"This is already on par with Master League level," Professor Oak remarked with awe.
"Not just on par," Crystal murmured. "It might even surpass it..."
"And yet it's supposed to be a Baby Cup," Gold muttered under his breath.
Red-haired Lorelei, standing by the railing, looked towards the center of the Arena with interest.
"To think Natsume's team has grown this strong in just a year."
"His training is incredible," Red said quietly. "And his command."
Blue Oak shot him a look, as if saying, You're praising him instead of me?
But then again, even he could only perform at the same level as Natsume-sensei at best.
And besides…
Natsume-sensei had even mastered the essence of Ground-type techniques.
"Interesting." The brown-haired young man crossed his arms and smiled proudly.
BOOM!
After three battles, the shattered battlefield sank, replaced by a fresh, standard arena.
"Is there still a chance to turn this around?" Takao asked himself before steeling his resolve.
If there was an answer, it lay in the trust granted to him by the Island Guardians.
"Go, Samurott!"
Samurott, a four-legged blue sea beast, stood tall, its limbs armored with shells. Its blade-like hooves and horn could slice through steel with ease.
A silent and imposing warrior, Samurott wielded dual blades—its horn and water swords—capable of cleaving metal apart.
"One of Unova's starter Pokémon?" Professor Oak praised. "He's traveled quite a few regions, it seems."
Gold felt a strange unease but couldn't pinpoint why.
This battle might end faster than expected.
His eyes flicked to the field as a Dive Ball's light burst open, revealing Blastoise's silhouette.
"Blastoise! ヾ(■_■)"
The moment it appeared, a fierce aura erupted, sending a shockwave through the crowd—even Kanto Champion Lance felt his pulse quicken.
This is... Natsume-sensei's Blastoise, the one that was said to have saved Tree of Beginning!
"Oh, it's Blastoise," Gold exhaled in relief, grinning. "Guess my instincts were right!"
Professor Oak gave him a puzzled look.
By the time he turned back, the two Water-type starters had already clashed.
CRASH!
Samurott's horn gleamed with the sharp light of Sacred Sword as it charged like a warrior.
Blastoise simply threw a punch, its fist wreathed in icy energy.
The moment fist met blade, a shockwave blasted outward, ruffling the hair of the front-row spectators.
The ground shattered again. Takao's pupils shrank.
"Samurott!" The Samurott roared in pain.
Its horn was encased in ice, frozen solid—rendering it useless!
"Blastoise… ヾ(■_■)" Blastoise casually shook its fist.
Too close… almost lost that one!
It glanced at its knuckles, then wisely retreated, raising its cannons.
Takao knew Blastoise had taken damage too.
But his Samurott wasn't just an attacker!
His eyes hardened as he raised his arm, the Z-Ring gleaming with a deep blue crystal.
The cameras zoomed in. The crowd gasped.
"An Alolan Z-Crystal!"
"Takao is also a breakthrough in the Island Trial!?"
On the grand stage of the Indigo Plateau finals, Takao finally revealed his trump card.
"Samurott!" He struck the Z-Crystal, his movements precise as water energy surged across the field.
"Hydro Vortex!!"
The audience watched in stunned silence. Even in this dire situation, Takao had a way to fight back.
"Waterium Z," Red acknowledged. "Not bad."
Blue Oak smirked. "Natsume-sensei probably doesn't even need his trump card for this..."
Lorelei sighed, brushing her hair aside.
Natsume had watched Takao's entire Z-Move sequence with a conflicted expression.
When a cute girl like Lana performed the Waterium Z dance, it was charming.
But a thirty-something man doing it in front of the entire league?
This is just public humiliation at this point!
Still, he didn't underestimate it.
The swirling Aura of Ripple stirred the air around him, and Natsume's own Aura layered another buff onto Blastoise.
"Blastoise!" Natsume commanded sharply.
"Full-power Hydro Pump!!"
This time, Blastoise tossed aside its sunglasses.
A surge of energy seemed to crackle in the air.
As the pulse of Waterium Z gathered around Samurott, a cold sweat dripped down Blastoise's forehead.
This was the moment of crisis!
Torrent—activate!!
In an instant, Samurott opened its maw, blasting a torrent of water into the ground, sending a massive wave surging forward.
The towering wall of water spiraled into a whirlpool, swallowing turf, rubble, and tiles alike. With a deafening roar, it crashed toward Blastoise!
