CHAPTER 21

x21: Time Is Like an Arrow, The Sun and The Moon Are Like a Shuttle, Time Is Fleeting

Early morning in the Huaxia Region specifically in Shencheng, within a tranquil seaside villa nestled on the outskirts.

In one of the rooms, a young girl slept soundly under a warm, silk blanket.

Her complexion was as smooth as Moomoo Milk, with soft, flaxen-blonde hair that made her fair skin appear even more delicate. Her rose-colored lips, delicately arched brows, and long, dark lashes gave her the serene charm of a Lilligant, as if she had walked out of a manga panel.

From the gentle upturn of her lips, one could tell she was enjoying a sweet dream, making it hard for anyone to disturb her peace.

But just then, the persistent morning sun pierced through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting warm rays directly onto her face.

Her porcelain cheeks flushed slightly, brows furrowing in gentle protest, until her eyes finally fluttered open, revealing a pair of clear, crystalline eyes that mirrored the clarity of Azurill's pond on a summer morning.

Sitting up, she stretched leisurely, and the silk blanket slid down, revealing her lithe form an elegant silhouette shaped by daily training and discipline. Yet, this moment of quiet grace had no audience.

Suddenly, she seemed to recall something. Reaching for the Pokédex resting on the nightstand a model identical to those distributed by Professor Magnolia in Galar she flicked it open to check the date. Upon seeing the calendar entry: "Miki Festival – 10 Days," her eyes widened.

"Ah!!!"

"What in Arceus's name are you screaming for so early in the morning? Get up, wash, and come eat!" came a voice, slightly raspy but filled with familial warmth, from beyond the door.

"Hee hee, okay Grandma! I'm getting up now."

The girl Chen Xiaoxiao smiled as she padded over to the window, bathed in the soft glow of dawn. She took a deep breath of sea breeze and sunlight, and reflected:

"It's been ten years since I arrived in this world… and today, I'm finally sixteen. I can officially apply for a Trainer's license. No more sneaking around I'll be a full-fledged Trainer at last!"

That's right this is the story of our protagonist, Chen Xiaoxiao.

As the saying goes: Time flies like an arrow, and the sun and moon spin like a shuttle. In the blink of an eye, four years had passed since she awakened her full Trainer potential, and ten years since she was first transported to this world from another.

Over the past four years, Chen Xiaoxiao had committed herself to the idea that "knowledge is power," studying the strategies of Sinnoh's Cynthia, Unova's Iris, and even the research notes of Professor Kukui. She refined her battle style while constantly improving her Pokémon team.now stronger than ever.

Her current roster includes:

Solgaleo

Gender: Genderless

Level: 82 (Champion Tier)

Type: Steel/Psychic

Nature: Brave (↑ Attack / ↓ Speed)

Ability: Full Metal Body (Prevents stat reduction from opponent's moves)

Hidden Ability: Prism Armor (Reduces super-effective damage by 25%)

Held Item: Twisted Spoon & Metal Coat (Enhances Psychic and Steel-type move power by 1.2x)

Classification: Legendary Pokémon

Gardevoir (♀)

Level: 76 (Elite Peak)

Type: Psychic/Fairy

Nature: Modest (↑ Sp. Atk / ↓ Attack)

Ability: Synchronize (Passes status conditions to the foe)

Hidden Ability: Telepathy (Avoids ally's moves in multi-battles)

Held Item: Twisted Spoon

Classification: Champion Tier

Espeon "Sun Pokémon" (♀)

Level: 71 (Elite Advanced)

Type: Psychic

Nature: Modest (↑ Sp. Atk / ↓ Attack)

Ability: Adaptability (STAB bonus increased from 1.5x to 2x)

Hidden Ability: Magic Bounce (Reflects status moves)

Held Item: Twisted Spoon

Classification: Champion Tier

Metagross (Shiny)

Gender: Genderless

Level: 68 (Elite Intermediate)

Type: Steel/Psychic

Nature: Serious (Neutral)

Ability: Clear Body (Prevents stat loss)

Hidden Ability: Tough Claws (Boosts contact move power by 30%)

Held Item: Twisted Spoon & Metal Coat

Classification: Champion Tier

Meowstic (♂)

Level: 58 (Quasi-Elite Peak)

Type: Psychic

Nature: Calm (↑ Sp. Def / ↓ Attack)

Ability: Infiltrator (Ignores barriers like Reflect/Light Screen/Substitute)

