Hikaru watched the battle between the two girls on the battlefield. Well, in terms of age, Nessa was about the same as Sonia, and she was not even twenty yet, so why couldn't she be called a girl?
Bea, however, was much younger.
In the Galarian Star Tournament, these two had a chance to form a team, and they often appeared together on the team-selection screen. However, once they teamed up, their opponents were either Opal, Bede, and Hop, or Piers, Leon, and Raihan. Because of that, they had a chance of being eliminated in the very first round.
As a result, players often found it difficult to encounter them in the following three battles. If they did not meet them in the first round, they basically never would. That was why they were called the Winless Sisters.
But Bea's individual strength was known to be very high, so naturally, the one dragging the team down could only be Nessa. Although Nessa was the senior between the two, and when teaming up, she would say to Bea, "You're still so serious. Let's go eat dessert after the battle."
Of course, the final result would certainly be that they were defeated by the participating protagonist, so the dessert would not happen.
Hulbury was also the second Gym challenged in the game. Among the first-division Gym Leaders, Nessa's strength was not considered very strong. She also did not have Kabu's historical achievement of narrowly losing to Leon and then having his confidence shattered.
However, what deserved praise was that Nessa always maintained a passionate heart toward Pokémon battles. That was a major difference between her and Sonia, who had given up on challenging.
"Still, when it comes to sabotaging teammates, it's not like other people haven't done it. In the Star Tournament, Marnie will also make mysterious plays, and Raihan even uses Earthquake on his teammate. After all, that kind of playstyle gets the most comments. But Marnie makes players feel better, so it doesn't really count as sabotaging, right?"
"Mood is also a very important battle factor."
Just as Hikaru had judged, Bea entered a state of stillness, like a calm lake. The unease in her heart had completely settled. She recalled Piers's words, as well as the battles she had seen among the Fighting-type Pokémon on the Isle of Armor.
Silent as the sky. Swift as lightning.
Golisopod's sharp offensive came rushing in. After a fierce strike, it dealt a tiny but heavy blow to Grapploct.
Bug type was resisted twice over.
"Swords Dance!" Nessa began a boosting strategy.
The troublesome part about Golisopod was its Ability, Emergency Exit. Although sometimes it could be treated as an automatic Eject Button or Red Card, it had strict requirements for HP control. If one move was mishandled…
Then a famous teammate-sabotaging scene would happen: Golisopod flees, Fire Blast comes flying at its face, Scizor switches in, and because it has a four-times weakness to Fire, it gets killed and drags its teammate down with it.
Even Guzma, known as a Golisopod expert, had made that kind of play. Nessa had also faced that kind of embarrassing situation before, but even so, she insisted on using this Pokémon.
Nessa said, "Before Emergency Exit activates, I just have to take down the opponent first!"
Grapploct and Golisopod fought each other, but as a pure Fighting-type, Grapploct was naturally at a disadvantage against Golisopod. Its same-type Fighting moves were all resisted. Because of that, after a short exchange, Nessa's expression became fanatical, as if victory was already in her hands.
"Leech Life!"
It attacked the target by draining blood. It could restore HP equal to half the damage dealt to the opponent. Swords Dance plus Leech Life was a move combination very few people used. After all, Bug type did not have good offensive coverage, and Bug-type specialists were therefore extremely rare.
On the battlefield, it could produce unexpected results.
Even if Fighting type resisted Bug type, it did not matter. After Swords Dance, its power had risen, and combined with a base Attack of 125, there was no need to worry at all.
And after Swords Dance plus Leech Life came—
Three consecutive uses of…
"Iron Defense!"
Water/Bug already resisted Fighting, and after consecutive Iron Defenses, Golisopod had become complete.
She withdrew Golisopod. It had barely taken much damage, and now it was enveloped by the light of the Dynamax Band.
Dynamax power gathered.
"Grow huge, Golisopod!"
One method of preventing HP from dropping and thereby avoiding Emergency Exit was gigantification. Facing a Fighting-type specialist, sending out the Water/Rock-type Drednaw was naturally not a wise choice.
Therefore, she only needed to gigantify Golisopod, which resisted Fighting twice over. Moreover, Golisopod also had many Normal-type moves. After Dynamaxing, they would become Max Strike. Dynamax moves were guaranteed to hit, and they would lower the opponent's Speed.
"I've won this match!"
At that moment, Golisopod had entered an almost invincible state. The gigantic bug samurai looked down on all challengers.
In the Galar region, Golisopod's name was called "Goliath."
Bea said, "But it will not be that simple."
"What I obtained after undergoing harsh training—I will release it, bit by bit."
"I can win this battle even without using Dynamax."
Nessa did not understand what Bea meant by those words. After all, the two of them were not very familiar with each other yet. That said, even during the Galarian Star Tournament era, it could not really be said that they were close.
After all, one was a model, and the other was a martial artist. In Galar's environment, their work and lives had almost no overlap. Not to mention that Bea was still a high-school student. When she was not battling or practicing martial arts, she still had to go to class. There were very few opportunities for her to have much interaction with Nessa.
