Chapter 200: The top four are revealed!
An unexpected draw resulted in Robin being seriously injured and falling into a coma. The bond evolution with Espeon was also instantly undone.
The nine-tailed Espeon reverted to its normal appearance and was quickly overpowered by the combined attacks of Nami and Pikachu. It lasted less than ten minutes before being defeated.
...
...
"Congratulations to Miss Nami for successfully defending her title in the ring! Please take a break, Miss Nami, and return to your throne after you have recovered."
Meowth held the microphone and took over as the host. Looking at the three challengers on the stage, he asked with a smile:
"So, do any of the remaining three challengers want to continue?"
"This..."
Usopp hesitated for a moment, looked around, and realized that he was the only one of the four challengers who hadn't fought yet.
After thinking it over, Usopp finally decided not to proceed with the challenge.
Needless to say, Garp and Ace are the two strongest fighters. Usopp knew he stood no chance against them!
As for the other two champions, whether Zoro or Nami, both had an overwhelming advantage over him in terms of strength.
Even though the levels of their three Pokémon weren't very different after bond evolution, Zoro's personal strength and Nami's Pikachu's sudden, unimaginable power made them formidable opponents.
After pondering for a long time, Usopp realized...
He couldn't defeat any of the four champions standing before him.
Even though he had a feeling that his journey would end in the top eight, facing the reality of the situation made Usopp feel a bit downcast.
"Sigh..." Thinking about it, he murmured softly, "I didn't expect Nami to have a move as powerful as the Railgun. If I'd known, maybe things could've been different." He sighed, shaking his head, and fell silent.
Usopp, now resigned to his fate, had no intention of continuing.
"..."
"..."
There was a brief silence in the ring. Both Sanji and Joffrey, like Usopp, had no desire to continue challenging.
After a moment, seeing that no one else was stepping forward, Meowth wasn't surprised. This was all part of the plan.
He picked up the microphone again and said with a smile:
"It seems the challengers are a bit tired and have no energy left to fight..."
"After watching such thrilling performances, I'm sure the audience also needs some time to digest everything."
"So, for the next three days, Celestial Island will be open to the public. The audience can experience the unique training facilities in the gym and get up close with Pokémon in Celestial Forest."
"Our Rotoms are spread throughout the island. If any contestant decides to challenge again, the nearest Rotom will notify everyone, so feel free to explore without missing any exciting battles."
"Contestants, please temporarily leave the stage. We've prepared two resting areas for challengers and champions. Please rest well. We look forward to bringing you even more exciting performances soon!"
"..."
As Meowth finished speaking, murmurs filled the arena.
Four or five hours had passed since the semifinals began, and some spectators, exhausted, welcomed the news of Celestial Island opening up and eagerly made their way to the exits, eager to explore the mysterious island.
...
...
Three days passed slowly as tens of thousands of people explored Celestial Island.
In no time, the unveiling ceremony for the top four of this Pokémon League Tournament arrived.
Given the competition results, everyone already knew who the semifinalists were.
There were no surprises. When Zoro, Garp, Ace, and Nami appeared on the champions' stage, the audience erupted in cheers and applause, even drowning out the grand fireworks and salutes.
Over the three days, Sanji had challenged Zoro twice but failed both times due to Zoro's uncanny ability to get stronger as he fought. Even with the explosive power of the blood factor, Sanji couldn't match Zoro.
Additionally, Usopp challenged both Zoro and Nami.
As he expected...
His unusual plant-based attacks had no effect against Zoro's overwhelming strength and were cut down before they could even take root.
Nami and Pikachu, on the other hand, used their familiar rain dance strategy. With the arena filled with thunder and lightning, Usopp had nowhere to hide and was eventually paralyzed and knocked out.
And so...
The top four competition officially concluded. Under the gaze of the audience, the new top four descended from the main stage and gathered at the center of the ring.
Jessie, holding a microphone, shouted passionately:
"Let's once again give the warmest applause to welcome our top four contestants of this Pokémon League Competition!!!"
"They are..."
James and Meowth immediately joined in, calling out in unison:
"The pirate hunter from Shimotsuki Village's Isshin Dojo - Roronoa Zoro!!!"