Hidden Ability: Competitive (Raises Sp. Atk by two stages if any stat is lowered)

Held Item: Twisted Spoon

Classification: Champion Tier

Togekiss (♀)

Level: 58 (Quasi-Elite Peak)

Type: Fairy/Flying

Nature: Modest (↑ Sp. Atk / ↓ Attack)

Ability: Serene Grace (Doubles secondary effect chances)

Hidden Ability: Super Luck (Increases critical hit ratio by 1 stage)

Held Items: Sharp Beak & Scope Lens

Classification: Champion Tier

During these four years, tectonic shifts occurred across the Huaxia Region's Pokémon League structure. Two years ago, Lin Shuang the nation's revered Champion and a master of the Grass type announced her retirement at 55, ending a legendary 14-year reign.

Her team included the mythical Shaymin (Sky Forme), Venusaur, Serperior, Roserade, and Lilligant each one battle-hardened and revered.

The announcement triggered a seismic shakeup in the League's hierarchy. To fill the power vacuum, the League Council organized a national Elite Selection Tournament. With the original four Elites in attendance, a fifth was chosen to stabilize the League's structure and then challenge for the vacant Champion seat.

Held in the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing and broadcast live across regions via PokéLink, the event was monumental both in scale and intensity. Over 50 pre-screened Elite-level Trainers each with spotless records and considerable strength were invited.

Chen Xiaoxiao herself was present, witnessing every electrifying moment.

Ultimately, He Yong the father of He Xiaowen emerged victorious, backed by a dominant Primarina and a rare shiny Gyarados. With his water-type prowess, he secured a seat among the Elites and fortified the League's structure anew.

Chen Xiaoxiao's journey is about to begin. With powerful partners at her side and a world of challenges ahead, the Huaxia Region is about to see a new star rise.

Of course, He Xiaowen was overjoyed throughout the Elite Challenge, cheering loudly for her father from the VIP stands. When He Yong finally triumphed and secured his place among the Huaxia Region's Elite Four, she was so ecstatic that she threw her arms around Chen Xiaoxiao, hugging and kissing her dozens of times in celebration leaving Chen Xiaoxiao feeling simultaneously flattered, flustered, and thoroughly winded by her passionate enthusiasm.

However, the final Championship Challenge the match to determine the next Champion of the Huaxia Region was not held publicly. As with most top-tier League decisions, it was conducted in secrecy under the close supervision of Huaxia's national League Council and high-ranking administrative officials. No live PokéLink broadcast was permitted, and the battle took place in an isolated battle dome on Mt. Qilian.

But being the daughter of a prominent Psychic-type researcher and a recognized pseudo-Elite Trainer herself, Chen Xiaoxiao, alongside her best friend He Xiaowen, was granted entry into the viewing gallery reserved for select League families and senior associates. After all, their fathers were contenders.

The Championship Challenge, to Chen Xiaoxiao's surprise, was far more brutal and demanding than the Elite Selection Tournament. The sheer ferocity of the battles made it clear that reaching Champion status was not just about power it demanded strategic brilliance, endurance, and unshakable mental focus.

Chen Xiaoxiao couldn't help but admire the strength of the Huaxia Region's Elites. Even the relatively new entrant He Yong who ranked lowest among the Elite Four, possessed not only two full Champion-tier Pokémon at peak level, but also multiple battle-ready alternates at mid-Elite ranking. His Shiny Gyarados and Primarina had reached Level 85 and 83 respectively both battle-tested and hardened through regional and cross-regional tournaments. The rest of his roster Poliwrath, Whiscash, and Gastrodon were all in the 70s and functioned as either support or terrain disruptors.

The older generation of Elites, who had held their seats for years, had even more terrifying lineups. Most had at least three fully developed Champion-tier Pokémon, and entire alternate teams that rivaled or exceeded regional Gym Leaders.

Still, that didn't diminish He Yong's merit. A native of a small fishing village near Shencheng, he was a commoner with no access to League-funded resources in his youth. Rising to Elite status on sheer willpower and field experience made his accomplishments all the more impressive.

Though He Yong ultimately finished at the bottom of the Championship Challenge, there was no disgrace. With the backing of Elite-level funding, training facilities, and League research, his strength would almost certainly surge in the coming years.

It was also during this event that Chen Xiaoxiao got her first glimpse of the full strength of Leng Xin father of her other friend, Leng Yue. Known as the "Ice Fang" of the North, Leng Xin was a calculating, cold-as-snow tactician who specialized in Ice-types.

