly World Championship. The second is for the Drakorian Elite Challenge. If you can win the championship, you will have the opportunity to challenge the Top 18 Attribute Elites. In the 6V6 match, if you officially defeat them, you can replace them as the new Top Attribute Elite. Therefore, Julian ''s grandfather is the No. 1 trainer standing above all steel type trainers, and is the top Elite trainer. ''Grandpa is one of the 18 strongest Elites, father is a national gym owner and Elite, and mother is a senior breeder.'' Rather than all roads leading to Rome, it is better to be born in Rome. Julian was born directly in Rome. With such a family background, he saw the hope of becoming the strongest trainer. After all, Trainer is a very expensive profession. The market value of a piece of Fire Stone is more than one million, and if the purity is high enough, the value is even more than ten million. If it was replaced with Moon Stone, Sun Stone, an extremely rare evolution stone, the price would be even more than fifty million. Evolution stones cannot be made with current technology, and can only be found in major secret realms and ruins, so the price has always been high. If you want to cultivate an Elite-level Pokmon, if it has enough qualifications, the resources you put down will reach almost 10 billion. Because of the integration of the Pokmon world, the planet became larger, so the territories of the countries also become larger. Now the total population of Drakoria is about 2 billion, and there are 300 million registered Trainers, but so far there are only more than 500 Elites. It is conceivable how difficult it is to become an Elite Trainer. Chapter 04: Metagross Chapter 04: MetagrossIt was more than half an hour before the meal. Julian picked up the remote control on the coffee table and turned on the TV. He didn''t want to watch any movies, but just wanted to pass the time. It''s just a channel-by-channel change. "MooMoo milk, the best choice for newborn Pokmon" "Good news, good news, Milotic beauty store is grand opening, 20% off all purchases seven days before the opening, and there is a promotion of 5,000 for free" "Pine shampoo, Gardevoir said it was good" Every channel broadcasting pictures of Pokmon, even the Coke can Julian just finished drinking had Blastoise on it. A hundred years ago, as humans lived in peace with Pokmon and found the manufacturing technology of Pok Balls from the ruins, the relationship between Pokmon and humans became closer. Now Pokmon has penetrated into all walks of life. On construction sites, you can see Machop, Machoke, Machamp, Gurdurr, Conkeldurr, and more, these powerful humanoid Pokmon Help humans build houses, subways, Harbors, and more. In the hospital, you can see Chansey, Audino,etc and other Pokmon who will take care of people. Julian and their family also have a loving caretaker. It is the Starter Pokmon of his mother Tina, and she is also a good helper in the family. I didn''t see her when I got home this time. It is estimated that she is taking care of other Pokmon in the backyard. Maybe it''s not the police who interrogate the prisoner at the police station, but a psychic Pokmon like Alakazam. Takeaway and express delivery by Pidgeotto. When you walk down the street, you can see that some people are holding Eevee, Skitty, Jumpluff and other small Pokmon in their hands. "According to the announcement released by Penguin Group today, Chairman of Penguin Group, has broken through to Elite, and is expected to participate in the Elite Challenge next year." "A secret realm suddenly appeared in Shun City, Yuns Province. According to expert testing, the energy fluctuation of the secret realm is primary, and it is a primary secret realm. Professionals have been dispatched to it, and it is expected to be open to the public in a week." This news made Julian feel a little bit of interest. A new secret realm has appeared. Although it is only a primary level, because it is new, anything in the secret realm has not been developed. The first batch of people have the greatest chance to benefit. There are thousands of primary secret realms all over the country. There are ten primary secret realms here in Lake City. The latest primary secret realm appeared three years ago, and now it has almost been developed, which means that there are basically no good things in it. . However, there are still many people who are still willing to enter these elementary secret realms that have been dug out for a long time, because the treasures, props, fruit and so on in the primary secret realms may no longer be available, but there are still Pokmon in it. Even if you catch a Catterpie, it will be worth 40,000 or 50,000 when you sell it. However, in order to protect the Pokmon in the secret realm from being over caught and sustain development, the number of Pokmon that each person can capture in the secret realm is limited, and the same secret realm can only be entered twice a year. Some people with good luck can always find some good things in the hollowed out primary secret realm, and thus sell them at sky-high prices. There was once a trainer who even captured a Dratini in the primary secret realm, which caused a great sensation. At that time, the secret realm changed from 500,000 tickets per person per session to 2 million. Many people suspect that this is hoax created the company controlling the secret realm, but even if there is such doubt, without clear evidence, no one can refuse the Captivation of a Pseudo legendary cub. "click" The door opened. A man in gray overalls, in his forties, with a face similar to Julian walked in. "Meta!" Metagross flew over immediately. "Dad, you came back on time, Mom just started making dinner," Julian said. "I came here because of the smell" Jake patted Metagross''s body and patted his head a few times, and suddenly a lot of dust floated out of him. "Jake, i am going to kill you, hurry up and take a bath first" Tina came out with the last dish, saw this scene, and saw that the originally smooth floor was covered with a thin layer of dust, and immediately became angry. The wife was angry, so Jake went up to take a bath without saying a word. "Metagross, bring me the change of clothes" "Metagross ignore him, he is being lazy let him get it himself" Ten minutes later, Jake got out of the shower and walked to the dining table, where the mother and son were waiting for him to have dinner. "How is it, nothing happened in the secret realm?" Tina was eating and brought some dishes for Julian and Jake. Metagross is eating a special energy cube on the side. Although Pokmon can eat human food, if they eat it for a long time, it will cause damage to their bodies, so an excellent Trainer will not give Pokmon human food. "It''s not a big deal, just an Elite Steelix should be the reason for commotion, driving away other Pokmon in the territory, these Pokmon have nowhere to go, they can only go to the area of other Pokmon, and then they fight, triggering a small riot" "It''s settled now" In Advanced Rifts, the Pokmon standing at the top is an Elite Pokmon, and in some special Advanced Rifts, there will even be pseudo-champion Pokmon. The Great Wall of Oreburgh belongs to a special secret realm, including a long-lived prospective champion Pokmon Metagross and a silver Metagross. Julian''s grandfather and father,s Trump Card are both silver Metagross. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His grandfather''s Metagross is a split off of the pseudo-champion Metagross in the secret realm, and his father''s Metagross is a split from his grandfather''s Metagross. Metagross are genderless, and they reproduce just like cells divide. So what the silver Metagross splits out is the silver Beldum, not the normal color Beldum. The pseudo-champion Metagross in the Great Wall of Oreburgh, who was the Pokmon of their family ancestor more than a hundred years ago, was released in this secret realm after his death. At that time, the Pokemon was only Elite, and more than a hundred years later, it has the strength of a pseudo-champion. It is precisely because of the existence of this Metagross that the family has a high degree of control over the secret realm of the Great Wall of Oreburgh. It has never happened in more than a hundred years that Pokmon escaped from the secret realm and came to humans to riot in the world. At the same time, because of this pseudo-championship Metagross, the family has grown step by step and has its own status in the Drakorian Trainer Association, which is of course inseparable from their own efforts. There are lousy children from aristocratic families, some who can''t help them, and some who do things wrong by virtue of their family background, but most of them are positive and hard-working people. There is no aristocratic family that does not want its own family to have a long history, so the education of the children of the family is naturally the top priority. You can believe that Julian''s monthly pocket money has not exceeded 600 poke since he was born, and the clothes on his body are the same as ordinary people, and they are all one or two hundred priced items. Chapter 05: The System is Here Chapter 05: The System is HereAfter the family finished dinner, Julian took out a piece of paper from his pocket, flattened it and said, "Mom and Dad, this is the application form for the Trainer class, please sign your name." The Trainer application form is required by every prospective senior high school student to take home for their parents to sign. Of course, if both parents die, then the elders in the family should sign it. If they are orphans, they do not need to sign. Signing up means that you want to become a Trainer. The elders in the family know, and they also support you to become a Trainer. But if they don''t support you and don''t sign, does that means you can''t be a trainer? No, being a Trainer is your own business, but getting the support of your relatives and elders will make you go further on this road. Jake looked at the creased application form speechlessly, then looked at Julian solemnly and asked, "Are you sure you want to become a Trainer?" "Don''t be a trainer just because your grandfather and I are both trainers." His mother Tina looked at Julian with worried eyes. If there''s any profession in this world that can make the people worry, it''s the Trainer. A powerful Trainer can prosper a family and even create a whole new clan. But Trainer is also an extremely dangerous profession. If a Trainer wants to become stronger, he needs to fight against humans or wild Pokmon. The aftermath of a Pokmon''s attack may kill you. Flamethrower, Hail, Earthquake, Rock Throw, Thunderbolt, Smog, with the physique of an ordinary Trainer, being hurt by such aftermath, even if they don''t die, they have to be turned into skins. Countless Trainers die every year in the aftermath of Pokmon battles. In addition, the Trainer also needs to explore secret realms and ruins, because they can find props to make Pokmon stronger, capture and cherish powerful Pokmon, etc., and these places are full of countless dangers. Some Trainers even died at the hands of their own Pokmon because they didn''t know enough about their own Pokmon. In the Drakorian Trainer Association, there are about 30 million Rookie Trainers registered each year, and only about two-thirds of them can live to the second year. And every year, the number of Trainers dying due to various things is about seven million, which is still traceable. Many of them died in secret realms or ruins, and there are no bones left. "Dad, Mom, what are you worrying about? Although I haven''t become a trainer yet, but my genes come from you, I must be a genius." "I''m sure of this even Rayquaza can''t stop it, if he comes" Julian said firmly. Rayquaza is currently known as the first-level legendary. It lives in the ozone layer and regards the ozone layer as its territory, which has led to the Smack Down of satellites launched by many countries. At that time, the Celestria wanted to try to capture it, and sent more than a dozen Elites and a champion, but they were killed by Rayquaza like cutting melons and vegetables. And In Rage Rayquaza flew to the Sky of Celestria, and turning an important economic city of Celestria into ruins. At that time, the human country was unfortunate to see the horror of a first-level legendary, and that the other party was completely capable of easily destroying a country. At present, there are five known champions in the entire Drakoria. These five are Drakoria''s deterrent to other countries, so that other countries dare not act rashly. "Good boy, then I will sign it." Jake smiled, he signed the application form, and Tina also signed it. He folded the application form again according to the original traces and put it in his trouser pocket. "Mom and dad, I''ll go up first. By the way, let Grandpa send Beldum over quickly. I''ll be a trainer tomorrow." After speaking, Julian went upstairs. "Ah" Tina heard the words, and immediately went into the kitchen to cut the fruit, ready to wait for Julian to take it upstairs. "Why does this b*****d wants father''s one, my Metagross is also very good, okay? You say so, Metagross" Jake said something quitely, but when he turned his head, he saw that Metagross was burying his head in the pot, eating happily, and he didn''t hear him at all. "Father''s Metagross has the strength of a pseudo-champion. Your Metagross is about to be abandoned by you. It''s so poor." Tina rolled her eyes. A Pokmon''s growth potential has a lot to do with the strength of its parents. There is definitely a difference between a descendant of a near-champion Pokmon and a descendant of an Elite Pokmon. - The next day Julian took the breakfast delivered by the steward and went to school. When there was still a long way to go to school, he got out of the car and let the Maybach driver leave first. Now is not the time to reveal his identity. When the third year of high school starts, his Beldum will be unveiled, so there is no need to hide his life experience. At eight o''clock in the morning, everyone in the class had already arrived, and the head teacher also walked in at the exact time. Three people in Trainer Association uniforms followed him, followed by two people who helped carry things, Machoke. "Students, they are the staff of the Lake City Trainer Association. Anyone who wants to enter the Trainer class in the third year of high school, come here, bring up the form you brought back yesterday, and they will approve it for you" There were forty people in Julian''s class, but only fifteen people walked over. The others were either staring or indifferent. Sear?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Trainer is a career that burns money, and ordinary families can''t afford it at all. The application form states Julian''s name, date of birth, home address, and parents. When the staff saw the names of his parents, they suddenly showed a surprised expression and looked up at Julian , who blinked hastily. The staff understood and meticulously entered Julian''s form into the system. "Okay, this student," the staff said. "Ding" "Congratulations to the host for registering as a Trainer, the Trainer system is officially launched" "Reward Starter Pack: Probing Eye" "200 bonus points" "Ding" "Main Quest: Get an starter Pokmon" "Mission Reward: The Power of the Aura, 500 Points" "Task Failed: No Punishment" An unfamiliar voice suddenly sounded in Julian''s mind, and after a little surprise on his face, it turned into indiffrence. Let me just say, a thing like transmigration has happened, how could there be no system. It turns out that this system will not appear until I sign up for Trainer class. However, this system has too few things in the reward package, just one skill, other systems have many good things in them. Probing Eye? what is this. Confused, Julian set his sights on the two Machoke. Pokmon: Machoke (Fighting) Level: 29 Qualification: Yellow Ability: Guts props: none Gender: Male Moves: Leer, Low Kick, Focus Energy, Revenge, Low Sweep, Knock Off, Scary Face, Vital Throw Skill CDs: Mega Punch, Mega Kick, Fire Punch, Ice Punch Genetics: none Chapter 06: Pokémon Qualifications Chapter 06: Pokmon QualificationsLooking at the information displayed by the Machoke in front of him, especially the information on qualifications, Julian was pleasantly surprised. If Pokmon''s growth is related to Trainer''s Breeding, then its growth limit is related to its aptitude. Just like human beings, among many humans, some exceptional individuals sometimes emerge, and these individuals are often able to get achievements in certain aspects that most people cannot achieve in their lifetimes. The same is true for Pokmon. An extremely good Pokmon may become an Elite or even a champion if it is properly cultivated, but if it is just a Pokmon with ordinary qualifications, even if it spends a lot of resources, it may not be able to make it to a pseudo-Elite. Pokmon''s qualifications are divided into eight types: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple and gold. Corresponding respectively: Rookie (Red 0-20) Ordinary (Orange 21-40) Advanced (Yellow 41-60) pseudo-Elite (Green 61-70) Elite (Cyan 71-80) pseudo-Champion (Blue 81-90) Champion (Purple 91-99) Legendary (gold above 100) Most of the Pokmon aptitudes in the wild are among the three kinds of red, orange and yellow, and a few outstanding ones are green and cyan can be said to be one in a million. For Pokmon living in secret realms and ruins, the Pokmon qualifications in the primary secret realms are similar to those in the wild, while the intermediate and advanced secret realms are higher, especially in the advanced secret realms, which are rich in energy, so the qualifications of Pokmon are generally yellow. and above. A Pokmon with cyan qualifications and a proper Breeding as a Trainer can often become Elite, and such Pokmon are basically unavailable to ordinary people. In the outside world, some top breeding companies will occasionally sell them, and the value is more than 100 million. After all, the cyan qualification represents that you have an Elite ticket in the future. Such Pokmon are relatively rare even in aristocratic families. Most ordinary people are lucky enough to have a green-qualified Pokmon. The qualification of a Pokmon can be checked with a qualification tester. The information on the qualification detector was found by Drakoria from a ruin with a high degree of danger 30 years ago, and the expedition team also brought out a complete qualification detector, and the price paid was extremely high. Two pseudo-champions, ten Elites, and dozens of pseudo-Elites died. In it they met Entei, Suicune, Raikou, the three third-level legendaries. If it wasn''t for the team leader at that time possessing a champion-level pokemon, none of the expedition team of more than 300 people would have survived. And that team leader has now become the president of the Drakorian Trainer Association, one of the five champion trainers in Drakoria today, and the strongest one. Although the price was heavy, it was well worth it. With the qualification detector, you can check the qualifications of Pokmon, and some low-qualified Pokmon can no longer be cultivated, which can save a lot of resources. Investing these resources into high-qualified Pokmon can quickly form combat effectiveness. While this is unfair to low-qualified Pokmon, it''s a must. No matter how good a Trainer is, if Pokmon''s qualifications are low, he can''t become a powerful Trainer. And the appearance of this qualification detector also gave Drakoria a monopoly in this regard, because after the expedition team came out, the ruins shattered because of its unstable space. Most of the Pokmon inside died because of this, and a few escaped to the outside world, including the three legendary beasts. So far, there has not been a qualification detector in any ruin, and only Drakoria has the manufacturing process and core technology in this regard. The importance of qualification detectors to a country is self-evident. At present, the most important means of strength in each country is Trainers, not the previous guns. Therefore, it is very important to have a qualification detector that can detect whether the qualification of Pokmon is excellent, and whether it can become an Elite or even a champion in the future. Before the qualification detector appeared, there were too many trainers who put resources on low-qualified Pokmon, resulting in their own level being unable to rise. Finally, they found that the qualifications of this Pokmon were not good. You have nowhere to cry. Therefore, relying on this monopolized technology alone, constantly exchanging some other technologies with various countries, as well as the entry qualifications of high-level secret realm or top secret realm, and the exchange of Pokmon unique to each country, Drakoria has vaguely become the world''s largest country. This Machoke only has yellow aptitude, which means that its maximum growth limit is the peak of the advanced level. And the treasure that enhances qualifications is worth more than a pseudo-Elite Pokmon. Yellow qualifications are also the qualifications of most mainstream Pokmon in this world. Julian looked at the other Machoke again. Pokmon: Machoke (Fighting) Level: 31 Qualification: Yellow Ability: Guts props: none Gender: Male Moves: Leer, Low Kick, Focus Energy, Revenge, Low Sweep, Knock Off, Scary Face, Vital Throw Skill CD: Mega Kick, Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch Genetics: none These two Machoke are all yellow aptitudes, and their moves are similar. It can be considered that the Pokmon who have verified yellow aptitude belong to the mainstream aptitude. Only a few Pokmon''s aptitude exceeds the yellow and reaches the level of green and cyan. "What''s wrong with these two Machoke?" The staff of Lake City Trainer Association saw Julian staring straight at the two Machoke, making them a little embarrassed. "Oh, nothing, I just think that these two Machoke have been trained very well." Julian retracted his gaze. In all fairness, although it is a yellow aptitude, it is indeed well cultivated, and the combination of moves is also in line with the characteristics of a Fighting-type Pokmon. S~ea??h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Thanks for the compliment" These two Machoke cost him more than 20 million resources and money, and the skill CD alone cost him nearly 10 million. And a Thunder Punch skill CD requires half a million. He was just an ordinary staff member of the Trainer Association. Although he had expected to have a green-qualified Pokmon, the reality was cruel. Even if he puts a green-qualified Pokmon in front of him now, he currently doesn''t have the resources to train him, and two Machoke have almost consumed all his energy and financial resources. Go to the primary secret realm in a few days to see if you can find something good, and buy a momentum belt for Machoke. Chapter 07: Opportunities For Civilian Trainers Chapter 07: Opportunities For Civilian Trainers"Teacher Edgar, their information has been logged into the Draconian Trainer Association. Our mission is complete, so let''s go to other classes." After the staff of the association packed up the equipment, they handed it over to Machoke. "Okay, you two have worked hard" The head teacher Edgar nodded. There are six classes in the entire sophomore year, and they will continue to log in information for the students in the remaining five classes. "Julian, I don''t know if we can get in the same class," Will said. "Why do you want to be in the same class as me? Isn''t it good to be with her" Not far from them, Nora in their class will also enter the Trainer class, but she wants to be a breeder. "She''s going to be a breeder and she definitely won''t be in the same class as us." Will was a little sad. Looking at the youthful appearance of the other party, Julian said, "I have a way to make it possible for you to be in the same class as her" "What way?" "Why don''t you be a breeder too" "Believe it or not, I''ll strangle you now" Will snorted, just now he really thought that Julian had a solution, but he was just fooling him. As for the so-called class beauties, it''s just that the sixteen girls in class are beautiful but Compared with the school''s beauty, they are a bit worse. That''s why a hopeless man like Will likes Nora. But Wouldn''t it be better to put your emotions into cultivating Pokmon? Sar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What''s with that look?" Will couldn''t help but stretch out his hands and wanted to pinch Julian''s neck. The contempt in his eyes just now made him very annoyed. "be quiet" At this time, the head teacher Edgar spoke, and Will had to stop. The classroom soon became quiet, and Edgar continued: "After the summer vacation, those who are assigned to the Trainer class and the breeder class must have an starter Pokmon. The type and grade are not required by the school." "Yesterday I asked you to go home and ask your parents, will you prepare the starter Pokmon yourself or buy it from the school? This is the egg of the Pokmon currently in the school''s breeding house. You can take a look first. If you want to buy it from the school, you can get it now. I''m here to sign up" The school also has its own breeding house, and some school teachers will also deposit their own Pokmon there, and occasionally sell their own Pokmon eggs in the school''s breeding house, as a contribution to the school. A picture appeared on the screen through a projector, with Pokmon eggs on it. The Pokmon''s name, aptitude, approximate incubation time, and the level of its parents, the number of eggs, etc. are also written on the side of the egg, which looked very detailed. There are 20 types of Pokmon eggs in total, which is a lot more than in previous years. But they are the most common Pokmon, such as Pidgey''s egg, Spearow''s egg, Oddish''s egg, Goldeen, etc. Even Catterpie and Weedle''s eggs. The qualifications are all yellow, the price is naturally different for different types. However, the price of eggs in the school breeding house will be about 20% cheaper than that of the same type outside. Although the variety is limited, it gives students from poor families the hope of becoming trainers. Of these eggs, Oddish are the most. Because grass-type Pokmon are notoriously good for cultivating and saving resources, they can usually be supported by sunlight and a small amount of food. Although its final evolution, Vileplume or Bellossom needs to be evolved with Leaf Stone or Sun Stone, both of which cost more than 5 million. However, after Oddish evolves into Gloom, with the unique odor of the Gloom family, they can often stink many Pokmon of the same level. Of course, this stench doesn''t differentiate between allies. If Trainer doesn''t put on a gas mask in advance, the first person to be fainted by the stench will be Trainer himself. And Gloom can also learn Poison Powder, Stun Spore, Sleep Powder, Mega Drain and other moves, which are very popular with some dirty routine trainers. After Oddish, Catterpie and Weedle have the second most. Bug Type Pokmon are famous for their fast evolution. A newly hatched Catterpie can often evolve into Butterfree in just one month. The food is also very simple and only needs Leafage. Therefore, Bug Type Pokmon can often form effective combat power in the shortest time, but of course the lifespan is much shorter than other Pokmon. Grass and Bug Type Pokmon are the best options for novice Trainers with a ordinary family. Although there are a lot of Pokmon eggs in the school''s breeding house, the number of each type of Pokmon egg is limited. Based on the principle of first come, first served, someone soon came to the head teacher Edgar and chose the egg. A total of ten people from Julian''s class signed up for the Trainer class, and three of them entered the breeder class. "Selected students, the school will send Pokmon eggs to your home according to your address, of course, cash on delivery" The last sentence caused some students to laugh. "As soon as a Pokmon hatches, register with the Trainer Association in Lake City. Remember that if your starter Pokmon level exceeds level 5, the Trainer Association will not register you." "Especially students who choose Bug Type Pokmon" "In previous years, there were always a few students in our school, because they were very happy that their Pokmon had just hatched and forgot to register with the association, resulting in Pokmon''s own level exceeding level five" When Edgar said these words, his expression was serious. For ordinary families, a starter Pokmon may cost most of their life savings. If they do not register in time due to a negligence, then they have no other financial resources to continue to buy a second starter Pokmon for their children. The reason why the Trainer Association of the Drakoria stipulates that the starter Pokmon level cannot exceed level five is mainly to limit the erosion of the living environment of the poor trainers by the children of the aristocratic families. If there is no such regulation, the children of aristocratic families can have a Pokmon at the age of ten, or even seven or eight years old. When they are seventeen, the level of Pokmon is estimated to be forty or fifty. It can even reach the pseudo-Elite level. And the underdogs, who were not eligible to have Pokmon in the early days, seventeen years old is the beginning stage for them, and it is the stage when they have just acquired their starter Pokmon. Class contradictions exist in all countries. With the emergence of Pokmon, class contradictions become more and more obvious. Therefore, the World Trainer Association stipulates that all countries in the world must obey their regulations before they can receive a starter Pokmon at the age of seventeen. In addition, the Drakorian Trainer Association also stipulates that after registering starter Pokmon, the Pokmon level registered later cannot exceed the ten level above of starter Pokmon. When the level of starter Pokmon exceeds level 50, this regulation is automatically abolished. This is also to prevent the people of some aristocratic families from taking advantage of the loopholes, preventing them from registering the higher-level Pokmon that they started training a few years ago after registering the starter Pokmon. If such a thing is discovered by the Trainer Association, the punishment is quite severe. So even if the people of the aristocratic family have Pokmon in advance, they must train their starter Pokmon to level above 50. Chapter 08: Primary And Secondary Attribute Chapter 08: Primary And Secondary AttributeThis regulation severely limited the growth time of the trainers of the aristocratic families, but it also protected the development of the underprivileged. At the same time, this regulation is also very important for the entire Drakoria. Without this regulation, the entire Drakoria would have no place to live for the underprivileged trainers. All the trainers from aristocratic families will have above Advanced level pokemon. This is also extremely useless for the development of the entire Drakoria. When a country has conflicts between classes due to huge gaps, the country is likely to fall into chaos. Moreover, the number of trainers from the poor family is far greater than that of the trainers of the aristocratic families. With such a huge number, there will always be some outstanding people who will rise by their own efforts and luck. At present, among the top 18 Attribute Elites of Drakoria, seven were born from ordinary families, and among the six champions of Drakoria, two were from Normal families. This percentage is already very high The nine of them are all idols of thousands of civilian trainers. Countless civilian trainers want to become as powerful as them one day, and their words and deeds can affect the entire Drakoria. Because of such regulations, the Drakoria Trainer Association is very prestigious among civilian trainers. In the eyes of the civilian trainers, they stand on the same starting point as the trainers of the aristocratic family, at least in terms of age. The two students who had chosen the Bug Type immediately became nervous when they heard the head teacher''s words, and they almost forgot about it just now. With the growth rate of Bug Type Pokmon, it is estimated that the level will exceed level 5 within three or four days of birth. If they forget it, they will probably miss the trainer profession in this life. After all, for people born in ordinary families, there is often only one chance. "These two months of summer vacation, I hope you don''t waste it, whether you will become a student in the third year of ordinary class or a student in the Trainer class and the breeder class" "As long as you do well in the college entrance examination and enter a good university, then you may also become a trainer in the future. Today''s Elite of the Ground type, after graduating from university, succeeded in starting a business based on his own ability, and only got his own starter at the age of 26. 17 years old is only the minimum age for registering as a trainer. It does not mean that you must register at this age. The Draconian Trainer Association only stipulates the minimum registration age, not the highest. So even if you are 80 years old, you can register as a Trainer, but you must register a Pokmon if you want to activate the identity of Trainer. This is not due to the words of the head teacher Edgar, most of the students who signed up for the ordinary class were excited. Every person is a potential stock, and every ordinary person has the potential to become the next Elite. This is still a dream, if this thing comes true. "There are also the Trainer class and the Breeder class. Breeder class are good until the summer vacation in two months. But the Trainer class has a battle ranking in the first week of the third year of high school, and the top 15 can enter the elite class." "Elite classes give five times more resources per week than regular classes" The profession of Trainer requires competition to make rapid progress, whether in urban areas, towns or rural areas, it can be seen everywhere on the battlefield. Therefore, during the school period, the school begins to cultivate students sense of competition. Because only truly excellent Trainers are qualified to climb towards the top. After leaving the school, Julian walked through a street where the driver was already waiting for him. The matter of the Oreburgh Great Wall Mystery has been resolved, and there have been no appointments to challenge recently, so our gym owner Jake is still relatively free during this time. No, he''s cleaning up his Pokmon in the backyard right now, holding a half-meter-long steel brush and brushing it on Aggron. Aggron lay on the ground with an expression of enjoyment. "Conkin" Behind Aggron are five first-tier Pokmon, including Metagross, Steelix, Mawile, Scizor, and Magnezone. "Okay, it''s almost your turn" Jake soothed the remaining five Pokmon. Aggron''s size was very difficult to clean. At this moment, a sudden gust of wind blew in front of him, and then a Pokmon with blood-colored wings and a somewhat hideous head appeared in front of him. Sar?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Roar" "Salamence, didn''t I just clean you up a few days ago?" Jake''s palm pushed away Salamence''s outstretched head, speechless. While he''s focused on Steel, he also has Pokmon with other Attributes. This situation is also very common among top Trainers, so that not only can they be used for coverage, but also to learn more about Pokmon. Some top-level trainers even found that their talent for the secondary attribute was similar to the main attribute when developing the sub-attribute, and very few even surpassed the main attribute. And some Attributes are closely related to sub-Attributes. For example, the second attribute of grass-type Pokmon is mostly poison type, and the second attribute of flying type is mostly normal type. And many dragon Pokmon, the second Attribute is Flying. For example, a dragon-type Elite in the anime is obviously Dragon Type trainer, but is called the flying champion. Jake didn''t choose second attribute, he wanted to go to the end on the road of steel, but got Salamence because of an accident. If it weren''t for the regulations of the Drakorian Trainer Association, the Bagon would most likely have been given to Julian , who was only seven years old at the time. Bagon could have grown up with Julian . When Julian is 17 years old, Bagon already evolved into Salamence. With him, even if not an Elite, pseudo-Elites is a gurantee. The current Salamence is a level 65 pseudo-Elite. Therefore, By Drakoria''s rule, Julian is also a victim, otherwise he will now be a 17-year-old pseudo-Elite Trainer. Not the 17-year-old Rookie Trainer who just signed up for the starter Pokmon. The difference is huge. "Dad, where''s my Beldum?" Julian returned home, but didn''t see his parents. At this point, his mother should be working in the breeding house, but he found his father who was cleaning Aggron in the backyard. "Your grandpa sent Beldum over this morning, and the Pok Ball is sitting next to your pillow in your bedroom" After listening, Julian hurriedly turned around and went upstairs. "This kid is so impatient, I was much more stable at his age, Metagross, don''t you think so?" Jake smiled and boasted. However, the Metagross next to him turned his body away in disrespect. Chapter 09: Beldum Chapter 09: BeldumWhen he came to his bedroom on the third floor, opened the door and went in, Julian saw the Luxury Ball on the side of the pillow. Excited heart, trembling hands. These words are enough to describe the current Julian. He has waited for 17 years to finally have a starter pokemon, although he has been in contact with Pokmon since the moment he was born. But these are all his parents Pokmon, how can that be the same as his own Pokmon. Picking up the Luxury Ball and pressing it lightly. As the Luxury Ball opened, a white light flashed, followed by a silver-white Pokmon floating in the air in front of Julian . This is a silver Beldum. Beldum is a kind of mechanical life body, which looks like a dumbbell. A long torso with a huge claw on the hips, a nearly round head embedded in the ball-and-socket joint at the front of its torso, and a huge red eye in the middle. At this time, the eyes were curiously looking at Julian in front of him. There is a crown above the head to protect the head. Pokmon: Beldum (Steel/Psychic) Level: 5 Qualification: blue Ability: Light Metal props: none Gender: no gender Move: Tackle With the help of Probing Eye, Beldum''s information can be seen in front of Julian . When he saw that the qualification column was displayed in blue, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes. A Pokmon with cyan qualifications has the possibility of becoming an Elite Pokmon as long as the Breeder is appropriate, and a Pokmon with blue qualifications is a pseudo-champion. Even with the abilities of Julian and his family, it is very difficult to get a Pokmon with pseudo-champion qualifications. Pokmon with pseudo-champion qualifications are too rare. It is very, very rare in the wild, secret realms, ruins and forbidden places. Most of the blue-qualified Pokmon are the children of the pseudo-champion Trainer''s own Pokmon, such as the Beldum in front of him, which was split from the pseudo-champion Metagross of his grandfather. Because it is directly split from the body, Beldum perfectly inherits the qualifications of Metagross. If it is a Pokmon that is reproduced between Pokmon, its aptitude is affected by both parents, and there are also high-qualified parents who give birth to low-qualified Pokmon eggs. This kind of thing happens frequently in human society, and this happens naturally in the Pokmon world. So Pokmon like Metagross, by splitting themselves to give birth to the next generation, can almost perfectly inherit each other''s aptitudes. Of course, after a split, the Metagross will enter a period of weakness, and the second one cannot be split within ten years, otherwise it will affect its own aptitude and lifespan. The blue qualification is a pseudo-champion. And Beldum is only the starter stage, it has two evolutions, as long as it finds the treasure that enhances Beldum''s aptitude, maybe when it evolves into Metagross, its aptitude will turn purple. Ability is a hidden ability Light Metal, which is undoubtedly more suitable for a Pokmon like Beldum than the regular hardness. The Pokmon with the steel typing are very heavy, and the current Beldum weighs 200 pounds at level 5, and its final evolutionary Metagross weighs more than 1,000 pounds. Such weight will undoubtedly affect its speed, and the Light Metal Ability can reduce its own body weight by half, which can be said to greatly reduce its burden. "Beldum, I am Julian , we will be partners in the future, we will work together to see the beautiful things in this world, and climb to the top of the throne" Julian stretched out his palm in front of Beldum. Beldum''s red eyes turned a few times and looked at Julian quietly, but he didn''t see any movement from it. After a while, he put his head on Julian ''s palm. "Ding" "Main Quest Completed" "The power of the primary Aura has been released" "500 bonus points" There was a sound in his mind, and then Julian felt a warm flow in his body, and after a few turns, it disappeared. Before the system released a main task, ''get a starter Pokmon'', the reward is the power of Aura. Sarch* The n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I thought it was the full version of Aura, but I didn''t expect it to be just the primary level, this system is very stingy. All things in the world have their own Aura, but most of them cannot use their own Aura. Only very few people can awaken the power of Aura. The planet has been integrated into the world of Pokmon, and supernatural powers have emerged in a very small number of humans. For example, the psychic Elite among the eighteen top Elites in the Drakoria awakened Psychic, and relying on his own Psychic to link with Pokmon, he can boost the ability of psychic Pokmon. There are also the Dragon Power of the Dragon Elite and the lucky ones who have obtained the Power of Viridian that can heal Pokmon. These abilities can help Pokmon grow without exception, and can also gain some Attributes or the favor of specific Pokmon. "Well" In the backyard, Lucario, who was in Jake''s second team, suddenly let out a light shock and ran towards the villa. "What''s wrong Lucario" Jake quickly noticed Lucario''s abnormality. After shouting, Lucario did not stop, and the direction was still the villa. Thinking about his son Julian still in the villa, for fear that Lucario''s aura has noticed something wrong, Jake hurriedly dropped the brush and ran towards the villa. The primary aura power has just been awakened. If you want to use Aura Sphere with your hands, don''t even think about it. Now if your hand can emit blue light, that will be enough. Beldum looked curiously at Julian, his new trainer, why did he suddenly feel a very comfortable aura on him. Julian gently stroked Beldum''s head with his blue-lighted palm, and Beldum narrowed his eyes comfortably because of the power of the Aura. The Aura in its body responded to the Aura in Julian''s palm, making it feel extremely comfortable, as if being in a cloud full of softness and elasticity. "Ding" "Daily Tasks" "Develop a relationship with Beldum" "Reward: 10 boxes of Beldum exclusive energy cubes, 50 points" "Failure no Punishment" In addition to the main quests, there are also daily quests. Seeing Beldum squinting his eyes comfortably, and the cold metal touch on his hand, he felt like he was playing with iron. "Ding" "mission completed" "10 boxes of Beldum''s exclusive energy blocks, 50 points for distribution." Chapter 10: Surprising Jake Chapter 10: Surprising JakeJust as Julian thought, this task was soon completed, but at this moment, Lucario suddenly appeared at the door of Julian''s bedroom. "Son, are you okay-" Jake also appeared immediately, after seeing the blue light on Julian''s palm, his eyes widened instantly. Without waiting for Jake to ask, Julian dissipated the blue light in his hand and said lightly, "I accidentally awakened the power of Aura" Now it''s just a primary wave of the power of Aura. At most, the palm emits blue light, and a special effect is applied, but it will not last long, especially when using the Aura to massage the Pokmon, the consumption will be faster. But looking at Beldum, it seems that he likes being massaged by the Aura. The moment he put away Aura, he seemed to feel Beldum''s inner loss. "Accidentally Awakening the Power of Aura" The corner of Jake''s mouth twitched fiercely, which stopped him from saying what he wanted to say, but it seems that these supernatural powers, in many people suddenly awakened just like Julian . Of course, the more important thing is the inheritance of bloodline. If someone in the ancestors awakened supernatural power, then his descendants'' bloodline will have the factor of this power, but most of them cannot be awakened. It is precisely because in the ancestors of Julian''s family there was an ancestor who had awakened the power of Aura, and Jake and the others were the blood of that ancestor. At that time, the family was flourishing, and there were more than 200 children in the family. It''s just that more than a hundred years ago, a Pokmon-based war broke out between countries. The family defended the clan and the country. Many children were killed in the battle, and the number of clansmen also decreased a lot. When it came to Julian''s generation, he was the only one in the direct line. Although his grandfather gave birth to two boys and one girl, his father was the second child, and his uncle had only one girl. Since the ancestor, no one in the family has awakened the power of Aura until Julian relied on the system to awaken the power of the primary Aura. "Okay, that''s great, I know that the son I gave birth to is a genius, the power of Aura, the family finally has the second successor of Aura after more than a hundred years." After the surprise in Jake''s heart, he burst out laughing. Pokmon can master magical powers, that is, the power of eighteen Attributes. But humans are just ordinary people, they can only rely on training and commanding Pokmon to gain power. Even a champion trainer, if he does not have supernatural powers, then he is an ordinary person who can be stabbed to death with a knife. But if he masters supernatural powers, such as Psychic, Aura power, etc., then he at least has a certain ability to protect himself. Trainer is a very dangerous profession. Even with the protection of Pokmon, a large number of Trainers still die due to the aftermath of battles and enemy sneak attacks. "Luca" Lucario walked up to Julian and put his palm on his chest. Knowing that the other party would not hurt him, Julian naturally did not stop him, and looked at Lucario curiously with his probing eyes. - Pokmon: Lucario (Fighting, Steel) Level: 71 Qualification: cyan Ability: Steadfast S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Props: Black Belt Gender: Male Moves: Quick Attack, Final Gambit, Work Up, Aura Sphere, Counter, Laser Focus, Helping Hands, Calm Mind, Metal Sound, Bone Rush, Sword Dance, Heal Pulse, Meteor Mash, Dragon Pulse Extreme Speed, Close Combat- Disc Skills: Agility, Reversal, Bulk Up, Hyper Beam, Focus Blast, Revenge, Brick Break, Drain Punch- Genetic Skills: Bullet Punch, Mind Reader, Vacuum Wave - Looking at Lucario''s luxurious skill pool, Julian almost drooled. After all, the only skill that Beldum currently has is Tackle. "Lucario is not bad, you have awakened the power of Aura now, and when the time comes, let your grandfather find a Pokmon egg or Riolu with excellent qualifications." Julian''s drooling expression made Jake think that he was greedy for his own Pokmon, and he felt happy because he was envious of his son who had awakened the power of Aura. "You only know how to trouble grandpa all day long, can''t you find one for me, I''m your son." Julian looked at his father speechlessly. ''How old are you, how can you say it like this, you are the owner of a national gym. Is it so difficult to find a Riolu for your son.'' ''However, I have awakened the power of Aura. If there is a Riolu, it can really maximize the power of Aura. It will evolve into Lucario in the future, and it is very likely that it will become the Trump Card in my hand.'' Lucario''s Aura seemed to be able to strengthen his own. Watching Lucario''s palm against his chest, Julian felt that the Aura that he had consumed before was slowly recovering. "What do you know, Pokmon like Riolu are as rare as Beldum, but if you want a green aptitude one, I can get it for you right now" Jake reprimanded Julian with a sullen face, "I''m your father, and I won''t speak big. Besides, my father is better than me, so can''t I ask him to help his son''s son.Wait and tell your grandfather that you have awakened the power of Aura, even if I don''t tell him, he will go get a Riolu for you." "Okay, I''ll take you to register first. I think Beldum is will level up soon. If it levels up and, you don''t register, you will suffer." "What''s the big deal, Beldum can be my second Pokmon, dad you can get me a Dratini to be a starter Pokmon" Julian didn''t care. His family was a top family in Drakoria. Although there were fewer people, but because of this, resources could be concentrated on them. If it wasn''t for the fact that my grandfather was a steel-type Elite, otherwise, with his father''s strength, he could become a new steel-type Elite. "What are you talking about, kid, don''t learn from the other second generations, our family doesn''t like this kind of thing" Chapter 11: Training Chapter 11: TrainingWhen Beldum was registered as Julian''s starter Pokmon, Julian officially became a new Rookie Trainer. Jake encouraged Julian with a few words, under Julian''s constant roll of eyes, he walked away angrily. There''s still his Pokmon in the backyard waiting for him to clean up. Releasing Beldum from the Pok Ball, and taking out a box of Beldum''s exclusive energy blocks from the system space. There is also Beldum''s energy cube at home, but Julian obviously believes in the system''s energy cube. After all, the system must have given a high-quality product. Beldum''s first attribute is steel and the second attribute is psychic. Therefore, in the energy block, the energy of the steel system is the main energy, and the energy of the psychic system is supplementary. The energy cube is two-centimeter in size, pale yellow, and it is very hard. Under Julian''s strength, the energy cube was not deformed at all. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After taking out the energy cube, Beldum floated in front of Julian and stared straight at the energy cube in the center of his palm. Because of their relationship, Julian could feel his emotions, but since he didn''t receive any orders, it didn''t act. Julian was very satisfied with this. The most taboo thing between Trainer and Pokmon is that Pokmon does not obey Trainer''s command, and some Pokmon even hurt Trainers. Every year a Trainer dies at the hands of his own Pokmon. "Take it," Julian said. Beldum ate the energy cube. Julian thought that the energy cube was very hard, but it was very fragile in Beldum''s mouth. After a few clicks, it was Crushed. A sense of satisfaction radiated from Beldum''s heart. It seems that this energy cube is very suitable for its appetite, and it is worthy of being produced by the system. "Level 7" With the help of Probing Eye, Julian found that Beldum had changed from level 5 to level 7, two levels in a row, which surprised him. At the same time, looking at the box of energy cubes in his hand, it seemed that the effects of this energy cube is greater than he imagined. "Beldum, let''s go to the training ground first, use up the energy in your body, and then take more energy cubes" Julian saw Beldum still looking at the energy cube box in his hand, ignoring him, he put the box in his pocket. He knew very early on that his starter Pokmon was probably Beldum, so he started reading Breeder books about Beldum, Metang, and Metagross. Those were books not on the market, but from the family''s experience of Breeding of the Metagross family. Just a note like this can be exchanged for a Pseudo legendary Cub. Regarding Pokmon''s Breeding, if you don''t study and figure it out yourself, you will definitely take a lot of detours. You can come back if you take the wrong way, but most of the time, you can''t come back, as it has already the hurt Pokmon''s body. Julian''s family has been Breeding Metagross and Steel type Pokmon for more than 100 years, and a system has already been formed, and each generation of the family will continue to improve this Breeding system. As long as you follow the Breeding system and add the resources of the family, the Metagross, will become the pseudo-champion Pokmon sooner or later. His family''s backyard is connected to a large forest, and there are many wild Pokmon living in this forest. At Beldum''s current level, he can only fight Pokmon like Catterpie and Weedle at most but Julian wants something more. And Beldum''s first battle has to be with a decent Rival. There is a large training field in the backyard, and the nature of the field can be changed. Julian would command his father''s Pokmon to fight him every once in a while, and he has more than ten years of battle experience. Although the Drakorian Trainer Association is trying hard to make the civilian trainers start with the children of the aristocratic family, there are policies above and countermeasures below. The big families have a way, We agree with your policy, can''t get Pokmon for your own children before the age of 17. But We can let them command our Pokmon to play against us and develop their experience. We can also make their starter Pokmon strong. Treasures, props, skill discs, etc. that increase their Pokmon''s power. These things are constantly widening the distance between the common Trainers and the children of the aristocratic families. And Julian has been commanding his parents Pokmon since he was six years old to fight against his father or mother, or Pokmon in the forest in the back mountain. And has shown amazing talent. Julian''s parents specially Breeded a group of Pokmon with levels of more than ten, twenty and thirty for him to battle. It is no exaggeration to say that Julian''s battle experience has already surpassed that of most of his peers, including those who were born in aristocratic families. No matter how well-bred the children of the aristocratic family are, you are still a little kid who only knows playing in mud at the age of six. Maybe you will even be afraid when you see Pokmon. This is the limitation of thinking brought by age. As a transmigrator, Julian has an adult mentality. At the age of six, he directed a level 10 Aron to crush Catterpie and Weedle in the forest behind the mountain. At that time, those worms were scared when they saw him. Julian took out a target from the warehouse and placed it on the edge of the training ground. "Beldum uses Tackle on it," Julian said. The only skill Beldum currently has is Tackle, although it can learn Iron Defense, Zen Headbutt, Iron Head using the skill CDs. However, Beldum''s current level is still too low, and his body is still in the developmental stage. Even if he learns these three skills, it is difficult to use them smoothly, and it is easy to hurt himself, which is not worth the loss. Because of the ability light metal, Beldum''s speed is quite impressive, and it hit the target with his head. Because it''s a special target, it is relatively firm, so the target was not smashed, but Beldum was thrown away. Julian''s heart tightened slightly. Seeing Beldum float quickly, he knew that the other party should not be hurt, and that he was too nervous, after all, it was his starter Pokmon. Steel Pokmon are notoriously rough and thick-skinned. His father''s Aggron had previously set a record of blocking attacks from four Elite-level Pokmon in Rifts for half an hour. That Iron wall Defense has become a nightmare in the hearts of countless challengers. "Keep Going" Tackle is a skill that Beldum will not use much after it evolves into Metang in the future, because Metang can learn many powerful moves. However, learning Tackle will allow Beldum to master Iron Head, Zen Headbutt, Take Down and other moves that use the body to Tackle directly. Chapter 12: 100 Million Chapter 12: 100 MillionBeldum Tackled the target more than a dozen times in a row, and every time he used all his strength, there was an energy that will not stop until the target was smashed, which made Julian very satisfied. Pokmon have their own personalities just like humans. For example: stubborn, brave, timid, withdrawn, bold, naughty, etc. The character of Beldum undoubtedly makes Julian very fond of him, and undoubtedly such a relentless character is a very suitable for Pokmon to have for the Trainer. If a Pokmon is naturally timid, no matter how high its qualifications are and how many resource are invested, its future growth is limited. Julian didn''t stop Beldum''s movements. After all, his original purpose was to let it consume the energy in his body and at the same time increase the proficiency of Tackle. And Julian didn''t just watch. According to Beldum''s actions, he was constantly calculating the values ??of each aspects and physical limits. Pseudo legendary Pokmon has a common problem, that is, they grow slower than most Pokmon. For example, Beldum can only evolve into Metang at level 20, and Metang can only evolve into Metagross at level 45. If you switch to Charmander, you can evolve into Charmeleon at level 16, and Charizard at level 36. And the dragon-type Pseudo legendary Pokmon is even more excessive, such as Dratini, Dragonair can only evolve into Dragonite at level 55. Hydreigon, the iconic Pseudo legendary of Celestria, would require Zweilous of level 64 to evolve into Hydreigon. Compared with these dragon-type pseudo-legendaries, there is no doubt that Beldum''s evolution to Metagross is lower in level than them, and can be used combat faster, and is not weaker than these dragon-type pseudo-legendaries. "click" While thinking about it, there was a sudden cracking sound in Julian''s ears, and when he turned around, he saw that the target had been smashed by Beldum. Beldum also fell to the ground from exhaustion. Julian hurried over to check it, took out the energy block and handed it to Beldum to replenish his strength. "Well done Beldum" Beldum squinted happily not sure if it was because he ate the energy cube, or because of Julian''s compliment, or both. The system rewarded ten boxes of energy cubes, enough for Beldum to eat for ten days. "Ding" "Complete the Hidden Mission: First Training" Sar?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Reward HP Enhancement Potion X10, Points 100" - The voice in his head made Julian stunned for a moment. He didn''t expect that in addition to the main quest and daily quest, there would be hidden quests. I wonder if there would be random quests later. The rewards are pretty good, Beldum, Metang, and Metagross, all three of them have obvious weaknesses, that is, HP and speed are much lower than the four values ??of attack, defense, special attack, and special defense. Because Julian''s Beldum has the ability light metal, speed is not a weakness, so low HP is the only weakness. "Come on, eat this" Julian took out the ten potions, looked around, there was no sign of his father, opened the potions, and let Beldum take them all. There are no side effects of this stuff, so taking them all will be fine. Treasures and potions that increase Pokmon HP, attack, speed, defense, special attack, and special defense also exist in this world, but they are all very expensive and difficult for ordinary people to buy. Such treasures and potions are basically only available to top Trainers. Ten HP enhancement potions like this have an external value of at least 50 million. After eating the energy block and HP boosting potions, Beldum''s stamina was rapidly recovering, and he was soon able to circle around Julian . And Julian began to study the points. Every time you complete a task, you will get points. He forgot the existence of this thing before, but now let''s see what is it. The Trainer system has a mall, and points are the currency needed to buy items in the mall. The mall is full of things, there are all kinds of Pok Balls, even Master Balls, the value is very high, it needs a million points. There are also various evolution stones and Pokmon props, such as Metagross''s Mega Evolution stone and the matching Key Stone, which are worth 10,000 points. It seems that through hard work they can still be obtained. The term Mega Evolution became known when someone accidentally made Blastoise mega evolve again ten years ago, but the Mega Evolution Stone and Key Stone were discovered decades ago. People just didn''t know their usefulness. Now, after the research by scientists and by exploration of Trainer themself, it has been found that a small number of Pokmon''s final forms can evolve again. However, this Mega Evolution is only short-lived, and it needs to consume the trainer''s mental and physical strength. Once the mental and physical strength is not enough to maintain the Mega Evolution, the Pokmon will withdraw from the Mega Evolution form. Because of the discovery of Mega Evolution, Pokmon capable of Mega Evolution are now priced a little higher than their counterparts. In the mall, Julian also found the energy cubes and HP enhancement potions rewarded by the system, the price for the same is 100 points for 10 pieces. In addition, Julian even saw the Pokmon eggs of the Three Regi-trio, the Three legendary Birds, Celebi, Darkrai, Latios, Latias, etc., such as mythical pokemon, divine beasts, third-level legendaries, and second-level legendaries, but no first-level legendaries were found, perhaps because were unique, and there will be no second one that is the same. "but-" Julian looked at Mewtwo''s egg and fell into deep thought. There are several zeros behind that one, which is really worthy of Mewtwo. Although there are evil organizations such as the Black forces in this world, among the first-level legendaries that humans have discovered, there is indeed no Mewtwo, so it has appeared in the system mall. And Mewtwo is a man-made genetic Pokmon. Unless there is also Team Rocket in this world, with the strength of Team Rocket who dominates the entire Kanto and Johto Region in the anime, and also gets Mew''s DNA and excellent scientists, then only it is possible to create Mewtwo. Patting himself on the cheek, don''t think about it, set a small goal for yourself from today, such as reducing the number of zeros behind Mewtwo. Looking at Beldum, who was floating beside him, and looking at him stupidly, Julian pressed his aura hand on its forehead and said earnestly. "Grow up quickly, whether I can earn 100 million points depends on you" Beldum didn''t know what Julian meant at all, squinting his eyes, his whole body revealed an emotion of enjoyment. "One hundred million" sigh Chapter 13: Beldum’s First Battle Chapter 13: Beldums First BattlePokmon: Beldum (Steel/Psychic) Level: 10 Qualification: blue Ability: Light Metal props: none Gender: no gender Move: Tackle Disc Skills: Iron Head, Zen Headbutt, Iron Defense - Three days later, Beldum has risen to level 10, and his body has also developed to a certain extent, so Julian used the skill CDs to let him learn three moves. Because Beldum is blue-qualified and talented, none of the three discs failed, and they were all one-time successes. If you switch to a green-qualified Pokmon, you may fail once or twice, thus wasting your money on discs. After learning these three skills, finally relieved from the embarrassment of using only Tackle. After all, it is a Pseudo legendary. Compared with Dratini, Gible who can learn a lot of moves at an early stage. Beldum is indeed a bit stretched in this regard. Also completed three daily tasks in three days, the content was very easy, bathing, feeding, and playing with Beldum. A total of 300 points were obtained from the three tasks, two of which gave Beldum''s ten boxes of exclusive energy cubes, and the remaining one gave ten bottles of attack Potion. The emergence of energy cubes has alleviated Beldum''s demand for this aspect. Originally, the system had rewarded ten boxes of energy cubes, which should be enough for Beldum to eat for ten days according to Julian''s estimation. As a result, he underestimated Beldum''s food intake, or that this exclusive energy block was constantly improving Beldum''s physique, making it better and increasing eating capacity at the same time. Ten bottles of Potions were also given to Beldum. The attack enhancement potion was the same as the one he obtained last time similar to HP, but is also limited in use. Beldum can only use fifty or sixty bottles at this stage. It can be used again when it evolves to Metang. Completing today''s daily task to give Beldum a massage, and getting ten bottles of defense enhancement potions and one hundred points. Julian''s points have now reached 1150. With just these points, he couldn''t buy the more expensive items, but could get cheaper ones at home, so he didn''t use the points. "Beldum today we''re going to the backyard forest to introduce you to some of my old friends" When talking about old friends, Julian obviously had a malicious smile. "Take Lucario with you" Tina who was cleaning the dishes, reminded after hearing Julian''s words and the steward also brought Julian a sun hat. "Yes, I will pay attention to safety." Julian nodded. The Pokmon in the wild are not like the Pokmon who lived in the city and were domesticated. Many Pokmon in the wild are very aggressive. If Julian really dared to take a Beldum that was only level 10, even if it was a Pseudo legendary, and went to the forest, he would be killed by Pokmon in the periphery. If a Trainer wants to go in the forest, at least a Pokmon of about level 30 is required, and even then he can''t take the initiative to move into the depths of the forest without leaving the officially opened road''s range. Bringing Beldum and calling Lucario, Julian walked towards the forest in the back mountain. The area of ??this forest is actually not very large. Almost a small town that has an area of ??120 square kilometers, and there are more than 20 kinds of Pokmon living in it. Originally, there were only a dozen or so at the beginning. Later, his mother the senior breeder felt that the variety was too small, and the Pidgey family with the largest number had became the ruler here. So his mother caught more than 100 Spearow and a Fearow, as well as other types of Pokmon, and planted various kinds of fruit in the forest. Because the number of Pokmon was too large, there was not enough food in the original forest, resulting in the migration or death of Pokmon. Now the two rulers in this forest are the Spearow clan led by Fearow, and the Pidgeotto and Pidgey clans led by Pidgeot. The temperature in the forest is obviously lower than the outside, and this forest is the private property of his family, and no one has developed it at all. So this forest didn''t even have a decent road, only some trails, which Julian had traced out before. Julian was very familiar with this forest. When he was seven or eight years old, he brought Pokmon from his parents whose levels were not very high here to fight against the Pokmon here. "Let''s find you a Pidgeotto" For Beldum''s first battle, it is natural to find a more powerful Rival. There is no doubt that Pidegeotto and Spearow in this forest are the best choices. Pidgeotto, the Pidgey family lived in the east of the forest, and the Spearow in the west. The two tribes were natural enemies. In order to compete for the fruit in the center of the forest, they often made big rackets. With Lucario there, no Pokmon dared to jump out on the road, but the road was a bit difficult to walk on, and it took almost an hour to reach the site of the Pidegeotto tribe. Thanks to Julian''s physical fitness being relatively good, otherwise walking in the forest for an hour will probably be exhausting. In the air, a huge bird was hovering over Julian. If Lucario wasn''t beside him, Julian was sure that this bird would have swooped down and smashed his head with it''s claws. Many Pokmon are territorial, and anyone who is a stranger who enters their territory will be attacked by them. "Lucario quiet it down, use Aura Sphere" Julian said. An Aura Sphere the size of a football brushed past pidgeot, wiping off all the feathers on its face, and the high-pitched birdsong came to an abrupt end. It''s not that Lucario missed, but that he missed on purpose. "Pidgeot, I''ll find a Pidegeotto to fight my Pokmon, then I''ll leave, I won''t disturb you," Julian said. At level 45, Lucario is at Advanced stage. Looking at Lucario who was standing behind Julian like a guard, Pidgeot landed on the branch from the air, nodded his head and agreed. It was a green aptitude one, no wonder it can stand out from many Pidgey and evolve into a Pidgeot. Only a small number of Pokmon in the wild can evolve to the end, and this group of Pokmon is relatively good. There are hundreds of Pidgey here, but this is not Julian''s goal, his goal is the Pidgeotto. The Probing Eye looked around, but he did not see any Pokmon with green aptitude or above, the highest was the green aptitude Pidgeotto. It is very difficult to find a Pokmon with a green aptitude in the wild. "Then this Pidgeotto" Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. - "Ding" "Random Mission Released: Beat Pidgeotto" "Reward: Health PillX10, 200 points" Note: Health Pill and HP enhancement potions can be used in stacks. Chapter 14: First Win Chapter 14: First WinThe voice in his head made Julian stunned. Before, he joked that the system quests have main quests, daily quests, hidden quests, and whether there will be a random quest later. I didn''t expect there to really be random quests. "Pidgeo~" Pidgeotto let out a cry, then flew to about ten meters away from Julian . - Pokmon: Pidgeotto (Normal/Flying) Level: 18 Qualification: Yellow Ability: Keen Eyes props: none gender: male Moves: Tackle, Sand Attack, Gust, Quick Attack, Whirlwind, Aerial Ace A relatively good Pidegeotto that has also learned Aerial Ace which is mainly learned with help the skill CDs. "Go, Beldum" Julian''s Beldum is only level 10, In a formal battle, the 8-level gap is actually quite large. But this is also relative, Julian has confidence in his Beldum. This is a Pseudo legendary, and in only three days he has already spent thousands of poke worth of resources on Beldum including system rewards. "Tackle" Julian launched the attack first. Because of the light metal ability, Beldum''s speed has become much faster, but for the Flying-type Pidegeotto, this speed is not enough. Pidegeotto flapped his wings and easily dodged, then he used Quick Attack on Beldum, his body turning into a bright white silver light. The timing is good. This made Julian a little surprised. He didn''t expect this Pidegeotto to have so much experience in fighting. I don''t know if it was from fighting Spearow. "Iron Defense" At Beldum''s speed, it''s certainly impossible to dodge the attack and there''s no need to dodge it either. "whosh~~" The silver light collided with Beldum and Beldum retreated two or three meters, while Pidegeotto bounced a dozen meters away. Beldum''s defense value is the highest among his five stats, plus the bonus of different color and Iron Defense, Pidegeotto''s hits was tantamount to him hitting a copper wall Iron Defense. "Zen Headbutt" Julian was ready to end the fight. A burst of Psychic enveloped the whole body, and under the electromagnetic acceleration, Beldum''s speed was several times faster than the speed of Tackle just now. At this moment, Pidegeotto was still in a dizzy state. "Pidge~~" Just when Beldum was about to hit Pidegeotto, the Pidgeot standing on the canopy suddenly screamed, and this sound made Pidegeotto come back to sense, flapping his wings hard and dodging the fatal blow. Julian glanced at Pidgeot and didn''t say anything. If Pidegeotto was defeated so quickly, it would feel a little boring. This was just right, and he could train Beldum better. Instead, Lucario glared at it and warned him that if he talked more, he will just shove an Aura Sphere into his mouth. Pidegeotto flapped his wings, his body crossed an arc, and the figure merged with the light, and suddenly disappeared in front of Julian''s eyes. Julian sneered "Beldum Zen Headbutt, six o''clock direction" Aerial Ace is a rare skill that is a must hit and it cannot be avoided and because of the high speed, Pokmon using Aerial Ace will disappear in front of you for a short time. If there is sunlight, this time will be longer. This makes it possible to suddenly attack Rival from a certain direction, making it difficult to guard against. But Pidegeotto is just a wild Pokmon. Although it accidentally learned Aerial Ace, it still in the starter stage, that is, after using it, the place where it appears now must be right in front of the place where it disappeared, which is the direction of Beldum at six o''clock. Beldum executed Julian''s order perfectly, even if there was no sign of Pidegeotto at 6 o''clock, it used Zen Headbutt to charge over. "Bang" After it rushed to the position pointed by Julian , Pidegeotto''s figure appeared impressively, and under his terrified gaze, Beldum slammed his head into the stomach, and then landed on the Ground, losing his ability to fight. "Ding" sea??h th NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "mission completed" "Health PillX10, 200 points to be issued" The sound of the system proved that Beldum had won. "Well done" Julian praised Beldum and rubbed it''s head with Aura. The latter immediately showed a comfortable expression. Seeing this Lucario''s moved forward involuntarily but stopped immediately. ''Concentrate I am not weak, I am Elite, I have my pride.'' But in the next second, a refreshing feeling spread from the top of his head toward his whole body. "Thank you for protecting me all the way, Lucario" Julian smiled. Really arrogant guy. It''s a pity that it''s his Dad''s Pokmon, otherwise I''d really like to raise it myself. He cured Pidegeotto with Potion, and gave him a few Flying energy cubes. "Thank you, you will have a chance to play with Beldum again in the future, but you have to train well" "Pid~" Pidgeotto let out a happy cry. Pokmon''s mind is very simple, as long as you are good to it, it will be good to you. Pidgeotto evolved to be a powerful Pokmon indeed, and was notoriously fast. Faster than that a Dragonite, but not everyone has a Dragonite. But Pidgey and Pidgeotto are many in this world. As long as you cultivate them carefully, it will be a matter of time before they evolve into Pidgeot. Having a Pokmon that can fly you, sometimes save your life, is great for escaping. And Pidgeot also has a Mega Evolution form, so many Trainers will capture a Pidgey, and the starter Pokmon of many civilian Trainers is Pidgey. Beldum defeated Pidegeotto and was promoted to level 11. On the way home, Julian gave Beldum the Health Pill. The effect of Health Pill is the same as that of HP Enhancement Potion, both of which increase Beldum''s HP, and when HP Enhancement Potion is ineffective against Beldum, Health Pill can still play a role. ''I believe that as long as this continues, Beldum''s HP, attack, defense, special attack, special defense and other five values ??will exceed the normal values ??by a lot.'' ''When he finally evolved to a Metagross, its Species Strength will definitely break 600.'' Although the strength of a Pokmon cannot be measured by Species stats, the amount of Species Stats is one of the major indicators to measure the strength of a Pokmon. Chapter 15: News of Riolu Chapter 15: News of RioluAfter lunch, Julian was lying on the sofa watching this year''s World Trainer Competition. Drakoria''s Trainer has successfully advanced to the next round. He was a trainer who mainly focused on psychic types and he is also a Psychic himself. Jake was also watching the match with Julian . At present, it is the trainer of the Celestria country against the trainer of the Babath country. (TL/n: Celestria is similar to America and Babath to Japan and i have cut down some useless dialogues which seem to target Japan) The Trainer of Celestria is mainly poison type, while the Trainer of Babath is dark type. The Pokmon of these two Attributes are more difficult to handle. The two sides had already reached a crucial stage of the match, and Celestrian trainer had two Pokmon left, one of which was injured in the Contest Condition. There is only one Pokmon left for Trainer of the Babath Kingdom, but it is a Hydreigon. This Pokmon is currently only available in a certain advanced secret realm in the Celestria Kingdom in the world. The Kingdom itself breeds them, the external control is very strict, and only a small amount of Deino will flow out through transactions. It is normal to have a Hydreigon as they have a good relation between both nations. "Who do you think will win this match?" Jake asked. "The trainer with Hydreigon " Julian said without any hesitation. Although he didn''t like this country, the trainer of Babath is better than the trainer of Celestria country in both command and adaptability. (TL/n: China hates Japan and the author has made that very clear, you guys might see somethings that cannot be removed but i got rid of most) If it weren''t for the fact that Pokmon''s overall strength was weaker than the opponent''s, he might have already won. And that Hydreigon Julian didn''t even have to think about it and knew that it was the opponent''s Trump Card. The Celestrian Trainer''s Trump Card Pokmon had already been used, and was in the injured Contest Condition. Hydreigon is a Pseudo legendary and an dark-type plus a dragon-type. The former makes for a nasty move, while the latter has a powerful move. Combining the two, Hydreigon can burst into a powerful formidable power. "Pika Pika Pikachu" Jake''s phone rang. "Hey" "Hmm ok, I see, I''ll tell Julian " Being mentioned, Julian looked at Jake curiously. After Jake said a few more words, he hung up the phone. "It''s your grandpa, Riolu''s egg has been found and there are three of them, but after he heard that you have awakened the power of Aura, he hopes you can choose it yourself" Before Julian awakened the power of aura, Jake quickly told his grandfather about this, hoping to find a Riolu or Riolu''s egg for Julian. Only the Lucario family can use the power of Aura to its fullest potential. "where is it?" "In Wish City," Jake said. "The Path of the Brave" Julian blurted out. "Well, so tomorrow you can leave for Wish City, and your grandfather will pick you up at the Airport" Julian nodded. There is also a national gym in Wish City, but it belongs to the Fighting type. Sarch* The n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Nearby is the Road of the Brave, one of the special high-level secret realms. This secret realm is the same as the Oreburgh Great Wall, a high-level secret realm.. The Pokmon Attributes in the Great Wall of Oreburgh are all Steel, while the Pokmon Attributes in The Road of the Brave all Fighting. Riolu is a Fighting and evolves into a Fighting and Steel type, although it is Steel type, unfortunately there is no Riolu in the Oreburgh Great Wall. At present, Riolu is only available in the Secret Realm of the Road of the Brave in Drakoria, and breeding house for Pokmon is also opened by the owner of the gym in Wish City. There are also several countries abroad that have Riolu''s secret realms, but it is obviously not as convenient to trade with them as people from their own countries. The next day Julian got on a plane to Wish City. Lake City is not in the same province as Wish City, Wish City belongs to Qin Province, Lake City is Silver Province, and there is a Qing Province in between. Because of the integration of the Pokmon world, the volume of the planet has more than tripled, and the distance between cities is naturally farther. It takes six hours to fly from Lake City to Wish City. Julian released Beldum. Pokmon with a body size less than one meter can be released in first class, but not in economy class. The few people next to Julian also released their own Pokmon, all of which were relatively rare Pokmon. When they saw Julian''s Beldum, they immediately showed surprised expressions. Almost everyone knows the name of the family which this Pseudo legendary belongs to, and the plane took off from Lake City. The most famous Pokmon in Lake City are Metagross and Aggron. "Boy, why is your Beldum also silver, the same color as Jake''s Metagross," a middle-aged man asked curiously. "Jake''s my dad," Julian said. He didn''t need to hide that the silver-white Metagross was the characteristic of the Julian''s family. His grandfather and father both had silver Metagross, and now there is a silver Beldum. Hearing Julian''s words, people who originally had some nefarious thoughts quenched their thoughts in an instant. There are two Elites in his family, and one of them is a top Elite and they actually have pseudo-champion fighting power, so they can''t be provoked. "It turned out to be the son of the gym owner Jake. I visited gym owner Jake the year before last," said the middle-aged man familiarly. Julian had seen all the friends who had a good relationship with his father but he had never seen this person before. Obviously, he had a normal relationship with his father. "I am the Gym Trainer of our Lake City, Lake Gym" "Oh, it turned out to be you Uncle, I heard my father say about you," Julian said suddenly. The top gyms in the Drakoria are 18 national gyms, and every gym trainer is Elite. Then there are provincial gyms, and then there are city-level gyms, and each city has one or two gyms. There are two gyms in Lake City, one is a national gym and the other is a city gym. After obtaining eight city-level gym badges, you can participate in the annual provincial competition in your province. The top three prizes in the competition are different, but they have the opportunity to enter the advanced secret realm. And if you get eight provincial gym badges, you can participate in the national conference. Get eight National Gym Badges and you can participate in World-Class Conferences. Every year, the top three in provincial competitions in Yale Province will basically choose the Oreburgh Great Wall secret realm that Julian and his family are in charge of. They do this in hopes of catching a Pseudo legendary. It''s a pity that so far, very few lucky people have been able to achieve their wishes. Chapter 16: Grandpa John Chapter 16: Grandpa JohnLake Gym is also a steel-based gym, but it''s only a city-level gym, not the same as the Julian''s family''s national gym. However, if you want to be a city-level gym trainer, you must at least be the peak of the Advance trainer or pseudo-elite. It''s a gym in Lake City, so the owner of the gym naturally wanted to get in touch with Julian''s father. "Hahaha, it seems that gym leader Jake has not forgotten me and even mentioned me in front of you master Walker." The gym leader heard what Julian said, that his father mentioned him and Julian also knew about him, was immediately happy. The Walker family is a top-tier family in Drakoria. Although there numbers are not much but their strength and status is still there. (TL/n: Walker is Julian''s surname his full is Julian Walker) The other party''s attitude was humble and with the identity of a gym leader him actually calling Julian as master Walker, was a first for Julian, who had been very low-key for many years, to be called like this, he was a little overwhelmed for a while. However, he stretched out his hand and didn''t want to look a gift horse in the mouth. Julian smiled and said, "Uncle, just call me by my name." "Then I''ll call you Julian" Luke didn''t refuse either. It was a pleasant surprise to meet Jake''s only son on the plane. He knew Jake had a son for a while but because he was well protected, he never met him. Only knew his name. "Julian, why are you going to Wish City?" "To catch a Pokmon," Julian said. He didn''t say much. Although the other party said he was a gym leader, who knows if it''s the truth or not, some vigilance is still needed. Seemingly aware of the alienation in Julian''s words, Luke secretly scolded himself for being too eager, why was he asking such questions. "Julian, your Beldum is Breed so good" Luke looked at Beldum''s obsessively. As a Steel type Trainer himself, although he does not have a Pseudo legendary like Metagross, he has his own unique views on Steel Pokmon. How to judge whether a steel type Pokmon is good or not, the most intuitive is to observe the color of its body. S~ea??h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This method of judgment, before the Pokmon aptitude detector came out, was often used by Trainers to observe Pokmon''s demeanor, posture, spirit, etc. with the naked eye. Until now, this method is still used in the wild. After all, the qualification detector is huge. You can''t bring the qualification detector to catch Pokmon in the wild or secret realm. You can only use the most Primal method to observe the Pokmon you want to capture, to roughly judge each one''s qualifications. "Thank you" Julian nodded. With the Walker family''s resource investment plus the system''s resource investment, if Beldum is still not raised well, Julian might as well jump off a building. At this time, the plane suddenly shook a few times and it took three or four minutes for the shaking to gradually slow down. The stewardess in the middle explained it on the broadcast, saying that it was caused by the airflow. Because of the appearance of Pokmon, there are often bird Pokmon in the sky and some powerful bird Pokmon will turn part of the sky and airspace into their own territory. The routes of the planes are regularly cleaned by the Drakorian Trainer Association, so you don''t worry about encountering powerful Pokmon. And every plane is equipped with a sonic device that is annoying to bird Pokmon, preventing them from getting close. If that doesn''t work, the trainers on the plane will shoot and knock the Pokmon back. Of course, nothing is absolute. Three years ago, a plane was attacked by a pseudo-Elite-level Flygon while flying in the desert region, causing all the passengers and crew of the plane to die. But planes are still one of the safest means of transportation in the world. After several hours of flying, the plane finally arrived at Wish city''s Airport at around two in the afternoon. "Julian if you don''t have someone to pick you up, I''ll give you a ride" Luke said as he walked out of the passage with Julian . "No, my grandpa came to pick me up, there" Julian pointed to a gray-haired old man wearing a mask and classy clothes at the front of the pick-up channel. As a steel-based Elite, he often appears on TV and the Internet and is naturally famous. If he didn''t wear a mask, he would have been recognized long ago. "Elite Walker!!" Hearing Julian''s words, Luke was taken aback and following the direction he pointed, he saw an old man wearing a mask. "Goodbye Uncle" Julian waved to Luke and trotted to his grandpa. "Hahaha, my good grandson has grown a lot taller." Julian is 17 years old and about 1.83 meters tall. When John met him last year, he was only about 1.7 meters tall. As a top-tier Elite in Drakoria, John has a lot of tasks and he rarely has time to go see Julian in Lake City. In his 60s, he still shines for Drakoria and is respected by many top trainers. "Grandpa, let''s go quickly, you seem to be recognized" Julian saw that many people around looked at John with thoughtful expressions on their faces. Although the other party was wearing a mask, it seemed to have no effect at all. And wearing a mask in summer is even more suspicious. "Even if they recognize me, so be it and you will also become famous in the future, get used to it." John didn''t care, he can said to be famous from a young age, he has long been accustomed to being sought after by everyone and has a straightforward personality. "Let''s go" Julian pulled John away. It was too early for him to become famous. He was only a prospective high school senior now and he couldn''t wait to see those three Riolu eggs. "By the way, who is the man who came out with you just now, looks a little familiar." When they got into the car, John and Julian sat in the back as he asked. "It''s the Gym Leader of Lake Gym" "So it''s Luke, he''s getting old" "Grandpa, you know him?" "It doesn''t count as acquaintance, I just gave him advice when I was young. I didn''t expect more than 20 years to pass in the blink of an eye." "He''s talented?" Julian asked, if it wasn''t for his talent, it seems that his grandfather wouldn''t look for him but if he is really talented, why is he only a city-level gym trainer. "Normal talent, advising him was just because he almost died trying to protect a Pokmon," John said. Julian nodded, just from this point it seems, Luke''s nature is not bad. Chapter 17: Single Or Multiple Attributes Chapter 17: Single Or Multiple AttributesIn this world where humans and Pokmon live together, each human treats Pokmon differently. There are people who are afraid of Pokmon''s power and are unwilling to come in contact with Pokmon, some see Pokmon as a tool to give them more power and status and some regard Pokmon as garbage. But most people see Pokmon as partner and family. The encounter with life and death will give birth to new things. "Grandpa, are we going to the Fighting Gym now?" The three Riolu eggs are in the national Fighting gym but gyms like this are basically in the suburbs. Julian looked at the higher and higher buildings and the increasing number of cars, and the direction seemed not to be what he thought. "Not going there, Riolu eggs are already in the breeding house, you can pick one of the three eggs that fits your aura." "By the way, my grandson, show me the power of Aura." John looked at Julian with excitement. After more than 100 years, their Walker family finally had a descendant who awakened the power of aura, and it was his own grandson. Some time ago, he heard from his son that Julian had awakened the power of Aura, which made him very happy and he even showed it off to many old friends. Then he immediately contacted the leader of the Fighting Gym, the only Breeder of Riolu in the country and exchanged a descendant of his main Pokmon Bronzong for a Riolu egg. One of the reasons why Pokmon with excellent qualifications basically appear among aristocratic families is that resources are circulated with each other. Just like with Julian now. In order to get Julian an excellent Riolu egg, Julian''s grandfather gave an Elite Pokmon offspring. The two parties have obtained the Pokmon they want and after this transaction, the relationship between the two parties will be further enhanced. Originally, the other party wanted to give John a Riolu egg for free. After all, using a Riolu egg to win over a top Elite from Drakoria is a profit. But John refused, apparently guessing what the other party was thinking. If he accepted it, it would be equivalent to owing the other party a favor. In the future, if the other party asked him for something, he could not refuse. A burst of blue light appeared in Julian''s palm and a very gentle feeling came towards him. "This is the only thing I can do at the moment. It is estimated that there is still a long way to go to develop an Aura Sphere," Julian said helplessly. During this time, he felt a slight increase in his aura but this increase was very small and it was estimated that it had only increased by three or four percent overall. If he really wants to reach the point of using an Aura Sphere with his hands, he must rely on the system, otherwise he might not be able to reach that point until he dies. "Don''t be too ambitious, you can release aura just after awakening is already amazing." John''s eyes were full of joy. The power of this aura was even higher than he imagined. As for using Aura Sphere with your hands, you can only dream. "Yeah but I think I''ll be able to use it soon enough" Julian didn''t think it''s a dream, as long as the system rewards well, maybe if you complete a daily task, you will directly get a top-level version of the power of Aura. "You boy, you have the same virtue as your father. You both like to talk big. He used to talk about becoming a champion all the time. Now he is in his forties and can''t even be a steel elite." "But if dad wants to be a Steel Elite he must beat you. Isn''t that very unfilial?" "Damn, he can''t beat me anyway. If he really has the ability to defeat me, I will go home and call him dad." ''Uh, okay.'' ''Although my father''s six main Pokmon are all Elite, none of them are pseudo-champions and my grandfather has several main Pokmon who are pseudo-champions.'' ''Among the 18 top Elites, his strength is firmly No. 1. He is the strongest after the six champions and he is expected to become the seventh champion within five years.'' "My dear grandson, you have to work hard. Grandpa will keep the position of Steel Elite for you. When the time comes, you will challenge me. As long as your strength is decent, Grandpa will go easy on you and give you the position." In order to become an Elite of a certain Attribute, it is not necessary for all six main Pokmon to have the same Attribute but three of them are required to have same Attribute and the remaining three Attributes are not required. Just like his grandfather, his six main Pokmon are: Metagross, Aggron, Bronzong, Dragonite, Charizard, Noivern. It can be seen that his grandfather is good at two attributes, one is steel and the other is dragon. It''s just because the Walker family has been dominated by steel types for generations, so steel has become his main attribute and dragon is his sub-attribute. The current president of the Drakorian Trainer Association, one of the six champions of Drakoria and also the most powerful trainer, is a rare type who is good at all Attributes and has reached the pinnacle. Nowadays, specializing in an Attribute is the mainstream, because your energy and time are limited and there are many commonalities between Pokmon of the same Attribute, which can make you train Pokmon faster and easier to achieve results. But the disadvantage is also obvious, that is, it is easy to be targeted, such as the fire types, which are weaker to water types. The most unfortunate is the Dragon-type Trainer. The Fire-type trainer can still damage Water-types although the damage is small but the fairy-types are immune to dragon-types. Therefore, the last thing that Dragon Elite from Drakoria wanted to encounter was a Fairy Elite, followed by Ice Elite. However, if you choose multiple attributes or all attributes, it is not easy to be targeted. But at the same time, you need to spend several times the energy and time required then if you specialized in a single attribute. Often choosing multiple Attribute or all Attributes, Trainers will fail in the end and their strength might not be as good as the trainer specializing in one type and there are very few Trainers who can really come on top. Julian only wanted to be a steel type trainer, because this is what his family does, so he should be able to achieve results easily by doing this. But now that he has a system, his thinking has changed. He wants to become a multi-type or even full Attribute Trainer. Of course, in the early stage he is still a steel-type. At least before becoming an Elite, he will not choose the full Attributes, at most he will choose a second or third Attribute to enhance the team''s comprehensiveness in the face of future dangers. sea??h th N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 18: The Smith Family Chapter 18: The Smith FamilyThe car drove to the center of the city and stopped in front of a shop where yellow and white intersected. Julian and his grandfather got off the car. "Grandpa are we there?" "This is the shop" "Why not even a signboard?" Julian looked up at the store and couldn''t help but say, this is a store without a signboard, so how could outsiders know what this store sells. "Young man, our customers are introduced by regulars" Just as John was about to explain, two old men and a middle-aged man appeared in front of the store. The old man looked about the same age as John, while the middle-aged man seemed to be about the same age as Julian''s father. Judging by their similar faces, they should be father and son. It was the middle-aged man who just spoke "Julian, this is Felix, the leader of a national gym and this is his son Liam" "Grandpa, Uncle" Julian bowed. "Master Walker''s grandson is indeed a young talent and I can see that his future achievements will be extraordinary" Liam said. ''That goes without saying, my grandfather is the top Elite of Drakoria, with pseudo-championship power and my father is also an Elite, with two thighs, he can fly even if he is a pig.'' ''Not to mention that he still has a system now.'' "Brother Walker and young man, come in first," Felix said. "Butler, bring me the tea from Last Time" The group walked into the store. Julian didn''t really want delay. He wanted to see Riolu eggs as soon as possible but Grandpa didn''t speak, so he could only bear it. This tea is really good, even if Julian doesn''t drink tea very often, drinking this tea comes with a feeling of clarity of body and mind. "Kung Fu Tea lives up to its reputation," John said slowly after taking a sip. "Brother Walker is jesting, if you like it, you can take a dozen with you," Felix said. Kung Fu tea, hearing this Julian''s eyes showed a surprised expression. Kung Fu tea is produced in a special high-level secret realm in the road of the brave. It is protected by a group of masters. It can improve people''s physique. Of course, it takes a long time of continue drinking for it to be effective. This is also one of the few treasures that can work on humans, so the value is very high and the outside world cannot buy it at all. Only the smith family can give this tea as a gift. (TL/n: Felix''s full name is Felix Smith) According to Julian''s knowledge, this family was originally a martial arts family. When the Pokmon world was not integrated, it was a famous family in the area. According to what his grandfather told him in the car, the ancestors of the smith family''s first Pokmon was Hitmonchan and he beat it with his own martial arts. Nowadays, only these Martial artists can fight against Pokmon with human bodies. Of course, no matter how powerful Martial artists are, they cannot defeat a pseudo-Elite Pokmon with their bare hands. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. John did not refuse the gift of tea. This treasure can be given to his grandson. He is getting old and it is too late to improve his health. After drinking a few cups of tea, they finally got to the point. "Brother Walker, let''s go see Riolu eggs, your grandson can''t seem to wait." Although Julian concealed it well but Felix is a experienced person and can see his impatient look. "Okay" So the group walked toward the second floor. "On the second floor there are some qualified green Pokmon, about 300" Felix introduced while walking and pointed to the row of Pokmon eggs in the incubator on the second floor. The incubator can speed up the hatching time of Pokmon eggs but it also has the function of pausing and slowing the hatching of Pokmon eggs. After all, many people buy Pokmon eggs as first choice, so when Pokmon hatches, the first person they see will be treated as a relative and the intimacy will be very high. The qualifications are all green, which means that as long as the right amount of resources is invested, these Pokmon will grow to pseudo-Elite level. Although pseudo-Elite is weaker than a Elite, it is already an existence that most trainers need to look up to and there is a huge gap between the pseudo-Elite and Advanced. Many pseudo-Elite Trainers will never become an Elite in their lifetime. "The qualifications of the Pokmon eggs on the third floor are cyan" Compared with the second floor, the number of Pokmon eggs on the third floor is much less, there are only about a dozen eggs, representing more than a dozen Elite-level Pokmon in the future. A cyan-qualified Pokmon can no longer be measured by price. These Pokmon eggs are used by the Smith family to develop contacts, win over some top civilian geniuses or trade with other forces. Julian took a look at it with his probing eyes and they were indeed all Pokmon eggs with cyan qualifications but they were all common Pokmon, such as Pidgey, Geodude, Nidoran, and he also saw Catterpie''s Pokmon eggs. There are no rare or powerful Pokmon. "Riolu''s eggs are not here", said Felix as he continued to go up to the fourth floor. "These three are Riolu eggs," said Liam proudly. Although Lucario is not as good as Pseudo legendary Pokmon such as Metagross Dragonite, it can master Aura Sphere that very few Pokmon can master and it has aura and can use the power of Aura to explore the surroundings. This ability can be used in the wild, secret realms or ruins. Life-saving and awesome. So Lucario''s value is not at all lower than that of the pseudos. And Lucario is the iconic Pokmon of their home gym and even if a Lucario owned by a Drakorian Trainer is not from their family, then this Lucario''s parents or grandparents must be from their family. Although a little conceited, it is true. As long as the Smith family is in charge of the road of the brave for the Drakorian Trainer Association and as long as the Pokmon inside are not allowed to run out and harm the humans outside, then the Smith family''s status in Drakoria will never change. The Walker family achieved their current status by their own strength, while the Smith family achieved their current status by selling the precious Riolu eggs. Chapter 19: Aura Upgrade Chapter 19: Aura Upgrade"Good grandson go choose," John said. sea??h th Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing John calling Julian like this, Felix and his son felt a little amused for some reason as they didn''t expect that Drakoria''s most powerful steel-type Elite was actually a grandfather who doted on his grandson. Julian nodded. The three Riolu eggs had already their aptitude mentioned, parental aptitude, strength level, moves that might be inherited in the future, etc. This information was very detailed, at least one can see at a glance the quality of these Riolu eggs. Julian looked at the three Riolu eggs with his probing eyes. Pokmon: Riolu (Fighting) Level: 0 Qualification: Cyan Ability: Inner Focus props: none gender: female Moves: Quick Attack, Endure Disc Skills: None Genetic Skills: Bite, Close Combat, Fire Punch, Ice Punch - Pokmon: Riolu (Fighting) Level: 0 Qualification: Cyan Ability: Inner Focus props: none Gender: Male Moves: Quick Attack, Endure Disc Skills: None Genetic Skills: Mind Reader, Close Combat, Force Palm, Thunder Punch - Pokmon: Riolu (Fighting) Level: 0 Qualification: Cyan Ability: Inner Focus props: none Gender: Male Moves: Quick Attack, Endure Disc Skills: None Genetic Skills: Bullet Punch, Thunder Punch, Fire Punch, Ice Punch - The three Riolu''s aptitudes were all cyan and the future will be Elite-level. In terms of Ability, there is no hidden Ability Justified but the Inner Focus Ability is more suitable for Riolu than Steadfast and Justified. Not all hidden abilities are good. Bullet Punch is nothing more than letting Riolu master one more attacking move and if Mind Reader cooperates with Riolu''s aura power, the next attack will definitely hit. In theory, the second Riolu is the best of the three. But for Julian, there is still the most important point, that is. He closed his eyes gently and Aura in his body began to operate according to his belief and the power of Aura began to shroud the three Pokmon eggs. He needs a Riolu that best fits his aura, which is far more important than any ability or genetic skills. The three eggs seemed to be shaking slightly because they felt Julian''s aura. At the same time, a faint wave of aura was emitted from their eggs and they slowly contacted Julian''s aura. "With the power of aura, Brother Walker''s grandson will be extraordinary in the future" Felix looked at Julian in amazement. Although he was not a supernatural person, he could sense that there was an energy in this room. "Hahaha, this old man''s seat is reserved for my grandson." John didn''t like people complimenting him or his son but he liked when people complimented his grandson. Felix''s unintentional remarks were indeed shot in the right direction. "Grandpa, I have chosen" A minute later, Julian opened his eyes and was a little tired. His aura was not enough for him to communicate with the three Pokmon together for a long time. Although the communication time was short, he had already found the Riolu he wanted. "Oh, which one is it?" "the one in the middle" Julian pointed to the egg of Riolu in the middle, the Riolu with the Mind Reader genetic skill but the genetic skill written below the Smith family was not Mind Reader but Crunch. Apart from this, the other information was correct. It seems that the Smith family is indeed very capable in breeding, at least in Riolu breeding. "Then this Riolu egg belongs to Julian " Felix brought the Riolu egg incubator to Julian , who immediately took it. "Ding" "Complete the Hidden Quest: Own a Second Pokmon" "Reward upgrade the power of Aura, plus 300 points" With the sound of system resounding in his mind, Julian only felt that the power of Aura, which had become empty in his body, quickly recovered and continued to grow. It didn''t stop until he reached the intermediate level in the early stage of breakthrough. In the process of upgrading, his body exuded a faint blue light, which lasted for a short time, only five or six seconds. "Grandpa, my aura has broken through" Julian said excitedly, the intermediate level of aura seems to be not far from using a Aura Sphere by hand. "Okay, worthy of being a grandson of mine, John was overjoyed. He didn''t expect his grandson''s aura broken through so early. The movement of his breakthrough just now reminded him of the aura trainer from the Drakorian Trainer Association. He is in his fifties and his aura seems to be similar to his grandson''s. "Brother Walker''s grandson is really a genius, he may become the youngest Elite or even the champion of Drakoria in the future." Felix and Liam, father and son, looked at Julian in shock. Who would have thought that the other party''s aura could break through and it would be so easy. You must know that most of the trainers with special abilities have their abilities in the awakened part and they may not break through in their entire lives. Only a few extremely talented people will have breakthroughs. And now they have such a person in front of them. "Grandson, let''s go" However, Julian didn''t mean to go downstairs but set his eyes on the position under the Riolu eggs, which was the cabinet. When his aura suddenly became intermediate, the invisible aura swept the entire building and then he found that there was a Pokmon egg in the cabinet. Since the Pokmon egg is being kept in the cabinet, the Pokmon egg cannot be seen, so the Probing Eye cannot be used. "Grandpa Smith, is there a Pokmon egg in this cabinet? I accidentally sensed it when my aura power broke through just now." He was curious. Being placed by the Smith family in such an important floor as the Fourth floor, they should have cherished the powerful Pokmon egg but it was locked in the cabinet, which seemed to be a bit contrary. "Julian, do you want to see that Pokmon egg?" Felix''s expression did not change, instead he asked a question. "I would like to see if I can" "Then let me show you" Saying that, Felix took out a key and opened the lock of the cabinet. "This Pokmon egg has been in my house for more than 30 years. My father got it but the machine can''t detect what Pokmon egg it is" "And there is no sign of hatching but the life force in the egg is always there" "I can''t tell if this egg is good or bad, so after my father died, I put this Pokmon egg on the fourth floor and I have also asked many colleagues to see it and even they can''t see why this egg has not hatched, let alone Tell me what Pokmon is in this egg" "If it weren''t for Julian, I would have almost forgotten that there is a Pokmon egg in the cabinet. This egg has been in it for more than ten years." Chapter 20: Mystery Egg Chapter 20: Mystery EggIn Felix''s words, it seems that this unknown Pokmon egg has been abandoned by them but it is also not completely abandoned, otherwise it will not be placed on such an important floor as the fourth floor. The cabinet was opened, revealing a silver-grey egg inside. Even if it was placed in the cabinet, a thin layer of dust had accumulated on the egg. The pokmon egg was not placed in an incubator but on a soft mat. Incubators can help Pokmon eggs hatch faster and at the same time have a protective effect. You can hatch without an incubator but the speed will be slower. However, according to Felix, this Pokmon egg was obtained by his father thirty years ago and the egg has not hatched until now. Either this Pokmon egg is dead but Julian can sense Aura emanating from this Pokmon egg, proving that it is a live egg. "Maybe this egg needs a special way to hatch but we haven''t found it yet," Felix said, having placed the egg back on it. The known Pokmon eggs have not been found to require special conditions or methods to hatch but it cannot be said that there are no Pokmon eggs which require this, so there is some truth in Felix''s words. "Julian, maybe your aura can know the secret of this egg," Felix said. He took out this egg not only to satisfy Julian''s curiosity but also to get a hint as Julian might have a way to hatch this Pokmon egg. After all, Julian gave him a very special feeling. At this time, Julian had already checked the Pokmon egg with his probing eyes and soon the information of the egg appeared in front of him. Pokmon: Meltan (Steel) Level: 0 Qualification: Purple Ability: Magnet Pull props: none Gender: no gender Moves: Harden, Thunder Shock Disc Skills: None Genetic Skills: None Sar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. - When he saw the name of this Pokmon, Julian''s heart trembled. Meltan, a Pokmon that 99.9% of the world doesn''t know about, Julian knows this Pokmon because of the games. However, since Meltan''s Pokmon egg appeared here, this kind of Pokmon should have been discovered by humans in the top secret realm. Meltan is a Pokmon of Steel type and one of the very few mythical Pokmon that can evolve again. Meltan is not powerful. What is powerful is its evolutionary stage Melmetal. Species Strength of 600 and has super destructive power, strength and defense. ''Gotta get it.'' ''The mythical steel-type Pokmon, as well as purple aptitude, no matter which one of these, will make countless people crazy.'' ''And now these combined in one egg is placed in front of me. If I don''t take them away, I won''t be able to sleep.'' "Ding" "Main Quest: Get the Meltan Egg" "Task reward: Meltan''s exclusive hatching solution, 1000 points" At this time, even the system has released task. Moreover, the quest reward also solved Julian''s worries. He was worried that even if he got Meltan''s egg, and he couldn''t hatch it like the Smith family, it would be useless. Squeezing his inner thoughts and surprise, Julian asked, "Grandpa Smith, can I ask how your father got this Pokmon egg? If it involves the secrets of your family, you don''t have to answer." He was very curious, although the Smith family''s identity has a certain status in Drakoria but it is absolutely not eligible to get the Pokmon egg of such Pokmon. And Meltan has never appeared in Drakoria. "This is not a secret of the family. My father went to Wyvernia (a country) to challenge the steel gym there 30 years ago. On the way, there happened to be a new secret realm and it was a top secret realm." "Your father went in?" "How is it possible, my father is not a trainer from Wyvernia, how could he enter but when this top secret realm was just formed, my father was nearby" "This Pokmon egg was shot out of an uncharted realm and happened to be picked up by my father" "In order to avoid being discovered by the Wyvernia Trainer, my father returned to Drakoria overnight with this Pokmon egg" Well, lucky with that. "Julian , do you know what Pokmon egg this is?" Felix asked and Liam next to him also looked at Julian curiously. Julian shook his head. ''What a joke, how could I possibly tell you.'' ''But I must get this egg, how can I get the other party to give this egg to me'', while thinking about it, he saw his grandfather. So Julian pointed at the Pokmon egg and said, "Grandpa, this egg is very important to me, can you help me get this egg" No matter what, Felix is not an idiot. How could the other party not see through his tricks, so he might as well leave it to his grandfather. "Brother Felix, since my good grandson thinks this egg is very important to him, then as his grandfather I will definitely help him get this egg, you can ask for a price" "Money, props, high-quality Pokmon eggs, treasures, whatever you want" Julian gave John a thumbs up. Grandpa is domineering, So awesome. "Elite Walker, it''s our families egg so we will decide if we want to sell it or not." Liam got angry and couldn''t help but scold John. "Your father has not said anything, is this your place to speak?" John glanced at Liam slightly and immediately the pressure belonging to a top trainer rushed towards Liam. The latter''s face turned pale, his feet softened and he fell directly to the ground. All Elites have blood on their hands and John has thousands of lives on his hands. Those were the enemies of the country, his enemies and the enemies of the Walker family. Liam was too scared to speak. Chapter 21: The Situation Of The Smith Family Chapter 21: The Situation Of The Smith Family"Brother Walker, please calm down, Liam didn''t mean it" Felix hurriedly stood in front of Liam to block John''s pressure but at this time John had already withdrawn it. "Hmph, Brother Smith, it''s just because of you. If someone else dared to say that in front of me, he would have died long ago." "Yes, yes, Brother Walker is right" Felix nodded again and again, he didn''t think John was joking at all. In Drakoria, John is a well-known steel type Elite and in some foreign countries, John is famous of killing, especially some countries that has relations with them. Just half a month ago, a laboratory in Drakoria invented a potion that can upgrade the green qualification Pokmon to the cyan qualification. So it is believed that in the near future, Drakoria will have many pseudo-Elite Pokmon breakthrough to Elite and Drakoria''s strength will be greatly improved. However, there were spies from other countries in the Laboratory. They stole the data and prepared to leave Drakoria through secret channels. Fortunately, they were discovered by the Laboratory in time. In order to retrieve this important information, the Drakorian Trainer Association sent John there. And this spy had reinforcement sent at the borders, three top Elites, whose status is equivalent to the eighteen Attribute Elites of the Drakoria. But the three Elites were killed by John alone, including their main Pokmon. John has not done this only once or twice but it still caused a huge international sensation. This incident was not made public. However, many people in the Drakorian Trainer Association knew about this, including Felix. They always believed that John was the most qualified person among the 18 Elites to be the champion in four or five years. The Smith family really didn''t dare to mess with the opponent''s strength, skill and killing character. Felix never thought of going against the Walker family but his son''s behavior just now was a little too radical. "Brother Smith, what do you say, will you sell this Pokmon egg?" John asked. His character is very straightforward and he doesn''t like to go around with the other party. If the other party sells it, it''s the best. If he doesn''t sell it, he will punch you until you sell it. "I will not sell it but gift it directly to Julian " Fortunately, Felix spoke quickly enough, otherwise John would get angry. "Gift? Hmph, Felix, don''t think I don''t know what you''re thinking, let me quote a price. Ten years later, Beldum which I split from Metagross, will be given to your family, what do you think?" Metagross can only be split once every ten years. Julian''s Beldum was split from his grandpa''s Metagross, so the next split will have to wait for ten years. "Dad" Liam didn''t know when he had stood up, his expression was extremely moving. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As we all know, John''s strongest Pokmon is Metagross and the Beldum it splits out is absolutely very qualified. As long as Breeding is proper, it is not impossible to reach the height of John''s Metagross in the future. "You shut up" Felix glared at Liam, a short-sighted guy. Although he was also moved, he hoped to have a relationship with the Walker family more than a Metagross. Although the Walker family has a small number of people, all of them are strong, not to mention John himself, his eldest son is the top ten richest man in the country, his daughter is a well-known Pokmon Professor and his youngest son is the leader of a national steel type gym. , and it is the strongest among the 18 national gym leaders. Even his grandson Julian, although he has just become a trainer, has already awakened the power of aura and his future achievements will not be small. The only advantage of their smith family is Lucario''s Breeding. Although he is good at Fighting-type Pokmon, their family has not produced amazing descendants in the past few generations. At present, he is the most powerful and he is just an ordinary Elite. There are more than 500 ordinary Elites like him in Drakoria. The reason why the Smith family has a place in Qin Province and Drakoria is entirely due to the contributions made by the ancestors of the family for Drakoria and Lucario''s egg. The contributions of the ancestors will eventually be exhausted and number of Lucario will gradually increase outside and it will not be unique to their family in a few years. Felix is very aware of the crisis that the family will face in a few years. The Drakorian Trainer Association will not give them protection. Then they will face the attacks of the top family in Drakoria. At that time, Lucario will not belong to them but belong to the family that got to them first. So he had to find a backer for the family and he was still thinking about who to turn to until John traded him a Riolu egg for his grandson. This made him see an opportunity. Originally, he wanted to give John this Pokmon egg for nothing, in order to have a relationship with the Walker family but unfortunately John saw his intention and did not agree. Instead, he exchanged the egg of his main Pokmon Bronzong. John has a way to get Riolu''s egg from other channels and he only found them because they are the most professional in Drakoria. Felix knew this very well, so he did not refuse John''s exchange of Bronzong''s descendant for Riolu. Originally, he thought that the Smith family would have no chance to hold the thick legs of the Walker family. I didn''t expect to get a second chance. Elite Walker''s grandson wants the Pokmon egg that hasn''t hatched in 30 years. Although Julian hid it well, Felix still saw his covertness for this Pokmon egg, so he knew that this egg must be very precious. However, he is still willing to give the egg to Julian. If the Pokmon egg does not hatch, it will have no effect like a dead egg. Definitely a good thing. Even if it takes 10,000 steps back, the Smith family has really hatched this Pokmon egg and it is still an extremely powerful Pokmon but if the news leaks, the family''s strength will probably not be able to keep the Pokmon but it will accelerate the demise of the family ahead of time. Another possibility is that a Pokmon egg hatched and turned out to be just a normal Pokmon. There is nothing more worth buying and selling than a Pokmon egg that can''t hatch and there are too many unknowns in exchange for the friendship of the Walker family. Chapter 22: Free Mythical Egg Chapter 22: Free Mythical EggIt''s not common but also not uncommon, for a machine to fail to detect a Pokmon in a Pokmon egg and almost every breeding company encounters a few Pokmon eggs every year that a machine can''t detect. It''s not that these Pokmon eggs are special but that they have thicker shells than most Pokmon eggs, so machines can''t detect them but in the end these Pokmon eggs will hatch into Pokmon. As for the Pokmon egg from the Smith family, they couldn''t detect it at first, thinking that the shell of the Pokmon egg was too thick and they thought that when it hatched, they would know what Pokmon was. But after waiting for more than 30 years, Felix''s father already dead. But The Pokmon egg has not hatched and the egg is still alive, not a dead egg. S~ea??h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Pokmon egg that came out of the top secret realms have not hatched for more than 30 years and it''s not a dead egg. All of these indicate that this Pokmon egg is very special and it is very likely that it is a very powerful and cherished Pokmon. If it weren''t for the Smith family, from Felix''s generation to Liam''s son, that is, his grandchildren, none of them showed a good enough trainer talent. Otherwise, Felix wouldn''t want to hug the Walker family''s thick thigh. Ordinary people envy the children of noble families but it is extremely difficult for noble families to survive for a long time. If they are not careful, the invisible darkness will engulf them. "Brother Walker, my family will give you this Pokmon egg. I just hope that you can help when the Smith family is in distress. This egg is a thank you gift." Listening to Felix''s words, I have to say that this old guy is quite thick-skinned. "Grandpa, this egg is very important" ''Although I think the other party is a bit shameless, this is Meltan''s egg as long as it is hatched'' with the resources of the system and the Walker family when it evolves into Melmetal in the future, Julian can definitely become the top trainer in Drakoria. Even the world''s top Trainer. At that time, the Walker family''s status in Drakoria will be further improved. "Old man Smith deal with my grandson in the future" John said indifferently, then turned around and went downstairs. Felix looked surprised, walked up to Julian and said, "Julian , the Smith family will be under your Walker family''s care in the future." On the other hand, Liam on the side showed a look of shame and anger. "Well, do you want to take these two eggs too, it''s a gift for you." Felix pointed to the remaining eggs had two Riolu. "No, one Riolu is enough and I also got an unexpected Pokmon," Julian said. "Ding" "Main Quest Completed" "Meltan''s exclusive hatching solution has been distributed, 1000 points" came the sound of the system, Julian looked at the storage space of the system and did see the hatching solution. More than an hour later, John and Julian left the Smith family''s breeding house and came to a five-star hotel in Wish City, where John has been staying for the past few days. In the luxury suite, Julian carefully placed the two Pokmon eggs on the coffee table, while using a towel to wipe the dust off the Meltan egg. The more I rubbed it, the more I liked it and the smile on his face has not disappeared since he left the Smith family. "Good grandson, what the hell do you like about this Pokmon egg?" John couldn''t help but ask, he didn''t believe what Julian told Felix before that he didn''t know what Pokmon this Pokmon egg was. It must be that Julian lied to Felix. Felix must also know that Julian did it on purpose but he didn''t care. "Grandpa, the top secret realm that appeared in the Wyvernia Kingdom more than 30 years ago, I remember it should be a steel type secret realm and most of it is a steel type Pokmon" "Yes, your grandfather also went in, in exchange for a dragon Elite from the Wyvernia Kingdom to enter our top secret Dragon King Valley" The top secret realm is the foundation of a country. Although there are a large number of high-level Pokmon living in it, there are even Elite and champion-level Pokmon. In it, you can capture many Pokmon with excellent qualifications, precious and powerful, even Mythicals, legendary Pokmon, third-level legendaries, as long as you have the ability, you have this opportunity to capture. "Then you should know that in the top secret realm of Wyvernia Country, there are steel-type mythical pokemon, Meltan and Melmetal." For more than 30 years, the Wyvernia Kingdom has already explored this top secret realm and has also announced some unique Pokmon in this secret realm, as well as the steel-type mythicals Meltan and MelMetal. The main purpose of publishing this is to trade resources with other countries. For example, John, a steel-type Elite, enters the other party''s steel-type secret realm to gain benefits and the other party''s dragon-type Elite enters the Drakoria''s dragon-type secret realm to gain benefits. "It''s Meltan''s Egg?" John has just sat down, suddenly stood up. He had entered the secret realm but it was more than ten years ago. At that time, the Wyvernia Kingdom had not found Meltan and MelMetal in the secret realm. However, he also gained a lot of benefits. His main Pokmon Metagross broke through to the pseudo-champion level in the secret realm. "Yes, this is Meltan''s Pokmon Egg" Julian nodded. He didn''t explain why he knew that this Pokmon egg was Meltan''s and John didn''t ask any more questions. "Hahaha, okay, my good grandson made us a lot of profit" After a moment of silence, John suddenly burst into laughter. The value of a steel-type Mythical is enough to make the champions move and it cannot be measured in money. And the price they paid was to help the Smith family when necessary. As long as the Walker family released the news that the Smith family was supported by the Walker family, there would be no aristocratic family that would offend the Walker family because of the Smith family. What is this, isn''t this just a free Pokmon egg. "The steel-type Elite in the Wyvernia Kingdom was still chattering in front of me some time ago. He obtained Meltan from the secret realm. When your Meltan hatches, my grandson, I will see how he will cry." "The whole Wyvernia country will cry for me" Meltan is unique to the Wyvernia Kingdom and is also an Mythical. It took the Wyvernia Kingdom a long time and a great price to obtain a Meltan from the secret realm this year. If they can train Meltan into Melmetal, then the status of the Wyvernia Country in the world will be improved. A powerful Mythical is enough to destroy a small country. But now the unique mythical pokemon in the Wyvernia Country was given to Julian by the Smith family of the Drakoria by chance. "It should be the Smith family who will cry the most at that time," Julian said with a smile. The Smith family personally gave out this mythical egg. I wonder if Felix will regret to his death when the Meltan in Julian''s hands is exposed. Chapter 23: Back To Lake City Chapter 23: Back To Lake CityThree days later, Julian took a plane back to Lake City. To his surprise, he met Luke again on the plane. Having such a predestined relationship with a man, Julian kept muttering in his heart that all the novels were deceitful. Everyone else encounters beautiful women, one or two times but the one I encounter is a middle-aged uncle Luke. "Julian, did the gym leader not come to pick you up?" After getting off the plane, Julian was about to leave, when Luke came to Julian with his car. "He has something to do," Julian said. "Then I''ll drop you" Luke was very enthusiastic. "Thank you Uncle" Julian opened the door and went in. Luke''s car is a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which fits his identity as the leader of a city-level gym. He drives the car himself without a driver. "Today, the talented Trainer of Lake City, Chris, will challenge Jake, the master of Drakoria''s national steel-based gym. It will start at 1:00 p.m., and the reporter will broadcast the match." From the radio came the sweet voice of the radio station Host. "It turns out that there is a challenge, no wonder gym leader Jake didn''t come to pick you up" Luke said. Julian has already taken out his mobile phone to open the penguin video and there will be a live broadcast at one o''clock and now it is less than ten minutes away from one o''clock. The live broadcast hadn''t even started yet but a barrage of messages flew across the Black screen. "Blind guess, Jake wins" "Chris 6666, cheering for you" "Metagross: Today I''m going to get consistently six wins" "Aggron applied to play" "Chris: I''ll hit you strong." Looking at the barrage, Julian also posted one. "Within ten minutes, the gym leader Jake will end the battle" "NotaWalker you are too much. Jake gave you money right. Our Chris is a pseudo-Elite, at least 11 minutes." "Upstairs, my 40-meter broadsword was pulled out 39 meters." Chris is very famous among the young generation in Lake City. He was born in an ordinary wealthy family. Neither of his parents were Trainers. With his own efforts and desperate struggles, he became a Rookie Trainer at the age of 17 and became a pseudo-Elite Trainer at the age of 20. Became the idol of most trainers in Lake City. And last year, he also participated in the provincial competition in Yale Province and won the runner-up. There are nearly 10 million fans on Geek and Vibrato. Jake learned from John that Julian had obtained a steel-type mythical pokemon egg but when Julian came back today, someone was going to challenge the gym. In order to quickly send people away and take a look at the steel-type mythical pokemon egg in his son''s hand, Jake will naturally choose to use the main team to defeat him quickly. At the beginning of one o''clock, just as Julian thought, Jake directly dispatched his Trump Card Metagross and one move Meteor Mash defeated Chris''s Magmar. Chris''s second Pokmon a fire type pokemon and it also got knocked down by Metagross. The third is Charizard, his starter Pokmon with the Mega Evolution stone around his neck. "Charizard Mega Evolve" Chris''s excited roar came from the phone. Immediately Charizard X appeared on the field. "Chris: I think I can do it" "Charizard X is really awesome" The strength of this Mega Evolved Charizard is about to break through to Elite but even if it breaks through to Elite, its Rival is Metagross at the peak of Elite. Like the first two Pokmon, Charizard X still couldn''t get Metagross to use his second move. Three consecutive Pokmon were instantly killed by the opponent. Even if Chris specializes in fire and is a warm-hearted person, he can''t help but feel hopeless at this time. "It''s so terrifying, this is the strength of the strongest national gym in Drakoria." "Jake''s father is Walker Elite, Drakoria''s strongest Elite, tiger father has no dog son, they are the pride of our Lake City" "The gym leader seems to have a son, you know?" "I know, I also know that he goes to school in Lake No. 1 Middle School." The topic of the barrage unknowingly turned to Julian . Even as Jake''s son and John''s grandson, Julian''s family has never announced his existence. When he was in elementary school, his mother took him there. When he arrived in junior high school, he began to live on campus, as well as in high school. So knowing that Julian is Jake''s son, there are not many people in Lake City. They are all powerful and rich people of Lake City. Sarch* The N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The famous second-generation rich, second-generation officials, second-generation trainers, etc. in the school dared to bully other students but they never dared to appear in front of Julian . A lot of people even wanted to befriend Julian , but Julian, who has the soul of an adult, never talked to these purposeful guys. Ten minutes later, Chris''s last Camerupt fell and the National Gym Challenge finally came to an end. He came in high spirits before but now there is only a tragic back. "Gym leader Jake is too ruthless. This will hit Chris hard. If he gets depressed, Drakoria will lack an excellent trainer in the future." A barrage flashed by and received the support of many people. The purpose of the Gym Trainer is not only to assess the strength of the challenger but also to provide guidance and inspection. In this challenge, Jake did not fulfill the duty of a gym leader and just unilateral defeated him. Just when Julian was about to send a barrage to refute, a barrage floated over soon. "Although the National Gym allows pseudo-Elite challenges, in fact only Elite Trainers can get a Badge" "The pseudo-Elite are allowed just because Drakorian Trainer Association has relaxed the threshold but if you really think that a pseudo-Elite can get the national gym Badge, then you are too naive" "Chris is indeed a genius. Perhaps it is because of the aura of a genius that he is a little complacent. When he first challenged the national gym, he chose the strongest steel gym" "With his aura of genius, he still specializes in the fire element and feels that he can restrain the steel element." "If he can''t take the blow, then just sell me Charizard''s Mega Evolution stone" Chapter 24: Riolu Chapter 24: Riolu"Ding" "Daily task: run five kilometers in half an hour" "Reward Meltan candyX50, 100 points" As soon as breakfast was over, the voice of the system sounded in my mind and the daily task was released at 8:00 in the morning. In the games, Meltan needs 400 Meltan to evolve into Melmetal, while in the anime, Meltan needs the power of other Meltan to evolve. As for how Meltan evolves into Melmetal in reality, it is still unknown. It is not rule out that it can evolve after reaching a certain level and naturally it is not rule out that it requires certain evolutionary conditions to evolve. After getting Meltan''s egg, Julian was worried about this question and now the system has given Julian a perfect answer. According to the game, as long as 400 Meltan are collected, even if Meltan is only level 0, it can evolve into Melmetal. To get meltan candy, the premise is to complete this task. Five kilometers in half an hour. Julian thinks it''s not a problem at all, he started exercising when he was very young. It can be said that every Trainer needs a strong body and if your body is too weak, you can''t resist the aftermath of Pokmon battles. When you die in the aftermath of your own Pokmon battle, don''t be too embarrassed. Going to the room, there are two incubators on the bedside table and they are eggs of Meltan and Riolu. Meltan''s exclusive incubation solution has been used, perhaps because the outside world does not have the special energy it needs to hatch, so this egg has not hatched. After using the exclusive incubation solution produced by the system, it is obvious that the vitality of Meltan''s egg is gradually increasing. As for when it will be born, it is still unknown. "In half a month, we can meet Riolu" Julian set his sights on Riolu''s egg. Because of Aura, he could clearly feel the time when Riolu hatches. A few shakes in the incubator, exuding joy and impatience from the egg. "Hahaha, don''t worry, half a month will pass soon," Julian laughed. "Beldum, you can be a big brother in half a month" Beldum next to Julian flew around the incubator a few times and seemed very happy that he was about to have a younger brother. After swiping on vibrato (entertainment app) in the room for a while and then looking at the Moments, Julian also saw that Will posted a photo of him and Charmander. Below is a burst of praise and admiration. The value of a Charmander is more than one million, which is a number that makes most people desperate. If starter Pokmon is a Charmander, it can definitely be said to win at the starting line. But Julian was directly at the finish line. "Let''s go Beldum out for a few laps" Getting up, and calling Beldum he prepared to go to the backyard to complete today''s daily tasks. Noticing that Riolu''s Pokmon egg shook a few times again. "Riolu I''ll be back soon" Julian shook his head. He was so clingy before he was born. After he was born wouldn''t he follow him like mummy duck. However, a cute Riolu following him seems to be pretty good. If it evolves into Lucario, it will definitely attract a lot of attention. =========== With a week to go before school starts, after completing 500 push-ups, He got 50 Meltan candy and 100 points again. "Riolu you keep training" Standing up from the floor, Julian said to Riolu, who was still doing push-ups. Pokmon''s physical strength is far from comparable to that of human beings. Even if Riolu was only born more than ten days ago, he has already been able to completely outpace Julian. Pokmon: Riolu (Fighting) Level: 9 Qualification: Cyan Ability: Inner Focus props: none Gender: Male Moves: Quick Attack, Endure, Feint, Metal Claw, Bullet Punch Disc moves: Low Sweep, Brick Break, Agility, Sword Dance Genetic moves: Mind Reader, Close Combat, Force Palm, Thunder Punch - For Riolu, who is only level 9, this move pool is already very luxurious and there is also the move Sword Dance. Just learning this move cost Julian 5 million. Originally, only half the price is enough but I didn''t expect the first time to fail. First Sword Dance CD, Riolu, failed to absorb it. ''Fortunately, I still have a few Sword Dance CDs at home, otherwise I would have to go to the outside store to buy it.'' Leaving Riolu in the training room, Julian went upstairs to see Meltan''s egg, which was full of vitality. It should hatch in the next few days and school will start at that time. If it doesn''t hatch, Julian will have to take this egg to school. Although it is safer to put it at home, if the first person Meltan sees when he is born is not Julian , but Julian''s parents, then even if Julian catches Meltan in the end, his starter intimacy will not be the same. The intimacy between Julian and Riolu is very high. Julian has the power of aura and is the first person Riolu saw. It would be strange if the intimacy is not high. The intimacy with Riolu is estimated to be around 200. If Riolu wants to evolve into Lucario, he needs to have an affinity of 220 or a friendliness of 158 or higher. Julian''s affinity with Riolu is very close to this value. "Little guy hatch quickly, half of the candy prepared for you have been collected" Julian gently stroked the incubator and the light blue aura in his palm slowly penetrated into it, communicating with Meltan in the egg, who responded to Julian. During this time, Julian also had a certain understanding of the power of aura. Although the power of Aura is not able to control objects like Psychic, it can communicate with Pokmon by telepathy and boost Pokmon. whereas Powerful Psychic users can even Teleport and Fly. Unlike Dragon Power, it only has great blessings for Dragon Type Pokmon. The biggest feature of the power of Aura is that it has no characteristics. Why is it said that the power of Aura is a social butterfly, because everything has a aura, humans have a aura and Pokmon also has a aura. Humans who have awakened the power of Aura can use Aura to communicate with Aura in Pokmon''s body. This communication is not telepathic. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This is an emotional communication, or emotional resonance. Therefore, humans who have awakened the power of Aura are more likely to be recognized by Pokmon and they can even catch Pokmon directly without fighting. This is the power of the social butterfly, powerful and useful. Chapter 25: School Starts Chapter 25: School StartsSeptember 1st was the day when Lake No. 1 Middle School opened and it was also the day when most schools in Drakoria started. Today, Lake No. 1 Middle School was extraordinarily lively. The third grade of high school is divided into Trainer class and ordinary class and the Trainer class has four classes with a total of 135 Rookie Trainers, including an elite class composed of 15 people, whose class teacher is a pseudo-Elite Trainer and other Teachers are also Advanced Trainers, the monthly resources given to elite classes by the school are also four times that of ordinary Trainer classes. And if you want to enter this elite class, you naturally rely on strength. The strongest 15 can enter the elite class. "Julian, what the hell is your starter Pokmon" In the school''s battle arena, 135 Rookie Trainers had gathered together. Will and Julian stood together and Will asked curiously. When ordinary people get starter Pokmon, the first thing they want to do is to send a photo to the circle of friends or geeks to show off. Julian hasn''t sent a message about his Pokmon for two months, which made Will curious about what the other side''s starter Pokmon was. "Wait and you''ll find out," Julian said. Elite classes are of great help to Trainers from ordinary families. Whether their class teachers are pseudo-Elites or have four times the resources of ordinary Trainer classes, they can make elite class students grow up quickly. Therefore, the Captivation of the elite class is very high and many students are gearing up. For two months, they worked hard to train Pokmon, just to win a place in the elite training class. But for Julian, there is no difference between the elite class and the ordinary class. He has a system and the huge backing of the Walker family and he has no shortage of resources at all. Father and grandfather are both elite trainers and there is no shortage of famous teachers. 135 Rookie Trainers, two-v-two, a tiebreaker, because it is an odd number, so there will be a lucky bye. Julian''s No. 25, his Rival is No. 70 and Will is No. 72. "It''s fortunate that you didn''t meet me, otherwise you''d have a round trip" Will was very confident in his own strength, patted Julian on the shoulder, a gesture of luck. "I don''t know where No. 89 is." Will looked around, trying to find the other party. "there" Julian pointed to the student with the number 89 on the back, seven or eight meters away. When he saw that the other''s Pokmon was a Tentacool of the water typing, his face showed a difficult expression. "Don''t take a tour" Julian also patted the other on shoulder. "It''s just a water type. How can I be afraid of him, the future Fire type Elite?" Will''s mouth was still very loud but it would be better if he said this with a firmer tone. with a whistle, the first match began. Pidgey VS Catterpie. Not surprisingly, a few minutes later, Pidgey''s Trainer won. As the games passed, Will watched with relish and said a few words from time to time. The students here have mostly ordinary starter Pokmon, Rattata, Pidgey, Catterpie, Oddish, Goldeen, Sentret and even some sent Magikarp. "Magikarp splash with water" Magikarp flopped on the Ground. "Hahaha, Julian there is actually someone whose starter Pokmon is Magikarp" Will held his stomach and laughed. It is well known that Magikarp can evolve into a powerful Gyarados. From incomparably weak, to powerful and ferocious, as long as it evolves. Gyarados is also the dream Pokmon of many water trainers but how Magikarp can evolve into Gyarados is still a mystery. Magikarp is a Pokmon with strong vitality, so it can be found in oceans, lakes, rivers and creeks, wherever there is water. This guy is also a fisherman''s nightmare. While there are so many Magikarp in the wild, very few can evolve into Gyarados. If this student''s Magikarp doesn''t evolve, or he doesn''t have a second Pokmon, his Trainer career isn''t going to go very far. Magikarp quickly lost. "The next 25 vs 70" "Julian it''s your turn" "I know" Julian glanced at Will, this guy was so excited. And the reason why Will was excited was that he could finally see Julian''s starter Pokmon. This guy has been hiding for so long. Julian and his Rival came to the battlefield. "Go Phanpy" As a long-nosed Pokmon appeared on the field, the surrounding students couldn''t help but let out a burst of exclamation. Phanpy is a relatively rare Ground-type Pokmon and it is very suitable as an starter Pokmon. The market price is about 1.5 million, which is more expensive than Charmander. The students voices of amazement and envy made Zosh show a smug smile. "You''re unlucky to meet me, send your Pokmon quickly" Julian threw the Luxury Ball out. With a shiny of white light, the silver Beldum floated quietly in front of Julian . The sound at the scene suddenly stopped, as if the pause button had been pressed and all the students looked at the silver-white Beldum in disbelief. As high school seniors, they have been learning about Pokmon since elementary school, so of course they know what this Pokmon is called. And in Lake City, eveyone knows the name of Metagross. S~ea??h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sitting on the podium, the prospective Elite Trainer suddenly stood up and looked at Julian and the silver Beldum who were indifferent in the arena. "Julian''s surname is Walker, Teacher, is he the son of gym leader Jake?" The silver-white Beldum is so iconic that only the Walker family has it in the entire Drakoria and this is the home base of Walker family. This prospective Elite only recently joined Lake No. 1 High School from a foreign city, so he didn''t know that Julian was Jake''s son. "Teacher Sam guessed right, Julian is from Walker family and as far as I know, his silver Beldum should be the offspring of Walker Elite''s Metagross." The heir of a pseudo-champion, hiss. The prospective Elite Trainer named Sam sat down slowly, in addition to being shocked, there was excitement in his heart and at the same time he gratefully glanced at his Teacher, that is, the principal. He became Julian''s head teacher, that is, they are teachers and students. If Julian can become a top trainer in the future, he will also benefit. Chapter 26: Metang Chapter 26: MetangSam Nott was a student of the old principal. He graduated many years ago and he also had some reputation. A pseudo-Elite Trainer can be hired by major enterprises, universities, national institutions, etc. There are only more than 500 Elite Trainers registered by Drakorian Trainer Association. Compared with the rare Elite Trainers, the number of pseudo-Elite Trainers is much larger. The pseudo-Elite Trainers also serve as a mainstay in various industries. A pseudo-Elite Trainer like Sam Nott could go to a university to teach but he came to teach in a high school. He was willing to come here before just to give his teacher face as the other party gave him a lot of help on his trainer road, so he always respected the old principal and naturally he did not refuse the other party''s invitation. When he saw that Julian''s starter Pokmon was a silver Beldum and Julian was from the Walker family, he finally understood the old principal''s intention. The students below finally came out of their shock. "Beldum which is silver, I''m afraid I''m dreaming" "The Pseudo legendary cub, mother, I''m promise, I saw the Pseudo legendary cub" "What is the origin of this Julian? Is he really from our school? Surely not a transfer student?" "I''m in the same class as him, he''s in our school" "You guys are really stupid, his surname is Walker and he has silver Beldum, don''t you know where Julian is from?" The son of a rich man in Lake City said speechlessly. Only the top second generation in Lake City knew Julian''s true identity in school. Because Julian didn''t want to be exposed, they naturally didn''t reveal it. Now Julian has taken out the silver Beldum, which means that the other party doesn''t want to keep a low profile, so it will be fine for him to say it. Hearing these words the surrounding students looked at Julian with shock again, especially Julian''s classmates. They thought everyone was ordinary but you turned out to be a rich second generation. Isn''t this bullying. Will stared at Julian and Beldum on the field in a stunned manner and murmured, "It''s really Beldum, what this guy said is actually true" Julian had told Will a long time ago that his starter Pokmon was a silver Beldum but Will didn''t believe it at all. After all, who can believe that a person with only one or two hundred poke worth of clothes on his body can actually take out a Pseudo legendary? This is not a joke. - Pokmon: Beldum (Steel/Psychic) Level: 19 Qualification: blue Ability: Light Metal Props: Metal Coat Gender: no gender Moves: Tackle, Steel Beam, Confusion, Metal Claw, Bullet Punch, flash Cannon, Magnet rise Disc Moves: Iron Head, Zen Headbutt, Iron Defense Pokmon: Phanpy(Ground) Level: 13 Qualification: Yellow Ability: Pick Up props: none gender: female Moves: Tackle, Growl, Defense Curl, Flail, Rollout move Disc: Rock Smash Genetic Moves: None - With the probing eyes, Phanpy''s information can be seen at a glance and Beldum crushes the other in terms of level and qualification. Beldum is level 19 and is only one step away from evolving into Metang and this one step- Looking at Phanpy, the corner of Julian''s mouth rose slightly. "Phanpy pre-empts with Rollout" Zosh''s attitude is not bad and he did not lose his fighting spirit just because Beldum is a Pseudo legendary, which made Sam on the rostrum nodding secretly. Phanpy stretched his nose down, his body turned into a circle and a burst of dust lifted up on the ground. Although it''s level was not high, the dust caused by the rollout was quite large. However, it seems a bit inappropriate to use Rollout for Beldum. Watching Phanpy''s Rollout pass under Beldum, Zosh''s face was immediately flushed. Beldum is three or four meters away from the Ground. Although it is not high, there are no raised rocks or upward slopes in this venue, which can make Phanpy''s Rollout leap. So Phanpy''s Rollout was a lonely one, which is why Julian didn''t even give any orders. "Phanpy Tackle" Hearing the light laughter from the surrounding students, Zosh became angry. Phanpy in Rollout took advantage of Rollout''s power to jump up and his head slammed into Beldum in mid-air with a shock wave. Because of the boost from Rollout, this speed was still relatively fast. "Zen Headbutt" Julian said. This kind of attack doesn''t need to be avoided at all, it''s just fine. Body wrapped in energy, collided with Phanpy, just like a train hitting a bicycle. Phanpy was directly sent to the ground and after a few bounces on the ground, it fainted. "Phanpy lost his ability to fight, winner Beldum" said the referee. "Phanpy!!" Zosh looked at Beldum in disbelief he actually defeated Phanpy in one move. You must know that among the five basic stats, Phanpy has the highest HP. Even a Pseudo legendary doesn''t need to be so exaggerated. "This Zen Headbutt is more powerful than a Normal Zen Headbutt" On the podium, Sam''s eyes flashed with surprise. From his observation, he could naturally see that Beldum''s level was higher than Phanpy but Phanpy was a typical tank with high defense. Even a Pokmon that is a few levels higher than it can''t defeat it in one move and the Beldum''s typing does not restrain Phanpy. "It should be that he has taken drugs that increases it''s special attack and attack," the old principal said. Sam nodded. This kind of medicine that can increase the five stats of Pokmon is very expensive but Julian is definitely not lacking in these. The five basic stats ??of Beldum have already surpassed those of the same kind. In the past two months, most of the potions that Julian got from the mission to increase the five stats were eaten by Beldum and a small part was given to Riolu. Beldum is his starter Pokmon and his future Trump Card and it is normal for resources to be skewed. After defeating Phanpy, Beldum''s body emitted a dazzling white light. "It''s evolving" "This classmate, are you sick, why is your face so red?" sea??h th novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "So handsome, Julian is so handsome, why didn''t I find him so handsome before?" "If I had a Dratini, you''d find me handsome too" When the white light passed, a body in the shape of a saucer, with two arms, with huge iron claws on it, similar in shape to Beldum, with a silver spike on the face and behind each, the left and right sides of the body sticking out two diagonally backwards. "Congratulations Metang," Julian said. Chapter 27: Mewtwo Fragments Chapter 27: Mewtwo FragmentsPokmon: Metang (Steel/Psychic) Level: 20 Qualification: blue Ability: Light Metal Props: Metal Coat Gender: no gender Moves: Tackle, Steel Beam, Confusion, Metal Claw, Bullet Punch, flash Cannon, Magnet rise Disc Moves: Iron Head, Zen Headbutt, Iron Defense - After Beldum evolved into Metang, he immediately learned several new moves. Compared with Beldum, the evolved Metang can learn many disc Moves. Of course, the more Moves the better but each move needs to be practiced to truly master, which takes a lot of time. "Ding" "Complete the Hidden Mission: First Evolution" "Reward Mewtwo Fragments X2, 1000 points" Taking back the Metang, Julian walked out of the battle arena. The students in front subconsciously made way for a passage. Most of them looked at Julian with awe, envy and jealousy. They knew very well that Julian was walking in front of everyone, even his back, they couldn''t see. ''Mewtwo Fragment X2'', Julian looked at the system, it showed that 100 fragments has to be collected to synthesize Mewtwo, although there are only 2 fragments now. But compared to buying Mewtwo with an unknown number of points, the probability of collecting all 100 shards is undoubtedly much higher, at least he already has 2 shards now. ''There are 98 pieces left and it seems that I can collect them all in my lifetime.'' Julian , who was thinking, was suddenly hooked on his neck. "Damn b*****d, you actually have Beldum - no, it''s Metang now, how can you b*****d hide so deep" "I told you before but you didn''t believe it" Julian spread his hands. "You still have the face to say this, who made you pretend to be so ordinary?" Silver Beldum, Metang, Metagross are the symbols of the Walker family. Most of the trainers from Lake City regard Jake and John as their idols and they know very well what the silver Metang represents. "I originally wanted to get along with you as ordinary people but now I can''t hide it." He used to be low-key before as he just didn''t like to be center of attention too much. But after becoming a Trainer, he can''t keep a low profile, unless he uses a Rattata as his starter Pokmon but that isn''t possible. After choosing the silver Beldum as his starter Pokmon, Julian has completely bid farewell to being low-key. From now on, he will take the high-profile route and start pretending. Many students have already posted on Moments and Geeks, all of them about silver Beldum and evolved silver Metang and even Julian himself was photographed. After the spread on the Internet, Julian''s identity was quickly known to the public. Soon the first round was over, excluding the bye, 67 students successfully advanced to the second round, plus with the bye was exactly 68. In the second round, Julian''s Rival voluntarily conceded defeat. In the third round, Julian''s Rival did not concede defeat but was instantly defeated by Metang. After the third discussion, there are 17 students left and the elite class only has 15 students, which is obviously unnecessary if the fourth round is carried out. So in the end, as the head teacher of the elite class, Sam appeared and took the initiative to designate the two weakest students to be eliminated. Although the two were extremely unconvinced, they did not dare to refute the words of a prospective Elite Trainer and the principal was sitting there, he did not Speak, so they are not qualified to speak. "Congratulations on getting into the elite class but it''s too early for you to be complacent" "Elite classes are assessed once every half month and if they fail two consecutive times within a month, they will voluntarily withdraw to ordinary classes." "As long as the students in the ordinary class are good enough, they have the right to challenge any student in the elite class once a month. If they win, they will enter the elite class and the elite class student will enter the ordinary class." Sam stood in front of all the students, exuding a pseudo-Elite might. His words made the hearts of the few people in the elite class who came in by luck suddenly tensed, while some people in the ordinary class were happy. For example, Zosh, who was defeated by Julian in the first round, with his Phanpy''s strength, if he hadn''t met Julian , he could at least survive the second round, or even the third round. It''s just that he was unlucky, he met Julian in the first round, otherwise the elite class might actually have his place. "The people from the elite class are coming with me now." After Sam finished, he walked in the other direction. The 15 elite class students immediately followed behind him. "Julian , let''s find a time to discuss and learn from each other." Will came over. This guy never knew what the reality gap was, he just wanted to fight the Metang with his Charmander, it didn''t matter if he lost, he just wanted to fight the future Pseudo legendary. "Wait for school ending" Julian did not refuse. Including the third year of high school class, Will has been his high school classmate for three years and kept up with him even though he acted cold towards him. After all, he has the soul of an adult. When he was a child, he was entangled when calling his parents father and mother. for a long time. Not to mention playing with these students who are little kids in his eyes, the only one who didn''t care about Julian''s indifference was Will. sea??h th Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So the relationship between the two is pretty good. He naturally agreed to Will''s request to fight and if he didn''t agree, the other party would definitely keep pestering him until he agreed. With this kind of headstrong and courageous character, it is indeed suitable to take the Fire Type route. Sam took them to the classroom of Class 1 of the third year of high school. There were no more than fifteen tables and chairs in the classroom. "Sit" Julian did his part and sat in the last row and Will sat next to Julian''s left. "Next, choose a CR who will be responsible for the things I have explained and the things that need to be solved in the class and is also responsible for reporting to me. The CR can get additional resources every month," said Sam from the podium. Unanimously, everyone turned to Julian in the last row. The position of CR is very attractive for them, mainly to obtain additional resources, which can make their Pokmon grow faster. But if Julian wanted it, none of them had the qualifications to snatch it. "I''m not interested, you decide for yourself," Julian said lightly. The position of CR is not attractive to him at all. He has no shortage of resources. Chapter 28: Death Chapter 28: DeathIn this elite class of 15 students, although the family background of the students is far inferior to Julian, they are still first-class in Lake City and none of their starter Pokmon are ordinary or families like Will. Relatively rich, spend millions to get him an starter Pokmon. There are only two or three civilian-born students who came to the elite class by their own talent or luck. Although Drakorian Trainer Association, in order to alleviate the class conflict between the commoners and the aristocratic clans, allow commoners to have the opportunity to catch up with the trainers of the aristocratic clans. But the gap between the two cannot be narrowed by one or several policies. Although these policy increases the time for the children of aristocratic families to become trainers On the other hand, it allows them to gain benefits, such as being able to spend more time learning about Pokmon''s abilities, moves, characters and Breeder methods, which is a pragmatic foundation. The family also has more time to hand-pick the best starter Pokmon for them. So the pros and cons are mutual. Like Julian , most students also don''t really need the resources of the elite class but if they don''t enter the elite class, they will undoubtedly embarrass their family, so they must enter this class. As for the position of CR, there are not many people who want it. Seeing that no one has taken the initiative to act, Sam set his sights on one of the students born in an ordinary family. The other two students from ordinary families entered the elite class by luck, while he came in by strength and his Geodude performed particularly well. "You." Sam pointed to the student. "What''s your name?" The boy immediately stood up, seemed a little nervous and said immediately: "My name is Fred " "Okay, Fred, you are the CR of class. You are responsible for supervising the tasks that I have given you. At the same time, if there is any situation or needs in the class, you can come to communicate with me on their behalf." "Everyone has no opinion on Fred''s position, right?" Everyone shook their heads. They didn''t want to do it, so of course they didn''t mind the class teacher''s appointment. "Okay, Fred, now you distribute this consent form." Sam took out fifteen consent forms and gave them to Fred, who placed them on the desks of the other students. "Trainer is the greatest profession in the world. A powerful Elite-level Trainer has to be treated by national leaders with courtesy. If you are a Champion-level Trainer, then you will have the ability to influence the national policies of Drakoria." "Even if you are just an Advanced trainer, you can earn tens of millions by performing tasks every year, which is enough for you and your family to live a prosperous life" "And a prospective Elite Trainer like me can be hired by major well-known companies and can serve as a teacher in some universities and the money and resources given each year will not be less than 100 million" "But if you want to get the things mentioned above, then you have to pay with sweat, blood and even life" "Trainer enjoys the honor given by society but also shoulders the same responsibilities, exploring secret realms, ruins, forbidden areas and performing tasks issued by Drakorian Trainer Association. These are very, very dangerous." Saying that, Sam lifted up his shirt, revealing his upper body. What''s shocking is that there is an obliquely long scar on his upper body, which runs down from the left chest to the right abdomen. Although the wound has healed, it still gave the students below a feeling of palpitation. Even Julian couldn''t help but take a few glances. "This was a sneak attack by a Scyther in a newly discovered secret realm. If it wasn''t for an Elite Blissey in the expedition team, I would have died." "I still have a lot of injuries like this but of course it''s not as serious as this one." "Every year, Drakoria registers more than 50 million Rookie Trainers and nearly 10 million die in the first year. Even a few Elites will die every year." "Now if you really want to be a trainer, then sign this consent form, my training is dangerous and some of you may die" "So if you agree, sign it, it''s okay if you don''t agree but you can''t stay in the elite class." What Sam said earlier didn''t really matter to Julian and the others. They already knew that being a trainer was a great and dangerous profession. sea??h th n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Whether it''s on TV news or on the Internet, every day there is news that a certain trainer died because of something. What really bothered Julian and the others was Sam''s last words. His training was very dangerous and maybe someone would die because of it. Death is definitely a scary word, especially for 17-year-olds like them. "Julian, will you sign?" Will was about to ask Julian''s thoughts but he saw that Julian had already written his name on the consent form. "If you''re afraid, don''t sign it," Julian said lightly. "I''m afraid of nothing, I think you will be afraid" Julian glanced at Will with an expression that said yeah I believe you. "What kind of look is that, b*****d even if it''s really dangerous, my Charmander will protect me" Will glared at Julian angrily, then picked up the pen and wrote his name on the consent form. Everyone has signed the consent form. Maybe some people don''t want to sign because of fear but seeing that everyone has signed it, if they don''t sign it, they will obviously lose face. For students of this age, face is more important than anything else, second only to hairstyle. "very good" Fred took the consent forms and handed it to Sam. Sam nodded with satisfaction: "It doesn''t matter if you really agree or it''s to save face." "Your life is only in your own hands. You can''t blame others if you die. Now come to the training ground with me, the first class will officially start." The training ground of is about the size of two football fields. As a national key middle school that has also produced several Elites, they have the qualification to have such a large field. "Release all your Pokmon, remember it''s all" Sam said. The families of the students in the elite class are not Normal and two months are enough for them to get a second Pokmon. Sure enough, most of the students had a second Pokmon. Julian also released Riolu. As for Meltan, it hasn''t come out yet. The appearance of Riolu naturally attracted a wave of attention. Although Riolu is not a Pseudo legendary, it is no less rare. "Julian, is it really good for you to show off your wealth like this?" Will said quietly, he used to think that Julian''s family was normal and he often invited him to dinner. Turned out he was the poor one, sigh. Chapter 29: Excellent Poliwag Chapter 29: Excellent PoliwagWill''s second Pokmon was a Pidgey. After Pidgey came out, it stopped on Will''s shoulder and pecked his hair from time to time. "Didn''t you want to be a fire type trainer, why is your second Pokmon a Pidgey?" Julian asked. Unexpectedly, after he said this, Will looked at him with even more resentment. "I also want a fire type but a yellow-qualified Eevee alone costs 4 million and even an egg costs 3.5 million." Eevee has multiple evolutionary types. Currently, seven known are fire, water, thunder, dark, psychic, ice and grass. Julian knows that there is another Fairy type that has not been discovered. Also because Eevee has so many evolutions, its price remains high. "Who asked you to choose fire type?" Julian now realized what Will meant, most of the fire-type Pokmon are hot-tempered and powerful. Will''s family, bought him a million-dollar Charmander, which has emptied their savings. If he wants to buy another fire-type Pokmon, he can only rely on his own efforts. "How powerful is the fire element, fiery red temperature, fiery red scorching flames" Will''s expression suddenly became excited but Pidgey on his shoulders uttered a dissatisfied Growl. "Of course, my Pidgey is also very powerful. In the future, when it evolves into a Pidgeot, he can take me to fly." Will quickly said. Each Pokmon has its own personality, just like humans. Pidgey is still too simple and when Will complimented him, he immediately smiled and pecked Will''s ear affectionately. "Now use your second Pokmon to fight and the person I name will go to the battle field." Sam came over with a notebook. This notebook contains the information of the Pokmon used by the 15 members of the class. He wrote a rough outline of the five basic stats ??of each Pokmon. However, only Julian''s Metang had five question marks in it''s values. He looked at Julian''s second Pokmon Riolu and then pointed to a student : "Han, Julian , you two use your second Pokmon for the match." Han''s starter Pokmon was a Squirtle but it has evolved into a Wartortle during the two-month summer vacation. Julian and Han were on the opposite side of the battlefield. "Riolu" Julian said. "Poliwag" Han also called. - Pokmon: Riolu (Fighting) Level: 17 Qualification: Cyan Ability: Inner Focus Item: choice scarf Gender: Male Moves: Quick Attack, Endure, Feint, Metal Claw, Work Up Disc Moves: Low Sweep, Brick Break, Agility, Sword Dance, Protect, Thunder Punch, Fire Punch, Ice Punch Genetic Moves: Mind''s Eye, Close Combat, Force Palm, Thunder Punch Pokmon: Poliwag (Water) Level: 15 Qualification: Green Ability: Swift Swim Prop: Damp Rock Gender: Male Moves: Water Gun, Hypnosis, Pound, Mud Shot move CDs: Icy Wind, Rain Dance Genetic move: Water Pulse - This Poliwag turned out to be surprisingly good. And this hidden Ability, plus props and Moves, obviously the opponent is playing rainy day tactics. Sure enough, Han opened his mouth and said, "Poliwag use Rain Dance" A ball of light shot into the sky from Poliwag''s mouth. Soon the rain came and what left Julian speechless was that Han, who was opposite, actually took out an umbrella and the other party looked at Julian proudly. Han''s stunt was in vain, Julian didn''t get wet, Metang blocked the rain with Confusion. "Poliwag Water Gun" In rainy weather, the power of water type Moves will increase. "Agility dodge, then use Metal Claw" This is not Riolu''s first battle. Although it''s combat experience is not much, it is also not a rookie. Under the effect of Agility, Riolu dodged the Water Gun and quickly approached Poliwag, slapping its belly with metallic claws. "Dodge" Han said. The Metal Claw fell but the Poliwag was gone. "So fast" Many students exclaimed. A gleam of light flashed in Sam''s eyes and then he started to write in the notebook. Poliwag Ability: Swift Swim Great potential "Poliwag Mud Shot" The disappearing Poliwag appeared to Riolu''s left, with a large amount of mud spitting out of its mouth. Riolu couldn''t dodge in time and was shot straight by the mud and his body fell five or six meters back. "Mind Reader, Work Up" Julian''s expression remained the same, Riolu was indeed at a disadvantage under the rainy weather. The other party also brought Damp Rock, which can increase the duration of rain. The current rain has not weakened but has intensified somewhat. "Poliwag with Hypnosis" "Close your eyes, Quick Attack" With the blessing of aura, even if Riolu has closed his eyes, he can still feel the position of Poliwag. And Poliwag''s Hypnosis naturally did not take effect. "Poliwag Icy Wind" "Let''s see how you will run now" At this time, the ground had already accumulated water. Under the Icy Wind, the rain on the ground quickly froze and the surrounding temperature dropped instantly. It was obviously summer but at this time, white mist could be exhaled from mouth. The surrounding students watching the battle immediately retreated a few steps. The coldest ones were naturally Julian and Han on the field but this guy took out a large cotton coat from his backpack and put it on. Although he was protected by Metang''s Confusion and was not affected by the cold but the other party took the umbrella at the beginning and now has a large cotton jacket. He must be laughing at him. sea??h th ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The field is now ice. No matter how fast your Riolu is, it will only slip on the ice." Han''s proud expression suddenly froze. There was no sign of Riolu on the field. ''Wet Rocks, Free Swim, Rain Dance, Icy Wind. Whether it is props, abilities or Moves, the combination is perfect. But it''s a pity'' "Fix it, Thunder Punch" Falling from the sky with a fist of lightning, Riolu had jumped into the air when Poliwag used Icy Wind. Work Up increasing its attack and special attack. "Bang" Poliwag is incapacitated. Chapter 30: My Riolu Is Strong Chapter 30: My Riolu Is Strong"Why does your Riolu stay in the air for so long? It''s unscientific" Han put away Poliwag and looked at Riolu standing on the ice in disbelief. If the opponent jumped into the air when Poliwag used the Icy Wind, there would be at least three or four seconds in between until the Icy Wind completely froze the water on the Ground. In other words, Riolu has to stay in the air for three or four seconds. It can''t fly. ''I have crossed over and have a system and you are here to talk about science with me.'' "Riolu can jump high enough," Julian explained. Han''s face froze when he heard this. How convincing heh~ . In theory, Riolu would have to jump over fifty meters to stay in the air for three or four seconds. "Riolu jumped to fifty-three meters" Just when Han wondered if Julian was fooling him, Sam spoke. Although he was not reconciled, the teacher said so and Han could only accept. "Han is so strong, even stronger than me but unfortunately his luck is bad, to meet you" Will looked at Julian and Han with complicated eyes, he couldn''t beat either of them. Not to mention Julian , Han''s first Pokmon is Wartortle and the second is Poliwag. It seems that he is taking the water type route. His Charmander is probably not enough. In the case of equal strength, the side fighting against typing is often the most likely to lose, unless the Trainer''s combat awareness and tactical command are higher than Rival. Of course, there is another possibility, that is, you are an inverse Attribute master just like Ash. "He''s really better than you." Julian nodded. If the other party didn''t meet him, he could really hang and beat anyone else. But it was because the opponent''s strength in the class was second only to him that the teacher made him his Rival. If the strength of the two sides is too different and one side is crushed, the winning side will not get any combat experience and the losing side will be abused and neither side will grow. "You''ll have no friends if you talk like this," Will said with gritting teeth. Seeing that Riolu still had damage caused by Mud Shot, he subconsciously said: "I have Potion here, why don''t I use it for Riolu?" He also thought that Julian didn''t bring any Potion, otherwise why hasn''t it been used on Riolu yet. "No, this little injury can heal on its own," Julian said. Pokmon''s physical fitness far exceeds that of humans. Even if it is seriously injured, it can be slowly be healed as long as it is given enough time. As for the small wound on Riolu''s body, it is estimated that it will heal on its own within an hour. "You are really ruthless." Will shook his head. "This is for its own good. You seem to have learned the course "Pokmon Body Healing" for nothing and my Riolu is very strong," Julian said. It is suggested in the book that if Pokmon suffers a small or medium injury and if he does not need to fight for a while, then let the Pokmon heal the injury on his own. Although drugs can speed up the healing of injuries, they also make Pokmon dependent on drugs to a certain extent. Adapting to the pain of the injury can not only exercise the Pokmon''s sensitivity to pain but also stimulate the body''s healing speed to a certain extent. Sear?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Of course I know but some can''t do it" Will shook his head. Pokmon are his partner. If he watched them get injured and didn''t use Potion, it would make him feel guilty and he couldn''t bear to watch his Pokmon endure the pain. "You can''t bear it, so in the future it may bring disaster to you and your Pokmon" Will was the only person in Julian''s school who was considered a friend, otherwise he would be too lazy to tell him this. Raising a Pokmon is a bit like raising a child, once doted on, this Pokmon may as well be abandoned by you. "I know, I know" Will said dissatisfiedly. He understands the truth but he still finds it quite difficult to do it and it takes a certain amount of time to adapt. He looked at Riolu, hurt but firm. It should have been only about a month since he was born but he seemed to have gotten used to the pain. He couldn''t help looking at Julian and scold him that he was really a devil. This is Julian''s fault. Riolu''s five basic stats ??with the help of system''s Enhancement Potion''s ??have been improved a lot. Mud Shot itself does not deal much damage to it, plus its stats ??exceed those of its peers, the damage taken is weakened again. Now this injury is probably similar to a human cutting a finger. Therefore, although Riolu was only born about a month ago, his physical development is very good. His height has exceeded the average height of the same kind by 0.7M. Just looking at the height, no one would believe that this Riolu was caught by Julian during the two-month summer vacation. "Next - Will" "It''s my turn, just watch me and Pidgey perform" After Will finished speaking, he ran to the field excitedly, the ice on the field had disappeared. Julian had no interest in seeing his expression, he turned his head and touched Riolu''s head with his palm and said, "Well done." The power of Aura radiated and slowly penetrated into Riolu''s body. After being promoted to the intermediate level of Aura, he could control Aura better. At least, every time he used Aura, his hands would not emit blue light. Therefore, no one around found out that Julian himself was a user of special abilities. Riolu is still young and if he wants to completely master Aura, he has to wait until he evolves into Lucario but he is already familiar with the use of aura. Seeing Riolu enjoying a aura massage, Metang was immediately jealous and thumped Julian on his head. "I haven''t forgotten you, isn''t Riolu doing well today?" Julian reluctantly patted Metang''s head with the other hand. The future Pseudo legendary is now a jealous king. Fortunately, his aura power has improved, otherwise it would be really difficult to massage two at a time. "Ding" "Complete the Hidden Mission: Use aura on two pokemon simultaneously" "Reward: 500 points for and small aptitude-enhancing potion (cyan and below)" Chapter 31: Black Market Chapter 31: Black MarketHearing the system''s voice, Julian focused his attention on the reward, the small amount of aptitude-enhancing potion. If the dedication of Trainer determines the minimum growth limit of Pokmon, then Pokmon''s own aptitude determines its upper growth limit. If a Pokmon only has green qualifications, then it can only become a pseudo-Elite at the highest and it will never become an Elite. This is an iron law and so far no Pokmon has broken the limit that its own qualifications can achieve. To become an Elite, you must have the qualifications of cyan and above. Riolu''s aptitude is cyan. If there is no treasure to improve its aptitude, then even if it is fed with a mountain of resources, it will not be able to break through from Elite to pseudo-champion. For example, Metang was blue during Beldum and as it evolved into Metang, this blue aptitude became deeper. Aptitude can be improved with evolution but whether it can break through its own aptitude depends on the potential of Pokmon itself and the resources invested by Trainer. A small Elixir of Eligibility is not enough to change Riolu''s talent from cyan to blue. However, Julian is not in a hurry, even if there is no qualification medicine provided by the system, he has other ways to improve Riolu''s qualifications. Riolu is still young and is not in a hurry. "how do you feel" Riolu showed a very comfortable expression. It seems to feel the invisible shackles in its body and it seems that there are some cracks. sea??h th ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The products produced by the system have no side effects and are absolutely safe, healthy and pollution-free products, which Julian is very reassured about. It is for this reason that Julian prefers to use systematic drugs to improve the five basic stats ??of Pokmon. After taking a small amount of aptitude-enhancing potion, Riolu''s aptitude not only improved from cyan to light blue but also changed from level 17 to 18. "You''re about to catch up with Metang," Julian exclaimed. Metang is only level 20, Riolu is a month behind but is now only two levels apart. This is not because Julian prefers Riolu so he leveled him up faster but because Metang is a Pseudo legendary, his upgrade is slower than Normal Pokmon. This is the same with other Pseudo legendary Pokmon. The Pseudo legendary Pokmon is synonymous with power and this power requires the Trainer to spend countless resources, time and energy in exchange for it. If you are an ordinary person, even if you are given a Dratini, you will not be able to support it. It will only drag you down. For a normal Pokmon, it takes about half a year to upgrade from level 1 to level 30, while a Pseudo legendary takes about a year and it takes even more time to evolve to the final evolutionary stage. While thinking about it, Will walked over in dismay and his face was scratched. Judging from his expression and appearance, he knew that he must have lost the battle. Julian hadn''t even bother to ask what the result was but the other party had already said it himself. "That kid actually used electric type, second Pokmon was Magnemite" His Pidgey''s level is not high and against the type restrained Magnemite. During school, the most common sentence teachers say is "specialize in type" It means specializing in an Attribute and it is possible that you will become a pseudo-Elite or even an Elite. This is indeed very reasonable. Human energy is limited and there will be more commonality between it and Attribute. Of course, this does not mean that multi-type or full-typing is bad. On the contrary, as long as it is successful, they are more powerful than single attribute. However, neither the school nor the elders at home will basically agree with you to go to multiple or the full types, at least in the early stage, it is absolutely not supported. If you want to go multi and full type, first you have to be good in a single type. If you can''t become an excellent trainer even when you specialize in one department, but you still want to be multi and full-type. That''s just fooling yourself. Therefore, in the school, the students who become Rookie Trainers have already thought about the Attributes they want to specialize in. Julian''s previous Rival Han was of water type, while Will''s Rival was of electric type. As for Julian , it is the steel system. "If only I could use Charmander." Will was obviously a little indignant about his failure. New Trainers Covet every victory. "Oh, so you look down on us steel types," Julian said with half-squinted eyes. Magnemite''s second Attribute is steel and his father''s second team also has a Magnezone, an extremely powerful Pokmon. "Hahaha, how come, I just think that kid is the bad one" Will let out a laugh, then changed the subject and said, "Come with me to Lake West Street this weekend." Lake West Street, also known as the black market, is only opened on weekends. There are a large number of illegal props, treasures, Pokmon, etc., and many of the people inside are wanted criminals on the run. Will is just an ordinary high school student. If he enters the black market alone, even his Pokmon may be taken away. People who do not have certain ability and enter the black market will definitely be delivering themselves. "What will you do there?" "Buy props for Charmander and Pidgey and see if there are any suitable ones. The things in the black market are cheaper than those in the shops outside," Will said. His family''s wealth was almost spent on Charmander and he didn''t want to continue to embarrass his parents. Because of the unknown origin of black market items, the prices are indeed much cheaper than those sold in stores but the quality is also uneven and you may buy defective or fake products. "You won''t dare to go alone!" "You are so f*****g annoying when you talk - if I dared to go alone, why would I ask you to do it?" Will said in a panic. Why didn''t I know that this guy''s mouth was so poisonous. "Okay, wait for me on West Street at ten o''clock." Julian nodded. Chapter 32: Aura Stone Chapter 32: Aura StoneTeaching the third year high school class is several times more difficult than second year, not to mention this is an elite class. As a prospective Elite, Sam as their teacher, showed his strong teaching abilities and strength this week. According to the Pokmon strength shown by the students on the first day of school, they conducted one-on-one targeted Coaching, a pseudo-Elite Coaching them, which Normal people cannot afford. Even for Julian''s Metang and Riolu he gave his own unique opinions, although the effect was not big but it can slightly speed up the training of the two Pokmon. Today''s the weekend, Julian was already on the West Street side. It was already the appointed time but Will did not come. It wasn''t until after ten o''clock that Will hurried over. "I''m sorry, I just helped an old lady cross the road on the way and it took a little time," Will explained. "Are you Obito or Kakashi?" Julian asked blankly. "Ah? Who are they? The name seems to be from the Babath Kingdom." Will asked in confusion. "Julian, your family has relatives from Babath Kingdom" "I don''t, hurry in," Julian said. The black market is located in the west of Lake City. Julian walked toward the location of the black market, Will hurriedly followed, walking to his side, took out a knife from his pocket and handed it to Julian . sea??h th N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "huh?" "For self-defense, I checked the information on the black market last night and they all said that the people inside are very evil, even murderers." "So you''re late because you overslept, right?" "Uh, that''s not the point. The point is that it''s very dangerous inside. Maybe there are murderers. If students like us goes in, it''s very likely to be dangerous." "You can take it yourself, I don''t need it" Julian shook his head. The black market has the rules of the black market. If you really dare to do anything to the customers who come in and out, who will dare to come to the black market in the future? If Someone dares to do something in the black market, the sellers will actively stop the other party. Not attacking buyers in the black market is also an invisible rule among sellers. Anyone who breaks this rule will be targeted by all sellers. But if you are out of the black market, then they can''t control it. ''I don''t know from where Will got this information. Information about the black market is available on the official website of the Lake City Trainer Association.'' This guy searched for it all night, I''m afraid he watching something else. "Is this the black market? Why is it different from what I imagined? This atmosphere is too normal." Walking in the black market, Will''s expression was a little confused. Originally, he thought that people in the black market, whether sellers or buyers, would wear a mask to prevent people from recognizing them. When talking, they would be very quiet and the atmosphere would be dull and gloomy. And now there are a lot of people coming and going and no one is wearing masks. Even some black market sellers are still shouting and selling and some buyers are haggling with sellers. It should have been a dark market, but now it looks more like a bazar. "Julian " Will shouted When Will turned his head, Julian was gone. His face suddenly turned pale and when he was hurriedly looking for Julian, he suddenly saw a familiar figure squatting in front of a certain booth. "This was found in the ruins just now. I heard that among the team that entered the ruins, several died, including a Elite." Julian squatted on the ground and looked at the things in front of the vendor. Broken Soothe Bell, half a hard rock, fake Miracle Seed, etc. Julian''s eyes were on a fist-sized stone with countless small pits and he took out a strong-light flashlight from his pocket. Looking at the stone, countless starlight were refracted from these small pits. "You have good eyesight, this is a rare Aura stone formed in a hundred years" "Basketball-sized aura stones are rare to see in a hundred years and they have to be formed naturally." Julian said. Seeing that the seller opened his mouth and said the name of the stone, Julian also put out the thought of picking it up for cheap. It''s not so easy to pick up leaks. These sellers who have been in the black market all year round, if they really don''t have the eyesight, they won''t be able to survive. "You''re going to buy this broken stone" Will came over and stretched out his hand to get the stone but the stone stumbled when he picked it up. "Use both hands this stone weighs thirty pounds," Julian said. The Walker family is a steel-type family and some steel-type Pokmon are very fond of various ores. The higher the quality of the ore, the better, Pokmon that eat it will also become stronger. Because of this, Julian has done a certain research on minerals and geology. Among the Pokmon who like to eat ore, Aggron and Tyranitar are typical representatives. Metang can also eat ore but it can only be used as a complementary food, while the two Pokmon above can completely use ore as main food. Aura ore is an associated ore of pyrite. Only medium or larger pyrite blocks can produce Aura ore, Aura stone is a condensed Aura ore. Just such a small piece of Aura stone, it takes ten tons of Aura ore to condense it. After listening to Julian''s words, Will picked up the stone with both hands. After putting it down, He looked at the stone with curiosity. He really couldn''t understand why such a small stone was so heavy. "How much?" Julian asked "How about 10 million" The seller saw that Julian was also a knowledgeable person. He seemed to understand the stone better than he did. Will was stunned when he heard the price. "Ten million is indeed the market price but it''s origin are unknown, seven million and I will buy it," Julian said. Why did I come to the black market to buy things? It''s because the things in the black market are cheaper than the things in the store. If it''s not cheaper, then why should I come to the black market? There is no after-sales service after I buy it. "Nine million, You know how rare this Aura stone is, only I have one piece in the entire West Street." "Rare is rare but those who need it are also very rare, 7.5 million, if it doesn''t work, forget it." "Ok, deal" The seller hesitated then agreed. As Julian said, there are very few people who need an aura stone. The stone has been stored by him for half a year and has not been sold. If he misses Julian, don''t know when he will be able to sell it. Chapter 33: Is Riolu For Sale? Chapter 33: Is Riolu For Sale?When Will saw that Julian didn''t even blink and directly paid 7.5 million to buy a stone that was useless in his opinion, his eyes were about to pop. 7.5 million can buy a relatively ordinary Advanced-level Pokmon but Julian used it to buy stones. This is the life of a second rich generation and it really makes people want to die with envy. After the transaction between the two was completed, Julian released Riolu and let him hold the aura stone. After all, this thing weighs 30 pounds, so it is definitely not suitable to put in a backpack and it is even more inappropriate in pocket. It could have been put into the system space but with Will and this seller here, Julian definitely couldn''t do it, otherwise he won''t know how to explain it. Space backpack has not yet appeared in this world and this technology is estimated to be still in a Ruin. As for whether this Ruin has already appeared or not, that''s unknown. "This is amazing, you such a rare Riolu" The seller looked at Riolu with bright eyes but there was no greed. He knew very well that if this guy could spend 7.5 million and also has a Riolu, it was definitely not someone he could provoke. There are also many sellers and buyers in the black market who have released their Pokmon but they are all relatively small Pokmon as medium and large Pokmon are not suitable to be released. And in Drakoria in any city, streets, public places and crowded places you are not allowed to release Pokmon of moderate and large sizes. Even small Pokmon have to follow strict rules. If you release a Gastly, a lot of people might end up in the hospital because of poisoning. Riolu was quite eye-catching, immediately attracting the attention of people around him. It was easy for Riolu to hold the aura stone in his hand but he was also looking at the stone in his hand curiously. Could this thing be used to make wristbands for exercising arm strength? Feeling Riolu''s inner thoughts, Julian was stunned for a moment, it seemed that this was really possible but there was only one Aura Stone and if it was made into two sets of wrist guards, it would not have a great effect on Riolu''s power. "Little brother, are you selling Riolu?" A young man in his twenties walked over and looked at the Riolu in front of him with bright eyes. From the eyes, hair, demeanor and walking posture, this Riolu''s Breed is absolutely perfect. If you get it, you will definitely be eligible to hit the Elite position in the future. Riolu looked in Rage at the man in front of him. "Not for sale" Julian said coldly, patting Riolu on the head with his hands to calm him down. The trading of Pokmon is not limited to Pokmon eggs and newly hatched Pokmon, some people will buy Pokmon that have been Breeded and have certain fighting powers. Some people even go to great lengths to get their favorite Pokmon from others. So if a Trainer from an ordinary family accidentally acquires a rare, precious and highly qualified Pokmon, it may not bring him a bright future but a fatal disaster. The strong power of the Walker family gave Julian the courage not to be afraid of anyone. "Step aside" Julian pushed him away and took Will to the inner parts of West Street. The young man did not continue to pester him and looked at the backs of Julian and Riolu with a thoughtful expression. He is not the kind of mindless second generation who threatens others without investigating the other party''s background. In the end, he will not only be counter-killed by the other party but also his own family will be wiped out. (TL/n: wow the author actually gave sense to young masters in his novel, props to him) "Hey, what''s wrong with you?" A woman about his age came over. "Just saw someone with a Riolu, I wanted to buy it but they refused" "How old?" "Not too old, he looked like a high school student." "Why, Lina, do you know him?" he asked. Lina took out her phone, opened a app, clicked on a video, put it in front of the other party and said, "See if it''s him" The video showed Julian commanding Riolu to fight against Han''s Poliwag. Julian''s face was visible, so he immediately recognized that this person was the one just now. "Well, it''s him, do you really know him?" he said in surprise. If Lina knew him, wouldn''t he be able to learn about the background of the student from her. As long as the student''s family is not very powerful, he should have a way to get that Riolu. "I don''t have the qualifications to know him. You don''t want to keep targeting his Riolu. He''s not someone we can provoke." Lina is from the Smith family in Lake City, that is, the daughter of Luke, the leader of the city-level gym in Lake City. Luke got married very early, so his daughter is in her early twenties. As a person born in Lake City, Lina is naturally more aware of the Walker family''s status in Yale Province and the entire Drakorian Trainer Association than Gian, who is from other provinces. "Who is he?" Seeing Lina say this, Gian immediately became curious. The Smith family was one of the best in Lake City but she didn''t even have the qualifications to know the person just now. "Walker family, do you know them?" "You mean Walker Elite''s Walker family" "Otherwise, is there any another Walker family in Lake City and the student just now is Walker Elite''s grandson, Jake''s son." "You better not have said anything threatening, otherwise, our relationship will end here." Lina looked at Gian vigilantly. Although she has a good impression of Gian, if she is to be implicated because of him, then that''s not possible. No matter whether she is realistic or ruthless, she can''t pull their family into the water together because of a man. And even if the both their families join forces, it would only be a matter of Walker Elite''s words to bring them down. "No, no, do I look like I''m such a brainless person when the other party didn''t agree to sell Riolu, I didn''t bother him" Gian hurriedly shook his head and cold sweat was about to break out on his forehead. Fortunately, he has always been cautious in doing things. If he did something out of the ordinary, the entire Ward family would be buried with him. In the eyes of ordinary people, the children of the aristocratic clans can be described as living in luxury, not having to worry about things, with high-quality Pokmon and many resources. But only they know their suffering, especially families with many children and not much strength. Such families are the most numerous in the entire Drakoria. And if you are born into such a family, unless your talent is good enough, the family will give you limited resources but if you have ordinary talent, the resources given by the family will be very limited. In order to get more resources, to be valued by the elderly in the family, the struggle between the children of these families can be quite serious. Sarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 34: Another Role Of Probing Eye Chapter 34: Another Role Of Probing EyeSeeing that the man didn''t continue to pester him, let alone threaten him, Julian looked a little hesitant. ''Why didn''t the plot in the novels happen to me?'' "Julian, what else do you want to buy?" Will asked. Julian suddenly stopped and said subconsciously, "Didn''t I accompany you to buy something today?" Will touched his head and suddenly realized, "Yes" ''I was just so confused by Julian''s huge sum of money that I almost forgot my purpose of coming here today.'' "Hurry up and see if they have Charcoal" There are many props that can help fire-type Pokmon but there are only a few that can significantly increase the power of a fire-type. Charcoal is the first choice of most fire trainers, which can improve the power of certain fire Moves. The black market is not very chaotic. Instead, it is divided into several areas. For example, the entrance is a junk area, which is all messy and difficult to classify, so it is regarded as a junk area. Julian''s aura stone is from junk area. After the junk area is the props area, which contains various evolution stones, as well as props to help Pokmon to enhance their power. Charcoal should be in this area. Going deeper is the Pokmon area, where you can buy Pokmon eggs and Pokmon. "There''s a Charcoal over there." Julian''s eyes were very good. He looked at some stalls around and soon saw Charcoal at one of them. Will walked over quickly and sure enough, he saw a black and cylindrical Charcoal the size of a palm. "If you likes it, just take a look and we can get started" The seller saw that Will was staring at Charcoal as soon as he came and was happy. "oh-oh good" Will hurriedly nodded, picked up Charcoal and looked at it carefully, flipping Charcoal from side to side, Julian was a little surprised as he didn''t expect that this guy to understand Charcoal quite well. "Julian, help me see" Will whispered in Julian''s ear. He was just trying to feel it for a long time and didn''t see anything but because he pretended to understand. Julian was deceived. Julian didn''t have much research on Pokmon props but it''s still much better than Will''s, a rookie. He took Charcoal and looked at it a few times but he didn''t find any flaws. "Release your Charmander," Julian said. Hearing this, Will released Charmander and Julian gave Charcoal to Charmander and asked, "Does it fell that the fire energy in your body has improved?" In the past, antiques could be counterfeited with the superb counterfeiting technology and could completely turn fakes into real ones but now antique counterfeiting is no longer popular but prop counterfeiting is mainstream of the current counterfeiting industry. "char~" Charmander looked at Will, then nodded to Julian , he felt that the fire energy in his body had indeed increased. "How about this customer, my Charcoal is genuine and there will be no fakes," the seller said. "How much" After confirming that the Charcoal could help Charmander, Will really wanted it. "half million" the seller stretched out the palm of his hand The normal price of Charcoal in the store is about 700,000 and the black market one is sold for 500,000, which is a lot less. Will hesitated as the price of 500,000 was still too high for him. "How much do you think is suitable, you can quote a price and I will sell it if the price is right." The seller immediately said when he saw Will''s hesitation. There is no way you can sell things in the black market without bargaining. If Will really agreed, that would be a shock. "Tw-two hundred thousand-" Will said cautiously. The seller''s face suddenly stiffened. My dear, I asked you to haggle but I didn''t let you cut so much. That''s more than half of it. "If you sincerely want it, take it for 480,000." Although the seller was not happy, he still patiently told Will. "200,000 boss, I only have 200,000, I really can''t give a penny more. I''m still a student, can''t you sell it to me for 200,000" Julian , who was studying the Charcoal, was stunned when he heard Will''s shameless words. The seller took a deep breath, recited the slogan of not being angry and said with a far-fetched smile: "The customer is joking, you can go to other booths to see." If it weren''t for the rules of the black market, he would now want to drive Will away. Will sighed, thinking that the identity of a student is not easy to use. Just as Will was about to leave, Julian suddenly said, "This, Charcoal seems to have some problems." "Impossible, you don''t understand this thing, don''t talk nonsense." The seller''s face changed suddenly. Things in the black market are unknown, good and bad. Every day, many people buy inferior goods or fake goods. "What if I can prove there is something wrong with this thing," Julian said. "If there is really a problem, then this thing will be given to you for free," the seller said. "But if there is no problem, then you have to take this Charcoal at the market price of 800,000" "The market price is only about 700,000." Will was immediately anxious when he heard it. Julian waved his hand to stop Will from continuing but looked at the seller and said, " I promise, but don''t regret it then." "Hmph, I''ve been in this street for ten years, if there''s really any problem, I''ll give it to you directly." He was very confident in himself. He examined this Charcoal several times when he bought it. He also tried it with fire-type Pokmon, so he felt that there was no problem. "Fine" "Riolu hit this place with Rock Smash" Julian pointed to a third of Charcoal with his finger. "Bang" Rock Smash hit the spot with precision, shattering the spot, leaving the remaining two-thirds of the Charcoal intact. "how is this possible" The boss looked at the intact Charcoal in surprise. Charcoal has an ability, that is, once it is attacked by external force, either the entire Charcoal will be broken to dust or not break at all. But now this Charcoal is obviously broken by one third and the other two thirds are intact, obviously not in line with its ability. Julian picked up the intact two-thirds of Charcoal, blew on it, the broken part has become very flat. Sar?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It''s spliced," cried the seller. Now there is a very good Charcoal counterfeiting technology, which can cut a whole Charcoal into three parts and this special cutting method will not break the Charcoal. Cut a piece of Charcoal and then use the fake material to bond the Charcoal together. Fire-type Pokmon can still feel the increase in Fire-type energy, since there is a third of true Charcoal. Such counterfeiting technology can turn one Charcoal worth of money into three. Julian was able to discover this with his probing eyes. The Probing Eye turns out can be used in other places, not just for viewing Pokmon profiles. Chapter 35: Kings Rock Chapter 35: Kings Rock"Item: Charcoal" "Note: The Charcoal is missing a third" This was the information that Probing Eye gave to Julian. "Thank you boss" Julian handed the intact two-thirds Charcoal to Will, Will took it subconsciously and then looked at Julian and then looked at the boss. "Take it, take it, I am willing to admit defeat, this Charcoal will be given to you" After the boss finished speaking, he looked at Julian and asked, "Little brother, how did you see that there was something wrong with this Charcoal?" He really didn''t know that this Charcoal was fake and when he obtained this Charcoal from other channels, he also verified it and found no problem with it. After being in the black market for so many years, the number of times that he has been fooled have become less and less. "This is my secret, I can''t tell you" Sarch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Under the curious eyes of the seller and Will, said Julian. He didn''t lie either, the existence of the system was his biggest secret and it was naturally impossible to tell others. Will was surprised that Julian knew so much. "Little brother if you don''t need this Charcoal, I''ll pay two hundred thousand for it" the seller said to Will. Julian didn''t tell him and he didn''t want to continue to ask. Julian could see the problem that even he couldn''t see. It should be a unique technique. It would be strange if he told him. "Don''t get me wrong, I just want to take it as a lesson learned when I recall this Charcoal, it has no other meaning." the seller saw Will looking at him with vigilant eyes, he knew that the other party had misunderstood him and immediately explained. Will really thought that the other party wanted to use this Charcoal to continue to deceive people. He believes that the boss in front of him must have known in advance that this Charcoal is fake. "Not for sale" Will shook his head, even if he made 200,000 from selling this Charcoal, plus his original 200,000, 400,000 would not be able to buy a complete Charcoal on the black market. Although the Charcoal in front of him is missing one-third, it can still improve the power of fire-type Moves but it is only a little less than the complete Charcoal. But this Charcoal came here for free, isn''t that awesome, this alone is enough to make Will happy. The purpose of coming to the black market today can be considered to be achieved and he has not even spent a penny. Will was naturally very grateful to Julian for this. "How much is this thing boss" Julian pointed to the tattered and rusted crown on the booth. "Two million" He saw that Julian was abnormal and felt that the things he valued were definitely not Normal. He didn''t know what this crown was but he got it for free when it was purchasing things. "Be honest" Julian looked at him helplessly, the seller was treating him as a fat sheep. "Then tell me a price" "200,000, this should be the crown on the head of a king of the western countries but it''s too tattered. It''s okay to buy it back as a decoration," Julian said. "Really just an ordinary crown?" The seller looked at Julian suspiciously, always feeling that the other party seemed to be lying to him but he had no evidence. "Then do you think if it was not ordinary it can turn into such a bad state. Its rusting like this, the material should be iron. If you don''t sell it for 200,000, I''ll just leave." After saying that, Julian stood up and was about to leave the booth. Will also breathed a sigh of relief. He was really afraid that Julian would spend 200,000 to buy this rubbish thing. "Oh wait, don''t go" Seeing that Julian had really left, he couldn''t hold back and stop Julian, who had already walked more than ten meters away. "sold, sold" Julian raised the corner of his mouth slightly, turned around and returned to the booth. After paying, he got the crown. The two continued to wander in the black market. Although Will had already obtained what he wanted, he finally had a chance to come to the black market and naturally he couldn''t go back so quickly. And Julian felt that the black market was not bad. Not only did he buy a Aura Stone but he also got a Kings Rock, so he was in a good mood. "Is that thing good?" Will couldn''t help asking curiously, seeing that the smile on Julian''s face had not disappeared since he got this thing. "Good stuff, don''t ask what it is, it''s a secret," Julian said. Some special Pokmon have two or more evolutionary forms. For example, Gloom can evolve into Bellossom with Sun Stone and can also evolve into Vileplume with Leaf Stone, as well as various evolutionary forms of Eevee. As well as for some reasons the gender of Pokmon also affects the evolutionary forms of pokemon. Male Kirlia can evolve into Galade with the Dawn Stone, while females can only evolve into Gardevoir. Although Pokmon has been around for more than two hundred years, human research on Pokmon is just out of its infancy and there are still many unsolved mysteries. For example, the broken crown that Julian just got, this thing is actually Kings Rock. When a Pokmon with this item deals damage with any attack moves that would not otherwise cause damage, there is a 10% chance that the target will flinch. It is an evolution carry item. This is an introduction given by Probing Eye. Kings Rock allows Poliwhirl to evolve into Politoed and Slowpoke to evolve into Slowking. Neither of these two forms of Pokmon currently exists in the world. Drakorian Trainer Association has a reward policy, that is, if anyone, research institution or enterprise unit, etc., discovers a new evolution method of a Pokmon, they can enter Drakoria''s special high-level secret realm three times, or get a cyan-qualified Pokmon egg. This kind of reward is very tempting even for Julian, especially the three times in special secret realm, as for the cyan-qualified Pokmon egg that''s not very difficult for him to get. But to get three chances to enter this special secret realm is very difficult. It is impossible for you to enter without special contribution. The so-called special secret realm is the same as the secret realm of the Great Wall of Oreburgh guarded by his family and only Jake can enter this secret realm and there is still a limit on the number of times. "So stingy, if you don''t want to say then forget it," Will muttered. Although Julian didn''t say it, Will felt that the boss should have suffered a big loss. He has already memorized the appearance of Kings Rock. If he encounters this thing next time, he will buy it on the premise that he has money. According to his understanding of Julian, this thing must be a good. It maybe worthless now but it will be valuable one day in the future. Just like the Mega Evolution stones, when we didn''t discover its function at first, everyone just used it as a good-looking gemstone. It was later discovered that it could make some of the final evolutionary stage Pokmon evolve again and the price of Mega Evolution stones soared. Now the Mega Evolution Stone and Key Stone can be exchanged for a Pseudo legendary. Chapter 36: Numel’s Egg Chapter 36: Numels EggThe last part of the black market is where Pokmon and Pokmon eggs are sold, not only Pokmon but also power blocks that increase Pokmon''s strength, move discs, fragments of some evolutionary stones, etc. There are also some bloody things, such as Weedle''s poison sac, Arbok''s fang and poison sac, Rapidash''s horn, etc. If a Pokmon''s poison sac is eaten by a poison-type Pokmon, it can increase the poison-type energy of the Pokmon. Rapidash''s horn has fire-type energy. If it is grounded into powder and added to the energy block, it can be better absorbed by the fire-type Pokmon. Only here can the essence of the black market be truly reflected. Some Pokmon are locked in iron cages, or are scarred, or their eyes are numb and there are still Pokmon who still have hope in the iron cage. Most of these Pokmon are captured in wild from the forests and do not have any descriptions such as aptitude-level or moves. Some might even be taken from other Trainers. But if these come to the black market, then according to the rules of the black market, as long as the money is enough, you can take the Pokmon whether it was owned or not. "They are so pitiful," Will said with some sadness. Although his family is much better than ordinary people, but it is the first time he has seen such a scene. He had always thought of Pokmon as human companions. It never occurred to him that Pokmon would also be sold as goods by humans and some were even dismembered to sell its organs. In contrast, Julian''s expression was much more normal but it''s not that he is used to seeing this scene, it''s just that he understands more than Will. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Probing Eye swept through these Pokmon and Pokmon eggs one by one but there was not a single Pokmon that could catch his eye and the one with the highest aptitude was only a green aptitude, which was a Numel egg. The origin of this egg is definitely not right. There is not even the most basic instructions on the bottom of the egg. 80% chance of it being stolen from somewhere. Buying a unknown Pokmon egg, you don''t even know what it is or if it''s even alive. "How much money do you have on you?" Julian asked. "250000" Looking at the egg with a price tag of 300,000, Julian said, "This is a Numel egg, with green qualification, do you want it?" "huh?, Of course" Will was immediately excited when he heard it, green qualification, it''s future is pseudo-Elite level, you must know that a pseudo-Elite is quite a powerful existence in a city. "Can you afford it?" One more Pokmon means more consumption of resources and time. In fact, the main thing is resources. "Yes, in the future, I will go to the Trainer Association to pick up tasks on the rest days." Will gritted his teeth and said, green-qualified Pokmon are not common and this one is a fire-type and he will definitely regret it in the future if he didn''t buy it. Each city has a Trainer Association. You can download Drakorian Trainer Association APP to locate the city you are currently in and you can see the tasks released by the Association in this city. There are many types of tasks, ranging from high-level to low-level but there will be level restrictions. Rookie Trainers like Will can only accept Rookie Trainer''s tasks, such as sparring with some other Rookie Trainer, capture or drive away Rattata who entered the warehouse, find lost Pokmon, etc. Many civilian Trainers rely on these quests to earn money to train Pokmon. With this APP you can not only accept tasks but also publish tasks. Draconian Trainer APP is divided into several sections, including task section, video section, trading section, Trainer section, breeder section, etc., covering almost all content related to Pokmon. The existence of the APP also greatly facilitates trainers and those who are not trainers. Both parties can get what they want on this APP. "It''s that 300,000 priced egg with red spots. You should be able to get it for 250,000," Julian said. "Ah, let me try" Will felt a little frightened when he saw the vicious appearance of the seller. He didn''t want to bargain fearing the other party will beat him up. "Are you going?, hurry up and don''t dawdle" Julian pushed Will out. Two minutes later, Will came back with Numel''s egg and said excitedly, "Julian , I bought it for 200,000" "Awesome" Julian gave a thumbs up. Will smiled but what he didn''t say is that because he was too nervous just now, he turned 250,000 into 200,000 but the fierce-looking seller agreed. Looking at Numel''s egg in his hand, Will liked this feeling too much. Although he didn''t know why Julian knew what Pokmon''s egg this was and even it''s qualifications, he knew that Julian would not lie to him. In this regard, Julian was very pleased that Will believed in him so much. This is much better compared to the mindless words of some female Internet celebrities who make men spend hundreds of thousands or millions for themselves when they say three words about them. "Julian , wait, I''ll treat you to dinner" Because of Julian , Will had a good harvest today, so naturally he was grateful. "That''s how it should be," Julian said. The black market was almost done, so the two walked out. Julian took Riolu back into the Pok Ball and put the aura Stone into the system space while Will was not paying attention. If Riolu was walking on the street, the way back would be too conspicuous, Julian didn''t want to be stared at. With Will''s nerves, he will definitely not ask with Riolu in the Pok Ball, where did you put the Aura Stone? If he really asks, it is in the trousers pocket, don''t ask what trousers pocket can bear the weight of 30 pounds. For dinner, they ate a few stir-fried vegetables in a restaurant. The waiter was a Machoke, the chef stir-frying was a Machamp and the one chopping was a Machop. Even the name of the restaurant was called Machamp Restaurant. The owner was responsible as the cashier, not to mention the taste was pretty good, no wonder this restaurant often appears in his circle of friends. Now that Pokmon has already infiltrated human society, some human jobs can also be done by Pokmon. Machamp who cooks, Pidegeotto who delivers courier and takeaway, Florges who works as a gardener, etc. You can see the existence of Pokmon in all walks of life. The existence of Pokmon makes human life better and more convenient. Chapter 37: Meltan Chapter 37: MeltanAfter separating from Will, Julian returned home. It was almost eight o''clock when he got home. When he came in, his parents were watching TV on the sofa. "What did you gain from going to the black market today?" asked his Jake. Sarch* The N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Bought an aura stone, 7.5 million," Julian said. Saying that he released all his Pokmon, Metang, Riolu and Meltan. Meltan was hatched the day before school started and Julian didn''t want to release it in school. Now that it can finally come out in a fair and open manner, it can be said that it was very happy. - Pokmon: Meltan(Steel) Level: 5 Qualification: Purple Ability: Magnet Pull props: none Gender: no gender Moves: Harden, Thunder Shock Disc Moves: None Genetic Moves: None - A Pokmon with a height of less than 0.2M, most of the body is made of liquid metal and these liquid metals are still flowing, the head looks like a golden hexagonal nut, with black ball floating inside. The sphere acts as its eyes and there is a small red tail behind its body. Looking at this small and weird little guy, who would think that this little guy turned out to be a mythical Pokmon. After Meltan played on the floor for a while, his body jumped it turned into a liquid in the middle. When standing on Julian''s shoulder, the liquid turned back into his body again. Jake looked at Meltan''s body curiously. just now, Meltan''s flexibility seemed to be very good. The body''s performance is enough to become liquid, it''s very flexible and changeable when fighting. Meltan was hatched by Julian himself. The first person he saw was Julian and he was naturally very close to him. "Dad, I''m going upstairs first" After Julian said a word, he took Meltan upstairs. Riolu and Metang did not follow but went to the backyard to ask their seniors for advice. Jake''s Lucario and Metagross can be regarded as the teachers of Riolu and Metang. While increasing combat experience, they can also improve the proficiency of moves. If they are lucky, they may even learn new moves. "Here, you should like this" Julian took the Aura Stone out of the system space and placed it on the floor. As soon as he finished speaking, he saw a silver figure pounce on the Aura Stone. Meltan is a kind of Pokmon who likes to eat metal and is also very picky about metal. It may not even glance at the metal of Normal kind. Although Aura Stone has stone in its name, it is actually a metal but since the color and texture look more like a stone, so it is called Aura Stone. Looking at Meltan''s entire body wrapped around Aura Stone, he constantly exuded a wave of joy and satisfaction. It seems that he really likes this stone. Lying on the bed, Julian took his mobile phone and started to use the three apps, Geek, Vibrato and Drakorian Trainer Association. By the way, he turned into a madman and gave crazy likes to his circle of friends. Will: From now on, I will be the trainer of three Pokmons and I have to tighten my belt to live (the picture is Numel''s Pokmon egg and there is Charcoal next to the egg, because of the angle, it is impossible to see that this Charcoal is missing one-third) Below is a burst of likes and envy comments. Han: If you''re so strong, let''s have a fight tomorrow. Will: Do you think I will ignore you? Will should be the second person in the class besides Julian to have a third Pokmon and Julian''s third Pokmon is only known to his family but not to outsiders. More than an hour later, Meltan was already lying on Julian''s chest, curiously watching the screen on Julian''s phone. "Meltan, you go down first, my chest is aching," Julian said sadly. Although Meltan is less than 0.2M tall but weighs more than ten kilograms, this actually increases the pressure on Julian''s chest. Julian didn''t have the physique of a Pallet Town guy. Although he has the power of a aura, his physique is still that of an ordinary person. He can''t stand being pressed against his chest by Meltan, who weighs more than ten pounds. Meltan obediently jumped from Julian to the floor. Julian saw that the aura stone on the floor was a circle smaller than before. He picked it up and weighed it. The weight was indeed lighter, about five or six pounds lighter. Looking at Meltan in disbelief, at this speed, it is estimated that the whole Aura stone will be gone in six or seven days. 7,500,000 is eaten in six or seven days, an average of more than one million a day, which is really luxurious. Even people with tens of millions of assets could not afford Meltan. Not to mention how much combat power Meltan has now but from the resources Julian has used for it, this guy is already worthy of the status of an Mythical. If you replace it with an ordinary Catterpie, no matter how much you spend on it a day, it is estimated that three or four million will be all. And Meltan''s one million a day is just the beginning. If you add the daily consumption of Metang and Riolu, the money has to be doubled. "Eat another energy cube" Julian took out an exclusive Meltan energy cube purchased from the system and handed it to the other party. Three hundred points per box and there are only ten pieces in a box. As an Mythical, Meltan also has a large food intake. A box of energy cubes can only be eaten for two days, which is more than that of Metang. "Ding" "Daily Mission: Explore a Primary Rift once" "Task reward: Meltan candyX30, 300 points" Julian , who was already at the school gate, heard the words in his mind and stopped immediately. Without hesitation, Julian turned around and walked towards the nearest primary secret realm and sent a WeChat message to the head teacher, Sam, asking for a day off. Sam, who was in the office, saw Julian''s message and sent a message that he go. For someone born in a big family like Julian, he also knows that his teaching to him is actually not very useful. Whether it is his father or grandfather, they are countless times stronger than himself. ''I think it should be gym leader Jake who mainly teaches Julian things.'' Thinking of this, Sam couldn''t help showing an envious expression. Under any circumstances, if you want to get an Elite Coaching, you have to pay the corresponding price. Simply put, it is how much money or resources you give or Help Elite to complete a thing, anyway, it is an equivalent exchange. Although the teaching of one Elite is not enough for a prospective Elite to break through to Elite, it can increase the chance and if one cannot, then two, three. Many pseudo-Elites can break through to Elite and have had such teaching experience. And Julian, as the heir of an Elite, naturally can be taught by the other anytime and anywhere. This is something that no amount of money can buy. People like Julian who were born in Rome are definitely the target of most envy and hatred. Julian : I finally became the person I hated the most. Chapter 38: Entering A Secret Realm Chapter 38: Entering A Secret RealmCompared with the rare high-level secret realms and the even rarer top-level secret realms, the number of primary and intermediate secret realms is numerous and the most numerous are of course the primary secret realms. There are basically five or six primary secret realms in each city, at least two or max a dozen. In Lake City, there are nine primary secret realms and they are all stable secret realms. Because the energy in many primary secret realms is not stable enough, they will not last for a long time. Of course, a stable secret realm does not mean that it will always exist but it will exist for a long time, basically for decades. And those secret realms that disappeared, did not really disappear for good. They would reappear after a certain period of time but the location would be randomly changed, possibly another city or country. There is a primary secret realm not far from Lake No. 1 Middle School. The system task does not specify which primary secret realm, so any primary secret realm will do. Julian naturally chose the secret realm closest to him. Compared with advanced and top secret realms, which are controlled by the state, most of the primary and intermediate secret realms are controlled by local enterprises, families, schools and government agencies, except for special ones. In order to ensure the sustainable development of these junior/primary and intermediate secret realms, each person in the same secret realm can enter once every six months and the number of Pokmon brought out is also limited and they need to pay a lot of fee. Arriving at the primary secret realm, it was full of people. "Potion is a must in the secret realm, it''s cheap" Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Is there any group to form, my main Pokmon is level 26 water type" "Secret realm guide, who needs a secret realm guide, with it, you can avoid a lot of detours in the secret realm" "A must-have set in the secret realm, come and have a look if you need it" Although it is only a primary secret realm, the business formed by this secret realm has supported many people. There are many things you need to prepare to enter the secret realm, Potion and various medicines to eliminate negative effects, food and water, tents, clothes, compass, etc. It was also the first time for Julian to come here, so he looked around curiously. His rookie appearance quickly attracted a man. "Brother, do you want the guide to be a part-time bodyguard? I will give you all the treasures found in the secret realm. The cost is one million, including the tickets to enter the secret realm. My main Pokmon is level 34" The primary Rift is suitable for Rookie Trainer to normal Trainer, that is, level 0-40 "Little brother, I only need 900,000 and my main Pokmon is level 35." Another person came over quickly. Although the primary secret realm is only a primary level and has been explored countless times, it does not mean that there is no danger. This secret realm has been discovered for 30 years but until now, some people die time to time in this secret realm. So there are so-called secret realm guides who are part-time bodyguards. Employers can spend a certain amount of money to hire them to ensure their safety in the secret realm. Of course, if you really want one, you must look for a reputable and trustworthy person. Otherwise, if you really find something good in the secret realm, you may be robbed by this guide. It''s not bad if they only take it away but some will kill you directly. Some of the people who died in the secret realm were killed by the Pokmon in the secret realm and some people were actually killed by humans. There is no so-called law in the secret realm and only have the law of the jungle. And the first rule of thumb for entering the secret realm is not to trust anyone in the secret realm, especially strangers. Even if they are friends, they may kill each other for a treasure. "Sorry, I don''t need it" Julian shook his head and rejected them. He had the Elite Alakazam bodyguard, so he didn''t need them at all. However, some things are still needed, such as clothes, pants, shoes, tents, food and water and other daily necessities. With the clothes on Julian''s body, if he entered the secret realm, it would not take a long time to for the branches inside torn them apart. Although the mission requirement is only to enter the secret realm, it is not said for how long but since he is entering it won''t work if he came out immediately. In the store, Julian directly bought a mountaineering suit, a large kettle, a lighter, Charcoal, a pot, a stove and various cans. These things are also sold in the system mall but if you use the few points to buy them, it would be too extravagant. Carrying a large bag, Julian walked out of the store with difficulty. The clerk looked at him and shook his head. Although the preparations were very good but there were too many things and when the time came to enter the secret realm, so many things would be a huge burden. This is also the most common mistake made by many trainers who enter the secret realm for the first time. The clerk reminded Julian that there is no need to buy so much but Julian did not listen. Under the mocking and surprised eyes of the people around him, Julian came to the entrance of the secret realm. The entrance to the secret realm is a mass of white light and it is not dazzling but looks soft. In addition to the charged personnel, there are several Advanced Trainers standing here at the entrance. They are here to prevent the Pokmon in the secret realm from rioting and escape from the secret realm. The Pokmon in the primary secret realm rarely riot but some precautions are still necessary. If the Pokmon in the primary secret realm runs out and hurts the humans outside, the owner of this secret realm will be punished by the Trainer Association. The entry fee for the No. 1 primary secret realm is 400,000. The entry fee for the primary secret realm is usually between 300,000 and 800,000 according to the size of the secret realm, the type of Pokmon and the probability of obtaining treasures. There is nothing special about this primary secret realm but some fragments of evolution stones can be found. Although these fragments cannot allow Pokmon to evolve, they can be absorbed by Pokmon and increase their own energy. After paying 400,000 Julian dragged a heavy bag into the secret realm. "So this is the secret realm" Looking around curiously, what caught his eye was actually a forest. After putting the large bag behind him into the system space, Julian took out the secret guide from his pocket. No. 1 Rift is a Rift with many Pokmon types such as Bugs, Grass, Flying, Water, Ground and Rock occupy most of them. There are forests, lakes and a small rocky area in the secret realm. The Rift Guide also notes some of the more dangerous places and groups of Pokmon. For example, there is a Beedrill group three kilometers away from Julian . Their number is about 500. It is definitely the most unprovoked existence in this secret realm. A single or even a dozen Beedrills can''t pose any danger to Julian, but there are more than 500 Beedrill and if Metang faces more than 500 Beedrill its hard body will be poked into scrap metal. Beedrill won''t play you one-on-one heads-up drama, when you can fight in groups, why not. Chapter 39: Dowsing Machine Chapter 39: Dowsing MachineJulian said helplessly, as Pokmon, can you not be so curious. Holding the No. 1 secret realm guide in his hand, Julian hesitated for a while, he didn''t know what to do in this secret realm. Most of the people who come to the secret realm are basically here to catch Pokmon, find treasures or train themselves and Pokmon. Julian definitely doesn''t like the Pokmon in the primary secret realm and he didn''t have the ability to find treasures, so he can only train. It just so happens that the primary Rift is more suitable for a Rookie Trainer. "Let''s go, when there are wild Pokmon on the road, it''s up to you to solve them" After speaking, Julian walked towards the forest with the three Pokmon. The three followed closely behind him and Riolu''s ears moved from time to time. This unfamiliar environment made it very alert. On the contrary, Meltan was jumping on the ground, very curious about the surroundings. It was only a few days old and it maintained a strong curiosity about things it had never seen before. It was looking at a flower in a trance and didn''t even notice that Julian and the others were more than twenty meters away from it. "Metang use Psychic on Meltan." "Don''t be in a daze, follow us." Julian poked Meltan''s nut-shaped head with his fingers and the latter happily grabbed Julian''s fingers with his palms. "Metang you look after it" At this time, a Rattata suddenly rushed towards Julian from behind a big tree and the white front teeth flashed a cold light. In Rifts wild Pokmon are extremely aggressive and some Pokmon appear in groups. For example, Rattata in front of him, even after being knocked down by Riolu with a punch, the sound of "squeak" kept coming from behind the tree. Then dozens of Rattatas and one Raticate appeared in front of Julian, looking at the companion who fell to the ground, Raticate shouted and then dozens of Rattata rushed towards Julian and his three Pokmon. "Metang Metal Claw" "Riolu Brick Break" "Meltan Thunder Shock" Julian quickly retreated seven or eight meters, giving the three Pokmon enough space to use their Moves. Although there are many Rattata, the general level is relatively low. Not to mention Metang and Riolu''s level is higher than them and the only one with a lower level is Meltan. Metang''s Metal Claw knocked out seven or eight Rattata in a single blow. Riolu''s Brick Break was not as fast as Metang''s but it was fast. Even Meltan has beaten a few Rattata with Thunder Shock. In less than a few minutes, these dozens of Rattata were all defeated, leaving only the leader Raticate and after this guy shrieked, he left so many younger brothers, turned around and ran away. "let''s go" Julian said. One person and three Pokmon continued to walk, leaving Rattata who fainted on the ground. If it were an ordinary person, the Rattata in this place would not only be caught for selling them outside for money but the rest of them will have there front teeth cut off and sold. For all Trainers who enter the secret realm, the number of Pokmon they can capture in the secret realm is limited, basically between 2 and 5 and some secret realms will allow only one. Because of this, many people began to collect the materials on Pokmon. For example, the incisors of Raticate and Rattata, this incisor is the hardest part of the Raticate family and some energy blocks and medicines need these teeth. A complete Rattata incisor is worth about 10,000 and if it''s a Raticate''s incisors that''s about 100,000. Although this will cause some damage to Rattata and Raticate, it will not kill them and their front teeth will grow back after a while. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rattata and Raticate are cultivated exclusively in the human world. "I didn''t expect to find this in the system mall" While rummaging through the mall to see if he could find any items related to the secret realm, Julian saw something unexpectedly. ''Beginner Dowsing Machine: If there''s a treasure within a kilometer range it will be displayed (at most one treasure will be displayed at the same time) Intermediate Dowsing Machine: If there''s a treasure within 3 kilometer range it will be displayed (up to three treasures will be displayed at the same time) Advanced Dowsing Machine: If there''s a treasure within 10 kilometer range it will be displayed (up to five treasures will be displayed at the same time) Top Dowsing Machine: If there''s a treasure within 50 kilometer range it will be displayed (up to eight treasures are displayed at the same time, the size of the red dot represents the value of the treasure and it will never be damaged)'' The prices are 1,000 points, 3,000 points, 5,000 points and 10,000 points. Julian looked at his points, which were only in the early 10,000s and thought that the system was deliberately putting Dowsing Machine in front of him. Most of these points were accumulated by him doing daily tasks. "Still one step at a time" Julian gritted his teeth and spent 10,000 points to buy the top-notch Dowsing Machine. he felt distressed in his heart. He won''t feel bad about spending millions on weekends, because his father earned the money but now that he spent 10,000 points he felt bad. There are many treasures in the secret realm and most of the treasures are hidden and the chances of being found are not very high. Even though this Primary Secret Realm No. 1 has been explored for 30 years now, there are still lucky people who can find some treasures. And as long as the energy in the secret realm is not exhausted, it will continue to breed treasures but it takes a long time to breed treasures. The Dowsing Machine purchased with 10,000 points is the size of a palm and it looks like a dragon ball radar. There is an arrow in the center of Dowsing Machine. As Julian keeps changing direction, the arrow also changes direction. There are four red dots around the arrow. The other three dots are relatively small and only one is relatively large. According to the introduction just now, the bigger the red dot, the higher the value of the treasure. And Julian''s location is the closest to the biggest red dot. "Come on, let''s go treasure hunting" Julian waved his hand, feeling a little excited. Adventure and treasure hunting are linked together and this comes with excitement. And with this Dowsing Machine, Julian can find them in any secret realm in the future, as long as there are treasures in the ruins, even if it is hidden in the ground. Treasures in the primary and intermediate secret realms are not very helpful to Julian, but if they are replaced with treasures in advanced or even top secret realms, if they can be found, the help will definitely be huge. Chapter 40: Insect Fruit Chapter 40: Insect Fruit"According to the location of the red dot, it should be in the Beedrill gathering place" Julian compared the secret guide and the location of the red dot where the Dowsing Machine was locating and found that the location of the treasure was in the Beedrill gathering place. According to the guide, there are more than 500 Beedrill in this colony. Because Bug Type Pokmon levels up quickly, these Beedrill''s level is generally around 20, a few elite Beedrill are in the 30s and the boss is in the 40s. (TL/n: elite here is not pokemon tier but just hierarchy) Beedrill who are more than level 40 have reached the Advanced level, and the general level of pokemon in primary secret Pokmon is mostly below level forty. Very few Pokmon reach Advanced level, let alone a Beedrill. With the boss being this level, it is no wonder that the Beedrill group can become one of the rulers of this Rift. An ordinary Trainer is not its Rival at all and even an Advanced-level Trainer cannot deal with more than 500 Beedrill at one time. As he continued to approach Beedrill''s territory, there were very few Pokmon around and a humming sound could be faintly heard in his ears. ''I think we are very close to where the Beedrill group is.'' Taking Meltan back to the Pok Ball first. The little guy still doesn''t know what he is about to face. He is still looking around curiously, making suspicious sounds from time to time. In order to avoid early exposure, he can only take Meltan back first. "Buzz-" There were more than a dozen Beedrill flying at a distance of seven or eight meters. Julian hid behind a big tree and looked at the red dot on the Dowsing Machine. sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was now at least 300 meters away from the red dot. The Beedrill in front of them should be the outposts. Once they find the enemy, they will notify others as soon as possible. There are more than ten Beedrill with only level around 12, not very high. Metang can solve them but if there is a disturbance, other Beedrill will definitely be attracted. So these Beedrill had to be steered away without causing a fight. Julian tried to throw a branch forward. After hearing the sound, the two Beedrill flew over, looked around and found nothing abnormal and flew back again. ''Vigilance is high and the division of labor is strict.'' After hearing the sound, only two Beedrill flew over, not all of them. "Fortunately I came ready" Julian took out a citrus-sized ball, which was bought before entering the secret realm and added sweet powder, which has the same effect as the sweet smell, which can attract nearby Pokmon. "Riolu throw this there" Handing the ball to Riolu, Julian pointed to a place that was 70 or 80 meters away from him. He couldn''t throw it that far with his arm strength. As Riolu threw the ball precisely to the position pointed by Julian, after landing, the shell of the ball cracked and a pink fragrance quickly wafted out of it. It didn''t take long for the scent to drift to the Beedrill''s side and the dozen or so Beedrill showed obsessed expressions and flew towards the location of the scent. Even Julian could smell the fragrance. The sweet smell also has an attractive effect on humans but it is not as big as Pokmon. Fortunately, Julian was determined and after a little trance, he immediately got rid of the influence of the sweet smell. Looking back to see that Metang and Riolu have also come out of the sweet scent effect, Julian showed satisfaction. "Come over now" As he said that, he quickly ran forward and the dozen or so Beedrill had long been dizzy with the sweet smell. How could they find any intruders entering their territory. Beedrill''s territory is located in the center of the forest and is circular, so in order to prevent the enemy from invading, the outposts sent by Beedrill are naturally distributed in a circular shape. There are more than 100 Beedrill in the outpost alone. Even so, there are still nearly 400 Beedrill in the territory. But the reality was beyond that. Looking at the dense number of Beedrill flying in their territory, there were almost seven hundred of them. ''Didn''t this secret realm guide say that the total number was only more than five hundred. If you count those outposts, it would be more than eight or nine hundred.'' Angrily taking a look at the secret guide, Julian thought that when he went out, he must find the person who sold this guide to settle accounts. Date of printing: 2020 After accidentally seeing the above year, Julian was annoyed and speechless for a while. It was now 2022 and this guide two years behind. Bug Type Pokmon evolves quickly and upgrades quickly. Relatively speaking, they have a low lifespan and low strength but they have an advantage that they reproduce quickly. A Beedrill can lay five or six eggs a year. If it weren''t for the fact that the master of the primary secret realm would send someone here every year to regularly clean up the Beedrill group here and reduce their number, otherwise the entire secret realm would be occupied by Beedrill. And there are more than a dozen Kakuna hanging from each tree and quite a few Weedle on the trees. But more Beedrill danced around two fruit trees, each bearing a purple fist-sized fruit. The distance was relatively far, Julian couldn''t see the specific appearance of the fruit but as long as it is within sight, he can use the Probing Eye. Insect Fruit: Rich in a lot of Bug Type energy, it has a great effect on Bug Type Pokmon and can play a role in improving aptitude. Note: There is still one hour before the fruit ripens. It turned out to be a bug fruit, which Julian knew was one of the Bug Type treasures and one of the materials for making the top Bug Type energy cubes. At present, this fruit cannot be artificially Breeded and it can only be obtained in the secret realm. The market value of a bug fruit is about five million. And wherever this fruit is located, it''s definitely around a swarm of Bug Type Pokmon. In this primary Rift, Beedrill is a well-deserved ruler in the forest, so no other Bug Type Pokmon dares to come. Insect fruit is useless to Julian. He doesn''t have a Bug Type Pokmon, maybe there will be one in the future but he can buy it then. Insect fruit are sold by some top breeding companies or shopping malls. In Draconian Trainer APP, there are occasionally people selling insect fruits in the trading section. Although it''s not needed but since it''s in front of you, if you don''t take it away, you came here in vain. So he has to settle for these two fruits. The fruit was still an hour away from ripening and it was obviously impossible to take the fruit under the noses of a few hundred Beedrill. The guy who was significantly bigger than the Normal Beedrill was the leader of the Beedrill group. - Pokmon: Beedrill (bug/poison) Level: 42 Qualification: Yellow Ability: Swarm props: none gender: female Moves: Bug Bite, String Shot, Fury Attack, Poison Jab, Venoshock, Agility, Pin Missile move CD: none Genetic Moves: None Chapter 41: Run Chapter 41: RunA level 42 Beedrill can only be regarded as an ordinary if it is placed outside, as an Advanced level Pokmon can basically be trained as long as the Trainer does not slack off. But at this moment, in this primary secret realm, which is only suitable for Rookie to ordinary Trainer level, this level-42 Beedrill is undoubtedly very powerful. As the fruit continued to mature, Julian smelled an unpleasant smell but the Beedrill who smelled this smell fell into extreme excitement. The frequency of the flapping of the wings has obviously become much faster and the humming sound is all over the place and a large number of Beedrill begin to continuously fly around the fruit tree. Even Beedrill, who had previously guarded Kakuna on the tree, couldn''t help but fly over. The leader of Beedrill has stopped on the fruit tree, staring at the fruit above, because the fruit has not fully matured, so it can only wait now. The rest of the Beedrill were extremely covetous of the fruit but because of the majesty of the leader, they didn''t dare to go forward at all. The Beedrill group was extremely disciplined, the leader has absolute power and majesty even if the scent emanating from it is not something that other Beedrill can resist. Since this whole group of Beedrill exists because of it. As long as it doesn''t die, the entire Beedrill group will not resist it. And basically all Beedrill groups are like this. A powerful Beedrill starts to lay Pokmon eggs and then hatches step by step, growing the entire Beedrill group. "Five minutes to mature" With the help of Probing Eye, Julian could clearly see the countdown time for the ripening of the insect fruit. Once the Insect fruit matures, this Beedrill leader will definitely eat it as soon as possible, since the distance is so close, even if he wants to grab it, he will not be able to. Taking out the sweet ball again, "Riolu throw it 100 meters to the left" The sweet-smelling balls that had previously attracted Beedrill''s outposts but now the sweetness seems to have lost its effect. Even though it has started to smell, it didn''t attract a single Beedrill. In the eyes of the Beedrill, the sweet smell was nothing compared to the fruit, so naturally they wouldn''t fly to the sweet smell. "trouble" Sarch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this, Julian said with a headache. At this time, there is still one minute before the insect fruit matures and the countdown has already started. Julian bought Dig''s move CD from the system store, slapped it on Riolu''s forehead and the CD was absorbed by Riolu. "Riolu use Dig to go under the two fruit trees. When I ask you to jump, you immediately pick the two fruits and then run." Riolu nodded earnestly, then his claws began to dig the soil and disappeared in front of Julian, leaving a hole. Countdown 30 seconds "Metang use Steel Beam" Julian stood up directly behind the tree and directed Metang to launch an attack on the densest place in the Beedrill group. A silver-white light shot out from the two claws of Metang, which merged into one, knocking dozens of Beedrill to the ground. The sudden appearance of the enemy and attack made Beedrill stunned for a moment and then they all looked at the intruder with red eyes. With a wave of the Beedrill leader''s arm, hundreds of Beedrill flew towards Julian and Metang. At this critical moment, it absolutely can not allow any accidents to happen. "flash Cannon" Countdown to 10 seconds. Seeing that more than a dozen of his companions were knocked down by Metang again, Beedrill, who rushed in the front, had bursts of purple light from his tail. Impressively Poison Jab. However, Poison-type Moves are ineffective against steel-type Metang and this sharp Poison Barb can''t break Metang''s metal-like body at all. Countless Poison Barbs hit Metang and were directly bounced off by its body. Several Poison Barbs almost bounced on Julian and he was so frightened that he hurried to hide by the tree. "Metang use Zen Headbutt, rush in for me and then uses Psychic to control that Beedrill," Julian roared, making or breaking it. Countdown to 5 seconds. Under Zen Headbutt, the Beedrill in front were all knocked away by Metang, although they wanted to block him but unfortunately their strength and physical fitness were not at the same level. Metang with the Light Metal Ability, plus a lot of speed-enhancing potions. It is now faster than the fastest Metang in its class ever recorded. Julian would bet that even a level 40 Metang would not be as fast as his level 22 Metang. Metang stopped six meters away from the Beedrill leader but the Beedrill leader didn''t attack Metang, his eyes fixed on the fruit, that was about to ripen. "Riolu right now" Julian roared. "Bang" Suddenly, a hole appeared in the ground below the fruit tree. Riolu jumped out of the hole and grabbed the fruit with his claws. The leader of Beedrill was furious and was about to stab Riolu with two spears but suddenly found that his body could not move. Countdown 0 seconds Although the level difference between the Metang and the Beedrill was 20, Metang can fight more than a dozen levels up and it only needs a few seconds control of the Beedrill. ''Got it.'' Riolu plucked the two fruits and Metang caught it as he fell. His body emitted tiny currents and the speed suddenly increases a lot. Magnet Rise. "Run" Putting Riolu back in the Pok Ball and putting the Insect fruit into system space. Julian jumped on Metang, then lay on top of it, looked back at the murderous Beedrill group and roared eagerly: "Using Magnet rise, leave now" Julian didn''t know what it was like to be at a speed of more than 100 miles without any cover but now that he knew, he felt the wind whistling past his ears. He couldn''t hear anything except the sound of the wind and the scene in front of him quickly receded. If he hadn''t lied on Metang beforehand and held onto him with both hands, he would have been blown down long ago. Riding a Pokmon, whether it is flying, on land, or swimming in water, if you don''t have certain experience or protection measures, the chance of danger is very high. Every year, many trainers have accidents because of riding Pokmon. It is trivial to fall and fracture and some unlucky ones just fall to their death. Chapter 42: Beedrill Chapter 42: BeedrillWhat does it feel like to be chased by five or six hundred Beedrill? Now Julian can tell you, it is absolutely terrifying. Metang was fast and although they had thrown Beedrill some distance away, they didn''t stop chasing. The leader Beedrill at the front emitted a white light, followed by a burst. "Metang use Protect" Pin Missile''s speed is very fast and if the fast-moving Metang makes a turn, Julian above will definitely be thrown off. So Metang can''t dodge. The green protective cover was like a circle protecting Metang and Julian in it, Pin Missile slapped on the guard with a puff and rippled. Fortunately, the protection was not broken and survived this round of Pin Missile. Julian took out the Max Repel potion from the system space. This thing can emit an odor that Pokmon hates and can effectively avoid Pokmon''s attack. He threw the Max Repel potion directly to the back. Leader Beedrill saw an unknown object coming towards him, he didn''t think much about it at all, and stabbed a needle in it, followed by a bang. Max Repel''s bottle was punctured and a burst of gas instantly spread around. After Beedrill smelled the smell, they stopped immediately, their blood red eyes began to return to normal and they turned away in disgust. But the leader of Beedrill was not affected by Max Repel and he still chased Metang, his eyes turned even redder. The most important thing is the fruit that can break the shackles in its body. It has a feeling that as long as it eats those two fruits, it can definitely breakthrough to next tier. But all this was destroyed by the human on that Metang''s back. As a ruler in this forest, Beedrill has been stained with the blood of many humans and Pokmon. If it weren''t for humans, the number of its offspring would be even larger, so it doesn''t like humans at all. Beedrill, who was chasing Julian, did not realize that the group behind him did not follow because of Max Repel. After continuing to run for a few minutes, Julian saw an open space not far away and immediately stopped Metang. "thump~" As Metang stopped, Julian fell directly from its back to the ground, turned his back to the sky, panting quickly and wanted to take a rest but the humming in his ears gradually approaching made him unable to stay down. "Riolu" Releasing Riolu, staring closely at the approaching Beedrill. "Buzz-" Seeing that the human stopped, Beedrill rushed towards Julian , the energy gathered in his mouth, it was going to bite the human to death. "Bullet Punch" Julian said. Metang in front of him suddenly moved and the white fist met with Beedrill''s Bug Bite. After stalemate for a while, the energy of the two sides exploded with a bang because of the violent collision. The blast blew Beedrill out and because of his weight, Metang only retreated a little and suffered some injuries. "Come up, use Take Down" Julian shouted. Take Down is a move that Metang acquired during Beldum stage and it is the only move with high proficiency engraved in his bones. Beedrill, who had just been blown out by the air wave, didn''t react when he saw Metang breaking through the smoke generated by the explosion and slammed into its body. Lots of white silk thread String Shot out from Beedrill''s mouth, wrapping Metang in them. Metang''s movements were instantly restricted but Beedrill did not pursue victory but instead used Agility to charge towards Julian . ''This mother****r" Seeing this, Julian scolded but fortunately, he let Riolu out just in case. "Riolu Metal Claw" Riolu had already stood in front of Julian, his body jumped up and he slapped Beedrill with his claws. Beedrill spat out purple liquid from his mouth, blocking Riolu''s attack as the liquid hit Riolu. It was Venoshock, Riolu doesn''t have a Steel typing now, so it was poisoned when it got hit by the attack and Beedrill did a lot of damage to it. Riolu was currently only level 18 and there was a gap of nearly 25 levels with Beedrill. This gap was no longer something resources and things like qualifications can make up for. It''s good to not get a one-shot kill by Beedrill. Without Riolu''s obstruction, Julian was exposed to Beedrill. A cold light flashed in Beedrill''s eyes, he raised his left arm and stabbed at Julian''s head but the next moment his body was suddenly knocked dozens of meters away, knocking down a few big trees in the way. Metang docked in front of Julian, there were still some threads on his body but it was not enough to hinder its movement. (TL/n: just a reminder to someone who might say mc is being reckless, it''s true but as said before he has an Elite level Alakazam with him so he was never really in any danger) "Steel Beam" Julian said coldly. The silver-white beam of light hit the Beedrill who had just climbed up and blasted it into the ground. However, Beedrill hadn''t lose his ability to fight and even stood up tremblingly. "Bullet Punch" Beedrill, who had just stood up with difficulty, didn''t react and was hit in the face by Metang''s punch and in order to prevent it from continuing to stand up, Metang also punched it twice. S~ea??h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Good job Metang" Julian praised. Then he took out the antidote to detoxify Riolu. If it''s normal injury, Pokmon''s physique does not require medication at all but if it is poisoned, it is best to detoxify Pokmon immediately. Resist it and it may be too late to detoxify later. "eat this" Julian took out the energy cube for two Pokmon. Whether it was just Metang galloping all the way to the end to defeat Beedrill, or Riolu''s heroic save, both consumed a lot of stamina. After eating the energy block, the two Pokmon were recovering quickly. He looked at Beedrill, who had fainted not far away and had no intention of catching or killing him. Although Beedrill wanted to kill him, Julian really didn''t want to kill it, maybe because he has never done it before. Anyway, for now, Julian didn''t want to kill Beedrill. The reason is actually that he stole the most important thing from him. "Come on, let''s keep looking for something else" Saying that, he took out the Dowsing Machine. Chapter 43: Mega Evolution Stone Chapter 43: Mega Evolution StoneAccording to Dowsing Machine''s prompt, Julian went to three more places and the treasures there were buried underground. Fortunately, Julian bought an shovel. Of the three things dug up, two were broken hard rocks and one was a damaged Miracle Seed, all of which were worth about a hundred thousand, not very high. Metang doesn''t eat ore and Meltan looks down on these two broken stones and the damaged Miracle Seed is even more useless to them. Julian naturally took the three things away. After all, they were all dug up, so he couldn''t bury them again. There are days and nights in the secret realm and the time is synchronized with the outside world. It was past one o''clock in the afternoon and Julian had just eaten the compressed biscuits. Then, as he walked with the Dowsing Machine to the northwest of the ruins, the red dot displayed on the Dowsing Machine this time was twice as large as the red dot on the Insect fruit. Insect fruit is already considered a relatively precious treasure and now this treasure is much more precious than the fruit. Passing through the forest and the lake, Julian came to the rocky area and the Dowsing Machine showed that the treasure was in this area. The rocky area accounts for about one-sixth of the entire secret realm, which is much smaller than the forest that occupies most of it and the lakes is also much larger than it. Not long after stepping into the rocky area, a Geodude jumped out, made a threatening action, and was knocked away by a Metal Claw from Riolu. According to the two-year-outdated Guide, there are some Rock and Ground Type Pokmon inhabiting these Rocks. The more common ones are the Geodude and Graveller and the evolution of these two is relatively rare. If you''re lucky, you might even encounter Onix hidden underground. Compared to the two above, Onix is ??a rare Pokmon and it''s evolution Steelix is ??definitely a powerful pokemon . And Onix''s big body is very popular with some trainers who like big and fierce Pokmon. The Dowsing Machine showed that the distance was still about 100 meters. Julian looked around and saw no sign of Pokmon except for the exposed rocks around him. If this treasure is guarded by Pokmon like the previous Insect Fruit, then as long as you keep going, you will see that Pokmon. With this thought in mind, Julian moved forward slowly, followed by Metang and Riolu, the two Pokmon also looked around vigilantly. As soon as a Pokmon pops up, they will be resolved quickly. As the distance kept getting closer and he reached approx ten meters but still didn''t see any signs of Pokmon, Julian breathed a sigh of relief. It seems that this treasure should not be something that can be eaten to improve the strength and aptitude of Pokmon but a treasure buried in the ground like the broken hard rock that Julian dug up before. "It''s here" The arrow representing himself on the Dowsing Machine has overlapped with the red dot. Julian looked at the Ground under his feet and there was no doubt that the treasure was buried underneath. In this area, even the ground was rock, so the shovel was definitely not enough. Fortunately, Julian was well prepared. He took out the pickaxe from the system space and swung it hard towards Ground. "This is really a firm step on the road to mining like champion Steven" Julian couldn''t help but laugh at himself. It''s not that mining is bad. On the contrary, if you know how to mine, you can get a lot of money. Various ore treasures that are very old and evolution stones like Fire Stone and Moon Stone can also be obtained through mining. In the anime, Steven likes to give people various evolution stones and even gives a set of Mega Evolution stones to players, who are from Hoenn Region. This is the glory of a Miner, the pride of a Miner. Thinking of this, his energy immediately rose, the iron pickaxe kept swinging down and the gravel fluttered. Julian''s strength was not low but this ground was rock after all. After more than a dozen swings, his arm were overwhelmed by the vibration force from the iron pickaxe. Well, if he dug at this speed then if this treasure is buried one meter below, he can probably dig it until tomorrow. "Riolu use Dig, just dig down but slower" Sear?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian suddenly saw Riolu beside him, facepalmed and immediately commanded, for fear that Riolu would dig too fast and break or miss the treasure, so he let it dig slower. The hard Rock Ground became unusually soft under Riolu''s Dig and he soon disappeared in front of Julian. After a minute or so, Riolu emerged from the hole. "How is it, did you find anything?" Julian asked eagerly. As soon as Riolu opened his palm, he saw a thumb-sized orb appearing in Riolu''s hand and there was a spiral pattern in the orb. "F***, Mega Evolution Stone" Seeing this, Julian couldn''t help but swear. Although he knew the treasure in the ground would be precious. After all, the red dot displayed by the Dowsing Machine was twice as large as the red dot of the Insect fruit but he didn''t expect it to be a Mega Evolution stone. This thing is now a priceless existence and it is basically only circulated among top trainers. If you are a pseudo-Elite, you might not have enough qualification to have one. Of course, if you have a strong family background, that''s different. As we all know, there is a huge gap between the pseudo-Elite and Elite,-- the pseudo-champion and champion. But if your Pokmon strength is pseudo-Elite peak and if you can Mega Evolve, then you can enter Elite level for a short time and the same is true for pseudo-champions. The energy carried by the Mega Evolution stone can greatly increase strength of Pokmon in a short period of time but the higher the level, the smaller the increase. But if it''s a match between trainers of similar strength and the opponent''s Pokmon has the corresponding Mega Evolution stone, the scale of victory will definitely tilt in his favor. "You two quickly sense whether you have any attraction to this," Julian said. Metagross and Lucario are both Pokmon capable of Mega Evolution. If this Mega Evolution stone is really one for them, Julian feels that he must be possessed by lady luck today. As a result, the two Pokmon shook their heads in unison, apparently not their Mega Evolution stone at all. Julian checked it with his probing eyes and it turned out to be Steelix''s Mega Evolution stone. Although it''s not Lucario''s, it doesn''t have much impact. Steelix is ??also a steel-type and it is also one of Julian''s target Pokmon to capture in the future. But why not Metagross'' Mega Evolution Stones, because he has that one at home from his parents. Chapter 44: Sneak Attack Chapter 44: Sneak Attack"Mega Evolution Stone, Silver Metang and a Riolu" When Julian was excited about digging up the Mega Evolution stone, a man in his thirties behind a rock, dozens of meters away from him was looking at Julian with greedy eyes. In his eyes, Julian was a walking treasure trove, whether it is Mega Evolution stone, silver Metang or even Riolu, they are all very rare. If he grabs all these things and sells them, he will get unimaginable benefits, which are enough to change the trajectory of his life. ''To do or not to do.'' David''s greedy eyes flickered with intent, he knew very well that the family background of this guy with silver Metang and Riolu was definitely not something that an ordinary person like him could provoke. At the same time, he could not be sure whether the student-like guy entered the secret realm alone or he was accompanied by his companions or whether he was protected by elders. These were the reasons why he was so tangled and did not dare to start. sea??h th Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for the strength of the guy in front of him, it only showed orange when he looked at a small energy detector in his hand. It proves that among the two Pokmon, the strongest Pokmon is only about 20 levels. The outside price of this small energy detector is about five million. This is not something he bought but what he got by killing people. "Wait, wait, wait" David kept reciting in his heart to suppress his greed. If he was the other party, he would definitely inform his companions to come over after digging up the precious Mega Evolution stone. It is impossible to communicate with the outside world in the secret realm but people in the secret realm can communicate with each other using mobile phones specially made for the secret realm. "There is still one Key Stone left," Julian muttered. Mega Evolution stones are corresponding to the corresponding Pokmon, so a Mega Evolution stone can only be used by one Pokmon and in order for a Pokmon to perform a Mega Evolution, the Trainer must have a Key Stone. And a Key Stone can correspond to all Mega Evolution stones. For example, Metagross and Lucario both carry the corresponding Mega Evolution stones and Julian can use a Key Stone to perform Mega Evolution on both. Therefore, in the market, Mega Evolution stones rarely appears but Key Stone appears from time to time and the price is naturally much lower than that of Mega Evolution stone. There must be a Key Stone at home but it would be even more perfect if another Key Stone was dug up. Looking at the Dowsing Machine in his hand, these 10,000 points were not wasted and this is just the beginning. As he enters secret realm more and more times in the future, the value of the Dowsing Machine will naturally be infinitely magnified. "Come on, let''s go to the next point" Now Julian finally understands why those treasure hunters like treasure hunting so much and they go there knowing it is dangerous. They may be there for the value of the treasure but there is also the joy of simply seeking treasure and the satisfaction of finding it. The Dowsing Machine only showed a single red dot this time but fortunately, this dot was not very far away from him, about two or three kilometers. Julian sat on Metang''s back and let it fly over slowly. If he walked two or three kilometers by himself, it would take about twenty or thirty minutes. Therefore, most Trainers will subdue Pokmon that they can mount, which can reduce a lot of time consumption, especially when encountering danger, they can directly ride the mount to escape. "It''s a Fire Stone Fragment" After arriving at the location, the treasure dug up was only small fragments of Fire Stone and the price was estimated to be about 80,000 or 90,000. Fire Stone fragments are more abundant in this secret realm. Originally, such things should only be found in the gathering of fire-type Pokmon or near Volcano. I don''t know why this secret realm produces Fire Stone fragments. "Almost ready to go back" Looking at the time, it was already four o''clock in the afternoon. Before he entered the secret realm, he hadn''t told his parents that he will enter a secret realm. So If he didn''t go home when the time came and the phone couldn''t get through, they would definitely be worried. "Let''s come back next time, stay a few more days, I have already bought a tent," Julian said. When he came in before, he thought about spending the night in the secret realm but now he remembered that he forgot to tell his parents and the school had also only given one day off, so he had to go out. Just when Julian was about to leave, he suddenly felt a chill run down from behind him and the sixth sense of his body and aura kept sending danger warnings. "whoosh~" The next moment, his body was pushed out by Riolu beside him. When he fell, Julian saw countless Poison stings hitting Riolu. "Muk use Sludge" "Metang Protect" Julian roared and at the same time got up from the ground, supported the fallen Riolu and put an antidote into its mouth. Metang''s Protect blocked Muk''s Sludge but the Protect was also broken. "The response is fast enough, worthy of being a precious and rare Pokmon," David said gloomily, thinking that the sneak attack just now could directly kill the opponent. If the Trainer is dead, Metang and Riolu will definitely not be his opponents without command. David has determined that the boy in front of him had no companions and the thing in his hand should be able to find treasures in a certain range. He saw with his own eyes that Julian relied on the Machine to accurately find Fire Stone fragments, so it was not difficult to guess how Julian determined that there were treasures under the Rocky Ground. This thing was worth more than his two Pokmon. ''I believe that if someone else knew the function of this Machine, they would definitely kill for it.'' David''s eyes were fiery and he looked greedily at the Dowsing Machine in Julian''s hand, if he was trying to get the Mega Evolution stone, Metang and Riolu before. Then his main target now was the Dowsing Machine. As long as he has this Dowsing Machine, the secret realm will be a back garden for him and he can find any treasure hidden in the secret realms. Chapter 45: Foul Chapter 45: Foul''As long as this guy is killed, the treasure-seeking device he has and his Pokmon will all be mine. When I flee abroad, his family background won''t matter.'' After a few years, if he became an Elite, he will have countless wealth and absolute status. When David started, he had already thought about what to do after killing Julian . His future, will be up to today whether he will be able to fly into the sky and become an Elite or die. "Come out Nidoking" He sent out a third Pokmon, the first one was Arbok, the one who just attacked Julian using Poison Sting, the second one was Muk and the third is now Nidoking. Julian stared solemnly at the guy who attacked him and his Pokmon. ''Unexpectedly, when I entered the secret realm for the first time, I encountered the most dangerous thing in a secret realm.'' The most dangerous thing in Rifts is never the Pokmon or the dangerous environments in it but the humans. Greed is the most primal desire of human beings. When you see that the companions who entered the secret realm with you have obtained treasures worth millions, treasures that are enough to change fate, what will your reaction be like? jealous, envious, happy?. Jealousy is definitely greater than the first two. And once your heart is overwhelmed with jealousy and greed, you may do things you wouldn''t normally believe in. Every year, countless people die in secret realms, by the hands of their own companions or by other people exploring the secret realm. The first rule of thumb for entering a secret realm is not to trust any strangers, even companions, relatives, there countless examples. Of course Julian knew this but because he didn''t even see a single human after entering this secret realm and because he was excited after getting the Mega Evolution stone, he forgot about it. Fortunately, Riolu was reliable and saved Julian at a critical moment. With Probing Eye he looked at the three Pokmon in front of him. Nidoking is level 46, Muk is level 43 and Arbok is level 43. All three are Advanced-level Pokmon but luckily they have just entered this level. If they were more than level fifty, Julian will directly let his bodyguard Pokmon Alakazam take the shot. Julian, who was still a little panicked, after thinking about the bodyguard Pokmon, instantly calmed down. ''Damn, I almost forgot that I had a Trump Card on me and even if Riolu didn''t find out just now, I wouldn''t be hurt in any way.'' After calming down, Julian looked at David and his three Pokmon, a little eager to try, maybe he could try to see if he can beat the other with Metang and Riolu, if not, let Alakazam shoot. Anyway, he is invincible. (TL/n: Gojo is that you?) Seeing Julian suddenly become calm, David''s heart sank slightly, does this guy still have any support or does he really have a companion in this secret realm. ''Quickly end this fight.'' "Nidoking use Horn Attack on Metang" "Muk use venom drench on Riolu" "Arbok kill that kid" The three Pokmon rushed over together and among them, one came towards Julian . If you are in an official match and command a Pokmon to attack a Trainer, you will be disqualified from the competition or worst disqualified from being a Trainer. And if it''s a life-and-death fight in a random place, you can use any means, including killing the Trainer first. If it wasn''t for Julian being protected by two Pokmon, David would have rushed over and stabbed Julian to death himself. Nidoking''s heavy body was like a tank, rumbling towards Metang, the single horn on his forehead shone with a silvery white sheen. Julian bought two serious mints from the system store and gave Metang and Riolu a sniff. Serious Mint: Greatly increases Pokmon''s HP, Attack, Speed, Special Defense, Special Attack for ten minutes (can be used every six hours) Sear?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Serious mint has no side effects, except that it has time restrictions. The Nidoking''s level was the highest and it should be the opponent''s main Pokmon. "Metang Iron Hammer" The current level of Metang is 24. After entering the secret realm, it has been leveled by 1. Because of the serious mint, the current strength should be around 30. With its Pseudo legendary aptitude and the large amount of resources Julian invested in it, it is fully qualified to fight Nidoking. "Riolu Dig to avoid" After saying this, Julian rolled towards left. Although he was in a embarrassing state, he avoided the Poison Sting attack of Arbok. The previous location has been corroded by Poison. The Pokemon rushed straight to attack him. "Muk leave Riolu alone, use Pound on him" David''s face was hideous, his goal was very clear, he just wanted to kill Julian first. Suddenly, a purple figure flashed by in front of him and when he turned around, he found that it was Nidoking who flew out. "how is this possible" David looked at the flying Nidoking in disbelief. The level of this Metang was only about 20. How could his Nidoking be blown away by it. When he thought that as long as he killed Julian , this Metang would belong to him, David''s eyes became more and more fiery. Halfway through Arbok''s rush towards Julian, Riolu suddenly jumped out from the ground below it and hit Arbok''s face with Metal Claw. And Muk''s body in action suddenly froze and then his whole body suddenly floated in the air, then slammed into Arbok. "Double Kick" Don''t know when Nidoking has rushed over and his thick legs kicked Metang''s body, which also interrupted its Psychic. However, Julian''s crisis has been temporarily resolved. "Riolu Quick Attack, f**k him up!" Julian pointed at David and roared angrily. David''s heart suddenly panicked, Quick Attack''s speed was very fast and his three Pokmon did not learn this short-term acceleration move. "Nidoking, protect me," David shouted to the nearest Nidoking. Hearing this, Nidoking who wanted to continue attacking Metang but had to come to David and block Riolu''s attack. "Just like that, hold it up for me and use Horn Attack" Seeing Nidoking grab Riolu''s palm, David was overjoyed. Riolu''s level itself was not high, even if he used serious mint, it is still far behind Nidoking. After being grabbed by Nidoking, he couldn''t break free for a while. As his body was lifted up by Nidoking, and he was about to get hit, it suddenly turned into a white light and disappeared. David and Nidoking were dumbfounded and didn''t understand what was going on. Then they saw the Pok Ball in Julian''s hand and immediately swore. "You f**ker". Chapter 46: First Kill Chapter 46: First KillDavid: (??p) Julian : () David was disgusted by Julian''s sleazy operation just now as he never thought that he would take Riolu back. If Nidoking had hit Riolu just now, he will definitely lose his combat effectiveness. Then Julian''s Metang will face his three Pokmon. However, his anger was not over yet. His Arbok ate a Take Down and a Bullet Punch from Metang and was already lying on the ground unable to move. "Come out Riolu" Julian released Riolu again. And gave David a smug look, ''see the battle situation has been reversed now'' ''Now it''s two-on-two.'' "Muk use smog" David roared. Although he was angry, he didn''t lose his cool and found that Tailwind happened to be on his side at this time. Lilac smoke spewed out of Muk''s mouth. Julian immediately took out a move disc and threw it to Metang, who pressed the disc on his forehead. The benefits of high-qualified Pokmon are reflected here. Metang immediately learned the move in the move disc. If it was replaced with green qualifications, 80% of them won''t be able to in one try. "a**hole, you are making a foul again." David''s eyes were bloodshot and it looked like they were about to explode. Just as the Smoke came over, Julian said, "Use Icy Wind" Although he just learned it, and the proficiency was not very high but he didn''t have problem using it. Icy Wind blew the smoke back and also carried the power of frost, Muk''s body was instantly frozen. Although the smoke was blown away, it did not disappear. Because of Icy Wind, David accidentally inhaled some smoke and at the same time, Icy Wind made the temperature around him plummet. "Nidoking, Fire Punch" David hurriedly took out the antidote and ate it. As a poison trainer, the most medicine he carried was the antidote. "First solve Muk, Riolu Metal Claw, Metang Zen Headbutt" Julian said. Most of Muk''s body was frozen and he couldn''t move at all. Metang and Riolu''s attacks hit him one after another. And Nidoking''s Fire Punch also hit Metang at this moment. The fire types have twice the damage to steel types and Nidoking''s level was higher than that of Metang. ''Even if this blow does not bring down Metang, it is enough to hit it hard. How will the weak Riolu block his Nidoking at that time.'' David thought. But when he looked at Metang, his eyes were about to pop out. He saw that Metang, who took Nidoking''s Fire Punch, didn''t fall down but just took a few steps back. There was a slightly darker fist mark on his silver-white body. Other than that, it didn''t seem to be any different. "I don''t believe it, Nidoking continues to use Fire Punch" David shouted in disbelief. "Metang Bullet Punch" "Riolu Quick Attack" The Bullet Punch collided with the Fire Punch and the sparks suddenly splashed. As Nidoking retreated, the remaining force of the Bullet Punch hit Nidoking''s cheek. At this time, Riolu''s Quick Attack has arrived but with a turn by Riolu, Quick Attack did not hit Nidoking but went behind it. "Damn b*****d" When David saw this, he knew that Riolu was coming towards him. He knew that if he didn''t escape, he would have no chance of survival. He took out a dagger from his pocket and stabbed it fiercely in the direction of Riolu. The expression on his face, Normal people will be intimidated if they see him. It''s a pity that no matter how powerful humans are, they are the weaker side in the face of Pokmon. David''s movements were so slow in Riolu''s eyes, he hit the dagger and then punched him in the stomach, the latter''s body immediately turned into shrimp and with a mouthful of blood Spit up, his body fell to the ground. Sear?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing that his trainer was attacked, Nidoking wanted to protect him but how could Metang let it happen? With a single move of Steel Beam, Nidoking was completely knocked to the ground. Now David''s three Pokmon have lost their ability to fight- -fainted and even he himself couldn''t get up from the ground because of the severe pain. Julian walked in front of him as David looked up at him. "please ..." Because of the severe pain in his stomach, he couldn''t utter a complete sentence at all but the pleading eyes made Julian very clear of what he was going to say. "Metang, Bullet Punch" Julian said coldly. As a silver light fell, David couldn''t have died any sooner. For Pokmon Julian, can hold back but for humans who want to kill him, he will Payback. When David wanted to kill him, his ending was already doomed. Looking at David''s body, Julian miraculously found that he didn''t feel any discomfort for his first kill. "Ding" "Complete Hidden Mission: First Kill" "Quest Reward: One Dratini Egg, Mewtwo FragmentsX5, 2000 Points" - For the time being, he ignored the system''s prompts and started searching the corpse. The other party wanted to kill him because of his Pokmon and the treasures. Now that he was killed, the good things on David''s body naturally belonged to him. Fire Stone, Water Stone, some potions, a few rough move discs and three bank cards were all David had. "This poor b*****d" Julian looked at David''s corpse with contempt. He probably wouldn''t even glance at these things when they were thrown on the ground. David:??? He took away the Fire Stone and Water Stone and for other things Julian threw them on the ground. The rough move discs were of very poor quality. Even if Metang used them, he might not be able to learn the moves. As for the bank card, he didn''t even know the code, even more useless. Throwing these useless things, also smashing Nidoking, Muk and Arbok''s Pok Balls. In this way, they are not bound and at their level, they will live very well in this secret realm. Of course, Julian can also sell them on the black market. Three Advanced-level Pokmon can be sold for 20 to 30 million. The most valuable thing on David''s body is not the Fire Stone and the Water Stone but his three Pokmon, which can sell for 20 to 30 million on the black market and the real price for cultivating them will not be less than 80 million. It''s a pity that this guy wanted to take a short cut and it may not be the first time he has done it. After all, the opponent''s sneak attack method was very skilled. "Let''s go out" After this incident, Julian was no longer in the mood to stay in the secret realm and it was too late. If he didn''t go home, his parents would be anxious. As for David''s body, he didn''t mean to deal with it, the Pokmon in the secret realm will take care of it. Chapter 47: Walker-Steven-Stone Chapter 47: Walker-Steven-StoneChase, a student in the ordinary Trainer class at Class 3 Lake City No. 1 Middle School, cradled her starter Pokmon, Shellder, in her arms, surveying the scene with growing alarm. Shellder let out a faint, pained whimper. "Don''t worry, Shellder," Chase reassured, "we just need to find a Water Stone, and it will surely help you recover." As she looked down at Shellder, Chase''s panic began to fade, replaced by determination. She pulled out the same secret guidebook that Julian had and headed toward the lake''s location. Water Stones and their fragments can occasionally be discovered in the lakes of the No. 1 secret realm, and those lucky enough might even stumble upon a complete Water Stone. An ordinary Water Stone is valued at over one million, while a top-quality one can fetch more than ten million. Currently, Shellder''s health was poor, not due to an injury, but because of the overwhelming ice energy coursing through its body. This energy, although potent, was unmanageable for Shellder and was slowly eroding its physical body. A Pokmon doctor had diagnosed that the only truly effective way to save Shellder was to evolve it into Cloyster. While Shellder is a water-type Pokmon, Cloyster is a dual water and ice-type. Once it evolves into Cloyster, the intense ice energy in its body will be controlled. After Chase''s family purchased Shellder, they could no longer afford a Water Stone, and without it, Shellder''s life was in jeopardy. To save her Pokmon, Chase decided to keep this a secret from her parents, even stealing from their retirement fund to buy tickets to the No. 1 Secret Realm. In this challenging situation, she found herself in possession of a gravely ill Pokmon and felt completely at a loss. Pokmon: Shellder (Water) Level: 18 Qualification: Green Ability: Shell Armor Props: None Gender: Female Moves: Tackle, Water Gun, Withdraw, Leer, Whirlpool Move CD: None Genetic Move: Water Pulse Note: This Pokmon has a significant amount of ice energy; if it doesn''t evolve in three days, it will perish. Julian, who had come to the exit of the secret realm, happened to see Chase with a distressed expression. Looking at Shellder, who was half-dead in her arms, he subconsciously glanced at it with his probing eyes. Startled, Chase who had been gathering her courage to venture toward the secret lake when she unexpectedly spotted Julian emerging from the bushes with Metang and Riolu trailing behind him, causing her to scream in fright. "whaaa~~" Julian "(;)" ''Did she come here to feed herself to the pokemon.'' "whaaa...." ''The lung capacity is quite large, she has not stopped even after more than ten seconds.'' "Stop!" Julian walked in front of her and made a closing gesture with his palm, Miraculously the latter''s voice actually stopped. "Stop screaming, my ears are going to become deaf" She looked at him up and down, ''he looks really good, the type of beasts who like to be violent.'' Seemingly frightened by Julian''s gaze, when Chase was about to continue screaming, Julian threatened: "If you scream again, I will throw you to the Beedrill swarm and let them eat you" Chase quickly covered her mouth. Meanwhile, Shellder fixed an angry gaze on Julian, prepared to defend its trainer despite its own frail state. If Julian really did something dangerous to its trainer, it would protect her even if she died. "What are you doing in the secret realm? Aren''t you afraid of death?" Julian questioned, with concern, even though he had his suspicions. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I''m here to find a Water Stone to heal Shellder," Chase admitted meekly. "Here, you need this," Julian said as he handed her a Water Stone he had obtained. "Get out of here as soon as you can; this secret realm isn''t a place for you." Julian handed the Water Stone he took out of David''s body to the other party but girl seemed to be a little confused by Julian''s actions and didn''t take it, so Julian stuffed the Water Stone into her pocket. This particular Water Stone was of high quality, enough to not only allow Shellder to evolve but also to enhance its qualifications from green to cyan. Walker - Steven - Stone is online. Steven gave Mega Evolution Stone and he gave Water Stone. Julian couldn''t help but admire Chase''s determination to endanger herself for the sake of her Pokmon. He felt a sense of kinship; the ancients believed that those who demonstrated filial devotion would not commit great wrongs, and the same applied to trainers who genuinely cared for their Pokmon. Chance had brought him a Water Stone just when he encountered someone in dire need. And he knew if he hadn''t intervened, Chase would likely have struggled to escape the secret realm alive. "No need to thank me. I''m um- Steven, goodbye," Julian said before stepping through the exit of the No. 1 Secret Realm. Chase stared at the Water Stone she held and watched where Julian had disappeared, her features a mix of wonder and disbelief. "Wait, his name was Steven? I thought it was Julian. Is Steven a nickname?" she murmured to herself, reflecting on how, until now, Julian had been quiet and unassuming at school. But since his starter Pokmon beldum and his family background was revealed, he immediately became the most famous person in school. Although Chase was from a different class and didn''t know him well, she certainly recognized him. Pokmon: Dratini (Dragon) Level: 0 Qualification: Purple Ability: Shed Skin Props: None Gender: Male Moves: Wrap, Leer CD Moves: None Genetic Moves: Extreme Speed, Dragon Breath, Dragon Dance, Outrage - As Julian examined the details about Dratini''s egg, he couldn''t help but feel an overwhelming desire to express his excitement; the system was truly remarkable, and the products it generated had to be extraordinary. A Dratini with champion qualifications, featuring the exceptionally rare genetic move of Extreme Speed, caught his attention. If it were to evolve into a powerful Dragonite, utilizing the Extreme Speed move, its agility would certainly set it apart from nearly all other Pokmon. "If I said I picked up this Pokmon egg on the side of the road, would my parents believe it?" Looking at the Pokmon egg, Julian suddenly thought of a question, how to explain the origin of the egg to his parents. While it might be easy to say he got a regular Pokmon egg from a breeder, this was a Pseudo-legendary egg, and no breeders in Lake City sold such rare items. In the past, Julian lived on campus for the first and second year of high school so there was no need to go home. But now in the third year, He choose to be a day student, because he was already a trainer. He received school education during the day and continued to study with his father at night. - "So you found this in a Secret Realm" Jake looked at Julian with an expression like you''re kidding me. This secret realm has existed for more than 30 years and there has never been a dragon-type Pokmon inside, let alone a Dratini''s egg. Julian recognized that he needed a better excuse but, If Jake knew that Julian originally wanted to say that this Pokmon egg was picked up on the side of the road, he would definitely not think that this excuse was a bad one. However, Jake decided not to press further; it was common for teens to keep secrets as they grew older. As a parent, all he could do was support his son and hope he stayed on the right path. Chapter 48: Silver Province High School League Chapter 48: Silver Province High School LeagueFour months flew by, and suddenly it was the second half of senior year. On the first day back at school, the head teacher, Sam Nott, delivered some significant news. "The Yale Province High School League is about to begin," he announced. "Everyone should know about this competition. The school will select five students to represent us. Those who excel in the league will receive early acceptance from universities in Drakoria." He continued, "If you win the Yale Provincial High School League, you''ll find yourself in high demand from the top universities in Drakoria, including Shuimu, Imperial Capital, Qing, and Modu." This prestigious high school league occurs annually, with similar competitions hosted in other provinces, all taking place during the second half of senior year. While the timing may vary slightly across provinces, the overall schedule remains consistent. Achieving a top-three finish in the provincial league grants access to the elite universities in the country, with provisions for early acceptance into their programs. Every year, the champions from each provincial league are guaranteed early entrance into these top institutions. The high school leagues represent the initial experience for many trainers from various schools, with the top priority being to secure a spot on the roster. Every school, regardless of its size or status as a provincial or national key institution, has just three allotted spots. This limitation sometimes leads students from stronger schools to transfer to weaker ones for a better chance at participation. "There are five places available," Sam announced. "To register, you must have three Pokmon. Those interested should sign up by next Monday." Only trainers with three Pokmon can register for the league. Even if a trainer possesses an Elite Pokmon, they are ineligible if they only have one. "Ding." "Main quest: Participate in the silver-white high school league and achieve a ranking." "Reward: Based on your ranking." "Note: There are no rewards for finishes outside the top ten." S~ea??h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As expected, a task would arise from such a situation. Common tasks include daily, random, and hidden objectives, but the main quest has appeared only once before. This marks the second occurrence. Main quests are rare but offer valuable rewards; the first one bestowed the power of Aura. This time, the reward structure hinges on rankingbetter placements promise greater rewards. "Julian, are you planning to sign up?" Will asked. Julian had already gathered three Pokmon last semester. He nodded; even without the quest, he intended to enter the league. "This year, the Silver Trainer Association has increased rewards for the top three compared to previous leagues," Sam continued. "The third-place winner will receive a green qualification Pokmon egg along with a resource package worth 20 million." "The runner-up will get a green-qualified dragon-type Pokmon egg and 50 million in resources." "And the champion will be awarded a cyan qualification Pokmon egg, a ticket to any advanced secret realm in the silver-white province, and a resource exchange valued at 80 million." Such enticing rewards have sparked excitement not just among students but even the head teacher, Sam Nott, who, due to his role, cannot participate. During his own schooling, he too had competed in the silver-white high school league but didn''t even break into the top 100, hence missing out on any rewards. "Don''t get greedy; top 100 is good enough," he advised. "Not greedy at all," Julian replied confidently. "I just want to make it into the top three." "That''s a bit greedy, don''t you think? Focus on securing top 10 spots first," Sam suggested. These words ignited a competitive spirit among many elite class students, who envisioned themselves making a name for themselves in the high school leagueA scene reminiscent of the greats from the silver and white provinces, fiercely sought after by the finest colleges. Lake No. 1 Middle School is recognized as a national key high school, but it has only five available spots, of which one has already been filled. Many of Julian''s classmates, who had signed up for the competition, felt a sense of helplessness in the face of his exceptional talent. Sharing a class with such a formidable competitor was a significant burden for them. Throughout the first semester, they would face weekly intra-class contests, but no one was able to defeat Julian''s Pokmon, not even with a serious effort. All fifteen students from the elite class applied, excluding the two regular classes. "Han also registered, so I doubt I have a chance," Will lamented. If Julian was assured of his first-place spot, then Han''s position at second was equally secure, leaving any hope for third, fourth, or fifth place up for grabs. Will had managed to secure a top-six finish in the class once, but he struggled against Han, a water trainer with superior tactical skills and a well-established background from a prominent local water family in Lake City. He knew he couldn''t beat Hanat least not at this moment. "It''s good you know," Julian replied flatly. Without a stroke of luck, Will would likely miss out on even fifth place. "Can''t you say something uplifting?" Will shot a glare at Julian, upset that instead of offering comfort, Julian was being blunt. "I''m just stating facts. Instead of dwelling on unrealistic hopes, why not focus on the tasks you can tackle during your days off?" Will''s financial situation prevented him from properly caring for his three Pokmon, so he often picked up local tasks through the Drakoria Trainer APP to make ends meet. The pay from these quests was just enough to sustain his Pokmon. "I''m planning to take on the task of catching Onix in the No. 1 Secret Realm. Completing it would exempt me from needing to take on more tasks for half a year," he shared. As members of the elite class, Sam had previously taken them to the No. 1 Secret Realm, and the school covered their ticket expenses, making Will somewhat familiar with the area. "You have money for tickets?" Julian questioned. "Yes, as long as I finish the job, the tickets will be reimbursed," Will replied. "Just be careful, especially around the people in the secret realm," Julian cautioned. "Don''t worry; my Charmeleon is very strong. If I complete this task, third place might be mine," Will said confidently. "As long as you''re happy," Julian replied, his tone indifferent. He chose not to offer to join Will, realizing that while they were friends, he didn''t wish to take on the role of a caretaker. Will understood that Julian came from a wealthy family and that he could easily ask Julian for a loan or to accompany him into the secret realm, but he opted to go alone. The journey of a trainer could be traveled together, but the path to the top was fraught with challenges and often difficult to navigateeven more so in pairs. "Buy a bottle of Max Repel; it should come in handy," Julian suggested, knowing that Max Repel could help ward off lower-level Pokmon. To reach the rocky area where Onix resided, Will needed to traverse the forest first, which was home to about seventy to eighty percent of the Pokmon in the first secret realm, including that Beedrill above level forty. Chapter 49: Trials Begin Chapter 49: Trials BeginThe annual Yale Provincial High School League is set to kick off, capturing significant media attention lately. Naturally, colleges and universities with championship titles have become the focus of various media interviews. The league begins with team competitions, followed by individual contests once the top three schools are established. In the team events, strong teammates can sometimes help less skilled players secure victories, but the individual competition truly tests personal abilities, garnering more public interest. On Monday, Lake Middle School conducted a trial to select five main contenders and three additional candidates. Among the elite class, all fifteen students registered for the competition, while two regular classes, totaling fifty students, saw only twenty participants sign up. It''s not that the elite class exudes overconfidence; rather, the high school league requires a minimum of three Pokmon to compete. Elite class students are fully equipped, whereas most from the regular classes possess only two Pokmon. With thirty-five participants in total between the two regular classes, Julian, despite being the clear favorite, must still navigate the selection process to secure a main contender position. The competition rules are straightforward: head teacher Sam designates five main contenders, and anyone wishing to challenge them must take the initiative. If a challenger wins in a one-on-one match, they take over the main spot. However, once a main contender, they can be challenged by others, with a maximum of seven challenges allowable. Julian(Steel), along with Will (Fire), Han (Water), Zosh (Ground), and Shen (Fighting), were selected for the main lineup, surprising Julian when Will was also included, albeit temporarily. The five would soon face a wave of challenges from thirty contenders. Winning would secure their main positions, while losing would demote them to challengers. Among the group, Will was seen as the most vulnerable target right from the start. But in a stunning turn of events, his Charmeleon evolved into Charizard, allowing him to defeat three challengers in a row with the help of his new Pokmon. However, Charizard took significant damage in the process, and if further challenged, Will might have to rely on Pidgeotto or Camerupt for the next four matches. Fortunately, Will''s impressive display seemed to deter future challengers, who opted to go after the other three main contenders instead. The reason was clear: no one dared to challenge Julian. Sar?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The elite class students understood that Julian''s skill set was unmatched, and to challenge him would only risk embarrassment and damage their confidence. Yet, a few brave souls remained undeterred. Notably, someone from the regular class stepped forward to challenge Julian directly. "I''m afraid this guy hasn''t woken up yet." "I know him, the first in the second class, seems to have always wanted to enter our elite class" "He''s a Fire Type Trainer" someone added, followed by the snide remark, "Talk about delusions of grandeur." As Julian faced off against his challenger, he could hear Will''s encouraging voice resonate in his ears, "Julian, teach this arrogant guy a lesson." Although they were both fire trainers, Will had always harbored a sense of rivalry against him. "Fang, I''d appreciate a good match," Julian stated calmly before tossing out his Pok Ball. With a flash of white light, a striking Lucario emerged on the battlefield. - Pokmon: Lucario (Fighting/Steel) Level: 42 Qualification: blue Ability: Inner Focus Props: Muscle Band Gender: Male Moves: Quick Attack, Endure, Feint, Metal Claw, Aura Sphere, Rock Smash, Metal Sound, Bone Rush Disc Moves: Low Sweep, Brick Break, Agility, Sword Dance, Dig, Bulk Up, Focus Blast, Dark Pulse Genetic Moves: Mind Reader, Close Combat, Force Palm, Thunder Punch Even though a semester seems brief, it''s more than enough time for Julian to elevate his Pokmon to an Advanced level. Lucario has transformed from an adorable creature into a tall, striking figure, drawing excited screams from girls as it emerged from the Pok Ball. "Oh my gosh, he''s so handsome!" "Breaking the lawthis is a crime!" "I want a Pokmon like that too!" Despite the commotion, Lucario remained unfazed. It scanned the field and noticed for the first time that its rival trainer, Fang, hadn''t yet sent out a Pokmon. Upon seeing Lucario, Fang trembled under its gaze, momentarily forgetting to release his own Pokmon. It wasn''t until Sam, the referee, nudged him that he recognized the urgency of the situation and reluctantly issued a command. "Magcargo!" Fang quickly called forth his strongest Pokmon. "Magcargo, use Flamethrower!" "Aura Sphere!" Magcargo unleashed a torrent of flames, but before they could travel far, the oncoming Aura Sphere dissipated the attack. "Bang!" Magcargo could only watch in shock as the Aura Sphere overwhelmed its Flamethrower, striking it directly. With a crushing sound, it collapsed, its vision darkening. "Lucario wins," Sam declared. The idea of type advantages was rendered meaningless; Magcargo didn''t even have a chance to fight back. Fang felt a rush of embarrassment; his strongest Pokmon had fallen in a single hit, especially knowing that Julian''s top Pokmon was the formidable silver Metagross. He regretted challenging Julian, glancing around discreetly for anyone who might witness his humiliation. Yet, no one seemed to mock him; they were all too shocked by the recent turn of events, realizing they could very well face the same fate. In a daze, Fang recalled Magcargo and left the arena, while Julian allowed Lucario to remain out, eager to see if any more challengers would step forward. However, after standing for five minutes in silence, no one dared to approach him. "Julian, you can head back now," said Sam, the head teacher. With Julian returning Lucario to its Pok Ball, both challengers and the other four fighters felt a wave of relief. Julian''s presence had exerted immense pressure on everyone, including the other top contenders, who knew they were unlikely to perform better than Fang had. Particularly, Han observed Julian with mixed emotions. Back in the early days of high school, he could at least hold his own against Julian''s Pokmon, causing him some trouble. But over time, the gap between them had only widened. If Han''s progress could be likened to that of a car, Julian''s was akin to a rocket. Chapter 50: Battle Club Chapter 50: Battle ClubAfter a day of selection, five candidates were finally chosen for the main competition by the previous class teacher, Sam. The selected individuals were Julian (Steel), Han (Water), Zosh (Ground), Shen (Fighting), and Will (Fire). Among these five, no dared to face Julian again after initially being tested. This also demonstrated Sam''s keen eye for talent. From the remaining ones, three candidates were chosen based on their previous performance in challenges. The chosen ones were Chase (Ice), Chris (Bug), and Zack (Normal), all hailing from the regular Trainer class. With these eight individuals gathered, Sam addressed them, announcing, "The Silver White High School League will take place in Lake City in a month." As the capital of Yale Province, Lake City hosts several key competitions each year, including the recent Breeders Competition and the upcoming High School League. "I will be your coach," Sam continued. "The school will provide you eight with prioritized resources. Although the substitution team will only get half that of the main team, this will still give you an opportunity to shine, as they will still be more resources than given to the elite class." The three candidates displayed excitement rather than dissatisfaction. Coming from ordinary backgrounds, they knew that the resources allocated to them surpassed those available to the elite class. "Meet here at 8 o''clock tomorrow for training. If you perform well in the league, even without achieving a top ranking, colleges will take notice and may offer you early acceptance," Sam stated before leaving. Julian also followed in his footsteps and was about to leave, when Will quickly joined him. "Aren''t you curious why I''ve gotten so strong in just two days?" Will asked, eager to share his experiences from Secret Realm No. 1. "I''m not curious; I''m sure you''ll tell me eventually," Julian replied, continuing on his way. Will''s character was one that often couldn''t keep things to himself, and he felt compelled to share. Meanwhile, Chase, another candidate, suddenly looked downcast at Julian''s retreating figure. "He''s so proud that he looks down on people like us," Shen commented, one of the selected candidates. Despite her family''s background, she felt a disparity with Julian. "No, no, you misunderstood" S~ea??h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chase hurriedly shook her head and explained with a slightly red face, "He helped me, so I am very grateful to him, that''s all." If Julian hadn''t given her the Water Stone, maybe she and Shellder would have died in the No. 1 secret realm. Now, after evolving with the Water Stone, her Cloyster boasted powerful ice abilities. It was also because of Cloyster''s battle with Shen''s Machamp that attracted Sam''s attention and she became one of the three candidates. - "So you were lucky, and found three Fire Stone fragments accidentally, and the Onix required by the mission happened to be injured?" Julian asked. "What luck? It''s my talent, my unbeatable will!" Will retorted, jumping up at Julian''s dismissive expression. Though some might call it luck, Will had indeed made great progress after Charmeleon absorbed the three Fire Stone fragments and evolved into Charizard. Plus, submitting the captured Onix had netted him nearly 10 million, enough to train three Pokmon for a considerable time. After parting ways with Will, Julian chose not to head home but instead made his way to a prestigious private battle club in Lake City. "Young Master Walker!" The staff at the entrance recognized Julian immediately, hastening to open the door and beckon him with warm smiles. "Master Walker, a pseudo-Elite steel trainer came to our club yesterday, don''t know if you are interested," the staff said. The Battle Club emerged alongside the growth of Trainers. In essence, the Battle Club functions as a sparring team. For Trainers looking to enhance their Pokmon''s abilities, battles are essential. However, choosing the right Rival for improvement in these battles is equally important. Lower-level Rivals can be dull, while high-level Rivals can be too intense and ruthless, potentially harming your Pokmon''s development. Thus, the role of sparring professionals was established. At the Battle Club, you''ll encounter Trainers ranging from Rookies to pseudo-Elite and even Elite-level Trainers. The primary focus of the sparring teachers is to align with your specific needs. "Oh, I think I''ll have him as my sparring partner this time." Julian expressed slight interest. Although this Battle Club is the leading facility in Lake City, it has several pseudo-Elite sparring Trainers, with elite-level Trainers occasionally visiting; however, there are no specialized steel type sparring Trainers available. Julian has battled with these prospective and Elite Trainers and gained substantial experience. "Here, take a look at his profile, master Walker," said the staff member, handing Julian a tablet containing information about the new prospective Elite Trainer. Name: Wren Age: 45 Trainer grade: Steel pseudo-Elite Pokmon: Steelix lv65, Magnezone lv63, Mawile lv60, Ursaring lv59, Persian lv59, Linoone lv55 After reviewing the details, Julian noted that Wren appeared to be an average pseudo-Elite Trainer with only three steel-type Pokmon, which seemed insufficient for someone specializing in steel types. However, this can be understood, as the number of steel type Pokmon tends to be less diverse compared to types like Fire, Water, and Grass. Julian''s own family exclusively possesses two steel Pokmon in Drakoria: a Metagross and an Aggron. Metagross is a steel-type pseudo-legendary Pokmon, whereas Aggron serves as a formidable steel-based defense. Both Pokmon are strategic assets for Drakoria, allowing the exchange of unique species with other regions to enhance the country''s Pokmon diversity and facilitate research. Shortly after, the staff member returned with a middle-aged woman, who approached Julian with a prideful demeanor. To Julian, this pseudo-Elite seemed quite ordinary, but for the staff, she was a figure of admiration. "You''re the challenger this time," Wren stated, raising her head and looking at Julian with a sense of pride. "Yes," Julian replied, slightly taken aback by her tone. Chapter 51: Metagross Vs Steelix Chapter 51: Metagross Vs SteelixElite trainers occupy a revered status, esteemed by many as the pinnacle of achievement to which countless aspiring trainers aspire. While pseudo-Elite Trainers may not reach the heights of their elite counterparts, they represent the ultimate goal for most, with some achieving this milestone in their twenties, while others may take until their fifties or sixties to arrive at the same point. Within the trainer community, there is a significant gender imbalance, with male trainers vastly outnumbering their female counterparts. Wren, 45 years old, became a pseudo-Elite Trainer at the age of 36, a milestone that fills her with pride. Although she has only recently joined this battle club, her brash personality has already made her well-known among its members. Sear?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What kind of person dares to challenge a pseudo-Elite now?" When Wren noticed that Julian was wearing the uniform of Lake No. 1 High School, her disdain for him only deepened, despite his qualification to spar with her. "A high school studentwhat level of strength can he possibly have?" "I hope you maintain that cocky attitude a while later," Julian replied calmly as he made his way to the battlefield. "You look foolish. Don''t come crying to me you lose," Wren scoffed. A staff member frowned and inquired, "Haven''t you looked over the guest information we provided?" "I glanced at it. It''s just some rich kid; I''ll take it easy," Wren replied dismissively as she headed toward the arena. It was clear she had overlooked Julian''s background, or her attitude would have been different. The staff, not particularly fond of Wren himself, hoped she would face some challenges in her match. "Choose a venue," the announcer called out. As Julian and Wren positioned themselves at opposite ends of the arena, Julian was given the opportunity to select the venue type. "This one will do," he said, opting for a standard field without any attribute bonuses. Most public battlefields are designed this way due to the lower construction and maintenance costs compared to those with added bonuses. "what a clueless rookie," Wren sneered, looking down on Julian, the wealthy kid who didn''t even know how to choose a advantageous battleground. "Go, Steelix!" Wren declared, sending out her ace Pokmon to teach Julian a lesson and remind him that challenging a pseudo-Elite is not a decision to be taken lightly.- Pokmon: Steelix (Steel/Ground) Level: 65 Qualification: Green Ability: Rock Head Item: Hard Stone Gender: Male Moves: Thunder Fang, Fire Fang, Ice Fang, Tackle, Harden, Rock Throw, Dragon Breath, Stone Edge, Crunch, Dig, Iron Tail, Tackle move Discs: Hyper Beam, Giga Impact, Protect, Sandstorm, Earthquake Genetic Moves: Flail, Defense Curl - As he looked, Steelix''s stats were impressive at first glance, and its moveset was undeniably exceptional, justifying its status as a pseudo-Elite Trump Card. Noticing that Julian had yet to release her Pokmon, Wren assumed that her Steelix intimidated him, a wealthy second-generation who had lived a sheltered life. This thought only intensified the smugness on her face. Steelix stands out among Pokmon due to its considerable size, typically measuring around 9.2 meters in length. With Wren''s training, it appears to exceed 10 meters. Pokmon like Steelix and Gyarados can easily dazzle novice trainers who lack experience. Of course, both of these Pokmon are formidable in their own right. Just then, a flash of white light revealed a striking Metagross a sleek silver figure boasting a discus-shaped body, thick legs akin to Beldum, and an "X"-shaped golden metal cross adorned on its face. A different-colored Metagross emerged onto the field. - Pokmon: Metagross (Steel/Psychic) Level: 49 Qualification: Purple Ability: Light Metal Props: Metal Coat Gender: no gender Moves: Tackle, Steel Beam, Confusion, Metal Claw, Bullet Punch, Flash Cannon, Magnet Rise, Psychic, Scary Face, Brick Break Disc Moves: Iron Head, Zen Headbutt, Iron Defense, Protect, Light Screen, Psycho Cut, Shadow Ball, Gyro Ball, Psyshock - After more than six months of training, boosted by both system and family resources, Metang has finally evolved into Metagross, becoming a true Pseudo-Legendary Pokmon. Its status has transformed from blue a pseudo-champion to purple a champion. "Ding" "Random Mission: Teach her to behave decent and defeat her with brute force." "Task Reward: 500 points and a minor qualification enhancement potion (below cyan)." Currently, none of Julian''s four Pokmon have qualifications lower than cyan, meaning these quests primarily offer him points that are more useful. Now at level 49, Metagross has attained the Advanced level. While it hasn''t reached the peak of that tier, its presence is more imposing than the pseudo-elite Steelix across the field. With Metagross''s emergence, Julian''s previously relaxed demeanor shifted, and his expression darkened slightly. "Metagross - and it''s silver - this pokemon is" Wren stared in awe at the Pokmon that every trainer, especially those specializing in Steel and Psychic types, dreams of having. Initially, she had thought he was just a privileged newcomer; she didn''t expect him to be someone who disguises their true identity. Though she was taken aback, Wren quickly composed herself. She had encountered pseudo-legendaries before, but Julian''s identity took her by surprise. "It hasn''t reached pseudo-elite status yet, so even this Pseudo-Legendary isn''t a match for Steelix," Wren mused silently. She understood that pseudo-legendaries were formidable. At the same level, she might not want to engage in battle, but right now, the disparity in their levels was significant. "Steelix, use Iron Tail!" Wren initiated the attack. Despite Steelix''s massive size, it moved with remarkable agility. In just the blink of an eye, it spanned the 100-meter field. With its slender physique, the power of its Iron Tail surpassed that of ordinary Pokmon. The air was charged with pressure as the Iron Tail swung through, creating explosive sounds, while Metagross showed no intention of dodging. The system encouraged Julian to pursue the most aggressive tactics. What does violence mean? For Metagross, it meant pure steel aggression. "Brick Break!" As Iron Tail approached, Metagross finally reacted, raising its forearm to intercept the attack with a resonant metallic clash. When the two moves collided, an immense surge of energy erupted. Thankfully, the arena had a protective barrier, preventing the energy from spilling out; otherwise, trainers Wren and Julian would have been caught up in it. "Is that the best you can do?" Julian remarked in disappointment as he surveyed Steelix. Floating in the arena, Metagross held its ground against Steelix''s Iron Tail with its forearm, displaying incredible stability without even a hint of sinking. It was as though the colossal Iron Tail was no more threatening than a feather duster. Chapter 52: Restricted Moves Chapter 52: Restricted Moves"How is this possible?" Wren gasped at the sight before her, staring at the Metagross on the field in disbelief. Her Steelix, in both level and strength, was supposed to be superior to Metagross. While she felt that it could block the Iron Tail attack, it was the effortless way in which Metagross did so that unsettled her. "Metagross, throw it out," Julian instructed casually. "Meta~" With a dull thud, Metagross''s body lowered briefly before it shot forward and struck Steelix''s tail using a Take Down move, sending the Steel-type Pokmon flying several dozen meters. "Steelix, use Fire Fang!" Wren shouted. Fire-type moves deal double damage to Steel-types. Steelix quickly grounded itself by tapping its tail against the Earth, countering the recoil from the Take Down, and charged toward Metagross with a fiery, gaping maw. However, to his surprise, Metagross had vanished from that spot. Steelix instinctively scanned the area. "Steelix, behind you! Counter with Fire Fang!" Wren''s command rang out just as Steelix felt a rush of wind at its back. Without time to focus, it turned and instinctively bit behind it. Metagross''s Bullet Punch collided with Steelix''s Fire Fang, creating a sharp ringing sound. Although Steelix''s teeth cracked, it managed to clamp down on Metagross''s arm. The fiery energy so close to his throat made Metagross quite uncomfortable. "Continue with Bullet Punch," Julian ordered. Impressed with Steelix''s capabilities, Julian noted that despite the odds, Steelix succeeded in landing a bite on Metagross. Their exchange of injuries had now become a battle of resilience. With four arms, Metagross had the upper hand in that regard, while Steelix had only one mouth. The Bullet Punch struck Steelix''s chin, glowing with a silvery light, leading to a pained release. "Unleash the Hyper Beam!" Wren commanded fiercely. Metagross now stood directly in front of Steelix. At this close range, the accuracy of the attack was guaranteed. However, the proximity meant that Steelix would also be caught in the blast when it detonated. "Zen Headbutt, smash it!" Julian responded boldly. If it weren''t for the system''s requirement for brute forcing against the opponent, Julian might have opted to have Metagross use a defensive maneuver instead. Despite Metagross being a pseudo-legendary Pokmon, Julian was confident in Steelix''s toughness due to the intense pressure it had endured underground. As the two Pokmon clashed again, their powers collided, resulting in a massive explosion that showered the arena with smoke and fire. The energy shields rippled with the force of the blast. Steelix was hurled backward, landing heavily several meters away from Julian. In the chaos and smoke, neither Julian nor Wren could see their respective Pokmon or gauge Steelix''s condition. With visibility obstructed, Wren couldn''t determine Steelix''s position and was unable to issue precise commands. "Steelix, use Defense Curl!" Although she couldn''t visually track Steelix, Wren was aware that Julian was equally in the dark about Metagross''s whereabouts, so it was wise to bolster Steelix''s defenses until visibility returned. "What a fortunate trainer," she thought, eyeing the distant Metagross with envy. Julian seemed to be prepared to wait for the smoke to clear before engaging again. However, she underestimated him. A typical trainer might have chosen to do that, but Julian was no ordinary trainer. In situations where visibility is compromised due to haze, smoke, or terrain, standard protocol advises against fighting. Yet, Julian possessed the ability to sense aura, allowing him to locate Metagross through the smoke. "Metagross it''s at three o''clockfire Hyper Beam!" Julian shouted. Wren was taken aback. How did he know Metagross''s location? It felt impossible. As she watched Metagross begin to charge its attack, Wren quickly called out, "Steelix, dig!" Uncertain if Metagross would actually strike Steelix, she wasn''t willing to take the risk. The hyper beam cut through the smoke, scattering it, and in that moment, she caught a glimpse of Steelix''s tail disappearing into the ground. ''How could he have sensed Metagross despite the smoke?'' Cold sweat trickled down Wren''s forehead. If she had hesitated before ordering Steelix to dig, the attack would have connected mercilessly. What a narrow escape. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Earthquake!" Julian commanded. "No, Steelix, come back up!" Wren''s expression shifted dramatically. As a pseudo-Elite Trainer, she had commanded Steelix to use Dig. On the opposing side stood the son of the Walker family, who certainly wouldn''t let Metagross go without learning Earthquake. It''s important to remember that when Pokmon are underground, the damage dealt by Earthquake is doubled compared to when on solid ground. Metagross floated like a normal Body Slam, its powerful limbs crashing down onto the ground, causing the entire arena to tremble violently and fissures to appear across the surface. Julian and Wren quickly grabbed the handrail nearby. Although the venue was protected by an energy shield, it wouldn''t block the seismic effects traveling through the ground. In standard matches, certain moves are banned, including Earthquake and Draco Meteor, due to their large area of effect and difficulty in control. A pseudo-Elite Pokmon unleashing Earthquake at full power could potentially devastate an entire town. This battle club, being the premier venue in Lake City, allowed the use of Earthquake when most clubs would prohibit it. Just one use of Earthquake could render the battleground unplayable. Fortunately, Metagross maintained some control over its Earthquake''s power; otherwise, it wouldn''t just be the arena suffering devastation. After unleashing a powerful Earthquake, Steelix remained buried beneath the ground for an unusually long time. "Dig it out," Julian instructed. Metagross descended into the hole created by Steelix, and after a moment, emerged with the unconscious Steelix in tow. "Winner: Metagross!" shouted the referee. Chapter 53: Battle Legend Chapter 53: Battle LegendAs the referee''s voice echoed in the arena, Julian simultaneously heard a notification in his mind from the system, confirming that his reward had been added to his system space. With his current points totaling 25,078, and the bonus from the recent mission, he finally surpassed the 25,000 mark. His attention was drawn to a particular item in the system mall. Golden Legend Fragments: Collect ten pieces to obtain a complete golden legend that can upgrade Purple aptitude to Golden aptitude. Pokmon Trainers with Purple aptitude can achieve Champion status, while those with Golden aptitude can become Battle Legends. Currently, the pinnacle of Trainers is the Champion; there are no Battle Legends in existence, though all nations acknowledge that Champions embody the essence of Battle Legends. This revelation was uncovered in a certain ruin, located on the high seas. Upon its discovery, several powerful nations dispatched teams to investigate. This information subsequently became public knowledge, though it remains confidential among most Trainers. According to Pokmon scholars from Drakoria, a Pokmon with Golden aptitude, if nurtured properly, could rival first-level legendaries. Presently, the first-level legendaries that have emerged from ruins or confidential realms possess extraordinary powers that even Champions cannot contend with; if faced directly, it is certain that Champions would not survive. Fortunately, the known first-level legendaries are mainly elusive and not inclined to destruction. Otherwise, a powerful legendary could easily obliterate an entire nation. In countries like Babath Kingdom, a single Draco Meteor from Rayquaza could reduce it to rubble. Currently, ordinary legendaries, including legendaries like Moltres and Latias, are considered to have at most Purple aptitude. There''s no existing method to elevate a Pokmon with Purple aptitude to Golden; such an upgrade seems limited to first-level legendaries, which is a consensus among nations. Thus, a country possessing a Golden-qualified Pokmon that successfully matures could potentially become the strongest nation in the world. All nations are constantly researching ways to enhance Purple aptitude to Golden aptitude, but only they are privy to their progress. However, rumors occasionally surface about a nation developing a potion to enhance aptitude. Such news is met with great excitement. If a Champion-level Trainer is likened to a nuclear weapon, forming the backbone of national strength, then possessing a legendary-level Trainer marks the moment when a nation no longer fears first-level legendaries and asserts its dominance on the planet. The prospect of the Golden Legend gives Julian the opportunity to elevate Metagross''s aptitude to Golden. At 25,000 points for one fragment, and 250,000 for ten, it represents a remarkable deal for acquiring a Golden-qualified Pokmon. After purchasing, the points were deducted, and he held the Golden Legend fragment in his possession. However, upon viewing the cost of the second fragment, he couldn''t help but curse: "F***!" This caused Wren, who was about to apologize to Julian, to freeze momentarily, her face draining of color, unsure if she was the target of his ire. If she offended Julian, the sole heir of the Walker family, even as a pseudo-Elite, she feared she would find it difficult to navigate life in Drakoria. "I''m not upset with you; just recalling some unpleasant experiences," Julian clarified, noticing her expression. The price tag of the second Golden Legend fragment wasn''t 25,000, but 100,000 pointsfour times that of the first. With additional fragments beyond that, the accumulating costs were projected to exceed even the price of a Mewtwo. As expected, things were not as favorable as they had seemed. "Ah well, it''s still a beautiful day. Let''s just wash up and sleep. Everything else can wait until the dream," he mused. "The system return the item," Julian grumbled. He wasn''t keen on leaving the fragment in the system''s inventory; they were useful only when ten were collected, leaving the remaining fragment effectively worthless. In response to his frustration, the system displayed: "Once sold, non-refundable." "F**ker" Julian swore again, feeling he had learned a valuable lesson from the system. Despite months of diligent point accumulation, he regretted wasting them on what felt like an unworthy investment. He seriously suspected that the system had lured him into acquiring the Golden Legend fragment just to strip him of his precious points. Wren, meanwhile, had a nagging suspicion that Julian was venting frustration at her but lacked proof. Even if she did, she wouldn''t dare confront him. Regardless of her status as a pseudo-Elite, Julian''s advanced capabilities made any competition futile, especially with his pseudo-legendary Metagross. "What else do you want?" Julian prompted, noticing her hesitation. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Master Walker, how is your Metagross so strong? Even as a pseudo-legendary, it shouldn''t have been able to defeat my Steelix so easily," she asked. Looking at Metagross, still nursing some injuries from the battle, she observed that they had nearly healed at an astonishing rate. "Do you have a 1 billion?" Julian replied suddenly. "What?" Wren was taken aback, confused by the abrupt change in topic. "You could invest one billion into Steelix, and it would become incredibly powerful," he explained. Wren: (_) Staff: (_) What is unseen is not part of human nature. Julian''s Metagross, despite being only at level 49, possesses an inherent advantage due to its classification as a pseudo-legendary Pokmon, but this makes the leveling process significantly slower than that of ordinary Pokmon. Even at this level, Metagross is formidable enough to contend with pseudo-Elite Pokmon, including Wren''s, who stands at the pinnacle of that category. Julian has invested more resources and energy into Metagross than into his other PokmonLucario, Meltan, and Dragonairbecause he envisions Metagross as his ultimate Trump Card. In the realm of trainers, having six main Pokmon means that a superior Contest Condition is not solely based on uniform strength, but rather a balance of diversity. An absolute Trump Card can take on multiple Pokmon of equal strength. This is evident in examples such as Ash''s Pikachu, Red''s Charizard, Steven''s Metagross, and Cynthia''s Garchomp, all recognized as their respective trainers'' Trump Card Pokmon. Metagross is Julian''s starter Pokmon, reflecting the tradition of the Walker family, who have always relied on Metagross as their Trump CardJulian is no exception. In return, Metagross has risen to meet Julian''s expectations through its own hard work. Gently, Julian pressed his hand against the cross on Metagross''s forehead, channeling Aura energy. The Pokmon appeared relaxed. Julian then advised, "Since Steelix is your primary Trump Card, it''s best to allocate more than half of your resources to it. That''s how you can truly make progress." Chapter 54: Start Of Competition Chapter 54: Start Of CompetitionIf you have six Pokmon and 10 million in cash, distributing that cash across all six will generally only elevate them to a standard level. However, if you invest all 10 million in a single Pokmon, that Pokmon will achieve Advanced status. Although Advanced-level Pokmon are only one tier above normal/ordinary-level Pokmon, the difference in their battle capabilities is significant. Therefore, with limited resources, it''s more advantageous to concentrate your efforts on the best Pokmon to develop them into your trump card. While this approach may seem unfair to your other Pokmon, life is inherently unequal, and your primary goal should be to become stronger. "You have no reason to feel wronged for losing to my Metagross," Julian remarked casually. His Metagross boasted outstanding base stats that far exceeded those of a typical Metagross, and not even two Steelix would change that outcome. Watching the Metagross hovering serenely behind Julian, Wren nodded in envy, commenting; "It''s incredibly strong." "Hahaha, I did put a lot of effort into raising it," Julian replied, pleased. Metagross is his partner, and Julian feels joy when it receives praise, much like when someone compliments him on his looks. Metagross squinted contentedly, not from Wren''s praise but from the comforting aura of Julian''s massage. - Yale Province has twelve cities, including Lake City, with only three teams from each city qualifying for the competition. In the Yale Provincial High School League, the structure involves city preliminaries, where each city selects its three best teams. Lake City, as the provincial capital, hosts fifteen high schools, which means fifteen teams compete for just three spots in the silver-white high school league. The fifteen teams are divided into three groups labeled A, B, and C, with five teams in each group. The best teams from each group will represent their respective schools and Lake City in the league. Lake No. 1 Middle School is in Group A alongside other four. The five teams will draw lots to determine their opponents, and those who receive a bye will automatically proceed to the next round. "I hope to draw a bye!" Will said enthusiastically. Julian remained silent, seemingly uninterested, while Shen, another member of the group, commented, "I hope you get lucky; otherwise, it could get boring." As the acknowledged top team in Lake City, Lake No. 1 Middle School consistently secures one of the slots. This year, with a powerhouse like Julian, they are even more confident. Their team is led by head teacher Sam Nott. "I heard you recently faced off against Wren," Sam remarked. "Yeah, I played a match at the club," Julian replied. Sam''s expression shifted; he was surprised by what he knew about that match. Notably, Julian had used his Advanced-level Metagross to defeat Wren''s trump card Pokmon, although he did sustain some minor injuries. This remarkable event quickly spread among the upper echelons of Lake City. Sarch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even Sam watched the video of the encounter. Despite both being pseudo elite-level trainers, defeating Wren''s Steelix wouldn''t be difficult for Sam, but he knew defeating Julian''s Metagross would be a challenge, no matter the toll on his pride. It was evident to anyone with a discerning eye just how well-trained Julian''s Metagross was, excelling in speed, defense, and attack compared to others at the same level. Sam couldn''t help but wonder how Julian had managed to raise such an exceptional Metagross at a young age. "How do you feel about your performance?" Sam inquired. "Ordinary," Julian responded. This answer made Sam''s mouth twitch in disbelief. He couldn''t accuse Julian of being boastful; the video clearly showed Wren being soundly defeated. But if a pseudo-elite could be described as ordinary, what did that say about Sam''s own standing? ''Never mind, I won''t ask questions that might hurt my own feelings,'' Sam thought to himself. "Yeah, my luck really is top-notch," Will cheered, drawing Sam''s attention. Will had just drawn a table tennis ball marked with the number three. Number three signified a bye; the remaining matches paired number one against number five and number two against number four. The representatives from the other four high schools visibly relaxed upon seeing Lake No. 1''s bye. Despite Lake No. 1 Middle School accounting for 99% chance to get the qualifying spot in Group A, no one wanted to face them in the first round and be eliminated immediately. At least securing a second-place finish in Group A would give them some credibility. Once the fierce battles concluded, the final victors emerged: Lake No. 6 Middle School and Dice Middle School, alongside the automatically advancing Lake No. 1 Middle School, which meant the three teams would have to draw lots again. Will took his turn at the stage and, whether by luck or something else, Lake No. 1 Middle School received yet another bye. In the clash between Lake No. 6 Middle School and Dice Middle School, Lake No. 6 triumphed. Ultimately, the showdown would be between Lake No. 1 and Lake No. 6 Middle Schools. As their team leader Sam observed, he gained insight into the five main Pokmon that Lake No. 6 had selected: one Electric-type, two Fire-types, one Water-type, and one Grass-type. The electric Pokmon should be among the strongest in their lineup. After two rounds of combat, the Pokmon belonging to the five trainers from Lake No. 6 had sustained varying levels of injury. However, they still had at least one Pokmon in pristine condition. It''s uncertain whether this Pokmon would be the primary contender in the battles ahead. "Chase, Chris, Zack, Han and Julian, you five will compete," Sam announced. While he initially wanted the three substitute candidates to face Lake No. 6 Middle School, he decided to include Julian as an insurance policy; as long as Julian remained in the mix, they could withstand any losses among the first four. Chase and the other two candidates were surprised to be called up for this opening match. Aware of their status as substitutes, they understood that unless the main force faltered, their chances to play would be slim. By allowing the three to participate, Sam aimed not only to train them but also to conceal the true strength of his primary team. Julian''s inclusion had significant implications. Following the revelation of his lineage as the heir to the Walker family, his background had become widely known among influential factions, and he decided to no longer hide it. "Got it!" they replied with enthusiasm. The respective team leaders began organizing their players, and after more than an hour of action, the match concluded. Chase managed to defeat one Pokmon from Lake No. 6 Middle School, while the other two candidates faced defeat. (TL/n: their will be many fights later so i guess the author just skipped preliminaries.) However, Han showcased impressive skill by sending Blastoise into the arena, leading to four consecutive victories. As such, Julian remained on the sidelines. Chapter 55: Wild Matches Chapter 55: Wild MatchesAfter Lake No. 1 Middle School triumphed over Lake No. 6 Middle School, they secured the top position in Group A and claimed one of the three spots to represent Lake City in the Yale Provincial University League. The competitions in the other two groups are still ongoing but approaching their conclusion. A little over half an hour later, the top teams for Groups B and C were decided: Group B: Lake Senior Research Middle School Group C: Blue Steel Middle School Blue Steel Middle School is a prestigious private institution. While its name may seem ordinary, it boasts a century-long history, with Julian''s great-grandfather as one of its founding principals. The "steel" in Blue Steel signifies the legacy of the Walker family, with Julian''s father, Jake, currently serving as an honorary principal. Julian opted not to attend this school, as he wished to avoid mingling with the offspring of trainers, wealthy families, and officials. Instead, he chose Lake No. 1 Middle School, regarded as the top public institution in Lake City, and was admitted on merit. "Tomorrow is a day off. The day after that, when teams from various cities arrive in Lake City, the Yale Provincial High School League will officially commence," someone announced. "Gather at the Lake Conference venue at nine o''clock the day after tomorrow," came the instruction. The Yale Provincial High School League is held in Lake city, the provincial capital. Teams from other cities are expected to arrive tomorrow, allowing the three teams from Lake City a day to rest. Julian and his friends nodded in agreement. "Just a reminder, avoid battling with Pokmon tomorrow, especially in wild matches. If anyone gets injured, it could affect our performance the day after tomorrow," warned Sam, casting a pointed look at Will. Sam''s warning made Will reconsider his plans for a jungle trip, recognizing the need to keep his main Pokmon safe ahead of the upcoming competition. Wild matches, which are highly unregulated, closely resemble feral battles with minimal restrictions on trainers and Pokmon. While trainers can technically allow their Pokmon to attack other trainers, it''s generally discouraged unless there''s no risk of serious injury or harm. Despite the dangers, wild matches offer substantial rewards and the chance for trainers and Pokmon to develop rapidlyprovided they emerge unscathed. Although many have been injured in such matches, the lack of formal regulation stems from the benefits they provide in terms of growth. As Julian and his teammates exited the arena, he waved goodbye to Will before departing. "Shen, do you have any plans?" Will asked as he approached classmate Shen. "Going for dinner," she replied, tossing her ponytail and walking confidently from him. "Mind if I join?" Will teased. "Of course I do," she responded dismissively. Will chuckled, "Honestly, I appreciate your straightforwardness." His friend Han nudged him, saying, "Shen doesn''t think highly of you; she could take you down with one punch." Recalling Shen''s formidable fighting skills, Will exclaimed, "What kind of martial arts does her family practice?" Zosh chimed in, "In martial art families, if you don''t have some fighting skills, you''re not cut out to be a trainer!" In environments such as the wild, secret realms, and ruins, Fighting Trainers often find it easier to survive. Most possess solid martial arts abilities, making it feasible for them to take on multiple opponents without difficulty. Shen is not only recognized as a beauty at Lake No. 1 Middle School but is also famed for her combat skills. Julian and Will had witnessed her single-handedly defeat a group of bullies who had been harassing female students, an event that left a lasting impression on Will. - Located on West Street, Lake City''s black market thrives only on the final day of the week. For the other six days, it serves as a venue for wild competitions. At this moment, Julian arrived, his plain student appearance starkly contrasting with the rough and aggressive individuals around him. He seemed out of place in such a chaotic environment. The wild matches run 24 hours a day, open to anyone brave enough to compete, even inexperienced trainers. "Young Master Walker, glad to see you here," greeted a man in his forties with an eager smile as Julian entered. Though wild matches operate without official oversight, a special administrator manages them privately, acting under covert governmental directives. Julian nodded and asked, "Is there a spot?" "There are a few," the man replied. Without delay, he led Julian to an empty arena that was already surrounded by around three to four hundred spectators. "Young Master Walker is here," someone remarked. "Looks like we have a good show on our hands," another voice chimed in. "I''ve heard this young man is quite good," someone else said. Sarch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian was no stranger to this scene; those who frequented the area knew well the name of the eldest son of the Walker family. As he stepped into the battle arena, Julian reached into his pocket, subtly retrieving something from the system space. "A qualification potionthis can enhance the abilities of Pokmon ranked below cyan, including pseudo-Elite and Elite Trainer peaks," he thought, holding the small vial of potion he had acquired earlier. The wild matches weren''t typically like this, but Julian''s reputation made others wary; they feared injuring him would provoke his father, an Elite, or his grandfather, who was a pseudo-champion. As a result, no one dared to challenge Julian. Defeating him would bring no benefit, and winning would only create unnecessary trouble, so why engage him in battle? In light of this predicament, each time he arrived for wild matches, Julian would offer items that held little value to him as incentives for opponents willing to fight. Previously, he had given away fragments of evolution stones, money, and various items, but today was the first time he had pulled out an aptitude potion. This potion was far more enticing than anything he had previously offered, and he could see the crowd''s reactions clearlyhearts racing and eyes lighting up with excitement as he displayed the potion. Chapter 56: Dragonair Chapter 56: DragonairQualification Enhancer, This is an asset that cannot be easily acquired with money, and one must possess a certain level of strength to acquire it. Within the trading section of the Drakorian Trainer APP, aptitude enhancement potions are occasionally available, most of which upgrade yellow aptitudes to green. sea??h th N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian, however, has a rare potion capable of advancing green aptitudes to cyan, marking a significant leap from the green pseudo-Elite to the cyan Elite status. There are approximately 500 registered Elite Trainers in Drakoria, which may seem substantial, but when divided among cities, there are only about two or three in each. A city typically has at least one million registered Trainers, with larger cities like Lake City housing over five million. This translates to an average of three million Trainers producing one Elite-level Trainernot one in a million, but rather one in three million. You can imagine how challenging it is to become an Elite Trainer. Now, an opportunity stands before them. If they can obtain the aptitude-enhancing potion from Julian, their Pokmon could potentially be upgraded from green to cyan, signifying the Elite level. However, to challenge Julian, a Trainer must at least be at the peak of Advanced or pseudo-elite status, which disqualifies most participants. The competitors in the wild games are primarily Advanced Trainers; pseudo-elite Trainers typically disregard wild matches unless facing rivals of similar caliber. Given that those partaking in the wild match are generally Advanced Trainers, it wasn''t long before five stepped forward. "Report the level of your main Pokmon," Julian instructed. "Nidoking Level 57" "Vileplume Level 58" "Clefable Level 58" "Exeggutor Level 59" "Flygon Level 59" After the five reported their levels, Julian pointed to the Trainer with the Flygon. "You will battle me." "If you manage to injure me or my Pokmon, there will be extra rewards. However, if you and your Pokmon do not impress me, you can forget about that qualifying potion." The objective of joining the wild match is to enhance oneself and their Pokmon. It would be pointless for a Rival to partake if they aren''t willing to embrace their own capabilities. "I hope you won''t regret this," Julian added. A cold glint ignited in Murphy''s eyes. If not for the chance to improve Flygon''s qualifications, he would never have agreed to compete against a seasoned Rival like Julian. Moreover, Julian''s condescending tone, treating him merely as a stepping stone, was particularly irksome. "If you''re bold enough to make me regret this," Murphy said. The two took their positions at opposite ends of the field, while those not chosen by Julian departed begrudgingly, casting annoyed glances at Murphy. "Flygon, come on out!" Pokmon: Flygon (Ground/Dragon) Level: 59 Qualification: Green Ability: Levitate Items: None Gender: Male Moves: Dragon Claw, Dragon Dance, Crunch, Dragon Pulse, Supersonic, Sand Tomb, Sandstorm, Bug Buzz, Dragon Tail, Earthquake. Move CD: Hyper Beam, Protect, Dig, Thunder Punch, Flamethrower Genetic Moves: Quick Attack, Air Cutter, Flail Flygon evolves from Trapinch, and it only possesses the Dragon typing upon reaching its next form. Though not classified as a pseudo-legendary, it is regarded as one of the more accessible Dragon-type Pokmon for those who dedicate themselves. The eggs of Trapinch start at six million. While Flygon''s current qualification is green, its attributes are predominantly close to cyan, indicating that it is merely a step away from achieving that status. Without an aptitude medication or an exceptional opportunity, this progression may remain out of reach for a lifetime. "Your Rival is here." Then Julian unleashed his Pokmon. A slim figure with sapphire-hued scales, a bright white underbelly, black eyes, a small white horn on its forehead, and two feather-like wings sprouting beside its head emerged. It was Dragonair, a celebrated Pokmon of the pseudo-legendary class. While it only achieves true pseudo-legendary status upon evolving into Dragonite, even in its current form, Dragonair possesses attributes that hint at its powerful potential. Dragonair showcases three crystal blue orbs: one at the base of its neck and two at the tip of its tail, granting it the power to manipulate the weather. Pokmon: Dragonair Level: 45 Qualification: Purple Ability: Shed Skin Item: Dragon Fang Gender: Male Moves: Wrap, Leer, Dragon Tail, Twister, Thunder Wave, Aqua Tail, Dragon Rush, Safeguard, Slam move Discs: Protect, Thunderbolt, Hyper Beam, Icy Wind, Hydro Pump, Flamethrower, Substitute, Iron Tail, Breaking SwipeC Genetic Moves: Extreme Speed, Dragon Breath, Dragon Dance, Outrage Dragonair is Julian''s first pokemon reward after completing the hidden mission ''first murder'' of the system, and the system rewarded him a Dratini''s egg. Whether it is aptitude or genetic Moves, it belongs to the top-level existences. Dratini evolved into Dragonair some time ago. Upon revealing Dragonair, the previously vibrant atmosphere turned noticeably colder. Many dream of having a pseudo-legendary, yet Julian already possessed two. People couldn''t help but wonder what remarkable deeds he must have accomplished in his past life to earn such an extraordinary Pokmon. They assumed Julian''s Dragonair was a familial gift, but the truth was quite differentnot even Julian''s father could fathom where his son procured a purple-qualified Dragonair. If it weren''t for his pride, Julian''s father might have asked for his son''s help in acquiring a Pokmon with purple aptitude. It is not the pseudo-legendary version that mattered; any Pokmon with purple aptitude would suffice. He chose Flygon as his rival because of its Dragon type. "Dragonair, use Aqua Tail!" Julian commanded as he initiated the attack. Dragonair soared swiftly through the air, its slender form moving gracefully. As it approached Flygon, the Aqua Tail was prepared, creating a swirling current of water that mixed with the surrounding air. "Flygon, use Thunder Punch!" With a fist crackling with electricity, Flygon collided with Dragonair, forcing both Pokmon to stagger back a few meters, seemingly evenly matched. Murphy tightened his fists, watching intently. His Flygon was at the peak of the Advanced level, just one step away from becoming a pseudo-elite. Although the Dragonair facing him was also Advanced, Murphy believed his Flygon held at least a ten-level advantage over it. Even so, this was no easy fight. A pseudo-legendaryMurphy''s gaze was fixed on the elegantly flying Dragonair above. Chapter 57: Lost Chapter 57: LostPseudo-Legendaries; Every Trainer dreams of possessing a pseudo-legendary Pokmon; having one suggests that your future achievements will at least reach Elite status. All pseudo-legendaries, provided they are trained properly, generally exhibit strength at an Elite level. With exceptional training, reaching the elite peak is entirely feasible. "Flygon, Flamethrower!" The intense flames erupted, and due to the lack of an energy shield on the battlefield, the surrounding temperature surged dramatically. Spectators, standing over ten meters away, worried for their safety from the devastation caused by the clash between the two Pokmon. In a wild match without an energy shield, both the Trainer and nearby observers are particularly vulnerable to injury. The flames surged, quickly enveloping half the arena. Julian could even smell the scorching smell of his hair, and the scorching heat from his skin, which kept stinging his nerves. Wild matches can be perilous, as the Trainers themselves can suffer serious consequences. For the first time, Dragonair positioned itself in front of Julian. "Dragon Breath!" Julian commanded. The sapphire dragon cleaved through the wall of flames, showcasing the dragon''s tremendous energy. However, the flames didn''t vanish but instead fell like raindrops from the sky. "Don''t bother with me!" Julian instructed, halting Dragonair from rushing in to help as several embers descended around them. "Flygon, Sand Tomb! Target the Trainer!" Murphy declared coldly. In a wild match, there are no rules; anything goes in the pursuit of victory, including attacking the Trainer with Pokmon. However, since wild matches are conducted in semi-public settings, killing an opponent Trainer could lead to retribution from their family and friends. Of course, if the Trainer is a lone wolf, then there''s hardly anything to fear. "This is tough," Julian thought, narrowly dodging the flames from above, only to find that the ground beneath him was rapidly shifting. In an instant, half of his calf was swallowed by the sand. The grains acted like a powerful suction, pulling him deeper into the ground, making escape nearly impossible. This scene elicited a slight smirk from Murphy. Julian had just mentioned that if he injured or significantly hurt Murphy''s Pokmon, he would receive additional rewards alongside the aptitude potion. sea??h th novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Sand Tomb was so perilous that entering it as a human could prove fatal; even an attempt to escape could result in broken legs. "Dragon Rush!" Julian maintained his composure, appearing oblivious to the dangerous sand ensnaring him, as if it were someone else trapped. Despite Dragonair''s urgency, it obeyed Julian''s commands, pouring its energy into the attack, empowered by its eagerness to fulfill its Trainer''s will. Flygon, lacking a sense of urgency, suffered from the direct hit of the Dragon-type move, letting out a pained cry as it fell into a ten-meter deep pit, momentarily incapacitated. While Murphy felt distressed over his Pokmon''s injury, he secretly rejoiced at Julian being stuck in the Sand Tomb. Though Flygon was hurt, Murphy felt victorious. "Bang~" However, his satisfaction was short-lived as the Sand Tomb suddenly erupted with a powerful explosion of sand. "What just happened?" Murphy gasped, shocked that the sand had burst so violently. There was a gnawing fear that Julian might have been killed in the blast. A chill ran down Murphy''s spine at the thought; if Julian was truly gone, he and his family might share the same fate. "Flygon!" He snapped, glaring at his Pokmon, believing it was responsible for the chaos, imagining it had deliberately tried to harm the Trainer. In response, Flygon merely looked confused. Flygon: "(_)" it seemed to ask. Murphy paused, realizing that things might not be as he assumed; Flygon wouldn''t act against Julian without his orders. Had Flygon really triggered the sand explosion? As the airborne particles settled, Julian emerged, slightly disheveled but unhurt. Brushing the sand from his hair and clothes, he calmly instructed, "Dragonair, Icy Wind!" Fortunately, his ability to harness Aura enabled him to manipulate the energy within him, which, though he couldn''t form an Aura Sphere yet, helped him survive the blast by dispelling the sand. Thanks to his control over the Aura energy, the resulting explosion scattered the sand of the Tomb, leaving Julian unharmed. The chilling Icy Wind cascaded, supplemented by the power of weather manipulation coming from the glowing beads around Dragonair''s neck. This intensified version of Icy Wind would be far more potent than usual. The ground froze instantly, and Flygon stepped in front of Murphy to act as a shield, knowing the icy gust was aimed at its Trainer. While Flygon absorbed most of the icy blasts, Murphy shivered from the temperature drop, realizing he needed to act swiftly; otherwise, hypothermia might cost him the match. "Flygon, Supersonic" If the opponent utilized an AOE attack, then he will also hit with a similar move, and it is also a sonic attack. Upon hearing that Supersonic was about to be used, the nearby spectators recoiled in fear, hastily covering their ears. Without any protective barriers, Supersonic can reach considerable distances. Thus, in public venues lacking energy shields, the Drakorian Trainer Association forbids the use of high-impact moves like Supersonic, Boom, Draco Meteor, and Earthquake by either side during battles. Despite Flygon''s efforts to control the spread of Supersonic, onlookers still covered their ears and displayed expressions of distress. Julian, in the front row, felt particularly dizzy. The recent surge of Aura had drained most of his energy, but fortunately, he still retained some Aura to mitigate the effects of Supersonic. "Outrage, Dragon Tail!" Julian pushed through the discomfort and commanded Dragonair. Thanks to Outrage, Dragonair''s attack power surged, launching a powerful Dragon Tail at Flygon''s head with tremendous force. Previously, Flygon had already endured Dragonair''s Dragon Rush and Icy Windtwo powerful moves that had dealt double damage. Now, it was faced with the potent combo of Outrage and Dragon Tail. As a result, Flygon crashed to the ground, completely unable to continue fighting. "Impossible! How did your Dragonair avoid confusion? Supersonic connected!" Murphy exclaimed, staring in disbelief at the downed Flygon. "Confusion doesn''t mean immobility," Julian replied confidently. "I simply got lucky." With that, he recalled the slightly disoriented Dragonair. Murphy''s expression darkened in frustration. It hit him that perhaps his strategies were outdated and he was experiencing a loss of composure. Chapter 58: Upgraded Chapter 58: UpgradedWhen a Pokmon is hit by Supersonic, it enters a Status Condition ''confusion'', and while in this state, it has two options for using moves. One option is to execute a move successfully, while the other can result in a fail that causes damage to itself. The outcome is often a mix of both success and failure. Julian experienced a stroke of luck this time, managing to have Dragonair successfully perform both Outrage and Dragon Tail. "I''ve always had bad luck, but today feels different," he remarked contentedly. Sarch* The N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. (TL/n: yeah sure, you had bad luck mf) After recalling his disoriented Dragonair, Julian felt unusually cheerful, not solely because of his victory but because of his luck. "This guy must be an unfortunate soul. Despite being in confusion, Dragonair managed to pull off two moves in a row," someone commented. "Stay away from that one in the future; I''ve heard unfortunate individuals can be contagious," another said. "Flygon ended up defeating its own unworthy trainer," came another jibe. Around him, others remarked about unfortunate individuals left and right, while Murphy visibly fumed, frustration evident on his face. "It turns out there''s someone whose luck is worse than mine," Julian mused, realizing that rather than his luck improving, he had simply encountered someone in an even worse predicament. With this contrast, it''s easy to feel fortunate. Julian approached Murphy, handing him a small qualification potion along with a standard quality Water Stone as a bonus gift. He felt a sense of urgency after this wild match, especially when caught in Sand Tomb. Without his skills, he might not have escaped unharmed. Interestingly, Flygon had shown mercy when trapping Julian in Sand Tomb, likely concerned that it could cause serious injury and trouble for its trainer. "Your Flygon is impressive," Julian said, catching Murphy off-guard. He thought Julian''s praise was casual, yet saw admiration in his eyes for Flygon, who was still attempting to regain its footing. The combination of Outrage and Dragon Tail was indeed powerful, and the fact that Flygon could react quickly and attempt to stand once more spoke volumes about its perseverance. Murphy rushed to Flygon without even acknowledging the items Julian had given him, quickly retrieving medicine from his backpack and applying it with urgency. Despite its challenge in standing, Flygon, being a Dragon/Ground type, seemed to have resilience comparable to a traditional dragon-type Pokmon, and with hasty treatment, it could manage to fly again. At this moment, Flygon eyed the qualification potion in Julian''s hand with interest, sensing its importance. "This is for you," Julian said, offering both the potion and the Water Stone to Murphy, who finally accepted them. Onlookers watched with keen interest as Murphy held the qualification potion, some eyes gleaming with envy and intent. Murphy quickly comprehended their motives, realizing that if he left with the potion, a mob might pursue him for it. So, he decided to let Flygon consume the potion in front of everyone, knowing that with Julian present, few would dare to snatch it away, as that would be tantamount to insulting Julian. Julian had no qualms about being a means to an end; he appreciated Murphy''s clever maneuver. As Flygon consumed the potion, its body shuddered, revealing a mix of discomfort and pleasure. Under Murphy''s anxious gaze, about a minute later, Flygon''s wings began to flap vigorously, radiating a pseudo-Elite aura. Julian observed in fascination as Flygon''s aptitude shifted from green to cyan, an indication of its newly enhanced abilities. "Congratulations," Julian said, acknowledging the transformation. With this new cyan qualification, Flygon''s strength had reached a pseudo-Elite level. Unless it faced a really dangerous opponent, a new Elite might emerge from this addition within ten years. "Thank you," Murphy replied, feeling immense gratitude. He hadn''t anticipated the qualification potion would elevate Flygon''s abilities so significantly, and although he hadn''t tested it with instruments, he instinctively recognized the improvement. Qualification potions are available for purchase in the market, but this one was incredibly valuable for enhancing Pokmon qualifications with just one potion, especially going from green to cyan. Julian generously offered Murphy such a rare potion, leaving Murphy filled with gratitude. "You''re welcome," Julian replied with a subtle smile, aware that Murphy had misinterpreted his intentions but choosing not to clarify. The aptitude detector pales in comparison to the Probing Eye. Despite an 80% green aptitude being close to cyan, the detector will still classify it as green without indicating how near it is to the next level. Thus, if two green-qualified Pokmon are analyzedone nearly reaching cyan and the other representing a typical green qualificationthe detector will label them both simply as green, providing no further details. Watching Murphy''s Pokmon break through to pseudo-Elite, and looking at Murphy''s expression, 80% of them were sure that the Pokmon''s qualifications have really been upgraded from green to cyan. "Young Master Walker, could you share a few bottles of such a remarkable potion with us three brothers?" A Pokmon egg with cyan qualifications is available on the market for over 100 million, making it nearly impossible for the average person to purchase, even if they are wealthy. In the presence of Julian''s aptitude-enhancing potion, some individuals are contemplating their next steps urgently. A Pokmon with cyan qualifications has the potential to become an Elite, and consuming this potion could elevate their abilities substantially. Regardless of the Walker family''s formidable reputation, those who succeed could carve out their own path. Julian gazed at the three brothers, pondering whether they had any sense at all. "Master Walker, my brothers and I are all pseudo-Elites. I understand that your Metagross has a record of defeating pseudo-Elites, but in a one-on-three scenario, even it would struggle." "And during battle, you can''t be sure of your own safety." Chapter 59: Alakazam Appears Chapter 59: Alakazam AppearsThe three brothers were well-known figures on West Street, infamous for their merciless demeanor. While many regarded them with fear, a significant number cast gloating glances at Julian. "Master Walker, all we''re seeking is a qualification potion. Hand it over, and we''ll leave without a fuss," declared the eldest brother of the three, already gripping a Pok Ball in his hand, with his two companions following suit. It was clear that if Julian refused, they were prepared to be confrontational. "Frank, don''t get yourself in trouble," Murphy warned, standing beside Julian, while Flygon, who had just achieved a promotion, hovered nearby, fixating on the three brothers with intense eyes. "Murphy, you''ve just barely reached pseudo-Elite status, and with that injured Pokmon, you think you''re a match for us?" retorted frank, dismissing Murphy with a cold laugh as he unleashed his Pokmon. "Golem!" "Ursaring!" "Pinsir!" Upon seeing their elder brother''s Pokmon emerge, the other two brothers released their Pokmon as well. The atmosphere palpably shifted, growing tense as spectators instinctively backed away, aware that a clash between pseudo-Elites could level West Street. The three Pokmon glared at Julian, Murphy, and Flygon with menacing hunger, particularly Ursaring, whose eyes seemed to reflect a desire to devour its prey. These were monsters known for their lethal capabilities, having likely taken lives before. "Aren''t you going to leave?" Julian questioned, noticing that Murphy had not yet departed. "There''s no need for that, Young Master Walker. Don''t you think they can''t be dealt with?" Murphy replied calmly, regarding the trio as though they were foolish. Julian couldn''t help but smirkhe was surprised by Murphy''s honesty, as most others would have pretended not to know how to handle the situation just to seek his approval. "Alakazam, I''m counting on you," he instructed. At his command, a flash of white light erupted, revealing a yellow, bipedal humanoid Pokmon levitating before them. Pokmon: Alakazam (Psychic) Level: 80 Qualification: Cyan Ability: Inner Focus Item: Twisted Spoon Gender: Female Moves: Confusion, Teleport, Psybeam, Reflect, Recover, Psyshock, Psycho Cut, Future Sight, Calm Mind, Role Play, Kinesis, Disable TM Moves: Light Screen, Protect, Hyper Beam, Magic Room, Wonder Room, Ally Switch, Power Swap, Guard Swap, Speed Swap, Stored Power, Dazzling Gleam, Shadow Ball Genetic Moves: Guard Split, Thunder Punch, Confusion, Psycho Shift Alakazam stood at the pinnacle of Elite power, edging ever closer to becoming a pseudo-champion Pokmon. As Julian''s bodyguard, Alakazam was a critical asset, allowing him to navigate perilous situations with confidence. With an IQ of 5000, Alakazam rivaled human intelligence, often serving as a partner to top researchers in elite institutions. Its acute awareness would determine whether Julian could handle the threat himself. If it sensed real danger to Julian''s life, Alakazam would intervene. Currently, although the three pseudo-Elite Pokmon could pose a challenge, Julian recognized they wouldn''t jeopardize his life. The reason for summoning Alakazam was simply because; a battle here could endanger innocent lives. The three brothers were reckless and indifferent to the safety of bystanders, while Julian prided himself on being a responsible citizen. "I don''t know how you three managed to become pseudo-Elites. Don''t you realize that family members like me are usually protected by Pokmon?" Julian remarked, glancing at them like they were fools. At this moment, Alakazam''s Confusion had taken hold of the three and their Pokmon, preventing them from even blinking, while their eyes betrayed their fear. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In a remote area, their fate would have already been sealed. Suddenly, alarm bells rang out, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps. Drakoria had two sectors dedicated to catching, interrogating, and imprisoning criminals: the Prosecutor''s Office for non-trainers, and the Search Bureau targeting Trainers. This was a response from the Search Bureau, arriving at the scene to protect the son of the gym leader, Jake, who had been reported to be in imminent danger from three pseudo-Elites on West Street. Frightened, Wes quickly rallied the troops and rushed over. If Julian had an accident on his site, he would definitely be done for as the person in charge of West Street. Fortunately, the others were already on West Street and rushed over swiftly. They found that Alakazam had taken control of three individuals and their Pokmon. "Are you two alright?" Wes dashed to Julian, relieved to see he was unharmed, allowing his anxiousness to subside. He didn''t pay any attention to Murphy. "Mr. Investigator, these three were trying to steal from me and sent their Pokmon to attack, but my Elder''s Pokmon subdued them." "They are now in your hands." In any country, it is strictly forbidden to steal property or release Pokmon that are pseudo-Elite or stronger in the city, let alone using Pokmon to assault humans. These two offenses could easily result in the three being imprisoned for 50 years. "Elder''s Pokmon?" As he observed Alakazam, Wes, a pseudo-Elite Trainer himself, sensed its immense power. Though it didn''t radiate an overwhelming presence, it felt like a bottomless abyss to him. An Elitea true Elite, not merely a pseudo. The power of Alakazam was evident as he looked at the three frozen pseudo-Elite Pokmon. Wes retrieved Pok Balls from the three, while Alakazam released their captured Pokmon. Wes''s team promptly placed the three individuals in handcuffs, and they showed no intention of resisting. Once Alakazam appeared, they understood their fate was sealed. "Please record a statement," said one of the officers, his gaze lingering on Alakazam. He heard from colleagues that this Pokmon was an Elite, and this was the first time he had seen an Elite Pokmon, they said that Walker Elite had an Alakazam before. ''Maybe the Alakazam in front of me is Walker Elite''s Alakazam.'' Chapter 60: Bully Julian Chapter 60: Bully JulianA total of 36 teams participated in the Yale Provincial High School League, organized into 9 groups with 4 teams each. From each group, one team qualified to move on to the next round. Julian and his teammates were placed in Group E, which also included three other teams from different cities within Yale Province. The team matches would be streamed live on television and online, making them accessible to a wide audience. Each venue has a seating capacity of 50,000, although this is considered a secondary venue. The main venue for the finals will host between 400,000 and 600,000 spectators. The matches in all 9 groups were played simultaneously, which saved time and allowed for a quicker transition to the eagerly anticipated individual competitions. In the Silver Conference, there are typically 20 secondary venues alongside a main venue. Ordinary matches utilize the smaller venues, while significant matchups are held in the main venue. The live broadcast features nine small screens, each displaying different matches. Viewers can click on any of these screens to focus on the group they wish to watch in greater detail. "The team competition is so dull; I can''t wait for the individual matches," one viewer remarked. "I''ll make a bold prediction: Link Middle School will win the team competition!" another user chimed in. "You''re out of your mind," someone replied. "No. 1 Middle School from Lake city is the best!" another commented excitedly. "Hey, check out Group Ethis Trainer actually has Lucario and has already defeated three opponents!" someone pointed out. Within the Group E competition venue, Sam unexpectedly sent up against Julian first. Having decisively defeated the previous three opponents using Lucario, Julian now faced the fourth challenger. "I''ll take her down; leave the final one to me!" Will shouted from the sidelines, hoping Julian would save one opponent for him. Nevertheless, Julian was determined to gain experience for Lucario, no matter how small the challenge. Julian''s next opponent was a beautiful girl, whose charm belied her youth. "Hold on, little brother. Can you take it easy on me? We might have a story to tell in the future," she teased, winking at Julian. Julian remained unfazed, while Will and the audience found it hard to contain their reactions. "I think I might be in love," Will muttered, clutching his heart. The chat exploded with comments: "High schoolers these days are ruthless!" "What a feast!" "Just back out already!" "What exactly is she doing?" Chase remarked on the girl''s playful demeanor, referring to her as a "vixen." "If you stay quiet, I''ll take it as a promise," the girl said. The girl smiled and elegantly tucked her hair behind her ear, showcasing her sparkling earrings. "Let Infernape take the stage!" she announced. As the Pokmon entered, flames erupted around it, fixating its gaze on Lucario. Known for its fiery temperament, this Pokmon was hard to handle when angered. "Force Palm!" Julian commanded. "Flamethrower!" The girl shouted in response. Though the Flamethrower was fast, Lucario moved even quicker. Before the flames reached him, Lucario''s palm struck the Infernape''s belly. The impact sent the fiery creature back over ten meters, and Lucario kept up the pressure. The girl, caught off guard by Lucario''s speed, mistakenly called out, "Infernape, Fire Punch!" Unable to regain control while hurtling backward, the Pokmon executed its Fire Punch awkwardly, resulting in a lackluster attack. "Bone Rush," Julian said. Lucario summoned a white Bone Club and struck the Pokmon with a relentless flurry. The overwhelmed Infernape had no strength left to retaliate, and with a final, powerful swing, Lucario landed a blow to its head, rendering it unconscious. "Infernape is unable to battle, Lucario wins!" declared the referee as he signaled the match''s conclusion. "Hmph, I hope you stay single forever," the girl huffed, withdrawing her defeated Pokmon; Leaving Julian to contemplate that had he not held back for her sake, Lucario could have finished the fight with just one move instead of two. - "Julian, you''re unbelievable. How can you possibly end the match in two moves for such a stunning girl? Instead, You should aim for an instant knockout so she realizes your power and starts to idolize you," Will exclaimed. Shen, who was standing nearby, shot Will a bewildered look. "You really believe what you just said?" "Absolutely! A decisive victory makes women admire you and fall for you," Will replied confidently. "Where did you hear that?" Shen asked, curious. "An emotional influencer on Douyin mentioned it," Will explained. (T/N: A streaming platform) "Do you think they''re wrong?" Will inquired. "Definitely!" Shen scoffed. Being defeated in two moves in front of so many witnesses is already humiliating, and this guy was talking about a one move K.O., if the other party didn''t hate him to death that would be a miracle. "Next," Julian announced, ready for the next challenge. At that moment, the chat erupted with excitement. "666, so dominant!" one user chimed in. "This is definitely a one man show," another added. "Julian, I''ll remember this humiliation you brought upon our school, and I''ll make sure to get even," someone else posted. "How are you going to do that? With just words?" came a sarcastic response. "Lucario''s so cool; I''m in love with him, husband Pokmon!" someone gushed. (TL/n: no humanxpokemon relations people) Typically, the final match is where the strongest opponent participates, and while their strength surpassed the previous four challengers, it was still limited. "Aura Sphere!" Julian commanded. "Bang!" "Mightyena has lost its ability to fight. Lucario wins!" the announcers declared. The referees couldn''t help but view Lucario with newfound respect. As officials in such a high-profile event, their judgment was critical, yet they found it hard to grasp how Lucario, after five consecutive matches, was still so strong. Even without injuries, continuous battles would surely take a toll, but Lucario appeared to be in peak form. ''Lucario can easily face off against pseudo-Elite Pokmon, not to mention the Advanced-level Pokmon like the one now standing before him, Lucario can play with them whole day.'' thought Julian. Taking them down felt like a walk in the park. "I can''t believe it" The final opponent stared in disbelief at the defeated Mightyena, feeling like Julian was bullying him. In the previous matches, others at least had a chance to execute a second move, yet against him, Julian ended the match in one move, Wouldn''t it make it seem like that he was weaker than the first four. "Let''s go," Julian said, returning Lucario to its Pok Ball and feeling a twinge of discomfort from his rival''s resentful gaze as he quickly exited the stage. Sear?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 61: Conference’s Commercial Street Chapter 61: Conferences Commercial StreetJulian''s team successfully advanced from Group E, and shortly after, the final match of the last group concluded. With that, all nine competition groups had been completed, and nine teams were now assembled, ready to take the stage for the draw that would determine their opponents for tomorrow''s matches. These nine teams will be divided into three groups of three, with the top teams from each group competing for the championship, runner-up, and third place spots. The team competition will then wrapped up, making way for the individual competition ahead. When the draw took place, Julian and his team were the first to be called, and Will stepped up to draw their group. "Group A! The first letter. It signifies we''ll be the first," Will said with a grin. However, an unexpected reaction erupted from the crowd as Will noticed a number of teams wearing "607" uniforms eyeing them with smugness. He quickly turned to see someone on stage holding a table tennis ball marked with an "A" evidently, they too had drawn Group A. What caught Will''s attention even more was the name "Lit Middle School" emblazoned across their opponent''s jersey. Lit Middle School was the reigning champion from the previous Yale Provincial College League Team Competition. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In every Yale Provincial High School League, Lit Middle School and Lake Middle School consistently fight for the title, with their two schools dominating 70% of both team and individual championships. As a result, Lake No. 1 Middle School and Lit Middle School were rivals in every sense. Fortunately, fate had kept them apart in the early matchups this time around. The other teams heaved a sigh of relief, realizing that the fierce competition between the two would lead to only one surviving contender, allowing them to compete for the remaining two spots. In theory, since both powerful teams would be fighting against each other, the chance of one emerging injured would increase, possibly giving another team a chance to snag the championship title. With this thought, a sense of delight washed over them. Now, all the undiscovered teams were hoping to avoid being drawn into Group A, which was widely regarded as the "death group." Any team that ended up there would face a daunting challenge. Meanwhile, a sullen-faced competitor selected for Group A appeared as if life had been drained from him, reflecting the challenges ahead. Sticking to the principle of the unfortunate suffering together, the remaining teams exchanged grateful glances before confidently heading to the stage to draw their own groups. With the Contest category concluded, the staff announced the match schedule for tomorrow, signaling that it was time for them to disperse. "Julian, let''s check out the Shopping District at the Conference venue," Will urged as Julian was headed back to their hotel for some rest. The Yale Province High School League is a pivotal event each year in Yale Province, creating the liveliest atmosphere in the region during the competition. Tourists flock from various cities within Yale Province and even from other provinces, with nearly a million visitors descending upon Lake City, boosting the local economy and the city''s profile. Among these millions, most arrive specifically for this competition, and even if they didn''t get tickets, it would be good to go to the conference venue to experience the atmosphere of the competition. The Shopping District on the side of the Conference field is the most visited place by these tourists and contestants. While Julian wasn''t particularly keen on such places, Will, who clearly enjoyed the bustling environment and was eager to vent his energy after not participating in today''s match, decided to drag Julian along, suspecting there might be good finds with him around. In Will''s view, having Julian around was a stroke of luck, which is why he decided to take him to the Shopping District. Seeing Will and Julian head to the Shopping District, Zosh, Han, and Shen grew interested and decided to join them. Thus, the five main competitors set off for the Shopping District, while the three supporting candidates, Chase and her teammates, shared a knowing glance and followed suit. They understood their unlikelihood of competing in the next match unless some unforeseen event occurred; given their current skill levels, Coach Sam would undoubtedly overlook them. Nevertheless, they aimed to compete in the qualifiers where a strong individual performance could earn them extra points for their upcoming college entrance exams. Additionally, performing well in the main competition might attract attention from universities, possibly leading to early admissions. The Shopping District at the conference venue is extensive, stretching across four football fields and situated to the south of the venue. It hosts hotels and department stores, though Julian and his teammates were staying in a hotel west of the conference area. During this season, the commercial street at the venue offers the largest selection of goods, boasting a remarkable array of products from across Drakoria. Visitors might even glimpse Pokmon representing different provinces among the small breeding shops. "Check out this Pancham from Shu Province!" Shen gasped, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at the adorable creature nestled in the shopkeeper''s arms, playfully munching on a bamboo leaf. Pancham is a Pokmon native to Shu Province. While it isn''t rare, it''s affordable for someone like Shen, who comes from a well-off family. "Go ahead and buy it if you want," Will suggested. "It''s not as easy as grocery shopping! I''m already exhausted managing three Pokmon," Shen retorted, frustration evident in her voice. She cast a reluctant glance at Pancham. "What''s the issue? Just sleep less, I sleep only five hours a day now," Will replied casually. Shen was born into a more privileged situation, she didn''t have to wake up each day just to provide for her trio of Pokmon like him. "Please I''m girl; sleep deprivation makes me ugly, and I''m not nearly as energetic as you," she shot back. She wanted to add that his level of energy was almost unnatural. "Besides, Julian is so powerful even he''s only caught three Pokmon. I won''t capture a fourth until I reach the peak of my advanced training," Shen explained. Julian: Actually, I have four. Apart from his family, no one, not even Will, knew about Meltan''s existence. "Julian has high standards. Do you really think he''s interested in just any Pokmon? At least a Pokmon similar to Lucario would catch his attention," Will remarked as a matter-of-course. He wasn''t envious of Julian; it was merely an observation. Why does a family thrive for generations? It''s not just about rigorous training for their children, but also about selecting the finest Pokmon. Only the best children and exceptional Pokmon can ensure a family''s lasting prosperity. Chapter 62: Evolution Foot Chapter 62: Evolution Foot"There are Magikarp and Feebas available here, Han! Are you interested in buying one? Who knows, they might evolve into Gyarados and Miloticjust might be able to catch up with Julian!" As they strolled through the Shopping District, a few people chatted and laughed, not having purchased much. They soon arrived at the area selling various Pokmon and items. The first shop they encountered was dedicated to water Pokmon, notable for its large displays of Magikarp and Feebas. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Two massive fish tanks housed hundreds of each, attracting the attention of passersby. In the Pokmon world, Magikarp and Feebas are often considered weak creatures. Yet, with the right conditions, Magikarp can evolve into the fearsome Gyarados, while Feebas can transform into the stunning Milotic. Both are highly coveted and powerful Pokmon sought after by every water trainer. However, to this day, scholars are still puzzled over the precise methods needed for a Magikarp to evolve into Gyarados, or a Feebas into Milotic. Although there are rare instances where trainers have succeeded in evolving these Pokmon, such cases are almost entirely accidental and lack reliable methodologies. Most trainers who capture Magikarp and Feebas do so hoping for evolution, but the odds of achieving that are as slim as winning the lottery. Additionally, once captured, these Pokmon would consume a slot from their limited roster. According to the Drakorian Trainer Association, trainers below the pseudo-Elite level are only allowed to have six Pokmon. While there are no restrictions for Elite trainers and above, that means capturing a Magikarp or Feebas limits one''s active combat team to just five Pokmon. If trainers feel compelled to release a Pokmon to make room for another, they face severe consequences if discovered by the Trainer Association. Even if a Pokmon is abandoned, the trainer remains capped at five active Pokmon unless a significant event, like illness or injury, occurs to the pokemon. Originally, this regulation aimed to help trainers renew their teams efficiently. Unfortunately, it has led to some trainers resorting to extreme measures to eliminate Pokmon deemed unfit, resulting in conditions that could lead to their demise. In these situations, the Trainer Association conducts thorough investigations to unveil any deceit. If fraud is detected, that trainer''s career is effectively over. Captured Pokmon are either released or sent to special facilities waiting for qualified trainers to adopt them. Thus, any trainer below the pseudo-Elite rank who chooses to capture Magikarp or Feebas is essentially taking a gamble. "Maybe if you just kick it, Magikarp could evolve," Julian suggested out of the blue. His remark caused an abrupt silence; not just Will and the rest, but even Chase and the other candidates looked at Julian as if he had lost his mind. "You have quite the cold sense of humor," Zosh remarked. Julian didn''t bother explaining the concept of "evolution foot" to them. In his world, fans knew that Magikarp evolves into Gyarados through this method. As for Feebas, it evolves based on beauty value, which is even more mysterious. Who knows how to improve its beautydoes it need makeup? "You want to make Magikarp mad, then rely on Rage to evolve it into Gyarados?" Shen suggested. Smart girl, Julian thought. She seemed to have more than just muscle. "Are you thinking something weird?" Shen asked, raising an eyebrow. Julian felt uncomfortable under her gaze. "Want to experience what these muscles can do?" she shot back. Julian quickly looked away. Never anger a Fighting Trainer without a Pokmon shield; you might end up with a broken bone. "Shen, look over there! They have Machop eggs!" Chase exclaimed. Saying this, Chase pulled Shen towards the Fighting Pokmon store, and Shen eagerly followed, diverting their attention away from Julian and the others. "This girl isn''t bad. She''s not worse than Shen Yu, and her personality is better too. You''re not as handsome as me, so how could she like you? It must be for your family''s money," Will lamented, watching them go. In his eyes, any woman interested in Julian was more fascinated by his lifestyle than by him personally. Noticing Will''s jealousy, which was almost unbearable, Julian commented casually, "I helped her." "Oh," Will said, dragging out the word before leaning in to whisper, "Look at these Pokmon; are there any qualified cyan ones?" Julian rolled his eyes, thinking that Will had really misjudged himself. The last time he came across Numel and the sturdy Charcoal was merely coincidence. There can''t be that many hidden gems out there just waiting to be discovered. "Get some sleep and you are dreaming big," he told Will. The breeding shops that sell Pokmon thoroughly test each one for quality, so the chances of errors are minimal. However, there are some Pokmon that slip through the cracks, like the countless Magikarp and Feebas in front of them. Magikarp are the most abundant water Pokmon, found in every body of water, while Feebas are less common but still far more plentiful than other water types. Both species boast remarkable survival skills, able to live even in polluted waters. Nonetheless, Julian still scanned the surrounding Pokmon, hoping to find any overlooked treasures. In the end, he found nothing. Even after examining the hundreds of Magikarp and Feebas, he saw that their qualifications ranged only from orange to yellowno greens in sight. "You''re not trying buy a good Pokmon behind my back, are you?" Will asked, catching Julian''s dismissive tone and responding with a serious look. "That Magikarp has a cyan qualificationgo buy it," Julian instructed. "Han that Magikarp has cyan qualification, Go buy it!" Will said, pointing at the tank filled with so many Magikarp that he struggled to identify which one. "Believe me, if you face me in the individual competition, I will take you down," Han remarked coldly, irritated that Will seemed to treat him as a fool. Cyan Magikarp? You must be joking. Even if it actually is cyan, it would just be a Magikarp that can only flop around if it hasn''t evolved. "Just hold on until you face me; don''t get knocked out by the Electric Trainer in your first match." Chapter 63: Aron Chapter 63: Aron"Hey everyone! I''m currently at the commercial district of the Yale Provincial High School League Conference. Let me show you the crowd here." Lin Lin flipped her smartphone camera to the rear. As a popular live streamer, she boasts over five million fans on a video platform, thanks to her striking looks and figure. Despite being a top student at Shu University, she had come to Lake City for a task that coincided with the Yale Provincial High School League Conference. Perched on her shoulder is a newly hatched Pichu, gazing wide-eyed at the bustling new world around it. Whenever it spots something intriguing, it lets out a few excited cries. A flurry of comments quickly popped up on the live stream. "I just want to see the anchor, not the event!" "This looks like a Pokmon marketplace." "The anchor is at the conference too; so am I!" "Our high school league in Bash province just wrapped up. There were a lot of participants." "How far along is the high school league in Yale Province, anchor?" Lin Lin read the comments and replied, "The team competition is still ongoing, but it''s nearing its end. I heard there''s an amazing trainer here in Lake City." "He has a Silver Metagross." The mention of the Silver Metagross sparked an explosion of comments. "Silver Metagross? Anchor, surely that''s just hearsay!" "Maybe you''re not aware, but that''s Walker Elite''s grandsoneveryone knows him!" "As the grandson of an elite trainer, he''s not someone to challenge." While Julian typically scrolls through video websites to watch various content, he sometimes encounters videos of his own battlescaptured in schools, public arenas, or clubs by spectators. Thanks to his Silver Metagross and the reputations of his grandfather, a Steel Elite, and his father, a famous national gym leader, he has garnered some online fame. Once Julian began training with his Silver Beldum, he knew he couldn''t remain low-key, especially when displaying it publicly. "Without his grandfather and father, he wouldn''t be anything." "Everything handed to him because of his family." While some were envious, others were critical. Lin Lin chose not to comment, avoiding unnecessary drama. In the shopping district of the conference, many streamers like Lin Lin were broadcasting live, hoping to capitalize on the league''s popularity. As they walk, Julian encountered several people with selfie sticks streaming their experiences. Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Julian, look! There''s an Aron over there!" Will exclaimed, pointing at a breeding shop that had Aron for sale. Aron, a Steel-type Pokmon, evolves into Aggron, known for its incredible defensive abilities. John''s strongest Pokmon, aside from Metagross, was this very Aggron. It''s famous among trainers, especially since John uses it as a key player, aside from his Metagross. Compared to the pseudo-legendary Metagross, Aron still has market potential since it''s available at premier breeding shops. "What''s weird about that," Julian said, he didn''t find it odd since this shop was still part of their family business, and most Aron in circulation were bred and sold by them. However, all the available ones had qualifications of green or below. A cyan-qualified Aron wouldn''t be sold in a market like this. Top families in Drakoria often monopolized one or two powerful Pokmon, which helped maintain their status. "Thirty million!!" Will exclaimed, leaning in closer. "This green-qualified Aron costs 30 million? That''s insane!" For comparison, his green-qualified Charmander only cost a little over a million. Charizard, when fully evolved, was just as strong as Aggron, yet the price difference was shocking. "At this price, you could get a decent Pokmon on the black market," Will muttered. "Supply and demand makes Aron more valuable; they''re simply not as common as Charmander," Julian clarified. "Where can you find Charmander in such abundance?" Will retorted challengingly, as Julian was suggesting Charmander were everywhere. Han interjected, "Every Fire-type trainer has a Charizard. It''s standard." "Aggron, on the other hand, is a hallmark for Steel Elite trainers." Beyond the price difference, training requirements varied significantly. Charizard primarily needed energy blocks containing fire energy, while Aggron needed ores to maintain its defensive prowess. If you''re not an Elite, you can''t really afford Aggron, unless you reduce your investment in other Pokmon. As a result, individuals from normal family backgrounds typically aim to capture an Aron once they reach the Elite level. At the shop specializing in Aron, a large crowd had gathered, mostly people like Will who were simply there for the entertainment. "Look at that crowd over there; let''s go check it out," Lin Lin suggested, noticing a throng forming around one particular store while others were less frequented. She directed her live broadcast toward the bustling scene. "An Aron for 30 million? That''s a steal! I''ll offer 50 million. If you refuse, I''ll raise it to 100 million. If you agree to sell, I''ll act like I never made the offer," someone exclaimed. "It''s so adorable; I just want to hold it close!" "It''s 120 pounds up there; are you sure you can manage it?" "Look, there''s a kid over there who can''t take his eyes off you!, anchor" pointed out one viewer. "Honestly, how superficial! They''re all just infatuated with the anchor''s looks," someone else remarked. "Anchor, don''t go for the younger ones. He looks like a high school student." Julian was actually focused on Lin Lin, or more precisely, on the Pichu on her shoulder. Pokmon: Pichu Level: 2 Qualification: Green Ability: Static Props: None Gender: Female Moves: Thunder Shock, Tail Whip Disc Moves: None Genetic Moves: Charge, Flail, Thunder, Volt Tackle "Julian, so your idol is Lin Lin?" Will mused, noticing how intently Julian was watching Lin Lin, prompting a curious expression on his face. No wonder Julian didn''t like Chase. He seemed to prefer older girls. "Get lost!" Julian shot back, annoyed, kicking his leg out before turning to leave. "Don''t go! Do you want me to help you get her contact info?" Will yelled after him. But Julian ignored him. "Looks like he''s still shy. What do you think, Han?" Chapter 64: We have Julian Chapter 64: We have Julian"The young man is still too inexperienced; if you''re feeling embarrassed, just watch and see if the streamer feels it too or if it''s just you feeling awkward." "Really? You didn''t recognize that high school student?" "Who is he? Your father?" "I recognized him a while back; he''s the grandson of Walker Elite." "Wow, it really is him! I saw his video on Vibrato not long ago where he was dominating a pseudo-Elite, he made it look way too easy." "He has a Silver Metagross, along with Lucario and Dragonair." "Streamer, hurry up and make your move! Whether you can marry into a wealthy family depends on your strategy." "I remember that the anchor''s family background seems to be good" S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Better than the Walker family?" Lin Lin was momentarily stunned when she read the comments. She noticed Julian had vanished from the crowd. Though she didn''t intend to pursue him, encountering the grandson of Walker Elite was unexpected. "Streamer, Julian is wearing a Lake No. 1 middle school uniform. He''ll definitely be competing in the team event tomorrow since their competitor is tough; you should broadcast it live!" A local fan from Lake city chimed in. "I can''t do it tomorrow; I''ve got plans," Lin Lin replied. The live stream was merely for fun. She had come all the way from Bash for a significant purpose. In the team match, the competition was set between nine teams divided into three groups of three, creating a few automatic byes. Lake No. 1 Middle School and Lit Middle School got unlucky; they avoided the byes unlike another team that got them. Sam approached Julian, his demeanor serious as he awaited the five key players. "Beating Lit Middle School means we clinch the championship." Among the remaining teams, none posed a real threatonly Lit Middle School could stand up to Lake. "As long as we win, the other teams will be no match for Lake Middle School." "Don''t worry, with Julian on our side, losing is not an option!" Will said, patting his own chest. It was a peculiar sentiment; it sounded more like he doubted his own abilities while placing all his trust in Julian. "Julian is our ace, while their ace is Nolanhe''s formidable." "No matter how strong Nolan is, Metagross can beat him" "His main Pokmon is Pupitar" Sam looked at Will with a somewhat unfriendly look. Julian pulled Will''s clothes but the guy didn''t seem to notice at all, and said in surprise, "Pseudo legendary?, Julian has two pseudo legendaries." Julian facepalmed, finding Will''s lack of awareness baffling. "Will, didn''t you read the information I provided about them? You don''t even know if their team has a pseudo-legendary?" Sam nearly shouted in frustration. Yesterday, he had provided the team with details on their opponents, aiming to ensure everyone had a grasp of the rival trainers and their Pokmon. Knowing this kind of intel would be vital, all coaches were likely doing the same. Everyone was supposed to prepare, but now it seemed Will hadn''t reviewed the materials at all. These documents contained not just the types they''re skilled in but also their Pokmon''s weaknesses and the places that can be targeted. And these two points are the key to victory. "Julian didn''t check it either," When Will saw Sam''s expression that he was about to eat him, he panicked and sold Julian directly. Sam Nott turned his head sharply and looked at Julian. "I did." Julian replied in a heartbeat. "I''ll take care of you when the match is over. If you lose the match, you''re dead." Sam looked at Will fiercely. He worried that Will might become a blemish on his coaching record if he didn''t step it up. "Han, Zosh, Shen, Will, and Julian will compete in that order. Remember to play to your strengths and avoid putting your Pokmon in harm''s way; their future depends on it," Sam cautioned earnestly. While Pokemon bodies are indeed much tougher than humans'', they still compete against other Pokmon. The more intense the battle, the more likely it is to cause significant injury. Even if some Pokmon recover, they may sustain hidden injuries that will hinder their development. Every major event sees a few Pokmon sidelined with irreversible injuries, often due to trainers not conceding defeat. For Sam, prioritizing the health of their Pokmon was far more important than any honor or glory. Unfortunately, some trainers habitually prioritised the opposite. As the match commenced, Han made his way to the opposing battlefield, followed closely by his rival Link. "Julian, what kind of trainer is Han''s rival? Surely he''s not an Electric-type?" Will asked, concern etched on his face. Although he and Han hadn''t interacted much, that''s because of their differing attribute types but their attitude towards each other was still good. "I don''t know," Julian said. "Didn''t you say you read the data?" Will shot Julian an incredulous look, his eyes wide with disbelief. He was annoyed at Julian for misleading him, as he had assumed Julian actually analyzed the data after their late-night gaming session of King''s Glory. "You Deceived Teacher Sam" Sam Nott, who was standing in front of Julian, the corners of his mouth kept twitching. These guys regarded him as transparent. "Old Sam" Will prepared to report Julian''s antics but was cut off when Sam snapped, "Shut up and focus on the match." Will felt a swell of frustration from the blatant bias, muttering under his breath, "It''s amazing if you have strength." "It''s really amazing to have strength," Julian said. "Keep your mouth shut!" Will retorted angrily. Julian fell silent, his gaze fixed on the battlefield where Han had summoned his Trump Card, Blastoise, while his opponent sent out a Gengar. Neither Pokmon had a distinct advantage based on type, but Gengar, being both Poison and Ghost-type, posed a significant challenge. Ghost-types are notoriously tricky, possessing a wide array of unusual moves. Among the 18 types, the most powerful attackers are certainly Dragon-types, but when it comes to complexity, Ghost-types reign supreme. Gengar is known in the outside world as the "Ghost King," capable of learning moves from various other types. Ghost-type Pokmon are often regarded as masters of stealth, akin to assassins in the world of killers, and their partners often belong to the same spooky classification. Last year, the Ice-type Elite from Drakoria was nearly assassinated by a Froslass, and while the attempt failed, the Elite lost a main Pokmon in the process. Information like this may remain a secret unknown to the public, or perhaps John let something slip to Julian unintentionally. Trainers specializing in Ghost-types tend to be fewer than those of other types, as a misstep could lead to their own souls being harmed by their Pokmon. Chapter 65: Julian , You Jinx Chapter 65: Julian , You JinxIn terms of level, both Blastoise and Gengar were at level 43, and neither had a clear advantage. Although Ghost-type Pokmon can be tricky to handle, the outcome often comes down to the Trainer''s skillshow well they command, observe, and time their moves. Why do Trainers matter in Pokmon battles? While Pokmon can decide when to attack, dodge, or defend, the Trainer''s role is crucial. The battle itself limits a Pokmon''s view, while a Trainer can see the whole field. A skilled Trainer can spot weaknesses in the opponent''s Pokmon at just the right moment, leading to a quick victory. When a Trainer lacks commanding prowess, even powerful Pokmon might struggle to succeed under their direction, which can lead to diminishing trust in the Trainer''s commands. This can result in some Pokmon refusing to follow instructions altogether. Ultimately, not everyone can succeed as a Trainer; if one lacks the necessary aptitude, it is often the Pokmon that suffer the consequences. "Blastoise, use Hydro Pump!" Han called out. "Gengar, use Shadow Ball!" his rival shouted back. The Hydro Pump proved more powerful than the Shadow Ball, It broke through the shadowy attack and hit Gengar, causing significant damage. Gengar had a high special attack but was also quite fragile; this blow likely took away half of its health. "Gengar, use Thunderbolt!" "Blastoise, protect yourself!" The Protect shielded Blastoise from Thunderbolt, but Gengar closed in on Blastoise, its red eyes fixed on him. "Hypnosis!" "Blastoise, close your eyes!" Unfortunately, Han was too late. Blastoise was already hit, collapsing onto the ground and falling asleep. "Dream Eater!" Gengar''s trainer smiled, clearly pleased with the turn of events. Blastoise hadn''t learned moves like Sleep Talk, so he was utterly defenseless against the Hypnosis. Gengar opened it''s mouth wide and sucked energy from Blastoise, replenishing its own strength. Blastoise lay there, looking helpless, while Han shouted, "Blastoise, wake up!" in desperation. Sadly, not everyone can be like Ash and use a move like Snarl to wake a sleeping Pokmon. "Blastoise, you can do it get up!" Will, seated nearby, jumped up to offer encouragement but was quickly ushered back by staff and effectively silenced with a glare from the referee. As he sat down, he grumbled, "As a teammate, I can''t even cheer for Blastoise?" "Nightmare!" For a sleeping Pokmon, using Dream Eater might not wake them, but using Nightmare definitely would. Under the influence of Nightmare, Blastoise finally stirred but was in terrible condition. The Dream Eater had drained a lot of his energy, and Nightmare inflicted mental harm as well. Hypnosis, Dream Eater, and Nightmare are moves that often work together, especially for Ghost-type Pokmon. If an opponent''s Pokmon doesn''t know Sleep Talk or doesn''t have props to avoid sleep effects, getting hit by Hypnosis could lead to disaster. With his physical and mental strength severely depleted, Blastoise''s Torrent ability activated, boosting his water-type moves by 1.5 times. "Gengar, use Venoshock!" Gengar let out a chilling laugh as purple poison spewed from its mouth, filling half the arena like a wave. "Use Hydro Pump at full power!" Low on stamina, Han chose to go on the offensive rather than defend. Fueled by Torrent, Hydro Pump surged in strength, shattering Venoshock, yet Gengar suddenly vanished. "Thunderbolt!" With a loud crash, the attack hit its target. "Blastoise is out of the match! Victor: Gengar!" Han silently recalled Blastoise. Being the first to battle and losing was a blow to the fans supporting Lake No. 1 Middle School. "That was tough," Julian remarked, observing Han''s rival. Han had been on the defensive the entire time, and Gengar''s speed gave it a significant edge over bulky Blastoise. "I''m sorry," Han said, feeling guilty about his defeat. He had lost, and Gengar still had significant stamina left, thanks to the earlier Dream Eater. The rival Trainer had already left the arena, ensuring Gengar would regain even more energy during rest. "I''ll give you a chance to retaliate; that little Gengar is a joke," Will said, thumping his chest. Normally, Han would have rolled his eyes at Will''s comments, but this time he nodded in agreement. "It''s your turn, Zosh," Sam said, giving the next player a supportive pat on the shoulder. Even though Han lost, Sam didn''t seem too worried. "Go, Donphan!" "Golem!" Seeing Golem on the opposing side, Will exclaimed, "We have an advantage with our types!" Donphan was a Ground type, while Golem was both Rock and Ground type. Donphan held a type advantage, but Golem was two levels higher, making the match a bit more even. Donphan was level 41, while Golem was level 43. "Donphan, use Rollout!" The battlefield was flat, which played to Donphan''s strengths. Rollout would become more powerful the longer it kept rolling. "Golem, use Rock Throw!" A shower of rocks soared into the sky, each about a meter long. Although none of them hit Donphan during Rollout, they changed his course, preventing him from getting close to Golem. The rocks also hindered Donphan''s attack. "Golem, use Rock Blast!" Golem launched a rock the size of a football at the battlefield. Sar?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, the Rock Throws on the ground acted as a shield for Donphan, who hid behind one of the rocks. "Donphan is in trouble," Julian warned suddenly. "How can that be? Donphan is hiding behind the rocks!" Will countered instinctively. But the next second, the rocks exploded, sending Donphan flying. "Julian, you jinxed us!" Will''s eyes widened in disbelief, realizing that Donphan had been injured, and he blamed Julian for saying it out loud. Chapter 66: Draw Chapter 66: Draw"This Golem is really well bred." Ignoring Will''s loud comments, Julian glanced at the Golem with some admiration. Sar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It had cyan qualifications, knew over a dozen moves, and had just used Rock Blast and Rock Throw effectively. Most Pokmon use Rock Blast to create new rocks and then blow them up. Only a few Pokmon with exceptional qualifications can cause the rocks they made earlier to explode when they use Rock Blast again. In addition to blocking Donphan''s Rollout, the earlier Rock Throw served as a detonator for the Rock Blast. The opponent''s strategy was clever, using Rock Blast to make Donphan hide behind the rock formed by Rock Throw. When the rock detonated, the damage from such close range was definitely more severe. "Wow, that''s some serious strategy." "Unbelievable!" "High school students these days are so scary." "Why can''t my Golem''s Rock Throw be detonated? Which legendary Pokmon can explain that?" The viewers were equally amazed by the tactics displayed by the Golem''s Trainer. "Donphan, use Earthquake!" Zosh was frustrated by the opponent''s clever plan, but thankfully, Donphan wasn''t knocked out by the explosion. In big public events like this, Pokmon moves aren''t limited since the battlefield has a massive energy shield strong enough to handle powerful attacks, like a pseudo-Elite level Earthquake. Donphan jumped high and then landed hard on the ground. The impact created a loud roar, causing the whole venue to shake. Since trainers stand outside the energy shield, they are safe from the aftereffects of Pokmon moves. Golem let out a cry, as the Earthquake caused it significant damage. "Finish it with Bulldoze!" Zosh shouted. Donphan steadied itself and charged at Golem, its two front feet raised high, surrounded by powerful Ground-type energy, before crashing down onto Golem. Seeing this, the Golem Trainer''s eyes flashed with determination. "Use Self-Destruct!" A blinding white light erupted from Golem, followed by a deafening roar. A massive fireball shot into the sky, and thick black smoke engulfed the entire arena. When the smoke cleared, both Pokmon were unconscious. "Donphan and Golem are unable to battle; it''s a draw," the referee announced. One of Donphan''s long tusks had been blown off by the explosion, while Golem looked worse for wear, its rocky body covered in cracks. Zosh glared angrily at the opposing Trainer, then recalled Donphan and handed it over to the medical staff, who would take it for treatment. The medical services at large events are well-organized, and it''s rare for Pokmon to suffer severe injuries due to slow treatment. "Self-Destruct is a ruthless move," someone commented. "Look at how battered his Pokmon is." "Is that Golem going to be okay?" "Self-Destruct can really hurt a Pokmon badly; in some cases, it can even be fatal." Comments flew across the live stream. Self-Destruct is incredibly powerfulits base power is 200, compared to Hyper Beam''s 150. While it deals massive damage, it also leaves the user badly hurt. Any Pokmon using Self-Destruct ends up seriously injured. Trainers who care about their Pokmon usually avoid letting them use Self-Destruct unless it''s absolutely necessary or in a life-or-death situation. There''s also a move called Explosion, which is even stronger than Self-Destruct. If used, it often results in the user being knocked out as well. If used effectively, a pseudo-Elite Pokmon could defeat an Elite Pokmon. Some extremist groups have taken to using Pokmon that know Self-Destruct. In Eastern Europe, where terrorist attacks are more common, several groups use Self-Destruct to target important cities. Pokmon that can learn Self-Destruct are quite common, like Golem, Weezing, Forretress, and Electrode. In particular, Voltorb and Electrode, with Electrode being the evolution of Voltorb, have a natural knack for Self-Destruct. These two Pokmon are often sought after by extremist groups because they can deal more damage and take less harm when using the move. ''If they can''t win, they just blow up. They have plenty of Pokmon like this. Who dares to fight back?.'' "This Trainer doesn''t deserve to compete," Will said angrily, but Julian pulled him back. If he hadn''t, Will might have confronted the other Trainer. "You''ll encounter even tougher situations and more brutal scenes than this," Julian said calmly. The world of Trainers has both light and dark sides, just like the real world. "Where there''s light, there''s also darkness," he continued. "I don''t care! I''m going to get stronger! If I see someone hurting Pokmon or using them for bad things, I''ll definitely stand up to them," Will declared. "Alright, but don''t be a hot-headed idiot. We are here to compete. You should cheer me on instead," Shen chimed in. "Shen, this is my dream, not just some school project," Will replied, feeling down. Meanwhile, Shen had already headed to the battle arena, not hearing him. Her rival approached, excitement shining in her eyes. "Machamp, I chose you!" Shen called, unleashing her strongest Pokmon. Her opponent brought out a fiery Infernape. Will looked at the other girl, noting her striking features and strong build, similar to Shen''s and remarked, "What''s with girls nowadays? Why do so many beautiful girls prefer Fighting type Pokmon?" "Isn''t it good to like Water-types? You''d think they''d choose something cute!" he added. In reality, more female Trainers do prefer Water-types than males, while Fire-types tend to attract more male Trainers. Since over 90% of Fighting-type trainers are male, it''s rare for women to choose Fighting Pokmon, especially beautiful ones. For many female Trainers, looks matter more than type. They often prefer Pokmon that are cute or charming. Of course, Lucario and Gallade are exceptions; both are seen as attractive representatives of the Fighting type. Chapter 67: Unlucky Chapter 67: Unlucky"Machamp, use Focus Energy!" Instead of attacking right away, Shen chose to add a layer of strength to Machamp. With Focus Energy, Machamp could concentrate better, making it easier to hit the enemy''s weak spots. As its name suggests, Machamp is incredibly powerful. With four arms, it can throw a thousand punches in just two seconds and is skilled in many fighting styles. This power makes Machamp a popular choice in construction and at harbors. Need a crane? Just have Machamp carry it on its back. Its hardworking nature also makes it a great family Pokmon. "Infernape, use Close Combat!" Shen''s rival wasn''t going to let Machamp power up without interference. She commanded her Pokmon to rush in and disrupt Machamp''s Focus Energy. But Machamp had already completed its preparation. "How is that even possible?" Shen''s rival gasped in surprise. Even Julian looked surprised. Machamp''s Focus Energy had taken less than two secondsabout half the usual time. It was clear now that Shen had planned this from the start. "We''ll use Close Combat too!" Shen shouted. At that moment, Infernape lunged toward Machamp. It was too late for its Trainer to change tactics. The fists of both Pokmon became streaks of white light as they struck each other at incredible speed. Initially, they seemed evenly matched, but Machamp''s earlier preparation began to show its advantage. Thanks to Focus Energy, Machamp could hit its rival more easily. Plus, having four arms gave it an inherent edge over Infernape. As Machamp tracked Infernape''s punches, it held its breath and caught one of Infernape''s fists with its upper arms while delivering powerful blows to its opponent''s stomach and neck with its other arms. Infernape let out a pained scream but remained caught by Machamp''s grip, leaving it exposed. "Machamp, Dynamic Punch!" Dynamic Punch is a powerful Fighting-type move, but it has a low hit rate. Most trainers save it for when they have a high chance of hitting. But now, with Infernape right in front of Machamp, it was almost impossible to miss. "Infernape, use Swagger!" commanded its Trainer. Caught off guard, As Infernape shouted at Machamp, something strange happened. Machamp suddenly became enraged. In its fury, it lost focus and ended up hitting itself with the Dynamic Punch instead of its opponent. "Machamp!" Shen yelled in panic. Just when she thought victory was within reach, things had taken a turn for the worse. Swagger confuses the opponent and boosts their attack power. It was a risky gamble, and in this case, Shen was out of luck. Machamp, filled with rage, had struck itself hard with the boosted Dynamic Punch, resulting in significant damage. The opposing Trainer had won the gamble, not only freeing Infernape but also throwing Machamp into disarray. "I''m afraid Shen is also very unlucky" Will muttered, watching closely. Julian shot him a disapproving glance. Why bring up Shen''s luck? What was he implying? In Pokmon battles, it''s not just about strength and skill; luck plays a crucial role too. If Machamp remained in its confused state and managed to hit Infernape with another Dynamic Punch, it could change the outcome entirely. "Infernape, Cross Chop!" Seeing Machamp still confused, the rival Trainer seized the opportunity to go for the win. Infernape, despite its pain, charged at Machamp, fueled by frustration at being held down. "I don''t believe this! Machamp, Counter!" Shen shouted, willing her Pokmon to respond. Since the other Trainer had gambled earlier, Shen decided to take a risk too. She hoped Machamp would follow her command this time. With a heavy Cross Chop, Infernape struck Machamp, but just then, Shen''s voice broke through the confusion. Machamp''s mind cleared at the last moment, allowing it to unleash a powerful energy wave that sent Infernape flying. Counter allows the user to double the damage of the opponent''s attack back at them, as long as the user can remain standing. Thankfully, Machamp was strong enough to withstand Infernape''s Cross Chop. "Infernape is unable to battle; Machamp wins!" announced the referee. Shen breathed a sigh of relief as she recalled Machamp and made her way down from the arena, joining Will. "If you lose your next match, I swear I''ll kill you," she said playfully, shaking her fist at him. Will instinctively took a step back, feeling a bit embarrassed as he caught sight of the live broadcast camera overhead. His cheeks turned slightly red. "A mere Grass-type Trainer and you think I''ll lose?" he replied confidently. He was a Fire-type Trainer, and his opponent was a Grass-type. With such a clear advantage, he couldn''t imagine a scenario where he would lose. "Charizard!" he called, sending out his Pokmon. "come out, Venusaur!" came the reply. Sear?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Will grinned. Fate was certainly interesting; he was up against Venusaur. Among starter Pokmon, Bulbasaur is one of the most cost-effective and worthwhile choices to train. Just like Charmander, which is a fan favorite among Fire-type starters. However, both of these Pokmon are valued at over a million, making them out of reach for an average family. Charizard soared above Venusaur at a height of about ten meters. The protective barrier around the battlefield rose to thirty meters, meaning no Pokmon could fly higher than that. If they did, it would count as a rules violation and result in an automatic loss. In official matches without energy shields, there are still limits to how high Pokmon can fly, ensuring that grounded Pokmon still have a fighting chance. "Charizard, Flamethrower!" Will commanded, snapping his fingers with flair. A torrent of flames shot down from Charizard, starting narrow at half a meter wide and quickly spreading to five or six meters as it neared Venusaur. The temperature around the area skyrocketed. Chapter 68: Mega Evolution Chapter 68: Mega EvolutionIn battles, when a Trainer''s command skills and a Pokmon''s strength are similar, the side that has a type advantage holds a significant edge over the other. For instance, among the 18 top Elites in Drakoria, the Dragon Elite triumphed over the other 15 Elites during the first Elite Challenge. Among the three Elites who remained unbeaten, two were the Ice-type Elite and the Fairy-type Elite. Ice-type Pokmon deals double damage to Dragon-types, while Fairy-types are even more formidable, as they are immune to Dragon-type moves entirely. The last of the undefeated Elites was Julian''s grandfather, John, who managed to defeat the Dragon Elite through sheer strength. Speaking of John, he currently holds the title of the No. 1 Elite among the 18 in Drakoria. Why is Steel-type Elite John regarded as the strongest of the 18? He is the only Trainer who defeated all 17 other Elites using only Steel-type Pokmon during the first Elite Challenge. Even the Ground-type and Fire-type Elites, who typically have an advantage over Steel-types, couldn''t match his skill. Unless one side has an overwhelming advantage in strength, defeating an opponent with a type disadvantage is quite unlikely. Will felt confident that he would win this match. He had seen his opponent''s previous battle and understood Venusaur''s abilities. He believed Venusaur was weaker than his own Charizard and he also had a type disadvantage against it. Under these circumstances, he truly did not believe he could lose. "Venusaur, Mega Evolve!" As Will launched a Flamethrower, the opponent suddenly raised his sleeve, revealing a brilliantly colored gemstone. A dazzling light streamed from the gem toward Venusaur, which also emitted its own vibrant glow. The two lights intertwined in the air. At the same time, a massive white light enveloped Venusaur. When the light faded, a Pokmon larger than the original Venusaur stood before the audience. The appearance of Mega Venusaur and its previous form were similar, but the flower on Mega Venusaur''s back was larger, and the "trunk" below the flowers had thickened. The sight of Mega Evolution astonished the audience. Many had only seen such an event on video screens and had never witnessed it live. On the broadcast, comments began pouring in. "Mega Venusaur is amazing!" "Wow, the scene of Mega Evolution is breathtaking!" "Why hasn''t Charizard Mega Evolved?" "Charizard: I wish I could Mega Evolve too, but I don''t have a Mega Stone!" Venusaur''s Mega Evolution captivated many viewers, with some even cheering for Mega Venusaur, including those who had previously supported Charizard. "What''s the deal with this guy? Where did he get a Mega Evolution Stone?" Zosh asked, puzzled. Mega Evolution Stones are rare resources, whether in Drakoria or other regions, and cannot be bought with money. One could trade a pseudo-legendary Pokmon for a Mega Evolution Stone, but the reverse is not guaranteed. This highlights just how scarce Mega Evolution Stones truly are. The head teacher, Sam, didn''t know the background of the opposing Trainer and turned to Julian for answers. "I''m not sure either, but this Venusaur seems very well-trained. Maybe it''s someone from the Grass-type gym," Julian replied. It was a nationally recognized gym, much like their own Steel-type gym. There are two national gyms in Yale Province: Steel and Grass. "If it''s from the Grass-type gym, Will might be in trouble," Shen said, concern etched on his face. Pokmon: Venusaur (Mega Venusaur)* Level: 41 (51)* Qualification: Green Ability: Overgrow (Thick Fat)* Item: Miracle Seed Gender: Male Moves: Petal Blizzard, Petal Dance, Vine Whip, Seed Bomb, Growth, Sunny Day, Razor Leaf, Synthesis, Sleep Powder, Poison Powder Move Discs: Giga Drain, Magical Leaf, Protect, Hyper Beam, Grassy Terrain, Venoshock, Bulldoze, Body Slam, Earthquake, Power Whip Genetic Moves: Ingrain, Nature Power, Energy Ball, Leaf Storm After Mega Evolution, Venusaur''s level increased by ten, and its ability became Thick Fat. This ability halves the damage taken from Fire-type and Ice-type moves. This shift made things even harder for Charizard, as its type advantage had effectively disappeared. Mega Venusaur flicked its Vine Whip, easily deflecting Will''s Flamethrower. "Venusaur, Power Whip!" Will, momentarily stunned, snapped back to reality and shouted, "Charizard, dodge!" But Power Whip was faster. Just as Charizard began to flap its wings, it was struck by Mega Venusaur''s powerful vines. It felt like being hit by a meteorite, and Charizard crashed to the ground. "Venusaur, Body Slam!" Charizard reluctantly opened its eyes to see a massive figure looming overhead. Darkness engulfed its vision, followed by a sharp pain, and then everything faded to black. Sarch* The N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Charizard is unable to battle; Venusaur wins!" The referee looked pitifully at Charizard, who lay fainted beneath the weight of the attack. If it had been hit harder, it would have been a much worse situation. Will walked off the stage, while his rival stayed put, clearly eager to continue the battle. "He''s strong," Will admitted to Julian, who was getting ready to take the field next. "Just for you," Julian replied. Upon hearing this, Will instinctively paused, looking at Julian''s back as he whispered, "You won''t die, if you stop pretending." Julian knew he could wait until his opponent could no longer hold on, thus releasing the Mega Evolution. According to the rules, when one player finishes, the next must enter the arena within three minutes. As long as they start battling within that time, it''s all within the regulations. Looking at his opponent now, it seemed unlikely they could last even two minutes. Although Mega Evolution is powerful, it requires a deep bond between Trainer and Pokmon to succeed. Moreover, Mega Evolution is a significant test for the Trainer as well. During Mega Evolution, both the Trainer''s mental and physical strength are drained continuously. A normal Trainer with a Mega Evolution Stone can only maintain that form for about five minutes. Of course, five minutes can be enough to change the outcome of a battle in a regular match, but if you''re in the wild or a secret realm, failing to resolve a conflict during Mega Evolution can leave you vulnerable once it ends. At that point, if you need to escape, you may not have the strength left to do so. So if you face opponents in the wild or in secret realms, Mega Evolution should only be used as a last resort. Chapter 69: Destroyed Chapter 69: Destroyed"As you said -this time we can only rely on Julian," When Will ended up in a rather dejected state, Shen threw him a bottle of water and drank half of the bottle by herself. Right now, Julian and Shen were the only ones left on their side. But Machamp had fought once already, and while it was still ready to go, it likely wouldn''t last much longer in a fight. On the other side, the Lit High School team had three Pokmon: Gengar, Venusaur, and a Trainer who hadn''t battled yet but had a Pupitar waiting. That made a total of three Pokmon they were up against. Julian would need to take on at least two or maybe even three of those Pokmon if Lake No. 1 school wanted to win this match. "Lit Middle School has been hiding their strength," Coach Sam said. "I didn''t expect them to have Mega Evolution on their side." He had thought that the Trainer with Pupitar was the secret weapon for Lit Middle School. While that was true, they actually had two secret weapons. "Julian also has a Mega Evolution stone," Will added. "Are you sure about that?" Shen asked. "Do you really think Julian wouldn''t have one?" Will replied. "Bang!" Shen punched Will lightly on the arm, annoyed. "Stop answering a question with another question!" Of course, Julian had the Mega Evolution stone. When his Beldum evolved into Metagross, his dad had given him the stone. But with such a opponent, Julian didn''t need to use Mega Evolution just yet. "Metagross!" In a flash of bright white light, the silver Metagross appeared. Its heavy limbs landed softly on the ground without a sound. "Mega Venusaur, use Leaf Storm!" The Trainer of Mega Venusaur felt exhausted, knowing their time for Mega Evolution was almost up. They needed to deal a lot of damage to Metagross before they ran out of energy. Countless green leaves swirled and danced through the air, each one sharp and dangerous. "Psychic!" Metagross''s eyes glowed blue, and an invisible wave spread out from it, stopping the green leaves in mid-air as if someone had pressed pause. At the same time, Mega Venusaur realized it couldn''t move at all. "Meteor Mash!" Metagross floated in front of the controlled Mega Venusaur, smashing its fists down on its opponent''s head, surrounded by colorful lights. "Mega Venusaur, hurry and dodge!" When the Trainer shouted, the Pokmon felt helpless. If it could dodge, it wouldn''t be standing there taking the hit, right? "Bang!" No suspense, Mega Venusaur fell to the ground, also losing its Mega form. "I think Julian wasn''t even using his full strength before," Will said, wide-eyed and excited as he watched Julian defeat Mega Venusaur so easily. "I have a feeling that Metagross is hiding even more power," Shen added, her martial artist instincts telling her that both Julian and Metagross were keeping their best moves under wraps. "The match is over! Venusaur is unable to battle; Metagross wins!" called the referee. After the Venusaur Trainer recalled their Pokmon, they gave Julian a deep look before leaving. This Trainer was from a well-known grass-type gym, run by his father. Even if his background wasn''t as impressive as Julian''s, he was still one of the best in Yale Province. Julian''s name was becoming more and more famous, especially after his first appearance with silver Beldum. His grandfather, John, even praised him as a future champion, making Julian well-known among the wealthy families. Next up for Lit Middle School was not their last player, Nolan, but the Trainer who used Gengar. During a previous battle with Blastoise, Gengar had regained some stamina using Dream Eater. After resting in its Pok Ball, it was probably back to about 90% energy. In terms of type advantages, Metagross had the upper hand. Gengar''s Poison moves wouldn''t affect Metagross because of its Steel type. Gengar was likely just trying to wear down Metagross and gather information for Nolan, the final Trainer. "Psychic!" Gengar''s powerful Psychic move hit, but Metagross quickly countered with it''s own , controlling Gengar just like it had with Mega Venusaur before. "Bullet Punch!" A beam of silver light shot from Metagross as it attacked. With such overwhelming strength, there was no need for fancy movesjust pure power. Even though Metagross was only at the Advanced level, it could easily defeat even the strongest opponents, and Gengar, who was slightly above average Advanced level, stood no chance. "Gengar is unable to battle; Metagross wins!" In less than a minute, Gengar was defeated, and its Trainer recalled it in shock. They had hoped to use Gengar''s tricky ghost-type moves to gather information on Metagross for Nolan, but instead, they were overpowered right away. Metagross had taken down two opponents in a row, one even being Mega Venusaur, and the audience erupted in cheers. "Metagross is the best!" "Venusaur and Gengar didn''t stand a chance against Metagross!" "I really want to see Metagross Mega Evolve!" "Me too!" "Hey, my legs are long and white. Want to see them?" "Private chat, please!" "Get lost; you''re blocking my view of Metagross!" The chat was buzzing with comments as Nolan, the last player from Lit Middle School, stepped onto the battlefield. To give the Pokmon plenty of room to battle, especially in a big event like the Yale Provincial High School League, the arena was hugealmost the size of two football fields. Both Trainers could see each other, but they couldn''t see what the other looked like, they can only see their rival''s image on the big screen nearby. sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When Nolan appeared, the female audience went wild, cheering loudly, making the broadcast screen explode with excitement. "Come to sister!" "woof, woof!" "Nolan, come give a hug to your sister!" Many comments praised Nolan''s looks, while a few criticized. "It''s just a pretty face; what''s the big deal?" "This year''s women''s aesthetic is really bad; they don''t know what a real man looks like." But those comments quickly faded into the background of the excitement. Chapter 70: Metagross VS Pupitar Chapter 70: Metagross VS PupitarNolan, didn''t look as tough as it might suggest. His face was soft and smooth, typical of a ''dreamy boy.'' Standing over 1.8 meters tall, he had a striking presence. With good facial features, he was often called a lady killer drawing the attention of many girls around him. In contrast, Julian wasn''t bad-looking either. He shared some of the good looks from his parents, but he was quiet and reserved. He had an aura that made people feel like he was off-limits, which didn''t help his popularity. It seemed this guy was the grandson of a well-known Rock Elite, which added to his mystique. Nolan was similar to Julian in school when he was just starting out; he was relatively unknown. But once he became a Pokmon trainer, he quickly made a name for himself. His starter Pokmon, a Pupitar, turned out to be a Pseudo-legendary, and his background soon became public knowledge. "Pupitar!" Nolan called out, sending his trusted Pokmon. Pokmon: Pupitar (Rock/Ground) Level: 45 Qualification: Blue Ability: Shed Skin Item: Hard Stone Gender: Male Moves: Iron Defense, Tackle, Rock Throw, Bite, Scary Face, Payback, Rock Slide, Stomping Tantrum, Dark Pulse, Crunch, Earthquake, Screech Disc Moves: Hyper Beam, Protect, Dig, Rock Tomb, Sand Tomb, Substitute Genetic Moves: Sandstorm, Earth Power, Ancient Power, Outrage - Pokmon: Metagross (Steel/Psychic) Level: 50 Qualification: Purple Ability: Light Metal Prop: Metal Coat Gender: no gender Moves: Tackle, Agility, Steel Beam, Confusion, Metal Claw, Hammer Arm, Bullet Punch, Flash Cannon, Magnet Rise, Psychic, Scary Face, Meteor Mash, Hyper Beam Disc Moves: Iron Head, Zen Headbutt, Iron Defense, Protect, Light Screen, Psycho Cut, Shadow Ball, Gyro Ball, Psyshock, Icy Wind Genetic Moves: None Julian was surprised to see Nolan''s Pupitar. Blue-qualified Pokmon were rare and often belonged to trainers from prestigious families. Most families had numerous descendants, while Julian''s family was small, with him being the only male heir. In families like Nolan''s, the best Pokmon usually went to the chosen heir, while others had to make do with what they could get. Nolan must have been the heir of his family, the only one who could handle a blue-qualified Pupitar, especially with his grandfather being a Rock-type Elite. Julian knew that raising such a Pokmon was no easy task. Pupitar evolved into Tyranitar, but it needed to reach level 55 first, which was slow for a Pokmon. Pseudo-legendaries were known for two things: their slow evolution and their even slower leveling-up process. It took a lot of resources to raise them. For instance, if someone bought a Pupitar for 100 million, they might need to spend at least a billion more to fully develop it into Tyranitar. While pseudo-legendaries provided immense power in battle, they were also incredibly costly. For example, Metagross, another strong Pokmon, consumed energy cubes worth 100,000 a day. An average family struggled to save that much in a year. As the match between the two pseudo-legendaries began, the crowd grew. The number of viewers in the live broadcast room skyrocketed from one million to two million and continued to rise. "Let''s go, Nolan!" someone cheered. "It''s only Pupitar now, not Tyranitar!" another chimed in. "I don''t care; I''m cheering for him!" With its ferocious and domineering appearance and the ability to control sand, Tyranitar has the title of "Desert tyrant". In some movies, he often appears as a monster that destroys the city. Some time ago, the famous Actor Tyranitar also starred in "Tyranitar Vs King Kong" as the villain but won the support of many audiences, shouting that the evil Tyranitar will eventually defeat the righteous, King Kong. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Blind guess, Metagross wins" one fan shouted. "It''s the grandson of the Rock Elite against the grandson of the Steel Elite!" another added. "Pupitar is too ugly; I''m supporting Metagross!" The two Pokmon faced off, as far as Attributes were concerned, neither of them had an advantage. Although Pupitar''s Ground type was strong against Metagross''s Steel type, the Steel type also had a good matchup against Rock type. "Pupitar, use Screech!" Nolan commanded. "Metagross, use Agility!" Julian countered almost simultaneously. Nolan wanted to weaken Metagross''s strong defense, but Julian had anticipated his move. "Nolan was read!" a commentator exclaimed in surprise. Pre-reading was a skill where trainers guessed each other''s commands to counter them effectively. Metagross, with its Light Metal ability, and thanks to various enchantment potions had improved speed. Before Pupitar could unleash its screech, Metagross swiftly crossed the battlefield, covering nearly two football fields in a blink. "Metagross, Hammer Arm!" Julian shouted. With two mighty strikes, Metagross slammed its arms down on Pupitar. The impact created a loud bang, cracking Pupitar''s armor and sending fragments flying. Fighting-type moves were particularly effective against Rock types, and Hammer Arm was one of the strongest. But it came with a cost; Metagross''s speed would decrease after this move. However, even slowed down, it would still be faster than Pupitar, which was still in its metamorphosis stage. "Pupitar, use Dark Pulse!" Nolan said, clenching his fists. He hadn''t expected to be one step behind his rival. Pupitar unleashed a wave of dark energy, but Julian was ready. "Metagross, use Light Screen!" he commanded. A translucent barrier appeared in front of Metagross, absorbing the impact of the Dark Pulse. Metagross stood behind the screen, calm and confident, as if it knew the attack wouldn''t break through. "Metagross, Agility, then Hammer Arm again!" Julian continued, his next moves. "Pupitar, create a Sandstorm!" Nolan called out, sensing the urgency. The ground around Pupitar transformed into swirling sands, but it was too late. Metagross had already closed in, its arm glowing brightly as it struck down. Chapter 71: Team Championship Chapter 71: Team ChampionshipThe match had ended, and the atmosphere was electric. Metagross stood tall and proud, its metallic frame glinting under the bright lights of the arena. Nolan''s Pupitar lay on the ground, defeated. "Metagross: That''s it, I didn''t even try; you just fell down," "Pupitar: We are both pseudo-legendary at least give me some face," Whether it was the audience at the scene or the audience in front of the screen, they couldn''t believe their eyes. They thought that Metagross, who had fought two matches in a row, and then faced Pupitar, even if it won, would at least have to go through a hard fight. The result is that Metagross played Pupitar, just like it played Mega Venusaur and Gengar before, and put Pupitar on the ground with only two moves. "Is this what they mean by a fight between dragons and tigers?" someone remarked. "It''s more like a massacre!" Nolan looked at the fallen Pupitar, rubbed his eyes, and looked again, Pupitar was still on the ground, only then did he believe that he was defeated. Looking at the timer on the big screen, it was exactly three minutes, and the corners of his mouth twitched violently. "Metagross is ridiculously strong and unscientific" he muttered. He knew his own Pupitar had potential and could fight above its level, but against Metagross, it had been completely overmatched. The whole match felt like a crushing defeat. It would be fine if it was a pseudo-Elite Metagross but the Metagross in front of him was obviously still at the Advanced level, not even the peak. "What kind of precious treasures does it take to make a Pokmon this powerful?" he pondered, glancing at Julian with newfound respect. Unlike Julian, who was the sole heir of the Walker family and had access to all resources, Nolan knew his family was larger, spreading resources thinner among many members. All he had received was a blue-qualified Larvitar as his starter Pokmon. If he wanted more from his family, he needed to prove his worth. The Yale Provincial High School League was a prime opportunity for that, but now, with Julian''s overwhelming strength on display, he realized his chances of success were slim. "Come back, Metagross," Julian said, recalling his Pokmon amidst the cheers of the crowd. He knew Metagross was strong, His five basic stats far exceeded those of typical Metagross at the same level, thanks to various enhancements he had used. People wondered how he had achieved such a feat, what they didn''t know is that Julian had a system that allowed him to purchase items to boost his Pokmon''s stats repeatedly. Metagross was now level 51, having just gained experience from defeating Pupitar, and Julian was ready to continue improving its abilities. "Julian , you are so perverted, how can you be so strong?" As soon as Julian came back, Will wrapped his arms around his neck. The latter''s loud voice made Julian''s ear buzz. S~ea??h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I really hope I don''t have to face you in the individual competition," Shen added. "Agreed" "Agreed" Han and Zosh chimed in unison, all three sharing a worried glance. The individual competition was where everyone could truly showcase their strengths, but facing Julian early would be a disaster for them. "I''m not afraid; this uncle is very lucky!" Will declared, trying to lift the mood. He hoped to get lucky in the draw and avoid Julian until later in the competition. With the most powerful Rival Lit Middle School being defeated by Lake No. 1 Middle School, although the team competition is not over yet, everyone knows who the champion is. Especially after seeing Julian defeat Mega Venusaur, Gengar, Pupitar one against three, other teams have no thoughts about the team championship. Unless there is a Pokmon among them that can beat that kinky Metagross. The afternoon of the next day, the champion of the team competition was announced. As expected, Lake No. 1 Middle School took the title, and excitement filled the air. After the award ceremony for the team competition, the drawing ceremony for the individual competition begins. The 12 teams participating in the Yale Provincial High School League this time, their main candidates can participate in the individual competition, which means that even if you lose in the team competition due to your teammates, you can completely win back in the individual competition by your own strength. There are 60 players in the competition, and each can use up to three Pokemon. "Julian, what number did you draw?" Will asked, holding up a ping pong ball marked with the number 31. "Number 15," Julian replied, noticing Will visibly relax. "I wonder who the poor soul with number 46 is," Will mused, his tone playful. As if on cue, Julian''s phone buzzed with a message: *Contestant Julian no. 15th will compete at 10:00 in the morning at venue number 6. If you are three minutes late, you will automatically be disqualified. Please don''t be late.* "I''m at venue 5 at 8 o''clock, so cheer for me when the time comes," Will said, excitement creeping into his voice. "No time" Julian left without looking back. "Hey, don''t you want to see who your rival is?" Will shouted after him, but Julian kept walking, focused on his own preparation. On the big screen, the draw results began to appear. Will first checked his rival number 30. ''Well, a nerd with glasses, definitely not my Rival.'' Then, he looked at the unfortunate number 46. His eyes widened in surprise as he recognized a familiar face. "Shen, you really are unlucky!" he exclaimed, shaking his head in disbelief. Julian''s rival was none other than his teammate Shen. This was a unique twist, considering that Shen was also a strong competitor within Yale Province. At that moment, Shen was preoccupied with a small mirror, admiring her own reflection and adjusting her hair. Shen Yu: (ѡ). "Looks like things just got interesting," Will said to himself, a mischievous smile creeping onto his face. The individual competition was about to begin, and the excitement was just starting to build. Chapter 72: VS Shen Chapter 72: VS Shen"Ding!" "Daily Mission: Do Two Thousand Skip Ropes" "Quest Reward: 1 Rare Candy (for Pokmon below level 50) and 300 points" Every morning at eight o''clock, new daily tasks appear. These tasks can be quite unusual, ranging from skipping rope and feeding Pokmon to climbing mountains. Some of the stranger tasks include holding your breath underwater for a whole minute, climbing a tree that''s 30 meters tall, or simply staring at a Magikarp for an hour! Julian finished his daily task in under fifteen minutes and was happy to collect his reward: 1a Rare Candy. In the game, Rare Candy is useful for helping Pokmon level up, but this one can only be used on Pokmon under level 50. Since his Metagross was level 51, he couldn''t use it on him. Instead, he called out Lucario and was about to hand the Rare Candy to him when Meltan suddenly jumped up excitedly. "Here, eat this!" Julian said, pulling out Aron''s metal shell from his storage. When Aron evolves into Lairon at level 18, it sheds this tough metal shell. This shell is special; it''s made of all the metal Aron has eaten and can be used for many things, from making tools to crafting items. Plus, some Pokmon really enjoy eating it, like Meltan, who absolutely loves this metal shell. With the metal shell in front of him, Meltan lost interest in the Rare Candy. Meanwhile, Lucario happily ate the candy, increasing his level from 42 to 43. The candies from the system have no side effects, so there was no worry about Lucario becoming unstable after the level up. "Ding Dong~" The doorbell rang. When the waiter saw Lucario open the door, he paused for a moment before smiling and asking, "What would you like for breakfast?" Julian quickly ordered his breakfast. He was becoming quite a well-known figure at the conference, so even at the hotel, many recognized him. Most people respected his space, but there were always a few who wanted to chat or take a photo. To avoid distractions, Julian preferred to stay in his room when he wasn''t busy. His breakfast was simple yet satisfying: ten xiao long bao, a fried dough stick, and a bowl of salty soy milk. (TL/n: Xiao Long Bao, also known as XLB, is a type of small Chinese steamed bun (baozi) originating from Shanghai and Wuxi. It is a delicate, soup-filled dumpling made of ground pork and pork broth.) "Long live the salty soy milk!" he joked, releasing Metagross and Dragonair. Luckily, his room was spacious; otherwise, Dragonair might feel cramped with its long, slender body. He took out energy cubes for Metagross, Lucario, and Dragonair but to his surprise, none of them ate right away. They all looked at him instead. Julian chuckled, realizing he needed to make the food more appealing. He decided to buy some Fluffy Powder from the mall. Fluffy Powder: This makes energy cubes soft and tasty. This powder doesn''t add any nutritional value but greatly improves the flavor. Energy cubes can be quite dense, so Pokmon might prefer something soft. After sprinkling the Fluffy Powder on the energy cubes, the three Pokmon eagerly devoured their meals. It''s hard for any Pokmon to resist delicious food! Meltan, on the other hand, didn''t care for energy cubes. He was content munching on Aron''s metal shell, which he preferred over the cubes. However, he was picky about the quality and wouldn''t eat just any shell. All of Julian''s Pokmon had developed their preferences, thanks to the best resources he could provide them, whether from the Walker family or the special items from the system mall. After breakfast, Julian spent some time scrolling through social media, mostly watching Pokmon-related videos. At 9:30, he called back his four Pokmon into their Luxury Balls. His game was scheduled for ten o''clock, and it would take him about 20 minutes to walk to the sixth venue. The excitement in the air was palpable. This was an individual competition, and the energy of the crowd was even more intense than during the team matches. The venue, which could seat 50,000, was already packed, with many people standing in the aisles. "Hey, Julian! You didn''t cheer for me!" Will exclaimed as soon as he spotted him. He had just finished his match in venue No. 5. "Did you win?" Julian asked, grinning. "Of course! I beat that rookie in less than an hour!" Will replied, his pride shining through as he animatedly shared details about his game. "Han and Zosh are also competing at ten, so it''s just us here," he added, gesturing to their fellow competitors Chase, Chris and Zack. Though they hadn''t qualified for the individual competition, they were still basking in the glory of their recent team victory. "Don''t worry; you''ll get bonus points form the team victory for the entrance exam coming up in two months," Julian said, knowing how important every point could be. As Julian looked around, Will noticed eyes searching for someone. sea??h th ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Shen is already in the player room," he said, sensing Julian''s curiosity. "Alright, I''ll head over now," Julian replied, feeling the gaze of many spectators on him. The clock struck ten. As Julian and Shen stepped out from their respective passages, they took their places on the battlefield. It was a standard venue; special themed arenas would only be used in the semifinals. "I heard they were teammates during the team competition," someone whispered from the crowd. "Wait, aren''t they a couple?" another voice chimed in. "Come on, Sister Shen, Retaliate for my Nolan, and defeat this b*****d" "I heard that Nolan likes fried noodles" The live comments were buzzing with excitement, mostly cheering for Shen and urging her to get revenge for Nolan, it seems a lot of lady fans were present. As the cheers rang out, Julian took a deep breath, ready for the match ahead. Chapter 73: Julian: I Held Back! Chapter 73: Julian: I Held Back!As the face of the Fighting type, Lucario''s entrance drew loud cheers from the crowd. The power of aura radiated from the Pokmon as it stood calmly on the battlefield, ears perked up and eyes shining bright. "Just as I thought, Lucario is the first choice," Shen whispered to herself. If she were Julian, she would''ve done the same. "Go, Hitmonlee!" Shen called out, sending her own Pokmon into the arena. Hitmonlee, known in some places as Sawamular(Japanese name) or Kick Master, was a skilled fighter. With a spring-like motion, Hitmonlee launched itself forward, preparing to attack. "Hitmonlee, use Blaze Kick!" "Bullet Punch!" Julian commanded. The two Pokmon rushed at each other. Hitmonlee suddenly stopped about seven or eight meters away from Lucario and unleashed a powerful Blaze Kick. Did you know? Hitmonlee''s legs can extend up to double their length! It''s true that Pokmon who make it into the Guinness World Records have extraordinary talents, just like people do. Lucario hadn''t even closed the distance, but Hitmonlee''s Blaze Kick was already on its way. Without hesitation, Lucario''s Bullet Punch met the attack head-on, extinguishing the flames and striking Hitmonlee''s extended leg with full force. Hitmonlee let out a cry of pain; Lucario''s Bullet Punch was really powerful. "Grab its legs!" Julian shouted. Just as Hitmonlee was about to withdraw his leg, Lucario grabbed it, causing his movement to stagnate. Sarch* The N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Hitmonlee, throw it out!" Shen ordered, raising her fist in encouragement. The strongest part of Hitmonlee is its legs. When it swings its legs with all its strength, its body can directly spiral into the sky with this force. However, Shen had miscalculated Lucario''s strength. Metagross, Julian''s most powerful Pokmon, had about 70% of his resources, while the remaining 30% were divided among his other Pokmon. Although it seems that each Pokmon only has minimal resources, that was only when compared to Metagross. Even these resources are more than what most people use for their six Pokmon combined. Even though Hitmonlee had used all his strength, he couldn''t just throw Lucario up. Instead, he felt pain in the legs that Lucario was holding. "In that case, Hitmonlee, use High Jump Kick!" Shen instructed. Hitmonlee retracted the leg that Lucario was holding and prepared to strike. It bent its right knee, creating a wave of air around it. "High Jump Kick! This move is powerful, and if it connects, Lucario might be in trouble!" Will whispered, watching closely. "Protect!" Julian commanded. In response, Lucario released Hitmonlee''s leg, and a green barrier enveloped it. Just in time, Hitmonlee''s High Jump Kick slammed into the protective shield. The force was tremendous, but the barrier held strong. As the move ended, the protection faded. "Close Combat!" Julian called out. With Hitmonlee now vulnerable, Lucario unleashed a flurry of powerful strikes. Since the High Jump Kick had missed, Hitmonlee was briefly unable to move its right leg due to the side effects of the move. "Force Palm!" Julian shouted as Lucario knocked Hitmonlee into the air, chasing after it. Lucario pressed its palm against Hitmonlee''s chest, sending the Pokmon crashing against the wall of the venue. "Hitmonlee loses its ability to fight; Lucario wins!" the referee announced. Taking a deep breath, Shen returned Hitmonlee to its Pok Ball and sent out her second Pokmon. "Go, Hitmonchan!" Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee are two of the more well-known Fighting Pokmon, both evolving from the same Pokemon. Many Fighting trainers include at least one in their teams. "Quick use Mach Punch!" Shen called out, eager to turn the tide. "Lucario, Bullet Punch!" Julian responded. Both Pokmon excelled in speed, but Lucario''s power shone through as its Bullet Punch struck first, landing a hit before Hitmonchan could connect. Hitmonchan had the Iron Fist ability, which boosted its punching moves by 20%. But if it didn''t hit, that power meant nothing. "Steel Beam!" Julian commanded. "Hitmonchan, use Protect!" Shen shouted quickly. Basically every Pokmon will learn Protect, a crucial move that can block incoming attacks provided that the opponent''s move power does not exceed the upper limit of protection. This is considered one of Pokmon''s life-saving moves, but the success rate of consecutive uses will drop. If a Pokmon isn''t careful, it might find itself unable to defend later in the battle. Under Hitmonchan''s horrified gaze, Lucario''s Steel Beam broke through the Protect and struck hard. Hitmonchan''s body hit the ground a few times before coming to a stop, motionless. "Hitmonchan loses its fighting ability; Lucario wins!" the referee declared. "Tsk tsk tsk, Julian is really merciless, a ruthless man, I''m afraid he will be single for the rest of his life" Will remarked, shaking his head. "Can''t he let Shen have a bit of fun?" Julian had actually shown restraint; he could have sent out Metagross instead, which would have ended the match even more decisively. Even with Lucario, Julian controlled the power of his moves to avoid serious injury. "Machamp!" After adjusting her beating heart, Shen sent out her Trump Card. Although she knew that she was not his opponent, and was crushed by Julian''s Pokmon until now, But what made her really frustrated was that her Pokmon hadn''t caused any substantial damage to Lucario. "Machamp, we have only one goal now" Shen instructed firmly, pointing at Lucario. "Injure it!" Machamp looked back: (?_?) Julian was also stunned. Could it be that he had pushed her too hard, so much so that her mind became a little unclear, and she started talking nonsense. "Hahaha, she''s so brave to say that out loud!" "This little sister really is unlucky. Meeting someone like Julian, who doesn''t hold back, must be tough for her. Unlike our Nolan, who knows how to treat a lady right," a friend chimed in. "Yeah, I heard he even cooks!" Chapter 74: Shen and Machamp Chapter 74: Shen and Machamp"Machamp, use Focus Energy!" Lucario didn''t move. "Machamp, Bulk Up!" Lucario still didn''t move. Shen''s strategy of making Machamp stronger with two buffing moves in a row didn''t stop. Frustrated, Shen suddenly burst out in anger, feeling insulted. "Julian! I don''t need you to go easy on me!" Her voice echoed through the loudspeaker, reaching Julian. "666! I like her fiery temper." "Julian: I was wrong to hold back." "This wave of moves should make Machamp much stronger" Julian was also speechless. Didn''t the other party swore to let Machamp hurt Lucario just now, but if she wanted to hurt Lucario with Machamp''s strength, unless he deliberately held back, it was really impossible. So if you don''t let him stack a few buffs, increase Machamp''s strength, and narrow the distance between him and Lucario, how can Lucario be hurt? "Lucario, Aura Sphere!" A glowing, football-sized sphere of energy formed between Lucario''s hands, the soft blue light comforting to look at but incredibly dangerous in reality. "Machamp Dynamic Punch blow it up for me" Instead of dodging, Shen had Machamp meet the attack head-on. Machamp raised all four of its arms, clenching its fists tight as red and yellow energy swirled around them. It charged forward and slammed its glowing fists into the Aura Sphere. The sphere exploded on impact, sending a cloud of black smoke over the battlefield. "Now, Brick Break!" Shen shouted. Through the thick smoke, Machamp rushed out with a roar, charging straight toward Lucario. Lucario moved forward to meet the attack. "Bone Rush!" With his hands stretched out, a white Bone Club appeared in his hands, meeting Machamp''s Brick Break. The two Pokmon clashed, trading blows like seasoned martial artists. One swung fists, the other a staffboth showing off their impressive Fighting-type skills. In fact, some Fighting Pokmon can indeed learn some martial arts of the human world. With their powerful body, its power might even be infinitely magnified. Of course, there are also many limitations. The first is that the body structure of Pokmon is different from that of humans. Even if there are some human-shaped Pokmon like Machamp, but their internal structure is more or less different. So there are not many Pokmon who can really learn human martial arts. Machamp, with its four arms, attacked at lightning speed, so fast that the audience couldn''t even follow the movement. Julian, even with his aura powers, couldn''t see the exact motions of Machamp''s punches either. "Wham~!" Lucario, on the other hand, used the Bone Staff very well and blocked all of Machamp''s punches. "Luca!" Suddenly Lucario let out a soft cry, his eyes flickered slightly, and the long Bone Staff in his hand suddenly turned into two small bone clubs, one for each hand. The left and right Bone Club protruded above Machamp, shifted slightly under his feet, dodged the opponent''s attack, and then the left and right Bone Club slammed the intersection between Machamp''s arms. Machamp has four arms, two on each of his left and right shoulders, and the middle of the two arms is his biggest weak point. It''s like hitting someone''s armpit hard enough to temporarily immobilize their arm. Humans have done a lot of research on Pokmon, some have studied Pokmon moves, some have studied Pokmon evolution, and some have studied Pokmon''s weaknesses. Books like this are sold in bookstores, and there are records of Machamp''s weak points in it, but there are only less than 100 kind of Pokmon recorded in this book. Under the effect of it''s weak point being hit hard by Bone Club, Machamp screamed and his four arms drooped like noodles. These four arms were Machamp''s biggest attacking weapons, and losing them would undoubtedly make Machamp lose 80% of his strength. "Machamp, don''t give up! Use Giga Impact!" Shen was like a obsessed madman, at this point she only had one thought in her mind, hurting Lucario. Fighting-type Pokmon are known for their toughness, and even though Machamp''s arms were useless, it still had its legs. "I''ll kill you scumbag" At this moment, Machamp and Shen seemed to be united in their minds, and the beliefs between the two sides were conveyed to each other, and a new strength emerged from Machamp''s tired body. In the stands, a teacher from the admissions office of a certain college lit up when he saw this scene. At this time, Shen felt like she and Machamp seemed to have become one, and she was able to see Lucario from Machamp''s perspective. ''Illusion?'' ''I don''t care if it''s just my illusion.'' ''Machamp, let''s give it everything we''ve got!'' The light of Giga Impact suddenly magnified, and the surrounding air began to boil with Machamp''s energy, the ground cracked beneath its feet. It left a deep trail behind as it raced toward Lucario. You have to know that this place can only be destroyed by pseudo-Elite Pokmon. That is to say, at this moment, Machamp in the early stage of Advanced-level is showing strength equal to a pseudo-Elite. Lucario didn''t know why, but it felt two auras in Machamp. The final impact will definitely be powerful, but it can be avoided with its superior speed, and just as it was about to do so, Julian''s voice came. "Protect!" Although it was not clear why Julian gave such an order, Lucario did it without thinking. S~ea??h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An aquamarine protective cover shrouded it, and the next second Giga Impact, emitting a strong white light, hit the protection like a meteor hitting earth. "Boom!" The sound of the collision echoed across the arena as a shockwave burst out, though it was stopped by the stadium''s protective barrier. Even so, the noise roared through the speakers. "Machamp, crush it" Shen shouted. Through Machamp''s eyes, Shen saw that the barrier blocked the final impact. But her voice spurred Machamp on, filling it with relentless determination. "Crack~!" Machamp roared, pushing harder. Its feet dug into the ground, veins bulging from the strain. Under the pressure, Lucario''s Protect started to crack. Lucario stared in surprise as its shield finally shattered. "Boom!" Another explosion came, and Black smoke enveloped the two Pokmon. Many viewers couldn''t help stretching their necks, as if they could see through the smoke. "This is amazing!" "I got so excited, I accidentally kicked my girlfriend!" "Machamp, who usually moved bricks at the construction site, turned out to be so powerful" As the smoke cleared, Lucario stood on the field, arms crossed, with the unconscious Machamp at his feet. The winner was obvious. But at this moment, many viewers showed disappointed expressions. Just now, Machamp and Shen chose to fight hard regardless of the strength gap, even though they were clearly outmatched. That kind of spiritual resonance made them hope that Machamp might somehow pull through. Chapter 75: Heart’s Eye Chapter 75: Hearts Eye"Machamp is unable to battle. Lucario wins!" The referee also seemed to be infected by the performance of Machamp and Shen just now, and only announced the result of the match after a moment of trance. Julian looked at Lucario, who was holding its arms, and recalled it back into its Pok Ball. while Shen''s eyes were slightly lost, looking at the fallen Machamp in front of her, lost in thought. "That feeling just now..." "Was it real, or just an illusion?" Shen felt a strange connection between her and Machamp during the battle. She wondered if it was just in the heat of the moment or something more. "It felt so real, but it must''ve been my imagination," she thought. She had never experienced something like that before, and it left her confused. "It''s not your imagination," Julian''s voice cut through her thoughts. "You''ve awakened a special ability." Don''t know when Julian had walked over from one end of the field to Shen, took Machamp''s Pok Ball, He returned Machamp to its ball as Shen looked at him, puzzled. "Special ability?" Shen asked, confused. She remembered learning in school that some trainers have rare powers. These abilities were usually passed down through family or randomly awakened, like Psychic. "Let''s go, we''ll talk later" Julian said. Noticing Shen was a bit shaky on her feet he asked "Can you walk?" "Of course I can!" Shen nodded, she was stubborn by nature, she wouldn''t say that her legs were weak and she couldn''t walk. After Julian took a few steps forward, he suddenly looked back at Shen who was still standing still and said helplessly: "If you can''t move, just say so." "I''m fine!" Shen''s face turned red but she still insisted, even though her legs refused to cooperate. Seeing this, Julian sighed. "Metagross, use Psychic to hold her." Metagross appeared and used its psychic powers to lift Shen gently into the air. "Here, eat this," Julian said, handing her a Sitrus Berry. "It''ll help you regain some energy." Sitrus Berries can restore a bit of physical strength for both Pokmon and humans, though not all berries are edible for people. Luckily, Sitrus Berries are one of the few that taste decent to humans. "Thanks," Shen said, floating awkwardly in the air. It was weird, but it was better than collapsing. As they moved toward the player''s area, footsteps echoed. Will, Chase, Zack, and Chris came rushing over. As the match ended, they found that something was wrong with Shen''s condition, and when they saw Julian walking over, the four of them immediately rushed from the stand to the player''s passage. "Shen, you aren''t paralyzed are you?" Will asked with wide eyes, seeing her being carried by Metagross. His words also startled the three next to him, and they immediately looked at Shen with worried eyes "Go away, this lady is still very strong" Shen shouted to Will angrily, and raised her clenched fist. "Just kidding, just kidding!" Will smiled wryly. When they were about to reach the exit, Shen said, "Julian can you let Metagross put me down" The Sitrus Berry had worked, and she could walk again. She didn''t want to be seen floating like a decoration. "Alright, Metagross, return." Julian called Metagross back. However, as Metagross disappeared, Shen, who was still partly in the air, dropped down with a thud, landing on her rear. Sar?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian: (@_@) Shen: When this lady is healed, just wait to taste my iron fist. The moment grew awkwardly quiet. Will clamped a hand over his mouth to stop himself from laughing, knowing Shen would beat him up if he did. The group returned to the hotel and entered Julian''s room. "Julian, earlier you said something about me awakening a special ability," Shen blurted out as soon as they sat down. She had been holding back her questions for a while now. "What? Shen, you''ve got special powers now?" Julian hadn''t even spoken yet, but Will had already called out, looking at Shen in disbelief and admiration. "Julian, are you mistaken? Even I haven''t awakened special abilities. How could Shen awaken them?" This is jealousy talking, If I can''t have it how can others. Ignoring Will who was making a fuss next to him, Julian turned to Shen. "Earlier, did you feel like you and Machamp became one, like your body and mind were completely connected?" Shen nodded quickly. That feeling was unforgettable. "That''s it" "What do you mean, that''s it, Julian, you have to make it clear." Will was more anxious than Shen, "Wait, sometimes I feel like I''m one with my Charizard too! Does that mean I also have powers?" Not paying attention to Will''s shenanigans, Julian continued: "You know the ''Heart''s eye'', right?" (T/N: don''t know what the author is talking about as this is not bond evolution or battle bond, I searched for it and all I could find is Bruno doing something similar with his Machamp in a game called Pokmon Masters EX that ability is dubbed ''sync pair'', so I will take this as an AU or if any of you know just comment.) Shen nodded, then came to his senses, and said in surprise: "You are saying what I awakened is that" "Exactly." "You''ve probably heard about the ''Heart''s Eye'' in school. It''s a special ability that lets you and Fighting-type Pokmon sync up, both mentally and physically. That''s why Machamp was able to push so hard and why you felt weak afterward." "Heart''s Eye makes the bond between you and your Pokmon stronger, enhancing their abilities," he explained. "That''s why Machamp could break through Lucario''s Protect with Giga Impact." Heart''s Eye is similar to Bond Evolution but only works with Fighting-type Pokmon. Unlike Bond Evolution, which can change a Pokmon''s form, Heart''s Eye doesn''t alter appearanceit just boosts strength through the connection. "I really awakened it?" Shen was overjoyed. If she wasn''t still a bit weak, she would have burst into action with excitement. "Yes, but don''t celebrate too soon," Julian warned. "Right now, you''ve only half-awakened it. It triggered unconsciously. To truly master it, you''ll need more experience and effort." "How do I train for it?" Shen asked eagerly. "Through battle," Julian answered. "Like today''s fight. Your strong belief in Machamp helped awaken your ability. The connection you felt comes from a shared purpose between you and your Pokmon." Will, listening on the side, started thinking. "So if I battle a lot, I might awaken powers too..." Julian, sensing Will''s thoughts, smirked. "Don''t even think about it. Even if you awaken your Heart''s Eye, you''d have to switch to being a Fighting-type trainer." Will''s excitement deflated instantly, causing everyone to chuckle. Chapter 76: Imperial University Chapter 76: Imperial UniversityHeart''s Eye only enhances Fighting-type Pokmon. If you''re not a Fighting-type Trainer, possessing Heart''s Eye won''t provide any advantage. "It''s unfair! The Psychic type can have Psychic abilities, the Dragon type has the power of dragon, the Fighting type has this, but what does the Fire type Trainer get?" Will exclaimed, visibly frustrated. "There aren''t many special abilities out there. only Some highly skilled Trainers might have them" Julian responded. Julian himself has special abilities, but the power of Aura is limited; it only boosts Pokmon infused with Aura, and there are very few of those. The greatest benefit of Aura power isn''t just to enhance those Pokmon, but to perceive their Auras and connect with their emotions. Julian also discovered an additional use for Aura powerit can be used to massage Pokmon. No Pokmon can refuse an Aura massage. When applied, it should be done using both hands. "Congratulations, Shen," Chase said as she grasped Shen''s hand. As the only two women on the team, they had developed a close relationship. "Thanks!" Shen replied, her face bright with joy. "Alright, you guys can head out now. I''m going to rest," Julian said, wanting to keep his room a bit quieter. He wasn''t used to having so many people around. His friends understood Julian''s personality; he was introverted but fundamentally good-hearted. Both Will and Chase had benefitted from Julian''s support, especially Will, who was becoming increasingly reliant on him. "Thank you, Julian," Shen said earnestly before they left. Looking back, she remembered the previous battle between Machamp and Lucario. Despite Lucario''s ability to dodge Machamp''s Giga Impact, the opponent had used Protect instead. It was the clash of Giga Impact with Protect that awakened her inner power. If Lucario had chosen to evade instead, the anger within her might never have surfaced, and the awakening could have been delayed for who knows how long. "Should be," Julian nodded in agreement. Believing in helping when he can, as a fellow student and teammate, Julian had no reason not to assist Shen. When they opened the door, they found a middle-aged woman standing outside, just about to knock. The sudden opening of the door caught all of them off guard. "Shen!" the woman exclaimed upon seeing her. "Do I know you?" Shen asked, confused, since she didn''t recognize the woman, but the latter had called her name. "She''s Teacher Ella from the Admissions Office of Imperial University," Julian clarified from behind them. Every year, faculty from the college admissions office attend provincial high school leagues to scout talented students. The Yale Provincial High School League, for example, sees many university admissions officers in attendance, eager to recruit promising trainers. The champion of the provincial high school league''s individual competition often attracts attention from top universities in Drakoria and even some prestigious foreign institutions eager to extend invitations. "Julian, have you been accepted early by Imperial University?" Will asked, piecing things together. The others looked at Julian with surprise and envy. After all, Imperial University is the top institution in Drakoria, a dream destination for many trainers. Given his evident ability and talent, it was hardly surprising that Julian would secure early admission. "Julian was accepted early by our Imperial University," Teacher Ella confirmed with a smile. Unbeknownst to Will and the others, Julian''s grandfather, John, and his father, Jake, were both alumni of Imperial University. His grandfather even held the title of honorary president there. As a third-generation member of the Walker family, Julian''s top choice was always Imperial University, especially since they had offered him an irresistible deal. "When did this happen? How come I didn''t know about it?" Will looked at Julian as if he was looking at a scumbag who didn''t tell him such an important thing. "It occurred on the day of the team match against Lit Middle School," Teacher Ella explained. Julian had demonstrated his extraordinary strength that day, triumphing against competitor from the previous national grass-type gym and the grandson of a Rock-type Elite with ease. So there was no need to wait for the individual competition to see Julian''s performance. Thus, Teacher Ella had already made arrangements to meet with Julian. Top universities like Modu University, Shu University, and Pearl University were also quick to spot his talent. At the end of the team match, They all wanted to sign Julian. Unfortunately, they all had the same intentions. Faced with offers from various university admissions staff that day, Julian ultimately chose Imperial College. This decision was not only influenced by familial ties, but the other party offered too much, which he found hard to refuse. "However, I''m not here to meet Julian, but to find you, Shen" Teacher Ella explained. "Me?" Shen was bewildered. Why would someone be searching for her? She felt her own skills were decent, but in a competition of sixty participants, she was only average. Sear?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her chances of entering a top university were slim, especially since her first opponent was Julian. She had lost decisively, without even the opportunity to shine, so what made her appealing to university admissions? But Shen quickly caught on and asked, "Is it because of the Heart''s eye?" "Yes, I witnessed your match against Julian. It seems you''re aware of your awakened abilities," Teacher Ella replied seriously. "I''m here to extend an invitation to you from Imperial College. We''d like you to join us." Individuals with special abilities are rare, even at top universities. While not all will become powerful trainers, those with unique capabilities have a significantly higher chance of success than those without. She hadn''t anticipated that securing Julian, the most exceptional talent in the entire Yale Province, would lead to such an opportunity. Initially out of sheer curiosity, she had watched Julian compete and stumbled upon this unexpected prospect. Her keen insight had allowed her to sense something special about Shen that others might have missed, revealing the depth of Shen''s talent amidst the competition''s pressure. Chapter 77: Conditions Chapter 77: ConditionsWhen Shen received the invitation from Imperial University, she was taken aback, feeling as though a pie had fallen from the sky. The Shen family, while established, was merely a small to medium-sized family in Lake City. As for families like this, there are more than a dozen large and small families in Lake City. As a woman, she was excluded from the line of inheritance due to traditional patriarchal views, which, while unfair, were deeply ingrained in her family. In their eyes, the continuation of the family line depended solely on males; women can take on management roles but could never assume the title of patriarch. Despite her talent being impressive for someone from an ordinary background, it was considered standard among the offspring of aristocratic families. However, with the recent awakening of her powers, her talent has changed from normal to excellent. She aspired to attend a prestigious university and dreamed of top institutions like Imperial University, but she was realistic about her chances given her previous skill level. Now, receiving an invitation from Imperial University made her feel fortunate, as she had the opportunity to enter as a special studentmuch like Julianwithout even needing to take the grueling high school exams. This was a dream come true for many high school seniors. Thinking of this, Shen opened her mouth and wanted to agree, but Julian suddenly interjected: "Teacher Ella, what benefits can you give if Shen joins Imperial university?" Shen, who has awakened her ability, is a target of recruitment for any top university, but it''s just that she was discovered by Imperial University first. Shen wanted to say that she was lucky enough to just join Imperial University, and there was no need for ask for anything. But seeing Julian motioned her to talk less, She understood he had her best interests at heart, Shen didn''t say more. Teacher Ella smiled wryly at Julian. He clearly wanted to take advantage of the Imperial University, they had already given him a lot of benefits that even Elites would be jealous of in order to pull him into Imperial University. Now it''s fine if he didn''t help her to persuade Shen to join, but instead this guy was helping Shen take advantage of her. "The best I can offer at this moment is a cyan-qualified Fighting type Pokmon egg and a cash prize of five million." Hearing about the Pokmon egg left Shen thrilled; if Julian hadn''t again signaled her to be quiet, she might have eagerly agreed right then and there. Will and the others looked at Shen with envy, recognizing the ironywhile many begged to join top universities, Shen was in a position to be courted. "Not enough" Julian shook his head. Shen really wanted to say this is more than enough, seeing Teacher Ella''s slightly angry face, she was really afraid that the other party would just leave in a fit of anger. "Teacher Ella, you should know that once the Heart''s Eye ability is fully awakened, there is a certain chance that it can be taught to others through teaching." "Although this probability is very small, it does not mean that it is impossible, right?" Like Psychic, Psychic is one of the few talents that can be awakened through acquired learning. Of course, the premise is that you already had such a talent, but it was just not stimulated. "But she is only half-awakened and it would still be a while before she fully harnessed her abilities, and even if she fully awakens her ability, it will only be in the early stages." "If her potential is as strong as yours in Aura, Then I could consider adding more benefits." Teacher Ella remarked. Why did Julian had been sought after by top universities? In addition to his overwhelming strength in his age group, he also showed the power of Advanced Aura to the admission officers of the top universities. Originally, his Aura was only at the intermediate level, and the promotion to advanced level was not through the system, but during his daily Aura training with Lucario. It can be seen that Julian has a strong talent for Aura. "f**k, Julian, you have awakened the power of Aura, why didn''t I know?" Will exclaimed, startled by Teacher Ella''s revelation. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I didn''t want you to feel inferior," Julian replied, brushing it off. Some things don''t have to be known to everyone, and there is really no one in the same age group who can force him to use the power of Aura. Shen originally thought that since she had awakened her ability, although she still couldn''t catch up with Julian in terms of strength, but at least it had narrowed the distance between the two sides. But she didn''t expect that the other party had awakened the power of the Aura early, and listening to teacher Ella''s remarks made it clear that Julian''s Aura was exceptionally strong. "Regarding Shen, Teacher Ella, I don''t ask for much. How about granting her access to an advanced secret realm managed by Imperial University?" The prestige of a top university often stems from its control of an advanced secret realm; last year, Imperial University claimed the college league championship and secured another realm for the following year. Consequently, Imperial University now boasts two high-level secret realms along with ten intermediate-level ones. There are no primary secret realms available, as their level is no longer adequate for Imperial University students. "Teacher Ella, please consider this quickly, as it won''t be long before other universities come seeking Shen," Julian said. Shen had already demonstrated her ability during open competitions and live broadcasts, and any astute observer would have noticed it. Teacher Ella''s sudden appearance was a direct result of her witnessing Shen''s remarkable talent at the event. "It may not be so easy by then" Julian''s semi-threatening words did not anger the other party, because what he said was indeed the truth, once other top universities found out that Shen was awakened. As they has already missed Julian, they will definitely use more benefits to invite Shen, especially their arch-rival Shu University. "Fine, I agree," After a while, Teacher Ella gritted her teeth and nodded in agreement. She knew that letting someone like Shen slip through her fingers would lead to her own regret. "Shen, let''s exchange WeChat information, and I''ll send you an electronic contract for you to sign," she said, pulling out her phone. Shen nodded. After they exchanged WeChat contacts, Teacher Ella departed. Once she was gone, Shen murmured to herself in disbelief, "Am I really joining Imperial University now?" "Absolutely! They''ll also provide you with a Fighting-type Pokmon egg of cyan quality, in addition to access to a high-level secret realm," Will chimed in, his voice filled with a mix of envy and jealousy, making his expression somewhat contorted. When compared to those offerings, the supposed five million cash seemed trivial; a single cyan-qualified Pokmon egg could drive countless trainers to take enormous risks, even to the extent of extreme sacrifices. Chapter 78: Uncle Henry Chapter 78: Uncle HenryAt 5 o''clock in the evening, all the games had ended today, and 30 of the 60 people would advance to the next round. This time, the method of drawing lots was automatically selected by the computer, so there was no need for people to go there, and a text message would be sent directly to the players'' mobile phones. However, at eight o''clock, many people still went to the bottom of the big screen, which already showed the rivals they would be fighting tomorrow, as well as the battlefield and the time of the matches. Among the five in Julian''s group, except for Shen, who was eliminated by Julian and missed the second round, the other three successfully advanced to the next round. The 30 people were divided into 15 groups to fight in pairs. Julian, who was staying in the hotel, had already received the competition venue information, and his first match was scheduled for 8 o''clock in the morning. The text message didn''t specify who his rival was. If Julian wanted to know, he could go to the conference''s official website to check it out. There, he would find information about each player, including the Pokmon who had already competed, and even videos of the battles. Anyway, collecting information about the competition before the battles was normal, and some conferences directly published basic information about the players on the Internet, saving players time on their research. Julian was very confident in his own strength, even a bit conceited. He didn''t care who his rival was at all; he opened the Drakorian Trainer Association app on his mobile phone and entered the trading section. The Drakorian Trainer Association app is a must-install app for every trainer. Even if you are no longer a trainer, as long as you have Pokmon at home, you will still have this app installed. Daily active users range between four and five billion. Julian checked the trading section of this app almost every day to see if there were any good items for sale. This trading section covers all aspects of Pokmon. There are Pokmon items, berries, Pok Balls, evolution stones, as well as various Pokmon eggs and Pokmon themselves--even pseudo-Elite level Pokmon can be bought here. Some time ago, there were people who sold a Mega Evolution stone through auctions. In the end, the Mega Evolution stone was sold for 600 million without specifying which Pokmon it was for. As for whether you will get fakes, there was no need to worry. Anything purchased on the trading board would first be sent to an appraisal agency, where the agency would confirm that there was no problem with the item, and then it would be sent to the buyer. After that, the money would be sent to the seller''s account. Julian didn''t need the Mega Evolution stone; this item could be purchased in the system, where the quality was much better than what was available outside, although the points required were a bit more expensive. "Oh, a Shellder with cyan qualifications" In the Pokmon trading area, Julian''s thumb swiping on his phone suddenly stopped. He wasn''t really interested in Shellder, but he had the King''s Rock he bought last time on the black market. Shellder + King''s Rock + Slowpoke = Slowking. Slowking was still in the undiscovered category. Once Julian announced another form of Slowpoke, he would receive generous rewards from the Drakorian Trainer Association. Slowking itself was a relatively powerful Water-type and Psychic-type Pokmon, and its IQ was also very high. If another evolutionary form of Slowpoke--Slowking, was to be announced, Julian would definitely do it himself. He had no intention of giving such a discovery to anyone else. Therefore, in terms of qualifications, it was necessary to start with at least cyan qualifications. Both Slowbro and Slowking needed Shellder to evolve, so the aptitude of the two Pokmon would affect the aptitude after evolution. If you have a yellow qualified Shellder and a cyan qualified Slowpoke, then whether you evolve into Slowbro or Slowking, your final talent result should be green. In fusion evolution, aptitude is a combination of both Pokmon''s qualifications, rather than taking the highest or lowest qualification among them. Cyan-qualified Shellder were occasionally sold on the market, but if you truly wanted to buy one, you wouldn''t be able to do so easily. Now that a Shellder with cyan qualifications was placed in front of him, Julian really had no reason not to buy it. "However" Looking at the price, which had already exceeded 200 million, and was still increasing, Julian felt a pang of worry. Julian only had less than 10 million in liquid funds. He could call home for more, but based on the trend, the Shellder could easily exceed 300 million before the auction ended. Even if his family had the money, it wouldn''t be possible to get that much cash in time. S~ea??h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So, Julian closed the app page, opened his contacts, found the entry for "Uncle," and called. After the phone rang twice, it was quickly connected. "Little Lia, is something wrong? Do you need money?" On the other end of the phone, a middle-aged man in a neat suit was sitting in a conference room. He made a silent gesture to his subordinates and spoke in a soft tone. The subordinates, seeing the chairman who had always been unsmiling, were shocked to hear his tone so gentle. Upon hearing the name Little Lia, some of them had a sudden realization. The young, beautiful, and attractive female secretary next to him even looked at the chairman with a mix of emotions. This title gave Julian a strong sense of discomfort. "Uncle, don''t call me little Lian! Call me Julian, or anything else, but not that!" Julian replied, exasperated. The nickname sounded that of a girls, and it annoyed him every time. "Alright, alright. What''s up why are you calling uncle today? Shouldn''t you be resting for tomorrow''s match?" his uncle asked. It turned out that the chairman''s nephew had called. Hearing the chairman self-identifying as "uncle," his subordinates understood who was calling, and some people who were thinking inappropriately severely despised their own dirty minds. The female secretary felt she could take action again. "I need to buy a Pokmon," Julian replied, cutting straight to the point. "It''ll probably cost more than 300 million. Can you help?" "A Pokmon for 300 million? Sure, I''ll transfer the money. Just make sure to bring home that championship." "Don''t worry," Julian said confidently. "There isn''t a single person in this high school league who can beat me. I''ll get that trophy, and give it to you." The call ended quickly. Julian''s uncle immediately instructed his secretary to transfer 500 million into his nephew''s account. Before long, Julian, who was scrolling through his phone, saw a bank text message indicating that 500 million had arrived. "Thanks, Uncle Henry" Julian muttered as he reopened the Drakorian Trainer Association app, ready to bid for the Shellder. Chapter 79: Crying Rival Chapter 79: Crying RivalWalker Group, which owns various Pokmon-related businesses including food, clothing, medical care, breeding, and Pok Ball production, holds a dominant position in the Drakorian market with Pokmon food alone representing 40% of its share. Additionally, the company is involved in manufacturing electrical appliances for human use, such as refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners, all of which are industry leaders. Walker Group is also the largest real estate firm in Yale Province. With total assets exceeding one trillion, the Walker Group is led by Henry Walker, who is also Julian''s uncle, being the eldest son of Julian''s grandfather and the older brother of Julian''s father. In terms of strength, Julian has his grandfather and father. But when it comes to financial support, he relies on his uncle. Although Henry lacks natural talent as a Trainer, he possesses remarkable business acumen. He took the reins of the Walker family''s company at 20 and dedicated over 30 years to transforming it from a local business into a globally recognized corporation. But The growth of Walker''s company is not just due to Henry''s sharp business mind; he also has John''s backing. Without that support, there would be no strength to protect the money they''ve earned, and eventually, it could all be lost to others. Julian''s uncle has a daughter but chose not to have more children, treating Julian as his own son. - After spending 300 million, Julian finally bought a Shellder. Before any Pokmon can be traded, they must first go through a testing agency. This ensures that the Pokmon truly has the quality promised, is free of any injuries, and matches the seller''s description. If the information provided by the seller doesn''t match what the testing agency finds, the deal is canceled, and the seller gets a warning from the app. He gave his home address for delivery, as the tournament will be over by the time his parcel arrived and he will already be home. At eight o''clock, match field, "Ding" "Daily Quest: Crying Rival" "Task reward: Yache Berry X10, points 300" Just as Julian was about to send out a Pokmon for battle, the system announced his daily task. His match time is set for 8 o''clock, and that''s when daily tasks are revealed, so it all happened at once. ''This task, however..'' He glanced at the cute girl across from him, She was adorable, and Julian hesitated, to complete this task he had to make this girl cry. "Trainer Julian, please send out your Pokmon quickly," the referee urged. Seeing that Julian hadn''t released his Pokmon yet, the referee couldn''t help but look at the female player and think how nice it is to be young. In the stands, Will noticed this interaction and couldn''t help but exclaim, "I always thought Julian didn''t like girls, but it seems he likes cute ones!" His rival was indeed a cute girl. "What''s so good about this kind of woman, that pretentious look is disgusting" Shen said disdainfully. "If you don''t understand, it''s called charm," Will replied. He didn''t expect someone like Shen, whose mind seemed consumed by aggression, to grasp the concept of charm. If she could learn to feign it, perhaps she''d experience a revelation. As the referee called for the match, Julian switched from holding Dragonair''s Pok Ball to that of Metagross. "Go, Metagross!" His rival sent out a cute Azumarill. "Azumarill, use Water Gun!" "Zen Headbutt!" "Bang!" With a loud crash, Azumarill was knocked out. "Azumarill is unable to battle, Metagross wins." Female contestant "[?_??]" Taking a deep breath, she sent out her second Pokmon. "Dewgong!" "Zen Headbutt!" "Bang!" "Dewgong is unable to battle, Metagross wins." The girl looked on the verge of tears; she pressed on, determined not to give up. Julian silently clenched his fist, hoping she would meet his expectations and cry, so he wouldn''t have to do this anymore. "Starmie use Light Screen!" Sear?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Perhaps fearing a third strike from Julian''s Metagross, so she quickly set up a defensive move. "Zen Headbutt!" Metagross charged forward, breaking through the Light Screen and crashing into Starmie, who couldn''t withstand the attack. "Starmie is unable to battle, Metagross wins." The referee looked at the time: 8:02. This can definitely be regarded as the shortest match in this year''s individual competition. "o(?A?;)" The girl''s tears were already welling up, ready to spill over with just a blink. ''Don''t cry, don''t cry, don''t cry'' she urged herself. ''Cry now, cry now, cry now'' prayed Julian. "Too weak, she fell before I could even try! rookie trainers" Julian muttered. He didn''t mean to speak too loudly, but he wanted his words to reach her ears. The speakers at the scene picked up on Julian''s voice, amplifying it throughout the arena. Female contestant: "(?^?)" "Wuhu, you''re so mean!" she exclaimed, finally bursting into tears. It was like a dam breaking; her tears flowed freely, making Julian feel a bit guilty yet amused. As he walked into the player channel, he saw that the system indicated his task was complete, so he didn''t need to linger any longer. The reward has been received. Yache Berry: Reduces damage taken when attacked by super effective Ice Type move. It''s perfect for Dragonair, who is weak to Ice type moves. Using the Yache Berry won''t make Ice moves useless, but it will lessen the damage. From taking four times the damage to just three or even two times, that''s a big help! There are, in fact,18 kinds of Berry Trees, each corresponding to different Pokmon types. These berries can''t be found in real life. They may exist in secret realms, but for now, they can only be bought from the system mall or found in daily tasks. "Didn''t you say that Julian liked this type? So why did he make her cry?" Shen asked, glancing at the girl still sobbing, her lips curling into a slight smirkshe knew Julian wasn''t as superficial as Will. "What do you know? This is just to make an impression and show off his strength. Julian usually looks like he''s not interested, but he''s really got a lot of attention from girls," Will explained. Will didn''t agree. He believed Julian wasn''t the type to bully the weak. Using Metagross, he had dominated all three battles, finishing them off easily. That wasn''t just to impress; it showcased his amazing skills, making him more attractive. Will reminisced about how he used similar tactics back in elementary school to get the attention of his crush, even if it meant provoking her to tears. "Silly girl," he thought, dismissing Shen''s innocent belief. "Dream on" Shen refused to believe Will''s take. If she were in that girl''s shoes, she would definitely hate Julian now, as she had lost face in front of so many people. It''s not bad if she didn''t try to kill you, but to like him? That''s a far-fetched dream. Chapter 80: Will’s Confidence Chapter 80: Wills ConfidenceAfter stepping out of the venue, Julian didn''t slow down. He walked quickly back to the hotel and released Dragonair from its Pok Ball, allowing it to eat some Yache berries. About 70 Yache berries have been eaten by Dragonair so far including the 10 he got this time. "How about it? Do you feel that you have some resistance to ice-type moves?" Julian asked, watching as Dragonair eagerly devoured another Yache berry. The Pokmon had a look of happiness on its face, clearly enjoying the sweet taste of the berries. "Dra~" Dragonair thought for a moment, then nodded its head slowly, confirming that it did feel a bit stronger. "Great! That should help you reduce the damage of ice-type moves from 4x to about 3.5x" Julian said, feeling a surge of excitement. Thanks to his Aura powers, he could sense what Dragonair wanted to say without him needing to speak. Eating 70 Yache berries helped reduce the damage from ice-type moves by 0.5. Dragonair could eat as many berries as it wanted, but it would take an enormous number to completely block out ice-type attacks. Julian knew that the amount needed would keep increasing as they tried to reach full resistance. He remembered that daily quest rewards were random, and the chance of getting Yache berries was pretty low. There were actually 18 different berries available that could weaken various types of attacks. He could also buy them from the system mall, but each berry cost 1,000 points, which was far too expensive. He preferred saving his points for more useful items. "Dra~" Dragonair whispered softly, its big, shining eyes pleading with Julian, almost as if it was begging for more Yache berries. "No, no! I need to save some for later," Julian quickly replied, not wanting to give in to the charming look in Dragonair''s eyes. He couldn''t bear to see it looking so hopeful. "Dra~" Dragonair sighed, and its expression turned sad, making Julian feel a twinge of guilt. "Okay, fine! I can only give you two more, though. No more than that!" he finally relented, knowing that the excitement in Dragonair''s eyes was hard to resist. "Dragonair~" Dragonair nodded eagerly, excitement lighting up its face and his tail swung up behind him, it looked like he had been possessed by a Growlithe. With a sigh, Julian bought two Yache berries from the system, watching his points drop by 2,000. "Here you go," He said, handing the berries to Dragonair. Instead of eating them right away, Dragonair nuzzled Julian''s cheek gently with its head, showing its affection before munching on the berries. Julian was usually quite serious and didn''t make friends easily. Will was his only real friend. Others, like Shen, Zosh and Han felt more like teammates or classmates. But with Pokmon, it was different. To Julian, they were not just partners; they were family. Around noon, while Julian was lying in bed scrolling through his phone, a message popped up on the screen. Will: "Come out for lunch! Shen and I are waiting for you in the lobby." Julian quickly typed back: "Okay." The Conference had arranged for all contestants to stay in the same hotel, and most of them brought their families along. By lunchtime, the lobby was buzzing with activity as many people enjoyed their meals and chatted about the ongoing Conference. As Julian walked into the lobby, many people recognized him right away. Several even pulled out their phones to snap pictures. In the team match against Lit Middle School, Julian had single-handedly defeated three opponents, including a strong Mega Evolved Venusaur and a tough Pupitar. His performance made many believe he could achieve a top-three finish or even win the individual competition. When it came to that competition, Julian had displayed even more strength, making him a popular choice for the championship title. However, due to his serious aura, no one dared to approach him for photos or to say hello. "Over here!" Will''s voice called out from a table, cutting through the crowd. Julian spotted him waving enthusiastically. "Really, You didn''t even come to eat without me calling you, did you eat in the room?" Seeing Julian take his seat, Will couldn''t help complaining. "Did you both lose your matches?" Without answering Will''s words, Julian looked at Han and Zosh, who were downcast, they both exuded a sense of ''I lost''. They both nodded, their faces showing clear disappointment. They already knew from Will''s big mouth that both Julian and Shen had been accepted early to Imperial University. They had hoped to perform well enough in the individual competition to get into a top school, but they only managed to reach the top 30. "Who did you lose to?" Julian asked, digging into his beef fillet and stir-fried peppers. The strength of these two was still good, and it should be no problem to enter the top 15. Now that both of them have lost, it seemed their Rivals were very powerful. "Zosh faced Nolan, and Han went up against the Gengar Trainer from Lit Middle School," Will replied, a smirk forming on his face. In a way, both Zosh and Han could become rivals in future competitions, so Will seemed to enjoy their losses a bit too much. "Looks like the luck of the draw wasn''t in your favor. I guess I''m the only shining star in our group!" Will said, clearly feeling proud of himself. "Let''s focus on winning your afternoon match first," Han said, not impressed by Will''s bragging. "Just a Bug-type Trainer. You really think they can match my Fire-type?" Will boasted confidently, leaning back in his chair. "Ugh," Zosh said, also annoyed. "Your luck is just ridiculous. You keep getting easy opponents!" "Hahaha! I can see you''re all just jealous! I love it!" Will laughed, relishing the moment while enjoying his meal. "I still have a shot at this!" Han declared, trying to boost his spirits. "At the end of today''s games, the Conference will bring back one eliminated player to fill the last spot. I could be that lucky one!" All the eliminated trainers shared the same hopes and dreams, imagining they might be the chosen one. "Julian, at two o''clock in the afternoon at the fifth venue, Make sure you come to cheer for me!" Will urged, completely ignoring Han''s complaints. "Just imagine me taking down three of his Pokemon with just Charizard!" Will''s enthusiasm was contagious, even though Julian had already pulled off an impressive victory with Metagross earlier that day. Will believed Charizard could do the same, especially since its Bug-type opponent wouldn''t stand much of a chance. Among all the types, Bug-type Pokmon were usually considered weak, especially when compared to other types at the same level. Most trainers viewed Bug-types as easy targets, which only added to Will''s confidence. sea??h th Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 81: Heracross Chapter 81: HeracrossAt 1:40 p.m., at venue 5, Julian really went to watch Will''s match. "Okay, I''m here! Now you can hurry to the player room," Julian said, noticing Will standing stubbornly beside him, refusing to leave. Will had dragged him all the way from their hotel room just so Julian could watch his match. "You guys need to keep an eye on him," Will instructed Han, Zosh, and Shen, who were standing nearby. "Don''t let him run away! Just wait until I show off my power with a string of three victories!" Obviously he didn''t really believe what Julian said "Come on, let''s go! Julian said he''s not going anywhere" Shen said, a bit impatiently. Among the five of them, Julian was the strongest, while Will was considered the weakest. Yet, somehow, Will was still in the tournament while the others had been eliminated earlier. Will often jokingly referred to himself as the "Emperor of Luck" and now Shen couldn''t help but feel that Will might actually embody that "Luck". As the clock struck two o''clock, the atmosphere became electric with anticipation. "Let''s go, Charizard!" Will shouted, sending out his strongest Pokmon. In open events like this one, the Pokmon used by trainers had to be registered with the event organizers beforehand. For this particular match, Will had registered Charizard, Pidgeot, and Camerupt. That meant he was limited to using just those Pokmon during the match, though he could choose the order in which to send them out. Charizard emerged from its Pok Ball with a loud roar, spreading its magnificent wings wide. It let out a brilliant flame into the air before landing confidently on the ground, exuding an impressive fighting spirit. "Heracross!" The opponent called out. Heracross was a rare and powerful Bug-type Pokmon, boasting a secondary Fighting type, which made it quite formidable. Notably, Heracross could also Mega Evolve, adding to its strength. Facing Charizard''s flames, Heracross didn''t seem intimidated at all. Instead, it appeared full of fighting spirit and ready to battle. Heracross: If I win this match, I''ll get a treat of ten jars of honey. "HERA~" Heracross''s momentum rose sharply, it was obviously a mild-mannered and even a little timid kind of Pokemon, but the aura it showed at this time was close to that of a steroid induced bodybuilder. "What''s up with this guy? Where''s Beedrill?" Will murmured to himself, concern creeping into his voice. He had done his homework on the opponent''s team and watched videos of their past matches through the conference organizers. The opponent had played twice, once with Beedrill, once with Butterfree, and in an individual match, he also used Beedrill And Butterfree, using these two Pokmon to defeat Rival''s three Pokmon, in Will''s opinion, it was just two rookie trainers pecking at each other In his mind, Will had thought it would be easy to defeat them with Charizard. Will believed Bug-type trainers were generally synonymous with weakness, mainly because most Bug Pokmon, even at their final forms, tended to be less powerful compared to others. There were strong Bug Pokmon out there, but they were quite rare. Most trainers, like the one in front of Will, chose Bug types simply because they were easy to feed and evolve. He had expected an average trainer, but now he was up against a fierce Heracross instead. Charizard level 42. Heracross level 46. The level difference was clear, and under the Probing Eyes, their stats were laid bare for Julian to see. "Charizard, use Flamethrower!" Will commanded. "Heracross, go for a Horn Attack!" the opponent shouted back. Heracross boldly charged forward, its thick horn glowing with white energy. It collided directly with Charizard''s Flamethrower, splitting the flames in two while rapidly maneuvering around the fire. "Charizard, don''t hold back! Let''s see how long Heracross can last against you!" Will was realizing that the opponent had been hiding their strength during the team competition. They clearly wanted to secure a better result in the individual matches. Charizard unleashed a continuous stream of flames, intensifying its output. Sar?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''Ten jars of honey!'' Heracross bellowed, swinging its horn powerfully, smashing through the flames. It flapped its wings and aimed a fierce Horn Attack at Charizard''s soft underbelly. The hit sent Charizard spiraling through the air. "Use Aerial Ace, Heracross!" The opponent shouted confidently. As Charizard finally regained control in the air, it felt the sting of pain in its stomach, as if its insides were twisting together. "Charizard, dodge!" Will yelled, urgency evident in his voice. In that split second, Charizard noticed a flash of white light racing toward it. Then, before it could react, Heracross struck again, landing another blow to its belly. "Seismic Toss!" Will commanded, desperation creeping into his tone. Charizard, feeling intense pain from its stomach, let out a frustrated roar. The red light surrounding its body activated its Fire abilities, allowing it to gather some strength. Charizard''s arms wrapped around Heracross, lifting it high into the air. "Naive fool! Heracross break free!" the opponent taunted, smirking as they watched the struggle unfold. With its powerful Fighting type, Heracross was naturally strong. Charizard, despite its size and strength, found it challenging to hold on to its opponent. "Charizard, use Inferno!" Will ordered fiercely. As Charizard began to descend rapidly, it opened its mouth to create a swirling vortex of flames that engulfed both itself and Heracross. Heracross let out a series of pained roars, its strength waning under the searing heat. "Heracross twenty jars of honey, Bug Bite!" the opponent suddenly shouted, a look of determination crossing their face. In that moment, the pain from the flames seemed to vanish for Heracross, replaced by the tantalizing thought of twenty jars of honey awaiting it. For a foodie, nothing was more motivating than food and if there was, it''s more food. "F***, That''s cheating!" Will exclaimed in shock. He hadn''t expected his opponent to use food as motivation for their Pokmon. Under the onslaught of Bug Bite, Charizard''s resolve finally crumbled, and its fiery flames extinguished. Its grip on Heracross loosened. "Charizard, wake up!" Will shouted desperately, hoping to rouse his Pokmon as it began to plummet toward the ground. "Charizard loses the ability to fight, Heracross wins!" The referee''s voice rang out, confirming the result. Charizard crashed heavily to the ground, while Heracross stood tall, covered in burns but with shining eyes that reflected pure determination. The trainer beside Heracross beamed with anticipation. "Win the next match, and you''ll be rewarded with fifty jars of honey!" the trainer encouraged Heracross. "Hera~" Heracross: It''s on, hurry up and send your next Pokmon, I''m going to dry it. Chapter 82: I am going to lose? Chapter 82: I am going to lose?Seeing Charizard fall in the stands, Han and Zosh exchanged high fives, their excitement bubbling over. They noticed Shen looking at them with an odd expression and Han sheepishly admitted, "I can''t help it, really can''t!" "Don''t worry, if he loses this match, we''re definitely throwing a feast to celebrate," Shen proposed. Both Han and Zosh nodded in enthusiastic agreement. Their eyes gleamed with shared anticipation, clearly showing how unpopular Will was among them. With Will frequently being called the "all-talk" it was no wonder they felt this way. With Charizard defeated, they glanced at Heracross, who still looked full of fight. It was clear that this battle wasn''t over yet. "Well, Pidgeot likes to eat bugs" Will took a deep breath, steadying himself as he sent out his second Pokmon, clearly shaken by Charizard''s loss. Will hadn''t anticipated Charizard''s defeat, and to make matters worse, he hadn''t even left any marks on Heracross. "Julian, do you think Pidgeot can defeat the other''s Heracross?" Shen asked, a hint of concern creeping into her voice. After all, Will was still their friend. If he lost, it wouldn''t just be a casual laugh; would certainly affect them. "It should be a draw," Julian said, noting Heracross''s condition which still exuded fighting spirit. "A draw? Heracross is burned, yet it''s still a draw?" Han shouted. If he didn''t believe in Julian''s vision, he would definitely think that the other party was talking nonsense. Given the burn status, and with the agility of the Pidgeot it should be enough to outlast Heracross. "Hera~" Heracross charged at Pidgeot, the horn on its head glowing with a bright light. "Charge with Steel Wing!" Will commanded. Zosh was irritated by this command, exclaiming, "What is he doing? Why send Pidgeot forward? Can''t it dodge instead?" "Will tends to confront challenges head-on rather than avoiding them. It''s a common trait among many fire-type trainers," Julian explained. Each trainer has a distinct fighting style; Julian prefers a dominating approach, while Will is more reckless, relying on his and his Pokmon''s spirit to overcome adversity. "Fire trainers really can be reckless," Han scoffed, and Shen nodded in agreement. Julian really wanted to say, what qualifications do you have to nod your head?after all, fire and fighting type trainers are the two most recognized types for their recklessness. But considering the strength of her martial arts technique, he held his tongue. The two Pokmon fought for more than ten minutes and fought more than a dozen rounds. Each round was a collision between moves, and the explosion of Tackle sounded continuously. Obviously a mindless battle, but it was also the easiest way to arouse the enthusiasm of the audience. Each clash sent shockwaves through the arena, igniting the excitement of the spectators who cheered louder with every exchange. The Trainer of Heracross actually didn''t want to engage with Pidgeot directly, but he was very aware of his Pokmon. Heracross was obviously already on top of the fifty jars of honey at this time in his mind, and he only wanted to defeat the opponent in a direct way as soon as possible. If he really commanded Heracross to avoid the attack of Pidgeot, it will disrupt the rhythm of Heracross itself, so as a Trainer, he was now cooperating with Heracross, focusing on issuing commands aligned with its instincts. "Heracross, use Mega Horn!" "Pigeot, Tackle!" Sarch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "HERA~!" "PIDGE~!" Both Pokmon roared and their moves collided in mid-air. With a loud bang, a huge mushroom cloud rose from the field, and the air waves swept around, like a knife shaving off a thin layer of the battle field. As the dust settled, both Pokmon were knocked back, landing hard on either side of the field, with the protective barrier bouncing them away. "Both Heracross and Pidgeot are unable to battle, The match is a draw" announced the referee. As Julian said, the result of the match was a draw. "Return, Heracross. You''ll have fifty jars of honey waiting for you when you wake up," the trainer said, a hint of pain in his voice. This was no ordinary honey; it came from a special Ruin, each jar costing 100,000 making for a staggering total of 5 million spent for the battle. "This isn''t how it was supposed to go, i don''t want to be laughed at by Shen" Will whispered as he clutched his last Pok Ball. "Camerupt!" Then, his rival also sent out their second Pokmon. "Pinsir!" Pinsir was among the few Bug-types known for its brutal and fierce nature, using its large horns to trap and crush its prey. "Camerupt, use Flamethrower!" At this point, the distance between the two sides was still relatively far, and Flamethrower was easily dodged by Pinsir, who is constantly closing in on Camerupt. "That was the plan, Camerupt! Use Earth Power!" The ground around Pinsir erupted, surrounding it with rocks and temporarily immobilizing it, taking advantage of Earth Power''s chance to lower its special defense. Earth Power has a certain chance to lower the special defense of the Pokmon it hits. "Hahaha, I told you I was the Emperor of Luck!" Will chuckled, shaking off the disappointment of losing two consecutive battles. "Camerupt, use Flamethrower!" Will shouted loudly. "Pinsir, use Focus Blast!" Despite being held in rocks and unable to move, Pinsir was still able to launch an attack from it''s mouth. The Focus Blast shattered the rock trapping it, and Pinsir was free just in time to dodge Camerupt''s Flamethrower. "Now, Bulldoze!" Will seemed to anticipate the imminent escape. Camerupt closed in on Pinsir, raising its front hooves to stomp down heavily. "Vise Grip!" With fierce determination in its eyes, Pinsir''s massive horns lunged forward, gripping Camerupt tightly. Yet, Camerupt continued with its Bulldoze attack. With a loud thud, Pinsir''s face contorted from the force of the stomp, but it clung on tighter, driven by the pain. "Now, use Submission!" "As if i will let you, Camerupt! Let''s unleash Lava Plume!" A cloud of thick black smoke erupted from Camerupt''s chimney-like protrusions, crackling with sparks. Pinsir finally couldn''t take it anymore, and the two big pincers loosened Camerupt, leaving two deep blood holes in Camerupt. Chapter 83: The clown turned out to be me Chapter 83: The clown turned out to be me"Pinsir is unable to battle, Camerupt wins." Camerupt panted heavily, glancing at Pinsir, who lay defeated on the ground. Pain coursed through its body, making its front legs tremble precariously, threatening to collapse at any moment. Despite winning this round, Camerupt''s stamina was nearly depleted, and the opponent still had one more Pokmon left to send out. "Camerupt eat a Sitrus Berry" Will called out. At Will''s command, a Sitrus Berry emerged from one of Camerupt''s chimney-like structures on its back. How it managed to hide the berry there without burning itself was a mystery. But after consuming the berry, Camerupt felt a surge of renewed energy. In Pokmon battles, Trainers can equip their Pokmon with items that offer various advantages. These range from items that give specific boostslike Charcoal or the Scope Lensto one-time-use items like berries. Berries, such as Sitrus Berry, can restore a bit of stamina, while others like Pecha Berry or Aspear Berry can cure certain Status Conditions. However, only one item can be carried into battle, and these items must be registered with the conference officials beforehand. Using an unregistered item could lead to an automatic victory for the opponent. "Why would Will let Camerupt carry a Sitrus Berry? Does he foresee a tough fight?" Han mused, puzzled. Berries are single-use, and in terms of practicality, it would have made more sense for Will to have brought Charcoal for a consistent boost rather than a one-time item. But in critical situations, those berries can prove invaluable. For instance, if a Pokmon is poisoned and carries a Pecha Berry, it can quickly alleviate the problem. Will''s Camerupt has always been carrying Charcoal, why suddenly change it to Sitrus Berry today. "This guy sold Charcoal due to lack of money" Julian explained with a weird look on his face. Due to the packed schedule of the conference, Will had no time to go to the Trainer APP to pick up the quests, and to afford his three Pokmon who had been eating and resting this time, his savings were almost exhausted. He didn''t want to borrow money from Julian and so he had to sell Camerupt''s Charcoal, exchange it for a sum of money, but he bought a Sitrus Berry in order to compensate Camerupt. To his surprise, this thing actually came in handy. "This guy can''t really be this lucky, right?" Julian thought, his faith in Will''s luck wavering. After all, the successful use of Earth Power, which had lowered the opponent''s special defense, seemed far from coincidental. "Beedrill!" The opposing Trainer sent out their third Pokmon, a familiar face from both team matches and the previous individual battle. This Beedrill had been purposely kept in reserve until now. "This time, I will burn this bug" Will muttered, determination etched on his face, he really didn''t believe this Beedrill had the strength like the two previous Pokmon. The face of Trainer on the opposite side was also quite ugly, as neither of his two Trump Cards has solved Will, which was beyond his expectations. Sear?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And Beedrill''s strength was indeed worse than the previous two. "Beedrill, use Pin Missile!" Beedrill lifted its Twin needle, launching a rapid-fire barrage of needle-like projectiles at Camerupt. After consuming the Sitrus Berry, Camerupt had regained some strength, and the bleeding from its wounds had subsided. "Flamethrower!" Will commanded. The intense flames engulfed the Pin Missile attack, obliterating it in a blazing sweep. "Attack with Twin needle!" the Trainer countered. Beedrill dashed forward, its sharp Twin needle aimed directly at Camerupt. The latter''s bulk and low mobility left it vulnerable, and soon enough, Beedrill''s stabs found their mark. "Use Poison Jab!" the Trainer shouted, a glimmer of confidence in his voice. "Camerupt, use Protect!" Will replied swiftly. A green barrier shimmered into existence, deflecting the incoming Poison Jab. "Flamethrower!" Will pressed on. "Venom Drench!" The Trainer countered. The two attacks collided, the purple venomous spray clashing with the red flames, resulting in a hiss of vapor as the venom dissipated into a cloud of toxic smoke. Beedrill''s Trainer initially appeared pleased with the unfolding scene. But his expression quickly soured when he realized the Flamethrower had outmatched the Venom Drench, striking Beedrill directly. "Camerupt, go for the win! Keep using Flamethrower!" Will seized the moment, eager to capitalize on the momentum. "Bang" But in the next second, Camerupt suddenly fell to the ground with purple bubbles popping out of his body. Although the toxins were not as effective as the venom Drench, but the residual effects of the toxic cloud were too much for its already weakened state to handle. "Finish it, Pin Missile!" The opponent did not attack at close range, fearing that Camerupt will do a last desperate counterattack, so he chose to distance himself and used Pin Missile. Under Camerupt''s desperate gaze, countless Pin Missiles overwhelmed it. "Camerupt is unable to battle; Beedrill wins," the referee declared, the sound echoing in Will''s ears. At the end of the match, Will still did not make a comeback. With a disappointed face, he pulled the fallen Camerupt back to the Pok Ball and muttered, "It''s okay, you''ve worked hard." Then he gave the opposite Trainer a unfriendly look, not because he was unconvinced, but he felt that the other party deliberately hid two Pokmon, making his previous intelligence work wasted. "Sure enough, it''s not suitable for me to engage in intelligence gathering and so on." The first time I try this and lose, and I met a Rival who deliberately hid Pokmon. "How could they make a fool of me like this?" he seethed internally. Losing was one thing, If you lose, you lose, but now Will''s headache was how to deal with Han, Zosh and Shen. When he walked out of the player tunnel, he saw three people waiting for him at the exit of the tunnel. He didn''t see Julian, but Will didn''t want to care about it. Because he saw that these three people had come over with wicked smiles.. "After a hard fight, I still lost," he remarked dryly. "If I had known I''d lose, I might as well have let the Rival take me out easily, like the three of you did," he added, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. (T/N: how to gaslight someone course 101) The faces of the three people who were walking towards Will suddenly froze, he was obviously mocking them for losing too fast, even when he had also lost, he dared to take the lead in firing the shots first. Guess he was too impatient to die. "Yeah, well, even though I lost, I got early acceptance to Imperial University," "Jin University contacted me this morning," "The admission officer from the Third Military Academy said they''re very optimistic about my rainy day tactics" Both Jin University and the Third Military Academy are first-class universities. Zosh and Han were valued by the admission teachers of these two universities respectively. Not to mention Shen and Julian who were accepted early by Imperial College. In this way, among the five-member team of Lake Middle School, only Will has not been approched by any colleges and universities. Judging from his expression, it is estimated that he has no offers. Will: The clown turned out to be me. Chapter 84: Semifinals Chapter 84: Semifinals"Hahaha, Julian, Julian!" After having dinner in the room, Julian was lying on the bed and scrolling, when there was a knock at the door and Will''s excited voice came. "His brain doesn''t seem right, he''s so happy after losing" Julian muttered, and Lucario, who was exercising his Aura, got up to open the door. "Oh, Lucario it''s you" Will was slightly taken aback upon seeing Lucario open the door, then happily stepped inside the room to find Julian scrolling through his phone on the bed, background music playing. "Let me introduce myself~" "I only order milk at a bar even though I''m a cowboy~" (T/N: some kind of song lyrics after translation) As soon as Will heard the music, he recognized it as Vibrato''s latest viral cross-dressing video, featuring young ladies with great figures, fair skin, and long legs. ''This scumbag'' Will secretly said in his heart. "Got something to say?" Julian continued swiping on his phone, not bothering to get up. It''s normal for a man to like beautiful and sexy women. But Julian had always focused more on Pokmon than girls. With his family background, if he really wanted to find a girl, he could be a scumbag and change his girlfriend every once in a while. "I came to tell you, I made it to the top 16!" Will said, the pride on his face was about to overflow. Now, Julian didn''t bother to scroll on his phone, but opened the conference official website, looked at the list of top 16 players, and really saw Will in it. ''This bas***d really is Emperor of Luck!'' "Hahaha, I told you I was lucky, right? You have to admit it now!" Will beamed, noticing Julian''s slightly stiff expression. After today''s matches, which had ended with 15 trainers out of 30, one trainer among the losers would be randomly selected to fill the 16-trainer bracket, ensuring there would be no byes. All those eliminated early were hoping to be that lucky trainer; many even prayed to legendary Pokmon. It seemed Togepi merchandise were flying off the shelves. After all, Togepi was a lucky Pokmon. "You should''ve seen Han, Zosh, and Shen when I won the lottery; their faces were priceless! If I hadn''t run, I would have been beaten up by Shen!" Will laughed, reveling in his temporary triumph. The individual competition of the Silver Province High School League spanned two days, with matches from the top 16 to the top 8, culminating to the top 4. In the end, the top four players emerged: Julian, Nolan, Leo, and Thea. Will, however, stopped at the top 16. The matches for the final four would be held at the main venue, which could accommodate nearly 500,000 spectators. Not only would there be hosts, but also special guests to commentate on the later stages of the competition. While the Yale Provincial High School League was a major event, the contestants were high school students, and their Pokmon were all under pseudo-Elite levels. Many experts considered it more of a Baby Cup. Therefore, there was no host commentary in the earlier matches; it would only start in the latter rounds. Julian''s semi-final rival was Nolan, also a longtime competitor. The match was scheduled for 8:00 AM, with the second semi-final at 2:00 PM. By 7:50 AM, Julian and Nolan had already taken their positions at opposite ends of the arena, quietly waiting for the match to begin. The auditorium was filled with 300,000 eager spectators, with many staff members bringing Pokmon to maintain order and prevent accidents. Julian stood on the south side of the venue, Nolan on the north, while the hosts and guests for commentary occupied the west side. This time, the host was Zeke, a renowned figure from Yale TV Station and a pseudo-Elite Trainer. The guest next to him was the president of the Lake City Trainer Associationan actual Elite Trainer. "Mr. William, with both Julian and Nolan coming from prestigious families, who do you think has the better chance of winning?" the host inquired, a sly smile on his face. The backgrounds of both trainers were widely known through social media. Responding to the host''s loaded question, Mr. William chuckled, "Julian''s strength is evident, while Nolan has only used Pupitar to defeat his opponent''s three Pokmon since the competition began. His remaining two Pokmon are still unknown." That statement was ambiguous at best. "My husband Nolan is the best in the world!" "Nolan, I want to give you a little fire monkey!" "These are all b****** who covet my husband''s beauty" "Where are the Walker family army? Come out and take care of these girls!" "For those cheering for Nolan, I''ll send you a black silk photo!" "I''m sorry, brothers, I''ve betrayed you!" Will looked at the live broadcast comments, his face contorted with rage, then typed, "Nolan, you can do it!" He even took a screenshot to send to someone promising a black silk photo. Shen, witnessing this whole scenario, couldn''t help but scoff, "Julian is your brother, and you treat him like this?" Realizing the absurdity, Will quickly typed a message to the girl again: "And I also have a brother(Julian), so can you send two photos." Shen: "_" "Nicely done hair; hers legs are long and thin, totally worth it!" Will wiped nonexistent drool from the corner of his mouth, saved the picture, and uploaded it to an online drive, his actions smooth and seamless. "It''s eight o''clock; the match is about to start. I wonder which Pokmon the two players will send out first?" the host announced. Sar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian threw a Pok Ball into the arena, and as the white light faded, Metagross materialized, catching the rebounding ball with one hand. A Pok Ball rebound is a skill every trainer needs; failing to master it could lead to an embarrassing dash to retrieve the ball after a showy throw. "Pupitar" Nolan called out, sending forth his first Pokmon with a serious expression. "Zen Headbutt!" Julian commanded. Instantly, Metagross transformed into a silver streak, charging towards Pupitar. "No, Why is it so fast?" Nolan cursed inwardly. In his eyes, this Metagross was nothing short of unscientificits speed, defense, and physical prowess seemed to defy reason. During this time, aside from competing, Nolan had dedicated his efforts to studying Julian''s Metagross. After all, if he could defeat Metagross, he might just stand a chance against Julian. Chapter 85: Aggron Chapter 85: Aggron"The speed of Metagross is really fast. This speed is definitely twice or even more than three times that of a normal Metagross of the same level," Host Zeke said in surprise. He has hosted many large competitions and even Elite-level events. Naturally, he knows a lot and has seen many pseudo-legendaries. He has seen more than one or two Metagross, all of them regular blue Metagross, but none of the pseudo-Elite Metagross were as fast as Julian''s Metagross. "This Metagross should have the hidden ability of Light Metal. Most Metagross have the ability called Clear Body, but Pokmon with Light Metal have their weight reduced by half." William, the president of the Lake City Trainer Association, quickly noticed the difference with Julian''s Metagross. "But even with Light Metal, its speed is much higher than that of a Metagross at the same level. I believe Julian must have given Metagross many items or special resources to boost its speed." It''s not just any speed-boosting item; it''s something that enhances all five base stats. Metagross eats a lot, Its food intake is double that of Dragonair, Lucario, and Meltan combined. This is how Julian trains his Pokmon: focus on Metagross first, then on others. "Pupitar, use Rock Throw!" Blocks of boulders fell from above Metagross, as Nolan tried to keep his opponent away. Metagross can attack both close and from a distance, and Pupitar, which hasn''t evolved into Tyranitar, is much weaker in close combat than the four-armed Metagross. The boulders fell, but Metagross did not stop or dodge; the rocks continued to hit it. After smashing through seven or eight boulders, Metagross reached Pupitar. Nolan didn''t expect Metagross to come this far, and he quickly shouted, "Pupitar, use Protect!" Protect is a lifesaving move that almost all Trainers teach their Pokmon. As long as the opponent''s moves do not exceed a certain damage level, Protect will hold. "Meteor Mash!" Metagross suddenly stopped in front of the shield, glowing with colorful light on its forearm, like a comet streaking across the night sky. Pupitar''s eyelids jumped behind its shield. Meteor Mash struck the shield, and the energy clashed for a moment. Seeing that the shield didn''t break, Nolan sighed with relief. However, the next moment, he heard a cracking sound, and his face tensed. In Pupitar''s eyes, the shield broke. Metagross'' Meteor Mash hit hard, leaving a punch hole in Pupitar''s tough shell. But thanks to the protection of its hard outer shell, some of the power from Meteor Mash was absorbed, so Pupitar wasn''t knocked out instantly. Seeing Pupitar being knocked back while Metagross charged for a follow-up attack, Nolan quickly recalled Pupitar. A Trainer has one chance to swap Pokmon during a match. Choosing a more suitable Pokmon at the right time can turn the tide. If used wisely, it can help regain an advantage. "Go, Aggron!" (T/N: don''t worry the mc will have one too) A massive silver beast appeared on the field, with sunlight gleaming off its armor, creating a dazzling shine. Pokmon: Aggron (Steel/Rock) Level: 43 S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qualification: Green Ability: Rock Head Item: Metal Coat Gender: Female Moves: Tackle, Harden, Headbutt, Roar, Metal Claw, Rock Slide, Iron Head, Metal Sound, Take Down Disc Moves: Hyper Beam, Giga Impact, Earthquake, Thunder Wave, Protect, Brick Break, Icy Wind Genetic Moves: Rock Blast, Stomp, Endeavor - Most people know Aggron as a Steel-type Pokmon but often forget it has a Rock-typing too. The two most famous Pokmon in the Silver Province are Metagross and Aggron, with Aggron often called the Iron Armor Pokemon. It only takes 4x damage from Ground and Fighting types and double damage from Water types. Other types deal normal damage, but most only amount for half or even a quarter of the usual damage. Because of its amazing defensive power, Aggron has earned the name Iron Armor Pokemon. Most Aggron come from the Walker family during the Aron stage, which is why they have only green qualifications. The Aron with cyan qualifications aren''t enough for the Walker family themselves. Julian hasn''t had any Aron yet because there aren''t any with cyan qualifications or above. Aggron are rare, and breeding them is tough, so finding an Aron with cyan qualifications takes a bit of luck. Julian''s grandfather had a blue-qualified Aggron, and his father had one too. Unfortunately, both were male. If one had been female, their offspring would have at least been cyan-qualified. Among Julian''s Pokmon, aside from Metagross, which came from his grandfather''s pseudo-champion-level Metagross, and was born with blue aptitude. The other three Pokmon weren''t directly given to him by his family. Lucario came from the Smith family, along with the Mythical Meltan, and Dragonair was a gift from the system. All three had qualifications of cyan or higher. "Aggron, use Harden!" For the first move, Nolan chose to boost his defense, likely due to Metagross'' strong attack making him feel uncertain. A flash of silver light appeared, and Aggron''s defense received a boost. "Player Nolan''s Aggron has strengthened its defense, and we will see if Metagross can break through it," Host Zeke exclaimed, excited. Everyone looked forward to this clash between two of the most well-known Pokmon in the Yale Province. Many shared the same thought. "This is the battle between the strongest spear and the strongest shield." "F***, isn''t Metagross weak on defense?" "Honestly, Aggron is better at defense." "You haven''t noticed that Julian''s Metagross has unreasonably high stats." "I''m a pseudo-Elite Trainer, and I can confidently say that Julian''s Metagross must have higher base stats than others of the same level." "Worship the pseudo-Elite boss upstairs" "Aggron is so scary, how can my husband have such a scary Pokmon" "Nolan sweety, let''s go! Keep it up!" "Such a shallow fan; aren''t we judging based on looks? That one is a pretty boy; I hope Julian wins." "Brothers, let''s support our cause!" Chapter 86: I Concede Chapter 86: I Concede"Metagross, use Bullet Punch!" Although Aggron is Nolan''s Pokmon, Julian also knows it very well, and its defense is indeed unparalleled, but its shortcomings are also obvious, that is, its bulky body. "Metal Claw!" Nolan wasn''t backing down either. Aggron is known for its defense and strength, so hiding wasn''t the best strategy. The fists of both Pokmon collided, creating a powerful Sonic Boom that sent shockwaves throughout the arena. "Dong dong~!" Aggron''s body was pushed back seven or eight meters, while Metagross stood firm, resembling a mountain and radiating calm strength. "Metagross, use Earthquake!" "Aggron, Earthquake, strike back!" Nolan shouted urgently. The Ground-type move dealt four times the damage against Aggron, and it would hit even harder coming from Julian''s Metagross. The Earthquakes clashed violently, shaking the entire arena. With a loud cracking sound, the ground split, damaging a third of the Rock arena. In the semi-finals, the battlefield is no longer an ordinary arena; it has type bonuses, and the settings are random. In this case, Nolan was clearly lucky. The field being Rock-type suited his main team perfectly. Julian seems to have gotten used to this, so let''s just call him unlucky. After all, he has a strong family background, is handsome, and possesses a system. If he''s lucky, he seems to have it all. The power of Earthquake was clearly greater of the attack done by Metagross, and the cracks crept toward Aggron, sending vibrations through its legs. Taking four times the damage, Aggron was seriously injured in an instant. In terms of levels, the opponent was only level 43, while Metagross stood tall at level 51. For that reason alone, Aggron''s powerful defense appeared as a joke in front of Metagross. "Psychic!" As Aggron fell to the ground, Nolan yelled for it to stand, but suddenly Aggron found itself lifted into the air. Aggron: I can fly? But in the next moment, it crashed down hard onto the ground and fainted completely. Nolan withdrew Aggron expressionlessly, and didn''t send out another Pokmon. The referee was about to remind him of the rules. "I admit defeat in this match," Nolan said, raising his hand, after speaking, he walked into the player passage. His action caused an uproar in the audience, with many murmurs. They thought Nolan was afraid of Julian. Meanwhile, they had managed to grab tickets and felt disappointed to see him concede so easily. "Player Nolan admits defeat. Does Mr. William also think he can''t beat Julian''s Metagross?" Host Zeke asked. He didn''t mention defeating Julian but focused on Julian''s Metagross, implying it might still be possible to win with three Pokmon. "Although Julian''s Metagross is still at the Advanced level, from my point of view, even a pseudo-Elite Pokmon wouldn''t stand a chance against it." As the president of Lake City Trainer Association, he had some friendship with Julian''s father and grandfather, so this made him even more confused about why Julian''s Metagross was so powerful. Even during the same time period, Julian''s grandfather and father did not possess Metagross as powerful as Julian''s today. "As a skilled trainer, I advise you not to harm your Pokmon out of stubbornness. It''s not shameful to admit defeat," Mr. William said seriously. S~ea??h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When there''s a big gap in strength, the weaker side can''t just cheer loudly and hope to win. Such words hold no weight. It''s the Pokmon who suffer, not just the Trainer. Not everyone has the protagonist''s halo, shouting at a Pokmon and reviving it with full health on the spot, defeating the strong with the weak, and winning against the type is as easy as eating and drinking for them. Most trainers fail, not only losing but also risking serious harm to their Pokmon. Sometimes, Pokmon get seriously injured or even killed due to the opponent''s strength. In this case, you can''t blame Rival for his heavy hand at all, but blame yourself for being stubborn and blind. Even after knowing the gap between the two sides, you still insist on letting Pokmon fight and fantasize about the happening of a so-called miracle. Every year, countless Pokmon are crippled and even killed because of Trainer''s stubborn blindness. So admitting defeat is not shameful, it is a very rational behavior. At this moment, Julian felt that Nolan should have a pretty good character, except that he was a bit of a p**sy and seemed a bit soft. After all, admitting defeat also shows love for one''s Pokmon. At home, Julian''s parents watched on live TV. They didn''t attend the match, not because they didn''t want to, but because Julian felt they didn''t need to. "Could it be that the power of Aura has the ability to improve the five basic stats ??of Metagross?" Jake muttered. He was very clear about the resources Julian had invested in his Metagross and those resources were all given by him to Julian, but the strength that Metagross showed obviously exceeded the strength it should have according to the invested resources, which made him very puzzled. So, it had to be attributed to Julian''s awakening of Aura power; even Julian''s grandfather, John, believed that. The power of Metagross came from the system, but Julian naturally can''t say that. Seeing the Rival concede meant Julian won, prompting Jake to smile. He stood up and grabbed the Pok Ball belt from the coffee table. "Where are you going?" Tina was happy for her son, and when she saw Jake seemed to be going out, she couldn''t help asking. "I''m going to the secret realm. The Aggron Valley leader is about to give birth to a cyan aptitude Pokmon. The father is my Aggron, so their child will likely have a cyan aptitude too." Pokmon parents with the same aptitude typically produce offspring with similar traits. The iconic Pokmon of the Walker family are silver Metagross and Aggron. As Julian is the only heir of the Walker family, Aggron is naturally indispensable. "Be careful" "Don''t worry, I have been to the Aggron Valley several times, and there will be no problem," Jake said. The advanced secret realm is filled with dangers but also opportunities. Its area is massive, comparable to a province. Some advanced rifts are even larger than a province. Chapter 87: Metagross lifted high Chapter 87: Metagross lifted high"The 86th Yale Provincial High School League Individual Tournament is now over. Congratulations to Julian from Lake No. 1 Middle School, Class 3 for winning the individual tournament!" With the host''s excited words and the cheers of the crowd, Julian had defeated his final rival and won the first championship of his life. "The award ceremony will be held at 8 o''clock in the evening. All contestants are welcome to join. Just remember not to be late, especially the top three contestants. But don''t worry, even if you are late, you''ll still receive your rewards and trophies!" The host made a light joke, but Julian was too busy to care. He was lost in thoughts about the rewards he had received from the system. "Ding!" "Main quest completed." "Reward settlement:" "Win the team championship: Psychic Intermediate, Mewtwo Fragment x3, Rare Candy x3 (only for Pokmon below level 60)." "Win the individual championship: Mega Pallet Town physique, one Totem soul (usable only by Pokmon below level 10)." Julian was shocked after reading this. To others, he just looked thrilled about winning the championship. The cheers from the crowd pulled Julian back to reality. Realizing it wasn''t the time to check the rewards, he quickly walked toward the player channel. There, Will, Han, Zosh, and Shen were already waiting. When they saw Julian, the four immediately rushed to greet him. Although they had expected Julian to win, seeing him actually claim the title felt surreal, leaving them both amazed and a bit envious. "I''ll head back to the hotel first," Before the four could speak, Julian waved his hand and quickly made his way to the hotel. The others exchanged glances but didn''t stop him, sensing Julian''s urgency. "Is he rushing to the restroom?" Will wondered aloud. "There''s a bathroom in the player room. He must have something else to do," Shen replied, looking at Will as if he was an idiot. After all, the conference venue had plenty of restrooms. On the way, many people recognized Julian, and a few wondered why the newly crowned champion seemed so anxious. Once back at the hotel and after locking the door, Julian began to sort through the rewards from the main quest. Main quests are rarely announced, but when they are, the rewards can be significant. This main quest involved participating in the Yale Provincial High School League, but the rewards were based on Julian''s final standings in the competition, not revealed in advance. In this league, Julian had achieved first place in the team competition, first in the individual competition, and this made it first in two competitions, so naturally, the rewards were substantial. Sear?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It''s just that Julian himself hadn''t expected them to be so impressive. If nothing else, just Mega Pallet Town physique alone could make him smile even in his dreams. Being a Trainer is risky; one wrong move in a Pokmon battle can lead to a Trainer''s injury or death. In official matches, protective barriers shield the battlefield, ensuring Trainers and spectators are safe from the chaos of the battles. But if you fight in the wild, secret realm, ruins, etc. where there is no protective cover, there are no so-called rules in the way of fighting. In the case of wild fights, it is common to directly command Pokmon to attack Trainer. So at this time, if Trainer has a super strong body, he will undoubtedly be safer in the face of danger. The Mega Pallet Town physique refers to Ash''s renowned resilience, which allowed him to endure powerful attacks and perform incredible feats. Being baptized by Pikachu''s Thunderbolt and Charizard''s Flamethrower all the year round, and even Cosmeon, which is nearly a ton, can be picked up with bare hands. Such a physique in this world is akin to a legendary one, similar to the Celestial Hegemony Body or the Innate Dao Body in fantasy novels. However, Trainers here don''t have these extraordinary physiques; they possess special abilities like Aura, Psychic, or Viridian power, etc. These are more about mental strength than physical capabilities. After absorbing the Mega Pallet Town physique, Julian clenched his fists and mumbled, "It doesn''t seem to change anything." Then he squeezed his arm and felt a bit of pain. "Metagross, come out!" "Meta~ Metagross looked suspiciously at Julian standing in front of him. "You come down first, don''t float" Julian said. Metagross landed slowly, noticing its Trainer bending down to grab underneath its body. Metagross seemed to know what Julian was going to do, and subconsciously wanted to float. "Don''t move; I''ll try to lift you and see if I can do it," Julian said. Fortunately, he lowered his head and didn''t see Metagross'' eyes which seemed to be looking at an idiot. Metagross: The trainer''s brain is broken. The normal weight of a Metagross is about 550KG, but Julian''s has the Light Metal ability, reducing its weight by half. Even with this ability, Metagross still weighed around 300 kg due to it''s good development. No ordinary person could lift a 300 kg object by hand. Despite this, Julian gritted his teeth, bent his knees, and hoisted Metagross above his head. Metagross: I''m being lifted?! "It feels so light! Metagross, you''re not floating, right?" Julian could feel its weight, but it felt similar to holding a cup. "Meta~ Metagross~" After checking again, Metagross confirmed that it was truly being lifted by its Trainer. Julian switched to lifting it with one hand, still feeling at ease, then switched to one finger. "If only someone could take a picture of me now" In ancient times, there were heroes holding great weights; today, it was Julian lifting a Metagross with a finger. He tossed Metagross up and caught it again. Throw, catch, throw, catch. Julian had a great time playing. Metagross: I feel like a toy! None of Julian''s other Pokmon weighed more than Metagross, so he didn''t bother trying with the others. He would save that for heavier Pokmon like Aggron or Snorlax in the future. Once he set Metagross down, Julian finally believed he truly acquired the Mega Pallet Town physique, at least regarding strength. As for resisting various attacks like Thunderbolt, Flamethrower, Ice Beam, or Water Gun, Julian thought it best not to test that. He might end up dead if things go wrong. Chapter 88: Great Harvest Chapter 88: Great HarvestAlthough Julian didn''t dare to test his defenses against attacks, he could still assess other aspects, such as his body''s reaction speed and resilience. "Lucario!" With that in mind, Julian sent out Lucario. "Meta~!" Metagross: You won''t believe this, I''ve been lifted up by our trainer just now. Lucario: What the hell, You didn''t wake up properly! Seeing the two interacting Pokmon, especially Metagross, who rarely showed emotion, Julian cleared his throat and said, "Lucario, punch me with a hundred pounds of strength." Lucario, as a Fighting-type, excelled in controlling his power. If he aimed for 100 pounds, he wouldn''t exceed it by even a gram. Metagross, on the other hand, might hit 200 pounds. For an ordinary person, a punch with that force will definitely hurt a lot, but it will not be fatal. "Meta~!" Metagross: The trainer is telling you to hit, just do it but don''t be surprised later. Lucario looked at Julian and Metagross, they were not acting normal, but then he delivered a quick punch. Julian instinctively stepped to the left. Lucario: [?_??] "Cough, let''s start with my reflexes. Gradually increase the speed of your punches." Lucario''s initial speed was impossible for Julian to dodge before; now, however, he managed it easily. At this time, Lucario also found that his trainer was a little abnormal. At one-fifth of the speed: dodge. At one-quarter of the speed: dodge. At one-third of the speed: hit. It wasn''t until Lucario used one-third of his speed that he hit Julian, with a hundred pounds of force hitting him. The latter didn''t seem to feel much pain. Looking at Julian, if it wasn''t for the familiar Aura exuding from his body, Lucario would have thought that the other party was changed by a Ditto. How did Julian suddenly become so strong? After a series of tests, Julian grasped the extent of his Mega Pallet Town physique. His speed, strength, reaction time, and combat abilities had all significantly improved, although the exact metrics were still unknown. At least now, Mom wouldn''t have to worry about him dying in a Pokmon battle''s aftermath. He took out some Rare Candy and let Metagross consume it, raising its level from 51 to 54. Lucario had no opinion on this, Metagross is the strongest among them; the stronger Metagross became, the stronger Julian would be. Just 7 more levels and Metagross could reach pseudo-Elite status which is a brand new field. Before heading to Imperial University, Julian aimed to push Metagross to Advanced-level peak. Julian also got three Mewtwo fragments from the rewards, plus seven he''d gathered before, leaving him just ninety fragments short of the one hundred. ''Hmmmm - ninety fragments more and I''ll be able to summon Mewtwo.'' "Extract Psychic!" With the extraction of the intermediate Psychic, Julian felt that his spiritual power had been greatly improved in an instant. Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Since it was freshly awakened, his Psychic energy radiated uncontrollably, causing objects around his room to float. "Meta~!" Metagross quickly used its own Psychic to suppress Julian''s uncontrolled outburst and looked at him with doubts. "It''s okay; I just awakened my Psychic," Julian comforted when he saw the worried eyes of the two Pokmon. With Intermediate Psychic, he could now communicate telepathically with Pokmon and humansone-way, unless the other had telepathy too. With Metagross possessing both Steel and Psychic types, now Julian having awakened his intermediate Psychic. Once his power is combined with Metagross'' Psychic, both their strength will be further increased. Psychic served another critical function: as a radar. By radiating Psychic energy, Julian could visualize everything within 500 meters, though the larger the area, the more mental energy it consumed so it won''t last for much time. Psychic also has another important role, which is to increase the time of Pokmon''s Mega Evolution. A Pokmon''s Mega Evolution length depended on the trainer''s physical and mental stamina. Any exhaustion would prematurely end the transformation. Julian''s Psychic was closely tied to mental power. Stronger mental power meant more potent Psychic energy. With his Mega Pallet Town physique and enhanced Psychic, Julian could make his Pokmon Mega Evolve longer it will definitely make his Rivals despair. ''In the future, I will not use my feet to walk, but float.'' Then Julian looked at the last reward. Soul of Totem: Converts a Pokmon into a Totem Pokmon (only for Pokmon below level 10). (T/N: kind of like royal gene/ king''s gene or alpha pokemon type stuff) Totem Pokmon is another kind of existence that is different from ordinary Pokmon besides Shiny Pokmon. Shiny Pokmon is a difference in color, and Totem Pokmon is a difference in size. Totem Pokmon are more than twice the size of their peers. The leader of a clan is not necessarily a Totem Pokmon, but a Totem Pokmon must be the leader of the clan. Like Shiny Pokmon, Totem Pokmon are rare, usually found in the wild, secret realms, or ruins, nearly impossible for humans to cultivate. And Shiny Pokmon involves a probability problem; as long as there are enough of the same species, a Shiny Pokmon will eventually appear. For example, the most available shiny Pokmon is a Magikarp. Gold Magikarp, Black Magikarp, Purple Magikarp, Blue Magikarp, etc., every year in some auctions there will appear a different colored Magikarp. Lucky fishermen might catch one and sell it for a fortune. As long as the heterochromatic Magikarp can not be evolved into a Gyarados, its biggest role is just a decoration. There is a golden Magikarp in the Lake City Aquarium. It has been more than ten years and there is no sign of evolution at all. Given the level restrictions for using the Soul of Totem, none of Julian''s current Pokmon were suitable, so he''d have to wait for the right one. No rush there. Overall, the main quest rewards were impressive, and Julian felt secure knowing he could protect himself. He no longer had to fear being caught off-guard by a wild Pokmon. Now, he especially hoped for the system to release the next main quest, but such quests typically arise from his usual encounters. Chapter 89: Wanted Criminal Chapter 89: Wanted CriminalAt 8 o''clock in the evening, the award ceremony was held at the venue, Most of the trainers came to participate, and looked at the three people standing on the podium with admiration. Julian stood among them, expressionless, clutching the gleaming golden trophy that signified his victory in the individual competition. The trophy, half a meter tall, gleamed under the lights, shaped like two hands clasping a Pok Ball. It bore the inscription: "86th Yale Provincial High School League, Individual Champion, Julian." "That trophy can''t be pure gold, right?" Under the stage, Will looked at Julian''s golden trophy. Because of the lighting, the golden light of the trophy was even more dazzling. Sarch* The N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Trophies are always gilded," replied Han. "Pure gold? Only if you win the Elite Challenge and become one of the Top 18 Elite Trainers. Then the Drakorian Trainer Association will give you a pure gold trophy." While the Yale Provincial High School League was a notable event, the senior management viewed it as mere child''s play. The primary aim was to identify talented trainers and to let these students who have just become trainers not long ago to foster healthy competition among each other. This will help them increase their strength faster. "Ding." "Hidden Mission Complete: First Trophy (First Prize)." "Reward: A ten-minute Elite experience card (available only for Pokmon below level 70)." The voice in his head made Julian, who had no expression at first, smile a little, this was really an unexpected gain. ''Although I have the protection of an Elite Alakazam, after all, that''s grandpa''s Pokmon, and it will not come out unless I''m really in danger.'' ''If my own Pokmon also has Elite-level combat power, although it will only be short-lived, it can be used as a trump card for a comeback at a critical moment.'' The ceremony concluded in about half an hour. "Julian, which cyan-qualified Pokmon will you ask for?" On the way back to the hotel, Shen asked curiously, Will, Han, and Zosh also raised their ears. The rewards for the first place in the Yale Provincial High School League were very generous. The first-place prize included a cyan qualified Pokmon egg, a Yale province ticket for an advanced secret realm, and 80 million in resource exchange. "I haven''t decided yet," Julian shook his head, he now had four Pokmon, and he actually wanted an Aron for the fifth one, but he had yet to find an Aron with cyan qualification. If he asked the Yale Province Trainer Association, they probably also didn''t have one, so he was wondering whether to temporarily change his choice of the fifth Pokmon. He also thought about the advanced secret realms in Yale Province. There are eight advanced-level secret realms in the entire Yale Province, and only two being special secret realms like Oreburgh Forest, which was guarded by the Walker family. The other being the Grassy Green Grassland. Advanced Secret Realms are suitable for trainers who are pseudo-Elite to Elite level. With Julian''s current strength, although he can fight pseudo-Elites, Julian knew to maximize the benefits he should wait until he reached pseudo-Elite status to explore them. There was no time limit for tickets anyway , so he was not in a hurry. After returning to the hotel, Julian opened the Drakorian Trainer Association app to check his resource exchange balance80 million had just been credited. Although there was no shortage of money, but more money always makes people happy. "Diamonds, three hundred pounds" "Broken Dragon Fang" He spent the entire 80 million resources on these two items, with diamonds costing 50 million and Broken Dragon Fang being 30 million. The Broken Dragon Fang was from a pseudo-Elite dragon-type Pokmon, the price of a complete one was more than 100 million and an Elite-level one was even more valuable. The Broken Dragon Fang was naturally not for Dragonair to hold, but to grind it into powder and let Dragonair eat it, which can more or less increase the dragon energy in Dragonair. Post-shopping, he checked WeChat, receiving congratulatory messages from classmates and his teacher, Sam. As he scrolled through Moments, Julian turned into a like madman again, and liked each one by one. "I lost the Phoenix Cup qualifier. Am I really unfit to be a Trainer?" *Like.* "The leaves on my Oddish are turning yellow; any ideas?" *Like.* "Hahaha, I touched the trophy! are you guys Envious?" This one was from Will, and the picture showed him holding Julian''s trophy. *Like.* "My child won the championship, yet he didn''t even call to share the good newsreally?" This was from his mother, Tina, with a proud picture of Julian on stage. *Like.* "My grandson is a champion!" This was obviously his grandfather John, and the picture was exactly the same one as Tina''s. *Like.* "Ding" "Temporary Mission: Capture an A-level wanted criminal" "Reward: Top quality Steel-type Energy Cube X20, Top quality Dragon-type Energy Cube X10." Top quality energy cubes, one box was 2,000 points, very expensive. Usually Julian only buys it once every two weeks, and that too only one box. The prospect of such valuable rewards made Julian leap from his bed. The more lucrative the mission, the tougher it was likely to be. A-level wanted criminals were definitely pseudo-Elite, while S-level ones were Elite. A fast-moving red dot appeared in his mind, indicating the location of the wanted criminal. "Dragonair, let''s go!" He called, opening the window. Dragonair understood, soaring out into the night. With newfound courage from his Mega Pallet Town physique, Julian leaped after him, catching a brief moment of panic as he free-fell before Dragonair caught him. "Whoo! So Exciting!" Julian exclaimed, feeling the rush of adrenaline. He quickly forgot his fears of heights, focusing on the mission ahead. "Head to the White River Forest in the east" He instructed, noting that the red dot had paused in the forest''s midst. White River Forest was not a part of Lake City, but a unclaimed wild forest, home to numerous wild Pokmon. The Forest was vast, covering 5,280 square kilometers, which was equivalent to the area of ??a prefecture-level city. There were four wild forests like this in the entire Yale Province. In terms of area, White River Forest ranks third while fourth in danger rating. Though Julian had traversed wild forests before, but they were all small, unlike this one. However, The red dot lingered near the forest''s edge, suggesting the criminal was wary of venturing deeper in the forest at night. The wilderness at night can be dozens of times more dangerous than during the day. With Dragonair''s wings expanding, they accelerated. Julian grabbed Dragonair''s neck tightly, lowered his body, and looked at Ground below. He couldn''t help but fear heights, thinking about whether to make a custom Flying seat. Chapter 90: Pokémon Hunters Chapter 90: Pokmon HuntersOn the outskirts of White River Forest, Tucker leaned against a towering tree, quietly devouring his meal. The silver light of the moon filtered through the branches, and his sharp eyes were constantly scanning the surroundings, ever watchful in the calm night. Beside him stood his Fearow, a powerful and intimidating presence. The Pokmon''s fierce aura made it clear it was no stranger to battle. A thin stream of blood dripped from the tip of its long, sharp beak, remnants of its recent hunt. At Fearow''s feet lay a lifeless Rattata, the unfortunate victim of the food chain that exists even in the Pokmon world. While some Pokmon are content with berries and plants, there are those, like Fearow, that hunt to survive, preying on weaker creatures. In cities and towns, Pokmon raised by humans are typically fed special Pokmon food designed to meet all their needs. If they eat meat, it''s usually from livestock like beef or mutton, raised specifically for this purpose by humans. But out here, in the wild, nature takes its course. Within moments, Tucker finished the last bite of his meal, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. Fearow, too, had devoured the Rattata at its feet. The air around them grew thick with a tense energy. In the silent forest, the aura of the man and his Pokmon was something that would send shivers down the spine of anyone who stumbled upon them. Those who have faced real danger would recognize it instantly: the cold, heavy presence of murderous intent. For the average person, coming face to face with someone like Tucker would be terrifying enough without even a word being exchanged. The mere sight of his sharp, unyielding gaze would be enough to freeze them in place. "If you''re going to try and catch me," Tucker muttered under his breath, his voice low and dangerous, "then it''s either you or me that''s not leaving here alive." He stood up, pulling a small device from his bag, and began placing it carefully around the clearing. Fearow remained on alert, its sharp eyes darting from shadow to shadow, acting as a lookout for its Trainer. Meanwhile, at the entrance of White River Forest, Lin Lin, a third-year student from Shu University, landed gracefully from the back of a Flying-type Pokmon she had rented for the mission. "Pichu!" Came the small cry from her shoulder, where her partner Pokmon sat. Pichu clung nervously to her neck, its tiny body trembling as it gazed into the dark, dense forest ahead. To Pichu, the forest looked like a slumbering giant, full of unseen dangers. "Don''t worry, Pichu," Lin Lin said soothingly, patting the little Pokmon on its head. "Once we catch that bad guy, I''ll get you a Light Ball as a reward." Pichu didn''t quite know what a Light Ball was, but the thought of receiving something special from its Trainer was enough to ease its fears. It nuzzled into Lin Lin''s neck, reassured by her words. "Come out, Electivire," Lin Lin called, releasing her strongest Pokmon from its ball. A spark of electricity crackled in the air as Electivire appeared, towering over her. The wild forest was unpredictable, full of hidden dangers, even near the edges. A wild Pokmon at just Level 5 could still cause serious trouble to a human. Electivire was her strongest Pokmon, at the peak of pseudo-Elite. Her other five Pokmon had been injured to varying degrees in the process of capturing Tucker, and even Electivire''s Condition was not very good. Electivire, though injured, was her most powerful ally, and she needed it by her side. Lin Lin carefully treated Electivire''s wounds before heading into Forest. She knew that this wouldn''t be easy, especially since her other Pokmon were still recovering from the chase earlier. As she entered the forest, a Pokmon flew over her head quickly. High above the trees, Julian flew swiftly on the back of his Dragonair, but as they neared their target, he ordered it to slow down. "Easy now, Dragonair. We don''t want to give ourselves away just yet," Julian murmured, his eyes fixed on the red dot. Tucker was closeless than three kilometers awayand he hadn''t moved for some time. Julian didn''t want to risk alerting him by rushing in. As Dragonair''s speed decreased, Julian was finally able to free one hand to check his phone. He almost dropped it as the movement made him sway dangerously in the air. "I really need to get a proper saddle for Dragonair," he muttered. "It''s too hard to hold on and use my phone at the same time." Opening the Trainer App, Julian quickly reviewed the information on his target. Tucker, real name unknown, was an A-level wanted criminal, a pseudo-Elite Trainer, and a professional Pokmon hunter. Julian knew exactly why Tucker had become a wanted man. As a Pokmon hunter, it was likely that he had used illegal methods to capture rare Pokmon. Hunters like him often went after Pokmon that didn''t belong to them, sometimes even snatching ones with Trainers. Being a Pokmon hunter was a morally gray job. Some hunters worked within legal boundaries, taking on tasks from people who needed specific Pokmon captured. For example, someone might request a Level 60 Charizard, cyan aptitude, male. In response, the hunter would take the job, track down the exact Pokmon, and capture it for a reward. And for those who issued the task of capturing Pokmon, the Pokmon requested were basically rare, powerful, or highly prized. These Pokmon weren''t available for sale in regular markets. So, hunters had to explore dangerous places like wild forests, secret realms, or ancient ruins to capture them. These places were full of risks, and the chances of finding the right Pokmon were often slim. Some hunters even lost their lives trying. So the worst kind of Pokmon hunters took a darker path. Unable to find what they needed in the wild, they would mark Pokmon that already had Trainers. They would steal them by force and sell them to the highest bidder. To make matters worse, hunters would often deal with the Trainers in a way that ensured they couldn''t report the crime. It was a brutal business, and for those Trainers, the chances of survival were slim. Nearly a third of all wanted criminals in Drakoria were Pokmon hunters. This profession was infamous, and for good reason. It was viewed with disgust by many. People who found out someone was a Pokmon hunter often wanted nothing to do with them. Still, becoming a Pokmon hunter required skill. Among the top eighteen Elites in Drakoria, one was even a Pokmon hunter. That Elite still occasionally ventured into high-level secret realms to capture rare Pokmon for missions. This just showed how capable these hunters could be. As Julian approached the area where Tucker was hiding, he was still about a kilometer away. If it had been anyone else, they might have landed by now and entered the forest to search on foot. After all, the dense trees and the darkness made it nearly impossible to spot anything from the sky. But Julian didn''t do that. The red dot in his mind told him that he was very close to the other party. Julian recalled his Dragonair, whose long body would have struggled to move through the dense forest. Instead, he released his Metagross, whose tough, solid build was far more suited for the task ahead. - White Forest was vast, home to more than 100 different kinds of Pokmon, with a population numbering in the millions. The outer areas, where Julian currently was, were inhabited by the weakest Pokmon, but they were also the most numerous. Using his Intermediate Psychic abilities, Julian could sense every creature within a 100-meter radius. There were more than ten Pokmon nearby, the closest of which was just ten meters away. Suddenly, a bush rustled, and without warning, an Ekans lunged out, its fangs glistening in the moonlight. With only ten meters between them, the snake Pokmon closed the distance in a second. Metagross was ready to strike, but Julian stopped it with a wave of his hand. Swiftly dodging the Ekans'' attack, Julian sidestepped the deadly fangs and reached out to grab the snake by its tail. "Twisterget out of here!" he yelled with a grin. With a quick motion, Julian swung the Ekans into a small whirlwind. The Pokmon spun wildly before being flung far into the darkness, disappearing as a black shadow into the trees. "Cool" In the past, he would definitely not be able to avoid the close-range attack of Ekans, but now he had the Mega Pallet Town physique. Meanwhile, Tucker, resting under the large tree, was startled when his alarm system went off. In an instant, his sharp eyes scanned the area. An Ekans, the same one that Julian had thrown, had gotten tangled in his steel wire trap. The snake''s movements only made the wire dig deeper into its body, and it thrashed about in pain, triggering more of Tucker''s traps. Suddenly, a blast of fire erupted from the trap, followed by a massive explosion. The sound was deafening, echoing across the forest for at least ten kilometers. Sar?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 91: The 100 Million bounty Chapter 91: The 100 Million bounty"Damn it!" Tucker''s frustration boiled over as he witnessed the trap he had meticulously set up get destroyed by the sudden appearance of an Ekans. Rage surged through him, making his blood rush to his forehead. It was as if he were haunted; he had clearly instructed Fearow to chase away any surrounding Pokmon. How did this Ekans manage to slip past?. Sarch* The n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It seemed nearly impossible for a Pokmon to fall from the sky. But in reality, this Ekans had indeed been thrown from above by Julian, from a kilometer away, no less. Tucker had buried numerous explosives within his traps. While the Ekans wasn''t killed outright, it was now battered and bruised, clearly suffering from the aftermath of the blast. "I will spare your life!" Tucker shot a furious glance at the struggling Ekans. He wanted nothing more than to finish it off, but the explosion would surely attract the attention of the woman who was after him. He had originally set up traps to increase his chances of escaping. With those gone, his odds of winning a direct fight had significantly decreased. He needed to get out of there quickly. "Fearow, let''s go!" His words rang out as he mounted Fearow. The explosion had already caught Lin Lin''s attention, and she was rushing toward the sound, determined to find him. "Bullet Punch" Suddenly, a gust of wind swept past the back of his head, sending chills down his spine. Instinctively, Tucker lurched forward to avoid it. He felt the rush of air from a powerful punch that narrowly grazed the back of his head, leaving him cold with sweat. This was the closest he had ever come to death since becoming a Pokmon hunter. Before Tucker could give any orders, Fearow instinctively dove to protect him, its sharp beak aiming for the attacker. "Meteor Mash!" Metagross stood firm, its massive metal claws glowing with vibrant colors as it prepared to counterattack. The clash of their moves echoed through the forest as the two attacks collided. Fearow flapped its wings, shielding Tucker with its body. If it hadn''t been for Fearow, Tucker would have certainly met his end in that close-range explosion. However, Fearow also took damage; its wing was injured, blood staining its feathers as they fell to the ground. "Hypno!" Tucker wasted no time and released his second Pokmon. Fearow was at level 65, while Hypno was at level 67. The strength of the target was no simple matter; it was close to the peak of the pseudo-Elite rank. Yet, Hypno''s condition was far from optimal. It flickered erratically, a clear sign that it had been affected by paralysis, likely due to previous battles. It seemed that someone else had also been trying to capture Tucker, but Julian had interfered at just the right moment. Realizing that he had to act quickly before that chaser arrived, Julian put aside any hesitation. With no hint of guilt for taking someone else''s prey, he focused on completing his system task before the other party arrived. "Silver Metagross, you are someone from the Walker family!" Tucker quickly recognized Julian''s identity upon seeing the silver Metagross. Yet, he felt no fear; rather, his excitement grew. There were very few who could intimidate him, especially not a boy like Julian. If he could catch Julian and use him to threaten Lin Lin, she would undoubtedly fear for Julian''s safety and let him go. Tucker and Julian both had the same goal: they needed to deal with each other quickly before Lin Lin arrived. ''Although he has a pseudo-legendary Pokemon, it has not reached the pseudo-Elite level yet, and I am already approaching the peak of the pseudo-Elite.'' In the eyes of most Trainers, pseudo-legendaries were powerful and feared, capable of taking down opponents well above their level. But for experienced Trainers, there were ways to overcome them. ''I surpass him in level, have more combat experience, and even if Hypno is not in optimal Condition right now, it''s not something this kid can stop right now.'' "Hypno, Psybeam!" "Fearow, Hyper Beam!" In the chaos of wild battles, there were no rules at all. Fighting unfairly was commonplace; unless the attacker ran out of ammunition, anything went. Metagross stood firm, using Protect to shield Julian from the combined attacks. "This is impossible!!" Tucker shouted, his face twisting in disbelief. He had encountered pseudo-legendaries before and even defeated them, but this Metagross was defying all logic. Though Protect could block powerful moves, it was supposed to be effective only if the Pokmon levels were similar. Tucker''s Pokmon far surpassed that of Metagross. Two simultaneous moves blocked by a single Protect? It seemed like a cheat. "Lucario, use Close Combat on Fearow!" "Metagross, Shadow Ball for Hypno!" "Sneak attack on Trainer from behind Gengar" Tucker knew Gengar was an essential asset for sneak attacks, especially with his stealthy nature. He quickly readied a Pok Ball and glanced back. But instead of Gengar, he saw a Pokmon he had never encountered before. "Meltan, Thunder Shock!" Meltan''s small frame was perfect for stealth under the cover of night. Julian had released it earlier, allowing it to sneak behind Tucker unnoticed. With a sudden burst of electricity, Tucker was hit and instantly stunned. Julian had ordered Meltan to hold back; otherwise, Tucker wouldn''t have survived the encounter. Tucker: The basic trust between people. Without their Trainer, Fearow and Hypno were quickly subdued by Metagross and Lucario. After capturing Tucker''s unconscious Pokmon into their Pok Balls, Julian began searching Tucker''s belongings, eager for some treasure. As a Pokmon hunter, Tucker likely carried valuable items, and Julian was more than ready to take advantage of that. The system chimed, indicating that the task was now complete. Julian found five good quality evolution stones, and there were some resources for Ground and Rock type Pokmon, including soft sand, which was worth an astonishing 100 million. (T/N: not in dollars) Although Julian had no shortage of such things, the joy of searching made him unable to stop. After searching through Tucker''s possessions, Julian collected all the valuables before securely tying the unconscious hunter to a sturdy tree. Hearing footsteps approaching, he assumed it was the person hunting Tucker, arriving at the scene. "Dragonair, let''s go!" With that, Dragonair took to the skies, swiftly carrying Julian away. Lin Lin''s Electivire gazed up at the night sky, spotting something soaring past. "What was that, Electivire? The explosion sounded close. We need to be careful," Lin Lin warned. Before long, she arrived at the site of the explosion and found Tucker tied up to a tree. Lin Lin: It''s so easy to get the 100 million bounty. Chapter 92: Dual-Abilities Chapter 92: Dual-AbilitiesThe Yale Province High School League had officially concluded, and most participants were already heading home. Julian, too, returned after bidding farewell to Will and the others. As he approached the house, the door was opened by his mother Tina''s longtime caretaker/housekeeper an Indeedee, affectionately known as ''Love.'' She was his mother''s starter Pokemon. Julian''s face lit up with a smile. "Love!" he greeted warmly. Seeing Julian, Indeedee''s eyes brightened with joy. She had been like a second mother to him, taking care of him throughout his childhood when his parents were busy. It had been over ten days since Julian had last been home due to his participation in the league, the longest he''d ever been away from home after he started his 3rd year. Naturally, Love had missed him dearly. Julian''s parents were home, having been informed of his arrival in advance. "My champion son is back!" Tina exclaimed proudly as she strode into the room. She had always celebrated Julian''s achievements, no matter how big or small. His father, Jake, sat on the sofa with a more composed expression. The former champion trainer nodded at his son. Tina, unable to bear his lack of enthusiasm, glared at him and scolded, "Didn''t you see your son just came back in this heat? Why don''t you pour him a glass of water?" sea??h th n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. (T/N: he might also have won the championship in his time) Jake, ever the dutiful husband, muttered under his breath, "But Love already poured him one." Yet, despite his mild complaint, he obediently rose to fetch the water, not daring to voice his dissatisfaction too loudly. After all, the Walker family had a long-standing traditionlove and respect for their wives. After taking the water from Love, Julian reached into his backpack and produced three small gifts. "I got these for you from the Commercial Street at the league," he said, smiling. Although the gifts weren''t extravagant, they held sentimental value. He had picked out a stylish hat for his mother, a high-quality fishing rod for his fatherone of the few hobbies Jake had maintained for over a decadeand a delicate silk scarf for Love. Tina beamed with excitement and, taking Love by the hand, whisked her upstairs to try on the new accessories in front of the mirror. Meanwhile, Jake examined the fishing rod, his eyes widening in astonishment. "A Kyogre "66" fishing rod... and you found this at the high street?" The fishing rod was a rare item, one that any top angler would dream of owning. Only 100 of these rods had ever been produced, each engraved with its unique number and Kyogre''s head on the handle. Legend had it that Kyogre itself could be caught with such a rodan ultimate goal for all avid fishermen. (T/N: yeah sure go catch one and it might destroy your whole country) "I didn''t just find it," Julian replied casually. "I had to convince the shopkeeper to sell it, so I ended up paying ten times the listed price." Jake''s expression was a mix of disbelief and awe. His son had gone above and beyond to get him something so meaningful. As they settled back in, Julian dropped another piece of news, "Oh, by the way, I''ve already been accepted early by Imperial University." At the same time, he also talked about the conditions offered by the other party. Jake nodded, acknowledging the impressive feat. "That''s much better than what they offered me back in the day, sure enough having Aura really makes a difference," he said, his tone betraying a hint of envy. Julian smirked, knowing his next revelation would stir an even bigger reaction. "I''ve also awakened Psychic powers." Jake, who had been calmly lounging on the sofa, suddenly sat bolt upright. His voice grew louder in disbelief. "Wait, you did *what*?" "Yeah," Julian replied, waving a hand nonchalantly. "I woke up and found out I had Psychic powers." Jake stared at his son in stunned silence, his mind racing. While there were various ways for someone to awaken Psychic abilitiesoften triggered by intense emotions or even during sleepit was still incredibly rare, especially to awaken such power at an intermediate level from the start. "Show me," Jake demanded, still trying to process the news. Julian raised his hand, and the objects on the coffee table floated effortlessly into the air, confirming his claim. Jake could only shake his head in disbelief. "Intermediate level already?" he muttered. "Unbelievable." "Well, if you weren''t as handsome as me, I''d be questioning if you were really my kid!" Walker joked, though a trace of genuine amazement lingered in his voice. "Mom, Dad just said..." "What did I say, don''t talk nonsense, kid" Jake''s eyes widened and he interrupted Julian''s words directly. He turned his head and said flatteringly, "Wife, Julian was jus...." "Boy, is it so fun to make a fool of your father" There was no one behind him, it was obviously a trick by Julian. "Ding Dong" Just as the banter continued, the doorbell rang. Julian went to answer it, finding a courier standing at the door beside a large crate. "Hello, I''m from Pidgeot Express. There''s a delivery for a ''Julian,''" the courier said. Julian produced his ID card, confirming his identity. After receiving the parcel, Julian took a look at the Flying saddle on Pidgeot''s back. If he wanted one for Dragonair, it would have to be customized. There was no Dragonair Flying saddle on the market. "You bought something?" Tina asked as she and Love came downstairs. "Yeah, a cyan-qualified Shellder," Julian responded. Shellder, a Water-type Pokmon, had cost him a small fortune300 million in the trading section of the Drakorian trainer app. It was a rare find, and its evolutionary form, Cloyster,a Water/Ice type was a feared opponent, especially known for its prowess in taking down Dragon-types in the hands of the Ice Elites. "Shellder, huh? I thought you''d pick Dragon as your second type. Is your plan to go with Ice?" Jake frowned, he saw that Julian got a Dratini out of nowhere, and thought that his second type would be a dragon, but now he bought a Shellder. Julian shook his head, smirking mischievously. "Nah, you''ll find out soon enough. Let''s keep that a secret for now." Jake nodded but couldn''t resist offering advice. "Since you''ve awakened Psychic powers, you might want to consider the Psychic type as your second specialization. It would maximize your abilities, especially with a Pokmon like Metagross by your side." Julian was about to respond when Tina suddenly exclaimed, "Wait, what? You''ve awakened Psychic powers?" There was a moment of silence as everyone turned to face her. Only two dual-ability Trainers existed in the world: One is in Vilhonis, the strongest champion in the nation of Vilhonis. And the other is in Daventry, the country with the smallest population in the world, but it has a dual-ability trainer, and he is praised by the people of the nation of Daventry as the legendary Light of the world. (T/N: not sure but from what I could find the first one is Singapore and second is Vatican City... until I find something that says otherwise) Drakoria didn''t have any, but Julian''s appearance made him the first person with dual-ability in Drakoria. "Let''s keep this quiet for now," Walker said seriously. "No need to attract unnecessary attention until you''ve reached the pseudo-Elite level." Julian nodded. The Walker family''s high status in Drakoria had its benefits, but also its share of rivals. For now, it was better to keep this newfound talent under wraps. Chapter 93: New Member Chapter 93: New MemberJulian''s Pokmon in the backyard were now all present, and it had been more than ten days since he returned home from the high school league. For these ten days, Julian had become a true homebody, rarely stepping outside. Sarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet, unlike most people his age who might waste time glued to their phones or playing video games, Julian spent most of his hours with his Pokmon. Each afternoon, at a fixed time, he would engage in a battle with his father, Jake. In terms of commanding ability and combat experience, Julian was far from Jake''s Rival. While Julian''s Pokmon were undeniably powerful thanks to the system that boosted their strength, the system couldn''t train him as a trainer. His father, a Elite-level Trainer, had years of battle experience and unmatched command skills that Julian was still far from mastering. Every day, during their battles, Jake''s superior tactics and in-the-moment adaptability made it clear how much more Julian had to learn. Although Julian could go toe-to-toe with most trainers of the same level due to his Pokmon''s strength, true Elite-level trainers like his father exposed the gaps in his knowledge. Against them, Julian''s weaknesses in strategy became apparent. Julian had also noticed a slight change in the way his father battled him lately. Gone were the days when Jake would hold back during their matches. Now, his father went all out, often using Metagross, Lucario, and other powerful Pokmon until Julian''s team was on the brink of defeat before stopping. The reason, Jake said, was to push Julian to his limitsto help him improve. But Julian couldn''t help but think his father was also a bit jealous that he''d awakened Psychic powers, making him the first dual-ability person in Drakoria. In the backyard, the Pokmon were busy training themselves. Even Shellder, the newest addition, was engaged in its own exercises. At Julian''s feet stood a small figure, watching the others in awe. "Don''t worry, Aron, you''ll be training with them soon enough," Julian said with a gentle smile, kneeling down to rub the cold, smooth head of the young Steel-type. "But first, you''ve got to eat lots and grow strong!" Aron, who was only a couple of days old, had just hatched from an egg given to Julian by his father upon his return home. The egg had come from an Aggron in the Oreburgh secret realm, with the father being Jake''s very own Aggron. When the egg finally hatched, it revealed a bright-eyed little Aron. Pokmon: Aron (Steel/Rock) Level: 2 Qualification: Blue Ability: Heavy Metal Gender: Male Moves: Tackle, Harden Disc Moves: None Genetic Moves: Stomp, Heavy Slam, Endeavor, Dragon Rush Aron''s lineage was impressive. Both its parents were cyan-qualified Pokmon, and to everyone''s delight, Aron had been born with a rare breakthrough to blue qualificationa significant step above most Pokmon. This fact only deepened Jake''s playful jealousy. His own son was already getting blessed with stronger Pokmon at such a young age! Julian also noted that Aron''s ability was the hidden ability Heavy Metal, which doubles the weight of a Pokmon, which is the opposite of Metagross'' Light Metal Ability. This would prove invaluable when it eventually learned moves like Heavy Slam and Body Slam, which relied on its sheer mass. Think about it with the potential to evolve into Aggron, a Pokmon that already weighed a staggering 360 kilograms, Aron''s final form would double that to a whopping 720 kilograms. For context, the famous heavyweight Pokmon Snorlax only weighed 460 kilograms. Julian imagined Aggron slamming into opponents with the force of a mountaina terrifying thought. Julian took out a special item, the Soul of Totem, from the system and used it on Aron. He watched as the essence merged into Aron''s tiny body. The Steel-type paused mid-bite on an iron ore, prompting Julian to lean in with concern. "You alright, Aron? Do you feel okay?" In the system introduction, there was no side effect mentioned of using Totem Soul. "Aron~" After a brief pause, Aron nodded and resumed munching on the ore, determined to eat as much as possible. It knew, instinctively, that the more iron it consumed, the stronger its shell would become. Aron didn''t eat typical Pokmon food or power cubes. Its diet consisted of iron-rich ores and various metals. This wasn''t just for sustenanceeating these materials helped reinforce its already tough body, making it even more resilient in battle. The fifty kilograms of iron ore that Julian had prepared were disappearing quickly, and Aron had already moved on to gnawing through a stack of steel bars as if they were candy. In addition to Aron, Julian now had six Pokmon under his care. However, Shellder wasn''t a long-term member of his team. Julian''s goal was to evolve Shellder into a Slowking, which meant he needed to find a Slowpoke to pair with it. The minimum requirement was that the Slowpoke had to have cyan qualifications, ensuring that when it evolved with Shellder using a King''s Rock, the Slowking''s qualifications wouldn''t drop below cyan. While Julian could use the system to buy qualification potions, they were prohibitively expensive, and he preferred to find a suitable Slowpoke through other means. His family was already helping him track one down, and given that Slowpokes were relatively common in certain regions, it was only a matter of time before they found one. In the coastal Haitian City, located in the Central South Province, there was even a dedicated Slowpoke Park with nearly 10,000 of them. Slowpoke had become a symbol of the city, especially after they played a critical role in protecting the city during a high-level secret realm riot two decades ago. Since then, they were regarded as the city''s guardians. Many trainers in Haitian City specialized in Water or Psychic-type Pokmon, with Slowpoke being a popular choice. Suddenly, Julian noticed Aron slowing down. The steel bars were no match for Aron''s appetite, but exhaustion had started to set in. Yawning, the little Pokmon began to droop. "Looks like it''s time for a rest, buddy," Julian said, effortlessly picking up the 120-kilogram Aron as if it were a feather. Now that Julian had developed his strength further, carrying even the heavy Steel-type was easy. "Let''s get you to the Rest Garden in the Mimic Room." The Mimic Room was a specialized chamber designed to replicate the unique energy of Pokmon secret realms, helping young Pokmon grow stronger in a short time. According to research, the Pokmon in the secret realms were generally stronger than the outside world. The reason was that the secret realm has special energies suitable for the growth of Pokmon. The higher the level of the secret realm, the higher the energy present. Therefore, the Mimic Room appeared. An advanced Mimic Room had equivalent energy to an Advanced Secret Realm, but the cost was sky-high. A new Pokmon like Aron, it''s best for it to stay in the Mimic Room and get stronger after a good night''s sleep. As Julian made his way to the Mimic Room, his mother Tina glanced at her husband, jake. "What''s with that look on your face?" "I just saw Julian walking into the Mimic Room with Aron... that little guy has the Heavy Metal ability," Jake muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. Tina chuckled, resting a hand on her husband''s arm. "Our son is really something, isn''t he?" Jake sighed, but a proud smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Yeah... he really is." Chapter 94: New Intermediate Rift Chapter 94: New Intermediate Rift"There''s a space crack at a farmhouse in the eastern suburbs of Lake City, and intermediate-level intensive energy is emerging from the rift. It''s speculated that a new intermediate-level secret realm will appear in three days." This was the most talked-about news in Lake City over the past few days. People couldn''t stop buzzing about it. New secret realms appear every day in different regions of various countries, and there were quite a few of them. But most of the new secret realms are elementary and unstable, and they may suddenly disappear one day. An intermediate-level secret realm, however, was much rarer. And now, after five long years, Lake City was on the brink of getting one. S~ea??h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Intermediate-level secret realms were far more stable, and fewer than 30% of them disappeared within the first three years. That made this discovery a significant event. On the internet, discussions were already heating up: "A new intermediate secret realm! I wonder if it''ll have any undiscovered Pokmon in it." "Anyone forming a team to explore this new realm? Sign me up if you are!" "Secret realm teams? Hah! The fastest way to your death!" "You can go ahead, I will raise your wife and daughter." Even though entering as part of a team provided some safety, trust between members was always shaky. Faced with the allure of treasures and rare Pokmon, bonds between even the closest of partnershusbands, wives, brothers, fathers, and sonscould be broken with a single backstab. Julian was extremely interested in this new intermediate-level secret realm. He had been to other intermediate-level secret realms before, but they had all been explored thoroughly. The best treasures were always long gone by the time he got there. Even with his trusty Dowsing Machine, the treasures he could locate in a well-explored secret realm were quite limited. But this one? A brand-new, untouched realm? There were sure to be plenty of treasures waiting inside, ready to be found. The so-called "treasures of the secret realm" were the most valuable things within such spaces. They could range from rare items, evolutionary stones, and even powerful Pokmon. While being the first to enter didn''t guarantee finding the best treasure, it certainly increased the odds. During dinner, Julian seized the opportunity. "Dad, I want one of the first slots to enter the new intermediate secret realm," he said casually while biting into a fragrant rib. Jake, who was sipping his wine, raised an eyebrow at his son''s request. Julian had outgrown the elementary secret realms; they no longer served as a challenge or a way to improve his skills. The intermediate secret realm was just right for him now. And with his Dowsing Machine, he had a good chance of discovering the most valuable treasures hidden inside. "Alright," Jake replied, a little surprised. "I was beginning to think you wouldn''t be interested. I was actually about to give your slot away." When a new secret realm emerged, the most elite families and wealthiest trainers were always given first access. The Walker family was one of the most respected in Drakoria, but with only a few family members and Jake himself not particularly excited about this specific realm, they had been granted five initial entry slots but only needed two. Had Julian not asked, Jake had been planning to give away the remaining two slots to friends or allies. Tina, who was eating quietly beside them, spoke up, her voice laced with concern. "Are you sure about this, Julian? Entering a new secret realm can be dangerous." Although she knew her son''s strength, as a mother, she still worried. The unknown dangers lurking in a new secret realm were different from those in ones already explored. In established secret realms, trainers knew where the threats were and how to avoid them. In a fresh one, every step could lead to death. Jake, however, was much more confident in his son. "Don''t worry, Tina. At his level, no one below the Elite tier could even think of threatening him." Besides, Julian had Alakazam, his trusted bodyguard, with him. As an Elite-tier Pokmon at its peak, Alakazam was capable of defending Julian from nearly any threat. It wasn''t Julian who needed to worry. The real danger lay in others who might be eyeing Julian or his Pokmon. While Tina was a senior Pokmon breeder, she didn''t fully grasp just how much stronger her son had become. Jake, on the other hand, trained with Julian frequently and understood the vast potential hidden in him. As Jake observed Julian munching on ribs, he found it hard to believe his own eyes. This was his son, yet he was already nearing the Elite tier himself. A pseudo-Elite trainer at such a young age! And his Pokmon? Metagross was one of the most powerful pseudo-Elites he had ever seen. If not for his years of experience, even he might struggle to keep up. It was even stranger to think that Metagross was split from the very same Metagross his own had come from(John''s). So why, then, was Julian''s Metagross so much stronger than his own? "My son''s already this strong," Jake muttered, "It won''t be long before even I''m no match for him." Tina, always one to support her son, smiled and added more ribs to Julian''s plate. "That''s right. My son''s number one, and his father''s at the bottom." Faced with his wife''s teasing, Jake could only smile and stay silent. Like any father, he wanted his son to surpass him, and with Julian''s talents, it wouldn''t take long. For a brief moment, he glanced at Julian with a mix of pride and awe. "Dad, what''s with that look?" Julian asked, feeling uncomfortable under his father''s strange gaze. Jake chuckled. "I''m just admiring my son." Julian pulled a face of mock disgust. "You''re gross." Finishing his dinner quickly, Julian stood up and made his way to the backyard, where his six Pokmon were waiting. They surrounded him instantly, their eyes gleaming with anticipation and their bowls ready. "Alright, alright, here you go." Julian placed top-tier Steel and Dragon type energy cubes into the bowls of Metagross, Lucario, Meltan, and Dragonair. Since they had grown up eating the finest energy cubes, their palates had become so refined that they barely acknowledged regular cubes anymore. Only the top-quality cubes from Julian''s system would do. For Shellder, who had recently leveled up to 10, Julian gave him high-level Water type energy cube. Since there hadn''t been any recent mission rewards for top-level water cubes, this would have to do for now. Aron, still young, ate a mix of iron ore and energy cubes, the ore providing valuable minerals to help toughen his shell. Julian bought the ore directly from the system, and its price was comparable to high-tier energy cubes. The energy in the ore was more easily absorbed by Aron. If his aptitude was lower than that of cyan, eating these ore could also improve his aptitude. When the Pokmon finished their meal, their bowls were so clean they could''ve been used as mirrors. Julian smiled as he watched Aron contentedly gnawing on a steel rod, with Meltan eyeing the stainless steel bowl with barely-contained restraint. If not for his better judgment, Meltan might have eaten the bowl by now. Sighing, Julian glanced at his points. The rate at which his Pokmon ate was quickly depleting his points. He was lucky that his daily tasks rewarded him with advanced energy cubes occasionally. Although they weren''t top-tier, the difference was smallthough the taste was what his Pokmon seemed to care about most. Chapter 95: Swamp Chapter 95: SwampThree days later, at East Farm on the outskirts of Lake City, a blinding white light flashed as the intermediate-level secret realm fully formed. A portal appeared before Julian and the others. The first group to enter this secret realm, totaling 50 people, was composed of members from notable families in Lake City. Some were seasoned elders, while others, like Julian, were younger generation members. Julian wasn''t alone; his father, Jake, accompanied him. Jake had been chatting with some others but came over when the portal formed. "Be careful inside. Don''t trust any of these people," Jake warned. The reason why the aristocratic families could exist for a long time, in addition to their collected resources, was also using underhanded means when necessary. Every aristocratic family, including the Walkers, has used such methodsthough Julian was unaware of this part of their family history. Originally this was a farm, but now because of the emergence of a new intermediate-level secret realm, the entire farm was quickly purchased by the government. Secret realms often emerge in isolated areas, but why that happens remains a mystery. "Got it," Julian nodded. He had no intention of sticking around with these people for long. "Alright, off you go" Jake said as Julian waved goodbye and stepped through the portal. The limit for exploring an intermediate secret realm is ten days. After that, no matter who they are, everyone has to leave. Primary secret realms have a seven-day limit, while advanced ones allow for a month. The reason for setting the limit was naturally to control the secret realm from being hollowed out by those who enter it. Although the secret realm was dangerous, there was food and water in it, and people with motives can stay in it for a year or two. They can give the things obtained in the secret realm to their companion, let them go out, and then another one comes in, and so on. As Julian entered, he noticed three peoplea man and two women, likely in their twentieswho had entered before him. Sear?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just as he was about to pull out his Dowsing Machine from his system''s storage, the trio walked over. "Is something wrong?" Julian asked. The man spoke first, a grin on his face. "Young Master Walker, it''s an honor. I''m Logan from the Carter family. And these are the Miller sistersEmma and Ava." The Carter and Miller families were both local families in Lake City, they had certain influence in Lake City, but compared with the Walker family, they were nothing. Julian raised an eyebrow. The names were familiar, but he wasn''t interested in making small talk. "If you''ll excuse me, I''ve got to get going," Julian said, turning to leave. "Wait," Logan called out quickly. "Young Master Walker it''s like this. We were hoping to join you. All three of us are pseudo-Elite trainers, and we promise not to slow you down." As far as he knew, Julian was only an Advanced level trainer, so he probably won''t refuse the company of three pseudo-Elites. Julian frowned, knowing what they were after. He had no time for distractions. Though, to be fair, the Miller twins were quite striking, and the fact that they were twins only added to their appeal for some. "No thanks," Julian said curtly. "Metagross, let''s go." In an instant, he summoned his Metagross, mounted it, and flew off, leaving the trio behind. "Well, that was rude, such a person will never have a girlfriend in the future" Ava said, folding her arms in frustration. She was clearly unused to being brushed off like that. She was confident that her age and appearance were very attractive to a boy like Julian who had just come of age, not to mention they were twin sister. "Maybe the rumors are true, They say the Walker heir isn''t easily impressed by women" Logan said, his voice laced with disappointment but also secretly happy. After all, Julian might not have liked these two women, but he liked them. "He must like men, then," Ava muttered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Logan''s face stiffened, unsure of how to respond. "Enough, Ava," Emma cut in. "Let''s get moving." The three reluctantly continued on their way, leaving behind their failed attempt to join forces with Julian. They were waiting for Julian at the entrance, because of the instructions from the elders of their family. After all, no family in Drakoria will miss the opportunity to get close to the Walker family. - Meanwhile, Julian, who had left the three, had already taken out the Dowsing Machine. At present, he had already flown several kilometers into the secret realm. He found himself over a vast, poisonous swamp. There were a large number of Grimer, Koffing, and a small number of their evolved forms, Muk and Weezing living here. The air was thick with toxic gas, creating a no-go zone for most other Pokmon types. Julian donned a protective mask while his Metagross, immune to poison, hovered steadily. The effective distance of the Dowsing Machine was 50 kilometers. According to the value of the treasures, the displayed red dots will be distinguished by size. This intermediate secret realm was indeed just emerging. As soon as he entered here, the Dowsing Machine displayed eight red dots, which was the maximum it could display at once. "The biggest treasure is somewhere in this swamp," Julian thought, glancing at the largest red dot on his Dowsing Machine. As he flew closer, the number of Muk and Weezing increased, and the air grew more toxic. He was just five hundred meters away from the treasure when he had to stopdozens of Muk and Weezing were blocking the path ahead. A barrage of Sludge Bombs and poison gas shot towards him. "Steel Beam," Julian commanded. Metagross effortlessly cut through the sludge and gas, but more Muk and Weezing soon appeared. "Fly higher, avoid them" Julian ordered, frowning. The poison types were amassing in large numbers more than a 100 each, and while Metagross was powerful, the sheer quantity of enemies was a problem. Plus, with him being on the back of Metagross, it will affect many of Metagross'' moves, or it might not be able to use some at all. Metagross quickly ascended, leaving the threat of most of the Muk behind. Though Weezing could fly, they were no match for Metagross''s speed. Metagross directly left Weezing behind, soon enough, Julian reached the area where the treasure was located. Hovering above, Julian couldn''t see anything from such a height. But as Metagross descended, the outlines of several Weezing and Muk became visiblemore than ten of each. Among them, Julian spotted many with levels between 50 to 60 while a particularly powerful Muk and Weezing, each at level 68. Chapter 96: Toxic Orb Chapter 96: Toxic OrbWith the height lowered, Julian finally caught a glimpse of the treasurea round, glowing purple orb about the size of an adult''s fist, surrounded by a group of Weezing and Muk. "Toxic Orb," Julian muttered softly to himself. This orb was one of the most sought-after treasures for Poison-type Pokmon. It had the ability to enhance a Poison-type Pokmon''s powers, gradually increasing their Poison-type energy and boosting the strength of their poison-based moves. But it came with risks. For weaker Pokmon, the Toxic Orb could be dangerous, causing them to suffer from its effects rather than benefit from it. Some non-Poison-type Pokmon could also carry the Toxic Orb due to their unique abilities. For example, Pokmon with the Poison Heal Ability could recover from injuries inflicted by poisoning when holding the orb, making it a coveted item in both competitive battles and for trainers specializing in Poison-types. The market value of a Toxic Orb was astronomical, easily exceeding one billion, making it a dream for Poison-type trainers. Sar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Like Mega Evolution stones, very few were ever available in the public market, with most transactions happening exclusively between noble families or elite trainers. Weezing and Muk were aware of Julian''s presence the moment he neared them. But they didn''t attack right away. Pokmon weren''t dumb; they could sense the unusual power emanating from Metagross, and they instinctively knew this intruder wasn''t here for casual sightseeing. Their hesitation, however, didn''t stop them from releasing thick clouds of purple gas into the air. The poisonous fumes billowed out, making it clear they were ready for battle. Julian grimaced under his gas mask. He knew it wouldn''t last long if he entered that cloud. The combined toxic gas of two pseudo-Elite Pokmon, strengthened by the Toxic Orb, was beyond what ordinary gas masks could handle. In the midst of the gas cloud, the other Muk and Weezing instead showed a comfortable expression. The gas was deadly to humans, but tonic for them. "Come out, Dragonair!" Julian called, releasing his sleek blue Pokmon from its Pok Ball. Then, he swiftly leapt from Metagross onto Dragonair''s back. The appearance of yet another Pokmon seemed to unnerve Muk and Weezing even more. "Metagross, Mega Evolve!" Julian reached for the key stone hanging from a chain around his neck. The moment his hand brushed against it, a dazzling light connected it to the Metagrossite embedded in Metagross. Colors burst forth as Mega Metagross took shape. For a quick resolution, Julian directly used Mega Evolution. "Metagross!!" The shift in energy was palpable. A powerful aura swept across the battlefield, and the Muk and Weezing, sensing the rising threat, began calling their underlings to attack. A barrage of Sludge Bombs, Venom Sprays, and clouds of poison gas erupted from all directions, leaving Metagross seemingly without an escape route. Julian had already distanced himself, knowing even his enhanced protection couldn''t shield him from an onslaught like that. He watched from a safe spot as the poison-type moves rained down on Metagross. "Hyper Beam, let''s clear them out!" Julian commanded. The golden beam of energy erupted from Metagross, sweeping away the waves of poison-type moves and hitting the Pokmon below. The blast didn''t just scatter the toxic attacks; it cut across the swamp like a battering ram, sending dozens of Muk and Weezing crashing into the muck, unconscious. As the beam faded, fewer than ten Pokmon remained standing in the swamp, including the leaders of both the Muk and Weezing groups. Metagross hovered above, its silver body glinting in the poisonous haze, clearly dominating the field. Steel type beating poison type, was normal, not to mention he was in mega evolved state. The Pokmon below were no match for it, even with their boosted strength from the Toxic Orb. If not for the fear of breaking the Toxic Orb, the other Weezing and Muk would have also fallen. Mainly these Pokmon were very close to the Toxic Orb. "Bullet Punch, let''s wrap this up," Julian ordered. With blinding speed, Metagross dove in, delivering sharp, precise blows that took down the remaining Pokmon, leaving only the leaders. But as Metagross closed in on them, the Muk leader did something unexpectedit quickly swallowed the Toxic Orb and began retreating into the swamp. Weezing: You b*****d escaped and took the treasure too. The Weezing leader looked shocked, then furious. It clearly hadn''t expected its ally to make off with the treasure. But now was not the time to settle accounts with the him, it was more important to escape first. ''The silver guy is waiting for me, and when I succeed in escaping I''ll kill you.'' But before it could react, Metagross hit it with a Meteor Mash, sending it flying into the distance with a colorful explosion. "Mega Metagross, Zen Headbutt! blow out that guy who took my Toxic Orb!" Julian shouted, watching as the Muk submerged into the murky swamp, hoping to escape. Perhaps because of Will''s influence, Julian unconsciously became a little shameless. He consciously regarded the Toxic Orb as his own, but never thought that he was the robber. (T/N: yeah sure due to Will''s influence, what about the insect fruit than mf) Metagross, now fully locked onto its target, shot forward, plunging into the swamp with incredible force. Seconds later, the swamp exploded, and Julian saw Muk flying out, coughing up the Toxic Orb in the process. With a soft white glow, Metagross released its Mega Evolution form and returned to its regular state. Using Psychic, it carefully levitated the Toxic Orb over to Julian, who was already donning gloves to handle the dangerous item. Julian put on the gloves and took the Toxic Orb. If it touches the skin, there was a danger of poisoning. There was still Muk''s saliva on it, and there was also a stench, coming through even the gas mask. Metagross didn''t seem to react, but Dragonair looked like he was about to vomit. Carefully wiping off Muk''s saliva and any residual poison, Julian slipped the orb into his system space for safekeeping. "Let''s move on," Julian said, retrieving his Dowsing Machine. The next treasure was five kilometers away. As they left the swamp behind, the defeated Muk and Weezing slowly regained consciousness. Realizing that their treasure was gone and their leaders were unconscious, they turned on one another. The remaining Weezing and Muk swarmed their weakened leaders, devouring them in a frenzy to absorb their strength, growing stronger for the next battle that awaited them. Chapter 97: Unexpected Joy Chapter 97: Unexpected Joy"Smooth Rock" "Cheri Berry" "Quick Claw" Julian was deep within the secret realm, fully engrossed in his treasure hunt. With the Dowsing Machine in hand, he ignored the smaller red dots that indicated ordinary items, focusing instead on larger, more promising signals. By the end of the day, he''d collected over a dozen treasures, including more than a hundred berries, thanks to discovering a well-hidden Berry field. The Berry field had been guarded by a pair of Advanced Ursaring, but they were no match for his Metagross, who took them down swiftly with Meteor Mash. He hadn''t encountered anyone else during the hunt. The intermediate secret realm was vast, spanning the size of three or four cities, and only a few Trainers ventured in. So there was a close to zero chance of encountering someone. Julian dismounted Metagross at the edge of a lake. The Dowsing Machine pointed towards the water about a kilometer ahead, signaling treasure buried beneath the surface. Without hesitation, Julian released Dragonair from its Pok Ball. "Dragonair, take this," he said, handing it the Dowsing Machine. "Find the treasure hidden under the lake." Dragonair nodded, gripping the machine in its mouth before diving gracefully into the lake. Julian stayed on shore, knowing that following Dragonair would only slow it down. His Pokmon''s strength was more than enough to handle any water-dwelling threats. Above the lake, dozens of Butterfree danced in the air, engaged in a courtship ritual. Even with Julian nearby, they didn''t pause their graceful display. On the rocky shoreline, more than a dozen Slowpoke lay on their backs, lazily dipping their tails into the lake to fish for Shellder. As one Slowpoke''s expression shifted, it yanked its tail out of the water, revealing a Magikarp latched onto it instead of the Shellder it had hoped for. Julian''s curiosity got the better of him, and he scanned the nearby Pokmon with his probing eyes. Most of the Butterfree had ordinary potential, but one of the Slowpoke caught his attention, making him stop in his tracks. Pokmon: Slowpoke (Water/Psychic) Level: 20 Qualification: Cyan Ability: Oblivious Gender: Female Moves: Tackle, Curse, Water Gun, Confusion, Yawn, Disable, Water Pulse Disc Moves: none Genetic Moves: Scald, Trick, Calm Mind, Psyshock A Slowpoke with cyan-tier potential! This was exactly what Julian had been searching for. His luck as a transmigrator had finally kicked in again. The first one was him becoming a descendant of Walker family and the other being the emergence of system this year. Unlike the fantastical luck of other transmigrators who stumble upon a object and it turns out to be a legendary artifact or buying a pet that contains the blood of a divine beast, etc. Julian''s fortunes were more groundedbut finding this Slowpoke was a true stroke of good luck. "Metagross, Bullet Punch!" Julian ordered with a grin. Slowpoke was happily catching Shellder, but was KO''d by Metagross before he could react. Metagross knocked it out cold with a swift strike. Slowpoke: ??_?? Julian tossed a Pok Ball, capturing the cyan-qualified Slowpoke with ease. Not long after, Dragonair resurfaced, carrying three glowing turquoise Water Stones in its coiled tail. A few unconscious water type Pokmon floated on the surface in the aftermath of Dragonair''s treasure hunt. Julian inspected the stones, admiring their flawless quality. "Top-tier Water Stones... not bad," he muttered, placing them into his system''s storage. By this time, the sun had set, and Julian decided to make camp by the lake. Although setting up camp near water was generally riskysince many Pokmon came to drink at night The best place to camp was on a hillside, or where there are few trees to reduce the number of Pokmon attacks. Those who choose to station near lakes were either inexperienced rookies, or they have enough confidence-Julian felt confident in his team''s ability to protect him. Taking the tent out of the system space, with Lucario''s help, he set it up quickly. "Metagross, go find some dry branches for a fire," Julian instructed. The stars were starting to shimmer above the lake, their light reflecting off the water. Occasionally, a Pokmon would leap out of the lake, adding to the peaceful yet magical scene. Secret realms have their own unique natural system, most of the secret realms were the same as the outside world, the sun and the moon alternated, and the seasons changed. Very few special secret realms had long days or nights, or were always in a certain season, such as long summer or winter. But such secret realms were all high-level secret realms, even top tier realms, without exception. It wasn''t long before Metagross returned, dragging an entire dead tree behind it. Julian was speechless for a while, and glanced at Lucario next to him. The latter understood, with a few well-placed chops, Lucario reduced the tree into arm-thick logs. Julian decided not to release his newly captured Slowpoke just yet. With his Shellder nearby, there was a risk that it could accidentally evolve into a Slowbro, and that wasn''t something Julian wanted. Once the fire was going, Julian set up a grill over it, placing a large steak on top. The rich aroma quickly spread, causing his Pokmon to gather eagerly. "Don''t worry, there''s enough for all of you," Julian chuckled as he cut portions for each of them. Even though Pokmon could eat human food, too much of it over time would affect their health and strength. Human food was equivalent to junk food for Pokmon. Trainers, especially experienced ones, knew that it was best to limit human food and stick to specialized Pokmon meals. Long-term effects might not show immediately, but it could reduce their lifespan or weaken them over time. Thankfully, the market had plenty of Pokmon-friendly restaurants where meals were prepared in a way that retained the delicious flavors without sacrificing the nutritional needs of Pokmon. These spots were always popular with Trainers, who loved treating their Pokmon to special meals after a hard day''s work. Sarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the moon climbed higher in the sky, Julian leaned back against Dragonair''s soft, serpentine body, with Meltan resting in his arms. Lucario sat cross-legged to his left, meditating and practicing Calm Mind, while Metagross had already dozed off on his right. Aron, now doubled in size thanks to the Totem soul, frolicked by the water, and Shellder spat bubbles lazily from the lake. Everything was calm and peaceful, a rare moment of serenity in the life of a treasure hunter. Slowpoke: New members don''t have any rights, do they? Chapter 98: Rough Diamonds Chapter 98: Rough DiamondsThe night was calm, and Julian enjoyed an uninterrupted rest. There was no wild Pokmon attack, despite the abundance of Pokmon around the lake. This tranquility wasn''t by chanceit was due to Julian''s careful preparation. Before going to sleep, Julian had ordered Metagross to drive away any nearby Pokmon. He also used Max Repel around the campsite to ensure an extra layer of security. Additionally, he posted three guards around his tent: Metagross, Dragonair, and Lucario. With this triple protection, no wild Pokmon dared to approach him overnight. As the morning sun rose, Julian was awakenednot by a graceful sound, but by the heavy weight of Aron and Meltan stirring in the tent with him. Despite Shellder''s efforts to keep the two from disturbing Julian, their playful energy was impossible to contain. Imagine waking up with a 300-kilogram Aron jumping onto your stomach! If not for Julian''s enhanced "Mega Pallet Town" physique, that would''ve spelled the end of his life right there. Aron, still a growing Pokmon, had become a Totem-type after inheriting the Soul of Totem, which gave it a larger size than normal Aronalready around one and a half meters tall. As it matured, this habit of jumping on Julian had to be broken. Otherwise, when Aron eventually evolved into a Totem-level Aggron, that morning greeting could be disastrous. Mega Pallet Town physique: I don''t know if even I can handle it. After firmly telling Aron not to do this again, Julian got up to wash and prepare for the day. He made sure his Pokmon had their specialized energy cubes while he ate some fresh Xiaolongbao(dumplings) and soy milk, which were still as fresh as when they entered the system space. The system''s ability to maintain the state of food was incredibly convenient for Julian. Though this world had not yet developed space backpack technology, Julian knew it was likely hidden in some Ruins yet to be discovered. For now, his system space provided the perfect solution for carrying supplies. "Alright, let''s move out" Julian announced after packing up the tent, barbecue grill, and other equipment. He called most of his Pokmon back into their Pok Balls, leaving only Metagross and Dragonair by his side. Mounting Metagross, he activated the Dowsing Machine, which quickly displayed several red dots on the screen. However, none of them were large enough to catch Julian''s interest. They likely indicated low-value treasures. "Let''s fly over the lake, Metagross. We''ll keep moving forward until something bigger appears," Julian decided, directing Metagross to fly over the vast body of water, while Dragonair swam gracefully below, following along. Dragonair, while adept at flying, preferred the water. It swam effortlessly beneath the surface, exuding a beauty almost comparable to that of the famed Milotic. The lake was even larger than Julian had anticipated. After flying for over an hour, the far shore was still not in sight. Along the way, they encountered two large red dots at the bottom of the lakeone marking a Deep Sea Tooth, and the other, a Shell Bell. Both were valuable items, with Shell Bell slightly more coveted due to its healing properties. "Roar~" Suddenly, about thirty meters away, a massive blue Gyarados erupted from the water, roaring as it blocked Metagross'' path. Its intimidating display was clearly a warning, signaling that they had intruded on its territory. "A green-qualified Gyarados," Julian murmured. It wasn''t surprising to find such a Pokmon in this vast lake. The Gyarados was clearly displeased by their presence, not appreciating their intrusion. Before Julian could order Metagross to engage, Dragonair had already reacted, launching a powerful Dragon Tail from beneath the surface. The attack struck the Gyarados with such force that it was thrown into the air, crashing back down into the water with a tremendous splash. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "BOOM~" Dazed and confused, the Gyarados surfaced again, but thought better of picking a fight with Dragonair. After a few more seconds, it slunk back into the depths. Dragonair: These days, it seems like everyone is looking for a beating. After flying for another hour, Julian finally spotted the rocky shore on the opposite side of the lake. As they entered the rocky terrain, a few Geodude jumped out, looking to defend their turf. But after a single menacing glance from Metagross, they quickly retreated. Julian, ever the curious explorer, couldn''t resist taking out his pickaxe and chipping away at a rock. Inside, he discovered a faint green crystalchlorite. He continued walking for about 500 meters and tested another rock. Again, it was chlorite. After a further 1,000 meters, more chlorite. Surveying the rocky area, Julian''s interest piqued. "If this whole area is composed of chlorite, then there might be associated minerals here," he muttered. Chlorite deposits often occurred near diamonds. Taking out the Dowsing Machine, his suspicion was confirmed. A massive red dot appeared on the screen, taking up nearly a quarter of the display. Julian rode Metagross for several kilometers before stopping. The Dowsing Machine indicated the treasure was directly beneath his feet. "Metagross, use Bullet Punch to break the rocks and dig down," Julian commanded. "Meta~" Metagross instantly transformed into a digging machine, its powerful punches driving deep into the ground. Each hit created a dent of over ten meters. With Dragonair protecting him, Julian was safe from the flying debris as the excavation continued. Half an hour later, a pit over 100 meters deep and 500 meters wide had been formed. Metagross showed no signs of fatigue, dutifully following Julian''s instructions. "Clink~" Suddenly, there was a different sound that echoed up from below. "Found something!" Julian''s eyes gleamed with excitement as he rushed over. Metagross had struck something hardfar harder than the surrounding rock. Julian carefully inspected the site and, with the help of a detector from his system space, confirmed the hardness of the material. "That''s itrough diamonds." He smiled in satisfaction. Though the diamonds were still in their raw form, waiting for polishing, Julian knew this was a rich find. "Metagross, keep digging. There should be plenty more down here," Julian said, knowing that his treasure hunt was far from over. Chapter 99: Temporary Worker Steelix Chapter 99: Temporary Worker SteelixJulian realized that with such a large stretch of chlorite, the rough diamond associated with it had to weigh at least 100 tons. Metagross continued to unearth rough diamond after rough diamond. Some were as small as a few kilograms, while others weighed a few hundred. If it weren''t for the limitless space provided by the system, Julian would have no way to transport all the rough stones they were uncovering. More than an hour later, Metagross had dug up over ten tons of rough diamonds. Julian could only imagine the wealth these gems would bring if sold. It would be enough to place him among the wealthiest people in Yale Province. However, Julian had other plans. "Aron, come on out! I''ve got some snacks for you!" Julian released Aron. Before Aron lay a rough diamond weighing around 300 kilograms. The sight of it made Aron''s eyes light up with excitement, much like a Growlithe spotting a bowl of treats. Without hesitation, Aron pounced on the diamond, chewing through the hard gem like it was nothing more than a soft piece of tofu. His plan wasn''t to sell the diamonds but to use them as food for Aron. After all, Aron''s evolutionary linefrom Aron to Lairon and eventually to Aggronis known for its powerful Iron armor. With the right diet, that armor could become nearly indestructible, able to withstand some of the most powerful attacks. But that strength came at a cost; Aron would need to consume a lot of tough minerals, and diamonds were among the hardest materials found in nature. In the market, diamonds like these would be worth a fortune. Even though Julian''s family wasn''t short on money, they had never been rich enough to treat their Pokmon with diamonds as a staple food. Luckily, these rough diamonds would now fuel Aron''s growth, ensuring that by the time Aron evolved into an Aggron, its defense would be unmatched. The very idea of an Aggron raised on diamonds excited Julian. A future Aggron with diamond-hardened armor would strike fear into any opponent. If Metagross was going to be Julian''s most powerful spear, then Aronsoon to be Aggronwould be his strongest shield. This balance between offense and defense had been a tradition in the Walker family for generations. His father''s Aggron, for example, had once held back an entire Pokmon horde during a dangerous high-level riot, guarding a vital escape route and blocking attacks from hundreds of furious Pokmon for over half an hour. "Boom~" Suddenly, the ground beneath Julian''s feet trembled, almost knocking him off balance. Metagross stopped mining and quickly shifted to the left. In the very next second, a Pokmon burst from the ground where Metagross had been. Its body gleamed with a metallic sheen as it emerged. "It''s a Steelix," Julian muttered to himself, recognizing the massive creature. Steelix was a Pokmon known to live deep underground, using the pressure and heat of the earth to harden and strengthen its body. Given that this area was full of rough diamonds, it made sense that Steelix had made its home here. The Steelix was visibly angry, its territory invaded and its treasures being dug up. It was a high-level Pokmon, sitting at around level 66 with pseudo-Elite strength. However, its potential was only at the green levelnothing exceptional by Julian''s standards. Steelix snarled, its eyes locked on the intruders who were raiding its treasure. Though it recognized that Metagross wasn''t an easy opponent, it had reached its limit. Watching them dig deeper and deeper into the ground, Steelix could no longer hold back its rage. It attempted a sneak attack, but Metagross easily dodged it, leaving Steelix frustrated. With its sneak attack failed, Steelix redirected its aggression toward Julian. The massive Pokmon, nearly ten meters long, charged at him, its metallic body gleaming in the light. Despite its low level, Aron stood bravely in front of Julian, ready to defend him. Steelix continued its charge, but it suddenly found itself unable to move. Metagross had grabbed Steelix''s tail with its powerful claws, its metallic grip piercing through Steelix''s rock-hard armor with ease. Steelix howled in pain, raising its tail high in an attempt to shake Metagross off. But Metagross held firm, using its electromagnetic powers to float above the ground and maintain its grip. Steelix''s raw strength was no match for Metagross, who was raised on precious metals and was far stronger than the average Steel-type Pokmon. Enraged, Steelix attempted to summon its strength, gathering rocks around its body to launch a Rock-type move. But before it could release the attack, Metagross swung it by the tail and smashed the giant Pokmon into the ground. Steelix''s body hit the earth with a thunderous crash. Metagross lifted it again and slammed it down repeatedly, smashing it into the rocky terrain seven or eight times. Though battered, Steelix''s rough-diamond-hardened body allowed it to endure the beating. "Metagross, that''s enough" Julian called, signaling his Pokmon to stop. Julian approached the injured Pokmon. Steelix glared at him but quickly shifted its attention to something in Julian''s handa box of high-grade Steel-type energy cubes. "These can be yours if you help Metagross finish mining the diamonds," Julian offered, tossing one cube into Steelix''s mouth. This rough diamond mine was very large, and it will take a lot of time for Metagross to mine it alone. His other Pokmon were not suitable for mining, so Julian intended to find a temporary worker. Obviously, Steelix was a ??suitable candidate. Steelix was ??angry, not only was this bas**** digging his own mines, but he also wanted him to help. Wasn''t that just a Thief coming into your house, stealing your things, and asking you to help him move those things. But the taste of the energy cube caught Steelix off guard. It had never tasted anything like it before. The food not only satisfied its hunger but also began to heal its wounds and restore its energy. Steelix had never encountered such delicious and nutritious food. The advanced energy cubes, crafted by Julian''s system, were far superior to anything found on the market. Steelix eyed the box greedily, knowing there were nine more cubes inside. "Roar!" Steelix: I want two boxes. Sar?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It growled, indicating that it wanted more. "Alright, I''ll give you two boxes if you help us" Julian agreed, his Aura and Psychic abilities allowing him to understand the Steelix''s request perfectly. Steelix: He agreed so easily, could I have asked for more? Steelix hesitated for a moment, considering the offer. It briefly thought about trying to renegotiate for more cubes but quickly dismissed the idea when Julian gave it a stern look. "If you try to go back on the deal, Metagross will finish what it started" Seeing what the other party was thinking, Julian warned with a smirk. Steelix shuddered, quickly shaking its head in agreement. It wasn''t about to test Metagross again. Chapter 100 Steelix Chapter 100 SteelixWith Steelix as the new temporary worker, the mining speed increased several times. While Steelix was not as strong as Metagross, its ability to dig was unmatched, far more efficient for the job. A single flick of its massive tail or a head bump would unearth countless rough diamonds. Aron, now overstuffed from all the diamond meals, was round and bulging like a small ball wrapped in Iron armor. Julian returned him to his Pok Ball, giving Aron time to rest and digest all the precious stones, ready to eat more tomorrow. With hundreds of tons of rough diamonds now in his possession, Julian figured not just his future Aggron but even a Tyranitar could thrive on this mineral treasure. Maybejust maybe. After half a day of digging, the entire area was cleared, leaving behind a crater stretching three to four kilometers long and five to six hundred meters deep. Steelix, satisfied with its work, approached Julian, eyes fixed on him. "Here you go" Julian smiled, placing two boxes of high-grade steel type energy cubes on the ground. Steelix gleefully devoured five cubes in one bite, wagging its tail like a happy Growlithe, eyes half-closed in contentment. "You can''t eat too much at once; pace yourself" Julian advised. "These cubes are powerful. You''ll waste them if you don''t give your body time to digest the energy." There were only twenty cubes in the two boxes. At Steelix''s current rate, it would run out in a week. Julian hopped onto Metagross''s back, as another red dot flashed on the Dowsing Machinea large red dot, indicating something valuable. "Let''s go," Julian commanded, and Metagross swiftly flew toward the marked location. "Boom!" "What was that?" Julian murmured, hearing a distant sound. Turning around, he saw Steelix charging towards them, a cloud of smoke billowing up behind it. "Looks like someone''s getting in some post-meal exercise" Julian didn''t dwell on it for long and signaled Metagross to continue. As they traveled about 30 kilometers, Julian noticed Steelix was no longer following them and likely returned to its original place. Upon reaching the red dot, Julian had Metagross drive away nearby Ground- and Rock-type Pokmon. "Metagross, Dig here" Julian ordered. "I wonder if it''ll still be rough diamonds," Julian thought aloud. Just because they had found rough diamonds earlier didn''t mean there couldn''t be more hidden around the chlorite deposit. There could be a second cache nearby, waiting to be uncovered. After a few minutes, Metagross unearthed something and brought it to Julian: a small ball of soft sand, khaki-yellow in color and jelly-like to the touch. Julian recognized it immediately as a Ground-type treasure that could enhance Ground-type Pokmon''s power and even improve their qualifications. The soft sand in front of Julian was about the size of a basketballnot massive, but decent enough to register as a small red dot on the Dowsing Machine. Even this size was something rare. Soft sand of this quality wasn''t available in the market. The kind sold in stores was divided into much smaller portions, usually the size of a fist, and those sold for over 10 million each. Only top-tier stores had it, and you had to be a VIP customer just to have the chance to buy one. Since Julian didn''t currently own a Ground-type Pokmon, this treasure would either need to be traded or kept for when he found the right Pokmon to benefit from it. "Boom~" Just then, a familiar sound reached Julian''s ears. Turning around, he saw Steelix rushing toward him, panting as if it had been chasing them. "You want to follow me?" Julian asked, piecing it together. Steelix, after eating those energy cubes, wasn''t simply running for a post-meal exercise. It wanted to join him. ''Sure enough, my charm is very great, and a prospective Elite Pokmon wants to follow me.'' Steelix nodded eagerly, its eyes full of hope and excitement. The Pokmon had realized that staying with Julian meant a steady supply of that delicious food. On top of that, Julian had taken all the treasures Steelix had been guarding. But if he followed Julian, the treasures might not be his anymore, but Julian would have to support him with them and there was also those tasty treats. A win-win in Steelix''s eyes. Steelix: I''m such a smart guy. Sensing Steelix''s proud Aura, Julian realized exactly what was going through its mind. Whoever said that wild Pokmon were just cruel and mindless clearly hadn''t met this Steelix. Its mind was sharp, and it knew exactly what it wanted. As Steelix wagged its tail happily, Julian glanced between it and the soft sand Metagross was holding. He couldn''t help but ponder the situation. Julian pondered for a moment, Perhaps it was fatehe had just found a Ground-type treasure, and now a Ground-type Pokmon wanted to join him. Was it fate taking care of him, or Steelix? Steelix: Don''t think too highly of yourself, of course it''s me. Pokmon: Steelix (Steel/Ground) Level: 66 Qualification: Green Ability: Rock Head Props: none Gender: Male Moves: Thunder Fang, Ice Fang, Fire Fang, Rock Polish, Iron Tail, Dragon Breath, Earthquake, Crunch, Harden, Smack Down, Sand Tomb, Stealth Rock, Slam, Sandstorm, Dig, Stone Edge. Disc Moves: none Genetic Moves: Defense Curl, Double-Edge, Head Smash, Dragon Tail. Although Steelix''s qualification was only green, half of that green had turned cyan. Of course, if there was no significant experiences to catalyze this growth, it was likely that this aptitude would remain stagnant for the rest of its life Sear?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian saw that Steelix was eyeing the soft fine sand Metagross was holding with intense longing. "Alright, here" Julian offered, having already decided to accept Steelix. The soft sand was perfect for it. Steelix quickly snatched the sand and swallowed it, much like a dog gulping down a treat. As Steelix consumed the sand, its green qualification slowly inched closer to cyan but stopped just shy of breaking through. Steelix seemed anxious, sensing the unbroken bottleneck limiting its future growth. "Here, take this too" Julian said, pulling out a small cyan qualification potion. This special item could improve Pokmon''s qualification and break such bottlenecks. Steelix eagerly drank the potion, and after a few minutes, the final sliver of green disappeared, replaced by cyan. "Roar!!" A cyan-qualified Steelix now stood before Julian, roaring in triumph, its tail smashing into the ground in excitement. After it calmed down, Steelix looked at Julian with newfound respect, fully aware that it was Julian who had helped it break its limits. "Alright, let''s make this official," Julian said, holding out a Pok Ball. Without hesitation, Steelix tapped its head lightly against the ball. After a few shakes, the ball stilled, and Steelix was captured. Chapter 101: Volcano Chapter 101: VolcanoAfter capturing Steelix, its level 66 immediately became Julian''s highest among all his Pokmon, even surpassing Metagross, who currently sat at level 55. He knew that the further ahead a Pokmon was in levels, the slower it would progress. Many Pokmon remained stuck at certain levels their entire lives due to their qualifications. Despite Steelix''s high level, Julian understood that a high level did not necessarily equate to high combat power. In terms of pure combat ability, Steelix still ranked as a junior compared to Metagross, and even his Lucario and Dragonair surpassed Steelix in strength. They had all grown with the help of system points, elevating them to a level that far exceeded that of a wild Pokmon like Steelix. However, one aspect stood out: Steelix''s unique connection to the rough diamonds it had guarded. This had allowed it to polish its body over time, making it harder than most Steelix in the wild. "Come out, Steelix!" Julian released Steelix again, and the moment it emerged, excitement radiated from it. The Pokmon wagged its massive tail joyfully, clearly it seemed to like the environment in Pok Ball. "I guess Steelix isn''t as stiff as I thought," Julian mused to himself, chuckling at the sight. He returned Metagross to its Pok Ball for some much-needed rest, knowing that it would be needed later for mining and battling. Steelix, sensing Julian''s intentions, tried lowering its head, but just as he was about to, Julian jumped up and landed on Steelix''s head. Mega Pallet Town Physique sure was useful. "Departure, Northwest!" Julian commanded, clutching the Dowsing Machine tightly. A large red dot blipped on the screen, as promising as the one that indicated the soft sand he had previously unearthed. This new unexplored intermediate-level secret realm was really a treasure trove. If he had more time, Julian would have loved to explore all the little red dots scattered around, but he focused on maximizing his chances by pursuing the larger ones. While Steelix was not as swift as Metagross in the air, its steadiness made it a reliable ground mount. ''Soon, I''ll have a soaring mount like Dragonite, and maybe even a water mount like Kyogre,'' he mused, anyway it''s just a fantasy, Such fantasies made the journey enjoyable, and before he knew it, they had reached the location of the red dot. But at this moment, Julian noticed another figure near the red dot. The person eyed Steelix cautiously and quickly recognized Julian sitting on its head. ''I thought it was just another Pokmon in the secret realm, but it seems there''s a Trainer here,'' he thought. The man held a square device about 30 centimeters long in his handan energy detection device capable of sensing the unique energy emitted by treasures. However, its accuracy and range were limited, and many treasures do not emit energy at all, making it far less effective than Julian''s Dowsing Machine. The man''s ability to find this spot was partly due to luck. As it turned out, the treasure in this area did emit energy, which had been detected by his device. "Young Master Walker" The man said, recognizing Julian seated atop Steelix. His expression shifted, a mixture of surprise and concern crossing his face. Not only was Julian''s identity known, but the pseudo-Elite aura radiating from Steelix made the situation even more complicated. If Julian had the desire to take the treasure, the man could do little to stop him. "Steelix, let''s go," Julian commanded. He had no intention of robbing the man. It wasn''t that Julian didn''t want the treasure; but the other Trainer was a local from Lake City, And the man hadn''t been rude or aggressive, and the other party came here first, so it seemed only fair to allow him the opportunity to claim the find. However, whether the man could actually locate the treasure was another matter. The accuracy of his energy detector only reached a few dozen meters, or at most, 100 meters. Given that treasures are often buried deep, the likelihood of him finding anything substantial was slim. ''I''ll come back tomorrow,'' Julian thought. ''If he doesn''t find it, then it''s mine.'' When the man saw Julian leave, he couldn''t help but sighed in relief. "This Steelix must have been captured in the secret realm," he whispered to himself. While only Meltan remained hidden due to its special Condition, everyone else knew which Pokmon Julian possessed. After letting Steelix roam the Rock zone for over an hour, Julian noted the red dots displayed on his Dowsing Machine changed several times, but they were all of minor value, around 10 million. It wasn''t worth a special trip. After returning Steelix to its Pok Ball, Julian released Metagross once more. "Metagross, keep flying towards the north," Julian instructed. He was ready to leave this Rock zone. The intermediate secret realm spanned several cities, naturally featuring a variety of environments. Julian had already passed through four distinct areas: forest, swamp, lake, and rock. The forest, lake, and rock environments were the most common in all secret realms. Apart from a few exceptions, most secret realms incorporated these three settings. More than half an hour later, Metagross was still traversing the Rock area, but Julian noticed the color of the rocks shifting from taupe to black. The temperature began to rise, and the humidity steadily dropped. As he squinted through the shimmering heat, Julian wiped the sweat from his forehead. Fire-type Pokmon occasionally popped up, their warmth mixing with the rising heat from the ground. "It seems there''s a volcano nearby, or maybe even one underground," Julian speculated. This black rock formation was likely the result of cooling magma after a volcanic eruption, with a layer of mud on its surface formed from accumulated volcanic ash. Due to the relentless heat radiating from the surface, most plants struggled to survive, leaving only a few heat-resistant species scattered across the barren ground. After taking a swig from his bottle of water, Julian muttered, "My Mega Pallet Town body is definitely not built for this heat. I thought I''d be fire-resistant." As he ventured deeper, the temperature continued to climb. Checking his thermometer, it read 43 degrees Celsius. Sarch* The N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thanks to his Mega Pallet Town physique, Julian was holding up against the heat; otherwise, he might have succumbed to heat stroke. Although his body wasn''t heat-resistant, it prevented him from collapsing. Charizard''s Flamethrower would also char Ash at best, before quickly returning to normal. At this heightened temperature, the fire-type Pokmon below had also leveled up considerably. Fortunately, Metagross was flying high enough that their Flamethrower attacks couldn''t reach him. Suddenly, a level 57 Talonflame appeared before Metagross, followed by dozens of Fletchinder. The heat radiating from their bodies, combined with the powerful flapping of their wings, all rushed toward Julian. "Dragonair, use Thunderbolt!" Chapter 102: Treasure at the bottom of Magma Chapter 102: Treasure at the bottom of MagmaAfter Metagross took care of Talonflame and Fletchinder, it continued to carry Julian forward. The Dowsing Machine in his hand was now signaling a valuable treasure ahead. Most of the treasures found in Volcano areas are usually connected to Fire-type Pokmon. Things like Fire Stones and Fire Stone fragments are the most common finds. After traveling for about half an hour, Metagross slowed down and finally stopped at a certain point. Beneath them was a massive Volcano, stretching about a kilometer wide and sinking five hundred meters deep into the ground. The treasure, as indicated by the red dot on the Dowsing Machine, was somewhere inside the Volcano. And more specifically, it was buried deep within the bubbling magma. Julian switched out his regular shoes for heat-resistant boots and guided Metagross to land at the Volcano''s edge. The temperature around them was very high, having climbed to over 70 degrees Celsius. For any normal person, walking in such extreme heat would require heat-insulating clothes. But thanks to his Mega Pallet Town physique, Julian was able to bear it. Though he could still feel the intense heat, it wasn''t enough to slow him down too much. Sweat poured down his face, but other than that, he felt fine. Metagross didn''t like this environment much either, but the heat wasn''t anything it couldn''t handle for a while. "Trouble, the treasure is really inside the magma," Julian muttered to himself as he looked down. Standing at the edge of the Volcano, Julian could see the lava churning and bubbling below. The red dot on the Dowsing Machine made it clear that the treasure was buried deep within the magma. Julian didn''t know exactly what the treasure was, but judging by the size of the red dotcovering about one-third of the Dowsing Machine''s screenit had to be something incredibly valuable. The only problem now was figuring out how to retrieve it. Taking the treasure out was going to be tricky. Most of Julian''s Pokmon were Steel-types, and even his strongest one, Metagross, wouldn''t be able to last long in magma that hot. As much as his Mega Pallet Town physique helped, there was no way he could just dive into the magma himself. That would be suicide. This was a job for a Fire-type Pokmon, and luckily, there were plenty of them around. Julian glanced over to the pool of magma and spotted about a dozen Magmars, along with a much larger and stronger pseudo-Elite Magmortar lounging in the lava. Julian didn''t want to catch this green-qualified Magmortar, as he had already caught two Pokmon in the Rift. Magmortar, seemingly sensing Julian''s gaze, glared back, with flames flickering from its muzzle-like arms. Its subordinates, the Magmars, stood ready, waiting for orders. ''I''ll need to draw them out first,'' Julian thought. ''If I battle them in the magma, I might end up causing a Volcano eruption, and that''s the last thing I want.'' "Steelix, use Taunt!" Julian ordered. Steelix: You b*****ds dare to look at me. Magmar, Magmortar: This f**ker. Taunt succeeded in raising their anger. Magmortar, now furious, let out a roar and led the charge, leaping out of the magma with the rest of its subordinate Magmar following close behind. Driven by anger, the Fire-types chased after Steelix, determined to teach it a lesson. After leading them about three or four kilometers away from the Volcano, the group finally caught up to Steelix. Magmortar: Run? Why don''t you keep running?. Steelix: There''s no need to run anymore. You''re already surrounded. Julian jumped off Steelix''s head and Metagross blocked the group''s escape route while Dragonair circled above, keeping an eye on things from the sky. Magmortar: Just a few of you, my little ones can handle you all. Magmortar sneered at the situation, clearly unimpressed. Despite sensing a strong presence from Metagross, it wasn''t about to back down. Fire-types are known for their fierce tempers, and Magmortar wasn''t the type to retreat. With a single command, Magmortar sent its Magmar followers charging forward. Flames erupted from their mouths as they launched a coordinated attack, aiming multiple Flamethrowers directly at Steelix. Even though Steelix was a pseudo-Elite Pokmon, the heat from so many Flamethrowers was too much for it to handle all at once. "Steelix, Dig!" Julian called out. Although Steelix was just caught, and their tacit understanding was not great, but Steelix didn''t hesitate. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It quickly burrowed into the ground just before the flames could hit it. Within seconds, it was gone, leaving nothing but a hole in the ground. Julian, who had been standing near Steelix, wasn''t the target of the flames, but the intense heat radiating from them was enough to burn his hair tips and make his skin feel like it was burning. Magmortar looked at Julian maliciously, as he prepared another attack, Metagross made its move. It launched itself forward, using Zen Headbutt to strike Magmortar squarely in the stomach. The force of the attack nearly knocked Magmortar off its feet. Angry and hurt, Magmortar opened its mouth and fired a powerful Fire Blast at Metagross. Behind Metagross was Julian, so this attack could not be avoided, But Metagross quickly countered with Meteor Mash, and the two attacks collided mid-air with a loud explosion. Meanwhile, the remaining Magmars, not wanting to be left out, sent another wave of Flamethrowers toward Julian and Metagross. After being soaked in magma all year round, their Flamethrower''s temperature was higher than that of Normal Fire type Pokmon, and if a Pokmon gets hit it''s more than likely to enter the Burn status Condition. But Dragonair was ready. It used Dragon Tail to swipe through most of the Flamethrowers, dispersing the flames. The few that got through were blocked by Steelix, which had just resurfaced from the ground. If it wasn''t for the fact that it was still relatively close to the mouth of the volcano, a single Earthquake from Steelix would be enough to eliminate the dozen or so Magmar. "Steelix, use Rock Throw! Dragonair, use Dragon Rush!" Rocks rained down from the sky, as Steelix unleashed a barrage of stones onto the Magmar below. Several of them were hit directly, while others tried to dodge but ended up getting trapped by the falling rocks. Dragonair then swooped down from above, striking with precision. It knocked out one Magmar after another, taking full advantage of their limited movement. In just a matter of moments, the combined efforts of Steelix and Dragonair had defeated a dozen Magmar at level 50 and above. Magmortar, now alone, couldn''t believe its eyes. Its entire group had been taken out so quickly, and it was also losing to that silver Pokmon. Chapter 103: Fire Crystal Chapter 103: Fire CrystalJust as Metagross was about to use Steel Beam to finish off the Magmortar in front of it, Julian''s voice cut through the air. "Metagross, stop." The condensed Steel Beam slowly disappeared, and Metagross looked back at Julian in confusion. Magmortar, half-kneeling on the ground, looked up as two feet appeared in front of it. It was Julian, standing there, staring down at it. Beside him, Metagross stood ready, Steelix was watching closely, and Dragonair hovered above. Magmortar felt the tension in the air and suppressed the urge to lash out. "Do something for me, and I''ll let you and your men go," Julian said calmly, holding out an object in his hand. "Plus, I''ll give you this." In Julian''s hand was a Magmarizera rare item that could evolve a Magmar into a Magmortar. This kind of item was incredibly rare in the wild, and even with the advanced technology humans had, making one was still a difficult task. The Magmortar before him had been lucky enough to evolve with the help of a Magmarizer it had found in the secret realm, but none of the other Magmars had been that fortunate. They were all strong, around level 50, but without a Magmarizer, they couldn''t evolve. Magmortar glanced at the Magmarizer. It remembered finding something similar deep in the magma long ago when it was still a Magmar, which had led to its evolution. If it had this Magmarizer, one of its offspring could evolve into a new Magmortar. Magmortar knew it was getting old, its strength fading over time. Soon, it wouldn''t be able to protect its clan or its precious magma territory from rivals like the Magcargo clan. Having another Magmortar to take its place was essential. Magma was very important to the their clan, it was the key to increase the fire type energy in their bodies. Therefore, now that he was old, he had to let one of the Magmar evolve into a Magmortar, so as to ensure that at least one of the magma sites belonged to them. Magmortar looked at its unconscious clan members scattered around and then back at the Magmarizer. It nodded in agreement. Julian held all the cardsthe clan was defeated, and without the Magmarizer, there wasn''t much choice. Magmortar growled: What do you need from me? Julian didn''t know exactly what the treasure inside the magma was, but the Dowsing Machine was showing a red dot so large it covered one-third of the screen, indicating that whatever it was, it had to be incredibly valuable. In response to Magmortar''s question, Julian said, "I need you to dive into the magma and retrieve something for me." As they spoke, a few Magmars began to stir, slowly regaining consciousness. They stood, shaking off their dizziness, and upon seeing Julian, they prepared to attack again, ready to avenge their earlier defeat. Magmortar: stop Magmortar immediately stopped the few who wanted to attack. The Magmar froze, confused by their leader''s command. Why was their boss holding them back from fighting? Ignoring their confusion, Magmortar gestured for Julian to follow it back to the edge of the volcano. Along the way, none of the surrounding Fire-type Pokmon dared to attack, likely out of respect for Magmortar''s authority. It seemed that this Magmortar wasn''t just the leader of its pack but also the ruler of the entire volcano area. "Take this and it will tell you where the stuff that you need to retrieve is in the lava" At the volcano''s edge, Julian handed the Dowsing Machine to Magmortar. Dowsing Machine had the indestructible property, so there was no need to worry that it will be burnt to ashes by lava. Magmortar took the device and, after giving orders to its remaining conscious clan members, dove into the bubbling magma without hesitation. Julian and Metagross waited patiently at the edge, he used Probing eyes to look at the surrounding Magmar. They were all yellow, and only two were green. The previous Magmortar also had green qualification, but it was half way up to cyan. But it was old and its strength was declining. Julian also noticed eight Pokmon eggs nestled on a nearby rock. They must have been the offspring of the Magmar clan, but there were no Magby in sight. "Why haven''t I seen any Magby around?" Julian muttered to himself. Curious, he asked one of the Magmar. The response was immediate and full of anger. The Magmar angrily gestured, telling Julian a story of recent tragedy. The other Magmar shared the same outraged expressions. From the fragmented story, Julian gathered that the Magcargo clan, longtime rivals of the Magmortar family, had attacked recently in a brutal battle for control over the magma. The clash had cost the lives of several Magmar and resulted in the death of over 20 Magby. Though the Magmortar clan had fought valiantly, they had suffered heavy losses, and the Magcargo clan had not fared much better. Julian nodded to himself. It was a reminder that life in the wild and secret realms was far more brutal than what he was used to in human civilization. Battles over territory, food, and resources were frequent, and the law of the jungle ruled over everything. After about twenty minutes of waiting, the magma began to bubble more violently. Magmortar finally emerged, cradling something in its hands as it approached Julian. In Magmortar''s hands was a beautiful, crystal-clear stone. Julian''s eyes lit up the moment he saw it, immediately recognizing what it was. He eagerly took the stone from Magmortar, surprised at how cool it felt, despite having just been submerged in molten lava. The stone was about the size of a fist, completely transparent, with a deep red hue. As Julian shined his flashlight on it, he could see a faint flame flickering inside. "A fire crystal" Julian whispered in awe. These stones, only found in ancient volcanoes or those thousands of years old, were incredibly rare. Whenever one appeared, it would spark a frenzy among collectors and trainers alike, as they possessed immense fire energy. The outer surface of this thing was covered with a layer of red crystal, and this crystal perfectly wrapped the flame inside it, and not even a trace of energy could be emitted. So this thing had always been in the magma, but Magmortar was never able to find it, and even if he did find it, he might just toss it around as it didn''t emit any energy and thus be considered useless. This kind of fire crystal had first been discovered by accident years ago when a fire type trainer had found one during a volcano eruption and taken it home as a decoration. sea??h th N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. By chance, his Flareon had eaten the crystal, and the trainer had gone on to become one of the fire-type Elite in his country. Chapter 104: Back to the Rock Area Chapter 104: Back to the Rock AreaThe most significant function of the Fire Crystal was its ability to increase a Fire-type Pokmon''s elemental energy, making their Fire-type moves more powerful and their temperature more intense. At the same time, it also had the ability to improve a Pokmon''s potential. For any Pokmon below cyan qualification, consuming this crystal would instantly raise them to cyan aptitude. Fire-type Pokmon gain the maximum benefit from this treasure, while other types can only enhance the power of their Fire-type moves. The Fire Crystal was undoubtedly among the top three fire-related treasures in existence. Julian had never expected to find such a rare item in the magma. Although he currently didn''t have a Fire-type Pokmon, this discovery alone was enough to convince him to seek one in the future. Owning a treasure like this was too valuable an opportunity to pass up. He couldn''t help but compare the Magmortar clan to his own team. Their lack of talent was apparent, none even reaching the cyan aptitude level. They clearly didn''t have the same drive and discipline as his Steelix. Storing the Fire Crystal in his system space, Julian noticed something else. The Dowsing Machine showed another valuable item hidden beneath the magma, its signal initially concealed by the strong energy of the Fire Crystal. "There''s more down there. Keep diving," Julian instructed the tired Magmortar. Magmortar was about to mention the Magmarizer, having already provided Julian with the treasure. However, Julian''s firm order made it clear he wasn''t done yet. Magmortar: Might makes Right, sigh. Shooting a resentful glance at Julian, Magmortar took the Dowsing Machine again and plunged into the lava. After about ten minutes, it emerged once more, this time carrying a massive, dark red stone that radiated intense heat. The stone weighed dozens of pounds and looked incredibly dense. "Fire Ore," Julian murmured with a smile. "Aron will love this." "Don''t think you can fool me. There''s plenty more down there. You and your subordinates are going to dig them all out for me, and once that''s done, I''ll give you this" Julian promised, holding up a box of high-grade Fire-type energy cubes. To tempt them further, he gave one to Magmortar. Magmortar quickly fell under the spell of the delicious energy cube and, with renewed vigor, led its Magmar underlings back into the lava, now working as Julian''s miners. Fire Ore was a valuable material in which most Fire Stones were formed. While it was beneficial to the Magmortar clan, they didn''t prioritize it since magma provided them with more significant benefits. Had magma not been their primary resource, they might have been more reluctant to allow Julian to mine. Each time a Magmar emerged, it carried a large chunk of Fire Ore, some weighing up to a hundred pounds. In return, Julian rewarded them with basic energy cubes. Though these cubes were of lower quality, they were unlike anything the Magmar had ever tasted, making them eager to keep working. The mining operation continued until nightfall, and by the end, the Magmar had hauled up an impressive seventy to eighty tons of Fire Ore. With the Dowsing Machine now showing no further treasure, Julian concluded the digging session. Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As promised, he handed over the high-grade energy cubes and a Magmarizer to Magmortar. In return, the leader barked an order, and a heavily scarred, sturdy Magmar stepped forward, its eyes gleaming as it gazed at the Magmarizer in Magmortar''s hands. The younger Magmar clearly sensed that this item was very important. The other Magmar shared similar expressions of longing, but none dared speak up, restrained by the authority of their leader. Magmortar, however, hesitated for a moment, unsure how to properly use the Magmarizer. (T/N: for anyone asking how did he evolve than, well that''s the thing he just knew this thing was related to his evolution somehow but didn''t know how to use it properly.) Julian noticed this and spoke up, "Just attach it to Magmar." A bright white light enveloped the scarred Magmar, and it began to evolve. When the light faded, a powerful new Magmortar stood before them. "Well done" Julian said, smiling slightly. The Pokmon''s aptitude had shifted from green to cyan with the evolution, marking a significant transformation in its potential, and this guy was already half way to cyan. Normally evolution alone was not enough to make a breakthrough, but it was clear that this Magmar had accumulated enough strength over time, combined with a bit of luck, it broke through its previous limits. The evolution had fundamentally transformed the newly evolved Magmortar, setting it on a potential path toward becoming an Elite-level Fire-type Pokmon. Even though the new Magmortar''s aptitude had turned Cyan, Julian didn''t have any desire to catch it. It had its responsibilities here as the future leader of the Magmortar clan, especially given the looming threat from the Magcargo clan. Besides, Julian preferred to raise his Pokmon from a young age, building deep bonds that allowed them to reach their full potential. Steelix was just an exceptional case, as he himself came to Julian, who just decided to keep him. The newly evolved Magmortar roared in excitement, feeling a surge of power. Flames shot from its mouth, soaring into the sky, and the remaining Magmar, along with the older Magmortar, joined in, firing off celebratory blasts of fire. The Volcano''s night sky glowed a bright red, illuminated by their fiery display. After the celebration, the leader Magmortar and the newly evolved Magmortar approached Julian, their expressions filled with gratitude. "Don''t thank me," Julian said, shaking his head. "You earned it." In truth, he had only given them a box of high-quality fire energy cubes, a Magmarizer, and some basic energy cubes, all of which were insignificant compared to the rare treasures he had gained: the Fire Crystal and tons of valuable Fire Ore. The Magmortar clan didn''t realize just how much they had given away, but their gratitude still made Julian feel a little embarrassed. ''As long as the employees work hard enough, the boss will change his villa next year.'' In the end, it was a deal where hard work was rewarded, and Julian certainly didn''t mind playing the role of a "black-hearted boss," as he put it. He gave them a small incentive, and in return, they mined for him treasures beyond their understanding. Bidding farewell to the Magmortar family, Julian decided it was time to leave the Volcano area. He''d normally set up camp for the night, but with temperatures still soaring around 50 degrees Celsius, sleep was out of the question here. "Let''s head back to the Rock area and check it out," he said, mounting his Metagross. Julian hadn''t forgotten about the treasure he''d seen there earlier. Though someone had reached it first, he wanted to confirm whether it had been dug up or if it was still waiting for him. With that, he and Metagross left the Volcano area, heading for the Rock zone. Chapter 105: Depressed Tom Chapter 105: Depressed TomIt was well past one o''clock in the morning by the time Julian returned to the Rocky Area, his eyes heavy with sleep as he fought back a yawn. The Dowsing Machine in his hand continued to beep, signaling that the treasure was still nearby. It appeared the previous visitor hadn''t managed to uncover it, even though numerous large and small holes dotted the area. Julian observed the scene before himthere were at least a dozen holes scattered about, ranging in size. The largest was over a hundred meters wide, while the smallest was around seven or eight meters across. He made his way toward one of the medium-sized pits, which stretched about fifty meters wide and ten meters deep. The Dowsing Machine indicated the treasure lay somewhere below. Without having to say a word, Metagross immediately understood the command and began to dig. Thanks to the efforts of whoever had dug before, much of the hard work had already been done. Julian and Metagross were essentially finishing what someone else had started. It only took another five or six meters of digging before they hit the jackpot. "Mega Evolution Stone" Julian''s eyes lit up with surprise and excitement as Metagross carefully handed over the shimmering stone. He knew full well the significance of this find. Mega Evolution stones were treated as a type of currency among trainers. Many coveted such treasures, especially when money wasn''t enough to buy certain rare items, tools, or Pokmon with excellent potential. With a Mega Evolution stone, however, trades like these became much easier to pull off. "Meta~" Suddenly, Metagross emitted a low, warning growl and positioned itself in front of Julian. Julian, who had been caught off guard by both his exhaustion and the thrill of the discovery, instantly tensed up. Two Pok Balls clicked open, releasing Dragonair and Lucario, both now on high alert, flanking Julian. "Young Master Walker, don''t misunderstandI''m not here to cause trouble," a voice called out. From behind a nearby rock, a man stepped into view, raising both hands to show he meant no harm. Walking a few steps behind him was a Golem, keeping pace as he cautiously approached. Julian narrowed his eyes. He recognized the man as the same person who had been at the Rocky Area earlier, the one who had likely dug those holes. The man hadn''t managed to find the Mega Evolution stone, but it seemed he hadn''t left the area after all. "The Smith family," Julian murmured, recognizing him. "It''s rare that Young Master Walker still remembers. My uncle is Luke." The young man smiled in acknowledgment. Luke, he was the leader of the Steel-type Gym in Lake City and a figure Julian had encountered on a flight once. Before entering the secret realm, it was Luke who accompanied this man. That''s why Julian knew that the other party was from the Smith family. Though the stranger insisted he had no ill intent, Julian remained wary. Trusting someone too easily in a place like thisespecially in the secret realmswas a good way to meet a dead end. Sensing Julian''s caution, the man stopped in his tracks, keeping a respectful distance. He glanced at the Mega Evolution stone in Julian''s hand, eyes flickering with envy. Sear?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Originally, he wasn''t able to find the treasure earlier and had left. But as he was heading out, he saw Julian fly in on his Metagross. Intuition told him that Julian''s destination was the place where he was digging for treasure before. After all, Julian had also discovered that place at the beginning, and it was only because he came first that Julian gave up. Out of curiosity, he went back to take a look. But When he saw Julian had dug out a Mega Evolution stone, that too from the hole he himself had dug halfway, he deeply regretted coming back. ''That''s a Mega Evolution stone, and I was only a few meters away from it, but unfortunately I missed it.'' The young man sighed, his dreams of owning such a powerful item dashed. With the stone, he could have made significant strides within his family, even if it was not for one of his Pokmon, he could have used it to trade for a Mega Evolution stone suited to his own Pokmon. It could have set him apart, perhaps even positioning him as a contender for leadership in the Smith family someday. Julian watched as the man''s expression soured with deep regret. He could see the gears turning in the man''s headthe realization that he had been just meters away from the Mega Evolution stone and had somehow missed it. Despite his jealousy, Tom knew better than to attempt anything rash. Julian was not only from an influential family, but his Metagross was exceptionally powerful. He would be a fool to provoke a fight. And as the member of a clan himself, he knew very well that a person from a family''s like Julian would definitely carry a powerful Pokmon, a bodyguard given to him by an elder. Although he couldn''t get the stone, but if he took this opportunity to form a friendship with Julian, he might not get any less benefits. "Young Master Walker, I heard that you have been recruited by the Imperial University." Tom said, changing the subject with a forced smile. "Um" Julian gave a slight nod, this was no secret, after all, he had already sent the admission notice to his circle of friends. "I''m a sophomore there myself," Tom said, attempting to make conversation. "It looks like I''ll be seeing you around campus. Though, calling myself your senior would be a bit of a stretch." He chuckled awkwardly, realizing that Julian was much stronger than him, despite the age difference. Julian remained quiet, though his expression softened slightly. He hadn''t expected to run into a fellow Imperial University student out here, much less one with connections to his own family. "So, you train Rock-type Pokmon?" Julian asked, glancing at the Golem standing by Tom''s side. Tom nodded. "Yes, although most of my family trains Steel-types, but I''ve always had a natural affinity for Rock-types, so I decided to specialize in them." Julian raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. The only Rock-type Pokmon capable of Mega Evolution are Tyranitar, Aggron, and Aerodactyl, You got any of those?" Tyranitar was a pseudo-legendary, and Aerodactyl was even more rarer. Only some ancient secret realms had them. Only an Aron was available, that too because of them now being under the Walker family. Tom chuckled weakly. "I wish, Tyranitar and Aerodactyl are way out of reach. Aggron is more within the realm of possibilityif I''m lucky." Julian smirked. "Well, keep at it. Maybe one day you''ll get your hands on an Aggronite." Tom''s forced laughter echoed through the Rocky Area, but there was an unmistakable note of bitterness in his voice. Even if he were to obtain an Aggronite, the Walker family would likely claim it for themselves, given their standing. He realized that even if he stumbled across the rare stone, he might not have the power to hold onto it for long. As Tom''s expression soured once more, Julian observed him quietly, aware of the unspoken struggles behind his polite words. "Well, good luck with that," Julian said, his voice light but carrying a subtle undertone of finality. Tom forced a smile, feeling a wave of disappointment and frustration wash over him. He had been so close to something great, but now it was nothing more than a missed opportunity he''d regret for a long time to come. Chapter 106: Slowking Chapter 106: SlowkingTen days passed quickly. For an intermediate secret realm the size of several cities, ten days wasn''t nearly enough time to explore every inch of it. Most people who entered spent their time hunting for treasures. Along the way, they''d explore the realm, marking spots where they thought treasures might be hidden. Julian, however, had an advantagehis trusty Dowsing Machine. The treasures he found outshone what the others could locate in that first wave of explorers. Among his finds were Toxic Orb, rough diamonds, Mega Evolution stone, various evolutionary stones, and some special ores. But nothing compared to the Fire Crystal, the true treasure of the realm, which outclassed everything the others might have found. Along with these, he also caught a cyan-qualified Slowpoke and a pseudo-Elite Steelix, making his trip even more fruitful. As Julian emerged from the secret realm, he spotted his father, Jake, already waiting at the entrance. Jake saw him and immediately walked over, looking Julian up and down with a scrutinizing eye. Satisfied that his son was unharmed, he patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Your mother''s made dinner. She''s just waiting for you to come back." Sear?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jake didn''t ask what Julian had gained in the secret realm. To him, the treasures were secondary. It was only an intermediate realm, and with the Walker family''s wealth, they could easily buy whatever treasures Julian might have foundexcept, of course, for the secret realm''s core treasure. His primary concern was Julian''s safety and the experience he gained from the trip. The second wave of explorers was due to enter the next day. Most of them came from aristocratic families outside Lake City but still within Yale Province. It would take time for the secret realm to fully open to the public. Only after this second group of noble children emerged would other trainers be allowed entry. It wasn''t exactly fair to everyone, but in this world, fairness wasn''t always guaranteed. Once the realm opened for the general trainers, an abbreviated guide would be available for purchase. This guide would be based on the information gathered from the first two groups of explorers, which helped balance the playing field between aristocratic trainers and those from ordinary families. On the ride home, Julian filled Jake in on his findings. When Jake heard about the cyan-qualified Slowpoke, his eyebrows rose in surprise. Then, as Julian listed off moreToxic Orbs, rough diamonds, and the pseudo-Elite SteelixJake''s shock grew with each item. When Julian mentioned the Mega Evolution stone, Jake''s eyes began to glaze over. But the Fire Crystal, the realm''s treasure, left him stunned into silence. By the time they arrived home, Jake was still processing it all. Julian hopped out of the car and, without paying much attention to his dazed father, opened the front door. Instantly, he was greeted by the delicious aroma of home-cooked food. "Son, you''re back!" Tina exclaimed, coming over excitedly. Like Jake, she gave Julian a quick once-over to make sure he was safe and sound. She hadn''t seen her son for ten days, and the relief on her face was obvious. "Where''s your dad?" She asked, noticing Jake wasn''t with him. "Didn''t he say he''d pick you up? Did you come back by yourself?" A flicker of annoyance crossed her face. She was worried that Jake might have used Julian as an excuse to go fishing instead of picking him up. "In the back," Julian replied, chuckling. Moments later, Jake stumbled in, looking bewildered. Tina gave him a confused glance. "What''s wrong with your dad? He looks like he''s in a daze." Julian knew exactly why and laughed. "I think he''s a bit overwhelmed." "Overwhelmed?" Tina frowned, still not understanding what Julian meant, but she shrugged it off and turned her attention back to Jake. "Come on, wash your hands. Dinner''s ready." "Okay, Mom." Julian grinned. After ten days of takeout, Julian was more than ready for some of his mother''s cooking. Even though he''d been prepared for the trip, with plenty of meals packed, the taste of takeout couldn''t compare to his mom''s culinary skills. Tina was a senior breeder, It was well known that most breeders had excellent cooking skills, her cookingskills even surpassed that of a five-star chefs. After a long stretch of mediocre food, Julian was eager to enjoy a proper meal. - Three days later, in the backyard forest. Julian stood with Shellder and Slowpoke, who were meeting for the first time. Slowpoke''s eyes lit up the moment it saw Shellder. Usually slow and sluggish, Slowpoke suddenly bolted towards Shellder with surprising speed, planting its tail right in front of the clam-like Pokmon and turning to gaze at it expectantly. Shellder, a little confused, stared at Slowpoke''s tail. It didn''t understand what Slowpoke wanted, but something about that pink, wiggling tail made it feel the urge to bite. It inched closer, mouth open wide, getting ready to chomp down on the tail. Just as Shellder was about to bite, Julian''s hand shot out, blocking the attack. That was too close. The pair had almost triggered an evolution that Julian wasn''t ready for. He didn''t want a Slowbro. "Metagross, keep an eye on them. Don''t let Shellder bite Slowpoke''s tail." "Meta~" Metagross hummed, lifting Shellder into the air with its Psychic. Slowpoke gazed up at Shellder, who now floated a few meters above it. The short distance between them felt like an unbridgeable gap. Slowpoke''s eyes were filled with silent, soulful disappointment, as if the evolution had slipped just out of reach. Julian, sensing its mood, reassured Slowpoke. "Be patient. You''ll have your Shellder soon enough." Slowpoke, with its perpetually goofy expression, was one of Julian''s most adorable Pokmon. Though its blank stare made it look clueless, its sadness was almost palpable, and Julian felt a twinge of guilt. Deciding to document the evolution, Julian set up a camera. Slowking was an undiscovered Pokmon, a new evolution form of Slowpoke. In order to obtain the rewards offered by the Trainer Association, it was necessary to record the key steps of this unique evolution. With everything ready, Julian called Slowpoke over and placed a King''s Rock on its head. "Alright, Shellder, bite the King''s Rock." Metagross released Shellder, who instantly chomped down on Slowpoke''s head. A bright white light engulfed Slowpoke, signaling the start of the evolution. As the glow faded, Slowpoke stood transformednow a Slowking, sporting a spiral crown and carrying itself with a regal air. "Slow~" But as it opened its mouth to speak, the illusion of grandeur shattered. The silly sound broke the kingly image immediately. Julian couldn''t help but laugh. Despite its royal appearance, Slowking''s voice didn''t match its new status at all. It still had that same endearing, goofy charm. Chapter 107: Accidental Discovery Chapter 107: Accidental Discovery"Hello, Slowking" Julian walked up to Slowking, extending his palm with a mix of surprise and pride in his eyes. This was the first Slowking in the world. "Slowking!" Slowking responded, grabbing Julian''s hand gently. Slowking is a unique Pokmon, evolving only when it merges with another Pokmonin this case, Shellder. The shell on its head, which looks like a crown, is alive and can even be removed. Legend has it that Slowking evolves when a Slowpoke gains sudden intelligence due to Shellder''s bite, causing toxins to flow into its brain. This awakens its latent intelligence and grants it extraordinary abilities. It''s said that Slowking''s intelligence is now comparable to the top scientists in the world. However, if the crown is removed, it goes back to a state where even simple arithmetic like "one plus one" becomes a challenge. Metagross gazed curiously at Slowking, admiring its regal lookhands behind its back and a crown perched on its head. The new Pokmon looked quite distinguished. Pokmon: Slowking (Water/Psychic) Level: 22 Qualification: Cyan Ability: Oblivious Held Item: Twisted Spoon Gender: Female Moves: Tackle, Curse, Water Gun, Confusion, Yawn, Disable, Water Pulse, Power Gem, Swagger, Headbutt Disc Moves: None Genetic Moves: Scald, Trick, Calm Mind, Psyshock Having just evolved, Julian hadn''t yet taught Slowking any Technical Machines (TMs)/CD/Disc. "One more month, and I''ll have you reach Advanced level" Julian said to Slowking, mentally noting its current strength. At this level, Slowking could only handle lower-level opponents. Against stronger Pokmon, it would be a challenge. Afterall Slowking''s basic stats were still pretty normal, not having gone through system enchantments yet, making it hard to battle above it''s own level He glanced at Metagross, now level 55 and nearing the peak of the Advanced tier. Metagross could battle Pokmon at much higher levels, a testament to its raw power and potential. Slowking, however, still had some work to do before reaching that stage. "Slow~" Slowking nodded, already aware that, among Julian''s team, it was second from the bottom in terms of rankonly stronger than Aron, who had been with Julian for less than two weeks. "Let''s head back home" Julian said with a smile, and Slowking followed him back to the house. "pffft" Inside, Jake was sipping tea, and the moment he spotted Julian with an unfamiliar Pokmon, he spat his tea out in shock. Love who was cleaning, silently wiped the tea off the table without a word. "Julian, what kind of Pokmon is that?" Jake asked, still in disbelief. "Oh, just another evolutionary form of Slowpoke," Julian said nonchalantly. "I stumbled upon it while doing some research. Guess I got lucky." Jake, of course, didn''t buy that explanation. New Pokmon evolutions hadn''t been discovered in over a decade. Among the many Pokmon they study their main focus was on Eevee. But many scholars had spent their entire lives studying Pokmon without such breakthroughs. The idea that Julian had "accidentally" discovered a new form seemed like an obvious stretch. Among the treasures Julian had found in the secret realm, there had been a priceless Fire Crystal. That discovery had already stunned Jake, but now thisan entirely new evolutionary form of Slowpokewas even more shocking. Sarch* The ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, it can be said that Julian was lucky enough to get treasures in the secret realm. But being able to discover a new evolutionary form of Slowpoke was not a matter of luck. If you didn''t have the relative research and foundation in this area, there was absolutely no possibility of this. "Alright, seriously, how did you discover Slowpoke''s new evolution?" Jake asked, his tone now more serious as he leaned forward. At that moment, Love, the Indeedee, put down her cleaning rag and shot Jake an angry look for talking so harshly to Julian, she considered Julian her own cub. "AhemI''m just worried he might go astray" Jake muttered, noticing Indeedee''s disapproving glare. He really didn''t want to make his wife''s Starter Pokmon angry. If it hadn''t been for her, the process of chasing Tina would have been much smoother. "Dad, don''t worry," Julian said with a chuckle. "I didn''t steal anyone''s research. This is all my own work." Julian understood why Jake was concerned. The idea that he might misuse his family''s status to steal research was a valid worry. If that happened, it wouldn''t hurt the Walker family financially, but their reputation, built over two centuries, would be severely damaged. Hearing this, Jake''s expression softened. He knew his son well enough to trust that Julian wouldn''t stoop to such things. He was just being overly cautious. "You''ve really been researching Pokmon evolution?" Jake asked, still finding it hard to believe. Although he ruled out the possibility of Julian stealing other people''s research results, he still did not believe that Julian had researched it himself. It was very likely that someone had helped him. "Well, I''ve developed an interest. I''d like to become a part-time Pokmon scholar alongside being a Trainer. I bought a lot of books and research material not too long ago." In order to reduce the doubts of his family to the greatest extent, Julian had done enough preparations. Jake recalled helping Julian acquire various research documents from Pokmon scholars and labs, using his connections. It was clear Julian had done his homework. "So, after reading books for just over a month, you managed to discover a new Pokmon evolution?" Jake asked, still skeptical. "Yep. Your son''s a genius," Julian replied with a grin Jake, momentarily speechless, had to admit he was proud. His son was indeed talented, not just as a Trainer but also in Pokmon research. He had done in a month what scholars couldn''t achieve in decades. "Wait, you need to tell your aunt about this. It''ll benefit you," Jake said after a pause. "I know. I already made a video recording of Slowking''s evolution. I was just about to send it to her, but you stopped me here." Julian''s aunt was a well-known Pokmon scholar in Drakoria with a solid reputation both at home and abroad. In fact, she was considered a strategic asset, always accompanied by Elite bodyguards whenever she traveled for research. Among John Walker''s three children, Julian''s aunt was by far the most accomplished, even more so than Henry, the wealthy businessman and Jake, the National Gym Leader. Chapter 108: Indeedee Chapter 108: IndeedeeAfter recording the video of Slowpoke''s evolution into Slowking, Julian sent it to his aunt, Quinn Walker. However, he didn''t hear back from her until later that night when she finally called. Julian figured she''d been busy all day, studying the video and not checking her phone. Julian told his aunt the same thing he had told Jake earlier. sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In terms of intellect, his aunt, a top-tier Pokmon scholar, was far sharper than his father. While Jake had his doubts, Quinn believed Julian''s story without hesitation. It wasn''t that Quinn was easier to fool than Jake, but she understood that sometimes the greatest discoveries come from unexpected accidentsoften stumbled upon by those with a natural genius for the subject. "Aunty, I''ll send Slowking to you right away" Julian said after chatting with her for a while. His aunt hung up, reminding Julian to send Slowking over as soon as possible and instructing him not to announce the existence of Slowking until her research report was ready. Julian knew the drill well. Other than his parents and Quinn, no one else knew about Slowking yet, although he assumed his father had already informed his grandfather. With a Pokmon teleporter at home, it was easy to send Slowking to Quinn. He grabbed Slowking''s Pok Ball and spoke to it. "Slowking, you''ll be heading to my aunt''s place. Be sure to cooperate with her, okay? You''ll be back soon," he assured. The Pok Ball shook slightly, a sign of Slowking''s understanding. After placing the ball on the teleporter''s slot and entering the coordinates, a quick flash of electricity signaled that Slowking was on its way to Quinn''s lab. At her lab near Norman, Quinn eagerly grabbed the Pok Ball as it arrived. The moment she opened it, Slowking appeared, standing calmly with its hands clasped behind its back. Several of her assistants were present, their eyes lighting up with excitement at the sight of a Pokmon they''d never seen before. Quinn''s own gaze was the most intense of them all. Even Slowking, usually unfazed by external reactions, felt a drop of cold sweat form on its forehead from all the attention. Meanwhile, back at home, Julian was lounging on the sofa when he heard a knock on the door. He stood up quickly and opened it, finding a Pidgeotto wearing a delivery helmet, clutching a takeaway bag in its talons. "Pidge~" "Thanks," Julian said with a smile, accepting the food. The Pidgeotto gave a small nod before flying off to make its next delivery. As Julian turned back inside, he was startled to find the family''s steward/Housekeeper, Love, standing there with a disapproving look. "Ah... you''re still awake, Love?" Julian asked awkwardly. He glanced at the clock on the wall. It was already eleven at night. Normally, Love would have retired for the night by ten, ready to prepare breakfast for the family in the early morning. Love, known for her dedication to the family''s well-being, was not a fan of takeout, as she deemed it unhealthy. Julian felt a little guilty, knowing he''d been caught red-handed. "Uh, it''s just barbecue, not snail noodles or anything too smelly. And besides, I don''t even like those. That''s more Mom''s thing" Julian quickly explained, hoping to soften the steward''s glare. As a neat freak, Love had a strict rule against foods with strong smells, like stinky tofu or durian, and would be mortified if anyone dared eat them at home. Love glanced at the takeaway bag, gave a resigned sigh, and retrieved a can of Coke from the fridge, setting it on the coffee table before heading back upstairs. Love: "Rest after eating, and don''t stay up too late playing on your phone" Love instructed before disappearing upstairs. "Yes" Julian nodded like a good child. Cute.JPG. Julian exhaled, relieved. The pressure from Indeedee always felt similar to dealing with an Elite trainerespecially given how essential she was to the smooth running of their household. Julian knew better than to push his luck. Even his mother, Tina, would tread carefully around Love. If she ever quit, the family''s daily life would fall into disarray. It was as if Indeedee was the backbone of their home life, just as much as Jake was the pillar outside. Julian sat back down, opening the Coke. His eyes caught sight of the Pokmon endorsement on the can. The design had changed from Blastoise to Milotic, alongside a handsome middle-aged man known for his acting in Drakoria. His partner, Mines the Milotic, was renowned for its Elite-level battle prowess. As Julian unwrapped his barbecue, Meltan, who had been resting upstairs, appeared at his side, its little eyes fixed on the food. "Here, but don''t eat too much" Julian said, handing Meltan a skewer of lamb. Meltan accepted it gratefully, munching happily. Just as Julian settled back to eat, his phone buzzed. He glanced at it, seeing a message from Will. Will: Hey, have you entered the new intermediate-level secret realm yet? It opens to the public tomorrow. If you haven''t, we could form a team together. Julian: I was part of the first batch, already been there. Will: Damn! You lucky son of an aristocrat. Can you share some useful tips, brother? Julian chuckled, recalling the second group that had probably just returned. It seemed like they were starting to prepare for the public opening. Julian: Head southeast as soon as you get in, and keep going for about a day. There''s a volcano area with some good finds. Julian remembered that the Dowsing Machine had shown about ten red dots around the volcano''s mouth, within a radius of 20km. Julian had already claimed the most valuable treasure there, a fire crystal, but he knew the smaller ones could still be useful to Will. Will: Thanks, bro! I will give a hug when we meet. Julian: F*** off. As his only friend in high school, Julian wanted to help Will whenever he could, and he was also optimistic about Will. If there was no accident, it was certain that the other party would become at least pseudo-Elite in the future, and more if he was lucky. Although Will himself wanted to be a champion. Finishing his meal, Julian tossed the empty Coke can to Meltan, who happily grabbed it, and he headed upstairs. His room was peaceful, with most of his Pokmon already at rest, except for Steelix who was too big. Metagross lay on its back, seemingly dreaming of something pleasant, while Lucario sat cross-legged, meditating. When the door creaked open, Lucario''s eyes flicked open for a moment, but seeing Julian, it closed them again. Dragonair had sprawled out on Julian''s bed, its head and tail hanging off the sides, and Aron was gnawing contentedly on a rough diamond, occasionally blowing on it to examine its glittering surface. Julian smiled. His Pokmon were more than just teammatesthey were family. Chapter 109: Shen Arrives Chapter 109: Shen Arrives"997, 998, 999, 1000." Julian stood in the backyard, holding his Steelix as he finished his squats. Deep five-centimeter footprints were left in the ground beneath his feet. When the count reached 1,000, Julian threw Steelix onto the ground with a grunt of effort. sea??h th N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Steelix glared at Julian, a bit resentful. Whenever Julian needed something, he would sweetly call Steelix, but as soon as he was done, all the love disappeared. Julian''s parents weren''t home to witness this, and it was a good thing too. If they had seen him pulling off such a stunt, they''d probably think he had lost his mind. "Ding! Daily task complete" "Reward: 50 Meltan candies, 200 points." Julian wiped the sweat off his brow, but he wasn''t too tired. He muttered to himself, "Finally, I''ve collected 400 candies." Meltan needed exactly 400 candies to evolve into Melmetal, its final form. Although candies could be purchased from the system store, Julian found them too expensive. He preferred earning them through daily tasks. Julian wasn''t in a rush to evolve Meltan. He tried to convince himself that he wasn''t just holding onto his points, but deep down, he knew that was part of it. Now that the 400 candies were finally collected, the thought of Meltan evolving into the Mythical Melmetal excited him. After finishing his workout, Julian called his other Pokmon over: Metagross, Steelix, and Dragonair. Aron and Meltan trailed behind them. He set out food for each of them. Aron chomped happily on rough diamonds, mixed with a bit of fire ore. Meltan, on the other hand, was more interested in Aron''s discarded shell. It gnawed on the bits left over from Aron''s last molt, its face lighting up with joy. Meltan had a peculiar fondness for Aron''s shell. While Julian had many other Aron shells stored away, Meltan preferred those from Julian''s Aron itself, deeming the others worthless. Meltan was picky like that. Meltan: Those are all rubbish. Steelix, meanwhile, enjoyed its high-grade steel energy cubes. It often thought about how its life had changed for the better since meeting Julian. Leaving that secret realm behind and finding a human companion who fed it well and helped it grow stronger was the best decision Steelix had ever made. All Steelix had to do in return was help in battles, and that was something it excelled at. Steelix felt like it had struck the best deal of its life. "Jigglypuff~ jiggly~...." Just then, a familiar tune played on Julian''s phonea ringtone of Jigglypuff''s song. It was Shen calling. "Hey Julian, I''m already at the door." "Oh, wait for me, I''ll come let you in." Julian hung up, realizing he had gotten so caught up in the excitement of collecting Meltan candies that he''d forgotten Shen was coming over. He quickly went to open the door and led Shen inside. "It''s my first time at a national gym trainer''s house. That battlefield out back is huge!" Shen exclaimed, amazed by the size of Julian''s backyard. For a trainer who could challenge a national gym, the minimum standard was pseudo-Elite, so the battle field had to be big. "Yeah, it''s alright," Julian replied, casually brushing it off. "This is Love, our family''s steward," Julian introduced, gesturing toward the Indeedee. "This is an Indeedee right?, i have heard some of them take cares of the queen in certain countries, She looks so gentle" Shen looked at Love with excitement. "She is gentle," Julian replied with a smile, "but not without her moments." Indeedee, were quite rare in Drakoria. They weren''t found in any of the secret realms, and most originate from other distant countries. In Drakoria, people usually only see them in top-tier establishments like private hospitals, luxury sanatoriums, or five-star restaurants. There are distinct differences between male and female Indeedee. Male Indeedee have upward-facing horns and a more intense appearance with darker purple and black tones, while their eyes remain half-open and their faces expressionless. Females, like Love, have drooping horns, warm smiles, and soft purple-red markings around their eyes. Their white coloring stands out more than the males, giving them a more approachable and gentle appearance. Males often serve as housekeepers, while females are well-suited as maids. Julian''s family had chosen Love, a female Indeedee, for her gentle yet firm demeanor. She seemed particularly proud today, as it was the first time Julian had brought a female classmate home. Love felt like her "cub" was growing up. After offering Shen a cup of tea, she placed a glass of Moomoo Milk in front of Julian. "Coughcan I have tea too?" Julian asked, a bit embarrassed. Love gave him a knowing smile. Despite being almost an adult, Julian couldn''t escape the daily glass of Moomoo milk she insisted he drink. In her eyes, it was essential for health, much better than soda or any other drink. She poured it every day, not just for him, but for the whole family. Begrudgingly, Julian accepted the milk, not wanting to argue. Shen chuckled beside him. "Want some too?" Julian offered sarcastically. "No thanks," Shen laughed. "I''m not a fan of the taste." Julian took a sip of the milk, which was worth over 5,000 a glass. It came from a pseudo-Elite Miltank, and such milk was highly prized among the wealthy. It wasn''t something you could just buy at a regular market. After their tea and milk, Julian led Shen to the backyard, where his Pokmon were gathered. "Wow, Steelix and Aron! Are they your new Pokmon?" "And how is this Aron so big?" Shen marveled, especially impressed by Aron''s size. "Yeah, Steelix was caught in the new intermediate secret realm, and Aron''s actually a Totem Pokmon," Julian explained. There was no need to keep a secret as Aron will be revealed as a Totem anyway. "It''s good to have a rich family, Totem Pokmon, Metagross, and a future Dragonite" Shen said. Julian smirked. "Don''t be sour, there are some things you just don''t get at birthand probably never will." Shen: (o) At this moment, Shen felt that Julian was being possessed by Will, and it was not so fun to talk anymore. Chapter 110: Come Again Next Time Chapter 110: Come Again Next Time"You really want to learn Bajiquan from me?" (T/N: Bajiquan is a traditional Chinese martial art that features explosive, short-range power in close-combat and is well known for its rapid elbow and shoulder strikes. Its full name is kaimen bajiquan) Shen decided not to talk about Pokmon with Julian anymore. Every time she brought it up, it just made her feel inferior. Still, her eyes couldn''t help but covet Lucario, who was using Calm Mind to exercise the power of its aura. The sight of Lucario''s appearance and fighting ability hit the heart of Shen, a Fighting-type trainer. "Of course," Julian nodded. He thought of learning Bajiquan after gaining the Mega Pallet Town physique. It made sense to learn martial arts to maximize the potential of his body. As for why Bajiquan and not another form of martial arts? Well, the name itself carried enough weight. It''s often said, ''In literature, there''s Tai Chi to calm the world, and in martial arts, there''s Bajiquan to stabilize the universe.'' Tai Chi was known for its slow, graceful movements, and Bajiquan, for its explosive power. Julian found this a fitting reflection of what he wanted. In Drakoria, there were many schools of Bajiquan. You can even find some of the basics online, but the real teachings are passed down through family lines. S~ea??h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Since Shen''s family was highly regarded in the world of martial arts, it made sense for Julian to approach her. After all, any random teacher he found wouldn''t be as good. "You just need to teach me the techniques that can be shared," Julian said. Most martial arts families have strict rules about which techniques can be taught to outsiders. Julian wasn''t part of Shen''s family, so he didn''t expect to learn their core techniques, the ones that gave them their edge. He didn''t mind that, though. Even with basic moves, his enhanced physique would amplify their power. The idea of eventually being able to fight alongside a Machamp or spar with Lucario excited him. "I haven''t even learned all the core moves yet, so don''t get any ideas," Shen replied. Her family didn''t have any gender-based restrictions, but the core techniques were only taught to direct descendants. Since Shen was one of them, she was on track to learn them eventually. "You must be a bit slow then," Julian said, smirking. Shen: (~) ''Why is she looking at me like that? It''s true. She''s almost eighteen, and still haven''t learned the family''s core techniques.'' "If you want to learn, you need to start with the basics," Shen said firmly. "Horse stance." "You stand in that for three years before you even get started." The color drained from Julian''s face. Horse stance is a foundational practice in martial arts. It strengthens the legs and core, making it harder to be knocked down and quicker to counterattack. Shen remembered how hard it had been for her as a child, standing in that position for two years straight before she could move on to anything else. She wasn''t too sympathetic, though. She imagined Julian suffering through the same thing and couldn''t help but feel a little gleeful. "How long do I have to stand?" Julian asked. "Until the sun goes down." Julian glanced at the clock. It was only nine in the morning. That meant he''d be holding the stance for almost the entire day. "I''m not joking," Shen said when she noticed his doubt. "If you don''t take this seriously, I''m out." Julian had already researched martial arts before asking to learn Bajiquan. He knew she wasn''t lying; standing in a horse stance was indeed how most martial arts training started. You needed to build a solid foundation before learning anything else. - Seven days later, in Julian''s backyard. Shen''s face was stiff. The confident light in her eyes had dimmed. Why, oh why, had she agreed to teach Julian? Julian had gone from horse stance to punching and kicking, already showing clear proficiency. Each of his movements caused the air to crack with power. Shen couldn''t believe what she was seeing. It had taken him just seven days to become this good. Shen was starting to regret ever teaching him. She had thought that while she might not be as skilled as Julian on the Pokmon battlefield, she would at least have martial arts as her domain. But now, Julian was catching up to her here too. Have you ever seen someone who moves like they''ve taken a stimulants, but without the actual stimulants? Julian''s body wasn''t normal. It was beyond human. The person in front of her wasn''t Julian at allit was a Machamp in disguise. "Teacher Shen, I finished today''s practice. How does it compare to yesterday?" Julian asked with a smile. Julian didn''t know the meaning of fatigue, thanks to his Mega Pallet Town physique. And the way he had mastered Bajiquan so quickly only made him more aware of his body''s capabilities. "It''s alright. Don''t get cocky. I reached this level in just three days," Shen said, attempting to salvage some of her pride. Shen: Can''t I just lie a little to save face? "Teacher Shen, you''re amazing!" Julian gave her a thumbs up, not doubting her words at all. If it took him seven days, then it was only natural for someone like Shen, who came from a martial arts family, to have learned in three. Seeing Julian''s genuine admiration, Shen raised her head proudly, showing off her slender neck. "You''re still far behind, Julian. Far behind." In that moment, Shen felt like she could accomplish anything. "From now on, you just need to practice regularly. I don''t have anything else to teach you," Shen said. She had taught Julian all she could, short of the core techniques. Julian nodded. "When do you plan on heading to Imperial University?" Shen asked. The universities would begin their semester on September 1st. It was already mid-August, and both Julian and Shen had been specially recruited by Imperial University. They would likely be in the same special recruit class. "Probably around the 25th," Julian replied. "Then let''s go together." "Why? You got plans?" "Yeah, I''m visiting one of my grandpa''s friends. He''s an inheritor of Hongquan." (T/N: Hongquan a form of Chinese martial arts is characterized by its emphasis on fluid movement, circular patterns, and explosive power. The style is known for its unique "five animal" forms, which mimic the movements of a tiger, leopard, snake, crane, and dragon) Julian nodded. He wasn''t too familiar with martial arts styles, but he had learned a bit from Shen. "I''m going to meet my Aunt." Julian''s Slowking had been sent to his Aunt for research in the capital. She had recently finished her study and was writing a paper on it. She had asked Julian to visit on the 25th so he could co-sign the paper. Even though he hadn''t written the thesis, Julian had discovered Slowpke''s alternate evolutionary form, making him a co-author. Once the paper was published, Slowking would be publicly recognized. After making plans with Shen to travel together on the 25th, she said goodbye to Julian''s parents and left. "Come back tomorrow," Jake, Julian''s father, said with a smile. Shen: Come back? Not if I can help it! I''ll be lucky if I survive the embarrassment of today. Chapter 111: Pokémon Restaurant Chapter 111: Pokmon RestaurantYum Restaurant was one of the most renowned establishments in Lake City. Its fame stemmed from crafting gourmet Pokmon meals, distinct from the usual energy cubes commonly fed to Pokmon. Instead of simple cubes, the chefs here created meals using fresh fruits, meats, vegetables, and a variety of intricate cooking methods. Everyone knew that feeding human food to Pokmon regularly could lead to health issues, just as humans could suffer from an unbalanced diet of high-fat or high-sugar foods. Because of this, professional Trainers were careful, rarely offering their Pokmon regular human meals. However, despite the risks, it was no secret that Pokmon found human food far tastier than their typical fare or energy cubes. As a result, a niche of specialized restaurants catering to Pokmon cuisine emerged. Today, Julian had brought Metagross and the rest of his team to dine at Yum. Without the prestige of the Walker family name, securing a reservation would have been impossiblethere was a six-month waitlist. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Welcome, Young Master Walker," the waiter at the entrance greeted Julian respectfully as soon as he approached. The management had obviously been informed that a member of the Walker family would be dining today. "Your VIP room is ready," the waiter added, opening the door with a polite gesture. Julian gave a small nod and glanced around the bustling hall. Trainers and their Pokmon filled the space, enjoying the gourmet food. The Pokmon in the hall were all smaller species, given the limited space between the tables. The VIP room, however, was a different story. It had only one large table, and the room''s size was comparable to that of the main hall. The space could easily accommodate even large Pokmonthere was enough room for ten Steelix if needed. The decor was elegant and understated, not overly luxurious, but it had a serene charm. Once they were settled in the room, the waiter handed Julian a menu. The menu itself was quite shortjust twenty dishes in total. Yet, each dish was so expensive that the average person''s monthly salary wouldn''t be enough to cover even one. Julian took a quick glance at the menu and handed it back. "We''ll have one of each," he said simply. The waiter blinked, taken aback for a moment by the unexpected order. Then he quickly understood. Julian meant to order every dish on the menu. "Right away, Young Master Walker," the waiter responded before slipping out of the room and closing the door quietly behind him. Julian then released all his Pokmon: Metagross, Lucario, Meltan, Dragonair, Aron, and Steelix. His current roster counted seven Pokmon in total, including Slowking, who was still with his Aunt in the capital for research purposes. According to Drakoria''s Trainer Association regulations, Trainers who weren''t at pseudo-Elite rank could only carry six Pokmon. For pseudo-Elite it was eight and there was no limit for Elite and above. But since Julian''s Steelix was level 66, he qualified as a pseudo-Elite and was allowed to have eight Pokmon in his party. Julian wasn''t in a rush to evolve Meltan, even though he had collected the necessary 400 Meltan candies. As Meltan lazily rested on Aron''s back, it occasionally licked Aron''s back armor. Aron, though a little annoyed, seemed to have resigned itself to its tiny companion''s antics. There was no use fighting it, especially when Meltan was higher-leveled. "Make sure you hide when someone comes in, Meltan," Julian reminded. Meltan nodded. Being small and capable of shifting into a liquid form, it easily camouflaged itself by blending into Aron''s back, making it nearly impossible to notice unless someone looked closely. It wasn''t long before a soft knock echoed through the room, the waiter entered, carrying a tray of drinks. "These are berry drinks," the waiter explained. "Each cup is labeled according to Type, so you can match them with your Pokmon." The drinks had been specially tailored to suit the preferences of different Pokmon Types. Just like different regions had unique culinary preferencesDrakoria''s people preferred their food cooked, while those from the Babath favored raw delicaciesPokmon of different Types had distinct tastes. (T/N: probably talking about Shushi here) Julian''s tray featured drinks labeled for Steel, Dragon, Fighting, and other relevant Types for his team. The waiter hesitated momentarily, noticing there were only five Pokmon visible, yet six drinks had been ordered. Then, his eyes fell on Steelix''s enormous form. He figured the second drink must have been meant for Steelix, given the Pokmon''s size. The drinks themselves were made from various berries, known to be safe and nutritious for Pokmon. Most of these berries weren''t suitable for human consumption, as they often caused adverse reactions, including vomiting and stomach aches. Julian had been served a blend of wild apple and Oran Berry. The tartness of the apple paired with the sweetness of the Oran Berry created a perfectly balanced flavor, enhanced by the refreshing touch of mint. As Julian sipped, he noticed his Pokmon enjoying their drinks as well. Steelix, however, looked somewhat dismayed. The cups, despite being designed for Pokmon, were all the same size. For a creature as massive as Steelix, even a full cup seemed to barely quench its thirst. It gazed longingly at Meltan, who was casually dipping its entire body into its cup to savor the drink. Steelix thought back to its days as an Onixthose days were simpler, though even back then, it couldn''t have fit into a cup like that. The food began arriving shortly afterward. "Fried Platter" "Waterside Herbs" "Moo Moo Cheese" "Toast" "Onion Stick Thin Bone" "Mushroom Sausage" The dishes came in sets of six, corresponding to the Types of Julian''s Pokmon. Though the dishes were the same, slight adjustments had been made to suit each Pokmon''s taste. For example, Aron''s meal had been seasoned with flavors that complemented its Steel typing, while Dragonair''s meal had been adapted for a Dragon''s palate. The same dish, when tasted by different Pokmon, could evoke vastly different reactions. Aron had already finished its "Waterside Herbs" and now eyed Dragonair''s plate, which still had some left. Dragonair, however, wasn''t feeling generous. It swiftly scarfed down the remaining herbs. But Aron, stubborn as ever, managed to sneak a bite before Dragonair could finish. Big mistake. Aron spat it out immediately. Whatever taste worked for Dragonair''s Dragon Type was certainly not suited for Aron''s Steel Type. Aron: What the f Before Aron could finish its thought, Dragonair flicked its tail, sending Aron crashing into the wall. Julian sighed, looking at the cracked wall. Today''s dinner might end up costing more than just the food billthere would likely be repair fees added to the tab. "You had to go for Dragonair''s dish, didn''t you?" Julian muttered, shaking his head. "You''re Steel-type. Dragonair''s taste won''t work for you, of course." It was like someone used to mild soup suddenly deciding to try an extra-spicy hot pot. What did Aron expect? "You should''ve gone for Lucario''s food," Julian continued. "At least it''s got some Steel-type influence. You might''ve actually enjoyed it." Aron, now lying pitifully on the floor, silently lamented its fate. It couldn''t even compete with Lucario when it came to foodthe Fighting-type wolf was far quicker at finishing its meals. As the waiter brought in the next round of dishes, Aron''s spirits lifted once more. Chapter 112: Will’s Luck Chapter 112: Wills LuckOn August 25th, at Lake International Airport, Julian, Shen, and Will boarded a plane bound for the imperial capital. Will, despite not being directly invited, tagged along for a good reason. He had caught wind of Julian''s plan to head to the imperial capital, and it just so happened that his own University, the Third Military Academy, was there as well. He figured it would be the perfect opportunity to start early. Though Will didn''t place too highly in the Yale Provincial High School League, his performance was still notable. As a result, the Third Military Academy, a well-respected institution even if it wasn''t in the top tier, extended an invitation to him. Naturally, he accepted right awayit was the only invitation he received, after all. "The academy''s pretty strict, though," Julian remarked as they settled into their first-class seats. "You might find their system hard to adjust to." Will waved the comment away with a carefree grin. "I can handle it. What''s the worst they can do?" The three-hour flight from Lake City to the imperial capital passed quickly. Shen was busy cradling her newly captured Pokmon, a Mienfoo, which looked young and curious. "He''s a nice partner," Julian said, eyeing the Mienfoo. The Pokmon had cyan qualification despite its youthful appearance. Shen beamed with pride. "Grandpa went through a lot of trouble to get this little guy for me," she said, holding the Mienfoo a little tighter. Julian nodded, understanding the weight behind the gesture. Shen had only recently gained her family''s full recognition due to awakening of Heart''s eye and this was a hard-earned achievement that had brought her this rare gift. Shen''s sense of gratitude toward Julian deepened, knowing he had played a role in her journey. "Train him well," Julian continued, "Mienfoo''s fighting style matches your abilities perfectly." Both Mienfoo and its evolution, Mienshao, excelled in physical and mental combat, making them ideal companions for Shen''s unique skills. Julian glanced out the window, his mind wandering. There was another Pokmon that would suit Shen even betterthe legendary Urshifu, known for its mastery in the way of martial arts. With either its Single Strike or Rapid Strike forms, Urshifu brought both mind and body into perfect harmony. Unfortunately, Urshifu was incredibly rare, recently discovered in some country''s secret realm but still uncaptured. Will, on the other hand, wasn''t one to miss an opportunity for attention. "Hey, Julian, check out my Vulpix! Isn''t she something?" Julian smirked as Will held up a small Vulpix he had captured during a recent trip to the intermediate-level secret realm. Following Julian''s advice, Will had explored the volcanic area and managed to not only find fire-type treasures but also subdue the Vulpix. "Good luck, as usual," Julian said. This Vulpix had cyan qualification, Julian himself found a cyan Slowpoke in there so considering Will''s usual luck it wasn''t that far-fetched. "Call it what you want, but this cyan-qualified Vulpix is my ticket to becoming a Fire Elite!" Will declared with a proud grin. Cyan qualifications were rare, and Will''s Vulpix had the potential to evolve into a Ninetales and eventually reach Elite status. After testing its qualifications, Will had even received an offer of one billion from a collector, which he immediately turned down. Shen looked at Will in surprise, comparing her family''s effort to secure her a cyan-qualified Mienfoo with Will''s seemingly effortless capture of a cyan-qualified Vulpix. "If this were a novel, Will, you''d definitely be the protagonist," Shen mused. "Julian would be the rich second-generation villain, rich, cold, and aloofalways giving opportunities to the underdog." Will laughed, "Yeah, right! I really am the protagonist and Julian also has that cold, calculating exterior. You never know what he''s hiding underneath, he might be a beast inside." Julian raised an eyebrow. "I have a top tier Fire Stone here" "Dad, I was wrong" Shen: ?_?? With Will''s easygoing nature, the three-hour flight passed quickly. His sociable personality and knack for conversation even led him to chat with other passengers. By the end of the flight, he had struck up a friendly conversation with a striking woman seated nearby and had even exchanged contacts. Shen watched in disgust. "Then brother Will, come to me when you have time in the future" After getting off the plane, the woman said with a smile. "Okay, I will definitely come, just don''t pretend not to know me then," Will said with a grin. The answer Will received was a shy laughter from the other party. "Shen, I and Will are going first" Once the plane landed, Julian spotted his aunt waiting at the gate. Will had followed Julian and came early, so he naturally had time before University started and decided to follow Julian. "Okay, see you at Imperial University" "Yeah, see you at the University" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The three of them parted ways. Julian took Will and headed toward his aunt, who was waiting to pick them up. As they walked out of the terminal, Julian spotted her standing by the exit, scanning the crowd. Julian''s aunt, a well-known Pokmon scholar, was often incredibly busy with her work. She rarely had time to return home, sometimes visiting only once a year. Julian hadn''t seen her in three years. "Aunt Quinn," Julian greeted her warmly. "Hi, sister," Will chimed in. Julian shot Will a look. "Aww, Little Juli, your friend is so funny! And sweet-talking too. Is this your boyfriend?" his aunt teased. "You haven''t seen me in three years, and you''re still as cold as ever. But you''ve really grown." "Well, I''ve been waiting for ''Little Juli'' to introduce me to his family," Will joked, jumping in to lighten the mood. Julian narrowed his eyes. "Do you want to die?" he muttered, his voice cool but laced with a threat. Will quickly realized he''d pushed it too far. He had almost forgotten what a petty person Julian can be, He cleared his throat. "Ahem, Julian is really popular with the girls at school, but he''s way too picky. The ones who like him, don''t get noticed by him. As for me, I''m not as picky, but the girls still won''t give me a second look!" "Aunty, let''s go," Julian said, eager to escape the conversation. He wasn''t in the mood to listen to more of Will''s chatter with his aunt. The way they got along seemed like they were really aunt and nephew. "Hahaha, jealous, Little Juli?" his aunt chuckled, reaching out to pinch Julian''s cheeks just like she used to when he was a child. "Still so cute!" "Click." Julian glanced over at Will, who was casually turning his phone to snap some pictures of the airport, acting as though nothing had happened. "Imperial Capital Airport sure is big," Will said, not meeting Julian''s eyes. "I should take a few more pictures, to show my parents later." Chapter 113: Hello Slowking Chapter 113: Hello SlowkingArriving at the car, Julian''s aunt removed her large sunglasses, revealing a face that resembled Jake''s by three or four points. Though not a classic beauty, her facial lines and features gave off a sense of calm and comfort. From his uncle, to his father, to his aunt, and now to Julian himself, the Walker family had never been known for stunning looks. Yet calling them ordinary wasn''t right either. Julian, however, believed he was an exception. After all, both his mother and Love, the Indeedee, often claimed he was more handsome than his father, Jake. "Julian, your aunt why do I feel like I''ve seen her somewhere before?" Will asked, squinting as he examined Quinn after she took off her sunglasses. Before she revealed her face, Will had only noticed how young she looked, but now something about her seemed oddly familiar. "Could it be I''ve awakened some past life memories? Maybe I met her in another life?" Will mused, only half-joking. Julian shot him a glance, wondering if Will was being serious or just showing signs of mental imbalance. "That''s my aunt, Quinn Walker. Keep whatever weird ideas you''ve got to yourself," Julian replied coldly. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Quinn Walker? Wait, isn''t she the one from the textbooks?" Will suddenly connected the dots. No wonder she looked familiar. Wasn''t this the same person featured in their third-year textbook, "The Influence of Pokmon Abilities on Moves". Her photo and achievements were right on the first page, celebrating her as the youngest-ever recipient of the prestigious Arceus Award, the highest honor for Pokmon scholars. Will was amazed that this formidable figure, whose achievements were practically legendary, was standing right in front of himJulian''s aunt, no less. "Textbooks?" Quinn raised an eyebrow, her tone curious. Will, now a bit more serious in front of this renowned scholar, explained, "Yeah, it''s your book, ''The Influence of Pokmon Abilities on Moves''. It''s part of our third-year curriculum." "Oh, that one," Quinn nodded, only vaguely recalling it. She''d written so many papers and books over the years that she hardly remembered them all. This particular book was likely something she had delegated to her assistant, with her only needing to sign off on it. "Alright, enough academic talk. It''s almost noon Little Juli should I take you two to lunch first or head straight to the lab?" Quinn asked. "Let''s go to the Laboratory, we will eat there" Julian had long given up on fighting the nickname ''Little Juli'' his aunt had bestowed upon him. After more than a decade of battling the name, it had become clear that his efforts to shake it were as futile as Team Rocket''s endless attempts to catch Pikachu. As they drove toward the lab, Quinn couldn''t resist teasing her nephew. "Little Juli, why so glum? Don''t tell me it''s because I called you by that name again?" Julian turned his gaze out the window, signaling he had no interest in engaging with her playful remarks. "Elder brother calls you Little Lia, but I think Little Juli sounds much cuter," Quinn teased further. The visible tension in Julian''s face only amused her more. She hadn''t had the chance to tease him like this in three years, and now that she could, she wasn''t going to let up. "Pfft" Will suddenly stifled a laugh. Julian shot him a glare, regretting bringing him along. "Sorry! Saw something funny on my phone," Will said innocently. Though the phone in his hand clearly displayed a photo he had taken at the airporta perfect shot of Quinn tugging at Julian''s cheeks. It was just about to be sent to his circle of friends. "Auntie, your bodyguard has a license to kill, right? Can we just get rid of him now?" Julian muttered, his voice low. Will: (?_??) Quinn''s laboratory was situated on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital, nestled against the scenic Norman Mountain. It wasn''t just any labit was one of the nation''s key research centers, protected by Elite-level trainers and soldiers armed with powerful Pokmon. The facility housed not only Quinn, a strategic-level scholar, but four other researchers, each focused on different areas of Pokmon research. As they arrived, the security was immediately evidentevery five steps, there was a checkpoint, and the soldiers were all equipped with elite-level Pokmon. Quinn had already informed the lab about Julian and Will''s visit, and thanks to Julian''s connection with his grandfather, John, and his Slowking discovery, they were granted access. However, Will was only allowed in non-restricted areas. "Professor Walker," one of the researchers greeted as Quinn led them into the lab''s dining area. Several others acknowledged her as they passed, their gazes shifting curiously toward Julian and Will, wondering who they were to warrant such company. The dining hall''s food was of the highest quality, befitting a national research lab. State-banquet-level chefs prepared their meals, ensuring everything was not only nutritious but also delicious. Will, after a few bites, was in awe. "This is amazing! Everything I''ve eaten before feels like pig food compared to this," he said, briefly considering a career change to Pokmon scholarship just for the meals. After lunch, Quinn took them on a tour of the lab''s Pokmon care facility. Will''s eyes widened as he saw rare and powerful Pokmon he had only read about in textbooks. "Salamence, the pseudo-legendary dragon type" Will murmured, awe-struck. "Gardevoir, wife material.." "A white Pikachu" "Waitwhat''s that?" Will pointed toward a figure standing on a high rock, its back straight, hands behind its back, and an air of wisdom emanating from it. "That looks like a Slowbro?" he asked uncertainly. Julian stepped forward. "That''s Slowking." Slowking, who had been deep in thought about the mysteries of the universe, perked up at the sound of a familiar voice. "Slow~!" it called out, floating down from the rock and slowly making its way over to Julian. "How''s life been at the lab?" Julian asked, patting Slowking''s pink belly, which had grown noticeably rounder since he''d last seen her. Slowking nodded, indicating she was doing well, even showing off that her level had increased from 22 to 25. "Julian, it''s called Slowking?" "Um" "How do you know it''s called that?" "Because it''s my Pokmon" "It''s another evolution of Slowpoke," Quinn explained. "Little Juli discovered it, and I borrowed it for some research." Will felt like he needed a moment to process everything. First, Julian''s aunt was a record-breaking scholar, and now Julian owned a never before discovered Pokmon. "Little Juli, Slowking''s IQ is extremely highIt has been tested by more than 99% of the researchers in our laboratory. In fact, in its eyes, most humans are idiots. " "But don''t worry, even though it probably thinks you''re stupid, as your Pokmon, it would never say so out loud. If you have any problems with your homework in the future, you can ask Slowking for advice." Julian: (-_-) Chapter 114: Registration Chapter 114: RegistrationSeptember 1st marked the start of a new academic year for colleges and universities across the country, and the excitement was palpable. Freshmen from all over were making their way to their new campuses, while seniors eagerly waited at train stations, bus terminals, and airports to return. Julian and Shen had already arrived in the Imperial Capital, but they hadn''t seen much of each other in the past few days, each wrapped up in their own business. The heat of the morning sun bore down as Shen stood at the east gate of Imperial University, the main entrance for students. It was already past nine o''clock, and she had been waiting for Julian, her luggage in hand, looking somewhat impatient. With each freshman coming in, the most excited were the seniors. Whether they can finally get a girlfriend depends on this wave. Though Shen wasn''t a classic beauty by any means, her tall figurethanks to years of martial arts trainingwas striking. At five-foot-nine, she exuded strength, which immediately set her apart from the softer, more delicate girls often associated with the term "freshman." Already, she had turned down seven well-meaning seniors who had offered to help with her luggage, and her patience was wearing thin. "Julian, you said eight o''clock!" she muttered to herself, glancing at the time again. "It''s past nine already!" "Hey do you..." Just as another senior approached her, hoping to lend a hand, Shen''s face twisted in annoyance. She cut him off with a sharp, "Roll." The senior who thought he was quite handsome recoiled, wide-eyed, Afterall freshman were easier to coax in his eyes. For a moment it was as if he had just seen a roaring Tyranitar bearing down on him. Shen''s fiery demeanor had earned her the nickname "female tyrannosaurus" back at Lake No. 1, and today, that reputation was on full display. Imperial University, one of the top five universities in the Drakoria region, wasn''t known for its grand entrance. The gate was small, unremarkable even, with peeling white paint that exposed the red bricks beneath. The only eye-catching feature was the three large characters engraved on the wall: "Imperial Capital University." Those three words alone imbued the gate with a sense of importance and history, making it a popular stop for tourists and students alike. Finally, Julian arrived, strolling toward Shen without a hint of urgency. Shen was ready to unleash her frustration, but before she could speak, Julian shrugged nonchalantly. "Waited long?" Shen''s eye twitched. "You''re more than an hour late, and that''s all you have to say?" Julian remained unbothered. "Why are you still standing here? You could''ve signed up without me. It''s so hot." Shen: (~X) Shen clenched her fists, glaring at him. In her mind, she imagined taking Julian down with a punch, but she knew better than to try. Even if she wanted to flatten him, she couldn''t win in a fight. The pair walked through the campus, following the signs toward the Trainer Academy''s registration area. Imperial University was massive, with over 30 different colleges covering everything from humanities and economics to languages and mathematics. Though many students owned Pokmon, only a fraction were professional trainers, and they often pursued other interests such as research or business. Becoming a professional trainer was a high-risk job and it required a rare combination of talent, perseverance, and resources. Sarch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For those lacking in any of these areas, being a regular student or Pokmon researcher was the more practical route. Trainer Academy, Breeder Academy, Pokmon School of Medicine, Pokmon Research Academy, etc. Still, the Trainer Academy was the crown jewel of Imperial University, known for its high admission standards and talented students. By the time they reached the registration area, a line of freshmen had already formed. Ten registration points had been set up, so the line moved quickly. After waiting for about ten minutes, it was Julian''s turn. He handed his admission notice to the bespectacled senior at the desk, who scanned it. Soon Julian''s information appeared on the computer. "Special class recruit, Julian. Student number: 202201," the senior announced, his eyes widening in surprise. "You''re *the* Julian?" "That''s me," Julian replied casually. "Is there a problem?" The senior shook his head but couldn''t stop staring. It was as if he had just met some rare Pokmon. Shen, had just finished her registration, she was also a special class recruit, which surprised the senior, as he got two special class students in one day. "Julian, what''s your student number?" Shen asked. "202201," he answered, still puzzled by all the attention. "As I thought," Shen said with a knowing smirk. "That makes you the representative of this year''s freshman class." "Representative? What are you talking about?" Julian asked, raising an eyebrow. Shen rolled her eyes. "You didn''t bother looking into Imperial University''s traditions, did you? The freshman with student number 01 is always considered the representative of their class. It''s a pretty big deal." "Most academies follow this tradition" "The preceding ''2022'' is the year, so I won''t say much about that." Julian nodded slowly as if the information was finally sinking in. "Huh. I had no idea." Shen couldn''t help but laugh at his cluelessness. "You''re something else, Julian." "What''s your student number?" Julian asked, curious now. "Mine is 23rd- 202223," Shen replied. "But after the 01st, the other numbers don''t really matter, From 02 to 30 they all just follow alphabetical order except for 01" There''s 30 students in the special class. "Oh so that''s it, you know so much" It was obviously a compliment, but Julian''s tone sounded off, it was too plain, it gave people a sense of sarcasm. Shen looked at Julian''s back, thinking about whether to settle the old debts together, and directly give him a beating. This guy was really annoying. ~Intense stare~ As they walked toward their dorms, Julian''s expression shifted suddenly. His gaze darted around the campus, scanning the area. "What''s wrong?" Shen asked, noticing the sudden tension in his posture. "I thought... I felt something. Like I was being targeted," Julian muttered. His voice lowered. "It felt like I was being stalked by something... something big." Shen narrowed her eyes. "Don''t joke about that stuff." Julian shook his head. "It wasn''t a joke. For a second, it felt like a Tyranitar had its eyes on me. But... maybe I imagined it." Shen: (_) Julian stopped in his tracks again. "Wait. No. That feeling''s back." Chapter 115: New Home Chapter 115: New HomeEach student in the special class has a villa of their own, about 300 square meters, along with a small courtyard where Pokmon can usually roam and stay comfortably. For those in ordinary classes, students live in shared dormitories with a four-person room arrangement, offering more limited space and privacy. As the representative of the special class, Julian''s villa was a full five times larger than the standard ones. His residence featured a gym, a swimming pool, and a Pokmon training room. The yard alone was vast, nearly the size of one and a half football fields. Sarch* The novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian, looking around, felt quite satisfied with his accommodations. While he didn''t mind enduring hardships himself, he was adamant that his Pokmon should not suffer unnecessarily. This belief was central to his approach as a trainer. A good trainer must possess such a noble consciousness, he reminded himself. There were only four villas like his across the entire Imperial University campus, representing the representatives of each year''s special class, from freshman to senior year. The entire university campus spanned an immense 300 square kilometerslarger than some towns in the Johto Region. Among its many facilities, the Trainer Academy occupied the largest space, with a whopping 100 square kilometers of land dedicated to it. It featured thousands of large and small battlefields scattered across its grounds. In fact, for anyone in a relationship within Imperial University, if they weren''t in the same college, it was practically a long-distance relationship due to the sheer size of the campus. After taking a cursory look around his villa, Julian pulled his luggage out from the system space and arranged it inside. Fortunately, the rooms were cleaned regularly, sparing him the trouble of hiring a Pokmon to handle it. Stepping out into the spacious yard, he admired the surroundings. There was a pool, a rock garden, ancient trees, and even a well-placed barbecue grill. "The school really thought of everything," he mused with a smile. Without further delay, Julian released all of his Pokmon. Metagross, Lucario, Meltan, Dragonair, Steelix, Slowking, and Aron all emerged, looking around curiously at their new home. "What do you think of the place?" Julian asked, addressing his team. "If you don''t like it, let me know, and I''ll talk to the college." His Pokmon didn''t seem too picky. Their primary requirement was having enough space to move around freely, and this place certainly provided that. As the other Pokmon were busy exploring their new environment, but Aron rushed toward Julian, with Meltan perched playfully on its back. "Here comes the glutton" Julian remarked fondly, patting Aron on the head. Thanks to the Totem soul, Aron had grown to an impressive one meter in height, even well-developed Aron typically maxed out at around 50 or 60 centimeters, so one of this size was quite extraordinary. With such an unusual size, Aron''s appetite had also grown immensely. Julian had already begun to worry whether the hundreds of tons of raw ore he had acquired would be enough to last Aron until it evolved into Aggron. "Okay, okay, stop licking" Julian laughed as he gently picked up Meltan, who was eagerly licking Aron''s head. Even though Aron didn''t have any fur, the areas Meltan frequently licked had developed an almost mirror-like shine. The little guy who was being carried by Julian was still unconvinced, and kept Struggling. ''Even if I can''t eat the shell, can''t you just let me lick it?'' Julian pulled out an Aura stone from his system space and handed it to Meltan, who eagerly started munching on it. "I wonder if Meltan''s personality will stay the same after it evolves" Julian muttered. For now, though, he wasn''t in a rush to evolve Meltan. He already had a strong team, and once a Pokmon evolved, its personality usually matured. Julian figured it was better to let Meltan enjoy its "infant" phase a little longer. Besides, there was no reason to push it into the limelight just yet. "Metagross, come with me. Lucario, you''re in charge while I''m gone. And make sure Meltan doesn''t eat anything it''s not supposed to. Steelix, no digging!" Lucario nodded dutifully, taking command. After Julian left, Dragonair splashed into the pool, enjoying a relaxing bath. Steelix, ever mindful of its instructions, reassured everyone, ''I won''t dig any holes, don''t worry.'' Meanwhile, Meltan was comfortably perched on Aron''s head, happily munching on its Aura stone. Slowking, taking a different approach to relaxation, removed its crown, pulled out a scarf from within its hollow, put the crown back on, and elegantly tied the scarf around its neck before wandering into the villa. Lucario: So that''s what the crown is for. - Out on the campus, Julian strolled through the Trainer Academy. Nearly every student he saw had a Pokmon walking alongside them. The caliber of students at Imperial University was high, and even the freshmen had Pokmon that were already at the Advanced level. Sophomores generally had Pokmon that were at the Advanced peak or pseudo-Elite, and by the third year, if you weren''t at least a pseudo-Elite, you were considered an underachiever at the Trainer Academy. Of course, reaching the true Elite level was a rare achievement, something only those blessed with both luck and talent could attain. Julian''s probing eyes scanned the various Pokmon as he passed by. Most were of green qualification, which was the standard even at Imperial University. Occasionally, he spotted one or two cyan-grade Pokmon, which stood out amidst the crowd. The variety of Pokmon on display was remarkable. Almost every species imaginable, including pseudo-legendaries, could be found at the Trainer Academy. Julian even spotted a student carrying a Gible, which drew some attention from passersby. Although pseudo-legendary Pokmon were not unheard of at the academy, they were still rare enough to turn heads. But the one who garnered the most attention was Julian himself. His impressive silver Metagross followed him closely, acting like a beacon for anyone with eyes. Many students stopped to take pictures of the unique Pokmon as it walked by. "Wow, a silver Metagross! That''s amazing," someone whispered. "Must be a rich kid," another student muttered. "Nothing but family background." "Hey, what did you say?" his friend asked, barely able to hear him. "I heard Walker Elite''s grandson is attending this year. That must be him," one student guessed. The silver Metagross was an unmistakable sign, making it easy for some to deduce Julian''s identity. Not far away, a girl named Grace, who was holding her Gible, overheard the conversation. Her friend nudged her. "Do you know him?" she asked curiously. Grace shook her head. "No, Walker Elite never brought him to any of our parties." These gatherings were an essential part of the social circles among top trainers, where Pokmon, items, and information were often traded. Most Elite trainers brought their juniors along to introduce them to these high-level social networks. "Maybe Walker Elite doesn''t like his grandson," her friend speculated. "I heard Walker''s aiming for the championship." "It''s not that he doesn''t like him," Grace clarified. "Walker Elite just said he doesn''t want to waste time at those kinds of parties." Her friend laughed. "If he showed up, everyone would just fawn over him anyway. I can see why he''d want to avoid that." Grace just sighed. Chapter 116: New Partner Chapter 116: New PartnerThe Breeding House, one of the most critical facilities at the Trainer Academy, served as a vital place for students to store and care for their Pokmon. Since Advanced-level Trainers could only carry six Pokmon with them at a time, and many of these Trainers captured far more than six, the Breeding House was established to keep and nurture the extra Pokmon they couldn''t carry. In the Breeding House, Pokmon received top-level care from expert breeders. These breeders ensured that every Pokmon remained in prime condition, offering a service that was widely used by Advanced Trainers. Such facilities were not unique to the academy; many similar Breeding Houses existed in the market, providing services to trainers who needed a place to keep their Pokmon. However, the cost of these services varied significantly based on the quality of care. For instance, fostering an Advanced-level Pokmon for a month could cost as much as 3 million. Some top-tier Breeding Houses even offered advanced services, such as training the Pokmon to increase its level while being cared for. This ensured that even during a long stay, the Pokmon would continue to grow stronger. Of course, these premium services came with prices that could easily bankrupt many trainers. In addition to fostering services, most Breeding Houses also offered options for selling Pokmon or even selling Pokmon eggs, making them versatile hubs for Pokmon-related business. Julian had agreed to attend Imperial University because of the extraordinary terms laid out by Teacher Ella from the Admissions Office. Had the offer not been good enough, Julian would have chosen Shu University, the arch-rival of Imperial University. Among the many benefits promised to him, one of the most enticing was that he could spend up to one billion in the Breeding House to purchase a blue-qualified Pokmon. (T/N: it''s not in dollars, but still a high number nonetheless) That''s right, it''s a purchase, not a gift. This offer was an incredible deal. The blue qualification represented Pokmon with pseudo-champion potential, and such Pokmon were almost impossible to find in the open market. If sold, a blue-qualified Pokmon could easily fetch 50 billion or more, but Imperial University had offered Julian the chance to acquire one at no cost. At the entrance of the Breeding House, Shen was already waiting. She had also been given the opportunity to choose a Pokmon, though hers was cyan-qualified, a level below blue. Shen seemed satisfied, as this time she only had to wait five minutes for Julian to arrive. Her earlier annoyance with him had faded, and she now looked at him more warmly. They handed their student ID cards to the staff, who then directed them to different floorsShen to the second floor and Julian to the third. As Julian arrived on the third floor, he was surprised to see a familiar face. "Teacher Ella?" Julian said, recognizing the Admissions Officer. Teacher Ella smiled warmly. "I thought you might come to pick your Pokmon on your first day." Julian raised an eyebrow. "You''ve been waiting for me?" "Yes," she replied. "I''m curious to see which Pokmon you''ll choose." The staff brought Julian a booklet, detailing the available blue-qualified Pokmon. There were only five, which was no surprise given how rare they were. Each Pokmon had its gender, moves, abilities, and even information about its parents listed, as the blue qualification often came from having at least one or both parents with the same level of aptitude. Imperial University had managed to secure five blue-qualified Pokmon, a testament to its prestige as one of the top universities in Drakoria. The five available Pokmon were: a level 15 Bagon, a level 20 Growlithe, a level 10 Treecko, a level 10 Sandile, and a level 17 Elekid. Bagon and Elekid, in particular, stood out as they were the offspring of two champion-level Pokmon. "I''ll take you to see them," Teacher Ella said, gesturing for Julian to follow. The five Pokmon were housed in a special mimetic room on the third floor, which was designed to simulate their natural environments. The room was about half the size of a football field, providing ample space for the Pokmon to move around and develop their personalities. Keeping them together, rather than in isolation, helped foster social skills and avoid making them withdrawn or antisocial. Each Pokmon had its own senior breeder assigned to its care, ensuring that it received the best attention. "Bagon, Growlithe, Treecko, Sandile, Elekidcome here!" called one of the breeders, who had been informed about Julian''s visit. The five Pokmon approached, each displaying its unique temperament. Julian activated his Probing Eyes, confirming that all five had blue qualifications and were in excellent health. This was no surprise, considering the meticulous care they had received. Teacher Ella sighed lightly. "It''s a shame there aren''t any Steel-type Pokmon here." Julian, smiling, replied, "I already have plenty of Steel-types." Julian''s family had a strong affinity for Steel-type Pokmon, so he had no shortage of them. Teacher Ella, momentarily taken aback by his comment, fell silent. As the five Pokmon stood before him, their distinct personalities became apparent. Bagon looked indifferent, Growlithe was wagging its tail enthusiastically, Sandile appeared calm, Treecko had a rebellious glint in its eyes, and Elekid looked at Julian with a mischievous, taunting expression. Despite the significance of the decision, Julian didn''t hesitate for long. Sarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Growlithe, would you like to come with me?" he asked, crouching down and extending his hand. He had expected that if Growlithe was hesitant, he might need to battle to capture it. However, Growlithe proved to be as friendly as it looked. Without any hesitation, the little Pokmon began licking Julian''s hand, eagerly accepting his offer. Seeing Growlithe''s response, Julian smiled. The breeder assigned to Growlithe, who had been standing nearby, seemed both sad and proud. "You''ll have to take good care of it," the breeder said, his voice filled with emotion. Like a parent watching a child leave home, he was reluctant to let go. He had raised Growlithe from an egg, watching it grow every day. Now, seeing it leave with its new Trainer brought a mix of sadness and pride. The breeder didn''t wish for Growlithe to be "happy" just because it found a Trainer; he wasn''t that sentimental. Rather, he was just an ordinary person feeling the natural sadness of seeing a Pokmon he had nurtured leave. It was like a father marrying off his daughter, only to watch her walk away with her new life, not even glancing back. Chapter 117: Cyan at Bottom Chapter 117: Cyan at BottomWhen Julian walked out of the breeding house, Teacher Ella couldn''t help but ask curiously, "Why didn''t you choose Bagon?" Out of the five Pokmon available, Bagon clearly had the greatest potential. As a pseudo-legendary Pokmon, Bagon''s final form, Salamence, was incredibly strong and even had a Mega Evolution. The same could be said for Treecko, which also had a Mega Evolution. Pokmon with these forms often had a distinct advantage, assuming their Trainers had the corresponding Mega Evolution stones. Given Julian''s background, Teacher Ella had no doubts he could easily get his hands on Salamence''s Mega Evolution stone through the Walker family. Julian, however, shrugged lightly. "I just think Growlithe suits me better." If he hadn''t recently acquired the fire crystal from the secret realm, he might have gone with Bagon. But with this rare fire-type treasure in his possession, choosing Growlithe felt like the right move. As much as blue-qualified Bagon was valuable, he figured there''d be other chances to capture one down the line if he ever felt the need, especially with the system resources at his disposal, he could just raise one to blue qualification if needed. Hearing Julian''s words, Growlithe wagged his tail in joy. Julian, inwardly pleased with his choice, also couldn''t help but smirk. "Choosing based on intuition and bond that''s an essential quality of an excellent Trainer," Teacher Ella said approvingly. Most Trainers, when given the option, would always go for the most powerful or prestigious Pokmon, like a Charmander over a Caterpie. Even if their heart leaned toward the less popular choice, logic usually dictated otherwise for long-term success. Of course, choosing from the heart only worked when it didn''t interfere with one''s future goals or cause any regret later on. Julian simply nodded at Teacher Ella''s words, choosing to keep his thoughts about the fire crystal to himself. "Growlithe is an excellent choice," Teacher Ella continued, "and in Drakoria, it carries special significance." "Yeah," Julian agreed, "it''s known as the ''legendary'' Pokmon here, isn''t it?" Drakoria''s history was marked by both pride and struggle. During a tumultuous era, one great leader had used an Arcanine to defend the nation from its enemies, becoming a symbol of hope. Arcanine''s noble appearance, paired with its fiery strength, earned it the title of the ''legendary Pokmon'' in the region. Despite its rarity, Growlithe and Arcanine had become symbols of national pride. Additionally, Arcanine had impressive Species Strength, standing at base stat 555, surpassing all fire-type Pokmon from the three royal starters. Its loyalty, speed, and elegance made it a top-tier Pokmon in both form and function. Including Growlithe, Julian now had eight Pokmon, but Meltan had never been registered on the Trainer Association Network, so Julian can only use the seven registered Pokmon if he plays the Open Tournament. As Julian returned to his villa, his Pokmon were lounging around the yard. Steelix was basking contently in the evening sun, and the rest were scattered about, each doing their own thing. "Alright, everyone! Come meet your new teammate" Julian called, releasing Growlithe from its Pok Ball. Metagross, Dragonair, Steelix, Aron, Meltan, and Lucario all turned their attention to Growlithe. Slowking, busy in the kitchen, didn''t come out, but the rest of Julian''s team watched curiously as the small fire-type greeted them with enthusiasm. Growlithe, unfazed by the unfamiliar faces, barked happily, wagging his tail. ''Hello seniors, I am the new intern, you can call me Growlithe'' Pokmon: Growlithe (Fire) Level: 20 Qualification: Blue Ability: Flash Fire Held Item: None Gender: Male Moves: Leer, Ember, Howl, Bite, Flame Wheel, Helping Hand, Agility Disc Moves: None Genetic Moves: Flare Blitz, Overheat, Double-Edge, Outrage Despite its relatively low level, Growlithe''s genetic moves stood out as particularly powerful, especially for a Pokmon of blue qualification. Julian knew there was plenty of potential here. Growlithe, looking at each of the older Pokmon, eventually locked eyes with Metagross and offered a respectful bark. Growlithe: Hello boss. Metagross: Hmm. Metagross grunted in acknowledgment, nodding in approval of the enthusiastic newcomer. Julian watched the interaction, amused. "We''re not a gang," he chuckled to himself, watching Growlithe fall right in line with Metagross''s leadership. Metagross, pleased with Growlithe''s loyalty, quickly adopted him as a favored junior. Unlike the others, who had grown more independent after evolving, Growlithe''s eagerness to be part of the team felt refreshing. It also helped that Growlithe wasn''t the serious or aloof type, like Lucario, who only had eyes for Julian, or Dragonair, who always seemed to think it was second in command. Meltan and Aron, of course, were simply too young and a little scatterbrained. Then there was Steelix, who was simply too massive and lazy to care about group dynamics, and Slowking, who was so smart that even Metagross felt a bit outwitted when interacting with him. Metagross: This little one might become my favorite. Julian, meanwhile, retrieved the fire crystal from his bag. It was encased in special crystals, which blocked its energy from being detected by most fire-type Pokmon, preventing it from being snatched by more powerful fire-types like the Magmar species from whom he''d narrowly obtained it. Yet, as soon as Julian pulled it out, Growlithe''s attention snapped toward it. Growlithe padded over to Julian, staring at the tennis ball-sized fire crystal in his hand. "Impressive. You can sense it already?" Julian marveled at Growlithe''s sensitivity. "Go ahead, it''ll help you grow stronger." Julian held out the crystal, and Growlithe, rather than greedily snatching it, licked Julian''s palm before carefully swallowing it whole. The fire crystal wouldn''t immediately transform Growlithe; instead, it would gradually enhance his flame origin, significantly improving the power of his fire-type moves. In time, Julian hoped, it would even allow Growlithe to surpass its current blue qualification. While the fire crystal alone couldn''t elevate Growlithe to purple qualification, a combination of system resources and training might make it possible. Julian already had three purple-qualified Pokmon: Metagross, Dragonair, and Meltan. With Growlithe now on the team, he could add it to his growing roster of blue-qualified Pokmon alongside Lucario and Aron. Even his Slowking and Steelix had cyan-qualification. Sarch* The n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Despite the rarity of cyan-qualified Pokmon in the outside world, Julian''s standards placed them at the bottom of his team in terms of potential. "Slow~" Suddenly, Slowking called out from the kitchen, wearing an apron. Slowking: It''s time for dinner. Don''t know what Slowking did in the Laboratory, but she had awakened an interest for cooking. Julian smiled. "Perfect timing." Slowking''s unexpected talent for cooking had become a huge convenience for Julian, saving him from having to prepare meals or rely on cafeteria food. The taste, of course, was also surprisingly good. Chapter 118: Elite Teacher Chapter 118: Elite TeacherIn the special class of Imperial University, there are only thirty coveted spots each year. Those who earn a place here are among the best, having achieved outstanding results throughout their high school careers. Julian had earned his spot by securing first place in both the team and individual competitions of the Yale Provincial High School League. He also possessed a rare ability: the advanced Aura and intermediate Psychic, though only a select few were aware of the latter. Julian''s extraordinary abilities had earned him recognition, but in this special class, he wasn''t alone in having unique talents. Several others in the class were similarly gifted. For instance, there was Shen''s Heart''s Eye and another with Heart of Dragon. (T/N: some kind of ability that helps train and bond with dragon types easier, boosting their power) Others had achieved top rankings in their provincial high school leagues or even challenged city-level gyms while still in their final year of high school. Everyone here had a remarkable track record, and none of them had come to be second-best. In a class full of geniuses, the competition was fierceeach person believed they were the best, and the only goal worth pursuing was to be number one. Julian held student number 202201, making him not only the top student in the special class but also of the entire batch of students who entered this year. Naturally, his status drew the attention of many in the class. Some looked on with envy, others with skepticism, and a few with outright hostility. They didn''t believe that Julian was necessarily better than them. True, Julian came from a powerful family, but so did many of them. The special class wasn''t filled with ordinary studentsmost were from wealthy or influential families themselves. None of them felt inferior because of family status. The real question on everyone''s mind was why Julian, despite their equal backgrounds, should be considered the best. "Julian, you know people aren''t exactly convinced with you getting no. 01, right?" Shen said with a smirk as she sat beside him. Despite her own extraordinary ability, Shen was among the weaker members of the special class in terms of raw strength. If she hadn''t awakened her powers, she likely wouldn''t have made it into the class at all. Since she was sitting with Julian, the hostility directed at him was also spilling onto her. "Your spot as the top student/representative doesn''t seem like it''s going to be an easy ride," she added, with a gleeful expression. Although she couldn''t beat Julian but if others could that''s also good. Julian remained calm. "Looks like you''d rather join them," he said lightly. Shen hurriedly shook her head. "No way! I''m with you," she said, but her guilty expression betrayed her. Julian didn''t need to read minds to sense what Shen was thinking. ''I can feel your malicious intentions.'' Just then, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the hallway outside, and a large, imposing man in his thirties entered the classroom. He surveyed the thirty students, nodded, and introduced himself, "I''m Frank, your homeroom teacher. Rock-type Elite Trainer." His words carried significant weight. In Drakoria, there were hundreds of millions of registered Trainers, but only around 500 had reached Elite status. Each Elite-level Trainer was a vital asset to Drakoria, part of the force that protected the nation from external threats and maintained its strength on the world stage. Julian had encountered pseudo-Elite Trainers before and even defeated one, but this was only the third true Elite Trainer he had met, besides his father and grandfather. To have someone of Frank''s caliber as their homeroom teacher was a clear indication of just how special the special class truly was. Elite Trainers were usually involved in exploring high-level secret realms, performing national duties, or undertaking high-stakes missions. The fact that Frank was here teaching a class spoke volumes about the treatment and expectations placed on the students. Frank wasn''t just any Elite Trainer eitherhe had a sterling reputation among his peers. At Imperial University, there were only six Elite Trainers, and Frank ranked second only to the Dean of the Trainer Academy. "As students in the special class, you''ll face challenges from the regular students once a month," Frank continued. "The loser will move down to the regular class, and the winner will take their place in the special class." Most of the students had already heard this rule, but none of them believed they would ever lose to a "regular" student. The special class wasn''t just for any studentsthey were from noble families, the elite, the best of the best. Losing to an ordinary student was unthinkable. "Now, let''s choose a class monitor. Julian, as the representative, you can take the position. The class monitor earns 1,000 credits per month." Julian had been about to decline, but when he heard the mention of 1,000 credits, he nodded. In university, credits were the primary currency. Students could use them to purchase Pokmon, items, treasures, move CDs, and even hire one-on-one sessions with specialized teachers. But for Julian, the most valuable thing to acquire were the books in the school''s library. As it had journals of experience recorded by pseudo-Elite and Elite trainers. While the Walker family was renowned for their expertise in training steel-type Pokmon, Julian knew there was always more to learn from the experience of other Trainers, even those outside his family''s sphere. Just as Frank finished his announcement, one of the students stood up, his expression filled with defiance. "Teacher Frank, I disagree. The class monitor should be the strongest person here, and I don''t think that''s Julian." Another student quickly stood up. "Yeah, me too. I think we should have a battle to decide." In total, six students stood up, each voicing their opposition to Julian being appointed as the class monitor. The others remained seated, watching the confrontation unfold with interest. Frank turned to Julian. "What do you say? If you don''t want to be the monitor, I can choose someone else." He kicked the ball in Julian''s court. As the representative, if he didn''t have a certain level of strength, he should go down as soon as possible. Trainer was a profession that needed competition to improve. Julian stood up, his gaze steady. "Let''s go to the battlefield." He knew this challenge wasn''t just about the position of class monitor. sea??h th n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. These students didn''t care about thatthey cared about proving themselves as stronger than him, the representative. Julian was more than ready to accept their challenge. If they wanted a battle, he would gladly take them on, and he would make sure that afterward, there''d be no more doubts about his strength. Frank smiled slightly. Julian''s confidence pleased him. This was what he expected from the best student in the special class. Chapter 119: Those who want to fight line up Chapter 119: Those who want to fight line upThe Trainer Academy boasted more than 1,000 battlegrounds of varying sizes. Each class typically had two or three battlegrounds designated for their use, with different terrains and setups for training purposes. The special class, being the most privileged group within the academy, had access to ten battlegrounds, including both large arenas and specialized terrain fields. Julian led the way confidently, but halfway through, he slowed his pace. He intended to wait for Shen to catch up, but to his surprise, she had already fallen behind, engrossed in conversation with a new friend. The two seemed to be hitting it off. "Cough-Shen, come here!" Julian called, coughing lightly to catch her attention. "What is it?" Shen asked. "Uh... which way is the battlefield?" Julian''s sudden question clearly embarrassed him. He had been striding forward confidently, but halfway there, it dawned on him that he had no idea where their class''s battleground was. Shen shot him a sharp look. "You made such a bold declaration back in class, ready for a fight, but now you don''t even know where the battlefield is?" Julian gave a sheepish grin. "Yeah, well..." Shen sighed, "Just keep walking straight. You''ll see it." Fortunately, Julian hadn''t taken a wrong turn. If he had wandered off in the wrong direction in front of his classmatesand more importantly, their teacherit would''ve been hard to live down. After about ten minutes of walking, they arrived at a standard battle arena. A sign beside it read: "2022 Special Class". The battlefield was the size of a football field, a neutral environment without any elemental bonuses, a perfect blank slate for any type of battle. Julian took his place at one end of the field, his expression calm and composed. Across the field, however, the six students who had earlier challenged him looked at each other, Finally one of them, a boy wearing glasses, stepped forward. "I''ll go first," the boy said. The head teacher, Frank, who had followed them to the battlefield, stepped forward as the referee. "Would you like to activate the protective shield? It costs 100 credits per match." The protective shield was a barrier system that ensured trainers wouldn''t be harmed by the aftermath of their Pokmon''s moves. In public competitions, it was always used to protect both trainers and spectators from the powerful moves unleashed during battles. Julian waved it off. "No need. This won''t take long." His casual dismissal sent a ripple of murmurs through the crowd. The boy with glasses, Tyler, was flushed with anger. Julian''s words felt like a blatant challenge, implying he wasn''t even worth the time it took to activate the shield. "Your friend sure talks big," murmured a girl next to Shen. "Tyler is the individual champion of the Central South Provincial High School League, just like your friend Julian." Shen simply smiled, "You''ll see soon enough." Hearing Shen say this, Kate was also curious about how strong Julian really was, and looked forward to the upcoming match. Frank raised his hand to signal the start of the match. "One Pokmon to decide the winner. Agreed?" There were six people who challenged Julian. If each of them fought with two or more Pokmon, it would undoubtedly take a lot of time. Julian nodded. "Agreed." Tyler also nodded, though his face was set in a determined scowl. Julian didn''t hesitate. He released his Pokmon, and in a flash of light, a silver Metagross floated into the air, a pseudo-legendary Pokmon whose mere presence commanded respect. The metallic beast hovered effortlessly, its cold eyes focused on the opponent. Tyler also threw out his Pok Ball, revealing a towering Blaziken, a powerful Fire-type known for its speed and devastating fire-based attacks. Tyler was a fire type trainer, fire was super-effective against steel, which was one of the reasons why he refused to accept Julian as the monitor and was the first to challenge him. "Blaziken, use Flamethrower!" Blaziken darted forward with astonishing speed, crossing the battlefield in a blur. As it neared Metagross, it unleashed a searing column of flames. "Steel Beam," Julian said, his voice calm. Metagross''s eyes flashed, and in an instant, a brilliant beam of silver light shot forth, cutting through the air. The Steel Beam collided with Blaziken''s Flamethrower, but the flames were no match for Metagross''s power. The beam sliced through the fire and struck Blaziken head-on. The explosion that followed sent Blaziken flying across the battlefield, crashing to the ground at the far end. "Blaziken is unable to battle. Metagross wins!" Frank announced, glancing at Julian with newfound respect. Blaziken was defeated in a single move. Blaziken, who was known for its speed, didn''t even have time to dodge. Tyler stood frozen, disbelief etched across his face. His Blaziken had been taken down with a single move, and he hadn''t even seen it coming. The other students watching were equally shocked. If they hadn''t know Tyler was a high school league champion, just like Julian, they would have believed this match to just be a play. "Next," Julian said, his voice cutting through the stunned silence. Tyler recalled his Blaziken, his face pale. He had nothing left to say as he walked off the battlefield in defeat. The remaining five challengers hesitated now. The ease with which Julian had dispatched Tyler had shaken their confidence. "That high school league title means nothing. What a joke," sneered one of the remaining challengers as he stepped forward. Tyler heard him but didn''t say anything, Afterall he did lose the fight. "Yanis, he scored highest in the national college entrance examination, and I heard his father is an Elite Trainer," Kate whispered to Shen, her excitement rising. "Walrein, let''s go!" The other trainer was an Ice-type specialist. Seeing the level 58 Walrein, Julian became slightly interested; after all, it had a cyan aptitude. Yanis stared intensely at Metagross. Despite his earlier comments about Tyler, he didn''t truly look down on himthere were no weaklings in the special class. The fact that Tyler''s Blaziken had been instantly defeated by Metagross only demonstrated how powerful and fearsome Julian''s Pokmon was. Even though Metagross didn''t exude a pseudo-Elite aura, its strength was undeniably at that level. "Walrein, Surf!" Yanis, unlike Tyler, was more strategic. Surf didn''t just target Metagrossit also aimed to overwhelm Julian with its enormous wave. A massive surge of water formed across the entire battlefield, with Walrein riding atop it, guiding the wave towards Metagross. "Interesting... let''s see how they handle this," murmured the head teacher Frank. This arena didn''t have a protective shield, so even if Metagross managed to break through the Surf attack, the momentum would carry the leftover water straight towards Julian. For Metagross, this was no issue. But Julian? Being hit by such a massive wave would likely leave him drenched and disoriented. "Metagross, Psychic." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian''s command was simple. As Metagross'' eyes gleamed blue, the immense wave came to a sudden stop under the control of Psychic. The Surf attack, which weighed dozens of tons, and carried incredible force, was frozen mid-motion. Chapter 120: Let’s Switch Chapter 120: Lets SwitchUnder Metagross''s Psychic, the entire battlefield seemed frozen in time. Walrein, along with the massive Surf wave it had summoned, stopped mid-motion, as if someone had pressed the pause button. A pale blue aura enveloped both Walrein and the Surf, and panic flickered in the Pokmon''s eyes as it awaited its Trainer''s next command. Yanis, though, wasn''t easily shaken. No one who made it into the special class was. "Walrein, calm down and take control! Push that Surf forward!" Yanis shouted. He didn''t believe Metagross could keep this up for long. Even if Metagross held the Surf back now, the sheer weight of the water would eventually overwhelm it. As long as Walrein could regain control, even if the Surf didn''t defeat Metagross, it would surely cause trouble for Julian standing behind his Pokmon. Walrein: I waited for so long, and this is all you could come up with? Sear?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Walrein, however, had other thoughts. It could still feel the tight grip of Psychic binding its body, unable to do much more than move its eyes. If it could speak, it might have had a few choice words for its Trainer. One minute passed. Then five. Then ten. Metagross''s Psychic held strong the entire time, unyielding. Yanis, initially surprised, grew more and more frustrated, his face twisting in disbelief. His expression likely followed this sequence: (;) (O_O)? (O)b By now, everyone was staring at Metagross in astonishment. A Psychic that lasted for ten minutes, and not just to lift a cup or small object, but to control a massive wave of Surf spanning the battlefield. Yanis''s Walrein, his trump card, was utterly helpless, held like a puppet under Metagross''s power. Finally, Julian spoke. "End it, Metagross." The blue aura around Walrein and the Surf intensified. Under the horrified gazes of everyone present, Metagross lifted both Walrein and the massive wave into the air. Higher and higher they rose, reaching a height of about three or four hundred feet. Julian glanced at Yanis, who stood frozen in shock, too stunned to say a word. At this point, if Yanis had being calm, he would have surrendered. ''Forget it, it''s so fat, it won''t die from falling anyway'' With Psychic still active, Metagross held them there for a moment longer, before releasing the move. The Surf disintegrated into countless raindrops, drenching the spectators, while Walrein plummeted to the ground with a heavy thud. Only Julian remained dry, protected by Metagross''s psychic barrier. Walrein hit the ground with a crash, leaving a small crater behind. It staggered, trying to get back on its feet, clearly shaken but not completely down. "Return, Walrein," Yanis said, finally admitting defeat. He recognized the gap between him and Julian. There was no point in continuing the battle and causing his Walrein unnecessary harm. "He''s strong That Metagross is ridiculously strong," Yanis muttered as he walked back to the sidelines. Only a few moments ago, he had looked down on Tyler, whose Blaziken had been defeated instantly by Julian''s Metagross. Now, he understood that it wasn''t that Tyler was weak it was that Julian''s Metagross was just too powerful. Still, at least his Walrein had lasted longer than Tyler''s Blaziken. Walrein had been "fighting" for ten minutes, after all. "The third challenger is up," someone in the crowd muttered. Luis stepped forward next, looking confident. "Julian''s Metagross has already fought twice. I won''t take advantage of that. Let''s switch Pokmon," he said with a self-righteous air. Bah, shameless. Everyone else saw right through him. Metagross may have "fought" twice, but it hadn''t taken any damage, and it was clear it could keep going if needed. They all knew that Metagross was Julian''s Trump Card. Still, Luis was hoping to defeat one of Julian''s other Pokmon with his own trump card. "Lucario, it''s your turn" Julian said, recalling Metagross and sending out Lucario. "Luca" Lucario growled, standing tall and staring intensely at Luis. Compared to Metagross''s calm, Lucario''s eyes were fierce and determined. The pressure from its gaze was almost enough to make an ordinary person look away. Luis hesitated, his confidence wavering slightly. The Lucario in front of him radiated an intense fighting spirit, and for a moment, he questioned his decision. "Froslass, let''s go!" he called out, releasing his Ice/Ghost-type Pokmon. Pokmon: Froslass (Ice/Ghost) Level: 53 Qualification: Cyan Ability: Snow Cloak Item: Never-Melt Ice Gender: Female Moves: Hex, Ice Fang, Double Team, Protect, Destiny Bond, Powder Snow, Leer, Icy Wind, Confuse Ray, Ice shard, Will-O-Wisp, Frost Breath Discs Moves: Blizzard, Water Pulse, Hail, Light Screen, Safeguard, Hyper Beam Genetic Moves: Disable, Block, Weather Ball, Icicle Crash Another Cyan-qualified Pokmon, that makes it three in a row, special class really was special. Froslass evolves from a female Snorunt using Dawn Stone and is one of Snorunt''s final forms, the other being Glalie. Luis was also an Ice-type Trainer, and Froslass was his ace. Rare in this part of the world, Froslass was mostly found in the Babath. Pokmon: Lucario (Fighting/Steel) Level: 50 Qualification: Blue Ability: Inner Focus Item: Muscle Band Gender: Male Moves: Work Up, Quick Attack, Endure, Detect, Feint, Metal Claw, Aura Sphere, Rock Smash, Bullet Punch, Metal Sound, Bone Rush, Meteor Mash, Heal Pulse Discs Moves: Low Sweep, Brick Break, Agility, Swords Dance, Dig, Bulk Up, Focus Blast, Dark Pulse Genetic Moves: Mind Reader, Close Combat, Force Palm, Thunder Punch - "Froslass, Blizzard!" Luis shouted. The once sunny sky darkened, and a biting cold swept over the battlefield as temperatures plunged below freezing. Within moments, the arena was enveloped in snow, the air heavy with swirling ice crystals. Luis, prepared for the drop in temperature, quickly donned a thick down jacket, then looked over at Julian, who was still in his short sleeves, standing unfazed in the middle of the storm. "You''ll freeze if you don''t bundle up!" he called mockingly. His plan was to make Julian freeze up and make a fool of himself. But Julian remained calm, his face showing no reaction to the sudden cold. Luis frowned. "Let''s see how long you can hold out" he muttered under his breath. Chapter 121: Luis: Lucario is the Trump Card Chapter 121: Luis: Lucario is the Trump CardFrom 30 degrees Celsius to minus 10 degrees, the sudden drop in temperature would cause most people to suffer from hypothermia, and if they weren''t careful, it could even lead to death. Head teacher Frank kept a close eye on Julian, watching without blinking. If anything went wrong, he was ready to step in and rescue him immediately. However, both Frank and Luis were shocked. Julian, standing in just a short-sleeved shirt, seemed completely unaffected by the biting cold that came from the Blizzard. Meanwhile, Luis, despite wearing a thick cotton coat, was already trembling, his teeth chattering uncontrollably. The strength granted by Julian''s Mega Pallet Town physique gave him extraordinary abilitiesgreater speed, strength, and quick reactions. On top of that, it allowed him to withstand the harsh effects of elemental attacks such as fire, ice, and electricity. Even though the temperature had plummeted to more than ten degrees below freezing, Julian could feel the cold, but it was nowhere near enough to harm him. It remained within the tolerable range. That said, if this were a concentrated attack like an Ice Beam instead of an area-wide move like Blizzard, Julian wouldn''t have dared to stand so casually in the midst of it. "Unbelievable... is he a martial artist?" Luis muttered to himself in disbelief. It was common knowledge that only certain highly skilled martial artists could withstand such extreme temperatures by relying on their powerful internal energy and strong life force. "He is indeed a martial artist," Shen said to her friend Kate to Luis''s remark, Shen couldn''t help but feel proud, "I taught him, after all." "Froslass, use Ice Shard!" With her Snow Cloak ability, Froslass moved through the storm with incredible speed. Blizzard gave her the perfect cover, making her seem like a phantomjust like the snow spirits from Babath kingdom''s legends. By now, the entire battlefield was covered with a thin layer of ice from the storm. "Lucario, locate Froslass," Julian commanded in a calm voice. Despite Froslass''s evasive movements and near-invisibility in the storm, Lucario''s aura flared to life. In the midst of the howling wind and swirling snow, an Ice Shard, hidden by the storm, hurtled toward Lucario. But just as it was about to land, Lucario''s eyes snapped open. "Luca!" With a swift movement, he crushed the shard with his fist. Then, in an instant, Lucario vanished. "Froslass, use Icy Wind!" Luis shouted, sensing danger. Icy Wind, boosted by Blizzard, surged across the battlefield. The combination of the two was powerful, but it wasn''t easy to control. The energy needed to be balanced perfectly; otherwise, both moves would weaken, or worse, backfire. Blizzard surged, growing even more fierce, as Icy Wind intertwined with it. The temperature dropped even further. Ice began to form on Lucario''s body, and his movements slowed. "Sure enough, except for Metagross, although the other Pokmon are powerful, but they are within the acceptable range" Yanis commented, watching Lucario struggle under the freezing conditions. Tyler, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. He couldn''t help but feel envious of Luis''s strategy. He had cleverly avoided Metagross and was now successfully putting pressure on Lucario. He exchanged glances with Yanis, both of them realizing they had underestimated Luis''s battle tactics. "If only I hadn''t been the first to face Julian," Tyler muttered with regret. He knew that if Luis had gone up against Metagross instead, things might have turned out differently. Yanis smirked slightly, knowing full well the tough time Tyler had. His own experience with Metagross had been humbling, but at least he wasn''t taken down instantly. Still, he couldn''t help but think that if Luis had faced Metagross instead, his Froslass would have been overwhelmed by now. "Lucario''s situation doesn''t look good," Kate observed, concerned by Lucario''s increasingly sluggish movements. The freezing cold had begun to take its toll on him, and despite sensing Froslass''s location, landing a hit seemed more and more difficult. "Relax, Lucario''s tough," Shen said with confidence, fully trusting in Julian and his Pokmon. Luis''s confidence was growing. He saw the signs of Lucario weakening and believed victory was within reach. "Froslass, use Frost Breath!" Blizzard + Icy Wind + Frost Breaththe combination of these three moves dropped the temperature even more, plunging it to a bone-chilling minus 50 degrees. Luis, well-prepared for this situation, activated the electric heating function in his coat to keep himself warm. However, amidst the thrill of the moment, a sudden realization struck him. "Wait Julian" Luis muttered, his excitement fading. Julian was still standing out there, only wearing short sleeves. He had only wanted to win the matchnot kill Julian. But because of the existence of Icy Wind and Frost Breath, Blizzard had become bigger, he could no longer see Julian on the opposite side, and had no idea whether Julian was frozen to death or not. "Aura Sphere" Julian''s voice cut through the storm, calm and steady. A moment later, Froslass let out a pained cry. "Froslass!" Luis shouted in panic. He cursed himself for being an idiot Metagross was standing right behind Julian, There was no way Julian was in danger with that powerhouse by his side. Though the Aura Sphere hadn''t knocked Froslass out, the damage was done. Blizzard began to lose its intensity, and soon the storm had cleared. Julian stood unscathed, a faint green barrier surrounding himthe protective handiwork of Metagross. The temperature may have dropped to minus 50, but Julian could still have relied on Mega Pallet Town physique to resist, but there were many people around. He knew better than to reveal his abilities in such a public setting. As long as they were not idiots, everyone would instantly know something was wrong. As the storm cleared, Froslass was panting heavily, struggling to stay upright. Lucario, though frosted over, was still standing strong. "Ice Shard!" Luis shouted, desperate to make a last stand. "Aura Sphere." "Boom!" The two moves clashed, but the result was clear. Froslass, unable to keep up any longer, collapsed. "Froslass is unable to battle. Lucario wins!" "Still lost huh.." Luis recalled his Froslass, his expression a mixture of frustration and respect. He had lost, but he had given it his all. "Lucario must be your Trump Card, huh? It''s ridiculously strong," Luis said, his tone lighter, though still tinged with disappointment. "I threw everything at it, and it barely flinched." ''Huh, Shameless..'' Tyler and Yanis exchanged knowing glances. Both thought to themselves that Luis wasn''t fooling anyone. They all knew that Metagross was Julian''s true Trump Card. "Sure, a chance for you to meet my other Trump Card." Julian found Luis''s character quite interesting. Still, Luis''s strength as a Trainer was undeniable. He had skillfully combined Icy Wind and Frost Breath with Blizzard, creating a powerful synergy that could overpower Pokmon ten levels higher than his. Meanwhile, Yanis, also an ice-type Trainer, didn''t seem nearly as impressive in comparison. Julian''s gaze shifted toward Yanis, and it didn''t take long for Yanis to catch on. His expression quickly turned awkward. Sarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''What''s that look for? You think I''m not as good as him? You''re not even comparing the same situationslook at his opponent and then look at mine.'' Metagross was still towering, while Lucario had calmly stepped aside. Chapter 122: Aron’s Debut Chapter 122: Arons Debut"Humph." Luis walked up to Tyler and Yanis with a smug look on his face. Despite his loss, he acted as though he had just won the battle. Both Tyler and Yanis were fuming. They couldn''t believe his attitude. After all, while neither of them had managed to even scratch Julian''s Metagross, Luis''s Froslass had actually caused some damage to Lucario. And now, he was rubbing it in their faces. "What''s his deal?" Shen asked. Shen couldn''t help but be impressed. It wasn''t easy to make Julian''s Lucario show any sign of damage. Even though she hadn''t known her new friend, Kate, for long, she knew that Kate had a strong understanding of everyone''s backgrounds in the special class. She even knew that Shen came from a martial arts family of Lake City. "His grandmother is an Ice-type Elite," Kate replied. "No wonder." Shen nodded. With a grandmother who was an Elite specializing in ice-types, it was no surprise that Luis was so skilled at using his Froslass. If Shen had been the one against him, even her Trump Card, Machamp, wouldn''t have been able to last two rounds against that Froslass. Sarch* The ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "And what about you? What''s your background? You a descendant of an Elite too?" Shen asked, curiosity piqued. Everyone in the special class came from prominent families, and Shen was beginning to feel that her background might be one of the least impressive in the group. "My family has shares in the Penguin Group." "..." Well, that explained it. A big local powerhouse, no doubt. Shen wasn''t sure how many shares Kate''s family owned, but it definitely wasn''t a small amount. "I will go next" Just then, a burly figure emerged from the crowd. Standing nearly two meters tall, he towered over everyone. "My name''s Walter. Mind having a match with me? I''ve got a level 20 Pokmon I want to train." Shameless. Tyler, Yanis, and Linda all sneered at Walter. He was clearly taking advantage of the situation. Such a big man had such little courage. Level 20 Pokmon were still in the early stages of development. At that level, Pokmon couldn''t absorb too many resources, and over-investing would even cause harm. At the same time, the difference between level 20 Pokmon wasn''t typically huge, they all had similar level of power. Unlike Metagross, who at the same level, no one could defeat. "Alright" Julian agreed with a nod. If he wanted to establish himself as the leader of the special class, he had to prove himself by taking on every challenge, one by one. "Go, Marshtomp!" Walter sent out his Pokmona level 20 Marshtomp, with cyan qualification. The cyan-qualification was no surprise at all now. "Aron." As soon as Julian''s Aron appeared on the battlefield, everyone''s jaws dropped. That wasn''t a goddamn Aron if Julian said it was a Aggron with stunted growth, they would all believe it. ''Have you ever seen an Aron-over a meter tall?'' "Is that really an Aron?" someone muttered in disbelief. "F**k! Did this Aron grow up eating gold bars and Diamonds?" "And did you notice how shiny its forehead is? The sunlight reflecting off it is practically blinding me!" "Shen, does Julian even have any normal Pokmon?" Kate asked, staring at the towering Aron. "No" Shen replied without hesitation. The crowd buzzed with excitement, but Walter stood there, lost in thought. His reverse strategy seemed to have backfired. He realized with an Aron that size, his Marshtomp might get crushed directly. Marshtomp looked back at his Trainer pitifully. Marshtomp: I don''t wanna fight it I''ll get squashed! Meanwhile, Aron was full of excitement. Although Julian often took him to battle wild Pokmon, this was his first time battling another trainer''s Pokmon. Aron: Crush my enemy. Marshtomp: ... "Don''t worry, Marshtomp. The bigger they are, the harder they fall," Walter reassured his Pokmon, though it was clear Marshtomp wasn''t convinced. Marshtomp had decent qualifications, but its timid personality got the better of it. The sight of Aron''s massive frame only heightened its anxiety. Many of the spectators couldn''t help but look at him after hearing Walter''s pep talk. He seemed to be talking about himself. Pokmon: Aron (Steel/Rock) Level: 20 Qualification: Blue Ability: Heavy Metal Gender: Male Moves: Roar, Tackle, Harden, Headbutt, Protect, Rock Tomb, Metal Claw Discs Moves: Earthquake, Sandstorm, Dig, Shock Wave, Rock Slide, Rock Smash Genetic Moves: Stomp, Heavy Slam, Endeavor, Dragon Rush Both Aron and Marshtomp were level 20, so there was no clear advantage on that front. "Marshtomp, use Water Gun!" Encouraged by Walter, Marshtomp summoned the courage to launch a Water Gun. A stream of water shot toward Aron. "Aron, Tackle!" "Boom, boom, boom!" Aron charged forward, its heavy frame thudding against the ground. Thanks to its Heavy Metal ability, its speed wasn''t the fastest, but it moved with unstoppable force, looking more like a small tank than a Pokmon. The Water Gun splashed harmlessly against Aron''s metal armor, as if it were nothing more than a raindrop hitting a stone. It didn''t even slow him down. Marshtomp''s eyes widened in panic as Aron closed in. "Use Mud Shot! Aim for its eyes!" Walter called out. He had thought about using Dig to dodge the attack, but looking at the massive Aron, it''s likely had Earthquake learned through a Disc, he couldn''t take the risk. Digging underground would only make things worse. Mud flew through the air, targeting Aron''s face. "Close your eyes and keep moving," Julian ordered. There was no need for evasive maneuvers or complicated strategies. Aron could take whatever was thrown at him. After all, his role was simple: to tank. Mud splattered against Aron, but it didn''t matter. He barreled forward without hesitation, getting closer and closer to Marshtomp. "Jump up when he gets close!" "It''s now!" Walter shouted. Marshtomp leaped into the air just as Aron was about to collide with him. "Marshtomp, use Rock Throw!" Stones appeared mid-air, hurtling down toward Aron, with Marshtomp standing on top of one of them. "Aron, Heavy Slam!" Ignoring the falling rocks, Aron used his weight and Heavy Metal ability to turn into a small meteorite, plowing through the stone rain. Marshtomp: My life is flashing before my eyes "Marshtomp is unable to battle. Aron wins!" "Aron!" Aron cheered in victory, looking even more eager for another round. He turned toward Walter with anticipation. Aron: Go ahead, send out the next one out. Chapter 123: The Battle of Dragons Chapter 123: The Battle of Dragons"This feels like an adult fighting kindergarten children." "This is Totem Pokmon for youMarshtomp''s moves just can''t shake it." "It''s not just because it''s a Totem Pokmon; Aron''s defense is impressive!" "Its armor shines like diamonds." A certain girl was fascinated by Aron''s armor that sparkled in the sunlight. The people in the special class recognized Aron as a Totem Pokmon. No one was na?ve here. Although most students had never encountered a Totem Pokmon in real life, it was obvious that Aron''s massive size was no mere work of just resources and money. The only conclusion was that Aron was indeed a Totem Pokmon. "This is the privilege of being the sole heir to the Walker family" Luis, who also came from a prestigious background himself, couldn''t help but feel a pang of jealousy. Though he was indeed very talented and his family also gave him preference when allocating resources, but it was impossible to be like Julian, getting all the best things. After all, there were over ten direct family members to consider, and resources had to be shared. Most of the people here had the same idea, they believed that Julian''s Totem Aron was something the Walker family had found for him. In reality, Aron had indeed been discovered by Julian''s father, Jake. However, he hadn''t started as a Totem Pokmon; Julian had transformed him into one through the soul of Totem. When Jake found out that Aron was a Totem Pokmon, he called himself the emperor of luck. After all, He''d stumbled upon a Pokmon rarer than a pseudo-legendary, something beyond lucky. Standing before Julian, he even bragged that if not for his luck, Julian would have never gotten this Totem Pokmon. Julian smiled, choosing to remain silent. - "Which one of you will go first or should I pick?" When Walter stepped down from the crowd, the last two challengers exchanged glances. "I''ll go first." As one of the challenger stepped forward, someone in the audience who knew him muttered, "Julian is in trouble." "Why, is he that strong?" "Dragon-type Trainer, you tell me" Among the eighteen types, Dragon-type Pokmon were synonymous with power, known for their incredible destructive capabilities. Of course, their numbers were far fewer than other types, and Breeding them required substantial resources. If breeding a Dragon-type pseudo-legendary Pokmon, a family without considerable wealth would be better off not attempting it at all. Raising a dragon takes energy, time, and resources, and dragon types are still late bloomers. If you raise a dragon type pseudo-legendary, you might end up being dragged down by the Pokmon. "He seems famous!" Shen exclaimed, noticing the commotion surrounding the newcomer. "Ian Drake, heir of the Drake family in the imperial capital. The last Dragon Elite was his grandfather," Kate didn''t disappoint, effortlessly sharing details. "Ah, so he''s from the Drake family," Shen said in understanding. Most ordinary people knew very little about the top families in Drakoria, but the Drake family was an exception. Many recognized their members easily. The main reason was them using dragon-types and many excellent members even using pseudo-legendaries. Although not all pseudo-legendary Pokmon were dragon type, but they were the most numerous of all. "Let''s have a battle of dragons," Ian proposed confidently. Tyler, Yanis: Shameless Luis, Walter: Plagiarism "Fine," Julian replied. He withdrew Aron and sent out his Dragonair. Looking at the blue and white figure soaring gracefully through the air, Ian said sincerely, "Your Dragonair is really bred well." "Can I ask, where did your Dragonair come from?" he inquired, genuinely curious. The qualifications of the Dragonair in front of him were clearly above Cyanperhaps even above the Blue level. Its eyes, demeanor, and skin color all hinted at its excellence. Such a Pokmon could not even be found in the Drake family; how had it appeared in the Walker family, known for its Steel-type Pokmon? "That''s confidential" Julian replied coldly. Ian felt a flicker of irritation at the dismissal. Without further ado, he released his Pokmon. "Roar!" A fearsome creature emergeda Salamence with blood-red wings and a dark blue body, exuding an aura of intimidation. Salamence looked up at Dragonair soaring overhead, its wings fluttering slightly. It matched Dragonair''s level, its fierce, predatory gaze emanating a sense of danger. Among the Dragon-type pseudo-legendaries, Salamence, Garchomp, and Hydreigon were notoriously aggressive, especially Hydregion. In fact, Hydreigon had a history of violent incidents, including one where it killed and ate its own trainer in Celestria. Salamence: Level 55, cyan qualification. Pokmon: Dragonair Level: 54 Qualification: Purple Ability: Shed Skin Item: Dragon Fang Gender: Male Moves: Wrap, Leer, Dragon Tail, Twister, Thunder Wave, Aqua Tail, Dragon Rush, Safeguard, Slam, Rain Dance Discs Moves: Protect, Thunderbolt, Hyper Beam, Icy Wind, Hydro Pump, Flamethrower, Substitute, Iron Tail, Breaking Swipe Genetic Moves: Extreme Speed, Dragon Breath, Dragon Dance, Outrage Shelgon evolves into Salamence at level 50, while Dragonair evolves into Dragonite at level 55. Julian had also suffered from the late bloomer status of Dragon-type pseudo-legendaries. Salamence''s Intimidate ability didn''t diminish Dragonair''s attack power. Although Dragonair was one level below Salamence, levels alone didn''t define strength. Ian realized this too, his brow furrowing slightly. His Salamence was at level 55, while Dragonair hadn''t yet evolved into Dragonite, so it''s level must be less than 55. Despite being lower in level, it was not affected by Intimidate. The possibility was that Dragonair''s strength might be comparable to Salamence''sor even surpass it. Salamence was Ian''s starter Pokmon, the strongest among his team, while Dragonair wasn''t Julian''s starter. He was also part of a prestigious family, yet his starter Pokmon didn''t measure up to Julian''s other Pokmon in rank. The disparity gnawed at him. "Salamence, use Dragon Breath!" Ian initiated the attack confidently. Being a member of a Dragon family, he was certain he wouldn''t lose in a contest of Dragon Pokmon. The green breath surged forward, charged with powerful Dragon energy. "Dragon Tail!" Julian commanded. Dragonair''s slender tail swung down, striking Dragon Breath with a sharp snap, instantly dispersing it. "Salamence, use Dragon Claw!" Sar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Salamence flapped its wings, covering the distance of over a hundred meters in an instant. The air split apart as its claw tore through it, creating a piercing sound. "Swish!" Dragon Claw descended, but Dragonair was no longer in the same spot. "Extreme Speed!" When Dragon Claw missed, Salamence felt a sudden force slam into its back, sending it spiraling downward. Thanks to the protective shell covering Salamence''s belly from its Shelgon stage, and the Extreme Speed Tackle not dealing critical damage. Otherwise, the blow would have been far worse. Chapter 124: Dragonite Chapter 124: DragoniteUnder Dragonair''s Extreme Speed, Salamence crashed straight into the ground, creating a massive pit about seven or eight meters wide. Yet, Salamence wasn''t down for the count; in fact, the impact only seemed to fuel its inner rage. "Roar!" With bloodthirsty eyes, Salamence glared at Dragonair, who floated gracefully in the air above. "Extreme Speed... your Dragonair actually inherited that?" Ian said, disbelief clear in his voice. Extreme Speed was a rare move, and while it didn''t give Dragonair a huge advantage yet, once it evolved into Dragonite, it would be a game-changer. Dragonite was already known for incredible speed, but adding Extreme Speed would eliminate its only real shortcoming. The thing about Extreme Speed was that Dragonite couldn''t learn it through normal meansit had to be passed down genetically. And the odds of inheriting it were slim, almost like hitting the lottery. In the wild or among most Pokmon, only a few species could even use Extreme Speed, like Arcanine or Lucario. Both of them were just as rare as pseudo-legendaries. So for a Dratini to inherit such a move? It was a jackpot. Researchers were even studying more about these types of genetic moves. Ian knew very well how powerful a Dragonite with Extreme Speed ??Move would be in the future. How had a family known for Steel-type Pokmon like the Walkers ended up with a Dragonair so superior even to those raised by dragon-specialist families like his own? For a moment, he doubted whether Julian was a child of the Drake family. "Dragonair, use Dragon Rush!" S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian, unfazed by Ian''s comments, gave his next command calmly. "Salamence, Protect!" Ian shouted, quickly reacting. A green shield enveloped Salamence just in time, blocking Dragonair''s rush. The two Pokmon''s energies clashed violently, sparks flying as the force of the impact sent shockwaves through the air. "Crack, crack..." Salamence''s protective shield began to fracture under the pressure. "Hyper Beam!" Ian called out just as Salamence''s shield shattered. A glowing beam burst from Salamence, colliding with Dragonair''s Dragon Rush mid-attack. Protect had already consumed some of the move''s energy and The force of the Hyper Beam canceled out the remaining energy from Dragon Rush, leaving both Pokmon momentarily drained. "This Dragonair is something else" Ian muttered, realizing Salamence had needed two moves to block one of Dragonair''s attacksone of those moves being a lifesaving Protect. The sheer power behind Julian''s Dragonair was astounding. "Dragonair, Ice Beam!" Julian seized the moment. Salamence was left frozen in place, reeling from the exhaustion of using Hyper Beam. The stronger the Pokmon the less time it needed to reel in after a Hyper Beam, some really powerful ones might even ignore the effect all together. But Salamence as of now couldn''t do anything. As the icy blast shot out from Dragonair''s horn, the air filled with cold, jagged energy. Icicles formed wherever the beam passed. "Salamence, dodge!" Ian yelled in desperation. Not all Trainers were Ash, shout and Pokmon will fight back. Salamence: I can''t move my body, you should have thought this through before letting me use Hyper Beam, you idiot. But Salamence was still recovering from Hyper Beam, unable to move. Ian could only watch as the Ice Beam struck true. Ice-type moves were especially devastating to Dragon-types, 4x damage, and Salamence took the full brunt of the attack. A moment later, Salamence was frozen solid, encased in ice like a statue. "Salamence is unable to battle! Dragonair wins!" Seeing that Ian lose, Tyler and Yanis were so happy that they gave each other a high five. After reacting, they felt something was wrong. "Of course he had to lose, If Ian had won, wouldn''t it make us look even worse?" Luis muttered. The two nodded in agreement. "It''s Evolving" Someone shouted from the crowd. In mid-air, Dragonair''s slender body was suddenly enveloped in a brilliant white light. Its elegant, serpentine form started to grow rounder, bulkier, as it transformed. When the light faded, a large, orange dragon with tiny wings and a broad belly appearedDragonite. Gone was the sleek and graceful Dragonair, replaced by a chubby, friendly-looking Dragonite. Julian couldn''t help but laugh at the sight of his newly evolved Pokmon. He gave Dragonite''s round belly a playful pat, and it jiggled in response. "Better watch what you eat, or you''ll get even fatter," Julian teased with a grin. Dragonite:((;???;)) Pokmon: Dragonite (Dragon/Flying) Level: 55 Qualification: Purple Ability: Inner Focus Item: Dragon Fang Gender: Male Moves: Hurricane, Wing Attack, Roost, Wrap, Leer, Dragon Tail, Twister, Thunder Wave, Aqua Tail, Dragon Rush, Safeguard, Slam, Rain Dance Move Disc: Protect, Thunderbolt, Hyper Beam, Icy Wind, Hydro Pump, Flamethrower, Substitute, Iron Tail, Breaking Swipe Genetic Moves: Extreme Speed, Dragon Breath, Dragon Dance, Outrage Ian''s face fell as he withdrew his Salamence, his mind racing with disbelief. He had not only lost, but he had been completely outclassed. His Salamence, higher in level and a true dragon-type, had been defeated by Dragonair. To make things worse, Dragonair had evolved into Dragonite at the very moment of victory. It was simply rubbing salt in the wound. ''If Julian''s Dragonite becomes famous in the future, some people might say that when it was still Dragonair, it defeated someone named Ian and then evolved into Dragonite.'' "That Dragonite is incredibly strong and its strength should be no less than that of the Metagross. Maybe Dragonite is his real Trump Card," Ian said with a serious face after the match. Even though Salamence was higher in level, and Ian was from a prestigious dragon family, he had still been soundly defeated. The thought stung. "Cut the dramatics, Ian," Luis said with a knowing smile. "Lucario is his trump card, not Dragonite." After all, losing to someone''s ace was definitely different from losing to just any Pokmon. "Actually, it''s Metagross" Tyler and Yanis corrected. All of them exchanged glances, feeling the weight of their losses. Even though there was one more challenger who hadn''t battled Julian yet they could see what was coming. Each one of them had been defeated with ease, as if Julian was just warming up. They all looked towards the last challenger. "Why bother?" Luis said, patting them on the shoulder. "You''re going to lose anyway. Might as well save yourself the embarrassment." Chapter 125: Wild Match Chapter 125: Wild MatchFacing Luis''s teasing remark, the other trainer didn''t even respond. He simply cast a cold glance at him, and that was enough to make Luis freeze in place. A drop of cold sweat ran down his cheek. "I''ll take him down" Hugo declared, his voice as cold as ice. Without waiting for a response, he strode toward the battlefield. "Huh, Who is this guy?, That murderous aura, he has definitely killed a lot of people" Luis muttered under his breath, still shaken. ''That stare... it felt like I was being hunted by an Arbok. One wrong move and I''m done for.'' "His name is Hugo. He''s the champion of this year''s Summer Country Field Fighting Tournament. Rumor has it that nearly a dozen people lost their lives to him during the competition." Ian, standing beside him, offered some insight, though his tone was uneasy. "Damn, it turned out to be that fierce guy. I''ve heard about him... but I didn''t expect him to end up as a classmate." "Yeah, suddenly it feels like my neck''s a bit chilly." Wild fighting tournaments were brutal, no-rules competitions where participants could use any tactic to wineven lethal ones. These battles weren''t just against Pokmon but also against the trainers themselves. It was a game of survival, where killing your opponent was not only allowed but expected in some cases. There were only champions in wild tournaments, no second or third place, and those who participate and become champions will get very generous rewards. "Wild fighting?" Tyler whispered. "I thought those were just for desperate people and criminals." "They usually are," Ian replied grimly. "But the reality is... out in the wild, it''s not just Pokmon you need to worry about. Trainers will turn on each other for treasure or to capture rare Pokmon. That''s the kind of place Hugo comes from." As Hugo approached, Julian''s expression grew serious. The air around him felt tense, charged with danger. Even Metagross, who had been calmly standing behind Julian, moved in front, ready to protect its trainer. "I may not be your rival in a head-on fight," Hugo said, expressionlessly. " But Wild fights are about life and death, not rules." Julian could hear the excitement in Hugo''s tone when he spoke of life and death. He wasn''t just a fighterhe was a thrill-seeker, a man who enjoyed danger, who thrived in chaos. A real madman. Julian finally knew why the other party gave him a sense of danger. It turned out that he was good at wild fighting, with no rules and the sole purpose of violence. Julian didn''t hesitate, though. "I accept," he said firmly. He wasn''t one to back down, even though he didn''t have that much experience of a wild fight. Seeing that Julian agreed, Frank, the head teacher, shook his head secretly, not optimistic that Julian would be able to beat Hugo in a wild match. Head-to-head confrontation and wild fighting were two completely different things. "Alright, you can have your wild match, but no crippling or killing, understood?" His eyes moved from Hugo to Julian, making sure both acknowledged the rule. As the head teacher, he couldn''t watch the two of them have an accident, holding a Pok Ball in his hand, he was ready to stop the match at any time. They both nodded, though Julian could feel that Hugo was less concerned with the "rules" than he was with winning. Wild fights were best suited for natural environments, where anything could happen. The battlefield setting limited Hugo''s usual tactics, but that didn''t mean he wasn''t dangerous. Without wasting any time, Hugo unleashed four Ghost-type Pokmon in rapid succession: Mismagius, Banette, Sableye, and Dusknoir. Their eerie presence chilled the air, and the spectators could feel the temperature drop as they appeared. Ghost-types were known for their tricky, underhanded tacticsperfect for wild fights. If the strongest Pokmon were considered to be Dragon types, then the most difficult to deal with Pokmon were definitely Ghost types. Before Julian could even release more of his Pokmon, Hugo launched an attack. "Mismagius, Astonish!" "Banette, Curse on Metagross!" "Sableye, attack the trainer directly!" "Dusknoir, use Disable on Metagross!" The battlefield exploded into chaos. The only Pokmon Julian had out was Metagross, which he had never taken back after the match, and now Hugo''s Ghost-types were closing in fast. In a official match, this would''ve been illegal, but in a wild fight, anything goes. Mismagius let out a piercing cry, causing the crowd to cover their ears in pain. Julian, thinking quickly, blocked out the noise with his Psychic abilities. Sableye, however, was already speeding toward him. Metagross tried to move, but Dusknoir''s Disable temporarily locked it in place. Though Metagross broke free a moment later, it was too lateSableye was already upon Julian, throwing a Shadow Punch aimed straight at his abdomen. Luis, watching from the sidelines, muttered to himself, "He''s done for" Frank, the head teacher, had already thrown a Pok Ball, preparing to stop the fight. "Eat my punch" But Julian wasn''t defenseless. Just before the Shadow Punch landed, he clenched his fists, and a burst of aura energy flared up around it. With precise timing, Julian swung his fist, and it connected with Sableye''s face like a hammer. The impact sent Sableye flying into the air. "Haa..!" Julian shouted, channeling his energy once more. He pulled back his hands and launched an Aura Sphere, the size of a football, straight toward Sableye, who hadn''t even hit the ground yet. With the power of Advanced Aura, using Aura Sphere was no longer a dream, though the power was definitely not comparable to Lucario. Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The energy ball struck Sableye mid-air, and it came crashing down. "Lucario, Dragonite, take care of the rest!" Without missing a beat, Julian released his next two Pokmon. Dragonite soared into the air, flapping its wings powerfully, and with one swift Dragon Breath, Sableye was down for good. Lucario, meanwhile, darted across the battlefield, its target locked on Hugo. Hugo had been counting on his sneak attack to take Julian out, but in just three seconds, he had already lost one of his Pokmon. Most people would''ve been overwhelmed by the initial onslaughtbut Julian wasn''t most people. With advanced aura control, intermediate-level Psychic abilities, and his enhanced physique, Julian was anything but ordinary. These factors made Julian take down Sableye instead. Hugo barely had time to react before Lucario was upon him. He hastily ordered Banette and Dusknoir to intercept, but Lucario was too fast. "Luca!" With an Aura Sphere in each hand, Lucario struck both Ghost-types, forcing them to retreat momentarily. That brief delay bought Hugo just enough time to roll out of the way as Lucario lunged for him. Gengar, hidden in Hugo''s shadow, finally revealed itself. Taking advantage of this sudden reveal, Gengar''s eyes glowed, casting a Hypnosis. Lucario''s movements slowed, and it stumbled, its eyelids growing heavy. "Good job" Hugo grinned, thinking victory was near. But before he could finish the thought, a flesh-colored fist appeared in front of him. "BANG!" Julian''s punch connected with Hugo''s face, fracturing his nose. Hugo stumbled back, his vision blurred, and a sharp pain shot through his skull, causing him to tear up instantly. "Let''s have a wild match?" "You think you''re cool, huh?" Julian growled, grabbing Hugo by the collar and delivering another punch to his jaw. Chapter 126: Who Else! Chapter 126: Who Else!Seeing their trainer getting beaten by Julian, Hugo''s Pokmon immediately grew anxious. They turned around, intending to rush back to protect him. Unfortunately for them, Dragonite, Lucario, and Metagross were waiting, blocking their path. Metagross: If you want to pass, pay the toll. The message was clear. Dragonite and Lucario, following Metagross''s lead, dashed toward Gengar, Mismagius, and Dusknoir, ready to battle. Hugo, barely conscious, felt the world spinning. Everything sounded muffled, like he was underwater. Even the pain in his body had dulled. In his mind, for a brief moment, he thought he saw Arceus smiling down at him from above. "Julian, stop!" Frank called out, his voice cutting through the haze. The head teacher could see the fight had gone far enough. If Julian continued, there was a real chance Hugo would either be disfigured or dead. "Alright, Teacher Frank" Julian replied casually. But before he stopped, he threw one more punch at Hugo''s face, sending a spray of blood into the air. He shook his fist, flicking off the blood like it was nothing. By now, Hugo had completely blacked out. His face was almost unrecognizable, swollen beyond recognition, and his teeth were all but shattered. Julian had made sure to send a clear message. When it came to someone like Hugo, who thrived on wild, no-rules fighting, showing mercy would only invite more problems. Being ruthless was the only way to earn respect from someone like him. Meanwhile, Hugo''s remaining Pokmon were lying on the battlefield, defeated by Dragonite and Lucario, unable to move. Frank called for the school medic. Knowing how intense the battle might become, he had already summoned medical staff just in case things got out of hand. The school doctor rushed over, dispatching a Chansey to heal Hugo. "Chansey, Heal Pulse!" Chansey''s soft pink glow spread across Hugo''s battered body. After a few minutes, his face started to heal, and even his broken teeth began to regrow. With the help of Pokmon like Chansey, modern medicine had advanced to the point where even severe injuries could be healed in a short time. Humans had not only gained new partners in their everyday lives, but they had also seen their lifespans improve. Groggy and dazed, Hugo slowly woke up. The first thing he saw was Julian''s face, grinning down at him. "Yo, welcome back," Julian said, still wiping the last bit of blood from his knuckles. Hugo''s eyes widened in terror as the memory of the brutal punches came flooding back. He scrambled back, a look of pure fear etched on his face. "No.. No.. Don''t.." He touched his face and stared in shock at the blood on his hands. "Alright, Julian, that''s enough," Frank said as he approached. "The match is over." Frank looked at Julian with a mix of admiration and surprise. He hadn''t expected Julian to beat Hugo, the national champion of field fighting. Wild fighting was a completely different style from regular competitions, and being able to defeat someone like Hugo was no small feat. Of course, he could also see that Julian was not as good as Hugo in terms of wild fighting experience. The main reason Julian could win was due to his incredible reaction speed and the power of Advanced Aura. Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If it weren''t for Julian''s ability to smash Sableye with an aura-powered punch in the beginning and his quick use of Aura Sphere, Hugo''s sneak attack would have succeeded. Thinking of Julian able to use Aura Sphere, Frank felt surprised and envious, After all which trainer didn''t dream of having special abilities. The battle, though it felt long, had taken just over a minute from start to finish. For Hugo, this defeat was likely to leave a lasting scarnot physically but mentally. Julian might become his psychological shadow. "Who else?" Julian called out, his voice echoing across the battlefield. As Hugo staggered off the stage, the remaining six challengers who had faced Julian were already defeated. Except for Tyler and Yanis who faced Julian''s strongest Pokmon Metagross. The other four had tried to go head-to-head in their areas of expertise, but they still failed. Now, as the group of twenty-three students watching the match exchanged nervous glances, no one seemed eager to step up. The six challengers gave them a collective look of disdain. Six: seriously? Twenty-three: Hey, we''re just following our hearts With this final battle, the entire class had come to realize that Julian, their representative, was undefeated. Especially in the last match, if it was any of them, Sableye would have already taken them out, how could they be like Julian being able to beat up a Sableye. Kate, watching the whole scene, clasped her hands together and sighed. "He''s just so cool. That Aura Sphereit really touched my heart." Shen, standing next to her, rolled his eyes and muttered, "I advise you not to catch feelings for him." Kate turned to Shen, raising an eyebrow. "Why? You like him or something?" Shen smirked. "You ever heard of Iron-hearted guys of Oreburgh?" "Yeah, sure wait, is Julian one of them? Makes sense, given his Steel-type preferences." "Nope," Shen corrected. "Julian''s not an Iron. He''s even betterhe''s Titanium." Kate blinked. "Titanium? Wow that sounds hardcore." Shen: I''m afraid this child is suffering from a brain injury... Julian, meanwhile, seeing that no one was coming forward recalled his Pokmon back into their Pok Balls and turned to walk back toward the class. But as he took a step forward, the rest of the 21 students took a step back, Only Shen and Kate stayed in place, Shen looking amused, and Kate still gazing at Julian with hearts in her eyes. Luis walked over with a grin. "Don''t mind them, Walker. They''re just still scared from watching you beat up Hugo." Julian didn''t respond but glanced down at his right hand, still crusted with Hugo''s blood. He could understand why they might feel a little nervous. "Walker, can I ask you something?" Luis continued, a little too eager. "What is it?" Julian asked, raising an eyebrow. The other party had a mouthful of Walker this and Walker that, which reminded him of Will''s cheekiness, So he decided to entertain him. "I saw you use that Aura Sphere with your hands earlier To be honest, I''ve also awakened aura powers," Luis said excitedly, clearly hoping to be able to do the same. Julian''s interest piqued. Aura users were rare, and to meet another one in the special class was unexpected. He looked at him, curious. "Show me." Without hesitation, Luis concentrated, and a faint glow of aura appeared in his palm. It flickered for a moment before vanishing, leaving him looking a bit pale. "Well? What do you think?" he asked, his eyes full of hope. "Can I make an Aura Sphere like you?" Julian gave him a pat on the shoulder and said, "Go to bed early." He had not even awakened Aura to the primary level yet. Luis blinked. "Wait what does that mean? Are you saying if I get enough rest, I''ll be able to use an Aura Sphere too?" Julian smirked. "Go to bed early, and you can dream about it." Luis: (X_x) Chapter 127: Slowking and Indeedee Chapter 127: Slowking and IndeedeeAt seven o''clock in the morning, the newest member of the team, Growlithe, padded over to Julian''s bedroom door. The pup stood up on its hind legs, pressing the door handle with its paw like it had done many times before. But today, the handle wouldn''t budge. Growlithe: I could open this door a few days ago. Why isn''t it working now? After circling a few times in front of the door, Growlithe''s ears perked up as an idea popped into its head. It bolted to the living room, eagerly nosing open one of the drawers. After some rummaging, Growlithe emerged, holding a key in its mouth. Trotting back to Julian''s door with the key clamped between its teeth, Growlithe placed its front paws against the door and attempted to insert the key. After a couple of triesand switching out two more keysit finally found the right one. With a triumphant little growl, Growlithe managed to turn the lock and push the door open. Once inside, the pup''s tail wagged excitedly as it spotted Julian still fast asleep. Growlithe backed up a few paces, ran, and leapt into the air, landing squarely on Julian''s chest with a thud. "Bang!" Julian''s body jerked into a V-shape, his head and feet snapping upwards as the weight of the overenthusiastic Growlithe slammed down on him. "Grow! Grow! Grow!" Growlithe barked, its tail wagging furiously as it bounced around on the bed. Still groggy and confused, Julian blinked at the happy Growlithe, trying to figure out how it had managed to unlock the door. Normally, he didn''t mind being woken up by his Pokmon, especially since Growlithe had taken it upon itself to be his personal alarm clock. But this method? Not so much. "If you keep jumping on me like this, I''m going to need a doctor soon," Julian muttered, rubbing his eyes. If it weren''t for his abnormal physical strength, a 40-pound Growlithe crashing onto his stomach every morning would definitely put him in the hospital. Seeing Growlithe inch closer, ready to give him a good-morning face wash, Julian quickly caught its muzzle with his hand. "Alright, alright, I''m up. How about you go wake up the others instead?" Julian gestured toward Aron and Meltan, who were still snuggled up in a corner of the room, completely oblivious to the commotion. Growlithe barked in agreement and bounded over to rouse its teammates. By the time Julian was washed and dressed, all three Pokmon were wide awake and trailing him downstairs. At the dining table, Slowkingwho had been awake for hourswas already setting out breakfast. Slowking floated a glass of moo-moo milk over to Julian as he sat down. "Thanks, Slow" Julian said, though he couldn''t help but feel a bit resigned. He had hoped to escape the daily moo-moo milk ritual when he left home, but no such luck. It all started when his family called, and found out that Slowking was very good at taking care of people. After that Love took over the call and asked Julian to put Slowking on. Julian didn''t know what the two Pokmon talked about after that. But from the next day onwards, a fresh glass moo-moo milk was placed in front of Julian by Slowking. Breakfast was a bowl of porridge, accompanied by a stack of small pickles and ten dumplings, all made by Slowking. The taste was top-notch, as expected. "Stop chatting with Love all the time, or you''ll end up learning too much from her" Julian said, noticing that Slowking was on the phone again. He could hear Love''s voice on the other end, as they discussed how to best take care of him. For the past few days, Slowking had been in constant contact with Love, seeking advice on looking after Julian. Love, not taking any chances, had instructed Slowking to keep a close eye on him. Julian had even bought a mobile phone for Slowking. With its high IQ, using the phone and playing games had been easy for it. As Julian sipped the milk, Slowking snapped a picture of the empty glass before sending it to Love for confirmation. Julian: Even in the imperial capital, I am still under the supervision of Love. You''re a traitor, Slow. Although he showed he was unhappy But truthfully, he was grateful. With Slowking managing things, he could focus more on training his Pokmon and less on daily chores. After finishing breakfast, Julian headed out to the backyard. His Pokmon were already lined up, Growlithe, ever eager, sat wagging its tail with a bowl in its mouth, waiting for its food. Julian reached into his system space and pulled out food for each of them. "Seriously, Slow," he said, noticing Slowking removing its crown to use as a makeshift food bowl again. "Can you please stop using that to hold your food? It looks ridiculous." The crown had seen better days, covered in scratches and dents from being repurposed as a dish. And when Slowking took it off, its intelligence dropped considerably. "Forget I said anything" Julian could only shake his head as Slowking gave him a blank stare, clearly not understanding a word he said. "Jigglypuff.... Jiggly...." Before Julian could say anything else, the sound of Jigglypuff''s iconic cry rang outit was his aunt calling. He answered with a smile. "Hey, Aunt" "Okay I got it, Yes" "Thank you, aunty" A quick chat later, Julian hung up. "My aunt says the paper on your evolution is getting published in the Pokmon magazine tomorrow, and the video will be on the Trainer Association''s app," he told Slowking. "Looks like you''ll be able appear publicly with me from now on." Slowking, crown back on and intelligence restored, nodded in acknowledgment. sea??h th N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Because Slowking was a new evolutionary form of Slowpoke, releasing this new form to the public requires a lot of early-stage work. Until that work was completed, Slowking wasn''t ready to show herself to the outside world. "Slow!" Slowking nodded. She was curious about the outside world, especially after learning about it through the Internet. Her curiosity about what the outside world was like only grew stronger. Julian had discovered this new evolutionary form of Slowpoke, and naturally, the Walker family would enjoy the benefits that came with it. Not to mention, the authors of the related research paper were Quinn and Julian. The Kings Rock available on the market had also likely been acquired by the Walker family. The Kings Rock, which had appeared very early on, was initially misunderstood due to its resemblance to a rusty crown, leading some people to buy it as an antique. However, the Kings Rock itself was relatively rare. Although the Walker family had managed to acquire a number of them, their quantity remained limited. The acquisition of the Kings Rock wasn''t motivated by a desire for profit; the Walker family was not lacking in money. Instead, it was a strategic move for potential future dealings with other families. Slowking is a Water-type and Psychic-type Pokmon with a very high IQ. Its appearance would undoubtedly attract trainers specializing in Water and Psychic types, especially those powerful trainers who understand the value of having a Slowking. With such a high IQ, Slowking also possesses the ability to take care of people, making it all the more desirable. "I''m going to the opening ceremony. You guys just stay at home. Growlithe, don''t tear down the place" Julian warned, concerned about Growlithe''s energetic nature and fearing that the villa might not survive his absence. Growlithe nodded vigorously. His expression didn''t seem like a promise to Julian but more like a signal for him to leave quickly. It was as if he was saying, ''I''m going to demolish the house as soon as you leave. I have a three million renovation plan; would you like to hear it?'' "Slow, I''ll give you the authority over him, make sure this place is still standing when I return," Julian said solemnly. "Slo~" Slowking nodded in agreement. Then its crown was knocked off by Growlithe. Slowking: Who are you? Julian: I don''t care if I don''t attend the opening ceremony. Chapter 128: Opening Ceremony Chapter 128: Opening CeremonyThe opening ceremony was mainly attended by freshmen and sophomores, but the older studentsjuniors and seniorswere not required to attend, as their courses were more relaxed, though they still had tasks to complete. In the auditorium, the ceremony began with the president''s speech. Interestingly, the president of Imperial College wasn''t a professional trainer, but a well-known Pokmon scholar. He had taught many outstanding students, and Julian''s aunt was one of his proudest. After the president offered words of encouragement, it was time for the teacher representative to speak. This year, it was Julian''s head teacher, Frank. After him, a sophomore senior gave a speech as the student representative. Finally, it was Julian''s turn as the freshman representative. As the top student in his class, it was only natural that he would be chosen. Most freshman representatives came from the Trainer Academy, though a few were from the Breeder Academy, the Pokmon School of Medicine, or the Pokmon Research Institute. Almost all the speakers were tied to Pokmon, as it was central to the world they lived in, with countless professions related to it. Julian walked up to the podium with Metagross by his side. Even in front of tens of thousands of people, he showed no signs of stage fright. "Silver Metagross, wow! That''s so cool," someone in the crowd whispered. "I think Walker Elite is the coolest! Do you think Julian could get me an autograph?" "He''s not super handsome, but there''s something about him. Like no one could be more handsome." "Maybe you just think his Metagross is good-looking" Whether it was because he was Walker Elite''s grandson or because of his rare silver Metagross, Julian had drawn everyone''s attention. Even though most people hadn''t seen him before, they''d heard about him, especially after his participation in the Yale Provincial High School League. Clips of his battles had been all over social media. Now, even those unfamiliar with him knew from the crowd''s reactions who this impressive freshman was. "Look at my bro up there, Walker''s looking great! Definitely school heartthrob material," Luis said with pride, as if Julian was his real brother. "In terms of looks, he''s not as handsome as me" Ian added, touching his face proudly. Though he couldn''t match Julian in battle, he was determined to win in the looks department. This little victory inflated his confidence, and he stood up straighter. "Come on, you''re not even one-thousandth as handsome as Walker! Shameless," Luis scoffed. Ian: You are more shameless, licking up to him like that. "Hey, Walter, settle this for us! Who''s more handsome, Julian or me?" Ian asked, hoping Walter, the simple and honest looking guy, would give a fair answer. "Julian, of course" Walter said without a moment''s hesitation. "See? Even Walter agrees!" Luis gloated. Ian looked at Walter in disbelief. He hadn''t expected such a betrayal. But then again, this was the same guy who, when challenged by Julian, had suggested using a level 20 Pokmon. Walter had always been unpredictable. This experience made Ian realize what it meant to not judge a book it''s cover. Ten minutes later, Julian finished his speech. The school had provided the script, so all he had to do was memorize and recite it. If he hadn''t memorized it, he could''ve done like Teacher Frank and read directly from the paper. As applause filled the auditorium, Julian stepped down from the stage. The ceremony wrapped up soon after. "Here, Brother Walker, have some water!" Luis rushed up with a bottle of ice-cold water. "Thanks," Julian said, taking it. "No need to thank me, Brother Walker!" Luis waved his hands, almost embarrassed. Julian didn''t say much. He knew that if he spoke, Luis would launch into a ten-sentence monologue. Luis was even chattier than Will. "Brother Walker, the clubs are recruiting new members this afternoon. Are you going?" Luis asked. The opening ceremony took place in the morning, and the afternoon was reserved for club recruitment. Most new students would either join a club or start one of their own. "Not interested," Julian shook his head. Clubs were great for those looking to strengthen themselves, but for Julian, they would be a waste of time. "If you''re not going, then I''m not going either," Luis said. He had already received an invitation from the Ice Club at the Trainer Academy, one of several clubs focused on specific Pokmon types. There might even be more than one club for the same type. Competition between clubs for strong new members was fierce. Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian had already been invited by three Steel-type clubs, but he had turned them all down. Without Julian participating, Luis saw no reason to join either. For students from their background, joining clubs was more about appearances than necessity. "I don''t know why you''re not interested! I think clubs are fun. I joined the Fighting Club! Most of those trainers are martial artists. I''m going to knock them out one by one with my Bajiquan!" Shen, always the fighter, waved her fists in excitement. Shen was a Fighting-type trainer through and through. Even her brain seemed to be made of muscle. "Hey, Brother Walker, why don''t we start our own club? We could get Ian, Walter, Hugo, and the others together and form a team to explore the secret realms!" Luis suggested. Imperial University had two high-level secret realms and over a dozen intermediate ones, though there were no primary secret realms. The students were too advanced for those. Most couldn''t enter the high-level secret realms without contributing significantly to the university, but intermediate ones were open to anyone who had enough credits. Students could even stay in the secret realms for extended periods if they wanted. "Not for now." Julian wasn''t interested. "I''m heading back." He was more concerned about his Pokmon tearing down the house, so he left in a hurry. "Why is Brother Walker in such a rush? It''s like his house is on fire," Luis muttered. "Maybe he''s got a date" Hugo, who had been silent until now, suggested with a mischievous grin. All eyes turned to Hugo, who quickly added, "I was just kidding!" Luis laughed. "Walker, on a date? That guy''s going to be single for life!" "Seems like you''re holding a grudge from when he beat you yesterday," Ian teased Hugo. "Hey, But isn''t what Luis said more extreme!" "Yeah, right. Brother Walker and I are tight. He wouldn''t hold it against me," Luis said confidently. Chapter 129: The Slowking Who Gives Walnuts Chapter 129: The Slowking Who Gives WalnutsThe next day, the paper titled "Another Evolutionary Form of Slowpoke: Slowking" was published in the Pokmon Magazine, along with a video showing Julian''s Slowpoke evolving into Slowking. The video quickly spread across major portal sites and was re-shared by countless users. Pokmon Magazine focuses on Pokmonology and covers various fields, such as Pokmon Medicine, Pokmon Research, and Pokmon Genetics. Countless Pokmon Scholars aspire to have their work featured in its pages. After Julian''s aunt, Quinn, submitted the paper to the magazine, they tested the evolution theory with Slowpoke, using the Kings Rock provided by Quinn. When Slowpoke evolved into Slowking, it confirmed the theory, and the paper was published shortly after. "Slowking looks goofy, but to it think it''s so smart," someone commented. "Who''s got a Kings Rock? 20 million, no limit!" another exclaimed. "As a Water-type Trainer, I need a Slowking!" "A Psychic-type Trainer here, and I feel the same!" "Professor Quinn''s paper says Slowking''s intelligence rivals that of top scientists. If I had a Slowking, would it look at me like I''m a fool?" "Turns out those silly Slowking eyes are actually judging us," someone else joked. The discovery of Slowking, another evolutionary form of Slowpoke, became the talk of the day. Half of the top trending topics were related to Slowking, especially since no new Pokmon evolutionary form had been discovered in years. The video of Slowpoke evolving into Slowking had also garnered millions of views. Its seemingly clueless yet wise expression became a meme for many. While some people read the lengthy paper, most watched the video instead, as only professionals would sift through a 100,000-word academic paper. When some experts finally read the full paper, they saw the final signature: Quinn Walker and Julian Walker. While Quinn''s name wasn''t a surpriseshe''s the youngest recipient of the prestigious Arceus Awardmany were surprised to see Julian''s name listed alongside hers as a co-author. Quinn herself clarified on social media: "The new evolutionary form of Slowpoke, Slowking, was actually discovered by Julian, not me. I just did the data analysis and wrote the paper." On Julian''s end, he posted a photo of himself with Slowking, along with a video of Slowking preparing breakfast for him, captioned: "My Slowking is a real genius." Will commented: "It''s probably looking at you like you''re an idiot." Shen chimed in: "Slowking, taking care of a fool who is unable to take care of himself." Luis added: "Brother Walker must''ve bagged many Kings Rock." Hugo: "So smartit could probably plan the perfect assassination plan." Tina simply wrote: "My son is amazing!" Meanwhile, Love, their Indeedee, added: "Get plenty of rest and eat on time." Hmm C seems like something weird got in there. Julian''s phone buzzed non-stop as congratulations and jokes poured in, but he ignored most of it. Instead, he stretched lazily and said, "Alright, time to register you officially." Since Slowking hadn''t existed in the outside world until now, there was no official record of it. With the release of the paper and video, however, the Drakorian Trainer Association and various other national bodies had recognized Slowking as an official evolutionary form of Slowpoke. "Slow~" Slowking replied in its usual slow way, nodding. It then trotted upstairs, leaving Julian curious. Moments later, Slowking returned, wearing a small schoolbag. "When did you get a schoolbag?" Julian asked, puzzled. It wasn''t something he had bought. The bag was a perfect fit for Slowking, though. Slowking pulled out its phone, showing Julian the bag on a e-commerce site. It was a custom-made order. "Alright, let''s go." Julian patted Slowking on the head, returned Growlithe to its Pok Ball, and headed out, with him and Slowking gone, if this guy stayed at home, it will be a mess. "Lucario, you''re in charge while we''re out," Julian called. "Luca" Lucario responded, nodding calmly from its meditation. Metagross consciously followed behind Julian. "Look Julian and his Slowking" "Really?, Slowking is here?" "It looks so cute" "It looked at me, it really felt like he was looking at a fool" Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As they walked through the academy, Slowking naturally drew attention. People whispered and snapped photos. Slowking opened her backpack, Julian looked over curiously, and saw Slowking pulling out some small packets of walnuts and handing them to the nearest student passing by. "For me?" one student asked in surprise. "Slow~" Slowking nodded. Julian peeked into Slowking''s bagit was full of walnuts. Slowking continued to distribute the walnuts and the students who got them happily accepted the walnuts, feeling oddly proud to have received the gifts from the world''s first Slowking. But just as they were about to snack on them, someone murmured, "Wait... aren''t walnuts supposed to be brain food? Does Slowking think we''re dumb?" Everyone froze, holding their walnuts and exchanging glances with Slowking. The innocent-looking Slowking blinked back at them, oblivious. ''Walnuts might be good, but I don''t want to eat them anymore.'' Everyone had the same thought. Julian, still holding his own packet of walnuts, didn''t know whether to laugh or be embarrassed. Should he eat the walnuts or not? "Haha..ha" "Hahaha.." Don''t know which heartless guy laughed first but laughter broke the awkward silence. Soon, the crowd joined in, and the tension evaporated in the lighthearted moment. After registering Slowking, Julian returned home, knowing the next two weeks would be filled with military training. Classes wouldn''t officially start until after the training was complete. When he arrived at the villa, Luis and Walter were already waiting at the gate. They immediately focused on Slowking. "Slowking looks so cool," Luis said, awestruck. "Slow~" Slowking responded, pulling out more walnuts and offering them to Luis and Walter. Julian, was now truly suspicious of Slowking''s walnut-giving tendencies. Seeing Slowking handing him another pack of walnuts, Julian decisively refused. Remembering the earlier encounter and the words spoken, the meaning of receiving walnuts from Slowking had become pretty obvious. Since Julian didn''t want them, Slowking handed the walnuts to Luis again. "Thanks" Luis proudly accepted two packets of walnuts and shot Walter a smug look. ''See, Slowking gave me two packs, while you got only one, it clearly likes me more.'' Slowking: It seems that only two packets are not enough. Inviting them inside, Julian noticed Lucario had discreetly told Meltan to head back to its room to avoid being seen by the guests. Chapter 130: Taunt From The Fighting Class Chapter 130: Taunt From The Fighting ClassThe three of them walked into the villa. Julian headed to the kitchen to boil some water, preparing tea for his guests. While waiting for the water to boil, he grabbed a few snacks and placed them on the coffee tablemostly walnuts, accompanied by other stuff. Watching Slowking enter the kitchen again, Luis said enviously, "Brother Walker, your Slowking really takes care of everything!" Julian shrugged. "I don''t know. My Slowking just likes taking care of the house." Slowking had only been introduced to the world today, and while there would definitely be more Slowking in the future, not all of them would be like his. Whether they would have the same traits as his Slowking was uncertain. Luis hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "Brother Walker, can I ask you something?" Julian glanced at him. "Sure, as long as you''re not asking me how to boost your Aura abilities." "No, no, it''s nothing like that!, it''s definitely something you can do," Luis shook his head quickly. "Do you still have any Kings Rock, Brother Walker?" With the emergence of Slowking, the key item for its evolution, Kings Rock, had become widely known. Though it had been discovered many years ago, no one knew its purpose until now. The number of Kings Rocks discovered had always been small. In the past, they were sold as decorative items, but recently, all the Kings Rocks on the market were bought up. With Slowking''s sudden emergence, it''s easy to figure out who bought them. For those who didn''t already have Kings Rock in their possession, getting one now was nearly impossible. Currently, the price of Kings Rock had skyrocketed to 50 million, yet it remained priceless due to its scarcity. Previously, people didn''t know its use. Even if some were found in secret realms or ruins, they might have been left behind because they seemed unnecessary or cumbersome. Julian smirked. "I get why Walter would ask for one since he''s a Water-type trainer, but you? You''re an Ice-type specialist." Luis grinned. "Brother Walker, Ice and Water go hand in hand!" It was trueMany water-type Pokmon used various Ice-type moves, while fewer of the Ice-type used Water-type moves. Through TMs, Slowking could also learn many Ice-type moves. "Brother Walker, I''m not asking for it for free. I''ll trade this Ice Stone for it." Luis pulled a small box from his pocket. Inside was a shimmering blue stone, cold to the touch. Ice Stones were much rarer than Fire, Water, or Thunder Stones, and the one Luis held was pretty goodbetween high to top-level. Its value was more or less equal to that of a Kings Rock. Walter, standing beside him, held out his own offer. "I''ve got a Mist Gem for you." The Mist Gem could increase the power of Water-type moves. (T/N: couldn''t find it, should be a AU thing.) Julian eyed the items for a moment. "Hold on." He went upstairs and returned with two Kings Rocks in hand. Meanwhile, Slowking had finished boiling the water and bought out the tea for the three of them. "Here, take these. You don''t need to give me anything in return," Julian said. Handing the Kings Rock to both of them, Julian declined their offers of exchange. The Ice Stone and Mist Gem were of no use to him, and his family had no shortage of such items. Seeing Julian''s refusal, Walter hesitated for a moment, but Luis, standing nearby, wasted no time, accepting his with a grin. "Thanks, Brother Walker! You''re the best!" "Don''t just stand there. Take it," Luis said to Walter. "Do you really think Brother Walker needs your stuff?" At that, Walter finally accepted the Kings Rock and said, "Thank you." Julian nodded. While Luis was more familiar and playful, Walter was much more reserved. Julian had initially bought Kings Rock to manage certain family affairs. Even if he hadn''t given it to Luis and Walter today, their family backgrounds meant they would eventually acquire one. Everyone in the special recruitment class came from well-off families, and Julian wasn''t the type to act arrogant because of his own background. It made sense to stay on good terms with them. Besides, neither Luis nor Walter had bad personalities. Luis''s cheeky attitude, calling him "brother this and brother that" so openly, made it hard for Julian not to give it to him. --- The scorching sun beat down on the special class as they stood in formation, facing a dark-skinned instructor with a serious expression. Military training was something every university student dreaded, and even after crossing in a world with Pokmon, there was no escaping it. The instructor for their military training was a senior student from the Third Military Academy. His deeply tanned face made it hard to believe he was still a student. Thinking about this, Julian couldn''t help but recall Will, who was also at the Third Military Academy. When they meet again, Julian imagined he might be just as sunburned. With his strong physique, though, military training was hardly a challenge for Julian. It had been more than two hours since they started, and although his body could handle it, he was still feeling the exhaustion. Finally, the instructor gave them a break. The training ground was shared by several classes. Nearby, students from the Fighting class were also taking a break. (T/N: for anyone who forgot cough-me, classes were divided according to types except for the special class) Suddenly, three boys and one girl from the Fighting class approached the special recruits. "Hey, you recruits over there! Any of you brave enough to spar with us?" The one leading the group was a muscular boy named Kong, his military uniform stretched tight over his biceps. All the members of the special class came from aristocratic families, and that sense of superiority ran deep, though it had been tempered by their elders. So, when someone dared to shout at them, Luis was the first to step up. "Who dares to act wild in front of me?" he said. Fatigued from military training and full of pent-up frustration, Luis wasn''t going to let this challenge slide. "You, with the scrawny arms and legscome over and let''s see what you''ve got." The boy sneered at Luis. "I am afraid you won''t even be able to take one hit" "I''ve been training in martial arts since I could walk. You''re about to regret that" Luis said confidently. Julian hadn''t expected that Luis knew martial arts and felt that he had underestimated him. Sear?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Luis who was boasting so confidently leaned over and whispered in Julian''s ear, "Brother Walker, stop me." Julian: (??_?) "Step aside Luis, I will take him on!" Before the situation could escalate, kate stood up and let out a sharp shout, full of energy. "Okay" Luis sat down obediently. There were three Fighting-type trainers in special class, two girls and one boy, which included Kate and Shen. "Kate, Baguazhang." "Warren, Xingyiquan." (T/N: Explained at the end of chapter, plus something else I want to say too) Both reported to each other about their respective martial arts. The instructor didn''t interfere, and soon the surrounding military training classes gathered to watch, forming rows to give the two enough space. "Shen, which is stronger, Xingyiquan or Baguazhang?" Luis came to Shen and asked in a low voice. Shen shook her head. "It''s not about which style is stronger. It''s about who''s the better fighter." "Come on, Kate! Show him who''s boss!" Luis shouted enthusiastically. **** T/N: Baguazhang: It is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being tai chi and xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice. Baguazhang literally means "eight trigram palm", referring to the bagua "trigrams" of the I Ching, one of the canons of Taoism. It is a versatile martial art, suitable for self-defense and competition. Its circular movements allow practitioners to adapt to multiple attackers and changing situations, making it an effective system for real-world self-defense scenarios. Xingyiquan or Xingyi: It is also known as "Form-Intent Fist" or "Mind-Form Boxing," is a traditional Chinese martial art that emphasizes internal energy (qi) cultivation for combat effectiveness. Overall, It is a traditional Chinese martial art that focuses on internal energy cultivation, powerful movements, and coordinated training. Its unique blend of physical technique and mental intent offers practitioners a path to martial excellence, personal growth, and self-discovery. - Now for the thing I wanted to tell everyone, Just to be clear, I haven''t gotten anything negative related to this yet but just in case: As you guys have noticed I leave some things that are Chinese as it is like food and martial arts or there might be more and I do that as a respect to the author''s culture and origin. These things to me are not in the category of nationalism we see in the novels but just a part of one''s culture, and to those who might say but this is a Pokmon fanfic, yep absolutely a Pokmon fanfic taking place in China on alternate Earth, so yeah if they don''t sit well with some, I can''t do anything about that. Now that we are done with that, I want to say thank you guys for all the love and support you have given to this so far. I really appreciate it. Thanks a lot to all of you <3. Chapter 131: Shen Chapter 131: ShenBaguazhang and Xingyiquan are martial arts with deep roots in Drakoria, carrying a long and respected history. These arts are not just practiced in Drakoria but have spread worldwide, with martial arts schools opening in various countries, teaching the rich techniques and philosophies behind Drakoria''s Kung Fu. Kate and Warren, both students in their respective martial arts styles, exchanged their greetings before their duel. Despite Kate being a woman, Warren didn''t dare look down on her. In the world of martial arts, there was no room for gender distinctiononly rivals. Kate practiced Baguazhang, also known as "eight trigram palm" or bagua "trigrams. This style is famous for its flexible, ever-changing palm techniques and its circular, flowing footwork. Kate''s small stature added to her advantage, making her movements even more agile and graceful. She danced around Warren like a wandering dragon, her steps light yet deadly. Though her movements were elegant and mesmerizing, they were laced with hidden dangers, each palm strike carrying lethal intent. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Warren quickly realized that Kate''s skill wasn''t to be underestimated. Her flexible and swift body allowed her to dodge his attacks effortlessly, leaving him frustrated as strike after strike missed their mark. "Come on, Warren, you can''t even take down a little girl?" one of the boys in the fighting class laughed. "Come on, the girl on opposite side, take Warren down" "Hahaha, Warren, are you sure you can defeat her?" Seeing that Warren had not taken down Kate even after all this time, the people in the Fighting class not only did not cheer him on, but laughed at him one by one. The special class, however, had a different atmosphere. Luis stood up, voice cracking as he shouted, "Come on, Kate! You''re the best, the most beautiful!" He turned to his classmates. "Julian, Shen, Walter, shout with me!" Julian, Shen, and Walter exchanged awkward looks, clearly too embarrassed to join Luis in his loud cheers. Despite Kate''s agility, she was starting to slow down. Warren, with his large build and powerful strikes, was patient. He waited for the moment when her speed faltered and seized the opportunity. With a strong punch aimed at her chest, Warren landed a blow. Kate managed to block it, but the force sent her skidding back over ten meters before she could stop. "Still want to fight?" Warren asked, standing still instead of rushing forward to press his advantage. He knew he had already won, and chasing a beaten opponent wouldn''t sit well with his classmates. Kate shook her head, admitting defeat. "I concede." Her arms trembled from the impact of Warren''s punch. In terms of sheer strength, she couldn''t match him, and her body had reached its limit. As Kate returned to the class, her head low, Shen stood up and helped her down, noticing her trembling hands. Her face hardened with determination. "I''ll get back at him for you," Shen said quietly. Without hesitation, Shen walked over to Warren. "I''ll fight you next. Are you ready?" Warren frowned. "Another girl?" he muttered under his breath. Shen smirked. "What? Are you afraid of losing to a girl?" Warren hesitated. He knew Shen''s words were a provocation, but refusing would make him look weak in front of everyone. "Shen, Bajiquan (a kind of boxing style)" "A member of martial arts family from Yale Province?" Warren asked subconsciously when he heard the name. "Yes" Shen nodded. Bajiquan was widely practiced, but only a few families in Drakoria truly mastered its essence. Shen''s family was among those few. Realizing the challenge before him, Warren adjusted his stance. "Warren, Xingyiquan." After saluting each other, Shen wasted no time. Bajiquan was a martial art known for its fierce, explosive movements. Though Shen was smaller and lighter than Warren, her strikes carried the precision and power of someone far more experienced. She moved like a tigress, launching a relentless assault. Her fists, elbows, and knees struck with rapid intensity, forcing Warren on the defensive. Despite his size and strength, he couldn''t find an opening to counter her furious attacks. The students watching from the sidelines were in shock. "She''s brutal," one whispered. "Don''t mess with her," another added. "Yeah, I don''t want to be killed" The people in the special class didn''t have much impression of Shen at first, they only remembered that she and Julian came from the same place. But now seeing this scene, few will forget her. Even Hugo, who had always seen himself as a skilled fighter, felt uneasy. He raised her threat to the highest level, Shen''s skills were far beyond what he had imagined. He knew that if he had to face her, he wouldn''t last three seconds. Meanwhile, Luis, standing beside Julian, glanced at Shen pummeling Warren and swallowed nervously. "Brother Walker, aren''t you afraid of her?" Julian looked puzzled. "Afraid? Why?" "Look at her! She''s so violent" Luis muttered, watching Shen beat a man who was about 1.9 meters tall and weighed more than 200 pound, with muscles all over his body. "If she were your girlfriend and you didn''t listen to her, she could beat you to death." Julian chuckled. "She can''t beat me." To Luis, that sounded like Julian was just trying to sound tough. He knew Julian''s Pokmon were strong, but in a hand-to-hand fight, he wasn''t so sure. He imagined Julian would get pinned to the ground if he ever faced Shen in a physical battle. "Three Hands of Hades" As the fight continued, Shen used a powerful Bajiquan techniqueThree Hands of Hades. She lunged forward with her right hand, aiming for Warren''s chest. He quickly blocked with his left forearm and tried to counter with a punch. Shen, however, was faster, drawing back her fist and immediately going for another strike. Shen''s attacks were swift and precise. She hit Warren''s chest and face in rapid succession, causing him to stagger. In response, Warren pushed out with both palms, trying to create distance between them. But Shen sidestepped, her body twisting fluidly into a horse stance before delivering a decisive blow to Warren''s neck. The strike was clean and devastating. Warren fell to the ground, struggling to stand as blood flow to his head momentarily halted. Seeing this, Shen naturally stopped attacking. It wasn''t a fight to life and death with an enemy, but a learning experience. "Three Hands of Hades" was one of the deadliest techniques in Bajiquan, and though Shen had held back enough not to kill, the move had ended the fight. "I''ve lost" Warren admitted with a bitter smile as his classmates helped him to his feet. His defeat was even more embarrassing as his fellow students in the fighting class laughed behind him. "Why are you all laughing?" Warren snapped at his class. "If any of you think you''re so great, come fight her yourself!" The others in the fighting class, despite their bravado, stayed silent. They all came from martial arts background more or less, So they could all see Shen''s skill and knew they wouldn''t fare any better. If anything, they''d likely fall even faster than Warren had. Chapter 132: I’ll Be Your Opponent Chapter 132: Ill Be Your Opponent"Who else wants to challenge? Come on!" Shen stood tall, her gaze sharp like a falcon''s as she looked at the members of the Fighting class. The battle just now had left her feeling improved and given her new ideas, So she wanted to continue fighting in hopes of improving more. Two boys and a girl who had followed Warren stood in front of her, looking uneasy. One of the girls stepped forward. "Lily, Lost Track Fist" (T/N: Lost Track Fist or "Mizongyi", is a distinctive Chinese martial art that emphasizes deception and mobility. Its history and lineage are tied to the Shaolin Temple and Sun Tong, and it has evolved over time through influences from other styles.) "Shen, Bajiquan" Lost Track Fist had a long history, going back over a thousand years. Many of Drakoria''s ancient military generals had practiced this martial art. Shen wasn''t sure how skilled her opponent was, but she knew it didn''t matter. Within a dozen rounds, Shen had Lily on the defensive. The girl struggled to fend off Shen''s relentless strikes until finally, Shen overpowered her using Bajiquan''s powerful left-right split move, ending the match with a clear victory. "That''s amazing!" "Shen is incredible!" Watching Shen defeat two opponents in a row, even the prideful students from the special class started cheering. Luis even gave a smug thumbs-up to the Fighting class. The spectators who had gathered clapped loudly in approval, making Shen blush slightly at the attention. The pressure was now squarely on the Fighting class. They had come here to show off, but they had been defeated by a girl. And looking at Shen still standing tall, it didn''t seem like she was done yet. "Is she going to take on three opponents in a row?" Shen, having bested two already, seemed ready to keep going. Winning against various opponents using different styles wasn''t just about racking up victories; it was about gaining combat experience and better understanding herself. The best way to improve in martial arts was to fight. "Who else?" Shen asked. Julian raised an eyebrow. This familiar sounding tone, and that Power Trip was very similar to someone. "Brother Walker, she got that from you," Luis whispered with a grin. When Julian had faced off against six classmates before, he had issued a similar challenge. It had been an extreme show of confidence. Now it was Shen''s turn. At least she was showing off to the other class. The Fighting class wasn''t going to let this slide. They had their pride too. They had issued the challenge themselves, and now they couldn''t back down. "Let me experience your Bajiquan for myself." A figure stepped out from the Fighting class. He was around 1.8 meters tall, with an ordinary appearance, but his eyes shone with intensity. It was the kind of presence that made people notice his eyes first before anything else. "The class leader''s here! Now it''s getting serious!" "This girl''s done for." "Bajiquan versus Bajiquan? This''ll be good." The newcomer was Dalton, the class leader of the Fighting class. He had earned that position by defeating anyone who challenged him. In that sense, he was a bit like Julian. "Dalton, Bajiquan" "Shen, Bajiquan" "Do you want to rest first?" Dalton asked. "No need" Shen shook her head. She knew momentum was crucial in battle. Taking a break would only cause her to lose the rhythm she had built up. "Shen is in danger," said Kate suddenly from where she was resting. Sarch* The n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "How can that be? Shen is so strong, and the opponent practices Bajiquan too. Isn''t this a perfect match for her?" Luis said, brimming with confidence in Shen. To him, Kate was just overthinking things. "Does Dalton have something special?" Julian could hear the seriousness in Kate''s tone and asked curiously. "If I''m right, Dalton is from the Davis family. Their Bajiquan is just as strong as Shen''s family. The elder of the Davis family is a master, and Dalton is considered the top fighter of their younger generation." "So what?" Luis scoffed. "If he''s so great, why isn''t he in the special recruit class?" What Luis didn''t know was that if Shen hadn''t awakened her Heart''s Eye at the last minute, Dalton would''ve likely taken her spot. Neither party was aware of this too. The duel between Dalton and Shen began. Both practiced Bajiquan, but their styles were slightly different. "Shen is going to lose," Julian whispered. Although Julian knew a little Bajiquan, and was not a martial artist, but his vision was still very good. Luis wanted to refute, but when he saw that the speaker was Julian, he subconsciously closed his mouth. Shen was fierce, but after several rounds, it became clear she was at a disadvantage. Dalton was more skilled, and Shen, having already fought twice, was starting to tire. After about a dozen rounds, Dalton managed to knock her down. "I''ve lost," Shen said quietly, accepting her defeat. "Martial arts isn''t about winning or losing" Dalton replied. "But you are indeed better than me" Shen shook her head, Even if she hadn''t been tired from her previous matches, she knew Dalton was more proficient in Bajiquan. It was a humbling experience, but it would help her grow. Now, two of the three martial artists in the special class had lost. Only one remained, and all eyes turned toward him. "Don''t look at me," Gucci said quickly. "I don''t know martial arts." He wasn''t lying. Even though he was a Fighting-type Pokmon trainer, he had never learned martial arts himself. He had only made it into the special class by winning the National Fighting Elite Tournament, where Dalton had been one of his opponents in the quarterfinals. In a Pokmon battle, Gucci wasn''t afraid of Dalton. But in a hand-to-hand fight, he knew he wouldn''t stand a chance. "What? Are we just going to give up?" Luis asked, irritated. The noble-born students from the special class felt the sting of defeat. They weren''t used to being outclassed like this. "If you''ve got the guts, challenge us to a Pokmon battle!" one of them shouted. Dalton had expected this. He knew only two students in the special class practiced martial arts. He was standing there just because he was the class leader of Fighting class, to earn respect for their class. He had no interest in embarrassing them any further, so he was about to leave when a voice stopped him. "How about I be your opponent?" Dalton turned around, surprised. Julian was standing there. "Brother Walker, don''t be impulsive!" Luis hurriedly pulled at Julian''s arm, worried for him. "You are?" Dalton asked, a little unsure. From what he had inquired about the special class, there were only two martial artists in there. "Julian." "You''re this years student representative" Hearing the name, Dalton finally recognized him as the one who had spoken at the opening ceremony. No wonder he looked a little familiar. But he had never heard anything about this guy knowing martial arts. Chapter 133: One Move Chapter 133: One MoveA person who wasn''t from a martial arts family stepped forward to challenge Dalton. While Dalton admired Julian''s courage, he couldn''t help but think Julian was being overly self-righteous. The members of the special class were taken aback. They exchanged glances, realizing their class leader was bold enough to step up and potentially get beaten. As Julian approached Dalton, Kate rushed to Shen. "Why don''t you stop him? If Dalton gets serious, Julian will be in the hospital for months!" "Just wait and see," Shen replied calmly. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her confidence puzzled Kate and Luis, but they remained hopeful about Julian''s chances. But was this really possible. "Julian, Bajiquan" What he had learned from Shen was Bajiquan, So there was no problem in reporting it. Dalton was surprised; he hadn''t expected Julian to know martial arts, and that too Bajiquan. After all, just now even Shen was defeated by him, how could Julian think he could match him? "Are you going to fight or not?" Julian asked, frowning slightly at Dalton''s dismissive attitude. This was the first time he felt looked down upon, and it stung. "I hope you don''t regret this," Seeing that Julian really wanted to fight with him, Dalton naturally didn''t refuse. If he could defeat this year''s student representative, it would certainly bolster his reputation throughout his time at the university. Even finding a girlfriend will be a piece of cake. "You fought Shen just now, so I won''t take advantage of you. You can take three moves first," Julian said. As soon as his words fell, the surrounding class erupted in chatter. They initially thought Julian challenging Dalton was already arrogant enough, but now it seemed that the other party was not just arrogant but also delusional. ''You are a non-professional martial artist, where is the confidence to let a professional like Dalton make three moves first coming from?'' Dalton was also amused, he was being underestimated by the opponent, and to him the other party felt like a weak chicken, who he could defeat easily. And now he had been underestimated by that same weak chicken, even allowing him first three moves. "It''s over, I have to make a call" Luis said, his face turning pale as he hastily grabbed his phone to call for help. Seeing him dial 120, Hugo quickly snatched the phone away. (T/N: Ambulance) "What are you doing?" Luis snapped. "Julian knows what he''s doing. He won''t hurt Dalton too bad" Hugo replied. This MF, hearing this, Luis''s whole body became stiff, he even felt that his ears were playing tricks on him. Hugo really believed that Julian could beat up Dalton in martial arts. "Come on, don''t waste time. Let''s finish this quickly," Julian called, gesturing for Dalton to make his move. His tone and demeanor were dripping with contempt, igniting Dalton''s anger. If Julian wanted to be reckless, Dalton was ready to show him the consequences. Defeat him thoroughly and make him pay the price of arrogance. Dalton stomped down hard, closing the distance to Julian in an instant. He swung a powerful punch aimed straight at Julian''s face, the wind whooshing from his fist. If it connected, it would surely knock Julian''s teeth out. Some of the girls in the crowd instinctively covered their eyes, bracing for impact. Luis gasped, horrified, ready to call out a warning. But Julian leaned slightly to the left, brushing the punch past his ear. He had dodged it. Dalton was taken aback; he hadn''t expected Julian to evade the strike. He believed that Julian was just lucky. "I''ll see if your luck can save you a second time," Dalton sneered. With a swift motion, he pivoted on his left foot, sweeping his right foot towards Julian. This time, Julian didn''t dodge. Instead, he reached out and caught Dalton''s foot with his palm. Remarkably, Julian didn''t budge an inch. The pain surged through Dalton''s right foot as if it were caught in a vice. He stared at Julian, astonished. Even though he had only used seventy percent of his strength in that kick, yet Julian had easily caught it without even swaying. This kind of stability was something that could only be achieved through years of rigorous training. "I was being too superficial. I''ll give it my all for the third move" Dalton said, shaking off the ache in his foot. He now regarded Julian at the same level as himself. He was not qualified to be merciful, and only by going all out could he hope to win. "Bajiquan Stand-Up Cannon!" he announced. With a grunt, he clenched his fists and bent low, channeling his energy through his legs, waist, arms, and finally his fists. The air crackled with intensity. Those nearby felt as if someone had set off firecrackers in their ears; their ears were buzzing, which was extremely uncomfortable. The Stand-Up Cannon was one of the eight major moves of Bajiquan, and few dared to take it head-on. Anyone who attempted to block it directly risked serious injuries and broken bones. Expecting Julian to dodge, Dalton was surprised to see him stand firm, extending his hands as if to catch the strike. Inwardly, Dalton scoffed, thinking, No matter how strong you are, you can''t stop this move. Perhaps out of instinct, he dialed back his power slightly. In the next moment, Dalton''s fists were grasped firmly by Julian''s hands. No matter how hard Dalton pushed, he couldn''t force Julian back an inch. Shock coursed through him. This guy had just blocked his third move! "Well, the three moves are done. Now it''s my turn," Julian said, releasing Dalton''s fists. Ignoring the shock in his heart, Dalton shot back, "Then I''ll let you take three moves too!" He couldn''t afford to lose face now. Julian shook his head. "No, if I can''t take you down in one move, I''ll accept my loss." "What did you say, Take me down in one move?" Dalton burst out laughing angrily, What a joke, even if Julian had some strength, he couldn''t possibly take him down with just one move. Perhaps it was because Dalton failed to win in three moves and was then underestimated by his opponent. Power Trip and arroganceJulian embodied these traits perfectly. The students from the special class watched with growing excitement. Luis couldn''t hold back, shouting, "Brother Walker is mighty!" After Julian effortlessly handled Dalton''s three moves, the special class realized that Julian wasn''t arrogant; he truly had the skills to back it up. Once again, the pressure shifted back to the Fighting class. "Okay, let''s see how you plan to take me down. If you succeed, I will call you big brother from now on," Dalton said. As soon as Luis heard this, he felt a sense of crisis. Now that there was someone to take the position of the younger brother, he immediately stood up and shouted angrily: "Brother Walker''s younger brother can only be me! If you want to be the younger brother, you''ll have to line up behind them!" Who was them? Hugo, Walter, Ian, Yanis and Tyler looked at each other and cursed, ''This bast**d''. "Julian, let''s see how you beat me with one move!" Dalton roared. Two seconds later, Dalton found himself fallen on the ground, staring up at the clouds drifting lazily across the sky. Dalton: When did I fall? Chapter 134: You All Come Together Chapter 134: You All Come Together"Damn, they''re playing dirty!" "F**k you! Dalton isn''t even close to our class leader''s level." "You''re the one talking shit! Can''t you see Dalton''s going easy on Julian?" "Class leader if you are under any threat, just blink. We don''t care if he''s from the Walker family! If it comes down to it, the whole class will stand together." The sight of Dalton''s defeat left the Fighting class in disbelief. One moment, Julian was standing five or six meters away, and in a blink, he charged forward, and Dalton was on the ground. To them, it seemed like their leader, Dalton, was holding back. They thought he was too afraid of offending the Walker family to really fight. Hearing his classmates shouting behind him, Dalton felt embarrassed. It wasn''t that he let Julian winJulian had beaten him fair and square. Now he understood why Julian had been so confident about giving him three free moves. "If any of you are still not convinced, stand up" Julian said as he walked past Dalton, who was still lost in thought. He pointed at the four loudest fighters from the Fighting class. "Stop yelling from the sidelines. If you''ve got the guts, I''ll let all four of you come at me at once," Julian said with a calm, almost bored expression. The four men, having been publicly challenged, couldn''t back down now. They exchanged looks, then stood up, ready to face him. "Watch out for his speed," Dalton warned them. "Yeah, right. How fast could he be? Just because you''re scared of the Walker family doesn''t mean we are," one of them scoffed, clearly dismissing Dalton''s caution. If not for Dalton, he believed he''d be the leader of the Fighting class right now. There''s finally a chance for him to show off his strength. Seeing they weren''t taking his warning seriously, Dalton gave up, stepping back to watch. If these four lost to Julian together, the embarrassment would be more than they could handle. "We''re not going to bully you," one of them said smugly. "If you can last five minutes without us beating you, you win." "Alright" Julian agreed, briefly glancing at the man who''d suggested this shameless time limit. "Then I will start," Julian announced. Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Bring it" The man responded, thinking Julian was too naive for giving a heads-up before attacking. But his confidence was short-lived. "Swish~" In a flash, Julian closed the gap between them. Before the man could even blink, Julian was already in front of him. A light punch to his stomach sent him crumpling to the ground, gasping for air like he''d been hit by a Geodude. Julian wasted no time grabbing the collars of two others. Before they could react, their heads collided with a sickening "thud," and they collapsed in a heap. The last man stood frozen, stunned by how quickly Julian had dispatched his friends. He didn''t even realize Julian was standing right in front of him until *Slap!* Julian''s hand cracked across his face, waking him from his stupor. "Your friends are already down. Don''t just stand there," Julian taunted. "Ahh..." "Shut up" The man let out a pitiful scream, but Julian quickly shut him up with another hard slap, knocking him out cold, his teeth scattering across the ground. Just like that, all four were down. Julian turned to the rest of the Fighting class, and anyone who met his gaze quickly looked away. They realized now that Julian had beaten Dalton fair and squareit wasn''t because Dalton had been holding back. As for the four challengers, two were unconscious with swollen foreheads, one was clutching his stomach, unable to move, and the last one had a face swollen like a pig''s, missing a few teeth. "Anyone else?" Julian asked. The Fighting class shook their heads in perfect unison. Some even looked at Julian with fear in their eyes. They wanted to live, and they wanted to do so with their dignity intact. Julian then glanced at the other classes who had gathered to watch the spectacle. Fire Class: "We were just passing by." Flying Class: "We want to fly higher." Steel Class: "Big Brother!" "Are you really trained in Bajiquan?" Dalton asked, walking up to Julian. "Yeah, didn''t you see?" Julian replied as a matter of course. Dalton''s face stiffened. ''See?'' He hadn''t seen Julian use any traditional Bajiquan moves at all! How was he supposed to tell if Julian knew it? "I see now... Your moves are pretty sharp" Dalton said, trying to maintain his serious tone. Even though he wasn''t sure whether Julian had really studied Bajiquan, one thing was clearJulian''s fighting ability was on another level. Dalton knew that Julian''s reaction time, speed, and strength were far beyond his own. The basics of martial arts are reaction time, speed, and strength. Mastering martial arts is about harmonizing these elements and constantly refining them. If someone excels in these three aspects, they can dominate a fight, even without formal training. "Yeah, I''ve been training for a while," Julian replied casually. "A few days?" Dalton asked in disbelief. "Yup, learned from Shen for a few days. She said I am very talented in this area," Julian answered. Julian''s physical condition, having Mega Pallet Town Physique, was already superhuman. Even the strongest martial artist in the world wouldn''t be able to match him. The old saying "speed is unbeatable" was true, and Julian had both speed and strength on his side. Unfortunately for him, in this Pokmon-dominated world, martial arts alone couldn''t make someone like Julian a world champion. If they lived in a purely martial arts world, Julian would easily become a grandmaster. The special class was left in awe. They thought of Julian as a fierce little guy, but they had no idea he was this strong. "How did you know Brother Walker would win? Did he tell you?" Luis asked Hugo, clearly jealous. It seemed Julian had confided in Hugo but not him. "When we fought, he knocked me out. He was over 200 meters away and reached me in less than ten seconds. Don''t you know what that means?" Hugo replied. "Damn! Brother Walker could win the Olympic gold medal with that kind of speed!" Luis exclaimed in disbelief. Hugo: ???! Chapter 135: Lectures Chapter 135: LecturesJulian''s overwhelming strength soon became a hot topic across Imperial University, with word quickly spreading about how he single-handedly dominated the entire Fighting class. It wasn''t long before sophomores and juniors, intrigued by his abilities, came forward to challenge him. One after another, they all fell to Julian''s incredible skill. Even the president of the Fighting Club took up the challenge. Unlike the others, this opponent managed to last five rounds before Julian eventually overpowered him. The outcome further solidified Julian''s reputation as not only a talented Pokmon Trainer but also a formidable fighter in his own right. Julian''s sheer physical prowesshis strength, speed, reaction time, and endurancemade it clear that he could easily overwhelm most martial artists, even without mastering a specific martial art like Bajiquan. This led to him being recognized as the new leader of Imperial University''s military force, with everyone amazed by his strength in both Pokmon battles and personal combat. Finally, the intense military training for the freshmen came to an end, and they transitioned into regular period. The teaching of the special class was different from the ordinary class. Ordinary classes were assigned based on the respective Type of the students. For example, Fire Type Trainers enter the Fire Type class, and Water Type Trainers enter the Water Type class. This meant that students in each class of the ordinary stream share the same Type, which makes teaching easier and allows for smoother communication between students of the same Type. Although, the special recruit class only had 30 students, but they had all 18 different Types, making the teaching much more difficult. There''s no way a Water Type specialist could teach effectively when most of the students weren''t Water Types, leaving many of them without relevant information. To address this problem, students in the special class had the freedom to attend any class in the entire schoolany class, at any grade level. If they thought they could understand what a freshman teacher was teaching, they could even choose to attend sophomore classes. From Monday to Friday, the students in the special class selected the courses they wanted to attend. On Saturdays, the head teacher Frank holds one-on-one matches, with himself as the Rival. Having an Elite Trainer as their Rivalsomething only available to the special class. High school students get two days off each week, even in their final year. However, in university, they only got one day off. At the time, Julian silently grumbled about it. The special class didn''t require students to attend daily, so even if they didn''t go to class at all, there''s no penaltyas long as they pass the final exam. Aside from the Saturday special recruit class, which was mandatory, the rest of the courses were entirely up to the students, giving them a lot of freedom. For example, Julian had only attended one class this week. And it wasn''t even a Steel-Type courseit was a Fire-Type class, he attended specifically for Growlithe . Julian sat in the last row of the freshman Fire-Type class, while many students kept glancing back at him curiously. After all, he was the freshman representativeand the guy who beat up the Fighting class. Julian couldn''t shake the feeling that the temperature inside the classroom was much higher than outside. Among all the Trainers, Fire, Water, and Grass Types were the most common. Out of ten Trainers, at least five tended to focus on these three Types. There were 50 students in a normal class, only 20 more than in the special class. But while this was an ordinary class, it''s still an ordinary class of Imperial University, where every student placed in the top 50 in their respective provinces on the college entrance exam. With such a high entry score, everyone who passed was at a scholar-level. The lecturer was a professor in his 60s, His Trainer rank was only Advanced, but he had a lot of knowledge about fire-types. He was a well-known fire-type researcher. Julian was born into a Steel family, so he''s very familiar with Steel-Types. Dragons came next, but he lacked deeper knowledge about the rest of the Types. Growlithe, having eaten the Fire crystala Fire Type treasurehad the potential for incredible achievements, so Julian was very focused on its training. "Besides using items to enhance the power of Fire Type moves, what other methods are there?" asked the old professor from the front of the room. "Use Sunny Day," one student responded. "Hmm, that''s one." "Having a battlefield advantageous for Fire-Types," another student added. "That works." "Are these the only two methods you all know?" the old professor asked. The students of the class were deep in thought, trying to come up with a third method, but it seemed that only these two ways were well-known for boosting the power of Fire-Type moves. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Whether it''s Sunny Day or Having a battlefield advantage for Fire-Types, the increase in move power is only temporary." "And while items can enhance Fire-Type moves, your Rival can also have items, which means neither side gains an advantage." The professor''s tone was slow and calm, and he didn''t even open his book as he continued, "Do you know which of the Fire-Type Pokmon known so far spits out flames of the highest temperature?" "Charizard!" A student shouted excitedly. "Wrong" The old professor said, looking at the student blankly. Another hot-headed fool. "The correct answer is Magmortar, Magcargo, Camerupt, and Torkoal after eating coal. These four Pokmon can Spit Up the hottest flames." "Do you know why?" he asked. "I know! Torkoal eats coal to raise its flame temperature," the same Trainer who guessed Charizard earlier chimed in again. "Well, you''re quite smart," the professor said dryly. The smartest person in this class might just be him. After being "praised," the student sat down, grinning. "Now, why are the flames of the other three Pokmon so hot? Do any of you know?" No one answered, and several students started flipping through their books in search of the answer. "Julian, do you know?" the professor asked. "Magmortar and Magcargo live in the mouths of volcanoes, where Magmortar can even survive in deeper magma. As for Camerupt, the volcano on its back erupts once every ten years, reaching temperatures of over 10,000 degrees. Its high flame temperature should be due to the volcano on its back" Julian said after thinking for a moment. The professor nodded in satisfaction. "It''s very accurate. Magmortar and Magcargo live in volcanoes, which raises their flame temperatures. Camerupt has a volcano on its back." "The first two are due to living in an environment rich in Fire elements, while the latter relies on the body structure, one is an external factor, the other is an internal factor" "Professor, would making my Charizard live near a volcano increase its flame temperature too?" the earlier student asked. "It would take timeat least ten years or more. Staying for just a short while wouldn''t be enough to enhance the Fire element at its core," the professor explained. "Ten years? That''s way too long! I can''t even manage ten days" The professor''s face twitched. "What''s your name, young man?" "Uh, my name''s A.J, Professor." "A.J., get out of the class!" Chapter 136: University Exchange Competition Chapter 136: University Exchange Competition"Little Juli, the reward has been processed. I spoke with the Trainer Association about your request, and they''ve agreed." "Really, Aunty, when can I come pick it up?" "Soon. That Pokmon''s mother her Trainer is no ordinary person." "Alright, I''ll be busy for now. I''ll send it to you when the Pokmon arrives." "Okay." After hanging up the phone, Julian looked at Slowking, who was watching him curiously. "Slow, Looks like we''ll have a new partner soon." "Slo~" Slowking nodded. In Drakoria, the Trainer Association rewards anyone who discovers an unrecorded Pokmon or a new evolution of a Pokmon. The reward options include three entries into a high-level secret realm or a Pokmon with cyan aptitude. Julian had discovered Slowpoke''s new evolution, Slowking, and naturally, he earned a reward from the Trainer Association. At that time, he chose a Pokmon with cyan qualifications. The reason he didn''t opt for the Rift entries was simple: his team wasn''t ready for it. Only Steelix, at pseudo-Elite level, was capable of handling such dangers, and Steelix hadn''t been with him for long. Other Pokmon, whether it was Metagross or Dragonite, were at the peak of Advanced-level, although they had fighting powers that exceeded the normal pseudo-Elite. But in a high-level/advanced secret realm, there were Elite Pokmon present, and many other dangers, so Julian wanted to wait for Metagross to become a pseudo-Elite before entering an advanced secret realm. Plus, he already had two entries into advanced secret realm: one as a reward for winning the provincial high school league individual championship, and another as a bonus for joining Imperial Capital University. There was no rush to use them, so choosing a cyan-aptitude Pokmon made more sense. Normally, when someone discovers a new evolution, the Trainer Association provides three Pokmon with cyan qualifications of a species which can reach base stat of no lower than 500, allowing the trainer to choose one. With some help from his grandfather, a top Elite, and his aunt, a renowned scholar, Julian could request a specific Pokmon of his choice. After breakfast, Julian took Metagross, Steelix, Dragonite, and Lucario with him, leaving the others at the villa. Growlithe, wagging his tail, wanted to go to the classes too, but Julian firmly refused. After calming him down, he left the villa, though not directly for the special class. Instead, he headed towards the eastern battlefield. By the time Julian arrived, most of the special class students were already there. "Where''s Teacher Frank?" Julian asked, scanning the crowd. "Teacher Frank went to pick up the students from Shu University," Shen answered. At that moment, Luis hurried over. "Brother Walker, let me handle the fights later. Teacher Frank mentioned there are 300 credits for winning a match!" Imperial Capital University and Shu University, the top universities in Drakoria, shared a fierce rivalry. Because both schools were located in the Imperial Capital, they competed over everything, from students to accomplishments. If Imperial Capital University was interested in a student, Shu University would swoop in to try to recruit them. And anything Imperial University couldn''t achieve, Shu University would make sure to surpass. This competitive relationship had escalated over the years, with new students from each school being brought over annually for "exchange" matches. Last year, it was Imperial University''s turn to visit Shu University for the exchange competition. This year, Shu University was coming to Imperial University. The annual freshman exchange competition between these two schools was a much-anticipated event, drawing attention from across the capital. Students from all grades had gathered to watch, and it wasn''t just Imperial University students either. Students from more than a dozen universities in the Imperial Capital had shown up. Of course, the most notable group aside from Imperial University were Shu University students. "The environment at Imperial University is just so-so," someone muttered nearby. "Good thing I didn''t come here." "Brother listening to you talk like that, are you from Shu University?" "Bah! Shu University is also not suitable! I''m from Imperial College of Technology." "Why are engineering students here?" "To check out the girls, duh. I heard a lot of girls from the art academy are here to watch the battle." --- Julian hadn''t expected such a large crowd. The battlefield, equipped with an auditorium, was packed with spectators. "Brother Walker, look!" Luis tugged at Julian''s sleeve, pointing toward the north side of the stands. "The art academy girls are cheering for us!" Sure enough, a group of nearly a hundred girls dressed in stylish outfits held up banners, showing their support for both Universities. Slogans like "Shu: Prince of the Capital" and "Imperial University: The Capital''s Strength" were scrawled across them. The girls from the arts academy had a reputation for being the cheerleaders for all of University''s major events. "How many people did Shu University bring for the exchange competition?" Julian asked. "Brother Walker, you don''t even know this?" Luis looked surprised, but seeing Julian giving him a unfriendly look, he quickly answered, "um-Ten people." The students participating in the freshman exchange competition of the two Universities were all from the special class. Just then, Frank arrived with ten students from Shu University''s special class. Their head teacher, also an Elite Trainer, accompanied them. Julian and his classmates sized up the students, who were doing the same in return. "Julian, isn''t that Nolan?" Shen said recognizing one of the students. S~ea??h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Shen, you and Brother Walker know him, is that your former classmate?" Luis asked. "No, He was Julian''s opponent in the high school league championship. Julian defeated him 1v3," Shen explained. Hearing that, Luis glanced at Nolan with an unimpressed look, like he was a weak chicken. ''He got defeated by brother Walker 1v3? Rubbish. I was only defeated 1v1.'' Nolan, who had been staring at Julian, clearly aiming for revenge, noticed Luis''s unusual expression. He scowled in response. Nolan: What are you looking at?. Luis: looking at you. An invisible electric current seemed to collide between them. Suddenly, a notification sounded in Julian''s mind. "Ding!" "Main Mission: Defeat all Shu University participants in the exchange competition." "Reward: Mewtwo Fragment x3, Golden Legend Fragment x2, 5,000 points." ''This reward!!'' ''Come on, I''m going to burn you all.'' Julian, whose face was calm until now, suddenly lit up with a fierce fighting spirit. Chapter 137: I Want To Fight Ten Chapter 137: I Want To Fight TenMewtwo shards were the second priority. After all, Julian needed to collect 100 of them, and even with this mission, he only had 13 shards in totala little more than ten percent of the way there. What really excited him wasn''t the Mewtwo shards thoughit was the Golden legend shard. He remembered spending 25,000 points to buy his first golden shard, thinking that once he gathered 10 of them, his purple-tier Metagross could be upgraded to golden-tier. Sar?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But when he tried to buy the second shard, the price had quadrupled. At that moment, Julian knew he''d been tricked by the system. It felt like a telecom fraud. Now, this quest offered 2 Golden legend shards as a reward. Along with the one he had already bought, he''d have 3 shardsnearly a third of the way to the 10 he needed. But the reward would only come if he completed the mission. Otherwise, the Mewtwo shards, the Golden legend shards, and even the points would be out of his reach. "Gather around, let me arrange the battle order" Head teacher Frank called out. Ten students from the special recruit class of 30 stepped forward. Besides Julian, the others were Tyler (Fire), Ian (Dragon), Luis (Ice), Walter (Water), Hugo (Ghost), Yanis (Ice), Gucci (Fighting), Zane (Grass), and Jim (Electric). These were the strongest nine students in the special class, excluding Julian. Shen wasn''t includedalthough she had begun to awaken her abilities, she was still in a semi-awakened state, and her Pokmon were not at a high enough level. "Teacher, let me go first. I can handle at least two opponents" Luis said confidently. His Ace Pokmon had recently reached the peak of the Advanced tier. "I should go. Better than you, I can take on three," Tyler replied, stepping forward. Luis scoffed. "Let''s see you do that without relying on type advantage!" When Trainers'' Pokmon were evenly matched, type advantage often played a crucial role. "How about I go first?" Jim suggested, raising his hand and looking expectantly at Frank. Going first was stressful, but they preferred to bear the pressure themselves rather than leaving it for someone else. "I''ll go." Julian''s calm voice suddenly broke through their discussion, silencing the group. Luis blinked in surprise. "Brother Walker, you''re going first?" "Yeah. Is there a problem?, I want to take on all ten," Julian said. As the leader of the special class and the strongest among them, Julian was typically placed in the middle or as the final player. It was rare for the ace to lead the chargelike throwing down your trump card at the very beginning of a card game. As for the idea that Julian would take on all ten opponents? They didn''t take that too seriously. "Teacher, I''ll go first" Julian repeated, turning to Frank. "Alright, but you need to defeat at least three" Frank said, noting the determination in Julian''s eyes. At 9:00 AM, the exchange match between Imperial University and Shu University officially began. After both sides submitted their battle orders, the first player from Shu University was Nolan, who confidently walked to the battlefield. He had faced Julian before during the high school league, and after that defeat, he had chosen to attend Shu Universityspecifically because he had learned that Julian had gone to Imperial College. Since then, Nolan had worked hard and rebuilt his confidence. "No matter who Imperial University sends, I''ll beat them," he told himself. ''As long as it wasn''t him.'' But as Nolan glanced across the field, he froze. He saw the Trainer from Imperial Collegea familiar face with a familiar Pokmon. Nolan rubbed his eyes. An illusion, It had to be an illusion. But when he opened them again, the same person and Pokmon stood before him. Nolan nearly choked. How could Julian, the leader of the special recruit class, be the first to play? The Shu University side was equally stunned. They couldn''t believe Imperial University was leading with their strongest player. What kind of strategy was this? The Elite-level Trainer leading Shu University couldn''t help but mutter, "That bast**d Frank, he''s playing mind games with me." She then turned to the girl beside her. "Acacia, keep a close eye on that Metagross. I don''t think Nolan can beat Julian, and you might not be able to either. But watch closely." The battle order had already been submitted, so it was too late to switch things around. Otherwise, she would have sent Acacia in second to test Julian''s strength against Shu''s best. Nolan took a deep breath. Even though he didn''t want to face Julian, he had no choice. He gripped the Pok Ball tightly in his hand. ''I''ve gotten a lot stronger since then.'' "Go, Tyranitar!" Nolan shouted. In a flash of white light, a massive Tyranitar appeared on the field. Its body was covered in thick green armor, with a long tail and an imposing presence. Pokmon: Tyranitar (Rock/Dark) Level: 56 Qualification: Blue Ability: Sand Stream Held Item: Hard Stone Gender: Male Moves: Thunder Fang, Fire Fang, Ice Fang, Rock Throw, Payback, Bite, Scary Face, Rock Slide, Stomping Tantrum, Screech, Dark Pulse, Earthquake, Giga Impact Disc Moves: Hyper Beam, Dig, Protect, Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Mega Punch Genetic Moves: Earth Power, Sandstorm, Ancient Power, Outrage Julian''s Metagross stood across from it. Pokmon: Metagross (Steel/Psychic) Level: 59 Qualification: Purple Ability: Light Metal Held Item: Metal Coat Gender: No gender Moves: Tackle, Agility, Steel Beam, Confusion, Metal Claw, Hammer Arm, Bullet Punch, Flash Cannon, Magnet Rise, Psychic, Scary Face, Meteor Mash, Hyper Beam, Take Down Disc Moves: Iron Head, Zen Headbutt, Iron Defense, Protect, Light Screen, Psycho Cut, Shadow Ball, Gyro Ball, Psyshock, Icy Wind, Giga Impact, Bulldoze, Brick Break, Psychic Fangs, Hard Press, Future Sight, Trailblaze Genetic Moves: None -- Nolan''s Pupitar had evolved into Tyranitar over the summer, earning the title of the "Desert Tyrant." As soon as Tyranitar saw Metagross, its fury ignited. This was the Pokmon that had knocked it out with a single punch last time. Now that it had evolved, it was eager for revenge. "Swish~" Tyranitar stepped forward, its powerful presence stirring up the sand around it. Seeing how fired up his Tyranitar was, even though Nolan felt a flicker of doubt, but he quickly pushed it aside. ''When Metagross beat my Pupitar, it was fully evolved.'' ''But now, my Tyranitar won''t be any weaker than Metagross. Things will be different this time.'' Chapter 138: “Wife” Pokemon Chapter 138: Wife PokemonAt this moment, both Nolan and his Tyranitar felt confident, casting contemptuous glances at Julian and his Metagross on the opposite side. Their expression seemed to say: ''You''re nothing.'' The protective shield surrounding the battlefield had been activated, preventing the sandstorm generated by Tyranitar''s Sand Stream from spreading everywhere. Instead, it was trapped within the boundaries, making the sandstorm even denser. This gave Tyranitar an initial advantage. "Dark Pulse!" Nolan commanded. Through the swirling sand, Tyranitar unleashed a Snarl, followed by a black wave of energy. It pierced through the sand, crossing the battlefield in an instant. But Metagross had already vanished, dodging the Dark Pulse, which left a crater in the ground. In the next moment, Metagross reappeared mid-air, unaffected by the storm of sand. "Metagross, Hammer Arm!" Julian''s voice rang out. Metagross appeared above Tyranitar in a flash. Its arm glowed a brilliant white as it swung down with immense force, cutting through the air so fast that the sand around it turned to dust. "Tyranitar, use Mega Punch!" Nolan shouted. Tyranitar roared and swung its fist to meet Metagross''s Hammer Arm. The two attacks collided, creating a powerful shockwave that sent sand spiraling in all directions. Tyranitar''s arm buckled under the impact, and the ground beneath it cracked as its body was driven halfway into the earth. "Ty~" Tyranitar staggered back, its arm hanging limp. It growled in frustration, glaring at Metagross. But before it could react further, Metagross delivered a Meteor Mash. "Boom!" Tyranitar was slammed against the protective shield and slid down to the ground, unconscious. Nolan shouted in disbelief; "Tyranitar" But he got no answer from Tyranitar. "Tyranitar is unable to battle! Metagross wins!" the referee declared. The clock on the scoreboard showed that less than 60 seconds had passed, Exactly 59. The arena fell silent. Even Julian''s classmates were stunned at how easily Metagross had defeated another pseudo-legendary Pokmon like Tyranitar. The audience in the stands, who had barely started cheering, were now frozen in shock. The students who were live-streaming, the exchange event between the two colleges stared blankly at their screens, bombarded with comments like: "Why does this scene seem so familiar?" "Not again! why did my Nolan lose to this guy again?" "Metagross: You fell before I even tried" "Looking at the momentum, Julian''s going for at least three wins in a row." "Nah, I''m betting he''ll take out five!" As the referee''s announcement echoed, Nolan snapped out of his daze, and so did the crowdstudents from Imperial, Shu, and other colleges who came to join in the fun. The Imperial College students started buzzing with excitement, while the Shu University side was left in disbelief. Their starting player had been defeated in less than a minute. Being chosen as the starter meant Nolan wasn''t the weakest. His Pokmon, the well-known desert tyrant Tyranitar, was among the powerful pseudo-legendaries. When Tyranitar had taken the stage, roaring up at the sky with sand swirling around him, he had looked unstoppable. But the turnaround came too fast. In less than a minute, Tyranitar was down, unable to stand. The contrast was shocking. It was like seeing a big, strong man who looks tough but can''t even last a minute. As Nolan walked off in defeat, His head teacher, Zoe, placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "That Metagross has surpassed a typical pseudo-Elite Pokmon." Nolan wanted to protesthis Tyranitar could also defeat pseudo-Elite level Pokmonbut he couldn''t argue with the result. Zoe turned to the next student, Ryan. "Do your best to push Metagross. Try to reveal more of its strength." "understood" Ryan nodded seriously, although he didn''t want to admit it, but judging from Metagross'' strength just now, he was indeed not an opponent. He''d have to be clever, draw out the fight, and give his teammates more insight into Metagross''s capabilities. He stepped onto the battlefield and released his Pokmon. Sar?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Gardevoir, let''s go." Pokmon: Gardevoir (Psychic/Fairy) Level: 58 Qualification: Cyan Ability: Synchronize Holding: Twisted Spoon Gender: Female Moves: Dazzling Gleam, Confusion, Disarming Voice, Growl, Charm, Moonblast, Hypnosis, Draining Kiss, Teleport, Psybeam, Life Dew, Calm Mind, Psychic Disc Moves: Magical Leaf, Thunder Wave, Protect, Light Screen, Reflect, Will-O-Wisp, Imprison, Icy Wind, Power Swap, Trick Room Genetic Moves: Heal Pulse, Safeguard, Psyshock, Skill Swap -- Gardevoir the famous "wife" Pokmon, in some respects, was even more popular than pseudo-legendaries, and its rarity was also comparable to that of pseudo-legendaries. Gardevoir''s elegant form shimmered as she appeared on the field. Even the students from Imperial College couldn''t help but cheer when they saw her. "Whoa! This guy''s got a Gardevoir?" "Metagross better not go too hard on her!" "I''m switching sidesI''m rooting for my wife Gardevoir now!" "You might want to first check if she''s a he." Glancing at Gardevoir, Even Julian, a Iron hearted guy appreciated the Pokmon''s graceful appearance. "I don''t know if a punch will make it cry" ''Then, let''s give it a try.'' "Metagross, Bullet Punch!" Metagross darted forward, its silver arm gleaming as it shot toward Gardevoir with incredible speed. It didn''t give a f**k who the opponent was. Ryan barely had time to react. "Gardevoir, Teleport!" Gardevoir vanished just before the attack could land, reappearing fifty meters away as Metagross''s punch hit nothing but air. "Gardevoir, Psybeam, now!" "Steel Beam." The two moves collided mid-air, but Metagross''s Steel Beam easily overpowered Psybeam, heading straight for Gardevoir. Once again, she used Teleport to dodge, but Julian was ready. "Metagross, use Psychic at eight o''clock!" Without missing a beat, Metagross launched a blast of psychic energy to where Gardevoir had just reappeared. Gardevoir was caught mid-Teleport and frozen in place, unable to move. "How did you know where Gardevoir would appear?" Ryan stared at Julian in shock. Even he the trainer didn''t known Gardevoir''s exact location after Teleporting. But somehow, Julian did. Chapter 139: Metagross Chapter 139: MetagrossEverything had its own Aura, even a stone. Although Gardevoir used Teleport to briefly make her body disappear from sight, the Aura waves she emitted still made it possible to follow her movements. Julian easily detected her trajectory. When Ryan asked how he knew, Julian naturally did not answer and said lightly, "Metagross, use Metal Claw." Gardevoir, caught in Metagross''s Psychic control, couldn''t break free. She could only watch as Metagross raised its arm. The three sharp claws at the end extended to half a meter long, slicing through the air toward her face. "Gardevoir, Mega Evolve!" Ryan realized the situation was dire. He hadn''t expected Metagross to be so challenging, forcing him to use Mega Evolution so soon. With the boost from Mega Evolution, Mega Gardevoir broke free from Metagross''s Psychic hold. "Mega Gardevoir, use Moonblast!" A phantom of the moon appeared above Mega Gardevoir, and a mass of Moonlight gathered in her hands, glowing brighter, it seemed as a sun had appeared on the stage. Yet, despite its brilliance, the energy bore a significant murderous intent. It''s a pity that it was not night, otherwise the power of this Moonblast would have been even greater. "Hyper Beam!" Although Gardevoir had Mega Evolved, from Julian and Metagross''s perspective, it was no different from before. However, many of the spectators in the stands were eager to see Metagross Mega Evolve too, hoping for a spectacular showdown. The Hyper Beam pierced through Moonblast, striking Mega Gardevoir hard and sending her crashing into the shield. It didn''t stop there. "Garde!" Mega Gardevoir let out a painful cry as the energy dissipated. When the Hyper Beam ended, she reverted from her Mega Evolution form but remained conscious, half-kneeling and trying to stand. When Ryan saw this, his heart tightened. He was about to admit defeat when he heard it. "Bullet Punch!" Metagross surged toward Gardevoir, slamming its steel clawssized like sandbagsinto her face. The impact sent her flying, and she tumbled several meters before finally coming to a stop. Luis: That face looks concave. I''m afraid she''ll be disfigured. Gardevoir lay unconscious, with a deep fist mark indented on the left side of her cheek, showcasing Metagross''s brutal strength. "Wife! Metagross, you give me back my wife!" "Metagross, don''t blame me for cursing you to be single for a lifetime!" "Metagross: Sorry, I have no gender." Ryan retrieved Gardevoir and shot Julian a hateful glare. Mega Gardevoir hadn''t been able to withstand Metagross''s two attacks. Students from the Shu University exchange match turned to Ryan as he walked off, and Mia, the third student ready to step up, hurriedly asked, "Ryan, what should I do? There''s no way to beat Metagross!" "Just go up and surrender" Ryan advised as he looked at Mia, then immediately took Gardevoir''s Pok Ball for treatment. Mia, a poison-type trainer, faced against a steel-type perverted pseudo-legendary powerhouse like Metagross. It seemed like even if Metagross stood still, she won''t be able to do anything. Mia: ''Hey, Who are you looking down on?'' The petite and cute looking Mia, despite her fear of Metagross''s earlier performance, stepped forward. There was a little fear on her face, and she looked pitiful. "Crobat!" Mia sent out her Pokmon. Pokmon: Crobat (Poison/Flying) Level: 57 Qualification: Cyan Ability: Inner Focus Item: Toxic Orb Fragment Gender: Female Moves: Cross Poison, Tailwind, Toxic, Screech, Absorb, Supersonic, Astonish, Mean Look, Poison Fang, Quick Guard, Air Cutter, Bite, Haze, Venoshock, Confuse Ray Disc Moves: Hyper Beam, Solar Beam, Protect, Double Team, U-Turn, Sludge Bomb, Sunny Day Genetic Moves: Hypnosis, Gust, Quick Attack, Curse -- Another Pokmon with cyan qualificationUsually, Pokmon with this aptitude can hardly be seen outside, but here, let alone special class, the students in other classes had at least one cyan-qualified Pokmon. The students of the Shu University''s special class were obviously no worse than them. As for the Toxic Orb Fragment, it increases the damage of Poison-type moves without causing the Pokmon to fall into the poisoned status state. In contrast, carrying a complete Toxic Orb might inflict the poisoned condition on the holder, even if it''s a Poison-type Pokmon. "Crobat, use Confuse Ray!" Mia commanded. Since Metagross was a steel type, all Poison-type moves were ineffective. Mia had to adapt her strategy. "Five minutesjust hold on for five minutes!" After Nolan fell in less than a minute and Ryan lasted four minutes, she was determined to last longer than the two of them. If her head teacher and fellow teammates knew she had such an idea, don''t know what expressions they would have. Confuse Ray''s speed was not that fast, easily dodged by Metagross. "Agility!" "Double Team!" Seeing Metagross approach, Mia ordered Crobat to create clones to confuse the opponent. Crobat spun rapidly, creating eight clones. "Third from the left, Zen Headbutt!" Julian called out. Julian looked at Mia, a little girl who looked cute but had insufficient IQ. It was no secret that he possessed the power of Aura, Yet to use a move like Double Team in front of him was like putting his Aura abilities to full use. The fact that the power of Aura could see through clones was even written in high school textbooks. Just like how Julian used his Aura to predict Gardevoir''s Teleport, though that part wasn''t in the books, So it made sense that Ryan wouldn''t know about it. The figure of Metagross zoomed toward Crobat. With a resounding bang, Metagross struck, sending Crobat crashing into the ground and creating a massive crater seven or eight meters wide. Crobat lay in the center of the crater, unable to continue. Crobat as a Pokmon was known for its speed, if Mia had simply ordered a Quick Attack, Metagross might not have caught up. Instead, her choice was to use Double Team. As a result, Metagross had done a quick work of this "mage" built, that had low HP and defense. The clock at the edge of the field showed just 30 seconds had passed. Sar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The moment Crobat fell, Mia glanced at the timer, her expression stunned, and then she broke down. "Wooooo!" She started crying immediately, She squatted on the ground, crying without even recalling her fainted Crobat. Crobat: I was dazed for a moment, but now I''m awake! Chapter 140: Infernape Chapter 140: InfernapeAs the third member of the Shu University exchange group was easily defeated by Julian, Elite Zoe, who was leading the team, grew serious. She stared at Julian, who stood calm and steady on the field, waiting for their fourth challenger. Their side had already lost three members in a row, and none had managed to deal any effective damage to Julian''s Metagross. Despite earlier boasts, Tyranitar had barely managed to scratch it. After these repeated losses, the Shu supporters had fallen almost completely silent. Even the once-vibrant cheerleaders barely murmured, their voices so low they were almost unheard. Meanwhile, on the Imperial College side, the cheerleaders were hoarse from their chants, many of them watching Julian with excited eyes. One cheerleader whispered, "I think I''m falling for him!" Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Keep dreaming; he''s way out of your league," another replied. "No, I may not have money or be a trainer, but I''ve still got my charms!" If looks were enough, Julian would have been devoured by the cheerleading team at that moment. On the Imperial University side, Luis quietly said, "Brother Walker mentioned before he left that he wanted to take on ten trainers. Do you think he was being serious?" Everyone heard him, but they thought it was just a joke. Now, however, it didn''t seem so funny. Given Metagross''s momentum, it felt like taking on 10 more trainers wouldn''t be a problem at all. "It all depends on the strength of their Ace student. That woman is really strong," Ian chimed in. "Come on, that''s nonsense! She''s an Ice-type, and you''re a Dragon-type. Of course, she''ll be strong against you! Battling you is like picking on a kid!" Luis rolled his eyes. Ian felt embarrassed but insisted, "I didn''t mean it that way. I heard she recently caught a powerful Ice-type Pokmon in Shu University''s advanced secret realm." "Wow, then you''re really not even her rival anymore," Luis responded. Ian''s face darkened as he glared at Luis in anger. He was sure Luis was teasing him on purpose. Just because the Dragon type was weak against Ice type doesn''t mean he couldn''t defeat her!. ''Even if I can''t beat that woman, can''t I beat you an ice-type?'' "All my Ice-type Pokmon have moves that can defeat Dragons" Luis said, he seemed to sense what Ian was thinking. He spoke proudly, "Let''s find a time for me to teach you a lesson and remind you what it feels like to be dominated by Ice types." "Oh, and there''s also the Fairy type to consider. That''s another enemy for Dragons!" The Fairy type was to Dragons, what Steel was to Poison. Dragon-type moves had no effect at all on Fairy-types. "Okay, focus up! The ten of them will be your rivals in the future. It''s good for you to watch and learn now," said their head teacher, Frank. After he spoke, he took out his phone and sent a message. Zoe''s phone rang from the opposite side. It was a message from Frank. Frank: "You''ll get beaten 1v10." Zoe:?????_???? "Hey you, defeat him, and I''ll do my best to get you a Pokmon with cyan qualifications" "Teacher, my name is Yang!" Yang replied, a bit annoyed. He didn''t feel the excitement from Zoe''s words. If he could beat Julian, he wouldn''t need a cyan-qualified Pokmon. "I''ll do my best!" ''To at least deal a little damage to Metagross.'' "Infernape!" Yang called, sending out his Pokmon. Infernape was known as a powerhouse, and it certainly looked the part. Pokmon: Infernape (Fire/Fighting) Level: 58 Qualification: Cyan Ability: Blaze Item: Hard Charcoal Gender: Male Moves: Close Combat, Mach Punch, Flare Blitz, Ember, Flamethrower, Power-Up Punch, Fury Swipes, Flame Wheel, Fire Spin. Disc Moves: Focus Punch, Protect, Hyper Beam, Sunny Day, Earthquake, Low Sweep, Bulk Up, Blast Burn, Brick Break. Genetic Moves: Fire Punch, Blaze Kick, Raging Fury, Double Kick. -- "Infernape, use Sunny Day and then Bulk Up!" Infernape shot a white sphere of light high into the sky, creating a small sun above. The air around them began to heat up visibly. The Bulk Up move improved its attack and defense, while Sunny Day boosted its Fire-type moves. "His Metagross should have the Light Metal Ability, but my Infernape won''t lose in terms of speed" Yang murmured to himself, watching as the flames on Infernape''s head flared even hotter due to Sunny Day. "Fire Spin!" he commanded. Infernape took a deep breath. As it swelled its abdomen, a torrent of crimson flames erupted, quickly covering half the field. The air in the center of the vortex spun rapidly, consuming most of the oxygen around. Anyone caught nearby would struggle to breathe. Metagross, however, was unfazed by the flames that surrounded it. Seeing this, Yang couldn''t help but clench his fists. This was a crucial moment, and he could finally land a hit on Metagross. "Zen Headbutt!" Just as Yang felt excited, Metagross burst through the flame vortex, wrapped in a layer of psychic energy. Its rapid speed created a white belt of air around it. "Use Fire Punch after dodging!" Yang shouted. Infernape locked its eyes on Metagross, sidestepping to avoid its attack, then slammed a Fire Punch into Metagross''s back. "Bang!" A loud crash echoed as metal collided with flesh. While Metagross took the hit, Infernape felt pain, surprised by its opponent''s toughness. "Grab it!" Julian ordered. Metagross stretched out its claws, sharp enough to pierce Infernape''s arms, causing the latter to cry out in pain. "Infernape, use Flamethrower!" Yang roared as the situation turned dire, trying to force Metagross back with a close-range flame attack. After all, in his opinion, no matter how strong Metagross was, it was still twice as weak to fire. "Meteor Mash!" Julian said calmly. Infernape shot out a stream of hot flames, but Metagross''s colorful Meteor Mash quickly countered and dissipated the flames. To Yang''s shock, Meteor Mash struck Infernape''s chin, launching it into the air. "Infernape, Flame Wheel!" Infernape, overwhelmed by pain, briefly lost focus in the air. But the sound of its trainer''s voice cut through the haze, waking it back up. Using Rapid Spin, the Flame Wheel changed direction mid-air and circled behind Metagross. "Metagross, Bulldoze!" Julian said coldly. Just as Flame Wheel approached, Metagross leaped up high. When Flame Wheel reached below, Metagross''s weight crashed down, its body slamming onto the Flame Wheel. Infernape screamed as the Flame Wheel vanished, leaving it struggling helplessly under Metagross''s weight. "Meta!" With a light sound, Metagross applied pressure with its limbs, completely overwhelming Infernape, who could no longer muster the strength to fight back. Chapter 141: Acacia Chapter 141: AcaciaThe fourth player was defeated, so Shu University''s team sent out the fifth player. A minute later, the opponent''s Feraligatr fell. The sixth match was Gengar versus Metagross, which ended in a minute. The seventh match featured Hariyama versus Metagross, and that ended in a minute and a half. The eighth match, Mega Ampharos versus Metagross, it went down after three minutes. Now it was the ninth round: Garchomp versus Metagross. "Metagross, Giga Impact!" "Garchomp, Dragon Rush!" "Boom!" The violent collision sent shockwaves that felt like the sky was tearing apart. The air waves swept around, causing the battlefield''s protective barrier to ripple. "Garchomp loses its ability to fight; Metagross wins!" Five minutes later, Metagross had defeated the ninth member of the Shu University exchange team. The supporters from Shu University were silent, staring at the defeated Garchomp. It was hard for them to believe that it had only lasted five minutes, especially since Metagross had already fought eight consecutive battles. The live broadcast''s comments shifted from excitement to disbelief: "What is happening? Amazing! 666! I''m kneeling in awe!" The cheer squad at Imperial University was already close to celebrating victory, but instead of getting louder, their voices started to fade. They were nearly out of energy to keep cheering. Whether from Imperial University, Shu University, or other colleges, everyone shared a single thought as they looked at Julian standing on the field. ''Is this guy still human?'' None of the exchange team members from Shu University were weak; in any other school, they could have been the top freshman. Yet here, Julian and Metagross were taking them down one by one, as easily as chopping vegetables. It was f**king outrageous. It felt like something out of a science fiction movie, witnessing the impossible unfold right in front of them. Even Luis and the others from Imperial College looked stunned. They knew Julian was strong, having faced him before. The six of them had challenged him at the start, realizing just how powerful Julian''s Metagross was. It was so strong that the last four challengers had changed their strategies, letting Julian use other Pokmon, so they never saw how far Metagross could really go. Even today, Metagross had taken down nine Pokmon in a row, some having Mega Evolved, some were pseudo-legendaries, and some with type restraints, although it had taken some hits. But, its limits still remained unknown. Could anyone defeat Metagross or push it to its limits? that remained to be seen. Many spectators now focused on the last member of the Shu University exchange team. She had short hair and an attractive face. As she walked onto the battlefield, there was a weight on her shoulders. She was the representative freshman of Shu University, she was arranged to go last as she was meant to face off against the representative freshman of Imperial Capital University. But she had never imagined that the person in charge of the opposing exchange team would let their top student go firstand that he''d defeat nine team members in a row, still standing strong at the end. After this match, no matter if she won or lost against Julian, Imperial University would be seen as superior to Shu University in terms of reputation. Unless she could defeat Julian and, like him, take down the remaining nine members of Imperial College, there was no way to turn the tide. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Shu and Imperial University had always been rivals, each taking victories and defeats from the other, but never before had the gap felt so wide as it did today. What was worse, many spectators felt as if Imperial University was battling a third-rate University, which had lead to such a one-sided situation. "Acacia Willow!" "What''s wrong? Feeling the fear of being dominated again?" Luis teased with a grin. The Willow and Drake families were known for their Ice and Dragon types, respectively, each controlling special advanced secret realmsthe Land of Extreme Ice and the Dragon''s Den. These secret realms were similar to the Walker family''s Oreburgh Great Wall, where Pokmon of the same type thrived. It might be due to the natural type disadvantage. The young members of the Drake family often found themselves outmatched by those from the Willow family. In case of having similar levels, Dragon-type Pokmon were two times weaker to Ice-type moves. One hit from an Ice-type move usually left them either half-HP or critically hurt; in worst cases, they might be taken out instantly. As members of the younger generation in their respective families, Ian and Acacia had inevitably clashed many times. "Twenty battles, twenty defeats. You really are on a losing streak," Luis joked. Luis''s family, was also from the imperial capital and known as an ice-type family, had a close relationship with the Willow family. Because of this, Luis was very familiar with the rivalry between Ian and Acacia. "Shut up!" Ian shouted in anger, as he tried to cover Luis''s mouth. Twenty battles and twenty defeats was not something honorable, yet Luis continued to bring it up. Seeing Hugo, Walter, Gucci, and others looking at him strangely, Ian really wanted to kill Luis right this moment. "It''s not a secret," Luis retorted. The children of the local families in the imperial capital basically knew about this, but those from outside, like Walter and Gucci didn''t. However, now that they were all at Imperial University, the grievances between Ian and Acacia would be hard to kept hidden for long. "But don''t worry, this time my brother Walker will get revenge for you and defeat this woman thoroughly," Luis said. Before, he had thought Julian''s claim of wanting to beat ten was a joke, but now he realized he was the joke. "That woman is not comparable to the first nine; her Vanilluxe is very strong." Just thinking about Acacia using Ice-type moves made Ian uneasy. He recalled how his Salamence had been turned in a block of Ice, and his expression turned ugly. "My second type in the future will be Fire-type, and it will definitely beat her." Thinking about his choice of a second type, Ian felt confident again. Just then, Luis''s voice broke in. "Didn''t you know? Acacia''s second type is Water." Ice and Water types were closely related. Many Ice-type trainers often chose Water as their second type, and vice versa. After all, there was a lot in common between ice and water. "Then I''ll choose Electric" Ian looked embarrassed, and immediately changed his words. Anyway, his choice of a secondary typing was based on countering Acacia''s second type, so he could absolutely restrain her, ensuring that she would feel the fear of being at a disadvantage. "Hugo, what are you looking at?" Ian snapped at Hugo, who was looking at him oddly, and thought that he must be laughing at him. "Why not choose Steel as your second type?" Hugo suggested. Steel-types dealt twice the damage to Ice-types, while taking normal damage from Water-type moves. Ian: (;). Chapter 142: Articuno Chapter 142: Articuno"Ding~" "Who is it?" Zoe looked at her phone, it was a message sent by Frank, followed by a proud face emoji. "My student had taken down nine, he is bound to defeat all ten. My students are so strongare you envious?" "You really feel like you''ve won, huh?" On the Imperial Capital University side, Frank scoffed at the reply. Frank: "Seriously? Acting all high and mighty even now? Say something nice, and maybe I''ll have Julian take ten minutes with your top student just to save you some face." Zoe: "Watch it, kid. You''ll see soon enough." Nearby, Luis noticed his homeroom teacher''s quick typing and changing expressions and nudged Hugo beside him. "Looks like Teacher Frank is texting his girlfriend," he whispered. sea??h th Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hugo raised an eyebrow. "You sure? He looks pretty angry to me." Luis grinned. "You don''t get it. Women are creatures that men love and hate at the same time." "Oh? you talk like you have a girlfriend?" "Not exactly. but I am rich in theory." Frank put his phone back in his pocket and focused on Acacia across the venue. He could sense Zoe''s confidence in her from her words. Even if Acacia managed to defeat Metagross, could she really take down the nine trainers behind him?. The world didn''t have many prodigies like Julian. Frank doubted Acacia to be one of them. Across the field, the opponent had already taken out her Pok Ball. It wasn''t any ordinary Pok Ball but a unique onehalf green, half white. The Friend Ball: when a wild Pokmon is captured with it, it immediately bonds closely with the Trainer. At present, Friend Balls could only be found in ruins, and there were no manufacturing methods found to produce them in the real world. Because of its ability to quickly increase the bond with a newly caught Pokmon, this Pok Ball was especially suited for high-level Pokmon that could be found in secret realms. It saves the Trainer time in building trust, reducing the risk of disobedience or desertion. What kind of Pokmon would be worthy of this rare ball? With the Friend Ball opening, Julian and the entire audience soon saw the Pokmon emerge. A flying Pokmon appeared in front of everyone. Its feathers an ice-blue so clear they looked as if they were crafted from ice. It had a crown of three dark blue, prism-shaped feathers on its head, red eyes, and a long, streamer-like tail. As it flapped its wings, moisture in the air condensed into frost and snow, swirling around it in a mesmerizing dance. Looking at this Pokmon, the scene felt like someone had hit pause. A deep, deathly silence settled, with everyone frozen in their previous actions. All eyes were on the majestic creature, mouths slightly open. They looked at the dancing figure on the field in disbelief, as if they were seeing an illusion, closing their eyes, opening them again, and the scene still remained the same. "Articuno" Julian whispered, looking at the Pokmon in front of him in surprise. Pokmon: Articuno (Ice/Flying) Level: 60 Qualification: Blue Ability: Pressure Item: Never-Melt Ice Gender: No Gender Moves: Gust, Mist, Powder Snow, Reflect, Ice Shard, Agility, Ancient Power, Tailwind, Freeze-Dry, Roost, Ice Beam, Snowscape, Hurricane, Haze, Freezing Glare, Sheer Cold Disc Moves: Hyper Beam, Light Screen, Icy Wind, Protect, Steel Wing, Icicle Spear, Avalanche, Blizzard, Brave Bird, Air Slash, Hail Genetic Moves: None (T/N: There''s no record or mention of Articuno"s gender anywhere, some believe they are all female or male while others say it''s a ratio of 1:1 and then comes people who say it''s gender less-that''s what we are going with) -- Articuno, a Pokmon both Ice and Flying type, known as one of the three Divine Birds, is a sight few Trainers ever witness in person. Alongside Moltres and Zapdos, Articuno is a legendary Pokemon. Though known as a legendary Pokmon and extremely rare, a few lucky individuals have managed to capture an Articuno or other legendary Pokmon. Drakoria''s Fire-type Elite has a Moltres, the Electric-type Elite from Aurantia has a Zapdos, and in a country in extreme north, an Elite Trainer holds an Articuno. (T/N: Aurantia is Australia) These three divine birds were among the most frequently discovered and captured of the known legendary Pokmon, though this was only relative to other legendary Pokmon. All three birds had been captured at some point, and many had seen videos, pictures, and other materials about themthough only through the internet or books. Yet here, before everyone''s eyes, was a live Articuno, soaring gracefully, reminding everyone this was no screen image but a living, breathing Pokmon. "Wooo!" The crowd erupted in deafening cheers, the audience''s voices filling the sky above the field. Most people stared at Articuno with a mix of awe and fanaticism. "Incredible! We''re really seeing an Articuno!" "My mom''s asking why I''m kneeling to watch this live!" "This move from Shu University shows that it''s still at the top" "Imperial University, the pressure''s on you now!" Ian stared at Articuno, feeling a pang of hopelessness. With a Pokmon like that on Acacia''s side, how could he ever hope to keep up? "How did she manage to find and catch an Articuno?" Luis murmured. Frank finally understood where Zoe''s confidence in Acacia came fromit was clear she''d known about Acacia''s Articuno all along. Articuno had always inhabited the special advanced secret realm known as the Land of Extreme Ice in Drakoria. Many from top families had ventured there, hoping to capture it, yet most left without even a glimpse of its shadow. The Willow family had recently made an attempt as well, and now it seemed they had succeeded. This Articuno though, was only at peak Advanced-level, it was likely a descendant of the one in the secret realm. "Interesting" Julian murmured, a smile forming. A legendary Pokmon was the perfect challenge for his Metagross, giving it the final push toward the pseudo-Elite level. After defeating nine other Pokmon, his level 59 Metagross was nearly at level 60. If not for its pseudo-legendary status, it would have already broken through. "You can surrender now" Although Acacia''s tone was calm, her expression radiated an unmistakable air of aloofness. With Articuno by her side, she truly had the leverage to look down on her peersand even some of the older generation. "Oh?, Arrogant, are we?" Julian''s voice turned icy. Although a child of an aristocratic family, he lacked the playful attitude common among his peers. Yet, deep down, a quiet pride always existed in his heart. He wasn''t one to tolerate arrogance directed at him. Articuno or not, Metagross was about to prove its strength. "Meta!" Metagross positioned itself in front of Julian, and in that moment, its intense gaze seemed to merge with Julian''s own. Chapter 143: Mega Metagross Chapter 143: Mega Metagross"Have you noticed that Brother Walker is suddenly looking so handsome? He''s about to catch up with me!" Luis exclaimed. Hugo shot him a skeptical look. "Are you complimenting Julian or yourself?" "Of course, I''m complimenting my Brother Walker! And while I''m at it, I''m giving myself a little praise too," Luis chuckled. Suddenly, Luis poked Hugo in the side. "Look! Brother Walker''s Metagross is moving!" After both trainers sent out their Pokmon, neither attacked immediately. About half a minute later, Julian''s Metagross sprang into action. With a swift use of Agility, Metagross''s speed was almost comparable to that of Teleport. In the blink of an eye, it closed the distance, appearing seven or eight meters away from Articuno. In the nine battles earlier, Acacia had been meticulously studying Metagross, gaining insights into its speed, strength, and defense. In raw power, Metagross surpassed most Fighting-type Pokmon, which were renowned for their brute strength. Out of the nine previous opponents, five had fallen to Metagross''s Fighting-type moves, all defeated without mercy. "Articuno, use Air Slash!" Acacia commanded, and the majestic Pokmon waved its wings forward. Instantly, two translucent wind blades formed, slicing through the air with a sharp, piercing sound. "Light Screen!" Julian ordered. There was a certain chance that Air Slash would make the Pokmon it hit flinch. The transparent barrier intercepted the two Air Slashes. However, the Light Screen also got numerous cracks and was on the brink of collapse. "Articuno, Ice Beam!" The next second, the freezing light broke through the weakened Light Screen. But by then, Metagross had already disappeared, the Ice beam slammed into the battlefield, encasing the two football-sized field in ice. This scene left most of the audience gasping in awe. While a typical pseudo-Elite Ice-type Pokmon could achieve something similar, none could do it with the same ease as Articuno. As expected of a legendary Ice- and Flying-type Pokmon, Articuno''s immense power left many other Ice-type Trainers in despair. Among them, Ian was likely the most desperate. Looking at the frozen ground, he realized that, if nothing unexpected happened, his Dragon-type Pokmon would never stand a chance against Acacia''s Ice-type." "Hammer Arm!" Metagross appeared on top of Articuno, its arm swinging down with explosive force. "Boom!" The impact reverberated through the arena, creating a shockwave that sent Articuno plummeting from the sky. The air beneath it compressed, forming a visible concave shape as it fell. "Ar~!" A deep crater formed in the ground, cracks radiating outward across the ice. Yet, Articuno quickly regained its footing and let out a fierce cry. "How is it still fine!?" Luis exclaimed, his eyes nearly popping out. That Hammer Arm would have been enough to take down any of his Pokmon in an instant. Yet here, it seemed like a mere massage for Articuno. Sar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Legendary Pokmon cannot be measured by ordinary standards, at their level of life origin, they exist beyond ordinary Pokmon." Frank explained, although this was also his first time seeing an Articuno in reality, and he knew almost no more about it than Luis and the others. But, what he did know was that whether it was a third-class legendary, a mythical Pokmon, or a second or first-class legendary, their life levels were entirely different from those of regular Pokmon. Their lifespans were also typically much longer. For an ordinary Pokmon to enhance its life level, it had to reach the Elite level. Only then would its life level improve. This applied even to pseudo-legendaries. But for a legendary Pokmon like Articuno, born as an extraordinary being in the world, their life levels were naturally higher than most. That''s why Articuno could withstand the full force of Metagross''s Hammer Arm without showing visible injury. In fact, it was injured, but the injury was not a big deal for it. Despite this, Articuno glared at Metagross with eyes filled with rage. Being struck first by its opponent was a humiliation it couldn''t tolerate. "Metagross, Mega Evolve!" Noticing that Articuno was more durable than he had anticipated and that its resilience remained strong, Julian observed that the chaotic aura from its earlier injury was quickly stabilizing. When the light of evolution disappeared, Mega Metagross appeared with its four claws pointed forward, Its gaze colder, sharper than before. Originally, the ability Metagross possessed was light metal, but after Mega Evolution, the ability had transformed into Tough Claws. Tough Claws: Increases the power of contact moves by 30% Under this Ability, Metagross could do much more stronger melee damage. At the same time, Metagross'' level after Mega Evolution had skyrocketed from 59 to 69, directly at the peak of pseudo-Elite. An overwhelming aura radiated from Mega Metagross, causing ripples to shimmer in the protective barrier meant to guard against the full-force strikes of pseudo-Elite Pokmon. Acacia''s expression shifted noticeably. "Wow, how do I feel like Metagross is going to win?" one spectator murmured. "I''m also with you! This Metagross is clearly at the pseudo-Elite pinnacle" "If Articuno loses, I''ll be over the moon!" someone from the Imperial University exclaimed. "Same here!" several voices echoed in agreement. "Meta!" Mega Metagross snorted softly, its four claws glowing with silver-white light. "Steel Beam!" "Articuno, Ice Beam!" The two beams of energy, one silver-white and the other blue, collided in the air, fighting against each other. Yet, within less than a second, the Steel Beam overpowered the other, breaking through. "Articuno, Dodge!" Acacia shouted urgently. Articuno flapped its wings, managing to dodge the the Steel Beam. However, its tail feathers trailing behind were hit, losing half of their length. For a Pokmon like Articuno, known for its grace and elegance, the damage to its magnificent tail feathers hurt the most. Although they would grow back, but it would have to make due with only half for a while. Articuno''s eyes were red with anger. "Ar..!!" The cry was filled with endless anger. To be honest, Articuno was indeed beautiful, but half of its beauty was due to the ribbon like tail feathers. Now, with half of its elegant tail feathers reduced to a mere stub, it appeared to lose some of its enchanting charm. "Articuno, calm down!" Seeing that Articuno was about to lose control, Acacia hurriedly shouted. Fortunately, because she had captured Articuno using a Friend Ball, their bond had strengthened considerably in a short time. If not for this connection, Articuno might not listen to her now at all. Chapter 144: Legendary Killer Chapter 144: Legendary KillerArticuno''s tail feathers, long and elegant, weren''t just for showthey shifted with the air currents, enabling precise, flexible flight. But now, with half of them damaged, its control was compromised. Flying was still possible, but intricate aerial maneuvers were out of the question "Articuno, use Brave Bird!" Articuno, eager to turn Metagross into scrap iron, heard the command from Acacia. The anger building within it seemed to explode. Its loud cry resonated with endless fury. This intense anger transformed into substantial energy, making Brave Bird''s power even more terrifying. As Articuno dove from above, the air around it continuously compressed and dented, forming a visible air barrier. However, it had yet to break the sound barrier. Articuno descended like a meteorite, the air pressure across the battlefield steadily increasing. Even before Brave Bird made contact, cracks and depressions began to form in the ground below. "Gulp~!" Many spectators swallowed hard at the sight. Even through the protective cover, they felt the immense pressure radiating from Brave Bird. This sensation was amplified by the unique pressure of Articuno as a legendary Pokmon. Combined, these forces could intimidate most other Pokmon before they even began to fight. Pokmon with a high life level, even when standing still, often rendered ordinary Pokmon too frightened to move. Though champion-level Pokmon, were higher than Articuno in terms of life level, but in front of first-level legendaries even they were suppressed. However, if a first-level legendary wants to kill a champion, that''s still relatively difficult. After all, Champions were not naive; if they sensed they could not win, they would just flee. Faced with Articuno''s overwhelming assault, Julian shouted passionately, "Mega Metagross, Giga Impact!" His blood seemed to ignite with determination. There was no hiding, no guarding,this would be a head-on clash. Julian was ready to confront Articuno directly. His bold command was precisely what the audience wanted; only the most passionate collision of moves could ignite the loudest cheers from the crowd. "Articuno! Metagross!" The crowd erupted in excitement, their voices echoing throughout the arena. On the official live broadcast from Imperial College, the number of viewers online surged beyond 3 million. Initially, this exchange match might not have warranted an official broadcast, but the appearance of Articuno prompted Imperial College to stream the event. If the Mega Metagross emerged victorious, the reputation of Imperial College would overshadow that of Shu University, leading to a significant increase in applications next year. Conversely, if they lost, it wouldn''t be shameful. Julian''s Metagross had already fought through nine matches, and its strength and energy were no longer at their peak. Battling a legendary Pokmon like Articuno made a loss more acceptable, especially after pushing it to its limits. Therefore, regardless of the outcome, this battle was a significant win for Imperial College. Under the watchful eyes of countless spectators, Metagross and Articuno transformed into streaks of white and red, colliding in mid-air. "Boom!!!" The sound of their collision was deafening. Even with the protective cover in place, spectators closer to the action felt dizzy and disoriented from the sound''s impact, their eyes blank with shock. The violent shockwave surged across the battlefield, reminiscent of a scythe, wreaking havoc everywhere. The arena, which spanned the size of two football fields, became unrecognizable, with no intact ground left in its wake. The protective barrier began to crumble under the onslaught of this tremendous energy. In a panic, the staff hurriedly raised the protective cover''s strength from pseudo-Elite to Elite. The barrier stabilized just in time as they gazed at the battling Pokmon with fear, internally labeling them as monsters. "Boom!" The standoff between the two did not last long. After only three seconds, Mega Metagross''s Giga Impact overcame Articuno''s Brave Bird, sending the legendary Pokmon crashing to the ground like a broken kite. Then, Metagross landed. "Protect!" "Freeze Dry!" Julian issued his command just ahead of Acacia. Acacia''s face drained of color as she realized Julian had anticipated her next move. Articuno, now grounded, managed to unleash a weak attack, but it was effectively countered by the protection shield of Metagross. With the shield in place, Mega Metagross positioned itself in front of Articuno, its eyes flashing with cold determination. Articuno felt a chill of dread as it locked eyes with the powerful Pokmon. In the wild, Metagross was a ruthless hunter, feared by many. sea??h th N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Metal Claw!" Julian commanded, his voice steady and cold. The sharp claws tore through the air with a high-pitched shriek. Articuno screamed as the Metal Claw struck, feathers flying along with a spray of blood. The blow to its head caused Articuno to tremble uncontrollably. "Finish it with Meteor Mash!" "Meta!" Seemingly sensing its imminent demise, Articuno''s eyes flickered with clarity amidst the chaos, yearning to struggle. Yet, it found itself firmly pinned by Metagross. Under its desperate gaze, the Meteor Mash continued to magnify in its eyes. "Boom!" The fierce attack slammed into Articuno again, creating a crater over ten meters wide in the ground. At this point, the once-mighty legendary Pokmon lay motionless, unable to move. "Articuno..." Acacia Liu muttered, her face pale, unable to believe the scene unfolding before her. The referee stepped in to check it out, repeating the process multiple times for confirmation. "Articuno loses combat ability. Metagross wins!" At that moment, Metagross had successfully taken down a legendary Pokmon. A massive cheer erupted from the audience. Countless voices chanted the names of Julian and Metagross, their excitement palpable as if they themselves had defeated Articuno. The fall of Articuno revealed to them that even the most exalted legendary Pokmon could be defeated. It felt akin to witnessing someone overpowering a Dragonite with sheer human strength. This demonstration of strength, proven through action, was more motivating and convincing than any written words or books could convey. "King Julian!" A voice called out, and soon the crowd echoed the name. On the live broadcast, colorful comments flooded the screen, celebrating the moment. Julian, though not conventionally handsome, had a comfortable and cold demeanor that lent him an air of mystery. Having reverted from Mega Evolution, Metagross emanated a powerful aura, floating quietly before Julian, who stood with his hands in his pockets, gazing upward into the bright sky. Julian: It''s f*****g hot. In that moment, Metagross''s level surged from 59 to 61, achieving a remarkable two-level jump. With its victory over a legendary Pokmon, Metagross officially became a pseudo-Elite Pokmon. Chapter 145: Library Chapter 145: LibraryThe Imperial Capital University''s Library was one of the most frequented places by students, renowned for its extensive collection. With over 50 million books covering literature, science, engineering, art, medicine, and more, nearly one-third of the collection was dedicated to Pokmon. Here, you can even find ancient texts and rare editions. However, borrowing these special books requires a significant amount of credits. The entire library had ten floors, each housing a vast array of books. Currently, Julian was on the fifth floor, where the cost of access was 100 credits per hour. After defeating ten members of the Shu exchange team, Julian had accumulated a total of 3,000 credits. Books on the floors below the fifth could be accessed without spending any points, while those above the fifth floor required credits due to their focus on Pokmon. Many of these books were not released to the public, and you couldn''t buy them in bookstores outside. Instead, they could only be found in prestigious universities or the Trainer Association, with some books limited to very few locations. You might wonder why these books weren''t made public so that trainers who didn''t attend Universities could also improve. The strength of trainers directly correlated to the overall power of Drakoria, potentially leading to the emergence of new Elites. While Drakoria''s Trainer executives recognized this, they still restricted the access to these valuable resources. The reasoning was very simple: if these books were available to the public, trainers from other countries could also purchase them. Consequently, an increase in the strength of Drakoria''s trainers would be mirrored by those in other nations, leading to no net gain in strength. While an experience written by an Elite Trainer might be released to the public to potentially add Elites to Drakoria, it could also empower trainers abroad. Other countries had also restricted access to their valuable books, keeping them confined to major universities. Thus, Drakoria would not adopt a policy that appears to be a "win-win" scenario, allowing trainers in other countries to benefit equally. Consequently, all precious books were also available in the trainer associations, where trainers not belonging to any of these institutions could do contributions to access the materials they needed. sea??h th N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With 3,000 credits, Julian was well-equipped to spend time in the library, though entering the tenth floor would cost him 1,000 credits per hour. In the Imperial University, credits were crucial. They were needed to purchase valuable items, Pokmon, treasures, and more. While credits could be exchanged for money, the reverse was not always true. Currently, Julian was engrossed in a copy of "No. 25 Advanced Secret Realm Detailed Explanation." In addition to the named top secret realms, including unique advanced ones like the Oreburgh Great Wall, Blue Lake, and Dragon''s Den. Other advanced secret realms, were indicated using numbers instead. The No. 25 advanced secret realm was one of two managed by Imperial College, highlighting the institution''s prestigious reputation. This was also a key reason why Imperial University was often regarded as the top institution. It oversaw two high-level secret realms, while the other four leading universities were responsible for only one. However, the second high-level secret realm under Imperial College''s care was regulated through the annual university league, a contest in which Imperial University had excelled for five consecutive years. Julian planed to enter the fixed high-level secret realm, No. 25, soon. With Metagross having recently triumphed over a legendary Pokmon and becoming a pseudo-Elite, along with his pseudo-Elite Steelix, he was now qualified to explore the advanced secret realms. There were many people in the library on fifth floor, and most of them recognized Julian. The exchange competition between the two schools just three days ago was still fresh in their minds, with videos of his remarkable battles readily available online. The most talked-about moment remained the fierce showdown between Metagross and Articuno, elevating Julian''s status to that of a celebrity at Imperial College. His recent accomplishments had ignited a sense of admiration and envy among the senior students. Typically, graduates from Imperial Capital University possessed pseudo-Elite strength, If they were not a pseudo-Elite by the time they graduated, they would be too ashamed to even tell people they want to Imperial University. Yet Julian, having just entered the University less than a month ago, had already demonstrated combat power akin to that of a graduate, leaving many upperclassmen feeling overshadowed. "Hello, King Julian!" A melodic voice interrupted his thoughts, accompanied by a delightful fragrance. Julian looked up to see who it was. Sitting across from him was a girl whose beauty surpassed ninety points, her bright eyes curiously studying him. "What?" Julian had become accustomed to being called "King Julian" now. Luis had been shouting it in his ear every day with a hint of envy and jealousy. With Metagross''s victory over Articuno, he became a legend among people, and Julian was crowned the title "King" among his peers. Seeing Julian''s indifferent attitude, Hannah blinked, momentarily taken aback. She touched her cheek, almost in disbelief. ''Did I forget to fix my makeup or something?''. It wasn''t oftenif everthat someone spoke to her with such little interest. "I just wanted to introduce myself, if I have the honor. My name is Hannah," She said. Seeing the soft, fair hand extended toward him, Julian gave it a light shake. "Just call me Julian." Although he was a Iron-hearted guy, but the other party was being so active, he would naturally not refuse, and she was indeed very beautiful. "You''re Hannah?" "Don''t tell me, Julian, you''ve actually heard of mewhat an honor," Hannah replied, covering a soft laugh with her hand. He did recognize her, thanks to Luis, who had once shared pictures and names of the top ten college beauties of Imperial University. Hannah, with her striking features, had certainly left an impression. She was undeniably beautifulperhaps the most beautiful woman he had encountered. Being the sole heir of the Walker family, one might assume he''d meet countless remarkable women. Yet, in reality, his circle was quite limited. In a way, he really felt sorry for his Identity. "Julian, I''m also a Steel-type Trainer," Hannah said, leaning forward slightly. "Um." Julian gave a brief nod, his focus still on his book. Her smile faltered for a moment at his indifference, and for the first time, she found herself questioning her charm. But she was quick to read his disinterest, so she fell silent, glancing at the title of the book he was reading. Taking out her own book, ''Mawile Breeder Route'', she began to read. However, while Julian seemed entirely absorbed in his book, her attention was scattered, her gaze drifting back and forth between her reading and the young man across from her. Chapter 146: The Sudden Taunt Chapter 146: The Sudden TauntThe No. 25 Advanced Secret Realm was a vast and diverse territory, spanning 100,000 square kilometersnearly half the size of the Silver Province. This extensive area hosted Pokmon of all 18 types, creating a rich, varied ecosystem for Trainers seeking powerful and rare Pokmon. Among the dozens of advanced secret realms in Drakoria, No. 25 ranks moderately in size; the largest spans over a million square kilometers. However, like all advanced secret realms, it holds formidable challenges. Elite-level Pokmon resided in these areas, and No. 25 was known to contain three confirmed Elite-level Pokmon, each fiercely guarding their domain. The No. 25 advanced-Level Secret Realm had existed for fifty years, yet its ''core Treasure of the Secret Realm'' remained officially undiscovered. Most speculated that the treasure might have already been found and quietly taken, with the discoverer choosing to keep it a secret. Julian understood this secrecy firsthandwhen he found the treasure in the newly opened intermediate-level secret realm, he only told his parents about it. Treasures like these hold incredible value, even those from a primary secret realm. So an advanced-level secret realm treasure would be invaluable. Once such a treasure surfaced, forget about Elite-level trainers, even champions would be moved by its allure. So, if anyone had truly found the treasure of the No. 25 advanced secret realm, they would have kept it quiet, proceeding in secrecy and caution. Everyone knew that without a strong background and power to defend oneself, revealing such a find was a risk not worth taking. The world had too many who would risk everything for a treasure and those who lived constantly on the edge, willing to take lives just for a chance at that power. "Julian, are you really planning to enter advanced secret realm No. 25?" After nearly an hour of silence, Hannah couldn''t hold back anymore. Inwardly, she cursed Julian''s single-mindednessa beautiful woman was sitting right across from him, yet he seemed far more interested in his book. ''What''s so fascinating about that book anyway?'' "Um" Julian had nearly finished reading and gave a light nod. "I really envy your special recruit class, getting the chance to enter an advanced secret realm" Hannah said with a sigh. Every student in the special class had the opportunity to explore one of the two advanced secret realms managed by Imperial University. As for students in the regular class, they either had to save up 50,000 credits to secure a ticket into the secret realm or earn a prestigious honor for Imperial University to gain access. For most regular-class students, even by senior year, only a handful had managed to set foot in the No. 25 advanced secret realm. In these secret realms, danger and opportunity coexistedone step could bring a trainer closer to greatness, while another might lead to disaster. Each year, over a thousand pseudo-Elite trainers lost their lives in high-level secret realms. Sometimes, even an Elite-level trainer faced fatal misfortune within these dangerous zones. As Julian once again fell silent, Hannah felt a surge of irritation. It was as though this man existed solely to frustrate someone like her. "Hannah, you really are here!" Just as Hannah was about to find another topic, a cheerful voice interrupted. "Why did you come here, Zed?" She asked, her tone edged with mild irritation as she glanced over. Clearly, his presence wasn''t entirely welcome. Zed stood tall, nearly 1.9 meters, with a bottle of water in hand. His face was rather good, he could be called a handsome guy. "I asked your roommates, and they said you were here" Zed said, oblivious to Hannah''s irritation as he casually took a seat beside her. "Here, I brought you water. You must be thirsty" "Thank you, but I''m not thirsty" Hannah replied, shaking her head politely. "Then I''ll keep it here for you. Just let me know when you need it" "Zed, I came here to read. If you don''t mind, could you give me some space?" "It''s fine. You read your book; I''ll just read you," he replied with a wink. "Pfft" At this, Julian, who had been trying to focus on his book despite Zed''s arrival, couldn''t hold back any longer and laughed aloud. "You guys continue" Julian said with a small smile, catching Zed''s annoyed glance but choosing to ignore it. He picked up his book, ready to move to another table where he could focus on the more important sections. But before he could stand, Hannah''s eyes brightened as if struck by an idea. She picked up the water bottle Zed had set down. "Julian, you must be thirsty too. Here, have some water," she offered with a smile. Julian glanced at the bottle. To be honest, he was a bit thirsty. So he picked up the bottle of water and took a few sips. "Hey, I bought this for my Hannah!" Zed''s tone was sharp with anger, his voice a little too loud for the quiet library. Heads turned in their direction. Realizing the attention he''d drawn, Zed clenched his jaw, glaring fiercely at Julian. "Don''t call me ''my'', Zed," Hannah replied, her voice tinged with irritation. "We''re not that close." "Here, take it back" Unbothered, Julian simply tossed the bottle back to Zed. It was just a casual throw, but the speed was much faster than expected. "Bang!" Zed, being just an ordinary person, failed to react in time to catch the bottle, which struck him squarely in the chest. The impact felt as if he had been hit by a stone, leaving him momentarily stunned and dizzy. With a thud, he ended up sitting on the ground, his face flushed with embarrassment. If Julian hadn''t withheld his strength, the impact of the bottle could have easily knocked the wind out of him, perhaps even causing him to vomit blood. Julian glanced at Zed, who was lying on the ground, temporarily unable to get up, and he was no longer in the mood to stay in the library. Before leaving, he glanced at Hannah. "Be careful not to use someone like this again" Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The warning tone made Hannah''s pretty face pale slightly. As Julian started to leave, he suddenly heard Zed''s voice call out from behind him. "Stop!" Julian turned to face Zed, who was glaring at him with fury. "Dare to fight with me?" Zed challenged. "Why should I fight you?" Julian replied, his expression growing cold. "Why?, Is the famous "King Julian" a coward?" Zed sneered, his words filled with mockery. "Ding" "Temporary Task Created" "Task Objective: Teach the other party how to behave" "Task reward: Teleport TM (Metagross), 500 points" Julian was momentarily stunned, not expecting the system to join in the fun at such a moment. The quest reward was undeniably exciting to him. Although Metagross had the Psychic-typing, it couldn''t learn Teleport through level-ups or standard Move discs/Tms. If Metagross didn''t reproduce through splitting, perhaps he could have tried breeding it with a Pokmon who knew teleport and produce a Beldum that inherited Teleport from its parent. Even though Teleport was a highly practical move, many Psychic-type Pokmon could not learn it, including the pseudo-legendary Metagross. By mastering Teleport, Metagross''s future fighting style would become unpredictable and faster. With the system tasks now presented, Julian had no reason to refuse the challenge ahead. "Yes, let''s add one more condition: the loser will pay 10 million." Noticing Zed''s hesitation, Julian couldn''t help but sneer. "What''s the matter? Don''t tell me you lack the guts, coward?" Hannah pulled Zed, her voice filled with urgency. "Zed, don''t be impulsive." Her concern seemed to unintentionally reinforce Zed''s insecurities, making him feel that she believed he wasn''t a match for Julian. In reality, Hannah actually did. Chapter 147: Growlithe vs Jolteon Chapter 147: Growlithe vs JolteonJulian and Zed had a conflict in the library that escalated to a Pokmon battle. The cause of their rivalry was Hannah, one of the top ten school beauties. A child from an aristocratic family, a student from an ordinary background, and a school beautythese three combined together, prompted some imaginative minds to fantasize about a million-word novel. There was a battlefield behind the library. News of the impending fight between the two spread quickly as other students in the library shared updates on their mobile phones. A few minutes later, crowds gathered at the battlefield, with students coming from the dormitory, study rooms, and playground. The allure of gossip was simply too strong to resist. "I heard that Julian stole Zed''s girl! Zed is going to fight him!" "Wow, that sounds exciting!" "Don''t just spread rumors. It''s clear that Julian and Zed like each other. This battle is just a way to determine who attacks and who defends in the future." "F**k bro, your gossip skill is even better" "Aristocrat vs. Civilian!" "Shocking! The secret between Julian and Zed had been revealed!" Even among the special class, many people caught wind of the news. Luis, who was usually in the Ice-type training class, saw Hugo''s message and hurriedly left the room, right in front of the teacher. There were already quite a few people gathered around the battlefield, most of them looking for some gossip. Everyone has a bit of a gossip streak, and no one, man or woman, could resist it. Hannah, the cause of this mess, walked up to Julian. "Julian, maybe you could call off this match. Zed didn''t mean it." Julian glanced at her. "Don''t you actually hope I defeat Zed thoroughly?" The more beautiful a woman was, the more deceitful she was. His mother was right, but it''s a pity that, when he grew up, he seemed to forget every f*****g word. Now, Hannah in front of him was exactly that kind of person. "Julian, what are you talking about? How could I have such an idea?" Hannah gave a charming smile and lightly patted Julian''s arm. To those watching, it looked like she was wishing him luck. "It''s over, it''s over. Another one of my goddess is gone." "Brother, how many goddesses do you have?" "Including her, there are currently over 300." "Hannah''s already in 3rd-year, Going after Julian? That''s an old cow eating tender grassshameless!" Luis finally arrived just before the battle began, joining Hugo and looking toward Julian and Zed, who were already positioned on opposite sides of the battlefield. "I''m afraid this guy has a hole in his head. Does he really think of himself as the protagonist of a novel?" "With Julian''s background, he would definitely be the villainous male lead in a story," Hugo added. Don''t be fooled by Hugo''s cold demeanor; once you get to know him, you''ll realize this guy''s actually quite humorous. "Go Jolteon" Zed sent out his Pokmon first. Pokmon: Jolteon (Electric) Level: 30 Qualification: Green Ability: Volt Absorb Held Item: Magnet Gender: Male Moves: Thunder Shock, Tackle, Swift, Thunderbolt, Quick Attack, Double Edge, Thunder Fang, Pin Missile Disc Moves: Protect, Thunder, Electro Ball, Iron Tail Genetic Moves: Thunder Wave, Double Kick -- Having a level 30 Jolteon, but with only four TMs learned, this was the situation of most people. The cheapest TMs/Move Discs in the outside world costs around 100,000. However, the lower the price, the harder it was for a Pokmon to learn the Move successfully. Additionally, a Pokmon''s own qualifications played a significant role in its ability to learn from TMs. Most Trainers had limited funds, so they focused on teaching their Pokmon only a few essential Moves. However, children from aristocratic families like Julian and Luis faced no such restrictions, allowing them to let their Pokmon learn a wide range of Moves. Useful Moves were practiced more, while less useful ones were practiced sparingly or not at all. Anyway once a Move was learned, it meant the basics were in place; even with minimal practice afterward, it could still show decent power. "You can send out Metagross, it doesn''t matter," Zed said indifferently. sea??h th n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''Little tricks'' Julian sneered, seeing through Zed''s tactics. He knew Zed was aware that his strongest Pokmon was Metagross, and that none of his Pokmon would stand a chance against it. So in order to prevent Julian from sending out Metagross, he sent a level 30 Jolteon first. Sending in Metagross, or even Dragonite or Lucario, would make winning feel like overkill and disgraceful. "This trick seems a bit familiar" Luis muttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Brother Walker, teach this ignorant guy a lesson!" A loud voice sounded, directly overshadowing the noisy discussions around. "Why is this guy Dalton here?" Luis looked at the tall figure not far from him, showing a dignified expression. ''This guy will be the enemy of my life.'' It was infuriating. ''He'' had recognized Brother Walker as his boss first, so who did this shameless fool think he was, trying to take his place? ''All because Brother Walker''s kind enough to not mind him'' Bah, scumbag. Luis grumbled internally, casting a sidelong glance at Julian with a flicker of resentment. "Go and play" Julian said calmly, tossing a Pok Ball. With a flash, a spirited Growlithe emerged onto the battlefield. Pokmon: Growlithe (Fire) Level: 26 Qualification: Blue Ability: Flash Fire Prop: Hard Charcoal Gender: Male Moves: Leer, Ember, Howl, Bite, Flame Wheel, Helping Hand, Agility Disc Moves: None Genetic Moves: Flare Blitz, Overheat, Double-Edge, Outrage -- Julian''s Growlithe was still in training, so he hadn''t focused on teaching it TMs/disc Moves yet. Even so, its current Move set was more than enough to handle Zed''s Jolteon. Surprisingly, Julian chose to send out Growlithe rather than his Steel-type Pokmon, which drew several intrigued looks. Growlithe was a rare sight, and everyone knew that its evolution, Arcanine, was revered as a legendary Pokmon in Drakoriaessentially the "Rolls-Royce" of land-based mounts. "Why does Julian''s Growlithe look a bit different? It seems... more reddish," someone observed. "Yeah, it could be a shiny Growlithe," another replied with a hint of envy. Typically, Growlithe''s coat is orange-yellow with cream-colored fur on its belly, tail, and mane, along with black stripes on its back and limbs. But Julian''s Growlithe had a deeper, orange-red base, signaling something unique. The change wasn''t due to it being a shiny variant. Rather, this color shift was because of its absorption of the fire crystal, causing intense fire energy to alter its fur''s color. Gradually, its coat was becoming darker, though it was uncertain if it would ever revert. Upon closer inspection, faint sparkles could be seen nestled within Growlithe''s furmostly hidden in daylight, but at night, it gleamed faintly, resembling Tail Glow. This fiery nature had come with some side effects; certain furniture in Julian''s house had ended up scorched. "Grow! Grow!" Growlithe looked at his Rival, full of fighting spirit, showing his sharp teeth. Chapter 148: Civilian Group Chapter 148: Civilian GroupThis was Growlithe''s first public appearance, known previously only to students in the special class. "Jolteon, Pin Missile!" called Zed. Although Julian had sent out one of his non-main team Pokmon just like he wanted, but one look at Growlithe''s appearnce told him this little fire type wasn''t one to take lightly. Countless beams of light turned into sharp arrows, launching from Jolteon, covering the distance of more than 100 meters in a flash. "Flare Blitz," Julian said calmly. "Grow!" With a loud bark, Growlithe''s body was engulfed in scorching flames as it charged forward, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. Jolteon''s Pin Missile collided with Flare Blitz but didn''t slow Growlithe down. In an instant, the searing heat from Growlithe was upon Jolteon. "Protect!" Zed shouted, hoping the green barrier could stop Growlithe''s assault after the Pin Missile had weakened it. But the next moment, cracks appeared on the barrier, shattering almost instantly. Growlithe, now a blazing fireball, slammed into Jolteon, sending it flying out of the battle area. The battlefield lacked protective barriers or fences, with students watching close by. Jolteon hurtled toward the crowd, causing panicked gasps. Zed''s expression flickered with a smirk; if this turned into an accident, Julian, the cause of it all, would be in trouble. Among the onlookers, Jane and her friend turned pale. Neither was a trainer, and with Jolteon barreling toward them, Jane could only close her eyes and scream, frozen in place. Julian was momentarily speechless. He''d always thought those horror movie scenes where women just screamed and closed their eyes were exaggerated. But now, seeing it firsthand, he realized there might be some truth in it. "Grow!" Growlithe barked, dashing forward to catch Jolteon mid-air, absorbing the impact and landing gracefully. Once Jolteon was safely on the ground, unconscious, Jane and the others noticed that they hadn''t been hit. They opened their eyes to see Growlithe standing protectively in front of them. Growlithe''s fluffy coat and strong build were a sight to behold, and now, the hero of the moment, the crowd was smitten. Jane and her friends couldn''t help but pet Growlithe in admiration. "Wow, this fur is so soft and smooth!" "Growlithe, do you use a special shampoo?" "Grow!" Growlithe gave a confirming nod, causing Jane to blink in surprise, realizing she and Growlithe shared the same shampoo brand. Growlithe looked at Jane and felt that the smell of this woman was exactly the same as his own. Could it be that she was also a dog. "I never thought I''d be jealous of a dog" Luis sighed, watching as the group of students, including one girl with a slender waist, doted on Growlithe. "Growlithe, come back!" Julian called out, seeing Growlithe basking in the attention and reluctant to leave. At Julian''s voice, Growlithe abandoned the students instantly, trotting back with a wagging tail, eyes sparkling expectantly. "Well done" Julian praised, scratching Growlithe behind the ears. Although Growlithe was at level 20 when Julian first got it, it had only been born half a year ago and was still a puppy at heart. That Jolteon had barely been able to test Growlithe''s true strength. Julian walked over to the defeated Zed. "So, when should I expect that ten million?" Zed, who thought Julian had come to mock him, was taken aback by the blunt demand. He came from a modest background, achieving what he had with hard work and some luck. He had the money, but paying it would make things tight. "I''ll cover it," said a voice as someone stepped up next to Zed. "President?" Zed looked at the newcomer in surprise. "And who might you be?" Julian asked, narrowing his eyes. "Alex" The mention of the name gave Julian pause. "Ah, Alex," he muttered, recognizing one of those common protagonist names in fantasy novels. In this world, though, those tropes were nonexistent thanks to the popularity of Pokmon instead. (T/N: it was one of those cultivation genre protagonist names) "Brother Walker!" Luis and Dalton approached, meeting each other''s gaze with a fierce intensity that sparked between them. "Transfer it" Julian said, taking out his mobile phone and pulling up his payment code. Without hesitation, Alex also took out his phone, scanning Julian''s payment code to complete the transfer before turning to leave with Zed. "Julian, consider our club, the Civilian Society, officially at odds with you," he said with a final, parting look. "Such a show-off," Dalton sneered as they left. "Civilian Society? What''s that." Julian asked Luis, knowing he was the most well-informed about school gossip. "It''s a club of talented trainers with humble backgrounds. Alex is the president," Luis explained. "And their strength?" "He''s around the pseudo-Elite peak level." "Trash" Julian remarked indifferently. ''By junior year, all of my Pokmon will be at the peak of Elite level.'' Luis wanted to say something but stayed quiet. Reaching pseudo-Elite peak as a junior was impressive, surpassing even some aristocratic family trainers. After the pseudo-Elite level, experience required increased exponentially, slowing down progress significantly. After reaching Elite-level even advancing one level per year would feel like a rapid ascent. "Brother Walker," Luis asked with a grin, "did you really fight Zed over a girl?" Just then, Hannah, who had been standing nearby, approached them. The grin on Luis''s face became even wider. sea??h th n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I''m sorry for causing trouble, Julian. I didn''t expect Zed to react this way. He kept pursuing me even after I refused." Hannah said giving Julian an apologetic look. "Maybe I can make it up to you with a meal sometime?" Hannah offered. Luis gave her a subtle thumbs-up, looking at her emotional intelligence and she clearly had a way with people. "Why don''t we exchange contacts?" She added, taking out her phone, which had a silver-white Metagross as her screen saver. Seeing Julian remain unresponsive, she added softly, "Are you upset? I really didn''t mean for any of this to happen" Her soft, apologetic tone was endearing. Luis was almost tempted to accept on Julian''s behalf. But Julian, wanting to end this quickly, took out his phone and scanned hers, exchanging their contacts. Chapter 149: BBQ Party Chapter 149: BBQ PartyBack at the villa, Julian released Metagross and gently pressed the Teleport TM/Disc, rewarded from the system against its head. With a flash of white light, the disc vanished, signaling it had been successfully absorbed. Julian let out a relieved sigh, having worried Metagross might fail to absorb it, and the reward would have been in vain. But he realized he was overthinking; after all, the system tailored it specifically for Metagross, so there was no chance of failure. "Metagross, Teleport" Julian said. In an instant, Metagross disappeared and reappeared in the courtyard pool, then back in front of Julian. "Perfect!" Julian said, patting Metagross''s head. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Metagross relaxed, giving a satisfied look as Julian massaged it with his Aura-infused hands. Just then, Growlithe trotted over, nudging Julian''s hand for attention. "Meta~" Metagross turned to look at Growlithe: ''What''s up, little guy? You want in on the massage too?'' Growlithe barked back, "Grow, Grow, Grow!" After a good fifteen minutes, Julian had given Metagross a full massage. Looking around, he noticed Growlithe and a lineup of Steelix, Dragonite, Lucario, Meltan, Slowking, and Aron, all waiting patiently. Julian held his head, chuckling. "Alright, one at a time. Slowking, could you grab me a bottle of ice-cold soda?" Settling in for a long afternoon, Julian began his Aura massage with Growlithe, who was already sprawled out, all four legs up, gazing at him expectantly. His Aura-imbued hands moved gently over Growlithe''s limbs and torso, easing out the tension in its small, furry frame. The Aura followed his hands and slowly penetrated into Growlithe''s body. Compared to Metagross, Growlithe was much softer and more pliable. Metagross had the density of iron, much like Steelix and Aron. Within minutes, Growlithe was dozing off comfortably. Using his Psychic ability, Julian floated his soda bottle over, took a refreshing sip, and curiously tugged on Growlithe''s little tongue, which had flopped out. The pup stayed asleep. "Is it really that relaxing?" Julian smiled. After over two hours, Julian had massaged all eight Pokmon. Thankfully, his superhuman physique and power of advanced Aura made it manageable to care for them all. "Slowking, let''s have a barbecue tonight. Could you pick up some ingredients?" he called. "Slow!" Slowking nodded, setting out with a basket, ever mindful of the environment, avoiding single-use plastic bags. "Lucario, can you grab the grill?" "Metagross, the charcoal''s also by the grillmind bringing it over?" "Not you, Meltan. You''d just make a mess." He quickly caught Meltan, who tried to help. "Steelix, could you cover up the holes you dug? We need a flat space to set up." Surveying the backyard, Julian noticed Steelix''s resting pit, which would need to be filled for their cookout. "Dragonite, come here." Dragonite waddled over with a silly expression. Julian retrieved a custom-fitted Flying saddle from the system space and secured it onto Dragonite''s back. This would make Dragonite his designated Flying mount. Though Metagross was powerful, Dragonite had the advantage in both speed and comfort. Julian climbed onto Dragonite''s back, sat in the saddle, and fastened his seatbelt. Immediately, he felt a sense of security. "Alright, Dragonite, let''s give it a test flight." The Flying saddle was custom-designed to fit Dragonite''s unique body shape, so while it might feel a bit off at first, Dragonite would soon get used to it with regular flights. "Swish~" In less than 0.01 seconds, Dragonite went 0 to 100. Julian''s neck nearly snapped from the sudden acceleration. Dazed, Julian heard a soft, apologetic rumble from Dragonite. It seemed to have momentarily forgotten Julian was on its back and had taken off at full speed. "If you want a new Trainer, just say it" Julian patted Dragonite''s head gently, he really felt like he almost died when Dragonite accelerated just now. "Let''s start slow. I''ll tell you when it''s time to speed up," he said. Although cities typically restricted Flying Pokmon without relevant permits. However, colleges and universities were more relaxed about it, and in the skies above Imperial University he often saw other Trainers flying. Some rushing to class, while others practicing their moves just like Julian. The added weight and presence of a rider naturally affected a Pokmon''s balance and movement, so frequent practice was essential to build their coordination and comfort. After an hour of flight practice, they returned to the yard. Julian unlatched the Flying saddle, appreciating its quick-release mechanism. By now, Slowking was back with the barbecue supplies. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the villa''s courtyard. The barbecue ingredients were all processed, and there was no need to clean anything. Julian took out some fresh fruit from the system space, choosing each one based on his Pokmon''s preferences, and passed them to Slowking, his unofficial chef. "Make some non-alcoholic pi?a coladas for them, and I''ll just take a Coke," Julian said. As Julian began grilling, he called to Growlithe. "Start the fire, but go easy." Julian warned, for fear that Growlithe would directly burn Charcoal to ashes. Growlithe spit out a small flame, carefully igniting the charcoal. As the food started to sizzle, its aroma filled the air. The lights in the courtyard flickered on as dusk settled, and Lucario turned on the Bluetooth speaker, filling the evening with music. Julian grinned at his Pokmon surrounded him. "Hang tight, it''s almost ready!" he reassured them. Every now and then, Julian treated his team to human food, but tonight''s menu was tailored just for themroasted berries, energy cubes, and even grilled treats. Slowking returned with drinks, serving Julian a bottle of MooMoo Milk instead of the Coke he''d asked for. Julian raised a brow. "I wanted Coke" "Slow~" Slowking shook its head; ''You can only drink one can of Coke a day, and you''ve already had it.'' Julian: (?`w''?) "Fine, then how about a beer?" Barbecue and beer, it was a perfect match. "Slow~" ''You can''t drink beer at your age,'' Slowking replied, reminding him. Julian: \( )/ Shrugging, Julian settled in, content with the milk as he grilled. This time, Julian didn''t invite anyone. Compared to others, he preferred to spend time with his Pokmon. The full moon hung high above, stars twinkling in the night sky. Under its glow, Julian and his Pokmon enjoyed their own private barbecue party. Chapter 150: Secret Realm Riot Chapter 150: Secret Realm Riot"Metagross, let''s go." Standing at the villa door, Julian recalled all his Pokmon into their Pok Balls, then released his Metagross outside. Today, he was heading to Advanced Secret Realm No. 25, for which he had already secured a month-long leave from his head teacher, Frank. The time spent in an advanced secret realm varied, but typically, trainers would stay for about a month. In some cases, larger secret realms required even more time. Julian''s primary aim in Secret Realm No. 25 wasn''t to catch more Pokmon; he already had a solid team of eight. But neither Growlithe nor Slowking were high in levels. Instead, he planned to train his Pokmon and search for hidden treasures. Though, if he happened upon a particularly exceptional Pokmon, he''d certainly make the capture. "Ding~" Just as he was preparing to set out, his phone chimed. Julian''s expression shifted as he read the message. "A riot has broken out in Intermediate Secret Realm No. 36 near Yuan County, Imperial City. Numerous Pokmon have breached the secret realm''s gates. All senior and junior students from Imperial City University are to provide immediate support, while support from younger students is optional." A secret realm riot was a serious event. When a riot occurred, the first casualties were usually the secret realm guards, followed by anyone in the nearby town. Typically, intermediate secret realms were managed by large corporations, schools, powerful families, or the local Trainer Association. These entities were responsible not only for managing the realm but also for containing any potential Pokmon outbreaks. Most Pokmon from secret realms preferred to stay within them, as the outside environment was entirely different. However, there were annual instances all over the world, where Pokmon burst out of these realms, sometimes causing significant destruction. Many factors could trigger such events, like changes in the secret realm''s environment, hostile interference by evil forces, or powerful Pokmon expanding their territories and driving out the former occupants. "Dragonite!" Julian called as he returned Metagross to its Pok Ball and summoned his Dragonite. He quickly attached a swift-flight saddle onto Dragonite''s back and pulled up his map, pinpointing the location of Secret Realm No. 36. "Dragonite, head northwest!" Julian directed, climbing onto the saddle. Dragonite nodded and took off swiftly in the indicated direction. At the same time, numerous students from Imperial College were also on their way to Secret Realm No. 36 by various means. The sky was filled with more Pokmon than usual, all heading in the same direction. Imperial University had called on only the seniors and third-year students, as they were mostly pseudo-Elite level and best suited to handle the situation. Their battle skills and self-defense capabilities made them a reliable force for dealing with mid-level secret realm riots. Meanwhile, first and second-year students, were still at the Advanced level. Sar?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An advanced-level trainer wasn''t enough to handle Pokmon riots in a mid-level secret realm. So whether to participate or not was up to them. However, if you went and faced danger, the school won''t be held responsible if something happened. Even if third- and fourth-year students lost their lives in such incidents, Imperial University wouldn''t bear liability. Trainers enjoyed a high social standing and strong benefits, but they also faced much higher risks. Before becoming a Trainer, everyone signed an agreement. The essence of the agreement was clear: ''if you meet your end, don''t blame othersacknowledge that you simply weren''t strong enough.'' "Hugo, let''s contact Brother Walker right away!" Luis called out, looking at the text message on his phone. "Julian just flew off on his Dragonite, heading straight for the secret realm," Hugo pointed skyward. "Then we''re going too!" Luis ran toward the university''s rental office to secure a Flying Pokmon, but the area was already crowdedclearly, many students had the same idea. News of the incident at Intermediate Secret Realm No. 36 in Yuan County quickly spread online, prompting numerous Trainers in the area to rush to the scene. Though the local residents had been advised to evacuate when the riot first broke through, Yuan County was a densely populated county-level city with nearly two million residents. Fifty trainers stationed to guard the secret realm lasted only half an hour before the defensive line was overrun by the rioting Pokmon. All fifty perished in the battle. Evacuating such a large number of people in under half an hour was practically impossible. The only thing that could be done now was to support Yuan County as soon as possible, and at the same time make the greatest efforts to evacuate the people. -- A Pidgeot with a camera strapped to its neck hovered high above Secret Realm No. 36, broadcasting the scene live. Down below, an unending stream of Pokmon poured from the realm''s gates. Small Pokmon like Rattata, Caterpie, and Venonat were even crushed under the stampede of larger ones, including Onix, Golem, and Nidoking. Over ten thousand Pokmon had already broken free, and their numbers continued to rise, all heading in the direction of the County. In the live broadcast chat, desperate messages appeared: "How did this riot start? Has anyone figured out the reason?" "My parents are still in Yuan County" "Where are the Trainers? When are they going to show up?!" "Pray for" The Pidgeot belonged to a small media company that had been filming a short feature in Yuan County when the riot occurred. While most people had fled, the company''s two founders stayed behind. One was a pseudo-Elite Trainer, while the other was just an ordinary person. The Trainer saw an opportunity in the chaos and sent the Pidgeot to capture the live scene. The viewership in the live stream had surged to over five million. Despite the grim situation, the pseudo-Elite Trainer couldn''t help but feel that this daring move was worthwhile. "Our account has gone viral, so I''m leaving it to you," said the pseudo-Elite to his partner. "Yeah it sure-wait, What? where are you going with this?," his partner replied, feeling a surge of excitementuntil his expression shifted in realization. "Going to stop this, As a middle-aged man, I never thought I''d still have that fire in me." "Are you crazy? You haven''t fought in ages! Didn''t you see all those Trainers fleeing earlier?" His partner looked at him in disbelief. When disaster strikes, some step forward while others flee. "That''s exactly why I''m going. Don''t worry, I''m not about to run or die. I still have a family to care for back home," the prospective Elite Trainer said, laughing. "If you die, I''ll take care of your wife and kid," his partner said seriously. The prospective Elite Trainer: ''Damn, do I have to take you out first before I go?'' Chapter 151: On The Way Chapter 151: On The WayYuan County had descended into chaos, with a massive crowd fleeing in panic. Although government officials were organizing evacuation efforts, their numbers fell short of what was needed to control a population nearing two million. Riots broke out in parts of town, with some people smashing store windows and looting whatever they could find. As the looting began, more people followed suit, creating a situation that was difficult to control. While some bystanders tried to intervene, their efforts were overwhelmed by the scale of the disorder. At Yuan County No. 1 Middle School, the principal was rallying the school''s Trainer Teachers to head toward the No. 36 intermediate-level secret realm. With only eight professional Trainers on staff, their resources were stretched thin. "Where''s Teacher Brad?" The principal asked, noticing the strongest trainerwho happened to be a pseudo-Elitewas missing. "Hurry up and contact Teacher Brad," the principal said urgently. A teacher said hesitantly, "Brad he''s already gone." The principal nodded. "Gone? Then he''s already at the secret realm. Teacher Brad is a pseudo-Elite Trainer and takes his responsibility seriously." "No," the teacher corrected, "he went south." The room fell silent. The secret realm riot was in north, yet Brad had gone south and was unreachable. Now, everyone understood where their pseudo-Elite had gone: he''d deserted them. "Deserter, that guy turned out to be a deserter." The principal spat in disgust. "That gold-plated slacker is completely unreliable! It makes sense, He was only here for appearancesotherwise, why would a pseudo-Elite come to teach at a county school?" Setting aside his frustration, the principal addressed the remaining trainers. "Forget the deserter. Let''s move out quickly. If anyone wishes to leave, I won''t stop you." But the teachers all shook their heads; they had roots in Yuan County and couldn''t walk away now. "Good. Rest assured, reinforcements are on the way. The nearest Imperial University is sending upperclassmen along with two Elite Trainers. Shu University''s support team is also en route," the principal said. "We just need to hold out for an hour." -- The riotous No. 36 intermediate secret realm was only 10 kilometers away, and Pokmon had already begun appearing in the skies over Yuan County. "Pidg~" With a flap of its wings, a Pidgeotto whipped up a powerful whirlwind, blowing people off their feet. A swarm of Spearows swooped down, their claws targeting anyone in sight. Beedrills buzzed ominously, Twineedles gleaming as they struck with deadly precision, taking a few lives in seconds. For ordinary people, even a level 5 Pokmon could be lethal if they weren''t careful, and facing level 10 Pokmon was almost like confronting death itself. Fortunately, not every resident was defenseless. Though only about ten percent of Drakoria''s newly registered Trainers went on to pursue the profession seriously, the rest kept Pokmon as companions. These domesticated Pokmon, although less powerful than those of professional trainers, still offered protection. Families with domestic Pokmon deployed them to defend their homes, and some even protected neighbors. Grass and Bug-types, easy to care for and inexpensive, were among the most common domestic Pokmon, serving as valiant defenders amidst the chaos. Roughly 70% of the wild Pokmon emerging from the secret realm were between level 12 and 20, matching the strength of Rookie Trainers. Around 20% ranged from levels 20 to 40, equaling the strength of regular Trainers. While the remainder, above level 40, advanced-level Pokmon, posed a serious threat to even experienced Trainers. And most domestic Pokmon ranged between level 20 to 40. Therefore, with the help of domestic Pokmon, the Pokmon who flew into Yuan County to cause destruction were quickly suppressed. In the sky, a level 35 Fearow screeched, rallying a flock of Spearows to attack the domestic Pokmon resisting below. "Nicely done, Oddish!" A middle-aged man cheered as his Oddish took down a Spearow. His joy however was short-lived. Sar?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a single dive, the Fearow stirred up a whirlwind, sending the middle-aged man and his Oddish crashing against a nearby building. Oddish lay unconscious, and the man, impaled by a steel pipe, lay bleeding heavily. Fearow, eyes gleaming with malice, prepared to strike. "Machoke, Brick Break!" A construction worker''s voice rang out as Machoke appeared, attacking Fearow with a powerful strike. The Fearow dodged, enraged, and retaliated with a peck, its beak piercing Machoke''s shoulder. Grimacing in pain, Machoke grabbed Fearow''s beak with one hand, then raised his other arm, delivering another Brick Break. Fearow let out a screech, stunned by the attack. "Well done, Machoke!" The construction worker praised, he didn''t expect his Machoke to be this strong but his joy vanished as he noticed the blood pouring from the injured man''s wound. If this was not dealt with soon, the man would definitely die. But he had no experience in this area, nor did he have any drugs. "Go, don''t worry about me." The middle-aged man, struggling to speak, tried to push him away. "Shut up!" the construction worker snapped. "I''m not about to let someone die right in front of me!" "Bang!" Just then, Machoke was thrown back as Fearow struck again, its fury and level advantage wearing Machoke down. "It''s all your fault! You just had to appear in front of me, but that''s fine, I swear, if we''re going down, it''s together!," the construction worker cursed. Seriously injured middle-aged man: (*~) At this time, Julian was still on his way. Chapter 152: The Reason for the Pokémon Riot Chapter 152: The Reason for the Pokmon RiotIn the northern area of Yuan County, waves of Pokmon poured out of the No. 36 Intermediate Secret Realm, clashing with a gathered line of Trainers. These Trainers, mostly not locals, had been in the area by coincidence, drawn to the scene by the breakout. Among the approximately 300 defenders, most were ordinary or Advanced Trainers, though three were pseudo-Elite, acting as the main force holding back the onslaught. However, as more Pokmon surged through the gates, the strength of the defensive line began to weaken. One pseudo-Elite Trainer had already seen his three main Pokmon incapacitated, overwhelmed by the relentless swarm. The rioting Pokmon showed no signs of rationality. Under normal circumstances, the mere presence of a pseudo-Elite Pokmon would have been enough to intimidate and deter most them. Leading the response team, Principal and teachers from Yuan County''s No. 1 Middle School quickly joined the battle. Sarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Alen, hurry up and fall back" Principal Brown called urgently, stepping in to replace the young Trainer who had just lost his three main Pokmon. Though he was also a pseudo-Elite, due to age Principal Brown''s strength wasn''t as good as before. "Teacher, are you serious? How can I leave now?" "Blaziken, Charizard, Magmortar!" Principal Brown released his three Pokmon. Despite his pseudo-Elite status, these three were the only Pokmon he had. The fire-type trio bore scars across their bodies, evidence of countless battles. Without hesitation, they charged into the fray, unleashing a barrage of fiery moves on the rioting Pokmon. With their pseudo-Elite strength, they overwhelmed the chaotic Pokmon around them, bringing order to the area in bursts of flame. "You''re still young! Get out of hereI''ll handle this!" Principal Brown Roared. He knew that young trainers held endless potential. This riot in the secret realm was only beginning, and having survived two previous Pokmon riots, he understood the toll they took. Those experiences had left him with just three main Pokmon. He didn''t want his students to suffer the same fate. To him, asking them to leave wasn''t about desertion but a tactical retreat to protect their future. Meanwhile, the number of rampaging Pokmon had surged from over 10,000 to nearly 20,000, with an increasing number reaching Advanced strength. "Ludicolo!" A Trainer watched helplessly as his Ludicolo was overwhelmed and severely injured by a swarm of seven or eight Advanced Beedrills. From where he stood, he couldn''t recall his Pokmon with the Pok Ballit was out of range, forcing him to witness Ludicolo''s die here. Among the 300 Trainers present, nearly everyone had already lost at least one Pokmon. The Pok Ball retrieval limit was capped at 400 meters, but stepping within that range meant risking being torn apart by the rampaging Pokmon. "Crack.. Crack..." Suddenly, the ground cracked open, and a Sandslash burst from beneath. Before the Trainer could react, its claws slashed across his throat. Nearby, the Trainer''s Weezing saw the tragic sight, watching its Trainer fall with a mix of sorrow and rage in its eyes. Unable to contain its grief, Weezing began to glow with a dazzling white light. "Boom!!!" An explosion erupted, instantly blowing away hundreds of the surrounding Pokmon. Those nearest to Weezing were instantly killed, leaving a cleared space in the aftermath of its sacrifice. From the crater, Weezing, battered and barely clinging to life, struggled to rise one last time. Its gaze turned toward its fallen Trainer, but before it could take a final look, the relentless horde of rioting Pokmon closed in, engulfing it completely. "Damn it!" "MF**ker" "Wooo...." "Why hasn''t the rescue arrived?" "Where''s our Elite Trainers?" Above, a lone Pidgeot circled, capturing the scene below with a live broadcast camera strapped around its neck, broadcasting the chaos to anyone watching. At that moment, Julian, racing through the skies on Dragonite''s back, reached the skies above Yuan County. The scene was grim: groups of Flying-type Pokmon were attacking people below, spreading panic through the fleeing crowd. "Metagross, Dragonite, kill down!" Julian''s voice was cold, his usual restraint pushed aside. He saw in the blood-red eyes of the rioting Pokmon that they were beyond reason. Without hesitation, Metagross and Dragonite began clearing the skies. "Jiggly.. puff..." His phone rang, and glancing down, he saw it was his grandfather. "Hey, Grandpa" Julian answered. "Julian, are you in Yuan County?" "Yes, I just arrived." "Grandpa, have you figured out the reason for this Pokmon riot?" There''s a reason for any secret realm Pokmon riot and addressing that cause could stop it. "Yes, It''s the work of the ''Z'' Organization. They must''ve placed a device in Secret Realm No. 36 that''s driving the Pokmon mad and causing this riot." "The Trainer Association''s nearest Elite is on the way. They''ll enter the realm to shut down the device. For now, your mission is to keep those rioting Pokmon from reaching the county." Julian looked north, spotting the endless wave of Pokmon crashing against the line of defending Trainers, who looked close to being overwhelmed. "It''s too late, Grandpa. I have to go into the Secret Realm myself" Julian replied, ending the call. "Lucario, Slowking, help the people evacuate!" The two Pokmon nodded, knowing the gravity of the task. Julian rode Dragonite northward with Metagross by his side. He spotted a construction worker, eyes shut as he braced for a Fearow''s attack. Dragonite unleashed a precise Thunderbolt, dropping the Fearow instantly, and then Julian tossed a packet of hemostatic powder down to the man. Startled, the worker opened his eyes, catching sight of Fearow lying lifeless and the hemostatic packet falling into his hands. Glancing up, he caught sight of a yellow blur as Julian sped off into the distance. "Dad always said I was blessed," he murmured, cradling his injured Machoke and looking at the medicine in awe. "Looks like he was right after all." Taking the hemostatic powder, the construction worker turned to the nearby injured middle-aged man, showing him the packet with a grin. "You would have been dead, but you met me, and due to my luck, you also survived." Meanwhile, Lucario and Slowking had begun assisting in the crowd''s evacuation. Lucario lifted a separated child onto its back, tossing Aura Spheres to fend off nearby attackers. Slowking, focusing with fierce determination, used Psychic to bring down Flying Pokmon and transport injured civilians to safety. Chapter 153: Experience Card Chapter 153: Experience CardThe ''Z'' Organization stood as one of the world''s most infamous terrorist groups, its members devout followers of Zygarde, the legendary Pokmon symbolizing the concept of ''order''. The organization spanned over a century in existence, leaving nearly every major country scarred by its attacks. Despite multiple attempts by many nations uniting to dismantle it, the organization still existed. The emergence of Pokmon had reshaped not only human lives but also beliefs, with organizations like this springing up, their loyalty often pledged to mythical Pokmon. Some regions without a stable government remained gripped in their influence, with such groups often leaving small nations in disarray. This complexity was part of why the Z Organization had yet to be eradicated. With members scattered across countries with unstable regimes, particularly in East Africa, where nearly 50 small nations existed, eliminating it was nearly impossible in the ongoing turmoil. (T/N: I didn''t change the name for Africa, cause it''s the first time I came across the author using real world name for a country/continent) -- Principal Brown''s three Fire-type Pokmon, though pseudo-Elite, were still somewhat old, and also injured from past battles. In the midst of the chaos, an Advanced-level Azumarill targeted Blaziken''s back with a powerful Water Gun, causing Blaziken to stumble. Then, two Arbok lunged forward, coiling around Blaziken, their fangs sinking in to deliver venom. "Blaziken, hold on!" Principal Brown''s urgent voice cut through, breathing new life into the worn Blaziken. Flames blazed from its body, scorching the Arbok enough to make them recoil in pain. Just as Blaziken grabbed them by the neck, a pulse of purple light weakened it, forcing it to let go. The Arboks took the opportunity to release venom spray, the toxins finally taking their toll. Blaziken staggered, its powerful frame eventually succumbing to the poison. "Blaziken!" Principal Brown''s voice trembled, his aged face now filled with tears. Another old friend had left him. "Not good." But there was no time for grief. Blaziken''s absence left a dangerous gap in the defensive line. As a pseudo-Elite, Blaziken had held back a significant number of rioting Pokmon. With it gone, nearly 500 Pokmon surged through the breach, closing in on over 300 Trainers positioned beyond the line. Panic rippled through the Trainers. Many had deployed all of their Pokmon and some kept one, keeping it in reserve for emergencies, yet their backup was no match for the incoming swarm. And the number of Pokmon was constantly increasing. "We''re finished" "What now? Someone anyone, save us!" "They said Pokmon and humans were friends why is this happening?" The distress was palpable, broadcast live to countless viewers online, each wishing desperately for a hero to intervene. "This time, it''s over. I guess my wife and children will really be taken care of by you." The prospective Elite Trainer glanced at the oncoming horde of Pokmon, forcing a wry smile. After sending a voice message from his phone, he retrieved his Eevee, the little Pokmon valiantly defending him despite being only level 6. He threw the Pok Ball hard, launching it high into the air. "Pidgeot, take Eevee home" Pidgeot, the trusty companion carrying a camera around its neck, caught the Pok Ball in midair and swooped down, attempting to take away its Trainer too. However, a Fearow and a Pidgeot intercepted its path, blocking the way. With only 300 meters separating the gap from the Trainers, they braced themselves. Faces displayed a mixture of emotionscourage, fear, resignation, and defiance. The sight of over 500 Pokmon charging through the defensive gap, now less than 300 meters away, sent a wave of dread through the remaining 300 Trainers. Their faces showed every emotionsome were resolute, others gripped by fear or panic, and a few even resigned to their fate. "I... I''m sorry. I don''t want to die." Sarch* The Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A Trainer whispered, shame evident as he turned and ran, even leaving his Pokmon still fighting in front of him. In this world, very few people could truly face death. Even if one had resolved to confront it, but when death really comes, you would still be afraid and fearful. Nearly half of the remaining Trainers broke rank, fleeing in desperation. As they left, the defensive line crumbled, and nearly 20,000 Pokmon surged forward, breaking through. The rest were left behind. "Ahhh! Cowards damn deserters!" "Don''t judge them, Who isn''t afraid of death?" "But that''s no excuse! By abandoning them, they''re risking the lives of two million people in Yuan County!" Although Pidgeot was engaged in battle with two Pokmon, and the video was shaky and chaotic, but this scene was still captured. The rest of the Trainers looked desperate, unable to flee. Even if they had wanted to escape, it was already too late. As they watched the fleeing Trainers, there was no blame, only a hint of pity. Despite their speed, escape was impossible. If they had stayed and the defensive line had held, there might have been a chance for survival. But now, it was clear: everyone was facing certain death. All that was left was the hope they''d bought enough time for the people of Yuan County to evacuate. "Activate the 10-Minute Elite Experience Card" Julian finally arrived, and what he saw was the broken defense line. Nearly 20,000 rioting Pokmon, with it''s current strength, Metagross couldn''t stop them. Fortunately, Julian had the 10-minute Elite experience card. This card had originally been intended for use in the Advanced secret realm, but given the dire circumstances, it was clear that he needed to use it now. "Metagross, Light Screen!" In an instant, a towering Light Screen barrier spread in front of the advancing Pokmon, like a dam appearing in a raging flood. The Pokmon slammed into it, one after another, thudding against the shield, yet it held firm. "Alakazam, Hypnosis" Julian tossed out another Pok Ball, summoning Alakazam, his Elite-level bodyguard Pokmon. With a quick glance toward Metagross, Alakazam seemed puzzled by its sudden strength but wasted no time. He raised his spoon, radiating waves of hypnotic energy across the battlefield. Even though these rioting Pokmon had lost their minds, Alakazam, at the peak of Elite-level, wielded overwhelming power, combining both high level and exceptional life level. Hundreds of rioting Pokmon fell under hypnosis every second. Within minutes, only a few rioting Pokmon remained standing, though more continued to push through the gate of the secret realm. Julian called out, releasing Steelix. "Steelix, hold the gate!" "Dragonite, Metagross, let''s go!" Julian mounted Dragonite, and with Metagross close behind, they charged into the intermediate secret realm. "Bang!" Steelix fell, and after watching Julian rush inside, it positioned its massive body to block the entrance of the secret realm. With Julian having already entered and handled the Pokmon at the gate, no additional Pokmon surged out for the moment. After hypnotizing the last Pokmon outside, Alakazam quickly followed to join Julian in the secret realm. Chapter 154: Inside the Secret Realm Chapter 154: Inside the Secret RealmFrom the moment Julian appeared, Metagross quickly set up a Light Screen to block the rioting Pokmon, while Alakazam used Hypnosis to put them all to sleep. Then, Julian dove into the gate of the secret realm and commanded Steelix to guard it with Protect. This all took just one minute and thirty seconds. In that brief time, Julian had managed what over 300 trainers could nothe stopped nearly 20,000 Pokmon from rampaging further. Metagross, temporarily at the Elite level, and Alakazam, at its peak, performed flawlessly, each using their abilities to the fullest. As Julian entered the gate, Steelix took position outside like a steadfast guardian. It was only then that the other Trainers seemed to snap out of their shock. They stared at the hypnotized Pokmon in disbelief. One trainer murmured, "Am I dreaming or am I dead?" Others were just as stunned, struggling to process the scene before them. They had been ready to die just moments ago, only for a mysterious stranger to resolve the crisis in an instant. Meanwhile, the live broadcast equipment on Pidgeot''s neck had captured it all, flooding the screen with viewer comments: "That was a silver Metagross! It''s got to be Elite Walker!" "Alakazam is incredibleHypnosis worked on nearly 20,000 Pokmon!" "I was scared to death watching this." "You''re lucky. I had to change my pants!" "Everyone saw it was a silver Metagross, right? And I swear I saw a Dragonite too!" At the entrance of the secret realm, a young pseudo-Elite turned to his teacher. "Teacher, who was that? Was it Gym leader Jake?" The reason why he didn''t think it was John, was because the man looked too young, and even though he said Jake, he didn''t think it was him either. "No, not Gym leader Jake, I think it should be Walker Elite''s grandson." He remembered the face of the Gym leaderit couldn''t have been Jake. But Walker Elite''s grandson also had a silver Metagross, a rarity in all of Drakoria. "That Julianhe''s an Elite?!" the young pseudo-Elite exclaimed. He''d heard of Julian; he''d been trending on social media recently, especially after footage showed his Metagross defeating Articuno and breaking into the pseudo-Elite ranks. But it broke through pseudo-Elite just recently and it''s Elite level already? It was hard to believe. "Likely a temporary boost in strength," Principal Brown clarified, noting his student''s disbelief. Even so, the young pseudo-Elite found it hard to imagine. "What kind of resources could elevate a pseudo-Elite to Elite strength?" he wondered. Such a leap was not only an increase in power but an advancement in life force. "Don''t dwell on it," Principal Brown advised. "With the Walkers'' resources, it''s hardly surprising. Now, get your Pokmon back." Alakazam had used Hypnosis on all the Pokmon present, including the Trainers'' own. Given its strength, these Pokmon would be out cold for at least half a dayplenty of time for Julian to address the issues within the realm. The Trainers went about retrieving their unconscious Pokmon. Though the immediate danger was over, none looked relieved; many of their comrades had been lost in the fight. Some Trainers even carried their comatose Pokmon. One trainer, unable to bear it, broke down, kicking the ground and sobbing, "This is all your fault!" Others watched in silent empathy, some discreetly wiping away tears. Inside Rift No. 36, Julian had Metagross clear away the hostile Pokmon near the entrance. The frenzied creatures seemed determined to escape the rift. S~ea??h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Alakazam, seal the door with Light Screen," he commanded. Alakazam nodded and raised a transparent Light Screen across the entrance, cutting off any chance for the Pokmon to break through. Breaking through a Light Screen created by a peak Elite-level Alakazam would take even the strongest Pokmon among them half a month. "Roar!" Suddenly, an uneasy growl came from beneath Dragonite, causing it to tremble, and Julian felt the shift immediately. "Dragonite, what''s wrong?" Julian sensed the Aura within Dragonite turning chaotic as a surge of aggression stirred in its heart. He knew at onceit was that machine''s influence. Although Dragonite''s power was approaching pseudo-Elite, it was still affected by the device''s powerful signals. ''No wonder the Pokmon here lost control so completely, fighting without even feeling pain.'' "Return, Dragonite!" Julian recalled Dragonite, hoping that inside its Pok Ball, it would be shielded from the machine''s effects. "Metagross, Alakazam, scan the area!" A cold determination shone in Julian''s eyes. Metagross, at early Elite level, and Alakazam, at peak Elite level, each released waves of Psychic energy like radar, rapidly probing the surroundings. After a few moments, Alakazam turned to Julian and nodded, then pointed in a specific direction. "Let''s go, Metagrossfastest speed!" Julian jumped onto Metagross''s back, gripping its cross-arm tightly. Metagross launched forward at an intense 400 km/h, the speed so fierce it distorted Julian''s face in the wind. "I really need a helmet for this," he muttered. Meanwhile, 20 kilometers from the secret realm''s entrance, a machine the size of a small truck hummed, with ten figures in purple and blue uniforms standing around it. Asians, whites, blacks all types of people were present. "Persian, there aren''t any more Pokmon around here. Should we move the machine?" asked one of the group members. Members of the Z organization, each used code names based on Pokmon. "Move it. I want Yuan County destroyed completely," Persian replied with a dark grin. "This is the Z organization''s first strike of the yearwe''ll show the people of Drakoria our power." "Drakoria''s supposed to be a ''no-go'' for us. They''re jokingit''s all talk!" "Just imagine them crying in Yuan County. Their deaths will nourish Zygarde''s awakening," another added. "Persian," someone voiced hesitantly, "an Elite Trainer from Drakoria is likely en route. I''m concerned" "What''s there to worry about? Lord Seviper will handle that Trainer." Persian''s smile widened. Since they dared to do this, they naturally made sufficient preparations. The team began preparing to relocate the machine. Its interference reached 20 kilometers, causing any Pokmon within range to enter an agitated state. If the scope of this machine was bigger, then there would have been more Pokmon rioting, and Yuan County would have been done for long before Julian even arrived. Chapter 155: Thank You Chapter 155: Thank YouUnder normal circumstances, an intermediate secret realm could contain three to four million Pokmon. In terms of size, these realms often covered an area equivalent to two or three cities. Pokmon weren''t evenly distributed but rather clustered according to their habitats, population densities, and food sources. Metagross sped toward the source of the disturbance with Julian on its back. At Metagross''s pace, they covered the 20-kilometer distance in just a few minutes. As they arrived, Julian spotted members of the Z organization maneuvering a truck-sized machine. Julian''s sudden appearance startled the Z members, who hadn''t anticipated anyone intercepting them so soon after their plan began. The leader, codenamed Persian, recognized him instantly. "Julian," he muttered, eyes on the silver Metagross. Julian smirked. "Looks like my reputation precedes meeven scurrying rats like you know who I am." Without further words, he gave Metagross a command. "Steel Beam, destroy that machine." "Don''t even think about it" But Persian was quick, throwing out a Pok Ball. "Feraligatr, Hydro Pumpstop it!" Feraligatr''s Hydro Pump intercepted Metagross''s Steel Beam just in time. Julian observed the opponent''s Pokmon closely, noting its level and strength. "Level 75... Elite-tier Feraligatr," Julian mused. This hinted Persian might be an Elite Trainer, though his presence didn''t feel quite like that of one. He quickly calculated his remaining time on the Elite Experience Cardit only lasted ten minutes, with just two minutes left. Because it was only an initial-level Elite experience card, Metagross''s current strength was only at starting level of Elite, and it was impossible to fight above it''s level in battle. "Alakazam, Shadow Ball!" Alakazam suddenly appeared beside him, launching a Shadow Ball that struck Feraligatr squarely, putting it in critical condition. With Alakazam at the peak of Elite level, the difference in power was stark. An Elite-tier Pokmon''s strength increased exponentially with each level, and Alakazam''s peak level could easily overpower multiple Pokmon at the initial Elite stage. "Metagross, Zen Headbutt!" Julian called. With Feraligatr already weakened, Metagross''s attack left it completely incapacitated, securing valuable experience. Alakazam was limited by qualification, and experience was useless for it. Only by breaking the shackles of qualification could it improve it''s level. Julian turned his gaze back to Persian, hoping he might send out another Elite-tier Pokmon to give experience to Metagross.. "Come on, got any more Elite-level Pokmon?" he taunted. Persian stared in shock. He hadn''t counted on Julian having not just one Elite-level Metagross, but also an Alakazam at the peak of Elite. Feraligatr wasn''t even his own Pokmonit was loaned to him by the organization to ensure the success of this mission. "Alakazam, Psychicdon''t let them escape!" With Alakazam''s powerful psychic grip, the entire group was immobilized. "Metagross, take out that machine," Julian ordered. As Metagross hammered the device, Julian couldn''t help but suspect there had to be an insider helping these people get such a massive machine into the No. 36 intermediate secret realm. Unless they also had a system space like his own, which was absolutely impossible According to the first law of Transmigrators: only one Transmigrator and one system should exist in a single space-time. (T/N: yep, definitely in the rulebook) A device this large couldn''t fit into a standard space backpack, nor could it have arrived through any ordinary means. This all but confirmed that someone within the realm''s management team was aiding them. Under Metagross''s relentless assault, the machine was quickly destroyed. Julian approached Persian, took his Pok Ball, and returned the unconscious Feraligatr to it. He clipped the ball onto his belt, ensuring the organization wouldn''t get it back. Persian''s eyes burned with fury. The Feraligatr wasn''t even his own; it was lab-grown, assigned to him specifically for this mission. Even in the Z organization, Elite-level Pokmon were rare, and the price of losing one was steep. If he lost this Feraligatr and made it back alive, the organization would likely deal with him themselves. Julian had no intention of keeping Feraligatrhe had little use for a Pokmon bred by a terrorist organization. He''d hand it over to the Trainer Association in exchange for certain benefits. Metagross returned to Julian''s side, its energy level dropping as the 10-minute Elite Experience Card expired, reducing it to its usual pseudo-Elite state. "Alright, let''s head back" Julian said calmly, releasing Dragonite. With the machine destroyed, Dragonite was no longer under its disruptive effects, making it a more comfortable ride than Metagross, who gave him a slight, offended look as he mounted Dragonite. Metagross looked at Julian: Scumbag "Metagross, could you bring this machine along?" Julian added, gesturing toward the wrecked device. He figured it might have research value for the Trainer Association''s scientists. Under Alakazam''s control, the ten Z members hovered helplessly, while Metagross hoisted the broken machine, following Julian toward the exit of the secret realm. --- At the entrance, Principal Brown and the others were in anxious debate over whether they should enter to provide backup when they saw Steelix, who was guarding the entrance, stand alert. Moments later, Julian appeared, flying out on Dragonite, with the subdued members of the Z organization trailing behind, held by Alakazam''s Psychic power. "It''s really Julian!" "He stopped the riot!" "Don''t stop me, I''m going to give birth to a monkey for Julian " "Forget thatcall him King Julian!" "King Julian! King Julian!" As Julian came out of the secret realm and stopped, everyone could finally see his face clearly. Not John, not Jake, but Julian Walker. The King Julian of Imperial College. Julian dismounted and waited calmly for the Trainer Association to take custody of the Z members. Handing over captured operatives was a task he was happy to leave to others, sparing himself the tedious work of interrogations. As he looked around at the over a hundred trainers watching him with admiration, Julian simply said, "Thank you." Julian hadn''t expected to feel this way, but seeing the aftermathtrainers who''d fought against the raging Pokmon, sacrificing their own partners, and sometimes even risking their lives to buy time for reinforcementshe felt a sense of reverence. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. These trainers had fought bravely, aware of the danger, yet standing their ground. For that, they had earned his respect. As for the more than 100 Trainers who escaped at the last minute, their merits still outweighed the demerits. Without their efforts, the defensive line would have collapsed much sooner, and he might not have arrived in time to prevent the worst. Although they chose to escape in the end, but under the threat of life, how many could truly stand firm? Hearing Julian ''s words, Principal Brown and the rest of the trainers looked momentarily stunned, lowered their heads, don''t know what they were thinking. Some people were still choking, mourning their fallen Pokmon partners. The pain of those losses would stay with them forever, a weight that came with the path they''d chosen. Chapter 156: System Chapter 156: SystemJulian didn''t have to wait long at the entrance of the secret realm. After about ten minutes, a Pidgeot appeared in the sky and quickly swooped down, landing firmly on the ground. Pidgeot is one of the most popular Pokmon for Trainers to rent or raise because it''s ideal for travel, escape, and pursuit. It''s affordable, and there are plenty of Pidgey available as a starting point. Many Trainers who don''t specialize in Flying or Normal-types usually choose to rent Pokmon long-term. The rented Pokmon don''t count toward a Trainer''s official roster slot and aren''t meant for battles. "Teacher Frank?" Julian was surprised to see that the visitor was his head teacher, Frank. Frank looked disheveled, with his clothes torn from battle. As an Elite Trainer, he''d clearly faced an equally skilled opponent. It made sense for Frank, as an Elite-level Trainer, to be among the first to reach Yuan County, he was likely fighting the Elite trainer of Z organization. Frank glanced at the sleeping Pokmon and the restrained members of Team Z, all subdued by Alakazam. He hadn''t realized that Julian was the one who''d stopped everything. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Feeling proud, he said, "Julian, you did well. The Trainer Association will recognize your efforts and reward you accordingly. Thanks to you, Yuan County and its two million residents are safe." Julian was taken aback, unused to hearing his usually strict teacher sound so expressive. "Teacher Frank, I''ll leave them in your hands." Julian intended to hand over the criminals and depart, as Lucario and Slowking were still waiting for him in Yuan County. Despite their strength, the chaos in the county made the situation unpredictable. "Solrock, restrain these people" Frank commanded, releasing his own Pokmon. Julian looked at it with his Probing eyes. Level 76a mid-Elite Pokmon, though it wasn''t clear if this was his teacher''s trump card. Solrock, a rare Rock/Psychic-type Pokmon, only found in some specific high-level secret realms. Solrock used its Psychic abilities to control the captives. Alakazam then released its psychic hold and returned to Julian''s Pok Ball in a flash of red light. Frank, aware that Alakazam was Julian''s bodyguard, didn''t question it. "Teacher, I''ll head back now" Julian said, recalling Metagross and Steelix. "Yes, return to school. If anyone questions you, just tell the truth," Frank replied. "Got it" Julian nodded and mounted his Dragonite, taking off toward Yuan County. "Ding!" "Temporary Mission Released: Rescue Yuan County. " "Mission rewards: Depend on the final results." "Ding!" "Temporary Mission Completed." "Rewards: Rare Candies X3 (usable below level 60), one Elite Experience Card (level 80), Mewtwo Fragments X2, plus 1,000 points." In mid-air, Julian almost slipped off Dragonite, startled by the system''s announcement. "Did you just lose connection?" Julian was quite speechless. He had wondered why the system hadn''t assigned him a mission during such a critical event, as it usually did. Only after he''d completed his support did the system release the mission and immediately delivered the rewards too. System: "-yes." Julian: (A ;)/ Julian had always assumed the system was just a program, nothing morecertainly not intelligent. Now, though, it seemed the system could actually respond on its own. "System, are you male or female?" "System, why did I come to this world?" "System, why didn''t you speak before?" "System" He fired off a series of questions, but the system remained silent. If not for its earlier response, Julian would''ve thought he''d imagined it. "Fine, an arrogant system, it is than," he muttered, letting it go. Julian was thrilled with the mission rewards. Rare Candy was nice, but the Elite experience card was the real prize, and this one was at the Elite peak. Previously, when he used an Elite initial experience card on Metagross, it managed to hold off nearly 20,000 Pokmon with Light Screen. And Alakazam, as a peak Elite, had directly hypnotized the entire horde of 20,000 in just over a minute. That demonstrated the true strength of the Elite class. If Metagross used this Elite peak experience card, it would rival Alakazam''s strength. Julian had still been a little distressed about using the Elite experience card before, but now that he had been rewarded with an Elite peak experience card, he was quite happy. As for the Mewtwo fragments and points, he''d think about them later. As he flew over Yuan County, Julian used his Aura powers to locate Lucario. There were still plenty of Flying Pokmon in the area. Even though he''d destroyed the machine, the residual effects hadn''t worn off yet. However, the root cause had been solved, and the Flying-type Pokmon here had no follow-up support, and he believed that without further interference, they''d be brought under control soon. When he finally found Lucario, he noticed Luis, Hugo, Ian, and several other special class students gathered nearby, including Dalton from the Fighting class. "Boss Walker!" Dalton was the first to spot Julian and eagerly waved. "You''re here too?" Julian jumped off Dragonite and checked on Lucario and Slowking. Both were a bit scratched up, but nothing serious. However, what really caught his attention was Lucario holding a little girl''s hand. "Brother Walker, you''re amazing, really amazing!" Luis came over, pushing past Dalton to look at Julian with admiration. "Brother Walker, Metagross dropping from the sky and setting up Light Screen to block nearly 20,000 rioting Pokmonit was incredible! That''s got to be in this year''s top ten Pokmon moments," he gushed. Clearly, Luis had watched the live broadcast by Pidgeot. The other special class student, were equally impressed, also having seen it. "Boss Walker, let''s take a selfie!" Dalton stood beside Julian, snapping a picture before he could even respond. "Julian, Did Metagross broke through to Elite?" Ian asked curiously. The people around were also looking at Julian curiously. They were not novices. A pseudo-Elite Metagross wouldn''t have been able to shield against such a massive horde. But Metagross had only recently reached pseudo-Elite. As for Alakazam, they didn''t ask. Coming from noble families, they, too, had protective Pokmon around. "No, it just used some special methods," Julian explained. Chapter 157: Will and Han Chapter 157: Will and HanHearing Julian say he used special means to temporarily boost Metagross from a pseudo-Elite to an Elite level, the group was stunned. Everyone here was from an aristocratic family and knew a few ways to temporarily boost a Pokmon''s strength. But to increase a Pokmon''s power by an entire tier was unheard of. Most methods could only bump strength up by two or three levels and often came with serious side effects. Some methods left Pokmon weak for days, while others could reduce a Pokmon''s lifespan or even harm its potential. "Brother Walker, is Metagross really okay?" Luis asked anxiously, Julian was the thigh he was holding, and nothing should go wrong with this thigh. "Don''t worry. He''s fine." Julian patted Luis on the shoulder. Dalton gave Luis a smirk. "How could you doubt Brother Walker? There''s no way he''d risk Metagross. If you don''t get it, don''t try to compete as Brother Walker''s number one brother." Luis shot Dalton a glare. This guy really wanted to take his spot as Julian''s closest ally. "Alright, let''s focus on rounding up the remaining Pokmon in Yuan County," Julian said, bringing them back to the task at hand. The main threat of the riot was over, and the lingering issue was rounding up the scattered Flying-type Pokmon. But Julian couldn''t shake a nagging feeling that something was off. Everything had resolved a bit too quicklythis was the Z Organization they were dealing with. Could it be they had no backup plan? "Boom!!" Suddenly, a loud explosion tore through the air, jolting him from his thoughts. Thick smoke rose just a few hundred meters away, and Julian''s unease grew stronger. "Jiggly..." his phone started buzzing. "Teacher Frank!" Seeing that the head teacher was calling, and the explosion just now, Julian hurriedly pressed the answer button. "Julian, it''s bad. I just used Gengar to interrogate a member of the Z Organization. They''ve hidden a large number of Voltorb and Electrode all over Yuan County." "If the plan fails, they''re set to Self-Destruct." "Boom!! Boom!!" Explosions rang out continuously in the background. "It''s too late" Frank''s voice held a tone of regret. Julian didn''t waste time responding. He hung up and turned to the other special class recruits. "Rescue as many as you can, but watch out for your own safety." As he looked out at the spreading black smoke, flames, and the cries of people caught in the chaos, his expression remained calm, but his hands clenched tightly. "Z Organization" he muttered under his breath. From above, he could see that more than a dozen explosions had rocked Yuan County, each one targeting critical areasresidential districts, shopping centers, even government buildings. ''Fortunately, most people in the residential areas had already been evacuated.'' ''Evacuated!!?'' Luis, who was just about to rush into the action, was grabbed by Julian. "Luis, where were the residents moved to?" Julian asked suddenly, his tone urgent. "They were taken to the granary in the south of Yuan County..." Realizing what this could mean, he asked, panicked, "Brother Walker, you don''t think they hid Voltorb and Electrode there too, do you? There are hundreds of thousands of people there!" One of the national-level granaries in Yuan County had been emptied out for the evacuation. Its thick, reinforced walls made it an ideal shelter. That''s where the county officials had initially directed most of the residents, while others had been moved to the neighboring county. "Dragonite!" Without answering to Luis''s question, Julian leaped onto Dragonite''s back. Sensing the gravity of the situation, Dragonite immediately surged forward, accelerating in an instant as they sped toward the southern granary. Watching Julian soaring ahead on his Dragonite, Dalton couldn''t help but marvel. "Boss Walker''s body must be insanely strong to handle that speed," he muttered enviously. For most people, the sheer wind pressure and the sudden, intense acceleration would be unbearable. Ordinary humans would either be crushed under the force or risk snapping their necks from the inertia alone. Luis crossed his arms and huffed proudly. "Of course, my Brother Walker''s body is strong! How else do you think he can beat your Fighting class so badly that time?" His intent to rile Dalton up fell flat as he simply nodded, grinning. "I''d bet Boss Walker could go toe-to-toe with Elite Bruce himself, who competes with a Machamp" Elite Bruce, the current Fighting-type Elite, was renowned for his monstrous physique and mastery of various martial arts. While he could indeed match a Machamp in power, that was only effective against Pokmon below the pseudo-Elite level. As Julian approached the southern granary, he felt a wave of relief wash over himno explosion had occurred here. But that relief was tinged with confusion. The explosions had already started elsewhere, so why was the granary untouched? Could the Z Organization have overlooked such a prime evacuation point? It seemed unlikely. Sar?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian''s questions found their answers soon enough. In front of the open granary doors, a group of students in the Third Military Academy uniforms stood guard, holding three restrained individuals to the ground. "I knew there was something off about you three. Lucky the young master noticed." "Do you even know who I am? You saw that Metagross right?, the one that single-handedly stopped the Pokmon riot? That''s my Brother Julian''s Pokmon!" "Julian''s my brother, you know?" Will bragged as he kicked one of them. "Alright, alright, enough bragging" Said Han, who was also a student of the Third Military Academy, looking at Will speechlessly. Since Metagross''s impressive victory against Articuno, Will had made a habit of telling everyone that Julian was his "brother". By now, everyone at the Third Military Academy had heard it multiple times over. "Han, I know you''re just jealous that I have a brother like Julian." Will grinned, undeterred. "On the Imperial University forum, there''s a guy named Luis who said Julian was his ''brother''" "And recently, there''s another guy Dalton who started calling him ''Boss.''" Han sighed, shaking his head. He couldn''t fathom how students from the top-tier Imperial University could rival Will in his shamelessness. "Both of them may be younger siblings to Julian, but I''m his brother," Will continued, proudly. "So, by extension, they''re all my juniors too!" Just then, one of the students spotted something in the sky. "There''s a Dragonite coming down!" As Dragonite landed nearby, Julian dismounted and approached Will and Han, clearly surprised to see them here. Will practically leaped over, grinning ear-to-ear. "Brother Julian!" he shouted, pulling Julian into a fierce hug. Julian was obviously not used to such intimacy, and immediately broke free. "Julian, what brings you here?" Will asked, he was aware of Julian''s character and didn''t mind. "Came here to apprehend a few people, though it looks like you all handled it already." Julian pointed toward the three captives. "Hahaha, Of course! With you leading the charge, I can''t be left behind. The moment I saw these three sneaking around in the crowd, I knew they were up to no good!" Will boasted. "Yeah, sure. More like a blind cat stumbling onto a dead mouse." Han scoffed. "Admit it, Han. You''re just jealous of me" Chapter 158: Ruins Chapter 158: RuinsWhen the crisis in Yuan County erupted, the county''s government quickly reached out to the Trainer Association for assistance. In response, the Trainer Association alerted all the 20 universities across the imperial capital, summoning third- and fourth-year students for immediate support. However, the gravity of the situation also drew many eager first- and second-year students who, though less experienced, came along out of curiosity and a desire to help. Among the schools responding, the Third Military Academy, due to its rigorous military discipline, was one of the quickest to mobilize, right behind Imperial Capital University and just ahead of Shu University. With this swift student response, trainers regained control over the Pokmon that had broken out from the secret realm in Yuan County. By sheer luckor perhaps fateWill, discovered three Voltorbs that had been planted by members of the Z organization, each prepped to self-destruct within the granary. The granary, a secure structure chosen as an emergency shelter, held hundreds of thousands of evacuated citizens. If the Voltorbs had self-destructed, the devastation would have been unimaginable, with no chance of survival for those inside. Will''s quick action saved countless lives, for which he would be rewarded. This attack seemed to be the Z organization''s last attempt to turn the incident in their favor. By detonating Voltorbs and other explosives, they hoped to obliterate the shelter and cause mass casualties, damaging Drakoria''s reputation and elevating their own as an organization capable of striking fear even into the heart of a highly secure nation. Thankfully, the worst had been averted, though the aftermath still held significant loss. Reports the next day revealed the toll: 5,000 civilians had lost their lives, and over 40,000 had been injured. Tragically, over 300 trainers had been killed, with another 2,000 sustaining injuries. The economic impact was staggering, as infrastructure in Yuan County lay in ruins. The tragedy ignited public outrage across Drakoria. Citizens condemned the Z organization, and online, expressions of grief and fury flooded social platforms. The Drakorian government acted swiftly, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson delivering a firm response. That same afternoon, Drakoria deployed six Elite trainers, led by Steel Elite John, to locate and eliminate one of the Z organization''s overseas strongholds. The mission was a success: the stronghold was destroyed, and a high-ranking member of the organization was captured. This fierce retaliation from Drakoria sent shockwaves through the international community, causing other terror groups to reconsider any actions within Drakorian borders. The message was clearDrakoria would not tolerate threats to its people. -- Meanwhile, at Imperial University, Julian was approached by Slowking, who brought along several government officials. "Student Walker," one of the officials began, "I''m with the Imperial Capital Trainer Association. We''re here to gather an account of what happened in the secret realm." Julian knew much of the events outside had already been broadcasted live and witnessed by countless trainers, so there was no need to review every detail. "Um" Nodding, he proceeded to recount what had happened within the secret realm, explaining his actions in a clear, concise manner. "Oh, and this," Julian said, producing the Feraligatr''s Pok Ball. "I was going to give this to Teacher Frank, but I nearly forgot." The staff members were slightly taken aback, knowing the immense value of an Elite-level Pokmon. They knew from Persian that Julian had taken the Pok Ball of the Elite-level Feraligatr and had not returned it. One of the main reasons the officials were there was indeed to collect the Feraligatr''s Pok Ball, but they had decided not to force Julian if he wanted to keep it. Given Julian''s significant contributions to handling the incident, the Feraligatr could have served as a reward in place of other compensation. However, Julian had merely forgotten to give it, not out of reluctance to part with an Elite Pokmon. "Thank you," one staff member said, taking the Feraligatr''s Pok Ball. They knew that, in the right hands, this Elite-level Pokmon would serve as a valuable asset to the Trainer Association. Although it was technically seized from a terrorist organization, this practice of repurposing captured Pokmon was standard protocol worldwide. Releasing an Elite Pokmon back into the wild, especially one previously aligned with a dangerous group, that would be too dumb. "We''ll ensure that the appropriate rewards are issued soon. On behalf of Drakoria and the Trainer Association, Julian, we thank you for your support" Several staff members gave Julian a slight salute. Julian waved a hand, uncomfortable with the formality. "No need for thanks, I just did what was necessary." Though modest, Julian was also slightly curious about the reward he might receive. "Actually, may I suggest something for the reward?" "Of course, as long as it''s reasonable. I''ll submit it for approval," the staff member replied. "I''d prefer to skip any Pokmon rewards. Instead, if possible, I''d like permission to enter the ruins" At his level, Julian didn''t need Cyan-grade Pokmon, and he knew the Trainer Association would not grant him any high-tier, Blue-grade Pokmon. A Ruins Entry Ticket, however, would be much more valuable to him. Ruins and secret realms share some similarities but are distinct in key ways. (T/N: Treat both as same except that secret realms are like natural areas, whereas ruins are places where humans once resided, so you can find remains of human civilization there) While secret realms are graded by the strength levels of their Pokmon, ruins are not. Secret realms have a pyramid-like distribution of Pokmon, with stronger ones being rare. In ruins, however, most Pokmon begin at the Advanced level, with occasional pseudo-Elites and Elites, and even, pseudo-champions if you were unlucky. Fortunately, there were very few Pokmon present in the ruins. Sar?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The most significant aspect of the ruins is the chance of encountering traces of legendary Pokmon. Some first-level legends, such as Rayquaza, were initially found within ruins, like the legendary Dragon Ruins, before they emerged into the outside world. Numerous ruins were even named after the legendary Pokmon associated with them. Ruins also held a wealth of ancient knowledge, including advanced technologies like Pok Ball manufacturing, Energy Cube crafting, and Pok Ball transmission. It was precisely because of these technologies that Pokmon were quickly integrated into human life. In some respects, ruins were even more valuable than secret realms, although they were far fewer in number. Julian had the clearance to enter advanced secret realms and even he didn''t he could have easily asked, John, to make that happen. But gaining access to ruins was another matter; entry was tightly controlled by the Drakorian Trainer Association and required an exceptional contribution to be granted. "Understood. I''ll relay your request" The staff member said, impressed by Julian''s foresight. As a young aristocrat, Julian had already demonstrated strength, courage, and wisdom beyond his years. As long as he didn''t fall young, his future achievements would be limitless. Chapter 159: School Team and Cousin Chapter 159: School Team and Cousin"Julian, here''s the application form for the school team. Please fill it out" Said Frank, the head teacher, as he placed a form in front of Julian. "Teacher, why don''t I have one?" Luis protested, noticing that only Julian received the form. "You''re not even at the pseudo-Elite level yet, Luis," Frank replied with a sigh. "You''re not qualified to join the school teamor even to be an alternate at this point." Confidence is one thing, Frank thought, but Luis''s kind of overconfidence wasn''t always helpful. The school team had eight primary spots and two alternate positions, mostly occupied by upperclassmen with strong, high-level Pokmon near the pseudo-Elite rank. Currently, Imperial University''s school team had eight members, but two alternate slots remained open. These would go to promising freshmen or sophomores. Julian''s recent performance, especially with his Metagross and his handling of the mid-level secret realm chaos, had caught enough attention to earn him one of those spots. The main role of the school team was to compete in the Drakoria Hundred Schools League three months from now. Whichever university won the championship would gain management rights over the No. 97 advanced secret realm for a year. A privilege the Imperial University currently held. "I''ll reach pseudo-Elite soon enough" Luis muttered unwillingly. Just then, Julian''s system chimed. "Ding!" "Main Quest Released: Enter the School Team and Compete in the Hundred Schools League." "Reward: Based on task completion." This time, the system hadn''t lagged behind. The moment Julian received the application form, the main task was activated. Main tasks were specialthey appeared infrequently, but they offered some of the longest challenges. However, they also came with the most valuable rewards once completed. Last time, completing a main task had granted him the powerful Mega Pallet Town physique, solving a lot of his training concerns. Julian promptly filled out the form and handed it back to Frank. "Good. Tomorrow at eight, report to Battlefield No. 1," Frank instructed. Julian nodded. It seemed that his plans to explore the 25th Advanced Rift would have to wait a bit longer. -- The next day; Arriving at Battlefield No. 1 just before 8:00, Julian noticed Luis tagging along. Luis seemed eager to observe the strength of the school team, possibly planning to challenge a weaker member and claim their spot. There were two ways onto the school team: either receive a direct recommendation, as Julian had, or challenge a team member and earn a place through victory and replace them. Even though it was still early, the entire team had already gathered. Julian glanced at the other sophomore candidate, who was also studying him with equal curiosity. The eight primary team members sized up the newcomers with interest, and Julian recognized two familiar faces among them. One was Alex, the Civilian Society president who pretended to be some kind of hero in front of him before, the other party was looking at him in a not so friendly manner. The other familiar face was a striking young woman, tall and graceful, with long, straight legs that were hard to miss. "Hey, Brother Walker, check her out! She''s got those long, straight legswhite as snow," Luis whispered with a grin. "Sister Thea!" Julian waited for Luis to finish before calling out. Luis looked at Julian in disbelief. "Brother Walker, that''s your sister?" "Cousin," Julian corrected with a nod. Thea approached with a playful glint in her eyes, reached out as if to pinch Julian''s cheek. Julian sidestepped, dodging her grasp. "Sister, I''m not a child anymore" Julian sighed, feeling a bit embarrassed under so many watchful eyes. "Little Julia isn''t as cute as he used to be" Thea teased, looking at him with disappointment, "You''ve been here at Imperial University for two months, and you haven''t even come to see your big sister once." "If you didn''t join the school team, would you have just forgotten you had a sister at this University?" Julian scratched his nose, feeling a bit embarrassed. It wasn''t that he didn''t want to see Thea, but between training, classes, and all that had happened recently, he''d honestly just forgotten that his cousin was here tooand already a 3rd-year. Julian''s maternal grandfather, Hector, was well-known as a trainer and a top breeder. Julian had three uncles on his mother''s side and his mother, Tina, was Hector''s only youngest daughter, and Thea was the daughter of Julian''s eldest uncle, who had two children a boy and a girl. When Alex saw that Thea was Julian''s sister, his expression changed involuntarily. He walked over and asked with a kind smile, "Thea, I didn''t know Julian was your cousin." "Why would you need to know?" Thea asked with a frown. "Oh, I just mean I didn''t expect Imperial University''s famous Julian to be your brother. It''s a bit surprising, that''s all," Alex replied. "That''s right, my cousin''s a genius" Hearing the other party complimenting Julian, Thea''s expression improved a lot. "Though geniuses often have unusual personalities," Alex added, nodding in a way that made it sound less like praise. Catching the underlying jab, Thea narrowed her eyes. "What''s that supposed to mean?" Julian glanced over at Alex and said indifferently, "Sister, don''t bother with this guy. I don''t like him, and you should ignore him in the future." "Oh? Well, if Little Julia says so, that''s good enough for me" Thea wasn''t fond of Alex herself, who seemed to appear around her way too often, and she certainly wasn''t clueless. From the way Alex and Julian spoke to each other just now, it was clear they''d had some issues in the past. Between Alex, whom she thought of as an annoying fly, and her cousin, there was no contestshe''d back Julian any day. Alex''s expression shifted when he heard Julian and Thea''s words. He hadn''t expected Julian to be so blunt. Julian had openly admitted he didn''t like him, and Thea had backed him up without hesitation. It felt irritatingly effortless for them to brush him off like that. Luis, who had been quietly watching, couldn''t help but chuckle at Alex''s frustrated look. "Sister, maybe just call me Julian" Julian suggested, his family had a habit of giving him all kinds of cutesy nicknames. His uncle called him "Little Lia", his aunt called him "Little Juli," and Thea had somehow landed on "Little Julia." So John calling him "good grandson" sounded a lot more better. He could already imagine the teasing if these names got around campus. Julian looked at Luis: ''If this spreads, you''re dead.'' Luis, who had been smirking at Alex''s misfortune, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. When he turned, he saw Julian looking at him menacingly. For a while, he was a little confused, as he didn''t understand how he had provoked Brother Walker. "Julian just doesn''t have the same ring to it as ''Little Julia.'' And anyway, that''s what I call you. You''re not going to tell me to stop, are you?" Thea said, crossing her arms with a challenging look. Julian knew better than to argue with her about it, deciding he''d rather battle a prospective Elite than try to reason with his cousin over a nickname. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Little Julia" Luis muttered under his breath, amused. Immediately, he felt Julian''s intense glare and clapped a hand over his mouth, giving Julian a helpless, wide-eyed look. Chapter 160: Alex, I Choose You Chapter 160: Alex, I Choose You"Is everyone here?" The voice rang out before the speaker even appeared. Moments later, a middle-aged man strode into view, his presence commanding immediate respect. Thea and the other eight members of the school team immediately straightened up, adopting serious expressions. One of the shorter boys in the group spoke up, "Teacher Wade, the two rookies, Julian and Lucas, have arrived." Lucas, a sophomore and the top student in last year''s special recruit class, had earned his position as representative of the sophomore class. Among the ten team members gathered, only Julian and Lucas were freshmen and sophomores; the other eight were juniors(3rd-years) or seniors(4th-years). All from each grade''s special recruit class. Recognizing the man, Julian recalled hearing about him. This was Wade, a member of the Drake familyknown as one of Drakoria''s powerful Dragon-type families. He was also related to Ian, who had mentioned before that Wade was his third uncle. Wade was highly respected in Drakoria, known for his formidable power at the peak of the Elite level. Though he hadn''t attained the position of Dragon Elite, it was widely understood that his skills rivaled or even surpassed half of Drakoria''s eighteen type Elites. The only reason he wasn''t the official Dragon Elite was due to the current Dragon Elite''s extraordinary strength. Julian couldn''t help but be surprised at Wade''s presence. He knew Wade wasn''t one of Imperial College''s five elites, so it was remarkable to see him here. It really was an overkill for such an Trainer to train them. As if sensing Julian''s question, Thea leaned over and whispered. "Teacher Wade was specially invited by the dean." Julian nodded, understanding now. The dean, a respected figure among Trainers, was known to have mentored many top trainers in Drakoria, and it seemed Wade was one of his former students. Wade, who had already met the older students, focused his attention on the two new recruits, Julian and Lucas. "Although we have ten people in the Hundred Schools League team, only eight will actually participate in the competition" Although the team contained ten trainers but that was only in name, only eight could actually compete in the tournament, that''s why the University allowed freshmen and sophomores to participate. Their role wasn''t to compete but to gain valuable experience alongside more seasoned trainers. By the time they reached their third and fourth years, they would be primed to take on key roles in the competition. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now, the main team members were the eight juniors and seniors standing before Julian and Lucas. "But if either of you wants to earn a spot, it''s possible," Wade added, pausing for a moment before pointing to the eight. "Defeat one of them, and you can take their place." The opportunity was clearnow it depended on whether Julian or Lucas had the strength to claim it. "I''m giving you both a day to gather information on the eight of them," Wade continued. "Tomorrow, at this same time, you can decide if you want to challenge anyone." This approach was surprisingly considerate, giving them time to prepare and study their potential opponents. Of course, there was no way they could gather complete information on all eight in one night, so they would need to focus on the key points. Lucas''s gaze drifted toward the two female members, sizing up his options. It wasn''t that he underestimated them, but statistically, male trainers often outnumbered female trainers in top-level competitive circles. He figured challenging one of the girls might give him a better chance. Just as Lucas seemed to settle on a plan, Julian''s voice interrupted his thoughts. "No need to wait. I''ll challenge now" Lucas: (?_??) Suddenly, Julian heard a faint chime. "Ding!" "Daily Task: Obtain a spot." "Reward: 800 points." Even without this task, Julian would have challenged anyway. Without securing a spot, how else could he complete the Main task? Wade raised an eyebrow. "Fine. Who do you want to challenge?" Without any hesitation, Julian pointed at Alex and said; "Him." Wade nodded, "Alex, a 3-vs-3 match with him. If you lose, you''re out of the competition team, and this will be your only chance, Julian. Win, and you''re in. Lose, and that''s it." Alex nodded with a twisted face. He wasn''t surprised that Julian had challenged him, but even if he knew, he was still irked at being chosen. It felt like, he was being underestimated by Julian. With a restrained smirk, he thought about how he could use this match to teach Julian a lesson justifiably. "Julian, listen," Thea murmured as she stepped closer. "Alex may be annoying, but he''s stronga General-type trainer." "Generalist?, Jack of all trades but master of none," Julian said indifferently. He found it curious that Alex, despite his commoner background, had taken on such a costly and resource-intensive training style. But then again, maybe that was just how things were meant to play out. After all, he mused, Alex was quite the protagonist-sounding name. Of course, if you wanted to stand out, you needed to forge a unique path, not just follow the beaten track. That''s how you could grow faster and get stronger. In Drakoria, there were General-type trainers, but most only took on additional types after reaching Elite level. For those below Eliteespecially without family resourceschoosing multiple types was like digging their own grave. "Do you want to activate the protective barrier?" Wade asked, glancing between the two. "No need" Julian shook his head. Alex shook his head as well. Soon, both trainers stood ready at opposite ends of the field. A girl standing next to Thea leaned over and asked curiously, "Thea, is it wise for Julian to pick Alex? Alex''s strength is second only to the captain''syour cousin might have chosen the wrong Rival." She had heard of Julian, and his recent rise to fame in Imperial University. But his strength was mostly recognized among freshmen and sophomores. In the school team, known for its high concentration of pseudo-Elite and near-Elite trainers, he was facing an uphill battle. Of the eight main team members, all had their six Pokmon at the pseudo-Elite level, and their captain had five of his Pokmon at pseudo-Elite peak. Alex, currently also had two Pokmon at the pseudo-Elite peak. The difference in combat strength between each level of pseudo-Elite wasn''t massive, but it was enough to matter. Julian had only just reached pseudo-Elite level, while Alex was a seasoned. There was still a significant gap between them. "How about a little bet? I''m putting my money on little Julia for the win" Thea didn''t know how strong Julian was, but she knew Julian well, if he didn''t have absolute certainty, he wouldn''t have challenged Alex. "What are you betting?" As soon as she heard the word bet, the girl''s eyes lit up. "I remember you have a Pokmon Ocarina, If you lose, hand it over. If I lose, I''ll give you my Shiny Charm." For a true gambler, hesitation at this point wasn''t an option. "Deal!" She nodded excitedly. After all, the Ocarina was a treasured item, especially for trainers who valued harmony with their Pokmon. Chapter 161: Steelix vs Haxorus Chapter 161: Steelix vs Haxorus"Come on and let me see how good your Metagross really is" Alex called, tossing out a Pok Ball. With a flash, a Haxorus appeared on the field, its entire body armored in tough scales. The Pokmon''s sharp tusks gleamed like axes, giving Haxorus its fitting name. Although Haxorus was not a pseudo-legendary Pokmon, its rarity was no less than that of a pseudo-legendary. Julian knew that Alex, despite being a regular student, had gained his reputation as the junior class leader through a mix of skill, luck, and hard work. Seeing Alex with such a rare and powerful Pokmon didn''t surprise himin fact, he''d have been more surprised if Alex hadn''t had one. "You''re not ready to face my Metagross just yet" Julian said with a small grin as he called out his own Pokmon. Instantly, his Steelix emerged, its enormous body hitting the ground with a tremor. Pokmon: Steelix (Steel/Ground) Level: 67 Qualification: Cyan Ability: Rock Head Item: Metal Coat Gender: Male Moves: Thunder Fang, Ice Fang, Fire Fang, Rock Polish, Iron Tail, Dragon Breath, Earthquake, Crunch, Harden, Smack Down, Sand Tomb, Stealth Rock, Slam, Sandstorm, Dig, Stone Edge Disc Moves: Hyper Beam, Giga Impact, Body Slam, High Horsepower, Drill Run, Dragon Pulse, Heavy Slam, Breaking Swipe, Rock Slide Genetic Moves: Defense Curl, Double-Edge, Head Smash, Dragon Tail -- Pokmon: Haxorus (Dragon) Level: 70 Qualification: Cyan Ability: Rivalry Item: Dragon Fang Gender: Male Moves: Assurance, Taunt, Slash, Dragon Claw, Scary Face, Crunch, Double Kick, Focus Energy, Swords Dance, Outrage, Guillotine, Giga Impact Disc Moves: Breaking Swipe, Protect, Dig, Brick Break, Earthquake, Dragon Pulse, X-Scissor Genetic Moves: Dragon Tail, Counter, First Impression, Dragon Dance -- Steelix, Julian''s highest-leveled Pokmon, which was level 66 when he first caught it. It''s not that Julian didn''t train Steelix, but that after becoming a pseudo-Elite, the experience and time required to level up each time, was no longer comparable to that of Advanced tier. Most trainers spend three or four years training their Pokmon from level 61 pseudo-Elite to level 70, the pseudo-Elite peak. And if you want to shorten the time it takes to level up, pouring in a vast amount of resources was the only way. Haxorus was at the pinnacle of the 70-level pseudo-Elite stage, just one step away from becoming a true Elite. Although it had cyan qualification, reaching the Elite stage required more than just leveling up. If you simply level up to become an Elite, you''ll only be an ordinary Elite. However, if you want to be the best among Elites, it takes much more. At level 70, a massive amount of resources needs to be invested, possibly exceeding the total resources used in the earlier stages of development. Only by doing this would the Pokmon, upon reaching the Elite stage, have a higher life force and strength compared to ordinary Elite Pokmon. Julian''s Steelix had not appeared in official matches and its only public appearance was during the intermediate-level Pokmon riot, where it was sent to guard the entrance of the secret realm. It was well known that Metagross was Julian''s most powerful Pokmon, yet this time, Julian had chosen not to send out Metagross. Though Steelix''s aura was that of a pseudo-Elite, Alex couldn''t help but feel enraged by the sense of being underestimated. He was the representative of Junior year. He entered the Imperial University as the top student in the national college entrance examination. Although he was born in an ordinary family, he took great pride in having outperformed many students from prestigious families. He had also defeated many people from top families, like Julian. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to become a member of the school team, where his strength was second only to that of the team captain. "Isn''t your brother underestimating him too much?" Faye asked, glancing at Thea. Although she didn''t like Alex, who often hovered around Thea, she still acknowledged his strength as a formidable opponent. "Wait and see," Thea replied. Although it wasn''t clear why Julian hadn''t chosen Metagross, but she knew he must have a reason. The battle was about to begin. "Haxorus, use Dragon Pulse!" Alex sneered, as he imagined Steelix taking a direct hit by Dragon Pulse. "We''ll use Dragon Pulse too" Julian responded calmly. "Ridiculous" Alex muttered under his breath, already dismissing Julian''s choice. As a Dragon-type Pokmon, a Dragon Pulse used by Haxorus would naturally be more powerful than a Dragon Pulse used by a non-Dragon-type Pokmon. As the two Dragon Pulses collided mid-air, a surprising scene appeared. Haxorus''s Dragon Pulse didn''t overpower Steelix''s. Sar?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Instead, Steelix''s Dragon Pulse gradually gained the upper hand, pushing Haxorus''s attack back. Realizing that the situation wasn''t good, Haxorus quickly cut off its Dragon Pulse and swiftly approached Steelix, his palm glowing with a bright white light. It was Brick Break. A Fighting-type move that dealt twice as much damage to Steelix. Despite its massive size, Steelix displayed exceptional flexibility, twisting its body like an Arbok, easily dodging the attack. "Dragon Tail!" In a flash, Steelix countered with a powerful Dragon Tail, landing a direct hit on Haxorus''s back. The impact sent Haxorus reeling, momentarily dazed by the force. "Haxorus!" Alex shouted anxiously, he did not expect that the one to be knocked back would be his Haxorus. "Roar!" Haxorus, though knocked back, didn''t fall down. After landing, he stood firm on the ground, the large tusks on both sides flashing with red. Despite his aggressive appearance, Haxorus was typically a calm and mild-mannered Pokmon in normal conditions. However, when angered, he became truly terrifying. "Haxorus, Guillotine!" Rage made Haxorus forget the pain in his back, it focused solely on Steelix. ''Crush it, crush it.'' Haxorus moved swiftly across the battlefield, leaving shallow footprints in the ground. Two streams of white air formed along the sides of its tusks as it charged forward. "Giga Impact!" Julian countered. Steel-type Pokmon were never afraid of direct collisions from any movetheir iron-like bodies were their greatest weapon. With a violent clash, the two Pokmon collided together. In that instant, a terrifying shockwave rippled outward. Since the protective barrier hadn''t been activated, everyone nearby, faced with the blade-like air currents, immediately released their own Pokmon to shield themselves from the force. As the two closest to the collision, Julian and Alex naturally responded by quickly dispatching their Pokmon. Julian sent out his Metagross, while Alex called upon his Alakazam. After the Pokmon on both sides were locked in a deadlock for over ten seconds, an explosion occurred, a mushroom cloud rose into the air, and from within that cloud, a figure was flung out Unexpectedly or not Haxorus. Chapter 162: Magmortar Chapter 162: MagmortarHaxorus had been launched directly toward Alex''s position. If Alakazam hadn''t used Psychic to stop its momentum mid-air, Alex could have been seriously injured, or dead. Yet Alex''s expression remained unchanged, his face calm and focused in the midst of such danger, this composure really made Julian improve his impression of Alex a little. No wonder he was able to rise up from a civilian trainer, that kind of mentality was rare. "Haxorus!" Alex called, his voice tinged with frustration as he looked at his unconscious Pokmon. Its powerful left tusk had broken in the clash. He clenched his fists, feeling a little distressed, he knew it would take time for the tusk to regrow. As the smoke cleared, Steelix''s enormous body was still there, standing tall on the field, though there was a fresh scar on its forehead. Haxorus''s move was indeed very strong; the force of the explosion had pushed Steelix''s defenses to the limit. sea??h th n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing his opponent defeated, Steelix turned back toward Julian, his mouth open and eyes squinting at Julian. "Good job," Julian couldn''t help but praise. Steelix''s tail began to sway happily, to the amusement of the onlookers. "Why is this big steel snake so powerful?" Faye muttered curiously, still a bit in disbelief that Steelix could defeat Haxorus. "Thea, this Steelix must be your cousin''s trump card, right?" Faye asked Thea, curious. The rest of the team waited for Thea''s answer. Alex''s strongest Pokmon had been defeated; the outcome of the match was becoming clear. "No, the Walker family''s trump card has always been either Metagross or Aggron, not any other Pokmon," Thea replied with certainty. The Ace of Walker family members in all generations were either of these two Pokmon, and there had never been an exception. So, she didn''t believe that Julian would be an exception either. The only explanation was that he had beaten Alex''s Ace without even using his own. As this realization dawned on the team, Faye shook her head in relief. "Lucky for me your cousin challenged Alex and not meI''d have been done for." Thea smiled but didn''t anything. If anyone should be blamed, it''s Alex for his bad luck. Of all people, he had to provoke Julian. Her cousin might seem indifferent, but he was actually someone who held grudges fiercely. Anyone who crossed him would definitely face his revenge sooner or later. "Get your second Pokmon out" Julian urged, noticing Alex''s delay in sending out his Pokmon. Julian''s words felt like salt rubbed in the wounds to Alex, whose grip on his next Pok Ball tightened. "Magmortar!" Pokmon: Magmortar (Fire) Level: 70 Qualification: cyan Ability: Flame Body Item: Charcoal Gender: Female Moves: Clear Smog, Flame Wheel, Confuse Ray, Scary Face, Fire Punch, Low Kick, Flamethrower, Sunny Day, Fire Blast, Hyper Beam Disc Moves: Mega Punch, Mega Kick, Protect, Fire Spin, Thunder Punch, Earthquake, Mystical Fire Genetic Moves: Will-O-Wisp, Heat Wave, Iron Tail, Overheat -- Alex''s second Pokmon, also with a cyan qualification, appeared in a flash of red light. Having two powerful Pokmon with cyan qualifications explained Alex''s impressive standing as a 3rd-year representative. Even some trainers from moderately rich families didn''t have two Pokmon of this quality. Fire beats steel, but Ground beats fire. So in terms of type, neither had any advantage. "Steelix, Sand Tomb" Julian commanded. The battlefield, a typical standard flat surface, quickly transformed as Steelix unleashed Sand Tomb. In just a few moments, nearly half the field became a swirling pit of sand, moving in a vortex-like motion, aiming to trap Magmortar. Magmortar''s arms sank into the fine sand, which held tight like gripping hands, pulling it down inch by inch. "Magmortar, Mega Punch!" Alex shouted. With a powerful swing, Magmortar''s punch blasted through the swirling sand, scattering it with a loud bang. The flying sand pelted the area like bullets, forcing the spectators to shield themselves with their Pokmon again. "Seriously, why didn''t the two of them activate the protective barrier?" Faye grumbled. "Watching them battle like this is terrifying." If not for their Pokmon''s protection, they wouldn''t dare watch the battle up close. Without a protective barrier, observing a fight at such close range was practically courting death. The fine sand that just scattered had enough force to pierce straight through a body, turning it into a sieve. One punch had freed Magmortar, but Steelix was quick to use the momentary distraction to close the gap. Looming over Magmortar with its intimidating presence. "Fire Blast," Alex commanded coldly. Hot flames burned, the moisture in the air was continuously evaporated, and the entire space began to become distorted, as the heat waves rose. "Dig" Steelix swiftly burrowed underground, his entire body disappeared in an instant. This Dig was faster than that of a Diglett''s. Before Alex could order an Earthquake, Steelix erupted from the ground directly beneath Magmortar, knocking it straight up. "Drill Run" Julian followed up. Steelix spun its body rapidly, turning into a drill, silver-white projectile aimed at the falling Magmortar. "Fire Spin!" Alex shouted urgently. Suspended in mid-air, Magmortar couldn''t use many moves, making Fire Spin its best option. Magmortar''s barrel-like arm unleashed a wide vortex of flames, trying to block Steelix''s Drill Run. But flames alone couldn''t fully obstruct a piercing move like Drill Run. Steelix''s attack cut through the flames instantly, like a drill slicing through water, and it struck Magmortar squarely in the stomach, driving it into the ground with tremendous force. The impact shattered the ground beneath, and Magmortar fainted on the spot, unable to even growl. Steelix stopped attacking, revealing Magmortar lying unconscious, its once-bulging stomach now showing visible dents, Magmortar''s breathing had become faint and labored. This was no ordinary knockoutMagmortar had sustained serious injuries and needed immediate medical attention. "Hey, youtake his Pokmon to the medical room for treatment," Coach Wade called, pointing at Luis. Luis, who had been recording the battle on his phone, was already thinking about how he''d edit and post the footage on internet. He''d even decided on a title; "King Julian Defeats the 3rd-year Representative, Securing a Spot on the School Team!" With a reluctant sigh at being called out by Wade, Luis pocketed his phone, grabbed Magmortar''s Pok Ball, and jogged toward the medical room. "Brother Walker, take it slow in the next matchwait till I''m back!" Luis shouted as he left. Chapter 163: Defeated Alex, vs Kommo-o Chapter 163: Defeated Alex, vs Kommo-oAlex couldn''t believe itJulian''s Steelix, which wasn''t even his trump card, had managed to take down both his ace, Haxorus, and his second-strongest, Magmortar. Although the two Pokmon also damaged Steelix some extent. But... Looking at Steelix''s towering body, the scars on him didn''t seem to have much impact, and it was ready to face a third opponent without hesitation. Alex realized even if he managed to defeat Steelix with his last Pokmon, he''d still have to face Julian''s Metagross next. He took a deep breath and released his third Pokmon. "Claydol, let''s go!" Claydol, a powerful Level 70 Pokmon with Cyan-qualification, appeared. Apparently, Julian had underestimated Alex, who would have thought that his third Pokmon would also have Cyan-qualification. Sear?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Steelix, Mega Evolve" Since he already had a feud with the opponent, there was no reason to hold back. He decided to defeat the opponent in the most brutal way possible. After a flash of colorful lights, Mega Steelix appeared before everyone. Mega Steelix''s ability had changed from its original Rock Head to Sand Force. But this was only secondary. The important thing was that Steelix had temporarily leveled up from 67 to 71 through Mega Evolution. A proper Elite aura radiated from it, a life force surpassing that of ordinary Pokmon, making the surrounding atmosphere unbearably heavy. Alex was utterly desperate. Facing an Elite-level Steelix, he had no hope of winning at all. Under the overwhelming pressure of the Elite aura, Claydol nearly lost its will to fight. "Mega Steelix, High Horsepower," Julian ordered coldly. Mega Steelix surged forward with an aura of destruction, and the ground shattered from wherever it passed, leaving an one-meter-deep trench behind. "Claydol, Protect!" Alex called out, desperation in his voice. The outcome was inevitable. The so-called ''Protect'' Alex had ordered was nothing more than a fleeting hope, a desperate plea he made. Protect shattered on impact, just like glass, barely slowing Mega Steelix. "Bang!!" The devastating blow sent Claydol flying like a meteor, hurtling toward Alex. Seeing the situation turn dire, Alakazam quickly used Psychic, attempting to control Claydol. However, it hadn''t anticipated the terrifying force Claydol carried. The Psychic restraint broke in less than half a second. By the time Alakazam tried to reassert control, it was too late. Claydol, having been knocked back, hurtled toward Alex like an out-of-control truck. Alex''s mind went blank, frozen by the deathly force coming straight at him. There was no time to react. Even if there was, with the limitations of human reaction time, there was absolutely no way to avoid this situation. Then, in an instant, a golden-scaled Pokmon appeared, standing firm in front of Alex. With a powerful grip, it stopped Claydol mid-flight, holding it steady. The force of the collision sent a gust of air that knocked Alex backward, tumbling him several meters until he finally stopped. "Kommo-o" Julian muttered slightly surprised, when he saw the Pokmon covered in golden scales. This Dragon-type pseudo-legendary Pokmon, known as Kommo-o, didn''t exist in Drakoria and had only been discovered in a top-secret realm within the Gaul Kingdom. (T/N: France) Due to its unique combination of Dragon and Fighting types, some trainers even referred to it as "Fighting Dragon" Kommo-o was a dream Pokmon for many Fighting-type trainers, renowned for its powerful abilities. And this particular Kommo-o was unmistakably the Pokmon of Coach Wade. As Kommo-o released its grip, the incapacitated Claydol fell to the ground. "Roar!!" Mega Steelix stared at Kommo-o with clear displeasure. Due to the connection formed through Mega Evolution, it shared Julian''s feelings and knew that its trainer held no fondness for the opponent. That''s why Steelix had deliberately launched Claydol toward Alex earlierto teach him a lesson. Whether the result ended in Alex''s death or not was of no concern to it. However, Kommo-o''s sudden appearance had interfered with its plan, leaving its intended message incomplete. Despite sensing an intense threat from Kommo-o, Steelix''s confidence surged. Reaching the Elite level through Mega Evolution had inflated its pride, and it now eyed Kommo-o with a desire to test its strength in battle. "Mega Steelix, Iron Tail!" The spectators thought the battle was over once Claydol had fallen, especially after Coach Wade had sent his in Pokmon. But when Julian gave the order, the school team watched in disbelief as Mega Steelix''s tail gleamed and arced down towards Kommo-o. "Did he just attack the coach?" A student gasped, while others stared in a mix of awe and alarm. Meanwhile, Alex scrambled out in a hurry, but no one was paying attention to him at the moment. "Interesting boy" Wade muttered, observing the scene. As someone at the peak of the Elite tier, Wade was not easily challenged. Even a normal Elite-level trainer wouldn''t dare to confront him, let alone Julian, who was only a pseudo-Elite. Kommo-o made no unnecessary movements, calmly extending its left hand. "Bang!" Mega Steelix''s powerful Iron Tail attack, which could easily demolish a building, was caught effortlessly by Kommo-o''s outstretched hand. Kommo-o''s arm remained steady, completely unmoved by the blow. Though both Pokmon were at the Elite level, it was clear they weren''t on the same playing field. Mega Steelix''s attack, despite its strength, had no impact on Kommo-o. "Mega Steelix, Giga Impact!" Julian commanded, fully aware that opportunities to fight a Pokmon at the peak of Elite-level were rare, so he was taking full advantage of this opportunity. Wade, intrigued, was just as eager to see where Mega Steelix''s limits lay. "Kommo-o, Mega Punch!" As Mega Steelix leapt into the air, the ground trembled beneath its weight, it ascended to over 100 meters, its entire body cloaked in white light, and it fell down like a Meteorite. Even without making contact the immense wind pressure already caused the ground to sink as it approached. In response, Kommo-o simply pulled back its fist for a punch. A seemingly effortless motion, but the energy released was colossal, causing the air around it to vibrate violently. The wind pressure generated by Mega Steelix''s Giga Impact was blown away by the sheer force of Kommo-o''s Mega Punch. In the next moment, Mega Steelix collided with Kommo-o''s powerful punch. "Boom!!!" The shockwave from the clash was so fierce that it cut through the air like a blade, spreading out with terrifying force. If it hadn''t been for the Pokmon from the school team intervening, the shockwave could have caused damage for over ten kilometers. Buildings in its path would have suffered varying degrees of destruction. Metagross reacted instantly, using its strength to shield Julian from the brunt of the blast. The shockwave dissipated, and the battlefield froze for a moment. Mega Steelix, locked in a titanic collision with Kommo-o, seemed to pause in midair. "Bang!!" But in the next second, Mega Steelix crashed to the ground, its energy spent, and reverted to its normal form, the Mega Evolution fading away. Defeated. There was no unexpected miracle. Julian recalled Steelix into his Pok Ball with a calm expression. "Meta~" Metagross grumbled, stepping forward, as if it wanted to retaliate for its fallen companion. "Next time, we''ll win," Julian placed a hand on Metagross, stopping it. He knew that even with Metagross''s Mega Evolution, facing Kommo-o who was at the peak of Elite, there would be no chance of winning. Chapter 164: Teammates Chapter 164: TeammatesWhen Luis returned, he arrived just in time to witness Mega Steelix taking on Kommo-oand then quickly losing. This sight left him startled, and as he came back to his senses, he realized that Kommo-o belonged to Coach Wade, and Alex was awkwardly getting back on his feet from behind them. "Alex''s spot goes to you" Wade said as he recalled Kommo-o. He gave Julian an approving looknot for defeating Alex, but for having the courage to go up against a top-tier Elite Pokmon like Kommo-o. Wade had a certain understanding of Julian''s strength, and defeating Alex wasn''t too surprising. What caught his attention, however, was that Julian used Steelix instead of Metagross to take down three of Alex''s Pokmon. That was a bit unexpected. "Lucas, what about you? Are you challenging today, or waiting for tomorrow?" Wade turned to another student. Lucas, the sophomore representative, hesitated before replying; "I''ll challenge tomorrow." He looked a bit embarrassed, knowing that Julian had just set the bar high with his bold move, while he opted to wait. But he reminded himself that Julian was abnormal, while he considered himself a normal guynot someone who needed to match up against the extraordinary. Tonight, he planned to research the school team members and find an easier target for his match tomorrow. Picking a "soft persimmon" might be his best bet. Wade nodded, not surprised by Lucas'' choice. "Little Julia, you''re amazing!, sister''s so proud of you" Thea cheered as she skipped over, reaching out to ruffle his hair, only to have him push her hand away without hesitation. Calling him "Little Julia" was one thing, but trying to mess with his hair? That wasn''t happening. "Not very cute" Thea muttered, rubbing her hand where he''d pushed it away, and then gave him a dissatisfied glare. "Nice to meet you, I''m Faye" Said the girl next to Thea. "Julian" "Faye, you lost the bet. Pay up!" Thea urged. Faye pouted, cheeks puffing in frustration. "Fine, I''ll give you your stuff when we get back," she said, shooting a glare at Julian. "This is all your fault; you made me lose." Julian: (Ѩ) "Come on, little Julia! Let me introduce you to the otherswe''re teammates now." Thea, excited from winning her bet, happily pulled him over to meet the rest of the team, quietly regretting she hadn''t bet more. She should have really gone all out and squeezed Faye, the little "rich girl," a bit more. "Everyone, this is my cousin. We will be teammates from now on. There''s no need to introduce his nameyou must know him." "As his seniors, introduce yourselves now, so when my cousin becomes an Elite, he might help you in the future" Though she spoke jokingly, the others didn''t take it that way. Julian was the sole heir of the Walker family, and with the talent he''d already displayed, his rise to the rank of Elite seemed assured. He might even become a pseudo-Champion or even Champion someday. They weren''t fools; when faced with a rising star like Julian, they knew it was wiser to make friends than enemies. There was a good chance they might need his help one day. So, each of them dropped their airs of superiority. "I''ll go firstMax, fourth-year, school team captain, Dark type," said the captain. He was about 5''7", average-looking, a reminder that appearances can be deceiving. "Paul, fourth year, Fire type." "Finn, fourth year, Water type." "Mark, fourth year, Electric type." "Simon, third year, Ghost type." "Faye, third year, Fairy type." These six, along with Thea and the defeated Alex, made up the school team''s eight members. But now, Alex''s spot had gone to Julian. "Julian, first-year, Steel type," he introduced himself, displaying the courtesy expected of him, even if they knew who he was. Thea was a Psychic-type Trainer, making the current eight-person team one where each Trainer specialized in a unique type. Each one of these members came from the special recruit class for each year. Max was the fourth-year representative, while Simon held the second spot in the third year, just behind Alex. Alex, as a third-year representative, had lost to Julian, the first-year representative. The news of his defeat was spreading across campus at lightning speed. Battlefield No.1 was close to areas #2, #3, and #4, so their battle naturally attracted some attention. Once the spectators identified both competitors, even more gathered. Alex was a well-known figure at Imperial University and a role model for many Trainers from ordinary families. His success demonstrated that anyone, regardless of background, could become a representative student and even challenge those from influential families. His club, the "Civilian Society," had become the dream club for many Trainers from humble backgrounds at Imperial University. But now, their idol had been defeated by Julian in the most straightforward way possible, with hardly any chance to fight back. In a third-year classroom, Zed, who was attending a lecture, was daydreaming about finding Hannah after class. His thoughts were interrupted by his phone buzzing non-stop in his pocket. Curious about who was bombarding him with messages, he took out his phone. As soon as he opened the app, Zed saw nearly a hundred unread messages in the Civilian Society group chat. "What happened? Why''s the group so lively today?" He muttered to himself, curious about what had stirred up the chat. "The president got defeated by Julian!" "What nonsense, The president is known for defeating rich family kidsno way he''d lose to that freshmen!" "He really lost. I was there in person." Sarch* The N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A video clip followed, and after it played, the group exploded. "That kid must''ve used some shady trick!" "That Steelix can''t be his. His Elite-level grandpa probably raised it for him ages ago!" "Brothers, who''s with me to avenge the president?" Zed sat there, stunned, blankly staring at the messages. In his mind, President Alex had always been unbeatable. Although he himself had also lost to Julian, he''d never thought Julian could surpass Alex in strength. Countless others were having the same reaction, scrolling through the updates in shock. At the same time, a new post popped up on Imperial University''s forum: "King Julian easily defeats the third-year representative, wins a spot on the school team." The post was, of course, from Luis. Shamelessly, he''d even rallied his classmates from the special recruit class to like and comment, boosting its visibility. Thanks to this, the post quickly hit the top of the trending list and was seen by countless students browsing the forum. Those who''d once been defeated by Alexmany from powerful familiesfinally saw their chance to vent. They flooded the comments section, celebrating the upset. Chapter 165: Entering An Advanced Secret Realm Chapter 165: Entering An Advanced Secret RealmThe 25th Advanced Secret Realm was located to the west of the Imperial Capital, with the expansive White Mountain Range behind itone of the most infamous forbidden zones in Drakoria. The White Mountains span several provinces in Drakoria, but the true danger lies at the mountain range''s core. Inside, it''s not just Elite Pokmon; even Champion-level Pokmon roam freely. Some even claim to have encountered Celebi, the Time Pokmon, deep within its reaches. On his second day as a member of the school team, Julian requested leave, which his homeroom teacher, Frank, and the school team coach, Wade, both approved. His destination: the 25th Advanced Secret Realm. Julian had done plenty of research on this Secret Realm beforehand, but various reasons had delayed his visit until now. As for venturing into the depths of White Mountains, it was far too dangerous. Without at least reaching the Elite level, trying to explore the center would be suicidal, while the outskirts offered little reward. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Each year, many trainers who think they''re strong enough attempt to explore the forbidden area. Even if they avoid the core, bad luck on the outskirts can still be deadly. All Advanced Secret Realms were guarded by at least a military regiment of 9,000 troops or more. Among them, there must be at least one Elite and ten pseudo-Elite trainers on standby. The purpose of the stationed forces was, of course, to prevent Pokmon riots from spilling out of the Secret Realm. The last riot of the mid-level Secret Realm nearly destroyed Yuan County. If an Advanced Secret Realm were to experience such an outbreak, the impact would be dozens of times worse. Advanced Secret Realms typically housed multiple Elite-level Pokmon. And they were also a significant asset for any country. Besides monitoring the area, the military also prevented foreign spies or terrorist groups from infiltrating. Julian handed over his entry pass to the guard, who conducted a thorough check and confirmed his identity before allowing him to proceed. "Student Julian, the maximum time allowed in an Advanced Secret Realm is one month. If you don''t return by the deadline without a valid reason, you won''t be permitted to enter any Advanced Secret Realms for the next five years," the officer warned. Julian nodded, well aware of the rules. Entry time for basic realms was seven days, ten days for intermediate ones, and a full month for advanced realms. These time limits prevent trainers from overstaying, hiding valuable items, and having allies take them out before someone else enters. The cycle repeats, allowing teams to gather rare items continuously. As he stepped into the Advanced Secret Realm, Julian didn''t feel any particular difference. His Metagross, however, squinted its eyes, looking noticeably comfortable. The energy within Secret Realms was highly suitable for Pokmon growth, especially in advanced ones. Humans might not feel it, but Pokmon could sense it distinctly. This was why Pokmon rarely left their realms. Unlike basic or intermediate Secret Realms, which could be entered by paying a fee, tickets for Advanced Secret Realms couldn''t be bought with money alone, limiting access and preserving the ecosystem. Upon entry, Julian''s psychic ability detected nearly a hundred Pokmon within a 500-meter radius, and soon, a Pidgeot appeared overhead. A pseudo-Elite Pokmon at that. Entrance points vary; some were on the outskirts, some in the mid-regions, and others near the center. In the 25th Advanced Secret Realm, the entrance happened to be closer to the middle. The Pidgeot above him was clearly the ruler of this area, claiming the entire territory as its domain. Anyone entering the Secret Realm must first face this Pidgeot. If they can''t even defeat it, they''d better turn back. For over ten years, this Pidgeot had served as a gatekeeper, challenging newcomers but never being capturedit just stayed here, guarding its territory. The Pidgeot circled in the air, eyeing Julian with a bit of hesitation. The Pokmon by his side looked quite formidable. After more than ten years of fighting, this Pidgeot had grown smart, developing keen instincts that told it when an opponent was too strong. Its sharp eyes and intuition both signaled that this trainer and his Pokmon weren''t to be trifled with. So, with a final glance, the Pidgeot flew away. Julian wasn''t surprised; the guidebook mentioned that this Pidgeot knew how to pick its fights, avoiding those too strong to handle. With the Pidgeot backing off, the hidden Pokmon nearby naturally didn''t dare to challenge him. They quickly retreated, some of them even running away in a rush, worried Julian might target them. "Come out, Dragonite" Julian called, releasing his Dragonite and climbing onto its back. Although Metagross could fly, Dragonite was both faster and more comfortable for long-distance travel. He took out his Dowsing Machine, which showed ten red dots within a 50-kilometer radius, each marking a treasure. However, the small dots didn''t pique Julian''s interest much. His main goal for this visit wasn''t just to hunt for Secret Realm treasures; he was also here to train his Growlithe and Aron. These two would be key parts of his team someday, especially Aron, but right now their levels were significantly lower than his Metagross and Dragonite. "Head west," he directed. ... Julian checked his map, not paying much attention to the red dots on the Dowsing Machine. If something bigger showed up later, he could always adjust his route. About 90 kilometers west of the Secret Realm''s entrance was a known area where groups of Slakoth lived. At Dragonite''s speed, they reached the area in just over ten minutes, even at a casual pace. Below, an orchard stretched out, full of berry trees, each with a few Slakoth lying on the branches. Beneath the trees, many Vigoroth roamed, full of restless energy. Julian even spotted a few Slaking dozing nearby. Slaking, with a base stat total of 670, even exceeded the stats of some legendary Pokmon, making pseudo-legendaries look weak by comparison. Yet due to its Truant ability, this Pokmon was considered useless competitively. Slakoth shared this Truant ability, but it would change to Vital Spirit when evolving into Vigoroth, only to revert back to Truant as a Slaking. Researchers worldwide had been studying these Pokmon, hoping to find a way to alter Slaking''s ability. Out of curiosity, Julian used his Probing Eyes on the Slakoth and Slaking. As expected, all of the Slakothover ten thousand of themhad the Truant ability, and so did the Slaking. While it''s known that Pokmon can undergo color mutations, or "shiny" variations, no ability mutations had been discovered so far. However, in the anime, Alain''s Charizard seemed to have the Water Absorb abilitywhich was really strange. It seemed like the creators had deliberately wanted to prevent a certain someone from winning the championship, so they gave Charizard this odd Water Absorb trait. Chapter 166: Growlithe And Aron Chapter 166: Growlithe And AronEven the system store didn''t have any items to change a Pokmon''s ability, and if such an item existed, it would likely be ridiculously expensive, something you could only look at without affording. As Dragonite landed, it immediately caught the attention of the Vigoroth. The Slakoth and Slaking noticed as well but didn''t make any moves. Although there were nearly ten thousand Slakoth, the Vigoroth were much fewer, probably only around three or four hundred. Both Metagross and Dragonite exuded the aura of pseudo-Elite-level, making the Vigoroth hesitate to approach. The three rare candies Julian previously obtained could only be used by Pokmon below pseudo-Elite level, so he had Dragonite consume them all. Its level rose from 58 to 61, making it Julian''s third pseudo-Elite Pokmon. Julian then released Aron and Growlithe. Aron was currently level 28, and Growlithe was at level 29. Julian then took a bunch of Nanab Berries out from the system storage. From what he knew, these berries weren''t available in this advanced secret realm. "Send two of your Pokmon over to battle mine. Whether they win or lose, they''ll receive a bunch of Nanab Berries," Julian said to the group of Vigoroth before him. The Vigoroth looked agitated, scratching their heads uncomfortably. They wanted to rush over and just grab the berries, but they held back, intimidated by the aura of Metagross and Dragonite. Slaking, the group leaders, wouldn''t move unless there was a real threat. After some discussion, two Vigoroth stepped forward. Both were level 29, making them perfect opponents for Growlithe and Aron. "Let''s begin," Julian said. Growlithe and Aron charged at their respective opponents without waiting for any commands from Julian, relying entirely on their own abilities. After all, the main purpose of coming here was for training and leveling up, so there was no need for commands. It was best to let them perform freely. Inside Growlithe''s body, the Fire Crystal, a precious fire-type resource, was still being absorbed. However, for Growlithe to fully absorb the crystal, it would likely have to reach pseudo-Elite level first. The Fire Crystal was continuously absorbed, gradually turning Growlithe''s fur red. When it ran, sparks flickered from its fur. As a top-tier fire-type treasure, the Fire Crystal could enhance the essence of fire, making even a basic Flamethrower potentially cause a burn status on the targeted Pokmon. Combined with resources Julian had purchased from the system, Growlithe''s base stats in all six areas were steadily rising. In terms of potential, the Growlithe with the Fire Crystal was second only to Metagross and Meltan. Another of Julian''s Pokmon, Aron, had the soul of Totem, making it a Totem Pokmon. Normally, an Aron would be only about 0.4 meters tall. Julian''s Aron was already 1.4 meters tall, the same height as the Vigoroth in front of it. It regularly consumed rough diamond ores, making its armor frighteningly hard. When a Vigoroth clawed at it, it couldn''t leave a single scratch; instead, it ended up breaking its own claw. Even if Aron stood still, the Vigoroth couldn''t harm it. The imposing steel barrier of an Aggron was already apparent in this Aron. In less than a minute, the two Vigoroth were defeated. Julian kept his word and rewarded them with two hands of Nanab Berries. (T/N: a cluster of banana is called a hand, a single banana is called a finger) Instead of keeping the berries for themselves, they shared them with their companions nearby. Tasting the Nanab Berry for the first time, which perfectly suited their taste buds, the Vigoroth who got to eat it were thrilled. They almost started fighting each other for the next two spots. "Defeat them, and you''ll get two hands," Julian announced. To fuel the Vigoroth''s enthusiasm, Julian deliberately increased the reward. The battles continued from morning until five in the afternoon, with Julian losing count of how many matches Growlithe and Aron had fought. Both of their levels increased: Growlithe went from level 29 to level 32, while Aron rose from level 28 to level 31. Aron was now just one level away from evolving. Compared to Growlithe, whose stamina was running low, Aron''s strong defenses meant it still had plenty of energy. "Growlithe, come back" Julian called, seeing that it had just defeated yet another Vigoroth. If Growlithe kept spouting flames, it might end up straining its vocal cords. Growlithe''s battles were nowhere near as effortless as Aron''s. Aron''s size and weight made each blow overpowering, with no Vigoroth able to withstand a single hit. "Here, eat this to restore some stamina." Julian placed energy cubes and water in front of Growlithe. Since morning, they had been battling continuously without any breaks. Though tired, the benefits were obvious. Along with its level increase, Growlithe was also absorbing the Fire Crystal in its body at a slightly faster rate. However, as Growlithe regained some stamina, its absorption rate of the Fire Crystal would gradually return to normal. "Let''s have ten of you go at once." Sending them one by one didn''t seem to help Aron break past its level cap, so Julian decided to up the challenge. Sarch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After spending most of the day together, the Vigoroth, who had initially fought just for the berries, were now fighting for their pride. Vigoroth: Enough is enough! After beating so many of us, don''t we deserve some dignity too? Soon, ten Vigoroth surrounded Aron. Since Julian gave them the option to not fight fair, they saw no reason to hold back either. Headbutts, Karate Chops, Fury Swipes, Arm Hammers and other attacks kept raining down on Aron, which stood there like an immovable sandbag, taking each hit head-on. Quantitative change eventually lead to qualitative change. With Aron having fought for a long time already, and now facing ten Vigoroth at once, marks and scratches started to appear on Aron''s tough shell. "Aron!" Aron felt the pain, but it only fueled its ferocity. With an Iron Head, it countered a Vigoroth''s Karate Chop, sending it flying in the next instant. Metal Claw sent three more Vigoroth soaring. Rock Smash took down two additional Vigoroth. However, one Vigoroth managed to land a Brick Break on Aron''s back armor, creating a crack through which flesh and blood could be seen. Blood trickled from the crack. The remaining four Vigoroth, their eyes bloodshot, felt humiliatedten against one, and six of them were already down. No matter what, they were determined to bring Aron to its knees. "Aron!" The searing pain in its back stung deeply. Aron had never suffered such a severe injury since it was born. But Aron didn''t look to Julian for help. Its gaze remained fixed on the four remaining Vigoroth, and it felt a new surge of energy building inside, though something was blocking it. This frustrated Aron. It was going to break through that thing, it was going to fight, it was going to knock down the four Vigoroth standing before it. Chapter 167: Dual Evolution Chapter 167: Dual EvolutionAs the last Vigoroth fell, Aron let out a cry, and in the next moment, a bright white light enveloped it. "It''s evolving." Seeing this, Julian clenched his fist lightly and murmured to himself, feeling that the day had not been wasted. He had spent over 3,000 points just on those bananas, but Aron''s evolution made it all worthwhile. When the light faded, there stood Lairon, now towering even taller than an average Aggron. Standing before it, Julian felt like an ordinary person next to Shaquille O''Neal. If it evolved into an Aggron next, its size would probably be beyond massivea true prehistoric beast. "Meltan!~" Meltan was ecstatic, even more thrilled than Julian. It shot forward in a flash, aiming for Aron''s shed armor. For Meltan, who loved eating metal, Aron''s old armor was the ultimate delicacy, and now it was finally his to savor. But before it could take a bite, Lairon nudged Meltan away and began eating its own shed armor bit by bit. "Meltan!~" Bast***d! No way! Meltan looked outraged and tried to lunge back at the armor, only to be picked up by Julian as it struggled. "Here." Julian handed a piece of rare metal from the system shop to Meltan. "Eat this. the armor is for Lairon." With its trainer''s instruction, Meltan reluctantly accepted, though it looked disappointed. Aron''s armor contained concentrated metal nutrients it had consumed in its previous form. Eating it now would allow Lairon to reabsorb those nutrients. Giving it to Meltan would have been wasteful. After finishing its armor, Lairon stomped heavily to Julian''s side. "Well done." Julian used to be able to pat Aron on the head, but now he could only pat Lairon on the side. "Lairon~" After evolving, Lairon''s personality had become much more composed, no longer as lively as when it was an Aron. Sear?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Pokmon often experience personality changes after evolution, and in extreme cases, it can feel like they have a completely new character. Pokmon: Lairon (Steel/Rock) Level: 32 Potential: Blue Ability: Heavy Metal Item: Metal Coat Gender: Male Moves: Roar, Tackle, Harden, Headbutt, Protect, Rock Tomb, Metal Claw, Earth Power, Iron Head Disc Moves: Earthquake, Sandstorm, Dig, Shock Wave, Rock Slide, Rock Smash, Water Pulse Genetic Moves: Stomp, Heavy Slam, Endeavor, Dragon Rush -- With Lairon''s evolution complete, Julian''s attention shifted to Meltan, who was happily munching on metal. Not long ago, it had been picky about the metal, but now it was eating it with obvious enjoyment. Sensing Julian''s gaze, Meltan paused, looking at him curiously. "Meltan, do you want to evolve?" Julian asked. He had already collected the 400 Meltan candies needed for its evolution. The reason he hadn''t evolved Meltan yet was partly because Melmetal''s presence would be too conspicuous. Melmetal was a Steel-type mythical Pokmon exclusive to secret realm of Wyvernia, and having it appear in Drakoria could cause international issues. The other reason was that little Meltan''s size was just too cute. "Meltan!~" Meltan nodded eagerly. It had long wanted to evolve! It had watched as Beldum evolved into Metagross, Riolu into Lucario, Dratini into Dragonite, and now even Aron had evolved into Lairon. Evolution was so excitinghow could it not want to join in? But then Meltan looked at Julian, puzzled. It seemed unsure of how to evolve. It couldn''t evolve like Aron did with a sudden burst of light; it seemed to need something specific. "I have a way." Julian gently poked Meltan''s soft cheek with his finger, then took out 400 Meltan candies from his system space, surrounding it with the candies. Before Meltan could react, the familiar bright light enveloped it, even brighter than Lairon''s evolution moments ago. The other Pokmon instinctively shut their eyes from the intense glow. Deep in a lake within the secret realm, a sleeping Elite-level Gyarados suddenly opened its eyes, sensing the surge. In other areas, several Elite-tier Pokmon felt a powerful life force ascending to a higher level. The white light lasted a full three minutes before finally fading. When it cleared, a towering Melmetal stood before Julian and his Pokmon. Melmetal''s body was adorned with nine dark gray hexagonal bolts embedded or attached across its form. Golden hexagonal bolts circled its neck, with a smaller bolt serving as its head. "Melmetal~" Melmetal looked down, fascinated by its evolved form, and casually swung a fist, stirring up a gust of wind. Pokmon: Melmetal (Steel) Level: 61 Potential: Purple Ability: Iron Fist Held Item: None Gender: Genderless Moves: Harden, Thunder Shock, Headbutt, Charge Beam, Giga Impact, Thunder Punch, Acid Armor, Flash Cannon, Thunder Wave, Dynamic Punch, Protect Disc Moves: None Genetic Moves: None -- Melmetal was Julian''s third Pokmon, raised alongside Riolu from the time they were both still in eggs. Although it had never been shown publicly, its spot on the team has never fallen. When it came to resources, Metagross had the most invested in it, with Meltan coming in a close second. As a mythical Pokmon, Julian was dedicated to training it well. During its time as Meltan, it had a high level but couldn''t learn many moves. Because of this, Julian hadn''t prioritized TM moves for it. Now, with its evolution into Melmetal, it not only knew a variety of moves, but also had the potential to learn TMs. With its ''Iron Fist'' ability, Melmetal could increase the power of its punch-based moves by 20%. Looking at its massive fists, Julian figured that even a Blastoise''s shell might crack under one of its strikes. Melmetal sized itself up beside Lairon, holding out a fist to compare heightsthough Lairon was still slightly taller, standing at 2.7 meters to Melmetal''s 2.4 meters. Of course, both were dwarfed by Steelix, the true giant of the team, with even Dragonite''s nearly 3-meter height, they were unable to take even second place. Julian pocketed his phone after recording Melmetal''s evolution. He had a feeling this footage would come in handy in the future. Chapter 168: Caves Chapter 168: CavesMelmetal kept admiring its new, bulked-up body, striking a few bodybuilding poses as it squinted its eyes with satisfaction. Melmetal: "With this grown-up body, I''ll be able to eat a lot more!" Nearby, a group of curious Vigoroth watched Melmetal. They scratched their heads, eager to get closer, but held back, wary of the new presence. As a mythical Pokmon, Melmetal didn''t need to reach the Elite level to be considered powerfulits life force was naturally at Elite, even higher than an Articuno''s. It was almost six o''clock, and Julian decided to set up camp for the night. He released all his Pokmon. As Steelix, Lucario, and Slowking appeared, Melmetal eagerly ran up to them, proudly showing off its evolved form. The three Pokmon quickly realized that their new teammate was none other than the evolved Meltan. Upon evolution, Melmetal had shot up to pseudo-Elite directly, now surpassing even Lucario in levels. Lucario watched Melmetal, who was playfully comparing heights with it, and thought it might just be able to shove an Aura Sphere into the hex nut on Melmetal''s belly. "Alright, that''s enough. Lucario, help me set up the tent. Melmetal, you go gather some firewood" Julian called out. Collecting firewood had always been a task for the others, but now that Meltan had evolved, it was its turn. Melmetal patted its chest and walked over to a nearby berry tree, giving it a strong punch and knocking it down. The nearby Vigoroth were instantly enraged, screeching at the sight of their food source being destroyed. The commotion even roused a few Slaking from their naps, who lazily looked at Melmetal with half-open eyes. "Melmetal, get back here! Dragonite, go and gather some firewood" Julian called, recalling Melmetal before it caused more trouble. Melmetal came back, still carrying the fallen berry tree. "I''ll plant new berry trees for you all, including ones that bear bananas," Julian promised the agitated Vigoroth. Since they were camping on Vigoroth territory for the night, a little goodwill gesture was only fair, especially after Melmetal had taken down one of their berry trees. Hearing Julian''s words, the Vigoroth calmed down, remembering the delicious bananas they''d just tasted. The Slaking, reassured, also resumed their lazy slumber. As night fell, the campfire crackled to life. Slowking was busy preparing dinner for Julian. Although Julian had plenty of pre-made meals stored in his system space, he was more than happy to enjoy a freshly cooked meal from Slowking. With Slowking''s remarkable intelligence, its culinary skills even surpassed those of a five-star hotel chef. Fortunately, Julian''s Mega Pallet Town''s physique prevented him from gaining weight easily. Otherwise, with Slowking''s meals, he would have likely gained ten extra pounds by now. Julian also prepared food for his Pokmon. Lairon, who had used up a lot of energy today and just evolved, was especially hungry. It devoured a massive chunk of rough diamonds, almost as tall as itself, which quickly disappeared with each bite. Since their adventure in the intermediate secret realm, where Julian had excavated several hundred tons of rough diamonds, Lairon had already eaten through about a third of it. After evolving, Lairon''s appetite had nearly increased eightfold compared to its previous form. Julian did some quick math and realized that the remaining rough diamonds might not be enough to last until Lairon evolved into an Aggron. Raising a Totem Pokmon was no easy taskthe appetite alone was staggering. If an ordinary Trainer tried to raise an Aggron, they''d probably have no resources left to train another Pokmon. One Aggron alone could easily eat them into bankruptcy. The Pokmon all slept outside the tent. Even Growlithe was kicked out by Julianits warm body was like a mini furnace, and with the current warm weather, Julian didn''t want it sleeping right next to him. The Vigoroths didn''t try to disturb Julian either. After all, none of the Pokmon around the tent looked like they were too easy to mess with. The only Pokmon that looked remotely harmless was the big bellied, yellow one with a goofy expression. Dragonite: So... the ''harmless one'' turned out to be me? With so many Pokmon on watch, Julian drifted into a peaceful sleep. The next morning, after completing his daily tasks and a wrestling match with Melmetal, Julian kept his promise from the previous night. He planted new berry trees for the Vigoroth, including a few nanab berry trees, before leaving their territory. This Vigoroth tribe wasn''t unfamiliar with humans. They were one of the largest groups in this advanced-level secret realm. Many Normal-type Trainers would visit this area, hoping to find a worthwhile Slakoth, Vigoroth, or even Slaking to catch. "Finally, something good!" Julian''s eyes lit up as he noticed a large red dot on his Dowsing Machine, standing out among the other dots around it. "Dragonite, hold this and fly straight toward the biggest red dot" Dragonite took the scanner, confirmed the direction, and then flapped its wings, picking up speed. Ten minutes later, they arrived at the location of the red dot. In front of them was a mountain nearly a thousand meters high. The treasure must be somewhere inside. "Metagross, check around the mountain to see if there are any caves" Julian said. This mountain was home to many wild Pokmon. Destroying it would have been easy, but Julian didn''t want to ruin their habitat. It didn''t take long for Metagross to return, confirming that, as expected, the mountain had many caves. Pokmon with Ground or Rock types tended to enjoy burrowing into mountains, while others, who preferred shaded environments, also lived there. The most common group in the caves were Zubat. Julian chose the cave nearest to the large red dot. It was spacious, standing over three meters tall and nearly two meters wide. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As soon as they entered, a swarm of over a hundred Zubat flew out from the depths of the cave. Dragonite swiftly unleashed a Thunderbolt, knocking down every single Zubat. Julian scanned them with his Probing Eyes but found none with Cyan qualification, so he decided not to focus on them further. The cave ran deep, and many more Pokmon inhabited it, including; Geodude, Dugtrio, Sandshrew, Marowak, etc.. most at advanced level, though not in large numbers. After all, these Pokemon didn''t usually form massive groups like Zubat. With Metagross and Dragonite leading the way, they dealt with each Pokmon effortlessly. "Nidoking and Nidoqueen" The deeper they ventured, the higher the levels of the Pokmon became. The two Nidoking and Nidoqueen standing before them were already at the peak of advanced level. Chapter 169: Hollow Stone Chapter 169: Hollow StoneNidoking and Nidoqueen were known as a classic couple in the Pokmon world, symbolizing love and loyalty. A Nidoking would only ever love one Nidoqueen in its lifetime, and the reverse was true as well. If one partner dies or gets captured, the other would choose to live alone for the rest of its life. Because of this, jewelry pieces representing love often featured Nidoking and Nidoqueen, and they tended to sell better than other items. The Nidoking and Nidoqueen roared loudly, with a Nidoran hiding behind themit was clearly their child. Nidoqueen was also unique among Pokmon in that its offspring didn''t always follow the mother''s species. While most Pokmon inherited their mother''s species and gained certain moves from the father, a Nidoqueen''s offspring could be either Nidoran or Nidoran. This exception might be due to the fact that Nidoqueen'' were 100% female, and Nidoking'' 100% male. (T/N: This is a true fact, that all other female Pokmon except Pokmon with single genders in their species, give births to the same kind no matter who the father Pokmon is) Seeing its parents knocked out by that big-bellied Pokmon, the little Nidoran froze in shock, looking unexpectedly cute with its wide-eyed, stunned expression. Julian walked up to it and gently poked it. Its eyes widened in surprise, and then, tilting its head, it fainted from fright. "Do I really look that scary?" Julian asked Metagross and Dragonite beside him. The two Pokmon shook their heads in unison. To them, their trainer was the most handsome in the world. "Sure enough, it was you two made it faint" Julian remarked. After walking another dozen meters, they reached a dead end, with the Dowsing Machine showing that the red dot was still about three hundred meters ahead. "Lairon," Julian called. "use Dig, forward" Julian sent out Lairon, as the cave was too cramped for Steelix''s large size. The mountain was mostly composed of granite, which wasn''t very hard; under Lairon''s sharp claws, the rock crumbled like tofu. Lairon was a digging pro, and Julian knew a thing or two about mining as well. Sarch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Alright, Lairon, that should be enough" They were just ten centimeters away from the red dot on the scanner. Not wanting to risk Lairon accidentally damaging the treasure with its claws, Julian decided to dig manually. He took out a pickaxe and struck the rock, causing a large chunk to break away. With his superhuman strength, he could easily lift objects weighing a ton without breaking a sweat. After all, it was confirmed that Ash picked up a Cosmoem for real. After a few strikes, Julian saw the treasure. Carefully, he used a small chisel to free it from the surrounding rock. The treasure was about the size of an apple, entirely yellow, with an unremarkable exterior. It looked so ordinary that if it were lying on the side of the road, no one would likely pick it up. However, in his hand, it felt unusually heavythis small object weighed over fifty pounds. This item was a Hollow Stone, a rare treasure for Rock-type Pokmon. Despite its hollow interior, it was filled with concentrated Rock-type energy. (T/N: I didn''t find it, should be AU) When consumed, it could enhance a Rock-type Pokmon''s core energy and boost the power of its Rock-type moves. Since it didn''t emit any energy, Lairon showed no particular interest in it. "Here, eat this," Julian offered. Lairon was the only Rock-type Pokmon he had, so it was the natural choice. Lairon swallowed the Hollow Stone obediently in one gulp, without even chewing. Given Lairon''s size, the apple-sized stone was indeed too small. With Lairon''s strong digestive abilities, Julian wasn''t worried about the unchewed Hollow Stone causing any trouble. "Lairon!~" Lairon soon looked content and comfortable, leveling up from 32 to 33. The energy from the Hollow Stone would likely raise Lairon to around level 36 over the course of a week. So Julian recalled it into its Pok Ball to let it digest at its own pace. If the Hollow Stone had been three times larger, it would have provided enough energy for Lairon to evolve into its final form, Aggron, while resting. With the treasure in hand, Julian started heading back. On his way out, the previously fainted Nidoking and Nidoqueen had woken up but didn''t attack this time. They weren''t foolishthey knew they couldn''t match Julian''s Dragonite, and since Julian hadn''t harmed them, a second fight would only mean another defeat. The little Nidoran had also just woken up, but when Julian turned back and smiled at it, it fainted again. Julian: ( - )r "Am I really that scary?" Dragonite gave a goofy grin, while Metagross, though expressionless, radiated a kind of happy Aura. Julian felt a bit angry. He was tempted to pick up Nidoran and show it his face up closehe might not be overwhelmingly handsome, but he certainly thought he had a refined look! Once outside the cave, Julian pulled out his map. He noticed a large blue area on ita lake that took up nearly a quarter of the map. With such a large area, the number of Water-type Pokmon living in the lake was bound to be massive. According to the data, an Elite Gyarados and an Elite Dewgong were both known to inhabit this lake. The Dewgong was gentle and wouldn''t attack unless provoked. But the Gyarados was differentit would launch an attack immediately if anyone entered its territory, and it was mid-level Elite tier too. Elite-level Pokmon within advanced secret realms served as the backbone of those realms. And the Drakorian Trainer Association also monitored the population of Elite Pokmon in these realms. Once they exceeded a certain number, capture slots would be sold, and Elite-level Trainers would compete for them. If a Trainer caught an Elite Pokmon without a slot, thus disrupting the ecosystem, they would face penalties, and the Pokmon would be released back into the same place. This lake gave birth to two Elite Pokmon indicating its immense sizeand also hinted at the presence of many treasures. Otherwise, without abundant resources, even a wild Pokmon with Cyan qualification would struggle to reach the Elite tier on its own. Perhaps, the true treasure of this advanced secret realm was somewhere within the depths of this vast lake. Chapter 170: Damn, It Evolved! Chapter 170: Damn, It Evolved!On the way to the lake, Julian checked the Dowsing Machine from time to time. All ten red dots were displayed, each one small, likely similar in size to the one marking the Evolution Stone. Dragonite flew at a speed of 200 kilometers per hour. Considering Julian was riding on its back, this wasn''t too fast, yet Julian still couldn''t keep his eyes open and felt much better after putting on his goggles. The skies had no shortage of flying Pokmon; Pidgey, Pidgeotto, and even a few Taillow were common sights. Pidgey, found worldwide, was the most numerous bird Pokmon; you could see quite a few wild Pidgey even in city squares. Although they were wild Pokmon, Pidgey had low aggression from living in cities and wouldn''t foolishly attack the humans who fed them. Pidgeot, the final evolution of Pidgey, was fairly powerful, and its evolution wasn''t particularly difficult. Pidgeot was also among the few flying Pokmon that could be ridden and had impressive speed. For this reason, many trainers without a flying Pokmon of their own rented one from leasing companies, often opting for Pidgeot as a convenient travel or escape companion. However, rented Pokmon were restricted to transport use only and weren''t permitted to engage in battles. If forced into combat, a trained Pidgeot would report the incident to the local investigation bureau. The journey to the lake was smooth, with no wild Pokmon daring to interfere. After about an hour, Julian reached the lake. The lake stretched endlessly; if he didn''t know better, he might''ve mistaken it for the ocean. This lake held countless Water-type Pokmon and abundant resources, making it a dream spot for any fishing enthusiast. Naturally, wherever there was a body of waterlake, river, or oceanMagikarp were the most common Water-type Pokmon, followed by Feebas. This lake was no exception; Magikarp numbers had to be high, which explained the presence of an Elite-level Gyarados in it. When a Magikarp population reaches a certain size, it often leads to the emergence of Gyarados. Sear?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Given that an Elite Gyarados inhabited this lake, there were likely other Gyarados of varying levels as well, not just one. "Sure enough, this place really has plenty of treasures" Julian said, looking at the red dot on the Dowsing Machine. The size matched that of the previous Hollow Stone, suggesting it might be another elemental treasure. Riding on Dragonite, Julian flew toward the treasure''s location. The Dowsing Machine could only show treasures within 50 kilometers, with a maximum of ten markers at a time. After about five or six minutes, he arrived above the red dot''s position, hovering over the deep, seemingly bottomless lake. "Slowking, take the Dowsing Machine and check down below," Julian said. His only Water-type Pokmon was Slowking. Back when Dragonair hadn''t yet evolved into Dragonite, it used to love water. Now, with its bulky form and round belly, sinking might be more appropriate. Slowking was currently level 30not too high. After all, Julian hadn''t trained it for battle; instead, it served as his butler and chef, taking care of him and the other Pokmon. Since Slowking handled these tasks so well, Julian had cut back on its training. It wasn''t fair to expect it to manage everything and still keep up with daily training. "If you run into any danger, come right back," Julian reminded. Slowking nodded, then took the Dowsing Machine and submerged into the lake. The lake was deep. Although the water was clear, it was pitch dark below, with sunlight unable to reach the bottom. On the other hand, a few meters down, Julian could see some Goldeen and several Magikarp swimming in schools. The Magikarp seemed to have noticed Dragonite and Julian above. One by one, they floated to the surface, their blank expressions mirroring Slowpoke''s exactly. But Magikarp were truly simple-minded, while Slowpoke was clever in its own way. Being stared at, by these blank gazes, Julian couldn''t help but feel amused. Why had they suddenly come to the surface, staring and blowing bubbles? Dragonite found it entertaining too and lowered itself slightly, reaching down to gently poke one of the Magikarp on the head. The startled Magikarp jumped up, splashing its tailright in the direction of Julian''s face. "No, you don''t!" Julian quickly leapt from his saddle and, with a swift kick, sent the Magikarp flying before landing back in his saddle with style. (T/N: ah shit, here we go) "Meta!~" Metagross applauded, thoroughly impressed with its trainer''s smooth move. With a splash, the Magikarp fell back into the water. Its tough scales and bones could handle the kick without much harm. However, its pride was another matter. Embarrassed by Julian''s kick, it was now the center of attention among its peers, including one it secretly admired. For a moment, something other than blankness filled its eyes, a fire of determination sparking deep inside. Seeing the Magikarp still glaring at him, bubbles now larger and more intense, Julian taunted, "What''s wrong? Not satisfied? Come on, let''s settle it one-on-one!" "A mere Magikarp can''t intimidate meI can face a hundred" The chains of restraint shattered as the Magikarp''s rage transformed into the energy of evolution, shining with a brilliant white light. "What the?" Julian was stunned, instinctively glancing at his right footthe very one that had just kicked the Magikarp. ''The Evolution Foot!'' The phrase flashed through his mind as he watched, wide-eyed. By the time he came to his senses, the transformation had completed. A fierce Gyarados now glared at him, brimming with newfound power. Gyarados: In an instant, this once low-leveled Magikarp had evolved into a formidable level-50 Gyarados. The increase in level was downright ridiculous. If anyone ever managed to unravel the precise process behind a Magikarp evolving into a Gyarados, they''d practically have the Arceus Award in the bag. Unfortunately, this Gyarados was only of green-tier aptitude, meaning it didn''t qualify for capture. Just as Gyarados prepared to teach Julian a lesson, Metagross calmly floated over. Before Gyarados could even react, Metagross delivered a swift, sliver fist straight to its head. The fainted Gyarados didn''t sink but instead floated atop the water. The nearby Pokmon, terrified by the display, scattered in all directionsincluding the remaining Magikarp. Chapter 171: Water Moon Grass Chapter 171: Water Moon Grass"Why isn''t she back yet?" Nearly twenty minutes had passed. While it wasn''t a particularly long time, not being able to see how Slowking was doing made Julian a little worried. The main concern was Slowking''s lack of combat ability. If it were Metagross down there, he wouldn''t be concerned even if two hours passed. After ten more minutes, if Slowking still didn''t return, Julian planned to send Metagross in. Even though the water would restrict Metagross''s movements, it would still be better than waiting above with nothing to do. Ten minutes later "Metagross, get ready to go down." Julian pulled out a breathing apparatus, one for himself and one for Metagross. He had already stripped down to his shorts. Just as Julian was about to dive in, Slowking suddenly surfaced. Luckily, Julian steadied himself and didn''t fall in. "Are you hurt, Slowking?" Julian quickly asked. Slowking shook her head, holding something that looked like a piece of seaweed. Using her psychic powers, Slowking floated up to Dragonite, handing the "seaweed" over to Julian. Julian examined the "seaweed" closely. Its leaves were crescent-shaped, and he immediately recognized what it was. "This is Water Moon Grass." Water Moon Grass looked very similar to regular aquatic plants and grew among them, so ninety-nine percent of people would overlook it even if they passed by it. Now he understood why Slowking had taken so longit had been searching for the Water Moon Grass among a mass of ordinary water plants. The Water Moon Grass was even extracted with its roots intact. Its biggest value lay in improving water quality, which, in turn, would subtly enhance the health of the Pokmon living in it. For humans, drinking water infused with it could promote increase in life span and prevent illness. In cases of severe injury or near-death, consuming Water Moon Grass could even save a life. It was essentially like ancient thousand-year ginseng, a miraculous medicine. Most treasures could only be used by Pokmon, but Water Moon Grass was beneficial for humans too. Because of this, it was extremely popular among the upper class. However, despite its high demand, it had been discovered in the wild only a few times. When someone did find it, they generally kept it rather than selling it due to its rarity and efficacy. Julian placed the Water Moon Grass in his system storage. He planned to take it home for his grandfather, John. Out of his family, his grandfather, being the oldest, would benefit the most from it. In such a large lake, it was likely there were more Water Moon Grass plants. After recalling Slowking, Julian instructed Dragonite to fly around the lake at 50-kilometer intervals, using a grid-search pattern to find more Water Moon Grass. Sure enough, he soon found another. This time, Slowking was quicker, locating the Water Moon Grass in just a few minutes. "Keep going," Julian said excitedly. They hadn''t even explored a tenth of the lake yet, and they had already found two Water Moon Grass plants. If they searched the entire lake, they might find over a dozen or perhaps other treasures as well. Water Moon Grass was actually a rare mutation of regular aquatic plants, with a one-in-a-billion chance of occurring. The probability was slightly higher in high-quality lakes like this one. However, the treasure hunt didn''t go entirely smoothly. Shortly after finding the second Water Moon Grass, Julian encountered a Pokmon blocking his path. It was a Feraligatr, glaring at Julian and roaring at him repeatedly. The message was clear: this was Feraligatr''s territory, and Julian''s sudden intrusion wasn''t welcome. However, it seemed willing to let him go if he offered something in return. A pseudo-Elite Feraligatrno wonder it had the confidence to stand in Julian''s way, even though he had Metagross and Dragonite by his side. Most Pokmon wouldn''t dare approach them unless they were at least Elite level, with the exception of Magikarp, who weren''t exactly known for their sharp mind. Right at the heart of Feraligatr''s territory, there was a red dotlikely another Water Moon Grass. Julian gave Metagross a look, and Metagross instantly understood. It teleported directly above Feraligatr''s head and delivered a powerful Thunder Punch, knocking it out blissfully. The residual electricity from the punch even managed to stun several other Water-type Pokmon nearby, leaving them floating on the surface, eyes rolling. Slowking dove into the water and, after a short while, surfaced with another Water Moon Grass. This one was even thicker than the last two. Now he had three Water Moon Grass plantsone for his grandfather, one for his family, and one to place in the pond at his villa. It was perfect. A single Water Moon Grass could purify 1200 cubic meters of water, which was almost the size of a swimming pool. Of course, the smaller the area, the stronger the purification effect. By the time Feraligatr groggily woke up, Julian was long gone. It roared in frustration, but eventually returned home in defeat. Once back, it felt something was wrongthe comfortable feeling its home usually had was gone. It felt like an ordinary place now, much like the Blastoise''s territory nearby, with no special appeal. If it weren''t for the unchanged surroundings, it would have thought it was in Blastoise''s home, not its own. ''Is it just an Illusion? Or did that silver creature mess up my brain?'' sea??h th N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. -- "Dragonite, be careful. We''re entering that Gyarados''s territory now." As an Elite Pokmon, Gyarados commanded a large territory, which also happened to be densely populated with Magikarp. From above, the lake appeared red, thanks to the countless Magikarp crowding the waters, giving the entire lake a crimson hue. Anyone with a phobia of densely packed things would likely faint at the sight. Julian preferred to avoid fighting that Gyarados if possible. His time in this high-level Secret Realm was limited to just a month, and he didn''t want to waste it on unnecessary battles. Besides, there wasn''t anything of real value in Gyarados''s territory. The red dots were small and not worth the effort. In the past, Gyarados''s territory must have held many treasures, but any capable Trainer who entered this Secret Realm would have scoured it thoroughly. Trainers knew well that strong Pokmon''s territories often held treasures. So, in these realms, the stronger the Pokmon, the poorer its territory tended to bemost of the good stuff had already been taken by Trainers. Unless a Pokmon was strong enough to defend its treasures and consistently repel incoming Trainers, its territory would end up barren. Thinking about it this way, this Gyarados was rather pitiful. Despite being at mid-Elite strength, it was constantly harassed by Trainers passing through. Not only do they rob it, but they also beat it up. Chapter 172: Elite Gyarados Chapter 172: Elite GyaradosUnderwater, the Elite-level Gyarados, was happily looking at a high-tier Water Stone, he had just snatched from a Starmie. Counting this one, it now had four high-tier Water Stones and one top-tier Water Stone in its collection. Sear?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As an Elite Pokmon, it was a bit undignified to be so proud of such a small stash of treasures, but who could understand the hardships it had endured? "Roar!" Gyarados, who was kicked by Julian and forced to evolve, only to be knocked out by Metagross immediately afterward, came rushing from afar. That Magikarp was a descendant of this Elite Gyarados, and it should have been a happy thing that it evolved. But it''s evolution lacked any dignity, so it was here now, looking for its ''old man'' to help it settle the score. Gyarados were highly prolific, and as an Elite Pokmon, this Gyarados had countless offspring. Even with a vast ''family,'' there were never too many mates. In this lake alone, about a quarter of the millions of Magikarp were its descendants. Even though it didn''t know the approaching Gyarados personally, the Elite Gyarados could still sense the familiar bloodline Aura from it. Gyarados: "Dad, a human kicked me, and his Pokmon knocked me out!" Elite Gyarados: "Damn it, more humans again." The young Gyarados watched as its father hastily dug a pit, burying the all the high quality water stones in it. Elite Gyarados: I better hide my treasures quickly. Humans are notorious for taking anything shiny. Even if I get beaten up again, they can''t take my treasures this time. The young Gyarados stared in disbelief as its once-fearless father hurriedly hid his prized possessions. Once it was all buried and secured with rocks, the older Gyarados gave a satisfied flick of his two whiskers. "From now on, if you see humans, just pretend they''re not there" The Elite Gyarados advised his young descendant. He had suffered enough at the hands of humans and didn''t want his offspring to experience the same fate. "But why? That human kicked me! Is there no dignity left for the Gyarados tribe?" The young Gyarados couldn''t believe its father'' words. The proud, fearless image it had always held of him, shattered. Well, truthfully, this ''fearless image'' was mainly from what its mother had told it. "Child, you''re still young. One day you''ll understand." The Elite Gyarados sighed, as if remembering a string of unfortunate events. Every time a human came, his treasures would disappear. At first, he tried to fight backonly to be knocked out. When he woke up, his treasures would be gone. Later, he learned not to resist, but some shameless humans still beat him anyway, taking away his hard-earned treasures every time. Now, this Gyarados had become a "laid-back warrior," embracing its hard-won wisdom. It decided it was time to pass on this "knowledge" to its offspring. "You know, Dad, I really thought highly of you. You''re an Elite Gyarados, and yet you''re afraid of a pseudo-Elite human" The younger Gyarados was deeply disappointed; clearly, there was no hope of its father standing up for it. Elite Gyarados: "So what if I''m an Elite?-Wait... did you say that human is only a pseudo-Elite?" Gyarados: "Yeah!" "Are you sure?" "Absolutely, definitely a pseudo-Elite" "ROAR!!" "A mere pseudo-Elite dared to attack my child? Today, I''ll make sure that human never leaves this lake!" The Elite Gyarados''s roar shook the lake, sending waves rippling across the surface. Its intense presence caused the surrounding Pokmon to tremble. At that moment, it truly felt unstoppable. "Dad, that human''s aura is just nearby," the younger Gyarados pointed out. "Hah, Sure enough, it''s just a pseudo-Elite. Watch closely, sontoday, your old man is going to avenge you!" Above the lake, Julian was already within the Elite Gyarados''s territory. Glancing at the Dowsing Machine, he noticed five red dotsone slightly bigger than the others and the rest rather unimpressive. "Really poor" he muttered to himself. Just then, a Hydro Pump suddenly shot up from the lake''s surface. Dragonite, seeing it, came to an immediate stop. Without a seatbelt, Julian, seated in the flying saddle, was thrown forward by the sudden halt. This moment served as a reminder: seatbelts are very important. Thankfully, Metagross quickly caught Julian with Psychic, saving him from falling into the lake. Back on Dragonite''s back, Julian frowned as he looked below. On the lake''s surface, a dark shadow was growing larger, and in the next moment, a fierce-looking head burst through the waterthen another right beside it. Two Gyarados, one of them clearly the Elite one. As for the other Looking at the second Gyarados, Julian subconsciously glanced down at his right foot. The younger Gyarados noticed this small movement immediately, feeling mocked. Gyarados: "Dad, it''s him! He kicked me with his right foot!" The Elite Gyarados looked at the Dragonite and Metagross beside Julian. ''Hmm, they are both pseudo-Elite''. Confident now, he shot his offspring a reassuring look. "Human, hand over all your treasures and let my child beat you up, and I''ll let you leave in one piece." After saying this, Gyarados, who had been depressed for many years, felt his body and mind were sublimated at this moment. All its life, humans had always taken its treasures. But now, finally, , it was its turn to take treasures from a human. "You really are brave," Julian remarked. This was his first time being "robbed" by a Pokmon. Looking at this Elite Gyarados, Julian felt that it didn''t seem fierce at all. If anything, it resembled someone who had been bullied for years, finally finding an easier target to pick on. Seeing that the human looked ready to resist, the Elite Gyarados felt a thrill. This was perfect! If the human handed over his treasures too easily, it wouldn''t help release its pent-up frustration. Elite Gyarados: "If you don''t agree, I''ll just keep beating you until you do!" Julian gave Metagross a look, and it moved to face off against the Gyarados. "Bang!" At that moment, the Pok Ball at Julian''s waist suddenly opened. In a flash, Melmetal appeared in mid-air, striking a bodybuilding posebefore promptly going; "" Julian watched in exasperation as Melmetal plunged into the water, a dark expression crossing his face. Had Melmetal''s intelligence dropped after evolving? Could it not tell this was a lake? As a Steel-type, the only thing it could do in water was sink faster than a Rock- or Ground-type. As bubbles started popping on the lake''s surface, the scene became awkwardly animated. Julian covered his face, trying to hide his embarrassment. The two Gyarados: Chapter 173: Unlucky Julian Chapter 173: Unlucky JulianPok Balls had two types of closed states: standard close and locked close. In the standard close state, the Pokmon inside could come out on its own. In the locked close state, the Pokmon inside couldn''t exit on its own. Most of the time, trainers kept their Pok Balls in the standard close state, so in unexpected situations, the Pokmon could come out on its own, saving the trainer the trouble of manually opening the Pok Ball. All of Julian''s Pok Balls were in the standard close state, which was why Melmetal could come out on its own. But couldn''t this foolish thing check the battle environment from inside the Pok Ball before coming out? It plunged straight to the bottom as soon as it appeared. They say evolution changes a Pokmon''s personality, but who knew it could lower their IQ too? Even though the two Gyarados had their mouths open, Julian had the feeling they were laughing. "Slowking, get Melmetal out of there!" Better to pull Melmetal up before the fight actually startsno need for it to become the first Mythical Pokmon to drown. That''d be quite the "honor." Just as Slowking was about to dive in, a fist suddenly broke through the water and struck Gyarados''s jaw, sending it flying. As the fist began to retract back underwater, Metagross grabbed it and, with a firm pull, lifted Melmetal from the lake. Seeing its child get sent flying in front of it, the Elite Gyarados felt a surge of rage. "Melmetal!~" Even as Metagross held it in mid-air, Melmetal didn''t settle down. Its fist, crackling with electricity, swung toward the Elite Gyarados. Gyarados leapt into the air, meeting the Thunder Punch with an Iron Tail to block it. Seeing this, Slowking unleashed an Ice Beam that froze the surrounding lake surface solid. Gyarados landed on the ice, glancing at Slowking, then at Melmetal, Metagross, and Dragonite. Its fighting spirit, fired up by rage, was suddenly dampened. "Melmetal!~" Melmetal also landed on the ice. Fortunately, the ice was thick enough; otherwise, with its 800kg weight, it would have broken through immediately. "Alright, it''s up to you" Julian said, seeing Melmetal''s eagerness to fight. This was its first battle since hatching and evolving, and its opponent was an Elite-level Pokmon. For a Mythical Pokmon, having an Elite-level opponent as its first battle was certainly fitting. "Gyarados, one-on-one! If you lose, I''m taking all your treasures. If I lose, I''ll give you this." Julian took out a Water Gem. This item was worth more than ten top-grade Water Stones and, when carried over time, could enhance a Water-type Pokmon''s essence. Upon seeing the Water Gem in Julian''s hand, Gyarados''s expression instantly turned depressed. It once had a Water Gem just like that, but it was stolen by a wretched human who not only beat it up but also captured one of its harema beautiful white Magikarp. Julian: (?_?)? ''What''s going on? How am I sensing waves of depression from a Pokmon?'' Julian had no idea that the Water Gem had stirred up Gyarados''s painful memories. "ROAR!!" Gyarados suddenly raised its head. Those bitter memories and the trampling of its pride finally ignited its fury. It wanted payback; it was going to take down the Pokmon in front of it and snatch all of this human''s Pokmon. Its ability activated, but aside from Slowking looking a bit scared, neither Metagross, Dragonite, nor Melmetal showed any signs of fear. With the level difference between Slowking and Gyarados, it was natural for Slowking to be affected by . Julian recalled Slowking back into its Pok Ball to keep it from getting caught up in the upcoming battle. The Gyarados before him was level 75, a mid-tier Elite Pokmon. Melmetal, on the other hand, was level 61, at the early pseudo-Elite stagea full tier below. However, as a Mythical Pokmon, Melmetal''s life force was on par with Elites and even surpassed many Elite-level Pokmon. "Melmetal!~" Melmetal taunted Gyarados by bending forward and lowering its head to his crotch to look at it. Gyarados couldn''t tolerate this. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a mighty , Gyarados unleashed a powerful blast of water. Even though they were on the ice, the surrounding lake gave Water-type moves a natural power boost. Melmetal wasn''t exactly a fast Pokmon. In fact, most Steel-types were heavy, tank-like Pokmon; only a few, like Lucario, Escavalier, and Bisharp, etc, fall into the agile category. Melmetal met the with a . With its ability, the power of its punching moves was increased by 20%, and white energy swirled around its fist. "BOOM!!" The two attacks collided, and Melmetal was pushed back three or four meters. Gyarados then went for a , its fangs blazing as it lunged at Melmetal. Being able to learn Fire-type moves, this Gyarados had even better talent than expected. Melmetal blocked with its arm, and though Gyarados was a Water type, its Elite-level status meant that even Fire-type moves were still potent. Melmetal''s body had a unique featureit was fluid, composed of liquid metal. When Gyarados''s fangs clamped down on its arm, Melmetal took damage, but it quickly controlled the liquid metal in its arm, creating a gap in the area being bitten. Gyarados felt as though its mouth was suddenly empty and was momentarily confused. Just then, a crackling sound of electricity buzzed near its ear. A struck Gyarados square on the chin with a loud "bang," sending its body airborne. But as soon as it left the ice surface, Gyarados twisted in midair, using the momentum to whirl around and channel a swirling stream of water along its tail. Melmetal was about to block with its arms when Julian''s voice rang out. "Protect!" The battlefield was on ice, and if Melmetal tried to block with its arms, the impact would shatter the ice beneath, causing it to sink once again. shielded against the Aqua Tail, and Gyarados landed heavily back on the ice. In that instant, a silver-white beam shot toward it. The attack hit its mark, pushing Gyarados back several meters. Immediately, Melmetal swung its fist, its liquid metal body allowing for extreme reach, extending over a wide span of several meters. "ROAR!!" Gyarados unleashed a , blasting the away. "Protect" Julian called out again, though his tone sounded a bit uncertain. Melmetal tried to use once more but it failed this time. Julian''s luck seemed to have run out. Unlucky King Julian was back. Chapter 174: Miserable Gyarados Chapter 174: Miserable GyaradosThe first use of Protect is guaranteed to succeed, but each consecutive use has a lower chance of success: around 50% on the second try and 25% on the third. A lucky trainer might get three consecutive Protects, while an unlucky one may fail after the first attempt. Whether you''re lucky or unlucky, just using Protect will make it clear. Unlucky King Julian didn''t believe in this curse, but poor Melmetal had to suffer for it. When Protect failed, Melmetal took a direct Hyper Beam, and, wincing from the pain, it turned back to Julian with a look of frustration. How could it not know its trainer''s luck? Every time Metagross used Meteor Mash, it had to be right in the opponent''s face to even hope for a hitotherwise, the accuracy was hopeless. "Focus on the battle; it''s coming" Julian said sternly, giving Melmetal a quick reprimand. It was Melmetal that used Protect, and if it failed, how could that be Julian''s fault? Clearly, it was just unlucky itself. Gyarados, seizing the opportunity, shot a burst of Scald from its open mouth, as for the Hyper Beam''s recovery time, that barely slowed it down. The boiling water caused the air around it to heat up noticeably. Though Scald is a Water-type move, it has a chance of inflicting a burn status on its target. "Flash Cannon!" There was no point in trying Protect again, though Julian felt a bit disappointed. If the second try didn''t work, maybe the third attempt would miraculously have a better chance, he thought. The silver Flash Cannon collided with Scald, and after a moment of struggle, Flash Cannon broke through the water. Seeing this, Gyarados immediately whipped up a Twister, using the powerful winds to block the Flash Cannon. "This Gyarados sure has impressive battle experience," Julian muttered. It even knew this alternative use of Twister; clearly, this Gyarados had faced many trainers in battle. Those defeats hadn''t been in vainit had learned from each one. Each time a trainer defeated it and took its treasures, Gyarados would wake up feeling even stronger than before. The Twister tore up the icy ground, spinning up sharp shards of ice that swirled like blades. Dragonite flapped its wings, carrying Julian out of the Twister''s range. Melmetal stood still as the Twister approached, letting itself get swallowed by the vortex. Even with its immense weight, the Twister lifted it from the ice. As it was spun around, sharp ice shards continuously struck its metallic body, drawing silver liquid with each hit. Gyarados knew the Twister alone wouldn''t be enough to defeat Melmetal. "Raaaargh!!" Within the Twister, Gyarados roared, a fierce energy surging from its body, its voice filled with pain. With its roar, the entire Twister turned blood-red, filled with a frenzied energy that shattered the ice beneath it and pulled in water from the lake below. After using Outrage, Gyarados gained an even greater surge of power. "Melmetal, Giga Impact!" Julian''s voice echoed directly into Melmetal''s mind through Psychic. An endless white light burst from Melmetal, not as an evolution but as the release of all its inner energy. The force of its energy was so intense that it even stalled the Twister for a moment. "Raaaargh!!" Despite the Outrage, Gyarados retained some control and dissipated the Twister. Its body was wrapped in a blood-red aura as it, too, prepared a Giga Impact. One beam of white light shot down from above, while a blood-red beam surged up from below. Like two meteors, they collided mid-air. "BOOM!!" The instant they clashed, a massive wave of energy rippled out in all directions, and the water below sank, forming a crater hundreds of meters deep. The resulting waves expanded outward in a chain, leaving many Pokmon in the lake scrambling. Even though they had fled far during the battle, it still wasn''t far enough. The younger Gyarados, previously knocked out during the battle, had just woken up and was trying to swim toward its father. It hadn''t gotten far before a wave crashed into its face, knocking it out cold again. Poor thingfainted three times in a single day. Even a Snorlax, watching nearby, would have applauded the resilience. As the blinding lights faded, both Gyarados and Melmetal began to fall from the sky. Metagross immediately caught Melmetal with Psychic, while Gyarados was left to fend for itself. With a splash, Gyarados hit the water, resurfacing only after several seconds, clearly unable to continue fighting. Meanwhile, Melmetal, though exhausted, still had its eyes open, showing it had won. "Well done" Julian said, patting Melmetal''s head. To defeat a mid-level Elite Gyarados as an entry-level pseudo-Eliteit had more than lived up to its status as a Mythical Pokmon and to the resources Julian had invested in it. "Mel!~" Despite its fatigue, Melmetal''s eyes shone brightly, thrilled by the exhilarating battle that had stirred its fighting spirit and desire for victory. This was only the beginning. It would bring its trainer many more victories in the future. Sensing Melmetal''s fiery Aura, Julian smiled. "Slowking, go dig up its treasure for me" Julian said, sending out his Slowking and handing it the Dowsing Machine. He had made an agreement with Gyarados earlier: if it lost, all its treasures would belong to him. Julian was kind enough not to wake it up to witness him digging up its treasure. After a full twenty minutes, Slowking finally surfaced. Julian had thought there''d be a trove of treasures, but all he saw were a few Water Stones. "Slow~" It turned out that Gyarados had buried these Water Stones dozens of meters deep, even weighed them down with several large rocks. Slowking had to put in a lot of effort just to dig them up. Even a clever Pokmon like Slowking was left speechless by Gyarados''s antics. Gyarados had actually woken up within the first few minutes after Slowking went down. Elite-level Pokmon sure had impressive resilience. Seeing the handful of Water Stones in Slowking''s grasp, Gyarados opened its mouth in dismay, looking as though it were on the verge of tears. As a Gyarados who valued its word, it had no choice but to let go, despite the heartbreak. Those were all its life savings! It had hoped that even if it were defeated, its opponent might not find them. But now, everything was taken in one fell swoop. Gyarados: Next time, I''m hiding them in separate places With Gyarados glaring at him with red eyes, Julian pocketed the four high-quality Water Stones and one top-grade Water Stone. "Thanks! I''ll be sure to visit again" He said with a grin before riding Dragonite to make a quick getaway. "Roar, roar, roar!" Behind him, Julian could hear Gyarados''s furious, sorrowful, and helpless roars. Meanwhile, out on the lake, the younger Gyarados that had recently been knocked out by the waves began to regain consciousness, shaking its head. But before it could fully come to, a silver fist appeared right in front of it. sea??h th n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Bam!" Once again, the poor Gyarados fainted. Metagross: If you can''t win, you call for your parentshuh, you deserve it. Chapter 175: Change of Location to Explore Chapter 175: Change of Location to ExploreAfter four full days of effort, Julian finally managed to completely explore the lake that covered a quarter of the secret realm. While he didn''t find the realm''s ultimate treasure, he did come across quite a few valuable items. He found three more Water Moon Grass plants and four top-grade Water Stones. Top-grade Water Stones can also purify water, but this purified water only benefits Pokmon, not humans. In contrast, water purified by Water Moon Grass is beneficial for both humans and Pokmon. In addition to these, he found a Crystal Shell, which can boost a Pokmon''s special defense. Julian gave it to his Metagross as a snack. Finally, he came across a Soul Dew, which took him by surprise. The Soul Dew is a rare item, but only one type of Pokmon can use it: Latios and Latias. When they hold this item, it boosts the power of their Psychic and Dragon moves by 20%, which is quite substantial. Latios and Latias have already been discovered by humans, and they aren''t unique beings. They''ve been sighted in multiple countries. Three years ago, both Pokmon appeared in Drakoria''s Seaport city and calmed a once-in-50-years massive tidal wave. There are statues of them in Seaport as a tribute. Latios and Latias have helped several coastal cities avert disasters, and so they are regarded as guardians in some places. Seaport in Drakoria is one such city. Another example is the famous tourist city of Vivis in Vidalia. If it weren''t for Latios and Latias, the city would have been destroyed by the giant waves from the Kyogre and Groudon battle a century ago. (T/N: couldn''t find which country in real world, so just assume whichever you like) During Vivis''s annual Guardian Festival, Latios and Latias always make an appearance, drawing countless people who flock there just to catch a glimpse of these legendary Pokmon. Julian looked at the Soul Dew, feeling a bit frustrated. This item took up a quarter of his Dowsing Machine''s space. Though it was rare, it wasn''t exactly useful to himunless he somehow managed to capture Latios or Latias. But the chances of that happening were extremely low. Whether it''s legendary Pokmon, mythical Pokmon, or other legendary birds like Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos. If they aren''t willing to follow you, any attempt to forcibly capture them would lead to the power of their aura shattering the Pok Ball from the inside. Instead of forcing them to submit, winning them over through personal charm is what truly matters. Or, you could raise one from a young age, like Melmetalnow that would be ideal. "Let''s go to the Shadowed Forest," Julian said. With the lake fully explored, there was no reason to linger. He had a month to explore this advanced realm, and seven days had already passed. So far, things had gone smoothly, aside from the encounter with the Elite Gyarados along the way and a few other Pokmon that had tried to interfere, attempting to defend their treasures, but Metagross and Dragonite had quickly taught them a lesson. The Shadowed Forest wasn''t on the surface; instead, it lay within a vast underground cavern. Though it was technically a cave, it spanned 8,277 square kilometers, about the size of a small city. This area was also the most dangerous part of the secret realm, home to many Ghost-type Pokmon. Other Dark-loving Pokmon also resided there, but Ghost-types were by far the majority. Of the eighteen Pokmon types, Ghost-types are easily among the most dangerous. They can appear and disappear in the blink of an eye. If you only have a Pikachu at your side for protection, you might find yourself in real trouble with a Ghost-type aiming for a sneak attack. In areas full of Ghost-types, it''s best to have Psychic-type or other Ghost-type Pokmon with you for protection. These two types have the highest detection abilities. The Shadowed Forest was home to two Elite-level Pokmon: a Gengar and a Trevenant. After three hours of traveling, Julian reached the cave entrance to the Shadowed Forest. Just standing at the entrance, he could feel a chilly aura seeping out. "I''m here, ghosties" He muttered, leading Metagross and Dragonite inside. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Since it was an underground cavern, there was no natural light. However, faint green glows came from the stones and trees, providing just enough illumination to make out the surroundings. As soon as they entered, an eerie cold washed over him, causing goosebumps to rise. It really did feel like walking into a ghost''s den. Julian released Lucario to stay alert. Its Aura-sensing abilities would detect any Ghost-type Pokmon lurking to sneak attack. Julian himself had Aura abilities, but Lucario''s endurance with Aura definitely surpassed his. Then, he brought out Melmetal too. With Metagross, Dragonite, and Melmetalthree pseudo-Elite Pokmon standing guardand Lucario''s Aura radar, Julian felt entirely secure. If it weren''t for Steelix''s size making it cumbersome in tight spaces, he would have brought it out too. Now fully equipped for safety, he took a high-powered flashlight from his pack. A powerful beam of light cut through the darkness, illuminating the surroundings like a miniature sun in this shadowy underworld. "That''s much better" He said, relaxing as his view became as clear as daylight. The difference was like night and day. However "Hello there" Julian greeted, his expression stiffening slightly as he looked ahead at the dozens of Ghost-type Pokmon gathered in the flashlight''s beam. This flashlight did make it easier to see, but in a place as dark as this, using a strong beam was like telling every Pokmon nearby: Ghost-types were known to be able to increase their power by feeding on the life forceor even the soulsof others, which was one of the main reasons many Trainers were wary of these Pokmon. Among the dozens of Pokmon in front of him, Julian noticed two that resembled tiny candles, each with a purple flame flickering atop its head. Litwick, These Pokmon could absorb the life force of both humans and other Pokmon. That eerie flame? It actually burned using the energy drawn from them. Normally, the flame remained extinguished. But once it started drawing in life energy, it would burn brightly. The younger the life force it absorbed, the stronger and more ominous the flame would glow. Trainers who captured Pokmon like Litwick often found themselves the first victimsunless they were skilled enough to teach the Pokmon to control its energy-draining powers. Chapter 176: Realm’s Ultimate Treasure? Chapter 176: Realms Ultimate Treasure?Even as fellow Ghost-type Pokmon, most won''t dare get too close to Litwick. Its ability to absorb souls and life force can affect other Ghost-types too. Sar?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian felt a bit nervous now. Just moments ago, he thought he was perfectly safe, but it seemed he''d underestimated the situation. Even an Elite-level Pokmon would experience a gradual drain of its soul and life force when near a Advanced-level Litwick. The process is so slow that it''s barely noticeable, yet Litwick could quietly drain its opponent until it''s lifeless. This draining is almost impossible to detect, and the victim wouldn''t feel any pain. Among all Ghost-type Pokmon, Litwick ranks among the top three in terms of danger, and they are relatively rare. Besides these characteristics, there''s no denying its strength. Its final evolution, Chandelure, is a powerful Ghost-type Pokmon, rumored to have the ability to communicate with the spirit world. However, to control one safely without backlash, a Trainer''s own strength must be formidable. After all, human souls and life force are highly nutritious to Litwick. The flames atop these two Litwick flickered. If you kept staring at their flame, you''d be unknowingly drawn in, eventually losing your life. At least it wouldn''t be a painful end. Julian had turned off his flashlight. In this Dark Forest, it was like a beacon, constantly alerting the surrounding Ghost-type Pokmon of a fresh human and a delicious soul nearby. "Metagross, Dragonite, handle them." With dozens of ghostly eyes fixed on him like he was a meal, Julian felt a chill and kept Lucario close to guard him against any sneak attacks. Julian thought, catching the mischievous Pokmon''s stare. The wandering ghosts were no match for Metagross and Dragonite. The two Pokmon swiftly cleared them out, though the Ghost-types'' elusive movements made them tricky opponents. Some didn''t even have physical bodies, making them immune to physical attacks. Julian sensed the surrounding temperature dropping rapidly, and an Aura filled with malice radiated from his left. "Luca!~" Lucario, his bodyguard, swung a Fire Punch into the empty space beside Julian. With a thud, a Gengar appeared, its face absorbing the Fire Punch. After dealing with the dozens of Ghost-types, including the two Litwick, Julian quickly moved on with his Pokmon. They headed east, guided by his Dowsing Machine, where a large red dot appeared on the display, hinting that the treasure might be quite valuable. Though the Shadowed Forest lies underground, it still has a vast stretch of trees. But unlike those on the surface, these trees have no leaves, only bare branches. And soft green light glowed from the branches. It''s said that this glow comes from the essence of Ghost-type Pokmon that perished in the Shadowed Forest. "This kind of wood would be perfect for making beads" Julian mused as he snapped off a branch. The inside of the branch was a dark yellow, laced with a hint of golda prime material for bead-making. In fact, beads crafted from the trees of Shadowed Forest were sold on the market at premium prices, affordable only to a select few. Nearby, a Trevenant had camouflaged itself as a large tree, lying in wait for unsuspecting preyonly to be knocked out by Metagross''s Bullet Punch. Julian walked over and gave it a kick, sending the Trevenant flying due to his own impressive strength. "Can''t even play your part right," he muttered. All the trees here were bare, yet this one had forgotten to blend in and added some green on its head. What kind of dead wood are you trying to pull here? And the spot where the Trevenant had stood happened to be where the red dot was marked on his Dowsing Machine. A few minutes later, Metagross flew back, holding a marble-sized bead. "A Shadow Orbnot bad" Julian remarked as he took the orb. The Shadow Orb could be carried as a held item to enhance Ghost-type moves, particularly boosting the power of Shadow Punch by 30%. It could also be grounded into powder and combined with other ingredients to create potions that strengthen a Ghost-type Pokmon''s potential. Of course, if you were rich enough, you could even wear it as an accessory. It had a natural cooling effect, perfect for summerlike carrying a portable air conditioner around with you. "Alright, let''s move to the nextwhoa!" Julian''s words were cut off as his Dowsing Machine suddenly displayed a red dot covering nearly a third of the screen. For context, even the Fire Crystal, the ultimate treasure of the realm he''d found in the intermediate-level secret realm, only took up a quarter of the display. This new dot''s size suggested something even more valuable than the Fire Crystal. "Strange" Julian recalled checking the Dowsing Machine earlier, and this red dot hadn''t been there. It was as if the treasure had just appeared out of nowhere. "What theit''s gone!" Just as he prepared to set out, the large red dot vanished. Metagross watched his Trainer''s surprised reactions, sighing slightly. When would he be able to keep his cool in the face of anything, like Metagross could? "Dragonite, head this way!" Julian wasted no time, hopping onto Dragonite. "Metagross, stop dawdling and follow!" As Metagross snapped out of its daze, Julian and Dragonite had already taken off. On Dragonite''s back, Julian wore a look of contemplation. The sudden appearance and disappearance of the red dot couldn''t mean his Dowsing Machine was malfunctioning. Most likely, the treasure had already been claimed by a Pokmon. So this red dot would move along with the Pokmon carrying it. For something that takes up a third of the Dowsing Machine''s screen, even if it wasn''t the Ultimate treasure of this Advanced-level secret realm, it must be an extraordinary treasure of some type. Since it appeared in the Shadowed Forest, it was highly likely to be a Ghost-type treasure. Fortunately, Julian had memorized its direction before it disappeared. A few minutes into Dragonite''s flight, he noticed the red dot reappear on his Dowsing Machine, confirming the treasure was indeed moving, though not too quickly. At Dragonite''s speed, they''d be able to catch up in a few minutes. "It stopped" Julian''s expression shifted slightly as he realized the red dot had halted in the territory of the Elite-level Gengar. Could the treasure actually be with that Elite-level Gengar? The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Sure enough, that Gyarados was dirt poor, just look at the contrastthat Gyarados barely had anything better than a top-grade Water Stone. But here''s a Gengar, potentially holding something as valuable as a realm''s Ultimate treasure. How could there be such a big difference between two Elite-level Pokmon? Julian didn''t dwell on why the treasure hadn''t been snatched by other Trainers who had previously explored the forest. There were several possible reasons: Gengar was a Ghost-type, and if it really wanted to hide, only a skilled Trainer would have any chance of finding it. Or perhaps Gengar had only recently acquired the treasure, and Julian just happened to stumble upon it at the perfect time. Chapter 177: Gastly Chapter 177: GastlyArriving at the location marked by the red dot, Julian looked at his Dowsing Machine, then scanned the area, his usually calm expression turning a bit bewildered. What was going on? The Dowsing Machine indicated the treasure was just ten centimeters away and hovering, meaning it was supposedly right in front of him. But He looked at the empty space before him and then back at the Dowsing Machine. The massive red dot hadn''t budged. Julian shook the Dowsing Machine and even tapped it a few times. "Is this thing broken?" he muttered. System: "You''re popping up again" He grumbled, rolling his eyes. The system rarely spoke, only issuing missions. It only seemed to "appear" when he was complaining about it. Julian trusted the system. If the Dowsing Machine wasn''t broken, then the treasure must indeed be right in front of him. But why couldn''t he see it? "A Gengar can go invisible" Given that the treasure had been moving, Julian had suspected it might be carried by a Pokmon. Now, standing at its location without seeing anything just ten centimeters away, the most likely scenario was that an invisible Pokmonprobably a Gengarwas carrying it, making the treasure invisible too. "However..." Glancing over at Lucario and Metagross beside him, who were shaking their heads, Julian dismissed his speculation. Even if a Pokmon could turn invisible, it couldn''t hide its Aura. Lucario hadn''t sensed any Aura in the area, and Metagross had scanned several times with its psychic powers, finding nothing. Julian waved his hand in front of him at the spot ten centimeters away. His hand passed right throughnothing there. He was truly baffled. "It moved again!!" The red dot on his Dowsing Machine shifted once more, only this time, it wasn''t moving away but getting closernow only about a centimeter from his face. Julian instinctively took a step back, his face darkening. "Come out already!" He shouted, swatting at the air in front of him, channeling a bit of Aura into his hand in his frustration. Then To his surprise, he actually hit something solid. And suddenly, a white figure materialized in front of him. Julian jolted at the sudden appearance, and Lucario instantly stepped protectively in front of him. Metagross and Dragonite took flanking positions, glaring at the white figure. Gastly, the now-visible culprit, looked pitifully at them. It had no ill intentions; it was simply curious why this human could detect it, and now it had been slapped! His three Pokmon were even staring it down fiercely, and it was on the verge of tears. "A white Gastly?" Julian''s mouth opened slightly as he stared at the odd-looking Pokmon, then back at his Dowsing Machine. The red dot was indeed marking Gastly. Then a realization dawned on him, Julian activated his Probing Eyes to inspect the Gastly. Pokmon: Gastly (Ghost/Poison) Level: 22 Potential: Purple Ability: Levitate Held Item: None Gender: Male Moves: Confuse Ray, Lick, Hypnosis, Mean Look, Imprison, Payback, Curse, TMs: None Genetic Moves: Skill Swap, Dark Pulse, Disable, Perish Song, Poltergeist, Will-O-Wisp --- A purple-tier Gastly, bearing the qualifications to be a future championand it was white! "So it was you all along" Julian finally understood. The red dot taking up a third of the Dowsing Machine''s screen wasn''t marking a treasureit was marking this Gastly. For the first time, Julian realized that his Dowsing Machine could also detect high-quality Pokmon. He''d encountered Cyan-tier Pokmon in other secret realms before, yet the Dowsing Machine hadn''t registered them. Now it seemed clear: the device didn''t ignore them; rather, Cyan-tier Pokmon simply didn''t meet its standard. Dowsing Machine: My standards are quite high when it comes to living things, thank you very much. It seemed likely that only Blue or Purple-tier Pokmon were worthy of appearing on its radar. "You''re mine now" Julian said, looking at the white Gastly with an intense, possessive expression. This guy was absolutely the Ultimate treasure of this advanced secret realmif not officially, then certainly on par with one. Gastly, sensing Julian''s intense gaze, felt a jolt of fear. Something was definitely wrong with this human, and it needed to get away. Although Julian couldn''t detect Gastly''s Aura before, once Gastly revealed itself, he could feel its presence clearly. Noticing something unusual about its Aura, Julian immediately called out; "Metagross, Scary Face!" Just as Gastly was about to slip back into invisibility, a huge, intimidating face appeared before it. Even though it was a Ghost-type, Gastly was startled so badly that it forgot to hide. The passive invisibility it relied on was instantly disrupted. "Use Confusion." Metagross, knowing that it was about to gain a new companion, applied just the right amount of force with Confusion, enough to knock Gastly out without harm. Julian tossed a Pok Ball. After a few shakes, the white Gastly was captured without any resistance. Using psychic power, he lifted the Pok Ball in front of him, grinning. He''d been in this realm for less than ten days, and he''d already captured a purple-tier Pokmon. Such Pokmon were almost unheard of in advanced-level secret realms; they usually only appeared in the highest Top-tier realms. After all, advanced-level secret realms maxed out at Elite-level Pokmon, which was Cyan-tier potential. It''s rare enough to encounter a Blue-tier Pokmon, so how could a Purple-tier one possibly appear? S~ea??h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This Gastly was practically a one-in-a-billion miracle, an instance of a potential leap in qualityand to top it off, it was a shiny. Julian released Gastly from its Pok Ball. The newly captured Gastly appeared, looking a bit downcast. It understood that it had been caught by this human, and so, even if it wasn''t thrilled, it didn''t try to leave. Of course, if it had tried, Julian wouldn''t have just let it go. Letting a purple-tier Pokmon walk away? Not a chancehe wasn''t that foolish. "Here, take this" Julian said, offering Gastly a Toxic Orb he had obtained previously. Gastly was startled once again. This human was giving it something valuable right from the start. It wasn''t exactly sure what the strange, ominous orb was, but it could feel a deep, instinctual pull toward it. Wellhow could it refuse? Shyly, Gastly took the Toxic Orb, giving it a little lick. Its face lit up in bliss. "Here, have some Energy Cubes too" Julian said, offering top-grade Ghost-type energy cubes. Gastly''s mind told it to refuse, but its body was already reaching out and taking a cube. As soon as the cube touched its tongue, Gastly''s eyes lit up. Gastly: A ghost never submitsunless there''s free food and lodging. Chapter 178: Gastly’s Absolute Invisibility Chapter 178: Gastlys Absolute InvisibilityIn just a few minutes of feasting and taking gifts, Gastly was completely won over. With a Trainer this generous, of course he wanted to stick around. If the system could show numbers, Gastly would probably have "Friendship +10 +15 +37" floating above its head right now. Julian, though, kept a bit of distance. With Gastly being ninety-five percent gas, getting too close could cause gas poisoning. The remaining five percent, as rumors say, might even be composed of souls from people poisoned by its gas. Since Gastly was a gas Pokmon, a strong enough wind could blow it away. "Gastly, use Invisibility," Julian suddenly said. Gastly hesitated, unsure why Julian wanted it to go invisible, but it obeyed anyway. Julian wasn''t concerned; it was perfectly normal for a freshly caught Pokmon, one not yet used to following commands, to hesitate. As Gastly turned invisible, Julian noticed its Aura had disappeared entirely. He glanced over at Metagross, who shook its headjust as before, Gastly was completely untraceable in its invisible state. Now that Gastly had been caught, even the Dowsing Machine couldn''t detect it. If he hadn''t known Gastly was standing right in front of him, Julian would''ve thought it had left the area entirely. "Alright, stop being invisible," Julian said. In the next moment, Gastly reappeared, making a silly face, hoping to startle Julian, but Julian''s expression didn''t change. Internally, though, he almost lost his composure. Julian: Taking a deep breath, Julian asked, "Gastly, is your invisibility a bit different from other Gastly''s?" Gastly looked at him, puzzled by the question. What did he mean? All Gastlys'' invisibility worked the same, didn''t it? For ghost-types like Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar, invisibility was a passive skill, shared by many other ghost-types too. This made ghost-type Pokmon a common pick for assassins around the world. But there were limitations to invisibility. Many methods could reveal a hidden Pokmon; Lucario''s Aura, Metagross''s Psychic power, and Growlithe''s sense of smell, etc.. among others. Yet this Gastly''s invisibility was differentneither Aura nor psychic power could detect it. Julian guessed even Growlithe''s scent-tracking wouldn''t work on it. Looking at this shiny, white Gastly, Julian thought, '' Shiny Pokmon were often rejected by their own species because of their different coloring, but they usually possessed talents that surpassed others of their kind. Take Julian''s Metagross, for instanceits defensive stats were double those of a typical Metagross. That was the advantage of being a shiny. The unique trait of this shiny, white Gastly appeared to be "absolute invisibility." Julian came up with the term "absolute invisibility" on the spot; it fit Gastly''s ability perfectly. Once invisible, unless someone knew there was a Gastly around, even if a psychic Pokmon or a Lucario was nearby, they wouldn''t be able to detect it. Sarch* The n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A Gastly with absolute invisibility and a purple-grade potentialthis Mf***er was a natural-born assassin. It could sneak up behind you and take your heart, lungs, or kidneys before you even knew what happened. Thinking about it, Julian felt a rush of relief. If this Gastly had any malicious intent before, it could''ve easily attacked him, turned his brain into dessert, and he wouldn''t have even noticed. Thanks to this absolute invisibility, Gastly had survived so well in the Shadowed Forest without being bullied by other Pokmon or caught by humans. Wild shiny Pokmon were often cast out of their groups, which greatly raised their chances of dying. Very few actually survived alone. Though this Gastly seemed to live well, it had surely been through many hardships. "From now on, we''re partners," Thinking of this, Julian said with a smile. Gastly blinked in surprise. Pokmon were sensitive to emotions, especially ghost-types. Feeling the sincerity in Julian''s words, Gastly remembered its own lonely life, cast out by its kind and relying on its invisibility to survive one dangerous day after another. To have a "partner" was something it had always dreamed of, and now... Gastly pulled a playful face, and this time Julian reacted with a scared expression. Laughing, Gastly floated over and gave him a lick. Julian thought it was just a friendly lick, but a moment later, a wave of paralysis crept over him. Bas**d, it turned out to be. The move only had about 20 % chance of paralysis, but for someone with Julian''s luck, it was practically guaranteed. With shaky hands, he managed to retrieve a Cheri Berry from his system space, forcing it down to finally shake off the paralysis. Seeing Julian in such a embarrassed state, Gastly laughed even harder, tears welling up from laughing so much. Julian: So much for that Mega Pallet Town Physique, It can''t even resist a little paralysis, What a rubbish Physique. Mega Pallet Town physique: () After capturing such an excellent Pokmon, Julian couldn''t be happierthis trip to the advanced-level secret realm was definitely worth it. He didn''t return Gastly to its Pok Ball, letting it float beside him instead, so they could start building trust. The Shadowed Forest had only just begun to reveal its secrets. There was no way this exploration would end so soon. The Dowsing Machine showed several red dots up ahead, and having Gastly, who knew the forest inside-out, was like having the best guide around. Some treasures were guarded by Pokmon, but instead of using Gastly''s "absolute invisibility" to steal them, Julian sent out Growlithe and Lairon to continue leveling up. Of course, Gastly joined the leveling-up team too. Currently, Gastly was at level 22. It would evolve into Haunter at level 25, and afterward, with a trade or a linking cord, Haunter could be evolved into the versatile powerhouse, Gengar. This evolution path didn''t have any level restrictions. Julian also found a top-grade Dusk Stone, one of the rarest evolution stones and that too of top-grade. Without hesitation, he tossed it over to Gastly. The energy within the Dusk Stone could be absorbed by Gastly to boost its ghost-type affinity, just as the Toxic Orb strengthened its poison-type affinity. In official matches, a Pokmon could only hold one item. But outside of matches, Gastly could hold a hundred items if it wantedno limit on benefits here. After spending about three days in the Shadowed Forest, Julian finally decided to head out. The dark, gloomy environment was hardly fit for humans, nor was it suitable for Pokmon like Metagross or Dragonite. Only darkness-loving Pokmon thrived there. Any longer, and Julian feared he''d end up with a case of depression. Chapter 179: Leisure Day Chapter 179: Leisure DayIn the secret realm''s grassland area, as evening fell, Julian was lying on the grass, a gentle breeze was blowing across the grassland. Some Hoppip floated gracefully through the sky, carried by the wind. The scent of fresh grass, mingled with a hint of gas from the nearby Gastly, made Julian feel a bit lightheaded. Steelix stood upright, its mouth wide open facing northwest; apparently, Julian had told it this might help it feel fuller. (T/N: and that''s why you stay away from weed everyone) Slowking stood on Steelix''s head with arms folded, exuding a regal aura. Its wise gaze wasn''t pondering the mysteries of the universe, but rather what it should cook for Julian tonight. Yes, some Huaiyang cuisine would be nice. (T/N: Huaiyang cuisine: The cuisine tends to have a slightly sweet side to it and is almost never spicy.) Growlithe was gleefully racing around the grassland, herding a group of Mareep like a true sheepdog. Lucario was lifting weightsLairon, who was fast asleep and didn''t want to wake up. It was enjoying the gentle up-and-down motion. Melmetal, imitating Slowking''s stance, thought it looked quite cool and was doing its best to appear more dignified. Gastly floated in and out of the nut-shaped spaces within Melmetal, as the breeze carried away some of its gas. The plump Dragonite was picking the few flowers dotting the grassland, sniffing them and thinking about making a flower crown for boss-Metagross. Surely, Metagross would be pleased. Meanwhile, Metagross, Dragonite''s esteemed "boss," was lying next to Julian, half-squinting as it also inhaled the faintly intoxicating gas. Many Grass-type Pokmon inhabited this grassland, most of them gentle by nature. Since Julian hadn''t disturbed them, they left him in peace as well. Some mischievous Sunkern even treated Steelix''s body like a slide, gliding down from its head and floating back up, only to slide down again. It had been almost 20 days since he entered the secret realm, Julian took advantage of the pleasant grassland environment to let all his Pokmon out to relax. With a blade of foxtail grass in his mouth, he sighed in relief as Gastly finally drifted away, taking the heady gas with it. Then, a sudden gust picked up. Steelix''s eyes lit up, sensing it could "eat" even more, and opened its mouth a bit wider. A Hoppip was blown off course by the stronger wind, tumbling down from the sky and aiming straight for Julian''s face. Panicking, the falling Hoppip chirped, as if pleading with the friendly-looking human below to catch it. Seeing this, Julian quickly stood up, locking his eyes on the falling Hoppip, and then leaped to meet it. Hoppip''s face lit up in delight, preparing to land safely in his arms. But Julian spun in mid-air and kicked, sending Hoppip flying like a ball, right into the center nut of Melmetal''s body. Hoppip: (_) "Meta!~" Julian landed stylishly, and his loyal Metagross was the first to clap in praise. "With a kick like that, even the national soccer team would think this is sci-fi." Melmetal felt something lodged in its stomach. It reached in, pulled out the dizzy Hoppip, and quickly flung it away, accidentally hitting other Hoppip floating in the air. Hoppip: These Bas***dshuman or Pokmonare all dogs. Growlithe: Well, I am a dog. That evening, a campfire crackled as Julian enjoyed the Huaiyang dishes Slowking had prepared for himthree dishes and a soup. For someone like Julian, finishing it all was no challenge. The Pokmon were munching on Pokblocks and other treats. Steelix noticed its appetite had grown; even after eating all that "wind," it still wasn''t full, so it went for some more Pokblocks. Metagross, with a flower crown on its head, quietly ate its dinner. Dragonite looked pleased with the crown it had made, even making a grass circlet for Julian, which Julian promptly placed on Melmetal''s head instead. Julian: This green wreath suits Melmetal perfectly. Gastly, wearing a happy grin, devoured its Pokblocks, savoring their deliciousness. It also had a group of new friends around, something it hadn''t experienced beforea meal with companions. In this pristine, unpolluted secret realm, the night sky was filled with stars and a bright moon, much more vivid than the outside world. Julian leaned against Melmetal, whose liquid-metal body made for a surprisingly comfortable rest. Every so often, Julian pointed out stars with his finger. Melmetal looked at him, curious. "See, if you connect those stars together, doesn''t it look like someone?" Julian continued tracing patterns with his finger. Sear?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Mel!~" After a moment of contemplation, Melmetal seemed to recognize the shape and happily let out a cheer. "Right, that''s Steelix." "And if you connect these stars, that''s Metagross." "And over here, this cluster is like a ballyep, that''s Gastly." "And this hexagon here? That''s your nut." Seeing itself represented made Melmetal even happier, and it nudged Julian to find stars for the rest of their friends. Slowking and Lucario were busy tidying up. Cleaning the dishes was easy; one Water Gun from Slowking, and they were spotless. That night, Julian didn''t pitch a tent. Instead, he had Steelix curl into a circle; with its size, the circle was large enough to fit four or five Julians comfortably. But Julian still felt a bit cramped. Dragonite sprawled out on his left, taking up most of the space with its fat frame, and Growlithe snuggled up on his right. Originally, Growlithe had wanted to sleep right on top of Julian, but he''d firmly said no. So with a slightly hurt expression, it settled on his right side instead. As a result, Julian had difficulty even turning over. Looking at Dragonite and Growlithe who were already asleep, Julian smiled helplessly. Being with his Pokmon was a comforting feeling; even the stars above seemed to shine a little brighter tonight. Gastly drifted through the air above them. As a Ghost-type, it didn''t really need sleep; just a bit of rest could keep it energized for a whole day. In fact, it was even more active at night. The idea of a 9-9-7 work schedule wouldn''t just be a dream with Gastly''s stamina. Julian watched as Gastly floated out of his sight but he wasn''t worried. With its absolute invisibility, if there was any trouble, Gastly could easily avoid it. It had survived the far more dangerous Shadowed Forest, starting life on hard mode. This beginner-level grassland was no challenge at all. A sudden noise caught his attention. "Squeak, squeak.." Steelix was having a restless sleep, grinding its teeth. Julian chuckled, wondering if Steelix even realized it had hardly any teeth left to grind. Chapter 180: Alex Arrives Chapter 180: Alex ArrivesJulian carefully stowed away a dozen Dragon Heart grass, a rare plant that could heal or strengthen a Dragon-type Pokmon''s essence. These herbs were so precious they were usually sold by the leaf. Each Dragon Heart grass had about eight to ten leaves, and a single leaf could go for around 30 to 40 million. Finding these in a regular market was nearly impossiblethey were usually only seen in top auction houses. Julian hadn''t expected to find a small patch of Dragon Heart grass here. The plants were hidden exceptionally well; without the Dowsing Machine, who would''ve thought an unremarkable mountain ravine would hide themand in such quantity, too. While Dragon Heart grass'' primary use was to restore missing Dragon essence, it could also help boost a Dragon-type''s affinity. However, this effect was relatively minor. For Julian''s Dragonite, with its exceptionally strong Dragon essence, these would be little more than snacks unless it was an extraordinary Dragon-type treasure. "It''s probably time to leave the secret realm" Counting today, Julian had been in this advanced-level secret realm for 28 days. The limit for staying in such a place was 30 days. Exceeding this time would result in penalties proportional to the extra time spent inside. Of course, if you didn''t exit on time, either you were already dead, or you had chosen to live in the secret realm permanently. The first case didn''t need discussing. For the second case, unless you could hide exceptionally well, you''d eventually be discovered by the periodic patrol teams sent by the realm''s administrators. Every year, quite a few people tired of society would choose to live in secret realms. But these people usually stayed in low- or intermediate-level realms, where the risks weren''t too high. Only prominent or talented trainers could enter high-level realms, so why would anyone give up a good life just to hide away here? If you needed to stay long-term in a realm to push your limits, the Trainer Association could understand that. You''d just need to apply for permission to live in a high-level realm and could stay there indefinitely, if they approved. Julian''s current position was about half a day''s journey from the realm''s exit. After leaving, he planned to take a day off and then head back to school. "Meta!!" "Dra!!" Just as Julian was planning his next steps, Metagross and Dragonite suddenly let out warning roars and instantly positioned themselves between him and the perceived threat. Following their gaze, Julian saw a Fearow swiftly approaching. About thirty meters away, it stopped, and a figure leaped down from its back. When Julian saw who it was, his eyes narrowed slightly. This person wasn''t here with good intentions. "Such a vast realm, yet you managed to find me. Don''t tell me it''s a coincidenceAlex." The visitor was none other than Alex, whom Julian had previously defeated, stripping him of his spot on the team. Sarch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Judging by the expression on Alex''s face, it was clear he''d come for him, though Julian couldn''t understand how he''d found him. Advanced-level secret realms covered vast areas, often as large as an entire province, and with few people entering, it seemed improbable for Alex to find him purely by chance. Julian was certain he''d used some method to track him down. Alex''s seemingly calm gaze betrayed a deep resentment. Though he came from an average background, Alex had been exceptionally lucky, receiving guidance from skilled individuals along the way. This had allowed him, despite his humble origins, to become the freshman representative during his first year and maintain that status through his third year. In both his freshman and sophomore years, he had made the school team, though he hadn''t qualified to compete. By his third year, however, his skills had soared, and he became the second-strongest on the team, earning a spot to compete. Winning the university league for Imperial University would have granted him rewards that could push his abilities to new heights, perhaps even to the level of an Elite trainer. Yet, Julian had taken this spot from hima defeat made all the worse by the fact that Julian had won it fair and square, demonstrating absolute strength. ''The freshman representative had beaten the third year representative.'' ''A noble family''s prodigy had bested a hardworking talent from humble beginnings.'' During that time, he''d become a "celebrity" on campus. Even the members of the "Civilian Society," a group he had founded, had lost faith in him despite their claims of support. Alex knew they no longer believed in him. The Walker family was one of Drakoria''s top families and was nearly untouchable. But that didn''t mean no other family bore grudges against them. The larger the family, the more resources they controlled, which naturally meant fewer resources for everyone else. For years, the Walker family had controlled more than half of Drakoria''s Steel-type resources, while other Steel-type clans split the remaining half based on their influence. This monopolistic hold had long stirred resentment among other Steel-type families, though none dared openly challenge the Walker family''s power. Some families had thought they could wait until John, Julian''s grandfather, passed away. At that point, the Walker family''s top-level power would be limited to Julian''s father, Jake, who would be unable to guard such a vast amount of resources alone. But then came Juliana rising star with an incredible gift for training Pokmon, undefeated since his debut. His Metagross had proven itself a true powerhouse. As Julian''s grandfather often said, "My grandson has the potential of a champion." Julian''s Metagross had defeated an Articuno, single-handedly quelled a Pokmon Riot in a intermediate-level secret realm, and crushed Alex, the former top third-year, in battle. Each of these feats confirmed to the Steel-type families that Julian indeed had the potential of a champion and was growing rapidly. This filled them with dread. At his pace, they feared they wouldn''t even have the chance to wait for John to pass on; Julian might soon become the next Johnor even surpass him. Thus, a plan began to take shape among certain Steel-type families. However, any mistake in this plan would undoubtedly provoke John''s crazy retaliation. Therefore, they couldn''t directly involve any of their own people in carrying it out. And then Alex caught their attention. A common-born prodigy, a peak pseudo-Elite level trainer, skilled in multiple typesand, most importantly, someone who already bore a grudge against Julian. He had reason to take drastic action, and if he failed, they had contingency plans to handle the fallout. After some discreet contact, they reached out to Alex, promising him a range of enticing rewards. He agreed to their proposal. The intricate web of connections between noble families meant that when Julian entered the secret realm, someone had already made subtle arrangements that would allow Alex to track him. This was how Alex managed to locate Julian within such an enormous secret realm. He had also waited until the final days of the exploration window, calculating that after over twenty days in the realm, Julian''s Pokmon would have experienced numerous battles. Even with the use of healing items, their overall physical state would be somewhat worn down from their peak condition. It was a plan crafted with meticulous precision. Chapter 181: Die Chapter 181: DieSeeing a Swoobat perched on Alex''s shoulder, Julian understood how Alex had managed to track him down. Swoobat''s most distinctive feature is its heart-shaped nose, which is not only the origin of its name but also the channel for several of its moves. Beyond its abilities in battle, though, that nose has a lesser-known functionits sense of smell. Swoobat is monogamous and doesn''t have a particularly keen sense of smell in general. However, it has an extremely sharp sensitivity to the scent of its mate. Even if the scent was left behind forty or fifty days earlier, a Swoobat can still pick it up. When Julian entered the secret realm, he must have been marked with the scent of a female Swoobat. This scent would remain even after bathing, with time as the only way to fade it. Using this scent, Alex''s male Swoobat had been able to track him down. "It looks like those who harbor resentment against the Walker family have finally decided to make their move" Julian wasn''t naive, and neither was Alex. For Alex to enter the secret realm and confront him like this, he must have had significant backing. As if in response, Julian''s Alakazam, a peak Elite-level Pokmon, appeared at his side, ready to protect him. Across from him, Alex''s Mismagius, also at the peak Elite-level, appeared. "That''s it?" Julian remarked calmly. "Today, you''ll die here," Alex replied coldly. Killing Julian would earn Alex substantial rewards from the families cooperating with him. Those families might see him as a tool, but he was equally using them to eliminate his own rivalsthough he didn''t know precisely which families were involved. The noble families wouldn''t directly interact with Alex; they used intermediaries to maintain secrecy. As another Pok Ball opened, Alex''s second peak Elite-level Pokmon, a Gourgeist, appeared. Both were Ghost-types, specifically chosen to counter Alakazam. These two peak-level Elite Pokmon were the strongest support the families had provided Alex, forming the basis of his confidence. Even with Alakazam''s power, facing two Ghost-types at the same level would be a grueling battle. Alakazam, locked onto by both Pokmon, grew tense, already preparing to teleport Julian to safety. Once a peak Elite-level Alakazam decided to leave, it was nearly impossible for anyone even a Champion to stop it. As he assessed the two Ghost-types, Julian pondered which families might be behind this attack. It was likely a coalition rather than a single family, and they''d probably loaned Alex Pokmon that weren''t commonly used by their family members, avoiding any clear ties. "Mismagius, Trick Room!" Teleporting away is usually the best escape strategy, but if the space around them was sealed in advance, then unless Alakazam''s power was significantly superior, they wouldn''t be able to leave until the spatial lock faded. When Trick Room was activated, Alakazam initially intended to teleport Julian away. But Julian, through telepathy, stopped it. Seeing Julian and Alakazam trapped within the Trick Room, Alex smirked with confidence. "So, this is the best Elite John''s Pokmon can do," he sneered. Alakazam stood silently as Mismagius and Gourgeist positioned themselves in front of Julian. Alex refrained from sending out his own Pokmon, believing that these two peak Elite-level Pokmon would be enough to handle both Alakazam and Julian. He was already picturing the spoils of his victory. He knew that Metagross was wanted by the families backing him, so he wouldn''t be able keep it, but he intended to claim the rest of Julian''s Pokmon as his own; Dragonite, Steelix, Lucarioeach one a rare and powerful Pokmon. "Can you at least tell me which families want me dead?" Julian asked. "Sure, after you''re dead. Attack!" Avoiding the classic villain mistake of talking too much, Alex didn''t waste any time. Although he thought Julian was already as good as dead, he stayed alert, aware that Trick Room had a time limit. "Metagross, Mega Evolve. Melmetal, kill that punk" Julian commanded, releasing Melmetal to deal with Alex directly. Mega Evolved Metagross charged at Gourgeist while Alakazam confronted Mismagius. Within the Trick Room, Mismagius and Gourgeist had the advantage of increased speed. "What''s that Pokmon?" Alex''s eyes widened as he saw Melmetal for the first time. Its massive, charging form radiated power, making him wary enough to send out his strongest Pokmon, Haxorus. But Melmetal had a reputation; it had previously defeated a mid-tier Elite Gyarados while only at pseudo-Elite level. Against Melmetal''s Dynamic Punch, Haxorus, despite being a peak pseudo-Elite, was sent flying in a single turn. "Another Pokmon with Elite-level strength!" Alex''s expression shiftednot to fear, but to excitement. Metagross might be out of reach, but this new Pokmon seemed just as powerful, if not more. It had never appeared in any of Julian''s public battles, leading Alex to believe it might even be his strongest. "Julian, I have to thank you for this unexpected gift!" Alex laughed, thrilled with the prospect of capturing this unknown powerhouse. He threw out another Pok Ball. This time, a peak Elite-level Zebstrika emerged. Now, there were three peak Elite-level Pokmon facing Julian. A cold glint flashed in Julian''s eyes. Once he got out of here, he would make sure to find out which families were involved. At this point, the Trick Room contained four peak Elite-level Pokmon, and the intense aura they emitted was causing the entire space to tremble. "Zebstrika, kill that guy!" Alex ordered. Though the three Elite-level Pokmon wouldn''t follow Alex''s commands precisely, they shared the same goal: to eliminate Julian. Zebstrika, incredibly fast, was a challenge for Melmetal to stop with its bulky frame. Seeing no other option, Melmetal turned to attack Alex directly, attempting to protect Julian by taking down the source of the threat. Just then, Haxorus, which had been knocked back earlier, reappeared, blocking Melmetal''s path. "Mel!!" Melmetal roared in frustration. In this life-or-death situation for its Trainer, it was infuriating to be obstructed. As one of the Elite-level Pokmon prepared to strike, Dragonite appeared in front of it, swiftly joined by Steelix. "Steelix, Mega Evolve!" Steelix, initially at mid-level pseudo-Elite strength, transformed, reaching the strength of an entry-level Elite upon Mega Evolution. Alongside the previously Mega Evolved Metagross, Julian had now activated dual Mega Evolutions for the first time. Thanks to his intermediate psychic abilities, he could manage this feat, though he still felt his mental energy draining rapidly. Fortunately, stamina wasn''t an issue. "This guy must die" Alex seethed as he watched Dragonite and Mega Steelix hold off Zebstrika, even if only temporarily. Sar?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His anger was only heightened by the realization of just how powerful each of Julian''s Pokmon was. Yet the prospect was equally thrilling; once Julian was gone, these extraordinary Pokmon, along with all the treasures Julian possessed, would belong to him. Chapter 182: Brutal Metagross Chapter 182: Brutal MetagrossAlthough Alakazam and Mismagius were both at the peak Elite level, the difference in their power was becoming clear. After several rounds, Alakazam was gaining the upper hand over Mismagius. sea??h th N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian had never spared any resources on Alakazam, his personal protector. Even though it was limited to the peak Elite-level due its Cyan potential, preventing it from reaching pseudo-Champion rank, its foundation was constantly increasing. Meanwhile, Mega Metagross was in a stalemate with the Elite Gourgeist. At the same time, Mega Steelix and Dragonite were jointly holding back the third Elite Zebstrika. "Come on, show me if you have a fourth Elite-level Pokmon," Julian taunted coldly. Alex froze momentarily. If he had a fourth, he would have already used it. He never expected Julian to be able to withstand three Elite-level Pokmon. "Don''t get too cocky" Alex sneered, throwing out several Pok Balls. With a series of pops, four Electrode appeared on the field. "Electrode, use Explosion on those two!" Alex commanded maniacally. The four Electrode, all pseudo-Elites, would definitely incapacitate both Mega Steelix and Dragonite if they unleashed Explosion. In an instant, Alex recalled Zebstrika to its Pok Ball. The four Electrode began to glow with a blinding white light, ready to explode, threatening to flatten everything within a few kilometers, with the nearby Pokmon facing the brunt of it. Mismagius and Gourgeist were taken aback, realizing Alex was willing to sacrifice them too. And Alex was already preparing to escape, sending out his own Alakazam to Teleport him away. As long as Julian was killed, his mission would be complete, though he would lose several of these Pokmon. "Metagross!" Julian called, activating the Elite-level peak experience card he''d earned from the system as a reward. With the experience card, and boosted by Mega Evolution, Metagross''s power surged to the pseudo-Champion level. The Electrode, on the brink of explosion, suddenly felt an immense force suppressing their detonation energy, unable to release it. "Take them down first," Julian ordered. Recognizing the explosive risk posed by the Electrode, Mega Metagross leaped into action, slamming its four claws down with crushing force, annihilating the four Electrode. Then, in a blink, Metagross Teleported to Gourgeist, delivering a devastating Meteor Mash, knocking it unconscious. The power gap between pseudo-Champion and Elite was massive, with an even wider gap between Elite and pseudo-Elite. Seeing the sudden surge in Metagross''s strength, Mismagius panicked, giving Alakazam an opening to finish it off with a Psybeam. From the moment Julian activated the Elite-level experience card to the current scene, only three seconds had passed. In those three seconds, Alex had already been teleported away by his Alakazam. "Why didn''t they explode?" Reappearing about seven or eight kilometers from the battle, Alex noticed the absence of any explosion sounds, and a sense of dread filled him. But he dismissed it as unlikely; with four pseudo-Elite Electrode using Explosion, the blast''s power would be multiplied exponentially. Once they began the move, stopping it should''ve been impossibleeven they couldn''t cancel it if they tried. "Metagross, bring that guy back to me," Julian commanded coldly. Within ten seconds, Metagross disappeared and reappeared, dragging a barely alive Alex back to Julian. As for Alex''s Alakazam, his brain was pierced by Metagross, and now its body was still hanging on Metagross''s arm. The Metagross species was naturally brutal, but due to their highly developed brains, they restrained their violent instincts. This time, however, that savage nature had come to the forefront, leaving Alakazam''s lifeless body as proof. Julian retrieved the Pok Balls from Alex''s belongings, returning Mismagius and Gourgeist while locking all other Pok Balls to prevent any accidental releases. Seeing this, Alex went pale, opening his mouth to beg for mercy, but Julian didn''t give him the chance. "Gastly, use Hypnosis, then Dream Eater," Julian ordered. A white Gastly suddenly appeared before Julian, its eyes glowing with an eerie light. In moments, Alex was overcome with drowsiness and fell asleep, fear frozen on his face. Had Julian not needed him alive to uncover the families targeting him, he would have sent Gastly to kill Alex long ago, without giving him the chance to deploy his three Elite-level Pokmon. This was the only reason Alex had lasted this long. Under Dream Eater''s effects, Alex''s face twisted with discomfort as his dreams played out in Julian''s mind with Gastly'' help. While Julian didn''t uncover the specific individuals behind this, he learned that several Steel-type families were involved, though the details were still unclear. They had only sent intermediaries to contact Alex. Before long, Julian identified one of these Steel-type families. Alex wasn''t a fool; he had secretly followed his contacts using his Alakazam''s abilities, discovering one of the families in question. With a family name in hand, the rest would be straightforward. Before Julian could delve further, the vision abruptly ended. He opened his eyes to find Alex foaming at the mouth, his limbs twitching uncontrollably. When a Pokmon''s Hypnosis move is used on a human, it can induce instant sleep. However, if combined with Dream Eater or Nightmare, it can inflict severe mental damage due to the fragility of the human mind. In mild cases, it might lead to memory loss; in severe cases, it could cause permanent brain damage, turning the person into a vegetable or, in the worst case, leading to death. Gastly showed no mercy, using Dream Eater on Alex. The fact that Alex survived was pure luck, but his future seemed grimhe was likely to remain in a vegetative state for the rest of his life. "Finish him" As soon as he finished speaking, Metagross delivered a powerful punch, leaving another headless body in its wake, blood splattering onto Julian. "Smack" Julian slapped Metagross''s head in frustration. "Next time, could you just break their neck? Don''t be so brutal. Or at least warn me beforehand, alright?" Wiping his face, Julian''s hand came away covered in a sticky white substance, and a wave of nausea hit him. He shot a glare at Metagross, his irritation rising. But Metagross seemed oblivious, dragging Alex''s body along with Alakazam''s to a corner and continuing its corpse abuse. To Metagross, anyone who dared harm Julian deserved a fate worse than death. Understanding its mindset, Julian let it be. He tried vomiting a few times but unable to bring anything up. Chapter 183: Heart of Arceus Chapter 183: Heart of ArceusAfter the ordeal with Alex, Julian had no desire to remain in the secret realm any longer, especially since he had already been planning to leave. He packed his belongings, placing Alex''s Pok Balls and the treasures he carried into his bag. Among Alex''s Pokmon, three of them possessed Cyan qualifications and were all at the pseudo-Elite level. Having killed Alex, Julian knew these Pokmonraised and bonded deeply with their original trainerwould never willingly follow him. Even if one did show loyalty, Julian wouldn''t trust it. Who knew if the Pokmon truly wanted to join him or was waiting for the perfect chance to snap his neck? Thus, he decided not to keep the Pokmon, but the treasures on Alex''s body were another story entirely. Alex''s collection was impressive. For a commoner to have risen to such heights, it was no surprise he possessed numerous rare items. Among them was one particular treasure that even Julian couldn''t immediately identify. The object wasn''t very large, roughly the size of a thumb, shaped like a water droplet, and had a pale golden hue. Julian mentally reviewed all known and documented tear drop shape treasures but couldn''t place this one. It was either undiscovered or simply an ordinary trinket. Too lazy to keep guessing, Julian activated his Probing Eyes to identify the treasure. Heart of Arceus: Note: Julian''s usually calm demeanor finally cracked as he read the information. "Are you kidding me? This thing is the primal blood of Arceus?" He couldn''t help but wonder which Pokmon had the audacity to injure Arceus and spill its primal blood. Eternatus, maybe? No wonder Alex, a commoner trainer, was pursuing a multi-type strategyit all made sense now with such a treasure in his possession. The wasn''t just a rare elemental treasure; it was a . "Metagross, get over here!" Julian called, frowning when he noticed Metagross still tormenting the corpses. Does this guy have some kind of sadistic hobby? Having vented enough, Metagross quickly flew over. "Eat this" Julian said, tossing the toward it. Metagross opened its mouth wide and swallowed the treasure in one gulp. The could be distributed among all Pokmon or given to a single Pokmon for maximum effect. Julian, not one to settle for mediocrity, had no hesitation in choosing the latter. Metagross had always been Julian''s ace. He had poured the majority of his resources into nurturing it, knowing that the stronger Metagross became, the more formidable he would be as a trainer. In turn, Metagross had continuously proven itself, repaying Julian''s trust. Just now, it had managed to hold its ground against a peak Elite Pokmon while only being at the early stage of pseudo-Elite, even if it was with the aid of Mega Evolution. Afterward, Julian had used a Peak Elite Experience Card, temporarily boosting his strength to the level of a pseudo-Champion. With the now devoured, Julian eagerly anticipated what heights his Metagross might reach in the future. The , similar to the Fire Crystal, would be absorbed gradually by the Pokmon over time. There was no need to worry about adverse effects on Metagrossit would only grow stronger. "Well?" Julian asked, curious. "Do you feel any different?" "Meta!~" Metagross: I''m hungry Julian: (;գ) --- At the advanced-level secret realm''s entrance, Julian stepped out, his demeanor calm. Military personnel stationed there quickly approached to perform their routine inspection. They meticulously checked Julian''s items and compared them to what he had brought in, paying particular attention to his Pokmon. Seeing that Julian had only captured one Pokmon, and it wasn''t an Elite from within the secret realm, they soon allowed him to pass. Alex''s belongings, including his Pok Balls, were safely stored in Julian''s system space, making them undetectable. Once outside, Julian pulled out his phone, which was now showing numerous unread messages. There was no signal inside the secret realm, so communication had been impossible. Skimming through the notifications, Julian saw nothing of particular urgency and didn''t bother replying to each one. Instead, he dialed his grandfather, John. "Ah, my dear grandson, you''re out of the secret realm?" Although Julian hadn''t told anyone about his venture into the secret realm, John had somehow found out. "Yeah, Grandpa. I was ambushed in there" There was silence on the other end of the phone. After a few seconds; "You''re unharmed, right?" "I''m fine." "Do you know who was behind it?" "All I know is that it involved the Dean family and possibly others. They bribed Alex, a third-year student from the Imperial University, to do the dirty work. Alex''s dead nowI killed him. They even supplied him with three peak Elite Pokmon." Another pause, this time heavier. "I see, Grandpa will take care of it." "Alright, I''ll send over the Pokmon shortly." With that, Julian ended the call. --- For a family to send people to assassinate a rising star of the younger generation, it was a blatant violation of unwritten rules. Rivalries and clashes between aristocratic families were common, but there were boundaries everyone respected. If one family sent assassins after another''s prodigy, what would stop others from doing the same? If such behavior became the norm, how many gifted youths would even survive to adulthood? Of the over 500 Elite trainers in Drakoria, more than 400 came from big or small noble families. The rest were Elites born from ordinary backgrounds. So, if you kill the prodigies of other families, you''re not just severing the fate of an opposing familyyou''re also weakening the overall strength of Drakoria as a nation. Conflicts between families were inevitable, but they must adhere to the rules. Targeting and assassinating the younger generation of rival families, however, was a clear violation of those rules. This crosses the bottom line for all the noble families. No family wants to see their own heirs fall victim to such schemes. If you choose not to play by the rules and I find out about it, then don''t blame me for what comes next. --- Julian wasn''t entirely sure how many families had been involved in this plot against him. The only one he was certain about was the Dean family. With his grandfather''s temper, it was safe to say the Dean family wouldn''t last much longer. He had Dragonite fly him to the outskirts of the city, where taxis were readily available. For the sake of public safety and order, no flying Pokmon were allowed to be ridden over major cities unless in emergencies. The only exceptions were licensed couriers, like food delivery and postal workers. Trainers could also apply for a flying license, but the process was stringent. Advanced Trainers didn''t even qualify to apply, and pseudo-Elites had only a slim chance of being approved. Since Julian hadn''t obtained a flying license yet, he couldn''t ride Dragonite directly into the capital. Instead, he took a cab. "Driver, take me to the Gardevoir Hotel" Although he had washed up daily while in the secret realm, the conditions there were far from ideal. Julian decided he''d treat himself to a nice dinner at the hotel and stay the night before heading back to school the following day. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 184: Flexing and Face-Slapping Chapter 184: Flexing and Face-SlappingThere were plenty of five-star hotels in the capital, but only a few truly stood out, and the Gardevoir Hotel was one of the most famous among them. As for why Julian chose to go there, the reason was simpleit was a property of the Walker family, and it happened to be the closest option. Naturally, it made sense to head there. Half an hour later, Julian arrived at the hotel entrance. While he had visited the Gardevoir Hotel in Lake City many times, this was his first time at the one in the capital. The decor here was undoubtedly more luxuriousafter all, this was the capital. Inside the grand lobby, Julian casually picked a seat. Without even glancing at the menu, he listed off a few dishes. The waiter nodded and left to place his order. Dining here was a privilege reserved for the wealthy or influential. Even a modest three or four dishes could easily cost the equivalent of an average person''s income for three to four months. For this reason, it wasn''t uncommon for Internet celebrities and influencers to dine here occasionally. Their motives? Well, those in the know understood. "Hey, everyone, here I am at the Gardevoir Hotel," a female influencer said softly, holding her phone as she livestreamed to her audience, showing off the hotel''s elegant interior. "I just ordered three dishes, and honestly, this meal means I''ll be eating instant noodles next month." Her audience responded with enthusiasm as a virtual luxury cruise ship appeared on her screen, signaling a generous donation. "This one''s on me" "Thanks for the luxury cruise, sweetie!" The influencer smiled brightly and blew a kiss to the camera. "You scored a free kiss!" "Big Brother, showing his dominance!" "Hey, Little Ain, the guy behind you looks so sloppy" "No kidding! His clothes look like they haven''t been washed in days!" Still thanking her top donor, the influencerknown as "Little Ain"glanced behind her at the comments'' suggestion. When she saw Julian''s somewhat dusty appearance, her brows furrowed instantly. Julian wasn''t actually unkempthe was just wearing plain clothes and looked a bit dusty from having just emerged from the secret realm. However, in this upscale hotel where every man was impeccably dressed in suits and every woman wore stunning attire, Julian stood out like a sore thumb. He looked like a stray mutt that had wandered into an exclusive gathering. "Ugh, what''s with the Gardevoir Hotel? Letting just anyone inaren''t they worried about dine-and-dash freeloaders?" the influencer muttered unhappily. Julian''s seat behind her made it impossible for her to take a decent selfie. No matter how she angled her camera, he kept appearing in the frame. Since she was at a solo table, switching seats wasn''t an option either. If she couldn''t take pictures or post to her social media, this meal would be utterly meaningless. Just then, another luxury cruise ship appeared on her livestream screen. "Little Ain, get him kicked out, and I''ll send five more luxury cruises" Her top donor messaged. Other viewers chimed in, cheering her on. Even though a few voices objected, they were quickly drowned out by the crowd''s excitement. Five luxury cruisesworth hundreds of thousandswere more than enough to tempt the influencer. Besides, Julian''s presence was indeed ruining her ability to post the perfect selfie. "Brother, you better keep your word!" The top donor didn''t reply directly but instead sent another luxury cruise, making his intentions clear. Excited, the female influencer summoned a waiter. "Ma''am, how may I assist you?" the waiter asked politely. She pointed to Julian and said with a disdainful tone, "His shabby outfit is ruining my appetite. Kick him out for me." The waiter shook his head immediately. "I''m sorry, ma''am, but our hotel has no such policy." The livestream chat erupted with laughter: "Haha, Little Ain, your words don''t carry weight here" "Just drop it, Little Ain. You can''t pull this off" "This waiter''s immune to charm!" Rejected outright and ridiculed by her chat, the influencer''s embarrassment quickly turned to anger. "No, you must kick him out! Call your managerI''ll speak to them instead!" The waiter hesitated for a moment before suggesting, "How about this, ma''am? I can arrange a different seat for you. How about one of those prime spots over there?" He gestured toward the best seats in the hall. As much as he wanted to avoid escalating the situation, he also knew that if the manager got involved over something trivial, he''d likely face the consequences. "That won''t do!" the influencer snapped. "He needs to leave. He''s not just bothering mehe''s ruining the entire dining experience for everyone!" As her tone rose, other diners instinctively turned to see what was happening. "Ma''am, please lower your voice" The waiter urged, growing increasingly nervous. "Lower my voice? Am I being loud?" Seeing the waiter flustered only made her more confident. She felt that if she kept pushing, the staff would eventually side with her and throw that person out. By this time, the manager had noticed the commotion and quickly approached the scene. The waiter, relieved, stepped aside. "Ma''am, may I ask what''s going on? I''m the manager of this restaurant. If there''s an issue, please let me know," the manager said calmly. The influencer sneered and pointed at Julian, who was busy devouring his meal. "Look at himdressed like that, eating like that. It''s disgusting! He''s ruining my dining experience. You should kick him out immediately. And frankly, the hotel should compensate all of us by covering our meals." The influencer wasn''t entirely clueless. She attempted to create a "shared interest" among the diners, hoping they''d back her up. Meanwhile, Julian, who had been too focused on eating to notice earlier, finally picked up on the commotion. His delayed lunch due to Alex''s situation meant he was starving, so he was eating quickly and messily, which wasn''t helping the situation. When he glanced up, he realized the influencer was targeting him specifically, trying to have him removed. "Ma''am, how about this? We''ll offer you a 30% discount on your meal" As a policy, reputable hotels rarely evicted paying guests without a very good reason. Naturally, the manager wasn''t about to agree to her unreasonable demands. However, the influencer''s persistent antics were beginning to disrupt the other diners. The manager knew he had to take action to prevent further escalation, so he decided to offer a slight concession. "No, I''m afraid you didn''t quite understand me," the influencer huffed. "He must leave, or I''ll lodge a formal complaint against this hotel!" Despite her unreasonable behavior, the manager maintained his professional demeanor, keeping a polite smile. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Ma''am, anyone who enters this hotel is a guest. I can authorize your meal to be on the house and offer you a better table. Would that be acceptable?" By this point, Julian had finished his meal. Taking his time, he strolled over to the commotion. The female influencer, seeing him approach, instinctively stepped back and snapped, "Why are you coming so close? Don''t you know how expensive my clothes are? If you get them dirty, can you even afford to pay for it?" Julian ignored her. Instead, he turned to the restaurant manager and said calmly, "Do you know who I am?" The manager, who had only caught a glimpse of Julian''s profile earlier, now had a clear view of his face. Recognition dawned instantly. '''' Standing before him was none other than the heir of the Walker Group himself. "Young Master Walker!" The manager immediately straightened up, and quickly greeted him with the utmost respect. "Don''t give her any discounts or free meals. Charge her exactly what she owesno more, no less" Julian couldn''t believe he''d just experienced such a cliche "flexing and face-slapping" moment himself. Seeing the female influencer''s stunned expression; Julian: (*) He had no interest in making things harder for herhis only thought now was to get some much-needed rest. Chapter 185: Back to School Chapter 185: Back to SchoolJulian had no intention of teaching the influencer a lesson. Their statuses weren''t even on the same level. If she hadn''t been so persistent and disruptive to the other diners, he wouldn''t have bothered with her at all. Meanwhile, viewers in the live stream had already been paying attention to Julian. Some had found his side profile oddly familiar, but now that his face was fully visible, recognition hit them like a thunderbolt. If they couldn''t figure out who he was at this point, they''d truly fail as netizens. The influencer, however, was still clueless. Hearing the restaurant manager respectfully address the "scruffy man" as '' left her stunned. "Young Master? What Young Master?" she asked blankly. Julian had been all over the internet recently due to his victory over Articuno and his involvement in the Pokmon Riot incident. However, not everyone knew who he was. Some had heard the name but couldn''t connect it to a face, and even those who had recognized him earlier might have let the memory fade now that his viral moment had passed. The comment section of the live stream exploded with activity. A flood of "helpful" viewers eagerly educated the influencer about Julian''s background. From '', '', and '', to '', the comments painted a vivid picture of his extraordinary lineage. And as if that wasn''t enough, they emphasized that '''' His identity had long been public knowledge. Hardcore fans even knew details about his extended familyeverything from his maternal grandfather''s role in government to his uncle''s international ventures. The more the influencer, Little Ain, read through the barrage of comments, the paler her face became. Each detail spelled out one undeniable fact; ''Messing with Julian was a death sentence.'' "Big brother!!!" She suddenly wailed, tears streaming down her face as she desperately sought help from her top supporter. But when she turned back to her screen, she saw that her top supporter had vanished without a trace. "Big Brother ran like he was taking a train and even bought a standing ticket!" "You''re here to flaunt in a fancy restaurant for clout; he''s just having dinner at his own place" The comment section quickly turned against her, mocking her earlier smugness. Ironically, many of the same viewers had egged her on moments ago. -- As for the influencer, Julian didn''t give her another thought. He had already arrived at , equivalent to a presidential suite in his previous life but far larger and more luxurious. He released all his Pokmon into the spacious room. Even his Steelix could hold its head high comfortably. The suite was equipped with every amenity, including a Pokmon transfer system. Julian placed Alex''s Pokmon, including the three Elite-level ones, into the device and carefully entered the coordinates. Soon all these Pok Balls were sent to his grandfather by him. Once the Pokmon''s dinner was prepared, Julian finally stepped into the bathroom, eager for a relaxing shower. Gastly, however, was in no rush to eat. Born in the Secret Realm, everything in human society seemed magical to it. The showerhead, for instancewhy did it spray water? And why was the water warm? Its trainer looked particularly happy, which only piqued Gastly''s curiosity further. "Maybe wait until I''m done before coming in?" Julian''s expression froze as he noticed the curious Gastly hovering in the bathroom. It wasn''t exactly natural to feel comfortable with a ghost-type Pokmon staring at you mid-shower. Julian thought wryly. "In places like this, don''t just barge in, understand?" Julian Warned. Gastly''s ability to phase through walls and doors was both a blessing and a curse. The last thing Julian wanted was for it to accidentally wander into a women''s restroom or bathhouseit would be Julian, not Gastly, who''d pay the price. The rest of the night passed uneventfully. The next morning, Julian slept in until the sun was high in the sky. Slowking had taken it upon itself to feed the other Pokmon breakfast, ensuring they didn''t disturb their trainer. After a leisurely brunch in the hotel, Julian prepared to leave. As he exited the lobby, yesterday''s influencer, Little Ain, suddenly appeared, blocking his path. "Mr. Walker, I''m so sorry about yesterday! I didn''t know it was you" After speaking, the influencer looked at Julian nervously. After learning about Julian''s background, Little Ain had spent a sleepless night, terrified of the consequences. Following a private message from her top fan advising her to apologize, she had waited outside the hotel all morning. Against all odds, her patience paid off. Julian gave her a brief glance but didn''t reply. Without saying a word, he walked past her. Little Ain let out a heavy sigh of relief. Her top fan had been rightpeople like Julian wouldn''t bother to hold a grudge against someone like her. Her apology wasn''t about avoiding punishment but rather an attempt to improve Julian''s impression of her. she mused. Watching Julian''s retreating figure, little Ain sighed again, cutting her thoughts short. --- Back at School; Sear?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon returning to campus, Julian''s first stop was his homeroom teacher''s office to notify of his return. Taking a month off as a freshman was no small feat. If not for being part of the Special Recruit Class, such a request would''ve been nearly impossible in a regular class. "Boss Julian, you''re back!" Just as Julian reached the door of his villa, an excited voice came from behind. "Dalton? What are you doing here?" Julian asked. Dalton, the class leader of the Fighting class, had started addressing Julian as ''Boss Julian'' after losing to him during military training. "I''m in your class now, Boss Julian!, I moved into the villa area this month. The Special class really is a whole different world compared to regular classes," Dalton said, beaming. The Special class was exclusive, with only thirty students. It operated on a strict elimination system, where the lowest-ranked student at the end of each month faced a challenger from the regular classes. If the lowest-ranked student won, they could remain in the class. If they lost, they were demoted to a regular class. So, even after joining the Special class, if your strength wasn''t up to par, you could still be eliminated due to the rules. It was because of this, that Dalton had his chance to join. "Did you defeat Shen?" That was Julian''s first reaction. He immediately assumed Dalton had beaten Shen to secure his spot in the Special class. Shen''s place in the class was solely due to her awakening a special ability called "Heart''s Eye." However, her overall strength ranked at the bottom among the thirty students in the class. Moreover, her "Heart''s Eye" ability had only recently awakened, making it weak and short-lived. Being defeated wasn''t surprising. Julian didn''t give it much thought. The world of trainers was straightforwardsurvival of the fittest. Even if you were exceptional, there would always be someone better. "No, she wasn''t defeated by me. She''s the second to last. But now that I''m in, she''s ranked last. Next month, her spot might be in danger," Dalton explained. Dalton''s strength was already enough to qualify for the Special class. If Shen hadn''t suddenly awakened her "Heart''s Eye," the spot would have been his from the start. "Got it." Julian nodded slightly before heading into the villa. Dalton stood there, stunned. He had expected Julian to invite him in for a chat, but instead, he was ignored. Chapter 186: Training With Wade Chapter 186: Training With WadeEarly the next morning, Julian went to report to the school team. With just over a month left before the 100-Schools League, the team was required to meet at Battle Arena #01 every day at 8 a.m., unless there were special circumstances. However, only five members showed up, including Julian''s cousin, Thea. "Julian, you''re finally back!" Thea ran up to him and playfully pulling his face. She knew Julian had gone to an Advanced-level secret realm, so her face was full of curiosity as she asked. "What did you gain from the secret realm?" Exploring secret realms was like a treasure hunt. With enough luck, the treasures found might not make you worry-free for life, but they could significantly accelerate your growth. On the flip side, bad luck might mean not finding anythingor worse, dying in the process. "Not telling you" Julian replied, deciding to annoy her after she pulled his face as soon as they met. "Why is it just only a few of us here?" Seeing Thea about to pull his face again with a slightly annoyed look, Julian quickly stepped back. "Hmph. Some are on missions, and others are busy training," Thea explained. The school team had ten members, with eight having spots to compete. The remaining two were official members but essentially served as substitutes. Although the school team''s coach, Wade, was an Elite, he was a Dragon-type Trainer so his expertise was naturally focused on Dragon-types. His understanding of other types wasn''t as deep. His primary role was to teach battle experience and help Trainers improve their adaptability and commanding skills in combat. As for improving their Pokmon''s strength, that was up to the team members themselves. Because of this, it was rare for all team members to gather at once. Many of them spent their time taking on missions to train their Pokmon, using intensive training routines, or, like Julian, entering secret realms to grow stronger. There were many ways to strengthen Pokmon, and it was all about choosing the method that suited you best. "Oh? Why didn''t you go?" Julian blurted out, and immediately realized that sounded wrong. sea??h th Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Julian, are you saying you don''t want to see me?" At that moment, a dangerous aura emanated from Thea. Even her psychic energy started to ripple, making her long hair float in the air. Thea was one of the rare Trainers with psychic powers. While her ability was still at the intermediate level, she was on the verge of advancing to the next stage. Psychic users often had a common flaw: if their abilities became too strong without proper control, it could lead to a berserk state. Of course, Thea wasn''t actually berserk. She was just putting on a show to scare Julian. "Sis, I was wrong!" Julian quickly admitted. He had psychic powers himself, so he knew full well Thea was fine. His apology was more out of the philosophy that ''a wise man doesn''t argue with a woman.'' He absolutely wasn''t backing down out of fear. When the meeting time arrived, Coach Wade showed up right on time. He glanced around the gathered team members and frowned slightly. "Where''s Alex? Why isn''t he here?" Julian: He won''t be coming anymore If a school team member couldn''t attend, they were required to inform Coach Wade in advance. Even though Alex had been defeated by Julian and lost his spot among the eight competing members, his strength was still second only to the team captain and Julian. When the time came for the 100-Schools League, Wade, as the coach, wouldn''t leave Alex on the sidelines. Winning first place for Imperial University was of paramount importance. Whatever personal issues existed between Julian and Alex were irrelevant to Wade. The rest of the team members shook their heads in response to Wade''s question. None of them knew where Alex had gone. Wade pulled out his phone and tried calling Alex, but the call went to voicemail. "Let''s start training. Today, we''ll pair up for practice matches. Julian, you''re with me." After hanging up, Wade decided not to dwell on Alex''s absence, assuming he might''ve had an emergency. As Julian and Wade headed toward another battle arena, the other team members watched them with envy. Wade was one of the strongest Elite Trainers, a Dragon-Type specialist. Though he called it a sparring match, it was more of a coaching session. Such opportunities were rare, and those who had trained with Wade before had gained a lot from it. "Come on, send out your Dragonite" At the battlefield, Wade had already released his Pokmon, a Druddigon. Druddigon was infamous among Dragon-Types, often referred to as the "Disgrace of Dragons." The title originally belonged to Flygon, but with Druddigon''s appearance, it surpassed Flygon to claim this dubious honor. Its unappealing appearance lowered the Dragon-Type''s overall aesthetic, and its base stat total was only 485. The only redeeming factor was its impressive 120 base attack. Still, the "Disgrace of Dragons" nickname depended largely on the Trainer. There was a saying among Trainers: ''There are no weak Pokmon, only weak Trainers.'' With enough skill, even a Beedrill could become a champion. Wade was the second-best Dragon-Type Elite Trainer after the reigning Top Dragon-Type Elite. In his hands, Druddigon was a force to be reckoned with. Even Julian''s father would have to take it seriously in battle. Julian sent out his Dragonite. Same-Type Pokmon often shared many similarities, which was why Wade specifically asked Julian to use Dragonite. Although Wade didn''t have the ability to appraise Pokmon stats directly, his extensive experience made it clear that Julian''s Dragonite was exceptionally well-trained. If level weren''t a factor, Julian''s Dragonite might even surpass Wade''s own. Julian''s Dragonite was currently at level 61, just stepping into the pseudo-Elite tier. Being a pseudo-legendary Pokmon, its leveling slowed significantly as it grew stronger. Julian wasn''t in a rush, thoughhe was confident in its development. Level doesn''t always define combat power. Even though Dragonite had only just entered the pseudo-Elite tier, if it fought with everything it had, it could at least hold its own against an early stage Elite Pokmon. If Julian were using his Metagross instead, it could outright overpower an Elite-tier Pokmon in its early stages. In a coaching match, winning or losing wasn''t the focus. The guiding party intentionally left openings to steer their opponent''s decisions and help them improve. While the coach needed to have a high level of skill, the one being guided couldn''t be too weak either. This coaching match lasted nearly an hour. Julian gave it everything he had, yet he could barely trouble Wade''s Druddigon. Who said it was the "Disgrace of Dragons"? Under Wade''s command, it was nothing short of the "Pride of Dragons." In Wade''s hands, Druddigon became a true artillery platform, with its single highest attributeattackpushed to the absolute limit. Of Druddigon''s five base stats, attack was the strongest, while the other four were mediocre at best, or outright terrible. Since its weaknesses couldn''t be fixed, Wade focused on amplifying its sole strength to the maximum. The result was devastating firepower. Moves like Dragon Pulse, Dragon Claw, Dragon Rush, Hyper Beam, and Focus Blast were unleashed with incredible force. Even with its power intentionally restrained during the battle, Druddigon left Dragonite no room to capitalize on any advantages. Chapter 187: Hannah’s Dilemma Chapter 187: Hannahs DilemmaAfter the coaching match, Julian took the opportunity to ask Wade for advice on training his Dragonite. The Drake family was a renowned lineage of Dragon-type trainers, unrivaled in Drakoria and highly respected worldwide for their expertise in nurturing Dragon-type Pokmon. Although Julian hailed from the Walker family, Wade''s position as the school team''s coach now placed them in a teacher-student relationship. With this connection, Wade was willing to share his knowledge with Julian as long as it didn''t involve the core secrets of the Drake family. Julian already knew a fair bit about training Dragonite, but it couldn''t compare to the expertise of the Drake family. Wade even remarked on how surprising it was that someone from a Steel-specialist lineage could train a Dragon-type so effectively. Of course, only Julian himself knew the true reason behind it. The greatest factor was the system he possessed, which allowed him to spend points to acquire treasures, energy cubes, and stat-enhancing elixirs to boost Dragonite''s power and base stats. Though he lacked the specialized knowledge of the Drakes, Julian relied on his ability of "pay to win," purchasing whatever was necessary to enhance his Pokmon''s growth. This approach extended to his other Pokmon as well. "Have you decided on your second attribute? I suggest you go with Dragon types," Wade said. He believed Julian''s talent for training Dragon-types was on par with his Steel expertise. If Julian hadn''t been born into the Walker family, Wade would have wanted to take him on as an apprentice. While formal mentorship wasn''t an option, Wade couldn''t stand the thought of such potential going to waste, so he encouraged Julian to focus on Dragons for his secondary specialization. The synergy between Steel-type''s superior defense and Dragon-type''s overwhelming offense was nearly perfect, combining durability and damage in a formidable way. "I''ve been considering it," Julian nodded. He had initially planned to specialize in Dragons as his secondary type. However, this plan had been delayed after he caught Pokmon like Slowking, Growlithe, and Gastly. Even so, Julian hadn''t abandoned the idea. For now, he prioritized training his Lairon, Growlithe, and Gastly, all of which had exceptional potential. Only after nurturing them would he revisit the idea of his secondary attribute. As for Slowking, she had already told Julian that she didn''t like fighting much and preferred to support Julian and caring for his Pokmon. Julian respected Slowking''s wishes. With Metagross, Dragonite, and others ready for combat, there was no problem Slowking being the logistics specialist. In fact, Slowking had almost reached the level of Love, the family''s Indeedee in this regard. She even ensured Julian drank a glass of Moomoo Milk every day. "That''s good to hear. If you decide to pursue Dragons, come find me. I can arrange for you to access the Dragon Den once," Wade said, patting Julian''s shoulder. The Walker and Drake families had no conflicts, so nurturing a prodigious talent like Julian was in everyone''s best interest. The Dragon Den was as renowned as the Oreburgh Great Wallboth special high-tier zones. The Drakes had been in charge of the Dragon Den for as long as the Walkers had overseen the Oreburgh Great Wall. "Thank you, Teacher Wade," Julian said respectfully. Whether it was the guidance on training Dragonite or the promise he had just made, Julian knew he now owed Wade a favor. ''If someone respects you an inch, you respect them a foot in return.'' This exchange had established a connection between Julian and the Drake family, and he was already classmates with Ian. The school team''s morning training session had ended, leaving the afternoon free for personal pursuits. At Imperial University, students were given significant freedom. Whether they chose to attend lectures or rest was up to them. The university didn''t enforce attendance, but students were still expected to pass their final exams and earn the necessary credits. Even if someone skipped classes for an entire semester, as long as they met the academic requirements, no one would interfere. This freedom, however, came with high stakes. Each year, many students failed to earn enough credits and were expelled. There were no extensions for graduation; falling short on credits simply meant being dismissed. Julian planned to head to the library to organize the Dragon-type training techniques Wade had shared with him. He also intended to browse other books on Dragon-type Pokmon training. On the way, he noticed Hannah being pulled forcefully by a man. Her expression was one of restrained anger, looking helpless and pitiful as she glanced at the surrounding students, hoping someone would come to her aid. If the man pulling her weren''t who he was, someone in the crowd would have already stepped in. Damien Dean, a notorious figure from the Dean family of the Imperial Capital, was infamous at Imperial University. Nicknamed "Dean''s scourge" he exploited his family''s power to harass female students, especially the pretty ones. Rumors circulated about him driving a girl to suicide during high school. Since coming to university, his behavior had only worsened. Some brave souls had tried to intervene in the past but were beaten so badly by him that they ended up crippled. While his character was despicable, his strength was still acceptable, and few could stand up to him. Hannah, one of the top ten campus beauties, was unfortunately the least connected among them. Her family, though wealthy, lacked any significant influence. From the moment she enrolled, she had been targeted by Damien. However, Hannah was resourceful and knew how to maneuver social situations. She used her charm to gain admiration from various influential students, including heirs of noble families and talented commoners, creating a delicate balance of mutual deterrence that kept Damien at bay. Today, though, Damien seemed unusually forceful. "Young Master Dean, I''m really not feeling well today. How about make up for it another time?" Hannah pleaded, her arm aching from his grip, but she endured the pain. She wasn''t afraid of what Damien might do to her, but she was deeply worried about her parents. This was why many commoners resented and despised the aristocratic families. If you offended someone like Damien, they wouldn''t just come after you; they''d target your family and friends instead. They would use underhanded methods to humiliate and crush you until you had no choice but to kneel before them in despair. "No, you''re coming with me today, no matter what, Let me tell you, no one can help you today. And forget about that loser ZedI''ve already had my people block him." Hannah''s pleading expression only fueled Damien''s wicked desires. A surge of heat coursed through him as he stared at her helpless face. Among Hannah''s admirers, Zed was undoubtedly the most devoted. Despite being humiliated by Julian last time because of her, Zed continued to follow her around, earning himself the infamous title of "King of Simps." "As for the others, I''ve taken care of them too. Otherwise, why do you think no one''s stepped forward? Now be a good girl and come with me. Think of your family. Oh, and your little sister in the Water-Type Academy." His voice dropped to a whisper, loud enough only for Hannah to hear. Then, he pulled out his phone and began swiping through photos. Each image displayed her younger sisterat school, in the cafeteria, in her dorm, walking along the streets. Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Your sister may not be as pretty as you, but she''s still quite the cutie, If you really don''t want to come with me, maybe I''ll ask her to take your place instead. Sisters, after all, are meant to share everything, aren''t they?" At his words, Hannah''s eyes visibly dimmed, the light in them fading at a speed visible to the naked eye. (T/N: I would have very much liked to remove such cliches but the author is trying to make people hate the Dean family more before their annihilation, so yeah and she is not the FL or any other important character for that matter) Chapter 188: Kick! Kick! Kick! Chapter 188: Kick! Kick! Kick!It seemed Damien had noticed Hannah''s spirit had broken, and she gave up resistance. Smirking with satisfaction, he could no longer hold back. He stretched out his hand, aiming to touch her face in front of the crowd. Hannah wanted to resist, but Damien''s earlier words echoed in her mind. Whatever shred of defiance she had left vanished in an instant. "" Just as his hand was about to touch Hannah''s cheek, another hand shot out, gripping Damien''s wrist. The strength of the grip was immense. Damien felt as though his wrist might shatter under the pressure, and he let out a cry of pain. "Ow! Ow! Ow! Stop!" The excruciating pain overwhelmed him, leaving no room to focus on who was causing it. Standing there, Julian stared coldly at Damien. The Dean family was one of the families that had sent Alex into the secret realm to assassinate him. His grandfather, John, had already provided a list of key Dean family members. And Damien''s name was on it. Julian hadn''t even sought him out yet, and here the man was, delivering himself on a silver platter. Such an opportunity wasn''t one Julian planned to waste. Hannah, meanwhile, was stunned. She remembered approaching Julian in the library beforenot out of genuine interest, but hoping to leverage the influence of his family to keep others like Damien at bay. Her plan had failed spectacularly. Julian had been completely immune to her looks and charm, and she had even managed to irritate him. Afterward, she had not dared to approach him again. But she didn''t expect that, at her lowest moment, with so many bystanders too afraid to intervene, the person who stepped forward to save her was none other than Julian. An indescribable mix of emotions surged through her heart. With a little more force, Julian shattered Damien''s wrist entirely. The sound of bones snapping echoed loud and clear, making even the surrounding students turn pale with fright. On the other hand, Damien let out a scream, his eyes rolling back as he nearly passed out. Julian had already let go of him by now, and Damien collapsed to the ground in pain. Sarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Julianyou! Is your family planning to declare war on the Dean family?" After gasping a few breaths to steady himself, Damien finally regained his senses. In his heart, he had already decided to carve the man before him into pieces. Looking up, his expression shifted from rage to stiffness and back to fury. He was already a spoiled rich kid, and now, having lost his reason entirely, he blurted out a declaration of war against the Walker family. Julian walked up to him then, without a word, he delivered a powerful slap to Damien''s face. The blow was so forceful it knocked out half of Damien''s teeth. "You think you''re worthy?" Julian sneered coldly. The Dean family, a native imperial capital clan known for their Steel-types, was far weaker than the Walker family. That single slap left Damien passed out completely, so he didn''t even hear the rest of Julian''s words. Had the setting been different, Julian wouldn''t have hesitated to kill him right there. Ever since the Dean family had sent Alex into the secret realm to target him, their fate had been sealed. After finishing what he came for, Julian turned and headed toward the library. Someone else would take care of the unconscious Damien. As soon as Julian left, the surrounding students let out a sigh of relief. They were all stunned by Julian''s fierce demeanor just now, and none of them wanted to end up on the receiving end of that slap. Fortunately, the chaos didn''t spill over to them. Nobody felt sorry for Damien. If anything, many thought Julian had done the right thing. However, their curiosity shifted to Hannah. There had been rumors before about Julian fighting the civilian prodigy Zed over Hannah, and now, Julian had beaten Damien to a pulp for her. This was the very definition of a "hero saving the damsel." But what puzzled everyone was that after all this, Julian left without sparing her another glance. It didn''t make sense. Could he be putting on a show? "Are you okay, Hannah?" Just then a group of Hannah''s girlfriends rushed over. A girl who seemed like the leader of the group looked at her with concern. Still in a daze, Hannah shook her head. Then the group noticed the bloodied and swollen face of the man lying on the ground. His features were so distorted he looked like a Gengar. "Who is this?" Honestly, with his face in such a state, they couldn''t recognize him. "He''s Damien," Hannah said softly. "What? That scumbag? Did you beat him up?" The leader looked at Hannah in shock, as if she had just met a completely different person. "It wasn''t me. It was Julian" Hannah clarified, shaking her head. Then, to everyone''s surprise, she walked over to the unconscious Damien. Under the confused gazes of those around her, she kicked himright in the nuts. Several male students instinctively crossed their legs. Even though they weren''t the ones being kicked, they felt a phantom pain that left their faces pale. Hannah had endured three years of harassment from Damienfear, anger, and hatred building up all that time. With that single kick, a large chunk of her pent-up emotions seemed to dissipate. But it wasn''t enough. Just moments ago, he had used her parents and sister to threaten her. Another . And another. She kept kicking him as if in a frenzy, her pent-up rage pouring out with each strike. "Enough, Hannah, that''s enough!" The girl quickly stopped Hannah. If she kept kicking, Damien might actually end up dead. As despicable as he was and deserving of punishment, killing him in public would leave Hannah no room to escape the law. Taking someone like him down at the cost of her own future wasn''t worth it. Soon, Hannah was whisked away by her sisterly group of friends. The surrounding students also dispersed not long after. Not a single person bothered to check on Damien, let alone call an ambulance. Meanwhile, the incident was already making waves across the Imperial University campus through the internet. As for Julian, the party involved, he was already in the library, engrossed in reading materials on Dragon-Type Pokmon training. The ''Special recruit class'' group chat, was already in chaos. Someone had even uploaded a video of Julian slapping Damien. Many were tagging Julian, but with his phone on silent, he remained oblivious to the commotion. Dalton: As expected of Boss Julian, Even your slaps are stylish. Ian: Julian, call me next time for this kind of fun! Luis: That guy''s been on my bad side for a while now. Well done, Brother Julian. Kate: Hero saves the day, huh? What about Shen? Shen: We''re just friends. Hugo: Need me to finish him off? Hit me up privately if you do; prices are negotiable. Everyone in the class: (@;) Group Management Message: Member Hugo has been kicked out of the group chat. Chapter 189: Black Ones Chapter 189: Black OnesDamien was a member of a noble family and had no prior dealings or grudges with Julian. Naturally, when news spread that Julian had severely injured him, it caused a stir among the noble families. Although the Walker family was one of the top families in the nation, Julian''s actionsseverely injuring Damien seemingly over a womanwere seen as excessive. Many families were eagerly waiting to see how the Deans would retaliate, wondering if they should lend some support to the Dean family to cause some trouble for the Walkers. While they knew the Dean family couldn''t overthrow the Walker family, they could still attempt to disgust them. Sar?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, before the Dean family could confront the Walkersthough they had their suspicions about the reasonthe Walker family made the first move. It was Elite John who personally stepped in, gathering a mountain of evidence against the Dean family, including charges of treason. John then beheaded three of the Dean family''s Elite-level Trainers. The Walker Group also launched a comprehensive attack on the Dean family''s businesses. The three Elite trainers were the Dean family''s pillars of strength, and their deaths caused the entire structure to collapse. As for the evidence against the Dean family, some of it was true, while other parts were more ambiguous. With the loss of its strongest members, the Dean family became easy prey. Other families were eager to swoop in and claim a share of the spoils. But without the Walker family''s permission, no one dared to make a move. At the same time, they were speculating about what the Dean family might have done to provoke the Walker family. It was clear that Julian beating up Damien was not enough to warrant such a complete obliteration of the Dean family. There had to be other reasons they didn''t know. Soon, a rumor surfaced. It was said that the Deans, along with a few other Steel-Type families dissatisfied with the Walkers, had secretly hired Alex to infiltrate a secret realm and assassinate Julian. However, Alex was killed by Julian instead. Not only that, but Julian had also uncovered evidence that the Dean family was one of the masterminds in this attempt. This was the real reason the Walker family moved to destroy the Dean family. If this rumor was true, then the Dean family''s downfall was well-deserved. Assassinating the heir of a noble family was a violation of the most sacred rule among noble families. Such an act could destabilize the entire system. While one could break the rules, doing so required the strength to withstand the consequences. Without such strength, being exposed would lead to swift and severe punishment, and no one would come to your aid. If the Dean family could target Julian, what was to stop other families from targeting the heirs and talented young members of their families? Such chaos would bring about the collapse of the structure they had build. Because of this, no other family was willing to stand with the Dean family. To make matters worse, the Walker family was their opponent. Even the few families allied with the Dean family were now in a state of panic, fearing that John Walker might suspect them of being accomplice in the assassination plot against Julian. John was known as the " with countless foreign Trainers falling at his hands, and naturally a fair number of domestic ones as well. And yet, they f***ing dared to send someone to assassinate his one and only grandsonan exceptional grandson at that. If anyone was to die for such audacity, it had to be them. In less than three days, the once-prominent Dean family was completely wiped out. Apart from a few uninvolved distant relatives, all direct family members were either killed or imprisoned. As for Damien, while recovering in the hospital, he tragically choked on a fishbone during a meal. Due to delayed medical intervention, he ultimately died. This incident serves as a stark reminder: always be cautious when eating fish. A single careless moment could cost you your life. Damien''s bizarre death even made the news, and videos about it went viral on platforms like TikTok. Hannah put her phone down with a complicated expression. The screen displayed the news report about Damien''s death. He was dead. Damien was truly gone. The nightmare that had haunted her for so long had come to an end just like that. Leaning back on the sofa, she stared blankly at the ceiling. Memories of the past three years flooded her mindyears spent walking a tightrope among various noble families, using their influence to keep Damien at bay. Scenes of his impatience, his threats, and her moments of despair and forced compromise played vividly in her head. And then, Julian appeared, like a ray of light in the darkness. Not only had he resolved her immediate crisis, but the entire Dean family had also vanished. The fall of the Dean family was a secret that ordinary people would never know. But Hannah had heard about it from her friend, whose own family, though native to the capital, was nowhere near as powerful as the Dean family. "Impressive, Miss Hannah. Spill itwhat''s the real story between you and Young Master Julian? Don''t tell me you''ve already" "There''s nothing between us," Hannah replied with a bitter smile, shaking her head. "The fall of the Dean family must have been for some other reason." "No, no, no. The rumor among the noble heirs is that the Dean family''s destruction was entirely because of you. In their eyes, you''re now the textbook definition of a femme fatale." (T/N: Femme fatale: French for ''fatal female'' or maneater) "Well, maybe it''s a good thing," her friend said with a hint of envy. "No more pests buzzing around to bother you. In fact, they''ll probably try to curry favor with you now." Her friend actually knew there was genuinely nothing between Hannah and Julian. But the timing was uncanny. When Damien tried to forcibly take her away, Julian had appeared and left him seriously injured. And just days later, the entire Dean family was gone. It was absurd, almost unbelievable. While the rumors about the Dean family hiring Alex to assassinate Julian in the secret realm had already spread, and it seemed likely the Dean family''s fall had little to do with Hannah personally, who would dare bet on that? Would anyone really gamble on the chance that Julian and Hannah had no connection at all? Winning the bet might mean gaining one of the top ten beauties at Imperial University. But losing? It could mean that their family might be the next Dean family. Risking an entire family for the sake of a woman? Only someone with an empty space for a brain would make such a gamble. Because of this, many young heirs attending Imperial University received a clear warning from their family elders: Stay away from Hannah. Stay away from Hannah. Stay away from Hannah. Important things must be said three times. Previously, she was just a beautiful woman with no powerful background among the noble familiessomeone they could casually flirt with. But now, in their eyes, she was a untouchable woman. To dare pursue her, your family would need to rival the Walker family in power, and you''d also need to hold a status within your family equivalent to Julian''s. If you failed to meet even one of those criteria, you were courting disaster. "Sister, do you think I should go thank Julian?" Hannah asked hesitantly. Julian had resolved her greatest trouble. Although it was unintentional, with Damien dead, not expressing her gratitude felt wrong. Yet, recalling Julian''s previous attitude toward her, she felt he might reject her. She found herself in a dilemma. "Of course, you should!" "But what if he refuses?" "Then deal with it when he does. And when you do thank him, dress a little sexierpersonally thank Young Master Julian in style." "Don''t be fooled by his cold and aloof demeanor. As long as he''s a normal man, the chances of him turning down a stunning beauty are practically zero." "Oh, and remember to wear stockings, the black silk ones." "They tear with such a... delightful sound." Hannah: Ѩz Chapter 190: A Hint of Gold Chapter 190: A Hint of Gold"Slowking, save me! Save me!" On the couch, Julian was playing Glory with his Slowking. They were part of a five-player team, with Julian playing as the jungler. Unfortunately, the enemy jungler had invaded his territory right from the start, leaving him under-leveled and struggling to develop. Now, he was being chased by two opponents and was on the verge of death when Slowking, playing in the top lane, finally arrived. "" Slowking secured a double kill, but Julian didn''t even manage to get assists for either of them. "Beautifully done!" "Amazing!" The teammates applauded, but when Julian checked the scoreboard, their records were all zero kills and multiple deaths. If not for Slowking''s godlike performance carrying the team, they would have lost long ago. "" At that moment, the doorbell rang. Slowking, still playing the game, went to open the door. "Slow!" Seeing the unfamiliar woman, Slowking gave her a quick glance before returning its focus to the game. Being the only strong player surrounded by weaker ones was a common occurrenceit was used to this. Hannah hesitated as she looked at Slowking, who was still immersed in the game. She felt like her visit might have been poorly timed. "Is Julian home?" Hannah asked. She had already checked; Julian wasn''t at the library or the school team''s facilities, so his house was the most likely place to find him. "Slow~" Slowking nodded and led Hannah inside. "Push the tower! Hurry, push the tower! We''ve never gotten this far, never won this one!" On the couch, Julian was shouting excitedly. The game had gone on for nearly 40 minutes, and they were finally about to win. As a fragile jungler, he couldn''t even fight the super minions anymore. As the enemy''s crystal exploded and the word "" appeared on screen, the game was finally over. Julian let out a deep sigh of relief. Hannah couldn''t stop herself from laughing. She never expected to see Julian, the high-and-mighty young master known for his extraordinary talent, acting like an ordinary gamer so caught up in a match. "What brings you here?" Julian asked as he turned to Hannah. His eyes were immediately drawn to her black stockings and long legs. Paired together, they were stunning. His face, still flushed with excitement from the game, didn''t calm down even after it ended. Noticing Julian''s gaze, Hannah''s cheeks flushed slightly, though she couldn''t help feeling a little smug. Despite the rumors surrounding her at Imperial Universitythat she often had men around her and didn''t have the best reputationHannah had her reasons. She was leveraging her beauty strategically. A woman''s beauty was a double-edged sword. When used well, it could bring countless advantages, especially in a place like Imperial University, where power and privilege were abundant. For someone like her, without any background but blessed with striking beauty, she was undoubtedly seen as the perfect prey by many of those people. So, she had no choice but to navigate between various powerful families, using her wit to protect herself. "If you''re here to thank me, it''s unnecessary. You should know I didn''t do it for you." Julian reported his three useless teammates one by one, except for Slowking. It was precisely because of such terrible teammates that the game dragged on for so long. (T/N: Brother have some shame) As for Hannah''s sudden visit, Julian understood her intentions. Gratitude wasn''t something he needed. Hearing Julian''s words, Hannah bit her lip lightly. Once again, she found herself rejected. Julian: Is she here to seduce me or something? "Slow~" Slowking had already picked up a shopping basket. It was about time for groceries, and it was ready to head out. "Regardless of your reasons, you saved meand even my entire family. How about I cook a meal for you?" "You?" Sarch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian looked skeptical. This woman could cook? Was this an act of frustration over being rejected, planning to poison him instead? "Just you wait!" Hannah was furious at Julian''s reaction. Her beauty never received the respect it deserved from him. She was starting to suspect Julian might actually be gay. Determined to prove her cooking skills, she headed out with Slowking. In the backyard, several Pokmon were either resting, playing, or training. Julian quickly recalled Melmetal into its Pok Ball to avoid Hannah seeing it later. Growlithe brought a Frisbee to Julian, wagging its tail and panting, eyes full of anticipation. Julian threw the Frisbee, and Growlithe turned into a red streak of lightning, effortlessly catching it mid-air. Growlithe''s originally brown-and-yellow fur had completely turned red. If the change persisted after absorbing the Fire Crystal, it would officially become a shiny Pokmon. Metagross, on the other hand, was lazily sprawled out on a rock, napping. Ever since consuming the ''Heart of Arceus'', Metagross''s activity levels had noticeably dropped. It was now asleep for almost 20 hours a day. If not for the Probing Eyes showing that Metagross was in excellent condition, Julian would have taken it to a hospital for a thorough checkup. Metagross had Purple potential, and raising it to Gold-tier was incredibly difficult. Even with the system''s help, it was ridiculously hard. Yet now, within its Purple potential, there was a faint trace of Gold. It was so faint that, without careful observation, it could easily be overlooked. But that trace of Gold was undeniably real. The ''Heart of Arceus'' was actively enhancing Metagross''s potential. Whether it could fully ascend to Gold-tier, however, remained uncertain. However, Julian felt that the chances weren''t very high. Gold-tier potential was the realm of first-level Legendary Pokmon, like Ho-Oh, Rayquaza, and Dialga. Expecting to achieve that with just a thumb-sized piece of Arceus'' Blood was nearly impossible. If he had four or five pieces, maybe it would be within reach. So in the end, he would have to rely on the system. If he could collect ten Golden Legend Fragments, Metagross''s promotion to Gold potential would be guaranteed. Julian was already looking forward to whether the system would reward him with a Golden Legend Fragment after the upcoming Hundred Schools League. --- Half an hour later, Slowking and Hannah returned, carrying a large haul of groceries. "Slowking, you can rest. I''ll handle the cooking." Hannah tied on an apron. Combined with her black stockings, long legs, and elegant curves, the sight was enough to leave any man helpless. "Slow~" Slowking nodded and handed her a bag of walnuts. "...Thanks." Hannah awkwardly accepted the walnuts, her expression stiff. It was no secret at Imperial University that Julian''s Slowking liked to gift people walnuts. Every time it went grocery shopping, it would pick up a few extra and hand them out to "fortunate individuals." The significance of these walnuts had even been explained by some well-meaning bystanders. "Gas-ga!~" Out of nowhere, Gastly appeared in front of Hannah, pulling a spooky face at her. "Gastly, stop messing around." Julian scolded the mischievous Pokmon, noticing that Hannah''s face had turned pale. Apologetically, he said, "It loves scaring people; I''m sorry about that." Hannah nodded stiffly, her eyes fixed on the shiny white Gastly that had suddenly appeared. A new Pokmon? And it''s shiny too? Gastly floated back over to Julian, and before he could react, it greeted him with a lick. "Gas!~" Julian immediately felt a numbing sensation spread through him. "Ah! Julian, are you okay?" Hannah hurriedly asked. "I''m... fine, just fine" Hannah: (x;) Chapter 191: Haitian City Chapter 191: Haitian CityThe hosting location for the Annual Hundred Schools League changes every year. Last year, it was held in Lake City, Julian''s hometown. This year, it was taking place in Haitian City, a coastal city in the central south province. The league was scheduled to start on October 10th and would last about half a month. It was considered one of the few large-scale national events in Drakoria each year. During the competition, participants would get to witness the top talents from universities across the country, showcasing their brilliance. The Imperial University team arrived in Haitian City on October 8th, checking into the hotel arranged by the event organizers that evening. Joining them were their longtime rivals, the Shu University team. Julian even spotted Acacia in Shu University''s lineup. It wasn''t surprising though, that someone with a Legendary Pokmon like Articuno would be on team. However, it remained unclear if she was an official member or just a substitute. --- After dinner, Julian planned to head straight back to his room, but his cousin Thea and her best friend Faye dragged him out for some shopping. Haitian City wasn''t just a coastal city; it was also a famous tourist destination in Drakoria, attracting countless visitors each year. With the city now hosting the Hundred Schools League, the number of tourists had surged significantly. Fortunately, the local government had made arrangements. Despite the influx of people, public order remained stable, with patrol officers frequently seen patrolling the streets with their Pokmon. "There are so many Slowpoke here!" Faye exclaimed as she marveled at the abundance of Slowpoke in the area. Slowpoke was considered the symbol of Haitian City and its guardian Pokmon. In the past, Slowpoke had played a key role in preventing a Pokmon riot that could have devastated the city. Combined with their adorable and gentle nature, they had become beloved by the residents. And being a coastal city, Haitian City naturally had more Water-type trainers than other types. Many of these trainers also owned Slowbro, the evolved form of Slowpoke, which was a popular choice. In fact, most Water or Psychic-type trainers from Haitian City typically had at least one Slowbro in their teams. Now that the alternate evolution, Slowking, had also become an option, trainers had even more choices available to them. It wasn''t uncommon to see people walking around the city with Slowking by their side. Slowking wasn''t common even in the Imperial capital, but here Julian had already spotted three of them. Slowpoke Park was a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Haitian City. Built by the local government to commemorate Slowpoke''s role in saving the city, the park featured a large Slowpoke statue at its center. The park was home to nearly a thousand wild Slowpoke. Although they were technically wild, capturing one required the approval of the park''s management. Thea and Faye each held a Slowpoke in their arms, relishing the feel of the Pokmon''s soft, squishy bodies. "Thea, aren''t you going to catch one?" Faye asked curiously. Thea, was a Psychic-type trainer, so Slowpoke''s typing aligned perfectly with her. "No, my current Pokmon team is sufficient for now. If I ever need another, I can always catch one later," Thea said, shaking her head. Julian activated his Probing Eyes to scan the Slowpoke in the park. Among them, only a small handful had Green potential, with most being below that. Sarch* The N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It made senseSlowpoke with Cyan potential were unlikely to be found here. The Slowpoke here had likely been screened before being placed in the park. The trio fed some food purchased from the park to the nearby Slowpoke, but the Pokmon, clearly unimpressed, ignored the offerings. They had probably already been fed plenty by other visitors. Julian then released his Slowking from its Pok Ball. The moment Slowking appeared, the nearby Slowpoke seemed to sense its presence and instinctively turned their attention toward it. "Slow~" Slowking let out a soft cry. "Slow!!~ X1000" Slowking''s appearance also caught the attention of other visitors, many of whom took out their phones to capture the sight of the Slowpoke seemingly paying homage to their king. It was as if Slowking had stepped into a role as a grassroots leader, walking among its kind and inquiring about their well-being: what they ate, how they lived, and if they were doing okay. (T/N: I will vote for you, Slowking) Watching this unfold, Julian was amazed. This was the first time he had seen this side of Slowking. Then again, it made sense. Slowking was, after all, considered the leader of the Slowpoke species. Checking in on its "subjects" was only natural. Julian observed as Slowking pulled a pack of walnuts from the little bag it carried on its back and distributed them to the Slowpoke. The famous scene unfolded: After finishing its distribution, Slowking made sure to reserve three packs and brought them over to Julian, Thea, and Faye, handing one to each of them. Julian: Totally unnecessary. Another day of being reminded, how Slowking looked down on his intellect. "Slow~" Slowking: "I am all out of walnuts." "Got it, I''ll buy more later" Julian replied flatly while munching on a walnut. He had given up entirely. When it came to intelligence, Slowking truly stood above most humans and Pokmon alike. Slowking didn''t just care for Julian and carry him in games; it even helped with some of his written assignments. The most remarkable part? Its handwriting was an exact match for Julian''s. It was the perfect stand-in. "Hey, little brother. Is that Slowking for sale?" A voice suddenly broke the harmony. "Not for sale." Julian turned to see the source of the voice. His tone grew noticeably colder as he replied. Although Pokmon with owners could technically be traded, such transactions needed to go through the Trainer Association. Private trades were illegal. If not for the fact that his bag was already out of walnuts, Slowking would have gladly handed the man 100 packs just to send him on his way. "Oh, I see. Well then, young lady, could I have your contact info?" The man turned his attention to Thea, his gaze intense. As one of the top ten beauties at Imperial University, Thea''s stunning looks left little room for critique. Although Faye, wasn''t on the same list, she was still attractive in her own right, just not quite on Thea''s level. "I''m a third-year student at Haitian City''s Water-type Trainer Academy. Would you be willing to share your contact information?" Seeing that Thea hadn''t responded, the man continued. Imperial University was a comprehensive institution, offering classes for all 18 Pokmon types. However, specialized single-type academies were also abundant across Drakoria. For example, the Haitian City Water-type Trainer Academy that the man mentioned focused exclusively on Water-type trainers. In its niche, it was highly regarded. Some specialized single-type academies were so exceptional that their top graduates outperformed those from Imperial University''s in their field of expertise. After all, by concentrating solely on one type, these academies could streamline resources, teaching staff, and literature to achieve unparalleled specialization. "Sorry, you''re too ugly. Not my type" Cutting through the man''s self-assured smile, Thea replied calmly. Chapter 192: League Begins Chapter 192: League BeginsThe Hundred Schools League officially began on October 10, with the draw held on the 9th. The tournament was named the Hundred Schools League because only 100 universities could participate, even though the number of universities in Drakoria far exceeded that. (T/N: I know it''s named school even though it''s about universities and all but school''s meaning at the end of the day is, an institution where you study, so yeah) If a college couldn''t even make it into the top 100, there was no point in participatingthey''d just get eliminated in the first round anyway. The 100 universities were divided into ten groups, labeled A through J, with each group containing ten schools. The top two schools in each group would advance to the next stage. Imperial University was placed in Group B. Among the other nine schools in their group, none posed a real challenge, making their advancement almost certain. Their archrival, Shu University, ended up in Group A. Interestingly, this time, the top five universities in Drakoria were all in separate groups. This disappointed many other colleges. They had hoped that Imperial and Shu would face off early, possibly knocking one of them out, creating opportunities for the other schools to capitalize on. The group stage followed a 2v2 format. And winning against a team earned two points, a draw earned one, and losing earned none. To speed up the group matches, four battles occurred simultaneously. Each university team consisted of 8 members, divided into 4 pairs, each pair facing a different University in their group. While the group stage didn''t draw as much attention as the main tournament, the stands were still packed with spectators, and the livestreams had even more viewers. Julian and his cousin Thea were paired together. Their opponents?, Coincidentally Students from Haitian City''s Water-Type Trainer Academy. One of them was the same guy Thea had rejected, calling him ugly and refusing to share her contact information. The guy''s expression was pricelesshe never imagined that the woman who called him ugly would turn out to be from Imperial University and now his opponent. This 2v2 format marked Julian''s first time participating in a doubles match. The most critical aspect of doubles battles was the synergy between the two trainers and their Pokmon. With good coordination, a team could achieve results far greater than the sum of 1+1. However, poor teamwork could have the opposite effect. That said, there was one golden rule in doubles: if one person was strong enough, they could single-handedly take down both opponents, rendering synergy irrelevant. --- "I''ve got this, Little Julia. Just leave it to me," Thea said confidently. Julian glanced at the Rotom hovering above them, livestreaming the match. He wasn''t sure if Thea''s words had been captured. "Alright" Julian nodded expressionlessly. The two students from Water-Type Trainer Academy sent out a Vaporeon and a Tentacruel. Although both were 4th-year students, their Pokmon were still at the Advanced level. In contrast, most 4th-year students from Imperial University had Pokmon at Pseudo-Elite level. At this point, the gap between the two colleges became painfully clear. "Alakazam" Thea released her Pokmon. Julian followed suit, releasing his Growlithe. Fire against Waterclassic Ash style, bold and unbothered. "Grow!~" Growlithe was in high spirits and couldn''t wait to bite its opponents. --- "Alakazam, Psychic!" "Psybeam!" "Confusion!" One minute later, the opposing Vaporeon and Tentacruel were lying on the ground, defeated. Thea''s Alakazam, a late stage pseudo-Elite, made quick work of the two Advanced-level Pokmon. Just one Psychic attack left them unable to escape its control. Watching the fight end just like that, Growlithe turned to look at Julian, tilting its head in confusion. Growlithe: So, I''m just here as a mascot? "You''ll get your turn, soon" Julian said nonchalantly. Thea recalled Alakazam, flashing Julian a smug look as if to say, ''How impressive am I?'' The two Water-Type trainers were stunned. They had never expected their strongest Pokmon to be defeated so effortlessly. They didn''t even have a chance to fight back. Looking around at the other university teams in their group, they saw the same story unfoldeveryone being easily defeated by Imperial University. Somehow, this realization lightened their mood. ''If everyone''s struggling the same, then it''s fine.''* S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. --- In under three minutes, Imperial University defeated four colleges in their group and quickly moved on to battle the remaining. "This time, let Growlithe take the lead," Julian said. He knew Growlithe wasn''t happy about missing the earlier match. If it didn''t get its turn now, Julian could almost guarantee he''d come back to his villa to find his bed torn to shreds. Their next opponents were from a Poison-Type specialty academy. The trainers sent out a Vileplume and a Seviper. Both near the peak of Advanced level. Julian once again sent out Growlithe, while Thea stuck with Alakazam. Growlithe eyed Alakazam, clearly doubting whether it would get a chance to shine. Resigned, it flopped onto the ground, ready to wait until Alakazam wrapped up the match. "Growlithe, use Flame Wheel!" Hearing Julian''s command, Growlithe blinked in surprise. It quickly sprang to its feet, blazing forward with Flame Wheel. Even at level 35, Growlithe''s power was comparable to a peak Advanced-level Pokmon. Thanks to the energy from the Fire Crystal it had partially absorbed, Growlithe had boosted stamina and durability. "Seviper, Venom Drench!" "Vileplume, Acid!" The two Poison-Type trainers realized that Alakazam wasn''t making a move. They immediately understood Imperial University''s strategythey intended to let a single Pokmon defeat both opponents. Just as they had done in the previous four matches. Despite the match being officially a 2v2, for Imperial University, it had practically turned into a 1v2. Even with numerical advantage, their opponents still couldn''t win, leaving them no room to complain. Growlithe''s flames burned fiercely, so intense that Seviper''s Venom and Vileplume''s Acid were evaporated on contact with the heat of Flame Wheel. This unexpected turn completely disrupted the rhythm of the two Poison-Type trainers. "Boom!!" Flame Wheel sent Vileplume flying, and Growlithe immediately followed up with a powerful Fire Blast, chasing after its airborne target. Attribute restraint, coupled with the terrifying temperature radiating from Growlithe''s flames, even if Vileplume had a 20-level lead it would have meant nothing. The Fire Blast hit, leaving Vileplume unable to battle. However, at the same time Growlithe was struck by Seviper''s Iron Tail, sliding back four or five meters from the impact. "Seviper, use Poison Fang!" The Iron Tail caused only mild pain for Growlithe, but the sight of Seviper lunging with glowing, venomous purple fangs triggered its instincts. Growlithe crouched low, coiling its powerful hind legs like a spring. "Flare Blitz!" Julian commanded. Moments later, two purple fangs flew high into the air, accompanied by Seviper''s pained screech. Growlithe landed gracefully, its striking red fur shimmering against the faint embers left behind by Flare Blitz. If there was a Pokmon contest, Growlithe would be a guaranteed winner. "Not bad, as expected from my cousin" Thea said, recalling Alakazam. She gave Julian a playful pat on the shoulder, her expression brimming with pride. "Grow!~" Growlithe: That wasn''t even my full power, and they''re already down. Chapter 193: First Military Academy Chapter 193: First Military AcademyImperial University had completed eight 2v2 matches and was just one game away from achieving a nine-match winning streak. Their coach, Wade, sent Julian and Lucas to compete in the final battle. Lucas was the sophomore representative at Imperial University and a member of the school team, though not one of the core eight players. Since the opponents in the group stage were relatively weak, Wade allowed Lucas to compete, with Julian acting as support to ensure nothing went wrong. "Venusaur" Lucas, a Grass-Type trainer, sent out his Venusaur. At level 59, it was right at the peak of Advanced rank. Their opponents, two 4th-year students, sent out a Charizard and a Blastoise, forming a Fire-and-Water duo that were also at the Advanced peak. To avoid any chance of failure, Julian sent out his Dragonite as backup. Venusaur, Blastoise, and Charizard were incredibly popular choices for novice trainers due to their balanced stats, fast growth, and relatively low resource requirements. Each of their base forms could be purchased for just over a million, that too with Green potential. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Venusaur, Mega Evolve!" Lucas immediately triggered Mega Evolution, boosting Venusaur from Advanced peak to pseudo-Elite peak. Seeing that Lucas had access to a Mega Stone, Julian decided he didn''t need to step inunless one of the opposing trainers also had a Mega Stone. A pseudo-Elite Venusaur against two Advanced-level Pokmon left no suspense. In under three minutes, both Blastoise and Charizard were defeated. However, as Lucas exited Mega Evolution, his face turned pale. If Julian hadn''t caught him, he would''ve collapsed on the spot. Winning the match but collapsing afterward would''ve left a poor impression on the millions of viewers. "Thanks," Lucas said. He was relieved to avoid the embarrassment of falling over in front of such a large audience. "You need to work out more. Thin arms and legs won''t cut it," Julian said in a low voice. Lucas glanced at his arms and legs. As someone who had been consistently training, his physique was comparable to that of a fitness coach. Compared to him, Julian was the one who fit the description of "thin arms and legs." However, recalling how Julian had once defeated the captain of the Fighting-Type class and was unanimously acknowledged as the strongest fighter in their special recruit class, Lucas wisely chose not to argue. The live chat was abuzz: "Wow, this is the strength of Imperial University''s team! The other schools can''t even compare!" "King Julian had two free wins today!" "Does anyone have Imperial University member Thea'' socials?" "If my son gets into Imperial next year, I''ll be done for the rest of my life!" "I don''t ask for muchjust for my daughter to get into Shu." With nine consecutive victories and 18 points, Imperial University had secured first place in their group and a guaranteed spot in the next stage. After their match, Julian and his team left the arena. Following Coach Wade''s instructions, they went to observe the matches of other groups, focusing especially on the four remaining top universities. In Drakoria, there were five top universities: Imperial University, Shu University, the First Military Academy, Pearl University, and Modu Academy-the Dragon-Type Academy. The first four were comprehensive universities, while the last specialized in training Dragon-Type Pokmon. When it came to breeding and training Dragon-Types, Modu was the undisputed leader in Drakoria and ranked in the global top five. However, it had a small student body, with fewer than 5,000 students in total. The current Dragon-Type Elite was also the honorary principal of this academy, and Coach Wade had once taught there for a time. The academy also shared a close relationship with the Drake family. And most of the truly outstanding Drake family members chose Modu over Imperial or Shu. Ian: Are you saying, I''m not that good? --- Imperial University, competing in Group B, was the first to finish its matches. Meanwhile, the other top colleges were either still in the middle of their battles or waiting their turn on the sidelines. The First Military Academy had already taken the field. This academy was the dream school for every aspiring soldier in Drakoria. Students there underwent military-style management, and every student was both a student and a soldier. Drakoria had five military academies in total, but only the First Military Academy was considered the best. The second and third were mid-level, while the fourth and fifth were ranked as second class colleges. Despite their lower rankings, the second-class academies were still in the Hundred Schools League. The military-style training gave the trainers from the First Military Academy unmatched discipline and willpower, traits reflected in their Pokmon as well. Their teamwork and coordination were exceptional, a key principle of military training. Even with their overwhelming strength, the First Military Academy strictly adhered to the 2v2 format, in contrast to Imperial University''s occasional 1v2 dominance. In their nine matches, the First Military Academy never took more than 30 seconds to finish a battle. "Who''s that guy?" Julian asked, pointing at a student in a camouflage uniform, whose epaulets marked him as a lieutenant colonel. Lucas beside him was obsessed with collecting intel. Before the start of the tournament, he had already collected a lot of information on the contestants. Now he was furiously recording the match footage on his tablet, analyzing the Pokmon''s strengths and weaknesses, creating a detailed profile of their opponents. "That''s Pierce, Captain of the First Military Academy''s school team, 4th-year student. His exact strength is unknown, but he''s confirmed to have a pseudo-Elite Rhyperior and Excadrill. And he hasn''t competed in the Hundred Schools League before." Gathering intel on the First Military Academy''s school team was no easy task. Their strict military structure kept details about their members well-guarded. The known strength of Pierce''s two pseudo-Elite Pokmon mirrored the capabilities of Max, the captain of Imperial University''s school team. However, it was highly likely both were still holding back their true strength. It was surprising that someone as strong as Pierce, a 4th-year to boot, had never participated in the Hundred Schools League before. The First Military Academy crushed their competition with overwhelming force, defeating all nine colleges in their group, including their "sibling" school, the Third Military Academy. Julian''s former high school classmates, Will and Han, were enrolled at the Third Military Academy, though they weren''t part of the tournament. The First Military Academy completed their matches in even less time than Imperial University. "That soldier looks so cool" "A lieutenant colonel while still in college? How does that even happen?" "I used to serve in the military. To reach the rank of lieutenant colonel by his age, he must have earned at least two First-Class Merits." "First-Class Merits? That''s insane!" "I feel like Imperial University might not secure first place this time." The First Military Academy''s commanding performance, combined with their disciplined and rugged demeanor, quickly earned them widespread praise and recognition. There were people who were bad-mouthing Imperial University and there were also people who were supporting it. After all, not everyone agrees on the same thing. Many students from other colleges held onto the hope that their own teams could be the dark horse of the tournament, taking down the top five universities in a shocking upset. Chapter 194: Against Ice-Type Academy Chapter 194: Against Ice-Type AcademyAs the group stages wrapped up for the day, the 20 advancing universities were regrouped that evening into five groupsA, B, C, D, and Ewith four universities in each group. Imperial University was placed in Group D, alongside the Modu Academy, Sichuan University, and Harbin Ice-Type Academy. Group D was quickly dubbed as the "Death Group." Not only did it feature two elite universities, but Sichuan University was also a strong contender, just a little behind the elite status. Harbin Ice-Type Academy, however, was considered the underdog in this lineup. With only one college advancing from each group, the competition this time was far more intense. It was nothing like the earlier group stage, where Imperial University breezed through without breaking a sweat. Of the opponents, only Harbin Academy seemed like a easy matchup. The other two colleges were formidable challengers. When the groupings were announced, the public''s interest was piqued. Only battles between equally strong teams could deliver exciting matches. One-sided blowouts might be entertaining once in a while, but too many of them became predictable and dull, leaving little room for suspense. The five group matches were scheduled simultaneously for the next day at 8 a.m., with audience capacity increasing from 30,000 in the earlier rounds to 80,000 now. The matchups for Group D were: Imperial University vs. Harbin Academy Modu Academy vs. Sichuan University The competition format was a ring battle system. Each university will send out one trainer for a 1v1 match, with no mid-match substitutions. The loser will leave the field, while the winner could choose to continue fighting or switch with a teammate. And trainers who switched out could still return for subsequent rounds. "Little Julia, you better not be the first to battle," Thea said to Julian. Julian raised an eyebrow, confused, as she continued; "I''m worried your Metagross will knock out all eight of their trainers." During the previous exchange match with Shu, Julian''s Metagross had singlehandedly swept their entire lineup. "I''ll see how Coach Wade arranges things," Julian replied calmly. The lineup was entirely up to Coach Wade. Against Harbin Academy, Julian wasn''t particularly interested, so it was better if he got placed later in the order. The match began soon after, with both teams entering the field. Imperial University''s first trainer was Paul, a 4th-year Fire-Type specialist. Harbin Academy also sent out a 4th-year student. "Typhlosion!" Paul''s Pokmon was a Level 67 pseudo-Elite Typhlosion. The flames erupting from its back showed it was in a highly excited state. "Glalie!" Harbin Academy naturally recruited Ice-Type trainers exclusively. Sear?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Coach Wade''s decision to send out a Fire-Type specialist first clearly factored in the type advantage. Glalie, outmatched both in type and level, couldn''t last long. Within a few minutes, it was defeated. Typhlosion stood proudly on the field, with high momentum. For it, the fight hadn''t even been a proper warm-up. Paul continued challenging Harbin Academy''s second, third, fourth, and fifth trainers in quick succession. By the time Typhlosion defeated the fifth Pokmon, it was showing signs of exhaustion. Its energy was nearly spent, and it bore a few visible injuries. When Harbin Academy sent out their sixth trainer, Paul decided to recall Typhlosion and step down. Though Typhlosion still had enough strength for one more battle, Paul saw no reason to push it further. After all, he still had seven teammates ready to fight. The decision left Harbin''s sixth trainer stunned. ''You''ve just steamrolled five of us like we were nothing, and now that you''re a bit worn out, you''re stepping down? Where''s your pride as an elite university student? Your honor? Shouldn''t you insist on fighting to the bitter end with your Typhlosion?'' The second trainer from Imperial University was Faye, a Fairy-Type specialist and Thea''s best friend. "Florges!" Faye''s Pokmon was a Florges with a white flower. Like Flabb, Florges has flowers of five different colors: red, orange, blue, white, and yellow. While there''s no functional difference between the flower colors, white flowers were the rarest, and blue flowers were considered the most beautiful. Despite its plant-like appearance, Florges is not a Grass-Type Pokmon. However, it does know a variety of Grass-Type moves and is often hired to tend gardens. In fact, many national parks and luxurious private gardens employ Florges for their maintenance. Faye''s Florges was Level 68, nearing the peak of the pseudo-Elite. Harbin Academy countered with a Level 65 Walrein. "Florges, use Attract!" A few alluring hearts resonated from Florges. Walrein, completely entranced, seemed to melt under the spell of her charm, its face betraying an expression of pure bliss. "Florges, Magical Leaf!" Walrein''s Trainer was at a loss, how could his Pokmon''s willpower crumble so easily in the face of beauty? Shimmering leaves swirled around Walrein, striking it repeatedly. The attack not only inflicted significant damage but also snapped it out of its trance. "Walrein, Ice Beam!" Walrein opened its mouth, quickly charging and firing an icy beam, but Florges swiftly dodged it. "Keep using Ice Beam!" Walrein, with its heavy body, was clearly not built for speed. "Moonblast," Faye commanded. The moonlight gathered, forming into a gentle yet luminous beam of energy. It radiated a serene beautyuntil the moment it abruptly exploded. Walrein''s bulky body was directly blown away. "Florges, Energy Ball!" Before Walrein even hit the ground, it was struck mid-air by a glowing green sphere, sealing its fate completely. Harbin Academy''s sixth trainer, who also happened to be their team captain, was eliminated. The seventh trainer sent out a Dewgong. A few minutes later, Dewgong also fell in battle. The last trainer entered the field, sending out Jynx as their Pokmon. Jynx, like Florges, is a Pokmon 100% female by species. However, their appearances couldn''t be more different. In a society where beauty often dictates first impressions, Jynx''s presence inadvertently boosted Florges'' popularity even further. "Honestly, Jynx isn''t that bad-looking" "Low-budget Gardevoir" "My Jynx is very caring; she''s a fantastic Pokmon" "Yeah, Jynx is amazing! I don''t get the hate" "But I''m still team Florges because I like white flowers" Three minutes later, Jynx fell, defeated. Florges stood tall like a queen with a proud expression. With that, all eight trainers from Harbin Academy were eliminated, their team swept clean by Imperial University. At least, they could console themselves with the fact that it wasn''t a one-person sweep, sparing them a total loss of face. "How''s that? My performance wasn''t any worse than your sister''s, right?" Faye walked up to Julian, with a slightly smug face. "My sister''s still better" With Thea standing right next to him, there was no way he would admit to Faye''s boasting. "Little Julia always likes to tell the truth, don''t mind him, Faye." Thea was very satisfied with Julian''s answer. After all, what are best friends for, if not a little friendly competition? Chapter 195: Modu Academy Chapter 195: Modu AcademyIn just about half an hour, Imperial University defeated Harbin Academy, showcasing a significant gap in strength. However, Harbin Academy was also quite unlucky, as they ended up facing Imperial University, ranked the top among the Five Elite Universities. Had they not encountered one of the Five Elites, they might have secured a more respectable ranking. Among the Top Five, the only opponent Harbin Academy might dare to challenge would be Modu Academy. After all, Dragon-types are twice as weak to Ice, giving Ice-types a definitive advantage. Under similar conditions of strength, Ice-types typically dominate Dragon-types. That said, if the Dragon-type Pokmon are powerful enough, they can endure the Ice-type attacks. Unfortunately for Harbin Academy, even though they were placed in a group with both Imperial University and Modu Academy. But due to bad luck they ended up facing Imperial University. Meanwhile, Modu Academy and Sichuan University were locked in a fierce battle. Sichuan University is a longstanding top competitor, consistently ranking in the top ten of the Hundred Schools League. Just last year, they ranked sixth. This year, they aimed to break into the Top Five. To achieve that, defeating Modu Academy was a must. Taking down one of the Elite Five was their ticket to becoming one of the new Elite themselves. In stark contrast to Imperial University''s swift victory, the match between Modu Academy and Sichuan University was still ongoing, currently in the third round. So far, Modu Academy had won two matches, but it seemed unlikely they would win this third one. Modu''s Pokmon was a Tyrantrum, while Sichuan''s was a Pangoro. Both Pancham and its evolved form, Pangoro, are iconic Pokmon of the Sichuan region, as these species are found exclusively in a few secret areas there. With a devastating Ice Punch, Pangoro landed a direct hit on Tyrantrum''s abdomen. The dragon Pokmon staggered and then collapsed, unable to battle. Sichuan University clawed back a victory, and Pangoro still had the strength to fight on. Soon, Modu Academy sent out their fourth competitor. Julian noticed something familiar about the trainer''s appearance and quickly remembered whythey bore a striking resemblance to Ian. Julian recalled that Ian had mentioned having an older brother who didn''t attend Imperial University. This must be him. A quick glance at the large screen confirmed his suspicion: the name displayed was Owen Drake. "Salamence!" A Salamence exuding the aura of a peak pseudo-Elite Pokmon entered the battlefield. Its ability activated immediately, causing Pangoro to show visible signs of fear. Among the Top Five Universities, if one were to name the wealthiest, it wouldn''t be Imperial University, despite being ranked first. That title undoubtedly belonged to Modu Academy. Raising Dragon-types comes with numerous strict requirements, the most critical of which is a massive financial investment. If you don''t have billions to spend on raising a Dragon-type, it''s better to give up the idea altogether. S~ea??h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Billions of dollars were merely the initial investment for raising Dragon-types. The subsequent costs were even higher. Of course, this applied to pseudo-legendary Dragon-types specificallyother Dragon-types required less money and resources, but even those costs far exceeded those of most Pokmon. Because Modu Academy is entirely composed of people involved with Dragonsfrom students to teachers to the principalit''s essentially a haven for the wealthy. Almost any student you meet there might be the child of a city''s richest tycoon or the offspring of a board member from a listed company. At worst, their family owns an entire district''s worth of rental properties. If your family is rich, it doesn''t guarantee you can raise a Dragon-type, but anyone raising Dragons definitely comes from a wealthy background. Near Modu Academy, high-end malls, luxury apartments, and a steady flow of influencers and celebrities dominated the area. Julian could relate to this firsthand. For example, in his system store, a box of top-grade energy cubes for Dragonite costs 1,000 points, whereas the same for Fire-types costs only 800 points. Back in the match; Salamence''s ability had already weakened Pangoro''s fighting spirit. Combined with Salamence''s superior strength, it only took a few moves for Pangoro to be defeated. After the battle ended, Julian assumed Owen would continue, but he surprised everyone by recalling Salamence. Instead, a teammate stepped forward, sending out a Dragonite. While not every student at Modu Academy owns a pseudo-legendary Dragon-type, those on the school team generally have at least one. Following this, other participants from Modu Academy sent out a Garchomp, Hydreigon, Goodra, and, earlier, Salamence and Dragonite. That brought the count of pseudo-legendary Dragon-types in this match to six. For most spectators, it was a feast for the eyes. What trainer could resist the allure of a pseudo-legendary Dragon-type? Unfortunately, harsh realities often forced them to give up on the dream. Some even abandoned the path of becoming a trainer entirely, returning to the life of an ordinary person. Even Julian couldn''t help but marvel. When Hydreigon entered the battlefield, its savage and brutal aura was palpable, even through the protective barrier. It truly lived up to its reputation as the most violent pseudo-legendary Dragon-type. With three heads, Hydreigon''s central head served as its primary brain, but the two side heads also possessed thoughts of their own. If all three heads lose control, there''s no telling what destruction could ensuepossibly even turning on its own trainer. Incidents where Hydreigon killed its trainer have happened in Celestria. As a pseudo-legendary Dragon-type unique to the Celestria, Hydreigon is exceedingly rare in Drakoria. Two hours later, the match between Modu Academy and Sichuan University finally concluded. In the end, Modu Academy defeated Sichuan University with a record of five wins and three losses. Notably, they only fielded seven participantstheir final team member didn''t even need to battle. Since their match had been the longest in this round, by the time it concluded, all the other group matches had already ended. "Looks like I''ll have to dig through the match recordings tonight. Time to pull an all-nighter" Lucas said, pressing his fingers against the glasses on the bridge of his nose, trying to look as professional as he could. Though his chances of being sent out in future matches were slim, gathering data for the team gave him a strong sense of involvement. "I really envy you" Julian said suddenly, patting Lucas on the shoulder. With his own Slowking constantly monitoring him, Julian didn''t even have the chance to pull all-nighters for games or videos anymore. Lucas blinked in confusion. ''Envy me? Envy me for what? It''s me who envy you'' "I envy your good liver. You can detoxify, pull all-nighters, and still be fine. Youth is truly a blessing," Julian explained casually. Lucas nodded subconsciously but was stunned the next second. ''What does he mean, ''Youth is truly a blessing''? I''m a year older than you! Why are you talking like an old man? or is your liver actually failing?'' Lucas started overthinking: Tomorrow at 8:00, Imperial University and Modu Academy will compete to determine the top team in Group D, securing a spot in the finals. Chapter 196: I Want to go First Chapter 196: I Want to go FirstOn October 12th, countless spectators flooded into the Haitian City Sports Arena. The arena consisted of five sub-stadiums and one main stadium. Each sub-stadium could accommodate 150,000 on-site spectators. At Sub-Stadium 1, every seat was filled, with even the aisles packed with people. The total attendance reached an estimated 170,000. A large security team, equipped with Pokmon, maintained order on-site. All the security personnel were Advanced-level Trainers, while the security captain was a Trainer at Pseudo-Elite level. Advanced Trainers earned salaries calculated on a monthly basis, depending on their work type, intensity, and risk level, with a minimum monthly pay of 2 million. For Pseudo-Elite Trainers, the salary wasn''t monthlyit was weekly, starting at a minimum of 5 million per week. Although being a Trainer required significant spending, those who achieved success found countless ways to earn a high income. Today, Sub-Stadium 1 was livelier than the other four stadiums because the match featured . A battle between two of the Top Five colleges. Regardless of the outcome, the losing team would lose its place among the Top Five universities this year. Reclaiming that title would only be possible by participating next year. (T/N: For anyone who got confused for a moment-me, as to how fighting among themselves would they lose the rank, it''s because there are five groups A to E and the winners from each group will be the new Top Five) Previously, Imperial University had faced weaker teams, making the matches uneventful and tension-free. Now, going up against Modu Academy, they weren''t overly nervous but approached the match with the respect a strong opponent deserved. Coach Wade had already started planning the lineup order. Although Modu''s students primarily specialized in Dragon-types, they likely had Pokmon of other types as well. If Imperial University sent out an Ice-type, and their opponent predicted this, they might counter with a Trainer using a Fire-type Pokmon. Thus, the order of participants could significantly influence the outcome of the match. "Ding!" "Daily Task Released" "Dragon Slayer: Defeat at least four Dragon-Type Pokmon." "Task Rewards: Number of Dragons defeated; - Four : 4,000 points - Five : 5,000 points - Six : 6,000 points - Eight: 8,000 points" Sar?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. --- At precisely 8:00 a.m., the daily task appeared as usual. Seeing this task, Julian was momentarily stunned. While the daily tasks often offered small yet practical rewards, like high-grade Energy Cubes, the point rewards were typically minimal, around a few hundred. But this time was differentstarting at 4,000 points, although there were no additional rewards but these thousands of points were good enough. "Coach!" Wade was about to discuss the lineup order when Julian suddenly raised his hand. His voice was inexplicably a little excited. If Frank was here, he would surely remember the time when the Shu University exchange team visited Imperial University, and Julian had requested to be the first to battle with the same enthusiasm in his voice. "What is it?" "I want to be the first to battle," Julian said. The task points depended on the number of Dragon-types defeated. If his turn came later in the lineup, he might lose the chance to earn points. The task required defeating at least four Dragon-types; anything less, like three, would yield no rewards. "Sure" Wade agreed immediately. He had already planned for Julian to take the lead and Max, the captain, to go last. Julian hadn''t expected such a quick agreement. This saved him the trouble of coming up with excuses. Wade then went over the lineup order before handing it to the referee. At 8:10, the match officially began. "King Julian''s up first!" "Metagross: I wonder if these baby dragons can handle me." "Hah fools, the Dragons will crush him. You underestimate them!" "Oh, we''ve got a Dragon fan here!" "Don''t forget, Metagross is also a pseudo-legendary. It''s no less powerful than a Dragon-type!" -- After the coin toss, Imperial University was assigned the , while Modu Academy took the . As the red side, Imperial University had to send out their Pokmon first, giving the blue side the advantage of selecting Pokmon better suited to counter them. This starting disadvantage was especially concerning for the first battler. Julian couldn''t help but suspect that the coin toss result was rigged against him. Would it have been the blue side if someone else had gone first? A comment floated across the live stream: CharizardFan (Will): "Haha, classic unlucky Julian moment." -- Standing at his position, Julian sent out Metagross. In a scenario where he had to face 1v8, only Metagross gave Julian the confidence to complete the mission. His second-strongest Pokmon, Melmetal, seemed less reliable in these type of situations. Julian trusted and even relied on Metagross, and the bond was mutual. "Metagross" Thinking of the minimum 4,000 points and a maximum of 8,000 points, Julian said in a low but enthusiastic voice: "Today, we are taking down every single one of them." "Meta!!~" Floating three meters above the ground, Metagross responded with an intense roar, feeling its Trainer''s unusually strong belief (). On the Modu Academy side, the first battler stepped forwardit was Owen, Ian''s older brother. "Salamence!" Owen sent out his Salamence. Whether through insights from his younger brother Ian, his uncle Wade, or the internet, he was well aware that Julian and his Metagross were not opponents to take lightly. Salamence, though a Dragon and Flying type, but was well known for its mastery of numerous Fire-type moves. The ability triggered upon its release, yet it had no effect on Metagross. This told Owen a lot about Metagross''s levelit was at least on par with Salamence, likely at the peak of pseudo-Elite class. "Metagross, Teleport!" Owen: ''Ridiculous, Everyone knows Metagross can''t learn Teleport. You''re just trying to fake me out while actually using Agility, aren''t you?'' Feigning one move while actually using another was a common strategy, though rarely seen in serious matches unless it had the potential to turn the tide. But just as he was starting to look down on Julian a little, Metagross really vanished from the spot. Disappearing with the distinctive " characteristic of . "Salamence, Protect!!" His reaction speed was very fast, as he immediately shouted Since he didn''t know where Metagross might reappear, he opted for the safest route, commanding Salamence to use the move . As the protective barrier formed around Salamence, Metagross materialized directly behind it. Its , shimmering with a colorful glow, collided fiercely with the protective shield. "" Owen exhaled deeply, relieved that the worked. But before he could ponder how Metagross had managed to use , a chilling sound reached his ears. "" Owen: "??!" (㣩 Chapter 197: My Metagross is a Genius Chapter 197: My Metagross is a GeniusUnder the crushing power of , the barrier shattered almost instantly, offering only a fleeting moment of defense. Still, that brief window allowed Salamence a chance to resist. Although the opportunity was slim, Salamence was Owen''s ace Pokmonit was at the peak of pseudo-Elite, capable of challenging even Elite-level opponents. As the Meteor Mash struck from behind, Salamence''s vulnerable back offered no immediate way to retaliate. Its wings, arms, and head were all poorly positioned to counter the attack. In a swift move, Salamence twisted its body, bringing its white to bear the attack, hoping to absorb the blow. This white shell had once covered its entire body during its evolution as a Shelgon. Upon evolving into Salamence, the shell concentrated on its abdomen, serving as protection for its softer underbelly. For many Pokmon with exposed abdomens, the belly is often a critical weak point. Some are shielded by tough scales, others by layers of fat, or at least thick fur. "Boom!!" Meteor Mash struck Salamence''s abdomen shell with tremendous force, unleashing a shockwave upon impact. The sheer power sent Salamence hurtling to the ground like a meteorite. The battlefield''s surface caved in, forming a crater four to five meters deep and dozens of meters wide. Salamence was lying at the center of the crater, its abdominal shell was largely shattered, with fragments scattered around. Despite its injuries, it struggled to stand up. Above, Metagross hovered menacingly, its silver forearms gleaming with an intense light. In Salamence''s defiant roar, was fired, engulfing it completely. "Salamence is unable to battle! Metagross wins!" the referee declared. A clash of the Top Five; a pseudo-legendary against another, a 4th-year against a freshman. And yet, the 4th-year Owen had suffered a crushing defeat. Recalling Salamence, Owen glared at Julian, unwilling to believe the outcome. He asked bitterly, "Why does your Metagross know Teleport?" If not for that unexpected opening move, Salamence might still have lost, but it wouldn''t have been such a swift and humiliating defeat. It was a question on the minds of many experts as well. Teleport, while a Psychic-type move, is learned by only a select few Psychic Pokmonlike Abra and Ralts. Pokmon that can use Teleport are notoriously difficult to capture. If they sense danger, they escape instantly, leaving Trainers with no way to track them. While some Pokmon can learn Teleport through TMs, others cannot master it even with this method. Metagross was one such Pokmon. Despite being part Psychic-type, it is inherently incapable of learning Teleport, even via TM. Metagross reproduces asexually through division, which eliminates the possibility of inheriting genetically. The Walker family had been breeding Metagross for nearly 200 years, yet not a single one had learned Teleport. Now, Julian''s Metagross had miraculously broken this centuries-old barrier. In the livestream, countless Pokmon researchers eagerly awaited Julian''s explanation. If the reason Metagross had learned Teleport was due to something Julian did, he could easily earn a nomination for next year''s Arceus Award, perhaps even winning it. "My Metagross is a geniusit just figured it out on its own," Julian said confidently. The fact that Metagross could use Teleport would eventually become public knowledge, so why not reveal it sooner and freely use the move in full view of everyone? -- Meanwhile, at home; Julian''s father, Jake, sat watching the livestream. Upon hearing Julian''s response, he froze for a moment, then a sense of familiarity washed over him, his expression growing strange. It wasn''t the first time he''d heard such an explanation. When Julian had obtained the Dratini egg, he claimed he had "found it by chance." When he awakened his Psychic abilitiesat Intermediate Level, no lesshe said it happened after he took a nap. And now Metagross learning Teleport? The explanation: "" -- The livestream chat erupted: "6666, First Slowpoke gets a new evolution and now Metagross self-learns Teleport." sea??h th n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Metagross: When it comes to intelligence, the rest of you are trash." "Why do I feel like he''s lying?" "I just smacked my Drowzee twice and told it to learn Teleport. Now I''m dangling out of my 15th-floor window thanks to Psychic. Anyone knows if the fall will kill me?" "Not sure about the 15th floor, but I fell from the 13th. Broke 52 bones but survived. Still typing with my one working finger." Some viewers believed Julian, some doubted him, and others were simply enjoying the chaos. But some professional scholars asserted that Julian''s explanation might hold some truth. Metagross'' brain was more advanced than a supercomputer, and its intelligence far surpassed that of most humans. Perhaps Julian''s Metagross was a once-in-a-generation genius among its kind, with an intellect so extraordinary that it could indeed self-learn Teleport. Among the barrage of comments, a golden, officially verified ID suddenly appeared, standing out with bold, enlarged text: "Elite Walker: My grandson has the makings of a Champion." In the past, these words were only circulated among a few high-level trainers, but now, millions of netizens in Drakoria will know it. Fortunately, Julian couldn''t see it. Otherwise, he''d surely experience the agony of secondhand embarrassment. The other comments instantly vanished as countless " messages flooded the screen. And just like that, Julian gained millions of "grandpas" online. Upon seeing the flood of comments, John himself was momentarily stunned. Then, he burst into hearty laugh. -- The match continued. On the Modu Academy side, the second challenger wasted no time. Without saying a word, he tossed his Pok Ball into the air. A Dragonite appeared, its large frame hovering mid-air. Julian glanced at its belly, ''It''s not as fat as my Dragonite''s.'' ''Sure enough, my Dragonite is overweight after all.'' Dragonite, Level 70, another Pokmon at the peak of pseudo-Elite. In the Top Five Universities, most 4th-year students had Pokmon at pseudo-Elite level. The most exceptional among them often reached the peak of pseudo-Elite. This was why the Hundred Schools League primarily featured 4th-years. Even 3rd-years were rare, let alone a sophomore or freshmen. For Julian to compete as a freshman was already a remarkable feat. Defeating a 4th-year from Modu Academy only elevated his accomplishment to another level. Owen, who hailed from the prestigious Drake familya family no less prominent than the Walker familyhad been soundly defeated by Julian. He couldn''t even put up a fight, highlighting the gap in their strength. Back in the waiting area, Owen sat with a dark expression. His loss wasn''t just a blow to his university''s reputation but also a disgrace to the Drake family. What made it worse was how quickly he''d lost. He hadn''t even had a chance to redeem himself. Instead, he had been reduced to nothing more than a backdrop for Julian and Metagross. Chapter 198: Dragonite And Goodra Chapter 198: Dragonite And GoodraA Metagross capable of using Teleport was undoubtedly a far greater threat. The Dragonite''s Trainer hesitated to issue any commands, seemingly waiting for Metagross to make the first move. "Metagross, Zen Headbutt!" Julian wasn''t interested in guessing the opponent''s strategyhe just wanted to take down the Dragonite quickly so the next contender from the Modu Academy could step in. Metagross shot forward like a speeding train, gleaming like a silver streak of light. "Dragonite, Air Slash!" Dragonite''s tiny wings flapped lightly, generating four or five arcs of sharp Air Slashes that tore through the air. "" The Air Slashes slowed Metagross down slightly but couldn''t stop its charge. Dragonite quickly prepared a Focus Blast and hurled it toward Metagross, but this time, Metagross chose to dodge. Unlike a straightforward move, Zen Headbutt could change direction mid-attack. It was a combination of psychic energy and brute force. In the blink of an eye, Metagross evaded the Focus Blast and slammed its Zen Headbutt into Dragonite''s round belly. Technically, aiming for the head would have inflicted more damage, but Metagross found itself oddly drawn to Dragonite''s belly, as if it had a glowing target painted on it. The impact left Dragonite visibly distressed, its normally cheerful face contorted in pain. "Dragonite, Dragon Claw!" the Trainer called out. At close range, Dragonite''s claws became encased in draconic energy, forming a spectral dragon claw that slashed at Metagross''s back with a loud Metagross: ''Huh? Did something just scratch my back?'' Dragonite froze, staring in disbelief at the unmarred surface of Metagross''s back. Then it glanced at its own claws, as if questioning reality. The Trainer, too, was utterly dumbfounded. He knew Steel-types had high defenses, but at point-blank range, Dragonite''s Dragon Claw should''ve done ''something''. Instead, Metagross had reacted like it was being tickled. "Metagross, Hammer Arm," Julian said with a chuckle. His Metagross''s defense was truly monstrous. Not only was it a Steel-type, but its shiny variation came with unique trait. In this case, an innate doubling of its defense. And this wasn''t a simple 1+1=2 boost. On top of that, Julian had invested heavily in its training, using system-provided enhancements like stat-boosting potions and items. All of this had elevated its defenses to terrifying levels. Expecting a move like Dragon Claw to breach Metagross''s defense was wishful thinking at best. Under the force of Hammer Arm, Dragonite''s belly took yet another heavy blow, and this time, it felt like it might throw up yesterday''s dinner. "Draaa!!" Dragonite: ''Can''t you hit somewhere else?!'' Metagross: ''Nope'' "Hammer Arm, Again!" "Dragonite, Protect!" Dragonite''s condition was already direif it took another hit, it would undoubtedly collapse. But last time Salamence had used Protect, only for it to be shattered by Metagross. And this Dragonite was in worse shape than that Salamence had been. The Protect barrier formed and broke almost instantaneously as Hammer Arm smashed through it and struck Dragonite''s belly yet again. Dragonite''s body was sent flying, its round stomach visibly warped from the impact. With a loud ''thud'', Dragonite slammed into the protective barrier surrounding the arena before sliding down to the ground. "Dragonite is unable to battle. Metagross wins!" The referee glanced at the unconscious Dragonite, its flattened belly evoking a faint sense of pity. "Meta!~" Metagross returned to Julian''s side. "There are six more left. Stop playing around, okay?" Julian said. Given Metagross''s strength, the battle shouldn''t have needed a third move. The match could have been over with the second hit. But Metagross had clearly been toying with its opponent, giving Dragonite the chance to endure longer than it should have. Metagross: ''I can''t help it! That Dragonite''s belly was just too temptingit practically begged me to keep hitting it.'' Metagross''s internal monologue revealed its fondness for the squishy appeal of Dragonite''s belly. Its reasoning? It couldn''t play around with its own Dragonite at home, so it might as well enjoy the opportunity with someone else''s. Julian, hearing this mental confession, decided to let it slide. After all, he himself often found Dragonite''s belly irresistible and would casually pat it whenever he had the chance. The third contender from the Modu Academy stepped forward. This one introduced himself as Akira Ono, a student from Babath. Elite Universities often attracted foreign students, especially exchange students. The more prestigious the institution, the more diverse the student body. "Julian-kun, please take care of me," Akira said with a polite bow. Though many from Babath were infamous for their opportunismflip-flopping between alliances with Drakoria and Celestriatheir manners were, undeniably, impeccable. "Let''s not waste time," Julian replied curtly. Julian''s blunt attitude didn''t sit well with some viewers of the livestream, who criticized him for being rude and bringing shame to Drakoria. However, these critics were quickly drowned out by others defending Julian. (T/N: Again i have cut some parts, cause as i said before the author doesn''t like Japan, so Julian''s attitude toward any of them or you can say for any country in not favorable and I will try my best to cut any excess or bad things said) Akira''s Pokmon was a Goodra. Goodra''s body was predominantly purple and coated in a layer of goo. Among the Dragon-type pseudo-legendaries, it was known to be the most affectionate toward humans. But Julian wasn''t impressed. To him, its appearance left much to be desiredhe thought even the "Disgrace of the Dragon Clan," Druddigon, looked better than this. Looking at the Goodra, Julian suddenly realized he might be a "looks matter" type of person after all. It was okay to look ugly, but at least be ugly with some flair. Be either ''ugly but cool'', ''ugly but fierce'', or at the very least, ''ugly but adorable''. "Goodra, Dragon Pulse!" "Teleport!" Both commands were given almost simultaneously. But Akira''s face quickly darkened. He had been outplayed. Julian had anticipated his move and reacted in advance. The Dragon Pulse barely left Goodra''s mouth before Metagross vanished from sight. "Metagross, Icy Wind!" A chilling breeze swept in from behind Goodra, and within moments, a thick layer of ice several centimeters deep formed on its back. Livestream Chat: "Question for those who know: why didn''t Julian use Meteor Mash? It''s way stronger, and this was a perfect chance!" "Yeah, I was wondering too! Metagross is insanely strong in close combat; why not finish it there?" "Let me explain. Goodra''s body is coated in goo. Physical attacks lose a lot of their force because the slime dissipates the impact." "Oh, I get it. It''s like trying to grab a wet eel with your bare handsslippery!" "Wait, grabbing eels? That...somehow sounds wrong..." The power of Icy Wind wasn''t immense, but its wide coverage made up for it. In just a few seconds, most of the battlefield was encased in ice. The temperature dropped sharply, plummeting by dozens of degrees until it hovered near zero. Goodra hadn''t fainted yet, but it was clearly on its last legs. "Metagross, Ice Punch!" With a single, Ice Punch, Goodra was finally down. The gentlest of Dragon-types had fallen to the iron fist of Metagross. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 199: Charizard X Chapter 199: Charizard XAt this point, Julian had already defeated three opponents in a row, that too all pseudo-legendaries. Yet, none of them had managed to inflict any significant damage on Metagross. Looking at Metagross''s current state, it was clear it could continue into a fourth, fifth, or even sixth battle without much trouble. Over on the Modu Academy side, an eerie silence hung in the air. Akira Ono walked off the field in dejection, but no one had time to comfort him. "Teacher, why is his Metagross so strong?" Akira couldn''t help but ask. They were both using pseudo-legendaries. He was a 4th-year, while Julian was just a freshman. Yet his Goodra had been utterly crushed by Metagross. The scene felt like a role reversalthis was how he had treated other trainers in the past. This defeat had completely shaken his confidence. sea??h th N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Of course, he wasn''t the only one feeling deflated. The two teammates who had battled before him were still sitting on the bench with dazed expressions, unable to wrap their heads around what had happened. Before long, Akira joined them too. "Sophia, send out Charizard and keep your distanceit''s critical. That Metagross excels in close combat. If it uses Teleport, have Charizard immediately take flight," their teacher instructed seriously. Sophia nodded. She was the only female member of the team. While the mood at Modu Academy was heavy, the Imperial University team was all smiles. Julian had secured three consecutive victories, and with Metagross in such good shape, it was likely to win another one or two rounds. That left the remaining four matches for their seven-member teama nearly guaranteed win. Sophia, the fourth representative from Modu Academy, stepped onto the battlefield and sent out her Charizard. It was Level 70, at the peak of pseudo-Elite stage. Julian frowned slightly. '''' (T/N: To me it is) Missing out on a Dragon meant missing out on 1,000 bonus points. "Charizard, Sunny Day!" Right off the bat, Charizard created a weather condition that worked in its favor. A glowing orb shot into the air, forming a miniature sun that hovered overhead. Previously, Metagross''s Icy Wind had frozen most of the battlefield. But now, under the intense heat of Sunny Day, the ice began melting rapidly. "Charizard, Heat Wave!" Julian''s eyes narrowed slightly. He had a good idea of what they were planning. Due to the battlefield''s protective barriers, all residual effects were contained within the arena. Sunny Day had already raised the temperature significantly. Now, with Heat Wave, the trapped heat would be amplified even further. For Metagross, a Steel-type, this high-temperature environment would cause it to lose stamina much faster. "Teleport!" "Fly!" Metagross reappeared where Charizard had been, but the latter had already taken to the skies. Teleport had been countered, at least for now. "Not bad," Julian muttered under his breath. "At least, not completely clueless." Sophia had just used the battlefield''s protective barrier to her advantage, but this time, it also became a limitation for Charizard. The barrier''s height was restricted to about 50 meters, which happened to be the minimum required for Fly to be executed effectively. While 50 meters was sufficient in theory, Charizard hadn''t started Fly from the ground this time. As a result, after dodging Metagross''s Teleport, Charizard''s altitude was abruptly capped by the barrier, forcing it to cut its flight short. "Flash Cannon!" Locking onto Charizard, a silvery-white beam shot forth from between Metagross''s claws. "Charizard, Overheat!" Sophia quickly ordered. Charizard, unable to evade in time due to the forced halt in its flight, braced itself to counter the attack head-on with a powerful move. Overheat was one of the strongest Fire-type moves, and under the Sunny Day conditions, its power was further amplified. The deep crimson flames surged forward, almost tangible in their intensity. The superheated air caused visible distortions, making the scene blurry for both the cameras and the live audience. "BOOM!!" The silvery-white beam collided with the crimson flames, generating a massive shockwave that rippled outward and slammed into the protective barrier in waves. For a brief moment, Overheat held its ground but was eventually overwhelmed by the sheer force of Flash Cannon. Charizard took a direct hit. However, due to the energy consumed in breaking through Overheat, the attack wasn''t enough to knock Charizard out of the fight. "Metagross" "Charizard, Mega Evolve!" Sophia''s voice cut through as Charizard was enveloped in the radiant white glow of Mega Evolution. In any official match, interrupting a Pokmon''s evolution was strictly forbidden. If an attack caused an evolution to fail, the Pokmon would suffer severe evolutionary backlash, potentially crippling it permanently. Violating this rule would result in the offending trainer being immediately disqualified and losing their trainer license. Although Mega Evolution wasn''t natural, it was still considered a form of evolution and thus fell under the same protection. When the glow faded, Charizard X emerged on the field. Its level rose from 70 to 73. The leap from pseudo-Elite to Elite was a game-changer, marking a significant increase in its power. "Why is your little brother smiling? His opponent just became an Elite. Shouldn''t he be worried?" Faye asked, confused. Thea rolled her eyes. "Julian''s probably just happy that he gets to fight an Elite. He must think it''s more satisfying." The reason for Julian''s excitement was indeed simple. After Mega Evolution, Charizard''s typing changed from Fire/Flying to Fire/Dragon. Now, it was officially a Dragon-type. Sophia knew that Julian''s Metagross was also capable of Mega Evolution. If it did, her newfound advantage would vanish in an instant. She couldn''t afford to give Metagross the chance. Sitting on the bench, Owen watched as Charizard underwent Mega Evolution, and his expression grew even gloomier. His Salamence was also capable of Mega Evolution, but it had been defeated before he even had the chance to use it. The difference between an Elite-level Pokmon and a pseudo-Elite wasn''t just a single wordit was worlds apart in strength. "Charizard X, Flamethrower!" After Mega Evolution, Charizard X''s flames had transformed from a fiery red to an eerie blue, resembling flames from the depths of hell. "Giga Impact!" ''Elite? So what? It''s not like I haven''t beaten one before.'' Metagross : ''Below Elite, I am invincible. Above Elite? I am still invincible.'' (T/N: I alone am the honored one) Under the onslaught of Giga Impact, Charizard X''s Flamethrower was relentlessly pushed back, causing Sophia''s eyes to widen in disbelief. ''What''s going on? My Charizard is already an Elite. Why does it still feel like it''s just a pseudo-Elite against this Metagross?'' "Mega Punch!" In the brief moment when Flamethrower was overwhelmed, Charizard X struck out with its blazing left fist, directly intercepting Giga Impact. Although the clash highlighted the significant boost in Charizard X''s strength after Mega Evolution, the trembling in its arm and the searing pain of torn muscles were feelings only Charizard X itself could understand. "Charizard X, Inferno!" Inferno had the unique ability to inflict a burn upon landing, a status effect that could severely hinder Metagross''s performance. For Julian, who still had four more battles to fight, letting his Metagross be burned was absolutely not an option. Metagross dodged effortlessly with a Teleport, completely avoiding the fiery trap. "Fly" Sophia reflexively attempted to order Fly, but with the battlefield''s protective barrier in place, Charizard X''s current flight altitude was far too restricted for Fly to be executed properly. And more importantly, Metagross had already Teleported right in front of Charizard X. A dazzling, multicolored Meteor Mash greeted Charizard X squarely in the face. Chapter 200: Perish Song Chapter 200: Perish SongAs Charizard X fell in defeat, the crowd erupted into its most thunderous cheers yet. Many spectators didn''t fully understand the strength of a Mega-Evolved Charizard X, but after some quick explanations from others nearby, they realized it had reached the level of an Elite-tier Pokmon. Elite Pokmon are exceedingly rare. In all of Drakoria, there are only around 500 Elite-level trainers, compared to tens of thousands at the pseudo-Elite ones. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This disparity isn''t due to pseudo-Elites finding it extremely difficult to advance to the Elite level, but mainly because a Pokmon''s own potential often limits its growth. Still, the gap in power between the two levels is vast. An Elite-tier Pokmon has the destructive capability to level an entire citythough it would require continuous effort rather than a single move. Meanwhile, a pseudo-Elite Pokmon could potentially be countered by a sufficient number of well-trained Pokmon at the Advanced level. What made Metagross''s victory so astonishing was that it hadn''t even used Mega Evolution. It defeated Charizard X, which possessed Elite-level power, while remaining at a pseudo-Elite level itself. Salamence, Dragonite, and Goodra had all fallen to Metagross, but their losses now seemed justified. If even an Elite-tier Pokmon could be defeated, then their defeats were completely understandable. "A pseudo-Elite beating an Elite? Am I dreaming?" "King Julian truly has the potential of a Champion." "In Drakoria, many of our Champions have records of defeating Elite-tier Pokmon while still at the pseudo-Elite level. Even some international Champions have achieved this." "It''s like his Metagross is breaking the laws of nature!" "If it can take down an Elite-tier Pokmon, who could possibly stand against it now?" "King Julian''s Metagross is ridiculously overpowered." The audience buzzed with heated discussions, and the internet exploded with debates and excitement. Over at Imperial University, countless students cheered loudly. Some were even requesting leaves of absence from their professors to witness the matches in person. "Metagross, use Icy Wind to cool the field." The battlefield had been heated to unbearable temperatures by Charizard''s fiery attacks, reaching as high as 70 to 80 degrees Celsius. While the extreme heat hadn''t negatively affected Metagross''s performance, it was still somewhat uncomfortable. With the effect of Sunny Day now gone, the temperature rapidly dropped under the chilling influence of Icy Wind. Among the Imperial University team, Faye stood with her mouth agape before finally closing it. She muttered slowly, "Do you think Julian plans to sweep the entire opposing team by himself?" Her initial instinct was to dismiss the idea, but recalling how Metagross had just taken down an Elite Pokmon, she hesitated. Changing her mind again. "That''s probably the plan. No wonder he insisted on going first," Coach Wade commented. Though he hadn''t interacted much with Julian, he knew enough about his personality to be certain of one thing: Julian never acted without purpose. If he volunteered to go first, he likely had a very specific goal in mind. Two months ago, during the Shu University exchange team''s visit to Imperial University, Julian had asked to go first and then single-handedly swept through their ten-member team. This precedent had already been set. "Now, there are four more Pokmon remaining, each either at pseudo-Elite or pseudo-Elite peak. If they can Mega Evolve, they''ll reach Elite-tier, and their captain hasn''t even stepped onto the field yet." The comment came from Mark, a senior in his final year. "Mark, are you underestimating my little brother?" Thea snapped back, visibly annoyed. "I''m not underestimating Julian, the strength he''s showing now is even greater than our captain''s. I wouldn''t dare," Mark replied with a wry smile. Previously, Mark might have looked down on Julian for being a first-year, but after seeing his Metagross in action, he knew full well that Julian alone could annihilate his entire team. -- The next match began. The fifth member of Modu Academy stepped forward. Their choice was an Altaria, Level 66slightly weaker than the pseudo-Elite peak levels of the previous four challengers. However "Altaria, Mega Evolve!" In an instant, Level 66 turned into Level 71. Another Elite Pokmon entered the fray. Modu Academy truly lived up to its reputation as the wealthiest academy in Drakoria. With Dragon-type pseudo-legendaries and Mega Stones-both rare and highly coveted in the outside world and they seemed to equip almost every student with these. Metagross was currently at Level 64, it had just leveled up after defeating Charizard X. Pseudo-legendary Pokmon inherently leveled up slower and Metagross, with its immense accumulation of resources overtime, required even more effort. Though Metagross had taken minimal damage over four battles, it did consume a lot of stamina. All its recent opponents were best among bests, capable of battling well above their level, and some even Mega Evolved. Every move Metagross used had been at full power, unlike fights against wild Pokmon where a fraction of its strength would suffice. "Mega Altaria, use Disarming Voice!" A melodious yet eerie sound echoed across the battlefield. Don''t be fooled by its pleasant tone; the attack directly targeted minds. This type of sound based attack was difficult to countereither it had to be interrupted before execution, or the opposing Pokmon needed soundproof ability Metagross got hit by Disarming Voice head-on. Its eyes briefly flickered with discomfort, a testament to the sheer strength of an Elite-tier move. Julian chose not to Mega Evolve Metagross because it wasn''t the right moment. Although his mental and physical stamina could sustain a Mega Evolution for over 20 minutes, he wasn''t about to reveal this hole card in public. Exposing your ace for the sake of showing off would be downright foolish. "Mega Altaria, Perish Song!" The opponent was truly ruthless, going straight for an all-or-nothing approach. Perish Song was one of the most devastating area-of-effect moves. Any Pokmon weaker than the user that heard it would faint within three turns. In the games, Perish Song lasts three turns, roughly translating to about a minute in real life. However, in reality, the user doesn''t simply faint; they fall into a critical state, barely clinging to life. Without immediate medical attention, this could lead to death. Fortunately, large-scale tournaments have top-tier medical support, which is one of the reasons the opponent dared to let their Mega Altaria use Perish Song. The real reason for such drastic measures, though, was Julian. Modu Academy, a prestigious institution ranked alongside Imperial University in the top five, was being utterly dominated by a freshman. Their reputation was in tatters. If they didn''t defeat Julian soon, their team''s legacy would become a stain on Modu Academy''s history. "Metagross, use Psychicshut it up!" A surge of powerful psychic energy rushed toward Mega Altaria, but it swiftly dodged with a flap of its wings. Once Perish Song begins, it cannot be interrupted, otherwise the effect will be lost. Metagross''s Psychic failed, and the effect of Perish Song on it deepened further. "Keep it up, Mega Altaria!" By now, nearly 30 seconds had passed. The effects of Perish Song continued to intensify. Julian could feel Metagross''s discomfort resonating through its Aura, paired with a growing sense of rage. A faint smirk formed across Julian''s lips. A furious Metagross was not something anyone wanted to face. "METAGROSS!!!" It was Psychic again but this time, the psychic energy was far stronger, crashing across the battlefield like a relentless tidal wave. Mega Altaria couldn''t evade in time and was seized by the overwhelming force of Psychic. Its song was abruptly cut off as its beak clamped shut, rendering it mute. Chapter 201: I Don’t Have a Mega Evolution Stone Chapter 201: I Dont Have a Mega Evolution StoneUnder the grip of , the only thing Mega Altaria could move was its eyes, which darted around helplessly as its body was slowly dragged toward Metagross. Although Metagross''s face remained stoic, the violent emotions swirling in its eyes struck fear into the Mega Altaria''s heart. From the initial to the recent , all of Altaria''s moves had been mental attacks. But Metagross, known for its naturally ruthless nature, wasn''t one to let such provocations slide. Metagross was originally a ferocious Pokmon but it kept a calm and detached expression. But once enraged, it could transform from a dependable ally into a rampaging maniac. With Altaria pinned to the ground, Metagross raised its thick arm and unleashed its signature . With a loud ''boom'', the ground trembled as a crater nearly 100 meters wide formed, centered around the pinned Mega Altaria. Julian felt a twinge of concern, wondering if his Metagross would go too far and accidentally kill the opponent. He noticed the opposing trainer glaring at him with a mix of anger and disbelief. As the dust settled, the scene before everyone was... unexpected. Metagross slowly withdrew its arm from the ground, the massive limb hovering just inches away from Mega Altaria''s headso close it might have blasted the head off. Mega Altaria''s body, however, bore no visible injuries. It was clear that the hadn''t hit its target. At such close range, with Altaria completely restrained by , missing would have been impossible. Unless Metagross had intentionally missed it on purpose. Despite not being struck, Mega Altaria had already reverted to its normal formand was unconscious. "Wait... did it pass out from fright?" "I think so" "Metagross is ''so'' mean, but I love it. What should I do?" Sharp-eyed onlookers quickly pieced together why Altaria had fainted. Julian knew of Metagross''s vengeful streak, so its actions didn''t surprise him. Between physically knocking the opponent out and scaring it into fainting, the latter was far more humiliating for the opponent. Altaria, a pseudo-Elite Pokmon, had fainted purely from fear. If word spread, how could it maintain its dignity among its kind? The opposing trainer was relieved to find Altaria unharmed, quickly recalling it. But realizing it had fainted from fright left them flushed with embarrassment. A Pokmon''s disgrace directly reflected on its trainer. The trainer hastily withdrew from the battlefield, too mortified to linger. "Are you okay?" Julian asked as Metagross hovered back to his side. Although the had been interrupted, its effects had already started taking hold the moment the song began. The damage from would only reach its peak at the end of its duration. "Meta~" Metagross shook its head, signaling it was fine. Though had inflicted some damage, it wasn''t enough to hinder its ability to continue fighting. Julian used Probing Eyes to check on Metagross and found that, aside from some stamina loss and minor injuries, there were no lingering effects from . Only then did he feel relieved. It wasn''t that Julian was being overly cautious, but was an incredibly devastating move. Much like and , it was a move designed for mutual destruction. In some ways, was even more extreme than the other two. While and were limited in range, was different. As long as you could hear it, you were affected. The only factor was that the further away you were, the weaker the effect. Julian had already defeated five trainers from Modu Academy. The sixth challenger now stood ready on the field. "Garchomp" A late stage pseudo-Elite Garchomp. Julian looked at the opponent, waiting for their next move. The trainer seemed to understand what Julian meant. "I don''t have a Mega Stone!!" S~ea??h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The other party snapped. ''If I had one, my Garchomp would''ve already Mega Evolved.'' Julian found this hard to believe. Wasn''t it said that everyone from the Modu Academy not only had a pseudo-legendary but also a Mega Stone? Seeing Julian''s incredulous expression, the trainer''s anger deepened, accompanied by an odd pang of guilt as if he had let Julian down. ''What the hell am i thinking'' "Garchomp, Slash!" the trainer shouted in frustration. If Dragonite was the fat poster child of the dragon world, Garchomp was its lean, powerful counterpart. Despite its seemingly slim build, Garchomp''s explosive power was undeniable. With a stomp, it left a small crater in the ground and closed the distance to Metagross in the blink of an eye. The sharp, axe-like fin on its arm glowed white as it slashed down with tremendous force. Metagross swung its left arm to meet the attack, clashing with . The instant the two white flashes collided, Garchomp was sent flying backward by the resounding crash. This Garchomp sure had guts, daring to engage Metagross in close combat. What did it think it was, a Kommo-o? In the next moment, Metagross used , appearing instantly behind the airborne Garchomp. "Garchomp, stabilize yourself and use !" the trainer shouted. Leveraging the momentum of its flight, Garchomp charged itself with draconic energy and launched into . The move showed a glimmer of creativityreminiscent of a certain Ash Ketchum''s strategies. But this guy wasn''t a protagonist, and Garchomp wasn''t Pikachu. Such tactics wouldn''t work against Julian. required time to charge. Metagross had no intention of giving Garchomp that time. Enveloped in psychic energy, it shot forward with at an astonishing speed of 200 meters per second. Garchomp, mid-air had just started to steady itself to launch , suddenly felt the world spin. Before the pain even registered, it had already lost consciousness. It tumbled across the battlefield for hundreds of meters, finally crashing into the protective barrier and coming to a halt. Its arms and legs were visibly bent at unnatural angles, clearly indicating fractured bones. Not even a pseudo-Elite peak and without the ability to Mega Evolve, Metagross taking on such a challenger was akin to an adult sparring with a child. "Why do I feel defeating pseudo-legendaries is super easy?" "This reminds me of the time I used my Pidgeotto to beat a Caterpie" "So Garchomp''s this weak? Glad I chose Dugtrio back then. Same Ground type, but Garchomp, you''re an embarrassment." "Hey, can your Dugtrio help plow the 3,000 acres of farmland at my place?" "500 per acre, if the price is doable. DM me your address." "My Tauros charges 400." "My Bouffalant only 300." Over on the Modu Academy'' bench, yet another defeated trainer took a seat. Only three people remained standing: two participants and the coach. "No pressure, it''s okay if you can''t win." The coach said, patting the seventh trainer on the back. The seventh trainer climbed into the ring, looking like he was on his way to a funeral. "Dylan, Julian must be defeated. It doesn''t matter if your trump cards are exposed. Modu Academy can afford to lose, but ''you'' cannot." The coach then turned to the last remaining participant, his expression grim. Chapter 202: Elite! Chapter 202: Elite!The seventh member of Modu Academy stepped onto the field, his face pale and devoid of fighting spirit, as if he had already accepted defeat. His Pokmon was a Haxorus, at the peak of pseudo-Elite level. In terms of appearance, Haxorus was a fierce and stylish Dragon-type Pokmon, rivaling Garchomp in terms of raw visual intimidation. Just a glance was enough to give the impression that it wasn''t to be trifled with. If you looked at Dragonite, however, without knowing it was a pseudo-legendary, you''d probably think it was just a big, goofy sweetheart. Dragonite was the Pokmon world''s poster child for the "honest face." "Roar!" It seemed Haxorus had no idea what happened to the six trainers before it. Opening with a taunt, Haxorus challenged Metagross with a loud roar. Metagross responded with a combination of and . In an instant, Metagross appeared to Haxorus''s left, its slicing through the air. Haxorus felt as though its face had been run over by a truck. From the audience''s perspective, Haxorus had barely roared when Metagross teleported and landed a devastating , sending the Dragon flying. The attack didn''t knock out Haxorus immediately, though. After being flung a hundred meters, it slammed its arms into the ground to halt its rolling momentum. "Haxorus, Outrage!" Metagross''s sudden "sneak attack" had clearly infuriated Haxorus. Its face, now completely numb, burned with rage, igniting as the energy of Outrage surged within it. Its eyes turned blood-red, and waves of intense, steam-like heat radiated from its body. Under the effects of Outrage, Haxorus''s anger overwhelmed its reason, momentarily pushing its power close to Elite-level strength. Still, the power boost from Outrage was nowhere near comparable to Mega Evolution. Sar?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Dragon Rush!" "Giga Impact!" "Boom!!" The two moves collided in an explosive clash that shattered nearly half the battlefield. The shockwaves pounded against the protective barrier, sending tremors through the entire arena. "Haxorus is unable to battle. Metagross wins!" The seventh trainer from Modu Academy had been defeated. Without hesitation, the trainer recalled Haxorus, his urgency to leave written in his hurried movements. He dashed off the stage without even looking back. ''Dylan will defeat him!'' Meanwhile, in Luis''s villa at Imperial University, several of Julian''s friendsHugo, Yanis, Ian, Shen, Walter and Daltonwere gathered, watching the match. "That''s seven in a row. Brother Walker truly lives up to his reputation!" "Boss Julian is absolutely incredible. I won''t be able to take on even one of them!" "If it were me as the eighth opponent, I''d just surrender on the spot. We all know how it''s going to end anyway." Luis and Dalton exchanged smug grins as they shamelessly continued to hype up Julian. The rest of the group refrained from further comments, their remaining sense of shame holding them back. "The eighth trainer from Modu Academy should be their captain, right?" Hugo said, idly twirling a sharp knife in his hand. Having grown up in the wild fights, Hugo always carried a knife with him. He spun it frequentlynot just for practice, but also to show off in front of the others. "Yeah, his name''s Dylan Drake. He competed last year when he was in his third year of university. I remember watching his match back thenI was still in my senior year of high school," Walter replied. "Ian, isn''t he from your family?" Walter asked with a curious look on his face. Modu Academy had strong ties to the Drake family. Most of their family members chose to attend that academy, making someone like Ian, who opted for Imperial University, a rarity. Ian''s expression turned slightly sour, but he nodded. "He''s very strong. Julian may not necessarily be able to beat him," Ian said. The others weren''t surprised to hear this. After all, anyone who could be the captain of a team like Modu Academy'' was bound to be strong. Still, the tone in Ian''s voice hinted that something had happened between him and Dylan. "You''ve got that ''love-hate relationship'' look on your face. Did Dylan do something to you?" Luis, who possessed Aura abilities, though still at a beginner level, picked up on Ian''s emotional fluctuations when he mentioned Dylan. Ian didn''t answer, his gaze fixed on the screen instead. Sensing Ian''s reluctance, Luis tactfully dropped the subject. Annoying Ian wasn''t worth the trouble, even if curiosity was gnawing at him. --- At the arena: Julian looked at Dylan standing on the opposite side, who was also looking at him. There was no dramatic exchange of glances or internal monologuesjust a brief, neutral acknowledgment of each other''s presence. If Julian had any thoughts, it was the observation that Dylan was surprisingly handsome. His sharp yet composed features gave him an air of nobility and strength. "Salamence" Julian''s calm expression faltered slightly as he looked up to see Salamence with it''s blood-red wings hovering in midair. An Elite-level Pokmon. It made no effort to hide the oppressive aura radiating from it. Pokmon: Salamence (Dragon/Flying) Level: 71 Potential: Blue Ability: Intimidate Held Item: Dragon Fang Gender: Male Moves: Dragon Tail, Bite, Crunch, Dragon Breath, Headbutt, Scary Face, Dragon Claw, Zen Headbutt, Focus Energy, Flamethrower, Outrage TMs: Breaking Swipes, Giga Impact, Hyper Beam, Protect, Steel Wing, Air Slash, Earthquake, Brick Break, Dragon Pulse, Shadow Claw, Helping Hands, Heat Wave Genetic Moves: Dragon Rush, Hydro Pump, Twister, Draco Meteor, Dragon Dance --- Not only was it an Elite Pokmon, but its potential was also Blue. The revelation that Dylan, a 4th-year student, had an Elite Pokmon, immediately caused a stir among the audience as Salamence''s information appeared on the big screen of the venue. ''Elite!-An Elite-level Pokmon!'' If most trainers viewed reaching the pseudo-Elite level as the pinnacle of their capabilities, then the Elite rank was a distant, almost mythical goalone they might dream about but rarely attain. The prestige of the title alone was enough to inspire countless trainers to dedicate their lives to achieving it. In Drakoria, the number of registered trainers exceeded 300 hundred million. Among them, nearly one hundred million held the title of professional trainers. Yet, only about 500 trainers across the entire country had managed to reach the Elite level. Every Elite Trainer, even a beginner-level would be treated with high regard wherever they went. The requirements to become an Elite-level trainer were naturally very harsh. Just owning a Pokmon with Cyan-tier potential was a hurdle that eliminated 99% of trainers from ever having the chance. For Dylan, a 21-year-old university senior, to have achieved this feat at such a young age was nothing short of extraordinary. For Pokmon, advancing from level 70 (pseudo-Elite peak) to level 71 (Elite-level) was considered a monumental leap. Even for a Pokmon with Cyan-tier potential, this progression could take anywhere from 3C4 years to as long as 7C10 years, or even decades. These years were spent painstakingly accumulating energy. As reaching the Elite level was akin to a caterpillar emerging from its cocoon as a butterfly. The transformation required an immense amount of stored energy. While trainers could invest substantial resources to accelerate this process, the kind of resources capable of bridging the gap between pseudo-Elite and Elite level were both rare and exorbitantly expensive. Chapter 203: Mega Metagross VS Mega Salamence Chapter 203: Mega Metagross VS Mega SalamenceThe Hundred Schools League had been held for decades, but this was the first time a 4th-year student had broken through to the Elite level. Dylan''s achievement was not just a personal milestone; it symbolized the potential of senior students across all major universities. At Universities like the Big Five, it was common for seniors to graduate as pseudo-Elites, the only difference being whether they were early stage pseudo-Elites or at their peak. However, none had ever graduated as full-fledged Elite before. After all, advancing from the peak of pseudo-Elite to Elite level required extensive energy accumulation for the Pokmon. Even with the trainer investing significant resources, the process typically took at least two years to complete. Of course, there was the possibility that Dylan''s Salamence had been pre-trained by his family. However, given the standing of the Drake family in the trainer community, they would never resort to such measures just for Hundred Schools League. Especially against a family as influential as the Walker family. Back to the match, the presence of a Elite-level Salamence undoubtedly placed pressure on Julian and Metagross. This wasn''t just an ordinary early-stage EliteMetagross wouldn''t even flinch against those. But Dylan''s Salamence, with its Blue-tier potential, clearly demonstrated its exceptional qualities, including the ability to fight above its level. "Metagross, Mega Evolve!" Julian opted for Mega Evolution right away. At its current level, Metagross would struggle against Salamence. A loss here would mean failing to clear the additional task, so he decided to go all out. "Meta!!" As the evolution light faded, Mega Metagross appeared on the battlefield, now leveled up to 71, equal to Salamence. However, while Salamence was a genuine Elite-level Pokmon, Metagross had only temporarily reached that tier through Mega Evolution. Still, its strength was absolute. "Salamence, Dragon Claw!" In the previous matches, Metagross had demonstrated incredible close-combat prowess, taking down several Pokmon with its Meteor Mash. Even so, Dylan ordered Salamence to engage up close right from the start. The emerald-green claws, now extending two to three meters, sliced through the air, brimming with violent Dragon energy that boiled between them. "Light Screen!" Julian didn''t counter immediately. There was something different about this Salamence, though he couldn''t pinpoint exactly what. Dragon Claw struck the Light Screen, causing a brief standoff before a cracking sound shattered the barrier into countless fragments. In that moment, Mega Metagross swung its Bullet Punch directly at Salamence''s face. "" The Bullet Punch landed squarely, yet Salamence didn''t get sent flying by Mega Metagross'' immense power. Instead, it absorbed the impact head-on, surprising even Metagross. It was the first time a Pokmon had taken a punch from it without being knocked back. "Dragon Pulse!" "Teleport!" As Salamence fired off Dragon Pulse, Metagross vanished from its original position. However, in the very next second, Dragon Pulse unexpectedly curved midair, colliding directly with Metagross, which reappeared right in its path. It almost seemed as if Metagross had intentionally placed itself in front of the attack. The powerful energy engulfed Mega Metagross entirely. Julian''s face stiffened slightly. Normally, he used his Aura abilities to predict where opponents'' Pokmon would reappear after using Teleport. But now, the tables had turnedMega Metagross'' Teleport trajectory had been completely read by Dylan. This feeling really was unpleasant. Clearly, Dylan possessed some special ability of his own, though it was hard to say what kind. After all, Aura wasn''t the only ability that could track Teleport movements. "Dragon Tail!" Wasting no time, Salamence followed up. With a mighty swing, it slashed its glowing tail through the lingering Dragon Pulse energy, scattering it instantly. "" The forceful Dragon Tail then landed directly on Mega Metagross'' head, slamming its body into the ground. The impact caused the ground to shatter like a spiderweb. "Meta!" Despite its immense defenses, being struck by both Dragon Pulse and Dragon Tail back-to-back left visible damage on Mega Metagross. Black scorch marks marred its once pristine, silver body. The pain searing through its frame caused an uncharacteristic shift in Mega Metagross'' demeanor. Its usually calm, emotionless eyes now flickered with clear violence. Its four massive arms began to spin rapidly, generating a powerful whirlwind. Debris and loose rocks were pulled into the vortex within moments, creating a chaotic storm. Salamence, caught in the cyclone''s pull, struggled to move. The intense suction immobilized its wings, rendering them unable to flap. "Gyro Ball!" Mega Metagross, now resembling a spinning tornado with drill-like precision, surged forward. The sheer force ripped through the air, carving a semicircular trench into the battlefield as it advanced. Salamence, pinned by the swirling winds, could not escape. The pressure from behind, like countless invisible hands, forced it into the storm''s path. "" Salamence was slammed into the protective barrier surrounding the arena. Mega Metagross didn''t let up, continuing its relentless Gyro Ball assault. The protective shield rippled under the repeated impact, each wave of energy threatening to break through. The audience behind the barrier turned pale with fear. If the shield failed, they''d be at the mercy of the storm''s devastation. Thankfully, the barrier''s defenses had been reinforced when Salamence''s Elite-level status was confirmed. Through Salamence''s pained roars, the Gyro Ball finally came to a stop. Seizing the moment, Salamence retaliated with a massive Flamethrower, unleashing the blazing attack point-blank at Mega Metagross. The fiery onslaught slammed Mega Metagross into the ground, flames spreading across the battlefield until they were halted by the protective shield. Every move from a Elite-level Pokmon carried immense destructive power. In few hours, such sustained force could obliterate an entire city. However, the ground had no flammable materials, so the flames quickly fizzled out. Mega Metagross stood amidst the dissipating fire, with small embers still flickering on its metallic body. Julian''s face darkened. ''Damn it, it''s burned.'' Flamethrower had a 10% chance to inflict a burn status on the target. Unfortunately for Julian, whenever it involved him, that chance felt like 100%. sea??h th n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Dylan, however, didn''t seem thrilled by the burn. Instead, his frown deepened as the battle progressed. Despite battling through seven matches, Mega Metagross was still standing strong. Even after taking hits from Dragon Pulse, Dragon Tail, and Flamethrower, it hadn''t gone down yet. Its resilience was unnerving. "Salamence, Mega Evolve!" Not hesitating any longer, Dylan decided to unleash Salamence''s full power. The looming presence of Mega Metagross gave him an unsettling feeling. As the dazzling white light of Mega Evolution faded, the battlefield seemed to be bathed in the glow of a crimson moon. Salamence''s transformation was stunning. Its speed now surpassed what the naked eye could track. To the audience, it was nothing but a blur of red streaking across the sky. With its Mega Evolution, Salamence''s level soared from 71 to 75, firmly placing it in the mid-Elite tier. The difference between early and mid-Elite levels was colossal. It often took multiple early-Elite Pokmon to bring down just one mid-Elite. Now, it was Julian''s turn to frown. A mid-Elite Mega Salamence was undoubtedly a serious threat. He turned to Mega Metagross, its body still steadfast despite the damage and burn. "META!!!" Mega Metagross let out a thunderous roar, its four massive arms spinning with renewed vigor. Julian gritted his teeth, his eyes sharp with determination. "Wreck it!" Chapter 204: Moved to the Point of Tears Chapter 204: Moved to the Point of TearsMega Salamence''s ability had changed from to . Aerilate: Normal-type moves used by the Pokmon are converted to Flying-type moves, and their power is increased by 20%. Under this ability, Mega Salamence''s Normal-type moves could now unleash even greater destructive power. "Bullet Punch!" Mega Metagross, with its ability, enhanced all contact-based moves by 30%. This trait was arguably just as formidable as Aerilate. Despite being in a burned state, with flames flickering across its silver body and constantly chipping away at its health, Mega Metagross appeared unfazed. Its silver-white body gleamed, its calm eyes unyielding, and it stood tall with unwavering determination. "Flamethrower!" Mega Salamence unleashed a torrent of scorching flames, instantly raising the temperature of the battlefield. The air rippled with heatwaves, and the ground seemed to bake under the fiery assault. Mega Metagross pressed forward, using its four massive arms to unleash successive Bullet Punches. The powerful punches pushed back the flames, reducing them to flickering embers. "" A Bullet Punch landed squarely on Mega Salamence''s cheek. Its face dented slightly from the impact, and for a moment, it couldn''t withstand the blow. Its body was sent hurtling toward the ground like a shooting star. The speed of the fall compressed the air around it, forming a visible vortex as the pressure bore down on the earth below. However, Mega Salamence didn''t crash into the ground. Just before impact, its crescent-shaped wings erupted with incredible force, halting its fall mid-air. It stopped just half a meter above the ground, its abrupt maneuver creating enough force to leave a crater below. Such resilience was a testament to its mid-Elite-level power. If it were still at its earlier stage, it would have undoubtedly slammed into the ground. Mega Metagross raised its four arms, gathering golden energy between them. A beam of radiant light shot forthit was Mega Salamence, still recovering from its recent burst of energy, found itself unable to react in time to the incoming attack. "Protect!" Dylan''s voice rang out instantly. A green protective barrier materialized in front of Mega Salamence, intercepting the Hyper Beam. The golden beam collided with the shield, creating ripples that spread outward. Soon, cracks began to form on the shield. Just as the shield shattered, Mega Salamence counterattacked, launching a powerful Hydro Pump from its mouth. The water blast not only neutralized the remaining energy from the Hyper Beam but also surged toward Mega Metagross. After using Hyper Beam, Mega Metagross was momentarily immobilized due to its cooldown period. At its current power level, it couldn''t completely eliminate this delay. Although its body couldn''t move, Mega Metagross''s psychic abilities were still functional. A transparent light screen materialized before it, successfully blocking the incoming Hydro Pump. Taking advantage of the moment, Mega Salamence closed the distance, positioning itself directly in front of Mega Metagross before unleashing a Heat Wave at point-blank range. The intense heat enveloped Mega Metagross, turning its once-silver body into a glowing red hue, akin to a piece of iron heated in a forge. "Psychic!" Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian knew that Metagross was in severe pain, but surrender? That wasn''t an optionnot just him but even Metagross wouldn''t agree. After coming this far, there was no turning back. Besides, Julian didn''t think they would even lose. On the other side of the field, Wade clenched his fists as he watched Mega Metagross take the full brunt of the Heat Wave, its body visibly turning red by the attack. As the head coach, he had the authority to call a surrender on behalf of his team if necessary. But despite the damage, Mega Salamence''s choice to engage at such close range worked in Julian''s favor. The proximity placed Mega Salamence squarely within Psychic''s effective range, making it the perfect opportunity to strike. Since Julian had already activated Mega Evolution, he couldn''t afford to expend extra mental focus to establish a psychic link with Metagross. Doing so would compromise the stability of the Mega Evolution. Under the influence of Psychic, Mega Salamence suddenly froze mid-air, its movements completely restricted. Metagross: Let''s see you get that close to me again. Without hesitation, Mega Metagross raised its massive arm and delivered a devastating Meteor Mash directly to Mega Salamence''s head. Enhanced by the ability, the power of Meteor Mash was amplified to an astonishing level. "" The impact sent Mega Salamence crashing into the ground. The sheer force shattered the battlefield, leaving cracks spidering across an area as large as two soccer fields. It was as if an explosion had gone off beneath the surface. After landing the Meteor Mash, a flash of white light momentarily enveloped Mega Metagross. Meteor Mash had a chance to boost the user''s attack, and after nearly ten uses since the first round, the odds had finally turned in Mega Metagross''s favor. Julian wiped the corner of his eye, almost moved to the point of tears. "Mega Metagross, Giga Impact!" Julian''s shout echoed across the field. It was time to end the battle. "Mega Salamence, Hyper Beam!" Dylan, recognizing this critical moment, issued a command of his own. Under the effect of Ability, the not only became a Flying-type move, but also got its power increased by 20%. The spectators fell silent, the tension palpable. Some even stood up unconsciously, unable to tear their eyes away from the impending clash. The seven-member group on the bench of Modu Academy stood up straight, staring at the collision between Mega Metagross and Mega Salamence Giga Impact vs. Hyper Beam. White and gold beams collided in mid-air, their energies intertwining like two brilliant streams of light meeting head-on. "BOOM!!!" A shockwave of white energy erupted from the collision, followed by wave after wave of force rippling outward. The protective barrier surrounding the battlefield trembled under the relentless assault of the white shockwaves. Although the staff had assured the audience that the barrier wouldn''t break, those seated closest couldn''t help but turn pale with fear. Yet, their expressions were mixed with undeniable excitement. For over ten seconds, the clash between the two devastating attacks remained in a stalemate. Slowly but surely, the white Giga Impact began to push the golden Hyper Beam back. Dylan''s expression faltered. At this critical juncture, there was nothing more he could do but trust in Mega Salamence. "Meta!!" Metagross''s metallic voice rang out, and a slight smirk tugged at the corner of Julian''s lips. "Finish it!" In disbelief, Dylan watched as the Giga Impact surged in size, breaking all expectations. The overwhelming energy completely overwhelmed and sliced through the Hyper Beam. Under the desperate gaze of Mega Salamence, the final shock hit it like a Meteorite. With a resounding crash, the Giga Impact slammed into Mega Salamence. The already fragile battlefield gave way under the massive attack, collapsing into utter chaos. Chunks of debris flew into the air, and countless cracks spread across the ground like a shattered mirror. Parts of the battlefield rose into jagged mounds, while other sections caved into deep pits or crumbled into loose, flowing sands. The arena was in ruins. Chapter 205: Invitation from the Drake Family Chapter 205: Invitation from the Drake FamilyThe thunderous rumbling persisted for a full three minutes, echoing across the arena. A dense cloud of dust enveloped the battlefield, making it impossible to see what was happening inside. Countless spectators craned their necks, desperate to catch the first glimpse of the battlefield. Julian and Dylan, the two trainers, stood in silence. Another four minutes passed, and the dust began to clear. As visibility returned, the state of the battlefield was revealedit had been utterly destroyed. Not a single intact patch of ground remained; the entire area was in ruins. Even the metallic framework supporting the arena was now exposed, twisted and broken. This battlefield was beyond repair. However, neither of the two Pokmon could be seen. A wave of confusion rippled through the crowd. Where were Metagross and Salamence? Suddenly, the sound of breaking debris echoed through the arena. From one of the craters, Metagross slowly emerged, lifting itself into the air. Stones and rubble slid off its back as it rose. "Meta!" Metagross hovered before Julian. Its silver frame was riddled with scars and burn marks, evidence of a grueling battle. "You''ve worked hard," Julian said. This had been the toughest fight of Metagross''s career. Even during its battle against Acacia''s Articuno, it had never looked this battered. Metagross returned, but Salamence did not. Everyone knew what that meant. As a group of Pokmon assistants dug Salamence out from the rubble, it became clearthe dragon had fainted completely. "Salamence is unable to battle. Metagross is the winner!" With that announcement, Metagross had defeated its eighth opponent and Julian had singlehandedly vanquished the entire Modu Academy team. Shock, awe, disbelief, joy, silencethe crowd''s faces reflected a kaleidoscope of emotions. For a moment, even the atmosphere in the arena seemed frozen in time. Even the livestream''s comment section went still. Then, as Julian walked away with Metagross, the silence shattered. A deafening wave of applause erupted like thunder. At that moment, it didn''t matter whether someone supported Imperial University, Modu Academy, or any other college altogethereveryone was clapping for Julian and Metagross. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One trainer, one Pokmon, had taken on Modu''s eight Dragon-type specialists. Pseudo-legendaries, Mega Evolutions, and even Elite-tier opponents had all been brought out. And every single one had fallen to Metagross. Not a single trainer could stop it. The livestream comment section exploded: "Mom just asked why I''m watching the stream while kneeling." "My girlfriend didn''t clap, so I dumped her on the spot." "Metagross: From now on, call me the Dragon Slayer." The chat was in chaos, but it all boiled down to two things: One, endless praise for Julian. Two, endless praise for Metagross. "King Julian! King Julian! King Julian!" The cheers of Imperial University supporters rang out across the stands, their faces flushed with excitement. Many cupped their hands around their mouths to amplify the chant, shouting as if their voices alone could shake the earth. Among them, Hannah''s face was a deep shade of crimson, her body trembling slightly as she joined in with her classmates, chanting Julian''s title with fervor. Inside, a wild voice screamed uncontrollably: -- Julian, meanwhile, had fed Metagross a burn-healing potion to help it recover. As he approached the Imperial University'' section of the stands, his cousin, Thea, came running toward him at full speed. The enthusiasm on her face and her pace left Julian slightly alarmed. ''Is she planning to jump on me?'' With that thought, Julian ducked sideways. But a moment later; His vision went dark as two unknown objects smothered his face. "Julian, you''re amazing! So amazing! How can you be this amazing?!" Faye had launched herself onto him, wrapping her legs tightly around him in sheer excitement. Her words tumbled out incoherently as she clung to him like a lifeline. Julian: "Mmmph, mmmph!" Metagross: Is this how it ends? Suffocation? Finally, Thea stepped in and peeled Faye off him, freeing Julian to take a much-needed breath. He quickly distanced himself from Faye, the girl who had nearly caused his untimely demise. At this point, Julian''s teammates surrounded him, their eyes brimming with a mix of awe, disbelief, and something akin to envy. It wasn''t just admirationit was like they were looking at a monster. If Julian was a senior, defeating the eight members of Modu Academy wouldn''t be too shocking. But he wasn''t. He was just a freshman. A first-year student who had just obliterated upperclassmen from one of the top five universities, including seniors and third-years. This revelation left his teammates reeling. If Julian could defeat those eight, he could definitely take them down too. And unlike Modu''s team, theirs didn''t even have an Elite-level Pokmon. Even their captain, Max, was only at the peak of pseudo-Elite level, with just three Pokmon of that caliber. Max clapped Julian on the shoulder, his voice brimming with excitement. "Man, with you around, I don''t see anyone taking the championship from us for the next three years!" Though he envied Julian''s strength, his respect for him far outweighed those feelings. Alex provoked such an opponent, his dead was a matter of course. Julian was only in his first year, meaning he had three more opportunities to compete in the Hundred Schools League. Unless other schools produced someone even more monstrous, Imperial University was set to dominate for years to come. "Drop by the Drake family estate when you have time," said Wade, his tone complicated. Though he was impressed, he couldn''t entirely hide his mixed feelings. After all, Julian had triumphed over the heir of the Drake familytheir most promising Dragon-type prodigy, and Wade''s own favorite nephew. Dylan possessed the ''Heart of the Dragon'', a unique ability that enhanced the essence of Dragon-types, making him one of the most talented trainers in their lineage. Under the family''s unwavering supportalmost at any costit had taken only a year for Dylan''s Salamence to accumulate enough energy to break through to the Elite level. The goal was clear: for Dylan to shine in the Hundred Schools League with the strength of an Elite, establishing himself as the leading figure of his generation in Drakoria and solidifying his reputation as the nation''s rising star. But all of that was disrupted by Julian. With undeniable strength, Julian had not only defeated the seven trainers before Dylan but also overcame him in the final showdown. There was no room for doubt or excuses. The Drake family accepted their defeat wholeheartedly. Adding to this, wade himself was Julian''s teacher, and Ian was a fellow student. To complicate matters further, Julian was the sole heir of the Walker family, making him untouchable from any angle. Since they couldn''t act against him, they had only one choice: to make friends. Thanks to Wade and Ian, Julian already held a favorable impression of the Drake family. This was why the Drakes extended an invitation to Julian. For such a prodigious talent, if they couldn''t eliminate him as a threat, they could at least establish a solid connection. "Alright" Julian nodded. As a member of an influential family, Julian understood the intricacies of these relationships. The networks between noble families were deeply intertwined and often complex. Both the Drake and Walker families were among Drakoria''s most prominent houses. And through Wade''s guidance, Julian had learned invaluable methods for raising Dragonite. From any perspectivewhether personal growth or family alliancesit was impossible for him to refuse Drake family''s invitation. "You should rest for now," Wade said. After eight consecutive battles and a Mega Evolution in the end, even Julian''s intermediate-level psychic abilities couldn''t shield him entirely from mental exhaustion. As for Metagross, it was already tucked away in its Pok Ball, sleeping soundly. Chapter 206: Imperial VS Shu Chapter 206: Imperial VS ShuJulian''s solo victory against Modu Academy, by defeating even an Elite-level Salamence, instantly became the number one trending topic in Drakoria. Even the second and third spots on the trending list were related to this event. On platforms like TikTok, countless videos of Metagross battling the Modu Academy were circulating. Almost every video had over half a million likes. "Julian" and "Metagross" quickly became the most-searched terms in this year''s Hundred Schools League. The fame of Julian''s university, Imperial Capital University, skyrocketed, even surpassing that of their long-standing rival, Shu University. This made the president of Imperial University almost wake up laughing from a dream. Originally, with Dylan, an Elite-level Trainer, representing them, Modu Academy was poised to secure the championship as long as other schools lacked trainers of the same caliber. But no one expected Julian, a wildcard with unreasonable strength, to appear and crush their dreams of victory, single-handedly blocking their path to the championship. Not only that, but they even lost their position among the "Top Five" elite colleges. The Modu Academy was so frustrated they could practically cough up blood. The higher their hopes had been, the harder their fall. By the end of the fifth round of matches that day, five universities advanced to the semifinals: - Imperial University - Shu University - First Military Academy - Pearl University - Second Military Academy The Second Military Academy owed its spot in the semifinals largely to Imperial University''s victory against Modu Academy, along with a stroke of good luck, as their group lacked any of the Top Five elite universities. Thus, this year, the Second Military Academy replaced Modu Academy as one of the Top Five. Few viewed their inclusion as a fluke, as the Second Military Academy had long been close to breaking into the Top Five. In fact, in the history of the Hundred Schools League, the Second Military Academy had occasionally claimed a spot among the Top Five. It''s just that compared to long-standing dominators like Imperial, Shu, and the First Military Academy, their appearances were significantly fewer. The semifinals were determined by drawing lots. The First Military Academy got lucky and received a bye, advancing directly. The remaining matchups were: - Imperial University vs. Shu University - Pearl University vs. Second Military Academy Imperial University was set to face their long-time rival, Shu University, as expected. Thanks to Julian''s monstrous performance, most spectators believed Shu University stood little chance against Imperial. Still, given the decades-long rivalry between the two schools, the match retained high anticipation. The morning matchup would be Imperial vs. Shu. The afternoon would see Pearl vs. Second Military. The matches were set to take place at the main arena of the Haitian City Grand Conference Hall. As the semifinals approached, the event included a host and two special guest commentators. The host, Ben, hailed from the Haitian City Television Station. While not widely known nationally, he was a household name in Haitian City. Two special guests were: Jose, the president of the Haitian City Trainers Association and an Elite-level Trainer, and Lisa, a rising star who also hailed from Haitian City. The morning match was scheduled for 8:00 a.m., and the time was now 7:40. The spectator stands were already packed, and the live broadcast had begun. At the main stage, host Ben was chatting with the two guests. Thanks to his excellent moderation, the three shared a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Ben, in his early thirties, was a popular host known for his excellent appearance, which earned him more female fans than male. "So, Lisa, who are you supporting, Imperial University or Shu University?" Ben asked with a smile. "Of course, I''m supporting Shu University," Lisa replied cheerfully. Lisa, in her twenties, was one of the country''s most prominent young stars. Known for her acting skills and stunning looks, her following on online platforms had exceeded 200 million. "Oh? Why not Imperial University?" Ben raised an eyebrow, surprised by her answer, considering the massive hype surrounding Imperial University as the likely champion. "Because I graduated from Shu University, of course! I have to support my alma mater" Lisa said with a playful smile. She clenched her fist and struck an encouraging pose. "Go, Shu University! Beat Imperial Capital! Only Shu reigns supreme!" Her spirited words, paired with her endearing gesture, immediately sent her fans in the live chat into a frenzy. "Beat Imperial Capital! Only Shu reigns supreme!" "Beat Imperial Capital! Only Shu reigns supreme!" "Beat Imperial Capital! Only Shu reigns supreme!" The phrase flooded the chat, showcasing just how terrifyingly popular Lisa was across Drakoria. "Oh, so you''re a Shu alum, Lisa! In that case, I''ll support Shu too," Ben said with a wink. "Huh? Why?" Lisa blinked, momentarily confused. "Because I''m your fan. As a fan, I have to support you, don''t I?" Ben replied with a grin. With both the host and a guest openly rooting for Shu, the students from Shu University instantly felt invigorated, casting smug glances at their rivals from Imperial University. ''Sure, you''ve got Julian, but does that mean you''re actually well-liked? Think again!'' ''Beat Imperial Capital! Only Shu reigns supreme!'' Imperial University students: ''Seriously? You think having more supporters guarantees a win? Keep dreaming.'' "President Jose, are you also rooting for Shu University like us?" Lisa, determined to support her alma mater, turned to Jose. "How could Shu, the eternal runner-up, possibly compete with Imperial University?" Jose smirked. He paused for a second, then added, "Oh, by the way, I''m an Imperial University graduate, Class of ''85. Shu? Heh, they''re nothing." The president of the Haitian City Trainers Association, Jose, wasted no time firing shots at Shu University, showing absolutely no mercy. "President Jose, it''s Imperial Capital that''s nothing!" Lisa retorted, angrily. Jose: "Eternal second place." "Shu is number one!" Jose: "Eternal second place." "Shu is definitely going to beat Imperial Capital this time!" Jose: "Eternal second place." Lisa: "Can''t you say something else for once?" "Can you even beat Julian?" Jose replied with a smirk. Lisa: '''' Watching Lisa''s teary, bullied expression, the live audience burst out laughing. At that moment, they realized that whether it was a superstar or a high-and-mighty Elite Trainer, they were just like themwith quirks and tempers. And honestly, their banter skills? Not even close to what the audience could pull off. Thanks to the duo''s playful jabs, the tense atmosphere in the live chatwhere Shu and Imperial supporters had been bickering fiercelysuddenly lightened. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Alright, you two, let''s pause for now; the match is about to start" Host Ben interjected quickly. He even thoughtfully opened a water bottle for Lisa, handing it to her so she could soothe her throat. Jose: "Simp. Simp. In the end, you''ll have nothing." Ben: |() "It''s ''in the end, you''ll have everything''" Lisa quipped, clearly used to bickering with Jose. Without missing a beat, she countered his words. Ben: '''' "Is that so? Then, little Ben, keep simpingsuccess is just around the corner," Jose said with a grin. Lisa: "He''s not my type, though." Ben: ?(TnT)? Chapter 207: Imperial VS Shu II Chapter 207: Imperial VS Shu II"Julian, you''re sixth to go." After Julian''s one-against-eight performance yesterday, Coach Wade didn''t dare put him in the first slot. If Julian went first, most of the remaining participants would barely get a chance to battle, effectively becoming bystanders. But this way, everyone else could gain some much-needed experience instead of Julian hogging all the opportunities. Julian nodded. Without a specific task, he preferred to avoid standing out so much anyway. Because of yesterday''s battle, his Metagross''s combat power had been reassessed by the outside world, which would likely make him a target for more future assassinations. Previously, potential attackers might not have known how strong Metagross really was, sending a few pseudo-Elite or pseudo-Elite peak-level Trainers to ambush him. But now that its strength was clear, any attacker would surely start at the Elite level. The more trump cards he revealed, the greater the danger he would face in the future. Of course, Julian''s greatest trump card was always his system. With it, no one could truly uncover his full capabilities. At 8:00 AM sharp, the match officially began. Representing Imperial University, the first to take the field was Simon, a third-year student specializing in Ghost-types. His Pokmon? A Gengar. It was a Gengar with a cyan potential, already at Level 70, the peak of pseudo-Elite level. Having such a strong Pokmon as a third-year made Simon worthy of being the top student of his class. For Shu University, their first representative was also a third-year student, whose Pokmon was an Alakazam at the peak of pseudo-Elite level. Gengar and Alakazam were classic examples of powerful Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokmon. Not only were they exceptionally strong, but both had access to Mega Evolution forms. Ghost- and Psychic-types were notorious for their tricky movesets. While their moves might not always be the most powerful, they often excelled at being downright annoying. As the battle began, Gengar and Alakazam engaged in a spectacular display of offense and defense. Gengar, often referred to as the "Universal Ghost King" was known for its ability to learn an incredibly diverse range of moves. Of course, knowing many moves didn''t guarantee mastery, but versatility never hurtafter all, knowledge is power. "Gengar, use Venoshock!" Gengar feinted an attack, catching Alakazam off guard. The purple venom hit Alakazam directly, not only poisoning it but also corroding its body. As the venom''s corrosive effects took hold, white smoke rose from Alakazam''s body. "Alakazam, Psychic!" Before Gengar could revel in its success, its plump body was struck and flung back by the powerful blast. Unlike its pre-evolutions, Gastly and Haunterboth gas-based Pokmon with negligible weightGengar was significantly heavier. Once it evolved, Gengar''s weight skyrocketed from a mere 0.1 kg to 40.5 kg, likely due to its ability to store objects in its body. A few minutes later, both Gengar and Alakazam collapsed to the ground. The first match ended in a draw. "Unlucky. Of all opponents, it had to be a Psychic-type" Simon muttered as he walked off the stage, clearly dissatisfied with the result. He hadn''t expected to perform like Julian, but at the very least, he wanted to take down two opponents. Yet, the first round ended in a tie. Thea, who specialized in Psychic-types herself, gave Simon a sharp look. However, she didn''t confront him about itnot because she didn''t want to, but because she was up next as Imperial University''s second representative. "Go, Gardevoir!" Thea''s Pokmon was a Gardevoir, affectionately referred to by many Trainers as the "waifu Pokmon." This one was even a rare shiny Gardevoir, with its normally white gown replaced by an elegant black dress. The black dress gave Gardevoir an air of mystery, though some spectators had less-than-wholesome thoughts about the look. Shu University''s representative was a Fire-type Trainer, who sent out a Houndoom. Houndoom, a Dark and Fire dual-type Pokmon, was known for its aggressive attack patterns and unwavering loyalty to its Trainer. "Houndoom, Dark Pulse!" Houndoom unleashed a wave of sinister energy, but Gardevoir evaded it with , instantly reappearing to Houndoom''s left. It seized the opportunity to counter with a . "Crunch!" Houndoom didn''t dodge. Energy converged into a large, sharp-toothed mouth, which clamped down hard on Gardevoir''s arm. The sheer biting force made Gardevoir cry out in pain, forcing it to interrupt its . "Gardevoir, Triple Axel!" Despite being caught in Houndoom''s jaws, Gardevoir imbued its kicks with icy energy, landing three rapid strikes to Houndoom''s abdomen. The abdomen, a weak point for many Pokmon, proved critical. The icy strikes forced Houndoom to release its grip in pain. But at the same time as it opened its mouth, a burst out. Houndoom: I will burn you to death. But a transparent barrier materialized in front of Gardevoir, blocking the flames. sea??h th n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "That''s a well-timed Light Screen" Commented Jose, who was observing the match. "Timely, yes, but it looks like it''s about to shatter," Lisa pointed out. Though now pursuing a career in acting, Lisa had spent nearly a decade as a professional Trainer, and her insights were still sharp. Sure enough, just as her words landed, the broke apart. The intense struck Gardevoir directly, blasting it backward. "Gardevoir, Heal Pulse!" "Not a chance! Houndoom, Flame Charge!" Encased in searing flames, Houndoom charged at full speed, its body radiating heat and energy. A scorching wave accompanied its fiery assault as it barreled into Gardevoir. "" Gardevoir struggled weakly on the ground a few times before finally collapsing. The second match ended in a victory for Shu University. "Yay! Shu wins!" Lisa cheered excitedly, throwing a triumphant glance at Jose. Jose, unfazed, replied calmly, "No rush. Julian is going out sixth." Lisa froze mid-celebration. ''Darn this old man. Can he talk about anything ''other'' than Julian? Does he not know how to hold a proper conversation?'' Meanwhile, Thea sat quietly, clearly upset over her loss. Faye, was right by her side, trying to cheer her up. "If he dares to stay on the field, I''ll take him down for you" Faye declared, patting her chest in a show of loyalty. She was the third to compete and was determined to avenge her friend. The opposing Trainer, also, showed no intention of stepping off the battlefield. "Go, Togekiss!" Faye, a Fairy-type Trainer, sent out a Togekiss. Its pristine white feathers shimmered as it glided through the air, exuding elegance and beauty. Watching the graceful Pokmon, Julian suddenly recalled Togepi. Trainers who owned Togekiss were often considered unusually lucky due to the ability, which enhanced the likelihood of beneficial effects during battles. '''' Julian mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. Nine minutes later, under Faye''s stunned gaze, her Togekiss fell to the devastating of the opponent''s Mega Houndoom. Faye walked back to Thea, head held high and chest puffed out, as if she''d emerged victorious. "Sister, I shared in your misfortune and lost too. That''s true friendship, isn''t it?" Her demeanor showed no trace of defeat, leaving anyone unaware of the results thinking she''d actually won. Thea: (-`ա-) Stop boasting. Julian, watching from the sidelines, regarded Faye as if seeing her true nature for the first time. He subtly stepped away, wary of catching her seemingly contagious air of foolishness. Chapter 208: Imperial VS Shu III Chapter 208: Imperial VS Shu IIIShu University had won two consecutive matches, and against Imperial University no less. This victory sent Shu''s supporters into a frenzy of pride and excitement. The proudest of them all was, of course, their "Queen" representative, Lisa. "With Mega Houndoom in such peak form, it looks like it could win another match" After Mega Evolution, Houndoom''s strength had risen from a pseudo-Elite level to full Elite-tier. If Imperial University''s fourth Trainer didn''t have a Pokmon capable of Mega Evolution, there was a real chance Mega Houndoom would claim another victory. "Hey, Thea, doesn''t your Gardevoir also have a Mega Evolution? Why didn''t you use it earlier?" Faye, ever tactless, brought up the sore topic. "I wanted it to be a fair fight. If the opponent doesn''t Mega Evolve, then I won''t either," Thea replied. Her reasoning wasn''t just an excuse; it reflected her genuine mindset. Thea had a strong sense of pride. If her opponent didn''t choose to Mega Evolve, she wouldn''t eitherchoosing to Mega Evolve first would feel like admitting inferiority. This kind of thinking wasn''t unique to her; it was a common quirk among the children of aristocratic families. They believed that Mega Evolution was acceptable only after demonstrating their strength and forcing their opponent to evolve first. It stemmed from a sense of superiority and pride cultivated by a life of privilege. Faye, upon hearing this explanation, nodded earnestly, as if it made perfect sense. The fourth Trainer from Imperial University wasn''t just anyoneit was Max, the captain of the school team and a 4th-year student. Max was renowned at Imperial University. This was his second time competing in the Hundred Schools League, and he played a significant role in Imperial''s championship win last year. He was also the current president of the student council at Imperial University. "Tyranitar!" Max, a Dark-type Trainer, sent out the pseudo-legendary Tyranitar. Tyranitar often played the role of a villain in movies because of its resemblance to a kaiju monster. "" With a roar, the armored Tyranitar made its entrance. As it let out an earth-shaking cry, its ability activated, and a sandstorm began to sweep across the battlefield. The pale yellow sand filled the air, turning the arena into a miniature dust storm. From the stands, the field appeared as though it was caught in a desert whirlwind. The pseudo-Elite peak Tyranitar faced off against the Elite Mega Houndoom without Mega Evolving itself, opting instead to take on the formidable opponent head-on. Julian, who had been watching casually, suddenly focused his attention on the match. He didn''t know much about Max''s true strength. During team training, Max often held back, concealing his capabilities. Now, against a powerhouse like Mega Houndoom, Julian was curious to see what strategies Max would use to secure victory. "Mega Houndoom, Flamethrower!" A blazing stream of fire erupted from Mega Houndoom''s maw, heating the air so intensely that it caused visible distortions. Wherever the flames touched, the ground turned scorched red, leaving molten-like trails behind. "Stone Edge!" Tyranitar stomped its left foot into the ground, sending tremors rippling across the battlefield. Thick, jagged rocks burst from the earth, intercepting the flames. As the rocks continued to rise, they advanced relentlessly toward Mega Houndoom. Seeing this, Mega Houndoom dashed swiftly across the ground. Razor-sharp rocks, as jagged as blades, erupted in its path, forcing it to weave and dodge. Within the sandstorm, Mega Houndoom''s speed and vision were significantly hindered. Just as its pace slowed for a moment, the ground beneath it surged upward. A massive stone spike shot up from below, striking it hard in the abdomen and bending its body into an inverted "U" shape. With a pained cry, Mega Houndoom collapsed, its body reverting from its Mega Evolution form. "How is that even possible? Mega Houndoom is an Elite-tier Pokmon!" Lisa exclaimed, her face full of disbelief. "There''s nothing impossible about it. Level doesn''t determine power. While Tyranitar may only be at the peak of pseudo-Elite, its strength can rival that of an Elite-tier Pokmon," Jose explained calmly. "But why does Tyranitar have Elite-tier strength while still classified as pseudo-Elite? Shouldn''t it be considered an Elite-tier already?" asked Ben, clearly perplexed. This question resonated with the audience, especially after what they had witnessed the previous day. Julian''s Metagross, at pseudo-Elite strength, had defeated several Mega-Evolved Pokmon with Elite-tier battle power. The scene had shattered the conventional beliefs held by many spectators and Trainers alike. For the longest time, Elite-tier Pokmon were considered untouchable, a realm far above pseudo-Elite Pokmon. Even temporary boosts from Mega Evolution were thought insufficient to truly rival Elite-tier strength. Under normal circumstances, an early-stage Elite Pokmon defeating a peak pseudo-Elite Pokmon was as easy as a parent disciplining a childeffortless. But yesterday, Julian had overturned this notion, and today, Max had done the same. Both Trainers had achieved the seemingly impossible feat of a pseudo-Elite Pokmon triumphing over an Elite-tier foe. As anticipation built, the audience fell silent, both in the stadium and online. Even the usually lively livestream chat slowed to a halt, as everyone eagerly awaited President Jose''s response. "To achieve victory as a pseudo-Elite against an Elite-tier opponent, there are two main factors," Jose began, holding up two fingers. After a brief pause for thought, he continued, "First, as everyone knows, a Pokmon must possess at least a Cyan potential to become an Elite." "Cyan potential allows a Pokmon to reach Elite-tier. Blue corresponds to pseudo-Champion, and Purple to Champion." "The higher a Pokmon''s potential, the greater its future strength. Often, this also enables it to battle above its level." sea??h th ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Both Ben and Lisa weren''t slow to catch on. As Jose explained, they quickly pieced together the implications of what he was saying. "President Jose, are you saying that Max''s Tyranitar was able to defeat an Elite-tier opponent because of its exceptional potential? Could it be Blue-grade?" "There is a high chance that it''s Blue-grade," Jose replied. In fact, the Tyranitar in question was indeed of Blue potential, and it wasn''t just an ordinary Blueit had nearly a third of its potential bordering on Purple-grade. Under the Probing Eyes, the details of Tyranitar were laid bare for Julian to analyze. "And what about the second factor?" Earlier, Jose had mentioned two key points. Potential was one of them, but the audience was eager to hear the other. "The second factor is the resources invested" "As every Trainer knows, if you want your Pokmon''s strength to grow quickly, the most effective method is to pour in resources." "For example, take two Charizards, both at level 50 and with Cyan potential. Now, if I invest one billion into one and ten billion into the other, which one do you think will be stronger?" "The one with ten billion, obviously," Ben replied instantly. "Correct. Well done, you''re so smart" Jose said with a slight smirk. Ben: ''What the heck? Why does this feel like an insult?'' "In summary, it''s about potential and resources. If your Pokmon has Blue potential and you invest massive resources into it, defeating an Elite-tier Pokmon while still being pseudo-Elite is no big deal." The crowd: ''Listening to these words feels both enlightening and frustrating.'' Everyone nodded, understanding the concept. But then a collective thought seemed to arise: '' (TnT)'' Chapter 209: Aerodactyl Chapter 209: AerodactylHearing Jose''s explanation, the crowd was left speechless. All that talk about Blue potential and vast resourceswas that even achievable for ordinary people? Even for the descendants of wealthy families, such feats were incredibly difficult. Obtaining a Pokmon with Blue potential? Unless you belonged to a top-tier family like the Walkers, it was practically impossible. Sear?