"Seadra?"
"Hey, did you do that on purpose?"
When Kingdra appeared on the field, Leoric Vance was stunned for a moment—then his expression twisted into a mix of surprise and irritation.
In his mind, sending out his Electabuzz before the referee even announced the start of the match was already a sign of courtesy toward Ethan, a way of "holding back."
But now, that guy had the nerve to respond with a Water-type Pokémon, which was supposed to be weak against Electric types!
Wasn't that just mocking him?
Of course, Leoric had no idea that the Pokémon before him wasn't just a Water type. Kingdra —who had never before appeared in public— wasn't simply an evolved Seadra. In addition to the Water type, it also possessed the Dragon type, which resisted Electric-type attacks.
"Wow, is that a Seadra?!"
"Why is it so big? It's nearly two meters tall!"
The students in the audience stared in amazement at the majestic Kingdra standing proudly in the center of the field.
"A Seadra? Wait... I don't remember Seadra looking like that."
"Yeah, it's similar, but not exactly the same..."
Some of the more knowledgeable students from wealthy families began whispering among themselves, visibly confused.
"That Pokémon definitely isn't a Seadra!"
Even the principal and the teachers exchanged uncertain glances; their experience told them that this Pokémon was anything but ordinary.
"Don't worry," Ethan said with a confident smile. "My Kingdra is a Water- and Dragon-type Pokémon. Against your Electabuzz, it has no disadvantage at all."
"You can attack with everything you've got. Just one warning—if you hold back, you'll regret it."
His smile widened as he watched the confusion spread across the students' and teachers' faces.
"Water and Dragon type?"
"Then it's not a Seadra—it's a Kingdra!"
His words dropped like a bomb. Everyone present—teachers and students alike—stared wide-eyed.
An evolved Seadra?
Was that even possible?
"Kingdra...?"
Leoric's expression darkened. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't recall ever hearing about a Pokémon with that name.
"The battle between student Ethan Black and student Leoric Vance... begins!"
Though clearly intrigued by the mysterious Pokémon, the referee kept his professionalism and signaled the start of the match.
"Electabuzz, use Thunderbolt!"
Leoric shouted firmly, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
BOOM!
A lightning bolt burst forth from Electabuzz's body, crashing toward Kingdra with a deafening roar.
"Kingdra, hold your ground."
Ethan's eyes gleamed. The lightning struck Kingdra head-on... yet Kingdra didn't even flinch.
The electric torrent danced across his scaly body, crackling for a few seconds before fading away completely.
BOOM!
With a slight motion, Kingdra released a shockwave that shattered the lingering sparks clinging to his skin.
The Thunderbolt attack—had done absolutely nothing!
"What?!"
"He took it head-on?!"
The students erupted in astonishment.
"It's true! He's resistant to Electric-type moves—so that Kingdra really is a Dragon type!"
The teachers also nodded silently. Everything matched what Ethan had said.
Ethan smiled in satisfaction as he watched their reactions. That was exactly his plan. He had chosen Kingdra specifically to reveal him publicly, to make sure news of his existence reached Dragon Valley.
After this battle, word of him—and of Kingdra—would spread quickly. And once Dragon Valley received the information, they would no doubt contact him right away.
"Alright," he said calmly. "It's our turn to attack."
"Kingdra, use Hydro Pump!"
With a deep roar, Kingdra turned his head toward Electabuzz. His throat began to swell, and his long snout—like the barrel of a cannon—filled with compressed energy.
"Electabuzz, dod—!"
BOOM!
Before Leoric could finish shouting, the water projectile blasted forth with overwhelming speed and power, striking Electabuzz dead-on.
Electabuzz was hurled into the air like a rag doll, crashing into the ground with a heavy thud.
"W-what... what kind of attack was that?" Leoric stammered, frozen in disbelief. "A Hydro Pump? It was like a real gunshot!"
The speed, the precision, the sheer force—it was a monstrous technique.
"Electabuzz is unable to continue! Kingdra wins the battle!"
The referee stood silent for a few seconds, still dazed by what he'd witnessed, before announcing the result officially.
For a brief moment, the entire stadium fell into absolute silence.
"What the hell was that?"
"It's already over? That fast?!"
"Incredible! That Kingdra is way too strong!"
"But how's that possible? Leoric's a genius—he got into Duskwell City's Pokémon University!"
"Are we sure that was really Leoric? He looked like a beginner out there!"
The crowd buzzed in disbelief. They had expected a fierce, evenly matched fight—a spectacular demonstration. Instead, what they saw was a complete and utter domination.
"Hey, wait! I know who that guy is!"
Suddenly, a student shouted, pointing at his phone.
Instantly, everyone gathered around, curious.
"No way!"
"It's him!"
"The champion of the Eighth Rookie League Tournament!"
On the screen was a clear photo—Ethan standing atop the podium, with the caption below:
"Ethan Black — Champion of the 8th Rookie League Tournament: The Strongest Rookie King of This Generation."
The silence broke into a collective gasp of awe.
The students' faces shifted from confusion... to pure respect.
(End of Chapter)