Johto Region.
Mt. Silver stood on the Johto Region side of the Pokémon League Headquarters.
The newly constructed building carried an air of grandeur.
Knock, knock—
Someone knocked on the door to the Johto League Champion's office.
"Come in."
A strong, commanding voice rang out.
The door opened.
Xia Yan saw the Johto League Champion hunched over his desk, sternly reviewing documents.
"Lord Dragon King," Xia Yan called teasingly.
Hearing the voice, Lance's hands stiffened slightly. He abruptly looked up and saw Xia Yan's teasing expression.
"You brat!"
Lance quickly stood and punched Xia Yan on the shoulder.
Not long ago, he had finally completed the "Champion's Path." Yet how long had he remained in the headlines before Xia Yan's feat of battling Legendary Pokémon pushed him out?
It had kept him from showing up in the group chat for quite a while.
Now that the "culprit" was here, he had to battle him a few times.
"Come on! To the training grounds!"
Xia Yan: "."
Good lord.
They were fighting at the slightest disagreement.
"Wait. I came to see you today about something else."
"Hmm?"
"Come with me."
As he spoke, Xia Yan led the bewildered Lance out of his office and away from the Johto League Headquarters building.
They flew directly toward the depths of Mt. Silver.
They were both Champions.
Although Xia Yan had been blacklisted by the Pokémon League,
given his current relationship with the Pokémon League, anyone who dared stop him had better be ready for a beating.
Besides, wasn't Lance here?
Why else would he have brought Lance along?
Riding Dragonite and Latios respectively, the two quickly reached the depths of Mt. Silver, near the altar Xia Yan had once used to travel to the Pokémon Adventures world.
Feeling the faint twitch of the