"The Vice Admiral from Navy Headquarters - Monkey D. Garp!!!"
"The captain of the Spade Pirates from the Kingdom of Goa - Portgas D. Ace!!!"
"And the revolutionary army cadre from Cocoyashi Village - Nami!!!"
"..."
"Waaaaa—"
"What!? Did I hear that right!? Miss Nami is actually with the revolutionary army!!?"
"Oh my gosh! This is the first time I've seen someone from the revolutionary army reveal their identity so openly. I always thought they were like mythical figures..."
"Hey, hey, hey! What's with that strange thought!? But still, having pirates, a navy, a pirate hunter, and a revolutionary on the same stage is pretty wild!"
"Looking at it this way, the Dimensional Merchant sure has a free hand in choosing trading partners, allowing such a bizarre mix of professions in the ring."
"..."
"..."
Upon learning of Nami's true identity as a revolutionary army cadre, the audience was in an uproar.
No one expected that Nami, who seemed to have the most innocent background and looked harmless, would actually be a key member of the revolutionary army!!!
Doflamingo, hidden in the crowd, immediately eyed the figure under a hood not far away, his expression growing serious.
From the first day of the Pokémon League Tournament, he had noticed the presence of Dragon hiding in the crowd.
For experts of their caliber, powerful auras and bloodlust stood out sharply, easy to spot.
But Doflamingo had always thought Dragon was just there to observe. He hadn't anticipated Dragon's presence was to protect the girl named Nami!
This Nami had evidently grown significantly, suggesting the Revolutionary Army had gained another Shichibukai-level fighter in just a few months.
There were also rumors that the Revolutionary Army had obtained Pokémon comparable to the strength of an admiral, and not just one.
Considering all of this...
!!!
Doflamingo suddenly looked up, his eyes widening in shock beneath his dark red sunglasses.
He realized that, despite what people said about Dragon's father, the naval hero Garp, the revolutionary army's current strength might have surpassed that of the Navy Headquarters!
There had been no news of the World Government contacting the Dimensional Merchants.
If he were in Dragon's position, he would never pass up such a golden opportunity!
"Incredible... absolutely incredible..."
Doflamingo, still seated, murmured softly, as if trying to steady his trembling hands in excitement.
Beside him, Morgans, the president of World Economic News, was too absorbed in snapping pictures of the ring with his quick camera to notice anything unusual.
"This is astonishing! The Revolutionary Army, which has been lying low for months, is now making a bold statement. And this girl Nami, becoming a revolutionary cadre at such a young age..."
"It won't be long before she could rise to be a leader in the Revolutionary Army. Haha..."
Hearing Morgans' words, Doflamingo chuckled inwardly, thinking:
"By that time, there may be no more Revolutionary Army left in the world."
——
Nami's sudden self-destruction caught everyone off guard.
However, the event wasn't going to be halted by this minor incident. Furthermore, Nami had already discussed this matter with their leader, Dragon, so she wasn't particularly concerned.
On the stage, a beautifully crafted black box suddenly appeared in front of everyone. At this moment, a voice from the Rotom speaker successfully directed everyone's attention back.
Meowth, his face beaming, raised a paw and announced with a smile, "Alright! Let's get to today's main event..."
"And that is the drawing ceremony for the semifinals of this Pokémon League Tournament!"
Since the semifinals allowed players ample time to recover, the matches were set to begin immediately. Meowth continued, "In front of you is a simple box containing four small balls. Two are marked with an [A] and two with a [B]..."
"Each player will now take turns drawing a ball, and those who draw the same letter will face each other."
"The two who lose their matches will then compete for third and fourth place."
"The two who win will advance to the finals and compete for the championship."
"Do any of the four contestants have any questions?"
As Meowth finished speaking, he looked over at the four participants. At this moment, Nami raised her hand and asked, "Sir Meowth, what if the contestant who places third is actually stronger than the runner-up, but lost due to facing a tougher opponent by chance?"
"Hmm?"
Meowth turned to Nami with half-closed eyes, still smiling, and replied, "Luck is also a part of strength."
"This..."
Nami paused for a moment, then nodded and stepped back. "I understand, thank you, Sir Meowth!"
