Professor Johan — A Teacher with Students Across the World?

Professor Johan's advancement to the Top 16 set the internet ablaze.

It wasn't that anyone questioned his strength—on the contrary, his capabilities were well recognized. The real buzz centered around Ceruledge's transformation into Armarouge.

After all, Ceruledge is a Fire/Ghost-type, while Armarouge is a Fire/Psychic-type. If a single Pokémon could freely switch between the two forms, it essentially gains access to three types: Fire, Ghost, and Psychic.

Moreover, Ceruledge is a physical attacker, while Armarouge is a special attacker. If it can switch forms freely, it would be maxed out in both offensive stats!

This simply didn't match the official base stat calculations from the League...

As a result, Charcadet, Ceruledge, and Armarouge shot to the top of the trending topics across the net.

Especially in the Paldea region.

After all, Charcadet is originally native to Paldea and most abundant there.

Suddenly, everyone wanted to catch a Charcadet and evolve it freely between its two forms.

It wasn't just stylish—it was strong. And with a transformation gimmick?!

Johan single-handedly reignited the region's love for Charcadet.

Paldea's Charcadet population? Shaking in their armored boots.

As for the online discussion, Johan simply shrugged it off.

Ceruledge's gimmick? Nothing too special.

It's no different from Aegislash, right?

Aegislash in Shield Form has 140 base in both defenses. Switch to Blade Form, and its defenses drop to 50, but attack and special attack skyrocket to 140.

With a decent HP and speed stat, Aegislash's total base stat technically adds up to 680.

Comparable to a legendary Pokémon!

But in truth, base stats just represent a Pokémon's potential growth direction—they don't cap the true potential of a Pokémon.

Like Giovanni's Beedrill—with only a 395 base stat total—still terrifying.

Granted, Giovanni's Beedrill is a unique case. But cases of low-evolution or base forms defeating evolved powerhouses? Not uncommon.

And if we're really talking about form-switching monsters, Deoxys still reigns supreme.

Attack Form: double 180 offenses. Defense Form: double 160 defenses. Speed Form: 180 speed.

If you count all its forms? A total base stat of 910.

Now that's busted. Johan said if Deoxys showed up in a match, he'd report it himself.

The League, eager to ride the hype, arranged a special post-match interview with Johan.

"So, Professor Johan," the elegant host asked, "this transformation between Ceruledge and Armarouge... Is this your latest discovery?"

"Well," Johan smiled, "as a professor—and part-time researcher—I may have stumbled across something interesting."

"Will this research be published?"

"If it can be widely replicated… perhaps."

What he didn't say was...

The key lay in Ceruledge's armor.

It wasn't too hard to make. Just required:

Ho-Oh's Sacred Fire,

Celebi's time magic,

Deoxys' memory-metal fragments,

and a little bit of expert craftsmanship.

So yeah—just a tiny bit of work.

The first day of Top 32-to-Top 16 matches wrapped up.

Some matchups stood out.

For example, Flint and Volkner—the two friends and rivals—faced off.

After intense back-and-forth, Flint and his Infernape emerged victorious.

Volkner, despite the loss, gained significant praise. He was hailed as Sinnoh's strongest Gym Leader—potential Elite Four material.

Elsewhere, Marshal of Opelucid lost to Acerola from Alola.

It couldn't be helped—he specialized in Fighting-types, and she was a Ghost-type expert. Bad matchup.

Though Acerola was younger and technically weaker, the type advantage and a bit of luck saw her through.

This proved again: specializing in one type could breed power—but also glaring weaknesses.

Still, tomorrow's matchups excited Johan the most.

Cynthia vs. Aaron!

Steven vs. Poppy!

Cynthia and Aaron, both from Sinnoh. Big sis versus lil bro—would she win, crush him, or obliterate him?

Steven and Poppy—both Steel-type trainers. Iron clash. But Poppy was about to become Johan's student, and Steven already was his top student. Teacher's pride was on the line.

That evening—

"Professor, you needed some metal?" Steven had tracked down Johan.

One of Johan's luxury balls shook slightly—Tinkaton was excited.

She had no resistance to any metal, whether for herself or her friends.

"Yes..." Johan sighed.

Ceruledge's armor needed repair.

Technically, it could repair itself—it was enchanted—but Tinkaton saw armor repair time as upgrade time.

With funding secure and never stingy with his Pokémon, Johan shrugged.

"How much do you have?"

"Uh…" Steven blinked. "How much do you need?"

"I brought a decent amount. More's on the plane."

