69novels Chapter 369 N's Awakening
Chapter 369 N's Awakening
Chapter 369 N's Awakening (Part 3)
"? Both elves... fell down at the same time?"
In front of the live broadcast camera, Qi Shu leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed on the battlefield on the screen as the smoke and dust slowly dissipated, his tone carrying a hint of uncertainty.
In the scene, Martial Arts Master Xiong and Servant General Pu Dao lie silently on the shattered battlefield, without a sound.
"Let's wait a moment and await the referee's final decision..."
Her voice unconsciously lowered, as if afraid of disturbing the solemn atmosphere in the room.
The entire live stream, and indeed the audience around the world, held their breath at that moment.
Time seemed to stretch out infinitely thanks to Palucci.
Finally, in the center of the arena, the referee, riding an Aegislash, carefully checked the situation before raising his hands high and waving them in a crisscross pattern.
"It's confirmed, a mutual destruction! So, the final score of this thrilling semi-final is 6:"
Xia Chi wins!
Kiju, who had been holding his breath due to tension, finally let out a long, satisfying breath, and a bright, relieved smile spread across his face.
"Let's give a warm round of applause to Xia Chi for successfully advancing to the final of this year's World Dark-Type Expert Tournament! We must also thank him and Mr. Murdan, two top trainers, for jointly presenting us with a classic battle that will go down in history!"
After a brief delay, the barrage of comments in the live stream room surged in like a tsunami.
[Yo yo yo~ You were calling me "Mizuya-sensei" just now, how come you're calling me "Natsuike-san" now that you've won the match? Is that so formal, Kisaki-sama? (Katie dog head.jpg)]
[Another one-versus-six victory! Master Xiong is awesome (voice cracks)!]
To be fair, Mr. Merdan was quite strong too. He successfully traded kills with Master Bear in the end. This seems to be the first time since the start of the competition that Xia Chi's Pokémon has been unable to battle.
[It's true! A combined score of 12-1 across the two matches—that dominance is simply terrifying!]
[Mr. Merdan may have lost, but he deserves honor. He was the only man to snatch a point from Xia Chi, and he deserves all the applause and respect!]
[Fun fact: If Lao Shui manages to win six consecutive matches in the finals, he will have achieved the epic feat of winning the entire tournament by defeating six opponents single-handedly!]
Even the invincible Master Ma Shide couldn't achieve this in the Fighting Attributes Expert Tournament, right? If this were to actually be accomplished, it would truly be unprecedented!
[Not only is this unprecedented, but I doubt anyone will ever surpass it; the difficulty is simply inhuman!]
[The King of Cranberries is trembling with fear...]
The discussion wasn't just heated in Qishu's live stream.
As the score on the giant screen above the Flying Cloud Arena settled at 6:1, the magnificent, packed stadium erupted in deafening applause and cheers.
This roar was not only dedicated to Xia Chi and Martial Arts Master Xiong, the victors who accomplished the epic feat of "one against six," but also unreservedly dedicated to the veteran Mo Dan, who fought to the very last moment and demonstrated an indomitable will.
Although it might not be a glorious achievement to boast about, this is indeed the only point Xia Chi has lost since the start of the entire World Evil Attribute Expert Tournament.
Furthermore, in the final two battles, Cat Boss's exquisite tactical genius and masterful execution, and General Servant's earth-shattering reversal with the Crystal Ghost and their ultimate mutual destruction...
Each match is a perfect combination of tactics and strength, enough to leave any battle enthusiast with a lasting impression.
Some viewers, amidst their fervor, couldn't help but secretly indulge in their fantasies.
If Mr. Merdan were to adjust the order of his battles, placing Cat Boss and Servant General earlier in the lineup, would it be possible to create an even greater miracle?
Of course, all of this is just an unrealistic assumption based on the outcome.
Video games allow you to reload and start over, but real matches don't offer "what ifs."
Xia Chi and his martial arts master Xiong Shi once again proved their terrifying strength on this top-level stage with a highly impressive one-versus-six victory.
With the smoke clearing from the second semi-final, the final lineup for this year's World Dark Attribute Specialist Tournament has finally been determined.