His main team in the Championship Challenge was nothing short of terrifying. Leading the charge was a majestic Articuno, the Kanto-region Legendary Bird, Level 93, currently ranked in the upper Champion tier. His Lapras, elegant and defensive, stood at Level 87 Champion mid-tier while his battle-hardened Alolan Ninetales and Mamoswine, both in the low 80s, rounded out his Champion-class lineup. These Pokémon were perfectly synced with his Hailstorm terrain strategy.

One Pokémon in particular drew Chen Xiaoxiao's interest: Vanilluxe. Though currently at Level 80 and only Elite peak, it was only a hair's breadth from Champion qualification. Sadly, despite its dedication, Vanilluxe's potential cap as an Elite-rank Pokémon meant further progress would be slow without a breakthrough in evolution mechanics or a rare ability awakening.

Ultimately, it was Leng Xin who reigned supreme in the Championship Challenge. He swept the finals 4–0, defeating each opponent with chilling precision. At 38 years old, he officially became the new Huaxia Region Champion—three years younger than He Yong, solidifying his status as a prodigy even among the elite.

Watching Leng Xin's impeccable control over battlefield terrain, type synergy, and his manipulation of hail, Chen Xiaoxiao couldn't help but question whether former Champion Lin Shuang's retirement was truly voluntary or a graceful retreat in the face of Leng Xin's rising dominance.

Of course, whether that was true or simply speculation remained unknown.

Meanwhile, another incident during the past four years quietly caught Chen Xiaoxiao's attention.

An old "acquaintance" Xu Fei had made a surprising turnaround. Once dubbed the "clueless fire-freak" by classmates, he shocked everyone by entering the National Youth Alliance Tournament the year after Lin Shuang retired. That same year, with what many suspected was a hidden power boost, Xu Fei went on to win the Huaxia Region Junior Championship.

Then, in the very year before Chen Xiaoxiao turned sixteen, he competed in the Global Pokémon Alliance Tournament an international showdown for Trainers under 25 and emerged as runner-up, losing only to Galar's famed prodigy Leon in the finals.

Word had it that Xu Fei's sudden rise was due to an incredible encounter: he had been chosen recognized, not captured by the Legendary Beast Entei. Entei now traveled with him voluntarily, a bond forged by mutual courage during a wild forest fire near Mt. Zhuming.

Chen Xiaoxiao could only sigh at the irony. "Maybe foolish people really do have dumb luck," she thought wryly. Among Fire-type specialists, most were known for being hot-blooded and reckless but none had ever bumbled their way into a Legendary partnership. Xu Fei was an exception.

There were whispers, of course. Would his clan elders, the prestigious Xu Fire Lineage, demand he hand over Entei to a more "worthy" heir from the main branch?

Chen Xiaoxiao had no idea. As far as she could tell, this world unlike her previous one was relatively harmonious. Most noble families encouraged growth, and internal politics rarely turned violent.

One thing was certain: in this world, Legendary Pokémon or "Divine Beasts" as locals called them could not be captured via standard Poké Balls. Unlike normal Pokémon, their life force was far beyond typical containment mechanisms. Even pre-evolved forms, like Cosmog or Kubfu, defied traditional logic.

Thus, most Trainers with Divine Pokémon were chosen, not conquerors.

If one were to forcefully "catch" a Legendary, the result would be predictable the Pokémon would simply shatter the Poké Ball and vanish.

That was precisely why Chen Xiaoxiao had been able to register her partner Solgaleo without raising suspicion.

At the time of registration, her Cosmog had only just hatched. The League system, which hadn't yet identified Cosmog's evolutionary link to a known Legendary, catalogued it as a newly discovered Psychic-type baby Pokémon.

After all, in this world, only a little over 600 species had been formally identified by the Pokédex. The discovery of new species was a recurring phenomenon, and it wasn't uncommon for new Pokémon to appear every few years. So Cosmog slipped through the cracks of scrutiny.

What no one knew even now was that Cosmog evolves first into Cosmoem, and ultimately into Solgaleo a first-class Legendary known as the emissary of the sun.

This blind spot in the world's understanding of evolutionary patterns among Divine Pokémon was exactly why Chen Xiaoxiao had been able to raise her Solgaleo quietly. The strength was immense, but her caution was greater.

And that caution would soon serve her well.

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