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

The weight of the Poké Ball returning to his palm made him momentarily dazed.

The fire moth folded its six wings and slowly descended, wisps of blue smoke rising from its gilded scales.

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 571 Loz

Nie Zi stood silently at the edge of the arena, his knuckles white as he gripped three Poké Balls.

Each sphere bore scorch marks, silently testifying to this crushing defeat.

His tactics didn't even get to the heart of the opponent's attack.

"Heh...not bad."

A self-deprecating chuckle dissipated in the heatwave.

He casually pulled his hair down even lower, his eyes hidden in the shadows of his black hair, unfathomable.

He made no harsh words, offered no post-match etiquette, and simply turned and walked into the players' tunnel, the sound of his leather boots hitting the ground particularly clear in the empty corridor.

At the same time, Li Chen's Rotom phone automatically lit up: [World Championship Ranking Update: Current Rank 10482→6921].

The blue light of the fluctuating numbers reflected on his calm face. A fire moth gently landed back on his shoulder, and the scattered gold dust flashed across the ranking screen.

Discussions gradually arose in the audience. Some people were busy looking up information about this suddenly appearing expert, while others were staring at the exciting moments being replayed on the big screen.

In the center of the arena, only scorch marks from the hot air remained, a testament to this unequal contest.

Discussions spread throughout the venue.

People in the audience whispered among themselves, and the lights of their cell phone screens flickered on and off.

Everyone is searching for information about this unfamiliar trainer.

"No such person found!"

The boy wearing goggles exclaimed, "The World Championship website only has today's match records!"

"That fire moth..."

The girl with her ponytail trembled as she zoomed in on the footage she had captured, "Even more powerful than Mr. Adek's..."

The reporters in the front row frantically typed on their keyboards, trying to dig out any clues from the United States' archives.

Several veteran trainers stared at the battle footage being replayed on the big screen.

The angle at which that explosive, zero-distance strike was clearly honed to an extreme precision honed through hundreds of deadly battles.

"I heard even Master Nie Zi..."

"Shh! Watch the replay! The moment the motorcycle lizard transformed!"

Whispers circulated among the crowd. Some speculated that he was a reclusive elder who had lived in seclusion for many years, while others firmly believed he was a descendant of an ancient family.

Meanwhile, Eileen, sitting in the corner, was chuckling as she put away her phone.

The screen displayed a profile picture of her husband that had just been taken.

Ignoring the intense gazes directed at him from all around, Li Chen lightly stroked the wings of Volcarona with his fingertips and recalled it into its Poké Ball.

His turn was swift and decisive, the hem of his clothes drawing an arc in the still-hot air.

Whispers in the audience, cameras held high by reporters, and constantly flashing query terminals.

He left all that noise behind.

When the staff hesitated whether to approach for an interview, they discovered that the tall, slender figure had already disappeared into the shadows of the athletes' tunnel.

Eileen's elven ears twitched, and she chuckled as she fed the last tree fruit to Morbeco, who had somehow ended up perched on her shoulder.

"Hello, are you Ms. Eileen? I'm Olive, the vice president of the Marocmont Group. I'd like to get to know you."

Just as Eileen got up to leave, a woman blocked her way.

"Huh?"

Eileen tilted her head, looking quite confused.

......

......

A light rain began to fall outside the venue, and the residual warmth of the fire moths caused the water droplets that landed on Li Chen's shoulder to instantly evaporate into mist.

He gazed at the towering Battle Tower of Palace City, the Master Ball at his waist subtly resonating with something in the distance.

In the misty drizzle, the sound of shiny leather shoes stepping through puddles was exceptionally clear.

As Li Chen turned around, he saw a middle-aged man in a custom-made suit walking calmly towards him.

His brown skin gleamed metallically under the neon lights of Gongmen City, and the Marocco Group emblem on his chest remained conspicuous in the rain.

"What a brilliant performance."

Loz's voice was like a carefully tuned instrument, each note resonating perfectly.

The water droplets dripping from the edge of his open black umbrella strangely levitated into particles unique to Dynamax energy when they touched the ground.

Li Chen's gaze swept over the Alliance President's emblem faintly visible on the other party's sleeve, as well as the specially made wristwatch that was rumored to be able to control enormous energy.

This business tycoon, who propelled the Galar League to its peak, now had the gleam in his eyes of a hunter discovering a rare Pokémon.

"President Rose is watching the match in person..." Li Chen unconsciously stroked the Master Ball with his fingertips. "It seems there's an extra element planned for today's exhibition match?"

A light drizzle wove a transparent curtain between the two, while in the distance, the holographic billboard of the Battle Tower was playing a loop of Dan's championship moment.

And that champion was the very product of the man in front of him.

Loz slowly ran his fingers through his trimmed beard, slightly lifting the edge of his umbrella to reveal a shrewd smile characteristic of businessmen: "Would I have the honor of inviting Mr. Li Chen and your wife to dinner?"

A long limousine had stopped behind him sometime earlier. When the window rolled down, Eileen was sitting elegantly in the back seat, sipping champagne, her elf ears twitching happily—she had clearly already been invited into the car.