"Precisely because they do not understand each other, a chance for victory is hidden there."
Not understanding each other meant that one could use unique moves to seize victory by surprise.
Just like… now.
"Your boosts have reached the maximum! Dark-type moves still work even against Dynamax Pokémon. I can use that kind of move too!"
"Grapploct, use Topsy-Turvy!"
It reversed all stat changes on the opponent, turning them into the opposite state.
Even against Dynamax Pokémon, most Dark-type status moves still worked. And as for the Pokémon capable of learning Topsy-Turvy…
There were only three.
A move Nessa had never seen before was used. Golisopod's Attack dropped by two stages.
Its Defense dropped by six stages.
Nessa's face changed drastically. "Wha—what move is this?!"
Bea said, "Grapploct, use Close Combat!"
The one asking questions was not only Nessa, who stood inside the battle, but also Marnie in the audience. She blinked, visibly moved.
"Mr. Hikaru, I've never seen that move before."
Hikaru said, "Although it is a secret Dark-type move, only three kinds of Pokémon can learn it. Still, this is what it means to use any means necessary to win."
"Grapploct leveled up. That is the only move I could not teach her."
During the several days of training on the Isle of Armor—no, Bea had actually been on the Isle of Armor long before that. But given her condition back then, she had not yet earned Mustard's recognition.
It was only after seeing her Water Bear begin beating up the whole world that Bea finally made a decision.
If the Tower of Waters had been challenged, then there was still one Tower of Darkness left unchallenged, wasn't there?
Therefore, in this battle, Bea would probably bring out a Pokémon that existed neither on her official team nor in her extended roster.
Of course, the difference in strength was obvious, so she had to use this sixth Pokémon flexibly. But Bea's official team originally had only five Pokémon. How could she compete with others while missing one?
Did she think she was Lord Cameron, winning five against six and still smashing the other side?
Was she really treating Leon like Ash?
However, in this worldline, Ash would most likely reach Master Class by the end of the Diamond and Pearl chapter. He probably would not meet Leon in the Masters Eight, and that tournament probably would not exist either.
Because the Masters Eight itself was essentially a remake of the Unova region's World Coronation Series. Following the game timeline, by that point, Leon himself would have almost been forced into retirement by Gloria, directly entering the Galarian Star Tournament flow.
Of course, as everyone knew:
Active Champion Leon << Battle Tower Leon.
Even his rare League Card described that after Leon stepped down, his strength actually became even greater. He was the type who, after being defeated, finally attained enlightenment, broke through his bottleneck overnight, and ascended.
It was the same in Pokémon Masters EX. After being defeated by Red, he had a Longchang-style enlightenment, got talked down by Volo, felt the blessings of all his partners in Galar, and suddenly awakened an Arc Suit. It was absurd beyond belief.
However, if that tournament was not held, the ones who gained the greatest advantage were probably not Ash, but Lance and Diantha. At last, they could escape the humiliating fate of having their entire teams crushed by Leon. Lance especially could preserve his game dignity. Why not?
As for Diantha, she had always been indifferent. Whether she won or lost did not matter. Did the people of the Kalos League really work?
Better to look at the cafés of Lumiose City instead.
Hikaru shook his head and watched as Grapploct dragged the battle into an advantageous position. Then he answered Marnie.
"Still, when you say you have never seen it before, does that mean Piers has never used it in front of you? This move used to be exclusive to Malamar's family line. In other words, Contrary plus Topsy-Turvy can create a strategy where your own stat drops become major stat boosts, while the opponent's stat boosts become drops."
"If someone uses Intimidate on Malamar, they may be counterattacked, because a stat drop becomes a stat boost."
"Topsy-Turvy cannot be used against Pokémon that have activated a 'mysterious barrier' in Max Raid Battles. But in a normal Dynamax battle, it takes effect."
"The reason is the same as what happens in Tera Raid Battles. Pokémon in Tera Raid Battles naturally absorb a large amount of Terastal energy, so they gain the ability to activate a barrier and steal charge from Tera Orbs. Wild Dynamax Pokémon, meanwhile, probably gain special abilities because they absorb too many Galar particles."
When Max Raid Pokémon displayed a "mysterious barrier," two special energy bars would appear beneath their HP bar, indicating that they could block two attacks. If moves such as Topsy-Turvy were used on them at that time, the message would say: "It was blocked by the power of Dynamax!"
"However, even if I explain it like this, you probably won't understand, because you've never seen Terastallization."
Marnie seemed thoughtful.
So that was what Bro meant when he said he had not brought out his true strength. Thinking about it, Bro had never used that move when battling other people either.
Even if she had Incineroar, it did not necessarily mean she could win.
Marnie said, "Mr. Hikaru, are you going to a place called the Crown Tundra next?"
Hikaru said, "Yes. I'm going there to awaken a king who was once connected to the heroes. That is what I mean by 'preparations.' But do you actually believe the little story I told? That legend sounds almost like a bedtime tale, doesn't it?"
Marnie bent her knees and hugged her legs.
