"This... this is impossible! Even Empoleon, with its Water and Steel typing, was defeated in a single blow!"
Seeing Empoleon's body collapse to the ground, the entire stadium fell into absolute silence.
At that moment, Dylan Keats was completely stunned. He had chosen Empoleon not only because of its type advantage, but also because it was one of his strongest Pokémon.
However, even that Empoleon had been annihilated by Ethan's Meltan with just one attack. At that instant, Dylan could no longer imagine which of his remaining Pokémon could withstand such a monster.
"Too weak." Ethan's voice followed. "Send out the next one."
His words echoed in Dylan's ears like the whisper of a demon.
Now, Dylan regretted everything with all his soul.
Why the hell had he provoked him?
Why didn't he just defeat Vibrava and leave quietly?
Why did he insist on giving that demon a "lesson"?
Why? Why?
"Do you have no more?"
"Then get lost."
Ethan's voice carried a cold disdain, making Dylan's face twist.
No... even if it's just once, I have to endure.
He couldn't end things like this.
Clenching his teeth tightly, Dylan threw another Pokéball. A Golem appeared on the field.
As soon as it emerged, Dylan shouted his command: "Use Dig!"
He intended for Golem to hide underground to avoid Meltan's attack. But just as Golem began gathering Ground-type energy, a sharp whistle cut through the air.
Meltan had already transformed into a flying sword and launched forward!
BOOM!
The impact was brutal. Meltan's blade struck Golem's body head-on, slamming it down heavily.
Craaaack!
Craaaack!
The ground beneath Golem shattered into countless pieces. A shockwave spread in all directions, kicking up dust and wind that forced the spectators to shield their faces.
When they finally lowered their hands...
Meltan had already returned, floating beside Ethan.
In front of him, Golem was half embedded into the ground, with spiderweb-like cracks spreading out around it.
"Th-that...!"
"What terrifying power!"
"It smashed a Golem into the ground! What kind of strength does that attack have?!"
The students were completely stunned, eyes wide open.
Even the strongest among them —such as Derek Ashford, Brandon Hayes, and the rest of the university team— wore expressions of disbelief.
Those who already knew Meltan's power, like Lucas Silver or Marcus Foster, were even more shaken, caught between fear and disbelief.
Especially Lucas, who had fought Ethan just a few days earlier. His shock was written all over his face.
Had Meltan been hiding its true power during their battle?
Though he was stunned for a moment, he quickly adopted a thoughtful expression. What really interested him now was something else:
What was the principle behind that technique?
Could he figure it out? Reproduce it?
"Do you have no more?"
Ethan's calm, emotionless voice reached Dylan's ears like a freezing wind from hell. A shiver ran down his spine.
"I-I... I forfeit!"
At last, Dylan understood the magnitude of the abyss separating them. Terrified, he didn't dare send out another Pokémon.
Once again, the field fell into a strange, heavy silence.
Everyone had known from the start that Dylan couldn't beat Ethan, especially after Ethan revealed his identity.
But... to be crushed like this? To be unable to withstand even a single attack? That, no one had expected.
After all, Dylan was one of the top twenty in the Intermediate Campus. And even so, he had been defeated so overwhelmingly that he couldn't even counterattack. The gap between their strength was so vast they didn't seem to belong to the same world.
Could Ethan... already have reached the Advanced level?
"You're giving up just like that?"
Ethan sighed, disappointed.
His gaze swept across the audience... and he noticed something. Derek and the others from the university team were also present.
Not only them: representatives from other regional universities had arrived as well.
The crowd remained silent, watching Meltan with a mix of awe and fear, comparing Ethan's strength with that of their own teams.
"It seems this got a bit out of hand..."
Ethan narrowed his eyes, beginning to think coldly.
Had he done something wrong?
No.
In fact, he was the one who had been wronged.
So... could he gain something from continuing like this?
While he pondered, his eyes met those of Professor Leonard Langford in the crowd.
The professor met his gaze and gave him a barely perceptible nod, communicating his message without words: "Continue. Don't stop."
It was easy to understand.
At this point, the incident involving Ethan had spread not only throughout Duskwell City's Pokémon University, but also to Ironvale City's Pokémon University.
In fact, many students from Ironvale City's Pokémon University were watching the fight live on their phones.
Every time Ethan defeated another Pokémon, shouts and cheers erupted in the classrooms. Everyone was euphoric, chanting his name.
Even the university leadership was excited, wishing for Ethan to utterly crush Duskwell City's Pokémon University.
Normally, something like this would be impossible: exchange tournaments were meant to "foster relationships," not to crush the opponent. Rivalries were kept hidden, never displayed publicly.
But now the situation was different. The one being humiliated was Duskwell City's university, not Ironvale City's.
So even if Ethan went too far, they couldn't complain. They would have to swallow their defeat and remain silent.
And if Ethan really managed to sweep the entire rival university, Ironvale City's standing as the second-best in the country would be firmly cemented.
That's why, as soon as the university received the news, they sent a clear message to Professor Langford: "Tell Ethan to fight without holding back. The university stands behind him."
(End of chapter)