The strength of this Dragonite was also beyond dispute: it had likewise reached the peak of the second threshold of the Champion level.
The only thing that gave Cain some relief was that Dragonite did not have a Mega Evolution form, so its power would not surge up to the Master Level.
It did not seem like more than a difference of a single level, but the qualitative gap hidden within was enormous. As long as it was not a Master Level Pokémon, Cain still had confidence in being able to contain it.
"I'll handle four, you take two. Choose first," Magnus said, turning his head toward Cain.
Upon hearing that, Cain was very direct and did not stand on ceremony. He immediately chose one opponent he felt confident against and another of lower level.
"I'll take Dragonite and that Flygon!"
Cain's choice surprised Magnus a little. He had thought Cain would directly choose the two weakest Pokémon. After all, at his age, already possessing such strength could not be described by the word "genius" alone.
Kael's two strongest Pokémon were Mega Latios and Latias. The third was Dragonite, very likely his initial Pokémon.
"Good," Magnus said in a grave voice, and inwardly evaluated Cain a little more highly.
He had always looked somewhat down upon the current young generation of League trainers, because the several previous generations of young League trainers had never left him with a good impression.
Cowardice, indecision, and lack of ambition: that was the summary he made of many of those young League trainers.
Although now the younger generation was gradually assuming power within the League, in his opinion that was also because the veterans were still there, supporting them.
But now his impression had begun to change somewhat.
Magnus was the current League commander. From the moment he joined the League, the path he followed had been different from that of ordinary trainers. He was someone who had climbed step by step through the League's military system.
The things he had experienced within the military were far greater than those of those naive League trainers, which was why he had always looked unfavorably upon those soft trainers.
Precisely under the attention of the council elder, he had focused on managing and training the League's military forces.
The Black Envoy who had lost to Cain in the past was the commander of the League's Second Corps, and also someone Magnus had valued precisely because, unlike many League trainers, he acted decisively and with a firm hand.
Therefore, although the council elder had not been very agreeable, Magnus had insisted on supporting that Black Envoy until elevating him to the position of commander of the Second Corps.
And now, looking at things this way, it could not be ruled out that Kael knew Magnus's character very well and had deliberately acted in accordance with his preferences, winning his favor so that his own people could better infiltrate the League's high ranks.
That was precisely the first thing Magnus thought of when he learned that the Sacred Church bishop was his old friend Kael.
Having been used by an old friend was also one of the reasons for the anger he felt at that moment.
Cain, meanwhile, did not pay attention to the whirlwind of thoughts in Magnus's mind. He lowered a Cherish Ball from his waist and, through the transparent surface, saw that although Moltres had not yet completely recovered, it was more or less already in condition to fight.
Leaving everything else aside, if that Moltres could follow Cain's orders, then with its identity as a true legendary Pokémon, its strength was still quite considerable.
"Kraashiar!"
As soon as it came out, Moltres let out a cry toward the sky. It swept its gaze across the battlefield, saw Cain and his three Pokémon, suddenly widened its eyes, and the flames on its beak stirred, ready to erupt at any moment.
Then, a red flash shone in Cain's hand, and the previously fierce Moltres was returned to the Cherish Ball.
Then he released it again...
Moltres still wanted to attack, and Cain returned it once more.
He released it again. This time, Moltres finally understood that it was completely under Cain's control. As long as Cain wished, it would be returned to the ball at any moment.
Cain's expression did not change. He looked at Moltres, which no longer attempted to attack and barely retained a trace of reason, and said indifferently: "If you obey, I will still let you live. But if you continue resisting, I will have my Tyranitar finish you off and take your divinity."
Moltres could fully understand Cain's words. When it heard Cain say he would have Tyranitar finish it off and steal its divinity, at first it even wanted to laugh.
But when it unconsciously turned its head toward Tyranitar, its eyes suddenly widened and its body trembled slightly.
What had it just sensed?
The cold gaze of Mega Tyranitar did not even need to be mentioned. That aura belonging to a challenger alone was something Moltres understood better than anyone.
If back then it had not had the fortune to obtain that same aura, thereby gaining the right to challenge a legendary Pokémon, and moreover with the assistance of certain influential figures within the League, it would never have become a true legendary Pokémon.
But this was completely beyond Moltres's understanding. Since when could an ordinary Pokémon possess such qualification?
"Could it be... that this Tyranitar really could take my divinity?" Thinking this, Moltres's body trembled once more. It was not impossible!
Cain saw Moltres's gaze weaken, and a smile appeared on his face.
With this Moltres, he had more or less already grasped its character quite well.
(End of chapter)