Beside Eileen, Loz's secretary, Olive, was handing her bags and packages.

Li Chen: ......

He who takes a bribe is bound to be obligated to pay his share.

Li Chen's gaze lingered between Eileen and Rose for a moment before he suddenly chuckled, "It seems the president's invitations... are never to be refused?"

"We just did some preparatory work in advance."

Loz stepped aside to make way, and the holographic menu projected by his wristwatch showed real-time reservations for Galar's top restaurant. "After all, a trainer like you deserves the most attentive hospitality."

The sound of raindrops falling on the car roof suddenly became more intense, but Li Chen stepped into the car without the slightest hesitation.

The moment the car door closed silently, the interior of the carriage was instantly shut out from the sound of rain outside.

Loz gracefully crossed her legs, the tips of her custom-made leather shoes gleaming coldly in the dim light of the car interior.

He crossed his hands on his knees, his gaze behind his glasses fixed on Li Chen like a searchlight.

"Mr. Li Chen must be familiar with Dynamax...?"

This question is like a key, precisely inserted into the lock of the topic.

Li Chen calmly rolled up his sleeves, revealing the Galar Alliance's standard Giant Gauntlets.

However, the subtle texture on the inside of the wristband is completely different from the commercially available version.

"I have done some research."

The four words were spoken casually, yet they caused Loz's fingertips to tremble almost imperceptibly.

The car's AI suddenly turned on the lights automatically, illuminating the rune on Li Chen's wristband that was identical to the one in the core of the Maximal Nest.

Eileen's elf ears twitched slightly as she took a sip of champagne and watched through the glass as her husband engaged in a silent battle with a business tycoon.

Outside the car window, the neon lights of Gongmen City distorted into strange bands of light in the rain...

Chapter 572 Loz: I'll beat Reshiram, really?

Li Chen's fingers gently supported his chin, the champagne glass swirling between his fingers, the golden liquid refracting tiny specks of light under the lamp.

He glanced at the high-hanging sun outside the car window with a half-smile.

The rain has stopped.

"President Loz's hospitality is truly unique... opening champagne at noon?"

Hahahaha.

Loz's laughter was infectious, as if it had been carefully calculated. With a flick of his wrist, a box of elegantly packaged berry chocolates slid out of the inside pocket of his suit. "When I see a once-in-a-century trainer prodigy, this old man can't help but feel anxious."

He deliberately pronounced the word "old man" in a mocking tone, even though he was in his prime.

"The flaming steak at the restaurant we're going to later... I heard even a fire-breathing dragon would rave about it."

As he spoke, a miniature projector on his cufflinks projected a 3D menu onto the table, with the image of "Giant Mushroom Soup" flickering eerily with a pink halo.

Soon, the four arrived at the restaurant, and the dishes they had ordered were served.

Clearly, Loz was certain that Li Chen would come to dinner with them.

"I wonder if Mr. Li Chen has any Pokémon that can Gigantamax?"

At the dining table, Lorz spoke up to ask a question.

"Have."

Li Chen nodded and spoke the truth.

After all, his own Martial Arts Bear Master is capable of evolution.

Knock knock knock.....

Loz tapped his fingertips lightly on the napkin, and the ice cubes in the crystal glass swayed slightly with the car's movement.

When Li Chen gave an affirmative answer, his eyes suddenly sharpened.

It's like a gambler finally seeing their ace.

"really..."

He slowly and methodically cut into the bloody steak on his plate, the knife making a crisp sound as it struck the porcelain plate. "A trainer who can make Nie Zi admit defeat is no ordinary trainer."

"Would you mind telling me its name?"

Loz asked about the tunnel.

Li Chen's fork precisely pierced a blueberry, the juice spreading on the snow-white plate like a giant cloud: "Martial Arts Bear Master."

Squeak...

Lorz's knife suddenly made a sharp sound as it scraped across the porcelain plate. He slowly raised his head, his eyes revealing undisguised turbulent emotions.

"Martial Arts Bear Master..."

The word rolled across his tongue, reminding him of something.

Suddenly, as if receiving some instruction, the restaurant's smart system dimmed the lights in the dome, enveloping the dining table in a private, warm yellow glow.

The waiter served the dessert at just the right moment, steaming with dry ice mist, which briefly created a barrier between the two.

"Such a valuable topic..."

Loz tapped the rim of the glass gently with his silver spoon, producing a clear, crystal-like sound. "It's worth savoring before we talk about it."

His wristwatch suddenly projected a Galar map onto the table, with the coordinates of the three giant nests forming an equilateral triangle in a bizarre manner.

Li Chen noticed that their current position was exactly at the center of this geometric shape.

Lorz suddenly pushed aside his plate and rested his elbows on the table, which was covered with a snow-white tablecloth.

The light of the day, which had dimmed sometime earlier, divided his sharply defined profile into patches of light and shadow.

“Galar…”

He lightly tapped the table with his fingertips, and crimson particles of light formed from Dynamax energy outlined the region's shape in the air, "unique because of Dynamax."

This sentence is like flipping a switch, and the restaurant's floor-to-ceiling windows suddenly turn transparent.