"Welcome, everyone, to the first round of the World Championships' Masters Eight!"
A clash at the pinnacle of today's Pokémon World had begun. Amid the passionate, soaring commentary, an unending wave of cheers echoed through the skies above Motostoke.
"Now, let us welcome the two competitors in the first-round match. They are—"
The brief pause only drew even more frenzied shouts from the crowd.
"Steven Stone, representing the Hoenn Region—!!"
Inside the contestants' tunnel, the young man with short silver-blue hair slowly stepped forward at the announcement. He adjusted the red bow tie and exquisite cuffs of his suit, lightly touching the beautiful, translucent Key Stone pin adorning them as he appeared before everyone's eyes.
A smile gleamed in his deep azure eyes, along with an irrepressible fighting spirit.
Behind him were the powerful Pokémon who had roused their spirits alongside him in the lounge.
It was a formidable team built entirely from Steel-type and Rock-type Pokémon, one that could even be called one of the greatest defensive teams in the Pokémon World today!
His signature pure-white Shiny Metagross, the towering and gleaming Aggron, the four-limbed Heatran crawling like a volcano poised to erupt, the savage Tyranitar clad in dark green armor, the Cradily awakened from fossils, and finally, the Skarmory whose entire body was covered in silver armor and sharp blades!
One after another, these suffocatingly imposing Pokémon transformed into red beams and returned to the Poké Balls at Steven's waist.
Brilliant spotlights converged upon him.
Beneath that dazzling illumination, Steven's gentle smile drew cheers from countless young women.
"Steven!!!"
Shrieks rose and fell one after another.
If one were to ask who the strongest young person in today's Pokémon World was, over ninety percent of the audience would probably choose Xia Yan.
But if one asked who was