Unova Region, League Headquarters building.
"Volcarona, Fiery Dance!"
The giant moth with three pairs of orange-red wings on its back surrounded itself with rings of scorching flames, dancing in the air as it charged toward Gengar.
"Dark Void!"
The purple blob floating in the air flicked its tongue, and a massive Dark Void was hurled toward the incoming Volcarona.
Volcarona blasted the Dark Void away, its six wings flapping with sudden force, condensing the surrounding flames into a ball and fanning them toward Gengar.
Gengar nimbly dodged the balls of fire in mid-air.
"Volcarona, let them feel the heat of the sun!"
Alder, looking like a lion, let out a roar like a lion, "Fiery Dance!"
Volcarona flapped its sun-like wings, dancing in the air. As it danced, its six wings scattered specks of fiery phosphorus, which began to drift to every corner of the field.
Boom!
The field ignited into a sea of fire, surrounding the entire area. Amidst this sea of fire, Volcarona's dance became even more beautiful, and the sea of fire surged toward Gengar under its guidance.
"So hot."
Ash shielded his forehead, feeling the scorching flames, and said with some surprise, "So, flames can also surround the battlefield?"
Beside him, Iris looked on with admiration, "Of course! Think about it, Grandpa Alder is a Champion, it's only natural for him to have such powerful strength!"
"That's true—but Lucas is also a Champion!"
Ash thought carefully and then retorted.
On the other side, Cynthia stood with the Unova Elites.
Looking at the sea of fire covering the ground, Shauntal looked at Cynthia with some concern, "Are you really not worried at all?"
Cynthia just smiled lightly, "Do you think I held back in my battle against Lucas?"
Shauntal fell silent.
It wasn't just me; many Elites felt that way.
"Shauntal, I am not the type of person to hold back in a battle where the title of Champion is on the line."
Cynthia said calmly, "I used my full power, but I still lost."
"Lucas is a well-deserved Champion. Whether it's his strength, his knowledge, or his sense of duty and responsibility as a Champion, he possesses it all. He holds goodwill toward all humans and Pokémon and travels everywhere to promote harmony between them."
"Apart from the fact that he hasn't had a battle in the public eye, he is no different from a true Champion."
After saying all this in one breath, she smiled again, "Now, I'm actually afraid that Gengar might go too hard."
No one knew Gengar's combat power better than she and Garchomp.
Its strength was absolutely proportional to its size.
In the battle against her and Garchomp, it had chosen to go head-to-head with Garchomp. How many Gengar in this world could take her Garchomp's Dragon Rush head-on?
Cynthia was very certain of the result: none. This was her confidence in her own strength and her confidence in Garchomp.
But that Gengar had done it.
Shauntal and Caitlin looked at each other and shook their heads.
"Compared to Volcarona—I feel like Gengar is actually quite cute."
Caitlin suddenly spoke up.
Now it was Cynthia and Shauntal's turn to look at each other, both stunned.
Caitlin—thought Gengar was cuter than Volcarona?
When put that way, it was true; Gengar was so cute, fat, and funny.
"Phantom Force."
Gengar transformed into a shadow, passing through the sea of fire, heading straight for Volcarona.
"Quiver Dance!"
Seizing the moment of Gengar's Phantom Force, Alder had Volcarona perform a graceful Quiver Dance. Unlike the feeling of Lilligant dancing Quiver Dance, Volcarona's Quiver Dance had more power.
While Volcarona was dancing, rings of scorching wind circled its body.
Alder had combined Quiver Dance with Heat Wave, allowing a Bug-type Pokémon, which would otherwise be extremely vulnerable while using Quiver Dance, to have defensive capabilities.
"Quiver Dance and Heat Wave? So it can be used like this—"
Lucas muttered to himself, feeling that Lilligant could also learn from this method.
Gengar appeared behind Volcarona. Volcarona instantly flipped its body, its deep blue eyes meeting Gengar's giant scarlet ones.
"Dark Pulse!"
Instead of the conventional wave method, Gengar gathered shadow energy directly in its hand this time, letting it rotate in its palm, and pressed it against Volcarona's face.
Everything can be a Rasengan!
Volcarona retracted its wings and then suddenly opened them. A powerful Heat Wave erupted between the two, pushing them apart, causing Gengar's Dark Pulse to miss.
