On 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 Pokémon, 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 monthly—it 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 Imperial University vs. Modu Academy.
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 Pokémon 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 Pokémon.
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 Pokémon."
"Task Rewards: Number of Dragons defeated;
- Four : 4,000 points
- Five : 5,000 points
- Six : 6,000 points
- Eight: 8,000 points"
---
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 different—starting at 4,000 points, although there were no additional rewards but these thousands of points were good enough.
'Alright, I'm fired up!'
"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.
Livestream chat;
"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 red side, while Modu Academy took the blue side.
As the red side, Imperial University had to send out their Pokémon first, giving the blue side the advantage of selecting Pokémon 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 Pokémon, 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 (or rather, the power of the points).
On the Modu Academy side, the first battler stepped forward—it 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 Intimidate ability triggered upon its release, yet it had no effect on Metagross.
This told Owen a lot about Metagross's level—it 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 "blink" characteristic of Teleport.
"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 Protect.
As the protective barrier formed around Salamence, Metagross materialized directly behind it. Its Meteor Mash, shimmering with a colorful glow, collided fiercely with the protective shield.
"Phew"
Owen exhaled deeply, relieved that the Protect worked. But before he could ponder how Metagross had managed to use Teleport, a chilling sound reached his ears.
"Crack.. Crack.."
Owen: "??!" (°□°）
Under the crushing power of Meteor Mash, the Protect 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 Pokémon—it 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 abdomen shell 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 Pokémon 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, Flash Cannon 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 Pokémon—like Abra and Ralts.
Pokémon 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 Pokémon can learn Teleport through TMs, others cannot master it even with this method.
Metagross was one such Pokémon. 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 Teleport 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 Pokémon 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 genius—it 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 abilities—at Intermediate Level, no less—he said it happened after he took a nap.
And now Metagross learning Teleport? The explanation: "It's a genius; self-taught."
--
The livestream chat erupted:
"6666, First Slowpoke gets a new evolution and now Metagross self-learns Teleport."
"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 "My grandson has the makings of a Champion" 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 Poké 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 Pokémon at the peak of pseudo-Elite.
In the Top Five Universities, most 4th-year students had Pokémon 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 family—a family no less prominent than the Walker family—had 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.
A 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 strategy—he 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.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
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 shrrrip!
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.
Did I not use Dragon Claw? Am I dreaming? Was I hypnotized?
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 dire—if 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 tempting—it 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 opportunism—flip-flopping between alliances with Drakoria and Celestria—their 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 Pokémon 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 desired—he 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 hands—slippery!"
"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.
At 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 reversal—this was how he had treated other trainers in the past.
This defeat had completely shaken his confidence.
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 distance—it'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 team—a 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.
'Damn it, it's not a Dragon-type.'
(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 Pokémon's evolution was strictly forbidden. If an attack caused an evolution to fail, the Pokémon 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 Pokémon and a pseudo-Elite wasn't just a single word—it 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.
As 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 Pokémon.
Elite Pokémon 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.
This disparity isn't due to pseudo-Elites finding it extremely difficult to advance to the Elite level, but mainly because a Pokémon's own potential often limits its growth.
Still, the gap in power between the two levels is vast.
An Elite-tier Pokémon has the destructive capability to level an entire city—though it would require continuous effort rather than a single move.
Meanwhile, a pseudo-Elite Pokémon could potentially be countered by a sufficient number of well-trained Pokémon 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 Pokémon 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 Pokémon 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 Pokémon, 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 Pokémon, 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 Pokémon 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 66—slightly 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 Pokémon 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 Pokémon 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 Pokémon 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 counter—either it had to be interrupted before execution, or the opposing Pokémon 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 Pokémon 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 Psychic—shut 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.