Elite King Skeledirge vs. Elite King Torterra — A Peak-Level Clash!**
Guan Yi stared at the fallen Tropius, momentarily dazed.
He had clearly held the advantage just moments ago—
yet the final outcome was his defeat.
Slowly, Guan Yi's gaze sharpened as he looked at Ethan.
It wasn't hostility.
From this moment on, he was treating Ethan as a true opponent.
"Victor really did raise an outstanding son," Guan Yi said with heartfelt emotion.
For any father, there was no greater pride than seeing one's child excel.
Guan Yi himself had a son—twenty-five years old, still struggling toward a two-star professional certification.
And yet Ethan, at only eighteen, already possessed combat power rivaling his own.
How could he not feel envious?
Still, envy aside, Guan Yi recalled Tropius and glanced around the battlefield.
The arena had been ravaged—
torn apart by hurricanes and scorched by divine flames.
For safety reasons, the referee immediately halted the assessment and ordered a field replacement.
A Brief Respite
During the pause, Ethan knelt beside the heavily panting Entei.
"Good work, Entei. You've done more than enough."
Compared to a month and a half ago, Entei had grown noticeably larger—and calmer.
Though still playful at times, it now carried the composure of a maturing king.
Entei licked Ethan's hand gently, reassuring him it was fine.
Ethan smiled.
"I know you can still fight—but this is only an assessment."
"Rest for now. Next time, I'll let you battle to your heart's content."
Entei nuzzled into his chest before being returned to its Poké Ball.
Ethan then looked toward Guan Yi, who was waiting calmly on the opposite side.
"Uncle Guan," Ethan said evenly,
"you haven't gone all out yet today."
Guan Yi blinked in surprise.
"Oh? What makes you say that?"
Ethan took a deep breath.
"I'm honored to face you in this four-star assessment."
"But I don't want to win easily."
"So I hope… in the next battle, you'll fight me at full strength."
It sounded almost masochistic—but Ethan's intent was simple.
Opportunities to face a national-level Gym Leader were exceedingly rare.
Especially one as highly ranked as Guan Yi—normally requiring months of advance scheduling.
Ethan didn't care about the certification itself.
He wanted to know what it felt like…
to truly clash with a peak-tier trainer.
Before Guan Yi could respond, the referee announced:
"Assessment field replacement complete. Please return to your positions."
Ethan nodded and stepped forward.
Watching his back, Guan Yi chuckled.
"What a kid… got real personality."
Final Round Begins
"Assessment resumes!"
Ethan raised his Poké Ball and hurled it forward.
"Go—Skeledirge!**"
Flames burst forth—
different from Entei's.
These were eerie, hollow flames, tinged with an otherworldly chill.
A towering figure emerged.
Two-point-three meters tall.
Nearly ten meters long.
Skeledirge stood upon the battlefield and roared to the heavens.
"SKREEEE!!"
The roar sent shockwaves through the stadium.
Guan Yi froze.
VIP seats—
Elite Four Li Yao,
and veteran trainers in the stands—
all went silent.
"An… Elite King–tier Skeledirge?!"
Yes.
Skeledirge had officially stepped into Elite King tier.
Even if only early-stage—
it was still an Elite King.
Everyone had assumed Ethan's lineup topped out at Overlord-tier.
No one expected… this.
Guan Yi inhaled deeply.
For the first time in many years, the fire in his blood reignited.
"Still… nothing beats battling the young," he said with a grin.
"Elite King, huh?"
"Old partner—let's relive our glory days."
With a thunderous crash, Guan Yi released his final Pokémon.
A colossal turtle descended onto the field, bearing a massive tree on its back.
The pressure alone bent the air.
"Is that… his ace?!"
"Torterra!**"
Elite King-tier.
Early stage—but infinitely close to mid-stage.
Even larger than Skeledirge.
The referee nearly panicked.
Elite King Pokémon weren't even used in five-star assessments—
and now two of them stood in a four-star exam arena.
One clash could level a town.
Just as the referee prepared to stop the match—
Shing—
A Pokémon appeared in midair.
A massive shield enveloped the entire battlefield.
"Champion-tier Aegislash?!"
A calm voice echoed.
"The assessment continues."
It was Zuo Shenghui.
With a champion safeguarding the field, no one dared object.
The Clash of Kings
"Torterra—Earthquake!"
The ground split open.
Tectonic force surged toward Skeledirge.
Unable to fly, Skeledirge braced itself and endured the blow.
"Are you alright?" Ethan asked.
"SKREE!"
It was.
"Then—our turn."
"Skeledirge—Torch Song!"
The small flame-bird atop Skeledirge's snout expanded instantly, transforming into a blazing fire hawk.
It screeched and shot skyward—
then dove straight toward Torterra.
"Torterra—Iron Defense!
Then Hyper Beam!"
Steel sheen coated Torterra's body.
The fire hawk collided—
and the battlefield erupted into a pillar of flame.
From within it, a devastating beam fired toward Skeledirge.
"Fire Blast—block it!" Ethan shouted.
Flames collided with light.
Raw power met raw power.
The battlefield disintegrated—
cracked earth and molten rock everywhere.
Even with Champion-tier protection, the arena groaned.
Both Pokémon were battered… exhausted.
"Skeledirge," Ethan said quietly,
"can you keep fighting?"
"SKREE!!"
The fire hawk above it spread its wings—
having fully evolved into a Fire Roc.
Both sides were at their limits.
Ethan's eyes sharpened.
"One final exchange."
"Everything you have."
"Explosive Blaze!"
Skeledirge ignited crimson.
Blaze activated.
Across the field, Torterra glowed emerald—
Overgrow activated.
"Frenzy Plant!" Guan Yi roared.
Vines erupted.
At the same moment, the fire roc became a blazing sun and crashed downward.
The collision—
shook all of Mingling City.
Even Aegislash's barrier cracked.
Silence.
Dust slowly settled.
Skeledirge—
bloodied, scorched—
stood tall like a solitary king.
Its fire roc spread blazing wings in triumph.
Torterra lay amid the ruins.
Motionless.
Defeated.
Winner: Skeledirge.
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