Volcarona spun its body and flew high into the sky.
"It's over, Volcarona's Quiver Dance is about to be completed."
Gengar looked up at Volcarona, which had already flown high into the sky, and scratched its big bottom somewhat uncomfortably.
What should it do?
It bared its white teeth at Lucas.
Then, under Lucas's murderous gaze, it opened its mouth and started to Sing. The singing voice was like a rusty saw constantly sawing through wood.
"Is this—Perish Song?"
Shauntal covered her ears and asked.
"Looking at it, it doesn't seem like it—"
Cynthia shook her head.
Alder was also startled by the sudden singing; he thought Gengar was using Perish Song.
"Volcarona, go! Use Fiery Dance and let it feel the heat of the sun!"
Volcarona, having completed its Quiver Dance, started to Fiery Dance again, and the scorching sea of fire surged toward Gengar once more.
The next second, Volcarona looked up at the sky, where dark clouds had gathered.
Drops of water fell, landing into the sea of fire below, then evaporating. After the water droplets evaporated, more followed.
It was raining.
"This is—Rain Dance?"
Alder's mouth hung open. He didn't expect Gengar to open its mouth to Sing and use Rain Dance instead.
Cynthia: "..."
"I didn't expect it to use Rain Dance—and I didn't expect Lucas's Gengar to know Rain Dance."
Shauntal was between laughter and tears, "But why does it have to Sing when using Rain Dance?"
"It should be a measure to distract the opponent," the Dark-type Elite, Grimsley, said from the side.
The others nodded in agreement.
But only Lucas knew that Gengar wasn't trying to distract the opponent; it just couldn't help but want to Sing.
Azumarill and Lapras at the Breeding House would Sing when using Rain Dance, and over time, Gengar had picked it up. Especially since it had recently been in contact with Meloetta, which made it even more eager.
Under the rain, the previously surging sea of fire instantly shrank by more than half. When it reached Gengar, Gengar simply used Dark Pulse to disperse the sea of fire.
Water vapor enveloped the entire field, and the visible range kept shrinking. Gengar flashed a naive smile at Volcarona, its figure flickered, and then it stayed in place.
Volcarona felt a sudden palpitation for no reason.
"Lucas, Rain Dance is truly a great move."
Alder sincerely praised Lucas. Lucas was stunned. Alder laughed heartily and said, "For you, it is; for me, it is the same."
Alder roared again like a fiery lion, "Volcarona, Hurricane!"
In rain or storm conditions, Hurricane's accuracy reaches one hundred percent.
A terrifying Hurricane began to gather, and the storm amplified by Quiver Dance was imposing.
"Gengar—probably won't be able to take this move."
"Using Rain Dance to weaken the power of Fire-type moves, but he clearly overlooked one point: that Volcarona doesn't just use Fire-type moves."
Grimsley commented from the side, thinking that this battle between Gengar and Volcarona was already over.
"Mr. Alder, did you know? Gengar is the darling of the shadows."
Upon hearing Lucas's words, Alder was a bit confused, "Gengar is indeed the darling of the shadows. I guess there aren't many Pokémon that can reach such a high affinity with shadows as the Gengar species."
Lucas nodded, "That's why, Mr. Alder, Gengar is very suitable for lurking."
Alder was stunned. Then he looked high into the sky. Behind Volcarona, a grinning Gengar was holding a massive Dark Void, pressing it toward Volcarona's back.
In front of Volcarona, there was another Gengar, floating in the air, motionless, just grinning.
Two Gengar?!
No! That's not right! Double Team?!
After the Hurricane hit the Gengar in front of Volcarona, that Gengar turned into a wisp of smoke and merged into the storm.
Volcarona sensed the crisis behind it and hurriedly turned around to protect itself. Just as it managed to turn its face back, it saw a massive Dark Void covering it.
Boom!
The Dark Void exploded violently the moment it touched Volcarona.
Volcarona fell directly onto the field. Since the rain had extinguished the sea of fire on the field, the entire field was now covered in water vapor.
After a long while, the rain stopped, and the water vapor dissipated. Volcarona began to stagger and fly up, three of its wings broken. As soon as it poked its head out, it saw the purple-black demon in front of it again. Volcarona heard the purple demon speak. It said: "Good night~"
Boom!
Volcarona smashed into the pit again, completely losing consciousness.
Gengar patted its little fat hands in the air.
"Gen Gengar—"
Done, work finished.
It looked at the unconscious Volcarona and shook its head.
"So easy to trick. I give you a little rain and you're so happy."
"Looks like a simple Pokémon that hasn't been tricked before."
The newly awakened Volcarona, upon hearing Gengar's words, fainted from anger again.
Gengar: "? —∑(°∀°)"
"Don't you go framing me!"
Alder recalled Volcarona. In this 5V5 battle, he had been shut out.
He walked up to Lucas and extended his hand, "I lost."
And Lucas also extended his hand, "Good game!"
At this time, Cynthia and the others also walked over.
Iris was in disbelief; she hadn't expected Grandpa Alder, whom she regarded as her goal, to lose.
And Ash seemed to have expected this result long ago. The first thing he said was: "Lucas, come battle me!"
"Dash, throw him out for me."
Lucas didn't even look back and ordered Dash to throw Ash out.
"You seemed to have expected that I would use Hurricane?"
Alder asked curiously. Lucas pursed his lips and said, "In the rain, no one could resist a high-power Flying-type move like Hurricane with one hundred percent accuracy, right?"
"Everything is really in your control—"
Alder smiled and shook his head. To this, Lucas also shook his head, "Even if Volcarona didn't use Hurricane, Gengar could still lurk behind Volcarona."
Iris was confused.
"Water vapor."
Cynthia said a sentence, and everyone present suddenly realized.
"After the visible range was reduced, Volcarona must have only been staring at the Gengar in front of it. Unfortunately, Gengar had already used Double Team with the help of the water vapor to leave a clone in place, while the real body had already left with the help of the water vapor."
Cynthia analyzed.
"Your heart is so dirty."
Caitlin said in a low voice.
The voice was very quiet, but everyone present could hear it.
Lucas was silent for a moment.
This is called strategy! Do you understand!
Although Gengar could defeat Volcarona by using firepower, this is a formal battle, so it must be more spectacular!
Alder seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and looked at Lucas, "Then, in the future, the Unova League—"
Lucas reached out and interrupted him, "You are still the Champion of the Unova League; I am not."
Alder was stunned, not reacting to what was going on.
Lucas then continued, "I didn't defeat you through a formal match, so I am not the Champion of the Unova League."
Alder frowned, "That's a bit troublesome."
"And I don't want to be the Champion of the Unova League."
Lucas said again, "However, if the Unova region needs my help with certain specific matters, I can handle them in the capacity of an acting Unova League Champion."
"Just like Officer Looker?" Grimsley asked.
Lucas nodded, "That's right, but please remember, the Champion is still Alder. I'm just doing this part-time. Also, remember to pay me my salary."
"That's actually a pretty good choice." Grimsley nodded. He knew that Lucas's suggestion was appropriate. He looked at Alder; this old man had given so much to the Unova region, and his most loyal partner had even fallen while fighting alongside him.
On a personal level, he really wanted Alder to get some well-deserved rest, but in terms of League status, the Unova League needed a Champion to reassure the public and anchor the League.
Now that Lucas, who possessed Champion-level strength, could anchor the Unova League from the shadows, this result was excellent for Alder, as it meant he could finally get some rest.
"Alright, since the matters in the Unova region are resolved, it's time for us to eat. After dinner, we should head back to the Sinnoh region."
"But aren't you supposed to act as proxy—"
"Don't worry. You can collect any matters that require the Champion's attention and give me a call. I'll come over to pick them up, and once I'm done handling them, I'll bring them back to you."
"But—"
"There's enough time; I have an Anywhere Door."
Except for Shauntal and Caitlin, the other two Elite members were completely confused. What's an Anywhere Door?
After dinner, Lucas sat quietly on the grass, watching the golden-red sunset in the distance.
He stroked the head of the Ninetales lying on his lap. "Ninetales, I never thought I'd end up becoming a Champion, handling Champion duties."
Lucas said softly, "And I hate trouble so much."
Ninetales' tail gently patted Lucas's back, as if comforting him.
"Shu." We are always here.
There was a sound beside him. Lucas turned his head and found Alder sitting next to him.
"What's wrong, Alder?"