As she rejoined the others, she and Zoro exchanged glances, and it was clear they were thinking the same thing...
If luck was on their side, one of them might even secure a spot in the final! All they needed was for Garp and Ace to draw the same letter!
Realizing this, both Zoro and Nami felt a surge of excitement, and they couldn't help but look expectantly at the elegant black box.
The tension in the air grew palpable, influenced by Nami and Zoro's anticipation. After listening to Meowth's answer, some of the audience members also picked up on what was at stake. They quickly realized that the outcome of the draw could significantly impact the final results!
After a brief moment of hesitation, Garp stepped forward. "Alright, I'll draw first!"
With that, Garp boldly stepped up, reached into the black box, and pulled out a Poké Ball... engraved with a large black letter [A]!
"Great! Our first contestant, Mr. Garp, has drawn his number. Now, let's have the next contestant step up to draw," Meowth announced, keeping the process moving along.
"I'll go next."
Ace smiled warmly, stepping up with a confident expression. Noticing the tension between Zoro and Nami, he decided to proceed with his draw.
With a shake of the box, Ace reached in and pulled out another Poké Ball.
The crowd held its breath as Zoro, Nami, and the spectators watched with wide eyes, waiting to see what letter Ace had drawn.
"Hehe..."
A playful grin spread across Ace's face as he turned to Garp and said, "Looks like we're going to have our match earlier than expected, old man."
Ace slowly raised the Poké Ball in his hand, revealing the letter on it—[A]!
"Whoa—!"
Upon seeing the letter in Ace's hand, the entire venue—and even viewers worldwide—burst into an uproar!
A spectator immediately clutched his forehead and exclaimed, "Oh my gosh! Ace also got an A! Does that mean either he or Garp will definitely be eliminated before the finals?"
Nearby, an older Navy veteran promptly retorted, "You sound like someone born in the 2000s. Haven't you heard of the legendary feats of the Navy hero Garp!? There's no way he would lose to a rookie pirate! Even with Pokémon, Vice Admiral Garp is unbeatable!"
The veteran's confidence was clear as he pounded his fist against his chest, demonstrating his unwavering faith in Garp's victory.
Meanwhile, other spectators began discussing the odds for Zoro and Nami.
"Meowth is right; luck really is part of strength. So, it looks like either Zoro or Nami might end up in second place, huh? What a fortunate break!"
Despite the impressive performances of Zoro, Nami, and the others, it was clear that no one expected them to stand a chance against the two powerhouses, Garp and Ace.
Still, that's how the tournament was structured.
There were no tricks or manipulation in the draw this time. The previous arrangement of the battle order was primarily to show the world that even those with little strength could achieve greatness with the help of Pokémon!
Now that such demonstrations were no longer needed, there was no point in further manipulations.
With the first matchup now decided, Zoro and Nami didn't need to draw anymore.
Under Meowth's guidance, Garp and Ace quickly took their positions on opposite sides of the ring.
At this moment, everyone—Team Rocket, Enel, and the rest—focused intently on the arena, eagerly anticipating what surprises this long-awaited battle would bring.
Although no one said it, in their hearts, this fight was already the true final!
"It's finally our turn, old man."
On the battlefield, Ace teased in a mockingly relaxed tone, his eyes fixed on Garp standing opposite him.
No matter how calm he tried to sound, he couldn't hide the excitement that made his hands tremble.
"Yes! I finally get to openly beat up my disrespectful grandson!"
Garp clenched his fists, a wide grin spreading across his face. He seemed full of anticipation, like he couldn't wait to land a punch the size of a sandbag on Ace's face.
"Oh?"
Ace raised an eyebrow, his initial excitement cooling at Garp's provocations.
"It'll be interesting to see you slip up! Maybe tomorrow's headline will be, 'Naval Hero Garp Defeated by His Grandson.' What a shame it'd be to lose in front of everyone!"
Garp chuckled, clearly enjoying their banter, and shot back:
"Hmph! Let's see if you can manage that!"
The two of them continued their usual banter, engaging in playful trash talk.
But what neither of them realized was...
Their back-and-forth had left the audience, both in the stands and those watching on screens, completely stunned.