Elite Four Li Yao: Steel Specialist and the Only One Capable of Mega Evolution**
As the system notification faded, Ethan looked at the small box in his hand, visibly stunned.
He hadn't even opened it yet—but he already knew what was inside.
An Evolution Keystone.
This was an extremely rare item that had only appeared in recent years.
According to current research, when certain Pokémon resonate with an Evolution Keystone and their corresponding Mega Stone, they can temporarily evolve beyond their normal limits.
Abroad, this phenomenon was called Mega Evolution.
Within the Donghuang Alliance, it was officially termed Super Evolution.
And it was terrifyingly strong.
Take Beedrill, for example.
In the wild, Beedrill was a very common Bug-type Pokémon, generally weak. Even at its peak, it rarely surpassed Elite level—and even among Elites, it ranked near the bottom.
But once it underwent Super Evolution…
Mega Beedrill experienced a complete transformation.
Its speed skyrocketed.
Its attack power became absurd.
The Bug Valley Gym in the southwest of Donghuang was led by Gym Leader Sun, who possessed a Mega Beedrill.
Although that Mega Beedrill was only at early Overlord level, challengers who mentioned it all wore expressions of dread.
Because even late-stage Overlord Pokémon dared not underestimate it.
That was the sheer broken nature of Super Evolution.
So far, researchers had confirmed just over thirty Pokémon species capable of Super Evolution.
Yet despite that number, Super Evolution remained extremely rare.
The reason was simple.
Two items were absolutely required:
Evolution KeystoneA Pokémon-specific Mega Stone
The Keystone alone was already hard enough to obtain—finding the matching Mega Stone was even worse.
Across the entire Donghuang Alliance, the number of trainers capable of Super Evolution could be counted on one hand.
Even Victor Stone, the Alliance Champion, had never been able to perform it.
Which meant—
Donovan's gift wasn't just generous.
It was top-tier.
More importantly—
After the system's opportunity critical hit, the Evolution Keystone had transformed into a Origin Keystone.
Now, as long as Ethan's bond with a Pokémon was strong enough, any Pokémon capable of Super Evolution could evolve without needing its Mega Stone.
That was absurd.
Metagross.
Swampert.
Garchomp.
All of them qualified.
For Ethan—whose strength was already outrageous—this was nothing short of another explosive leap forward.
"Hahaha! Just a small gift, don't嫌弃 it, big nephew!"
Donovan laughed loudly.
"And if you really want to thank me—my daughter is eighteen. You can just become my son-in-law!"
Ethan froze, completely unsure how to respond.
Thankfully, Anna Stone stepped in at just the right time.
"Alright, alright—he's just joking."
"Since it's a gift, just accept it."
"And if Donovan's daughter ever comes to Donghuang, my Ethan will definitely play the perfect host."
Donovan beamed.
After chatting a bit longer with Donovan and his father, the butler arrived to announce that dinner was ready.
As dusk settled, Victor led everyone into the manor.
The dinner wasn't overly extravagant.
There were only four guests.
But the chef's skill was extraordinary—so much so that even Geng Zhi, a bona fide rich kid, admitted he'd never eaten food this good.
As for Ethan's Pokémon, the manor had dedicated breeders responsible for preparing their meals.
However, Ethan's Pokémon had long grown accustomed to Ning Yunmei's top-tier Pokémon cuisine—and had become extremely picky.
So Ethan simply wrote down several recipes from the Ning Family Pokémon Cookbook that his Pokémon liked and handed them to the staff.
The moment the breeders saw the recipes, they were stunned.
These weren't amateurs.
They were all professional breeders—either Anna's former students or Alliance-assigned specialists.
And yet, just reading the recipes, they could already tell—
The finished products would rival rare Berries.
When the dishes were completed, the results exceeded expectations.
The aroma alone made even the breeders swallow their saliva.
Shocked, they immediately reported this to Anna.
Anna was equally surprised.
Ethan had never cooked once in his life.
So this cookbook clearly didn't originate from him.
Whoever created it was a true genius.
Few people knew this, but Anna wasn't just a homemaker—
She was a Grandmaster Breeder, specializing in Pokémon food.
In recent years, disturbed by the chaotic state of Pokémon food worldwide, she had founded a Pokémon food company to research and produce healthy, high-energy meals.
Funding wasn't an issue.
But after more than a year, they still hadn't produced a breakthrough product.
That had always troubled her.
Now—
This cookbook was a turning point.
After dinner, Anna immediately asked Ethan about the cookbook's origin.
Ethan honestly told her it came from Ning Yunmei, the head chef of the Chansey Cafeteria at Donghuang Academy.
