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.
*****
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