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even Cyan potential was something most Trainers could only dream of. So, while Jose''s explanation about why Max''s Tyranitar and Julian''s Metagross could defeat Elite-tier Pokmon was clear, it was little more than amusing to the crowd. Before long, Shu University sent out their fourth contestant, a Fighting-type Trainer who used a Machamp. By now, the battlefield had entirely become Tyranitar''s domain. Thanks to its ability, the arena was engulfed in a swirling sandstorm. On paper, Tyranitar''s four-times weakness to Fighting gave Machamp a significant advantage. Unfortunately, the gap in strength between the two Pokmon was far too wide. Even with the type advantage, Machamp couldn''t gain the upper hand. The flying sand constantly interfered with Machamp''s movements, and the fine grains even wrapped around its ankles as it ran. Tyranitar''s mastery over the sand left Julian in awe. Three minutes later, Machamp was defeated by Tyranitar''s . "With the state Tyranitar is in, apart from Shu''s team captain, none of their other members stand a chance," Jose said with a smile. In team competitions, the strength of most members might be similar, but the captain always possessed overwhelming power. If not for Julian''s presence on the Imperial University team, Max undoubtedly deserved to be their captain. Of course, Julian had no interest in the title. For Shu University to stop Max''s winning streak, their only option was to send out their own captain. However, the lineup order couldn''t be changed once submitted, so it depended on when Shu''s captain was scheduled to enter. Typically, team captains went last. Imperial University was confident enough to have Max go out fourth, thanks to Julian''s remarkable presence. Without Julian, Max would likely have been their final contestant as well. Shu sent out their fifth member. Two minutes later, the fifth member was defeated. The sixth contestant entered the field. Four minutes later, the sixth contestant was defeated. Then came the seventh. Three minutes later, the seventh contestant also fell. Max single-handedly took down five of Shu University''s team members, boosting Imperial University''s morale to a new high. In the livestream, supporters of Shu University were so embarrassed they didn''t dare to say much, while those cheering for Imperial University were mocking them relentlessly. As students of Imperial University, they seemed to share one common hobby: taunting Shu University. Seeing Shu suffer brought them joy; seeing Shu in trouble brought even greater joy. If Shu supported something, they opposed it; if Shu opposed something, they supported it. The rivalry between the two universities had been simmering for decades, though no one quite remembered how it began. In Imperial University''s eyes, even a stray dog from Shu University wandering into their territory would deserve a good thrashing before being sent back. "Hey, hey, this is overkill! Max, don''t you know how to go easy on them? Look at Shuthey''re about to shut down completely!" Jose was having the time of his life. As an Imperial University alumnus, despite having graduated nearly three decades ago, he still delighted in seeing Shu University suffer, especially at the hands of Imperial University. On the other hand, Lisa was visibly frustrated. Ever since Max took the stage, the smug remarks from this old man next to her hadn''t stopped. ''Shu is hopeless,'' ''Imperial''s performance isn''t bad at all,'' ''Shu, always the eternal runner-up,'' ''Why are their students so weak?'' "Hmph! What''s there to gloat about? Shu''s captain is stepping in now. Let''s see how your Max handles that!" Lisa snapped, slapping the table in frustration. At first, Ben, sitting between the two commentators, claimed to be Lisa''s fan for the sake of the show. But now, as the verbal sparring escalated, and Lisa even looked ready to start a brawl, Ben found himself caught in an increasingly awkward position. "Do you think Imperial only has Max?" Jose said calmly. His retort left Lisa momentarily speechless. She glanced at Julian, who was sitting quietly on the Imperial University bench, and muttered in dissatisfaction, "Why didn''t Shu recruit Julian?" Shu University was already regretting it bitterly. If they had known Julian would perform so monstrously after entering university, they would have done anything to steal him away from Imperial University. But Imperial University''s offer at the time had simply been too overwhelming, leaving Shu University no chance to compete. Finally, Shu sent out their eighth contestanttheir captain, Carter. As captains of their respective teams, Carter and Max were naturally familiar with each other. Outside of competitions, they were both rivals and friends. "Tyran!!" Tyranitar, too, recognized Carter. As soon as it saw him, it let out a thunderous roar. Tyranitar: ''So, you''ve finally decided to show up, you little runt!'' Not understanding Tyranitar''s words, Carter assumed it was simply greeting him and smiled in response before tossing out his Pok Ball. "Aero!!!" The roar that followed was ancient and desolate, sending a chilling aura through the arena that made everyone''s hair stand on end. A gray Pokmon soared through the air, seemingly unaffected by the swirling sandstorm. "An Aerodactyl! That''s an Aerodactyl!" Lisa exclaimed in shock. The audience was just as stunned upon recognizing the Pokmon. Aerodactyl and other fossil Pokmon like Kabutops were incredibly rare in the modern world. While many fossils had been unearthed, living fossil Pokmon were almost exclusively found in ancient secret realms. There were only three such ancient secret realms worldwide: - One was located in international waters, controlled by multiple nations, and only a handful of trainers were allowed access each year. - The second was in East Africa, under the control of several dangerous organizations. - The third was in Drakoria. Even within these ancient secret realms, fossil Pokmon were rare, and their reproduction rates were extremely low. Aerodactyls, for instance, could only lay a few eggs in their lifetime. This made opportunities to capture one even scarcer. What was even more astonishing was that this Aerodactyl had Blue potential. Considering the rarity of Aerodactyls, this might very well be the only Blue-tier Aerodactyl in the entire world. As one of the top predators of the ancient era, Aerodactyl''s appearance sent a chill through the battlefield, its very presence intimidating. Pokmon: Aerodactyl (Rock/Flying) Level: 70 Potential: Blue Ability: Rock Head Held Item: Hard Stone Gender: Male Moves: Bite, Supersonic, Ancient Power, Scary Face, Wing Attack, Rock Slide, Crunch, Iron Head, Take Down, Stone Edge, Hyper Beam, Giga Impact TMs: Protect, Rock Tomb, Earth Power, Stealth Rock, Substitute, Hurricane, Iron Tail, Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Dragon Dance, Dragon Claw, Earthquake Genetic Moves: Dragon Breath, Roost, Tailwind, Wide Guard, Steel Wing Chapter 210: Defeated Chapter 210: DefeatedThe Hundred Schools League truly lived up to its reputation, gathering the finest students across Drakoria. Pokmon with Cyan potential, rarely seen in the outside world, were almost a standard herenearly every participant had one. Even more astonishingly, Julian had now witnessed three Pokmon with Blue potential. The first was Dylan''s Salamence, the second Max''s Tyranitar, and now the third, Carter''s Aerodactyl. Blue-tier Pokmon were so rare that some smaller nations didn''t even have a single one. Yet here, Julian had seen three, and they weren''t just ordinary blue-tier Pokmon; each was exceptional in its own right. The world was never short of those who combined talent, perseverance, lineage, and luck. Their extraordinary existence earned them the label of "monsters," as they far exceeded what could merely be called "genius." Aerodactyl soared high above, while Tyranitar roared into the sky from the ground. This wasn''t their first battle. Both Pokmon were familiar with each other. "Aerodactyl, Hurricane!" Adjusting his rimless glasses, Carter had already calculated Tyranitar''s remaining stamina. He was a data-driven trainer who believed that victory lay in the numbers. The violent winds swept across the battlefield, scattering the swirling sand in an instant. What was once a hazy, dust-filled arena cleared up as the fine particles were blown away. Tyranitar''s ability was completely overpowered by the Hurricane. "It''s about to start," Carter murmured to himself. "Tyranitar, Mega Evolve!" The next moment, Max''s voice rang out. Tyranitar had already fought five battles, leaving its stamina and mental state far from peak condition. To defeat Aerodactyl, Mega Evolution was a necessity. After the dazzling glow of evolution subsided, a more menacing Mega Tyranitar stood on the battlefield. Max didn''t rush to attack; he was waiting for the right moment. "Heh, Aerodactyl, Mega Evolve!" Carter chuckled softly as the rainbow light of Mega Evolution enveloped Aerodactyl. He wasn''t one to take chances. While Tyranitar was known for its ability to battle opponents of higher levels, so was his Aerodactyl. However, Mega Tyranitar reached the level of an Elite Pokmon after evolving. If he underestimated it and didn''t Mega Evolve, the loss would be on him. Mega Aerodactyl''s body was now adorned with sharp, jagged rocks that were harder than diamonds. Many scholars believed that this was Aerodactyl''s true form in ancient times. After Mega Evolution, Aerodactyl''s ability shifted from to , the same ability as Mega Metagross. "Stone Edge!" X2 Sharp stones erupted from the ground, constantly colliding and exploding with each other, the explosion sounds drowned out the cheers of the audience. When the dust settled, neither side had gained the upper hand. At that moment, Mega Aerodactyl''s wings glowed with a silver light. With a rapid beat of its wings, its speed surged to its limit. In a flash, it struck Mega Tyranitar''s abdomen with , producing a resounding ''crack''. Mega Tyranitar staggered back three steps but showed no signs of injury. Its abdomen was protected by its impenetrable armor, significantly reducing the damage dealt by the . But before it could recover, another attack came crashing down. As one of the most formidable aerial predators, Aerodactyl''s highest stat was its Speed, and after Mega Evolution, this stat only became more overwhelming. With this enhanced speed, its wasn''t just a single strikeit became a relentless barrage. Mega Tyranitar attempted to block with , but the falling rocks were easily dodged by the nimble Mega Aerodactyl. "" One after another struck Mega Tyranitar, forcing it to retreat step by step. The once-immaculate armor began showing cracks under the continuous onslaught. It was evident to the spectators that Mega Tyranitar was being outclassed by Mega Aerodactyl''s superior speed. If Max couldn''t find a way to turn the tide, the match''s outcome would be inevitable. "Mega Tyranitar it''s time to whip up a Sandstorm," Max commanded. The earlier sandstorm had been dispelled by Mega Aerodactyl''s , but Tyranitar''s ability, when properly trained, could be toggled at will. After the previous sandstorm dissipated, Mega Tyranitar hadn''t reactivated its abilityuntil now. Under its trainer''s command, the roared to life once more. The fallen sands began to rise, and even the previously scattered rocks disintegrated into fine particles. A new sandstorm, more ferocious than before, engulfed the battlefield. The swirling sands obscured the arena, leaving the audience with only faint glimpses of two shadowy figures, flickering in and out of view. Within the sandstorm, Mega Tyranitar''s advantages grew, while Mega Aerodactyl''s speed was finally curbed by the blinding and abrasive winds. However, since Mega Aerodactyl had the typing, the sandstorm was not very effective against it, to cause any real damage. "Mega Aerodactyl, Supersonic!" "We''ll counter with Screech!" The two sonic waves collided mid-air, canceling each other out. "Mega Tyranitar, Earth Power!" Mega Tyranitar channeled its energy into the ground, imbuing it with the power of rock and earth. The battlefield trembled as a massive boulder erupted from beneath Mega Aerodactyl, launching itself high into the air. But just as the airborne Mega Aerodactyl seemed defenseless, it suddenly vanished from sight. Mega Tyranitar was stunned for a moment, confused by the sudden disappearance. Then, a terrifying surge of energy erupted from behind it. Acting on instinct, Mega Tyranitar began to summon a shield. sea??h th Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But it was a fraction too slow. struck Mega Tyranitar squarely on its back, sending the colossal Pokmon crashing face-first into the ground. In battles like this, victory and defeat were often decided in a single moment. As Mega Tyranitar fell, Mega Aerodactyl''s next attack was already incoming. tore through the sandstorm like a meteor, a blinding white light cutting through the haze. A deafening boom erupted, accompanied by a powerful shockwave that cleared the arena of the swirling sand in an instant. When the dust settled, the audience finally saw the scene clearly. Mega Aerodactyl stood triumphantly atop the now-devolved Tyranitar, its wings spread wide as it let out a series of ferocious roars. Today, it had hunted down a Tyranitar. Max withdrew his Tyranitar, while Carter withdrew Mega Aerodactyl from its Mega evolved state. Their was an opponent even stronger than Max to fight, and Carter knew he needed to conserve both stamina and focus to use Mega Evolution again. "Aerodactyl, use Roost" Taking advantage of the brief pause before Imperial University''s fifth competitor stepped onto the battlefield, Carter commanded Aerodactyl to recover its energy. The decisive moment in the previous clash came when Aerodactyl had dodged Mega Tyranitar''s . Instead of fully evading, it had used to absorb the brunt of the attack. This clever tactic was what allowed Aerodactyl to ultimately overcome Tyranitar and secure victory. Chapter 211: Melmetal Chapter 211: MelmetalMax''s defeat wasn''t because Tyranitar was weaker than Aerodactyl but because of the timing of his entry into the battle. If Tyranitar hadn''t been worn down earlier and faced Aerodactyl in peak condition, the outcome could have been entirely different. However, as the captain of Imperial University''s team, Max''s loss delivered a blow to his side''s morale. Some Shu University supporters, who had already been badmouthing Imperial University, seized the moment to mock them, claiming even their captain was "nothing special." After Max stepped down, the fifth competitor for Imperial University was a 4th-year Water-type trainer, Finn. Finn sent out his Gyarados, which was at the peak of pseudo-Elite level. Unfortunately, he didn''t have a Mega Stone, so Gyarados couldn''t unleash its full potential. A few minutes later, Gyarados fell to Aerodactyl''s sharp claws. Carter had now defeated two competitors from Imperial University, one of them being the team captain. This bolstered Shu University''s momentum even further. But their excitement was short-lived. When Imperial University''s sixth competitor, Julian, stepped onto the field, the ecstatic expressions on Shu University supporters'' faces froze instantly. In their excitement, they had completely forgotten about this "inhuman" individual. The memory of Julian''s Metagross defeating eight opponents in a row yesterday was still fresh in everyone''s minds. "Don''t panic! What if that Metagross didn''t come out of yesterday''s battles unscathed? It might still be recovering today." "Carter''s Aerodactyl can still Mega Evolve. There''s a chance for a comeback!" "If Julian doesn''t use Metagross and wins with another Pokmon, I''ll livestream myself kissing a Jynx!" Sar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Guys, take my advicejust give up now." As Julian reached the battlefield, his hand moved toward Metagross''s Pok Ball on his belt. However, another Pok Ball at his side began to shake violently. Julian paused, momentarily surprised, as the shaking intensified. "Alright, seems like you''re eager to make your official debut today" Julian said softly. He grasped the trembling Pok Ball, and it instantly calmed down. "Go, Melmetal!" Everyone had expected Julian to send out his signature Metagross against Carter''s Aerodactyl, which boasted Elite-level strength. Instead, he summoned a Pokmon no one had ever seen before. It had a body like flowing silver liquid, with several hexagonal bolts adorning it. ''What in the world is ''that'' Pokmon?'' Immediately, a single thought raced through the crowd: This must be an undiscovered Pokmon. A brand-new species. "Whoa! Has anyone seen this Pokmon before?" "Could it be like Slowkinga brand-new evolutionary form of an existing species?" "This silver body must mean it''s a Steel-type Pokmon." "Anyone knowledgeable care to explain?" "All of you so-called experts, and no one has a clue?" Not only were the spectators utterly confused, but even Ben and Lisa, seated on the podium, were left scratching their heads over Julian''s Pokmon. The only one showing a glimmer of recognition was Jose, the president of the Haitian City Trainers'' Association, who wore a thoughtful expression. Just then, an official comment popped up in the livestream chat: "Melmetal, Steel-type, Mythical Pokmon" At the same time Jose also stood up, slamming the table with excitement as he exclaimed, "I know what this Pokmon is! It''s Melmetal, no doubt about it!" "Just a month ago, ''Pokmon Monthly'' reported that Wyvernia discovered Melmetal in their Steel-type secret realm. Despite not reaching Elite-level strength, its life energy already matches that of an Elite-level Pokmon. It even possesses a unique force of laws absent in ordinary Pokmon." "They named it Melmetal and found it to be the evolved form of Meltan. However, the exact method of its evolution remains unknown." "Their Steel-type Elite has a Meltan, which is likely tied to their research." Whenever a new Pokmon is discovered, it must first be reviewed and approved by the World Trainers'' Association before being officially recorded. Only then is its data released to the public and added to educational materials. However, as Melmetal was a recent discovery and a Mythical Pokmon, the review process had been notably slow. Thus, as of today, no official information about Melmetal had been made public. Jose only knew about it because he regularly read ''Pokmon Monthly'', which had documented Wyvernia''s preliminary research on Melmetal. Since ''Pokmon Monthly'' was an academic publication, it wasn''t something the general public typically readit was too complex and, frankly, boring. "President Jose, are you saying that silver Pokmon is a Mythical Pokmon?" Lisa asked, her mouth agape in disbelief. Legendary Pokmon and Mythical Pokmon were entities that surpassed ordinary Pokmon and even pseudo-Legendaries in every way. The most well-known Legendary Pokmon included the Legendary Birds and the Regi Trio, while Mythical Pokmon like Shaymin and Celebi represented their category. Now, a new Mythical Pokmon had joined their ranksMelmetal. "Yes, Last month''s ''Pokmon Monthly'' included detailed documentation on it. I expect the World Trainers'' Association will soon make Melmetal''s existence public." Faced with a Mythical Pokmon they had never seen before, everyone stared wide-eyed at Melmetal, as though trying to memorize every detail of its form. "Julian''s really good at keeping secrets. If it were me, I would''ve revealed this Pokmon ages ago." "I''m from the Wyvernia. For the sake of international friendship, I hope Julian can return Melmetal to us!" "Our friends from the Wyvernia are absolutely right. On behalf of Drakoria and Julian, I apologize." "What century is this? Still herding sheepdogs?" "Sorry, everyone, I didn''t keep it leashed properly. Let me get it back before it causes more trouble." "Yeah, better tie it up. If I see it again, I''ll deal with it myself." That person was immediately met with a wave of backlash from countless viewers online. "Mel! Mel!~" Appearing openly for the first time in front of such a massive audience, Melmetal was overjoyed. It struck a series of bodybuilding poses, flexing its silver limbs. This unexpected display instantly took away some of the awe and mystery surrounding its status as a Mythical Pokmon. "Hahaha, it''s so funny!" "Why does it look so goofy?" "Melmetal: Mythical Pokmon, nice to meet you!" On the Imperial University side, everyone was equally shocked that Julian possessed a Mythical Pokmon. Julian''s cousin, Thea, clenched her fists in frustration. "That guy kept it a secret from even me! So unfair!" "Maybe he didn''t tell you because he knew you might spill the beans," Faye kindly suggested. "Impossible! I''m known for being tight-lipped," Thea said with a serious expression. Faye held her tongue but couldn''t help complaining in her heart. Chapter 212: Victory Chapter 212: VictoryPokmon: Melmetal (Steel) Level: 63 Potential: Purple Ability: Iron Fist Held Item: Black Belt Gender: Genderless Moves: Harden, Thunder Shock, Headbutt, Charge Beam, Giga Impact, Thunder Punch, Acid Armor, Flash Cannon, Thunder Wave, Dynamic Punch, Protect TMs: Ice Punch, Hyper Beam, Thunder Punch, Thunderbolt, Brick Break, Electric Terrain, Brutal Swing, Thrash, Body Slam, Ice Beam, Darkest Lariat, Heavy Slam Genetic Moves: None --- Though Melmetal is a Steel-type Pokmon, its ability increases the power of punching moves by 20%. This is why it holds a to further boost Fighting-type moves. With the ability and the combined, its punches hit with incredible powerfew Pokmon could withstand a single blow. Since its level isn''t high enough, it hasn''t yet learned its signature move, . Carter was dumbfounded. After defeating Max, he had expected to face Julian and his Metagross eventually. He had even devised numerous strategies in preparation for this battle. As a data-driven trainer, Carter had spent the entire night studying Metagrossits moves, battle style, and habits. He thought he had prepared thoroughly. But then... Julian didn''t even send out Metagross. Instead, he released a completely new Pokmona Mythical Pokmon no less! A new Pokmon meant there was no external data on it at all. Carter didn''t know its moves, its ability, or its battle style. This sense of the unknown was utterly frustrating for Carter, who was used to controlling every variable in a fight. It was like being force-fed something unpleasant. Sitting on the bench, Max noticed Carter''s constipated expression and couldn''t help but grin widely. With the referee''s whistle, the match officially began. The spectators stopped chatting and turned their full attention to Melmetal. A new Mythical Pokmon had appeared, and they were among the first to witness it. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A subtle sense of pride bubbled within them. "Aerodactyl, Mega Evolve!" Carter didn''t dare to hold back, immediately commanding his Aerodactyl to Mega Evolve. After his match against Max, Carter had canceled Aerodactyl''s Mega Evolution to conserve stamina and focus, saving the second use for his anticipated battle against Julian''s Metagross. Now, instead of Metagross, he faced Melmetala Pokmon he found even more troublesome. Of course, his judgment was slightly off. While Melmetal was no match for Metagross, its strength came second only to it. Mega Aerodactyl appeared on the field. "Dynamic Punch," Julian commanded. At that moment, Melmetal stood about 100 meters from Mega Aerodactyl, who was hovering in the air. Carter thought Melmetal would close the distance by running and jumping, which would naturally give Mega Aerodactyl opportunities to dodge or counterattack. But the next second, Carter saw Melmetal rotate its arm in a full circle, and suddenly, as if it were made of rubber, its arm stretched out in an instant. (T/N: Gomu Gomu No....) The tore through the air, its force so immense that a white shockwave formed around its fist. Mega Aerodactyl realized it was too late to dodge. It hastily used . "Bang!!!" The smashed into the protective barrier with such force that the surrounding air seemed to tremble. Carter had barely breathed a sigh of relief when the shattered into pieces. The , carrying incredible momentum, struck Mega Aerodactyl squarely on the face. The diamond-hard stone on Mega Aerodactyl''s face cracked under the impact of the punch. With Melmetal''s ability combined with the , the attack''s power was nothing short of terrifying. Had the not absorbed some of the power, that single punch would have left Mega Aerodactyl crying for its mother. Even so, the punch left Mega Aerodactyl dazed. Amid the haze, it vaguely heard its trainer shouting frantically. Melmetal''s body, composed of flowing liquid metal, granted it excellent flexibility and extension. After delivering the with its left arm, its right arm followed suit, readying another . While Mega Aerodactyl struggled to shake off its dizziness, the second punch closed in rapidly. "Use Protect quickly!" Carter yelled, seeing his Pokmon still shaking its dazed head, oblivious to the incoming attack. His voice was filled with desperation. Of all the moves, required the least amount of time to activate, though whether Mega Aerodactyl could respond in time was another matter. '''' Julian sneered. But in the next moment, that smirk froze on his face. Somehow, despite its dizziness, Mega Aerodactyl seemed to have heard Carter''s command and instinctively used . To Julian''s disbelief, it successfully executed the move. Since his debut, Julian''s Pokmon had never managed to pull off a second in a row. His infamous reputation for bad luck with this move was well-known. And now, right before his eyes, someone had pulled it off flawlessly. This really felt like a slap to his face. "Crush it for me!" Julian roared, his voice laced with jealousy and frustration. Melmetal, feeling equally insulted, furiously swung its massive arm. The second hit, shattering the once again. The punch landed on the same spot as before, slamming into Mega Aerodactyl''s already damaged cheek. This time, Mega Aerodactyl couldn''t hold on any longer. Its body fell out of the sky, plummeting toward the ground. "Finish it, Flash Cannon!" The hexagonal nut on Melmetal''s chest glowed intensely before unleashing a brilliant silver-white beam of light. The beam struck the falling Mega Aerodactyl with pinpoint accuracy. With a thunderous explosion, Mega Aerodactyl was sent flying through the air. As it tumbled away, its Mega Evolution form dissipated. "" Aerodactyl crashed onto the ground, bouncing several times before coming to a stop. "Aerodactyl is unable to battle. Melmetal wins!" the referee declared. An Elite-level Mega Aerodactyl, defeated so decisively by the Mythical Pokmon Melmetaland Melmetal wasn''t even at Elite-level itself. "Are Mythical Pokmon really this strong? It only took three moves to take down an Elite-level Mega Aerodactyl," Lisa muttered, still in disbelief. Jose, standing nearby, didn''t boast about Imperial University''s victory this time. Instead, he wore a serious expression as he explained, "The key to winning was that Carter wasn''t familiar with Melmetal. He didn''t anticipate its incredible flexibility and range." "Melmetal''s punches are like Hitmonlee''s kicksbut in terms of reach and flexibility, Melmetal''s arms are even better than Hitmonlee''s legs." "And I suspect Melmetal''s legsor even its entire bodycan also stretch just like its arms," Jose added thoughtfully. He wasn''t wrong. Carter had been caught off guard because he lacked knowledge about Melmetal. If he had known about Melmetal''s remarkable malleability and range, his Mega Aerodactyl could have evaded the punches. Without a direct hit, the entire course of the battle could have changed. Chapter 213: Finals Chapter 213: FinalsImperial University triumphed over Shu University, while Pearl University defeated the Second Military Academy. Alongside the First Military Academy, which had a bye in the previous round, the top three schools were decided: Imperial University, Pearl University, and the First Military Academy. Tomorrow would be the final match to determine the champion and crown the top university in Drakoria. Ordinarily, the finals of the Hundred Schools League would attract enormous attention. However, the appearance of Melmetal had stolen much of the spotlight. Adding fuel to the fire, Wyvernia''s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement demanding that Drakoria have Julian return Melmetal and explain how he obtained it. Currently, Meltan and Melmetal were known to exist only in Wyvernia''s top-secret realm. Even there, only the nation''s Steel-Type Elite owned a Meltanand its evolution method remained a mystery. Now, however, a neighboring Drakorian trainer had revealed a fully-evolved Melmetal, causing uproar in the nation of Wyvernia, which suspected their secrets had been stolen. In truth, they weren''t entirely wrong. The "theft" originated with the Smith family of Wish City, though Julian had acquired the then-egg-form Meltan from them legitimately. The Smith family was quick to connect the dots, realizing that Julian''s Melmetal had hatched from the mysterious Pokmon egg they had handed overa Pokmon egg that had remained unhatched for 30 years in their care. Not only had Julian successfully hatched the egg, but he had also managed to evolve Meltan into Melmetal. Did the Smith family regret it? Of course they did. This was, after all, a Mythical Pokmon. But alongside regret, they felt relief. The egg had remained dormant in their care for decades, and it seemed unlikely they would have succeeded in hatching it themselves. Keeping it would have ultimately been a waste. Sar?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. By giving the egg to Julian, the Smith family gained the support of the Walker family and built a close relationship with him. Given Julian''s remarkable potential, it was nearly certain he would become an Elite Trainer in the future, with a solid chance of becoming a Champion. And likely with Melmetal''s help too. If that happened, Julian would owe the Smith family a big favor. In response to Wyvernia''s aggressive demands, Drakoria''s stance was simple. That very day, Drakoria''s Steel-Type Elite, John Walker, arrived at the border with ten other Elite Trainers in tow, sending a clear message: ''If you dare cross the line, we''ll show no mercy'' Melmetal''s public debut had indeed brought complications for the Walker family. As a brand-new Steel-Type Mythical Pokmon, it had drawn interest from many Steel-Type clans in Drakoria and abroad. Fortunately, the Walker family''s formidable strength, combined with the unwavering support of Drakoria''s government, deterred anyone from making overt moves against Julianat least on the surface. After dinner, Julian returned to his hotel room, where his Pokmon were already resting. Melmetal animatedly described its battle against the Mega Aerodactyl to Metagross, Dragonite, and the others, complete with vivid gestures and details about the cheering crowd. It was so caught up in recounting the glorious moment that it ignored the Pokblocks placed in front of it, eager instead for more Pokmon to join and listen to its story. Unfortunately, Growlithe and Lairon were entirely uninterested. Their focus remained firmly on their food. When Julian returned to the room, he found Melmetal enthusiastically chattering, its "Mel, Mel!" filling the air. Meanwhile, the other Pokmon were busy with their own activities. The only one listening attentively was Slowking, though for some reason, it had removed the "crown" from its head. "MelMeta!" Noticing Julian''s return, Melmetal let out an excited cry, the eye in its head-nut forming a crescent-moon shape as it joyfully grabbed Julian in a tight hug. "Alright, alright, I know you''re happy" Julian said with a smile, patting its arm. Deep down, he felt a little apologetic in his heart. He hadn''t allowed Melmetal to appear publicly before, and that was unfair to the Mythical Pokmon. "Mel~" Melmetal: I want to battle again tomorrow. It had loved the cheers from the crowd and wanted to experience them again. "Tomorrow, Metagross will take the stage. You''ll have plenty of chances in the future" Julian replied, shaking his head. Melmetal might be incredibly strong, but tomorrow was the final match. Only Metagross could guarantee success. Even though Melmetal was a Mythical Pokmon, Metagross was Julian''s real trump card and his greatest source of confidence. Winning the championship for Imperial University was criticalit would maximize his mission rewards. "Meta~" Hearing Julian''s refusal, Melmetal became visibly agitated, trying to protest. But before it could, Metagross calmly interjected. Metagross: You want to rebel? Melmetal instantly quieted down. Within the team, Metagross'' authority was unshakable. --- The next day, the finals began. The format of the finals was different from the semifinals and qualifiers. This meant that each universuty'' eight-member team would be split into two groups, each group facing off against four members of another school. Julian, Faye, Thea, and Paul were placed in one group, with their opponents being four trainers from the First Military Academy. Meanwhile, Max, Finn, Mark, and Simon were set to face the other four from Pearl University. Each victory would earn one point, and the champion would be determined by total points at the end. Julian''s group was up first. Stepping onto the field, Julian found himself facing none other than the First Military Academy''s captaina 4th-year and a man already holding the rank of lieutenant colonel in the military. "Looking forward to seeing Melmetal in action!" "The first match is already this intenseJulian versus the captain of the First Military Academy!" "Does anyone know more about this Pierce? There''s barely anything online about him except for recent records. His earlier history is impossible to find." "Friendly advice: stop digging. You don''t want an invitation for a little ''chat''." At opposite ends of the battlefield, Julian and Pierce stood ready. Pierce, dressed in his military uniform, had a rugged and stoic expression, his face betraying no emotions. From the sharp glint in Pierce''s eyes, Julian sensed a faint killing intent. It wasn''t directed at him, but rather seemed to radiate from Pierce himselfevidence of the lives he''d taken. This man had clearly killed a lot. To have reached the rank of lieutenant colonel at such a young age, Pierce must have earned countless military merits. Such accomplishments often came at the cost of taking lives, something common and expected in war. Julian couldn''t help but feel respect for him. In any world, soldiers who defend their nation and protect their people are always worthy of admiration. "Metagross!" Julian sent out Metagross. Against someone like Pierce, the captain of the First Military Academy, there was no telling what tricks or strategies he might have hidden. Sending out Melmetal and risking an unexpected loss was not an option. Under Julian''s watchful gaze, Pierce threw his Pok Ball into the air. A Pokmon emerged, its body formed of gray and orange rocks. Chapter 214: Regirock Chapter 214: Regirock"Regirock!" Seeing the Pokmon before him, Julian''s mouth opened slightly in surprise. His expression was speechlessit seemed like every battle he entered involved encountering something extraordinary. Now even Legendary Pokmon were showing up. Regirock, alongside Regice and Registeel, was part of the trio known as the Legendary Titans. Due to their respective types, they were often referred to as the Rock Titan, Ice Titan, and Steel Titan. According to legend, these three Pokmon were created by the ancient first-class legendary Pokmon Regigigas to serve as its companions and protectors. Their depictions could often be found in ancient ruins, adding to the air of mystery surrounding them. S~ea??h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Pokmon: Regirock (Rock) Level: 72 Potential: Blue Ability: Clear Body Held Item: Hard Stone Gender: Genderless Moves: Charge Beam, Rock Throw, Bulldoze, Stomp, Ancient Power, Rock Slide, Curse, Iron Defense, Hammer Arm, Superpower, Lock-On, Zap Cannon, Hyper Beam TMs: Heavy Slam, Dynamic Punch, Protect, Giga Impact, Thunder Wave, Rock Blast, Rock Tomb, Sand Tomb, Stone Edge Genetic Moves: None -- It was no surprise that Regirock was another Elite-level Pokmon. Thankfully, Julian had sent out Metagross; if he''d chosen Melmetal, things might have gotten complicated. With Regirock''s appearance, the stadium and live stream audience erupted. "Holy shitthis ticket was so worth it! Yesterday, we saw the Steel-type Mythical Pokmon Melmetal. Today, it''s the Legendary Rock Titan, Regirock!" "To all those who skipped the live event, regret it yet?" "We''d come if we could! The tickets were sold out ages ago!" "Scalpers are slacking. Just because they got busted a few times, they''ve gone soft. Don''t they know that adversity is the time to rise up stronger?" "Why didn''t Julian send out Melmetal? Then we''d get to see a Mythical Pokmon versus a Legendary Pokmon!" "Quick theory: do you think Pierce has the other two Titans?" "It''s not impossible... maybe a 0.01% chance?" If the three Titans gathered, they could generate a powerful barrier. In fact, three Elite-level Titans could create a barrier strong enough to fend off a Champion. In the Pyramid Kingdom, their Champion was known to own two TitansRegisteel and Regice. (T/N: should be Egypt) That country, rich in ancient ruins, had a higher concentration of the Legendary Titans compared to others. -- "Regirock, Rock Throw!" Pierce initiated the first move. Regirock''s head, adorned with a pattern of seven orange dots forming an "H" shape, began to glow as the orange dots flickered brightly. Chunks of rock, each the size of a car, materialized above Metagross and came crashing down, casting massive shadows over the battlefield. With a sharp sound, Metagross vanished from its position, utilizing . The falling boulders smashed into the ground, leaving deep craters where the Pokmon had been. "Metagross, Mega Evolve!" Julian commanded. Regirock was Level 72, and Metagross, at Level 65, could hold its own against standard Elites, but Regirock was no ordinary opponent. It was likely capable of fighting above its level. Mega Evolution was a necessity here. Brilliant, prismatic light engulfed Metagross, and in moments, its Mega Evolution was completed. Mega Metagross stood tall, its Level temporarily boosted to 71. "Metal Claw!" Mega Metagross transformed into a streak of silver light, closing the gap between itself and Regirock in an instant. Its claws shimmered, slicing through the air with incredible force. Under the ability, contact moves like this gained a 30% power boost, making the attack even more ferocious. "Dynamic Punch!" Pierce countered without hesitation. Regirock''s massive fist shot forward, tearing through the air. The impact of its punch meeting Metagross'' claw sent shockwaves across the battlefield. "Boom!!" The ground beneath Regirock cracked instantly, spiderweb-like fissures radiating outward for hundreds of meters. In close combat, Metagross never backed down from any opponentlet alone in its Mega Evolution form now. The force behind Metagross'' caused Regirock to stagger backward. Seizing the opportunity, Metagross retracted its claw and swung its other arm, aiming a directly at Regirock''s head. "Regirock, Iron Defense!" "" The sound of metal striking metal echoed loudly as Regirock hastily activated Iron Defense. While it managed to block the full force of the attack, the impact drove most of its body into the ground. Regirock''s head, with its glowing orange H-shaped pattern, began flashing rapidly. A yellow beam shot from it, striking Metagross. Although the beam caused no damage, it left a distinct mark on the X-shaped cross on Metagross'' forehead. "What''s that mark?" Lisa asked, puzzled. "It''s Lock-On, only a few Pokmon can learn this move. Once it marks a target, the user''s next attack is guaranteed to hit." Jose sitting next to her explained. Julian, well aware of effect, didn''t want to give Regirock a chance to counterattack. had a time limit, and once the time was up, the mark will disappear. "Metagross, keep up the pressure!" "Regirock, Superpower!" Pierce''s voice rang out as Regirock unleashed a devastating . The strength it unleashed was terrifying, causing the air around it to crack and explode audibly. The raw force of Regirock''s attack overpowered Metagross'' , sending the steel titan hurtling hundreds of meters backward. However, while was incredibly powerful, it came with a costreducing Regirock''s Attack and Defense after each use. "Regirock, Zap Cannon!" was a powerful move. If it hit, paralysis was guaranteed. However, its accuracy was notoriously lowexcept now, thanks to . With the mark on Metagross, hit rate effectively became 100%. A brilliant crimson-yellow was launched, encircled by crackling electrical currents. The battlefield echoed with the sharp, relentless sound of electricity arcing in every direction. Against the and combination, countering with a ranged move was futile. Even if Metagross unleashed to intercept, the guided Zap Cannon would simply curve to strike its target. "Protect" Julian said calmly. A bright, emerald-green barrier formed around Mega Metagross, completely encasing it. The struck the shield with a deafening generating immense force that kept pushing Metagross backward but the protective barrier held firm. "Rock Blast!" Pierce called out suddenly. Julian''s expression shifted. He realized with a sinking feeling that Mega Metagross had been pushed into the same area where Regirock had used earlier. The battlefield was littered with massive bouldersperfect ammunition for In an instant, the piled rocks became volatile explosives, charged with immense Rock-type energy. The boulders detonated one after another, their blasts creating shockwaves that sent debris flying. In an instant, there were flames everywhere, accompanied by a large number of Rock fragments, and Mega Metagross was directly drowned by these endless flame. Chapter 215: Grass Knot Chapter 215: Grass Knotdoesn''t necessarily require forming new rocks. Previously formed rocks can also be used as ammunition for the move. However, achieving this requires a Pokmon to have an exceptionally fine control over Rock-type energy. As a Rock-type legendary Pokmon, Regirock''s mastery over Rock energy was unquestionable. At the same time, Pierce''s commanding ability was remarkable. Step by step, he had maneuvered Mega Metagross into the area covered by the rocks from the earlier Julian, caught off guard, found his Mega Metagross trapped within the explosion zone created by Amidst the endless blaze, Mega Metagross was engulfed, its silver frame hidden in the sea of fire. The flames reflected in Julian''s face, his expression growing colder and more resolute. "Regirock, Rock Tomb," Pierce ordered. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As a military man, Pierce understood better than anyone the importance of not giving an opponent any breathing room. Julian was his current adversarya formidable one. The ground heaved as countless rocks rose, aiming to seal off the explosion area completely and trap Mega Metagross within. But just as the was about to close, a streak of silver light burst forth from the inferno. The fiery debris was split by the sheer speed of the movement, creating a long, blazing path. Mega Metagross, with its move, crashed directly into Regirock. The latter braced itself, locking its hands against Mega Metagross''s onslaught. Despite its strength, Regirock was forced to retreat under the tremendous force, its legs carving half-meter-deep trenches into the ground as it was pushed back over 100 meters. Only then did the power of dissipate. "Regirock, Thunder Wave!" "Earthquake!" Julian countered. Mega Metagross slammed its body down with immense force. The missed entirely, while the ground beneath them trembled violently. Shockwaves radiated outwards, shaking the entire battlefield, which spanned the size of two soccer fields. Within moments, the once-pristine arena had turned into a wasteland, riddled with deep cracks and fissures. Regirock, caught in the tremor, wavered under the unrelenting assault. Its orange-yellow dots flickered as it endured the For a Pokmon like Regirock, the damage from a Ground-type move was substantial. "Regirock, Heavy Slam!" Pierce commanded, his brows furrowed. Mega Metagross''s tenacity was far beyond his expectations. It was no wonder that Julian had single-handedly defeated Modu Academy. Even while enduring the residual effects of the Regirock planted its feet firmly on the ground. Though speed wasn''t its forte, the explosive power in its legs allowed to reach an incredible velocity. The three Legendary Titans shared a common trait: unparalleled defensive or special defensive capabilities. Regirock''s defense stat reached an astonishing 200, a number that would make most Pokmon despair. Against weaker opponents, it could likely remain motionless and still emerge unscathed. Now, with the sheer momentum of Regirock descended like a falling mountain, its colossal weight and force compressing the surrounding air until it felt almost solid. Mega Metagross, still grounded from its had no time to rise before Regirock''s devastating bore down upon it. "Grass Knot!" Julian suddenly commanded. A sturdy vine appeared in Regirock''s path, forming a loop directly ahead of its charging stride. Without pause, Regirock''s foot slipped into the grass loop. To everyone''s surprise, the small vineseemingly fragiledid not snap under the legendary Pokmon''s immense strength. Instead, Regirock''s momentum turned against it. Unable to maintain balance, it stumbled forward and crashed to the ground. What was meant to be a devastating now turned into a disastrous self-inflicted fall. "Boom!!!" The impact was so loud that some in the audience thought Mega Metagross had used again. "Beautiful!" Jose cheered from the sidelines, his face glowing with admiration. Moves like were often underestimated, rarely seen as useful in competitive battles. But when timed perfectly, they could create moments of brilliance like this. Every move, no matter how small, had its purpose. Viewers watching the live broadcast flooded the chat with messages like "6666," astonished by Julian''s ingenious counter. Faced with Regirock''s most trainers would have either dodged or attempted to block it with a powerful move. Who would have thought to use a simple in such a critical moment? Most trainers sought moves with the highest power, often overlooking these subtle yet effective techniques. Regirock lay sprawled on the ground, its impact shaking the battlefield. Pierce closed his eyes briefly, knowing the match was as good as over. The next moment, Mega Metagross used to appear right above the downed Regirock. The legendary Pokmon, stunned from its fall, showed no signs of getting back up. This was its last chance, but it was already too late. The shimmering energy of flared around Mega Metagross''s claws, forming a dazzling rainbow trail as it brought its full force down on Regirock''s head. The immense force shattered the fractured ground beneath Regirock, pulverizing the earth into fine dust. Tiny shards of rock scattered in every direction from the impact. "Regirock is unable to battle. Mega Metagross wins!" The referee confirmed Regirock''s condition before raising the flag to announce the result. "Meta~" With the battle over, Mega Metagross floated back to Julian''s side, letting out a low metallic growl. The crowd erupted in cheers: "Long live King Julian!" "First Articuno, now RegirockKing Julian''s unstoppable!" "Mega Metagross: Who''s next?" "If Regirock had a Mega Evolution, this battle might''ve gone differently." "If Metagross had been at Elite level, it wouldn''t have needed to Mega Evolvelet''s stop dreaming about ''what ifs.'' A loss is a loss." Pierce, unfazed by the cheers, silently retrieved Regirock into its Pok Ball before leaving the battlefield. His calm demeanor reflected his acceptance of the defeat. The arena itself, however, was beyond salvaging. The had turned it into a ruin, forcing the officials to arrange a new battlefield for the next match. The Hundred Schools League used only standardized arenas, which weren''t tailored to any specific type advantage. While this system ensured fairness, it was particularly disadvantageous for Water-type trainers and other specialists who relied heavily on terrain. In battles, having water in the field could significantly enhance Water-type moves. Additionally, certain Water Pokmon, like Seaking, Horsea, and Qwilfish, suffered a noticeable drop in combat effectiveness once removed from their aquatic environment. That''s why Pokmon with such limitations rarely appeared in high-stakes national tournaments like this one. After Mega Metagross secured the victory, Julian calmly ordered it to revert to its regular form. Most Mega Evolutions could only last about three minutesnot due to the Pokmon''s limitations, but because the mental and physical strain on the trainer typically capped their endurance at that duration. However, Julian was able to maintain Mega Evolution for nearly half an hour because of his Mega Pallet Town physique and intermediate-level Psychic abilities. Even so, revealing this to the nation during a broadcast was unnecessary. With Melmetal already exposed as one of his hidden trump cards, Julian knew better than to flaunt his extended Mega Evolution capacity. Some cards were best kept close to the chest. Still, the four minutes he maintained Mega Metagross''s form had already surprised many, sparking chatter among spectators. In online forums and chats, fans debated and speculated about Julian''s strength. Meanwhile, some overzealous admirersparticularly the fangirlsmarveled at his stamina. "Julian''s endurance is insane! I''d love to put it to the test...," one fan commented, causing an uproar of mixed reactions. Chapter 216: Victory Chapter 216: VictoryThe captain of the First Military Academy, Pierce, had been defeated by Julian. Naturally, the remaining three members of Pierce''s team stood no chance against him. Metagross didn''t even need to use its Mega Evolution and managed to defeat those three opponents in under ten minutes. Thus, Julian''s group from Imperial University achieved a perfect record, earning four points. Meanwhile, Max''s group faced off against Pearl University. Pearl University''s captain wasn''t in this group, as he was busy battling against the First Military Academy''s team. As a result, the match was much easier for Max and his teammates. Though they lost two matches during the battle, Max turned the tide when he stepped in as captain, securing victory. In the end, Max''s group also earned four points, bringing Imperial University''s total to eight points. Since both Pearl University and the First Military Academy had already lost to Imperial University in their respective matches, even if their other groups won all remaining battles, they could only earn a maximum of four points each. Though the matches between Pearl and the First Military Academy were still ongoing, Imperial University had already secured first place. Pearl and the First Military Academy were now left to compete for second. This time, Shu University didn''t even secure second place. Once known as the "eternal runner-up," they didn''t even manage to hold onto that title. Half an hour later, the results of the match between Pearl University and the First Military Academy were announced. The First Military Academy earned four points, while Pearl University managed three points. Champion: Imperial University Runner-up: First Military Academy Third Place: Pearl University As the champion, Imperial University would once again manage Advanced Secret Realm No. 36 for a year and receive additional resource allocations from the Ministry of Education. Online chat exploded: Sear?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Congrats to Shu for clinching fourth place!" "Shu: We''re no longer runner-up, call us the eternal fourth!" "You Imperial folks better not brag. Without Julian, getting first place wouldn''t have been so easy!" "Well, we ''do'' have Julian, so just keep being jealous!" While Shu University was left frustrated, another school celebrated with enthusiasm: the Second Military Academy. After years of being excluded from the Top Five, they finally made a comeback this year. Though luck played a role, as their overall strength wasn''t on par with Modu Academy, fate seemed to favor them. Unfortunately for Modu, they had to face Imperial University during the group stage. As a result, the Second Military Academy secured their spot alongside their "big brother," the First Military Academy, making it into the Top Five together. The annual Hundred Schools League officially came to a close after the final matches. The awards and closing ceremonies were scheduled for 9 PM. At the same time, the six Best Individual Players of the tournament would also be announced. These Best Individual Players represented the strongest participants in the competition. However, only the top spot on this list was considered the ''true'' strongest. After dinner at the hotel with the university team members, Julian found himself being dragged along by Max, Paul, and a few others to share some celebratory drinks. But it was all beer, after all everyone knew their limits since they had to attend the closing banquet at 9 PM. No one wanted to get drunk at such an important time. The Universities participating in the competition all dined at the same hotel. Those with excellent results were naturally in high spirits, enjoying a great meal and drinks. Meanwhile, Universities with poor resultsor worse, results below previous yearsat in noticeably gloomy atmospheres. For reasons unknown, the hotel seemed to have intentionally arranged Shu University''s table right next to Imperial University''s. Watching Imperial''s side celebrate so joyously made the Shu team''s faces turn green with frustration. They couldn''t shake the feeling that the smiles and laughter from Imperial''s table were mocking them. Especially when the Imperial team occasionally glanced their way while drinking. * "Alright, don''t lose heart. There''s always next year. Just win it back then," said their captain, Carter, trying to console his team. The reasoning made senselosing this time didn''t mean they couldn''t turn the tables next year. "But Captain, you''re graduating next year. Sure, Imperial''s Max will graduate too, but Julian will only be a sophomore next year" Muttered one of the more clueless team members with a dejected expression, clearly lacking confidence in the future. Carter almost slammed the dish in front of him into the kid''s face. ''*'' And it wasn''t just any cold water; it was ice-cold, it directly cooled the heart. The truth of the matter couldn''t be denied. Julian was only a freshman this year. A freshman who had completely dominated their 4th-year students. What would he be like as a sophomoreor a 3rd-year? At that point, the Hundred Schools League might as well bar Imperial University from participating altogether. Just hand them first place and let the rest of the universities compete for second and third place. Julian''s presence felt like a ''BUG'' in the system. Unless another ''BUG'' appeared to counter him, it was hard to imagine anyone beating him during his university years. --- At 9 PM, the awards ceremony officially began. Imperial University''s captain, Max, proudly held up the championship trophy. The trophy was then passed around for each team member to hold before finally stopping in Julian''s hands. With the awards ceremony over, it was time to announce the six Best Individual Trainers. The presenter turned out to be a highly prestigious figure: none other than the current Dragon-Type Elite, Victor Drake. His appearance instantly sent the hall into a frenzy of excitement. As the crowd buzzed with anticipation, the large screen in the venue began playing clips from this year''s tournament. The montage featured one standout individualthe same person in every scene. The montage lasted for just a minute. When it ended, the screen displayed the name of the sixth-best Individual Trainer: Dylan, from Modu Academy. The montage continued, and the screen revealed the fifth-place Best Individual Trainer: Yuna, from Pearl University. She was a female trainer, and she exuded a valiant and confident aura. Next, the fourth-place Best Individual Trainer was announced: Carter, from Shu University. In third place was Max, from Imperial University. Second place went to Pierce, from First Military Academy. Despite being an Elite-level trainer, Dylan only managed to get sixth place this year because Modu Academy didn''t even make it into the Top Five. After the announcement of second place, it was finally time to reveal the first-place Best Individual Trainer. While everyone already knew who it was, anticipation still filled the air. The large screen began showing highlights again. First, it displayed Metagross single-handedly defeating eight trainers from Modu Academy, culminating in a victory against an Elite-level Salamence. Next came Melmetal, defeating an Elite-level Mega Aerodactyl. Finally, the footage showed Mega Metagross overcoming the legendary Pokmon Regirock. In a twist of irony, three of the newly crowned Best Individual TrainersDylan, Carter and Piercefound themselves serving as the backdrop to Julian''s dazzling achievements. They couldn''t help but feel a twinge of frustration. "Congratulations, Julian" "Thank you" Julian stepped forward and received the first-place trophy from Dragon-Type Elite Victor. Turning to face the audience, he raised the trophy high into the air. In an instant, countless camera flashes lit up the hall. At that moment, Julian was undoubtedly the brightest star in the room. Standing beside him were Pierce, Max, and the others, lined up according to their respective rankings. Meanwhile, the online livestream was flooded with comments. The barrage of messages all seemed to echo the same sentiment: "Hail King Julian!" "Metagross is eternal!" "I wish I could inherit Julian''s genes!" Chapter 217: Rewards Chapter 217: Rewards"Ding!" "Main Quest Completed." "Rewards: Rare Candies x5 (usable below level 70), Mewtwo Fragments x10, Golden Legend Fragments x3, Beginner Luck Card (10 minutes), Potential Enhancer Potion (Blue)." As Julian held the trophy symbolizing his first-place finish as the Best Individual Trainer, a system notification echoed in his mind. A faint smile appeared on his otherwise calm face. All his efforts over the past few days had been for this moment. Main quest rewards were always the most generous, though they came with significant challenges. If he hadn''t led Imperial University to win the Hundred Schools League championship and claimed the individual title, the rewards wouldn''t have been this bountiful. After the closing ceremony, a celebratory banquet followed, but Julian didn''t attend. He politely declined the invitation from Pierce, Carter, and others to sit down for a chat, choosing instead to return to the hotel early. "Don''t take it personally. That''s just how Julian is" Max explained on Julian''s behalf. As the captain and a senior, Max felt obliged to smooth things over. Normally, he wouldn''t bother, but the people hereDylan, Carter, Yuna, and Piercewere all among the Best Individual Trainers. Originally, the six of them had planned to sit and chat, but with Julian gone, only the remaining five stayed behind. Except for Pierce, who was competing for the first time this year, Max had crossed paths with Dylan, Yuna, and Carter beforeespecially Carter, who had been a long-time rival. None of them took Julian''s departure to heart. As geniuses themselves, they respected Julian for defeating them so convincingly. Respect, after all, was built on strength. S~ea??h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yuna, who had never battled Julian, also knew she wasn''t a match for him. "You guys at Imperial really struck gold this time" Carter muttered as he sipped his juice, giving Max a pointed look while sighing inwardly. The others nodded in agreement. With Julian at Imperial for the next few years, what University could possibly challenge them? Meanwhile, they themselves would be graduating by the middle of next year. "Heh, go ahead and envy us" Max replied with a grin, unfazed by their remarks. He understood their feelings. Still, he had to let them vent a bitbetter than them teaming up to give him a beating. "Pierce, why haven''t we heard of you before? If it''s something you can''t talk about, that''s fine," Yuna asked curiously. Typically, participants in the Hundred Schools League'' senior division had already competed in the junior division the year before. Pierce, however, was a senior at the First Military Academy but had been absent from last year''s competition. Yuna and the others wouldn''t buy it, that someone as strong as Pierce, already at Elite level, had been unqualified to compete in the Hundred Schools League during his junior year. "I was exploring ruins" Pierce replied calmly, offering no details about which ruins or what he was doing there. "Ruins, huh? That''s so enviable. I''ve never had the chance to explore one," Yuna said wistfully. Pierce glanced at her. "With your level of strength, you''d die in there." Yuna''s face froze, and she glared at Pierce in frustration. '''' Despite her annoyance, Yuna didn''t refute him. Ruins were far more dangerous than secret realms. Secret realms were classified into four levelsbasic, intermediate, advanced, and top-tierbased on the strength of the Pokmon inside. Ruins, on the other hand, had no such classifications. The Pokmon inhabiting Ruins were universally strong. Each ruin almost always contained Elite-level Pokmon, and often more than one. Worse yet, you might run into Champion-level Pokmon if you were unlucky. Some legendary or mythical Pokmon also resided in Ruins. Except for a few particularly friendly ones, most Pokmon would attack any humans entering their territory. A trainer with pseudo-Elite strength could enter Ruins but wouldn''t be able to venture far. Only Elite-level trainers had the qualifications to explore deeper. Even so, it was unwise for low-ranking Elites to delve too far. "Your Regirock must''ve come from a ruin, right?" Pierce nodded. As he started using Regirock in battle, this secret would inevitably come to light. "I''m so jealous of you and Julian, both of you have such incredible Pokmon," Yuna sighed, propping her chin on her hands as she gazed out at the distant ocean. The moon shone brightly that night, accompanied by a sky full of stars. The sea sparkled under the starlight, with the waves creating a mesmerizing, undulating pattern. --- Back at the hotel, Julian fed all five Rare Candies to his Metagross, raising its level from 65 to 70, the peak of pseudo-Elite. To reach the Elite level, it would now need to gradually accumulate energy within its body. Fortunately, Metagross still had plenty of energy remaining from the so Julian wasn''t too worried. Besides, he always had the system to fall back on. As for the Mewtwo Shards and Golden Legend Shards, they weren''t immediately useful. With 25 Mewtwo Shards and six Golden Legend Shards in total, he was still far from using them. The Beginner Luck Card, however, sparked some anticipation. Given his notoriously poor luck, having this card made him feel confident enough to test his luckalbeit only for the ten minutes it lasted. He then released his Steelix into the room and handed it the Blue Potential Potion. Thankfully, the hotel suite was spacious; otherwise, there wouldn''t have been enough room for the massive Pokmon. Among Julian''s Pokmon, only two had Cyan-tier PotentialSteelix and Slowking. The rest were either Blue or Purple-tier. As for why he chose Steelix over Slowking, it was simple: Steelix was part of his main battle lineup. As Slowking wasn''t fond of battling and saw itself as more of a household manager, the Blue Potential Potion was given to Steelix instead. Julian figured that if the system rewarded another Blue Potential Potion in the future, he would give it to Slowking. Steelix swallowed the Potion along with the glass bottle in one gulp, its expression shifting into one of sheer bliss. Its tail rose high into the air, swaying with excitement. "Hold it! Don''t swing that tailthis is a hotel," Julian quickly warned. They were on the 30th floor. If Steelix''s tail struck the ground, it might smash through the floor, causing injuries or death to people below. Steelix nodded obediently, its eyes narrowing in satisfaction. Internally, it once again praised its own decision to follow Julian. '''' Initially, Steelix had only been a Green-tier Pokmon. Later, it advanced to Cyan-tier, and now it had reached Blue-tier Potential. Steelix: ''Mom, I''ve made it big!'' Julian sighed as Steelix lowered its massive head and affectionately nuzzled him. '''' He winced, pinned against the wall by Steelix''s bulk. If it weren''t for his enhanced physique, he might have suffered internal injuries from the force. "Alright, alright" Julian muttered, patting Steelix''s metallic surface. Through their bond, he could sense Steelix''s overwhelming joy, gratitude, and even a hint of reliance. As Steelix''s potential upgraded from Cyan to Blue, its level also rose from 67 to 68. Chapter 218: Miller Family Chapter 218: Miller FamilyIn Haitian City, within the large courtyard of the Miller family, the Miller family stood as the most influential family in Haitian City. Their status extended throughout Drakoria, with significant influence across the country. The family primarily engaged in business, with enterprises spanning the globe and collaborations with other prominent families. Within the family, there were several Trainers at the Elite level, though their ranks were not particularly high. At this moment, inside a hidden chamber within the Miller family estate, the family head and three Elite-level Trainers were staring at a Pokmon egg placed inside an incubator. The egg was emitting a soft, bluish glow, its light rising and falling rhythmically like ocean waves. "Big Brother, the egg really seems like it''s about to hatch. That person wasn''t lying!" said a middle-aged man, his face full of excitement. "A hundred top-tier Water Stones, along with various rare Water-type resourcesonly then could we even get this egg to hatch. This Pokmon must be a mythical or legendary Water-type!" The man addressed as "Big Brother" was Erick Miller, the current patriarch of the Miller family. In his fifties but well-maintained, he carried a dignified presence. The speaker was his third younger brother, Derek Miller one of the family''s three Elite-level Trainers. The other two Elite Trainers were from their grandfather''s generation, both in their seventies. "If it really is a mythical Water-type Pokmon, then heaven is blessing our Miller family," one of the elderly Trainers said, his voice trembling with excitement, his face flushed. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking at his state, one might worry he''d collapse from sheer enthusiasm. "With a Pokmon like this, once it''s fully trained, the Drake family, the Walker family, and the others who''ve been bleeding us dry will no longer dare to oppress us!" Derek said grimly, smashing the glass of water he held to the floor. Glaring at the shattered remains, he seemed to envision the downfall of the families that had bullied the Miller family, breaking them into pieces just like the glass. The Miller family, being a business family, ranked among the top three in Drakoria in terms of wealth. However, their lack of strength was a glaring weakness. With only three Elite-level Trainersnone at the peak. Despite their immense wealth, their limited strength made them a prime target for exploitation. For the sake of survival, the Miller family had no choice but to endure silently, yielding to the demands of the more powerful families. More than half of the wealth the Miller family generated was handed over to these oppressors. Initially, they thought this would be enough to appease the other families, but the Miller family had underestimated their greed. Once the others tasted easy gains, they banded together to stifle the Miller family''s growth. Over the years, any promising talent in the Miller family met untimely ends, all under the guise of accidents. Once or twice might have been coincidental, but as the deaths mounted, even a fool could see the Miller family was being deliberately targeted. Otherwise, with the Miller family''s resourcesdespite giving away more than halfthey still had enough to cultivate at least one or two Elite-level Trainers at their peak. The prominent families didn''t stop the Miller family from amassing wealth, but they firmly restricted their development as Pokmon Trainers. Their unspoken rule: '''' At the forefront of these oppressors were the Drake family and the Walker family. Yes, the Walker familythe same one Julian hailed from. As mentioned before, no prominent family is without its shadows. To ensure their long term survival and dominance, methods involving deceit, ruthlessness, and darkness are unavoidable. The Walker and Drake families rose to their status by leeching off weaker families, growing stronger at their expense. They allied with slightly less powerful families to suppress and exploit those beneath them. Of course, the prerequisite for achieving all of this is absolute strength. The Walker family might have a small number of members, but each one is incredibly powerful. John Walkerthough labeled an Elite Trainerhas already reached the peak of pseudo-Champion level and is regarded as Drakoria''s best hope of breaking through to Champion rank. Jake Walker, a national-level Gym Leader, is at the peak of the Elite rank. With these two individuals, the Walker family, despite its small size, remains one of the top families in Drakoria. Now, with the rise of the third generation, Julian Walker shined brightly. His extraordinary talent surpassed even that of his predecessors. "Big Brother, what''s wrong?" Ren noticed his elder brother''s furrowed brows and asked curiously. "The person who told us how to hatch this Pokmon egg must have their own motives. We''re businessmen; we know there''s no such thing as a free lunch," Erick replied. Hearing this, Derek nodded, though his gaze lingered on the egg, which radiated a pulsating blue glow. Greed and longing flickered in his eyes. "But, Big Brother, this egg might really be a mythical or legendary Water-type Pokmon" "No ordinary Pokmon requires over a hundred top-tier Water Stones and so many Water-type resources just to hatch. Even pseudo-legendary Pokmon can hatch naturally without such a high cost." It was truefree lunches don''t fall from the sky. Yet, when you''re on the brink of starvation and it appears in front of you, even if you know there''s a trap, you''re still tempted to grab it. The trap might be there, invisible and uncertain, but the meal is tangible and within reach. As for the consequences of the trap, if you''re already starving, the priority becomes eating first and dealing with the fallout later. The Miller family found themselves in a similar predicament. Reduced to being the piggy bank for other families, with their promising young Trainers systematically eliminated, they were desperate. Among the victims were the children of Erick and Derek themselves. The Miller family''s hatred for the major families had long been ingrained. Rather than continuing as their piggy bank while watching their talented offspring perish, they decided to take a gamble. Thus, even though they knew the mysterious person who told them how to hatch the Pokmon egg might have ulterior motives, the Miller family''s desperate circumstances left them no choice but to proceed. "Third Brother, has that ruin been discovered?" Erick asked. "Don''t worry, Big Brother. That ruin is underwater. If the exploration team hadn''t stumbled upon it by accident, it would''ve remained hidden. I''ve already dealt with the members of the team, and now only the four of us in the family know about this." Secret realms and Ruins can be found all over the world. However, the majority of them are located in the ocean, which covers nearly 70% of the planet''s surface. While surface-level ruins and realms are relatively easy to discover, if they''re outside any nation''s maritime territory, they often become contested by major countries. Underwater ruins and secret realms, on the other hand, are much harder to locate. This is why underwater exploration teamsboth official and privatecame into existence. When a private exploration team discovers an underwater ruin or realm, they may choose to keep it a secret. To maximize short-term gains, they often exploit the site through aggressive and destructive methods. The Pokmon egg before them was discovered by the Miller family''s exploration team in an underwater ruin. Strangely, this ruin contained no Pokmononly the single egg now before them. The egg had been placed at the heart of the ruin, in a structure resembling a temple. Chapter 219: Abnormal Activity Chapter 219: Abnormal ActivityHaitian City, surrounded by the sea on three sides, hosted the celebratory banquet for the Hundred Schools League on its eastern shore. With the vast ocean as a backdrop, trainers at the banquet naturally grouped together with their respective Universities. The team coaches from various schools also gathered in small clusters, engaging in conversations. In the area representing the Imperial University, Wade chatted warmly with Oliver, the team coach of First Military Academy, a Dragon-type specialist who held the rank of lieutenant general and was also an Elite-level trainer. The two had known each other for years and were catching up after some time apart. "You''ve got a promising talent from your Imperial University this time. How about it? Help me ask if he''s interested in joining the military after graduation. If he agrees, I''ll immediately grant him the rank of major" Oliver said with a laugh. In his view, it would be a real pity if someone as talented as Julian didn''t enlist in the military. Wade rolled his eyes. "Why do you always want to pull the best into the military? Julian''s monstrous potential would actually be stifled if he joined." The military, while boasting the strongest force in the nation and the highest number of Elites, operated with strict discipline and regulations. Of course, becoming an Elite would afford a much greater degree of freedom, but even so, the constraints were significant. "Besides, Pierce is quite capable. If it weren''t for Julian, he''d be the standout of the younger generation." "You''ve already got Pierce in the military, and now you want Julian too? Your appetite''s way too big." "Can there ever be too much of a good thing?" Oliver muttered. Hearing this, Wade was left speechless, deciding it was better not to argue further to avoid getting annoyed by this shameless guy. ''Even at the Elite level, some people never change, always eyeing what belongs to others.'' ''And you''d better believe itif you really try to recruit Julian into the military, Elite Walker himself might come knocking at your door.'' "Has Elite Drake already returned?" Oliver asked. Elite Drake referred to Victor, the Dragon-type specialist who had presented the awards earlier and was one of the nation''s Top Elite. "He''s already left," Wade replied. As a Top Elite, Victor''s presence to present an award was already a rare honor. Staying for a banquet that held no real significance wasn''t something he had time for. "He left just like that? I wanted to ask him for some advice (battle)," Oliver complained, disappointed. Hearing this, Wade couldn''t help but laugh. "You? Really?" Oliver: F**k You! (p) While they were chatting and bantering, countless Water-type Pokmon in the ocean were converging on Haitian City. At the Haitian City monitoring station, the radar detected an overwhelming number of Pokmon heading straight for the city. At first, the monitoring staff thought there was an error with the equipment. However, after a thorough check, they found no issues. Their expressions turned pale as they urgently reported the situation to their superiors. Looking at the densely packed radar blips, numbering over 100,000 Pokmon with even more pouring in from behind, the staff realized the severity of the situation. Is something major about to happen? A disaster? The staff member at the monitoring station couldn''t shake the ominous feeling. They quickly took out their phone to call their family, urging them to leave Haitian City immediately and to keep quiet about it. "I hope it''s not what I think it is" The staff member murmured, setting their phone aside before throwing themselves back into work. The countless glowing dots on the radar, representing the incoming Pokmon, made it clear that something was seriously wrong. The situation was swiftly reported to higher authorities, who immediately informed the Haitian City Trainer Association. The association''s staff assured them that specialized personnel would be dispatched to investigate. "If there are any updates, please notify us as soon as possible," the monitoring station''s superior urged over the phone. "Understood. The association is sending three trainers at pseudo-Elite level to investigate. Please don''t worry," the association''s staff replied. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Pseudo-Elites? The monitoring station superior thought of the densely packed red dots on the radar. He considered voicing concerns that pseudo-Elites might not be sufficient and suggesting sending a full-fledged Elite instead. However, he remembered that the only Elite in Haitian City was the association''s president, Jose. Before he could say more, the association staff member hung up. Inside the Haitian City Trainer Association''s duty room, the staff member who had just taken the call smirked coldly as they hung up and disconnected the phone line. They left the room calmly, stepping over the bloodied bodies of seven or eight people lying on the floor. A Gengar grinned wickedly before merging into the person''s shadow. --- Back at the monitoring station, the staff turned to their superior. "Director, what did the Trainer Association say?" Those endless red dots were currently less than eighty kilometers from the coastline. "They''ll send someone to investigate. Don''t worry too much. Those red dots on the radar might just be a school of Magikarp on a migration tour." Magikarp were the most numerous Pokmon in the world. Whether in freshwater, seawater, or even polluted water, they could thrive. If all the red dots were indeed just weak and harmless Magikarp, there wouldn''t be much to fear. Magikarp were known for their migration patterns, which varied by region and temperature. "But the migration season for Magikarp is usually in December, and it''s only October," one of the monitoring staff pointed out. "It''s not impossible," said another staff member nearing retirement. "Twenty years ago, Magikarp migration occurred around this time as well." Since the event was documented, no one argued against it. In fact, many people visibly relaxed upon hearing this explanation. "But" The staff member still had doubts, but before they could continue, the director cut them off. "That''s enough." The director waved his hand dismissively. "The Trainer Association has already sent people to investigate. We''ll soon find out if it''s really Magikarp." The likelihood of it being Magikarp wasn''t small. There was no other clear explanation for why the radar suddenly showed so many red dots. Moreover, Haitian City was a well-known stop for migrating Magikarp, a phenomenon that drew tourists annually. Some lucky visitors even managed to find shiny Magikarp among the tens of thousands swimming by. --- At the hotel, Julian was laying on his bed after a shower, scrolling through videos on TikTok. Occasionally, he replied to messages, especially in his class group chatsboth from high school and Imperial University. Both groups were exploding with messages, with nearly everyone tagging Julian. The reason was obvious. Many of the trending TikTok videos were clips from the Hundred Schools League matches. "Get online, Slow! Carry me for a few games!" Julian opened ''Pokmon Glory'', and logged in. It had been days since his last game, and he was itching to play. At this moment, Slowking, who had been reading ''Principles of Traditional Medicine'', set down its book, picked up the phone from the coffee table, and smoothly entered the game. Ranked matchmaking began. Julian was in the first slot and immediately pre-selected Metagross. "Slow, you take Scizor as a jungler" But the second player had already locked in a jungler. Slowking, now in the third slot, calmly chose Gardevoir as a mage. Then the fourth player also selected a mage and clearly wasn''t planning to switch. Without saying a word, Slowking posted its stats: Top of the leaderboard with an impressive 83% win rate. The fourth player: "What kind of support do you need, boss? Just say the word." Chapter 220: Moving Slowpoke Chapter 220: Moving SlowpokeFirst Blood ! Double Kill ! Triple Kill ! Quadra Kill ! With Slowking''s Gardevoir assisting, Julian''s Metagross had already achieved a quadra kill. Now, he was chasing down the enemy''s mage, Alakazam. As Alakazam got stunned, Metagross unleashed a clean combo of its 3-1-2 abilities, instantly taking down the squishy mage without issue. S~ea??h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Penta Kill !!" Excited, Julian shouted along with the in-game announcer. "Five kills! I''m so f*****g strong," Julian said happily. With the pentakill secured, their team pushed the enemy base and destroyed the crystal within a minute. The game was over. "Let''s go, next game! My Metagross is unstoppable!" Julian grinned as he reached to hit the "Start" button for another match. But before he could, a system prompt suddenly echoed in his mind. "Ding!" "Temporary Mission: Haitian City Defense Battle" "Mission Objective: Limit Haitian City''s damage in this disaster to under 30%" "Rewards: - 30% damage: Early-stage Elite Experience Card, 3000 points. - 20% damage: Mid-stage Elite Experience Card, Dragon Origin Orb, 5000 points. - 10% damage: Peak-stage Elite Experience Card, Steel and Dragon Origin Orbs, 10,000 points. - No damage: Steel Plate, 100,000 points" The moment Julian saw the system notification, he sprang from his bed. He carefully reread the prompts, his expression quickly turning grim. "Slow~" Slowking, who was still waiting for the next match to start, tilted its head in confusion. Wasn''t Julian all pumped for another game? Why had his expression suddenly changed? Something clicked in Julian''s mind, and he hurried to the window. Being on the 30th floor, he had a full view of Haitian City. From his vantage point, the city sparkled with lights, bustling and calm. Nothing seemed amiss at first glance. But if the system had issued a mission, it meant a disaster was inevitableperhaps it had already begun, and he just didn''t know it yet. "What kind of disaster could affect the entire city?" Julian muttered, his mind racing. Judging by the mission rewards, the scale of the disaster was enormous. Even with 30% damage to Haitian City, the rewards were generous. A prosperous coastal city like Haitian, with nearly eight million permanent residents, couldn''t afford 30% destruction without severe consequences. And that wasn''t even accounting for the influx of tourists, especially with the Hundred Schools League bringing in more visitors than usual. The current population was estimated at around 8.8 million, a staggering number. Julian''s first thought about the disaster was a Secret Realm outbreak. --- At the Miller Family Estate, in a hidden chamber, several members of the Miller Family stared eagerly at a Pokmon egg, its surface already showing cracks, signaling that it was about to hatch. However, none of them noticed the strange, powerful energy waves emanating from the egg. These waves, though imperceptible to the humans in the room, were keenly felt by every Water-type Pokmon in the area. In Haitian City, Slowpokes everywhere seemed to receive an unseen command. They began moving in unison, crawling toward the Miller Family Estate. Although the Slowpokes weren''t attacking humans, their synchronized movement disrupted the city''s traffic. Normally docile and slow-moving, these wild Pokmon ignored the bustling vehicles, crossing roads without hesitation. Drivers swerved to avoid them, and accidents soon followed. Within minutes, the city''s entire traffic system was paralyzed. Efforts by some Trainers to stop the Slowpokes proved futile, as they seemed singularly focused on their destination. Haitian City, renowned for its abundance of wild Slowpoke, with their population estimated at 500,000 to 600,000. Their typically gentle and lazy nature had never been an issue. In fact, they were one of the city''s main tourist attractions. But now, the simultaneous movement of such a massive number of Slowpokes, spread throughout every corner of the city, threw Haitian into complete chaos. As the Slowpokes advanced, traffic accidents multiplied, and injuries became unavoidable. Some of the Slowpokes closest to the Miller Family Estate had already reached its gates. While the estate''s walls and main gate initially held them back, a few well-aimed blasted a hole in the wall and toppled the gate. "What''s happening?" "Why are the Slowpokes breaking into the estate?" "Quick, inform the patriarch!" The estate''s security team struggled to block the Slowpokes'' advance while hurriedly contacting the Miller Family head. In the hidden chamber, the patriarch, Erick, received the call. "Hello?" "Okay, I understand." Hanging up, he stared at the cracking egg with a mix of doubt and suspicion. "What''s going on, big brother?" asked Derek. "The Slowpokes outside have broken into our estate. It seems like all the Slowpokes in Haitian City are moving with purpose." Derek''s expression darkened as he pieced it together. "Could it be because of this Pokmon egg?" Erick nodded gravely. "It''s highly likely." Instead of worrying, Derek''s face lit up with excitement. "Big brother, if the Slowpokes are reacting because of the Pokmon inside this egg, then it must be something extraordinary! It could be a mythical or legendary Pokmonor even a first-tier one!" The Pokmon hadn''t even hatched yet, but it was already displaying such extraordinary traits. One could only imagine how powerful it would become after hatching. "But these Slowpokes are going to expose it." While Erick was also thrilled, his excitement didn''t cloud his judgment. The entire city''s Slowpokes were on the move, and their destination was highly likely to be the Miller Family Estate. Though it was still early and the public hadn''t noticed the specific destination of the Slowpokes, that wouldn''t last long. As time passed, and more Slowpokes congregated at their estate, it would inevitably draw the attention of the authorities. In fact, they were probably already investigating the movement patterns of the Slowpokes. Once the authorities determined the Slowpokes'' final destination was the Miller Family Estate, the consequences for the Miller Family could be dire. Worse, the egg that caused the disturbance would almost certainly be confiscated. "Wait," Erick said suddenly, "didn''t that mysterious figure give us a box earlier? Bring it over immediately." Derek quickly retrieved the box. It was a one-meter-by-one-meter cube made entirely of a transparent material that resembled glass. The incubator, along with the hatching egg, was placed inside the box, and the lid was sealed. As soon as the lid clicked shut, the Slowpokes across Haitian City suddenly paused, their expressions turning confused as they glanced around. Their purposeful movement stopped entirely. Moments ago, they had been able to sense something incredibly important to them, instinctively drawn to its location. But now, they could no longer pinpoint its position. They still felt its presence somewhere in the city, but its exact location was a mystery. Chapter 221: Hatched Chapter 221: HatchedThe box had isolated the energy waves emitted by the Pokmon egg, causing the Slowpokes to lose its exact location. All they knew was that the egg they were meant to protect was still somewhere within Haitian City. Similarly, out in the ocean, the countless Water-type Pokmon became slightly panicked when they, too, lost the precise position of the egg. However, they quickly confirmed that the object they were protecting was still in the city ahead. To prevent further disruptions, they instinctively increased their movement speed. On the 30th floor of the hotel, Julian had been pondering what kind of disaster might befall Haitian City and what actions he could take to prevent any damage, ensuring the highest reward. Then the Slowpokes suddenly began moving in unison, causing constant traffic accidents across the city and resulting in some casualties. "Haitian City damage: 2%." The system''s notification chimed. Julian: "What the...?" ѣ The highest reward mission hadn''t even properly started, and it already seemed out of reach. Recalling all his Pokmon into their Pok Balls, Julian hurriedly left the hotel. Many others in the hotel were also rushing to leave, frightened by the abnormal behavior of the Slowpokes. Once outside the hotel, Julian saw numerous wild Slowpokes aimlessly crawling around like headless flies, occasionally letting out cries. Although Julian possessed intermediate-level psychic abilities, he couldn''t understand what they were saying at the moment. However, he could sense their thoughts were in complete disarray. Fortunately, the Slowpokes weren''t harming anyone, merely acting out of the ordinary and losing their usual calm demeanor. "Slowking, ask them what''s wrong" Julian said, releasing his Slowking. "Slow~" As the king archetype of the Slowpoke line, Slowking''s presence immediately commanded attention. The disorganized Slowpokes quickly quieted down at the sound of its voice. "Slow?" Slowking questioned the nearest Slowpoke. "Slow... poke" sea??h th N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Slowpoke replied in its sluggish, drawn-out tone. Watching the Slowpoke respond, Julian couldn''t help but think of a movie he had seen in his previous life. The Slowpoke''s demeanor and speech were exactly like that of the sloth from the filmagonizingly slow and almost comical. It took a while, but Slowking eventually came back to report. Slowking: "They said... they''re protecting something." Julian: "Protecting what?" Slowking shook her head, unable to get more details. --- At the Miller family mansion, with the Pokmon egg and its incubator safely enclosed in the isolation device, the security team called to report that the Slowpokes had stopped their advance. "It worked" Family Head Erick sighed in relief, though his expression quickly darkened. "What is that man''s objective? How does he know the incubation method for this Pokmon egg, and why does it attract so many Slowpokes during the process?" In fact, it wasn''t just the Slowpokesit was also countless wild Water-type Pokmon. However, trained Water-types owned by trainers remained unaffected. Now, a massive swarm of wild Water-types was heading toward Haitian City from the ocean. Step by step, everything seemed to follow the stranger''s calculations, making Erick feel as if he and the Miller family were merely pawns on a chessboard. Before he could dwell further on the matter, the Pokmon egg emitted a soft blue glow, interrupting his thoughts. "It''s hatching!" Derek shouted in excitement. Erick''s eyes locked onto the egg within the isolation device. As the cracks on the egg widened, the blue glow filled the entire room. The brilliance was so intense that everyone had to shut their eyes. Roughly a minute later, the light finally faded. When they looked again, the egg was gone. In its place was a small, completely blue Pokmon with a ruby embedded in its chest. The creature was tiny, no more than 0.3 meters tall. The newborn Pokmon looked at Erick and the others with curiosity. For a newly hatched Pokmon, the first beings it sees are often regarded as its closest companions. Although there was a hint of closeness in the Pokmon''s eyes, it soon noticed the isolation barrier surrounding it. Its expression shifted to one of confusion as it began to process its surroundings. "What kind of Pokmon is this?" Derek asked, his face full of confusion. Erick shook his head as well. "Not sure. It appears to be an undiscovered Pokmon, but judging by its appearance, it''s definitely a Water type." "Big Brother, should we let it out?" Derek''s gaze softened as he noticed the little Pokmon looking longingly at the world beyond the isolation device, separated by its transparent barrier. "Let it out? What if it escapes? The moment it gets out, the Slowpokes outside will surely sense it," Erick immediately rejected the idea with a shake of his head. "Then why not use a Pok Ball to capture it?" Derek suggested. Erick paused to consider. Keeping the Pokmon confined in the isolation device indefinitely wasn''t a viable solution. "Alright, Third brother, you capture it," Erick said. Derek was momentarily stunned. He had assumed his elder brother would take the opportunity to claim such a rare Pokmon for himself. "I''m getting too old to raise and train this kind of Pokmon," Erick explained. As the head of the Miller family, most of his energy was devoted to managing family affairs, leaving him with little time to care for a Pokmon like this. Derek nodded and took out a Pok Ball. The moment he opened the isolation device, he swiftly tossed the ball at the little Pokmon''s head. The Pok Ball clicked shut and began to shake inside the isolation device. Under the tense gazes of Erick and Derek, the Pok Ball suddenly exploded with a loud pop. The small Pokmon reappeared inside the isolation device, unharmed but visibly unamused. "How is this possible?" Derek stared at the shattered remains of the Pok Ball in disbelief. Erick, on the other hand, was elated. "This proves it''s either a Mythical or Legendary Pokmon. Ordinary Pok Balls can''t capture Pokmon like this." While regular Pok Balls ''can'' capture Mythical or Legendary Pokmon, the key requirement is the Pokmon''s willingness. If the Pokmon resists, its inherent power, often referred to as "rules of nature," will destroy the Pok Ball, causing it to break apart. For instance, Julian''s Melmetal had been nurtured since it was an egg. It had regarded Julian as family upon hatching, so it willingly allowed itself to be captured. In contrast, the little Pokmon before them had indeed seen Derek first upon hatching. However, being confined in a device it disliked created a sense of resistance. Naturally, it wouldn''t allow itself to be captured. Just as Derek had opened the isolation device to attempt capture, all the Slowpokes in Haitian City turned in unison, their gaze fixed on the direction of the Miller family mansion. But as soon as the isolation device was sealed again, the Slowpokes returned to their confused state, aimlessly wandering once more. "That direction, huh?" Julian muttered as he noted where the Slowpokes had momentarily focused their attention. Releasing his Dragonite, he decided to investigate. Perhaps he''d uncover something important. Though Haitian City prohibited Trainers from riding Flying Pokmon, the unusual circumstances made Julian set aside the rules for now. Chapter 222: Landing Ashore Chapter 222: Landing AshoreAs Julian headed toward the direction the Slowpokes had previously been looking, the situation at the coastal area took a sharp turn. At the site of the closing banquet for the Hundred Schools League, participants began noticing something unusual. "What''s going on?" Wade abruptly stood up from his seat, his expression a mix of confusion and seriousness as he observed countless Water-type Pokmon surfacing from the sea. Their numbers were growing by the second. Sarch* The N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Everywhere he looked, there were Water-types, and they were all steadily moving toward the shore. The participants and teachers leading the Hundred Schools League quickly realized something was wrong and began releasing their Pokmon. "Should we push them back?" Yuna released her Blaziken. Despite being a Fire-type Trainer with a disadvantage against Water-types, she noted that most of these Pokmon were low-level, likely below Advanced rank. "Wait, let''s find teacher Wade first," Max quickly interjected. Though the Water-types were advancing toward them, they showed no signs of hostility. Attacking them first might provoke a counterattack. "Their numbers are increasing!" By now, nearly ten thousand Water-types were visible, and as they continued to surge toward the shore, more Pokmon joined from the rear. "Those with Light Screen moves, set up barriers to hold them back," ordered Oliver, a representative of the First Military Academy. As a general, Oliver was well-versed in handling large-scale battles. If it weren''t for the uncertain intent of these Water-types, Oliver might have already resorted to force. For now, the priority was to create a barrier to block them. "Contact Haitian City officials immediately and find out what''s happening!" Oliver barked. The sheer number of Pokmonat least ten thousandmoving toward Haitian City indicated that something was drawing them in. "Report: The Haitian City Trainers'' Association is also in the dark about this. However, wild Slowpokes within the city suddenly began moving in one direction earlier, causing chaos. The Slowpokes have since stopped moving" Oliver''s subordinate reported after contacting the Trainers'' Association. At that moment, the Trainers'' Association itself was in turmoil. The on-duty Trainers at the association had all been killed. "Where are the people from the monitoring station? Are they utterly useless? How could they miss this many Pokmon making landfall?" Oliver shouted furiously. The staff at the monitoring station had their own frustrations. They had already reported the mass Pokmon movement to the Trainers'' Association when the radar first detected the surge. The Trainers'' Association had assured they would send people to investigate the matter. However, an unsettling question arose: if the staff in the association were all dead, then who had answered the calls they''d made earlier to that station? Although the moves had temporarily held back the Water-types attempting to land, Haitian City''s coastline spanned over 100 kilometers, with the current barrier covering only a tiny portion. Suddenly, the phones of both Wade and Oliver began ringing simultaneously. As the two answered, the phones of other University representatives also started ringing one after another. A minute later, Wade and Oliver hung up, their expressions grim. The information they received confirmed their worst fears: Haitian City was now surrounded by countless Water-type Pokmon. While the group in front of them numbered over 10,000, even larger numbers had already landed elsewhere along the coastline. Considering the entire stretch of the 100-kilometer coastline, the total number of Pokmon making landfall might exceed a million. Meanwhile, the Water-types blocked by the began to grow impatient. They started launching attacks against the barriers. While individually weak, mostly below Advanced-level, their sheer numbers overwhelmed the defending Pokmon. Furthermore, the Pokmon deploying the barriers varied widely in strength themselves. Soon, sections of the crumbled, allowing some Water-types to break through and reach the shore. "We need to split up. Wade, you take 30 university teams and stay here," Oliver commanded. "Shu university''s lead teacher, you take another 30 teams and head east." "The rest will come with me to the south." Their current position was at the northern coast of Haitian City, the city was surrounded by water on its northern, eastern, and southern sides. The southern coast had the longest stretch, so Oliver assigned himself the largest group. The banquet had brought together nearly all participants and staff from the Hundred Schools League. Including reserves, there were around 1,000 people present. Among them, every participant was at least Advanced-level, and top universities fielded pseudo-Elite-level students. All the teachers leading teams were peak pseudo-Elite or above, with seven Trainers at the Elite level. Among them there were peak Elites like Wade and Oliver. After Oliver and the teacher from Shu university led their groups to the south and east, Wade remained in charge of the northern section, overseeing the students and staff from Imperial University and 30 other colleges. The Water-types had started landing in large numbers, and the barriers were no longer enough to hold them back. Although their motives for entering Haitian City remained unclear, one fact loomed large: the city was home to over 8 million residents. If these wild Pokmon infiltrated the city, the devastation would be catastrophic. "Stop them at all costs!" Wade ordered, issuing the command to attack. Until they uncovered the cause of this mass migration, there was no way to resolve the situation peacefully. Over 300 Trainers stood ready, each carrying at least six Pokmon. While not everyone had deployed their entire teams, the battlefield was already packed with nearly 1,000 Pokmon. Under a barrage of moves, most of the Water-types below Advanced level collapsed almost instantly, unable to withstand the sheer force of the coordinated attacks. "Notify Julian to get here, now!" Wade commanded. Although the devastating assault cleared a large portion of the area, within moments, more Water-types surged from the ocean to the shore. Even Magikarp flopped onto the beach with Splash, joining the relentless push. This desperate and unrelenting march toward Haitian City deepened Wade''s unease. Worse still, he noticed that the new wave of Water-types was stronger than the last, resembling a fearless advance of soldiers ready to sacrifice everything. The tide showed no signs of slowing. "We''ve already informed him," Max replied quickly. Meanwhile, Julian was speeding toward the direction where the Slowpokes had previously gazed. He had flown nearly 200 kilometers on Dragonite, almost reaching the outskirts of Haitian City, yet he found nothing out of the ordinary. Just then, Max''s call came through. "Understood. I''ll head there right away" "Dragonite, change course! Fly toward the awards ceremony site!" From Max''s description, countless Water-type Pokmon were emerging from the sea, moving toward Haitian City in an unending stream. The cause remained unknown. But given the earlier behavior of the Slowpokes, it was likely that these Water-types, like the Slowpokes, were driven by a shared instinct to protect something. Chapter 223: Elites Chapter 223: ElitesWhen Julian and Dragonite arrived at the banquet site in northern part of Haitian City, the scene before them left him momentarily stunned. From above, the northern coastline stretched endlessly, filled with Water-type Pokmon emerging from the seaeasily numbering thirty to forty thousand. On the shore, piles of Magikarp stranded themselves after leaping ashore with Splash. Max, Thea, and the Imperial University team, along with students from other Universities, had formed a defensive line to fend off the approaching Pokmon. Fortunately, most of these Water-types were below Advanced-level and lacked any semblance of coordination. For now, the line held. "Dragonite, use Thunder on the sea!" Dragonite summoned a dark cloud, and within seconds, a thunderbolt as thick as a barrel struck down, ripping through the ocean below. The seawater churned violently as the attack''s power spread. Thunder''s effectiveness was amplified by the water, stunning at least three to four thousand Water-type Pokmon. Weaker ones, especially those directly under the bolt, were killed outright. "Again" Julian said coldly. He showed no hesitation or intention to weaken Dragonite''s attack because of the Pokmon deaths. He understood all too well the devastation these Pokmon could wreak if they breached Haitian City. Once inside the city, battling amidst buildings and panicked civilians would severely hinder the Trainers'' ability to respond effectively. "Julian''s here!" Thea shouted, noticing the sheer spectacle of the Thunder strike. When facing Water-types, the best counter was, of course, Electric Pokmon. Moves like Thunderbolt could clear large groups of opponents in one go. Electric-type Pokmon played a crucial role in the defense, not by holding the line directly but by using their moves to strike the sea itself, reducing the number of Pokmon making it ashore. "" Suddenly, a Hyper Beam shot toward Dragonite from the distance. With Julian still on its back, Dragonite avoided any abrupt maneuvers and instead used Protect to block the attack. "A pseudo-Elite level Kingler" Julian noted, spotting the massive crab floating on the sea, its enormous claws raised menacingly. A single pseudo-Elite Kingler was not much of an issue, but it was accompanied by over a dozen others of similar rank. Behind them, the incoming Pokmon were now stronger, rising from below-Advanced to proper Advanced levels. The Pokmon coming ashore were growing increasingly powerful. Julian instructed Dragonite to let him down. After landing, he said firmly, "Go deal with those pseudo-Elite ones first." Dragonite nodded and immediately flew toward the Kingler and its companions. Julian approached Wade, his expression grim. "Teacher, their target is likely something in Haitian City" He said, sharing the details of the Slowpoke''s unusual behavior in the city earlier. Wade nodded, unsurprised. "I suspected as much." "But what could be so important that it draws this many Water-type Pokmon?" The fact that only Water-types were being drawn suggested that whatever it was held immense significance for them. "Reinforcements are on the way," Wade said. "Our priority is to stop them from entering the city." The best solution would undoubtedly be to locate whatever was attracting the Pokmon, but this was easier said than done. Firstly, they were already short on manpowerjust maintaining the defensive line was an enormous challenge. Secondly, Haitian City was vast, and without a single clue, finding the object was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Meanwhile, the city authorities were working to evacuate the residents. For now, their task was clear: hold the line until reinforcements arrived. Once they had enough people, they could begin searching for the source of the crisis. Explosions roared across the battlefield. One by one, the University teams unleashed their Pokmon to reinforce the line. However, as the battle dragged on, their Pokmon grew weaker while the Water-types coming from the sea grew stronger. This imbalance took its tollsome third-tier University teams saw their defensive lines collapse entirely. Within moments, nearly a thousand Water-types surged through the gap. Some Trainers, unable to evade in time, were killed, and their Pokmon also suffered casualties. "Steelix, Iron Tail!" Sarch* The N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Steelix descended from above, its massive, whip-like tail slicing through the horde like a scythe, clearing a large area. But more Water-types immediately surged forward to fill the gap. "Melmetal!" "Lucario!" "Slowking!" "Lairon!" "Growlithe!" Julian released all his Pokmon except for Gastly, whose level was too low to contribute effectively. Metagross stayed by his side as his last line of defense. The pressure on the defensive line mounted as the incoming Pokmon were now consistently Advanced-level. Even pseudo-Elite Pokmon were beginning to appear onshore. The sheer abundance of marine Pokmon in the sea made it inevitablelet alone pseudo-Elites even higher level Pokmon, were not out of the question. Melmetal''s twin arms extended and slammed down repeatedly, knocking out a bunch of Pokmon with each strike. Lucario, fists crackling with electricity, worked at a steady rhythm. Although its efficiency couldn''t match Melmetal''s, it was still holding its own. Slowking, while not a natural battler, had reached level 40 and was well-supported with resources by Julian. It had no trouble handling some Advanced-level Pokmon. Lairon, with its massive build, resembled a moving fortress. If not for the urgency of the current situation, its imposing size would have drawn a crowd of onlookers. Perhaps spurred by the intense combat, Lairon appeared to be nearing a breakthrough. After a brief skirmish, its level increased from 40 to 41. Growlithe, despite its disadvantage against Water-types, was undeterred. Empowered by the Fire Crystal, its Flamethrower made even Water Pokmon howl in pain. With Julian''s Pokmon reinforcing the breached line, the defense was restoredfor now. But the respite was fleeting. As stronger and more numerous Water-types continued to arrive, the entire defensive line was on the verge of collapse. A deep, resonant roar suddenly echoed from the ocean, carrying a palpable aura of intimidation. The roar instilled fear in countless Pokmon, even affecting those still out at sea. "An Elite-level Pokmon!" The overwhelming pressure was unmistakablethis was no ordinary Pokmon. Julian''s sharp eyes, aided by the bright moonlight, quickly spotted the source. Emerging from the waves was a Crawdaunt with a golden star crest on its head, holding up two massive pincers. An Elite-level Crawdaunt. Another roar followed, just as imposing as the first. Next to the Crawdaunt, a Feraligatr surfaced. Both were Elite-level Pokmon, albeit at the initial stage. Chapter 224: Focus Punch Chapter 224: Focus PunchThe appearance of Crawdaunt and Feraligatr signified the formal entry of Elite-level Pokmon into the battlefield. Their presence brought cohesion to the previously chaotic and disorganized Water Pokmon. The attacks suddenly gained rhythm, and the wild Pokmon began to focus on threats to their ranks. Julian''s Pokmon were quickly singled out and swarmed. Fortunately, thanks to Melmetal and Lucario''s overwhelming abilities, as long as their opponents weren''t at a higher level, sheer numbers posed no significant threat in the short term. "Metagross," Julian snorted coldly. Metagross immediately soared toward Crawdaunt and Feraligatr. Wade was momentarily stunned. He noticed that Metagross''s strength had abruptly advanced from mid pseudo-Elite level to its peak. "Metagross has been suppressing its level-up before" Julian explained, catching Wade''s curiosity. This was a prepared excuse to explain why Metagross had suddenly reached peak pseudo Elite-level. As a pseudo-legendary Pokmon, it naturally excelled in power but leveled up much more slowly. Hearing Julian''s explanation, Wade didn''t press further. By now, Metagross had reached Crawdaunt and Feraligatr. Crawdaunt, straightforward and brutish, wasted no time. Its massive claw gleamed white as it lunged at Metagross, who countered with . A loud impact rang out, creating a massive pit in the surrounding seawater, sending nearby Pokmon flying. Amidst Crawdaunt''s pained cry, its body was hurled through the air. Feraligatr, standing nearby, was momentarily stunned. '''' Then it noticed that Metagross''s gaze locked onto it next. Known for its fiery temper, comparable to that of Gyarados, Feraligatr showed no fear. Infuriated by its companion''s defeat, it opened its jaws wide, firing a at Metagross. Metagross dodged effortlessly with and prepared to strike, only to find Feraligatr diving into the ocean. Feraligatr: Submerged, it maintained visual contact with Metagross on the surface and launched repeated , attempting to whittle it down with ranged attacks. While the tactic seemed dirty, it was undoubtedly effectiveat least on paper. This Feraligatr seemed to have a good brain. However, Feraligatr underestimated Metagross. With a Psychic blast, Metagross not only targeted Feraligatr but also manipulated the surrounding seawater, trapping Feraligatr in a swirling water sphere. Inside the sphere, Feraligatr''s eyes widened in shock, its limbs flailing uselessly as it realized it couldn''t move. With a blinding , Feraligatr joined Crawdaunt in defeat, falling honorably in battle. Two early Elite-stage Pokmon had been defeated by Metagross alone. But this was far from overit was only the beginning. Moments later, four more Elite-level Pokmon broke through the ocean''s surface. All four were Gyarados, their imposing forms followed by yet another colossal figure leaping out of the water. The enormous creature was none other than a Wailord, its massive body resembling a small mountain. Wailord is known as the largest Pokmon ever discovered. Some people even capture and train Wailord specifically for transoceanic journeys, riding atop its immense form. This particular Wailord was mid-Elite level, while the four Gyarados were all early-Elites. Sarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a powerful swing of its tail, Wailord struck the ocean''s surface, creating a monstrous wave dozens of meters high and nearly a kilometer wide. Within the towering wave, countless Water Pokmon swam, ready to overwhelm the defenders. The sheer magnitude of the wave cast a shadow over the entire beach. Even defeating Wailord wouldn''t stop the wave; its momentum was already unstoppable. Meanwhile, Metagross found itself entangled in a fierce battle with the four Gyarados, unable to break free to assist. The advancing wave threatened to annihilate the entire defensive line. If it crashed down, the trainers and their Pokmon would be thrown into utter chaos and peril. "Focus Punch!" A calm but firm command rang out. From the defensive line, a Pokmon covered in gleaming golden scales launched itself into the air. With the wave''s immense size, this Pokmon appeared minuscule by comparison. Its fist, radiating with a bright white glow, struck directly at the towering wave. The sight resembled a person punching the wall of a skyscraperan act seemingly futile, as if trying to stop an avalanche with bare hands. Yet, what happened next left everyone dumbfounded. The moment the glowing fist collided with the massive wave, it froze in place, as though time itself had paused. Then, the devastating force of the punch spread outward, rippling across the entire wave from side to side. Water droplets erupted in every direction, glittering like a thousand tiny stars under the moonlight. As the golden-scaled Pokmon landed gracefully, the once-towering wave collapsed as if it were a boneless mass. A wave nearly a kilometer wide and dozens of meters high had been completely dismantled by a single punch. Wailord blinked in astonishment, utterly baffled by what had just occurred. The one responsible for this incredible feat was none other than Wade and his Kommo-o. That single punch was a masterpiece of control and precision. Without perfect mastery over its strength, the would have merely created a hole in the wave, leaving its momentum intact. But with unmatched precision, Kommo-o had dispersed its power evenly across the entire wave, utterly obliterating it in one blow. Lucario''s eyes burned with admiration as it gazed at Kommo-o. Its own mastery over strength was far from reaching the level of control the dragon displayed. Kommo-o''s performance, however, wasn''t over yet. With another powerful leap, it unleashed another , this time targeting Wailord. Sensing imminent danger, Wailord quickly dove beneath the waves, attempting to escape by retreating into the safety of the ocean. But Kommo-o''s tore through the water''s surface, exposing Wailord''s broad back. A massive spray of seawater erupted into the air, and a pained cry echoed from the giant Pokmon. Using the recoil from its punch, Kommo-o performed a mid-air spin before landing gracefully on the shore. Now fully revealing its overwhelming strength, Kommo-o radiated the unmistakable aura of a peak Elite-level Pokmon. The sheer intensity of its presence froze the surrounding Water Pokmon in their tracks, paralyzing them with fear. Meanwhile, Metagross had finished its battle with the four Gyarados, standing victorious. Though not quite as powerful as Kommo-o, the aura it exuded rivaled that of a Elite-level Pokmon, adding to the oppressive atmosphere. The Water Pokmon, once filled with aggression, began to falter. Panic and fear rippled through their ranks as Elite-level Pokmon were defeated one after another. For the first time since the battle began, the chaotic tide of attackers showed signs of halting. The defensive line no longer appeared on the brink of collapse. Seizing the moment, Wade released yet another powerhouse: a peak Elite-level Druddigon. With two peak Elite-level Pokmon standing side by side, their combined Dragon-type presence became suffocating, making the water-types back down in fright. Chapter 225: The storm is coming Chapter 225: The storm is comingAt the same time, Oliver to the south and the Shu team leader to the west, also joined the fray. Like Wade, both were peak Elite-level trainers. The Pokmon of the three trainers coordinated their efforts, and the combined aura of peak Elite-level power blanketed the coastal areas of East, West, and North Haitian City. For the Water Pokmon that had already landed or were about to come ashore, this oppressive presence was overwhelming. Although an inner voice urged them forward, the sheer terror they felt rendered them immobile. "Finally, we''ve held them back. My Pokmon are about to collapse from exhaustion" Thea exhaled deeply in relief. She had deployed all eight of her Pokmon. Among them, only Gardevoir retained a decent amount of combat ability; the other seven were completely drained. Though her team hadn''t sustained any serious injuries, their stamina was critically low due to the relentless use of their moves. If Wade and the others hadn''t stepped in, those Water Pokmon would''ve kept coming endlessly. Sooner or later, their Pokmon would''ve run out of strength. "Teacher Wade should''ve stepped in from the start!" Faye grumbled. "It''s not that simple" Max interjected, gazing at the distant sea. "We''ve already seen Pokmon at the early and mid-Elite level. What if even stronger ones show up later?" Max''s words caused a wave of silence. Indeed, as they had been holding the line, the Pokmon''s strength seemed to increase with time. What started with below Advanced level Pokmon had progressed to Advanced, then Advanced peak. Eventually, pseudo-Elite-level Pokmon appeared, and now even Elite-level ones had joined the fray. If this trend continued, would peak Elite-level Pokmon emerge next? This thought made their expressions darken. If a peak Elite-level Pokmon truly appeared, Wade would be the only one capable of holding it back. Though many of them had guardian Pokmon provided by their elders at peak Elite-level but they served purely as protectors. While they were formidable, these Pokmon didn''t necessarily obey commands. Meanwhile, in the ocean''s depths, a dark-blue Pokmon propelled itself forward, its massive wing-like fins slicing through the water. With each powerful movement of its fins, it covered thousands of meters. Around it swarmed countless other Pokmon, forming a torrential wave of power. As it advanced, the night sky above grew heavy with dark storm clouds, illuminated by intermittent flashes of lightning. This Pokmon''s trajectory was headed east. Before long, it crossed into the territorial waters of Drakoria. At the nation''s monitoring station, radar screens flared with red signals, triggering a full-blown alarm throughout the facility. "What the hell kind of Pokmon is this?!" The monitoring staff stared at the massive red marker on the energy detection system, their minds blank with shock. Even Elite-level Pokmon had never displayed such a colossal energy reading. Trainer Association Headquarters, Drakoria At the heart of the Trainer Association headquarters stood Duke, the President of the Association and the strongest of the five Champions in Drakoria. Seated on either side of him were ten titled Elite trainers. The remaining four Champions and other Elite trainers were absent due to critical missions requiring their immediate attention. Duke reviewed the intelligence report in his hand and, under the watchful gaze of the ten Elite trainers, announced calmly: "The movement trajectory of Kyogre has been confirmedits destination is Haitian City." "This is undoubtedly related to the massive influx of Water-type Pokmon into the area." Indeed, the colossal red marker that had appeared earlier was none other than Kyogre, the legendary Sea God. Some argued that the Sea God title belonged to Lugia, but Lugia''s Psychic and Flying typing made that designation debatable, as it lacked the Water typing essential for such a title. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What could possibly attract Kyogre?" The expressions of the people in the room turned grim. They were acutely aware of the destructive power a first-class Legendary Pokmon wieldedKyogre''s strength was far beyond that of any Champion. A single attack from Kyogre could obliterate an entire city. Moreover, Kyogre had a history of city-level destruction, as did its ancient rival, Groudon. "We don''t know yet," Duke replied, shaking his head. "Orders!" The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly. "The 9th, 10th, 13th, and 16th battalions are to mobilize to Haitian City immediately. Fire, Rock, Water, Grass, and Fairy Elites will accompany them." "Armament divisions, prepare heavy artillery support!" While the arrival of Pokmon had significantly diminished the effectiveness of modern weaponry, certain powerful weapons could still pose a threat to a Legendary Pokmonprovided they could land a hit. "The remaining Elites will join me in heading to Haitian City at once." "The safety of Haitian City''s eight million residents depends on us." The weight of those words pressed heavily on everyone in the room. Their opponent was a first-class Legendary Pokmon. Even as titled Elite trainers, the risk of their own lives was real. With the Trainer Association''s orders issued, the entire nation of Drakoria began moving like a well-oiled machine. Major battalions mobilized, and numerous Elite trainers made their way toward Haitian City to provide support. Haitian City''s Western Coast Wade received a call from Victor. "Teacher, is something wrong?" Julian couldn''t help but notice Wade''s grave expression after he hung up. "This disaster is worse than we imagined. The Legendary Pokmon Kyogre is heading straight for this city." A stunned silence fell, and then it was as if a bomb had gone off in the minds of everyone who heard the news. "Teacher Wade, you''re joking, right?" Paul forced a weak smile, his voice tinged with disbelief. Wade didn''t bother to explain further, but his silence only reinforced the truth of his words. A first-class Legendary Pokmonan entity of myth. Its presence was akin to the deities of ancient Drakorian legends. Forget Elite trainers, even Champions couldn''t stand against a first-class Legendary Pokmon. "Don''t worry too much. The President is already on his way with reinforcements" Hearing that the President himself was coming, many breathed a sigh of relief. The pressure of Kyogre''s imminent arrival was crushing, but it was also equally ridiculous. If a Legendary Pokmon truly arrived, none of them would even have the qualifications to stand against it. To face a first-class Legendary Pokmon in battle, one would need to be at least at the peak of the Champion rank. "For now, the priority is finding the reason why these Water-type Pokmon are swarming ashore. Whatever it is, it''s something significant enough to attract Kyogre." "If we can locate the source, we might be able to resolve this crisis." "Based on the latest information, Kyogre will reach Haitian City in about thirty minutes. The President and reinforcements will need at least fifty minutes to get here." "If Kyogre launches an attack as soon as it arrives..." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the group of young trainers. "You," he said solemnly, "run if you can. Facing a first-class Legendary Pokmon isn''t something you''re capable of, and there''s no shame in retreating." For a being like Kyogre, twenty minutes was more than enough to obliterate Haitian City. Even with Wade, Oliver, and the other Elite-level trainers at the scene, they could only delay the inevitable for a few extra minutes. Chapter 226: Peak Elites Appear Chapter 226: Peak Elites AppearWhen Wade told them they could choose to retreat if the situation became irretrievable, including Julian, everyone wore expressions of reluctance and frustration. To them, retreating felt no different from being a deserter. "There''s nothing shameful about it," Wade said calmly. "Kyogre isn''t something you''re capable of handling." A first-class Legendary Pokmon was beyond the power of humans to stop, let alone prodigies like Julian and the others, who hadn''t yet reached their full potential. Perhaps one day they might be able to stand against a first-class Legendary Pokmon, but that was in the futurenot now. "Julian, Max, you" Before Wade could finish, a powerful aura surged from the sea, one that rivaled the strength of an Elite peak. Moments later, a Mantine broke through the water''s surface, its massive, wing-like fins spreading as it hovered silently in the air. Below it floated a Kingdra, and then, joining them, a Sharpedo appeared by Kingdra''s side. All three Pokmon exuded the presence of peak Elite-level. But it wasn''t just here. On both the northern and southern fronts, more peak Elite-level Water Pokmon began to appear. With these three leading the charge, the previously suppressed Water Pokmon seemed to regain their confidence. Water-types: ''Try messing with us again. We dare you.'' Faced with three peak Elite-level Pokmon, Wade''s current deployment of two Pokmon was insufficient. As he prepared to summon a third Pokmon, Julian spoke up. "Teacher Wade, leave that Mantine to me and Metagross. You should save your strengththere''ll likely be even stronger Pokmon, possibly pseudo-Champions, appearing soon." Wade glanced at Julian, then gave a slight nod. Turning to Max and the others, he commanded, "Keep fighting!" Earlier, when Wade''s two peak Elite Pokmon had suppressed the Water Pokmon, Max and the others had quickly given their Pokmon stamina-restoring potions. Now that the potions had taken effect, they still had some fight left in them. The Water-types, encouraged by the three peak Elite leaders, resumed their advance toward Haitian City. Water Gun, Bubble Beam, Water Pulse and other water-type attacks rained down on the defensive line. In the air, Mantine opened its mouth and unleashed a . A at peak Elite strength was as destructive as a missile. The air visibly distorted under the pressure of the attack, the sheer force carving a noticeable depression in its path. Its target was clear: Max and his group. The peak Elite Mantine demonstrated intelligence on par with humans. It immediately identified Max and others position as the defensive line''s core. If it broke through there, the entire line would collapse. "Metagross, Mega Evolve!" Julian''s Metagross completed its Mega Evolution, and used to intercept the mid-air. With a gleaming , it struck directly against the surging attack. Metagross''s momentarily stalled against the powerful , the two attacks locked in a fierce clash. However, as the began to lose momentum, the finally shattered the incoming attack, dispersing it into harmless droplets. "Zen Headbutt!" Psychic energy enveloped Metagross as it charged forward, the force of its attack surpassing even the previous . A visible white current of energy surged around Mega Metagross, amplifying its momentum. The Mantine responded calmly, unleashing a . The power of the was immense, befitting a peak Elite Pokmon. It collided head-on with the , bringing Metagross''s charge to a sudden halt. In the next instant, Mantine flapped its massive fins, releasing two , each seven to eight meters long. The attacks were nearly invisible against the night sky, making them difficult to spot until it was too late. With a sharp , the Air Slashes struck Metagross, sending its massive body hurtling into the ocean below. Julian''s heart tightened, not out of worry for Metagross''s conditionhe trusted its resiliencebut out of a superstitious fear that his unlucky streak might trigger Air Slash''s flinch effect. Thankfully, Metagross rose from the water, hovering back into the air without signs of any status condition. Julian felt a wave of relief, thinking perhaps his streak of bad luck had momentarily subsided. Metagross even turned its gaze back toward Julian, as if checking to make sure its trainer hadn''t been replaced. Julian: Facing a peak Elite opponent was no easy task, even with Metagross''s Mega Evolution boosting its level from 70 to 73. At this level, each level difference between Elites could create a significant disparity in strength. "Thunder Punch!" Metagross charged forward, its metallic fist crackling with electricity. Mantine, seemed aware of Metagross''s formidable close-range capabilities, conjured a around itself, using the swirling winds as a protective barrier. Metagross''s struck the but was repelled, unable to break through. The then drew in large volumes of seawater, transforming into a massive Aqua Tornado nearly 300 to 400 meters tall. Mantine controlled the swirling water, sending the attack hurtling toward Metagross. "Giga Impact!" Dodging was not possiblethe attack would devastate the defensive line behind Metagross if it passed. Metagross''s body radiated a brilliant white light as it launched forward, shattering the sound barrier. The clash of its against the Tornado created a deafening explosion that echoed across the battlefield. The Tornado started to break apart, scattering its seawater into a torrential downpour. The sudden rain unintentionally boosted the strength of the surrounding Water Pokmon. Metagross and the Tornado remained locked in a fierce stalemate. Neither side could gain the upper hand as their energies canceled each other out. When the Tornado finally dissipated, the energy of faded as well. Mantine started unleashing another , with astonishing speed. A peak Elite Pokmon that had grown strong in the wild was always a seasoned warrior, its body bearing numerous scars as evidence of countless battles. "Teleport!" However even before the was fired, Julian''s command reached Mega Metagross''s ears. He had anticipated Mantine''s move, reading the attack before it was launched. By the time was launched, Metagross had vanished from its original position and reappeared directly above Mantine. Wasting no time, Metagross unleashed its signature , the multicolored glow of its attack striking down on Mantine''s head with devastating force. Just as the latter''s body was about to plunge into the sea, Mega Metagross teleported beneath it again. This time, it delivered a . The combined force of the fall and the electric attack, was enough to force even a peak Elite Mantine to emit a pained cry. Sar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Despite enduring a and a , Mantine still hadn''t lost his fighting ability. A faint, soundless attack began to emanate from Mantine. "Metal Sound!" Mega Metagross screeched like two pieces of metal grinding against each other. perfectly countered the incoming . "Zen Headbutt!" Mantine suddenly felt a sharp pain in its body, and when it looked down, it saw Mega Metagross''s psychic-powered head slammed into its abdomen. With a thud, Mantine, incapacitated, fell into the sea. Chapter 227: Emergency Situation of East Chapter 227: Emergency Situation of EastAlthough Wade was commanding his Kommo-o and Druddigon to battle against two other peak Elite-level Pokmon, he kept an eye on Julian''s side of the fight. A Pok Ball rested in his hand, ready to intervene and assist Julian if needed. However, when Wade saw Mega Metagross defeat the Mantine, his expression flickered with both surprise and amazement. The rapid growth of Julian''s Metagross was far beyond his expectations. With Mantine defeated, Julian considered sending Mega Metagross to assist Wade. But as he turned to look, he realized Wade''s battle had already concluded. It made senseWade was, after all, a peak Elite Dragon-type trainer. Dealing with two wild peak Elite Pokmon was expected of him. The appearance and subsequent defeat of the three wild peak Elite Pokmon had taken no more than five or six minutes. However, during that time, the Water-type Pokmon advancing from the sea had managed to break through a section of the defensive line. Some trainers and their Pokmon had tragically fallen in the battle. Thankfully, Julian''s Steelix had immediately plugged the breach, preventing more Water-types from flooding into Haitian City. Just then, Wade''s phone rang. "Wade, can you spare any people on your end? A large number of Water-types are breaking into Haitian City from the eastern forest." Haitian City was surrounded by the sea on its north, south, and west sides, while the east connected to the mainland via a large forest. But this forest was also home to many Water-type Pokmon. Currently, most trainers were concentrated on defending the northern, southern, and western fronts, with a small number evacuating civilians. There simply weren''t enough people to stop the Pokmon invading from the east. Send over people? Wade''s lips twitched slightly, while the three wild peak Elite Pokmon had been defeated and the remaining Water-types were momentarily cowed by the presence of Kommo-o and Druddigon, the situation remained precarious. There was no guarantee that more peak Elite Pokmonor even pseudo-Championswouldn''t show up later. If reinforcements were sent east and the defensive line weakened, a breach could undo all their previous efforts. But ignoring the eastern threat wasn''t an option either. "Julian, head to the eastern forest. A large number of Water-types are invading Haitian City from that direction," Wade instructed. Reinforcements had to be sent, but if they couldn''t send many, the ones sent needed to be strongand Julian was the best candidate. Julian nodded without hesitation. Retrieving all his Pokmon into their Pok Balls, he mounted Dragonite and took off, flying swiftly toward the east. Meanwhile, the situation on Haitian City''s eastern front was growing increasingly dire. Since the eastern route was the only land connection to Haitian City, it naturally became the best evacuation path for civilians. However, this route was now blocked by Water-type Pokmon emerging from the forest, and they had launched a direct assault on the evacuation line. The trainers escorting the civilians immediately stepped up to confront the Pokmon, but against the sheer numbersnearly ten thousand Water-typestheir efforts quickly proved insufficient. Before long, casualties began to mount among the trainers'' Pokmon. Seizing the opportunity, a few Golduck unleashed powerful directly toward the fleeing civilians. Human bodies stood no chance against such a devastating attack, and the situation seemed hopeless. Just as the worst was about to happen, dozens of Slowpoke suddenly emerged from the crowd. While the Slowpoke weren''t as strong as the Golduck, they made up for it with their numbers. Their combined attacks managed to counter the incoming , neutralizing the threat. "Slowpoke! The Slowpokes saved us!" "I thought the Slowpokes betrayed this city?" "Nonsense! The Slowpokes have always been protecting us!" Cheers erupted from the fleeing civilians, their eyes filled with gratitude and admiration as though they were witnessing the actions of an Elite trainer. Why did this city held such affection for them? Over the years, Haitian City had become home to nearly ten thousand wild Slowpoke. The reason for this bond traced back decades, to a time when the Slowpokes saved Haitian City from a major disaster. Since then, Slowpoke had become a symbol of the city, its unofficial guardians. Although an unexplained phenomenon caused the Slowpokes to behave strangely this time, they never harmed a single human. And now, they were once again standing up to protect the people, facing the same Water-types who held the same goals as them. Sarch* The N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. More and more Slowpoke emerged from the crowd. Their vacant eyes and slow movements contrasted sharply with the unwavering resolve that drove them to confront the thousands of wild Water-types. At the forefront of the Slowpoke, a Pokmon wearing a crown appeared, exuding a commanding aura. "Slow!~" It was Slowking. With a single cry from the Slowking, the Slowpoke unleashed a coordinated barrage. Although their individual levels were low, the opposing Water-types lacked unity, while the Slowpoke were following their king''s commands. The coordinated attack pushed the Water-types back, forcing them to retreat. But the attack was far from over. "Slow!~" With another calm yet authoritative call from Slowking. Eight Slowbro emerged from the ranks of Slowpoke, stepping forward to face the advancing Water-types. With so many wild Slowpoke in the areanearly 10,000it was inevitable that a few lucky ones had managed to catch a Shellder on their tails, evolving into Slowbro. The eight Slowbro present were all at the Advanced level. Together, they unleashed , causing the temperature around them to plummet dramatically. The Water-type Pokmon that had been drenched earlier from the Slowpoke''s now found themselves in a dire predicament. The lingering moisture on their bodies caused the freezing process to accelerate under the barrage of icy attacks. The ground also became a frozen sheet of ice. Many Water-types attempting to move forward slipped and fell on the slick surface. As one toppled, it dragged others down with it, setting off a domino effect. Entire sections of the advancing horde collapsed in a chaotic mess. "Slow!~" Slowking raised its gaze to the sky, giving a commanding cry. "Dragonite, it''s our turn, Draco Meteor!" Julian ordered. Dragonite''s mouth glowed as it formed a brilliant golden sphere of energy. The orb shot into the sky and exploded, scattering fiery meteors across the battlefield. The meteors crashed into the fallen Water-types, carving craters several meters wide with each impact. In a single round of , nearly half of the Water-types were incapacitated. Casualties were inevitable as some Pokmon succumbed to their injuries. Julian remained calm, his expression indifferent as he observed the devastation. He felt no pity for the Pokmon that had perished. In situations like this, unnecessary kindness could very well cost you your life. Chapter 228: Evolution Chapter 228: EvolutionThe Water-type Pokmon from the east weren''t particularly strong. The strongest among them were only at the pseudo-Elite. Although their numbers approached 10,000, their overall quality was lacking. Dragonite''s Draco Meteor erupted in the sky, a dazzling, beautiful, yet deadly light. Amid the explosions, nearly half of the Water-types fell. The evacuating crowd erupted into cheers. Dragonite''s mastery of Draco Meteor was impeccable. Despite being a wide-range attack, it avoided harming the humans in the evacuation zone. "Growlithe, Lairon!" Julian sent out two more Pokmon. Their levels were perfectly suited to face these Water-types, which were only slightly weaker than them. Lairon''s massive body charged forward like a heavily armored tank. Against the tightly packed Water-types, all it needed to do was plow straight ahead. There was no need for fancy movesdespite its Rock typing being weak to Water, its durable armor was more than enough to withstand most attacks. In no time, Lairon''s charge created a clear path through the horde. Growlithe, meanwhile, stayed behind Lairon, unleashing searing flames that even the Water-types found terrifying. The intense heat felt like it was drying the very moisture from their bodies. "Lucario!" Among the Water-types were several pseudo-Elites. Seeing an opportunity, they aimed to attack Growlithe and Lairon, but suddenly, a sleek and handsome dog appeared before them. Pokmon: Lucario (Fighting/Steel) Level: 62 Potential: Blue Ability: Inner Focus Held Item: Muscle Band Gender: Male Moves: Work Up, Quick Attack, Endure, Detect, Feint, Metal Claw, Aura Sphere, Rock Smash, Bullet Punch, Metal Sound, Bone Rush, Meteor Mash, Heal Pulse TMs: Low Sweep, Brick Break, Agility, Swords Dance, Dig, Bulk Up, Focus Blast, Dark Pulse, Vacuum Wave Genetic Moves: Mind Reader, Close Combat, Force Palm, Thunder Punch --- The Water-types, numerous, were confident that this lone pseudo-Elite opponent wouldn''t pose a serious threat. Lucario, however, quickly showed them what true strength looked like. With its elegant and precise fighting combinations, paired with swift, fluid movements, the pseudo-Elite Pokmon couldn''t even touch the hem of Lucario''s fur. In just a few exchanges, the pseudo-Elites were all knocked to the ground, defeated. The dog just stood there handsomely. In the crowd, a boy of about ten stared at Lucario with wide, sparkling eyes. Excitedly, he tugged at his father''s sleeve and exclaimed, "Dad, it''s so cool! Super cool!" The father nodded, a small smile, "Yes, super cool." Unknowingly, Lucario had gained a new little fan. "Dad, when I turn seventeen, my first Pokmon is going to be a Riolu!" Pokmon knowledge had long been integrated into the school curriculum, so kids learned about them from an early age. The boy knew that Riolu evolved into Lucario. Sar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Work hard for me, okay?" The father nodded seriously, though he knew the challenge. A Riolu was as rare as a pseudo-legendary cubnot something one could acquire with mere effort alone. About twenty minutes later, all the Water-type Pokmon were fallen unconscious on the ground. Lairon stood amidst the defeated Pokmon, a wave of pride surging through its heart. It couldn''t help but let out a mighty roar. The invisible shackles binding it shattered in that instant. A bright evolutionary light enveloped Lairon. Julian wasn''t surprisedLairon had long since built up enough experience. All it needed was an intense, exhilarating battle to push it over the edge. Earlier, it had battled countless Water-types trying to come ashore on the west coast. Now, it had defeated even more on the east side. Though these battles didn''t have particularly strong opponents, Lairon had taken down nearly a thousand Pokmon. Its physical energy was greatly drained, but its spirit was brimming vigorously. As Lairon began to evolve, Julian kept a close watch on their surroundings to ensure nothing interrupted the process. If a Pokmon''s evolution was disrupted, at best, the evolution would fail. At worst, it could result in severe, lingering injuries, preventing evolution for life. Amid the glowing light, Lairon''s body, previously four-legged, began to shift into a bipedal stance. At the same time, it grew taller and larger. A little over a minute later, the white glow subsided, revealing a massive six-meter-tall prehistoric beast clad in hardened armor. Two long, sharp horns protruded from its head as it appeared on the field. The ferocious aura it exuded caused the nearby people to instinctively back away. Pokmon: Aggron (Steel/Rock) Level: 42 Potential: Blue Ability: Heavy Metal Held Item: Metal Coat Gender: Male Moves: Roar, Tackle, Harden, Headbutt, Protect, Iron Head, Rock Tomb, Metal Claw, Earth Power, Take Down TMs: Earthquake, Sandstorm, Dig, Shock Wave, Rock Slide, Rock Smash, Water Pulse, Dragon Claw, Focus Punch, Iron Tail, Thunderbolt, Stone Edge, Reckless Genetic Moves: Stomp, Heavy Slam, Endeavor, Dragon Rush --- Being a Totem Pokmon, Aggron''s height reached an intimidating six meters, far surpassing the usual 2.1 meters of a standard Aggron. Its massive body carried an overwhelming sense of oppression. At Aggron''s feet, the small Growlithe appeared utterly insignificant. Growlithe stared at Aggron in a daze. Its companion had suddenly evolved, and now it towered so high that Growlithe could barely believe its eyes. "Wow! So cool, super cool!" The comment came from the same young boy as before. He clung to his father''s arm, his eyes sparkling as he gazed at Aggron in admiration. "Dad, for my second Pokmon, I want an Aron!" Father: "I''ll work hard" Julian pulled out two boxes of energy cubes and handed them to Aggron and Growlithe. After such intense battles, both Pokmon were undoubtedly low on energy. Each box contained ten cubes. Aggron devoured the entire box, packaging and all, while Growlithe only ate three cubes from its box. It was clear that Aggron''s appetite had grown exponentially after its evolution. Even a wealthy family would struggle to sustain such a Pokmonit could easily eat them into bankruptcy. "Grow!" Growlithe barked at Julian. '''' Julian gently patted its head. "No rush. It''s not your time yet." The Fire Crystal in Growlithe''s body hadn''t been fully absorbed. Once it was close to complete absorption, Julian planned to pair it with a top-tier Fire Stone. The combined energy surge from these two sources would provide Growlithe with immense energy during its evolution, unlocking even greater potential for its future as an Arcanine. Hearing its trainer''s response, Growlithe''s wagging tail drooped, and it looked visibly deflated. "I''ll take you to the dog park next time," Julian said. At that, the previously downcast Growlithe instantly perked up. Its eyes sparkled with excitement, the mere mention of the park had rejuvenated its spirit. Chapter 229: Call Chapter 229: CallThe crisis on the eastern front had been temporarily resolved, but Julian did not leave. Instead, he stayed with the officials to help escort the evacuees. As the sky gradually darkened, the stars were obscured by thick clouds, and the salty sea breeze stirred up sand and dust on the ground. "That''s strange. The weather today doesn''t suggest it should rain tonight" An old fisherman muttered, puzzled by the unusual conditions. Julian checked the time. There were thirteen minutes left before Kyogre arrived. The ominous changes in the sky were a sign of Kyogre''s imminent approach. In thirteen minutes, the legendary Pokmonthe Sea God Kyogrewould arrive in Haitian City. "How many people have not been evacuated yet?" Julian asked one of the officials beside him. "Over five million, many elderly people have difficulty moving, and there are countless patients in the hospitals. Their families are unwilling to leave them behind," the official said with a bitter face. Haitian City had a population of over eight million, and evacuating everyone in such a short time was an impossible task. Even though more than two hours had passed since the evacuation order was issued, the majority of the population had yet to leave. The sudden evacuation order, combined with the attacks from Water-type Pokmon, had thrown the entire city into chaos. "May I ask what exactly is happening in Haitian City?" The official, noticing the solemn expression on Julian''s face and the towering, fearsome Aggron standing beside him, summoned his courage to ask. What could Julian say? Should Julian explain that in just over ten minutes, Kyogre would arrive in Haitian City, and with a single , the legendary Pokmon could obliterate the entire city? Julian didn''t respond. He didn''t know how to answer. Right now, the priority was to locate whatever was attracting the swarm of Water-type Pokmonand Kyogre. With only a few minutes left, there was no way to relocate five million people in time. Although the president of the Drakorian Trainers Association and the nation''s strongest Champion, Duke, was on his way. He was still too far from Haitian City. Kyogre would reach the city a full twenty minutes before Duke, more than enough time to devastate the city dozens of times over. Even trainers like Wade and others with peak Elite-level strength would be no match for a first-class legendary Pokmon. To a being like Kyogre, even a peak Elite trainer was merely a slightly bigger ant. The immense power of a first-class legendary Pokmon was beyond the scope of ordinary human understanding of Pokmon. Most ordinary citizens in Haitian City had no idea what was happening. sea??h th ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, some of the local noble families had managed to glean bits and pieces of the truth through various channels. --- The Miller Family Estate Derek was attempting to calm a small blue Pokmon confined within an isolation box. The Pokmon''s fragile and innocent gaze stirred a powerful urge in Derek to release it. Erick had just finished a call. As he hung up, his face was filled with disbelief. He walked over, staring blankly at the small blue Pokmon confined in the isolation box. "What''s wrong, big brother?" Derek asked, noticing his brother''s unusual expression. "Kyogre is coming to Haitian City," Erick said absentmindedly. Derek froze for a moment before his face mirrored his brother''s shock. Realizing something, he suddenly turned his gaze to the small blue Pokmon. "Big brotheryou''re not saying" "Yes," Erick nodded. "Kyogre must be coming for it." This unassuming little Pokmon had somehow managed to attract the attention of the legendary Pokmon, Kyogre. Though it appeared so weak, it had drawn countless Water-types, and now even Kyogre was on its way. "What do we do now, big brother?" Derek panicked immediately, this was Kyogre they were talking abouta being so powerful that even champions would flee in its presence. How could the Miller Family possibly stand against it? "We keep it of course, if Kyogre truly is here for this Pokmon, then it must be incredibly important to Kyogre. Ififwe could seize this opportunity, perhaps we could control Kyogre." Erick''s originally absent-minded eyes suddenly burst into a wild, ambitious gleam, his sudden madness making the small Pokmon in the isolation box shiver. '' This was Kyogre, a first-class legendary! The very thought of controlling it was insanity. One sneeze from Kyogre could obliterate the entire Miller Family. Watching his brother''s crazed expression, Derek was too frightened to speak. It wasn''t until Erick''s expression gradually calmed, though his eyes still burned with ambition, that Derek cautiously asked. "Big brother, are you serious about this?" Erick abruptly turned to him, his composed face sending a chill down Derek''s spine. "Third Brother, do you want the Miller Family to remain nothing more than a stepping stone for families like the Walker and Drakes?" "I''ve had enough of this. Enough! The deaths of your son and my sonthey caused it. Have you forgotten that hatred?" "Kyogrethis is Kyogre we''re talking about! If we control it, the Walker and Drake families will be nothing. Even Drakoria itself, nothe entire worldwill bow to the Miller Family!" Erick''s heart was consumed by hatred, anger, and a thirst for power. Derek''s reasoning, however, remained intact. Though the mention of his son stirred a deep hatred in his heart, his rationality suppressed it. A first-class legendary might just be controllable, but if they failed, it wouldn''t just be the Miller Family that faced destructionit would be all of Haitian City. Though Derek wasn''t exactly a good man, he couldn''t ignore the fate of the millions living in Haitian City. Above Haitian City Julian held the Dowsing Machine in his hand, scanning the area in hopes of finding the cause of Kyogre and the countless Water-types'' unusual behavior. Perhaps the cause of their movement was a certain treasure. If it was some kind of treasure, the Dowsing Machine should be able to locate it. The screen displayed ten red dots, but none of them were particularly large. For something capable of attracting Kyogre, the treasure would have to be incredibly rare and precioussomething the tiny dots on the Dowsing Machine couldn''t possibly match. The range of the Dowsing Machine was fifty kilometers, so he would need to sweep around Haitian City multiple times to complete a thorough search. While nothing significant had been found yet, Julian remained hopeful that the next area might reveal something. There were six minutes left before Kyogre arrived. The rain begun to fall, and the winds were growing stronger. Julian''s phone rang. "Hey, Dad" "Julian, get out of Haitian City immediately!" His father, Jake, ordered with a mix of sternness and worry. A second later, his mother, Tina, took the phone. "Little Julian, please come home! Mom''s begging you, come back!" Her voice trembled before dissolving into sobs. Julian fell silent. A first-class legendary was a force even champions couldn''t stand a chance against, let alone Julian, who was not even an Elite. For Jake and Tina, the fate of Haitian City was secondary. Although they were trainers, they were parents first. And to any parent, their child''s safety came above all else. Chapter 230: Kyogre Chapter 230: Kyogre"Dad, Mom, what are you thinking? I left Haitian City hours ago. Kyogre''s cominghow could I not leave?" "Your son isn''t the type to play hero. Let someone else take that role." On the other end of the line, Julian''s mother, Tina, sounded unsure. "Really? You''re not lying to me?" "No, Mom. Think about itthe Walker family''s legacy is waiting for me to inherit. How could I risk staying in Haitian City?" After calming his parents with a few more reassurances, Julian ended the call. He exhaled deeply, the smile on his face fading into a heavy seriousness. A hero? That wasn''t a title he aspired to. Throughout history, in movies, books, and plays, how many heroes had ever met a good end? But leaving now? He couldn''t do it. His teachers and classmates were still on the western front, holding off the Pokmon making landfall. Abandoning them to be a coward? That wasn''t something Julian could stomach. And then there were the five million people in Haitian City who hadn''t been evacuated. Not five hundredfive million. That staggering number weighed on him, leaving him with no excuse to walk away. Because of the call, there were now only three minutes left until Kyogre''s arrival. Julian gazed out toward the ocean. Somewhere beyond the horizon, he could feel the presence of an enormous being making its way toward the city. The thick, ominous storm clouds on the horizon were pressing down on Haitian City, radiating a suffocating aura. "Three minutes... Dragonite, keep searching the city." Julian took a deep breath. He didn''t want to be a hero, nor did he want to be a deserter. If, after trying his best, the situation still became irreversible, then he would leave. But for now, it was time to give it everything he had. Sensing its trainer''s anxiety, Dragonite''s speed became even faster. At this speed, the falling rain felt like stones pelting Julian''s face, each drop stinging sharply. But he gritted his teeth and endured. Three minutes. Two minutes. One minute. Thirty seconds. From the west, north, and south, all the Water-types suddenly stopped their assault. They stood silently, motionless. Even the wild Elite-level Pokmon had ceased their movements. While Oliver and the other trainers were still trying to figure out what was happening, an immense pressure descended from the ocean. Unlike ordinary pressure, this one pierced directly into their souls. In the depths of their minds, they saw a colossal, godlike figure looming before them. They could only crane their necks to look up, yet even then, they couldn''t see its face. Under the shadow of this presence, they felt unimaginably smallless than ants, utterly insignificant. Most trainers dropped to their knees on the spot. Though they didn''t lose consciousness, their faces turned deathly pale, as if they''d just witnessed something utterly horrifying. On the western front, Wade stared ahead in shock. A kilometer away, the seawater parted of its own accord, revealing a deep-blue Pokmon gently moving its pectoral fins. Wade swallowed hard. Even though he had mentally prepared himself for the possibility of confronting the first-class Legendary, actually seeing it made him realize how woefully inadequate his preparations were. Kyogre was surrounded by countless Water-type Pokmon. As Wade took a closer look, his eyes nearly bulged out of his sockets. No way... Every single one of them was at least pseudo-Elite level! And the ones at the very front... Championsactual Champion-level Pokmon! The ocean was teeming with Water-types, so it wasn''t unheard of for there to be Champion-level Pokmon among them. But to see so many gathered here was beyond comprehension. "Human, hand over Manaphy, and we will leave." A voice echoed in Wade''s mind. He froze for a moment, then looked toward Kyogre and quickly understoodit was speaking to him directly. "Kyogre, there must be some misunderstanding. We don''t know anything about Manaphy," Wade responded hastily. So that was it. Both the Water-types and Kyogre had come for Manaphy. But Wade had never even heard of this name before. Judging by its name, it seemed to be a Pokmon, but what kind of Pokmon could possibly draw a Legendary like Kyogre to act? Wade''s response seemed to irritate Kyogre. Were it not for the deterrent presence of certain powerful entities in the Drakoria region, Kyogre wouldn''t have bothered exchanging words with what it considered mere insects. A single Surf would have obliterated the city, leaving it to find Manaphy amidst the ruins. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kyogre lightly slapped its tail against the ocean''s surface. Instantly, the seawater surged, and to the horror of everyone watching, a towering wave hundreds of meters highand stretching as far as the eye could seerose behind Kyogre. "Manaphy is in the city behind you. You have thirty minutes. If I do not see Manaphy by then, this city will no longer need to exist." Wade was silent. If it weren''t for the fact that he stood no chance against Kyogre, he would have argued back in kind. That tone of superiority... Oh, how he wanted to say something. At that moment, several other Elite trainers arrived at Wade''s side. Kyogre''s words hadn''t just reached Wade; everyone in Haitian City, as well as the trainers along the coastline, had heard its message. Now everyone understood why Kyogre had come. As they stared at the colossal wave looming behind Kyogre, emanating an aura of pure destruction, a chill ran down their spines. That wave wouldn''t just destroy Haitian City; it threatened to erase them all. The power of a first-class Legendary wasn''t just unfairit was a reminder of the insurmountable gulf between gods and mortals. "Kyogre, Haitian City is enormous. Could you give me a more specific location?" Wade asked after a moment of silence. Trying to locate a never before seen Pokmon in such a sprawling coastal city was like looking for a needle in a haystack. "Manaphy is isolated," Kyogre replied. "I can only sense that it is within this city. Its exact location is up to you to find." Its words caused Wade and the other Elite trainers to feel a sinking sense of dread. If even Kyogre couldn''t pinpoint Manaphy''s location, it likely meant that someone had deliberately concealed it. Someone had gone to great lengths to isolate Manaphy in a specific location while intentionally provoking Kyogre, likely with the sole aim of destroying Haitian City. If they attempted to interferewhether they succeeded or notcasualties would be inevitable. What made the stakes even higher was the presence of the country''s most elite students gathered here for the national competition. If something happened to them, it would spell disaster for Drakoria. The nation would face a severe loss of talent, leading to a potential gap in its development and strength. Such a scenario would undoubtedly cause Drakoria''s international standing to plummet. This plan wasn''t just cruelit was calculated and insidious, designed to cripple Drakoria from within. High above the city, Julian listened intently to Kyogre''s words, a look of realization dawning on his face. Of courseit had to be Manaphy. He should have guessed it earlier. A Pokmon capable of attracting countless Water-types and even a Legendary like Kyogre could only be Manaphy. But how did someone manage to capture Manaphy and isolate it? More importantly, how had they acquired the knowledge that it could lure Kyogre here? Chapter 231: Manaphy Chapter 231: ManaphyAlthough this world had already discovered most Pokmon, many remained undiscovered, such as Unown, Manaphy, Urshifu, the Ultra Beasts and so on. Manaphy, despite being a Water-type mythical Pokmon and not a Legendary, could somehow draw out a powerful first-class Legendary like Kyogre to rescue it. The main reason lay in its unique bond with the oceanit was considered the child of the sea, even regarded as a creation of the ocean itself. This gave Manaphy a natural affinity with all Water-type Pokmon, compelling them to instinctively protect it, Kyogre included. In a way, Manaphy could even be seen as Kyogre''s godchild. The skies were filled with torrential rain and fierce winds, the downpour so intense it obscured visibility. Combined with the darkness of night, it made the already low visibility nearly impossible to see. The worst part was the five million citizens in Haitian City who had yet to evacuate. Now, they fully realized what they were up againsta Legendary Pokmon. A First-class Legendary at that. Even from within the city, the massive tsunami loomed large, visible to all. If that wave crashed down, it wouldn''t just obliterate Haitian City but would devastate neighboring cities as well. Fear and panic spread like wildfire throughout the city. Rioting and looting erupted as chaos overtook order. The level of destruction in the city was steadily rising. But Julian couldn''t afford to focus on that. Completing his original task had become secondaryfinding Manaphy was now his top priority. Only by finding Manaphy could the source of all this chaos be addressed. Holding the Dowsing Machine in his hands, Julian had already scoured every corner of Haitian City. Yet the device showed no more than a third of its screen lighting up with red indicators. He recalled Kyogre''s explanation that something had isolated Manaphy, preventing it from being sensed. It seemed whatever had been used to shield Manaphy was also blocking the Dowsing Machine. Unable to locate Manaphy and powerless against Kyogre, Julian felt momentarily lost. The rain had long since drenched him to the skin. His eyes, filled with uncertainty, stared blankly at the brightly lit but utterly chaotic city below. -- The secret chamber of the Miller family mansion. Derek stared wide-eyed at the Pokmon within the isolation deviceManaphy. He also learned its name from Kyogre. And he also knew that if Kyogre couldn''t locate Manaphy within half an hour, the entire Haitian City would be destroyed. "Big Brother" Derek''s lips trembled slightly as he looked at his eldest brother, Erick, who was busy packing up some valuable items. "Third Brother, it''s too late. There''s no chance anymore. Even if we hand over Manaphy to Kyogre now, do you think the Trainer Association will let our Miller family go?" "They won''t. They''ll just use this as an excuse to wipe us out completely." Erick cut him off, knowing exactly what Derek was about to say. There was no turning back now. He could only push forwardbecause the alternative meant the death of the entire Miller family. "Big Brother, no! This is all part of that mysterious man''s scheme. We can''t gamble with the lives of the entire Miller family, Big Brother!!!" The Miller family consisted of over three hundred people, a large clan. Derek couldn''t bear to imagine what would happen if Erick''s stubbornness led to the destruction of both their family and Haitian City. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And it was all because of him and his elder brother. "Yes, gamble. I ''will'' gamble!" Erick''s voice grew hoarse and desperate. "Third Brother, the Miller family has no hope left. I don''t care what kind of scheme that mysterious man is plotting." "But Manaphy is real!" Practically shouting, Erick grabbed the isolation box. Inside, the trembling Manaphy shut its eyes tightly, its tiny body shaking in fear. It had only just been born, its level low and utterly powerless. "As long as we keep it in our hands, Kyogre won''t dare make a move. We can even use it to control Kyogre!" "Third Brother, join me! Together, we can succeed. We can make the Miller family stand at the top of the world. The Drake family and Walker family will be nothingthey''ll polish our shoes!" As he spoke, he slowly extended his hand toward Derek, his eyes filled with brotherly affection. They were familyhis only brother. Derek''s face showed hesitation and inner turmoil. But when he saw the emotion in Erick''s eyes, his body shook slightly. After a moment''s pause, he began to extend his hand toward Erick''s. Just as their hands were about to meet, Derek suddenly stepped forward and shoved Erick forcefully away. Then, he grabbed the isolation box containing Manaphy. A Shiftry appeared as he released it from its Pok Ball. "Big Brother, you''ve lost your mind! The Walker and Drake families may be hateful, but we cannot gamble with the lives of everyone in Haitian City!" "Shiftry, Sleep Powder!" As Shiftry''s fan-like hands gently waved, a cloud of powder wafted toward Erick. "Third Bother, youwatch out!!" Erick''s expression shifted suddenly, anger replaced by alarm. Derek, sensing the unusual tension behind him, instinctively turned his head. To his horror, a Mismagius had silently appeared at his back. Mismagius''s ghostly hand pierced through Derek''s skull. In his final moments, Derek''s peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a shadowy figure standing behind Mismagius. With a dull thud, Derek''s lifeless body collapsed to the ground, and the isolation box fell from his hand. Seeing its trainer die right before its eyes, Shiftry''s gaze turned crimson with fury. It was about to lunge at Mismagius in a fit of rage, only to find the ghostly Pokmon already before it. A strange light radiated from Mismagius''s eyes. Shiftry felt a sudden drowsiness washing over its mind. Just as it was about to succumb to the sleep, its blurry vision landed on the blood-soaked corpse. That was-the body of its trainer. Its mind snapped back to clarity in an instant. Shiftry''s arm glowed with a vibrant green light as it slashed downward with , cutting into Mismagius. "Hmm?" This unexpected display of resistance surprised the mysterious figure in the shadows. Although Shiftry''s brief clarity had allowed it to land a blow, it couldn''t dispel the lingering effects of . After the strike, Shiftry once again felt the haze overtaking its mind. Dark pulses of energy formed into , striking Shiftry relentlessly. Its body slammed hard against the chamber''s reinforced walls, the impact inflicting further damage. Mismagius hovered over Shiftry, ready to end it once and for all. Even as it lay there with its eyes half-closed, Shiftry mustered its remaining strength, unleashing another . However, Mismagius evaded the attack with ease, its eyes flashing with a hint of disdain. But Shiftry''s target wasn''t Mismagius. Its blade curved away, aiming for the isolation box. The blade struck the box with a metallic clang, only to leave it entirely unscathed. Despair flickered in Shiftry''s eyes as it realized that not even its Elite-level strength could damage the box. "Pathetic" The mysterious figure sneered, his tone dripping with contempt. Refusing to give up, Shiftry tried once more to raise its arm for another attack. But as soon as it did, its limb was seized by Mismagius. With a sickening twist, Mismagius snapped Shiftry''s arm. In the next moment, the ghost Pokmon''s psychic grip turned to Shiftry''s neck, snapping it effortlessly. Shiftry''s body fell lifelessly to the floor, joining its fallen trainer. (T/N: A moment of silence for my man Derek and Shiftry, both were Heroes.) Chapter 232: Duke Arrives Chapter 232: Duke ArrivesFrom the moment Mismagius appeared and killed Derek to the death of Shiftry, everything happened in a momentless than thirty seconds. Erick, affected by the Sleep Powder used by Shiftry, had already fallen to the ground in slumber. Just before collapsing, he caught a glimpse of the mysterious figure standing behind Derek. But the overwhelming drowsiness allowed him only enough strength to utter two words: "watch out." "Kill him as well," the mysterious figure said. And so, in his sleep, Erick lost his life. All of this was witnessed by Manaphy, confined within the isolation box. Seeing Derek lying dead in a pool of blood, Manaphy''s expression turned sorrowful. Derek was the first person it had seen upon opening its eyes, and it could feel that he had genuinely wanted to save it at that moment. Large tears streamed down from Manaphy''s eyes. "Feeling sad?" A calm voice echoed. Manaphy glared at the figure with anger. Despite its fear of this person, its inner rage would not allow it to show any sign of cowardice. "Nice expression" The mysterious figure said, nodding approvingly. At the same time, a Pokmon resembling a chandelier floated through the wall. Blue flames burned on its head and arms, casting an eerie glow. As it entered, the chamber grew even quieter and more sinister. The Pokmon drifted to Derek''s corpse and lightly touched it. A grayish-white mist rose from the body and was absorbed into the Pokmon. It repeated the same process on the bodies of the fallen Shiftry and Erick. Whether it was an illusion or not, the blue flames on the Pokmon seemed to burn brighter. "The soul of an Elite-level Pokmon, combined with the three hundred members of the Miller family, but you still haven''t progressed to the next stage," the mysterious figure said, his gaze fixed on the Chandelure. "But it won''t be long. The five million souls of Haitian City residents will surely be enough to push you to that step." The man''s voice was calm, yet it carried an undertone of endless madness and ambition. Chandelure floated to his side, its blue flames flickering more intensely, as if it shared his anticipation and delight. "Ten minutes left. But that old goat Duke should already be here," the man remarked. There were only ten minutes remaining in the thirty-minute grace period Kyogre had given to locate Manaphy. Thanks to Kyogre''s decision of giving the half hour time limit, Duke, had just managed to arrive in Haitian City. To the west, Wade, Oliver, and several other Elite-level trainers watched the seconds tick by with growing anxiety. No news had yet come from behind about Manaphy being found. Just then, with a ripple in the fabric of space, a man in his seventies appeared before them, accompanied by an Alakazam. Upon seeing the arrival of the man, Wade and the others were overjoyed. "President, you''re finally here!" The man who had arrived was none other than Duke, the President of Drakoria''s Trainer Association and the strongest among the nation''s five Champions. "Hmm" Duke nodded faintly, though his complexion was far from good. To save time, he had relied on Alakazam to continuously use during the journey. Had it not been for Alakazam protecting him during the spatial transfers, a human body would have been torn apart in such a traversal. Even so, Duke''s condition was clearly less than ideal. "Kyogre, I will find Manaphy for you, but I need more time," Duke said solemnly. "Human, I have already given you time." While Champions cannot defeat first-class Legendary Pokmon, they can at least create some trouble for them when fighting at full strength. Moreover, Duke wasn''t aloneDrakoria''s military forces were en route, and several long-range weapon systems had already locked onto Kyogre. "Not enough" Duke replied, shaking his head. Half an hour was far too little to search the entirety of Haitian City. Sear?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kyogre''s eyes gleamed coldly. As a first-class Legendary Pokmon, it viewed all beings beneath it as mere ants. It had already granted these ants time, yet they dared to demand more. In its fury, Kyogre unleashed . A massive wave, towering hundreds of meters and stretching endlessly, began its descent. It was as if the entire sky was crashing down. Wade, Oliver, and the others were horrified. Under such a colossal wave, they could only hope to protect themselves. They had no chance to aid others, let alone defend the city behind them. None of them had expected Kyogre to strike so decisively. Humans had no right to bargain with it. The time it had granted earlier was merely out of caution toward a particular individual in the region. Even if that individual showed up, Kyogre was confident it wouldn''t lose. The overwhelming wave bore down, threatening to engulf the entire Haitian City beneath its fury. "Alakazam, Mega Evolveuse Psychic!" Duke acted decisively. With the opening of a Pok Ball, another Alakazam emerged. Unlike ordinary Alakazam, this one was entirely goldena Shiny Pokmon. Upon Mega Evolution, Mega Alakazam appeared, resembling an aged sage, with five spoons floating around its body. An invisible, powerful aura erupted from Mega Alakazam as it emerged. Under the force of its Psychic, the colossal wave, which had seemed unstoppable, was held back. The wave crashed into an invisible barrier, unable to advance further. They were saved. Seeing the massive wave so close yet unable to descend, all the Trainers along the shoreline wore expressions of relief, as though they had narrowly escaped death. "Evacuate immediately!" Duke''s voice echoed in their minds, calm but commanding. "You must leave as well" He instructed Wade, Oliver, and the others. Without hesitation, Wade and the group departed, taking the surviving students with them. The urgency in their steps was palpable. It wasn''t out of cowardice or fear of death that Wade, Oliver, and the others retreated. Facing a Legendary Pokmon like Kyogre, even Champions would struggle, and they were not even close to that level. Staying would only burden Duke. Additionally, with the military potentially deploying heavy firepower, their presence near the battlefield could result in collateral damage. "Ants" With a gentle flick of Kyogre massive tail, the paused tidal wave seemed to surge with renewed vigor. Mega Alakazam''s form began to falter, its psychic barrier trembling as it was pushed back inch by inch. It was clear it couldn''t hold for much longer. Duke closed his eyes briefly, letting out a quiet sigh. "Hold back half of it" The wave had grown too powerful for Mega Alakazam to block completely. However, it could still block half of it. The other half would inevitably crash into Haitian City, but at least some of the city could be saved from total destruction. As Mega Alakazam exerted all its strength to hold back half of the colossal wave, the remaining half surged forward, descending with a force that dwarfed even the most catastrophic dam break imaginable. In Duke''s mind, he could already envision the horrifying aftermathhundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, losing their lives. The wave crashed down mercilessly. Some of the slower students and teachers were engulfed instantly, their lives snuffed out in the blink of an eye. Buildings in its path crumbled like fragile paper models, offering no resistance against the sheer force of the wave. Chapter 233: Champion: John Walker Chapter 233: Champion: John WalkerAt this moment, the towering wave was less than 300 meters away from Haitian City. Reaching hundreds of meters in height, it loomed over the city like the dark clouds in the sky, casting a suffocating shadow. All those who hadn''t managed to evacuate wore expressions of sheer terror. Faced with such a monstrous wave, they didn''t even have the courage to run. The wave came crashing down, destroying the buildings at the city''s edges. Seawater flooded Haitian City, toppling countless structures along its path. Some people perished in the chaos, swept away by the relentless surge. Fortunately, the initial impact struck the outskirts, where the population was relatively sparse. However, as the wave moved toward the city center, millions of people remained in its path. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Despair and panic engulfed the entire city. From the sky, Julian looked down at the destructionthe wave demolishing buildings, swallowing lives. Yet, he was powerless to stop it. Despite his Metagross''s strength and the help of his system, he could do nothing in the face of such a calamity. Growth required time; it couldn''t be achieved overnight. Clenching his fists tightly, a wave of helplessness overwhelmed him. He lacked the ability to save millions, couldn''t drive away Kyogre, and hadn''t even found Manaphy. The wave continued its march toward the city center, where countless people had closed their eyes, bracing for the inevitable. "Metagross, Mega Evolve!" Just as Julian prepared to save as many people as he could in the face of the oncoming wave, a familiar voice rang out nearby. Following the sound, he turned to see his grandfather, John Walker, standing on the back of a Skarmory. Beside him floated a silvery Mega Metagross, radiating immense power. A surge of overwhelming psychic energy erupted from Mega Metagross, and under this force, the relentless wave began to slow and eventually come to a halt. Though not as dramatic as Duke''s Mega Alakazam halting the entire wave earlier, the power displayed by Mega Metagross was nonetheless astonishing. After all, this wave was the creation of a Legendary Pokmon like Kyogre. Alakazam could block it because it was Champion-level. But how was Metagross able to block it? After all, it had only been at the peak of the pseudo-Champion tier. The answer was simple: this Metagross was no longer a pseudo-Champion. It hadn''t just reached Champion-level because of Mega Evolutionit had already attained that rank on its own. Pokmon: Metagross (Steel/Psychic) Level: 92 (94*) Potential: Purple Ability: Light Metal Held Item: Metal Coat Gender: Genderless Moves: Tackle, Steel Beam, Confusion, Metal Claw, Bullet Punch, Flash Cannon, Magnet Rise, Psychic, Scary Face, Hammer Arm, Meteor Mash, Take Down, Agility, Hyper Beam TMs: Iron Head, Zen Headbutt, Iron Defense, Reflect, Protect, Light Screen, Psycho Cut, Shadow Ball, Gyro Ball, Psyshock, Trailblaze, Bulldoze, Mud-Slap, Aerial Ace, Icy Wind, Rock Tomb, Brick Break, Thunder Punch, Rest, Giga Impact, Future Sight, Focus Punch, Earthquake, Heavy Slam, Rock Slide, Grass Knot Genetic Moves: None --- John''s Metagross had already reached Champion-tier level 92, and with Mega Evolution, its level surged to 94. "Metagross, your dad has become a Champion-level Pokmon!" Julian said in surprise to Metagross at his side. Since Metagross is genderless and reproduces by division, calling it either "father" or "mother" worked just fine. Julian''s Metagross had evolved from a Beldum that was divided from his grandfather''s Metagross. Metagross: '''' In Drakoria, there were officially five Champion-level Trainersat least on record. John had long been recognized as the most likely candidate to become the nation''s sixth Champion. That possibility had now become reality. And he had appeared at the most critical moment. His very first battle as a Champion was to protect the lives of millions of residents in Haitian City. Under the Psychic power of Mega Metagross, the gigantic wave was finally stopped. With precise control, it diffused the wave''s force, allowing the water to flow gently through the vast network of streets and canals in the city. Meanwhile, on the western side, Duke stood with his eyes closed, a pained expression on his face. He had already envisioned the devastation the wave would bring to Haitian City. Despite Alakazam halting half the wave, the remaining surge would still have caused immense casualties. "John the Butcher, you finally made it in time" Duke muttered with a faint smile, his heart finally finding some relief as he sensed the shift in the city behind him. However, Kyogre did not make another move. Instead, its gaze shifted skyward. High above, dozens of fiery missiles streaked through the air, their brilliant tails illuminating the sky. Though the emergence of Pokmon had shifted global focus toward Trainers, and the strongest Trainers were seen as greater threats than nuclear weapons, nations had not abandoned traditional weapons entirely. Missiles and nuclear warheads were limited to fixed-point strikes and were susceptible to interception. In contrast, Elite-level or Champion-level Trainers possessed unparalleled mobility and adaptability. As a result, the strength of a nation''s Trainers had become the primary measure of its military power. Even so, weapons research had not slowed due to Pokmon''s arrivalinstead, it had evolved, becoming even more advanced. The barrage of missiles streaked toward Kyogre. Each one packed the destructive power equivalent to a Champion-level Pokmon''s full-strength attack. However, for a Legendary Pokmon like Kyogre, these missiles posed little threatassuming they could even hit it. If they missed, not even nuclear bombs would make a difference. Kyogre didn''t need to act. The Water-type Pokmon surrounding it, including Elite and pseudo-Champion levels, unleashed a barrage of Water-type moves. Before the missiles could reach their target, they were intercepted mid-air and exploded in a series of fiery blasts. It seemed the threat had been neutralized. But in the next moment, something unexpected happened. From the detonation sites, small, fist-sized objects began to fall from the sky. Countless fist-sized objects fell into the seawater. The Water-type Pokmon in the vicinity barely had time to react. These objects emitted a powerful surge of electricity. Each pulse of current was equivalent to a peak Advanced-level Electric-type Pokmon using Thunderbolt. Though not overwhelming individually, the sheer number of these devicesmore than a hundred thousandchanged the entire game. In an instant, the entire sea became golden. Bolts of electricity danced across the surface, illuminating half the sky in a dazzling yellow light. The Water-type Pokmon in the sea, whether Elites or pseudo-Champions couldn''t withstand the onslaught of electricity. They were paralyzed in seconds. Within a minute, the sea was eerily still. The only movement came from the floating bodies of Water-type Pokmon. The weaker ones had died outright, sinking to the bottom, while the rest drifted on the surface, unconscious like lifeless fish. Even Kyogre wasn''t unscathed. Sparks of electricity crackled across its massive body, evidence of its paralyzed status condition taking effect. Though this tactic had managed to hinder Kyogre and incapacitate its minions, it came at a costit had also sparked Kyogre''s immense fury. The Legendary Pokmon''s rage was palpable. For a being of its stature, a primal force of nature, being injured by humans was a humiliation. The thought of its ancient rivalthe one who couldn''t even flyfinding out about this moment was unbearable. "Kyogre, this is Drakoria. Even as a Legendary Pokmon, if you dare to act recklessly here, you will pay a heavy price," Duke said solemnly. Drakoria was a big country, not some small, inconsequential one. If Kyogre refused to heed the warning, they will fight to death. Chapter 234: Origin Pulse Chapter 234: Origin PulseA first-class Legendary indeed possessed the power to destroy a nation, but such nations were not large countries like Drakoria or Celestria. Instead, they were smaller or mid-sized countries. Smaller countries, in particular, are vulnerable. Their quality of Trainers is subpar, and their advanced weaponry is even worse. It wouldn''t take a first-class Legendary to obliterate them; just a few wild Champion-level Pokmon would suffice to wreak havoc. For large countries like Drakoria, facing a first-class Legendary would undoubtedly be a massive headache. However, if Drakoria was willing to pay a significant price, they could still at least repel Kyogre. But that price would be steep. Once done, their old rival, Celestria, would undoubtedly seize the opportunity to exploit the situation. And in the current precarious scenario, Celestria was already making its move. While Kyogre was causing chaos in Drakoria, spies from Celestria had begun infiltrating Drakoria''s secret facilities under the cover of the turmoil. Yet these efforts were destined to fail. Drakoria had long anticipated such moves and had set up an extensive network to capture these intruders. But it wasn''t just spies. Celestria, along with its two alliesBabath and the Wyverniahad already dispatched their Champions to Drakoria''s borders. In response, three of Drakoria''s four remaining Champions had been sent to confront them, while the last stayed in the capital to ensure its security. This left only one Champion, Duke, to defend Haitian City during this critical crisis. Fortunately, at the last moment, John Walker made his debut as a new Champion. His Mega Metagross arrived just in time to block the massive tidal wave from surging into the city center, saving the lives of millions. --- Inside the Miller family manor, the mysterious figure watched as the massive wave, which had been set to consume millions, was suddenly halted by John''s Metagross. His expression darkened immediately. Sar?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "John John! It''s you again! And now you''ve become a Champion!" The figure''s voice became hysterical, and the nearby Chandelure, his companion, recoiled slightly from the oppressive aura he exuded. "Hmph! Do you think this is over?" Chandelure had been on the verge of advancing to Champion level itself, and the quickest way to do so would have been to devour the souls of millions of people. John''s intervention had thwarted that plan. But could he stop it a second time? The mysterious figure walked toward the isolation box, where Manaphy was glaring at him. However, as the figure approached, the anger on the Mythical Pokmon''s face gradually turned into fear. Manaphy: '''' The figure picked up the isolation box and pressed a button on its surface. Immediately, the box began releasing surges of electricity. The currents sparked with golden light, and Manaphy let out a heart-wrenching cry of pain. "Yes, scream louder! The louder you scream, the more seriously Kyogre will take this." Dissatisfied with the intensity of Manaphy''s cries, the figure increased the voltage. The golden electric currents grew even fiercer. "Mana!!!~" Manaphy''s cry was filled with endless pain, its expression twisted in agony. The mysterious man''s lips curled into a satisfied smirk. He reached out to slightly open the isolation box before quickly snapping it shut again. The moment the box was opened was fleeting, yet the anguished sound it released echoed far and wide, heard by countless Water-type Pokmon. Pain, despair, misery, rage Every Water-type Pokmon recognized the voice''s torment and understood that its owner was in grave danger. Including Kyogre. "ROAR!!!" "Humans, you are all dead!" Kyogre''s fury erupted, instantly dispelling the paralysis that had gripped its massive form. A surge of terrifying energy rolled off it in waves, shaking the very ocean. As its anger grew, dark storm clouds began to gather in the sky, thickening ominously. The torrential rain poured harder, drenching everything beneath. Around Kyogre, the awakened Elite and pseudo-Champion Pokmon also howled furiously, their eyes glowing a blood-red fury. Duke frowned as he observed the scene. He had a sinking suspicion that this surge of rage had something to do with Manaphy. Could it be that something terrible had happened to it? Just then, more missiles descended from the skies. This time, there were even more than before, filling the entire sky. Kyogre''s eyes gleamed coldly, its jaws opening wide to release an . The frosty ray swept across the sky, freezing every missile in its path. With a series of heavy splashes, the ice-bound missiles plummeted into the ocean. Having already suffered from one earlier barrage, Kyogre was not about to make the mistake of shattering the missiles again. "This city no longer needs to exist." Kyogre''s pectoral fins flared as it began to rise into the air. Duke''s expression shifted drastically upon hearing those words. Endless blue and white energy began gathering around Kyogre''s jaws, lighting up the night sky with a dazzling radiance. The blue and white energy gradually condensed into a spherical orb, the power emitted by the orb caused the seawater beneath Kyogre to sink, exposing the seabed under the immense gravitational pull of the attack. This was Kyogre''s signature moveOrigin Pulsein the making. "We can''t stop this" John said as he approached Duke, watching this scene gravely. A full-powered attack from a first-class Legendary, that too its signature move, not even a peak Champion level Pokmon could stop it. Only a first-class Legendary can block another. With the gradual formation of the Origin Pulse, accompanied by flashes of lightning and the relentless downpour, caused the Pokmon near Kyogre to retreat to a safe distance. "We have no choice but to stop it, Mega Alakazam, use Light Screen!" Duke gritted his teeth. The lives of millions weren''t something he could simply give up on. "Kyogre!!!" Duke glared hatefully at Kyogre hovering mid-air, an overwhelming sense of helplessness washing over him. Even as Drakoria''s strongest Champion, facing a first-class Legendary like Kyogre made his strength feel like a joke. "Mega Metagross, use Light Screen as well!" Two champion-tier Pokmon worked furiously, constructing layers of to shield against the incoming . Kyogre, however, merely cast a disdainful glance at their efforts. The next instant, the blue-and-white energy beam of blasted forward. The ocean behind Kyogre recoiled, forming a massive tidal wave as the attack surged ahead. The countless erected by the two Champion-level Pokmon crumbled like fragile paper under the devastating power of the attack. They watched as the failed to slow the attack even for a moment and the racing toward Haitian City, its destructive power exceeding that of a nuclear explosion by several magnitudes. It wasn''t just Haitian City that was at riskits neighboring cities would also be caught in the aftermath. A wave of despair washed over Duke as he clenched his fists and closed his eyes. But John''s eyes widened as he suddenly remembered something. In Haitian City Sky, Julian looked at the red dot that suddenly appeared on the Dowsing Machine. The red dot took up nearly a third of the entire Dowsing Machine. But just as quickly as the dot had appeared, it vanished. If Julian hadn''t been absolutely certain he''d seen it, he might have thought his desperation to find Manaphy had caused him to hallucinate. Although the red dot was gone, but he remembered the direction of it. Chapter 235: *Title Retracted* Chapter 235: *Title Retracted*Just as Julian rode on Dragonite, heading in the direction where the red dot had disappeared, a sudden burst of blue-and-white light flared behind him. Instinctively, Julian turned his head, only to see the endless glow of blue and white energy gathering. A sudden sense of crisis surged through his entire body. The name of the move flashed through Julian''s mind. Precipice Blades Dodge? There was no way. The entire Haitian City was within attack range. --- In the hidden chamber of the Miller family estate: The mysterious man stared at the footage playing on some unknown device. "Hahaha! Origin Pulsethe entire Haitian City is going to be blasted to oblivion!" he laughed maniacally. The chamber he was in had been built at great expense by Erick, buried 500 meters underground with incredibly durable materials. Moreover, the Miller family estate was located outside Haitian City''s central area. The man was confident that staying in this chamber would ensure he survived Kyogre''s devastating attack. "Once Haitian City is destroyed by Kyogre, you can absorb the souls of millions. That''ll definitely make you strong enough to become a Champion," the man said to Chandelure. The blue flames on Chandelure''s head flickered joyfully, revealing emotions of joy and anticipation. Meanwhile, Manaphy seemed to sense what Kyogre was about to do. It cried out desperately, but the isolating box prevented its voice and aura from escaping. --- In the sky above, Metagross prepared to teleport Julian away. But as it attempted the move, it found that the space around them was filled with an oppressive force. Under such pressure, teleportation was impossible. "This space has been locked" Julian patted Metagross on the head. On the surface, he appeared calm, as if he had already accepted the imminent death. But inwardly, he was panicking and deeply regretting his situation. Julian screamed internally, pinning his only hope on the system. This time, the system didn''t play dead. Ding! "Spend ten Mewtwo Fragments to temporarily summon Mewtwo for five minutes. After five minutes, Mewtwo will disappear." At that very moment, was unleashed. Wherever the wave passed, buildings, land, and trees vanished without a trace, as if they had never existed. Kyogre deliberately kept the attack from hitting Duke and John. It wanted them to witness firsthand how Haitian City was annihilated due to their foolishness. While Duke stood there in stunned silence, John roared furiously: "Kyogre! If anything happens to my grandson, I swear I''ll kill that Manaphy!" John had a strong premonitionJulian was most likely in Haitian City right now. Kyogre''s eyes flashed with a cold light. A threat to a first-class Legendary? Was this human that impatient to die? By now, had already destroyed a third of Haitian City. In just the blink of an eye, the remaining two-thirds would face the same fate. But then, out of nowhere, a brilliant emerald-green barrier appeared, enveloping the remaining parts of Haitian City like a dome. When collided with the barrier, instead of shattering it, the energy split into two streams, sliding harmlessly along the barrier''s edges. Inside the shield, Haitian City''s residents had closed their eyes, resigned to death. Seconds passed, but they realized something strangethey were still alive. Opening their eyes cautiously, they were greeted by the sight of being deflected by a shimmering barrier. "What is that?" "Look! There''s something in the sky!" Someone suddenly shouted. All at once, more people noticed somethingor someonestanding in the sky. "What kind of Pokmon is that?" Some pulled out their phones, zooming in to get a closer look at the humanoid figure in the air. "There''s someone next to it!" Next to the unfamiliar Pokmon was a persona young man riding on a Dragonite, accompanied by a silver Metagross hovering nearby. --- Metagross glanced at the newly appeared Pokmon and then at Julian. Metagross: '''' (0) Julian, oblivious to Metagross''s inner drama, was too busy savoring the joy of having narrowly escaped death. There had barely been time to summon Mewtwo. Fortunately, in the very last moment, Julian managed to bring it out. As Mewtwo stood before him, Julian immediately used his Probing Eyes to check. Pokmon: Mewtwo (Psychic) Level: 109 Potential: Gold Ability: Pressure Item: None Gender: Genderless Moves: Confusion, Disable, Life Dew, Swift, Ancient Power, Psycho Cut, Safeguard, Amnesia, Aura Sphere, Psychic, Power Swap, Guard Swap, Mist, Psystrike, Recover, Future Sight TMs: None Egg Moves: None --- In this world, trainers with Pokmon between levels 91 and 100 were Champions. Those with Pokmon above level 100 were considered Battle Legends. Only Pokmon with Gold-tier potential could hope to break past level 100, and such levels were the threshold for combating a first-class Legendary Pokmon. Mewtwo was exceptionally powerful, even among first-class Legendaries. Moreover, it could Mega Evolve into two distinct forms, and . As ended, the emerald-green barrier remained firmly in place, shielding the city. "Mewtwo, take me to Kyogre" Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian said, his voice slightly trembling with excitement. After all, this was Mewtwo, a first-class Legendary Pokmon! Not only could he summon it, but he could also command it. It felt like a dream, a moment where he truly stood at the pinnacle of life. Because Mewtwo had been summoned with the ten fragments, Julian could give it orders without paying any additional cost. However, Mewtwo would only exist for five minutes. He had to make those minutes count. To the west, Kyogre halted its . Its gaze was now filled with caution and contemplation. An entity equal to itself had appearedand protected the city. "Humans so this is your confidence?" Kyogre looked at Duke and John, its tone no longer as condescending as before. Although it was certain the opposing party was also a first-class Legendary, but not all first-class Legendaries were equal in strength. After all, there was a reason why that ''oversized Catterpie'' could always interfere in its fights with the ''flightless one''. Because even when teaming up with the ''flightless one'', they still couldn''t beat that ''oversized Catterpie''. Duke was utterly bewildered, though his shock was mixed with relief. But when faced with Kyogre''s question, he didn''t know how to respond. Whatever had acted just now, it was not part of their nation''s hidden resources but an unknown force entirely. ------ Chapter 235: Mewtwo Chapter 236: Oversized Catterpie Chapter 236: Oversized CatterpieAn unknown entity had intervened to protect Haitian City. From this act alone, it was clear that the figure was likely a friend rather than a foe. But the real question remained: who exactly was this entity? To be able to block Kyogre''s , this individual could not be some obscure nobody. Yet, aside from the nation''s hidden powers, even Dukedespite being the president of the Trainers'' Associationcould not guess their identity. But he didn''t have to wonder for long. "Grandson!" Hearing John''s exclamation of joy, Duke snapped out of his thoughts. And then, he saw a young man appear in front of him. His features bore an uncanny resemblance to a younger version of John, the infamous "Butcher John" "Grandson, you''re not hurt, are you?" John hurried to Julian''s side, inspecting him from head to toe. Seeing that, aside from some disheveled clothes, Julian appeared unharmed, he finally let out a sigh of relief. "I''m fine, Grandpa" Julian reassured him with a shake of his head. "Julian, who is that Pokmon beside you?" Unlike John, who was solely focused on Julian, Duke immediately noticed the unfamiliar Pokmon standing next to him. This Pokmon radiated an overwhelming sense of powerstrong, incredibly strong, perhaps even on the same level as Kyogre. Could it be the one that blocked the ? It was only then that John noticed the mysterious Pokmon as well. "We''ll talk about it later" Julian said, shaking his head. Mewtwo''s presence was limited to five minutes, and two of those minutes had already passed. Time was of the essence, leaving no room for idle conversation. Both Kyogre and Mewtwo were first-class Legendary Pokmon. In just three minutes, Mewtwo wouldn''t be able to defeat Kyogre, and if the two engaged in battle, the resulting shockwaves would completely annihilate Haitian City. Julian''s goal wasn''t to defeat Kyogre in three minutes but to buy enough time to resolve the crisis. Pokmon: Kyogre (Water) Level: 105 Potential: Gold Ability: Drizzle Item: None Gender: Genderless Moves: Origin Pulse, Water Pulse, Ancient Power, Body Slam, Scary Face, Calm Mind, Aqua Tail, Muddy Water, Ice Beam, Sheer Cold, Aqua Ring, Hydro Pump, Double-Edge, Water Spout TMs: None Egg Moves: None --- Just as Julian suspected, Kyogre''s level was indeed lower than Mewtwo''s. "Who are you?" Kyogre asked in a solemn voice, as it felt the oppressive presence emanating from Mewtwo. This kind of pressure... it had only ever experienced it before from that Oversized Catterpie. "It''s Mewtwo," Julian said. Duke silently committed the name to memory but found no information about Mewtwo in his mind. What was certain, however, was that any Pokmon capable of stopping Kyogre must also be a first-class Legendary. A new first-class Legendary had appeared And it seemed to have a significant connection to Julian, the grandson of John. "You think I gave you permission to speak?" Kyogre glared at Julian, it didn''t have any goodwill for humans. The oppressive aura of the Legendary Pokmon surged toward Julian. John moved instinctively to shield his grandson, but Duke stopped him. "Don''t be impulsive, look" He pointed toward Mewtwo. Mewtwo had already stepped in front of Julian, blocking Kyogre''s pressure with ease. Julian''s expression turned cold, "Mewtwo, Psychic." If he wanted Kyogre to backdown, it wouldn''t be enough for Mewtwo to simply stand there. It had to understand Mewtwo''s power before it would listen. Mewtwo extended its hand toward Kyogre, unleashing an immense wave of psychic energy. The power was so overwhelming that even Duke, himself a psychic, felt a deep, primal fear. He had never encountered such an unfathomable psychic force. It was limitless, like an abyss. What terrified him even more was that Julian could command such a being. What was their relationship? Under the effects of Psychic, Kyogre found its body immobilized, slowly levitating into the air. No matter how much it struggled, it couldn''t break free from the invisible bonds holding it. The sensation brought back haunting memories of being mercilessly overpowered by that oversized Catterpie. "Put it down, Mewtwo," Julian said. He had shown enough of Mewtwo''s strength. Julian knew when to stoppushing Kyogre any further could escalate into a battle, and the consequences would be catastrophic. There were only two minutes left before Mewtwo disappeared. As Kyogre was gently lowered back into the sea, it remained still, its defiant demeanor replaced with an unusual calm. The fear inspired by Mewtwo seemed to have struck a chord, reminding Kyogre of the terror of facing the oversized Catterpie. It now sat obediently, looking almost cute. Kyogre: () Julian: Is this mf trying to act cute? Shaking his head, Julian dismissed the absurd thought. "Kyogre, I know you''re here for Manaphy. I have a general idea of its location, but I''ll need time to find it." Kyogre didn''t lash out this time. It had realized somethingthis human had a unique connection with a first-class Legendary Pokmon rivaling that oversized Catterpie. The idea of a first-class Legendary listening to a human''s command was baffling. Kyogre: You''ve made us Legendary Pokmon lose all face. The next second, Kyogre spoke seriously. "I''ll give you two hours." Julian: He had only planned to ask for half an hour. Julian hadn''t expected Kyogre to offer two whole hours. It seemed Mewtwo flexing its strength had worked wonders. "Alright, I''ll find Manaphy within two hours," Julian said, nodding. "I''ll be off now." At this point, Mewtwo had only 50 seconds left before it vanished. Julian glanced at Mewtwo, who immediately understood. Without hesitation, Mewtwo teleported them away. "Mewtwo, use your psychic powers to scan in that direction," Julian said, pointing toward the area where the red dot had disappeared earlier. The red dot had briefly appeared on the Dowsing Machine, taking up nearly a third of its display, before vanishing. That had to be Manaphy. If not No, it must be Manaphy. Now Dowsing Machine couldn''t locate the red dot at all, likely because something was blocking the signal. Sear?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, Julian could only put his hopes on Mewtwo, a Psychic-type first-class Legendary. With its Psychic abilities, it might be possible to find the hidden Manaphy. Mewtwo nodded. Its psychic powers spread out like a radar, scanning in the indicated direction. It didn''t take long. In less than a second, Mewtwo had an answer for Julian. "There''s a room 500 meters underground in that direction, something in there absorbed my psychic energy." Julian followed Mewtwo''s gaze to a large estate that he had passed by earlier. At that time, he''d wondered who in Haitian City had enough money to buy so much land just to build a house. Now, it seemed there was far more to this estate than met the eye. Chapter 237: Countries Reaction Chapter 237: Countries ReactionOn the west coast, after watching Julian and Mewtwo leave, and knowing they had secured two hours, Duke finally felt the crisis in Haitian City might be averted. He exhaled a sigh of relief and turned to John. "What exactly is the relationship between your grandson and that Mewtwo?" "Oh, Mewtwo has a deep connection with my family''s ancestors, when my dear grandson was born, there were visions in the sky! Mewtwo must have seen it and realized he''d grow into someone extraordinary" "John, quit the nonsense!" Duke scowled, cutting him off. He knew the history of the Walker family like the back of his hand. Trying to spin some ridiculous story about divine omens was an insult to his intelligence. "You do understand that Mewtwo is a first-class Legendary" He cast a glance at Kyogre nearby, and wanted to express that not just any Legendary. It was even stronger than Kyogre. Kyogre: You sure are polite. "How does Julian know Mewtwo? And why is Mewtwo willing to follow his commands? Do you realize what that implies?" Duke said as his expressions became extremely excited. First-classs Legendaries were beings of immense power, often looking down on humansor outright despising them because humans had attempted to control them in the past. Humanity''s boundless ambition had alienated most First-classs Legendaries, especially the strongest ones. It was rare for a first-class Legendary to even consider aiding humans, let alone to openly side with one in defiance of another. Yet here was Mewtwo, standing firmly by Julian''s side. And Julian was a citizen of Drakoria. In Duke''s mind, this was equivalent to Mewtwo aligning itself with Drakoria. Duke: ''The math checks out'' Some countries had the fortune of being protected by Legendary Pokmon, but even then, it was usually Second-Tier Legendaries. Having a First-class Legendary like Mewtwo standing guard? That had never happened before. The only remotely comparable event was when Celestria enlisted Dialga''s help, causing a global sensation. Many nations assumed Dialga had become the protector of Celestria. But in reality, it had been a one-time deala transaction that came at a steep cost. In Drakoria, deploying a First-class Legendary would mean calling upon the nation''s "reserve," which essentially boiled down to negotiating for the help of a first-class Legendary. Even then, it would be a single-use opportunity, requiring a hefty price. Mewtwo, however, was different. It wasn''t acting out of obligation or compensationit was intervening purely for Julian. If it wasn''t for the notion that First-class Legendaries would never become a human''s Pokmon, he might have believed Mewtwo was Julian''s Pokmon. After all, Julian was able to issue commands to Mewtwo without any apparent costa notion that defied logic. What made First-class Legendaries so unique wasn''t just their overwhelming power, but the price they exacted for their cooperation. Even a recognized Trainer commanding a First-class Legendary had to pay a steep priceoften their lifespan. Some scholars believed that unless one truly captured a First-class Legendary, commanding one would always come at the cost of one''s life force. "Duke, don''t bother asking anymore, even if I knew, I wouldn''t tell you." Of course, John understood the implications of Mewtwo genuinely standing behind Drakoria. However, he truly didn''t know the exact nature of the relationship between his grandson and Mewtwo. And even if he did know, he wouldn''t divulge such information. Having his dear grandson closely connected to a First-class Legendary like Mewtwo meant no influential family in Drakoria would dare lay a finger on Julian. Even the national authorities would have to tread carefully around him. Not to mention, this connection would bring immense opportunities to the Walker family. "This is my grandson''s fortuitous encounter. And fortune is not something you can explain," John said with a shrug. "How did you become Champion? Can you explain that to me?" John cast a sidelong glance at Duke. The man was over a decade older than him, from a less prestigious family, with middling talent to boot. Becoming an Elite should have already a stretch given his circumstances. Yet Duke had become a Champion, while John himself had only recently claimed the title. "It''s all about opportunities Duke, I don''t really have much to say" Duke fell silent. John wasn''t wronghis own journey to the top couldn''t be chalked up to talent or effort alone. Every Champion or Elite had, at some point, encountered a pivotal moment of fortune that changed the course of their life. Duke was no exception. If not for a life-changing opportunity he''d stumbled upon in a secret realm, he wouldn''t have become a Champion, let alone Drakoria''s strongest one. Fortune, as John had said, was beyond reason or logic. "I recall your grandson is eighteen this year?" Duke asked suddenly, changing the subject. John nodded instinctively. "In two months, he''ll be nineteen." "I have a granddaughter at Imperial University. She''s the same age." John immediately understood Duke''s intentions. The man was clearly angling for a match between their families. And why not? Mewtwo''s involvement had completely altered Julian''s trajectory. Someone who could command a First-class Legendary represented an unparalleled future. If Julian had been from an ordinary family, perhaps some methods could be used to force him into submission. But standing behind Julian was John, who had just become Drakoria''s sixth Champion. Who would dare challenge him? It was no secret within their circles that John had an almost comical fondness for his grandson. Whether in casual conversation or serious discussion, John''s favorite topic was his grandson. And now, reality had exceeded even John''s wildest boasts. Not only did Julian have the makings of a Champion, but he also had ties to a First-class Legendary. And this wasn''t something that could be kept under wraps. After all, the skies were filled with satellites, and not just Drakoria''s. With Kyogre attacking Haitian City, it was inevitable that satellites from other nations would be trained on the area. Such a major event was bound to attract global attention, with foreign countries eager to witness the spectacle. Kyogre''s assault on Haitian City had already made waves, but Mewtwo''s sudden appearance would be the real headline. Other nations would soon be scrambling to understand what exactly was happening. Countries closely monitored the crisis in Haitian City, trying to gauge how Drakoria was dealing with the assault by Kyogre. Some were calculating the potential casualtieshow many lives Drakoria would have to sacrifice to repel the sea godand deliberating whether to assist or to follow Celestria in seizing the opportunity to add pressure. But Mewtwo''s sudden appearance, fighting alongside Julian, had turned the tide in more ways than one. Now, Julian''s profileincluding every detail of his life, from childhood to the presentwas laid out on the desks of various country leaders. Emergency meetings were called in around the globe. With the biggest reaction unsurprisingly coming from Celestria, Drakoria''s long-standing rival. Celestria acted swiftly, recalling their Champion-level trainers who had been patrolling near Drakoria''s borders. This unexpected move left their two allies Babath and Wyvernia, scratching their heads. Was Celestria secretly cutting a deal with Drakoria? It made no sense otherwisewhy would Celestria forgo such a golden opportunity to put pressure on their rival? The mere thought of this sent the two countries into a flurry of speculation. Did Drakoria offer some massive concessions to Celestria? Excited at the prospect, both nations eagerly followed Celestria''s lead, even going so far as to ask what benefits Drakoria might have provided. Could they get a slice of the pie, too? Their logic was simple: if they grew stronger through this, it would only empower Celestria further. sea??h th n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With that strength, they could help Celestria fight whoever the nation asked them to. However, when their Champions briefed them on what had occurred in Haitian City, both nations'' leaderships fell silent. For the first time, they realized the scope of the situation went far beyond politics or mere national rivalry. The leaders of both countries mulled over a bold, albeit desperate, idea. Would Drakoria even agree? And if they did, how much would it cost? Chapter 238: Manaphy Rescued Chapter 238: Manaphy RescuedKnowing exactly what Duke was thinking, John smirked slightly. Taking advantage of his height, he tilted his head down to look at Duke, his tone laced with disdain. "Just that little granddaughter of yours, do you really think she''s worthy of my grandson?" John''s smug demeanor perfectly embodied the phrase ''a petty man intoxicated by success.'' Duke gritted his teeth as he glared at him and retorted, enunciating each word, "Why wouldn''t my granddaughter be worthy of Julian? She''s the top student in her freshman year at the Research Academy." If Kyogre hadn''t been nearby, Duke would''ve already thrown a punch at John. What was there to be so smug about? Just because you have a talented grandson? Once my granddaughter wins over your grandson, what will you have left to flaunt? "She''s not even a trainer. How could she possibly share a common language with my grandson? And having common ground is very important," John replied nonchalantly. "Cut the crap," Duke snapped, "Just answer me: yes or no. If it''s a no, then forget it." He could see John was deliberately trying to rile him up. If he continued the conversation, the jerk would just find more ways to annoy him. "Alright, fine, since it''s your granddaughter, I''ll let her interact with my grandson." "Oh, and make sure she takes the initiative. There are too many people chasing after my grandson. If she doesn''t step up, she won''t stand a chance," John added as a final jab. His grandson was excellent in every waytalented and filial. Just recently, Julian had sent him some Water Moon Grass, which helped his Metagross upgrade its potential from blue to purple. Julian had played a significant role in that. Such an outstanding grandson, but his personality was a bit too straightforward. He didn''t know how to woo girls, and that was a problem. "Low emotional intelligence is low emotional intelligence. Stop making excuses" Duke shot back with a scornful glare, ''Everyone knows your grandson''s lack of EQ, its no secret among the aristocratic families.'' "Hmph, what do you know?, My grandson is still young. Relationships would only delay his path to becoming a Champion," John said dismissively. While the two were bickering, Julian had already instructed Mewtwo to act. Using Teleport, they entered a hidden chamber 500 meters underground. At this moment, 15 seconds remained until Mewtwo''s disappearance. Inside the secret chamber, Julian spotted a man wearing a Charizard mask. Most importantly, the man was holding a transparent box containing none other than the Mythical Pokmon, Manaphy. "Weezing, Self-Destruct!" sea??h th n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The masked man glared at Julian with a twisted expression. He never imagined that his plan would fail because of a mere student. Although Kyogre''s had destroyed a third of Haitian City and caused significant casualties, most of them were concentrated in the center of Haitian City. The number of souls lost was still far from enough for his Chandelure to reach Champion-level. With Mewtwo present, the pair of Weezing never even had a chance to use . In an instant, they were knocked unconscious by Mewtwo''s psychic power. "Knock him out," Julian instructed. The masked man was the primary culprit behind the Haitian City disaster. Whether he had accomplices or not would require interrogation to uncover. Under Mewtwo''s , the masked man didn''t even have the strength to resist. His head tilted, and he collapsed to the ground. Moments later, Mewtwo vanished as well. Mewtwo summoned using ten fragments only existed for five minutes. Now that the time was up, it naturally disappearedbut not before subduing the masked man. Julian glanced at his remaining Mewtwo fragments: 15 pieces left. This meant he could summon Mewtwo one more time, and future missions would also reward additional fragments. Summoning Mewtwo for five minutes with ten fragments had now become Julian''s ultimate trump card. Just think; aside from other first-class Legendaries, what could possibly rival Mewtwo? As Mewtwo disappeared, Julian approached the unconscious masked man and reached out to remove his mask. However, just as his fingers were about to touch it, a Chandelure phased through the wall and entered the chamber. Its blue flames, flickering from its head and hands, glowed with an eerie brilliance. Chandelure had just consumed the souls of tens of thousands of people. While this wasn''t enough to elevate it to Champion level, its strength had nonetheless increased significantly. Through the Probing Eyes, Julian could clearly see its level. It was at the peak of pseudo-Champion tier. With Mewtwo gone, the strongest Pokmon by Julian''s side was Alakazam, who was only at the peak of Elite tier. He had miscalculated. He should''ve brought his grandfather along. As Julian gritted his teeth and prepared to consume another ten fragments to summon Mewtwo again, the Chandelure made an unexpected moveit didn''t attack him. Instead, it grabbed the masked man and vanished on the spot. "Entered the Spirit Realm, huh?" Julian muttered to himself. Chandelure couldn''t use , so the only plausible explanation was that it had taken the masked man into the Spirit Realm. With the masked man gone, only two corpses remained in the hidden chamber. Julian turned toward the isolation box. Inside, Manaphy was looking at him curiously. It wasn''t afraid of Julian; after all, he had driven away the one who harmed it. To Manaphy, Julian was a good person. "Don''t be afraid. I''m here to save you," Julian said softly. He opened the box, emitting a gentle wave of Aura, and placed his hand gently on Manaphy''s head. Having been born just a few hours ago, Manaphy had been in a constant state of fear and panic. Now that it felt safe and was soothed by Julian''s calming aura, its tiny body relaxed, and it fell into a deep sleep. Julian didn''t rush to bring Manaphy to Kyogre right away. After all, Kyogre had given him two hours, and only a few minutes had passed so far. He decided to let Manaphy rest for a while. Of course, he wouldn''t admit that he wanted to bond with Manaphy after it woke up. Building a good relationship now might make it willing to help him in the future if needed. He had no intention of capturing Manaphy and Kyogre wouldn''t allow it anyway. Manaphy was destined to fulfill its duties at the Sea Temple. Making it his Pokmon would be inappropriate and disrespectful. Meanwhile, Kyogre on the West Coast had already sensed Manaphy''s presence the moment Julian opened the isolation box. Realizing that Julian had successfully rescued Manaphy, Kyogre''s regard for him increased a little. Holding the sleeping Manaphy, Julian couldn''t help but find the little creature''s sleeping expression incredibly adorable. Manaphy was a Water-type mythical Pokmon, and its appearance bore a striking resemblance to another Water-type PokmonPhione. However, Phione couldn''t evolve into Manaphy. The reason for their similarity was that Phione was born when Manaphy bred with a Ditto. In this world, however, Phione didn''t existat least not yet. After all, Manaphy had only just appeared. Julian took nearly a hundred photos of the sleeping Manaphy from every possible angle. These photos were invaluable research material. Chapter 239: Manaphy’s Blessing Chapter 239: Manaphys BlessingOf course, photos alone wouldn''t be enough. Julian also measured Manaphy''s weight and height, then took a small cotton swab to gently collect a sample from inside Manaphy''s mouth. The little one was sleeping so soundly that even after all of Julian''s actions, it showed no sign of waking up. Instead, it shifted into an even more comfortable sleeping position. After finishing all this, Julian turned his attention to the secret room. A quick glance revealed that the space was about 300 square meters, filled with shelves. But instead of books, the shelves were lined with boxes of various sizes. The boxes themselves were exquisitely crafted, exuding an air of high value. Curious, Julian picked up one of the boxes and opened it, finding a Hollow stone about the size of a fist. Opening another box, he discovered a top-grade Moon Stone inside. Looking at the shelves lined with over a hundred such boxes, Julian''s eyes lit up with excitement. He had struck gold. It didn''t matter who these boxes originally belonged tothere was no one else alive in this secret room except him. So, these items now belonged to him. With the help of his system storage, Julian packed all the boxes inside. He didn''t bother opening the rest, deciding to enjoy the thrill of unboxing them later when he returned to his villa after this incident was over. Julian left no stone unturned, sweeping the secret room clean. To ensure he didn''t miss anything valuable, he even took out the Dowsing Machine. The Dowsing Machine showed some red dots, but they weren''t significant. Those were likely items in the massive mansion above ground. All the truly precious treasures had been hidden in this underground secret room. An hour later, Julian decided it was time and instructed Metagross, "Take us to the West Coast." Using , Metagross brought Julian and the still-sleeping Manaphy out of the secret room. Back on the West Coast, Duke had been growing increasingly anxious. It had been an hour since Julian and Mewtwo left, and they still hadn''t returned. Could it be that even a first-class legendary like Mewtwo couldn''t locate Manaphy? The sense of relief he had felt earlier quickly gave way to renewed tension. Especially when he glanced at John, who stood idly by without a care in the world, it only made his frustration boil over. "Call your grandson and ask if he''s found it yet. If not, I''ll send more people to search!" "If my grandson can''t find it, do you really think your useless subordinates can?" Before Duke could explode with anger, John quickly added, "Relax. Haven''t you noticed that Kyogre has already calmed down? That means my good grandson has definitely found Manaphy." Duke, who had been too focused on Julian, Mewtwo, and Manaphy, hadn''t paid much attention to Kyogre. Hearing John''s words, he looked up and saw that Kyogre''s mood had indeed stabilized. Julian and Metagross appeared in front of the two men, with Julian holding a small, sleeping Pokmon in his arms. "Is that Manaphy?" Duke asked. Julian nodded and walked forward, carrying Manaphy to Kyogre. Kyogre''s expression remained calm, but the countless Water-type Pokmon around it were visibly excited. After all the chaos, they had finally found Manaphy. Kyogre''s gaze settled on Julian. It didn''t sense Mewtwo''s presence nearby, nor its aura. Sar?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Wake up, your ride is here," Julian said, patting Manaphy gently. Manaphy let out a faint, displeased whine, puffing its cheeks. But after a few more soft pats, it finally opened its eyes. After waking up, Manaphy appeared a little groggy, but its gaze soon landed on Kyogre and the swarm of Water-type Pokmon surrounding it. Despite being born only recently, Manaphy instinctively understood the significance of its presence to the ocean and its Pokmon. So it showed no signs of fear. Kyogre lowered its head slightly, and Julian took the cue, placing Manaphy on top of it. "You''d better take Manaphy back to the Sea Temple quickly," Julian said. "Thank you, human," Kyogre replied with a nod. "No need to thank me. Just promise to lend a hand if there''s ever a major disaster in the seas near Drakoria." Julian was mildly surprised that Kyogre expressed gratitude. After all, it was humans who had imprisoned Manaphy in the first place. The blame lay with them, not Kyogre. Kyogre nodded once more and was about to leave with Manaphy when the little Pokmon suddenly called out. "Mana!~" Manaphy leapt off Kyogre''s head and landed in front of Julian. A surge of excitement welled up in Julian''s chest. "Mana~" Manaphy said again. "You''re asking if I have any Water-type Pokmon?" Julian asked, puzzled. Manaphy nodded. It seemed things weren''t going the way Julian had imagined. Though a bit disappointed, he quickly released his only Water-type Pokmon: Slowking. "Slow!~" Slowking stood with its hands behind its back. When it saw Manaphy, its eyes lit up slightly. With a calm motion, it removed the crown from its head, pulled out a bag of walnuts hidden inside, and handed it to Manaphy. Manaphy happily accepted the offering. Julian couldn''t help but facepalm. "Mana!~" Manaphy called out to Slowking, and a faint blue light began to radiate from its small body. The light coalesced into a walnut-shaped sphere, which then floated over and merged directly into Slowking''s body. Julian immediately used his Probing Eyes to check on Slowking. It wasn''t out of fear that Manaphy might harm Slowking, but rather curiosity about what kind of changes would occur. Pokmon: Slowking (Water/Psychic) Level: 55 Potential: Blue Ability: Oblivious Held Item: Twisted Spoon Gender: Female Moves: Tackle, Curse, Water Gun, Confusion, Yawn, Disable, Water Pulse, Power Gem, Swagger, Headbutt, Slack Off, Psychic, Psych Up, Rain Dance, Heal Pulse, Nasty Plot, Surf TMs: Mega Punch, Low Sweep, Pay Day, Hyper Beam, Thunder Wave, Light Screen, Protect, Icy Wind, Dive Egg Moves: Scald, Trick, Calm Mind, Psyshock Note: Blessed by Manaphy, the Child of the Sea. Water-type moves gain a 20% power increase. --- Julian froze for a moment, stunned. The changes in Slowking were immense. Its level had jumped from 45 to 55, but more importantly, its potential had risen from Cyan to Blue. On top of that, its Water-type moves now had an extra 20% power boost. Clearly, all of this was thanks to Manaphy. However, after performing this act, Manaphy looked visibly drained. Its body wobbled as it nearly collapsed, but Slowking quickly steadied it with its arms. Seeing such generosity from Manaphy, Julian wasn''t about to be stingy. He promptly purchased a Full Restore medicine from the system shop. "Here, eat this. It''ll help" Manaphy, trusting the one who had rescued it, didn''t hesitate. It swallowed the medicine in one gulp. Chapter 240: Back to Lake City Chapter 240: Back to Lake CityDue to the major incident in Haitian City, nearly one-tenth of the city was destroyed, and the death toll reached tens of thousands. Even a first-class Legendary had appeared. The next morning, when the citizens of Drakoria woke up, nearly nine out of ten notifications on various apps were about the Haitian City incident. Only then did they realize the magnitude of what had happened the previous night. "What on earth happened while I was asleep last night?" "A moment of silence for the people who lost their lives in Haitian City." "Even a first-class Legendary, Kyogre, showed up. What could have caused this?" "I heard there was a mysterious Pokmon that blocked Kyogre''s attacks. If not for it, Haitian City would be gone by now." "That''s right, I was in Haitian City at the time, and I saw it with my own eyes!" Many residents of Haitian City had indeed witnessed Mewtwo blocking Kyogre''s . However, under the deliberate efforts of the authorities, discussions and images of Mewtwo quickly disappeared from the internet. What Drakoria''s government sought to conceal wasn''t Mewtwo itself, but rather the connection between Mewtwo and Julian. While high-ranking officials from various nations had already witnessed the entire incident in Haitian City through satellite broadcasts, including the emergence of a new first-class Legendary Pokmon and the scenes of Julian commanding it. Such information had to be kept from the general public. Drakoria''s Ministry of Foreign Affairs was now busier than ever. Numerous countries that were previously neutral or even unfriendly toward Drakoria had expressed a desire to visit for diplomatic talks. Even Celestria was eager to engage in high-level technology exchanges. The reason behind all this was, of course, Julian and Mewtwo. If Julian truly had the ability to command Mewtwo, it would mean that Drakoria effectively possessed a first-class Legendary Pokmon. A first-class Legendary Pokmon willing to follow human commandswhat nation could tolerate that? The immense power of first-class Legendaries was common knowledge. Just look at how even Drakoria''s strongest Champion, Duke, couldn''t withstand a single attack from Kyogre. And Mewtwo was even stronger than Kyogre. Kyogre might be limited by terrain and unable to fully unleash its power on land. But Mewtwo, being a Psychic-type, could appear anywhere at any time, including the capitals and important cities of other nations. It was practically a precision strike weapon. The worst part? Even if you knew it was coming, you couldn''t stop it. After this incident, Mewtwo vanished, leaving other nations uncertain whether Julian still had the ability to command it. What if it was just a one-time occurrence? Should they test it Test your mother! They couldn''t gamble on something like this! Betting a nation''s fate on a chance encounter? No leader with a shred of sanity would dare make such a reckless move. --- Yale Province, Lake City Julian was finally back home, as the university had given all team members a two-week break. "Ah, ow, ow! Mom, let go, let go!" At home, Julian was grimacing and pleading for mercy. His mother, Tina, looked both angry and worried, showing no sign of letting him off. "So, you''ve grown up and started playing tough? You''ve even learned to lie to your parents! Do you have any idea how worried I was? If something happened to you, I don''t care what your father would doI wouldn''t want to live anymore!" Sitting on the sofa eating watermelon, Jake, who was enjoying this warm family moment with a look of amusementuntil Tina''s words dragged him into it. "Have another kid, then!" Jake blurted without thinking. As soon as he said it, he felt something was wrong. Looking up, he noticed Julian giving him a look of admiration, while Tina he didn''t dare look at her. "Mom, Dad definitely has another woman outside, maybe even kids! He''s a scumbag! He''s just waiting for something to happen to me and you, so he can bring them into the house!" (T/N: Wow, just wow) For his own sake, Julian didn''t hesitate to throw father-son loyalty out the window. A dad who just watched him get punished wasn''t worth keeping around! Sear?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Julian, stop making things up!" Jake was stunned. Was his own son trying to kill him with this nonsense? "Darling, listen to me! Iow, ow, wait, stop!" Let''s not describe the ensuing domestic violenceit might give some readers a fear of marriage. "Honey" Love, their Indeedee housekeeper, kindly took out some ice from the freezer. Jake was certainly going to need it later. "Love, could you grab me a c.. cup of tea, please?" When Julian met Love''s gaze, his original request for a coke quickly turned into tea. One can per daythat was the limit. And today''s quota was already used up. Between Slowking keeping him in check outside and Love taking charge at home, Julian felt fully controlled. Julian: (x;) Ten minutes later, Jake sat with a towel-wrapped ice pack on his slightly swollen cheek, glaring at Julian with irritation. A son like thisshould he just get rid of him and start over? "Did you remember everything your grandfather told you?" "Yes, I do. I met Mewtwo in the Secret Realm, helped it out, and in return, it helped me." The relationship between Julian and Mewtwo wasn''t just of interest to other nations; Drakoria''s higher-ups were even more concerned. While the Walker family would never betray their country, but it was entirely reasonable for them to leverage their position for appropriate benefits, as long as it didn''t compromise national security. That''s why Julian couldn''t claim to have a strong bond with Mewtwo, nor could he say they had no connection at all. It had to be ambiguous. He helped Mewtwo, and Mewtwo helped him. So, if Julian found himself in trouble again, would Mewtwo help him a second time? It was the kind of uncertainty that kept everyone guessing. ''And how exactly does a Trainer who isn''t even an Elite manage to help a Legendary Pokmon?'' This sort of explanation sounded suspicious, but the more one thought about it, the less unbelievable it seemed. It was this ambiguity that made it so hard to decipher. "It''s just one sentence. Do you really think I can''t remember it?" Julian rolled his eyes. "Besides, Grandpa is already a Champion now. The higher-ups aren''t likely to bother me too much." With John becoming Drakoria''s sixth Champion, the Walker family''s influence in the nation had naturally risen. Out of respect for John, the government wouldn''t pressure Julian unnecessarily. Moreover, Julian himself was an exceptionally gifted Trainer, with the potential to become a Champion one day. And now that he was also linked to a first-class Legendary Pokmon, the nation''s leaders wouldn''t risk making foolish decisions based on unwarranted fears. "Dad, you''re joining the Elite Challenge this year, right?" "Of course. Now that your grandfather is a Champion, the Steel-type Elite position naturally belongs to me" Jake replied confidently, his smile brimming with certainty. With John becoming a Champion, it was only fitting for him to step down as the Steel-type Elite. This year happened to coincide with the Elite Challenge that happens every three years. The challenge was open to all registered Elite Trainers in Drakoria. The top three participants earned the right to challenge any of the 18 current Top Elites. If victorious, they could take the challenged member''s place. However, with John vacating the Steel-type Elite position, there was now an open seat. Therefore to claim the title of Steel-type Elite, Jake not only had to win first place in the Elite challenge but also participate in an exhibition match with his predecessor John himself. Only then could he officially take the position. Chapter 241: Battle Club Chapter 241: Battle ClubAt the largest outdoor battlefield of the private battle club in Lake City, a towering Aggron, with a height of six meters, stood proudly. Its metallic armor gleamed with a chilling light. In front of the Aggron lay an Electivire, defeated. Its Trainer quickly recalled it back into its Pok Ball in panic. "That''s already the tenth one," someone murmured. "Yeah, it''s unbelievably strong," another replied. "If I had a Pokmon like that, I''d be unstoppable," someone else chimed in. The onlookers whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with astonishment and envy as they gazed at the enormous Aggron. This massive Aggron, far larger than normal, was undoubtedly Julian''s. After being granted a two-week break by his university, Julian didn''t stay home for long. On the third day of his vacation, he headed to the battle club. A place he had frequented during his school days. In the past, his Metagross, Dragonite, and Lucario had all participated in countless battles here. However, their current strength far surpassed that of most Pokmon in this club. Only Elite-level Pokmon could now serve as worthy opponents. Julian''s goal for coming here was to train his future main team membersAggron, Growlithe, and Gastly. With Aggron defeating its tenth opponent, its level rose from 42 to 43. "Good work. Come back" Julian said, recalling Aggron into its Pok Ball. The progress he sought had been achieved. "Gastly" He called out next, releasing his Level 25 Gastly onto the battlefield. As the shiny white Gastly appeared, the crowd couldn''t help but gasp in surprise once again. First, there was the Totem Aggron, and now a shiny Gastly? It felt like Julian had monopolized all the rare things. Though the spectators were deeply envious, no one dared harbor malicious intent. Why?- Because with John recently becoming Drakoria''s sixth Champion, the Walker family''s influence had grown even stronger. In Yale Province, the Walker family had an unshakable authority. "Any Trainers with Pokmon between Level 40 and 50 can step up," Julian announced. Level 40 represented the peak of Ordinary-tier, while Level 50 indicated a mid-tier Advanced Pokmon. Although Gastly was only Level 25, its high potential and the significant resources Julian had invested in it made its battle strength far beyond what its level suggested. Shortly after his challenge, a Trainer stepped forward, sending out a Level 45 Poliwrath. "Poliwrath, Bubble Beam!" Dense bubbles, each the size of a fist, shot out from the spiral pattern on Poliwrath''s chest, heading straight for Gastly. Gastly darted around the battlefield with remarkable speed, narrowly avoiding the Bubble Beam. Each time, it seemed like the attack would hit, but it always missed by just a hair. "Poliwrath, Water Gun!" Noticing Gastly''s exceptional agility, the opposing Trainer quickly switched tactics. Compared to , was undeniably faster. "Shadow Ball," Julian commanded calmly. While Gastly''s speed was impressive, the chance of dodging was far less likely. Julian''s goal wasn''t to let Gastly take hits aimlesslytraining meant ensuring it gained something from the battle, even if it got hurt. collided with the mid-air. For a moment, the two attacks held in a stalemate before exploding, scattering droplets of water across the battlefield. The resulting explosion created a light mist that hung over the arena. Amid the mist, Gastly''s form began to fade, disappearing from sight. The most troublesome aspect of Ghost-type Pokmon was their ability to vanish. Without the right moves to locate an invisible Ghost-type, Trainers often found themselves in a highly disadvantageous position. Poliwrath immediately became alert, scanning its surroundings for any sign of Gastly''s sudden reappearance. "Poliwrath, use Rain Dance!" "Hypnosis" As Poliwrath began preparing to summon rain, its movements suddenly froze. Gastly had appeared right in front of it, its glowing eyes radiating an eerie, sleep-inducing light. Poliwrath: zZZZ- It couldn''t resist Gastly''s Hypnosis and had fallen into a deep sleep. Julian glanced at the opposing Trainer, who reluctantly recalled Poliwrath. There was no point in continuing; a sleeping Poliwrath''s fate was already sealed. Julian went on to use Gastly in nine more battles, winning every single one. Sarch* The ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, unlike Aggron, who won each of its matches effortlessly, Gastly struggled in its last three battles. Though it still emerged victorious, the wins were much harder fought. The main issue lay in Gastly''s stamina, which was its greatest weakness at this stage. Fortunately, since joining Julian, its six base stats had been significantly improved through system-enhanced medicines. Otherwise, with its original stamina, it would have collapsed by the fifth battle. After ten battles, Gastly''s level rose from 25 to 28, and it was almost time for it to evolve it into Haunter. "Growlithe" Julian called, sending out his third Pokmon. Due to the Fire Crystal embedded within its body, Growlithe''s fur, originally yellow, had turned entirely red, giving it the appearance of a shiny Pokmon. The Fire Crystal within it had almost been fully absorbed. In a short while, Julian planned to help Growlithe achieve the evolution it had been eagerly awaiting. Naturally, seeing a Growlithe with an unusual coloration, the spectators assumed it was a shiny Pokmon. After the earlier display of a Totem Aggron and a white Gastly, the appearance of a red Growlithe didn''t come as much of a shock to the crowd. They quickly accepted it. "Grow!~" Growlithe''s energy was always boundless, so much so that it had nearly demolished Julian''s house in its enthusiasm. "Advanced peak or early stage pseudo-Elite," Julian announced. Soon, a Trainer stepped forward, and Julian found the person oddly familiar. "Julian, it''s been a while," the Trainer said with a friendly smile. The comment made it clear that they knew each other, but Julian felt a little awkward. While the person recognized him, he couldn''t remember who they were, though they did look familiar. "I''m a teacher at Lake City No. 1 Middle School" The Trainer added, noticing Julian''s confusion. "Teacher Ben, don''t worry, I remember you" With that little reminder, Julian finally recalled who it was. Without hesitation or shame, he confidently claimed to remember him. Back in his time at Lake City No. 1 Middle School, Julian had been in the elite class, while Ben had taught the regular classes. However, Ben had occasionally covered lessons in the elite class, which explained why his face seemed familiar. "Then go easy on me, will you?" Ben joked with a chuckle. He couldn''t help but notice how the spectators'' gazes shifted after Julian acknowledged knowing him. Given the current prestige of the Walker family, a single word from its heir, could drastically alter the fate of an ordinary person. "Blastoise!" Ben sent out his early stage pseudo-Elite Blastoise. "Grow!~" Growlithe barked with excitement, it was full of fighting spirit. Whether it faced a Water-type or a pseudo-Elite opponent, it didn''t matter. Growlithe was determined to bring them down. Chapter 242: Be a Fisherman Chapter 242: Be a Fisherman"Ding!" "Daily Task: Catch 1,000 pounds of fish." "Reward: Super Fishing Rod, 500 points." After finishing breakfast, which was prepared by Love and Slowking, it was exactly 8 AM. As expected, the daily task notification arrived. "So, they want me to play fisherman today, huh?" Julian muttered to himself. He wasn''t particularly excited about fishing; it was only the 500 points that mattered to him. As for the super fishing rod, unless it could reel in Kyogre, it wouldn''t be of much use to him. Julian was home alone at the moment. Jake, had left to spar with some Elite-level friends in preparation for the upcoming Elite Challenge. Meanwhile, Tina, had gone to the Breeder''s Association in Lake City. Being a Senior Breeder herself and the Vice President of the Association, she didn''t go to work often, but today was one of those rare days. After breakfast, Love and Slowking began tidying up the house, while Julian headed to the storage room where his father kept his fishing gear. Jake was a veteran fishing enthusiast. Fishing was his biggest hobby, and he had amassed so much gear that he''d dedicated an entire small room to store it. Yet, despite owning an impressive collection of fishing equipment, Jake''s fishing trips almost always resulted in Magikarp. It was a classic case of "all the gear, no idea." Julian grabbed a random fishing rod and a pack of bait from the room. He didn''t even bother with a net. His whole setup screamed "complete rookie." In the backyard, Julian called out Metagross and Dragonite to accompany him. The rest of his Pokmon stayed behind to relax. There was a reservoir just a few minutes away from Julian''s housewell, a few minutes if you had a Dragonite to fly on. Within three to four minutes, they reached the massive reservoir. The reservoir was enormous, supplying both domestic and industrial water for all of Lake City. Naturally, it was teeming with Water-type Pokmon, and from time to time, Magikarp could be seen leaping out of the water. The best fishing spots along the shore were already occupied by avid fishermen, each patiently waiting for their next catch. Julian returned Dragonite to its Pok Ball and strolled casually to a random open spot. He tied the line, attached the hook, baited it, and cast it into the water without even adjusting the float. It was as unprofessional as fishing could get. Five minutes passed. No movement on the float. Ten minutes passed. Still no movement. Fifteen minutes later, the float finally bobbed. Julian''s eyes lit up as he yanked the fishing rod with all his strength. "Wait... where''s my bait?!" The bait was gone, but there was no fish on the hook. A moment later, a Magikarp surfaced, blowing bubbles at Julian. Its vacant stare somehow carried a hint of mockery. Magikarp: ''With skills like that, you can''t even catch me.'' Julian sighed. Weren''t beginner fishermen supposed to get lucky? He''d heard that fishing was designed to hook newbies with easy catches at first, only for them to struggle endlessly later. Yet here he was, getting the "endless struggle" right from the start. As a total rookie at fishing, unlike most beginners, he didn''t even get the so-called beginner''s luck. Instead, he was mocked by a Magikarp. "You just wait" He muttered, glaring at the Magikarp as he baited the hook again. One Hour Later- "Excuse me, sir, do you have any tips for fishing? I haven''t caught a single thing" Sar?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian asked an older man who had already reeled in over a dozen Water-type Pokmonhalf of them Magikarp, but still far better than Julian''s empty record. The old man glanced at Julian''s setup: a fishing rod and nothing else. His expression quickly shifted to that of an enlightened master. "Fishing has a lot of intricacies," the old man said. "Let me start by explaining the materials and lengths of fishing rods." An hour and a half later "So, sir, are you saying the better the bait, the higher the chances of catching a Pokmon?" Julian asked. Most of what the old man had explainedthings like mainline sizes, hook types, casting angles, and water flowhad gone completely over Julian''s head. "That''s correct. Some rich folks even use energy cubes as bait," the old man replied, a trace of disdain flashing across his face. "But that''s just cheating. It''s no different from hunting at a zoo. There''s no challenge in that." Energy cubes were highly attractive to Pokmon. With them, you could probably use a tree branch as a rod and still catch something easily. Julian''s eyes lit up in sudden realization. "Sir, thank you so much! You''re a genius!" he exclaimed, looking ecstatic. "Oh, by the way, I happen to be rich. See you!" Before the old man could respond, Julian dashed off. Old man: ''A rich guy using a $10 fishing rod... unbelievable.'' Julian found a quieter fishing spot and purchased a pack of beginner-grade Water-type energy cubes from the system store. He baited his hook with one of the cubes and even left the hook tip exposed. Ordinarily, an exposed hook tip would make it almost impossible to catch a Water-type Pokmon. But with the system-produced energy cubes? Forget about hookseven a knife blade would get bites. "Here we go!" Julian cast his line, and it didn''t take long for the float to jerk downwards. With a triumphant grin, he yanked the rod back. The force on the line told him this time, he''d actually hooked something. Underwater, a Seaking was thrashing wildly, pulling the line taut and bending the rod into a perfect semicircle. "You think you are stronger than me?" Julian sneered. With his Mega Pallet Town physique, he could pull up Kyogre if he wanted to. (T/N: yeah... sure) "Get up here!" He roared, yanking the rod upward with all his might. To his disbelief, the fishing rod snapped clean in half. Julian stood there, holding the broken pieces, completely dumbfounded. Seaking leapt out of the water, and spat out a fishhook which land neatly at Julian''s feet. Seaking: ''Thanks for the meal. I''m outta here.'' Julian stared at the broken fishing rod in his hand and muttered, "What kind of junk rod is this?" He couldn''t believe that among his dad''s collection of gear, there''d be something this low-quality. Jake: ''That''s a rod from 20 years ago. It''s worn out, but I didn''t have the heart to throw it away. With the rod broken in half, continuing to fish was out of the question. Julian glanced at the system store, where fishing rods were available for just 10 points each. "No way I''m spending 10 points on a rod. What a waste," Julian scoffed. "Dragonite, head back to the house and bring me ten rods!" Dragonite obediently flew back home, grabbed ten fishing rods, and returned in record time. Armed with a new rod, Julian repeated the process from earlier. Before long, the float bobbed, signaling another bite. Seaking: ''This human brought me food again. What a thoughtful guy.'' "Come out of there!" This time, the fishing rod held firm as Julian exerted his strength. With one powerful pull, the Seaking was yanked out of the water and landed on the ground with a dull . Seaking flopped around, its mouth sore from the hook. Furious, it opened its mouth and shot a directly at Julian. Unfortunately for Seaking, the was intercepted by Metagross, who swatted it aside like it was nothing. The resulting impact knocked Seaking out cold. Fishing may seem like a harmless hobby, but it has its dangers. If you reel in a particularly strong Water-type Pokmon and your own team isn''t prepared to handle it, the consequences could be dire. In fact, the number of anglers who die each year because of these kinds of encounters isn''t any lower than the rate of accidental deaths in other hazardous activities. Chapter 243: Helping Robert Chapter 243: Helping RobertIt took Julian a full seven to eight hours to complete the daily task. It was also the first time since acquiring the system that he had spent such a long time finishing a daily task. To ensure he didn''t more waste time, he even had Dragonite fetch lunch from home. Sarch* The novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Super Rod: The ultimate dream of any angler. It has a small chance of reeling in Kyogre. Julian couldn''t help but marvel at the description. A rod capable of catching Kyogre? But the so-called "small chance" wasn''t specified. Probably one in a hundred thousand or something. And even if you did manage to hook Kyogre, without a first-class Legendary by your side to protect you, you''d be done for. After carefully stowing the Super Rod in the system space, Julian hopped on Dragonite and headed home. When he arrived, his mother was already back from work. In the kitchen, Love and Slowking were busy cooking, and the aroma of their dishes wafted through the house. "What were you up to today?" Tina asked casually. "Fishing," Julian replied subconsciously. The moment the word left his mouth, he regretted it. Turning to look at his mother, he saw her expression darken. Dedicated anglers were often seen as people who "abandon their families for fishing," willing to give up even their home for the sake of their hobby. While Julian''s father, Jake, wasn''t quite that extreme, he frequently stayed out all night under the guise of "night fishing," claiming that the best catches happen after dark. "Were you with Jake?" Tina''s tone was sharp. She wasn''t angry with Julian but with Jake for lying to her. That man had told her he was going to spar with other Elites and would be gone for a few days. If Julian suddenly decided to go fishing, it had to be Jake''s doing. "No, no, Mom! I went by myself. I was bored at home, so I decided to try fishing. Dad wasn''t with me," Julian quickly explained. Tina eyed him suspiciously for a long moment before finally nodding. Her frown eased, and her expression returned to normal. "Until you''re married, you''d better cut back on the fishing" Tina warned him. No woman would want a husband who was never home because he was off fishing. Julian nodded earnestly, eager to stay out of trouble. Before long, Love and Slowking brought the dishes to the table. The two Pokmon had been getting along splendidly and had even exchanged cooking tips, which had made their meals taste even better. "Slowking, your cooking is incredible. Honestly, I''m worried you''re going to spoil me," Tina said, praising Slowking between bites. "With you taking care of Julian, I can rest easy." Her words were heartfelt. When Julian first started at the university in the Imperial City, Tina had been worried about him managing on his own. More than once, she had considered sending Love to help him out. However, Julian had firmly refused every time. After finally getting out from under Love''s watchful eye, there was no way he''d willingly bring her back into his life. But his Slowking had unexpectedly backstabbed him by taking over that role. When it came to managing Julian''s daily schedule and diet, Slowking was even more meticulous than Love. "Slow~" Slowking muttered casually before turning and heading to the backyard. It still had to feed the Pokmon there on Julian''s behalf. Meanwhile, Love, noticing that Julian had finished one bowl of rice, promptly served him a second. With Julian''s natural metabolism, he had no need to worry about gaining weight, so he could eat to his heart''s content. Just as he was about to dig in, the doorbell rang. The electronic screen on the wall lit up, showing an unfamiliar figure standing at the gym''s entrance. "Hello, is Gym Leader Jake at home?" the visitor asked politely. This wasn''t a challenger, as anyone wanting to challenge a national-level gym had to schedule their battle in advance online. If there had been any challengers this week, Jake wouldn''t have gone out. "Love, please open the door," Tina instructed. Moments later, Love led the visitor into their home. "Robert, Jake isn''t home right now. What brings you here?" Tina asked. The man, introduced as Robert, looked visibly disappointed. "I was hoping Gym Leader Jake could help us with an issue at the berry orchard to the west," he explained. The western orchard in Lake City housed the largest berry plantation in the entire Yale Province. As Julian recalled, it was managed by Robert. "What''s wrong with the orchard?" Tina asked curiously. Berries had a multitude of usesthey could restore a Pokmon''s stamina and energy, cure status conditions, and serve as ingredients for crafting Pokblocks/Energy Cubes. Some berries were even edible for humans. As a senior breeder, Tina relied heavily on berries in her work. In fact, Robert''s orchard supplied her with high-quality berries every year. Hearing that there was an issue at the orchard made her both concerned and curious, especially if it was something so severe that even Robert''s family couldn''t handle it, requiring the intervention of someone as powerful as Jake, a top-tier Elite. "It''s the Dugtrio, the one in the mid-Elite tier," Robert explained with a sigh. "For some reason, it has started blocking anyone from entering the orchard." "Not just the Dugtrioit''s all the Diglett and Dugtrio in the area. If any humans or Pokmon enter the orchard, they''re immediately driven out by force." The orchard technically belonged to Robert''s family, but the Dugtrio colony had moved in after the orchard was established. Their arrival had proven to be a blessing. The Diglett and Dugtrio had enriched the soil, making it loose and fertile, which resulted in the berries thriving year after year. In gratitude, Robert''s family had always provided a portion of the harvest to the Diglett and Dugtrio as compensation. This mutually beneficial relationship had lasted over two decades. The orchard grew larger, and the colony expanded from just a few dozen members to nearly a thousand today. There was even a mid-Elite-tier Dugtrio among them. Despite its strength, Robert''s family had never attempted to capture it, instead allowing it to oversee the Diglett and Dugtrio colony. The presence of this mid-Elite Dugtrio proved highly beneficial. It deterred many wild Pokmon from sneaking in to steal berries, significantly reducing the orchard''s losses. But now, for reasons unknown, this powerful Dugtrio had suddenly decided to block all humans from entering the orchardeven workers it had known for over a decade were not allowed in. Robert''s family, who managed the orchard, were dependent on the Walker family. In fact, half of the orchard''s berries were sold to the Walkers. While Robert''s family did have an Elite-tier trainer, they were not stationed in Lake City. Among the Elite-tier trainers he was familiar with in the area, Jake was the only one who could be relied upon. Naturally, Robert came seeking Jake''s help, only to find that he wasn''t home. "If Gym Leader Jake isn''t around, then I''ll take my leave," Robert said with a disappointed sigh. With Jake unavailable, he would have no choice but to contact the Trainers'' Association and issue a task request for an Elite-tier trainer from another region to come and handle the issue. "Wait" Julian called out, stopping Robert in his tracks. "I can take a look," Julian offered. He was curious about the situation at the orchard. Besides, he didn''t have much on his plate at the moment, so he figured it wouldn''t hurt to check it out. "Master Walker, that''s wonderful! Thank you so much!" Robert''s face lit up with joy. He had seen Julian''s performance in the Hundred Schools League and knew the young trainer had already reached the pseudo-Elite tier, even capable of defeating Elites. Although the Dugtrio was mid-Elite tier, if Julian was willing to take on the task, it meant he was confident in his abilities. Chapter 244: Digletts Chapter 244: DiglettsThe next day, after completing his Daily Task, Julian rode on Dragonite and headed to Robert''s Berry Orchard located west of Lake City. At the orchard''s entrance, Robert and some staff members were already waiting for Julian. "Mr. Robert, can that young master Julian really solve our orchard''s problem?" one of the orchard managers asked. Julian was simply too young, and youth usually meant inexperience. The manager wasn''t entirely convinced by Robert''s confidence. "Resolving the issue with the mid-Elite Dugtrio in the orchard shouldn''t be a problem," Robert replied. "But the key is figuring out why the Dugtrio suddenly refuses to let anyone enter." The orchard had been working in harmony with the Diglett and Dugtrio colony for decades without a single problem. This sudden refusal was unprecedented. There had to be some unknown factor causing the disruption, and solving that was the real goal. Robert''s plan was simple: have Julian deal with the Elite Dugtrio first. Once the leader was defeated, the rest of the Diglett and Dugtrio might relent, allowing the workers to re-enter and investigate the root cause of the issue. "He''s here." Looking up, Robert spotted Dragonite''s silhouette in the sky. He quickly gestured to the surrounding staff. "Clear some space!" The workers moved aside to create a small clearing where Dragonite could land. Dragonite descended smoothly, touching down on the ground as Julian dismounted. "Young Master Julian." "Just call me Julian," he replied. Being addressed as ''Young Master Julian'' still felt strange to him. It made him seem overly lofty, and he had no interest in acting like a pompous heir. "Alright, I''ll be informal then" Robert nodded. The relationship between his family and the Walkers was close enough to skip unnecessary pleasantries. "Robert, could you explain the situation in more detail?" Last night, Julian had only heard a rough outline of the problem, but he didn''t know the specifics. "Ken, come explain to Julian," Robert instructed. "Ken is the orchard''s manager and has been working here for decades. He knows this place better than anyone, and the Elite Dugtrio has had a close relationship with him since it was young." Ken, clad in a work uniform, had sun-darkened, reddish skin and calloused handsclear signs of years of hard labor outdoors. After decades in the orchard, Ken was undoubtedly the most familiar with it. "Young Master" Ken greeted as he stepped forward, his tone slightly nervous. Robert might call Julian informally, but Ken didn''t dare take such liberties. "When exactly did the Dugtrio stop letting you enter the orchard?" Julian asked. "About half a month ago." "It suddenly stopped letting you in half a month ago?" Julian confirmed. "Yes, everything was normal the day before, but the next day, the Dugtrio suddenly wouldn''t let us in. Even I get attacked by the Digletts if I try to enter." "Any casualties?" Julian''s brow furrowed slightly. If someone had been killed, the situation would undoubtedly become far more complicated. "No, no!" Ken shook his head quickly. "No one''s been killed, not even injured." "The Diglett and Dugtrio just don''t want us inside. The moment we step in, they drive us out." "Was there anything unusual before this?" Julian asked. "Unusual? What do you mean by unusual, Young Master?" Ken replied, puzzled. "For example, did the Digletts behave differently than normal, or were there changes in the weather or soil?" Pokmon were similar to humans in many ways. Under normal circumstances, their temperaments and emotions stayed stable. It usually took an extreme or unexpected event to cause a shift in their behavior. Since the Diglett and Dugtrio hadn''t hurt anyone, their emotions seemed to be relatively calm. If they were agitated or aggressive, injuries or even deaths would likely have occurred. Ken thought for a moment before shaking his head. "No, there weren''t any abnormalities." "Ken, think carefully," Robert pressed from the side. "I''m telling the truth. They''ve always behaved normally. I''ve worked with them for decades. If something unusual happened, I''d definitely notice," Ken said with certainty. Julian didn''t press the matter further. Instead, he walked to the orchard gate, intending to enter and take a look. But as soon as he stepped inside, a few Diglett suddenly popped out of the ground ahead of him. From their demeanor, it didn''t seem like they intended to attack him. Diglett were generally mild-mannered Pokmon. They were particularly helpful in agriculture, as their natural burrowing loosened soil and enriched it, making the ground exceptionally fertile. For farmers, Diglett were essentially ideal partners. Julian stepped into the orchard and took a few steps forward. Suddenly, the ground beneath his feet started shifting. Before he knew it, he was gently pushed back outside the orchard. "Every time someone tries to go in, the Diglett use this method to push them out," Ken explained with a resigned expression. "Even if we ride Flying Pokmon into the orchard, the moment we set foot on the ground, the Diglett will send us back out." Julian tried several more times, and just as Ken had described, every attempt ended with him being pushed out of the orchard. "Dragonite!" Julian called out, and Dragonite swooped down at low altitude. Julian leaped lightly into the air, and Dragonite caught him effortlessly. The move itself, in terms of sheer style, was flawlessa solid ten out of ten. Julian decided to observe the entire orchard from above. The orchard was vast, covering an extensive area. It wasn''t just flat farmlandthere were also hills, streams, and other natural features. The orchard also included rocky areas. Because different types of berries require different soils, even the temperature and humidity standards varied depending on the type. Of course, the berries grown here had relatively similar temperature and humidity requirements, as it was impossible to manually control these factors outdoors. Sar?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There were quite a few kinds of berries planted in the orchard. Flying across the area, Julian spotted no fewer than ten different varieties. Most of the berry trees were already laden with ripe fruit. If the berries weren''t picked soon, they would fall to the ground from being overripe, which would significantly lower their value. It was no wonder Robert was so anxious. The berry business was one of his family''s largest ventures, and this orchard in Lake City had the highest yield and quality among their many orchards. After all, not every orchard had a Dugtrio at the mid-Elite level to help loosen the soil and enrich the land. Perhaps it was the presence of Dragonite in the sky that alarmed them, but one by one, Diglett and Dugtrio emerged from the ground below, making loud, persistent sounds. Their general message was clear: Julian scanned the entire orchard from the sky, but he didn''t notice anything unusual. Along the way, he plucked a berry that was edible for humans and took a bite. The taste was excellent. "Dragonite, do you sense anything unusual?" Julian asked. Pokmon were often more sensitive to changes in the environment than humans. Even if he couldn''t detect anything strange, Dragonite might be able to. Dragonite shook its head, indicating that it hadn''t noticed anything out of the ordinary. However, its attention was quickly drawn to the large berry fields below. Seeing so many ripe berries made Dragonite''s stomach rumble with hunger. Chapter 245: Dugtrio Leader Chapter 245: Dugtrio LeaderDragonite hadn''t sensed anything unusual either. Julian thought for a moment and then took out the Dowsing Machine from his system storage space. The strange behavior of the Diglett and Dugtrio could very likely be because a Ground-type treasure was about to appear in this orchard. To protect this treasure, they had been driving away all humans and Pokmon who entered the orchard. The Dowsing Machine could scan for treasures within a 50-kilometer radius, far larger than the size of this orchard. Looking at the Dowsing Machine, Julian saw that there wasn''t a single red dot on the display, leaving him with a confused expression. "If it''s not a treasure then what could it be?" He murmured quietly. The outcome was unexpected. Previously, he had even thought that the treasure being guarded by so many Diglett and Dugtrio must be incredibly valuable. His plan was simple: steal the treasure from them. That way, the problem of the orchard would be solved as wella classic trickster move. But now, it seemed he had overthought the situation. Fate wasn''t giving him the chance to play the thief. The root of the Diglett and Dugtrio''s strange behavior wasn''t a treasure but something else entirely. "Dragonite, let''s head down and take a closer look." There wasn''t anything unusual visible from the sky. As Dragonite descended, Julian hopped off and landed on the ground. Not long after, the ground in front of him began to bulge and quickly moved toward himit was the Diglett, coming to escort him out of the orchard. "Dragonite." Julian spoke calmly. Dragonite threw a punch at the ground. The force traveled through the earth, instantly flattening the bulging ground and revealing a Diglett that had been knocked out. But in the next second, the ground around Julian rose up one after another as countless Diglett emerged, accompanied by many Dugtrio as well. A rough estimate put their numbers at three or four hundred. All the Diglett and Dugtrio surged toward Julian, causing the earth beneath them to churn and roll. "Stop, Diglett. I mean no harm." Even though he had knocked out one of their companions, Julian didn''t sense any hostility from them, so he didn''t want to continue hurting them. He began radiating a wave of Aura filled with good intentions. Under the influence of Julian''s Aura, all the Diglett and Dugtrio gradually stopped moving. Julian''s eyes lit up slightlyhis Aura was working. The Diglett and Dugtrio stopped, but they didn''t leave. More and more of them appeared, until the entire area within a one-kilometer radius was packed with countless Diglett and Dugtrio. Their oval heads poked out from the ground in every direction. To be fair, the Diglett and Dugtrio were kind of cute, but there were just too many of them. The sheer density was enough to make anyone with trypophobia pass out. "Metagross" The number of Diglett and Dugtrio had now surpassed ten thousand. Although they showed no intention of attacking, Julian still immediately sent out Metagross. If they really decided to attack, he couldn''t rely on Dragonite alone to keep himself safe. Both Metagross and Dragonite watched the Diglett and Dugtrio cautiously. If not for Julian holding them back, Metagross was ready to use to wipe them all out. Dragonite also suggested that its could achieve the same result. These two Pokmon were absolute battle maniacs, always eager to solve problems with their fists without considering the environment. The area was full of Berry Trees. If they used moves like or , the Diglett might indeed be taken down, but the Berry Trees wouldn''t survive either. It took anywhere from 12 to over 30 years for a Berry Tree to grow from a seedling to bearing fruit, and the survival rate for seedlings was incredibly low. "Is your leader here? I have something to discuss with them," Julian said. The moment he finished speaking, the Diglett and Dugtrio in front of him suddenly moved to either side, creating a path about half a meter wide. Then, a slightly larger Dugtrio emerged and began moving toward him. Pokmon: Dugtrio (Ground) Level: 75 Potential: Cyan Ability: Arena Trap Held Item: None Gender: Male Moves: Sand Tomb, Tri Attack, Scratch, Sand Attack, Growl, Mud-Slap, Sucker Punch, Bulldoze, Slash, Dig, Sandstorm, Earth Power, Earthquake, Fissure TMs: None Egg Moves: Rock Tomb, High Horsepower, Stealth Rock, Substitute --- A level 75 Dugtrio mid-Elite level, and it was wild. It was impressive that Robert''s family had resisted the temptation of a wild Elite-level Dugtrio. Actually, they hadn''t resisted. They had indeed sent their own Elite trainer to capture it, but this Dugtrio had too many underlings. If they really fought, the orchard would have been completely destroyed. After a failed capture attempt that resulted in significant damage to the Berry Trees, Robert''s family decided to give up. That''s why this Dugtrio had remained here ever since. The Dugtrio leader didn''t come too close to Julian. Although this human gave off a friendly vibe, the two Pokmon beside him Damn, their expressions clearly said they were ready to fight. Both Dragonite and Metagross gave off a sense of danger. In particular, Metagross looked extremely threatening. Even as a mid-Elite Pokmon, the Dugtrio felt like it wouldn''t last three turns against Metagross. At this moment, Metagross was at the peak of pseudo-Elite. Its body contained the . Recently, during the Haitian City Defense Battle, Julian had completed a task. As a reward, the system gave him Steel-type and Dragon-type Origin Orbs, one for Metagross and one for Dragonite. To advance from the peak of pseudo-Elite to Elite-level, it generally took one to two years for a Pokmon to break through, as it required accumulating enough energy. Even with abundant resources, this energy accumulation process still took one to two years, and it would take longer if resources were insufficient. In reality, Metagross could break through to the Elite level right now, but it would only reach early Elite. However, if Julian gave Metagross more time to gather additional energy, it could potentially reach mid-Elite or even higher upon breaking through. So, Julian wasn''t in a hurry. With Metagross'' current battle strength, once it Mega Evolves, it could easily rival a peak Elite-level Pokmon. Besides, Julian already had Alakazam, who was also at the peak of Elite-level. However, as Metagross continued to grow stronger, Julian found he needed Alakazam''s help less and less. "Dugtrio, Ken from the orchard invited me here. I wanted to ask why you''re not allowing humans into the orchard." Julian specifically mentioned Ken rather than Robert because the Dugtrio leader had a good relationship with Ken. Sarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Dugtrio: The Dugtrio leader''s words came through telepathy. The higher a Pokmon''s level, the more advanced its thoughts and ability to communicate became. Julian had tried asking the other Dugtrio before, but they couldn''t answer his question clearly. "So that''s the reason." Julian hadn''t expected the answer to be so simple. The Dugtrio leader''s mate was about to give birth, which was why it didn''t allow humans or Pokmon to enter the orchard. Chapter 246: Birthing Aid Chapter 246: Birthing AidWhen a female Pokmon gives birth, it is their most vulnerable time, so their male partners are usually extremely vigilant during this period. Any creature approaching their territory will be driven away. Some aggressive males may even kill Pokmon that trespass into their territory. However "It''s been half a month, and it still hasn''t given birth?" Julian asked, puzzled. The birthing time for Pokmon varies depending on the species, but for Diglett and Dugtrio, it usually takes only a day or two. Now that half a month had passed and the female Dugtrio still hadn''t given birth, the time had exceeded the norm by about tenfold. Needing half a month to give birth was practically a hallmark of pseudo-Legendary Pokmon. Faced with Julian''s question, the Dugtrio leader hesitated for a moment before revealing the reason. After listening, Julian''s expression turned to one of understanding. Simply put, its mate was having a difficult labor and couldn''t lay the egg, which was why it had dragged on for so long. "Why don''t you ask Ken for help?" Julian suggested. Given its relationship with Ken, he would surely lend a hand. The Dugtrio leader had already considered asking Ken for help when it realized its mate couldn''t give birth. However, Julian''s sudden appearance today brought up the idea again. Dugtrio: ''Can you help me instead?'' Julian: ''Helping a Pokmon give birth... this is a first'' "I can give it a try." Thanks to the system, Julian felt confident. If things got out of hand, he could always ask his mother, Tina, for help. She was a senior breeder, and most breeders had some expertise in Pokmon medicine. Tina, in particular, had notable achievements in Pokmon healthcare. "Lead the way," Julian said. But the Dugtrio leader didn''t move and instead glanced at Metagross and Dragonite beside Julian. Because of Julian''s Aura, the Dugtrio leader trusted him, even though it was their first meeting. However, it clearly didn''t want to bring such powerful and threatening Pokmon near its mate. Julian smiled and returned both Pokmon to their Pok Balls. This action deeply moved the Dugtrio leader, and its goodwill toward Julian increased significantly. Sear?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Dugtrio: ''My mate is right below us.'' As ground-type energy emanated from the Dugtrio leader, the ground beneath Julian''s feet slowly sank. The descent was smooth, with no jolts or shakes, showing the Dugtrio leader''s precise control over its energy. After a few seconds, Julian found himself underground. The earth above closed seamlessly, leaving the surroundings in complete darkness. However, before long, green glimmers of light began appearing around him. As the glowing lights increased, Julian realized he had entered a spacious underground chamber. The underground space was roughly 300 square meters, illuminated by glowing green stones embedded throughout the area. These stones served as a light source, though their color wasn''t exactly comforting. In the subterranean chamber, besides the Dugtrio leader and its mate, there were three other Dugtrio, each at the pseudo-Elite level. These three were guarding the female Dugtrio closely. The female Dugtrio was in visible pain, her face contorted with discomfort. When she saw her mate arrive, there was a flicker of joy in her weary eyes. The Dugtrio leader rushed to her side, speaking softly to comfort her. He also mentioned that he had brought someone who could help. The female Dugtrio shifted her gaze toward Julian. As Julian approached slowly, the female Dugtrio remained highly wary of him, given the delicate situation. However, the Dugtrio leader kept reassuring her, which prevented her from lashing out at Julian. "Just give her this, and she''ll be fine" Julian said, pulling out a medicine he had just purchased from the system shop. The medicine was specifically designed to aid Pokmon during childbirth. Judging from the female Dugtrio''s condition, it was clear she was experiencing a difficult labor. If this continued, her life would be at risk. The Dugtrio leader nodded and immediately brought the medicine to his mate. However, she visibly rejected it. Even with the medicine right at her mouth, she refused to consume it. This left the Dugtrio leader utterly anxious. Faced with his struggling mate, he couldn''t yell or force her. Feeling helpless, the Dugtrio leader turned to Julian for assistance. "Gastly, Hypnosis," Julian instructed. A Gastly suddenly materialized in front of the female Dugtrio, its eyes glowing as it emitted waves of hypnotic energy. The three pseudo-Elite Dugtrio immediately reacted, preparing to attack the Gastly, but the Dugtrio leader swiftly stopped them. Thanks to Gastly''s ability to remain completely invisible when needed, it usually stayed hidden near Julian as a constant guardian. If someone ever attempted to harm Julian, Gastly could easily take advantage of its stealth to incapacitate or even kill them. Although the female Dugtrio was also a pseudo-Elite-level Pokmon, and Gastly''s Hypnosis wouldn''t typically work so easily, her prolonged labor had left her utterly exhausted. In her weakened state, she quickly succumbed to the hypnosis. Now under the spell, the female Dugtrio finally entered a deep and peaceful sleep, something she hadn''t had in days. "Go ahead and give her the medicine now," Julian said. The medicine, called , came with a straightforward description: True to its name, the medicine guaranteed a smooth delivery. Even though the female Dugtrio was asleep, there was no concernit would work just the same. The system wouldn''t ruin its own reputation, right? With the medicine administered, the male Dugtrio watched his mate with a mix of tension and anticipation. Moments later, a soft white glow began to radiate from the female Dugtrio. Julian''s curiosity peakedthis was his first time witnessing a Pokmon giving birth. The light gradually concentrated into a glowing sphere. As the sphere descended to the ground, the white glow surrounding it faded, revealing a brownish Pokmon egg. The egg''s earthy color closely resembled the hues of Diglett and Dugtrio. However, many Pokmon eggs shared similar shades of brown, so the color alone doesn''t guarantee the Pokmon it contains. Using his Probing Eyes, Julian scanned the egg. Its aptitude showed up as Green. Even if it had been Cyan aptitude, Julian wouldn''t have been particularly interested. After all, Diglett wasn''t in his list of Pokmon he wanted to capture. His criteria were pretty straightforward: a Pokmon needed to either look ''cool'' or ''ferocious''. If neither applied, then at the very least, it had to be something Julian found aesthetically pleasing. Diglett? Well thanks, but no thanks. Diglett: ''Thanks for the insult. Much appreciated'' After receiving the Dugtrio leader''s heartfelt thanks, Julian left the orchard. "All right, the issue''s been resolved" Outside the orchard, Julian explained the situation to Robert and Ken, who had been waiting for him. Declining Robert''s offer to express his gratitude further, Julian climbed onto Dragonite and flew off into the sky, leaving the orchard behind. Chapter 247: Train Ride Chapter 247: Train Ride"Make sure you eat breakfast on time and don''t stay up late playing games." "Now that the weather''s getting colder, remember to dress warmly." "Don''t hesitate to spend money. If it''s not enough, your mom will send you a few million more." Before Julian returned to university, Tina, was relentless with her reminders. She had said these exact same things before when university started. "I know, Mom. With Slowking by my side, you can relax," Julian replied, feeling both touched and a bit helpless. Especially the last sentence about not hesitating to spend moneywhen had he ever been stingy? However, in his parents'' eyes, Julian really was a "frugal" child. Most kids from wealthy families, even those with decent morals, tended to spend lavishly. If they weren''t buying luxury brands, it was expensive cars or designer watches. At the very least, they''d throw money around to impress women. But Julian? None of that. The bulk of his spending went toward his Pokmon, and he spent very little on himself. This time, instead of taking a plane back to Imperial University, Julian opted for the high-speed train. Recently, a wild Pidgeot of Elite rank had appeared in the skies over Lake City, causing disruptions. Because of this, the Lake City Airport had temporarily ceased operations. Even the head of the city''s Trainer Association had tried multiple times to subdue the Pidgeot but failed. The crafty bird always fled the moment it realized it was losing. Catching a flying Elite-level Pokmon was nearly impossible for someone of the same rank unless you had a numbers advantage or your Pokmon significantly outclassed it. Julian didn''t get involved in the matter and wasn''t interested, either. If he couldn''t fly, he''d just take the train. It only meant spending more time traveling, which didn''t bother him since he wasn''t in a hurry. "Your dad is unbelievable. You''re about to head back to school, and he still runs off to go fishing." At the entrance to Lake City''s high-speed railway station, Tina, accompanied by Love, escorted Julian while grumbling. ''He probably ran off because he knew you''d be busy sending me off,'' Julian thought to himself. With Tina and Love waving goodbye, Julian passed through the ticket gate and entered the station. His train was scheduled for 1:00 PM, and it would take seven hours to reach the capital. The current time was 12:30 PM, and his boarding gate was 12A. After winning the Best Individual Trainer award at the Hundred Schools League, Julian had become very well-known in Drakoria. Even though nearly half a month had passed since the tournament, its popularity hadn''t faded. As a result, Julian now wore a mask whenever he went out. In this world, celebrities came in many formsactors, singers, writers, and manga artistsbut the most admired were star Trainers. Star Trainers were essentially the most famous among professional Trainers. A popular star Trainer could earn at least hundreds of millions just for participating in an exhibition match. Of course, to become a star Trainer, the minimum requirement was at least Elite rank. After all, star Trainers were still Trainers first, and strength always came first. Julian''s tall and commanding presence, coupled with his extraordinary demeanor, drew attention even with his mask on. A group of young girls nearby couldn''t help but glance curiously in his direction. Boarding started at 12:45 PM. Julian had booked a business class seat. Unlike the more crowded first and second class cabins, the business class car only had eight seats total, with one seat on either side of the aisle. Once seated, Julian took off his mask, exhaled deeply, and allowed himself to relax. Wearing the mask for so long had become uncomfortable. He wondered how those celebrities managed to wear masks and sunglasses all day without going crazy. Even after removing his mask, no one in the business class seemed to recognize himor, if they did, they chose not to bother him. As the train slowly departed the station, Julian pulled down the curtain by the window and closed his eyes, ready for a nap. He''d stayed up late last night playing Glory with Slowking. Unfortunately, Julian''s gaming skills were... less than stellar. Even with Slowking''s exceptional support, carrying Julian to reach the game''s highest rank, "King" had proven a daunting task. To achieve this goal, they''d played until 3 AM. At 7:30 AM, Love had woken Julian up for breakfast, while Slowking snoozed comfortably inside its Pok Ball. Julian had grumbled about being tricked. Now, the moment he settled into the comfortable seat, his eyelids grew heavy. Reclining the chair, he fell asleep within minutes. The journey from Lake City to the capital passed through six cities along the way. Since Pokmon emerged in this world, the planet''s landmass had more than doubled in size, naturally increasing the distances between cities. Forests, lakes, rivers, and mountains often lay between cities, creating significant challenges for infrastructure development, particularly railroads. One of the biggest obstacles to building railways was the presence of wild Pokmon. To connect cities, the tracks inevitably had to cross through the wilderness. Constructing railroads in such areas was a massive undertaking. Just developing tracks that could withstand attacks from wild Pokmon required enormous resources and effort. Additionally, patrol teams routinely monitored the tracks to prevent damage caused by Pokmon. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Over time, wild Pokmon near the railroads learned to avoid the tracks and refrained from damaging them. If a wild Pokmon dared to tamper with the railways, it risked being subdued by humansor worse, captured outright. As a result, most wild Pokmon instinctively steered clear of the tracks. Four hours and thirty minutes into the journey, Julian stirred awake, still feeling groggy. It wasn''t that he''d had enough sleephe simply realized he was hungry. Glancing at the time, he saw it was already 5:30 PM. In the business class car, there was a dedicated attendant. Julian turned toward the crew member, who immediately noticed his gaze. "Mr. Walker, is there anything you need?" The attendant''s expression betrayed a hint of excitementit was clear she recognized him. "Could I trouble you for dinner?" "Of course! We have three meal options. Which would you like?" She presented a tablet to Julian, displaying the available meal sets. Remembering his mother''s reminder not to skimp on himself, Julian opted for the most expensive choicethe A Set, which cost a whopping 50 pokedollars. Not long after, the attendant returned with his meal. However, just as she was about to place the tray on Julian''s table, the entire train suddenly screeched to a violent halt. A powerful forward inertia surged through the car. Julian reacted instantly, grabbing the armrest with one hand while catching the falling attendant with the other. The impact from her nearly sent both of them tumbling. The other passengers weren''t as fortunate. They were thrown off balance, landing in a chaotic heap. In the first and second-class cars, passengers were cushioned by the proximity of their seats, avoiding severe injuries. Business class, however, wasn''t so lucky. With the open layout and fewer seats, almost everyone ended up sprawled on the floor, their dignity thoroughly shattered. Chapter 248: Golem Chapter 248: GolemThe sudden emergency stop threw the carriages into chaos. The cries of children, the curses of adults, and the groans of the injured all mingled into a cacophony of noise. "Mommy, it hurts!" "What''s going on? I''m definitely filing a complaint!" "Attendant! Attendant! My mother is injured!" "If there''s no reasonable compensation, I''m not letting you off the hook today!" Some passengers were too consumed by anger to wonder why a high-speed train would come to such an abrupt halt mid-journey. Their fury clouded their judgment, and some even saw it as an opportunity to exploit the situation. But where there were hotheads, there were also clear thinkers. A few passengers seemed to realize something, their faces turning pale with fear and tension. At that moment, the train''s intercom crackled to life. "Dear passengers, a large group of Geodude has been detected ahead of the train. Our personnel are already responding. Please remain calm." "Injured passengers, please proceed to Car 3. If you cannot move, call for assistance from an attendant." Although railway patrol teams regularly cleared wild Pokmon near the tracks, perfection wasn''t always possible. Every summer, there were incidents in the country involving wild Pokmon attacking high-speed trains. Unfortunately, these occasionally led to injuries or fatalities. And this wasn''t unique to Drakoria. Such incidents occurred worldwide, often with even poorer safety records abroad. Even air travel wasn''t entirely safethere was always a chance of being attacked by Flying-type Pokmon. When something went wrong with a plane, the survival rate was far worse than on a train. To mitigate such risks, both airplanes and high-speed trains were equipped with security personnel. These guards were always Pokmon Trainers. This train had ten Advanced-level Trainers and one Trainer at pseudo-Elite level. Now, the pseudo-Elite Trainer led five advanced Trainers to deal with the Geodude ahead, while the remaining five guarded the train to prevent wild Pokmon from boarding and injuring passengers. In the business-class carriage, Julian helped the attendant into his seat. "Thank you, Mr. Walker" The young woman said gratefully. If not for Julian catching her earlier, she would have fallen awkwardly to the floor and possibly even injured herself. Listening to the announcement, Julian silently cursed his bad luck. Of all the unlikely events, he had to encounter one. "Can you handle the Pokmon outside?" Julian asked. If they couldn''t, he didn''t mind stepping in to help. "We can. We have a pseudo-Elite onboard," the attendant replied, her tone carrying a hint of admiration at the mention of pseudo-Elite. sea??h th novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For most people, Elites were lofty, unattainable figures. As a result, pseudo-Elites represented the pinnacle that the majority of Trainers could realistically aspire to reach. For most ordinary people, a pseudo-Elite-level Trainer is often the highest-level Trainer they would ever encounter. Julian nodded at this explanation. A pseudo-Elite should be more than capable of handling the situation. In the wild, it was extremely rare for Pokmon to reach the Elite level, and even pseudo-Elites were uncommon. With a pseudo-Elite Trainer taking action, the problem would likely be resolved quickly. About 500 meters ahead of the train, there was a tunnel. At the tunnel entrance, a swarm of hundreds of Geodude had gathered. Upon spotting this, the train conductor had immediately activated the emergency brakes, bringing the train to a stop. "Captain, we can handle these Geodude ourselves," one of the team members said confidently. The Geodude weren''t particularly high-level. As Advanced Trainers, the team could deal with them despite their large numbersit would just take more time. "Lure them out. The tunnel must remain intact," the captain ordered. If the tunnel collapsed due to the battle, the railway would be unusable for a considerable time. That would disrupt more than just this train''s journey. "Don''t worry, Captain," the team member replied confidently. "Vileplume, use Sweet Scent!" A Pokmon with a massive red flower atop its head appeared. Vileplume''s petals, known as the largest in the world, began to emit a pink, fragrant mist as it let out a soft cry. had a strong allure for Pokmon. Those with weaker wills couldn''t resist and would instinctively move toward the source of the fragrance. Fortunately, had minimal effect on humans, so there was no risk of harming their own team. As the mist spread, the Geodude at the tunnel entrance started showing expressions of bliss and fascination. "It''s working!" The team member grinned. If this operation succeeded, his contribution would undoubtedly be significant. He might finally have enough money this month to buy the Toxic Orb fragments he''d been eyeing. Vileplume continued to release while slowly heading toward the nearby forest. Fighting in the forest would prevent damage to the tracks and tunnel. One by one, the hundreds of Geodude began shambling out of the tunnel, following the scent. But as more emerged, the captain''s expression suddenly darkened. The number of Geodude far exceeded his expectations, approaching well over 500. When a Pokmon species'' population reaches a certain size, it inevitably leads to the appearance of evolved formssometimes even final evolutions. Sure enough, it didn''t take long before the captain spotted Graveler among the ranks, following behind the Geodude. Graveler''s bulk was noticeably larger than Geodude, and there were a good 40 to 50 of them. Most were at the Advanced level, and a few had even reached the peak of Advanced. "What should we do, Captain?" The team was confident they could handle five or six hundred Geodude below the Advanced level with the help of their pseudo-Elite captain. But now, dozens of Advanced-level Graveler had appeared. While they were Advanced-level Trainers, not all their Pokmon had reached the Advanced level. Most of them only had two or three Advanced-level Pokmon at best, and some only had one. The sheer number of Graveler clearly exceeded their capabilities. Still, they weren''t panickingafter all, their captain was a pseudo-Elite. Heavy footsteps echoed from deep within the tunnel. The sound sent a wave of unease through both the captain, Lin Nuohao, and his team. Moments later, a massive, rock-covered Pokmon resembling a boulder rolled out of the tunnel. "Sure enough it''s a Golem!" The captain''s expression tightened completely. He could barely manage four or five dozen Advanced-level Graveler, but now a pseudo-Elite Golem had appeared. This meant he''d have to engage the Golem personally, leaving the Graveler for his team to handle. "What were the patrol officers even doing? How could such a massive group of Geodudeand even a Golemend up near the tracks?" One of the team members voiced what everyone was thinking. The gravity of the situation was clear: if this went wrong, not only could they all die, but the train passengers would be in grave danger too. "It must''ve just migrated here," the captain said grimly. The railway patrol would never make such a basic mistake. The only plausible explanation was that this Golem''s group had recently moved into the area. Chapter 249: Trouble Chapter 249: Trouble"What should we do now, Captain?" a team member asked anxiously. The had successfully drawn a large group of Geodude, but with the arrival of Graveler and the pseudo-Elite Golem, no one dared to act rashly. If they attacked the Geodude in front of the Graveler and Golem, it would be a declaration of war. "Team Two, get over here immediately," the captain said into his walkie-talkie. The appearance of a pseudo-Elite Golem had severely tipped the scales against them, so he called for the second team, which was originally tasked with protecting the train. As for the train''s safety, it was no longer a concern. The presence of the Golem signified that this area had become its territory, and no other wild Pokmon were likely to approach. "Golem, I hope you''ll allow the train to pass through the tunnel ahead," the captain said, releasing his pseudo-Elite Ampharos. In terms of type advantage, the Rock/Ground Golem had the upper hand, but strength was essential for negotiation. Without it, this wouldn''t be a negotiationit would be begging for mercy. The sight of the pseudo-Elite Ampharos made the Golem''s previously arrogant expression noticeably more subdued. Soon, the five members of Team Two arrived. Initially, they were puzzled as to why the captain had summoned them. But upon seeing the massive horde of Geodudeover 600 of themalong with dozens of Graveler and the Golem facing off against the captain, their confusion vanished. They had run into a tough adversary. The captain had no desire to fight the Golem. The opposing side had an overwhelming advantage in numbers, and a battle would leave them at a severe disadvantage. If the Golem allowed the train to pass, they could avoid a confrontation. He planned to report the situation afterward, and professionals would be sent to deal with it. However, the Golem was far from cooperative. Seeing so many of its Geodude minions being mesmerized had already infuriated it. With a furious roar, the Geodude snapped out of their trance from the . They first appeared disoriented but quickly recovered, glaring menacingly at the opposing Vileplume. Though the Geodude weren''t very high-level, their sheer numbers made them a formidable sight. Under the collective gaze of so many Geodude, even the Advanced-level Vileplume grew uneasy and instinctively stepped back. That single step seemed to signal the start of a battle. Nearly a hundred Geodude tucked their bodies into spheres and began rolling toward the Vileplume en masse. The rumbling sound was deafening, and even the ground began to tremble. "Engage!" The captain commanded solemnly. The battle was now unavoidable. The team members quickly released their Pokmon to join the fray. "Vileplume, Razor Leaf!" "Blastoise, Water Gun!" "Crobat, Supersonic!" sea??h th NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Aipom, Swift!" Each team member sent out two Pokmon, most of them at the Advanced level. Their coordination was seamless, a clear indication of their professional training for group battles. The moves complemented each other, amplifying the effects. Explosions erupted one after another, halting the advancing Geodude. Nearly a hundred Geodude were knocked out, sprawled on the ground. Meanwhile, the team''s Pokmon remained unscathed. The Geodude couldn''t even get close before being defeated. Yet this display of power didn''t deter the remaining Geodude. They continued their charge relentlessly. In a species like this, as long as the leader stood tall, the rest would never feel fear. They believed that no matter how strong the enemy was, their leader would prevail. This was why defeating the leader of a species often turned the tide. "Raichu!" The captain deployed his second pseudo-Elite Pokmon. Though only at the initial stages of pseudo-Elite strength, it was one of only two such Pokmon he possessed. "Ampharos, Iron Tail on Golem!" Ampharos moved swiftly. The surrounding Geodude tried to intervene, but they couldn''t even graze it. Yet, before Ampharos could reach its target, dozens of Graveler stepped into its path. To take down the leader, it had to first overcome these defenders. "Raichu, hold them off for Ampharos!" The captain had sent out Raichu specifically to keep the Graveler at bay. Though Raichu appeared pudgy, its speed was remarkable. It launched a Thunderbolt that struck the ground, creating an explosion of debris and dust. The Graveler instinctively closed their eyes. Taking advantage of the distraction, Ampharos leaped forward, its tail glowing with a silvery light as it swung down powerfully. However, Golem, despite its bulky appearance, displayed unexpected agility. It curled into a ball and rolled backward just in time, evading the attack. Ampharos''s slammed into the ground, leaving a deep crater. The shockwave caused several Graveler to lose their footing and tumble over. "Raichu, Focus Punch!" The captain seized the moment and called out. While Ampharos''s attack missed, it created an opportunity for Raichu. With incredible speed, Raichu charged up its energy and unleashed a devastating , sending one Graveler flying into another. Golem stomped its left foot on the ground, summoning razor-sharp rocks from the earth. The move flew toward Ampharos and Raichu, whistling through the air with a piercing sound. Ampharos, sensing the incoming attack, bristled as its fur puffed up, transforming it into a fluffy defensive ball. The sharp shards pierced into the seemingly soft cotton, yet the absorbed the impact, halting the rocks in their tracks. Golem, undeterred, began moving its heavy body forward like an armored tank. A white stream of air pressure formed in front of it as it charged, unleashing a powerful . This move grew stronger the heavier the Pokmon using it, and Golem''s weight ranked among the highest known Pokmon species. collided with Ampharos''s . While the cotton barrier was incredibly resilient, it couldn''t fully withstand the raw, overwhelming power of the attack. The cotton barrier shattered on impact, revealing Ampharos''s fragile form as it stood directly in Golem''s path. The didn''t stop there. Ampharos was struck head-on, letting out a pained cry as it was sent flying. Though it hadn''t been knocked out, its trembling body struggled to get back on its feet. "Ampharos!" The captain''s voice was a mixture of shock and fury. He hadn''t anticipated that this Golem wasn''t just a pseudo-Elite at the early or mid-stage, but one at the peak of pseudo-Elite tier. His Ampharos, at level 65 and mid-pseudo-Elite, should have had the upper hand under his command. Yet, it was overwhelmed. The only explanation was that Golem''s level was even higher. "This is the security team, requesting immediate assistance. Is there any trainer among the passengers with a peak pseudo-Elite Pokmon? We urgently need reinforcements." the captain quickly radioed through his walkie-talkie to the train''s conductor. Chapter 250: Classmate Chapter 250: ClassmateThe passengers inside the train listened anxiously to the sounds of battle coming from outside, accompanied by the occasional jolt of the train. Fear and panic began to spread through the compartments. "Don''t be afraid, the security team is still here" A mother whispered softly to her trembling child in her arms, though her own voice carried a hint of unease. "Why did the security team leave?!" A passenger, glancing out the window, suddenly exclaimed in shock upon noticing that all five security team members had left their positions. Panic quickly spread through the crowd. Despite the train attendants'' efforts to calm the passengers, their reassurances were only marginally effective. Incidents of wild Pokmon attacking trains were not uncommon in Drakoria, occurring a handful of times each year. While casualties were rare, they weren''t unheard of. Now, as the battle outside intensified and even the five security team members had vacated their posts, the passengersmany of whom were no foolsgrew even more alarmed. "Ladies and gentlemen, the situation ahead is urgent. Are there any trainers with pseudo-Elite Pokmon onboard? If so, please proceed immediately to assist." The conductor''s voice, tinged with urgency, echoed through the train''s announcement system. While there were some trainers among the passengers, none of them had Pokmon at the pseudo-Elite level, as requested. It was true that the "Top Five Academies" boasted numerous pseudo-Elite students, but that was a unique standard. Outside those institutions, even senior students from other universities might not have reached the pseudo-Elite tier. In Drakoria, the number of registered pseudo-Elite trainers totaled just over 200,000a relatively small figure given the country''s size. For such a request to be broadcasted, it was clear how dire the situation outside had become. Several Advanced-level trainers among the passengers stood up, willing to contribute despite the request specifying pseudo-Elite trainers. It was common knowledge that a group of well-coordinated Advanced trainers could take down a pseudo-Elite Pokmon. However, some Advanced trainers chose to remain silent, reluctant to get involved. Meanwhile, the train had already sent an emergency assistance signal to the outside world, and reinforcements were on their way. In the business-class car, Julian heard the announcement and let out a sigh. "Open the door. I''ll handle it," Julian said to the nearby attendant. "Mr. Walker, I''ll inform the conductor to open the door immediately," the attendant replied excitedly. She had seen Julian''s matches in the Hundred Schools League, even attending the finals in person. When the conductor learned that Juliana standout figure in the leaguewas aboard their train, he was overjoyed and promptly instructed the doors of the business-class car to be opened. "Good luck, King Julian!" As Julian stepped off the train, the attendant''s voice called out to him. "King Julian" was a nickname his fans had given him. Despite not being active on social media platforms like TikTok, Julian''s exceptional performance over the past year had earned him a considerable following. Most of Julian''s fans were young people, and he had recently earned the title of being the top prodigy of Drakoria''s younger generation. The conductor quickly broadcast the news that Julian was onboard the train and had already stepped out to handle the wild Pokmon causing trouble ahead. Many passengers were familiar with Julian''s name. For those who weren''t, others eagerly filled them in. In short, with Julian there, they were certain they would be safe. After all, he was a trainer capable of defeating an Elite while still being at the pseudo-Elite level. Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As Julian exited the train, a few doors from other carriages opened as well, and five young men and women stepped out. "It''s him! It''s really King Julian! Do you see him? It''s ''him''!" One of the girls spoke excitedly, grabbing her friend''s arm as her face lit up with joy. The girl named Chase appeared calm, but the excitement in her eyes was just as intense as her companion''s. "Let''s go say hello" One of the young men suggested expectantly. "Yes! Let''s go together!" The first girl immediately agreed. Julian noticed the group of five but didn''t pay much attention to them. His focus was on a cluster of Geodude approaching the train from a distance. It was clear the security team hadn''t managed to stop them. Regardless of a Pokmon''s level, any wild Pokmonunless it was freshly hatchedposed a significant threat to humans, with a high likelihood of injury or even fatality from their attacks. "King Julian! King Julian!" Just as Julian was preparing to deal with the advancing Geodude, he heard excited voices calling out to him. The nickname "King Julian" always felt a bit pretentious to Julian. Every time he heard it, he couldn''t help but feel a little embarrassed. The three young men and two women quickly approached him. "It''s been a while" Julian said, recognizing a familiar face among them. "Chase, you know him?" The first girl exclaimed, staring at her companion in disbelief. She couldn''t fathom that her friend actually knew the famous Julian. "Chase and I were high school classmates. We were on the school team together," Julian explained. Chase nodded, her emotions clearly overwhelmed. She seemed unsure how to greet Julian properly in this moment. "Chase! You knew King Julian and never told me!" "Taylor, I didn''t mean to hide it," Chase quickly responded, flustered. The other two young men looked at Chase with envy, unable to believe that she not only knew Julian but also seemed to have a close connection with him. Meanwhile, the third young man in the group noticed the way Chase looked at Julian. His expression darkened with jealousy, though he dared not say anything. "Can you guys handle these Geodude?" Julian asked directly, not wasting any words. Since the five of them had stepped out, it meant they were at least prepared to battle. "No problem! It''s just a few--" Taylor was about to respond confidently, but her voice faltered as she noticed the increasing number of Geodude approaching. The words stuck in her throat. After all, they were just first-year university students. People like Julian, who were already renowned even as freshmen, were a rarity across Drakoria. Most freshmen were ordinary trainers. The more outstanding ones might have Pokmon at the early Advanced-level, but the majority were still at the Ordinary-level, with Pokmon between levels 21 and 40. Among the five, only Chase and the boy with the jealous glint in his eye had Pokmon at the Advanced level. That was just two out of the entire group. Julian, noting their levels, spoke plainly: "Think before you act like heroes." With their current strength, stepping up to stop the wild Pokmon was nothing short of suicide. If they fell, it wouldn''t just be their own lives at stakeit could shatter the fragile hope of the passengers in the train cars behind them. Seeing these students step out confidently might give the passengers a brief moment of relief, believing they were saved. But if they were quickly overwhelmed and defeated, it would bring even greater despair. And if these trainers couldn''t handle the situation and ended up retreating, they would leave the passengers to face the wrath of the enraged Pokmon alone. Taylor and the others blushed with embarrassment. They had rushed out without thinking things through. The allure of playing the hero had clouded their judgment. After all, who wouldn''t want to be seen as a hero? Chapter 251: Aggron and Lucario Chapter 251: Aggron and LucarioFacing the incoming Geodude, the group of five showed varying degrees of panic and fear. The only one who seemed relatively composed was Chase. However there was still a trace of terror in her eyes. It was only when she glanced at Julian standing beside her that her expression became calmer. It was evident that this was the first time the five of them had encountered such a large number of wild Pokmon, and they were at a complete loss. "Release your Pokmon," Julian said. The group froze in embarrassment. In their fear and anxiety, they had completely forgotten to send out their Pokmon. One of the boys reached for the Pok Ball on his belt, but in his panic, he fumbled it, and the ball fell to the ground. "Cloyster!" Chase quickly sent out her ace, Cloyster. "Ice Beam!" The freezing beam shot forward, encasing the leading Geodude in ice and forming a temporary ice wall. Chase''s Advenced-level Cloyster had no trouble dealing with the low-level Geodudeif there weren''t so many of them. Under the relentless attacks of the Geodude, the ice wall didn''t last even a second. The Geodude were now less than 100 meters from the train. At this range, any battle would risk the train getting caught in the crossfire. "Aggron!" Julian tossed out a Pok Ball and effortlessly caught it on its return. With a flash of white light, a menacing steel behemoth appeared, standing like a towering mountain in front of the Geodude. The ground trembled slightly as Aggron landed. Standing over six meters tall, the imposing Aggron did nothing but stand there, yet the Geodude froze in fear, unable to move. The ferocious aura emanating from Aggron deeply unsettled them. It was as if taking even one more step forward would turn them into Aggron''s meal. It wasn''t just the Geodude that were intimidatedChase and the other four were also stunned by Aggron''s overwhelming presence. "Guard the train" Julian instructed Aggron before heading toward the tunnel entrance. The Geodude, seeing Julian approach, instinctively prepared to attack. But as they moved, a bone-chilling sensation gripped their souls. Aggron glared at them savagely. Geodude: ''My back itches. Just scratching it, that''s all'' Raising their arms, they pretended to scratch their backs, then shuffled aside to clear the way for Julian. Seeing hundreds of Geodude frozen in place, not daring to move, and even making way for Julian, Taylor''s eyes sparkled with admiration. She sighed dreamily, "That''s itI''m done for. I''m going to die from how cool King Julian is!" Then, She suddenly grabbed Chase by the arm. Seeing Chase''s confused look, she blurted out, "Chase, you ''have'' to introduce me to King Julian later! If you like him too, I don''t mind being the third wheel." "I''ll even take care of you during your maternity leave." Hearing this, Chase''s face instantly turned red. She stammered, unsure of how to respond. A nearby boy, noticing her reaction, glared enviously at Julian''s departing figure. With a faint smirk, he said deliberately, "Taylor, stop dreaming. Do you even know who Julian is? He''s the number one prodigy of our generation in Drakoria. His grandfather is now the sixth champion of Drakoria." "A person like him would never look twice at someone like you." "None of your business! I''d gladly chase after him even if I have to beg!" Taylor retorted, shouting angrily. She didn''t notice the slight dimming in Chase''s eyes beside her. With Aggron stationed firmly nearby, the Geodude didn''t dare to move. The train and everyone around it were now safe. "This is the first time I''ve seen a Totem Pokmon! I need to take a few more pictures. Oh, how I wish I could get a front view!" "If you''re not afraid of dying, go ahead and stand in front of it." --- At the tunnel entrance, the ten security team members'' Pokmon were in various states of injury, with some critically wounded. Their captain wasn''t faring much better. He was locked in a grueling fight against the peak pseudo-Elite Golem, supported by dozens of Advenced-level Graveler. He relied on the agility of his Ampharos and Raichu to hold his ground, barely managing to hang on, leaving him unable to assist his teammates. Even so, Ampharos and Raichu were now in a precarious situation. With their type disadvantage, a single hit could take either of them out of the fight. If that happened, neither the team nor the passengers on the train would be safe. "Raichu!" The captain saw Raichu get grazed by a Graveler''s Tackle. Although it didn''t take much damage, it lost its balance. The next moment, a Graveler leaped and smashed into Raichu, sending its rotund body flying like a ball. S~ea??h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Raichu slammed into the mountainside, causing rocks to dislodge and tumble down. Sliding down slowly, Raichu found itself surrounded by Graveler, their eyes gleaming with malice. "Ampharos, go save Raichu!" The captain shouted desperately. If Raichu fell into the hands of the Graveler, the consequences would be unimaginable. Ampharos, already battling the Golem, was injured. Hearing its trainer''s voice, it instinctively glanced toward Raichu. But in that moment of distraction, the Golem used , sending boulders cascading down toward Ampharos. A series of crashes echoed as Ampharos was buried under the falling rocks. The captain had realized the moment he ordered Ampharos to save Raichu that he had made a grave mistake. But it was too late. Ampharos distracted by his words had paid the price. Now, with Ampharos buried and Raichu about to fall into the Graveler''s clutches, the captain''s face filled with despair. Although he still had other Pokmon, they were all Advenced-level at best and stood no chance against the Golem, let alone the Graveler swarm. Sending them out would only lead to their defeat. "Lucario!" Just as Raichu slid down the mountainside, on the verge of falling, a shadow flashed past. The sleek figure of a Lucario appeared, catching Raichu in its arms. With a light step on the rock wall, Lucario pushed off, soaring gracefully into the air. It landed nimbly in front of the captain and gently placed the unconscious Raichu at his feet. The Graveler, enraged that their prey had been snatched away, roared furiously and charged toward Lucario. "Bullet Punch!" Lucario moved with swift precision, its fists glowing silver with metallic energy. The punches were devastatingly powerful. Three Graveler were sent flying like cannonballs. But the next second even more Graveler rushed toward Lucario. At the front, a few Graveler growled fiercely, triggering a massive above Lucario and the captain. The captain''s face turned pale as an avalanche of boulders came crashing down. Chapter 252: Drakoria’s Double-Standard King Chapter 252: Drakorias Double-Standard KingJust as the captain was about to be buried under the falling rocks, Lucario suddenly appeared by his side. With a powerful leap, it launched a flurry of punches toward the descending boulders. Each punch was delivered at lightning speed, almost faster than the eye could follow. In the blink of an eye, the falling rocks were shattered and sent flying in all directions. Lucario landed gracefully. The captain swallowed hard, staring at Lucario in awe, his voice trembling as he muttered, "So strong..." Lucario''s display of power stunned not only the Graveler but also their leader, the Golem. At Golem''s growl, the dozens of Graveler quickly retreated to its side. With the Graveler gone, the pressure on the ten members of the security team eased significantly. Even the Geodude had begun to withdraw. "What''s going on?" "Did the captain defeat that Golem already?" "Look! There''s a Lucario over there! Since when did the captain catch such a rare Pokmon?" "You idiot, can''t you see someone standing next to the captain? That Lucario must belong to him." The team members murmured among themselves, most wearing a mix of confusion and relief from their near death escape. "Thank you" The captain said to Julian, who had now walked over to his side. As the captain looked at Julian''s young face, a flicker of recognition crossed his mind. It felt like he had seen him somewhere before, but he couldn''t quite recall where. Julian simply nodded. Looking at the Golem and the dozens of Graveler not far away, Julian understood why the train''s security team had struggled to resolve the issue. The Golem was at the peak of pseudo-Elite strength, and with the addition of dozens of Advanced-level Graveler, it wasn''t a situation the team could have handled alone. "Extreme Speed," Julian said calmly. "Luca!~" With a soft growl, Lucario transformed into a streak of light. Its speed was so astonishing that it vanished from sight, becoming invisible to the naked eye. The Graveler, realizing that Lucario had disappeared, began frantically looking around. In the next moment, a Graveler was sent flying. And then A series of impact sounds followed as Graveler after Graveler was struck and hurled through the air. The security team members and the captain stared wide-eyed, watching as the Graveler were effortlessly defeated. Not a single one could catch even a glimpse of Lucario. In less than thirty seconds, the dozens of Graveler were completely taken down. Lucario finally reappeared, standing calmly before them. One of the security team members, a Fighting-type trainer, looked at Lucario with shining eyes. "See? I told you Fighting-types are the strongest! Did you all see that? This is proof!" "Who is that young man? His Lucario is terrifyingly strong. I think it could take down the captain''s Ampharos in seconds!" "King Julian, how could you not recognize him? You''re such a fake fan. Weren''t you just bragging about being his biggest fan?" The team member''s face turned red, and he stiffened his neck as he defended himself, "I couldn''t see his face! Who can recognize someone just by their back?" "A true fan could recognize him by just a toe!" Julian: ''Are fans this amazing these days?'' Golem took a step forward after seeing its Graveler minions defeated and roared loudly. Golem: ''Can I leave now?'' Julian: (-_-)o Lucario: (ϣ)? ''Seriously? Saying the most cowardly thing in the toughest tone?'' S~ea??h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Golem, realizing it couldn''t beat Lucario, decided it wasn''t worth taking a pointless beating. Lucario: ''Experience points, don''t just walk away.'' Golem saw the determination in Lucario''s eyes and abandoned the idea of fleeing. Judging from the speed Lucario had just displayed, escape wasn''t even an option. With a resounding roar, Golem summoned reinforcements. The remaining hundreds of Geodude charged toward Lucario, leaving the fallen Graveler behind. The roar also reached the Geodude near the train. These Geodude, initially intimidated by Aggron''s imposing presence, hesitated but reluctantly advanced under their leader''s orders. "They''re moving again!" Seeing the approaching Geodude, the previously relieved group of five led by Taylor was alarmed once more. However, the massive Aggron at the front of their formation took a single step forward. The ground trembled slightly under its weight, and its intimidating presence caused several Geodude at the front to hesitate again. But it was too late. An aquamarine surged forth, brimming with violent energy, sweeping over the Geodude like a tidal wave. In an instant, the dense swarm of Geodude was mostly cleared out, and those who survived were caught in the aftermath of the attack, sustaining heavy injuries. With a single move, Aggron had taken down nearly two hundred Geodude. Although the Geodude were relatively low-leveled, Aggron''s sheer power was undeniable. "Amazing!" Taylor and her group were dumbfounded by the scene. "If Aggron is this powerful, imagine how strong King Julian''s Metagross must be!" one of the boys said, eyes filled with admiration. "Why is Aggron moving forward?" After finishing the fight, Aggron didn''t stay in place. Instead, it began walking in the direction Julian had gone. "It''s going to find King Julian, obviously. Let''s follow it," Taylor suggested. The others nodded in agreement, except for the boy who had been unfriendly toward Julian because of Chase. With the Geodude dealt with, the threat around the train had naturally been eliminated. Curious to see what kind of battle Julian was engaged in, the group of five followed behind Aggron as it marched toward Julian''s location. Meanwhile, many passengers on the train had witnessed Aggron taking down nearly two hundred Geodude with a single attack through the windows. Excitement rippled through the crowd. Many pulled out their phones to record the moment, and those who acted quickly had already uploaded the footage to TikTok. Some of the uploaders were minor influencers, and the videos quickly gained attention. - "An Aggron this big must eat a ton!" - "This is exactly why I don''t capture Aggron. Imagine the food bills." - "Quick question: why is this Aggron so massive?" - "Look up Totem Pokmon." - "My dad''s a shareholder in Penguin Group. 3 billion for this Aggron!" - "Julian: Why not buy Metagross while you''re at it?" One particular wealthy commenter was stunned when they saw the replies, realizing this Aggron belonged to Julian, they quickly deleted their post. Back at the battlefront, as over a hundred Geodude charged toward him, Lucario clasped its hands together. A silvery-white beam burst forth from between its palms, sweeping from left to right like a scythe through a field of grain. One by one, all the Geodude fell. Julian ensured there were no fatalities. For wild Pokmon, as long as they hadn''t harmed humans or his own Pokmon, Julian wouldn''t take their lives. Though just moments ago, the Graveler had nearly killed Raichu. But then again, Raichu wasn''t his Pokmon. If it died, so be it. Julian-''Drakoria''s double-standard king'' Chapter 253: Breaking the Rules Chapter 253: Breaking the RulesThe Geodude and Graveler, minions of the Golem, had all been defeated by Lucario. As the leader, Golem completely abandoned any thoughts of escape. Its eyes glinting with menace, it transformed into a massive boulder. As the boulder rolled forward, it carved deep grooves into the solid ground beneath it. The move becomes more powerful the longer it continues, but even if it rolled for five or six minutes, it wouldn''t be able to harm Lucario. Golem: ''I will take you down'' Lucario was currently at level 64, a mid-tier pseudo-Elite, but had strength far beyond its level. As Golem rolled toward it, Lucario stepped forward. Its body flashed, and in the next second, it appeared directly in Golem''s path. Lucario calmly placed its palm against the rolling Golem. The team captain, watching this bold move, felt his heart leap into his throat. Sneaking a glance at Julian, he saw no change in Julian''s expression. The captain felt a wave of secondhand embarrassment''the king stays calm while the minister panics.'' Despite Golem''s being powerful enough to level a building, Lucario''s palm brought it to an abrupt halt. A burst of white light emanated from Lucario''s hand, and in the next moment, Golem''s massive body was sent hurtling through the air. Its trajectory pointed it directly toward the mountainside of the left tunnel. If it crashed into the mountain, the tunnel would almost certainly collapse. Before Julian could issue any commands, Lucario vanished with . It reappeared in front of the airborne Golem just as it was about to collide with the mountainside. Lucario lightly leaped, its toes brushing against Golem''s body. With a loud , Golem was slammed into the ground below, creating a deep crater. Lucario landed on top of Golem, which now lay unconscious, its eyes swirling. It was clear that Golem was incapacitated. But Julian had no interest in capturing a Green-tier Golem. "You''ve contacted the officials, right?" Julian asked the captain beside him. The Golem''s group needed to be handled properly. Leaving them here would only lead to similar incidents in the future. The entire group would either have to be relocated or captured. "Yes, I''ve already informed them" The captain replied quickly, nodding. Looking at Julian''s face, which was far too youngabout the same age as his own sonthe captain couldn''t help but feel both awe and a tinge of disappointment. He thought about his own son, who wasted his days doing nothing and hadn''t even managed to get into college. Captain: ''Damn it. When I get home, I''m going to whip that kid within an inch of his life'' Julian, completely unaware of the thoughts he''d inspired, carried on, oblivious that his actions would result in someone being thoroughly disciplined that evening. Heavy footsteps echoed through the area. The team members froze as they caught sight of a colossal Aggron approaching. Their faces turned pale, and one Vileplume even fainted outright in terror. The captain stared nervously at the massive creature; ''Is this... the final boss?'' "I told you to guard the train" Julian said, his brows furrowing slightly. Aggron roared slightly aggrieved, as if to say, ''The train is fine, so I came over.'' Given Aggron''s enormous size, trying to show an aggrieved expression wasn''t exactly an easy feat. "No need to worry. It''s my Pokmon" Julian explained when he noticed the growing alarm among those around him. "Julian!" "King Julian!" At that moment, Chase and Taylor arrived, followed by three other men. They had been walking behind Aggron the entire way. "Luca~" Lucario returned to Julian''s side. "Lucario! Long time no see!" Chase said happily. Lucario nodded in acknowledgment, recognizing Julian''s high school classmates. "Lucario is so cool! It''s literally my dream Pokmon!" Taylor gushed, her eyes sparkling as she admired the handsome dog. Indeed, Lucario''s appearance alone made it a favorite among many fans, especially those who appreciated good looks. "Is that Golem over there their leader?" Taylor asked, spotting the partially buried Golem not far away. "Yeah, thanks to Julian, we''re safe. That Golem was a peak pseudo-Elite Pokmon. Without Julian, we''d all be in serious danger." The captain chimed in, his tone filled with gratitude. "A peak pseudo-Elite Golem? King Julian, you''re not planning to capture it?" Taylor asked, surprised.. Her surprise wasn''t that Julian had defeated a peak pseudo-Elite Pokmonshe knew he''d even beaten Elite-level trainers before. What shocked her was that he didn''t intend to catch it. After all, a peak pseudo-Elite wasn''t just a symbol of power; it was also a significant status symbol, representing wealth and influence. "Julian specializes in Steel-types" Chase explained on the side. Though she wasn''t entirely correct, Julian didn''t bother to elaborate. Meanwhile, another person, Baker, stared at the unconscious Golem with undisguised longing in his eyes. As a Rock-type trainer, his strongest Pokmon was only at the entry-level Advanced stage. If he could capture this peak pseudo-Elite Golem His gaze shifted to Chase, who stood close to Julian. Jealousy flickered across his face, and the desire in his eyes as he looked at Golem grew even more intense. Lucario noticed the ill intent in Baker''s aura toward Julian. It glanced at him briefly, but Baker''s attention was entirely focused on Golem and not on Lucario. '' Driven by greed and ambition, Baker threw a Pokball toward the unconscious Golem. His sudden action immediately drew everyone''s attention. "Baker, you!" Taylor shouted, her voice filled with anger. But in Baker''s eyes, nothing existed except the Pokball flying in an arc toward Golem. Closer. Closer. The Pokball was just about to make contact A shadow appeared beside the Pokball and struck it, shattering it into pieces. "Luca!~" It was Lucario who had intervened. Seeing this, Baker''s eyes reddened with fury. He was so closejust one step away from capturing the Golem. But before he could explode in anger, Taylor shoved him hard, nearly knocking him off balance. "What do you think you''re doing, Baker? Don''t you know this is Julian''s Pokmon?!" Taylor shouted furiously. Sar?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You broke the rules, kid. Do you understand that?" the captain said coldly. Golem was defeated by Julian, which meant its fate was his to decide. Whether he chose to capture it, give it away, or release it, the decision was Julian''s alone. Baker''s attempt to capture it without Julian''s consent was no different from theft. Chapter 254: Pidgeot Strikes Chapter 254: Pidgeot StrikesBaker finally realized how reckless his actions had been and that he had undoubtedly offended Julian. As he thought about Julian''s strength and his background, a look of fear instantly appeared on his face. He was about to apologize when he noticed Taylor''s angry expression and the disapproving looks from everyone around him. His gaze shifted to Chase, hoping for some support, but he was met with a look of disgust from her. In an instant, his initial fear was replaced by anger. "He isn''t even planning to capture the Golem. I''m a Rock-type trainercapturing it would put it to good use and help ensure the safety of this railway!" Baker''s shameless justification left his companions in disbelief, as if they were seeing a completely different person. Taylor walked up to him and slapped him hard across the face. "Golem was defeated by Julian. It''s up to him to decide what happens to it," she said firmly. Then, she turned to Julian and said, "King Julian, Baker just lost his senses for a moment. He''s not usually like this. Baker, come here and apologize to him immediately." Although Taylor disapproved of Baker''s actions, they were classmates and had always gotten along well. She felt obliged to help him out this time. "Just call me Julian" Julian said, waving off the title of "King Julian." Hearing it over and over was awkward and far too pretentious for his taste. Baker also realized that Taylor was trying to help him. His earlier jealousy and anger had clouded his judgment, but her slap had snapped him back to reality. Cold sweat began to bead on his forehead. He stepped forward nervously and said, "Young Master Julian, I''m sorry. I wasn''t thinking straight when I did that." As he spoke, he glanced subtly at Chase, who was standing close to Julian. Despite his anger and jealousy, he hoped she would speak up for him. Given her relationship with Julian, she could likely smooth things over if she wanted to. sea??h th n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But it was clear that Chase didn''t feel as strongly about Baker as he imagined. In fact, she seemed increasingly annoyed by his persistent advances. Baker, still bowing his head, grew more anxious with each passing moment of silence from Julian. The longer it lasted, the deeper his heart sank. He knew that if Julian chose not to forgive him, there was nothing he could do to resist. "Do you want the Golem?" Julian finally broke the silence, addressing Chase. Her proximity to him had made him a little uncomfortable, prompting him to shift slightly away. "No, I specialize in Ice-types, and besides, it wasn''t me who defeated it. It wouldn''t obey my commands," Chase replied, feeling a tinge of disappointment at Julian''s subtle distancing. Most Pokmon naturally respect the trainer who defeats them. However, if someone else captures them after their defeat, things can become complicated. If the new trainer is significantly stronger than the Pokmon, they might accept it reluctantly. But if the trainer''s strength is inferior, that''s when the rebellion begins. A Pokmon''s disobedience tends to escalate when its level surpasses its trainer''s and their bond remains weak. In severe cases, the Pokmon may not only refuse commands but even harm the trainer or outright escape. Since Chase didn''t want the Golem, Julian decided not to ask anyone else. This left some of the group staring longingly, their hopes dashed. they thought. Even the security team captain couldn''t help feeling disappointed. Though he was an Electric-type trainer, adding a Rock-type as a secondary option would''ve been a great asset. --- Above the forest, a Pidgeot soared through the sky, its sharp eyes scanning the landscape below. Its feathers were ruffled and uneven, evidence of a recent battle. The Pidgeot was very hungry and desperately needed food. Its gaze swept over the dense forest below, the canopy hiding much of the ground from view. Occasionally, it spotted wild Pokmon, but none were to its taste. After some time, its attention was caught by a group of human figures. The Pidgeot quickly confirmed its suspicion. Anger flickered in its eyes as it recalled its disheveled statecaused by humans. Hunger and rage combined, its eyes glinting with a faint red light. The red glow in its eyes intensified as it folded its wings tightly and dove down like a fighter jet, its sharp beak splitting the air into two streams. "Luca!~" Lucario was the first to sense the disturbance in the sky. It looked up, spotting the diving Pidgeot, which had locked onto one of the security team members as its target. The guard, oblivious to the danger, only noticed a shadow overhead before the Pidgeot''s talons pierced his skull. In an instant, the bird carried his lifeless body into the sky. The Pidgeot''s dive was so fast that even Lucario couldn''t react in time to save him. "Ahhh!" The sudden attack elicited screams from Taylor and Chase. Mid-air, the Pidgeot tore into its prey, devouring the security guard in just a few gulps. However, instead of satiating its hunger, the small meal seemed to only deepen its craving. Circling above, Pidgeot eyed the panicked "food" below with a hint of mockery. The shocking turn of events had Julian frozen for a moment, his face slightly stiff. He wasn''t scared, but the sight had clearly rattled him. If that Pidgeot had targeted him, he probably wouldn''t have died. After all, Lucario and Aggron were both by his side. The main reason Lucario couldn''t save the guard earlier was the distance between them. Julian activated his Probing Eyes to analyze the Pidgeot circling above. What he saw made him pause slightly. Pokmon: Pidgeot (Normal/Flying) Level: 77 Potential: Cyan Ability: Keen Eye Held Item: None Gender: Female Moves: Hurricane, Quick Attack, Sand Attack, Tackle, Gust, Whirlwind, Twister, Feather Dance, Agility, Wing Attack, Roost, Tailwind, Aerial Ace, Air Slash TMs: None Egg Moves: Steel Wing, Brave Bird, Air Cutter, Substitute --- This Pidgeot was an Elite-tier Pokmon. No wonder its speed was so overwhelming that even Lucario couldn''t catch up. If it had been pseudo-Elite instead, Lucario''s speed would''ve allowed it to save the fallen security member. An Elite-tier wild Pidgeot. Piecing these details together, Julian''s mind drifted to the reports of an Elite-tier Pidgeot sighted near Lake City Airport. It was the same Pidgeot that had caused the airport to suspend operations, prompting Julian to take the train back to Imperial University instead. "Piiii!~" Pidgeot let out a piercing cry from above, its voice echoing across the sky. With its call came the imposing aura unique to Elite-tier Pokmon, spreading like a wave across the area. Everyone except Julian immediately felt an immense pressure bear down on them, as if the air itself had turned as heavy as mercury. The suffocating sensation made their faces pale as they struggled to breathe. "Luca!~" Lucario suddenly unleashed its Aura, expanding it outward in a protective wave. As the group was enveloped within Lucario''s Aura field, the oppressive pressure finally subsided, allowing them to breathe freely again. Chapter 255: Defeated Chapter 255: DefeatedAs Lucario''s Aura shielded everyone from the Elite-tier Pidgeot''s oppressive aura, the color finally returned to the faces of everyone except Julian. Taylor looked up at the Pidgeot circling above with lingering fear. That overwhelming pressure moments ago had made her feel as if she was about to die on the spot. She couldn''t understand it. The Pidgeot hadn''t done anything, and its ability wasn''t . So why had they all felt such an instinctive, bone-deep fear? Most humans, including trainers, had never encountered a Elite-tier Pokmon in person. For them, knowledge of Elite-tier Pokmon typically came from books or videos. Opportunities to face such powerful Pokmon directly were exceedingly rare. "Dan!!" The captain''s voice was filled with grief and rage. One of his men had just been killed by the Pidgeot, with not even a body left behindit had been eaten. It wasn''t uncommon for wild Pokmon to eat humans. The Trainer Association constantly warned people to avoid venturing into the wild without sufficient strength, as it was all too easy to become prey for wild Pokmon. Chase''s face was deathly pale. Watching someone die right before her eyes, especially in such a brutal manner, had left her deeply shaken. For a young woman, the fact that she hadn''t fainted outright was already impressive. "Raichu, Thunderbolt!" The captain sent out his Raichu, determined to avenge his fallen teammate. sea??h th N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Though Raichu wasn''t in the best condition, it could still manage a . Golden lightning streaked toward the Pidgeot in the sky. Pidgeot''s eyes flashed with ridicule. With a powerful flap of its wings, it generated a gust of wind that dispersed the entirely. "Raichu-" "It''s an Elite Pokmon. Don''t waste your efforts" Julian interjected, stopping the captain. Raichu wasn''t even at the peak of pseudo-Elite. How could it possibly stand a chance against an Elite-tier Pokmon like Pidgeot? Such a futile battle would only drain Raichu''s already limited energy, and it wasn''t even capable of landing a hit on the Pidgeot. All it would achieve was making everyone even angrier. Julian''s words made the surrounding group turn pale. "Elite-tier Julian, did you say this Pidgeot is Elite-tier?" Taylor asked in disbelief, for once not referring to him as "King Julian." The others had similar expressions of shock. After all, even pseudo-Elite Pokmon were considered exceptional to them, let alone Elite-tier. There were only about 500 Elite-tier trainers in the entire country of Drakoria. Most trainers would go their whole lives without meeting even one. Wild Elite-tier Pokmon were even rarer, as rare as phoenix feathers. Now, they had encountered an Elite Pidgeot. Whether this was incredible luck or misfortune was anyone''s guess. "Piiii!~" The Pidgeot''s sharp eyes locked onto Lucario. It was Lucario that had blocked its oppressive aura. But in the next second, the Pidgeot shifted its gaze to Julian. It could sense that Lucario cared for the human standing by its side. That human must be its trainer. Elite-tier Pokmon possessed intelligence rivaling that of humans. Having encountered many human trainers in its life, the Pidgeot was well aware that the quickest way to win a battle against a trained Pokmon was to eliminate their trainer directly. "Piii!~" With a piercing cry, Pidgeot folded its wings and dove straight down, this time aiming directly for Julian. "Aura Sphere!" Julian''s eyes narrowed slightly. This Pidgeot was bolder than he had anticipated. Even after killing someone, it didn''t retreat but instead chose to launch another attack. Did it see them all as mere prey? Lucario quickly formed a glowing blue sphere of energy between its hands. Aura Sphere was a move that never missed. The energy shot straight toward the Pidgeot. However, just before impact, Pidgeot spread its wings wide, instantly slowing its dive. With a series of swift wingbeats, it narrowly evaded the Aura Sphere, which skimmed past its body. The Pidgeot continued its dive, seemingly unaware that the Aura Sphere behind it had begun to curve back around. What happened next surprised Julian. Pidgeot''s dive speed was so incredible that the Aura Sphere couldn''t keep up. Lucario: (?o?) This was a bit awkward. "Piii!~" As the distance closed rapidly, Pidgeot could already envision its talons piercing through the human''s skull. "Luca!~" Lucario leapt upward with , matching the Pidgeot''s descent. Pidgeot suddenly saw its vision darken. By the time it realized what was in front of it, Lucario''s had already connected with its face. The impact disrupted the dive, and the trailing Aura Sphere caught up, crashing into Pidgeot''s body in a brilliant explosion. For most Pokmon at Lucario''s level, these two consecutive strikes would have been enough to take them down. However, Pidgeot was a mid-to-late Elite-tier Pokmon. Despite having already been through a battle before arriving here, it managed to withstand Lucario''s attacks without being defeated. Its flight became unsteady, feathers scattering in the air as it struggled to maintain altitude. Realizing that Lucario was stronger than it had anticipated, Pidgeot soared several hundred meters higher into the sky, well beyond Lucario''s immediate reach. Lucario stood silently by Julian''s side, its gaze fixed on the distant figure of the Pidgeot. At such a height, unless the Pidgeot chose to descend, it would be nearly impossible for Lucario to land another hit. "Lucario actually held off an Elite-tier Pokmon! I thought only Metagross could pull off something like that" Taylor exclaimed, her mouth agape as she stared at the impressive canine. "Mr. Julian, please avenge Dan" The captain said angrily, his voice trembling with emotion. Pidgeot in the sky had now decided to retreat. It was already in poor condition, and the Lucario below posed a significant threat. Despite its hatred for humans, it dared not continue troubling Julian and the others. "Not good, it''s trying to leave!" Seeing the Pidgeot no longer circling and instead heading off in a specific direction, the captain grew anxious. "Metagross!" With a flash of white light, the silvery steel figure of Metagross appeared before the group. In the next instant, it vanished. Pidgeot had already killed someone, and judging by its behavior, it wasn''t the first time. It clearly harbored deep hatred for humans. Letting it escape would be dangerous. Once it recovered, countless people could fall victim to its power in the future. As a Flying-type Pokmon, its speed was formidable. If it truly wanted to escape, catching it without matching its speed would be nearly impossible. Metagross used , appearing directly in front of the fleeing Pidgeot. "Meta!~" A dazzling lit up the sky, its radiance like the finest silk glimmering in the sunlight. Pidgeot, still wondering where this foe had suddenly appeared from, was struck squarely on the head by the powerful blow. Dazed and disoriented, Pidgeot plummeted toward the ground, its vision spinning. Its descent trajectory was dangerously close to the train below. A crash could cause significant casualties. In an instant, Metagross teleported again, reappearing in front of the falling Pidgeot. Its sharp claws clamped around the bird''s neck, piercing deep into its flesh. Chapter 256: Lucky Chapter 256: LuckyEveryone watched as Metagross brought Pidgeot, clutched tightly by its neck, before Julian. Their minds momentarily went blank. A Pokmon of the Elite level was defeatedjust like that. Seriously, just like that? This left Taylor with the delusion that even ''she'' might have stood a chance. "Meta!~" Metagross tossed the half-conscious Pidgeot onto the ground. The moment it landed and struggled to rise, Aggron stomped down on it with a massive foot. With a loud , the sound of bones breaking echoed, accompanied by the Pidgeot''s agonized screeches. Given Aggron''s current weight, if it hadn''t held back a bit, this single stomp could have been fatal. However, with that one strike, Pidgeot was rendered completely unable to fight. The pain woke it up fully, but it was too weak to resist. It could only glare at Julian with cold, furious eyes. "Julian, what will you do with this Pidgeot?" Taylor asked curiously. "Kill it" The answer shocked everyone around him. They couldn''t believe their ears, wondering if they had misheard. Kill it? This wasn''t just some pseudo-Elite Pokmon like the Golem earlierit was an Elite-tier Pidgeot. Even the barely-conscious Golem, having just regained awareness, fainted again the moment it heard Julian''s words. Golem: ''Clearly, I woke up at the wrong time'' "Mr. Julian, although it killed Dan, if you are doing this because of that" The captain stepped forward. He, too, wanted to see the Pidgeot dead, but logically speaking, a live Elite level Pokmon held far greater value. The rarity of such Pokmon didn''t need to be explained. Killing it like that would be the biggest waste. Baker''s eyes reddened with envy. ''Damn it! You wouldn''t let me capture the pseudo-Elite Golem, and now you want to kill an Elite level Pidgeot? Just like that?'' "This Pidgeot has killed many people, a typical Elite trainer wouldn''t be able to suppress it," Julian said calmly. Pokmon that had killed were notoriously vicious. Even if you were slightly stronger than them, they wouldn''t submit. They would only obey if you were vastly superior in strength. And even then, taming such Pokmon would be extremely challenging. Keeping a killer Pokmon was akin to holding onto a ticking time bombone that could go off at any moment, potentially killing its own trainer. Julian''s values differed greatly from those around him. His upbringing shaped his perspective. To him, Elite level Pokmon weren''t particularly rare, so killing one didn''t mean much. But to ordinary people, the strongest Pokmon they might encounter in their lifetime was a pseudo-Elite one at best. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Metagross" Julian commanded, preparing to let it finish the job. The others wanted to say something, but none dared speak up. "Pii" Sensing Julian''s killing intent and noticing Metagross''s raised claws, Pidgeot finally panicked, crying out in distress. "Luca!