Early the next morning, the island air was thick with salty, damp mist as the faint morning light dyed the distant sea horizon a hazy gray-blue.
The small log cabin stood quietly in the dawn light, like a silent old man.
Ariel pushed open the door and felt that aged yet powerful gaze behind him, landing on his back with a tangible weight.
Ariel walked a few steps and then stopped.
He turned around. Drake was still standing at the door with his hands behind his back. The sea breeze ruffled his graying hair and beard, and those cloudy eyes, which seemed to see through everything, watched him quietly.
No words were spoken, but Ariel understood.
In that gaze, there was appraisal, expectation, and a faint, almost imperceptible... urge?
The old man was waiting for him to show his stance.
And that stance was to officially become his disciple!
Ariel took a deep breath. The air, mixed with the morning chill of the island, completely calmed his chaotic thoughts.
He thought about many things.
He thought even more about his future path.
Elite, Champion... these once-distant goals seemed like mere milestones to be completed step-by-step when spoken of by Drake.
And Drake was the person who could point out those milestones for him.
The benefits of taking him as a master were obvious.
Ariel knew as clear as day what it meant in the League to have one of the Elite Four as a teacher.
It wasn't just guidance; it was an identity, a network of connections, and a solid backing.
The benefits it could bring Ariel were several times greater than just calling Sidney his 'big brother'!
Ariel straightened his collar, his expression solemn, and walked back to Drake step by step.
Then, under Drake's calm gaze, he bent his knees and knelt down heavily.
With a 'thud,' his forehead struck the slightly damp earth firmly.
"Master, please accept your disciple's bow!"
No flowery words, just those simple and direct words.
Drake looked at the prostrate Ariel, a flash of complex emotion crossing his eyes.
He had privately sent people to investigate this kid's background, but they hadn't found anything.
Over these twelve days, he had seen that stubborn, relentless drive in Ariel, which was very much like his own younger self.
He had once doubted this suddenly emerging genius, but now, only admiration remained.
This was a good seedling, a piece of unpolished jade worthy of his careful carving.
"Heh, brat, at least you know some manners."
Drake gave a dry cough. His tone was still the same as always, but the lines around his eyes softened significantly.
He didn't immediately help him up, but instead accepted the bow with composure.
"Rise."
"Yes, Master."
Ariel stood up and brushed the dirt off his knees.
"Roar—!"
A deafening dragon roar came from the horizon, and a huge black shadow was cast down, accompanied by a scorching wave of air.
Drake's Elite Four Level Charizard landed on the open ground beside the wooden cabin, the gale whipped up by its wings causing the surrounding trees to sway.
This Charizard's eyes were extremely intelligent; it merely glanced at Ariel, but it made him feel an invisible pressure.
"Ever Grande City isn't far from here, but it's not close either. Let this fellow give you a lift."
Drake pointed at the Charizard.
"Remember, once you arrive, walk the rest of the way yourself. Don't make it known to everyone."
"I understand."
Ariel nodded.
"In the latter half of the Ever Grande Conference, our League's Elite Four will also go and have a look."
Drake gave one last instruction.
"Don't embarrass me."
"Yes!"
Ariel said no more and leapt onto the Charizard's broad back.
The warm touch and the powerful heartbeat all manifested the terrifying strength of this Pokémon.
As the Charizard's wings flapped violently, Ariel felt his body become light, and he was carried into the high sky. The island and Drake's figure rapidly shrank in his field of vision.
The wind howled in his ears, the sea of clouds churned below, and the world became small beneath his feet.
This feeling caused an indescribable surge of pride to well up in Ariel's chest.
This... was the power of the Elite Four Level.
The Charizard's speed was astonishingly fast. Before long, a magnificent modern metropolis appeared at the end of the sea.
On the edge of the city, a building with a peculiar shape and an exaggeratedly large scale was particularly prominent.
That was the venue for the Ever Grande Conference—the Ever Grande Battle Stadium!
While still a long distance from the stadium, the Charizard began to slow down, spiraling downward.
It stopped in a quiet forest and signaled with its eyes for Ariel to walk the rest of the way himself.
Ariel understood and jumped down from the dragon's back.
Ariel also understood that Drake didn't want him to show off the power behind him. After all, if others saw an Elite Four Level Charizard as a mount, who would dare to harbor ill intentions against him?
Alone, Ariel walked toward that giant building.
The closer he got, the more he could feel the passionate atmosphere blowing toward him.
On the plaza outside the stadium, several long queues that stretched out of sight had already formed.
They had even dispatched Officer Jennys to maintain order!
Identity verification, badge inspection, information registration... the process was tedious, causing the line to move extremely slowly.
Ariel randomly found the end of a line and waited quietly.
He observed the people around him; some were in groups of three or five, talking loudly.
Some were alone, resting with their eyes closed.
Others were communicating in low voices with their Pokémon, doing final mental preparations.
Everyone here was a powerhouse who had collected eight badges—the Elites of the Hoenn region.
Time passed bit by bit, and the sun rose overhead.
The line moved forward slowly. After waiting for nearly an hour, there were fewer than ten people left in front of him.
Just then, a figure suddenly squeezed in from the side, carrying an overbearing aura, and cut right in front of Ariel with a sense of entitlement.
It was a lavishly dressed, arrogant young man. He didn't even look at Ariel, as if cutting in line was a matter of course.
The people waiting in line all cast dissatisfied looks, but when they saw the Poké Ball at the young man's waist engraved with a special family crest, they all withdrew their gazes in suppressed anger.
There was a small commotion in the line, which then returned to a stifled calm.
Ariel's brow twitched slightly.
He said nothing, just quietly watched the young man's back.
The young man seemed to sense the gaze behind him. He turned back impatiently, sizing Ariel up. Seeing his ordinary traveling clothes, the contempt in his eyes deepened.
"What are you looking at? Bumpkin, haven't you seen the world?"
The voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of several people nearby.
Ariel's expression didn't change at all. He just lifted his eyelids and glanced at him indifferently.
That gaze was very calm, calm like a pool of bottomless cold water.
The young man felt a bit unnerved by the look, but then became angry from embarrassment. He puffed out his chest, wanting to say something more.
At that moment, Ariel moved.
He didn't speak, nor did he make any extra movements. He just reached out and gently placed his hand on the young man's shoulder.
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