novelhk Page 63
Page 63
The old professor's voice was warm and mellow, but his eyes, which seemed to have seen through countless storms and understood the ways of the world, carried an invisible sense of pressure. His gaze fell on Lin Che and seemed to be able to see through him completely, inside and out.
This is not a question, but a notification that cannot be refused.
In the dormitory corridor, several figures were already peeking out, but they all shrank back in fright the moment they saw the old professor.
Faced with the personal invitation from this legendary figure, Lin Che's heart skipped a beat for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.
He showed neither the slightest bit of flattery nor excessive humility.
He simply turned to the side, put down the nautical chart and pen in his hand, his movements steady and neither humble nor arrogant.
"Professor, please."
The two walked one after the other on the secluded stone path behind the academy.
The surrounding area was a quiet forest, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind and the unhurried footsteps of the two people.
The old professor didn't speak, and Lin Che remained silent as well.
This in itself is a silent test.
It tests his mentality and whether he can maintain his rhythm when facing a Heavenly King-level powerhouse.
Finally, they stopped in a secluded mountaintop pavilion with a wide view.
Unlike the others, the old professor did not impatiently press for Hakron's origins.
He didn't even mention Hakron once.
It was as if the rare elf that had stirred up the entire academy was nothing more than a trivial matter in his eyes.
He turned around, his gaze passing over Lin Che, and looked towards the distant horizon dyed golden by the setting sun.
"Lin Che".
For the first time, he omitted the title "classmate," and his tone lost its gentleness, turning into extreme seriousness.
"Three months from now, a grand event will be held in the remote Carlos region, which takes place every four years."
"World Youth Trainer Elite Competition".
Every word was like a precisely calibrated hammer, striking heavily on Lin Che's heart.
World-class!
Lin Che's breath hitched suddenly.
"That wasn't an ordinary match; it was a real war."
The old professor's voice echoed in the empty pavilion, carrying a hint of the chilling atmosphere of war.
"A grand gathering of the world's most outstanding, talented, and even monstrous trainers under the age of twenty!"
"Its prestige and the level of attention it receives far exceed those of any regional league competition."
"Because the young people who can stand out there have almost all secured their places on the future world stage."
The old professor slowly turned around, his gaze sharp and intense, the scrutiny he exuded more intense than ever before, as if trying to imprint it into the very depths of Lin Che's soul.
"Our Huaxia region is vast and full of geniuses. But even so, after months of evaluation and struggle by the Alliance Elders, we only managed to secure three invitations to participate."
Three.
In the vast land of China, with its billion-plus population and countless trainers, there are only three spots available.
The weight represented by this number makes the surrounding air viscous.
"I've watched all your match replays."
The old professor's voice was calm and unhurried, yet carried an unquestionable authority.
"From the amazing game you played during the college entrance exam, where you turned the tide with a Magikarp."
"In the freshman ranking competition, you achieved an absolute crushing victory with overwhelming force."
"Your tactical awareness, your composure under pressure, and the unfathomable potential of the sprite you possess..."
"All of this is far beyond the scope of people of the same age."
His tone was full of undisguised admiration.
That's the affirmation of a top-notch craftsman who has finally found a peerless piece of jade.
"Therefore, I am here today on behalf of the China Trainers Alliance and our Shanghai Pokémon University to formally extend an invitation to you."
The moment he finished speaking, the old professor's movements became incredibly solemn.
He slowly took out an item wrapped in silk from the inside pocket of his sharp suit.
As the silk was unfurled, a dazzling golden light instantly illuminated the entire pavilion.
It was a badge made of pure gold.
The front of the badge features the flame symbol of the World Trainer League, while the back is engraved with a lifelike, winding Chinese dragon totem.
It lay quietly in the old professor's palm, marked by the passage of time, yet it radiated a light more profound and intense than gold itself.
That is honor, recognition, and even more so, a heavy responsibility.
The old professor solemnly handed the badge to Lin Che.
"Lin Che, classmate."
At this moment, his voice seemed to transcend time and space, overlapping with the expectations of countless predecessors.
"Are you willing to accept this honor and responsibility, to represent our China region, and to compete against the world's top geniuses?"