Johan sweatdropped. "N-nevermind. Not that much."

The Plasma Frigate alone should keep Tinkaton busy.

He had to budget too—especially for Larvitar's food.

The little guy hadn't evolved yet, but its appetite? Endless. Johan fed it rare ores and even rarer minerals. The kid had grown a lot.

Plus, it held a fragment of the Earth Plate and a chunk of Landorus' sacred "Terra Stone."

Add in Giovanni's The Way of the Earth, and the not-so-bright-seeming baby was turning into a beast.

But in Masters-level competition? It wasn't quite ready.

Still, maybe...

"If it's just to set weather—" Johan rubbed his chin.

He glanced at the little dragon chewing rocks twice its size.

Sending a baby out on stage... people would say he was competing in a nursery cup.

"Forget it. Let's not rush evolution."

Once Larvitar evolved, it would enter a cocooning stage.

And when it reached Tyranitar...

Shudder.

The food bill alone was terrifying.

Suppress evolution!

In the world of Pokémon, there were three schools of thought on evolution:

Early Evolution – Get stronger fast, but risk missing key moves.

Natural Evolution – Let it happen organically.

Suppressed Evolution – Delay it for better move learning and stat development.

Everstone? Mostly used for option three.

In the end, none of these impacted a Pokémon's max potential. It was about preference and strategy.

"Right," Steven remembered, "about that rare pink diamond in Kalos I was looking for—"

Pink diamond? Eternal Diamond? Diancie's?

"What happened?"

"Well, I didn't find it. I had to return for the tournament."

Whew. Johan sighed in relief.

If Steven had found that, Diancie might be nearby… and that meant Xerneas might awaken… and Yveltal...

Nope. Not ready for that drama.

"But I did find some mineral-rich diamonds. Possibly Carbink remnants. Do you want some?"

Crunch— Larvitar perked up.

Johan deadpanned. "You have enough for yourself?"

"I don't need much."

Then why'd you look for them?!

"…Fine. Give me some."

Larvitar beamed.

"Got it! Just a bit," Steven grinned.

Johan was satisfied—at least Steven hadn't found a Mega Stone for Tyranitar.

"Oh, one more thing," Johan said, remembering Steven's match tomorrow.

"Poppy's young, but strong. And she's from Paldea. Familiar with Terastallization?"

Steven nodded thoughtfully. "A bit. Not much."

"Just be aware," Johan warned.

Poppy probably had a Tera Orb.

But Steven had Mega Metagross.

The next day.

Cynthia vs. Aaron opened the day.

It was a spirited battle—but Aaron lost.

Even Flint and Lucian weren't sympathetic. They laughed.

Aaron wasn't even that upset.

Losing to Cynthia? Old news.

Still, he'd grown. Cynthia praised him.

Then came Steven vs. Poppy.

The result? As expected.

But during the match, the two talked.

Like, actually chatted.

Poppy asked about Johan's teaching style. What he taught. If he gave homework.

Steven? He answered everything.

A championship match turned into a meet-and-greet.

By the end, Poppy was calling him "senpai" every other sentence. Steven was embarrassed to have KO'd his junior.

Johan facepalmed.

He's just a psychology teacher, not their homeroom teacher!

Still, from that point on, Johan gained a new nickname—

Professor Johan, whose students span the globe.

Steven. Poppy. Not to mention Roxanne, Flannery, Penny...

The man was a top-tier educator.

Johan sighed.

Fine, fine. Call me whatever you want. It's not like I'm chasing titles.

With the Top 16 now set, the bracket appeared onscreen.

Johan immediately found his name.

Last match: "Professor of the World" Johan vs. "Son of the Storm" Raihan!

Oh?

He'd drawn Raihan.

Opening match tomorrow: Cynthia vs. Lucian!

"Sh*t!!" Lucian cursed.

Flint cackled.

Lucian always laughed at Flint's losses to Cynthia. Now? Karma.

"What're you laughing at?" Johan glared. "Your opponent's Rika."

Flint's grin froze.

"Oh, great."

"Ground-types? I'm not scared."

He'd faced Cynthia hundreds of times!

Other matches included Lance vs. Wallace, Lorelei vs. Diantha, Leon vs. Drasna, Caitlin vs. Acerola, Steven vs. Malva.

Each one promised fireworks.

Johan's only regret?

Lance vs. Lorelei didn't happen.

Steven vs. Wallace either.

Missed opportunities.

Still, every remaining competitor was a future legend.

"Which makes me," Johan muttered, "the odd one out."

----------

Powerstones?

For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates