Indigo Plateau, the packed-to-the-brim Quartz Arena.
Up on the platform, the shades-wearing emcee was flushed with excitement, screaming into the mic at the top of his lungs.
"Holy crap! I can't believe it! Kazahaya's Ninetales is down—that was his last Pokémon!
Let's give it up for Damian! He took the whole match using just one Annihilape, swept all six of Kazahaya's Pokémon, and claimed the championship of this year's Indigo Plateau Conference!"
As the emcee's words fell, the arena erupted into deafening cheers.
"So sick! Damian, you're insane!! Aaaahhh! Damian!"
"My hubby is way too badass! He straight-up 6–0'd the finals!"
"Easiest episode ever, I'm dead. This runner-up spot? I could've taken it too—everyone just got 1v6'd anyway."
"Knew it! The son of Gym Leader Giovanni—of course he's a prodigy among prodigies! Kanto's got itself another monster!"
The place was boiling over, and for good reason—the kid on the field was blindingly dazzling.
He'd only just started his journey this year, yet he displayed overwhelming dominance at the Quartz Conference, steamrolling every opponent in his path.
With just one Annihilape, he tore through the entire Indigo Plateau Conference!
Without exception, every opponent was casually flattened by that powerhouse Annihilape—now even the finals were no different.
The black-clad boy at the center of it all just yawned, bored out of his mind, hands shoved in his pockets, not even bothering to look his opponent in the eye.
That careless, don't-give-a-damn attitude came off as effortlessly cool to the audience.
Yeah, that's always been the vibe people had of Damian.
When you're that talented, having a bit of an attitude is only natural, right?
"Tch. A third-rate Trainer with fourth-rate Pokémon, and he still made it to the finals? Pathetic."
Damian shot a glance at his defeated, slumped, sobbing opponent and clicked his tongue.
Too weak. Way too weak. So weak he couldn't even get excited.
If this is the quality of the Indigo Plateau Conference now, what a joke—he'd actually had a tiny bit of hype before starting his journey.
Just a baby cup for stomping newbies. Boring.
Being the Indigo Plateau Conference champion wasn't anything worth bragging about to Damian—it's not like he became Kanto Champion or something.
Especially with a finals opponent this trash.
After the award ceremony, Damian left the Indigo Plateau. It wasn't exactly a "perfect" ending to his Kanto trip, and Damian figured it was time to refocus on "work."
...
Viridian City, a place where flowers bloom year-round—"evergreen" in the truest sense.
So the whole city of Viridian is packed with greenery and blossoms, and the people here really love nature.
Among all the cities in the Kanto Region, Viridian City stands out as one of the most distinctive.
Viridian Gym is one of the official Gyms of the Kanto Region. Its Gym Leader is Giovanni, a Ground-type specialist, and it's currently the most well-reviewed Gym in Kanto.
Why's that?
Pewter Gym and Cerulean Gym are stuck in an awkward transition phase. Vermilion's Leader hits a bit too hard.
Saffron Gym? Folks say it's haunted. Celadon's Leader always sleeps in—and once she's out, there's no waking her.
Fuchsia Gym… challengers say your personal safety ain't guaranteed once you go in.
Cinnabar Gym—does that Gym even exist? Pretty sure it only lives on the official website.
Among this lineup of "colorful characters," Viridian Gym, while occasionally closed due to the Leader heading out for training, feels refreshingly normal.
Plus, Giovanni's mature, steady personality and his outstanding strength make him even more respected. A Ground-type specialist who doesn't gatekeep—he even compiled his insights into a widely circulated book, "Secrets of the Earth."
That kind of masterly bearing has earned him tons of admiration from Trainers. People love the guy.
Naturally, Viridian Gym is showered in praise, and Giovanni is often called the strongest Gym Trainer in the Kanto Region.
But no one knows what this excellent Gym Leader is really like behind the scenes.
"Dad, I'm back."
Damian pushed open the office door, sauntered over to the couch, and flopped down like he owned the place.
"Man, that trip wore me out. Matori, give me a shoulder rub."
"Viridian City isn't far from the Indigo Plateau."
Giovanni, his close-cropped hair neat and sharp, chuckled helplessly—his precious son's laziness was something he could only accept.
Giovanni's secretary, Matori, stepped behind Damian and began kneading his shoulders with a gentle touch.
"How's it feel to win the Quartz Conference?" Giovanni sat down at the coffee table.
"I honestly didn't expect the Indigo Plateau Conference to be this low-level." Damian clearly looked down on those so-called "rivals."
"It's because your strength is on another level, young master." Matori's voice was cool, though the way she looked at Damian was… complicated.
"I told you, at your level, the Indigo Plateau Conference wouldn't be a challenge." Giovanni smiled faintly.
As Viridian's Gym Leader, he had a decent read on this year's competitor pool—several had even earned their Badges from him.
And the son he'd trained since childhood? Beating those scrub Trainers was only natural.
This was the son he was most proud of. Giovanni had never doubted that.
Gifted and brilliant—labels that had stuck to Damian since he was little. Precocious and sharp, Damian had never once given Giovanni anything to worry about.
And Damian's talent as a Trainer had blown Giovanni away. Like his father, he'd even been chosen by Viridian Forest—blessed with the power of Viridian.
Giovanni believed Damian would have a dazzling future all his own, and that he'd surely surpass him.
He'd always doted on Damian—especially after that incident, even more so.
But as he grew older, Damian seemed to be veering off… a little.
Like last year, when Giovanni had Damian fill in as acting Viridian Gym Leader while he went out to handle some organizational business.
When he got back that night, he heard… certain sounds… coming from his office—from his son and his secretary.
Only Arceus knows what went through Giovanni's heart in that moment.
His mind went blank—felt like ten thousand Tauros stampeded through his chest.
Damian was only fifteen at the time! Matori, how could you!
Reeling, Giovanni retreated to the restroom, lit a cigarette—something he almost never did.
Yeah. He didn't interrupt his son and his secretary. He kept silent.
Heck of a dad, huh?
And that was just the beginning. What came after left Giovanni even more speechless.