"The next contestant is Magic City University's final competitor, and Magic City University's captain—Sun Yao!!"
Amid the host's impassioned announcement, Sun Yao strode onto the command platform.
Unlike the grave expressions of the others, her face showed little change. She was as calm as a still lake.
Standing on the command platform, she raised her head slightly and looked at the Pidgeot in midair, which had won battle after battle with its head held high.
"What incredible combat power. Can a Pokémon like this really be raised through human talent alone...?"
Sun Yao's thoughts drifted, and for a moment, she seemed to return to her childhood.
["Grandma, where is this?" Little Sun Yao, with her hair tied into two little pigtails, looked curiously at the ancient building before her with big black eyes.]
["This is our family's ancestral grounds, and also the place where we worship the deity." The elderly woman holding Sun Yao's little hand spoke with a smile.]
["What is a deity?"]
["A deity is someone amazing who can make sure our Yaoyao gets candy every day."]
["Wow, the deity is so amazing!!"]
["Grandma, the deity is glowing. Is it going to give me candy!"]
["Th-this... this is a miracle. Our ancestors are protecting us, the deity blesses the Sun Family!!"]
That was her memory of the first time she had followed her grandmother to the shrine at the age of five.
At the time, she did not truly understand what the word "deity" meant to the Sun Family.
Nor did she understand what it meant when the statue emitted a soft glow.
It was only as she gradually grew older that she came to understand: those with sincere hearts could receive a deity's protection.
She had received the deity's protection and become an existence beyond