[???]
A flood of question marks swept across the chat.
The Pokémon Grey had sent out was actually Reshiram.
The moment Unovan viewers saw that, they completely lost it.
Zekrom had already been one thing, but at least N was from Unova, so it was fairly reasonable for Zekrom to acknowledge him.
But Grey was from Kanto, so why was he the one Reshiram had acknowledged?
A lot of trainers in Unova could not sit still after seeing that.
Reshiram, why are you siding with an outsider?
How did you end up acknowledging a trainer from Kanto?
[Reshiram, sob, my White Dragon! I always thought I was the Hero of Truth. Was all of that just wishful thinking on my part?]
[I refuse to accept this. Why does Grey, some outsider, get Reshiram's recognition? Sure, he's strong, but he's still from somewhere else!]
[What's wrong with being from somewhere else? Are you Unova people xenophobic or what? You talk like you're from some welcoming region, but now you won't even let someone catch a Pokémon?]
[Are you seriously comparing this to normal catching? Grey took one of our local legendary Pokémon!]
[So what? Grey also caught Zapdos and Articuno, and we didn't say anything.]
[That's not the same at all!]
The chat instantly dissolved into chaos and started arguing.
Regional mudslinging and all kinds of nonsense kept popping up one after another.
It got so bad that the officials had to step in and stop it.
[Please stop discussing this and focus on the match. The internet is not beyond the law. Watch what you say, or your account will be banned.]
[The official Unova League account is right. You can't start swearing just because a trainer from our Kanto League caught one of your Unovan Pokémon. Be more inclusive. In that spirit, our Kanto League also welcomes trainers from Unova to come catch our local legendary Pokémon.]
[...]
The moment those two official League accounts posted, a lot of people went silent.
Kanto's legendary Pokémon were just those three birds, weren't they?
How was that supposed to compare to Reshiram, Unova's beautiful legendary Pokémon?
The two were not comparable at all.
At that point, people were angry, but they didn't dare say too much. They were afraid that if they posted something too extreme, the League would come knocking and invite them to an in-person conversation.
As the storm online gradually died down, Alder stared at the Reshiram in front of him, unable to calm himself for a long time.
Back when he had first heard about Grey, it had been from Shauntal saying that she had discovered a Gym Leader in Kanto who was fairly handsome.
His strength had not been anything special then, just around the level of an ordinary Gym Leader, though close to the Elite Four tier.
And now, in less than two months, Grey had already improved to the point of reaching Champion-level strength.
Alder could only sigh and think that Grey really was impressive for someone so young.
"Master Grey, then this old bag of bones will do his best not to embarrass himself."
Alder entered battle mode, and his whole aura changed. His movements became clean and decisive, with none of his usual lazy air left.
"Volcarona, Hurricane!"
Boom!
The hurricane raised by Volcarona felt as if it had drained all the air within a hundred meters. The gale produced by the beating of its six wings was so powerful that it tore rocks right out of the distant shoreline.
But when the storm reached Reshiram, it only narrowed its blue slit pupils slightly.
"Blue Flare."
Grey said just two words.
Reshiram was instantly wrapped in blue flames.
The blazing heat billowed outward, crashing straight into the hurricane.
And the moment Hurricane collided with Blue Flare, there was not even the slightest sense of resistance before it was torn apart by the attack.
[Holy crap, Reshiram is absurdly strong... Is this what a top-tier legendary is supposed to look like? I always thought those first-tier and second-tier legendary categories were just made-up power scaling nonsense, but now it really does feel like a top-tier legendary like Reshiram is on another level...]
The effect of the move Reshiram had just released left everyone completely convinced.
Not only did it look majestic, but the power of its attack was overwhelming too.
[Still, even if Reshiram is insanely strong, using a local legendary Pokémon to beat up the local Champion really does feel...]
The instant that message appeared, all the Unovans in the chat fell silent.
Yeah.
The more they looked at it, the stranger it felt.
