Noivern's New Form: Storm Dragon!**
"Reputation really doesn't do you justice, little brother Ethan.
Seeing you in person, you truly are… different."
"First meeting—
I'm Sun Lin, Gym Leader of Bug Valley."
With half an hour still left before the Elite Four Preliminaries began,
all participating Five-Star Trainers had already taken their places in the competitors' lounge.
Ethan wasn't the overly social type.
He simply glanced around at the other trainers and didn't initiate any conversation.
However, Sun Lin—being the eldest among them—was clearly more outgoing.
He walked over cheerfully and struck up a conversation.
Ethan responded politely.
"Gym Leader Sun, hello."
"Haha, no need to be so formal," Sun Lin waved his hand.
"If you think about it, we're alumni of the same system.
And I've known your father for years."
"If you don't mind, just call me Uncle Sun."
Despite being in his forties, Sun Lin looked remarkably young.
Once he got talking, he quickly shifted the topic to Pokémon cultivation—
specifically, Bug-types.
He enthusiastically explained the strengths of Bug Pokémon,
their potential in battle, and how misunderstood they were.
Then he made an offer.
"If you ever plan on raising a Bug-type," Sun Lin said with a grin,
"you're welcome to come to Bug Valley anytime.
I can personally help you pick one."
The moment those words fell—
A system notification rang in Ethan's ears.
[Ding! Detected a Red Opportunity within Bug Valley]
[Host is advised to acquire it as soon as possible]
Ethan's expression barely changed,
but inwardly, he was genuinely surprised.
He had only chatted casually—
and a Red-tier opportunity had practically delivered itself to him.
In truth, Sun Lin's enthusiasm was simple.
He just wanted Bug-type Pokémon to rise again.
Bug Valley itself didn't belong to him;
the true master was the mysterious Bug Lord.
Still, if Ethan wanted to choose a Bug Pokémon,
Sun Lin absolutely had the authority to facilitate it.
Regardless of politeness—or opportunity—
Ethan had no reason to refuse.
"I'd be happy to visit Bug Valley sometime," he replied.
Sun Lin's smile instantly grew brighter.
Among the younger generation, Ethan was the only one who had ever taken his words seriously.
That alone made Sun Lin extremely satisfied.
Soon after, other Five-Star Trainers also came over to exchange greetings.
The Firecrest Gym Leader.
The Glacier Gym Leader.
The Gale Gym Leader.
Ethan chatted briefly with all of them.
He was young, strong, and carried himself well—
naturally earning goodwill.
Only one person did not approach him.
Zhao Yu.
She was young as well—
second only to Ethan among the participants.
Logically, they should have had common ground.
Yet they exchanged not a single word.
Still, Ethan could clearly feel it—
Zhao Yu was quietly probing him with psychic perception.
Her psychic power was strong, around Commander-tier.
But compared to Ethan's own King-tier psychic strength,
the gap was overwhelming.
Her perception slid across him… and found nothing.
To Zhao Yu, Ethan felt like a blank page.
That realization made her expression grow increasingly serious.
There were only two explanations:
Either Ethan possessed an extremely powerful Psychic Pokémon shielding him—
Or Ethan himself was a psychic stronger than her.
The second possibility made her heart tighten.
She had trained her psychic abilities since childhood
and only reached Commander-tier at thirty-two.
Ethan was nineteen.
If he truly surpassed her already…
That was terrifying.
Ten minutes later, under staff guidance,
the ten participants entered their assigned platforms.
This was a mass melee,
so the competitors were positioned in reinforced open viewing decks rather than the arena floor.
To avoid a repeat of past incidents,
the league had deployed twenty Aegislash.
Ten to protect the trainers.
Ten to reinforce the battlefield.
After all—
Every Five-Star Trainer was a priceless asset to the Donghuang League.
Soon, a familiar voice echoed through the stadium.
"Every one of you is a pillar of Donghuang."
"Friendship first, competition second."
"I hope you all achieve the results you seek."
"I'll spare you the rest—"
"I hereby announce:
The 77th Donghuang Elite Four Preliminaries—begin!"
The stadium erupted.
Flames flared around the arena,
instantly igniting the competitive atmosphere.
"Participants, release your Pokémon!"
Poké Balls flew.
A peak-Overlord Krookodile.
A peak-Overlord Staraptor.
A peak-Overlord Farigiraf.
And even a peak-Overlord Heracross—
with a Mega Stone embedded in its chest armor.
The battlefield brimmed with killing intent.
Ethan narrowed his eyes.
"Just like Dad said…
This won't be easy."
Then he raised his Poké Ball.
"But we won't lose so easily either."
"Go—Noivern!"
With a sharp crack, Noivern burst forth.
"NOIVERRR—!"
The moment it appeared,
its roar shook the stadium.
Its aura surged unrestrained,
instantly drawing every gaze.
High above, Victor Stone stiffened.
"That Noivern…
Isn't that the Noibat I gave him?"
Three months.
From Elite-tier Noibat
to peak-Overlord Noivern.
Victor could only sigh.
As expected—
Noivern immediately became the primary target.
In Donghuang tradition,
the strongest was always eliminated first.
Sun Lin acted without hesitation.
"Heracross—Mega Evolve!"
"Stone Edge!"
The battlefield trembled.
Others followed instantly.
Blizzard.
Brave Bird.
Dragon Rush.
Infernos and tidal surges.
Eight Pokémon attacked Noivern at once.
Only Farigiraf remained still.
Then Zhao Yu spoke calmly.
"Farigiraf.
Seal."
A flash of psychic light struck Noivern.
The raging storm vanished.
Opportunity.
Everyone moved at once.
Stone pillars erupted,
attacks converged.
Noivern felt genuine danger.
Then—
Ethan's calm voice echoed in its mind.
"Noivern."
"If they're targeting us this hard…"
"Then use that."
Noivern's eyes lit up.
That move.
The one meant for the true Elite Four Challenge.
"Let them see it," Ethan said softly.
"Rise."
The sky darkened.
Winds converged.
Not a storm—
A dragon of pure wind
coiled around Noivern.
A colossal form, born entirely of roaring gales.
A state inspired by Lava Qilin—
reborn in the sky.
Storm Dragon.
To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
patreon.com/kakashiTL