Imperial Uy triumphed over Shu Uy, while Pearl Uy defeated the Seilitary Academy. Alongside the First Military Academy, which had a bye in the previous round, the top three schools were decided:

  Imperial Uy, Pearl Uy, and the First Military Academy.

  Tomorrow would be the final match to determihe champion and the top uy in Drakoria.

  Ordinarily, the finals of the Hundred Schools League would attraormous attention. However, the appearanelmetal had stolen much of the spotlight.

  Adding fuel to the fire, Wyvernia's Ministry of Fn Affairs issued a statement demanding that Drakoria have Juliaural and expin how he obtai.

  Currently, Meltan aal were known to exist only in Wyvernia's top-secret realm. Even there, only the nation's Steel-Type Elite owned a Meltan—and its evolutiohod remained a mystery.

  Now, however, a neighb Drakorian trainer had revealed a fully-evolved Melmetal, causing uproar iion of Wyvernia, which suspected their secrets had been stolen.

  In truth, they wereirely wrong.

  The "theft" inated with the Smith family of Wish City, though Julian had acquired the then-egg-form Meltan from them legitimately.

  The Smith family was quick to ect the dots, realizing that Julian's Melmetal had hatched from the mysterious Pokémohey had handed over—a Pokémohat had remained unhatched for 30 years in their care.

  Not only had Julian successfully hatched the egg, but he had also mao evolve Meltan into Melmetal.

  Did the Smith family regret it? Of course they did. This was, after all, a Mythical Pokémon.

  But alongside regret, they felt relief. The egg had remained dormant in their care for decades, and it seemed uhey would have succeeded in hatg it themselves. Keeping it would have ultimately been a waste.

  By giving the egg to Julian, the Smith family gaihe support of the Walker family and built a close retionship with him.

  Given Julian's remarkable potential, it was nearly certain he would bee ae Trainer iure, with a solid ce of being a Champion.

  And likely with Melmetal's help too. If that happened, Julian would owe the Smith family a big favor.

  In respoo Wyvernia's aggressive demands, Drakoria's stance was simple. That very day, Drakoria's Steel-Type Elite, John Walker, arrived at the border with ten other Elite Trainers in tow, sending a clear message:

  'If you dare cross the line, we'll show no mercy'

  Melmetal's public debut had indeed brought plications for the Walker family. As a braeel-Type Mythical Pokémon, it had drawn i from many Steel-Type s in Drakoria and abroad.

  Fortunately, the Walker family's formidable strength, bined with the unwavering support of Drakoria's gover, deterred anyone from making overt moves against Julian—at least on the surface.

  After dinner, Juliauro his hotel room, where his Pokémon were already resting.

  Melmetal animatedly described its battle against the Mega Aerodactyl to Metagross, Dragonite, and the others, plete with vivid gestures aails about the cheering crowd.

  It was so caught up in reting the glorious moment that it ighe Pokéblocks pced in front of it, eager instead for more Pokémon to join and listen to its story.

  Unfortunately, Growlithe and Lairon were entirely ued. Their focus remained firmly on their food.

  When Juliauro the room, he foual enthusiastically chattering, its "Mel, Mel!" filling the air. Meanwhile, the other Pokémon were busy with their own activities.

  The only one listening attentively was Slowking, though for some reason, it had removed the "" from its head.

  "Mel—Meta!"

  Notig Julian's retural let out aed cry, the eye in its head-nut f a crest-moon shape as it joyfully grabbed Julian in a tight hug.

  "Alright, alright, I know you're happy"

  Julian said with a smile, patting its arm. Deep down, he felt a little apologeti his heart. He hadn't allowed Melmetal to appear publicly before, and that was unfair to the Mythical Pokémon.

  "Mel~"

  Melmetal: I want to battle again tomorrow.

  It had loved the cheers from the crowd and wao experiehem again.

  "Tomorrow, Metagross will take the stage. You'll have plenty of ces iure"

  Julian replied, shaking his head.

  Melmetal might be incredibly strong, but tomorrow was the final match. Only Metagross could guarantee success.

  Even though Melmetal was a Mythical Pokémoagross was Julian's real trump card and his greatest source of fidence.

  Winning the championship for Imperial Uy was critical—it would maximize his mission rewards.

  "Meta~"

  Hearing Julian's refusal, Melmetal became visibly agitated, trying to protest. But before it could, Metagross calmly interjected.

  Metagross: You want to rebel?

  Melmetal instantly quieted down. Withieam, Metagross' authority was unshakable.

  ---

  The day, the finals began.

  The format of the finals was different from the semifinals and qualifiers.

  This meant that eaiversuty' eight-member team would be split into two groups, each group fag off against four members of another school.

  Julian, Faye, Thea, and Paul were pced in one group, with their oppos being four trainers from the First Military Academy.

  Meanwhile, Max, Finn, Mark, and Simon were set to face the other four from Pearl Uy.

  Each victory would earn one point, and the champion would be determined by total points at the end.

  Julian's group first. Stepping onto the field, Julian found himself fag her than the First Military Academy's captain—a 4th-year and a man already holding the rank of lieutenant el in the military.

  "Looking forward to seeial in a!"

  "The first match is already this intense—Julian versus the captain of the First Military Academy!"

  "Does anyone know more about this Pierce? There's barely anything online about him except for ret records. His earlier history is impossible to find."

  "Friendly advice: stop digging. You don't want an invitation for a little 'chat'."

  At opposite ends of the battlefield, Julian and Pierce stood ready. Pierce, dressed in his military uniform, had a rugged and stoic expression, his face betraying ions.

  From the sharp glint in Pierce's eyes, Julian sensed a faint killing i. It wasn't directed at him, but rather seemed to radiate from Pierce himself—evidence of the lives he'd taken.

  This man had clearly killed a lot.

  To have reached the rank of lieutenant el at such a young age, Pierce must have earned tless military merits.

  Such aplishments often came at the cost of taking lives, something on and expected in war.

  Julian couldn't help but feel respect for him.

  In any world, soldiers who defend their nation and protect their people are always worthy of admiration.

  "Metagross!"

  Julia out Metagross. Against someone like Pierce, the captain of the First Military Academy, there was no telling what tricks or strategies he might have hidden. Sending out Melmetal and risking an ued loss was not an option.

  Under Julian's watchful gaze, Pierce threw his Poké Ball into the air. A Pokémon emerged, its body formed of gray and e rocks.