"Grandpa, do you know what this is?"
"I don't recognize it," his grandfather admitted, "but I've examined it. Whatever it is, it contains extremely pure Dragon-type energy. Definitely a legendary-tier resource."
"Alright. Then I'm heading to the back mountain to find Salamence."
"Go."
The moment Chen Shi left, Grandma finally voiced the worry sitting in her heart.
"Shi'er is in such a hurry to help Salamence break through to Champion… He must have a reason he hasn't told us."
"Old man… did something happen while he was traveling?"
Grandpa shook his head slowly.
"I don't know. But all we can do is support him."
"He's grown up. He has his own thoughts. That's a good thing. Let him walk his own path."
"I'm just worried…"
Grandpa snorted softly.
"You worry too much. Once Salamence and Garchomp break through to Champion, what do we have left to fear?"
"…You're right. I just wish Shi'er could be ordinary sometimes. Live a safe, peaceful life…"
Back Mountain — The Dragon's Den
Chen Shi arrived at the cavern entrance and called:
"Sister Long! Brother Shark! I'm here!"
"Rooaaaar!"
A mighty roar cracked through the air.
Moments later, Salamence burst out of the cave, wings whipping up a storm.
Behind her, Garchomp followed at an unhurried pace, lazily scratching his chin as always.
Salamence lowered her head, eyes asking silently:
Why are you here?
Chen Shi reached up and stroked the warm scales beneath her neck.
"Sister Long… I have many secrets. And many priceless things."
"These things—if exposed—will attract the greed of far too many people. And right now, I don't have the strength to protect them."
"That's why I need your power."
"Rooaaar!"
Her roar was firm, confident.
With me here, you don't need to fear anything.
"I know you're strong already," Chen Shi said softly, "but it's not enough. I need you to become even stronger."
He opened the jade box containing the Peak-Champion Salamence Molting Scale.
Then he opened the black box from his grandfather.
Instantly—
Salamence's entire body trembled.
Primitive hunger.
Instinctive desire.
Every cell screamed:
Take it. Devour it. Evolve.
Even Garchomp stopped pretending to be relaxed—
and rushed over with blazing eyes fixed on the Dragonblood Crystal.
Chen Shi chuckled.
"The scale is for you, Sister Long. And the Dragonblood Crystal… it's for both of you."
"With these, you'll be able to break the Champion barrier."
"Rooaaar…?"
She pointed at the crystal, then at herself.
Me? You're giving this to me?
Chen Shi nodded.
"It's yours. Take it."
Salamence stared at the box for a long moment.
Then—
She closed the lid gently.
And pointed at Dragapult's Poké Ball on Chen Shi's belt.
"Rooaaar~"
(Give it to the little one. It'd be wasted on me.)
She knew her limits.
She knew her future.
She had lived long enough to understand—
Her wings were aging.
Her flame was dimming.
Her talent had reached its ceiling.
But Dragapult…
Dragapult was a child of miracles.
Better to give the best to him.
Chen Shi's chest tightened painfully.
Why…
Why did everyone around him always try to give the best to him?
Why did none of them ever choose for themselves?
After a quiet breath, he spoke firmly:
"Sister Long… take it. This was Grandpa's. It always belonged to you."
"As for me and Dragapult—trust us. We have our own opportunities."
Salamence still hesitated.
"Sister Long…" Chen Shi whispered,
"didn't you hear me earlier?"
"I need your strength. To protect me. To protect Grandpa and Grandma. To protect this home."
"So please… don't refuse."
In the end, she lowered her head and accepted both the Molting Scale and the Dragonblood Crystal.
Then she returned to the cave.
Outside the Cave
"Brother Shark," Chen Shi teased, "your wife's about to surpass you. Any thoughts?"
Garchomp snorted.
Surpass him? So what?
It wasn't like anyone could steal his wife.
Besides—
he clearly heard what Chen Shi said earlier.
The Dragonblood Crystal had a share for him too.
His breakthrough would come.
Just… later.
No need to rush.
Chen Shi lay on the ground dramatically, hands behind his head.
"Sigh… your species already has trouble laying eggs. After becoming Champion, it'll be even harder. I wonder if I'll ever live long enough to see one…"
Garchomp ignored him completely.
He was too focused on the cave.
They had been stuck at the Champion threshold for nearly twenty years.
This was no simple breakthrough.
Even he was nervous.
"Brother Shark, I honestly didn't expect you to care this much," Chen Shi muttered.
Garchomp turned and glared at him.
Before he could grunt a retort—
BOOOOOOM
A terrifying surge of energy erupted from the cave.
Golden light rippled outward—
followed by a pressure so overwhelming it felt like the heavens collapsing.
Chen Shi froze instantly.
His blood turned cold.
His lungs locked.
He couldn't move.
Not even breathe.
His Poké Balls burst open violently—
Dragapult
Florges
Leafeon
Metang
Togekiss
Charmander
—all appeared at once, bodies shaking as they desperately shielded Chen Shi from the crushing aura.
Chen Shi tried to shout,
but no sound came out.
Cold sweat drenched his back.
Garchomp, after a heartbeat of stunned realization, rushed to Chen Shi's side and shielded him like a wall of steel.
At last—
The pressure slowly faded.
Dragapult and the others collapsed, gasping.
Chen Shi, beneath Garchomp's protection, trembled as feeling slowly returned to his limbs.
He exhaled shakily.
He finally understood.
The difference between a top Elite and a Champion…
is not strength.
It is a gulf so deep it suffocates.
A Champion's aura alone—
Could kill a man outright.
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