Chapter 88: The Battle Begins

Dark flames flickered, casting eerie shadows across the forest floor.

After a brutal clash, countless trainers lay unconscious, their expressions twisted in terror as if they had faced the most nightmarish horrors imaginable. Though none had died, their minds had suffered deep trauma.

Many of their Pokémon had been affected as well—some had sprouted bizarre, unnatural plant growths, while others had transformed into spectral entities, floating weakly in the air, barely clinging to life.

"You've gotten stronger."

Komon recalled his Pokémon and glanced at Naga, a look of confusion in his eyes. Despite a four-year hiatus, it seemed nothing had slowed Naga's growth.

"I wanted to get stronger—so I did."

Komon rolled his eyes at the absurdly edgy response. "Just don't get carried away. Let these guys go before you cause a full-blown crisis. The Johto League will lose their minds if this escalates."

With a casual flick of his wrist, Naga tossed the unconscious trainers and Pokémon aside like discarded trash, their bodies vanishing into the unknown.

The dark flames dissipated, and in an instant, the forest returned to its natural tranquility, as if the terrifying battle had never taken place.

"To appreciate and respect nature… that is the greatest way to honor this beautiful land."

Komon scratched his ear. "Yeah, yeah. Now shut up and let's get out of here."

—

Cinnabar Island – The Grand Arena

The massive, circular battle arena was packed with trainers, all eager to witness this special school exchange tournament.

As Klein, Cynthia, Agatha, and Steven stepped onto the stage together, the crowd erupted in thunderous cheers. A battle featuring two Champions and two Elite Four members was a spectacle no one wanted to miss.

The biggest surprise, however, was the revelation that Steven—one of Hoenn's legendary trainers—was Klein's mentor. This revelation sparked waves of discussion among the audience.

The Kanto League had always been aware of Klein's ties to Devon Corporation. Back when Klein was constructing his new academy, Giovanni had provided funding, but Devon Corporation had also invested significantly.

With the Move Learning Simulator's success and its exclusive collaboration with Devon, it was clear that Klein and the corporation had a close relationship.

For Steven and Devon, Klein was essentially a trainer from their own faction—a rising star they had nurtured. His achievements only reinforced their decision to support him wholeheartedly.

After all, in this world, no promising trainer ever rose to the top without some form of backing.

—

"Rosa, let's go watch together."

After spending all night preparing medicines and supplies, Nurse Joy and Rosa finally settled into the medical zone, where they could watch the grand battle unfold.

So this is what a Pokémon battle looks like…? Why does it feel so exhilarating?

For the first time, Rosa realized she genuinely loved the energy and atmosphere of a battle.

Meanwhile, Joy's attention was focused elsewhere. She eyed the custom water bottle Rosa was holding and asked curiously, "Who gave you that?"

Rosa raised the sleek, high-quality thermos. "That annoying Elite Four member. Guess he's trying to bribe me so I take better care of his Pokémon after the match. Not that I'd slack off otherwise."

Right before the tournament, Klein had noticed that Rosa didn't have a proper water bottle. Without a word, he had gone to the largest specialty store on the island and purchased one for her, reminding her to stay hydrated and keep warm.

Why didn't Klein ever give me anything?

Joy pouted slightly. She had been too busy working backstage the night before and had missed whatever had transpired between Klein and Rosa. She couldn't help but be curious about what had prompted Klein's sudden shift in behavior.

—

The Tournament Begins

The roaring cheers of the audience signaled the start of the first battle.

Stepping onto the massive Grass Battlefield, Jeanette, the lead battler from Kanto's academy, faced off against a top-ranked Sinnoh League student.

"Go, Vileplume!"

"Hitmonlee, you're up!"

Unlike her previous battle against Ash, where she had used a Bellsprout, this time Jeanette sent out a seemingly delicate Vileplume, while her opponent opted for the Fighting-type Hitmonlee.

Vileplume unleashed a cloud of spores, attempting to envelop Hitmonlee. But the Fighting-type Pokémon was incredibly fast, sidestepping the attack and rushing forward with an Ice Punch, a chilling aura radiating from its fist.

However, just as the punch was about to land, Vileplume elegantly twirled out of the way. Sharp-edged leaves shot out in all directions, turning the battlefield into a dazzling display of petals.

Vileplume's movements seemed simple, but each step was executed with precision, showcasing its rigorous training. Every twirl and dodge followed a rhythmic pattern, transforming the battle into an intricate dance.

Step by step, it controlled the flow of the match.

Then, with a final explosive burst, the concealed powder within the petals engulfed Hitmonlee, poisoning it. Unable to endure the accumulating damage, Hitmonlee finally collapsed, leaving Vileplume victorious.

—

"Vileplume's training is impressive. Using a single move in three different ways—it's quite strategic. Is this part of the six-core multi-dimensional theory?"

Steven turned to Klein with curiosity.

Klein shook his head. "I just taught them basic techniques and how to maintain control over their battle rhythm."

Steven and Cynthia exchanged glances, impressed.

In just a short time, Klein had transformed Jeanette from a novice trainer into someone who fought like a seasoned veteran. His coaching methods were undeniably effective.

—

Round Two – Ice Battlefield

With Jeanette's victory secured, the battlefield shifted to ice terrain.

Now, it was Brooke's turn to battle.

He coldly faced his opponent—a female trainer from Sinnoh—before sending out his strongest Pokémon, Blastoise.

His opponent released a Jynx, immediately launching a Blizzard attack.

Blastoise nimbly dodged, countering with a powerful Hydro Pump from its twin cannons.

Boom!

Jynx staggered backward, but its Psychic powers activated, controlling the scattered ice shards and launching them toward Blastoise.

However, midway through its attack, Blastoise altered its water jet strategy, splitting the stream into multiple water bullets, each intercepting the incoming ice.

"Jynx, use Lovely Kiss!"

Jynx teleported beside Blastoise, preparing to release its hypnotic energy. But in a shocking turn of events, Jynx ended up hypnotizing itself instead!

A distorted mirror stood beside Blastoise, reflecting the hypnotic energy back at Jynx, putting it to sleep.

"Blastoise, Skull Bash!"

The sheer force of the attack shattered the frozen battlefield. As the ground trembled, Jynx collapsed, completely knocked out.

—

"Two straight wins!"

The Kanto Academy's overwhelming performance had stunned everyone.

In the opening singles matches, Sinnoh's top students had been completely crushed.

Jeanette's masterful Vileplume and Brooke's adaptable Blastoise had dismantled their opponents effortlessly, securing flawless victories.

The audience erupted with cheers, awed by the sheer skill displayed.

—

"Looks like Kanto's new generation of trainers is no joke."

"Well, with advanced training techniques and unlimited resources, their growth is bound to be rapid."

With the New Pokémon Center located right next to the school, students had access to top-tier facilities and care. Unlike regular traveling trainers, these students could undergo targeted special training, refining their skills to an elite level.

Now, the tag battle segment was about to begin.

As the five-minute intermission commenced, Rosa and Joy rushed to tend to the injured Pokémon.

Meanwhile, Gary and Silver prepared for their upcoming match.

(End of Chapter)