~" Just as Metagross was about to strike, Lucario suddenly stepped in front of it. "Luca, Luca!~" Facing Metagross''s puzzled expression, Lucario quickly explained to both it and Julian. "Oh?" Julian walked up to the Pidgeot and placed his hand gently on its abdomen. With Metagross standing by, the Pidgeot didn''t dare resist. It knew full well that if it weren''t for Lucario''s intervention, it would already be dead. "It really is pregnant" Julian murmured after a moment, withdrawing his hand. He sensed a second Aura within Pidgeot''s body. It was faint, overshadowed by Pidgeot''s own strong Aura, which was why he hadn''t noticed it earlier. If not for Lucario''s sharp detection, Pidgeot would undoubtedly have met its end. In human society, if a woman on death row was discovered to be carrying a child, her sentence would be commuted to life imprisonment until after the child''s birth. This policy had extended to Pokmon as well. "You''re lucky" Julian said quietly. Knowing the Pidgeot was pregnant, Julian abandoned his intention to kill it. "Pii" Realizing her lifeand her child''shad been spared, the Pidgeot looked gratefully at Lucario. Pidgeot: ''When my baby is born, I''ll make you the godfather'' Lucario: ''This bas***d repaying gratitude with revenge'' Julian retrieved an empty Pok Ball and captured the Pidgeot, who didn''t resist at all. Watching this, Baker smirked in disdain. ''Hah. Talking about killing it, but in the end, he just captured it. Hypocrite.'' "It''s pregnant" Julian explained while attaching the Pok Ball to his belt. The group nodded in understanding. It made sense now why Lucario had stopped Metagrossit was protecting a life. Julian didn''t plan to keep the Pidgeot. Even though she was Elite level, she wasn''t the kind of Pokmon he preferred. Once he reached the capital, he intended to hand her over to the local Trainer Association for proper handling. Walking over to the Golem, Julian gave it a light kick. "Take your group and leave this area." The Golem, who had been pretending to be unconscious, instantly opened its eyes, scrambled to its feet, and nodded frantically. Even if this area was perfect for the Golemwith plenty of rocks and the dark, damp environment of the tunnelsit was far too dangerous for them now. The Golem roared a command to its clan, leading those who were awake into the forest. Those still unconscious were left behind for the time being. During the migration, the weaker members of the group who couldn''t keep up were naturally left behind. The Golem departed, but left over fifty unconscious Geodudes behind. These Geodudes appeared to be the weakest members of the entire group. "Mr. Julian, leave these to us. You can head back to the train," the captain said. Julian nodded. Since someone else was taking care of the matter, he was happy to let them handle it. "Let''s go" He said to Chase, recalling his Aggron and Lucario into their Pok Balls but keeping Metagross by his side. It would take about ten minutes to return to the train, and he couldn''t guarantee that no wild Pokmon would appear during the trip. Having Metagross out for protection was still necessary. "Which University are you attending now?" Julian asked. Julian was naturally a reserved person. During his senior year of school, he hadn''t made many friends. After graduating, he''d only stayed in touch with a few, like Will. Even though Chase had been on the same school team as him, she had only been a substitute, and they weren''t particularly close. He had her contact information, but after adding her, they hadn''t exchanged a single message. "South Lake University," Chase replied. If he remembered correctly, South Lake University was ranked toward the bottom of the first-tier universities. Although it wasn''t among the top schools, it was still far superior to any second-tier university. Coincidentally, the train''s next stop was South Lake City, which explained why Chase and her group were on the same train as Julian. "It can''t compare to Imperial University" Chase said with a hint of embarrassment. The difference between the two was indeed significantone was at the bottom of the first tier, while the other was at the very top. The gap was especially evident after Imperial University recently claimed first place again in the Hundred Schools League, further solidifying its reputation and outshining Shu University. Chapter 257: Do you have a boyfriend? Chapter 257: Do you have a boyfriend?To thank Taylor, Chase, and the others for stepping in to help, the train''s chief attendant upgraded them from second-class seats to the business class for free. Coincidentally, this placed them in the same carriage as Julian. This made the group feel a bit embarrassed, as they hadn''t really done much to help. In fact, if Julian hadn''t dealt with the initial swarm of Geodudes, it would have been them who faced the danger. All four of them, except for Baker, made their way to the business class. Baker, due to his earlier behavior, had been ostracized by the group. Although Julian didn''t ultimately hold a grudge, Baker didn''t dare show his face around Julian again. What if Julian decided he was an eyesore and wanted to deal with him? The original passengers in the business class were curious upon learning of Julian''s identity. However, since Taylor and the other three surrounded Julian, they didn''t get a chance to strike up a conversation. "Julian and Chase were classmates, right? What''s your relationship like?" Taylor asked with a gossipy expression. "You know, Chase has a lot of admirers at South Lake University." Before Julian could respond, Chase''s face flushed red as she quickly said, "Don''t overthink it. Julian and I are just ordinary high school classmates." A lot of admirers? Back in school, she didn''t seem all that attractive. With some skepticism, Julian gave Chase a closer look and realized she''d changed quite a bit. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her skin was noticeably fairer than he remembered, her facial features had softened, and her outfit was well-coordinated. Now, Chase could definitely be considered pretty. She might not be on the level of Hannah or his cousin Thea, both campus belles of Imperial University, but she could easily pass as a class beauty. Caught off guard by Julian''s scrutinizing gaze, Chase froze, especially since his eyes carried a hint of appraisal. No wonder they say college changes people, especially girls. "So, what do you think? Isn''t our Chase big?" Taylor, a sharp observer, had already noticed her friend''s feelings for Julian. But since Julian seemed indifferent, she decided to lend a helping hand. "Do you have a boyfriend?" Julian blurted out in response to Taylor''s teasing. As soon as he said it, the atmosphere instantly grew awkward. Did "big" have anything to do with a boyfriend? Well, maybe a little. Realizing he''d said something completely off-topic, Julian didn''t know how to recover, so he simply looked out the window to ease the tension. Chase, unaware of any hidden meaning in Julian''s words, hurriedly said, "No, no, I don''t have one!" But seeing Julian looking out the window as if he didn''t want to engage further left her feeling uneasy. She was so anxious that she almost burst into tears, frantically turning to Taylor and saying, "Taylor, please tell Julian that I don''t have a boyfriend!" Taylor shook her head secretly. she thought. And judging from his words, this guy seems to be quite the seasoned player. Well, it made sense. As a member of a prestigious family, Julian probably had a lot of experience in relationships. Taylor couldn''t help but wonder just how many "fish" were swimming in Julian''s metaphorical pond. With someone as na?ve as Chase, if she entered Julian''s pond, it wouldn''t be surprising if the other "fish" devoured her, leaving nothing but bones. Thinking of this, Taylor''s thoughts shifted. At that moment, the train''s announcement system came on: "Dear passengers, due to a train malfunction, we will be stopping at South Lake City for repairs. Passengers needing to transfer or request refunds, please use the app to make arrangements. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience." Though the train hadn''t been directly attacked by the Geodudes, the tremors from the battle had affected the ground, indirectly impacting the train''s safety. Now, the train''s error codes were lighting up. To ensure passenger safety, the train would stop at South Lake City. The passengers naturally began grumbling, but there was no changing the situation. The train had to stop. South Lake City didn''t have an airport, so the only way to reach the capital was to continue traveling by high-speed train. Julian opened the app to purchase a ticket from South Lake City to the capital, only to find that all tickets for the next two days, even standing tickets, were sold out. Julian had recently earned his flying license during the holiday break, meaning he could now freely fly over major cities. Still, in terms of comfort, airplanes were far superior. For long distances, flying commercially was definitely the best choice. "Julian, how about I show you around South Lake University?" Chase noticed the high-speed train app on Julian''s phone and saw that all the tickets to the capital were sold out. Her heart leapt with excitement. "What''s there to see at South Lake University? Julian has important things to do when he gets back to university. Don''t waste his time," Taylor interjected immediately. Right now, Taylor couldn''t let Chase spend more time with someone like Julian. The quicker he left, the better. Julian, suddenly sensing a wave of disdain through Taylor''s Aura, was a bit confused. Taylor''s words made Chase hesitate. Having finally run into Julian again, she naturally didn''t want him to leave so soon. But at the same time, she didn''t want to delay anything important for him because of her. "There''s nothing urgent at university, so why not visit South Lake University?" Julian finally said, breaking Chase''s internal dilemma. Drakoria was vast, and Julian had only been to a handful of cities before. It wasn''t until he became a Pokmon Trainer that he ventured out of Lake City. While South Lake City wasn''t particularly famous in the country, it held significant prestige among enthusiasts of rare stones. The city was known for its peculiar rocks covered in variously sized holes, aptly named "South Lake Stones." South Lake City derived its name from South Lake, one of the top ten freshwater lakes in Drakoria. The lake was home to an abundance of Water-type Pokmon. "Then let me be your guide!" Hearing Julian agree to visit South Lake University, Chase couldn''t contain her joy, her face lighting up with a radiant smile. "I''ll be your guide too!" Taylor quickly chimed in. She had no intention of letting Chase spend time alone with Julian. Who knew what might happen if this "pond master" had her friend all to himself? He might toy with her feelings and then discard her, leaving her so devastated she''d do something extreme. Taylor''s imagination truly ran wild. Julian glanced at her, exasperated. "Taylor, I can show Julian around by myself" Chase said, her tone suddenly wary as she eyed her friend suspiciously. Taylor: (Ѧء`) Chapter 258: Ditto Chapter 258: DittoMore than half an hour later, the train arrived at South Lake City''s high-speed railway station. Several ambulances were already parked outside due to the train''s emergency braking earlier, which had caused injuries to many passengers. Outside, a significant number of reporters had also gathered. These well-informed journalists knew that the recently popular Julian was on this train. And the train''s safe arrival at the station was thanks to Julian''s efforts. Their target wasn''t the accident itself but Julian. Since his debut, Julian hadn''t given any media interviews. If they could snag an exclusive with him, the rewardswhether in bonuses or even promotionswould be substantial. As all the passengers exited the station, the reporters waited expectantly. But Julian never appeared, leaving them looking at each other in confusion. "Could he have disguised himself and blended in with the passengers?" one journalist asked, puzzled. "Are you stupid? We''re reporters. Unless he''s had plastic surgery, I could recognize him even if he covered his head," a nearby colleague retorted. To be a good reporter, you needed sharp eyesespecially as a paparazzi. How else could you spot a disguised actress sneaking into a hotel with a male celebrity or wealthy businessman? In a car parked outside the South Lake high-speed railway station, Taylor and Chase were seated in the back, with a young man between them. The young man wasn''t Julian, but everything about himfrom his clothes to his height and hairstylewas identical to Julian. "All right, Ditto" said Taylor from the left. The young man''s face suddenly started twitching strangely. His facial muscles shifted and rippled, and soon, he transformed into a small, purple Pokmon. In an instant, the unfamiliar young man became Julian. The purple Pokmon, naturally a Ditto, then leapt into Taylor''s arms. "I didn''t expect you to have a Ditto" Julian remarked with curiosity, his gaze fixed on Taylor. Anyone with a Ditto clearly came from a remarkable background. Ditto wasn''t particularly strong in battle. Its only move was , and even when it copied a Pokmon, its abilities depended on its own level. However, Ditto was one of the few Pokmon strictly regulated by the World Trainers'' Association, requiring owners to undergo assessments and register the Pokmon. The reason lay in its transformation abilitynot limited to Pokmon but extending to stones, knives, trees, tables, and any similarly-sized objects. It could even transform into a human-skin mask that adhered to someone''s face, completely altering their appearance. This was the real issue. A Ditto that could change someone''s appearance was a criminal''s dream Pokmon. You could commit crimes with one face and then switch to another afterward; ''I''ve taken a liking to your wife. While you''re not at home, I''ll transform into you and take care of her. The best part? She''s very cooperative.'' ''I look ugly? No problem. I''ll have Ditto transform into a drop-dead handsome face. I''ll stroll down the street, and with just a flick of my fingers, women will flock to me.'' With a Ditto, you''re the ultimate . That''s why, for the sake of societal peace, all nations impose strict regulations on Ditto owners. In Drakoria, Ditto is under strict government control. Unless sanctioned by officials, there''s no way to legally obtain one. Even with these measures, however, a fair number of smuggled Ditto make their way into the country each year. Officially registered Ditto in Drakoria are implanted with tracking chips, and obtaining one is an extremely challenging process. Normal-Type Trainers and people in special professions are more likely to have their applications approved. For an ordinary person, approval is almost impossible unless under exceptional circumstances. Ditto''s actual combat ability is weak; what makes it dangerous is its unparalleled transformation skill. "This Ditto took my grandfather three years of persistent applications to the Trainers'' Association before they finally approved it" Taylor said as she hugged Ditto in her arms, poking its jelly-like body with one finger. Taylor''s family is a prominent local family in South Lake City, known as a Normal-Type Trainer clan with a strong reputation in the area. "Take me to the hotel first," Julian said. It was nearly dark, not the best time to visit South Lake University. "What hotel? You can stay at my house for the night," Taylor suggested casually. Julian froze for a moment, giving her a peculiar look, resisting the urge to quip, ''I don''t hook up with fans.'' "What do you mean, stay at your house? Julian is obviously going to a hotel!" Finally, Chase, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. She was convinced her best friend was trying to steal Julian from herand coming on strong at that. Inviting him to stay at her house on the first day they met? She couldn''t imagine saying something like that herself. ''If Julian went to a hotel and called Taylor over, she''d definitely rush over to his room. And once she went in, there''d be no way out,'' Chase thought. In the end, Julian chose to stay at a hotel. After all, staying at Taylor''s house on the very first day they met could easily lead to misunderstandings. However, Taylor and Chase also booked a hotel roomand shared one right next to Julian''s. Taylor wanted to keep an eye on Julian to prevent him from calling Chase to his room during the night. On the other hand, Chase wanted to prevent Taylor from sneaking into Julian''s room. Taylor''s thoughtful intentions were completely lost on Chase, who instead misunderstood her actions. In Chase''s eyes, Taylor had transformed from her best friend into a conniving snake girl trying to steal her man. When it came to the art of "subtle manipulation and scheming", Chase was no match for Taylor. Meanwhile, Julian was in his hotel room, sending a message to his homeroom teacher, Mr. Frank, requesting leave. Originally, he had planned to arrive at university that day, but due to unforeseen events, he couldn''t make it. Plus, he still wanted to visit South Lake University. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So, he decided to take a five-day leave. Mr. Frank quickly approved his request. With Julian''s current status at Imperial University, as long as he didn''t break any major school rules, no one at the school would give him trouble. After sending the message, he opened the class group chat. The number of unread messages was a daunting ''999+''. Skimming through the conversation, he noticed a lot of people tagging himnone more frequently than Luis. Wasn''t Luis kicked out of the group chat last time? How did he manage to get back in? Most of the messages in the group were people asking when Julian would return. Technically, Julian was the class representative of the Special Admission Class, though he had never really performed the duties of one. Most class affairs were handled by Luis, Ian, and a few others on his behalf. "Back in five days" Julian typed and sent a message in the group chat. Luis: Brother Julian, you''re alive! Dalton: Boss, while you were gone, Luis said he''s the next class representative. Luis: Dalton, stop spreading nonsense! Didn''t you also say your powers have grown and you''re ready to take Julian down? Reading their banter, Julian''s face darkened slightly. It seemed that in his absence, these two had gotten a little too comfortable. Chapter 259: South Lake University Chapter 259: South Lake UniversityThe next morning, while having breakfast at the hotel, Julian noticed Taylor yawning repeatedly, looking tired and listless. "Stayed up late playing games?" Julian asked. Why gaming? Because, speaking from personal experience, the biggest reason he ever stayed up late was for gaming. Most people thought Julian was not only well-born, good-looking, and talented but also free of the bad habits common among kids from affluent families. What they didn''t know was that Julian was, in fact, an online gaming addict. "Had trouble sleeping in a new bed," Taylor replied, yawning again. The truth, however, was that she had been on guard all night, worried that Chasewho was sharing her roommight sneak off to Julian''s room while she was asleep to throw herself at him. Chase looked at Taylor suspiciously. Since when did Taylor have trouble adjusting to new beds? "Just started recently," Taylor explained. Such a flimsy excuse only made Chase more suspicious. If she didn''t know how oblivious Julian was, she might have assumed, seeing how exhausted Taylor looked, that Taylor had snuck into Julian''s room last night instead. True to their friendship, both Taylor and Chase were thinking along the same lines, though about each other. After finishing breakfast, each with their own hidden agenda, Taylor and Chase accompanied Julian to South Lake University. Although South Lake University was at the lower end of the elite university rankings, it was still an elite institution. And like every top university, it had at least one flagship program. For South Lake University, its flagship was not Pokmon training but Pokmon research. The university had produced many renowned Pokmon scholars, both domestically and internationally. Its Pokmon research program was even considered superior to that of Imperial University and Pearl University. Many students aspiring to become Pokmon researchers would choose South Lake University as their first option, with Imperial and Pearl coming second. Julian wore a black face mask, a white short-sleeve shirt, khaki casual pants, and light yellow sneakers. His tall, upright figure and relaxed stride caught the attention of those around him. With Taylor and Chase by his side, he strolled through the South Lake University campus, chatting and laughing along the way. Compared to the intensely competitive atmosphere at Imperial University, where even the slightest rivalry reached every corner of the school, South Lake University felt more laid-back. Being a student at Imperial University was both an honor and a burden. Surrounded by geniuses, one had no choice but to work tirelessly to avoid falling behind. At Imperial University, it was rare to find anyone taking it easy, even among first-year students, who worked hard to secure their rankings within their classes. But here at South Lake University, Julian felt none of that heavy atmosphere. This was what a university should feel like, and it reminded Julian of what college life was like in his previous life. The kind of university life where students slack off from their freshman year all the way to senior year, barely scraping by to earn a diploma. "What''s that place over there?" Julian pointed to a street not far away as they walked. "Today''s market day. Don''t you have something like this at Imperial University?" Taylor asked, puzzled. "No, we don''t. We don''t need it" Julian replied, shaking his head. Taylor: Market day was a designated time when students brought out things they didn''t need or wanted to sell to exchange for money or resources. Events like this were common at universities. Market days typically happened on Saturdays or Sundays. Imperial University didn''t have market days. As the top university in the nation, it provided students with a monthly allowance of resources, a significant amount compared to other schools. This alone was enough to make countless aspiring students dream of attending Imperial University. And why did Imperial University have so many resources to offer its students? That was thanks to the Trainer Association. The annual Hundred Schools League wasn''t just about competing for the ownership of a high-tier secret realm. It also determined how much funding and resources schools would receive from the Trainer Association the following year. The higher your school placed in the league, the more resources it would receive. Compared to the risks and efforts involved in exploring a high-tier secret realm to gather resources, the Trainer Association''s funding was a safe and reliable alternative. "Let''s check it out" Julian said, heading toward the street out of curiosity, hoping to find something valuable. After walking for a while, Julian felt a bit disappointed. The stalls were filled with either common items or junk. The slightly better offerings consisted of evolution stones, but even those weren''t anything special. None of this was useful to Julian. If he were in a secret realm, he wouldn''t even bother with anything less than top-tier evolution stones. Noticing Julian''s lack of enthusiasm, Chase said, "Julian, maybe there''ll be something interesting further down." Sar?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There was an unwritten rule on market streets: the further you went, the higher the value of the items. However, Julian had already walked about two-thirds of the way and hadn''t seen anything worthwhile, so he wasn''t holding out much hope for the last third. Forget about striking a bargain; he''d be content just to find something that caught his eye. "Come, take a look, everyone! Fossils of Pokmon for saleperfect for collectors or as decorations!" shouted a vendor ahead. On the bustling trade street, the sound of vendors calling out was common, but one voice stood outloud and clear, advertising something quite unique: fossils of ancient Pokmon. Fossil Pokmon were only found in ancient secret realms, and naturally, their fossils came exclusively from such places. In the entire Nation of Drakoria, there was only one ancient secret realm. Encountering someone selling fossils in a place like this was certainly surprising. "Julian, don''t go there. That guy''s fossils are all fake," Taylor said with obvious disgust. "Taylor was deceived by him before" "Chase, do you have to say it?" Taylor glared at Chase, her face flushing with embarrassment at having her misstep exposed. While the two bickered, Julian had already approached the stall. He casually picked up a fossil. From its texture, weight, and even the overly perfect shape, it practically screamed "fake." Julian gave Taylor a disbelieving look. "He tricked me!" Taylor angrily pointed at the student running the stall. "Don''t listen to her nonsense, fellow student. Everything on my stall is genuine," the vendor protested with a smile. Julian chuckled, pointing at the items. "These are all compressed from stone powder. Genuine fossils wouldn''t have such smooth surfaces, and the imprints wouldn''t be this clear. Also, you used the wrong stone powderit should be carbon steel stone." The vendor didn''t seem upset at being exposed. Instead, he took out a pen and paper, jotting down notes. "Hmm, hmm. Go on, classmate. I''ll improve them next time," he said earnestly. Hearing this, Taylor nearly lost it and had to resist the urge to kick him. Chapter 260: Magearna Chapter 260: MagearnaAt present, the technology to revive fossils hasn''t been discovered yet. It''s likely still lying dormant in some ancient ruins, waiting for humanity to uncover it. Once this technology is discovered and fossil revival machines are created, these machines would be able to bring fossils back to life, transforming them into living, breathing Pokmon. Of course, the fossils in front of him were definitely out of the question. As a semi-expert in geology, Julian could spot the fakes at a glance. But that round sphere it looked somewhat real. Authentic. Julian walked up to a young man standing next to a sphere roughly a meter in diameter. Touching its surface, it indeed felt like it was made of genuine stone material. This thing wasn''t fake. "Zack, why are you putting such a big Pok Ball here? Who in their right mind would buy this?" Taylor sneered. Seeing Julian take an interest in the sphere shaped like a Pok Ball, Taylor, despite her dislike of him, didn''t want to see him get scammed right in front of her. Pok Ball? Taking a closer look, the sphere did indeed bear an 80% resemblance to a Pok Ball. "Julian, this ''Pok Ball'' must have been carved, right?" Chase asked curiously. Julian shook his head. If it had been carved, there would be clear markings. Its natural appearance, coupled with the surface wear, suggested it could be centuries, if not millennia, old. "Miss, this isn''t carved. It''s an heirloom from my grandfather. He told me he found it in a ruin" Zack interjected the moment he heard Chase''s comment. "A ruin? Forget whether your grandfather even had access to a ruin, but who goes into one and brings back something like ''this''?" Taylor said mockingly, pointing at the sphere with a smirk. Ruin entry slots were incredibly valuable. No one would waste their time and effort bringing out something so seemingly useless. "That''s just what my grandfather told me! Believe it or not, it''s up to you!" Zack''s face flushed slightly as he stubbornly defended himself. "Classmate, if this really came from a ruin, even a random rock from there might have research value" Zack said, now turning to Julian. He could sense Julian''s mild interest in the sphere. He hadn''t had a single sale all day, and he was counting on Julian to break that streak. Besides, he noticed that Taylor, the young lady of a prominent family, seemed to care a lot about Julian, and the presence of Chase only added to his assumption that Julian was someone wealthy. Julian''s interest in the sphere wasn''t exactly for purchasingit was more out of curiosity. What kind of natural environment could have shaped a stone sphere to resemble a Pok Ball? Could there be a Pokmon inside? The thought crossed his mind, recalling the anime where oversized Pok Balls were used to imprison ancient Pokmon. Julian instinctively activated his Probing Eyes to examine the stone sphere. Pokmon: Magearna (Steel/Fairy) Level: 0 (73) Potential: Blue Ability: Soul-Heart Item: None Moves: None TMs: None Egg Moves: None Note: The Soul-Heart within has disappeared. Re-injecting a Soul-Heart is required for revival. --- "How much is this stone?" Julian asked. "A million" Zack replied quickly, realizing Julian was serious about buying. "Zack, have you lost your mind? This thing isn''t worth a million!" Taylor glared at Zack, preparing to persuade Julian not to waste his money. But before she could intervene, Julian had already taken out his phone. He scanned the payment code on Zack''s stall without hesitation. Sar?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The notification sound from Zack''s phone chimed the next second. Taylor was stunned. Chase was equally baffled. Even Zack, the seller, stood frozen in disbelief. Zack had mentally prepared for some haggling. As long as the price wasn''t below 5,000, he was ready to sell it. The one million was just a random number he''d thrown out, never expecting Julian to actually pay it. "Julian, have you lost your mind?!" Taylor shouted. She couldn''t wrap her head around why Julian would spend a million on a useless stone sphere, just because it resembled a Pok Ball. "Zack, refund him right now, or I''ll report you for fraud!" "Fraud? This was a fair transaction!" Zack shook his head. There was no way he''d give up that one million now staring back at him from his account. "Can you tell me which ruin your grandfather brought this from?" Julian asked. Initially, he hadn''t believed the sphere came from a ruin, but now he did. Magearna A mythical Pokmon, Steel and Fairy type. However, it was in a dormant state due to the missing Soul-Heart. To revive Magearna, its lost Soul-Heart would need to be locatedmost likely in the ruin it originated from. "It''s from the Ancient Kingdom Ruins," Zack replied. Realizing Julian wasn''t asking for a refund, Zack finally let out a breath of relief. But a thought crept into his mind; Even though Julian''s face was obscured by a mask, his demeanor didn''t give the impression of someone foolishly throwing money around. The Ancient Kingdom Ruins were discovered decades ago, but Drakoria''s government had never disclosed what was found there. That wasn''t unusual. Most nations rarely revealed what they uncovered in ruins unless they had fully mastered the use of such discoveries. For example, technologies like Pokmon Potential Detectors, Pok Ball transfer systems, and Energy Cube production methods were only made public after being fully understood and developed. These technologies were all discovered within ruins. After their discovery, researchers studied them gradually, only announcing them to the public once they were fully understood. Every trainer who entered ruins underwent rigorous screening. To even qualify for entry into ruins, a trainer needed to be at least at the Elite level. However, even Elite trainers faced life-threatening dangers within ruins. Ruins inevitably harbored Elite-level Pokmon, and some even housed Champion-level ones. If luck took a "fortunate" turn, one might even encounter a Legendary Pokmon. "Hey, is this thing really valuable?" Zack asked. He was beginning to regret naming the price at one millionmaybe he should''ve said ten million instead. "For me, it''s useful. For others, not so much" Without his ''Probing Eyes'', Julian wouldn''t have recognized that the stone sphere was actually a dormant Magearna. Its death-like state rendered it indistinguishable from an ordinary rock. Even professional machines would fail to detect it. The only way to confirm its true nature would be to break the stone apart, revealing Magearna within. But without its Soul-Heart, Magearna was essentially lifeless. Most would mistake it for a doll crafted from unknown materials. In truth, Magearna was indeed an artificial Pokmon, much like Mewtwo. "I''ll take this back to the hotel first," Julian said to the two women. He then released Lucario to lift the stone sphere. Since there were many people around, using his system space was out of the question, leaving this as the only option. Taylor, still fuming, ignored Julian entirely. "I''ll come with you," Chase offered. Taylor opened her mouth, ready to insist on going too. But before she could, Julian said, "No need. I''ll be back shortly after dropping it off at the hotel." Chapter 261: Call Chapter 261: CallOn the way back to the hotel, Julian found a secluded spot and stored the stone sphere that Magearna had become into his system space. Since Magearna without its Soul-Heart was essentially lifeless, it could be placed into storage. "This is what it feels like to be the protagonist" Julian muttered, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. Though he usually acted like he had terrible luck and avoided trying his luck a second time, moments like this proved otherwise. Sometimes, when luck struck, nothing could stop it. Who would have thought he''d stumble upon a dormant Magearna, transformed into a stone sphere, on the trading street of South Lake University? A Mythical Steel- and Fairy-type Pokmon for just one million? This was a massive win for him. Meanwhile, the seller, Zack, felt like he''d hit the jackpot too. Selling a useless stone sphere for a million? He was already planning to stock up on similar "stone spheres" for his next batch. Lucario glanced at Julian, who was practically radiating happiness. Though it didn''t understand the reason, Lucario''s mood brightened as well, and it let out a cheerful "Luca! Luca!" As for Magearna''s missing Soul-Heart, Julian wasn''t in a rush. He planned to wait until his Metagross reached the Elite level before venturing into the ancient kingdom''s ruins. Given the difficulty of such ruins, only an Elite-level Pokmon could ensure meaningful gains while also providing enough strength to handle the dangers within. At its current pace of gathering energyeven with the item ''Heart of Arceus'' in its coreJulian estimated it would take at least six months to over a year for Metagross to break through to the Elite level. In terms of time, this was remarkably short. After all, Metagross had been born just over a year ago and was already a peak pseudo-Elite Pokmon, with battle strength approaching the late Elite level. Raising a Metagross to this level in just over a year was unparallelednot just in the Drakoria region, but across the entire world. The phone rang. Julian took it out and saw Wade''s name on the screen. He immediately pressed the answer button. "Hello, Professor Wade." "Julian, I heard from Frank that you''ve taken a leave of absence." "Yes, I had some matters to attend to, so I took a five-day leave." "Is there something you need, Professor?" Julian asked. Wade wouldn''t have called just to discuss his leave. "If you''re free, stop by the Drake family estate in the next few days. This is the period when the ''Dragon''s Den'' Secret Realm is at its peak for Dragon-type energy." Wade didn''t elaborate further, but Julian understood. "Understood. I''ll come by tomorrow," Julian replied. With that, the call ended. The energy levels of high-level secret realms fluctuate annually, with certain periods experiencing exceptionally low energy while others reach a peak. The timing and duration of these fluctuations are unpredictable. When a secret realm''s energy reaches its peak, Pokmon breakthroughs become significantly easier compared to normal times; conversely, during low-energy periods, breakthroughs are much harder. Julian sent a quick message to both Chase and Taylor, informing them that he had an urgent matter requiring his return to the Imperial Capital. Since South Lake City didn''t have an airport and high-speed train tickets to Imperial Capital were sold out for the next few days, Julian had no choice but to ride his Dragonite there. With plenty of time before he needed to arrive in the evening, Julian kept Dragonite''s speed moderate, maintaining a leisurely 100 kilometers per hour. --- Meanwhile, back at South Lake University, Chase was still waiting for Julian to return from his hotel. Instead, she received a message saying he wouldn''t be coming back and had to leave for the Imperial Capital. Though Chase said nothing, the disappointment on her face was impossible to hide. Taylor, on the other hand, breathed a deep sigh of relief when she saw the message. ''That jerk finally left. Now I don''t have to worry about him messing with my bestie,'' Clara thought to herself. Seeing Chase staring dejectedly at her phone, Taylor snatched it away. "Stop looking at it. He rushed back to the Imperial Capitalwho knows which woman over there called him back!" Clara said, her tone dripping with disdain. "I know these so-called heirs way too well. They might seem all proper on the surface, but who knows how many girls they''ve messed around with? Some might have even been forced to... you know." Julian: ''The misunderstanding here is really over the top'' Chase shook her head. "Julian isn''t like that. He''s different from the other heirs. If it weren''t for him, Cloyster and I might have died in a secret realm." She vividly remembered the desperate moment in the secret realm. Holding her weakened Shellder, feeling utterly helpless and panicked, Julian had suddenly appeared. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had given her a high-grade Water Stone without hesitation. That Water Stone saved Shellder, enabling it to evolve into Cloyster and recover from the debilitating effects of excess Ice-type energy. For Julian, it might have been a small, inconsequential act. But for Chase and Cloyster, it had changed their destinies. Seeing the fervent emotion in Chase''s eyes, Taylor was caught off guard. She hadn''t realized there was such a story between her and Julian. If that was the case, knowing Chase''s personality, she would remember Julian''s kindness for the rest of her life. The likelihood of her being completely devoted to him? Almost 100%. --- Around five in the evening, Julian arrived in the Imperial Capital. Having recently earned his flight license, he passed the inspection by the city''s aerial patrol and rode Dragonite directly into the city airspace. Gone were the days when he had to land on the outskirts of a city and enter by foot or other means of transportation. The ban on entering city airspace without a flight license was primarily for safety reasons, ensuring a regulated and secure environment. Julian had arranged to visit Professor Wade the following morning, so he opted to stay in a hotel for the night. Naturally, the hotel he chose was the Gardevoir Hotel, owned by his family. With the Asian Games currently being held in the Imperial Capital, the city was flooded with both domestic and international tourists. This influx explained why train and plane tickets to the city had been nearly impossible to secure in recent days. Most of the hotels in the capital were fully booked, and finding an available roomespecially during such a busy timewas no easy feat. Even high-end hotels were at capacity, as there was never a shortage of wealthy travelers. The Gardevoir Hotel was no exception; all its rooms were officially occupied, even the most expensive presidential suites. One of those suites had been booked for over two weeks by a single guest. However, high-end establishments like the Gardevoir Hotel always kept certain rooms unlisted, reserved for special circumstances or VIP guests. For instance, while the hotel officially had three presidential suites, only two were available for regular booking. The third was strictly reserved for individuals of exceptional status and was never publicly advertised. Julian was given this exclusive third suite. Its interior was even more lavishly designed than the other two, a true showcase of luxury. Chapter 262: Drake Family Chapter 262: Drake FamilyAfter finishing breakfast and completing his daily task, Julian left the Gardevoir Hotel around nine in the morning and headed toward the Drake family residence. On the western side of the Imperial Capital lay a vast expanse of ancient-style courtyards, backed by the White Mountain Range. The area was not only picturesque but also carried a certain level of danger. The White Mountain Range was one of the restricted zones in the country, though the prohibition mainly applied to the mountain''s central region. The outskirts, while home to numerous wild Pokmon, were inhabited by Pokemon of relatively low levels. At the entrance to the Drake family estate, Julian descended from his Dragonite. Wade approached him, accompanied by Dylan. "Professor Drake" Julian greeted Wade respectfully, then nodded slightly at Dylan. Julian and Dylan weren''t particularly acquainted. In fact, Julian''s success had indirectly turned Dylan and Modu Academy into the biggest backdrop of the Hundred Schools League that year. Dylan''s feelings toward Julian were complicated. While he admired Julian''s strength, he couldn''t help but feel envious of how someone his age could be so powerful. "Let''s go" Wade said, showing no concern for Dylan''s inner turmoil. Bringing Dylan along was entirely to facilitate more interaction between the two. After all, they were peers in terms of age. Julian was the heir to the Walker family, and Dylan was the heir to the Drake family. Encouraging communication between them could only be beneficial. As Julian entered the Drake family''s estate, he was struck by the vibrancy of their large family. The Drake family boasted over a hundred members, most of whom were from collateral branches, but even their direct lineage included more than twenty members. This was a stark contrast to the Walker family, whose entire population didn''t even exceed ten. With such a small number, the Walker family might not survive a significant disaster. "Rest for today and let Dylan explain about the Dragon''s Den to you. You can enter it tomorrow" Wade instructed, leading Julian to a small courtyard that seemed to be prepared as his accommodation for the night. Julian nodded. Since he was a guest of the Drake family, he naturally followed their arrangements. After Wade left, Julian and Dylan found themselves standing in awkward silence, neither knowing how to start a conversation. The atmosphere became dull and uncomfortable. Julian wasn''t particularly outgoing, and Dylan still felt humiliated after being defeated by someone younger. He had no idea how to initiate a discussion. "What are you two doing just standing there at the door?" A voice suddenly interrupted the tension. Owen approached with a curious expression. "Julian, I''m Owen, Ian''s older brother. Thank you for looking out for him at university," Owen said, extending his hand. "I didn''t look out for him, so there''s no need to thank me" Julian replied as he shook hands with Owen. Owen: ''Is this guy serious?'' The polite exchange had been intended as mere courtesy, but Julian had taken it literally. Owen''s stiff expression briefly flickered before he let out a hearty laugh to ease the awkwardness. "Brother Dylan, Julian, let''s head inside to talk" Owen said, gesturing for them to follow. Owen and Dylan were cousins, with Dylan being a year older than Owen. The three of them walked into the small courtyard, which was about the same size as Julian''s villa at the Imperial University. However, the decor had a more natural aesthetic compared to the villa. By the courtyard pond, there was a small tea table with several attendants standing nearby. "Try this, these tea leaves were picked from a perilous area in the White Mountain Range." Sar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Owen said, pouring tea for Julian before serving Dylan and himself. Julian accepted the tea but didn''t drink it right away. "Don''t like it?" Owen asked curiously, noticing Julian hesitating. "It''s a bit hot," Julian replied truthfully. Owen: \(0\) Tea was something that lost its flavor if left to cool. Owen began to regret coming here. One Dylan was already enough to dampen his mood, and now there was another reserved presence in Julian. ''If I''ve committed a crime, let the law punish me, not these two stoic statues sitting beside me,'' Owen thought silently. Deciding not to speak further, Owen focused on drinking his tea. Since the tea was rare and neither of the others seemed interested, he figured he might as well enjoy it himself. "Have you both been to the Dragon''s Den before?" Julian asked softly, sipping the tea once it had cooled down. He was set to enter the Den tomorrow, so he wanted to gather some basic information in advance. Owen glanced at Dylan and said, "Among the younger generation of the family, only Brother Dylan has been inside." Although the Drake family managed the Dragon''s Den, a rare and advanced secret realm, access wasn''t granted freely. Each year, they had a fixed number of entry slots. These slots could either be used for family members or sold as trade items. As a large family, the Drake family required enormous resources to sustain themselves, so they often traded most of the Dragon''s Den slots for resources. In contrast, the Walker family''s smaller size worked to their advantage. With fewer members, resources could be concentrated on just a handful of people. For the Walker family, only three generations of trainers existed: Julian''s grandfather, John, his father, Jake, and Julian himself. This allowed the family to focus all their resources on these three individuals. John, having already reached Champion status, no longer required many resources. Julian, with the support of his system, also used fewer resources than expected. As a result, the second generation, Jake, benefited the most from the family''s resources. "The Dragon''s Den''s energy is currently at its peak, making it a great time to enter," Dylan explained. "However, it''s also more dangerous than usual. High energy levels mean the Pokmon inside are in better spirits and highly agitated, which makes them more likely to attack intruders." Dylan continued to explain the dangers of the Dragon''s Den in detail, pointing out the most hazardous areas. As he spoke, he sent Julian a detailed strategy guide for the Den via his phone. This guide, compiled by the Drake family, was an internal document far more comprehensive than the simplified versions given to outsiders entering the Den. With John, becoming the sixth Champion of Drakoria, the Walker family''s influence had grown significantly. Furthermore, Julian''s rumored connection to the mysterious and newly emerged first-class Legendary Pokmon, Mewtwo, made the Drake family take him even more seriously. Adding to this, Ian was Julian''s classmate, and Wade was his teacher. With these two layers of ties, the Drake family naturally maintained a favorable relationship with Julian. "I''m so jealous that you and Brother Dylan get to enter the Dragon''s Den. I haven''t been to any special advanced secret realm yet," Owen said, looking at Julian and Dylan with envy. "It''s dangerous inside. I barely made it out alive last time," Dylan replied flatly. Even an ordinary advanced secret realm was filled with countless dangers, let alone a special advanced secret realm like the Dragon''s Den. Owen winced, recalling the time Dylan had emerged from the Den, covered in blood. He had spent an entire day in the emergency room, a month in the intensive care unit, and only then was he moved to a regular ward. The memory made Owen decide that entering the Dragon''s Den wasn''t worth itat least not until he reached the Elite level. As a pseudo-Elite, the risks were simply too great. The three chatted for a while longer before Owen and Dylan left. With Julian scheduled to enter the Dragon''s Den tomorrow, they didn''t want to disturb him further. Everything that needed to be said had already been discussed. Chapter 263: Gatekeeper Chapter 263: GatekeeperAt ten o''clock the next morning, Julian, accompanied by Wade, arrived at the entrance to the Dragon''s Den secret realm. "The dangersDylan already explained them to you yesterday. I''ve also taken care of your leave from school. Here, take this. If you encounter a Pokmon you can''t handle, use it." Wade handed Julian a tooth, about the length of a palm. The tooth was pure white, gleaming like jade. It appeared to be a dragon fang, though it was hard to tell which Dragon-type Pokmon it came from. Its size, however, was unusually large. Julian carefully placed the fang into his backpack. Under Wade''s watchful gaze, Julian stepped into the Dragon''s Den secret realm. Wade stood at the entrance for a while before turning and leaving. As Julian''s surroundings darkened, he found himself in what looked like a tunnel. This was no ordinary tunnelit was massive, with a diameter of roughly a hundred meters. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The walls were embedded with countless glowing stones, providing a faint light that illuminated the path ahead. The soft glow was just enough for Julian to make out the road before him. At his waist, Dragonite''s Pok Ball trembled excitedly. Even through the Pok Ball, Julian could feel Dragonite''s excited aura through its bond. The dense Dragon-type energy within the Dragon''s Den had clearly been detected by Dragonite. With a "pop," the Pok Ball opened, and Dragonite''s plump figure materialized in front of Julian. Julian decided to release only Dragonite, not even calling out Metagross. This was the Dragon''s Den, a realm inhabited solely by Dragon-type Pokmon. Pokmon of other types were not suited for this environment. Moreover, deploying non-Dragon-type Pokmon here would undoubtedly provoke an onslaught of attacks from the resident Dragon-typesa relentless and potentially fatal assault. This principle applied to other special advanced secret realms as well. The tunnel was eerily quietso quiet that Julian could only hear the sound of his and Dragonite''s footsteps. After walking for about twenty minutes, Julian halted. In the faint glow of the stones, a blurry figure appeared ahead. The figure was slowly approaching them. Dragonite immediately stepped in front of Julian, its usually gentle expression now tinged with wariness. The sound of footsteps echoed Before long, a dinosaur-like Pokmon emerged into view, standing before Julian and Dragonite. Pokmon: Tyrantrum (Rock/Dragon) Level: 72 Potential: Cyan Ability: Strong Jaw Item: None Gender: Male Moves: Tackle, Roar, Ancient Power, Bite, Dragon Tail, Stomp, Rock Slide, Crunch, Dragon Claw, Thrash, Earthquake, Horn Drill, Giga Impact, Head Smash TMs: None Egg Moves: Rock Throw, Rock Polish, Dragon Dance, Stone Edge --- Standing before Julian was a Tyrantrum, an Elite-level Pokmon in its early stages. "A Gatekeeper Dragon, huh?" Julian muttered under his breath. According to Dylan''s description, anyone entering the Dragon''s Den secret realm would first face this Elite-level Tyrantrum. If they couldn''t defeat it, there was no point in venturing further into the lair. This was why Tyrantrum was referred to as the "Gatekeeper Dragon." Of course, once you defeated it, the Tyrantrum wouldn''t appear again on subsequent visits to the Den. It only showed up for trainers entering the Dragon''s Den for the first time. "Dragonite." This opponent was naturally Dragonite''s to handle. Pokmon: Dragonite (Dragon/Flying) Level: 65 Potential: Purple Ability: Inner Focus Item: Dragon Fang Gender: Male Moves: Hurricane, Wing Attack, Roost, Wrap, Leer, Dragon Tail, Twister, Thunder Wave, Aqua Tail, Dragon Rush, Safeguard, Slam, Rain Dance, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Agility TMs: Protect, Thunderbolt, Hyper Beam, Icy Wind, Hydro Pump, Flamethrower, Substitute, Iron Tail, Breaking Swipe, Ice Punch, Wide Guard, Dragon Claw, Ice Beam, Draco Meteor, Mega Punch, Dragon Pulse, Superpower, Giga Impact, Outrage, Focus Punch Egg Moves: Extreme Speed, Draco Breath, Dragon Dance, Outrage --- Recently, Julian had received two elemental cores as a reward for saving Haitian City: one Steel-type and one Dragon-type. The Steel core had been given to Metagross, while the Dragon core had gone to Dragonite. Dragonite''s level had increased from 61 to its current level of 65, and the energy from the Dragon core hadn''t been fully depleted yet. It would likely last until Dragonite reached level 66. Tyrantrum glanced at Dragonite with a disdainful look. Although it sensed that Dragonite wasn''t ordinary, it was clear that Dragonite hadn''t reached the Elite tier. Since its opponent wasn''t even Elite-level, Tyrantrum didn''t see it as a serious threat, no matter how special it might be. "Dragonite, Ice Punch!" Julian initiated the attack. The tunnel''s width and length were more than sufficient for both Dragonite and Tyrantrum to fight without restrictions. As Dragonite''s small wings flapped, its speed surged to an astonishing level. Even Julian, standing behind it, almost got swept away by the powerful gusts it created. As the Gatekeeper Dragon, Tyrantrum was no stranger to battle. Although Dragonite had moved first, gaining the initial advantage, Tyrantrum reacted swiftly. The timing was so close that Julian almost thought Tyrantrum had preemptively read his strategy. Tyrantrum''s short forelimbs gathered a vivid green Dragon-type energy. A pair of Dragon Claws formed and met Dragonite''s head-on. At the moment of collision, the icy chill of the spread wildly, while the Dragon Claws released bursts of energy that scattered in all directions. A stray energy blast struck a boulder on the tunnel''s ceiling. With a loud ''thud'', the rock broke loose and crashed to the ground. The boulder landed about seven or eight meters in front of Julian. "Don''t lose focusDragon Tail!" Seeing Dragonite glance back at him, Julian quickly called out. With Dragonite as his only Dragon-type Pokmon, there were no other Pokmon nearby to shield him. Of course, if the aftermath of the battle reached a dangerously uncontrollable levelsomething even his resilient Pallet Town physique couldn''t endureJulian would definitely send out Metagross to protect himself. Dragonite swiftly turned back, its sturdy tail imbued with Dragon energy whipping against Tyrantrum. Even with Tyrantrum''s formidable physique, the blow sent it flying. It crashed heavily into the tunnel wall, embedding its massive body into the stone. The searing pain coursing through its body only provoked Tyrantrum''s ferocity. Its jaws parted to reveal sharp, bone-white teeth, strings of saliva stretching between them. "Ice Beam!" Given the unstable environment, Julian decided against having Dragonite engage in prolonged melee combat. After all, if a falling rock struck the wrong spot, it might just end up hitting his own head. A chilling, icy-blue beam erupted from Dragonite''s mouth. Tyrantrum responded by stomping forcefully on the ground. Jagged rocks jutted up from the floor, forming a makeshift shield to block the Ice Beam. However, as Dragonite took to the air, the Ice Beam''s trajectory shifted, while the direction of the rock blades remained fixed. Tyrantrum''s eyes were suddenly enveloped by a blue-white glow. The next moment, it was encased in ice, frozen solid. Dragonite landed softly, observing the defeated Tyrantrum. Its previously fierce and determined expression faded, replaced by its usual endearing, goofy demeanor. Chapter 264: Berries Chapter 264: BerriesWith the Gatekeeper Dragon defeated, Julian and Dragonite could finally leave the tunnel without encountering any other Dragon-type Pokmon along the way. The tunnel was very long. Julian walked for over half an hour before spotting the white light at the far end. As he continued forward, stepping out of the tunnel, the blinding light caused him to squint slightly. It took a few seconds for his eyes to adjust. Sear?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Suddenly, a strong gust of wind swept through. If Dragonite hadn''t grabbed hold of Julian in time, the wind might have carried him away. The tunnel''s exit was actually situated midway up a mountain. The tunnel itself cut straight through the mountain, which stood over 5,000 meters tall. Though a height of 5,000 meters qualified it as a towering peak, there were even taller mountains nearby. Julian counted at least seven or eight mountains in the distance that were higher than the one he stood on. Below the mountain lay a sprawling forest and serene lakes. The Dragon''s Den Secret Realm spanned about 600,000 square kilometers. While not the largest among the special secret realms, it was undoubtedly the most dangerous. After all, Dragon-type Pokmon were notoriously powerful. Once they reached adulthood, they were kicked out of their home to establish their own territories elsewhere. "Let''s go check it out" Julian said as he pulled out the Dowsing Machine and mounted Dragonite. The device displayed ten red dots, each representing something significant in size. As expected of a special secret realm, the quality of its treasures far exceeded that of ordinary high-level secret realms. The Dragon-type energy saturating the Dragon''s Den Secret Realm filled Dragonite with excitement. It was clearly excited by the environment, feeling as though it had boundless energy. In its enthusiasm, Dragonite suddenly dove downward, forgetting that Julian was on its back. When they landed, Julian, now wearing an impassive expression, straightened his hair, which had been blown back during the dive. Dragonite, however, showed no trace of remorse. Instead, it seemed almost amused by the situation. "If you pull that stunt again, I''ll have Metagross teach you a lesson when we''re out of here," Julian scolded. "Let''s go and check it out." Without waiting for Dragonite''s response, Julian walked in the direction of the nearest red dot, holding the Dowsing Machine. This dot was about five or six hundred meters awayclose to the tunnel exit. Julian couldn''t help but feel curious. How could a treasure remain undiscovered at such a short distance from the exit? Unless, perhaps, this treasure had only recently appeared. Few people could enter special secret realms, and the treasures in these realms also emerged faster than in ordinary high-level secret realms. As a result, the quantity and quality of treasures in special secret realms were superior to those found in regular ones. The danger level of the Dragon''s Den Secret Realm was undoubtedly much higher as well. Take this place for exampleright at the start, you''re forced to face a Gatekeeper Dragon at the early Elite level. If you didn''t have the skills to back it up, that Tyrantrum from earlier could have easily killed you. When Julian arrived at the location indicated by the Dowsing Machine, he didn''t see any Dragon-type Pokmon. The path leading there was equally quiet. Dragon-type Pokmon were known for their low reproductive rates and long growth periods, especially pseudo-legendary Dragon-types. As a result, almost every adult Dragon Pokmon controlled a sizable territory. The whole area practically had a "vast land, sparse dragons" vibe. "Dragoneye Berries" Julian muttered, spotting the treasure. These berries were a special type of fruit, found only in secret realms brimming with Dragon-type energy. In fact, Dragoneye Berries were the most common treasure in the Dragon''s Den Secret Realm. Julian suspected that many of the red dots on the detector were likely marking these berries. There wasn''t a Dragon Pokmon alive that didn''t love eating them. Dragoneye Berries had a unique trait: each tree produced only four berries per year. "Why are there no Dragon types here?" Julian wondered aloud, scanning the area. Wherever there were Dragoneye Berries, there should have been Dragon Pokmon guarding them. This fruit was their favorite food; they wouldn''t leave it unprotected. The lack of a guardian suggested either the Dragon Pokmon wasn''t home, or it had died for some reason, and no new one had claimed the territory yet. Dragonite had already snatched up the Dragoneye Berry and eaten it in one gulp. But the next moment, it spat it out with a loud . Dragonite: ''What the heck? Why does this taste so awful?'' It had eaten Dragoneye Berries before, but none had ever tasted this bad. Julian: ''System goods are always premium quality'' Having been spoiled by the Dragoneye Berries purchased from the system''s store, tasting the wild version felt like going from gourmet cuisine to cafeteria slop. Dragonite nearly vomited. "ROAR!" Just as Dragonite was showing its disdain, an angry roar echoed from above. A vivid green shot down toward Dragonite from the sky. Julian looked up to see a Flygon glaring down at Dragonite, its face filled with rage. Flygon: ''You little punk! I didn''t even dare eat it myself, and not only did you eat it, but you spat it out too!'' Feeling the Flygon''s aura brimming with anger and resentment, Julian couldn''t help but think that Dragonite might have gone a little too far. As the barreled toward it, Dragonite didn''t even flinch. With a single , the air around it rippled violently, scattering the Dragon Pulse with a deafening boom. Flygon froze midair, staring at the dissipating and Dragonite''s casual demeanor. Flygon: ''I might have overreacted earlier. My apologies'' A mid-Elite level Flygon might have been impressive in most cases, but to Dragonite, it was no more than a minor nuisance. Dragonite shot a glare at the Flygon, and the latter didn''t dare continue its attack. Instead, it slunk away in defeat. The law of the junglesurvival of the fittestwas the natural order among Pokmon. This principle was especially prevalent among Dragon-types. Dragons understood this law better than any other. ''If you''re stronger than me, if you outclass me, then fineyou can take my territory, my food, even my mate. I''ll accept it.'' ''But just you wait. The moment I surpass you, I''ll come back and settle the score.'' The pride of Dragon Pokmon made them disdain the idea of ruthlessly killing a defeated foe. Watching the retreating Flygon, Dragonite picked up the Dragoneye Berry it had spat out earlier. This time, it carefully wiped off the saliva and dust before offering it to Julian. Julian: ''If you''re trying to offer that for me to eat, I swear I''ll give you a good smack'' Dragonite: ''It can be sold for money'' "Just toss it" Julian said flatly. Dragoneye Berries could indeed fetch a good price in the outside world. They were valuable for making Dragon-type Pokblocks and nutritional supplements. For most trainers, this fruit was a prized treasure worth fighting overmaybe even stabbing a friend in the back for it. Unfortunately, Julian wasn''t exactly strapped for cash. Dragonite: ''Throw it away? What a waste'' After a moment''s hesitation, Dragonite gulped down the Dragoneye Berry in one big bitewithout even chewing. "I never realized you had such a thrifty nature" Julian remarked, patting Dragonite''s round belly. It didn''t even like the taste but still forced itself to eat it. No wonder its belly wasn''t shrinkingin fact, it looked a little bigger now. Hearing Julian''s words, Dragonite''s goofy face broke into an embarrassed smile. Chapter 265: Dragon Mountain Chapter 265: Dragon MountainTaking over the Flygon''s territory, Julian pulled out his lunch from the system space and quickly took a few bites, while Dragonite was happily munching on energy cubes. There was no need to worry about attacks from other Dragon-type Pokmon. Adult Dragon Pokmon all had their own territories. If a stranger intruded, the territory''s owner would see it as a provocation. The midday sun shone down, but Julian didn''t feel hot. In fact, the temperature in the Dragon''s Den Secret Realm stayed around 20C year-round. There were no distinct seasons of extreme heat or cold, making it an ideal environment for most Dragon-types. "Let''s gotime to climb Dragon Mountain" Julian said, mounting Dragonite and pointing toward the massive peak ahead. The mountain''s summit was so tall that nearly two-thirds of it disappeared into the clouds. This towering mountain stood at the center of the Dragon''s Den Secret Realm. While the number of Dragon-type Pokmon living there was relatively low, their strength was unparalleled. Anyone who entered the Dragon''s Den Secret Realm would eventually make their way to Dragon Mountain. Because at its summit lay the most prized treasure of the entire secret realmthe Dragon Pool. The Dragon Pool was the core treasure of this secret realm. Any Dragon-type Pokmon that bathed in its waters would undergo a profound transformation, as if reborn. However, reaching the Dragon Pool was no easy task. The difficulty was nothing short of hellish. Even getting close to Dragon Mountain was a challenge. Mid-flight, a Salamence appeared, blocking Dragonite''s path. Julian and Dragonite were still about 100 kilometers away from Dragon Mountain. This Salamence was the third Pokmon to challenge them. The previous two challengers had been an Altaria and a Noivern. All three were at the early Elite level, including this Salamence. In less than a day, along with the gatekeeper Tyrantrum, Julian had encountered four Elite-level Pokmon. Elite-level Pokmon were rare sights in the outside world, yet the Dragon''s Den Secret Realm made Julian feel like they were as common as weeds. In reality, the Dragon''s Den Secret Realm had the highest number of Elite-level Pokmon among the 18 advanced special secret realms of Drakoria. This was largely because most pseudo-legendary Pokmon were Dragon-types, and Dragon Pokmon generally lived much longer than most other types. Many Dragon Pokmon could easily live for several hundred years, and it wasn''t uncommon to find those over a thousand years old. This long lifespan was leagues beyond short-lived types like Bug Pokmon. With such long lifespans, Dragon Pokmon naturally grew powerful. Anything tied to time would improve as the years passed. Even the weakest Pokmon could become exceptional with enough time. Salamence: ''I just want either to beat you or get beaten by you.'' Dragonite: ''Hold on.'' As Dragonite landed, Julian climbed off its back. Staying on during battle would not only hinder Dragonite''s performance but also put Julian''s safety at serious risk. The moment Julian''s feet touched the ground, Salamence opened its mouth and unleashed a , targeting both Dragonite and Julian. "Extreme Speed, now!" Dragonite vanished in an instant, leaving the spot just as the blasted through it. However, while Dragonite was gone, Julian was still standing right where the attack was aimed. Although the didn''t hit him directly, even its shockwave could be fatal for a human. A flicker of hesitation crossed Salamence''s eyesit hadn''t intended to kill the human. At that moment, Dragonite suddenly reappeared on Salamence''s left side, its fist crackling with electricity. With a loud "boom", Dragonite''s landed squarely on Salamence''s face, sending its body flying over a hundred meters. The trajectory of Salamence''s shifted as it was knocked away, cutting down dozens of trees and leaving a trench several meters wide and tens of meters deep in the ground. Julian looked at the trench, less than half a meter from where he stood, and felt a cold sweat trickle down his face. "Damn, that was too close," he muttered. Without the protection of a Pokmon by his side, even with his Mega Pallet Town physique, he wouldn''t survive such an attack. And he wasn''t about to test that theorytrying it out would mean dying. "ROAR!" Sear?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Salamence shook its head, the aftermath of Dragonite''s leaving its jaw numb. Flapping its wings, it darted toward Dragonite, its claws glowing a vibrant green. tore through the air, producing a sharp, whistling sound. Dragonite, unwilling to back down, met Salamence''s with one of its own. The two Pokmon clashed mid-air, their claws colliding in a series of explosive strikes. The overwhelming Dragon energy radiating from their battle created shockwaves that bent the trees below them. Salamence was different from the Tyrantrum, Altaria, and Noivern Julian had encountered earlier. Although it was also an early Elite-level Pokmon, Salamence was a pseudo-legendary. Among Dragon-types, pseudo-legendaries had the purest bloodlines, allowing them to unleash strength far beyond that of other non-pseudo Dragon Pokmon. With a loud "boom", their Dragon Claws collided in a final explosive clash. Neither side seemed to gain the upper hand. As the explosion rippled outward, Salamence quickly retreated, avoiding the explosion and debris. But Dragonite pressed forward instead of pulling back. With a powerful flap of its wings, Dragonite executed , its form becoming a blur as it surged through the explosion toward Salamence. The fiery aftermath of their earlier clash was scattered by Dragonite''s . Salamence''s vision was obscured by the lingering smoke and flames, and it hadn''t anticipated that Dragonite would choose to attack rather than retreat. ''Doesn''t it realize that such an aggressive move risks injury as well?'' couldn''t completely shield Dragonite from the damage caused by the explosion, but it didn''t care. In the blink of an eye, struck Salamence head-on. The immense impact and the overwhelming Dragon energy forced a pained scream from Salamence. It felt as if its bones had shattered under the blow. The intense pain robbed it of control over its body, sending it plummeting from hundreds of meters in the air. But Dragonite wasn''t finished yet. Its body bore dark scorch marks, remnants of damage from the explosion it had just powered through. Despite its seemingly bulky frame, its speed was jaw-dropping. In a single breath, Dragonite positioned itself above Salamence, raising its shimmering silver tail before slamming it down. Though Salamence''s body was immobilized, it could still move its mouth. With a desperate effort, it fired a , aiming to intercept Dragonite''s . But Dragonite''s sliced through the like a sharp scalpel, splitting the energy attack in half under Salamence''s horrified gaze. Without losing momentum, the struck Salamence squarely on the head. "Boom!" Salamence''s body plummeted to the ground, the impact causing a massive crater several hundred meters wide. The surrounding earth fractured and crumbled, and at the center of the crater was a depression dozens of meters deep. Even after enduring such a devastating blow, Salamence had not lost its will to fight. Slowly, it began to rise from the pit. But its fate was already sealed. What awaited Salamence wasn''t the dawn of victory but Dragonite''s chilling . Chapter 266: Rules Chapter 266: RulesThe Elite-tier Salamence was frozen into an ice sculpture. Dragonite hovered before it, its face sporting a goofy, cheerful grin. Inside the icy prison, Salamence still retained a sliver of consciousness. However, under the weight of Dragonite''s silly smile, Salamence''s last shred of will evaporated, and it promptly lost consciousness. Julian approached the frozen Salamence, delivering a solid kick to the ice sculpture. The ice sculpture was sent flying. "Take that for blasting me with Hydro Pump!" Julian had never been one to let grudges simmer overnight. "Let''s go" He said, climbing onto Dragonite. They were still about 100 kilometers away from Dragon Mountain. As they flew closer, the mountain''s majestic figure gradually came into view. The peak towered 10,000 meters high, making everything around it seem insignificant in comparison. Two-thirds of the mountain''s height was shrouded in clouds, giving it a mysterious and almost ethereal appearance. At Dragonite''s speed, the remaining 100 kilometers passed quickly. Along the way, the Dowsing Machine lit up with several red dots, each signaling the presence of significant treasures. However, Julian made no move to investigate. The true treasure of the Dragon''s Den lay atop Dragon Mountain, and the Dragon Pool at the summit was the ultimate prize. Arriving at the base of Dragon Mountain, the Dowsing Machine displayed an enormous red dot, covering two-thirds of the screen. The glow of the dot reflected on Julian''s face, making him appear slightly flushed. This massive red dot undoubtedly represented the Dragon Pool. "We''ll rest here for the night and start climbing tomorrow" Julian said, looking up at the colossal mountain. Standing at its base, he couldn''t even see the summitonly endless clouds and mist above. Dragonite had fought five battles today. While it hadn''t sustained any major injuries, its stamina and energy were undoubtedly depleted. The climb up Dragon Mountain would be a critical challenge, and there was no need to rush. Julian decided to wait until the next day to tackle it. "Dra~" Dragonite nodded lightly, then pointed to its stomach, wearing an embarrassed smile. "Alright, let''s eat" Julian said, pulling out a box of top-tier Dragon-Type Pokblocks. Each box cost 1,000 pointsa rare indulgence for him, as he usually only bought high-grade blocks. The sight of the top-tier blocks made Dragonite''s eyes sparkle with excitement. This was a rare treat it only got to enjoy on special occasions, and even then, it was usually just two or three pieces. Now, Julian handed over an entire box. This sudden generosity left Dragonite feeling a bit uneasy. Dragonite: ''Is this my last meal?'' "Hurry up and eat" Julian said, noticing Dragonite''s suspicious look. It annoyed him slightly. That silly creature was definitely thinking something ridiculous again. The Dragon energy around Dragon Mountain was noticeably more concentrated compared to other places. As a human, Julian couldn''t sense it, but Dragonite could. Here, it felt as though every pore in its body was wide open, continuously absorbing the dense Dragon-Type energy surrounding it. Paired with the top-tier Dragon-Type Pokblocks With a surge of energy, Dragonite''s level rose from 65 to 66. At the same time, the Dragon-Type Essence Orb within its body was completely absorbed. Gaining a level naturally enhanced Dragonite''s strengtha timely boost given the upcoming challenge of Dragon Mountain. Julian watched his Dragonite happily devouring its food, estimating that it hadn''t even realized it had leveled up. "Well, that 1,000 points didn''t go to waste," he muttered with satisfaction. --- The next day, at 8 a.m. "Ding!" "Daily Task: By 5 p.m. today, reach 5,000 meters on Dragon Mountain." "Reward: 5,000 points" Julian glanced at the task. Climbing to 5,000 meters meant reaching roughly halfway up the mountain. Tightening the straps on his climbing boots, he looked up at the mountain bathed in the golden rays of the rising sun. "Let''s go. Dragon Mountain awaits." Dragonite followed closely behind him. Its usual goofy demeanor was still there, but the light in its eyes was different today. For Julian, this was a personal challenge and for Dragonite, it was just as significant. The treasures at the summit were particularly important to it. Dragon Mountain''s rocks were composed of metamorphic stone, but they were unlike any ordinary metamorphic rocks. These were far harder, likely due to the dense Dragon-Type energy saturating the area. Climbing was an exhausting task, draining both stamina and energy. Dragon Mountain was particularly treacherous, with many parts lacking any semblance of a proper path. Julian had to climb those sections manually. He couldn''t ride Dragonite to the summit. The challenge of Dragon Mountain wasn''t just for Dragoniteit was for him too. After over an hour, Julian had climbed to about 500 meters. At that moment, a Flygon appeared in the sky. It was an early Elite-tier Pokmon, and its power didn''t seem particularly overwhelming. However, Flygon was a native of Dragon Mountain, and any Dragon-Type Pokmon that claimed territory here was not to be judged by its level alone. The rules of the mountain''s challenge were clear: as the trainer climbed, their Pokmon would face off against the Dragon-Types residing on the mountain. Trainers were not allowed to switch out their Pokmon mid-challenge. The climb would continue until either the trainer failed to ascend further or their Pokmon was defeated by the mountain''s Dragon-Types. Even if they failed, they could still enter the Dragon Pool. However, the time allowed for soaking in the pool would depend on their combined performance. There was one strict prerequisite: the trainer had to climb at least 3,000 meters, and their Pokmon had to defeat at least three Dragon-Type Pokmon from the mountain. Otherwise, they wouldn''t be permitted to enter the Dragon Pool, even in failure. Dylan''s Salamence had reached the Elite tier largely due to soaking in the Dragon Pool. However, the process of earning that opportunity had been a near-death experience. During the climb up Dragon Mountain, Dylan had nearly fallen to his death several times. According to Dylan, in the history of his family, only two people had ever successfully reached the summit. After their Pokmon soaked in the Dragon Pool, they gained unimaginable benefits. Those two individuals were also the only Champion-level trainers in the Drake family''s history. This highlighted just how difficult it was to conquer Dragon Mountain. Ten minutes later, the Elite-tier Flygon was defeated by Dragonite. Despite its victory, Dragonite bore three claw marks on its back, left by Flygon''s attack. Dragonite had been injured in its very first battle, and they were still only at 500 meters. As the climb continued, the strength of the Dragon-Type Pokmon on Dragon Mountain would only increase. Rumor had it that near the summit, there was a pseudo-Champion-tier Dragon-Type Pokmon. If a challenger managed to defeat it, their Pokmon would be allowed to soak in the Dragon Pool for an entire day. Sar?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Champion-tier Pokmon were known to exist on Dragon Mountain as well. It was said that the rules of the challenge had been jointly established by one of these Champion-tier Pokmon and humans. It was their presence that ensured the rules were upheld. Even the Drake family forbade anyone from entering the Dragon Den without abiding by these regulations. Of course, if someone had the strength to break the rules, that was a different matter entirely. As Julian and Dragonite continued their ascent, far above them at the mountain''s summit, a pair of eyes observed their progress. Most of the attention, however, was focused on Dragonite. Chapter 267: A Long Way To Go Chapter 267: A Long Way To GoAfter climbing past 500 meters on Dragon Mountain, the path became much easier to traverse. While it was still steep in some areas, it was far better than the earlier sections where Julian had nearly fallen several times. With his machete in hand, Julian kept hacking away at the trees and undergrowth in his path. Fortunately, his extraordinary physique kept him going. Without it, just climbing Dragon Mountain might have been enough to claim his life. Most trainers were in excellent physical shape. Without strong bodies and quick reflexes, it was nearly impossible to survive in the wild. Battles without protective shields could easily kill a careless trainer caught in the crossfire. Those without the necessary physical fitness and reaction speeds often met their end in the wilderness. Being a professional trainer might seem enviable, but it wasn''t an easy life. Every year, countless trainers lost their lives to various accidents while exploring the wild. The risks and rewards of being a professional trainer were always proportional. After climbing another 300 meters, Julian and Dragonite reached the 800-meter mark. In some regions, an 800-meter mountain would be the tallest peak in the area. But on Dragon Mountain, 800 meters was still barely above the base. A series of heavy footsteps echoed, signaling that Julian and Dragonite had entered the territory of another Dragon-Type Pokmon. A Druddigon appeared before them. It was another early Elite-tier opponent, but it stood taller and seemed stronger than the Flygon they had faced earlier. Druddigon: ''Get off my territory!'' Dragonite: ''Can I just fly over it instead?'' Druddigon became furious. ''Who do you think you''re mocking?!'' It roared and unleashed , a blazing red sphere of energy. The heat radiating from the attack made the air around it boil, and the temperature spiked. Feeling the heat burn his hair, Julian quickly retreated dozens of meters. He wasn''t sure what Dragonite had said to anger Druddigon, but its was far more powerful due to its anger. Dragonite, clueless as to why the Druddigon was so upset, looked puzzled. Its goofy expression remained, but its actions were swift. With a powerful flap of its wings, it summoned a to counter the attack. Unexpectedly, the two moves didn''t collide. Instead, the was absorbed into the , enhancing its power. Dragonite: ''Thanks for the upgrade, big guy.'' Druddigon: ''What just happened?!'' In a mix of confusion and fury, Druddigon watched as the fiery , now infused with its own , hurtled toward it. Druddigon roared. Opening its jaws, it formed a spectral image of its head in mid-air. The phantom head, brimming with sharp fangs, lunged to bite into the fiery tornado. A deafening roar erupted from Druddigon''s mouth, sending powerful sound waves that shook the mountainside. The vibrations dislodged rocks, many tumbling straight toward Julian. Julian: (??) don''t misunderstand, it wasn''t Julian''s legs breaking under a falling rockbut the , infused with , was shattered. Druddigon had bitten straight through it, dispersing it with . Druddigon smacked its lips, feeling a slight tingling sensation but nothing too serious. ''Whoever dares call me the disgrace of the Dragon clan, I''ll personally deal with them!'' The scene was nothing short of jaw-dropping. To bite through a combined attack of and ? That wasn''t just strengthit was sheer power and unyielding tenacity. And clearly, those jaws had to be as tough as steel. The spectral dragon head reappeared in the air, its crushing jaws aiming for Dragonite once more. Dragonite braced itself, digging in with all four limbs. Despite the pain, Dragonite bent slightly, muscles coiling like springs. Then, with a powerful surge, it unleashed its strength, shattering the with a thunderous blow. But there was no time to catch its breath. Druddigon was already following up with , a massive energy-formed claw, at least ten meters long, slashing down toward Dragonite. The claw swiped through empty air. Dragonite had vanished. In the blink of an eye, Dragonite reappeared behind Druddigon, moving with breathtaking speed using . As if sensing the danger instinctively, Druddigon didn''t even turn its head. It swung a backward, aiming straight at Dragonite. Julian raised an eyebrow. The gap in strength between this Druddigon and the earlier Flygon was obvious, even though both were supposedly early Elite-tier. One was stationed at 500 meters, while the other guarded the 800-meter mark. In just a 300-meter difference, the challenge had escalated significantly. ''How did Dylan make it through this with a Peak Pseudo-Elite Salamence?'' Julian wondered skeptically. To complete the Dragon Mountain challenge, one only needed to defeat three Dragon-Type Pokmon. But if the first opponent was already an early Elite-tier, the third could very well be at the mid-Elite level. ''And Dylan cleared this with his Salamence? Back then, it wasn''t even Elite-tier yet.'' Dylan: ''I have the Heart of Dragons. Three Elites? No problem. Who are you looking down on?'' As Julian entertained the idea that Dylan might have used some "unofficial" methods to clear the challenge, Dragonite had already grabbed Druddigon''s mid-swing. Dragonite''s razor-sharp claws dug deep into Druddigon''s tail, piercing through its thick scales. Even with its sturdy armor, the tail couldn''t withstand Dragonite''s raw strength. All of Julian''s Pokmon had one thing in commonunmatched physical power. When in doubt, brute force wins. With Druddigon''s tail firmly in its grasp, the Dragon Pokmon tried to twist and attack. But before it could act, it realized it was suddenly airborne. The next moment, its surroundings spun rapidly as Dragonite began swinging it like a ragdoll. After nearly a hundred spins, Dragonite finally loosened its grip. With a resounding , Druddigon''s body slammed heavily into the mountainside. The once-solid rock face now featured a massive crater almost a hundred meters wide, with chunks of debris tumbling down in a chaotic landslide. Julian: ''If you want to change trainers, just say so. I can jump off the cliff myself!'' Thankfully, Dragonite quickly stepped in front of him, shielding him from the falling debris. "Finish it off!" Julian shouted as he noticed that, while Druddigon was embedded in the mountain, its eyes were still open. It was clear the excessive spinning had left the Dragon-type too dizzy to control its body. If they didn''t capitalize on this opportunity now, when would they? With a powerful stomp, Dragonite launched itself forward. The ground beneath it shattered as it transformed into a streak of yellow lightning. It drove its straight toward Druddigon. Druddigon sensed the impending danger but could do nothing to stop it. Its body swayed, unresponsive to its commands. With a thunderous impact, Dragonite''s attack connected squarely with Druddigon''s stomach. The blow was devastating. Druddigon''s eyes bulged as searing pain surged through its body. The force was so overwhelming that its mind instinctively shut down to protect itself. sea??h th n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Druddigon collapsed to the ground, its mouth still agape. Saliva trickled from its jaw as its body twitched sporadically. "Let''s keep moving" Today''s goal was to reach 5,000 meters, and they had barely made it to 800. There was still a long way to go. Chapter 268: Kingdra Chapter 268: Kingdra1,300 meters, 1,500 meters, 1,800 meters... Two hours later, Julian was nearing the 2,000-meter mark of Dragon Mountain. His clothes were torn in a few places, but his stamina remained solid. No Dragon-type Pokmon had appeared along the waynot because he hadn''t entered their territory, but because he was still on the outskirts. As he moved closer to the center of the next Pokmon''s territory, the Dragon-type would inevitably appear. Judging by the territory''s sheer size, the yet-to-appear third Dragon-type Pokmon''s domain was even larger than the combined territories of the two Pokmon Dragonite had already defeated. At 2,000 meters, mountain winds began to sweep through the area. Though the wind wasn''t strong, it still slowed Julian down somewhat. As he continued forward, the path widened and became easier to traverse. Not far ahead, Julian spotted a pool of water. Ripples spread across the pool as a head emerged from its surface. The creature was mostly blue, with dragon-like horns on its head, resembling a seahorse in form. It was unmistakably a Kingdra. Upon seeing Dragonite and Julian, Kingdra didn''t attack. Instead, it looked at them with a hint of indifference. Julian: ''Looks like it''s underestimating us.'' A mid-tier Elite Kingdra certainly had the right to look down on him and Dragonite. To soak in the Dragon Pool, Julian had to defeat three Dragon-types on Dragon Mountain. As the third guardian, this Kingdra was bound to be stronger than the first two. Its mid-tier Elite rank made that abundantly clear. Dragonite stepped forward, locking eyes with Kingdra by the water''s edge. Kingdra noticed that Dragonite wasn''t even at the Elite level. A flicker of disdain crossed its eyesnot just for Dragonite but also for the two Pokmon it had defeated earlier. However, what happened next turned Kingdra''s disdain into fury. In an instant, Dragonite vanished from sight, reappearing directly in front of Kingdra. A crackling was already heading straight for its face. From Kingdra''s perspective, it was nothing less than a sneak attack. Kingdra reacted swiftly, releasing a from its mouth. Dragonite was forced to abandon its attack and dodge quickly to avoid the surging blast of water. The next moment, Kingdra transformed into a rapid-fire turret. One after another shot toward Dragonite in the air like rounds from a Gatling gun. The frequency, speed, and power of the attacks were enough to pose a serious threat to Dragonite. This was , yet Kingdra wielded it as if it were a water cannon on overdrive. Julian couldn''t help but feel that Dylan''s claim of defeating this mid-tier Elite Kingdra with his peak pseudo-Elite Salamence was too good to be true. Julian: ''Cheating must have been involved, right?'' Dylan: ''I''ve got the Heart of Dragon and spent three days getting to Kingdra, unlike you, who made it here in just one day.'' Dylan''s approach was entirely different. He had taken on one Dragon-type Pokmon each day, allowing his Salamence to rest before tackling the next opponent the following day. This pacing gave challengers a fair chance of conquering Dragon Mountain. After all, if rest periods weren''t allowed, it would be nearly impossible for anyone to pass. Under the relentless barrage of , Dragonite was forced to focus solely on evasion. It didn''t even have the opportunity to counterattack, let alone close the distance to Kingdra. Julian squinted, activating his ''Probing Eyes''. Kingdra''s stats and abilities became clear to him in an instant. This Kingdra had the ability. Once it landed a critical hit, its damage would skyrocket. No wonder it opted for rapid-fire attacksmore attempts meant a higher chance of landing a critical hit. What Kingdra hadn''t anticipated, though, was Dragonite''s mastery of . Kingdra: ''Is dodging all you can do?'' Dragonite: ''I can eat, too.'' Frustrated by Dragonite''s evasive tactics, Kingdra burst out of the water, sending a cascade of droplets into the air. It used , dashing across the airborne water droplets as if they were stepping stones, rapidly closing the distance between them. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In a blink, Kingdra was less than eight meters away. A massive vortex of spinning water formed in its mouth. The swirling current expanded rapidly, forming a colossal over 300 meters wide, shaped like an inverted triangle. The high-speed rotation of the generated visible air currents, creating a powerful suction force that began pulling Dragonite toward it. Despite flapping its wings furiously, Dragonite could only slow its movement toward the ; it couldn''t stop it entirely. As the drew closer, the suction became even stronger, threatening to engulf Dragonite completely. "Giga Impact!" Julian shouted, The Whirlpool''s suction made movement difficult, and using ranged attacks would likely fail to disrupt it. Kingdra had already forced Dragonite into a precarious position during the first exchange. Julian: ''Dylan, you must have cheated your way past this. There''s no other explanation.'' Dylan: (,) Dylan''s Salamence: ''Am I really that weak in your eyes?'' Dragonite gathered all its strength, its body surrounded by white shockwaves of compressed air as it executed . The overwhelming momentum compressed the air further and further, turning Dragonite into a meteor hurtling forward. With a deafening , the attack obliterated the . But Kingdra was already gone. Dragonite''s momentum carried it straight into the pool with a resounding splash, sending towering waves of water into the air. The pool briefly turned into a hollow crater, as if a bomb had detonated, with the surrounding water held back by the shockwave. Hovering in the center of the depression, Dragonite remained alert, its sharp eyes scanning the area. It could sense Kingdra lurking somewhere beneath the surface, hidden but undoubtedly preparing for its next strike. Suddenly, an icy blue beam shot out from a concealed spot in the water. The freezing cold radiating from it instantly turned the surrounding water into ice. "Protect!" An Ice-type move would deal quadruple damage to Dragonite, and with Kingdra''s angle of attack being so precise, dodging or countering in time seemed almost impossible. A translucent green barrier surrounded Dragonite, its shielding it from the devastating . The attack dissipated harmlessly against the shield, but Dragonite wasn''t done. Using the momentary advantage, Dragonite charged forward, still protected, aiming straight for the source of the . With a thunderous crash, the pool erupted once more as Dragonite collided with its target. A blue-scaled Kingdra burst out of the water, flung high into the air from the impact. Before Kingdra could recover, a flash of golden electricity surged upward from beneath the poola devastating struck it squarely. Dragonite''s versatile move pool was one of its greatest strengths, covering a wide range of types. Even Electric-type moves like were within its arsenal. However, this time it had opted for instead of the more powerful . The reason was simple: required time to gather energy, while could be unleashed instantly. Given Kingdra''s quick reflexes, a slower attack like would have given it the chance to evade entirely. But left no room for escape. Chapter 269: Kingdra: I Refuse Chapter 269: Kingdra: I RefuseThe *Thunderbolt* didn''t deliver the result Julian had anticipated. Kingdra took the full brunt of the attack, its tough scales enduring the electric surge. Instead of showing damage, the scales seemed to shine even brighter after the assault. "Freeze the water with Ice Beam!" Seeing Kingdra plummeting back toward the pool, Julian acted quickly. In the water, Kingdra could not only hide but also amplify the power of its Water-type moves. The freezing cold of the *Ice Beam* turned the pool''s surface into solid ice, the chilling air spreading outward with the mountain wind. Kingdra landed on the frozen surface, just as Dragonite closed the gap between them. Sparks crackled from Dragonite''s fist as it unleashed a *Thunder Punch*, the yellow glow illuminating Kingdra''s face. Kingdra responded swiftly, puffing up its cheeks and spitting out a jet of inky black liquid that splattered across Dragonite''s face. Momentarily blinded, Dragonite didn''t panic. It continued its attack along the same trajectory, swinging its electrified fist. However, the moment the ink struck its face, there was a slight hesitation in its movements. That tiny pause was enough for Kingdra to evade the attack with *Agility*. Even on the ice, Kingdra''s movements were fluid and precise, as if it were a seasoned figure skater. In a blink, it had put considerable distance between itself and Dragonite. *Boom!* Dragonite''s *Thunder Punch* smashed into the ice, sending shards flying in every direction like sharp daggers. Julian: ''Are you seriously thinking about switching trainers?'' Two particularly sharp ice shards shot toward Julian with alarming speed. He could see them coming but couldn''t react fast enough. Praying his body could withstand the impact, Julian raised his arms to shield his vital areas, bracing himself. Just then, Kingdra reappeared, blasting the shards with a *Bubble Beam*, shattering them into harmless fragments. For a moment, Julian thought Kingdra looked incredibly cool, almost as if it were glowing. But his admiration was short-lived. The next second, Kingdra''s tail whipped out, sending him flying backward. Kingdra: ''Stay back. If you die here, it''ll ruin my day.'' Julian wasn''t hurt from the blow and instead felt oddly grateful, smiling at Kingdra. If he had known what Kingdra was truly thinking, he probably wouldn''t have felt so thankful. Meanwhile, Dragonite regained its vision just in time to see Kingdra tossing Julian aside. Its typically goofy face twisted into a furious expression. Dragonite: ''How dare you attack my Trainer?! I''ll destroy you!!'' To Dragonite, Julian wasn''t just its Trainer. He was the first person it had seen upon opening its eyes, a figure it saw as both a trainer and a father. Now, seeing Julian suffer because of its failure, Dragonite''s anger reached a boiling point. There was no way it would let this slide. In its overwhelming fury, Dragonite instinctively activated *Outrage*, its once-innocent gaze now replaced by a blood-red glow. Crimson energy surged from its body, enveloping it like a fiery aura. With a powerful stomp, Dragonite shattered the frozen surface of the pool entirely, sending shards of ice flying everywhere. Julian noticed Dragonite had misunderstood the situation but chose not to explain. After all, he hadn''t forgotten the reason they were here. While Kingdra had helped him earlier, that didn''t absolve him from completing his mission. "Roar!!" With a deafening roar, Dragonite charged at Kingdra, closing the distance in an instant. Kingdra tried to repeat its previous tactic, spitting ink, but this time Dragonite dodged it with ease. Dragonite''s *Dragon Claw* tore through the air with unstoppable momentum. The green energy typical of a Dragon-type move was now tainted with a crimson hue, like boiling blood, its intensity deeply unsettling. With a resounding slash, Kingdra was sent hurtling through the air, crashing through multiple trees before slamming into a mountainside. The sheer force of the impact created a massive crater over a hundred meters wide, with the epicenter several dozen meters deep. From Kingdra''s point of impact, cracks spidered out across the mountain''s surface. Having learned from earlier incidents, Julian wisely stayed far from the mountainside. Watching chunks of rock tumble down from the impact, he gave himself a mental pat on the back for his foresight. *"Roar!"* Dragonite wasn''t done yet. Roaring once more, it closed in on Kingdra and unleashed a relentless barrage of *Thunder Punches*, each strike landing like a hammer. Blue scales flew from Kingdra''s body under the relentless assault, and streaks of red blood began to drip from its battered frame. Behind it, the mountain wall caved in further with every blow, the cracks widening with ominous creaks and groans. Despite the overwhelming attacks, Kingdra remained silent, not letting out a single cry of pain, even as it slipped into unconsciousness. "Dragonite, stop!" Julian called out, alarmed. Kingdra was already out cold, and if this went on, Dragonite might kill it. Though *Outrage* had heightened Dragonite''s strength and made it more aggressive, it hadn''t completely lost its sense of reason. Hearing Julian''s command, Dragonite gradually slowed its attacks. With deep breaths, the blood-red energy surrounding Dragonite began to dissipate, eventually vanishing completely. Dragonite flew back to Julian, its eyes filled with worry as it examined him. "Don''t worry, I''m fine, Kingdra was just trying to protect me earlier." Julian reassured, patting Dragonite''s belly. Pulling a Full Heal from his system''s inventory, Julian handed it to Dragonite. "Use this on Kingdra." Kingdra had shown him kindness, and Julian intended to repay it in kind. (T/N: this mf) The potion, a product of the system, worked wonders. Within minutes of using it, Kingdra stirred and slowly regained consciousness. The first thing it saw upon waking was Julian''s wide, goofy grin. "You''re awake. Sorry about Dragonite hitting a bit too hard earlier," Julian said apologetically. Kingdra looked at Dragonite, who now had a dopey and harmless expression, a stark contrast to its earlier berserk state. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If it weren''t for the familiar energy lingering around Dragonite, Kingdra might have thought it was a completely different Pokmon. Seeing Kingdra remain silent, Julian pressed on. "How about joining me?" He extended the invitation. After all, trainers who entered the Dragon''s Den Secret Realm were granted the right to capture one Pokmon. While Kingdra wasn''t a pseudo-legendary Dragon-type, its exceptional qualities had caught Julian''s eye. Taking such a beating from Dragonite without even crying out spoke volumes about its resilience and willpower. However, Kingdra shook its head without hesitation. Kingdra: ''Do you think I''m sick? Why would I willingly sign up for someone to boss me around?'' Julian: ͹-.-͹ The rejection was so decisive it left Julian speechless. Couldn''t it have at least pretended to consider his offer for a moment? This was his first time actively inviting a Pokmon to join him, and it ended in failure just like that. Not all Pokmon were as perceptive as Steelix, apparently. Kingdra had no idea what it was passing up by refusing. If it had known, it might have been the one begging Julian to take it in someday. "Well, okay. Here, have a berry." Julian didn''t push further. Instead, he pulled out a Sitrus Berry and handed it to Kingdra. The berry would help it regain some energy. If Kingdra wasn''t interested, so be it. Julian hadn''t come here intending to capture Kingdra anyway; it was only after witnessing its remarkable qualities that he had changed his mind. Some things, like partnerships between Pokmon and trainers, were best left to mutual consent. It was all about being willing on both sides. Forced relationships never worked out. Chapter 270: Task Completed Chapter 270: Task CompletedAfter defeating Kingdra, Julian technically had already completed the challenge to ascend Dragon Mountain. Dragonite could now proceed directly to the summit to soak in the Dragon Pool, but the soaking time would only be one hour. The rules of Dragon Mountain stated that defeating three Dragon-type Pokmon allowed one to soak in the Dragon Pool for an hour. However, if a challenger could fight their way to the summit, they would earn a full day of soaking time. Defeating three Dragon-types was the shortest soaking time offered and was primarily aimed at Elite level challengers. After all, for an pseudo-Elite level Dragon-type Pokmon to defeat two early Elite-level and one mid-Elite-level Dragon-types was already a feat worthy of a prodigy. Defeating those three Pokmon with a beginner Elite-level Pokmon could be considered genius. With a mid-Elite-level Pokmon? That was just average. Naturally, Julian wasn''t about to end his challenge here. Not only had Dragonite''s full potential yet to be unleashed, but he hadn''t even completed his Daily Task yet. At the moment, he had only climbed 2,000 meters up Dragon Mountain. His daily task required him to reach 5,000 meters by 5 PM today. With about six hours left, he needed to cover the remaining 3,000 meters. Along the way, more Dragon-type Pokmon might appear to challenge him. "Dragonite, take this first" Julian said, handing over a Full Restore potion. This item cost 1,000 system points per dose. With the help of the Full Restore, Dragonite''s stamina, energy, and injuries were all restored to peak condition. Its aura even seemed a bit stronger than before. After consecutive battles and victories, Dragonite''s experience points must have increased, no doubt contributing to its improved condition. In the Dragon Mountain challenge, using healing items was allowed. Without them, it would be nearly impossible to make it all the way to the summit. Sarch* The N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, the Dragon-types at the summit were pseudo-Champion-level. Battling all the way up without switching Pokmon? No one could sustain that. If Julian was using Metagross, he might have had the confidence to pull it off. Metagross was his ace, into which he had poured the most resources and effort. Dragonite, on the other hand, still had room to grow. The market sold healing items, but no Full Restore could match the ones from the system''s shop. In this regard, Julian was essentially bending the rules. Even with healing items, serious injuries would typically take time to fully recover. And with battles continuing along the way, minor injuries would compound into severe ones. This often led challengers to eventually collapse at the hands of a Dragon-type Pokmon. However, with the Full Restore, Julian had an edge. Whenever he used it, Dragonite would immediately return to peak conditionthere was no such thing as barely holding on. The only thing that remained was an even stronger Dragonite than before. After bidding farewell to Kingdra, Julian and Dragonite continued their climb up Dragon Mountain. The higher they climbed, the steeper the terrain became. However, if one looked carefully, there were always footholds to be found, as though they had been placed intentionally. This wasn''t a coincidence. These paths were the result of countless challengers who had climbed Dragon Mountain before, carving out a route step by step. Julian also had a map of the climbing paths, provided by the Drake family. This map represented over a century of exploration and experience accumulated by the family. If Julian hadn''t been someone the Drake family wanted to ally with, they wouldn''t have given him this map. At best, they would have granted him access to the Dragon Den and left him to fend for himself, like other trainers outside the Drake family. For those trainers, gaining access to the Dragon Den was a privilege in itself. Whether they could make it to the Dragon Pool was entirely up to their own abilities. Help? Sureif they brought something valuable enough to trade for it. After five hours of climbing, Julian finally reached the midpoint of Dragon Mountain, about 5,000 meters above sea level. The wind here was several times fiercer than at 2,000 meters, and the temperature had dropped significantly. The system task indicator lit up, showing the task as completed, and 5,000 points were credited to Julian''s account. "Hmm?" Dragonite turned its gaze upward, its usually goofy expression now serious. "We''ll deal with it tomorrow," Julian said calmly. Since defeating Kingdra, they hadn''t encountered any new challengers. They were still outside the core area of this territory. However, at this altitude, they were nearing the heart of the domain, and Dragonite could sense the presence of a powerful Dragon-type Pokmon further up. Even Julian could feel the intense aura radiating from aboveit was a strong wave of energy that only a formidable Pokmon could emit. However, with the sun setting and the clock approaching 5 PM, it wasn''t the right time to continue climbing or engaging in battles. Julian decided to camp here for the night. He had Dragonite carve out a large hole in the mountainside on the leeward side to serve as their shelter. The wind was far too strong to pitch a tent securely. As the sun disappeared, darkness engulfed the Dragon Den, leaving only the cold, silvery light of the moon to illuminate the landscape. Inside the cave, Julian had already lit a camping lamp. He sat comfortably, eating a self-heating hotpot with a cold soda by his side. Alternating between bites of hotpot and sips of soda, he seemed more like someone enjoying a camping trip than taking on a serious challenge. The Pok Ball containing Slowking on his belt began to wobble slightly. "Alright, alright, just one bottle" Julian said with a resigned smile, tapping the Pok Ball. Even inside its Pok Ball, Slowking wouldn''t stop monitoring him. If the Dragon den didn''t restrict non-Dragon-type Pokmon, Slowking would have been out here cooking for Julian. There was no way it would allow him to eat something as unhealthy as a self-heating hotpot. Inside their Pok Balls, Pokmon''s energy consumption dropped to a bare minimum, so there was no need to worry about them going hungry. Dragonite, however, was enjoying the finest Dragon-type Pokblocks during this challenge. For now, its treatment was top-notch. But Julian couldn''t help noticing something strange. Was it just his imagination, or had Dragonite''s belly grown noticeably rounder in just two days? Could the high-quality Pokblocks be causing it to overeat? "Dra?~" Dragonite tilted its head, noticing Julian''s gaze fixed on its belly. With a curious expression, it patted its stomach, as if inviting him. Dragonite: ''Wanna give it a pat?'' Julian hadn''t intended to, but how could he refuse when Dragonite offered so enthusiastically? He reached out and gave it a couple of pats. The squishy, bouncy feel was oddly satisfyingalmost addictive. "Maybe I should catch a Snorlax one day," Julian mused. "Then I could just sleep on its belly every night." After all, it was said that Snorlax''s stomach was the most comfortable bed in the world. That said, statistics showed that a significant number of trainers who slept on their Snorlax ended up crushed to death when the Pokmon rolled over in its sleep. Despite knowing the risks, many trainers couldn''t resist the allure. Nearly every Snorlax trainer had tried it at least once. Some survived; others didn''t. And then there were the lucky onesthe trainers who happened to have Snorlax that didn''t roll over in its sleep. Julian chuckled at the thought. ''With my physique, I should be able to handle a Snorlax rolling over... probably.'' Chapter 271: Dragonite VS Garchomp Chapter 271: Dragonite VS GarchompEarly the next morning, Julian and Dragonite resumed their climb up Dragon Mountain. They were now very close to the next Dragon-type Pokmon. Glancing at the Dowsing Machine, Julian noticed ten red dots displayed on its screen. Ever since they arrived at Dragon Mountain, the Dowsing Machine had consistently shown the maximum value of ten red dots, no matter how much Julian moved around. Each red dot was substantial in size as well. This meant that Dragon Mountain was brimming with treasures. If it weren''t for the fact that the greatest treasure awaited at the summit, Julian would have already started his treasure hunt. "Just wait for me. I''ll come and collect you all one by one soon" he murmured to the red dots on the screen. Still, the Dragon Pool was the priority. The treasures weren''t going anywhere, after all. With thoughts of treasure spurring him on, Julian''s climbing pace unconsciously quickened. The wind grew stronger as they ascended higher. At an altitude of 5,660 meters, Julian and Dragonite came to a halt. He could sense a powerful aura emanating from the forest not far away. The sound of trees, as thick as waistlines, toppling echoed through the area. Emerging from the fallen timber was a Garchomp, making its way toward them. Every tree in its path was smashed apart as it bulldozed forward. Julian raised an eyebrow, finding its behavior a bit odd. Couldn''t it just go around? He couldn''t help but feel this Garchomp might have a few screws loose. Garchomp: ''This human and his Dragonite must be awestruck by my dramatic entrance. Clearly, coming up with such a grand entrance proves I''m the smartest dragon on this mountain.'' Sarch* The N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing Julian and Dragonite''s puzzled expressions, Garchomp felt a surge of pride. Dragonite: ''This one must have something seriously wrong with it.'' Garchomp''s gaze fixed on its challengers, of course it lingered more on Dragonite. When it realized Dragonite hadn''t even reached the Elite level, a flicker of confusion crossed its fierce face. Then, noticing Dragonite''s goofy grin, as if it were greeting it, Garchomp was momentarily caught off guard. Just as it was about to nod in acknowledgment, Dragonite vanished from sight, charging straight at Garchomp. The force of its wingbeats uprooted the trees behind it. Garchomp: ''Such disrespect at such a young age! Watch me counter your move.'' Garchomp unleashed a powerful , the energy transforming into a vivid green dragon. The massive, clawing formstretching over ten meters longrushed to meet Dragonite. Caught off guard by Garchomp''s quick reaction, Dragonite found itself on the defensive despite having initiated the attack. Dragonite retaliated with its own , firing a concentrated blast of draconic energy from its mouth. As the two attacks collided, Garchomp''s eyes widened slightly in surprise. It could feel the intense, pure Dragon-type essence emanating from Dragonite''s move. Dragonite, who hadn''t even reached Elite-level strength, somehow possessed a Dragon-type essence richer than Garchomp''s, despite the latter being at the late Elite-tier. Garchomp: ''How much good stuff has this Dragonite been eating?'' Dragon essence, or the origin energy that fuels Dragon-types, typically grows with a Pokmon''s strength. However, it can also be enhanced through rare treasures. A stronger essence means that moves of the Pokmon''s type will pack an even greater punch. Two emerald-green dragon-shaped energies collided midair. The resulting explosion of Dragon-type energy was like a massive bomb going off. A deafening roar filled the sky, and shockwaves spread out in white concentric rings. Everything within the radius of the rings began to crack, collapse, and shatter under the destructive force. Julian had wisely retreated far away. Without a Pokmon to protect him, the aftermath of such a battle could easily take his life. He wasn''t about to gamble on the Mega Pallet Town physique in this situation. As the shockwaves began to subside, Dragonite and Garchomp clashed once againthis time in a brutal melee. Garchomp''s lean, muscular frame contained immense power, and the scythe-like fins on its arms resembled sharp battle axes. Every swing of its fins sliced through the air with a piercing, ear-splitting sound that made Julian wince even from a distance. Dragonite, despite its plump and rounded body often earning it the nickname "chubby," was widely regarded as an agile powerhouse. Its small, seemingly disproportionate wings granted it incredible speed and the ability to maneuver deftly in tight spaces. Both Pokmon unleashed a relentless flurry of close-range moves. Their blows shattered the solid rocky ground beneath them, sending debris flying in all directions. The battle reverberated throughout Dragon Mountain. The cacophony of their clash echoed into the skies. This was only the beginning. Dragonite''s slammed into Garchomp''s side, while Garchomp countered by sinking its sharp jaws into Dragonite''s shoulder with . Dragonite roared in pain as several puncture wounds appeared on its shoulder, blood trickling down from the injuries. Garchomp, though not bleeding, wasn''t faring much better. The power behind Dragonite''s felt like a sledgehammer smashing into its body, leaving it with internal injuries instead of external ones. The force of sent Garchomp hurtling through the forest, snapping countless trees along the way. It only stopped after smashing into a fifth massive boulder, which crumbled under the impact. Pain wracked Garchomp''s body with every breath, but it only served to stoke the flames of its fury. Among all pseudo-legendary Dragon-types, Garchomp was known as one of the most hot-tempered, alongside Hydreigon and Salamence. But if there were a competition for the angriest, Hydreigon would undoubtedly take the crown. After all, Hydreigon was notorious for its frequent bouts of mental instability due to its three heads. It was not unheard of for it to lose control and even harm its own Trainer. Garchomp: ''Today, either I beat you to death, or you beat me to death.'' With that, Garchomp slammed its foot into the ground, shattering it as it launched forward with an explosive burst of speed. Despite having been hurled nearly a kilometer away, it reappeared in front of Dragonite in the blink of an eye. Raising its scythe-like fin high above its head, an aura of sheer murderous intent radiated from its body. This Garchomp had undoubtedly earned its place in the upper regions of Dragon Mountain. Its strength was unquestionable, and its fins were undoubtedly stained with the blood of countless Dragon-type Pokmon. As the battle wore on, Garchomp''s feral instincts continued to awaken, its bloodlust growing stronger with every passing moment. The oppressive aura it exuded grew so heavy that it seemed to sap the warmth from the air, causing the surrounding temperature to plummet by at least ten degrees. Faced with the onslaught, Dragonite''s normally calm gaze flickered with a hint of madness. Dragonite: ''We''re both pseudo-legendary dragonsdo you seriously think I''m weaker than you?'' Tapping into its raw strength, Dragonite''s muscles swelled, veins bulging along its arms as it activated *Superpower*. Its powerful hands grabbed hold of Garchomp''s forearms, stopping the attack dead in its tracks. The ground beneath them cracked and exploded from the force of their clash, sending shards of rock flying in all directions. Nearby, Julian watched as a tree beside him was pierced clean through by a flying chunk of debris. Cold sweat dripped down his back. Julian: ''Damn it, in just a few days, I''ve brushed past death more times than I can count.'' Chapter 272: Cruel Dragonite Chapter 272: Cruel DragoniteUnder the effects of the move, Dragonite''s strength reached an incredible level. Under Garchomp''s astonished gaze, its arm was lifted by Dragonite, and then its entire body was slowly hoisted into the air. In terms of height, Dragonite stood over four meters tall, nearly half a meter taller than Garchomp. Garchomp was not one to sit idly by. It attempted to retaliate by unleashing from its mouth. However, Dragonite freed one hand and crushed the pulse with a single punch. What followed was Dragonite''s relentless close-range assault. Blow after blow landed directly on Garchomp''s face. Its teeth were knocked out, its face was battered beyond recognition, but it gritted its teeth and endured Dragonite''s storm-like attacks. This was because Garchomp possessed the hidden ability . Each time Dragonite struck it with a contact move, it took recoil damage itself. Now, Garchomp''s face was utterly mangled, but Dragonite''s fists had not escaped unscathed either. The skin on its knuckles had broken open, revealing raw, bleeding flesh. Blow after blow, their blood and flesh splattered with each hit. Dragonite''s punches began to lose power, a fact that the battered Garchomp keenly noticed. The effects of were fading, and its side effects were kicking in. Dragonite''s attack and defense were dropping rapidly. A wave of weakness surged through Dragonite. Its punches slowed for a momenta moment Garchomp seized despite its own injuries. Its vision blurred with blood, but it locked onto Dragonite''s fist and bit down. With a sickening , the sound of bones breaking echoed through the air. Dragonite''s arm bone had been crushed by Garchomp''s jaws. The sharp pain forced Dragonite to release Garchomp with its other hand. However, Garchomp didn''t follow up with another attack. Instead, it collapsed onto the ground. In terms of injuries, Garchomp had fared far worse. Taking so many direct punches from Dragonite under the effects of , it was a miracle it hadn''t passed out already. If not for its ability and its sheer tenacity, it would have succumbed long ago. Even now, though it remained conscious, Garchomp was utterly spent, unable to muster the strength to even stand. That last had drained the last of its energy. As for Dragonite, its right wrist hung limply, blood and mangled flesh exposing the stark white of bone. Blood poured from the wound, quickly forming a small pool beneath it. That arm was effectively useless for now. Without proper healing and recovery, it could even lead to permanent damage, potentially affecting Dragonite''s future performance. From a distance, Julian watched the scene, his expression filled with anguish. Since his debut, although his Pokmon had sustained injuries before, but never had they been hurt this severely. But now, it was time to bring this to an end. Dragonite took a bold step forward, its left fist enveloped in a chilling white frost. Garchomp, still on the ground, paled at the sight. ''Is this thing still a dragon? How does it still have energy?'' There was no time to dwell on the thought. Driven by sheer willpower, Garchomp pushed itself up from the ground. Its blade-like left claw glinted as it prepared to unleash , meeting Dragonite''s advancing head-on. "Bang!" "Bang!" Dragonite''s struck Garchomp square in the chest, while Garchomp''s slashed across Dragonite''s upper body, leaving a long, bloody gash. Both were sent flying by the impact. The difference was clearGarchomp crashed to the ground and stayed down, completely spent, while Dragonite slowly rose from the dust cloud. Staring at the defeated Garchomp lying motionless in the dirt, Dragonite''s heart swelled with the exhilaration of triumph over a powerful adversary. "Dra!!!" With a victorious roar, a cry echoed across Dragon Mountain, reverberating through the skies and surrounding mountains. The relentless battles, each against high-caliber opponents, were continuously unlocking Dragonite''s hidden potential. What it needed now was simply to keep fighting. Julian approached Dragonite, the strong scent of blood immediately filling his nose. Dragonite''s gaze met Julian''s. Julian patted it gently. "You did great. Now, take this." He pulled out a . Dragonite''s eyes lit up, and it eagerly swallowed the it in one gulp. Julian now fully understood why the Drake family had only produced two successful challengers of Dragon Mountain in over a centuryand even they had only attempted the climb when they were trainers at the peak of the Elite-tier. Trainers above the Elite-tier weren''t permitted to challenge Dragon Mountain, and attempts could only be made once every five years. The difficulty was staggering. Even trainers at the peak of the Elite-tier would struggle immensely. The Garchomp they had just faced was only at late Elite-stage, yet the sheer power it unleashed rivaled the peak of that level. And the challenges ahead were bound to be even harder. The next Dragon-types they''d face would likely match or exceed the power of a pseudo-champion. And at the summit? They''d face a pseudo-legendary Dragon Pokmon with champion-level strength. If a Pokmon suffered serious injuries during the challengeones that couldn''t be healed quicklycontinuing was practically impossible. After all, the opponents would only grow stronger as they climbed. Facing them without being in peak condition was a losing battle. Julian knew he had the advantage of the system''s , allowing Dragonite to heal completely in a short amount of time. Without it, his challenge would have likely ended here. Under the effects of the , Dragonite''s injuries began healing rapidly. However, the damage to its wrist was severeno less than four or five hours of healing would be needed before it was fully functional again. Since there wouldn''t be a second challenge today, Julian decided there was plenty of time for Dragonite to rest. He walked over to the unconscious Garchomp, whose face had been so battered by Dragonite''s punches that it was barely recognizable. Calling it disfigured wouldn''t be an exaggeration. The faint rise and fall of its chest confirmed it was still alive. Julian pulled out a recovery medicine and administered it to Garchomp. Given its resilience, he figured it would wake up soon. As for why he didn''t use a ? S~ea??h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even the recovery medicine, costing 300 points per bottle, was a stretch. But Julian decided to use it anyway, as a nod of respect for Garchomp''s toughness. "Dra~" Not long after, Dragonite approached him. Besides its injured hand, the rest of its wounds had mostly healed, and its energy and stamina had returned to normal. But now it felt hungry. "Here" Julian said, handing over a box of Top-Grade Dragon-Type Pokblocks. Another 1,000 points spent, just like that. In the past few days, the points he had burned through were more than what he''d accumulated in months, and all of it went to a single PokmonDragonite. As Dragonite dug into its meal, savoring every bite, the aroma of the food and the effects of the recovery medicine seemed to work their magic. The once-unconscious Garchomp slowly opened its eyes. The first thing it saw was Dragonite happily munching away. The scent wafting from those tiny blocks made Garchomp''s eyes light up. Garchomp: ''Give me some'' Dragonite glanced at Garchomp. Out of the original ten Pokblocks, only two were left now. Under Garchomp''s hopeful gaze, Dragonite casually popped the last two blocks into its mouth and swallowed them in one bite. Dragonite: ''No more'' Garchomp: (ܳܳ) Chapter 273: Gible Chapter 273: GibleIn the end, under Garchomp''s eager gaze, Julian handed it a portion of High-Grade Dragon-Type Pokblocks. Garchomp: "Whoa, what is this? It''s amazing!" "Want to come with me?" Seeing Garchomp''s foodie tendencies, Julian immediately extended an invitation, feeling confident it was a done deal. Garchomp''s strength was undeniable, capable of bursting out with peak-Elite level power. Garchomp: "No" ''Sure, the food''s great, but you think I''d leave just for that? You must be kidding.'' Julian: ''Not even a hint of hesitation. At least pretend to think about it, or fake some reluctance for appearance''s sake. Now it just feels embarrassing.'' Julian hadn''t expected the dragons on Dragon Mountain to be so hard to recruit. Kingdra had already rejected him earlier, and now Garchomp was turning him down too. The worst part? Both of these jerks had taken his stuff without the slightest sense of guilt or gratitude. Garchomp: "I can let my kid go with you" "-Really?-" Julian looked at it in surprise. If the adult wasn''t willing, a younger one was just as goodif not better. He preferred raising Pokmon from a young age to maximize their potential. Garchomp nodded and roared in a specific direction. Before long, another Garchomp descended from the sky, clutching a small Gible in its arms. Perhaps because it was carrying its child, the second Garchomp didn''t approach but instead watched Julian and Dragonite warily. Judging from the battered state of her mate, she guessed he had been defeated. Female Garchomp: "So you sold me and our child?" Male Garchomp: "Honey, no, listen to me" Female Garchomp: "Not listening, not listening, Squirtle''s reciting sutras!" Julian ignored the couple''s squabble, his focus entirely on the little Gible. It seemed to be its first time seeing a human, and instead of fear, curiosity filled its gaze as it studied Julian. Pokmon: Gible (Dragon/Ground) Level: 20 Potential: Cyan Ability: Rough Skin Held Item: None Gender: Male Moves: Sand Tomb, Tackle, Sand Attack, Dragon Breath TMs: None Egg Moves: Draco Meteor, Twister, Dig, Dragon Claw --- A Cyan-potential Gible, destined for Elite. Its parents were both of Cyan potential, and a third of its own Cyan potential has turned into Blue. Female Garchomp: "So, you sold our son over some food" The female Garchomp was absolutely furious. This spineless idiot had sold their son to a human over some food! She was ready to beat him to a pulp. Watching the fight between the Garchomp coupleor more accurately, the one-sided domestic violenceJulian couldn''t help but marvel. The male Garchomp didn''t resist at all as his wife sat on his face and pounded away. No wonder this guy could take a beating so well; apparently, he lived under constant high-pressure conditions every day. Meanwhile, the young Gible seemed entirely unfazed by its parents'' brawl. It was clear this wasn''t its first time witnessing such a scene. Julian had already made his way to Gible, studying the little Pokmon''s round, chubby form. It really did have an adorable charm. "Here, try this." Julian pulled out a box of Gible-exclusive High-Grade Pokblocks. To win over this little dragon, Julian wasn''t holding back. Anything labeled "exclusive" cost significantly more points, but the results were worth it. Gible hesitantly took a small bite at first, but after that first taste, there was no stopping it. Its little hands and mouth went into overdrive. However, since it was still young, it could only eat two blocks from the entire box. Dragonite, watching from the side, couldn''t help but eye the remaining blocks with greed. Noticing this, Gible immediately offered half of the remaining Pokblocks to Dragonite. Dragonite was stunned. This was the first time another Pokmon had willingly shared food with it. Julian''s Pokmon were notoriously protective of their food. They''d usually get along fine, but if anyone dared touch their mealseven Metagross would find itself in a fight. Dragonite was so touched that its "tears" seemed to flow from the corner of its mouth. It shook its head, signaling it didn''t need any, and patted its own round belly. Dragonite: "Kid, from now on, I''ve got your back." It knew that, barring surprises, this Gible was likely to become its new companion. Eventually, the domestic dispute ended, and the male Garchomp, sporting a bruised and battered face, approached with his wife. Male Garchomp: "I''m entrusting my son to you" He wasn''t stupid. Dragonite wasn''t even at Elite level, yet it had managed to defeat him, who was at the late stage of that rank. This proved just how exceptional Julian was at training Dragon Pokmon. Julian: The male Garchomp wouldn''t leave the Dragon''s Den. Having lived there his entire life, he knew that if he left with this human, his wife might just pair up with another Garchomp. That guy would then raise his child and... well, sleep with his wife. So, could he leave? Absolutely not. Besides, Gible was already at the age where it would soon be driven out of the territory to live on its own. Whether it survived or not wouldn''t be his concern anymore. Letting his son go with this human was undoubtedly the better option. It would have a safer and brighter future. The female Garchomp agreed for the same reason. Most Pokmon are driven out by their parents once they reach a certain stage of development and have gained enough survival skills to fend for themselves in the wild. This is especially pronounced in Dragon-type Pokmon. As soon as they outgrow their infancy and acquire the ability to protect themselves, their parents expel them from the territory, forcing them to survive on their own. Whether they thrive or perish from that point on is entirely up to them. The Garchomp parents knew exactly what awaited their young Gible. They had experienced the same fate themselvescast out into the wild and left to survive in a world of harsh realities. Sure, the Gible might one day grow into a powerful Garchomp. But it was equally possible that it might meet its end in some remote corner of the Dragon''s Den. Male Garchomp: "Son, from now on, you''re following him" He couldn''t help but feel a twinge of envy as he glanced at the energy block in Gible''s tiny claws. Earlier, he had stared at the human with puppy-dog eyes for a long time before reluctantly being given just one. Yet now, his son was being showered with treats without even lifting a claw. Gible: "So you don''t want me anymore?" Male Garchomp: "That''s right. You''re useless now. Your mom and I plan to start fresh with a new one" Gible: "A new one? Is it the uncle from next door?" Male Garchomp: "That son of a b**ch! That bastard''s at it again, trying to steal my wife!" With a roar filled with murderous intent, the male Garchomp launched himself in the direction of the supposed offender. The female Garchomp smacked Gible on the head: "I told you not to mention that to your father!" Julian, unsure of what just transpired, decided to ease the tension. "Uh here. Take these as a small token of thanks." He pulled out two boxes of high-grade Dragon-type Pokblocks. After all, they had just entrusted their son to himit was only right to offer something in return. He had no idea where the male Garchomp had flown off to, looking like it was about to start a fight, but with the female Garchomp still present, it seemed polite to hand the treats to her instead. Sarch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Female Garchomp: "Perfect timing. I''ll give one of these to your uncle" Chapter 274: Salamence Chapter 274: SalamenceWatching as the female Garchomp also flew away, Julian couldn''t help but notice that her direction was different from where the male Garchomp had gone. Dragonite: "The dragon community is a mess" Gible: "I just watched my mom and dad leave me behind, leaving me as the only dragon left here..." Seeing the sadness and reluctance in Gible''s expression, Julian stepped forward and patted the little dragon on its big round head. "They didn''t abandon youthey entrusted you to me. From now on, you''ll stay with me, and one day, your strength will surpass that of your parents." Still, Julian couldn''t help but wonder if the Garchomp couple had given him Gible just because of the Pokeblocks. After patting Gible''s head, Julian looked down at his hand, now red and slightly sore. He was close to tears. "Alright then" Julian said as he took out an empty Pok Ball and lightly tapped it on Gible''s head. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A few seconds later, the ball settled quietly, signaling that Gible was officially his now. Releasing Gible back out of the Pok Ball, Julian decided there was no need to keep the little Pokmon inside since the Dragon''s Den was an ideal environment for it. With Gible on his team, Julian finally felt somewhat assured about his safety. At the very least, the little dragon could probably protect him from falling rocks or stray tree branches during battles. Looking at the small Gible, Julian felt a flicker of doubt creep in. At level 20, Gible had already surpassed the stage of being considered weak. Most Pokmon that left their parents were around this level. That night, Julian stayed there but the Garchomp couple didn''t return. Happily munching on its special energy blocks, Gible had already forgotten all about its parents. The sadness and reluctance from earlier were nowhere to be seen. The next morning, after completing his daily task, Julian continued his climb, accompanied by Dragonite and Gible. After a full night''s rest, Dragonite''s injured wrist had completely healed, leaving no scars behind. The effects of a were astonishingDragonite''s wrist had nearly been broken, and yet it had healed perfectly in just one night. Who would believe that? Meanwhile, Gible ran ahead excitedly. The rugged mountain path was like flat ground to it, and its spirits were high. In fact, it had woken Julian and Dragonite up with its enthusiasm early in the morning. Having never left its territory since birth, Gible was exploring other Dragon Pokmon''s territory for the first time. Instead of being scared, it seemed more curious and fascinated. Julian had climbed to an altitude of 7,000 meters on Dragon Mountain by now. The temperature had dropped below freezing, and the surroundings were blanketed in snow. This kind of environment wasn''t particularly appealing to Dragon-type Pokmon. At the very least, Gible wasn''t as cheerful as it had been earlier. Afraid of the cold, Gible was now nestled in Julian''s arms. Its face, however, bore a mixed expression of discomfort and delight. As they ascended higher, the density of Dragon-type energy in the air increased. While the temperature had dropped, it only affected lower-level Pokmon like Gible. For Dragonite, the cold didn''t bother it at all. On the contrary, the chilly air seemed to invigorate it further. The rich Dragon-type energy in the surroundings made Dragonite feel as though it was soaking in a hot spring, every pore of its body radiating comfort. Perhaps due to the dense energy, Gible''s level quietly rose from 20 to 21. Without doing anything, it had leveled up. If they stayed here for ten days or so, it wouldn''t be surprising if Gible evolved into Gabite. It was no wonder that Dragon Mountain had become a landmark of the Dragon''s Den secret realm, with its treasure at the summit. With Dragon-type energy this abundant, even a moderately gifted Pokmon could grow strong simply by sleeping here. "Let''s stop for lunch" Julian said, pointing to a flat boulder nearby that could serve as a makeshift table. Hearing the word the dozing Gible in Julian''s arms instantly perked up. For Gible, nothing was more exciting than mealtime. "Here" Julian handed it a specialized energy block, which Gible devoured in one gulp. It then looked at Julian with expectant eyes, clearly hoping for more. "No way. From now on, you''re only getting one per meal," Julian said firmly, shaking his head. Gible''s energy blocks were already packed with nutrients. Normally, eating two wouldn''t be an issue. But with the environment saturated in Dragon-type energy, Gible was passively absorbing it without even trying. Its body was still too small and fragile. If too much energy accumulated without being released, it could harm Gible instead. Thus, Julian decided to limit the energy blocks. Dragonite, on the other hand, had no such concerns. Its deep reserves of power only benefited from the battles along the way, which continuously pushed its potential further. Dragonite''s body craved more energy, not less. Though Gible seemed a little disappointed, it didn''t throw a tantrum, which Julian found reassuring. By 5 PM, Julian and Dragonite had climbed to an altitude of 8,000 meters. As they reached this height, a Dragon-type Pokmon began circling overhead. Its blood-red wings glowed ominously against the setting sun, resembling the fiery hues of twilight. "Salamence," Julian murmured softly. Dragonite immediately took to the skies, rising to meet Salamence at a distance of five to six hundred meters. The two Pokmon hovered in the air, gazing at each other from afar. Julian''s heart sank. Considering the strength of Dragon-type Pokmon on Dragon Mountain, their combat capabilities often exceeded their level by a small tier. If a late-stage Elite Pokmon could fight at peak Elite strength, then this Salamence, at peak Elite tier, likely had combat power rivaling a pseudo-Champion. Although Dragonite had grown significantly in Dragon''s Den, its current limit was peak Elite tier. If Salamence truly possessed pseudo-Champion level strength, Dragonite''s chances of winning were slimeven with Julian''s guidance. If Metagross was here, a victory might be possible with Mega Evolution. Dragonite''s greatest disadvantage was its lack of a Mega Evolution form. If it had one, there might still be hope. Julian glanced at the Peak Elite Experience Card lying in his system inventory. "Roar!" Salamence let out a furious roar, its blood-red wings slicing through the air and leaving a crimson afterimage. There was a deafening and before Julian could react, Dragonite was already hurtling toward the ground like a comet. With a crash, Dragonite smashed into the earth, scattering debris in all directions. Seeing this, Julian quickly pulled Gible away from the area to avoid the flying rocks. His confidence in this battle wavered even further. Dragonite had been overwhelmed in a single exchange. Julian glanced at the trembling Gible in his arms and sighed. Chapter 275: Experience Card Chapter 275: Experience CardSalamence hovered midair, its sharp gaze fixed on the Dragonite it had just knocked down. For its opponent to have made it this far, despite not even being at the Elite tier, was a testament to its exceptional strength. A golden erupted from the single horn atop Dragonite''s head, lightning-fast and dazzlingly bright. Yet Salamence''s speed surpassed even that of the electric attack. With a powerful beat of its wings, it outran the entirely. As its wings continued to slice through the air, two cleaved the apart, dispersing the golden electricity into nothingness. By this time, Dragonite had already used to close the distance between them, unleashing a that crystallized the surrounding moisture into snowflakes. Dragonite''s timing was impeccable, launching its attack at the precise moment Salamence was using its wings for the . With its wings occupied, Salamence had no time to evade. But it didn''t need to dodge. A powerful , spiraling with compressed air, erupted from Salamence, the force of the attack causing the surrounding air to rumble and crack. For a moment, the and clashed, locked in a stalemate. After two seconds, the shattered, dissolving into countless glittering shards. Dragonite took the full brunt of the . Even though the attack had been partially weakened by , its sheer force was still immense. Dragonite braced itself, its arms crossed to block the attack as its body was pushed back nearly a kilometer through the air. When the attack finally dissipated, Dragonite''s arms bore a vivid red mark, with small beads of blood seeping out. Though the injury didn''t hinder its movement, it was another stark reminder of the gap between the two. Dragonite hadn''t yet reached peak pseudo-Elite level, while Salamence stood at the very summit of the Elite tiera full tier of difference. So Without hesitation, Julian used the only Peak Elite Experience Card in his inventory, granting Dragonite a temporary boost for ten minutes. Dragonite had already been at a disadvantage from the start, so there was no point in dragging out the battle. Comebacks and miraculous reversals? Those only happened in novels and TV shows. When your opponent is significantly stronger than you, no amount of effort can change the outcome. The idea of overcoming the odds was rare in reality, and Julian wasn''t about to gamble on it happening now. So he decisively used the Peak Elite Experience Card on Dragonite. Rather than waiting for it to be battered and bruised, it was far better to use it now while Dragonite was still in good shape. A barely perceptible stream of light surged into Dragonite''s body. Dragonite: ''I suddenly feel stronger'' Salamence: ''What the heck is going on here?'' Salamence stared in confusion and disbelief as Dragonite''s aura surged rapidly. In mere moments, Dragonite''s power had risen to match its own, going from pseudo-Elite to Peak Elite in an instant. Though Salamence couldn''t fathom what Dragonite had done to boost its strength, the intensity of its rival''s newfound aura ignited a fire within. Previously, Dragonite had merely been a mildly troublesome opponent, barely worth Salamence''s interest. But now, it radiated an aura of equalityan opponent worthy of a fight. "ROAR!!" "RAWR!!" The two dragons let out thunderous cries that echoed across the sky. Their auras erupted like volcanos, colliding in midair. The clash of their unseen power sent ripples through the atmosphere, intertwining and spiraling around each other. The pressure distorted the space between them, and their overwhelming Dragon Aura caused the Dragon Pokmon near Dragon Mountain to cower in fear. Julian, standing below, radiated a faint Aura to shield himself, without it, even breathing would have been a challenge. In contrast, Gible in his arms stared at the battle with wide, gleaming eyes, filled with admiration and longing. It seemed to be dreaming of the day when it, too, could become this powerful. The two combatants seemed evenly matched, almost as if they had agreed on the outcome beforehand. In the next instant, both Salamence and Dragonite simultaneously withdrew their auras and charged at each other. A streak of yellow and a streak of red collided repeatedly in the air, their clashes sending shockwaves rippling through the mountains. The snow-covered peaks around them began to crumble, triggering avalanches from their relentless impacts. Fortunately, Julian stood safely outside the avalanche zone. Dragonite''s collided with Salamence''s in a clash that seemed to freeze time. Neither Pokmon yielded an inch as they locked attacks. The next moment, both Pokmon were flung backward, retreating thousands of meters. They paused briefly, locking eyes. Dragonite: Salamence: Their attacks met in midair, generating a massive shockwave that dispersed the clouds above, yet neither side gained an advantage. Five minutes had passed since the battle began, and neither Pokmon had managed to dominate the other. It had become a game of back-and-forth strikesone moment Salamence landed a hit, the next Dragonite did, or their attacks simply neutralized each other. Watching from below, Julian hadn''t expected Salamence to be this tough. Even after Dragonite had reached Peak Elite and unleashed pseudo-Champion-level strength, it still couldn''t overpower Salamence. In fact, it seemed like victory might remain out of reach. The Pokmon in special advanced secret realms are indeed stronger than those in standard advanced secret realmsthis applies even to ordinary Pokmon. As for the Dragon-type Pokmon residing in Dragon Mountain, they are considered the elite of the entire Dragon''s Den secret realm. Otherwise, they wouldn''t have the qualifications to claim territory on Dragon Mountain. The Peak Elite Experience Card only lasts for ten minutes. Five minutes had already passed, and it seemed unlikely Dragonite would defeat Salamence within the remaining five. "Dragonite, use Thunder!" Julian''s calm voice resonated within Dragonite''s heart. Dragonite, who had been fretting over how to take down Salamence, felt its anxiety instantly dissipate upon hearing Julian''s command. Julian had refrained from directing Dragonite much during the earlier battles, allowing it to act freely to better develop its own combat skills. However, against a formidable opponent like Salamence and with time running out, Julian took the reins. Storm clouds began to form in the sky as golden lightning flickered and danced through the blackened clouds. Moments later, a thunderbolt as thick as a barrel struck downward. Salamence met the attack head-on with its . Vivid green Dragon energy radiated fiercely from its claws as it swung them upward. Sar?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Watching Salamence''s response, Julian narrowed his eyes slightly. Just as he thought. "Thunder Wave!" As Salamence shattered the Thunder attack with its Dragon Claw, a faint electric current extended from the remnants of the Thunder and latched onto its body. The next moment, tiny arcs of electricity began to crawl across Salamence''s body. Julian didn''t just watch the battle between Dragonite and Salamence in vain. By observing Salamence''s combat style, he had already gained a solid understanding of how it fought. With its immense stamina and abundant Dragon energy, Salamence excelled at trading blows head-on. Against Pokmon with even slightly weaker strength, this approach would ensure it completely dominated the fight. Chapter 276: Ice Beam Chapter 276: Ice BeamThe straightforward Salamence never expected that the Dragonite, which had been clashing moves with it the entire time, would suddenly resort to underhanded tactics. Thunder Wave itself didn''t deal much damage, but its paralyzing effect was the real game-changer. Once paralyzed, there was always a chance of a move failing to execute. Salamence: "You''re despicable." Dragonite: "You''re just too dumb." Dragonite didn''t see itself as despicable at allit was clearly Salamence''s fault for being so straightforward. In a battle, how could you fight without any tricks? Adaptability was key. Salamence: "I''ll destroy you!" Seeing that Dragonite not only refused to admit fault but also insulted it, Salamence was so furious that it nearly burst a vein. Its roar was accompanied by a powerful shockwave, and its aura surged dramatically. It was using . With a beat of its wings, several formed, slicing through the air in sharp arcs. Dragonite looked over at Julian with a face that said, Julian''s expression stiffened as he muttered, "It''s obviously your bad luck" Damn itSalamence was paralyzed, yet it managed to successfully unleash two moves in a row! Was its luck off the charts or what? "Protect!" The green shield of blocked several , but the final one shattered the shield. Following that, Salamence launched a . "Dragon Rush!" Despite being paralyzed, Salamence seemed completely unaffected. Its paralysis appeared purely decorative, with zero actual impact. Julian silently repeated to himself: As he was pondering, Dragonite''s collided fiercely with Salamence''s . The intense impact initially stalled Dragonite''s charge. But in the next second, Dragonite broke through the , surging forward with overwhelming power like a falling meteor. It smashed into Salamence with incredible force. Salamence''s massive body was slammed into the ground, creating a deep crater upon impact. The shockwave caused the surrounding ground to crack like a spiderweb, with countless small rocks shooting out from the fissures. As the energy surrounding Dragonite dissipated after , Salamence, enduring excruciating pain, tried to counter with a . However, the electric current coursing through its body caused the move to fail. Julian: ''Go aheadlet''s see you resist the paralysis effect forever!'' Salamence''s expression shifted instantly. A move failing at this critical moment meant it had missed its best chance to counterattack. Sure enough, in the next second, Salamence saw Dragonite''s fist, crackling with electricity, rapidly enlarging in its vision. With a resounding BAM, Dragonite''s landed squarely on Salamence''s head. It wasn''t clear if the paralysis effect was at work, but Salamence felt that this was much stronger than the previous ones. The electrical currents coursed through Salamence''s entire body, and the sheer force of felt no less powerful than a . Salamence: ''Outrage, activate!'' A violent surge of energy erupted within Salamence, spreading through its entire body. A massive wave of Dragon-type energy shot skyward, and the lingering electricity on its body was completely dispersed. The paralysis was gone. "We''ll use Outrage too!" At this point, the had three minutes left before expiring. Now both Dragonite and Salamence had entered . Rampant Dragon energy coursed through their bodies, replacing rational thought with raw power. However, there was still a sliver of clarity in their minds. was a double-edged sword. Used correctly, it could turn the tide of battle. But if used for too long, a Pokmon could lose its sense of reason and attack indiscriminately. Some unfortunate trainers had even been killed by their own Pokmon after prolonged use of . With its paralysis gone, Salamence''s advantage returned, while Dragonite''s edge disappeared. Julian had hoped to win using underhanded tactics, but that plan was clearly out the window. In its state, Salamence''s crimson wings glowed even brighter, as if they could drip blood. The eerie brilliance was both mesmerizing and chilling. sliced at Dragonite''s stomach like a sharp blade, leaving a deep gash on its rounded belly. Yet Dragonite seemed unfazed by the pain. As Salamence''s struck again, Dragonite raised its arms to block. Though its palms were sliced open and blood streamed down, it refused to let go. Salamence slammed Dragonite into the mountainside of Dragon Mountain. The impact created a crater dozens of meters deep. At the moment of collision, Dragonite''s vision went black, and its grip loosened. Just as Salamence prepared to finish the battle with a , Dragonite''s figure suddenly began to fade and then disappeared entirely. The real Dragonite had appeared behind Salamence, unleashing a it had been charging for a while. The freezing cold, almost capable of freezing time itself, enveloped Salamence before it could turn around. The beam struck, encasing Salamence in a block of ice. Everything around itmountain walls, rocks, and treesfroze as well. The once-vibrant battlefield became a frozen landscape. Dragonite landed heavily, panting hard. Using had consumed half its stamina, leaving it severely drained. But the move had created the perfect opportunity, deceiving Salamence and allowing Dragonite to deliver the decisive blow. Salamence had a 4x weakness to Ice, and this had been fully charged before firing, making it even more powerful. Just as Julian thought Salamence was finished, cracks suddenly began to form on the icy sculpture. The sound of shattering ice grew louder and more frequent. The relief on Julian''s face vanished, replaced by alarm. He shouted, "Dragonite, keep using Ice Beam!" He didn''t even need to say itDragonite had already begun firing another the moment the cracks appeared. Dragonite''s energy reserves were nearly depleted, and it could feel that the foreign power within it was fading fast. If Salamence wasn''t taken out now, Dragonite knew it would be the one to fall. Putting all its remaining strength and willpower into the , Dragonite aimed directly at the cracking ice sculpture. "BANG!" The sculpture shattered completely. Julian closed his eyes briefly: The Elite Experience Card''s time had run out. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''Is it still possible to surrender now?'' But to his surprise, the freed Salamence didn''t counterattack or dodge. Instead, it took the full brunt of the head-on and froze again, becoming an ice sculpture once more. Salamence: Breaking free from the first ice prison had drained the very last remnants of Salamence''s strength. The 4x damage from was no joke, and its escape had been fueled solely by the final surge of power. Now that power was gone, Salamence could only be frozen again, entirely spent. And so "We won" Julian exhaled the words softly. Dragonite collapsed onto the ground, utterly exhausted. At this point, it didn''t even have the strength to lift a finger. Chapter 277: Dad? Chapter 277: Dad?The battle was won, but it had been a tough victory. Without using the , Dragonite would never have been able to defeat Salamence. It wasn''t that Dragonite was weak; the gap in their levels was just too large. Dragonite wasn''t even at the level of an Elite Pokmon, so how could it possibly defeat a Salamence on par with a pseudo-Champion? Without a handicap or the use of an external boost, there was no way Dragonite could have won. After defeating Salamence, Julian decided to forgo further challenges on Dragon Mountain. It wasn''t that he didn''t want to; he simply lacked the strength to continue. The final guardian of Dragon Mountain was a pseudo-Champion Pokmon. With the used uphis only onethere was no point in pressing on. He had no choice but to give up the challenge. When he first attempted Dragon Mountain, Julian had been hopeful about completing it. He never expected the second-to-last stage to be this difficult. Still, he wondered how much time Dragonite would now be allowed to soak in the mountain''s Dragon Pool as a reward. Gible gazed at the resting Dragonite with admiration written all over its face. The power Dragonite had just displayed was leagues beyond what its parents could manage. Gible: "You''re amazing!" Dragonite: "Metagross is the real boss" As the two Pokmon exchanged words, Julian handed Dragonite a Full Restore. As for Salamence? Julian decided to leave it frozen for now. After all, with its strength, it wouldn''t freeze to death. It would likely break free soon anyway. A few minutes later, Salamence broke out of the ice sculpture. Its expression was grimit had lost the battle, and it wasn''t happy about it. Salamence: "How old are you? I''m already 500 years old." Noticing Dragonite''s youthful energy, Salamence was curious about its age. To be so young and yet capable of defeating it was impressive. Dragonite: "A year and a half." By Julian''s calculations, it had indeed been a year and a half since he received the Dratini egg during his third year of high school. Salamence: ѣ Salamence didn''t think Dragonite was lying. Its youthful aura was evident, and as a pseudo-Legendary Dragon-type, Dragonite had no reason to deceive about such matters. For pseudo-Legendaries, growth was naturally slow. In the wildeven in Dragon''s Dena Dragon-type Pokmon at a year and a half old would still be considered an infant. Salamence recalled how it had taken 50 years to evolve from a Bagon into a Shelgon, and another 60 years to evolve into a Salamence. For a Dragon-type Pokmon with a long lifespan, Salamence''s 500 years were roughly equivalent to a human in their early thirtiesprime adulthood. Under natural growth conditions, Pokmon of any type matured slowly. But pseudo-Legendaries were the slowest of all. With human help, however, Pokmon could grow tens or even hundreds of times faster than their wild counterparts, achieving combat readiness in a fraction of the time. Before the existence of human Trainers, wild Pokmon would often sneer: Wild Pokmon: "We despise Pokmon like you who throw yourselves into the arms of humans. Traitors." After the rise of Trainers, however, their tone changed. The relationship between Trainers and Pokmon is one of mutual benefit. Trainers help Pokmon grow faster, saving them an immense amount of time, while Pokmon help Trainers gain social status. "Salamence, we''ve decided to give up on the challenge. When can you take us to the Dragon Pool?" Julian asked. He had already given Salamence some medicine to restore its stamina. Salamence: "I''ll take you there now" Despite receiving help, Salamence''s attitude toward Julian remained sour. Even after taking the restorative medicine, its expression stayed grumpy. Salamence: All it wanted now was to send Julian and his Dragonite on their way. Since Julian had given up the challenge on Dragon Mountain, he no longer needed to climb further. Riding atop Dragonite, he followed Salamence toward the mountain''s summit. On the way, they passed through the territory of the pseudo-Champion Dragon Pokmon, but it was nowhere to be seen. At an altitude of 10,000 meters, the wind was bone-chilling and cut like knives against the skin. Julian shielded his face with Aura, preventing frostbite or injury from the cold. The temperature had plummeted to around -30 degrees Celsius. Julian had already recalled Gible into its Pok Ball. Its level was far too low to survive in such extreme conditions. Salamence: "We''re here. Just head forward on your own." Salamence stopped at the edge of a cliff, pointing toward a flat path ahead. Without waiting for any questions, it flew off immediately. Julian and Dragonite followed Salamence''s instructions, gliding slowly in the indicated direction. The Dowsing Machine showed a massive red dot ahead, confirming that the Dragon Pool was nearby. After a ten-minute flight, they arrived. The Dragon Pool wasn''t very large, with an area of about 100 cubic meters. The water was a vibrant emerald green. This wasn''t ordinary waterit was liquefied Dragon-type energy. Only in places with incredibly high energy concentrations could gaseous energy compress into a liquid state. However, standing near the Dragon Pool was another Dragonite, staring directly at Julian''s Dragonite. sea??h th novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Pokmon: Dragonite (Dragon/Flying) Level: 96 Potential: Purple Ability: Inner Focus Held Item: Dragon Fang Gender: Male Moves: Hurricane, Wing Attack, Wrap, Roost, Leer, Dragon Tail, Twister, Thunder Wave, Aqua Tail, Dragon Rush, Safeguard, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Slam, Rain Dance, Hyper Beam, Icy Wind, Hydro Pump, Flamethrower, Substitute, Iron Tail, Wide Guard, Breaking Swipe, Agility TMs: None Egg Moves: Extreme Speed, Draco Meteor, Dragon Dance, Outrage --- The Dragon''s Den, as a special Advanced secret realm, wasn''t lacking in Champion-level Pokmon. What intrigued Julian was the fact that this Dragonite seemed to be waiting specifically for them. Moreover, the way this Champion-level Dragonite was looking at his own Dragonite felt... odd. Julian: that Julian''s Dragonite also seemed curious, observing the Champion Dragonite without showing much stress despite the vast gap in strength. Champion Dragonite: "Son" Julian: (_)? Dragonite: "Dad?" Julian was utterly dumbfounded. He thought his Dragonite might get angryafter all, who would willingly accept a random dragon claiming to be their father? Besides, his Dragonite had been with him since it was an egg. Where would a father even come from? If there ''was'' a dad, wasn''t ''he'' the one? But to his surprise, Dragonite agreed without hesitation. As the realization struck, Julian''s eyes widened. Had he been underestimating this goofy dragon of his all along? On the surface, it acted clueless, but underneath, it was clearly scheming. Think about it: if a Champion-level Dragonite wanted to call you his son, would you say no? Edward-Dragonite-Newgate: "Be my son!" Julian''s Dragonite: "Dad!" Julian was floored. His Dragonite had made it big. With a Champion-level dad now, didn''t that mean this Dragon''s Den secret realm was practically theirs to roam freely? Chapter 278: Evolution Chapter 278: EvolutionJulian couldn''t help but marvel at his Dragonite''s boldness. It had figured out how to align itself with the strongest Dragonite around, essentially adopting a Champion-level Dragonite as its godfather. As for pride? Julian: Meanwhile, Dragonite felt as if a thousand Growlithe were stampeding through its mind. It had no idea why it called that Champion Dragonite "Dad." There was just this overwhelming sense of familiaritya feeling unlike what it shared with Julian. This feeling was deeper, more... biological. So, when it saw the Champion Dragonite, the word "Dad" slipped out before it could stop itself. Champion Dragonite: "Son, I didn''t think you''d still remember me." S~ea??h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian froze. The Champion Dragonite''s words suggested that it and his Dragonite might ''actually'' be father and son. But that couldn''t be right. His Dragonite had hatched from an egg that the system had rewarded him with! Champion Dragonite: "Back then, not long after your mother gave birth to you, you suddenly disappeared. Your mother blamed me for not keeping you safe and left in anger." The Champion Dragonite''s gaze shifted to Julian. Julian''s heart pounded. He cursed the system in his mind. Julian: Thinking about it, if someone stole your child, how could you ''not'' be angry? Julian clenched the Pokball containing his Metagross, ready to fight if necessary. If Metagross couldn''t hold its ground, he''d summon Mewtwo with the ten Mewtwo Fragments. Julian: Dragonite: "You can''t hurt him." Before things could escalate, Julian''s Dragonite stepped in, positioning itself protectively in front of Julian. Its gaze carried hostility as it stared down its father. The blood connection told Dragonite that the Champion Dragonite wasn''t lyingit really was its father. But in Dragonite''s heart, Julian ranked far higher than this newly-reunited parent. Julian was the one who had raised it, cared for it, and trained it to where it was now. Dragonite also didn''t believe Julian was the one who had stolen it from its father. Champion Dragonite: "Don''t misunderstand me. I won''t harm this human. On the contrary, I''m grateful to him. And I know he wasn''t the one who took you." Internally, the Champion Dragonite felt like it had hit the jackpot. Its son had been missing for a year and a half, and now it had returned, capable of defeating even peak Elite-level opponents. Champion Dragonite: Because of this, the Champion Dragonite harbored nothing but gratitude toward Julian. Not only had Julian raised its son into such an exceptional Dragonite, but he had also brought them back together. "Your father means no harm, don''t worry" Julian said, patting Dragonite''s arm. His earlier tension had made him overlook the aura emanating from Dragonite''s father. Now that he calmed down, he noticed it wasn''t hostile. Instead, it carried goodwill, joy, and even a hint of complacency. Julian couldn''t tell if he was imagining that last part. Hearing Julian''s reassurance and sensing no ill intent, Dragonite finally stepped aside. The father and son stared at each other, unsure of what to say after their unexpected reunion. Champion Dragonite: "The Dragon Pool is behind me. Go soak in it." Dragonite: "How long can I stay?" It regretted not fully completing the climb up Dragon Mountain. Champion Dragonite: "As long as your body can handle it." In other words, as long as it wanted. The Champion Dragonite ruled the entire Dragon Mountain, so the Dragon Pool was naturally under its control. Now that its long-lost son had returned, letting him soak in the pool was the least it could do. Forget soakingif Dragonite wanted to take some of the pool''s water with it, that would be fine too. Julian: Dragonite: "I''ve got a little brother too." He was referring to Gible. Champion Dragonite: "It can go in as well." Since Gible was still young and weak, it couldn''t absorb much of the Dragon Pool''s energy. Dragonite didn''t mind sharing it. Julian released Gible from its Pokball, and Dragonite led it into the Dragon Pool. As they entered, the pool''s concentrated Dragon energy began flowing into their bodies. Gible closed its eyes, its whole body feeling weightless and incredibly comfortable. Dragonite''s reaction was more subduedit didn''t feel the energy as strongly as Gible did, given its significantly higher strength and foundation. Julian activated his Probing Eyes to monitor Dragonite and Gible, only relaxing when he saw that neither was experiencing any adverse effects. The Champion Dragonite approached Julian. "You don''t need to worry. The energy in the Dragon Pool won''t harm them; it will only benefit them." Julian nodded but then asked, "Can Pokmon of other types enter the Dragon Pool?" The Champion Dragonite shook its head. "They can, but doing so would alter their typing." Hearing this, Julian immediately dismissed the idea. A Pokmon''s natural type was the one best suited for it. Even if it changed to Dragon type, it might not be an improvement. Champion Dragonite: "Human, how did you come across my son?" Back when Dragonite was still a Dratini egg, it had vanished from right under the Champion Dragonite''s nose. Considering its strength, it was baffling to think what kind of individual could pull that off. Julian hesitated for a moment before replying; "I found him on the road. Someone had left the egg in a bush. Looking back, maybe the thief who stole the egg ran into trouble and abandoned it there." Julian tried his best to steady his breathing. The excuse he had just given was something he''d once used to fool Jake, and it hadn''t worked then. Now he was trying it on a Champion-level Dragonite. Julian: System: ''Abba, abba'' Fortunately for Julian, the Champion Dragonite didn''t doubt him. Mainly because Julian had raised its child so well. Even if he had been the thief, it wouldn''t have held a grudge. Moreover, Julian possessed the power of Aura. Throughout history, those who awakened Aura were never known to be malicious. Champion Dragonite: "I wonder if that person will come back to steal another one of my eggs." Julian: Two hours later, Gible trudged out of the Dragon Pool, clearly in pain. It wanted to stay longer, but its body couldn''t absorb any more energy. By now, its body was brimming with Dragon-type energy. Its level had risen to 24, just shy of 25where it would evolve. Moreover, its original Cyan potential had mostly turned Blue. Seeing this, Julian quickly purchased a small vial of Aptitude-Enhancing Potion (Blue) from the System Shop. "Drink this, and then evolve." Gible opened its mouth and swallowed the potion in one gulp. As soon as the potion entered its body, a brilliant white light enveloped it. A minute later, a Gabite stood before Julian. Its potential had fully transitioned from Cyan to Blue grade. /ReduxMagister Chapter 279: I Like Round Numbers Chapter 279: I Like Round NumbersPokmon: Gabite (Dragon/Ground) Level: 25 Potential: Blue Ability: Rough Skin Held Item: None Gender: Male Moves: Sand Tomb, Tackle, Sand Attack, Dragon Breath, Stomp, Bulldoze TMs: None Egg Moves: Draco Meteor, Twister, Dig, Dragon Claw --- The newly evolved Gabite curiously examined its new body, moving its arms and legs experimentally. Then, with a splash, it leapt back into the Dragon Pool. Evolution, for Pokmon, was a profound transformation. Each stage of evolution marked a deeper level of life. Pokmon with two evolutionary stages often had greater potential than those with only one, though this wasn''t always absolutejust a general trend. Gabite''s physical abilities had naturally improved significantly after its evolution. With its larger and stronger body, it could now absorb even more of the Dragon energy from the pool. Feeling reinvigorated, Gabite approached Dragonite again, brimming with confidence. Seeing how much stronger its little brother had become, Dragonite grinned widely. At the same time, the Champion-level Dragonite, observing nearby, also smiled proudly at its son''s progress. Their goofy smiles were identicalso similar it would be impossible to deny their relation. The Champion Dragonite looked curiously at Julian. It had noticed that after Gabite consumed the potion Julian provided, its potential had undergone a remarkable transformation, which had then triggered its evolution. Such a transformation was monumental for Pokmon, and the Champion Dragonite could sense just how significant this change was. It glanced at its son again. Its earlier suspicions were confirmed: the rapid growth and progress its child had achieved in just a year and a half were largely thanks to this human. Three hours later, Gabite emerged from the Dragon Pool again, clearly unable to absorb any more energy. Despite its reluctance, its level had risen from 25 to 30. Even its Blue-grade potential now showed traces of Purple, about one-third of the way there. Given enough time soaking in the Dragon Pool, it seemed inevitable that Gabite''s potential would eventually reach the Purple grade. The Dragon Pool''s ability to enhance the potential of Dragon-type Pokmon made it a true treasure of the Dragon''s Den Secret Realm. After all, it could even improve Blue-grade potentiala feat beyond the current capabilities of humanity. At most, humans could manufacture potions capable of upgrading Green to Cyan-grade potential, and even then, each dose was exorbitantly expensive and not guaranteed to work. For humans to acquire Blue-grade Pokmon, they typically had to capture them in the wild, discover them in secret realms, or rely on rare treasures to enhance their potential. "Alright, that''s enough for now. You can come back another time," Julian said. He reached out to pat Gabite, but then hesitated, recalling its ability, and quickly withdrew his hand. The Dragon''s Den''s strongest Dragonite, the boss of the Den, was an ally. With this connection, as long as Julian had opportunities to enter the Dragon''s Den, the Dragon Pool was practically his for unlimited use. Gabite leaned its head toward Julian, prompting him to reach out. Feeling the smooth surface of its head, Julian exclaimed with delight, "You can control your ability now!" Gabite nodded. After evolving, it had gained control over its ability. This was similar to how Tyranitar''s worked. A Tyranitar that wasn''t skilled at managing its ability would automatically activate upon appearing, whether in battle or not. Imagine being in a backyard and suddenly creating a sandstormit would turn the area into a desert in no time. However, a Tyranitar proficient in managing its ability could control when to activate or deactivate it. Gabite let out a soft cry, signaling to Julian that it was hungry. Though it had just absorbed so much Dragon energy, this wasn''t hungerit was clearly a craving. Julian didn''t call it out. Despite Gabite being older than Dragonite by quite a bit, its mindset was still very simple. Unlike Dragonite, who had traveled with Julian and seen the outside world, Gabite had spent its life in the Dragon''s Den under its parents'' protection, free of external influences or complex thoughts. Julian pulled out a high-quality Dragon-type pokeblocks from the system inventory and gave it to Gabite. He also handed one to Dragonite''s father. After all, even if he didn''t offer, the Champion-level Dragonite would certainly ask for one. No Pokmon could resist the system''s pokeblocks. None! The Next Morning; Dragonite had been soaking in the Dragon Pool for nearly 16 hours. At first, it had looked relaxed, but as time passed, its expression grew increasingly strained. Now, its face clearly showed signs of pain as its body became engulfed by the Dragon energy within the pool. Champion Dragonite: "Hang in there. The longer you endure, the greater the benefits." In those 16 hours, Dragonite''s level had risen from 67 to 69, just one level short of reaching peak pseudo-Elite tier. While it might seem like a mere two-level increase, for a pseudo-Legendary Pokmon like Dragonite, the experience required to level up was exponentially greater due to its strong foundation and inherent potential. The liquid Dragon energy in the pool had visibly decreased, and Julian couldn''t help but feel that Dragonite''s body seemed slightly larger than before. "Just endure another 24 hours to make it a full 40. I like round numbers," Julian casually remarked. The Champion-level Dragonite gave him a shocked look. Then, after a moment of reflection, it nodded in approval. Resources + Effort + Talent = Power Dragonite''s father initially thought that if his son could endure another ten hours in the Dragon Pool, it would already be a great feat. But now, seeing Julian''s casual suggestion to make it an even 40 hours, the Champion-level Dragonite realized its own mindset had been too small. Champion Dragonite: "Let''s aim for 44 hours then, make it a nice 60 hours." Julian: Dragonite: "Why not just make it 100 hours then?" Champion Dragonite: "If possible, 100 hours would be perfect." Time passed second by second. There was no internet in the secret realm, so Julian couldn''t use his phone to kill time. Instead, he entertained himself by playing on his handheld gaming console. The Champion-level Dragonite watched curiously, and Julian handed it a spare console and taught it how to play. Before long, the two of them were sitting together, engrossed in their games. For them, time flew by quickly. But for the Dragonite soaking in the Dragon Pool, it felt like an eternity. The relentless waves of Dragon energy were already a challenge, but hearing the cheerful or frustrated noises coming from his trainer and father playing games nearby made it even harder to focus. sea??h th novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A Day and a Night Later; Finally, Dragonite burst out of the Dragon Pool. The surge of violent energy it emitted swept across the snow-covered peak of Dragon Mountain, scattering it into the air. It had lasted 25 hours in the poolan hour more than Julian''s original estimate of 24. After soaring freely in the sky for several laps to release its pent-up energy, Dragonite landed gracefully on the ground. Julian immediately activated his Probing Eyes. /ReduxMagister Chapter 280: Elite Chapter 280: ElitePokmon: Dragonite (Dragon/Flying) Level: 70 Potential: Purple Ability: Inner Focus Held Item: Dragon Fang Gender: Male Moves: Hurricane, Wing Attack, Roost, Wrap, Leer, Dragon Tail, Twister, Thunder Wave, Aqua Tail, Dragon Rush, Safeguard, Slam, Rain Dance, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Agility TMs: Protect, Thunderbolt, Hyper Beam, Icy Wind, Hydro Pump, Flamethrower, Substitute, Iron Tail, Breaking Swipe, Ice Punch, Wide Guard, Dragon Claw, Ice Beam, Draco Meteor, Mega Punch, Dragon Pulse, Superpower, Giga Impact, Outrage, Focus Punch Egg Moves: Extreme Speed, Dragon Breath, Dragon Dance, Outrage Note: Due to soaking in the Dragon Pool, the power of Dragon-type moves increases by 25%. --- After 41 hours of soaking in the Dragon Pool, Dragonite''s potential remained unchanged at Purple. This didn''t surprise Julian. If the Dragon Pool could elevate potential to Gold, then Dragonite''s father would already be at Gold instead of Purple. However, there was now a faint trace of gold within the Purple, much like when Metagross consumed the . Though subtle, it did slightly improve Dragonite''s potential. As for strength, Dragonite has reached the peak of pseudo-Elite rank. Its energy reserves were sufficient to ascend to Elite-level, but its body was temporarily weakened due to the violent infusion of Dragon Pool energy. Immediate progression wasn''t advisable. This was similar to Dylan''s Salamence, which broke through to Elite-level after soaking in the Dragon Pool and absorbing sufficient energy. Additionally, the power of Dragonite''s Dragon-type moves was enhanced, thanks to the Dragon Pool. However, this wasn''t a guarantee for all Pokmonwhen observing Dylan''s Salamence, no such enhancement was noted. Clearly, the duration of the soak played a critical role. Champion Dragonite: "Son, eat this." Dragonite''s father handed over a thumb-sized, jelly-like object. Julian, unfamiliar with the item, used his Probing Eyes to inspect it: Dragon Pool Crystal: A crystallized form of Dragon Pool energy. Consumption enhances overall physical strength. Most effective for Dragon-type Pokmon. Without a doubt, this was a treasure among Dragon-types. It enhanced comprehensive physical attributes, including speed, strength, reflexes, and durability. Julian quickly searched for it in the system store and found it listed for 30,000 points. Julian grinned at Dragonite''s father, shamelessly asking, "Got any more of these?" After all, he had a Gabite waiting in line, and even non-Dragon-types could benefit from the crystalthough it worked best for Dragon-types. The Champion-level Dragonite shook its head and said, "This crystal only forms three pieces every hundred years. I''m down to my last one. If you want, I''ll save the next one for you." Julian immediately nodded. This Dragonite was worth befriendingoffering such treasures so generously. "How long until the next one appears?" "About 80 years. It''ll pass in no time." Julian: (?_?) For Dragonite, whose lifespan stretched over a thousand years, 80 years felt like a blink. But for humans, 80 years was nearly an entire lifetime. The average life expectancy in Drakoria hadn''t even reached 75 yet. "Alright, I''ll have my grandson pick it up when the time comes" Julian said resolutely. Even if he wasn''t around to claim it, his descendants would. And if he somehow survived, he''d come to retrieve it himself. "Oh, I forgot you humans are such short-lived creatures. If you die, I''ll have my son deliver it to your descendants" The Champion-level Dragonite replied, a hint of melancholy flashing in its eyes. This Dragonite, now over 200 years old, had once been bonded with a trainer. After its trainer passed away, the trainer''s descendants had returned Dragonite to the Dragon''s Den. That trainer was now considered an ancestor of the Drake family. Julian: "How polite of you." It was a fact, thoughJulian would likely pass away first. None of his Pokmon had short lifespans. Even his Growlithe, the one with the shortest potential lifespan, could live 70-80 years. If it evolved into an Arcanine and reached Elite-level, it could easily live over a century. This was one of the reasons prestigious families survived for generations. Their longevity wasn''t just about wealth or connectionsit was also because of the Pokmon left behind by their ancestors. When an existential crisis loomed, these ancestral Pokmon, recognizing the bloodline of their original trainers, would intervene to protect the family. Take the Drake family, for example. While they might lack a visible Champion-level trainer, they had plenty of powerful ancestral Pokmon. This Champion-level Dragonite itself belonged to one of their forebears. If the Drake family faced annihilation, this Dragonite would step in without hesitation. Such was the foundation of a top-tier familyan unpredictable reserve of hidden cards. The Walker family had similar resources. Within the Oreburgh Great Wall Secret Realm lay a Champion-level Metagross, another ancestral Pokmon of the family. After consuming the from its father and a provided by Julian, Dragonite healed rapidly, and its body continued to grow stronger. Julian and the Champion-level Dragonite stood by, watching as Dragonite closed its eyes. Its aura steadily intensified, its life essence climbing to new heights. It was about to break through! Julian''s breath quickened as he fixed his gaze on Dragonite. The leap from pseudo-Elite to Elite was not just a level breakthrough; it marked a profound transformation in the essence of life itself. Dragonite''s breakthrough wasn''t dramatic or earth-shattering. Amidst the winds and snow at the summit of Dragon Mountain, it calmly advanced to the Elite level. Pokmon: Dragonite (Dragon/Flying) Level: 71 Potential: Purple Ability: Inner Focus Held Item: Dragon Fang Gender: Male Moves: Hurricane, Wing Attack, Roost, Wrap, Leer, Dragon Tail, Twister, Thunder Wave, Aqua Tail, Dragon Rush, Safeguard, Slam, Rain Dance, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Agility TMs: Protect, Thunderbolt, Hyper Beam, Icy Wind, Hydro Pump, Flamethrower, Substitute, Iron Tail, Breaking Swipe, Ice Punch, Wide Guard, Dragon Claw, Ice Beam, Draco Meteor, Mega Punch, Dragon Pulse, Superpower, Giga Impact, Outrage, Focus Punch Egg Moves: Extreme Speed, Dragon Breath, Dragon Dance, Outrage Note: Due to soaking in the Dragon Pool, the power of Dragon-type moves increases by 25%. --- Julian''s first true Elite-level Pokmon was officially born. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This wasn''t the result of Mega Evolution or a temporary Elite-tier enhancement from an Elite Experience Card; this was a genuine, undeniable breakthrough. Julian had expected his ace, Metagross, to be the first to reach Elite tier. However, to his surprise, Dragonite claimed the milestone ahead of it. The primary reason for this achievement was undoubtedly the Dragon Pool. The pool, however, had paid a significant price for Dragonite''s breakthrough. Its water level had dropped by at least one-third due to the massive energy absorption. Restoring it to its former state would take approximately ten years. /ReduxMagister Chapter 281: Iron Essence Ore Chapter 281: Iron Essence OreUnder Julian''s exasperated expression, the Champion-level Dragonite reminded him once again that when Julian passed away, Dragonite should return to the Dragon''s Den to take its place as the guardian. ''Damn it! If I can''t beat you right now, I at least want to curse you'' Without saying a word, Julian rode Dragonite and left Dragon Mountain. Champion Dragonite: "Don''t forget our agreement." Julian didn''t say anything out loud but he had already decided that once he became a Champion, he would return to the Dragon''s Dennot for anything else but just to give Dragonite a good thrashing. Although it had just reunited with its father, Dragonite felt no need to stay in the Dragon''s Den. It might have had a tinge of reluctance, but it was determined to stay with Julian. As they flew out of Dragon Mountain, Julian had already pulled out his Dowsing Machine. Although the Dragon Poolarguably the most important treasure in the Dragon''s Denhad already been used by Dragonite, helping it break through to the Elite level, Julian had yet to truly explore the Dragon''s Den secret realm. Treasures were no longer his top priority. What mattered most now was exploring this mysterious place. Of course, he would look for treasures along the way. Dragon Mountain was the center of Dragon''s Den, and the further one moved from it, the weaker the concentration of Dragon-type energy became. That said, even the outermost areas of Dragon''s Den held far more Dragon-type energy than the outside world. By now, the energy in Dragon''s Den had calmed down after its recent surge. This stabilization was also one of the reasons Dragonite had been able to break through. "Let''s check out the mining area first," Julian said. The so-called mining area was located in the eastern part of Dragon''s Den, on its outer edges. Combined with Dragon''s Den''s vast but sparsely populated nature, this area was rarely inhabited by Dragon-type Pokmon. The environment was too poor for most of them. Even Dragon-types with Ground or Rock attributes rarely chose the mining area as their territory. Julian''s goal in heading there was, of course, mining. The Drake family had already discovered that the mining area contained many valuable minerals. However, without advanced spatial technology, even if they mined the area, they couldn''t transport much of it back. An hour later, Julian arrived above the mining area. Spanning approximately 100,000 square meters, the region''s rocky composition caused the terrain to take on a slightly varied hue. Directly below Julian, the rocks were currently a deep red. He was searching for Iron Essence Ore. The goal of finding this ore was to benefit Aggron. The diamond ore he had found earlier was nearly depleted, and as it was extremely rare, finding more would require incredible luck. Iron Essence Ore, while slightly less valuable than diamond ore, wasn''t far behind in terms of quality. The most crucial point was that Iron Essence Ore was indeed located in this mining area, something inadvertently revealed by Dylan during a conversation with Julian. When Julian later asked him for the specific location, Dylan clammed up immediately. No matterJulian had his Dowsing Machine. With it, finding Iron Essence Ore wouldn''t be too difficult, especially given his extensive geological knowledge. Because Iron Essence Ore was buried relatively deep and wasn''t an associated mineral with others, there were no visible traces of it on the surface. Typically, people only discovered it by accident. Seeing a red dot on his Dowsing Machine covering a quarter of the display, Julian instructed Dragonite to land. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once on the ground, the rocky surface still appeared red, though it was slightly lighter in color than before. Julian then commanded Dragonite to dig a pit over 50 meters deep. Jumping to the bottom of the pit, Julian ran his fingers through the rock dust. It felt dry at first, but with closer attention, he noticed it was faintly damp. Sixty percent of discovered Iron Essence Ore deposits were located above underground rivers. Combining this feature with the red dot on the Dowsing Machine. "Gabite, Dragonite, start digging downward" Since other Pokmon with more suitable attributeslike Steelix, Metagross, or Aggroncouldn''t be deployed in the Dragon''s Den secret realm, Julian had to rely on Dragonite and Gabite. Gabite grimaced. It had been expecting a meal, but instead, it was ordered to dig. Just as it was about to complain, it noticed Dragonite, the big boss, had already started digging without hesitation. Any protests immediately died on its lips. Although Dragonite wasn''t specialized in mining, its newly reached Elite-level strength made tasks like digging relatively simple. While Gabite couldn''t match Dragonite''s speed, it still served as a capable assistant. Before long, Dragonite had dug a pit over 100 meters deep, but there was still no sign of Iron Essence Ore. Julian wasn''t discouraged. The typical depth of Iron Essence Ore deposits ranged between 800 and 5000 meters. Finding it at just 100 meters would have been sheer luck. As they dug deeper, the moisture seeping from the pit walls became increasingly noticeable. Julian felt confident there was an underground river below. At a depth of 3000 meters, Dragonite finally unearthed a rock streaked with black veins. Without even needing to test it, Julian recognized it as Iron Essence Ore. He placed the rock in his system storage; "Keep digging. Let''s excavate this entire vein." A Totem Aggron had an insatiable appetite, and compared to energy cubes, consuming various ores boosted its strength more effectively and rapidly. In terms of food expenses, Aggron was the most costly Pokmon among all of Julian''s team members. Its daily meals alone cost nearly a million. If you were a multi-millionaire, you could only afford to keep Aggron for ten days. Of course, that was specifically Julian''s Aggron. A typical Aggron''s daily expense was closer to 100,000. The Iron Essence Ore deposit wasn''t particularly large, but it still took Dragonite and Gabite nearly twelve days to fully excavate it. During the process, Gabite even leveled up, reaching level 26. Mining to gain experience significantly lifted Gabite''s mood. What initially felt like a chore soon turned into a more enthusiastic effort. Together, the two Pokmon managed to unearth roughly 100 tons of Iron Essence Ore. At Aggron''s current consumption rate, it would last for about a year. "We''re done here. Let''s go." Leaving the mining area, Julian rode on Dragonite and spent the next ten days exploring other parts of the Dragon''s Den secret realm. Along the way, he discovered several treasures, most of them related to Dragon-types. The most valuable find was a pseudo-Champion-tier Dragon Fang, which Julian retrieved from the remains of a deceased Haxorus. The skeleton had been well-hidden, remaining undiscovered until now, making the Dragon Fang an easy prize for Julian. Even after death, a Dragon-type Pokmon''s essence often lingered in its bones, particularly in its teeth. Julian decided to give this Dragon Fang to Gabite. Dragonite already had one, also a pseudo-Champion-tier Dragon Fang, so it didn''t need another. ***** Upto 30 chapters ahead on patreon :- /ReduxMagister Chapter 282: Ian Chapter 282: Ian"Wonder how many Dragon-type Pokmon the grandson of Champion Walker, will defeat on Dragon Mountain." At the entrance of the Dragon''s Den secret realm, several officers were chatting. As a special advanced-level secret realm, the Dragon''s Den was surrounded by two military corps, with the entire Drake family residing in the vicinity. These forces not only protected the Dragon''s Den from unauthorized intrusions but also served to contain potential outbreaks of Pokmon from within the realm. Just imagining the Dragon-types from Dragon Mountainthose at the Elite levelwas daunting enough. And these were not limited to Dragon Mountain alone; the entire Dragon''s Den secret realm housed around 30 such Elite Dragon-types. sea??h th ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If they were ever to break free, without a strong counterforce, there would be no stopping them. The resulting chaos would bring unimaginable disaster to the outside world. "He''s Marshal Walker now," one officer corrected. John had recently become the sixth Champion of Drakoria, officially receiving the Champion''s cape and taking on the rank of Marshal in the military. This wasn''t a ceremonial positionit was a role with real power. Each of Drakoria''s six Champions also held the title of Marshal in the military. Once someone became a Champion, the military automatically granted them the rank of Marshal. "We''ve been guarding the Dragon''s Den secret realm for two years and still haven''t earned the privilege to enter. Really envy Julian," said an officer with the rank of colonel. "With your strength, even if you got in, you wouldn''t make it up Dragon Mountain. Wait until you reach Elite levelthen, with accumulated military merits, you might earn a chance to go inside." "Don''t be too envious of Julian. He didn''t get in because of Champion Walker. You know what he''s capable of." "Out of all the aristocratic kids, there aren''t many I genuinely admire. Julian is definitely at the top of that list." "Captain, what makes Julian so amazing? All those online analysts and data experts are constantly discussing his Metagross." "That thing is ridiculously strong in every way, like a perfect all-around warrior." With each victory Julian secured against stronger opponents, his ace Pokmon, Metagross, became the focus of intense public scrutiny. Everyone knew that level didn''t always equate to strength. Many talented Pokmon could defeat others several levels higher than themselves. But Metagross? It had taken down eight Dragon-types in one fightone of them an Elite-level Pokmonwhile still being at pseudo-Elite level itself. Defeating Elite-level Pokmon while still a pseudo-Elite wasn''t something it had done just once. Metagross seemed to radiate an aura of impossibility. If not for Walker family''s immense influence, that Metagross might have been snatched awayor perhaps even seized by Drakoria''s government for research. Still, many attributed Metagross''s "impossible" feats to Julian''s training and strategy. Some believed that the Walker family, as Pokmon trainers, must have some secret that allowed Julian to train his Metagross to such incredible levels, far surpassing even the Metagross of John in the same period. Before their conversation ended, someone had already appeared at the entrance to the Dragon''s Den secret realm. The officers conducted a thorough inspection of Julian, confirming that he had only captured a Gabite inside the Dragon''s Den before allowing him to leave. "A Gabite, huh? Even if he didn''t get to soak in the Dragon Pool, catching such a Pokmon makes this trip to the Dragon''s Den well worth it," one officer remarked enviously. For trainers, regardless of their specialty, owning a pseudo-legendary Pokmon was a dream come true. Once he passed through the gate of the secret realm, Julian soon arrived at the Drake family estate. The Drake family''s guards recognized Julian and, after notifying the family, allowed him inside without delay. Before long, someone from the Drake family came to greet himnot Dylan, Owen, or Wade, but Julian''s classmate, Ian. "Ian, what are you doing here?" Seeing Ian, Julian asked what seemed like a foolish question. Had his head been hit by a Dragon-type Pokmon inside the Dragon''s Den, leaving him dazed? "I mean, why aren''t you at school?" Ian''s mischievous look made Julian want to punch him. "Ahemjust had some business to take care of, so I came home for a few days. I didn''t expect you''d come out today," Ian quickly explained. Dylan and Owen had likely returned to school. "So, how was it? What did you gain in the Dragon''s Den?" His face was full of curiosity as he asked. "Not bad. I caught a Gabite, and my Dragonite became an Elite-level Pokmon," Julian said casually. Ian nodded; catching a Pokmon was expected. After all, anyone who entered the Dragon''s Den would typically capture at least one Pokmon. His face showed an expression of "as expected," but then his expression stiffened, his whole face gradually freezing. Looking at Julian, he struggled to say, "Just now, did you say your Dragonite" "Dragonite became an Elite. You didn''t hear wrong." Seeing Ian take ten seconds to utter just a few words, Julian interrupted and repeated himself. Ian immediately fell silent. Then, suddenly, he shouted; "You''ve become an Elite now? You''re amazing, you''re superior, and your first thought was to show off in front of me!" Show offthis was a blatant show-off. Ian''s inner thoughts roared in frustration. Unlike Dylan and Pierce, who became Elite-level trainers in their senior year, Julian was only a freshman and hadn''t even been in university for three months. And worsehe was in the same class as Ian. How was anyone supposed to handle this kind of blow? Which student in the Special Recruitment Class didn''t want to defeat Julian? Even though they knew there was a significant gap between their abilities and his, the thought of defeating him still lingered in their minds. After all, as long as neither of them was an Elite-level trainer, there was still a chance. But now? Julian had become an Elite trainer. The gap between an Elite and anyone below that level was like the difference between two worlds. Otherwise, why else would there only be about 500 Elite-level trainers in all of Drakoria, despite the countless trainers in the country? Even for Pokmon with Cyan potential, reaching Elite status was no easy feat. "Congratulations, Julian." After Ian''s frustrated outburst, a gentle voice broke through the buzzing in Julian''s ears. He turned to see Acacia walking toward him. Looking at Acacia, then back at Ian, Julian suddenly realized, "Wait, you two are on a date!" Acacia opened her mouth to explain, but Ian immediately interjected, "Are you blind? Why would I ever be interested in someone like her? She''s here to show off her Articuno again!" "Looks like the lesson I gave you earlier wasn''t enough" Acacia replied with a soft laugh. She wasn''t angry, but her gaze toward Ian carried a noticeable chill. The Drake family specialized in Dragon-types, while the Willow family was known for their Ice-types. While the elders of the two families had a decent relationship, the younger generations didn''t get along as well. Adding to the tension, Acacia often visited the Drake family to challenge their younger members. Among her peers in the Drake family, Ian was the strongest, which meant he had no choice but to accept her challenges. Unfortunately for Ian, his record against Acacia wasn''t greathe had lost more often than he cared to admit. As for wins? Let''s just say Ian was still walking the long road toward victory, and the finish line was nowhere in sight. /ReduxMagister Chapter 283: Battle Invitation Chapter 283: Battle Invitation"Julian, I recently got a new partner. Are you interested in having a battle?" Acacia stepped up to Julian. She still hadnt come to terms with her Articuno losing to Julians Metagross back then. Even now, she couldnt let it go. Sure, her high-level Pokmon might not match his, but surely her mid- or low-level ones could. There was no way all his Pokmon were as ridiculously strong as that Metagross! "Julian, accept her challenge!" Before Julian could respond, Ian eagerly spoke up from the side. He knew exactly what Acacia was thinking. He wanted to see Acacia make a fool of herself, though he kept that thought to himself. Julian actually wanted to decline. After spending many days in the Dragons Den, all he wanted was to rest and let Slowking help him climb the ranks. "Whats the matter? Dont tell me youre scared?" Acacia raised an eyebrow, her tone challenging as she looked at Julian. "Scared? Ill accept for him" Ian cut in again. He couldnt stand Acacias smug attitude, which was even worse when she had beaten him in the past. "Fine" Julian nodded. The conversation had already gone this far; so he might as well do it. The three of them headed to one of the Drake familys battle arenas. With so many family members, there were plenty of arenas on the estate. On a few of the fields, children around ten years old were practicing battles, shouting commands to their Pokmon. Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Though the Drakorian Trainer Association mandated that only those aged 17 or older could officially receive a starter Pokmon, big families had ways around the rule. If the law said no starter Pokmon before 17, then finethey would just train their childrens battle instincts early using Pokmon owned by the adults in the family. This loophole ensured the gap between big family trainers and civilian trainers remained significant, despite the regulations intention to bridge it. As Ian approached, several children paused their battles and ran over. "Ian, are you battling that Willow girl again?" "Ians going to lose again!" "Dont say that! Ian told me its because that girl always fights dirty." The kids chattered away, their voices overlapping. Acacias expression darkened as she glared at Ian. Ian flushed slightly. The person they were talking about was standing right there. "Ahem. Thats enough! Go back to your battles. Its not me fighting her this timeits my friend." He said, gesturing to Julian. Soon, Julian and Acacia stood at opposite ends of the battle arena. With plenty of children gathered to watch, the protective barrier was activated to ensure safety. As Acacia tossed out her Pok Ball, a light blue Pokmon appeared on the field. Pokmon: Glaceon (Ice) Level: 32 Potential: Cyan Ability: Snow Cloak Held Item: Never-Melt Ice Gender: Female Moves: Icy Wind, Tackle, Tail Whip, Swift, Take Down, Growl, Double-Edge, Quick Attack, Agility, Ice Shard, Bite, Ice Fang TM Moves: Protect, Iron Tail, Shadow Ball, Blizzard, Charm, Dig, Hyper Beam Egg Moves: Ice Beam, Avalanche, Icicle Spear, Double Kick --- A Cyan-potential Glaceon. Ian was bound to suffer in future battles. Even standing still, Glaceons icy aura created a faint mist around her. Eevee and its evolutionary forms were highly popular among trainers for their versatility and decent base stats. Currently, no Steel-type Eevee evolution had been discovered, but Julian would definitely consider catching one if it existed. "Level 32, huh? Perfect, youre up" Julian said, tossing his own Pok Ball. Pokmon: Gastly (Ghost/Poison) Level: 30 Potential: Purple Ability: Levitate Held Item: Toxic Orb Gender: Male Moves: Confuse Ray, Lick, Hypnosis, Mean Look, Imprison, Payback, Curse TM Moves: Screech, Spite, Venoshock, Sludge Bomb, Sleep Talk, Protect, Thunderbolt Egg Moves: Skill Swap, Dark Pulse, Disable, Perish Song, Poltergeist, Will-O-Wisp --- A white-colored Gastly appeared, immediately drawing everyone''s attention. "That Gastly looks so cool!" One of the kids murmured, captivated by its unusual appearance. The shiny Gastly exuded a unique charm. Inside the battlefield, Gastly tried floating toward Julian but was stopped by the protective barrier. Julian thought with a smug grin. Acacia, meanwhile, was starting to feel like shed made a mistake. Especially when she noticed Ians smug, gloating expressionshe knew exactly what he was thinking. "Glaceon, Blizzard!" A frigid gale, laced with snow, surged across the battlefield, plummeting the temperature by dozens of degrees. But Gastly let out a mischievous laugh before vanishing into thin air. The missed completely. Glaceons ears perked up, scanning the area for any signs of movement. One of the toughest aspects of battling Ghost-types was their knack for ambush tactics. Standing still would only leave them open to Gastlys next move. "Glaceon, Agility!" The ground in front of Glaceon had already frozen over from the earlier , giving her an extra boost in speed as she darted around the field. Acacia was hoping that this rapid movement would disrupt Gastlys plans and make its next attack harder to land. Julian could have chosen to wait. Let Glaceon tire itself out running aroundthe opponent had no way to locate Gastly anyway. But such a tactic felt too stupid. Even if it led to victory, it would be disgraceful. Gastly, Venoshock! Gastlys figure materialized in front of the speeding Glaceon. Ice Beam! The purple venomous blast clashed with the icy blue beam mid-air. There was no contestthe tore through the like paper. Glacee! Glaceon let out a pained cry as the corrosive energy of the seared her pristine fur, leaving ugly, patchy scars. Will-O-Wisp! Several ghostly blue flames appeared around Gastly, circling it ominously. With a sinister chuckle, Gastly sent the flames one after another toward Glaceon. Each hit scorched her further, and by the time the barrage ended, Glaceon was lying motionless on the ground. The battle was over. Yes! Ian clenched his fist triumphantly, his expression filled with satisfaction as he watched Acacias stunned disbelief. As the protective barrier dissipated, Gastly flew straight toward Julian at full speed. Julians face instantly paled. Gast Before he could finish, Gastlys crimson tongue touched against his cheek. A wave of numbness shot through Julians body, cutting off his words mid-sentence. The paralysis effect of wasnt particularly highjust around 20%. But for someone like Julian, whose luck always seemed terrible, 20% might as well have been a guaranteed 100%. Julian, are youuhokay? Ian glanced at him, trying not to laugh at the sight of Gastly floating around Julian, laughing mischievously. A part of him couldnt help but pity his friend. /ReduxMagister Chapter 284: Updating Trainer Rank Chapter 284: Updating Trainer RankSeeing Julian shakily pull a Cheri Berry out of his pocket, it was clear he had become so accustomed to paralysis that he always kept one on hand. The sight made Ian want to laugh, while Acacias frustration from her earlier loss suddenly dissipated, replaced by amusement at the scene. Once the paralysis wore off, Julian stood motionless, his expression blank as Gastly hovered around him, occasionally letting its gaseous fumes waft into his nose. Recalling Gastly into its Pok Ball, Julian turned to see Ian struggling to suppress a laugh, his face darkening instantly. I was just thinking of something funny from when I was a kid Ian quickly explained. Although he didnt know Julian all that well, but everyone in the Special Recruitment Class knew about Julians petty nature. Even Julians high school classmate, Shen, had confirmed that Julian could hold a grudge over the smallest things. Oh, like how you wet the bed at twelve? Julian said casually. Ians face turned beet red in an instant, his eyes wide with a mix of shock and embarrassment. Hahaha, Ian, you still wet the bed at that age? Acacia teased mercilessly. Shut up! I It was eleven No, wait, I never wet the bed! Ian stammered, his face now as red as a tomato as he practically shouted his response. But his reaction only made it seem more suspicious. Ian clenched his fists, furious. The only person hed ever told about this embarrassing moment was his older brother, Owen. The betrayal stung deeplynothing cuts quite like a siblings knife in the back. So, it was eleven? Got it, Julian said with a faint nod. Good to know, Acacia chimed in, nodding along as well. Ian glared at the two of them, his fists trembling. After a moment, his shoulders slumped in defeat. He couldnt take on either of them in a fight. Grinding his teeth, Ian stormed off. His hurried steps and slightly hunched posture only made him look more flustered. Where are you going, Julian? Acacia called out when she saw him heading toward the main gates of Ians family estate. Back to university. Since the Hundred Schools League, he hadnt been back to campus for over a month. It was about time he returned. I wont lose to you next time! Acacia shouted after him. Do you even believe that yourself? Julian turned back to glance at her. This woman, who appeared so cold on the surface, had a streak of childish overconfidence. With fewer resources, and weaker tactical skills, how could she possibly defeat him? By sheer force of will? Acacia froze for a moment, caught off guard by Julians bluntness. His words left her both flustered and indignant, unsure how to respond. Watching Julians departing figure, a fuming Acacia clenched her fists, then turned on her heel to find Ian. She needed to vent her frustration somehow, and beating him up seemed like a good start. --- On the way back to school, Julian stopped by the Imperial City Trainers Association to update his trainer rank. Upon reaching the Elite rank and above, trainers received an annual allocation of resources from the association. Trainers who performed exceptionally in taskscompleting tasks with high difficulty, quantity, or efficiencywere eligible for additional rewards. These rewards ranged from rare items, to access to advanced secret realms and even priority for obtaining Elite-level Pokmon. These incentives were put in place by the Drakorian Trainers Association to monitor and maintain accurate records of the number of Elite-level trainers in the nation. Without such measures, many trainers who reached the Elite rank might choose to hide their strength and continue developing in secret. Of course, if an Elite trainer didnt openly display their abilities but was later discovered, the association would quickly follow up with a personal evaluation. Hello, Id like to update my trainer rank The associations hall was bustling with trainers handling various matters. After waiting for about half an hour, it was finally Julians turn. Certainly The staff member replied, taking Julians trainer card and placing it on a machine. Moments later, his information appeared on the computer screen. Name: Julian Age: 18 Rank: Pseudo-Elite The staff member glanced at the screen, then looked up in surprise at Julian. The staffs eyes widened as realization dawned. Please present the Pokmon youd like to use for the rank update. The staff member said, masking his shock. Julian handed over Dragonites Pok Ball, which the staff member placed into a nearby device designed to precisely measure a Pokmons level. After several seconds, the screen displayed three lines: Pokmon: Dragonite Level: 71 Trainer: Julian Level 71undoubtedly an Elite-level Pokmon. With swift and practiced movements, the staff member completed the update process. Julians information was officially entered into the Elite Trainer database, marking a significant moment for the Drakorian Trainers Association: the addition of a promising young Elite trainer. Here are your updated credentials The staff member said, handing Julian his trainer card and Dragonites Pok Ball. Hmm, thanks. Julian nodded politely and walked away from the counter. Instead of leaving the Trainers Association building, he found a quiet corner in the hall and took a seat. Pulling out his phone, he opened the Trainer App. Now that his rank had been updated, the once-locked "Elite Trainer" section of the app was finally accessible. The lock icon was gone. With a tap of his finger, the section opened, revealing two categories; The Trading Zone and the Mission Zone. The Trainer Apps regular Trading Zone had a wide range of itemslow, medium, and high-quality alike. However, the Trading Zone in the Elite section exclusively showcased high-tier resources, the kind rarely available to the general public. Browsing through the listings, Julian noted some eye-catching offers: Big_Deals: Ampharos Mega Stone for trade, looking for a Cyan-tier Heracross. Money_Talks: Offering 3 billion to purchase a pseudo-legendary Pokmon hatchling. Gardevoirs_Stockings: Selling a spoon from an Elite-tier Alakazam, priced at 3.5 billion. Iron-Clad_Machamp: Cyan-tier Geodude for sale, price set at 1 billion. Julian skimmed the listings. The smallest figures started in the 100 million, with items so rare that even veteran trainers would go to great lengths to acquire them. At the Elite level, both earning and spending money became a high-stakes game. Trainers at this rank required premium resources to maintain their edge. Finding nothing particularly interesting in the Trading Zone, Julian was about to browse the Mission Zone when his phone suddenly buzzed. A call popped up on the screen: . Sarch* The N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. /ReduxMagister Chapter 285: Rescue Chapter 285: Rescue"Teacher Frank" Julian answered the call. He knew his teacher wellFrank rarely made calls unless it was something urgent. For casual matters, he''d usually just send a text. "When will you return to the university?" Frank''s voice came through clearly, and Julian couldn''t detect any unusual emotion in his tone. "I''ll be back soon," Julian replied. "Good. Come straight to my office when you get here" Frank instructed before abruptly hanging up. Julian slipped his phone back into his pocket, losing interest in browsing the Mission Zone. Without wasting any time, he left the Trainers'' Association and made his way out. Riding on Dragonite, it took him just over ten minutes to arrive at Imperial University. Frank''s office was located in the teaching building adjacent to the Special Recruitment Class. "Come in" As an Elite Trainer himself, Frank had his own private office. Julian stepped inside, and Frank greeted him with a slight smile. "Well done, kid. You''ve already made it to Elite Trainer status. Looks like that Dragon''s Den helped you a lot." Julian wasn''t surprised that Frank already knew about his rank update. After Julian''s profile was updated, the information became accessible to other Elite Trainers. Unbeknownst to him, news of his promotion had already landed in the top five trending topics on the Hot Search leaderboard, with its popularity rapidly climbing. It wouldn''t be long before it hit number one. "The gains were decent." Julian said with a nod, remaining calm despite Frank''s praise. "So, what''s the reason you called me over, sir?" Julian asked. Frank''s expression turned serious as he began to explain. "Luis, Shen, and Dalton took on a mission recently. They''ve been out of contact for five days, and there''s been no word from them." For freshman''s at Imperial University, the mission workload was usually light. Completing university-assigned tasks was enough, though students were free to take on additional missions if they wanted. "What mission did they take?" Julian asked. The three of them were competent trainers. Shen, while not as strong, had awakened her Heart''s Eye ability. With the three of them working together, it was surprisingand troublingthat they had been unreachable for five days. "It was an escort missionto accompany a ten-person research team to the outer edge of the White Mountains." "If it''s just the outer edge, their strength should have been sufficient." The White Mountains spanned several provinces in Drakoria and were home to a large population of wild Pokmon. The area was also one of the country''s most notorious forbidden zones. However, the "forbidden zone" primarily referred to its central regions. The outskirts and mid-range areas were far less dangerous. That said, for trainers with insufficient strength, even the outskirts could be perilous. "Exactly. I thought the same. But now, it''s not just the three of them. Even the ten-person research team has lost contact." Frank''s face revealed a hint of frustration. It wasn''t that he was overly concerned about the fate of the research teamtheir survival meant little to him. What he cared about were Luis, Shen, and Dalton. The students in the Special Recruitment Class had bright futures. If they could grow steadily, their chances of becoming Elite Trainers were practically guaranteed. "What was the research team investigating?" Julian asked. The trio''s disappearance might have something to do with the research team''s mission. "The team was tasked with studying the Pokmon population density in the outskirts of the White Mountains. The guidebook for the area is being updated, so they sent the team to gather fresh data." On the surface, it seemed like a straightforward mission. The research was confined to the outskirts, which were relatively safe. Yet, all thirteen people had vanished. If the worst-case scenario was true, it was possible that none of them had survived. "So, how should I go about finding them?" Julian asked. The White Mountains spanned several provinces, and even the outskirts were vast. Searching blindly would be a near-impossible task. "The leader of the research team was carrying a tracker, here, take this. As long as you''re within fifty kilometers of the tracker, this device will pick up its signal." sea??h th n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Frank said, pulling out a palm-sized device. The screen was lit, but currently blank. Julian nodded. "Even if Luis and the others are dead, it''s best to recover their bodies," Frank added, his tone heavy. Luis and Dalton came from prominent families, and although Shen''s family wasn''t as influential, she was still a student of the Special Recruitment Class. If something happened to them, Frank, as their homeroom teacher, would bear some responsibility. Additionally, Luis and Shen were gifted with special abilities, making their losses even more significant. Frank''s meaning was clear; If they were dead, it would ultimately be due to their own lack of strength. From the moment one became a professional trainer, danger and death were constant companions. "Time is of the essence. You should leave immediately," Frank said. He hadn''t originally planned to involve Julian. However, upon learning that Julian had recently advanced to Elite Trainer status, Frank immediately changed his mind. Asking someone else for help wouldn''t be as reliable as asking one of his own students. Moreover, Frank had great confidence in Julian''s abilities. Even before reaching Elite Trainer rank, Julian had been capable of defeating other Elites. Now that he had officially reached that level, he could likely overpower most ordinary Elites with ease. After leaving Frank''s office, Julian wasted no time. He hopped onto Dragonite and took off toward the White Mountains. Shen was an old high school classmate, while Luis and Dalton both called him "Brother" with unwavering respect. The bonds they shared weren''t ordinary. Although Julian''s face remained calm, his heart was heavy with worry for the three of them. --- The White Mountains has five main entrances on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital. According to the information Frank provided, the research team, along with Luis and his group, had entered through Entrance Five. This entrance was located on the western edge of the city and was the most remote of the five. Despite its isolated location, Entrance Five saw the largest number of trainers passing through daily. This was because the area nearby housed seven to eight distinct Pokmon colonies, far more than the two or three typically found around the other entrances. To ensure safety, each entrance was heavily fortified, with a mix of trainers, advanced weaponry, and military forces stationed there. Over time, due to the thousands of people entering the White Mountains daily, a trading hub had naturally formed near the entrances. Julian didn''t linger. After about thirty minutes, he reached the western Entrance Five. Dragonite turned into a streak of light as it soared into the outskirts of the White Mountains. This was Julian''s first time venturing into a forbidden area. Once inside, Dragonite instinctively slowed down. The outskirts of the White Mountains were vast, and although Julian knew the research team and Luis''s group had entered through Entrance Five, too much time had passed. It had been over ten days since their last known location, and they could have gone in any direction. There was even a possibility that they were no longer in the outer area. Thus, while Julian had a tracker capable of detecting the research team''s signal within a fifty-kilometer radius, outside of that range, the device was useless. Adding to the challenge was the powerful magnetic field that blanketed the White Mountains, interfering with long-range tracking. Without that interference, the device could have pinpointed their location no matter how far away they were. /ReduxMagister Chapter 286: Visitors Chapter 286: VisitorsAfter spending most of the day searching, Julian had already covered the equivalent of several city-sized areas of the White Mountains'' outskirts from the air, but there was still no sign of the missing team. Thanks to Dragonite''s presence, radiating its aura as an Elite-level Pokmon, no wild Pokmon dared to approach them in the skies. The outskirts of the White Mountains were home to wild Pokmon typically below the Advanced level. "This isn''t working." Julian muttered to himself. If the research team and Luis''s group were still in the outer area, their strength should have been more than enough to keep them safe. The possibilities ran through his mind: - Perhaps they had ventured deeper into the mountains for some reason. - Maybe they had encountered an unexpected situation in the outskirts. - The least likely possibility was that they had fallen victim to other trainers in the area. Julian dismissed the last scenario. Luis and the others weren''t rookies; they knew how to handle themselves around unfamiliar trainers while out in the field. "Most likely, something led them into the mid-range area," Julian speculated. "That would explain why they missed the deadline, which is what caught Frank''s attention." "Let''s head deeper." He decided, patting Dragonite''s back. Dragonite gave a strong flap of its wings, creating a rush of air as it accelerated. In moments, it had disappeared from its original position. Half an hour later, Julian and Dragonite reached the mid-range area of the White Mountains. Even with Dragonite''s speed, it had taken them a full thirty minutes to traverse the vast outskirts, a testament to just how enormous the area was. The mountains were home to countless Pokmon, numbering in the hundred millions. Julian handed the tracking device to Dragonite. "Take this and follow this route. If you find a second red dot, confirm it''s them and come straight back to me." The device''s screen already displayed one red dothis own position. Dragonite nodded, taking the receiver in its claws. After Julian dismounted, Dragonite shot off along the designated path to continue the search from above while Julian scoured the ground. "Metagross, Lucario" Julian called, releasing two of his Pokmon to accompany him. "Meta!~" Metagross let out a low cry, fixing its gaze on Julian. Its eyes seemed to say, After all, it used to be the leader of Julian''s team, but Dragonite had surpassed it by becoming an Elite first. Julian couldn''t help but chuckle at Metagross''s expression. "Dragonite''s breakthrough was unexpected. You still need at least another six months of preparation before you''re ready to advance." Among all of Julian''s Pokmon, Metagross had the deepest reserves of strength. While it was technically ready to ascend, breaking through now would only push its level to 71 or 72. However, with another six months to a year of accumulation, its post-breakthrough level would easily exceed 72. Lucario, ever the calm presence, showed no other emotions. It had always been the most composed member of the team. While the number of wild Pokmon in the mid-range area was significantly lower than in the outskirts, their strength was markedly higher. Here, Advanced-level Pokmon were the norm, and with a stroke of bad luck, one might even stumble upon a pseudo-Elite-level Pokmon. The dense trees and shrubs offered no clear paths, making travel slow and deliberate. One had to tread carefully and remain alert for hidden dangers, such as the possibility of a boulder underfoot turning out to be a lurking Golem. "Metagross, keep scanning the area for any signs of people. Let me know immediately if you detect anyone." In the wilderness, dangers came in many forms, but the most unpredictable threats were often from other human trainers. You could never be certain of their intentions. After trekking through the mid-range area for over three hours, the forest had grown darker as the sun set. With the thick canopy of trees blocking out most of the light, Julian found himself enveloped in near-total darkness. Searching in the dark was far from ideal, and with Dragonite still not back, it was clear the aerial search hadn''t turned up anything either. Julian lit a campfire. In the wild, starting a fire was usually a bad idea. The glow of the flames could easily attract unwanted attention from wild Pokmon or even other trainers, creating unnecessary trouble. But Julian was confident in his skills and his Pokmon. He didn''t worry about such risks, especially since this was only the mid-range area, not the treacherous central zone. Over the fire, a pot of braised beef bubbled away, the rich aroma mixing with the freshly sliced Sitrus berry platter and pre-prepared grilled lamb chops. For most trainers roughing it in the wild, such a meal would be an unimaginable luxury: Other Field trainers: (????`) Before long, faint rustling sounds came from the bushes nearby. Three figures emerged cautiously, drawn by either the firelight or the irresistible smell of Julian''s cooking. One of them hesitated, then called out, "Friend, we mean no harm. One of our partners is injured, and we''ve run out of medicine. Could you spare us some supplies?" Metagross had sensed their approach long before and had already alerted Julian. "You can come over," Julian replied. His straightforward answer seemed to catch the trio off guard. They exchanged glances, hesitating further. The same person spoke again, "How about I come alone to get it?" Though they were asking for help, they clearly didn''t trust Julian and remained highly cautious. Julian wasn''t offended. Such vigilance only confirmed that these three were seasoned trainers accustomed to surviving in the wild. After Julian nodded his agreement, the man began approaching cautiously, pausing to tell his companions, "If anything seems off, back me up immediately." The man walked closer, one hand in his pocket clutching a Pok Ball tightly, his expression tense. But as he approached, that nervous look turned... peculiar. Who in the world ate like this in the wilderness? Braised beef, lamb chops, neatly sliced fruitand the most outrageous part? A frosty bottle of chilled soda resting nearby, condensation glistening in the firelight. This wasn''t survival in the wild. This was a luxury picnic. No one in their right mind would be living it up like this in the wilderness, especially not while being served by their Pokmon. When the man saw Slowking gracefully pour Julian a glass of Moomoo Milk, his face twisted even more in disbelief. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His suspicions were further confirmed when his gaze shifted to the Pokmon around Julian. Lucario, a gleaming silver Metagross, and then the young man''s calm, sharp face illuminated by the firelight. His heart skipped a beat, pupils narrowing sharply. His household wasn''t exactly disconnected from the news. This combination of Pokmonand the man sitting theretriggered a realization. The initial wariness in his heart eased considerably. Fame was a powerful thing. While he maintained a cautious edge, his instincts told him Julian wasn''t someone to be feared. "Slow~" Slowking said softly, interrupting the man''s thoughts. Before he could decide how to greet Julian, Slowking had already walked over to him. In its hands was a small box of medicineand three bags of walnuts. The middle-aged man stood there in silence for a moment before mumbling, "Thanks." "Slow~" Slowking responded simply, turning back to clean up the table as the man walked away with his supplies. /ReduxMagister Chapter 287: Ursaring Chapter 287: Ursaring"Brother-in-law, that guy didnt try to do anything to you, right?" When Barry returned to his companions, the young man tending to the injured person quickly asked. As he spoke, the young man suddenly noticed the medicine and... walnuts in Barry''s hands. "Hurry up and apply the medicine to Phil!" "Right, right!" The young man nodded quickly, lowering his semi-conscious companion to the ground. A deep wound on Phil''s thigh, so severe that the bone was visible, was still bleeding profusely. Due to significant blood loss, Phils face had turned pale, and cold sweat dripped continuously from his forehead. "Phil''s injury is so severe... Do you think this medicine will work?" The young man applied the medicine while casting occasional glances toward Julian, sitting by the firelight. "This medicine should work wonders." Barry thought about Julians identity. With someone of his status, the medicine he provided had to be top-tier. Sure enough, as soon as the medicine was applied, the bleeding slowed dramatically, visible to the naked eye. Within less than a minute, the bleeding stopped entirely. The young mans eyes widened in disbelief. "Brother-in-law, this medicine is incredible! Did it have Revival Herb in it?" As seasoned wilderness survivors, they had used countless types of medicine, but nothing had ever been this effective. It reminded him of the rare healing salves infused with Revival Herb that occasionally appeared on the market. "Most likely." Barry nodded. Given Julians status, he didnt doubt for a second that the medicine contained Revival Herb. Sarch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Brother-in-law, who is that guy? Lets go thank him!" the young man suggested. Barry shook his head. "He helped us, but that doesnt mean he wants our thanks. Lets leave it at that." In reality, Julian indeed didnt expect or want their gratitude. While he lent a hand, it was only out of solidarity as a fellow human being. His caution in the wilderness remained intact. The young man seemed to take Barrys words seriously and nodded. "True. Any trainer who can afford medicine like this is definitely a big deal. If we accidentally upset him, we could be in serious trouble." In the wilderness, letting your guard down could be fatal. Even if someone helped you, trusting them blindly could lead to a tragic end. "Lets eat something. Ill take first watch, then well switch." Barry said, pulling out some dry rations from his bag. He ate the food with water, but what usually tasted fine now felt bland and unsatisfying. All he could think about was Julians braised beef. Lighting a fire and cooking in the wilderness was usually a strict taboo. Firelight could attract wild Pokmon, and the aroma of food could draw them in as well. So eating cold, dry rations was always the safest option. "Brother-in-law, do you smell something...?" The young man sniffed the air, his nose twitching, and his eyes lit up. "This smells like... braised beef!" He immediately turned his gaze toward Julians direction. Though the distance prevented him from clearly seeing Julians face, he was sure the enticing aroma came from there. As expected of an expertcooking beef stew over an open flame at night. "Hurry up and eat your food." Barry scolded. The young man shrank back at the reprimand and quickly started munching on his dry rations. After finishing their meal, Barry checked on their injured companion. The worry in his eyes noticeably lessened. "Alright, brother-in-law, Ill rest first. Remember to wake me up later tonight." The young man said, pulling out a blanket and leaning against a tree to take a nap. "Sure, just dont give me trouble when its time to wake you." Barry replied, releasing his Noctowl. The Noctowl perched on a tree branch, its head swiveling a full 360 degrees. Its keen vision made it an excellent watchman in the darkness. For trainers who frequently traversed the wilderness, owning a Noctowl was common, as they werent too expensive and were highly reliable for keeping watch. With the Noctowl keeping an eye out, Barry could have rested too, but he didnt. His gaze frequently drifted toward Julians campsite. In the faint light, he could make out Julian retreating into his tent. The campfire had been extinguished, but a small nightlight hung inside the tent, glowing faintly. In the pitch-black forest, the soft light from that lantern stood out starkly. Earlier, Julian had his Metagross drive away nearby Pokmon and sprayed Max Repel around the perimeter. Any Pokmon below pseudo-Elite level wouldnt dare approach. At the tent entrance, Lucario sat cross-legged, eyes closed, meditating to enhance its Aura abilities. Its ears were perked up, keenly listening to the surroundings. Inside the tent, Julian and Metagross were already fast asleep. Meanwhile, the days ordeals and prolonged escape had taken a toll on Barry. His tense mind was slowly succumbing to the waves of exhaustion. His eyelids fluttered as he struggled to stay awake, but eventually, they shut completely. Noticing this, the Noctowl on the branch seemed to swivel its head faster, as if on high alert. Suddenly, a ferocious roar echoed from somewhere deep in the forest. The Noctowl immediately sounded the alarm. Barry jolted awake. "Whats wrong, Noctowl?" he mumbled groggily. Before he could finish his sentence, another roar rang out from the distance. The roar was accompanied by the sound of trees crashing to the ground. "Its badits coming for us!" Barrys expression darkened instantly as he scrambled to shake the young man awake. "Brother-in-law, is it my turn now?" The young man asked groggily, still half-asleep. "Its chasing us! Get up, now!" Barry barked, smacking the young man on the head to jolt him awake. The roar sounded even closer this time. The young man jumped, his grogginess instantly replaced by alarm. "Didnt we lose it? How could it still find us?" "Nows not the time for that!" Barry snapped. "Help Phil! We need to leave, immediately!" Without hesitation, the young man hoisted their unconscious companion, preparing to move. Then he paused and asked, "Brother-in-law, should we warn that guy over there?" He gestured toward Julians camp. Barry hesitated briefly but nodded. "Let him know." Whether Julian was aware of the situation or not, the aggressive Pokmon was targeting them. It was only right to inform himthey were the ones who had brought the danger his way. The roars grew louder, accompanied by the sound of trees being toppled. The oppressive aura of rage in the air sent a shiver through their spines. "How is that beast so fast?!" Barry muttered, his face a mix of confusion and terror. Just as the words left his mouth, several large trees ahead were smashed apart with raw power. Emerging from the destruction was a towering Ursaring. Its brown fur bristled with aggression, and the yellow circle on its stomach glowed faintly in the dim light. Standing on its hind legs, it glared at the trio with bloodthirsty, savage eyes. White breath escaped its mouth as its razor-sharp teeth glinted menacingly. Another roar echoed, but it wasnt from the Ursaring in front of them. Barry and the young man froze, their faces turning deathly pale. /ReduxMagister Chapter 288: Bullseye Chapter 288: BullseyeIts rare to see both parents raising their offspring together, Barry said, his face grim. The reason they were being hunted by the Ursaring was that they had secretly captured its child. Most Pokmon mothers raise their offspring alone, while a few species have both parents involved. However, Ursaring is a notable exception. In most cases, its the female Ursaring that raises the cubs, while the males behave like classic "deadbeat dads"leaving as soon as the female is pregnant to seek out another mate. Their infamy has even made them a popular choice for certain social media avatars. Only in extremely rare instances will a male Ursaring stay to help raise the offspring. The one in front of them appeared to be maleits shorter fur was a giveawayand the approaching Ursaring they had previously encountered was likely the female. It was that female Ursaring that had injured the three of them earlier. Now, they were faced with a second Ursaringthis one even stronger than the firstand their Pokmon were in no shape to fight. The male Ursaring let out an earth-shaking roar. Its massive frame exuded an overwhelming, sinister aura, and its eyes burned with murderous intent as it glared at Barry and his group. Exeggutor! The young man sent out his Pokmonhis only one still capable of fighting. But as the Ursaring radiated its wild, bloodthirsty energy, Exeggutors eyes showed fear. Its legs trembled, and it instinctively took a step back. The Ursaring had already established absolute dominance in terms of presence. Seeing its opponent hesitate, it dropped to all fours and charged forward with terrifying speed. Its powerful limbs propelled it like a cannonball, closing the gap in the blink of an eye. Exeggutor, Razor Leaf! Terrified though it was, Exeggutor did not retreat in the face of danger. Countless sharp, spinning leaves shot toward the charging Ursaring. But the Ursaring swung its claws with lightning speed, each swipe leaving silver arcs in the air. Torn and shredded leaves fell to the ground at its feet, unable to penetrate its defenses. As the Ursaring closed in, it brought its claws down on Exeggutor, slashing deep into its body and sending it flying backward with a powerful blow. At that moment, the Noctowl perched on a branch swooped down and positioned itself in front of the Ursaring. Its eyes emitted waves of hypnotic energy, attempting to put the rampaging Pokmon to sleep. The Ursaring staggered, its massive body swaying as its eyelids began to droop. Barry clenched his fists tightly, hope flickering in his eyes. But the next second The female Ursaring arrived, and its roar instantly jolted the male Ursaring out of its drowsiness. The intense sleepiness it had felt moments ago vanished without a trace. Looking at the Noctowl that had dared to use on it, the male Ursaring swung its massive paw down. Noctowl didnt even have time to evade. With a heavy thud, its body was slammed to the ground. Before it could even bounce back, the male Ursaring pressed it down with one of its paws. Sar?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The sound of bones breaking was horrifying. Most of the bones in its body were shattered, blood trickled from its beak, and it was clear the Noctowl was at its limit. Noctowls main role was keeping watch at night, so its combat abilities were limited. By this time, the female Ursaring had reached the male. Both Ursaring stared at the three humans who had dared to steal their cub, their gazes full of murderous intent. Barry held a Pok Ball in his hand, his eyes flickering with pain as he looked at the critically injured Noctowl under the male Ursarings paw. Sam, take Phil and head toward the tent. Hes our only hope now, Barry said firmly. Brother-in-law, Im staying with you, Sam replied, shaking his head. If he wanted to help us, he wouldve acted by now. The roars of the Ursaring were deafening; there was no way the person in the tent hadnt heard. Yet they hadnt made a move, clearly unwilling to get involved. Or perhaps, Sam thought grimly, they were waiting for us to die. The male Ursaring glanced down at the nearly lifeless Noctowl beneath its paw. As its jaws opened wide, ready to devour the Noctowl, the injured bird Pokmon gave Barry one last, sorrowful glance before closing its eyes in despair. Luca!~ Just as the Ursarings fangs were about to close in, a shadow streaked forward like lightning, placing a paw firmly against the Ursarings body. A sudden, powerful force radiated from the intruders paw. In the next moment, the male Ursarings massive body was sent flying, crashing through several thick trees before landing with a heavy thud. Luca!~ Lucario: ''You woke my trainer from his rest. Big mistake'' The female Ursaring, seeing her mate knocked down, roared with fury. She didnt care who this Lucarios trainer was. He had attacked her mate, and she would crush him. With her claws glowing white, she raised them high, ready to slash Lucario in half. To Barry, the attack seemed impossibly fast, but to Lucario, it was laughably slow. In its paw, a glowing blue sphere quickly took shape. Just as the claws began their descent, Lucario pressed the directly against the yellow ring on the female Ursarings chest. The impact landed precisely at the center of the yellow circle. That circle, in a way, seemed almost like a perfect bullseye. Lucario had not delivered a fatal blow. The male Ursaring, which had been sent flying earlier, wobbled to its feet, its bear-like face filled with confusion, as if wondering how it had been launched into the air in the first place. The sound of breaking branches reached its ears. It turned just in time to see a shadow barreling through the forest, smashing through tree after tree. When the shadow finally came into focus, it realized with horror that the figure was its own mate, the female Ursaring, hurtling uncontrollably toward it. The female Ursaring collided headfirst with her mate, and the sheer force of the impact sent the male Ursaring sprawling to the ground, unconscious. Luckily for the female, her mates body cushioned her fall, sparing her from further harm as she too fainted. So strong Sam stood frozen in awe, his jaw hanging open as he stared at Lucario, who seemed almost godlike. The female Ursaring, who had singlehandedly defeated all eight of their Pokmon combined, had been taken down just like that. And the male Ursaring, even stronger than the female, hadnt fared any better. The way Lucario defeated both Pokmon so effortlessly gave Sam the strange illusion that maybe Ursaring werent as terrifying as hed thought. From the moment Lucario appeared to the instant both Ursaring were defeated, only about five seconds had passed. The fluidity, precision, and sheer decisiveness of Lucarios moves left Sam utterly amazed. Brother-in-law, that Lucario belongs to him, doesnt it? Sam watched as Lucario, after dispatching the Ursaring, turned and calmly began walking back toward the tent. There was no doubt now about who had saved them. Earlier, Sam had been frustrated, thinking their savior had chosen to sit idly by. Now, reflecting on everything, he felt a twinge of guilt for having doubted them. Yes, that Lucario belongs to him Barry nodded. But his thoughts quickly shifted as he remembered his Noctowl, its condition still uncertain. Rushing over, he carefully picked up the injured bird Pokmon, cradling it in his arms. /ReduxMagister Chapter 289: Give it Back Chapter 289: Give it BackWhen Barry reached Noctowl, it was already breathing faintly, more out than in. The Ursarings Slash followed by a stomp had shattered most of its bones. Frantically, Barry took out some medicine, only to realize in frustration that Noctowl couldnt even open its beak. Brother-in-law Sams face was filled with guilt and regret. If he hadnt insisted on stealing the Teddiursa, none of this would have happened. Its going to be okay. Ill save you. Dont be afraid. Barry said gently as he carefully picked up Noctowl and ran toward the tent as fast as he could. Inside the tent, Julian was still asleep. He hadnt heard the sounds of the earlier battlenot because he was a heavy sleeper, but because the Slowking had used its psychic powers to block out all noise, leaving Julian completely unaware of what had been happening. Lucario had only stepped in because it sensed that the battle between the Ursaring pair and Barrys group might spill over and affect the tent. Otherwise, it might not have interfered. This wasnt because Lucario was cold-hearted, but because the moment Barry had stolen the Teddiursa, it had set them at odds with the Ursaring. From a moral standpoint, Barry didnt exactly have the high ground here. Luca!~ Seeing Barry stumbling over, Lucario stepped in and blocked his path. Barry didnt dare to push past. Instead, he said anxiously, Lucario, my Noctowl is dying! Please, let me see Young Master Julian! Lucario glanced at the faint aura coming from Noctowl, its condition was indeed dire. Barrys worry and urgency were genuine. At that moment, Julian emerged from the tent. Slowking, concerned about the life of a Pokmon, had woken him up. Here Julian said without wasting words, handing over a recovery potion. It wasnt a Max Revivethose were too extraordinary to use. Barry hesitated for a moment as he looked at the potion in his hand, troubled by the fact that Noctowl couldnt swallow anything. It can be applied externally, Julian said. Recovery medicines worked just as well when applied to wounds as when taken orally. Upon hearing this, Barry immediately applied the medicine to Noctowls injuries. Slowking" Understanding its role, Slowking emitted a gentle wave of , speeding up the recovery of Noctowls injuries. After this series of actions, Noctowls condition stabilized. All it needed now was rest and time to fully recover. Barry returned Noctowl to its Pokball and turned to Julian with a face full of gratitude. Young Master Julian, thank you. Truly, thank you! If not for youmy... my... Overcome with emotion, Barry stumbled over his words, speaking incoherently in his excitement. If not for Julian, the three of them and their Pokmon would have perished at the hands of the Ursaring pair, meeting the same fate as countless other trainers who ventured unprepared into the wild. Sam, supporting the unconscious Phil, had just walked over when he saw his brother-in-law gazing at Julian with heartfelt gratitude. The mans face struck a chord of familiarity in Sams mind. Suddenly, a name flashed through his thoughts like lightning. King Julian! The words slipped from Sams mouth. Lucario, Slowking, and the unmistakable silver Metagrossthere was no doubt about it. This was Julian, widely regarded as the best trainer of his generation in Drakoria. He was an idol for most young trainers in Drakoria, including Sam himself. Never had he expected to encounter his hero in the wild. No wonder the man had such rare medicines and the confidence to light a fire to cook beef in the wilderness. Sam had previously mocked him internally for his boldness, thinking he was reckless just because of his strength. Now, realizing this was his idol: S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, the female Ursaring and the recently awakened male appeared within a hundred meters of them. Theyre coming back? Sam was astonished. Even after being defeated by Lucario, they had the nerve to return? The Ursaring pair stared at Lucario with deep wariness and fear. Yet, driven by their love for their child, they had no choice but to come back. What did you take from them? Julian asked. For the two Ursaring to return despite knowing the danger, their bravery in the face of death made Julian curious about what the group had stolen from them. Barry was about to speak, but Sam blurted out first: We stole their child. Julian: King Julian, can you kill them? Sam asked. These two Ursaring had nearly killed his companion and almost ended his and his brother-in-laws lives as well. Given their obsession with their cub, Sam was certain theyd chase them down again once they parted ways with Julian. Next time, their luck might not hold. Return their cub to them. Julian said, casting a sidelong glance at Sam, his tone carrying a hint of disapproval. Stealing their child and then asking Julian to kill them for it? That was asking him to play the villain in this scenario. If not for Julians intervention, theyd already have paid the price for their actions. Yet Sam seemed oblivious to this fact. No way! I risked my life to catch it! Sam shook his head frantically. Judging by the strength of the Ursaring pair, it was easy to see the cubs potential. Whether he trained it himself or sold it, it could fetch millions. Teddiursa was already a rare sight on the market, making its value even higher. Blinded by greed, Sam failed to grasp the gravity of the situation. Instead, Barry smacked him on the head. Young Master Julian, please dont take offense. Sam is too young and thoughtless. After apologizing, he turned to Sam with a furious glare and scolded, Hurry up and release the Teddiursa! As he spoke, he kept signaling to Sam with his eyes, internally panicking. If this reckless kid kept pushing his luck, things could go very wrong. Sam felt a wave of resentment. After all the effort they had gone through, they were walking away empty-handed. Reluctantly, he took out the Pok Ball and tossed it forward. A dazed Teddiursa appeared on the ground. Though he was frustrated with Julians decision, Sam understood the situation. If Julian didnt deal with the Ursaring pair, theyd come after them the moment he left. Keeping Teddiursa would only guarantee theyd lose not just the Pokmon, but their lives as well. The Ursaring pair called out urgently upon seeing their child. Teddiursa finally noticed its parents and waddled over to them in excitement. The female Ursaring scooped Teddiursa into her arms, her face radiating the joy of reunion. Pokmon shared emotions akin to humans, and in some cases, their feelings were even purer. The male Ursaring cast a final glare at Barrys group before shifting its gaze to Julian. Its eyes were filled with both gratitude and wariness. Without lingering further, it turned to lead its mate and Teddiursa away into the forest. All right, you can rest here for tonight. Ill have some questions for you tomorrow. Julian said before turning and heading back into his tent to resume sleeping. /ReduxMagister Chapter 290: News Of Dalton Chapter 290: News Of DaltonThe next morning, Julian stepped out of his tent, still a bit drowsy. Slowking had already prepared breakfast, and, of course, had also prepared meals for Barry and his two companions. The young man named Phil had woken up. Though his face was pale from blood loss, he seemed in good spirits. He had already learned from Barry and Sam about the events that unfolded after he fell unconscious. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He couldnt believe such a significant incident had occurred while he was out cold. Thankfully, Julian had stepped in; otherwise, the three of them would have ended up as midnight snacks for the Ursaring couple. Brother Sam, when Young Master Julian comes out, youd better apologize properly. What you said yesterday was really out of line, Phil warned. From any perspective, they had no right to order someone like Julian around, let alone demand that he kill the Ursaring for their sake. I know, Ill apologize. Sam nodded. A night of reflection had calmed him down, though a bead of cold sweat trickled down his face. Thinking back, if Julian had been a little less patient, he couldve easily abandoned them because of those words. Sam had encountered many heirs from powerful families, and their temperaments were rarely kind. Julian was by far the most approachable one he had ever met. Good morning Julian greeted as he stepped out of the tent, noticing that Barry and Sam were already awake, and the injured Phil had also recovered enough to sit up. The three of them seemed to be waiting for him. Slow~ Slowking called, placing the prepared breakfast on the simple table for everyone. Steaming soup dumplings, fried dough sticks, pan-fried buns, soy milk, and Moomoo Milk were laid out. Apart from the Moomoo Milk, the other four items were all made by Slowking right in front of Barry and his companions. The enticing aroma was hard to resist, and if not for their self-control, they might have devoured everything before Julian even showed up. Go ahead, try Slowkings cooking, Julian said, picking up a pan-fried bun first. Slowking had timed everything perfectly, ensuring the buns had cooled to the ideal temperature by the time Julian woke up. When he bit into one, the oil didnt scald his mouth, but the bun wasnt cold eitherjust the right warmth. Why arent you eating? By now, Julian had eaten several buns, and Barry and Phil were devouring even more. Yet Sam hadnt even picked up his chopsticks. Both Barry and Phil turned to look at Sam, who stood up, bowed deeply, and said, Young Master Julian, I was too arrogant last night. Please dont take offense. Its fine, Ive already forgotten about it. Julian said with a wave of his hand. He wasnt someone who held grudges. (T/N: Yeah, sure) Hearing this, the three of them breathed a sigh of relief. Only then did Sam finally start eating. As they ate, Julian struck up a conversation with them and learned that the three of them frequently operated on the outskirts of the White Mountain Range. Barry was a pseudo-Elite trainer, while Sam and Phil were at the Advanced level. However, Barry only had one Pokmon at the pseudo-Elite level. If he had two, last nights encounter with the Ursaring couple might not have ended so badly. With one pseudo-Elite Pokmon and two advanced-level Trainers assisting, they could indeed navigate the mid-to-outer areas of the White Mountain Range as long as they were cautious. Have you seen this person before? Julian took out a photo of Luis and showed it to the three. It was a selfie Luis had posted on his social media. The three shook their heads, indicating they hadnt seen Luis. Julian then showed them the profile pictures of Dalton and Shen. Ive seen this muscle guy before! Barry immediately exclaimed when he saw Daltons photo. Sam and Phil also nodded in agreement. What about her? Julian pointed to Shens photo. The three shook their heads again. You only saw him? Julian asked, pointing at the shirtless Dalton, who was wearing martial arts pants and striking a bodybuilding pose. Yeah, when we saw him, he was indeed alone, Barry replied. Julians heart sank slightly. If they werent lying, it meant Luis, Shen and Dalton had likely gotten separated. Barrys aura seemed steady, so Julian ruled out the possibility of them deceiving him. Julian remained silent, deep in thought. The trio didnt say anything either, having somewhat guessed why someone like Julian had come to this area. Did you talk to him? Julian finally asked. He called out to us from a distance, asking about someone. Thinking back now, he was probably asking about the two people you mentioned, Barry explained. For safety reasons in the wild, encounters with strangers were usually kept brief and at a distance if communication was unavoidable. Do you remember where that was? Julian pulled out a detailed map of the White Mountain Range. The map outlined the general distribution of Pokmon species, their relative strengths, and the terrain of the area. Compared to the standard maps sold outside, this one was far more detailed. Barrys eyes widened as he looked at it. While he had spent years exploring the mountain range and had created his own relatively detailed map, it paled in comparison to the one Julian had just shown. Trainers who spent significant time in specific areas of the wild often marked their own maps based on personal exploration. Such maps were rarely shared or sold to others. However, the areas they could explore were quite limited. Even though Barry had been exploring the White Mountain Range for over a decade, his activities were confined to two or three specific regions. As a result, he was only familiar with those areas. On the other hand, the map Julian possessed detailed the entirety of the White Mountain Range. It not only covered the regions Barry frequently explored but also provided more detailed markings than his own map. We encountered him here. Barry pointed to a section on the map. The marked area was indeed one of the regions he often explored. He wasnt injured, was he? Nope, he seemed in great shapewasnt even wearing a shirt, Sam replied. It was the first time Sam had seen someone shirtless in the wild. Still, he couldnt help but admire the mans well-defined muscles and six-pack abs. Julian nodded and stood up from his chair. Youre leaving already, Young Master? Barry asked. Yeah. Julian nodded again. Now that he had information about Dalton, he had to go and check it out. By then, Slowking had packed everything and was carrying a small backpack. Bidding farewell to Barry and the others, Julian mounted Metagross and flew toward the area where Dalton had been sighted. Dragonite hadnt returned from its search the previous night, likely indicating it had found no trace of the investigation team. Julian wasnt worried about it, though. With its strength, Dragonite could even venture into the central parts of the White Mountain Range without issue. Meanwhile, somewhere in the mid-to-outer regions of the White Mountain Range, Dalton was munching on some unidentified wild berries. Beside him, his Machamp watched Dalton''s sour face contort with each bite. Despite the taste, Dalton refused to spit it out, prompting Machamp to crack an amused smile. /ReduxMagister Chapter 291: Heracross Chapter 291: HeracrossThe area where Dalton had been sighted was quite far from Julian''s location. It took Metagross over an hour of flying to reach the region. Descending from the sky, Julian landed right in the middle of a Heracross territory. A dozen or so Heracross were clinging to maple trees, happily feasting on the sweet maple syrup seeping from the trunks. This region was dominated by maple trees, whose trunks produced a sap-like syrup loved by many Bug-type Pokmon. Heracross were generally mild-mannered Pokmonas long as their mealtime wasnt disturbed. However, Julian and Metagross had just made an imposing, sky-high entrance, landing directly in the heart of their territory during their feeding time. As one of the stronger Bug-type Pokmon, Heracross were highly sought after by Bug-type trainers. The White Mountain Range had plenty of Heracross populations, thanks to its vast maple forests. Many trainers ventured here specifically to capture or trade Heracross. Recently, one of the Heracross in this group had been captured by a human with nothing more than a jar of honey. Counting this year alone, ten of their kind had been taken by humans, while only eight new Heracross had been born. The Heracross leader was furious. To calm its anger, it sucked harder on the maple syrup seeping from a nearby tree. As the sweet syrup flowed into its mouth, the leader felt its anger slowly melt away. Julian watched the Heracross, who were now blissfully focused on their meal despite his uninvited presence. No wonder these Pokmon were known as some of the easiest to capture. When it came to fighting spirit, even Caterpie put up a better show. What puzzled Julian even more was the sudden change in one particular Heracross. Just moments ago, its Aura had flared with anger when Metagross prepared to strike it down. But now, that same Heracross, standing about a hundred meters away, looked positively joyful as it sipped on syrup. "Ahem, excuse me, I just need to ask something" The region was about the size of half a city. Even knowing Dalton was somewhere in the area, finding him wouldnt be an easy task. He needed to ask the localsboth human and Pokmonfor information. The Heracross continued to savor their maple syrup, entirely unconcerned about the human trespasser. It wasnt the first time this had happened, after all. Whenever a human entered their territory, they usually lost one or two members of their group. But it wasnt a big dealthe fewer members there were, the more maple trees the rest could claim for themselves. The Heracross were ignoring him! The atmosphere grew a bit awkward. Metagross glanced at Julian and waved one of its arms, as if suggesting, It wasnt a bad idea, but Julian waved it off, signaling that he was a civilized man. Just then, the Heracross leader, who had been enjoying its syrup, suddenly froze. A tantalizingly sweet aroma far more enticing than maple syrup had wafted into its nose. The scent was absolutely divinebetter than anything it had ever smelledand it was coming from behind. As the leader turned its head, every other Heracross perched on the maple trees followed suit. Their eyes glowed red with an intense hunger as they locked onto the source of the scent: the can Julian was holding. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Tri-Honey: The ultimate favorite of all Heracross, without exception. Seeing the swarm of Heracross rushing toward him, Julian immediately understood their intent: they were coming to snatch it! Metagross, block them! Metagross stepped in front of Julian. Every Heracross that tried to fly past was swatted away with a single punch. Though Metagross held back, the sheer force of its strikes sent each one tumbling. However, the Heracross didnt give up. They kept flying back only to be punched away again. After several rounds of this, the Heracross finally realized that as long as Metagross was guarding Julian, there was no chance theyd get their claws on that Tri-Honey. Julian cleared his throat. Ahem, listen up, I have something to say. He walked forward, holding the can of Tri-Honey. The Heracross stared at his hand, their gazes glued to the container. But between the bruises on their faces and the imposing presence of Metagross, they didnt dare to act rashly. Here, have a taste. But remember, only one dip each, and dont get greedy. Julian fully opened the can, releasing a wave of sweetness that filled the forest air. The scent intensified, radiating like a golden aura. Under the sunlight filtering through the trees, the golden Tri-Honey shimmered in its glass jar, glinting like a diamondor at least, thats how it appeared to the Heracross. With Metagross maintaining order, none of the Heracross dared to break ranks. They formed a line, each taking turn to dip a single finger into the honey. Tri-Honey did exist in the White Mountain Range, but it was only found on the far side of the range, nowhere near this area. None of these Heracross had ever tasted it before. As each Heracross licked the honey from its finger, an explosion of sweetness filled their senses, electrifying their taste buds and resonating deep into their very souls. Julian wasnt sure if he was imagining it, but he couldve sworn he saw beams of light radiating from their eyes, noses, and mouths. In that moment, the Heracross all shared a single regret: After finishing their taste, the Heracross stood in place, reliving the flavor in their minds. When the Heracross opened their eyes, all of them stared expectantly at Julian. The jar of Tri-Honey in his hand was now empty, but traces of the golden honey still clung to the sides and bottom. Julian casually tossed the empty jar, and in the next instant, the Heracross swarm dashed toward it. At that moment, anyone standing between a Heracross and the jar became a mortal enemy. After a chaotic scuffle, the Heracross leader emerged victorious, clutching the jar with its superior strength. Just as it was about to savor the remnants of honey, Julian suddenly pulled out another jar of Tri-Honeythis one completely full. And then he pulled out another. And another. In total, Julian revealed five jars of Tri-Honey. Meta!~ The moment Metagrosss steady voice echoed through the forest, the Heracross, who had been on the verge of losing their minds over the honey, froze. The dull ache on their cheeks reminded them of their earlier defeat, and their reason returned. Julian stepped forward, holding up photos of three individuals: Dalton, Luis, and Shen. Help me find himor them. Julian said, showing the photos to the Heracross leader. Dalton was likely still somewhere in the area, and Luis and Shen might be here too. Searching alone would be like looking for a needle in a haystack, relying on sheer luck. The solution was simplerecruit help. And in front of him stood the perfect candidates: a group of gluttonous, mild-mannered, and easy-to-handle Heracross. /ReduxMagister Chapter 292: Whose that Pokémon? Chapter 292: Whose that Pokmon?Five jars of Tri-Honey were placed in front of the Heracross, and all they had to do was find one of the three individuals mentioned by the human. Just one was enough. The Heracross had never thought their memory could be this sharp. With a single glance, they memorized the faces of those three individuals. Even if they forgot what their parents, spouse, or children looked like, they swore they''d remember these three faces until the day they died. As the Heracross began flying out one by one, it wasnt long before all of them had disappeared into the forest. Left behind were only a few young Heracross, too inexperienced to survive on their own. They were so newly hatched that even flying was a challenge. The baby Heracross almost burst into tears. This was nothing short of bullying. Despite their gentle nature, Heracross were formidable fighters. In this group, most of the adults were at least Advanced-level, with several at the peak of Advanced rank. Their leader was at pseudo-Elite level. In the outer-mid region of the White Mountains, only a pseudo-Elite-level Pokmon could claim a territory. Since this area was the Heracrosss domain, they were intimately familiar with it. The group split up, each determined to be the first to find the targets and claim all five jars of Tri-Honey for themselves. Their flying speed reached its peak as they raced against one another. In their rush, they accidentally damaged several of their favorite maple trees along the way. --- "Machamp, give me one of those sour berriesmy mouth is so sweet its making me sick," Dalton grumbled. Leaning against a maple tree, he had just drunk half a cup of maple syrup. For someone like him, who preferred salty foods, relying on maple syrup as a primary food source felt like torture. Fortunately, there was a grove of maple trees here. Otherwise, with his supplies depleted, he wouldve starved without them. Though he hated maple syrup, he couldnt leave. If he ventured away, he might not find another food source, and with no map in hand, he had no idea where to go. He had been hoping to run into someoneanyonewho could guide him out of this area. Then, he could call for help to locate Shen, Luis, and the rest of the survey team. A few days ago, he had finally encountered three people. He asked about Shen and Luis, but before he could inquire about the way out, the trio fled as if they had seen a ghost. He had deliberately gone shirtless to show he wasnt a threat, but those three just didnt get it. Since then, Dalton hadnt seen a single living soul. The White Mountain Range was vast, and being in the outer-mid region made human encounters even rarer. Damn it, this is so sour. Chewing on the berry Machamp had handed him, Daltons face twisted from the overwhelming sourness, though it did successfully cut through the sweetness lingering in his mouth. Machamp chuckled at the reaction. "What are you laughing at? Once the energy cubes in the bag are gone, youll be stuck eating syrup and wild berries with me," Dalton snapped, shooting Machamp a glare. "Here, take a bite now to get used to it. Dont come crying to me later if you cant handle it." Despite their less-than-ideal situation, Daltons attitude remained upbeat. Machamp shook its head firmly, refusing to try. When we get out of here, Dalton said, biting into another sour berry, I swear, Im going to rent a Flying-type Pokmon long-term. If Id had one big enough to carry me, Id already be out of here. No need to be stuck eating this garbage. His face contorted again from the sourness, his facial features seeming to twist together. --- Meanwhile, one of the Heracross darted through the forest at top speed, its eyes scanning the surroundings. Sear?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Suddenly, it spotted a figure among the trees, something distinctly not a maple tree. Stopping mid-flight for a closer look, it saw a Machamp and... some kind of creature with a face that looked hilariously twisted. Its curiosity piqued, the Heracross decided to approach the unfamiliar Pokmon it had never seen before. Machamp noticed the approaching Heracross and immediately assumed a defensive stance. Over the past few days, it had defeated plenty of wild Pokmon that had tried to attack them. Heracross can fly, right? Dalton muttered when he spotted the incoming Pokmon. Despite his sour expression, excitement flashed across his face. It was as if his wish had come true. Not only it could fly, but it also had the Fighting type. However, a realization suddenly hit him. Given his size, Heracross might not be much help. Most of them barely reached 1.5 meters tall, and at his 1.9-meter height, hed likely crush it. Riding a Heracross would look more like walking a dog than taking flight. Hera!~ The Heracross stopped about thirty meters from Machamp. Daltons twisted expression gradually returned to normal as the sourness faded. Hera?~ Though Machamp remained cautious, it noticed the Heracross didnt seem hostile and didnt launch an attack. Hera!~ When Daltons face fully relaxed, Heracross suddenly recognized him. It was the man it had been tasked to find! Realizing it had found its targetand picturing the five jars of Tri-Honey it would soon claimthe Heracross began jumping and twirling in excitement. Why is it dancing for us? Dalton asked, puzzled. Machamp shook its head, equally clueless. Machamp: Hey, what do you want? Heracross: "Hand over that human to me." Machamps eyes narrowed as it glared at the Heracross. Heracross: "Someone''s offering five jars of honey for this human." Machamp, who had been ready to fight, lowered its fists upon hearing this. Machamp: "What do you mean?" Heracross: "Someones looking for him." Dalton watched the two Pokmon communicating, their gestures adding to the mystery. Heracross even held up five fingers, emphasizing its point. Machamp didnt sense any hostility from Heracross. Besides, Dalton was already searching for other humans. If someone was indeed looking for him, there was a good chance it was someone he knew. Despite its bulky appearance, Machamp wasnt just about brute strengthit had a brain and could piece things together. Machamp, what are you doing? Dalton asked, puzzled, as Machamp grabbed his arm and gestured for him to follow. As they trailed behind Heracross, Dalton asked jokingly, Machamp, why are we following it? You didnt, uh, sell me out, did you? Machamp, his starter and most loyal Pokmon, would never do such a thing. But Dalton couldnt help but wonder what Heracross had said to make Machamp decide to follow it. Hera~ Heracross glanced around nervously, as though expecting danger to leap out at any moment. The sight made both Machamp and Dalton tense up. However, the "danger" wasnt what they might have imagined. The real concern was the other Heracross. If the others found out about the human, they might try to snatch him away, stealing Heracrosss precious prize. So it had to be vigilant. To Heracross, Dalton wasnt just a human. In its mind, /ReduxMagister Chapter 293: Bought it from a Site Chapter 293: Bought it from a SiteBoss Walker Following Heracross, Dalton unexpectedly saw Julian and was overjoyed. He rushed over excitedly. Boss Walker, did you get lost too? Julian looked at the man in front of him, wondering if this "fool" had spent so much time in the forest that his brain had started malfunctioning. He looked at Dalton for a while. Although the man looked a bit disheveled, he didnt seem injured. Wheres your shirt? Sure enough, Dalton was bare-chested. The forest temperature was quite loweven at midday, it was only about 15 or 16 degrees Celsius. When I woke up, my clothes were gone, Dalton replied sheepishly. Boss Walker, did you come looking for us? Finally, some intelligence returned to him. Dalton realized Julian wasnt lost but had likely come to find them. What else? You think I came here for a vacation? Julian shot him an angry look, then pulled a mountain jacket out of his backpack. Julian was about 1.8 meters tall, while Dalton was over 1.9 meters. Fortunately, mountain jackets were usually oversized, so Dalton could still wear it. Your mission deadline passed days ago, and none of you returned to school or could be contacted. Teacher Frank got worried and asked me to come find you, Julian said. He considered himself lucky. First, hed run into Barry and the others, who told him where Dalton might be. Then he sent Heracross to look, and it actually worked. Here. As promised, Julian handed over five jars of Tri-Honey to Heracross, whose eager, expectant eyes made him feel too guilty to continue chatting with Dalton. "As expected of Boss Walker. Only you could come up with such a clever way to find me. Dalton gave Julian a thumbs-up, his face filled with admiration. Sarch* The Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With his build and that expression, however, it was hard for Julian to feel proud. So, tell me, how did you end up separated from Luis, Shen and the research team? Werent your mission boundaries supposed to be on the outskirts of the White Mountains? At this, Daltons face darkened with anger. It was all because of that idiot leader from the research team. We spotted a Venusaur group on the outskirts, along with a bunch of Ivysaur and Bulbasaur. That idiot thought the Venusaur must have been leading the Ivysaur and Bulbasaur to some mysterious location for evolution. So he insisted on following them. So, we followed. With the three of us, we could handle being closer to the inner perimeter. But then we ran into a pack of wandering Haunter and Gengar. They used Hypnosis on all of us. When I woke up, Luis, Shen and the research team were all gone. I dont even know whats going on with those two now. If anything happens to them, I swear I wont let that research team off the hook! After hearing the full story, Julian finally had a clear picture of what had happened. Luckily, the Haunter and Gengar didnt mean to harm you. If it had been Mismagius or Banette instead, youd all be dead by now. Ghost-type Pokmon were notoriously dangerous, though some were less so than others. Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar fell into the latter category, being known more for their mischievous nature than outright malice. In the wild, it wasnt uncommon for trainers to fall victim to wild Haunters . Upon waking, they might find themselves stripped of their belongings, missing important items, or dumped in an unfamiliar location. Dalton was luckyat least his pants were still there. If youre unharmed, then Shen and Luis should be fine too. Plus, they have their partner Pokmon to protect them. We all have also taken survival training. Staying in a forest for ten days or so shouldnt be a problem. The research team, though... Im not so sure about them. If theyre all together, they might still stand a chance. But if theyre scattered like you were, thats a different story. The research team members were mostly academics with little to no combat ability. Even if they had Pokmon, their battle skills were usually lackluster. Thats why they issued escort requests in the first place. If they die, they die. As long as Shen and Luis are okay, Im fine with it, Dalton said indifferently. Julian shot him a glare. If they die, your mission not only fails, but youll also face an investigation from the Trainer Association. Your personal reputation will take a hit too. A failed mission combined with the death of all escort targets? No one would want to hire you after that, especially for escort tasks. And once a trainers credibility rating dropped, certain tasks would become off-limits. Then let''s find the research team quickly! Dalton said, now anxious. It wasnt that he cared about the research teams survival or his credibility score. As a descendant of a prestigious family, he didnt need to rely on missions for resources. He had taken on this mission solely because of Shens invitation, with Luis also joining in. What truly worried him was the embarrassment. Failing his very first mission and losing the escort targets? That would be an embarrassment of epic proportions. Shen came from a third-tier noble family with many members, so she often needed to take on missions to supplement her income. No one expected their first mission together to go so disastrously. How do we even find them? I only found you because I got lucky, Julian said, rolling his eyes. One by one, the Heracross returned in defeat. They hadnt found the humans they were looking for. Not finding them wouldnt have been a problemif none of the Heracross succeeded, theyd all be in the same boat. But one Heracross had succeeded, and that made all the difference. Jealousy burned in the eyes of the Heracross, their leader especially furious with the one that hogged all the spoils. Five whole jars of honey, completely devoured, not even a single drop left. The jar licked so clean it was almost reflective. Boss Walker, whats wrong with them? Dalton stared at the Heracross, which now looked utterly disheartened. Its expression resembled someone who had just watched their girlfriend run off with someone elsecompletely heartbroken. "Emo" Julian walked forward, from his seemingly small backpackor rather, from the hidden storage of his system spacehe pulled out over a dozen jars of honey. One jar for each of you. Though the Heracross weren''t able to find Dalton, they had at least tried. Julian wasnt the type to act like a heartless capitalist. Seeing the Heracross light up with joy as they received their own jars, Dalton watched Julian''s bag with curiosity. That small backpack had already produced a jacket earlier, and now it had spat out all this honey. How did it hold so much? What are you staring at? I got it off a shopping site after someone sent me a referral link. It has huge capacity. Julian explained, as he slung the backpack over his shoulder again. Boss Walker, do you have any food in that bag of yours? Ive been eating nothing but tree sap and wild berries for days. My taste buds are about to shut down. Here. Julian reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a can of beef stew. Dalton blinked. That can was definitely larger than the pocket it came out of. Let me guessalso from that shopping site? Exactly. Its pretty impressive, huh? When we get back, Im signing up to shop there too! Dalton wasted no time popping open the can. This beef stew is incredible! Eat up, once youre done, were heading out to find Shen and the others. ***** Upto 30 chapters ahead on patreon :- /ReduxMagister Chapter 294: Haunter Chapter 294: HaunterHeracross #1: "Human, I am willing to become your Pokmon." Heracross #2: "Both my wife and I are willing to follow you." Heracross #3: "Choose usa family of three." Heracross #4: "Pfft, you shameless lot. Dont think I dont know why you all want to follow this human." "Human, they all have ulterior motives, but I truly want to follow you with a sincere heart." Heracross Leader: "All of you, shut up! Are any of you stronger than me? Can any of you fight as well as I can? And most importantly, my appetite is smaller than all of yours." As Julian and Dalton were preparing to leave, the group of Heracross swarmed around Julian, insisting on following him. Each of them expressed their desire to be chosen, which made Dalton look at Julian with admiration. Julian, however, remained expressionless as he stared at the Heracross. If anyone ever claimed Pokmon were simple-minded and pure-hearted, hed make them come and meet this lot. They claimed they wanted to follow him, but wasnt it just because of his honey? Each one spoke as sweetly as a song. If one of them had Cyan-tier potential, he might reluctantly accept it. After all, Heracross are strong Bug-types. But they were all green-tier, so they couldn''t enter Julian''s and their typing wasn''t suitable for him either. Youre all rubbish, Julian said flatly. The Heracross didnt seem the least bit discouraged by his words. Instead, they enthusiastically volunteered themselves one by one, as if they hadnt understood him at all. Julian was at a loss. Suddenly, a roar echoed from the sky. Julian looked up and saw Dragonite returning. Dragonite? Boss Walker, theres a Dragonite here? Waitits coming down... Oh, its yours. Dalton said, his excitement quickly fading into disappointment. For a moment, he thought it was a wild Dragonite, but now he realized hed been mistaken. Did you find anything? Julian asked. Dragonite shook its head and handed Julian the location tracker it was carrying. Boss Walker, the investigation teams tracker is broken. Dalton explained after seeing the device. Julian sighed in frustration. "How does something like this even break? What are you people doing out here?" The tracker was the only way to relay ones location in the wild. It was designed to be shockproof, waterproof, moisture-resistant, and could last six months without needing a battery replacement. Aside from not being fireproof, it was practically indestructible. Now Dalton was telling Julian that the tracker was broken. No wonder Dragonite searched for an entire day and night and still found nothing. With Dragonites speed and the trackers 50-kilometer detection range, it should have been a straightforward task, but nothing. Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong all at once. "It wasnt me who broke it." Dalton muttered under his breath, but when he saw Julian glaring at him with a dark expression, he quickly shut up. "Do you remember where you encountered the Gengar?" Julian asked. The only way to locate the missing team now was to track down the Gengar and Haunter that had separated them. Dalton nodded quickly. Julian pulled out a map: "Where?" Dalton looked at it for a moment and pointed to a specific area. "Right here. But Boss Walker, if we head there now, they mightve already moved on." Many Ghost-type Pokmon were wanderers, rarely staying in one spot for long. The Gengar and Haunter they encountered were no exception. Ghost Pokmon often roamed in search of humans to prank. Ignoring the reluctant gazes of the Heracross, Julian mounted Dragonite with Dalton and left the area. Sarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As they soared through the sky, Dalton remarked, "Boss Walker, I feel like Dragonite looks different now, almost like its" "Dragonite is Elite-level now," Julian said matter-of-factly. "And stop grabbing my waist." Dalton had been about to say Dragonite looked a bit fatter, but the bombshell Julian dropped made him forget all about it. In his excitement, Dalton unconsciously tightened his grip on Julian. "MF***er! Let go of my waist!" Julian snapped. He reached back, grabbed Dalton by the collar, and threw him off Dragonite. "Ahhh!!!" Dalton screamed as he experienced the terror of freefall before scrambling back onto Dragonites back, pale and trembling. He didnt dare grab Julian again and instead braced himself by placing his hands firmly on Dragonites back. Because Dalton had joined the ride, the flight seat couldnt be installed, leaving him to balance precariously. After flying for over half an hour, they reached the area where they had encountered the Gengar and Haunter. Julian recalled Dragonite into its Pok Ball. Although Dragonite had suppressed its aura, Ghost Pokmon were highly sensitive. If Gengar and Haunter were still nearby, they wouldnt approach as long as Dragonite was around. "Thats Shens bag over there." Dalton said, pointing to a pile of leaves where a black backpack was partially visible. Julian walked over and pulled the backpack from the pile. It was indeed ShensJulian had seen her carrying it before. "Shen is even unluckier than me. At least I still have my bag." Dalton couldnt help but gloat a little. While he had only lost his clothes to the mischievous Gengar and Haunterleaving him shivering in the coldShen had lost her entire bag. And that bag contained essential survival gear. Suddenly, Daltons expression turned a bit odd. "Boss Walker, I lost my Shirt, Shen lost her bag What if Luis got his pants stolen?" The image that flashed in his mind was a bit too much to bear. Julian froze for a moment, realizing that scenario wasnt entirely impossible. Now, he found himself unexpectedly eager to see what state Luis would be in when they found him. "Haunter" Julian said, tossing out a Pok Ball. From the ball emerged a white Haunter, its ghostly form gleaming faintly in the light. After leaving the Dragon''s Den, Julian had taken the time to evolve his Gastly. "What the? A white Haunter?" Dalton exclaimed. It was the first time he had ever seen a white Haunter. "Search the area, look for any traces of Gengar or Haunter." Haunter let out a mischievous cackle before vanishing into the shadows. "Boss Walker, where did you get a white Haunter? It looks so amazing!" "Picked it up from the road." Julian replied nonchalantly. "Really?" "As if," Julian deadpanned. "I knew you were joking. But actually, my Machamp really ''was'' found on the road." "Really?" "As if" Julian landed a solid slap on the back of Daltons head, sending him face-first into the dirt. ***** Upto 30 chapters ahead on patreon :- /ReduxMagister Chapter 295: They’re just kids! Chapter 295: Theyre just kids!Julians plan to have Haunter track down Gengar and its group seemed like a solid idea. However, it quickly became apparent that they had already left the area, likely wandering off to who-knows-where. After more than an hour, Haunter returned, shaking its head at Julian. It hadnt found anything. What should we do now, Boss Walker? Should we round up some other Pokmon to help with the search? Dalton asked. Julian shook his head. When Heracross were searching for you, we were fairly certain you were still in this area. But were not even sure if Shen and the others are still here. Sar?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Besides, this area is a Mightyena territory. Theyre nothing like those gullible Heracross you can bribe with a few jars of honey. Were you guys not attacked by any Mightyena when you first entered this area? Julian asked. Mightyena were Pokmon with a particularly strong sense of territory. Once a foreign entity enters theirs territory, regardless of the difference in strength, they will attack you. No, we hadnt been here long before Gengar and its group put us all into Hypnosis. Mightyena: ''Damn it, we were also hypnotized by those guys. Otherwise, we wouldve eaten you all already'' Julian sighed and tossed out a Pok Ball. Grow!~ Growlithe appeared before him, wagging its tail enthusiastically. Sniff this bag, Julian said, holding out Shens backpack. See if you can track its owner. The backpack had been sitting there for several days, and Julian wasnt sure if there was still any scent left on it. Growlithe approached and began sniffing the bag intently. The scent was faint, and it took its time analyzing it. After a good couple of minutes, Growlithe finally stopped and barked softly at Julian. Well? Can you track it? Julian asked. If you find her, Ill buy you a big bone later! Dalton added eagerly. Growlithe: If Dalton wasnt Julians friend, Growlithe wouldve bitten him on the spot. Growlithe sniffed the ground around them for a while before barking again to signal it had found a trail. Great! Lead the way. Julian said, his eyes lighting up. Growlithe explained that there were many lingering scents in the area, but it had managed to pick up Shens faint scent and could follow it. Julian had invested considerable resources into training and strengthening his Growlithe. An average Growlithe wouldnt have been able to detect such a faint, days-old scent. Growlithe led the way, occasionally sniffing the ground to confirm the trail, while Julian and Dalton followed closely behind. Haunter hovered around the two, circling them while clearly fascinated by its newly evolved form. Having only recently transformed, it seemed particularly intrigued by its detachable hands, waving and moving them around experimentally. But then, it paused midair, a sudden realization crossing its face. With a mischievous grin, Haunter floated directly in front of Julian, ignoring the clear look of refusal on his trainers face. Before Julian could react, Haunter''s crimson tongue lashed out, licking his cheek. Boss Walker, are you okay? Dalton stammered, panic written across his face. Julian, now trembling slightly from the effects of paralysis, shakily reached into his pocket, pulling out a Cheri Berry. He bit into it, and the numbing sensation began to fade. Cut it out; weve got work to do. Julian scolded, glaring at Haunter. He couldnt help but grumble internally, Haunter chuckled in response, floating in circles around him like nothing had happened. Julian sighed, knowing his words were likely falling on deaf ears. As expected of Boss Walker, youre amazing. Dalton said, his expression a mix of awe and respect. Even paralyzed, you didnt go down! You still had the strength to eat the berry yourself! Julian shot him a tired glance, but Dalton was undeterred. Dalton thought. --- The scent trail Growlithe was tracking proved to be faint and old, which made progress painfully slow. Hours passed, yet they hadnt covered much ground. Boss Walker, this isnt working, at this rate how long is it going to take to find Shen? Dalton said anxiously. Then go ahead and lead, or do you have a better idea? Julian glared at him. No Dalton shrank back. The scent is faint because its old, but as we move closer to her, itll get stronger. Once that happens, the search will speed up. Growlithe, trotting ahead, sniffed the ground constantly to keep track of the faint trail. If the scent were fresherperhaps from two days agoits pace would have undoubtedly been quicker. --- Suddenly, Growlithe stopped in its tracks, baring its teeth and growling at something up ahead. The bushes ahead rustled ominously, and moments later, a pack of Mightyena emerged, accompanied by dozens of Poochyena. The owners of this territory had finally discovered the intruders and werent happy. The pack contained; eight Mightyena, one at pseudo-Elite peak, three at pseudo-Elite mid-stage, two at pseudo-Elite early-stage, and two at advanced peak. As for the dozens of Poochyena, their levels hovered around the ordinary tier. Growlithe: "Where did all these mutts come from? Get out of my way!" Growlithe stood its ground, barking loudly, even going so far as to insult its own kind in its frustration. The Mightyena pack leader growled back, its deep voice reverberating through the air. As the eight Mightyena charged toward Growlithe, the smaller Pokmon didnt flinch. Instead, it stood firm, its expression dripping with mockery, as if daring them to try. Metagross, Psychic! In an instant, the eight charging Mightyena froze mid-motion, their bodies locked in place by an invisible force. Only their eyes darted about, filled with shock and rage, as if theyd been encased in cement. Growlithe grinned: "In this world, its all about connections and power. Got it?" The dozens of Poochyena, watching their eldersuncles, aunts, grandparentsimmobilized, howled in fury. Ignoring the clear disparity in strength, they all charged forward at once, determined to protect their kin. Machamp, show them whos boss! Dalton didnt hesitate, releasing Machamp. With its four muscular arms, Machamp swept through the pack effortlessly, delivering punches and kicks in a flurry of precise movements. It was chaosa mix of yelps and whimpersuntil, in less than a minute, every Poochyena was sprawled out on the ground, defeated. The eight Mightyena glared at Dalton with burning fury. Their eyes screamed injustice: Have you seen this woman? Julian walked over to the immobilized Mightyena, holding up his phone. A photo of Shen appeared on the screen. Think carefully. Dont lie, or I will let Growlithe take them to do ''bad things'' in the woods" He gestured toward a few of the female Poochyena as he spoke. Mightyena: "You monster! Theyre just kids!" Growlithe tilted its head: "Do something bad?" Dalton: I dont think Growlithes stamina can keep up with that. Mightyena: Ive seen this woman before. She injured me! A certain Mightyena said, growling at Shen''s photo. /ReduxMagister Chapter 296: Shen’s Crisis Chapter 296: Shens CrisisGrowlithe: "Hurry up! Can you move any faster? What, didnt have lunch or something?" The Mightyena leading Julian and Dalton could barely resist the urge to turn around and bite Growlithe. This little brat was the epitome of hiding behind someone strong and throwing his weight around. The Mightyena let out a low growl to express its dissatisfaction. Sarch* The Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meta~ Metagross shot a cold look at the Mightyena. Mightyena: "My throat feels a little scratchy, thats all" After all, it had been rendered completely powerless earlier by a single move from this Pokmon. As fierce as Mightyena was, it wasnt stupid. It knew charging ahead would only lead to disaster. It was better to cooperate obediently. Growlithe sniffed the air constantly as they followed the Mightyena. It had indeed caught traces of Shens scent, proving the Mightyena wasnt lying. Growlithe: After more than an hour, Mightyena led Julian and Dalton to the spot where it had last seen Shen. The area was near the edge of its territory. Shen had escaped beyond its boundary, so Mightyena hadnt pursued her further. Mightyena: That woman ran that way Mightyena said, turning to Julian. Julian glanced at Growlithe, who nodded. The scent here was much stronger than before. According to Mightyena''s narration Shen was here three days ago. Alright, you can go. Julian said, waving dismissively. Mightyena cast a final glance at Growlithe. It wanted to leave a parting threat, but with Metagross standing there, it didnt dare. Silently, it slipped away, tail between its legs. Boss Walker, over here! Theres a mark left by Shen! Dalton pointed at a tree where a line had been carved into the barkthicker at one end, thinner at the other. The thinner end pointed in the direction she had gone. This was a standard wilderness tracking mark, commonly used to help allies locate someone quickly. If nothing else, the mark was likely Shens way of guiding anyone searching for her. Grow!~ Growlithe barked, signaling it was ready. Lets go Julian said to Dalton. At this point, the mark wasnt strictly necessary. The scent trail was strong enough now. As long as Shen hadnt gone too far, Growlithe should be able to track her down by the end of the day. Growlithe dashed forward, its path aligning perfectly with the direction indicated by Shens mark. --- Somewhere in the forest, Shens face twisted into a bitter expression as she spotted two Ursaring about 300 meters away. She had just escaped a wolf''s den, only to stumble into a bear''s mouth. I mean no harm, she called out cautiously. The two Ursaring glared at her, brimming with hostility. However, they didnt attack immediately. When Shen had woken up a few days ago, her backpack was missing, and even her shoes had disappearedlikely the work of some mischievous Gengar. Now, her feet were crudely wrapped with leaves and vines, though they were already blistered. Her movements over the past few days had been limited, and her only reliable companions were her Pokmon. Without her backpack, however, neither she nor her Pokmon had a steady food supply. While her Pokmon could rest in their Pok Balls to conserve energy, she had survived on wild vegetables and the occasional berry, which felt like a luxury in her current state. Compared to her, Dalton was far better offhe had woken up in a maple forest, a much more forgiving environment. Ursaring: With a growl, the female Ursaring handed her cub to the male and then charged at Shen like a living tank, snapping trees like twigs as she barreled forward. These were the same Ursaring that Julian had previously subdued. Pseudo-Elites! Shens face darkened. She could immediately gauge their strength and she wasnt Julian, who could take down Elite-level Pokmon while still a freshman. Though Shen was in the Imperial Universitys special recruitment class, her position there was precarious. Her enrollment had been based on awakening her unique ability, rather than raw battle skill. Among her peers, she was at the bottom in terms of strength. She didnt come from that much of a wealthy or influential family. Resources were scarce, and she had taken this mission to earn more funds to level up her Machamp. If Machamp didnt break through to pseudo-Elite level soon, she would be in serious trouble during next months regular-class challenge. A loss would mean being kicked out of the special recruitment class. And now, this whole situation had spiraled out of control, dragging Dalton and Luis into her mess. Still, there was no time to worry about them nowshe needed to survive first. Machamp, go! Shen released her strongest Pokmon: a Machamp at the peak of Advanced level. Completing this mission was supposed to be a stepping stone for Machamp to reach the pseudo-Elite stage. Facing the charging Ursaring, Machamp stepped forward, its muscular arms bulging as it braced for impact. Its four hands clamped down like iron vises onto Ursarings massive body. The force of the collision pushed Machamp back, toppling several trees in the process. Deep grooves scarred the ground as Machamp slid back tens of meters under the sheer power of Ursarings charge. Machamp, Vital Throw! Machamps eyes gleamed as it let out a grunt of effort. Its legs planted firmly into the ground, and with a powerful burst of muscle, it stopped Ursarings momentum. Gripping the bear tightly, Machamp lifted it off the ground. Ursarings massive frame arced through the air in a half-moon trajectory before being slammed into the ground with a thunderous crash. The ground trembled from the impact. "Dynamic Punch!" Shen seized the moment when the female Ursaring struggled to get up, planning to finish the battle in one decisive strike. She felt a twinge of relief. Thankfully, this Ursaring was only at the early pseudo-Elite stage, and the male Ursaring had yet to intervene. Shens eyes darted around, but she couldnt find it. As Machamps fist, glowing with a fiery red light, was about to land on the downed female Ursaring, a sudden gust of wind roared past its ears. "Behind you!" Shen shouted urgently. The male Ursaring had circled around while Machamp was occupied. Seeing its mate in danger, it carefully placed its cub aside and launched an ambush. Its arms gleamed with a metallic silver hue The male Ursaring was much stronger than its mate, nearly at the peak of the pseudo-Elite level. Machamp attempted to counter, but it was too late. missed, and the male Ursaring''s smashed directly into Machamps side. The sheer force sent Machamp flying through the forest, breaking through over a dozen trees before finally coming to a stop, sprawled in the dirt. The male Ursaring roared in fury and charged toward Shen. It didn''t have any good feelings for humans at all, so it rushed towards Shen with killing intent. Mienshao, you''re up! Shen''s heart raced, but as a trained martial artist, she kept her composure. Even in the face of life-threatening danger, she didnt panic. In one swift motion, she sent out her next Pokmon. /ReduxMagister Chapter 297: Machamp Chapter 297: MachampMienshao was currently Shens only Pokmon with Cyan-grade potential, and she had heavily invested resources into its growth. As a result, Mienshao''s strength was second only to Machamp. In front of the massive male Ursaring, Mienshaos slender frame seemed tiny, as though it could be crushed with a single hand. This Ursaring was clearly far stronger than the female one. With Machamp injured, Shen had no choice but to rely on Mienshao. Facing the charging Ursaring, Mienshao raised its hands, launching pale blue . The didnt land a direct hit, but they managed to slow the Ursaring''s charge. Using this moment, Shen established a link with Mienshao. In an instant, her vision switched to Mienshaos perspective. The bond between them allowed them to sense each others thoughts and emotions. Previously, Shen could only trigger her ability under emotional duress, and its success was uncertain. However, after entering Imperial University, her homeroom teacher, Frank, arranged for her to train under a teacher who had also awakened the . This marked the start of Shens proper mastery of the skill. As the male Ursaring charged toward them again, Shen and Mienshaos synchronized gaze scanned its movements. Mienshaos slender body swayed like a fragile tree branch in the wind, gently shifting its position. When Ursaring was less than ten meters away, it suddenly leaped into the air, claws extending. The white claws tore through the air in four sharp streaks, the sound of ripping air reaching Shens ears. Mienshao moved like a wisp of smoke. Its toes lightly tapped a rock, raising a puff of fine dust. By the time Ursarings claws slashed down, Mienshao had already vanished from its original spot. The male Ursaring roared furiously, swinging its claws to the left. The attack intercepted Mienshaos . Shen: Mienshao, its level is much higher than yours, and it has far more battle experience. Simple sneak attacks wont work. Mienshao nodded solemnly. With the boost from Shens , Mienshaos combat ability had improved, but it still couldnt match the overwhelming strength of this Ursaring. Moreover, Shen had only recently begun mastering her , so the enhancement it provided was limited. Mienshao was forced back by Ursarings swipe. As it was sent flying, it executed a series of agile backflips in mid-air, dissipating the force of the blow. Taking advantage of the opening, Ursaring lunged toward Shen again. Its objective was clear from the start: Shen. Ursaring had encountered humans before and knew that eliminating the Trainer would make dealing with their Pokmon significantly easier. As Mienshao landed, it kicked off the ground, its light body accelerating with blinding speed. It overtook Ursaring in an instant, placing itself firmly between the rampaging Pokmon and Shen. The male Ursaring stood upright, growling furiously at Mienshao. Shen and Mienshaos gazes locked onto the Ursarings belly, zeroing in on the yellow ring in the center of its torso. Through the , the circle radiated a faint, reddish glow, marking it as the weak point. With a powerful kick off the ground, Mienshao turned into a white streak of lightning, appearing before Ursaring in an instant. Its palm struck swiftly, landing directly on the glowing ring. In the next moment, Ursaring felt a surge of force explode from Mienshaos palm. The attack targeted the area previously injured by Lucario, which hadnt fully healed. Under the impact of Mienshaos , Ursaring experienced a searing, ripping pain in its chest. The shockwave from the strike sent Ursaring flying through the air. Great job, Mienshao! Shens excited voice echoed in Mienshaos mind. But her excitement was short-lived. As the male Ursaring was flung backward, the female Ursaring took advantage of the momentary distraction, charging in from behind. Caught off guard, Mienshao was tackled to the ground. The female Ursaring extended its claws, unleashing a flurry of savage slashes on the pinned Mienshao. The air filled with the sound of rending strikes, accompanied by Mienshaos pained cries. Mienshaos slim build clearly indicated its speed-focused nature, and its defenses couldnt withstand the onslaught. The intense pain shattered their connection. Shen was abruptly forced out of the link, her face pale as she collapsed to the ground from exhaustion. Just as she tried to process what was happening, a white blur streaked past her. Several trees were snapped and toppled by the white figure. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When the motion stopped, Shen realized it was Mienshao, battered and lying near the broken trees. The injured male Ursaring staggered to its feet, blood dripping from its mouth. Its chest was visibly caved in from Mienshaos earlier strike, yet its eyes burned with feral rage as it fixated on Shen and the fallen Mienshao. With heavy steps, it began striding toward Shen. Shens strength was completely drained, her having sapped nearly all her energy. She struggled to even sit up. Seeing Ursaring closing in, she desperately reached for her Pok Balls at her waist, only to find her belt empty. Turning her head in panic, she saw that her belt had snapped when she fell earlier, scattering her Pok Balls on the ground. To conserve energy due to a lack of Pokmon food, Shen had locked all her Pok Balls except for Machamps and Mienshaos. So even if her other Pokmon wanted to come to her aid now, they couldnt. Machamp!! At the critical moment, Shen''s starter Pokmon, Machamp, stepped between the male Ursaring and her. Despite having been sent flying earlier by Ursarings , with several bones already broken, Machamp stood firm. Each step it took was a struggle, every movement accompanied by excruciating pain, yet it forced itself forward to shield Shen. Machamp turned its gaze toward Mienshao, who had just managed to stagger back to its feet: "Take our trainer and leave. Ill hold them off." Its unwavering determination left no room for Mienshao to argue. Mienshao knew all too well what Machamps decision meant. Machamp: "Go!!" Without waiting for a response, Machamp wrapped its four arms tightly around the male Ursaring. Its battered body surged with an unimaginable burst of strength. Its legs drove forward like pistons, shoving the Ursaring back with unrelenting force. Then, with a swift motion, Machamp freed two of its arms and grabbed the female Ursaring as well. The Ursaring pair struggled desperately, snarling and thrashing, but even in their rage, they couldnt break free from Machamps iron grip. Fueled by its unwavering resolve to protect its trainer, Machamp drew upon strength far beyond its limits, holding them both in place. Meanwhile, Mienshao rushed to Shens side, scooping her up without a word. It grabbed the scattered belt from the ground and bolted in a direction away from the Ursaring pair. Shen pounded her fists against Mienshaos arms, tears streaming down her face. She understood all too well what Machamp intended to do. The fierce and strong-willed young woman found herself powerless, her voice cracking with desperation. Mienshao, put me down! Let me go! She struggled frantically, but Mienshao pressed on, its ears deaf to her cries. Machamp! Machamp!! Her screams echoed through the forest, but Machamps figure blurred as tears clouded her vision. Back at the battlefield, Machamps arms had been savaged by the Ursaring pairs relentless bites. Blood flowed freely, and its limbs hung mangled, yet it refused to loosen its grip. Its strength waned, its body battered beyond recognition, but its mind was sharper than ever. Amid the chaos, it heard Shens voice, her sobs cutting through the noise. Machamp: /ReduxMagister Chapter 298: Arrival Chapter 298: ArrivalMachamp was lying motionless on the ground, its entire body battered beyond recognition. Its four arms bent at unnatural angles, riddled with deep bite marks. The ground beneath it was soaked red with blood. Its body temperature was dropping, and the weakness spreading through its body left it unable to move even a finger. Machamp: The male Ursaring, realizing that Shen and the other Pokmon had escaped, glared furiously at the fallen Machamp. If not for it, the two wouldnt have gotten away. The male Ursaring stood upright, raising its arm to execute , with a roar toward Machamps head. If it connected, Machamps head would burst like a watermelon. Growlithe, Flame Wheel! Grow!~ A deep red fireball slammed into the male Ursarings abdomen, sending it flying. The female Ursaring, seeing another intruder in their territory, tried to help her mate up, but the newcomers voice stopped her. "Its you two again." Julian approached Machamp. Seeing its statebarely breathinghis face darkened, and he immediately pulled a Max Revive from his backpack. Machamp, still barely conscious, recognized Julian. It wanted to signal him to find Shen, but its body was too weak to respond. "Dont worry, Ill find her." Julian reassured it as he carefully poured the Max Potion into its mouth. Slowking, Heal Pulse. Releasing Slowking, Julian turned his gaze to the two Ursaring. The pair also recognized him. Just a few days ago, Julians Lucario had beaten them down. The male Ursarings abdominal wound had yet to heal from that encounter. Their expressions turned grim. Sear?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Metagross, Bullet Punch. The Ursaring pair watched Julian warily, but the next second, a silver streak shot forward, landing a heavy punch on them both. If Julian hadnt arrived in time, Machamp wouldve died. Shen was his friend, and her Pokmon nearly losing its lifecombined with the fact that Shen herself was nowhere to be seen, dead or aliveonly stoked Julians fury. "Shen must have escaped. Dalton, follow Growlithe to find her," Julian said. Growlithe barked twice and darted off in a specific direction, with Dalton hurrying to follow. Meanwhile, the Ursaring pair lay sprawled on the ground after Metagrosss attack. Julian slowly approached them. Seeing this, the Ursaring looked at him with pleading eyes, as if begging for mercy. But the sight of Machamps near-death state and Shens uncertain fate had stirred a killing intent within Julian toward these two Ursaring. At that moment, a small Teddiursa, which had been hiding behind a tree, stumbled out. Its anxious and worried cries softened the killing intent in Julians heart. The little Teddiursa ran to its parents. Though the Ursaring pair could barely stand, they still instinctively shielded their child. Julian stood in silence for a moment, gazing at the family of three. Finally, he tossed two bottles of healing potion to the ground and turned to leave. After he left, the male Ursaring picked up one of the potions, hesitated briefly, then swallowed it. Feeling its effects almost immediately, its eyes lit up. It called to the female Ursaring, who then cautiously took the other potion. Meanwhile, Julian returned to where Machamp was lying. With Slowkings and the Max Revive, Machamps injuries had already healed by about half. Machamp! Machamp looked like it wanted to say something, but before it could, a familiar, excited voice rang out. Before it could react, Shen ran up and hugged it tightly. Feeling her warm tears fall on its body, Machampdespite the pain from the sudden pressure on its woundslet its twisted expression soften. Gently, it patted Shens back. The next time something like this happens, dont act on your own. If we die, we are going to die together! Shen sobbed, hugging it even tighter at the thought of nearly losing Machamp. Machamp: ini Julian chuckled. If you dont let go soon, it might really die in your arms. He watched helplessly as Machamps face turned purple. Despite the obvious pain, it forced a reassuring smile, one that looked more pitiful than comforting. Ah! Im so sorry, Machamp! Shen quickly released her hold, flustered. Where are your shoes? Julian asked, noticing she was barefoot and that her feet were covered in blood. I lost them. Shen replied. Shen, you ran way too fast! I told you Machamp was fine, but you didnt listen. Panting, Dalton trotted over from the direction Shen had fled. Growlithe followed close behind. This is what you call fine? Shen pointed at Machamp, clearly upset. Dalton took a closer look and was shocked. Whoa! Boss Walker, what kind of potion did you use? This recovery speed is insane! He vividly remembered the state Machamp had been in earlier. Yet, in just ten minutes, its severe wounds were almost completely healed. Julian shrugged. I found some Revival Herbs in a secret area. In reality, this was just an excusethe potion came from the system shop. Revival Herbs were currently the best-known treatment for Pokmon injuries. As long as the Pokmon wasnt dead, even the gravest wounds could heal rapidly after consuming one. It was practically the legendary panacea. Revival Herbs were exceedingly rare and only appeared in Advanced-level secret realms. The price of a single Revival Herb was astronomical, and few people would ever consider selling one. After all, such an item represents a life. Julian, thank you so much. Shen said, deeply moved. She was at a loss for words upon learning he had used a Revival Herb to save Machamp. Slowking, Heal Pulse Julian said, gesturing toward Shens injured foot. A soft green light enveloped her foot, and the injuries healed almost instantly. The existence of Pokmon had fundamentally changed humanity, improving every aspect of life. Humans were, without a doubt, the biggest beneficiaries of this new world. Seeing how nonchalant Julian was about the whole situation, Shen decided to stay quiet. While he might brush it off as nothing, she couldnt do the same. She resolved to repay him one day, no matter what. Boss Walker, those two Ursaring are coming back, Dalton suddenly said. The two Ursaring approached cautiously, carrying some food in their arms, which they placed in front of Julian. It was unclear whether they were showing gratitude for his mercy, fear of his strength, or both. Shen shot the Ursaring pair a hostile glance but didnt say anything. Machamp was safe, and she had seen the Teddiursa. It wasnt hard to guess why Julian had spared them. After leaving the food, the pair quickly retreated. The male Ursaring was already contemplating whether to find a new territory. Lately, it seemed cursedhow else could it explain running into this human again? He couldnt win in a fight, but at least he could try to avoid him. The female Ursaring, on the other hand, was wondering if it was time to find a stronger mate. Maybe then, she and her child wouldnt have to endure so much bullying. /ReduxMagister Chapter 299: Stupid Ability Users Chapter 299: Stupid Ability Users"Why do you even have shoes in your bag?" Shen looked at Julian, who had just pulled out a pair of hiking boots from his backpack. The boots fit her feet perfectly, and her expression turned slightly strange. Does this guy keep a pair of shoes in my size all the time? "Cut it out with those dirty thoughts." Julian said, sensing Shens aura tinged with malice. He knew her mind had wandered somewhere it shouldnt. "Boss Walkers backpack is like a treasure chesthes got everything." Dalton chimed in, completely unfazed by Julian pulling shoes out of nowhere. "I wasnt thinking anything!" Shens face flushed slightly as she grabbed the boots and put them on. They fit perfectly, and once again, an impure thought crept into her mind. "Do you know where Luis and the survey team are?" Julian asked. "They should all be together. When Gengar put me under hypnosis, I still had some awareness. I saw them carrying Luis and the survey team eastward." "How did you manage to stay conscious?" Dalton asked, puzzled. "As someone who practices martial arts, my willpower is pretty strong." But Dalton didn''t believe it. "I practice martial arts too. Are you saying my willpower isnt as strong as yours?" Shen nodded. "Just because your physical strength is greater doesnt mean your willpower is stronger." Sar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Alright, lets settle this. Whoever blinks first loses." Daltons competitive nature kicked in. He rolled up his sleeves, ready for a staring contest with Shen. But what did a staring contest have to do with willpower? Julian pushed Dalton aside and said flatly, "This has more to do with Shens ability. It helped her resist the hypnosis to some extent." If it had been a psychic user, weak Pokmon using on them wouldnt have worked at all. "Ugh, stupid ability users," Dalton muttered under his breath. "Ah-I wasnt talking about you, Boss Walker!" Realizing his words might have been misunderstood, he quickly clarified. Julian ignored him and asked, "Im going to look for Luis and the survey team now. Are you two coming with me or heading back to university?" In truth, Julian preferred they head back to university. Having them tag along would only slow him down. But, as expected, neither of them wanted to leave. Shen shook her head firmly. "This mission was my idea. I invited Dalton and Luis to join, so I have to find Luis." Dalton followed suit, "Of course, Im sticking with you, Boss Walker." Their answers didnt surprise Julian in the slightest. With a hint of exasperation, he said, "Youd be better off heading back to university." "Whats that supposed to mean? Are you saying were a burden?" Shen snapped. She looked at Julian with anger, her expression clearly saying, "Yeah, your strength really is lacking." Julian replied bluntly, nodding without hesitation. Shen: Dalton: "Meta~" Metagross let out a low, metallic hum in agreement with its Trainer. "See? Even Metagross agrees. Machamp, do you think you''re strong?" Machamp shook his head without the slightest hesitation. After almost being killed earlier, it had no delusions about its strength. Instead, it turned to Metagross with a look of admiration. After all, it had effortlessly defeated the two Ursaring. *** "Machamp, are you trying to make me angry?" Shen glared at her Pokmon, feeling betrayed. Machamp: --- The three of them were now flying through the air on Dragonite. Thankfully, Dragonite was larger than average; otherwise, carrying all three of them would have been impossible. Initially, Julian had planned to ride Metagross while letting Shen and Dalton use Dragonite, but Dragonite had other ideas. It refused to let anyone other than Julian ride it without him onboard. As for Metagross? Letting someone besides Julian ride on its back was out of the question entirely. Dragonites accommodating nature made it far more agreeable than, say, a Salamence. If a Salamences Trainer dared to put someone else on its back, it might just toss the Trainer off as well. Shen had told them that Luis and the survey team had been taken east by the Gengar group. Eastward meant heading deeper into the White Mountain Range, which was far from ideal. The outskirts and mid range of the White Mountain Range already housed Pokmon at the pseudo-Elite level. Venturing further in meant facing stronger and stronger opponents. Pokmon deeper inside were fewer in number but significantly more powerful. It wasnt uncommon to travel an entire day in the core regions without encountering a single Pokmon. But if you did, you could bet its strength started at pseudo-Elite level. After flying east for a while, Julian ordered Dragonite to land. "Lets get down and look around." When they had found Shen earlier, it was thanks to spotting her backpack, combined with Growlithes keen sense of smell and the marks she had left on the trees. Luis, however, hadnt left any items behind, so Julian could only hope that he or the survey team had left some sort of markers along the way. "Lets split up and check for any signs or markings nearby," Julian said to Shen and Dalton. He released four smaller PokmonLucario, Slowking, Growlithe, and Haunterto assist with the search. Shen and Dalton quickly followed suit, releasing their own Pokmon. The three Trainers, along with their dozen or so Pokmon, spread out in a circular formation to scour the area for clues. Beside Julian stood his Metagross, its glowing eyes focused as it used psychic powers to scan the surroundings for any traces of humans. "Luca!~" After about ten minutes, Lucario''s voice suddenly resonated in Julian''s mind. Julian''s bond with Lucario''s Aura was exceptionally strong, allowing them to sense each others presence within a certain range. Lucario found something, lets go. Julian informed Metagross of Lucarios location. The steel giant immediately used , and in the blink of an eye, they appeared beside Lucario. A battle took place here. Julian''s eyes scanned the area. Broken trees lay scattered, rocks were cracked and shattered, and the ground bore large and small cratersclear evidence of a recent clash. Patches of water glistened on the ground and tree trunks. Julian reached out to touch one of the snapped trees, his fingers brushing against its damp surface, accompanied by coldness. He crouched down, dipped a finger into the water on the ground, and noted its icy temperature. This explained why both the water on the trees and the puddles on the ground were unnaturally cold. Given that Luis was an Ice-type Trainer, it seemed likely his Pokmon had caused this, though Julian couldnt completely rule out the involvement of someone else. Meta~ Metagross called out as it levitated over with a torn piece of fabric in its claw. This is theirs! Julians eyes lit up as he took the fabric. It was unmistakably part of the uniform worn by the survey team. Judging by the strength of Luiss Pokmon, Julian guessed that this Ice-type move had been used the previous day. Further inspection revealed tracks that seemed to have been left as the group moved. However, what puzzled Julian was that instead of heading out of the forest, Luis and the survey team had gone deeper into the White Mountain Range. /ReduxMagister Chapter 300: Celebi? Chapter 300: Celebi?Since they had already found clues about Luis and the survey team, there was no need for Dalton, Shen, and the Pokmon to continue searching. Metagross, bring them all here, Julian said. Metagross nodded and disappeared in a flash. Moments later, it reappeared, bringing Dalton along. Ugh... The intense dizziness from Teleport left the towering six-foot-three man clutching a nearby rock, retching as he expelled the contents of his stomach. Before long, Shen appeared beside him. Ugh... Ugh... Ugh... The chorus of retching and the pungent smell made Julian grimace in disgust. Once Metagross had brought back all the Pokmon as well, the two humans sat pale-faced, glaring at Julian. I swear Im going to kill you! Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Shen snarled as she stomped toward him, only to halt after a few steps when her stomach churned again. Ugh... Machamp: ''Whats going on? Pregnant or something?'' For ordinary people, being teleported by a Pokmon felt akin to spinning in place hundreds of times without any prior training. The dizziness could make even the toughest person vomit up everything theyd eaten, possibly even from the day before. Julian, however, had the enhanced resilience of "Mega Pallet Town physique," which meant he didnt feel the same effects. Because of this, hed overlooked the impact on others and had casually asked Metagross to bring Dalton and Shen over. Here, rinse your mouths. Julian handed each of them a bottle of water, pinching his nose as he did so. His apology seemed genuine, but only just barely. Once the two had somewhat recovered, they glared at JulianShen with murderous intent and Dalton with aggrieved eyesas he explained what hed discovered. Luis and the survey team must have gone insane. Why are they heading deeper inside? Dont tell me they are all directionally challenged? Dalton said, baffled. Normally, if a group got separated, the best choice would be to head outward, away from the White Mountain Range. Moving deeper into the forest, where danger was even greater, made no sense. Maybe the survey team found something else, Shen suggested. Very likely. Afterall they changed the original plan after spotting a Venusaur leading a group of Ivysaur and Bulbasaur, believing they were heading to some kind of mysterious garden for evolution. Thats what got us into this mess in the first place, Dalton said angrily. Now who knows what theyve discovered here. Researchers can be so single-minded its ridiculous. I swear, they barely think straight, he added, frustration clear in his tone. Researchers often got so focused on their work that reasoning with them was pointless. But it was also this very trait that led to groundbreaking discoveries. Lets go. In the end, there was no point in debating it further. Finding Luis and the others was the priority. Julian recalled all his Pokmon except for Growlithe and Metagross. Shen and Dalton, on the other hand, kept their Machamps out. Without needing Julian''s instruction, Growlithe was already following the scent trail left by the survey team. The team, including Luis, consisted of eleven people. The path they took was relatively easy to follow, and fortunately, no bloodstains or corpses were found along the way. This suggested they hadn''t encountered any serious problemsyet. However, the fact that they were heading deeper into the mountains meant trouble was inevitable. Luis alone couldnt possibly protect all ten members of the survey team. The sooner they were found, the better. --- Professor Allen, we cant keep going any deeper. If we continue, I wont be able to guarantee your safety. Luis said sternly, his usual playful demeanor replaced by a serious expression. The group was resting in a secluded part of the forest. Luis stood before Professor Allen, the leader of the survey team, his tone filled with urgency. For someone like Luis, who was almost always smiling, this level of seriousness indicated just how dire the situation was. No way. We cant stop now! This is Celebi were talking about''the'' Celebi! Its rumored to have the power to travel through time! As a Trainer, dont you want to witness that? Dont you want to catch it? Professor Allen, a middle-aged man in his fifties with black glasses and the telltale aura of a scholar, sounded almost desperate. His words carried the stubbornness of someone obsessed with discovery. Of course I do! Do you think I dont? But I value my life more! Luis snapped, his frustration boiling over. If my Froslass hadnt reacted quickly, that Ninjask would have killed us all back there! Luiss voice was rising, and in his anger, spit flew onto Professor Allens face. The reckless persistence of the professor had pushed them deeper into the White Mountain Range, with no regard for the increasing dangers. To make matters worse, their supplies were running critically low. Even if they decided to turn back now, what they had left wouldnt last long enough. I know youre from an influential family of the Imperial Capital. You must have a protective Pokmon from your family. As long as its with you, even an Elite-level threat should be manageable, Professor Allen countered, clearly undeterred. It was common knowledge that members of prominent families were often given a powerful protective Pokmon by their elders. These Pokmon only revealed themselves in moments of great danger. Julians protective Pokmon was a peak Elite-level Alakazam, while Luiss was a late-Elite-stage Beartic. The aftermath of an Elite-level battle could still kill all of you, and I might not make it out unscathed either, Luis explained, his tone cold. Taking a single late-Elite-stage Pokmon into the depths of the White Mountain Range, and burdened with ten helpless researchers at that? Even Julian wouldnt dare attempt such a thing. It doesnt matter. If I die, its my own fault, Professor Allen said dismissively. You Luis was left speechless with anger. How could someone be so irrational? What about them? Are you going to drag them to their deaths just because of your stubbornness? Luis pointed at the other members of the survey team. Professor Allen turned to look at his team members and asked, Celebidont you all want to study it? Yes!! The entire survey team responded in unison, their expressions mirroring Professor Allenspure madness. ''These F*ers!'' Luis nearly slapped Professor Allen in the face out of sheer frustration. One irrational person was bad enough, but all of them? If it werent for his sense of responsibility, Luis wouldve abandoned them long ago. Celebi, Luis, you know this Pokmon was discovered decades ago, and some lucky individuals even traveled back in time because of it. Now think about itmany of the treasures recorded today were once hidden in secret realms. If you could travel back in time, those treasures could all be yours. Don''t bullshit me, Celebis time-traveling ability is limited, and I dont believe it comes without a price, Luis retorted with a wave of his hand. Luiss words were firm, but inwardly, he felt a flicker of temptation. As a member of a prominent family, Luis was privy to the origin stories of many Elite Trainers and their opportunities. If he were to travel back in time and seize the fortunes that once belonged to those Elites, his future could change dramatically. Thats why we need to catch it! Once we have it, Ill have ample time to study it. We might be able to extend the duration of its time travelor even reduce its costs! Professor Allen pressed on. Luis frowned, after a long silence, he finally said, Well go on for one more day. If we dont encounter Celebi by then, were heading back. If you refuse, Ill leave on my own. ***** Upto 30 chapters ahead on patreon :- /ReduxMagister Chapter 301: Under My Protection Chapter 301: Under My ProtectionProfessor Allen agreed to Luiss condition: if they didnt find Celebi by tomorrow, they would leave. Seeing Professor Allen nod, Luiss expression softened slightly. All right, everyone, if youve rested enough, lets move out. Professor Allen approached the survey team members. As scholars, they werent physically strong, and the forests challenging environment only made things harder for them. As a result, they couldnt cover much ground in a single day. The team members got up one by one, and Professor Allen took the lead while Luis stayed at the back to watch over them. Professor Allen himself was once a Trainer at the early pseudo-Elite level, but his focus on research over the years had caused his training skills to decline. Professor, did Celebi really fly deeper into the forest? Asked Bill, one of Professor Allens students. They had long lost sight of Celebi. When they first spotted it, they saw it heading toward the deeper regions of the White Mountain Range. Since then, they had been moving further into the forest, but they still hadnt seen any trace of Celebi. There was no way to be sure if it was still deeper in or if it had flown elsewhere. Celebi was known as the guardian of forests and has been sighted in many large forests across the world. About a decade ago, there was a massive wildfire in a national park in Celestria. Even a Champion Trainer couldnt extinguish it. But Celebi appeared and put an end to the fire. Wherever Celebi appears, the land flourishes with vibrant greenery and blooming flowers. That national park was restored to its former glory thanks to Celebis help. As the guardian of forests, its most likely to appear in the deepest part of the forest, which is the central region of the White Mountain Range, Professor Allen said. The central region of the White Mountain Range was vast, but finding Celebi there was still uncertain at best. Considering they only had a day to search, reaching the center at their current pace seemed impossible. Perhaps Professor Allen had other ideas in mind. The ability to travel through time its truly incredible, Bill said with a look of awe and yearning. The more one researched Pokmon, the more one came to understand their extraordinary natureespecially legendary and mythical Pokmon. Pokmon possessed unique abilities, but only a few of those abilities truly captured humanitys imagination and desire. Celebis time-traveling power was undoubtedly one of them, as time itself was irreversible. The thought of traveling to the past to fix old regrets, meet deceased loved ones, or seize opportunities that once belonged to othersit was exhilarating just to imagine. cel~ As they spoke, a small green Pokmon with transparent wings was happily flying above the forest canopy. Wherever it passed, all the trees gently swayed as if welcoming it. With each flutter of its wings, faint silver light scattered, and the trees seemed to exude a joyous emotion. Dragonite racing through the sky spotted the mysterious creature ahead. It intended to avoid it, but the small figure deliberately floated into its path. Dragonite observed the tiny Pokmon in front of it. With those dark circles under its eyes, it looked like it hadnt slept in ages. Celebi tilted its head, curiously examining Dragonite. Sar?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This part of the forest was its domain, and it recognized all the Pokmon hereexcept for this unfamiliar Dragonite. Dragonite: "Little one, have you seen a group of humans in this forest?" Cel~ Celebi flew up to Dragonite, poking its round belly with its small hands. The bouncy sensation amused it greatly. Dragonite: Recalling Julian''s task, Dragonite didnt want to waste time. It gently moved Celebi aside with one hand. But Celebi quickly zipped back in front of it, pointing downward. Dragonite looked down, seeing nothing but treetops. However, it soon sensed human presence below. With a silent thought, Dragonite dove toward the ground. Celebi cheerfully plopped onto its head, holding onto its horn. Nearby, a Froslass suddenly appeared beside Luis. Luis quickly shouted, Theres a strong enemy above! Everyone, take cover! The next second, the treetops shook violently, and Dragonites massive form emerged. Dragonite: Dragonite immediately recognized Luis and locked eyes with him. A Dragonite?! Luiss expression darkened as his hand instinctively moved toward Beartic''s Pok Ball, his bodyguard Pokmon. The aura radiating from this Dragonite screamed Elite levelwithout a doubt. However, the Dragonite didnt attack, nor did it show any hostility. This aura Its Brother Julians Dragonite!! Luis, who had beginner-level Aura abilities, felt the familiar wave of energy emanating from Dragonite. Its unusually large size further confirmed its identity. But wasnt Dragonite still at pseudo-Elite level just a month ago? It hadnt even reached the peak! How had it become an Elite in such a short time? A thick fog of doubt filled Luiss mind. Dragonite nodded, confirming his suspicions. Cel~ Celebi peeked out from behind Dragonites head, curiously eyeing Luis. It found this human rather likable. Trainers with Aura abilities were naturally appealing to Pokmon, especially gentle-natured ones like Celebi. Celebi!! x2 Professor Allen and Luis both shouted in unison. The mythical Pokmon they had spent so long searching for had unexpectedly appeared before them in this way. Perhaps their loud voices startled Celebi. The little Pokmon flinched and quickly ducked behind Dragonites back, peeking out cautiously with only its tiny head visible. Quick, Luis! Lets catch it! Professor Allen was overjoyed. Celebi had practically delivered itself to them. Without hesitation, he tossed a Pok Ball, releasing a Mr. Mime. Luis had considered capturing Celebi earlier, but now that he saw it perched so comfortably on Dragonite and the two seemed to share a friendly bond. Mr. Mime, use Psychic to control that Celebi! Before Luis could stop him, Professor Allen eagerly gave the command, completely ignoring Dragonite beside Celebi. Cel~ Celebi tilted its head in confusion. It didnt understand why this human was suddenly attacking it. Just as it prepared to flee, Dragonite swatted the incoming Psychic energy away with a casual flick of its claw. Dragonite let out a thunderous growl, glaring down at Professor Allen. If this man werent someone Julian was looking for, Dragonite would have taught him a lesson on the spot. Though it had only just met Celebi a few moments ago, the little Pokmons warm and trusting aura stirred a protective instinct within Dragonite. Dragonite: "This little one is under my protection. Touch it if you dare." Celebi was very moved. While the aura of an Elite-level Pokmon emanated from Dragonite, causing Mr. Mime to collapse to the ground in fear. Even the survey team below turned pale, struggling to breathe under the overwhelming pressure. /ReduxMagister Chapter 302: Sealed Grounds Chapter 302: Sealed GroundsDragonite clearly intended to protect Celebi, and it also seemed to know Luis. Despite the overwhelming pressure of its Elte-level aura, Professor Allen somehow managed to endure it, though his body was visibly struggling. He stared intensely at Celebi perched on Dragonites back, his eyes filled with obsession. However, his expression betrayed the toll the pressure was taking on himhe looked like he would collapse at any moment. Dragonite, thats enough! Luis quickly stepped in, urging Dragonite to withdraw its aura. If this continued, Professor Allens body wouldnt hold out. Stubborn as he had been during the journey, he wasnt a bad person. Dragonite glanced at Luis and, seeing how close Professor Allen was to breaking, relented and withdrew its oppressive aura. Without giving anyone a chance to react, Dragonite soared into the sky with Celebi in tow. The sudden release of the pressure left Professor Allen and his team gasping for air. When they finally composed themselves, they realized that Celebi had disappeared with Dragonite. Panic set in. After all the hardships they had endured to find Celebi, it had slipped away right before their eyes. All their efforts would be for nothing. sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chase it! Quickly, follow them! Professor Allen shouted anxiously, breaking into a run toward the direction where Dragonite had vanished. The rest of the survey team scrambled to keep up. Theres no need to chase, Luis said, stepping in to block Professor Allens path. Dragonite will return eventually. We just need to wait here. Luis knew Dragonite belonged to Julian. If Dragonite had flown off now, it wouldnt be long before Julian himself arrived. The only question was whether Dalton and Shen were with him. That Dragonite came here to find us! Professor Allen paused, and as Luiss explanation sank in, he realized the truth. Their prolonged absence must have raised concerns, prompting someone to come looking for them. Yes, and the person who sent Dragonite is very powerful, so youd better not anger him over Celebi, Luis warned. Professor Allen frowned but remained silent. Beside him, his student, Bill, voiced his dissatisfaction. But we discovered Celebi first! If we can unlock the secret to time travel, it would undoubtedly be worthy of the Arceus award! You? Luis snorted dismissively. Whats that supposed to mean? Bills face turned red with anger. It was clear Luis didnt think highly of him. Arceus Award? Do you think youre Quinn Walker or something? Enough, Bill, Professor Allen interrupted, stopping his student before the argument could escalate. The one who sent Dragonite is an Elite-level Trainer. Starting a conflict would only put us at a disadvantage. While both Pokmon Trainers and Pokmon researchers held similar social standing in society, there were undeniable differences in their roles. Trainers commanded power, while researchers sought knowledge. In situations like this, power often held the upper hand. In the hierarchy of the Pokmon world, an Elite-level Trainer held a higher status than a Senior Researcher. There are tens of thousands of Senior Researchers in the country, but only around 500 Elite-level Trainers. However, top-tier researchers like Quinn Walker, who have won the Arceus Award, are considered to have even higher status than Elite Trainers. Such researchers are regarded as strategic national treasures, their value comparable to a Champion-level Trainer. Professor Allen was a Senior Researcher. His task to investigate the Pokmon density on the outskirts of the White Mountain Range didn''t initially require his direct involvementit was supposed to be handled by his student, Bill. But after spending half a year in the lab, Professor Allen felt the urge to go out and volunteered for the mission himself. --- About three hours later, a sound from the distance drew everyone''s attention. Shortly after, Julian, Shen, and Dalton appeared in front of Luis and the rest of the survey team. To everyones astonishment, Celebi, the Pokmon they had been desperately searching for, was perched on Julians head. Thanks to Julians advanced Aura abilities, Celebi had developed a strong sense of trust and friendliness toward him. Once Dragonite brought it back, Celebi immediately flew onto Julians head. Its adorable appearance made Shen want to reach out and pet it, but Celebi dodged every attempt, leaving Shen stomping her foot in frustration. Brother Julian! Luis was overjoyed to see Julian and ran over to him. Everyones okay? Julian scanned Luis and the survey team. Everyone was accounted forapart from looking a little worse for wear, they were unhurt. Were fine, were fine! With me around, how could anything go wrong? Luis replied with a grin. Good. If thats the case, you should all leave this area now, Julian said. Luis looked surprised. Brother Julian, arent you coming with us? Ive got something to take care of. Julian reached up, lightly patting the Celebi on his head. "Can we discuss about-" Before Professor Allen could finish his sentence, Julian cut him off. Celebi isnt yours to take, so dont even think about it. Shaking his head, he mounted Dragonite and flew deeper into the mountains, taking Celebi with him. Professor Allen and the survey team: Even Luis was stunned. He couldnt understand why Julian had decided to leave. Celebi must have told Julian something important, and its probably dangerous, which is why he didnt bring us along, Shen explained. During their journey to find Luis and the survey team, Celebi had been communicating with Julian the entire time. While none of them knew exactly what Celebi had said, Julians expression had grown increasingly serious as the conversation continued. On the way, Julian had made it clear that once they found Luis and the team, they were to leave the White Mountain Range immediately. He had even provided them with plenty of supplies to ensure their safe departure. From his small looking backpack, Julian had pulled out enough supplies to feed over a dozen people and their Pokmon for more than a month. "I can understand if he didn''t take the two of you, but Why didnt he take me? I''m much better than you two! Luis said unwillingly. Julian and Celebi were obviously preparing for some kind of dangerous adventure. Luis, with his love for excitement, couldnt stand being left out of something so thrilling. Shens face darkened at Luiss words. As one of the weaker members of their class, she couldnt argueLuis wasnt wrongbut still The next moment, Luis was on the ground clutching his stomach, having paid the price for his words. Meanwhile, Bill was pacing angrily, his face twisted with frustration. No! We cant let him take Celebi away. Whats that guys name? Im going to file a formal complaint! Professor Allen sighed, his tone weary. Forget it, let''s go back first, Celebi probably has an urgent matter that only he can handle. Professor, we cant just let this slide! We must report him to the authorities and make sure hes punished! Bill argued. Before he could say another word, Dalton strode over, delivering a sharp slap that sent Bill sprawling to the ground. Boss Walker saved your sorry asses. Without him, if youd ventured any further, you wouldnt be coming back at all. And you want to ''complain'' about him? You ungrateful wretch. --- Above the White Mountain Range, Dragonite flew swiftly, the wind rushing past. Celebi perched on Julians head, pointing excitedly toward a specific area in the distance. Cel! Cel! Cel!~ Celebi: "The Sealed Grounds are just ahead." This area was at the heart of the White Mountain Range, a place known as the true forbidden zone of the region. /ReduxMagister Chapter 303: Ten Years Chapter 303: Ten YearsShortly after entering the central region, a Honchkrow appeared, blocking Dragonite''s path. Honchkrow: "Leave my territory" A mid-Elite-tier Honchkrow. Encountering such a strong Pokmon right after entering the area confirmed the reputation of this forbidden zone. Dragonite prepared to put Julian down and was ready to teach the Honchkrow a lesson. However, Celebi suddenly flew out from behind Julian. Julian had moved Celebi behind himit was too eye-catching with its bright green body sitting on his head. Cel, Cel~ Celebi said something to Honchkrow, and the latters hostility immediately decreased significantly and Honchkrow moved aside to clear the path. Julian patted Dragonite, signaling it to move forward and then said in surprise: Not badyouve got some serious influence. Hearing this, Celebi puffed up with pride. As the guardian of the forest, Celebi naturally commanded the respect and affection of other Pokmon. It was no wonder Dragonite had immediately chosen to protect it when they first met. Pokmon: Celebi (Psychic/Grass) Level: 75 Potential: Blue Ability: Natural Cure Item: None Gender: Unknown Moves: Confusion, Heal Bell, Magical Leaf, Baton Pass, Ancient Power, Life Dew, Leech Seed, Recover, Future Sight, Healing Wish, Leaf Storm, Perish Song, Safeguard, Solar Beam TMs: None Egg Moves: None --- Despite possessing mid-Elite-tier strength, Celebi often acted timid. Its appearance, undeniably harmless, further added to its innocent fa?ade. As a mythical Psychic/Grass Pokmon, Celebis most coveted ability was its power to travel through time. Sightings of Celebi had been reported in large forests worldwide, but no Trainer had ever succeeded in capturing it. There was even a tale of a Champion-level Trainer from a country who attempted to forcefully capture Celebi. The result? The Trainer vanished, only to reappear as a frail, withered old man. Celebi could lead you through timeor leave you trapped in it forever. Its harmless appearance was deceptive, hiding its true, awe-inspiring power. With Celebis assistance, Julian reached the Sealed Grounds smoothly. Along the way, they encountered several pokemon, including a Roserade and a Magnezone, both Elite-tier Pokmon. However, thanks to Celebi, they allowed Julian and Dragonite safe passage through their territories. Its a bit cold here Reaching the Sealed Grounds Celebi had pointed to, Julian observed the surroundings. There was little difference from the outside worldtrees, rocks, even streams dotted the area. The only unusual feature was the unnaturally low temperature. He also sensed an overwhelming malice in the area, though his Aura shield kept it at bay. Anyonehuman or Pokmonwithout a strong will would become violent and bloodthirsty if they lived here for too long. Celebi: "Follow me" It flew ahead, prompting Julian and Dragonite to follow closely behind. As they ventured deeper, the temperature continued to drop, and the oppressive malice grew stronger. Julian occasionally caught glimpses of wisps of black mist drifting through the air, but when he looked closer, they vanished without a trace. This place gives me the creeps, he muttered. And, why are the leaves black? The scenery had started out vibrant and colorful, but the deeper they went, the more the colors faded. Now, everything was blackthe trees, the leaves, the ground, even the sky. Celebi: "Were here" Just as Julian was about to ask Celebi, it stopped in front of a large rock, roughly half a meter tall. As Julian approached, Celebi spoke softly; This is the Sealed Grounds. Over a hundred years ago, I sealed it here with the help of the forest and many other Pokmon. Beneath that cute exterior was the soul of a being that had lived for at least a century. But now the seal is on the verge of breaking, Celebi continued. Julian frowned. You mean its power has grown stronger while being sealed, allowing it to break free? Celebi shook its head: Not quite. Its been using its power to slowly wear down the seal. Then why not reinforce the seal? Julian asked. Its current strength should already be weakened. Celebi shook its head again: Back then, I borrowed the forests energy to create the seal. The forest still hasnt recovered from that, and if I were to draw on its energy again, it would turn this place into a barren wasteland. Julian realized hed asked a foolish question. If reinforcing the seal was an option, Celebi wouldnt have sought him out in the first place. Which reminded himwhy had it chosen him? There were plenty of Trainers entering the White Mountain Range every day, some even at Elite-tier. Why him? Julian voiced his doubts. Celebi tilted its head and answered in a clear, cheerful voice: Because youre a good person. To Celebi, Julian, with his strong Aura radiating goodness, practically screamed ''Im a good person.'' It had considered Luis as a good person too, but unfortunately, he lacked the strength. Julian''s face froze slightly. If it weren''t for Celebi''s genuinely innocent expression, he might have retorted, Dragonite, however, nodded seriously, completely agreeing with Celebi. In its eyes, there was no better person in the world than its Trainer. Seeing both one big and small pokmon looking at him with such heartfelt agreement, Julian felt a bit awkward. "So... what am I supposed to do now?" he asked, gesturing toward the stone that represented the seal. If one looked closely, faint black mist could be seen continuously seeping out of the stone. And it had already cracked two-thirds of the way through. To be honest, the seal didnt look very impressive. Who would believe that such a plain-looking rock could be holding back a powerful and malevolent Pokmon? Celebi: "When it breaks free, youll destroy it." Julian: "And how long until it breaks the seal?" Celebi: "Probably another ten years or so" "Dragonite, lets go." Julian mounted Dragonite blankly and was about to leave, feeling that he was being played. Sear?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Celebi quickly flew in front of him: "Whats wrong with you?" I cant wait that long, Julian said flatly. Celebi: "Ten years is a long time? Just take a nap, and itll pass in no time." In Celebis mind, ten years was barely a short nap, possibly even shorter. Julian grumbled internally, speechless for a while. /ReduxMagister Chapter 304: There, It’s Done Chapter 304: There, Its DoneIf it really requires waiting ten years, then Ill just come back in ten years, Julian said seriously, looking straight at Celebi, making it clear he meant what he was saying. The thought of him being waiting here for a decade was almost terrifying. By that time, it wouldnt just be the sealed Pokmon insideJulian himself might clean up Celebi. Unaware of Julians inner thoughts, Celebi playfully tried to perch on his head but was promptly grabbed by the back of its neck. "Believe it or not I can make you cry Julian said, raising his fist. Celebi: Actually, you dont have to wait ten years. Oh? If thats the case, why didnt you say so earlier? How can I avoid waiting ten years? Celebi: Just break the seal yourself. It pointed at the half-meter-tall rock. How do I break it? Julian asked subconsciously. Celebi: Like this With that, Celebi balled its tiny hand into a fist and punched the rock. The rock, already two-thirds cracked, began breaking apart at an alarming rate. What had been faintly visible black mist now became fully tangible, swirling out in thick plumes. In the blink of an eye, large amounts of black mist poured out from the ever-widening cracks in the rock, which finally shattered completely into a pile of rubble. Celebi: There, its done. Julian was frozen stiff, staring at Celebi, which hovered next to him with an eager, proud expression. You just broke it like that, and it was so easy! So what if any random Pokmon happened to stumble in here? Wouldnt they be able to break it too? Julian demanded, his expression sour. Celebi shook its head and explained. The area within a kilometer of the rock was already devoid of life, so no Pokmon would wander in, and since Celebi had created the seal, only it could break it. Celebi: Its coming out. With that, it dove straight into Julians clothes. The black mist, instead of spreading out, began to converge in one place. Meanwhile, the shattered rock had turned into a heap of debris. Oddly enough, the surrounding temperature started to rise. Looking down at Celebi hiding in his clothes, Julians mouth twitched slightly. What kind of Pokmon is this thing, anyway? You still havent told me. Celebi: I didnt? No, you only said its strength was around the peak of Elite level, Julian said. Celebi: -Oh-... I forgot. Celebis small face scrunched up in thought as it tried to remember, only to shake its head. Celebi: Its been over a hundred years. Isnt forgetting normal? This excuse was well-prepared, and Julian couldnt find a good way to argue against it. Always bringing up ''over a hundred years ago'' and casually dismissing ten years as a napwhat a flex. Living long really ''is'' something to be proud of, huh? Celebi: Its coming. Where the sealed rock once stood, a new stone about a meter tall slowly rose into view. Its surface was marked with three evenly distributed cracks, glowing with an intense purple light. At the top of the stone, on either side of the uppermost crack, were two thumb-sized circular dots, resembling a pair of eyes. These dots also glowed purple. This is a Odd Keystone, Julian muttered. The distinctive three cracks and the eerie eyes quickly clued him in on what this stone was. As the Odd Keystone emerged, the surrounding black mist seemed to have found its master, converging onto the stone and wrapping around it like a shroud. When the mist and the Odd Keystone merged, a surge of sickening, hateful, and overwhelmingly powerful energy erupted from it, and Julian''s complexion changed. He shouted at Celebi, who was hiding in his clothes: This is what you call peak Elite?!! Celebi: If it stayed sealed for another ten years, ''then'' its strength would be at the peak of Elite level. But since you were in such a hurry and couldnt wait that long, I broke the seal early. That way, it didnt have to keep draining its strength against the seal. Pokemon: Spiritomb (Ghost/Dark) Level: 83 (96) Potential: Purple Ability: Pressure Held Item: None Gender: Male Moves: Night Shade, Confuse Ray, Shadow Sneak, Spite, Payback, Nasty Plot, Hex, Memento, Curse, Sucker Punch, Shadow Ball, Dark Pulse, Hypnosis, Dream Eater TMs: None Egg Moves: Will-O-Wisp, Nightmare, Psychic, Grudge, Pain Split Notes: A Pokmon brimming with endless hatred and grudges. Its Ghost-type moves are boosted by 30%. --- *, Julian glared at the Celebi hiding in his clothes. The black mist began to form features resembling a mouth and eyes. Within the swirling darkness, Julian could faintly see countless souls writhing in agony, their cries echoing in his mind. Spiritomb wasnt a mythical or legendary Pokmon. It was just an ordinary Pokmonbut its rarity was on par with mythical and legendary Pokmon. This was because the conditions for Spiritombs creation were unbelievably harsh. Legends said that a Spiritomb was formed by the union of 108 souls. The balance of good and evil among these souls determined the Pokmons alignment. If the majority of the souls were malevolent, the Spiritomb would become a vessel of evil. A darkened Spiritomb was ten times more dangerous than a purified one. Fifty years ago, a corrupted Spiritomb appeared in the Pyramid Kingdom. Despite having mid-Elite strength, it managed to kill a peak pseudo-Champion-level trainer and seven or eight Elite trainers. Its power was truly unreasonable. The Spiritomb in front of Julian was at the early pseudo-Champion stage, but its actual strength might rival a mid-pseudo-Champion. Additionally, its Ghost-type moves had a 30% power boost. Julian had initially thought this boost was some unique ability of his own. Now he realized that he had been entirely mistaken. Having been sealed for over a century, Spiritomb unleashed its endless fury, wearing an expression of twisted satisfaction. After all, being confined underground in utter darkness for so long made the fresh air above ground seem heavenly. Cel~ While Spiritomb was enjoying the open air, Celebi let out a soft cry. Celebi: Has this guy gone stupid from being locked up for too long? Spiritomb, engrossed in enjoying the world outside, had not even noticed Julian and Dragonite. It seemed preoccupied with thoughts of devouring thousands of souls to satisfy its hunger. Then, out of nowhere, it heard a voice. The voice wasnt loud, but it was crystal clear, carrying a sense of familiarity. Spiritomb turned toward the source of the sound and saw a familiar figure. Celebi: Yoo! Long time no see! Celebi waved at it with a friendly, almost brotherly expression. Spiritomb, however, was flooded with memories of being sealed by Celebi. Sear?