The tournament organizers reacted swiftly, immediately releasing meticulously crafted promotional posters for the finals on major social media platforms: "The Dark-type Elite Four member of the Unova League, Yue Tachibana, VS. The rookie trainer from the Eastern Region, Xia Chi!"
Despite Xia Chi's astonishing achievements, the official continued use of the title "newcomer trainer" seems somewhat peculiar...
However, according to the established rules of the league, trainers who have been in the industry for about a year are generally referred to as "newcomers".
O
It has been a little over a year since Xia Chi officially obtained his starter Pokémon, Newleaf Meow. Strictly speaking, calling him a "new trainer"... it seems there's really nothing wrong with that?
However, this did not stop netizens from making wild jokes in the comments section of the official poster.
Someone photoshopped a picture of the Grim Reaper with a "New Trainer" sign on his head, holding a scythe, knocking on doors decorated with portraits of various Elite Four champions.
Someone even created a bear apprentice with exaggeratedly bulging muscles posing in a bodybuilding style, while a group of powerful elves with bruised and swollen faces lay at its feet.
Such humorous and creative memes spread virally online, causing the competition's popularity to continue to soar to unprecedented heights.
Xia Chi, who was at the center of the storm of public opinion, did not have much energy to pay attention to the noise on the Internet at this moment.
After the match, he received a special and important guest in a quiet meeting room at the headquarters of the United Alliance in Feiyun City.
"Hey, it's only been a few days, and you've already been released on bail?"
Xia Chi looked at N, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, and a familiar smile appeared on his face as he teased this special person who was both an enemy and a friend.
N smiled slightly, his handsome face still calm and composed, but deep in his eyes, there seemed to be a hint of calm and determination that had settled in.
"Yes, the process went more smoothly than expected. I have to thank you, and Miss Cattleya, for your joint guarantee."
Xia Chi was taken aback at first, then suddenly remembered that he had indeed told the relevant person in charge that he was willing to take corresponding responsibility for N's bail.
Caldelia, standing to the side, said indifferently, "You two talk, I'll stay outside."
Upon hearing this, Xia Chi turned and waved to her, saying, "Okay, wait for me outside for a bit. Let's go have lunch together after we're done talking here!"
Gadriya glanced at Xia Chi indifferently, nodded almost imperceptibly in agreement, then turned and left the room, gently closing the door behind her.
Only Xia Chi and N remained in the room.
The atmosphere wasn't heavy; instead, it had a peaceful feel, like old friends reuniting.
"Have the Four Cloud Gods been released?"
Xia Chi put away his joking expression and asked seriously.
This was, after all, a matter of long-term peace and stability for the Unova region. Although he had already guessed the answer, he still asked a question.
N nodded. "Yes, they have all been returned to their rightful place in the world. I have also completely severed the spiritual connection between the Gropius family and them. From now on, no one will be able to control or use their power through bloodline or any other means."
Xia Chi raised an eyebrow in slight surprise upon hearing this.
The courage and decisiveness to sever ties with four powerful legendary Pokémon is something few can possess.
Moreover, this was clearly not a result mandated by the league.
After all, this kind of thing cannot be forced. As long as N claims that he is powerless to do anything, no one can verify the truth of the matter.
Perhaps... I really didn't give my almost intuitive trust to the wrong person.
Thinking of this, Xia Chi couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.
That's how the utopian world of Pokémon should be—bad guys have their own way of being bad, and good guys have their own way of being good.
N continued, "As for Zekrom... I'm grateful that it hasn't given up on me, and I'm willing to continue being its trainer. I want to work with it to make this world closer to the way I envision it."
Xia Chi smiled slightly.
Although his clear eyes were still filled with the light of idealism, judging from his choice of words and tone, N was completely different from the person with extreme ideas back then.
Xia Chi asked curiously, "So, have you decided where to go next?"
"Kanto and Johto regions."
N replied, "My original plan was to go to the Donghuang region, but the security there seems to be very good, so there's no need to go."
Xia Chi nodded knowingly.
Got it, this is heading straight for Giovanni and his Team Rocket.
