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The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the National Pokémon Arena as preparations began for the coronation ceremony. After the intense morning battles, it was time to officially crown the new Elite Four member. The Trainer Association had called together all necessary members to witness this historic moment.
Nearly one hundred thousand spectators filled the arena seats, their excited chatter creating a constant hum throughout the massive stadium. Beyond the physical audience, hundreds of millions more watched through live broadcasts, making this one of the most-watched Pokémon events in China's history.
"Let's congratulate China's youngest Elite Four member ever!" the announcer's voice boomed across the arena, met with thunderous applause.
"Elite Four is definitely not the end of Chris's journey—I look forward to seeing him crowned Champion someday!" another commentator added enthusiastically.
From the crowd, passionate fan voices could be heard above the general cheering: "Chris! I love you! Do you know that?! I can be sweet or salty!"
The wild shouts from the more enthusiastic fans in the audience made Chris feel slightly uncomfortable. The attention was overwhelming, and it only strengthened his resolve to eventually capture a Zoroark.
The ceremony began as Chris stepped forward to receive the seal that symbolized his position among China's Elite Four. This wasn't just any ordinary badge or trophy—it was a sacred symbol of his achievement and responsibility.
The Elite Four seal differed significantly from Gym Leader badges. Gym Leader seals bore local characteristics unique to their regions. Each was crafted from materials native to their area, engraved with Pokémon significant to their location, and inscribed with their city's name at the base.
For example, the Green Valley Gym's seal featured an engraved Arcanine with "Green Valley" inscribed below it. The Dragon Gym's seal displayed a majestic Wailord with "Dragon" carved at the bottom. Each Gym Leader's seal told a story of their connection to their community and the Pokémon that thrived there.
However, the seals representing China's Elite Four positions followed a different tradition entirely. All Elite Four seals shared similar characteristics—each was carved from pristine white jade, featured a Dragon-type Pseudo-legendary Pokémon engraved on the top surface, and bore the character "Elite" inscribed at the bottom, symbolizing their elevated status among trainers.
The white jade seal being presented to Chris bore the image of Garchomp, its fierce expression captured perfectly in the carved stone. The craftsmanship was extraordinary, with every detail of the Land Shark Pokémon rendered with incredible precision.
"Congratulations," Elian, the former Elite Four member, personally handed the White Jade Seal to Chris. Though his words were gracious, his tone carried an unmistakable note of bitterness that he couldn't quite conceal.
The white jade dragon seal represented more than just a position—it symbolized years of dedication, countless battles, and the respect of an entire nation. No one could easily hand over such a symbol to someone else, especially when it had been lost through defeat rather than retirement.
The regret and disappointment were emotions that only Elian truly understood in that moment. This seal had once been his pride, and now he was passing it to the trainer who had bested him in battle.
"Thank you. It was a wonderful battle," Chris responded sincerely, extending his hand to shake Elian's. His eyes reflected genuine respect for his former opponent.
The battle had indeed been wonderful—truly spectacular in every sense. Chris's acknowledgment wasn't mere politeness; he genuinely admired the skill and determination Elian had displayed throughout their match.
If Elian hadn't been able to see the sincere respect in Chris's eyes, he might have interpreted the comment as mockery. However, even with Chris's obvious sincerity, the words still stung. Losing such an important battle and position wasn't something that could be easily brushed aside.
Without another word, Elian turned and walked away from the center stage, leaving amid applause and cheers that were no longer meant for him. The crowd's enthusiasm was now entirely focused on Chris, the new Elite Four member who had earned their admiration through his impressive victory.
Mixed feelings swirled through Elian's heart as he made his exit. He remembered standing in this very spot years ago, accepting everyone's applause and celebration when he had first achieved Elite Four status. Back then, he had been the victor, the one being celebrated for his triumph.
Now he faced an uncertain future. What should someone do after losing their Elite Four position? The question weighed heavily on his mind as he considered his options.
Should he accept early retirement and live quietly, perhaps taking on a teaching role or working behind the scenes in the Pokémon world? Or should he begin the long, difficult journey of attempting a comeback?
