Entei Takes the Stage for the First Time — The Entire Arena Is Stunned!!**
The voice faded, and an elderly man with graying hair and a cigarette between his lips strolled into the conference room.
The newcomer was none other than Gao Bing, former Elite Four of the Donghuang Alliance and current principal of Donghuang Academy.
"Old Gao, you're here!"
At the sight of him, Zuo Shenghui smiled.
The two were among the very few close friends each still had.
Gao Bing laughed. "Chairman Zuo personally called me over—if I didn't come, wouldn't that mean I don't want to be academy principal anymore?"
"You're still as irreverent as ever," Zuo Shenghui chuckled.
"Sit down. We wanted to talk to you about that kid from your academy—Ethan."
Gao Bing didn't bother with formalities. He dropped into a chair and, noticing no one else was smoking, casually stubbed out his cigarette.
Just then, Li Yao spoke up.
"Principal Gao, what exactly did you mean just now?"
"Are you saying this Ethan can beat Gym Leader Ye, pass the four-star assessment, and then defeat me to become a five-star trainer?"
This year's professional certification was special.
Li Yao had only just become an Elite Four member. By tradition, newly appointed Elite Four members were required to act as examiners once during the professional five-star assessment—publicly.
It served two purposes:
First, to let the public understand the new Elite Four's strength.
Second, to showcase the prestige of the position.
After all, Elite Four challenges weren't broadcast. Even when champions or Elite Four members changed, the Alliance usually held nothing more than a press conference.
That secrecy had its benefits—protecting top-tier combat data and preventing rival Alliances from targeting key trainers.
Donghuang Alliance had suffered before because of information leaks.
But because the public wasn't familiar with new Elite Four members, this assessment-as-exhibition tradition remained.
Even so, no one in history had ever defeated an Elite Four examiner to pass a five-star certification.
Elite Four members didn't even need their true aces to overwhelm ordinary four-star trainers.
Yet Gao Bing had just implied that an eighteen-year-old might defeat Li Yao.
Li Yao respected Gao Bing—but that didn't stop irritation from creeping into his voice.
"Easy there, Elite Four Li," Gao Bing laughed.
"I'm not belittling you."
"I'm just saying… Ethan isn't as simple as you think."
The room fell quiet.
"Old Gao," Zuo Shenghui said evenly,
"We're all insiders here. If you know something, say it plainly."
Gao Bing nodded. "Fair enough. Then I'll reveal a little."
"Don't you all find Ethan familiar?"
"That's because… he's Victor Stone's son."
The room froze.
Victor Stone's… son?
Everyone turned to the large screen displaying Ethan's profile photo. Now that it was mentioned, the resemblance was unmistakable.
No one blamed them for missing it.
Victor Stone was famously taciturn—barely spoke outside his family circle. Everyone knew he had a son, but few knew the boy's age.
Now realization dawned.
"So that's it… Victor's son is already in university."
"Time really flies," Zuo Shenghui sighed.
Li Yao, however, was unconvinced.
"Even so, Principal Gao," he said firmly,
"that doesn't mean Ethan can defeat me."
"His Pokémon are too strong."
"I strongly suspect they weren't trained by him personally."
"In fact, I doubt he can even draw out fifty percent of their true strength."
The Alliance forbade minors from owning Pokémon—but it never stated that a Pokémon must be personally trained by its registered trainer.
Many powerful trainers raised Pokémon for their children in advance.
Given Ethan's age, Li Yao's suspicion wasn't unreasonable.
Gao Bing chuckled.
"If I hadn't interacted with Ethan myself, I'd think the same."
That only deepened the confusion.
"Four months ago," Gao Bing continued,
"during Donghuang Academy's entrance exams, Ethan broke a record."
"At the time, his Hatterene was still a Hatenna—caught personally in the forest."
"It was only mid-Normal tier."
"I'm telling you this for one reason."
"Ethan… is special."
Zuo Shenghui fell silent for a long moment before speaking softly.
"Old Gao… do you think he's a once-in-a-century special-ability holder?"
Gao Bing nodded. "That's my guess."
"If I'm right…"
"Then Donghuang Alliance may have found a trainer capable of standing at the world's peak for the next fifty years."
"And Ethan has more partners than the ones you've seen."
"I'll just say this—he hasn't even revealed his strongest yet."
Then Gao Bing looked directly at Li Yao.
"I'm not undermining you."
"But if Ethan truly goes all out…"
"Even Victor Stone wouldn't be able to beat him."
Li Yao fell completely silent.
A Pokémon raised to Overlord-peak in just four months?
That concept alone was enough to overload anyone's mind.
Zuo Shenghui finally spoke again.
"Since Ethan is so special, we must treat this carefully."
"Guan Yi—this four-star assessment will be yours."
Guan Yi, a five-star trainer and head of the Prairie Gym, smiled.
"No problem, Chairman."
"After hearing all this, I'm actually looking forward to meeting the kid."
"Just remember," Zuo Shenghui warned,
"this is still a four-star assessment."
"Don't get carried away and unleash your true ace."
Guan Yi laughed. "Relax. You know me."
Three Days Later — Mingling International Stadium
"Haha! You must be Ethan!"
"You really do look just like your old man!"
In the waiting room, Ethan had just arrived when a booming laugh greeted him.
The speaker was tall and lean, around fifty years old—Guan Yi, his four-star examiner.
"Gym Leader Guan, I've long admired you," Ethan said politely.
"First meeting—please guide me."
Guan Yi laughed louder. "Didn't think Victor Stone could raise such a smooth-talking kid."
"I'm basically your uncle."
"Didn't prepare much—take this as a small gift."
He tossed Ethan a small box.
[Ding—Obtained Purple Opportunity: Miracle Seed]
[Critical Hit… 13×]
[Upgraded to Red Opportunity: Top-Grade Miracle Seed]
Inside lay a thumb-sized blue-green seed—an extremely valuable Grass-type treasure.
Its worth easily exceeded fifty million.
Ethan hesitated.
"Take it," Guan Yi said warmly.
"Your father saved my life once."
Ethan bowed slightly. "Thank you, Uncle Guan."
Guan Yi grinned. "But don't expect mercy in the exam."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Ethan replied.
"I want to experience what a true national-level trainer feels like."
Soon, staff arrived. It was time.
Guan Yi slung an arm around Ethan's shoulders.
"Come on, nephew. Let's go."
The Arena
The stands were packed.
Professional four- and five-star assessments were public, but never had so many people attended.
There was only one reason.
Ethan.
Three days ago, his triple leap had detonated the internet.
An eighteen-year-old student accomplishing what no one had done since the Alliance's founding.
Everyone wanted to see this so-called strongest prodigy with their own eyes.
"Looks like they're all here for you," Guan Yi laughed.
Ethan smiled calmly.
"Let's begin."
Under the referee's guidance, both took their positions.
"Examiner will release first."
Guan Yi tossed his Poké Ball.
A massive Pokémon landed on the field—towering, muscular, a colossal flower blooming on its back.
Venusaur
"Strength 1.48… Venusaur?" Ethan murmured.
"Looks like Uncle Guan isn't going all out."
This was normal—four-star assessments usually started at Commander tier.
Venusaur roared, battle-ready.
Ethan raised his Poké Ball, flames bursting from it.
"Then this time—"
"I choose you."
"Entei!!"
The stadium fell silent.
Fire erupted as the ball opened.
A crimson figure appeared—about a meter tall now, young yet unmistakably regal.
"En—tei!!"
The moment Entei stepped onto the field—
The entire arena froze.
Guan Yi stared, eyes wide.
"That's…"
"My nephew…"
"…you really have an Entei?!"
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