Since the battle at the Undersea Ruins, when Giovanni's identity as the mastermind behind Team Rocket was fully exposed, the activities of this massive criminal organization have noticeably subsided.
Clearly, they were licking their wounds from the heavy losses of that battle and conserving their strength.
From the league's perspective, this is undoubtedly the best time to press their advantage.
I heard that Dodo...the champion, who also serves as the league's chief investigator, has been so busy lately that he has had to turn down several important exhibition games and commercial activities.
It's said that he even subtly invited me through Professor Oak's connections to "travel to the Kanto region if you have time next year"...
This guy clearly believed in Xia Chi's "humanoid monster" constitution, thinking that serious illnesses require strong medicine, and wanted to use Xia Chi to eradicate this chronic disease that had been lurking in the Kanto region for decades.
Xia Chi pretended not to understand the implied meaning and refused outright.
Just kidding, even the mud donkeys in the production team can't work like this non-stop!
The good news of the completion of his island has arrived. Now, Xia Chi is thinking about finishing the final match as soon as possible, then flying back to his new home to have a comfortable New Year and relax.
However, it's a good thing that N has volunteered to go to Kanto.
With the legendary Pokémon Zekrom, he might not be able to completely uproot the entrenched Team Rocket, but he would definitely be enough to give the unfathomable Giovanni a headache for quite some time.
Pulling her wandering thoughts back, Xia Chi looked at N and asked with a slightly teasing smile, "What, have you come to a realization and decided to become a champion of justice?"
N smiled noncommittally: "I talked a lot with Mr. Merdan. He told me that the injustice and misfortune in this world will never disappear, between people, between Pokémon, between people and Pokémon... If misfortune were to disappear one day, then this world might disappear as well."
A hint of surprise flashed in Xia Chi's eyes.
The guy who was jokingly using internet memes like "Uncle, I'll win this time" during a pre-match interview, can actually say something so philosophical in private?
Xia Chi's impression of this veteran Interpol agent has changed somewhat.
He didn't interrupt N's narration, but just listened quietly.
"An ideal may never be a destination waiting for us to reach; it is more like the process itself."
N raised her head and looked at Xia Chi. The stubbornness of the past was gone from her clear eyes; in its place was a gentle yet unwavering light.
"I am willing to spend the rest of my life pursuing this process. It can be considered as... making some small, but within my power, compensation and redemption for the sins I committed out of ignorance."
The martyrdom of idealists...
Xia Chi nodded admiringly and joked, "I support you and wish you find what you want in the process. Then... I'll just sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor in the world you've created."
Upon hearing this, N chuckled softly, shook his head, and didn't respond further.
Some promises need not be spoken.
Outside the conference room.
Leaning against the wall, Cattleya frowned slightly and clicked her tongue: "Those who talk a lot of grand ideals are full of lofty rhetoric... On the contrary, those who are truly down-to-earth and do things often say nothing."
Cynthia, who was also waiting quietly to the side, couldn't help but raise her eyebrows slightly, her long golden hair swaying like a flowing waterfall.
With a teasing smile, she looked at her best friend: "What, Miss Cattleya, when did you start eavesdropping on other people's conversations? This isn't like you at all."
Cattleya immediately concealed all her outward expressions. She gave a soft hum, turned her face away, and didn't reply, as if nothing had happened.
Just then, the conference room door was pushed open from the inside.
Xia Chi peeked out and was slightly taken aback when he saw Gadriya and Cynthia standing on either side of the doorway. "Oh, are you two cosplaying as door gods here? One on the left and one on the right, quite symmetrical."
This joke, which has a distinctly Eastern flavor, predictably resulted in an awkward silence.
Seeing the two people staring at her coldly, Xia Chi coughed lightly and quickly changed the subject: "Let's go, let's go eat, I'm starving!"
As he spoke, he naturally walked between the two women, leading them together toward the brightly lit exterior at the end of the corridor.
Behind them, N, accompanied by a staff member in an Interpol uniform, stood quietly at the conference room door, gazing intently at Xia Chi's back.
Then, he turned around and followed the detective toward the dimly lit passage on the other side of the corridor, his figure gradually disappearing into the shadows.