Pokémon: Starting with a Bound Entry System

Chapter 131: The Award Ceremony

The capital city bustled with excitement as the grand award ceremony commenced.

Of course, the awards weren't limited to the champion.

Every participant who advanced past the first round received generous monetary rewards.

Moreover, those who made it to the Top 16 were each awarded a Pokémon egg of a quality comparable to the starter Pokémon.

The Pokémon Alliance was clearly investing heavily in cultivating new talent.

---

Hikaru, who had attended numerous ceremonies before, found this one particularly significant.

This time, the host was not someone familiar like Yuki, but rather a middle-aged man accompanied by a majestic Dragonite exuding an aura of authority.

Hikaru instantly recognized him: the renowned Dragon Master Lance, a representative of Huaguo who had competed in the Pokémon World Championship and brought home the trophy.

His victory had been a source of immense pride for the nation, elevating its reputation on the global stage.

---

As Lance took the stage, the atmosphere reached a fever pitch.

Although previous award ceremonies had also been graced by prominent figures, for young trainers, meeting someone like Lance in person was nothing short of inspiring.

"Lance! Lance!"

The crowd erupted into chants the moment Lance appeared, his cape billowing as he raised a hand to silence them.

With a voice both warm and commanding, he addressed the audience:

"Today, the spotlight isn't on me but on these young trainers."

"They, along with countless others who have partnered with Pokémon, represent the future of Huaguo!"

He then turned to the awardees, a mix of fresh faces and youthful determination.

Inwardly, Lance felt a pang of nostalgia.

Once, he too had stood on this very stage, full of ambition.

---

Hikaru, meanwhile, couldn't help but discreetly assess the Dragonite standing beside Lance.

---

Pokémon: Dragonite

Ability: Inner Focus

Gender: Male

Potential: Champion

Level: 89

Moves: Protect, Hyper Beam, Dragon Dance, Wing Attack, Dragon Rush, Ice Beam, Thunder Punch, Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Extreme Speed...

---

Hikaru was intrigued.

"An 89-level Dragonite with only Champion-level potential?" he murmured, recalling his encounter with Articuno. That legendary Pokémon had been Level 95 with Tier-3 Divine potential.

"Could it be that surpassing Level 90 marks the boundary to the divine domain?"

He pondered how ordinary Pokémon might break through such limits and recalled the Normal-type Arceus Plate he had recently acquired.

"Perhaps the plates are the key…"

Before his thoughts could wander further, Lance's voice snapped him back to reality.

"Hikaru, Hikaru?"

"Hmm? Oh, sorry!" Hikaru stammered, realizing he'd zoned out during a live broadcast. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Naturally, this did not escape the attention of the audience.

"What happened to Hikaru? Lance had to call him twice!"

"He's blushing! How cute~"

"Could he have been deep in thought during such a momentous event?"

"Maybe he's just showing off!"

---

Lance chuckled as Hikaru finally returned to his senses.

"No worries. Here's your certificate and prize," he said warmly.

As a seasoned trainer, Lance admired the young generation, particularly Hikaru. Despite starting from humble beginnings and being a trainer for less than a year, Hikaru had risen to prominence with astounding speed.

According to league records, Hikaru had registered his Charmander on August 10, 2008, marking the start of his trainer journey.

Now, it was only July 18, 2009.

"Incredible progress without any notable background," Lance thought, already formulating plans to ensure Hikaru's safety and future growth.

Outwardly, he encouraged the crowd:

"Let us congratulate these young trainers for their achievements in this year's high school league and wish them continued success on their journey as trainers!"

---

Lance then turned to the group of awardees who were eligible to select Pokémon.

"Would you like to choose your Pokémon now?"

A few participants asked if they could delay their selection.

"You can," Lance replied. "If your Pokémon roster is full or you feel unprepared to raise them, the league can hold onto your Pokémon until you're ready."

This assurance led some trainers to defer their choice, opting to collect their Pokémon later.

After explaining the process patiently, Lance turned to Hikaru.

"You, come with me," he said, mounting his Dragonite and beckoning Hikaru to join him.

---

For pseudo-legendary Pokémon, the selection process was understandably more rigorous.

Hikaru hesitated for a moment before climbing onto Dragonite's back.

As he did, Dragonite let out a curious growl.

"Hmm?"

Dragonite seemed momentarily surprised, as if sensing an unexpected boost in speed.

"Oh no…" Hikaru thought, realizing he'd forgotten to remove the [Dragon Knight] trait. Hastily, he deactivated it.

Dragonite, now back to normal, soared into the sky, carrying Hikaru toward the Pokémon selection grounds.

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