In the end, only two challengers succeeded.
Even the first one had gotten by with a fair bit of luck.
The entire tournament was broadcast live during Spring Festival.
It pushed Lin Yu's fame to its peak.
Now people recognized him on the street and asked for his autograph everywhere he went.
Three days later,
Lin Yu wore a mask, carefully checked his surroundings, then slipped into the Pokémon League building.
"Lin Yu! It's you!"
The same friendly receptionist who'd registered him before greeted him.
This was the day he'd arranged to claim his challenge rewards.
"It's me. Keep your voice down, please. Where do I pick up the prize?"
Lin Yu quickly gestured for silence as the attractive receptionist spoke a little too loudly.
He'd enjoyed being famous at first…
but now he just wanted to be normal again.
"Alright, cutie. Follow me." She giggled and led him deeper into the building.
They reached a temperature-controlled room, and the receptionist left.
Waiting for him was an elderly man with white flecks in his hair and a dignified air.
"President Li."
Lin Yu recognized him — Li Hua, the president of the Shuimu City Pokémon League branch.
He was rumored to be a Master-tier Trainer!
The word "Master" carried immense weight.
Lin Yu greeted him respectfully.
"Lin Yu, nice to meet you." The elder laughed warmly.
"Here's your Professional Trainer Certificate. And these are all the Poké Eggs you can choose from. I'll be your advisor for this selection."
Lin Yu was flattered.
"No need to be nervous. Go on."
The elder led him to shelves lined with Poké Eggs of all kinds.
Without hesitation, Lin Yu activated his Inspection Eye.
[Species: Caterpie (87h 45min)]
[Talent: Common]
[Species: Weedle (52h min)]
[Talent: Common]
The first two he checked were just Bug-types.
Lin Yu moved on immediately.
The room was huge.
The moment he stepped inside, his Aura Sense stirred uncontrollably.
It was…
a resonance with the same power!
Lin Yu's eyes lit up.
Aura resonance — what else could it be?
Following the pull of his power,
he ignored every other egg and walked straight toward the source.
President Li blinked in surprise. He hadn't even started explaining yet!
Lin Yu had even walked past a Snivy egg — didn't it interest him at all?
Soon,
Lin Yu stopped in front of a shelf and picked up a deep-blue egg.
The resonating Aura came from this one.
"This egg…?" President Li frowned in confusion.
Aside from being labeled as Fighting-type, there was no information about what was inside.
It stumped him.
As a Master-tier Trainer, he'd seen countless battles and Pokémon.
He knew almost every species inside and out…
but only if he knew what it was.
"You want this one?"
"Yes!" Lin Yu answered firmly.
Riolu — paired with [Kaioken], it was a perfect match!
"This egg…" President Li laughed awkwardly.
He'd just offered to be an advisor, and now he couldn't even name it.
But as Lin Yu approached, the egg began to pulse gently,
as if responding to his presence.
"I'll take it, President."
[Pokémon: Riolu (12h 25min)]
[Talent: Champion-tier]
That was all his Inspection Eye showed for now. Simple, but that one word — Champion — was enough to make Lin Yu's heart race.
Champion-tier talent?
And a Riolu with Aura power strong enough to resonate with him?
Only a fool would refuse.
"If you insist… once it hatches, just bring it in to register."
The bond between Trainer and Pokémon was meant to be mutual.
If both already responded to each other, who was he to interfere?
"Okay."
Lin Yu nodded as the President personally handed him the Riolu egg.
"These eggs have been raised in energy solution. They should all hatch within five days…"
President Li paused.
"If the Pokémon inside isn't what you hoped for, you can bring it back and exchange it for another."
Saying that went against his conscience.
But this boy was a once-in-a-generation genius!
He wanted nothing more than to see Lin Yu compete on the national stage.
If a small city like Shuimu could produce a national tournament competitor — even a winner —
it would change the city's future forever.
Lin Yu blinked, then smiled.
"Rest assured, President. Even if it hatches into a Caterpie, I'll raise it into a powerful Butterfree!"
President Li froze, then nodded approvingly. He felt ashamed of his earlier doubt.
A child had just taught him a lesson.
He'd grown too comfortable over the years.
He'd lost the drive to reach higher.
The 少年's spirit burned brighter than ever.
Back home, Lin Yu couldn't take his eyes off the egg.
Kirlia hovered nearby, curiously waiting for their new partner.
Crack…
A small piece of shell broke. A blue head poked out, wriggling free.
It had dark, mask-like markings around its eyes and bright, piercing red pupils.
Riolu — the small, humanoid puppy Pokémon.
"Ri-o!"
Even inside the egg, it had felt a warm, familiar power.
Seeing Lin Yu now, it felt even closer.
No words were needed.
Fist bumped against fist.
"Welcome to the team, partner."
Lin Yu summoned Charmeleon and Frogadier.
"Charr?"
"Frog…?"
"Ri-o~"
Frogadier was calm about the new arrival. Charmeleon, though, puffed out its chest like an older brother.
The newborn Riolu was fearless. It held out its tiny fist and bumped paws with every one of them — even Kirlia, who found it adorable.
"Alright, Charmeleon. From now on, you're in charge of teaching Riolu Fighting-type moves."
Lin Yu patted Charmeleon, who nodded without hesitation.
Having fought more Fighting-type Pokémon than anyone else, it was more than qualified to train Riolu early on.
As for later…
who would be teaching whom was still up in the air!
[Pokémon: Riolu]