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"Well then, I'll be heading out first. There are still matters I need to handle at home." Tate climbed onto his Charizard with practiced ease.
"Leaving so soon? I was hoping we could share a meal together. We Elite Four rarely get to see each other throughout the year." Victor puffed on his pipe thoughtfully. Unlike other elderly men who preferred quiet solitude, he enjoyed lively dinner gatherings.
"There will be plenty of opportunities this year," Tate replied, glancing at Chris meaningfully. With Chris challenging Champion Marvin to a battle, he would certainly be around more often.
"Alright, alright. I suppose I should head out as well." Victor retrieved his Poké Ball and released his impressive Totem Gliscor. As he mounted the large Flying-type, he didn't forget to offer his encouragement to Chris. "Young Chris, I'm counting on you to challenge that old fox Marvin! Prepare yourself well and give it your all to dethrone him!"
"I will, Mr. Victor," Chris responded with a confident smile.
"None of this 'mister' business—just call me Old Victor, or even Old Man Victor if you prefer." Victor waved as his Gliscor carried him away through the darkening sky.
Chris surveyed his surroundings. The three mysterious islands had vanished completely, leaving them standing on the ethereal ground of the spirit world. Around them, waves of dark energy surged like an otherworldly tide. Without the sustained power of the two powerful Gengar that had maintained the connection, the bridge between the real world and the spirit world was rapidly dissolving.
In less than two minutes, the spiritual realm that had once stretched for thousands of meters had shrunk to barely a hundred meters in diameter.
"Time to withdraw. Get some proper rest once we're back," Chris said, stretching his arms above his head. He released his Totem Salamence from its Poké Ball, preparing for the journey back to the capital city.
Just as he was about to take off, a Flygon approached and gestured for him to stop.
"Hello there, Elite Chris! I'm Zachariah, the Gym Leader of the City near the shore. We met briefly at the last Gym Leader conference!" Zachariah's voice was filled with excitement and nervousness. "My daughter is a huge fan of yours—could I possibly get your autograph?"
Zachariah had witnessed the entire battle from a distance. He had seen Roy's Gengar fall in the final moments, which meant Chris must have emerged victorious in this Elite Four battle! To think that someone had not only just joined the Elite Four but had also defeated the strongest among them—and at only twenty years old, no less. Given enough time, wouldn't the champion title of China be within his grasp?
No, Zachariah was convinced that Chris would eventually become a true Pokémon Master.
He had to get that autograph now! Word was that Chris had signed very few autographs so far, making them incredibly valuable.
Chris had no clear recollection of Zachariah. With over thirty Gym Leaders across the region, it was impossible to remember each one personally. Looking at Zachariah's eager expression, Chris suspected the man was probably more of a fan than his daughter was.
"Uh, I don't have any paper or a pen with me," Chris said apologetically.
"I brought a pen! You could just sign my shirt!" Zachariah replied enthusiastically.
Unable to refuse such earnest kindness, Chris reluctantly signed his name on Zachariah's clothing before finally being allowed to "escape."
By the time Chris returned to Deerling Manor, it was already seven in the evening.
The moment he arrived home, the chef had dinner ready and waiting on the table. Fresh lobster, perfectly grilled steak, delicate rice noodles—anything Chris might want to eat, the chef could prepare. The man was even a mid-level Pokémon Breeder, capable of creating specialized treats for Chris's Pokémon team.
While eating, Chris scrolled through his phone, checking the latest news.
The battle between himself and Roy had already become a trending topic.
"Demon God Descends: Shiny Elite VS Lord of the Underworld—Who Will Claim Victory?"
The unexpected torrential downpour had triggered emergency response protocols. Naturally, such a significant weather event couldn't go unnoticed by the media. To calm public concerns, officials had decided to reveal the truth and announce the Elite battle between Chris and Roy.
Suddenly, the focus shifted from the City's emergency weather situation to the outcome of this epic battle.
Thanks for the invitation. Just got off the plane. This time I'm backing Lord of the Underworld. Sure, becoming an Elite Four member at age 20 is impressive. Our Flash God is undeniably talented, but he just joined the Elite Four. Wanting to defeat Roy, who might become the next champion, seems somewhat unrealistic.
Unrealistic? You're calling our Shiny God unrealistic? From the moment Chris became an Elite Four member, I knew nothing was impossible for him in this world.
Ah yes, yes, yes.
Objectively speaking, Lord of the Underworld should definitely win. There are different levels even among the Elite Four! Not every Elite is like Elian, and not every Elite is like Roy.
Umm, I understand every word said above individually, but when put together, they make no sense. In the end, our Shiny God is number one in the world.
It's pointless to speculate now. We'll just have to wait and see when the winner challenges the champion.
Most netizens were debating who would ultimately win between Chris and Roy, or questioning just how powerful the Elite Four truly were if they could affect weather patterns twenty kilometers away.
Clearly, internet users with nothing better to do had found themselves another rare source of entertainment.
Chris didn't pay much attention to the online chatter and speculation—it was just amusing background noise to him.
However, a comment gave Chris pause for thought.
"When should I challenge for the championship?" Chris mused to himself.
During his battle with Roy, he had recognized his own weaknesses. Compared to these legendary powerhouses who had been famous for years, his foundation was still too shallow. His Pokémon had developed too few exclusive moves.
Greninja's incredible Rasengan technique had undoubtedly been studied and analyzed by many strong trainers by now. If he wanted to defeat the champion, he couldn't rely on Greninja as his trump card alone.
"Zeraora and Lugia also have tremendous potential waiting to be unlocked," Chris murmured, unconsciously tapping his index finger against the table.
After careful consideration, he quickly made up his mind.
Chris retrieved a notebook from nearby. While thinking through his strategy, he mentally selected the six main Pokémon he would use when challenging Champion Marvin.
Over the coming period, he would focus on developing new moves for his core team, striving to create one or two exclusive techniques for each Pokémon before challenging for the championship.
However, move development would be best accomplished back in Green Valley. After the New Year celebrations, he had sent Mew and Togepi back to Green Valley. With the assistance of the Aura Secret Realm's unique powers, developing new moves would be far more efficient.
Just as he picked up his phone to call Wanda about booking a flight, Chris suddenly remembered that Roy had asked him to stay in the capital for a few more days. The senior Elite had mentioned taking him to some mysterious location abroad.
But would Roy, whose confidence had been shattered by their battle, still follow through on taking him to that foreign secret realm? Even if he did, when exactly would they depart?
Perhaps he should ask directly?
Chris held his phone, lost in contemplation.
Never mind—he would ask again in a few days.
Just as he set the phone down, the screen suddenly lit up with an incoming message.
Picking it up, he saw it was from Roy.
Roy: Get ready. We leave at 8 AM the day after tomorrow. I've already purchased your ticket.
Chris: Understood!