Pokémon Dominion: A New Earth

Chapter 6

Ethan Walker took a deep breath, calming the nerves that twisted in his chest, and strode toward the summit stage with determination.

Whether he became a trainer or not, he was prepared to accept the outcome. Becoming a trainer would be ideal, but even if he didn't awaken a partner Pokémon, Ethan knew he could still rely on his nine years of knowledge and foresight to secure a good life for himself and his family.

Still, the thought of mastering extraordinary powers made his heart race. If he didn't even try, he knew he'd never forgive himself.

"Relax, focus, and concentrate on the Fire Stone. Just place your hand on it," the middle-aged examiner said, his voice calm and reassuring.

Ethan rolled his eyes internally. How could anyone stay calm in a moment like this?

Carefully, he approached the irregular, palm-sized red crystal and extended his hand.

But before he could even touch it, the stone began to glow intensely, sending a surge of fiery energy spiraling toward him.

The Fire Stone seemed alive, radiating heat and releasing streams of fire elemental mist that eagerly swirled around Ethan's palm. As the temperature on the stage rose dramatically, a fiery red aura enveloped Ethan completely.

The middle-aged examiner, who had remained impassive throughout the earlier tests, suddenly sprang to his feet.

"Good heavens!" he exclaimed, shoving his chair backward with such force that it clattered to the floor.

Nearby, Mark Davis rushed over, alarmed by the examiner's outburst. "Professor Richardson, what's going on?"

The normally composed middle-aged man was none other than Professor Arthur Richardson, a renowned Elite Four-level trainer tasked with safeguarding the precious Evolution Stones.

An Elite Four trainer—a figure of national strategic importance. Someone with the power to raze entire cities if left unchecked.

Only someone of Richardson's stature could oversee something as invaluable as the full set of Evolution Stones. Among them, the Dragon and Fairy Evolution Stones were so rare that even the national treasury had limited access to them.

However, Professor Richardson was now visibly shocked, staring intently at Ethan and the Fire Stone, which was no longer merely glowing. It was pouring out an overwhelming torrent of elemental energy, forming waves of heat that made the entire stage shimmer.

"This is… extraordinary," Richardson murmured, his hand instinctively reaching for the Poké Ball at his belt.

By this point, the surrounding students and teachers had also begun to notice the change.

The stage was bathed in fiery red light, and the temperature on the field continued to climb. Even those seated in the farthest corners of the stands could feel the heat radiating from Ethan.

Richardson, sensing potential danger, pressed the button on his Poké Ball. A red-and-white sphere expanded to its full size in his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, he tossed it onto the stage.

"Go."

With a burst of white light, a towering Blastoise emerged, its massive shell gleaming under the sunlight. Two large water cannons protruded from its back, adding to its imposing presence.

The crowd erupted.

"Whoa! It's a Blastoise!"

"That's incredible!"

"I can't believe he has a Blastoise!"

"This guy's the real deal. I thought Mark Davis was in charge of security, but clearly, this is the big boss!"

Standing over three meters tall, the Blastoise exuded power and authority. Its presence alone caused the water in the surrounding air to condense, leaving droplets shimmering on the grass beneath its feet.

Unlike Mark's Sandslash, which appeared relaxed, the Blastoise's eyes were sharp and calculating, radiating an aura of unrelenting dominance.

For a moment, the students closest to the stage felt a wave of intimidation wash over them. The sheer power of the Blastoise's aura was enough to make weaker Pokémon cower.

Even Mark's Sandslash, which had been resting lazily by its trainer's side, snapped to attention. The ground-type Pokémon trembled slightly, clearly uneasy in the presence of the water-type titan.

But the crowd's attention quickly shifted back to the main event.

Ethan was now completely surrounded by fiery red light. The fire element was so dense that it looked like streams of liquid flame, swirling and condensing around him.

The entire 6,000-square-meter stadium seemed to react to the overwhelming presence of the fire element. It was as if the very air itself had ignited, and the fiery mist continued to gather, forming a brilliant, blazing vortex centered on Ethan.

Even students in the lower grades, who were too far away to notice the earlier awakenings, turned their heads toward the commotion.

"What's going on over there?"

"This is insane. The fire element's gathering all the way over here!"

"It looks like the entire playground's on fire…"

The fiery aura only grew stronger, spreading farther and farther across the field. Ethan stood at the center of it all, calm and resolute, as if he were the eye of a raging storm.

For the first time, it seemed as though the stage wasn't enough to contain the fire element gathering around him.