Golden Opportunity · Origin Keystone**
Professional Trainer certification is an international standard.
Different leagues may tweak the requirements slightly based on their own systems, but overall, the framework is largely the same worldwide.
And yet—
Anna was now saying that Ethan had already become a four-star professional trainer.
To Donovan Kovalsky, that sounded downright absurd.
Even in the Polar Bear League, where children as young as thirteen are tacitly allowed to begin Pokémon cultivation…
There had never been an eighteen-year-old four-star professional trainer.
Let alone in the Donghuang Alliance, which was far stricter with Pokémon regulation.
"Anna… you're not joking, right?" Donovan stared at her in disbelief.
"My future son-in-law is already a four-star professional trainer?"
The moment those words left his mouth, Anna froze.
"…Son-in-law?"
She looked confused—until Victor spoke calmly from the side.
"He means Ethan."
"Donovan, can you stop setting your sights on my son already?"
"He's only eighteen. He's not even legally allowed to marry yet."
Donovan immediately grinned.
"That's only true in Donghuang."
"In the Polar Bear League, fourteen is already legal."
"So getting married at eighteen is actually late!"
At that point, Anna finally understood what Donovan meant earlier.
She smiled instead of getting angry.
"Ethan is still young."
"But the kids can meet, spend time together."
"If they really like each other… becoming in-laws isn't impossible."
Donovan's grin widened instantly.
Talking with Anna was much more comfortable than talking with Victor.
Of course, that was just casual chatter.
Anna soon began explaining Ethan's recent experiences in detail—
his performance in the professional assessments, the battles, everything.
As she spoke, pride was written all over her face.
After all, what mother wouldn't be proud of a son like that?
Victor, who already knew parts of the story, narrowed his eyes in thought as he listened.
"So… the Gible Ethan adopted from Yunshan Dragon Valley a few months ago has already evolved into Garchomp."
"Hatenna has become Hatterene."
"He even has a shiny Gliscor… and a King-tier Skeledirge."
"It's only been two or three months."
"How did he manage all this?"
Victor had known about Ethan's trip to Sea Cliff Island.
But less than two months after that journey ended—
Ethan's strength had skyrocketed again.
What shocked him the most were Garchomp and the King-tier Skeledirge.
Gible was just an ordinary, low-level child when it joined Ethan.
Pseudo-legendaries were notorious for slow growth—
and yet Ethan had raised it all the way to Overlord tier and full evolution.
That speed was terrifying.
Even though Victor was already ninety percent sure that his son possessed some form of special ability, he was still stunned.
History recorded many special ability holders—
but someone like Ethan?
That was unprecedented.
Compared to Victor, Donovan was even more overwhelmed.
Listening to Anna felt like listening to a myth.
An eighteen-year-old with a shiny Gliscor, Hatterene, Garchomp…
A King-tier Skeledirge—
And even a Legendary Pokémon, Entei.
If this wasn't a legend, what was?
Donovan couldn't help but think—
Was his own daughter… even worthy of Ethan?
The gap felt terrifying.
Just as Donovan was still reeling, Anna spoke again.
"Oh, right, honey."
"In two or three days, Ethan will be taking the five-star professional trainer assessment."
"He's already back home."
"To improve his chances, why don't you train him a bit over the next couple of days?"
Donovan froze.
Train him?
With that level of strength, shouldn't five-star certification be a walk in the park?
Victor, however, nodded calmly.
"Five-star assessment…"
"His opponent will be Li Yao, the newly appointed Elite Four, right?"
"That man is strong."
"I'll keep it in mind. Don't worry."
Donovan's brain short-circuited.
A newly promoted Elite Four acting as the examiner?
Was the Donghuang Alliance's professional assessment system insane?!
At that moment, Donovan finally understood—
Donghuang's rapid rise in recent years wasn't accidental.
This place was brutally competitive.
And now, Donovan was even more curious about his "future son-in-law."
He couldn't wait to see Ethan again—
and he was genuinely looking forward to the five-star assessment.
His instincts told him one thing:
This five-star assessment might be the most spectacular one he would see in his entire life.
Back at the Stone Estate – Outskirts of the Capital
While Victor and the others were on their way home…
Ethan was already back at the estate.
Geng Zhi stared at the luxurious manor in front of him, then looked at Ethan, utterly stunned.
"Bro… you hid this way too deep."
"So you're the real rich second-gen?!"
Geng Zhi had known Ethan since childhood.
Because Ethan was always low-key, never showing off, Geng Zhi had assumed he came from an ordinary family.
