Donghuang Academy — Executive Conference Room
"Director Wang, the Combat Department's freshman evaluations have officially begun,"
an elderly man in a black Zhongshan suit said calmly as he looked at the slightly balding middle-aged man beside him.
"How's the curriculum planning coming along this year?
What kind of training do you intend to arrange for this batch of students?"
Director Wang adjusted his glasses and nodded.
"Principal, the plan is already complete," he replied.
"For the first half of the semester, classes will proceed as normal.
But in the second half, I propose a large-scale field trial."
"The location will be the Primeval Forest."
"We'll place sixteen keys throughout the forest.
Students must locate them on their own.
Once all keys are collected, those students will battle each other."
"The top eight will receive tiered rewards."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Then several senior members nodded in agreement.
A short-haired middle-aged woman was the first to speak.
"Director Wang's proposal is solid," she said.
"Our students have been outstanding year after year, but in recent times… true elites have become rarer."
"We've protected them too well."
"Real Trainers are forged through danger, pressure, and survival—not comfort."
Another senior administrator nodded deeply.
"She's right.
If we shield them from risk, how can they ever grow?"
"Back in our era, power was earned through blood and fire."
At this point, several people unconsciously recalled a familiar name.
More than twenty years ago, Victor Stone had shattered the academy's entrance record.
Not because the rules favored him—but because he ignored them entirely.
He had left the academy's designated safe zone and ventured deep into the Primeval Forest, risking his life to form a bond with a ferocious Mightyena.
That decision changed his destiny.
That Pokémon later became one of his most reliable partners on his path to becoming a Champion.
Compared to that era, today's students were indeed far too sheltered.
Last year's freshman class had a professional Trainer conversion rate of less than 10% after their first year.
That alone was alarming.
This year's incoming class was exceptionally strong.
If there was ever a time to change things—
it was now.
Just as the discussion was gaining momentum—
The doors burst open.
"Principal! Principal!"
A young staff member rushed in, clearly out of breath.
"There's urgent news!"
The elderly principal frowned slightly.
"What is it that can't wait?"
The young man swallowed and spoke quickly.
"Someone… someone just broke Victor Stone's entrance evaluation record."
The room froze.
"…What?"
"Are you certain?"
"Who did it?"
Laughter and excitement erupted almost instantly.
"Looks like we've found a monster this year!"
"It's been over twenty years!"
Breaking Victor Stone's record wasn't just symbolic—it meant the academy had found a student with Champion-tier potential.
"Her name is Irene Qin," the staff member said.
"This year's national exam top scorer."
The room immediately filled with understanding murmurs.
Of course—it was her.
They all remembered the frail-looking girl from a remote mountain village.
Parents who sold everything just to support her education.
That fierce determination in her eyes.
No one doubted she would go far.
But breaking the record on the first day?
That was still astonishing.
The executives were just beginning to celebrate—
When another staff member rushed in.
"Principal… there's a situation."
She hesitated.
"The evaluation machine… broke."
"…Broke?"
The smiles vanished.
"That machine can withstand a Commander-level Pokémon's full-power attack,"
someone said sharply.
"How could it break?"
The principal turned cold.
"Explain."
The woman took a breath.
"A student's Hattrem used Psychic at full power…
and the machine collapsed."
Silence.
"What score did it register?" the principal asked.
"…None," she answered.
"The output exceeded the evaluation limit. It couldn't calculate."
The room collectively inhaled.
After a pause, the principal asked slowly,
"What is the student's name?"
"…Ethan Stone."
The principal's chair scraped loudly against the floor as he stood up.
"Ethan… Stone?"
"You're absolutely certain?"
The staff member nodded.
"Yes."
The room erupted.
"Do you know him?"
"Who is this kid?"
The principal closed his eyes briefly, then exhaled.
"I've met him once."
Then he looked up.
"And his father—
you all know him very well."
"…Who?"
The principal spoke a single name.
"Victor Stone."
The room went dead silent.
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