"Come on and let me see how good your Metagross really is"
Alex called, tossing out a Poké Ball. With a flash, a Haxorus appeared on the field, its entire body armored in tough scales. The Pokémon's sharp tusks gleamed like axes, giving Haxorus its fitting name.
Although Haxorus was not a pseudo-legendary Pokémon, 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 Pokémon didn't surprise him—in 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 Pokémon.
Instantly, his Steelix emerged, its enormous body hitting the ground with a tremor.
Pokémon: 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
--
Pokémon: 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 Pokémon, 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 Pokémon 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 Pokémon, upon reaching the Elite stage, have a higher life force and strength compared to ordinary Elite Pokémon.
Julian's Steelix had not appeared in official matches and its only public appearance was during the intermediate-level Pokémon riot, where it was sent to guard the entrance of the secret realm.
It was well known that Metagross was Julian's most powerful Pokémon, 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 Pokémon, a Dragon Pulse used by Haxorus would naturally be more powerful than a Dragon Pulse used by a non-Dragon-type Pokémon.
As the two Dragon Pulses collided mid-air, a surprising scene appeared. Haxorus's Dragon Pulse didn't overpower Steelix's.
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 Pokémon 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 Pokémon were never afraid of direct collisions from any move—their iron-like bodies were their greatest weapon.
With a violent clash, the two Pokémon 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 Pokémon to shield themselves from the force.
As the two closest to the collision, Julian and Alex naturally responded by quickly dispatching their Pokémon.
Julian sent out his Metagross, while Alex called upon his Alakazam.
After the Pokémon 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.
Haxorus 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 Pokémon. 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.
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 Pokémon 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 Pokémon," Thea replied with certainty.
The Ace of Walker family members in all generations were either of these two Pokémon, 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 me—I'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 Pokémon out"
Julian urged, noticing Alex's delay in sending out his Pokémon.
Julian's words felt like salt rubbed in the wounds to Alex, whose grip on his next Poké Ball tightened.
"Magmortar!"
Pokémon: 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 Pokémon, also with a cyan qualification, appeared in a flash of red light.
Having two powerful Pokémon with cyan qualifications explained Alex's impressive standing as a 3rd-year representative.
Even some trainers from moderately rich families didn't have two Pokémon 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 Pokémon 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 Pokémon'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 knockout—Magmortar had sustained serious injuries and needed immediate medical attention.
"Hey, you—take his Pokémon 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 Poké Ball, and jogged toward the medical room.
"Brother Walker, take it slow in the next match—wait till I'm back!" Luis shouted as he left.
Alex couldn't believe it—Julian'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 Pokémon 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 Pokémon, he'd still have to face Julian's Metagross next.
He took a deep breath and released his third Pokémon.
"Claydol, let's go!"
Claydol, a powerful Level 70 Pokémon with Cyan-qualification, appeared.
Apparently, Julian had underestimated Alex, who would have thought that his third Pokémon would also have Cyan-qualification.
"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 Pokémon, 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 Pokémon 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 Pokémon covered in golden scales.
This Dragon-type pseudo-legendary Pokémon, 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 Pokémon for many Fighting-type trainers, renowned for its powerful abilities.
And this particular Kommo-o was unmistakably the Pokémon 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 earlier—to 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 Pokémon.
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 Pokémon 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 Pokémon 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 Pokémon 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 Poké 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.
When Luis returned, he arrived just in time to witness Mega Steelix taking on Kommo-o—and 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 look—not for defeating Alex, but for having the courage to go up against a top-tier Elite Pokémon 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 Pokémon. 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 guy—not 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: (⊙▽⊙)
"Come on, little Julia! Let me introduce you to the others—we'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 name—you 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 first—Max, 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 kids—no way he'd lose to that freshmen!"
"He really lost. I was there in person."
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 Alex—many from powerful families—finally saw their chance to vent. They flooded the comments section, celebrating the upset.
The 25th Advanced Secret Realm was located to the west of the Imperial Capital, with the expansive White Mountain Range behind it—one 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 Pokémon; even Champion-level Pokémon roam freely.
Some even claim to have encountered Celebi, the Time Pokémon, 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.
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 Pokémon 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 Pokémon.
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 Pokémon growth, especially in advanced ones.
Humans might not feel it, but Pokémon could sense it distinctly.
This was why Pokémon 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 Pokémon within a 500-meter radius, and soon, a Pidgeot appeared overhead.
A pseudo-Elite Pokémon 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 captured—it just stayed here, guarding its territory.
The Pidgeot circled in the air, eyeing Julian with a bit of hesitation. The Pokémon 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 Pokémon 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 Pokémon 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 Pokémon, making pseudo-legendaries look weak by comparison.
Yet due to its Truant ability, this Pokémon 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 Pokémon, 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 Slakoth—over ten thousand of them—had the Truant ability, and so did the Slaking.
While it's known that Pokémon 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 ability—which 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.