When Bai Chen returned to the camp, everyone was having breakfast.
Over there, Ash was pumping up his partners.
"Our goal is the championship! Let's give it everything today!"
With Ash's personality, there was never any talk of tactics or strategy.
In his world, as long as you had enough fighting spirit, you could always take the crown.
Bai Chen walked over to the table and sat down.
Because he was participating in the race today, he had deliberately taken off his armor and changed into casual clothes. He asked about Noibat's condition.
Serena replied,
"Noibat trained very late last night. He finally learned how to fly, but he's still not very stable."
Ash immediately came over to argue,
"I believe in Noibat. He can definitely do it!"
"Good spirit," Bai Chen said.
Serena was still worried about whether Noibat could really finish a full ten-kilometer flight. For a Pokémon that had hatched less than a day ago, even finishing ten kilometers was questionable.
Seeing her concern, Bai Chen said,
"Noibat's safety won't be a problem. I'll be flying with you. If he's in danger, I can protect him."
Bai Chen's reassurance made everyone feel at ease.
Bonnie noticed Valstrax was not beside Bai Chen and asked with concern,
"Mr. Bai, where's Valstrax?"
"Oh, him? He trained all night yesterday. He's still resting."
Last night, Bai Chen had taken Valstrax to Kiawe for an overnight special training session.
After months of training, Kiawe's Pokémon were all around Level 35.
Bai Chen had the newborn Valstrax fight each of Kiawe's Pokémon seven or eight times in a row.
With a 15-level gap and the boost from the Pokémon Master skill, Valstrax gained eight levels in one night.
That brutal overnight session left Kiawe and his Pokémon mentally scarred—they would probably refuse Bai Chen's battle requests for a long time.
To make Valstrax win faster, Bai Chen also spent nearly 70,000 skill points, raising Dragon Energy Shot, Elder Dragon Blood, and Comet Force all to Master rank.
Even though he had just been born, Valstrax already had five Master-rank skills—only his Ultimate Aura had not been maxed yet.
His starting line was far above most monsters and Pokémon.
As long as Valstrax kept leveling up, he would soon enter the top tier.
Bai Chen checked his remaining skill points: 220,000.
He was already prepared to spend about 120,000 of them on the soon-to-hatch Velkhana.
Bai Chen took out Valstrax's Monster Ball and released him.
Valstrax was still asleep.
The others immediately noticed something strange.
Bonnie asked,
"Is it just me, or did Valstrax get a lot bigger?"
Clemont adjusted his glasses in shock.
"Not just bigger—his size changed dramatically. Yesterday he was only about one meter long, and now he's already over three meters!"
Valstrax's body would grow extremely fast over the next few days.
Both Ultimate Aura and level-ups accelerated his growth.
Of course, that also meant he needed massive nutrition.
Bai Chen picked him up and fed him a large amount of Nergigante's special nutrient solution.
Valstrax's own custom nutrition formula would take time to prepare, so he was temporarily using Nergigante's leftovers.
After breakfast, Bai Chen helped everyone fly to the race venue.
Even before reaching the arena, countless Flying-type Pokémon were already soaring overhead.
At the venue, the crowd was enormous—thousands of spectators filled the area.
Bai Chen had registered online the previous day.
The staff told them the race would begin in one hour.
They reviewed the rules again.
Forty minutes remained.
They were escorted to the starting area.
There, they saw Ornith preparing.
Bai Chen greeted him.
"How's your form today?"
Ornith glanced at his Staraptor line.
"Excellent. The championship is definitely ours."
He was the reigning champion, here to defend his title.
Bai Chen replied,
"I'm here for the championship, too. I won't be giving it to you."
Ash chimed in,
"We'll take it too!"
"Then let's see who's better."
The racers moved to the starting line.
Hot-air balloons were prepared for the trainers.
Trainers had to follow their Pokémon in the air—this was why Bai Chen had removed his armor.
Bai Chen confirmed the relay order:
Cosmog first, Nergigante second, Valstrax last.
The final ten kilometers were a long straightaway—perfect for Valstrax's speed.
Soon, it was time.
Bai Chen boarded the balloon with Indeedee.
Indeedee's Mind Web could cover a ten-kilometer radius, allowing Bai Chen to issue commands remotely.
The balloon stabilized at 500 meters altitude.
Ash was to his left. Ornith to his right.
Below, Cosmog wore a red ribbon—the baton.
Cosmog looked at all the flying powerhouses around him and became serious.
"Mo-gu!"
"I'll win today!"
"Good attitude. The first leg is important—give it your all."
Bai Chen's voice echoed in Cosmog's mind.
"Good luck!" Indeedee encouraged him through Mind Network.
Cosmog's opponents were Fletchinder and Staravia.
Bang!
The starting gun fired.
All Pokémon launched.
Staravia and Fletchinder exploded forward like arrows, instantly creating a gap.
The commentator shouted,
"Staravia is off to a strong start, taking first place immediately!"
In relay races, falling behind meant being harassed by others, so most teams used their fastest Pokémon first.
"Second place is Fletchinder, a newcomer! Incredible speed—can it challenge Ornith's reign?"
"Pika pika!" Pikachu cheered wildly.
Then the camera spotted Cosmog at the back.
"Oh no—this new contestant made a terrible order choice. They're already far behind in the first leg."
Cosmog was already 300–400 meters behind.
At this rate, he would be 7–8 kilometers behind by the handoff.
"Based on experience, this team is essentially out of the race."
The camera left Cosmog.
"Mo-gu…"
Cosmog felt discouraged.
Bai Chen encouraged him through Mind Network.
"Just keep flying. Finishing is what matters."
"Fu!" Indeedee also supported him.
Cosmog gathered his resolve and kept flying.
Ahead, Staravia entered the forest zone.
This area tested agility and prediction more than raw speed.
"Entering the forest now—reckless speed will cost you dearly."
Staravia slowed and was briefly passed by Fletchinder, but regained first when Fletchinder almost hit a tree.
Ash told Fletchinder to follow Staravia closely.
He used Staravia's airflow to reduce drag.
Ornith realized his true rival was Ash—not Bai Chen.
First leg finished:
Staravia: 4:25
Fletchinder: 4:32
The second leg began.
Ornith sent Staraptor.
Ash sent Hawlucha.
Hawlucha used pole-vault-style jumps on stone pillars, rapidly pulling ahead.
Then he was trapped in a net trap.
Staraptor broke through with Steel Wing.
Hawlucha used Brick Break and caught up.
Cosmog finally finished.
Nergigante took the ribbon.
"Only now starting—far too late."
Indeedee teleported Cosmog back.
"You did well."
Nergigante closed the gap.
Hawlucha finished the second leg in 4:03.
Staraptor: 4:23.
Noibat launched.
Starling caught up.
They were neck-and-neck at the final 2 km.
Then—
Nergigante crossed the second checkpoint.
3:03.
A new record.
Then—
Valstrax received the ribbon.
He inhaled.
Bai Chen whispered,
"It's over."
Valstrax ignited.
Sonic speed.
"Use Extreme Speed!"
BOOM!
He broke the sound barrier.
Mach 1.1
Mach 1.2
Mach 1.3
He passed everyone.
In 23 seconds, he finished the final leg.
The goal gate shattered.
Valstrax drew a red arc in the sky like a comet.
He landed flawlessly.
The commentator screamed,
"A new champion! 23 seconds! A LEGEND IS BORN!"
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