"Grandpa actually lost to him… How is that even possible?"

  Ethan stood in shock.

  It wasn't that he had never seen his grandfather lose to a challenger before, but every single one of those challengers had been renowe trainers—some were even older than his grandfather himself.

  But Julian—someone youhan him by a few years—had not only reached the rank of ae at such a young age, but now he had done something even more astonishing.

  He had challenged a veteran trainer as part of the younger geion… and won.

  "There's nothing impossible about it. The future of Drakoria lies in geniuses like Julian."

  Frank had already calmed down.

  He g his nephew and tinued, "As for you… you're not even qualified to be his stepping stone."

  The moon hung high, but no stars apa.

  His nephew wasn't even a star in the sky.

  Ethan's face twisted in frustration.

  'I know I'm useless, but you don't have to keep reminding me!'

  Meanwhile, the other spectators were just as stunned.

  Julian had won three battles in a row, and his Metagross had just defeated Tyranitar—yet it still looked ready for anht.

  "Old John told me before to take this battle seriously, or I might lose."

  "I didn't think he'd actually be right."

  "Among the younger geion of trainers in Drakoria, you are undoubtedly the stro."

  Fred walked up to Julian.

  There was no displeasure on his fastead, he looked at Julian with genuine admiration.

  "Elder, you ftter me. If this had been a full 6v6 battle, I wouldn't have stood a ce against you."

  Julian shook his head.

  In a 3v3, he had over a 90% ce of winning, but in a 6v6, his ces would drop to around 50%.

  And real battles were almost always 6v6.

  "Hahaha! If you beat me in a 6v6, I wouldn't even have the face to show myself anymore!"

  Fred ughed heartily, then reached out and handed Julian a badge.

  "Here, this is your badge."

  The Rock-Type Gym Badge was brownish-gray, about the size of a .

  One side had a rock symbol, while the other side had the words 'Rock' inscribed on it.

  Its design was simple—but then again, all eighteen national-level gym badges had simple designs.

  It wasn't the appearance of the badge that mattered—it was what it represented.

  "Ding!"

  "Hidden Task pleted: First Badge"

  "Reward: Rare dies x5 (usable below Elite level), 3,000 points."

  ---

  Julian smiled slightly as he took the badge.

  'A double victory'

  At that moment, Frank approached, with the relut-lookihan following behind him.

  "You've e far, kid. Even I wouldn't be able to beat you anymore," Frank said with a sigh.

  Julian had already defeated his father—so defeating him would obviously be no problem at all.

  Thinking about that, Fra a bit flicted.

  'It's only been oer… and my student has already surpassed me'

  'As his teacher, I should be happy… right?'

  Frank's strength was around mid-Elite level, and if they were to have a full 6v6 battle, Julian could definitely beat him.

  "You all go ahead and chat. This old man is tired—I'm heading back to rest."

  Fred g the young men and women nearby, who were all eagerly watg the se.

  Then, with his hands csped behind his back, he leisurely walked toward the other end of the gym.

  "Grandpa, I'm ing with you!"

  Ethan quickly called out and hurried after him.

  He had no i in staying near Julian—not only was he already frustrated, but he couldn't even show it.

  Worse yet, he had to pretend to be respectful toward Julian.

  'Everywhere I go, people ftter me. But now I have to ftter someone else? No way—I'm leaving'

  Frank gred at his useless nephew.

  'I gave you a golden opportunity, and you threw it away'

  There were tless people who wao get on Julian's good side but never got the ce—yet Julian was right in front of him, and he chose to run away instead.

  Frank didn't bother stopping him—he kly what was going through his nephew's mind. So he simply let it be.

  As soon as Fred aha, the ten or so spectators eagerly stepped forward.

  "e, Julia me introduce you to the rising talents of Rockwell City," Fraured toward the group.

  These families were all on good terms with their family—otherwise, they wouldn't have been allowed to watch the match up close.

  Although there were about a dozen people, they only represented four families.

  Each family had sent three or four members, and they were all good-looking, both the men and women.

  As desdants of prestigious families, their appearance had been refined eions.

  It was actually rarer to find someone unattractive among them—most were at least above average in looks, and handsome men aiful women were far more on.

  Meanwhile, the stro family in Rockwell City was Frank's family itself. These four families had long been allied with the them.

  After Frank introduced them, Julian nodded in aowledgment.

  He wasn't particurly fond of such social gatherings, but since:

  1. Frank was the orodug them, and

  2. He was also a desdant of a aristocratic family himself,

  He figured there was no reason to refuse when they were approag him with goodwill.

  However, he couldn't help but notice that a 15- or 16-year-old girl was gring at him, puffing her cheeks in anger.

  She looked so frustrated that Julian had no doubt—if he stretched his hand out toward her, she would bite him without hesitation.

  "Kelly, don't be rude."

  A young woman beside her gently scolded her.

  'I knew I shouldn't have brought this troublemaker along'

  "He bullied my idol!"

  Kelly huffed angrily.

  Hearing those words, Julian immediately knew who she was talking about.

  'So that guy has fans even here?'

  "You're not allowed to call my idol a effeminate!"

  Kelly gritted her teeth and gred at Julian.

  "Kelly, if you say one more word, I will send you hht now."

  Dawn was furious. She gred at her younger sister with clear frustration. It had taken a lot of effort to viheir family to let her approach Julian—and now, her own sister was sabotaging her.

  "My apologies, Young Master Julian. My sister has had… issues since childhood."

  Julian nodded seriously.

  "I see that. You should get her treated early. I mean, just look at her taste."

  Because her sister was already gring at her, Kelly didn't dare talk back. But her expression showed pure grievance, and her eyes were welling up with tears, as if she was on the verge of breaking down.

  'This bas**d really thinks I'm sick?!'

  Deep inside, she absolutely despised Julian.

  Meanwhile, the other three families stood by, clearly enjoying the show.

  Even though the family had sent out their famous "sister duo", they had pletely fumbled the opportunity.

  Among the ten or so people present, six were girls, and if they were just talking about looks, the sisters were undoubtedly the most stunning.

  Even though Kelly was still young, she had already started to show the beauty and grace she would have iure.

  And as for her older sister, Dawn—she ractically a legend among the elite circles of Rockwell City.

  She was known as "the city's most beautiful flower"—Tall, elegant, beautiful, refined, and intelligent.

  If she took the initiative, no man could resist her charm. Except she had just been pletely ruined by her own sister. Which made the whole situation hirious.

  Julian: I resist her, and I'm a man.

  *****

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