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It recalled how Celebi had borrowed the power of an entire forest to trap it underground, leaving it to rot in eternal darkness for over a century. Its strength had fallen from Champion level to its current pseudo-Champion state. The thought of those endless, miserable years made its body tremble with rage. The intensity of Spiritomb''s aura was so overwhelming that Julian could barely breathe. Celebi: Youre trembling. Are you cold? Julian: Shut up! Spiritomb: IM GOING TO KILL YOU! /ReduxMagister Chapter 305: Three Vs One Chapter 305: Three Vs OneNew grudges and old resentments surged together as Spiritomb lunged at Julian and Celebi, its trailing black mist twisting into a sinister shadow. The shadow zipped across the ground like a bolt of lightning, covering a hundred meters in the blink of an eye. It was almost upon Julian when Dragonite stepped forward just in time to intercept. The ghostly shadow struck Dragonite, forcing it back dozens of meters despite its Elite-level strength. Fortunately, the time it bought allowed Julian to move to safety. Metagross! Alakazam! Without hesitation, Julian released Metagross and Alakazam, the latter being a Pokmon at the peak of the Elite tier. Now, with Metagross, Alakazam, and Dragonite, the three Pokmon formed a circle around Spiritomb. Spiritombs sheer power left Julian with no choice but to resort to a three-on-one strategy. If his other Pokmon had been stronger, he wouldnt have hesitated to send them out as well. Hey, arent you going to help? He glared at Celebi, who sat in his arms with a carefree expression, clearly unwilling to contribute despite its mid-Elite-level strength. Celebi: Arent I just here to look cute? Seeing Celebis big, dark-circled eyes staring innocently at him, Julian sighed. Fine, you dont have to fight, but youre responsible for keeping me safe. Given the potential devastation of the battle, Julian figured that having an Elite-level Celebi as his personal protector was a decent fallback plan. Celebi: Your life is in my capable hands. Looking at Celebis confident demeanor, Julian suddenly felt like he might have made a questionable decision. Spiritomb, meanwhile, stared at the three Pokmon surrounding it. None of them exceeded the Elite tier, with the strongest merely at its peak. Its face twisted into a sneer. Spiritomb: Ill devour your souls first, then kill that human and Celebi. The malevolent Pokmons gaze lingered on the three Pokmon with greed, especially Metagross. Consuming their high-quality souls would significantly restore its power. Julian, unfazed by its taunts, responded decisively. Metagross, Mega Evolve! A burst of dazzling rainbow light surrounded Metagross, transforming it into Mega Metagross. Its strength surged from level 70, on the cusp of Elite, to level 72, firmly within the Elite range. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After Mega Evolving, Metagross and Alakazam seemed to share an unspoken understanding. Both unleashed , their high intelligence synchronizing their efforts perfectly. As Spiritomb was momentarily restrained by their combined attack, Dragonite charged forward, unleashing a devastating brimming with violent Dragon-type energy. However, the moment of triumph was short-lived. Black mist erupted from Spiritombs body, shattering the Psychic restraints in an instant. Ten ghostly blue appeared around Spiritomb, swirling ominously. Three intercepted , obliterating the attack in mid-air. Three more surged toward Mega Metagross, while the remaining four targeted Alakazam. Alakazam and Mega Metagross reacted swiftly, teleporting away before the could strike. Yet, the ghostly flames didnt dissipate. Instead, they veered toward Julian. Alakazam reappeared instantly, erecting a series of to block the approaching . One by one, the barriers shattered under the relentless assault. Meanwhile, Mega Metagross teleported behind Spiritomb, forming a crescent-shaped with its claws. The attack landed squarely on Spiritomb, but the damage appeared minimal. The pain from the caused Spiritomb to lose control of its , triggering an abrupt explosion. Alakazam quickly used again, shielding Julian from the blasts aftermath. Dragonite reentered the fray, its fist charged with crackling electricity. It aimed a devastating straight at Spiritomb, intending to smash it flat. Spiritombs dark mist flared once more, condensing into a massive black arm that caught Dragonites fist mid-swing. No matter how much force Dragonite exerted, it couldnt break free. In the next moment, Dragonite''s body was lifted up by the Black arm, and then smashed down. The ground trembled violently as Dragonite was driven into the earth. Spiritomb didnt stop there. A , inky black and swirling with the anguished screams of countless souls, began to form at its mouth. In just a few short exchanges, the power displayed by this early-stage pseudo-champion Spiritomb rivaled that of a mid-stage pseudo-champion. The , imbued with eerie malevolence, carried the potential to inflict damage beyond the physicalperhaps even harming Dragonites very soul. Alakazam, Metagross!" Almost before he finished speaking, Alakazam and Mega Metagross closed in on Spiritomb from either side. Alakazam unleashed a , while Mega Metagross fired a powerful . To avoid being hit, Spiritomb would have to release Dragonite. But this Spiritomb no longer followed conventional logic. Its black mist surged once more, swallowing both attacks. At the same moment, the fully charged struck Dragonite, sending its massive frame flying. Tendrils of black mist began seeping into Dragonite through its nose and mouth. Julian didnt know exactly what the mist was, but it was definitely not a good thing. Celebi in Julian''s arms, gave him the answer. Celebi: "Its trying to take control of Dragonite." Dragonite, dazed and groggy, felt as though it were trapped in a dream. A sinister voice echoed in its mind: Dragonite staggered to its feet, its eyes now clouded by a gray energy. Celebi: "Not goodDragonites already under its control!" Julian could feel the fluctuations in Dragonite''s body. Something unseen was trying to suppress it, though Dragonite''s Aura was fighting it fiercely. So now Dragonite was just standing there, not doing anything. The voice echoed relentlessly in Dragonites mind and the image of Julian grew larger and larger in its vision as the voice repeated: Dragonite: "Annoying!" With a defiant roar, the massive reserves of Dragon energy it had absorbed from the Dragon Pool began to boil. The energy, long dormant and hidden within its body, now surged forth explosively. The Dragon energy erupted in a wild torrent, shattering the black mist clinging to its body. Spiritombs attempt to control Dragonite was forcibly severed, the ghostly influence dissipating entirely. Harnessing this unleashed power, Dragonites body became enveloped in an emerald glow. It transformed into a colossal dragon, diving from the skies with ferocious momentum. A huge sense of oppression descended from the air, the whole space became extremely heavy, and at the same time, the violent dragon energy filled the space. The ground below Spiritomb continued to shatter under the pressure. Shrill screeches erupted from the black mist surrounding Spiritomb, forming into a concentrated . The black wave clashed violently with Dragonites , but the dragons attack tore through the dark wave, scattering it like dust. In Spiritomb''s eyes, Dragonite''s body continued to enlarge, it surged more black mist in desperation, but Mega Metagross and Alakazam also attacked it at the same time. /ReduxMagister Chapter 306: Don’t Worry, I Won’t Die Chapter 306: Dont Worry, I Wont DieDragonite: Dragon Rush Mega Metagross: Steel Beam Alakazam: Psyshock As Dragonite broke through Spiritomb''s barrier with its , the moves from Mega Metagross and Alakazam followed closely behind. The attacks from the three Pokmon landed on Spiritomb almost simultaneously. A blinding light engulfed Spiritomb, its intensity shrinking into a sphere about three meters in diameter after just a few breaths. The next moment, a massive burst of energy erupted from the sphere. "BOOOM!!!" With a deafening sound, the ground cracked open, the world seemed to flip, and a massive mushroom cloud rose skyward. The terrifying shockwave ripped through everything in its path like a hurricane. Rocks were quickly disintegrated into fine sand within the blast, and trees were uprooted entirely. Three hundred meters, five hundred meters, one kilometer, two kilometersthe shockwave continued spreading outward. It finally dissipated after reaching approximately five kilometers. sea??h th Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian had been whisked into the sky by Celebi at the critical momentthis time, the little creature proved to be reliable. From above, the devastation below was clear: an area within three kilometers had suffered varying degrees of destruction. At the epicenter, a massive crater had formed, as though struck by a meteorite. In the middle of the crater stood Dragonite, panting heavily. Thanks to the sudden burst of dragon energy accumulated from the Dragon Pool within its body, Dragonites had reached the terrifying power of an mid-stage pseudo-Champion-level attack. However, the drawback of this enormous power was the consumption of most of the energy Dragonite had painstakingly stored from its last visit to the Dragon Pool. Julians heart ached terriblythis was Dragon Pool''s energy, something that couldnt be measured by money. Mega Metagross appeared beside Dragonite, looking a little displeased. Metagross: "Are you trying to steal my position?" That last attack from Dragonite made Metagross feel like its status was being threatened, especially since Dragonite had already become an Elite-tier Pokmon before it did. And then, Metagross remembered Julian. Metagross: "So... love really does fade, huh?" Julian had a petty streak, and it seemed his Metagross wasnt immune to picking up on that trait. Is it dead? There was no sign of Spiritomb in the crater, but Julian didnt believe the combined attack of the three Pokmon had been enough to kill it. Given Spiritombs displayed strength and its weird abilities, it wasnt an opponent that could be defeated so easily. Celebi shook its head: "Nope, not dead." As if to confirm Celebis words, black mist began rising from the crater. Moments later, the Odd Keystone floated upward slowly. Seeing Spiritomb emerge unscathed, Julian was stunned. But he quickly noticed that the black mist surrounding Spiritomb had thinned compared to before. About a third of the black mist seemed to have dissipated. Does that mean itll die if all the black mist is gone? Julian asked. Celebi: No, you have to break the Keystone. The Keystone is its true body. As long as it remains intact, Spiritomb can revive by absorbing enough souls. "However, as the black mist decreases, its strength will also weaken. Celebi added. Julian noticed this too. Spiritombs level had dropped from 83 to 81. While still a pseudo-Champion, its threat level had noticeably decreased. On the other hand, Dragonite, though still standing, was unable to move for the time being. Had it not been for its strong physique, the earlier pseudo-Champion-level would have shattered its body. Julian pulled out a Pok Ball, intending to recall Dragonite, but a wisp of black mist blocked the red beam. Spiritombs gaze toward Dragonite was filled with intense hatred. Its form turned into a shadowy streak, darting through Dragonites chest. The speed was so fast that neither Mega Metagross nor Alakazam had time to react. Dragonite felt its strength draining rapidly. Its eyelids grew heavier, and in the distance, it seemed to hear its trainers voice. Dragonite!! Julians eyes widened in despair. He could sense Dragonites aura weakening rapidly. If its aura disappeared completely, it would mean Dragonites life had reached its end. META!!! Seeing Dragonite collapse, Mega Metagrosss fury erupted like a volcano. Its eyes turned blood red. Though it had been jealous of Dragonite for becoming an Elite-tier Pokmon first and even felt Julian favored Dragonite more, their bond remained unshaken. With overwhelming rage, it charged at Spiritomb with a as powerful as a speeding train. In an earth-shattering clash, Mega Metagross slammed Spiritomb forward, crushing everything in its pathtrees, rocks, nothing could withstand its onslaught. Dragonite! Julian rushed to Dragonites side and immediately administered a Max Revive. However, the Max Revive, which was usually a miracle cure, had no effect this time. Dragonites aura continued to weaken. Panic overtook Julian. He was at a loss for what to do. Celebi flew out from his clothes and said, Its soul is being devoured. It wont be long before it dies. Hearing this, Julian roared, Shut up! Ill save him! He frantically searched the systems shop for a solution. Whether it was labeled as soul, spirit, or essence, it all referred to the same thing. Finally, he found it: a soul restoration item costing 50,000 points. Julians current points were just barely over 50,000. Just as Julian was about to grit his teeth and purchase the item, Celebi spoke up, I can heal him. Then hurry up and do it!! Julian shouted. He couldnt believe Celebi was wasting time talking when it could act instead. Celebi nodded and floated up to Dragonites forehead, gently pressing its antenna against the center of Dragonites forehead. Within moments, Julian noticed that Dragonites aura had stopped deteriorating. Slowly but steadily, it began to strengthen again. After about half a minute, Dragonites aura returned to its normal state. Celebi stopped its healing, but the effort took a toll, and its small body collapsed midair. Julian instinctively caught it. Celebi: Dont worry. I wont die. Dont cry. Julian hadnt even voiced his concern yet, but Celebis words silenced himand the emotions welling up in his heart. Celebi: "But I''m so tired now, I want to sleep." With that, its head lolled to the side, and it fell fast asleep. Julian gently placed the unconscious Dragonite back into its Pok Ball and tucked the sleeping Celebi into his backpack. Hearing the distant sounds of battle, he turned to Alakazam. Take me over there. Alakazam, ever vigilant at his side, nodded and used to bring Julian to the battlefield where Mega Metagross and Spiritomb were fighting. Fueled by the near-loss of its partner, Mega Metagross had almost completely lost its reason. The fury that consumed it drove its power to terrifying new heights. For the moment, it was overpowering Spiritomb. A relentless barrage of attacks left Spiritomb with no option but to defend. Even the rare attempts at counterattacks were swiftly neutralized. /ReduxMagister Chapter 307: Eat Chapter 307: Eat"Calm down, Dragonite is fine." Julian''s voice echoed deep into Mega Metagross''s mind. The bloodlust in its crimson eyes gradually subsided, and clarity began to return. However, because of Julian''s reminder, Mega Metagross'' continuous offensive came to a halt, giving Spiritomb a chance to catch its breath. But Spiritomb had forgotten one crucial detailAlakazam was still in the fight. The moment Mega Metagross paused its attack, Alakazams struck. Spiritombs opportunity to recover vanished instantly. Though only restrained Spiritomb for less than half a second, it was enough time for Mega Metagross to execute . The move, shimmering with a rainbow glow, carved a deadly arc through the air, sending a chill down Spiritombs core. As the powerful Steel-type energy collided with Spiritomb, it exploded with overwhelming force, accompanied by a tremendous impact. The ground shook violently, and countless cracks split the earth with a deafening rumble. Jagged rocks protruded upward, only to be swallowed back into the expanding fissures. Spiritomb let out a tragic scream as dark mist dissipated from its body in waves. It wasnt until the energy of the had fully faded that Spiritombs cries ceased. Its level also dropped from 81 to 78, officially falling to the Elite tier. Sensing its strength diminish further, the black mist around Spiritomb''s head morphed into ghostly faces. Each face expressed a different emotion: rage, sorrow, joy, despair, pleading, and other emotions. The ghostly faces transformed into shadows that surged toward Julian, Mega Metagross, and Alakazam. Spiritomb: "Die. All of you, die." This appeared to be Spiritombs trump card. However, using this move caused its level to plummet further, from 78 to 75. The shadows resembled the attack Spiritomb had used earlier to pierce Dragonite. If they connected, they wouldnt harm the bodythey would target the soul. Mega Metagross instinctively rushed toward Julian, but was stopped by him. "Lucario, Mega Evolve!" Julian called out Lucario and triggered its Mega Evolution immediately. This is also the first time Julian has used dual Mega Evolution in a battle. Upon Mega Evolving, Lucarios level surged from 67 to 71. As the shadows closed in, Mega Lucarios Aura flared up, forming a barrier that intercepted them. While fending off Spiritomb directly would have been challenging, these shadows posed no issue for Mega Lucario. At the same time, both Mega Metagross and Alakazam erupted with powerful psychic energy. Sarch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian: "Kill it for me" Once the shadows completely vanished, Julian locked eyes on Spiritomb with an unyielding gaze, ready to end the fight. Mega Metagross and Alakazam simultaneously unleashed , while Mega Lucario hurled an . The combined Psychic attacks shredded most of the dark aura surrounding Spiritombs keystone. The hit the Odd keystone directly, but despite the intensity of the attack, the keystone remained unscathed. "Meteor Mash!" Mega Metagross teleported in front of Spiritomb and brought down a with earth-shattering force. The ground split open once again, yet the Odd keystone did not break. "Keep going," Julian said coldly. If one punch wasnt enough, then ten punches, a hundred punchesit would be crushed eventually. had a chance of increasing attack power with each use, meaning that the longer this went on, the stronger the punches became. Spiritomb was completely out of options. Its dark mist had nearly dissipated, and its level had fallen all the way from pseudo-Champion to that of an Elite. Yet, despite the relentless onslaught of from Mega Metagross, the Odd keystone didnt crack. Not even a speck of stone chipped off. Spiritomb: "You cannot kill me." As long as the Odd keystone remained intact, Spiritomb could resurrect indefinitely. Stop Julian walked over, staring at the Odd keystone in disbelief. He didn''t expect it would be this hard to break. By now, Spiritombs dark mist had completely disappeared, leaving only its dormant Odd keystone behind. Without absorbing more souls, Spiritomb would remain in its deep slumber indefinitely. And as long as the Odd keystone was unbroken, it would never truly die. Even Mega Metagross couldnt shatter the Odd keystone, so none of his other Pokmon would stand a chance either. Julian activated his and examined the Odd keystone. To his surprise, the information displayed had changed. [Odd Keystone: A soul crystal born of the natural energies of the world, infused with wandering souls, forming the unique Pokmon Spiritomb.] [Note: In its current state, the Odd Keystone can be absorbed by Ghost-type Pokmon.] The no longer registered it as Spiritomb but as an itemand a highly valuable one at that. "Can be absorbed by Ghost-types..." Julian trusted the completely. Without hesitation, he took out Haunters Pok Ball. Haunter emerged, ready to greet Julian with a , but froze when it spotted the Odd keystone lying half a meter away. This stone is for Julian expected Haunter to stop mid-action, but before he could finish his sentence, its tongue had already shot out, landing squarely on him, and the next second a familiar feeling of numbness came up. "Meta~" Mega Metagross gave Haunter a disapproving look. This little troublemaker was always pushing boundaries. Didnt it know its trainer had a knack for attracting bad luck? Using like that was practically a guaranteed paralysis. Eat this stone. Julian said irritably after shaking off the paralysis with a berry. Haunter seemed unfazed by his annoyance and gleefully swallowed the Odd keystone in one gulp. After finishing, it smacked its lips, looking disappointed. Haunter: "Didnt taste like much." Mega Metagross: "Youre glowing." The moment Haunter devoured the Odd keystone, a bright light enveloped its bodythe unmistakable glow of evolution. Julian''s expression lit up with interest. Haunter evolving into Gengar typically required a trade. However, it was also said that some Haunter could evolve naturally if they lived long enough or encountered unique circumstances. As the light faded, a white Gengar stood before Julian, standing at about 1.7 meters tall. Its blood-red eyes, paired with its pure white body, gave it a strikingly cool appearance rather than an eerie one. Gengar! The newly evolved Gengar let out a playful laugh as it inspected its transformed body. It hadnt even been a few days since evolving into Haunter, and now it was already a Gengar. The once weightless Haunter was now a solid Gengar, tangible and grounded. Gastly and Haunter, being gaseous Pokmon, practically had no weight, but Gengars form weighed in at a solid 45.9 kilograms. This was an old joke among trainers: if a Haunter ate a Clefable, it would turn into a Gengar. After all, aside from their color, Clefable and Gengar shared a striking resemblance in body shape, height, and even overall proportionsit was a comparison that was hard to ignore. /ReduxMagister Chapter 308: Back To University Chapter 308: Back To UniversityPokmon: Gengar (Ghost/Poison) Level: 50 Potential: Purple Ability: Cursed Body S~ea??h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Item: Toxic Orb Gender: Male Moves: Confuse Ray, Lick, Hypnosis, Mean Look, Imprison, Payback, Curse, Hex, Night Shade TMs: Screech, Spite, Venoshock, Sludge Bomb, Sleep Talk, Protect, Fire Punch, Shadow Ball, Thunderbolt Egg Moves: Skill Swap, Dark Pulse, Disable, Perish Song, Poltergeist, Will-O-Wisp Note: Ghost-type moves get a 30% power boost. --- After consuming the Odd keystone, Gengar''s stats underwent significant changes. Its level jumped from 38 to 50, and its Ghost-type moves received a notable boost. Looking at the comical, chubby Pokmon in front of him, Julian asked, "Have you finished absorbing the Odd keystone?" Gengar shook its head. Reaching into its stomach with one arm, it pulled out the keystone, which had noticeably shrunk in size. Gengar seemed reluctant to let it go, thinking Julian wanted to take it back. Its sulky expression was almost tearfulafter all, now that it realized how valuable the keystone was. The changes in its strength and form were undoubtedly due to it. "I''m not taking it. It''s yours." Julian said angrily, helpless at Gengar''s overreaction. Gengars playful nature had been evident since it was a Gastly and Haunter, but its evolution into Gengar seemed to have amplified its mischievous streak. Delighted, Gengar quickly stuffed the Odd keystone back into its stomach. Its belly, which served as its own personal storage space, could hold many itemsessentially functioning like a backpack. However, the more items stored, the slower Gengar could move. The white Gengars appearance was undeniably striking, perfectly matching Julian''s aesthetic preferences. He patted Gengars round belly, its soft texture reminding him of Dragonites plump stomach. Recalling Alakazam into its Pok Ball, Julian then turned to Gengar, ready to do the same. However, Gengar merged into Julians shadow, disappearing from sight. Gengar could hide in shadows, a signature trait of its species. Normally, this would cause the surrounding temperature to drop due to the Ghost-types presence. However, Julians Gengar had an exceptional ability: absolute invisibility. It neither absorbed heat nor left traces, making it undetectable. Julians eyes lit up as he gazed at his shadow. A Gengar hiding there was the perfect tool for ambush. While other trainers Gengar could also hide in shadows, they lacked this unique invisibility and would inevitably give themselves away by lowering the surrounding temperature. Metagross, Lets go Julian rode on Metagross, heading to find Luis and the Survey team. He figured they wouldnt have gone far yet. Celebi was still asleep in his backpack. Using his , Julian had checked its conditionit had overexerted its psychic energy saving Dragonite, and now needed rest to recover. When it would wake up was uncertain, as it depended on how quickly its psychic energy replenished. By mid-afternoon the next day, Julian finally caught up with Luis and the Survey team. These people moved faster than hed expected. Brother Walker! Luis called out as Julian and Metagross landed in front of their group. Where did you and Celebi go? Was the battle sounds we heard yesterday you fighting some Pokmon? The battle with Spiritomb had taken place in the central region of the White Mountain Range. The fight had been so intense that even Luis and the others, who were in the middle section, had heard the noise. Theyd even seen the sky above that area turn pitch black. Such an eerie scene inevitably made them connect the dots between the chaos and Julian with Celebi. Yeah. Julian nodded lightly, offering no further explanation. However, Luis was clearly not satisfied. His curiosity burned, especially since the incident involved Celebi, a mythical Pokmon. Dont ask. Even if you do, I wont tell you. Julian said, glancing at him. His words effectively killed both Shens and Daltons curiosity too. Student Julian, where is Celebi now? Professor Allen asked, noticing that Celebi wasnt with Julian. I helped it with something, and now its gone back, Julian replied casually. There was no way hed tell them Celebi was sound asleep in his backpack. Boss Walker, why didnt you catch it? Dalton asked, a hint of regret in his tone. Mythical Pokmon were incredibly rare and hard to come by. Celebi seemed to have a good relationship with Julian, making his chances of capturing it the highest. What would I even do with it? It never shuts up, Julian said rather disgusted. If he actually captured Celebi, it might annoy him to the point of shaving years off his life. Alright, lets go. Julian said, cutting off their curiosity with a wave of his hand. Under his lead, the group spent more than half a month traversing the White Mountain Range. Along the way, they encountered several wild Pokmon, but they were all dealt with swiftly. After parting ways with the Survey team, Julian, Luis, Shen, and Dalton returned to the university without delay. Back at Villa No. 1, Julian was lying lazily on a recliner in the backyard. Ever since the Hundred Schools League had begun, hed been busy nonstop. This brief rest at home was his only real downtime in a long while. Next to Julians recliner were some snacks, while beside him was another recliner occupied by Gengar. Sporting a pair of sunglasses, it was soaking up the afternoon sun with a bottle of chilled soda by its side. Despite being a junior on the team, Gengar didnt show even a hint of humility. This carefree attitude was something even Metagross had never dared to display. Speaking of Metagross, it was fast asleep in one corner of the yard. Dragonite and Melmetal were lying beside it, with Celebi on Dragonite''s stomach. Nearly 20 days had passed, yet Celebi showed no signs of waking up. Julian had placed it on Dragonites belly, letting it bask in the sun. Being a Grass-type Pokmon, a little sunshine was bound to do it some good. Meanwhile, the newest addition to the team, Gabite, was busy seeking Lucarios advice on fighting techniques. As the teams rookie, Gabites fighting spirit was off the charts. Over the past few weeks, it had challenged every Pokmon on Julians team, only to lose each and every match. Its rank on the teams power scale was firmly at the bottom. This dealt a heavy blow to Gabites pride, so it trained diligently every day to close the gap. Dragonite had mentioned that eating more Pokblocks could help boost strength, and Gabite had taken this advice to heart. It now ate far beyond its usual limitone and a half boxes daily instead of just one. Steelix watched the hard-working Gabite with an amused grin. Meanwhile, Growlithe used his body as a slide. Its uneven, rocky surface seemed like a terrible choice for a slide, but Growlithe didnt seem to mind. It enthusiastically slid down again and again, unconcerned about the potential toll on its backside. Aggron, with its towering frame resembling a small mountain, cast a long shadow as the sun shifted in the sky. Gengar grinned mischievously, vanishing into the kitchen. It was on a mission to sneak a taste of the meal Slowking was preparing. /ReduxMagister Chapter 309: Growlithe Chapter 309: GrowlitheIn a large dog park in the Imperial City, Julian stood holding a frisbee in his hand. In front of him, Growlithe panted with its tongue out, eagerly eyeing the frisbee. As Julian threw the frisbee, Growlithe shot off like a red streak, racing after it at lightning speed. Just before the frisbee hit the ground, it leapt up and caught it in its mouth. Growlithe then brought the frisbee back to Julian, looking up at him expectantly for another round. The dog park was filled with all kinds of canine PokmonGrowlithe, Poochyena, Mightyena, Snubbull, Granbull, Houndour, Houndoom, Herdier, Stoutland, and more. Every type of dog-like Pokmon could be spotted here. Even Pokmon resembling dogs, like Absol and Manectric, were present. An aloof Absol sighed quietly when its Trainer threw a ball and looked at it with hopeful eyes, expecting it to fetch. Reluctantly, Absol turned and retrieved the ball. Lets play a little longer, and then well head back. Julian said as he pulled a ball from his pocket. Theyd been playing with the frisbee for a while, so it was time for a change. Julian had promised Growlithe a visit to the dog park long ago, but various things had delayed their outing. Now that he finally had some free time, he decided to bring the energetic Pokmon here for some fun. Grow!~ Growlithe nodded and wagged its tail enthusiastically, but Julian doubted it was really listening to him. The last time he brought it here, Growlithe had flat-out refused to leave when it was time to go home. Julian had to recall it into its Pok Ball to get it to settle down. Although Growlithe was a rare Pokmon, this parkthe largest in the Imperial Cityhad other Growlithe as well. There were even a few Arcanine roaming around. However, compared to Growlithes boundless energy and playful nature, the evolved Arcanine were much more composed. Youve raised your Growlithe well, and its even a shiny one. A fellow Trainer commented as Growlithe returned with the ball, dropping it at Julians feet. The Trainer, who also had a Growlithe by his side, approached Julian, admiring his Pokmon. Yours isnt bad either. Julian replied, glancing at the other Trainers Growlithe. Its Cyan potential, sleek fur, and sharp gaze marked it as an exceptional Pokmon. Thanks for the compliment. The Trainer said, clearly pleased. Being praised by someone with a Growlithe as outstanding as Julians was no small thing. Nice to meet you, Im Kai. The Trainer said, extending his hand. Julian, he replied, shaking Kais hand. A pleasure to meet you. Kai said, realizing something. He glanced at Julian, who wore a mask, and then at the red Growlithe. Kai had been wondering if there was another Trainer in the Imperial City with a shiny red Growlithe. Now he knew the answer. "How about a battle?" Kai suggested. "No" Julian refused immediately, shaking his head without even asking for details. He wasnt in the mood for battles right now, nor for any other competitions. Kai was slightly taken aback but soon chuckled lightly. "Alright, forget it, then." Sar?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Growlithe, were heading back," Julian called. After throwing the ball a few more times, Julian checked the time and decided it was about time to leave. "Grow!~" As expected, Growlithe didnt want to leave so soon. "If you dont come with me, Ill take you to the cat park next time," Julian threatened. Naturally, where there was a dog park, there was also a cat park, conveniently located right next door. Perhaps due to their inherent rivalry, cats and dogs rarely got along. It was much like the rivalry between Fearow and Pidgeot, or Zangoose and Seviperthey were natural adversaries. Even if the same Trainer owned both, theyd often end up fighting every time they met. Hearing Julians words, Growlithe immediately backed down. It wasnt afraid of cats, but dealing with a lot of cats was a different story. As Julian and Growlithe walked away, Kai opened his mouth as if to say something but ultimately decided against it. "Were both dog lovers and even exchanged names. Cant we just chat for a bit? Walking off without saying anything." "No wonder people from other families say he is hard to get along with," Kai muttered to himself. With Julians aloof personality, it was almost impossible to hold a normal conversation with him unless you were as outgoing as Luis or as thick-skinned as Dalton. After leaving the dog park, Julian didnt recall Growlithe into its Pok Ball. The Imperial University was about a thirty-minute walk away, and since Growlithe still had energy to burn, Julian decided to let it walk with him. Growlithe, being a small Pokmon, was perfectly suited for walking on city streets. The streets were filled with other small Pokmon as well. Growlithes unusual coloring caught quite a bit of attention along the way. Some people even approached Julian to ask if the Growlithe was for sale, casually offering starting prices in the hundred millions. There was no shortage of wealthy individuals in the Imperial City, which was also a hub for prestigious families. Naturally, Julian turned them all down. After being rejected, they didnt press the issue or resort to threats or force. Such irrational behavior was the stuff of novels, not reality. In a city as mixed and complex as the Imperial City, making trouble without knowing someones background could easily backfire. And really, would someone with a shiny Pokmon be an ordinary person? "Ice creamsecond serving half price!" As they passed an ice cream shop, Growlithe suddenly stopped in its tracks. Dogs cant eat sweetstheyll die, Julian said sternly, trying to put on a serious face. "Grow!~" Growlithe responded with a defiant bark, clearly stating, From the shadow at Julians feet, a small hand emerged, tugging at his pant legit was Gengar, signaling it wanted some too. Two, please, Julian sighed. Right away, sir. In no time, the server handed him two chocolate ice creams. Julian passed one to Growlithe and the other to the Gengar hiding in his shadow. And get me the most expensive one. "Grow!~" Growlithe: "Youre the real dog here." Seeing Growlithes grumpy expression, Julian couldnt help but chuckle. Even the server found their interaction amusing and smiled as she prepared the priciest ice cream on the menu. Hey, cutie, can I get your number? No, Julian replied flatly, rejecting the fifth woman that day to ask for his contact information. The shiny Growlithe walking by his side had undoubtedly made him the most eye-catching person on the street. It was as if he had the words ''Im loaded'' written across his forehead. Nowadays, the way to turn heads wasnt flashy cars, luxury villas, or high-end watchesit was owning rare Pokmon. A rare and powerful Pokmon was the ultimate status symbol. As he bit into the expensive ice cream, Julian noted the rich, creamy flavor. It was, admittedly, quite good. "Grow!~" Growlithe: "Is it tasty?" Julian: Nope. Not tasty at all. Watching Julian take bite after bite while claiming it wasnt good, Growlithe concluded that its Trainer was the ''real'' dog here. /ReduxMagister Chapter 310: Arcanine Chapter 310: ArcanineThree months flew by, and now it was February 2023. Winter in the capital was bitterly cold, with average temperatures hovering around -10C. Julian had just completed the first semester of his freshman year and was now in the second semester. In the villa''s spacious living room, Julian sipped on coffee brewed by Slowking. Its coffee-making skills were even better than those of a professional barista. Outside the window, snow fell steadily, blanketing the world in white. It had been snowing for four days straight, but there wasnt much snow accumulated in the yard. The credit for that went to the Arcanine venting its energy outside. As it ran, waves of heat radiated from its body. The snow never even reached the ground, melting into droplets before falling as rain. Pokmon: Arcanine (Fire) Level: 62 Sar?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Potential: Blue Ability: Flash Fire Held Item: Charcoal Gender: Male Moves: Leer, Ember, Howl, Bite, Flame Wheel, Helping Hand, Agility, Extreme Speed, Reversal, Flamethrower, Crunch, Fire Fang, Roar, Retaliate, Play Rough, Take Down TMs: Protect, Fire Spin, Hyper Beam, Dig, Sunny Day, Giga Impact, Heat Wave, Wild Charge, Psychic Fangs, Blast Burn Egg Moves: Flare Blitz, Overheat, Double-Edge, Outrage Note: Fire-type moves'' power is increased by 20%. --- A little over a month ago, Growlithe had fully absorbed the Fire Crystal within its body. With the help of the top-grade Fire Stone Julian gave it, it finally evolved into an Arcanine. Thanks to the absorbed Fire Crystal, Arcanines Fire-type moves became noticeably stronger. Its coloration remained red, unaffected by the crystals disappearance. While it wasnt a true Shiny Pokmon, it retained the rare appearance of one, albeit without the unique abilities. Outside in the yard, it wasnt just Arcanine. Steelix was there tooits towering height prevented it from entering the villa, and it wasnt keen on returning to its Pokball. So, it stayed outside, just like Aggron. Slowking, wheres Celebi? Dont tell me its still sleeping, Julian grumbled. Slow~ Slowking nodded, confirming his suspicion. Go wake it up already! Youre spoiling it too much. It gets to sleep in and skip breakfast, but I cant?! Julians face filled with envy and frustration as he muttered the last part. Slowking: "Its different" Yeah, sure. Different because it eats, sleeps, and drinks all day, Julian retorted with a sneer. Slowking: "Its still young" Two hundred years old and still young? Two hundred years ago, my ancestors were young! As they chatted, a green blur descended gracefully from the second floor and landed skillfully on Julian''s head. But before it could settle, Julian grabbed it the next second. Celebi: "You were bad-mouthing me just nowI heard it." "So what? Was I wrong? Just look at you! In two months, you''ve managed to grow a little belly!" Celebi had woken up two months ago. Julian had told it to rest for a while before leaving, though he clearly had other motives for keeping it around. The naive Celebi believed him, and after a short rest, it decided to stay. Between the delicious food Slowking cooked, the energy cubes and snacks Julian provided, and addictive games like ''Pokmon Glory'', it couldnt bring itself to leave. Julian poked at Celebi''s tiny belly with his finger. Sure enough, a small pouch had formed. You might just be the first Celebi in history with a belly. Instead of feeling embarrassed, Celebi puffed out its chest proudly. Celebi: "I got chubby because you take such good care of me." Julians lips twitched at its response. Who would have thought that the mighty guardian of the forest, a mythical time-traveling Pokmon, would succumb to food and gaming? Slowking, no more snacks for Celebi. Look at what its turned into! Its all junk food and processed treats, Julian said. Celebi was fortunate to be a mythical Pokmon, its physique far superior to that of ordinary Pokmon. Otherwise, any other Pokmon eating human snacks as often as it did would have been malnourished long ago. But Celebi? It only seemed to get plumper. "Slow~" Slowking: "It mainly eats the energy cubes." Slowking wasnt taking the blame. While it doted on Celebi, it still kept the snacks under control. Julian, on the other hand, constantly complained about Celebis eating habits but caved the moment it said Celebi: "Im hungry." Fine, fine. All you ever do is eat. Julian grumbled, glaring at it. He pulled out a high-grade energy cube from his system inventory and handed it over. Slowking: "Case in point." Hurry up and eat. Once you''re done, were queuing for a match, Julian said. Celebi: "I can eat and play at the same time. But this time, Im going for the Top lane." Listen to me. The Top lanes too complicated for youyoure still too green. Ill take it, and you go as a marksman. Ugh, that marksman last night was absolute trash. Celebi: "Says the useless support." Rubbish! It was totally their fault! They were hopeless! Celebi: "Doesnt even buy gems, hogs the marksmans farmhow is that supposed to work?" You dont get it. Every support has the heart of a carry. Celebi: "Heh!" The usual bickering began. Ever since Celebi learned how to play ''Glory'', these arguments had become a regular occurrence. What frustrated Julian the most was that Celebi was better at the game than he was. That little detail stung his pride. Slowking: "Most ''Glory'' players are better than you. Even elementary schoolers." Lucario, get Arcanine in here! Gaming in winter wasnt complete without Arcanine. Soon enough, Arcanine trotted into the house, making itself comfortable in the middle of the living room. Julian immediately sprawled across its warm fur, snuggling closer, while Celebi perched itself on Arcanines head. The steady heat radiating from Arcanines body was the ultimate comfort in the freezing winter. Sure, the house had central heating, air conditioning, and even a fireplace, but none of that compared to cuddling up against Arcanines soft, fluffy fur. Arcanine: Leaning against Arcanine while playing games was the pinnacle of winter luxury. Julian had barely launched the game when a flurry of messages from Luis appeared. At first, Julian ignored them, but the constant notifications became impossible to overlook. Luis: Brother Walker, did you hear? Theres a new ruin discovered in international waters. Luis: Our country already sent two Champions to investigate. Luis: But Celestria also sent two Champions. Luis: Brother Walker, are either of our Champions your grandfather? Luis: Brother Walker, why arent you replying? Luis: Brother Walker, Im calling you! Sighing, Julian realized ignoring Luis wasnt an option anymore. Julian: I know. Im busy! Luis: Busy with what? Need my help? Julian: Send one more message, and Ill have Metagross come flatten you. /ReduxMagister Chapter 311: Assessment Task Chapter 311: Assessment TaskIn this world, the land covers roughly 30% of the planet, while the oceans make up the remaining 70%. As a result, the oceans hold the majority of the planet''s resources. Additionally, the number of secret realms and ruins discovered in the oceans far surpasses those found on land. If a marine area falls under the jurisdiction of a specific country, any secret realm or ruin discovered there naturally belongs to that countrythis is indisputable. However, most of the ocean is unclaimed territory. If a new secret realm or ruin is discovered in these unclaimed waters, it attracts interest from numerous countries. For beginner- or intermediate-level secret realms, powers like Drakoria or Celestria might not care much. But for advanced or top-level secret realms, competition becomes inevitable. And ruins? They are even rarer than secret realms. Whenever a ruin appears in unclaimed waters, the major powers will absolutely get involvedwithout exception. Secret realms enhance the strength of Pokmon, but ruins offer technological advancements that drive human progress. Items like energy cubes, Pokmon transfer devices, and aptitude detectors were all discoveries from ruins. If a country monopolizes a particular technology, the resulting benefits are immense. To some extent, ruins are even more valuable than top-level secret realms. Luiss chatter didnt concern Julian much. The fight for ruins was a matter far beyond the influence of a small Elite like him. Everything depended on how Drakorias government chose to handle the situation. As snow continued to fall, Julian, Celebi, and Slowking spent the day indoors playing games, with Arcanine serving as a warm backdrop. Another day slipped by, wasted in the virtual world. --- Special Recruitment Class. As the semester progressed, the Special Recruitment Class gained a few new faces. These were students who had successfully challenged their way up from the regular classes through the monthly trials. Being one of the Big Five universities, Imperial University was a fiercely competitive environment, especially within the Special Recruitment Class. Although students in the Special Recruitment Class enjoyed abundant resources from the university and were envied by the regular class, the internal pressure they faced was immense. This was especially true for the bottom three students in the Special Recruitment Class rankings. At the end of each month, they dreaded being challenged by regular class students. Winning was ideal, but losing meant being kicked out of the Special Recruitment Classa humiliation hard to live down. Boss Walker, Shen got challenged again. Dalton said gloating as he spotted Julian walking in. Shen often ranked among the bottom three in the Special Recruitment Class and, as a female trainer, was a frequent target for challenges from the regular class. But every time, Shen managed to defeat her challengers. Isnt Shen ranked 16th in the class? Julian asked, puzzled. Only the bottom three ranked students would be challenged, yet Shen was clearly ranked fourth from the bottom. "Boss Walker, you remembered wrong. That ranking was from last month. This month, she''s 17th," Dalton explained. Sear?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Oh," Julian nodded. The two continued their conversation without any regard for Shen, who was sitting right next to them. She glared at them, fists clenched, clearly tempted to punch both of them. "Hmph, if my Mienshao wasnt on the verge of a breakthrough and unable to battle, I wouldnt be ranked 17th," Shen muttered in frustration. "So, your Mienshao is a pseudo-Elite now?" Julian asked. "Of course! Once it''s ready, Ill teach that challenger a lesson they wont forget." Shen declared, raising her fist with a fierce expression that seemed to say, "Julian," called a clear, feminine voice from the doorway. A beautiful girl appeared at the entrance. She was about 5''9", with fair skin, a stylish short haircut, and delicate features on a petite face. Though her down jacket concealed her figure, it was evident she was well-proportioned. "Boss Walker, your admirer is here again," Dalton teased, winking. Many of the boys in the class looked at Julian enviously. Being pursued by such a stunning woman? Was this the charm of the best young trainer in Drakoria? Julian sighed and walked to the doorway. "Youre persistent, Ill give you that." The girl, Nicole, grinned playfully. "As a researcher, how could I give up when your Pokmon are so fascinating?" Nicole was the granddaughter of Drakorias strongest Champion, Duke. Initially, her interactions with Julian were purely due to her grandfathers interest, but eventually, she became captivated by Julian''s Pokmon. As a student of the research academy, Nicole had never seen a single one of Julians Pokmon that could be described as ordinary. To her, they were perfect research subjects. But Julian adamantly refused to let her study them, so she resorted to pestering him endlessly. Julian: "If I don''t agree, are you just going to keep pestering me?" "Not constantlyI do have other things to do. But whenever Im free, Ill come find you. Of course, you can also choose to ignore me," Nicole replied cheekily. Her words carried the vibe of, It was clear, though, that Nicole had no romantic feelings for Julian, and he felt the same about her. Her sole interest lay in studying his Pokmon. As an outstanding scholar, she was far more drawn to the charm of Pokmon than to the opposite sex. "Fine. If youre free, go to my villa. Ill let Slowking know ahead of time. Most of my Pokmon are there whenever Im on campus," Julian conceded, waving her off. Being constantly followed by one of Imperial Universitys top ten beauties wasnt something Julian considered a blessing. The saying "a beauty that causes disasters" wasn''t just empty talk. "Ill head over right now," Nicole said with a bright smile before quickly leaving. Her steps became faster as she walked away. Julian sighed, pulling out his phone to dial Slowking. "SloW~" Came the calm, familiar reply from the other end. "Slowking, someones coming to study you all. Let her in and cooperate a bit, but make sure Celebi doesnt show up, or it might end up in a lab dissected into pieces." "Slow~" Celebi: "Im way too smart for that!" Julian: "Eavesdropping on phone calls isnt exactly polite, you know." Ending the call, Julian looked up just in time to see their class teacher, Frank, entering the room. All twenty Special Recruitment Class students were presenta rare occurrence. "The biannual assessment tasks are here. The teaching staff and I have assigned each of you different tasks based on your individual abilities." "The details will be sent to your phones shortly." "Remember, tasks must be completed independently. You are not allowed to seek help from others, not even your bodyguard Pokmon." "If youre caught violating this rule, it will result in automatic task failure, and youll lose your place in the Special Recruitment Class." "Naturally, failure to complete the task, regardless of circumstances, will also cost you your spot." "And dont forgettasks must be completed within the set deadline. Exceeding the time limit will count as a failure." The Special Recruitment Class had a rigorous assessment task every six months. Each task''s difficulty was tailored to match the students capabilities. Successfully completing the task meant passing the assessment, while failure meant expulsion from the elite group. For the freshmen, this was their first assessment, and nervous energy filled the room. Many were constantly glancing at their phones, worried about the possibility of being assigned an overly difficult task. /ReduxMagister Chapter 312: Everyone’s Tasks Chapter 312: Everyones TasksAbout twenty minutes after Frank finished speaking, the sound of notifications pinged across the room. Julian glanced at his phoneit was the details of his assigned task. Almost simultaneously, all the students in the Special Recruitment Class looked at their phones, their faces a mix of anticipation and anxiety as they read their upcoming assignments. "It''s over! My task is to capture a mid pseudo-Elite Pokmon in the wild!" a student said bitterly. "That''s nothing. Capturing a mid pseudo-Elite Pokmon isnt even a challenge. Look at mine!" Another students face had turned as sour as a bitter melon. "Whoa, buddy, your task is something else. If you dont make it back, Ill understand," said a classmate, patting him on the shoulder. Though it was meant to be comforting, it felt more like sarcasm. The unfortunate students task read: [Defeat ten freshmen from Shu Universitys Special Recruitment Class.] Given the tense relationship between Shu University and Imperial University, this task seemed practically life-threatening. "Id better start gathering intel on the bottom ten from Shus Special Recruitment Class," the student muttered. Luis, whats your task? Dalton leaned in curiously. "I have to participate in the Ice-Type Tournament hosted in Harbin City and make it to at least the Top 16. Fortunately, only trainers below Elite level are allowed," Luis replied, sounding slightly relieved. What about you? "Pretty similar. I have to participate in the Fighting Tournament next week and also secure a Top 16 spot," Dalton said. "Shen, whats yours?" "Its the same as Daltons, but I only need to make it to the Top 32," Shen replied. "And Ian, what''s wrong with you, why do you look like your Salamence just died?" Hugo tried to hold back his laughter as he said, "His task is to defeat Acacia." Immediately, everyone turned their gaze toward Ian with sympathetic eyes. They all knew Ian and Acacia had been rivals since childhood, and Ian had never won a single match against her. "Dont worry. With your strength, even if you leave the Special Recruitment Class, youll climb back soon enough," Yanis said, barely containing his laughter. Whoever had assigned this task clearly had a wicked sense of humor. "Teacher, Id like to know who came up with my task." Ian asked, clenching his fists and standing up angrily. "Your uncle assigned it. Do you have any objections?" Frank replied nonchalantly. Originally, Ians task was different, but his uncle intervened, insisting, How can a man of the Drake family lose to a woman? And so, this mission was tailored for Ian. "NO!!" Ian roared and sat down unwillingly. "Brother Walker, whats your task?" Luis asked curiously. Many students perked up their ears. As the one hailed as the most talented of Drakorias younger generation, Julians task was bound to be anything but simple. "I have to defeat a national level Gym," Julian replied. With a calm expression, Julian spoke words that shocked everyone around him. I thought being asked to defeat a city-level Gym would already be a big challenge. A national-level Gym? I wouldnt have even dared to imagine that, a student exclaimed in disbelief. Drakoria had a total of 18 national-level Gyms. Each Gym Leader was either at the peak of Elite level or a pseudo-Champion-level trainer. National-level Gyms were entirely different from city-level Gyms. In city-level Gyms, the leaders had a duty to guide challengers, often holding back in battles. Even if a challenger lost, the Gym Leader might still award them a badge out of consideration. But in national-level Gyms, there was no such leniency. If you dared to challenge, they would fight you until you were on your knees. The concept of guidance didnt exist. For a national-level Gym Leader, losing to a challenger was considered a disgrace. If a national-level Gym leader was defeated multiple times in a year, the Trainer Association would question the Gym Leaders abilities. Should the association decide to reevaluate them, failing the evaluation could result in the Gym Leader losing their title. Thus, national-level Gym Leaders treated every challenger with their full strengththere was no such thing as holding back. Earning eight badges from national-level Gyms qualified a trainer to participate in the Elite Challenge held once every four years in Drakoria. These Gyms were the true test of Drakorias Elite trainers, and most challengers were in the late-Elite stage. Mid-Elite challengers were rare, let alone early-Elite trainers like Julian. Brother Walker, how can you be so calm? Luis asked, noticing his unruffled expression, as though the difficulty of his task didnt concern him at all. Could it be that Julian planned to challenge his familys Steel-Type Gym? That wouldnt be impossible since the task didnt specify which national-level Gym to challenge. Even with Boss Walkers strength, taking on a national-level Gym seems... challenging, Dalton said hesitantly, uncertain whether Julian could succeed. Isnt there a national-level Gym in a Province, near the capital? Julian asked. The capital itself had a national-level Dragon-Type Gym, led by a member of the Drake family. However, given Julians good relationship with the Drake family, he didnt want to cause trouble there. Yes, theres a Rock-Type Gym, Luis nodded. Brother Walker, are you planning to challenge that Gym? Yeah, isn''t this one the closest? Julian said, as if it were the most obvious choice. Luis almost wanted to say that the Dragon-Type Gym was even closer, being right in the capital. But recalling Julians ties with the Drake family, he realized why Julian might prefer not to challenge it. Julian had never challenged a Gym before. After all, he followed the academic path, focusing on training through theory and research. Those who relied on Gym challenges and tournaments to improve their skills were considered part of the practical path. The practical path looked down on the academic path, dismissing them as weaklings who couldnt handle real challenges, with their heads full of theories and no grit. Meanwhile, the academic path regarded the practical trainers as fools who hadnt even mastered basic knowledge. However, the two paths ultimately led to the same destination. Academic trainers, after graduating, would eventually step into the practical realm. Similarly, practical trainers often found their lack of theoretical knowledge a bottleneck and would seek out universities to fill in those gaps. The deadline for the tasks is one month. Any delays will count as a failure, so dont drag your feet, Frank warned before leaving the classroom. With the teacher gone, the students gradually filed out, many heading back to their villas to pack and prepare for their assignments. Yanis and Hugo lived in neighboring villas, so they walked back together. Whats your task? Yanis asked. To kill a wanted criminal at the peak of pseud0-Elite level, Hugo replied. The mission actually required the criminal to be captured, but Hugo seemed set on eliminating them outright. Do you think Julian can pull off his task? Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. National Gym Leaders were the cream of the crop among Elite trainers, capable of battling above their level and boasting a wealth of experience. Of course, he can. You guys still underestimate him. Hugo said with a faint smile. Julian himself probably didnt realize that the person most confident in his abilities wasnt his close friends like Dalton or Luis but the usually cold Hugo. Looks like we underestimated you, too, Yanis remarked. Oh? Did you notice? Thats oddI thought I hid it well, Hugo replied with a smirk. /ReduxMagister Chapter 313: Main Quest Chapter 313: Main Quest"What kind of riddles are you two playing?" The classroom was almost empty now, with only Hugo, Yanis, and Luis remaining. It was Luis who spoke. He hadn''t left earlier because he was preoccupied with how to complete his own task: making it into the top 16 of the Harbin Ice-Type Tournament. he thought bitterly. There were countless Ice-Type trainers below the Elite level across the country, and to secure a spot in the top 16? That was practically an impossible ask. Then he overheard Hugo and Yanis exchanging cryptic remarks. "You wouldn''t understand even if I told you," Yanis replied. "Oh really? Try me. There''s nothing I can''t figure out." Luis said, his gaze shifting suspiciously between the two. They were clearly hiding something. Now that he knew, he wasn''t going to let it slide. "Ever heard of the Pythagorean theorem? Yeah, it''s got absolutely nothing to do with that." Yanis quipped before turning and walking away. The tasks given to the Special Recruitment Class students weren''t easy by any stretch. If they failed, Frank''s warning about being expelled from the program wasn''t just an empty threat. "And it''s not related to trigonometry either." Hugo added calmly before following Yanis out. Watching them leave one after the other, Luis stood there, dumbfounded for a moment. Then, a realization struck him. "I get it nowit must have something to do with quadratic equations!" --- "Ding!" "Main Task Released: National Gym Badges" "Task Requirements: Obtain National Gym Badges." - Obtain 3 National Gym Badges: Rewards C 30,000 points, 3 Mewtwo Shards. - Obtain 6 National Gym Badges: Rewards C 60,000 points, 6 Mewtwo Shards, Early pseudo-Champion level Experience Card (10 minutes). - Obtain 12 National Gym Badges: Rewards C 120,000 points, 15 Mewtwo Shards, Mid pseudo-Champion-Level Experience Card (10 minutes), 4 Golden Legend Fragments. - Obtain 18 National Gym Badges: Rewards C 180,000 points, 30 Mewtwo Shards, Early Champion-Level Experience Card (10 minutes), 5 Golden Legend Fragments, 1 Special Ability Upgrade Card. "Note: This task offers rewards in stages. Each stage completion grants its respective rewards." As Julian made his way back to the villa, the system''s voice echoed in his mind. It had been a long time since the system had issued a main task, and the rewards for these tasks were always the most generous. This time, however, the sheer scale of the rewards caught Julian off guard. He even stopped in his tracks, his expression shifting between surprise and excitement. Four stages of tasks, with a total of 490,000 points just in rewards. The combined number of Mewtwo Shards exceeded fifty. With what he already had, it still wasn''t enough to redeem Mewtwo, but it was a significant step forward. Julian already had six Golden Legend Fragments. If he completed the third stage of the task, he''d have a total of ten. By then, his Metagross would officially become a Gold potential Pokmon, rivaling that of a Legendary. This thought lit a fire in him. Julian clenched his fist lightly, excitement bubbling up within. However, with his current strength, conquering 18 National Gym Badges was still far out of reach. Some of these Gym Leaders had power on par with pseudo-Champions. Such strength was far beyond what he could handle now. This main task was clearly designed as a long-term goal. To fully complete it, Metagross would need to reach the peak of Elite-level. Sarch* The N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Currently, Metagross was only at the peak of pseudo-Elite. Though three months had passed, Dragonite was still the only Pokmon on Julian''s team at the Elite level. Standing still in thought for a long while, Julian noticed several students walking by, curiously glancing at the well-known figure of the university. Suddenly, a sweet fragrance drifted over, accompanied by a pale hand brushing past him. "Julian, are you spacing out?" Instinctively, Julian caught hold of the hand, snapping out of his thoughts. When he realized it was Hannah standing before him, he released her hand and replied calmly, "Just thinking about something." "If you want to hold on, I wouldn''t mind." Hannah said playfully. "Your hand is too cold." Julian remarked, frowning slightly. For a moment, he thought he''d grabbed an ice cube. Looking at Hannah, dressed up like a dumpling and wearing a Slowking-style hat, which added a bit of cuteness. "Aren''t you cold, wearing so little?" Hannah had long gotten used to Julian''s bluntness. She glanced at his thin clothing and sighed inwardly. The current temperature in the Imperial Captial was around minus ten degrees Celsius. However, recalling how warm his hand had feltlike a furnacewhen he had held hers, her cheeks flushed slightly. "I ''am'' cold, which is why I''m heading back," she said softly. Julian nodded. His unique physical constitution made him much more resistant to extreme temperatures than most people. As he continued walking, he noticed Hannah still trailing behind him. By the time he reached his villa''s entrance, she was still following. Turning to face her, Julian asked, "Why are you following me?" "I want to come in for a cup of coffee. I heard from Luis that Slowking makes amazing coffee," Hannah replied with a grin. She had a knack for getting what she wanted. Long ago, she had managed to join the small circle of Julian, Luis, Dalton, and others, thanks to Luis''s invitation. "Slow~" Slowking: "Please come in." Slowking greeted them cheerfully, sensing Julian''s presence. It hadn''t even waited for Julian to agree before hearing Hannah''s request. With a smile, Slowking gestured politely to invite her inside. Seeing Slowking''s welcoming gesture, Hannah chuckled and stepped in. However, as soon as she stepped into the backyard, the smile on Hannah''s face froze instantly. In the yard, a womanNicolewas busy taking measurements of Steelix. "This shine doesn''t look polished at allit''s naturally formed." "The density is incredible, reaching an astonishing 30g/cm3ten times higher than diamond." Most Steelix typically had a body density of only 13g/cm3. Elite-level Steelix might reach 20g/cm3, but Julian''s Steelix far exceeded expectations for its current level. Unless someone used a move it was weak against, any attacks from Pokmon at a similar or lower level would barely scratch it. They''d feel more like a tickle. "Length: 13 meters," Of all the measurements, the length was the only one Nicole considered normal. While it was four meters longer than the average Steelix, the world record belonged to a Steelix that stretched an astounding 60 meters. Steelix lay motionless on the ground, cooperating obediently with Nicole''s examination. When it noticed Julian approaching, it opened its massive mouth in greeting, letting out a deep rumble. "Why is Nicole at your house?" Hannah asked directly, her gaze fixed on Julian. As one of the university''s "Top Ten Beauties," she naturally knew who Nicole was and had seen her around campus a few times, though they''d never exchanged greetings. "She''s here to conduct research," Julian replied simply. He walked past Nicole without so much as a glance or greeting, treating her as though she was invisible. Seeing this, Hannah let out a subtle sigh of relief. At least Julian treated Nicole the same way he treated herindifferently. Wearing a victorious smile, she followed Julian into the house, savoring her small moment of triumph. /ReduxMagister Chapter 314: Nicole And Hannah Chapter 314: Nicole And Hannah"Slowking, if you ever open a coffee shop, I''ll definitely visit every single day." As Hannah sipped on the coffee brewed by Slowking, her eyes lit up. She was a regular coffee drinker and someone who truly appreciated the nuances of coffee. The taste of Slowking''s brew left her astonished. "The flavors are so distinct, without any muddiness. The balance of acidity and bitterness shifts beautifully. It''s rare to find coffee this good anywhere else." Slowking''s eyes sparkled slightly. "Slow~" Slowking, always friendly, handed Hannah a small bag of walnuts. "Slow~" Hannah couldn''t understand Slowking''s words but could tell it was encouraging her to do something. "Slowking is asking if you''d like to try brewing a cup yourself," Julian explained. "In that case, I''ll give it a try. If it''s not perfect, Slowking, you''ll have to point out my mistakes," Hannah said with a hint of excitement as she stood up. She was eager to let Julian taste her coffee and show him that she had more to offer than just her looks and figureshe had many hidden talents. As Hannah followed Slowking to brew coffee, Julian relaxed, enjoying the peace. He quietly sipped his coffee while watching Nicole outside, diligently measuring Steelix. Her hands were red from the cold, but she didn''t stop. Judging by her expression, she was thoroughly enjoying herself. Researchers really were a different breed, Julian thought. As usual, apart from Steelix, all of Julian''s other Pokmon were indoors. Even the usually active Arcanine wasn''t running around in the backyard. Earlier, while Arcanine was playing outside, that woman had walked in, her eyes sparkling as she stared at it, tools in hand, ready to take measurements. That expression had terrified Arcanine, prompting it to flee indoors immediately. Unable to catch Arcanine, Nicole had shifted her attention to Steelix, who was resting in the yard. Julian watched as Nicole collected saliva samples from Steelix, who cooperatively opened its massive mouth. She didn''t seem the least bit worried about the possibility of being swallowed whole. After observing for a while, Julian lost interest and pulled out his phone to scroll through TikTok. "Men over 20 shouldn''t dress like kids anymore." What nonsense. He swiped past. "A flying stick is coming!" Swipe. "Winning back-." Swipe. Video after video, all random and uninteresting. Finally, a transformation video of a beautiful woman. Seeing the curvaceous figure of the woman in the video, Julian unconsciously straightened his posture. "So, you''re just like other men, enjoying such vulgar things." Just as Julian was about to click on the woman''s profile, a soft voice accompanied by a faint scent made him stop. Looking up, he found Nicole standing in front of him, glancing down at his phone screen. "Oh, I forgot. You''re a man, too." Julian''s face darkened at her words. He had been about to say something, but her latter remark threw him off. The tone was so similar to Celebi''s snide comments that for a moment, he thought that pesky Pokmon was talking to him. "If you record something like this, I''d watch it too," Julian shot back. Nicole shook her head. "I don''t film that kind of thing. Besides, her figure isn''t even as good as mine." Julian glanced at the curvaceous beauty on the screen. Her hourglass figure was enough to outshine 95% of women out there. "If you really want to see, I could record something for you later. But you can''t share it with anyone." "Deal" Julian subconsciously nodded in agreement. Then, realizing what he''d just agreed to, he froze. Why had he said yes? "Slow~" Slowking interjected, looking at Hannah curiously. Hannah, holding the coffee she''d made, had been on her way to let Julian try it. But hearing Nicole''s teasing and flirtatious tone, she froze in place. "Coffee. I could use a drink." Nicole said suddenly, noticing Hannah and the cup in her hand. Without waiting for a response, she grabbed it and took a sip. Hannah: () "The bitterness is too strong. Not great," Nicole commented casually. Hannah: ** Not only had Nicole taken the coffee she''d made for Julian, but she''d also insulted it. "You can leave if there''s nothing else," Julian said suddenly. Hannah''s anger instantly melted away at his words. She shot Nicole a triumphant look, as if to say: "Actually, I do need something," Nicole replied. "Hm?" "I need some metallic powder from Steelix. I didn''t bring the tools for it today." "Metagross, help scrape some off for her," Julian said. "Here, use this." Nicole handed Metagross a small vial. Metagross extended one claw and lightly scraped Steelix''s body, effortlessly collecting a layer of metallic powder. Nicole''s eyes lit up immediately at the sight. Steelix''s body hardness was already beyond her expectations. If Metagross could easily scrape off its metallic powder, then its claws must be even harder. "Meta~" Metagross handed the small vial to Nicole and immediately retreated. The way she looked at it sent an inexplicable shiver through its metallic body. "You got what you came for. You can leave now," Julian said again. "Alright. I''ll send you the video when I get back." Nicole replied with a smile before turning and leaving without further delay. As for her research, Julian wasn''t the least bit worried. The exceptional strength of his Pokmon was no secret among the old families and powerful clans. Many of them had already quietly gathered data on Pokmon like Metagrosscollecting saliva, blood samples, or even fur strands. After all, injuries during battles were common occurrences, leaving traces behind. But Julian knew they wouldn''t uncover anything groundbreaking. His Pokmon''s strength wasn''t due to some genetic or bloodline anomaly; it was the result of systematic training and various system resources. Super-rich second generations like him relied on technology and resources to gain an edge. Mutations? That was a strategy for those who couldn''t afford his lifestyle. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hannah, however, was a little unhappy. Nicole''s parting comment echoed in her mind, leaving her feeling sulky. "You''re still here?" Julian raised a brow, noticing Han standing before him, her expression shifting through a range of emotions as though lost in a dramatic inner monologue. Hannah: Her annoyance flared at the thought. Deciding she''d had enough, she lifted her chin, the elegant curve of her neck like a swan, and turned to leave. But after a few steps, she paused. "I''ll record a video too. Let''s see whose figure is better, mine or Nicole''s!" Julian: ()~*. /ReduxMagister Chapter 315: Arrogant Kid Chapter 315: Arrogant KidThe province of Hedong is located south of the Imperial Capital. It is a major mining region, producing various ores, and many of the heavy industries in Drakoria are based there. Sar?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The next day, Julian left the Imperial Capital and headed to Hedong Province. His destination was naturally the provincial capital, Rockwell City, which is home to the national-level Rock-Type Gym. He booked a challenge date online in advance, with the appointment set for five days later. No matter the level of the gym, you always need to schedule a challenge in advance. Since winter had already set in and it was snowing in the Imperial Capital, Julian didn''t choose to fly to Rockwell City on Dragonite. Instead, he opted for a plane. While waiting, Julian scrolled through his phone and watched the videos Nicole and Hannah had sent him. Both had sent him the latest trendhowling wolf cosplay videos. Surprisingly, their figures were not all that different. Hannah: "So, what do you think? Am I better than Nicole?" Julian: "Nicole''s outfit is just a little more revealing than yours." He hit send. Julian wasn''t exaggerating. In the video, Nicole was wearing a crop top, while Hannah''s outfit was more form-fitting but less revealing. In the dormitory of Imperial University, Hannah bit her lip, staring at Julian''s reply with a hesitant look. After a moment, she turned to her roommate and said, "Ava, didn''t you just buy a strapless top? Lend it to me for a bit." Without waiting for a response, she typed a few words into her phone: Hannah: "I''ll send another one." Julian was about to tell her it wasn''t necessary, but boarding time had arrived. He slipped his phone into his pocket and headed to the gate. Back in the dorm, Hannah frowned when she didn''t receive a reply. She glanced at the strapless white top in her hands, blushing faintly. "You''re in love, aren''t you?" teased Ava, grinning mischievously. "Who exactly are you planning to wear that for?" "Mind your own business." Hannah shot back, pulling her bed curtains closed. "I don''t need you to say it; I already know. It''s definitely for Julian. Lately, Nicole from the research institute seems to have her sights on him too." "You better act fast. If I were as pretty as you, I''d definitely chase after someone like Julian. A top-tier second-gen heir who''s also outstanding on his own? Who wouldn''t?" "Too bad my parents didn''t bless me with better genes," Ava lamented, touching her cheek. She was actually quite attractive, but compared to school beauties like Hannah and Nicole, she fell just slightly short. Nonetheless, she was still well within the "beauty" category. "Guys like Julian have women lining up to get into his bed. If one of them ends up pregnant, given how few heirs the Walker family has, she''d definitely secure a place in the family." "I''ve got some connections. Want me to hook you up with some ''special'' medicine? Even a eunuch would end up getting someone pregnant after taking it." "Enough, stop it!" Listening to Ava''s wild talk from behind the curtains, Hannah couldn''t help but feel that her words carried a tiny bit of truth. As the plane prepared for takeoff, Julian glanced at his phone one last time. There was still no reply from Hannah. Slightly disappointed, he turned off his phone. As the plane tilted gently upward, it began its journey toward Rockwell City. --- At the Rock-Type National Gym in Rockwell City, a staff member was reviewing the daily challenge schedule. Suddenly, a new reservation notification popped up on the screen. There were only 18 national-level gyms in the entire country, and only Elite-level trainers were eligible to challenge them. Furthermore, there were just over 500 officially registered Elite trainers in Drakoria. Winning against a national level gym required, at minimum, an Elite trainer at the late stage. Because of this, it wasn''t uncommon for a gym to go an entire month without receiving a single challenger. The stronger the gym, the fewer the challengers. Among the 18 national gyms, the Rock-Type Gym was one of the weaker ones. As a result, it averaged two or three challengers per month, slightly more than the others. "Another challenger, huh? People really think our Gym is an easy target." One staff member grumbled as he clicked on the new reservation. However, upon seeing the challenger''s information, his eyes widened. Name: Julian Age: 19 Rank: Elite (Early-stage) "Wow... that''s something." The staff member muttered to himself. "What''s wrong? It''s like you''ve just seen a ghost." A colleague asked, curious about the commotion as he peered at the screen. He half-expected to see a heavyweight Elite trainer on the list. "It''s just some arrogant kid," the staff member scoffed. "He''s Julian. You don''t know who that is?" "My family only recently got internet access, thanks," the colleague replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "Of course I knowDrakoria''s top prodigy of the younger generation." "But so what? He''s only the best among the younger trainers. In the eyes of the older generation, he''s still a rookie. With just one early-stage Elite Pokmon, he dares to challenge Master Fred, who has four peak Elite-level Pokmon. Do you think he has a chance of winning?" "At first I thought he was the real deal, but it turns out he''s just another overconfident rich kid. It''s the classic problem with these heirs," the staff member added dismissively. "But his Pokmon, especially that Metagross... even if it''s just a pseudo-Elite, it defeated an Elite-level opponent. It''s ridiculously strong," the colleague retorted. He had witnessed the strength of Julian''s Metagross firsthand at the Hundred Schools League, and its overwhelming power left a lasting impression. "That''s still only an early-stage Elite. Our Gym Leader is at the peak of Elite level. Do you really think his Metagross can handle that?" the man remained unmoved. "You know as well as I do the gap between an early and a peak-stage Elite." When a Pokmon reaches the Elite level, advancing even a single stage requires significant resources and time. As a result, the difference in combat strength between stages becomes noticeably large. For a Pokmon with Cyan-grade potential, progressing from early Elite to peak Elite typically requires close to twenty years under normal circumstances. This is why most peak Elite trainers are usually in their fifties or sixties. At fifty, they''re still considered relatively young. Take Julian''s grandfather, John Walker, for instancehe reached peak Elite status around the age of forty and became a Champion at nearly seventy. It took him almost thirty years to advance from peak Elite to Champion. Given that Julian was already at the Elite level and his challenge schedule didn''t conflict with Fred''s plans, his challenge was naturally approved. Fred was at home sipping tea, when he learned of this and chuckled before picking up his phone to make a call. "Brother John, your grandson is coming to challenge my gym." John Walker, currently overseas negotiating with other nations over first-entry rights to a newly discovered ruin, was resting in his hotel when he received the call. "You old fox, just put on a show and hand over the badge to my good grandson when the time comes," John said bluntly. Unlike many other elders, John''s love for Julian was nothing short of dotingcompletely unconditional and without limits. "Brother John, you''re a Champion now. Can''t you be a bit more tactful with your words?" Fred replied with a wry smile. "Fine, I''ll be serious. Just make sure you don''t lose to my grandson when the time comes." /ReduxMagister Chapter 316: Crooked Nose Chapter 316: Crooked NoseFred hung up the phone, picked up his teacup, and took a light sip. Thinking about what John had said over the phone, he found it somewhat amusing. Looking at his youngest son, who had tilted his head and fallen asleep across from him, Fred spoke angrily. "Rarely do you come home to share tea with me, and you''ve already fallen asleep after just one cup." "How could I? My eyes are just a bit tired," Frank replied. In truth, Frank hadn''t fallen asleep. Hearing his father speak, he immediately woke up. "Your student is about to challenge the gym. Did you assign him this task?" Fred asked. "Not at all. I originally tasked Julian with taking on a City-level gym. It was Elite Jake who told me to make some adjustments," Frank replied. Fred had three sons, and Frank was the youngest. Frank had never mentioned his family background, so Julian had no idea that Frank was the son of the national-level Rock Gym Leader he was about to challenge. "Elite Jake certainly has a lot of faith in his son," Fred remarked. "Julian is indeed the most outstanding young trainer I''ve ever met. Dad, you should take this seriously. Don''t let him take you down," Frank said earnestly. Fred put down his teacup and gave Frank a sharp look. "You seem awfully pleased at the idea of me losing." "I wouldn''t say I''m happy. After all, you''re my father. But if my student beats you, I can''t exactly cry about it either," Frank quipped. Caught in the middle, Frank decided not to take sides. He actually hadn''t expected Julian to challenge their family''s gym. Although their gym was considered one of the weaker ones among the eighteen national-level gyms, it certainly wasn''t the weakest. Given what he knew about Julian, Frank guessed that his choice was likely because the gym''s strength happened to align with his current training goals. --- More than three hours later, the plane landed in Rockwell City. The temperature in Rockwell City was noticeably warmer than the Imperial Capital, hovering around five or six degrees Celsius. While not exactly warm, it was far better than the subzero temperatures in the Capital. After disembarking from the plane and exiting through the VIP passage, Julian noticed a large crowd waiting outside. Many were holding signs or posters with the name "Leo" on them, and there were quite a few reporters as well. Since Julian was wearing a mask and was the first to walk out, the people outside initially thought he was their idol, Leo. However, when they took a closer look, they quickly realized he wasn''t their idolafter all, their idol wasn''t as tall as Julian. The previously noisy scene grew quiet again. "Leo is here!" Someone shouted, and the fans instantly became excited, and many people started screaming. Julian turned around and saw a person in a white casual outfit, around 175 cm tall, with somewhat delicate features. Surrounded by four individuals who appeared to be bodyguards. Perhaps it was because Julian had stopped in front of him, the lead bodyguard rudely tried to shove Julian aside. But no matter how hard the bodyguard pushed, though, he couldn''t move Julian an inch. It was as if Julian were rooted to the ground. The delay caused a swarm of fans to gather around, leaving Julian unable to move even if he wanted to. "Leo! Ahhh!!!" "So handsome, so handsome!" "Leo, I want to have your babies!" "Hey, you in front, move! You''re blocking our Leo!" Some of the fans grew annoyed with Julian for standing so close to their idol. They were already being held back by Leo''s bodyguards and the event security. "Sir, please leave immediately." The bodyguard said, his expression darkening when he realized he couldn''t push Julian away. Julian stood his ground, unfazed. He stared at Leo, pondering something. "You must be one of my fans, right? Here, let me give you an autograph." Leo said with a forced smile, his patience clearly wearing thin. With reporters around, he had no choice but to keep up appearances. "You''re a man, right?" Julian suddenly asked. Leo''s expression froze. His already pale face turned slightly red for the first time. "Or are you just... Effeminate?" (T/N: Effeminate refers to someone with feminine or womanly characters. The original term used here was something derogatory, so i changed it.) "Sir, If you continue with these remarks, I can sue you." Leo replied, his voice tinged with anger. Since rising to fame, he had never been treated this way. Everywhere he went, fans welcomed him with open arms. At night, female admirers even offered to warm his bed. Some of the nearby reporters noticed the tension between Leo and the first passenger to exit the terminal. Sensing a potential story, they immediately pointed their cameras at the scene. Noticing the reporters'' actions, Leo forced his stiff expression to relax a little. "Senior, that man looks kind of familiar." A young female reporter whispered to an older colleague. sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Though Julian wore a mask and was turned slightly away, there was something about him that struck her as familiar. "Now that you mention it, I feel like I''ve seen him somewhere too." The older reporter nodded. He thought hard for a moment but couldn''t quite place the familiarity. "Let''s go" Leo said, deciding not to waste any more time with Julian. Who knew what trouble might arise if he stayed? He bypassed Julian and made his way toward his waiting fans, planning to greet them and scout for potential female companions to spend the evening with. "Effeminate" Julian found people who acted all self-important irritating. As Leo walked past him, Julian casually extended his left foot. Leo kept repeating to himself. But he never expected Julian to be so underhanded. It was bad enough to insult him, but to trip him too? Caught off guard, Leo stumbled and fell flat on his face. With a loud ''thud'', his scream echoed through the area. Everyone heard the sound, and the once-screaming fans instinctively covered their mouths in shock. Many witnessed Julian extending his foot to trip Leo, and several reporters captured the moment on camera. The journalists were ecstatic. They had come to cover Leo''s arrival, but this unexpected scene was a goldmine. They didn''t care how famous Leo was. All they wanted was for the incident to escalatescandals were their bread and butter. Leo''s bodyguards hurriedly helped him up. The first thing he shouted was, "My face! My face! Mirrorsomeone get me a mirror!" Blood trickled from his nose, which was now visibly crooked. His face was a mess, and his high-pitched cries would made even an Arcanine shake its head in dismay. "Your face is fine, but the nose you got done? It''s crooked. Which hospital did you go to? Their skills need work." Julian''s dry comment made Leo freeze mid-movement, still holding a mirror. His trembling intensified as he noticed the gleeful expressions on the reporters'' faces. He realized that every second of his bloody fall, including his disfigured nose, had likely been recorded. Leo, already unpopular among male fans and frequently the target of online ridicule, knew this incident would only make things worse if it spread. "Call the police! Call the police!" Leo shrieked. "I''m pressing charges for intentional harm! Don''t let him escapestop him right now!" His voice rang out loudly as his bodyguards scrambled to block Julian from leaving. /ReduxMagister Chapter 317: Kick! Chapter 317: Kick!Julian made no effort to stop the police call. Technically, his actions had been wrong, but he just couldn''t hold himself back. Sarch* The ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You''ll regret this, kid. I''ll ruin you socially." Leo muttered venomously, leaning close to Julian. Then, as if flipping a switch, Leo''s expression shifted. Tears welled up in his eyes as he looked pitifully at the fans and reporters surrounding him. "I don''t understand why this gentleman did this to me," he said, his voice soft. "But if he apologizes, I''m willing to forgive him." His display of forgiveness only made his female fans more emotional. "Our Leo is so kind!" "Who is that guy? We can''t let him get away with this!" "We have to avenge Leo!" The fans were so riled up they looked like they might bite Julian to vent their anger. "See that?" Leo whispered smugly to Julian. Julian nodded. "I see it." Then, without hesitation, he kicked Leo square in the stomach. The force sent Leo rolling several times until he landed in the middle of his fans. The security guards and bodyguards froze. They had seen arrogance before, but nothing like this. The first time, Julian''s trip might have seemed subtle. But this? This was blatant. In front of reporters, Julian had openly kicked Leo, sending him flying over ten meters. It was pure audacity. Leo felt his stomach churn. As he lay on the ground, countless hands reached toward himbut none of them helped him up. The female fans were ecstatic. Their idol had literally fallen into their arms. They couldn''t resist touching him, some even feeling grateful to Julian for giving them this opportunity. The bodyguards finally snapped out of their daze and scrambled to help Leo, their minds racing with one thought: Meanwhile, the reporters were in heaven. This was headline material. The rookie female reporter suddenly gasped. "I know who he is now, sir!" Her senior looked at her in surprise, but before he could ask, she blurted out, "That''s Julian! Julian, the grandson of Champion John!" The senior reporter''s hand trembled as he held his camera. The rookie''s words jogged his memory, and he realized why the masked young man looked so familiar. It was Julianthe same Julian he had photographed during the Hundred Schools League. With a dawning sense of realization, the senior reporter muttered, "Leo''s done for." Although the veteran reporter''s voice was soft, the rookie heard it and asked curiously, "How is it not Julian''s fault? Even if this goes to court, Julian has no chance of winning." The senior reporter didn''t reply. His eyes remained fixed on Julian, who stood calmly ahead. In his mind, he was already drafting tomorrow''s headline. Meanwhile, Leo, now helped to his feet by his bodyguards, was utterly furious. He seemed to forget his public image as a celebrity and roared at the bodyguards nearby, "Break his legs!" Luckily, he retained some sense and didn''t outright demand Julian''s life. The bodyguards, feeling guilty for failing to protect Leo earlier, saw this as a chance to redeem themselves and keep their jobs. All four of them moved toward Julian. As this unfolded, security guards formed a circle around Leo, keeping his fans at bay. "Hold on." The four bodyguards were just about to close in, and Julian was about to stretch his muscles, when suddenly there was a rush of footsteps behind him. Turning around, he saw an elegant yet professional-looking woman in her thirties rushing over. "Kailey! He''s bullying me!" The moment Leo saw his manager arrive, his anger melted into a pitiful expression, and he began crying loudly. But Kailey ignored him completely. Instead, she looked at Julian with an apologetic smile and said, "Young Master Walker, I sincerely apologize. This is entirely our fault. Please forgive Leo; he''s still young." She had recognized Julian back in the first-class section of the plane. Knowing the gap in status between them, she refrained from disturbing him. After they landed, some work matters delayed her, so she let Leo and his bodyguards leave ahead of her. Who would have thought that in just five or six minutes, such a disaster would occur? "I''m 19. How old is he?" Julian said flatly. Leo was 23. Kailey: (Ѧ) "Haha.. Young Master, I made a mistake. How about thislet me host a dinner tonight, and Leo can formally apologize to you." As the manager of a popular celebrity, Kailey''s ability to handle crises was evident. "No need, he already called the police. I assume enforcement officers are on their way." At an airport, enforcement agents were always present. As if on cue, Julian''s words were followed by the sight of officers in judicial uniforms approaching briskly. They weren''t alone; agents from two different divisions arrived simultaneously. - Public Prosecution Bureau: Primarily deals with non-trainers. - Trainer Inspection Bureau: Handles cases involving trainers. Because it wasn''t clear whether the suspect was a trainer, the two bureaus often operated together until the suspect''s identity was confirmed. Once identified, they would transfer the case to the appropriate agency. "It''s me! I was the one who called! He''s the one who hit me!" Before the officers could even speak, Leo pointed dramatically at Julian. From a distance of over ten meters, Leo couldn''t hear the conversation between Kailey and Julian. If he had, he might have already been scared shitless. "Misunderstanding! This is a misunderstanding!" Kailey interjected hastily. Looking at Leo, whose face was bloodied and who clutched his stomach, the officers couldn''t help but think, The Public Prosecution Bureau officer approached Julian and asked, "Did you hit this man?" "Yes, I did." "Why did you hit him?" "Because he was acting like a diva. It disgusted me, so I hit him." The crowd: Seeing that Julian wasn''t behaving dangerously, they refrained from using handcuffs. "Come with us. You too," the officer said, gesturing to Leo and his bodyguards. Thus, the group was taken away. "Kailey! You must make sure he goes to prison! I want him locked away for life! I" "Shut up!" Kailey snapped angrily. As a popular young celebrity, news of Leo being assaulted hit the trending topics almost instantly. Videos of the incident began circulating on platforms like TikTalk. Initially, Leo''s female fans flooded the internet with insults directed at the assailant, while simultaneously offering words of comfort to their idol. On the other hand, male users celebrated, commenting; "Finally, someone did it! Been waiting for this guy to get knocked down a peg." However, it didn''t take long for netizens to identify the masked assailant. The moment Julian''s identity was confirmed, the incident skyrocketed to the number one spot on the trending list. In fact, the top five trending topics were all related to the event. - "Hahaha, Leo is doomed now." - "Julian: Acting like a diva? You disgusted me, so I hit you." - "I''m a Julian fan now." - "From neutral to fan!" - "From neutral to fan +1." - "Julian hit my idol! I''m now your biggest hater!" The online discourse was explosive. A certain self-proclaimed expert weighed in: "As one of Drakoria''s renowned trainers, Julian''s actions are far too arrogant. This is a blatant mockery of our country''s laws." /ReduxMagister Chapter 318: Family Photo Chapter 318: Family PhotoJulian, as the leading figure of Drakoria''s younger generation and already a recognized Elite, had been under constant public attention since his debut. While not a celebrity in the traditional sense, Julian''s popularity rivaled that of any star, with countless fans following him online. Despite his prominent family background, Julian didn''t exhibit the arrogance often associated with heirs of prestigious families. This time, however, Julian caused an online sensation by punching the popular young idol Leo in full view of the public. True to their nature, internet bystanders eagerly shared and liked the incident, fueling its virality. Keyboard warriors shouted "Bring it on!" and dove into an all-out flame war online. Julian''s fans clashed with Leo''s fans, and the results were quick and decisiveLeo''s supporters were completely outmatched. Meanwhile, so-called experts chimed in, accusing Julian of recklessly abusing his position and acting with impunity. Their comments briefly garnered attention. However, these experts soon deleted their remarks when they realized who was responding to them in the comment section: - John Walker: "I''ll remember this account. I''ll deal with you when I''m back from overseas." - Jake Walker: "Only I can criticize my son. Who do you think you are?" - Henry Walker: "Prepare to go bankrupt." - Quinn Walker: "Mark my words, you won''t survive in the research field after this." The Walker family had mobilized, and in Drakoria, few people could withstand their combined might. In terms of strength, there was John, a reigning Champion, and Jake, a pseudo-Champion. Financially, Henry, one of the top three wealthiest individuals in the nation, and In the research field, Quinn, the youngest recipient of the prestigious Arceus Award. This wasn''t stirring up a hornet''s nestit was poking a nest of dinosaurs. When they emerged from the Prosecution office, Kailey continuously apologized to Julian. "Young Master Walker, I''m terribly sorry. When you kicked Leo, did your foot get hurt?" Leo, trailing behind: (x;) "If you''re still upset, feel free to kick him a few more times. Don''t let his delicate demeanor fool youhe''s got a sturdy frame and can take it," Kailey added. Leo: *mmp* "That''s enough. No need to see me off." Julian said, waving her off as he hailed a cab at the street corner and left. Kailey, hoping to escort him further, was left deflated. After Julian departed, Leo cautiously approached Kailey and nervously asked, "Kailey, do you think I''ll live to see tomorrow?" Now fully aware of the caliber of person he had provoked, Leo was utterly shaken. While he might be a popular young idol with nearly 300 million followers on social media, the majority were bot accounts purchased by his agency. His celebrity status might hold sway over ordinary people, but in the eyes of powerful families like Julian''sespecially someone born into such unparalleled privilegeit meant absolutely nothing. There wasn''t even a need for Julian to lift a fingercountless people eager to curry favor with him could easily deal with the situation on his behalf. Leo had spent three long years clawing his way to his current status. Now that he had provoked Julian, the question wasn''t whether his achievements would survive the dayit was whether ''he'' would. "Good thing it was Young Master Walker. If it had been some other heir from a prominent family, you might not have made it through today" Kailey glared at him: "Don''t act so effeminate. You look more like a woman than I do right now." "But it''s ''because'' of my effeminate charm that I got this far" Leo muttered under his breath. Kailey: "..." --- "Where to, sir?" The cab driver asked after Julian got into the car but hadn''t given any destination. "Take me to the Gardevoir Hotel," Julian finally replied. Having just arrived in Rockwell City without a place to stay, he decided to head to one of his family''s properties. The Gardevoir Hotel was a chain of internationally renowned five-star hotels, owned by Julian''s family, with branches in all major cities in Drakoria and many overseas locations. Roughly thirty minutes later, the car pulled up to the hotel entrance. The moment Julian stepped out, the hotel manager greeted him warmly. Having learned that Julian was in Rockwell City, the manager had anticipated that he might check into the hotel and had been waiting at the entranceand his preparation paid off. "Young Master Julian." Julian gave a slight nod. "Prepare a room and send up some food." "Right away." Under the manager''s arrangements, Julian was soon escorted to the largest presidential suite on the 70th floor, the very top of the hotel. Inside the suite, Julian opened the curtains and used his phone to record the breathtaking view of Rockwell City from such a height. With the entire city almost entirely visible below, the scenery was stunning. Turning the camera on himself, Julian smiled faintly and said, "First video. A million likes shouldn''t be too much to ask, right?" With that, he hit upload. Despite being an active user of TikTok, Julian had never posted a single video before. Even when the platform''s team reached out to request his participation, he had declined. Posting a video today was purely a spur-of-the-moment decision. S~ea??h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The platform''s backend team immediately flagged the video, recognizing its significance, and reported it to their supervisor. With official promotion, the video went viral within minutes. "Is this really King Julian?" "Didn''t you see the official verification? No one would dare impersonate him!" "Wow, not even five minutes in and it''s already broken a million likes." "This view looks like Rockwell City." "With a face like that, if King Julian debuted as an idol, those so-called ''pretty boys'' wouldn''t stand a chance." "Where''s the Metagross, Julian? We want to see Metagross!" "A million likes is nothing. Let''s go, fans! Full speed ahead to ten million!" Within just over half an hour, the likes on Julian''s video had surpassed ten million, and his follower count had skyrocketed to eighty million. These were genuine numbers, with no fabrication whatsoever. Even the backend staff at TikTok were astonished as they watched the likes and followers climb by the second. The data was on par with, if not surpassing, the nation''s top influencers. Meanwhile, Julian, casually enjoying his dinner, remained blissfully unaware of the viral storm his video had caused. There was a knock on the door. "Luca~" The manager outside the door blinked in surprise when Lucario opened it for him. Glancing into the room, he froze momentarily. Goodness graciousif this weren''t a presidential suite, it would have been impossible to fit all these Pokmon. With the towering figures of Steelix and Aggron, even this spacious room seemed almost too small. The ceiling height was barely adequate for them. "Young Master Julian, there''s going to be an auction in Rockwell City in a few days. They''ve sent over an invitation, and if you''re interested, you can attend." Julian accepted the invitation card, noting that the auction items were not listed. Sensing his curiosity, the manager quickly added, "The items for this auction are kept confidential until the event itself. "Previous auctions have included pseudo-legendary Pokmon eggs and Mega Evolution Stones. The attendees are always high-profile individuals." Julian nodded, keeping the invitation. The auction''s air of mystery intrigued him, and if he had the time, he might attend. Glancing at the date printed on the cardJulian realized it coincided with his gym challenge day. After finishing dinner, Julian looked at the Pokmon gathered around him. Suddenly inspired, he retrieved his phone. Using his psychic abilities, the phone floated into the air, aligning itself perfectly. And just like that, Julian''s first family photo was taken. /ReduxMagister Chapter 319: Dragonite Vs Probopass Chapter 319: Dragonite Vs ProbopassAt 10 a.m. on the 15th, Julian arrived at the entrance of the National Rock-type Gym in a car arranged by the hotel manager. The statues in front of his family''s Steel-type Gym were Metagross and Aggron, as those two Pokmon had long been the symbols of Steel-type Gyms. Meanwhile, the statues at the entrance of the Rock-type Gym were Tyranitar and Probopassone roaring toward the sky, the other standing still in silence. Julian took out his phone, snapped a photo of the statues, and posted it in his group chat. Julian: The Challenge begins. Will: Which Gym is this? It looks grand. Luis: Brother Julian, you''re so fast! Hannah: Good luck! Nicole: When are you coming back? Without checking the replies, Julian walked straight in as the doors opened. There was no guide leading the wayafter all, there was only one path. The Gym staff clearly knew he was coming; otherwise, they wouldn''t have opened the door for him. Three minutes later, Julian arrived at the battlefield of the National Rock-type Gym. The field was about the size of two soccer fields and was a neutral battlefield, meaning no type advantages were given. To his surprise, he spotted a familiar face. "Professor Frank? What are you doing here?" Seeing Frank, Julian couldn''t help but wonder if he was here to oversee his challenge. Frank chuckled. "My father is the Gym Leader. What do you think?" Julian was slightly taken abackhe hadn''t expected that. On the other side of the battlefield stood an elderly man. Julian had excellent eyesight, and even from a distance, he could make out the man''s features clearly. "You two don''t even look alike," Julian said. Frank''s face darkened. What''s that supposed to mean? S~ea??h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I take after my mother." "Oh" "Julian, are you choosing a 3v3 or a 6v6 battle?" Frank asked. "3v3," Julian replied. This format gave him the highest chance of winning. If it were a full-team battle, his odds of victory would be less than fifty percent. Frank nodded. He had expected this choice. As the protective barriers activated, Frank, acting as the referee, stepped into the center of the battlefield. The recording equipment was also turned on. "The Gym challenge will now begin! Challenger Julian versus National Rock-type Gym Leader Fred. The Gym Leader will send out his Pokmon first." As the challenger, Julian had the slight advantage of seeing the Gym Leader''s Pokmon first. But in reality, this advantage was limitedit was a Rock-type Gym, so there was an 80% chance that Fred would use Rock-type Pokmon. As Frank stepped off the battlefield, Fred released his first Pokmon. A Pokmon with a massive red nose, a red cap-like structure on its head, and a grayish-blue body appeared on the battlefield. Pokmon: Probopass (Rock/Steel) Level: 80 Potential: Cyan Ability: Magnet Pull Item: Magnet Gender: Female Moves: Tri Attack, Magnet Rise, Spark, Magnetic Flux, Gravity, Wide Guard, Tackle, Iron Defense, Harden, Rock Throw, Block, Rest, Thunder Wave, Rock Slide, Power Gem, Rock Blast, Discharge, Stone Edge, Lock-On, Zap Cannon, Earth Power TMs: Hyper Beam, Protect, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Substitute, Rock Tomb, Shock Wave, Sandstorm, Earthquake, Flash Cannon, Rock Smash, Smack Down, Giga Impact Egg Moves: Stealth Rock, Rock Polish, Roll Out, Double-Edge A Peak Elite-level Probopass. If not for its limited potential, it might have already broken into the Pseudo-Champion tier. In fact, 80% of its Cyan-grade potential had already shifted toward Blue, meaning its breakthrough wasn''t out of reach. Besides Frank, who was acting as the referee, about a dozen spectators stood outside the battlefield. They all looked to be in their early twenties. "Uncle, isn''t Grandpa overdoing it by sending out Probopass first? No matter how strong Julian is, he can''t possibly be Grandpa''s match." The one speaking was Frank''s nephewEthana young man with dyed yellow hair. His gaze toward Julian wasn''t exactly friendly. After all, Julian had become "that kid from another family" in the eyes of most parents in Drakoria. His father often used Julian as an example to lecture him, so naturally, he wasn''t too fond of him. Frank shot his nephew a glare. "I don''t know if Julian can defeat your grandfather, but I do know that even a hundred of you combined wouldn''t be enough to take him on." Then, his expression darkened as he noticed the overly dolled-up woman standing beside his nephew. "And stop hanging around with these shady people. If you dare bring her home, I''ll break your legs in front of your father." The woman looked offended and was about to retort, but Ethan yanked her back forcefully. "Got it," he muttered in frustration. In their family, the person he feared most was Frankbecause unlike his father, Frank actually followed through on his threats. On top of that, he was the most promising among the family''s three sons and was highly likely to inherit the Gym. The other young spectators came from prominent families in Rockwell City. They were mainly here to watch the match, but their biggest reason for attending was Julian himself. "Come on, gym leader, give it your all! Teach this guy a lesson and avenge my Leo!" A 15 or 16-year-old girl clenched her tiny fists, fuming with anger. Standing beside her was an older woman who bore a strong resemblance to her. "If you keep running your mouth, I''ll have someone send you home," the older woman said with a frown. "Fine, I won''t say anything! But why are you taking his side, sis?" The older woman kept this thought to herself, choosing not to say it aloud. Under the watchful eyes of over a dozen spectators, Julian tossed out a Pok Ball. The moment Dragonite emerged, he effortlessly caught the returning Pok Ball with one hand. Pokmon: Dragonite (Dragon/Flying) Level: 73 Potential: Purple Ability: Inner Focus Item: Dragon Fang Gender: Male Moves: Hurricane, Wing Attack, Roost, Wrap, Leer, Dragon Tail, Twister, Thunder Wave, Aqua Tail, Dragon Rush, Safeguard, Slam, Rain Dance, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Agility TMs: Protect, Thunderbolt, Hyper Beam, Icy Wind, Hydro Pump, Flamethrower, Substitute, Iron Tail, Breaking Swipe, Ice Punch, Wide Guard, Dragon Claw, Ice Beam, Draco Meteor, Mega Punch, Dragon Pulse, Earthquake, Superpower, Giga Impact, Outrage, Heat Wave, Focus Punch, Fire Blast Egg Moves: Extreme Speed, Dragon Breath, Dragon Dance, Outrage Note: Soaked in Dragon PoolDragon-type moves deal 25% more damage. In just three months, Dragonite had grown from Level 71 to Level 73a terrifyingly fast improvement. For a Pokmon at the Elite level, even a single-level increase over half a year was considered fast. Standing at a towering four meters, Julian''s Dragonite dwarfed the barely 1.5-meter-tall Probopass, making the latter look like a mere stumpy runt in comparison. After making his entrance, Dragonite surveyed his surroundings before looking at Fred with a puzzled expression, as if to say: "Hurry up and send out your Pokmon already." "Pass!!" Probopass: () Hearing the voice, Dragonite lowered his headonly then did he finally notice the tiny Pokmon beneath him. Seeing Probopass''s furious expression, Dragonite awkwardly scratched his head. Dragonite: "Sorry, you''re just too short. I didn''t see you." Maybe it was because he had spent too much time with Celebi, but Dragonite''s way of speaking was getting him closer and closer to a beating. /ReduxMagister Chapter 320: Dragonite Vs Probopass II Chapter 320: Dragonite Vs Probopass II"Dragonite, use Fire Punch!" Relying on Dragonite''s incredible speed, Julian made the first move. Dragonite''s seemingly bulky frame exploded with a speed that was nothing short of astonishingearning it the nickname "the Yellow Flash of the dragon world." In the blink of an eye, Dragonite was right in front of Probopass. Its flaming fist, radiating intense heat, came crashing down with immense force. However, Probopass nimbly dodged backward. Despite its heavy-looking body, its electromagnetic levitation made it remarkably agile. The struck the ground, causing flames to burst in all directions. A crater nearly 100 meters wide formed instantly. "Probopass, Spark!" Fred glanced at the battlefield. This wasn''t just any arenait was a national-level gym battlefield. Yet Dragonite''s single punch had left it in ruins. The sheer power of that punch would have been more than enough to injure Probopass. Fred thought with a sigh. Electric currents began surging over Probopass, golden arcs of lightning snaking around like tiny thunder serpents, moving with incredible speed. had the chance to cause paralysis, and when used against Julian, that chance was nearly guaranteed. Dragonite countered by exhaling a . The two attacks collided fiercely, their energies clashing and exploding with a series of violent bursts. Amidst the chaos, Dragonite flapped its wings and soared into the sky. Meanwhile, Probopass used its electromagnetic force to float into the air as well. The Mini-Noses around it darted toward Dragonite, flanking it from behind and both sides. With a furious roar from Probopass, massive boulders the size of trucks appeared above Dragonite, poised to crash down. Dragonite tried to dodge, but the three Mini-Noses relentlessly clung to it, holding it in place. The boulders above were already falling. "Mega Punch! Smash through it!" Dragonite''s eyes narrowed. Its fist, shrouded in a blinding white light, struck the falling rocks with immense power. The boulders shattered, but in the process, the Mini-Noses launched a counterattack. The three Mini-Noses slammed into Dragonite''s belly, sending its massive body hurtling several hundred meters away. But it wasn''t over yet. Probopass fired a at the airborne Dragonite. At the same time, the three Mini-Noses began spinning rapidly, combining the energies of ice, fire, and electricity. It was none other than . This wasn''t a one-on-one battleit was practically a one-on-four. The struck Dragonite first, followed by the devastating . In an instant, thick smoke enveloped Dragonite, obscuring it completely. "I told you," sneered Ethan. "There''s no way he''s a match for Grandpa." "Big Sis, has Dragonite already lost?" "Probably" Everyone presentover a dozen spectatorsagreed that Dragonite couldn''t possibly have withstood such a powerful assault. "Dragon Rush" Julian said calmly. In a situation like this, unless was used, Dragonite truly had no way to evade the attacks. But it wasn''t time for yet, so Julian chose to let Dragonite endure the onslaught. With Dragonite''s formidable base stats, even a peak Elite Probopass couldn''t bring it down in just two moves. From within the thick smoke, Dragonite emerged, shrouded in violent Dragon-type energy and trailing wisps of black smoke. It looked like a raging torrent, unstoppable and wild. First, it struck down the three Mini-Noses, sending them tumbling, before surging toward Probopass with unrelenting force. The Dragon energy around Dragonite grew even more ferocious as it closed the distance. "Giga Impact!" Fred observed Dragonite''s unbridled aura. Under this intense pressure, Probopass could attempt to dodge, but if it failed, it would be forced into a disadvantageous position. As a Rock- and Steel-type Pokmon, Probopass''s greatest strength was its defenseits rock-hard body was its ultimate weapon. In physical clashes, Probopass had never backed down. Above the battlefield, a green streak of light collided with a white streak, resembling two high-speed trains smashing into each other. The resulting boom was deafening. Shockwaves rippled outward like blades, cutting through the air and causing the battlefield below to sink under the sheer force. The battlefield''s protective barrier trembled violently, rippling with wave after wave of energy from the collision. The two attacks clashed fiercely, their energies grinding against each other. Sparks of electricity crackled at the center of the impact. For over ten seconds, neither nor gave way. Both Pokmon poured their energy into the struggle until the clash finally exhausted both moves. But at some point, the three Mini-Noses had already positioned themselves behind Dragonite. The Mini-Noses were under Probopass''s control, so even if they were knocked down earlier, they could still continue fighting as long as Probopass remained active. Behind Dragonite, the three Mini-Noses had completed their . "Fire Blast!" Julian shouted. "Dodge it!" Probopass quickly descended, but Dragonite''s speed was unmatched. The missed its mark, and Dragonite was already face-to-face with Probopass. At a range of less than ten meters, Dragonite unleashed an intense, blazing in the shape of a large "X." The searing flames engulfed Probopass, blasting it into the ground. The impact shook the entire battlefield as Probopass crashed into the earth, while fierce flames erupted across the scorched terrain. With Probopass buried in the ground, the battlefield trembled violently. "Earthquake!" Julian seized the perfect opportunitysuch a chance couldn''t go to waste. As Dragonite landed, the entire battlefield began to shake violently. Massive cracks spread outward from Dragonite''s position, and from those main fissures, countless smaller fractures spiderwebbed across the arena. With a single , nearly half the field was reduced to rubble. Dragonite: Ground-type moves were devastating against Probopass, dealing 4x damage. However, the Probopass lying in the crater suddenly disintegrated into countless fragments, vanishing into thin air. Julian''s expression shifted slightly. "A Substitute?" "Dragonite!" Before Julian could say more, Dragonite, witnessing this unexpected turn, had already realized the danger. It quickly attempted to leave its position, but it was just a moment too late. A massive stone pillar erupted from beneath Dragonite, slamming into its stomach. Stomach: Under the huge impact, Dragonite was launched high into the air. At that moment, Probopass reappeared above Dragonite, with the three Mini-Noses reattached to its body. The Mini-Noses couldn''t stay away for long. The magnetic force binding them to Probopass was finite, and if it dissipated, Probopass would lose control over them. Julian couldn''t help but acknowledge the skill of a National Gym Leader. The battle experience Probopass''s trainer displayed had clearly put both him and Dragonite in a tough spot. Even so, defeating Dragonite wouldn''t be that simple. Their earlier use of had been brilliant, but it had also cost Probopass 1/4 of its health. "Probopass, Rock Smash!" "Dragonite, Protect!" Sarch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. /ReduxMagister Chapter 321: Steelix Chapter 321: SteelixAs was about to strike Dragonite, a green protective shield enveloped it. The next moment, Dragonite, along with its shield, was slammed into the ground by Probopass''s attack. Instantly, massive rocks surged upward from the ground. Some collided mid-air, shattering into countless fragments that scattered like bullets, pelting the protective shield. Probopass landed heavily on the ground. Dragonite slowly rose from the debris, unscathed thanks to that had absorbed the impact of . The Mini-Noses recharged, detaching themselves from Probopass once more. The Mini-Noses were experts at interference, and in a closely matched battle like this, constant disruptions from one side could exponentially increase the other''s chances of losing. "Dragonite, Heat Wave!" Julian''s eyes glimmered as he suddenly realized a possibility. Scarlet waves of heat radiated from between Dragonite''s wings, causing the temperature around them to rise rapidly. The Mini-Noses flew straight into the . At first, nothing seemed unusual, but after advancing about fifty meters, the three Mini-Noses began to wobble. In the next instant, they plummeted to the ground. "Pass!" Probopass was stunned. It had just recharged the Mini-Noseswhy had they suddenly lost their magnetic charge? The same confusion appeared in the eyes of Ethan. "Uncle, what''s going on? Did that guy use some dirty trick?" Frank looked at his nephew and sighed, "High-temperature causes demagnetization. Don''t you know even basic physics?" High-temperature demagnetizationJulian himself had only just remembered it. If he had thought of it earlier, he wouldn''t have been forced into such a passive situation by the three Mini-Noses. Without its Mini-Noses, Probopass was like a fighter with its hands tied. It understood this too, unleashing a powerful magnetic force as it flew toward the fallen Mini-Noses. But Dragonite wasn''t about to let that happen. It had worked hard to neutralize the Mini-Noses, and there was no way it would let Probopass reattach them without a fight. Dragonite activated , its entire body surging with strength. Its arm muscles bulged as it swung both arms down toward Probopass with a thunderous roar. "Protect!" Fred shouted hastily. A green protective barrier materialized in front of Probopass, just as Dragonite''s arms smashed down. A deafening boom echoed across the battlefield, as white shockwaves spread outward like a hurricane. The ruined ground was engulfed in a massive dust cloud, and countless rocks shot out in every direction. Even though the protective barrier absorbed most of the impact, the noise still made the spectators'' ears ring. Ethan and his group winced, covering their ears as the reverberations shook the stadium. A thick cloud of dust enveloped the battlefield, obscuring the outcome of the clash between the two Pokmon. Ethan swallowed nervously. "Uncle, Grandpa will win, right?" At this moment, the confidence he once had was visibly shaken. Frank didn''t respond. He wasn''t sure of the result either. After four or five minutes, the dust began to settle, slowly revealing the battlefield. Amid the hazy remnants of the chaos, a figure stood tall in the center. It was Dragonite. Due to Dragonite''s size, they couldn''t immediately see Probopass, which was either obscured behind it or had already fallen. Moments later, Dragonite reached down and lifted an unconscious Probopass from the rubble. The outcome was clear to everyone. "Probopass actually lost!!" Ethan stared in disbelief. This Probopass was one of his grandfather''s two ace Pokmon, yet it had been defeatedand by someone a few years younger than him. Fred''s expression turned distant as he recalled Probopass, quickly putting it back into its Pok Ball. It was just one loss; it didn''t mean anything definitive. Julian also recalled Dragonite. Dragonite had emerged victorious, but it wasn''t unscathed. It had consumed a significant amount of energy and sustained considerable injuries. Winning as an early-stage Elite Pokmon against a peak Elite-level opponent was no small feat. Dragonite had done exceptionally well. Since the battlefield was in ruins, a new arena was quickly set up. With the terrain reset, the match resumed. Julian and Fred threw out their next Pok Balls almost simultaneously. Pokmon: Steelix (Steel/Ground) Level: 70 Potential: Cyan Ability: Rock Head Held Item: Metal Coat Gender: Male Moves: Thunder Fang, Ice Fang, Fire Fang, Rock Polish, Tackle, Bind, Rock Throw, Autotomize, Iron Tail, Dragon Breath, Earthquake, Rock Slide, Crunch, Harden, Smack Down, Sand Tomb, Stealth Rock, Screech, Slam, Sandstorm, Dig, Stone Edge TMs: Hyper Beam, Giga Impact, Protect, Wide Guard, Heavy Slam, Breaking Swipe, High Horsepower, Body Slam, Dragon Pulse, Rollout, Drill Run, Rock Blast, Bulldoze Egg Moves: Defense Curl, Double-Edge, Head Smash, Dragon Tail --- Julian sent out his peak pseudo-Elite-level Steelix, whose towering, 13-meter frame gleamed with a metallic silver sheen. At first glance, it looked impossibly sturdy. Usually, Steelix had a goofy demeanor and was known for its voracious appetite. However, once a battle began, its personality shifted dramatically. Steelix knew full well that its accomplishments were a direct result of its diligent trainingand, more importantly, the delicious food its wise and generous Trainer provided every day. Its sole purpose was clear: defeat any opponent standing in its Trainer''s way. A surge of fighting spirit radiated from Steelix. Steelix: Even Julian was surprised by how fired up Steelix seemed today, but he welcomed it. This level of determination would only work in their favor. Sar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fred''s choice, on the other hand, was Lunatone. Pokmon: Lunatone (Rock/Psychic) Level: 79 Potential: Cyan Ability: Levitate Held Item: Star Piece Gender: Genderless Moves: Tackle, Moonlight, Confusion, Moonblast, Harden, Rock Throw, Hypnosis, Rock Polish, Rock Slide, Psychic, Cosmic Power, Psyshock, Stone Edge, Future Sight, Magic Room, Explosion TMs: Hyper Beam, Giga Impact, Protect, Reflect, Light Screen, Psychic Terrain, Power Swap, Sand Tomb, Endure, Sleep Talk, Icy Wind, Earthquake, Trick Room, Rock Blast, Body Slam Egg Moves: None --- Lunatone was one of the least understood Pokmon, with even its origins shrouded in mystery. Its rarity surpassed even that of pseudo-legendaries. The first Lunatone was discovered over a century ago near the site of a meteor crash. Since then, Lunatones had occasionally been spotted around other meteor impact sites. Some Pokmon researchers theorized that Lunatone might be extraterrestrial in origin. However, traces of Lunatones had also been found in certain secret realms, often alongside Solrock. Both Lunatone and Solrock were mysterious Pokmon with unknown origins. They shared another enigma: as genderless Pokmon, no one had figured out how they reproduced or continued their species. /ReduxMagister Chapter 322: Wake Up, You Fool! Chapter 322: Wake Up, You Fool!"This time he''s bound to lose. He''s not even at the Elite levelhow could he possibly beat Grandpa?" Although Ethan didn''t have much skill himself, he wasn''t entirely blind when it came to judging battles. While Steelix appeared imposing, he could tell that it wasn''t at Elite level. Elite-level Pokmon were fundamentally different from regular ones. Even if an Elite-level Pokmon suppressed its aura, you could still sense something extraordinary about it just by looking at it. Steelix was at the peak of pseudo-Elite, while Lunatone was at the peak of Elite level. The gap between the two was significant. So the first priority was to narrow that gap. "Steelix, Mega Evolve!" As a dazzling rainbow light engulfed Steelix, a few seconds later, Mega Steelix emerged on the battlefield. Mega Steelix''s new form boasted a ring of floating metallic shards around its neck, divided into six groups rotating clockwise. Its three rod-like protrusions had transformed into crystalline structures resembling diamonds, and its tail tip had also adopted a diamond-like appearance. Additionally, four previously unadorned body segments now featured hexagonal blue ring patterns on their sides. Its height had also increased significantly compared to before, and its level temporarily surged from 70 to 73. Seeing this, Ethan fell silent. He had completely forgotten about Mega Evolution. Feeling the dramatic boost in power, Mega Steelix''s confidence surged. In this moment, it even dared to consider facing Metagross head-on. Its piercing gaze locked onto Lunatone, roughly 400 meters away. Mega Steelix: "I''ll take you down first." Its massive body began moving forward. While not particularly fast, its enormous size made each movement cover significant ground. As it closed in on Lunatone, a massive spectral jaw filled with sharp teeth formed in midair and lunged toward the opponent. Lunatone unleashed its Psychic energy, shattering the attack with a . "Lunatone, Future Sight" A mysterious orb of light shot from Lunatone into the sky. The next second, the orb vanished from sight. Future Sight: While Lunatone was preparing , Mega Steelix''s was already raised and crashing down. For a Pokmon of its size, the force of the attack was truly terrifying. As the descended, it caused a sonic boom, its tip streaking through the air with white energy that compressed the atmosphere beneath it. "Psychic!" Facing an capable of demolishing a skyscraper, Lunatone remained motionless. Its eyes glowed blue, and ripples of psychic energy surged outward, striking Mega Steelix''s in successive waves. Each time was struck by the psychic waves, its power weakened slightly. At just ten centimeters away from Lunatone, came to a complete stop. No matter how much force Mega Steelix exerted, the ten centimeter gap remained unbridgeable, an invisible wall created by Lunatone''s held the Iron Tail in place. As the blue glow in Lunatone''s eyes intensified, Mega Steelix felt its massive body begin to lift off the ground, inch by inch. "Steelix, Screech!" Julian said. Hearing this, Fred''s expression changed slightly. Though Mega Steelix''s body was immobilized, it could still use its mouth. As its jaws opened, an ear-piercing sound, like the sound of a blade scraping against glass, echoed across the battlefield. Lunatone''s face twisted in discomfort, and its focus on faltered. Mega Steelix crashed back to the ground. "Dig!" "Moonblast!" Julian and Fred shouted almost simultaneously. Lunatone began gathering energy for , but Mega Steelix''s massive form vanished underground before the move could land. Fred''s face darkened slightly. Julian had read his actions and preempted his move. Mega Steelix had dodged the with before Lunatone could complete its attack. Moments later, the ground cracked open. Mega Steelix erupted from beneath the surface like a venomous snake striking a sparrow, its massive jaws snapping toward Lunatone. At the critical moment, a pale green protective barrier enveloped Lunatone. Mega Steelix''s jaws slammed into the . Cracks began to spread across the barrier, but it held firm. Perhaps the shield would shatter in the next instant, or maybe in two or three seconds. Either way, Lunatone only needed those few seconds. Sarch* The N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The ground beneath Mega Steelix rapidly turned to sand, swallowing a third of its massive body in mere moments. The powerful suction created by rendered even Mega Steelix''s immense strength useless. The loose sand negated its efforts to move effectively. And at that very moment, a brilliant white beam of light descended from above, striking Mega Steelix squarely on the head. had landed. The timing couldn''t have been better. Trapped by , Mega Steelix had no way to dodge. Fred allowed himself a slight smile. A bit of luck always felt good. Julian, however, remained silent. "Steelix, Drill Run," he said calmly. Just when Mega Steelix was thinking about how to escape the predicament, Julian''s voice made its eyes light up with realization. Yes, it could use that move. Although suction restricted its movement, Mega Steelix''s massive body could spin with the flow of the shifting sands, turning the trap into an advantage. that once restrained Mega Steelix, in an instant, become its ally. Harnessing the shifting sands, it completed in the blink of an eye. Like a high-speed spinning drill, Mega Steelix pierced through the , dispersing it entirely. Using the momentum from its rotation, it propelled itself out of the . Watching Mega Steelix charge toward Lunatone with , Fred glanced at Julian with a hint of admiration. From the to disrupt Lunatone, to reading his moves, and now , Julian consistently found ways to help his Pokmon escape dire situations at critical moments. Such precise command and adaptabilityno wonder he overshadowed his peers, and now even dared to challenge veteran trainers. But Fred''s Lunatone wasn''t so easily bested. Lunatone''s eyes flashed blue, and several materialized in the path. The first shattered in an instant. The second broke within half a second. By the time the fifth shattered, Mega Steelix''s had lost all its momentum, and its massive body came to a halt. The power of was completely neutralized by the five , and Lunatone had prepared six. "Hypnosis" Mega Steelix, still recovering from the halted , suddenly felt its eyelids grow heavy. They fluttered open and shut, a deep drowsiness washing over it. It wanted nothing more than to close its eyes and rest. Seeing Mega Steelix''s eyelids slowly close, Fred smiled faintly. "Wake up, you fool!" Just as Mega Steelix was about to succumb to sleep, Julian''s sharp voice boomed directly into its mind. /ReduxMagister Chapter 323: Beg you? Chapter 323: Beg you?Using psychic, Julian transmitted his voice directly into Mega Steelix''s mind. The drowsiness in Steelix''s eyes vanished in an instant. Mega Steelix looked confusedjust now, it seemed like its trainer''s voice had echoed in its head. Once again, Julian''s voice rang in its mind. Under Lunatone''s puzzled gaze, Mega Steelix, which had been on the verge of falling asleep, suddenly woke up without warningand immediately bit down on it. Caught off guard, Lunatone had no time to react before Steelix''s powerful jaws clamped down, exerting a crushing force that felt as if it would snap its body in two. Waves of searing pain spread through Lunatone''s entire being. Finally, it could no longer stay consciousits vision blurred, and its mind went blank. Seeing this, Mega Steelix released Lunatone from its jaws, tossing it aside before spitting. Mega Steelix: Fred: Julian released the Mega Evolution, and Mega Steelix returned to its original form. As the overwhelming power faded, Steelix showed a look of reluctancebeing at an Elite level had been intoxicating. Steelix: However, as soon as the transformation ended, a wave of exhaustion swept over its body. Defeating Lunatone had come at a cost. In its Mega state, Steelix had greater strength and endurance, but now that the transformation was gone, its body had to bear the injuries it had sustained. The fact that it remained standing showed just how tough its body was. "Sister, why wasn''t Mega Steelix hypnotized just now?" The girl''s question mirrored the confusion of the spectators. They had seen it clearlyLunatone''s had successfully landed, and Mega Steelix had indeed been affected. It had even been about to fall asleep, only to suddenly wake up as if nothing had happened. , once successful, was like full-body anesthesiait put the target to sleep within seconds, and sheer willpower alone couldn''t resist it. Some trainers, upon seeing their Pokmon hypnotized, would desperately shout to wake them up, but that was futile. Unless the effect wore off naturally, a hypnotized Pokmon couldn''t be roused by external noise. At the very least, a single command from the trainer wasn''t enoughtheir voice simply wasn''t loud enough. Hearing the question, the others turned toward the girl''s older sister, as if expecting her to know the answer. On the surface, the older sister remained calm, but inside, she wanted to smack her rebellious little sister. She didn''t mind being admired by her siblingbut couldn''t she at least check who was watching before speaking up like that? So, she decided to pretend she hadn''t heard anything. Instead, Frank, standing nearby, answered, "It''s probably Aura. Julian has advanced-level Aura abilities, so he must have used that to wake up Mega Steelix." Upon hearing this, the dozen or so onlookers silently cursed in their hearts. Not only did he have a powerful family background and overwhelming talent, but he also possessed a special ability''and'' an advanced one at that! Advanced level special abilities were extremely rare in Drakoria, akin to a phoenix feather or a unicorn''s horn. Moreover, it was only when a special ability reached an advanced level that it truly showed its full potential. For example, with advanced Aura, Julian could form and launch , something impossible at the basic or intermediate levels. "Uncle, Julian was in a Mega Evolution state, and he still had the energy to use Aura?" Ethan asked skeptically, wearing an expression that clearly said, The surrounding people were taken aback. During Mega Evolution, a trainer had to focus intensely. Even the slightest distraction could cause them to lose control and revert their Pokmon back to its normal form. Surprisingly, this time, Frank didn''t call Ethan ignorant. Instead, he gave him an approving look, surprised that the kid had actually thought of such a valid question. "It''s not impossible. In an official tournament, an Elite-level Psychic trainer once demonstrated the ability to maintain a Psychic link with their Pokmon while it was in Mega Evolution. Their Alakazam received two separate power boosts during the battle." That tournament had been nearly ten years ago. Given the age of the people present, it wasn''t surprising that most of them didn''t remember or hadn''t watched it. "But doing that would place an immense strain on the trainer." Frank turned to Julian, feeling a bit puzzled. Julian''s expression remained perfectly natural, as if he hadn''t exerted himself at all. That was strange. Mega Evolution alone consumed a significant amount of energy, and their battle had lasted quite a while. Yet, Julian showed no signs of exhaustion. Julian had only told his family about his intermediate-level Psychic abilities. To everyone else, this remained one of his hidden trump cards. Meanwhile, Fred had also guessed that Julian had used Aura to wake up Steelix. If Steelix had remained under , the outcome of the match would have been entirely different. Having already lost two rounds, Gym Leader Fred''s expression became serious. When Julian defeated his Probopass, he had already put aside his initial underestimation of him. But he hadn''t expected that even his second Pokmon, Lunatone, would also be defeated by Julian. "Old John, you really raised an outstanding grandson," Fred said enviously. He couldn''t help but think of his own two grandsonsthe eldest and second-born of the family. Both were typical rich second generation disappointments. All they did was go around bullying trainers from common backgrounds. But when they faced other heirs of prestigious families? They dropped to their knees without a fight. Julian: "It was alright, I guess." Ethan: "He''s so arrogant! Not humble at all!" Frank smacked Ethan on the head and said, "Only the capable have the right to be arrogant. If you had even half of his talent, our family would be yours to command in the future." Ethan''s eyes lit up with excitement. "Really?!" "Yeah. But can you actually do it?" "Nope" Ethan shook his head without hesitation. Frank was speechless. Thinking this, Frank smacked the back of Ethan''s head againthis time with enough force to almost send him to the ground. "Uncle, what was that for?! If you keep this up, I''m going to get mad!" Ethan protested angrily. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Frank smirked. "Mad, huh? How about we have a little battle? You can choose the Pokmon''s level. Or, if you prefer, we can settle this with some good old-fashioned hand-to-hand combat." Ethan instantly backed down. As for hand-to-hand combat, looking at his own body, weakened from years of indulgence and at Frank''sripped, trained, and built like a tank. Ethan gulped. "Uncle, if you hit me you''ll have to beg me." Frank let out an annoyed laugh. "Beg you?" Ethan: "Beg me not to die." Frank: /ReduxMagister Chapter 324: Metagross Vs Tyranitar Chapter 324: Metagross Vs TyranitarWhile the uncle and nephew bantered, Fred had already sent out his third Pokmon. Losing two battles in a row hadn''t affected his mindset in the slightest. With the appearance of his third Pokmon, the first thing everyone heard was a powerful, domineering roar. A Tyranitar, resembling a small dinosaur, stood tall in the arena, its roar echoing throughout the battlefield. Ethan''s eyes lit up with excitement. "Grandpa''s Tyranitar is even stronger than Probopass! That guy is definitely going to lose!" Tyranitar wasn''t just a pseudo-legendary Pokmonit was also a symbol of the Rock-type Gym. Pokmon: Tyranitar (Rock/Dark) Level: 80 Potential: Cyan Ability: Sand Stream Held Item: Focus Band Gender: Male Moves: Thunder Fang, Ice Fang, Fire Fang, Tackle, Rock Throw, Iron Defense, Payback, Scary Face, Bite, Rock Slide, Leer, Dark Pulse, Crunch, Earthquake, Stomping Tantrum, Stone Edge, Thrash, Screech, Sandstorm, Hyper Beam, Giga Impact TMs: Thunder Wave, Dig, Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Focus Punch, Mega Punch, Protect, Sand Tomb, Rock Blast, Taunt, Earth Power, Heavy Slam, Outrage, Bulldoze Egg Moves: Ancient Power, High Horsepower, Rock Tomb, Stomp --- Feeling the constant shaking of Aggron''s Pok Ball on his waist, Julian said softly, "You''re not ready to face it yet." Although he was eager to see an Aggron and a Tyranitar clashtwo Pokmon that looked like absolute beastshe knew Aggron was currently no match for Tyranitar. Under normal circumstances, Julian wouldn''t have minded sending Aggron out. But this was a Gym challenge, and Tyranitar was Fred''s ace. He wasn''t confident that Aggron could take down the opponent''s trump card. S~ea??h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As if understanding his reasoning, the shaking of Aggron''s Pok Ball gradually stopped. Julian then placed his hand on the first Pok Ball on his belt. With a flash of white light, a silver-white Metagross appeared on the battlefield. Its metallic body gleamed under the light, and the golden X on its forehead gave it an imposing aura. While it wasn''t as ferocious-looking as Tyranitar, its presence was just as commanding. Pokmon: Metagross (Steel/Psychic) Level: 70 Potential: Purple Ability: Light Metal Held Item: Metal Coat Gender: Genderless Moves: Tackle, Steel Beam, Confusion, Metal Claw, Bullet Punch, Flash Cannon, Magnet Rise, Psychic, Scary Face, Hammer Arm, Meteor Mash, Take Down, Agility, Hyper Beam TMs: Iron Head, Zen Headbutt, Iron Defense, Reflect, Protect, Light Screen, Psycho Cut, Shadow Ball, Gyro Ball, Psyshock, Trailblaze, Bulldoze, Mud-Slap, Aerial Ace, Icy Wind, Rock Tomb, Brick Break, Thunder Punch, Rest, Teleport, Psychic Fangs, Hard Press, Giga Impact, Future Sight, Focus Punch, Earthquake, Heavy Slam, Rock Slide, Grass Knot Egg Moves: None --- Metagross''s level hadn''t changed in the past three months, still at the peak of pseudo-Elite. Its potential remained Purple, though a tenth of it had already transitioned to Gold. The two pseudo-legendary Pokmon locked eyes. Even though Metagross was at a lower level than Tyranitar, it showed no fear in the face of the Elite-level pressure radiating from its opponent. Tyranitar: "You don''t need to force yourself. If you can''t handle it, just stay down." Metagross: "Idiot" In terms of intelligence, Metagross, with its supercomputer-like brain, viewed Tyranitar as little more than a simpleton. In fact, it considered Julian to be one as well. Tyranitar: "I''m going to crush you!" With a deafening roar from Tyranitar, the battle officially began. Pieces of rocks erupted from the battlefield, each towering dozens of meters high. As they shot out from the ground, their sharp tips carried streaks of white air pressure, cutting through the battlefield like blades. In response to Tyranitar''s , Metagross used , instantly appearing right in front of its opponent. Its right arm lifted, fist glowing with a rainbow-colored light, as it aimed a powerful at Tyranitar. Tyranitar countered with a , meeting Metagross head-on. The air between them cracked and exploded as their fists clashed. In just a fraction of a second, the force from and collided. A shockwave burst from the point of impact, sweeping through the battlefield like a raging storm. The sheer force tore up the ground on either side of them, leaving deep trenches in its wake. The ground beneath Tyranitar''s feet began to fracture as its massive body started to sink slightly. "Tar?" Feeling the immense force transmitted through its arm, Tyranitar''s eyes widened in disbelief. Its had been completely overpowered. The moment its attack crumbled, Metagross''s followed through, sending Tyranitar flying backward more than a hundred meters. Its thick legs scraped against the battlefield, carving deep grooves into the ground. It had actually been knocked back by a single hit! Fred''s eyes flickered with surprise. Although Metagross''s level hadn''t changed, its strength was still growing. The Walker family''s resources, combined with the system''s support, had been invested the most into Metagross. It had always been the top priority. The result of this investment was Metagross''s unscientific increase in power. Of course, the system played the biggest role in this. With countless enhancement drugs boosting all six of its base stats, Metagross had become a perfectly balanced fighteran unstoppable warrior. Feeling it''s arm trembling slightly, Tyranitar was surprised, but it also felt deeply unwilling to accept this outcome. Strength was supposed to be its greatest pride. And now it had lost in raw power to a chunk of metal? No way. It had to be because it didn''t eat enough for breakfast. Tyranitar: "Again!" Fred made no attempt to stop Tyranitar''s seemingly reckless behavior. "Meta!" Metagross teleported in front of Tyranitar once again. Since its opponent was so eager to continue, it would gladly oblige. Its fist, shining with the brilliant light of , swung directly at Tyranitar''s face. This time, however, Tyranitar didn''t use it went for instead. Flames roared to life around its fist as it clashed with Metagross''s attack. Julian''s expression darkened slightly. Fortunately, overpowered the , otherwise the might have caused burn contest condition. Tyranitar: "Again!" Metagross: "Like hell I will." Just moments ago, Metagross had thought of Tyranitar as nothing more than a muscle-headed fool. But now, it nearly learned a painful lessonit would not underestimate its opponent again. Metagross spread its arms wide, gathering energy. In the next instant, a brilliant silver beam shot forward. "Tyranitar, Hyper Beam!" A golden energy beam erupted from Tyranitar''s mouth, colliding with Metagross''s silver blast. The two beams clashed violently, gold and silver intertwining as they struggled for dominance. As more energy poured in from both Pokmon, the clash turned into a massive sphere of swirling energy, growing larger with each passing second. Then "BOOM!!!" A deafening explosion rocked the battlefield. A towering cloud of smoke rose into the air, while a devastating shockwave rippled outward. The ground cracked apart inch by inch under the sheer force of the blast. Countless rocks were reduced to dust, and even the protective barrier surrounding the battlefield trembled, sending out visible ripples. Tyranitar, despite its massive bulk, was pushed back dozens of meters by the impact. Meanwhile, Metagross used a to block the shock wave in front of it. /ReduxMagister Chapter 325: Metagross Vs Tyranitar II Chapter 325: Metagross Vs Tyranitar II"Zen Headbutt!" The shockwave had barely settled when Julian''s command rang out. A surge of Psychic energy enveloped Metagross''s body. With the help of its electromagnetism, its speed skyrocketed. A sharp pain shot through Tyranitar''s abdomen as the powerful impact landed. Still reeling from the previous shockwave, its massive body was once again sent flying nearly a hundred meters. "Tar!" Digging its heels into the ground, Tyranitar forcibly stopped itself from being pushed back any further. With a deep growl, it launched a , its fist roaring through the air with an explosive force. Metagross plummeted like a meteor, crashing into the battlefield with a deafening impact. The ground trembled as if struck by an earthquake. Tyranitar glanced down at its own abdomen. Despite the tough armor protecting it, cracks had formed where Metagross''s had landed. A wave of intense pain pulsed through its bodyso intense that it almost made Tyranitar throw up its previous meal. Seeing Metagross buried in the crater, Tyranitar''s eyes gleamed coldly. It raised its massive left foot, an immense energy surging through its body. The foot came crashing down with incredible force. The ground fractured in an instant, pieces of rock protruded from the deepening fissures. Cracks spread outward like a web, and at the center, the earth caved in by dozens of meters. A violent shockwave erupted, turning shattered stones into fine dust. "He lost! Uncle, I told you he couldn''t beat Grandpa!" Ethan grinned excitedly. Julian had won two battles in a row, but now he was finally defeated. And with Tyranitar'' strength, defeating the two Pokmon from before must not be a problem. "Good! Serves him right for bullying my idol!" The little girl clapped her hands in delight. "Sister, you said he was strong, but he doesn''t seem all that impressive to me." "Considering his age, the fact that he defeated two of gym leader Fred''s Pokmon is already remarkable. Even if he loses here, do you really think that makes him weak?" the older woman replied calmly. Though she was speaking to her sister, her eyes never left the battlefieldor Julian. Something about the situation felt off. It didn''t seem like it was over just yet. "Tch, what an act. Metagross is about to be stomped to death, and he still won''t recall it?" Ethan sneered. Julian remained expressionless, showing no reaction to Metagross being pinned down. That only made him seem even more infuriating. His words, however, made Frank and the older woman pause. Julian''s face was too calmif Metagross had truly lost, there was no way he would look so indifferent. "Ty?" Sarch* The ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Tyranitar looked down. It had thought the battle was over, but suddenly, a powerful force surged from beneath its foot. Its left leg was slowly being lifted. That guy still wasn''t down. "Tar!" Realizing this possibility, and feeling the force beneath its foot, Tyranitar immediately pressed down harder with its left leg, trying to stomp Metagross back into the ground. But no matter how much strength it used, its foot refused to go down any further. Tyranitar clenched its teeth so hard it nearly cracked them, yet all it could do was watch as its left foot was slowly lifted. Before the stunned eyes of the onlookers, Tyranitarwho had been standing firmlywas suddenly flipped over, its massive body crashing heavily into the ground. From beneath it, Metagross slowly rose. A cloud of dust cascaded from its sleek, silver-white body. As the dust settled, Metagross stood therecompletely unscathed. "Impossible!" The older woman''s pupils shrank in shock. Tyranitar''s was strong enough to shatter a small mountain, yet Metagross had taken it head-on without a single scratch. Ethan stood with his mouth agape, too stunned to speak. Only Frank remained unsurprised. As Julian''s teacher, he understood better than anyone just how absurd Metagross''s durability was. He had explained beforeMetagross''s shiny coloration gave it a unique trait: its natural defense was twice as strong as that of a normal Metagross. For most physical attacks, it was like being tickled. On top of that, its defense had been further enhanced through extensive investment. Taking Tyranitar''s head-on without injury? It actually made sense. The spectators: "Tyranitar, Mega Evolve!" Fred sighed inwardly. Julian was far too monstrous. Even after bringing out his ace, he still couldn''t take down Metagrossforcing him to be the first to use Mega Evolution. As the evolution completed, the battlefield trembled. Standing there now was Mega Tyranitar, even more imposing, ferocious, and powerful than before. "Metagross, Mega Evolve!" Mega Tyranitar had reached level 82, which was early pseudo-Champion-level. Julian wasn''t reckless enough to have a peak pseudo-Elite Metagross fight an early pseudo-Champion-level opponent. With Mega Evolution, Metagross''s level increased from 70 to 73. "He actually forced the old man to use Mega Evolution," Frank muttered. The distance between Mega Metagross and Mega Tyranitar was less than 100 meters. Fine grains of sand swirled around Mega Tyranitar. Within moments, the entire battlefield was shrouded in a raging sandstorm. had been activated. The ability had no effect on Rock-, Ground-, or Steel-type Pokmon, but all other Pokmon would take continuous damage in this environment. Since Mega Metagross was a Steel-type, the sandstorm didn''t affect it. Fred knew this, of course, but he still activated not just to strengthen Mega Tyranitar, but also to disrupt Mega Metagross''s vision. The fine sand constantly struck against Mega Metagross'' body, yet it caused no damage. Instead, it polished its metallic body, making it shine even brighter. "TAR!" Mega Tyranitar roared. After Mega Evolution, both its stamina and energy had recovered to some extent, but more importantly, it had temporarily broken past its previous power limit. A scorching flame erupted from Mega Tyranitar''s mouth. The flames clashed with the swirling sand, turning the airborne grains into tiny droplets of molten rock. From a distance, the battlefield looked like it was engulfed in a fiery rain of magma, swirling within the raging sandstorm. Mega Metagross fired a , intercepting the incoming mid-air. Just as the two attacks collided, a sudden tremor spread across the battlefield. Using the sandstorm as cover, Mega Tyranitar had already closed the distance between them. It wasn''t runningit was using . Even before the attack landed, the sheer force of the compressed air in front of it pinned Mega Metagross in place, leaving it with no room to dodge. Then, like a falling meteor, Mega Tyranitar''s came crashing down. The ground beneath it crumbled into powder as the force of the attack ripped through the battlefield. "Protect!" In this situation, Mega Metagross had no time to counterattack, nor could it evade. The only optionthe best optionwas to use . "Taunt!" Fred''s voice rang out. Julian froze for a moment, then looked at Mega Tyranitar in shock. Using while locked into ? /ReduxMagister Chapter 326: Two Moves A Pokmon using two moves at the same time is possibleas long as it undergoes proper training. For example, a Fighting-type Pokmon could use with its left hand and with its right. A Venusaur could use while simultaneously triggering . Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Some Pokmon are even born with this ability. For instance, a Hydreigon, with its three heads, can execute different moves simultaneously. Similarly, a Dodrio can do the same. However, using two moves at once comes with a conditionthe Pokmon must still maintain control over the first move while activating the second one. If a Pokmon tries to use a second move but loses control of the first, not only will the second move fail, but the failure of the first could also backfire and cause self-inflicted damage. Yet, Mega Tyranitar had successfully pulled off while still executing , a high-power move. Mega Tyranitar: *** At that moment, Mega Metagross, which was about to use , froze for a second. Taunt: And happens to be a status move. As a result, Mega Metagross'' failed, leaving it completely vulnerable. Then, Mega Tyranitar''s crashed down upon it, like the sky itself collapsing. The only thing Mega Metagross could do was cross its arms in front of itself in defense. The force of the impact shook the entire battlefield, shattering the ground further into piecesnot a single spot remained intact. The explosion sent debris flying everywhere, forming a chaotic battlefield of rubble. At the center of the impact, a massive energy surge erupted, and with a loud , a black mushroom cloud rose into the air. Right after, a shockwave swept across the battlefield like a raging tide, completely ravaging what little was left of the terrain. Countless stones were pulverized into powder. The shockwave from the explosion lasted for a full three to four minutes before finally settling down. "Ty!" Mega Tyranitar stood, staring into the crater where Mega Metagross remained still, staring back at it. Mega Metagross: Just as everyone thought Mega Metagross had finally fallen, they suddenly saw Mega Tyranitar get launched into the air. Then, Mega Metagross slowly rose from the crater. It was an exact repeat of the scene from before. Julian glanced at Fred. As expected from a national level Gym Leader. Fred had indeed given him a lesson just now, but... His Metagross wasn''t the kind of Pokmon that could be beaten so easily. "Metagross, Hammer Arm," Julian said coldly. Mega Metagross moved at incredible speed, closing the distance in the blink of an eye. All four of its powerful arms glowed with a brilliant silver light as it hammered down on Mega Tyranitar below. The first strike sent Mega Tyranitar plummeting straight from midair into the ground. The second strike slammed into its abdomen. The battlefield, already reduced to rubble, was turned into dust, and the ground caved in by over ten meters. The third strike once again targeted the abdomen, shattering the armor plating and leaving it riddled with cracks of various sizes. The ground beneath it groaned, as if it could barely withstand the force. As the air exploded with force and Mega Tyranitar''s eyes filled with despair, the final came crashing down. BOOM!!! The ground was completely obliteratedthe entire battlefield was split in two. A massive shockwave erupted from deep underground, shooting into the sky. Under the horrified gazes of the onlookers, the battlefield, which was the size of two soccer fields, began to collapse. Soon, the steel framework underneath was exposed. Many of those steel beams were bent or outright broken. The battlefield was completely destroyedthough, to be fair, Mega Metagross wasn''t the only one responsible for the damage. Julian: Tyranitar is 4 weaker to Fighting-type moves. Under Mega Metagross'' ability, it took four consecutive , all targeting the same spot. Forget about Mega Tyranitareven Godzilla himself would''ve been forced to kneel after that. Having lost consciousness, Mega Tyranitar reverted back to its normal form. Its abdomen armor was completely shattered, revealing torn flesh and nonstop bleeding. Julian thought to himself, but there was no helping it. Mega Tyranitar was a tough opponentMega Metagross couldn''t afford to hold back. If it had, the one on the ground might have been itself. Fred shook his head, recalling Tyranitar into its Pok Ball before handing it over to a staff member for medical treatment. A Gym, especially a national-level one, was always equipped with medical facilities and Pokmon doctors. As long as a Pokmon wasn''t outright dead, there was no risk of it dying here. Standing on the battlefield, Fred recalled what John had told him over the phone earlier. Back then, he thought it was just a joke. But now? He was the joke. This so-called Number One of the Younger Generation His sights were now set on taking down the older generation instead. And it seemed like he was the first veteran trainer Julian had defeated. Thinking about that, Fred''s expression darkened. This was embarrassing. So many people were watchinghis son, grandson, and the entire audience. Had he known things would turn out this way, he wouldn''t have let them come. His reputation was in shambles now. "Tyranitar is unable to battle, Metagross wins. In this Gym Challenge, the challenger, Julian, is victorious!" As the referee, Frank announced the result. But as he did, his emotions were complicated. His own student had just defeated his father. Was he supposed to be happy or sad? "Meta~" Metagross hovered over to Julian. "You''ve worked hard." Julian patted the side of its head, his gaze falling on a thin crack on its bodyabout the length of an index finger and a centimeter wide. Metagross'' entire body was made of metalit had no blood and wasn''t a creature of flesh and bone. That gave it immense durability, but at the same time, healing from injuries took much longer. Well, that was true for most Metagross. But Julian''s Metagross was different. "Here" He took out a Full Restore and had Metagross consume it. With this, it would be fine by tomorrow. Even with the powerful medicinal effects of Full Restore, a tiny crack like this still needed a full day to heal. This made it clearif Metagross didn''t have access to Full Restore, it would take at least half a month to recover, even with proper treatment. Chapter 327: Badge "Grandpa actually lost to him How is that even possible?" Ethan stood in shock. It wasn''t that he had never seen his grandfather lose to a challenger before, but every single one of those challengers had been renowned Elite trainerssome were even older than his grandfather himself. But Juliansomeone younger than him by a few yearshad not only reached the rank of an Elite at such a young age, but now he had done something even more astonishing. He had challenged a veteran trainer as part of the younger generation and won. "There''s nothing impossible about it. The future of Drakoria lies in geniuses like Julian." Frank had already calmed down. He glanced at his nephew and continued, "As for you you''re not even qualified to be his stepping stone." The moon hung high, but no stars accompanied it. His nephew wasn''t even a star in the sky. Ethan''s face twisted in frustration. Meanwhile, the other spectators were just as stunned. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian had won three battles in a row, and his Metagross had just defeated Tyranitaryet it still looked ready for another fight. "Old John told me before to take this battle seriously, or I might lose." "I didn''t think he''d actually be right." "Among the younger generation of trainers in Drakoria, you are undoubtedly the strongest." Fred walked up to Julian. There was no displeasure on his faceinstead, he looked at Julian with genuine admiration. "Elder, you flatter me. If this had been a full 6v6 battle, I wouldn''t have stood a chance against you." Julian shook his head. In a 3v3, he had over a 90% chance of winning, but in a 6v6, his chances would drop to around 50%. And real battles were almost always 6v6. "Hahaha! If you beat me in a 6v6, I wouldn''t even have the face to show myself anymore!" Fred laughed heartily, then reached out and handed Julian a badge. "Here, this is your badge." The Rock-Type Gym Badge was brownish-gray, about the size of a coin. One side had a rock symbol, while the other side had the words ''Rock'' inscribed on it. Its design was simplebut then again, all eighteen national-level gym badges had simple designs. It wasn''t the appearance of the badge that matteredit was what it represented. "Ding!" "Hidden Task Completed: First Badge" "Reward: Rare Candies x5 (usable below Elite level), 3,000 points." --- Julian smiled slightly as he took the badge. At that moment, Frank approached, with the reluctant-looking Ethan following behind him. "You''ve come far, kid. Even I wouldn''t be able to beat you anymore," Frank said with a sigh. Julian had already defeated his fatherso defeating him would obviously be no problem at all. Thinking about that, Frank felt a bit conflicted. Frank''s strength was around mid-Elite level, and if they were to have a full 6v6 battle, Julian could definitely beat him. "You all go ahead and chat. This old man is tiredI''m heading back to rest." Fred glanced at the young men and women nearby, who were all eagerly watching the scene. Then, with his hands clasped behind his back, he leisurely walked toward the other end of the gym. "Grandpa, I''m coming with you!" Ethan quickly called out and hurried after him. He had no interest in staying near Juliannot only was he already frustrated, but he couldn''t even show it. Worse yet, he had to pretend to be respectful toward Julian. Frank glared at his useless nephew. There were countless people who wanted to get on Julian''s good side but never got the chanceyet Julian was right in front of him, and he chose to run away instead. Frank didn''t bother stopping himhe knew exactly what was going through his nephew''s mind. So he simply let it be. As soon as Fred and Ethan left, the ten or so spectators eagerly stepped forward. "Come, Julian, let me introduce you to the rising talents of Rockwell City," Frank gestured toward the group. These families were all on good terms with their familyotherwise, they wouldn''t have been allowed to watch the match up close. Although there were about a dozen people, they only represented four families. Each family had sent three or four members, and they were all good-looking, both the men and women. As descendants of prestigious families, their appearance had been refined over generations. It was actually rarer to find someone unattractive among themmost were at least above average in looks, and handsome men and beautiful women were far more common. Meanwhile, the strongest family in Rockwell City was Frank''s family itself. These four families had long been allied with the them. After Frank introduced them, Julian nodded in acknowledgment. He wasn''t particularly fond of such social gatherings, but since: 1. Frank was the one introducing them, and 2. He was also a descendant of a aristocratic family himself, He figured there was no reason to refuse when they were approaching him with goodwill. However, he couldn''t help but notice that a 15- or 16-year-old girl was glaring at him, puffing her cheeks in anger. She looked so frustrated that Julian had no doubtif he stretched his hand out toward her, she would bite him without hesitation. "Kelly, don''t be rude." A young woman beside her gently scolded her. "He bullied my idol!" Kelly huffed angrily. Hearing those words, Julian immediately knew who she was talking about. "You''re not allowed to call my idol a effeminate!" Kelly gritted her teeth and glared at Julian. "Kelly, if you say one more word, I will send you home right now." Dawn was furious. She glared at her younger sister with clear frustration. It had taken a lot of effort to convince their family to let her approach Julianand now, her own sister was sabotaging her. "My apologies, Young Master Julian. My sister has had issues since childhood." Julian nodded seriously. "I can see that. You should get her treated early. I mean, just look at her taste." Because her sister was already glaring at her, Kelly didn''t dare talk back. But her expression showed pure grievance, and her eyes were welling up with tears, as if she was on the verge of breaking down. ** Deep inside, she absolutely despised Julian. Meanwhile, the other three families stood by, clearly enjoying the show. Even though the family had sent out their famous "sister duo", they had completely fumbled the opportunity. Among the ten or so people present, six were girls, and if they were just talking about looks, the sisters were undoubtedly the most stunning. Even though Kelly was still young, she had already started to show the beauty and grace she would have in the future. And as for her older sister, Dawnshe was practically a legend among the elite circles of Rockwell City. She was known as "the city''s most beautiful flower"Tall, elegant, beautiful, refined, and intelligent. If she took the initiative, no man could resist her charm. Except she had just been completely ruined by her own sister. Which made the whole situation hilarious. Julian: Chapter 328: Women Are Trouble "Gym Challenge Completed." After snapping a photo of his newly acquired Gym Badge, Julian edited the caption and hit send. He politely declined the group''s invitation for dinner and returned to Gardevoir Hotel. Once back in his room, he released Lucario, Melmetal, and Arcanine from their Pok Balls. "Don''t even think about howling, or I''ll send you for neutering." Julian spoke immediately, just as Arcanine was about to throw its head back and howl at the ceiling. Arcanine looked at Julian resentfully. Even though it suspected its trainer was just bluffing, it didn''t dare to take the risk. It could already feel a chill between its legs. Turning to Lucario, it seemed to be asking "We''re both dog Pokmon, so why don''t you ever feel the urge to howl?" Lucario: "I just happen to have a dog-shaped head." Julian then took out the Rare Candies he had received as a Hidden Quest reward. - One for Lucario - Two for Melmetal - Two for Arcanine Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That made exactly five candies, distributed perfectly. The three Pokmon''s eyes lit up. They had eaten Rare Candies before and knew exactly how valuable they were. One candy immediately raised their levelwithout any drawbacks. After consuming them, all three Pokmon reached Level 70, the peak of pseudo-Elite. They had already been one or two levels short, so these Rare Candies came at the perfect time. Now, together with his Metagross and Steelix, Julian had five Pokmon at Level 70, all at the cusp of breaking into the Elite tier. Once one of them broke through, the rest wouldn''t be far behind. At that point, Julian''s strength would skyrocket, and he would officially become a Trainer with six Elite-level Pokmon. As for the rest of his team: - Aggron C Level 66 - Gengar C Level 65 - Slowking C Level 60 - Gabite C Level 46 Among them, Aggron and Gengar would likely reach Level 70 within the next two to three months. "Alright, from now on, all three of you will start accumulating energy. No breakthroughs unless I say so," Julian said solemnly. The longer they accumulated energy for their breakthrough, the higher their power spike would be when they finally advanced. This would also enhance their potential, making them even stronger in the long run. "Patience now would lead to greater brilliance in the future." Arcanine tilted its head, confused, not quite understanding what its trainer meant. This Arcanine definitely had some dumb Husky traitsbut it was so damn cute. That head tilt was an absolute lethal strike to Julian''s weakness for cute things. Julian patted Arcanine''s big head before warning "Especially you. If you dare to breakthrough on your own I''ll make you Slowking''s little sister." Among all of Julian''s Pokmon, Slowking was the only female. So the meaning behind "becoming sisters" was self-explanatory. "Grow!" Arcanine: "I want to be the big sister." Julian: After having dinner at the hotel, Julian checked the timeit was around 9 PM. It was the perfect time to head for the auction. The annual mysterious auction in Rockwell City was definitely worth a visit. Now that his Gym Challenge was over, he might as well go spend a few millions for fun. Just as he stepped into the hotel lobby, he immediately spotted Dawn, the elder sister of Kelly. Her airheaded little sister, however, was nowhere to be seen. Dawn had been waiting in the lobby for Julian. The moment she saw him, she quickly walked over and asked, "Young Master Julian, are you heading to the auction?" Julian nodded, then asked instinctively, "How did you know?" As far as he knew, only the hotel manager was aware of his plans. Did that guy tell her? "Just a guess," Dawn said mischievously. "I figured that since you came all the way to Rockwell City, you wouldn''t just leave so soon. And with the auction happening tonight, I thought you''d probably want to check it out." She then looked at him expectantly and asked, "Would you like to go together?" Whether it was a lucky guess or inside information, Julian didn''t really care. Besides, he didn''t know many people in Rockwell City. His teacher, Frank, had already gone back to the university. So after a brief thought, he nodded. "Sure, let''s go together." Dawn''s smile widened slightly, and for a moment, the surrounding men who had been stealing glances at her were completely mesmerized. But none of them dared to approach her. The guests staying at Gardevoir Hotel were mostly wealthy elitespeople who weren''t easily fooled by a pretty face. They understood that a beautiful stranger could also be a deadly viper. And one look at Dawn was enough to tell that she was no ordinary woman. The kind of aura she carried couldn''t be cultivated by a normal family. Women like her? Best not to mess with them. And as for the man beside her The moment they recognized who he was, they were even more afraid about approaching her. Julian got into Dawn''s car, then asked with mild curiosity, "A rich lady like you doesn''t even have a driver?" "I like driving," Dawn replied casually. Of course, she had a driver. She just chose to drive herself this time so she could spend alone time with Julian. Though in her excitement, she seemed to have forgotten something very important Her driving skills. "...How about I drive instead?" Julian suggested. He watched as she fumbled awkwardly at the controls She wanted to turn on the left signal, but instead, the windshield wipers suddenly started moving. She stepped on the brake so hard that Julian almost lost his dinner from the sudden jolts. She said she liked driving? More like she liked bumper cars. Dawn''s face turned bright red in embarrassment. If she could, she would''ve buried her head in her own chest to hide from the shame. Julian had her pull the car over to the side of the road, and he and Dawn switched seats. Even though Julian didn''t drive often, his skills were still miles ahead of Dawn''s. Following the navigation system, they made their way to Soul Auction Housethe venue for tonight''s event. Due to heavy traffic, it took them nearly an hour to arrive. By the time they got there, the auction was about to start. The parking lot was almost full, and it took Julian a few minutes of circling around before he finally found an empty spot. Unsurprisingly, the entire lot was packed with luxury cars. After their invitations were verified, a staff member led them to their seats. Julian''s seat was in one of the ten best private suites in the auction house. Dawn''s seat was also in a great location, though not a suiteinstead, it was closer to the front. "You can come with me." The suite was spacious, with room for three people. Dawn nodded immediately and followed him inside. Just as they were heading to the suite with the attendant, a voice suddenly called out to Dawn. "Niece Dawn." At the sound of this voice, Dawn turned around. Her expression briefly darkened with distaste, but she quickly masked it with a polite smile. "Uncle Albert." "Dawn, who is this man?" Beside Albert stood a young man, likely his son. The moment he saw a stranger standing next to Dawn, his expression instantly soured. Because of the dim lighting in the auction hall, neither Albert nor his son had gotten a clear look at Julian''s face. Julian: Chapter 329: No need, I have money Julian wasn''t afraid of trouble, but he saw no reason to waste his time on unnecessary drama. Too lazy to explain anything, he simply turned to Dawn and said, "I''ll head over first. You guys talk." "I''ll come find you in a bit," Dawn replied. Although she disliked the father and son duo, outright ignoring them wasn''t an option. Among aristocratic families, even if they secretly wanted to destroy each other, they always maintained perfect politeness on the surface. Seeing how closely Dawn leaned in to speak with Julian, the young man''s jealousy flared up instantly. And when he saw Julian about to leave, he shouted angrily, "I don''t care who you are! Remember thisDawn is my woman! If you don''t watch yourself and something happens to you, don''t say you weren''t warned!" This was a blatant public threat. His voice was loud, and since many people in the auction recognized the Wells family, it quickly caught attention. In Rockwell City, the Wells family was second only to Frank''s family. They had two Elite-ranked trainers, one of whom was late-stage Elite. Offending the eldest son of the Wells family meant certain doom in Rockwell Cityhe might not even live to see the sun tomorrow. Someone in the crowd sneered, "If Caleb didn''t have the Wells family backing him, he would''ve been dead a long time ago." "It''s a pity for that young man," Another person sighed. But the man next to him smirked, "Caleb just picked the wrong fight." "What do you mean? Are you saying that kid''s background is stronger than the Wells family?" The man''s expression changed as he took another look at Julian. A familiar feeling washed over him. And thenhis eyes widened as realization struck. "Hiss" "Hahaha, The Wells family''s finally in trouble." The man lowered his voice and kept laughing. Because of having two Elites in the family, the Wells family had been acting arrogant for years, stepping on many toes. Sarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And he, for one, was more than happy to see them suffer. Julian stopped in his tracks. He turned around and slowly walked toward Caleb. Standing at 1.85 meters, Julian towered over Caleb, who was barely over 1.7 meters. To Julian, Caleb was nothing but an idiotpicking a fight without even knowing who he was up against, and in a place like the auction house where the rich and powerful gathered. Did he seriously think that anyone who could enter this auction house was just an ordinary person? "You little" Caleb barely got a word out before His father, Albert, suddenly smacked him across the face. Caleb stood there, stunned. Caleb: "Young Master Walker, I sincerely apologize. My son has been mentally challenged since birth." As Julian walked up to Caleb, Albert finally got a clear look at his face and nearly collapsed on the spot. He knew that the young master of the Walker family had recently arrived in Rockwell City to challenge the National Rock Gymand had even won. He had even planned to buy something valuable at the auction today so he could gift it to Julian tomorrow as a way to establish ties with the Walker family. But fate had other plans. He had been looking for a way to connect with the Walkers, yet his own son''s mouth had just destroyed that opportunitymaybe even dragging the entire Wells family down with him. "Just now, he said I wouldn''t live to see tomorrow," Julian''s tone was calm. Albert immediately unleashed a flurry of slaps, his speed was almost as fast as . The entire auction hall fell silent. The only sound that remained was the crisp, echoing slaps ringing through the air. Caleb''s face began to swell up in real time. "Is that how you talk to Young Master Walker?!" "I''ll kill you b*****d" "Apologize to Young MasterNOW!" Albert showed no mercy. The slaps landed with full force, knocking loose several of Caleb''s teeth. "That''s enough." Julian glanced at Albert. This man was ruthlesseven to his own son. Since he had already humiliated himself this much, there was no need for Julian to continue pressing the matter. With that, he turned and entered Box No. 8 with Dawn. Meanwhile, in the Auction Hall Everyone had witnessed the complete humiliation of the Wells family. Most of the crowd watched the Wells father and son with gloating expressions, waiting to see how badly this would end for them. Even some families that had previously been close to the Wells were already considering cutting ties. On the other hand, Dawn''s family suddenly found itself in the spotlight. Everyone had seen Julian and Dawn enter the private box together. Someone patted Dawn''s father, Richard, on the shoulder. "Old Richard, don''t forget about your old friend when your family rises up, alright?" Richard laughed, playing along. "Of course, of course." He knew that people were probably overthinking thingshis daughter and Julian weren''t necessarily involvedbut that didn''t stop him from taking advantage of the situation. Suddenly, many powerful figures gathered around Richard, all eager to show goodwill. Some even started suggesting marriage alliancesgoing as far as offering their daughters to marry into his family. --- Inside Box No. 8, Julian and Dawn sat side by sidethough not too closewith a server standing nearby to assist them. Neither of them spoke, Julian casually scrolled through his phone, While Dawn on the other hand, seemed lost in thought. Earlier, Julian had posted a short video online. Now, it had already surpassed six million likes. His inbox? Flooded. He clicked on a few messages at random. Dawn had been looking for an excuse to talk to Julian. Just as she turned to speak, her eyes landed on his phone screen. Dawn: (ѩn)b "Just some fan messagesI was just scrolling through randomly," Julian immediately felt the need to explain. Dawn nodded blankly, her mind slightly dazed. She wasn''t sure what came over her, but she suddenly blurted out: "So you like bigger ones?" As soon as the words left her mouth, her face froze in shock. She wanted to explain herself, but then "Not too big, something around your size is fine." Dawn''s face immediately turned red, she instinctively glanced down at herself. The server nearby remained expressionless, but inside, he was relentlessly judging Julian''s terrible flirting skills. As the clock hit 11:00 PM The Auction officially began. The lights in the auction hall suddenly brightened, a man wearing a Gengar mask stepped onto the stage. "Welcome, everyone, to the annual Mystery Auction." "I will be your auctioneer tonight." "We have prepared a total of 30 exclusive items." "Each one is incredibly valuableso I hope your wallets are ready. Otherwise, you might just miss out on what you need~" Following the auctioneer''s appearance, Dawn turned to Julian, "Young Master Julian, if you see anything you like, our family can buy it for you." "No need. I have money." Julian flatly refused. Dawn: Chapter 330: Auction Starts Soon the auction officially began, the auctioneer stepped forward and announced, "Honored guests, let us welcome our first auction item!" As he finished speaking, a server pushed a small cart to the front of the stage. On it lay the first auction item of the night, and at the same time, detailed information about it appeared on the large screen. sea??h th Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Inside the private boxes, guests had tablets displaying information about the first item. This Mystery Auction was uniquenone of the participants knew what would be auctioned beforehand. Only when they arrived at the venue would they find out. The first auction item wasn''t necessarily the best, but it definitely couldn''t be disappointing. After all, if the opening item failed to impress, some guests might just leave. "Our first auction item is a Pokmon Egg with a ''Cyan'' potential rating. The exact Pokmon species inside is unknown, but based on the egg''s pattern, our experts have determined that it should be a Water-type Pokmon egg." A Cyan-rated Pokmon Egg right at the start! For Julian, a Cyan-potential Pokmon was nothing special. He didn''t lack them. In fact, at this stage, he no longer had much need for them. But for others, even top-tier families like the Drakes, Cyan-potential Pokmon were still rare and valuable. Afterall, with so many heirs and descendants, it was impossible for every single one to have a Cyan-rated Pokmononly the very best among them could obtain one. This auction had gathered the wealthiest people from Rockwell City and even other cities, and among them some families didn''t even own a single Cyan-rated Pokmon. "The starting price is 200 million, and minimum bid increment should not be less than 5 million." 200 million wasn''t muchif the exact Pokmon species could be confirmed, the price would soar even higher. Even without confirmation, the bidding war escalated instantly. Within less than a minute, the price had already reached 400 million, with no sign of slowing down. It didn''t matter whether someone was a Water-type specialist or if their family focused on Water-typesif it was a Cyan-rated Pokmon, they had to grab it. Of course, if it turned out to be a Magikarp or a Feebas, then forget it. In reality, the egg could very well be a Magikarp or Feebasafter all, they were Water-types too. But gambling instincts were strong. When the odds weren''t terrible, and the potential reward was huge, people were willing to take the risk. "Young Master, don''t you want this Pokmon Egg?" At 600 million, the bidding finally slowed down, Dawn glanced at Julian, who was still looking at his phone, completely uninterested in the Pokmon Egg. "If it were Blue, maybe I''d take a look." Julian was busy checking out Gallade, the newly released Pokmon in . As the top laner of the game, he felt that this assassin-type Gallade would be a great fit for Slowking. Seeing Julian completely absorbed in his phone, yet still casually demanding a Blue-grade Pokmon, Dawn was speechless. A Cyan-grade Pokmon was already extremely rareeven noble families fought fiercely over them. If it were a Blue-grade Pokmon, it would be valuable enough to ruin entire families. "Aren''t you a Water-type trainer? You can buy it." Julian said without looking up. He had just used his to scan the egg. It was indeed Cyan-grade, and the Pokmon inside was a Corphish. Once it evolved into a Crawdaunt, it would be a solid choicea Water/Dark-type with decent offensive power. Interestingly, Crawdaunt''s claws frequently fell off and regrew. However, the meat inside had a strong odor, making it unpopular as food. On the other hand, Crabrawler and Clauncher also shed their claws, but their meat was considered delicious. Some Pokmon had body parts that were edible and could regenerate. The most famous example was Tropius, whose banana-like fruits growing under its chin were far tastier than real bananas. Others included Cherubi''s pink fruit and even Slowpoke''s tail, which had a subtle sweetness and would regrow after being eaten. Different countries had varying laws regarding the consumption of Pokmon with regenerative body parts. Some allowed it. Some completely banned it. And some simply didn''t care, as long as it tasted good. In certain regions, Pokmon with edible traits were hunted to near extinction. For example, Farfetch''d, which naturally came with its own leek, had been eaten to near-protected status in some countries. In Drakoria, eating Pokmon with regenerative body parts was legal, but the breeding of such Pokmon was strictly regulated by the government. Because of this, ordinary people could barely afford to eat them. "I have bad luck. If I buy it and it hatches into a Magikarp or Feebas, I''ll just be wasting food." Dawn shook her head. In this world, the most common Cyan-grade Pokmon weren''t Bug-typesthey were Magikarp and Feebas. They could survive anywhere there was water, thriving in rivers, lakes, and even dirty ponds. Yet, to this day, no one truly understood how they evolved into Gyarados or Milotic. Even a Cyan-grade Magikarp or Feebas would be useless if it never evolved, just sitting there, wasting food. There was once a Water-type Elite trainer in Celestria who trained a Magikarp all the way to Elite level and it still never evolved. Thus, the world witnessed the birth of a only, Elite-level Pokmon. Many trainers had attempted similar things. --- Julian glanced at Dawn. The hesitation in her voice was obviousshe was probably just as unlucky as he was. A sense of shared misfortune formed between them. "Buy it. Don''t worry, it''s not a Magikarp or a Feebas." Julian assured her. Dawn hesitated. She didn''t know why Julian was so sure, and he didn''t seem interested in explaining. After a brief moment of uncertainty, she finally placed her bid. After a few rounds of bidding, Dawn won the egg for 800 milliona Cyan-grade Pokmon egg that would hatch into a Corphish. If the Pokmon had been confirmed beforehand, the price would have been around 1 billion. If it had been a powerful Water-type, the price would have gone even higher. Dawn was actually lucky to get it for 800 million, and it was all thanks to Julian. Many of the other bidders hesitated once they realized that Box #8 belonged to Julian. Even though it was Dawn who was bidding, they still backed off out of respect for Julian. Shortly after, the Pokmon egg was delivered to the private box, Dawn transferred the payment and carefully took the egg into her hands. "I wonder when you''ll hatch." She muttered, curious about the Pokmon inside. "Soon. Probably in about three days." Julian replied. Even without using , the flashing frequency of the egg''s white glow made it easy to estimate how many days were left until hatching. Chapter 331: Honedge The first auction item was a Cyan-grade Pokmon egg. Although Julian didn''t win the bid, it successfully sparked the interest of the auction attendees. Even Julian himself felt a bit intrigued. As the second auction item was brought onto the stage, he put his phone back into his pocket. "The second auction item is the five-year ownership rights to five intermediate-tier and twelve beginner-tier Secret Realms in Rockwell City. Here are the details for each realm." After the auctioneer finished speaking, attendants distributed the documents to every guest. "Esteemed guests, please review the materials. The bidding will begin in ten minutes." The auctioneer announced. A total of seventeen Secret Realms were up for auction. The documents only provided a general overviewif they contained detailed information, ten minutes wouldn''t be enough to read through them. In Drakoria, private ownership of beginner- and intermediate-tier Secret Realms was permitted. Only Advanced-tier Secret Realms and above were controlled by the government. Owning a beginner- or intermediate-tier Secret Realm was one of the most reliable ways for a family to establish wealth and influenceprovided that the Secret Realm hadn''t already been exploited for many years. After ten minutes, the bidding began. In the end, a family from Rockwell City secured the five-year ownership rights to all seventeen Secret Realms for 50 billion. (T/N: Not in "Dollars" for anyone who still didn''t know) As more auction items were presented, the atmosphere of the auction heated up. Some guests argued fiercely over items, their faces flushed with excitement. Others deliberately placed high bids to frustrate their rivalsonly to overextend themselves and suffer losses in the process. Soon, it was time for the twelfth auction item. "This is the personal training manual of a Grass-type Elite ranked 86th on the Elite Leaderboard. The notes detail the training process for Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, and Venusaur." "These notes were consigned directly by the Elite himself, so you don''t have to worry about their authenticity." The moment those words were spoken, the audience''s eyes lit up with excitementespecially those who specialized in Grass-type Pokmon. Even if two trainers had the same Pokmon with the same potential, why did one grow stronger faster than the other? The key difference was in their training methods. A good training method could significantly accelerate a Pokmon''s growth. Most prestigious families had unique training methods specialized for certain Pokmon or Pokmon typesThese exclusive methods were often the foundation of their family''s success. Thus, such training methods were never sharedUnless: - The owner was in desperate need of money, or - They had discovered an even better method. Although this Elite was only ranked 86th, it was important to remember that the Elite Leaderboard only had 100 spots in total. And this ranking system was determined by the Elite Challenge held every four years, making it a highly credible measure of a trainer''s strength. The leaderboard was updated once every four years. Although the auction only offered training notes for the Bulbasaur line, they were still insights from a Grass-type Elite Trainera rare and valuable resource. This kind of knowledge was hard to come by. Even other Grass-type Elite Trainers would be tempted to bidas cross-referencing different training methods could lead to new insights and improvements. In the end, the training notes were sold for a price of 12 billion. One had to admittrainers really were rich. They didn''t even know how useful the notes actually were, yet someone was willing to pay over 10 billion for them. On the other hand, this also meant that trainers burned through money fast. Take this Elite, for exampleIf he had enough funds, he wouldn''t have sold his own training notes in the first place. For many trainers, the speed at which they earned money was directly tied to how fast they spent itand sometimes, they spent even faster than they earned. The auction continued: - The 20th auction item. - Then the 23rd. - Then the 27th. When the 27th auction item was brought out, Julian''s interest was finally piqued. The auctioneer announced: "The 27th auction item is a Green potential Honedge. This is a Pokmon historically controlled by the royal family of Gallia. We were only able to obtain this one through ''special channels.''" "Although this Honedge is only Green-grade, its rarity is still extremely high. And as of now, no Honedge has ever been officially recorded in Drakoria." "Owning this Pokmon would make you the very first Drakorian trainer to possess a Honedge!" The auctioneer''s words were all factsthere was no exaggeration. Honedge was indeed exclusive to the royal family, where it served as their symbol. Even within Gallia, only royal family members were allowed to own one. For an ordinary trainer to obtain a Honedge? Impossibleunless they were personally acknowledged by the royal family. And for foreign trainers? That was nothing more than a dream. Even foreign governments had tried to negotiate with the Gallian royal family. No matter how high a price they offered, Gallia refused to give up even a single Honedge. Drakoria had also attempted to buy one officially, but their request was flatly rejected. Because of this, even the Walker familythe number one Steel-type family in Drakoriadid not own a single Honedge. Yet now, a Honedge had appeared at this auction. There was no doubtthis Pokmon had been acquired through illegal means. It just so happened that a royal family member had vanished during a Secret Realm expedition not long ago. Their entire team had been wiped out, and the incident made headlines for a while. Now, seeing this Honedge on auction It was highly likely that it had once belonged to that missing royal. After all, this Honedge was already Level 33. It could have been caught in a Secret Realm, but between "stealing one from a Secret Realm" and "killing a royal and taking it", the latter seemed far more likely. This wasn''t the first time something like this had happened. Because every Gallian royal owned a Honedge, they had become prime targets for certain unscrupulous individuals. "Alright, let''s get straight to itstarting bid: 10 billion." The auctioneer''s voice echoed through the hall. But Silence. Not a single bid was placed. Even though Honedge was incredibly rare, this one was still just a Green-grade Pokmon at its core. Spending 10 billion on a Green-grade Pokmon? Ridiculous. Even a Green-grade pseudo-legendary Dragon-type would sell for around the same priceand that was far more valuable. But the real problem wasn''t just its grade. Once someone revealed ownership of this Pokmon, they would immediately become a target for the Gallian royal family''s wrath. Unless you were strong enough, owning this Honedge was a death sentence. If it had been a breeding paira male and femalethere might have been a profitable opportunity to breed more and make back the cost. But with just one, the risks outweighed the benefits. Just as the auctioneer began to worry that the item would be withdrawn due to lack of bidsJulian''s voice rang out from Box #8. "10 billion" The auctioneer sighed in reliefbut nobody else followed up. In the end, Julian won the Honedge for the price of 10 billion. Among all the attendees, Julian was the only one who could afford to take the risk. His family background meant the Gallian royal family wouldn''t dare make a move against him. Even if they tried to strike from the shadows, they risked getting killed in return. Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Worse stillif they angered John Walker, he might just decide to take a stroll through their capitalor pay an unexpected visit to one of their major cities. Once the payment was processed, the Pok Ball containing Honedge was delivered to Julian. AndThis Pok Ball was the kind specially used by the Gallian royal family. They hadn''t even bothered to switch Pok Balls before selling it, confirming Julian''s suspicion. Chapter 332: Finale Pokmon: Honedge (Steel/Ghost) Level: 33 Potential: Green Ability: No Guard Held Item: Focus Sash Gender: Male Moves: Fury Cutter, Tackle, Shadow Sneak, Autotomize, Aerial Ace, Metal Sound, Slash, Night Slash, Retaliate, Iron Defense TMs: Solar Blade, Protect, Swords Dance, Psycho Cut, Close Combat, Iron Head, Reversal, Brutal Swing Egg Moves: Wide Guard, Destiny Bond, Block A very ordinary Honedge, with Green-grade potential. But for Julian, the potential wasn''t an issue. In the system shop, the potion to upgrade Green to Cyan wasn''t even expensive. The real expense was upgrading it from Cyan to Blue. At first, Dawn had wanted to buy the Honedge as a gift for Julian. But Julian refused. With so much money in the family, spending a little can be regarded as reducing the pressure on his uncle, after all, there were not many places to spend the money he earned. The following 28th and 29th items also sold for over 10 billion each. Finally it was time for the 30th and final item, the grand finale of the auction. As the last item, its value had to surpass everything else. Everyone showed an expectant expression, curious about what the last lot was. According to Dawn, last year, the final auctioned item had been a Peak Elite Pokmon, and the year before that, it had been a Top-tier Water-type treasure. The Mystery Auction of Rockwell City happened once a year, and the final item never disappointed. So Julian also became interested. As the auctioneer removed the red cloth, many in the audience craned their necks to get a better look. On display wasA palm-sized, irregularly shaped white stone, it had a hazy, dreamlike appearance. "What is that?" "Looks like a crystal." "Or maybe a diamond?" Most people had no idea what they were looking at. Sar?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Young Master Julian, do you know what this is?" Dawn racked her brain, searching for anything similar but she couldn''t match it with anything she had ever seen. "Soul Crystal" Julian withdrew his gaze and said slightly surprised. This was a Soul Crystalthe very same type of crystal that had been left behind when he helped Celebi destroy the Spiritomb. However, the one he obtained back then had been the size of a basketball, and this one was only palm-sized and of lower quality. "Soul Crystal? What''s that?" Dawn asked. Soul Crystals only formed under extreme conditions, and even then, they were incredibly difficult to find, because of this, almost no one knew about them. Back when Julian had first encountered one, he wouldn''t have known what it was either if not for his . Soon, the auctioneer revealed the item''s name and specific function. Roughly the same as what Julian already knew. This was a top-tier Ghost-type treasure. Once consumed by a Ghost-type Pokmon, it would: - Enhance its potential and strength - Boost the power of its Ghost-type moves With proper use, and combined with other rare treasures, it could even further enhance the potential of a Pokmon to Blue-grade potential. "The starting bid is 50 Billion." It was an extraordinary treasure but the price was just as extraordinary. 50 billion as the starting bid immediately eliminated half of the people present, and among those who remained, many hesitated. A treasure like this was powerful but it was also dangerous. Obtaining it could bring disaster upon their families. Those who had the ability to buy, might not have the strength to keep it. But with so many people present, there were always a few who had both. "55 billion." The voice came from Box #1. "60 billion." This time, it was Box #5. The auction hall had only ten private boxes, reserved for those with immense wealth and influence. And none of them were locals of Rockwell City, they were outsiders, just like Julian. No one else in the venue made an offerthey weren''t eligible to make an offer, because ten sharks were vying for this thing. And if small fish like them entered, they would be torn apart by these sharks instantly. Soon the price had soared to 90 billion. In Drakoria, many corporations were worth more than 100 billions and some even trillions in assets but that referred to fixed assets. Very few could pull out 90 billion in cash on a whim. The bids slowed as the numbers climbed. After ten minutes, the price finally broke 100 billion. Of the ten private boxes, only Julian hadn''t bid yet. It wasn''t that he didn''t want to but he was waiting for the right moment. Even though he already had a treasure like this, and of better quality, there was no such thing as too many. Especially when money alone could buy them. For top-tier families, the one thing they had the most was money. "110 billion! Any more bids?" The auctioneer looked around. "110 billion, going once!" In Box #7, a middle-aged man clenched his fists. "120 billion." A calm voice came from Box #8. The auctioneer''s eyes lit up. In Box #7, the middle-aged man''s face darkened. He clenched his fists even tighter as he glared toward Julian''s box, through gritted teeth, he raised the bid. "121 billion!" As soon as he finished speaking, a calm voice followed. "131 billion." He added one billion, but Julian directly added ten. The middle-aged man slammed his fists on the chair, the temperature in his box plummeted by dozens of degrees. The attendant beside him collapsed unconscious from the sheer cold. "131 billion, going once!" "131 billion, going twice!" "SOLD!!" The auctioneer''s gavel fell. "Congratulations to the guests in box #8 for getting the finale item of this auction" The middle-aged man in Box #7 stood up abruptly, the anger in his heart seemed to ignite his whole body, as he looked toward Box #8 with eyes filled with killing intent. "Do you know who the person in Box #7 is?" Sensing the Aura of strong malice emanating from Box #7, Julian frowned slightly, and asked the attendant beside him. "The identities of our VIP guests are confidential, only the manager knows," The attendant shook his head. If not for the incident with Caleb, Julian''s identity wouldn''t have been exposed and no one would know that he was in Box #8. So whoever that person was he knew it was him in Box #8, and they still had the intention to kill him. Julian didn''t know if this was just a momentary outburst, or if this person really wanted to kill him because of a Soul Crystal. "Young Master Julian, if you want to know the other party''s identity, I can think of a way to find out," Dawn said. "Do it." Julian nodded. He also wanted to know who had such malice towards him, it was always better to be prepared. He had merely bought something the other party wanted. And if they didn''t have enough money That was their problem, not his. Chapter 333: Conquering Honedge Spending 131 billion to buy a palm-sized Soul Crystalit was undoubtedly an astronomical price. However, the importance of the Soul Crystal was self-evident. Julian handed his card to the attendant. After swiping the card, the attendant passed the Soul Crystal to him. When neither Dawn nor the attendant was paying attention, he casually tossed the Soul Crystal into his shadow. A small white hand reached out from the darkness and pulled the stone inside. At the same time, the financial manager of the Walker Corporation was sleeping at home when he suddenly received a call from his subordinate. "Manager, there was just a massive expenditure from the corporationtotaling 131 billion!" The manager, initially annoyed by the late-night call, immediately jumped out of bed upon hearing the amount. Although the Walker Group ranked among the top five in Drakoria, with a market value exceeding 50 trillion, its cash flow was relatively limitedbarely reaching 1 trillion. Spending one-tenth of that amount without any prior notice was simply outrageous. "Who was it? Have you found out?" the manager asked urgently. Only a few people in the entire Walker Group had the authority to move such a large sum. The list included Chairman Henry Walker, his father John Walker, his younger brother Jake, his younger sister Quinn, and his nephew Julian. "It was Young Master Julian," the subordinate reported. "Understood. I''ll report this to the chairman tomorrow." Rockwell City, Auction House. "The occupant of Box 7 has been identified. His name is Hector," Dawn said. Julian thought for a moment, but the name didn''t ring a bell. "Have you ever heard of this person?" Julian asked. Dawn shook her head. "No, never." "Why are you looking into him, Young Master?" "He might want to kill me because I took something he wanted," Julian said frankly. Dawn, however, dismissed the concern with a laugh. "You''re joking, Young Master. Who in Drakoria would dare harm you?" Not only was Julian himself already an Elite, but he had even defeated a peak Elite in battle. Killing him without letting him escape? That was nearly impossible without multiple peak Elites working together. Moreover, the newly emerged First-tier Legendary, Mewtwo, had a strong connection with Julian. Who knew if Julian could summon Mewtwo at will? Dealing with Julian alone was already a headache, and on top of that, he had a grandfather at the Champion level. Anyone with a brain wouldn''t dare provoke Julian unless there were enormous benefits involvedlet alone attempt to kill him. Dawn didn''t take Julian''s concerns seriously at all. In fact, she thought he was overthinking things, a classic case of paranoia. Back in the hotel lobby. "Would you like to come up for a cup of coffee? My Slowking makes really good coffee." Since the other party had given him a ride, Julian extended an invitation to Dawn as a gesture of gratitude. Dawn was momentarily stunned. Then, her face flushed red at a visible speed. At the same time, she inwardly complained about Julian''s poor excuse. Who invites someone up for coffee in their room? And saying that Slowking makes it? This was just as bad as those online posts where guys invite girls over by saying, "My cat can do a backflip. Want to come see?" But she had only just met him today. Going up to his room so soonwasn''t that a bit inappropriate? Though, to be fair, he wasn''t bad-looking. His physique was great, his family background, personality, and strength were all top-tier Julian noticed that Dawn didn''t answer and instead seemed lost in thought. Assuming she wasn''t interested, he didn''t press the issue and simply turned to leave. "...Alright then, but it''s just for coffee" Halfway through her sentence, Dawn suddenly realized Julian was already gone. Her face turned slightly annoyed, and she stomped her foot before leaving with a bit of frustration. After reaching his room, Julian found the door left slightly open. Looking up, he saw a washbasin balanced on top of the door. Julian: "Childish trick" He reached out and pushed the door openbut instead of stepping inside, he stayed back. The washbasin fell from the doorframe, yet surprisingly, it was empty. Just as he was feeling puzzled, a water balloon shot out from inside the room and splashed directly onto his face. Celebi clutched its stomach, rolling through the air with laughter. "Hahaha! You''re such an idiot!" Julian wiped his face, took a deep breath, and looked down at his palmonly to see black stains. *** Julian: "If you don''t kneel and call me ''Dad'' today, I''ll change my last name to Metagross''!" Metagross: An hour later. The entire room was in shambles. The bed had been smashed into pieces. The tables and chairs had been reduced to rubble. "Apologize to me!" Julian was furiously tugging at Celebi''s mouth. In return, Celebi used its nature energy to form two small hands and pulled at Julian''s mouth, stretching it so far that even his molars were visible. On the side, several Pokmon were watching the chaos unfold: Slowking, Metagross, Lucario, and Gengar. Gengar was even imitating them, pulling at its own mouthstretching it so wide that it was now over a meter long. Metagross: Slowking: "Lucario, help me!" Unfortunately, even though Julian''s Mega Pallet Town physique was powerful, it didn''t seem to give him much of an advantage against a Mythical Pokmon like Celebi. "Luca~" Lucario dashed forwardbut it wasn''t to help Julian. Instead, Lucario gave both Julian and Celebi a light palm strike, effortlessly separating them. "You brat! If it weren''t for Lucario, I would''ve torn your mouth apart today!" Now freed, Julian rubbed his face and glared fiercely at Celebi. Celebi smirked. "Who do you think you''re talking to, you weakling?" Not wanting to continue arguing with Celebi, Julian opened a Pok Ball, releasing his Honedge. The moment Honedge emerged, its blade slashed through the air in a sharp arc, cutting through the wind as it swung directly at Julian''s head. Honedge: "Die, you Mf***er!" "Meta~" Metagross immediately stopped Honedge midair using . "Slowking, it''s a problem child. Talk some sense into it. I''m going to take a shower." Julian hadn''t even washed his face yet, but after giving his instructions, he simply turned and walked into the bathroom. For Pokmon that already have a trainer, unless they willingly accept a new one, it''s incredibly difficult for them to follow a second trainer. Especially if their first trainer was kind to them but ended up getting killedbeing forced to switch trainers under such circumstances made it nearly impossible for them to accept their new one. Some Pokmon even harbored resentment toward their second trainer, leading to extreme behavior. When it came to loyalty, Pokmon were far more trustworthy than humans. Julian wasn''t good at counseling or ''reprogramming'' Pokmon. That kind of work was better left to Slowking. Sure enough, after about ten minutes, Julian finished his shower and came out to find Slowking leading Honedge toward him. This time, Honedge wasn''t attacking. Honedge: "I''ll follow you but if my original trainer is ever found, you have to release me immediately." Julian: "Deal" S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Saying that, he placed a new Pok Ball in front of Honedge. Honedge hesitated for a moment before lightly tapping it. In an instant, it transformed into a beam of red light and entered the Pok Ball. Chapter 334: Hello, Grandpa After capturing Honedge, Julian recalled the promise he had made to it and smiled slightly. Celebi: "What kind of evil scheme are you thinking about? You''re smiling way too smugly." As it floated in the air, its little belly jiggled slightlya rather unpleasant sight. This once adorable Mythical Pokmon had been completely ruined under Julian''s care. It turned out that even a Mythical Pokmon like Celebi couldn''t resist the temptations of the outside world. Julian sighed. "I was just thinking... you need to lose some weight. No more junk food from now on." Fried chicken, burgers, chips, sodathis little guy ate the absolute worst things. It was only thanks to being a Mythical Pokmon that its body could handle it. If it were an ordinary Pokmon eating like this, it would''ve ruined its health ages ago. Celebi: "No way! Life without burgers isn''t worth living!" "Slowking, keep an eye on it. This week, it can only eat Pokblocks." Although Pokblocks were still quite delicious, compared to burgers and fries, they always felt like something was missing. "Slow~" Slowking nodded in agreement. Celebi''s chubby belly was partially Slowking''s fault tooevery time it went out to buy groceries, it always brought back some fried chicken for Celebi. Hearing Julian''s serious tone, Celebi panicked. It grabbed his shirt, looking up at him with big, watery eyes, trying to appear as cute as possible. "Don''t be like this... Fine! I''ll become your Pokmon, okay?" Julian sneered. "You? Not even close. Now, if Mew were offering, that''d be a different story." sea??h th N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although Celebi was a Mythical Pokmon, it wasn''t particularly known for its combat strength. Its true power lay in its ability to travel through time. This ability could be considered its passive skill. Celebi could travel to the past at will, but bringing a human along was an entirely different matter. The difficulty increased exponentially, and the person risked dying in the process. Even if they survived, their lifespan would be affected by how much time they traveled. Moreover, if someone ended up in the past alongside their past self, it would cause a time paradox. The timeline would then attempt to correct itself by erasing the duplicate. If they didn''t leave in time, they would simply cease to exist. Celebi had explained all of this to Julian before. After learning these risks, Julian completely abandoned any thoughts of asking Celebi to take him through time. Julian wasn''t interested in time travel to change anythinghe simply wanted to experience what it felt like. But after learning how dangerous it was, he immediately gave up on the idea. He hadn''t lived long enough to take that kind of risk. Celebi never expected to be rejected like this. Countless trainers in the world dreamed of having it, yet here it was, offering itself willinglyonly for Julian to turn it down. Celebi: "One of us is going down today!" Julian: "Wasn''t it you who surrendered first last time?" Celebi: "It was the dog who surrendered first!" Julian: "Oh, right, right. The dog." Arcanine: "Are you two talking about me?" Just as Julian and Celebi were about to start round two of their real-life PK, Lucario suddenly barked toward a certain direction. "Luca!" It had sensed a strong, concentrated malice coming from the other side of the wall. That hostility was specifically targeting Julian. The enemy had hidden it wellso well that Julian couldn''t sense it with his Aura. But Lucario could. In the neighboring room, was the middle-aged man from Box No. 7, with a Chandelure floating beside him. Chandelure''s gaze was locked on the wall that separated their room from Julian''s. "If I get that Soul Crystal, you''ll be able to break through your limits and reach Champion level." "That brat again Last time it was him, and now it''s him again. The Walker family should''ve been wiped out long ago." The man radiated a chilling aura, his expression so cold it seemed like water might start dripping from his face. Chandelure: "Let''s kill him" The man shook his head. "He has ties to the new first-tier Legendary Mewtwo. If he''s in danger, Mewtwo might show up." Back in Haitian City, if Mewtwo hadn''t suddenly appeared to stop Kyogre, his plan would have already succeeded. Chandelure would have devoured the souls of millions, ensuring its advancement into a Champion-level Pokmon. Chandelure: "Then we just have to kill him before he has the chance to call Mewtwo." For the second time, Julian had interfered with its path to power. The hatred Chandelure held for Julian burned even stronger now. If not for its trainer holding it back, it would have already rushed in to finish him off. With its peak pseudo-Champion strength and its nature as a Ghost-type, killing Julian wouldn''t be difficult at all. Chandelure''s words made the middle-aged man pause for a moment before a thoughtful expression crossed his face. It made sense. Even if Julian could call for Mewtwo, unless Mewtwo was constantly by his side, there would always be a delay. And in that window of time, he could kill Julian, take the Soul Crystal, and disappear. Moreover, there was a real chance that Julian could no longer summon Mewtwo. First-tier Legendary Pokmon were proud beings. Summoning one even once required an immense price, and as far as anyone knew, no one had ever successfully summoned the same Legendary twice. On Julian''s side, after hearing Lucario''s warning, he immediately called the hotel manager over. "Who''s staying in the room next door? Look it up for me." "Young Master, his name is Hector," the manager quickly replied. Julian frowned, thinking for a moment before asking, "Do you know what he looks like?" The manager shook his head. "I don''t, but we have his registered identification in our system. I can get it for you." Julian nodded, and the manager left to retrieve the information. "That guy wouldn''t actually try to kill me just to take the Soul Crystal, would he?" Julian muttered to himself. Although his family background and personal strength prevented most people from thinking about assassinating him. But there were always exceptionspeople powerful enough, or desperate enough, to take the risk. The Soul Crystal was the ultimate treasure for Ghost-types, it was enough to drive a few people to take reckless action. If not for Lucario''s acute Aura sensitivitydetecting the hostility directed at himJulian wouldn''t even have known that a potential killer was staying right next door. If Hector truly planned to assassinate him, then he had to be someone stronger than Julian himself. So without hesitation, Julian pulled out his phone. "Hello, Grandpa" Chapter 335: Villain With A Brain Julian stayed in the hotel for three days, never stepping out even once. His meals were delivered to his room by the hotel staff. It wasn''t that he didn''t want to go outhe just wanted to see if things would play out as he expected. "So, that guy hasn''t checked out?" Julian asked the hotel manager, who confirmed that Hector was still in the room next door. Over the past three days, Lucario had occasionally sensed waves of hostility coming from Hector''s room. That confirmed ithis presence here was no coincidence. The reason Hector hadn''t made a move yet was likely because they were in a hotel. "Young Master, is something wrong with that man?" the hotel manager asked. "You can go now." Julian didn''t say much. This matter had nothing to do with the hotel, and telling the manager would only put him in unnecessary danger. "Looks like I need to find a place to lure him out." Julian stroked his chin in thought. If Hector didn''t dare to make a move in the hotel, then he probably wouldn''t in the city either. That meant the only option was to go somewhere with fewer peopleperhaps even the wilderness. With that in mind, Julian pulled out his phone and called Dawn. "Hello, Julian!" Dawn, who was about to head out for training in the wilds of Rockwell City, was pleasantly surprised but also a little confused by the sudden call. "You haven''t left for the Earth Ridge yet, have you?" Julian asked. The Earth Ridge was located west of Rockwell City. It was home to many wild Rock- and Ground-type Pokmon and covered a vast area. Deep within the ridge, there were even Pokmon at the Elite level. Because of that, it was known as a minor forbidden zone in Rockwell City. Yesterday, Dawn had invited Julian to go to the Earth Ridge with her, but he had turned her down. "I haven''t left yet," Dawn replied. "Wait for me. I''m coming over now." With that, Julian hung up. He recalled all his Pokmon except Dragonite, then grabbed Celebiwho was still fast asleepand stuffed it into his backpack. This pig-like creature didn''t even wake up. The weight pressing down on his back was substantial. If someone with a weak constitution tried carrying this bag, they probably wouldn''t make it very far. Hopping onto Dragonite, Julian took off in the direction of Dawn''s home. Meanwhile, in the other room, the middle-aged man who had been keeping an eye on Julian immediately noticed his departure. "He left? Do you think he''s onto us?" Chandelure: "If you weren''t so worried about causing a scene, we would have succeeded by now." Chandelure couldn''t understand why its Trainer refused to act inside the hotel. With its strength, eliminating Julian silently would have been effortless. The man said lightly, "Do you think the Walker family is that easy to deal with? If you fail, I''ll be exposed. Then we won''t have a place to hide anywhere in country." "A few days ago, my people informed me that John Walker sent him a Pok Ball." "Now that he''s heading out, there''s a high chance he''s trying to lure us into following him." "As expected, no one in the Walker family is easy to deal with." The middle-aged man sighed softly. He now understood why Julian had stayed in the hotel for three days without leavinghe had been waiting for him to make a move. But since he hadn''t, Julian was now leaving, using himself as bait to lure him out. Chandelure: "So what do we do? Are we just going to give up on the Soul Crystal?" The man shook his head. "Forget it. We''ll head to East Africa instead. There are plenty of humans and Pokmon there. It''ll take longer, but it''s much safer." The East African region was home to many small nations, constantly embroiled in conflict. War and unrest had given rise to countless terrorist organizations, and every day, tens of thousands of humans and Pokmon perished. Chandelure: "You''re such a coward." The man''s face darkened. "I''m a villain with a brain." With that, he recalled Chandelure into its Pok Ball and walked into the bathroom. When he emerged, his face and clothes were completely differenthe looked like an entirely new person. "Let''s go." Even his voice had changed. Meanwhile, Julian was soaring through the sky, unaware that his plan had already been seen through and that his enemy had decisively chosen to retreat. Still, he remained vigilant, keeping a close eye on his surroundings. Far above him, hidden in the clouds, a Champion-level Metagrosshis grandfather''s Pokmonwas secretly watching over him, ready to strike at a moment''s notice. Just as the middle-aged man had guessed, Julian had indeed borrowed the Champion-level Metagross from his grandfather. Had his enemy attempted an ambush on the way or in the Earth Ridge, the one who would have died would likely have been him. Julian had no idea he was dealing with a villain who actually had a brain. Everything he was doing now was ultimately pointless. At the gates of the Dawn family estate, Dawn stood with eight other Trainers, all around twenty years oldfive men and three women. Originally, they had planned to head to the Earth Ridge for training, but when Dawn suddenly announced that Julian would be joining them, they decided to wait. Upon hearing the news, none of them complained about the delay. Instead, they were thrilled, each thinking about how they could impress Julian when they set out. Of course, some heirs from noble families were reckless, but most of them, even if they lacked talent or skill, at least had the common sense to know whom they could afford to offendand whom they absolutely could not. Julian was one of those people they couldn''t afford to offend. In fact, he was someone they needed to befriend at all costs. "Dawn, check my makeup for me. Did it smudge?" Dawn''s cousin was holding a small mirror, pouting as she complained, "Why didn''t you tell me earlier that Young Master Walker was coming? I would''ve taken more time to dress up properly!" "It''s not smudged, but your foundation is caking." Dawn glanced at her cousin. "You!" S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her cousin immediately became angry, but she quickly focused on fixing her makeup. There was no time to argueshe had to make sure she left a stunning impression on Julian. Another girl, meanwhile, discreetly slipped away to change outfits. She swapped her thick down jacket for a thinner one, revealing her curves. But in this freezing weather, was she really prepared to endure the cold just for this? Dawn thought to herself. She casually took out her phone, pretending to play on it. In reality, she was using the screen''s reflection to check if her own makeup was flawless. In a family like hers, gaining the family''s support required one of two thingstalent and strength or a powerful father. If you had neither, then you needed cunning. And if you lacked even that, you were nothing more than a sidelined nobody, a useless person no one respected. Competition among family members was brutal. The family''s resources were limited, and if you wanted more, the best way was to push others down. It didn''t matter howit only mattered that you didn''t get caught. Chapter 336: You Never Asked Not long after, Julian arrived above Dawn''s family estate. As Dragonite descended, it stirred up a gust of wind and snow, covering many people in snowflakes. However, no one dared to show any displeasure. Instead, they greeted Julian with bright smiles. "Sorry about that. Dragonite couldn''t hold back its strength when landing," Julian said apologetically. Dragonite always landed this way, and he had forgotten about the snow on the ground and that there were people nearby. As a result, a few of them ended up looking rather disheveledespecially one woman, whose face was covered in snow. Dawn smirked, watching her cousin, who had just finished fixing her makeup. Some of the snow even had bits of dirt mixed in. "Are all these people coming along?" Julian glanced at the group around Dawn. Including her and himself, there were nine in total. Dawn nodded, thinking Julian didn''t like large groups. She quickly suggested, "If you prefer, we could go just the two of us." "No need. I prefer to go alone," Julian replied, shaking his head without hesitation. His main goal was to lure out the enemy. If he had people with him, they might get caught in the crossfire. Dawn was momentarily stunned and once again questioned her own attractiveness. She was supposed to be the most beautiful girl in Rockwell City, yet in front of Julian, her looks, figure, family background, and elegancenone of it mattered. Convinced that no man could resist her charm, she ruled out all other possibilities. The only explanation left, no matter how unlikely, had to be the truth. "What are you thinking about?" Sensing an odd wave of "malice" through his Aura, Julian looked at Dawn suspiciously. "I''m just wondering if I''ll come across a Water-type Pokmon I like in Earth Ridge," Dawn replied with a straight face. Earth Ridge was dominated by Rock-, Ground-, and Steel-types. While there were some Water-types, no Water-type trainer would go there specifically to catch one. Rivers, lakes, the oceaneven a pondwould have more Water-types than Earth Ridge. Julian: "Julian, let''s get in the car first," Dawn said. Julian nodded and took the front passenger seat without a second thought. Dawn: The other two girls squeezed into the backseat with Dawn. During the ride, the two girls kept chatting with Julian, their enthusiasm obvious even to the driver. Unfortunately, they had encountered the most oblivious man alive. Julian barely responded, only offering the occasional, "Mm," "Yeah," or "Oh, I see." In the end, Julian decided to just close his eyes and rest. Only then did the two women finally quiet down. About an hour later, he felt the car come to a stop and opened his eyes. Before him stretched a vast expanse of white, with occasional bumpsrocks buried under layers of snow. "We''ve arrived," Dawn said. The four of them stepped out of the car, followed by the others from the second vehicle. "I''m heading off now." Julian released his Metagross and leaped onto its back. As Metagross rose into the sky, he quickly disappeared from sight. "A guy like him will never find a woman," Dawn''s cousin grumbled, stomping her foot into the snow, glaring resentfully in the direction Julian had gone. The other woman nodded in agreement. "His eyesight must be bad. He should really see an eye doctor." Dawn glanced at the two and sneered inwardly. Before long, the eight of them split up. Since they had come here for training, separating was the best way to gain experience. In Earth Ridge, Metagross had been carrying Julian for over half an hour, covering more than 200 kilometers. Since he didn''t know when the enemy might strike, Julian didn''t bother taking out the Dowsing Machine. Instead, he wandered aimlessly. Time passed, and by the time Metagross had almost flown across half the Earth Ridge, the other party still hadn''t made a move. Looking at the gradually darkening sky, Julian muttered to himself, "Maybe they''re planning to attack at night? It would be easier to catch me off guard then." He was still completely unaware of the real issue at hand. In fact, he even felt rather clever for thinking of this possibility. Night fell, and snowflakes began drifting down from the sky. Inside his tent, Julian was enjoying a hotpot prepared by Slowpoke. In this freezing weather, there was nothing better than a steaming pot of food. "Give those vegetables to this flying pig. I''ll just eat the meat." Julian said, pushing the greens into Celebi''s bowl. "Oi! I just put that meat in, let go! You''ve already eaten most of it!" He watched in frustration as Celebi gobbled up the freshly cooked meat without hesitation. Celebi: "First come, first served. That''s the rule among Pokmon." Julian: "To hell with your rules! You freeloading shameless Pokmon, you''re ruining the Celebi family''s reputation!" Just as he finished speaking, he saw Celebi snatch another piece of lamb he had just put in the pot. Julian sighed and leaned back. "Someone might try to assassinate me tonight. You better protect me when the time comes." After finishing the hotpot, Julian looked at Celebi with a serious expression. Beside him stood Metagross, Lucario, and Gengar, who remained hidden in the shadows. Celebi yawned: "Relax, with me around, there''s no problem." Julian: m(Ѩ)m After a sleepless night, Julian stepped out of the tent in the morning, yawning as he glanced at Celebi, who was sleeping like a log. To prevent an ambush, he had stayed up all nightbut in the end, his enemy never showed up. "F**k, is this guy even a professional? Such a perfect opportunity, and he didn''t take it?" Julian cursed. Metagross: "Maybe he never followed us here in the first place." Hearing that, Julian stiffened as if struck by lightning. Then he shouted, "No way! Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" "I stayed in the hotel for three days, and Lucario could sense his Pokmon''s killing intent through Aura!" With that, Julian raised his head and called out, "Metagross!" The next second, another Metagross appeared. It was about the same size as Julian''s but had a slightly darker color. This was, of course, his grandfather''s Metagross. "Metagross, is there anyone else nearby?" Julian asked. Metagross: "No, When you set out, that person already left." Julian: Sar?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "So you knew all along that he never followed me?" Metagross nodded. Forcing a smile, he asked, "Then why didn''t you tell me?" Metagross: "You never asked." Julian: (;??) Chapter 337: Honedge Vs Trapinch If not for the fact that his grandfather''s Metagross and Celebi didn''t even know each other and had never spoken, Julian would have suspected that Metagross had been possessed by Celebi. The way it spoke was incredibly similar and frustrating. Julian indeed hadn''t asked Metagross whether that person was still around. He had simply assumed that the enemy must be hiding nearbyhe never expected that they hadn''t even left the hotel in the first place. "Did I get it wrong from the start, or is he just a coward?" Julian muttered to himself, unable to figure out where things had gone off track. According to the development of the plot, things should have played out differently. He had obtained something valuable at the auctionsomething extremely important to his enemy. In order to retrieve it, the enemy would go to great lengths to eliminate him. But Julian had caught wind of the plan in advance, deliberately traveling alone to lure the enemy into a trap. The enemy would take the bait, fall into his hands, and either be captured or killed. And in the end, all of the enemy''s treasures would belong to him. That was how the plot ''should'' have unfolded. "Well, whatever. Let''s get to business." Julian yawned. After staying up all night, his energy was running low. Since the enemy had disappeared, tracking them down on his own was next to impossible. Instead, he might as well explore the Earth Ridge and see if there were any rare treasures to be found. The locals of Rockwell City called this place a ''mini forbidden zone'', so there had to be something worthwhile here. Taking out his Dowsing Machine, Julian quickly spotted three red dots on the screen within a 50-kilometer radius. However, none of them were very big, meaning they were only about as valuable as high-grade Fire Stones, which were worth around five million each. Julian didn''t bother heading toward them. By now, Slowking had already packed everything up, and Julian hopped onto Dragonite''s back, instructing it to fly deeper into Earth Ridge. If there was anything truly valuable, it was more likely to be hidden in the deeper areas. Pokmon there would be stronger, making it harder for ordinary trainers to reachso the chances of finding something worthwhile would be higher. At Dragonite''s speed, it took about half an hour of flying before the Dowsing Machine finally showed a slightly larger red dot. "Over there." Julian patted Dragonite''s side. The wind and snow hadn''t let upin fact, they had intensified. Under such conditions, riding a Flying-type Pokmon without any way to prevent body heat loss would be suicidal. If not for his Physique, Julian wouldn''t dare ride a Dragonite flying over a hundred kilometers per hour in this weather. Before long, Dragonite reached the area where the red dot was located. However, it didn''t descend. Below them, hundreds of Trapinch were gathered together. Aside from the Trapinch, there was no sign of Vibrava or Flygon. Most Flygon preferred to live alone, while Vibrava tended to live in groups. However, once they evolved, they would usually leave the place where they grew up. The levels of these Trapinch were mostly around level 20, with a few reaching the low 30s. Naturally, Dragonite and Julian''s arrival attracted their attention. The Trapinch all looked up at the sky, their jaws clicking open and shut with sharp sounds. They didn''t seem afraid of Dragonite at all. On the contrary, they looked like they were considering how Dragonite''s meat might taste. Trapinch weren''t particularly intelligent, so they didn''t react much to the Elite aura emanating from Dragonite. Instead, they only saw a large-bodied Pokmon that looked like it would be ''very'' satisfying to take a bite out of. "Honedge" Julian had Dragonite lower its altitude slightly. Honedge looked at Julian in confusion. "Use Fury Cutter on the Trapinch below," Julian said. Honedge was taken aback for a moment, and didn''t act immediately. It kept staring at Julian. Julian emphasized: "Fury Cutter!" Only then did Honedge react. Its blade slashed through the air, glowing as it swung. With each stroke, it was as if an invisible hand was wielding a sword. In less than a minute, over a dozen Trapinch had been defeated. Most of them were around level 20not a real challenge for Honedge. But the sheer number of opponents made a difference. Although this Honedge, is only of Green potential, most of it has turned Cyan. After all, it used to belong to the royal family and had been bred well. Trapinch: "Get that thing! Bite it apart!" The remaining Trapinch, enraged, couldn''t believe that Honedge had the audacity to attack ''hundreds'' of them on its own. Where did it get the nerve? But as the majority of the Trapinch charged at Honedge, it quickly realized that no matter how strong it was, facing so many at once meant only one optionretreat. And that was exactly what it tried to do, instinctively trying to flee. Julian frowned but said nothing. "Metagross, use Psychic to hold them, just release a dozen or so." With a flash of white light, Metagross emerged. Its overwhelming psychic power instantly froze hundreds of Trapinch in place, rendering them motionless. Only a dozen or so Trapinch closest to Honedge, remained unaffected. But they didn''t even notice their companions'' predicamenttheir eyes were locked on Honedge, determined to bite it apart. Among them, one was level 33equal to Honedge in strengthmaking it the biggest threat. The Gallian royal family had raised Honedge well, but its will was lacking. Seeing that the enemy outnumbered it and that one of them was on par with itself, Honedge''s confidence wavered. "Don''t be afraid. They''re slower than you, and they have no coordination. As long as you follow my commands, you can win." Julian''s steady voice reached Honedge. Since he wasn''t Honedge''s first trainer and had only obtained it a few days ago, his main goal right now was to earn its trust and improve their synergy. And the best way to do that was through battle. His voice carried the power of Aura, resonating deep within Honedge''s mind, calming down his flustered emotions gradually. "Autotomize," Julian ordered. After activating , Honedge''s speed increased significantly. When several Trapinch lunged forward using , it swiftly dodged them with ease. "See the opening?" The Trapinch that had jumped to attack missed their mark. When they landed, were at their most vulnerable. Honedge''s eyes lit up. It didn''t even need further instructionsits blade gleamed as it slashed downward, striking the falling Trapinch one by one. Each clean strike hit its mark, and the Trapinch directly lost their ability to fight. "Watch your left!" More Trapinch rushed in from the left. Hearing Julian''s warning, Honedge twisted its body with remarkable agility, using to counter. Several Trapinch fell back, but did not lose the ability to fight. sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Their levels were all above 25, and since had been spread across multiple targets, its power wasn''t enough to take them down in one hit. Chapter 338: Come At Me, You Trash! "Finish them off. Keep up the Fury Cutters." Although the Trapinch hadn''t been completely defeated, they were already in bad shape. Pressing the attack was the best choice. As soon as Julian gave the order, Honedge sprang into action, with a swift flurry of , the remaining Trapinch collapsed, unable to continue fighting. Honedge turned to look at Julian. "Well done." Its blade gleamed faintly, radiating a happy aura. Julian and Honedge were gradually developing a deeper sense of coordination. However, one Trapinch had yet to make a movethe strongest of the group, at Level 33. It had been waiting patiently, observing the fight while also directing the remaining five Trapinch due to its superior level. As the five weakened Trapinch charged at Honedge, one of them suddenly used , kicking up a cloud of dust that completely blocked Honedge''s vision. At that moment, the Level 33 Trapinch finally moved. With a powerful leap, it launched itself into the air. As its jaws parted, a massive white energy maw formed in the air above Honedgethis wasn''t Crunch*. Honedge, unable to see through the sand, could sense the danger but had no way to tell where it was coming from. For a brief moment, it wavered. "Calm down. Use Protect!" Julian''s voice echoed in its mind. Without hesitation, a shimmering green barrier enveloped Honedge. The massive jaws of slammed down onto the shield. The teeth scraped against the protective barrier, producing a grating sound, but held strong. By the time Honedge''s vision cleared, it finally caught sight of the real threatthe Level 33 Trapinch below. But Honedge didn''t act on its ownit waited for Julian''s command. "Swords Dance!" Honedge spun in place, its blade gleaming with a crimson light as its attack power rose sharply. "Slash!" Sensing danger, the Trapinch immediately used , vanishing underground in the blink of an eye. It was a natural burrowerescaping like this was second nature to it. But Honedge''s had already struck the ground. Although Trapinch had disappeared, a deep crack spread from the point of impact, following the path of Trapinch''s escape tunnel. Sar?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the fissure widened, a Trapinch was suddenly launched into the air. With active, Honedge''s attack power had increased significantly. "Aerial Ace!" Honedge became a streak of light, disappearing from sight in an instant. When it reappeared, its blade tip had already pierced the airborne Trapinch. Trapinch let out a pained screech, then its eyes rolled back as it collapsed onto the ground. Seeing that it had defeated a Trapinch of the same level, Honedge could hardly believe it had achieved such a feat. Before, it could only bully weaker opponentstaking down an equal-level foe had never been within its reach. Its first Trainer had treated it wellproviding food, resources, and carebut their battle commands were nowhere near Julian''s level. Back then, Honedge never thought its first Trainer lacked skill. It had always blamed itself, believing that it was simply too weak to win against Pokmon of the same level. But now, under Julian''s command, it had not only beaten an equal-level opponent but also taken down multiple Level 20+ Trapinch in the process. Honedge: At this moment, its respect for Julian was rapidly rising. Looking at the fallen Trapinch and the ones still restrained by Metagross''s , Honedge suddenly declared: "I can take on ten more!" The fighting spirit within it flared, a deep thirst for victory taking root in its heart. By nature, its species were born for battle. However, its previous Trainer''s poor command had held it back, preventing it from reaching its full potential, which in turn had shaken its confidence. Julian, of course, was unaware of thishe had only recently taken Honedge in. Its recovered confidence was purely a happy accident. Still, Julian noticed a change in Honedge''s Aurait had become more focused, more resolute. Julian gave Metagross a look, Metagross released its hold on ten Trapinch. Honedge: "Come at me, you trash!" Trapinch: "We''re gonna bite you to death!" Julian: With each Trapinch that Honedge defeated, Metagross would release more, and Julian kept directing the battle. In this high-intensity training, Julian and Honedge''s synergy improved at an astonishing rate. There was no longer any hesitation in Honedge''s movementsit followed Julian''s commands with complete trust. At the same time, its experience points continued to rise rapidly. Finally, when the fiftieth Trapinch fell, Honedge''s level increased from 33 to 34just one level away from evolving. However, by this point, it had completely exhausted its strength, and its body was covered in injuries. The battle couldn''t continue any longer. After praising Honedge, Julian gave it a healing potion and returned it to its Pok Ball for rest. Meanwhile, Dragonite had already retrieved the treasure the Dowsing Machine displayed. "Earth Gem, not bad." Julian examined the dull gray, apple-sized Earth Gema valuable item perfect for Ground- and Rock-type Pokmon, capable of improving their potential. However, the Earth Gem was only effective for Pokmon below Cyan-tier. On the market, it was considered a rare treasure, highly sought after by Rock- and Ground-type Trainers. After all, improving a Pokmon''s potential was no small matter. For example, if your Rock- or Ground-type Pokmon had Green potential but was just a step away from reaching Cyan, then this Earth Gem might be able to help you. There had been many recorded cases of this happening, which was why Earth Gems remained highly valuable and expensive. "Might as well give it to Aggron as a snack," Julian muttered to himself. With that, he tossed the Earth Gem into his system storage. To him, its only real use was as a treat for Aggron. "Let''s go" Julian hopped onto Dragonite, swiftly leaving the area. The Trapinch regained their ability to move, shrieked furiously at the sight of him flying away. Trapinch: "If you have the guts, don''t run! I''ll bite you to death!" The Treasure Hunt Continued. As Julian ventured deeper, it wasn''t long before he arrived at the core of Earth Ridge, here two Elite Pokmon had their territories. One was a Gigalith, and the other was a Claydol. These two Pokmon had completely claimed the central area as their own. Of course, other Pokmon still lived here, but none of them exceeded the pseudo-Elite level. Any Pokmon that grew too strong was either driven out or outright eliminated. For Pokmon with their own established territory, allowing weaker Pokmon to coexist was fine. But any potential challengers to their dominance? Absolutely not. Chapter 339: Melmetal In the central area, the Dowsing Machine indeed displayed a rather large red dot. At this moment, the snowstorm had finally stopped. Perhaps sensing an uninvited guest in its territory, the Elite-level Claydol had already moved to block Dragonite''s path. Pokmon: Claydol (Ground/Psychic) Level: 73 Potential: Cyan Ability: Levitate Held Item: Light Clay Gender: Genderless Moves: Hyper Beam, Teleport, Harden, Mud-Slap, Rapid Spin, Confusion, Rock Tomb, Psybeam, Power Trick, Ancient Power, Imprison, Cosmic Power, Extrasensory, Earth Power, Self-Destruct, Sandstorm, Explosion TMs: None Egg Moves: None --- Claydol: "Leave my territory." Even though Dragonite was also at the Elite level, its Dragon-type pseudo-legendary status made it an intimidating opponent. Claydol''s instincts told it that this wasn''t a fight to take lightly. If a battle could be avoided, that would be for the best. According to the Dowsing Machine, the red dot''s location wasn''t actually inside Claydol''s territory. Instead, it was in Gigalith''s. It''s just that passing through Claydol''s territory was the shortest route. Dragonite: "Your place is so poor. You think I even want to be here?" Since Julian wasn''t using his psychic powers, he didn''t understand what Dragonite just said. But judging by Claydol''s reaction, it definitely wasn''t anything goodits eyes even flickered with anger. Claydol: "This is your last chance. Leave now." If Dragonite hadn''t felt so threatening, Claydol would have attacked already instead of wasting time talking. Julian patted Dragonite''s side, signaling it to descend. sea??h th Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Dragonite landed, and Claydol followed, though its impatience was clear. As an Elite Pokmon, Claydol had its own pride. If the opponent was stronger, it could endure for a while. But tolerating it forever? Impossible. "Melmetal" With a flash of white light, Melmetal appeared on the field. Pokmon: Melmetal (Steel) Level: 70 Potential: Purple Ability: Iron Fist Held Item: Black Belt Gender: Genderless Moves: Harden, Thunder Shock, Headbutt, Tail whip, Charge Beam, Thunder Punch, Acid Armor, Flash Cannon, Thunder Wave, Dynamic Punch, Mega Punch, Double Iron Bash, Protect, Discharge TMs: Ice Punch, Hyper Beam, Giga Impact, Thunderbolt, Brick Break, Electric Terrain, Hammer Arm, Brutal Swing, Thrash, Body Slam, Ice Beam, Darkest Lariat, Heavy Slam, Earthquake Egg Moves: None --- "Mel" Melmetal swung its massive arms with a somewhat dissatisfied expression. "Alright, isn''t this a good opponent for you this time?" Julian said with a smile. When he challenged the national-level Rock Gym, Melmetal hadn''t been sent out to battle, because of that, it had been sulking for days. Pokmon were just like humansthey all had their own tempers, and each one had a different personality. As a Trainer, understanding each Pokmon''s temperament was an important skill. Melmetal looked at Claydol. Melmetal: "This guy? Can it even take two punches from me?" Claydol''s anger instantly flared. "Double Iron Bash," Julian said. Claydol: Before Claydol could react, Melmetal''s fists swung forward, aiming straight for it, but in a flash, Claydol vanished. Melmetal''s attack struck nothing but air. At the same time, Claydol reappeared behind Melmetal, its arms glowing as it fired a . Pokmon with often had unpredictable attack patterns. Claydol had been sure its attack would landbut suddenly, Melmetal''s legs extended, making its body grow taller in an instant. The Psybeam passed harmlessly between Melmetal''s legs. For a split second, Claydol froze in shock, and before it could react Melmetal''s slammed into it, sending a wave of pain through its entire body. With ability boosting the power of its punches, Melmetal''s fighting style was clear just by looking at its massive arms. And because of its unique body structure, opponents who didn''t understand it would often fall right into its trap. Claydol had just made that mistake. One hit wasn''t enough to defeat Claydolafter all, it was still an Elite-level Pokmon, and both its Defense and Special Defense were among its strongest stats. Furious, Claydol charged up a , unleashing a golden energy blast from both arms, the shockwave carved a trench more than a meter deep into the ground as it surged toward Melmetal. Melmetal didn''t dodge, instead, it swung its right fist straight into the beam. Then, as it withdrew its right arm, it immediately punched forward with its left. Alternating between fists, Melmetal pushed against the , advancing step by step. Each time its foot touched the ground, it left behind a deep footprint. And the closer Melmetal got to Claydol, the stronger the force from the became. Yet, Melmetal held its ground, using its alternating punches to keep pushing forward. Claydol stared, dumbfounded for a momentthen, rage took over. It was an Elite-level Pokmon, yet this non-Elite opponent was pressuring it this much? The frustration wasn''t just aimed at Melmetal. It was angry at itselfangry that its strength wasn''t enough. Fueled by this rage, the power of surged, growing even more intense. But even that wasn''t enough to stop Melmetal, its only sped up, fists swinging so fast that afterimages began to appear. Melmetal: A rapid barrage of punches pounded against the , at last, Claydol couldn''t maintain the attack any longer. Its energy plummeted, and with it, the power of the weakened. Claydol: It tried to hold on, tried to gather more powerbut it was too late, Melmetal had already caught its opening. Its left fist swung forward was completely shattered, and right behind it The right fist came flying in. To Claydol, it looked like the entire world was swallowed by a massive fist. Then The fist stopped right in front of its face. Claydol stared, confused, Melmetal looked down at it. Melmetal: "Ten-minute break. Then we go again." It knew very wellif it knocked Claydol out now, it would be unclear when it''d get another fun opponent, so it wanted to keep playing a little longer. A wave of humiliation surged through Claydol''s mind. Claydol: "F**K YOU!" It was one of the rulers of Earth Ridge! How dare this brainless lump look down on it? Today, either it fell, or Melmetal did. A blinding white light erupted from Claydol''s body. Julian''s eyes widened in shock. Julian: "Oh, sh!!" Chapter 340: BOOM!! "Blastoise, Hydro Pump!" In a certain area of the Earth Ridge, Dawn commanded her Blastoise to defeat a level 50 Onix. This was already the fifteenth level 50 Pokmon Blastoise had taken down along the way. "Bla" BOOM!!!! Just as Blastoise was about to respond to its trainer, a deafening explosion suddenly erupted from the distance, its sheer volume echoing across the sky. Looking in the direction of the sound, Dawn saw a massive black mushroom cloud rising into the air. Even though it was far away, its immense size was still clearly visible. A moment later, the ground began to tremble violently, followed by a powerful shockwave. The earth shook so violently that Dawn struggled to stay on her feet. Before she could react, the shockwave slammed into her, sending her flying with a startled cry. "Blas!" Seeing this, Blastoise leaped forward, catching Dawn midair before she could hit the ground. Holding her protectively, it twisted its body so that its sturdy shell absorbed the impact as it crashed onto its back. If not for Blastoise''s quick reaction, Dawn could have been fatally injured. The earthquake and shockwave lasted for over two minutes before finally subsiding. Throughout the entire ordeal, Blastoise never loosened its hold on its trainer. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once everything settled, it slowly stood up, revealing Dawn, who had been safely shielded in its embrace. "Thank you, Blastoise," Dawn said gratefully. As she looked down at the ground beneath her, her eyes widened in shock. The once solid terrain was now covered in countless cracks, ranging from small fractures to deep fissures. Every direction she looked, the ground was full of cracks. Boulders had collapsed, rivers had shifted their courses And all of this destruction had been caused by the explosion from a location dozens of kilometers away. Just what kind of being could unleash such a devastating force with a single attack? The entire Earth Ridge had been affected by the blast and the earthquake. Though the impact weakened near the edges, the devastation at the center was unimaginable. Countless Pokmon were injured, and the closer they were to the explosion, the higher the death toll. "Blastoise, let''s go check it out." Curiosity burned in Dawn''s heart, compelling her to head toward the site of the explosion. If she remembered correctly, that direction led to the territory of two Elite-level Pokmon. Could it be that they had fought? Had that massive explosion been caused by their battle? If that were the case A golden opportunity! The thought suddenly flashed through Dawn''s mind. Every year, there were a few lucky trainers who stumbled upon battles between powerful wild Pokmon. After both sides were left badly injured, someone would swoop in and capture the weakened survivor. Many trainers in Earth Ridge shared the same idea as Dawn. One after another, they rushed toward the epicenter of the explosion, eager to see what lay ahead. But some trainers weren''t so luckythey perished in the aftermath. At the center of Earth Ridge, within a five-kilometer radius, everything had been reduced to a sea of boiling magma. From high above, the ground resembled a massive crater, as if a meteor had struck, leaving behind a basin filled with molten lava. "Phew" Julian let out a deep breath. "Metagross, it''s a good thing you were here." He stood on the only intact spot in the entire area, an island of solid ground amidst the burning sea. Alongside him were Melmetal and Dragonite. When Claydol had used , it was Metagross that had shielded them with , saving them from the devastating blast. But this wasn''t Julian''s own Metagrossit belonged to his grandpa''s. In official tournaments, Elite-level Pokmon were forbidden from using or due to the sheer destructive power of these moves. Julian had never seen one firsthanduntil today. A mere early-Elite-level Claydol had used , and the resulting blast had affected the entire Earth Ridgean area spanning over 10,000 square kilometers. Had a pseudo-champion-level Pokmon been caught in the explosion at close range, it likely wouldn''t have survived. Fortunately, a champion-tier Metagross had been there to block it. Julian had originally borrowed his grandfather''s Metagross to deal with the unknown enemy, but even though that person never showed up, he had decided not to send Metagross back. That decision had just saved his life. Claydol''s had come so suddenly that Julian wouldn''t have had time to react, not even to summon Mewtwo using the fragments. Perhaps, with the unknown enemy gone, his sense of danger had dulled. Otherwise, he never would have let the Claydol detonate. The explosion had been so intense that it melted the entire field into lava. Even now, the molten rock was still bubbling. And that was just , if it had been , which was even stronger Julian shuddered at the thought. He slapped Melmetal on the head, his voice filled with anger. "If you pull something like that again, you''re not battling anymore!" If Melmetal hadn''t been fooling around instead of finishing the fight quickly, if it hadn''t taunted Claydol into losing control, the battle wouldn''t have ended in a suicidal detonation. Melmetal nodded frantically, eyes filled with fearnot because of Julian''s scolding, but because of the absolute devastation it had just witnessed. It had almost died just now. At this moment, the heavily injured, unconscious Claydol drifted toward Julian, carried by the currents of molten rock. According to , its level had dropped from 73 to 70, and its injuries were severe. If left untreated, it would die. One had not only knocked it down from Elite to pseudo-Elite, but it had also crippled its potentialit had dropped to Green, meaning it would likely never reach Elite level again. Afterall, there was no way an explosion of that magnitude came without consequences. "Metagross, let''s get out of here first, and take it with us." Julian gestured toward the unconscious Claydol. From the sky, he could see the full devastation of the blast. This wasn''t just destructionit was like the entire Earth Ridge had been wiped off the map. Not a single patch of ground remained intact. "Whether you live or die is up to you now." Julian administered a healing potion to the Claydol. Even though it had nearly killed him, the real fault lay with Melmetal. Julian''s original plan had been to use this battle as training, nothing more. He hadn''t expected Melmetal to get carried away after being idle for so long. He also hadn''t expected Claydol to be so short-temperedlike a walking gunpowder keg, ready to go off at the slightest spark. Still, he had no intention of capturing it. It wasn''t even an Elite Pokmon anymore, and Julian had never been particularly interested in Claydol in the first place. After consuming the healing potion, its condition finally stabilized. It wouldn''t die, at least. "Let''s go home." Julian mounted Dragonite, preparing to leave. He had lost all interest in treasure huntingespecially after realizing that the explosion had wiped out the treasure. The red dot on his Dowsing Machine had vanished. At the center of the Earth Ridge, deep within Gigalith''s territory, the massive rock Pokmon surveyed the aftermath. The entire landscape had been reshaped by the shockwaves and molten fury. Its home was gone. Gigalith: "I swear I just saw a giant pile of sandstone disappear in front of me" Chapter 341: Food Expenses Imperial University, Villa No. 1, Freshman Campus. "Slowking, is the recording on?" In the backyard, all of Julian''s Pokmon were gathered. Slowking was holding a phone, its recording function already activated. "Slow~" Slowking nodded. Immediately Julian turned to the camera with a smile. "I posted a short video before, and I''m really happy so many people liked it." "My follower count is almost at 300 million now! A lot of people have been messaging me, asking how much I spend on food for my Pokmon every day." "I never really calculated it in detail." "But since people are curious, let''s do the math today." After speaking, Julian walked over to Metagross. It was noon, the perfect time for the Pokmon to eat. But since they were filming, they could only stare at their food for now. "Everyone is familiar with Metagrossit is my starter Pokmon. Say hi, Metagross." "Meta~" Metagross responded in its deep, metallic voice. "Now, let''s talk about its food. Metagross eats energy cubes, but not the kind you buy in stores. These are custom-made based on its body''s unique needs." "As for the price, it costs around 300,000." "Plus some supplementary food, that''s another 100,000 per day." Next, Julian moved to Lucario. "Lucario is my second Pokmona calm and reliable partner." Julian rested his hand on Lucario''s shoulder. Thanks to their highly synchronized Aura, a single glance was enough for them to understand each other. "Lucario''s energy cubes cost around 250,000." Walking up to Dragonite, Julian said, "Fatty here is my first Elite-level Pokmon. Naturally, its food needs to be even higher in quality." "It costs about 400,000." "And Melmetal... since it''s a Steel-type Mythical Pokmon, it''s incredibly picky. It doesn''t eat energy cubesinstead, it feeds on rare metals." "The one in front of it now is the strongest synthetic metal currently available. One gram costs 1,000. This piece weighs 10 pounds. I''m bad at math, so you guys can calculate how much that meal costs." Julian then approached Aggron, looking up at the towering figure, he noticed it had grown even tallerprobably around 6.5 meters now. "A Totem Aggron. Just by looking at its size, you can imagine how much it eats. It''s similar to Melmetal. It can eat energy cubes, but top-grade minerals are much better for it." "This here is raw diamond ore, weighing about 300 poundsjust enough for one meal." "As for the exact cost I have no idea. I''d rather not think about it, or it''ll break my heart." As he spoke, Julian clutched his chest dramatically with a distressed look. Aggron, taking his words seriously, actually looked guilty, wondering whether it should start eating less in the future. "Steelixout of all my Pokmon, this one is a foodie. Normally, one box of energy cubes is enough, but it insists on eating two." Steelix let out a goofy grin. The energy cubes weren''t just deliciousthey were good for its body too. Of course, it would never turn down an extra portion! "Arc~" Seeing Julian walk over, Arcanine barked excitedly, wagging its tail. "Relax, it''s your turn." Julian walked in front of Arcanine and rolled his eyes. "This one? The most troublesome thing in the house. A professional home wrecker, a furnace in summer, and a heater in winter." "Its main food is also energy cubes, costing about 260,000. And if you sprinkle some high-grade Fire Stone powder, the taste gets even better." As he spoke, Julian lightly sprinkled some Fire Stone powder over the food. Arcanine immediately looked at him with a resentful gazethe usual portion was a thick layer, but today, it was barely anything. Julian: "Huh? Where''s Gengar?" Gengar had been right next to Arcanine a moment ago. But as soon as Julian turned aroundit was gone. Suddenly a bad feeling rose in Julian''s chest. The next second, Gengar suddenly appeared right in front of him, before he could react, that sinister red tongue stretched out and licked his face. A familiar numbness spread through his entire body. "Alright, folksin situations like this, don''t panic! Watch how I handle it." Despite his trembling hands, Julian managed to pull a Cheri Berry from his pocket, the moment he ate it, the paralysis instantly disappeared. "Cheri Berrynow Mom doesn''t have to worry about me getting paralyzed!" Then, with both hands, he grabbed Gengar and began squishing it into a ball, kneading and rolling it like dough. Finally, with a powerful kick, he sent Gengar flying. Sear?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Skipping this guy." Flicking his hair, Julian moved on to Gabite, arms crossed, Gabite stood there, trying to look cool. "You guys probably haven''t seen it before, it''s a new face, and soon, it''ll evolve into a powerful Garchomp." "For now, its energy cubes cost about 150,000 per meal." The camera continued to rotate and panned over to Honedge. "Honedgesame deal as Gabite, don''t ask me how I got it. I just found it on the roadside." By now, it was no secret that he had acquired Honedge. Since the news was already out, Julian didn''t bother hiding it anymore. As for the royal family of Gallia knowing about it? Let them know. With both the Drakorian government and his grandfather backing him up, Julian wasn''t worried in the slightest. Besides, that missing royal family member had nothing to do with him. Julian walked up to Slowking, taking the phone from its hands and switching the camera to front-facing mode. "Slowkingmy head steward and chef. It takes care of the daily meals for me and all my Pokmon. Even though it''s not responsible for battling, Slowking is actually the hardest-working one in the house." "One serving of its energy cubes costs around 250,000." "Alright, that''s all for today. Next time, I''ll show you guys how to give these metal tanks a proper massage." With that, Julian handed the phone back to Slowking, letting it handle the editing and uploading. With Slowking''s intelligence, learning to edit videos was as easy as playing around. Not long after, all of Julian''s TikTok followers received a notification about his latest update. Curious, they clicked on the video. "This has to be a flex video, right?" "Damn, Metagross''s one meal costs as much as my annual salary!" "I think I just figured out why King Julian is so stronghe''s literally throwing money at it." "It''s not just about money. There''s more to it than that." "That white Gengar looks so damn cool!" "The way Julian pulled out that Cheri Berry was way too smoothI feel bad for him." "Julian: You pity me for getting paralyzed? I pity you for not even having a thousand in your wallet." "Wait, do Pokmon trainers really spend this much?" Many viewers were shocked by the sheer cost of Pokmon food. Spending this much just to feed a few Pokmon in one day sounded insane. But soon, a professional breeder jumped in to clarify: "For an Elite-level Pokmon to maintain its peak condition, its daily food expenses start at one millionat minimum." Chapter 342: Royal Family Julian originally made the video just to answer some of his fans'' questions, hoping to clear up their doubts. He never expected it to cause such a huge reaction. By the next day, his video had shot up to the top five on the trending news list and ranked third on Geek Search. Many casual trainers outright refused to believe what Julian said in the video, thinking he was completely exaggerating. However, as officially vertified professionals stepped in, they confirmed that Julian''s video wasn''t exaggerated at all. Some even felt that Julian was being modest. After all, with the financial power of the Walker Group, spending one or two million a day on Pokmon food was on the low end. And in reality, Julian had indeed understated the costsbecause all the energy cubes in the video came from the system and weren''t even available for purchase anywhere. A senior breeder from Drakoria even left a comment under Julian''s video: "Excuse me, Mr. Walker, which breeder did you commission for these energy cubes? Even through the screen, I can tell that these cubes are absolutely flawless." Someone replied below: "It must''ve been made by a top-tier breeder, right?" Sar?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But that comment was quickly refuted. "I''m a top-tier breeder myself, and I can''t make something like this." "Wait are you saying these were made by a Master Breeder?" "It''s very possible." Pokmon breeders are divided into five ranks: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced/Senior, Top, and Master. Beginner and Intermediate breeders were common, and most people could reach these levels. But after reaching Advanced, the number of breeders dropped sharply. Advanced breeders were capable of caring for Elite-level Pokmon, and almost every Elite trainer had a personal Advanced Breeder. Top-tier Breeders were even rarerElite trainers had to fight for their attention. As for Master Breeders, there were only three known in all of Drakoria. Rumor had it that even First-class Legendary Pokmon couldn''t resist the energy cubes they created. There were fewer Master Breeders than Champion Trainers. As speculation ran wild over whether Julian''s energy cubes came from a Top-tier Breeder or a Master Breeder, the man himself was completely unbothered. At this moment, Julian was lying on Arcanine''s back, playing an online game with Slowking and Celebi. Celebi: "When is Pokmon Glory going to release a Celebi hero?" Julian, controlling Aggron, had the enemy Golem pinned inside its tower. Hearing Celebi''s complaint, he smirked: "Why would they add such a trash hero? If they ever do, I''d ban it instantly." Celebi: "Hmph! Fine, then next match, I''m banning Aggron!" Julian: "Doesn''t matter. I''m an all-rounder anyway." "Golem, you have no honor! Calling for backup like that?" Watching his Aggron get ganged up on by the enemy Venusaur and Golem, Julian furiously typed a message in the game chat. Vileplume: "Do you even know how to play? You were pushing the tower that deepwho else were they supposed to gank?" Vileplume was their mid-laner. Aggron: "Our mid-laner says none of you are worth anything. If you''ve got the skills, kill him twenty times." Vileplume: (ܳܳ) --- Frank had given the Special Recruitment Class a month to complete their tasks. Julian had finished it in less than five days, so the rest of his time was his to spend however he wanted. He spent the morning gaming and headed to the library in the afternoon. He remembered there was a book on raising Gabite that he wanted to check out. It cost 100 academic points per hour, which was pretty expensive. But the book was written by Victor Drake, the current Dragon Elite. Even though it was one of his earlier works, it still contained a lot of valuable insights. Gabite was a future pseudo-legendary, and it was already close to evolving into Garchomp. Right now, the only two Pokmon Julian needed to focus on were Gabite and Honedgeboth were low-level but close to evolution. The rest of his team was already at the peak of pseudo-Elite level. All they needed was time to accumulate energy. Three hours later, Julian closed the book, just as he was about to leave the library, five people approached himtwo women and three men, all blond-haired and blue-eyed. By the looks it was clear that these five weren''t here for friendly conversationtheir aura practically screamed hostility. "Julian Walker, we are Pokmon Trainers from Gallia. And I am a member of the Gallian Royal Family." The speaker was the tallest and most handsome of the three mena whole head taller than Julian. Since Julian was still seated, the man spoke with an air of arrogance, looking down at him both literally and figuratively. His aristocratic presence made it clear that he truly came from royalty. Imperial University was not only one of the top universities in Drakoria but also one of the best in the world. Naturally, it attracted many foreign trainers. Some were exchange students, while others were full-time international students. And these five were exchange students. Julian slowly stood up from his seat. Although he was half a head shorter, the invisible pressure he exuded made the five of them visibly uncomfortable. Even the arrogant royal''s expression stiffened. "So you''re here for Honedge?" Julian asked calmly. The moment the man claimed to be from the Gallian Royal Family, Julian already knew why they were here. When Honedge made an appearance on TikTok the other day, he had expected trouble to followhe just didn''t think it would come knocking this quickly. "Honedge is a symbol of our Gallian Royal Family. My cousin disappeared in a secret realm not long ago, and we haven''t been able to find her." Julian followed his words smoothly. "So, she''s dead. Completely erased from existence." The man''s expression instantly darkened. Deep down, he knew what Julian said was likely true. But hearing it bluntly stated to his face still infuriated him. Without a word, the trainer raised his fist and swung it straight at Julian''s face. His plan was simplebeat him to a pulp and take his Honedge. Although he had heard rumors that Julian was physically strong, but he had never taken them seriously. After all, he was confident in his own strength. The punch tore through the air with a sharp , its speed and power undeniable. If it landed, most people would be knocked out cold on the spot. A crisp sound echoed through the library. Julian caught the punch with his bare handeffortlessly. The next second, the royal family member let out a bloodcurdling scream. "AAAAHHHHH!!" He could feel ithis hand bones shattering under Julian''s grip. Julian continued to exert force, the man''s knuckles visibly deformed, his entire fist collapsing in on itself, the bones inside were completely crushed by Julian. Some bone fragments even pierced through his skin. Chapter 343: Bet The moment the five foreign trainers approached Julian, they had already attracted the attention of many in the library. After all, their expressions made it seem like Julian owed them money. But no one expected that they would actually dare to make a moveonly to be completely overpowered by Julian in return. Seeing Julian crush the man''s hand with his bare grip, the onlookers were stunned. That kind of strengthit was monstrous, as if he had been possessed by a Machamp. Was this even humanly possible? The royal had already passed out from the excruciating pain, his mangled hand drenched in blood. Bone fragments coming out from the torn flesh. Julian flicked the blood off his handsome of it even landed on the faces of the two foreign women. But this time, they didn''t show a shred of anger. Instead, their faces turned ghastly pale, their bodies trembling slightly. Julian then shifted his gaze to the two remaining male trainers. "Do you two want a go as well?" The two men froze, then frantically shook their heads, so fast that they nearly blurred. "Then I''ll be waiting for your next attempt." With that, Julian picked up his bag and walked out of the library. The moment he left, the remaining four trainers hurriedly carried the unconscious royal to the hospital. Thanks to modern medicine and the aid of Pokmon healing moves, his hand wouldn''t be permanently crippledbut the humiliation was another story. By nightfall, the entire incident had exploded across Imperial University''s forums, plenty of students had recorded videos of what happened in the library. Imperial University was home to many foreign exchange students, most of whom were part of the Trainer Academy. Julian had just beaten up a Gallian exchange studentand not just any student, but a royal family member. His uncle''s uncle was the current King of Gallia. To Gallia''s exchange students and their allies, this was nothing short of a national humiliation. So, the next morning, a crowd of Gallian trainers gathered at the entrance of Villa No.1, where Julian lived. Some were from Gallia, while others were from nations allied with themall had come seeking justice. However, before Julian even had to step outside, the school team had already moved to intercept them, led by Max, the team captain, they blocked the foreign trainers from advancing any further. "Move aside, Max! This has nothing to do with you!" Cole, one of the Gallian trainers, glared at Max coldly, Although he wasn''t part of the royal family, but the one Julian had crushed was his close friend. "Max-kun, I expected better from you. This is disappointing." The one who spoke was a girl from Babath, a beauty with a doll-like voice and a delicate figure, her heartbroken expression was enough to make most men waver. "Tch! Shameless woman! Who are you trying to seduce here? If you want to spread your so-called ''national culture,'' go back to your own country!" Faye spat in disgust, her sweet face completely at odds with her merciless words. Her remark made the onlooking students burst into quiet chuckles. "Y-You!" The girl was instantly infuriated. Only three members of the school team came this timemost of the others weren''t on campus. If Julian''s cousin had been here, she would''ve slapped this woman long ago. "Max, if Julian doesn''t apologize to Richard and return the Honedge, then this will no longer just be a student disputeit will a matter of diplomacy between Drakoria and Gallia." Richard was, of course, the Gallian royal whose hand Julian had crushed. Max''s expression remained unfazed. "Cole, you and I are not politicians. Even if this does turn into a diplomatic issue, it''s beyond our control. Besides, we will neither apologize nor return the Honedge." Drakoria was a superpower, forget Galliaeven if all of it''s allies combined, they still wouldn''t be able to challenge Drakoria. "Slow~" At this moment, a Slowking waddled back, carrying groceries in its arms, it blinked its dull, curious eyes, looking at the crowd gathered at the villa''s entrance. "Slowking! Where''s Julian?" Faye hurriedly asked. With so many people at his door, why hadn''t Julian come out yet? Could he not be at home? Slowking: "He''s sleeping" It wasn''t even eight in the morning yet, and Julian had stayed up late gaming last nightof course, he was still asleep. Unfortunately, no one understood what Slowking was saying. As it pushed open the villa door, Cole stepped forward, trying to enteronly to be blocked by Max. Cole''s hand went to his Pokball belt. Max raised an eyebrow. "What? You wanna go at it?" Cole hesitated for a moment, then slowly withdrew his hand, his tone turning cold. "Kaide already knows about this. If Julian refuses to apologize or return the Honedge, he''ll handle it himself." At the mention of that name, Max''s expression turned slightly serious, but he still didn''t back down. "If Prince Kaide makes a move, Max-kun, there will be no turning back," the Babath girl said softly. Max was about to respondbut before he could, the villa door swung open. "Hah What bullshit ''prince'' are you guys talking about?" Julian yawned, stepping out in a Lucario-themed pajama, his sleepy eyes swept across the gathered crowd. Julian had been sleeping soundlyuntil Slowking woke him up, saying that there was a whole group of people waiting outside to chop him up. At first, he thought Slowking was just messing around, but when he actually stepped outside, he realizedit wasn''t a joke. A group of foreigners, led by Cole, stood at his doorstep, all of them glaring at him, their hostile expressions made it pretty clear what they were here for. "Oh? You guys brought reinforcements?" sea??h th N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian''s gaze swept over the groupand he recognized a few faces from yesterday, the only one missing was that royal brat. The four from yesterday tensed up, even though they had more people today, they didn''t dare act rashly. After all, Julian had crushed someone''s hand bones with his bare hands yesterday. That was far too terrifying. Besides, they were only meters away from him right now, at the level of strength Julian had displayed, that was more than close enough for him to knock them all down in an instant. Without even thinking, the four of them took a few steps back. "Heh" Julian couldn''t help but let out a soft chuckle. The four immediately flushed red, especially when they saw their own companions looking at them with disappointed or mocking expressions, their embarrassment only deepened. Julian casually stretched, then said: "I''ll give you guys a chance. Tomorrow at 10 AM, Battle Arena No. 1tell this ''Prince Kaide'' of yours to come. If he beats me, I''ll apologize and return the Honedge." "Alright!" Cole nodded immediately. "Don''t be so quick to agreeI haven''t finished yet," Julian smirked. "If he loses, then he hands over the entire training guide for the Honedge line to me." Cole''s expression changed. Although he believed in Prince Kaide''s strength But what if he lost? "I''ll relay your message to the prince." Obviously, this wasn''t something he could decide on his own, so that''s all he could say. Julian nodded, then turned to his three teammates. "If you guys haven''t had breakfast yet, come in and try Slowking''s cooking." Chapter 344: Max’s Persuasion He invited Max, Faye, and Finn into the house. "It smells so good!" As soon as she stepped inside, Faye''s eyes lit up as she curiously looked toward the kitchen. "Slow~" At this moment, Slowking walked out of the kitchen, carrying a tray of freshly steamed soup dumplings. "Make some extra, Slowking. We have guests today," Julian said. Since inviting the three of them was a spur of the moment decision, he hadn''t told Slowking in advance. Naturally, the dumplings it had made were only enough for one person. "Slow~" Slowking nodded. Luckily, it had just gone grocery shopping this morning. The three were familiar with Slowking and had heard Julian mention before that it was the one who handled his meals. Plenty of Pokmon could cook, but this was the first time they had seen one make something as simple as soup dumplings smell this delicious. Sarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before Julian could even speak, Faye had already picked up a dumpling, blew on it lightly, and eagerly took a bite. Although the broth was still a little hot, but the rich and savory flavor made her eyes widen in surprise. "This is so goodreally good!" Faye no longer cared about the heat and popped the rest of the dumpling into her mouth. "Really?" Finn, a little skeptical, picked one up for himself. A second later, he was already fighting with Faye over the remaining dumplings. "You two, what are you doing?" Max shot them a glare but casually picked up one as well. The moment he finished eating, he regretted not grabbing one soonerthere were barely any left now. "Take it easy, there''s more food." Seeing the three nearly about to start a fight over a few dumplings, Julian simply sighed. He hadn''t even gotten a chance to eat yet, but he wisely decided not to join the struggle. He exchanged a glance with Lucario, and the latter immediately understood, heading upstairs. Celebi was still sleeping in one of the rooms, and that little fool better not wander out half-asleep and get seen by Max and the others. It wasn''t that Julian didn''t trust themhe just didn''t want any unnecessary trouble. Breakfast stretched from 8 AM to 9 AM. Soup dumplings, seafood porridge, fried dough sticks, scallion pancakesif their stomachs weren''t already completely full, the three of them felt like they could eat all day. "It''s over, it''s over, I''ll definitely gain a few pounds by tomorrow," Faye groaned. She leaned back in her chair without a care for appearances, rubbing her slightly rounded belly with a look of regret. "How about letting Slowking make something else for you tomorrow?" Julian joked. "Deal!" Faye agreed without hesitation. Forget dietingshe could worry about that after tomorrow''s meal. As expected, a woman''s words couldn''t be trusted. After cleaning up the table, Slowking went to the kitchen to prepare coffee for the four of them. Seeing this, Max spoke enviously. "Julian, how is your Slowking so amazing?" "Yeah, yeah! Now I kind of want to raise one too," Faye nodded vigorously. "The fastest ones have already sent someone to buy a King''s Rock." Finn set his phone down. He had just contacted his family, asking them to purchase a King''s Rock. Since he specialized in Water-type Pokmon, a Slowking would suit him well. "Julian, you were too impulsive just now." Max took the coffee from Slowking, nodded in thanks, and took a sip. His eyes lit up instantly. "You mean Kaide?" Julian asked. But Max didn''t answer right away. Instead, he closed his eyes slightly as if thinking about something. Faye, sitting beside him, lightly slapped his arm. "Julian''s asking you somethingwhat''s with the act?" Max chuckled bitterly but didn''t explain. "Kaide is the eldest son of the current King of Gallia and the first in line to the throne. More importantly, he''s incredibly strong." "You''re now recognized as the strongest among Drakoria''s younger generation." "And, Kaide is the strongest of Gallia''s younger generation." "He defeated Elite Trainers even before reaching that rank himselfand not just once." "He''s also a senior at our university. If you hadn''t appeared, he would have been the only Elite-level student in Imperial University." Julian had never really cared about university affairs, so he wasn''t aware of how many top-tier Trainers were around. If Imperial University didn''t have a rule against foreign Trainers joining the school team, then the team captain right now wouldn''t be Maxit would be Kaide. "Julian, Max is right. Kaide is indeed a monster. Of course, I think you''re an even bigger monster." Faye half-closed her eyes, now understanding why Max had been so silent earlier. This coffee was unbelievably good. Meanwhile, Finn, having finished his coffee, pulled out his phone again to edit the message. Hearing their words, Julian became more serious about Kaide, someone he had never met or even heard of before. Max wasn''t the type to exaggerate. If he said Kaide was that strong, then he definitely was. And he was already an Elite Trainer. Even though he was a few years older than Julian, that didn''t change the fact that he was an exceptional talent. "What type does he specialize in?" Julian asked. "Steel-type," Max answered. "What a coincidence." Julian smiled slightly, suddenly more interested. In the field of Steel-types, the Walker family was unrivaled in Drakoria and among the top in the world. So in Drakoria, among his age group, Julian had never encountered a Steel-type Trainer who truly impressed him. But if it was a foreign Trainer "The majority of the Gallian royal family actually specializes in Fire-types. For them, Aegislash holds more of a symbolic significance." Aegislash was the emblem of the Gallian monarchy. When people mentioned Aegislash, their first thought was the Gallian royal familyand vice versa. It was just like how the Silver Metagross symbolized the Walker family. If one day someone outside the Walker family were to suddenly produce a Silver Metagross, how would the Walkers react? How would they handle it? Julian understood this reasoning, but that didn''t mean he couldn''t be a hypocrite. As long as it wasn''t happening to him, why should he care? "Julian, I suggest you settle this privately. If you fight publicly, no matter which of you loses, the consequences will be significant." Both of them were the faces of their respective nations. If they really clashed, it wouldn''t just be about personal prideit would also reflect on the countries they represented. Max was always level-headed, which was why he suggested this, not because he thought Julian would lose. "I''ve already put my words out there. There''s no taking them back. But if he approaches me privately, I''ll consider my response based on the situation." Julian never entertained the thought of losing. He wouldn''t loseespecially not to someone his age. "Well, I guessed as much." Max shrugged and said no more. Right now, all he wanted was to quietly enjoy the cup of coffee in front of himthe one that made him feel truly happy. Chapter 345: News Spread That afternoon, news of Julian''s challenge to Kaide had completely spread throughout Imperial University. Thanks to the internet, even many outsiders had caught wind of it. "Who is Kaide? Is he really that strong?" For those outside Imperial University, the name Kaide was unfamiliar. It certainly didn''t carry the same weight as Julian''s. "He must be strong. Otherwise, why would the King Julian challenge him?" "I''ll explainKaide is the Prince of Gallia and the first in line to the throne. He''s considered the strongest among Gallia''s younger generation." Someone quickly provided an explanation. Some people even searched Kaide''s name on the net, and sure enough, there was information about him. There were even old battle videos of him. When they saw that Kaide had defeated Elite Trainers while still at the pseudo-Elite level and that, at 22 years old, he was now a full-fledged Elite. His talent, strength, and family background were in no way inferior to Julian''s. This revelation only made the situation more heated. Even the officials of both Drakoria and Gallia became aware of the challenge. However, neither government made any statements. They knew that they couldn''t get involvedif they did, what started as a personal challenge would immediately escalate into an international diplomatic issue. Besides, the Gallian government had full confidence in their Crown Prince''s strength. This was a perfect opportunity for him to put Julian in his placeto show everyone that the so-called strongest young Trainer of Drakoria was nothing but a joke in front of their prince. And on top of that, they could take back Honedge. A win-win situation. With certain people fueling the discussion, the event quickly exploded across the internet. The people of Drakoria overwhelmingly supported Julian. Though a few dissenters appeared, they were quickly shut down by the majority and ended up leaving the discussion. Unintentionally, Julian and Kaide''s battle had already been elevated into a matter of national pride. If Julian won, it would prove that Gallian Trainers were not as good as Drakorian Trainers, and vice versa. Since Julian was the one who issued the challenge, the question remainedwould Kaide accept? Given how things had escalated into a hotly debated topic between both nations, if Kaide refused to battle, Drakorians would see it as an admission of defeat. In their eyes, that would mean Julian had already won. Even the people of Gallia hoped their Crown Prince would accept. Even if he lost, fighting would be far more honorable than backing down. Under these circumstances, there was no way Kaide could refuse. Soon enough, he gave a clear response. He posted on his personal GEEK account: "Tomorrow at 10 AM." He accepted the challenge. As the one who had started this whole mess, Richard was still lying in a hospital bed, staring at the news on his phone. He had never expected things to blow up this much. "Why hasn''t Brother Kaide come to see me?" Richard turned to the tall blonde woman tending to him. He and Kaide were both members of the royal family. Their relationship wasn''t exactly close, but it wasn''t bad either. "The Crown Prince is preparing for tomorrow''s battle," the woman replied. Richard was slightly taken aback before sneering. "Brother Kaide is being too cautious. There''s no way that guy could be his match." Then, a look of deep resentment flashed across his face. "Tell Brother Kaide to ''kill'' that guy''s Pokmon." The woman shot Richard a mocking glance, but he was too consumed by his anger to notice. "Richard, the Crown Prince''s orders are that once this matter is over, you are to return to Gallia." If not for his royal status, Richard was worth nothing in her eyes. "What did you just call me?!" Richard looked at her in disbelief. sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Richard. Was that not clear enough?" She continued to mock him. "You b**ch! I am a royal! Who do you think you are?!" Richard roared. "I serve the Crown Prince." She remained unfazed as she continued, "Because of your recklessness, things escalated to this point. Of course, Cole played a role too." Cole was the one who led a group to block Julian''s villa the next day, making the situation even worse. But the one who started it all was Richard. Richard burned with fury, but there was nothing he could do. Despite being a royal, he was just a marginal member of the family. He couldn''t compare to the Crown Prince, who was the first in line to the throne and possessed both extraordinary talent and strength. If there weren''t any unexpected events, Kaide would become the King of Gallia and its national symbol in the future. And as someone under the Crown Prince''s command, this woman was completely untouchable to him. Seeing Richard''s face twisted with resentment, yet unable to do anything, filled her with satisfaction. "Get out! Get out of my sight!" Richard roared, hurling the cup beside him. The woman rose to leave but paused at the door. She said in a calm tone, "The Crown Prince wants you at the battle tomorrow to receive Julian''s apology." With that, she walked away. Under different circumstances, Richard might have been grateful to Kaide for standing up for him. But now "Julian... Kaide... Hehe..." Back at the university, many students from the Special Recruitment Class had already started messaging Julian, asking about the situation. Since everyone else was still out completing the assigned tasks, Julian was the first to finish and return to campus. Celebi hovered in front of Julian, holding a phone. "A lot of people online are saying you''re fighting him tomorrow." Julian glanced at his phone and gave a slight nod. Celebi: "Do you need my help? I''m really strong!" It waved its tiny fists, though the slight jiggle of its belly fat made the gesture less intimidating. Julian: (-_-;) "No need. An opponent like him isn''t worth your time. Just stay home and keep ranking up with Slowking." Celebi placed its hands on its hips and nodded in agreement. "You''re right. But next time you meet a strong opponent, I''ll handle it." Julian: "Mm" "Luca~" Lucario, who had been meditating, suddenly opened its eyes. A second later, the doorbell rang. Julian glanced at Celebi, who pouted in frustration before flying upstairs. "You? What brings you here?" Seeing that the visitor was Nicole, Julian raised an eyebrow. "Is this about tomorrow?" Nicole: "Tomorrow? What about tomorrow?" Judging by the confused look on her face, she genuinely had no idea. "I''ve been in the lab all this time." "Oh, then why are you here?" "I''ve nearly finished my research on your Steelix. There are still some data points I haven''t figured out, but they seem to be related to your training method." "Although I''m curious, but I doubt you''d tell me how you trained it." "Get to the main point," Julian said. The doorbell rang again. When Julian opened it, Hannah walked in. Chapter 346: Battle Begins Imperial University Trainer Academy - Battle Arena No. 1 A little after 9 AM, both sides of the battlefield were already packed with people, and many even arrived on Flying-type Pokmon, hovering in the air to get a better view. Ever since Kaide accepted the challenge yesterday, everyone interested in this battle had arrived early. But even they underestimated the excitement surrounding the match between Julian and Kaide. Forget about coming at 9 AMeven if you arrived at 8 AM, you might not have gotten a good spot. "Isn''t the match supposed to start at 10? It''s barely past 9, and there''s already this many people?" On the outskirts of the crowd, a few students who thought they had arrived early looked at each other in disbelief. They couldn''t even see the battlefieldonly a sea of people. How were they supposed to watch the battle? And why did the sky seem so dark? Looking up, they quickly realized whycountless Flying-type Pokmon hovered above, packed so densely that they blocked out the sunlight. Some of the larger ones even carried multiple trainers on their backs. "Snacks, drinks, bottled wateranyone need some?" "Binoculars, folding stoolsget them here!" Some clever students from the business academy weren''t about to miss this money-making opportunity. They set up shop right there, selling whatever they could. Even though they wouldn''t make much, they were doing it for fun. "How much for a bag of sunflower seeds?" "1,000 bucks per bag." "What the hell? That''s robbery!" "I''m from the business academy." "Oh, that explains it." By around 9:50, Prince Kaide had arrived at the battlefield, accompanied by over a dozen trainers from Gallia. Looking at the other side of the field and not seeing Julian yet, Kaide didn''t say anything. He simply stood there quietly, waiting for the clock to hit 10. However, the tall blonde woman beside him frowned. "This Julian sure is arrogant, making Prince Kaide wait for him." In her eyes, Julian should have arrived an hour earlier to wait for Kaide. Among Kaide''s entourage, Richard stood with his hands wrapped in bandages, his head lowered, his expression dark. No one noticed the look of hatred in his eyes as he glanced at Kaide. To the public, Kaide was challenging Julian on Richard''s behalf, standing up for him. But Richard knew the truthKaide wasn''t doing this for him at all. He was doing it for the honor of the Gallian royal family. In Kaide''s eyes, Richard was insignificant. Despite being a member of the royal family, he was painfully aware that, in Kaide''s eyes, he ranked even lower than that blonde woman. As the clock neared 10, Julian finally arrived at the battlefield. The university took this match very seriously. They had assigned multiple teachers to maintain order and even set up a live broadcast of the match. Might as well use this opportunity to boost the university''s official social media account. Kaide looked at Julian, and Julian met his gaze. To be fair, Kaide was quite good-looking. His face had the sharp, chiseled features of an ancient Greek statuerugged yet refined. His violet eyes added a touch of mystery, making his presence even more striking. "3v3 or 6v6?" Frank, acting as the referee, asked. Julian glanced at Frank suspiciously. He was a veteran Traineran Elite, why did he always seem to enjoy being a referee? Frank: "You decide," Julian said. "3v3," Kaide replied. To him, it didn''t matter whether it was three or six Pokmonhe was confident he would win either way. Choosing 3v3 simply meant a quicker victory. Sear?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Coincidentally, that was exactly what Julian wanted. His mindset was the samesince he was going to win anyway, he might as well get it over with. Frank took out a coin. "Heads, blue side sends out Pokmon first. Tails, red side goes first." Julian was on the blue side. The coin landed on tails, that meant Kaide had to send out his Pokmon first. This made Julian, who was about to take out his Pok Ball, startled for a moment, with a slightly surprised expression on his face. For once, luck was on his side. As Kaide threw out his Pok Ball, a bright flash of white light revealed a humanoid Pokmon standing on the battlefield. Pokmon: Bisharp (Dark/Steel) Level: 72 Potential: Cyan Ability: Defiant Item: Focus Sash Gender: Male Moves: Metal Burst, Scratch, Leer, Fury Cutter, Metal Claw, Torment, Scary Face, Assurance, Metal Sound, Slash, Night Slash, Iron Defense, Retaliate, Swords Dance, Guillotine TMs: Hyper Beam, Protect, Thunder Wave, Payback, Brick Break, Rock Tomb, Pursuit, Shadow Claw, Foul Play, Iron Head, Dark Pulse, Giga Impact Egg Moves: Sucker Punch, Headbutt, Mean Look, Rock Smash, Quick Guard --- Bisharp was the evolved form of Pawniard, a Pokmon native to Babath. While Babath did restrict the distribution of Pawniard, they weren''t overly stricttrainers from other countries could still obtain them for the right price. However, they strictly controlled any Pawniard above Green-tier potential. If not for Gallia being one of the top allies of their "big brother," Celestria, there was no way they would have allowed a Cyan-tier Pawniard to be sent to Gallia. Even in Babath, that level of potential was rare. Bisharp could be described as a walking arsenalevery part of its body was a weapon. Despite being a Dark/Steel-type, its physical structure gave it formidable hand-to-hand combat abilities as well. "That Pokmon has such a fierce look in its eyes." "Anyone here strong enough to tell what level it is?" "Probably around the early Elite level." "I wonder what Pokmon King Julian will send out?" "Most likely Dragonite. As far as we know, that''s his only Elite-level Pokmon." Julian quickly provided an answer. As he threw out his Pok Ball, he glanced back and said: "Let''s try to wrap this up in thirty minutes, guys." In the back, Slowking was holding a phone, live-streaming the match on TikTok. The number of viewers soared past 50 million within momentsand it kept climbing. "Prince Kaide is so handsome! What do I do? I think I''m switching sides!" "Get out of here, we''ve got another lovestruck fool in chat!" "Thirty minutes? King Julian must be bragging." "When has king Julian ever failed to back up his words?" Under everyone''s gaze, Julian released his Pokmon. Pokmon: Lucario (Fighting/Steel) Level: 70 Potential: Blue Ability: Inner Focus Item: Muscle Band Gender: Male Moves: Life Dew, Work Up, Quick Attack, Calm Mind, Endure, Detect, Feint, Metal Claw, Aura Sphere, Rock Smash, Force Palm, Metal Sound, Bone Rush, Meteor Mash, Heal Pulse, Vacuum Wave, Reversal, Extreme Speed, Helping Hand, Screech, Final Gambit, Counter TM Moves: Low Sweep, Brick Break, Agility, Swords Dance, Dig, Bulk Up, Focus Blast, Dark Pulse, Protect, Drain Punch, Hyper Beam, High Jump Kick, Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Low Kick, Flash Canon Egg Moves: Mind Reader, Close Combat, Bullet Punch, Thunder Punch Chapter 347: Lucario Vs Bisharp "Luca!" Lucario made a dazzling entrance, drawing excited screams from many of the girls in the audience. When it came to looks, Lucario had always been ranked among the top five most popular Pokmon. And it wasn''t just about looksit was strong, could Mega Evolve, and was the perfect combination of power and style. Its long ears twitched slightly as it locked eyes with Bisharp. A powerful aura radiated from its body, making it clear that its opponent was no pushover. Bisharp slowly raised its armthen, to everyone''s surprise, it stuck out its tongue and licked the blade on its forearm. Julian: Lucario: As the protective barrier around the battlefield activated, Frank the referee announced the start of the match. "Bisharp, Fury Cutter!" "Lucario, Extreme Speed!" Julian and Kaide issued their commands almost simultaneously, but the results couldn''t have been more different. Sarch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just as Bisharp was about to move, it suddenly realizedLucario was gone! A split second later, a massive force struck its lower back from behind. Bisharp was sent flying nearly a hundred meters before landing, sliding dozens more before finally coming to a stop. A sharp pain shot through its waist, making it difficult to standit staggered and knelt on one knee. He got read! Kaide, who had been brimming with confidence, had just taken a metaphorical slap to the face. Behind him, Richard lowered his head, but there was a hint of satisfaction in his expression. He realized he no longer held as much resentment toward Julian. Compared to him, he disliked Kaide even more. Kaide never showed him any respect. Even Kaide''s subordinates treated him like trash. "666, that read alone is something I could spend my whole life learning." "Bisharp: MY BACK" "Wait, what''s a ''read''?" "It means predicting the opponent''s move in advance and countering it for an advantage. But if the read fails, you could end up in a bad spot yourself." "Damn, that was a gutsy move from King Julian." "Hey, I''m in elementary school. Big bro, can I have that Lucario?" The comment section was blowing up, and the viewer count had already surpassed a hundred million. However, the social media manager for Imperial University''s official account was puzzled. The numbers weren''t going up anymoresomething didn''t add up. It wasn''t until later that he realized Julian had started his own livestream, and everyone had flocked to his channel instead. Lucario had landed the first hit, dealing solid damage to Bisharp. It was about to press the attackbut its opponent was already getting back up. Lucario was slightly surprised by this. Its raw strength might not be on the same level as Metagross or Aggron, but it was still incredibly strong. Against most Fighting-type Pokmon, it could score a clean knockout. Bisharp had taken Lucario''s hit head-onyet it still managed to stand up quickly, which showed his impressive resilience. "Slash!" Kaide no longer underestimated Julian. That flawless read from earlier had been enough for him to place Julian on the same level as himself. And, his Bisharp was at the Elite level, while Lucario was only a pseudo-Elite Pokmon. With that level advantage, Kaide refused to let himself fall into another passive position. Bisharp exploded forward with incredible speedits powerful legs kicked off the ground, leaving a small crater behind. In the blink of an eye, it had already crossed over a hundred meters. The blades on its arms gleamed white as they suddenly extended over a meter in length. "Bone Rush!" As a Fighting-type Pokmon, Lucario never feared close combat. It extended both arms to the sides, and in an instant, a white bone staff materialized in its hands. Lucario raised its bone weapon and blocked the incoming . A flicker of surprise flashed in Bisharp''s eyes. Its was sharp enough to cut through a meter-thick steel plate with ease, yet it had been stopped by a single bone staff. And no matter how much force Bisharp put into its attack, it couldn''t cut through the staff. Instead, the force rebounding from it pushed Bisharp backward. Bisharp: It immediately reached this conclusion. There was no need for pride or hesitationBisharp swiftly retracted its blade, lowered its stance, and aimed a at Lucario''s abdomen. But Lucario''s reaction was even faster. It lightly tapped the ground with its left foot, its body soaring into the air to dodge the attack. At the same time, its right leg swung out in a devastating kick. landed directly on Bisharp''s face. Even with its armored faceplate, Bisharp felt as if it had just been slammed by a high-speed train. Its vision went black, and with a , it was sent flying hundreds of meters before crashing hard into the protective barrier. The sheer force of the impact sent ripples through the energy shield. Hannah''s face turned paleBisharp had smashed into the barrier right in front of her. Thank goodness for the protective shield. "Are you okay?" The older girl beside her asked. Hannah shook her head. "I''m fine just startled." The older girl sighed, "Honestly, I don''t think you''re suited to be a Trainer. You''re way too timid. Maybe you should consider changing careers soon." "Quit? But I don''t even know what else I''d do Besides, I think being a Trainer suits me." She looked toward the battlefield, at Julian standing there calmly. If she wasn''t a Trainer then she wouldn''t even have a reason to talk to him anymore. The older girl noticed Hannah''s gaze and teased, "Well, if you don''t want to switch careers, that''s fine too. Just snag Young Master Julian as your husband. Then, our whole dorm can rely on you!" Her voice was a bit too loud, and soon, the people around them had overheard the conversation. Some of the girls in the crowd were immediately displeased. They had their eyes on Julian too! They turned to glare at Hannah with hostility. But the moment they saw her face, they all simultaneously withdrew their gazes. Girls: "Keep your voice down, will you?" Hannah blushed, How could her friend say something like that in front of so many people?! "I ''was'' being quiet! Besides, I''m just worried for you. Look at Nicoleshe started later than you, yet now she''s ahead of you! Don''t let her win!" "If it really comes down to it, our whole dorm can team up! Strength in numbers, you know? I refuse to believe Julian can resist all four beauties of Room 301! You''ll be the main wife, and we''ll settle for being side pieces!" "Big Sis!!" Hannah stomped her foot in frustration, her face burning. Her friend was getting more and more outrageous, saying things like that so openly! She quickly glanced aroundsure enough, several people were staring at them. Some of the boys in the crowd overheard the conversation and immediately felt nothing but hatred for Julian. "Don''t call me Big Sis anymore, from now on, ''you'' are our Big Sis!" Hannah: "..." Chapter 348: First Match Over "Bisharp" Kaide watched in disbelief as Bisharp''s helmet was dented by a single kick from Lucario. He simply couldn''t understandwhy was the opponent''s strength this overwhelming? In reality, every single one of Julian''s Pokmon were far stronger than others of their kind. After all, any Pokmonregardless of typecould find itself forced into close combat at some point. And in such situations, sheer strength could mean the difference between victory and defeat. Not to mention, Lucario was a Fighting-type. If it wasn''t strong, it would be an embarrassment to its own type. Bisharp struggled to stand up, shaking its head. After taking a full force Kick, it felt as if a dozen Pidgey were flying circles around its head. "Aura Sphere," Julian ordered. "Dark Pulse!" was a guaranteed hit, meaning Bisharp had only two optionsblock it with a defensive move or counter with an attack. A deep purple-black clashed head-on with the glowing blue . Julian was a little surprised. Even though Bisharp''s head was still spinning from the previous hit, it had managed to fire off with pinpoint accuracy. That was impressive. However, began pushing back, steadily advancing toward Bisharp. Even when Bisharp poured more power into , it couldn''t slow down the . "Use Slash!" Just as completely shattered , Bisharp''s right-arm blade extended in an instant. With a downward slash, it cut through the air, leaving behind a silver-white arc. With a sharp tearing sound, was split in two. Bisharp remained in its slashing stance, slowly raising its head. It was just about to act smug and say something like, "Is that all?" Bisharp: However, Lucario was nowhere in sight. A moment later, Bisharp heard its trainer''s urgent voice. "Behind you!" But it was too late. Feeling a wave of intense heat at its back, Bisharp''s face was filled with despair. It didn''t even need to turn aroundit already knew what was coming. "Use Swords Dance!" Julian: Lucario''s was already less than ten centimeters away. The flames licked at Bisharp''s armor, and at this distance, there was no way it could activate in time. And yet, somehow the impossible happened. Most Pokmon used by spinning their bodies to gather momentum. Bisharp was no exception. However, unlike most Pokmon, every part of Bisharp''s body was a weaponeven its waist had a ring of blades. And by sheer bad luck, Lucario''s had struck that exact spinning blade. If Lucario had aimed at any other part, Bisharp wouldn''t have been able to complete its . Julian would have shattered its momentum before it could even finish. But because of that spinning waist blade, Lucario''s was deflected away to the side. The attack had failed, and in turn, the opponent''s successfully activated. After , Bisharp''s attack power increased significantly, and it suddenly felt like it could fight again. Confidence was a good thing, but blind confidence was another matter entirely. "Lucario, Close Combat!" "Bisharp, Fury Cutter!" Lucario lunged forward, using every part of its bodyhands, fists, knees, elbows, palmseach becoming a weapon of destruction, launching a relentless assault against Bisharp. Surprisingly, this time Bisharp held its ground. Its arm blades gleamed silver, slashing through the air with incredible precision, blocking every single one of Lucario''s strikes. Spectators gasped in amazement. At this speed, the movements of both Pokmon had become a blurso fast that the human eye could barely follow. But defense never lasts forever. As Lucario''s grew even faster, Bisharp began to struggle to keep up. Its arm blade swung upward, attempting to block Lucario''s incoming punch. But it was just a fraction of a second too late. Bisharp: And just as it fearedits defense crumbled. In the very next second, Lucario''s fists rained down like a storm, pummeling Bisharp relentlessly. Lucario: "Ora Ora Ora Ora------!" Bisharp''s body became nothing more than a punching bag, absorbing the full force of Lucario''s furious onslaught. With one final, devastating punch, Bisharp was sent flying over a hundred meters, crashing heavily into the ground. This time, it didn''t get back up. "Luca" Lucario panted heavily, its breathing slightly labored. Maintaining such high-speed combat was incredibly draining. Had Bisharp held out for even three or four more seconds, Lucario wouldn''t have been able to sustain that level of attack any longer. With this victory, Julian took the first round, igniting a wave of excitement among the Drakorian audience. They all knew Julian was strong, but Kaide was no weak opponent either. After all, Kaide wasn''t just any trainerhe was the Crown Prince of Gallia, and like Julian, he was considered the strongest of his generation in his country. Though they continued to support Julian, many had felt a sense of unease before the match. But now, with Lucario defeating Bisharp, even if they couldn''t predict the outcome of the next rounds, at least they had a solid start. "Wait was Bisharp really this weak? I''ve seen its battle footage beforeit even defeated a mid-rank Elite as an early Elite!" "That mid-rank Elite was from Gallia, right?" "Yeah." "Well, that explains it. In Drakoria, even a peak pseudo-Elite can destroy a early-rank Elite from Gallia." "Don''t believe me? Look at King Julianhe did exactly that!" "Lucario: You fell, before I even Mega Evolved." "Don''t listen to that guyBisharp is actually really strong. If we were both early Elites, I wouldn''t be able to beat it." "Everyone, come quick! We found an honest guy here!" As Julian secured the first victory, the livestream chat exploded with excitement. sea??h th Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, at the scene, Hannah clutched the arm of the woman beside her, shouting excitedly. Kaide silently retrieved his fallen Bisharp, his expression unreadable, his teammates stood behind him, silent, not daring to utter a word. Among them, Richard'' eyes gleamed with mockery. Julian, on the other hand, also recalled Lucario, although Lucario could still fight another round, there was no need to push it further. After all, it wasn''t often that he found a worthy opponent his ageit only made sense to let his other Pokmon have a chance to battle as well. Kaide was indeed strong. Even though they had only fought one match, Julian could already tellKaide was capable of battling above his rank, a peak pseudo-Elite able to defeat an early Elite. That alone made him a true genius. At the same level, even Max probably wouldn''t be able to beat him. Max himself knew this, too. After all, he had faced Kaide beforeand lost, that was why he had warned Julian to take this match seriously. It''s just that he had underestimated Julian, Lucario hadn''t even Mega Evolved, and yet it had defeated an early Elite stage Bisharp, that fact alone left Max truly stunned. Julian''s Pokmon were getting more and more ridiculous. Chapter 349: Aggron Vs Copperajah "Prince Kaide just wasn''t taking the first round seriously. In the second round, he''ll definitely put Julian in his place." Behind Kaide, a group of foreign trainers stood together. They weren''t from Gallia, but their home countries were all close allies of it. As for the Drakorians in the crowd, the vast majority supported Julianaside from a small number of dissenters. On the other hand, some of the foreign trainers at Imperial University were backing Kaide instead. Of course, not all foreign trainers were against Julian. A few of them even held up a massive banner, with bold words written on it: "Go Julian!" Julian soon sent out his second Pokmon, the moment it landed, the ground trembled slightly. Pokmon: Aggron (Steel/Rock) Level: 66 Potential: Blue Ability: Heavy Metal Held Item: Metal Coat Gender: Male Moves: Roar, Tackle, Harden, Headbutt, Protect, Iron Head, Metal Burst, Rock Tomb, Metal Claw, Earth Power, Take Down, Iron Defense, Double-Edge, Metal Sound, Autotomize TMs: Earthquake, Sandstorm, Dig, Shock Wave, Rock Slide, Rock Smash, Water Pulse, Dragon Claw, Focus Punch, Iron Tail, Thunderbolt, Flamethrower, Mega Punch, Mega Kick, Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Stone Edge, Wide Guard, Reckless, Hyper Beam, Giga Impact, Sand Tomb, Bulldoze, Hydro Pump Egg Moves: Stomp, Heavy Slam, Endeavor, Dragon Rush --- At 6.5 meters tall and weighing over 3 tons, Aggron stood like an ancient giant on the battlefield. Its silver armor gleamed like diamonds under the sun, while its twin horns looked as though they could pierce the sky itself. It was the very definition of massive, fierce, and imposing. "Did the ground just shake just now?" "Not gonna lie, this Aggron could probably one-shot my Pikachu." "That size, that armor even a Tyranitar would be impressed!" "That gleaming armor did it really eat raw diamonds?" "Aggron: The walking diamond." Men were naturally drawn to things that were strong and dominantand Aggron embodied all of that perfectly. It didn''t matter what type of Pokmon trainer you were. If you were a guy, chances were, you''d be captivated by Aggron. Even Kaide himself couldn''t help but stare, his eyes gleaming at the sight of Julian''s towering steel beast. Kaide was also a Steel-type trainer, so he understood better than most just how exceptional this Aggron was. Too bad Aggron was only found in Drakoria. And even in Drakoria, it was exclusively controlled by the Walker family. The Walkers only sold Green-tier Aron to outsidersnever Cyan or above. Of course, Green-tier Pokmon could be trained to Cyan, but the resources required were immense. Kaide took a long time to send out his next Pokmon, still admiring Aggron with an appreciative gaze. S~ea??h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian didn''t rush him. In fact, he felt like Kaide wasn''t as annoying as before. After all, seeing his Pokmon admired by others felt good as a trainer. Aggron, however, was losing patience, especially with the way that trainer was staring at himit gave him the creeps. It stomped the ground heavily, leaving a deep footprint. Aggron: "What are you looking at?!" Kaide chuckled, realizing Aggron''s frustration, before finally sending out his Pokmon. Pokmon: Copperajah (Steel) Level: 71 Potential: Cyan Ability: Heavy Metal Held Item: Lagging Tail Gender: Male Moves: Heavy Slam, Rock Smash, Tackle, Rollout, Growl, Stomp, Bulldoze, Iron Defense, Dig, Strength, Iron Head, Play Rough, High Horsepower, Superpower TMs: Giga Impact, Hyper Beam, Protect, Dig, Sand Tomb, Rock Tomb, Rock Blast, Mud Shot, Rock Slide, Body Slam Egg Moves: Fissure, Earthquake, Double-Edge, Steel Beam --- This Copperajah came from a Advanced-level secret realm deep within the oceana secret realm monopolized by European nations. For most other countries, getting in was nearly impossible. Standing at 3 meters tall, Copperajah would normally tower over most Pokmon, Unfortunately, this time, it was up against a behemoth. At over 6 meters tall, Aggron completely dwarfed Copperajahits head barely reached Aggron''s stomach. Aggron beckoned it provocatively with one claw. Copperajah swung its long trunk in response, releasing a puff of white steam from its nostrils. It was angrybut without orders from its trainer, it stayed still. "Copperajah, Heavy Slam!" Kaide ordered. Like Aggron, Copperajah also had the ability , doubling its weight. Although this slowed it down, but any body slam attack became devastatingly powerful. As it charged forward, its sheer momentum was terrifying. It felt like a meteor plummeting toward the battlefield, carrying an unstoppable force. A white current of energy enveloped Copperajah''s massive frame. As it moved forward, the sheer weight of its charge carved a half-meter-deep trench into the battlefield. Even though there was a protective barrier, some spectators felt their chests tighten just from the pressure of its charge. "Heavy Slam!" Julian gave the same command. Aggron started moving, with each step, its speed gradually increased. The ground trembled beneath its enormous weight. As it crossed the 100-meter mark, the force of its charge grew even strongerthe battlefield began to crack under its feet. Chunks of shattered rock flew up from the fractures, but the violent currents of air around Aggron instantly ground them into dust. 100 meters 50 meters 30 meters The gap between them narrowed rapidly. The collision force between the two Pokmon was about to reach its peak. Aggron lowered its head slightly, its sharp horns gleaming dangerously as it thundered forward. Meanwhile, Copperajah''s twin tusks became coated in whirling white energy, spinning at high speed as they tore through the air. 20 meters 10 meters 5 meters Under the terrified yet eager gazes of the audience BOOM!!! The two Pokmon collided in a thunderous impact, shaking the entire battlefield. The deafening sound of metal crashing against metal pierced the sky. The ground beneath their feet disintegrated into fine dust upon impact, while spiderweb-like cracks spread outward from the collision point. Shockwaves, roaring soundwaves, and flying debris ravaged the battlefield in every direction. Chapter 350: Fissure Both Pokmon were far beyond the size and weight of an average Pokmon. When two such giants collided, the impact was nothing short of terrifying. The ground beneath Aggron and Copperajah continued to crack and rise, struggling under the immense pressure of their battle. The arena groaned as if it could no longer withstand their weight. Julian looked at Copperajah with slight surprise. He hadn''t expected it to withstand Aggron''s charge without being sent flying. He had underestimated its strength. Kaide was equally shocked. His Copperajah was not like a typical oneit had an innate talent for raw power. In terms of strength, it was nearly twice as powerful as a normal Copperajah. Yet, despite its level advantage, it hadn''t gained any ground. No Kaide''s pupils suddenly contracted, he noticed that Copperajah''s thick hind legs were shifting backward. Aggron: As Aggron kept applying force, Copperajah''s body began sliding back, its massive front legs slowly lifting off the ground. If Aggron completely lifted its front half, it would slam Copperajah into the ground with full force. "Copperajah, Rock Blast!" Kaide saw what was happening and reacted instantly. Aggron was using both hands to lift Copperajah, leaving it unable to defend itself But Copperajah still had its trunk. With a swift swing, several large rocks materialized in the air. The rocks slammed into Aggron, each one exploding on impact. A thick cloud of smoke engulfed both Pokmon. "Why isn''t Aggron dodging?" "It can''t. Not in this situation." "As far as I know, Julian''s Aggron has the Heavy Metal ability. It''s incredibly slow." Dodge? Why bother? As the smoke gradually faded, the audience saw the scene inside. Aggron had not been pushed back at all, the hadn''t even left a scratch on it. Instead, Copperajah was now fully lifted off the ground. Copperajah: Under the sunlight, Aggron''s armor still shimmered with a brilliant, diamond-like glow. Julian: When it came to pure defense, Aggron was second only to Metagross. To break through its armor, an opponent''s attack power had to reach at least mid-Elite level. Aggron hurled Copperajah into the air with a powerful throw, sending it soaring nearly a hundred meters high. From such a height, a Pokmon of Copperajah''s massive weight would undoubtedly suffer greatly upon impact. But Aggron''s attack wasn''t over yet. Positioning itself beneath Copperajah''s left flank, Aggron opened its mouth and unleashed a , blasting it straight toward its airborne opponent. "Copperajah, Sand Tomb!" Suddenly, Aggron felt the ground beneath it soften. In the blink of an eye, its thighs sank into the ground, causing its balance to waver, the missed its mark, grazing past Copperajah instead of hitting it directly. The expanded, and just as Copperajah crashed down, it landed on the soft sand, a massive wave of sand erupted into the air upon impact, scattering in all directions. The force cleared away the quicksand, greatly reducing the damage Copperajah would have otherwise taken from the fall. And with the sand gone, Aggron''s binding was lifted as well. "Copperajah, Earthquake!" The field began to tremble violently as deep cracks spread out, rapidly expanding in all directions, a powerful tremor surged through Aggron. Being a Steel/Rock-type, Aggron was 4x weak to Ground-type moves. Despite its incredible defenses, pain flashed across its face as the attack struck. A massive crack raced toward Aggron, reaching its position in the blink of an eye, the crack widened instantly. "Copperajah, Fissure!" A glint of excitement flashed in Kaide''s eyeshe was about to win this battle. Under the devastating , the ground split open beneath Aggron, swallowing it whole. The crevice stretched nearly thirty meters wide and plunged dozens of meters deep. Even ten Aggrons stacked together wouldn''t be enough to fill the gap. And the fissure was already starting to close, as if sealing Aggron beneath the earth itself. "It''s over! Aggron is done for! Julian''s going to lose this time" "It took a direct hit from both Earthquake and Fissureeven Metagross wouldn''t be able to withstand that!" "Julian had the upper hand just moments ago! How did things flip so fast? He''s actually on the verge of losing!" "This is what high-level battles are like. No one holds an advantage forever. One small mistake, and the tide can turn instantly." The entire audience watched the scene nervously, their eyes locked onto the battlefield. Hannah, overwhelmed with anxiety, gripped her older friend''s arm tightlyso tightly that her friend yelped in pain. "Ouch! That hurts!" "Sorry, sis," Hannah muttered absentmindedly, loosening her grip but never taking her eyes off the battle. Her friend curled her lips and said, "What are you worried about? Julian won''t lose." Hannah looked at her in confusion, prompting her to explain, "Just look at his expression." "Can you not see it?" "Huh?" Hannah tilted her head. Julian''s expression? It hadn''t changed at all since the battle started. "Confidence. Can''t you see? His face has been radiating confidence this whole time." "Really?" "Just keep watching. You''ll understand soon." Lose? Impossible. At least, Julian wouldn''t lose to some foreigner like Kaide. "Aggron, Mega Evolve." To be fair, Copperajah was indeed stronger than Bisharp, and Kaide''s maneuver had been exceptionally well executed, catching Julian off guard and turning the battle around in an instant. But it didn''t matter. Sar?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aggron hadn''t even Mega Evolved yet. As the fissure continued closing, a brilliant burst of rainbow light suddenly shone from within the crack. "Copperajah, more power!" Kaide snorted, attempting to forcefully stop the Mega Evolution. Mega Evolution wasn''t the same as natural evolution. In official matches, if a Pokmon naturally evolved mid-battle, its opponent was strictly forbidden from attacking. Violating this rule would result in harsh punishment. However, Mega Evolution was differentit could be interrupted. Even if stopped, the consequences were minimal compared to disrupting natural evolution, which could cause irreversible damage, sometimes even permanently preventing a Pokmon from evolving again. Copperajah let out a thunderous roar, surging with ground-type energy that poured into the battlefield, causing the fissure to close even faster. Chapter 351: Arcanine Two seconds later, the dozens-of-meters-wide fissure fully closed, and the rainbow light vanished along with it. The entire stadium fell silent. Only Kaide''s supporters cheered in excitement. "As long as Prince Kaide gets serious, no one can stand against him!" "Fissure is a powerful Ground-type move! That Aggron won''t die, right?" "Drakoria''s so-called number one young trainer? What a joke!" Earlier, when Lucario defeated Bisharp, these same people had stayed silent, heads lowered like defeated roosters. But now, with Kaide seemingly turning the tables, they immediately started shouting again. Of course, some Drakorian viewers online also criticized Julian, but they were quickly overwhelmed by his fans, who shut them down completely. Kaide''s lips curled into a smirkhe had evened the score. That meant he still had a chance to win. But then, his eyes fell on Julian''s expressioncompletely unchanged. Kaide''s smirk froze. Aggron was clearly defeated so why did Julian still look so calm? Could it be? A ridiculous thought surfaced in his mind, his instincts screamed as he quickly glanced at the ground beneath Copperajah''s feetthe tiny pebbles were trembling ever so slightly. "Copperajah, move!" Kaide shouted in panic. Copperajah felt it toothe vibrations beneath its feet, but with its massive size, escaping was nearly impossible. So, it chose to fight back. With a thunderous roar, Copperajah raised its front legs high and then slammed them down, aiming at the shaking grounda ! Kaide and Copperajah''s sudden actions surprised everyone, at this moment, everyone realizedAggron wasn''t defeated. The next secondMega Aggron burst out from underground! Its blade-like nasal horn suddenly extended to over three metersa terrifying sight. Before Copperajah''s could crash down, Aggron''s razor-sharp horn had already pierced straight through Copperajah''s lower jaw! Copperajah let out a bloodcurdling scream but forced itself to endure the pain, with a final act of defiance, its massive front legs came crashing down, slamming onto Mega Aggron''s shoulders with incredible force. The half-emerged Aggron was forcefully stomped back into the ground. But then With a powerful shake of its head, Mega Aggron ripped its horn free, Copperajah was sent flying nearly a hundred meters before crashing heavily to the ground, unable to get up again. Blood gushed from its lower jaw like a fountain, quickly staining the battlefield red. When Aggron had been swallowed by the cracks just now, Kaide still ordered Copperajah to use . Had it been a regular Aggron, let alone Mega Evolving under such conditionsjust getting hit by that move would have crippled its body completely. So, Julian had no reason to show mercy. "Hyper Beam" Julian''s voice was cold. By now, Mega Aggron had climbed out of the crater, a golden beam of destruction ripped through the air, slamming into the already immobilized Copperajah. Despite its massive size, Copperajah was blasted away once again. As it flew through the air, blood scattered across the sky, falling like raindrops. Copperajah crashed down heavily, the impact made many in the audience shudder involuntarily. Some looked at Copperajah with pityit was simply too tragic to watch. Its lower jaw had a gaping hole, and now, a meter-wide wound from had been torn into its abdomenso deep that its twitching internal organs were clearly visible. A Steel-type like Copperajah... Yet it was reduced to this state by Mega Aggron. "Poor Copperajah Why did King Julian have to go so far? I don''t like him as much anymore" "You think Trainer battles are just child''s play?" "As much as I hate to admit it, the guy above is right. I''ve seen worse." "At least Copperajah is still alive." That last comment stunned the entire livestream chat into silence. They were rightCopperajah was still alive, that alone said a lot. Kaide immediately recalled Copperajah into its Pok Ball and handed it off to the blonde foreign woman beside him, instructing her to take it for treatment. With wounds this severe, if left untreated, Copperajah''s chances of survival were not much. "ROAR!" Having defeated its opponent, Mega Aggron let out a loud roar. After Mega Evolution, its body, once 6.5 meters tall, had now grown to 8 meters, its armor was even more fearsome, resembling a steel behemoth, its eyes glowed coldly, like hardened metal, and its bloodstained nasal horn still dripped with fresh crimson blood. Forget fightingmost Pokmon wouldn''t even dare to look Mega Aggron in the eye. At this moment, Mega Aggron was unmatched, overwhelming in presence. "Now thisthis is a real man''s Pokmon." "Damn, how can it be this badass?" "Mega Aggron: ''I can take on ten at once.''" "I''m a Steel-type trainer. Even if I have to sell everything, I''m getting myself an Aron this year." "+1" "+10086" Because of this one moment, the breeding company under Julian''s family''s corporation saw its sales of Aron skyrocket fivefoldorders were now backlogged for half a year. With a flash of red light, Julian recalled Mega Aggron. This left many spectators disappointedthey had hoped to see more of its overwhelming power. "You''re up." Julian sent out his third Pokmon. As the white light faded, a majestic canine appearedits fiery red fur was adorned with bold black stripes, resembling a tiger''s markings, its paws were framed by tufts of fur, its tail was long and flowing, and its face exuded noble strength. However "Arf!" Arcanine: "Who''s my opponent? I''ll bite them to shreds!" Pokmon: Arcanine (Fire) Level: 70 Potential: Blue Ability: Flash Fire Held Item: Charcoal Gender: Male Moves: Leer, Ember, Howl, Bite, Flame Wheel, Helping Hand, Agility, Extreme Speed, Reversal, Flamethrower, Crunch, Fire Fang, Roar, Retaliate, Play Rough, Take Down TMs: Protect, Fire Spin, Hyper Beam, Dig, Sunny Day, Giga Impact, Heat Wave, Wild Charge, Psychic Fangs, Fire Blast, Blast Burn, Burn Up, Incinerate, Thunder Fang, Flame Charge Egg Moves: Flare Blitz, Overheat, Double-Edge, Outrage Note: Fire-type moves'' power is increased by 20%. --- Instead of sending out Metagross or Dragonite, Julian had chosen his trusty Arcaninehis home-wrecking troublemaker. Might as well let it burn off some energy in battlethis way, it wouldn''t tear up the house for the next couple of days. Sear?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Arcaninethe most handsome dog of them all!" "Why not Metagross? I wanted to see Metagross!" "A red-furred Arcanine? At this rate, Julian''s collection of shiny Pokmon might surpass his regular ones!" "Why did its bark just now kinda ruin the vibe?" "Damn, I felt the same way." Chapter 352: Aegislash A normal Arcanine typically stands around two meters tall at the shoulder, but Julian''s Arcanine had developed exceptionally wellits shoulder height had already exceeded 2.5 meters. Many bipedal Pokmon weren''t even two meters tall, making Arcanine''s size larger than most Pokmon. It was undoubtedly a giant among Pokmon. Arcanine''s flowing fur billowed in the wind as it ran, making it look like a spirit of the wind itself. For this reason, some trainers called it the "Land Cruiser." It was one of the best choices for a land mount. Unfortunately, Growlithe and Arcanine were rare, and very few trainers actually owned one. Interestingly, Imperial University had a "Dog Club," where all members owned canine Pokmon. Even Julian was a part of itdespite never joining any other club, he had joined this one, which had caused quite a stir at Imperial University. The reason? Back when his Arcanine was still a Growlithe, it threw a tantrum after discovering the existence of this club, demanding that Julian join. It even chewed up the sofa, chairs, and other furniture at home in protest. Faced with this situation, Julian had no choice but to agree. In the end, he was honorably named the vice president of the club, if he had accepted, he would have been the president as well. Of course, where there was a Dog Club, there was also a Cat Clubbut that was a story for another time. Meanwhile, Kaide was furious when he saw that Julian''s final Pokmon wasn''t his ace Metagross or even his Elite-level Dragonite. It was clearJulian wasn''t taking him seriously. But after a moment of thought, Kaide realizedmaybe Julian had every reason not to. After all, his two Elite Pokmon had failed to defeat Julian''s two pseudo-Elite Pokmon. Maybe Julian underestimating him was the logical outcome, if he were in Julian''s shoes, he might have done the same. Before this battle, Kaide had always thought that Julian was overhyped by the people of Drakoria. Drakoria''s strongest young trainer? It was just a pseudo-Elite beating an Elitebig deal. He had done that too. Nothing special. Even when Julian defeated Fred, a national-level Gym Leader at Elite peak, in a 3v3 battle, Kaide didn''t take it seriously, he assumed that Fred had thrown the match out of respect for Julian''s grandfather. Otherwise, how could Julian have won so decisively? But now It seemed that the foolish one was him, still, the battle wasn''t over yet. No matter what, he had to fight to the very endwin or lose. Pokmon: Aegislash (Steel/Ghost) Level: 73 Potential: Blue Ability: Stance Change Item: Weakness Policy Gender: Male Moves: King''s Shield, Head Smash, Aerial Ace, Metal Sound, Slash, Night Slash, Retaliate, Iron Defense, Iron Head, Shadow Sneak, Power Trick, Swords Dance, Sacred Sword TMs: Hyper Beam, Giga Impact, Solar Blade, Screech, Reflect, Rest, Rock Slide, Protect, Shadow Claw, Psycho Cut Egg Moves: Destiny Bond, Wide Guard, Block, Steel Beam --- Aegislash stood with both hands gripping its shield, its sword-like body concealed behind it. This Pokmon was unique to Gallia, serving as a symbol of royalty. Non-royal trainers from Gallia had no chance of obtaining one unless they made an extraordinary contribution to the nation. As Aegislash appeared, a chilling metallic screech echoed through the battlefield. This was Julian''s first time seeing Aegislash in person, and the aura of regality it exuded resonated with him. He had always coveted this Pokmon, and nowit was right in front of him. The audience''s attention was immediately drawn to Aegislash. Like Julian, many of them were seeing it in real life for the first time, making it impossible not to stare in awe. Arcanine sensed the shift in attention, the crowd was no longer focused on him, but on that thing across the field. Unacceptable. Arcanine bared its fangs, glaring at Aegislash. Arcanine: "Stealing my spotlight? I''ll burn you to ashes." Blazing crimson flames erupted from its mouth, instantly raising the temperature of the battlefield. The air distorted, warping under the sheer heat. With a single breath, the surged forward, crossing nearly 200 meters in an instant. The scorching inferno rushed straight at Aegislash. However Aegislash raised its shield, positioning it directly against the incoming fire. Like an unyielding rock in the ocean, the shield split the flames in half, forcing them to veer off to the sides. By the time dissipated, two charred scorch marks remained on either side of Aegislash. But before the heat had fully faded Arcanine charged forward, wreathed in fire. Arcanine: BOOM! A deafening sound shook the battlefield as Arcanine''s slammed into Aegislash''s shield, sending out a shockwave. Arcanine, who had been demolishing houses for a long time, had great strength. The force of the attack was too much for Aegislash to fully withstandit was sent flying dozens of meters before finally stopping itself. However, despite the brutal impact, it barely took any damage. Afterall as long as it remained in Shield Forme, its Defense and Special Defense were absurdly high. Even though Fire-type moves were super effective, the actual damage was minimal. sea??h th novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Of course, while in Shield Forme, Aegislash''s offensive power was also greatly reduced. If it wanted to attack and defeat Arcanine, staying in Shield Forme wasn''t an option. "Aegislash, use Slash!" Instantly, its form changed. From Shield Forme, where it held the shield with both hands, Aegislash transitioned into Blade Forme, gripping the shield in its left hand while its sword-like body gleamed menacingly. As Aegislash slashed toward Arcanine, a sharp, blinding light followed its motion, even before the attack landed, Arcanine could feel a tingling sensation beneath its fur. Activated. A red flash erupted, and in an instant, Arcanine vanished from its original position. Aegislash''s Slash struck the groundleaving behind a hundred-meter-long fissure, the sheer power of the attack was evident from the gaping chasm it created. But the moment the strike ended, Aegislash instantly reverted back to Shield Forme. However, the very second it completed the switch, Arcanine slammed into its shield again with full force. Once more, Aegislash was knocked back, sent flying across the battlefield. "Fire Blast!" A massive kanji-shaped flame surged forward, completely engulfing Aegislash. Suspended in midair, the Pokmon appeared to be a blazing fireball, swallowed entirely by the inferno. A few moments later, the flames dissipated. Emerging from the fire, Aegislash''s body remained spotless and unscathed, its polished steel glistening under the lights. It seemed as though had done nothing, but that wasn''t the case, if one looked closely, Aegislash''s body appeared to be slightly redder than before. This wasn''t a sign of exertionit was the result of being scorched by intense heat. Julian noticed this and Kaide as Aegislash''s trainer noticed it too. Kaide: Chapter 353: Sacred Sword Vs Burn Up Arcanine''s Fire-type moves were enhanced by 20% due to consuming the Fire Crystal, and even before this boost, its firepower already surpassed most Fire-type Pokmon by a significant margin. Now, with an additional 20% increase, the intensity and temperature of its flames had risen dramatically. "Continue with Flamethrower!" Since Aegislash liked to block attacks with its shield, then let it block as much as it wantedJulian wanted to see whether its shield was heat-resistant enough, or if Arcanine''s flames would melt right through it. "Night Slash!" Kaide immediately saw through Julian''s intentions. If Aegislash kept using its shield to block Arcanine''s flames, it would only suffer in the long run. Aegislash nimbly turned its body, evading the incoming , then, with a swift motion, its blade-like body slashed forward The blade pierced directly into Arcanine''s abdomen. As Aegislash pulled back, a stream of fresh blood gushed out from the wound. However, Aegislash underestimated Arcanine''s tenacity. As a Pokmon that had spent a long time wrecking houses and getting beaten up by Julian for it, its pain tolerance was on another levelsomething that Julian often found frustrating. A dog that was dead set on destructionany trainer would have a headache dealing with it. But in battle, this stubbornness translated into sheer willpower and a refusal to back down. Ignoring the pain in its abdomen, Arcanine''s paws pressed lightly against the ground, its flowing fur blending seamlessly with the wind. With , it closed the distance in an instant, leaving a trail of blood in its wake. Its fangs, now engulfed in deep red flames, snapped shut Arcanine''s Fiery Fangs clamped down on Aegislash''s blade-like body, searing its steel with intense heat. Right now, Aegislash was in Blade Forme, meaning its defense was weakthe biting force and the burning flames made it suffer immensely. Due to Arcanine''s violent movements, even more blood flowed from its abdomen, quickly forming a pool beneath it. With a desperate jerk, Aegislash finally freed itself from Arcanine''s jaws. Its blade-like body now bore several deep bite marks, along with scorching black burns. Although Aegislash''s steel body was incredibly tough, Arcanine''s fangs were even tougher. "Aegislash, Sacred Sword!" Kaide hadn''t expected Arcanine to be this relentless, even with a gaping wound in its abdomen, it wasn''t slowing down at all Sarch* The ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In fact, it seemed like the injury had only awakened its fighting spirit. All of Julian''s Pokmon were just like him They were all incredibly petty. And what did petty mean? It meant they couldn''t tolerate losingif you made them suffer, they''d make sure to pay you back in full. A milky-white glow radiated from Aegislash''s body, though the light appeared soft and gentle, the aura it emitted sent shivers down Arcanine''s spine. Like a cat sensing danger, its fur nearly stood on end. was an exclusive move possessed only by a few Legendary Pokmon, and among ordinary Pokmon, Aegislash was the only one capable of mastering it. A three-meter-long Sacred Sword materialized, and the air around it grew heavy, an unseen pressure filled the battlefield, carrying an eerie sensation, as though the entire space had been filled with countless invisible blades. Arcanine''s body tensed, lowering itself slightly, its powerful limbs dug into the ground, and its torch-like eyes locked onto the descending . It was no Metagross, nor was it Aggron, who were known for their monstrous defenses. Given the sheer force radiating from , there was no way it could withstand a direct hit. With space locked down by the Sacred Sword''s pressure and itself already targeted, dodging with was an option But the chances of evading were slim. More importantly, if it failed to dodge, one strike would completely take it down. So the only choice was Counterattack. A fiery determination burned in Arcanine''s eyes, and its fighting spirit erupted like a volcano, all the Fire-type energy within its body surged forth, converging into a single point. "Burn Up!" The Sacred Sword descended, and even the air itself seemed to crack apart. Below, Arcanine''s fur fluttered wildly, caught in the whirling air pressure caused by the sword''s sheer might, its entire body radiated an intense red glow, and the ground beneath its paws began to melt. A burning stench filled the entire battlefield. With its jaws wide open, Arcanine unleashed a deep crimson beamA scorching heatwave instantly engulfed the entire arena. The crimson blast collided with the Sacred Sword BANG!!! The moment of impact sent shockwaves rippling outward, the battlefield''s ground cracked apart, breaking, shattering and a destructive force spread relentlessly in all directions. The two attacks locked in a fierce struggle, couldn''t cleave through , and couldn''t destroy the . Endless heatwaves ravaged the battlefield, distorting the protective barrier, forming rippling waves. Blood still flowed from Arcanine''s abdomen, and the bleeding was intensifying. The ground beneath it had completely turned into molten lava and its dripping blood instantly evaporated on contact. The whole scene looked something like Arcanine stood tall, breathing out a crimson blast, clashing against the milky-white suspended mid-air. The ground beneath Arcanine was reduced to small pools of lava, while its blood vaporized into steam. The collision of their moves sent waves of destruction that ravaged across the field. Within the raging storm of heat, Arcanine''s fur fluttered, its body flickering with embers, its eyes held the glow of a blazing flame A fire that refused to be extinguished. "Screenshot taken. Changing wallpaper soon." "Now that''s what I call fired up!" "Arcanine is such a warrior!" "I''m an elementary school kid. Big brother can I have this Arcanine?" The clash between their moves lasted nearly twenty seconds, but neither side gained the upper hand. In the end, as both moves burned through their energy, the intense exchange came to an unexpected draw. But the battle wasn''t over yet. was one of the strongest Fire-type moves, but using it came with a heavy price. Once used, Arcanine would be unable to use Fire-type moves for a while. In other words, at this moment, any Fire-based moves were off-limits. Even after paying such a price, Aegislash still stood strong. A testament to incredible power, worthy of being a signature move of Legendaries. Kaide was thinking the same thing. While using wasn''t as demanding as . Every move drained stamina, and was no exception. The moment the attack ended, Aegislash felt its energy completely drained, it took a few deep breaths, only to hear Kaide''s urgent voice "Watch out for Arcanine!" Aegislash: But when it glanced down Arcanine was no longer where it had been, but by the time realization kicked in, it was already too late. A presence surged from belowThere was no need to guess, it was the dog. With a powerful , Arcanine sank its fangs into Aegislash''s body, the impact sent a shower of sparks flying, as its teeth clashed against the steel blade. Chapter 354: Victory Arcanine''s unexpected deprived Aegislash of its only chance at victory. Although didn''t completely knock it out, it had now fallen into a disadvantageous position. Arcanine''s immense bite force made it impossible for Aegislash to break free, and at this moment, it simply didn''t have the strength to resist. This was where Arcanine''s stamina advantage truly shined. Julian: "Aegislash, break free!" Kaide could only shout from the sidelines. Aegislash: "Thunder Fang!" In an instant, Arcanine switched from to , Aegislash''s body shuddered from the numbing shock, and finally It lost its ability to battle completely. Aegislash: That was its exclusive move, a move only it could use, but sadly, it never got the chance. Besides, with its current energy levels, even if it had survived, it could only have used either or , not both. As Aegislash collapsed, Arcanine finally released its grip. When it fell from Arcanine''s jaws, it was still covered in a lot of saliva. "Awoo!" Arcanine let out a long victorious howl. Despite looking a little worse for wear, its majestic presence remained undeniable. In short One word: Cool. "Aegislash is unable to battle. Arcanine wins!" "The final winner is Julian!" With Frank''s official announcement, the battle between Julian and Kaide, the Top young trainers of their respective nations came to an end. "I saw this result coming a mile away." "King Julianthree matches, three wins. Simple as that." "That looked so easy. Feels like even I could do it." "I have a Fire Stone. Where do I claim my free Growlithe?" "Kinda disappointed I didn''t get to see Metagross." Comments flooded the livestream, with the viewer count surpassing 300 million. And Julian had disabled donations before starting the stream "I wanted to send a few rockets to celebrate, but I can''t!" "Wake up, dude. The target of poverty alleviation is wrong" As the protective barriers around the battlefield disappeared, Arcanine trotted over to Julian, excitedly licking his cheek. Unlike Gengar''s paralyzing tongue, Arcanine''s tongue had no side effects Aside from, well... a lot of saliva. But its abdominal wound was still bleeding. "Doesn''t that hurt?" Julian asked with a frown. The battle was over, so that adrenaline rush should have faded too Yet Arcanine still showed no sign of feeling any pain in its abdomen. "Arc!" Only now did Arcanine seem to remember It was still an injured Pokmon, with a huge bleeding wound on its stomach. "Awoo~" With a dramatic howl, Arcanine collapsed onto the ground, playing dead. If only its tail wasn''t wagging so much, it might have looked a little more convincing. Arcanine: "Slowking, Heal Pulse," Julian said. While Slowking began healing Arcanine, Kaide had already approached with his group. Seeing Arcanine lying on the ground doing who-knows-what, he noticed The Pokmon even peeked up at him with a rather goofy look. Thinking about how his ace had lost to this dog, Kaide sighed heavily in his heart. "A bet is a bet. Here''s the Honedge line training manual." He took out a USB drive and handed it to Julian, this was their wager. If Julian lost, he had to apologize to Richard and return the Honedge. If Kaide lost, he had to give Julian the training method for the Honedge line. This was something the entire university knew about, and given Kaide''s status, there was no way he would go back on his word. Taking the USB, Julian nodded. At the same time, he also noticed Richard standing behind Kaide His hand was still wrapped in thick bandages. If it wasn''t for him, things wouldn''t have escalated like this. But without him, Julian wouldn''t have gotten the training method either, even without it, his Honedge would still become strong But with it, he could speed up its progress significantly. Kaide didn''t say any empty, dramatic lines like or He simply handed over the USB and left with his people. Meanwhile, Arcanine''s wound had already healed under Slowking''s . Yet it still refused to get up, insisting it had lost too much blood. "If you can''t get up, you''re going into the Pok Ball." Seeing Julian take out the Pok Ball, Arcanine immediately sprang to its feet. Sarch* The n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. By now, a large crowd had gathered around them Julian had defeated Kaide, the crown prince of Gallia''s royal family. In a way, this was a great moment of pride for Drakorian Trainers A victory worth celebrating. And what better way to celebrate than by petting Arcanine? The first person to touch it soon led to a second, a third And soon, countless hands reached out. "Wow, its fur is so smooth! And warm too!" "Its thigh muscles are so firm!" "I wonder if it''s male or femalelet me check!" Seeing someone being so shameless, Arcanine immediately raised a paw and pinned the guy to the ground. An Hour Later C Villa No. 1 Julian took a deep breath as he looked at the completely shredded sofa. "I bought this sofa less than three days ago, you know?" "Woof" Arcanine: Hearing that, Julian''s forehead veins bulged, he grabbed Arcanine''s massive head with both hands andVICIOUSLY RUBBED IT. Angry dog-head rubs!! His phone rang. Checking the screen, he saw it was from a furniture store salesperson. [XX Sales]: Young Master Julian, we just received a new batch of sofas and furniture All bite-resistant and scratch-proof! Would you like a set? Bite-resistant and scratch-proof? Hearing that, Arcanine''s eyes lit up with excitement. Julian glanced at Arcanine, then at the salesperson''s message He was starting to suspect they were working together. Grinding his teeth, he typed a firm reply: [No. Just send me another of the same sofa as before.] Seeing Julian refuse the new furniture, Arcanine''s ears drooped in disappointment. Gengar emerged from the shadows, covering its mouth as it snickered. Annoyed, Arcanine immediately lunged at Gengar, but Gengar vanished into the shadows, darting around the living room. Other than the chair under Julian, everything in the living room, the furniture, appliances, even the decor was now completely wrecked. Gengar hid under Julian''s chair. Arcanine rushed forward, and BANG! It slammed into Julian, sending him flying, naturally, the chair was also obliterated. Sliding down from the wall, Julian exhaled sharply. "Slowking, how about we have braised dog meat and steamed ghost for dinner tonight?" Chapter 355: Gabite At 7:50 in the morning, Slowking had already finished preparing breakfast. Seeing that Julian still hadn''t come downstairs, it untied the apron around its neck and headed upstairs. Upon opening Julian''s bedroom door, Slowking''s expression remained unsurprisedAs expected. Julian was spread out on the bed in a starfish position, and Celebi was curled up on his stomach, both sleeping soundly. "Slow~" Slowking: "Wake up" Neither Julian nor Celebi responded. Seeing this, Slowking pursed its lips and a light shot straight onto Julian''s face. "AAAHH!!" Jolted awake, Julian sprang up from the bed, sending Celebi who was on his stomach tumbling onto the floor. Yet the little guy still didn''t wake up. Last night, Julian, Celebi, and Slowking had stayed up gaming together, but at midnight, Slowking had gone to sleep, while Julian and Celebi had continued playing until four o''clock in the morning. He had been sleeping so soundly Only to be forcefully rebooted by Slowking. "Slow~" Slowking: "Breakfast is ready" "Yeah, yeah, I got it." Yawning, Julian dragged himself toward the bathroom to wash up. If there ever came a day he didn''t eat breakfast, that probably meant he was dead. Slowking''s obsession with him eating breakfast was beyond extreme. No matter how late he slept, as long as he was alive, he had to wake up and eat. The only silver lining was that after breakfast, he could go back to sleep, that was the only saving grace. "Keh keh!" A cackle suddenly echoed behind Julian as he brushed his teeth. Glancing at the mirror, he saw Gengar lurking behind him, covering its mouth as it snickered. Julian''s eyes lit up with an idea. "Gengarcan you hypnotize Slowking?" "If you do, I''ll take you to a haunted house." Whether it was playing in a haunted house or scaring people inside one, Gengar loved both. It was an irresistible offer. Gengar however, shook its head immediately, without a single moment of hesitation. Gengar: Slowking wasn''t just Julian''s caretaker, it was in charge of every Pokmon in the house. Food, lodging, daily necessitiesSlowking handled everything. Even if Julian got mad, Gengar couldn''t afford to cross Slowking. Besides, with Slowking''s IQ, it could ruin you in ways you couldn''t even imagine. Watching Gengar shake its head like a rattle, Julian said with a look of disdain. "What a coward, you have no guts at all." "Slow~" Slowking: "Hurry up, breakfast is getting cold." Slowking''s voice echoed from outside the door. Julian: "Almost done!" He rinsed his mouth, splashed his face with water, and then headed out. Gengar: After splashing his face with water, Julian felt a lot more refreshed, and his sleepiness disappeared completely. To be honest, with his physique and intermediate-level psychic abilities, he could go an entire week without sleep if necessary. But at this point, being sleepy was just instincta habit too hard to break. Breakfast was a classic spread: steamed buns, fried dough sticks, and savory soy milk. After eating half of a fried dough stick, he dunked the other straight into the soy milk. Every day in Drakoria, thousands upon thousands of fried dough sticks meet their fate in soy milk. Julian glanced around the room, aside from Lucario, the rest of his Pokmon were nowhere to be seen. "Are they all in the yard?" "Slow~" Slowking nodded. Today was bright and sunny, with the temperature gradually rising, so most of the Pokmon were outside relaxing or playing in the backyard. The furniture had also been replaced with new onesand since Julian was a super VIP, he even got a 20% discount. Julian''s Pokmon were all gathered in the backyard. Metagross and Steelix were sprawled out lazily on the ground, half-closing their eyes as they basked in the morning sun with satisfied expressions. Above them, Dragonite zipped through the sky, determined to claim the title of "Yellow Flash of the Dragon World." Meanwhile, Melmetal was lifting Aggron like a weight, treating it like a casual morning workout. Seeing how easily Melmetal lifted Aggron, Gabite started getting ideas. Gabite: "Senior, can I give it a try?" Melmetal, always kind to the juniors, gently set Aggron down. Gabite walked up to Aggron, slightly bending its knees, and placing its hands on Aggron''s legs. Then, taking a deep breath Gabite: "Alright, UP!" Nothing happened. "Up!" Still nothing. "UP! UP! UP!" As Gabite''s face turned red from exertion, Aggron awkwardly scratched its head. Feeling a little guilty, it finally said "Uh I gained about a hundred more pounds recently. If you''d tried a few days ago, you probably could''ve lifted me." Gabite let go of Aggron, nodded silently, and then walked off toward the living room. Arcanine, meanwhile, was grinning mischievously, its fiery red fur glowing under the sunlight. Its sharp, intelligent eyes flickered with a destructive light New furniture had arrived and its teeth were feeling itchy. Honedge was in midair, swinging its blade tirelessly, being the weakest among them, it had to train even harder, otherwise, how could it keep up? Inside the house, when Julian saw Gabite walk in with a sulky expression, he raised an eyebrow. "What happened? Did Dragonite bully you? You look like a mistreated wife." Gabite: "I''m hungry." "Didn''t you just eat the energy cubes?" Since Slowking was the one in charge of feeding the Pokmon, Julian wasn''t convinced that it had forgotten to do so today. Sar?