"Stop. You are no match for him. Do not embarrass yourself further," a deep voice boomed across the arena just as the middle-aged man was about to throw his third Poké Ball.
"Yes, Master," he replied without hesitation, withdrawing the ball.
"Your Pokémon is quite remarkable. Powerful. I've never seen a creature with such a wild spirit," a man who stood a towering two meters tall said as he walked onto the field. He looked from the Arzuros to Zhang. "You are very good, young man. In the future, you will surely become a Heavenly King-tier trainer."
This tall, muscular old man was none other than Roark, the Gym Leader of the Pewter Gym. Roark was a Champion-tier trainer, famous even in foreign countries. Unlike in smaller nations, the Daxia region was vast and incredibly competitive. Its eight major Gym Leaders were all Champion-tier.
"You are too kind, Gym Leader Roark," Zhang said with a slight nod, recalling his Arzuros.
"Your challenge is complete. You may collect your badge at the front desk later," Roark said. "But first, are you interested in a battle with me?"
"You jest, Gym Leader. How could I possibly be a match for you?" Zhang shook his head. While he loved to battle, he only enjoyed fights he had a chance of winning. Challenging a Champion-tier trainer now would be suicide.
"Don't worry, young man," Roark said with a grin. "I will use a Gym Leader-tier Pokémon. I won't bully you. If you can beat me, this will be yours." He held up an orange-sized orb. "This is a Tera Orb. It can Terastallize a Pokémon. A new discovery from this year."
"A Tera Orb!" Zhang's eyes flashed.
Terastallization could change a Pokémon's type, a powerful ability that could completely turn the tide of a battle. A Fire-type facing a Water-type could suddenly Terastallize into a Grass-type and gain the upper hand. These items were precious, monopolized resources that money couldn't buy. If he passed up this opportunity, he didn't know when he'd get another.
"Since you've put it that way, it would be rude of me to refuse," he said with a soft laugh.
"Heh, you young ones are all the same. Always looking for an advantage," Roark chuckled. "But that's a good thing. The overly polite ones don't last long. I have high hopes for you, young man. I hope you don't disappoint me." He tossed the Tera Orb in the air and caught it, then looked at the referee. "Start the countdown."
"Yes, Gym Leader." The referee nodded and began.
Meanwhile, the ratings for the Pokémon Channel were skyrocketing. Roark was a famous and popular figure.
"Gym Leader Roark! Go for it!" a middle-aged man in the audience shouted, his voice filled with excitement.
"Go, Roark!"
"Come on!"
The cheers grew louder, a testament to the Gym Leader's fame. Even the live chat was flooded with messages of support.
Hearing the roar of the crowd, the corners of Zhang's mouth lifted, a look of anticipation in his eyes. One day, that will be me. Everyone will be cheering my name. He clenched his fists, a fire in his heart. Then let's begin! It starts by defeating you! His face was flushed with a fanatical energy, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.
This intensity made Roark's brow furrow slightly. "Another battle maniac," he muttered, reminded of a good friend of his.
"10, 9, 8..."
"0!"
Both trainers threw their Poké Balls.
"Roar! Anjanath!"
"Glimmora! Come out!"
A Pokémon that looked like a floating flower appeared in front of Roark. At the same time, the ground trembled, and a massive monster materialized before Zhang. It was the Anjanath.
"ROAR!" It let out a deafening roar that shook the entire stadium, overpowering the cheers of the crowd. Seven meters tall and twenty meters long, it was a true behemoth, like a walking building. Even the Arzuros was a small fry in comparison.
"So big... so strong... so ferocious! I love it!" Bea's eyes shone as she stared at the Anjanath. Its savage power perfectly matched her aesthetic.
"Another new Pokémon, and this one is already close to the Elite Four tier. It won't be long before it breaks through," Cynthia murmured, touching her chin. "Zhang is truly remarkable."
"Good boy! That's the spirit!" The smile on Roark's face grew wider. He was more and more impressed with Zhang. It was young people like him that would keep the Daxia region strong.
"In that case, I'm going all out!" A terrifying aura erupted from the Gym Leader. It was the pressure of a Champion-tier powerhouse. The immense presence washed over Zhang, but he was completely unaffected. He had faced the terrifying auras of Magnamalo and Bazelgeuse without flinching.
"It's rude not to reciprocate!" Zhang's gaze turned cold, and a murderous aura of his own rose to meet Roark's.
"Oh?" Roark was startled. He hadn't expected the boy's killing intent to be so heavy, his presence no weaker than his own.
BOOM!
The two auras clashed in mid-air, creating a sound like muffled thunder.
"Good kid. Truly excellent," Roark praised, genuinely impressed.
The audience, both in the stadium and watching on TV, was stunned into silence.
"How is that possible? He's just a rookie!"
"A newcomer's presence is on par with a Champion-tier trainer? That's ridiculous!"
"Am I dreaming?"
"Holy crap! What am I seeing? Their auras are evenly matched! Who is this rookie?! He's insane!"
Even with the reality unfolding before their eyes, countless viewers couldn't believe it. It completely shattered their understanding of what was possible.