"…No one doesn't long to become a hero. For someone like me, who wants to revive my hometown and help everyone regain their pride, becoming a hero is a new path. Although doing it for fame, or hoping to become a hero, is considered impure motivation in modern fairy tales…"
"I still want to try."
"Can I go with you? Heroes are granted power by kings, right?"
Hikaru said, "Going that far… Hm. Speaking of which, there really is a Pokémon there that suits the type you specialize in."
"But the king does not have much power right now."
The legend of King Arthur had been divided among three Pokémon.
Zacian represented Excalibur, the Sword in the Lake and the Sword of Promised Victory. Its Fairy type represented the legend of the Lady of the Lake.
Zamazenta represented Pridwen, the divine shield. Although both were divine shields, it was not the same shield as Aegislash's gide, Aegis, the shield of Perseus.
And the snow spear held by Calyrex's white-horse form represented—
Rhongomyniad, the charging lance, the shining spear of the end.
"Then, in order to test whether you possess the ability to command the heroes, we will know once we visit Postwick later. For me, it is only on the way. For you, it should be rather interesting."
"Legend says that Galar's heroes, as well as the king of the Crown Tundra, once returned as saviors. This corresponds to how Calyrex once calmed a disaster from the sky, suppressed Dynamax-rampaging Pokémon that were causing chaos, and subdued two ferocious Pokémon."
"That is the legend of the Crown Tundra. Near the Slippery Slope in the Crown Tundra, there is a huge cave. At present, no one should have entered to research it yet. It seems that, at fixed intervals, berserk giant Pokémon appear in the world deep inside the cave. Some people speculate that a huge Wishing Star is buried beneath it."
In the early design of Sword and Shield, Zacian and Zamazenta had not yet been given such rigid impressions. The true Legendary Pokémon were originally Pokémon called the "king" and "queen."
What they represented were "change" and "order," respectively.
"The shouting here is getting louder and louder," Marnie said, looking around.
Hikaru smiled and looked at the somewhat dazed Marnie.
"Do not worry. I asked your brother to do one thing."
"Let the 'spell' resound across Galar. Silently recite it with me. Batanagi."
Hikaru made a gesture to Sonia, then nodded to Marnie.
"I will leave for a bit. Watch my seat for me."
Marnie blinked. "Ah—oh! Got it."
————————
On the battlefield.
"Golisopod, use Max Guard!"
When Max Guard was used, a hexagonal shield encircled the body like an AT Field.
"Use—"
Nessa loudly gave her command, but just like in the previous battle, something went wrong.
Golisopod failed to obey.
It roared as if it had lost its reason and rampaged wildly. It did not use a defensive move at all. Instead, it charged straight at Grapploct.
And then—
It was knocked down by Close Combat.
A huge cloud of dust rose over the field. Nessa's whole body went stiff.
Dynamax burst.
————————
Inside Leon's lounge.
Leon, who was lost and uncomfortable, could not understand what he had done earlier at all. He had clearly given a command, but it also felt as if he had not. His memories had become confused.
Powerful negative emotions and pressure swept over him like a tide. Not only Aegislash's defeat, but also Charizard's defeat, had made Leon realize that the title of undefeated king did not truly make him invincible.
Had the overly frequent work and accepting all those advertisements compressed his personal time so much that his own strength had declined?
"Yo. Hello."
The sudden voice made Leon jerk his head up. What he saw was Hikaru.
"You are… Sir Hikaru!"
"No, even if you are Champion-class from Unova and a member of Paldea's Elite Four, this is the players' lounge. How did you get in?"
Hikaru said, "Probably because I have psychic powers."
"Do you know Hypnosis? As long as no one saw me sneak in, the infiltration was successful."
Leon said, "Hypnosis… I heard you have some knowledge of Fighting types, but I never heard that you specialized in Psychic types!"
"The Hypnosis you mentioned wouldn't be physical hypnosis, would it?"
Hikaru laughed. "Mr. Leon is joking. Still, it seems your mental state is still fairly good."
"The Dynamax earlier showed signs of going berserk. You should know that, right? Originally, Galar particles are a phenomenon that causes Pokémon to become enormous and go berserk. Chairman Rose controlled it, and that is what allowed Galar's sports scene to flourish."
Leon said, "I… I know. Professor Magnolia also said those particles contain a great deal of uncertainty and unknown elements. More is still being researched now."
"Whew… But that aside, Macro Cosmos has already begun independently developing Dynamax Bands. Although progress has not been very smooth. In the end, Professor Magnolia lacks manpower. There is no one who can research alongside her."
"What are you talking about? Am I not a person?" an irritated female voice came from behind them.
Leon turned around in astonishment and saw his childhood friend.
"Sonia! How did you get in too?"
Leon rubbed the back of his head in disbelief.
Could anyone enter this lounge?
Hikaru said, "You do not seem very concerned about the fact that I entered the lounge anymore."
Leon laughed. "You can tell what kind of person someone is through Pokémon battling. That is why I understood last night. You truly are an incredible Trainer."
"A master like you is free to do whatever you want. And precisely because you are that kind of person, you do not carry any malice."
