🎄 Christmas Special Discount 🎄
From December 23 to December 25, there will be a public 50% discount on the following tiers:
Intermediate Trainers, Advanced Trainers, Elite Trainers, Elite Four Trainers, Champion Trainers, and Legendary Trainers.
🎆 New Year Discount 🎆
There will also be a 50% discount, but it won't be public. On December 31, the discount code will be published inside the chapters, so stay tuned 👀✨
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Ethan Black stood alone in the center of the field.
In the stands, absolute silence reigned; for a moment, no one dared to step up.
In ranking battles there was no rule forcing anyone to challenge a specific person, so in reality, anyone could avoid facing Ethan Black and simply challenge another competitor.
But if, due to a lack of challengers, Ethan Black were to step down from the stage that way, it would be the ultimate confirmation of his position as number one, and from that moment on, no one would dare to challenge him.
In other words, a perfectly normal ranking battle had been turned by Ethan Black into a sort of open-ring fight.
Absolute silence.
At that moment, standing in the middle of the field, Ethan Black exuded an invisible pressure that made the other students avert their eyes whenever they crossed his gaze. No one dared to hold his stare.
No one questioned his strength anymore. After displaying the power of Sandslash and Meltan, everyone regarded him with respect—and a hint of fear.
Especially after the battle against Claire Dawson, who had been in third place. Skarmory had demonstrated a power everyone knew well, and Claire Dawson was recognized as an expert trainer of Flying-type Pokémon.
Her aerial combat skills were the best among everyone present; even Patrick Mills, considered the strongest, would not be able to defeat her in an aerial battle.
Yet, in the previous fight, Claire Dawson's Skarmory had only managed to use Air Cutter before being instantly defeated by Meltan, without the slightest chance to counterattack. That left everyone stunned.
Of course, if they knew that Meltan had perfectly neutralized Skarmory thanks to its Magnet Pull ability rather than the move Magnet Rise, they probably wouldn't have been so surprised.
In this world, where the strong are respected, Ethan Black had displayed his power, and the weak could only admire him.
Little by little, all eyes shifted away from him and landed on one single person among the crowd.
Naturally, it was the second-ranked student: Patrick Mills.
Even the teachers present fixed their gaze on him.
"Hah... looks like I have no escape," Patrick Mills said.
Under the eyes of all the students and teachers, Patrick Mills knew he could not avoid the confrontation. He walked calmly, a Poké Ball in hand, as the crowd parted to let him through until he reached the center of the field.
"I didn't expect to see a battle between the first and second this soon—and in just the third match!" the students murmured, aware that this duel could decide who would be the strongest in the entire ranking.
"I didn't think Ethan was this powerful," said Lucas Silver, standing beside Marcus Foster, both observing the scene with serious expressions.
"So... if Ethan wins, will you challenge him?" Marcus Foster asked with a sly smile. "The captain of the university team still hasn't been decided, and if you try, you might have a shot."
"I won't lie: I've never beaten Ethan," Lucas Silver replied frankly. "But this isn't the time to fight for first place between him and me. Look over there..."
He pointed at the veterans of the university team, who were also watching with interest.
"If Ethan wins, they won't just sit back and do nothing," he added with a playful grin.
Patrick Mills stopped in front of Ethan Black.
"You've trained your Pokémon well," he said calmly. "This year you're still eighteen, right? Your talent is incredible. But the problem with rookies is the lack of experience and resources. The strength of a trainer is measured by their entire set, not just by having a couple of strong Pokémon."
"Oh?" Ethan Black smiled faintly. "So you're talking about resources and experience? Then I suppose your Pokémon must be on a very high level. Show me that experience you speak of... try to defeat my three Pokémon."
Ethan Black understood perfectly what Patrick Mills meant: by "resources," he referred to the number and versatility of his Pokémon.
Just like Claire Dawson, who had sent out Skarmory as a counter for Sandslash and Cacturne—though she underestimated Meltan's power.
If Patrick Mills was speaking this way, it was because he was confident he had Pokémon capable of countering Ethan Black's three.
"Enough talk... let's battle!" Patrick Mills replied firmly. He pulled out a Poké Ball and activated it.
A white flash revealed a majestic Arcanine.
The Pokémon, resembling a great hound, had thick cream-colored fur on its mane, legs, and tail, with orange and black tiger-like stripes across its body. Its imposing presence and the way it moved, as though fused with the wind, made it look magnificent.
"An Arcanine!" Ethan Black couldn't hide his surprise.
It was obvious that Patrick Mills had chosen it to counter Cacturne and Meltan. Even though Arcanine's Fire-type was weak against Sandslash, its incredible speed could make up for it. Ethan Black didn't know if it had mastered Extreme Speed, but if it did, it would be a formidable opponent.
He took a deep breath, recalled Meltan, and grabbed Sandslash's Poké Ball.
Although Extreme Speed was dangerous, it wasn't impossible to counter.
Sandslash appeared on the field, locking eyes seriously with Arcanine.
"Sandslash, huh?" Patrick Mills muttered. His Arcanine had been prepared to face Cacturne, but since fate had paired them up, there was no choice but to fight. "Use Flamethrower to greet it!"
Arcanine nodded, opened its mouth, and unleashed a torrent of blazing fire toward Sandslash.
(End of chapter)