Chapter 356: The Legend-Emperor and the Master Eight
In the past, Adam had been like an impassable mountain standing at the end of every trainer's path. Countless challengers had broken themselves against his strength, unable to see even a glimmer of hope for victory.
But Kenji's appearance was like the first rays of a rising sun peeking over that mountain. For Lawson and the other Elites, he represented a new dawn for the Huaxia League.
Zhurong Yun, the only person on the platform who had actually traded blows with the Master Eight, nodded in agreement. "Even Adam, at the same age, would not have been a match for Kenji."
As a man who had been highly praised by Ho-Oh and yet confessed he couldn't see through the boy's potential, Zhurong Yun no longer doubted Kenji's destiny.
...
On the field, Kenji walked down from the trainer's box. His part in the bracket was over.
Now, all that remained was to wait for tomorrow's battle for second and third place between Elder Venom and Xun Zhurong, followed by the grand awards ceremony a few days later.
The high-tension atmosphere of the last few weeks finally broke, allowing Kenji's nerves to relax for the first time in months.
The next day's match was a bloodbath. Elder Venom had been waiting for this showdown with the Zhurong family for a century. She didn't hold back an inch. She led with Gengar in the very first round and achieved a brutal, terrifying 6-0 sweep against Xun Zhurong.
For the first time in the history of the League, a scion of the Zhurong family had been forced into 3rd place.
With the rankings for the Top 5 finalized, the main event of the Conference had concluded.
...
"CHEERS!!!! —"
Around a massive banquet table, a diverse group had gathered: Kenji, Grandma Liu, Xie Mu, Bai Bai, Li Heng's family, and Director He.
They were celebrating the double victory of Grandma Liu and Kenji.
"Grandma Liu, are you really not going to challenge the Elite Four?" Kenji asked, leaning toward her.
Grandma Liu had a glass of high-proof white liquor in front of her. Despite her age, she drank like a sailor, knocking back the shot in one go before giving Kenji a mischievous grin.
"Forget that, boy. I'm far too old for that nonsense. Do you have any idea how much paperwork those regional Elites have to deal with? My old bones would turn to dust from the stress alone."
She paused, chuckling. "Besides, I already held that seat a hundred years ago. It's boring. I've been there, done that, and I have the moth-eaten cape to prove it."
Kenji figured as much. Once you've reached the top, the view probably lost its luster after a century.
Director He chose that moment to lean in, his expression a mix of greed and extreme politeness. He rubbed his hands together, acting like a nervous student. "Um... Elder Liu? Those research notes Kenji gave Metropolis Academy regarding Poison-type breeding and toxic flora... they were your work, weren't they?"
Grandma Liu cut him a side-eye. "Just some trinkets I doodled during my downtime when I was bored at Mt. Dreadmist."
Director He's eyes bulged. " Elder, your 'doodles' represent the pinnacle of Poison-type science! Our academy is in desperate need of a mind like yours. If you would consider a position as a Senior Consultant—"
Grandma Liu waved him off before he could finish. "Stop it, brat. Save the flattery for someone who cares. I'm halfway into the grave; you really want an old woman to start working shifts for your school? You have no conscience."
Director He flushed red, looking dejected at the missed opportunity to recruit a living legend.
But then, Grandma Liu softened her tone. "However... my research notes are useless in a drawer once I'm gone. Since you've been a good mentor to Kenji, I suppose I can let you have the rest of my journals. Consider it a gift to the next generation."
Director He's jaw hit the table. He began nodding his head so fast he looked like a pecking Pidgey. A century's worth of research from a Master-rank Poison specialist? It was a wealth of knowledge that would put Metropolis Academy decades ahead of the rest of the world.
Grandma Liu turned back to her drink, looking content. She had no intention of sharing the Serpent Pattern Secret Technique, though. That was for Kenji alone—her true successor.
In the current rankings, Grandma Liu had forfeited her right to challenge the Elite Four. Xun Zhurong also had no interest in a regional seat; his eyes were fixed solely on the Champion's throne. Kenji felt the same way.
This meant the only finalists interested in becoming the new Elite Four members were Li Xisheng and Hu Ren.
...
The group laughed and talked late into the night. Under the persistent prodding of Li Heng's father, Kenji ended up having two glasses of wine. His face turned a bright, festive red almost instantly. He had no tolerance for alcohol in his past life, and clearly, he hadn't inherited any in this one either.
"By the way, Kenji."
Suddenly, Namgung Xi leaned in close, her voice dropping to a whisper.
She had been drinking too—quite a lot, actually—but she looked perfectly sober aside from her rosy cheeks. Her large eyes were clear and focused.
"What is it?" Kenji asked, his head swaying slightly from the buzz.
Namgung Xi leaned in further, her tone serious. "That Arbok of yours... the 'Dragon Form.' What exactly is that?"
Kenji blinked, confused. Why would a girl from the Dragonite Guardian Clan be interested in an Arbok's secret techniques? "Why do you ask?"
"Well," Namgung Xi said, her brow furrowing. "Every member of the Namgung family is born with a soul-bond to the Guardian Deity. We are incredibly sensitive to its aura. It's a scent we've known since we were in the womb."
She paused, looking Kenji straight in the eye. "When your Arbok transformed... I felt it. For a split second, that snake radiated the exact same aura as our Guardian Deity."
The words hit Kenji like a bucket of ice water.
The alcoholic fog in his brain evaporated instantly. His jaw dropped, and his mind, previously sluggish, began to race at a hundred miles an hour.
A terrifyingly bold hypothesis began to form in his mind—one that made his skin crawl.
His Arbok was an anomaly. It was born from a "Star-Up" system that used other Pokémon as fuel.
If what Namgung Xi said was true... then what exactly was his Arbok becoming?
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