Gardevoir watched Tobias leave, then turned its gaze toward Lin Feng, who looked somewhat disappointed. It tilted its head slightly, unsure what that disappointment meant.
Was he regretting that Tobias had left?
Or was he thinking that the opponent still had Pokémon strong enough to fight it?
But if there was still a chance to score points, why would the opponent give up?
What exactly was he regretting?
Gardevoir did not understand, but it did not press the question. Instead, it slowly floated back toward Lin Feng.
The match was over, so there was no reason for it to remain on the battlefield.
After watching Tobias leave, Li Bing took a deep breath and flew to the center of the arena, landing beside Lin Feng.
He grabbed Lin Feng's hand and pulled him up with force.
"It's over! It's over! We have a champion! The champion is contestant Lin Feng!"
The voice echoed through the speakers and instantly spread across the entire stadium.
For a brief moment, the audience fell silent.
Then it erupted.
"Champion! Champion! Lin Feng!"
"Lin Feng! Lin Feng!"
The stands shook with roaring cheers like thunder.
At this moment, almost no one cared that Darkrai had surrendered.
Because from the very first match, everyone could already see that the outcome of this tournament had been decided.
Even from their perspective, Latios had already been terrifyingly strong, and Darkrai was even more overwhelming.
Yet in this Horizon League, those same top-tier Pokémon were crushed in a single exchange by Lin Feng's Gardevoir.
That shock far exceeded even the revelation that Tobias had used Legendary Pokémon.
"Brother Lin! Brother Lin!"
"Is this the true strength of Brother Lin's Gardevoir?"
"No, wait, why does Gardevoir know Darkrai's Dark Void and Dream Eater? Did you see Darkrai's expression when it saw Dark Void being used?"
"So strong, so strong! First it one-shot Darkrai, then it swept Latios in a combo!"
"I was worried earlier about whether Brother Lin could win. Turns out I was the one overthinking it. This is a complete domination…"
"It's beautiful and powerful. I love this Gardevoir so much. Why don't I have one like this?"
"If it can beat Darkrai and Latios, then what about Champion Feng Yang's Moltres? Let's have an exhibition match!"
"An exhibition match!"
The cheers rolled like mountains and waves.
Not only the stadium, but countless viewers watching on television were also cheering.
In Sunshade City, inside Qin Shu's home, Li Bing had just landed and announced the champion when the little girl jumped off her bed and ran to the blanket laid out for her Blastoise, hugging it tightly.
"Did you see that? Brother Lin is the champion! He did it!"
"Da na, da na…"
Blastoise also looked excited.
Even though it knew Serperior was strong, Gardevoir was strong, and Alolan Ninetales was strong, it had not expected them to be this strong.
Those sweeping emerald leaves had filled its vision entirely.
That level of power was something it had never seen before.
It remembered a summer long ago, when it had once battled a Snivy on the Blue Stone Path.
Back then, the gap between them had existed, but it was nothing like this.
Thinking of that, Blastoise did not feel discouraged. Instead, it set Serperior as its goal.
One day, it would reach that level too. It would stand on the same stage as its trainer and show everyone its battle.
In another part of Wutong Town, inside a newly built glass building, a girl with long sky-blue hair stared at the television in silence.
So that was why he said he needed six badges when she challenged him.
Turns out the person she wanted to challenge was the champion of this year's Horizon League.
In another place, on the outskirts of Yangshan City, inside a small villa, a trainer sat watching with a Larvitar following behind him.
"I knew it… Brother Lin only entered the Junior Cup to bully people…"
And elsewhere, similar reactions spread everywhere.
The celebration had not even ended when a strange chant suddenly rose from the stands.
"Exhibition match! We want an exhibition match!"
"I haven't seen enough! Come on, give us an exhibition match!"
"Brother Lin, don't be stingy!"
The audience was still hyped, unwilling to let the moment end.
Even Li Bing looked awkward as he wiped sweat from his forehead.
He was just a commentator. He had no authority to decide something like an exhibition match.
That decision belonged only to the Champion.
Fortunately, the tension did not last long.
A fiery red figure descended from the sky.
Moltres.
Feng Yang stepped forward and raised his hand to quiet the crowd.
Gradually, the stadium calmed down.
"Logically speaking, this is not the time for an exhibition match," he said slowly. "However, since everyone is so enthusiastic, we will respect contestant Lin Feng's decision."
All eyes turned toward Lin Feng.
Li Bing quickly pointed the camera at him.
In an instant, countless expectant gazes fell on him and Gardevoir.
Lin Feng's expression stiffened slightly.
"Uh… can I not fight?"
Silence.
Then the crowd exploded again.
"Don't refuse!"
"Brother Lin, please! This is a chance to fight Champions and Elites!"
But Lin Feng shook his head.
"No fight."
Then he turned to Li Bing.
"Alright, let's just finish the remaining formalities quickly."
Li Bing cleared his throat and raised the microphone.
"Then I announce, the champion of this Horizon League is Lin Feng from Wutong Town, Yangshan City!"
"Contestant Lin Feng has remained undefeated in all tournaments he has participated in so far!"
He paused, then added enthusiastically,
"Now, let's hear a few words from him…"
Lin Feng raised a hand immediately.
"Yes, I do have something to say. Next year I plan to expand my breeding farm's production scale, so please look forward to it…"
He glanced sideways.
"Hey, hey, I'm not finished yet!"
The broadcast cut off mid-sentence.
------------------------------
Love the story? Show your support and unlock early access to new chapters by joining me on Patreon! and if we hit every 250 Power Stones, a bonus chapter drops!
[email protected]/_tey
Change @ to a.