"Besides, do you not have an official position? Surely you are not going to tell me that you are the leader of some evil organization, like the Viridian Gym in the Kanto region, right?"
Hikaru shook his head. "No, nothing like that."
Although next door in Kalos, one of the Elite Four really was an enemy organization executive.
Come to think of it, both the chairman and the lion-head had high-level influence in their regions.
Hikaru said, "I am here to help you solve the issue of Dynamax going out of control."
"Huh?" Leon was slightly startled. Then he saw Hikaru take out a mechanical core.
What was that thing?
Hikaru said, "You must be wondering what this is."
"This is Magearna, a Pokémon capable of absorbing excess life energy. Right now, she has not fully recovered her strength yet."
"And these two as well." Hikaru took out two crystal pendants.
"Although they are only pendant fragments, there is no dark crystal embedded in the Dynamax Band, so removing that berserk energy is a very simple matter."
"Lowering the activity of Galar particles and weakening Dynamax's powerful life force—the force that doubles HP…"
Although the essence of Dynamaxing was special energy released from within a Pokémon's body—Dynamax power—distorting the surrounding space and making the Pokémon appear far larger than its actual size, the animation in works such as Twilight Wings had already shown that Dynamaxing genuinely possessed the power to tear the earth apart.
They called it a projection.
But looking at Wyndon Stadium, with those great cracks stomped into it, and the reimbursement forms for field repairs, did Chairman Rose himself believe that?
Leon listened in confusion. He looked at Sonia, only to find her repeatedly waving her hands.
"This part of the issue involves Dynamax and the legend of the Darkest Day. I don't really understand it either. If my grandmother were here, she should be able to give a precise answer."
"What is known is that after battling wild Dynamax Pokémon, crystals will appear. When they are made into a special food, it is called Dynamax Candy. Once the Dynamax Level rises, vitality and stamina also rise together. Leon, your Charizard has eaten those too, right? You remember, right?"
"But I think it should be fine. After all, this person was recommended by Master Mustard."
Leon showed an expression of understanding. He took a deep breath and handed over his Dynamax Band. At that moment, Hikaru suddenly spoke.
"However, although this is removing the berserk particles on it, it may weaken Dynamaxing somewhat."
Leon shook his head. "That does not matter. I will never allow Charizard to show that maddened and painful expression again. Please do it!"
Hikaru said, "Then I have a request as well. I hope you will agree."
"A request?" Leon showed a questioning expression, then laughed and became excited. "Do you mean a Pokémon battle? If that is the case, I would truly be delighted!"
"No, not that. Hm. As for battling, I do not have an invitation letter for Wyndon Stadium either." Hikaru waved his hand. "Berserk behavior was originally something that would not happen. It occurred because the fragment of a certain crystal reacted with a Wishing Star, using the negative emotions in human hearts and Galar particles together to trigger this phenomenon."
"What I want to ask you to do is shout this spell during the final Champion match."
"Batanagi."
Along with Hikaru's voice, the blue crystal and yellow crystal pendants released an unbelievable glow, illuminating Leon and Sonia's faces.
At that moment, the shadows and fear of failure in Leon's heart were driven away.
"The heroes who drove away the Darkest Day in legend held the sword and shield, and they are classified as Warrior Pokémon."
Hikaru explained to the curious Sonia and to Leon, whose eyes had regained their sharpness.
"The long passage of time gradually buried the truth. The changes in human hearts and history were reflected as the corrosion of the sword and shield."
"Will the youth who once became the strongest also decay?"
"While shouldering the responsibility of an adult, you are also deeply bound by the title of undefeated Champion. But Champion is only the starting point, right? Aren't there stronger people above you?"
"Your cape is covered in all kinds of logos and advertisements. Regardless of your own wishes, those companies probably cannot allow you to lose casually in the stadium. A Champion who is not allowed to lose and the eternally sustained Galar region—that is the source of the pressure, isn't it?"
————————
When the match ended, Nessa's mental state was still dazed. Although she had made bold declarations before the battle, being "washed away by a great wave" after a duel was also something that happened often enough to be commonplace. But this match alone had dealt Nessa a major shock.
The new-generation Trainers were so fierce that it was almost as if she had returned to seven tournaments ago, almost as if she were looking at her former self.
Leon's generation was called the strongest generation precisely because several Trainers at Gym Leader level, and even beyond that level, had appeared at the same time.
However, as part of the previous wave, was she ultimately going to be knocked onto the shore by the new wave?
She stayed in the lounge for a long time, long enough that she even forgot who was currently battling.
"Nessa, what a shame. You lost."
"But including your previous matches, you have been losing in a row, haven't you?"
"As a Gym Leader and a famous model, the distance between those two identities cannot be balanced, right?"
"Who's there?!"
Nessa abruptly turned around, only to find that the person before her was Chairman Rose.
The chairman spoke with a thoughtful expression. "It is somewhat unfortunate. However, your modeling work seems to be going rather smoothly. But being both a Gym Leader and a model must be very busy, right?"
"What kind of results you want to achieve ultimately depends on you."
Words he would not originally have said to Nessa at this time were spoken by the chairman ahead of schedule. But seeing Nessa's stunned expression, he spread his hands again.
