Time passed strangely in the Champion Zone.
There were no sunrises.
No sunsets.
The pale sky remained constant, light diffused evenly across the endless terrain. Without natural rhythm, time was measured only by movement, by thought, by the subtle shifts in the way the world regarded them.
Lia had stopped expecting rewards.
That realization alone changed how she walked.
Charizard moved beside her like a living pillar of contained fire. At Level 60, its strength was undeniable—but here, levels were just numbers. What mattered was presence.
Doublade floated near Eren, its twin blades angled slightly apart. The spectral bond between them had grown quieter, cleaner, until it resembled a line of absolute certainty rather than a connection under strain.
They had not been attacked again.
Which was itself suspicious.
Invisible Company
"They're watching," Lia said after a while.
Eren didn't ask how she knew.
"Of course they are."
Lia stopped walking and closed her eyes for a moment. The feeling was faint, but unmistakable. It was not the direct gaze of a challenger. It was something subtler—like scholars observing an experiment.
"How many?" she asked.
"At least three Champions," Eren replied calmly. "Maybe more."
Charizard exhaled softly, a thin ribbon of heat dissolving into the air. It didn't flare its aura or display intimidation. That would have been a mistake here.
Instead, it simply existed.
Heavy. Stable. Certain.
Doublade mirrored that restraint, lowering its rotation speed until it hovered almost perfectly still.
The observers did not reveal themselves.
But the terrain shifted slightly—as if acknowledging that the newcomers understood the rules.
A Silent Lesson
Hours later, they reached something new.
A plateau.
It wasn't dramatic, but it stood out from the otherwise endless plain. At its center lay a circular stone platform etched with ancient markings—barely visible, yet unmistakably deliberate.
Lia approached cautiously.
"Another trial?"
"Not exactly," Eren said.
Charizard stepped onto the platform first.
Nothing happened.
Then Doublade followed.
The markings faintly glowed—not brightly, just enough to show that something had recognized their presence.
The system interface flickered once.
[Champion Observation Platform]Purpose: Evaluation ArenaStatus: Awaiting Initiator
Lia frowned. "Meaning?"
"Meaning this is where Champions test people directly."
She looked around the empty horizon.
"So we wait?"
Eren nodded.
"Yes."
The Third Champion
They didn't wait long.
A ripple in space formed near the edge of the plateau.
Unlike the previous encounters, this Champion did not conceal their arrival. The distortion settled into the shape of a tall woman with silver hair tied behind her head, her posture relaxed but undeniably powerful.
Her gaze moved slowly over the group.
First Lia.
Then Eren.
Then Charizard.
Finally Doublade.
She nodded once.
"You stayed longer than expected."
Her voice was calm, but not unfriendly.
Lia straightened instinctively. "We're trying to belong."
The Champion smiled faintly.
"That's the correct answer."
She stepped onto the platform.
Reality itself seemed to shift slightly around her, not bending as dramatically as the first Champion's arrival—but enough to show that she existed at a different level of authority within this zone.
"No ambushes today," she said.
Her hand moved toward her belt.
A Poké Ball appeared between her fingers.
Lia felt her heartbeat quicken.
This was different.
Until now, every trial had been environmental, conceptual.
This time—
It would be battle.
The First True Opponent
The Poké Ball opened with a soft flash of light.
From it emerged a tall, elegant Pokémon with long blades for arms and a calm, regal posture.
Gallade.
The Pokémon stood silently beside its trainer, eyes focused directly on Charizard.
Lia felt the pressure immediately.
This wasn't High Elite.
This wasn't theoretical.
This was Champion-level combat.
The Champion crossed her arms casually.
"Relax," she said. "This is only an evaluation. If I wanted you gone, you wouldn't be standing here."
Eren remained calm.
"Then what do you want?"
"To see whether your strength survives interaction."
Her eyes shifted toward Lia.
"You first."
Lia inhaled slowly.
Charizard stepped forward.
Heat rolled gently from its body, not explosive, not dramatic—just steady and real.
Gallade raised one blade-like arm, its stance perfectly balanced.
The Champion lifted one hand.
"Begin."
The Moment Before Impact
For a heartbeat, nothing moved.
The air between Charizard and Gallade tightened.
Two different philosophies of strength stood facing each other.
One born from relentless environmental refinement.
The other sharpened through countless battles.
Lia's voice came out steady.
"Charizard… hold formation."
Charizard's wings flexed slightly, heat condensing around its core.
Gallade leaned forward.
Not aggressively.
Just enough to show readiness.
And in that instant, everyone present understood—
This battle wasn't about winning.
It was about proving that their strength belonged in the same conversation as Champions.