"Thank you, Lucas."
Alder's words made Lucas freeze up. He was stunned for a moment before saying, "No need to say that. Cynthia often tells me that being a Champion means having the responsibilities of one. Although I'm not an official Champion, at least I have the strength of one."
"Besides, I quite like the Unova region."
Lucas remembered the little one he saw a few days ago and smiled. "No matter where you go, there are always very cute people and Pokémon."
"It is you, Alder, whom I, as a junior, must thank for your hard work."
Alder shook his head, shifted into a cross-legged position, and said, "What's so hard about that? Isn't the Champion there to protect humans and Pokémon? Since I am the Champion, I must have the responsibilities of a Champion, just like you said."
"I've been too tired these past few years. The passing of my old partner was a huge blow to me, causing me to lose the motivation to continue battling."
There was a hint of sadness in Alder's tone.
"That's why I've been searching all over the Unova region for Trainers with the potential to become the Unova League Champion, and guiding them, hoping they could defeat me soon and become the Champion, so I could retire properly and live the life I want."
"It was this exact mindset that led to what happened recently; I wasn't able to make it back in time. If it weren't for you and Champion Cynthia, who knows how much damage the Unova region would have suffered. Speaking of which, I owe you both a thank you."
"We're all friends, why say such things?"
Lucas waved his hand, while his other hand gently massaged Ninetales. "Your ace, Volcarona—"
"Fell at the hands of the Legendary Pokémon Zekrom. But the second before it fell, it was still fighting for my ideals."
Alder said, "A Champion always needs an ace. Even though my ace is gone, in the eyes of the public, I still need to have a Volcarona to serve as my ace."
Lucas suddenly realized. No wonder he still had a Volcarona—
"It should be said, your shared ideals."
Alder smiled gently. "Yes—our ideals—"
Lucas turned to look and found that Alder's eyes were filled with tears.
"Today's sunset is beautiful, just like its silhouette."
Lucas's throat moved. After a long while, he said, "I'm sorry."
Alder was stunned. He looked at Lucas, gently wiped the tears from his eyes, and said, "He came to see me yesterday, before you arrived."
"Hm?"
"He flew here with Zekrom, just like that, stood in front of me, and said sorry."
"I didn't expect him to apologize to me. In the past, I exhausted all my strength trying to make him turn back, but I couldn't make him see reason, and in the end, I even lost my partner."
"So, the moment he apologized to me, I knew he had turned back. I felt genuinely happy at that moment because the heart and blood of my partner and me hadn't been in vain."
Alder continued, "We talked for a long time under the night sky that day, including about his new goal—it's still about liberating Unova, but it's completely different from his previous goal. I believe if he really achieves that, with him and the League Champion there, the Unova region should be safer and more stable, right?"
"I can understand him. Growing up in such a suffocating environment is what caused his paranoid personality. But now everything is moving in a good direction, isn't it?"
Lucas nodded with a smile.
"You don't need to apologize to me, Lucas. You are his teacher. It was you who pulled him back from the darkness with your own hands, letting him embrace the sunlight of the Unova region again. It was also you who saved the Unova region with your own hands. For my sake, you were even willing to anchor the Unova League. You shouldn't be apologizing to me. On the contrary, I am the one who should be apologizing to you. Sorry for all the trouble the Unova region has caused you."
"It's all small stuff. In the Sinnoh region, I've even resolved things even more terrifying than this."
Lucas sighed softly and said.
Alder thought for a moment and said, "Arceus?"
Lucas nodded. "That is truly terrifying. No matter what Legendary Pokémon it is, they can only get beaten in front of it. Palkia, Dialga, Giratina, and Lugia—these four powerful Pokémon had absolutely no room to fight back in front of it."
"So that's how it is—does that mean the Unova region is actually relatively better?"
Lucas hummed. "More than that—"
"Let's not talk about this. I'm telling you now, I'll help you hold the fort for two years at most. If you can't find a Champion within two years, I'm running off. The Champion job just doesn't suit me at all."
Lucas reminded Alder, and Alder frowned.
"Two years? That should be enough."
"By the way, have you found any good prospects during this time?"
"Yes, there are a few who I feel have quite a lot of promise this year."
"Who?"
"Ash is one, one is named Trip, one is named Cameron—the last one is someone I met by chance, also from Pallet Town, named Gary."