Even after enrolling at Donghuang Academy, Geng Zhi only thought Ethan's family was slightly well-off.
But now—
A massive estate.
Professional butlers.
Dozens of staff maintaining the grounds.
Geng Zhi was completely numb.
This was a life he wouldn't even dare dream about.
And Ethan had lived like this since childhood.
"That's not really true," Ethan said helplessly.
"This place is actually pretty old."
"It belongs to the Alliance. My dad was just granted temporary residence."
"If he ever retires… we might have to move out."
That wasn't a lie.
The estate was Alliance property.
Back before the Donghuang Alliance was founded, warlords ran rampant, and this manor had belonged to one of them.
After unification, it was confiscated.
Because of its immense historical and construction value, the Alliance preserved it and assigned it to individuals who made outstanding contributions.
Ethan lived comfortably here—
but that comfort was earned by his father's blood and sweat.
Geng Zhi sucked in a breath of cold air.
As a Capital native, he knew very well—
This kind of estate wasn't something anyone could live in.
His curiosity about Ethan's father grew even stronger.
Compared to Geng Zhi, Qin Yingying and Ye Kui were far less worldly.
They only knew one thing—
The estate was huge.
And beautiful.
Especially the massive garden behind the manor.
Thanks to Anna's love for flowers, it looked like a fairyland.
The Pokémon tending the garden warmly guided Qin Yingying and Ye Kui around, clearly delighted by their admiration.
Ethan released his Pokémon as well.
The moment they appeared, the estate's guardian Pokémon—
Victor's old guard—immediately went on alert.
But when it saw Metagross, it froze.
That Pokémon had once received guidance from it.
Yet now—
Metagross's aura alone made its instincts tremble.
Metagross happily greeted its old mentor and began introducing Ethan's other Pokémon.
Entei tilted its head, curiously inspecting the massive guardian Pokémon, clearly wondering how it had grown so big.
Hatterene wandered through the flowerbeds with interest.
Swampert and Dewgong played in the pond.
Gliscor and Drapion sparred nearby.
Skeledirge's singing drew Primarina over.
Garchomp, Tyrantrum, and Snorlax debated food choices.
Hydreigon and Salazzle discussed… marital dominance.
Riolu trained diligently under a martial Pokémon's guidance.
Meloetta danced joyfully among Comfey and Cutiefly.
Within minutes, the garden was lively and harmonious.
Ethan watched with satisfaction.
His earlier worries had clearly been unnecessary.
The Champion Returns
As Ethan chatted with Geng Zhi in the backyard, the butler hurried over.
"Young master, the master has returned."
Ethan froze—then immediately stood up.
Geng Zhi, Qin Yingying, and Ye Kui followed him instinctively.
They were guests, after all.
And more importantly—
they were desperate to know who Ethan's father was.
Moments later, a black business vehicle rolled into the courtyard.
The door opened.
Donovan Kovalsky stepped out first.
The three friends froze.
They looked at Donovan.
Then at Ethan.
No way…
Was Ethan's dad a foreigner?
Before they could process it, Donovan laughed and called out:
"Big nephew! Long time no see—still remember me?"
Ethan smiled.
"Long time no see, Uncle Donovan."
"I didn't expect you to come to Donghuang as well."
The tension instantly eased.
At least Donovan wasn't Ethan's father.
Then—
Victor stepped out of the car.
The moment Geng Zhi saw him, his eyes went wide.
"HOLY SH—"
"Ethan… your dad is the Donghuang Champion?!"
Geng Zhi had imagined many possibilities.
But never this.
Victor Stone was famously low-key.
Even after becoming Champion, he rarely appeared in public.
Some retired Elite Four had higher visibility than him.
Now that Geng Zhi saw Victor and Ethan standing side by side—
the resemblance was unmistakable.
Father and son.
At that realization, Geng Zhi's brain completely shut down.
Victor smiled at the three students.
"You must be Ethan's friends."
"I just returned from a mission and didn't prepare much."
"These three gems will have to do as a greeting gift."
He handed each of them a gemstone.
They were Flying Gems, nearly top-grade.
For their Flying-type Pokémon, the benefits would be enormous.
Donovan then stepped forward with a grin and handed Ethan a small box.
"Big nephew, take this."
"I picked it out especially for you."
The moment Ethan accepted it, the system notification rang.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining a Red-grade opportunity: Evolution Keystone]
[Opportunity Critical Hit in progress…]
[Ding! 88× Critical Hit triggered!]
[Ding! You have obtained a Golden-grade opportunity: Origin Keystone!]
Ethan's breath caught.
A golden opportunity.
An Origin Keystone.