But aside from viewers from Unova, trainers from every other region were watching with immense enjoyment.
"Reshiram's Blue Flare effortlessly destroyed Volcarona's Hurricane. The question now is whether Champion Alder has any answer for this!"
Commentator Slowking spoke with great enthusiasm. This was the first time he had ever gotten to commentate a battle between a top-tier legendary and a Champion.
And this was not even the only one.
The next match, Mustard versus N, would also be a battle between a Champion and a trainer with a legendary Pokémon.
Commentator Slowking felt incredibly lucky to have been invited.
This was going to become one of the most impressive credits in his commentary career.
"The difference in power is just too big. If Elder Alder's former ace were still alive, it probably wouldn't be this one-sided."
Marshal, seated in the audience, could not help shaking his head.
As Alder's student, he knew exactly why Alder's ace had died.
Back then, when Alder fought Ghetsis of Team Plasma, Ghetsis's Hydreigon had resorted to dirty tactics.
If it had not been for that, Alder's strength, and even Unova's strength as a whole, would not have fallen this far.
"Yeah. I just hope Grey holds back a little. If news gets out that Unova's regional Champion was completely crushed, it'll probably attract attention from all kinds of places."
Shauntal was more sensitive to these things and understood very well what it would mean for Unova's safety if something like that spread too far.
"Hopefully."
Grimsley sat with one leg crossed over the other, his eyes full of concern.
Alder had always treated him well, so he genuinely hoped Grey would show some restraint.
It was not that they could not accept losing. They just did not want to lose that badly.
Grey sensed all of that through Aura right there in the arena.
"Champion Alder, I actually like Unova's Tepig a lot. If there's a chance, could you take me to see the place where they're raised?"
Without warning, Grey used Aura to bring up Tepig to Alder.
"Of course. After this battle ends, I'll take you to where our Unova League raises Tepig."
Alder knew Grey was giving him a graceful way out.
So he gave his answer back in his mind.
"Good."
Grey gave a slight nod.
Then Reshiram's aura gradually fell until it matched Volcarona's level.
The previous exchange had been a total one-sided beatdown.
This time, Reshiram was suppressing its strength to the same level as Volcarona.
For a Champion who had spent so much of his life dutifully doing his job, Grey was more than willing to let him keep his dignity.
Alder quietly let out a breath.
At least he would not be crushed now.
"Volcarona, this time use Fiery Dance!"
Even though Reshiram resisted fire four times over, Alder still wanted to see what kind of effect that move would have.
Volcarona danced gracefully, its body cloaked in crimson fire.
Countless sparks rained down, turning into hundreds upon hundreds of fireballs that came crashing toward Reshiram like meteors.
Fiery Dance.
Volcarona's signature move, with a chance to raise its Special Attack when used.
Of course, compared to Skeledirge's signature move from the Paldea region, Torch Song, it seemed a little lacking.
One only had a chance to raise Special Attack, while the other guaranteed it.
That said, Fiery Dance made up for that with its sheer volume, and if used skillfully, it could even create openings for a counterattack.
That was something Torch Song could not do.
In the end, both moves had their own strengths and weaknesses.
Now, Fiery Dance was already upon them.
Reshiram lifted its eyes, its pupils reflecting the incoming attack.
Then Grey gave a simple, brutal command.
"Dragon Pulse!"
Compared to fancy, complicated orders, he preferred the most direct possible commands when using legendary Pokémon.
Reshiram spread its wings, and for the first time, that lone-wolf, handsome face showed a real expression.
But in the next instant, that look was swallowed by an intense violet glow.
A sharp dragon cry rang out.
Dragon Pulse erupted.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sky and earth seemed to change color. What everyone saw was a savage purple dragon rising straight upward through the fiery rain, baring its fangs and claws as it charged into the heavens.
The explosions of flame formed endless halos of light around the dragon's silhouette, spreading outward one after another.
It looked like the end of the world had arrived, a sight so thrilling that nobody could stay calm.
