The crushing victory of the Shiny Metang still sent ripples through the Glory Battle Club.
The air still held the scorching aftertaste of clashing energies, and the excited discussions in the stands merged into a continuous hum that refused to fade.
In every corner, from every person's mouth, a single name was being repeated.
Shiba.
At this moment, that name seemed to carry a kind of magic, symbolizing an unfathomable power and mystery.
However, wherever the spotlight shines, it inevitably casts a shadow of equal length.
And those shadows are often born of jealousy and greed.
Shiba had long grown used to this. He had no intention of basking in this brief noise and glory; he only wanted to take Yuko and leave as soon as possible.
Just as he turned around and reached out to lightly touch Yuko's shoulder, several figures suddenly stepped in front of them, forming an unfriendly human wall that blocked their way.
At the front stood a tall young man.
He wore an expensive, well-tailored training uniform, but the gloomy aura radiating from within ruined the overall impression.
"You're Shiba?"
The young man folded his arms across his chest, lifted his chin slightly, and looked Shiba over from head to toe with the gaze of someone appraising merchandise.
His gaze was deeply invasive, carrying the natural rejection of an old-timer toward a newly risen challenger, the kind that comes from someone too used to standing above others.
"Tao-senpai!"
Someone in the crowd lowered their voice in surprise, a mix of reverence and gloating excitement in their tone.
The moment that name was spoken, the surrounding chatter dropped sharply.
Countless eyes turned toward them in unison.
Tao.
One of the figures at the very top of the Glory Battle Club's pyramid, one of the few genius students publicly acknowledged as possessing quasi–Elite Four-level strength.
He was known for being extremely proud and looking down on everyone.
Shiba's brow twitched ever so slightly.
He could clearly feel the undisguised hostility coming from the other side—like a shark catching the scent of blood, full of aggression.
"What do you want?"
Shiba's tone was flat, betraying no emotion.
"Nothing much."
Tao tugged at the corner of his mouth in a mocking smile. His gaze slipped past Shiba and fell on Yuko standing beside him.
In that instant, the greed and jealousy that flashed in his eyes were so intense they almost seemed solid.
A stunning face, an otherworldly aura—and yet she was standing by the side of some unknown rookie.
Why?
"I heard you're this year's Rookie King, quite the center of attention."
Tao spoke lazily, every word carrying barbs.
"I just happen to want to personally weigh exactly how much this so-called Rookie King is really worth."
Crude provocation—so childish it was laughable.
Shiba didn't even have the interest to respond and was about to simply walk around him.
But at that exact moment, deep in his mind, the long-silent Prophecy System was suddenly stirred by a powerful surge of causality!
Buzz—!
A blinding scarlet radiance, visible only to him, burst forth from Tao's body and instantly swallowed his entire field of view!
Shiba's steps halted.
His heart clenched violently. He immediately calmed his mind and pulled up that stream of scarlet information.
[Crimson Prophecy: Tao, out of jealousy for Shiba's talent and family background and coveting Yuko, actively initiates a challenge.]
[In the upcoming battle, he will be enraged by Shiba's words and stake a rare family heirloom that can greatly enhance Electric-type Pokémon—the "Thunder Amplifier."]
[In the end, Tao will be utterly defeated by Shiba and lose the secret treasure.]
Thunder Amplifier!
Shiba's pupils contracted sharply, and even his breathing hitched for a moment!
In Kaito's ace lineup, there was a powerful Ampharos.
If he could obtain this secret treasure, its strength would inevitably soar once more, fully stabilizing its newly broken-through Champion-level power!
Talk about someone handing you a pillow right when you're about to fall asleep.
This Tao was even more professional—and more considerate—than that "treasure-delivery boy" Kaoru from last time!
A complete plan took shape in Shiba's mind in a flash of lightning.
The distant cold on his face that kept others at arm's length faded in an instant, replaced by just the right amount of anger of someone who had been rudely provoked.
He furrowed his brows as if thoroughly enraged by the other party's rudeness.
"Why should I even bother fighting you?"
His voice rose a notch, full of the explosive impatience of a hot-blooded youth.
"What qualifications do you have to challenge me?"
"Qualifications?"
Tao laughed as if he had just heard the funniest joke of the century, letting out an exaggerated burst of laughter.
"Just the fact that I'm quasi-Elite! And you're just some rookie who happened to get lucky and win a few matches!"
"So what if you're quasi-Elite?"
Shiba curled his lip in feigned disdain, playing the part of a rookie whose head had been turned by victory to arrogant perfection.
His performance had begun.
"I'm just worried you'll be unable to accept losing."
Shiba's gaze swept up and down Tao with a hint of pitying provocation.
"If you start crying in front of so many people, that would be pretty embarrassing."
"What did you just say?!"
Tao's laughter stopped abruptly. The muscles on his face twisted with fury; he hated nothing more than having his composure called into question.
This brat was begging for death!
"Me, Tao, unable to accept losing? That's the biggest joke I've heard all year!"
His anger completely crushed what little rationality he had as he let Shiba lead him step by step right into a carefully laid trap.
"How about this, kid—just fighting is boring. Let's add a little wager!"
His eyes again turned toward Yuko, the greed in them now utterly naked.
"If I lose, this family heirloom of mine, the secret treasure 'Thunder Amplifier,' goes to you!"
"But if you lose…"
His voice became sticky and disgusting.
"You hand over that beautiful girl beside you—to me."
Before the words had even fully fallen—
A cold, bone-piercing killing intent exploded outward from Shiba's body like a shockwave.
The surrounding air temperature seemed to drop by more than ten degrees in an instant; several nearby students couldn't help but shiver.
Shiba's expression darkened.
That was no longer an act.
It was true killing intent, rising from the depths of his soul.
The look in his eyes held no trace of performance now—only pure, beastlike cold.
"The wager is fine."
His voice was very soft, yet it pierced into Tao's eardrums like countless icy needles.
"But if you dare set your sights on her again, I guarantee you'll regret coming into this world."
That unrestrained killing intent was like a tangible blade pressing against Tao's throat.
A sudden chill shot through Tao's heart, and cold sweat soaked his back in an instant.
In those eyes, he saw death.
He had no doubt that if he said even one word too many, this seemingly young boy in front of him would actually kill him here.
It was the absolute disregard for life that only a true apex predator possessed.
An overwhelming survival instinct forced him to change his tune.
"Fine! Fine!"
He forcibly pushed down the terror in his chest and shouted with forced bravado.
"Then if you lose, you hand over that Shiny Metang of yours to me!"
"Deal!"
That was exactly the line Shiba had been waiting for!
The killing intent in his eyes vanished without a trace in the next heartbeat, so quickly it was as if it had never existed at all.
Using his own momentum against him.
He had successfully made the other side initiate this battle with the "Thunder Amplifier" as the wager.
The fish had taken the hook.
(End of Chapter)
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