The possibility of reclaiming an Elite Four position wasn't impossible, but it would require years of additional training, studying new strategies, and proving himself worthy once again. The road back would be even harder than his original climb to the top.
Meanwhile, Chris remained at the center of the battlefield, basking in congratulations from tens of thousands of spectators. The moment felt surreal—just months ago, he had been another ambitious trainer dreaming of reaching such heights, and now he stood as one of the most powerful trainers in the entire country.
He waved goodbye to the crowd, smiled for countless photographs as camera flashes lit up the arena like stars, and finally began making his way toward the player tunnel. Each step took him further from the overwhelming noise of the celebration and closer to the next phase of his journey as an Elite Four member.
The player tunnel provided a welcome respite from the chaos of the main arena. The sound of the crowd gradually faded as Chris walked through the corridors that connected the battlefield to the preparation areas where trainers gathered before and after their matches.
At the tunnel entrance, Teacher Vladimir, Senior Alexis, and Senior Roy had been waiting patiently for Chris's arrival. They weren't alone—a group of eager media representatives had also gathered, hoping to secure interviews with the newly crowned Elite Four member. However, the reporters maintained a respectful distance, clearly intimidated by the presence of such powerful and respected trainers.
The three seniors commanded respect throughout the Pokémon world, and their protective presence around Chris sent a clear message that any interviews would need to wait for a more appropriate time and setting.
"Teacher!" Chris called out respectfully as soon as he spotted Vladimir, immediately adopting the formal greeting that their relationship demanded.
"It was a good fight," Vladimir responded with approval, his assessment carrying significant weight given his extensive experience and expertise in Pokémon battles. Coming from someone of Vladimir's caliber, such praise was particularly meaningful.
Alexis and Roy both appeared eager to share their own thoughts and congratulations, but Vladimir's subtle gesture stopped them before they could speak. "Let's go back to the lounge and talk about it there," he suggested, indicating that a more private setting would be appropriate for their conversation.
The group began moving toward the lounge area, with Chris walking alongside his mentors and seniors. As they passed the gathered media representatives, several reporters attempted to extend microphones and call out questions, hoping to catch Chris's attention for even a brief comment.
However, Roy's Gengar suddenly materialized beside the reporters, its ghostly form appearing with its characteristic mischievous yet threatening grin. The Ghost-type Pokémon's presence was both playful and intimidating, perfectly embodying the dual nature that made Gengar both beloved and feared.
Gengar served as Roy's Trump Card Pokémon, a partnership that had earned them recognition throughout the Elite Four ranks. The sight of such a powerful and unpredictable Pokémon sent a clear message to the media representatives.
Understanding the implicit warning, the reporters unanimously lowered their microphones and stepped back. None of them wanted to risk having nightmares featuring Gengar's haunting presence every night for the foreseeable future. Some battles simply weren't worth fighting, and confronting an Elite Four member's ace Pokémon definitely fell into that category.
The group successfully reached the lounge without further interruption, and Vladimir carefully closed the door behind them, ensuring their privacy for the conversation that was about to unfold.
The moment the door clicked shut, Alexis's restraint evaporated entirely. He immediately stepped forward and delivered a hearty slap to Chris's shoulder, his face beaming with undisguised pride and excitement. Anyone observing his expression might have thought that he, rather than Chris, had just defeated Elian in battle.
"You incredible kid! You completely dominated that old veteran Elian! It was so satisfying to watch!" Alexis exclaimed with genuine enthusiasm. "Now our Dragon University lineage has achieved something amazing—one school producing two Elite Four members!"
The significance of this achievement couldn't be overstated. Having multiple Elite Four members emerge from the same training background was extremely rare and spoke to the quality of instruction and preparation provided by their shared mentors.
"Elite Four member Elian is still very powerful," Chris responded modestly, though his words reflected genuine truth rather than false humility. "If I hadn't studied his battle style in advance, this would have been a much more difficult fight."