[That was so cool! Both Volcarona's Fiery Dance and Reshiram's Dragon Pulse were incredible. I'm completely obsessed with this Pokémon now!]
[You really have to admit that Champion Alder's Volcarona is the real deal. Even though this is a newer Volcarona he raised, the result is way beyond what other Volcarona trainers can manage.]
[You can call Alder the weakest Champion if you want, but you absolutely cannot say he doesn't understand Volcarona.]
Everyone was being fair about it.
When it came to Volcarona, Alder was practically on the level of a Pokémon Professor.
No matter what region a trainer came from, if they ever got the chance, they would want to ask Alder for advice on how to raise a Volcarona.
And Alder never held anything back. Everything he knew, every technique, every personal insight, he shared with others.
"As expected of a veteran Champion. To use Fiery Dance with this kind of effect..."
Only someone who truly understood what had just happened knew what it meant.
Reshiram was naturally powerful, and it had used Dragon Pulse, a same-type move. Even while suppressing its power, Dragon-type moves were still naturally effective in confronting fire-based attacks.
And under those conditions, Volcarona's Fiery Dance had actually managed to clash evenly with Reshiram's Dragon Pulse.
That was enough to prove just how much effort Alder had poured into this Volcarona over the years.
And if Grey remembered correctly, Alder had only really started raising this Volcarona three years ago.
Bug-type Pokémon definitely grew quickly, but most Bug-types tended to fall off badly in the later stages.
Larvesta in particular almost had to touch the threshold of Elite Four-tier strength before it could even evolve.
That was why there were so few Volcarona trainers.
And yet Alder had managed to raise a Champion-level Volcarona in just three years.
There was no way he was bad at raising Pokémon.
In the end, it really had all been because he had let himself go.
After the great war with Team Plasma, Volcarona's death had taken the last trace of Alder's fighting edge with it.
"Master Grey, this old bag of bones only has this much left in him. If I remember right, didn't you catch a shiny Larvesta?"
Alder did have a little selfish motive in using Volcarona against Reshiram. If Grey's Larvesta could learn from his Volcarona's techniques, then it would be like passing on his mantle.
He hoped this chance would let Volcarona's legacy continue and shine on.
"That's right."
Grey nodded.
Both of them understood perfectly well what kind of impact this battle would have.
So neither said anything else, and both returned their full attention to the match.
"Reshiram, Fusion Flare!"
Grey launched another fierce attack.
Reshiram raised its head, and a massive fireball wrapped in crossing lines of flame formed before it. The heat waves were so intense that even the spectators had trouble enduring them and had to call out their own partners to cool things down.
Then Fusion Flare roared forward.
Alder could feel the terrifying power packed inside it and did not dare be careless for even a second. "Volcarona, use Quiver Dance to dodge!"
He chose to get greedy on this one.
Volcarona began its uniquely insect-like dance, and its speed suddenly surged.
Then it slipped past Fusion Flare.
The huge fireball crashed to the ground and instantly turned the battlefield into a sea of fire.
Just when Volcarona thought everything was fine, two lines of fire suddenly burst up from the ground, crossing into a blazing X as they lashed out.
Volcarona could not dodge in time.
The two fiery whips struck its body hard.
Crack! Crack!
Two scorched marks immediately appeared on its body, and its previously calm breathing turned hurried.
Clearly, the damage from those two lashes had not been light.
Even for a Pokémon like Volcarona, with such high Special Defense, there was no fully enduring that attack.
"So even after getting the Quiver Dance boost, it still can't withstand Reshiram's offense..."
Alder finally gained a full understanding of what a top-tier legendary really meant.
This was no longer something a trainer like him could resist.
Volcarona already had strong Special Defense to begin with.
On top of that, one of Quiver Dance's effects was raising Special Defense.
And even so, it had still nearly been broken by that attack.
That alone said everything about how powerful Reshiram really was.