Standing firm against the oncoming deluge, Blastoise raised its cannons.
"Blastoise!"
Stage-one Hydro Pump—deployed!
Two full-powered Hydro Pumps erupted at once!!
The twin streams merged into a single colossal pillar of water, roaring like a dragon as it slammed into the heart of the whirlpool—shattering it completely.
Water sprayed everywhere, and Takao's eyes widened in disbelief.
BOOM!!
The Hydro Pump didn't stop after obliterating the whirlpool. It plowed straight into Samurott, embedding it into the stadium's far wall.
With that, the storm passed, and a faint rainbow shimmered over the battlefield.
The audience was stunned.
That was a Waterium Z-powered move!
And you just dispersed it with a Hydro Pump?!
"Blastoise… ヾ(■_■)" Blastoise picked up its sunglasses and put them back on, heaving a sigh.
That was close!
"Guess I don't have to worry about Hydro Pump's accuracy rate after all."
Natsume wiped his brow too.
So this was what a full-power Hydro Pump looked like…
Honestly, even I'm seeing it for the first time!
"Turns out my Blastoise… is basically a walking Z-Move." Natsume fell deep into thought.
In the stands, Green turned to Professor Oak in disbelief. "Was that… Hydro Cannon?"
"No." She shook her head. "My Blastoise's Hydro Cannon was never that powerful…"
"Definitely Hydro Cannon," Gold said, arms behind his head, utterly unfazed.
"Calling Hydro Pump 'Water Gun' and Hydro Cannon 'Hydro Pump'… Only Natsume-sensei would do that."
Professor Oak nodded silently in agreement.
Honestly, even I've never seen a Hydro Cannon like that before…
"Contestant Takao sends out his fifth Pokémon!"
Seeing Natsume recall Blastoise again, the audience finally realized—
This wasn't about low HP.
Natsume-sensei was aiming for a six-to-zero sweep in the Indigo Plateau Conference finals!
"This is insane!"
"Is this really the same Natsume-sensei who joined the Baby Cup?!"
"Natsume-sensei, go all out!!"
Takao's fifth Pokémon was his pride and joy—the Perish Song strategy core.
"Perish Song, huh?" Natsume murmured, recognizing the tactic all too well. "Let's wrap this up quickly."
Mismagius levitated onto the field, its three crimson gems radiating an eerie, oppressive aura as its hollow eyes locked onto its opponent.
"Go, Gengar!"
Natsume didn't throw a Poké Ball. Instead, he glanced to the side.
"Gengar! (￣▽￣)／" Gengar floated into battle and, as usual, gave a cheerful wave.
Even as a Ghost-type, Perish Song could still cloud its mind.
"Perish Song!" Takao barked, hoping to stall with Protect.
Mismagius swayed gracefully, its haunting, hypnotic melody filling the air—enough to lull anyone into oblivion.
"You handle this." Natsume left it to Gengar.
"Gengar!" Grinning, Gengar planted its feet, fists clenched as blue light flared in its eyes.
Suddenly, Mismagius choked mid-note, horrified to find itself paralyzed.
Disable!
"No matter—Perish Song already took effect!" Takao shouted. "Imprison!"
Whether Shadow Ball or Psychic, both were moves these two Pokémon excelled at.
As Mismagius's eyes glowed blue, Gengar's Shadow Ball fizzled out. It pouted, aggrieved.
Then, in a flash, Gengar flickered behind Mismagius and unleashed a flurry of punches.
"Gengar! (σ;Дσ;)="
Even with Gengar's mediocre Attack stat, the Ghost-type advantage left Mismagius helpless.
"What kind of speed is that?!"
"I didn't even see it move—just a full combo out of nowhere!"
"Looks like Gengar's usual Shadow Ball and Psychic were sealed by Imprison," Professor Oak mused. "Resorting to physical attacks was its only option."
Gold gulped.
Only option?
Gengar looked like it was having the time of its life!
"Hold on—use Protect!"
Mismagius threw up a barrier, only to freeze as Gengar appeared right beside its face.
Then—lick.
A cold, slimy sensation crawled over its cheek.
"Gengar!"
You're not actually trying to use Lick.
You're just being a creep!
How is this even allowed on live TV?!
No paralysis triggered, but the sheer horror of the slobbering assault knocked out the defensively frail Mismagius.
