The thunderous rumbling persisted for a full three minutes, eg across the arena. A dense cloud of dust enveloped the battlefield, making it impossible to see what was happening inside.

  tless spectators ed their necks, desperate to catch the first glimpse of the battlefield.

  Julian and Dyn, the two trainers, stood in silence.

  Another four minutes passed, and the dust began to clear. As visibility returhe state of the battlefield was revealed—it had been utterly destroyed.

  Not a siact patch of ground remaihe entire area was in ruins. Eveallic framework supp the arena was now exposed, twisted and broken.

  This battlefield was beyond repair.

  However, her of the two Pokémon could be seen. A wave of fusion rippled through the crowd.

  Where were Metagross and Samence?

  Crack! Crack!

  Suddenly, the sound of breaking debris echoed through the arena. From one of the craters, Metagross slowly emerged, lifting itself into the air. Stones and rubble slid off its back as it rose.

  "Meta!"

  Metagross hovered before Julian. Its silver frame was riddled with scars and burn marks, evidence of a grueling battle.

  "You've worked hard," Julian said.

  This had beeoughest fight of Metagross's career. Even during its battle against Acacia's Artio, it had never looked this battered.

  Metagross returned, but Samence did not.

  Everyone knew what that meant.

  As a group of Pokémon assistants dug Same from the rubble, it became clear—the dragon had fainted pletely.

  "Samence is uo battle. Metagross is the winner!"

  With that annou, Metagross had defeated its eighth oppo and Julian had singlehandedly vanquished the entire Modu Academy team.

  Shock, awe, disbelief, joy, silehe crowd's faces reflected a kaleidoscope of emotions. For a moment, evemosphere in the arena seemed frozen in time.

  Even the livestream's eio still.

  Then, as Julian walked away with Metagross, the silence shattered.

  A deafening wave of appuse erupted like thunder.

  At that moment, it didn't matter whether someone supported Imperial Uy, Modu Academy, or any other college altogether—everyone ping for Julian aagross.

  Orainer, one Pokémon, had taken on Modu's eight Dragon-type specialists. Pseudo-legendaries, Mega Evolutions, and evee-tier oppos had all been brought out.

  And every single one had fallen to Metagross. Not a sirainer could stop it.

  The livestream eion exploded:

  "Mom just asked why I'm watg the stream while kneeling."

  "My girlfriend didn't cp, so I dumped her on the spot."

  "Metagross: From now on, call me the Dragon Syer."

  The chat was in chaos, but it all boiled down to two things:

  One, endless praise for Julian.

  Two, endless praise for Metagross.

  "King Julian! King Julian! King Julian!"

  The cheers of Imperial Uy supporters rang out across the stands, their faces flushed with excitement. Many cupped their hands around their mouths to amplify the t, shouting as if their voices alone could shake the earth.

  Among them, Hannah's face was a deep shade of crimson, her body trembling slightly as she joined in with her cssmates, ting Julian's title with fervor.

  Inside, a wild voice screamed untrolbly:

  'I'm going to wear bck stogs... and I'm going to.....!'

  --

  Julian, meanwhile, had fed Metagross a burn-healing potion to help it recover. As he approached the Imperial Uy' se of the stands, his cousin, Thea, came running toward him at full speed.

  The enthusiasm on her fad her pace left Julian slightly armed.

  'Is she pnning to jump on me?'

  With that thought, Julian ducked sideways.

  But a moment ter;

  His visio dark as two unknown objects smothered his face.

  "Julian, you're amazing! So amazing! How you be this amazing?!"

  Faye had unched herself onto him, ing her legs tightly around him in sheer excitement. Her words tumbled out ily as she g to him like a lifeline.

  Julian: "Mmmph, mmmph!"

  Metagross: Is this how it ends? Suffocation?

  Finally, Thea stepped in and peeled Faye off him, freeing Julian to take a mueeded breath. He quickly distanced himself from Faye, the girl who had nearly caused his untimely demise.

  At this point, Julian's teammates surrounded him, their eyes brimming with a mix of awe, disbelief, and something akin to envy.

  It wasn't just admiration—it was like they were looking at a monster.

  If Julian was a senior, defeating the eight members of Modu Academy wouldn't be too shog. But he wasn't.

  He was just a freshman.

  A first-year student who had just obliterated uppercssmen from one of the top five uies, including seniors and third-years.

  This revetio his teammates reeling.

  If Julian could defeat those eight, he could defiake them down too.

  And unlike Modu's team, theirs didn't even have ae-level Pokémon.

  Even their captain, Max, was only at the peak of pseudo-Elite level, with just three Pokémon of that caliber.

  Max cpped Julian on the shoulder, his voice brimming with excitement.

  "Man, with you around, I don't see aaking the championship from us for the hree years!"

  Though he envied Julian's strength, his respect for him far outweighed those feelings.

  Alex provoked su oppo, his dead was a matter of course.

  Julian was only in his first year, meaning he had three more opportuo pete in the Hundred Schools League. Unless other schools produced someone even more monstrous, Imperial Uy was set to dominate for years to e.

  "Drop by the Drake family estate when you have time," said Wade, his tone plicated.

  Though he was impressed, he couldirely hide his mixed feelings.

  After all, Julian had triumphed over the heir of the Drake family—their most promising Dragon-type prodigy, and Wade's own favorite nephew.

  Dyn possessed the 'Heart of the Dragon', a unique ability that enhahe essence on-types, making him one of the most talerainers in their lineage.

  Uhe family's unwavering support—almost at any cost—it had taken only a year for Dyn's Sameo accumute enough energy to break through to the Elite level.

  The goal was clear: for Dyn to shine in the Hundred Schools League with the strength of ae, establishing himself as the leading figure of his geion in Drakoria and solidifying his reputation as the nation's rising star.

  But all of that was disrupted by Julian.

  With undeniable strength, Julian had not only defeated the seven trainers before Dyn but also overcame him in the final showdown.

  There was no room for doubt or excuses. The Drake family accepted their defeat wholeheartedly.

  Adding to this, wade himself was Julian's teacher, and Ian was a fellow student. To plicate matters further, Julian was the sole heir of the Walker family, making him untouchable from any angle.

  Sihey couldn't act against him, they had only one choice: to make friends.

  Thanks to Wade and Ian, Julian already held a favorable impression of the Drake family.

  This was why the Drakes extended an invitation to Julian.

  For such a prodigious talent, if they couldn't eliminate him as a threat, they could at least establish a solid e.

  "Alright"

  Julian nodded.

  As a member of an iial family, Julian uood the intricacies of these retionships. The works between noble families were deeply iwined and often plex.

  Both the Drake and Walker families were among Drakoria's most promi houses.

  And through Wade's guidance, Julian had learned invaluable methods for raising Dragonite. From any perspective—whether personal growth or family allia was impossible for him to refuse Drake family's invitation.

  "You should rest for now," Wade said.

  After eight secutive battles and a Mega Evolution in the end, even Julian's intermediate-level psychic abilities couldn't shield him entirely from mental exhaustion.

  As for Metagross, it was already tucked away in its Poké Ball, sleeping soundly.