"Of course, you are not the only person who thinks this way."
"If you want to obtain greater strength, how about listening to a little advice from me?"
Chairman Rose's expression looked somewhat strange. Although his tone was still as gentle as ever, it carried a bewitching echo.
Nessa's mind began to destabilize. That berserk desire for battle gradually overwhelmed her expectations for her dream of becoming a famous model.
So what if she became a famous model?
Even the most famous people in the world—models or fashion designers alike—women such as Elesa and Valerie were known because they also possessed great strength as Gym Leaders.
Popularity and strength together. Was it impossible for her to have both?
No. It was because Galar's system was different from other regions.
What this place needed was larger, fiercer competition. It was absolutely not like other regions, where one could balance a main job and a side job at the same time.
Piers said, "Chairman… what are you doing?"
Chairman Rose heard a familiar voice and turned his head.
"Oh my, it is Piers."
"Nothing much. I am merely advising Nessa."
Piers said, "Chairman, the Dynamax battle just now also showed signs of going out of control."
Chairman Rose looked puzzled. "Is that so? Gordie's match was quite good, wasn't it? Piers, your strength truly is impressive. Even without using Dynamax, you still hold the position of a first-division Gym Leader."
Piers's face was expressionless. "What does that mean, Chairman?"
Chairman Rose said, "No, it does not mean anything. My thought is that in order to temper Galar's Trainers, the more strong people there are, the better. And Piers, you possess a strength different from Dynamax competitors."
"Hm. Let us talk outside."
The chairman left Nessa's lounge. Before leaving, Piers glanced at Nessa.
Piers said, "Someone asked me to pass along a phrase to you."
Nessa said, "What…?"
Piers said, "Batanagi."
Nessa said, "Hah? What kind of joke is that?"
Piers said, "It isn't a joke. When your heart feels heavy, silently recite that phrase. It will work. Leon has heard it too. Treat it as something Sonia asked me to pass along."
Nessa said, "So-Sonia?! I understand. I'll remember it."
Then he left the utterly baffled Nessa and entered the corridor with the chairman.
As they walked, the chairman spoke.
"What appears to be a loss of control is only insufficient control over Dynamax, and insufficient understanding of Dynamax. I want to ask Piers and the other Gym Leaders to battle. Through battles, we can better understand the principles of Dynamax."
"As long as one can feel the power of Wishing Stars, one can become a powerful Trainer. As long as all of you keep using Dynamax, you will understand more clearly that Pokémon rampaging, or whatever else may happen, is all due to insufficient personal quality."
"Making everyone stronger is also Leon's wish."
Piers said, "Leon… said something like that? Of course, I understand that he longs to be defeated. Mrs. Opal once said that sometimes, she could not tell whether Leon wanted to win or wanted to lose."
"Carrying the name of Champion, he cannot lose, so the pressure must be huge. But he also sincerely hopes Galar's Trainers will become the strongest. Yet if they don't surpass him, how can they be called the strongest?"
"But even so, I do not think Leon would say something like 'give up your other job and focus only on battling.' That is not his style."
Chairman Rose looked at Piers with calm eyes.
"I see. Piers, you truly are someone who understands Leon very well. Sometimes, when I say things to Leon, he shows a state where he agrees but does not understand. And yet, the only one who can fully understand my intentions, and even sense my actions, is Piers, who does not use Dynamax."
"The only person who can directly confront me is you, Piers. But I am also very happy that you can directly point out my mistakes. That is why I feel reassured with you here."
"I also understand your sympathy for Nessa, because you, too, have another profession. Your punk band is progressing very smoothly, is it not? You placed in a concert at Pokéstar Studios in the Unova region, and you even performed on the same stage as Roxie's Koffing and the Toxics, as well as GOGO4, a famous world-class band."
"Piers, sooner or later, you may become someone known in every Galar household, just like Maximizers."
"As long as you do not make Pokémon fight in the middle of a concert, splash poison on the audience, and attack civilians who are not Trainers together with your Pokémon…"
Piers said, "Wait. Where did that terrifying rumor come from?! The poison splash was an accident. I never attacked civilians."
"Chairman, now is not the time to change the subject, right?"
Chairman Rose said, "Is that so? Oh my. Then, Piers, what do you know?"
"Hikaru told you, didn't he? To be honest, I truly do not understand why the wish I yearn for would be known by a member of Paldea's Elite Four. During this period, I also had my employees investigate him."
"The result was astonishing. He appears to be extremely famous in the distant Hoenn and Unova regions. And yet, he knows all sorts of legends and stories, and he himself is like someone who walked out of a tale."
"Therefore, although he understands my thoughts, he does not agree with them. But I also think that he and I are the same kind of person."
"Because he knows everything, he worries. But I cannot be as composed as he is. In the end, to other regions, he is an outsider, is he not? Even Unova and Paldea are not his hometowns."
Piers said, "Chairman… I know Macro Cosmos is a commercial giant, but I never expected you could even investigate matters in distant regions. Do you have spies in other companies too? But that isn't important. After all, I only work for you."
