"Master! Leave the first match to me! I'll use Precipice Blade to flip the entire Indigo Plateau over for your entertainment!" Groudon roared at the sky, shaking the whole system space.
"Woo! (You idiot! If you destroy the arena, where is Master supposed to stand? Leave it to me instead. I'll use Tsunami to wash every opponent into the sea!)" Kyogre rolled its eyes.
Ho-Oh leisurely preened its feathers. "(A competition between mortals hardly requires Master to act personally. One breath of Sacred Fire from me would burn away even their ashes.)"
The system space descended into chaos. These mythical beings nearly started fighting among themselves just to secure a chance to compete.
Lin Hao rubbed his temples, his head aching. "All of you, shut up!" he snapped.
The space fell silent. Every Legendary Pokémon obediently lay on the ground, barely daring to breathe.
"I told you, I have something important to announce." Lin Hao folded his arms and sternly surveyed them all. "None of you are allowed to act in tomorrow's League tournament." The Pokémon exchanged bewildered looks.
"Pika?" Even Pikachu, sitting on Lin Hao's shoulder, froze for a moment.
Mewtwo stepped forward in confusion. "Master, why? With our power, it would take only a second to bring you that so-called Champion's Trophy."
"Because it's a competition," Lin Hao said with a sigh. "Sending you against ordinary people would be a one-sided massacre. How would that count as a competition?"
Lin Hao began seriously tallying the costs. "First, if you destroy the arena, the League will definitely make me pay for it. I haven't even paid off the five hundred thousand I owe that old man for cabbages. Where would I get the money to replace an arena?"
"Second, if you lot appear on a livestream in front of millions of viewers worldwide, do you think I'll ever be able to deliver food and take it easy in peace again?"
"I'd become the center of the world's attention, with people coming to bother me every single day. Tch." Lin Hao waved a hand. "So, aside from Pikachu and Greninja coming out occasionally to throw people off, all of you are staying in here and sleeping!"
The Legendary Pokémon all averted their eyes. They possessed enough power to destroy the world, yet they could only watch helplessly as their master went off to compete in what amounted to children's make-believe.
Just then, white light shone at the very top of the system space. An overwhelming presence descended, and every Legendary Pokémon, even Mewtwo, instinctively lowered its head. The will of Arceus, the creator god, had arrived.
"My master," Arceus's voice rang out in Lin Hao's mind. "Since you have chosen to keep a low profile, we shall naturally obey." Arceus continued, "But human hearts are unpredictable, and Team Rocket has not ceased its covert surveillance. For your safety, I must leave you a reliable safeguard."
As the words faded, a solid scale radiating rainbow light drifted down from the white glow: the Light Scale. It landed in Lin Hao's palm, turned into a mark, and merged into the back of his hand.
"Should you find yourself in peril," Arceus said, its voice fading, "call upon my true name. I shall break through the boundaries and descend for you."
Lin Hao rubbed the discreet mark on the back of his hand. "Thanks, but I probably won't need it." He yawned. "I'm going there to collect money, not fight a war."
His consciousness withdrew from the system space, and Lin Hao rolled over on the luxurious bed in the Competitors' Village and went to sleep.
The next morning, the magnificent Central Stadium on the Indigo Plateau was packed. Every seat in the stands, which could hold a hundred thousand people, was occupied, and the cheering was deafening. President Charles Goodshow delivered a booming address from the official platform. Wearing her press badge, May fidgeted in the preparation area by the competitors' tunnel, her palms sweating.
"Could you stop eating already?" May stamped her foot as she shouted at Lin Hao, who was still gnawing on a meat bun. "It's almost your turn to go out there!"
"I need a full stomach to have the energy to call out commands." Lin Hao swallowed the bun and wiped his hands.
The commentator's voice came over the speakers. "Please welcome Lin Hao from Pallet Town, facing A Qiang from Viridian City!"
With both hands in his pockets, Lin Hao trudged out of the tunnel. The sunlight was blinding. Across the battlefield stood an arrogant blond teenager.
The blond A Qiang eyed Lin Hao sideways. "Hey, you half-asleep loser over there!" He pointed at Lin Hao. "Too bad you ran into me! I'm Viridian City's genius! Prepare to die!" Lin Hao did not even raise his eyelids.
The referee raised his flag. "This will be a one-on-one match! Both competitors, send out your Pokémon!"
"Go! My invincible Machamp!" A Qiang hurled his Poké Ball.
Bang! A four-armed Machamp slammed onto the battlefield and roared. The crowd erupted in cheers. This Machamp was exceptionally well trained, with an imposing presence.
Lin Hao sighed, casually reached up, lifted Pikachu off his shoulder, and tossed it onto the field. "Pikachu, go."
"Pika?" Pikachu landed and scratched its backside.
At the sight, the entire audience first stared in disbelief, then burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Is that guy insane? He's using a Pikachu against a Machamp?"
"With that size difference, couldn't Machamp turn that mouse into pulp with one slap?"
Across the field, A Qiang laughed so hard tears streamed from his eyes. "Are you trying to insult me, kid?"
"No." Lin Hao kept his hands in his pockets and looked at him innocently.
"You..." A Qiang gritted his teeth. "Referee! Can we start already?"
The referee glanced at Lin Hao, then swung his flag down. "Begin the match!"
"Machamp! Use Submission! Crush it!" A Qiang bellowed the command.
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