Chapter 85: Theoretical Model

As the leader of Team Rocket, Giovanni had a keen eye for talent. Although he appeared to let Jessie, James, and Meowth roam freely, he had his own plans for them.

As for the fool standing before him…

"You came back at the right time. Help me manage the Viridian Gym for a while. That damn Sandstorm Elite's evaluation methods are way too strict—I've been swamped handling all the kids he sent my way."

Flipping through the latest gym assessment reports, the young man clicked his tongue. "He really knows how to push the limits. This Sandstorm Elite… I'd love to spar with him someday. Oh, by the way, it's been a while since I got paid, hasn't it?"

"Handle these kids for me and meet the Elite Four's performance targets. I'll double your salary and throw in a bonus."

"That's a pretty high target, though."

"The targets are the reward. Earn it with effort!"

—

At the same time, Naga and Komon were en route to Kanto but were intercepted by a group of trainers.

Having heard that the Kamiyama family was leaving Johto, these trainers appeared to surround them completely. "Kamiyama family stragglers."

"Komon, looks like we've got trouble."

"They were sent by those old geezers from Sumire City. What do you want to do?"

Naga narrowed his eyes, his hand flashing as he released a Poké Ball. "How dull… but I suppose this will help pass the time."

Darkness spread, life vanished in an instant, and within that abyss, Naga stood like a heartless demon, sneering at the trainers before him.

—

Meanwhile, Cynthia and Klein were deep in discussion about battle tactics.

"Building a Sandstorm team core is incredibly difficult. From my understanding, the limit seems to be four cores—it's tough to expand beyond that."

The moment Cynthia spoke, the others found it hard to interject. Bringing up four-core teams right away… Did she not realize that most Elite Four members and veteran Gym Leaders were still stuck at the two-core level?

Klein quickly composed his thoughts and responded, "Is weather actually a limiting factor?"

"Yes. Unless you're willing to abandon the benefits of Sandstorm, a Sandstorm trainer will always remain a Sandstorm trainer."

Cynthia had a broad perspective—she wasn't just considering Klein's current situation but his potential future as well. However, Klein had his own take on things.

Elite Four, Champions—it didn't matter. If someone became too fixated on a single type or strategy, breaking past their limits would always be difficult.

Klein respected Cynthia's traditional viewpoint, but he had his own philosophy.

"Every strategy's core should be adaptable. Many Pokémon and moves that were previously undiscovered have emerged with the advancement of information technology. That's why I believe the Sandstorm core isn't limited to just four."

"Are you saying you've identified a fifth or even sixth core component?"

Noticing the implication in Klein's words, Cynthia asked him directly.

"I started by constructing a six-core template and then ran simulations from there."

A hush fell over the room as several high-ranking officials of the Pokémon League inhaled sharply. Then, with a simple wave of his hand, Klein activated a massive circular projection. Data related to Sandstorm tactics lit up the display.

Pointing at the virtual screen, Cynthia smiled. "This simulation is interesting."

Each Pokémon ability and move was represented as a small data node, forming an intricate web. From Sandstorm mechanics to interactions with other weather conditions and terrain effects, the projection illustrated a complete circular system.

As Cynthia examined the highlighted six-core structure, she suddenly understood. "I see now. You're constructing a fully integrated system to develop your own core."

While most trainers built their teams gradually—starting with a single core, then a dual-core, and so on—Klein had instead established a theoretical six-core model and used simulations to refine his approach.

"Of course, this method doesn't work for everyone. Some trainers rely more on intuition, and that can be just as effective."

Klein wasn't a strict theorist. He acknowledged that sometimes bonds, luck, or sheer unpredictability could lead to victories beyond calculations. He himself couldn't quantify everything with theory alone.

Gary was the first to agree with this notion. Take Ash, for example—forcing him to study battle theory before a match would only hold him back. He thrived in instinctive, old-school battle styles.

"So according to you, is a six-core team the most stable strategy template?"

In the past, some had proposed seven-core, eight-core, or even hundred-core strategies.

"The League's rule of six Pokémon per team already represents a form of structural stability. While a strategy beyond six-core might exist, it likely wouldn't be as stable as six-core."

"I see. Personally, I also think six-core is the ideal setup."

Klein's ideas intrigued Cynthia, and she listened attentively. Meanwhile, Agatha and Blaine, looking at the overwhelming numbers and projections, felt a headache coming on.

"We'll leave you young people to discuss this."

It wasn't just Agatha—Gary and Silver also found the theory-heavy conversation hard to follow. However, as young trainers, they didn't dare walk away, so they fought back yawns and listened as Klein continued his explanation.

"In this strategy web, these eighteen Pokémon, their move mastery, and their type synergy form a complete tactical framework."

—

On the high-tech digital projection, Klein had listed eighteen Pokémon—many of them Legendary or Mythical Pokémon, combined with various pseudo-Legendary Pokémon from different regions.

Alongside them, move lists were presented in constantly shifting digital charts, compiling and summarizing a vast amount of data. As the information was processed, more and more people started to grasp the complexity of the six-core theory.

Even though they understood it, they still felt like it was beyond their comprehension. It… seemed really powerful?

To put it simply, the idea was to set up entry hazards, then follow up with baton-passing stat boosts, space-time distortions, coordinate-based movement sensing, multi-layered trapping, and type synergy switching to create a theoretically perfect data chain.

Every Pokémon in the strategy web wasn't just fulfilling a single role—Tyranitar, for example, didn't just summon Sandstorm; it could also boost stats, disrupt opponents, or serve other strategic functions.

Of course, theory was one thing, but real battles were another. That was why so many trainers struggled to build even a single-core team.

The most fundamental problem was the Pokémon's own battle capabilities. If a Pokémon was weak, even if it fit perfectly into the six-core system, it could still be taken down by a single Flamethrower.

Additionally, the trainer was a critical weak point.

In a life-or-death battle, the trainer was often the most fragile link in the team. If someone specifically targeted them, the entire six-core structure could collapse into chaos.

As Klein's vast projection came to an end, Cynthia clapped. "My direction for the fifth core is already clear, but with your theoretical support, I feel even more confident now."

She jotted down a series of notes in her notebook, looking very satisfied with the discussion. After the meeting ended, she returned to the Pokémon Center to make adjustments.

"A fascinating theory. I've gained quite a few insights from it myself."

A voice spoke from the back of the room, and as Klein turned to see who it was, his expression shifted to one of surprise.

"Mr. Steven?"

Steven?

The Hoenn League Champion?

He was Klein's mentor?!

(End of Chapter)