Ironvale City Pokémon University... had won!
They had won the University League championship!
And what's more, they had done it with a completely overwhelming advantage!
With only one Meltan, the teams from Daleron Imperial Pokémon University and Duskwell City Pokémon University had been unable to even resist!
Before the battle began, all the spectators thought that Daleron Imperial Pokémon University and Duskwell City Pokémon University had a huge advantage.
After all, Ethan's age was there. Although everyone was surprised that someone so young already had Quasi-Elite-level strength, they also considered him the typical Quasi-Elite-level trainer who had only just reached that level not long ago and was still rather inexperienced.
Because of that, they had never believed that the teams from Daleron Imperial Pokémon University or Duskwell City Pokémon University, both with several Quasi-Elite-level trainers, could lose.
But the development of the battle made everyone's eyes nearly pop out of their sockets. Not only did they lose, but they did so in a dreadful fashion.
"That Ethan already possesses the potential of an Elite."
"Could it be that, before long, the League will welcome the youngest Elite in its history?"
As they looked at Ethan standing at the very top of the podium, all the spectators, besides being shocked, could not help but murmur those words.
"Lastly, let us congratulate Ironvale City Pokémon University."
With the referee's words, the closing ceremony came to an end.
At that instant, all the students of Ironvale City Pokémon University present in the stadium were already completely wild with happiness.
And not only there. The news of the University League had already spread throughout all the universities through multiple channels.
Within Ironvale City Pokémon University itself, the atmosphere was one of absolute celebration, as if they were celebrating the university's anniversary. Everything was full of noise and joy.
"It seems our Ironvale City Pokémon University really did find a treasure."
The principal stroked his beard and smiled. That day when he had admitted Ethan as an exception had probably been the most correct decision of his entire life. The amount of glory Ethan had brought to the university was enormous.
...
"Phew, from now on we're the best university in the entire Daleron League."
On the way back, the members of the Ironvale City Pokémon University team still could not hide the excitement on their faces.
"Yes. With this, my student life can also be considered perfectly concluded."
Ethan smiled and nodded, while turning his gaze out the window.
"Ethan, are you going to graduate?"
Hearing him say that, Jason and the others seemed to suddenly realize it.
It was true: Ethan was now already a Quasi-Elite-level trainer, and according to the university's rules, he had to graduate!
It was just that... a twenty-year-old graduate was something they still could not fully process.
Now that they finally understood it, everyone sighed inwardly. As older students, they had been completely surpassed by Ethan, who was younger than them.
"Ethan, what do you plan to do next? Are you going to the Champion's Road?" Jason suddenly asked.
The Champion's Road could be considered a kind of university specialized in training future Elite-level and Champion-level trainers.
Most of the people there were graduates competing in the Elite Tournament, so it was truly an excellent place to continue strengthening oneself.
Captain Daniel Harper, from the previous generation, had gone precisely to the Champion's Road.
"The Champion's Road?"
"Yes, it really is quite a good destination." Ethan nodded. Although his strength was already remarkable now, he was still very far from the Elite level. That Champion's Road could undoubtedly be a very good training place.
After training there, he would then be able to officially throw himself into competing in the Elite Tournament.
...
When they returned to Ironvale City Pokémon University, Ethan and the others were welcomed as true heroes.
"These senior and junior schoolgirls really are very enthusiastic."
Jason gave a chuckle as he discussed the plans for the evening party with his teammates.
Ethan, on the other hand, was not very interested in that, so he went directly to the principal's office.
"I didn't imagine you would graduate so soon."
The principal looked at Ethan with some emotion.
The speed at which Ethan was graduating would undoubtedly break all university records.
"Yes. My strength has already reached the level needed to graduate. Besides, I would like to go to the Champion's Road. I hope you can recommend me."
Ethan nodded and spoke to the principal respectfully.
Although his identity and strength were already very different from before, the respect he felt for the principal remained the same.
"The Champion's Road? Of course there's no problem. The students we recommend represent the university itself."
"The achievements you obtain on the Champion's Road will also be achievements of our university, and they are also part of the League's evaluation of us."
The principal nodded with a smile. Even if Ethan had not proposed going to the Champion's Road, he himself would have recommended it with all his strength. Now that Ethan brought it up on his own, it could not be better.
"Ethan, congratulations on your graduation. You must still have a large amount of credits right now, right?"
Suddenly, the principal remembered something and said it with a smile.
During all this time, Ethan had obtained for the university a spot to participate in the exchange event between the world's Pokémon universities, and he had also shone brilliantly in that event.
And not only that: Ethan had also won the youth World Championship and, afterward, had led the Ironvale City Pokémon University team to the title in the University League.
Considering all the glory he had brought to Ironvale City Pokémon University, the number of credits Ethan had accumulated was already simply exaggerated, to a terrifying degree.
"Credits? I haven't checked them in a long time."
Ethan scratched his head. During the first stage of his growth, the items he could exchange for credits at the university had been a great help to him.
But now, with the rapid rise of his identity, status, and strength, those university resources were becoming less and less useful to him.
"Then there's no need to check them. Taking your contribution to the university into account, the university itself will give you a gift."
The principal smiled slightly and motioned for Ethan to follow him.
Advancing through the campus, the principal led Ethan to the university's treasury and went directly up with him to the highest level.
Just like the upper treasury of the Pokémon Researcher Guild headquarters, the university treasury also housed a large part of the wealth accumulated by the institution.
Of course, compared with the Pokémon Researcher Guild's treasury, the university treasury was much more limited. Items like Lugia's Silver Wing did not exist there.
But even so, treasures on the level of the Life Orb could indeed be found, and that was precisely the kind of item the principal intended to give Ethan.
"Choose one from here."
The principal smiled as he led Ethan before the treasures.
(End of chapter)