Debut

"Did you hear? A ridiculously strong newcomer showed up in this year's Kanto Region Champion League. He might become one of the new Elite Four."

"I haven't heard much. Wasn't Liu Ping supposed to join the Elite Four this year?"

"You must not have been following things for a while. Watanabe has already been promoted to Champion Leader, leaving a spot in the Elite Four open. Liu Ping, who was ranked fifth in points, should have moved up without any trouble. But a newcomer appeared recently and won fifteen matches in a row. His points are already tied with Liu Ping's."

At the tournament venue on the Indigo Plateau, the Champion Conference stood one level above the regional league tournaments. Besides the Champion Leader and the Elite Four, there were more than thirty competitors, all of whom qualified by having won a regional tournament in the past. Naturally, they were not limited to the Kanto Region.

This newcomer was reportedly from another region. After taking first place at the Indigo League a while ago, he had gone on to win fifteen consecutive matches at the Champion Conference, bringing his points level with Liu Ping's. Today, the two would face each other directly to decide who would claim the new Elite Four seat at the end of the season.

"I remember Liu Ping already started specializing in Water-types ahead of time. What about that newcomer?"

Under the league's competition rules, anyone who joined the Elite Four had to have four Pokémon of the same type, while the remaining two could be chosen freely. That was why titles such as Ice-type King and Ghost-type King existed.

At the mention of this, the spectator began looking through past records and soon found a fairly official assessment in the official profile. "He specializes in Sandstorm teams."

"Weather teams. Those are pretty rare. So mainly Steel, Rock, and Ground types."

As they chatted, a thunderous roar erupted throughout the venue. Up on the officials' platform sat Dragon-type King Watanabe, Ice-type King Lorelei, Fighting-type King Bruno, and Ghost-type King Agatha. Clearly, they were all paying close attention to who would become the next King.

"Once we have all five, we'll have to prepare for a bigger stage. I just hope the fifth won't hold us back."

On the officials' platform, Bruno swept a cold gaze over the arena below, a trace of arrogance in his voice. The others all expressed their agreement.

There was an enormous gap in strength between Kanto's Elite Four and those ranked just below them in points. So far, none of those trainers had earned recognition as someone strong enough to stand beside them. However, a new Super Cup was about to begin, and each region had to send one Champion Leader and four Elites. That was why this Johto Region Champion Conference had drawn their attention.

In the venue's waiting area, Liu Ping, dressed entirely in white like a scholar, gazed nervously at Ice-type King Lorelei on the platform. All along, his real reason for choosing to specialize in Water-types had been to gain a chance to take things a step further with her.

He had thought becoming the new Water-type King was practically assured, but the newcomer who had appeared out of nowhere made Liu Ping clench his fists.

At that thought, Liu Ping looked toward the young boy on the other side of the venue, a trace of coldness in his eyes. He held a certain advantage in typing, and with the difference in tournament experience as well, he believed he would definitely win.

"Ladies and gentlemen, today brings us the most exciting and most crucial match of the Kanto Region Champion Conference. Based on the points accumulated so far, the winner of today's match will become the fourth King of the new season."

Had Watanabe not been promoted to Champion Leader, the winner of this match would have challenged the King with the fewest points. But with Watanabe moving up, this match effectively selected the fifth King directly.

The match used a VS format. Compared with a full-team 6VS6 battle, VS placed greater demands on a trainer's command of strategy and the Pokémon taking part.

Fireworks exploded with a boom as the competitors slowly walked into the Grand Stage from opposite ends.

The moment Liu Ping entered, loud applause and cheers rang out. It had to be said that the gentle, refined Water-type specialist had always been extremely popular. Compared with the formidable newcomer, many spectators hoped to see Liu Ping's years of effort rewarded with a successful promotion to Water-type King.

On the other side of the arena, Liu Ping's opponent, Kanto's dark horse this time around-Gongping, a competitor from Yosugi City in the Unova Region-finally appeared before everyone.

He wore light blue clothes and had brown hair and delicate features. His eyes were cool and detached, as though none of this had anything to do with him, yet the presence he exuded was like an unsheathed blade, unstoppable.

The reserved Liu Ping and the commanding Gongping locked eyes, and fierce sparks seemed to fill the air.

"Golduck!"

