Chapter 384: Floor 100! The Battle Tower!
Kenji didn't respond immediately. Accelerated growth? Was that an attractive perk? To any other trainer, the chance to train a Dragon-type on Dragon Island was a dream come true. But for Kenji, the man with a literal cheat code? It was barely a ripple on his pond.
"Patriarch Zhang, I'll consider it. But I'd prefer to ask Arbok first. If he's willing, then I'm happy to leave him here. If not... well, my hands are tied."
Namgung Zhang nodded, understanding.
Kenji assumed that given Arbok's clingy nature, it would never agree to be separated from him.
"WHAT???!"
In his guest room, Kenji stared at Arbok in utter shock.
The snake nuzzled against him, its cool, smooth head bumping his shoulder in an affectionate gesture.
Kenji had followed through on his promise to Namgung Zhang, asking the snake for its opinion. He expected a flat "No." Instead, after a moment of visible inner conflict, Arbok had indicated that it actually wanted to stay on Dragon Island.
"CHAA-CHAAA!!!! —"
Seeming to worry that Kenji was hurt, Arbok hissed repeatedly, coiling around him gently in a comforting embrace.
Kenji understood the gist, but he needed a translation to be sure. He looked at Ninetales.
"He says he feels he can learn new things from the Giant Dragonite," Ninetales relayed.
"CHAAA!!!"
Arbok nodded, its expression resolute.
Kenji was enlightened. Arbok's desire to stay wasn't because of the island's unique "growth aura"—it was because of the Deity.
Kenji had promised to respect its choice. If Arbok wanted to study under the original source of its power, Kenji wouldn't stand in its way.
He rubbed the snake's head, a soft smile touching his lips. "I understand. Do what you have to do."
Inwardly, he felt a wave of pride. Arbok had grown so much. It was no longer the stubborn little hatchling that refused to leave his side to study under Grandma Liu. It was a warrior, recognizing a path to greater power and taking it.
Kenji relayed the decision to Namgung Zhang. The Patriarch was ecstatic, swearing on his family's honor that they would treat Arbok like a second deity.
After staying on the island for a few more days to ensure Arbok was settled, Kenji officially said his goodbyes and departed.
Namgung Xi saw him off, riding beside him as her Dragonite carried them toward the mainland. She was sad to see her friend go, but she knew the final stretch of the Huaxia League journey was waiting for him.
"Good luck, Kenji! You're going to take that throne! I'll be in the stands for your final match, screaming louder than anyone!"
Kenji waved goodbye to the girl on the dragon and watched as the island faded into the morning mist.
Returning to Metropolis, Kenji headed straight for the academy.
It was his first time back since winning the National League Conference. The atmosphere was surreal. Every student he passed looked at him with pure, unmasked worship. He wasn't just a senior anymore; he was a living legend.
Metropolis Academy was already making plans to erect a golden statue of Kenji in the main plaza to commemorate the first Conference Champion in the school's history.
Kenji retreated to his private villa, which had been kept in pristine condition during his absence.
Knock knock knock...
"Come in, Director He."
Kenji stood aside to let the Director enter.
He was eager for news, specifically regarding the Mewtwo incident on Dragon Island. He had heard snippets of the League's reaction, but he wanted the official debrief.
Director He looked like he had aged five years in a week. "That was... quite the 'surprise' Team Rocket had for us. If it hadn't been for you, Dragon Island would have been a crater. The League high command is still reeling from the implications of an unchained Mewtwo."
After some brief catch-up, the Director got down to business.
To ensure Kenji could focus entirely on his training for the Elite Four, the academy had constructed a state-of-the-art, exclusive training facility specifically for him.
It was equipped with the highest tier of technology, dedicated medical staff, and a custom nutritional team. Everything he needed to sharpen his team into blades was now at his fingertips.
Kenji appreciated the gesture. After a day of settling in, he initiated a new round of intensive training.
The encounter with Mewtwo had set a fire under his team.
Beedrill, usually the pinnacle of confidence, had been shaken by the overwhelming psychic power of the armored god. It realized that while it was the King of the Forest, there were beings in the world that didn't play by the same rules. Its training intensity jumped to a level that made Kenji worry about its health.
Darkrai was equally motivated. As a true Mythical God, being suppressed by a "counterfeit" like Mewtwo was a stain on its pride that could only be washed away in blood.
The rest of the team shared the sentiment. Everyone wanted to be strong enough to contribute in the final fight against Zhurong Yun. Even the usually lazy Ninetales was putting in extra hours.
Days turned into weeks. Kenji focused on his team and spent his downtime gaming with Li Heng, who was settling into his new life at Metropolis.
Outside the academy walls, the world was on fire. The Big Five alliances, fueled by rage and fear, were systematically dismantling Team Rocket. With Mewtwo itself reportedly attacking syndicate bases out of vengeance, the world's largest criminal organization was collapsing at record speed.
Strangely, despite the global purge, the "Head of the Snake"—the true leader of Team Rocket—had yet to be spotted. Some began to wonder if the leader even existed, or if they had already fled into the void.
But as the six-month mark of the crackdown approached, the Huaxia League finally found its breathing room. Kenji decided it was time to finish what he started.
He had one last goal before the Elite Four: the Battle Tower.
Kenji had been chipping away at the win-streak between training sessions. Yesterday, he'd finally gotten the notification he'd been waiting for: his 100th-floor opponent had been found.
Finding a match for a 99-win streak was notoriously difficult. Very few trainers in Huaxia history had reached this level.
Kenji adjusted his sunglasses and strode into the Battle Tower. He didn't need a guide anymore; he knew the way.
Target: The Top Floor. Match #100.
♧♧♧
-> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE
-> FOR EVERY 200 PS = BOUNS CHAPTER
♧♧♧
-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.patreon.com/c/Segais
(Just remove the hyphen to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you