"However, Chairman, I respect who you are as a person."
"So instead of worrying about Galar a thousand years from now, wouldn't beginning research now into alternative energy be better than relying on Galar particles, whose unknowns remain unresolved?"
Chairman Rose said, "…That is why, Piers, you cannot become a businessman, nor can you become a high-level leader. Even as a Gym Leader, you cannot understand how the Galar region operates. That is the limitation of Spikemuth."
"The usage patterns and methods of all our energy-production machines originate from Galar particles. Modern society is already highly dependent on this energy. If we lose this energy, or slow its use, society will collapse."
"You did not experience the era of my childhood, Piers. Naturally, you do not understand what things were like then. We made a living by mining, and people often died."
"But Nessa should be able to understand, shouldn't she? If Dynamax energy disappeared, what would become of Hulbury? Before development, Hulbury was only a small fishing village."
"Do you know Galar's history? I mean its modern history."
The chairman began explaining to the two of them.
"Because coal and evolution energy existed here, the world's earliest Industrial Revolution occurred in this land. The main reason the Industrial Revolution occurred was that cheap access to coal was more important than the cost of human labor, including Pokémon labor."
"About two hundred years ago, the Galar region used to be able to mine a great amount of coal. People dug that coal alongside Pokémon, and Pokémon transported it."
"From that, the system and foundation for the large-scale production of goods were established. Many machines were created for large-scale production and to let Pokémon work efficiently. However, back then, awareness of environmental protection and labor conditions was still low. For workers, it was also an era in which survival was difficult."
"Today, concepts regarding environmental protection and labor conditions are very sound. Combined with scientific development and the successful application of Galar particles, an extremely livable environment has been created for both humans and Pokémon."
"The operation of Gyms is carried out by the country or region as a national-level undertaking. It is entertainment, and it also preserves the ancient practice of 'dueling' to the present day, carrying both cultural preservation and religious significance."
"Each Gym strongly reflects local characteristics and has many local fans and supporters. Local people support their local teams and enjoy doing so. Active competitors, including Pokémon, are respected like sports superstars."
"The Gym Challenge, whether as a necessary process for becoming stronger or as a worldwide entertainment event, has been deeply rooted in this region for more than seventy years. Because of that, it obtains enormous revenue from inside the region, from outside the region, and from the world."
"This revenue is used for the operating expenses of each Gym and for the operating expenses of Pokémon Centers. Therefore, a very stable society has also been built in terms of social welfare. By using the power of media, the Gym Challenge was established as an entertainment activity that generates profit, with the goal of operating the Gyms permanently."
"Beyond being used for various welfare undertakings, the profits are also used as political funds. Every year, the full power of the entire Galar region is used to hold the Champion Cup and determine the Champion."
"If we lose Galar particles, abandon Dynamax, and discard the consumption of Dynamax energy, that means Galar's Dynamax battles will no longer exist as a distinctive feature. The competition will become extremely dull, and we will lose the world's attention. As for what kind of changes that would bring to Galar's society, Piers, do you understand now?"
"Human power cannot fight two hundred years of developmental history. The power of industry can easily crush the societies of the past. Therefore, we can only move forward. We must never stop."
Piers said, "Using Dynamax accelerates the consumption of Galar particles. Not using Dynamax means losing funds and revenue. If factories stop production, society collapses."
Rose said, "Exactly."
Watching the chairman stride away, Piers's eyes flickered. He turned his head.
"So, what do you think, Champion?"
Piers looked toward a figure in the darkness. After the chairman left, the man wearing a champion's cape slowly stepped out.
"I do indeed want Galar's Trainers to become the strongest."
"Eavesdropping on a conversation was not my intention. For me, it is also difficult to understand the social history the chairman described. But I know that everything Galar has today truly cannot be separated from Dynamax."
"But even so, I do not agree with the chairman's actions. I can confirm that Dynamax truly showed signs of going out of control. That is something that has never happened before."
"It reminded me of something."
"At first, Dynamax was an abnormal phenomenon that appeared in the wild. Giant Pokémon would rampage everywhere. But after we grew up, Dynamax had already become a controllable power."
"However, Dynamax matches cannot be stopped. And as for the matter of the Darkest Day, I also cannot state with one hundred percent certainty that it is true. The chairman did not mention it."
"Piers, I will indeed help you, to the best of my ability. That is the Champion's responsibility. But at the same time, I will not do anything to the chairman. You told me, 'If you want to know what is going on, come with me,' but right now, my heart is still filled with doubt."
"Of course, there is no question that I also long to battle stronger people."
"Opal was right. Sometimes, it is hard to tell whether I want to win or lose. I like overcoming pressure and seizing the championship, but some pressure does not come from the audience. It comes from the title of undefeated."
"I lost last night. Although the media treated it as an exhibition match and hyped it up with headlines like 'The Undefeated King and Paldea's Elite Four Member Will Face Off in the Next Tournament,'"
"That defeat truly made me feel something growing deep in my heart. It was a feeling I had never experienced even when facing Raihan."
