Chapter 339: So You Were Hiding Here!
Oran Islands.
On a small, unremarkable island, three trainers sat resting on a large rock.
Two men and one woman—this was the top seed team from Zhongqing University's Class of '09.
One of the boys had neat, straight black hair and a warm, approachable demeanor.
The other had his hair tied in a wolf-tail, a faint scar across his cheek, and an expression that leaned more toward impatience.
They were Pan Shanyu and Bai Yuecheng.
Beside them stood their Pokémon—Metagross and Cinderace.
The third person was a short-haired, sharp-featured girl—Chen Chen, a specialist in enforcement training. Her partner was a Blastoise.
The aura of all three Pokémon was powerful and intense. Wild Pokémon had scattered the moment they landed.
At that moment, the trainer standing beside Cinderace began pacing, obviously annoyed.
"The coach said to wait, but how long do we have to wait exactly?"
Before leaving, they'd been told to land and stay put.
Hikaru would come find them and then lead them to track down Yamamoto Nika.
What the coach didn't say was when Hikaru would show up.
"The prelims just started, not even half an hour ago. Don't get worked up," said Chen Chen gently.
"I'm not anxious," Bai Yuecheng said with a wave of his hand, "I just don't see the point in waiting here with no updates!"
"I mean, sure, I watched some of Hikaru's matches. He's strong. But the guy's just a freshman."
"And we're on the edge of the prelim area. What if the safe zone moves and he doesn't find us in time?"
Pan Shanyu finally opened his eyes, calm and collected.
"You're anxious."
"No I'm not."
"Yes, you are."
"Fine, I'm anxious..."
"Let's wait until noon. If he's not here by— Uh. Never mind. He's here."
Overhead, a crimson blur streaked across the sky and hovered in place above them.
All three were seasoned enough to recognize what it was immediately—
Latias.
Hikaru hadn't even bothered to activate Mist Cloak, so they spotted him instantly.
Bai Yuecheng's eyes lit up.
"Well damn, he's fast!"
All of his earlier complaints evaporated in an instant.
Moments later, Latias and Dragonite swooped down.
The two squads finally met.
Hikaru stroked Latias, who hovered quietly in the air above them.
"Senior brothers, senior sister, good morning! Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."
Sakura and the others followed his lead and greeted them respectfully.
After all, the three were upperclassmen, third and fourth years, and in both strength and seniority, they deserved respect.
"Not at all! Barely half an hour in," Bai Yuecheng grinned, clearly impressed. "Right on time."
The man standing beside the Metagross finally spoke.
"Let's introduce ourselves. I'm Pan Shanyu, this is your senior Chen Chen, and this is Bai Yuecheng."
"I'm Hikaru…"
Everyone exchanged names.
Hikaru's eyes moved to Pan Shanyu's Metagross.
All three of their Pokémon were peak Master-tier, but Metagross—as a pseudo-legendary—was on another level.
Especially compared to typical starter Pokémon like Cinderace and Blastoise.
With equal resources, Metagross's growth rate was slower, but its upper ceiling was way higher.
Especially Pokémon like Metagross and Tyranitar—
They were often considered national strategic assets.
[Pokémon: Metagross]
[Ability: Light Metal]
[Gender: None]
[Talent: Champion]
[Level: 59]
[Moves: Psychic, Metal Claw, Tackle, Bullet Punch, Zen Headbutt, Flash Cannon, Agility, Hyper Beam...]
Level 59—just a step away from becoming Elite Four-tier.
And with Light Metal, no less.
As expected of Zhongqing University's most elite fourth-year student.
But Metagross, aside from the Hayashi Clan's holdings, were strictly monitored by the government.
It was essentially a strategic Pokémon.
For most people, there was only one legitimate way to get one—
Win first place in the National College League.
Only then could they receive a Beldum as a reward.
Hikaru wasn't sure if Pan Shanyu earned it that way, or if it came from family connections.
But with the College League being only four years old, it was hard to believe a Metagross could be trained to Master-peak so fast.
Which made family ties seem more likely.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Hikaru asked:
"Shall we head out then?"
His mission was to find that Sakura trainer—Yamamoto Nika.
Once that was done, he could get back to treasure hunting across the islands.
Because to him, this wasn't just a qualifier—
It was a treasure vault.
"Sure thing," Bai Yuecheng's eyes gleamed. "I've been wanting to deal with that bastard. Coming to Huaguo's tournament to stir shit? He's dead meat!"
Everyone summoned their flying Pokémon and took to the skies.
North Edge of the Oran Islands.
A large central island—hundreds of square kilometers wide—was surrounded by smaller satellite isles.
On the western side of one of these small isles…
Lush trees swayed gently in the ocean breeze.
Beneath one of them, a figure lay perfectly camouflaged in brown sap and mud.
Yamamoto Nika.
He was as cowardly now as he'd been arrogant before.
"Hahaha! Just need to camp out here at the edge of the safe zone. Once the ring shifts, I'll sneak in unnoticed."
"Those Huaguo idiots will never find me!"
He glanced smugly at the sunlit beach.
At just 150cm tall, Yamamoto Nika chuckled shamelessly.
All he had to do was survive until Day 4, and his mission would be complete.
Then, those three Master-tier Pokémon would officially become his.
He could ascend to true Master status.
He hadn't even summoned his Pokémon—better to erase all traces of his presence.
The contrast between his past arrogance and current cowardice was stark.
He just wanted to make it to the finals.
That's when a voice rang out overhead—
"So this is where you've been hiding, huh?"
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