TM: Protect!

High above, the flames around Charizard erupted, and Sun's Flame poured down in an instant.

The Hell White Tiger looked up, its pupils narrowing to slits. Every instinct told it one thing.

This attack would be terrifying.

Within seconds, flames came crashing down, turning the ground into a sea of fire as deep as an abyss.

The Hell White Tiger vanished into the blaze. No matter how it ran or struggled, it could not escape its prison of fire.

The White Tiger's spectral form flickered under the heat, on the verge of falling apart.

And worse was yet to come.

Amid the water, Greninja rapidly formed hand signs. The water around it spun and compressed at high speed, finally gathering into a huge, pale-blue Cross Water Shuriken in its palms.

It raised the shuriken and hurled it with all its strength.

The Water Shuriken shot out like a meteor, tracing a graceful blue arc through the air. It swept over the sea of fire and sliced straight toward the Hell White Tiger.

The Hell White Tiger was still roaring in pain, oblivious to the final blow bearing down on it.

Boom!!!

The blue meteor struck the tiger's body with an explosion that shook the sky.

Water burst outward, and a brief rain began to fall over the arena.

Raindrops pattered down, extinguishing the flames on the ground.

The Hell White Tiger's spectral form dissolved into specks of light and vanished in the rain.

Two figures separated. Zhu Lu collapsed unconscious, while Dai Huabin lay facedown, burns covering his body. He tried several times to rise. His pride would not let him accept defeat.

But in the end, he could not get up.

[You defeated Trainers Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu and gained a large amount of experience.]

[Charizard's age increased to five thousand years!]

[Greninja's age increased to three thousand years!]

Dai Huabin lifted his head and glared at Chi Hong, roaring:

"Just you wait. One day, I'll crush you and grind you beneath my feet."

Chi Hong looked at the battered Dai Huabin and sighed.

"Sorry. I'll probably forget you by tomorrow."

Dai Huabin nearly coughed up blood. Anger rushed to his head, leaving him dizzy. He held on for a moment before passing out.

Chi Hong recalled Charizard and Greninja. Those two had used up plenty of energy today; they would need a good rest.

He paid no mind to Dai Huabin's condition.

He had beaten too many opponents. Remembering every person who vowed revenge would be a hassle.

Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong used their Martial Soul Fusion Skill to defeat Ning Tian's team in one stroke, earning a place in the final.

In the stands, Mu Jin gritted his teeth. Both teams he had favored had lost.

Worse, both had lost to students from Zhou Yi's class. That was what he could not accept.

Zhou Yi herself was not thrilled, either. Chi Hong had shown far too much strength.

If Chi Hong became a core disciple, she would have to be much more careful about going after him.

Yuhao was easier to deal with. He was obedient, never talked back to his teachers, and was Fan Yu's student.

Huo Yuhao had to win the final.

After his match, Chi Hong happened to see Huo Yuhao use his Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

Golden Road was a single-hit mental attack. Spiritual Shock alone would have been fine; Chi Hong's body was naturally immune to mental attacks, so he had nothing to fear from that.

The problem was that the move could also imprison an opponent's Martial Soul.

If his Poké Balls were sealed and Charizard and Greninja were automatically recalled, things would get tricky.

But Greninja's Dark typing made it almost completely immune to attacks like Spiritual Shock, which resembled Psychic-type attacks.

It could still be affected by Imprison, though.

Still, the plan was clear: let Greninja take the first hit, then bring out Charizard to finish things with brute force. The advantage was his!

Chi Hong thought it over as he walked back.

Professor Oak called again.

He was fascinated by this world's Soul Beasts and Soul Masters. Whenever Chi Hong sent him accounts of battles he had fought or Soul Beasts he had discovered,

Professor Oak sent back useful rewards.

This time, the Hell White Tiger formed from the fusion of the White Tiger and Hell Spirit Cat had particularly caught his interest.

Chi Hong's information panel was packed with messages from Professor Oak.

[Professor Oak believes that crossing a tiger and a cat would normally produce offspring with weaker constitutions. This so-called Martial Soul Fusion, however, completely defies that rule. The combination of two unequal partners produces a more powerful individual, much like Mega Evolution in Pokémon.]

[Professor Oak theorizes that this is a form of "cross-species energy resonance" and has shown great interest in studying its mechanism.]

[Professor Oak has sent a gift.]

[You obtained a TM: Protect.]

Chi Hong skipped over the lengthy messages. All he cared about was what Professor Oak had sent him; the rest could wait.

The TM was a disc, accompanied by a wrist device for a Pokémon to wear.

"Only Greninja can learn this move, so it's yours."

Chi Hong summoned Greninja and handed it the disc and wrist device to study on its own.

Then he lay down on his bed and fell asleep.

The next day arrived.

The Freshman Assessment final was finally about to begin.

Chi Hong still wore his trademark red-and-white cap, his expression confident.

Across from him, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao stood in a row, determination in their eyes.

Huo Yuhao spoke first.

"Brother Chi Hong, you really are strong. But if I want to follow in your footsteps, I have to beat you."

Wang Dong gritted his teeth.

"You! I'm going to pay you back for what happened when school started."

Xiao Xiao blinked. Her teammates had both made bold declarations. Wouldn't it be strange if she said nothing? So...

"Y-you big villain! Don't underestimate the bond between us. We're going to win!"

Chi Hong listened to their declarations, then tossed two Poké Balls into the air with a sigh.

"Admirable courage. I hope you can give me a good fight."

Charizard and Greninja appeared together. Battle was about to erupt.

Not far away, Yan Shaozhe asked,

"Xuan Zi, what's your prediction today?"

Xuan Zi snorted.

"Do I even need to think about it? Spiritual Shock can seal Martial Souls. What are those two Soul Beasts going to do, sacrifice themselves to block it? One move will be enough to put him on the ground. It's a shame one of those boys has only a ten-year first Soul Ring, though. His talent is far too poor."

Yan Shaozhe chuckled.

"Let's hope your prediction doesn't blow up in your face again."

In the arena, Xiao Xiao summoned the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron, intending to hold off both Greninja and Charizard by herself.

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong embraced from the start. Above them, illusory Spirit Eyes merged with a Butterfly.

They aimed straight at Chi Hong and unleashed Brilliance in Decline—Golden Road!

Chi Hong was ready.

"Sorry, but I don't have time to play with you today. Greninja, Protect!"

Greninja stepped in front of Chi Hong. Its hands flew through a series of signs, and a flowing emerald-green glow enveloped its body.