"Volcarona, let's go all in! Quiver Dance, Fiery Dance!"
The command Alder gave made Grey's eyes light up.
Combining two moves?
He really did understand what he was doing.
Volcarona was not like Machamp, a Pokémon with four arms. Pulling off two different dance patterns at the same time was actually extremely difficult.
The level of difficulty was no less than Machamp using four different moves at once with all four of its arms.
Grey did not interrupt. He simply watched, wanting to see what effect Volcarona's combination of those two moves would produce.
Volcarona began dancing in a pattern similar to before, graceful and beautiful, but this time with killing intent hidden inside it.
Its presence rose to the point where it could genuinely threaten Reshiram, and the flames burning around it shifted into a vivid azure blue.
[It's here! Champion Alder's signature technique, Double Dance!]
[I never thought I'd get to see this move again after so many years. Kind of emotional, honestly.]
The chat exploded into a frenzy.
In the audience, Mustard only raised the corners of his mouth slightly when he saw it.
He and Alder were old friends, and even their ace Pokémon both had base stat totals of 550. Seeing Alder's fighting spirit reignite like this made Mustard itch for a good battle himself.
Well then.
His next match was against that Zekrom, right?
If Dynamax were available, there would be no reason to be too afraid.
Unfortunately, Dynamax could only be used in Galar, so the strength he had once prided himself on could not be fully brought out here.
"Maybe I should just invite Grey to Galar next time."
Mustard stroked his beard, thinking that sounded perfectly reasonable.
Then his eyes settled on the blue fiery meteor shower now falling from the sky, and he murmured to himself, "Grey, I wonder what kind of answer you'll give to that."
"Reshiram, then let's respond with the highest respect and bring Volcarona down properly!"
The effect they wanted had already been achieved, so Grey felt it was time to end things with one final move.
"Blue Flare, Fusion Flare!"
Ever since he had seen the move Reshiram used before, Blue Flare combined with Fire Blast, Grey had felt that it could be modified a little.
For example, instead of combining it with Fire Blast, he could combine it with Fusion Flare.
Reshiram followed Grey's intent. Countless blue flames blazed wildly, and the entire battlefield was swallowed by a sea of fire once again.
At that moment, the blazing sun shone overhead.
And then a massive fireball, so brilliant it was impossible to look at directly, slowly rose into the sky.
Compared to the earlier Fusion Flare, its size was about the same.
But its power was on a completely different level.
Volcarona stared down from the middle of the flaming meteor shower and met Reshiram's eyes. "I've heard of you, legendary dragon of Unova. Your era is over!"
It was called the Sun God Pokémon, and even facing Reshiram, the legendary dragon, it felt no fear at all.
In terms of age, it was still young.
Reshiram, meanwhile, was already in its twilight years.
Volcarona felt that if it were given more time, it would absolutely surpass Reshiram.
And right now, with Reshiram suppressing its strength to the same level, Volcarona believed this was a battle it really could win.
Old-timer, this is the age of the young now!
With that thought, Volcarona beat its wings.
Countless blue fire meteors rained down, like a sky full of arrows being unleashed at once, tearing the heavens to pieces and leaving everyone dazzled.
"That move is good."
Reshiram spoke only four words.
Its enormous Fusion Flare shot straight upward. Even though it could not cover the entire rain of fire, the instant the two sides collided, it generated an overwhelming shockwave.
The rain of fire was torn apart into countless sparks, scattering downward.
And Fusion Flare did not stop there.
It maintained its earlier power, struck Volcarona with perfect accuracy, and drove it all the way into the clouds.
Then, at last,
Boom!
It exploded in the sky.
For a moment, the arena fell completely silent.
Even Commentator Slowking had forgotten to speak.
Both Reshiram and Volcarona had left him deeply shaken.
In the end, Volcarona fell back to the ground.
It had lost the ability to battle.
"Volcarona is unable to battle! Contestant Alder, please send out your next Pokémon!"
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