Piers said, "Without a full six-on-six battle, a so-called one-on-one fight can only be called a test or an exhibition. It's not like your Aegislash lost for the first time."
Leon said, "Hahahaha! You are absolutely right!"
"Still, although I feel sorry for saying this to Aegislash, it was not only Aegislash. Even Charizard lost. And then I thought about my command mistake, the berserk Dynamax power, and last night's battle."
"It made my heart pound and pound. It would not stop."
"A battle style I had never seen before. To think that such a method existed even in standard battles… constantly switching offense and defense, freely controlling the trajectory of energy waves, battle techniques with strengthening moves I had never witnessed before. The strong people in this world are truly ridiculous, aren't they, Piers?"
"You had a master like that around, and you didn't tell me in advance."
"Perhaps after I fail, I will be able to put everything down and go challenge the people of legend. After that, I will go meet the strong ones!"
The corner of Piers's mouth lifted slightly.
"With your help, it feels like gaining an army of one hundred thousand."
"Although I originally did not think that little story would come true… judging by things now, one thing that guy said was right."
"In this world, legends are all true."
"Then remember the 'spell' that person spoke: Batanagi."
Leon passed Piers, then looked back at him and raised his thumb.
"Speaking of which, Kabu once said that after fighting me, he felt the possibility of his own growth. That made me somewhat embarrassed. And back then, because he lost to me, his condition declined, and he was almost relegated to the second division."
"Becoming a second-division Gym Leader is an extremely cruel thing. Because of that, the first-division Gym Leaders will constantly battle in order to keep from falling in the rankings. I understand why Nessa would be stimulated by the chairman's words."
"But you do not need to worry."
"If anything terrible happens, leave it to me. I will make good use of that ancient spell. But beauty and light are things people naturally yearn for. The world of darkness has long since become the past."
"Thanks to that spell, my condition improved. I really must thank him. Also, while I was in that earlier state of loss, although it did not last long, I thought about many things."
"I promise you and him that this spell will begin spreading through Galar."
"All right, I am going onstage. Piers, come experience champion time with me!"
Piers said, "The challenger who successfully advanced is, as expected, Bea from Stow-on-Side. As Hikaru's training partner and Mustard's unofficial disciple, you should be able to have a proper battle, right?"
"Incidentally, after Nessa and Allister, the one who battled her was me. Since I'm standing here now, naturally, that means I lost."
To battle Leon, a challenger had to win three matches first. Piers had also defeated two opponents. In the third match, he battled Bea.
However, for Piers, halfway through that battle, he realized that the outcome of this Champion Cup no longer mattered. Rather than a contest to fulfill wishes, it had already become the prelude to some kind of ritual.
In that case, he, who did not use Dynamax, had no reason to keep fighting. Instead, he could look forward to things like his little sister becoming a hero.
Now, it was fantasy time.
When Leon entered the stadium, the cheers from the audience surged like a tidal wave. The spectators who had been fighting each other had long since stopped and now cheered for Leon together.
Although every year's tournament had many people who supported the challenger at the time and became that challenger's fans, this year, those people were especially insane.
"…Come. This is champion time!"
"Take the stage, Aegislash!"
————————
Along with Leon's opening stance, the Aegislash that had been defeated last night appeared. As Leon's lead ace, Aegislash had faced many enemies.
However, it had never before seen a member of its own species as absurdly strong and strange as the one from last night. Furthermore, Aegislash possessed the ability to see through whether another held the "qualifications of a king."
Because of that, Leon's Aegislash had never imagined it.
The "qualifications of a king" had appeared in another Aegislash.
Could Pokémon also have kings?
That confusion lingered in Leon's Aegislash's heart, and even now, it could not fully understand it.
And the challenger before it was giving off the same presence as the Trainer it had faced last night.
Aegislash's eye sharpened.
"Aegi!"
No matter what kind of enemy it was, they would never break through the barrier formed by my Steel and Ghost typing. Last night's situation was only an accident.
So this time, it had to be wary of that sudden attack from the start.
"Reflect!"
Opening with defense was not Leon's style, but this time, Leon acted contrary to his usual pattern. His thoughts had aligned with Aegislash's.
To prevent what happened last night from repeating, setting up a screen meant this was no casual game.
Aegislash thought the same.
Exactly. That was only an acci—
A leek like a knight's lance erupted with golden radiance and swept in with one fierce strike.
Double weakness.
The wall of light shattered with a bang.
"Aegislash…!"
Something interesting had happened. Leon thought that to himself. The move used by the Pokémon the opponent had just sent out was unmistakably Brick Break.
Reflect had been destroyed.
Leon said, "A Fighting move hit a Ghost type and destroyed a Psychic wall. And it was super effective!"
Bea said, "That is correct, Mr. Leon."
"This is what I gained from my teacher. My Sirfetch'd's current Ability is—"
"Scrappy!"
"Once Fighting type can hit Ghost type, Steel/Ghost Aegislash becomes weak to Fighting-type Pokémon by two times."
Leon's lips curled upward. Although his Pokémon had gone through an intense battle and its condition had declined somewhat, apart from Raihan, which of the challengers throughout the generations had not fought through high-intensity battles to reach this point? That included Leon himself.
