The Morgan Family's Five-Star Kill Order, and Ethan's Overwhelming March Forward!**
Looking at the Crawdaunt collapsed on the battlefield, Ethan was genuinely a little surprised.
He knew Lucario was strong—very strong.
But he hadn't expected the White Elephant Alliance's newly promoted Five-Star Trainer to be this weak.
Three Pokémon.
Not a single one managed to even warm Lucario up.
Hearing Lucario's faint grumbling through their bond, Ethan pressed his lips together, then smiled helplessly as he rubbed Lucario's head.
"Sorry, Lucario," he said softly.
"I didn't expect the opponent to be this weak either."
"But don't worry. There'll be plenty more battles ahead."
"I'm sure you'll find someone who can actually satisfy you."
Lucario's irritation quickly faded under Ethan's reassurance.
Even so, Lucario still glanced back at the fallen Crawdaunt, his expression oddly puzzled.
He wasn't mocking it.
He was genuinely confused.
You're stronger than me on paper… so why were you this bad?
But in Ilam's eyes, that single glance felt like absolute contempt.
As if Lucario were looking down on his Crawdaunt as trash.
Ilam nearly exploded on the spot.
Yet just as he was about to speak, Lucario casually looked up at him.
The gaze was calm.
Pure.
But overwhelmingly sharp.
That single look alone froze Ilam in place.
Words died in his throat.
Lucario's aura… was terrifying.
A moment later, Lucario returned to his Poké Ball as if nothing had happened.
Ethan politely acknowledged the match, then turned and left the arena.
Watching Ethan's departing figure, Ilam finally lost all will to be angry.
Confusion filled his mind instead.
"Didn't Lord Svaraj say this Ethan was a fraud…?"
"If this is what 'walking in through the back door' looks like…"
"Then Donghuang trainers are way too terrifying."
Svaraj's Worldview Shatters
From the stands, Svaraj had been eagerly waiting for Ethan to embarrass himself.
When he saw Ethan walking out so soon, he froze.
"So fast?"
"Did the match already end?"
A grin immediately spread across his face.
"Hah! Just as I thought—this fake Five-Star—"
Before he could finish, the screen above Arena Three went dark.
Ilam's portrait faded out.
For spectators, that might have meant nothing.
For Svaraj, it meant only one thing.
Ilam lost.
He went completely numb.
Ilam wasn't weak.
Especially not his ace Crawdaunt—one of the strongest early-Overlord Pokémon in the White Elephant Alliance.
And yet…
He lost?
Svaraj forced himself to stay calm and immediately ordered the battle footage.
When the replay began, his expression collapsed.
Lucario—a mere late-Commander Pokémon—was punching like a god.
One punch per Pokémon.
Even Crawdaunt's hardened shell shattered under two blows.
Svaraj felt his scalp go numb.
Watching Ethan leave the arena alongside Aurora, a terrifying thought surfaced in his mind.
"What if…"
"What if Ethan's Five-Star title isn't fake at all?"
Eighteen years old.
A real Five-Star Trainer.
The thought alone made his chest tighten.
A Snake Awakens
At the same time…
In the presidential suite of the hotel.
A blond, red-lipped woman lounged lazily on the sofa, wine glass in hand.
Her name was Alicia.
To the world, she was known by another title—
Poison Scorpion Queen.
An Elite Four of the Sky Eagle Alliance.
A woman infamous for venomous tactics and merciless methods.
Hundreds of trainers had reportedly died at her hands.
Ding—dong.
The doorbell rang.
A Seviper slowly slithered out from beneath the sofa, its cold eyes locking onto the door.
Alicia waved lazily.
"Let him in."
A blond young man entered respectfully.
"Elite Four Alicia, our instruments detected something… abnormal."
A laptop was placed before her.
The footage of Ethan vs. Ilam played.
Alicia understood the data instantly.
"This Lucario…" she murmured.
"Who does it belong to?"
The assistant quickly pulled up files.
"Trainer Ethan. Donghuang Alliance."
"Newly promoted Five-Star."
"Protected heavily by Donghuang."
"Likely… the son of Donghuang Champion Victor Stone."
Alicia's eyes darkened.
"So he's Victor's son…"
When Ethan's image was enlarged, her expression twisted.
"Disgusting."
"He looks just like his father."
Years ago, Alicia had pursued Victor.
He rejected her—because he already had a family.
That rejection turned obsession into hatred.
And now…
Her lips curled upward.
"What if," she whispered,
"Victor Stone's son died during the tournament?"
She laughed softly.
Then her assistant swallowed hard.
"Elite Four…"
"He's also on the Morgan Family Five-Star Kill Order."
Alicia froze.
Then smiled brightly.
The Morgan Family.
A Five-Star Kill Order meant one thing—
Any wish granted.
"Looks like fate wants him dead," Alicia said sweetly.
"Prepare everything."
From the shadows, Gengar emerged, placing a locked case at her feet.
Unstoppable Advancement
The tournament progressed rapidly.
Only fifty-plus participants.
Single elimination.
Within a week, the finals arrived.
Throughout the tournament, Ethan crushed every opponent.
Lucario opened.
Garchomp finished.
Effortless.
Absolute.
At first, some called it luck.
Then disbelief.
Finally—fear.
This wasn't a fake genius.
This was a monster.
Now, only one match remained.
Ethan vs. Noel of the Sky Eagle Alliance.
As Ethan waited in the preparation room, Meloetta suddenly appeared beside him.
She tugged his sleeve, her voice unusually serious.
"Ethan… be careful."
"That man…"
"He feels dangerous."
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
And slowly—
He looked toward Noel.
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