Once Anna got Ning Yunmei's contact info and called her—
The two women instantly clicked, chatting like lifelong confidants.
At that rate, Victor was clearly doomed to sleep alone tonight.
Father and Son
Late at night, Victor stood on the third-floor balcony, enjoying the evening breeze.
Beside him stood Ethan.
Victor looked at his son with an unconcealed, radiant smile.
"Dad," Ethan said helplessly,
"Can you stop smiling like that? It's kind of creepy."
Victor chuckled.
"What's wrong with a dad smiling?"
"My son is this outstanding—of course I'm happy."
Victor had never pushed Ethan to succeed.
But seeing his son surpass him so thoroughly filled him with pride.
After a pause, Victor suddenly said:
"Oh right. I almost forgot."
"I also brought you a gift."
Ethan blinked, surprised.
Before he could guess, Victor took out a Poké Ball and handed it to him.
"Dad…?"
Victor smiled.
"This mission took me to Stormwind Valley in Africa."
"I met the current Wind Lord there."
"That place is far crueler than Dragon Valley."
"Pokémon kill without hesitation just to survive."
"The Wind Lord position changes frequently."
"This generation's Wind Lord knew he wouldn't last."
"So he entrusted his only child to me."
"This Poké Ball contains that child."
Ethan fell silent.
Stormwind Valley sounded brutal—but that was the wild.
Weakness was a sin.
The moment Ethan looked at the Poké Ball, the system chimed.
[Ding! Red-grade opportunity detected: Child of the Storm]
Still, Ethan hesitated.
"Dad… he entrusted his child to you."
"Is it really okay to give it to me?"
Victor laughed.
"I'm just entrusting him to a better trainer."
"I'm old. I can't keep up anymore."
"With you, he won't waste his talent."
"Who knows—maybe in a year, he'll return to challenge for the Wind Lord title."
That wasn't an exaggeration.
With Ethan's growth rate, anything was possible.
Ethan finally accepted the Poké Ball.
[Ding! Red-grade opportunity acquired: Child of the Storm]
[Opportunity Critical Hit triggered…]
[333× Critical Hit!]
[Tricolor-grade opportunity acquired: Child of the Storm]
Click.
The Poké Ball opened.
A small, purple, bat-like Pokémon with oversized ears appeared.
Pokémon: Noibat
Strength: 1.12 (Early Normal)
Type: Flying / Dragon
Ability: Infiltrator
Moves: Gust, Double Team, Dragon Rush, Agility
Potential: Divine Tier III
"This is my son, Noibat," Victor said.
"From today onward, Ethan is your trainer."
Noibat squinted its eyes and chirped softly.
"Brr~"
Ethan smiled warmly.
"Hello, Noibat. Let's take care of each other."
Just then, a familiar voice rang out.
"Ethan哥哥!"
Meloetta, tired from playing in the garden, flew up to the balcony.
Victor froze.
"…This is?"
Ethan laughed.
"Dad, meet Meloetta—my partner."
"Meloetta, this is my father. And this is Noibat, our new teammate."
Meloetta smiled sweetly.
"Hello, Ethan哥哥's dad!"
"Noibat, welcome to the team!"
Noibat perched beside her, curiously looking around.
Victor, however, was internally shaken to the core.
Meloetta.
A mythical Pokémon that brought song to the world.
And now—
She was casually calling his son 哥哥.
Victor's worldview cracked.
Legendary Pokémon seemed to be appearing around his son like mass-produced goods.
Ethan soon had Meloetta take Noibat to meet the others and explained everything to his father.
Victor could only sigh.
The egg that had stumped scholars for twenty years…
Hatched in Ethan's hands in half a month.
At that point, all he could do was accept reality.
Perhaps—
This was simply his son's destiny.
Before leaving, Victor gave one final piece of advice.
"For the five-star assessment—don't use Metagross."
"A Totem-tier Metagross is too dangerous."
"If it goes all out… half of Capital City would be gone."
Ethan nodded seriously.
From Victor, Ethan also learned more about his upcoming opponent.
Li Yao—
A trainer specializing in Steel-types.
And the only Elite Four in Donghuang capable of Super Evolution.
He had risen to the Elite Four precisely because of it.
Ethan's eyes lit up.
"Super Evolution…"
"Then I guess it's time for Swampert and me to start practicing."
Father and son talked late into the night—not about ambition, but about Pokémon.
Three days later—
Capital City Peak Stadium.
Ethan vs. Li Yao.
Five-Star Professional Assessment—about to begin.
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