Lucas: ———— It's over, no hope for this year. Lucas's face turned ashen.
"Then it's over." Lucas said painfully.
Because he knew everyone Alder mentioned. Trip goes without saying; he was eliminated in the first round and could be considered the worst-written rival of Ash. Cameron—also didn't have much hope. As for Ash—if it were the Ash from the Sinnoh region, there might be hope. As for Gary—that guy might actually have a chance.
"Gary might have a chance, but he—shouldn't be participating in this Vertress Conference, right?"
"Why? Do you know this Gary?"
"Because he—is also my student. He is a Pokémon Researcher—"
Alder: ???
"To tell you the truth, Ash is too, but based on his performance in the Unova region, I guess it's a bit doubtful."
"With your eye for talent, no wonder you've been waiting for a new Champion—"
Lucas was already despairing over Alder's judgment.
"Oh right, I also met a young man, very strong, but unfortunately he isn't participating in the Vertress Conference."
"Hm? Why?"
"Because he said Ash acts too childishly."
"That's probably not what he said, right? It should be that Ash is too useless in the Unova region, right?"
Alder: ———— "How did you know?"
Lucas facepalmed. He didn't even need to think to know who it was. Didn't he say he was going to travel to the Hoenn region? Why did he run to the Unova region? As expected, he was still worried about Ash, right? And then he found out Ash really was like a loser—
"He wouldn't also be—" Listening to Alder's question, Lucas nodded slowly.
Alder: "————" "Tell me honestly, how many students do you actually have?"
"None left. The last one is in the Galar region."
The two fell into a long silence.
After a long time, Lucas spoke: "Have you thought about—Iris?"
"Iris?" Alder was a bit surprised. Lucas nodded and said, "She has some abilities that ordinary people don't have."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, a girl from the Village of Dragons, heading towards becoming a Dragon-type Master. I think very highly of her."
"Since that's the case—"
"Guide her a bit, who knows?"
"I will. After the Vertress Conference is over, I will personally guide her, and then let her defeat you."
"What's the point of defeating me? You are the Champion of the Unova region, not me."
"Oh, that's true. So troublesome—"
"You can take your time being troubled. We should get going. See you next time, Alder."
"See you next time, Lucas."
"Gengar, it's time to go home."
"Gen gengar—" I'm coming.
"Why are you choking me?"
"Gen gengar!" I heard from Gothitelle that you asked it to use psychic power to block your hearing just now!
"Gen gengar!" I was singing my heart out, why didn't you listen?! Why didn't you listen! I sang so well!
"Gothitelle, you betrayed me!"
"Gothitelle." Where are Meloetta and Victini?
"Oh right, let me go first. There's still something to resolve!" Gengar then let go of Lucas indignantly.
Lucas looked at Meloetta and Victini hovering in the air and smiled. "So, are you coming back with me?"
Meloetta and Victini were still a bit conflicted. "It's okay, just think of it as going over to play for a while. When you want to come back, I'll bring you back. I keep my word."
Hearing Lucas say this, Meloetta and Victini looked at each other and nodded together. "Tini~" "Melo~"
"Hey, stop pulling my hair! Also, why are you choking me again! Let go! I can't open the Distortion World channel!" "Gothitelle, help!"
"You damn Gengar, you're even farting at me! This is unbearable!" "You damn fatty, stay right there!"
"Azumarill, catch him for me, I'll add a chicken leg to your meal tonight!" "Gen gengar!" If you catch him for me, I'll give you all his chicken legs tonight.
Lucas lunged, tackling Gengar to the ground. Gengar licked him directly with its big tongue, then nimbly escaped from Lucas's grasp.
"Gen gengar—" Nyeh nyeh nyeh, come and catch me— "I'll catch you! Take my Deadly Scissors Kick!" Lucas locked Gengar with his legs.
"Gen gengar!"
"Didn't expect that, did you? I secretly hid a Cheri Berry, just to guard against you!" "Gen gengar!" "Prepare to die!" "Awoo—" "Gen gengar—"
Cynthia withdrew her fist and smiled as she said goodbye to everyone at the Unova League. Gothitelle used its psychic power to drag Gengar, who was clutching its head, and Lucas as they followed behind Cynthia, leaving the Unova League building.
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