The Runner-Up's Worth Keeps Soaring!

Amid the cheers of the audience.

The Elite Four battles of "Victory Road" officially began!

Hoenn Region's four Elite Four members—Sidney, Fu Rong, Bonnie, and Drake—had made their first appearance and completed the "meeting ceremony" between challenger and gatekeepers with Jing He.

The other three Elite Four members withdrew, while Sidney walked to the opposite side of the field from Jing He.

Bright lights illuminated the entire arena. The Magnemite cameras and Rotom drones had all been put away, as the venue had built-in cameras covering every angle without blind spots.

"Teacher Jing He, I've actually been looking forward to battling you for a long time." With his mohawk and both hands in his pockets, Sidney looked every bit like a street punk.

In fact.

Sidney really had been a delinquent in his younger days. He played rock music, then came to his senses and worked hard. Now, he had become one of the Hoenn Region's Elite Four!

The tactics and battle style he was accustomed to were all-out offense.

He believed that offense was the best defense.

"Come on, Elite Four Sidney!"

Jing He was actually fairly familiar with all four members of the Hoenn League's Elite Four, so there was no need for excessive chatter.

Let them battle!

Battle was the best form of communication between Pokémon Trainers!

Sidney smiled happily and approvingly at those words.

This was the battle he had been looking forward to, and this was the temperament he believed a Champion should possess.

Fear nothing, face everything head-on, respect the opponent tactically while despising them strategically, and display the confidence of a Champion looking down upon all others.

In the quiet first chamber of the Elite Four Fortress, beneath the brilliant lights, the scent of gunpowder gradually thickened.

A Rotom flew out into the