Himeko's sudden shift in attitude caught everyone present by surprise.
The five contestants from the Military all looked at her with eyes flashing with excited, stirred-up emotion.
Obviously, they all assumed that Himeko had changed her mind after hearing the conditions Roki offered—agreeing to this duel in order to fight for them and secure one more slot to enter Mt. Silver.
Without anyone even realizing it, Himeko's image in their hearts abruptly grew lofty and imposing.
"Minister Kenjiro…"
Principal Jiro looked at Kenjiro with a complicated expression, wanting to say something.
What he was worried about was that if Himeko lost this duel, Kenjiro wouldn't be able to save face.
After all, Kenjiro had just said "there's always someone better, and there's always a higher sky" right in front of everyone.
If Roki ended up winning, wouldn't that be a blatant slap in the face?
What's more, Principal Jiro knew Himeko was also a top-tier super genius.
But right now, Roki had already become an Elite Four-level Trainer.
The battle power of his Salamence was plainly, visibly strong.
Himeko might not actually be his match!
Out of goodwill, Principal Jiro wanted to offer a reminder.
But the moment he began to speak, Kenjiro cut him off.
"I know what you want to say."
"Don't worry. Just watch."
He folded his arms and looked at the two facing each other, a faint smile rising on his face for no apparent reason.
Lose?
How could she possibly lose!?
Roki really knew how to pick an opponent for himself.
Next… there was going to be a good show.
Recalling the scene from back then—GeoGreymon descending like a god in the valley, overwhelmingly dominant—Kenjiro couldn't help but look forward to the coming battle.
"I won't bully you."
"Use as many Pokémon as you want. As long as you can defeat my Salamence, I'll count it as your win."
Roki spoke arrogantly as he looked at Himeko.
"Roar!"
Salamence let out a low, perfectly timed rumble, staring at Himeko while releasing the powerful dragon pressure from its body.
But immediately after that—
Within those huge dragon eyes, a faint, subtle ripple appeared.
Because as it looked at the beautiful human girl in front of it…
The more it looked, the more familiar she seemed.
As if it had seen her somewhere before.
Yet for the moment, it couldn't recall where.
"No need. One-on-one is enough."
Himeko looked at Roki, her expression icy.
That answer instantly triggered a wave of hushed exclamations among everyone present.
Sure enough, geniuses were all the same—
Each and every one of them was proud to the bone!
To actually choose a one-on-one duel against Roki's Elite Four-level Salamence!
No one knew whether she truly had the strength and confidence…
Or whether she simply refused to yield even in terms of posture and momentum.
As everyone thought this, their eyes stayed locked on Himeko.
They were expectant and curious—
Which Pokémon would she send out?
And even more curious about the level of her Pokémon's strength.
Gym-level?
Or pseudo-Elite Four!?
"Go, Salamence! Let her see the gap!"
Himeko's response filled Roki with bold spirit.
He cracked his knuckles, eager and itching to compete—unable to hold back any longer.
Salamence also shoved the stray thought out of its head, no longer dwelling on where it might have seen this female Trainer before.
Its massive blood-red wings beat.
Air surged and billowed like a gale sweeping across the land.
A dreadful aura spread outward.
In an instant, Salamence entered its absolute peak state.
The unique pressure of an Elite Four-level Pokémon fused together with the innate intimidation of a Dragon-type Pokémon—
Making everyone present feel a shock run through them.
At this moment!
Everyone once again felt just how powerful this Salamence was!
Himeko faced Salamence head-on.
Her expression remained calm, without the slightest ripple.
She took a Poké Ball from her waist and threw it high into the air.
Countless gazes followed the Poké Ball's arc.
A red beam shot out, gathering together—
Sketching the outline of a Pokémon with an exceptionally thick, towering physique.
GeoGreymon raised its head and roared.
That clear dragon cry exploded through the space like thunder.
Not only did it stun everyone present—
Even the Pokémon deeper within Mt. Silver behind them fell into silence.
It was as if someone had hit a pause button on the scene.
Terrifying dragon pressure swept out and echoed like a violent storm—
So fierce that it effortlessly shredded Salamence's aura into nothing, leaving not even a trace behind.
That horrifying oppressive force, enough to make breathing stall—
Was far stronger than Salamence's, by a huge margin.
Everyone present stared at the GeoGreymon before them—over four meters tall—
And all of them were shaken to the core.
Especially those seeing GeoGreymon for the first time.
They felt like their entire worldview was being overturned.
What…
What kind of Pokémon was this!?
That hulking body far beyond ordinary Pokémon.
That savage, terrifying aura like an ancient apex predator.
And that pressure pushed to the extreme.
It was simply unbelievable that this could be a Trainer's Pokémon!
"Sure enough, it's Elite Four-level now…"
Not far away, Kenjiro's eyes revealed a strange brilliance as he murmured while staring at GeoGreymon.
That always-unhurried expression of his was finally struck hard at this moment.
Just one month, right!?
In just one month…
From pseudo-Elite Four, it had reached Elite Four-level!
And it had done it without a Trainer's guidance—cultivating on its own!
This talent!
This potential!
It was honestly shocking!
No wonder it was the only Pokémon ever assessed to have Third-tier Legendary-level talent!
Looks like this match…
Is going to turn into a one-sided slaughter.
Shiko lowered his head, brazenly releasing his terrifying dragon pressure toward Salamence and Roki.
Seeing their utterly stunned expressions, Shiko couldn't help but find it funny.
"T-This… this is impossible…"
"Why… why would this be your Pokémon…"
Shiko's appearance dealt Roki an unimaginably violent shock.
In an instant, the painful memories from back then surfaced in his mind.
This upright dragon-beast Pokémon—
Was absolutely the nightmare he hadn't been able to shake lately!
He'd finally started to heal from that psychological shadow.
And yet!
Today, this thing had appeared right in front of him again!
Roki's breathing stalled.
Fear, shock, awe, cowardice…
All kinds of tangled emotions piled together.
He began to doubt—
Could he even defeat Shiko anymore?
No!
How could he chicken out before it even started!?
This Pokémon should only be Elite Four-level at most!
His Salamence was also Elite Four-level!
They could still wrestle for dominance!
Forcing himself to calm down, Roki shouted with a trembling voice:
"Salamence! Don't be afraid! Go!"
But when his words fell—
He didn't see Salamence move even a tiny bit.
He turned his head.
And discovered that Salamence's entire body was trembling violently, completely out of its control.
In those eyes, terror and fear surged powerfully.
The next second—
Boom!!!
Salamence's body collapsed straight onto the ground.
Its eyes rolled back, and it fainted on the spot!
(End of Chapter)
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