This question is enough to make any young trainer with a dream boil and feel their soul tremble.
This is a chance to rise to the top in one step.
A golden ladder that leads directly from the campus to the world stage.
Faced with this invitation that could change his life, every cell in Lin Che's body was screaming and cheering.
But there was no ecstasy on his face.
His gaze, the moment it fell upon the badge, became incredibly clear and unwavering.
He slowly straightened up.
There was no hesitation.
Without a moment's hesitation.
He bowed deeply and solemnly to the old man before him, to the expectations and trust represented by the badge.
When he straightened his back, his voice was clear and powerful, echoing across the mountaintop.
"I do."
Chapter 63 The Final Weak Point, A Brand New System Hint! A Clash of Titans, a Collision of Dragon and Steel!
The badge felt cold to the touch, yet heavy, as if it carried the weight of a mountain.
The front of the badge features the dragon totem of the Huaxia Alliance, with each dragon scale carved lifelike, reflecting a restrained yet majestic luster under the light.
This is not just an honor, but also a responsibility.
From this moment on, Lin Che's identity underwent a qualitative change. He was no longer just a genius student at the Magic City Academy, but the closed-door disciple of the Dragon King "Long Xiaotian," and one of the three contestants who would represent the entire China region to compete for the highest glory on the world stage.
In the following weeks, Lin Che's life was completely turned upside down.
He left behind his regular classes and battles, and was led by the old professor into a field he had never been to before.
Deep within the academy lies a tactical simulation room codenamed "Zero".
The heavy alloy door slid open slowly, revealing a pure white space filled with futuristic technology. There were no windows, and the air was filled with a barely audible humming sound unique to running equipment and a faint smell of ozone. In the very center of the room was a huge circular control panel, with countless virtual screens floating in the air, constantly updating massive amounts of data.
This is the location of the league's most advanced simulation battle system, an absolutely forbidden zone that is not open to the public.
"The upcoming special training will have no rules and no restrictions."
The old professor's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of authority.
"You have only one goal: to hold out for ten minutes in my hands."
Lin Che witnessed the terror of this retired dragon-type king for the first time.
The old professor didn't even use his world-renowned Elite Four-class Dragonite.
He simply retrieved a few tactical sprites from the database whose potential was assessed as merely "elite" in external data.
A wandering nocturnal spirit, a symbolic bird, a bronze bell.
This seemingly ordinary team was transformed into a cold and sophisticated war machine in the hands of the old professor.
The moment the battle began, the spatial rules of the entire simulation arena were forcibly distorted.
"Magic Space!"
An invisible energy field instantly enveloped the entire arena, overturning the very definition of speed. Lin Che's prized Arcanine, with its incredible speed capable of tearing through the air, became a fatal hindrance under the reversed rules. Each of its attacks was as slow as a slow-motion scene in a movie, easily anticipated and effortlessly evaded by its opponents.
Meanwhile, the opponent's heavy bronze bell gained lightning speed.
"Gyro ball!"
The spinning steel body, carrying terrifying kinetic energy from the distortion of space, bombarded Arcanine and Dragonair's defensive blind spots time and time again with unparalleled precision.
Lin Che's instructions choked in his throat several times, but he forced them back down.
His prized tactical predictions seemed utterly naive and laughable in the face of the old professor's all-encompassing, godlike perspective. He felt as if he weren't engaged in a battle between elves, but rather in a doomed game against a super AI with infinite computing power.
Every attack was anticipated, every defense was breached.
His team was completely outmaneuvered by that bizarre "space team," repeatedly pushed to the brink of defeat, and ultimately suffered a crushing loss.
The training ended with a notification sound, and the screen froze at the moment when both Arcanine and Dragonair were unable to battle.
Lin Che stood silently in front of the control panel, his hands clenched into fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Sweat trickled down his forehead and dripped onto the cold floor with a barely audible sound.
This was not an evenly matched battle, but a one-sided, crushing lesson.
"Do you understand now?"
The old professor's voice came from behind. He had somehow ended up standing next to Lin Che, his gaze also fixed on the frozen image of defeat.