Inside Silver Arena's Lounge No. 18, Chen Shi lounged comfortably on the sofa, looking nothing like someone about to enter the most important battle of his life.
Phoebe, however, was a bundle of nerves. She kept glancing at the clock every few seconds, as if sheer willpower could make the match arrive faster.
Steven pressed his fingers against his temple.
"Can you not stare at the clock every ten seconds? Look at him—"
He tilted his chin toward Chen Shi.
"—even the guy competing isn't anxious. What are you nervous for?"
Phoebe pouted.
"I don't know! My heart won't calm down at all!"
Chen Shi raised an eyebrow.
"Then how about you go compete for me?"
Phoebe opened her mouth…
And absolutely nothing came out.
She sat down in defeat.
From the moment she woke up, her heart had been racing—almost as if she was the one fighting the finals.
Just then, the lounge door burst open.
Two little carrot-heads rushed inside, eyes sparkling the moment they spotted him.
"Chen Shi–nii (Shishu)!"
They barreled into him from both sides.
"Shishu! I just know you'll win today! I'll be cheering for you!!"
Gary grinned, excitement lighting up his eyes.
"Yeah! Chen Shi–nii, you gotta win the championship!"
Ash scratched his head and laughed.
Chen Shi chuckled and patted both heads.
"You two are pretty confident in me, huh?"
"That's because Chen Shi–nii (Shishu) is the best!"
They said it in perfect unison.
Before he could reply, Professor Oak walked in behind them, his expression serious but warm.
"Xiao Shi, I believe you'll win."
Chen Shi blinked, then smiled softly.
"Then I'll borrow my teacher's blessings."
Professor Oak ruffled the boys' hair.
"These two insisted on seeing you before the match. Now that they've done that, we should go. We'll be watching from the audience."
"See you later, Chen Shi–nii (Shishu)!"
The two waved their arms wildly as they left.
Chen Shi waved back, smiling.
"See you."
As soon as he sat down, the lounge door opened again.
This time it was Diantha and Yuko.
"Ch-… Chen-nii… g-good luck…!"
Yuko stuttered, her social anxiety triggered by the crowd of people, but she still forced the words out.
She had come for only one purpose—
To tell him this one line.
"Don't worry. I'll give it everything I've got."
Chen Shi smiled gently at her.
Diantha also offered an elegant smile.
"Mr. Chen Shi, please do your best. I believe you can defeat Lance."
"I believe I can, too."
Chen Shi nodded back.
"Then we'll head back. See you on stage!"
Diantha waved as she led Yuko out.
Time passed.
Soon, the clock neared match time.
Chen Shi stretched lazily.
"Alright. Time to go."
"Good luck, Chen Shi–nii!"
"Go get 'em, old Chen!"
Steven and Phoebe both called out.
Cynthia crossed her arms, face still frosty from last night's… conversations.
But she still spoke.
"…Win."
Chen Shi laughed and waved.
"Relax, everyone. I will win."
As he walked toward the battlefield tunnel, he inevitably crossed paths with Lance.
Lance grinned.
"Didn't expect it to be the two of us in the finals. Quite a surprise."
"I have a feeling," he continued, "that you'll show me something extraordinary."
Chen Shi smiled back.
"Well, life is full of surprises, isn't it?
Today I finally get to meet your partners. Let me see just how amazing they are."
Lance paused—then remembered something.
Right.
Back in Fallarbor Town, he had promised he'd let Chen Shi meet his team someday.
He hadn't expected the kid to remember.
Lance chuckled.
"You're right—a life full of surprises and unexpected twists. I like that.
See you on the field."
With that, he strode into the left-hand tunnel.
Chen Shi smiled lightly and entered the right.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the GRAND FINALS of the World Championships!"
The host's voice boomed across the stadium as tens of thousands of fans erupted into cheers.
"After days of fierce battles, only two competitors stand at the summit—
Chen Shi and Lance, the Dragon Master!"
The giant screen lit up with their portraits, facing each other with a massive VS in between.
"Now—let's welcome our two finalists!"
The two tunnel doors opened with a deep metallic thud.
Chen Shi and Lance walked out, converging on the stadium floor, facing each other across the field.
The arena exploded with noise.
The roar of the crowd was like a volcanic eruption.
The referee raised his voice over the chaos.
"This will be a 6 vs. 6 unlimited switching match.
A competitor loses when all six Pokémon can no longer battle."
"Do both challengers understand the rules?"
"Understood!"
"Understood!"
"Then—send out your Pokémon!"
Lance wasted no time. He grabbed a Poké Ball and threw it forward.
"Let's go—Hydreigon!"
"ROOOOAR!"
The three-headed dragon burst onto the stage, letting out a thunderous roar.
Blue body, black fur, six dark wings, twin rows of purple markings down its belly—
Hydreigon radiated a savage, terrifying presence.
A mid-Elite powerhouse.
Chen Shi's expression turned… complicated.
Because Hydreigon was a Dragon/Dark-type.
And Dragon/Dark had one particular problem—
It was four times weak to Fairy.
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