Chris's assessment was entirely accurate. As an Elite Four member, Elian had spent years under intense scrutiny. His tactical approaches, Pokémon team compositions, preferred strategies, and even psychological patterns had been analyzed by countless opponents and researchers. This level of analysis was both a burden and a challenge that came with elite status.
If Chris had encountered Elian randomly in the wild without prior preparation and study, the battle's outcome would have been far less certain. The advantage of preparation and research had played a crucial role in his victory.
"No matter how powerful he was, you still defeated him convincingly," Alexis replied dismissively, seemingly forgetting that Elian had previously defeated him in battle. By his logic, if Chris could beat Elian so decisively, then Chris should theoretically be able to defeat Alexis even more easily—a realization that didn't seem to bother him in the slightest.
"Elian's strength remains formidable," Roy interjected with a more balanced perspective. "I'm curious about his future plans. If he maintains his competitive drive and decides to challenge for another Elite Four position, he certainly has the capability to potentially defeat one of the other two current members."
When Roy mentioned "the other two Elite Four members," he was clearly excluding himself from consideration. Elian's strength, while impressive, would still struggle to pose a serious threat to Roy's Elite Four position. The gap between their abilities remained significant.
"Speaking of Elite Four positions, Chris has now achieved Elite Four status, when will you be joining the ranks?" Roy asked, shifting his attention to Alexis.
"I really want to witness the emergence of the Dragon lineage producing three Elite Four members from one school," Roy continued with genuine interest.
One school producing three Elite Four members! The concept was remarkable and historically unprecedented. It brought to mind ancient dynasties where entire families would produce multiple generations of accomplished scholars or officials, creating lasting legacies that influenced entire eras.
"Just wait until next year!" Alexis declared with fiery determination burning in his eyes. Chris's victory had successfully ignited his competitive spirit, and he was now more motivated than ever to pursue his long-held dream. "Next year, I will defeat one of the current Elite Four members and claim the position I've been chasing for so long!"
The passion in Alexis's voice was unmistakable, and his renewed determination was clearly influenced by witnessing Chris's success. If his junior could achieve Elite Four status, then surely he could accomplish the same goal with proper dedication and preparation.
"That's enough," Teacher Vladimir interrupted with a gentle but firm reminder. "Don't deliberately chase after these prestigious titles and recognition. While achieving one school producing three Elite Four members would be wonderful, don't become impatient or obsessed with this goal. Avoid getting trapped in narrow thinking that could actually hinder your progress."
Vladimir's wisdom came from years of experience in the Pokémon world, and he understood the dangers of becoming too focused on external validation rather than genuine improvement and development.
"Yes, Teacher," Alexis replied respectfully, taking several deep breaths to calm his excitement and channel his passion more constructively. He recognized the truth in Vladimir's words and worked to moderate his enthusiasm.
True dedication and passion should be invested in daily training routines and preparation for future battles. Excessive emotional excitement during normal times would only serve to burn out one's energy and focus, ultimately proving counterproductive to long-term success.
"It was a good fight," Vladimir repeated, placing his right hand on Chris's shoulder in a gesture of approval and support. After a brief pause, he continued with obvious curiosity: "When are you planning to publish your research paper on Greninja's Evolution?"
The mention of Greninja's Evolution immediately captured the attention of both Alexis and Roy, who turned their heads with renewed interest. Although they had witnessed Greninja's Mega Evolution multiple times during Chris's battles, their curiosity about the phenomenon had only intensified rather than diminished. Each viewing seemed to raise new questions about the mechanics and implications of this remarkable transformation.
Chris smiled, recognizing that his teacher had mentioned the battle being "good" twice now, which was clearly his way of steering the conversation toward the topic that truly interested him—the scientific research behind Greninja's unique Evolution ability.
"Actually, Teacher, I was hoping to discuss the Greninja Evolution paper with you," Chris responded. "I've already completed writing it and plan to submit it for publication within the next few days. I was hoping you could review it and provide your guidance before submission."
With these words, Chris retrieved the carefully prepared research paper he had written prior to participating in the Elite Four challenge, ready to share his groundbreaking discoveries with his mentor and the broader Pokémon research community.