As Xia Yu left the Sceptile clan's territory, his emotions were mixed. Watching Treecko part with Sceptile tugged at his heartstrings.
A near-Champion-rank Treecko paired with a Sceptile Mega Stone gave Xia Yu newfound confidence. Once Treecko matured, reaching Heavenly King rank would be within reach, potentially earning him a spot among the Southwest Region's Elite Four.
[*Ding!*]
[*New Mission Triggered: Dragon-type Pokémon Master.*]
[**Dragon-type Pokémon Master**]: *Having captured Noibat and Treecko, with Noibat's final evolution, Noivern, being Flying/Dragon-type, and Mega Sceptile being Grass/Dragon-type, a hidden mission has been triggered to become the ultimate Dragon-type Pokémon Master.*
[*Mission Requirements: The first six Pokémon captured must have Dragon-type in their final evolution or Mega form.*]
[*Mission Rewards: Rewards issued based on progress. Capture three Dragon-type Pokémon: Permanent Move Tutor for Dragon Pulse. Capture four: Dragon Z-Crystal. Capture five: Six A-grade Dragon Scales. Capture six: All Pokémon's potential upgraded—Heavenly King to near-Champion, near-Champion to Champion, Champion to near-Master, and so on. Current progress: 2/6.*]
[*Failure Penalty: None.*]
---
The sudden mission startled Xia Yu. He'd only captured two Pokémon, yet the system was steering him toward becoming a Dragon-type Pokémon Master.
This clashed with his life's ambition. His ultimate dream was to be a Steel-type Pokémon Master. Dragon-types were easily crushed by Fairy-types, but Steel-types were both stylish and powerful—the undisputed best type in the Pokémon universe.
Steel boasted ten resistances, one immunity, and only three weaknesses: Fighting, Ground, and Fire. Such a robust type was unmatched. Pokémon like Forretress and Skarmory had just one weakness: Fire. Then there was aesthetics—Scizor, Aggron, Bisharp, Excadrill, Lucario, Aegislash, and Metagross were all striking and formidable.
Finally, the Steel-type's divine roster: ignoring Jirachi, Registeel, Bronzong, Heatran, Cobalion, and Genesect, the cover legends—Dialga, Solgaleo, Zacian, and Zamazenta—numbered four! That was Steel's prestige. In Xia Yu's heart, Steel was number one.
Why would the system issue this mission? His dream was to be a Steel-type Master, not a Dragon-type one!
Xia Yu fumed, but he quickly accepted the mission. The rewards were too generous to refuse. The promise of upgrading all Pokémon's potential after capturing six Dragon-types was irresistible.
Fine, he'd compromise. He could capture a Steel/Dragon-type Pokémon to honor his dream.
But Steel/Dragon-types were limited to Dialga and Duraludon, neither easy to obtain. Dialga was a Legendary, and Duraludon wasn't native to China. His dream of being a Steel-type Master seemed to drift further away.
Farewell, my youth. Farewell, my dream.
Metagross, don't contact me anymore. I'm afraid Dragonite, Salamence, Garchomp, Hydreigon, Goodra, Dragapult, and Baxcalibur might misunderstand.
---
Meanwhile, at the realm's core, the Ancient Myriad Tree.
Houndoom's shadow appeared at the tree's roots. Xu Xiu held the newly acquired Grass Z-Crystal, a smirk on his lips.
"Mission complete. Time to withdraw." Xu Xiu glanced skyward, retrieving a Poké Ball and summoning Braviary to leave the realm.
His identity was sensitive. Being spotted would stir trouble.
As he prepared to depart, a piercing sonic wave laced with Bug-type energy struck, ambushing Braviary.
"Bug Buzz!"
[*Bug Buzz*]: *A Bug-type special move that generates sound waves through vibration to attack, sometimes lowering the foe's Special Defense.*
Two Volcarona emerged from the jungle, their potent Bug Buzz the source of the attack.
"Braviary, Protect!"
Interrupted mid-departure, Xu Xiu, shrouded in a black robe, turned to face the newcomers.
"Xingguang City's Bug-type Gym Leader, Xia Yong."
"Honglian City's Fire-type Gym Leader, Xia Luo."
Xu Xiu recognized them. He'd researched Xingguang City's key figures before arriving, and Xia Yong was a known quantity. As for Xia Luo, China's youngest near-Heavenly King trainer, a future Heavenly King prodigy, how could he not know him?
"Trouble's arrived." Xu Xiu dismissed Xia Yong, focusing on Xia Luo. Xia Yong was the weakest Gym Leader in Xishu Province, his strongest Pokémon—a Gym Leader-rank Volcarona—no match for him.
His only concern was Xia Luo and his Volcarona.
Looking at Xia Luo, Xu Xiu saw a reflection of his younger self—brimming with ambition, a near-Heavenly King trainer. Yet he'd never crossed into Heavenly King rank, leading him to betray the Pokémon League and annihilate the Zhao family for a Heavenly King-rank Larvitar.
Given another chance, Xu Xiu would choose the same path—perhaps even sooner.
Xia Yong and Xia Luo spotted the Grass Z-Crystal in Xu Xiu's hand. Aware of his identity, they were wary but duty-bound as Gym Leaders. They shouted, "Drop the Z-Crystal!"
"Oh?" Xu Xiu sneered at the father and son. "Talk is cheap. Show me the strength of Xishu's Fire-type Gym Leader."
Mocking Xia Luo, Xu Xiu tossed two Poké Balls. "Go, Zoroark! Krookodile!"
A near-Heavenly King-rank Zoroark and Krookodile appeared, joined by the menacing near-Heavenly King-rank Houndoom, piling pressure on Xia Yong and Xia Luo.
Xia Yong felt it most acutely. His Pokémon were mostly Gym Leader-rank, with only one near-Heavenly King-rank Pokémon—a recently trained Shiny Scizor.
Bug-type Gym Leaders were historically the weakest, largely due to the type's inherent limitations.
Dragon-types naturally outclassed Bug-types, with only a few Bug-types rivaling them.
Scizor was among the rare Bug-types with exceptional strength, Xia Yong's ace.
"Go, Shiny Scizor!"
Xia Yong recalled Volcarona, releasing Shiny Scizor. In a near-Heavenly King battle, his Gym Leader-rank Volcarona was outmatched.
"A Shiny Pokémon?" Xu Xiu eyed the Scizor with interest. "Your trump card, prepared for this year's Gym Leader rankings?"
In the real world, Shiny Pokémon weren't just visually striking—they signified superior potential and power. As genetic anomalies, they were often the strongest of their kind.
"And you, Xia Luo?" Xu Xiu turned to him. "What's your trump card? I don't believe Volcarona is your only near-Heavenly King Pokémon."
"You saw through me," Xia Luo said. "No hiding it then. Go, Groudon!"
Xia Luo's words stunned Xu Xiu. Incredulous, he stared, heart racing. How could Xia Luo possess a Legendary like Groudon? As panic set in, he saw the Pokémon emerge—a Blaziken.
Realization hit. Xia Luo's grin fueled Xu Xiu's fury. He'd been played. Humiliated by his fleeting panic, Xu Xiu's anger surged.