Riolu's First Battle and Rapid Leveling

Chi Hong and Riolu arrived at a small grove and faced each other, eyes locked.

"You're young, so I'll let you make the first move."

Chi Hong clasped his hands behind his back, every inch the seasoned fighter.

Riolu needed no further invitation. He pushed off with both legs and charged.

White light flared around his claws as he slashed at Chi Hong.

Chi Hong extended one hand. Ultimate Ice spread over his arm and formed a massive pincer that met the attack head-on.

Soul skill: Ice Empress's Pincers!

A sharp glint flashed in Riolu's eyes. He pulled back his attack, dodged the pincer, and struck at Chi Hong's exposed side instead.

He had used Feint!

Chi Hong did not dodge. An icy shield rapidly formed around his body: Ice Empress Protection!

Clang!

Riolu's claws struck the Ultimate Ice shield, leaving only a faint mark.

Startled, he quickly retreated and searched for an opening.

Chi Hong waited for Riolu's next attack, confident he had the fight under control.

After all, his Soul Power Level had reached Soul Elder, and he could use the Ice Empress's skills through his Martial Soul.

Riolu was a Pokémon with only a hundred years of power. No matter how gifted he was in battle, he was no match for Chi Hong.

From the start, this fight had been a veteran toying with a child.

Riolu looked left and right, then drew a breath. His figure became a streak of white light, and he slammed headfirst into Chi Hong's ice shield.

Clang! He still failed to break through.

Instead, the impact left his head spinning and his body swaying.

Chi Hong seized the opening and swung a fist.

Riolu flew backward and fell to the ground.

[Riolu is unable to battle. You have won!]

Chi Hong had not punched hard. Riolu's sturdy body could take it. He shook his head and got back up.

"Well? Do you acknowledge my strength now?"

Chi Hong held out a hand, offering to shake.

Riolu was still a little unwilling, but he accepted Chi Hong's strength. He extended a paw and shook his hand.

[Riolu considers you strong. Affection +10]

"Don't worry. Become my partner, and you'll have no shortage of battles. You'll grow stronger quickly. At the very least, you won't fall behind your other two companions."

Chi Hong spoke with confidence.

Riolu's eyes lit up, and his tail wagged twice.

That was exactly what he wanted to hear. He loved battling and longed to win and grow stronger.

The old man from before had been such a nuisance. He kept Riolu from fighting other Pokémon, always holding back his progress.

So far, this trainer seemed decent.

Riolu looked toward Charizard, his eyes brimming with fighting spirit.

Charizard snorted, thoroughly displeased by Chi Hong's assessment. That little dog, surpass him?

A dragon was a dragon, and a dog was a dog!

Charizard was the boss here. Every newcomer could only be his underling and would never defeat him.

Meanwhile, Greninja watched Charizard with an unreadable gaze. He sensed that his chance to defeat the stupid fire dragon was close.

Seeing how fiercely the three Pokémon competed, Chi Hong felt even more certain that he had a bright future ahead.

The day of the Battle Royale Selection Tournament arrived.

More than twenty core disciples stood together in the Soul Arena, each warily watching everyone around them.

Xuan Zi stood above them with a chicken drumstick in hand and announced the rules at an unhurried pace.

"The rules are simple. The last seven standing are selected. No rules, no restrictions. Fight until only seven remain."

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the arena changed.

Dai Huabin quickly gathered seven or eight people into a small group. Malice filled his eyes as he fixed his gaze on Chi Hong and Huo Yuhao.

"Those two humiliated me. Eliminate them first."

Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Beibei, Xu Sanshi, and the others gathered together without needing to discuss it.

Huo Yuhao scanned the arena, apparently looking for Chi Hong.

Chi Hong stood at the edge of the Soul Arena District and summoned his three Pokémon.

After absorbing the Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber, Greninja had reached eight thousand years of power, the same as Charizard. Against this group from Shrek's outer court, where even Soul Ancestors were few and far between, the two of them would have no trouble at all.

It would be a breeze.

Riolu, however, had only a hundred years of power. Chi Hong's main reason for entering this battle royale was to level him up.

Riolu surveyed the Soul Masters around him, his eyes burning with the desire to fight.

The moment Chi Hong entered the Soul Arena with his three Pokémon, gazes turned toward him from all sides.

"Chi Hong! He's taken in another Soul Beast, though this one looks pretty weak."

"Hahaha! We have the numbers this time. Let's get rid of the dangerous one first."

Many of them reached the same conclusion: they would join forces against Chi Hong.

They also had one thing in common. Chi Hong had beaten every one of them before.

Chi Hong wasted no words. He swept his gaze over everyone present.

"Come on, you useless lot. All of you at once."

The arena went quiet for a moment, then erupted.

Dai Huabin gave a vicious grin. "Hahaha! You're even more eager to die than I thought."

Xu Sanshi exchanged a glance with Beibei, then gritted his teeth and said:

"Watch me, Nannan. It's time to settle the score! I'll show you how I beat this arrogant newcomer."

Jiang Nannan ignored him completely.

Huo Yuhao sighed. "Brother Chi Hong, you're as confident as ever."

Chi Hong rose into the air on Charizard, a smile tugging at his lips.

"Charizard, use Heat Wave. Greninja, use Water Pulse. Riolu, stay out of the way and follow my orders."

Charizard spread his wings. Ultimate Fire coated them, and with one powerful beat, he sent a blast of superheated air across the arena, scattering the Soul Masters' formation.

Xu Sanshi brought up his Xuanming Shield and took the front.

But Charizard had grown much stronger, and Xu Sanshi struggled to hold him back.

Greninja followed close behind. He formed a seal with his hands, and a huge ball of water burst apart, sending cold waves sweeping across the arena.

The combined strike of two Soul Beasts with eight thousand years of power threw the Soul Arena into chaos.

"Stop them!" Dai Huabin roared. His Soul Rings lit up, his White Tiger Martial Soul possessed him, and he attacked Charizard with all his might.

Zhu Lu had already activated her Hell Spirit Cat and rushed ahead. As an agility-type Soul Master, she was faster than the others.

Unfortunately for her, Charizard could fly.

He beat his wings and climbed higher. A Flamethrower poured down from the sky, roasting the students below.

They stared up at Charizard, who kept attacking from above, and felt utterly helpless. Like ants on a hot pan, all they could do was scramble about.

Greninja released Smokescreen, deepening the chaos. Then he vanished into the darkness and used Water Shuriken to wound the Soul Masters one by one.

Cries of pain rang out from within the black smoke.

Chi Hong sent a message to Riolu:

"Go! Follow Greninja and finish off the ones he's weakened."

That had been Chi Hong's plan all along: have Charizard and Greninja wear everyone down, then let Riolu pick them off. It was the most traditional way to level up.

Riolu was frustrated. Charizard and Greninja were tearing through their opponents while he could only watch?

In the end, he held back and obeyed Chi Hong.

With his Aura, he could follow Greninja's movements without being hindered by the Smokescreen.

"Ah! No!"

"Stop hitting me! I surrender!"

[Riolu has defeated opponents far above his level multiple times and gained a massive amount of experience!]

[Riolu's power has increased to three thousand years.]

Riolu looked up at Chi Hong, excitement and fighting spirit nearly spilling from his eyes.

Chi Hong nodded to him.

"All right. You can take on the rest now."

By then, fewer than ten people remained in the arena.