The Dominance of Mega Swampert Appears!!**
Kyoto Pinnacle Stadium.
Because Ethan had gone viral nationwide, today's crowd at Kyoto Pinnacle Stadium was nothing short of terrifying.
Even five hours before the assessment officially began, the stadium was already completely full—both the regular stands and the private boxes.
Outside the stadium, the sea of people was even more exaggerated.
The Alliance had always issued tickets for professional assessments for free, but even though Kyoto Pinnacle Stadium could theoretically accommodate 300,000 people, the Alliance capped entry at 100,000 to prevent large-scale incidents.
Even so, a hundred thousand spectators was already an absurd number.
Those who failed to get tickets but still wanted to witness the assessment in person crowded outside the stadium to watch the live broadcast.
Although professional assessments were always streamed online, this one was different.
This was Ethan's five-star assessment.
Alliance Box
Inside the Alliance's exclusive box.
Zuo Shenghui looked at the newly arrived Victor Stone and Donovan Kovsky, smiling as he spoke:
"Champion Victor, Elite Four Donovan—long time no see."
Donovan laughed heartily.
"Haha! Zuo, it really has been a while. Last time we met was at Chairman Andrei's inauguration."
Zuo raised an eyebrow.
"That old man's still in good health, I hope? Last time I saw him, he was winter-swimming in the Volga on video."
Donovan waved his hand cheerfully, saying that Andrei was doing just fine, and casually extended an invitation from the Bear League for Zuo to visit and "take a vacation."
Zuo agreed without hesitation.
In recent years, the Eagle League had been exerting pressure globally, and the Donghuang Alliance and Bear League had already begun quietly coordinating behind the scenes.
But international matters were not suitable for discussion here.
Zuo suggested continuing the conversation at Alliance headquarters after the assessment, which Donovan readily accepted.
After that, Zuo turned his gaze toward Victor, who was sitting on the sofa watching the massive battlefield below.
"What's wrong? Worried your son can't beat Li Yao?"
Zuo laughed.
"Relax. A professional assessment is still an assessment."
"As long as Ethan shows enough talent and potential—even if he doesn't defeat a single Pokémon, he can still pass."
"Though I have to say, Victor… you really hid things well. None of us knew you had such an outstanding son."
Victor replied calmly:
"It's not that I meant to hide anything."
"I just didn't expect Ethan's talent to be this high."
"He's been a trainer for less than half a year, yet he's already reached this level."
That was the truth.
Victor had deliberately avoided teaching Ethan directly while he was young, so his identity wouldn't become a burden.
He never imagined that his son would turn out this… outrageous.
To the others in the box, however, Victor's calm explanation sounded like pure humblebragging.
But no one found it annoying.
After all—his son really was that good.
Waiting Room
Meanwhile, Ethan arrived at the waiting room of Kyoto Pinnacle Stadium.
The room was enormous—easily large enough to hold thousands.
Yet at this moment, it felt empty.
There were only two people inside.
Ethan.
And his examiner for the five-star assessment—
Li Yao.
"Ethan, you finally made it!"
After their previous conversation, Li Yao's impression of Ethan had improved drastically. He now treated him more like a younger brother.
Ethan smiled lightly.
"Long time no see, Brother Li."
"Haha, no need for formalities. Come, sit."
The two sat side by side and chatted.
Mostly about Pokémon—training methods, breeding philosophies, battle instincts.
At some point, Li Yao even casually shared his own Steel-type breeding insights.
Ethan was genuinely surprised.
These were insights from a Top-Tier Elite Four.
If such knowledge were made public, even ten billion would fail to buy it.
This alone raised Ethan's opinion of Li Yao significantly.
Soon, a staff member entered.
"Ethan, Champion Li—fifteen minutes until the assessment begins. You may prepare to enter."
Li Yao stood up, smiling.
"Let's go, Ethan. Today is an important day for you."
"But be careful—"
"I won't be holding back."
Ethan smiled back.
"I wouldn't want you to."
"I also want to know how far I really am from you."
Li Yao burst out laughing.
Kyoto Pinnacle Battlefield
Kyoto Pinnacle Stadium was one of the three greatest stadiums in the world.
The battlefield alone was the size of ten football fields, featuring a unique ecological combat environment—shrubs, streams, mudflats, rocky terrain.
The moment Ethan and Li Yao stepped onto the field, the crowd erupted.
"ETHAN—HAVE MY BABIES!!"
"HE'S SO HANDSOME!!"
"ETHAN I LOVE YOU!!"
Ethan felt a bead of sweat form on his forehead.
He'd heard that famous trainers attracted extreme fans…
But this was something else entirely.
Still, he didn't care.
He wasn't an idol.
Assessment Begins
A Champion-level Aegislash descended from the air.
A golden barrier instantly enveloped the entire battlefield.
The referee began announcing the rules.
This was a 3v3 battle.
Elite Four assessments were always like this—to avoid revealing too much of their full strength.
The countdown reached zero.
"Five-Star Professional Assessment—BEGIN!"
"Examiner Li Yao, please send out your first Pokémon!"
Li Yao grinned.
"Ethan, I'll be going all out!"
"Go—Steelix!"
With a thunderous crash, a fifteen-meter-long Steelix slammed onto the battlefield.
The ground visibly shook.
"Steel——!!"
Ethan narrowed his eyes.
"Peak Overlord Steelix…"
"So the rumors were true."
"Elite Four-led five-star assessments really are hell difficulty."
He then smiled.
"But that's exactly what I wanted."
"Go—Swampert!"
A surge of water erupted as Swampert landed on the field, muscles bulging, aura steady and fearless even before Steelix.
The audience froze.
"Another Pokémon?!"
"That Swampert's presence is insane!"
Even in the Alliance box, Zuo Shenghui sucked in a sharp breath.
"Arms like iron pillars, core like a coiled dragon…"
"This Swampert is a perfect specimen."
Then—
Ethan calmly took out a gem.
The Origin Keystone.
Without hesitation, he raised his voice:
"Swampert—show them your true power!"
"Mega Evolution!!"
Light exploded across the battlefield.
Li Yao's pupils shrank.
"Super Evolution?!"
The light faded.
A towering, overwhelmingly muscular figure stood on the field.
Arms thicker than its torso.
Power radiating like a raging tide.
Mega Swampert.
Ethan's ace had arrived.
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