Chapter 20: The Opening

The Johto region originally had four Elite Four members, but last year, two of them retired one after another. In the following regional championship tournament, only Koga met the qualification standards, leaving Johto without a full Elite Four lineup—let alone a Champion.

However, as a major region on par with Kanto, Johto's remaining two Elite Four members were not to be underestimated. In particular, Will, the Psychic-type specialist, was a formidable opponent. Though not as overwhelmingly powerful as Caitlin, he possessed the unique advantage of telepathic control—a signature trait of Psychic-type trainers that made them incredibly difficult to deal with.

By using telepathy to communicate with their Pokémon, Psychic trainers could issue commands almost instantly. Compared to the traditional method of calling out attacks, this allowed them to react much faster, gaining an early advantage in battle.

As footage of Will's past battles was reviewed, it became clear that his core team consisted of over ten Pokémon—similar in number to Klein's frequently used lineup. Predicting exactly which ones he would bring was difficult, but his preference for Psychic-types was undeniable, though there was always room for variation.

At the same time, Will was likely preparing countermeasures against Klein's sandstorm strategy. In an official 6v6 battle, choosing the right lead Pokémon was a crucial factor in determining the flow of the match.

The Indigo Plateau Conference was about to begin, and its opening match was none other than the Kanto vs. Johto Elite Four exhibition battle. Because of this, not only Klein and Will, but all participants of the regional tournament were gathering at the venue. The Kanto League placed great importance on this event. Once Klein finished his business in Old Shore Wharf, he devoted the remaining days entirely to training.

[Pallet Town – Training Grounds]

In the skies above the training field, Scizor and Lucario clashed in midair, locked in a fierce aerial duel. Scizor's pincers flashed with crimson light as it unleashed relentless attacks, while Lucario skillfully evaded, using its Aura and heightened mental awareness to anticipate incoming strikes.

Lucario's precognition ability allowed it to read and dodge attacks with exceptional precision. Though Scizor's strikes were powerful, Lucario's agility gave it the upper hand in maneuverability.

On the other side of the field, Tyranitar extended one massive arm, summoning a colossal sand claw from the swirling dust storm. As it slammed into the ground, the earth trembled as if on the verge of being torn apart.

Facing it, Swampert stood firm, its body glowing with a faint violet aura. A powerful torrent of water surged around it, forming a protective veil known as Waterfall Armor. As Tyranitar's sand claw crashed down, the water shield exploded outward, neutralizing the attack with sheer force.

The raw power unleashed between these four Pokémon sent tremors through the entire mountain range.

Meanwhile, Klein, having just finished tending to a smaller Pokémon, turned his gaze toward the chaos. He let out a sigh, clearly exasperated.

"You're just as helpless as I am, huh?"

The little Pokémon in his arms giggled as Klein sighed again, feeling the turbulent energy in the air and noticing the unease among his other Pokémon.

"Alright, do your thing and calm them down."

As soon as Klein spoke, the small Pokémon leaped onto the ground. Instantly, the entire atmosphere shifted.

The moisture in the earth was drawn out, causing the terrain to dry up. Tiny droplets of water condensed in midair, floating ominously.

Within moments, a suffocating stillness took over the battlefield.

Then, with a sudden burst, countless high-speed water bullets rained down from all directions. Scizor, Lucario, Tyranitar, and Swampert all sensed danger and immediately retreated, dodging the assault.

The water droplets sliced clean through the rocky mountainside, leaving deep scars in the landscape. And yet—this devastating attack wasn't even a move. It was merely a passive ability being manipulated through its natural trait.

As an ancient Pokémon from Hoenn, this little one possessed an extraordinary level of control over water, making it one of the rare few utility-focused Pokémon in Klein's otherwise brute-force-heavy team.

Among Klein's six core Pokémon, the first four followed a raw power strategy, while this little one specialized in battlefield control, absorbing nutrients from the environment and altering the terrain to gain an advantage.

Its ability had been developed to near perfection. Although it hadn't yet evolved, it remained an indispensable member of Klein's team.

Now, with five core members confirmed, the final slot required careful consideration. If Will attempted to disrupt the sandstorm strategy, Klein would need a Pokémon capable of counteracting his interference.

With that thought in mind, he turned to evaluate the rest of his roster.

[Indigo Plateau – Tournament Grounds]

Time passed quickly, and soon, the Kanto vs. Johto Elite Four exhibition match was scheduled for the opening night of the Indigo Plateau Conference.

As one of Kanto's Elite Four, Klein was also an honored guest at the opening ceremony, where he would participate in the Sacred Flame ritual alongside the League President.

"We'll be counting on you for this, Elite Klein," said President Goodshow with a smile.

The last time Goodshow had seen this young man was at the previous tournament's championship match, where he had personally awarded Klein the regional champion title. To think that in such a short time, Klein had already risen to the Elite Four…

As the massive stadium filled with young, eager trainers—including Gary and Ash—Klein couldn't help but feel nostalgic.

Not long ago, he had stood where they were, pushing himself to the limit to claim victory in the regional tournament.

Just as he was reminiscing—

"Wait! She can't be trusted with the Sacred Flame!"

Ash's sudden outburst interrupted the ceremony.

Klein turned his head—only to see that the supposed Flame Keeper had suddenly transformed.

Huh? Jessie?!

Klein's eyes widened.

He had completely failed to recognize her.

In the anime, Jessie's disguises always seemed full of flaws, but in real life, her disguise skills were terrifyingly convincing.

Jessie, James, and Meowth proudly revealed themselves, launching into their usual dramatic performance.

Klein, however, stood there in stunned silence.

Just how reckless are these three…?

Did they seriously infiltrate the Indigo League to steal the Sacred Flame?!

Was Moltres' Sacred Flame really worth the trouble?

The moment Klein snapped out of it, his expression turned cold. Without hesitation, he tossed out a Poké Ball.

Tyranitar emerged in an instant, unleashing a massive sandstorm, sending a crushing wave of sand directly toward Team Rocket.

"Rude little brat! Don't you know it's impolite to interrupt people?!" Jessie huffed.

"Shut up. I've beaten Giovanni—I'm not worried about you three."

Wait… he's fought Giovanni?!

Jessie, James, and Meowth instantly broke out in cold sweats.

Klein narrowed his eyes.

"I have a battle tonight, and you three decided to mess with the League? Unforgivable. Team Rocket—prepare to be annihilated."

With a deafening roar, Tyranitar's sandstorm obliterated Team Rocket's robot, sending them flying.

At the last moment, the Sacred Flame fell—but before it could hit the ground, a surge of telekinetic energy caught it, reshaping it into the form of Moltres and guiding it back to the torch.

Just like in the anime.

Though seeing it live was surreal.

Apart from Klein, many League officials recognized it for what it was—a simple application of telekinetic manipulation.

So… Will was already here.

Ignoring Team Rocket, Klein turned his gaze toward the audience stands.

Dressed in his signature pink suit, Will sat there, calmly nodding in acknowledgment.

Klein… Sandstorm Elite… I look forward to battling you.

(End of Chapter)

Note: Happy Valentines ❤️❤️❤️