"Swampert!"

The appearance of both sides' opening Pokémon drew gasps from the audience. Golduck had been chosen to counter the supposed characteristics of Gongping's Pokémon, but unexpectedly, Gongping had sent out Swampert, a Water- and Ground-type.

Swampert, the Mud Fish Pokémon, was the evolved form of Marshtomp. It possessed immense strength and could easily pull rocks weighing over a ton. Its eyes could see objects even in murky water, and its whiskers could sense approaching storms.

It had been fifteen years since Gongping came to this world. He rubbed his eyes and looked at the vast Grand Stage before him, his heart long since stirred. After traveling through numerous regions and preparing for so long, he had finally succeeded in standing on this stage.

Only by entering the ranks of the Kings would he have the chance to battle truly powerful opponents from all over the world and ultimately climb to the very peak.

Gongping, the male protagonist of the original Black and White games, had been born in Yosugi City. He had entered the Unova Region tournament alongside his childhood friend Rosa and finished in the top eight. Afterward, Gongping had traveled to Sinnoh, Hoenn, and other regions to hone his strength. Finally, several months ago, he had won first place at the Indigo League, then powered his way through the Champion Conference that followed to earn a place in the final match for a King seat.

"Golduck, Hydro Pump!"

With a roar, a raging torrent shot from Golduck's mouth, forming a terrifyingly massive column of water aimed straight at Swampert.

Without receiving any command, Swampert clenched a fist, veins bulging along its arm, and smashed it into the ground. Countless fragments of rock burst into the air, blocking the water column as it arrived.

Moves were, at their core, merely one way of putting abilities to use. Beyond moves, Pokémon had speed, reactions, adaptability in battle, and all manner of other methods. Gongping's Swampert could quickly judge for itself how to defend against Golduck's attack. This single exchange already put Gongping ahead of Liu Ping in training ability.

"Keep attacking with Hydro Pump!"

Another column of water blasted out. Swampert kept dodging and moving, deftly avoiding Golduck's crude Hydro Pump attacks.

Despite using moves repeatedly, Golduck failed to inflict any effective damage. As Liu Ping grew increasingly impatient, Gongping settled on his battle plan and gave a command. "Ice Punch. Lock down this area."

Freezing energy surged, instantly freezing the water around Golduck left by Hydro Pump. As Swampert's sudden freezing assault restricted Golduck's speed, its Ice Punch did not end there. It smashed apart the surrounding ice with a punch, creating a massive shock wave.

Countless shards of ice shot outward, and Golduck quickly retreated. Just as it prepared to launch another Hydro Pump, Swampert appeared behind it at some unknown point, a powerful glow gathering around its hand as it aimed a blow at Golduck's neck.

With a bang, Golduck went flying. But Swampert's assault did not stop. After several roars, it swiftly lunged forward, grabbed Golduck before it could quite react, and slammed it into the ground.

Throughout the entire exchange, Swampert had used only one move, Ice Punch. Every subsequent attack had been purely physical, yet even so, Golduck could not withstand them and was driven back again and again.

"Golduck is unable to battle. Swampert wins."

Damn it!

Liu Ping's expression changed drastically. He had never imagined that the fifteen-year-old boy facing him would fight in such a purely savage fashion. As he envisioned it, Pokémon battles were elegant affairs: both sides would release moves to probe each other, then rely on clever variations to decide the outcome in the most dazzling way possible-not settle it with violence like this.

"What was that? Who battles so crudely?!"

"Do Pokémon from the Hoenn Region only know how to use brute force?"

Some spectators in the stands began voicing their displeasure. They had expected a thrilling, blood-pumping battle, but instead had been shown how Swampert suppressed Golduck with sheer brute force. There was nothing entertaining about it at all.

At the audience's comments, Gongping could not help twitching. Do these people think they're watching a Pokémon Contest?

"This child has experienced more than ordinary league battles. He's probably fought genuine life-or-death battles too."

On the officials' platform, Bruno had a keen eye. When Swampert used Ice Punch just now, it had formed a thin blade of ice. Had it not held back, Golduck's head would have been sliced off today.

Faced with such a rough, direct fighting style, Lorelei adjusted her glasses. "He didn't use any Fighting-type moves, but somehow, I feel like he's another Fighting-type King."