Elf: Is the bear apprentice the weakest? I'll shatter the sky with my fists.

......

In the dispersing crowd, Xiao Zhi suddenly stopped Li Chen, who was about to leave.

The boy gripped the brim of his hat tightly, which was unusual for him. Pikachu keenly sensed the trainer's emotions and gently nuzzled his cheek.

"Mr. Li Chen..."

Ash looked up, a rare hint of hesitation in his eyes. "Do you know a trainer... whose name also contains the character 'Li'?"

Li Chen's fingers unconsciously traced the patterns on the surface of the Poké Ball, sunlight casting varying shades of shadow on his sharply defined profile: "What's your full name?"

"Li Qingfeng," Xiao Zhi blurted out almost immediately, then quickly added, "About... eighteen years old?"

Li Chen's fingertips trembled almost imperceptibly when he heard the name.

He slowly shook his head, his voice so calm it betrayed no emotion, but out of the corner of his eye he noticed Eileen's elven ears were sensitively turned towards him: "Sorry, I don't remember. Are you looking for someone?"

"I see..."

Ash lowered his hat brim dejectedly, then suddenly smiled again, "Actually, it wasn't entirely about finding someone! It's just..."

He scratched his head. "This name feels so familiar, like I've heard it somewhere before as a battle suggestion! It's been with me for a long time..."

As the noise of the venue gradually faded away, Li Chen stopped at the entrance of the passageway, and a glint of unfathomable light flashed in his eyes as he turned around.

"Although I don't know why you're looking for this..."

His voice was soft, but it made Pikachu's ears perk up instantly: "But there's something you should remember."

Ash unconsciously held his breath, watching as the other person's fingertips traced the Poké Ball at their waist, the metal surface reflecting the last rays of the setting sun.

"The messengers of the gods will eventually meet."

These words were like a pebble thrown into the center of a lake, creating ripples in Xiao Zhi's eyes.

When he came to his senses, Li Chen had already led Eileen into the backlight. When Eileen turned around, her elven ears twitched playfully, and the pendant of the Gene Wedge was faintly visible around her neck.

[Tongzi, this Li Qingfeng... why do I feel a sense of familiarity with him?]

According to seniority, you should call him grandpa.

【What? 】

If I remember correctly, you'll find out later.

[Pshaw, if my ancestors were really that wealthy, would my parents have died?]

If your ancestors weren't this wealthy... well, you'll find out later!

Okay, I won't pry today.

Li Chen canceled communication with the system and then took Eileen off the field.

Off the field, Adu's figure stood like a sculpture at the intersection of shadows.

The crimson cloak billowed slightly in the draft, and the dragon scale ornament on his chest gleamed with a cold light.

As Li Chen approached, Adu suddenly raised her hand to block his path.

"On your body..."

A-Du's fingertips unconsciously rubbed the Poké Ball of the Dragonite at his waist. "Flowing with the blood of the Dragon Tamer clan?"

The overhead light in the corridor flickered suddenly, casting dappled light and shadow on Li Chen's sharply defined profile.

"Why is that the first thing you Dragon Tamers say when you meet?"

Li Chen was both amused and exasperated.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

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Chapter 567 The Dragonite That Traveled Through a Century

A-Du's fingertips lingered briefly in the hidden pocket inside the cloak before slowly pulling out a yellowed black-and-white photograph.

The edges of the parchment-like photograph were curled, but the outline of the man in the cloak in the center of the image remained clear.

Beside the man stood a boy who looked exactly like Li Chen, even down to his posture of standing with his hands behind his back.

“This is my ancestor…” A-Du’s voice mingled with the rustling sound of photographic paper, “from…a long time ago.”

The overhead lights in the passageway flickered, and in the dappled light and shadow, the dragon-patterned jade pendant worn by the person in the photo was visible at their waist.

Eileen's elven ears sensitively caught her husband's suddenly quickened heartbeat, while his face remained calm.

"Just an old photo."

Li Chen lightly flicked the photograph, the paper making a crisp "snap" sound. "There are so many people in this world who look alike."

Just as Adu was about to speak again, the edge of the photo suddenly caught fire without any wind.

When the fire died down, only a small patch of dragon-scale-like ashes remained on the ground between the two.

Adu remained silent for a moment.

His fingertips gently caressed the surface of the Masterball, which shimmered with a mysterious purple glow under the dim lights of the passageway.

Then, A-Du took a deep breath, as if fulfilling a vow that transcended time and space:

"A hundred years ago, our ancestor left behind instructions before his death."

His voice was deep and resonant, like a dragon's roar: "If you encounter someone who resembles him, present this item to them."

As the Master Ball was solemnly lifted out, a long, distant dragon roar suddenly erupted from within, causing the overhead lights in the passageway to crackle.

Li Chen's pupils suddenly contracted.

He could sense the presence slumbering within the sphere; the immense dragon-type energy even made the Gene Wedge in his arms feel slightly warm...

"The Dragonite, the partner of the first champion..."

Adu's cloak moved without wind. "My ancestor said that he only understood the true meaning of the dragon in that battle."

He stepped forward, the Masterball hovering and spinning between the two of them. "Now that you are trapped, my old friend should lend a helping hand."

Eileen's elven ears trembled uncomfortably due to the powerful energy field, and she saw her husband's wrist suddenly burst forth with iridescent light as he touched the Master Ball.

At the end of the passage, Leon's Charizard suddenly let out a low, warning growl, and the energy bar on the Max Gear began to recharge on its own.

boom!

The moment the Master Ball was activated, the air in the entire passageway seemed to freeze.

Amidst the dazzling golden light, a Dragonite far exceeding the size of its kind slowly materialized.

Its orange scales are covered with battle scars, and its amber vertical pupils hold the marks of a hundred years of vicissitudes.

When its gaze met Li Chen's, the ferocious dragon suddenly trembled all over.

It let out a low growl, and under Adu's shocked gaze, it slowly lowered its head, its broad wings gently embracing Li Chen like a warm embrace.

Dragonite's rough tongue lightly touched Li Chen's cheek, letting out a whimper that seemed to transcend time and space.

"It recognizes you..."

Adu's cloak fluttered wildly, and the dragon scales around his neck trembled violently. "A hundred years... how could this be..."

That battle cry just now was the original battle cry of the Yulong family.

As Li Chen touched the scar on Kuailong's forehead, a pattern uncontrollably appeared on his hand that was exactly the same as the one in the photo.

At the end of the passage, all the trainers' Dragon-type Pokémon simultaneously raised their heads and let out a long cry, and a dazzling shooting star suddenly streaked across the sky above Palace City.

Li Chen's fingertips gently stroked the smooth surface of the Master Ball, and the pulsation emanating from inside the ball gradually synchronized with his own heartbeat.

He bowed respectfully to Adu, and sunlight streamed in through the skylight of the passageway, bathing him in a golden glow.

"I will accept this generous gift for now."

Li Chen's voice carried an unusual solemnity, "Once everything has settled, we will return the jade intact to its rightful owner."

Adu raised his hand and pressed it against the buzzing dragon scale on his chest, his crimson cloak billowing like waves in the wind: "No need for thanks."

"Alas~"

Dragonite raised its head and roared, its dragon language echoing through the passage.

Just then, the clock tower in the distance rang, startling a flock of steel-armored ravens.

Turning around, Adu's crimson cloak surged like a wave of blood, and the dragon scale ornament sparked tiny sparks as it rubbed against the Master Ball.

His figure gradually faded into the distance, eventually merging into the sunlight of Gongmen City.

Li Chen stood still as a pine tree, the Master Ball in his palm slightly warm.

The sudden burst of mist condensed into tiny ice crystals on his eyelashes, which were then slowly melted by his exhaled breath.

Only when the sunlight pierced through the clouds and turned the battle tower at the end of the passage golden did he raise his wrist as if waking from a dream.

In the rainbow light of the Master Ball, Dragonite glanced at him one last time, a gaze that pierced through the long passage of time, overlapping with a farewell on a certain night.

"Let's take a break for now."

Li Chen said softly, the clicking sound of the sphere closing was particularly clear in the empty passage.

Eileen's fingertips slipped quietly into his palm, and her elven ear pressed against his chest, listening to his unusually steady heartbeat.

The whistle of an early morning train could be heard in the distance as it pulled into the station, signaling the start of a new day's championship.

But they now possess a trump card that transcends time and space.

Ring ring...

A crisp notification sound broke the silence.

Li Chen's phone screen lit up, and a flashing notification popped up from the tournament's dedicated app:

Match successful! First opponent: Niezi from the Galar region

Eileen's elven ears twitched sharply, and when she leaned closer to look at the screen, she couldn't help but chuckle: "Oh dear, it's that Dark-type expert~"

Her fingertips traced the gloomy photo of the young man in the opponent's profile. "Judging from his appearance, his tactics will probably be quite unique."

Li Chen put away the Master Ball, a playful smile curving his lips.

“Perfect…” He pressed the Poké Ball at his waist, which was vibrating slightly. “I can test my new partner’s weight later.”

On the road to the arena, trainers began to converge in the same direction—the flames of the World Championship had officially been ignited...

......

......

Li Chen arrived at the competition venue as instructed.

The moment Li Chen stepped into the battlefield, all the lights in the arena suddenly focused.

On the other side of the field, Nie Zi was leaning against the wire fence, playing with a black Poké Ball between his fingers. The rivets, a feature of Spiketown, reflected a cold, sharp light on his leather jacket.

"Humph..."

Nie Zi straightened up, his gloomy gaze sweeping across the arena. "Another guy who's been blinded by Dynamax?"

Referee Rotom hovered in the center of the arena, his electronic voice echoing across the field: "Trains, please take your positions!"

Li Chen raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.

He calmly took off the giant wristband and tossed it to Eileen on the sidelines, a gesture that caused a hint of surprise to flash in Nie Zi's eyes.

Li Chen's fingertips traced the special Master Ball at his waist. "Some battles... don't need exaggerated transformations..."

Upon hearing this, a gasp suddenly erupted from the audience.

Mary had already taken Morbeco to sit in the front row, while the cheering squad behind her was desperately trying to suppress their cheers.

Chapter 568 Nie Zi: The Living Yama

Nie Zi flicked her wrist, and the jet-black Poké Ball drew a sharp arc in mid-air.

With a crisp "thud," a bear with fur standing on end like steel needles landed heavily on the ground.