The direction the Champions had pointed looked no different from anywhere else in the Champion Zone.
Endless pale ground.
A distant horizon that never seemed to grow closer.
Yet Lia knew something had changed.
Somewhere ahead was Trial Valley—a place even Champions respected.
Charizard walked beside her calmly, tail flame swaying in a slow rhythm. At Level 62, its movements had become smoother than ever. The fire around its body wasn't louder or hotter—it was denser, more controlled.
Doublade floated near Eren, its blades rotating lazily as if conserving energy.
The two Pokémon had already learned the most important lesson of this zone:
Power wasted was power judged.
Walking With Purpose
They moved for hours.
Unlike the High Elite realm, the Champion Zone did not constantly challenge them. Instead, it allowed them to move freely—until someone stronger decided otherwise.
"That's strange," Lia said.
"What is?" Eren asked.
"We haven't been tested again."
Eren smiled faintly.
"That means the earlier Champions accepted our presence."
She looked ahead thoughtfully.
"So now only stronger ones will test us?"
"Exactly."
Charizard gave a quiet rumble of agreement.
A New Sign of the Valley
After a long stretch of walking, the terrain began to change.
The pale ground slowly gave way to darker stone.
Cracks appeared across the land, glowing faintly with deep orange light beneath the surface—as if magma flowed far below.
The air grew warmer.
Doublade rotated slightly faster.
Lia noticed immediately.
"This place has energy."
Eren nodded.
"Champion battlefields are rarely calm."
The system interface flickered.
[Location Detected]
Trial Valley — Outer Region
Recommended Strength: Champion Entry → Mid Champion
Lia read the message slowly.
"We're at the edge."
Charizard's flame flickered brighter.
Doublade's bond tightened slightly.
Even without enemies present, the valley felt dangerous.
The First Valley Resident
A loud crash echoed from deeper within the valley.
The sound of something massive landing.
Charizard instantly raised its head.
Doublade stopped rotating.
From beyond a ridge of black stone, a large figure climbed into view.
A powerful dragon-like Pokémon with blue wings and a heavy jaw.
Salamence.
Its presence alone made the air tremble.
The creature looked directly at them.
Not angrily.
Not curiously.
Just measuring.
Lia whispered.
"That thing is huge…"
Eren observed calmly.
"Wild Champion-tier Pokémon live here."
Salamence spread its wings slowly, the motion stirring strong wind across the valley.
Charizard stepped forward instinctively.
Fire gathered inside its throat.
But Lia raised a hand.
"Wait."
Charizard paused.
Salamence studied them for another moment.
Then—
It snorted and took off into the sky, disappearing deeper into the valley with a thunderous flap of wings.
Lia blinked.
"It left?"
Eren nodded.
"Because it didn't see weakness."
Growth Without Battle
The environment alone was powerful here.
Heat waves rose from the cracked ground.
Energy from deep within the valley circulated through the air like invisible currents.
Charizard breathed deeply.
Its internal fire cycle responded naturally to the environment.
The system chimed.
Charizard — Level Increase:Lv. 62 → Lv. 63
Doublade absorbed ambient spectral energy drifting through the valley's stones.
Doublade — Level Increase:Lv. 62 → Lv. 63
Lia laughed quietly.
"This place makes you stronger just by existing."
Eren crossed his arms.
"Yes. That's why Champions gather here."
Deeper in the Valley
As they walked further, signs of battle appeared everywhere.
Massive claw marks across cliffs.
Cracked boulders.
Areas where the ground had melted and hardened again.
This valley had seen countless Champion battles.
Charizard's eyes burned with excitement.
Doublade's blades rotated faster.
Both Pokémon understood the same thing.
This place wasn't meant for survival.
It was meant for evolution through conflict.
A New Rival Appears
Just as they reached the mouth of a deeper canyon, a voice echoed from above.
"So you're the newcomers."
Lia looked up.
Standing on a high rock ledge was a young man wearing a long dark coat.
Beside him stood a massive steel Pokémon with four arms and glowing red eyes.
Metagross.
The man jumped down easily, landing in front of them.
"I heard you impressed a few Champions already," he said casually.
His eyes moved toward Charizard.
"Let's see if that reputation is deserved."
Lia's heart started beating faster.
Another Champion.
Another test.
Charizard stepped forward.
Doublade floated beside it.
The man smiled.
"Good."
Metagross lowered its body into a battle stance.
The ground beneath it cracked from the pressure of its weight.
"This valley only respects one thing."
He pointed forward.
"Strength."
The air grew heavy.
Trial Valley had finally given them their first true battlefield.
And this time—
The opponent would not be holding back.