Under the grip of Psychic, 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 Disarming Voice to the recent Perish Song, 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 Pokémon 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 Meteor Mash.
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 head—so close it might have blasted the head off.
Mega Altaria's body, however, bore no visible injuries.
It was clear that the Meteor Mash hadn't hit its target. At such close range, with Altaria completely restrained by Psychic, 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 form—and 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 Pokémon, 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 Pokémon'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 Perish Song had been interrupted, its effects had already started taking hold the moment the song began.
The damage from Perish Song would only reach its peak at the end of its duration.
"Meta~"
Metagross shook its head, signaling it was fine.
Though Perish Song 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 Perish Song.
Only then did he feel relieved.
It wasn't that Julian was being overly cautious, but Perish Song was an incredibly devastating move.
Much like Self-Destruct and Explosion, it was a move designed for mutual destruction. In some ways, Perish Song was even more extreme than the other two.
While Self-Destruct and Explosion were limited in range, Perish Song 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!!"
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, Hammer Arm clashing with Slash.
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 Teleport, appearing instantly behind the airborne Garchomp.
"Garchomp, stabilize yourself and use Dragon Rush!" the trainer shouted.
Leveraging the momentum of its flight, Garchomp charged itself with draconic energy and launched into Dragon Rush. The move showed a glimmer of creativity—reminiscent 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.
Dragon Rush required time to charge.
Metagross had no intention of giving Garchomp that time. Enveloped in psychic energy, it shot forward with Zen Headbutt at an astonishing speed of 200 meters per second.
Garchomp, mid-air had just started to steady itself to launch Dragon Rush, 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.
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 Pokémon was a Haxorus, at the peak of pseudo-Elite level.
In terms of appearance, Haxorus was a fierce and stylish Dragon-type Pokémon, 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 Pokémon 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 Teleport and Bullet Punch.
In an instant, Metagross appeared to Haxorus's left, its Bullet Punch 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 Bullet Punch, 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.
"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 friends—Hugo, Yanis, Ian, Shen, Walter and Dalton—were 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 frequently—not 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 then—I 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 monologues—just 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 Pokémon. It made no effort to hide the oppressive aura radiating from it.
Pokémon: 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 Pokémon, but its potential was also Blue.
The revelation that Dylan, a 4th-year student, had an Elite Pokémon, immediately caused a stir among the audience as Salamence's information appeared on the big screen of the venue.
'Elite!-An Elite-level Pokémon!'
If most trainers viewed reaching the pseudo-Elite level as the pinnacle of their capabilities, then the Elite rank was a distant, almost mythical goal—one 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 Pokémon 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 Pokémon, advancing from level 70 (pseudo-Elite peak) to level 71 (Elite-level) was considered a monumental leap.
Even for a Pokémon with Cyan-tier potential, this progression could take anywhere from 3–4 years to as long as 7–10 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.
The 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 Pokémon. 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 Elite—Metagross 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 Pokémon, 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 Pokémon 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.
"Boom!"
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 Pokémon 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' Pokémon would reappear after using Teleport.
But now, the tables had turned—Mega 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.
"Clang!"
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.
"Boom!!"
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 Pokémon 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%.
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 Pokémon 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!"
Mega Salamence's ability had changed from Intimidate to Aerilate.
Aerilate: Normal-type moves used by the Pokémon 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 Tough Claws 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.
"Bang!!"
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 forth—it was Hyper Beam!
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!"
Julian knew that Metagross was in severe pain, but surrender? That wasn't an option—not 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 Tough Claws ability, the power of Meteor Mash was amplified to an astonishing level.
"Boom!!"
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 Aerilate Ability, the Hyper Beam 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.
The 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 revealed—it 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 Pokémon could be seen. A wave of confusion rippled through the crowd.
Where were Metagross and Salamence?
Crack! Crack!
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 Pokémon assistants dug Salamence out from the rubble, it became clear—the 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, silence—the 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 altogether—everyone was clapping for Julian and Metagross.
One trainer, one Pokémon, 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:
'I'm going to wear black stockings... and I'm going to.....!'
--
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 admiration—it 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 Pokémon.
Even their captain, Max, was only at the peak of pseudo-Elite level, with just three Pokémon 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 family—their 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 support—almost at any cost—it 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 perspective—whether personal growth or family alliances—it 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 Poké Ball, sleeping soundly.