The system's voice still rang in Ethan's head as he scanned the glowing prompt:
Qualification upgraded: Elite → Quasi-King.
First-Tier Partner Reward applied.
Ethan's lips curved despite himself. Quasi-King… that's no small bump. In the tiered world of Pokémon potential, only a handful of trainers ever touched this level—Gym Leaders' aces, the heirs of entrenched families, or those with the kind of luck people whispered about.
He hadn't expected to see it this soon.
Another prompt shimmered into view.
Do you wish to use the Skill Disc?
Ethan didn't hesitate. "Yes."
A translucent disc, visible only to him, spun into existence in the air. Six fiery move names flared along its rim: Inferno Drive, Fire Spin, Sacred Fire, Sunny Day, Blast Burn, Flame Charge.
His eyes locked instantly on Sacred Fire. The signature move of Ho-Oh and Entei—if Charmeleon learned it, the battlefield would never look the same. He focused hard, mentally chanting the choice like a prayer.
Three seconds later, the disc slowed… and stopped.
The pointer rested on Sunny Day.
Ethan exhaled sharply, a pang of disappointment pricking his chest. Not Sacred Fire… but still. He could already see the upside. Self-applied weather buff, double the firepower, dampens water weakness. This can work.
With a flick of his wrist, he released Charmeleon's Poké Ball.
Light spilled into the clearing—and the change was immediate. The Shiny stood taller, muscles taut under his crimson scales, the flame at his tail a blazing spearpoint instead of a flicker. Heat shimmered off him in visible waves.
Ethan's gaze darted to the updated system overlay:
Pokémon: Charmeleon (Shiny)
Level: 20 (Winning streak — morale high; training speed doubled. Next level in 29 days.)
Qualification: Quasi-King
Intimacy: 42
Ability: Solar Power
Gender: Male
Moves: Scratch (30%), Growl (30%), Ember (30%), Smokescreen (30%), Dragon Breath (30%), Sunny Day (10%)
Solar Power. Ethan's grin widened. Under harsh sunlight, a small amount of HP would be sacrificed each turn in exchange for a 50% spike in Special Attack—stacked with Sunny Day's fire boost, it was effectively a double amplifier.
Quasi-King stats, weather control, and Solar Power… Golbat's not going to like this.
He lifted his hand. "Charmeleon—Sunny Day!"
"Rua!"
Charmeleon's roar split the clearing. Overhead, the pale, cloud-muted sky brightened in an unnatural rush, the sun punching through in searing gold. Light speared between leaves, painting the ground in molten patterns.
The five people present froze. Takashi's jaw fell open. "Sunny Day? From a Charmeleon? That's insane."
Tem's frown deepened. "First a Smokescreen trick, now weather control? This battle's making less sense by the minute."
Beside them, Lena turned to Mr. Fuji. "Grandpa… can Charmeleon even learn Sunny Day?"
Fuji stroked his beard. "Charizard can—though the training cost is steep. High aptitude, rare resources…" His eyes flicked to Ethan, a quiet wonder dawning there. Charmeleon had evolved only moments ago. This move wasn't born of long, natural practice—it was new, impossibly new.
And yet, the proof was in the sky.
The temperature spiked. Charmeleon's flame brightened to a bluish-white core, his scales seeming to gleam from within.
Solar Power, activated.
Ethan didn't waste the moment. "Ember—full charge!"
Charmeleon swung his tail forward, releasing a fireball nearly a meter across, its bluish-white edges shimmering with lethal heat.
Tem snapped an order the instant he saw it. "Golbat—Air Cutter!"
The bat's wings blurred, slicing the air into sharp, whirling crescents. They met the fireball mid-flight, but instead of dispersing it, the wind only sheared away its outer layer—the blazing heart kept coming.
Golbat tried to juke left.
Too slow.
The impact bloomed in a rush of fire, wrapping the bat in burning light. Golbat's shriek was raw, high, and furious.
"Hold on!" Tem barked. "Wing Attack—blow the flames off!"
Golbat surged forward, wings beating hard. The fire peeled back, but not before searing deep into its hide. It emerged singed, smoking, and visibly slowed—its rhythm broken.
Ethan's voice was sharp. "Dragon Breath—time it for when the burn slows!"
Charmeleon inhaled, the heat in his chest magnified under Sunny Day and Solar Power both. Three seconds passed. Golbat's wingbeats faltered as the burn gnawed at its strength.
"Now!"
A torrent of black-hot draconic energy burst from Charmeleon's mouth. Tem's warning shout came a half-second too late. The beam struck full force, punching Golbat backward through four tree trunks before gravity claimed it. The bat hit the ground with a dull, final thud.
Golbat: unable to battle.
Tem's face blanched. Moments ago, Golbat had been dictating the pace. Now it lay sprawled, bested by a Pokémon it had towered over in level. "Damn it… if I'd found that Poké Ball first, he'd be mine."
Takashi approached warily. "Brother Tem, this mission's blown. What now?"
Tem spat the answer. "We run. Unless you want to see the inside of a cell."
He recalled Golbat in a flash of red light, then tossed another ball. A Fearow burst forth, screeching. Tem swung onto its back. "Kid—remember me. I'll be back."
He launched skyward—only to flinch as an Ember hissed past his flank. The Fearow bolted into high-speed flight, carrying him out of range.
Takashi turned to follow, but Ethan and Charmeleon were already in his path.
"You hesitate even running away," Ethan said flatly. "Maybe you should just stay and meet the police."
Takashi's eyes darted to the treeline, but his third teammate had already fled. Alone, with a Shiny Charmeleon glaring him down, he froze.
The sunlight above still blazed hot, casting Ethan and Charmeleon's shadows long across the dirt—a reminder that sometimes, the right moment changes everything.