So there was nothing to complain about.
And now, everything was fine.
"The disciple of another Champion. As expected, you are worth fighting!"
"Psycho Cut!"
Even if using Dynamax carried the possibility of losing control, even if he did not use Dynamax, would his undefeated name really be broken?
Or were young people always that swift in their progress, just as he himself had been seven tournaments ago?
Leon's Pokémon and Bea's Pokémon began an intense battle. The climax of the Champion Cup challenge was just like the match shown in Twilight Wings two years later.
The fierce battle raged.
Bea's lineup: Falinks. Hawlucha.
Leon's lineup: Rillaboom. Mr. Rime.
Intense battles continued, with victories and defeats going back and forth, making Leon's blood boil.
After Raihan, and after that Trainer, another person had appeared who could fight him back and forth.
So he sent out his fourth general without hesitation.
Dragapult.
As one of the late-blooming Pokémon of the eighth generation, and as a Pokémon appearing on the teams of two Champions, Leon and Geeta, its strength naturally needed no explanation.
Also being a ghost dragon Pokémon, even if Dragapult was inferior to Giratina in terms of power level in the real world, in a formal level-50 battle, Dragapult could absolutely say to Giratina:
"With your position, you are not qualified to be compared with me. When battling, address me by my title."
Leon said, "Turn invisible!"
What move was invisibility?
Bea was stunned for a moment.
Leon said, "I only learned Dragapult had this ability after hearing it from Professor Magnolia. I have never shown it in battle before."
"'When it is sharpening its focus, its whole body becomes transparent. Even the Dreepy in its horns disappear from sight.'"
"This is called a Pokémon ecological trait. It is also the source of its Ability, Clear Body. Of course, this is not a regular move. Invisibility is not a move. It is just invisibility!"
Improvisation. In that respect, Leon was the same type of Trainer as Ash. He could use moves not listed in the Pokédex. In the Masters Eight anime duel, he learned Counter Shield after seeing it only once. That unique move of Ash's had basically become one of the "must-learn skills for strong Trainers," finally gaining a true golden reputation.
"Dragon Darts!"
It made Dreepy attack twice. If there were two opposing Pokémon, it attacked each of them once.
While invisible, Dragapult fired the equally transparent little Dreepy. That battle method was almost impossible to defend against. And what Leon was expecting was the move that had destroyed the street last night.
Come. Facing such a troublesome opponent, use it.
Bea closed her eyes and began synchronizing.
"Even if our language does not connect, my heart will resonate with my partner. A fragile heart is a fragile self."
"Then allow me to show you!"
"Machamp's Ability is No Guard, so there is no need to dodge…!"
Machamp also closed its eyes. It merely obeyed the power of its own Ability, gathered its aura casually in one direction, then slammed one blow into the earth.
The strongest fist.
It dealt fixed damage equal to the opponent's maximum HP. As long as the type matchup was not zero-times effective, it could cause the opponent to faint in a single hit. In the first generation, the upper damage limit of this move had not yet been changed into its current form. Back then, the maximum damage was—
One-hit KO. 65,536.
Second-generation effect change: if the user's Speed was lower than the target's, the move failed. Later: if the user's level was lower than the target's, the move failed.
However, in a real battle, cracks in the earth were no joke.
Although, due to certain factors, Fissure only appeared once in the anime and was then shelved alongside Earthquake, causing most Trainers who wanted to play Ground-type to rely only on Dig and Bulldoze, its sibling move Horn Drill appeared frequently. Although its battle record could only be called ordinary, that could be explained by the absence of No Guard's sure-hit bonus.
Speed failure had already been discarded.
Level failure was merely game mechanics.
The ground of Wyndon Stadium split open. Dust exploded, and an extremely intense shockwave blasted the invisible Dragapult out.
Leon said, "There it is… This is exactly what I was waiting for! Last night's official explanation was 'the street was sealed off due to a gas explosion caused by a suspicious vehicle.' In that case, the move that destroyed Baker Street was this—Fissure!"
Topsy-Turvy, which sealed boosting.
Scrappy, which broke through Ghost.
Fissure, the one-hit KO.
It looked like a pure Fighting-type team, but in reality, its battle style was extremely comprehensive.
Getting instantly taken down by a move?
Leon had always been indifferent to that sort of thing.
Dragapult had actually been taken out in one hit. However, the drawback of No Guard was that the user would also take every attack from the opponent.
Dragon Darts had already hit, causing very heavy damage.
"Then let us enter the climactic final battle directly!"
Leon lifted his spirits. He heard Charizard's low growl. It was apologizing. In the earlier battle, it had lost its reason and therefore lost to the opposing Archaludon. That was something unprecedented.
Charizard also wanted to avenge its shame once more. And this time, after receiving special help, it would definitely be able to control that power.
There would be no problem.
"Then come forth—Gigantamax Charizard!"
Leon said, "I believe in my partner with all my heart and soul. I have accepted a friend's help."
"One day, you will transform into the great red dragon of myth and legend!"
(End of Chapter)
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