🎆 Happy New Year! 🎆
Thank you all for the amazing support throughout this year. 💙To celebrate the arrival of the new year, here is a special New Year code:
🎁 Code:NewYear: F3B16
📅 Code validity:
Start: December 30, 2025 at 11:55 p.m.
End: January 2, 2026 at 11:00 p.m.
Enjoy it and let's start this new year strong. 🚀✨Here's to an amazing 2026! 🎉
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"Master, what are you doing here?" asked Cain after everyone had finished greeting.
Upon hearing him, the smile on old Matsuda's face grew even wider.
"Why, for you, of course."
"For me?" Cain was a bit puzzled.
Professor Oak coughed to the side.
Old Matsuda glared at him, but still explained to Cain: "It's so that you can take the evaluation for the title of Advanced-level Breeder."
"Advanced-level Breeder!?" Phoebe exclaimed in surprise.
Steven and the others, however, didn't seem too astonished.
Only Diantha and Drasna showed a hint of surprise, while Cynthia, who had already received advanced-level Pokéblocks from Cain, remained completely calm.
The moment Cain had been able to craft customized advanced-level Pokéblocks for her, Cynthia knew he had the qualities of an Advanced-level Breeder.
"Advanced-level Breeder? What's that?" asked Ash, the "smartest" of the group.
Gary pulled him aside and whispered in his ear, explaining.
On such basics, Gary knew much more than Ash.
But even after explaining what a breeder was, what the profession entailed, and what it meant for someone as young as Cain to aspire to that title, Ash ended up even more confused.
In the end, he was left with only one idea: if Cain could be an Advanced-level Breeder, then he was truly amazing.
A "brainiac," as he saw it.
Gary, on the other hand, after explaining to Ash, looked at Cain with eyes of growing admiration.
Precocious as he was, Gary fully understood what it meant to reach that title at such an early age. No wonder his grandfather and Cain's master smiled with such pride.
"Master... is it mandatory? Can't I just not take it?" asked Cain with a hint of resignation.
Old Matsuda's eyes went wide: "No! You must! I know what you fear, but don't worry."
Professor Oak added: "That's right, Cain, listen to your master. Take the Advanced-level Breeder exam. Since you're here, it's easier, and the League will back you up."
Cough cough... Your master... let's just say he had to pay a rather high price to get this arranged.
"A high price?"
Old Matsuda coughed heavily and looked away, his expression a bit unnatural.
No one dwelled too much on that detail.
But with both veterans insisting, it was obvious everything was already set.
Resigned, Cain could only nod.
"Tomorrow, after Lance's battle, I'll take care of organizing the rest," concluded old Matsuda.
Once decided, Cain said no more.
The group went out to dinner.
...
Mt. Silver.
League headquarters, main stadium.
A challenge to an Elite Four was beginning.
The challenger: Lance, from Viridian City.
The defender: Master Seiji, Grass-type Elite Four, who had held his position in the Kanto region for thirty-nine years.
On the field, both stood at opposite ends.
Master Seiji, with kind brows, still stood tall despite his age, a faint smile on his face. He twirled a rosary between his fingers, calm, not looking like someone close to retirement.
Part of it was that he willingly yielded the spot to Lance; another, that the Bell Tower required his return to watch over it.
In front of him was Lance, in his signature black outfit, cape billowing behind his back, with his dark-red hair.
Both had the dignified presence befitting an Elite Four.
Just by looking at Master Seiji's demeanor, Cain understood Lance's promotion was practically guaranteed.
Master Seiji would grant him victory.
Master Seiji's first Pokémon was Meganium, starter of the Johto region.
Lance answered with his own starter partner, Charizard.
Both at Intermediate Elite Four level.
And both belonging to regional starter trios, which made the match even more spectacular.
But the Fire/Flying type had a clear advantage, and Meganium fell under Charizard's fierce assault.
Master Seiji's second Pokémon was Jumpluff.
After a prolonged battle, both it and Charizard were knocked out.
The battle was intense, proof that Lance had prepared thoroughly.
It was clear he already knew in advance which Pokémon Master Seiji would use and some of his special tactics.
Thanks to his solid and patient style, Lance took the lead.
Until Master Seiji sent out his strongest Pokémon of the day: a Venusaur.
At the peak of Elite Four level, Venusaur defeated Lance's Aerodactyl and Kingdra in succession.
Finally, Lance was left with only his trump card: Dragonite.
It had already appeared against Lorelei, but back then it hadn't faced such a powerful opponent.
Today was different.
Even though Dragonite fought with everything, it struggled to push back Venusaur.
Cain's eyes gleamed as he watched the special combat techniques Master Seiji used to guide Venusaur; they were an invaluable source of learning.
In truth, the battle could have gone on much longer, but Master Seiji decided to end it, forcing a direct clash with Dragonite.
Venusaur fell.
Dragonite could barely remain standing, but the victor was clear.
Before everyone's eyes, Lance completed the challenge, defeating the Grass-type Elite Four of the Kanto region.
As he recalled Venusaur, Master Seiji smiled in relief, eyes closed as though finally freed from a heavy burden.
Then, the League's high officials came onto the stage, among them Professor Oak.
The handover of the position between Master Seiji and Lance was formalized.
Thus, Lance officially became a member of the Kanto region's Elite Four, choosing Dragon-type as his specialty.
The Dragon-type Elite Four, Lance!
His promotion also marked the beginning of a generational shift within the League.
The youth would gradually take the front line.
And Lance's induction shook his contemporaries among the spectators.
Steven and Cynthia felt challenged. Even Diantha, who wasn't fond of battles, couldn't suppress the impulse.
Lance was a few years older than them, but at such levels of strength, age was no excuse.
No one could claim: "You beat me, but you're older, so it doesn't count."
A trainer should never worry about age.
That day, with Lance's consecration as an Elite Four, began the era in which the League's new generation would take the reins of the future.
(End of chapter)