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"Raikou is unable to battle! Lugia wins! Trainer Marvin has no Pokémon remaining, therefore the final winner is Trainer Chris!"
The referee's voice echoed through the live broadcast equipment, announcing the duel's outcome.
At the same time, it was declared that the championship battle had concluded at Veilstone.
"You're very strong. I accept this defeat," Marvin said as he approached to offer his congratulations. "Congratulations—you'll become the Champion of China, and you'll also be China's youngest champion."
As a former champion, he certainly possessed the demeanor befitting such a title, though the disappointment of defeat was still visible in his expression.
"Thank you for the match. You're also very strong—it was a wonderful duel," Chris responded. He had learned quite a bit from battling the renowned Marvin.
In the distance, seeing that the battle had ended, Roy's three Elites began approaching.
"I still have some matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first." Marvin nodded slightly toward Chris and released a Salamence to carry him away, avoiding the three Elites.
"What's with Marvin, leaving without even saying hello?" Victor asked, watching Marvin's departure with a pipe in his mouth.
"He said he had something to do, so he left first," Chris replied.
"Something to do? I'd guess he's more worried about being teased by us old folks," Victor said with a knowing smile.
"Boy Chris, congratulations! I didn't expect you to actually defeat Marvin and become China's Champion."
"Congratulations, Chris. You'll be our direct superior from now on."
Victor and Tate offered their congratulations one after another.
Only Roy asked an seemingly unrelated question. "Chris, what percentage of your full strength did you use to defeat Marvin?"
"What percentage of my strength..." Though it was strange why his senior would suddenly ask this, Chris still gave it serious thought.
"Probably... fifty percent."
His own trump card Pokémon, Greninja, hadn't appeared, and Gardevoir, who had mastered Spacial Rend, hadn't been used either. Although Garchomp had battled, the Divine Dragon power from Landorus's Treasure hadn't been revealed.
Strictly speaking, he might not have even used fifty percent of his full strength to defeat Marvin.
Fifty percent.
Hearing this, the three Elites fell silent.
But it was undeniable—after all, Chris hadn't lost a single Pokémon from beginning to end, and his signature Pokémon, Greninja and Gardevoir, hadn't even been dispatched.
It was somewhat embarrassing. What they'd thought would be an evenly matched duel had turned out to be rather one-sided, with Chris only using fifty percent of his strength.
The champion was truly terrifying!
Thinking about Chris's age again, the three of them couldn't help but share the same thought: "I'll never battle Chris again in this lifetime."
"Right, at next year's Elite meeting, I'll just forfeit immediately," Victor muttered.
"Let's go, let's head back. The teacher has prepared a celebration banquet for you, and there should be a champion's coronation ceremony this afternoon," Roy said.
"Alright."
The four turned around and flew toward the Capital.
Chris didn't recall Lugia at all, instead standing atop the legendary Pokémon as it flew toward the Capital.
The completely black Lugia flapped its massive wings as it soared through the sky, appearing like an enormous dark cloud passing overhead. Countless people looked up wherever it passed.
While Chris was returning to the Capital, the internet had exploded across the entire world.
Netizens throughout China were enthusiastically discussing the new champion Chris's performance in the Championship Clash, and his now-familiar resume was being shared over and over again.
From China's youngest Gym Trainer to the youngest Elite, and now to the youngest Champion.
In just two years, Chris had completed a triple jump through the Trainer rankings.
Some people were even looking forward to Chris's potential fourth jump.
The World Pokémon Contest was about to be held. If Chris could defeat the world's top players, then he could also claim the highest honor of "Pokémon Master."
And on the internet, beyond Chris's age causing a sensation, the most unacceptable thing to foreigners was Dark Lugia and Shiny Zeraora—two legendary Pokémon, both powerful and incredibly rare.
There were even some who directly issued sky-high bounties in the underground Trainer world.
Hunt down Chris, and capture Lugia.
However, there was currently no one who dared to accept this bounty.
Are you kidding? Chris was China's Champion! If you dared to hunt China's Champion, then you'd better be prepared to face the wrath of every Trainer in China!
What's more, was there any Trainer in the world who had the confidence to say they could defeat Chris?
In the beautiful country, rain continued to fall steadily.
At the Congress site, the atmosphere was tense and discordant.
"Soon, the World Pokémon Contest will begin, and such a powerful Trainer has suddenly emerged from China. How should we respond?" The host of the congress raised the only and most critical topic of the day.
The Elite Four and state-level powerhouses immediately began discussing among themselves.
"Two legendary Pokémon... To defeat such a rival, it would be best to send our ultimate Pokémon master this time."
"Why can't we capture a legendary Pokémon?"
"I propose a national effort to hunt legendary Pokémon in preparation for the World Pokémon Contest."
The World Pokémon Contest wasn't only a stage for competing against the world's mightiest Trainers, but also a negotiating table where all countries distributed benefits.
Countries with higher-ranked Trainers could have sufficient authority to speak and distribute benefits on the international stage.
The noisy Congress scene resembled a marketplace. Every Elite and state-level powerhouse expressed their own opinions, but they also harbored their own private agendas. It was impossible to reach a final, unified conclusion.
"It doesn't matter—I will take action! The title of Pokémon Master can only belong to me!"
Suddenly, one person stood up from their seat and left the Congress hall in front of everyone.
Everyone's eyes followed the figure as they departed, but all remained silent, offering no rebuttal.
Because that person was the Champion of the beautiful country—Paige Washington.
Meanwhile, in the West, at the Alliance Home for the Elders, the division of strength differed from the typical Elite and Champion system.
The strongest combat forces representing western countries were called "Elders" within the Alliance.
Now all the Elders had urgently gathered here, and the strongest among them—Cole West Napoleon, who held the position of Great Elder of the Alliance—presided over the meeting.
"Everyone must have watched China's Championship Battle," the Great Elder began.
"The World Pokémon Contest is imminent. Faced with such formidable opponents, we must unite our efforts."
"I hope that in the coming days, each Elder will thoroughly investigate the local legends and stories within their own countries and make every effort to locate and capture legendary Pokémon."