"Gengar!" Landing smoothly, Gengar planted its hands on its hips and grinned.
Got it.
Perish Song doesn't seem so hard to learn.
Time to go home and serenade my Trainer with it!
A complete and utter stomp.
What should've been an ace duel ended with Gengar barely breaking a sweat.
The sheer ease of the battle left the audience dazed.
Is this really the finals of the Indigo Plateau Conference?!
Natsume-sensei might as well be battling rookies!
Suddenly, the audience snapped back to reality—
The opponent was down to their last Pokémon.
Takao forced a bitter smile and tossed his Poké Ball. "Go, Shuckle!"
His plan had been to use Mismagius to set up the battlefield for Shuckle's strategy.
Yet… the loss came swift and brutal.
Now, all he could hope for was Shuckle stalling with Toxic and Rest to salvage some dignity.
Natsume raised an eyebrow.
He'd only intended to give Togepi some spotlight.
But now… winning didn't seem impossible?
"Go, Togepi!" Natsume threw his Poké Ball.
"Togepi doo-ee! ヾ"
The tiny Pokémon popped out of its shell, limbs flailing.
Ta-da!
Togepi had entered the fray once more!
"So cute!" The audience melted instantly.
Gold stared for a moment, then glanced at the Togekiss beside him.
"Togekiss?" The Togekiss glared back, as if saying, What're you looking at?
"Never mind… let's keep watching."
Shuckle, equally adorable, immediately retreated into its shell.
"Togepi doo-ee~" Togepi wagged its finger.
Encore!
Takao gritted his teeth.
Trapped in the Encore condition, Shuckle couldn't even counterattack.
Takao looked up sharply, meeting Natsume's gaze.
He'd planned this. He knew this would happen—that's why he sent out Togepi!
A shutout was bad enough… but to predict this too?
"Togepi, use Toxic," Natsume commanded.
Purple venom seeped from Togepi's horn, staining Shuckle's shell a sickly hue.
"Now, Thunder Wave!"
The merciless strategy made the audience collectively gasp.
Since when was Togepi this ruthless?!
Takao's hand trembled as he raised it, taking a deep breath.
"Referee… I forfeit."
If I've sinned, let Officer Jenny punish me.
But getting swept and hit with Toxic stalling?
That's just overkill!
"Togepi doo-ee?" Togepi tilted its head in confusion.
The arena fell dead silent as the crowd exchanged stunned looks.
"The winner of this year's League Tournament—"
Only when the referee's whistle blew did the audience snap out of their daze.
A tidal wave of cheers drowned out the announcement.
All eyes turned to the black-haired young man cradling Togepi in the center of the field.
At that moment, they knew.
A new Indigo Plateau Conference Champion had been crowned.
"Natsume-sensei is insane!!"
Confetti burst into the sky as the crowd roared. Professor Oak smiled, clapping softly.
Red and Blue exchanged glances, recalling their own battles.
With matching grins, they bumped fists.
Ash's eyes burned with excitement and determination.
The silhouette standing beneath the falling confetti—
It overlapped with the images of Red, Green, Professor Oak… all the past Champions.
That was what a Pokémon Master looked like.
"Someday." Ash adjusted his cap, flames dancing in his gaze.
"I'll become a Pokémon Master too!"
The cheers raged on.
As the newly crowned Champion, Natsume posed for photos under the spotlight.
"You three—" He paused, recognizing the disguised Team Rocket trio.
"We're reporters here to document the Champion's victory!" They frantically signaled for silence.
"Sure."
Natsume chuckled, releasing all his Pokémon.
Gengar levitated mid-air; Sylveon lounged at his side, ribbons coiled elegantly.
Togepi squirmed in his arms; Arcanine rested its massive head on his; Sirfetch'd stood stoically.
The trio snapped the shot, then vanished with theatrical waves.
Then came the Champion's award ceremony.
"Congratulations." The red-haired man in a cape lifted the trophy, his expression blank.
"That's it? No emotion at all?" Natsume was taken aback.
"It was expected anyway."
Lance replied quietly, then took the Champion's prize from the host.
A single, eternally burning Moltres tail feather, its flames dancing beautifully.
"This is the Champion's reward for this year's Indigo Plateau Conference," Lance said, sounding almost pained.
"What a steal for you."
Natsume: ???
This is the Champion's reward?
Where's my prize money?!
Hey, did you take a cut or something?!
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