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gabite: "But I''m still hungry!" Julian glanced at Gabite who was having a little temper and couldn''t help but chuckle, he had a pretty good idea what was going on. Yep, definitely just got discouraged by something again. The energy cubes Julian fed his Pokmon were all high-grade, purchased directly from the system and every now and then, he''d even splurge on top-tier ones. These energy cubes were incredibly effective for boosting a Pokmon''s strengthwithout any side effects. Steelix had once said, "The more you eat, the faster you grow stronger," which wasn''t wrong. "Here, but that''s the limit, eat too much, and you''ll be overwhelmed." Julian handed two Dragon-type high-grade energy cubes to Gabite. Thanks to Steelix''s "eat more, grow stronger" philosophy, all of Julian''s Pokmon had significantly increased their food intake. Happily munching down both energy cubes, Gabite felt stronger again. With that thought, Gabite rushed back outside. That self-confidence was going to get a hit again. "Still a kid." Julian smiled, finishing his last bun, he decided against taking a nap. Instead, he sprawled across the sofa, pulled out his phone, and started scrolling through TikTok. "Lucario! Someone''s posting a marriage proposal for you. Wanna see?" Excited, Julian held up his phone in front of Lucario. The video showed a female Lucario, standing confidently as her Trainer announced a public search for a mate, hoping to find a strong, handsome, and good-natured male Lucario. "Luca~" Lucario glanced at the screen, then side-eyed his overly enthusiastic Trainer. "Women only affect the speed of my punches." Chapter 356: A Good Time To Explore "How about Advanced secret Realm No. 15? The description says it''s rich in Rock- and Ground-type Pokmon, so there must be plenty of minerals too." "No. 98 is also a good choice. It''s mainly Grass- and Water-type, with Poison being the third most common attribute. There should be a lot of high-grade medicinal herbs inside." "Or No. 55, which has a high concentration of Steel-type Pokmon." Inside the villa, Julian held a stack of documents detailing over a hundred Advanced-level secret Realms in Drakoria, he was currently discussing with Slowking which one to explore. Julian had two entry passes for Advanced-level Secret Realms. One was a reward from winning first place in the Yale Province High School League''s singles competition. The other was one of many perks given to him upon enrolling at Imperial University. Since he had already used one pass to explore Secret Realm No. 58, he still had one left. With nothing urgent to do, he figured it was a good time to explore and see if he could find rare treasuresor even the ultimate treasure of the Secret Realm. Drakoria had over a hundred Advanced-level Secret Realms, and Julian had narrowed it down to three options. Since Slowking was highly intelligent, he called it over for a second opinion. Slowking pointed at Secret Realm No. 98. "Slow~" "This one? Why not No. 55?" Julian asked. Afterall Secret Realm No. 55 was a top choice for Steel-type trainers across the country. Slowking: "Dont we already have a Steel-type Secret Realm at home?" "That one is a ''special'' Advanced-level Secret Realm, I was planning to wait until Metagross breaks through to the Elite level before going," Julian explained. For special Advanced-level Secret Realms, having an entry pass wasn''t enoughstrength mattered too, without sufficient power, even if he went in, the gains wouldnt be great. For example, in Dragon''s Den secret realm of the Drake Family, if the Dragonite guarding Dragon Mountain back then hadnt been the father of Julians own Dragonite, the gains wouldve been significantly lower. Plus, in special Advanced-level Secret Realms, trainers could only use Pokmon that matched the realms attribute. The Walker Familys exclusive Secret Realm, the Oreburgh Great Wall, was the foundation of their status as one of Drakorias top aristocratic families. Julian naturally wanted to wait until Metagross reached Elite level before entering to maximize his gains. "Alright, then let''s go to Secret Realm No. 98." Julian nodded, since he was eventually going to explore his familys Secret Realm, there was no point choosing No. 55 now, if there was a better option, why would he settle for less? "Arc!" Arcanine, who had been sitting beside him, perked up its ear at the mention of traveling, its tail wagged furiouslyso much so that it was practically flying. Such a joyous occasion definitely called for biting the sofa in celebration! Just as it opened its mouth, Julian grabbed its head and began rubbing its face aggressively. Furious dog head rubs! Julian called his homeroom teacher, Frank, to inform him that he would be heading to Secret Realm No. 98 and requested a one-month leave. Frank agreed without hesitation and, after giving Julian a few words of advice, ended the call. Next, Julian sent a message to his family. Since there was no signal inside the Secret Realm, he wanted to let them know in advance so they wouldnt worry if they couldnt reach him. The next morning, at ten o''clock, Julian boarded a plane to Eastwood City in Lu Province, the location of Secret Realm No. 98. By the time he arrived at Eastwood City Airport, it was already past 7 o''clock in the eveningtoo late to head to the Secret Realm. Eastwood City was a tier-three city, mainly focused on agriculture, so it wasnt particularly developed. Julian booked a room at one of the better hotels, choosing the best available suite. He planned to get a good nights rest before setting out for Secret Realm No. 98 early the next morning. "Heading to Secret Realm No. 98 tomorrow!" He posted in the group chat. Meanwhile, at the Eastwood City Inspection Bureau, even though it was nearly 10 PM, the place was still bustling with activity. In Conference Room No. 1, the bureau chief, three district chiefs, and ten key investigators were holding a high-level meeting. "Viktor, Ghost-type Elite level trainer, S-Class wanted criminal. Major offenses: - Murdered [REDACTED] to steal the Toxic Orb. - Killed [REDACTED] and took their Mismagius. - Assaulted and murdered [REDACTED], then had his Pokmon devour her soul. - Killed an entire family of eight over a verbal dispute. He has taken over twenty lives." The Eastwood City Bureau Chief pointed at Viktors photo with a grim expression. "The provincial bureau has confirmed that he entered Eastwood City today and he is ''extremely'' dangerous." "We''ve been ordered to seal off all entry points to the city and conduct a covert search in East District. There''s a high chance he''s hiding there." One of the district chiefs hesitated. "Viktor is an Elite-level Ghost specialist, and Mr. Robin isnt in Eastwood right now." Each city had between one and three Elite-level trainers stationed for security, depending on its size. Since Eastwood was only a third-tier city, it had just one resident Elite, but he was currently absent. "The provincial bureau has already deployed an Elite from the neighbouring city to assist us," the bureau chief responded immediately. "But doesnt the provincial bureau have two Elite trainers themselves?" the district chief asked in confusion. Why send someone from the neighbouring city? That city was also tier-three, and their stationed Elite was only at the early stage. Meanwhile, Viktor was a mid-stage Elite and a Ghost-type at that, one of the hardest to deal with. "The provincial bureaus two Elite trainers are occupied with other missions," the bureau chief sighed. Sear?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "How the hell did the provincial bureau let a mass murderer like him escape here?! This is pure negligence!" another district chief slammed the table in frustration. S-Class criminals like Viktor were always targeted for immediate capture upon discovery. Authorities couldnt afford to let them escape to another city, as it would not only make tracking them down harder but also require an entirely new capture plan if he resurfaced elsewhere. And battling within a city was out of the question. An Elite-level fugitive engaging in combat in an urban area would lead to massive casualties. Unless law enforcement could subdue him instantly, they couldnt afford to engageif necessary, it was better to let him escape than to risk a city-wide disaster. This was exactly why criminals like Viktor preferred to hide in cities rather than remote areas. In the wilderness, there were no hostages. If authorities tracked them down, thered be nothing stopping them from attacking on sight. In a city, however, the more people around, the safer they were. A hostage situation could completely stall law enforcement efforts. Afterall when collateral damage was unavoidable, even the strongest forces must hold back. "East District is our main urban area. A covert search would require a huge manpower deployment, and Viktor, being a Ghost-type trainer, likely has exceptional concealment abilities." "Finding him will be incredibly difficult." "You ten will each lead a search team. Your members can be drawn from the city bureau, district bureaus, or even outside reinforcementsthats up to you." "However, all external reinforcements must be reported in advance, and they must be made fully aware of the dangers of this operation. Of course, the city bureau will offer them certain rewards for their cooperation." The ten people mentioned were all pseudo-Elite trainers, with two of them being at the peak of pseudo-Elite. Their expressions variedsome looked tense, some were eager, while others remained calm. "Remember, if Viktor can''t be captured, so be it, but under no circumstances can we allow him to harm the civilians," the Bureau Chief said seriously. Chapter 357: Mark Asks For Help The meeting finally ended around midnight. Under the orders of the City Bureau Chief, the three District Bureau Chiefs and the ten officers immediately sprang into action. "This search operation is going to be a nightmare. We have ten officers, each leading a search team of twenty and every single member needs to be at least an Advanced-level Trainer." "That means we need a total of 200 Trainers." One officer groaned, rubbing his temples. "Chief is really making things difficult for us. The three district bureaus plus the city bureau combined dont even have 300 Advanced-level Trainers." "If we pull 200 of them for this mission, we wont have enough left to keep up with our other works!" "Isnt that what outside reinforcements are for?" another officer suggested. "Reinforcements? Were dealing with an S-Class fugitive, a Ghost-type Elite! What kind of insane person would take on such a dangerous mission?" "If I wasnt wearing this uniform, I wouldnt take this job myself, one wrong move, and youre dead before you even know it!" Ghost-types had countless ways to kill, and most of the time, their victims never even saw it coming. "Enough talk, just start recruiting! Didnt you see those guys already rushing over to the City Bureau to grab people?" Even though the City Bureau and three district bureaus didnt have enough Trainers to form ten full teams, they could still put together at least five teams. And the first ones to act would get their pick of the best personnel. "Damn it, these guys have no morals!" Realizing he was falling behind, one officer hurried toward the exit, as he stepped outside, he spotted a colleague standing still, staring at his phone. "Mark, what are you doing?! Get moving! If we dont act fast, those bastards will take all the good people, and well be stuck recruiting outside help!" Mark glanced up, then grinned and waved his phone. "Relax, I think I already found an outsider willing to help." "One person? Thats not nearly enough!" His colleague finally looked at Marks phone screen. "Wait youre not talking about ''him'', are you?" Displayed on it was a group chat message: "Heading to Secret Realm No. 98 tomorrow!" The senders name? Julian. "Yep, but let me call and confirm first to make sure hes actually in Eastwood City." Mark smiled and immediately dialed the number. Eastwood City C Hotel Room. Julian, Slowking, and Celebi were fully focused on an intense online battle, the match had reached a critical fight whoever won this round would destroy the enemys crystal and claim victory. Then, suddenly his phone rang. Julian: "Damn it." Without hesitation, Julian hung up. Back at the bureau, Mark was slightly taken aback when he heard the busy signal. "He didnt pick up?" his colleague asked. "Yeah looks like hes busy." Before Mark could say anything else, his phone started ringing. The caller ID flashed-Julian. After destroying the enemy''s crystal, Julian called Mark back, figuring that Mark probably needed something from him. After all, the two of them rarely kept in touch. For Mark to call directly without even sending a message, it was almost certain that something urgent had come up. The call connected quickly. "Hello, Julian, are you in Eastwood City right now?" "Yeah, Im at the Charizard Hotel in East District. Senior Mark, do you need something from me?" Mark was a member of the Imperial University school team, which naturally made him Julians teammate. However, Mark was already in the second half of his senior year, so he was barely on campus anymore. Most graduates at this stage were usually out job hunting. For academy-trained Trainers, graduation led to several paths. Some chose to become freelancers, taking on tasks from the Drakorian Trainer App or local Trainer Associations to make a living and hone their skills. Others joined companies or government agencies to continue working in fields related to Pokmon training. And some simply went home to inherit the family business. Mark had chosen the second path, joining a government department, securing the dream job of every mother-in-law: a civil servant. With Imperial University on his rsum and peak pseudo-Elite-level strength, Mark was immediately recruited by the Eastwood City Investigation Bureau. Why did he choose a third-tier city like Eastwood when he couldve easily stayed in the capital? The answer was simple, his girlfriend. Men often found it hard to say no to love. Since his girlfriend had chosen to return to her hometown to become a teacher, Mark decided to follow her. "Alright, got it. Senior Mark, Ill head over now, wait for me there." After hearing the situation, Julian agreed without hesitation. A criminal like Viktor was far too dangerous to be left alone. Even if Mark hadnt called him, if someone else had asked, Julian would have stepped in anyway. Climbing onto Dragonite, Julian took off, flying toward the Investigation Bureau. "So, he agreed?" "Of course. Julians on his way now, lets wait for him." "Viktor is an Elite Ghost-type trainer, and hes at mid-stage. Can that guy really handle him? If something happens to him, forget us even the Chief will be forced to resign!" "Thats because youve never seen how monstrous my junior is. If you had, youd understand, ''genius'' is a word for ordinary people. ''Monster'' is the only way to describe him." His colleague still looked skeptical. Just then, a gust of wind blew overhead. Looking up, they saw a Dragonite descending, its powerful wings flapping as it landed in the Investigation Bureaus compound. Julian jumped down from Dragonites back and grinned. "Senior Mark, Im here to help, and youre badmouthing me behind my back? Thats not cool!" "I was just praising you," Mark said with a smile. "Let me introduce you, this is my colleague, Larry." "Nice to meet you, Mr. Walker." Sear?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Larry quickly extended his hand, internally shocked by Julians youth and even more stunned by the Dragonite standing beside him. "Just call me Julian." Seeing Mark in his Investigation Bureau uniform, with a rank insignia indicating a leadership position, Julian was a little surprised. "Senior, didnt you say you disliked the strict rules of government jobs? Werent you planning to become a freelance Trainer after graduation?" In fact, most professional Trainers avoided working for the government. Compared to the freedom of exploring ruins and secret realms, sleeping and resting whenever they wanted, government jobs were too rigid and bureaucratic. More importantly, working in a government agency often stagnated a Trainers growth. A comfortable environment corroded the courage and ambition needed to push one''s limits. "Well, my girlfriend works here as a teacher," Mark smiled wryly. Making it onto the Imperial University school team meant he was a genius among geniuses. If not for his deep love for his girlfriend, he would never have given up his dream. Still, working in a government office didnt mean he had abandoned his dream, just that it would take longer to achieve. Julian secretly congratulated himself on being smart, he would never take the initiative to provoke such troublesome creatures. Chapter 358: Lost Contact Julian openly rode his pseudo-legendary Dragonite into the city bureaus compound, seemingly heading straight for the bureaus rising star, Mark. In a third-tier city like Eastwood, pseudo-legendaries were extremely rare. Naturally, his arrival drew plenty of attention. However, it didnt take long for someone to recognize him. The moment people remembered that both Mark and Julian were from Imperial University, the smart ones quickly realized why Julian had come. "Captain Mark, our team is assembled." As Julian and Mark were talking, a female officer from the bureau ran over. Though she was talking to Mark, her eyes were on Julian and Dragonite. Her eyes were filled with excitement, and her heart was racing. "What, are you also a fan of my junior?" Mark chuckled. The woman nodded immediately, then excitedly declared, "Of course! Im actually the president of the Eastwood City King Julian Fan Club!" She even puffed up proudly after saying it. Julian was completely dumbfounded. "King Julian, can I touch Dragonites belly?" the woman asked expectantly. Julian felt a bit weirded out, wasnt she his fan? Why wasnt she asking for an autograph or a handshake? Her first reaction was to touch Dragonites chubby belly? Wasnt she actually a fan of his Pokmon instead? After getting Julians permission, the woman cheered excitedly and immediately started rubbing Dragonites belly like she was taking advantage of it. Dragonite gave her a confused lookwhy did this woman, just like its Trainer, love touching its belly so much? Meanwhile, Marks ten team members had already assembled before him. "You all know the mission details. Go change into plainclothes, then head to East District." Mark ordered. He didnt bother introducing Julian. Any Trainer in Drakoria, unless they had just recently gotten internet access, would definitely know who Julian was. "Captain Larry, why arent you getting ready?" Mark asked. "Ready my ass! You already called Julian as backup, and now youve gathered all the best officers from the bureau. Who the hell am I supposed to recruit?!" Larry glared at Markthis guy was straight-up unfair! Total sneaky bastard behavior. He had assumed that with Julian joining as outside support, Mark wouldnt recruit any more people. But now he had even assembled a full ten-member squad! So in the end Larry was just left to fend for himself?! "Captain Larry, dont be like that." "Forget it. Ill just join your squad todayI cant be bothered to find my own team." Larry grumbled. Mark nodded and said nothing more. Once the ten members finished changing into regular clothes, the group of thirteen set off toward East District. East District was the urban center of Eastwood City, making it the most densely populated area with the highest concentration of buildings. Almost all the major commercial buildings were located here. It was already past midnight, so most shops had closed, and there were fewer people on the streets. If this were Imperial City, though, midnight would just be the start of the nightlife. Fewer people on the streets meant less risk and an easier mission. "According to the intelligence, Viktor is hiding in Greenview Apartments in East District. We dont know the exact building, so well have to search one by one." "The city bureau has assigned Teams Two and Three to search the complex." "The other seven teams will spread out and cover every entrance to Greenview Apartments. Do not group upmake sure to stay dispersed." Mark led Team Five, and since Larry had joined them, what was originally ten teams had now become nine. If not for the city bureaus director knowing that Julian was an external backup for Team Five, Larrys actions would have definitely earned him a disciplinary punishment. Across from Greenview Apartments, there was a small bar. Julian, Mark, and Larry sat inside, while the rest of the team spread out nearby. "This is an old apartment complex," Julian remarked. "Yeah, so the residents are mixed. There are elderly people, children, and even tenants renting here. Plus, its a school district propertythe best elementary school in Eastwood City is just a short walk away." School district properties were one of the defining features of Drakorias housing market. "Theres an apartment building right across the street too." "If Viktor is really hiding here, even if we find him, we cant just rush in and attack." An Elite-level Pokmon could blast through an entire building with just one move. If they started a fight here, the civilian casualties would be devastating. Their main objective was to pinpoint Viktors exact location and try to force him out into an isolated area. Of course, if Viktor had any sense, he would likely relocate the moment he sensed danger. Walking into an open area would be suicidal for him. "Senior, if I were Viktor, Id probably already know you sent people into the complex," Julian said. On the way here, Mark had shown him Viktors file. He was a mid-Elite-level Ghost-type Trainer. And it was nighttimethe perfect time for Ghost-type Pokmon to move around. Ghost-types were highly alert, and at the slightest disturbance, they would immediately sense something was wrong. As an S-Class fugitive, Viktor was likely using one or two Ghost-type Pokmon to monitor the complex at all times. Among all eighteen Pokmon types, the ones with the highest crime rates were Ghost and Poison. Combined, Trainers of these two types accounted for nearly 40% of all criminal cases. "...Captain Mark." Marks earpiece crackled with the voice of Team Twos leader. Sar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Mark was the overall commander of this operation. "Go ahead," Mark said seriously. Even though he had only been on the job for a few months, his strength ranked among the top in Eastwood City. "Ive lost contact with three of my team members." "Same here. Four of my team members are missing." This time, it was Team Threes leader reporting in. Teams Two and Three had entered Greenview Apartments to investigate, but in less than fifteen minutes, a total of seven members had lost contact. It was obviouseven without thinking, Mark knew that Viktor had likely taken them out, and they might even already be dead. "Pull the remaining members out immediately," Mark ordered. These were all Advanced Trainers, but against an Elite-level opponent like Viktor, they didnt stand a chance. If they kept searching, more people would disappear. Marks face darkened, beside him, Larry tried to reassure him. "Viktor probably didnt kill them outright. But one things for surehes definitely in this complex." "Not necessarily, that guy is insane. You cant judge him by normal standards," Mark countered. "Then what do we do? Our scouts cant even get inside. Even if we know Viktor is here, we still cant pinpoint his exact location." "If we dont find him before sunrise, the number of people coming and going from this complex will skyrocket. Hell have the perfect chance to slip away." "And once hes gone, tracking him down again will be even harder." Chapter 359: Gengar "Well done, Banette." Inside one of the apartment buildings in Greenview Apartments, the wanted fugitive Viktor leaned against the window, peeking outside through a gap in the curtains. Although it was pitch dark, and he couldnt see a thing. Sar?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But his Pokmon could, they had already spotted a few little rats scurrying around, searching for him. "You didnt kill them, did you?" Viktor asked. Banette shook its head, its red eyes glimmering with anticipation as it gazed at its Trainer. "Youre still like this, even after all this time?" Viktor sighed, picking up Banette, it was like a doll, a living doll. Banette let out a creepy chuckle. Pokmon were simple creatures, and most Pokmon were loyal to their Trainers, if a Trainer was righteous, their Pokmon became symbols of justice. And if a Trainer was evil, their Pokmon became their weapons. To Banette, Viktor wasnt an S-Class wanted criminal, he was its Trainer, he was family and that was all that mattered. "Were leaving tomorrow," Viktor muttered. The Bureau had already pinpointed this complex, but as long as they couldnt find his exact location, they wouldnt make a move. He had deliberately spared those investigators earlier, if they had died, the Bureau would have been furious and might have stormed in recklessly. And he was certain that an Elite-level Trainer was already on their way, or maybe they had arrived. It might be just that they didnt dare fight here, a residential area was no place for a battle of that scale. Unless, of course, that Elite was an idiot. Banette nodded. It didnt care where they went, as long as it was with its Trainer, that was enough. Just then another Pokmon floated in. "Dusknoir, have they pulled back?" Viktor asked. Dusknoir nodded. "You continue to hide around this building, and Banette, you stay with me," he ordered. Viktor was always cautious, thats how he had made it this far without being caught. "Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" He muttered under his breath, from the very beginning something felt off, something was about to happen, and he didnt like it. Banette tilted its head in confusion. "Maybe Im overthinking it. Afterall to evade both of you and take me down in an instant... even a peak Elite cant pull that off." Viktor shook his head, as if trying to convince himself, but deep down, his guard was higher than ever. He reached for a third Pok Ball, with a flash, a chubby Gengar appeared. "Gengar, go hide in the apartment downstairs. If anything happens here, rush to my aid immediately." Gengar grinned and slowly sank into the floor. --- Inside the Bar. Mark and Larry sat there, both looking troubled, with the investigators retreating, their previous plan was a complete failure. "Theres no Plan B?" Julian asked. Didnt TV shows always have a backup plan? "Plan B is to wait for a late-stage Ghost Elite to arrive and quietly take care of Viktor," Mark replied. "And when will they get here?" "The earliest would be tomorrow." There were over 500 Elites in Drakoria, but most were early or mid-stage, and only about one-tenth had reached late-stage or peak level. And at that level, unless they were government-appointed Elites, if they were independent, they wouldnt make a move without a good incentive. "So as long as its done quietly, its fine?" Julian asked. Mark wasnt sure what he meant but nodded. "Viktor is a mid-stage Ghost Elite. If we want to take him down silently, wed need a peak Ghost-type Elite. Even a late-stage one wouldnt be completely reliable." Julian nodded. "Leave it to me then." Mark froze, but before he could say anything, Larry hurriedly spoke up. "Julian, dont do anything reckless!" Julian was an Elite, but his strongest Pokmon was Dragonite, and how could Dragonite silently approach Viktor? "You mean Gengar?" Mark knew Julian had a Gengar, and not just any Gengar, but a Shiny one. Julian nodded again. "Just leave it to me." With that, he walked out of the bar. Larry wanted to chase after him, but Mark stopped him. "What are you doing? Hurry up and stop him! This isnt a joke!" "If something goes wrong, he has a Champion-level grandfather. What do we have?" Larry said anxiously. Mark hesitated for a moment. "My grandfather is a peak Elite." Larry: |() "Damn it, my father and grandfather are seriously useless!" Mark: (,) "Trust Julian, he wont mess this up," Mark said seriously. Back in the Hundred Schools League, Julian had single-handedly crushed the entire Modu Academy, no one would have believed it at first. Then, as a pseudo-Elite, he took down actual Elites, and not just one. Every single person who doubted Julian ended up slapped in the face. Seeing how confident Mark was, and with no better plan, Larry said nothing more, he sat down and downed a large gulp of alcohol. Outside the bar, Julian glanced around, then said: "Go and find Viktor." A sly chuckle echoed from the shadows as an unseen, undetectable figure strode into the Greenview Apartments with confidence. Greenview Apartments had a total of twenty-five buildings, each five stories tall. Gengar could search an entire building in just one minute. 1, nothing. 2, nothing. 3, nothing. Along the way, it unexpectedly came across a few unconscious people. And a Dusknoir patrolling in an invisible state. Dusknoir: Jie jie Gengar suddenly appeared in front of it, its blood-red eyes glowing with a dizzying, hypnotic light. Dusknoir: As a late-stage pseudo-Elite, it stood no chance against Gengars . When Gengar reached Building 16, third floor, it suddenly spotted one of its own kind, another Gengar, lying on a sofa watching TV. The people in the room had already been put to sleep by it. The TV was playing a program on how to prank people. Gengar had originally planned to put its kin to sleep as well, but after seeing this, Ten minutes later, Gengar''s face was filled with excitement. So pranks could be done like this? Compared to what was on TV, its own pranks were not even in the same dimension! Its fellow Gengar was just as fascinated. Jie jie The other Gengar decided to test these new tricks on its Trainer sometime. Jie jie Gengar, who was laughing, suddenly looked around, then at itself. A few seconds later. Jie jie Another laugh echoed. Startled, the other Gengar jumped up from the sofa in fright. "What the hell? Is there a ghost in this room?" Chapter 360: All Drinks Are On Me Gengar: "Not a ghostjust Gengar." Other Gengar: "Oh, it''s just mewait..." A second later, the other Gengar collapsed on the floor. Julians Gengar covered its mouth as it chuckled, feeling a great sense of accomplishment from putting its kin to sleep. Then, it looked upward. It could sense a powerful Pokmon above. That was probably the one its Trainer had mentionedup there. On the floor above, Viktor had been trying to sleep, but no matter how much he tossed and turned, he couldn''t fall asleep. The unsettling feeling in his chest was growing stronger. Only when he saw Banette standing guard did that feeling ease a little. "I hope Im just overthinking it," Viktor muttered. Banette sat beside him, facing away. Its red eyes and zipper-like yellow mouth were locked in a serious expression as it stared at the door. Banette: Meanwhile, Gengar walked in through the door, feeling playful, it even waved a hand in front of Banettes face. Banette didnt react at all. Gengar floated over to Viktor but didnt act immediately. If it made a move, the mid-Elite-level Banette would definitely notice. And couldnt guarantee putting Banette to sleep in the first place. It was a tricky situation. But who was Gengar?the cleverest troublemaker on Julians team, no problem was too hard for it. It glanced at the Pok Balls sitting on the nightstand. Those must belong to Viktor. Since he was going to sleep, he naturally wouldnt keep them on his belt. That would hurt his waist, and what kind of man could afford to have a bad back? Even if that man was an S-rank fugitive. The button on an empty Pok Ball was different from the button on one holding a Pokmon. But Gengar eyed the three empty Pok Balls. A Dusknoir, a Gengar, and a Banette, but which one was Banettes? It floated around the three Pok Balls, and suddenly saw a sticker of Banette on one of the Pok Balls. The sticker wasnt put there by Viktor, but by Banette itself. Viktor never bothered to remove itafter all, Banette was his starter Pokmon. Gengar smiled and picked up the Pok Ball. Although its movements were light, Banette still sensed something. Banette turned its head to lookonly to see a red flash, and the next second, it was sucked into the Pok Ball. Gengar immediately locked the Pok Ball, so it couldn''t escape. The sight immediately jolted Viktor awakenot that he had really been asleep in the first place. But now, he could finally get a good nights sleep. Looking into Gengar''s eyes, Viktor fell into a deep slumber. Back at the bar, Julian, Mark, and Larry continued sitting together, sipping their drinks. Neither of them asked Julian where he had gone just now. Though they were drinking, their minds were elsewhere. Julian, however, was enjoying his beer, pairing it with some snackswasnt this the perfect late-night meal? Although the Pok Ball containing Slowking continued shaking, expressing its discontent. After finishing his drink and snacks, Julian noticed the other two still looking troubled. He chuckled. "Senior, Captain Larry, just leave it to me. Ive got this." Larry spoke bluntly. "Julian, what exactly is your plan?" Julian had claimed he had a method, but he never explained it. He just stepped out, then returned saying things were in progress. If it werent for Julians reputation and family background, Larry wouldve lost his patience already. "Plan? Welloh looks like it worked." Before Julian could finish his sentence, he spotted someone floating toward the bar entrance. The sight frightened many of the customers inside. As the figure drifted toward them, Mark and Larry stood up as if theyd seen a ghost. "Viktor?!" x2 Thats rightthe floating figure was none other than an unconscious Viktor. "Jie jie" Gengar appeared from invisibility, revealing itself carrying Viktor over its shoulder. Strapped around Gengars waist was Viktors Pok Ball belt. On the way back, it had even taken the liberty of recalling Dusknoir and the other Gengar into their Pok Balls. After repeatedly checking, Mark and Larry finally confirmed that this really was the S-rank fugitive they had been afterViktor, a man with dozens of lives on his hands. The proof was right in front of them, yet they still couldnt believe it. Even Mark, who had always trusted Julians ability, found it incredible. Julian had merely stepped out for a while, then returned to drink with them. And in just about an hour, Gengar had already carried Viktor back. And the entire operation had been carried out without any involvement from them or the citys law enforcement. "Good job." Julian praised, patting Gengar on the head. Gengar possessed absolute invisibilityan ability that was practically unsolvable. Even Julians grandfathers Champion-level Metagross had tried to detect it before. And yet, under Gengars absolute invisibility, not even a Champion-level Metagross could sense its presenceunless it used a large-scale attack to cover the entire area, forcing Gengar to reveal itself. With this ability, Gengar had been able to sneak up on Viktor and put him to sleep without a soundthough luck had played a part as well. A familiar numbing sensation spread through Julian. Without missing a beat, he calmly reached into his pocket and pulled out a Cheri Berry. Mega Pallet Town physique cant even withstand Gengars paralysisbad review. And after being paralyzed so many times, he still hadnt developed any resistance?more bad reviews. The appearance of a white Gengar caused a wave of gasps throughout the bar. That color scheme? Absolutely stunning. The unconscious man who had suddenly appeared? Nobody cared about him anymore. All eyes were now on the white Gengar. Gengar liked the lively atmosphere in the bar and looked around curiously. "Go have some fun," Julian said flatly. Sarch* The Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gengar let out a mischievous cackle and floated toward the main hall of the bar, a crowd quickly gathered around, drawn in by its striking white appearance. But just as they got close Gengar suddenly opened its mouth wide, its grin stretching into an abyssal maw over three meters long, as if it was about to swallow them whole. Panic erupted. People froze in place, screams filled the bar, and a few even collapsed onto the floor, their legs giving out. Some of the more faint-hearted? Yeah they didnt make it to the restroom in time. "GAHAHAHAHA!" Gengar returned to normal, clutching its round belly, laughing uncontrollably. Julian watched the scene unfold with a knowing look. "Julian, your Gengar is uh impressive." Larry muttered, his expression complicated. Viktor had been captured by this Gengarwithout a scratch. Based on that, Larry had assumed it was some serious, no-nonsense kind of Pokmon. But after seeing this? Yeah. That image was completely shattered. "Senior, Captain Larry, if you two have things to take care of, you should head out first," Julian said. The fugitive was caught, but their work was far from over. Neither of them hesitated, they exchanged a few more words before turning to leave Without paying the bill. Julian watched them go, then turned back to Gengar, who was still busy messing around with the bar patrons. Stepping up onto a table, Julian clapped his hands and shouted: "Alright, everyonetonight, all drinks are on me!" "WHOOOOOOOOO!!!" The bar erupted. Chapter 361: Entering the Secret Realm Around ten in the morning, Julian arrived at the entrance of Advanced Secret Realm No. 98 and handed his entry permit to the guarding soldiers. The two soldiers checked Julians body and backpack to confirm there were no prohibited items. After completing the inspection, they quickly let him through, reminding him to come out within a month. Julian nodded, then stepped through the gate of the secret realm. Advanced Secret Realm No. 98 was primarily a Water- and Grass-type environment. Perhaps because of this, the moment Julian entered, he noticed the unusually fresh air. With each breath, he even felt like the air was sweet. Suddenly, one of the Pok Balls on his belt began to shake. It clicked open on its own, and out popped a small green pigwait, no, it was Celebi. Since entering the secret realm required a security check, Celebi had only two choices: stay outside and wait for Julian to return or go into a Pok Ball. Without hesitation, Celebi chose the latter. In a way, this counted as Julian capturing Celebi, although he often felt helpless by this guy who just kept eating, drinking, and sleeping. Its existence single-handedly dragged down the average value of mythicals. Celebi: "The air here is good, I like it here." As a Pokmon of the forest, Celebi naturally enjoyed lush, plant-filled environments. Julian too had spent the past few months living in the capital, breathing in smog every day, hed almost forgotten what fresh forest air smelled like. Celebi: "Let''s live here from now on, okay?" Julian thought for a moment, then nodded seriously. "Sure, the airs great, the water''s clean, and the environment''s fantastic. Living here long-term would definitely help us live longer." "And besides, there''s no electricity hereno air conditioning, no food delivery, no fried chicken, no chips, and no Internet. Its a simpler life, better for our health." Upon hearing that this place had nothing, Celebis excitement vanished, no matter how good the air was or how beautiful the scenery looked, it wasn''t worth living without snacks and modern comforts. "Lets explore first," Julian said. Beside him stood Metagross, keeping watch. Julian held the map for Advanced Secret Realm No. 98 in his hand. The map marked the distribution of various Pokmon colonies, along with the locations of Elite-level Pokmon. It also highlighted various danger zones and areas likely to contain valuable resources. Since the realm was dominated by Water and Grass types, it contained nearly a hundred lakes, and the largest three lakes alone were each nearly half the size of the imperial capital. The combined area of the forests and grasslands was no smaller than that of the lakes. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The entire secret realm was roughly divided into three landscapes: lakes, forests, and grasslands. Right now, Julian stood in the middle of a vast grassland. The green grass, about half a meter high, swayed gently in the breeze, creating rolling waves of green across the field. As the grass bent with the wind, he occasionally caught glimpses of Pokmon hidden within. Up in the sky, many Sunkern, Hoppip, and Cottonee drifted with the wind like tiny seeds on a journey. The map indicated that the Pokmon living on this grassland werent particularly strong; most were only at the Advanced level at best. Additionally, the majority were Grass-types. Grass- and Fairy-type Pokmon were well-known for their generally gentle temperaments, and most Grass-types in their first stage evolution were relatively timid. If you dared to bother them, they wouldnt hesitate to cry. Looking at the warm sunlight shining through the clear sky, combined with the peaceful scenery, made Julian feel a little lazy. Celebi sprawled on Julian''s head: "So comfy" Moo! Suddenly, a herd of Tauros ran across the grassland, not far from Julian. The abundant vegetation here had clearly allowed these Tauros to grow strong and muscular. The herd had almost passed by when the lead Tauros caught a glimpse of Julian from the corner of its eye. Moo? It snorted, then turned abruptly to charge toward Julian, with dozens of Tauros following closely behind. The combined rumble of their hooves was as mighty as a cavalry charge from ancient times. It was like the ground itself trembled beneath them. The surrounding Grass-type Pokmon immediately ran away in all directions. This Tauros herd was notorious across the grassland for being aggressive troublemakers, they relied on their large numbers and thick hides to bully others. The lead Tauros had expected to see this human panic at their approach, but as the distance closed to just over a hundred meters, Julian remained still, he didnt even glance their way. Tauros leader: Meta~ Metagross came forward and intercepted the lead Tauros with a single punch, sending it flying through the sky. One after another, the Tauros followed the same fatepunched into the air, landing with heavy thuds, only for more to be sent flying again. In less than ten seconds, the entire herd had been neatly piled into a single heap, stacked like a Tauros totem. Celebi: "I bet their meat tastes amazing." Julian looked at it strangely: "You want to eat them?" Celebi immediately shook its head: "No, no, of course not!" But the drool trickling down from the corner of its mouth made it hard to believe. While Tauros were considered livestock in some countries, especially for their flavorful tail meat. However, in Drakoria, eating Pokmon was strictly forbidden, except for those with regenerative abilities. Even then, the harvesting of such parts was tightly regulated, with strict limits on how often a Pokmon''s regenerating parts could be collected. "Meta~" Metagross returned, holding a Sunflora in his hand. Oh, the seeds are ripe! Julian walked over to get a closer look at the seeds on the Sunfloras face. The seeds on a Sunfloras face ripened once a year, and their quality depended on the Pokmons level. Seeds from a pseudo-Elite Sunflora could sell for around a million, and these seeds werent just a snackthey had medicinal properties that, when consumed regularly, could improve ones overall health. The Sunflora Metagross had caught was at the peak of Advanced level, just shy of the next rank, not that good, but still good enough for a snack. Without waiting for Julian to say a word, Celebi pulled a cloth bag from who-knew-where, opened it wide, and slipped it over Sunfloras face. Then it delivered a swift punch to the plant Pokmons face. The force of the punch caused the ripe seeds to rain down into the bag, in just moments, the bag was half-full. Metagross released the unconscious Sunflora and dropped it gently onto the ground. Celebi: "Plain seeds are okay, but I really prefer the spiced ones." Chapter 362: Flying A red figure was sprinting across the grassland, its speed so fast that from a distance, it looked like a crimson lightning bolt weaving through the sea of green grass. Its flowing fur and agile form made it resemble a Pokmon of the wind. A huskyno, an Arcaninewas running freely across the grassland. Here, there were no concrete roads, no tall buildings, and no obstacles to hinder its run. Here, it could have fun, gallop, and enjoy the pure joy of running. Julian was lying flat on Arcanine''s back, clutching its thick fur with both hands and squeezing his legs tightly around its sides, if he didnt, hed definitely be thrown off. They were moving at 500 kilometers per hour. At that speed, Julians blood surged, his heart raced, and adrenaline flooded his system. Arcanine was a Pokmon known for its speed. Legends said it could run 10,000 kilometers in a single day and night. Not only was it fast, but its endurance was extraordinary. Ten minutes later, Julian finally slid off Arcanines back. He gave his partner a carefree wave, letting it know it could keep running as long as it wanted. Watching Arcanine''s powerful strides and the way its golden mane danced in the wind, Julian understood why so many admired this Pokmons grace. One word: . After all, the main reason for the house demolition incidents was because Arcanine had nowhere to release its pent-up energy. They couldnt battle every day, and even if they tried, Julians Pokmon would have to take turns, and at that rate, Arcanine would only get a turn every two days. There was no rush to explore this Advanced-level secret realm. The scenery here was nice, and Julian didnt mind staying here for a day or two. At this moment, all his Pokmon had already been released, and there wasn''t a single wild Pokmon within a radius of five or six kilometers. Grass-type Pokmon were naturally timid, and among Julian''s Pokmon, a few had faces that practically screamed, "I''m a villain." What are you looking at? Yeah, I''m talking about you, Aggron, Steelixwipe that grin off your face, and Gabite, where do you think youre going? "Honedge, come here!" Julian suddenly waved toward Honedge who was floating through the air as an idea popped into his head. Honedge obediently flew to his side. After spending this time together, along with some "brainwashing," Honedges affection for Julian had grown steadily. The thoughts and memories of its previous trainer were fading fast. "Fly a bit lowerabout here." Julian gestured to his knee. Honedge shifted downward until its blade hovered just above Julians knee. "Not verticallyturn sideways." Honedge: "Oh" The moment Honedge adjusted its body horizontally, it suddenly felt something pressing down on it. It looked to find Julian stepping onto its blade. Sarch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "All right, lets fly!" Realizing he could stand on Honedge, Julian grew excited. Sword flight! Every man''s dream! Of course, men have plenty of dreamslike piloting a Gundam or transforming into Ultraman and so on. Julian''s weight was nothing to Honedge. The blade Pokmon began to fly forward, but it hadnt gone far before Julian hit the ground with a thud. "Encore, fly slower this time!" Even after being thrown off, Julians excitement didnt wanein fact, it only increased. Arcanine, who had paused mid-sprint to watch the commotion, tilted its head. It saw its Trainer repeatedly jump onto Honedge, fly for a while, nearly fall several times, and then inevitably crash to the ground. This pattern repeated more than a dozen times, with Julian grinning the entire time. Arcanine: Metagross, floating nearby, came to the same conclusion. From Metagrosss perspective, Julian''s antics made no sense. Honedge was small, no matter how he balanced, he was bound to fall off eventually. Metagross glanced at Slowking. Metagross: "Do you have the walnuts with you?" Slowking nodded: "You want some?" Metagross: "He does." It gestured toward Julian, who had just face-planted again. Slowking: "It''s useless for him to eat walnuts." "Riding the sword, soaring through the windfree to roam the heavens and earthwait, wait, waitahhh!" Once again Julian picked himself up, brushing dirt from his clothes and muttering, "It would be great if I had a Totem soul." Honedge was simply too small, and when it accelerated, he lost his footing and fell. It was fine when it flew slowly, but speeding made it impossible to stay balanced. If it was a Totem Pokmon, its blade would be larger, the surface area bigger, and his feet wouldn''t slip as easily when Honedge picked up speed. "All right, thats enough for today." Julian waved a hand when he saw Honedges curious look. Hearing this, Honedge''s eye drooped slightly in disappointmentit enjoyed the game, especially the close interaction with Julian. "Don''t worry. We''ll play again next time." Seeing Honedge''s disappointment, Julian patted Honedges hilt with a smile. When he turned back, he found Metagross and Slowking staring at him blankly. "What? What''s with those looks?" He couldnt shake the feeling that they were looking at a foolbut he was too embarrassed to ask. Slowking and Metagross shook their heads simultaneously. Julian: (O_O) "Luca!" Lucario: "Someones coming!" Among Julian''s Pokemon, only Lucario had remained vigilant and immediately sensed an unfamiliar presence approaching quickly. "Meta!" Upon Lucario''s warning, Metagross, Dragonite, and the others immediately tensed, focusing in the direction of the approaching presence. Moments later, a Pidgeot appeared in the sky above them, a person riding on its back. As the Pidgeot lowered, all of Julian''s Pokemon shifted into fighting stances. After descending to about fifty meters, it slowed, hovering there, and at the same time a voice came from above. "Don''t misunderstand, Mr. Walker, I was flying by when I saw a red figure running across the grassland and got curious." The stranger had been drawn by the sight of Arcanines running figure. After approaching, he saw many steel-type Pokmon below. The iconic silver Metagross and the steel-type Mythical Melmetal, clearly revealed the Trainers identity. Julian didnt respond. He squinted up at the figure, but with the goggles covering most of the strangers face, he couldn''t tell who it was. "If you dont land or leave immediately, I will attack," Julian said coldly. Chapter 363: Treasure Hunting Julian hadnt expected to encounter other people on the very first day of entering the Advanced Secret Realm. This wasnt the kind of secret realm that could be accessed just by spending money. To enter an Advanced Secret Realm, a trainer had to be at least at the pseudo-Elite level. Moreover, the entrance ticket couldnt be bought with money. Instead, it had to be exchanged for contribution points. As for how to earn contribution points, the most common way was to work for the Trainer Associationfor example, by completing missions issued by the association. Take the S-Class wanted fugitive Viktor, whom Julian had previously captured. If he had completed the capture alone, the Trainer Association would likely have rewarded him with a ticket to an Advanced Secret Realm. Alternatively, joining a government department or the military provided another way. In addition to salaries and certain resources, trainers would receive a set amount of contribution points each month. This was one of the ways the government and military attracted independent trainers. As a result, very few trainers could actually enter an Advanced Secret Realm, and given how vast these realms were, running into others was extremely rare. Freddie too hadnt expected to encounter another trainer in the secret realm, let alone Julian, the well-known son of the Walker family. "If you dont land or leave immediately, I will attack," Julian said coldly. Hearing Julians slightly threatening words from midair, Freddies expression shifted slightly. Although a hint of anger stirred within him, he didnt want to provoke Julian over this. After all, he didnt know if Julian had entered the secret realm alone, and for someone like Julian, survival items were never in short supply. Mr. Walker, dont misunderstand. Ill leave right now. Without lingering any longer, Freddie swiftly disappeared from Julians sight on his Pidgeot. Watching him leave, Julian turned to Lucario and asked, Did you sense any hostility just now? Lucario shook its head, it hadnt detected any hostility, only a faint trace of anger, and the aura of anger had been so weak that Julian hadnt noticed it himself. He didnt even mention his name, how cautious. The other party hadnt introduced himself at all, clearly worried that if Julian knew his name, it might cause trouble for him later. And with Metagross by his side, the man had recognized him at a glance. Well rest here for the night. Tomorrow, we officially start treasure hunting. S~ea??h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian said to the Pokmon around him. The next day, surrounded by the fresh scent of the grasslands, Julian prepared to set out. He recalled all his Pokmon except Metagross, Dragonite, and Celebi into their Pok Balls. Taking out the Dowsing Machine, he turned it on, and ten red dots immediately appeared on the screen. However, they were all quite small, so Julian wasnt particularly interested. Lets go, head northeast. Riding on Dragonites back, Julian recalled the map of this secret realm in his mind, from here, they would head northeast, flying over forests and lakes. That particular forest was the largest one in the entire secret realm. Dragonite spread its wings and soared, though it didnt fly too fast. The custom-made flight seat provided Julian with maximum comfort, complete with a safety harness, so there was no worry about falling off even during complex aerial maneuvers. He could even snack on seeds while riding. The seeds had come from the Advanced-tier Sunflora they encountered yesterday. Though they were plain, the taste was actually quite good. In professional termsit was all-natural flavor. Celebi: "What are these red dots?" Julian: Each red dot represents a treasure. Celebis eyes lit up. Glancing at the Dowsing Machine, Julian saw that Dragonite had just flown over one of the red dots. However, he didnt intend to stop, which made Celebi anxious. Celebi: "Why arent we going down to look for it?" Seeing Celebis ignorant appearance, Julian said with contempt: The red dot is too small, not worth going down for. Celebi: "Even a tiny Caterpie is still meat no matter how small it is!" Julian: Sorry, I dont like that kind of meat. And besides, Caterpie isnt even the smallest. Celebi: "Then whats the smallest Pokmon?" Julian: Guess In truth, he didnt actually know the smallest Pokmon, but he did know the largest. Celebi: "This red dot is relatively bigger!" As Dragonite continued flying, the Dowsing Machines display kept updating. Celebi kept its eyes locked on the screen when suddenly, a new red dot appearednearly three times the size of the previous ones. Julian was about to tell Celebi that it hadnt truly seen a large red dot yet, but when he looked down- That is actually kind of big. The red dot was indeed significantly larger than the others. It probably wasnt a top-tier treasure, but it was at least two levels higher than the small ones. Still, it was a pretty good find. Julian signaled Dragonite to head toward the red dots location. Seeing Dragonite change direction, Celebi realized they were finally going treasure hunting. Its chubby little face filled with excitement. This was its first time in a secret realm and its first treasure hunt! How could it not be thrilled? At Dragonites speed, it only took five to six minutes for them to reach the red dots location. Below them was a vast grasslandthe same one they were on earlier. The area was so large that they still hadnt flown past it yet. Julian already spotted the treasure, because it was placed completely out in the open, far too obvious, and surrounding it were numerous PokmonGloom, Weepinbell, Exeggcute, Nuzleaf, and many others, covering almost every species in the area. The total number of Pokmon had already exceeded tens of thousands. These Pokmon also noticed Julian in the sky, but they didnt take any aggressive actions. Instead, they simply watched him warily. All of them were gathered around the treasure, and the ones closest to itVileplume, Exeggutor, Victreebel, and Shiftrywere all at the peak of pseudo-Elite. These Pokmon continuously sent out warning signals to the Dragonite above. It was precisely 12 in the noon, the time when sunlight was at its strongest. The treasure in the center emitted bursts of shimmering light. Vileplume, Exeggutor, Victreebel, and Shiftry all let out low growls. Then, under Julian and Dragonites astonished gaze, Gloom, Weepinbell, Exeggcute, Nuzleaf, and the others all began glowing with dazzling white light. The simultaneous evolution of over tens of thousands of Pokmon created a light so bright that it seemed like a second sun had appeared in the world, even outshining the real sun for a moment. Julian immediately closed his eyes. The white light came and went quickly, after about ten seconds, Julian opened his eyes, what he saw below made his eyes flash with surprise once again. Every single Gloom, Weepinbell, Exeggcute, and Nuzleaf had evolved, and all tens of thousands of them had reached their final evolutionary forms. Chapter 364: Huge Leaf Stone In the Pokmon world, some Pokmon live in groups based on their species. When one Pokmon evolves, it is often accompanied by several or even a dozen others of the same species evolving together. If the species has a large population, its not uncommon to see dozens of Pokmon evolving at the same time. One of the most common examples is the Bulbasaur family. However, for over tens of thousands of Pokmon from multiple species to evolve at the same time, like what had just happened today, was an extremely rare occurrence. What are you doing? Julian noticed that Celebi was holding up a phone. Celebi: "Of course, Im recording this." Julian: So you actually captured that scene just now? Celebi: "Yeah." Julian: Send me a copy later. A mass evolution of this scale didnt have much research value, but it was an incredibly rare sight, making it a worthwhile keepsake. Celebi: "Two bags of chips." Julian: Deal. He never expected to be extorted by this little guy one day. Celebi looked pleased, then said, Lets hurry down and grab that treasure! But Julian immediately shook his head: If we take that thing, well be wanted criminals. The treasure that had been left out in the open was actually a Leaf Stone the size of a small car. A regular Leaf Stone was only about half the size of a palm. Some top-grade Leaf Stones were slightly larger, but not by much. A Leaf Stone the size of a car? There were only a handful in the entire world. Some Pokmon required specific Evolution Stones to evolvewithout them, evolution was impossible. This massive Leaf Stone had long been under the jurisdiction of the Trainer Association. If it was taken away, all the Pokmon in this Advanced secret realm that needed a Leaf Stone to evolve would have no choice but to search for regular Leaf Stones on their own. Regular Leaf Stones were finiteeach one used was one less available. While the secret realm would naturally produce more over time, the process was slow. If this Leaf Stone was removed, the number of Pokmon able to evolve using Leaf Stones in this secret realm would plummetperhaps to less than one percent of what it was now. This would undoubtedly disrupt the ecological balance of the secret realm. That was why this massive Leaf Stone was officially registered with the Trainer Association, and its surface was marked with the associations insignia. It was likely that the Trainer Association had taken some precautions as well. After all, there would always be people who couldnt resist trying to take it. If someone actually touched it, who knew what might happen? Moreover, the treasures defenses werent weak. On the surface, there were only a few peak pseudo-Elite Pokmon standing guard, but hidden beneath the ground was an Elite-tier Pokmon. That was something Dragonite had just told Julian. So, whoever dared to take this stone would have to face the consequences. And you might have the ability to take it away, but you wouldnt be able to take it out. A stone of this sizeonce you tried to bring it past the secret realms exityoud be discovered instantly. Even if you broke it into pieces and took the fragments, it wouldnt be worth it. After all, the whole Leaf Stone was the most effective. Celebi: "No way." There was a hint of stubbornness in its voice. Julian: You know how important the Leaf Stone is to them. Had this Celebi been spoiled by him too much, or had it eaten too much junk food, filling its brain with reckless ideas? Celebi: "Of course I know, but I still want it." Julian: Then go down and take it, if they dont attack you, Ill take it away. With his systems storage space, he could easily take it without anyone knowing. But as Celebi looked down at the tens of thousands of Pokmon staring straight at them, it awkwardly shook its head. Celebi: "Its not because there are so many of them Im just afraid theyll cry if I take their stone." Seeing Celebi act all self-righteous despite being obviously coward, Julian sneered: If youre scared, just say it, there''s no need for such nonsense. Celebi: "Who said Im scared?" Then go down. Fine, just watch me. Go on, then. Im going now. Hurry up. Im not going. At its current speed of one centimeter per second, it wouldnt reach the ground even in ten years. As they continued their usual bickering, the Pokmon below suddenly began glowing with specks of green light, all of which flowed toward the massive Leaf Stone. Soon, countless curtains of shimmering green light formed beneath them. If it was nighttime, the scene would have been breathtaking. Celebi: "Love is a light, so green it makes you uneasy." Julian: "Such a beautiful sight, completely ruined by your words." The massive Leaf Stone kept absorbing the green light. No wonder this stone can last forever. It was an incredibly stunning sight. Despite its size, no matter how big the Leaf Stone was, the energy within it would eventually run out after continuously helping Pokmon evolve. As far as Julian knew, this massive Leaf Stone had existed since the secret realm first appearednearly a hundred years ago. sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Given such a long time, even if it was ten times larger, its energy should have long been depleted. But that wasnt the case. It turned out that after evolving, the Pokmon would give back some of their energy to the massive Leaf Stone, replenishing it. Celebi: "Not only that, but the energy of this entire grassland is also nourishing the Leaf Stone, thats the key to its existence." As a Pokmon of the forest and natures favored child, Celebi was highly sensitive to natural energy. It could feel that the entire grassland was continuously supplying energy to the massive Leaf Stone, and this steady infusion was the key to its existence. Looking down at the thousands of Grass-type Pokmon below, Julian activated his to scan a wide area, searching for any Pokmon with Cyan-tier potential. It wasnt that he wanted to capture one for himselfCyan-tier Pokmon were valuable resources. Both Cyan-tier Pokmon and Mega Evolution stones were considered hard currency, these were things that money alone couldnt buy. Of course, there were many things in the world that money couldnt buy, but these two were among the most in demand, making them exceptionally valuable. With tens of thousands of Pokmon below, Julian soon found one with Cyan-tier potential. Pokmon: Shiftry (Grass/Dark) Level: 20 Potential: Cyan Ability: Chlorophyll Held Item: None Gender: Female Moves: Leaf Storm, Harden, Astonish, Tackle, Synthesis, Razor Leaf, Hurricane, Whirlwind, Leaf Blade, Growth TMs: None Egg Moves: Leech Seed, Quick Attack, Night Slash, Take Down --- Its level wasnt particularly highwhich was actually ideal, a lower-level Pokmon would be easier to train, leaving more room for future growth. Chapter 365: Shiftry Because they had completed their evolution, the Pokmon began to slowly leave. They had come from all over the secret realm, some even from the farthest edges. Reaching this place had been a trek through mountains and riverssome weaker Pokmon couldn''t even make it this far. The Shiftry that Julian had taken an interest in was also leaving, following the rest of its kind toward the east. Julian didnt act immediately, he waited until most of the Pokmon had dispersed and the large group had scattered. Only then did he prepare to make his move. He was cautiousif the Pokmon were too united, capturing Shiftry might provoke the others, leading them to interfere. Half an hour later, Dragonite landed in front of nearly a thousand Shiftry. Under their watchful eyes, Julian jumped off Dragonites back and pointed at one of them. This Shiftry is mine, the rest of you can leave. His tone was arrogant, his expression domineeringnot polite in the slightest. He didnt even acknowledge their numbers, as if they were nothing. After all, Dragonite alone was enough for all of them. The Shiftry murmured among themselves, uneasy because of Dragonites presence. Metagross shot Dragonite a glarethis fat dragon, it was stealing the spotlight, making the Shiftry ignore Metagross. Dragonite scratched its head, confused by the way the Shiftry were staring at it. The Shiftry all turned toward their leaderthe strongest among them, a peak Advanced-level Shiftry. The leader knew it couldnt simply give in to Julian. Otherwise, he would lose respect, but at the same time, he couldnt possibly win in a fight. He needed a way to refuse without looking weak. Just as the leader took a step forward, a voice came Fire Punch Dragonite vanished in a blur, landing a single punch that knocked the leader Shiftry flat on the ground. The other Shiftry: 0 Julian stepped forward. Anyone else wants to object? Celebi: Step forward if you disagree. Celebi took the chance to act tough alongside Julian. Instantly, all of the Shiftry took a step backall except for one, who remained frozen in place, as if stunned. This was the Cyan-tier Shiftry Julian had set his eyes on. Oh? Not bad. Julian looked at it with mild approval. The Shiftry was actually on the verge of tears. It wasnt resistingit was just too nervous to move. But in Julians eyes, its expression looked completely defiant, like it was challenging him. Alright, I wont bully you. Honedge Julian sent out Honedge. Some Pokmon had strong personalitieseven when they knew their opponent was stronger, they would still fight. Three seconds later, Honedge finished the battle. It turned back to Julian with an unimpressed look. "Are you sure you want this kind of weakling as our teammate?" Julian shrugged. "You''re just too strong, and no, it won''t be our teammate." He had already decided that his second Attribute would be Dragon-type, so even if he caught a new Pokmon, it would most likely be a Dragon-type. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for Honedge, it was a complete accident. Honedge werent native to Drakoria, and if you could buy one with money, of course, Julian wouldn''t pass up the opportunity. He clipped Shiftrys Pok Ball to his belt. Once they were out of the secret realm, he would trade it for resourcesthere was no way hed keep it. After all, if it stayed with him for too long, Julian might get attached, and then he wouldnt want to sell it anymore. Just like this Celebi. Every bit of fat on its body had been raised by Julian. With its round, plump figure, those who knew it could still recognize it as Celebi. But those who didnt? Theyd probably think it was some "Cele-pig." Celebi: "I couldve beaten it too." Julian: "You''re amazing." After all, Shiftry was only level 20. Meanwhile, Celebi was level 76, it had somehow gone from level 75 to 76 just from eating. Celebi squinted: "Why does that sounds weird?" Julian blinked innocently: "What? You''re imagining things." Celebi: "Then why did you smirk when you said that?" Julian smirked again: "Because I respect you, of course." As the two bickered, their group had already moved far away. The remaining Shiftry stared at each other, unsure of what to do. Their leader was knocked out, and one of their own had been taken away. Should they go home now, or wait for their leader to wake up and leave together? --- Celebi: "You were totally mocking me just now!" On Dragonites back, "Cele-pig" was pulling Julians hair, puffing out its chubby cheeks in frustration. Even though it was rounder than normal, it was still kind of cute. Julian sighed: "I already told you, that was my way of showing respect." Celebi: "I dont believe you, even Metagross laughed just now!" Julian turned to Metagross: "Did you laugh?" Metagross shook its head: "No." "See? You dont trust me, but you should at least trust Dragonite, right?" "Fatty, tell the truth, did I say anything wrong just now?" Dragonite: "It''s too windy, I can''t hear you." Dragonite gave itself a thumbs-up for its quick thinking. "Alright, alright. Believe me or not, are you hungry? Here, have some chips." Celebi: "Hmm now that you mention it, I do feel a little hungry." The sound of Celebi happily munching on chips filled the air, Dragonite glanced back, then patted its own belly. It was hungry too. Julian: "Its not mealtime yet, if you''re hungry, just bear with it, and look at your bellydo you think you need more food?" There was a reason he called it "Fatty." With a stomach like that, even Snorlax would be impressed. "Theres a group of Tropius ahead." A dozen Tropius had just entered Julians field of vision, but instead of stopping, Dragonite kept flyingit was the Tropius that had paused in place. Julian: "I suddenly feel like eating bananas." Metagross: "Understood." A few minutes later, Metagross returned, carrying a whole bunch of bananas. The fruit hanging under a Tropius chin wasnt actually a real bananait just looked like one. But its texture was soft and sweet. It was highly nutritious and had a high protein content. In fact, if someone ate this three times a day, they wouldnt gain weighttheyd actually lose it. Because of this, it was one of the most beloved foods among fitness trainers. The price of these bananas depended on the level of the Tropius that produced them. Those from a regular Tropius werent very valuable, but once a Tropius reached the Advanced level, its bananas became highly sought after. Since there were plenty of bananas, Julian gave some to Dragonite as well. It could stand to lose some weight, Celebi too. Metagross, however, shook its head. It didnt like eating these. Celebi: "This red dot is about the same size as the Leaf Stone." Celebi took a bite, but its attention quickly returned to the Dowsing Machine, ever since it failed to take away the Leaf Stone, it had been regretting it non-stop. Julian glanced at the screen. "Its somewhere below, in this forest." About ten minutes ago, they had already left the grasslands and were now flying over a huge forest, from this height, the treetops stretched out endlessly, with no visible end in sight. Chapter 366: A Pity The forest below was lush and dense, with overlapping tree canopies that completely obscured the ground. It was impossible to see what was happening beneath. However, above the treetops, a large group of Aipom had gathered, shouting loudly at Julian and the group. Aipom A: "Get out of here right now!" Aipom B: "Hey, up there! Ive got a short temper, and if you dont leave, I might not be able to hold back!" Aipom C: "What are you looking at, little guy? I can make you cry with one punch." Aipom D: "Hey, fatty! With a belly that big and wings that small, how are you even flying?" Aipom E: "********" More than a hundred Aipom were yelling all sorts of "greetings" at Julian and his team. Some even raised their middle fingersno doubt a behavior they had picked up from some humans. Celebi: "You little bas***ds, youre making me laugh to death!" When it came to arguing, Celebi wasnt one to lose, but there were just too many of them. One of the Aipom seemed to be a master of trash talk, its words needed to be censored out entirely with stars. "Make them shut up." Even with Julians usual calm demeanor, having over a hundred monkeys screaming insults at him was too much. His head was starting to hurt from the sheer noise. Sear?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "ROAR!!" Dragonite took a deep breath, and then let out a powerful roar, its voice carrying an unmistakable pressure of a Dragons might. It didnt hold back its Elite-level aura, mixing it with Dragons Majesty. The Aipom werent particularly high-leveled, and this sudden roar froze their bodies on the spot. In the next second, they dropped like dumplings into the forest below. And it wasnt just the AipomDragonites roar spread across a 10-kilometer radius, scaring off every Pokmon below Elite-level. In just half a minute, the entire forest fell into silence, Julian hadnt planned to go this far, but those Aipom were just too annoying. As Dragonite landed on the forest floor covered in layers of rotting leaves. The towering tree canopies blocked out most of the sunlight, leaving the surroundings dim. Thick bushes, vines, and wild grass filled the area, though several small trails wove through the undergrowth. These paths werent man-madethey were formed by Pokmon constantly walking through them. In the wild, many trails might look like human-made, but in reality, they were carved out by Pokmon over time. Because of this, experienced trainers often avoided these paths. Instead, they preferred to clear their own way, minimizing unnecessary risks. After all, no one could be sure what kind of Pokmon had created these trails, and whether they were strong or weak. It was always right to be careful in the wild, a single mistake or a moment of carelessness could easily cost someone their life. Of course, if youre strong enough, none of that really matters. Thanks to Dragonites earlier roar, there were no Pokmon left in the area. Some, too frightened to flee, had even fainted on the spotlike the Oddish and Shiinotic in front of him, lying motionless with foam at their mouths. Given that these Pokmon were known for being timid, their reaction wasnt surprising. The Dowsing Machine indicated that the treasure was about 300 meters away. Under Celebis constant urging, Julian began walking forward. Fortunately, there was already a Pokmon-made path leading in the right direction, saving them the trouble of clearing their own way. Celebi: "Hey, hey, hey! What kind of treasure do you think it will be?" Julian: "Its not for you anyway, why are you so excited?" Celebi: "Why not? Finders keepers!" Celebi crossed its arms, puffing out its cheeks in protest. Julian: "Still not giving it to you. What are you gonna do about it? Bite me?" He curled a finger at Celebi, taunting it. The next second Celebi: "Ow! You actually bit me! What are you, an Arcanine?" Between their playful squabbles, they arrived at the treasures location, but when Julian looked around, all he saw was a small patch of grassnothing else. Celebi: "Treasure, treasure wheres the treasure?" Celebi flew around in circles, searching every inch of the area, but apart from grass, more grass, and even more grass, there wasnt even a living Pokmon in sight. Frustrated, Celebi turned to Julian, and said angrily: "Did you hide the treasure?" Julian: "A brain is a good thing too bad you dont have one." With that, he reached out and grabbed Celebis head mid-flight, stopping it from bumping into him again. As the little Pokmon struggled, Julian walked up to a few blades of grass. "This is the treasure." At the same time, he let go of Celebi, who stared at him in disbelief, its expression practically screaming, Julian rubbed his forehead, speechlessly. "Arent you supposed to be the Guardian of the Forest? How do you not recognize Revival Herb?" "You must be a temporary worker." Celebi: "Of course I know what Revival Herb is! But this doesnt look like it!" Julian: "And you still say youre not a temporary worker? This is an immature Revival Herb." Revival Herb looked a lot like ordinary weeds, but its leaves gave off a faint crystalline glow. If touched, it left a distinct bitter taste on the fingers A bitterness so intense that even Gulpin would hesitate. A fully mature Revival Herb had at least five leaves, with each leaf representing ten years of growth. The more leaves it had, the older and more potent it was. As its name suggested, Revival Herbs greatest use was healing. Although it couldnt bring back the dead, as long as someone was still breathing, consuming a Revival Herb would restore their body to peak condition. Moreover, Revival Herb could be used by both Pokmon and humans, though its effects on humans were slightly weaker. Even so, it was far more potent than most medicines. Back in ancient times, this would have been as valuable as a thousand-year-old ginseng. However, when Pokmon consumed Revival Herb, their intimacy with their Trainer would dropsimply because it was too bitter. Every Pokmon that had ever tasted it swore theyd rather die than eat it again. Of course, mixing it with other medicinal ingredients could lessen the bitterness, but only to an extenttoo much would weaken its effects. Julian stood before the five Revival Herb plants. The largest had four fully grown leaves, while a fifth leaf had sprouted but was still much smaller than the others. An immature Revival Herb had significantly weaker medicinal effects. Even if it was just one year short, the difference between a forty-nine-year-old and a fifty-year-old Revival Herb was like night and day. Currently, Revival Herb couldnt be artificially cultivated. It could only be found in Secret Realms or forbidden zones, and because of its powerful healing properties, it was rarely sold on the market. This herb was a life-saving miracle for both humans and Pokmon, unless there was absolutely no other choice, no one would sell it. "What a pity." Julian shook his head. Celebi: "Arent you gonna dig it up?" Julian: "Its still immature. I dont have the heart to do it." He already had some Revival Herbs, but he had never used them. Celebi: "Then why not just wait until it grows up?" Julian: "I know you can sleep for ten years at a time." Celebi: "I can do twenty, too!" Julian: "Get lost." Chapter 367: Sceptile Although none of these five Revival Herbs were fully mature, if someone were to dig them up, they could still be sold for a hefty sum. Even if their medicinal effects were weaker, they were still Revival Herbs. A fifty-year-old Revival Herb could fetch five to six hundred million at an auction, while a hundred-year-old one could easily break the one-billion mark. Revival Herbs were almost always sold at auctions, where their value could be maximized. There was never a shortage of buyersany big family would definitely have some stored away for emergencies. Just as Julian was about to leave, the ground beneath his feet suddenly trembled, sensing danger, he immediately leaped onto Metagross. A deep crack split open the earth, and from beneath, a Pokmon resembling a bipedal ankylosaurus emergedwith a tree growing on its back. "I was wondering why these Revival Herbs weren''t guarded by a Pokmon. Turns out, it was underground." Julian looked at the Torterra in front of him, it still seemed drowsy, as if it had just woken up. Without thinking, he asked, "Don''t tell me you were just sleeping?" By all logic, this Torterra should have appeared the moment he got close to the Revival Herbs. Afterall, he had plenty of time to dig them up just now. Torterras face twitched, and it glared at Julian in anger. "Youre not supposed to call me out like that!" "So thats how it is," Julian chuckled. Torterra was a Pokmon naturally inclined to sleep. Some smaller Pokmon even built nests in the trees on its backsome would spend their entire lives there. And this wasnt just any Torterrait was a peak pseudo-Elite one. "Lets go." Julian had never planned to take the immature Revival Herbs, since there was no reason to fight, he wasnt about to waste time on a pointless conflict. With his command, Metagross lifted off into the sky, and Dragonite followed closely behind. Only Celebi lingered behind, staring longingly at the Revival Herbs. Sar?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "If you dont hurry up, Im leaving you behind." Julians voice rang in its ears. Celebi: "Hmph! Dont even think about it!" Another failed treasure hunt. Julian was getting a bit frustrated. "Third times the charm," he muttered. Today, he had to find at least one decent treasure, he glanced down at the Dowsing Machine. Ten red dots were impressively displayed, but unfortunately they were not very big. This grass- and water-type Secret Realm was actually one of the most abundant in treasures. It required shorter formation time for treasures which made it one of the most lucrative Secret Realm. Of course, with every advantage came a drawbackwhile treasures were plentiful, very few had the power to truly transform a Pokmon. Just like the Revival Herbs from before, there were bound to be more of them in this Secret Realmprobably quite a few. While Revival Herbs were extremely powerful, capable of healing both Pokmon and humans on the brink of death, they were strictly a medicinal treasure. And this kind of thing didn''t increase strength at all. If you or your Pokmon never on the verge of death, then a Revival Herb was nothing more than a decoration. It was only useful in critical momentsa lifesaver, but not a power booster. As for when it came to deciding which was more importantsurvival or strengthopinions varied. --- The forest stretched far beyond Julians expectations. Dragonite had been flying for nearly an hour, yet they still hadnt reached the edge. Metagross shot a resentful look at Julian, it used to be his go-to ride. But ever since Dragonair evolved into this big, bulky thing, Julian had forgotten all about it. Julian didnt even need to look to know what Metagross was thinking. Among his Pokmon, Metagross was easily the most jealous for his attention. If the fans knew their beloved Metagross was actually a giant sulky baby, he wondered how theyd react. Probably fall even more in love with it. Lost in thought, Julian was snapped back to reality when a sudden shot out from the treetops below, Dragonite didnt even flinch, because Metagross had already moved to intercept it. The shattered on impact. The noise naturally pulled Julian back from his thoughts. Dragonite also came to a halt. "Sceptile~" Perched atop the canopy, a Sceptile stared at Dragonite and Metagross with a taunting look. "Elite-level" Julian raised an eyebrow, recalling what he had read from the information about this secret realm before, this forest did have Elite-level Pokmon and not just one but there were three Elite-level Pokmon recorded. And the three Elite Pokmon in this forest were: Torterra, Shiftry, and Roserade. But the Sceptile in front of him? Nowhere on the list. Pokmon: Sceptile (Grass) Level: 71 Potential: Cyan Ability: Overgrow Held Item: None Gender: Male Moves: Giga Drain, Fury Cutter, False Swipe, X-Scissor, Energy Ball, Pound, Slam, Leer, Leafage, Quick Attack, Mega Drain, Detect, Quick Guard, Assurance, Double Team, Leaf Blade TMs: None Egg Moves: Synthesis, Leech Seed, Leaf Storm, Night Slash --- "So it just broke into Elite rank recently." That explained why it wasnt in the records. The three registered Elite PokmonTorterra, Shiftry, and Roseradewere on the Trainer Association''s ''Do Not Capture'' list to maintain the ecosystem balance of the forest. Since this Sceptile wasnt registered on the list, it could be captured. Julian had already caught a Cyan-grade Shiftry before, and now, an Elite-level Sceptile had appeared. Even though he hadnt found any valuable treasures yet, if he managed to capture Sceptile, this trip would already be worthwhile. Of course, Julian had no intention of training it, his teams focus was clear: 1. Primary Type: Steel 2. Secondary Type: Dragon Anything outside of that? Not a priority for now. Counting Magearna, which was still on standby, Julian already had twelve Pokmon, if he included the cheeky Celebi that refused to leave, that made thirteen. For someone his age, that was more than enough. Although most Elite-level trainers had anywhere from sixty to seventy Pokmon, only a dozen or so were actually trained to be main battlers. And among them, their ace Pokmon were usually one or two at most. Sceptile: "This is my territory. Who said you could pass?" Sceptile was one of the more aggressive Grass-types, on top of that, it had a Mega Evolution, which gave it the powerful Grass/Dragon typing. So the market value of this guy was very high. Capturing it and handing it over to his family could be useful for trade deals, exchanging it for other valuable resources from other families. Sceptile: "Which one of you wants to come and fight me?" It curled its fingers, making a taunting gesture, its face full of arrogance. Julian smiled slightly. Chapter 368: Gengar Vs Sceptile As Dragonite landed, Julian got off from its back. Sceptile did not attack, seemingly waiting for him to get down. "Tile~" Sceptile: "Now we can start the battle, right?" It looked at Dragonite and Metagross, eyes full of excitementalmost like a pet, eager to challenge them both. Then, it pointed at Metagross. Sceptile: "You." Earlier, Metagross had smashed its with a single punch, to Sceptile, it felt even stronger than Dragonite. Julian chuckled: "You really picked a good opponent." "Meta~" Metagross floated forward, facing Sceptile, it had been a while since it last foughta little warm-up wouldnt hurt. But Julian shook his head. "Metagross, no need to use a sledgehammer to kill a chicken, let Gengar take this one." Sceptile was only at the early Elite level, with Metagross'' strength it would be defeated in just a few moves. A battle like this wouldnt even count as a warm-upso there was no point, might as well let another teammate handle it. "Meta~" Metagross nodded, uninterested in fighting Sceptile anyway. Seeing Metagross floating away instead of fighting, Sceptile was immediately unhappy, but before it could protest, Gengar emerged from Julians shadow. "Hell be your opponent," Julian said. "Sce?!" Sceptile: "Just him?!" It looked at Gengar with disdain, Gengar wasnt even at the peak of pseudo-Elite tiernot worth its time. "Kehehe..." Gengar, however, wasnt the least bit offended, instead, it grinned at Sceptile. "How about now?" The bracelet on Julian''s wrist glowed in rainbow colors, and at the same time, Gengars body radiated with the same brilliant light. "GengarMega Evolve!" Pokmon: Gengar (Ghost/Poison) Level: 66 (71) Potential: Purple Ability: Cursed Body Item: Toxic Orb Gender: Male Moves: Confuse Ray, Lick, Hypnosis, Mean Look, Imprison, Payback, Curse, Hex, Night Shade, Shadow Punch, Reflect Type, Sucker Punch, Destiny Bond, Dream Eater TMs: Screech, Spite, Venoshock, Sludge Bomb, Sleep Talk, Protect, Fire Punch, Shadow Ball, Thunderbolt, Scary Face, Acid Spray, Icy Wind, Shadow Claw, Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, Toxic Spikes, Toxic, Nightmare Egg Moves: Skill Swap, Dark Pulse, Disable, Perish Song, Poltergeist, Will-O-Wisp Note: Ghost-type moves get a 30% power boost. --- After Mega Evolution, Gengars power surged, it''s level increased from 66 to 71. Because of Mega Evolution, Mega Gengar could now connect to other dimension, allowing half of its body to hide in an alternate plane, and a strange golden object resembling a coin appeared on its forehead, like a watchful eye. "Kehehehe..." Mega Gengar grinned wickedly, staring at Sceptile. At this moment, Sceptile''s expression finally changedno longer carefree or dismissive. It didnt understand why Gengars strength had suddenly increased so much, but aura radiating from its opponent made one thing clear: This was a real threat. "Sce!" Sceptile: "The stronger my opponent, the more excited I get!" Julians mouth twitched slightly, this Sceptile... Why does it feel like a battle-hungry anime protagonist? A single leaf drifted from the trees, falling gently through the air, as if it was a signal for battle to begin, Sceptile vanished from its original position. The next second A gleaming, emerald slashed toward Mega Gengar, moving at such blinding speed that even from a hundred meters away, Julian felt a sharp sting on his face just from the sheer force of the strike. If not for Metagross and Dragonite standing beside him, Julian wouldn''t be commanding the battle at such a close distance. Even a stray shockwave could seriously injure him. Mega Gengars body slipped into another dimension, causing Sceptiles attack to miss completely. Instead, its crashed into the ground BOOM!! A hundred-meter-long fissure appeared on the ground. The forceful wind blast from the attack sliced through a massive tree ahead, cutting it cleanly in half. Sceptiles combat instincts were top-tier. The moment its attack missed, it immediately leaped away, using its immense agility to move rapidly between the trees. With explosive power in its legs, its movements became a blur, making it incredibly difficult to track. Mega Gengar reappeared, frowning slightly. It had planned to lick Sceptile, but the lizard refused to stay still. "Scep!" Spotting Mega Gengar, Sceptile whipped its tail, releasing a storm of razor-sharp leaves spinning in a violent whirlwind Mega Gengar raised both hands, condensing a basketball-sized between its palms. The two attacks collided violently. A shockwave like a hurricane tore through the battlefield, uprooting trees, sending debris flying, and shaking the ground like an earthquake. Metagross used its psychic power to shield Julian from the destruction. Both sides were evenly matched in that exchange. But when the dust settled The entire battlefield had changed, within a thousand-meter radius, there was no grass, no treesonly barren, cracked earth. A battle at the Elite level was devastating to the environment, the energy left behind would make it impossible for anything to grow here for years. However, since this Secret Realm was dominated by Grass- and Water-type Pokmon, once the battle ended, a swarm of Grass Pokmon would soon restore the area. Sceptile didn''t care about the destruction of its home, right now, it had only Mega Gengar in its eyes. If it won, it would become stronger. "Kehehe" Mega Gengar grinned wickedly. It swung its arm, summoning a large number of . Even though the battlefield was now stripped bare of trees, Sceptiles speed on the ground remained astonishing. The poisonous projectiles rained down, but not a single one landed. Sceptile dodged effortlessly, weaving between them with blazing speed. Sceptiles attack struck cleanly, sending Mega Gengar sliding back several dozen meters. Although he was hit, he still had a grin on his face. Sce! Sceptile: "Let''s see if you''re still laughing in a second!" "Focus." Sarch* The Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julians voice reached Mega Gengars ears. He knew his Pokmon wellGengar wasnt fighting seriously, if it were, Sceptiles speed alone wouldnt be enough to land a clean hit. "Kehaha~" Mega Gengar nodded, but the smile on his face remained unchanged. It spread its arms againanother round of . Sceptile: "Tch, this wont" Sceptile, who got hit by the , was stunned. Another hit. Then another. And another. Sceptile stood there, completely stunned, covered in purple sludge, its mind struggling to process what had just happened. Was this really the same Mega Gengar from a moment ago? Julian muttered, Still not poisoned? had a chance to poison the target, yet despite over ten direct hits, Sceptile remained unaffected. Metagross rolled its eyes. Under the Sludge Bombs, although Sceptile was injured, it wasnt out of the fight yet. It was just dirty and looked a little disheveled. Chapter 369: Paralysis Mega Gengar floated in front of Sceptile, its eyes releasing a glow that threatened to put the Grass-type to sleep. Sceptile glared back, locking eyes with Mega Gengar. Sceptile: "I will never be hypnotized by you." The next second Sceptile: Watching Sceptile sleep so soundly, Mega Gengar showed a smug look, its eyes gleaming with satisfaction. and were its two favourite moves. After hypnotizing Sceptile, Mega Gengar did not use or , the two moves that accompany . Instead, it retreated nearly a hundred meters. Julian looked at it suspiciously, wondering what the hell this ghost was up to now, but he didnt intend to stop it. After all, the battles outcome had already been decided the moment it started. Soon, Julian realized what Mega Gengar was trying to do. It waved its hands and used again, but instead of launching them all at once, it carefully hurled them one by one at the unconscious Sceptile. One, ten, thirty, by the time it was done, nearly a hundred had rained down on Sceptile. By now, Sceptile was completely unable to battle, but that wasnt the point. The real issue was that, even after being hit by ''hundreds'' of ... it still wasnt poisoned. Mega Gengar turned to look at Julian. Julian''s face darkened: "What do you mean?" Damn it. At first, he hadnt understood what this b*****d was trying to do,but as the kept pelting the unconscious Sceptile, it finally hit him Mega Gengar: "Look, I threw a hundred Sludge Bombs, and it still didnt get poisoned." Mega Gengar: "Unlucky Emperor." With a flick of his wrist, Julian threw a Pok Ball capturing Sceptile, and also released the Mega Evolution form. Gengar floated over to its Trainer with a grin. Julian: "Stay away from me, Im angry." Anyone would be angry after being disrespected like that. Metagross grinned, while Dragonite looked at Julian innocently. Celebi: "I, Celebi, acknowledge you as the true Emperor of Unluckiness." Julian: "Get lost!" "Kehhehe..." Looking at its Trainer practically steaming with rage, Gengar stretched out his scarlet tongue and licked his cheek. Julian sneered: "Ive already gotten used to this kind of para" Before he could even finish the sentence, an even stronger wave of paralysis suddenly shot through his body, he couldnt even reach into his pocket for a Cheri Berry. Julian: Looking at its Trainer who fell straight on the ground, twitching slightly, Gengar was stunned and stared in surprise. sea??h th n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gengar: "Youre messing with me." Metagross: "The acting is really good, just like the real thing." Dragonite: "A true method actor." Celebi: "Why is there foam coming out of his mouth?" Gengar, Metagross, Dragonite: ( --- By nightfall, the tent had been set up, and the campfire crackled softly. The burning wood sent occasional sparks flying into the warm night air. Julian sipped the coffee Slowking had prepared, his paralysis had long since worn off, but his mood was still sour. It was baffling, why did paralysis always hit him harder than anyone else? He had already resigned himself to the fact that always paralyzed himbut now it was ''double'' effective? After all the training hed done to resist it, was it all for nothing? Meanwhile, Gengar was huddled with Arcanine, Aggron, Melmetal, and Steelix. It must have said something, because all four Pokmon turned their heads in unison to look at Julian. Their eyes were filled with curiosity. Julian: "What are you all looking at?" He felt... Gengar: "See? I told you." The four Pokmon nodded subconsciously. This movement was caught by Julian''s peripheral vision, and he gritted his teeth angrily. "Arcanine, come here," Julian shouted. Arcanine instantly got up and trotted over, wagging its tail happily. That tail-wagging made Julian even more annoyed. Without a word, he grabbed Arcanines head with both hands and- After rubbing for a while, Arcanine''s tongue stuck out, and Julian let go. ''Now'' he felt better. "Mel~" Melmetal walked over, Julian gave it a puzzled look as the steel giant bent down, lowering its head toward him. It had seen how much Arcanine enjoyed getting its head rubbed and wanted to give it a try too. Looking at the lump of metal in front of him, Julian fell into deep thought. Although Melmetals body was liquid metal, its head was not. That was pure, solid metal. Not wanting to play favorites, Julian simply patted its head lightly. "Dont try to copy Arcanine, its a little dumb." Arcanine tilted its head, staring at Julian. On the side, Slowking had already prepared dinner and was calling Julian over. Tonights meal was hotpot, the ingredients were plentiful, including a variety of berries freshly gathered from the forest. They were still camped at the battle site where Mega Gengar and Sceptile had fought, the entire areaspanning a full kilometerwas now nothing but open land, completely devoid of cover. If any wild Pokmon approached, theyd see it instantly. Looking up, you could see the night sky. In this Secret Realm dominated by forests and lakes, the night sky seems to be brighter than any other Secret Realms. The moon hung high, stars twinkled across the night sky, steam from the hotpot rose in gentle swirls, carrying the rich aroma of simmering broth. Food burst with flavor on the tongue, surrounded by Pokmon, some standing, some resting, and others simply taking a nap. Julian: "Wheres the beef? I just put a whole bunch of beef in the pot." Celebi: "I dunno." (Cheeks puffed out, mouth full.) Before an argument could break out at the dinner table, Slowking swiftly placed a fresh portion of beef and greens into Julians bowl, effectively stuffing his mouth before he could complain further. "Slowking, dont worry about mego get Metagross and the others their food first." "Slow~" Slowking nodded, it had already prepared food for Metagross and the rest earlier, if it wasnt for the risk of Julian and Celebi starting a fight over food, the others would have started eating long ago. Arcanine sat in front of Julian, its long tongue hanging out, shimmering drool dripping as it stared longingly at the bubbling beef slices in the pot. Julian sighed: "Here, but only a little, once you''re done, go eat your Pokblocks." He picked up a few pieces of beef and gave them to Arcanine. Among his Pokmon, the one who craved human food most was definitely Celebi, with Arcanine coming in a close second. But Julian had long since given up trying to control Celebis eating habitsit was a mythical Pokmon, and its body could probably handle anything. Arcanine, on the other hand, was one of his main Pokmon, even if human food wouldnt harm it, he wasnt about to let it develop this eating habit. After eating the beef, Arcanine left contentedly. Meanwhile, Slowking had already finished setting out food for the rest of them. Chapter 370: Strange Swamp Julian had already spent ten days in the secret realm. During this time, he had explored nearly two-thirds of area and managed to find four valuable treasures. Grasswood Gem: When consumed, it grants resistance against Grass-type moves. If a Grass-type Pokmon takes it, it increases the power of their Grass-type attacks. Despite looking like a stone, it was actually softalmost like jelly. Six Mature Revival Herbs, among them, one had reached a hundred years of age. Its effects needed no explanation. Sky Wood: A medicinal plant that emits a healing fragrance. Its wooden body could keep humans free from illness if carried long-term. Julian had obtained a piece as thick as an armquite a substantial size. It was perfect for making prayer beads. With this much, he could craft a string for each family member. Since his mother probably wouldnt like wearing beads, he figured hed turn hers into a bracelet instead. Heavy Water: A liquid as dense as mercury. Its sole purpose was to regenerate organs and limbs. However, its dosage had to be precisely controlledjust one gram too much would turn it into a lethal poison, while one gram too little would render it completely ineffective. These four itemsGrasswood Gem, six Revival Herbs, Sky Wood, and Heavy Waterwere Julians spoils after ten days in the secret realm. In terms of rarity, Heavy Water was by far the most precious. It could regenerate both external limbs and internal organs. As long as the head wasnt completely severed or the heart wasnt broken beyond repairessentially, as long as the person wasnt dead on the spotit could restore their body to its original state. Even if someone sold both of their kidneys to buy an Apple, drinking Heavy Water would grow them back. This was a power that Revival Herbs simply didnt have. Every year, too many trainers suffered permanent injuries due to battle aftermath or other accidents. The unlucky ones even lost their ''little brothers.'' This was where the true value of Heavy Water lay. Julian had acquired a fist-sized amount of it, while it didnt look like much, it weighed a full five kilograms. And with just 500 grams, one could fully regenerate their internal organs or regrow a lost limb. That meant Julian had 5,000 gramsan extremely valuable resource. Among the top 100 ranked Elite Trainers, nearly ten had some form of physical deformitysome had lost an eye, some were missing an arm or a leg. There were even rumors of one Elite whose lungs had been severely damaged by toxic gas, forcing doctors to remove nearly half of them. As a result, he couldnt even command his Pokmon loudly. He was only fifty, yet he already struggled to walk a few steps without gasping for breath. For people like them, Heavy Water was priceless. Julian figured that if he were to offer just 500 grams of it, some of them would likely be willing to trade a Cyan-grade Pokmon for it. Celebi: "None of these tastes good." (Disappointed.) At first, Celebi had been thrilled and excited whenever they found a treasure, but as time passed, its enthusiasm faded. After all, in its eyes, none of these so-called "treasures" smelled as good as a fried chicken leg. Take that Grasswood Gem from earlierit looked soft and bouncy, almost like jelly. Celebi had taken a bite, expecting a sweet, chewy treat and nearly spat it out. In fact, it ''was'' about to spit it out, but Julian quickly covered its mouth, forcing it to swallow. Since Grasswood Gem could enhance the power of Grass-type moves when eaten by Grass-type Pokmon, spitting it out wouldve been a waste. The entire Grasswood Gem was about the size of a washbasin. After confirming that Celebi wanted nothing to do with it, Julian decided to let Aggron have it instead. Celebi, expecting Aggron to struggle with the taste just like it had, was ready to watch the show. But to its surprise, Aggron didn''t even chewit just swallowed the whole thing in one gulp. Celebi was dumbfounded. For the first time, it realized that it could eat without chewing. But what''s the point of eating if you didn''t chew. Conversely, if you didn''t chew some unpalatable things, could you eat them? Thinking of this, Celebi''s eyes lit up, and it felt that its road was getting wider and wider. Meanwhile, Julian had no idea what bizarre ideas were forming in Celebis head, he was currently heading toward the last unexplored area of the secret realm, located in the northernmost part. According to the map, the area was supposed to be a pine forest, but when Julian arrived, what he saw below was nothing like a forest. The ground was bubbling with purple foam, churning like a thick sludge. This wasnt a pine forestit looked more like a swamp. Did I fly the wrong way? Julian double-checked his map, the location was correcthe hadn''t taken a wrong turn. But if this was supposed to be a pine forest, why had it suddenly turned into a swamp? Looking ahead, not a single tree remained, the entire forest had transformed into a sprawling, expanding marshland. Even more concerning was that the swamp wasnt staticit was spreading. The sludge-like terrain continued to devour the surrounding soil, grass, and rocks, corroding everything in its path as it expanded outward. A faint purple mist lingered over the swamp, Julian didnt even need to test it to knowit was definitely poisonous. The map in his hand had been updated just six months ago, that''s to say, in that short time, a pine forest the size of a mid-sized city had been turned into this swamp in front of him. Somethings wrong. Julian muttered, this could be a natural phenomenonor it could be caused by something unknown. Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If it was just a natural shift, there was no need to worrynature had its own way of balancing itself. But if something else was responsible for this transformation finding out what it was wouldnt be easy. Celebi: "Something''s wrong." Julian rolled his eyes: Dont just copy me. Celebi: Whos copying you? Yet, despite its usual sass, Celebi had stopped eating. It had only finished half of its fried chicken leg but was now staring intently at the swamp below. For Celebi to abandon food, something was definitely off. Do you see what''s wrong? Julian asked. Celebi: "No" Julian: Celebi: "But I can feel the vitality of the nearby plants fading... as if the swamp is consuming it." A faint sadness crept into Celebis voice. "The plants are crying." Julian narrowed his eyes, he watched as the swamp continued corroding the ground, swallowing up soil and vegetation alike. Could this swamp be alive? If it was a living organism, it should emit Aurabut Julian sensed nothing. He turned to Metagross, the latter shook its head, indicating that it, too, felt no signs of life from the swamp. Dragonite, do a quick sweep from above, see if theres anything special about this swamp, Julian said. So far, they were only at the edge of the swamp, and nothing conclusive could be seen. If there was something unnatural at play, it was likely deeper inside. Perhaps there was something strange to be found in the center. Start looking, and stop eating the fried chicken. Turning around, Julian said to Celebi. Chapter 371: Something Huge It took Julian over an hour of riding on Dragonite to fully survey the entire swamp. He had paid extra attention to the central area, making sure to check every possible clue. And the result? Nothing. This is some serious ''bullshit''... there''s not even a single red dot. Julian frowned as he looked at the Dowsing Machine. He had kept it on the whole time while scouting the swamp, expecting it to pick up at least something, but from start to finish, not a single red dot had appeared. At first, he thought maybe the swamp just had very few treasures, so the lack of a red dot wasnt too unusual. But after covering the entire area and still finding nothing? That didnt make sense. Even if the swamp wasnt particularly rich in treasure, it was impossible for there to be absolutely nothingespecially not in a place this huge. A swamp of this size ''had'' to contain at least some fragments of the Toxic Orb, yet the Dowsing Machine refused to show anything. Thinking that the Dowsing Machine might be broken, Julian even pulled out Heavy Water from his systems storage as a test. The moment he did, the Dowsing Machine instantly lit up with a red dot. So, yeah. It wasnt broken, which meant this swamp, roughly the size of a mid-sized city, was truly devoid of any treasure. No treasures, an eerie atmosphere, Celebis earlier warnings... Anyone with half a brain could tell something was off. Julians curiosity was fully piqued. He ''had'' to figure out what was going on here, but he had no idea where to even start. So he turned to Celebi. "Youve been looking at this swamp just as long as I have. Did you notice anything unusual?" For once, Celebi actually looked serious, its eyes locked onto the swamp below. As a guardian of the forest, and nature''s spirit, Celebi should be able to sense what made this place so... unnatural. But after a moment, Celebi shook its head. "I dont know, this place just... feels bad. But not the kind of bad that makes me want to escape." Julian sighed: "Wow, what a deep and insightful analysis." So much for hoping Celebi would be useful, this thing had definitely been eating too much fried chickenits brain was probably clogged with oil. "Dragonite, hit it with a Dragon Pulse," Julian said. With a roar, Dragonite fired a straight into the swamp below, Julians eyes locked onto the impact zone. The pulse slammed into the swamp, causing a deep crater to form, the crater was over a hundred meters deep, and yet, he still couldnt see the bottom. As energy dissipated, the swamps black-purple sludge surged back in, quickly filling the gap and restoring the surface to how it was before. "...Its ''that'' deep?" Julian was genuinely surprised, he hadnt expected the swamp to be this bottomless. "Lets try another spot," Julian said. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Perhaps it was just this spot that was unusually deep, the rest of the swamp might be shallower. After testing ten different locations, not a single managed to reach the bottom, which overturned Julian''s previous hypothesis. "Meta~" Metagross: "I can go down and take a look." With its Steel typing, Metagross wasnt afraid of the swamps toxic fumes, it could dive in without much risk. But Julian shook his head: Forget it. This swamp was just too weird, he wasnt about to send one of his Pokmon in without understanding the situation first. Sure, Metagross was strongits power was enough to rival a peak Elite Pokmon, but against something unknown and potentially dangerous? Strength alone wasnt enough to guarantee safety. Having confidence in yourself and your Pokmon was good, but blind confidence was a different story. That kind of thinking could get both killed. Lets return to the swamps edge. It didnt take long for Julian to arrive back at his starting point. It got bigger again. Looking down, he noticed that there used to be a three-meter-tall rock right below him, but now it was gone, replaced by the swamp. Julian put on a gas mask and suited up in protective gear before landing at the edge of the swamp. A thick layer of purple toxic mist floated above the swamps surface, roughly seven to eight meters thick. The closer you got to the swamp, the darker and denser the mist became. At the edges, the poison fog had spread outward by over ten meters, Julian carefully made his way through the mist until he reached the bubbling swamp. Then, still wearing his protective suit, he reached in. One two three seconds. Julian immediately pulled his hand out, the glove of his protective suit had already started corroding. At this rate, if he had left his hand in for a full minute, the entire suit would have melted away. Damn, thats too toxic. Even through his gas mask, it wasn''t hard to hear his surprise. Most of the swamps were toxic, but there were still a lot of Poison-type Pokmon living Wait Pokmon. Julians eyes suddenly widened, a swamp this massive, and yet not a single Poison-type Pokmon? Poison-types thrived in swamps, Pokmon like Grimer, Muk, Weezing, Swalotthey loved places like this. But not only were they absent here, there wasn''t even a single Poison type Pokmon present. That was beyond strange. At this moment, a puff of black smoke suddenly rose from under his feet. Looking down, it turned out that the swamp had crept up to his boots, and the black smoke was coming from his protective gear being corroded. Without hesitation, Julian leaped back immediately, the protective gear wouldnt last much longer. Once he left the range of the toxic mist, he swiftly removed his protective suit and gas mask. Celebi flew over to him. Celebi: "Did you find anything?" Julian: Something huge. Celebi''s eyes lit up, the feeling of unraveling mysteries was way more exciting than treasure hunting. Celebi: "What is it?" Julian paused for a moment before saying, "I found out that there''s no Poison type Pokmon in such a huge swamp, which is absolutely abnormal." Julian swore he was being serioushe wasnt just messing with Celebi. Celebi: "You think Im blind? I noticed that during the inspection." Such an obvious thing, was it so difficult to notice? Really treating it like a fool. Julian showed an embarrassed expression. When he was inspecting, he was only thinking about the weirdness of this swamp, and he really didn''t notice that there were no Pokmon below. Unexpectedly, this little green pig had caught it before him. Celebi circled around him, then suddenly asked: "Wait dont tell me you didnt notice this at first?" Julian kept his face completely neutral: What do you think? If Celebi found out, hed never hear the end of it. Luckily, Celebi couldnt see through his expression. So, after staring at him for a while, it gave up. If it was Lucario, he would have immediately noticed that Julian''s Aura was a mess, and if Celebi had kept pressing him, there was no way he wouldve kept a straight face for long. Julian: Chapter 372: Poison Types In order to figure out the mystery behind the swamp, Julian set up camp nearby and stayed for ten days. For the first five days, the swamp expanded at a steady rate, corroding twenty meters per day. On the sixth day, the rate of expansion suddenly slowed down. By the ninth day, the corrosion stopped entirely. On the tenth day, there was still no further expansion, as if the swamp had truly stabilized. In these ten days, other than confirming this, Julian had no other findings despite all his observations. After staying here for another five days, the changes in the swamp began again, the thick, purple poison mist that had been lingering above the swamp started to sinkslowly getting absorbed into the swamp itself. In less than half a day, all the toxic gas was completely absorbed by the swamp. What exactly is going on here? The poisonous gas vanished, and the corrosion stopped. Julian stood at the edge of the swamp, racking his brain. This world was full of strange, mysterious, and unexplainable phenomena, and Julian was not an expert in this field, so solving this problem was definitely out of his comfort zone. Beside him, Celebi was munching on a drumstick, with a thoughtful expression on its face, for some reason this scene felt familiar. Had it seen something like this before? Was it fifty years ago? Or maybe over a hundred? "Meta!" Just then, Metagross approached Julian with a serious expression. "What''s wrong?" Metagross: "A large number of Pokmon are coming this way." "How many?" Metagross: "More than 100,000." Julian: (_)??? --- From high above, standing on Metagross'' back, Julian looked down at the land below. At this moment, the entire ground was densely packed with Pokmonall different species, different sizes But they all had one thing in common. They were all Poison-types. "What''s the count now?" Julian asked. Metagross: "One hundred and fifty thousand." With its four supercomputer brains, Metagross could instantly calculate their numbers, even though the Pokmon below looked like a massive, writhing sea of ants. And the number was still rising, it was just 100,000, three hours ago. Julian squinted at the distant horizonwhere a dark line was moving toward them, more were coming. A normal Advanced-level secret realm housed nearly five to six hundred million Pokmonsome even had over a billion. And this particular Advanced secret realm No. 98 was dominated by Water and Grass-types, which were generally mild-tempered. Because of that, the realm had an insanely high Pokmon population, exceeding a billion. Right now, there were only 150,000, which was a drop in the bucket compared to a billion, even if all of them were Poison-types. But if Poison-types made up even just ten percent of the realm, that still meant at least one hundred million Poison-type Pokmon could be on their way. S~ea??h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Many Grass-type Pokmon also had Poison-typing, and even some Water-types carried the Poison attribute. Although Water and Grass were the dominant types in this secret realm, the third most common type was Poison. Water-types and Grass-types each made up 30% of the total Pokmon population, while Poison-types accounted for 20%. The remaining 20% belonged to other types. That meant, in a realm of a billion Pokmon, there were at least two hundred million Poison-types. Right now, with only a hundred fifty thousand gathered, this wasnt even the vanguard. And yet, despite their overwhelming numbers, the Poison-types didnt make a sound. No fights. No chaos. They simply stood still, eyes locked on the swamp, as if something inside was calling them. This scene reminded Julian of something, back in Haitian City, when Manaphy was born, it had also attracted a massive number of Water-type Pokmon. Thinking of this possibility, Julian''s eyes lit up and he said excitedly: "could it be that a Poison-type Mythical or Legendary Pokmon is about to be born?" Celebi: I remember now! Celebi suddenly shouted, yanking Julians hair in excitement. Its a treasure! The swamp is about to give birth to a treasure! Before Julian could ask further, Celebi continued hurriedly Ive seen this before! About a hundred and fifty years ago! Julian paused, staring at Celebi: So what kind of treasure was born ''one hundred and fifty years'' ago? He deliberately emphasized the words one hundred and fifty years. Celebi: I forgot. Julian: (?_?) "Meta!" Metagross: "Someone is coming." The Pok Ball was opened, and before Celebi could argue, Julian returned it to its Pok Ball. Following Metagross pointed claw, Julian saw a figure rapidly approaching, within a few seconds, the person had already closed the distance to a mere hundred meters. Looking at the familiar Pidgeot. Wasnt this the same trainer he had encountered on his first day in this secret realm? Back then, the guy hadnt even given his name before leaving. The other trainer simply nodded at Julian without speakingthen turned his gaze toward the Poison-type gathering below. There were definitely other trainers in the Secret Realm, but how many, Julian didnt know. With an abnormal migration like this happening, anyone paying attention would notice something was off, and any trainer with a bit of curiosity would come to investigate. It''s just that Julian had discovered it earlier, so he was the first to arrive. Now, a second trainer had arrived, and it wouldnt be long before the third the fourth and more followed. If what Celebi said was true, and this strange behavior of Poison-types was because of a treasure forming inside the swamp, then this treasure was likely a Ultimate-tier Poison-type treasure. Any treasure that reached the level of an Ultimate treasure had the power to transform a Pokmonelevating it to a whole new level, achieving a qualitative leap. "Mr. Walker, do you know whats going on with these Poison-types?" Just as Julian was pondering how to secure the upcoming Poison-type treasure for himselfbefore the other trainers or the Pokmon below could claim ita voice broke his thoughts. "If you''re going to ask a question, at least introduce yourself first," Julian said. The other trainer was taken aback, clearly not expecting such a response, and then said: "The names Freddie. Just an ordinary wandering trainer." Drakoria had over five hundred Elite trainersbut in reality, only a handful were widely known. Most of the public only recognized those who competed in the Elite Challenge which took place every four years. And some Elite trainers preferred to stay in the shadows, some were so cautious and secretive that they mastered the art of concealment, hiding their true strength under layers of misdirection. A trainer might appear to only have an Advanced-level Pokmon, when in reality, they could be a peak Elite in disguise. Every year, there were countless cases of trainers getting caught off guard by these hidden Elites. Julian searched his memory but couldnt recall hearing the name Freddie before. Of course, it was entirely possible that this wasnt his real name at all. With just a Pidgeot, Julian couldnt gauge his strengthand from what he saw, the Pidgeot wasnt at an Elite. "Its not a fake name." As if seeing Julian''s suspicion, Freddie explained. Julian simply nodded. Chapter 373: Team Up "As for whats happening below, Im not entirely sure either. I only arrived about ten minutes before you." Since Freddie had introduced himself, Julian felt it was only fair to offer a half-truth in return. Of course, he wasnt about to reveal that a Poison-type Ultimate treasure was about to emerge. If the treasure was truly forming, it was still in the final stages of developmentwhich explained why the Dowsing Machine hadnt picked up any signals yet. Freddie didnt press the issue. Instead, he observed the ever-growing mass of Poison-type Pokmon belownow numbering over two hundred thousandand said: "I know whats going on." Julians eyes narrowed slightly. "For this many Poison-types to gather in one placewithout fightingthere are only two possibilities. Either a Poison-type Ultimate treasure is about to emerge or a Poison-type Mythical Pokmon is about to be born." Julian was a little surprised that Freddie had reached the same conclusion. "Looks like you already knew." Freddie also noticed Julians lack of reaction and silently praised his composure. As expected of a Walker family descendanteven though Freddie had never shown hostility, Julian had remained on guard the entire time. Now that the truth was out in the open, Julian saw no point in denying it. "Its likely an Ultimate treasure, a Mythical Pokmon seems less probable." "A Poison-type Ultimate treasure, huh?" Freddie muttered under his breath, even though he wasnt a Poison-type specialist, he wouldnt hesitate to fight for it. Even if he couldn''t use it, a treasure of that caliber could be exchanged for a fortune in resourcesenough to fuel rapid growth for his team. "Mr. Walker, how about we team up? We two aren''t the only ones in this secret realmother trainers are definitely on their way," Freddie offered. "Im only an early-stage Elite, and have only an Elite Dragonite, are you sure you want to team up with me?" Julian raised an eyebrow, he knew he was strong among his peers, but in the eyes of veteran Elite trainers, he was still young. "Mr. Walker, you underestimate yourself too much. You defeated my great-unclethat alone is reason enough to work with you," Freddie chuckled. "Gym Leader Fred?" Connecting the dots, Julian asked subconsciously. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yes, hes my great-uncle, my grandfather is his younger brother," Freddie nodded. Julian had defeated Fred in a three-on-three battle, where the older Elite trainer had fought with his full strength, but Julian had still won, that victory had been a huge deal in their family. At a later family gathering, Fred himself had said that Julians strength was comparable to veteran Elite trainersnot just to young Elites like Freddie, but to his own generation. One could imagine how optimistic Gym Leader Fred was about Julian. If it wasn''t for the fact that their family had no suitable female members of the right age, they would have arranged a meeting with Julian right after the battle ended. Still, with Frank being Julians teacher, their family already had an advantage over most others. Hearing Freddies words, Julian took another look at him. Now that he thought about it, there was a resemblance to Frank in his brows and facial structureenough for Julian to believe him, at least mostly. "We can team up, but if we do get the Poison-type treasure, how do we split it?" When interests aligned, even rivals could become temporary allies, but when it came time to divide the spoils, even fathers and sonsor husbands and wivescould turn against each other. If Freddie wasn''t related to Frank, Julian would have never considered working together. "The Poison-type treasure is yours," Freddie said plainly. "Then what do you want?" Julian raised an eyebrow. If Freddie claimed he didnt want anything, Julian would pretend to cooperate with him while keeping his guard fully up. No one would risk their life for free, especially not in a situation this dangerous, anyone who said otherwise was lying. "Ive heard that the Walker family has a special potion that can enhance the potential of Green-grade Pokmon, and its supposed to be far superior to anything on the market, but rarely sold to outsiders," Freddie said. Julian nodded. That potion came from his systems shop, he had given some to his father and grandfather, and it had helped his grandfathers Metagross break through from Blue potential to Purpleallowing it to reach Champion-level. This led to rumors that the Walker family had discovered a new method for boosting a Pokmons potential. In this world, Pokmon with Cyan potential were extremely rare, while those with Green potential were common, but the gap between the two was huge. As a result, potential-enhancing potions for Green-grade Pokmon on the market were insanely expensiveeven though their success rate was incredibly low. But even if it was low, there were still countless people buying. After all, low still meant hope, even if the success rate was one in ten thousand, trainers would still gamble on it. The Walkers had only ever sold fifteen of their special potion. Out of those, fourteen Pokmon successfully advanced to Cyan potential, all of them breaking through from pseudo-Elite peak to early Elite level. The results had been nothing short of terrifying. The moment the news got out, powerful families and even the Drakorian government had come knocking. But with only fifteen potions sold, the Walkers had firmly controlled the market. If it werent for the Walker familys strength, the major powers would have already forced them to hand over the formula. In fact, they were already making moves in the shadows. Some of the Walkers key laboratories and pharmaceutical companies had been infiltrated by spiesagents planted by various powerful families, all looking for the secret formula. Unfortunately for those spies, their efforts were destined to fail. The Walkers had publicly stated that the potions ingredients were extremely precious and scarce, which naturally limited production. Most major families believed this explanation. After all, with such astonishing effects, if the potion was cheap to make and had a high yield, it would completely defy logic. Even within the Walker family, John and Jake had never questioned Julian about the potions origins, after all, everyone had their own secrets. In fact, Jake had suspected something ever since Julian claimed that his Purple-potential Dratini was something he had just "picked up on the road." From that moment, he knew his son had a massive secret, but instead of prying, the family had only one stancethey wouldnt interfere. As long as Julian didnt bring trouble upon himself, they would never force him to explain anything. And if trouble did come, they would take care of it for him. After pondering for a moment, Julian nodded: "Alright, how many potions do you want?" Exchanging a few Cyan-quality enhancement potions for an Elite-level thug was a great tradeespecially since he might obtain the Ultimate Poison-type treasure in the process. Freddie originally planned to ask for two, but hearing Julians tone, he immediately changed his mind, stretched out his palm and said, "Five." Julian stared at him. Seeing that Julian didn''t speak, Freddie felt a little embarrassed. "Alright, but only if I actually get the Ultimate Poison-type treasure. If I dont, youll only get three." A guaranteed three potions was still more than the two he originally wanted. Freddie immediately nodded: "Deal." Chapter 374: Four Left As time went by, on the second day, the number of Poison-type Pokmon below had already exceeded 500,000. At the same time, including Julian and Freddie, there were now ten trainers who had arrived from various parts of the secret realm. Anyone who could enter an Advanced secret realm was no ordinary personbeing at the Elite-level was a given. Among the eight other trainers, Julian didnt recognize a single one, but fortunately, Freddie knew two of them. He leaned in and whispered to Julian, The one riding Charizard is ranked 68 on the Elite leaderboard, his strength is late Elite-level, and hes from the Central South Province. The one riding Fearow is from Imperial Capital, his strength is unknown. All eight trainers had their own flying mounts. When roaming outside, not having a flying Pokmon was incredibly inconvenient. Just like nowthe ground was already packed with Poison-type Pokmon. If you didnt have a flying Pokmon, what would you do in this situation? No matter what ''type'' of trainer you were, having a flying Pokmon was essential. Of course, raising one required a lot of resources, so only trainers who had reached a certain level of strength would choose to train one. Those with insufficient strength would opt to rent one instead. sea??h th ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian didn''t know these eight people, but they all recognized him. It was hard not to recognize the iconic silver Metagross beside him. A few of them visibly reacted upon seeing Julian, their expressions shifting ever so slightly. However, they concealed it well enough that others didnt notice. Still, Julian could sense two distinct waves of malice through his Aura. Without drawing attention, he glanced at the two trainersone was riding a Pelipper, and the other a Pidgeot. It had to be said that Pidgeot was one of the most popular choices for a flying mount among trainers. Pidgey were common, and Pidgeot were fast, looked cool, and they could even Mega Evolve, making them a solid choice for battle. Julian, do you want me to try recruiting those two? Freddie asked. He was referring to the two he recognized. But in truth, he only knew them by name and didnt have much of a relationship with them. Do you think I have an endless supply of aptitude enhancing potions or something? Julian rolled his eyes, fully aware of what Freddie was getting at. It was nothing more than using the potions to pull the two of them over to their side, and it might not even work. But even if it worked, Julian wouldnt agree. He was only teaming up with Freddie because of his relation to Frank. Otherwise, Julian would have preferred to act alone. The ten trainers remained on guard against one another, keeping a distance of over hundred meters, no one spoke, each lost in their own thoughts. After more than half an hour, someone finally broke the silence. Im sure everyone here knows whats causing the situation below. Whether its a treasure or a Pokmon, we all want it. But theres only one of whatever it is, and there are ten of us. Not to mention, theres no guarantee more people wont show up later. The man seemed like he wanted to continue speaking, but another trainer impatiently interrupted, Old Zane, just get to the point, stop beating around the bush. Im a straightforward guyI dont understand all this roundabout talk. The speaker was a rugged-looking middle-aged man, clearly displeased. The trainer named Zane chuckled at his words and said, Since young Wald insists, Ill be direct. If anyone here chooses to withdraw, theyll receive 5 billion. Of course, this money will be split among those who stay. Five billion? A mocking voice scoffed, You think five billion is enough to buy a Poison-type Ultimate treasure, a Poison-type Mythical Pokmon, or even a Poison-type Legendary Pokmon? Thats way too little. Five billion is indeed not much, but lets be realtheres only one treasure. If it appears, well inevitably fight for it. And once that happens, its either you die or I die. Zane''s expression darkened slightly as he emphasized those last few words. For a trainer to grow stronger, the most important thingabove all elsewas resources. In the early stages, pouring vast amounts of resources into a Pokmon was necessary for rapid strength growth. Later on, rare and powerful resources were needed to help the Pokmon break through their limits. The importance of resources couldnt be overstated. And whenever precious resources appeared, bloodshed and death often followed. This was especially true for civilian trainers. If they wanted to become strong, they had no choice but to fight for resources. Of course, this path also meant that either they or their Pokmon might not survive. Zanes words instantly silenced the trainer who had mocked him, while others fell into deep thought. It was truethere was only one treasure, and they were all Elite-level trainers. If a fight broke out, even a stray attack might kill someone. And who knew if some of them were already working together? There was no way to tell. Once the fight started, it would turn into a chaotic free-for-all. Elite trainers + chaotic battle + unrestricted combatthis combination meant that, at the very least, three or four of them would die. If there were only two or three people involved, maybe they could take the risk. But with ten people? There were too many variables to account for. A single mistake could be fatal. Think it over carefully, Zane said. Julian observed the old man and smirked. As expected, the older generation was much more cunning. With just a few words, he had already made some of them hesitate. But that was goodfewer people meant less competition. Julian decided to add fuel to the fire. If anyone chooses to leave, Ill personally add one Aptitude Enhancement Potion. If the offer of five billion had already made some hesitateespecially with the high likelihood of dying in the battlethen Julians words immediately made those on the fence make up their minds. Mr. Walker, are you serious? Everyone had heard about how potent the Walker familys Aptitude Enhancement Potions were. Julian said indifferently: The Walker family never breaks their promise. Once you leave, just find my fatherhell give it to you. Among the aristocratic families, the Walker family had a solid reputation, and in the eyes of common people, they were highly respected. With Julians added incentive, four people quickly chose to withdraw. If any of you four go back on your word, as long as Im alive, Ill make sure you regret it, Zane said coldly. Julian, dont you agree? Julian nodded: Yeah, my grandfather hasnt had much to do lately. In a secret realm, nothing was absolute, and no one could be fully trustedespecially strangers. Who knew what these four were really thinking? Were they truly backing out? Or were they planning to lurk in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to take advantage of the situation? The human heart was unpredictable, and both scenarios were possible. They couldnt afford to let their guard down. "Don''t worry, I''m leaving now," one of the four said. As soon as he stepped away, the remaining three also left. Julians gaze lingered on one of them, among the two who had shown malice toward him, this mans aura of malice had grown even stronger just before he left. A faint smirk appeared on Julians lips, things were getting more and more interesting. With four people gone, only six remained, and among them, Freddie was on Julians side, which meant the other four were his real opponents. The atmosphere fell into silence once again, with only the Poison-type Pokmon below continuing to gather in greater numbers. Chapter 375: Indifferent Celebi One day, two days, three days. By the third day, the number of Poison-type Pokmon had surpassed one million. On the first day, Julian and the others had each chosen a spot to rest, observing the situation from afar. After all, they couldnt keep staring at the Pokmon the whole time. Julian''s body could endure it, but the others couldntthey needed rest. Naturally, Julian couldnt make himself stand out too much, so he and Freddie also found a place to rest. Julian, the number of Poison-type Pokmon hasnt increased at all today. After observing from the sky for a while, Freddie frowned in confusion. Why did they stop increasing? Could something be happening? Julian looked down and spoke slowly, Maybe the number is already enough. According to Metagrosss report, the total count of Pokmon below had reached exactly one millionnot one more, not one less. After that, not a single additional Pokmon had entered. But Pokmon couldnt count numbers, how did they know when their numbers were sufficient? Puzzled, Julian turned his gaze toward the swamp. The swamp itself hadnt changedit looked just like an ordinary marshland. But now, it was completely surrounded by a million Poison-type Pokmon. With their numbers no longer increasing, this change naturally caught the attention of the others as well. Over the past three days, no other trainer had arrived in the area. Maybe no one else had come, or maybe someone had, but they were simply hiding in the shadows. At the swamps edge, Nidoran, Grimer, Ekans, Koffing, Weedle, Oddish, Bellsprout, Zubat, Tentacool, and many more Pokmon stood in silence. Even their evolved forms were present in large numbers. A full million Poison-type Pokmon gathered along the swamps border. Not a single one made a sound, they simply stood there, staring into the swamp. And they had remained like this ever since they arrived. Suddenly, an Arbok at the edge leaped into the swamp. As if triggered by a signal, countless Poison-type Pokmon immediately followed, jumping in one after another. Witnessing this, Julian, who had been sitting cross-legged on Metagrosss back, abruptly stood up, his face filled with shock. The swamp might have looked ordinary, but in reality, it was extremely toxic and highly corrosivefar beyond what most Pokmon could withstand. And sure enough, the Poison-type Pokmon that leaped into the swamp didnt get far before their bodies began to corrode. Yet, none of them turned back. It was as if they didnt even feel the corrosion, their flesh was already decaying, yet their expressions showed no pain at all. Their eyes had become dull, as if they were under some kind of control. They continued forward without hesitationuntil the corrosive force completely consumed their lives. The Pokmon seemed possessed, desperately throwing themselves into the swamp, only to be swallowed by it. Not a single one hesitated. Not a single one screamed as they were corroded. Not a single one retreated. They moved in perfect unison, like the strictest of military troops, their only goal was to jump into the swamp, giving up their lives without question. "What the hell''s going on with this swamp" Freddies face had gone pale. He prided himself on being knowledgeable, but even he was shaken by this eerie and brutal scene. "Gen~" Gengars voice echoed in Julians ears. It told him that even the souls of those Pokmon were being corroded by the swamp. Gengar was also part Poison-type, yet it remained unaffected. Among all these Poison-type Pokmon, none of them had a level surpassing a pseudo-Elite, perhaps that was the reason. Not just their bodies, but even their souls were being destroyed. Im stepping away for a moment. Julian said to Freddie before Metagross teleported him to the other side of the swamp. After confirming that no one was nearby, he released Celebi. Celebi: "You finally let me out! Now, wheres my fried chicken?" After being kept in the Pok Ball for days, Celebi wouldve broken out on its own if Julian hadnt been keeping it in check. Julian shot it a glare. Are you seriously thinking about fried chicken right now? Still, he took some out from his system storage and handed it over. Hurry up and check whats going on. He pointed at the countless Poison-type Pokmon that were throwing themselves into the swamp, hoping that this guywho always rambled about the pastcould give him some answers. Celebi glanced at the scene, and said with a calm expression: "The birth of an Ultimate Poison-type treasure requires an immense amount of Poison-type energy. Thats why this is happening." Why do you sound so indifferent? Shouldnt you be telling me to stop this? Julian couldnt wrap his head around it. Celebi was a Pokmon that loved nature and life. Yet, despite witnessing so many Pokmon sacrificing themselves right in front of it, it didnt seem to care at all. Had he spoiled it so much that even its personality had been altered? Thinking of this, a sense of guilt suddenly surged through Julian''s heart. "This isnt man-made, nor is it an accident. This is the will of the secret realm itself." The secret realms will? Are you saying that the secret realm is conscious? Julian asked in surprise. Celebi nodded at first, then shook its head before explaining: "The ''will'' of a secret realm is essentially just the laws of nature." "This Poison-type treasure is something the secret realm is nurturing, so the Pokmon of the secret realm naturally cooperate." "Now, hand me a soda." Julian sighed, handing Celebi a bottle of ice-cold soda before grabbing one for himself. The icy soda flowed into his mouth, the carbonation bursting with a refreshing fizz. The cool sensation made Julian''s head much clearer. So, what youre saying is This Poison-type treasure is something the secret realm ''wants'' to be born, which is why these Pokmon are acting like this? Celebi nodded: "Mhm, you are finally acting a little smart." Julian stared at it without saying a word, making Celebi immediately turn its back to him, afraid that Julian would take away the source of happiness from its hand. But isnt this too cruel? Julian couldn''t bear to look at the scene below. It wasn''t just a few hundred or a few thousand Pokmon, but a million Poison-type Pokmon throwing themselves into the swamp. Celebi took another sip before answering. "The laws of nature demand this, you can just pretend you didnt see it." That indifference caught Julian off guard, for the first time, he felt like he was seeing a new side of Celebi. In truth, whether it was a Mythical Pokmon, or a Legendary Pokmon, each one carried certain responsibilities. sea??h th Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As long as those responsibilities werent disrupted by human interference, and things were unfolding as part of the natural order, they wouldnt interfere. Celebi often appeared in forests during wildfires, helping to put out flames and restore the burned areas. Why? Because those fires werent ''naturally'' occurringthey were caused by external factors. In contrast, some savannahs in regions like East Africa experienced massive fires every year. Yet, neither the local people nor Pokmon did anything to stop them. Because those fires were natural occurrence. And the ashes left behind after the fire became the nutrients for new plant life to flourish. Chapter 376: Changes "Cant we stop this?" Julian was not heartlesshe couldnt just stand by and watch a million Pokmon die just to bring forth a Poison-type treasure. A million Pokmon, it wasnt just a numberit was a million living beings. Celebi: "You can stop it, all you have to do is destroy the Poison-type treasure forming at the center of the swamp." Hearing this, Julian immediately prepared act, he didnt want to waste even a second. After all, every extra second meant an additional tens of thousands of Pokmon. But then, Celebi added: "But a few years from now, the treasure will begin forming again, and this scene will repeat itself." "Even if you stop it now, the Pokmon that have already died wont come back." "And in a few years, another million Pokmon will die anyway." "This is simply how the rules of this secret realm operate, the most you can do is delay it, but you can never stop it." "F***" Hearing this Julian cursed in anger. Against the laws of nature, human strength was far too insignificant. Celebi tilted its head: "So, do you still want to stop it?" Julian shot it a glare: "After what you just said? What the hell would be the point?" If it couldnt be stopped, then there was no point in trying. If the Poison-type treasure ''had'' to be born, then the best thing to do was take it for himself. Julian was no fool. Since the situation was inevitable, then it was the most sensible choice to put his own interests first. Sarch* The N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. How long would it take for a million Pokmon to commit suicide? He didnt know the answer to this before, but now he did. Half an hour. In just thirty minutes, the swamp had swallowed a million Pokmon. Seeing the swamp devour a million Pokmon with his own eyes, Julian''s expression changed from shock at the beginning to unbearable to numb and now expressionless. To a certain extent, he could already be regarded as someone who had seen the "bigger world". After the swamp devoured the last Poison-type Pokmon, its muddy, putrid surface suddenly began to harden at a speed visible to the naked eye. The once vast purple swamp was shrinking. Or rather, it was compressingcondensing the energy it had gathered from itself and from the million Pokmon it had swallowed. By the next day, the swamp had already shrunk by half. By the third day, only a quarter remained. By the fifth day, the once-massive swamp had been reduced to the size of a soccer field. During this time, more people had arrived. Originally, there had been only six of them. Now, four more had shown up, bringing the total to ten. And judging by the surroundings, it was highly likely that even more trainers were hidden nearby, watching. At this moment, ten people hovered above the now soccer-field-sized swamp, each keeping a distance of five hundred meters from one another. Everyone knew that the treasure at the heart of the swamp was reaching its final stage. Perhaps the treasure would emerge tonightperhaps tomorrow. So no one dared to leave, and among the four newly arrived trainers, Freddie recognised one. "Julian, he is at the peak of Elite," Freddie said solemnly. Among the over five hundred Elite trainers in Drakoria, only a few dozen had reached the peak stage, their numbers were scarce. No one had expected to encounter one here. The arrival of a peak-tier Elite trainer naturally drew the attention of all the others. It was no exaggeration to say that a single peak Elite Pokmon could easily take on three late Elite-tier opponents. Unless you were someone like Julianwho could defy logic and defeat peak Elites even as a early-tier Elite. Under normal circumstances, even late Elite trainers struggled to defeat someone at the peak. The trainers present were wary of the peak Elite, but they were even more wary of Julian. Not because of his strengthhis identity was the real problem. If they actually hurt him, he could simply walk out of the secret realm and tell his Champion-level grandfather. John Walker was famous in Drakoria for being fiercely protective of his grandson. If you injured Julianespecially since you were from the older generationhis grandfather would absolutely come looking for payback the moment you left this realm. So, it was best not to mess with him. This guy was more troublesome than a peak Elite trainer. They couldnt kill him. Ideally, they shouldnt even injure him. Yet, they still had to compete for the Poison-type treasure under these conditions. The difficulty level was practically hell. And even if someone did manage to seize the treasure, unless they used it on the spot, theyd definitely get hunted down the moment they left the secret realm. And even if they did use it, if they werent strong enough to protect the Pokmon that absorbed it, theyd still end up losing in the long run. So what was the best strategy? The simplest solution was to eliminate everyoneif no one was left alive, no one would know who took the treasure. But that wasnt a realistic option. Unless a Champion-level trainer arrivedone with an overwhelming ability to control the fieldthere was no way to pull that off. Otherwise, there was a high chance that one or two would escape. The peak Elite trainer, despite his calm appearance, was clearly wary of Julian. Julians track record and background spoke for themselves. And if they fought one-on-one, he might really not be able to defeat Julian. Even if he did manage to win, he wouldnt dare to kill himunless he could kill everyone else present here too, but that was impossible. So once again, he was back to square one. The best option now was to stay silent and see how things played out. "Julian, be honest with me, how many peak Elite Pokmon can you deal with?" Freddie asked in a low voice. "Six," Julian said. In truth, it was more than six, after all, he still had Celebi, and Celebi was a proper mid-tier Elite. Freddie gave him a look. "Im serious," Freddie huffed. Julian: "So am I." Freddies expression shifted, his gaze flickering with doubt, Julian didnt look like he was lying, but his claim sounded unbelievable. Because he was simply too young. If he had said three, Freddie would have believed himafter all, Julian had already used three Pokmon to defeat his great uncle. "After Mega Evolution," Julian clarified. Without Mega Evolution, only Metagross could push beyond its limits to defeat a peak Elite opponent as a pseudo-Elite. But with itAggron, Lucario, and Steelix would all break into Elite-level themselves and be able to hold their ground against peak Elites. Plus his guardian Pokmon, the peak Elite Alakazam, along with his early Elite Dragonite and Metagross, and that made exactly six. So, Julian wasnt lying. "Mega Evolution only works on one Pokmon at a time," Freddie scoffed. Julian could sustain two Mega Evolutions at once. Three? He hadnt triedbut he was fairly sure it was possible. The issue was, if he pushed for three at once, hed probably only be able to maintain it for about ten minutes at most. Worse, hed have to concentrate so hard on controlling the evolutions that hed barely be able to pay attention to anything elseleaving himself wide open for an ambush. That was why, under normal conditions, it was a dangerous thing to perform Mega Evolution in the wild. With no rules in play, a trainer focusing on Mega Evolutionif they werent protectedcould easily get taken out by an opponent waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Chapter 377: Everyone, I Have A Proposal Another day passed, and the swamp, which was originally the size of a soccer field, had now shrunk to the size of a basketball court. Julian yawned, he hadn''t slept the entire night, afraid that the Poison-type treasure might emerge while everyone was asleep. Of course, the other nine trainers hadn''t slept either. Compared to Julian, who was only yawning symbolically, some of them were clearly in much worse shape. Most of them were older, and after staying highly alert all night, their exhaustion was obvious. Julian figured that if this kept up for another two or three nights, he wouldn''t even have to make a movethey''d just exhaust themselves to death. "I really envy you, being young is great." Freddie looked at Julian. Even though he was yawning, he still looked full of energy, as if he hadn''t been up all night at all. Unlike Freddie himselfwho was completely drained. It reminded him of his younger days when he could stay up all night gaming and still make it to school the next day without issue. "Keep an eye out for me, I''ll go find somewhere to rest." Julian nodded, his gaze sweeping over the others before shifting back to the swamp below. He had a strong feeling that the treasure was about to emerge, because a powerful Aura was radiating from beneath the swamp. Its frequency was slowvery, very slowbut incredibly strong. Freddie walked away, though Julian wasn''t sure where he went to rest. "Julian, are you and Freddie working together?" one of the trainers asked. Julian and Freddie had been sticking close to each other, unlike the rest, who kept at least 200 meters apart for fear of getting ambushed. Julian nodded, he had no reason to hide it. The others were not idiotsthey should have already figured it out. Denying it wouldn''t change anything. "Then should we congratulate you in advance?" A trainer spoke with sarcasm. Julian glanced at him, his expression calm. "If you can''t say anything useful, then don''t say anything at all." The man''s face darkened, as an Elite trainer, it had been a long time since anyone had talked to him like thatlet alone a junior. Did this kid not respect his elders at all? "Sharp-tongued brat, if it weren''t for the Walker family, you wouldn''t be where you are today." "I know you''re envious, but being born with a silver spoon is also a skill. If you weren''t born with it, maybe you should just accept that and move on." "There are some things you just don''t get at birthand probably never willno matter how much you whine." "Instead of being jealous of me, why not work harder and make sure your own kid becomes a rich second-generation?" Julian looked at the other trainer without hesitation, he had never denied that his family had helped himhis ace Metagross was a gift from his grandfather, after all. From the starting point, Julian had already surpassed most of his peers. "Trainers from aristocratic families are still as disgusting as before," The man said disgustedly. But his words didn''t just offend Julianhe had practically offended everyone present. Sear?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Because aside from himself, who came from a commoner background, the rest were all from aristocratic families. The tension between commoner-born and noble-born trainers had always existed, and it wasn''t unique to this country. This conflict was a universal issue across all nations. Drakoria had tried to soften this divide through certain strict regulations. For example, trainers were only allowed to officially register at 17 years olda rule agreed upon by the Global Trainer Association, which most countries followed. Another rule was that before reaching the pseudo-Elite tier, a trainer''s Pokmon could not surpass their starter in level by more than five. These regulations at least gave commoner-born trainers a small chance to catch up with those from noble familiesthough, in reality, the gap remained massive. Many other nations had similar policies. Because of these restrictions, the class conflict between noble and commoner trainers had been somewhat alleviated. However, the numbers spoke for themselves. Drakoria had over 500 Elite trainersof which more than 400 came from noble families, over 80%. In other words, the strength of these families was the true foundation of a nation''s power. Dynasties rise and fall, but noble families last for centuries. Generation after generation, these families had continued to produce top-tier talent for the nation. Sure, many noble families had their flaws, but there were just as many that were powerful and exceptional. Commoner-born trainers envied and resented those from noble families, but deep down, didn''t they also dream of becoming one? Once they became strong enough to establish their own family, a new noble house would be born. And in the end, they would turn into the very thing they once hated. Then, without a second thought, they would say, "This really is good." The trainer who had mocked Julian might have been born a commoner, but he was extremely talented. After reaching Elite tier, he had already begun to establish his own family. However, since his family was still new and relied solely on him, it had no real foundation. If he died, his family would collapse with him. True noble families had at least a century of history, even if their pillar fell, a new one would rise to take their place. That was how legacy continued. "It''s shrinking again." Someone''s voice broke the tension. Instantly, everyone''s eyes snapped toward the swamp below. Just as the man said, the basketball-sized swamp was rapidly shrinking at a visible speedfar faster than before. A few trainers began to breathe heavily, the Poison-type treasure was about to emerge. At the same time, everyone became even more vigilant of the people around them, wary that someone might strike first. As if by instinct, the group subtly increased the distance between each other once again. Julian had already released Alakazam, positioning it protectively by his side. The presence of a peak Elite Alakazam instantly made the atmosphere even heavier. The others quickly followed suit, releasing their own Pokmon to stand guard. Many eyes were now looking at Julian warily. A peak Elite Alakazam posed a significant threat to them, among the eight trainers present, only one other had Pokmon at the same level. The others were not his opponents at all. With Pokmon being summoned one after another and the Poison-type treasure likely about to emerge. The atmosphere at the scene became really tense. Julian scanned the Pokmon beside them with his . A total of eight trainers, two at the early-stage of Elite, four at mid, one at late, and one at the peak of Elite. The one who had mocked Julian before, was just an early-stage Elite trainer. Julian: "Everyone," the mocking trainer suddenly spoke, "Julian''s identity is too sensitive, I have a proposal." Julian suddenly had a bad feeling. The other trainers turned toward the speaker. He wasn''t wrong, Julian''s identity was indeed too sensitive. They couldn''t injure him, let alone kill him. Chapter 378: 1 Vs 7 "Everyone, I suggest that we take action together and eliminate Julian first. This way, we all get a share. Even if Champion John comes after us later, as long as we stand united, hell have to think twice before making a move." When Julian heard those words, he almost lost control and wanted to kill that bas***d on the spot. The man was at least in his forties, yet he was suggesting ganging up on a kid not even twenty. Where was his shame? But from another perspective, his plan was indeed pretty good. Everyone here was wary of Julians identity, and with a peak Elite Alakazam guarding him, outright killing him was nearly impossible, but if they couldn''t kill him Then what? If someone injured Julian, there was a high chance that once they left the secret realm, John would personally come knocking for revenge. Yet even if they didn''t attack him, Julian himself wouldnt hesitate to attack them. Unless they were willing to give up on the Poison-type treasure, they''d have to fight Julianjust like he was planning to fight them. And so, here lay the dilemma, they couldnt kill Julian, and if they injured him, his grandfather would hunt them down. Originally, they hoped someone else would take care of Julian for them, but everyone was thinking the exact same thing. So who would strike first? Thats why the suggestion was so tempting. If no one wanted to do it, then they might as well do it together. It wasnt like they lacked family backing or allies, even though John Walker was a Champion, he couldnt just ignore the forces behind each of them. Taking action against one or two might have been possible, but there were eight of them, plus their allies'', if they all came together as a single force, even a Champion like John would think twice before moving against them. Besides, they werent planning to kill Julianjust eliminate him from the competition. At worst, hed suffer some injuriesbut nothing fatal. Not only did they lack the guts to kill him, but even if they had the guts, it would be impossible with Alakazam there. A peak Elite Alakazam could Teleport Julian away instantly. Without prior arrangements, stopping a Pokmon from using was nearly impossible. Looking at the obviously excited eyes of the eight trainers around him, Julian shouted to the side: "Freddie hurry up and come here" sea??h th novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Freddie walked over with a bitter expression on his face. He now regretted teaming up with Julian. He never expected the situation to get this troublesome. "Julian, maybe we should just leave?" Freddie suggested hesitantly. These people didnt dare kill Julian, but they werent afraid to kill him. Julian could tell what Freddie was worried about and spoke calmly, You just need to stop one of them. That meant hed handle the remaining seven alone. Are you sure? Freddie felt that Julian had lost his mind, he was talking about taking on seven Elite trainers by himself. I''m sure. Julian nodded. Freddie stared at him for a while, trying to see if he really wanted to do this, in the end, he took a deep breath. Alright, Ill go crazy with you this time, but just so we''re clearif things get dangerous, Im out. The first half of his sentence sounded very bold, but the second half became a bit timid. Julian nodded again. Freddie glanced around, then pointed at one of the trainers. Were about the same strength, how about we have a match over there? The trainer he pointed at didnt seem angryinstead, he looked relieved. If he fought Freddie, he wouldnt have to fight Julian directly, all he had to do was stall for time until the others eliminated Julian. So without hesitation, the trainer followed Freddie and left. Now it was 1 versus 7, but Julian was still under a lot of pressure. Lets change the place too, we dont want to ruin the Poison-type treasure. Julian said. With that, he went in the opposite direction of Freddie, making sure their battle wouldnt damage the treasure about to emerge. The seven trainers looked at each other, and each of them sent out a Pokmon to guard the swamp. They were very clear that there must be other people hidden around. If they focused on eliminating Julian and someone else stole the treasure, theyd probably be so pissed that they might cough up blood. At that point, they would have offended Julian for nothing. When he found a relatively wide place, Julian looked up as the seven trainers landed one after another. "Metagross, Dragonite, Aggron, Lucario, Melmetal, Steelix, Arcanine." His main Pokmon team was released. In fact, Julian could use ten Mewtwo fragments to summon Mewtwo. Even though it would only last five minutes, that would be more than enough to kill them hundreds of times over. But he didnt do it because he wanted give this a try. Wasnt it exciting? Taking on seven Elite trainers alone. With one Pokmon at the early-stage of Elite, and the rest at pseudo-Elite peak. Come on, eliminate me if you have the ability, Julian looked at the seven people contemptuously. "Meta!" "Luca!" "Arc!" Julians Pokmon stared down their opponents. They had never known fear since the day they were born. Seeing Julian and his Pokmon burning with fighting spirit, the seven trainers were silent for a moment. It had to be said that Julian''s courage impressed them all. The seven trainers sent out their Pokmon. One flash after another lit up the battlefield, and a total of twenty Elite Pokmon appeared. Some of the trainers had sent out all of their Elite Pokmon, while others were definitely keeping some in reserve. For example, the trainer at peak Elite level had only sent out two mid-Elite Pokmonhis strongest one was still hidden. Each trainer also had a guardian Pokmon beside them. After all, this was an Elite-level melee, without a guardian Pokmon, theyd get wiped out by the battles shockwaves alone. However, most of them had peak pseudo-Elites as their guards, unlike Julian, who had Alakazam, a peak Elite Pokmon, standing guard. Now, standing against twenty Elite Pokmon, Julians expression turned serious, even for him, the pressure was immense. Metagross, AggronMega Evolve! This was not the time to hold back, so he directly performed double Mega Evolution. A burst of rainbow-colored light flashed across the battlefield, and Mega Metagross and Mega Aggron appeared. Both Pokmon had temporarily broken through from pseudo-Elite peak to the Elite-tier. Roar!! Mega Aggron took a step forward, its sheer weight causing the ground to shake. Charizard. Blastoise. Crobat. Venusaur. Starmie. Dewgong. It was worth mentioning that they were a balanced mix, among the seven trainers, two were Grass-types, two were Water-types, one was Electric-type, one was Fire-type, and one was Poison-type. Arf! Arcanine: "Im going to bite you to death." Chapter 379: Courting Death! As Metagross and Aggron completed their Mega Evolution, the aura they radiated was no weaker than that of peak Elite Pokmon. Seeing this, the faces of the seven trainers instantly changed. "Eveyone, don''t hold back, if we lose now, it''ll be our disgrace!" The Blastoise''s Trainer said solemnly. Even though Mega Metagross and Mega Aggron displayed overwhelming power, they still didnt believe they would lose. After all, in terms of sheer numbers, they held an absolute advantage. Even though Julians double Mega Evolution had certainly caught them off guard, but from another perspective, executing two Mega Evolutions at once was a huge burden on a trainer. The mental and physical strain on Julian had to be immense. How long could he hold out? Three minutes? Two minutes? "Strike first! Metagross, Earthquake!" "Dragonite, Dragon Rush!" "Arcanine, Fire Blast!" "Lucario, Aura Sphere!" "Melmetal, Double Iron Bash!" "Steelix, Dragon Pulse!" All Pokmon except Mega Aggron sprang into action. Mega Metagross slammed its four limbs into the ground, a massive shockwave erupted, the entire battlefield shook violently, as if the world itself was about to collapse. This was the toughest and most dangerous battle Julian had faced since his debut, so Mega Metagross, pushed its absolute limit, unleashing even greater power than usual. Among the seven trainers, those with Flying-type Pokmon avoided the , but most of the twenty Pokmon on the battlefield werent airborne. was a wide-range attackand more importantly, it hit everyone, friend or foe, which meant Julians own flightless Pokmon, like Arcanine and Lucario, etc, would also be affected. But Julian would never make such a rookie mistake. The moment Mega Metagross activated , Alakazam, standing guard by Julians side, used . With a flicker of psychic energy, it lifted Arcanine, Lucario, Melmetal, Steelix, and the others into the air. Even while floating, they could still launch their attacks. The battlefield was in chaos, some Pokmon failed to dodge in time, and with twenty Pokmon crammed together, they had little room to maneuver. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Dewgong, for example, tried using to push itself off the ground, it succeededbut ended up slamming into Crobat above it. Although the collision didn''t cause much damage to Crobat, but the impact threw it off balance, making its flight unstable. As Crobat struggled to regain control of its body, Lucarios had already struck it. was a Fighting-type move, but since Crobat was part Flying and Poison-type, it only took a quarter of the normal damagebarely a scratch. But right after , Arcanines and Steelixs followed in quick succession. A high-speed attacker like Crobat had excellent offense and agility, but its fragile defenses couldnt withstand such a heavy barrage. In the blink of an eye, a mid-Elite Crobat was knocked out of the battle before it could make any impact. --- Blastoise, caught in the middle of the , staggered like a drunken man, its footing unstable as the ground trembled beneath it. Before it could recover, Melmetals came crashing down, with a deafening boom, Blastoise was sent soaring into the air. And then Dragonites dove in like a warplane, carrying an unstoppable force, under the horrified gaze of Blastoises trainer, Dragonite slammed into its target, sending it crashing into the ground. BOOM!! Blastoise hit the dirt hardbut that wasnt the end. The sheer force of hadnt fully dissipated, like a meteor impact, it dragged Blastoise across the battlefield, carving a trench nearly a kilometer long before both disappeared from view. --- "Spread out! Everyone, spread out!" Julians attack was earth-shattering, leaving the enemy trainers completely stunned. One of them quickly ordered the Pokmon to disperse, desperate to avoid another Crobat like situation. Meanwhile, Crobats trainer looked like he was about to cry. The battle had barely started, yet his side was already down one Pokmon. He was a mid-Elite level trainer, boasting two mid-Elite and one early-Elite Pokmon, but after Crobat fell, he didnt send out another Pokmon right away. If defeating Julian meant exhausting all three of his Elite Pokmon, then even if they won, what would he be left with? Without his full strength, hed have no chance at claiming the Poison-type treasure they were after. Worse, he might not even be able to protect his own life. So after recalling Crobat, he only half-heartedly sent out a peak pseudo-Elite Seviper. Even though the seven trainers had agreed to focus on eliminating Julian first, they all clearly had their own interests, and Julian knew that well. If they had truly been united, Julian would have summoned Mewtwo without hesitation. One devastating wave of attack later, the others finally launched their counteroffensive. "Charizard, Flamethrower!" "Venusaur, Leaf Storm!" "Dewgong, Ice Beam!" "XXX!" More than a dozen attacks came raining down on Julian and his Pokmon. Even if they werent completely coordinated, the sheer level of their Pokmon was undeniable. With so many Elite-level moves striking at once, an unprecedented pressure descended upon Julian and his team. "ROAR!!" At this moment, Mega Aggron, who had been standing silently until now, finally stepped forward, like an ancient giant mountain, it shielded Julian and the others from the incoming attacks. While Dragonite and the others had been launching their assault earlier, Mega Aggron hadnt been idleit had been continuously reinforcing itself with and . Its ferocious sharp horn, seemed to pierce the sky as it let out a deafening roar. A torrent of attacks crashed down, including a devastating move from a peak-Elite Pokmon among them. "Courting death!" The peak Elite trainer''s eyes flashed with coldness as he saw Mega Aggron''s reckless move. A moment later, the battlefield was swallowed by chaos, a massive explosion erupted, engulfing Mega Aggron completely. A towering black mushroom cloud rose into the sky, the force of the detonation shaking the entire area. The powerful shockwaves were like dozens of typhoons, destroying everything around them. The Pokmon present struggled to resist the overwhelming force, even the ones protecting their trainers showed visible strain, their defenses barely holding up. After all, most of them were only at the peak of pseudo-Elite. And this combined attack, unleashed by over a dozen Elite-level Pokmon, had reached the power of a pseudo-Champion, so even the aftershock alone was nearly too much for them to withstand. Julian clenched his fists, his eyes locked on the center of the explosion. The violent force of the blast had disrupted the Aura, making it impossible for him to sense Mega Aggron''s presence temporarily. While Alakazam had already formed a protective barrier around him, shielding him from harm. At this moment, no one chose to continue attacking. If they continued, the explosion would only grow larger, and at that point, even their own Pokmon might not be able to protect themselves. Not to mention, they were also afraid that the huge impact would affect the Poison-type treasure that was about to be born. Chapter 380: Half Brother The massive explosion raged on for nearly three to four minutes before the deafening roar finally came to an end. Yet, the thick smoke still shrouded Mega Aggron, keeping its form hidden. Julian''s tightly clenched fists relaxed slightly. Because he could already feel Mega Aggron''s Aura again. The other trainers kept their gaze fixed on the smoke, one of them muttered, "Taking that many attacks head-on, I''m afraid there won''t even be ashes left." Another trainer shook his head regretfully and sighed. "What a waste of a great Pokmon. Such a fine Aggron, lost because of its trainers recklessness." After all, from his perspective, Julian could have used Alakazam-who was at the peak of Elite-to block the attacks. But when the smoke gradually dissipated, his eyes widened in shock, his gaze changed from a little regretful to pure disbelief. A gentle breeze swept through, dispersing the last remnants of the black smoke, and Mega Aggron''s body appeared in front of them all. Although its silver-white armor was no longer as radiant as before, and there were even some dents on it, but its horn, sharper and more menacing than before, pointed defiantly at the sky. "ROOOAAARR!!" Mega Aggron let out a thunderous roar, calling out to Julian and his team. There were so many attacks, each one of them was at the Elite level, and it had blocked them. Not a single attack had touched Julian or his partners behind it. "This this is impossible!" One of the trainers opened his mouth, his expressions were like he had just seen a ghost in broad daylight. In fact, to them, Mega Aggrons feat was no different from a supernatural event. Even for a Pokmon known for its defense, there had to be a limit. And yet, despite being outnumbered and outmatched. Despite only recently breaking into the Elite tier through Mega Evolution It had survived, it had stopped the combined assault of over a dozen Elite Pokmon. If they hadn''t seen it with their own eyes, had they not been part of the battle themselves, they would have thought this was a fairy tale. But Julian gave them no time to process their shock. "DragoniteDraco Meteor." "AggronHeavy Slam." His cold voice rang in their ears. A bright orange sphere shot into the sky, exploding like a firework, splitting into dozens of meteors, all raining down on them. At the same time, Mega Aggron also moved, like a prehistoric behemoth, it slammed its feet into the ground, launching itself forward. The very earth trembled beneath its charge, the ground cracked and shattered in its wake. Even though it was only two Pokmon attacking, the sheer pressure caused by this was no less terrifying than the combined assault of over a dozen of them. "This is insane" One of the trainers could only curse under his breath. The female Charizard in midair was caught off guard and struck by a Draco Meteor, crashing heavily to the ground. As soon as it landed, it felt intense tremors coming from the earth, accompanied by a deafening roar in its ears. Looking toward the source of the sound, it saw a silver-white thing charging straight at it. "Boom!!" Charizards trainer watched as his Pokmon was sent flying high into the air, his face darkening. But Mega Aggron''s charge wasnt over yet. "Venusaur, Grass Knot!" a trainer shouted. If Mega Aggron was tripped by in this state, the damage would be enough to incapacitate it for a short while. "Arcanine, Extreme Speed!" In a flash of red light, Arcanine shot forward like a streak of lightning. Venusaur, who had been about to use , suddenly found itself face-to-face with a large dog and was momentarily stunned. Venusaur: "Werent you just over there?" Arcanine: "Surprise!" A burst of immediately engulfed Venusaur. But in the very next second, a blasted in from the side, hitting Arcanine hard in the waist and sending it skidding dozens of meters. "It didnt go down?" Blastoises trainer looked at Arcanine in confusion. His Blastoise was mid-Elite tierso why did a single fail to take down a pseudo-Elite Arcanine? But he didn''t have time to wonder, with Venusaur out of the way, Mega Aggron''s was already barreling toward them. Fortunately, the Charizard from earlier had "bought" them some time, so their Pokmon were no longer in Mega Aggrons path. "Focus on taking down that Arcanine first!" one of the trainers shouted. Because of Arcanines aggressive charge, it had ended up surrounded by enemy Pokmon. "Blastoise, Hydro Cannon!" "Starmie, Hydro Pump!" "Electivire, Thunderbolt!" "_" Although not every Pokmon targeted Arcanine, but more than half had launched their attacks. Under so many incoming attacks, Arcanine stood its ground, eyes burning with intense flames, but deep down- Arcanine: There were too many attacks, and its couldnt dodge them all. If even one of the attacks landed and interrupted , the rest of the moves would hit it in succession. "Steelix, Protect!" The ground trembled as Steelix burst out from underground, positioning itself in front of Arcanine, a green protective barrier enveloped them. In the next instant, all the attacks crashed into , but the barrier was soon broken, and the remaining attacks all landed on Steelix. Under the impact of the attacks, Steelixs massive body was forced back nearly a hundred meters leaving a deep trench in the ground. Looking at Steelix who stood unwaveringly in front of it, Arcanine was so moved that it nearly burst into tears. Arcanine: "From now on, you will be my half brother." Steelix: "F**k off, Im not a dog." Steelix panted heavily, its towering body now slightly hunched. Its defenses werent on par with Aggron, and if it had Mega Evolved, blocking those attacks wouldnt have been so difficult. "Meta~" Metagross: "Thanks for your hard work." Julian''s counterattack started again. Mega Metagross teleported instantly, appearing right in front of Blastoise. A brilliant, multi-colored glow shone from its arm. "Blastoise, Withdraw!" Faced with such a sudden attack, Blastoise had no time to counter and could only tuck itself into its shell. But seeing Blastoise hiding in its shell, didnt stop Mega Metagross. A deafening airburst followed as compressed air erupted around it. With the boost from , the became even more devastating. Sar?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a single punch, Blastoise was smashed into the ground, the surrounding dirt and rocks shot up into the sky, leaving behind a crater over a hundred meters wide. The sound of shattering glass echoed. As Mega Metagross retracted its arm, the damage became clear, Blastoises shell was covered in deep fractures, and at the point of impact, the shell had completely caved in, revealing the red flesh beneath. Blastoise''s incomparably hard shell was blown away by Mega Metagross. Announcement Hey guys, so this post is about the NovelFire Powerstone Ranking, after the ranking gets reset in a few hours, if we manage to get in top 15, it will be 2 bonus chapters on sunday and if we get 1k powerstones it will be 1 bonus chapter. So if you guys wanna read more than try your best. Sarch* The N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 381: Birth Of The Treasure Blastoise might not be a Steel-type Pokmon, but thanks to its sturdy shell, its defense was even higher than some Steel-types. Yet, its renowned defense had failed to withstand a single punch from Mega Metagrossits shell had been shattered completely. The crisp cracking sound was so sharp that someone who didnt know better might have thought Mega Metagross was munching on a crunchy snack. Blastoise!! Its trainers expression was a mix of shock and fury. Without hesitation, he recalled Blastoise into its Pok Ball, after casting a resentful glance at Julian, he immediately left the battlefield. He had no choiceBlastoises injuries were severe, and the medicines he carried werent enough to heal it. He needed to leave the secret realm immediately. If he delayed too long, even if Blastoise received treatment outside, it might still suffer permanent injuries. Blastoise was his ace Pokmonif it was ruined, his journey as a trainer would become an even harder uphill battle. He deeply regretted teaming up against Julian. Now, instead of gaining an advantage, he had suffered the worst loss. Worse still, his Pokmon had taken the most damage so far, which made him feel even more frustrated. Before leaving, he glanced at Julian: Julian: With a mid-Elite Blastoise defeated, and one trainer out of the fight, Julian was now facing six remaining opponents. "ROAR!" Before Julian could even breathe a sigh of relief, a miserable cry rang in his ears He turned to see Mega Aggron, as massive as a towering beast, collapse with a thunderous crash under the combined attacks of seven or eight Pokmon. It became clear why none of them had helped Blastoisethey had been focusing all their efforts on bringing down Mega Aggron instead. They had broken through Julians strongest defensive wall. "Return!" Without hesitation, Julian recalled Mega Aggron into its Pok Ball. Aggron''s defense was indeed terrifyingly strong, and for good reasonjust look at what it ate daily: raw diamond ore and refined minerals. But once its impenetrable armor was broken, recovery would take a long time. Fortunately, thanks to the system, that recovery time could be greatly reduced. "MELAL!!" sea??h th n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing its closest friend taken down, Melmetal erupted in fury, its two massive iron fists suddenly extended dozens of meters With a thunderous whoosh, the rotund Dewgong was smashed into the air. However, before it could be sent flying too far, a Pidgeot swiftly caught it midair. On the other side, the trainer being held back by Freddierather than truly battlingwas more like going through the motions. The Pokmon they had sent out werent even Elite-level; they were just Advanced-tier. This was like playing on an alt account inside an alt account, to put it bluntly. Both of them understood perfectly wellno matter how intensely they fought, it wouldnt change the overall situation. Their personal win or loss didnt matterwhat mattered was Julian and the others. The thunderous sounds of battle and the shockwaves from Julians side echoed through the area. Even though these two had moved far away, they still felt the aftershocks. At this moment, both Freddie and the other trainer stopped fightingnot even bothering to keep up the act. "Youre pretty clever," Freddie chuckled. It almost sounded like the two knew each other. "I cant afford to offend either side, but why are you siding with Julian? No matter how much of a monster he is, hes still too youngand hes up against seven opponents." He and Freddie were childhood friends, practically brothers. He hadnt expected to run into Freddie in this secret realm, let alone for them to be on opposite sides because of the soon-to-emerge Poison-type treasure. However, they had tacitly agreed to act like they didnt know each other, leading to this staged fight. Not only had they fooled the others, but they had even tricked Julian. "Because he gave me a good enough deal," Freddie said. "How good?" His eyes lit upconsidering the Walker familys wealth, Julian had probably been very generous. "Call me Dad, and Ill tell you." "You bastardprepare to die!" And so, the two started fighting againbut this time, it was a real brawl. Their Pokmon stood off to the side, watching with blank stares, occasionally glancing at their trainers like they were idiots. They were over forty, yet still this childish Pulling hair, slapping faces, even picking nosesthis wasnt a battle; it was playground-level fight. --- The Poison-Type Treasures Location; As the purple swamp completely vanished, as if something had absorbed it, the once murky wetland had transformed into a dry, barren land. In the center of this wasteland, a vivid turquoise light suddenly emerged. The light intensified rapidly, and within just a few seconds, it streaked across half the sky, painting it half-green, half-blue. Then, just as suddenly as it appeared, the green light vanished. It was so fast, it was as if it had never been there in the first place. With the green light''s disappearance, everything returned to normal. That was the first thought in the minds of everyone who had seen the green glow. At this moment, the trainers hiding nearby couldnt hold back any longer, they rushed out from their hiding spots one after another, ready to claim the treasure. The treasure had already emergedif they kept hiding, it would end up belonging to someone else. Of course, a few cautious ones still stayed hidden. Earlier, the eight trainers fighting Julian had each sent a Pokmon to guard the soon-to-be-born Poison-Type Treasure To prevent someone from stealing it while they were busy dealing with Julian. Because of this, the trainers who rushed out first were immediately blocked by these Pokmon. A total of five trainers had revealed themselves. Their eyes were bloodshotthis was an Ultimate Poison-Type Treasure, something even Champions would desire. How could they not be greedy? Anyone standing in their way was an enemyand enemies had to die. Flames, smoke, blood, and screams In an instant, chaos took over the land. It didnt take long before a Pokmon dieda Quagsire. Even with its death, the battle didnt stop, instead, it grew even more brutal. "Mismagius, Shadow Ball!" Among the five, one was a Ghost-Type trainer. Everyone knew, Ghost-Type trainers were the hardest to defend against in the wild. Their Pokmon could appear out of nowhere, almost impossible to sense. And in a chaotic melee, this point was brought to the extreme. One of the trainers had already been hithis heart was directly ripped out by a Gengar even before his guardian Pokmon could react. With one of the five already dead, the remaining three joined forces to deal with the Ghost-Type trainer. The treasure was important, but staying alive came first. Eliminate the biggest threat first. Chapter 382: I Give Up On Julians side, when the Poison-Type Treasure dyed half the sky green, the trainers who had been surrounding him immediately stopped their attacks. Without hesitation, they withdrew their Pokmon and rushed toward the location of the treasure, afraid someone might snatch it first. Within just a few seconds, there were no more Pokmon or trainers left in front of Julian. Arcanine: "Dont go..." A few Pokmon turned to look at Julian, as if asking whether they should give chase or not. Julian paused to think for a moment but didnt act immediately, he just stood still for about a minute before suddenly saying, "Perfect timing." Then, he climbed onto Metagross and said, "Lets go check it out." With a , Metagross brought Julian straight to where the treasure had emerged. By the time he arrived, the battlefield was already in chaosthe trainers who had attacked him earlier, along with those who had been hiding, were now fighting each other. Everyone here was an enemy, even the trainers who had teamed up against Julian before had now turned against each other. Julians arrival didnt stop the battle. Instead, the other trainers became wary, glancing at him with cautionbut no one made a move. Pokmon were constantly getting injured or killed. and the presence of the treasure had amplified human greed to its limit. In a situation like this, let alone strangerseven lovers could backstab each other for the sake of claiming the treasure alone. "Relax, Ive already given up on this treasure." Julian noticed that many trainers around him were already showing hostility toward him. Maybe it was because he had been standing back and observing, making them think he was waiting to swoop in like a fisherman collecting the spoils. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Theres only one treasure, but more than a dozen of us here. I dont want my Pokmon to suffer unnecessary losses," Julian explained. In such an uncontrolled and brutal fight, the risk of trainers and Pokmon dying was far too high. "My Pokmon are much more important to me than some unknown Poison-Type Treasure," Julian said. With that, he rode Metagross away under the watchful gazes of the others, making it seem as though he had truly left for good. "Did he really leave?" one trainer muttered. "Maybe, his Pokmon are indeed rarer than the treasure itself," another trainer commented. "Or maybe hes just hiding." Regardless of whether Julian had actually left or not, one thing was certainhe was no longer here for now. Of course, they remained cautious. For all they knew, other cunning trainers could still be lurking nearby, waiting for the perfect opportunity. Meanwhile, Julian had completely left the area. With several consecutive Teleports, he had already arrived at the exit of the secret realm. Just as Julian arrived at the secret realms exit, several trainers rushed in from the outside, flying at high speeds toward a specific direction. "It seems that the news has already spread," Julian muttered to himself. The direction they were flying in was exactly where the Poison-Type Treasure had appeared. It was expectedsomeone inside the secret realm must have sent word to the outside. Treasures like this, no matter how dangerous, would always attract countless trainers. Outside the Secret Realm; As soon as Julian stepped out of the gate, he was met with the sight of a massive military presence. The military had deployed a large force, fearing that the emergence of the Ultimate Poison-Type Treasure might provoke the Pokmon inside, causing a stampede that could break out of the secret realm. The moment Julian came out, a soldier with a major generals insignia quickly approached him. "Julian, Marshal Walker is on his way here." Since the secret realm blocked all outside signals, Julian had informed his family beforehand that he would be exploring Secret Realm No. 98. Who would have thought that this exact secret realm would be the one where an Ultimate Poison-Type Treasure would appear. The moment John Walker heard about this, his first thought was that his beloved grandson was inside the secret realm. He was worried that Julian might get caught up in the fight over the treasure and would be bullied by some shameless older generation trainers. Julian was momentarily stunned but quickly pulled out his phone to call his grandfather. "Hello? Julian, are you hurt?!" Johns voice came through the phone, carrying a hint of urgency. He had confidence in Julians strength, but the temptation of the Poison-Type Treasure was too great. In a situation like this, Julians identity, instead of help-might become a target on his back. It was very likely that the trainers inside would team up and eliminate Julian first. "Grandpa, Im fine. Ive already left the secret realm, and the Poison-Type Treasure is still inside the secret realm." "We dont need that thing. Rememberwhenever you encounter something like this, do exactly what you did today: leave immediately. Our family doesnt lack treasures." The more talented a person was, the more easily they became a target. Regardless of the fact that Julian was already an Elite Trainer, and backed by the Walker family, hidden dangers still lurked everywhere. His talent had already made many powerful families uneasy, and they would rather see him fall than allow him to grow stronger. What Julian didnt know was that, behind the scenes, John and Jake had already eliminated numerous threats, including several influential families, that had tried to move against Julian. Some of them were even major clans. "I understand, Grandpa," Julian nodded. After exchanging a few more words, Julian ended the call. Then, he left the area, riding Metagross back to his hotel. Meanwhile, the news of Julian leaving the secret realm quickly spread among those who had been paying close attention. "So he really gave up on the Poison-Type Treasure..." "What a shame. If he had chosen to fight for it, he might not have made it out alive." "Maybe he sensed something." "Did our people expose themselves?" "No. We didn''t even get a chance to actJulian left before we could make a move." "In that case, our priority is securing the Poison-Type Treasure. With it, our family might be able to produce a Champion." --- Inside his hotel room, Julian drew the curtains shut. His expression was filled with excitement as he said, "Alright, lets see it!" From his shadow, a white Gengar emerged with a grin. "Kheheh" Extending its red tongue, the ghost Pokmon revealed a small, emerald-green orb, no larger than a thumb. Julian immediately activated to analyze it. [Poison Pearl: Poison-Type Ultimate Treasure] - A Pokmon that consumes it will gain complete immunity to Poison-Type moves. - Any Poison-Type attack used by the Pokmon will always poison the target upon hitting. - Poison-Type move power increased by 50%. Seeing the description, Julian''s eyes widened in shock. This treasures effects far surpassed the Fire Crystal he had obtained before! Ultimate Treasures also had different tiers, and the Fire Crystal belonged to one of the lower ranks among Fire-Type treasures, but the Poison Pearl was a high-tier Poison-Type treasure, the kind few could ever lay their hands on. "Khehehe..." Gengar floated excitedly around Julian, its crimson eyes fixed on the orb in Julian''s palm. The pearls presence was so irresistibly alluring that, if not for its trainer holding it, Gengar mightve already devoured it on the spot. "Definitely worth the trip!" Julian grinned, tossing the Poison Pearl toward Gengar. Without hesitation, Gengar snapped its jaws shut, swallowing the treasure in one gulp. Chapter 383: The Chosen One Julian was able to obtain the Poison-type treasure without anyone noticing, thanks to Gengars Absolute Invisibility. With this ability, even a Champion-level Pokmon couldnt easily detect Gengar while it was invisible. Because of this, during his battle with the seven trainers, Julian had already secretly sent Gengar to the swamp. As the Poison-type treasure fully formed, a green glow spread across half the sky of the secret realm before suddenly vanishing. Everyone assumed that the treasure had simply withdrawn its energy inward. In reality, it was Gengar, invisible, who had stolen the Poison-type treasure. To cover its tracks, Gengar left behind a Toxic Orb with most of its energy drained. A treasure that over a dozen Elite trainers had been fighting over was taken just like that, leaving them clashing over something that had already disappeared. Both trainers and Pokmon had suffered casualties in the chaos. With the Poison-type treasure in his hand, Julian had no reason to stay involved in the unnecessary battle. However, he needed an excuse to leave. So, he used concerns about potential injuries to himself and his Pokmon, along with the fact that the Walker family didnt lack such items, as reasons to withdraw in front of everyone. He didnt even get close to the center of the swamp. This, combined with his sudden departure, only made some people even more convinced that Julian was simply being cautious. Looking at Gengar making silly faces at him, Julian grabbed its cheeks with both hands and pulled hard. Im starting to wonder if youre some kind of Chosen One among Pokmon. How do you always end up getting the best stuff? Back in the depths of the White Mountain Range, after dealing with Spiritomb, Julian had obtained a Ghost-type treasureSoul Crystalwhich, of course, he gave to Gengar. Later, at the Rockwell City auction, he had won another Soul Crystal as the final item, though it was much smaller than the first. He had also given that to Gengar. And now, they had gotten the Poison-type treasure, the Poison Pearl. Gengar was both a Ghost- and Poison-type Pokmon, making it the only one on Julians team with those typings. If the Poison Pearl wasnt for Gengar, then who else would it be for? On top of that, Gengar was already a Shiny Pokmon, which had granted it Absolute Invisibility. And now, it just so happened to have been caught by Julian, who had a reality-defying system of his own. Its strength had skyrocketed as if it were riding a rocket. Honedge was also part Ghost-type, but it had joined much later and had missed out on these treasures. Now, Gengar had two Soul Crystalsone large and one smallinside its body, and on top of that, it had just obtained the Poison Pearl. The first two werent even fully absorbed yet, and now a third one had been added. It had taken all the best opportunities for itself, making Julian seriously wonder if Gengar was truly a Chosen One among Pokmon. If not for Metagross possessing the Heart of Arceus, which surpassed all treasures, Gengars foundation would have already surpassed Metagrosss. Even so, Gengars foundation was now second only to Metagross. GengarGengar! Gengar didnt understand what its trainer meant, but it loved playing with Julian. Even though its mouth had been stretched nearly a meter long, it was still enjoying itself. Are you feeling okay? Julian asked. Gengar now had three major treasures within its body, but fortunately, all of them were meant to be absorbed gradually over time. didnt show any abnormalities, either. Gengar tried to shake its head, but since Julian was still pulling its mouth, it couldnt move. Instead, it stuck out its tongue and licked Julian, using that as an answer. It was feeling greatso great that it thought it could even arm wrestle with Aggron. Julian took out a Cheri Berry to remove the paralysis he had been feeling. The numbness was getting stronger, and he had noticed that it wasnt just because Gengars power had increased. The two Soul Crystals inside Gengar were also enhancing the strength of its Ghost-type moves. And since fell under the category of Ghost-type moves, it was becoming more potent. At this rate, he might need two Cheri Berries just to get rid of the effect in the future. The next day, Julian made a post on Geek, announcing that he was willing to buy the Poison-type treasure from Secret Realm No. 98 at any price. The conditions were up to the selleran extremely bold offer. After a night of rumors spreading, news of the Poison-type treasure appearing in Secret Realm No. 98 had ignited fierce battles among several Elite trainers. The topic became the hottest discussion of the day among people. Julians name was also mentionedhe had been involved but ultimately gave up. I wonder which Elite got their hands on the Poison-type treasure. I heard that five Elites died fighting for it, and over a dozen Pokmon were lost. Can someone knowledgeable explain what kind of Poison-type treasure this was? Same question. +10086 Theres a rumor that it was a Toxic Orb. Toxic Orb: So I was actually an Ultimate Poison-type treasure all along!? After Julian left the secret realm, the battle over the Poison-type treasure had escalated to a full-blown war among over a dozen Elite-level trainers. Nearly half the secret realm had been affected. The battlefield itself had been turned into a wastelandnothing was likely to grow there for years. The battle had been unimaginably brutal. In the end, five Elite trainers had died, and the number of fallen Elite-tier Pokmon wasnt just over tenit had exceeded twenty. Yet, Drakorias officials remained silent on the matter. Even though every Elite-level trainer was considered a part of the countrys strength, battles over resources were inevitable among trainers. If you died, it simply meant you werent strong enough. As for which trainer ultimately obtained the Poison-type treasure, no one knew for sure. And the earlier rumor claiming it was a Toxic Orb wasnt taken seriously by most people. While the Toxic Orb was a decent Poison-type item, it was far from reaching the level of an Ultimate treasure. Perhaps the item just ''looked'' like a Toxic Orb. Even the trainer who obtained the so-called treasure thought the same waythat it just resembled a Toxic Orb, but in reality, it was an entirely new Poison-type treasureone that had never appeared before. Thinking of this, the trainer who had seized it was overcome with excitement. After all, he had paid a steep price for it, losing two Elite Pokmon and even one of his arms in the battle. But with this treasure, he was certain that he would grow even stronger. Perhaps, one day, he could even reach the Champion level. For a Poison-type specialist like him, this Poison-type treasure felt like it had been made just for him. In the outside world, apart from Julian, the major families had also taken notice. Many of them, especially those focused on Poison-types, offered extravagant prices and rare resources in hopes of acquiring it. They leveraged every connection they had to track down the trainer who had obtained it. If the trainer was willing to trade, that would be ideal. If not then it would come down to a contest of power to see who was stronger. But none of this had anything to do with Julian anymore, he was already packing his bags, preparing to leave Eastwood City. Before he left, though, Mark insisted on treating him to a meal. Besides seeing Julian off, Mark also wanted to express his gratitudefor helping him capture the S-rank fugitive, Viktor. Sarch* The n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 384: Evolution Imperial University; Julian had spent nearly a month inside Secret Realm No. 98, so by the time he returned to University, Shen, Dalton, and Luis had already completed the assessment tasks assigned to them by the university. The Special Recruitment Class had a total of thirty students, and in this semi-annual assessment, five of them either failed their missions or did not complete them within the one-month deadline. As a result, these five students had to leave the Special Recruitment Class. Next month, the top five students from the regular classes would take their places. Julian was the first to complete his task, and after finishing it, he had gone directly to Secret Realm No. 98. In the class group chat, Julian sent a message: > Selling: Inside Secret Realm No. 98, Julians gains weren''t just limited to the Poison Pearl. He had also obtained two Cyan-grade Pokmon: Sarch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. - One was a Level 20 Shiftry. - The other was an early Elite-tier Sceptile. Julian had already handed over Sceptile to his uncle for handling. As a businessman, his uncle could maximize its value. As for Shiftry, Julian planned to handle it himself. The Special Recruitment Class group chat was usually quiet, with only Luis being the most talkative. Now that Julian had suddenly sent a messageand even put up a Cyan-grade Pokmon for salethe group instantly became lively. Luis: "Selling a Cyan-grade Pokmon right off the batdefinitely what Id expect from Brother Julian!" Dalton: "Boss Julian, did you catch this in Secret Realm No. 98?" The first to respond were Luis and Dalton, which was expected. As for how Dalton knew that the Shiftry came from Secret Realm No. 98, it was because of the huge uproar surrounding the emergence of the Poison-type treasure there. The whole incident had become a hot topic, and Julians name had naturally been dragged into the discussions. Every trainer who had entered the Secret Realm during that time had been investigated. Only a few remained unaccounted forthe ones who died, those who left early, and Julian along with a few others. Right now, the outside world was buzzing with speculation about which trainer had obtained the Poison-type treasure. Julian simply replied with a "Mm." The Special Recruitment Class had a total of three Grass-type trainers, and one of them quickly spoke up. Grass-type Trainer A: "Julian, Ill buy it for 300 million." Shiftry wasnt exactly a rare Pokmon, and Cyan-grade ones typically sold for around 250 million. Offering 300 million was clearly a gesture of respect toward Julian. Grass-type Trainer B: "I already have a Shiftry." Grass-type Trainer C: "Shiftry isnt really my style." The other two Grass-type trainers also spoke up shortly after, but they expressed that they didnt need it. So, Julian sold the Shiftry to Grass-type Trainer A. Dalton: Boss Julian, if you ever get a Fighting-type Pokmon, keep me in mind. Julian: OK Metagross, send this Pok Ball to the person in Villa 19. Julian handed the Pok Ball containing Shiftry to Metagross. The buyer, a fellow classmate, lived in Villa 19. At the same time, Julian also handed a bank card to Metagross. Metagross, the delivery Pokmon, was now on duty. Arcanine, stop that! Julian turned to see Arcanine gnawing at a table leg. It had originally wanted to chew on the sofa, but since its trainer was sitting there, it didnt dare. The moment Julian shouted, Arcanine was startled and flinched. However, it failed to control its bite force, and with a loud crack, the table leg snapped off. Julian: "Damn it, that thing was coated in metal!" "Next time, Im putting mustard on it, lets see if you still dare to bite." Under Julians stern gaze, Arcanine crouched slightly, mouth slightly open, tongue hanging out, while its big fluffy tail wagged like a fan. It clearly had no awareness of its mistake. Wait, correctionin Arcanines mind, it never makes mistakes. Looking at its silly but innocent eyes, Julian sighed helplessly. He texted the furniture store, asking them to deliver a new table. Thanks to Arcanine, Julian had single-handedly kept a failing furniture store alive. The owner was even preparing to open a second storeright near Imperial University, so they could better serve their top customer. Not long after, Metagross returned. At the same time, Julians phone buzzed with a new message. Opening it, he saw that 300 million had been transferred to his account. All the students in the Special Recruitment Class were from prestigious families, and not just thatthey were the elite heirs of their respective clans. So, to them, spending 300 million wasnt really a big deal. Even someone from a weaker noble family, like Shen, could still casually pull out 100 million if needed. Although for civilian trainers, having a Cyan-grade Pokmon was incredibly rare. But for noble heirs, especially the outstanding ones, having at least one or even multiple Cyan-grade Pokmon was the norm. Even if a civilian trainer had the money, they would struggle to buy a Cyan-grade Pokmon. Why? Because high-potential Pokmon were already monopolized by the upper class, so very few were ever sold to outsiders. Take Julian, for example, he had an extra Cyan-grade Pokmon, and he sold it directly to his classmates. In Julian''s social circle, aside from Will, everyone else was from prestigious families. Luca~ Julian, who was lying on the sofa, Julian suddenly heard Lucarios voice in his mind. A look of joy appeared on his face, and he immediately headed to the backyard. In the backyard, he saw Honedge was glowing with a bright white lightobviously it was evolving! As the white light faded, it transformed into two crossed swordsDoublade. Pokmon: Doublade (Steel/Ghost) Level: 35 Potential: Cyan Ability: No Guard Item: Focus Sash Gender: Male Moves: Fury Cutter, Tackle, Shadow Sneak, Autotomize, Aerial Ace, Metal Sound, Slash, Night Slash, Retaliate, Iron Defense, Power Trick, Sacred Sword TMs: Solar Blade, Protect, Swords Dance, Psycho Cut, Close Combat, Iron Head, Reversal, Brutal Swing, Shadow Claw Egg Moves: Wide Guard, Destiny Bond, Block --- Honedge had already been very close to evolving, so it wasn''t surprising that it had done so suddenly. With the help of Julian, its potential had improved from Green to Cyan. Seeing Doublade float towards him, Julian patted its hilt and said with a smile, Well done. In response, Doublades twin blades rubbed against each other. Though the sound was harsh, it was its way of expressing joy and gratitude toward Julian. At first glance, Doublades two swords appeared to be fixed together, but in reality, they could separate. When split apart, its fighting style became more versatile. Additionally, the two swords could communicate telepathically, allowing them to coordinate seamlessly. It was as if they had two independent minds, making it feel like a pair of Honedge working together. Chapter 385: Battle Arena The newly evolved Doublade was still a bit unaccustomed to its new body. It had been an only child before, but now, after evolving, it had essentially become a set of twins. It flew several laps in the air at high speedso fast that it was difficult to track with the naked eye, and this wasnt even its fastest speed. Julian waved it over, and Doublade immediately flew down, obediently stopping in front of him. "I''m taking you for some training. That way, youll get a better grasp of your new body," Julian said. After instructing Slowking to watch the house, Julian left with Doublade, Metagross, and Arcanine. The rest of his Pokmon remained in the backyard. Why bring Arcanine along? The reason was obviousif he left it at home, there was a good chance it would end up tearing the place apart. Checking his phone for available battle arenas, he found that all the fields reserved for the Special Recruitment Class were occupied. The level of competition within the Special Recruitment Class was incredibly intense. No one wanted to be kicked out, so the only option was to keep improving the strength of their Pokmon. Improving a Pokmons strength mainly came down to two factors: resource investment and battlinggaining combat experience and leveling up. As a result, nearly all ten battle arenas designated for the Special Recruitment Class were in use every day. Ironically, despite being the top-ranked student, Julian was one of the least frequent visitors to these arenas. He booked Arena 20 for two hours, the walk there would take about half an hour. At the same time, he posted a battle invitation on the university forum, looking for challengers with Pokmon around level 40, with no type restrictions. Within ten seconds, registrations started flooding in, and the number of applicants kept increasing. Following the first-come, first-served rule, Julian selected the first five trainers who signed up. As a well-known figure at Imperial University, and even considered a leading figure among the younger generation of trainers in Drakoria, getting the chance to battle Julian was a dream for many young trainers. It wasnt uncommon for people to challenge him randomly when they saw him walking around campus. Of course, he rejected them all. If he accepted every challenge, hed never get anything else done. When he arrived at Arena 20, the five trainers were already there, and a crowd of spectators had gathered around the field. Many eyes were on Doublade, hovering at Julians sideit was clear that this was the Pokmon Julian would use. Julian gave Doublade a look, and it gracefully floated into the battlefield. Across the field, a trainer was already in position. Without much conversation, they tossed out a Pok Ball, and a level 40 Ampharos appeared on the field. Its fur was smooth, and its eyes were sharpevidence that it had been well-trained. Ampharos was a strong Pokmon with a Mega Evolution, making it a favorite among Electric-type trainers. Additionally, Mareep, Ampharos base form, produces extremely soft and delicate wool. Coats and scarves made from this wool are highly sought after. "Doublade, Fury Cutter!" Julian took the initiative and launched the first attack. As Doublade flew toward Ampharos, its two blades suddenly split apart, each taking a separate curved pathone to the left and one to the rightrapidly closing in on the target. Julian was the first trainer in the country to own a Doublade, meaning that most trainers here were unfamiliar with its battle style. Even those who had read about it in books would likely have forgotten over time. At most, seeing Doublade separate into two weapons might suddenly remind them of that fact. With an attack coming from both sides, Ampharos was momentarily at a loss for how to respond. Ampharos: "This is cheating! It''s a two-on-one fight!" Sar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Doublade: "(?)" "Ampharos, move! Use Fire Punch on the left!" its trainer commanded. The strategy was cleartake down one of Doublades blades first, then deal with the other. As Ampharos moved, it quickly closed the distance to the left blade, swinging a flaming fist straight at it. collided with Doublade''s , sending sparks flying. "What the? He just got this Pokmon not long ago, and it''s already this unscientific?" Ampharos'' trainer was stunned. Even though Doublades power was split in two, making each blade weaker than when they were together, it still didnt get knocked back. Just as the trainer finished complaining, a pained cry rang out. He turned to see the right blade of Doublade had already reached Ampharos and slashed across its back. "Ampharos, Discharge!" With both blades now close, Ampharos red gem on its forehead flashed, releasing a surge of yellow electricity that engulfed Doublade. But the very next second, the electrical field shattered from within. Doublades two blades began spinning rapidly, merging back into one. "Slash!" A brilliant arc of light slashed downward, striking Ampharos right on the forehead. Its eyes rolled back, and its body collapsed to the ground. A red mark was visible on its headleft by Doublades hilt rather than its blade. Had Doublade used its actual sword edge, even if it held back, there was a real chance it could have split Ampharos skull open. With the sharpness of Doublades blades, it could easily cut through a meter-thick steel plate. In less than three minutes, Ampharos had been defeated. Its trainer sighed. Without much delay, the second challenger stepped onto the battlefield, sending out a level 41 Medicham. This Pokmon made Julians eyes light up slightly, because it had Cyan-grade potential. A Pokmon with Cyan-grade potential might be common in the Special Recruitment Class, where every student had at least one, but in the Regular Class, it was still rare. Of course, this opponent might not be from the Regular Class. They could very well be from the sophomore or junior year Special Recruitment Class instead. As for seniors, whether they were from the Special Recruitment Class or Regular Class, almost none of them were still on campus. As graduation approached, they were all off completing their graduation assessment task. Only by finishing this task, along with all the universitys four-year evaluation tasks, could they graduate successfully. "Doublade, Fury Cutter!" This time, Julian did not have Doublade split apart. Instead, it remained fused, attacking as one. "Medicham, Detect!" Doublades rapid, flowing slashes seemed completely unpredictablelike a wild, untamed stallion or a mountain goat leaping effortlessly across cliffs. Yet, despite the impossible angles and blinding speed, Medicham weaved through the attacks effortlesslylike a butterfly dancing through a field of flowers. No matter how Doublade struck, Medicham always dodged at the last moment, each attack barely grazing its body. As the saying goes, "A miss by an inch is as good as a mile." In just a few seconds, Doublade had already unleashed dozens of slashes, yet not a single one connected. It was as if Medicham had completely seen through Doublades attack pattern. Doublade: "I''ll chop, I''ll chop, I''ll chop you to death.!" Medicham: "Whoop, dodged! Dodged again! And again!" "Medicham, Fire Punch!" A faint blue light flashed in Medichams eyes as it pinpointed the smallest pause in Doublades relentless attack. A burst of flames exploded from its fist, and- Doublade was sent flying through the air. Chapter 386: Top Breeder As Doublade was sent flying by Medichams , the watching students couldn''t help but gasp in surprise. Just moments ago, Doublade had easily defeated Ampharos, proving its impressive strength. But now, against Medicham, it had already been sent flying by a single punchand Medichams assault wasnt over yet. The moment Doublade stabilized itself, Medicham had already closed the distance, its fist once again blazing with fire. Even though Medicham wasnt a Fire-type, the flames radiating from its attack were so intense that the air around it distorted from the heat. "Protect!" The fiery punch came crashing down, but it was blocked by Doublades . Despite the overwhelming force of the attack sending Doublade nearly a hundred meters back, it remained unscathed. This time, Medicham did not chase after it. Instead, it stood on one leg, calmly watching Doublade. Julian could feel Doublades frustration. Those two punches had already unsettled its focus. With a serious tone, Julian spoke: "Calm down." Doublade hadnt been with him for long. While it had made great strides in strength, its mental resilience was nowhere near that of Metagross or Dragonite. Even Arcanine was steadier in battle. Julians voice carried the power of Aura, gently soothing Doublades emotions. "Use Metal Sound!" As Doublades twin blades scraped together, an ear-piercing screech echoed across the battlefield. A distressed expression appeared on Medicham''s face. "Shadow Claw!" A sharp whooshing sound filled the air. In an instant, Doublade closed the gap, gathering Ghost-type energy into a meter-long spectral claw. But just as the attack was about to landit froze midair. Medichams mental force halted the in its tracks. "Aerial Ace!" "High Jump Kick!" The two trainers issued commands almost simultaneously. But the moment Medichams trainer spoke, his expression changed. Because just as was about to land, Doublades body suddenly vanished, and the next second, it reappeared behind Medicham. With its blade tip glowing with piercing power, Medicham felt a sharp pain in its lower backas if it had been stabbed through. With a thud, Medicham collapsed to the ground. was one of the most powerful Fighting-type moves, but if it missed, the user suffered heavy recoil damage. Now, with both agonizing knee pain and a sharp ache in its lower back, Medicham lay on the ground, struggling to stand upbut each attempt ended in failure. "Slash!" Medichams vision blurred, and it lost the ability to battle. Julian''s opponent recalled Medicham, looking frustrated. He had clearly been in an advantageous position, yet Julian had read his move first, completely turning the tables and even securing a decisive victory. "Your Medicham is trained really well." As the opponent retrieved Medicham, Julian''s voice came from across the battlefield. To be fair, if it werent for his better battle command, Doublade wouldnt have been able to defeat Medicham based on strength alone. Sure enough, even with the system''s support, he couldn''t afford to underestimate anyonethis battle had almost slipped from his grasp. "It''s going to be my ace in the future, I''ve spent an entire year training it." Julian''s compliment lifted the opponent''s mood a little. After all, being acknowledged by Julian Walker was no small feat. However, he was still a bit upset. His Medicham had been carefully trained for a full year, while Julians Doublade had barely been with him for three monthsand it wasnt even originally his. The gap was clear, and any momentary joy he felt vanished. The next three opponents were about the same strength as the first. Doublade finished each battle in under five minutes. This made Doublade a bit unsatisfiedbut opponents like Medicham were rare finds. And thanks to the training manual Julian had received from Kaide, he had managed to avoid many detours in training the Honedge line. "Alright, let''s go." The whole point of these battles was to help Doublade get used to its new body. Now that the goal had been achieved, there was no need to continue fighting. If he had time, it could be better spent grinding ranks with Slowking and Celebi. He was currently pushing for the top 50 in the ranked tournament, and with the season ending soon, he needed to climb fast. "Arf!" Arcanine looked at Julian, as if to say, Julian patted its head and said, "I didnt bring you here to fight, I brought you here to keep you from tearing down the house." Arcanine: "You are the real dog." --- After coming out of Secret Realm No. 98, Julian had been at Imperial University for nearly a month. Aside from occasionally visiting the library, he spent most of his time relaxing at the villa, living the life of a happy shut-in... Julian watched as Nicole measured Lucarios height, weight, chest circumference, and other physical stats. Lucario sat there like a lifeless puppet, letting her do whatever she wanted. Julian ignored its pleading gaze. Steelix: "How old are you?" Nicole asked. Lucario: In three more months, hell be two years old, said Julian who was standing beside them. Lucario was his second Pokmon, and unlike the others, he had hatched it from an egg. The bond between them was exceptionally strong, with their Aura perfectly synchronized. Nicole wrote "21 months" in the age column. "Not even two years old, yet already at the peak of pseudo-Elite level And hes not the only one. How exactly are you training them?" Having spent a lot of time at Julians villa over the past month, Nicole had grown quite familiar with him. If not, she wouldn''t have asked such a direct question. "Youve seen it yourself. What else do you need me to explain?" Julian rolled his eyes. He had never hidden what his Pokmon ate. In fact, Nicole had even taken some of his Pokblocks for testing. The results had shocked herthese Pokblocks were leagues above anything on the market. Even more surprising, they contained unknown components, substances that didn''t match any currently cataloged ingredients. Perhaps those unknown ingredients were the secret behind his Pokmons overwhelming strength. Youre really a top-tier breeder?" Nicole still found it hard to believe. When Julian first told her he made the Pokblocks himself, she had been skeptical. "Otherwise, where do you think they came from?" Julian stretched lazily on the sofa. "I doubt I have the kind of connections to make those three big shots personally tailor Pokblocks for my Pokmon." Rumors about his Pokmon''s "unnatural" strength were spreading fast and were becoming more and more outrageousso much so that they had begun to become a threat to the Walker family in some ways. So Julian figured he could use Nicoles identity to provide the outside world with a more plausible explanation. Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 387: Poisoned? "You these Pokblocks theyretheyre" Nicole refused to believe that Julian was a top-tier breeder. There were only three in all of Drakoria, and the youngest among them was seventy years old. That was even fewer than the number of Champion-level trainers. And now Julian was telling her he was a top-tier breederat not even twenty years old. That was as ridiculous as if he had told her he could give birth himself. "Th-theyre theyre what?" Julian mimicked her stammering, and for a moment, she actually looked kind of cute. "Anyway, I dont believe your nonsense." Nicoles face flushed slightly. As a scholar, she had a scholars rigorshe wouldnt be fooled by mere words. Even if she had no idea how Julian had gotten these Pokblocks, that still wasnt proof that he made them himself. "Alright then, how about this? Ill make some Pokblocks right in front of you. That should be proof enough, right?" Julian smiled. Nicole nodded immediately. Julian then led her upstairs to a certain room on the second floor. When he opened the door, Nicole saw that the room was filled with machines for making Pokblocks. Inside a transparent refrigerated cabinet, there was a large supply of Berries and other ingredients. Seeing this, Nicole''s confidence wavered. Especially when she saw Julian skillfully operating the machines, weighing and mixing various Berries and some unknown materials Confidence -1. Julian: "Im about to make Pokblocks for Metagross, you can watch the first part, but for the later steps, youll have to leave," Julian said casually while working. "Why do I have to leave?" Nicole asked immediately. "I dont want you stealing my recipes," Julian said flatly. For breeders, the real skill gap began after the intermediate level. Beginner and intermediate breeders simply followed public formulas, making Pokblocks exactly as instructed. However, advanced breeders not only became more adept at crafting them but also modified formulas, improving their effectiveness. The most talented breeders could even develop entirely new formulas. And the top-tier breederstheir unique formulas could enhance even Champion-level Pokmon. The three top-tier breeders of Drakoria were responsible for supplying Pokblocks to the six Champion trainers. Julian was implying that, in the later steps, he would be using his own custom formula, so she wasnt allowed to watch. Once Nicole reluctantly left and closed the door, Julian immediately bought Pokblocks for Metagross from the system shop. Then, he tossed all the half-finished Pokblocks he had just made into his system space. About an hour later, Julian finally stepped out of the room. "Here." He handed a box of Pokblocks to Nicole. When she opened it, she noticed they were still warm, clearly freshly made. Julian: "Alright, take them and analyze them. See if what I gave you matches the ones youve been studying." "I will." Even now, Nicole still wasnt fully convinced. Only the research results would decide the truth. Seeing the skepticism still lingering on her face, Julian chuckled to himself. Once the news spread that he was a top-tier breeder, it would explain why his Pokmons strength was so unscientific. As for how someone his age could be a top-tier breeder? Simple. His mother was an advanced breeder, and his maternal grandfather was one as welljust a step away from top-tier. So, of course, he had the talent for it. And not just any talentthe best kind. Just as Nicole was about to leave with the Pokblocks, her phone suddenly rang. "Hello, Mom?" Julian had already gone downstairs, but before he could even sit down, he heard hurried footsteps coming from above. In her rush, Nicole missed a step and tumbled forward. Luckily, Slowking caught her with just in timeotherwise, she would have taken a nasty fall. "Whats got you so worked up?" Julian asked with a frown. Nicoles eyes were red, her face filled with panic. Through his Aura, Julian could feel her emotionsfear, anxiety, confusion, all tangled together. "My grandpamy grandpa" She was so overcome that she couldnt even get the words out, but tears kept falling from the corners of her eyes. Now Julian started to panic a little. "H-Hey, dont cry! Dont cry!" But that was all he could manage to say. He had no idea how to comfort her, just repeating ''dont cry, dont cry'' over and over. Lucario, watching from the side, shook its head. It stepped forward, placed its left palm on her chest, and gently released a soft blue Aura, calming her emotions. About a minute later, Nicole finally started to regain control. Julian shot Lucario a grateful look. Then, noticing where Lucario had placed its hand, he wondered why he hadn''t thought of it just now. After all, he could use Aura too. "Now tell me what happened," Julian asked. "My mom called She said my grandpa was poisoned Hes in critical condition" The moment she said it out loud, her just-calmed emotions surged back into turmoil. Sar?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "WHAT?!!" Julians voice rose sharply, his face filled with shock. Nicoles grandfather wasnt just anyonehe was the strongest Champion in Drakoria and also the President of Drakoria''s Trainer Association. For someone like him to be fatally poisoned? Was it an assassination attempt? Or had he ventured into a highly dangerous area, like the forbidden Zones? As Drakorias strongest Champion, Duke had long been a target for many nations that wished to eliminate him in secret. But until now, no one had ever succeeded. Not only was Duke himself a force to be reckoned with, but his security personals were also exceptionally strong. If he was to really die from poisoning, it would be a devastating blow to Drakoria, and the nations influence on the global stage would take a serious hit. "I need to get to Orient right away!" Nicole quickly pulled out her phone, but when she checked the flight schedule, she realized the earliest flight to Orient City wouldnt leave until the next morning. Despair immediately washed over her. Then, as she turned to see Julian frowning beside her, an idea suddenly flashed through her mind. She grabbed his sleeve, her voice urgent "Julian! Can you take me to Orient? With your Dragonites speed, it could get us there in an hour!" Julian nodded without hesitation: "Wait here for a moment." As he said that, he quickly headed to the backyard, recalled all his Pokmon into their Pok Balls, and moments later, they took offsoaring toward Orient City on Dragonites back. However, Dragonites flying speed was far too much for Nicole and her body simply couldn''t handle it. At this rate, shed probably end up dying before her grandfather did. Luckily, Julian had Metagross use to create a protective barrier around them. The protective barrier blocked the rushing air, and Nicolewhose face had gone completely palefinally started to recover some color. Chapter 388: If You Die About forty minutes later, Julian and Nicole arrived above the hospital where Duke was currently staying. Parkway Hospitalone of the most renowned hospitals in Orient City, and even the entire country. Every day, it received countless critically ill and complex cases from all over. After recalling Dragonite and Metagross into their Pok Balls, Julian quickly chased after Nicole, who had already rushed into the inpatient building. They took the elevator up to the 32nd floor, where Duke was, but the moment they stepped out, they were stopped at the elevator entrance. "No one is allowed to enter right now." It was clearthe entire floor had been sealed off due to Dukes severe poisoning. But Nicole was too anxious to consider this. She tried to push forward, her voice urgent "Let me through! My grandpa is in there!" "And you are?" Hearing this, the staff immediately asked, "Are you Champion Dukes granddaughter?" "Yes!" Nicole nodded quickly. Sar?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But even then, they did not step aside. After all, who could guarantee her identity? Even if she looked like Nicole, that didnt mean she was hershe could easily be an imposter wearing a Ditto disguise. During such sensitive times, there was no room for negligence. "Please wait a moment." One of the staff members spoke, and whispered a few words into an earpiece. Nicole was so anxious that tears started falling from her eyes again. Julian stood beside her and whispered in a reassuring tone "Your grandfather is the strongest Champion in Drakoria, he''ll be fine." But in her state of panic, Nicole didnt even seem to hear him. Which made senseafter all, Julian wasnt the one with a poisoned family member. No matter what he said, it would have little effect. Not long after, a beautiful woman rushed over from around a corner in the hallway. "Mom!" As soon as Nicole saw her, she shouted. "Nicole!" The woman quickened her pace, stopping in front of the staff. "Shes my daughter, its fine." The staff nodded and finally let her through. Julian naturally followed behind, but just as he was about to step forward, an arm suddenly blocked his way. "Apologies, unauthorized personnel are not allowed inside." Julian: (_) "Hes my grandson." Just as Nicole was about to speak up for Julian, a familiar voice interrupted. "Grandpa!" Julian looked at John with a bit of surprise. Since John Walker himself had come out to vouch for Julian, there was no longer any issue. With that, the group finally entered the hospital room where Duke was being treated. However, because of his severe poisoning, they could only observe from behind a glass wallthey weren''t allowed inside. Inside the room, three Blissey were using in an attempt to help, but it didnt seem to be having much effect. Dukes exposed skin had turned a pale purple, and signs of necrosis had already begun to appear. Inside the room, aside from the three Blissey, there was also an elderly man whose identity was unknown. But considering Dukes identity, anyone treating him had to be a top-tier medical expert. Not long after, the man stepped out of the ward. Nicoles mother hurried forward, her voice filled with anxiety "Dr. Reid, how''s my father-in-law? Will he be okay?" "Champion Duke''s condition is critical. The toxins in his body are extremely complexsome are corrosive, attacking his flesh, while others are neurotoxic, eroding his nervous system." "And this particular poison... Ive never seen it before. It appears to be a newly synthesized toxin." Hearing this, both the mother and daughter panicked, completely at a loss for what to do. On the contrary, John asked solemnly: "Dr. Reid, what can we do now?" "With my medical expertise, combined with Pokmon assistance, I can keep Champion Duke stable for three days. Within these three days, we must identify the exact composition of the toxinonly then can we formulate the right antidote." John nodded: "Then Ill leave it to you, Dr. Reid, and the Poison-type Elite is on his way as wellhell be joining the treatment soon." "That''s good, if the Poison Elite joins in, we might have a better chance of countering this toxin," Dr. Reid nodded. With that, he quickly turned and rushed offthere was no time to waste, he needed to analyze Dukes blood samples immediately. "Grandpa, how did Champion Duke even get poisoned?" Julian finally asked. Duke was a Psychic-type Champion. Even in battle, he was always protected by his powerful Psychic-type Pokmon. What kind of Pokmon could possibly break through a Champion-level Psychic Pokmons defense and land such a devastating attack? Johns expression darkened. "It was the Poison-type Champion from Babath." "A new ruin was recently discovered in Drakorias maritime territory. According to intelligence, the Babath Champion, along with several Elites from their country, planned to infiltrate it." "Duke and I decided to eliminate them right then and there, to make sure they never left that ruin." "But..." Johns fists clenched. "That intelligence officer f***ing betrayed Drakoria, the intel he gave was false." "There werent just a few Elites who infiltrated, but three Champions, the Poison-type Champion from Babath, the Fire-type Champion from Wyvernia, and the Ice-type Champion from Australis." "Duke covered my retreat, and thats how he got ambushed by that bas***d from Babath." His voice grew harsher, his rage boiling over. He slammed his fist into the wall, his imposing body exuding anger like a erupting volcano. "If it wasnt for the life-saving treasure Duke carries, he wouldnt have survived this long," John continued. Julian thought to himself. If the attack came from a Champion-level Poison-type Pokmon, Duke should have died on the spot. A mere mortal body couldnt possibly withstand the venom of a Champion-level Poison-type Pokmon. Even Julian, with his Mega Pallet Town physique, wouldnt necessarily hold up. After all, he was the guy who couldnt even resist Gengars paralysis. But Duke was still alive, he had endured the poison for this long without succumbing, which clearly meant something was keeping him alive. As Drakorias strongest Champion, it was impossible for him not to carry some kind of life-saving treasure. John suddenly let out a deep chuckle, then spoke in his usual bold and straightforward manner "Don''t worry, you old bas***d, if you die, my grandson will marry your granddaughter right awayno one will dare bully your family!" Julian: Also '' Julian could already feel the weird looks Nicole and her mother were giving him and his grandfather. But despite his complaints, Julian understood what John meant. If Duke died, his family would lose their strongest protector. The rest of the family, though powerful, were not on the same levelthey wouldnt be able to safeguard the entire clan. In that case, they would have no choice but to offer benefits to other major families for protection. But if Julian married Nicole, then even without Champion Duke, their family would still have John, another Champion-level powerhouse. Any powerful families eyeing their family would have to reconsider. In a way, this could be regarded as repaying Dukes life-saving grace. Meanwhile, Nicole kept her head down, silently sobbing, while her mother gently hugged her, whispering "Its going to be okay Your grandfather will definitely pull through." Chapter 389: Poison Elite The mother and daughter held each other tightly, offering mutual comfort. Julian watched as Duke lay motionless in the hospital bed, his Aura flickering like a candle in the wind. It hadnt been extinguished yetbecause something within him acted like a protective barrier, shielding that fragile flame from the winds force. But the barrier was weakening. Once it disappeared, the wind would snuff out the flame. "Why did that intelligence officer betray us?" Julian asked curiously. If it hadnt been for that intelligence personnel, who had infiltrated Babath, feeding false intelligence to Duke, things would have never escalated to this point. Any country selecting spies for foreign missions would be extremely cautious. The most important trait for such operatives was their loyalty. Yet, a Drakorian intelligence officer had betrayed them. Of course, there was also the possibility that his cover had been blown, and Babath had used him against them. John''s face darkened with both anger and helplessness as he replied "His daughter she was ruined by a second-generation heir from a noble family. She couldnt handle the trauma and took her own life." "And that bastard still didnt receive the punishment he deserved." Julian fell silent, unsure of what to say. It was a tragedytrue heroes shed both blood and tears. Julian could understand why the intelligence officer did what he did. Some heirs of wealthy, noble families were so spoiled and lawless that even a stray dog would avoid them. If Julian ever encountered such a scum of a second-generation heir, he wouldn''t hesitate to cripple himpermanently. Just then, a series of hurried footsteps echoed through the hall, Julian looked up and immediately recognized the newcomer It was Brad, Drakorias current Poison Elite. It was even rumored that he was a descendent of the Poison King. Despite holding the Elite title, Brads true combat strength was already at the pseudo-Champion level. In Drakoria, all 18 Elites were pseudo-Champion level. Even the top 30 Elites in Drakorias rankings, all were pseudo-Championsthis, of course, included the 18 type specialists. Brad, the Poison Elite, was ranked 15th on the Elite ranking. But when it came to using poison, he was undoubtedly the strongest in the entire nation. Otherwise, he wouldnt have held the Poison Elite seat for 30 years straight. He was already over seventy, his age showing in his features, but his spirit remained strong. "You''re finally here! Check on Duke immediately!" John urged. Brad nodded without wasting words. He strode into the hospital room, sending out a Pokmon as he did so Pokmon: Drapion (Poison/Dark) Level: 83 Potential: Blue Ability: Battle Armor Held Item: Poison Barb Gender: Male Moves: Thunder Fang, Fire Fang, Ice Fang, Poison Sting, Leer, Hone Claws, Poison Fang, Bite, Venoshock, Knock Off, Fell Stinger, Toxic Spikes, Bug Bite, Toxic, Scary Face, Pin Missile, Night Slash, Cross Poison, X-Scissor, Acupressure, Crunch TMs: Giga Impact, Hyper Beam, Protect, Dig, Rock Slide, Brick Break, Payback, Retaliate, Snarl, Assurance, Sludge Bomb, Poison Jab, Venom Drench, Leech Life Egg Moves: Slash, Confuse Ray, Lash Out, Dark Pulse --- After sending out Drapion, Brad reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. Inside, neatly arranged, were silver needles of varying lengths and sizes. It was worth mentioning that Brad was not only a Poison-type Elite but also a renowned medical expert. A few minutes later, Duke''s body was already covered in silver needles. As the needles trembled slightly, Julian watched in shock as they gradually took on a faint purple hue. This went on for an hour, and nearly a hundred silver needles slowly deepened in color, turning from light purple to a dark, almost liquid-like shade. "Drapion, pull out the needles," Brad ordered. By now, the needles were filled with deadly poisonone touch could cause severe poisoning. Only Drapion could safely remove them. Following the precise order in which they were inserted, Drapion carefully extracted each needle one by one. Then, to Julians surprise, Drapion began eating the needlescrunching them as if they were crispy snacks. Poison-type Pokmon could enhance their own toxins by consuming poisonous substances. However, this only worked if the poison wasnt significantly stronger than their own, or they could end up poisoning themselves. And for Drapion, these lethal, blood-curdling poison-filled needles were an absolute delicacy. But after consuming a third of the needles, Brad ordered Drapion to stop. Enough, any more and you wont be able to handle it. Even though Drapion was pseudo-Champion, the poison in these needles belonged to a true Champion-level entity. Digesting too much at once would be too much for it to bear. Brad took out a special container and, using tweezers, carefully collected the remaining poison-laced needles. Just as he removed the final needle, something astonishing happened The faint purple hue on Duke''s skin began to fade, slowly returning to its original color. Seeing this, John burst into laughter, I knew this old guy could do it! Hah! Maybe he really is a descendant of the Poison King! I always thought he was just bragging. The change in Dukes skin was obvious, and the mother and daughter pair also noticed it immediately. "Hes recovering!" Nicoles mother hugged her tightly, repeatedly murmuring in disbelief. Nicoles face also lit up with joy. But just as the mood lifted, Julian suddenly frowned and spoke up Somethings not right. His words immediately shattered the moment of relief. "My dear grandson, what do you see?" John asked hurriedly. He knew Julian had unusual abilitiesafter all, his grandson could even summon a First-class Legendary and survive the experience. If Julian said something was wrong, then something was definitely wrong. "His Aura Champion Dukes Aura hasnt gotten stronger," Julian said solemnly. Even if the technique Brad just used didnt completely detoxify the poison, it should have at least expelled part of it. No matter from which angle you looked at it, the other partys Aura should have gradually strengthened. But Julian didnt feel that happening. As if to confirm Julians words, just as he finished speaking, the color that had been slowly returning to normal on Dukes skin suddenly turned purple again. And this time, it was even darker than before. At the same time, the medical equipment connected to Duke let out a sharp alarm. Brad was naturally startled by this sight. After regaining his composure, he pulled out his silver needles once again. His hand blurred into afterimages as the needles pierced Dukes acupuncture points like flashes of lightning. S~ea??h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, the sliver needles turned purple at a speed visible to the naked eye and began to corrode. Watching the silver needles on the back of Dukes hand disintegrate and fall to the ground, causing wisps of green smoke to rise from the floor, it was clear how terrifyingly corrosive the poison was. Drapion, Acupressure. Brad focused as he spoke. Drapion responded with a cry, its sharp claws lightly tapping a dozen acupuncture points on Dukes body. As the move took effect, the purple hue covering Dukes body slowly receded. It seemed like the had worked. Julian was quite impressed. He hadnt expected a move that was meant to enhance one''s abilities to be used on a human like this. This technique was truly something else. Chapter 390: Genetic Modification As Brad walked out of the hospital room with a heavy expression, Nicole and her mother immediately approached him. Even though they didnt have medical knowledge, the scene they had just witnessed in the hospital room, along with Brads "Ive already done my best" expression, had already given them a bad feeling. Still, they held onto a sliver of hope, hoping to hear the words they wanted from Brads mouth. Neither mother nor daughter spoke. John bluntly asked, Brad, can you cure Old Duke or not? Just say it alreadydont stand there looking like you just lost your parents. Brad was already used to Johns rough way of speaking. Back when John was still the Steel Elite, he had listened to this kind of talk for years. I want to know who poisoned Champion Duke, Brad asked. He firmly believed that when it came to poison, he was second to none. Even on a global scale, he was definitely among the very best. It was Murano from Babath, his Arbok bit the old man, John replied. Hearing this, Brads expression changed slightly. Muranos Arbok? I know that one, but as far as Im aware, its venom shouldnt be this potent. Among Poison-type Pokmon, Arboks toxin wasnt considered particularly deadlyits upper limit was relatively moderate. Thats why Brad was so surprised that Duke had been poisoned by an Arbok, and even he couldnt neutralize it. That Arbok was probably genetically modified, John said, recalling its unusual appearance. Some changes in its body clearly werent something a normal Arbok should have. "So that''s how it is," Brad nodded in realization. Genetic modification was something many countries secretly researched. Even though all nations publicly called for a ban on genetic tampering, claiming it went against the natural order. The louder they condemned it, the more they were likely researching it themselves. Even Drakoria was no exception. Combining genetic modification with the abilities of Pokmon, if successful, could yield unimaginable benefits. The country leading in this field was Celestria. Three years ago, a genetically modified Hydreigon had escaped from a laboratory in Celestria. Not only was it at the Champion level, but after rampaging through several cities, it eventually collapsed and died. That incident caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people in Celestria. The event was a global sensation at the time. Rumors suggested that the Hydreigon had undergone genetic modification, allowing it to break through to the Champion level, but in the process, it lost its sanity. Now, if the Arbok that bit Duke was also genetically modified, its venoms toxicity might have already exceeded Brads understanding. And because foreign genes had been introduced, the Arboks venom might have undergone some unknown transformation. Enough nonsense, just tell mehow is Old Duke? John demanded. Brad hesitated for a moment, glanced at Nicole and her mother, then slowly said, With my current abilities, I cant neutralize Champion Dukes poison. I thought the silver needles had already purified the toxin, but I didnt expect that was only the surface-level poison. A much larger amount of venom is hidden deep in his internal organs. And worse, because of my earlier actions, the poison has become even more aggressive. I had my Drapion use Acupressure to temporarily block the poisons spread, but it will only last for three hours. If we dont find a solution within that time, Champion Dukes body will be completely corroded by the venom. Hes lucky to have a rare treasure keeping him alive. Otherwise, with how potent this toxin is, he would have died on the spot. Originally, they estimated that the treasures power could sustain him for three days. But after Brad intervention, it could now only last three hours. Even Brad wasnt sure how to explain himselfhe feared Nicole and her mother would misunderstand. John roared angrily when he heard this, I dont want to hear all that! Just hurry up and find a way to cure him! Meanwhile, Nicole and her mother had already collapsed onto the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. Despite Johns demanding tone, Brad remained calm and replied, Ill go discuss this with some colleagues immediately. You shouldnt just stand around either. Go check the national treasurysee if theres anything in there that can save Champion Duke. Drakorias treasury held countless treasures, each valuable enough to make Elite-level Trainers fight over them. Among them were rare elemental treasures. However, most of these treasures were only effective for Pokmon. Those that worked on humans were extremely rare. Therefore, treasures of this category were among the most expensive in existence. Ill go right now, John said. Brads words had reminded himperhaps there really was something in the Drakorias treasury that could save Duke, without another word, he rushed out. But halfway down the hall, he suddenly stopped, turned back to Julian, and said, "My dear grandson, you stay here. Rememberaside from Dr. Reid and Brad, no one else is allowed to enter this room. Julian nodded. John left, but the surrounding security remained as strong as ever. Even though Julian couldnt see them, he could feel powerful Aura hidden throughout the floor, watching over the area. If any fool tried to cause trouble here, they would be done forexcept for a Champion, of course. Leaning against the wall, Julian looked at the crying mother and daughter pair but said nothing to comfort them. After all, the person lying inside wasnt his relative. Rather than offering empty words of comfort, he preferred to take action. Looking at the system shop, Julian saw that an antidote for humans was being sold for 10,000 points. Meanwhile, a standard antidote for Pokmon only cost 100 points, and even the most expensive one was just 1,000 points. That being said, anything in the system shop related to human medicine was always far more expensive than its Pokmon counterpart. Right now, he had just over 50,000 points. His main source of income was daily missions, which gave him around 800 points per day. But his expenses were just as high, just the Pokblocks for his Pokmon cost him 500 points per day. Relying on daily missions alone wouldnt get him far. Most of his current points had come from main quests, temporary missions, and hidden tasks. If his grandfather and the others truly couldnt save Duke, then he would step in himself. Although spending 10,000 points would hurt, but saving the strongest Champion of Drakoria was definitely worth it. The real problem was figuring out where this antidote came from. After all, even Brad couldnt cure the poisonso if he just pulled out an antidote that worked, it would be suspicious. Julian never doubted whether the antidote could actually cure Duke, anything from the system was guaranteed to work. The only issue was how to explain it. Maybe he could say he found it on the streets. After all, he had already found a Dratini with Purple-grade potential, so finding a miraculous antidote shouldnt be that strange, right? If people still doubted him, he could just say Mewtwo gave it to him. A First-Class Legendary Pokmon gifting him a bottle of antidote? That sounded reasonable enough. Julian thought both of these excuses were fine, hed just pick one when the time came. As for the 10,000 points, he would slowly deduct it from Celebis food budget over the next ten years, that should cover it. Sar?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Celebi: (_) ??? Chapter 391: Celebi Julian went to the hospital''s convenience store and bought two bottles of water along with some food, intending to bring them to Nicole and her mother. Celebi: "Chicken drumsticks, fried chicken drumsticksI want fried chicken drumsticks!" The Pok Ball attached to his waist shook lightly. Clearly, this little troublemaker had spotted the fried chicken drumsticks sitting on the counter. A hurried voice echoed in Julians mind through telepathy. "Be patient, well eat when we get back to the hotel tonight," Julian reassured. He was in a hospital, surrounded by surveillance camerasthere was no way he could release Celebi here. But Celebi, being the stubborn brat it was, wasnt willing to wait. Fried chicken drumsticks were not something to be put off until later. Celebi: "No, I want to eat them now!" The Pok Ball shook even more violently. "Cut it out! Do you even realize where we are?" Julian sighed helplessly. "Ill buy them now, and tonight at the hotel, Ill throw in a side of fries, how about that?" Fried chicken drumsticks plus friesCelebi thought about it for a moment and quickly agreed. Under its persistent demands, Julian ended up buying six fried chicken drumsticks. With all that oil and fat, it was a good thing Celebi wasnt an ordinary Pokmon, or its body would have given out long ago. Discreetly, he stored the drumsticks in his system space. While taking the elevator, Julian suddenly asked Celebi, "If a human is poisoned with a lethal toxin, do you have a way to cure them?" Celebi: "You mean that human from the hospital room just now?" If a Pok Ball wasnt fully locked, Pokmon could still sense the outside world, so Celebi knew exactly what Julian was talking about. "Yeah, do you have a way to cure him?" Celebi: "If I do, I get to play in the top lane from now on." Judging by its words, it seemed like Celebi did have a way. But "Not a chance. The top lane is too dangerous for you. You cant handle it." Celebi: "Then I wont help." After a moment of silence, Julian said, "Ill throw in a family bucket meal." Celebi extended its hand: "Make it five." Julian stared at its tiny hand and deadpanned, "But you only have three fingers." Celebi: (ܳܳ) "Deal," Julian said before Celebi could throw a fit. When he returned to the floor where Duke was, Nicole and her mother were already sitting on a bench in the hallway. Julian handed them the water and food. Nicole took them in a daze, her expression sad. "Dont worry, everything will be fine," Julian said before he could stop himself. He wasnt just offering empty comfortwhether Celebi helped or not, he had a way to cure Duke. Nicole nodded without saying much, but her mother gave a gentle smile and said, "Nico, this must be Julian, right?" However, Nicole didnt respond. "Yes, Auntie, Im Julian," he said. "Ive heard about you from my father-in-law and Nico. Thank you for looking after her at university. She lost her father ten years ago. If she ever has a bit of a temper, I hope you can be patient with her." Julian hadnt expected that Nicole had lost her father at such a young age. No wonder he had never appeared until now. She wasnt someone who talked much, and every time she came to him, it was always about studying his Pokmon. She had never mentioned anything about her family. Of course, Julian had never asked either. He only knew that her grandfather was the strongest champion of Drakoria. Otherwise, he would have kicked her out long ago. Why would he let her study his Pokmon? Time ticked by, and soon, two hours had passed. Only one hour remained of the three-hour window that Brad had mentioned. The mother and daughters expressions grew heavier. And John and Brad still hadnt returned. Finally, after another half hour, the two of them arrived, one after the other. Nicole and her mother immediately stood up from their seats, looking at them expectantly. John: "I retrieved three Revival Herbs from the Treasury." Revival Herbs had miraculous healing effects for both Pokmon and humans when it came to injuries. "Why didnt you bring more?" Nicole couldnt help asking. Brad, standing beside them, explained, "Dukes body is already at its limit, three Revival Herbs are the most he can take." "Besides, Revival Herbs dont cure poison. They can only prolong his life." "Ive consulted with several Poison-type experts, the toxins in his body are extremely complex. Its impossible to analyze them in a short time." "We can only hope the Revival Herbs can buy us five more days." Even as he said that, Brad didnt hold much hope. Even if they did manage to detoxify Duke, the damage had already been done. His body had been completely ravaged by the poison. Even if the poison was removed, he wouldnt have long to live. Still, hearing that the Revival Herbs could keep him stable for five more days, Nicole and her mother breathed a sigh of relief. In their eyes, as long as there was a chance, there was still hope. John handed the Revival Herbs to Brad, instructing him to administer them to Duke. But at this moment, Julian spoke up. "Actually, I can detoxify him." Since he had already decided to step in, there was no point in delaying any longer. Who knew what might happen if he waited? As soon as he said that, he noticed the others staring at him with strange expressions. "Ahem, Im serious." "Its not me who will heal him." With that, he released Celebi from its Pok Ball, making his words much more believable. Because of eating too much junk food, Celebi had turned into "Cele-Pig." Fortunately, it hadnt gotten so fat that it was unrecognizable, so everyone present immediately recognized the little green Pokmon at first glancebefore their expressions froze in shock. Celebi!! Brad cried out in surprise, but in the next second, his voice lowered as he muttered, Why does it have a belly? Julian shot Celebi a glare. Celebi floated toward Brad, the latter thought Celebi was coming over to get close to him and was just about to reach out his handonly to be punched square in the eye. Celebi: "Thats what you get for calling me fat." One punch wasnt enough to satisfy Celebi. It raised its tiny fist again, ready to land another hit, but Julian quickly stopped it. S~ea??h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Alright, alright. Go heal Champion Duke first. Once youre done, you can punch him again. Brad: Brad clutched his eye but wasnt angry at all. In fact, he was still staring at Celebi with curiosityeven looking a little pleased. How many people in the entire world could say theyd been punched by a Mythical Pokmon like Celebi? Once Celebi flew into the hospital room, John finally processed what had just happened. He clapped Julian on the shoulder and laughed heartily. Haha! Thats my dear grandson! You have the makings of a Championeven a Celebi follows you! Julian: I didnt capture it, its just here to freeload, Julian said plainly. Although he already considered Celebi as a companion, their bond was different from the one he shared with Metagross, Dragonite, and the others. If Celebi ever wanted to leave, it was free to do so anytime, and Julian would not stop it. Chapter 392: Small Commotion? Celebi and Melmetal are both Mythical Pokmon, but there was a significant difference between them. The difference lies in whether they possess a unique ability. Among the Steel-type Pokmon, Melmetal is recognized as a Mythical Pokmon, but it doesnt have an exclusive ability of its own. Among Mythical Pokmon, it is considered quite ordinary, without any particularly distinguishing features. Celebi, on the other hand, is different. While it is not known for its combat power, everyone familiar with it knows that Celebi has the ability to travel through time. It can traverse from the present to the past, and if it wishes, it can choose to live in a specific period of time. This is its unique abilitysomething Melmetal does not have. Other Mythical Pokmon with special abilities include Jirachi, Hoopa, Mew, etc. Among all Mythical Pokmon, those with their own special abilities are considered the most unique. If you were presented with a Celebi and a Melmetal and had to choose one, anyone who truly understands Mythical Pokmon would undoubtedly pick Celebi, which possesses the ability to travel through time. Although Melmetal is powerful, it lacks a unique ability and can essentially be considered a different type of "pseudo-legendary." Of course, Julian didnt mean to look down on Melmetalthis was simply the reality of the situation. "Why have I visited your place so many times and never seen Celebi?" Upon seeing Celebi, Nicole momentarily forgot her worries about her grandfather and instead looked at Julian with dissatisfaction and curiosity. "Celebi was on the second floor, you just never went up," Julian replied. Any Pokmon scholar would be thrilled to see a Celebi. If the situation werent so special right now, Julian wouldnt have let Celebi be exposed at all. Fortunately, not many people knew about it yet. "Then you could have called it down." Nicole clearly didn''t believe Julian''s nonsense, and looked at him angrily. It was Celebi! A real Celebi! She had been to Julians house so many times and had never even noticed it. "It said you''re ugly and didnt want to see you," Julian replied calmly. Without hesitation, he threw Celebi under the bus. If the situation werent so serious, Nicole might have bitten Julian on the spot. What kind of response was that? She was one of the top ten campus belles of Imperial University! "My dear grandson, is this how you court girls?" John gave Julian a strange look and whispered in his ear. "Grandpa, I''m not pursuing her, women will only distract me from reaching greater heights." Julian turned to look at John, wondering if his grandfather had misunderstood something. "Good grandson, the highest state for a man is to marry a wife and have children." Patting Julian''s shoulder, he seemed to have thought of something, and his tone carried a hint of melancholy. "I''m planning to visit Grandma in a while, do you want to come?" Julian asked. His grandmother was alive and well, so there was no need to overthink. The reason she had never appeared was simply that she and John had divorced a long time ago. As for why, Julian had never been able to get an answer from either his grandfather or father so far. "What''s so great about seeing that old woman? Count me out." John immediately shook his head. For once, his expression showed hesitation, which was quite a sight for Julian. "I''ll be sure to pass your exact words on to Grandma," Julian said flatly. John''s body stiffened, his expression turning unnatural, but he still kept his tough stance. "Then you better not forget." "Theres going to be some commotion when you go, so I''ll give her a heads-up." "Mm." While the grandfather and grandson were talking, Celebi had already flown to Duke''s side. It seemed the healing was about to begin, so everyone turned their attention to Celebi. Nicole, in particular, was staring intently, her phone in handperhaps finally remembering her actual profession. "You can study it yourself, but dont spread the footage," Julian warned. But Nicole didnt even turn her head, her eyes locked onto Celebi with an intense gaze. At this moment, maybe even her grandfathers life or death wasn''t as important as Celebi. Duke: (O) Celebi hovered above Duke, murmuring softly as if chanting some kind of spell. John and Nicole couldn''t understand a word. But Julian could, and his face darkened immediately. Celebi: "My existence surpasses all things." "I am not the ruler of the sky, yet the blood in my veins refuses to bow." "This street belongs to me." "Grip your sword tightly, young one." Julian: Holding his forehead, Julian looked utterly pained. Cringeworthy as its words were, Celebi was indeed casting a "spell." At Parkway Hospital in Orient City, every plantbe it a small office potted plant or the large trees lining the streetsbegan to glow with faint green light. And this effect was spreading rapidly, expanding towards the entire Orient city with Parkway Hospital as the center. Potted plants at home, trees on the sides of the road, grass in the parks, forests, aquatic plants in rivers, vegetable gardens, orchards, and weedsall green life began emitting tiny, sesame-sized specks of green light. These green lights seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, rising into the air and flowing toward the direction of Parkway Hospital. Nearly everyone in Orient City witnessed this phenomenon. Some reached out, trying to grasp the glowing particles, but the lights simply passed through their hands. Countless streams of green light flowed from all directions, converging toward Parkway Hospital. Some streamers doing live stream quickly pointed their cameras at the glowing spectacle. What is this? Some kind of special effect? Streamer, this special effect is insane! Its not a special effect, Im in Orient City right now, and the whole place is filled with these green lights. This is crazy! My money plant just let out two little green lights from its leaves, and they floated away! Streamer, hurry to Parkway Hospital! My friend says all these green lights are gathering there! A phenomenon of this scale was no accident. Something extraordinary was definitely behind it. Many trainers in Orient City quickly realized that this was most likely the work of a Pokmon. With that thought, they immediately rushed toward Parkway Hospital. At the same time, a massive crowd of civilians also began making their way there. Inside the hospitalthe very center of this eventthe medical staff were naturally curious. However, they had already received prior instructions. ''Do not panic. Do not be afraid. Continue your work as usual.'' "My dear grandson, this is the small commotion you mentioned? John stood by the window, looking at the massive green river of energy formed from the life essence of every plant in Orient City, and couldn''t help being a little speechless. Faced with his grandfather''s question, Julian didn''t know what to say. In fact, he hadnt expected Celebi to go this overboard either. Had he known, he mightve just spent ten thousand points to buy an antidote himself. Now the entire city was in an uproar. There was no hiding the fact that a Pokmon was behind all of thisespecially from those paying close attention. sea??h th Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 393: Same Height And Weight? A large number of trainers in Orient City were already heading toward Parkway Hospital. Some were nearby the hospital, while some were already inside the hospital to begin with. If all these trainers arrived at the hospital at once, it would undoubtedly cause unnecessary chaosespecially since Duke was still undergoing treatment inside. Meta! Johns Metagross appeared in the sky above the hospital, exuding the overwhelming presence of a Champion-level Pokmon. Under this oppressive aura, the entire space around Parkway Hospital seemed to tremble. Ordinary people didnt feel much, but every trainer present suddenly felt as if a massive mountain had settled upon their shoulders. Even trainers rushing in from other parts of Orient City were struck with a deep sense of intimidation. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Champion Walker is at Parkway Hospitaleveryone, disperse. Wait, are these green lights his doing? I really want to know whats happening inside. Im a journalist! Let me inthe public has the right to know! The hospitals security team blocked the reporters and civilians trying to enter. Even those faking illnesses in hopes of getting inside had no luckbecause of the Chansey on duty. With Chanseys abilities, it could instantly tell whether someone was truly sick or not. Inside Dukes hospital room, countless streams of green light gathered in Celebis palms, condensing and compressing until, before long, they formed a fist-sized green orb. Celebi: "Awaken, my servant." With that, Celebi forcefully pressed the green orb into Dukes chest. Julian: As the green light seeped into Dukes body, his body immediately underwent obvious changes. The corroded skin that had been exposed to the air was now visibly healing at a rapid pace. Then, Celebi floated out of the room. Its tiny face looked exhausted. Julian was surprised to notice that Celebi, which had been plump just moments ago, had returned to its original slim figure. That little bellyit was completely gone. It seemed that healing Duke had drained Celebi quite a bit, but the weight-loss effect? That was on another level. Months worth of built-up fat had just vanished in a matter of minutes. At this speed, Celebis weight-loss method would make most women jealous. Celebi: "Im tired I want to sleep" Celebi floated over to Julian, closed its eyes, and immediately collapsed into his arms. After returning Celebi to its Pok Ball, Julian said, Its a bit exhausted. Nicoles mother anxiously asked, Is my father-in-law healed? Yes Julian nodded. Since Celebi had said so, there was no doubt about it. Although it''s unreliable in many things, but when it came to major matters like this, it could still be trusted. Brad had already rushed in to check on Duke, accompanied by Dr. Reid, who had been studying the toxins in Dukes body. Initially, Dr. Reid had been deeply focused on his research, but the sudden burst of green light had caught his attention. Seeing that the light originated from the same floor as Duke, he had hurried over in a rush. After a thorough examination by both Brad and Dr. Reid, the two finally stepped out of the room, Nicole hurriedly asked, Is my grandfather completely healed now? Dr. Reid, still looking bewildered and shocked, nodded. Its unbelievable The toxins in Champion Dukes body have been completely eradicated! Not only that, but the damage caused by the toxins has also fully healed. His body is now in excellent condition, and even some health issues he had before are entirely gone. He then turned to Brad and asked, This wasnt your doing, was it? You dont have that kind of ability, what was that green light all about? Dr. Reid wasnt an idiot, the fact that the green light had converged precisely on Dukes floor, and that his toxins had disappeared immediately after, was no coincidence. Such a miraculous event was clearly beyond Brads capabilities. It wasnt me, but I know who healed Champion Duke. Not that Im going to tell you, thoughdoes that frustrate you? Brad smirked. Both he and Dr. Reid were renowned medical experts, and as the saying went, rivals in the same field were bound to clash. The two had been at odds for decades. As long as it wasnt your doing, thats all that matters. Dr. Reid, however, showed no sign of irritation, he didnt even seem particularly curious about who was responsible. His blunt response actually made Brad a little angrywas this guy looking down on him? Naturally, the existence of Celebi was a secret that couldnt be revealed to others. Even though certain people might eventually figure it out, they would delay that moment for as long as possible. Now that she had confirmed her grandfather was safeand even healthier than beforeNicole and her mother finally let out a sigh of relief. If not for the setting, Nicole would have hugged Julian on the spot. Julian: When will Grandpa wake up? Nicole asked. Probably tomorrow, although his body is fine now, but he was drained of too much energy while poisoned, so he needs a good rest. Well, since Champion Duke is stable, Ill be taking my leave. Dr. Reid said, before swiftly departing. He still had to continue studying the toxin. If he could fully analyze it, his medical skills would improve even further. And in the future, if other trainers in Drakoria ever fell victim to the same poison, they wouldnt have to struggle as much to find a cure. Dr. Reid had just left when Brad also followed suit, Then Ill be off as well, that old geezer is definitely rushing off to study the toxinI cant afford to fall behind! With that, he hurriedly turned to leave. But after taking just a few steps, he suddenly stopped and walked back toward Julian. Come by my house when you have time, my granddaughter is quite fond of you. You mean the one whose height and weight are the same? Julian hadnt even fully processed what was happening when John, standing beside him, glanced at Brad and deadpanned, Spare others from your familys disaster, will you? A square-shaped figure immediately appeared in Julians mind. Brad, thoroughly exposed, was both furious and embarrassed. My granddaughter is well-nourished! That just means I take good care of her! Dont think that just because youre a Champion now, Im afraid of you! Shes not just well-nourishedshes practically dripping with excess! You sure she wont get sick? John smirked. And you, a Poison-type specialist, have the nerve to challenge a Steel-type user? Steel-types to Poison-types were like Fairy-types to Dragonsan inherent advantage. Unless the level gap was massive, it would be a completely one-sided fight. With no comeback, Brad stormed off in frustration. Not long after, John and Julian also left, leaving Nicole and her mother behind to take care of Duke. As for Dukes safety, there was no need to worry, aside from the hidden security forces stationed around the area, his strongest Pokmon were also secretly guarding the hospitals perimeter. With that in mind, Johns presence here wasnt actually necessary anymore. And in a way, his departure with Julian was also a form of protectionbecause right now, John was acting as Julians shield. Chapter 394: Two Saviors The next day, the entire country was in an uproar over one shocking piece of newsDrakorias strongest Champion, Duke, had been fatally poisoned and didnt have much time left. Duke was highly respected, not just among ordinary citizens but also within the Trainer community. Like Julian, he had risen to fame at a young age. Throughout his journey, he had made countless contributions to the nation. Later, he became the president of the Drakorian Trainer Association, leading millions of professional Trainers. Whenever Drakoria had conflicts with other major powers, Duke was always involved in handling them. As the strongest Champion of Drakoria, his very existence deterred Drakorias greatest rival, Celestria, from making any reckless moves. If Duke was to die, although Drakoria still had five other Champions, none of them could compare to him in terms of deterrence or strength. The weakest of these Champions was Julians grandfather, John Walker, simply because he had become a Champion most recently. Originally, the Drakorian government had immediately sealed off the news of Dukes poisoning, but unexpectedly, within just a day, the matter had spread like wildfire. Not just in Drakoriathe morning news in many foreign countries was already reporting on it. It was clear that someone had deliberately leaked the information. Otherwise, there was no way such a secret could have spread worldwide overnight. > "The government hasnt issued a statement yet, could it be that Champion Duke is really in trouble?" > "Duke, poisoned? Come on, thats hilarious!" > "Honestly, the way theyre reporting it, it sounds real." > "Whats going on? Im overseas, and even Ive heard about this. Is it true or not?" Discussions flooded the internet. Some believed the news was real, while others thought it was fake. The lack of an official response only made the situation more confusing. In fact, the governments silence fueled even more speculation. Then, the situation took another dramatic turn. Foreign netizens suddenly dug up a video. The footage showed the exact moment when Duke was bitten by an Arbok, poisoned, and collapsedbefore being rescued by John Walker. > "Anyone here good at video editing? Can someone check if this footage is real or fake?" > "So far, no signs of tampering." > "Damn, that poison looks strong! Duke turned purple instantly, but what did his Alakazam feed him?" > "Champion Walker was there too, yet he hasnt said a word about it?" > "Could this really be true?" The internet was in chaos. People even started bombarding Julians Geek account, urging him to ask John directly. Those who had Julians phone number were calling him nonstop. Meanwhile, Julian, who was staying at a hotel, had just finished breakfast and gone back to sleep for a napcompletely unaware of the situation. It wasnt until Luis called him that he finally found out. Lying in bed, Julian stared at his Geek account, which was flooded with comments, along with all the news about Dukes poisoning. He muttered, Looks like they really think hes done for. If it wasnt for him, Duke might have really not survived. There was no need to think too hard about who leaked the newsit was definitely the work of Babath, with Celestria pulling the strings behind the scenes. With that thought, Julian opened Geek and typed out a simple message: Julian: "Fake news, hes fine." After setting his phone aside, he glanced at Celebi, who had been eating non-stop since morning. Feeling helpless, he sighed, Cant you eat a little less? You finally lost some weight. At this rate, Celebi was just going to gain it all backand then some. Didnt it know that being overweight could ruin everything? What if it didnt want to stay single forever? Oh, wait this little guy didnt even have a set gender. Celebi ignored Julian and continued munching while saying, I used up a lot of energy, so I need to eat more to recover. Eating fried chicken, French fries, and drinking cola to "recover"? What kind of nonsense was this? It was so ridiculous that Julian almost couldnt argue back. By the way, what was that move you used to heal Champion Duke yesterday? Julian asked curiously. It had managed to cure such a deadly poison and even fixed some of Dukes old ailments. So, Celebi could act as a healer too? Celebi: How about calling it Holy Lights Blessing? There it was againits otaku tendencies. Actually that wasnt even an real move; it was just Celebi using its natural powers. sea??h th novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Forget it, pretend I never asked. He had hoped for a serious answer, but now his expectations were completely ruined. Celebi: Green River of Life works too. Julian decided not to ask anymore, but Celebi seemed to have gotten excited. The little Pokmon perched on his stomach, deep in thought, trying to come up with a cool and domineering name that suited its identity. Just then, a knock came from the door, Julian glanced at Celebi, who pouted before reluctantly retreating into its Pok Ball. When he opened the door and saw who it was, Julian sighed in frustration. Why is it you? It was Nicole. Shouldnt she be at the hospital taking care of her grandfather? How did she have time to come looking for him? Nicole stepped inside, scanned the room, and then asked, Wheres Celebi? So she was here for Celebi. Julian answered smoothly, It went home to see its mother. Lying came naturally to him. But the very next second, Celebi popped out of its Pok Ball, flew up to Julians face, and protested, Youre the one who went home to see your mother! After speaking, it happily fluttered over to the table and continued eating its unfinished fried chicken and fries. Nicoles eyes widened in shock when she saw Celebi munching on fried chicken and fries. She immediately turned to Julian, her expression filled with anger. How can you let a Pokmon eat this kind of junk? Youre harming it! If Pokmon ate too much of this stuff, it could lead to serious health problems. Being questioned like this, Julians expression instantly turned cold. Thats none of your concern, Celebi is perfectly fine. Mythical Pokmon were built differently, and even if Celebi somehow managed to ruin its health with bad eating habits, Julian had the means to fix it. Nicole shot him a glare before crouching beside Celebi and speaking softly. Be good, dont eat this kind of food, Ill bring you some Pokblocks later, okay? Saying that, she reached out to take the drumstick from Celebis handsonly for Celebi to swiftly dodge her. The little Pokmon eyed Nicole with deep suspicion. Duke: Julian chuckled when he saw Nicole get completely ignored by Celebi. If you have nothing else to say, you can leave now. Celebi doesnt like you. Coming in and trying to take its foodof course Celebi wouldnt like her. If she had brought some milk tea instead, she might have earned a little goodwill. Nicole stared at Celebi in confusion, she was clearly looking out for its well-being, so why did it seem so unhappy? Chapter 395: Egg T/N: Even though we didn''t reach the 1k Powerstones target, I will still upload this chapter for your efforts. And this offer is still valid for the coming week 1k Powerstones for 1 bonus chapter or top 15 for 2 but this time it has to be 1k. --- In the afternoon, Duke posted a video. In the footage, he looked full of energy, his complexion clear and healthy, the video completely shattered the rumors. "Duke: I heard some people say I was already dead." Online discussions erupted immediately. > "Does anyone else think Champion Duke looks younger?" > "I noticed it too! I thought I was imagining things." > "He dyed his hair black, of course he looks younger." In reality, he had indeed grown younger, thanks to Celebi. Not only did it cure his poisoning, but it also made his body healthier. In a way, he had turned misfortune into a blessing. John Walker was a few years younger than him, but now, standing side by side, it looked as if John was the older one. This left John feeling rather frustrated, but knowing it was thanks to his grandsons efforts, he couldnt help but feel proud instead. After all, Celebi was always by his grandsons sidewho knew if he might get a chance to regain some youth too? Around 3 p.m., Julian arrived at Parkway Hospital again, walking into Dukes hospital room alongside John. Dukes body had fully recovered, but since he had been poisoned so severely, he still needed a deep medical evaluation before he could be discharged. Julian, I really have to thank you and Celebi this time. Duke looked at Julian with genuine gratitude. He was not afraid of death, but if he had fallen, then Drakorias champion count and overall strength would have dropped below that of Celestria. Once that kind of disadvantage appeared, it would only grow worse if not properly handled. If things spiraled out of control, Celestria could completely surpass Drakoria. So, in a way, Julian saving Duke wasnt just a personal favorit was a contribution to the entire country. Its all thanks to Celebi. Julian said casually, he didnt think the credit belonged to him, Celebi was the one who had healed Duke, so the merit was naturally Celebis. Duke looked at Celebi who was sitting on Julians shoulder, swinging its little legs. As a veteran trainer, Duke had, of course, seen Celebi before, he had also encountered many Mythical and Legendary Pokmoneven First-Class Legendaries. But without exception, all of those Pokmon were deeply wary of humans, rarely approaching them willingly. Some even harbored outright hostility toward people. It was his first time seeing a Celebi so openly attached to a human like this. The reason Celebi was so close to Julian was largely due to his strong Aura powers. Moreover, this Celebi itself was a bit of an oddball among its kind. Otherwise, a normal Celebi wouldnt have stuck around just because of some fried chicken and fries, even if it thought Julian was a good person. Celebi, thank you, if you and Julian ever need anything, you can always come to me. Sitting on Julians shoulder, Celebi gave a proud little nod. Julian: Nicole looked at Celebi with a somewhat strange expression. The image of Celebi munching on fried chicken at the hotel had completely shattered its mystique in her mind. This was an extremely undisciplined Mythical Pokmon with some seriously bad habits. Old man, if you really want to thank my grandson, then give something practical, John said, clearly dissatisfied. They had saved his lifewhat use were mere verbal thanks and promises? Julian secretly gave his grandfather a thumbs-up, that''s the way to go. Duke laughed and scolded, Do you think Im as stingy as you? Then he pointed to a Pokmon egg resting by his bedside. I know your second type is Dragon, this is a Bagon egg. Julian used his to take a look at the egg. it was a Blue-grade Bagon egg! As the strongest champion of Drakoria, Duke naturally had to offer something valuable to his lifesaver. Fortunately, he happened to have a high-quality Bagon egg on hand. And this is my thank-you gift to Celebi. Of course, since he gave something to Julian, he couldnt forget Celebi. Duke took out a transparent crystal necklace. Energy Crystal? Julian said in surprise. Sarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Celebi: "Can this be eaten?" It can increase your strength. Energy Crystals contained large amounts of neutral energy, making them suitable for Pokmon of all types to absorb, and had no side effects. They were the best items for helping Pokmon break through power bottlenecks. But Energy Crystals were extremely rare. In fact, this was the first time Julian had ever seen one. As soon as Celebi heard it couldnt be eaten, it immediately lost interest. Julian had completely spoiled this little guy. Taking the Energy Crystal necklace, Julian directly placed it around Celebis neck. It fit perfectly, and with it on, Celebi looked even cuter. Since this was meant for Celebi, even if it wasnt interested, Julian wasnt going to give it to any of his other Pokmon. Besides, if Celebis strength increased, that was beneficial for him too. Well, I guess this will do. John said reluctantly after seeing Duke offer the two gifts. Duke, clearly didn''t want to talk to John. Just looking at John was enough to irritate him. If the man wasnt so strong, his mouth alone wouldve gotten him killed long ago. Nico, you and Julian step outside for a bit, Duke said. Once the two younger ones left, only John and Duke remained in the hospital room. What do you plan to do about this? John asked. Once Im discharged, the two of us are taking a trip to Babath. Dukes eyes gleamed with a cold light, he had nearly been killed by that champion from Babathhow could he not take revenge? John grinned: Maybe hes already gone crying to his daddy for help. But it doesnt matter, even if this turns into a big incident, they wont be able to justify themselves. A champion was the foundation of a nation. The strength and number of champions directly determined a countrys standing on the global stage. Thats why every nation took great care of their own champions. If a champion died in a fair and open battle, then there was no one to blame but themselves. But if someone used underhanded tricks? Then they shouldnt be surprised when payback came knocking. Such methods werent necessarily badas long as they worked, they were good tactics. But since they had failed, Babath would have to face the consequences. Both Duke and Drakoria would make them pay. As for Celebi, some people already know about it. There will definitely be those who set their sights on your grandson. Ill arrange for people to protect him in secret, but you should remind Julian, too. Tell him not to go into the wild or any secret realms for now, its best if he stays in university. Celebi had the power to travel through time, any trainer would be tempted by such an ability. I know, foreigners are one thing, but if anyone from our own country dares to lay a finger on my grandson, Ill make sure they dont even leave a corpse behind. Johns smile turned icy. Julian was his dear grandson, and with his exceptional talent, he would one day lead the Walker family into an era unlike anything seen before. From every perspective, John would never allow anyone to harm him. Chapter 396: Cavendish Family Since Duke had already woken up and there was nothing wrong with his body, Julian was ready to return to university. However, before heading back, he planned to visit his grandmother. Julians grandmother was from the Cavendish family of Orient City, the city''s most prestigious family and one of the top families in the entire Drakoria. Since he was already in Orient City, it would be unreasonable not to visit her. Just as he was thinking about this, his phone rang. It was his grandmother calling. "Hello, Grandma." "My dear grandson, are you in Orient right now?" His grandmothers affectionate voice came through the phone, and her way of addressing him was exactly the same as John''s. "Yes, I''m at the Gardevoir Hotel right now, I''ll come see you soon," Julian quickly replied. But the next second, his grandmother''s slightly displeased voice came through: "If I hadn''t called, would you have just forgotten to visit me?" She felt that it was only because she made this call that Julian remembered to see her. "How could that be, Grandma? I was just thinking about coming to see you," Julian reassured her. Women, no matter their age, always had a bit of stubbornness. "That''s more like it, don''t pick up bad habits from certain people." By "certain people," she was referring to Julians grandfather. His grandparents had divorced before he was even born, but Julian had always made a point to visit his grandmother in Orient City every year, so they remained close. After chatting for a while, Julian hung up the phone. Celebi flew over and asked, "Are we not going back to university?" "Not yet," Julian nodded. Hearing this, Celebi seemed a little disappointed. It wasnt that there was anything at university it particularly missed, but in university, it could stay in the villa, but once Julian left campus, it had to spend most of its time inside a Pok Ball. Julian patted its small head in reassurance. "I''ll let you play the top lane tonight." Hearing that, Celebi immediately perked up and quickly said, "Then you have to be my support!" Julians face darkened, playing top lane but still wanting him as support? Had Celebi eaten too much fried chicken and lost its mind? After packing his things, Julian sent a message to his grandfather, letting him know that he was heading to his grandmothers place. Leaving the hotel, he took one of its cars and arrived at a grand estate in the outskirts of Orient City. This was the Cavendish family estate. His grandmothers family was huge, with many descendantsunlike the Walker family, which barely filled two hands when counted. His grandmother had already informed the staff in advance, so the car entered the estate without any trouble and soon arrived at her residence. As Julian stepped into the house, he saw that aside from his grandmother, most of the key members of the Cavendish family were also present. My dear grandson is finally here! Ive missed you so much! Evelyn walked over with a warm smile, her slightly aged hands gently stroked Julians cheeks as she looked him up and down. Youre getting more and more handsome! As expected of my grandson. Evelyn looked at Julian proudly. Not only is he handsome, but now, who in the entire Drakoria doesnt know Julian? Hes the number one trainer of the younger generation! The one speaking was the current head of the Cavendish familyEvelyn''s nephew and her elder brother''s son. Ever since Julian became a professional trainer, he had accomplished many great feats. He made a stunning debut by winning first place in the individual competition of Silver Conference. Then came the Shu University Exchange Match, where he defeated an Articuno. After that, he participated in the Hundred Schools League, where he, as a pseudo-Elite trainer, defeated an Elite. His owning a Mythical Pokmon like Melmetal had shaken the entire country, and later, his Dragonite officially became an Elite. With all these achievements, Julian had become the youngest Elite trainer in Drakorias history. You flatter me, Family Head. Call me Uncle, the man corrected with some displeasure. He was the son of Julians grandmothers older brother. By family hierarchy, Julian was indeed supposed to call him Uncle. However, among all the members of the Cavendish family, the only one Julian was truly close to was his grandmother, Evelyn. Despite the warm smiles on everyone''s faces and their seemingly enthusiastic gazes, Julian could sense otherwise. Thanks to his Aura abilities, he could tell that their auras werent filled with genuine warmth. In fact, they were indifferent at bestand some even carried hints of hostility. Before awakening his Aura, Julian had thought the Cavendish family treated him warmly. Now, he could see that their enthusiasm had been nothing more than an act. Apart from his grandmother and the family head, there were also a few younger members around Julians age present. Julian recognized all of them. After all, he had visited the Cavendish family estate every year and knew them by name, but his bond with them wasnt even as close as the bond he shared with Luis. How long are you planning to stay? His grandmother held his hand and asked expectantly. Seeing the hopeful look in her eyes, Julian smiled and said, Three days. Only three days? You used to stay much longer! she complained. Grandma, Im in university now, I cant take long breaks, Julian explained. In truth, though, it wasnt just about university. He could clearly feel that aside from his grandmother, the rest of the Cavendish family didnt particularly welcome him. Naturally, he had no desire to stay any longer than necessary. My dear grandson is now a student at Imperial Universityand he was specially recruited, no less! Hes far more promising than these few. As she spoke, her face was full of pride. The ones she referred to were the descendants of the family head and other eldersthe direct bloodline of the Cavendish family, who were standing nearby. Imperial University was the top institution in Drakoria. Getting in required true talent and hard work; there was no way to buy or bribe ones way through the admissions process. Even if you were a civilian trainer, as long as you were talented enough, Imperial University would welcome you with open arms. Imperial University didn''t look at a students status, family background, or influence. The only things that counted were talent and hard work. So if you werent one in a million, you had no chance of getting into Imperial Universitylet alone being specially recruited. For a top-tier family like the Cavendish, it was quite embarrassing that not a single one of their descendants had been admitted to Imperial University in recent years. Of course, this was also a reflection of the familys gradual decline. Every top aristocratic family in Drakoria had, at some point, produced a Champion-level trainer. The Cavendish familys Champion was his grandmother''s father, but he had passed away decades ago, and his legacy had long faded. Over the past ten years, no new Elites had emerged from the Cavendish family. While there were still a few elder trainers at the Elite level, they were all advanced in age. And one of them was Julians grandmother. For the past ten years or so, the younger generation of the family had either been spoiled troublemakers or complete disappointments. Even those with some talent fell short of being able to uphold the familys prestige. This decline had made the family appear increasingly weak. If not for John silently supporting them from behind the scenes, some of their resources would have already been carved up by their rivals. Auntie, our family still has outstanding members. My youngest son, Lance, has already been admitted to Modu Academy in advance, the family head said. S~ea??h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The young man named Lance was also present. Upon hearing his father praise him, he immediately puffed up with pride. He even cast a provocative glance at Julian. You must be itching for another beating, Julian said casually. Hearing this, Lances face stiffened instantly, remembering that ever since he was a child, he had been beaten up by Julian every year without fail. Chapter 397: Fool Lance was the textbook definition of a spoiled rich kid. However, he was a talented oneotherwise, he wouldnt have been pre-admitted to Modu Academy. Every year when Julian visited the Cavendish family, this guy would always try to provoke himonly to get beaten up in return. He was the kind of person who never learned his lesson. Lance constantly picked fights with Julian because, despite being an outsider, Julian was treated better than him, a direct descendant of the Cavendish family. Julians grandmother, Evelyn, was a peak Elite trainer and one of the pillars of the Cavendish family. Even the family head had to listen to her words. Naturally, she cared deeply for her grandson. Whenever there was something good, Julian was the first person she thought of. This, of course, caused dissatisfaction among some younger members of the family, who felt that Julian was taking what should have rightfully been theirs. Hearing Julians blunt remarkespecially in front of so many peopleLance was both furious and humiliated. But more importantly, he didnt dare say much in response. Even back when Julian wasnt a trainer, he had already been able to pin Lance to the ground and beat him up. Now, Julian was recognized as the strongest of Drakorias younger generation. His presence alone was something Lance could not hope to match. So, he turned to his father, hoping he would speak up for him. However, the family head pretended not to see him. He simply couldnt afford to offend Julianafter all, the Cavendish family was still relying on the Walker family in many ways. Modu Academy is indeed a great university. Lance, you must work hard, Evelyn said. Even though the academy had dropped out of the top five last year due to Julians performance in the Hundred Schools Leagueallowing the Second Military Academy to take its placeits strength was undeniable. One bad ranking didnt mean people would look down on it. I understand, Auntie. Lance quickly nodded, looking a little excited. After all, being praised by his great-aunt was rare. Aside from Julian, few in the family ever received such recognition. If you ever have any questions, you can ask your Brother Julian, Evelyn added. Lances face instantly fell. Ask Julian? Hed rather search the internet instead. Since he was going to Modu Academy, he was naturally focusing on Dragon-type Pokmon. Although Julian specialized in Steel types, his first Elite-level Pokmon was a Dragon type. Moreover, Julians secondary specialty was also Dragon type. Auntie, theres no need to trouble Brother Julian, I already have a Dragon-type teacher, Lance replied. Your teacher? Hah! How could he possibly compare to my grandson? In my eyes, hes nothing but a fool, Evelyn scoffed. The moment she mentioned Lances teacher, her face showed clear disdain. In her expert opinion, that so-called instructor was simply mediocre. Lances reasoning for considering his teacher a good one was a mystery. Coincidentally, his teacher happened to walk in at that very moment, having come to find Lanceonly to overhear someone calling him a fool. Mr. Bryon! Lance hurriedly greeted him as soon as he saw him enter. Seeing his teachers grim expression, he wondered if he had heard what his great-aunt had just said. Elder, I may only be at the early Elite level, but I was personally taught by Elite Drake himself. Speaking of me this way is quite disrespectful to him, dont you think? Bryon said. Evelyn sneered at his words. You attended a few of Victors lectures and now consider yourself his disciple? Do you really think he even remembers who you are? Victor Drake was the current Dragon-type Elite and also the head of the Drake family. Bryons face turned red, clearly hit where it hurt. Of course, Teacher Drake remembers me! I Remembers you, my ass! Before he could even finish, Evelyn cut him offrudely, at that. John had a fiery temper, but Evelyns temper was even worse. Despite her old age, her attitude had not mellowed one bit. Bryon was left completely dumbfounded by her sudden outburst. How could an esteemed elder of the Cavendish family speak so crudely? The Cavendish family head twitched slightly at the corners of his mouth and subtly gestured for Bryon to leaveotherwise, hed experience firsthand what it meant to be thoroughly insulted. What are you staring at? If I say youre a fool, then you are one. Youre pushing sixty and still stuck at early Elite level. If I were you, Id just ram my head into a wall already. S~ea??h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. My dear grandson isnt even twenty yet, and hes already reached early Elite stage. Youve been alive for sixty years, and youre at the same level as my grandson? Thats just sad. The Elite ranking didnt care about age. Whether one was a newly ascended Elite or had been at the level for decades, they were still considered an Elite-level trainer. However, true geniuses typically reached the Elite stage by the time they were in their thirties. John, Evelyn, and Victor had all reached this level around the same age. Had Evelyn devoted all her energy to training Pokmon, she might have become a pseudo-champion by now. Even so, as a peak Elite trainer, she had already surpassed the vast majority of trainers. Elder, I have to disagree, Bryon said. I am indeed at the early Elite stage, but your grandsons experience is nothing compared to mine. When it comes to training Dragon-types, Im definitely more skilled than him. He had spent over a decade at this level. Julian was still youngwhen it came to sheer experience, there was no way he could compare. Bullshit! My grandson is better than you in every way, Evelyn snapped. If you dont believe me, lets have a battle and find out, Bryon challenged. Julian hadnt expected the argument to turn on him so suddenly. What do you think, my dear grandson? Evelyn asked. Well, since Mr. Bryon wants a battle, lets have one, Julian said calmly. He had originally planned to call him a fool too, but after seeing how his grandmother had already humiliated him, he decided against it. The man had been bullied enoughany more, and he might just pass out from anger. Fine, lets have a match, Bryon declared loudly. Of course, he had heard of Julian''s strength. But like many others, he believed the young trainers reputation was exaggerated. Besides, he had over forty years of extra experience compared to Julian. When it came to battle tactics, there was no way a youngster could outmatch him. Lance walked up to Bryon and whispered, Teacher, youre being too impulsive. Bryon snorted. Are you saying I cant beat him? Teacher, do you not know that his Dragonite defeated the ace Pokmon of the national-level Rock Gym Leader? The ace Pokmon of any national-level Gym Leader was at least at the peak of Elite. Bryon: His expression turned complicated. Had he known, there was no way he would have issued the challenge so recklessly. Seeing Bryons face shift from confidence to hesitation, Lance knew right away that his teacher had no idea about this information. For a moment, he didnt know what to say. Teacher, you really need to check TikTok more often, he sighed. With Julians popularity, anything he did would be all over TikTok in an instant. Chapter 398: Gabite Vs Altaria Although Bryon knew about Julian, his information on him was outdatedhe had no idea what Julian had accomplished recently. If he had known that Julian had won a 3v3 battle against a national-level Rock Gym Leader, there was no way he would have issued this challenge. After all, he was only at the early Elite stage. It was one thing to boast in front of Lancehe was a straightforward kid who actually believed his words. "Youre not backing out now, are you, fool?" Seeing Bryon hesitate, Evelyn sneered. "If youre afraid, just admit defeat, losing to my grandson isnt anything to be ashamed of." "Who said Im afraid?" Bryon retorted. "But Elite-level battles can be hard to hold back in. Why dont we have an Advanced-level battle instead? Itll also be a good chance to test out my newly acquired Pokmon." "Of course, if Julian doesnt have any Pokmon at that level, then we can just drop the match." There was no way Bryon would admit he was scared. However, if he went into a Elite-level battle against Julian, his chances of winning were nonexistent. But in an Advanced-level match? He was confident. Afterall, his Pokmon had been carefully trained for this. Julian heard Bryons words and nodded. "I have an Advanced-level Pokmon." His grandmother clearly disliked this guy, and as her grandson, it was only right for him to teach him a lesson. As for whatever plan Bryon had in mindJulian had already seen through it. "Alright, then lets have an Advanced-level battle," Bryon said confidently. With so many members in the Cavendish family, the estate naturally had plenty of battlefields. The group headed to an unoccupied arena. "Elite Bryon, I dont think we need the protective shield. The aftermath of an Advanced-level battle isnt too destructive," Julian said. Hearing this, Bryon hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright." Both trainers stood on opposite sides of the field, and Julian tossed out a Pok Ball. "A Gabite!" Lances eyes lit up with excitement as he looked at the Dragon-type Pokmon standing in the arena. This was one of the Pokmon he wanted most. As a pseudo-legendary Dragon-type, its final evolution, Garchomp, was unbelievably cooland it could even Mega Evolve. Pokmon: Gabite (Dragon/Ground) Level: 47 Potential: Blue Ability: Rough Skin Held Item: Dragon Fang Gender: Male Moves: Sand Tomb, Tackle, Sand Attack, Dragon Breath, Stomp, Bulldoze, Bite, Slash, Dragon Claw, Take Down, Dragon Rush TMs: Double-Edge, Scary Face, Protect, Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Metal Claw, Rock Tomb, Dragon Tail, Sandstorm, Outrage, Shadow Claw, Dragon Pulse, Earthquake Egg Moves: Draco Meteor, Twister, Dig, Dragon Claw --- As soon as Gabite entered the battlefield, it immediately locked eyes with its opponent. Bryon hadn''t expected Julian to send out a Gabite for an Advanced-level battle. The moment he met the Pokmons gaze, he had a bad feeling. Without wasting time, he sent out his own Pokmon. --- Pokmon: Altaria (Dragon/Flying) Level: 49 Potential: Green Ability: Natural Cure Held Item: Dragon Scale Gender: Female Moves: Dragon Pulse, Growl, Mist, Pluck, Peck, Disarming Voice, Fury Attack, Round, Dragon Breath, Safeguard, Sing, Cotton Guard, Take Down, Moonblast TMs: Protect, Aerial Ace, Swift, Dragon Claw, Dazzling Gleam, Fly, Hyper Beam, Hurricane, Brave Bird Egg Moves: Feather Dance, Astonish, Roost, Tailwind --- As Altaria soared through the air, its pure white feathers, elegant long neck, and clear, melodious cry made for a stunning display. Its graceful posture and keen eyes showed its beauty. It was clear that Bryon had raised this Altaria well. It''s just that Julian''s Gabite was even better. "Teacher sent out Altaria, just as expected! Hes been training this one carefully all year. Even against a Gabite, its not necessarily at a disadvantage!" Lance was full of confidence in Bryon, especially in his Altaria. Since its debut, it had never lost a matcheven against stronger opponents, it had always come out victorious. "This fool actually raised a decent Pokmon." Evelyn remarked, nodding slightly. She could tell that Altaria was an exceptional Pokmon. But her attention soon shifted to Julians Gabite. "Its build, its gaze, its presence In all my years, Ive never seen such an outstanding Gabite. Even the Drake family might not be able to produce one of this caliber." If her reaction to Altaria was admiration, then her reaction to Gabite was pure astonishment. It was almost unbelievable that such an exceptional Pokmon was right in front of her. And to thinkher own grandson had raised it! Pride immediately swelled in Evelyns chest. "The match is already decided." The Cavendish family head said softly. Even though the battle hadnt started, the gap between the two Pokmon was already clear. As long as Julian didnt make a major mistake in his commands, there was no way Altaria could win. "Dad, you mean Teacher has already won?" Lance obviously misunderstood his fathers words, assuming he was predicting Bryons victory. Delighted, he said, "I knew it! Teacher is amazingJulian doesnt stand a chance!" The Cavendish family head glanced at his youngest son. He had always believed Lance was the most promising among his children. Now, he wasnt so sure. Or perhaps his sons intelligence had been dragged down by spending too much time around Bryon. Gabite''s eyes gleamed with ferocity. It had been a while since its last battle. Julian usually played at the Elite level, where its strength wasnt enough to make the cut. But now that Julian was finally taking on a lower-tier battle, it wasnt going to hold back. Gabite: As Gabites fighting spirit surged, Julians voice rang in its ears. "Dragon Claw!" The two Pokmon were over a hundred meters apart. The moment Gabites powerful legs exploded into motion, the ground beneath it caved inward from the sheer force. Like an arrow released from a bow, Gabite shot forward. In a blink, it was already in front of Altaria. Its speed was overwhelming, giving its opponent no time to react. Sarch* The Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A pair of emerald-green claws came slashing down. At the last moment, Altarias cotton-like wings suddenly expanded several times their size, wrapping around its body in an instant. struck directly against defense. The immense force sent Altaria crashing into the ground below. But the fluffy defense provided incredible elasticityjust as quickly as it was slammed into the ground, Altaria bounced back into the air. "Altaria, Dragon Pulse!" Bryon was drenched in cold sweat. If Altaria hadnt reacted fast enough and used at that critical moment, a direct hit from would have ended the match right then and there. Bryon hadnt even given the commandAltaria had acted entirely on instinct, its reflexes astonishingly sharp. Even Julian was a little surprised by this. Chapter 399: Julian’s Pokémon Altaria''s exceptional performance even earned Julians admiration. Gabite also acknowledged its opponents strength. But as Altaria unleashed its , Gabite responded with one of its own. One attack came from the sky, the other from the ground. The two attacks clashed mid-air, but Altarias powerful move was completely overwhelmed by Gabitesobliterated without even putting up resistance. Altaria was struck by the , and the sharp pain made it cry out in agony. Its body tumbled uncontrollably from the air. "Slash!" Gabite moved at lightning speed. Under Altarias despairing gaze, its sharp gleamed like a streak of light, cutting through the air. With a tearing sound, Gabite''s attack struck Altaria head-on, sending it flying backward. The impact was so powerful that Altaria narrowly missed colliding with Bryon. The huge force of the wind knocked Bryon off his feet. Gabite: Standing in the arena, Gabite watched as Altaria crashed hundreds of meters away. But it didnt pursue, because the last hit was more than enough to decide the battle. Bryon anxiously stood up and stared toward Altaria in the distance, hoping it would rise again. But a full minute passed, and the Pokmon remained motionless. "I lost." Bryon said with a gloomy face and was extremely frustrated. He looked at Gabite, still unable to believe what had just happened. If Gabite had already evolved into Garchomp, he might have suspected it had surpassed the Elite level entirely. Even after defeating Altaria, Gabite remained at Level 47, just one level away from its evolution at Level 48. At this rate, even without battling, it would likely evolve within this month. Gabite walked up to Julian, its expression unsatisfied. The battle wasnt even a proper warm-up, and its opponent had fallen too quickly. "Well done." Julian patted Gabites head in praise. But Gabite didnt look the least bit pleased. Looking at Gabites proud and aloof expression, Julian couldnt help but smile slightly. All of his Pokmon had strong pride, though some hid it better than others. Gabite, however, was one of the few who wore his arrogance openly. It was a proud guy by nature. Just then Evelyn approached. She glanced at Gabite with a hint of amazement and remarked, "My dear grandson, youve raised this Gabite exceptionally well." "Grandma, I have a talent for breeding Pokmon too," Julian explained. "Hmm, just like me," Evelyn replied. Julian was momentarily stunned before recalling that his grandmother wasnt just a Peak Elite Trainershe was also a Senior-level Breeder. In fact, some Elite-level Trainers, if they had the time and talent, often studied breeding techniques. After all, a Trainer needed to understand their Pokmons physical development and mental well-being, and that was a Breeders specialty. Learning some breeding knowledge was a practical way to care for Pokmon better. Of course, there were alternativesone could regularly hire professional Breeders for home visits or send Pokmon to a Breeding House. Julian, though not a Breeder himself, had the systemfar more advanced than even the best Breederso he never had to worry about his Pokmons physical or mental health. --- After Julian defeated his teachers Altaria with ease, Lance was completely dumbfounded. He asked in disbelief, "How is your Gabite so strong?" Gabite gave him an approving glance. "It''s actually his opponent that was weak." Julian responded flatly. Altaria had been raised well, but compared to Pokmon trained by truly talented Breeders, it still fell short. Not to mentionit was nowhere near Gabites level. Lance had wanted to argue, but seeing the undeniable reality before him, he couldnt say a word. Altaria had been completely powerless against Gabite. Thinking he should check on Mr. Bryon, he glanced aroundonly to realize his teacher was nowhere to be found. --- "My dear grandson, let me see your Pokmon. Ever since you started university, I havent had the chance to meet them in person." Evelyn said. The surrounding people also showed curious expressions. They all knew what Pokmon Julian had, but only from videos. If Gabite was this strong, then just how powerful would Julians main team be? "Alright." Julian nodded and released all his Pokmonexcept for Celebi. Metagross, Lucario, Melmetal, Steelix, Dragonite, Aggron, Slowking, Arcanine, Gengar, Doublade, and, of course, Gabite. If he counted Magearna in standby mode and Celebi, Julian now had 13 Pokmon in total. Sar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A relatively small number. Most children from noble families his age had at least twenty Pokmonthough in most cases, their families handled their training. Now that Julian was an Elite Trainer (Early Stage), the number of Pokmon he owned was even smaller compared to others at his level. For example, Bryon, also an Early Elite-level Trainer, had as many as thirty Pokmon. Julian, however, only raised high-potential Pokmonbecause with his , he could instantly determine a Pokmons potential. Of course, other Trainers could use machines to assess a Pokmons potential as well, but those machines had a flaw. For example, two Pokmon might both be labeled as having Green-tier potential, but one could be just a step away from stepping into Cyan-tier, while the other had only barely reached Green. Although they were both technically Green-tier, the difference in actual strength was significant. A Pokmon that was on the verge of stepping into Cyan-tier might only need a single evolution to break through, requiring far fewer resources compared to one that had just reached Green. Because of this, many Trainers focused on raising many Green-tier Pokmonhoping that, with luck, they could evolve into Cyan-tier potential. --- Eleven Pokmon stood in the training fieldeach one exceptional. Of course, most peoples eyes were locked onto Metagross, with its shining silver body. After all, Metagross was the Walker familys symbol and also Julians strongest Pokmon, bar none. The second most eye-catching was Aggron, a Totem Pokmon. Standing at over six meters tall, it looked like a towering steel behemoth. The third was Julians White Gengar. Its snow-white body and blood-red eyes gave it an eerie yet undeniably cool presence. Surprisingly, Dragonite, an Elite-level powerhouse, wasnt in the top four. That was because in fourth place stood Melmetala Mythical Steel-type Pokmon, something few people ever had the chance to see. Only then did people turn their attention to Dragonite, ranking it fifth among Julians Pokmon. Chapter 400: You Wish The direct descendants of the Cavendish family all stared at Julians Pokmon with eyes practically glowingthey looked like they wanted to snatch them away on the spot. The Cavendish family specialized in Grass-type Pokmon and had a natural talent in that field. As a result, most of their family members chose Grass-types as their primary type. Of course, there were exceptions. Some chose different typingsfor example, Lance, whose main type was Dragon. To support his choice, the family head had used a considerable amount of connections to obtain a Cyan-tier pseudo-legendary Dragon for him. Now, Lance was staring at Julians Dragonite, absolutely thrilled. He had a strong affinity for Dragon-types, so he could easily tell just how well Julian had trained his Dragonite. Even compared to a classmate from the Drake family, that person''s Dragonite was nowhere near the level of Julians Dragonite. Julian, can you help me train my Sliggoo? Lance asked expectantly. Even though he usually didnt get along with Julian, he was willing to let go of past grudges if Julian agreed to train his Pokmon. The Cavendish family head overheard this and immediately thought it was a great idea. If Julian helped train his sons Sliggoo, it might skyrocket in strength right away. It was common for noble families to have their Pokmon trained by others. In fact, many noble family heirs didnt even train their own Pokmontheir families had professional breeders do it for them. Most aristocratic families employed several senior-level breeders, whose job was to care for and train the family''s Pokmon. Of course, to receive such treatment, one had to be either extremely talented or have a father with high status in the family. However You wish. Julians words instantly turned Lances face black. There wasnt even a hint of hesitation in his rejection. Why would he train his Pokmon? Julian was starting to wonder if he hadnt beaten him up enough in the pastwas that why Lance had somehow gotten the delusion that he was easy to talk to? Julian, please dont be mad, Lance was just too impressed by your Dragonite and Gabites training. He got carried away, the family head quickly tried to smooth things over. Even though he was displeased, he didnt dare offend Julian. Not to mention Julians grandmother was present, Julians own potential alone was enough reason to be cautious. As long as he didnt fall, Julian was guaranteed to become one of the most powerful Trainers in not just Drakoria, but the entire world. When that happened, thanks to his grandmothers connection to their family, Julian would at least look after the Cavendish family a little. As the patriarch, his duty was to prioritize the familys interestsnot just his own son. Alright, Lance, head back for now. Ill arrange for a breeder from the Drake family to help you. Since Lance was his most talented son, the family head still spoke gently to comfort him. The Drake family was the undisputed leader of Dragon-type training in Drakoria, with an extensive range of servicesincluding Dragon-type Pokmon breeding and training. Many Dragon-type Trainers regularly sought out breeders from the Drake family. After all, they were the true experts in the field. If a Trainers own skills werent up to par, it was better for the Pokmons health to leave it in professional hands. Lance left, feeling dejected. Fortunately, he wasnt stupid enough to make a sceneotherwise, the one embarrassed would have been his father. This Metagross is even better trained than that old bas***ds. Evelyn looked at the silver-white Metagross, her gaze gradually turning distant and nostalgicbut before long, her kind expression shifted into one of anger. If there werent so many people around, Julian really wanted to ask her what exactly had happened between her and Grandpa that led to their divorce. Even after splitting up, it was obvious that they still cared for each otherbut both of them were just too stubborn to admit it. At this point, Julian was the only bridge of communication between them. Since the conversation had drifted toward his Grandpa, Julian wisely chose to stay silent. Your Metagross is at the peak of pseudo-Elite, it should be able to break through to Elite at any moment. As a senior Breeder, and having once taken care of Johns Steel-type Pokmon, Evelyn was extremely familiar with Steel-types. With just one glance, she could tell Metagross current state. With such a solid foundation, that old mans Metagross back then couldnt even compare to my dear grandsons, Evelyn sighed. Metagross was Julians acehis one and only aceand also his started Pokmon. Whether it was the resources provided by the Walker family or the ones acquired through the system, Julian had primarily invested everything he had into Metagross. Its Purple-tier potential had already turned one-fifth into Gold. Not to mention, there was still a portion of inside it, yet to be fully absorbed. Once it was completely absorbed, Metagross would be able to break through to Elite rank. Gen~ At this moment, Gengar floated over to Julians grandmother, stretching its face into a mischievous ghostly grin. Julian immediately pulled Gengar back. Dont try to scare Grandma! Gengar, now restrained, responded by giving Julian a big, wet . Sar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Julian: Trembling slightly, he fished out a Cheri Berry from his pocket, quickly eating it to cure the paralysis. Then, without hesitation, he rubbed Gengar all over before shoving it back into his shadow. However, in the very next second, Gengar popped back outnow swimming through Julians shadow like it was a pool. Your Gengar is quite the troublemaker, my dear grandson. Evelyn chuckled, watching Julian and Gengar mess around. She had initially wanted to scold Gengar when she saw Julian paralyzed, but after watching him casually pull out a Cheri Berry and recover, she simply laughed instead. The fluidity of Julians actions made it clearthis wasnt his first time dealing with Gengars antics. Julian stayed at the Cavendish family estate for three days. On the fourth day, he bid farewell to his grandmother. He never felt fully comfortable at the Cavendish familys place. Every day, there was a steady stream of younger family members coming to visit himmost of them trying to win his favor. Julian didnt dislike these people. In fact, he even felt a bit impressed by them. After all, to curry favor with someone, you first had to set aside your pride. Since Julian stood at a high enough position, he never needed to flatter anyone. But he didnt look down on these people either. They were simply doing what they had to, to secure a better future for themselves. To ordinary Trainers, those born into prestigious families seemed privileged and enviable. But the truth was, among such families, bonds of kinship were often weak. To earn the familys backing, one had to prove their worthwhich usually meant defeating their own relatives. If you werent outstanding, you became just another marginal figure in the familysometimes even worse off than a regular civilian Trainer. Julian was naturally reserved, and he didnt enjoy making small talk with strangers. If given a choice, hed much rather spend time with his Pokmon than engage in meaningless social interactions. Now, seated on Dragonites back, Julian was heading toward Imperial University. From beneath his clothes, Celebis small head peeked out, its eyes curiously scanning the scenery. On the flight saddle, a large bag of snacks sat beside Julian. All of it had been prepared by Celebifor snacking during the trip. When it saved Duke before, Celebi had returned to its normal size, but in just a few short days, its once-slim figure was noticeably getting rounder again. Chapter 401: Distress Signal Because of the Duke, the trip from the Imperial Capital to Orient City was rushed to be completed only in forty minutes. But now that things had settled down, there was no need to hurry. As a result, Dragonite wasnt flying at top speedits pace could even be called leisurely. Looking at a Pidgey that had just flew past them, Celebi casually tossed the chicken drumstick it had just finished eating. It had a surprisingly good aimthe drumstick hit Pidgey squarely on the forehead. A lump immediately formed on Pidgeys head. Celebi: "Hahaha!" Seeing a lump appear on Pidgeys head, Celebi clutched its belly and laughed uncontrollably. Pidgey: "What the heck are you laughing at?!" Pidgey was obviously furious. It had been flying peacefully when Celebi suddenly attacked it for no reason. Not only did Celebi not apologize, but it even had the audacity to laugh. Furious, Pidgey flapped its wings and rushed toward Celebi, launching a flurry of pecks and claw attacks. Even though Celebi was a Pokmon at the Elite level, it was currently being completely overwhelmed by a mere Level 10 Pidgey. Its once-neat head fur was now a total mess. Celebi: "wrong! I was wrong!" Realizing the situation, Celebi quickly apologized. Julian sneered: Pathetic. If he hadnt spoken, things might have ended there. But the moment he did, Pidgey immediately turned its attention to him. Since Julian was sitting next to Celebi, he had to be on the same side. Celebi was clearly a troublemaker, so in Pidgeys eyes, this human probably wasnt much better. Pidgey: "Prepare to suffer!" Without hesitation, Pidgey switched targets and launched an all-out assault on Julian. After a round of frantic pecks and scratches, Pidgey finally flew away, satisfied. Julian smoothed out his messy hair, then reached over and ruffled Celebis freshly tidied hair again. Celebi bared its teeth at him in annoyance. And so, the two started fighting on Dragonites back. In the chaos, several snacks tumbled off. One bag of potato chips happened to drift right in front of Dragonite. Dragonite: Wasting food was shameful, after all. In a split second, Dragonite decided to grab the chips. It planned to take advantage of the scuffle and eat them quickly. Given its large mouth, finishing a single bag of chips would take no time at all. But just as Dragonite reached for the chips, a red signal flare suddenly shot up in the distance. The loud sound of its launch echoed across the sky. "A distress signal!" Julian immediately noticed the flare and froze for a moment before reacting. He quickly turned to Dragonite and said, Lets go check it out! Dragonite glanced down at the falling bag of chips, looking slightly disappointed. It then turned to glare at the flares direction with a hint of anger. Dragonite: This flare was a special distress signal designed to stay in the air for half an hour, emitting an eye-catching red glow. Trainers heading into the wilderness or secret realms almost always carry signal flares. After all, cell reception in the wild is poor, and in secret realms, theres no signal at all. If they encounter danger beyond their ability to handle, the signal flare becomes their only hope for survival. Of course, nothing is absolute. Theres always a chance the flare attracts the wrong peoplevillains who wont save you but instead hasten your demise. Or perhaps the one launching the signal flare is the villain, using it as bait to lure unsuspecting trainers. In such cases, those who rush to help rarely make it out alive. Because of this, the meaning of a distress signal has long been twisted by human nature. Every day, countless trainers lose their lives trying to rescue those who set off signal flares. As a result, most trainers hesitate when they see one. If theyre alone, the safest choice is to ignore it entirely. After all, you have no way of knowing if the person who launched the signal is truly in danger. And even if they are Is it a danger you can handle? If not, you might just end up throwing yourself into a deadly trap. So, the safest response is to pretend you never saw the flare. But ignoring it is also a test of ones conscience. Julian saw it, and he was going. The main reason was that he had absolute confidence in his own strength. As long as his opponent wasnt at the pseudo-champion level, he had nothing to worry about in a one-on-one fight. Right now, Julian was in the forest that lay between the Orient City and the Imperial Capital. This wilderness area was vastabout the size of a mid-tier city. However, it was relatively safe, as there were no Elite-level Pokmon residing within it. Because of this, many trainers ventured into the forest dailyto train, search for treasures, or capture Pokmon. Boss, this woman set off a distress flare. Should we leave? S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A scrawny young man approached a hulking, muscle-bound man whose face was covered in scars. The muscular man was stepping on someone''s face. Spitting onto the poor soul beneath him, he sneered, How many trainers do you think would actually come for a signal flare these days? And even if some fool does show up, do you really think Id be afraid? Hahaha! Thats true! Boss, youre at the peak of pseudo-Elite level, after all. The surrounding lackeys burst into laughter, fully confident in their leaders strength. After all, there were only about 500 Elite trainers in Drakoria, and each of them was as elusive as a legendary Pokmon. For most people, a pseudo-Elite at their peak was already the strongest trainer they would ever encounter in their lifetime. If someone at that level took a corporate job, they could easily earn two or three hundred million a year. Boss, what do we do with her? Should we just A lackey made a throat-slitting gesture. The muscular man smirked. Do you want to live? If you do, join us. As a ranger, you must know where to find rare Pokmon. If you help us, we all get rich together. Thats way better than scraping by on your measly monthly salary. Upon hearing this, the lackeys eyes lit up. He glanced at his boss with admiration. As expected of you, boss. Always thinking ahead. There were many species of Pokmon, but some were incredibly rare, especially in the wild. When the Trainers Association discovered such Pokmon in the wild, they would dispatch rangers to protect them. A rangers main duty was to safeguard the Pokmon species under their care and patrol the area to ensure the local ecosystem remained intact. Even if a forest didnt house particularly rare Pokmon, it would still have rangers stationed there. Their job was to keep an eye out for trainers who might harm wild Pokmon or overhunt them, leading to an imbalance in the ecosystem. Being a ranger carried heavy responsibilities. Not only did it require at least pseudo-Elite strength, but it also demanded a deep, genuine love for Pokmonwithout it, one simply couldnt do the job properly. Chapter 402: Scyther Hazel, who was pinned under the muscular mans foot, struggled desperately, but it was futile. Her gaze remained fixed on the Nidoqueen lying in a pool of blood not far away. Due to her struggle, combined with the aftermath of the battle, her clothes had become disheveled, exposing parts of her body. Seeing her fair skin, delicate features, and especially the unyielding determination in her eyes, one of the lackeys couldn''t help but swallow hard. "Boss, itd be a waste to kill this woman," he said, his eyes burning with desire. His thoughts were written all over his face. But before he could say anything more, the muscular man gave him a harsh slap. "Useless idiot! Cant even control yourself? Hurry up and pack all these Scyther into Pok Balls!" After slapping him, the man followed up with a kick. The distress signal in the sky would last for half an hour. In that time, there was no guarantee that no one would show up. Moreover, the woman under his foot was a rangerwho knew if she had other ways to contact help? The safest option was to quickly capture all the Scyther and leave immediately. This area had a population of more than twenty Scyther, with the strongest among them being at the pseudo-Elite level. As Poachers, people like him didnt bother fighting Pokmon head-on. Instead, they used drugs to knock them all out. In no time, all twenty-plus Scyther were sealed inside Pok Balls. "Boss, its done!" "Were about to get rich!" A lackey ran up to the muscular man, excitement written all over his face. Scyther was a rare species, and it was considered one of the signature Bug-type Pokmon due to its strength. After evolving with a Metal Coat, Scizor became a sleek and powerful Bug/Steel-type, even capable of Mega Evolution. Alternatively, if evolved using a Black Augurite, it became Kleavor, a Bug/Rock-type. However, this evolution had yet to be officially discovered. Each Scyther was worth around ten million on the market. There were twenty-five here, including one at the pseudo-Elite level. Selling them all would easily bring in over three hundred million. The muscular man increased the pressure under his foot, pushing half of Hazels face into the soft dirt. "This is your last chance, woman. Are you joining us or not?" As a ranger, she must know the locations of other protected Pokmon habitats. With her cooperation, capturing rare Pokmon in the future would be much easier. Gritting her teeth, Hazel spat, "You will die a horrible death." "Then you can die first." The muscular man pulled out a pistol with a silencer and aimed it at Hazels head. Hazel closed her eyes, quietly waiting for death to come. One second, two seconds, three seconds More than ten seconds passed, yet she was still alive. Confused, she slowly opened her eyes. With her head pinned under the mans foot, she couldn''t lift it, but she could see the other thugs standing nearby. And they werent moving. Every single one of them stood frozen in place, their eyes filled with terror, as if their bodies had been taken over by something. One of them even had his foot raised mid-step. No one in their right mind would hold their foot up like that unless they had completely lost control of their body. Someone was here to save her. That thought struck Hazel instantly. At the same time, a strangers voice reached her ears. "You''ve got some serious luck." Julian walked over to Hazel, casually kicking the frozen muscular man aside before helping her up from the ground. He couldn''t help but feel a little enviousher luck was incredible. If he had arrived just one second later, she would have been dead. When would he ever get that kind of luck? Floating beside Julian was Metagross, its psychic energy locking down the thugs and their Pokmon, leaving them completely immobile. Most of Hazels clothes were in tatters from the earlier fight, and as Julian helped her up, he inevitably caught sight of something... unexpected. But Hazel had no time to care about that. The moment she was on her feet, she dashed toward her critically wounded Nidoqueen. A gaping, bloody hole had been blasted into Nidoqueens abdomen, exposing her still-moving organs, and the ground beneath her was soaked in blood. Her breathing was weakshe was barely clinging to life. But the moment she saw that her trainer was safe, a faint light returned to her dimming eyes. "Its going to be okay. Youll be fine," Hazel whispered, frantically searching herself for any medicine. But she had forgottenher medical supplies were in her backpack, and that backpack had been thrown away during the fight. And even if she had medicine, nothing short of a Revival Herb-infused potion would be able to save Nidoqueen in her current state. "Nido..." Nidoqueen let out a weak, comforting sound, as if using the last of her strength to reassure her trainer. At this moment, her eyelids felt unbearably heavy. She was so tired. She just wanted to sleep. Realizing what was happening, Hazel began to sob. "Please, Nidoqueen dont go!" "Relax, it won''t die, Slowking Heal Pulse." Julians voice rang out again. Then, without warning, he shoved Hazel aside. It was a rough pushso rough that she fell on the ground. There was no other choiceif he didnt pull her away, she would have kept blocking Nidoqueens mouth. And if Nidoqueens mouth was covered, how was Julian supposed to give her the medicine? He shoved a system-purchased Potion into Nidoqueens mouth while Slowking channeled a . The combined effects of both ensured that saving Nidoqueens life was absolutely not a problem. Julian then applied additional medicine to her open wound. A few minutes passed, the bleeding had stopped, and tiny granules of new flesh began forming over the wound. Nidoqueens breathing, which had been growing weaker by the second, finally stabilized. Hazel stood beside Julian, her eyes locked onto Nidoqueen, afraid to make a sound that might disturb the treatment. It was only when she saw Nidoqueens condition improving that she slowly lowered the hand she had been using to cover her mouth. Slowking continued using for another ten minutes before Julian finally told it to stop. "That should do it. The rest will need time to heal naturally. Its best to take her to a hospital for further treatment," Julian said. Nidoqueens injuries were severe. She could recover over time, but whether there would be any long-term consequences remained to be seen. "Thank you, Thank you, Thank you so much!" Overcome with emotion, Hazel didn''t know how to express her gratitude. In the heat of the moment, she lunged forward and threw her arms around Julianpractically tackling him. Caught off guard, Julian reacted on instinct. He shoved her away-Hard. Hazel flew back four or five meters, landing on the ground in stunned silence. Still dazed, she blinked up at him, completely baffled. Julian: "I get that youre grateful, but what the hell was that tackle for?" Hazel: (_)??? sea??h th novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 403: Pain After Hazel recalled Nidoqueen into her Pok Ball, she finally turned to take a serious look at her savior. First impression: Tall and pretty handsome. Second impression: Familiarlike she had seen him somewhere before, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldnt remember where. Then she saw the silver-white Metagross floating beside Julian, and a name suddenly burst into her mind. "Youre Julian!" Hazel blurted it out without thinking. Julian sighed. "You only just recognized me?" He felt a little depressed. He had thought his name was well-known throughout Drakoria, but this woman only figured out who he was after seeing Metagross. Not that it was her fault. As a Ranger, Hazel spent most of her time in the wilderness, where the signal was poor and outside news rarely reached her. Even work-related communications were handled through satellite phone calls. She had only learned about Julian a while ago when she was on break at home, scrolling through TikTok. That was when she found out that Drakoria had such an incredible rising star. At that time, she had even marveled at how young he was. She never imagined that not only would she get to meet him in person, but he would also be the one to save herand Nidoqueenat the most critical moment. Julian gestured toward the group of poachers. "What are you going to do with these guys?" From their well-equipped gear, it was obvious they were repeat offendersthe kind who had probably taken lives before. There was a difference between Pokmon Hunters and Poachers. The former were legal professionals, hired to capture specific Pokmon through lawful meansthough some did operate in gray areas. Poachers, on the other hand, were completely illegal. Their brutal methods often resulted in Pokmon dying during capture. And unlike hunters, who targeted specific Pokmon, poachers often wiped out entire populations at once. In fact, part of the reason some Pokmon species had become so rare was because of them. "Ill call it in and have the higher-ups send a team," Hazel replied. "These guys are done for." Hazel walked up to the muscular man, whose body was still completely locked in place by Metagrosss psychic control. The only thing he could move was his eyes. Julian instinctively pressed his legs together. Because he just watched Hazel deliver a full-force kick to the guys groin. The impact was so vicious that the mans eyes nearly popped out of his skull. Julian wasnt sure if he was imagining things, but for a split second, he swore he heard the sound of something cracking. Metagross: Only after that kick did Hazel take out her satellite phone and call for backup. A few minutes later, Hazel hung up the phone and walked toward Julianbut as she got closer, Julian instinctively took a few steps back. "Ahem, just stay right there," Julian said awkwardly, motioning for her to stop. That kick just now had left him traumatized. As a man, he actually felt a little sorry for the poacher. Hazels face flushed slightly, realizing her actions had been a bit too rough. But when she remembered how close Nidoqueen had been to dying, the anger flared up again. She turned back toward the muscle man, who could do nothing but watch in despair. Julian winced. "That hurts." The poacher, however, passed out in blissful unconsciousness. That "hurts" wasnt for himselfit was on behalf of the muscular man. Hazel dusted off her hands. "Julian, can you please stay here for a bit? I cant handle all these guys alone. I already called it inother Rangers will be here soon." This time, Hazel made sure to keep her distance, and stayed five meters away from Julian. "Sure." Julian nodded. At this moment, he was genuinely shocked by this fierce woman. Then he watched as Hazel went over to the poachers Pok Balls and released the Scyther trapped inside. "Scythe!" "Scythe!" The moment they emerged, the Scyther immediately took fighting stances, looking around vigilantly. Scyther were known as natural-born warriors, possessing exceptional combat awareness and keen instincts. If the poachers hadnt used specially crafted tranquilizers, capturing them would have cost them some serious casualties. "Its okay now. Youre all safe," Hazel quickly reassured them. She had been working with these Scyther for over two years, and they were very familiar with her, so hearing her voice helped them calm down. Then, they turned and saw the motionless poachers, and a cold gleam flashed in their eyes. These were the people who had drugged themthe same ones who had attacked their "shit shovel officer" (Hazel). Sear?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Without hesitation, their razor-sharp scythes swung toward the poachers necks. Julian didnt move to stop them. In his opinion, these people deserved to die. But Hazel immediately shouted, "Scyther, stop! You cant kill them!" Even though these poachers deserved a fate worse than death, she didnt want the Scyther to be the ones to do it. Once a Pokmon crossed that line, it might never go back. So stopping Scyther was also for their own good. Just as she finished speaking, reinforcements arrived, less than ten minutes after Hazel made the call, three Rangers in uniform rushed onto the scene. One of the middle-aged men leading the group wore a slightly darker uniform than the others, and he walked at the front. "Director Zane!" Seeing the man, Hazel quickly greeted him. "Are you alright?" Director Zane asked hurriedly. By now, Hazel had changed into a clean set of clothes, though there were still traces of dirt on her face and hair. Even so, she looked much better than before. "It''s finethanks to Julian arriving in time. If not for him, Nidoqueen and I wouldve been in real danger." "Good, good." Director Zane breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to Julian with a look of gratitude. "Julian, thank you. Ill be reporting this to the Trainer Associationyour contributions will not go unnoticed." "Just doing what I should," Julian nodded lightly. Reporting to the Trainer Association meant earning contribution pointsa valuable resource for trainers. Contribution points could be exchanged for all sorts of things within the association. From high-potential Pokmon, advanced secret realm access, and Mega Evolution stones, to Evolution Stones, energy cubes, and Pokmon training manualsif a trainer could imagine it, the association probably had it. Of course, getting these rewards required enough contribution points. Trainers could earn points by completing association-issued missions, with the difficulty of the task determining the amount of contribution points awarded. Sometimes, trainers helped government agencies by chance, and in such cases, the authorities reported their assistance to the Trainer Association, which then rewarded them accordingly. For example, the last time Julian helped Mark capture the S-rank fugitive Viktor in Eastwood City, Mark had reported it, and Julian had received a hefty sum of contribution points. And this time was no different.